NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14
“Welcome~”
Aden steps into the Awakener Supplies Shop.
The stylish interior and friendly service were enough to excite her.
“Wow…”
“Don’t gawk. You look like a country bumpkin.”
“For your information, I’m from a prestigious family.”
“Not an illegal immigrant?”
“T-That’s an irrelevant dark past…!”
Hehe.
Amid teasing his disciple, he browsed the display items.
“Are you looking for something specific?”
“I’d like to see some longswords.”
“Sure, please follow m–”
At that moment, another staff member interrupted.
“Ms. Miseon, I’ll assist this customer. Could you help in the staff room?”
“Ah, Team Leader, understood!”
The staff member was replaced.
Some of the other customers glanced at Kang Hyun.
Seasoned Awakeners, one and all.
They understood what the staff switch meant.
“The team leader’s stepping in.”
“Who is he? A high-rank Awakener? A celebrity?”
“Don’t recognize his face.”
The team leader wore a huge smile internally.
“No doubt about it. It’s her, A-rank rookie Aden.”
A rare elf from Thea.
Incredible mana reserves.
Short stature, blonde hair, and blue eyes.
Exactly as described in the Awakener profile he had memorized.
“A major customer secured!”
For an A-rank, this shop was the ultimate destination.
Business was a given, and her equipment needs would be high.
S-ranks didn’t even frequent such places.
“Do you even use longswords, Master?”
“It used to be my main weapon, but my strength fell short, so I’ve been using a shortsword.”
The team leader’s ears perked up.
“Master?”
He immediately side-eyed Kang Hyun.
Not a high-ranking Awakener in the country.
A foreign Awakener?
A notable figure from Thea?
Whatever the case, if he was the mentor of an A-rank…
He could potentially be another VIP.
“How about this lightweight longsword?”
The team leader smiled warmly but professionally, not overly so.
“Isn’t the blue blade stunning? It’s crafted from the shell of a ‘Diamond Turtle’ native to Thea, designed for Strength C-class users.”
“…Could you show me something lighter?”
“For Strength D-class, we have a sword made of Thea’s Mistium….”
“Lighter….”
“This one is thinned for Strength E-class….”
“J-Just a bit more….”
“If you use both hands, there’s one for Strength F+ users.”
“I’ll wield it one-handed.”
The team leader felt disoriented.
‘Is he really a high-ranking Awakener?’
“My master’s a bit of a weakling.”
“You’re asking to die, seriously.”
Should he test the waters?
“…Sir, if you could share your budget, it might help us narrow down the options.”
“Hmm.”
How much should he spend?
He had sold mana stones and received 12 million won.
But spending it all wasn’t an option.
Living expenses needed to be saved.
“About 6 million?”
If he had said that, the staff’s expression might have twitched.
Luckily, he didn’t.
“By the way, if this is your first time shopping here, you’ll receive a 5% discount. Please consider that.”
“5%?”
Wait.
With a platinum card covering 90%, how does this combine?
95% off?
90.5% off?
“Does that stack with this card?”
“Oh, is that a partner discount card? Let me check if it applies–”
The staff member froze upon seeing the card.
“What?”
It was a card she had seen only twice while working here.
One owner was an A-rank.
The other?
A former B-rank who was now a colossal S-rank.
“P-Platinum!?”
Discounts weren’t a store burden; the government reimbursed them.
This meant the man before her was a VIP among VIPs.
No matter his budget, he could multiply it by tenfold.
‘He’s a god.’
What is a god, if not a customer who could single-handedly rake in months of revenue?
“Sir, with this card, your purchase today qualifies for a total discount of 95%!”
“Then, with a budget of 6 million…”
That would cover up to 120 million.
Aden and Kang Hyun were momentarily stunned.
Meanwhile, the team leader thought:
“Jackpot!”
Today’s revenue alone would hit 120 million!?
He quickly fetched an item.
“How about this?”
A crimson sword with an elegant blade.
It was stunning.
Its price was its power.
“It’s shorter than a longsword, but even I can lift it with ease.”
A product made for extreme lightness.
Though it lacked in other attributes, it was perfect for someone seeking a lightweight blade.
“Its name is Red Moon. A craftsman from Thea forged it from a meteor–”
Kang Hyun grabbed the sword and swung it in the air.
Swish!
Okay.
“It’s a good blade.”
He’d handled countless swords.
One swing was enough to assess its quality.
“I’ll take this.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Momentarily mesmerized by his skillful swing, the team leader softly responded.
‘So, he is an expert.’
Though not an Awakener himself, he sensed a certain depth in that brief movement.
Having made his decision, the three stepped out of the store.
Awakeners who had been eyeing them glanced again.
“Wow, look at that blade. He dropped big money on that one.”
“Look at the team leader’s face. He’s definitely treating the staff to dinner tonight.”
“So jealous… Wish I’d been shown to the back section.”
Aden was just as envious.
“Wow~ I wonder when I’ll ever wield equipment worth 100 million.”
Others around them flinched at her words.
100 million? Did they hear that right?
“I’ll get one for you someday.”
“Gasp! Really? With that card?”
“I’ll check if it’s okay.”
Surely they wouldn’t be stingy, right?
It’s for an A-rank, after all.
Aden leaped up and clung to Kang Hyun.
Her… abundant figure smothering his face.
“Hooray! Long live Master!”
“Get your mana pocket off me. I can’t breathe.”
The men watching trembled in a new wave of envy.
Meanwhile, the team leader, overhearing their exchange, also shivered with exhilaration.
“Please come again! Buy lots for your student too!”
After carefully wrapping the purchase and bowing as they left, he sighed contentedly.
The store manager peeked out from the back.
“…How did it go?”
“Let’s close for the day.”
“Yesss! Team Leader, you’re the best!”
“Oh, by the way, register them as VIPs.”
“Dinner’s on me tonight! We’re having steak!”
The staff cheered in delight.
But just then, someone ran out of the store toward them.
“Wait a moment!”
“Yes?”
It was a sharply dressed woman in an office outfit.
“Are you Aden?”
“Uh, me? Yes, that’s right, but…”
“I’m Yoo Chaeyoung, team leader of Seonghwa’s support team.”
“Wh-What!? Seonghwa?”
“Huh? Seonghwa?”
A name every Korean would recognize.
The nation’s third-ranked guild.
Kang Hyun tuned in.
Chae young glanced at him, briefly wondering, “Who’s this?”
Then, she focused back on Aden.
A business card was handed over.
“Seonghwa would like to recruit you.”
Her glasses glinted calmly as she fixed her gaze solely on Aden.
###
Phone Call with Chief Choi
When Chief Choi heard the situation, he flew into a rage.
[Seonghwa Guild!? Seonghwa scouted her!?]
“Yes.”
Kang Hyun turned them down, but Aden fully respected Kang Hyun’s decision.
Still, she held onto the business card. It seemed Aden intended to handle further contact herself.
[Yoo Chae young—I’d heard she was capable, but I never imagined to this extent….]
“Right? How did they even know?”
[We’re still controlling the information, so how…? As expected of Seonghwa!]
“Controlling Aden’s information? You’re even monitoring her?”
[You reconsidered their offer, right? Since you said you didn’t want the contract.]
“Of course. I turned them away.”
[Thank you! Phew, we can’t let this slide.]
“You sure are thorough.”
[Of course! We’re talking about a talent who could shape the nation’s fate—we can’t let a guild take her!]
“She’s that important?”
Aden’s evaluation seemed much higher than he thought.
Being ranked as A-class was more significant than it appeared.
[Please wait a little longer! This time, I’ll prepare an offer she can’t refuse!]
“Sure, uh….”
An offer Aden can’t refuse?
Are they planning to give her a confectionery company?
Even for Aden, money would probably matter more.
“And by the way, about why I called—I’m heading to an E-class dungeon.”
[We’ll send someone to pick you up!]
“Excuse me? No need to—”
[Absolutely! We insist on picking you up!]
“Uh, sure….”
Soon after, a message arrived.
It contained a PDF with a detailed map and route.
…What on earth?
He called them back.
“What is this?”
[Please approve it!]
The file had a signature section at the bottom.
Is this for real?
###
They entered the dungeon and Aden stepped out.
“Did you really come to pick me up?”
“Yeah. The car’s nice too.”
It wasn’t his own car, but one clearly meant for official use.
The car gleamed brightly.
He was used to this kind of treatment from his past life, but the modern, flashy ceremonial style felt refreshingly different.
“I should tell them not to overdo it, though…”
“Huh? Isn’t it nice to be driven?”
“You’ll understand when you see it.”
It felt like he’d been drained of energy for no reason.
Anyway, they finally entered the E-class dungeon.
“Alright, let’s test out the new sword.”
A hilt appeared out of thin air.
When Kang Hyun pulled on it, the space shimmered, and the blade emerged.
“Wow… That inventory thing looks amazing.”
“Right?”
His shoulders lifted in pride.
A pocket dimension was no ordinary treasure.
It felt like the excitement of showing off a new car and getting compliments.
Maybe noticing his mood, Aden couldn’t stop talking.
“I checked, and apparently, no one else has an inventory ability.”
“Really? I figured. After all, it’s not just any perfect-clear reward, it’s the first dungeon perfect-clear reward.”
“Wow~ Then it’s practically the greatest treasure on Earth, isn’t it?”
“Hm. Well, I suppose it could be seen that way…”
“Not only does it ignore dungeon entry conditions, but it also has infinite supplies and the dramatic sword-summoning effects! It’s incredible!”
“Ahem, well, yes, I guess it is…”
Whoever her mentor was, he clearly had an eye for value.
After walking a bit, goblins appeared.
“Fewer goblins today?”
“But they’re stronger.”
Up until now, they’d been mindless monsters.
This time, it would be more like a human vs. monster fight.
When Kang Hyun stepped forward, the goblins surrounded him.
“【Ignite】”
Whoosh