Chapter 9

Han Yul prepared to go out, following his family who were getting ready for work and school.

“I’ve finished eating. Father, and Yura, let’s go to the bus stop together.”

The two of them nodded in response without speaking.

Han Yul glanced at them, then sat down in front of the shoe rack to put on his boots.

‘Too early… what a joke. There’s no time.’

It was already May. The college entrance exam, usually held in mid-November, wasn’t far off.

It had been 13 years since his father started sacrificing his health to earn money.

Clatter, splash.

The sound of dishes clattering and water pouring.

“Oh, the dishes.”

He had forgotten. Han Yul smiled awkwardly as he saw Han Yura, who had just appeared.

“Sorry, I forgot.”

“It’s fine.”

Tap, tap.

Han Yura, who had put on her shoes, and Han Guk-yeong, who had appeared last with a tight-lipped expression, both walked out of the house with Han Yul towards the bus stop.

Perhaps because the silence had been too long, Han Yura spoke up cautiously.

“Brother.”

“What is it?”

“I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why are you still wearing your military uniform?”

“I have to go to the gate.”

“…So, why are you wearing the military uniform?”

“It’s my work uniform. I have to wear it until I get a new one.”

Thud.

Han Yura and Han Guk-yeong stopped walking simultaneously.

Han Yul, who had stopped walking a bit later, turned his upper body to look at the two of them.

“Work uniform?”

“Yeah.”

“Military uniform?”

“Yeah.”

“You mean the work uniform is the military uniform?”

“Yeah.”

“…Why?”

“This military uniform, despite its appearance, has special effects.”

“Do soldiers wear combat uniforms with special effects?”

“No, but I found a white mana stone, and the military uniform absorbed it.”

“…”

***

After seeing his father and younger sister off at the bus stop, the first place Han Yul went to was a phone shop.

“Welcome… sir?”

“Hello.”

“It looks like you’ve been discharged.”

“Yes, I’d like to get a phone.”

“Please come this way.”

A man with a gentle smile cut off Han Yul, who was about to speak.

“Actually, I’d like a Hunter phone, not a regular one.”

“Ah, a Hunter phone…? Oh, a Hunter phone?”

“Yes.”

“…Ah! Poor discharged soldier!”

“Haha.”

The power of the broadcast was indeed strong.

Han Yul smiled awkwardly in response.

As soon as he got his phone, he headed to the subway station.

“Let’s see.”

He had planned to skip breakfast and continue sleeping.

However, his body, accustomed to the military, automatically woke up at 6:30.

He had gathered information the previous evening using Yura’s computer in the living room.

“First, the nearby areas and the monsters…”

There were countless dungeons in Dongdaemun District. Among them, there were three dungeons suitable for new Hunters.

“A cave with Red Ants, a jungle with Wing Snakes, and a mountain with Trinis.”

A cave-type dungeon filled with Red Ants, a jungle-type dungeon inhabited by Wing Snakes that can’t fly despite having wings, and a mountain-type dungeon where Trinis live.

“Hmm.”

Each had distinct advantages and disadvantages.

Red Ants.

Their bodies are covered in a hard shell, making them highly defensive despite their low attack power.

“Pass.”

Considering the destructive power of Magic Missile, the Red Ants’ armor (shell) is not a problem.

The issue is that they move in groups, and once you encounter them, you have to face 5-6 at once.

“Wing Snakes?”

Unlike Red Ants, they don’t move in groups.

However, Wing Snakes, unlike Red Ants and Trinis, are venomous and can burst their venom sacs when they feel threatened, making them the most challenging D-rank monsters.

“Trinis or Wing Snakes?”

Should he go to the Trini dungeon or the Wing Snake dungeon?

While heading to the subway station, he pondered for a long time. Then, Han Yul, with a small smile, put his phone to his ear.

“Did everything go well?”

“…”

“Then, shall I contact you again in two days?”

It was a favorable quick deal for him.

He couldn’t let this pass.

Han Yul stopped walking. After looking around for a moment, he moved to a convenience store instead of going underground to continue the conversation with Rest.

“What do you need?”

“What size?”

A container that can hold a liquid in one hand.

What could it be?

Ding.

“Thank you.”

The clear bell sound and a woman’s voice penetrated his ear.

Han Yul, who had turned his head unconsciously, stared at the woman leaving the convenience store and then asked Rest.

“Can it contain water?”

“No, wait a moment.”

Han Yul, interrupting Rest, turned his body.

Ding.

“Welcome.”

Han Yul slightly bowed his head in greeting and moved forward.

Thud.

“How much?”

“800 won.”

“Here you go. Thank you.”

“Thank you.”

Han Yul, receiving a greeting from the convenience store part-timer, put his phone in his pocket, opened the cap, and drank the water, then went to the bathroom, locked the door, and opened the trading window.

“…What?”

Name: 1st Grade Spring Water (15).

Description: None.

“15?”

It’s much higher than King Sejong or Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

As Han Yul tilted his head, Rest’s message appeared in front of him.

“No, plastic… Ah.”

He understood.

‘It’s valuable because it’s plastic.’

Plastic, known as the 20th-century miracle material.

Considering that Rest’s dimension had developed magic rather than science, it was natural that plastic was highly valued.

The value of the plastic container and the medicinal herb was a total of 30.

“Wait a moment.”

Attack magic? Or defensive magic?

Or perhaps…

“Is there a healing magic?”

Common beginner healing spells in games, Heal and Cure.

“I’d like the Cure spell.”

***

For each transaction, Han Yul conducts two transactions.

One for purchasing the spellbook, i.e., a product transaction.

One for receiving instruction, i.e., a skill transaction.

However, after a long conversation, they decided to resolve the skill transaction with coins.

Although it would take time, unlike Rest, who couldn’t find new trading partners, Han Yul could.

At first, pressuring the unskilled Han Yul was somewhat intentional.

He thought that if he showed consideration from the beginning, he would be at a disadvantage in future transactions.

In reality, they had been considering each other’s situations and abilities through conversations to maintain a fair relationship.

To sustain the long-term trading relationship.

“Yes, take care.”

With that short message, no more messages came.

The blonde man, Rest, nodded once and got off the carriage.

The first thing he saw was the masked men lying on the ground, surrounded by mercenaries.

“Did you find them?”

“Yes.”

Rest, who had been asked by the merchant leading the caravan, shook the water container he had received from Han Yul and approached the masked men.

Rest collected the blood they had spilled into the container.

The mercenaries, who had quickly dealt with the masked men, immediately got back into the carriage.

“Let’s get going again!”

The carriage, carrying the goods, started moving again at the merchant’s call.

Rest, who had been silent for a moment, slowly closed his eyes.