Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Live Streaming, Official Store Launch!
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Tap, tap.
“Damn it... When the hell is it opening today...”
Click. Click. Click.
“Based on the pattern, it should be opening right about now...”
C-rank porter—no, now a pro at loading and unloading—Choi Han-gil kept hitting refresh on the Molrang Mall site.
All to buy the new version of Molrang Tori. The combinable kind, up to four per person.
As everyone knew, after Molrang Tori hit the market, the porters split into three factions.
The Enlightenment Faction: “Let’s accept Molrang Tori!”
The Exclusionist Faction: “Absolutely oppose Molrang Tori!”
The Reform Faction: “Porters must evolve.”
And Choi Han-gil belonged to the Exclusionist Faction.
Having been born in this country, Korea, on the Korean Peninsula steeped in deep Confucian roots, it was inevitable.
Of course, it wasn’t like he was some paragon of filial piety toward his parents in line with Confucian rites or anything. Still, Confucian blood ran through his veins!
For most porters, rejecting Molrang Tori on Confucian principles was as natural as breathing.
And they’d even taken some real action.
[United Porters’ Alliance. Molrang Tori Boycott Accelerates.]
It had even made the news online. Sure, it was mostly on trashy clickbait sites.
Yeah, the Porters’ Alliance had formed.
But here’s the thing. Porters were few and far between to begin with.
How could gathering dust make a mountain? They’d hyped it up so much online, but when they actually assembled, there were barely a hundred.
A hundred people? In reality, only about thirty showed up.
‘This... is it? All of it?’
That’s when Han-gil’s illusions shattered.
Cohesion at this level?
On top of that, he was hugely disappointed in the A-rank porters.
People need a focal point to get motivated, so naturally, Han-gil had assumed the A-rankers would step up as leaders.
-“That’s a bit... Putting our names out there as reps is tough.”
But they flat-out refused.
Without that focal point, the group fizzled out. The Porters’ Alliance disbanded cleanly after just three weeks.
At least it wasn’t a three-day affair? Silver lining?
After such a pathetic collapse, they should’ve shut up and found another way to survive...
[Molrang Tori <<<< Looks like the drug’s wearing off soon, upvote if you agree][Poster: ThisDguyV]
[I checked it out, and Hwayeon’s about to release Fake-rang Tori. Just hold out for that, everyone.][Poster: LotusLotus]
Plenty of porters were still flapping their gums on the hunter community forums.
Of course, in the Porters’ Gallery. Most had been banned from the main one anyway, under the pretext of their antics.
Everyone else—every Awakener except porters—loved Molrang Tori. Why would they side with porters otherwise?
Lost in that hollow feeling, Han-gil got a message from a friend. A B-rank hunter buddy.
-“Wanna try this? I filled my quota for the week. It’ll just go to waste otherwise, so you use it.”
Molrang Tori falling from a clear sky. Waste not to use a freebie, right?
So Han-gil took it to a loading site. A spot he’d hit occasionally when he needed quick cash anyway.
‘This thing’s a goddamn cheat code.’
And that’s when he realized. Pairing Molrang Tori with porter skills could make you S-rank.
S-rank porter? Never in a lifetime. But S-rank day laborer? Totally doable.
After that, Han-gil went all-in on buying Molrang Tori. He hit the pop-up stores, analyzed sales cycles diligently, and waited like this.
Lately, an amazing gig had even dropped.
The Yeonhwa Palace top-floor construction job.
Leading a crew of Molrang Tori porters, Han-gil raked in insane daily wages.
“If that monster sweeps through one more time...”
Click! Click!
Han-gil kept refreshing amid idle fantasies. Could he score one today?
They sold 3,000 a week, but honestly, it still wasn’t enough.
“If it weren’t for those damn macro bots, it’d be fine.”
No clue how they worked, but macros were dominating, making purchases a nightmare.
Guilds probably running multi-accounts en masse, he figured.
“Should’ve joined White Night after all.”
That’s when he thought maybe lotteries had better odds.
Ding!
Something popped up. Finally!—he nearly yelled.
[Broadcast has started.]
“...What?”
Out of nowhere, Molrang Mall launched a live stream.
Freaky as hell. The guy who’d hidden his identity forever was going live?
[Uh, hello there. My, my comrades. N-nice to see you.]
“...Figures.”
Sure enough, a character with a TV for a head appeared on screen.
[T-today, I’ve got a s-special announcement to m-make.]
The voice was laced with mechanical distortion, robot-like speech to boot. Voice modulation software?
It was too refined for that. Probably an info-type Awakener. That way, no tracing via modulation reversal.
[A n-new product, M-Molrang Tex, will go on s-sale. Check the table below for p-price and specs.]
The screen switched, displaying a new table.
[Molrang Tex][Type: Armor]
[Size: FREE / Covers up to 190cm*150kg fully]
[Duration: 6~9 months (varies by use)]
[Detailed Specs]
[Durability: B+] [Defense: A]
[Heat Resistance: A+] [Flexibility: S]
[Price: 15,000,000 won]
“Fucking pricey.”
Sure, A-rank armor justified it.
Still, 15 million felt huge. All those zeros messing with your head.
Static crackle!
Screen switched again.
[I-if you missed it, check the announcement. F-first batch: total of 15 units.]
“Only that many?”
Not that he was buying, but it left him oddly disappointed.
[By the way, buyers this time get special perks.]
The TV character held something up for all to see.
[M-my autograph and handwritten manual. P-plus a membership card with my autograph.]
“...Who cares about autographs?”
Some folks loved CEO signatures, but Han-gil? Meh.
Maybe if it was an idol’s. Or Joo Ha-neul’s, the creator’s partner.
Speaking of, what was this membership card?
[D-details on membership in the separate announcement. A-also, 100,000 membership points and a Molrang Mall merch 3-pack as a bonus set.]
Better lineup than expected.
That Molrang Mall merch 3-pack was impossible to get.
Heard it rivaled Heartping or whatever with kids these days. Molrang stuff threatening its throne.
Yeah, they were cute as hell. Han-gil nodded in agreement, then tuned back into the character.
[A-and f-finally, this.]
The character picked something up. A Molrang Tori.
[T-two new-version Molrang Toris as a free gift. Sh-show lots of love, everyone. Th-that’s all!]
Ding!
[Broadcast has ended.]
What the hell. Why giveaway so much? Is the boss nuts?
Amazed, Han-gil jumped back to Molrang Mall.
A new announcement was up.
[Molrang Mall Officially Opens at White Night Citadel! Various items on sale starting today. Items: As listed. Note: Today and tomorrow, ALL online stock sold offline only.]
[Molrang Tori / Molrang Tex / Molrang Mall Merch 3-Pack]
[Show us lots of love.]
“...Starting today? No online sales?”
Crash!
Han-gil started prepping immediately.
White Night Citadel. Same for everyone—speed was key.
**
“Phew... I didn’t screw up, did I?”
Right after the successful broadcast, I let out a big breath.
“You did great. But did you have to use that voice?”
Jin-ah, who’d been filming me from the passenger seat with her smartphone, handed it back.
Vroom!
Thanks to her ability, we pulled off a clean broadcast from inside the car.
“Wasn’t it fun?”
“Th-that MZ-gen vibe or whatever?”
“What? No. Just wanted to try it.”
“If you liked it, Sae-byeok, whatever.”
“I thought it was cute.”
Ha-young affirmed it while kneading my cheeks. Note: She was right next to me.
Squish.
About time to stop, right? Not that I had grounds to protest.
Ha-young had pulled all-nighters on all-nighters before we left.
All-nighters to make A-rank mana stones. Needed for Molrang Tex production.
So if this was her way to unwind, I had to indulge her.
“But is it okay to giveaway that much? Molrang Tex would sell out anyway.”
Seo-jin chimed in this time.
Ha-young was wiped, so handing her the wheel felt iffy.
White Night Citadel’s Molrang Mall grand opening—had to go together, right?
Vroom!
She drove like a dream, every time. Why was the ride so smooth?
This some other car?
Division commander’s driver had that veteran edge.
Squish!
“Sae-byeok.”
“...Yeah?”
“You’re not thinking weird stuff, right?”
“Heh heh heh...”
Squish!
“So, Sae-byeok...? Don’t ignore just me?”
“Ah, it’s not really a giveaway. Molrang Tex has killer margins anyway. Plus, good promo.”
Today and tomorrow, all items sold exclusively at White Night Citadel. Max hype for the launch.
Huge crowds expected, so big perks to draw them. Membership promo on the side.
Screech!
“We’re here... But underground parking’s a mess. Want to head up first?”
Cars lined up forever—folks who heard the news. Parking staff directing, but no dice.
“Nah. Guild Master said use the exec lot. Turn sideways; there’s a path.”
“Okay.”
Seo-jin swung around and followed my directions to the executive area.
Flashed our passes at the entrance, then hopped out.
VIP elevator right there. Staff handles parking.
“Big corp service is on point.”
“Yeah. Sae-byeok hooks us up with fancy stuff.”
“Exactly. Be grateful to me forever.”
I grinned at them all. Pretty damn proud, honestly.
Generous pay, top-tier benefits—no skimping.
““““...””””
They went quiet but smiled warmly. Agreement, basically.
Ding!
[Doors opening.]
We boarded.
[Doors closing.]
“Sae-byeok, wanna... hold hands?”
Ha-young offered her hand the second we started up.
Eh, I’m not a kid; do we need to—
Oh.
Right.
This elevator’s all glass.
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