A S-Class Hunter With Great Agility - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 101: Auction House (1)

 

Oops. Thinking I had made a mistake, I quietly turned my gaze away.

 

“Huh? Hae-dam?”

 

But unexpectedly, Yu-kyung brightened up and spoke. She gripped Jung Su-hyuk’s clothes tightly to prevent him from escaping and acknowledged me.

 

“What a coincidence seeing you here. What brings you here!”

 

Yu-kyung smiled brightly and patted my shoulder a couple of times.

She recognized me this quickly? I touched my mask. It was still attached properly.

If what I saw in the mirror earlier was correct, my appearance with the mask was that of a male student in his late teens with grayish-brown curly hair.

 

‘How did she know it was me.’

 

I asked back with a bewildered feeling.

 

“Something came up. How did you know it was me?”

“Come on, how could I not know.”

 

She waved her hand dismissively as if it were obvious.

 

“Only you and Choi Yu-il call me that, and one of them is currently in a dungeon. So that leaves only you, doesn’t it?”

 

Dungeon?

 

“Already?”

 

I said with slight surprise. Yu-kyung made a strange “kuk kuk…” laugh and then looked up at the air.

 

“The dungeons that guy skipped for two months… who do you think filled them all…?”

“….”

“Choi Yu-il is on full duty starting this week.”

 

I offered my condolences toward my fifteen-year friend.

How many times in my life have I offered condolences for him? I should probably start counting at this point.

 

“What? You’re that bastard from back then?!”

 

As I was having a conversation with Yu-kyung, someone interrupted.

It was Jung Su-hyuk, whose voice had even changed to sound like a male elementary school student.

 

“Yes. It’s been a while since we last met, hasn’t it?”

 

I bent my knees and made eye contact with him. Jung Su-hyuk scrunched up his face and pointed at me accusingly.

 

“Because of you, my sister and…!”

“Yes, what about your sister?”

“…Damn it.”

 

I chuckled softly. I could roughly guess what sentence would follow that profanity.

 

“I understand you’re getting along better than before.”

“….”

“Your relationship has improved a lot, hasn’t it?”

 

Jung Su-hyuk grumbled as if that was exactly the problem.

 

‘It seems he’s realized something on his own.’

 

I could see that his deeply rooted sense of superiority had shrunk.

That’s probably why he clashes much less with Jung Su-jin now.

 

“That’s good.”

 

Whatever the process, as long as there was progress in the results, that was fine. Though there was still a long way to go.

I straightened my knees and raised my upper body.

 

“Hmm? Do you two know each other?”

“We met at the Association before. We became quite close while fighting together.”

“Ah, right! That’s right. The dungeon break in front of the Association where Orcs appeared.”

 

Yu-kyung made an “ooh” sound and stroked her chin as if finding it interesting.

 

“What an unexpected combination. You must be quite close.”

“Of course. We’re really close.”

“Are you crazy?!”

 

Jung Su-hyuk shouted loudly, but I had no intention of correcting myself.

Then why don’t you try telling your sister in front of me that we’re actually mortal enemies.

 

“Let’s have a meal together sometime.”

 

At that, Jung Su-hyuk struggled as if he was about to tear off his mask right then and there.

 

“Hey, stay still!”

 

Of course, he was blocked by Yu-kyung’s grip. I shook my head and gave up on understanding.

 

“Jung Su-hyuk.”

 

Instead, I quietly called Jung Su-hyuk’s name and then casually asked him.

 

 

“Lately, whatever you do, situations keep flowing in ways that are uncomfortable for you, don’t they? You get embarrassed, and things that make you blush happen often too.”

“…!”

“Should I tell you how to solve it?”

 

…Nod.

Jung Su-hyuk, who had been hesitating, finally nodded his head.

 

“Before you sleep, put a 500 won coin under your pillow.”

“….”

“Spin around twenty times like an elephant’s trunk and then sleep.”

“…That’ll work?”

“Of course.”

 

As if that would work.

 

“I may not look it, but I have some expertise in shamanism.”

 

I lied without even wetting my lips. If this actually works, I’ll eat my hat.

Just as Jung Su-hyuk was pondering deeply, the auction house entrance slowly began to open.

 

“Well anyway, enjoy watching today’s auction. I hope you get some good items!”

“Yes. You too, Sister.”

“See you next time. You say goodbye too. Bye—!”

 

Yu-kyung waved her hand and left. Jung Su-hyuk glanced at me with a suspicious expression, but I just smiled brightly and returned his greeting.

Somehow I felt refreshed.

 

* * *

 

People wearing masks entered the auction house one by one.

I also flowed in among them together with Hong I-jo. Various voices mixed together, making the interior quite noisy.

 

“I wonder if there will be any useful items.”

“This person. Are you making it obvious this is your first time here? You’ll probably be dying to bid more money soon!”

“Oh, is it that intense?”

“Of course. Everyone’s wearing masks, but quite a few people from political circles are in attendance too.”

 

The participants each engaged in heated discussions about today’s upcoming auction.

 

“I heard rumors that the Paradise Blade might appear, is that true?”

“Hmm. I heard Dean Heo Gil already snatched that up. It’ll be difficult.”

“Damn. That guy is always so fast. His stock prices recovered quickly too.”

 

Hong I-jo and I sat in the back row of the auction house. It was a prime spot where we wouldn’t easily stand out while still having a good view of the platform.

 

“Instead, I heard a potion made by a Swedish master craftsman will appear? It supposedly even cures viruses.”

“Is that possible? I heard potions only heal external injuries.”

“It’s possible because they’re a master, and that’s why it’s appearing in this auction.”

“That’s true.”

 

Interesting information kept flowing in.

I kept my ears open while looking around.

 

‘Mostly conglomerates, I guess. Either high-level hunters like Sister Yu-kyung or Jung Su-hyuk… I see politicians too.’

 

Thanks to habitually keeping the news on, I often saw familiar names.

This really seems like an auction house that deals with good items.

 

‘Hmm, what exactly should I buy?’

 

I glanced at my empty waist. For safety reasons, weapons had to be left with the auction house.

 

‘It would be nice if I could enhance the Spirit General Sword somehow…’

 

As my mana grew, the grade of monsters I faced was gradually increasing too.

To prepare for unforeseen circumstances, I wanted to improve the performance of the Spirit General Sword, which was said to be A-grade average level.

 

‘Is item enhancement even possible? I don’t really want to buy something new…’

 

I rested my chin on my hand, deep in thought.

 

[The auction will begin at exactly 3 PM. We ask all audience members to please turn off any electronic devices you may be carrying.]

 

Soon an announcement rang out. I temporarily set aside my worries and turned my gaze to Hong I-jo.

 

“Manager.”

 

It was the title Red Dog required to avoid revealing our identities… but naturally I wasn’t used to it.

 

“Yeah.”

“I heard you had something else to take care of. Have you finished that business? The auction is about to start.”

 

— Yes! Our guild leader also happens to have somewhere to go, so it would be good if you went together.

 

Hong I-jo had a separate purpose for participating in this auction. I didn’t know exactly what it was though.

When I asked, he lightly shook his head.

 

“Not yet.”

 

‘That means it’s not urgent so it’s still fine… Maybe he just had something he needed to buy?’

 

I felt proud of my developing communication skills.

 

Beep—

 

Meanwhile, the signal announcing exactly 3 o’clock rang out.

 

“We will now introduce the first item.”

 

And so the expensive battle of wits began.

 

* * *

 

Tap, tap.

 

I tapped the table with the auction paddle I was holding.

 

‘It’s passing by so frantically.’

 

“5 thousand.”

“Yes, 5 thousand has been called.”

“5 thousand 5 hundred.”

“5 thousand 5 hundred. Any more bids?”

 

As soon as the auctioneer confirmed the bid, the next person raised their paddle and shouted.

Everyone aggressively throwing out numbers was truly befitting of the Hunter industry.

 

“Yes, excellent. 6 thousand. From now on, bid increments will rise by 1 thousand each.”

“7 thousand.”

“Yes, 7 thousand has been called.”

 

I glanced sideways and looked up at the platform.

 

‘That’s supposed to be the potion made by a Swedish master craftsman?’

 

Inside the transparent glass box placed there, an empty bottle with a mysterious hue was radiating brilliance.

 

‘It’s fortunate they’re showing the actual item.’

 

Since you can’t feel an item’s mana from photos, this must be a measure they took.

It was good for me. I activated my Spiritual Sight and looked at the potion.

 

 

‘…? What kind of thing is that….’

 

I let out a hollow laugh.

It consumes 3 years of future lifespan? Then what’s the point of one week of health?

 

‘When they explained it earlier, there was definitely no mention of such a thing.’

 

— This is the most recent work by Sweden’s famous potion creator, Liamson Mimir. The moment this beautiful liquid flows down your throat, it will gift your body with a magical miracle as if you’ve returned to your youth.

 

And so on and so forth. They had only listed the good points.

 

‘…Could it be that side effects haven’t appeared until now because what’s being reduced is ‘future lifespan’?’

 

“8 thousand.”

“?”

 

I quickly turned my head.

 

“…Section Chief?”

 

Hong I-jo, holding his own paddle, was silently staring ahead.

 

“W-wait a moment.”

 

I urgently pressed down his paddle. However, he was annoyingly strong, so I couldn’t win with my current strength.

 

“Is your dream perhaps to die young?”

“?”

“Then I won’t stop you.”

“No.”

 

He furrowed his brow as if puzzled.

 

“It’s not.”

“Then don’t buy it.”

“?”

 

When I insisted strongly, Hong I-jo made a face like he couldn’t understand.

What if it gets sold at this rate?

 

“9 thousand!”

 

However, in the meantime, another bidder appeared. I wondered how to stop that one too and looked in that direction, but for a moment I thought it was fortunate.

The bidder who called 9 thousand was a National Assembly member I’d often seen on the news, with 7 prior convictions for drunk driving and even assault charges.

 

Phew….

 

‘Let’s just leave that one alone.’

 

While I was breathing a sigh of relief, Hong I-jo muttered.

 

“Sleep….”

“Sleep?”

“Yeah.”

 

He pressed firmly under his eyes.

 

“Can’t sleep.”

 

‘…Was he trying to escape his sleep-deprived state? By using that potion.’

 

I hesitated before speaking.

 

“…I have a method for that.”

“…?”

“I’ll tell you later, but anyway, that won’t work. Absolutely not!”

 

I can’t lose an S-rank Vigilante Group to such empty bravado….

I held onto his paddle until the potion auction was over.

 

* * *

 

However, for certain.

This auction didn’t only feature items from such fraudsters.

 

“Oh…?”

 

I spotted an item that was perfect for me, appearing as auction number 7, and my eyes lit up.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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