Keeping a straight face is a truly difficult thing. Especially when someone is handing you a bundle of cash.
"Seven hundred and fifty million won."
How much?
At that staggering amount, the corners of my mouth curled up on their own. Controlling my lips was far more difficult than controlling Black Ether. Is this for real?
In just two months, I had earned a truly enormous sum of money. At this point, it was more than a mid-rank Hunter's annual salary.
"Why are you so quiet? Is it not enough?"
It seemed like that bastard had read my mind. I could tell from the way he asked a question he didn't mean, all while wearing a wicked smile. But for someone like me, who'd never even had a proper part-time job, to suddenly get my hands on over 700 million won, how could I possibly keep a straight face?
I tried my best to feign composure as I answered.
"Good. I'll hand them over."
Yacha's deals were as sharp as ever. The amount was large, but the rare herbs I brought were actually worth that much. Today, an old woman who appeared to be an appraiser came and evaluated the uigwicho I brought, and he approved the transaction without a hint of suspicion.
They say your limbs will be torn off if you try to pull a fast one in a deal, but when it came to honest transactions, there was no better merchant. Yacha's subordinate handed me a bag. A money bag, just like in the movies.
"I hear you're taking the Hunter test."
"That's right."
"Why did you pretend to be a Hunter back then?"
Why is he asking that now, after the deal is done? From his expression, it didn't seem like he was trying to interrogate me. What was it... like simple curiosity.
"I never lied. All I answered was that I was a 'healer' type."
"...... Hm?"
Then, an expression I had never seen before appeared on Yacha's face. Along with a dazed mumble that seemed to say, 'Ah, is that what happened?' And at that sight, I had to swallow another laugh.
When I was healing Bi-soo, Yacha asked if I was a healer, and I said yes. Since it was true that I was applying for the Hunter qualification test as a healer type, I hadn't particularly lied. Well, it's not like I would have answered honestly if he had actually asked if I was a Hunter.
Whatever.
Stick your tongue out at you, you bastard.
"You're planning to take the test as a healer?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Why do you keep asking so many questions? If you want to know more, pay up."
Bi-soo flinched once, but perhaps because of his past experience, he didn't easily join the conversation. I knew it without anyone having to mention it. The fact that I was receiving tremendous special treatment here in the black market.
Usually, people didn't deal directly with Yacha, and it was said to be a very rare case for Yacha to even reveal his own name. Even his close confidants, including Oh Ji-ho, never mentioned his name. Therefore, I could guess.
Yacha didn't see me as a simple 'rare herb collector.' I didn't know what peculiar trait he had discovered in me, but one thing was certain. Which meant, I had some ground to stand on, so I could act with some audacity.
"Wahahahahahaha!!"
This guy, that guy, they all put a special energy into their voices, which taught me a trick. When the voice is irritating, activating the Black Ether near my ears frees me from its influence. Not only Bi-soo but a few other subordinates trembled slightly, but I was unaffected.
"Alright. I'll assign a value to your answer, so let's hear it."
At Yacha's words, I inwardly rejoiced. I had been thinking of a special deal anyway, so there was no reason to refuse when he offered to be indebted first.
"I don't know how much you know, but I'm a little different from a regular Hunter."
"Of course you are. You're a madman who goes into Poison-type dungeons alone to dig up rare herbs."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
I have no intention of lying. My wrists could fly off if I mess up. But there's no reason to reveal everything to the lord of the black market.
Simple and concise.
"If I use my original power, it will be difficult to become a Hunter."
"Hoh......"
Yacha was a man full of raw emotion. So his expressions were all visible on his face. He was giving me a very interested look.
I hate that look. That unique, arrogant gaze that pretends to know something.
"There are many other secondary reasons, but I will be active publicly as a healer."
"And in the shadows, you'll be trading rare herbs like this?"
"Probably."
I didn't bother to mention that I could grow stronger through the cores of Poison-type Monsters.
"Right. Well, let's stop here for now."
"Give me the money."
"...... Don't you think you're a bit too materialistic for your age?"
"Or give me something else."
Yacha had a 'look at this one?' expression on his face. It seemed he didn't expect me to have prepared something within this Q&A. He probably thought I was just fooling around and cracking jokes.
"Something else?"
"I don't know how much my answer is worth, but I'd like to receive payment with my body."
"Heh heh. What, you want to punch me in my ugly mug or something?"
"No. It's only right to answer a question with a question."
I turned my head and looked to one side. At the man whose movements were closer to art than fighting. One of the subordinates who stayed by Yacha's side.
Towards Oh Ji-ho.
"How can I learn that manager's martial arts?"
For a moment, Oh Ji-ho's calm pupils wavered slightly. Yacha's fierce eyes widened for a second, then he asked with a faint smile.
"You mean Hwan-gyeok?"
Who's Hwan-gyeok.
That man's name is Oh Ji-ho.
Ah.
Did he say they only use aliases here? It's a good thing I didn't say his name.
"Why would a healer learn martial arts?"
"None of your business."
"Heh heh. I really want to beat you to death."
It was a joke, but it felt like a hole was punched in a corner of my chest. It was probably possible with Yacha's abilities. But to him, I had already become a fairly important business partner.
After all, no one else in the world could provide rare herbs in such bundles.
"If it's possible, I want to learn martial arts from that manager."
"You're well aware it's not for free. You might have to return the bag I just gave you as is."
"I don't care."
Of course, that was a lie. Of course it mattered. If seven hundred and fifty million appeared before my eyes only to disappear, I wouldn't be able to sleep for a while.
But I needed to express my determination, even if it meant that.
Why?
Compared to my killing ability, my combat skills were pathetic. My attack pattern so far has been simple and random. Approach from behind with 'Poison Step', then scratch anywhere within reach.
However, as I move to higher levels, there's no guarantee that this kind of reckless attack will continue to work. The day would come when my attacks wouldn't land at all, or when Exa's blade would be ineffective against the aura they wrapped around their bodies. I need something else to maximize my physical abilities.
I'm not yet a vessel capable of using the flashy and powerful attacks Kiril used. At the words that I would return the money as is, everyone's eyes were fixed on me. It seemed they got a sense of my resolve.
"You're desperate."
"I am."
"How about learning from me? I was the one who taught Hwan-gyeok his techniques."
My goodness.
Was that how it was? But his was a technique that could crush a B-rank Knight with just an E-rank physique; I had no confidence I could withstand martial arts performed by Yacha himself.
"I have no desire to die while learning."
"Kekeke. I thought you were reckless, but you're quite self-aware."
As a positive sign came from Yacha, Oh Ji-ho spoke in a low voice.
"I have no intention of teaching anyone......"
"Do it."
Oh.
So this is the swag of absolute authority. Judging by the heavy way he spoke, he must have really hated the idea, but at Yacha's single command, Oh Ji-ho remained silent. Things are flowing smoothly.
Though I have a feeling it will be a harsher trial than I thought. Yacha told me to stop by here once a week from now on. He also said that I didn't need to see him during the training.
What a funny guy. Does he think I'd want to see him?
"The payment?"
"I'll make an offer when you complete the training."
"By then, I might have spent all this money."
"That's fine. I won't be taking it in money anyway."
Shit.
What is he plotting now? Looking at that insidious face, I think paying with money would be cheaper.
"Well then, our business is finished."
Yacha grinned and turned his body. The main contract, as well as the additional one, was finished, so there was no longer any reason to be here.
"You must have grown a little attached, though. Why don't you say your goodbyes?"
With his back still turned, Yacha turned only his head to ask me.
"Yeah. He pounced on me on the sofa in the middle of the night, it was quite a scene."
"Wow......"
"You crazy bastard!! That time was......!!"
Bi-soo, his face flushed red, glared at me with bloodshot eyes. But even if his blushing cheeks were one thing, his reddened eyes weren't just because of what I just said. Ever since he separated from his sister and entered this place, Bi-soo's eyes had been constantly bloodshot.
"Come visit again. Noona will miss you."
"......!!"
He knows better than anyone that it's not an easy thing to do. Wasn't he the one whose mouth was torn for trying to escape the black market? I wanted to ask Yacha how much Bi-soo owed him, but in the end, I couldn't. Who am I to ask?
I have my own problems. We've only known each other for a little over two months. But if I get a little stronger and earn a lot more money.
Then......
"I'm leaving. Take care of yourself. And don't get cocky when you're in Stealth."
"You take care of yourself." -Kkuwang!!
From an invisible spot on my shoulder, Ppori greeted Bi-soo. He was the type to reveal himself as soon as we arrived at the black market. For some reason, he didn't release his Stealth today.
Yoo Jeong-hwa.
She worked at the Hunter Association's reception desk. The last day of every quarter was the day she hated the most. It was because a crowd of people would flock to her, asking to postpone their application fee payments for one reason or another.
"The landlord who was supposed to give me my security deposit said his transfer limit was maxed out......"
"I didn't know it takes two days for the money to come in when you sell stocks!"
"My boss didn't pay me, so I'm a little short on cash....... I'll give you this for now......"
If you went by their stories alone, you could film an episode of 'Believe It or Not' right here. Outlandish excuses that made you wonder where they came up with such ideas. But as this repeated every quarter, Yoo Jeong-hwa became able to work more and more like a machine.
"I'm sorry, you can't. Please apply next quarter."
"Hey, you bitch!!"
Beep.
At the slightest hint of trouble, Yoo Jeong-hwa pressed the call button. After that, a security guard on standby would drag the applicant away. On this day, more staff were present than usual.
Since most of the applicants were Awakened, they were preparing for any potential bloodshed. Usually, it was common to pay the fee while submitting the application. The recent trend for the Hunter test was that it was a game for the wealthy.
The very act of not being able to pay at the time of application and dragging it out until the due date meant that one's circumstances were not favorable. There were almost no people who came to pay on the due date itself......
Thud.
Someone placed an envelope full of bills on the reception counter.
"Welco...... Oh my."
A momentary bloom of color appeared on Yoo Jeong-hwa's face, which had been hardened from working on the deadline. A man so handsome it made her eyes pop had come to the reception desk. He was a bit thin, but he was a man whose features were striking even from a distance.
"Welcome. How may I help you?"
Yoo Jeong-hwa greeted the customer with a voice as lively as her bouncy, curly hair. If she treated all applicants like this, her name would never have come up in customer complaints. The man, with skin as white as jade and sharp eyes, answered nonchalantly.
"I'm here to pay the application fee. As you can see."
"Ah. I see."
Yoo Jeong-hwa, wanting to form a sense of familiarity with the man, said things she normally wouldn't. "I'll help you with the registration process. Not many people come to pay on the last day, but you've kept your promise well.
Hoho."
At that, the man gave a faint smile.
"You emphasized it so much last time."
Emphasized?
Was he saying I gave a hint to the handsome young man before me? Yoo Jeong-hwa tried to recall, but she had no memory of ever speaking to this man.
"Just a moment......"
She quickly checked the man's identity with his ID. And she almost screamed.
Cheon Hae-seon.
The man on the screen was the man with the unsightly spots she had seen before. 'This was him??????????' The grotesque spots had completely vanished, as if they had never been there.
It wasn't just the spots. His previously gaunt body had transformed into a lean, muscular one, and his skin had become as smooth as silk. His sharp nose and lips, which had been hidden by the spots, were now showing off their charm.
'I'd believe it if you said he was an idol......' It was such a dramatic change. His appearance was one thing, but the ragged clothes from before were gone, and his neat attire from head to toe was noticeable.
Yoo Jeong-hwa was shocked by the transformation of the man named Cheon Hae-seon, and at the same time, she bitterly regretted her past actions. If she had known he would undergo such a complete transformation, she wouldn't have been so cold, treating him like a beggar.
"Registration...... is complete. You can come to the first floor of the center the day after tomorrow."
"Thank you."
Hae-seon, who received his test admission ticket, gave a slight smile and a nod. At that sight, Yoo Jeong-hwa felt her body melt. To hell with professional ethics; she wanted to add the phone number on his application to her phone right away.
But Hae-seon had already left the building. Yoo Jeong-hwa shot up from her seat and went to find her superior in the lobby.
"T-Team Leader. I'm canceling my vacation!"
"What's wrong, Assistant Manager Yoo? You always took the day off after the registration deadline. Said you were drained."
"It's fine!!! I suddenly feel like working!!"
Yoo Jeong-hwa canceled the vacation schedule she always took. All without knowing what Cheon Hae-seon really thought of her.