32. Assistance (3)

The Cainus Guild office.

A man was watching a YouTube video.

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<A one hit wonder? The power of the explosion skill!>

Posted by: Kirigiri Up

Published: 2023.10.04.(First published 1 day ago)

Views: 212,089 times

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└This is crazy!!!!!!

└Look at Abominations upper body being blown away...

I'm not sure if I've ever seen that before...

└Anyone know what skill that is?

└└That light is a bit like a light flare from one of the magic skills. But the power is too different.

A video that got over 200,000 views in one day.

The man exited the holographic video on his smart glasses.

The hologram disappeared in front of his eyes, revealing Wontae Park's face.

He turned to Yusiu, who had reported the YouTube video.

"So this is what Sangwoo Jeong did. Have you heard from him?"

"Not yet."

"Well---. I thought you'd hear from him right away."

I thought he just had cloning, but he had this ability.

A Rank F Hunter killing a Class C monster was a major event.

Now, every guild would take note of him.

His head was throbbing.

He rubbed my temples and opened his mouth.

"I'll have to see him in person. Secretary Kim."

A cold-looking woman in a suit walked in.

"Contact Mr. Jeong and set up an appointment."

"The earliest you are available is next Tuesday. Do you want to set up a time then?"

"No."

Wontae shook his head.

"Right now."

* * *

When the doppelganger exploded, the impact was tremendous.

Part of the ghost platform at Shinseongdong Station collapsed.

Although he narrowly escaped being buried, Sangwoo was unconcious in the hospital with both legs broken.

When he first opened his eyes, Sangwoo tried to sit up, ignoring his casted leg.

"Mmph-."

He felt a searing pain in his legs, and it was hard to take a step.

In the end, Sangwoo decided to stay in the hospital for more treatment.

'If it wasn't for my legs, I'd be fine.'

Sangwoo was in a hurry to find a cure for his sister.

He tried to use the hospital's resident healer service.

The prices were exorbitant.

One minute of the most basic Cure skill cost a whopping 300,000 won.

'--- So the healer is a nobleman.'

Still, Sangwoo paid the 3 million won for 10 minutes of the most basic Cure magic so that he could recover quickly and go hunting.

It worked.

The pain was gone.

His hospitalization stay of more than a month or two was greatly reduced.

However, I wasn't 100%.

It would be impossible for him to hunt normally.

'If I were to hunt when I'm better, I'd only be able to earn 20-30 million won a day. It's not worth it to get more recovery skills to speed up my discharge.'

Sangwoo tried to calm his growing impatience and think calmly.

What would be in his best interest.

'But I'm sure my clones wouldn't mind this much pain.'

Sangwoo decided that he would practice mana breathing in his hospital room, while his clone would hunt and train.

Sangwoo stayed in the hospital for a few days to recuperate.

After practicing mana breathing the entire time he was in the hospital, he woke up.

He felt better today.

As he expected, the regenerative powers that had begun to build up had helped him recover.

'Status window.'

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[Sangwoo]

[Stats]

-Strength: 0.820 → 0.850

-Reflex: 0.643 → 0.660

-Stamina: 0.776 → 0.791

-Endurance: 0.670 → 0.688

-Magic: 1.084 → 1.153

-Vitality: 0.327 → 0.336

-Regeneration: 0.416 → 0.423

[Skills].

-[Cloning (Lv.3)/Casting]

-[Clone Strengthening (Lv.4)/Passive]

-[Familiar/Casting (Lv.3)]

-[Meditation/Casting (Lv.5)]

-[Mana Breathing/Casting (Lv.19)]

-[Shooting/Passive (Lv.3)]

-[Running/Casting (Lv.1)]

-[Power Strike/Casting(Lv.4)]

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Mana Breathing's skill level has been growing rapidly, increasing his Magic by nearly 0.1 in just a few days.

There were also other stats that his clones had raised while hunting.

However, they were still only F-ranked hunters with average stats of less than 1.

'--- Not enough, I need to train more, get stronger, and tackle the top dungeons.'

At this rate of growth, he had a long way to go.

He was determined to get out of the hospital and start hunting.

A man burst through the door of Sangwoo's hospitalized room.

It was Wontae Park, the leader of the third-ranked guild in Korea, the Cainus Guild.

"Hello, Sangwoo. I apologize for coming unannounced."

"It's okay. I was contacted by your secretary."

He had accepted the visit after receiving a call from the secretary in the morning.

Seeing the famous hunter he had seen on TV and in the awakening program right in front of him was a strange feeling, like seeing a celebrity.

But he didn't make a big deal of it.

'He gave me his business card, so he must need me for something.'

He thought it was probably a scouting offer or something related to his clones.

Though he doubted he'd go out of his way to scout for an F-class Hunter.

"I apologize for bringing you here like this. As you can see---."

Sangwoo pointed to his leg, which was still in a cast.

"It's in this condition."

"It's okay. After all, you're the one who wants to request something."

The head of a guild saying he wanted something form an F-class Hunter.

Sangwoo shuddered.

"Do you have anything to say?"

"I'll come right out and say it, Mr. Sangwoo, I need your clone."

"A clone?"

Wontae told Sangwoo why he needed his clone.

He explained the situation of the Cainus's Guild Strike Team 1 isolated in Odin's Tower, and that a clone was the only solution.

As Sangwoo listened, he felt sorry for him.

Normally, Sangwoo would have just offered to help.

However, seeing Wontae Park ask for help like that made him think about the situation soberly.

What would be beneficial to him.

"What you saw it correct. My clone is real, not an illusion."

"Good, then you should be able to utilize your clone to enter Odin's Tower. Please help me, I beg you."

"Since my clone is the only solution---."

Sangwoo trailed off.

"I'd love to help you, but contracts aren't my specialty. You'll have to negotiate the details with my agent."

Contracts are best left to the professionals.

He smirked.

Wontae was taken aback by Sangwoo's unexpected answer.

But then again, he had made the request.

"--- I'll do that. I'll contact you."

He nodded and walked away.

'I was too harsh. No, I have a big nose.1

Sangwoo's conscience was pricked a bit, but he soon calmed down.

After Wontae left.

Another visitor came to the hospital room.

"Sangwoo."

It was Hayeon.

She came straight from school and was dressed in her school uniform.

She put the fruit basket she brought on the bedside table and sat down in the chair.

Sangwoo jumped up in surprise at her sudden visit.

"Hayeon, you didn't have to come."

"No. You're sick, so I have to visit you. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, almost better. I'm going to get checked out sometime today or tomorrow."

"Oh, that's great. By the way, aren't you a total wimp? You're getting beat up by monsters."

"Do you want to fight?"

Hayeon smiled wryly.

Seeing that smile, Sangwoo forgot about his sister for a moment, and was able to laugh and talk with her for a while.

It was easy and fun.

But contradictorily, he felt uncomfortable inside.

'--- But we still have to talk.'

After listening to Hayeon for a while, Sangwoo made up his mind and opened his mouth.

"Hey, Hayeon."

"--- Because I got good grades, okay? What?"

"I'm sorry to say this, but I think I should stop tutoring you."

The words that seemed too harsh to say over the phone or text.

After procrastinating, Sangwoo finally brought it up.

There was silence in the room as he said it.

"--- Because of your sister?"

"Yes. I need to make money to pay for the hospital, to find a cure. I need to start earning my own money. I mean, I have my dad, but now I have to---."

The mana intensive care unit costs tens of millions of won a month in hospital bills.

It would never be possible to pay for it with his father's salary as an ordinary office worker.

Sangwoo continued.

"I'm the head of the family."

Hearing that, she bowed her head deeply, not making eye contact.

"Are you crying?"

Hayeon's shoulders shook.

Sangwoo realized that she was crying, so he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

He spoke words of comfort.

"Hayeon, don't cry."

"--- Ugh. I was tricking you, I didn't cry. bah."

Hayeon wiped her eyes with her fingers.

"You want to kick a pretty student like me out, so I can't help it."

Hayeon fluffs her hair and pretends to be pretty.

Sangwoo chuckled at the ridiculousness of it all.

"I'm sorry to ask this, but did you take any drugs?"

"HUH! Do you want to die? Just kidding, just kidding. Anyway, thank you for everything you've done for me, hehe."

"Me too. It was my first tutoring session, so thanks for following along."

"What's up, Sangwoo? No, you're my brother now. Hmmmm… Anyway, why do you act like we will never see each other again?!"

"No, it will probably be the last time."

Sangwoo said seriously.

Then Hayeon slapped Sangwoo on the shoulder.

Pa-.

"Ouch."

"'This isn't the last time. Just try to call me."

Haeyeon frowned.

"Okay, I'll do it in my spare time."

"Good boy. If you don't call me, I'll beat you up when I get into University, but---."

"University? But I'm thinking of dropping out of college, too."

"What? Drop out? No!"

Hayeon shouted.

"It would be a waste if you quit. You should take a leave of absence and come back later."

"Mmm--- that would be better. Okay."

"Well, I'll also be a Hunter later, so go ahead and reserve a spot, and don't forget to get your sister's cure."

"Huh? I thought you gave up on being a Hunter?"

"Who said that? I'm just going to go to college and will also be a Hunter, no matter what my mom says."

"--- Stubborn as shit."

"Hey!"

Hayeon tries to pinch Sangwoo's arm.

Sangwoo desperately defended himself by grabbing both of Haeyeon's hands as she tried to pinch him.

As their hands intertwined, the two confronted each other with a pinch on each hand.

Sangwoo squeezed his clenched hands together.

Each finger tightened, causing pain to Hayeon.

"Ouch- stop, I surrender, I surrender!"

Just like that, Sangwoo's first and last tutoring course came to an end.

Meanwhile.

Woohyun Kim was standing in front of the hospital room with the two of them.

'Should I just go---.'

Woohyun Kim was also hospitalized due to the shock of the self-destruction.

Fortunately, her injuries were less severe than Sangwoo's.

Now that she had recovered somewhat, she visited Sangwoo's hospital room to thank him.

'No, he saved my life, so I should thank him, right?'

She hesitated several times.

She thought about it for a long time.

Finally, she made up her mind and cautiously opened the door.

What she saw was a bed.

It was Sangwoo Jeong and Haeyeon Jang, who were holding their hands tightly together as if they were trying to hug each other.

'Huh!'

Surprised, Woohyun Kim closed the door without being seen.

Then she quickly returned to her hospital room, dragging the medical equipment with him.

Woohyun laid down on herbed.

'--- Is she his girlfriend? She's so pretty.'

The thought briefly crossed her mind.

But she quickly shook it off and went back to sleep.

* * *

The next day.

Sangwoo's leg was feeling pretty good, so he headed to the lobby to check out of the hospital.

There was a familiar silhouette there.

It was Woohyun Kim, who looked small.

He walked up behind her as he was checking out and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey."

"Oh my God!"

Woohyun Kim was surprised.

Sangwoo was even more embarrassed.

"What are you so surprised about?"

"You!"

"You scared me by screaming like a girl. By the way, are you feeling okay?"

"--- Uh."

"Oh, good."

Sangwoo smiled sheepishly and handed over phone.

'What is it, is he interested in me? No, he has a girlfriend.'

Unsure of what that meant, Woohyun Kim looked back and forth between the phone and Sangwoo.

"What is this?"

"I want your number."

"Huh, a number?"

"Yeah, I want to be friends."

"--- Okay... Here's my number."

Woohyun Kim clumsily tapped the number into his smartphone.

'Is it like this?'

After entering the number, Woohyun awkwardly handed the phone back, not sure if it worked.

When he got the phone back, Sangwoo dialed the number once.

The phone rang in Kim's pocket.

"Thank you. That's my number. Save it."

"Oh, okay."

Woohyun stammered, then stiffly turned to leave.

"Hey, you didn't ask for my name."

"Oh, right. What's your name?"

"Sangwoo. And you?"

"I'm Woohyun Kim---."

"Cool name. I'll call you."

"Uh, and---."

"And what?"

"Thanks for saving me!"

Woohyun Kim turned and ran out of the hospital.

'Timid little guy.'

With that thought, Sangwoo shrugged it off and saved the number in his phonebook.

<Self-destruct potion maker-Woohyun Kim>.

'Let's get along. Dude.'

* * *

Two days later.

Sangwoo was at the Cainus Guild building with Junmo Kang.

"Do I need to sign here?"

"Yes. There and there. Good, it's done."

After signing the contract with the advice from Junmo Kang , Sangwoo and the people from the Cainus Guild exchanged contracts.

Wontae Park stood up and offered his hand to shake.

"Thank you."

" Thank you too."

Sangwoo clasped his hand firmly.

This contract was a big win for Sangwoo.

The main terms of the contract were as follows:

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-Contractee: Sangwoo Jeong

-Contracted by: Cainus Guild

1. 1 billion down payment.

2. 100 million won for each clone brought into Odin's Tower.

3. Sangwoo will sell information about the inside Odin's Tower to the Cainus Guild first.

4. The fee can be paid in the lowest-grade jewel instead of cash when requested by the Cainus Guild. However, the type of lowest-grade jewel should be as close to the Sangwoo's will as possible, and it will be paid at the rate of 10 jewels per 1 million won in cash.

5. 'Wontae Park', the leader of the Cainus Guild, will coach Sangwoo for 2 hours once a day to improve the ability of Sangwoo.

...

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It was a very good deal.

The Cainus Guild was willing to accept Sangwoo's terms, even if they were unreasonable.

Junmo Kang, who negotiated the contract on Sangwoo's behalf, said:

"That means that Cainus is desperate."

The timing was good.

However, they couldn't agree on the terms for Sangwoo's biggest goal: the elixir.

"It would have been better if we could have gotten the elixir or the Mandragora if we rescued the first team, but that was unrealistic.

The items, which could be the cure for his sister, Jiwoo, are rarely available and cost hundreds of billions of won, so it was impossible to include them in the contract.

No matter how great the Cainus's Guild Strike Team 1 was, it wasn't worth it.

No matter how good Wontae Park is as a leader, such an agreement is bound to face backlash from within the guild.

Of course, the expectations for Sangwoo's clone in the first place were to deliver relief supplies, so the demands were not excessive.

Still, Sangwoo has a good source of fixed income from this contract.

Every time he sent a clone, he would receive 100 million won.

If the Guild wanted to send in a clone every day, Sangwoo could earn a whopping 36 billion won in one year.

'Of course, that's not going to happen.

Still, Sangwoo was happy to see that his dream of buying an elixir, which was worth hundreds of billions of won and seemed unattainable, was becoming a reality.

'And if I use all the jewels to increase my stats--- becoming an S rank Hunter is a possibility.'

S-rank Hunters were monsters with stats over 100.

Their average salary was in the hundreds of billions.

By then, they might be able to obtain the elixir themselves instead of buying it.

So Sangwoo put in a clause for 'jewels' for his own growth, rather than the immediate 100 million or 1 billion won.

'One billion won---. I'm a big boy now.

Sangwoo felt a little strange that he was so casual about signing a billion-dollar contract.

He felt a sense of power in the way he had changed from a broke gamer.

Now it was time to reap the rewards.

"So, can I get a down payment? In jewels."

"I've got it ready, follow me."

Wontae led the way.

Sangwoo's eyes gleamed expectantly.