Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Lucky Seven, Top Prospect
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If you asked for the tallest building in South Korea, a hundred out of a hundred people would pick one of the Big Five skyscrapers.
But if you asked for the flashiest building in South Korea.
"Man, it's huge."
They'd pick the Hunter Association headquarters. Just a bit south of the Han River, right on the edge of Seoul's boundary, stood this dazzling structure.
Rumor had it a famous architect handled the design. The building's exterior evoked a profound aesthetic mystery, like gazing upon a luxury department store built to perfection.
It was probably the most profitable government agency in the country. They raked in massive taxes from hunters and awakeners alike.
Take me, for instance. I'd shelled out 44 billion won just to bid on the T-4 Gate. Every bit of it went straight to taxes.
Thanks to that, I even got some "National Contribution Excellence Award" plaque... not sure if that's good or bad.
For the record, this was my third one. Just from income taxes and the like on my Molrangmol earnings alone, I'd paid a fortune.
"Money's just rotting away in there."
Honestly, I felt like I'd funded one pillar... no, twenty of them myself.
Thus, the Hunter Association building was a golden palace forged from the blood and tears of countless hunters.
Of course, in a world where "hunters equal national power," it made some sense to build something like this.
It gave the country a bit of face.
Zing!
I passed through the automatic doors into the smaller kiosk building off to the side, not the grand main structure.
To put it simply, it was like heading to the ATM annex next to a bank.
There were about ten kiosks set up for self-service handling of awakener-related affairs.
Squeeze.
[Welcome.]
I stood in front of the one tucked in the back corner. No one else around, but using this spot put my mind at ease psychologically.
"...Damn it."
Even this one was a tad too tall for me. I could reach the lower display fine, but even stretching, the upper slot was just out of reach.
The average awakening age for awakeners was 23.
So this merciless sizing was tailored solely for adults, and my girlish little arms and legs fell short.
No step stool here like on an observation deck, either.
What the hell? This is how they treat tax VIPs? Suddenly, tax evasion was looking appealing.
"Here."
"Huh... what?"
Whoosh.
Suddenly, my body floated up. Not like I'd mastered levitation or anything—Jina, who'd followed me silently from the car, had grabbed my waist and lifted me effortlessly.
...Wasn't she supposed to be resting in the car? Make some noise next time. Nearly gave me a heart attack.
And it stung my pride a bit that she'd lifted me so easily.
"Saebyeok, you're so light. Under 40kg?"
"...Dunno."
"You gotta drink lots of milk. That's how you grow tall."
"That's fake info. Milk doesn't make you taller."
"What, wanna talk genetics? Awakeners are the exception. Your silver hair and red eyes came from awakening, right?"
"Yeah..."
"Maybe that's why you're not growing there? Not that I'm complaining."
Jina giggled like it was the best thing ever. I shot her a weary look, and she smirked even wider, clearly delighted.
Squeeze.
I ignored her as best I could and got to work.
[Insert your license into the slot for renewal.]
Reason for coming here today: renewing my hunter license.
On my first day as a girl, I'd checked it while sorting out my identity issues.
[Hunter License] [ID Photo]
[Name: Han Saebyeok] [Registration #: X1219-254213]
[Hunter Rank: ?]
[Detailed Class: ?]
Back then, I'd asked on Hunter Gallery, and they said the "?" would vanish over time.
But lo and behold.
Months later, with New Year's right around the corner, the "?"s were still there.
Hence, the in-person renewal. Even aside from that, it was a necessary step to make use of gates.
"Saebyeok, where'd you get this photo? It turned out so good. Looks just like you now."
"...Dunno."
Sounded a bit sulky, but I really didn't know. It just was what it was.
"You registered anonymously as an awakener, right? If you'd used your real name, you'd have set the record for youngest in Korea."
Like Jina said, you could register anonymously as an awakener or hunter. The reason was simple.
Some people didn't want their info public. Plenty wanted to live quietly, leisurely, on their own.
Anonymous registration meant only rank and class went into the official database.
No one else knew the rest. Even the last unaffiliated one among Korea's six S-rank hunters was like that.
"...What's the point of having that record? it'd just be a hassle, so I went anonymous."
"Too bad. It would've made world news. Youngest globally was... 11? You're around that, right?"
"...Who knows."
Zing.
I fed the license into the kiosk. Tap tap, set the options.
[Public Info: Rank / Class / Nickname (Molrangmol)]
[Private Info: All other personal details (name, age, mana info, etc.)]
And finally.
[Please infuse mana.]
The circular gem on the kiosk's side—a mana collector like those used for scanners. I channeled mana into it.
[Settings complete. Beginning renewal.]
Whirrrrr!
"...What rank you think it'll be?"
Jina asked casually. Like she already knew.
Well, same here.
So I just flashed a slight smile, brimming with quiet confidence.
[Renewal complete. Please check your license.]
Fresh out, hot off the press. I couldn't hold back a grin.
[Hunter License] [ID Photo]
[Name: Han Saebyeok] [Registration #: X1219-254213]
[Hunter Rank: S]
[Detailed Class: Monster Summoner]
[Registered Nickname: Molrangmol]
South Korea's seventh S-rank hunter had just been born.
**
[Breaking News Super Duper Breaking News!!!!] [Author: Data Bodhisattva Expert]
(Official registered and public South Korea Awakener Database)
7th S-rank du du du du du du appears lolololololololol
Fucking tiny-ass country with barely any land or people gets another one fml lolol
Kinda sucks it's anonymous. But rare class: Monster Summoner.
And nickname Molrangmol...? Why does that ring a bell.
-No way I thought it was some bullshit troll but it's real?????
-Molrangmol? The Molrangtori guy. So even the newbie dragon rider was S-rank?
ㄴBullshit. That total loser newbie dragon rider S-rank?
ㄴMaybe just one Molrangmol employee is S-rank
ㄴBut summoners can't summon outside gates right? How'd they do the slime show and golem rescue op?
ㄴIdiot? Summoner is upper class of Tamer. Most summoners have taming skills too, so they tame and bring gate monsters all the time
ㄴFr common sense: commanding summoned monsters means they have taming skill too..
ㄴYeah got it. Understood!
-Was the dragon rider back then this guy too?
ㄴYup fml lolololololol
ㄴS-rank checks out
-So now we got seven big guilds?
ㄴS-rank starting mega guilds is a long tradition yeah
**
Vroom!
"Monster Summoner, huh... I figured Tamer for sure."
Back in the car heading to the rooftop room, Jina asked me.
"Well... kinda similar, right?"
"So you summoned all those? Even outside gates? I thought you'd bred them. Kendart, Kitsune too? I figured you just lucked into finding and taming them."
Questions poured out like a tidal wave. Made sense—I'd never clearly explained to the trio.
"I'm S-rank, you know. S-rank. Kinda special."
"...What was that tone."
Too much? Yeah, even I thought it sounded a bit arrogant.
"Makes me wanna bite you."
Guess not. From her vibe, it was like watching a cute kid show off—nothing more.
So I chucked the pink Molrang cushion I'd been hugging onto the back seat and switched to a more serious tone.
"Ahem. Anyway, turns out I can summon outside gates too. So... yeah, that's how it is."
"But couldn't you have been a hunter? Even S-rank, you'd make bank."
"Fighting monsters isn't really my thing. You get that vibe, right? Raising them, I just... can't bring myself to slaughter them."
"Fair. Can't picture you massacring monsters anyway—doesn't suit you. But hold on..."
Jina tilted her head like something clicked, then clammed up. She spoke when we stopped at a light.
"So the dragon popping up over Seoul a few times, and that... blood blob thing? Whatever, that freaky monster—you summoned those too?"
"............W-Well?"
"It was you, Saebyeok. Makes sense now... It was weird. I took a monster tracking quest back then? Searched everywhere, nada. Not gate escapee mana, couldn't be summoned... yeah."
Pinch.
Jina suddenly started fiddling with my cheek. Not scolding or anything harsh.
Just her usual soft touch, savoring the squish.
"Couldn't... help it...(Couldn't help it)."
"Hmm?"
"C-Couldn't help it. Sometimes my control slips... ahaha...."
"Sure, happens. Not blaming you. Just curious. Honestly, it was great—I made good money off that quest."
Vroom!
"But kinda disappointing."
"Huh?"
"If it were me, I'd have wrecked that Hwayeon building... what was it? Lotus Castle? Whatever, just demolished it. Pisses me off."
I'd thought about it once or twice. Old me would've done it. Eyes closed, smash! Hwayeon services terminated in Korea that day.
But my current brain's hormones were vetoing that hard.
Feels like I'd gone from extreme T to ultra-ultra-ultra F. Worry for collateral victims outweighed any thrill.
"Yeah, you've got a soft heart, Saebyeok."
"......"
"Well, Hwayeon has regular office workers too, so unavoidable. Just fantasy?"
"Hehe... And I think buying the building later would be better revenge..."
"Nice. Buy it, then smash it publicly. Build a new Molrangmol tower on top."
Insane waste of cash. But that's why it's such a fun, exhilarating fantasy.
Jina and I chatted for ages, arriving back at the rooftop quicker than expected.
"Saebyeok, that new S-rank—you?"
As soon as we entered the factory, Ha-young greeted me, looking shell-shocked like she'd been whacked from behind.
"Yeah."
"Way too much, Saebyeok."
"......Huh?"
"You come out like that, what happens to Seojin who worked so hard pretending to be A-rank?"
Seojin, behind her, gave a wry smile.
Just teasing, though—Seojin shook it off quick and brought over a Molrangtori.
"Saebyeok, like you said, I grabbed the biggest one available."
Thud!
Inside the Molrangtori: a massive ore. Big and heavy enough to crush someone my size.
"How many kg?"
"Hmm... around 100kg? Probably more in the gate—survey report said so."
The ore gleamed beautifully.
Weird. Why no demand for such pretty stuff?
Baekya's survey confirmed it. Everyone at auction knew what it was.
Moonlight Stone, 200kg.
Worthless to others, priceless to me.
"Miniya!"
Ooi!
"Wanna make a ridiculously huge one together?"
Ooi!