7
About three hours after the hunt began, the bag he had carried was full.
Since the party's purpose was not to grow stronger but to make money by selling goblin hearts, the hunt naturally came to a close.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Not at all."
While the party leader settled accounts at the management office, Baek Ujin exchanged formal greetings with the other two members and prepared to part ways.
Since it was used as an ingredient for mass-produced recovery potions, quality wasn't a crucial factor. For that reason, the official simply placed the entire bag on a scale, checked the weight, and tapped on his pad to calculate the price.
The money earned from three hours of hunting, after taxes, was 760,000 won.
"I've transferred it."
"It came in a bit more than expected."
"It's because you work fast, Ujin-ssi, so we saved time. Think of it as compensation for that."
"I won't decline."
Having received 200,000 won from the leader, Baek Ujin returned the rented sword and parted ways with the party members he had briefly teamed up with.
'200,000 won for three hours.'
Obviously, in a typical party, a porter's share was usually calculated at 0.5, not 1. The people he partied with this time were just unusually kind.
'Even 100,000 won for three hours isn't a small amount.'
Of course, this was strictly from a porter's perspective; for a hunter who directly hunted monsters, it was woefully inadequate. This wasn't a relative comparison but rather because the prices of items hunters prepared to hunt monsters were murderous, so it was indeed a meager earning in reality.
Beep.
Stopping by the hunter-exclusive bathhouse, Baek Ujin put his dirty clothes in the washing machine, rinsed his body in the bath area, and soaked in the spacious tub.
"Huu."
Roughly pushing his wet hair up, he rested his head on the edge of the tub and organized his thoughts.
'A skill didn't activate, but it's not like there was no gain.'
Actually, he was a bit doubtful whether this ability was even a skill.
When you acquire a skill through a dream or, very rarely, through a rune dropped from a high rank, the skill's name, effect, and usage method naturally imprint in your mind.
'But no matter how much I rack my brain, a skill doesn't come to mind.'
There were single-use skills that disappeared after one activation, so Baek Ujin thought the skill he had might be of that type. The reason he couldn't confirm it was because there was still one element left to test.
'I'm going to end up spending it as soon as I earn it.'
Having calculated the time precisely, Baek Ujin got out of the tub to match when the drying would finish.
"Uwaak?!"
"……?"
When the man walking toward him suddenly flinched upon seeing him, Baek Ujin tilted his head slightly and looked at the man.
"Ah, th-that, no. I'm sorry!!"
"What is it."
The man was about to bow his head but flinched once more before loudly apologizing and running far away.
'His face seemed somewhat familiar.'
Thinking it was a passing encounter from before his regression, Baek Ujin left the bathhouse, changed into his completely dried clothes, and headed home.
**
The next morning.
"Going to meet your friends again today?"
"No. I'm going to look into job opportunities today."
He had no intention of continually hiding the fact that he was doing hunter work. However, revealing that fact right now would only cause his parents to worry, so he was just delaying the timing a bit.
"Aren't you going to university?"
"Well, no?"
"You finally got accepted, why don't you just attend?"
"Enough. Living alone is a hassle too."
"Don't complain to mom later about why I didn't stop you."
"I won't. I'm heading out. I might be a bit late today."
"Be careful on your way."
Leaving the house, Baek Ujin took a bus straight to Yongsan.
Where a massive electronics market once stood before dungeons appeared, a building the size of a 10-story department store now rose prominently. That building was precisely the Craftsman Guild building with the most hunter customers in Korea.
From appraising loot obtained from dungeons to various tools and potions, it was a place that sold everything except what they didn't have.
"Paralysis Herb Extract?"
"Yes. I'll apply it to bait meat."
The female alchemist wearing a monocle slowly scanned Baek Ujin's face before extending her hand. Baek Ujin placed his pre-prepared ID on it.
"If used improperly against ordinary people, it can be fatal, so don't get any funny ideas."
"If I had such intentions, I wouldn't have come looking for it in such a public place."
"The world is full of morons who can't even think of something that simple. Here."
The alchemist handed Baek Ujin a palm-length thin test tube and his ID.
"How much is it?"
"It's 530,000 won, but I'll give it to you for 500,000 won."
Baek Ujin, who was about to take out his card from his wallet, put the wallet back in his pocket and only took his ID.
"I'll look around other places first."
"Even if you go elsewhere, there won't be a place cheaper than me?"
The alchemist snorted and put the test tube back, but Baek Ujin simply bowed his head slightly and turned around. And at the exact moment he grabbed the door handle of her workshop.
"450,000 won!!"
"400,000 won."
"Ugh, what the. You're only 20, how do you know the exact market price?"
At her gaze, which seemed both a bit flustered and embarrassed at being caught trying to overcharge, Baek Ujin smiled slightly and said.
"450,000 won."
"...Suddenly?"
Perhaps because he had suggested 400,000 won and then suddenly offered 450,000 won, the alchemist's eyes were full of suspicion. However, having anticipated this, Baek Ujin calmly presented a condition she could absolutely not refuse.
"Instead, throw in one potion as a bonus."
"Po-tion?"
If he had made such a proposal at another workshop, it would have been a brazen suggestion that would have gotten him thrown out immediately with no complaints. But her reaction facing Baek Ujin was distinctly different from other alchemists.
"Any... potion would be... okay?"
"I don't care about the type."
"W-well, if it's something like that...?"
At the alchemist's reaction of rolling her eyes and glancing around cautiously, Baek Ujin had to struggle to suppress his laughter.
"Then, one potion as a bonus for 450,000 won?"
"Yes. Please calculate it that way."
Baek Ujin held out his card, and the alchemist, fearing he might change his mind, quickly took the card and swiped it. Then she went inside for a moment and came back with a test tube containing a purple liquid, holding it out to Baek Ujin along with the test tube containing the Paralysis Herb Extract.
"It's a potion that increases strength. It doesn't have a dramatic effect, but it has a long duration and there's no rebound after the time runs out."
"I'll use it gratefully."
"Um..."
When Baek Ujin pocketed the two test tubes without any suspicion, the alchemist grabbed him as if she had something to confess.
"I-it's definitely effective because I tested it myself. But that... it's a potion that hasn't been officially registered yet..."
"I see."
"Huh?"
"Yes?"
"No, I mean, it hasn't been officially registered?"
"You said you tested it yourself."
"That's true but...?"
"Then it's fine."
"What if it's a scam?!"
"Real scammers don't say things like that."
"......"
Her eyes shook greatly, and the strength slowly left her hand that was holding onto Baek Ujin.
"See you."
"Wait!"
Baek Ujin, who had put his hand on the doorknob, turned his head slightly.
"N-next time, come again... I won't overcharge and I'll give you lots of service then."
"Lots of service?"
"Uh? Yeah. Lots of service!"
"I'll remember that."
Leaving the workshop, Baek Ujin smiled as he felt the inner pocket where he had put the test tubes.
Her anecdote was so impressive that she was one of the few famous people whose past he remembered. Five years later, she would be the one called the Alchemy Lord, having established the largest private alchemy workshop.
'I don't plan on coming for a while, but if it's the Alchemy Lord's free potions, I'll have to make up a reason to come even if I have to force one.'
Having approached her intentionally, he was satisfied with the better-than-expected results, and the corners of his mouth finally rose slightly.
Leaving the Craftsman Guild, Baek Ujin stopped by a nearby supermarket's butcher section, bought a full load of the cheapest chicken, packed it in his bag, and headed to the E-rank dungeon he had visited yesterday.
"You're going in alone?"
"That's correct."
The official, who had lent him a weapon without any questions because he was in a party, made a very troubled expression and scratched his head.
"I'll write a waiver."
"Haa, that's not the issue..."
The official, having checked Baek Ujin's registered stats, was certain that if he let him enter alone, he would definitely end up a corpse.
"I understand that up to E-rank dungeons, hunters can enter if they wish."
"That's only to an extent... Ugh, seriously."
At Baek Ujin's unwavering attitude, the official finally pulled out the waiver.
"Just one sword too."
"Even if it breaks, I won't complain?"
"Yes."
"Hah, kids these days really have no fear..."
It wasn't said for him to hear but rather the official's muttered complaint out of genuine frustration, just a bit loud.
"I'll return it properly."
"You don't have to return it, just come out alive."
Since that was his intention anyway, Baek Ujin tied the received sword to his waist and entered the dungeon.
Familiar forest terrain.
"First, the body."
Confirming no one was around, Baek Ujin briefly set down his bag, did some light stretching, and swung the sword to simply warm up. Only after moving his body for about ten minutes did Baek Ujin pick up his bag and move beyond the bushes.
'This should be about right.'
He placed several pieces of the chicken he brought on the sunken ground that had been trampled frequently by hunters and goblins, then sprinkled the Paralysis Herb Extract over it.
To think the contents of this small test tube cost a whopping 400,000 won.
Moreover, it didn't even work on monsters that appeared in D-rank dungeons.
Using this just to catch a few goblins was literally creating a loss, but for Baek Ujin, whose goal wasn't money, it was a worthwhile investment.
'Having high stats is definitely convenient.'
Easily climbing the tree, Baek Ujin lay on a branch directly above where he had placed the chicken and waited for a group of goblins to come, sword drawn.
Kerek.
Holding his breath and concentrating, he didn't know how much time had passed. What mattered wasn't how long it took but producing results.
'Four of them.'
He had hoped the first group would be three, but one more than that—four goblins—had been lured in.
Kererek!!
Kerek, kekerek!!
Despite the chicken placed on the ground being enough for all four to eat, the goblins began fighting over it.
Kekekek!!
Kerrerek!!
And then, all except the smallest one among the four made disgusting noises and recklessly stuffed the chicken into their mouths.
Kwaaaak.
The ones who had been greedily chewing and scattering the chicken they stuffed in their mouths—when they swallowed it, Baek Ujin counted silently in his mind from the branch and rose.
'Two, one.'
Keok!!
Keheok!!
The exact moment the count of five ended, the goblins that swallowed the meat stiffened as if struck by lightning and collapsed.
Kerek?!
As the ones who were barely even comrades collapsed, the remaining small one panicked and immediately turned to flee.
Keuruk─!!
Leaping from the branch, Baek Ujin's sword pierced through its neck as it was trampled underfoot and collapsed.
"Heup!!"
He twisted the sword that had pierced the goblin's neck with force.
Along with the sensation he still hadn't gotten used to, the struggling goblin went still.
"Keuheung......"
And at the headache that followed, Baek Ujin swayed briefly.
'I'm glad, but this doesn't seem like something I'll ever get used to.'
Having unknown knowledge flow into his head was a more unpleasant sensation than he had thought.
Kerek, kekekekek!!
"Damn it."
The duration of the Paralysis Herb Extract's effect was 30 seconds at most.
It was truly an item that didn't suit the word cost-effectiveness.
'I can see them.'
Confirming red lines marked on the bodies of the goblins staggering to their feet, Baek Ujin threw the bag he was carrying at the farthest one and pulled out the sword embedded in the neck.
Keheuk?!
One goblin that had been rising in a rage was hit by the bag, lost its balance again, and rolled on the ground.
Seukeok!
The left shoulder of the goblin closest to Baek Ujin fell to the ground, severed cleanly.
Losing an arm didn't mean immediate death.
Peoeok!
Without any refined technique, Baek Ujin kicked the armless goblin with all his might while moving his eyes to chase the last goblin.
"Keuk!!"
He barely deflected the goblin's attack swinging a hand axe it had picked up at some point against the flat of his sword.
'Stay calm.'
It was a crisis, but he had blocked it well. The truly dangerous moment was when one got excited and their field of vision narrowed.
Instead of shaking off the axe that clashed with his sword, Baek Ujin reached out with his left arm and grabbed the goblin's hand holding the axe. Then he pulled with all his might and delivered a headbutt.
Keok!!
The goblin fell backward, leaving a short death rattle.
His head throbbed, but Baek Ujin didn't show it and quickly twisted his body toward the last goblin.
Kererek, kerek!!
The one that had rolled on the ground after being hit by the bag was running away, clutching several chunks of meat that had spilled from its snout.
The hesitation didn't last long.
"Heueup!!"
The hand axe taken from the goblin flew with a sharp sound, rapidly closing the distance with the fleeing goblin.
Peok!
With the sound of a watermelon splitting, the goblin with an axe embedded in the back of its head pitched forward, rolled on the ground a couple of times, and stopped.
"It actually worked."
Being the one who threw the axe himself but not knowing it would actually hit, Baek Ujin was surprised by his unexpected talent and swung his sword at the remaining goblins that were still alive.