Chapter 13: I Received 500 Million Won

It might not be a huge amount for the rich, but for me, it’s such a huge sum that my hands tremble just thinking about it.

I debated whether to use it like winning the lottery or just a reward, but for now, I decided to find a proper place where I could stretch out and sleep comfortably.

I was already tired of living in a monthly rental room, and sharing a cramped space with Katrinne felt a bit uncomfortable.

Thinking back, it’s true.

The first time I met Katrinne was ten years ago—back when she was still a little kid before even entering elementary school.

But now ten years have passed, and she’s eighteen.

To my eyes, she still looks like a kid, but I thought she should at least have her own room.

She’s at a sensitive age in many ways.

No, thinking about it like this, I somehow feel like her father.

Even though I’m not married yet and don’t even have a girlfriend.

The most urgent matter, though, is equipment. No matter how strong I am in combat, there’s a limit to running around barehanded.

Think about it. I’m good at hammering nails, but hammering with a rock instead of a hammer is much less efficient.

It’s also more convenient with the right tool.

Anyway, you can’t underestimate the power of good equipment. But damn, equipment is incredibly expensive.

Regular steel weapons are obviously cheap. You can even get custom orders made for Hunters.

But if you mix in things like titanium or whatever, the price shoots up.

On top of that, weapons infused with Magic Essence Stones are insanely expensive.

Since Ether Weapons use Magic Essence Stones as their base material, they’re expensive to begin with. Then the special blending and extraction process adds even more to the cost.

Moreover, the higher the grade and purity of the Magic Essence Stone, the more the price skyrockets.

So basically, I can’t afford it.

“Well, once I join a Guild, I’ll get a contract advance payment, so I can buy it then.”

For now, I can just buy some lower-grade gear to use.

Besides, I still have that greatsword the Orc Champion gave me on our last hunt.

Anyway, I stopped by the real estate office.

It wasn’t enough to buy a really nice house, but I decided to purchase a place spacious enough for two people for 300 million won.

There was one complaint, though.

“This is really a cheap deal for a good house, mister. At 1,000 per pyong, it’s practically a giveaway.”

“Do you know who I am, by any chance?”

“Huh? Have you been here before?”

“No.”

“I’m getting old, so I keep forgetting things these days. Oh ho ho.”

Of course, since today was our first meeting, there was no way he’d know me.

What’s really strange is how quiet everything is.

I’ve Awakened, taken down notorious Villains, and set a record for holding the largest Inventory in the country.

There have been plenty of things that could’ve caused a stir, but everything’s oddly silent.

I thought the Republic of Korea would be buzzing with news about me.

“Well, catching a single wanted criminal doesn’t make you famous overnight.”

While walking away from the real estate office, I searched my name on a portal site using my phone.

• Lee Hyunbin
  The only articles were about a celebrity with the same name admitting to dating someone.
• Anyang Amusement Park Dungeon
  News about a cruel Villain caught by a Hunter who entered the Anyang Amusement Park Dungeon.

My name wasn’t mentioned, just “a Hunter in his 30s.”

If that’s the case, why did the reporters even ask for my name? Really useless people.

It’s a shame, but there’s no need to worry about it now. My fame will rise soon enough.

Even the Fighting God Guild tried to scout me.

If word gets out that I have Dual Awakening, my price will go even higher.

No, since I’m starting over, I should aim to be the strongest.

I was the strongest in that other world when I knew nothing. If I’m going to start again, I might as well set my sights as high as possible.

“Maybe I should order Karin something nice to eat for a change.”

She probably already knows I got the reward from the news.

So, she’ll definitely demand I feed her immediately. Such a cheeky brat.

She’s trying to live the high life because I took care of her food, clothing, and shelter back in the other world, plus supported her equipment.

“She used to like sweet and sour pork and black bean noodles, right? That should do.”

Even though she’s had all kinds of delicacies as a noble lord in the other world, it feels a little pitiful that she still just snacks on noodles.

No matter the outcome, she ended up in the modern world because of me.

Well, I got a big reward, and my income will increase a lot going forward, so I won’t worry about a little spending.

When I entered the worn-down monthly rental room, I saw Katrinne wearing a stretched-out white T-shirt and sweatpants, gaming with a headset on.

She looked like a typical gaming slacker. If only she had a scruffy beard on her chin, it’d be perfect.

“Hey guys, if you don’t properly hold aggro, the healer’s gonna die. Don’t you see the heal aggro keeps jumping?”

Looks like they’re running another raid.

In my memories, Karin was a workaholic.

I remember being amazed at how an eight-year-old girl would poke her seal the size of her face to process reports.

Seeing that, I told her to play outside and do things appropriate for her age. Her response was something memorable:

• A pig that doesn’t work has no right to eat.

She was clearly referring to me, who was wasting time doing nothing while pretending to be a hero and sitting in the territory.

That cheeky little brat is now a game addict.

Did I ruin her? Was my discipline wrong? Was my parenting a failure?

“I’m logging off now. Yeah, loot done.”

Looks like the raid party just ended.

Katrinne took off her headset, hung it on the monitor, and grumbled irritably.

“Wow, seriously, what a noob. Controlling with her tongue? So bad. Hey mister, do you think it makes sense for the tank to only upgrade his weapon and not equip elemental defense gear?”

“Sometimes I forget you’re from another world.”

“What are you talking about? Oh, right. Mister, I’m hungry.”

As expected, the glutton.

It’d be strange if she weren’t hungry.

“You’re eating more and more, aren’t you?”

“What are you talking about? I haven’t had dinner yet.”

Makes sense—it’s still lunchtime now.

But since I was planning to order her something delicious anyway, I didn’t argue.

“Black bean noodles and sweet and sour pork?”

“Large size.”

“Okay.”

“Make the noodles extra large, too!”

“You bet.”

Seeing me order food on my phone app, Katrinne got excited and hurried down from her computer chair.

“Mister, did you get the prize money?”

She knew after all. That sneaky girl.

“Just so you know, don’t waste the money just because it came in. You’re not trying to eat more again, are you?”

She really eats a lot. Not three meals a day, but nine.

Is it because she’s still growing? But somehow, she never gains weight. Her stomach is so flat it’s like she has no organs inside.

“What are you going to do with the prize money?”

“Don’t get greedy. I already signed the contract for the house.”

I’m planning to buy the house with 300 million won and gather the rest to get basic equipment.

But then this mischievous brat gave me a sly smile.

“I thought so. You’d buy a house first.”

“Why?”

“Because you need your own time, mister.”

“What do you mean, ‘your own time’?”

“You need to watch animal documentaries without fur coats alone.”

Hey, that really is a documentary!

I swear I just mistakenly watched it as a romance drama.

“It’s okay. I understand completely.”

“No, you don’t have to understand. If you keep insulting decent people like this, I might cancel the food delivery. Why? Because our trust will be broken. I can’t eat with someone I don’t trust. Got it?”

Katrinne slightly parted her lips in surprise at my words.

She pulled something out of her bag—a strange flyer? No, a pamphlet.

“This is bad. Our trust is broken, mister? Then I guess I’ll have to cancel this equipment, too…”

“What equipment?”

Katrinne pulled a blank white sheet from the pamphlet and held it up in front of her face. A special Hunter equipment contract?

What is this?

One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million, ten million, hundred million?

Wow.

This isn’t kids’ bank money—it’s a real 150 million won contract for a Power Suit and Gauntlet.

“What? Equipment? Is it mine?”

“Of course not. Why would it be? Why would I wear Hunter gear?”

“Where would you get the money?”

She’s a kid who finds joy in just eating a bowl of ramen—where would she get 150 million won gear?

Unless she found a gold bar somewhere, it doesn’t make sense.

Katrinne wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, pretending to sob.

“I sold my equipment.”

“What equipment?”

“Obviously, the gear from the game I was playing.”

I was so surprised that I didn’t immediately understand. Wait, are game items really that expensive?

“Why are you selling a game you liked so much all of a sudden?”

“I’m quitting now. I think I can stop.”

Good call. You’re a game addict, a total game addict.

She had a pretty face once, but now she looks like a panda with dark circles down to her chin.

Our kid isn’t the type to get addicted easily, but that darn game caused those dark circles.

“Mister, you’re becoming a formal Hunter now. But you only have that sword you took from the Orc. I’m the only person who knows you in this world. You can’t get hurt.”

My kid is so kind. Even though she’s a game addict, her heart is tender and clever.

This is… a little bit touching. Not because she secretly prepared 150 million won worth of gear for me. It’s all about the heart, the heart.

“I didn’t know your lordship had such deep thoughts. If you want to eat more, just tell me, I’ll take orders.”

“Ahem. I’m craving palbochae.”

“Okay, my lord.”

How does she even know palbochae? Well, whatever, it’s the thought that counts. I even ordered ganpunggi with it.

There’s a joy in raising kids when they do sweet things like this.

I logged back into the Chinese restaurant’s app to place an additional order.

Right after ordering and paying, an unknown number called.

“Mister, actually, I have something to tell you…”

“Hello?”

Katrinne was about to say something but I gestured for her to wait. She smiled shyly and nodded.

• Are you Lee Hyunbin?

“Who is this?”

• I’m Minjung Kim from the Gate Management Bureau. I’m calling to inform you that because you saved many lives and set an exemplary example, we’ve decided to award you the Medal of Merit.

“A medal?”

I never even won a certificate in school.

A medal? If I get this, do I get a pension? Take pictures with important people? Maybe even appear on TV? That would be great.

• Yes. The director will have a preliminary meeting with you. Would you be available?

“Ah, yes. I’m free.”

• Then I’ll send you a map and schedule shortly via text. If you can’t make it, please let us know in advance.

“Thank you.”

Right after hanging up, Katrinne clapped her hands excitedly.

“Wow! You’re getting a medal, mister? That’s amazing! You never even got a medal in our world.”

That other world was full of betrayals and treachery.

“But what did you want to tell me earlier?”

“Huh? It’s nothing.”

“Don’t tell me you want me to order more food?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Nothing, huh? But her face is full of worry. After spending a day or two together, I can tell by her expression.

“Just say it. You’ll tell me later anyway. Don’t waste time dragging it out.”

Katrinne hesitated for a moment, then nervously fiddled with her fingers and cautiously said,

“Mister, I actually Awakened.”

“Awakened?”

“Yeah…”

What is she talking about now? She’s just been gaming in her room—what awakening?

“You awakened as a Glutton? How much more are you planning to eat with that scary declaration?”

“No, I didn’t!”

“No, you didn’t!”

“Stop copying me!”

“Stop copying me!”

I teased her, and her delicate brows crumpled like paper. I decided to listen to her story first.

“Okay, okay. What did you awaken as?”

Since she’s from another world, she could have reawakened. While the chance of awakening is higher inside Dungeons, sometimes it happens outside too.

“I’m a Level 1 Noble Lord…”