Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 011
Chapter Title: Gear Shopping Hell and Operation "Stop Workplace Bullying"
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Fortunately, Se-jin allowed Shin-hyeok to pick up the hammer.
Picky artisans usually selected their apprentices after much careful consideration, but from Se-jin's perspective, Shin-hyeok was no different from a savior.
If such a person asked to become an apprentice, Se-jin was in the position of having to wait on him hand and foot to make it happen.
After Shin-hyeok became Se-jin's apprentice like that.
"Then now, let's just get Su-ah's gear sorted and head out."
"Sure."
"Wow, I'm nervous. Who would've thought I'd ever be shopping for gear at Oseong Department Store."
The three of them began proper gear shopping for Su-ah in earnest.
And that was the start of hell.
"This is a product from Carlson Workshop, one of the top one or two workshops in the U.S., so it's expensive, but the quality is guaranteed."
"Oh, this looks good. Carlson Workshop—I know that name—"
"I'll go check out some other places."
"......"
Even after visiting over ten stores already, Shin-hyeok's face paled as he watched Su-ah leave the shop again, saying she'd browse elsewhere. He pleaded with her.
"Su-ah, let's just buy everything. Yeah? I'll pay for it all."
"No way. You can't just buy whatever because you've got money. And if it's just temporary gear like you said, what are we supposed to do with all that stuff?"
Su-ah flatly rejected Shin-hyeok's desperate plea after hours of exhausting shopping.
She wasn't wrong, so Shin-hyeok had nothing to argue back with. He turned to Se-jin with a desperate look.
'Brother, do something.'
'......I don't know anything about women either!'
Of course, Se-jin was just as helpless.
In the end, the two had to wander the department store like zombies for another three hours.
"No way we're making it to the workshop today."
"......Sorry."
"Got it. At least we picked out some decent stuff, so that's something."
It was already long past sunset, making it impossible to head to the workshop that day.
"It's getting dark, so why don't you and Su-ah both crash at my place?"
"Your place?"
"Whoa, what's gotten into you, Shin-hyeok? You never brought anyone home before, not even if they begged."
"People change. So, you in?"
"Of course. Better than my shack."
"Me too. I've always been curious where you live."
And so, Shin-hyeok invited both Su-ah and Se-jin to his house.
The old Shin-hyeok had hated bringing outsiders home.
Even his friend Su-ah was no exception.
But that was the past.
It was nothing to the current Shin-hyeok.
No sooner had they decided than they hopped into a luxury sedan and arrived at Shin-hyeok's place, where both couldn't hide their shock.
"......Didn't you say you didn't get the chaebol heir treatment growing up, Shin-hyeok?"
"Whoa, a Gangnam penthouse...... Your place is amazing!"
A penthouse in Gangnam.
That was Shin-hyeok's home.
The top-floor penthouse was easily over 3,300 square feet, with more than five rooms inside.
Plenty of space for two guests to stay the night, no problem.
Shin-hyeok just shrugged.
"Even if you sold this, it wouldn't touch the mansions where Grandpa, Uncle, the other uncle, or Aunt live."
"......I see."
Se-jin, feeling once again how the world was all relative, gawked around the penthouse like a fresh arrival in Seoul.
"You're the new 'brother' Shin-hyeok made, right? The one who's basically his dad now."
"Ah, sorry for the late intro. I'm Bang Se-jin. I do a bit of hammering on the side."
"Haha, no son of mine picks someone who just hammers for a living. You'll go far, I'm sure."
"Thanks for saying that. Feel free to call me Se-jin."
"Alright then. You call me Uncle too, Se-jin."
"Yes, Uncle."
In-gyun, who had approached unnoticed, grinned and exchanged introductions with Se-jin.
Se-jin's initial shyness around the stranger faded quickly.
Soon they were calling each other "Uncle" and "Se-jin." Shin-hyeok gave Su-ah's back a nudge.
"You go say hi too."
"Oh, right. Uncle! I'm Su-ah! Han Su-ah!"
"Oh, so you're Su-ah? I've heard a lot about you from Shin-hyeok. They say you placed in Silver this time...... Guess I need to get on your good side, huh?"
"Hehe, I'm still Silver trash for now. You gotta hit Gold...... I mean, real Gold to get treated like a proper player."
"True that."
True to her friendly nature, Su-ah hit it off with In-gyun right away, chatting away. Shin-hyeok watched from a step back with a soft smile.
"Let's eat first since we're hungry. Plenty of night left anyway."
"Sounds good. How about delivery for once in a while?"
"Mom's cooking not good enough?"
"......Ahem! Don't say that outside! Our So-yeon's cooking is top-notch!"
"Then you eat home-cooked, Dad. We'll order our own deliv—"
"But with Shin-hyeok's friends over, home-cooked feels lacking. Chicken? Pizza? What do you kids want?"
"Honey. Order delivery, then come talk with me real quick."
"S-So-yeon. Since when......"
"Yep~ Heard everything from start to finish, so hurry up and order. Mr. Choi In-gyun?"
"......Yes, ma'am."
In-gyun broke into a cold sweat after unwittingly dissing So-yeon's cooking, but it was still a fun time for everyone.
Pizza, chicken, pork belly, pig's feet, and more.
Even accounting for Shin-hyeok's younger brother Shin-woo joining in, it was an absurd amount of delivery food. They marveled briefly.
"Players sure have hearty appetites."
"Hehe, gotta eat big to fight big!"
"But aren't you a priestess, Su-ah?"
"Technically priestess and holy knight. Got dual class after the placement exam."
"Dual class? Congrats."
"It's nothing compared to Shin-hyeok."
The food vanished as Su-ah, training her body like a true player, devoured most of it.
As they chatted over the meal.
"Dad."
"Hm? What?"
In-gyun, grinning happily at his stretchy pizza, tilted his head at Shin-hyeok calling him.
"Don't you think it's about time you got a spot in the Shinwa side of things?"
"......!"
Shin-hyeok lobbed a heavy fastball at In-gyun.
In-gyun was basically unemployed.
Just living off the monthly allowance.
In truth, it was also Grandpa Cheol-ho's warning.
Take this money and don't wander outside causing trouble.
In-gyun knew that, so he'd never tried starting anything.
Otherwise, even what he had would be taken away.
But hearing his son say that lit a fire in In-gyun's chest.
"......What do you think I'd be good at? Electronics is with big bro, guild with little bro. All that's left is department stores or hotels, but sis took those. Nothing pivotal left in Shinwa Group, right?"
Like a son of Chairman Cheol-ho who built Shinwa Group, In-gyun rattled off his points smoothly, as if prepared.
As In-gyun said, all key parts of Shinwa Group were already taken by his siblings.
No room for him now.
But Shin-hyeok added one thing.
"Why not? There's one. Something that affects electronics, guild, department stores, hotels—all of it."
"......You mean distribution?"
"Yes. Electronics might be a stretch, but if you monopolize supply of weapons and armor from Brother Se-jin to the guild and department store...... What do you think?"
"......!!!"
Distribution.
Faint compared to others, but indispensable.
The licorice of the apothecary.
That fit Shinwa Distribution perfectly.
But one key point.
"Is Se-jin really that level?"
Whether Se-jin's gear was worth the guild and department store begging for it.
Shin-hyeok nodded straight at In-gyun's serious question.
"Yes. Gear that'd shock America, make Japan cling to your pants legs, and have China wailing in envy."
"......You're not joking."
It sounded like a joke, but it was exactly what happened before regression.
America marveled, Japan groveled for it, China wept over lacking such talent.
Korea had many elite combat and crafting players despite its size.
Unique Challenger Shin-hyeok, Saintess Han Su-ah, God's Hand Bang Se-jin.
All world-shakers, all Korean.
In-gyun nodded after deep thought.
"Alright, I'll give it a shot. Can't say no when my boy pushes me."
"Your eyes are burning though?"
"Ahem, over ten years unemployed, bugs crawling under my skin, you know. But to take distribution, I need Dad's permission...... What's your plan for that?"
In-gyun coughed at Shin-hyeok's teasing, but his question was valid.
Talk distribution or gear all you want—without Cheol-ho's okay, impossible.
But Shin-hyeok had it figured.
"After placement exam, I got a wish from Grandpa for slotting Brother Se-jin into Shinwa Workshop. So if Se-jin does exactly as I say there......"
"Grandpa grants another wish, and you ask for me to take distribution?"
"Yep. Easy, right?"
"Ha, you're the only one in Korea who'd wish a top conglomerate from Grandpa."
"I'm one of a kind."
Cheol-ho rewarded turning impossible to possible.
Placement exam proved it, Se-jin would too.
If Se-jin matched that, reward would be Shinwa Distribution.
"That's why Brother Se-jin is key to this plan."
"Huh? Me? Oh, uh, chicken legs too long since last time, slipped my mind......"
Se-jin startled as eyes turned to him, two chicken legs already gone.
Shin-hyeok chuckled at the utterly civilian response and shook his head.
"Chicken legs later—I'll order a whole feast of just those. For now, focus on tomorrow's Shinwa Workshop."
"Shinwa Workshop......"
"Yeah. Where those jerks who screwed you over are squatting like they're master craftsmen."
"But how? They're jerks, but their skills are legit."
The chicken-munching youth vanished; vengeful Se-jin remained.
But even he had worries.
Years as Shinwa Workshop artisans—their skill and achievements weren't ignorable.
Of course—
"Operation name: 'Workplace Bullying, Stop!' Let's go."
"......What the hell is that?"
Shin-hyeok had a plan.
Operation name: 'Workplace Bullying, Stop!'.
It began secretly on the dining table of a Gangnam penthouse.