* * *
My jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe it, but… right, ten million, then one hundred million.
If there’s a sixteen in front, then yes, it’s 1.6 billion won.
Just finally managing to read the number felt like a victory.
But the next thought that hit me was:
“Is… this even right?”
I had heard it on the news.
The ‘Dungeon Core’ retrieved from Wind Hole was a huge deal.
Although the boss monster was only estimated at A-class, it ruled the entire dungeon without any mid-bosses—meaning the power it contained was immense.
On top of that, the core had detoxification abilities, which made it a hot topic.
I figured it would be expensive… but not this expensive.
And this was after tax and distributed based on contribution.
What on earth was the total value?
Plus, this figure was likely the minimum estimate.
“Please let us know whether you want your reward as an item or in cash. I’ve sent you the full documents and reference files—you can check everything via the watch.”
My heart was racing.
Was this real?
I couldn’t stop myself from wanting confirmation.
I looked up at her like I was clinging to a lifeline.
Han Jihye, having just finished transferring the documents, looked away from the watch and met my eyes.
“That’s all I have to say. Any questions?”
1.6 billion.
Even after checking it over and over—and getting it confirmed by Han Jihye herself—I still couldn’t believe it.
I kept counting the zeroes.
It just didn’t seem right for a rookie hunter like me to receive this kind of money from a single battle.
Sure, I did risk my life.
But then again… not everyone who risks their life earns this kind of reward.
Even though hunters make more than civilians due to their higher classifications, not all awakened people make billions.
Not even close.
And this wasn’t an annual salary.
This was from one battle.
While I was still lost in thought, something tickled my ear, and a shiver ran through my body.
“Hiiik!”
I turned around in shock and saw Taehwan staring at me with half-lidded eyes.
It must have been him who blew air into my ear.
Now that I thought about it, I think he had been talking to me this whole time…
He met my gaze and raised an eyebrow.
“What the hell were you thinking about? You zoned out hard.”
“J-just… a bunch of stuff?”
“Whatever. Did you even hear what I said?”
“…No.”
“…Knew it. Do you even know where we are right now?”
“Uh… wait, huh?”
Where were we?
I had followed him absentmindedly and somehow ended up in an unfamiliar place.
I thought we were headed to the parking lot, but nope.
We were in a narrow white room with just a few machines and a computer sitting awkwardly in the middle.
Flustered, I clung to Taehwan’s arm.
He let out a deep sigh above my head.
“This is the Bureau’s armory.”
“Oh.”
“You can search for stuff here. See what’s available.”
Now that he said it, the equipment did look new.
The computer seemed to be for browsing and selecting, while the machine next to it was probably for dispensing whatever you request.
Taehwan typed in a search term—something related to firearms—and a list appeared instantly.
“Whoa.”
It was amazing.
The display showed whether items could be rented, taken outside, what their usage restrictions were… all of it.
You could apply directly through the computer after agreeing to the terms, and the system would automatically deliver the item.
Some required a payment, and among the basic, least-restricted gear was even the sword I had broken during my last battle.
Despite being called an armory, it included not just weapons but also artifacts, potions, and just about anything a hunter might need.
“Let me make it clear. Use the money you earned to buy the gear you’ll need for future missions. 1.6 billion sounds like a lot, but once you start equipping yourself, it disappears fast. Don’t skimp on safety.”
“That isn’t a lot? Seriously?”
“Yeah. Good gear costs a ton. It might not even be enough.”
Not enough?!
Not enough for 1.6 billion won?!
I couldn’t believe it.
Sure, I’d heard that hunter gear could be outrageously expensive, and that their job was dangerous and well-paid—but still!
Not 1 billion, not 6 billion—16 billion won wasn’t enough?!
What kind of world was the hunters’ world?
Still in shock, I stammered while Taehwan searched something on the computer and showed it to me.
“Look.”
“Whoa… how much is all this?”
He must’ve sorted the list by price.
Every item on the screen cost hundreds of millions at least.
My eyes nearly spun at the sheer number of zeroes.
But when I focused again, I started to wonder—do I really need these?
Most of them were defensive artifacts.
I glanced sideways at Taehwan, gauging his reaction.
“But don’t most hunters not really use these kinds of things?”
“…”
“I heard defensive artifacts just get in the way during combat… usually, they’re used by non-combatants for self-defense, right?”
There are times in a fight when you have to risk your flesh to strike the enemy’s bone.
And if I end up in a battle like that, is it really worth it?
Spending this kind of money on something that might just get in the way?
Considering hunters’ superior recovery abilities, maybe paying a hospital bill would be cheaper.
“Weapons, if we’re being honest, are still consumables. So I heard you don’t really need anything that fancy…”
Even take the “Gray Coat” as an example—his greatsword was his signature, sure, but he didn’t always use the same one.
From what I’ve heard, he switched at least three times.
And since he mostly used mass-produced gear that was easy to get your hands on, there was even a brief trend where people copied him by using the same budget gear.
Of course, that only caught on because “Gray Coat” had the skill to make any tool work for him—so the fad didn’t last long.
Anyway, as long as I didn’t get greedy, I wouldn’t really need to spend much—aside from the subspace pouch.
“I just need the basics for myself. I want to give my younger siblings their own rooms, and if I want to move back into the family house, I’ll need at least four rooms…”
“Jehee.”
“…Y-yeah?”
“Enough. I’m this close to blowing up.”
“…Ah.”
No joke. His voice was steaming—like hot vapor rising off boiling water.
As soon as I shut my mouth, Taehwan let out a heavy sigh.
Then, as if trying to calm his temper, he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me into his lap.
He grabbed my cheeks like they were mochi and kneaded them hard—just like you’d squeeze a stress ball.
He didn’t stop until my face felt hot and numb from all the rubbing.
Only then did that rigid expression of his begin to relax.
I hesitantly tugged at his sleeve and asked,
“Are you mad because I was thinking of moving out? Or because I was gonna blow the money on something pointless…?”
“Both. And you know that, but you just love flipping my insides upside down.”
“Uwaaah…”
This time, he pinched both my cheeks.
It didn’t hurt, but I put on a pitiful look like I was asking for mercy.
He gave in and rubbed them again with his palm.
I couldn’t help but smile as the warmth of his big hand covered my face.
Seeing that, Taehwan puffed up and squished my cheeks again into a puffy fish mouth to stop me from smiling.
Despite the childish gesture, he said in a very serious tone,
“This is the first money you’ve ever earned with your own hands since stepping out into the world. Use it for you, first.”
“…But you’ve had a tough time because of me all this while…”
“Jeong Jehee.”
He said my name with such finality—cutting, firm.
His face, his voice—he was definitely mad.
If I said anything more, I was bound to get scolded for real.
Still trapped under his palms, I looked away. Is it really that bad to want to spend money on your family?
I felt a little wronged, but… I guess Taehwan had a point too.
My hands… thanks to Cha Taeyang dumping a potion on them, they were clean now.
But when I’d been fighting the monster, they’d been soaked in blood.
If I wanted to make a living fighting monsters, I couldn’t keep using tactics like I did during the Wind Hole incident.
There were limits to burning through myself in a fight.
Hands alone weren’t enough.
I’d need allies—someone who could stand at my side, live and die with me.
“Then… maybe I should buy a good sword.”
A lot of people used cheap swords for cost efficiency, but that didn’t mean a good sword wasn’t objectively better.
You can’t exactly trust a blade that might break just because it gets hit once.
If you can end a fight in one strike instead of three, that’s a win.
If I’m standing at the edge between life and death, investing in something that protects me—and the comrades who’ll be fighting alongside me—isn’t a bad idea at all.
* * *
