I Became a Mythical Hunter After Killing the Golden Goblin - Chapter 3

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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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Chapter 3. Black Market
I was about to slip away from the rooftop when I hurried back and bound the five collapsed loan sharks with the sturdiest rope from the construction site at home.
I even threw in an extra slap across the face of that unpleasant classmate for good measure.
“Phew… This should buy me half a day at least.”
No matter how precisely I’d struck their vital points with the blessing of fortune to knock them unconscious, they would awaken within a few hours.
I hadn’t even unlocked my Strength stat yet, and my ordinary physical power couldn’t keep them unconscious for long.
But by binding them this way, I could delay the moment when they woke up and rushed to report me to their boss.
“So what do I do now?”
The real problem starts here. Well, the money I borrowed before—I’ve already repaid several times the principal, so there’s no need to repay further.
However, I still couldn’t cleanly sever my relationship with the boss and the loan sharks.
I lacked both the skill and the authority to do so.
They’re a garbage organization engaged in illegal activities and crime, but their power and influence are formidable.
At minimum, within this city, the vast wealth they possess and the network cartel built from that money wield absolute power.
From small guilds established here to various corporations to politicians living in this place—they’ve extended their claws into countless places.
‘That’s why they dared to touch the family of a B-rank Hunter. They thought their backing was solid.’
In the end, they succumbed to and were destroyed by an overwhelming force that even power couldn’t overcome.
The boss himself was an [E-] rank player. Even in retirement, with time having passed, he could possess strength beyond that—a formidable individual with no issues.
In other words, with my current strength, I couldn’t even defeat the boss alone.
“I have no choice but to flee for now.”
Originally, I would have worked as a slave under them for five years, and only after the organization collapsed could I have moved to another region.
But now… I have to move for the safety of both myself and my younger sibling.
Since they’ve already identified my sibling’s Hospital, I can’t live here without anxiety.
‘But where to?’
My sibling’s illness was an unknown incurable disease without even a name, let alone a cause. Therefore, I needed to be in a region with a Hospital that had at least a D-rank or higher Healer and life-support equipment.
After deep thought, one region came to mind.
The capital, Seoul.
Both before the regression and now, Seoul was a place of love and hate—somewhere I didn’t even want to spit in that direction.
It’s where those who made me lose my parents lived, those who sent mere five and four-year-old children to a remote provincial Orphanage for their own greed.
Eventually, when my sibling’s condition worsened, I had no choice but to admit them to a major Hospital in Seoul and had to live there until near death. But it wasn’t a pleasant place for me.
‘But now it’s different.’
When I was young, I knew nothing and could only endure quietly. I had no way to do anything back then.
I could only watch with open eyes as my parents, called heroes of South Korea, were worked like dogs, abandoned in the most pathetic and pitiful way, and their fortune stolen under absurd pretenses.
That week is my clearest childhood memory, and it showed all too well the final fate of an obedient hunting dog.
Through their schemes, my heroic parents became traitors and garbage who drove their teammates into danger, and their vast fortune was entirely confiscated under the hollow pretext of condolence money.
In reality, all that wealth went into the bellies of those who abandoned my parents.
‘Before the regression, I was powerless and lacked authority, so I had no choice but to abandon thoughts of revenge.’
But now it’s different. I now have a path to gain strength, and I possess infinite wealth that can become power.
〚Current number of purple coins available for extraction: 100,000,000.〛
〚Current number of standard Rank F-grade Magic Stones available for extraction: 1,000,000.〛
〚Current number of pure gold ingots available for extraction: 10,000.〛
〚The current number of consumables available for extraction is 3.〛
Compared to the infinite wealth within the Golden Tower, it was nothing but dust—yet to me right now, it was treasure beyond measure.
‘With this money, I could cover my sister’s hospital bills and buy a decent apartment.’
No, I could even squander it for months and still have plenty left over.
Currently, each purple coin held a value of approximately 1,000 won.
General-[F-] grade magic stones varied in purity, but each was worth roughly 5,000 to 7,000 won.
As for the 100% pure ‘pristine’ golden chunks—I didn’t know the exact details, but from fleeting memories, their value was so tremendous they were displayed at auctions attended only by the most distinguished figures.
“But I can’t sell them openly.”
An unawakened person who hadn’t even awakened suddenly awakening and selling this much merchandise?
I’d immediately fall under suspicion of being an unregistered awakened individual, and the Inspection Bureau would drag me away on suspicion of illegal activity—and I’d have no excuse.
Well, if I absolutely had to sell everything, I could do it at my destination, but there was no reason to take such risks. The curse’s warning existed for a reason, and safety had to come first.
Of course, to sell through official channels, I first needed to obtain a formal Hunter license. Naturally, acquiring a Hunter license in half a day was impossible.
But since I needed money immediately, I had to use another method.
“Let me just sell the minimum.”
Enough to cover my sister’s hospital bills and secure a place to live.
I descended from the Rooftop and headed somewhere.
***
“Phew… Finally found it.”
After leaving the Rooftop and wandering for quite some time, the place I finally discovered was a dilapidated restroom in a small park.
It was the kind of restroom that looked so unpleasant you’d rather hold it in.
But this place was a secret location known only to those who knew.
I entered the restroom and went straight into the second stall from the left.
“How was I supposed to do this again?”
Right. This was definitely the way to do it.
A memory surfaced of hearing this from a talkative F-rank awakened individual before my regression. I opened my inventory, retrieved a total of 100 purple coins, and dumped them directly into the toilet.
And as I pulled the lever to flush, something extraordinary happened.
Whoooosh!
The 100 coins vanished in an instant as if swept away by the water, and in their place, a small portal materialized.
“That was correct.”
The Black Market—the largest force controlling the darkness of South Korea, and a place owned by one of the mere five S-rank Hunters that exist in the entire nation.
In truth, while the Black Market is technically part of the underworld, it’s essentially a semi-legitimate operation given that it’s the domain of an S-rank Hunter, a force considered national-level power.
The fact that it maintains strict order and has the Inspection Bureau stationed there is proof of this. Of course, it’s ultimately the S-rank Hunter’s territory, and since he created it for illegal purposes, they follow his orders absolutely and don’t move unless it’s a particularly serious crime.
That’s why all manner of illegal dealings are possible here.
Right now, unable to register as an awakened individual due to lack of time, this was the only place where I could convert some of this vast wealth into cash.
I swallowed hard as I watched the portal grow larger and larger until it was finally large enough for a person to jump through.
“Since I don’t know when the curse will strike, I need to be careful.”
Honestly, I’m anxious. A curse of misfortune. Wasn’t all my suffering before regression rooted in this very curse?
‘I have no idea who placed such a curse on me…’
Now that my unique ability—which should have been good fortune—has become an authority and grown far more powerful, such misfortunes shouldn’t befall me as easily.
The stat grades differ by one rank between legendary and mythic, after all.
“Still, if misfortune is coming my way, I should stay vigilant.”
With that thought, I pulled on the robe I’d brought, fastened my mask, and threw myself into the portal.
***
Whoooosh!
As the sensation of falling persisted for roughly ten seconds, light began to bloom and my vision transformed entirely.
In place of the dingy, filthy bathroom stood an enormous, sprawling marketplace.
‘So this is the Black Market.’
A place I’d only heard rumors of before my regression.
To be honest, someone like me—an [F-] rank Hunter who barely scraped by catching goblins, impoverished and struggling—had no business being here.
Only three types of people typically came to this place.
First, criminals who couldn’t operate in the light, or those seeking to fence stolen goods connected to criminal enterprises.
Second, those searching for items impossible to obtain through legitimate channels.
And finally, third, those who came to conduct business after receiving certain territorial rights from an S-rank Hunter.
If I had to categorize myself, I fell into the first group. I’d come as an unawakened individual to sell assets that were essentially contraband.
Though the entry fee of one hundred thousand won was a considerable sum, I didn’t resent it. It was simply the rightful payment owed to the master of this land.
‘In a sense, this place was originally part of the Abyss anyway.’
A situation similar to my own ability, the Golden Tower—a fairly renowned case worldwide at that.
That S-rank Hunter had been fortunate enough to acquire ownership of a region while exploring the Abyss, and had transformed it into this Black Market.
“But why can’t I enter the Golden Tower?”
If I had to guess the reason, it likely stemmed from that ownership restriction.
“Eventually, I’ll be able to enter.”
The golden vault containing infinite wealth and miraculous elixirs was merely the first floor.
If that were the case, what lay on the second floor, the third floor… and however many floors beyond that, I couldn’t say. But one thing was certain—there would be treasures beyond disappointment. I simply needed to pour all my effort into elevating my ownership level.
I moved slowly and deliberately, careful not to betray myself as a newcomer, heading toward the center of the Black Market where the largest building stood.
[Black Money]
That was the name emblazoned on the colossal structure.
“I’ve come to the right place.”
Black Money—the sole company in this Black Market directly operated by an S-rank Hunter, serving as both a bank for illicit funds and assets, and an auction house for significant transactions and merchandise.
“And the bank also exchanges underground money for legitimate currency.”
The fees were steep, but it was the only method available to me for obtaining the quick capital I desperately needed.
Without hesitation, I entered the building.
“Welcome. What brings you here today?”
“I’d like to visit the bank.”
“I’ll show you to the second floor.”
Following one of the attendants stationed throughout the space, I ascended to the second floor, where an enormous banking hall revealed itself.
From there, the scene differed little from what one would see in an ordinary bank—except that all the patrons concealed their identities behind masks.
Just as banks had added coin and mana stone purchases to their services following the emergence of the Abyss, this Black Money establishment performed the same function.
Ding!
After a brief wait, an alarm chimed to signal my turn. I entered the designated room, where an attendant wearing a Fox mask sat waiting.
As I closed the door and glanced away for a moment, the Fox’s gaze swept across me with an enigmatic intensity.
A chill ran down my spine.
As an eerie sensation washed over me and I turned to regard him, the Fox greeted me with a kindly smile as though nothing had transpired moments before.
“Welcome, valued customer. How may I be of service?”
“I’d like to exchange coins and magic stones for cash.”
“Ah, so you wish to convert them into legitimate currency.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The Fox mask began guiding me with practiced ease. The unsettling sensation I’d felt moments ago seemed to have been mere imagination—his face now radiated nothing but courtesy.
“First, do you have a Black Market account? One that works across both legitimate and underground channels?”
“I don’t.”
“Then we’ll need to establish one first. Account creation costs one million won—shall I proceed?”
“Please do.”
Expensive as it was, once created, the account would serve me well for years to come. As my rank climbed, I’d visit the Black Market far more frequently.
Of course, given the government and Association’s influence over the Black Market, I couldn’t use the account for tax evasion or similar purposes.
The penalties if caught would be exponentially more severe.
Moreover, a portion of the Black Money’s staggering fees was undoubtedly funneled back to the legitimate side under the guise of taxation.
In other words, a calculated blindness. A mutually beneficial arrangement where both sides turned a blind eye to certain illegalities and profited accordingly.
“Your account has been successfully opened. Here is your card. Since you have no transaction history yet, it’s an F-rank card. As your transaction volume increases and your accumulated balance grows, your card rank will automatically ascend. Now, shall we verify the assets you wish to exchange?”
Taking the card, I opened my inventory and withdrew five percent of my coins and magic stones.
Five million purple coins. Fifty thousand Rank F-grade magic stones.
The staggering quantity poured into the pouch the guide offered, and the appraisal began.
“That’s… quite a substantial amount.”
“Yes.”
With the practiced skill of someone who’d done this countless times, the Fox swiftly completed the appraisal and settlement using his abilities.
“Purple coins currently trade at 1,012 won each, but we settle at 1,000 per coin, so that comes to 5 billion won. The magic stones are all of exceptionally high purity, so we’ll purchase the entire lot at 7,000 won per stone, bringing the magic stone settlement to 350 million won. Your total comes to 5.35 billion won.”
I remained silent at the settlement figure.
It was more than I could have accumulated in a lifetime of labor before my regression.
Internally, I was leaping to my feet and shouting in jubilation, yet outwardly I merely nodded with composure.
“Will you proceed with the transaction? If you do, by meeting the conditions of 【F-rank: one million won】-【D-rank: ten million won】-【C-rank: 100 million】-【B-rank: one billion】-【A-rank: five billion】, your rank will instantly jump to A-rank. Your commission will be reduced by five percent per rank tier, dropping from 45% to 25%! For your reference, the remaining ranks are S-rank at 10 billion, VIP-rank at 100 billion, and VVIP-rank at one trillion won.”
The Fox mask, clearly excited by such a substantial transaction—apparently rare for him—delivered his pitch with rapid-fire enthusiasm.
“I’ll proceed. Deposit the full amount into my account. And consider this a tip.”
“4.0125 billion won has been fully deposited! Thank you so much! I’m your consultant Fox, and it’s been a pleasure!”
The transaction concluded successfully. My card instantly ascended from F-rank to A-rank, and my account balance swelled considerably.
‘Yes, this is the optimal amount.’
Precisely the maximum a wealthy mid-to-upper tier Hunter could sell in a single transaction—and simultaneously, the threshold below which the Inspection Bureau wouldn’t find the transaction history suspicious.
Now only one task remained. I followed the guide straight to the seventh floor, submitted ten gold ingots as auction items in the auction house there, and then exited the Black Money building.
-Are you certain about that one?
-Absolutely. You doubt the Fox? I’m staking my position and career on this premium intelligence!
And I remained unaware.
That the curse of misfortune was already closing in on me.

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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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