Chapter 28: Full-Scale Monetization

Choi Junseok approached and shook the hand extended by Haetaesik, who was sitting.

“Choi Junseok… Nice to meet you.”

“Whether it’s Junseok or Junsik, what’s in a name? Be glad I’m not calling you Sheath or Holy Sword Launcher.”

“So, you’re the one who summoned that sword earlier? And that sword is Yoo Junhyuk?”

“Exactly. You caught on quick.”

Haetaesik didn’t seem particularly shocked that an old acquaintance had returned as a bag.

“How’d it happen?”

“There was an incident on the 100th floor, and I reached the state of Sword-Spirit Unity.”

“The more I hear, the more insanely jealous I get. Should I start swinging a sword too?”

“Heh, it’s not that easy!”

“Damn. One with a Mythic-grade sword.”

“As expected, I knew you’d get it. The holy sword you forged, combined with me, became a Transcendent-grade sword.”

“What? Transcendent-grade?!”

Haetaesik’s eyes widened in shock.

“Yes. As you might’ve guessed, this guy’s ability is like a sheath. The only one capable of wielding a sword that shouldn’t exist in this world. Even if I had a physical body, I probably couldn’t wield it.”

Recalling the aftermath of Choi Junseok summoning the holy sword, Haetaesik nodded in agreement.

“Even a Mythic-grade sword couldn’t shatter stone and cause a lava tsunami just by being summoned…”

Muttering about the Transcendent-grade, he continued.

“It feels like just yesterday you came to sharpen the holy sword’s blade after clearing the 100th floor. How many days have passed?”

“It’s been quite a while, my friend. Over three years in the human world.”

“Three years, huh. That’s long. I don’t know how much time that is, but… hmm. A descendant?”

“No! Descendant? What kind of filthy talk is that? I’ve never lain with anyone but my sword my whole life.”

Choi Junseok cut into their banter.

Building rapport with Yoo Junhyuk was nice, but he didn’t want to hear about his romantic history.

“So, the reason I came today…”

“Obvious, isn’t it? You came to the forge to have a weapon or equipment made.”

“Correct.”

“Show me everything you’ve got. Including weapons, equipment, and monster parts.”

Choi Junseok pulled out everything, even items from the VIP shop.

Cold weapons of various sizes materialized from thin air with a thud.

Even at a glance, the sheer volume and weight were beyond what an average player could carry.

“Impressive!”

Haetaesik nodded in admiration, stroking his chin.

“Well, how about that?”

“For two reasons. First, it’s shocking that such trash weapons coexist with a Transcendent-grade sword.”

“And the other?”

“The other is the capacity and weight limit of your inventory skill. You could work as my assistant. I’ve got a lot of baggage.”

Then he added firmly,

“If you want something made, you’ll need better materials. I don’t take anything below Unique-grade. With this junk, I can’t make anything. Even for a weapon suited to your level, that doesn’t change.”

His decisiveness made Choi Junseok think of Fairy’s Harvest in the real world.

“There might be a way.”

***

Around the same time, across from Choi Junseok’s house, at the home where Lee Junhee and Choi Hyeri lived, an unexpected visitor arrived.

It was none other than Lee Junhee’s older sister, Choi Junseok’s aunt, Lee Jinkyung.

Hearing they had moved into a brand-new officetel, she was initially stunned, but beneath her admiring tone lay sharp anger.

“Oh my! So Junseok really awakened? This place… A-rank?! What’s going on? Oh my…”

Despite her surprised tone, Lee Jinkyung’s expression grew colder.

Jealousy, mixed with the thought, They can afford to move here but haven’t paid back the 30 million won?

As someone aware of the income high-ranking players like B-rank and above could earn, she knew well.

Her son, Park Suho, Choi Junseok’s cousin, had awakened as an A-rank player with the rise of the Suseo Magic Tower, elevating their family to upper-class status overnight.

Lee Jinkyung’s current lifestyle was better than when she lent money during the Incheon Magic Tower’s emergence.

But 30 million won was no small sum.

Her visit was for one reason: to demand repayment of the loan. She had gone to their old container home only to find them gone.

At first, she felt pity, thinking they’d been evicted from even that container.

But upon learning they’d moved to a modern officetel, her anger surged.

What money did they use to move? If they can afford this, shouldn’t they pay me back first?

When she heard her brother-in-law had awakened as a player, she lent the money thinking a high-income job would allow quick repayment.

But not only had they not paid, they hadn’t even mentioned it since their son awakened.

“How’d you end up in a place like this? Didn’t you have a lot of debt?”

“Unnie, don’t misunderstand. Junseok just awakened a week ago. I was going to tell you soon.”

“Really?”

“Yeah… I know. I’m just a bit disappointed.”

While saying she was happy for them, Lee Jinkyung scanned the house.

“When our Suho awakened as A-rank, he didn’t get this kind of treatment. Strange. If it’s only been a week, he’s probably still climbing the lower floors.”

Lee Junhee couldn’t be honest.

No one can know I’m Function. It could put us all in danger.

Choi Junseok’s warning flashed through her mind.

Hesitating, Lee Junhee was tapped on the shoulder by Lee Jinkyung, who said,

“Well, it’s good news. You’ll be able to pay back the money soon. Our Suho’s with one of the top five guilds, so we’re not exactly struggling either.”

Her husband had been nagging her about when they’d get back the money lent to her sister, wondering if the 30 million was gone for good.

Her initial intent was just to check on them.

But seeing the house changed her perspective.

A brand-new three-bedroom officetel in Seoul? Even at the cheapest, the deposit would be around a billion.

“How’d you afford this place?”

“Unnie, it’s… Junseok got a loan from the government after awakening. It’s not our house…”

That was partially true.

It wasn’t even a lease.

There was no protection, no contract—just a place Kang told them to live in, and they’d have to leave if asked, worse than a lease.

“Unnie… we’ll pay back the debt soon. I’m sorry.”

“The government gives loans for A-rank? I didn’t know. Did Suho not tell me?”

No, Suho was the first to investigate the benefits A-rank players received from the government.

Even she, his mother, had eagerly looked into it.

Surprisingly, the government offered little, as if expecting the top five guilds to handle it.

So, they carefully chose Oseong Group, a subsidiary of the famous Oseong Electronics, known for solid welfare and treatment.

“I heard the government doesn’t offer that kind of support…”

Their conversation was overheard by Lee Nayeon, whose senses were sharp, in the next room.

Song Hana, tense from Lee Nayeon’s unusual demeanor, also sensed a stranger outside.

“30 million…”

“While Junseok is away, we must protect his family, right?”

Song Hana stomped her feet.

“What do we do? We didn’t put talismans on the other house!”

“They seem to be family, but… should we kill her?”

“K-Kill?!”

“Eek! That’s scary!”

“As far as I know, the cruelest place after a battlefield is family.”

No one was normal here.

“We might need to pull Kamdori’s tail soon. For now, let’s stay quiet. If physical harm is anticipated, we’ll move to punishment and thorough retaliation.”

Song Hana nodded vigorously in agreement.

“Before we pull Kamdori’s tail, I’ll… cast a blessing!”

Clutching Kamdori, she fidgeted as if ready to pull its tail.

“No, it’d be better to cut her down before Junseok returns—”

Lee Nayeon glanced at the kitchen, as if considering a knife.

At that moment, their senses picked up Choi Junseok’s return.

Noticing their tense demeanor, he furrowed his brow.

“What’s going on? Whatever you’re planning, both of you, stop it.”

Kamdori wriggled in Song Hana’s arms, then leaped toward Choi Junseok.

Seizing the moment, Choi Junseok caught the fairy dragon and yanked its tail hard.

Snap!

Kamdori’s eyes widened as it opened its mouth.

“Gweeeek!”

It began spitting out everything it had collected in the Magic Tower.

Magic stones and equipment clattered to the ground.

A handful of purple magic stones—only five or six, but each worth millions.

The largest, with the highest purity, likely exceeded 10 million.

The surreal sight of a Troll Warlord’s massive skull dropping from the tiny dragon’s mouth was jarring.

Another item was the Troll Great Shaman’s prayer beads, a soul-binding Unique-grade item.

Along with various byproducts, they were all valuable materials.

Appraising them confirmed their worth as Unique-grade materials.

“So, what’s happening outside?”

“Your mother’s sister came to demand repayment of a debt.”

“?”

Choi Junseok finally learned of the debt his parents had hidden, borrowed from relatives.

He made a quick video call.

Kang, surprised it was a video call rather than a voice call, soon understood the intent.

“Tell me the market value of these items.”

“I can estimate the magic stones, but the items need appraisal. The miscellaneous stuff… it’s a bit early for high prices, but… wait. Junseok, is that… the Troll Warlord’s skull from the 10th floor?”

“I’ll explain later. Just give me the market value. The prayer beads are a soul-binding Unique-grade weapon, equippable at level 45.”

“A soul-binding Unique-grade item with a level 45 restriction… it’s priceless. At auction, it’d easily fetch hundreds of millions. 300 million is a safe bet.”

“Would the Player Management Office buy it for 300 million?”

“What?”

“Why not? It’s a win-win. Saves time, and you guys make a profit.”

“Well… we don’t deal in item brokering, and with auction fees and taxes, you wouldn’t net 300 million.”

“With the magic stones included, wouldn’t it come close to 300 million after fees?”

That needed precise calculation. Even Kang wasn’t sure about item or stone prices—just rough estimates.

“You need quick cash, huh? Alright, let’s do it. Give me a moment to make a call. Check your account in a minute.”

As Kang promised, moments later, 300 million won was deposited into Choi Junseok’s account.

He knew the items’ actual profit wouldn’t reach 300 million.

But since Choi Junseok, who rarely mentioned money, brought it up, Kang assumed there was a reason and supported him.

Choi Junseok told the two to stay put and stepped outside.

Lee Jinkyung, about to leave, saw him emerge from the opposite house and scoffed in disbelief.

“What? Not one house, but two?”

“Unnie, it’s not—”

“You’re living large, huh?”

“Hello, Aunt.”

“Hey… you’ve been doing well since I last saw you. Unlike me.”

“You came for the debt?”

“Junseok, you don’t need to worry about it… it’s—”

“How much is it?”

Lee Jinkyung quietly held up three fingers.

“Of course, your aunt didn’t come here for just 30 million. And Junseok, if you awakened as a player, shouldn’t you have contacted your cousin first? What’s the point of having an A-rank cousin in the Oseong Guild?”

“Give me your account number.”

“Huh?”

Caught off guard, Lee Jinkyung gave her account number.

Moments later, her phone slipped from her hand in shock.

300 million won had been transferred to her account.