Became the Transcendent Monarch of the Corner of the Room - Chapter 55

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

Episode 55

 

“Aren’t all intermediate magic stones the same intermediate magic stones anyway?”

 

“Absolutely. Absolutely not. Most people think that way just by looking at the grade of magic stones, but….”

 

“But?”

 

“That’s exactly the foolish thinking. Even among the same intermediate magic stones, the effects can differ by more than double depending on the quality.”

 

“Double?”

 

“That’s right. Especially for places like our Heukpung that manufacture delicate and specialized items, we have no choice but to pay even more attention to this.”

 

“I, I see….”

 

“So now you understand how important the task you’ve been assigned this time is, right?”

 

Im Ye-seo of Heukpung Guild.

 

She recalled the conversation she had heard from Master before coming over to Manwol.

 

At that time, Master had sat her down and went on and on for hours about the ‘quality of magic stones.’

 

How difficult these items were to obtain.

 

And therefore how necessary they were for Heukpung.

 

She had heard it over and over until her ears could bleed.

 

‘I naturally thought we wouldn’t be able to get them from Manwol.’

 

She had heard that they were that difficult and hard to obtain.

 

From Manwol.

 

And from Choi Hyun-min’s hands, no less, appearing just like that.

 

Im Ye-seo stared at the magic stone in her hand as if mesmerized.

 

‘The vivid color and… the magical power I can feel… it’s definitely different!’

 

She could feel it.

 

When she had obtained magic stones while exploring the Maze before, she hadn’t paid attention to this.

 

Perhaps because the magic stone in her hand was of such high quality.

 

Just holding it lightly, she could feel the dense magical power.

 

“How is it? Do you feel like wasting some time now?”

 

Im Ye-seo, who had been spacing out.

 

What brought her back was Choi Hyun-min’s voice.

 

As she slowly raised her head, she saw Choi Hyun-min across from her—

 

He was juggling with magic stones.

 

Those were the same.

 

Like Im Ye-seo’s, they were emanating heavy magical power.

 

“…It wasn’t just one, was it?”

 

“Just as you’re busy, we at Manwol don’t have time to play games with our clients either.”

 

At her question, Choi Hyun-min smiled slightly.

 

Then he took out a sack containing magic stones from his subspace.

 

Clatter—

 

And poured them onto the floor.

 

“W-wait a moment!”

 

From top to bottom.

 

Magic stones pouring down like a waterfall.

 

The blue sparkling was like looking at the deep sea.

 

“One thousand three hundred pieces. That’s about three hundred more than the thousand Heukpung requested.”

 

“H-how could there be so many….”

 

Even among intermediate magic stones, top-quality items were not easy to obtain.

 

Even large guilds like Heukpung, who were desperately trying to obtain these items.

 

Could only manage to get one or two hundred pieces despite all their efforts, which is why they made a request to Manwol.

 

But Manwol.

 

And not even Master or anyone else, but Choi Hyun-min—

 

These items came from that person’s hands?

 

The magic stones scattered on the floor.

 

Im Ye-seo couldn’t take her eyes off them.

 

“Will you make the deal?”

 

“D-did you obtain all of these yourself?”

 

Even when heading to the depths of the Maze.

 

Even when entering giant raids, she hadn’t trembled.

 

But her voice was trembling at this sight she was seeing for the first time in her life.

 

“The source isn’t important. I’m just curious whether Heukpung actually has the intention to buy.”

 

And Choi Hyun-min, watching that scene.

 

He was certain.

 

‘…The deal won’t be that difficult.’

 

That Im Ye-seo’s heart was greatly shaken.

 

Her fingertips trembling slightly.

 

Her eyes focused entirely on the pile of magic stones.

 

Her breathing faster than ever before.

 

Of course, strictly speaking, these weren’t big differences.

 

But Choi Hyun-min was detecting all of these things.

 

“O-of course we’re interested, but….”

 

“I understand that the general market price is about one million won per intermediate magic stone. Regardless of quality.”

 

Nod.

 

She nodded at Choi Hyun-min’s words.

 

The price he mentioned was a reasonable price that matched the general market rate.

 

“Then… since it’s a thousand pieces, would ten billion won be enough?”

 

One million times 1000.

 

Arithmetically, it was a clean calculation without any error.

 

But for Choi Hyun-min, it was the wrong answer.

 

“No.”

 

“Then how much do you want?”

 

The regular intermediate magic stones traded in the market are about one million won.

 

You want to take these for the same price?

 

Not a chance.

 

“As you know, this level of quality isn’t something you can easily find.”

 

“….”

 

At Choi Hyun-min’s words, she didn’t respond.

 

From here on, it was guild versus guild.

 

A situation where heavy responsibility and money were at stake with every word.

 

She too needed to be serious.

 

Regardless.

 

Choi Hyun-min continued what he had to say.

 

“Of course, I’d like to ask for the full price corresponding to their value, but… considering the help we received in the last raid….”

 

Hmm—

 

Choi Hyun-min started to speak but stopped and took a breath.

 

Then Im Ye-seo’s sharp gaze shot toward him.

 

Piercing.

 

“…I’ll accept just four billion.”

 

“What did you say?!”

 

“Four million won each. I think this is quite a reasonable price… don’t you?”

 

As he spoke, Im Ye-seo gaped in disbelief.

 

At the same time, she was snorting through her nose, seeming quite heated.

 

“S-say something that makes sense!”

 

“Yes? What do you mean…?”

 

“The market price for intermediate magic stones is around 1 million won each, and you want to charge 4 million won per stone?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Not 1.4 million but 4 million?!”

 

“Is there some problem with that?”

 

How could someone be so shameless.

 

Im Ye-seo squeezed her eyes shut as soon as she heard the ridiculous price.

 

To be so confident while proposing such an outrageous amount.

 

“Th-that’s completely unreasonable!”

 

“Is it?”

 

He must know perfectly well how absurd his demand was.

 

Despite Im Ye-seo’s protest, Choi Hyun-min just calmly brushed it off.

 

“Sigh- I’d appreciate it if you could suggest a more reasonable price.”

 

She had grown somewhat cold, letting out a sigh.

 

But conversely, Choi Hyun-min’s eyes gleamed like a predator spotting prey.

 

‘Even after I quoted such an absurd amount, she’s reacting like this… She must really be in a hurry.’

 

Choi Hyun-min had quoted 4 million to test her and Heukpung from the start.

 

He knew all too well that it was an unreasonable price.

 

His plan was to quote an outrageous amount first, observe Im Ye-seo’s reaction.

 

Then formulate his strategy accordingly.

 

And his judgment hit the mark perfectly.

 

‘If it were the usual Im Ye-seo, she would have left without looking back.’

 

She wasn’t storming off despite such a ridiculous price quote?

 

With that cold personality of hers?

 

That meant…

 

‘Im Ye-seo. No, Heukpung must be extremely desperate for some reason.’

 

Desperate enough to sit through this kind of nonsense.

 

“Are you dissatisfied with the price?”

 

“It’s not exactly a normal price.”

 

“Actually, I set it lower considering our relationship with Heukpung. Given the help I received before.”

 

At those words, Im Ye-seo shot him a sharp look.

 

But Heukpung was still the one in need.

 

She couldn’t just storm off even if she was annoyed.

 

Mmph.

 

Im Ye-seo chewed her lips nervously.

 

She must be conflicted.

 

This was clearly a deal she had to close, but there seemed to be no other solution.

 

“…Isn’t there another way?”

 

“Instead of money?”

 

She held her head in her hands, groaning in frustration.

 

That was the answer she came up with.

 

He had remained silent, letting her be.

 

But her silence lasted much longer than expected.

 

“What about Heukpung helping Manwol, or maybe other items? How about something like that?”

 

Something other than money.

 

This was exactly the answer Choi Hyun-min had wanted to hear.

 

But he couldn’t show that so obviously.

 

He deliberately looked down at the floor to hide his expression.

 

Then muttered casually in an indifferent tone.

 

“Does Heukpung… have anything valuable enough?”

 

“What do you mean by that?”

 

“Well… whether you could easily offer something worth tens of billions.”

 

Was she offended by that?

 

Im Ye-seo asked back in a sharp voice.

 

Choi Hyun-min still avoided eye contact and murmured quietly.

 

“Why wouldn’t you! Surely Manwol knows what Heukpung is famous for?”

 

Why wouldn’t he know.

 

If she was going to tell him about it herself…

 

He should be the one feeling grateful.

 

“Then let’s make it 1 billion.”

 

“1…billion?!”

 

Was there some confusion in her head for a moment?

 

Im Ye-seo’s eyes widened as she tilted her head.

 

Toward her, he added another condition as if it were nothing.

 

“Plus stealth potions.”

 

“…So you were the real schemer after all.”

 

At Choi Hyun-min’s proposal, she smiled bitterly.

 

Perhaps he had this demand in mind from the beginning.

 

“I believe you were the one who suggested it first.”

 

“You’re more cunning than I thought.”

 

“I think this would actually be helpful for Heukpung’s side.”

 

Indeed.

 

Stealth potions weren’t exactly high-priority items for Heukpung.

 

Im Ye-seo knew this well.

 

So she fell into deep contemplation again with another long silence.

 

“You can take your time thinking it over. Please, take these magic stones first.”

 

“…Don’t tell me you think Heukpung will definitely accept your proposal?”

 

Nod.

 

Instead of answering, Choi Hyun-min nodded his head.

 

If even the usually expressionless Im Ye-seo was showing it this clearly.

 

Then probably up there.

 

The leadership of Heukpung must be desperately scrambling to obtain quality magic stones.

 

“…Fine.”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, Im Ye-seo reached toward the floor.

 

Then all the magic stones scattered around were sucked into her subspace.

 

Even while collecting them, Im Ye-seo’s expression remained strange.

 

Uncertain.

 

As if wondering whether what she was doing was right.

 

Self-doubt.

 

Choi Hyun-min drove the final nail toward her.

 

“I’ll be waiting for a good answer.”

 

***

 

How many hours had passed since Im Ye-seo returned to Heukpung?

 

The result came faster than expected.

 

Ding!

 

“As expected.”

 

1.3 billion won deposited into Choi Hyun-min’s account.

 

It was payment for the intermediate magic stones calculated at 1 million won each.

 

And in addition to that.

 

One more message arrived containing a small image file.

 

Inside were drawings that were hard to make out at first glance.

 

And letters were densely packed throughout.

 

‘Did she send me the stealth potion recipe directly?’

 

Looking closely, the ingredients and manufacturing method.

 

And the effects of the finished product were written in detail.

 

With this…

 

‘Can I finally go up to the 15th Floor?’

 

Why Baldun had been so insistent.

 

Whether there was something other Hunters hadn’t seen.

 

Finally, Choi Hyun-min would be able to confirm it with his own two eyes.

 

Ding!

 

“Hm? Are there still more messages coming?”

 

Another message flew in afterward.

 

When he turned on his phone screen, one more message from Im Ye-seo appeared.

 

[Absolutely! You absolutely must not share this with other people or other Guilds! You understand, right?!]

 

Was this what it was about?

 

Chuckle.

 

Choi Hyun-min didn’t bother replying to her message.

 

First, he had his assigned task—

 

That is, he intended to handle the task Chairman Choi had given him first.

 

Ding!

 

Ding!

 

Ding!

 

Several more messages flew in after that.

 

‘Let’s think about it after making the stealth potion first.’

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