Episode 17
In the basement of the temple, monster corpses were strewn everywhere, leaving no room to step.
Goblins, kobolds, and even golems.
It was filled with the corpses of all the monsters Kang Jin-hyeok had encountered so far.
Normally, he would have lit a fire in his eyes and put the corpses in his inventory, but Kang Jin-hyeok didn’t have the luxury of doing that right now.
He was lying face down on the cold stone floor, breathing heavily as if he was about to die.
“I can’t do this anymore. I’d rather kill you… … .”
“This kid is really. If someone saw him, they would think he was tortured.”
“If this isn’t torture, then what is? They deprive people of sleep for three days straight and make them swing a bat at them.”
“I’m doing it all for you.”
“X bottle… … .”
Although I instinctively cursed, I couldn’t completely deny what Lucia had said.
Kang Jin-hyeok’s skill list was proof of the results of this harsh training.
[Divine Power Application – Step 3]
[Precision Strike]
[Indomitable]
There were two newly acquired passive skills, and the application of divine power that was previously acquired grew by a whopping two levels.
And after three days of hard work, Kang Jin-hyeok was able to get his hands on it.
This is an active skill that can handle aura.
[Holy Aura]
Embody the power of faith in your aura.
Current skill level: F
You can strengthen your body or weapons by granting them an aura.
Damage from an aura cannot be offset by anything other than the same aura.
Even though my body felt heavy as a ton, I could definitely say that it was a bearable pain after reading this skill description.
That was to be expected, as the effects of the new skill were more powerful than Kang Jin-hyeok had expected.
This effect, which means that damage cannot be defended against unless it is the same aura, was truly true damage that did not discriminate between targets.
Even though the skill level is still low and the power is low, it is quite fraudulent when combined with this effect.
Kang Jin-hyeok was satisfied with this achievement alone.
But Lucia didn’t seem to be like that.
Now that he has acquired the aura, he must increase its power, he said, and he kept whipping it.
The harsh guidance that took out the carrot among the carrots and the stick tore apart Kang Jin-hyeok’s body and mind.
Kang Jin-hyeok, who could no longer endure it, protested while lying on the floor.
“I don’t know. I can’t move anymore, so kill me or live, do as you wish.”
“Huh~ Are you really going to come out like that?”
With a meaningful smile, Lucia placed an arrow on the bowstring.
I thought he was trying to threaten me, but the arrow was not pointed at Kang Jin-hyeok.
Lucia fired an arrow towards the end of the hallway, where nothing was visible to the naked eye.
Not long after the sound of the wind cutting through the air, the monster’s howl was heard.
It was not a scream of pain, but a cry of anger at the sudden attack.
“I missed you on purpose, so you’ll be really angry and come here soon.”
“Are you the devil… … .”
What Lucia meant was, in essence, that if you want to live, you have to move on your own.
How can a person be so evil?
While I was exclaiming in admiration, a group of orcs, wielding clubs, suddenly approached me.
“What kind of place is this? There are even orcs here?”
“I killed the boss monster and the barrier was broken. That’s why monsters are gathering from all over.”
“What is there to gain here… … .”
Kang Jin-hyeok had no idea that monsters were being drawn to the temple’s magic.
So, in his eyes, they only appeared as foolish people who crawled in and made things difficult for others.
“fu*k.”
Kang Jin-hyeok sat up with deep annoyance.
It really seemed like that woman would only let go of this body after she died.
* * *
Lee Jun-cheol had a bright smile on his face these days because business was going well.
It was Kang Jin-hyeok who gave life to the organization that was in decline.
The monster corpses he periodically supplied were of better quality than those sold by other hunters.
I couldn’t figure out why such high-quality corpses were being sold through backroom deals with organizations other than the association.
To be honest, there were some uneasy aspects, but considering the size of the transaction and the amount of money earned, it was a risk worth taking.
“Of course, so what? As long as you make a lot of money, that’s the best.”
What was needed to build credibility on this floor was not morality.
If they kept their contracts and made money, that was the highest level of reliability.
Lee Jun-cheol waited for Kang Jin-hyeok to arrive in a reception room reserved exclusively for VIPs.
Lee Jun-cheol, who had been checking the contents of today’s meeting by flipping through documents during his short sitting time, got up from his seat when he heard the door opening.
“Welcome… What’s the matter with you?”
“It’s nothing.”
Despite what he said casually, Kang Jin-hyeok’s complexion was not very good.
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Eyes soaked with fatigue and frizzy hair.
He looked like someone who had just returned from a long journey in the wilderness.
Kang Jin-hyeok leaned against the sofa as if he was about to collapse, giving off a precarious aura as if he could fall over if someone touched him lightly.
“If you are having a hard time, let’s postpone the meeting until the next day.”
“It’s my money coming and going, so I can’t do that.”
Kang Jin-hyeok took a deep breath and placed a pouch-shaped inventory on the table.
“Please check, I brought only the monster corpses separately.”
“Since it is something that Mr. Kang Jin-hyeok brought, I don’t think there is a need to check it.”
Lee Jun-cheol said that he had absolute trust, but in fact, that was not the case.
However, Kang Jin-hyeok plans to thoroughly check the quantity and condition in a place where he cannot see.
It was just lip service to please the other person.
“As you informed us in advance, there are 21 goblin corpses, 21 kobold corpses, and 6 orc corpses, right?”
“Yes, and I would like you to feel this out.”
What Kang Jin-hyeok additionally handed over was a lump of metal with a faint blue tint.
It was a mithril that was secretly left behind without being handed over to the dwarves.
“Wow, this is something I’ve never seen before.”
“Can you check how much it is worth?”
“Let’s find out right away through an expert.”
Lee Jun-seok could tell at a glance that the metal that Kang Jin-hyeok brought was anything but ordinary.
That was to be expected, as a strange wavelength that could only be seen in expensive magic stones was emanating from Mithril.
I didn’t know that it was a flow of mana, but I knew that it had exceptional power.
“I would like to trade that metal after the price is determined.”
“Okay, then I’ll contact you as soon as I finish feeling better.”
Lee Jun-cheol carefully packed the Mithril into a case he had brought with him, treating it as if it were a valuable item.
And he handed the documents he had left on the table to Kang Jin-hyeok.
The document, simply organized into one or two sheets of paper, contained simple personal information about high-ranking officials in a fairly large company.
“What is this?”
“This is a list of people who received the alcohol you gave me last time as a promotional gift.”
“Why are you showing me that?”
“As a supplier of products, shouldn’t you know how things are going?”
Lee Jun-cheol explained that he intentionally promoted the brand to be used for entertaining high-ranking officials in order to create the image of a luxury brand.
The image he was putting forward was ‘traditional soju made by an outstanding craftsman using traditional methods.’
“… … So what was the reaction?”
“I’m so positive about this. I can’t help but say that this is bound to succeed.”
The soju that Kang Jin-hyeok brought was not only delicious and refreshing, but was also rich in mana, which was very helpful in restoring stamina.
Even people who said that alcohol was good without even knowing what it tasted like were amazed after tasting it once.
“There are many people who want to buy it right away.”
“If there are too many orders, it will be difficult to meet the quantity.”
“Don’t worry about that. Since the liquor is made by the craftsman alone, the supply will be limited, so I prepared the base in advance.”
“You’re quick-witted.”
“Hahaha, I hear that a lot.”
In fact, I didn’t work on it with Kang Jin-hyeok’s circumstances in mind.
Even if he could match the quantity, he would have taken the same approach, as it would be more beneficial to the organization to increase rarity and sell it at a higher price.
In the end, it was a good result because he took care of both the practical and Kang Jin-hyeok’s circumstances. Lee Jun-seok justified his actions.
“What price do you think would be reasonable?”
Lee Jun-seok thought that what was coming had come to Kang Jin-hyeok’s question.
Here, you could make a big profit by cheating on the price and actually selling it for more.
Actually, I wanted to choose that method right away.
But if you are too greedy, you will get caught someday.
Lee Jun-seok thought it was foolish to carry a time bomb for immediate gain.
For future transactions, Lee Jun-seok suppressed his greed and spoke honestly about the price.
“I’m thinking about 150,000 won per bottle.”
“Isn’t it too expensive?”
The price was excessively high compared to that of Andong Soju.
But Lee Jun-seok was confident that he could make sales even after paying that price.
“Don’t worry. It will definitely sell.”
“How can you believe that?”
“I gained confidence while promoting it. If sales don’t come in, I will compensate you at that price.”
Since Lee Jun-seok made this suggestion, Kang Jin-hyeok had nothing to lose.
‘Soju that costs less than 2,000 won at a convenience store is sold for 150,000 won if it is steeped in a keg for a day.’
The more I think about it, the more I realize that it was a product with a terrifying margin.
Even if he quit being a hunter right away, he could live comfortably just by selling alcohol.
“Okay. Then I will trust you and leave it to you.”
As soon as Kang Jin-hyeok’s answer fell, Lee Jun-seok bowed his head deeply.
“thank you.”
* * *
After signing the contract with Lee Jun-seok, Kang Jin-hyeok went outside with a bright face.
It was funny how the heavier my wallet got, the lighter my heart became.
I feel like I’m going to collapse at any moment after being held captive by Lucia for over a week.
Thinking about the money that would gradually accumulate in my account in the future gave me strength.
“I should go home now and get some sleep… … .”
Kang Jin-hyeok stretched out his aching limbs and yawned.
I had disposed of all the monster corpses and sold the liquor to Mithril, so all that was left was to rest my weary body.
But things don’t always go as planned.
Kang Jin-hyeok was completely shaken from his sleep by the evacuation announcement accompanied by the loud sound of a siren.
For a moment, I thought a war had broken out, but the moment I saw the ‘Wyvern’ flying across the sky, I realized what was happening.
“No, what… … . When I was living a miserable life, why are those guys who I couldn’t find no matter how hard I searched, still running around on the streets?”
If there were one or two, it might be different.
Even if you just count the ones visible to the naked eye, there were more than 10 of them.
“Where did this accident happen again?”
It was by no means normal for so many monsters to be running wild.
Kang Jin-hyeok, feeling the seriousness of the situation, took out a baseball bat from his inventory and held it.
“Surely today is… … .”
Kang Jin-hyeok took out his smartphone and checked the disaster message, and realized that his guess was correct.
Good or bad luck.
Today, of all days, was the day of the large-scale monster invasion that occurred once a month.
“Why did something that would normally happen at the end of the month happen now?”
