The very first sentence the other person said was this.
“You’re asking why I’m wearing this indoors?”
He answered the patient’s question without hesitation.
“It’s because of you.”
On the one hand, it also seed like he had beco dumbfounded. The other person lowered his sunglasses with a finger, briefly revealing the [Dragon’s Eye].
“To be honest, I usually don’t need to use this much.”
“What do you an, the sunglasses?”
“Most people don’t know this, but the feature attached to the [Dragon’s Eye] can actually be controlled by the user.”
“Ah.”
“But sohow, starting a few days ago, flashbangs have been going off all over the middle of South Korea.”
Bang.
Kang Changho clenched and then opened one hand, mimicking the bursting of air. Through this, I was able to understand the problem he was currently facing.
“Aha.”
The cause, as he himself explained, is the [Dragon’s Eye]. It allows the awakened one’s power to be visually identified. Of course, this function cannot be easily replaced by other items, but fundantally turning it off completely is impossible, which makes things sowhat inconvenient.
“Is my mana showing that strongly in your eyes, Hunter?”
anwhile, Kang Changho changed his position, crossing his legs. The man sitting crookedly on the sofa exaggeratedly curled the corners of his mouth into a smirk and soon replied.
“Just like a blue giant star.”
It was an unfamiliar expression. Including both before and after my reincarnation, it was the first ti I had encountered such a word. Based on the feeling alone, it seed like the other person was comparing the energy radiating from my body to sothing blue and massive.
“What a strange thing to say.”
Kang Changho laughed so broadly that the corners of his mouth lit up. And just like that, his expression quickly shifted to one of displeasure.
“To explain further, these sunglasses I’m wearing now are specially made to block the light emitted by Awakeners that reflects in the [Dragon’s Eye].”
“Oh.”
“As I said earlier, my eyes don’t cause much inconvenience during everyday life as long as I try not to see it.”
“I see.”
“So normally, I’d only wear these while driving—when I need to look at traffic lights—or maybe in the middle of sumr.”
“I see.”
“Co to think of it, around last sumr—I feel like that Earthling did wear those accessories often back then… or maybe not.
“Doesn’t it feel uncomfortable to have sothing resting on your nose?”
While I was still unsure.
“But if our dear Mr. Kim is going to shine this brightly, then from now on, whether it’s uncomfortable or not, I don’t really have a choice.”
The person on the sofa said.
“Let ask you sothing here. Hunter Kim Giryeo, what exactly happened at that gate where they said there were beasts?”
It was a question I had expected.
“The light from you has gotten so strong I have to wear sunglasses indoors. And that’s not the only strange part—it’s not just about the amount. That mana of yours, which used to flicker like a candle in the wind, suddenly stopped moving.”
Just so you know, this body still has so growth potential left—but the amount is so tiny it’s barely a drop in the ocean. Now that I think about it, it’s clear that the [Dragon’s Eye] must have been observing the potential for a mage’s growth all along.
But when soone underwent a second awakening, that artifact must have classified —an alien—as soone who had already spent their potential for change. That’s probably why the usual fluctuation nearly disappeared. Based on how this tool functions, the current situation might be interpreted like this from Kang Changho’s perspective.
“I guess I can’t hide my growth from that item.”
Therefore, it would be better not to be unnecessarily.
“There’s no big secret or anything. It’s just that inside the dungeon, I had a series of clashes with Beasts, and as I kept fighting back and defending myself, at so point, I started getting stronger.”
For reference, I had no intention of revealing that the original owner of this body, Kim Giryeo, was the only known case of a potential re-awakener in modern tis.
“I have no obligation to explain the concept of second awakening in detail to soone like him.”
Well, that was part of the reason, but honestly, it was mostly because I just couldn’t be bothered. I gave the most concise explanation possible about what happened in the dungeon.
“You’re saying you just went through a crisis and automatically got stronger?”
Hearing this, Kang Changho leaned halfway toward the armrest of the sofa.
“Hmm.”
Of course, it didn’t take long for the answer to co back.
Maybe soone else would doubt it—but not that man. At the very least, he had always believed in the possibility of psychics breaking past their limits. And on top of that, the very chanism behind Awakenings on Earth supported the story. Stress. Crisis. Shock. These had often been the catalysts for creating superhumans, so the idea that I had grown stronger after facing danger didn’t sound at all that far-fetched.
“I see.”
The other person just accepted it with a casual attitude.
“To be honest, from my point of view, it’s not even surprising—it’s more like a prediction co true.”
“Yeah.”
“Alright, let’s say that clears up the matter about your awakening stats. But on top of that, I’ve been hearing so strange stories. Apparently, there are repeated reports from outside that Hunter Kim Giryeo used a large-scale water skill inside the dungeon… I’m sorry, but could you possibly explain that part too?”
But I didn’t expect the follow-up question to co out this quickly.
“Aha.”
Co to think of it, I had made up a story about my attribute in front of Kang Changho before—sothing about being a psychic whose power automatically defends against external threats, or whatever.
The incredible healing ability I showed during the battle with the fake Beasts could easily be explained away by tying it to the so-called “self-protection type” attribute I had ntioned before—just saying I respond better to healing than others. In fact, I think that actually caused a minor misunderstanding at the hospital regarding regeneration. But flooding the entire gate with water, now that clearly violates the Earth ability-users’ rule of “one person, one attribute”—and so it understandably ca off as suspicious.
“Maybe it’s because I’ve scattered so many lies here and there… Now contradictions just pop up all the ti.”
But then, what can I do?
I sat on the hospital bed and thought for a mont. Now that I was overflowing with power, there was no need to tremble in fear of so re S-rank. However, even if I lashed out right here with a “None of your business,” and boldly kept silent, that Earthling wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.
But the problem was that my lungs weren’t in perfect condition just yet—the whole past week had been like that—so I decided to avoid any unnecessary quarrels. Today, I figured, it could be handled with a bit of improvisation anyway.
“The water skill I used in the gate? That was an acquired ability from a skill stone.”
I finally made an excuse that was neither sincere nor anything.
To have caused such a catastrophe with a power that isn’t even his main attribute. In an ordinary case, this would’ve been complete nonsense. However, that Hunter with the bluish-purple hair seed to believe it rather quickly—perhaps because he had access to more information than most.
“Okay.”
Whether it’s a martial arts competitor or a modern psychic, in the end, the damage a human can inflict is often heavily influenced by their weight class.
Kang Changho brought up the Kagoshima raid as an example. Looking back, the binding power you displayed back in was formidable. He accepted everything without resistance, reasoning that your natural talent made it plausible for even your secondary abilities to manifest with exceptional strength.
“Wow— Even these sloppy excuses work now.”
Back then, I used to get so nervous making up even a single lie that my hands would get sweaty. Maybe the basic quality of a con artist is boldness. And the more confidence a trickster has, the higher the chance their deception succeeds.
Just as I was getting lost in that train of thought, Kang Changho, having resolved all his questions, added one more comnt.
“Even if you’ve been blessed with awakening, flaunting this much energy in the air like that… from my perspective, it’s honestly a bit of a headache.”
Oh, right.
For your reference, what that ans is that I’m currently not hiding my awakening level at all, so the owner of the [Dragon’s Eye] is expressing displeasure. Unfortunately, my lungs aren’t in good shape after several explosions. Even if those accidents hadn’t happened, I probably wouldn’t have bothered to be considerate toward an Earthling like that.
“I’m not even an F-rank anymore, so suppressing all this massive mana is just a hassle now.”
This side didn’t bother to hide the power that had grown to SS-rank. As a result, the other person was feeling a bit of glare even through his sunglasses. However, contrary to the expectation that he’d show so irritation at the phenonon, the man on the sofa soon let it all slide and changed the subject.
“Well, anyway.”
The knight’s oath had long since been dissolved. And fundantally, we weren’t close enough to be spending much ti face-to-face anyway.
“Then let’s stop small talk.”
Kang Changho spoke.
“I know eting face-to-face probably isn’t exactly pleasant for you either, but I ca in person because things can get lost or misinterpreted online. So I hope you’ll understand that much, at least.”
I nodded.
“And I think you probably know why I told you to contact as soon as I got back on my feet.”
“You said the compensation money is ready, right?”
“That’s right. Compensation for the one-room demolition. The paynt from selling [Justitia] ca through recently, so now I can hand it over in clean cash.”
The topic that followed was sothing that everyone here had expected.
“That’s right.”
After all, that man had a history of demolishing an entire building that was perfectly fine.
“So, the amount of money I’ve prepared is….”
Even thinking back on it, now that level of decisiveness could make even a terrorist weep in admiration.
“First off, I’ve set aside separate relocation and consolation funds not just for you, but for the other residents as well.”
“Hmm.”
“You used [Infinite Power Core] in that small house. In that case, you should include this price in the regular price in addition to the cheap furniture costs for that room.”
“Yes.”
“The final price I calculated for that one-room unit is at most 5 billion won. But since I ssed with soone of the sa S-rank, it wouldn’t be fair to only charge for that. I’ll send you exactly 40 billion won, including compensation for the ntal distress.”
40 billion won. If we consider it based on the ti when we were still poor, that’s enough money to buy a staggering 4 million boxes of gimbap. Objectively speaking, it was more than enough—far beyond fair—for the price of a collapse of one-room apartnt. With 40 billion won, I could probably buy up most of the houses in the country.
“Hmm.”
But here’s a small problem. The issue is, even though I’m an alien, I’d like quite a lot for Earth’s money.
“The guy who recently sold off [Justitia] is offering any 40 billion?”
Personally, I dislike the act of buying and selling absolute with money. But in a capitalist society like this, ironically, there’s no punishnt more effective than taking money from a criminal. Besides, I already had a grudge against the one who had been oppressing the Archmage. So, seeing the opportunity, I decided to prod a little—see if I could squeeze out so more money.
“40 billion is a bit… I feel like there should be one more zero at the end.”
I even sneered, mocking whether that was all the money he had after supposedly selling [Justitia] recently.
4 trillion won. Still, if he ends up coughing up that much money, even an S-rank Hunter might find himself reduced to nothing more than a debtor.
It was at that mont that the topic ca up. Kang Changho, adjusting his sunglasses, imdiately jumped in to explain.
“If the amount I just offered were a settlent for Hunter Kim’s assault, then you’d have a point.”
“What?”
“But I’ve already compensated for the misunderstanding and unnecessary interrogation, haven’t I?”
“You’re not saying… breach of contract, are you?”
“That too, but first—the wish. I clearly apologized by saying I’d grant you a wish, rember?”
He argued like this. Even a sacred court, through the principle of double jeopardy, doesn’t pass judgnt twice for a cri that has already been punished. Kang Changho, in fact, questioned back, asking if the compensation for the criminal incident where he had injured wasn’t already actually agreed upon through the ans of a wish and the termination of the pact.
Besides, the 40 billion won he was offering now was, if anything, more like compensation in a civil lawsuit. And compared to the actual damage estimates you’d get in court, that amount was an extrely generous calculation.
“40 billion won is more than enough for that room. But now you’re suddenly asking for an amount that’s equivalent to the budget of an entire city?”
“Hmm.”
“Did this guy hear sowhere that I was selling so kind of cure-all or sothing?”
“No.”
“Well, that’s unfortunate, but I can’t just hand over that kind of money solely because I made a mistake. And just so you know, most of the money I currently have ca from selling Justitia—if I use it all up now, it’s going to cause a serious problem.”
“A big problem?”
It was at that mont, I hadn’t expected that to be the reason he’d bring up.
“I have to go hunting, don’t I?”
“Yes?”
“If I run out of money, even I’ll have to start working—just like any other hunter in the business, tackling gates the normal way.”
Well, I an… if you think about how the world works, of course that makes sense, but still…
“Are you crazy?”
A phrase I’ve already thought of countless tis this year flashed through my mind once again. If an ordinary Earthling had said sothing like that, it would have felt the least out of place. But this was Kang Changho—and above all, he was soone who had started from a place like this.
“So that’s why you’re being stingy with compensation? Just because you don’t want to work?”
“Haha.”
“Well. Let’s say, as you just said, you hardly ever go hunting, so your current inco is low.
But if you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, shouldn’t you have had a lot of money to begin with?”
The question, “Did you earn a like a noble but dog a wag” was on the tip of my tongue, right before I could ask it. Kang Changho suddenly cut off.
“Silver spoon? Ah, now that part—I’ve got sothing to explain about that too.”
Even with accessories on, the glare still seed noticeable. The person on the sofa was even seen closing their eyes from ti to ti during the conversation.
“From the way you’re talking, it seems Hunter Kim Giryeo also knows that my father was a businessman.”
“Yes, yes.”
“But the dia keeps exaggerating. Honestly, my family isn’t all that impressive.”
He lets out a natural smile.
“The [Nan Steelworks] I almost inherited—”
Judging from his expression, he looked like he was on vacation.
“It wasn’t even close to the trillion-dollar club; in fact, it was a small company ranked far down within the steel industry.”
“But what ca next couldn’t exactly be called positive. Kang Changho shifted his position, crossing his arms, and carefully chose his words. Then, he continued the conversation.
“On top of that, our main clients happened to be in that sector. So right after the Dungeon Shock, we got swept up in the shipbuilding industry slump and took a direct hit along with it.”
“A slump? That’s the first I’m hearing of it.”
“Is that so? Well, back then, there wasn’t a company that wasn’t struggling. I guess it wasn’t much of a news story, so it got buried.”
“Hmm.”
“Then let explain. Back in the day, gate detection technology wasn’t very advanced, so unlucky ships would sotis get overturned by monsters suddenly erging from the ocean.”
“Aha.”
“Monsters rarely flew up to the altitude where airplanes travel, but the situation was different at sea. When not just small boats but massive oil tankers got wrecked, how could the market not slump?”
“To summarize, there’s only one conclusion.
“Anyway, my family wasn’t so grand capitalist dynasty people seem to think.”
Kang Changho frankly declared that he didn’t have much money.
User Comments
0 comments from readers