Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: [Reality] Romance Comes at a Price
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"What? Ten million won?"
"Why?"
This ridiculously oversized hunk of blunt metal that isn't even sharp... ten million won?
That's almost three times the price of a D-rank weapon.
Sure, it uses more material because of its size, but isn't this a massive rip-off anyway?
Honestly, it feels like I'm getting totally scammed.
The Hunter Market staff said it should sell for around material costs.
No matter how good the materials are...
Ten million won feels way over the line.
"Doesn't it seem a bit expensive?"
Marie noona's lips puffed out at my response.
"Expensive? What the hell do you mean by expensive!"
"No, noona, calm down and hear me out. I checked at the Hunter Market earlier, and a D-rank longsword goes for about 3.5 million won. Even so, ten million is just..."
"Hey, you really have no clue, do you? You think this is just some lump of iron?"
"It isn't?"
"Listen up. This thing has over 200kg of steel alone."
"200kg? That much?"
I vaguely remembered reading online that a longsword weighs about 1.3kg.
It's stupidly huge, so yeah, it's insanely heavy.
I figured maybe 40kg at most.
"Yeah! And it's not just any steel—it's a special alloy smelted with mana stone powder. Do you even know how much mana alloy costs?"
"Uh... no idea."
"Plus, we added a handful of mithril powder to boost hardness! You know how pricey mithril is, right? Even a teaspoon jacks up the price!"
That did make it sound plausible.
If it has mana alloy and mithril, the material costs would be steep.
"On top of that, smelting a solid block this size in a regular furnace? No way. We had to rent a large mana furnace. You think that's free? Pure material costs plus furnace rental come to exactly ten million won! And that's me giving you a discount because I like you. Originally, I was gonna ask for more! I pitched it to the Hunter Market for at least 40 million won minimum!"
She was asking at least 40 million won at the Hunter Market?
Hearing her talk, it suddenly sounded like a steal.
Was it really worth that much, or was she just inflating the price because she's obsessed with her own work?
'Guess I'll check.'
I'd learned recently while looking up info to sell the Fengyang Pills—hunters can't just see item details freely.
You need appraisal skills or traits, and low-level ones only show fragments.
That's why consignments at the Hunter Market or loot estimates at the Association take days for appraisal.
'But I'm different.'
Thanks to my Trait: Into the Comics, I can see everything.
I checked the sword behind Marie noona.
'B- grade?'
A minus, but still a solid B-rank artifact.
I thought of the Blood-Calling Morningstar, also B-rank, one step above.
[Description: Each spike carries a bleeding curse. Even a graze tears wounds open, and the blood won't stop.]
A graze triggers endless bleeding.
Compared to that, this greatsword—the Heavy Iron Demon-Slaying Greatsword:
[Boasts weight and size beyond common sense and is extraordinarily durable.]
That's the only performance detail.
No special options—just tough and heavy.
'That's why it doesn't make sense.'
It's rated B- purely on raw specs.
My trait confirmed it, so no misappraisal.
'She's insane, for real.'
I'd thought it was overpriced at first, but I was wrong.
Snagging this for ten million won is like robbery—in a good way.
My view of Marie noona shifted.
She'd seemed like a whiny, foul-mouthed otaku kid full of grudges.
Now? Upgraded to a genuinely skilled blacksmith, not just 3D hype.
"Noona."
"What? Gonna say it's too expensive and pass? Fine, whatever. I'm not forcing you."
Marie noona turned away, sulking.
"No way! Absolutely not! I just didn't know. Sorry, noona. I'm ignorant—I had no clue about the mana alloy or mithril..."
"Hmph."
"Considering your blood, sweat, and artistic soul poured into this, one hundred million wouldn't be enough. Ten million? You're a goddess, noona."
"...Not quite a goddess, but whatever. Fine. The Hunter Market idiots dismissed it too—how were you supposed to know? They rejected consignment and wouldn't even appraise it, so no spec proof. Easy to misunderstand."
A barrage of praise, and her lips twitched into a smirk as she coolly accepted the apology.
I'd mastered handling her.
Now, the remaining issue.
'I have no money.'
No matter the bargain, I'm broke.
Available cash: 1.9... nah, spend 100k more to make it exactly 2 million won.
Still miles short of ten million.
"So, you're buying, right?"
"Of course. Gotta buy it. But... truth is, I'm short on cash right now."
"How short? I might cover a little depending..."
"Uh, about eight million won...?"
"......"
"......"
"Eight million short means you have two million ready? Right?"
"...Yeah."
"Weren't you twenty-four?"
"Yeah?"
"And your bank account's got just two million? You're a hunter—I saw you at the Market. Even regular folks probably have more."
Ouch, right in the bones.
Twenty-four with two million won to my name.
College kids my age start in the red with loans, but I didn't go to uni.
Still, I'd hustled.
Convenience store gigs, skimping on food via discards, paying rent, utilities, living costs—saving's no joke.
And rewarding my hard-knock life with phone game top-ups, Legend of Heroes skins, or chicken delivery left nothing.
"Hmm..."
As I pondered silently, Marie noona's gaze shifted.
A weird look.
From pitiful to straight-up sympathetic.
"Family issues or something? Was I too harsh?"
"Nah, not that."
"...Then what the hell? You're a hunter. F-rank dungeons net a million a week easy."
While in reality, I'd gamed on my trait.
Figured I'd snag something decent later to sell.
Who knew I'd need cash this sudden?
"Awakened just days ago."
"Hmm... fair enough. So no cash now? Can't sell then. Even if I like you, 80% off on material costs? Nah."
"It's not no money—it's tied up! Big payout soon. Association settlement, consigned sales..."
Skeptical side-eye.
Her one big feature—those huge eyes—narrowed in doubt.
"For real! I'm C-rank. See?"
I pulled out my hunter ID from my wallet. She snatched it, scrutinizing.
"Real C-rank? Photo's... kinda loser-ish. But you look better in person."
"...Thanks."
"Young, C-rank—not bad. Promising... what to do..."
Marie noona pondered, then spoke.
"Alright. Here's the deal. Give me the two million now as a deposit. Call it rental."
"Rental?"
"Yeah. I'll hand over the item first. Pay the remaining eight million when cash flows in. Deadline... one month. Deal?"
"For real? You sure?"
"C-rank should handle eight mil easy. But interest applies. And if you ghost? I'll hunt you to the earth's end and crack your skull."
"Whoa! Thanks, noona!"
Tiny Marie noona glowed like a haloed goddess.
"Contract time. No verbal deals."
"Obviously. IOU? Promissory note? Blood oath?"
"Skip blood. Phone number first."
We swapped contacts, whipped up a mobile e-contract IOU.
Then transferred two million to her account.
Bank balance dieted instantly.
Flat broke now.
"Got the deposit. Here—yours now. Temporarily."
The Heavy Iron Demon-Slaying Greatsword.
"I'll treasure it, noona. Like a family heirloom."
"Heirloom's overkill. Just don't break it. Though it's unbreakable anyway."
"Got it!"
Deal done, mood lightened.
Marie noona beamed, happy to sell her baby.
Weapon acquired.
Next: cash.
Eight million due, but Fengyang Pill sale or variant gate rewards? Timing unknown.
Association settlements? They deposit weekly—hilariously, holidays push to next week.
Last December, two-week holiday streak delayed to three weeks, rumor has it.
Future upgrades need endless funds too.
'Hold up.'
Marie noona's a blacksmith.
A skilled one handling mana alloys, mithril.
Bet she craves ores.
My first comic world, Abyssal Mine, is ore central.
Iron's baseline; deeper levels yield rare metals like mithril.
In reality, rare ores like mithril are tough—gated by big guilds. Normie hunters can't touch.
But I have infinite supply.
Sell raw? Sure. Processed or equipped? Way more value.
'Plus, Abyssal Mine iron inherently mana-infused.'
Dunno how it stacks to her mana alloy.
Planned to test hauling to reality anyway.
Why not ask her to test?
Sell direct—no middleman, easy trades.
Commission gear too.
Bonus: Dwarf Autonomous Zone roots mean dwarf connections.
'Zero downsides.'
Worth a shot.
"Noona. Can I pay in something else besides cash?"
"Like what?"
"Uh... you're a smith. Need ores? Iron ore, special minerals?"
"Obviously. But where you getting that?"
"I'm a hunter. Dungeons drop 'em, and I can mine."
"Hmm... no random rocks. High-purity iron or rares? I'd take 'em at market rate."
"Yeah. Got some from dungeons. Iron ore, and lucky hits like mithril."
"Mithril?! You have mithril?"
"Yeah, swing by home—got a raw sample."
"No way... for real?"
"Yup. My dungeon spits 'em often. Steady supply."
Log into Abyssal Miner quick, grab stockpiled.
Just two raw ores—mithril's rare even there.
But infinite time. Reality pauses while I'm there—mine tons.
"Long-term supply? Where? Take me."
"Nah, hidden dungeon—my secret."
Can't drag to Abyssal Mine, so bullshitted.
"Fair... no one shares that for free."
"Anyway, ores instead of cash?"
"Hell yes! Bring materials later, I'll craft gear free!"
"Promise? No take-backs?"
"Dwarf's oath. We don't lie about materials."
Deal.
Half-dwarf, half-trust—but sealed.
Secured outlet, exclusive smith.
"Wanna head out? Dinner time."
"Yeah. Let's go."
Left cafe, alley goodbyes.
"Next time, ores. Taking this today."
"Cool. Use well. Heavy—watch your back."
"No worries. I'm pretty strong."
Grabbed hilt, heaved.
"...Urk!"
Heavy.
Over 200kg, yeah.
Thought Strength would lift easy.
Balance and shape make it feel way heavier.
Strength over 40—one hand tough.
Two hands? Still hefty.
To wield freely? Need more power.
"Heavy, right?"
"...Yeah. No joke."
How'd she tote it casually?
Stronger than me?
This noona should hunter.
"Can you swing it proper? Looks rough."
Worried eyes.
Not for me—the sword rotting unused.
"I can."
Admit can't? Ego death.
That's without mana anyway.
Drew mana through circuits, activated Body Reinforcement.
D-rank now—way punchier.
Adjusted grip, gauged weight—one hand viable.
Whoosh!
Heavy, menacing whoosh cleaved air.
Perfect feel.
Twin-Headed Minotaur that nearly killed me? One-shot to heaven.
If it stands still, hypothetically.
Like this? This way?
A few swings—getting the knack.
Grip feels great.
"Ooh... not bad. Using mana?"
"Yeah. Body Reinforcement skill."
"Newly awakened, right? Innate skill then. Technique alone? Brutal. Lucky you."
"Luck's my thing."
Others grind lifetimes for skills.
Cash and time hunters drop for one...
Grateful to my trait always.
"Guess your luck led us to meet fatefully today."
She beamed.
Old me: 'Fate my ass. Otaku to the end.' Sneering inwardly.
But lost in the moment.
Ridiculous, but...
Sunset painted the western sky.
Noona's smile, bathed in glow—unbelievably captivating. Had to look away.
Tiny cheeks, faint dimples.
...Just a bit alluring.
Stashed Heavy Iron Demon-Slaying Greatsword in Inventory post-farewell.
Too bulky for daily carry, draws eyes.
Soon back at my studio.
Answered a call from Hunter Association.