“How, how did you do it?”
Chairman Woo asked calmly, despite his obvious confusion. The others seemed to be holding back their questions as well. It was a natural reaction—after all, the Seolji Grass had come off just by touching it with a finger.
Playing with the Seolji Grass on my hand, I recalled what had happened yesterday. It was when I parted ways with Deputy Lee.
“Where are you suddenly headed?”
“None of your business.”
“Oh, are you spying?”
“If you tell Taecheon about this, I’ll seriously kill you.”
“Then just tell the Bukil Master.”
“Cut the crap and go back. I’ll contact you later.”
“Tch, fine. Just don’t cause trouble. I’ll report you right away!”
“I’m not causing any, man!”
If anyone looked on, they’d think I was always causing trouble. Anyway, Deputy Lee and I parted on good terms. I immediately climbed Namsan through an off-path route.
I wanted to understand how the natural item gathering probability correction worked. Also, I wanted to confirm exactly how much the probability correction was.
“Is this about right?”
After venturing deep into Namsan, I looked around. No people, no small wild animals. The only sound was the tapping of my smartphone.
After confirming I was alone, I crouched down right there.
[Titles – Companion of the World Tree]
Then, I equipped the title. Although I couldn’t receive the equipping effects due to lacking conditions, I was able to wear it. I reached out toward the small grass growing right in front of me.
Grabbing the grass, I slowly pulled it.
It came out easily, almost effortlessly, enough to feel refreshing.
“…….?”
Watching the thin roots shaking soil loose, I wondered—was the probability correction really working? Or was it ineffective? Since it was a weed, maybe it wasn’t even worth correcting? With that doubt, I stared at a pine tree as tall as my waist.
The pine was also a natural object, so it should definitely receive the correction effect when gathered. Thinking that, I decided to try right away. I put the smartphone down briefly, grabbed the pine trunk, and pushed upwards.
My hands slipped up the pine trunk.
“Ugh, that stings!”
My hands went up, but the pine tree didn’t move with them. The pine stood firm.
Only my hands slipped upward, leaving my palms scratched and battered by the bark.
Of course, new skin grew within less than a second, making the injuries disappear as if I’d never been hurt. The pain faded quickly, though a lingering tingling sensation remained. I picked up the smartphone I had set down and continued tapping.
“Maybe there’s some action I’m supposed to take when gathering…”
Pulling something blindly wasn’t the way.
It seemed I needed to do something to receive the probability correction. The title window hadn’t included such an explanation.
Wondering if I missed something, I opened the character window, then the title window again, to check.
[Companion of the World Tree – Awarded for being the first in humanity to grow the World Tree.]
[Effect held – As long as on the ground, stamina does not decrease. Natural item gathering probability is corrected.]
No further explanation.
I tried clicking the phrase, but no new window appeared. I stared at the unchanged title window.
Only the tapping sound of the smartphone screen echoed rhythmically in my ears.
Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap… tap?
“Th-this?”
Feeling both doubt and realization, I looked down at my index finger.
My right index finger was frozen, still tapping the screen.
The gesture I made when offering mana to the World Tree.
Now it was the gesture for hunting monsters.
A warm touch…
Slowly, I stretched out my right hand holding the smartphone.
The tip of the pointed index finger tapped the pine trunk.
Then, a bluish system window appeared.
[A warm touch has made contact with the pine tree.]
[Maintaining current state will begin gathering the ‘E-Rank Pine Tree.’]
“…!”
Of course!
Natural item gathering was done with a warm touch.
I silently waited for the gathering to begin.
It didn’t take long to maintain the state.
[Maintaining current state to begin gathering E-Rank Pine Tree.]
[Correcting gathering probability with Companion of the World Tree title effect.]
[E-Rank Pine Tree is classified as a subordinate organism of the World Tree.]
[Probability correction, probability correction. Probability correction complete.]
[E-Rank Pine Tree gathering probability: 100%.]
[Maintain warm touch for 3 seconds to proceed with gathering.]
[3, 2, 1.]
After the correction ended, the bluish window disappeared.
At the same time, the pine tree I had touched popped off with a pop! like a frog jumping, its roots snapping free.
The pine tree, pulled out from the soil, fell onto the forest floor.
“Haha….”
Looking at the pine lying on the ground, I burst out laughing.
An indescribable feeling of emptiness spilled out.
After staring blankly, I tried gathering everything I could find.
‘E-Rank Oriental Lily.’
‘E-Rank Kudzu.’
‘D-Rank Namsan Violet.’
‘C-Rank Yellow Mesh Cap Mushroom.’
They all popped out with 100% probability along with the phrase [Belongs to subordinate organisms of the World Tree].
Seeing that, I realized I could gather any natural item.
Even if it was Udamhwa from the Hongyurung Gate.
Why?
Because even an S-Rank Elixir was ultimately just a natural item.
So, gathering it was entirely possible.
Confident in that, I contacted Deputy Lee and asked to broker a deal with the entire group.
“How you did it…”
I sank the memories of yesterday back into my mind.
Everyone in the chairman’s office was waiting for me to explain.
Since I couldn’t tell the truth honestly, I decided to gloss over it.
I shrugged and said firmly.
“Does it matter how I did it?”
“Hm?”
“The important part is that I gathered the Seolji Grass, and that it’s possible to gather Udamhwa.”
“… That’s right. You’re correct.”
Chairman Woo nodded in agreement.
He didn’t seem to want to say more.
Seeing his decisiveness, I thought how fitting it was of a corporate chairman.
The others showed some regret, probably because they were curious.
“You gathered an A-Rank Elixir, so the test is passed.”
“So what happens now?”
Deputy Lee cautiously chimed in.
Chairman Woo smiled.
The smile was mischievous, oddly youthful for his age.
“You should go out with Minju.”
“What?”
“Huh?”
Deputy Lee and Kim Minju answered simultaneously, startled.
They looked at each other, blushing.
Chairman Woo and Secretary Eom Juah watched them with pleased smiles.
Huh, everyone seemed to already know?
“What’s with the surprise? You’re going to get an introduction fee, right?”
“Ah! Yes, yes. We have to.”
“Well then, go on. We have some things to discuss among ourselves.”
Chairman Woo waved his hand with a smile.
The two hesitated, then stood and went outside.
Watching them, I smirked.
How can I tease that guy so well that I get praised for it?
After the two closed the door behind them, Woo Yeonhu asked seriously.
“Mr. Warm Fingers, how much do you want?”
“… One billion. That much money is enough.”
Warm Fingers.
His serious voice and earnest expression almost made me laugh.
I cleared my throat and answered.
After all, I was the one who gave that nickname.
I couldn’t be rude.
He frowned as if he didn’t understand my answer.
“What do you mean? Just one billion?”
“That’s right.”
“Didn’t you hear from Lee Seonghun? We’re going to enter Hongyurung Gate to gather Udamhwa!”
“Yes, I know.”
“Then why only ten billion… Father?”
Woo Yeonhu shifted his gaze from me to Chairman Woo.
The chairman raised his hand and caught his gaze.
He fell silent and leaned back on the sofa.
He handed the floor over to his father.
I also shifted my gaze from Yeonhu back to Chairman Woo.
He rubbed his white beard, mumbling.
“The money is enough. The money… is enough.”
“……”
“Then what do you want?”
Of course.
Chairman Woo communicated better with me than his hunter son.
Just as he expected, I had desires beyond money.
“I’m not a hunter.”
“… Is that so?”
That was nonsense.
The three looked like they wanted to say as much.
After all, could someone who easily gathered an A-Rank Elixir not be a hunter?
It was reasonable to think I hid my identity because I didn’t want to bother an A-Rank hunter.
Perhaps the mask and alias made them certain.
“… It’s true.”
“All right, I get it.”
Chairman Woo closed his eyes softly and nodded slowly back and forth.
It was as if he said, ‘I understand, so you can stop.’
Like he was coolly telling me not to be misunderstood.
I sighed, looking at the three who didn’t seem to believe me.
“I want a Hunter License.”
“Why would you look for that here? You should go to the Hunter Association or the district office.”
“……”
I knew what he meant but pretended not to.
No wonder he was a corporate chairman—he was slick.
I said nothing and quietly waited for Chairman Woo to decide.
It took him less than a minute.
“Good. We’ll do it.”
Woo Yeonhu and Eom Juah looked surprised.
He probably wasn’t someone who usually agreed to such things.
But since it was to cure his daughter’s incurable disease, he accepted.
Ten billion and the forged license, to be split between Deputy Lee and me.
“That’s enough.”
“No, I haven’t agreed yet.”
“Huh?”
“The money. You should get more. Fifty billion sounds right.”
What kind of dog’s name was fifty billion?
We’d just go in and touch the Udamhwa. It wasn’t worth that huge sum.
“That much isn’t necessary. It’s not even that difficult—”
“Shut up. People have to get paid what their work is worth. Just because it’s easy for you doesn’t make it cheap.”
“I agree with that, but…”
“If you really don’t want it, take it first. Then throw it in the trash or donate it. Your choice.”
I turned my head to look at Woo Yeonhu and Eom Juah.
They nodded simultaneously when they saw my gaze.
It was like saying, ‘Better to just accept it and be at peace.’
After all, no matter what I said, Chairman Woo wouldn’t change his mind.
“That settles payment. Shall we move on?”
“… Let’s.”
I rubbed my forehead—or rather, the upper part of my mask—and waved my hand.
“You probably know about the Great Field, so I’ll explain the Little Field.”
Eom Juah smiled gently and spoke.
The Great Field was where we’d go to gather Udamhwa from the Hongyurung Gate.
The Little Field would likely be about when, how, and with how many people we’d enter.
Then—
“Ah!”
Chairman Woo suddenly exclaimed and interrupted.
“Wait, sorry. I have a question. Can I ask it first before we continue?”
“Yes, of course, Chairman.”
Eom Juah immediately gave him the floor.
Chairman Woo looked at me with a serious expression.
It was the most serious face I’d seen from him today.
Not only I, but Woo Yeonhu and Eom Juah also seemed to feel the gravity.
What on earth was he about to say?
“Warm Fingers.”
“Yes?”
“Are you going to put that name on the forged license as well?”
… Crap!