Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Something's Definitely Happening (1)
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📰 Recruitment Notice [Crystal Guild New Healer Recruitment] To find a new healer, I posted an ad on a job site. Luckily, Lee Seo-woo's work pad had all sorts of templates saved, or I'd have been in trouble. I'd seen plenty of corporate recruitment notices like that before, but I'd never written one myself. On top of that, this pad let me check out some useful stuff.
Personal info on all the people he'd screwed over with his shady dealings, ledgers for tax evasion, that sort of thing. Come to think of it, there was a mention that Yoo Soo-jung's father, Yoo Ji-hyeok, had been using Crystal Guild for tax evasion too.
Gates manifest as portals connecting to other worlds. Fields are areas where the climate changes around them, mana leaks in, and the local ecosystem mutates naturally. These two are the main sources of income for hunters and the guilds they form, leading to some interesting dynamics.
Gates, once opened, stay fixed in their initial state unless something unusual happens, resetting every time they're cleared. The novel just says research is ongoing about how it works—no real explanation. Typical for novels like this. Sure, the number of entrants is capped, and once you're in, you can't leave until it's cleared, but with monsters integrated into everyday life now, it's no wonder hunters dominate the economy. It's like money's being printed. Of course, with all that supply flooding the market, you pretty much need D- or C-rank to even call yourself a hunter these days.
But the real point here is Lee Seo-woo himself. Whether it's gates or fields, hunting requires consumables. Potions—the lifeline—plus weapons, armor, arrows, and all the little stuff. That's one reason low-rank hunters can't make a living off hunting anymore. Byproducts from hunts are worth less and less, but costs stay the same. And that's where Lee Seo-woo saves on operating expenses. Assemble a party for the entry limit, then solo it—no consumables needed except mana potions. He'd write it off as "guild member training," go in with everyone, then wipe everything out alone.
Established guilds like others have exclusive contracts with consumable makers and workshops, so fudging expenses is easy. Sneak unused potions back for refunds and reuse them—simple misdirection. Plus, the workshops contracted with Crystal Guild were handpicked by Yoo Ji-hyeok, so they handled the small stuff on their own.
"Damn, he really raked it in."
No wonder the money seemed suspiciously abundant. Sure, being A-rank helped, and he'd hoarded some unused stuff too. Anyway, these documents could come in handy later, so I'll keep them. Time to think about scouting prospects too.
Gates pop up unexpectedly here and there—not super often, but enough that there are more orphans now than before. Awakening rates are low and random anyway, so finding usable ones among them is tough.
The author didn't like whitewashing villains' dark pasts, so Lee Seo-woo's backstory isn't detailed. But Seo Ji-hyun's is a special case. The orphanage director where she grew up took bribes from Yoo Ji-hyeok and ratted her out right after she awakened. Unless it's something like that, I'd have to scout in person. If this were an academy story, my memories would make it easy to hunt them down.
Not that it'd be that simple. Still, it's worth a shot, even if I'm not getting my hopes up.
-Fwoosh.
My head throbbed the deeper I thought, so I pulled out a cigarette and lit up. Yesterday and the day before, the whirlwind of events kept it off my mind, but ever since that sudden craving hit, I'd been thinking about it nonstop. On the way here, I grabbed some mystery mint pack from the convenience store. No, the beer was that green or blue one from Korea, but the cigarettes? Not a single familiar name. I just asked for a menthol pack, and they recommended this. Come to think of it, the beer names were off too. Maybe I just grabbed similar-looking ones by mistake.
The convenience store clerk recognized me and gave me this pitying look, asking if I was going through a rough patch lately. At least I learned Lee Seo-woo never smoked originally, so that's something. Not that it matters much. I can just say I picked up the habit.
Only after the thick smoke and minty freshness swirled in my mouth did my thoughts start to settle.
First, I'll check academies around the capital area. If nothing pans out, hit the orphanages. Even if they've awakened, anyone under high school age is legally barred from activity, so it's better to scout ones who haven't been contacted by other guilds yet than chase unconfirmed potentials.
Once you've got a plan, act on it. As vice guild master, who's gonna question me? Checking the pad's schedule, the Hunter Association hasn't set a date for new dungeon raids yet, so nothing pressing. Time to head out.
Lunch is still about two hours away, so better move fast.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I was too naive. Showing up at a school out of nowhere without a word wasn't going to get me anywhere. Good thing I was in Lee Seo-woo’s body—an A-rank solo player with recognition—or I'd look like some lunatic crashing scout season. I'd stupidly assumed my pre-possession life logic applied: flash a visitor's pass and done. Still, they didn't want to make an enemy, so the administrative deputy director came out personally to guide me.
"Oh, welcome. I'm Park Shin-hyuk."
"Crystal Guild Vice Guild Master Lee Seo-woo. Sorry for dropping by so suddenly."
"No, no, not at all. Any school would welcome Hunter Lee Seo-woo. Just give us a heads-up next time for better arrangements. Haha."
Geum Academy in Yeongdeungpo, not far from our guild building in Yeouido. Sure, it might not match the elite schools in the big three rich districts where chaebol heirs and mega-guild kids go, but those places are hopeless for raw talent scouting anyway. This seemed like a better bet. As Deputy Director Park explained and showed me around the key facilities, they made the first move.
"The second-years should be sparring right now. Want to start there? It'd motivate the students to have an A-rank hunter like you watch."
"Sure, sounds good."
They phrased it politely, but since I'd been rude first, they hit where it hurt. Still, it was my mistake, and seeing them in person beats paperwork for me anyway.
True to an awakener academy, the place screamed high-end. Security at the entrance, finished exterior walls, and the interior was next level. This training ground in the city felt almost spacious, with the open top layered in translucent shields to prevent accidents. You could feel the dense mana woven in—serious investment.
"Who's maintaining that shield?"
"Artifact. Our staff charges it with mana every morning."
"Impressive."
"You're a solo player, and these are new—rolled out first to awakener academies. You might not know."
"Government issue?"
"Yes. Developed after a misfired spell three years ago hit nearby apartments."
"Huh."
I had no idea that happened.
"Can't charge it with magic stones?"
"You can, but low-grades have limits, and high-grades strain the budget."
"Got it."
This could spark a new inflation wave. Big guilds have steady magic stone supply; corporations could use these shields for non-awakeners entering dungeons too. Might ask Yoo Ji-hyeok for some. As I pondered and eyed the training ground, the students' gazes shifted from the instructor to me.
"Yo, isn't that the solo king?"
"For real? Where?"
"There, check it. Totally Lee Seo-woo, right?"
"No way. Outta nowhere?"
They thought they were whispering.
"Quiet! No chatter!"
The instructor had noticed but couldn't stop class until now. He hushed them and approached. Face looked mid-40s, sharp eyes—like he could still swing in the field.
"Deputy Director. And Hunter Lee Seo-woo?"
"Lee Seo-woo. Nice to meet you."
Maybe I wasn't used to hunter society's rank games yet. Thinking to show respect to my elder, I offered a handshake first. He looked surprised, softened his glare, and gripped back firmly.
"Kim Joo-hyun. Honored to meet you. What brings you here?"
"Our Hunter Lee Seo-woo offered to check out the students himself. Not saying you're lacking, of course. But an active A-rank brings something extra, right?"
"I'd be grateful if he would."
Suddenly, his grip tightened—bad vibe. Eyes narrowing again, like he was pissed. I tensed, half-expecting him to snap about some punk disrespecting him. Instead, Instructor Kim said something else.
"I'll take you up on that first."
"Pardon?"
"Give me a minute to prep."
"???"
He strode to the training ground center, radiating bloodlust. I stood frozen as student whispers hit my ears.
"Our instructor vs. the solo king? Sparring?"
"Oh snap. This is going viral."
"But solo king’s A-rank, dude."
"Instructor was badass back in the day. Almost hit A before retiring, right?"
Wait, I just said I'd watch—not fight. All I've got is baseball-sized Fireballs and lighting cigarettes. Haven't even tested them properly.