The Unwanted Invitation
“Then I shall keep watching you, Employee Shin Jiwoo.”
“…So. To what do I owe the pleasure? A busy person like the Red Bullet visiting the Association in person?”
Lena handed over the coffee she had just brewed, placed it on the table, and sat down on the sofa. Opposite her sat a woman. She had hair with a reddish tint. Sitting with her legs crossed, she picked up the coffee with a detached expression.
“…It’s instant coffee.”
“That’s how civil servants live.”
Lena laughed as she downed the instant coffee in one gulp. Having grown up abroad, Lena had long since become accustomed to the taste of instant coffee.
“It’s not expensive beans, but it has a charm of its own. They call it the ‘cheap’ taste, don’t they? Civil servants seem to like this sort of thing.”
“You’ve become a total Korean now.”
“I was a Korean to begin with?”
Kim Yeo-won muttered about Lena’s dual citizenship and took a sip of the instant coffee. Amidst the soft, milky flavor, she could taste a deep sweetness and just a hint of coffee. It’s just sugar water. Kim Yeo-won set the coffee down and opened her mouth.
“I just stopped by while I was in the neighborhood. I happened to have business at the Association.”
“Is that so? About your son?”
“It’s nothing like that.”
Lena grinned. Having known Kim Yeo-won for a long time, Lena knew her very well.
“As it happens, Employee Shin Jiwoo recently pulled off quite a feat. You’ve heard, right? It’s a story no hunter could miss.”
“An Unbound awakener.”
“And a rare healing type among Unbound awakeners at that. What’s even more surprising is that he doesn’t just play the role of a healer. He possesses eyes that can see mana itself.”
Lena spoke about the Unbound awakener, Lee Jiyoo. It was an ability that had never existed before. In the healing category, it was a power no S-class hunter could match. Furthermore, with her ally buffs and utility skills, she possessed out-of-spec abilities as both a healer and a support-type hunter.
“We almost missed out on such a hunter, you know~ And Employee Shin Jiwoo was the one who recognized it at a glance.”
“…”
Kim Yeo-won stiffened her expression at the mention of Shin Jiwoo’s name. He was the shame of the family, the only one who hadn’t awakened. Although he wasn’t her biological son, his existence wasn’t without influence on the family.
“…It must have been a coincidence. He’s a child with nothing special about him.”
“Is that so? But the Association is paying close attention to Employee Shin Jiwoo. I am, too. Well, I don’t know about the great families. He might do things that a simply strong hunter cannot. Things only a non-awakened person can do.”
“Could such a thing happen? At best, he’s just a useless non-awakened person. That miracle was a one-time thing.”
“Would it be? I don’t think so. Shall we make a bet?”
“A bet?”
Lena laughed and brewed another cup of instant coffee.
“On how far this child will climb. I think this child will become the most necessary existence even for your family. Perhaps even more than the Dignified Patriarch.”
“…You’d better be careful with words like that.”
“It’s not like he’s listening, so what does it matter? So,”
Knock-knock.
Just then, a knock interrupted Lena. Lena glanced at Kim Yeo-won once and told them to come in.
“Director. They say a magic crystal mine has been discovered in Seocho-gu.”
“Is that so?”
Kim Yeo-won didn’t quite understand the situation. Usually, reports about magic crystal mines weren’t made to the Director. But Lena had an expectant look on her face.
“Yes. And they say the scale is larger than any magic crystal deposit discovered to date. It’s enough to mine for at least ten years. And, the employee who identified the magic crystal mine is Employee Shin Jiwoo.”
“…!”
“Understood. You may go.”
Employee Shin Jiwoo. At the mention of that name, Kim Yeo-won’s expression changed. Lena, reading Kim Yeo-won’s face, spoke.
“I never thought he would be able to pull off something like this. So,”
Lena went to her desk and gave various instructions. It was about going directly to the gate where the magic crystal mine was discovered.
“Are we making that bet?”
Kim Yeo-won’s expression wavered.
“I happened to be there together. Would it be alright if we were together?”
“…Yes. That is fine.”
“Good.”
“Then I will report.”
Shin Jiwoo hurriedly gathered his materials and began his report. Lena smiled as she watched him. On the other hand, Kim Yeo-won looked away, pretending not to watch Shin Jiwoo.
“The current deposit of magic crystals discovered during the first exploration is approximately 7 million tons. According to the exploration specialist hunter, it is expected that at least twice this amount is buried. The dungeon’s mining conversion and maintenance costs are estimated at 17.1 billion won per month, but if we provide a guarantee in magic stones to the hired guild, it appears we can lower the cost exponentially, and the first clearing party, Lee Yuseung’s clearing team…”
Shin Jiwoo reported the overall situation while moving around the gate and the site. Although Kim Yeo-won didn’t know much about the Association’s work, she could tell that Shin Jiwoo’s report was very clean. He had organized content that was usually difficult for guilds to understand in a way that made it easy to grasp at once.
‘I see what Lena is talking about. He certainly has a knack for work, and he’s extraordinary.’
He was like a nuisance to the family. From a certain day on, he didn’t even show up at gatherings where family members congregated. To be precise, he couldn’t come because he wasn’t invited. But it seemed he had thoroughly studied what a non-awakened person could do.
‘But that’s all.’
However, that was it. No matter how much a non-awakened person struggled, they were still a non-awakened person. Just because he was good at this kind of work didn’t mean he could be recognized in the hunter society or by the family.
“…That is all.”
“I heard you well, Employee Shin Jiwoo.”
The report was over. In any case, it was certain that a massive magic crystal mine had been discovered. A scale that had never existed before. Since there were enough magic stones buried to mine for at least ten years. Any hunter couldn’t help but be excited about how huge that was.
“So, what is Employee Shin Jiwoo’s opinion?”
“Yes? Which part are you referring to?”
“The maintenance of this dungeon’s mine. While mining will be left to professional hunters, we will need to contract a guild to handle the dungeon’s monsters. I am asking which guild would be suitable.”
At those words, Kim Yeo-won’s eyes widened. Honestly, she didn’t have high expectations for Shin Jiwoo, a non-awakened person, but this contract was important. If they were to take on the dungeon management contract, they would be provided with a massive amount of magic stones as a guarantee from the guild. Probably every guild would rush to win this magic crystal mine maintenance contract.
“Since Hunter Kim Yeo-won is here, should we entrust it to the ‘Red Consortium’? Since the two of you have a connection.”
What is this stingy Director doing? The Red Consortium was the name of the guild Kim Yeo-won belonged to. This was a good opportunity for Kim Yeo-won. If she took the magic crystal mine contract like this, not only the guild but she herself would be able to equip powerful gear.
Shin Jiwoo had always tried to fit into the family as a non-awakened person. Kim Yeo-won remembered him doing this and that to win the favor of the family’s high-ranking hunters. Of course, even after doing that, he was ultimately a non-awakened person, so he ended up being shunned by the family. If things went as they were, there was at least a possibility of entrusting this contract to the family’s guild. But Shin Jiwoo’s words were different from Kim Yeo-won’s thoughts.
“…I don’t think that’s right. Director.”
“…?”
Shin Jiwoo, who was looking at the chart, said with a straight face. Kim Yeo-won’s expression stiffened for a moment.
“The Red Consortium is a small, elite guild. Each and every one of them has a very high value. And not only that, as I mentioned, usually one would entrust it to a large guild, but I am against that as well. For example, places like ‘Ilseong Group’, ‘Destroyer Union’, ‘Jesan Guild’, or ‘Asis Korea’.”
Most of the names Shin Jiwoo recited were guilds that family members belonged to. It was hard to read his expression to see if he said it consciously or not. Lena smiled as if it were interesting.
“Then what should we do? To periodically clear out the monsters in a dungeon of this size, a lot of manpower will be needed.”
“Regardless of the guild, we can receive support for a set number of personnel and hire them. Whether they are free hunters or guild-affiliated, they can do as they wish.”
“Hmm? Keep talking.”
Lena crossed her arms and fixed her gaze on Shin Jiwoo as if intrigued. Kim Yeo-won was the same.
“We sell participation rights to those who can join the magic crystal mine maintenance party.”
“…Sell participation rights? So, you mean you’re going to make the hunters pay money?”
“That’s correct. Instead, we provide magic stones as compensation to the participating hunters. And the participation fees received from the dungeon maintenance party hunters can be used to hire professional mining hunters.”
“…!”
“Oh…! Such an idea.”
“As expected of Employee Shin Jiwoo… to have thought of even that in the meantime!”
The employees around them clapped at Employee Shin Jiwoo’s idea. It was certainly an innovative thought. The Hunter Association was a kind of public enterprise, so there were no restrictions on profit-making activities.
“There is a larger quantity of magic stones sleeping here than all the magic stones discovered so far. Even after paying the hunters, we can secure a sufficient amount of magic stones. By doing this, one large guild cannot monopolize the magic stones, and the Association will be able to control the market price of magic stones. Furthermore, it will also help in increasing national power.”
“Certainly… if one guild monopolizes the magic stones, the balance of the hunter society will be broken…”
Lena muttered and calculated in her head. Shin Jiwoo’s proposal was a very appropriate and groundbreaking idea. By doing this, they could control all the problems.
“My eyes were not wrong after all. Employee Shin Jiwoo.”
“…It is nothing.”
“Then we shall proceed that way. Then, for the management of this magic crystal mine, we should leave it to Employee Shin Jiwoo, right?”
“Ye, yes?”
“I cannot think of anyone who can handle this work better than Employee Shin Jiwoo. I leave it to you.”
“Ah, no…”
“To think such a child is your son. I’m starting to envy Hunter Kim Yeo-won.”
“……”
An awkward atmosphere hung in the air at those words. This was because the relationship between Kim Yeo-won and Shin Jiwoo was not good, even if one were to lie. Furthermore, Kim Yeo-won was currently quite surprised. The son she thought was useless as a non-awakened person was doing his job excellently. She even thought that even if he wasn’t a hunter, he had enough necessary ability. Of course, even so, she didn’t know if he would still be recognized by the family. Because the family really valued strength as a hunter. However, seeing Shin Jiwoo like that just now… Kim Yeo-won had an absurd thought.
“Then I shall keep watching you. Employee Shin Jiwoo.”
While Kim Yeo-won was having such thoughts, Lena was wrapping up the situation. After the entire situation ended, Kim Yeo-won approached Shin Jiwoo.
I must be crazy! I ended up taking over the entire management just by saying unnecessary things. And in the first place, shouldn’t mine management be done by the regional headquarters? Why are they making me do everything! But still, it wasn’t bad. If I had full control over the progress of this work, it meant I could ruin this entire big project all by myself. I’ll ruin this massive magic crystal mine completely and make sure to quit. Hehe. For example, by setting the participation fee at a ridiculously cheap price. Or by ruining the economy by giving away magic stones. Well, anyway. As I was making plans to quit, someone approached me.
“…Mother.”
Kim Yeo-won. My stepmother. She didn’t even show interest when I joined the Hunter Association. She wasn’t my biological mother, but I was still habitually calling her mother.
“…Next week.”
“Yes?”
“Participate in the family gathering. I will make a seat for you.”
“…What did you say?”
Saying only that much, Kim Yeo-won turned around and walked away. I stared blankly at her back. If it was a family gathering, it definitely meant the massive banquet held by the family every month. As a prestigious hunter family, it was a place where family members interacted. In my childhood, it was a place I also attended occasionally. But after they found out I was a non-awakened person, I couldn’t go. As I grew older, I was ignored by the family for being a non-awakened person. Eventually, when the possibility of awakening disappeared, I was treated like trash by the family. At one time, I struggled to fit into the family somehow. But at some point, I think I just gave up. Perhaps recently, they hadn’t even made a seat for me.
“But why all of a sudden?”
A very uneasy premonition washed over me.