Awakened as a Money-Spending Genius Enhancer - Chapter 5

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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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Episode 5

Chapter 5. [Virility Enhancement Germanium Jade Bracelet +2] (1)

[Ability Assessment Department Office’s Monami Ballpoint Pen +2]: A Monami ballpoint pen rolling around in the Hunter Center’s Ability Assessment Department office. Center supervisor Choi Ik-hyeon thinks this pen’s writing pressure is particularly smooth, but in reality it’s no different from other objects. * [15% beautification of user’s handwriting when writing] * [1% increase in user’s IQ when calculating]

The enhancement itself… naturally went well!

The passive effect of durability recovery seems to have been applied properly too.

The comment about ‘loose spring’ also disappeared.

Still, since the previous enhancement had failed, Kang Hoon felt anxious.

He was particularly dissatisfied with the options.

‘Even if it gets attached, what’s the point of getting ‘handwriting beautification’?’

The IQ increase was only 1% too.

He wanted to ask to try once more.

Supervisor Choi Ik-hyeon gestured toward the outside.

Then an employee wearing an appraiser’s name tag came in and took the Monami ballpoint pen.

As expected of a civil servant appraiser working at an official Hunter Center.

The appraisal was completed in an instant.

“This is a magic item, not an ordinary object. Definitely an Enhancement Ability user.”

Though it was just one round of verification.

That was enough.

Kang Hoon was granted a Hunter License.

There was no verification as accurate as ‘Enhancement’ for confirming Kang Hoon’s ability.

“Phew!”

Walking out of the Hunter Center with a sigh of relief.

The Hunter License in Kang Hoon’s hand read as follows:

[Park Kang-hoon]

Grade: C

Role: Supporter (Crafting Type)

* * *

“I had expectations since they said he was a unique ability user, but how disappointing.”

“Tell me about it. Isn’t he the first unique ability user in 4 years? But only C-grade.”

Time for holding paper cups of coffee and smoking electronic cigarettes.

On the Hunter Center’s rooftop smoking area, gossip about Park Kang-hoon was in full swing.

“I also looked at the documents, and while he is unique, his ability is weak. He supposedly turns ordinary items into items, but with only 10 uses per day, that’s too few. Plus the items he creates aren’t particularly amazing either.”

“So that’s why he’s C-grade?”

“That’s right. We just followed the established manual, so whatever.”

What’s the number one gossip topic for Hunter Center employees?

Naturally, ‘Hunters.’

However, today’s newly appeared unique ability user.

Hunter Park Kang-hoon didn’t seem to be that remarkable a person.

That was the judgment according to the management manual, and everyone blindly trusted the manual’s judgment.

Since the manual is absolute truth during work.

They’d never suffered losses by following established rules, and breaking rules was also unthinkable.

This was also a weakness of organizational society.

In the rigid atmosphere, everyone was busy just nodding their heads.

“At that level, there’s no need to notify guilds or anything, right? Big guilds can just buy Enhancement Scrolls with money.”

“Won’t it change if he levels up later?”

“That’s possible, but… who knows?”

After a string of disappointing negative talk.

“Did you hear? They’re serving stir-fried pork today.”

Even that ended up finishing with lunch menu topics.

In a way, it was natural.

Even among those registered as Hunters.

Those who enter Gates and fight risking their lives are extremely few.

Unless they’re such great heroes.

They’re insufficient to draw the curiosity of the Center staff here.

“Hmm.”

At a bench seat several meters away from them.

Ability Assessment Department supervisor Choi Ik-hyeon tilted his head.

While holding the Monami ballpoint pen that had evolved into a magic item.

“C-grade…”

Swish swish.

While spinning the Monami ballpoint pen on his finger, he recalled an hour ago.

“…He seemed to recognize it was a magic item as soon as he saw the moktak. Plus he immediately got the history about it being an Indian monk’s item right.”

Of course, such details were unrelated to grade assessment.

Since they were trivial and could be coincidental.

They weren’t written on Park Kang-hoon’s Hunter registration.

Choi Ik-hyeon had verified the abilities of hundreds, thousands of people so far.

But somehow today he lacked confidence in the Ability Assessment Department’s judgment.

“…Could it be that our manual is outdated?”

Perhaps there are ability users who can’t be identified by guidebooks?

‘Compared to abilities that shatter mountains and freeze seas, it wasn’t flashy. It was certainly more modest than skills like carving spirits into gems.’

But─

‘He instantly grasped the essence of objects. And evolved items immediately without any materials.’

The manual’s ability assessment.

‘How much material is consumed’ isn’t included in there.

Crafting types are places where spending more money produces better results.

Since that’s common sense.

Naturally, ‘how quickly do they craft?’ isn’t an evaluation target either.

Typical crafting-type awakened individuals hole up in workshops and keep crafting.

There’s no need to include time limits in the criteria.

Even.

There’s no time to test what and how things are enhanced, or to test enhanced items one by one.

It sounds crazy but that’s reality.

‘Because it’s not in the regulations.’

The higher-ups hate variables.

Since they don’t want to take any responsibility, they tell us to only do what’s prescribed.

‘If we can’t regulate him by our judgment…’

Park Kang-hoon.

Ability Assessment Department middle manager Choi Ik-hyeon decided to remember that name.

If his grade assessment was wrong, they’d find out soon enough.

Since an outstanding Hunter’s abilities can’t be hidden even if you try to hide them.

* * *

The ‘C’ grade attached to his name tag.

No hunter was satisfied with this grade.

This was especially true in the fiercely competitive society of South Korea.

It was the same even for university grades.

A C grade was bound to hear comments like ‘an F would be better.’

Wasn’t it the number one grade that caused retakes?

It was the same for hunter grades.

Hunters who received C grade were disgusted by its ambiguity and often demanded re-evaluation.

However, Kang Hoon was different.

“I became a hunter! Hahahaha!”

As soon as he came out of the Hunter Center, Kang Hoon laughed heartily without restraint.

He didn’t care about grades at all.

To begin with, for Kang Hoon, a Hunter License was nothing more than—

“A seller verification mark!!”

…and nothing else.

In the man’s clear eyes, nothing was visible except the word ‘money.’

“Good! Now what should I sell to make money?”

Kang Hoon was grateful to the superior at the Hunter Center.

Choi Ik-hyeon, who had been strict enough to make him take an ability verification test.

Thanks to that, he learned something he didn’t know.

“Enhancing magic items is impossible with my current ability.”

If he hadn’t known that, he would have obtained magic items by now.

He would have been busy trying to do business with hunters.

Because that would obviously be more profitable.

With Kang Hoon’s current state, entering a dungeon to obtain magic items was absolutely impossible.

So he would have paid expensive premiums to obtain items.

“When I think about how I would have learned too late that I couldn’t actually enhance them, ugh!”

Just thinking about it was dizzying.

“I almost wasted money trying to make money, didn’t I?”

It seemed like luck was following him somehow.

He would ride this wave of good fortune.

He should seize the momentum and use his current Enhancement Ability to make money!

“Hmm. Doing business with ordinary people instead of hunters… What should I sell to get a reputation for being amazing?”

A habit that was like a mark of a shut-in: ‘talking to himself.’

While rambling words that no one was listening to, Kang Hoon headed to the subway station.

And as soon as he boarded Line 1.

‘Ah. I didn’t bring my earphones.’

He felt dismayed and became gloomy.

When heading to the Hunter Center, he was too worried about ‘whether he could find the way well’ to notice.

But now that he was heading home with peace of mind, the time without earphones felt twice as boring.

Adding insult to injury, so to speak.

The moment the train stopped at the second station, a street vendor appeared.

Noisily dragging a square cart.

As if he was serious about doing business, he even had a small microphone.

“Hello, citizens of Seoul! Citizens of Gyeonggi Province who commute to Seoul! I’ve come out today with small but powerful items to bring convenience to your daily lives!”

Ah, damn it.

Everyone except Kang Hoon immediately blocked their ears with earphones and headsets.

There was even a quick-footed young person who turned on their mobile phone to report to Seoul Transportation Corporation.

A sinner without earplugs.

Kang Hoon was forced to listen to the street vendor’s voice.

“I’m a father raising three children, I want to earn money honestly! Honest and useful items! I guarantee the effects of this product!”

What on earth was it?

What was he making such a fuss about selling?

While glaring with annoyance, the street vendor rolled up his coat sleeves.

And he spun the cart around to show the cardboard sign.

‘Germanium Jade Bracelet!!

Good for health! Even better for vitality!’

…I thought the comment about being a father of three was an appeal to emotion, but it wasn’t.

It was a comment trying to prove the performance of the Germanium Jade Bracelet.

“Just 3,000 won! 5,000 won for two! 10,000 won for five!!”

And prices that dropped relentlessly.

‘Sigh…’

It couldn’t be a proper item.

Even grandfathers these days would know that Germanium Jade Bracelets have no real effects—

‘He should sell socks instead. Who would buy such things? It’s not like they’re enhanced with options.’

At that moment.

‘Huh?’

Kang Hoon suddenly raised his lowered head.

‘Enhance it and add options…?!’

Before he could finish his judgment, Kang Hoon jumped up from his seat.

There was an experiment he absolutely had to try before reaching the next station!

If the street vendor got off, there would be no chance!

“Mister!”

Then the street vendor brightened up and welcomed Kang Hoon.

“Yes, yes, handsome young man! Should I give you one?!”

“Yes. Please give me one bracelet.”

When Kang Hoon took out 3,000 won and handed it over, the street vendor very politely handed him a Germanium Jade Bracelet.

The moment the Germanium Jade Bracelet touched his fingertips.

Information appeared before Kang Hoon’s eyes.

[Line 1 Street Vendor’s Germanium Jade Bracelet]: A mid-boss level of pseudoscience! Known to have effects of blood circulation, pain relief, immunity enhancement, and fatigue recovery, but has absolutely no scientific basis. Made of fake germanium created with paint and plastic fake jade, it has no monetary value whatsoever.

‘…It’s neither germanium nor jade, but it’s okay to call it a Germanium Jade Bracelet?’

Well, it didn’t matter anyway.

He didn’t buy it believing it would actually have any abilities.

‘What abilities can I actually give it!’

He bought it to experiment with that!

He sat back down in his seat.

He grasped the Germanium Jade Bracelet with both hands.

And whispered quietly so others couldn’t hear.

“Enhancement.”

───────!

Immediately, the noise inside the subway stopped.

What Kang Hoon could feel was the cold temperature and properties of the bracelet in his hand.

And the refreshing sound hitting his ears!

Clang!

Clang!

───Claaang!!

Slowly, Kang Hoon opened his eyes. Hoping he hadn’t wasted three thousand won.

A chance for experimentation that came by accident.

The result was surprising.

[Virility-Enhancing Germanium Jade Bracelet +1]: A mid-boss level pseudoscience! Known to have effects of blood circulation, pain relief, immunity enhancement, and fatigue recovery, but has absolutely no scientific basis. However, this [Virility-Enhancing Germanium Jade Bracelet] has truly gained the effect of virility enhancement through enhancement! * [Virility Status +5]

“Whoa.”

The ‘Virility Status’ perfectly attached at the bottom.

Kang Hoon read the same text over and over again several times.

A tingling sensation rose to his fingertips from shock!

‘When I enhanced the desk, the content I wanted didn’t appear?’

Two enhancements he had desperately performed wanting to quickly work on the freelance cover.

However, no options related to ‘drawing’ had been attached to the desk at all.

Same with the Purple Cushion.

‘But why this time?’

Before he knew it, the next station announcement was flowing out.

The Station Master’s broadcast about prohibiting item sales also smoothly followed.

Looking embarrassed, the Street Vendor quickly began packing his things.

The cardboard sign attached to his Square Cart.

‘Good for health. Even better for virility…!’

Kang Hoon’s eyes were fixed on that phrase.

‘No way! This enhancement option! Does it receive influence from the superstitions attached to items?’

After all, Germanium Jade Bracelets have no effects other than ‘superstitious elements’!

Which means?

As long as superstitions exist.

────There’s a high probability the same option will appear no matter how many he enhances!

‘The Status Window would never teach something like this.’

Only then did he realize.

The abilities the Status Window reveals are only a very small part.

The hidden elements within must be discovered by oneself!

“!”

Surprisingly.

A hidden tip that hunters would only learn after rolling through life and death situations for years.

Kang Hoon had realized it in just one day since awakening.

“Mister! No, boss! Stooooop!!”

The Street Vendor trying to escape through the exit door.

Kang Hoon grabbed his thin shoulders with both hands.

Then the Street Vendor made an ‘aigoo’ sound and said pitifully.

“Young man, no refunds.”

Toward him, Kang Hoon urgently shouted.

“Sell me all the bracelets you have here!!”

“Sorry, but that’s difficult… Huh? What did you say?”

“I’ll buy them all! The Germanium Jade Bracelets!”

The sudden appearance of a big spender, no, customer!

The Street Vendor’s complexion brightened with joy.

But then his expression hardened with small suspicion.

‘Could this young man be a citizen with a strong sense of civic duty?’

Wasn’t he trying to delay his departure and get him caught by Station Staff?

Furrowing his eyebrows with unnecessary worry, the Street Vendor asked.

“Young man. Do you really need this many?”

Kang Hoon nodded confidently.

“Yes! I need many!”

Immediately, the atmosphere in the subway changed slightly.

A young man in his twenties purchasing dozens of Germanium Jade Bracelets said to be good for virility.

…At that suspicious yet pitiful sight, several passengers glanced at the back of Kang Hoon’s head.

“Tsk. Tsk tsk…”

“He looks normal enough… Tsk tsk tsk…”

While the elderly passengers in the priority seats looked down at his lower body with pity.

Kang Hoon was busy opening his wallet and negotiating thriftily.

“But if I buy them all, you should give me a bigger discount, right? I’m letting you go home early today?”

Securing raw materials for business.

Just as much, Kang Hoon’s attitude toward the ‘deal’ was serious.

The Street Vendor actually thought.

‘Is this guy crazy?’

A clear-eyed young man.

Smiling brightly while sweeping up Germanium Jade Bracelets indiscriminately.

Wasn’t he trying to take them all with a discount included?

Thirty years as a Street Vendor.

In thirty years, this was his first time meeting such a guy.

‘Plus, though it’s awkward for me to say… what exactly is he trying to do with just jade bracelets?’

—————
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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