Awakened as a Money-Spending Genius Enhancer - Chapter 9
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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 9
Chapter 9. She’s Really a Monster, Isn’t She?
After the Gate incident broke out.
The news reports every year that the rich-get-richer, poor-get-poorer phenomenon is severe worldwide.
Currently, South Korea is undergoing complete privatization of not just simple transportation, but also water, electricity, and even healthcare.
‘According to what the elderly say, there was a time when you didn’t have to steel yourself so much just to go to the hospital.’
Electricity bills weren’t that expensive either.
You could plug into outlets at cafes and such places, and if you left your device at restaurants, they’d charge it for you.
“….”
For young Kang Hoon, this sounds like a dream.
Just breathing costs money continuously, and for someone like him, even selling organs wouldn’t be enough to buy a house – that’s reality.
A born-to-be art student who’s built walls against economics.
Kang Hoon simply couldn’t understand why housing prices kept rising.
Are there really that many Hunters in South Korea?
Do all those people make tremendous amounts of money?
Even so, that’s going too far. How many Hunters are there in South Korea that they’d buy up all the houses in Seoul?
Of course, that couldn’t be the case.
In the first place.
That field is one where the risk of death constantly lurks, as much as they earn big money.
Economic experts spit while babbling things like ‘Real estate is psychological warfare!’ and such, but it’s all difficult jargon.
Even when he looked up YouTube lectures, he couldn’t understand.
If Kang Hoon had any economic sense to begin with, would he have lived off dreams as a mere talentless artist?
Just─
‘People who need houses are all poor, so why do housing prices keep rising?’
Only such extremely basic questions keep circling in his mind.
People who say 5 million won is too cheap for a single virility bracelet are those who don’t worry about houses, electricity bills, water bills, or hospital fees.
Beings living in a completely different world from him.
He understood this intellectually.
So─
“First, let’s re-price the [Virility Enhancement Germanium Jade Bracelet +2].”
There’s no question about it.
It’s right to raise the price and sell it.
More coldly! More ruthlessly!
He decided not to live kindly anymore.
He would live as a ruthless person.
* * *
Full breasts. A firm, large buttocks.
But what catches people’s attention more than that?
An inverted triangle of split back muscles.
Vast latissimus dorsi.
Born to be a muscle mass with solid abs!
“Hehehe!”
She’s wearing black lingerie underwear.
Sitting on the edge of a bed scattered with rose petals, laughing.
Her nickname is ‘5-Star Shooter’.
An archer who never misses her target.
And a possessor of Eagle Vision through Awakening.
A renowned Hunter of South Korea.
It’s ‘Baek Ye-ri’.
Gates that others are dragged to reluctantly, crying while eating mustard, just to receive Hunter benefits.
She goes in and out of those places like eating meals.
Because she’s a long-range shooter, she has less risk burden compared to other classes that do close combat.
She’s also quick-witted, so she has the wisdom to identify profitable Gates first and snatch them up skillfully.
She’s been steadily earning money that way.
To feed her rabbit-like husband.
And to release her own overflowing power!
‘Infinite Stamina Charging.’
That was another ability of ‘5-Star Shooter’ Baek Ye-ri.
Such a woman had one trouble that others wouldn’t know about.
Because of that very ‘trouble’, today she held a new item in her hands.
Something that didn’t match her elegant apartment interior, her sexy outfit, or her body that would make both men and gym enthusiasts simultaneously shout ‘Wow!’
A very crudely made item.
[Virility Enhancement Germanium Jade Bracelet +2].
She readily paid 5 million won at Corn Market.
This monster item she cool-traded just by looking at the product name, without needing to meet for direct transaction even once.
“Hehe.”
Baek Ye-ri’s smile becomes deeper and more sinister.
“Hehehehe!”
Right at that moment.
Speak of the tiger and it shall appear?
Her cute puppy, her husband four years younger whom she married without even checking compatibility, opened the front door and entered.
“Uh…?”
Carrying F-Mart shopping bags in both hands.
He hesitated at the thick perfume scent wafting through the air.
And looked around with anxious eyes.
The dim lighting and candles lined up on the floor.
“Honey. You’re home?”
It’s Baek Ye-ri, who returned after two days from a Gate deployment.
He seems about to smile brightly with joy at seeing her.
But then her husband’s face darkens with worry.
He’s the protagonist who will receive the [Virility Enhancement Germanium Jade Bracelet +2].
His wife who runs Gate missions infinitely because she rarely gets tired.
Thanks to her, the husband lives well as a househusband.
He’s comfortable not having to do any side work.
On the other hand.
He feels terror every time his beloved wife comes home.
Because of her stamina that rarely gets tired!
“I’ll, I’ll cook for you. Wait, honey!”
While saying this, he went toward the kitchen, blowing out the candles spread around the living room one by one with ‘Huff!’, ‘Huff!’
Being a regular person who isn’t an Awakened, he lacks strength.
Even expensive candle flames can’t be blown out in one breath.
“How cute!”
Baek Ye-ri smiled brightly and rushed toward him.
And immediately grabbed her husband’s t-shirt collar roughly.
“H-honey? Family shouldn’t do this to each other!”
This was a moment like any man’s dream.
A night with a legendary hunter!
However, here.
Her husband had one problem.
A night with his legendary hunter wife never ended within just ‘one night’.
Infinite stamina was both an ability and a curse!
Every night he was wrung out like a dry rag.
Until he became drier than Cheetos.
So!
“Don’t worry, honey. I’ve prepared something for you today.”
Whirrrr~!
The [Virility Enhancement Germanium Jade Bracelet +2] spinning at Baek Ye-ri’s fingertips.
She showed a triumphant smile.
While roughly grabbing her husband’s hand.
“This is exactly what family should do! Come here, my dear!”
“Food! Let’s eat first…!”
“Come here right now!!!!!”
Her powerful roar made him think ‘I’m dead’ as he was helplessly dragged away.
On his wrist,
Snap!
The elastic rubber band of the [Virility Enhancement Germanium Jade Bracelet +2] clung tightly with a sharp sting.
* * *
Half a day later.
The living room floor with melted candle wax stuck all over it.
Walking lightly across it, Baek Ye-ri wrapped her gown around herself.
“Ahh.”
She stood in front of the Han River View Living Room window.
And showed a satisfied smile while watching the sun rise.
More refreshed than usual.
“This thing, this is really something else, isn’t it?”
The secret weapon item in her right hand.
[Virility Enhancement Germanium Jade Bracelet +2].
Its effect was tremendous!
A level that could satisfy even a hunter with infinite stamina!
But she was still thirsty for more.
So she had this thought.
‘Bracelets are equipment you wear one on each arm.’
Then if she bought one more and put them on both of her cute husband’s arms?
───What would happen that night?
Gulp!
“One more, no. Just in case, I should order ten more for emergencies.”
According to the options, the effect was permanent unless destroyed.
But you never know what might happen with people, right?
The reason Baek Ye-ri was an excellent hunter wasn’t just her tremendous skills and eye for Gates─
It was precisely that thorough preparedness.
She picked up the mobile phone in her left hand.
The app she accessed with sparkling eyes was naturally Corn Market.com.
She opened her recent purchase history.
‘Tentacle Sap of Energy Enhancement’, ‘Slime Gel of Hydration’, ‘Ancient Tree Green Juice for Muscle Pain Relief’, etc. were listed in order.
Not a single thing she bought was for herself.
Everything was purchased for her husband.
None of those items had ever satisfied her until now.
However.
The [Virility Enhancement Germanium Jade Bracelet +2] at the top of her purchase history.
This monster was different!
“Add it to cart right now!”
The moment she clicked on the product photo that looked shabby on the surface.
“Huh?! What?!”
She let out a shriek.
It was definitely an item that cost 5 million won just the day before yesterday.
But that price had suddenly inflated by 4 times.
It had increased to 20 million won per piece.
“No way… Isn’t this too expensive?! Who raised the price like this?”
Grinding her teeth and glaring at the creator name ‘Kang Hoon’ for just a moment.
A popup message entered her field of vision.
[90 users are currently viewing this item with interest~!]
“N-ninety people? At this hour?! Wait!!”
Limited product. And numerous competitors.
The only two phrases that drive home shopping viewers crazy.
One, limited product.
Two, numerous competitors!
Even Baek Ye-ri lost her reason to this.
“I can’t stand this!”
She immediately clicked the ‘Purchase’ button repeatedly instead of ‘Add to Cart’.
Actually.
Having directly tested(?) the real performance.
Honestly, she had thought 5 million won was too cheap anyway.
* * *
Swish swish, tap tap tap! Swoosh, swoosh─!
The pen dancing across the LCD Tablet surface.
Listening to a medley from ‘Burning Work Songs 100 Collection’, Kang Hoon moved his right hand quickly.
The picture he was currently working on was a web novel cover illustration.
Now thanks to [Park Kang-hoon’s LCD Tablet +2], he could finish high-quality work much faster.
However, someone might ask.
Why do illustration work? Couldn’t he just make and sell [Virility Enhancement Germanium Jade Bracelet +2] with his Enhancement Skill?
Why go to such lengths? That’s what they’d ask.
‘Anyone who sees this would point fingers and call me a fool.’
That’s true.
But this was a freelance job I received before becoming an awakened.
Didn’t the publishing company and author entrust this to me because they believed in Kang Hoon’s sincerity?
If I suddenly flake out just because I became awakened? What would happen to this author’s publication!
Kang Hoon was that kind of man.
A man who keeps his promises to the end once made.
These were people who gave me freelance work even knowing I had no talent.
I don’t know if I’ll continue working as an illustrator in the future, but I plan to complete all the freelance jobs I’ve received.
‘And… even though I’ve awakened, drawing is still fun.’
Drawing was something I couldn’t let go of even when I had no talent.
But now, thanks to my awakening skill, I can draw beautifully and lightly as if my hands have wings.
“Hehehe. It came out pretty.”
With this, surely the publishing company, the author, and the readers who see this would all be delighted.
Should I say the feeling really hits you?
“Okay! Done!”
By appropriately adjusting the opacity of the correction layer.
The last freelance job was finished.
“Ahhh~!”
Kang Hoon raised both hands above his head and stretched long.
And even let out a refreshing yawn.
Still, he wasn’t tired.
Rather, he felt his fatigue had recovered.
‘Thanks to the Purple Cushion’s option.’
Like that, he sent the freelance email.
These days.
They say when an illustrator’s skills suddenly improve, people suspect it might be AI-drawn.
Just in case, he sent it without merging the layers.
Thanks to that, it became an enormous file size and took quite a while to transmit.
‘Anyway, since it’s a drawing we communicated and adjusted together from the rough sketch stage. They probably won’t worry about that.’
Still, better safe than sorry.
“Ah, I want to reveal it soon.”
In the old days, even though I worked so hard, the publication date would become scary and nerve-wracking.
But now I’m already itching to show it off.
‘Is this how a talented illustrator feels?’
I never imagined I’d get to savor a feeling I’d never even dreamed of in my lifetime.
Kang Hoon chuckled in his refreshed mood.
Having finished the freelance work, he accessed Corn Market.com.
Click.
It’s definitely different from before.
Orders aren’t going crazy like before.
Because he boldly raised the price per unit of [Virility Enhancement Germanium Jade Bracelet +2] to 20 million won.
Even when he first raised it, he thought to himself, ‘Am I really crazy?’
But Grandmother used to say this long ago.
‘If you’re going to be bold anyway, go all the way to the end.’
Don’t get scared halfway through and back out halfheartedly, but if you’ve decided to do it, go to the maximum end.
Whether it works out or not, you’ll gain something from the process.
‘…Though that wasn’t really appropriate advice for an elementary school children’s bazaar.’
Kang Hoon learned a lesson back then.
“Another 5-star review was posted.”
Click, click.
Moving the mouse to check, seller ‘Kang Hoon’s rating was a perfect 5 stars.
The rating for the only product Kang Hoon sells, [Virility Enhancement Germanium Jade Bracelet +2], was also.
Naturally a perfect 5 stars.
【 Best Review 】
☆☆☆☆☆ – [Sigh Three Thousand Miles] : My life changed after wearing this. Hunter Kang Hoon. You will be blessed forever and ever. I will pray toward Hunter Kang Hoon every time I eat. I live under Hunter Kang Hoon’s blessing day and night. Everyone. You absolutely won’t regret this product. If you’re a man. At least once. Shouldn’t you live this kind of life?. Please definitely purchase the Magnesium Jade Bracelet.
“…I keep telling them it’s germanium, not magnesium.”
Rubbing his neck as he skimmed through the glowing praise in the review.
Though they got the product name wrong.
Still, perhaps thanks to reviews like this.
Sales of 3 to as many as 4 units per day continue steadily.
“Quantity doesn’t matter!”
It’s fine.
With Kang Hoon’s current ability, producing 5 products per day is the limit anyway.
Also,
Recently Kang Hoon changed his method of selling items.
Breaking away from the early method of mass producing and mass registering.
Now orders come in first and purchase agreements are made first.
Then.
He enhances and creates items as needed each time.
This bracelet has permanent effects until it breaks once made.
‘If too many of these items flood the market at once, the price will inevitably drop.’
That’s the lesson from Danggeum Market 49 Degrees.
In such cases, it’s right to raise prices like this and release quantities little by little.
‘Even I think it’s somewhat ruthless.’
If any hunter saw this, they’d sneer saying, ‘You’re selling semi-permanent magic items and trembling over a mere 20 million won?’
But Kang Hoon’s heart fluttered a bit on the first day.
He expected it to go well, but still, his commoner’s sensibilities don’t just disappear.
‘Even after inflating it four times, it sold well. I didn’t know it would sell this well.’
As a result of consistently making three direct transaction outings per day like this!
The money that gathered in Kang Hoon’s hands in just a few days was an incredible,
───”270 million won!”
An unbelievable amount.
What was it like just a month ago?
Kang Hoon lived eating thin noodles mixed with soy sauce.
In today’s South Korea, even rice prices have risen, so this was the cheapest way to eat.
Of course, being human, he’d use convenience stores when he felt like he’d go crazy, but that’s how it was back then.
If he could meet his past self.
And tell him ‘You’ll earn 270 million won before turning thirty?’
Past Kang Hoon would probably answer like this.
‘Go eat some thin noodles.’
“Haha!”
Bursting into laughter at his random imagination, Kang Hoon picked up the pen he had put down.
And turned on the LCD Tablet that was still warm.
‘I’ve decided. From now on, I’ll occasionally draw pictures just for myself like this.’
That’s right.
Right now Kang Hoon wants to design the brand logo and character for his shopping mall brand, ‘Kang Hoon Shop’.
Well, of course.
“730 million won to go!”
A new life goal that had conquered Kang Hoon’s heart and mind.
The target amount he was determined to earn was 1 billion won!
Why 1 billion?
Since he was going to make money anyway, he wanted to save up the minimum seed money to buy an apartment.
Even if he took out a loan using his Hunter profession, something like a complete 100% loan didn’t exist.
“Phew, honestly speaking, I really, really want to move into a great place too.”
He remembered the landlord grandfather who had treated him like a dog and constantly ignored him.
That man who claimed to own over 20 houses.
Despite having so much money, he wouldn’t fix a single tenant’s boiler and kept postponing it again and again.
He didn’t want to grow old like that, but still.
It was also true that his determination had grown thanks to that man.
‘Let’s work hard and become happier. Let’s live for myself.’
Park Kang-hoon’s life.
It was about changing the foundation of that life.
He wanted to prepare solidly from the ground up.
“Kehehehe.”
The ability to make money.
Holding this ability and buying a good apartment that would be impressive anywhere!
He wasn’t boldly trying to save humanity, annihilate Gates, or become the strongest Hunter.
Just,
A modest yet solid goal that Park Kang-hoon, still a commoner, could reasonably have.
It was fine even if people said he only looked ahead to what was right in front of him.
It didn’t matter if they said he lacked ambition.
My own home.
Just one wish to have a good house that wouldn’t make him envious of others.
“Let’s go, let’s go! Fighting, Park Kang-hoon!!”
For the first time in years, finally drawing a picture for himself.
Kang Hoon laughed and laughed until his cheeks hurt.
Someone might call him crazy if they saw him, but laughing a lot when you can laugh was Kang Hoon’s motto.
That’s when it happened.
Ding!
[New transaction proposal from 5-Star Shooter (Buyer)!]
──It was a notification message he’d never seen before.
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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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