I Became a Black Market Tycoon with an Inventory - Chapter 43

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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043-Lumina Lake
43.
I climbed into a luxurious van.
Just riding in the van alone made me feel inexplicably proud.
The other tourists returning from their tours watched us with intense curiosity, wondering what package we’d booked
to warrant such an impressive vehicle pulling up for us.
It seemed we’d chosen our tour well.
Up close, the van looked even more impressive.
The seats appeared enormous and luxuriously cushioned.
It was a world apart from the vehicle we’d been riding in just moments before.
There was no comparison whatsoever.
Truly luxurious.
I approached the van with lingering doubt—was this really for us?
Beside the van stood the man who’d solicited us earlier.
Alex was holding a megaphone and continuing to shout.
“Those who booked Candy Tour, please come this way.”
“Candy Tour, please come this way.”
“Candy Tour, this way!!”
Alex smiled when he saw us and opened the van door.
Four young women were already seated inside.
At a glance, they appeared to be Korean.
I greeted them awkwardly and took my seat.
.
.
.
The van was clearly full—there wasn’t a single empty seat.
Yet Alex continued shouting for Candy Tour passengers to come over, again and again.
Why was he doing that?
Did he need to announce that we’d boarded?
While I pondered this, Alex came to the van.
The throngs of tourists had vanished.
Had he been using the megaphone to promote Candy Tour to the other visitors?
“Sorry for the wait. Now let’s really get going—to the true Candy Tour itinerary.”
The van pulled away smoothly.
As we drove, Alex began his explanation.
“This is the Emerald Canyon, which only Candy Tour operates exclusively. Did you hear me?”
“Emerald Canyon.”
A woman answered enthusiastically.
“Good. And your name is?”
“Park Hye-young.”
“Yes. For Park Hye-young tonight, we’re going with beef instead of pork belly.”
“Wow~~~”
She was genuinely excited, her enthusiasm unmistakable.
“If the response is good, we can bring out not just beef, but even more premium items.”
“Wow~~~~~~”
Everyone cheered.
The mention of beef instantly heated up the atmosphere.
“Wonderful. Let me give you a brief course overview. Emerald Canyon is a gorge carved from limestone. Limestone canyons are extremely rare worldwide, but Emerald Canyon is unique in having a river flowing through it. Particularly, where the limestone meets the river water, it radiates this mysterious emerald hue—absolutely stunning. That’s how Emerald Canyon got its name. You’ll be traveling through that river by boat. We’ll go slowly so you can fully appreciate this magnificent scenery. Capture it with your eyes, in photographs, in videos. The tropical plants scattered throughout are captivating too, so I’d recommend observing them carefully.”
Soon the luxurious van came to a halt, and as we stepped out, a breathtaking vista unfolded before us.
Was this the Grand Canyon?
A magnificent gorge stretched before our eyes.
Not quite the Grand Canyon, but an impressive gorge nonetheless.
Walking down a bit further, we came upon a small dock-like landing.
From there, we would board a boat and descend through the gorge.
The boat was small but extraordinarily luxurious.
Immaculate and meticulously maintained.
Our group of seven boarded the boat, and as we began navigating through the gorge,
all of us couldn’t help but gape in awe.
It was absolutely magnificent.
Utterly mesmerizing.
My entire body trembled with wonder.
Simply gazing at the landscape was enough to sustain an uncontrollable sense of excitement.
Was this truly what travel was?
Though I’d traveled abroad before, this felt uniquely moving.
The emerald-hued river and towering gorge.
And the exotic tropical plants seemed like a passage leading to another world.
This place felt like it was telling us it was our own separate world.
Completely absorbed in the scenery, I lost myself in observation.
All seven tourists wore the same expression.
Alex spoke up.
“There’s a great swimming spot just ahead. If anyone’s interested, you’re welcome to enjoy a brief swim.”
Only then did they return to reality.
There was a small waterfall, and before it lay a perfect swimming area.
All seven of us plunged into the water without hesitation.
The water was cold, yet refreshingly invigorating.
The water was crystal clear and transparent.
Though it held that emerald hue, when I cupped it in my hands, it was perfectly transparent.
As I emerged from the water, Alex handed me a plush beach towel.
My body, chilled from the water, gradually warmed in the sun.
This single location alone swept away all the grievances I’d been harboring.
I congratulated myself for choosing Candy Tour so wisely.
Leaving the fantastic vistas of Emerald Canyon behind, we headed toward Lumina Lake.
“Lumina Lake is beautiful in its own right, but at night it becomes truly mystical because of the bioluminescent plankton. However, if we’re too bright, it’s difficult to fully enjoy Lumina Lake, so we use only minimal lighting here. Please be careful.”
“Yes!!!!”
The atmosphere inside the vehicle had transformed completely from how it was at first.
The awkwardness from before had vanished, leaving only the thrill and joy of travel.
Though we were strangers, a sense of familiarity had begun to bloom.
We arrived at Lumina Lake as the sun was setting.
We were assigned tents and unpacked our belongings.
At first, we could see clearly, but as darkness fell, mysterious light began to emanate from Lumina Lake.
“Wow~~~”
The female tour members were the first to let out small exclamations at the sight.
Lumina Lake, glowing alone on the mountainside in the darkness.
It was truly secretive and ethereal.
At that sound, others who had been organizing their luggage came out to witness the dreamlike spectacle of Lumina Lake.
We stared, so captivated that it felt like the sight was stealing our very souls.
As we gazed mesmerized at Lumina Lake, a scent tickled the tip of my nose.
Looking back, Alex was grilling meat.
Now that I thought about it, lunch at Loboc River was all we’d eaten.
Suddenly, I swallowed hard.
Without realizing it, Shin Seung-heon found himself walking toward Alex.
“You’re here? There are plates and chopsticks over there, so please help yourself.”
Alex welcomed him with a smile.
“Yes. Thank you for the meal.”
“There’s also alcohol and drinks here. And ice over there.”
As Shin Seung-heon set up plates and chopsticks for the other tour member who had come with him,
all seven tour members had gathered in front of the barbecue grill.
“Thank you. We appreciate it.”
“I’m grilling beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and shrimp, so please enjoy as much as you’d like. Just let me know if you need more.”
“Yes. It looks absolutely delicious.”
Everyone picked up their plates and began eating.
Park Hye-young’s eyes widened as she put a perfectly grilled piece of beef into her mouth.
“Wow~~ This is really delicious. Absolutely amazing—you have to try it too.”
“Really? Then let me just—wait. What happened to my meat? It was here but now it’s gone. Where did my meat go?”
“What kind of meat is this? Why is it so tender?”
People in front of the barbecue grill, making a fuss as they ate the meat.
Alex watched them for a moment, then said,
“You can’t have a trip without drinks. Let me make you some really good somaek.”
“Sounds great~~~”
Alex poured soju into a cup, made a hole in a beer bottle cap, held it closed with his finger, and shook it.
I flicked my finger slightly to the side, and pristine white foam burst forth with a satisfying hiss.
The snowy foam filled the cup to the brim.
Just looking at it felt refreshing.
“Here, enjoy a glass each.”
Gulp, gulp.
“Wow, this is incredible. Honestly, the best beer and soju mix I’ve ever had.”
“Boss, I’m sorry to ask, but could I have another glass?”
“Of course. I can make as many as you’d like.”
Was it because of the alcohol?
The tour group members grew closer to one another.
When we first boarded the vehicle, everyone had sat in separate individual seats,
but now they were sitting together on the same bench, their bodies occasionally brushing against each other.
“Boss, I’m sorry to ask, but do you have gochujang?”
“Of course I do. Naturally.”
Alex retrieved the gochujang from the cooler in the back.
There were also lettuce wraps and fatsia shoots.
What is this, a restaurant?
“Does anyone want cold noodles?”
“Cold noodles?”
“Broth-based or vinegar-based?”
“Broth-based, of course.”
“You know your stuff.”
Alex pulled out cold noodles from another small cooler in the back.
Noodles with a thin layer of ice.
It was already remarkable that the noodles were still this cold,
but it was even more remarkable that things kept appearing from that small cooler.
“Boss, I really can’t eat anymore. I’m so full.”
“Why not? There’s still plenty of meat left. Eat more.”
“I can’t. I’ve already eaten way too much.”
“Haha. Alright then. From now on, just enjoy some simple side dishes. The drinks are here, and I’ll leave the snacks here. There’s firewood over there, so if the fire gets weak, add one piece at a time. Have a good evening. If anything comes up, my tent is in the back there. Just come over if you need anything.”
“Yes, rest well.”
Once Alex entered his tent, only the tour group remained.
Lumina Lake grew darker after the barbecue ended.
The overall lighting had been kept very low to better see the shimmering waters of Lumina Lake.
A cool breeze swept across the mountainside.
Gazing at the mystical glow emanating from Lumina Lake,
I took a sip of beer.
Behind us, the crackling of firewood echoed,
and looking up at the sky, the stars seemed ready to pour down.
Everything felt so peaceful and refreshing.
This is what you’d call true healing.
Even the person sitting beside me looks beautiful for no reason.
Feeling a bit shy, I strike up a conversation.
“Did you come with friends?”
“Oh! Yes. We’re university friends, and this is our first trip since graduation.”
“Really? We came on a trip with university friends too. What year did you graduate?”
“Class of 2017.”
“Wow, we’re class of 2015. Nice to meet you. I’m Park Nam-seon.”
“You know my name, don’t you? I’m Park Hye-young.”
“Yes, I do. You introduced yourself so confidently. But isn’t this place absolutely stunning?”
“It really is. We initially wanted to sign up for a tour just to see the monkeys, but Alex said we absolutely wouldn’t regret coming here, so we did. I’ve been to Southeast Asia several times, but I’ve never seen a place like this. I almost would have regretted it if we hadn’t come.”
“Is that so? This is my first time in Southeast Asia…”
“Without question, there’s no place like this anywhere. The scenery is incredible, but this atmosphere—what can I even say?”
Darkness has settled over the Mountain, and only Lumina Lake shines with light.
The sound of wind and insects singing drifts distantly like music.
“You’re right. The atmosphere is… well, I had a bit of a conflict with a friend while preparing for this trip, and now I just feel sorry toward them.”
“I feel the same way. I got scolded pretty badly before leaving work on Friday. They said I was going on a trip after doing such sloppy work. That criticism hung over me the entire trip, but here, it all seems to just blow away. Here, every worry, every emotion feels meaningless.”
“I feel at peace too.”
The deeper the night grew,
the deeper our conversation became.
At some point, the people who had been chatting in pairs scattered away somewhere.
.
.
.
On the way back.
Park Nam-seon spoke to his friends.
“The trip was good, right?”
“Good doesn’t even begin to describe it—it was absolutely amazing. Lumina Lake was truly… wow, it was incredible.”
“Thanks for bringing me to a place like this. I’ll admit I was being grumpy. I’ve been under a lot of stress at work lately, there are issues at home, and things with the blind date didn’t work out, so I was pretty on edge. I apologize again. In exchange, I’ll buy us all drinks when we get back to South Korea.”
“Forget about it. Everyone has those days. By the way, what do you think about coming back here next year?”
“I don’t think that’ll work.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t think I can wait until next year. Let’s come back this winter instead.”
“Deal!!!”
*******
[If you go to Bohol, you absolutely have to do Candy Tour.]
This isn’t an advertisement, and I didn’t get paid for it.
I paid out of my own pocket.
And I still highly recommend it.
It’s worth every penny.
No other travel agency offers this tour.
Only Candy Tour has it.
I heard from the guide that
the owner of this place fell in love at first sight with the Emerald Canyon and Lumina Lake, so he started the travel agency.
He was worried so many people would come and damage the place, so he bought the entire area outright.
That’s why there’s a daily visitor limit.
It’s no joke.
It’s the most beautiful landscape I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
I did the tour for 200,000 won,
but honestly, just seeing the Emerald Canyon alone is worth every penny.
You’ll create one unforgettable, intense memory that will stay with you forever.
Otherwise, come find me for real.
I’ll buy you a bowl of soondae soup.
And camping at Lumina Lake is truly out of this world.
Even the air is different there.
No matter who you go with, you become soft and vulnerable.
You know those people who are flirting with someone?
It’s 100% guaranteed.
I even flirted with a woman I’d just met there.
Of course, we broke it off the very next day, but that’s how powerful this place is.
Everyone becomes defenseless there.
Even a hopeless case like me finds hope in that place.
So you all should definitely go.
I recommend it.
I’m uploading photos of the Emerald Canyon.
Lumina Lake was hard for me to photograph well with my skill level.
Please understand.
– I went there too and it’s seriously no joke.
– I heard Bohol has been going crazy because of this place lately?
Anyway, every time he opens his mouth, it’s all lies.
The elderly should use the internet and stuff. It’s really no joke over there.
– Is this another advertisement? I’m sick of it.
I said it wasn’t an advertisement.
“No, they’ll deny it. Even while advertising, they haven’t seen a single ad.”
If you think of it as advertising, then thank you instead. One person dropped out.
– You did it for 200,000? I asked when I went, and they said 400,000. And the waiting list is insane.
– Our country has a homepage for this place too. But everything is sold out.
– I want to go too, but you’re the winner for going at 200,000.
– Anyway, please stop posting these recommendation posts. There are already so many people.
Yeah, I wish the kids who posted photos on Instagram would take them down too.
Candy Tour’s Emerald Canyon and Lumina Lake tour sparked an explosive response.
Whether shouting “Candy Tour” to every tourist descending from Chocolate Hills had an effect,
inquiries continued to pour in,
and the photos posted on Instagram ignited people’s curiosity.
The response from participants was equally tremendous.
Ninety-nine percent wanted to return whenever possible.
The remaining one percent were those who wished to preserve this happiness as a cherished memory, fearing it might fade.
Thus, Candy Tour continued to grow steadily.

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