I'll Splurge with Someone Else's Money (2)
I'll Splurge with Someone Else's Money (2)
"By any chance, do you have a license?"
While I was admiring the sparkling supercars, Scarlet Kim suddenly asked me that question.
"A license exists for those who can't live without clinging to one."
"So you don't have one... Hmm? But how did you..."
She means how I did deliveries.
Simple enough.
"Delivery riders don't need a license."
"Pardon?"
"More precisely, nobody gives a damn whether you have one or not. As long as you don't cause an accident."
The motorcycle form of Clare naturally has no license plate.
Of course, I mean no real one. I've got a fake one slapped on there.
"What delivery platforms want from riders isn't a license—it's getting food there fast and accurate."
"So as long as you don't crash, fake plates or driving without a license never get found out... That's what you're saying."
"That's how the world works, right? If you don't get caught, nothing happens."
"You're right, but... for a hero who saved the world, that's a bit too..."
"I was a hero, but never a saintly gentleman. You don't like it?"
"Hehe, no way. Honestly, I prefer someone flexible like that. No frustrations."
"Hahaha."
I'm not saying the ends justify the means.
But bearing the weight of a whole world... you can't do it with ideals alone.
"So, with that in mind, not having a license doesn't mean I can't buy a car, right?"
"Of course you can. Car companies don't care about licenses—they care about money."
"Hahaha."
That said, the prices are insanely high across the board.
Supercars were always expensive, but... these in front of me have an extra zero beyond what I expected.
'They're that much more magnificent, though...'
A sleek black sports car that evoked a black panther.
A white sedan reminiscent of a bride in a pure white dress.
An SUV like an angry bull... and so on.
Each one felt less like flashy vehicles and more like works of art.
So, do I want one? Sure, I'd like to have them...
'But... do I really need to?'
'Yeah.'
'Well, truth is, no matter how fast those cars are, they're still slower than you, Hero-nim. Nobody rides something slower than themselves.'
Not bragging, but she's right.
In the struggle for the world's fate, I completely transcended human limits.
Of course, that doesn't mean those cars are pointless to me.
They're just a shame to waste.
Considering Seoul traffic, they'd be crawling along at 30-50 kph, sputtering away.
And I can't just become some lowlife revving the engine pointlessly in the dead of night for no reason.
"Hmm... Guess I'll just get something decently eye-catching."
Still, top-tier brands where flipping the blinker parts the seas like the Red Sea would be nice.
Spacious interior too.
I prefer a heavy, imposing presence over flashy showiness...
"If it's that kind of car, obviously Loslobos."
Behind Scarlet Kim, who flashed a confident smile, loomed a sedan like the king of wolves.
Truck-like in size, width, and height.
Yet the overall impression was grave and dignified.
"Whoa..."
It reminded me of those ancient RollxRoyce images I'd seen long ago.
A fuzzy 240p memory upscaled to 8K clarity.
'Heh heh...'
'Why are you grinning like a creep?'
'In that car, no matter who I'm with or what we're doing inside... Ngh...!'
...Anyway, the female employee who'd vanished somewhere approached me.
For the record, I absolutely did not think that car would make carriage romps look like child's play.
Absolutely not.
Soon, I spoke to the female employee, who gave a neat bow.
"I'll take this one."
"Yes, sir. On this pad, the options you'd like..."
I stopped her as she went to pull out a touchpad and just handed over my card.
"Full options."
"Ah... Yes, sir. A full-option Loslobos runs about 7.5 billion won. Installments...?"
"Lump sum."
"Ah, yes, sir. We'll process payment right away."
Right now, I bear the grave mission of toppling the pillar of Changseong, Korea's number one conglomerate that toys with the world's economy.
So 7.5 billion on a car? Pocket change.
'Well... compared to Changseong's market cap, 7.5 billion is like 7.5 won. Can't even pry a single brick loose with pocket change under 10 won, let alone a pillar.'
"Huh, money won't cut it, then."
"But a sword could do it easy."
What nonsense... or is it...?
For example, slice the neck of their HQ building, the head falls to the shoulders... shoulders collapse under the head's weight... eventually the whole Changseong HQ crumbles...
Do that to every Changseong building worldwide, and you could say I "slew" Changseong with my sword.
It wouldn't kill them, but they'd be on death's door.
"Haha."
I let out a chuckle, and Scarlet Kim beamed at me.
"Wow, that's a smile I've never seen before."
"Just had a dumb thought."
"Hehe... I was having some dumb thoughts too, actually."
"...Haven't we done enough already?"
"My body's already worn out on you... Got it... Even though I dressed all slutty on purpose... If Master insists..."
Is it the recovery magic I cast before we left?
Or because Scarlet Kim's an S-Class Hunter, superhuman in her own right, even if not on my level?
Either way... if she still wants to cling to me, I'm game.
Heroes love beauty, after all.
Anyway, the female employee returned with my card.
"Sir, payment complete."
"Thanks. Ah, when's delivery?"
"Right away. If you'd like, we can have it ready to drive out when you leave."
"Do that, then. Let's go, Scarlet Kim."
"Yes, M... President."
"Hahaha."
Next stop: a clothing store... sort of.
Unlike the usual image, the VIP section had zero clothes in sight.
Just a space like a dressing room and some staff.
'Still, the vibe's luxurious overall...'
As I thought that.
This time, a male employee who screamed "designer" approached me.
"Welcome, sir. I'll be your guide here."
"Ah, sure..."
Surprisingly, he came straight to me, not Scarlet Kim.
Well... that's how it should be.
I'd never paid much attention to clothes anyway, so I just stated what I needed.
"A suit would be good."
"A suit. Essential, right? A man's armor, isn't it? Haha."
"And... a few casual pieces to wear around comfortably."
"Casual and comfy. May we handle the styling and prep?"
"That'd be great."
"Yes, sir. Understood. If you'd step into this dressing room?"
I handed Clare from my wrist and the Black Card to Scarlet Kim.
Leaving Scarlet Kim—who accepted them with a smile—I followed the male employee into the dressing room.
But.
"Wha...?"
—Wi-ing~
Scanners popped out from the wide dressing room walls and started scanning my body.
"We're measuring your dimensions, sir. Please wait a moment..."
So that's what "we'll prep it" meant.
Kinda cool, honestly, so I stood quietly inside.
About three minutes passed...
—Woo-woong...
The walls where the scanners emerged split open, and three male employees approached me.
One with shoes, one with shirt and pants, one with an outer coat.
The one with the coat stepped forward.
"A suit tailored to your measurements, sir. Shall we try it on?"
"Sure. This how it's done these days?"
"Pardon me, but you don't seem the type to browse and pick, so we prepared this way. Uncomfortable?"
"Haha, no. Actually grateful. Picking clothes is the hardest thing in the world for me."
"Hahaha, that's how we earn our pay."
Unlike the female employee earlier, these guys had solid charm.
Thanks to that, I let them handle me without fuss.
Though... having them dress me from head to toe was a bit embarrassing...
"All set, sir. Any discomfort?"
"Feels like I'm naked even though I'm dressed. Nothing catches or binds."
"Glad to hear. Style to your liking?"
"Haha, yeah. But the fabric... doesn't feel ordinary?"
"Correct. Outer layer's premium wool weave; lining's a blend of aramid fiber and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene."
"So...?"
"Simply put: a bulletproof, blade-resistant suit. Sorry if presumptuous, but seeing your build, I figured hunter or equivalent, so we prepped this."
"Whoa... Impressive. Figuring that out just from looking."
"That's what the fat salary's for, haha. Your casuals and other items are ready too—try on?"
"Nah. I'll wear this out. Thanks."
"Yes, sir. Thank you."
I stepped out in the suit and shoes.
Sure enough, Scarlet Kim waited at the door and politely offered Clare.
"Won't say it doesn't suit a chairman now, right?"
"Ahaha, yeah. Sigh... Knew it would..."
"Fallen for him again?"
"Yes. My womb's quivering like crazy."
"Hahaha."
Then the male employee approached.
With my card, of course.
"Payment complete. Total 350 million won, all lump sum. Receipt?"
"No need. But where're the clothes?"
"Loaded in your earlier car purchase. That alright?"
"Yes. Thanks."
"Haha, we should thank you. Any more shopping planned?"
Car bought, clothes bought... nothing else.
I nodded to Scarlet Kim, and the employee got it right away.
"Hope you enjoyed; look forward to your return."
"Haha, yeah. Thanks for today."
Didn't feel like much shopping, but it's already evening.
Time to head back.
To that ultra-lux suite room at 50 million a night.
'My sense of money's going haywire...'