Chapter 29: The Request (1)

Pat pat pat –

The carp packed inside the ice box flapped lazily.

Suho, who had been staring at them silently, finally spoke.

“Bobby, thanks.”

“That’s nothing. Just ask anytime. Carp are plentiful.”

“Alright, then I’ll ask again tomorrow.”

“Got it. I’ll catch some again tomorrow morning. I have to go check on the dam now. Call me if you need anything.”

“Okay, take care.”

Bobby grinned and disappeared.

Suho picked up the ice box and headed to the kitchen.

“Well then, let’s make some jelly.”

A steamer was already prepared in the kitchen.

Suho filled the steamer with water and started steaming the carp.

Some time passed.

The carp were fully cooked.

Suho stirred the fish meat with a ladle.

‘Once cooked, it breaks apart easily. That’s good.’

If he had an alchemy skill, he could liquefy or concentrate the ingredients.

But of course, Suho didn’t have such a skill.

“All I can do is make it smooth and mix it into the Vitality Water.”

The carp Bobby had given him was already recognized as an ‘item.’

In other words, it was already a finished product.

Suho just needed to make it easier to consume.

“Fortunately, if it’s not skill-related, a little tampering won’t ruin the effect.”

Once an item is recognized, the effect won’t change no matter how much you handle it.

Even if you drink half a healing potion or dilute it with water, the effect remains exactly the same.

While Suho wished that and stirred the ladle,

“What are you doing?”

Curiosity must have gotten the better of Balryong as he approached.

Lately, the creature had taken an unusual interest in Suho’s actions.

Especially in his smartphone!

“I’m making potion to sell! Hey!”

“. ……”

“Great, you can help too.”

“I’m busy right now.”

“Don’t give me that. You’d better help out if you want a reward.”

“A reward?”

Balryong’s eyes gleamed with interest.

He had already eaten all the chicken earned from the Balryong Killer incident.

Of course he’d be tempted if there was more chicken involved.

“I’ll guarantee you about one whole chicken a day.”

“Guarantee! You mean every day?”

“Yes, if things go well. And only if you help out diligently.”

“Alright, what do I have to do?”

Suho smiled slyly and pulled a box from his dimensional pouch. It was filled with Vitality Water.

“I’m going to mix the Vitality Water into the carp potion.”

Suho scooped some Vitality Water, took a ladle of carp potion, mixed them together,

and then poured it back into the bottle.

He held the bottle up in front of him.

[Fruit Carp]

• A potion filled with carp enriched with abundant magic power and nutrients. Drinking it leaves you feeling healthy. Its fresh, tangy texture is irresistible.
• Item Grade: General
• Effect upon consumption: +3 Vitality, +3 Strength for 10 minutes
• Cannot be stacked

“It’s done!”

The effect of the Fruit Carp appeared exactly as expected.

‘Performance is just right.’

Too strong would be a problem; too weak wouldn’t sell.

This level of effect was perfect for low-rank Hunters to use without burden.

Encouraged, Suho hurried on to the next step.

“Balryong, drain all the Vitality Water and pour it into the box. From now on, we’re making the same thing continuously.”

“Do you really plan to do such a trivial task all by hand?”

Balryong sucked out the magic power.

Cha-rururururur –

The numbers of carp potion and Vitality Water increased, mixed in midair, then split back into the bottles.

“See that? This is the level we’re at.”

“Did you really have to say that?”

If he hadn’t added that last comment, it might’ve sounded a little cooler.

“Well, that’s serious, Balryong. From now on, you’re making the potion every morning. Then I’ll give you one chicken daily.”

“B-But me, making potion?”

“Well, it’s still less troublesome than other potion-making jobs, isn’t it?”

Suho smiled brightly.

“… I don’t know what you’re saying, but it sounds ominous. I have a feeling bad luck will come if I refuse.”

Balryong muttered, then immediately added.

“Fine, I’ll make the potion. But you have to keep your promise.”

“Deal”

After the trade with Balryong, Suho took out his smartphone.

“Since the new product’s out, time to advertise, right?”

Suho opened the trading board and posted an advertisement.

[Trusted [Suho Item & Miscellaneous] New Product Buff Potion Now Available!]

• Hello, dear customers! At last, we’re greeting you with the news that our store is launching a brand-new product. The item we’re introducing this time is none other than the Fruit Carp Potion! When consumed, it boosts stamina for 10 minutes and……
• Only 300,000 won per bottle! Limited to 200 bottles per day!
• Purchase limit: 10 bottles per person. Please understand!

After posting, Suho stuck a [New Product Release] sign on the shop window and returned.

Replies had already started coming in.

ㄴ Oh wow – new product! Finally! And it looks great again!

ㄴ Really cheap and looks good.

ㄴ This place is truly the best value for money lol

ㄴ On my way. Hurry up!

ㄴ What’s so good about just 10 minutes duration?

ㄴ Don’t be stupid. It’s made for low-rank use anyway. Just take it before boss fights and then forget about it. Using it all the time would drain your wallet.

ㄴ This is perfect. Even at First-Rank, that’s enough. Boss, you really knows the market.

Suho was reading the comments when the shop door opened.

“Boss!”

“Ah! Welcome.”

The visitor was a Hunter wearing twin daggers on her waist.

Yang Sujeong.

The first customer for daggers, she had since dropped by often to sell items.

“You said you have potions?”

“Yes, want one?”

“Of course.”

Suho took out a potion and placed it on the counter.

“I’ll give you a sample bottle.”

She drank it and smiled.

Hwak

“Is it good?”

“Y-Yeah! Tastes great!”

“…I see.”

While Suho tried to hide his surprise, Yang Sujeong exclaimed.

“Give me ten bottles!”

A short while later, after paying, Sujeong left with the carp potion.

“Wow, that’s a big order.”

Suho was dazed but okay with it.

She’d been a good customer since the dagger days.

But soon, Suho’s eyes widened.

ㄴ Just tried the potion. Amazing. Tastes exactly like watermelon!

ㄴ No way. I tried a 3 million won buff potion, and it tasted like rotten mackerel.

ㄴ I tried an expensive one too, but it tasted like socks.

ㄴ No way, rotten mackerel and socks? Seriously? lol

ㄴ I tried it and bought 10 bottles right away. Review coming soon lol. The owner really picks great items.

ㄴ Really? Buff potions usually taste terrible.

ㄴ Amazing. Same as the daggers. Where does he find such good stuff?

ㄴ They say last time it was from dwarves, so maybe this time it’s from a witch?

ㄴ Whatever. I’m going to buy now. 30k per bottle? I can slam it whenever needed without worries. The taste is great, so it’s easy to drink.

….

ㄴ Why no more comments? Did everyone go buy it?

Reading the replies, Suho shrugged.

“Did buff potions normally taste bad?”

You’d have to try one to know.

The Fruit Carp had smelled like watermelon since Bobby gave it to him.

No fishy smell at all.

So naturally, the potion made from it tasted good.

“If it tastes good and sells well, all the better.”

Thinking about the dwarves who would move here soon, he had to make money fast.

To push the business further, Suho left a comment.

ㄴ Boss here. We’ll be releasing new equipment soon, so please look forward to it!

He planned to make various First-Rank level equipment and sell them daily by category.

ㄴ Oh – finally! Boss, bring some longswords. Bring some!

Reading the real-time comments, Suho smiled faintly.

***

“My son is amazing and smart, right honey?”

“That’s right. He even promised to take us to the movies for my birthday. Haha.”

“That’s right. Other kids would’ve begged for game consoles or clothes.”

Their conversation was audible from the front seat of the car.

I think I responded somehow, but I don’t remember.

“Who would’ve thought he’d even book the movie tickets? I’m afraid I’ll brag endlessly at work and get scolded. Haha.”

Why did I do that?

Why did I book a movie?

I should’ve begged for a game console instead.

“Oh dear. My good son. Mom wanted to see that movie, so how did he know and book it perfectly?”

I was spaced out.

I should’ve picked the blockbuster starting in two hours.

Who cares about a quiet family movie?

Despite my feelings, the car was filled with happiness.

Even in weekend traffic jams, Dad didn’t get annoyed once.

Mom was feeding Dad by hand.

‘That’s a relief.’

I thought.

‘The middle part was skipped.’

Maybe because of trauma, the middle parts always get skipped.

…..

“My son, I’m sorry.”

Mom said.

Dad was already holding a crushed backpack and luring the monster away.

Dungeon Break.

Cars crushed under a collapsed building.

My crushed body caught under the car, unable to get out.

“Be good.”

Through the window, I heard Mom’s final words.

What did I reply?

I don’t know.

I just wanted it all to be over.

Mom ran ahead, chased by a fierce-looking figure.

In my dream, I squeezed my eyes shut.

***

“Ugh—”

Suho suddenly sat up.

He must have been dozing off briefly at the counter.

“…It’s been a while.”

Suho remained dazed for a while, disturbed by the dream of ‘that day.’

Then he noticed something strange.

“Why isn’t it hot and sweaty? Didn’t it cool down?”

That shouldn’t be.

Usually, he would be soaked in cold sweat.

It was then that he noticed a gaze beside him.

And the fresh, pure aura surrounding his body.

“Did you cool me down?”

“. ……”

Balryong feigned ignorance.

But it was clear some magic was at work.

Looking quite proud, Balryong watched Suho stroke his head.

Even though he’d grabbed his neck or crushed him before, this was the first time Suho had petted him.

“Nice texture.”

Smooth and surprisingly pleasant to the touch.

“W-What are you doing!? How dare you touch the great me on the head!”

Balryong started to protest, but before he could finish,

Ding-dong –

The shop bell rang.

A man dressed in formal clothes entered.

“Welcome…”

Suho recognized the man immediately.

It was Shin Sunghyun, secretary to the Hunter Association President.

“Good day, Hunter Won Suho.”

“Yes. You don’t look like you’re here to buy something. What brings you here?”

Suho asked cautiously.

“Can we talk quietly?”

“Sure.”

He locked the shop door.

His attitude made it clear he wasn’t leaving anytime soon.

A moment later, Suho and Shin Sunghyun sat across from each other at a table.

Sunghyun spoke.

“The purpose of my visit today is to make a request to you, Hunter Won Suho.”

“A request? To me?”

Really?

There are many great Hunters around. Why come to me?

Did Shin Sunghyun read Suho’s mind?

He immediately explained.

“An unusual dungeon has been discovered. You could call it a kind of Irregular Dungeon.”

“This is the Seoseong Dungeon, accessible only to Hunters under level 20.”

“Was there such a place? Even if there was, I don’t understand why you came all the way to me.”

Shin Sunghyun replied with a grim expression.

“Hunters from the Association have already attempted it. Except for one, none survived. Even the survivor died outside the dungeon.”

“That sounds dangerous.”

Although Suho said it like that, he wasn’t afraid.

If it was a First-Rank Dungeon, he believed he could handle it.

“Yes, so we requested cooperation from a large guild. But the President really wants Hunter Won Suho to join. It seems he holds your abilities in very high regard.”

Sunghyun frowned and added,

“There are only two days left until the Dungeon Break. So we can’t give you much time to decide. The dungeon is located in the city center. No matter what, the Break must be stopped.”

Monsters escaping a First-Rank Dungeon can be handled with modern weapons.

But the problem was the damage caused by its location.

At those words, Suho’s face hardened.

‘To hear about the Dungeon Break on the very day I had that nightmare…’

Mom’s voice urging me to live well kept coming back.

Suho exhaled shortly and spoke.

“So what do I get out of this?”

Even if it was a request, he wasn’t volunteering for free.

Shin Sunghyun answered with an indifferent expression.

“They will give you a Skill Rune. You may choose any Skill Rune held in the Association’s inventory.”

Honestly, I don’t understand why the President is going so far.

This isn’t a reward worthy of a First-Rank Dungeon…

Shin Sunghyun added.

Suho smiled and replied.

“Alright. When do we start?”