Hespera 3
'What? You went around the world looking for Irregulars? Why?'
I was beyond flustered by Hespera's story—straight-up confused. What on earth was her goal in tracking down Irregulars across the globe? The one silver lining was that I sensed no hostility or malice from her. Surprisingly, ever since becoming an NPC, my instincts like this had been spot-on. Not a single miss so far. I'd even wondered if it was some undisclosed NPC ability. That's why I hadn't bolted yet. If even a hint of something off had shown up, I'd have escaped no matter what. Still, just in case, I was fully prepped—ready to summon a mana blade or open my Potion Shop at a moment's notice. Keeping it casual, I spoke up.
"What do you mean by that? You calling me an Irregular?"
I didn't let it show, but Hespera picked up on it and apologized quick.
"If the word 'Irregular' bothers you, I'm sorry. It's just a common term for special hunters, nothing more."
Her words rang true, and it was accurate besides. Nations coined "Irregular" to manage exceptional hunters, so criteria varied by country. In weaker hunter nations, someone dubbed Irregular might end up treated as ordinary in a powerhouse like Korea. Still, my hypersensitivity came from all the grief over my healing potions.
"Got it. So why were you hunting down a leatherworker like me?"
"If—if there's a special leatherworker, I wanted to see how their leather armor differed. And talk to them, make a request. That's all."
A request? That had to be why she'd scoured the world for an Irregular-level leatherworker.
"What kind of talk, and what request? Care to elaborate?"
"First, do you know anything about SSS-rank dungeons?"
No guild in Korea had even fully cleared an SS-rank yet, let alone challenged SSS. Globally, they were shrouded in secrecy. China’s Huanglong Guild had once announced a public raid—drawing every eye in the world. Rumors swirled of secret attempts by others, but this was the first official one. It ended in disaster: 90% of the raid team wiped out, the rest fleeing without a word. No guild had gone public since, just whispers of covert tries, with zero info leaking out.
"No. Nothing."
I honestly knew zilch, so I said so. Then Hespera's lips parted, spilling crucial intel on SSS-ranks that hooked me instantly.
"In certain areas of SSS-rank dungeons, plate armor becomes unusable. You have to cross them relying solely on leather armor to hunt monsters—and my armor alone can't handle SSS-rank beasts."
"Pardon?"
"Exactly that. Leather armor and weapons are fine, but don those plate suits, and special monsters spawn. Ants smaller than a pinky nail—they devour the metal. Killing them? Impossible. Their numbers exceed billions. I once burned through all my mana trying, but they just multiplied mid-fight. I barely escaped with losses. Only way through: leather armor."
The absurdity left me speechless. After sorting my thoughts, I asked again.
"Then just craft leather armor from SSS-rank monsters you've already hunted, right?"
It seemed logical, but Hespera stayed silent. I pressed.
"Don't tell me even SSS-rank leather armor struggles against the monsters?"
She looked mortified as she replied, dropping a bombshell.
"This zone hits right at the dungeon entrance. Every SSS-rank dungeon's the same—terrain varies, but the situation doesn't."
"No way. That's ridiculous."
I blurted my disbelief, and she shot back.
"Yes, it is. But it's reality. No guild that challenged one ever shares info—who'd admit they got chased out by ants before seeing a real monster?"
Now it clicked why SSS-rank details were nil. Nothing to disclose. No SSS corpses either, since no one had seen the beasts. SS-rank leather it was, then, against SSS monsters.
"So? Your request to me is...?"
I guessed it instantly, and Hespera confirmed while denying.
"Yes. I'd like to buy your armor, Kim Suho-ssi. Regularly. SS-rank leather would be ideal, but even S-rank like at the tournament works. Ah, don't misunderstand—I have zero plans to raid SSS-ranks wearing your gear."
What? Buying multiple suits on the regular, yet not using them for SSS-raids? My baffled expression must've shown, because she explained.
"I can't learn your mana-infusing skill, but replicating its effects? Totally doable, in my judgment. The gap between 'impossible' and 'proven possible' is huge. It'll take time, but I'll find a way."
I was stunned. She'd copy my ability? Never saw that coming. She kept going.
"You're a special leatherworker, no doubt—but I won't lose. I'm Hespera, the world's top leatherworker. I'll conquer the first SSS-rank, and every hunter's leather armor from that raid will be mine."
Her competitive fire made no sense with the purchases, but I let it slide—no point escalating with someone who'd walk away on her own. I'd worried she'd cling, begging for my skills or apprenticeship, so dodging that was a relief. Still, her pride as a leatherworker was intense. Admitting she couldn't copy my skill yet vowing to match its effects anyway? Impressive. And it reminded me of Ha Geonmin again.
'Should I really introduce them?'
I genuinely wanted to hook her up with Geonmin someday, maybe set up a meeting.
Then another question hit me.
"If you're just buying, why not grab it from my workshop?"
She gave me a look like I'd lost it.
"Show off armor like that at the tournament, then make me draw a number ticket? You feeling competitive already, trying to freeze me out?"
Another weird vibe from her words, but I ignored it. The post-ceremony chaos replayed in my head, validating her point.
"Ah, right. One more thing—if I say no, why act so smug?"
I eyed her assumption that I'd sell, incredulous. She smiled lightly.
"I planned for that. Here's my offer: Provide two suits monthly, and I'll share every detail on SSS-ranks I'll raid—no omissions, no lies. Initial clear info only, up to first completion. Plus, for every suit I get, one SSS-rank monster corpse upon successful hunts."
My jaw dropped. Initial clear intel alone was priceless—money couldn't buy it. Useless now, maybe, but gold later. And trading suits one-for-one with SSS corpses? My mind flashed to shipping 200 a month.
"Deal... satisfied?"
I nodded furiously, scared she'd back out. Zero downside for me.
After sealing the secret deal and parting with Hespera, I met the guild crew and headed back. But an unbelievable sight awaited.
Dozens lined up outside the guild building, snaking down the alley—likely hundreds more hidden.
"Uh... this is what I think it is, right?"
I stammered, stunned. I'd expected a rush, but not today, right after the tournament.
"No need to worry that much. Few here can afford S-rank leather anyway."
Geonmin eyed the crowd unfazed. She knew most couldn't pay.
"Then why the mob?"
"Hype, mostly. Hoping for lower grades. Announce S-rank only, and most'll bail."
I doubted it but couldn't leave it festering, so I headed over. Worst case, if they all bought, I'd log a waitlist and disperse them. I'd capped external sales at ten suits monthly regardless—could do a hundred, but kept it low to match other leatherworkers' output.
And Geonmin nailed it. "S-rank leather only" left exactly seven, who weren't even buying today. Elite enough for S-ranks, they knew the drill—off to hunt corpses, promising to return.
With the crowd gone, we slipped inside safely.
"Whew, like a storm hit. Not happening again tomorrow, right?"
Mental fatigue hit hard despite doing zilch; tomorrow loomed. But Geonmin eased me.
"Crowds'll linger awhile. But with the 'S-rank only' sign up front, no more chaos like today."
Her experience shone—hunters outside glanced at the sign and turned away. Relieved, my mind drifted to Hespera.
'SSS-rank dungeons.'
Too far-fetched while we couldn't even raid S-ranks, but I was hooked.
'Can she really pull it off?'
To unravel SSS secrets, she'd need to mimic my armor's mana. An NPC power I couldn't explain—could a normal hunter crack it? Anyone else, I'd call it doomed. But her confidence sparked real hope.
Next chapter follows...