The Hunter of the Other World Who Is Being Misunderstood – Chapter 20

Ch 20: Korean Magic Tower （3）

“A high-rank appraisal skill holder with no affiliation?”

Esther jumped up from her seat.

“No, why didn’t you say that sooner!”

“Yes?”

“Come to the Magic Tower. I’ll hire you on the spot! What’s the gate entrance fee. I’ll give you that gate!”

What a windfall.

The S-rank hunter is making a fuss as soon as she hears that I have no affiliation.

An Yunseung whispered to me when he saw me looking dumbfounded.

“Large guilds have a huge distribution of magic stones and equipment. People with analysis skills are trying to recruit each other.”

Ah, that’s right.

These primitives couldn’t even check the purity of the magic stones with their own eyes.

‘If you don’t want to be scammed in magic stone transactions, you’ll need to have an appraiser with you…’

There are many places that need appraisal, but there are few awakened ones in that category. It’s a natural labor shortage.

“The contract fee is 500 million!”

But I didn’t expect her to rush in so desperately.

“What did you say just now?”

5, 500 million?

Did I hear something wrong?

“Why? Is it too little? Those Neo Sisters XX are offering about 700 million? They even took An Yunseung, why are they always being a pain in the a*s to the hunters I’ve set my eyes on!”

“Representative-nim, please calm down!”

While the executive secretary of the Korean Magic Tower was stopping Esther, I was recalling the amount of money offered.

500 million.

How many bowls of Gukbap is that!

‘If I work here, I’ll get 500 million?’

This time, my salivary glands are acting up.

Sigh. I took a deep breath and confirmed Esther’s offer once again.

“You want to hire me as an appraiser? For 500 million?”

“Of course!”

If I can sit on a pile of money just by sorting items in front of a desk, then there’s no need to do the hard and dangerous hunter work.

“Besides, our Korean Magic Tower already employs many excellent appraisers, so the workload for Giryeo-ssi won’t be too high.”

‘Ooh!’

I was just one step away from being completely seduced by the temptation of the money in front of me.

But…

“The analysis department aims for a flexible work system with only 4 days of work per week!”

Work…days?

“Ah, but sometimes there are important gate raids on weekends, so at that time, just for a short while…”

Work days.

As soon as I heard that two-letter word, my vision spun, and a throbbing pain shot through the bones in my body.

Ugh, my head…

“Hyung?”

When I suddenly lowered my head and touched my forehead, An Yunseung gave me a worried look.

But I couldn’t move until this nausea subsided.

‘Heeeeeek, work days…!’

It’s a severe flashback.

The word “work days” became a trigger, and I ended up recalling my past when I was overworked at my previous job.

Work days, overtime, morning greetings from the boss. Difficult clients…

‘I don’t want to go to work!’

At this point, let’s take a moment to clarify, I am a being who reincarnated solely for the sake of retirement.

But now, you’re telling me to sign a contract with my own feet and go back to a company?

Now, just hearing words related to work makes me feel chills all over my body.

This trauma naturally reversed all my decisions.

‘T-t-that’s right. Isn’t joining a company on Earth too early of a decision? I’m not even used to this planet yet, and I’ll definitely be found out as an alien.’

Ah, right! I also have the important mission of regaining my magic.

If I live among humans, I’ll have less time for personal research. There’s even more reason not to join a company!

Having made up my mind, I took my hand off my eyes and raised my head.

“Kim Giryeo-ssi! How about this much for an incentive? Not bad, right?”

When I raised my head, the first thing I saw was a contract with an enormous price tag.

“I’m sorry.”

I rejected the offer without hesitation.

“How much do you want, then?”

“It’s not about the money. I have no intention of joining a guild.”

Perhaps because I had just experienced a flashback, my words came out somewhat sharp.

Esther looked at my reaction and folded the contract with a face that clearly showed her disappointment.

“If that’s what Awakened One-nim thinks…”

With that, the scouting attempt went back to square one.

But we still have a topic to discuss.

“But are you really going to be okay? Rejecting this offer means you’ll have to pay for the gate entrance fee.”

Esther’s expression suddenly turned cold.

“I don’t know if an individual like you can even afford such a large negotiation fee!”

Hmph.

The representative of the Magic Tower crossed her arms and began to show her displeasure.

Judging by her playful tone, it doesn’t seem like she’s genuinely angry.

It’s not good to offend an S-rank hunter, especially a curse sorcerer.

“I’d like to make a deal.”

I quickly brought up the core of the story.

“I know of a peculiar substance.”

I could feel everyone in the room’s gaze focusing on me.

“If you mix this with metal or concrete to make a mixture, the exterior walls of the constructed building will have some resistance to skills.”

“…!”

“It means that even if a monster attacks, the building won’t collapse and will withstand it. Because it absorbs mana.”

I said this and glanced out the window.

The panoramic view unique to high-rise buildings. Ordinary people would probably only see the blue sky, but…

“Isn’t it a bit of a waste to put up a barrier around the entire tower like this?”

I immediately grasped the spell formula on the Magic Tower and started talking.

Then, Esther leaned forward as if she was intrigued.

“Well, if that thing you mentioned exists, it would reduce this waste.”

Esther said she hated unnecessary haggling and dragging things out. So, I decided to reveal the terms of the deal clearly.

“Then, take as much as you want.”

“What did you say?”

“I’m the only one who knows the location of that substance, but now I’m going to share it with Esther-ssi.”

“…….”

“I don’t know how much the barrier maintenance costs, but I hope this is enough for the entrance fee.”

Esther pursed her lips at this, then slammed her hand on the table.

Could it be that she doesn’t like the terms of the deal?

“If that’s the case, I’d rather beg you to make the deal. Assuming what you said is true.”

She’s suspicious because it’s too good of a bargaining chip.

Without delay, I took out a small zipper bag that I had prepared in my jacket pocket.

“Ah! That’s the one from last time…!”

Only now did An Yunseung react.

That’s because he had seen the substance once before.

‘Mana Absorbing Material.’

A new substance that was sleeping on the floor of an F-rank gate that no one paid attention to.

This was my bargaining chip.

‘It’s practically my only card.’

To suddenly tell an Earthling about the existence of this precious soil.

Some might think it’s a waste. But it’s an unavoidable choice.

‘This is something that only has value in a society where mado civilization has developed to some extent.’

In fact, there wasn’t much that could be done with pure mana-absorbing material.

For this soil crumb to be worth its value, at least a refinery that specializes in handling mana-absorbing material was necessary.

Besides, these people here are always poking around in the gates…

Wouldn’t the raw material be discovered naturally over time anyway?

So, I decided to reveal the information when it was needed, before its value turned to trash.

“Does this sand really have that effect? No, more than that, you’re using such big information to enter that kind of gate?”

“Yes.”

“Are you perhaps planning to reveal the information to other places as soon as we finish this deal…?”

“Why would I? Should I promise to keep it a secret from now on?”

“You’re losing too much if you do that.”

She was acting expensive before, but now she’s being honest about it being that kind of gate.

“Keep the change.”

The deal was coming to a close. I didn’t forget to drive the wedge in.

“It’s about helping each other out since we have the same rare attribute.”

And the reason why I’m giving so much to Esther is because of a certain reason.

A few minutes later.

Around the time we successfully concluded the agreement.

Knock knock. A neat knock sounded.

“Ah! You’re finally here. I thought I was going to die of thirst.”

The knock was the sound of an employee bringing drinks.

Esther, satisfied with my gift, spoke with a beaming face.

“Everyone, please drink this before you go. It’s coffee that we only serve to special guests, and I spent some money at an auction to get this collection.”

“Wow, the aroma is really nice.”

“Yunseung-ssi, you know your stuff!”

Now that I had safely secured the gate entrance ticket, I was about to drink the beverage they gave me with a good feeling.

‘They say it’s a precious drink on Earth, I can’t not try this.’

But the scent of this black liquid ended up stimulating my second trauma.

‘Huh?’

The unique, rich, and strong aroma of the substance called coffee.

It’s a smell I’ve smelled a lot before…

‘Ah.’

D*mn it! This smells exactly like the industrial adhesive we commonly use on Alpha Uri.

‘Ugh!’

I was so shocked that I spat out the coffee as soon as I took a sip.

‘How dare they give me this?’

And because of the disgusting taste, I reflexively turned to look at Esther, who had offered me the coffee, with anger rising.

‘Gasp!’

Was it a coincidence?

At that moment, Esther and I made eye contact.

And judging by that surprised expression, it seemed like she caught me spitting out the coffee.

‘I’m not an alien. I’m not an alien. I’m not an alien.’

Desperately drinking the coffee again.

Although my entire esophagus and mouth were covered in a disgusting scent, it was a necessary sacrifice.

“Is the coffee not to your liking?”

“No.”

Since I don’t have any more business at the Magic Tower, I should quickly go outside and throw up.

“It’s delicious. Thank you.”

Thinking that, I barely swallowed the last sip of coffee and greeted Esther.

◈◈◈

All the guests left.

Sometimes, when the warmth of people disappears, this large representative’s office feels even more empty.

Seo Esther, left alone, sat at her desk and drank her second cup of coffee.

But her expression wasn’t very bright.

“Is something wrong?”

The Magic Tower’s executive secretary asked briefly, looking at her employer’s face.

Then, the guild master started to answer with her smile somewhat gone.

“Rather than something bad, I just played a little prank on those guests earlier…”

Hearing this, the secretary was startled and raised her voice.

“Did you put a curse on the visitors again? Oh, Representative-nim! You said you wouldn’t do that anymore?”

In fact, Seo Esther had a nasty hobby.

She would use skills on first-time hunters and enjoy watching them get caught up in misfortune.

Of course, the curses were just minor side effects, like stubbing their toes on furniture corners.

“What’s wrong with that? It’s fun.”

Esther couldn’t quit this low-quality hobby for a long time.

“What kind of curse was it this time?”

“To sneeze for 30 seconds!”

“Oh, how petty.”

At this time, the secretary suddenly felt a sense of incongruity.

“Huh? But they didn’t sneeze at all?”

Esther was silent for a moment.

That’s right. In fact.

A little while ago, when the guests were drinking coffee, this S-rank hunter quietly activated her skill.

The target was Kim Giryeo.

I was curious how that scary gaze would wrinkle when he sneezed. So I targeted him first.

But as everyone knows, the result of this curse was.

“That’s right. He didn’t sneeze.”

Failure.

This wasn’t a simple failure. Seo Esther was the only one among the curse attribute hunters to receive an S-rank rating.

Has her curse ever missed before?

No.

Even the great, immovable Rank 1, S-rank hunter Jeong Haseong, had fallen because of this curse.

“Guild master-nim, did you make a mistake…?”

The secretary, having grasped the situation, began to stiffen her expression.

However, Esther’s answer was cold.

“No, I even tried to increase the intensity and cast the curse again, but the reaction was a spectacle.”

Seo Esther recalled the situation from earlier.

The moment she quietly activated her unique skill, thinking that Kim Giryeo wouldn’t notice.

The man, who should have been coughing weakly,

After a long pause, suddenly turned his head and looked at her.

“…….”

Esther still couldn’t forget it.

The face of that man, who was staring at her silently with eyes wide open like a viper.

“He noticed. He clearly knew from the beginning.”

But Kim Giryeo remained silent until the end.

As if to say that he was overlooking such a petty prank, he calmly praised the taste of the coffee.

Does Kim Giryeo know? That the calm atmosphere was the most frightening thing for Esther.

“An Awakened One who ignores my curse that even works on the same S-rank.”

Here, a new fact was revealed.

Kim Giryeo’s way of moving his body was different from ordinary people.

It wasn’t the brain that was the center, but a situation where an alien soul was using magic to control the body.

Kim Giryeo’s body was always being directed by delicate and advanced magic.

Unless one is more proficient in magic than this alien, it is impossible to take away the control.

Therefore.

“Huh, where did this kind of monster pop out from?”

Kim Giryeo had absolute immunity to status ailments such as sleep, stun, paralysis, and curses.

Like the white blood cells of the human body.

He nullified even minor spell formulas without even realizing it.