Awakened as a Money-Spending Genius Enhancer - Chapter 25

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

Episode 25

Chapter 25. [Dog Whistle +2]

A thin pamphlet.

With a pink sticky note labeled ‘1st Level’ attached to it.

Fluttering.

After checking the contents, it was indeed a beginner dungeon worth recommending.

‘A Gate that appeared on Gwanak Mountain Midslope…’

The difficulty was low, so there had been no accidents.

There had been no variables in the dungeon’s world setting for the past three months either.

The only downside was having to climb the mountain to reach the Gate entrance.

“First… I need to get my equipment ready.”

Kang Hoon said, thinking about getting hiking clothes,

“That’s right. Let’s get your items first!”

Ji-seong clapped his hands.

“Items are essential for dungeon runs. The problem is that prices vary wildly…”

“Ah.”

Well, that’s true.

Climbing up to the Gate entrance wasn’t the problem.

The real problem starts after entering the Gate.

Not even a fortune teller knows what might happen.

The best approach would be to prepare by purchasing the best items possible.

People commonly think that low-level hunter equipment is cheap.

Absolutely not! That’s completely wrong!

That’s totally incorrect.

The option ‘wearable by low-level hunters’ is actually quite rare.

And among those, powerful items?

They cost even more.

‘No matter how much they charge, it won’t be more expensive than one’s life.’

But Kang Hoon’s case is different.

He can obtain ordinary objects and craft items through enhancement.

“Hmm. What would be the best approach?”

To Kang Hoon, who was lost in thought, Seri handed him a new catalog.

“This is a list of equipment that Cheongjeong lends to affiliated hunters. Take a look first.”

“Oh! Thank you.”

What welcome news!

Kang Hoon focused on the catalog.

Weapons, equipment, accessories.

The catalog divided into three chapters listed numerous items.

Starting from basic swordsman, mage, and archer classes.

‘There’s even a summoner category?’

The content was quite diverse.

Rustle rustle…

While flipping through the catalog.

Kang Hoon’s hand suddenly stopped.

“Hm?”

A table of contents organized by ‘rental fee’ categories.

The page where Kang Hoon inserted his thumb was the ‘Summoner’ chapter.

Specifically, the ultra-budget line.

Even that had a ‘half-price rental’ sticker attached – the cheapest of the cheap.

Kang Hoon fixed his gaze on a corner of that page.

A photo printed at the very end.

‘This is…’

Soon a strong intuition made him lift his head.

That intuition moved Kang Hoon into action!

“‘Summoner exclusive item’… Though I’m not a summoner.”

“Yes. That’s right? Looking at that wouldn’t help you, Kang Hoon.”

Seri answered as if puzzled.

Ji-seong raised his eyebrows and said something else.

“Hyung. You should look at archer gear instead. At least you know how to shoot a bow.”

At that, Seri jabbed Ji-seong’s side hard with her elbow.

Thwack!

A strong hit that made a sound.

“Gah!”

Ji-seong bent over.

After taking down her younger brother in one shot, Seri asked.

“Did you come up with a good enhancement idea?”

At the sharp question, Kang Hoon nodded.

“When I enhance ordinary objects, they become items. And various options appear, right?”

“Yes. That’s right?”

“I need to do a little experiment.”

Kang Hoon rolled up the catalog in his right hand, then set it down on the table with a thud.

Suddenly!

And he stood up from his seat.

“?”

“?”

Seri and Ji-seong made eye contact with each other, then followed Kang Hoon out of the conference room.

Meanwhile, Ji-seong quickly snatched up the catalog Kang Hoon had left behind.

“What is it? What did Kang Hoon see?”

Seri stretched her neck to peer into the catalog,

“Eh?”

“Eeh~?”

The siblings’ expressions became puzzled simultaneously.

“What is this.”

A ‘half-price rental’ item positioned in a corner of the catalog.

Seri read its name with distaste.

“…’Dog Whistle’?”

Their suspicious pause was brief.

“K-Kang Hoon! Let’s go together.”

As if by agreement, the siblings chased after Kang Hoon.

While heading energetically outside the guild building.

Anticipation gradually filled both their faces.

In their view, Kang Hoon was somewhat eccentric and had a firm sense of his own world.

On the other hand, his enhancement ability was very efficient.

Unlike typical crafting-type hunters, he had mysterious aspects.

‘What kind of idea could have occurred to him after seeing a dog whistle?’

‘What kind of option is he trying to create this time?’

Yet the siblings didn’t know.

That this was precisely the path to being drawn into the charm of ‘random gacha’.

* * *

After leaving the guild building, Kang Hoon held his mobile phone in his right hand.

And he quickened his steps following the guidance of the map in the app.

A 12-minute walk.

Starting point: ‘Cheongjeong’ Guild Building.

Destination: ‘Mugyeonnyangpum’ Shop.

True to its name, it was a store that sold food and toys for pet dogs or cats.

A small store operated unmanned.

As soon as he arrived there, Kang Hoon headed straight to the toy section.

And after wandering around for a while.

He discovered ‘dog whistles’ arranged in a single row at the very bottom of the display stand.

“There it is, there.”

A dog training whistle, one of the unpopular products.

There was some sticky dust on the plastic packaging, but after roughly brushing it off, he took it to the checkout counter.

Beep!

Scanning the barcode,

‘1,700 won.’

Nodding at the cheap price, he immediately paid.

And unwrapped the packaging of the ‘dog whistle’.

Rustle!

He crumpled the plastic into the trash can, and as soon as he grasped the ‘dog whistle’ with both hands.

Information appeared before his eyes.

[Dog Whistle]: A whistle made for training pet dogs. It’s said to produce sounds that dogs’ hearing responds to, but there’s no real difference from ordinary whistles.

As expected.

Being an ordinary item, it had no special options or unusual features.

At least that’s how it would seem to others.

But Kang Hoon was different.

“Enhancement, enhancement!”

Without hesitation, he cast his skill twice on the 1,700 won dog whistle!

Then Ji-seong, who had been watching Kang Hoon like a spectator, complained.

“No way. Hyung! Your precious enhancement uses…! You’re using them on that thing? On a cheap 1,700 won whistle?”

A worried outcry of nagging.

However, it didn’t reach Kang Hoon’s ears.

Clang!

The refreshing sound of hammering,

Clang-!

Claaang──!!

Echoed three times only in Kang Hoon’s ears.

And.

“….”

The ‘sensation’ of the dog whistle touching his palm skin had completely changed.

A pleasant aura.

Feeling that energy through his skin, Kang Hoon smiled.

And said.

“The lower the cost, the greater the profit.”

“?”

“?”

That was the merchant mindset.

“Now. Let’s see the options.”

This was the Enhancement Specialist mindset.

[Dog Whistle +2]: A whistle made for training pet dogs. It’s said to produce sounds that dogs’ hearing responds to, but there’s no real difference from ordinary whistles. However, this dog whistle has gained special abilities through enhancement. * [When possessed, dog favorability increases by 30%] * [When used, dog loyalty increases by 15%]

Up to here was reasonable.

For today, remaining enhancement uses: 18 times.

Without stopping, Kang Hoon immediately entered the challenge.

“One more time!”

In the past, he would have stopped out of fear of the 50% failure rate.

But now it was different.

The failure rate was the same, but now Kang Hoon had the [Hammer of Failure and Success].

‘So it’s okay.’

Even if enhancement failed, it was okay.

If he thought of it as adding to the ‘failure accumulation count’, there was absolutely no loss.

‘To accumulate failure counts, cheap items like this are perfect!’

When enhancement fails, the item is immediately destroyed.

If expensive and precious items were destroyed, his heart would be torn apart.

But what about a [Dog Whistle +2] that cost 1,700 won and had utterly ordinary options?

It didn’t matter if it was destroyed right away.

“Enhancement!”

Simultaneously with his shout.

The sound of the blacksmith’s hammer lingering in his ears.

Whoosh…!

Heat seemed to surge upward from below.

A tingling energy swirled above his crown.

Clang…!

…Clang─!

───Claaang!!

Up to here was the expected outcome.

‘Lucky!’

He succeeded in +3 enhancement without failure!

However.

The hand gripping the [Dog Whistle +3].

The sparks shooting out from within it were quite unexpected.

“?!”

He almost shouted ‘Hot!’ and threw the [Dog Whistle +3].

But the ‘sparks’ were just a visual effect.

The item’s temperature didn’t actually rise.

Even the ‘spark’ effect, after briefly glowing red and yellow and crackling, quickly disappeared.

“What, what is this?”

More importantly.

What did this effect he was encountering for the first time actually mean?

Kang Hoon hurriedly looked into his palm.

[Dog Whistle +3]: A whistle crafted for training companion dogs. It’s said to produce sounds that react to dogs’ hearing, but there’s no particular difference from ordinary whistles. However, this dog whistle possesses special abilities through enhancement and has evolved into a Rare Item. * [When possessed, increases dog favorability by 30%] * [When used, increases dog loyalty by 15%] * [When used, summons a Spirit Dog.]

They say you have to listen to Korean until the very end, right?

Item Information is the same way.

The important stuff is always attached at the very end!

“Has evolved into a Rare Item.”

Kang Hoon read the added sentence as if entranced.

“When used, summons a Spirit Dog!”

At that.

Seri and Ji-seong jumped up from where they stood.

“It evolved into a Rare Item?!”

“Spirit Dog summoning?!”

The three people focused on the [Dog Whistle +3] with widened eyes.

Gathering close to examine it,

Bonk!

Bonk!!

Their heads nearly touched each other.

“Ah, ow! Ohhh…!”

“Hyung! Amazing! A 1,700 won dog whistle became a Rare Item!”

At Ji-seong’s exclamation, Kang Hoon nodded and said.

“This is the first time something upgraded from Normal to Rare. Even the [Virility-Enhancing Germanium Jade Bracelet] didn’t get upgraded.”

“…What kind of enhancing?”

Anyway.

More importantly, it’s the options!

Without hesitation, Kang Hoon brought the [Dog Whistle +3] to his mouth.

And.

“Huuuup!”

After filling his lungs with air.

“Hoooooo!”

He blew.

The sound that dogs’ hearing supposedly reacts to,

Piiiiiiiii──!!

Came out powerfully!

At the same time.

The three people’s heads that had been close together each pulled back.

At Kang Hoon’s feet.

In the center of them all.

In a spot where nothing had been, an existence appeared majestically.

– Awoooooo!!

The Rare Item [Dog Whistle +3].

Its effect was indeed accurate.

Rising from the ground and falling from the sky, appearing instantly—that’s what makes something a ‘spirit.’

The ‘Spirit Dog’ of the [Dog Whistle +3] that was summoned with a brave cry.

That mystical being was the same!

If there was a problem…

“It’s tiny.”

“Looks weak.”

“It’s cute.”

The appearance of that ‘Spirit Dog’ was slightly, well, modest.

– …Woof?

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