Translator: Vine
Translated At: Nyx Scans
Chapter: 77
It was September 10, 2031.
The dawn of the day the Hunter Auction opened.
Eunha, having thoroughly researched by combing through numerous NEVER blog reviews of the Hunter Auction, had arrived here at 3 AM, following one blogger's advice.
She had received a dire warning that otherwise, she would waste an entire day just getting her authentication badge.
Fortunately, she managed to get her badge before noon, but then she encountered an unexpected next hurdle.
"I'd like to exchange some chips."
It was harsh capitalism.
A little while ago, upon entering, Eunha had immediately sought out the exchange counter.
"Welcome. How much would you like to exchange?"
Facing the attendant's gentle, customer-service smile, Eunha hesitated for a moment.
Thanks to her thorough preparation, she knew that chips were needed for the auction and that she could purchase chips at the exchange counter with coins, cash, or even credit cards.
However, she had no idea how much she should actually have.
Since I saw the person before me exchange several thousand chips... if I want to win a bid for a relic-grade item, it's better to have plenty.
Having made up her mind, Eunha spoke calmly.
"10,000 chips."
She had heard that exchanging for chips incurred a considerable fee, but she didn't care.
However, contrary to Eunha's bold statement, the attendant, after scanning Eunha's appearance with a slightly troubled expression, cautiously spoke.
"...Um, excuse me, but could I see your badge for a moment?"
Eunha handed the badge she had received that morning to the attendant.
The badge color was white.
It indicated a hunter of C-Class or below.
"Thank you for the confirmation. I apologize, but the maximum number of chips exchangeable with a white badge is 1,500."
"1,500 chips?"
"Yes, that's correct."
The attendant smiled sweetly at the frozen Eunha.
"If you wish to exchange the maximum amount, I can assist you with that."
"Alternatively, if you need more chips, you can sell items to other hunters at the flea market before the main auction begins to earn chips yourself."
"Would you like me to guide you to the stall rental location as well?"
"..."
Exiting the information desk, Eunha stood blankly in place.
Good heavens, she hadn't known that even the number of chips exchangeable differed by rank.
It was a moment where she keenly felt once again just how important a hunter's rank was in the modern era.
'Did I have any items worth selling?'
First, let's check.
Lightly tapping the empty air, several icons activated in mid-air.
Among them, she hesitantly tapped the bag icon located at the bottom right.
Ding.
[Loading Inventory.]
How long had it been since she last opened her item window?
During the days when she tore at monster meat and used their hides as blankets, she opened it constantly, but since escaping the Unknown Gate, she hadn't properly checked her inventory even once.
[There is a lot of information to load. This process may take some time.]
[Loading]
A loading window popped up out of nowhere.
Does loading an inventory even require loading time?
Waiting silently, the inventory window finally opened after about 5 minutes.
But then.
"...?"
The size of the inventory window that appeared before her eyes was unusual.
Though narrow in width, its length seemed to nearly touch the ground.
Eunha slowly dragged the inventory window downwards, checking its contents.
Black Tiger Hide x9999
Black Tiger Hide x9999
Black Tiger Hide x9999
Black Tiger Hide x9999
Black Tiger Hide x9999
...
Soon giving up on counting, flick! She quickly scrolled her finger downwards.
And then, this time.
Sharp Fang x9999
Sharp Fang x9999
Sharp Fang x9999
Sharp Fang x9999
...
Skipped again.
Sturdy Beast Bone x9999
Sturdy Beast Bone x9999
Sturdy Beast Bone x9999
Sturdy Beast Bone x9999
...
As expected of someone trapped in an Unknown Gate for a long time, her inventory was packed with items related to beast-type monsters.
And besides those—.
Red Crystal x186
Unknown Poison Sac x73
Torn Wing x11
And so on.
A plethora of junk items she couldn't even remember when or where she obtained.
Eunha's brow furrowed increasingly as she examined her inventory.
She had thought there would be at least one or two sellable items.
'Is this all?'
Eunha's gaze, staring at the inventory window, flickered minutely.
'There is just one method, the fastest and most effective.'
'Pixie Powder.'
A voice brushed past her ears.
Eunha, who had been standing stock-still, slowly bit her lower lip.
10 AM.
In the already bustling surroundings, hunters were beginning to set up their stalls one by one.
[Retrieve selected item from inventory?]
[Confirmed.]
[There is a lot of information to load. This process may take some time.]
[Loading]
...Indeed, she couldn't return empty-handed.
"No, but still..."
The two returned to the park after finishing lunch.
Ayeon muttered blankly, like someone dazed.
"I've never seen anyone carry around tens of thousands of these junk items in my life."
Besides, this Unnie, just how large was her inventory capacity?
To accommodate this many items in an inventory, one would need to be at least A-Class or higher, or possess a related trait...
For example, like Ayeon's 'Treasure Trove' trait.
Ah, perhaps this Unnie also contracted with a divine beast like her.
Ayeon somehow had that feeling.
"So, are you planning to sell all of this?"
"Yeah."
"Do you need that many chips? What on earth are you trying to buy? What, planning to snag a relic-grade item or something?"
"..."
"..."
Silence.
"...Really?"
Instead of answering, Eunha began to arrange her stall.
Ayeon, blinking as she stared at Eunha's retreating back, soon started clutching her stomach and rolling with laughter.
"Pfft! Awesome! Unnie, you're really something."
An F-Class hunter diving into an Unknown Gate.
Carrying around tens of thousands of utterly useless items.
Coming to the Hunter Auction aiming for a relic-grade item.
She had thought the only strange thing about her was that bizarre outfit, but the more she knew, the more interesting this Unnie became.
"Phew. That was a good laugh. So, Unnie, what item are you looking for?"
Rustle, rustle...
Without stopping her hands arranging the items on the stall, Eunha parted her lips slightly.
"...Pixie Powder."
"Pixie Powder... you mean that relic-grade recovery item? That might be a bit difficult."
Eunha tilted her head slightly.
"Is it that precious an item?"
"Well, it's precious, but also. There's a group that sweeps up all Heroic-grade and above recovery items at every auction each year. And at an absurdly high price too."
Having said that, Ayeon stealthily moved closer to Eunha and whispered.
"Unnie, you've heard it too, right? The rumor that Baekya was afflicted with the 'Eternal Curse'."
Baekya, yes, Baekya. The master of Wolf.
Adding that, Ayeon distanced herself from Eunha again and shrugged.
"Well, since the auction is held privately, it's just a strong suspicion."
Anyway, don't even dream about it.
Relic-grade items were fiercely competitive from the start.
Not only that, but the number of chips consumed during pre-bidding was also substantial...
"Even if you sell all these junk items and scrape together chips, if you don't have enough coins, you'll be out in the early stages of the auction."
Ayeon took a candy from her pocket and popped it into her mouth.
Eunha, who had been listening silently, slowly parted her lips.
"Still, I need Pixie Powder."
"..."
Ayeon, rolling the candy in her mouth, glanced at Eunha.
This Unnie, was she even listening to me?
"Pixie Powder did appear the year before last, and if my memory serves me right, the highest winning bid at that time was a whopping 157,000 coins."
That was equivalent to 1.4 million dollars, or about 16 billion won.
"It doesn't matter."
Eunha replied shortly.
"I absolutely have to get it."
Whatever the cost.
Not a hint of joking or bluffing could be found in her calm voice.
For a moment, her serious face made one believe she truly possessed that many coins.
"..."
"..."
A wind blew between the two.
'I couldn't prepare the surgery fees.'
'Money... Are you saying the director died because of money? Even though he could have... lived...?'
Crunch.
Ayeon crushed the candy in her mouth with her molars.
Her eyelashes cast a faint shadow on her cheeks.
"...Hmm. Is that so?"
Ayeon slowly began to rummage through her pockets.
"Then you'll need this."
Suddenly, Ayeon held out a thin booklet to Eunha.
"A special pamphlet distributed only to B-Class and above hunters. With this, you can find out most of what items will appear, where, and at what time."
If there's an item you really don't want to miss, checking beforehand is essential.
Ayeon added.
"Thanks to this, low-rank hunters who want specific items desperately try to buy this."
"How much is that?"
Eunha asked.
If Ayeon's words were true, information about Pixie Powder might also be listed somewhere in that pamphlet.
"Last year, it was about 30 million won per copy, but since there are more people this year than last, it'll probably be at least 40 to 50 million? Though it depends on the seller."
Fifty million...
Eunha's gaze wavered.
Ayeon, subtly turning away so she wouldn't notice, rummaged through her clothes and checked her penguin wallet.
Click.
Opening the penguin's beak, a crumpled bill and a few coins were visible.
Having taken a taxi on the way here, this was all the money she had left.
'Of course, I have money in my account, but...'
Eunha fell into thought.
The bankbook on the officetel dining table.
It contained an amount Eunha couldn't even begin to count.
It was what Siwoo had given her when terminating the contract.
However, Eunha hesitated to actually use that money.
It was a large sum received without proper fulfillment of the contract.
Moreover, spending tens of millions at once just to buy a single pamphlet was even more cause for hesitation.
"..."
Meanwhile, Ayeon silently observed Eunha, who had suddenly frozen beside her.
"I never said I was selling it."
Tap, tap.
Ayeon, lightly tapping her lips a couple of times with the pamphlet, grinned.
"I was just going to give it to you."
Eunha blinked.
...Just give it to her?
"I've memorized it all anyway."
A pamphlet worth 50 million won, offered so casually.
Eunha, staring blankly at it, parted her lips.
"...But."
"It's fine. Take it quickly before I change my mind."
Sorry again for interrupting your business.
Smiling sheepishly, Ayeon turned away sharply.
Sigh, my 50 million won.
It would be a lie to say it wasn't a waste...
'I should try doing a good deed once in a while.'
She lifted her head to look at the sky.
The fading sunset.
Ayeon, staring blankly into the air, eventually glanced back lightly.
"Whoever it is, I hope they get better."
See you again then, Unnie.
Waving her hand, Ayeon disappeared into the distance.
Eunha, watching her retreating back, slowly lowered her gaze.
<The 27th Sejong City Hunter Auction Pamphlet>
When she lifted her gaze again, the bob-haired girl had vanished into the crowd.
