Chapter 512. Why Are You Like This (6) |
Chapter 512. Why Are You Like This (6)
"How on earth did you end up like that?"
A staff member in the guild lobby couldn't hold back the question. The alien answered the sentence calmly.
"I poured money into the guild building and artifact purchases, so I don't even have enough left to buy potions."
"-_-"
"-_-"
This was a half-truth. Since his very soul was that of an Archmage, he could, of course, restore something like a shattered bone whenever he wished. However, the reason the extraterrestrial being, Kim Giryeo, had returned in this state was simple.
'I used up too much mana collecting gate data this morning.'
The energy problem, the eternal grievance of all mages, had caused friction at this juncture. Layering overwork upon overwork. On top of that, conducting a mountain of observational research that drained mana. And to make matters worse, he had even swung by an EX-rank gate on his way back at the urgent request of the Hunter Association...
The civilian rescue mission he had finally accepted had left his right foot in this condition. But the Archmage, as always, paid no mind to the injury.
'I'll just rest well for exactly twenty-four hours by Earth standards, then regenerate.'
To reiterate, this was an injury he could fix by his own power at any time. Therefore, the only thing to consider was the difference in opportunity cost.
(Choices)#########
1. Waste hundreds of millions of won on potions because I'm worried about what others think.
2. Just buy a crutch and use the remaining money to buy some gukbap.
#############
No matter how one looked at it, the latter left a higher profit margin. Besides, the Guardian system was still in place, so there was no need to worry about his current depleted mana state.
Thud.
Having completed all calculations, Kim Giryeo showed a 50,000-won note to the still-stunned staff member.
"Anyway, since the subject came up. You, junior secretary, please go to the pharmacy at the nearby general hospital and buy a 40,000-won crutch."
"A crutch? A crutch?"
"I'll treat it with potions tomorrow. I already have a financial plan figured out."
He waved the bill. Furthermore, the blonde Guild Master pulled out an additional 50,000-won bill from his wallet.
"Buy yourself something delicious with the change."
It was clearly payment for the errand.
"This isn't an order that violates human rights, right?"
Since he had prepared a legal exemption from work and provided the change, it was all set.
"F-first of all... understood. I'll go buy it right now."
The lowest-ranking employee present received permission and headed out on the errand.
"Director."
But what unexpected schedule was this? It was the very moment Kim Giryeo felt a brief sense of relief at having successfully saved the potion money. The veteran secretary remaining nearby delivered another piece of news.
"Since it will be difficult for you to conduct business today, shall I inform the guest you have an appointment with that the schedule is being postponed?"
A guest. Guest? The blonde man mulled over that unfamiliar word. But no matter how many times he thought about it, it here was no way he would remember anything.
"What guest?"
The alien showed a brief look of confusion. However, upon hearing the next sentence, he could immediately understand what the secretary meant.
"Awakened Hunter Kang Changho left a message. He's brought the item you requested from overseas."
Wait a moment. This was somewhat strange from Kim Giryeo's perspective.
"Huh, what is this?"
The item he had asked Kang Chang-ho to procure was an artifact worth a market price of 150 billion won. It was even to the point where the related gates were discontinued, and the last transaction record for it was three years ago—so how had he obtained it so quickly?
"Why is the delivery so fast?"
He still had no idea what the situation was before or after. However, since an Earthling was waiting with the item, he had to meet him first.
"Where is the guest now?"
I've gained information through these kinds of questions. Kang Changho had long since left the guild building, but he had declared that if he wanted the artifact, he could find him at any time using abilities like [Searcher]. Since the man himself had permitted it, there was no reason to hold back.
"This location feels familiar."
I tracked the artifact holder, utilizing the skills from my days as an Archmage.
***
As expected, the other party was waiting at an extremely obvious location.
'I ended up trudging all the way here because he wouldn't answer the damn phone; I wonder if I can get reimbursed for transportation costs if I charge him...'
I soon arrived at Kang Chang-ho's residence. Statues of indecipherable meaning. Lush green grass. And the very building where structures like a swimming pool were situated. It was always the same composition, but judging by those points, the garden this body was stepping into was certainly being maintained with money.
Swish.
And with a slight turn of the head, a familiar-looking living room came into view.
'If there weren't a fence, there would be no privacy protection at all.'
Enclosed by floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the structure allowed one to see clearly all the way to the hallway inside the living room with just a glance... The interior was sparsely furnished to the point of being cavernous. But since a homeowner wouldn't be curious about the obvious, I naturally shifted the topic.
"Hello."
It was a conversational start with a modicum of politeness.
"What's that?"
However, Kang Changho did not show any human-like courtesy and abruptly blurted out this first remark. He was asking while pointing at the object tucked under my arm.
"Don't you even know what a crutch is?"
Common sense dictated that couldn't be it. Even an extraterrestrial being wouldn't fail to understand the meaning behind that pointed remark. I spat out a standard reply.
"I hurt my foot a bit this morning."
Following this, I added a proposal quite fitting for an Earthling.
"Anyway, if you find the sight of me on a crutch so bothersome, why don't we talk inside first?"
"Forget it."
But what was I supposed to do when he attached that kind of answer to such a mild statement? When he visited my guild, he was perfectly capable of talking nonsense about wanting a drink. Yet, Kang Chang-ho did not extend hospitality to a guest on a crutch. To be precise, he seemed to find the process of moving indoors troublesome.
"Wasn't today's schedule supposed to end with just delivering the artifact anyway?"
A listless tone spread. Forget barley tea; it looked like I'd be leaving without even sitting on a single chair. However, since my leg didn't actually hurt, I was just about to fall silent and let it be when...
Swish.
Kang Changho took something out of an item box. To describe it roughly, it was an [Epic-rank Blunt Weapon] in the shape of a mace. However, the weapon in question possessed a peculiar performance: even if portions of it were damaged, it would restore itself.
"Unless a melee weapon is as hard as a [Legendary] rank, there are cases where they get smashed in hunting grounds..."
For that reason, this mace item was said to be quite popular among hunters. I had wanted to use the regenerative power it possessed in a different way for some time.
'Now that I see it in person, I'm sure. This weapon can be disassembled and utilized as the handle for a new piece of equipment.'
The moment I laid eyes on the artifact to be used as a material, thoughts of various staves already filled my head. However, if I was receiving such an expensive item, I ought to express my gratitude first.
'He really offers up sacrifices faithfully. If he's this submissive, I'll have no choice but to let him live until his old age.'
It was immediately after this thought. I gave a light expression of thanks to Kang Chang-ho for procuring the item.
"Hmm?"
This was something I noticed belatedly. The Awakened mammal before me was still staring at the blue crutch, even though the conversation had progressed. His gaze was consistent. And just as I was wondering why he was staring at someone else's property like that...
"Is that injury from mana depletion?"
Swoosh.
The [Dragon's Eye] stopped at one point. Soon, a question flowed. Furthermore, he didn't even ask for the background. I might as well reveal the truth. I had indeed sustained damage from an EX-rank trap because my magical barrier had weakened. However, no matter how much mana was consumed, the possibility of a mere mammal defeating an Archmage was low.
'If it comes down to it, I can just use the planetary core.'
Because I could respond at any time even if Kang Changho stabbed me in the back. I responded to the other's question with a fairly relaxed mindset.
"-_-"
"-_-"
But even though I had responded so honestly, why was the returning reaction so unsettling? The situation became harder to understand as time passed.
"Mana depletion for someone with as much mana as an S-rank..."
Soon, an unexpected reaction popped out.
"I suppose you ended up like that while helping some weak Awakener again."
Kang Chang-ho spoke while sending a strange look my way. Disdain. And an indistinguishable expression that could be interpreted as, of all things, pity. Since the opponent was a former convict hunter, I didn't judge those narrowed eyes to hold a positive meaning, but...
"What is this?"
At any rate, Kang Changho added a few more words.
"Why do you always live like that, Hunter Kim Giryeo?"
A somewhat shocking statement.
'A person like Kang Changho shouldn't be the one... questioning why I live like this... right?'
But whether I found it absurd or not, the other person continued to lead the conversation. Kang Changho, having fully handed over the artifact, now lightly clasped his hands behind his back. And in that posture, he continued his sentence.
"Speaking of which, I forgot to say this. Kim Giryeo. Actually, I visited your guild building once around this morning."
"This morning? You mean when I was inside the dungeon?"
"Because no matter how much I looked around, I couldn't see any S-rank mana within Seoul."
"Were the other hunters working in the provinces..."
"At first, I wondered if the great Hunter Kim Giryeo had perhaps deceived the [Dragon's Eye] and gone into hiding. But when I inquired through the guild, they said you were out on a dungeon raid."
Kang Changho continued.
"Anyway, after confirming your location, I left a message with your guild secretary that the artifact had arrived and the left the building."
"Yes. I heard up to that point."
"But while I was lingering nearby, I ended up hearing the conversation your guild members were having, whether I wanted to or not."
He heard the guild members' conversation. Still, the fortunate thing was that the private talk of the guild members that Kang Chang-ho had eavesdropped on wasn't negative.
"—Our guild master is truly admirable! Hey, I heard a bit from the [Appraisal] personnel who went to the site yesterday, but the Director's mindset is completely different from ordinary awakened—"
"His mindset?"
"—He said he sincerely wants to protect this country, and he has no intention of retiring until all the monsters are gone!"
"—Oh. He's an S-rank, so he must have plenty of money, yet he won't retire."
"—Anyway, from the people's perspective, how grateful a thing that is!"
And so on and so forth. Well, at any rate, as he could see from this prologue, what had flowed into his ears was praise uttered by the company employees.
"Even when Hunter Kim Giryeo revealed his future hope of world peace, I thought he was just spitting out whatever because he didn't want to reveal his true feelings..."
However, it seemed Kang Changho had some other thought regarding this matter.
"If such stories are spreading to the employees, have you really held such ideologies from the beginning?"
The other person withdrew his slight smile and began to deliver a strange sentence.