Awakened as a Money-Spending Genius Enhancer - Chapter 6

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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 6

Chapter 6. [Virility Enhancement Germanium Jade Bracelet +2] (2)

Why save money when you have an Enhancement Skill?

That’s nonsense.

Money is always better in abundance, and haven’t the elderly always said that you need to be frugal to become rich?

‘I actually don’t understand those hunters who buy sports cars and luxury goods just because they earn a lot.’

You can’t let your guard down.

Isn’t the hunter world called ‘the last barbarism remaining in the 21st century’?

There are countless people who earn well in their youth but blow it all on medical bills in their old age.

That’s why.

Kang Hoon haggled down the price of the germanium jade bracelets, and haggled some more.

He would cut it down to the absolute limit!

“Hey, young man! Are you sure about this? What exactly are you planning to do with these jade bracelets?”

The street vendor was confused.

Wasn’t he just an honest(?) professional(?) who did a bit of sales mediation on public transportation used by common people and took a small profit?

These germanium jade bracelets weren’t selling as well as expected anyway, so he was considering switching to a new market.

In other words,

Next time he was planning to try selling things like fleece-lined stockings or magic socks.

This meant the germanium jade bracelets had no value.

‘Why is this young guy so ruthlessly frugal!’

A young man who haggled down to the exact point where only a razor-thin margin remained!

Only when the street vendor reached the point where he was about to lie down and say no more—

“Thank you.”

He immediately pulled out the money from his wallet and paid.

What an incredible guy.

The street vendor thought.

‘…That guy’s going to be rich.’

There was no doubt about it.

In all his years of business, this was the first time he’d seen such a crazy bastard who tried to squeeze out every last penny with such clear eyes!

* * *

“Phew, today was quite profitable.”

Kang Hoon returned to his monthly rental room.

Though it was a small and old place, even this level of rent was incredibly expensive to live in the metropolitan area.

They say there was a time when you could buy a house in the Gyeonggi outskirts with savings.

‘That’s impossible these days.’

Housing prices keep rising.

Rent keeps going up too.

Ever since awakened individuals appeared and Gates emerged, rent has been continuously rising.

Even though South Korea is quite a safe country compared to others.

It seems anxiety affects housing prices.

As a result, Kang Hoon had made it a habit to haggle down every penny he could.

In the 21st century, to survive as an unsuccessful illustrator paying monthly rent, you had to do at least this much.

“Now, let’s see. Today’s earnings!”

As soon as he got home, he poured the germanium jade bracelets from the black plastic bag onto his desk.

Clatter clatter clatter! Clink~ Clink! Clink~!

The sound of them falling and bumping into each other was quite satisfying.

These might look like real jade on the surface, but they were actually just polished to look decent.

‘They’re really just cheap plastic.’

Kang Hoon rubbed his chin.

‘Minimizing the cost ratio is the foundation of business, they say.’

Remembering a self-employed survival program he’d watched before, Kang Hoon smiled slightly.

Back then, he thought it was just someone else’s world, but he never knew he’d be standing at the threshold of that world himself.

‘What I need to do next is…’

1. Use the Enhancement Skill to turn these knockoff products into real virility-enhancing magic jade bracelets.

2. Set up a marketplace where I can sell them.

‘It sounds simple when put like that. But…’

The details are complicated.

Specifically, number 2.

In the old days, he might have rented a street stall to set up shop, but Kang Hoon had absolutely no intention of doing that.

‘When Seoul land prices are worth their weight in gold, why should I pour money into rent?’

This was Park Kang-hoon, a ruthless penny-pincher who had haggled down even the plastic jade bracelet prices with burning determination.

Take out loans for his first business venture just to fatten the wallets of landlords and interior contractors?

Absolutely not, even if dirt got in his eyes!

You’d be in big trouble if you underestimated South Korea’s business failure rate.

‘This is the internet age, isn’t it?’

The site this ruthless Kang Hoon chose was ‘Corn Market.com’.

Corn Market.com was a specialized trading site where only certified hunters could register as sellers.

‘Since the sellers are hunters, the items being traded are quite extraordinary too…’

When playing RPG games, don’t you often see things like [Goblin Ears 0/10] in the quest window?

Most players don’t read a single line of story so they don’t know why they’re looking for those things—

But if you diligently hunt goblins, ears will drop as items.

You’d pick them up and take them to the shop owner.

In today’s reality, the role of that shop is played by ‘Corn Market.com’!

Freshly harvested troll fingertips.

Lower orc buttocks.

Tentacle monster slime.

They collect and sell all sorts of bizarre materials from dungeons.

Besides that, they also sell weapons and armor obtained directly from dungeons.

Sure enough, as soon as he accessed ‘Corn Market.com’, a popup appeared.

‘Wow, this! The one that sold for 1 billion is featured here.’

Recently, a shield signed by a famous first-generation tank hunter sold for 1 billion.

To be exact, 1 billion 20 million and 100 won.

‘Corn Market allows free auctions too.’

When that hunter retired, he put his beloved weapon up for auction.

The winning bid was 1 billion 20 million and… one hundred won.

He heard it was won by a difference of 100 won at the last moment.

Having gained explosive recognition from the public like this, ‘Corn Market.com’.

Today.

All the notable crafting hunters from across the country gather here.

‘Usually, this is where they sell items that boost hunters’ attack power or magic power, but…’

Kang Hoon has absolutely no intention of doing that.

He’s a cost-effectiveness man, after all!

In the first place, with his current skill level, he can’t enhance magic items.

‘Maybe things will change once I can level up later…’

Anyway, now is the time to prioritize cost-effectiveness.

After being lost in thought for a while.

With sparkling clear eyes, Kang Hoon said something crazy.

“I’m going to… suck up only the promotional effects of Corn Market and spit them out.”

That’s right.

He has no intention of selling items to Hunters.

Would a Hunter really purchase a [Virility-Enhancing Germanium Jade Bracelet] because they lack stamina?

“What I want is a side benefit.”

『Seller Certification』

That’s another role of ‘Corn Market.com’.

Of course, it’s not a feature that everyone pays much attention to.

Such certification is very basic when buying and selling items.

However.

What Kang Hoon is targeting is the ‘virility enhancement market’.

For long years in the past. That very market where people filled their stomachs with mysterious beasts like snake liquor, bear paws, deer antlers…

What happened when properly certified ‘Viagra’ first appeared!

“I’ll get proper 『Seller Certification』 and sell [Virility-Enhancing Germanium Jade Bracelets].”

…The merchant who sold cheap Chinese bracelets in the subway never would have dreamed.

That those items would now be circulating with real government certification.

Kang Hoon quickly posted a sales listing.

The holy ground of transactions for ordinary people.

Kang Hoon had written posts on ‘Dangeum Market’, an app for buying and selling used items.

His account temperature is 49 degrees.

Even at this very moment, the pulse closest to his heart was beating at 49 degrees.

On Hell Peninsula where monthly rent is going crazy day by day, isn’t Dangeum Market’s temperature another means of survival?

He is one of the top ten masters of Dangeum Market in Muryu-dong.

In an instant, with the supreme techniques of a master.

He completed identity verification, mobile phone text verification, ARS verification, and selected various traffic lights to verify he wasn’t a robot.

Finally, he even completed Hunter certification and Crafting certification.

Since he finished all of that within 5 minutes, it could truly be called divine technique.

“Do I just need to set a nickname last?”

It’s the process of creating an alias.

To roam this martial world called ‘Corn Market.com’, a memorable name is important.

But a name that’s too flashy would be shooting himself in the foot.

Because it might look untrustworthy.

Names that are too political, idol names, or internet memes that are just fleeting trends are also forbidden.

Dangeum Market 49 degrees.

The supreme technique of the world’s greatest master, born with a solar constitution, paused here for a moment.

“…”

Click, clack.

He typed and deleted several times, then deleted again.

Finally──

He decided on the most familiar name.

[Kang Hoon]

That was Kang Hoon’s illustrator activity name.

“It’s attachment. Pure attachment.”

He was an illustrator whose work never sold, but still couldn’t abandon this name.

Though Kang Hoon becomes more ruthless than anyone in front of a single 100-won coin, there are still some things he can’t help.

‘Well, whatever. This is a common enough nickname.’

The human heart is truly interesting.

Kang Hoon.

So, the nickname Kang Hoon quickly moved on to the next step.

Click, click click…

Entered the ‘Self-Made Items’ category.

He clicked [Write Post].

[Selling virility enhancement bracelet usable by ordinary people.]

Those who want to check directly, please send a message. Direct transactions also possible.

Location is Seoul City…

His hands, which had been typing enthusiastically, suddenly stopped.

Like a martial arts master who realized his sword technique was wrong.

He tilted his head slightly.

“No… This isn’t right. I’m not feeling it.”

It’s an ordinary post.

His head is saying ‘This is a reasonably decent sales post.’

Most other craftsmen’s sales posts are even less sincere than this.

However…

‘Since everyone’s writing carelessly, thinking in reverse. Isn’t this actually an opportunity to stand out?’

Since everyone’s being ordinary.

An opportunity to really catch the eye if he just puts a little more effort into writing.

In the first place, what this man is trying to sell is no ordinary ‘item’.

When selling such an item, would it work to write a description that’s utterly bland?

“I bought twenty-seven of them. I need to sell them all…”

It might be pocket change to other Hunters, but it’s a fortune to commoner Kang Hoon.

Scratching his temple with his index finger, Kang Hoon furrowed his brow.

“I need a more eye-catching title.”

The 49-degree man of Dangeum Market decided at this moment to abandon the righteous path and walk the path of dominance.

As provocatively as possible.

While still not violating Corn Market rules!

‘Really great for men!!

Item that makes you firm and long-lasting!!!

#Hey why are you so lively today?

#UsableByOrdinaryPeople

This is really good… really good… so good that explaining it would get me banned…

Performance can be directly.verified. through direct transactions!!! Cool deals welcome, cash direct deals super welcome!!!’

Why is that?

Though it’s writing he would never normally do, his fingers didn’t stop as he wrote continuously.

As if this sword technique was the right path.

Each keystroke spread into praise and obsession for things that are good for men.

Somehow the feeling at his fingertips… feels good.

‘Sometimes it might be better to go with instinct rather than reason.’

Right.

At this moment,

Let’s drop the pretense.

─────────Clack.

The 49-year-old man finally walked the path of demonic energy.

This meant he had completed the lowest-quality sales post in Corn Market.com history!

“….”

Next came the long-awaited pricing time.

Considering the cost of the germanium jade bracelet, even pricing it at 10,000 won would be… unconscionable.

However, the ‘Stamina Enhancement’ option.

What if he thought about buyers who desperately needed this option?

On the screen,

His finger hesitated over the selling price input field.

Soon, clack. Clack. Clack. He entered the numbers.

[50,000] won.

Fifty thousand won? Too cheap!

He put force into his index finger over the ‘0’ on the number pad, clack!

[500,000] won.

Five hundred thousand won? No, not yet!

Muryu-dong Dangeum Market.

The 49 years of internal energy he had accumulated was telling him.

That he could raise it even higher.

“Ah, whatever! I don’t know! I’ll just price it high for now, and if it doesn’t sell, I’ll lower it.”

Swallowing dry saliva…

Aiming at the number ‘0’ keypad,

Clack!

[5,000,000] won.

Here we go, five million won!

Then a warning window popped up with a ‘beep!’

【< Would you like to register?</p】

The price cannot be changed for 7 days. >>

“…Ah?”

At that, Kang Hoon’s right hand stopped over the mouse.

“I can’t modify it for a week? Hmm…”

His contemplation was brief.

After all, this was the first item of its kind in the world.

There was no such thing as a ‘standard price’!

Since he had already chosen the path of demonic energy.

Now that it had come to this, there was no point in backing down.

Having stepped onto the path of darkness.

If he was going to go, he should aim for world domination and stride forward boldly!

“Ah, whatever!”

I believe, I believe in my product!

Shine black.

O passion of Dangeum Market’s 49 years!

Empowered by such thoughts,

Click!

Kang Hoon clicked the [Register] button.

The current view count for the sales post was only 1.

And even that was Kang Hoon himself.

What would he do if it never sold like this forever?

To postpone such worries, Kang Hoon boldly closed ‘Corn Market’.

“I’ll check again tomorrow or something.”

And he returned to being an ordinary freelance ant and started working on outsourced projects.

Now──

Whether this bracelet would become the Heavenly Demon Supremacy Step,

Or the Sunfish Step Technique, no one could know.

* * *

“I bought it with my own money, and I speak with my own mouth! ‘My money, my mouth’!! There are no ads! Hello, suckers! This is No-nop!”

YouTuber ‘Hogang No-nop’ with 990,000 subscribers.

As you could tell from his channel name, he was a YouTuber who promoted the slogan ‘Don’t be a sucker!’

His main content was purchase review videos.

In other words, shopping.

A precious YouTube channel he had worked hard to build for 4 years.

That YouTube’s subscriber count was on the verge of ‘1 million’.

What would be needed at a time like this?

Hit content that would draw in 10,000 more subscribers!

“Today’s live stream content is what! Your absolute favorite! ‘Corn’ and ‘Market’ and ‘dot com’ shoppiiiiing!!”

There’s a saying.

‘It’s better to review Louis Vuitton than to review Corn Market.com’.

It’s not an exaggeration at all.

To film a ‘Corn Market review’, you have to buy items from Corn Market, and the money needed for this is enormous.

It’s a site where Hunters exist as sellers, and the majority of buyers are also Hunters, so how could it not be!

‘A department store for the rich of another world!’

But it couldn’t be helped.

Though his bank balance would decrease, he could gather that much buzz all at once.

It was a world full of envy, longing, and curiosity about Hunter society.

So much so that there was even a term ‘Hunter-lywood’ combining Hunter and Hollywood.

‘There’s nothing better than this for gathering subscribers!’

So Hogang No-nop accessed Corn Market.com.

After that, he started browsing through various items while chatting with viewers.

Then.

“…What’s this? [Virility Enhancement Germanium Jade Bracelet +2]?”

A product name that couldn’t help but draw aggro caught Hogang No-nop’s eye.

The description he read aloud into the broadcast microphone was even more ridiculous.

Just wearing it would give you stamina stats or something.

“Could this seller possibly be a fake account?”

No matter how he looked at it.

The title and content seemed more suited for blocked spam texts than Corn Market where South Korea’s Hunters gathered.

With suspicious feelings, he clicked on the seller’s ID.

…It was real.

It was really a product put up by an awakened Crafting Hunter.

“Hmm. The nickname is unfamiliar though. Everyone… this seems real?”

Even so, Hogang No-nop wasn’t certain.

What Hunter in the world would stake their identity to sell a ‘Virility-Enhancing Germanium Jade Bracelet’?

Hogang No-nop had been broadcasting explorations of Corn Market.com for 4 years now.

He had never heard of such a vulgar product!

Sure enough, the chat reactions were full of doubt.

[Sounds like bullshit?]

[Oh come on, no way~~lol]

[Looks like Hogang-no-nop got scammed today lol]

Even though the reactions were cynical,

The chat was scrolling very fast.

Many viewers can be seen laughing and joking around, repeatedly typing “ㅋㅋㅋㅋ”.

It was fine to get scammed.

He needed more ‘aggro.’

From a YouTuber’s perspective, there was nothing more to think about.

Crack!

After interlocking his fingers tightly and making his knuckles pop,

Hogang No-nop declared.

“I, No-nop, have decided! Tomorrow’s content will be a live stream of direct trading for the [Virility Enhancement Germanium Jade Bracelet +2]!!”

─────!!

The chat reactions became even more heated.

Several fans were seen trying to stop Hogang No-nop.

Saying a scammer who stole a Hunter License would show up, or that he’d definitely run off with the money.

The more they said that, the louder Hogang No-nop laughed as he clicked the ‘purchase’ button!

Ding─

He opened a chat window with the seller.

“Let’s see. The seller’s nickname is… ‘Kang Hoon’?”

It was a hunter Hogang No-nop had never heard of before.

* * *

“Ugh, that’s itchy.”

Kang Hoon scratched inside his ear with his pinky finger.

“Is someone talking about me?”

Just as he stopped his busy tablet pen and was cleaning out his ear,

Ding-dong!

Perfect timing as he had just finished his work.

His mobile phone notification rang loudly.

Today, Kang Hoon had completed a whopping three covers.

Naturally, he had plenty of time before the deadline, and it was high-quality work that would normally take a week.

“Hmm~!”

Feeling light-hearted, Kang Hoon stretched and picked up his mobile phone.

An alarm was blinking on the rectangular screen.

Along with a bright yellow corn-shaped icon.

[Your first reservation customer has arrived~!]

“…Reservation customer?”

After being puzzled for a moment,

“Huh. No way?!”

Kang Hoon quickly accessed the Corn Market.com app.

Someone had decided to purchase the expensive item Kang Hoon had listed and made a ‘reservation.’

‘They’re not just messing around, are they?’

Such worries also arose.

‘I steeled myself and set the price at the huge sum of 5 million won.’

To get a reservation customer in less than a day.

It was hard to believe.

But.

“…It’s real.”

A ‘direct trade reservation’ had really been placed on Kang Hoon’s item!

[When the buyer confirms the quality on-site during direct trading and clicks ‘transaction complete,’ the reservation money will be transferred to the seller’s account!]

A simple and clear notification window.

Kang Hoon read the content two, three times repeatedly.

“Wow… So the buyer has already put 5 million won into Corn Market!”

Was this some chaebol’s second-generation rich kid?

“Or… a really desperate impotent guy?”

A hidden martial arts prodigy who had consumed demonic energy and used the Heavenly Demon Supremacy Step on Corn Market from the very first day.

Kang Hoon tilted his head, not even knowing what footwork technique he had used.

“They’re really going to pay 5 million won for this…?”

No way.

—————
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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