76 - Murim Login

Chapter 76 Ding. - You have joined the guild, [Peace]! - Achievement completed: [Guild Membership]! - You have earned 10 points as a reward for completing the achievement. "Is this considered an achievement too?" Every time a system message like this appears, I feel a bit like I've become a hero. The notion of achieving something. It's quite a grandiose packaging for someone who joined a guild just to make money. “Well, it works for me.” Even getting just 10 points is a sweet reward, but after hearing what Manager Choi said next, I had to suppress the smile threatening to break out. “The signing bonus will be processed by today. As for housing issues and other matters…” A signing bonus of 500 million won, a fixed monthly salary of 50 million won, and a settlement rate of 70%. Housing and a car provided by the guild, along with dozens of other provisions. Although I've already confirmed this several times in the contract, hearing it out loud brings a new wave of emotions. “I've really made it.” Just three months ago, I couldn't have imagined my life turning out this way. In the martial arts world, they call me a hidden dragon; in reality, I'm earning a hunter's salary that anyone would envy. “Manager.” “As for equipment rentals, you can borrow anything from the collection except for my personal items. What was that?” “Could you slap me across the face? Just in case this is a dream.” Before I even finished speaking, my vision flashed brightly. Thwack! “That was a punch, not a slap?” I murmured, rubbing my stinging jaw. “You really don’t hold back.” “I’m someone who can’t refuse a request.” “I didn’t ask you to use your fist.” “You didn’t say not to either.” If it weren’t for my newly improved [Durability] ability, I might have ended up sprawled on the floor in an embarrassing heap. "That's right. This guy is a B-class hunter." Without any preparation, his fist landed squarely on my jaw. Power and precision were perfect. “But isn’t a slap more standard?” “There are exceptions. So, do you feel more awake?” “...Absolutely.” “Well, that’s good. The first meeting should ideally take place when you’re fully alert, wouldn’t you agree?” Manager Choi’s unexpected remark prompted me to ask back. “The first meeting? With whom?” “Who do you think?” Manager Choi continued with a smile. “The other guild members.” “Oh.” That reminded me of something I had forgotten. A minimum of three members are required to form a guild. “Shall we head out?” Manager Choi pointed outside. A sleek black limousine smoothly came into the cafe parking lot. “Congratulations.” The voice that could suit a coffee commercial belonged to Butler Kim. Despite the harsh summer heat, he was impeccably dressed in a suit, expertly driving the limousine. “Oh, yes. Thank you.” I found it strangely difficult to speak in front of him. Was it because of his stereotypical butler image, something often seen in dramas? 'Or maybe Manager Choi is even more intense.' After pondering for a moment, I concluded that it was due to Butler Kim's unique ambiance. Perhaps it was also the unfamiliarity of riding in a limousine for the first time. 'A limousine.' The interior was spacious, equipped with all sorts of amenities. For instance, the mini refrigerator that Manager Choi just reached into. “Would you like something to drink?” “I’d love that.” I was feeling a bit parched. “Water? Alcohol?” “Is there alcohol too?” Manager Choi nodded. "Yes, we can provide anything you desire." “Well, in that case, I’d like a half-and-half mix of soju and beer.” “…I’ll get you water.” The bottle of still water Manager Choi handed over was astonishingly devoid of any brand label. At his mention of it being sourced from the Himalayas, I couldn’t help but be inwardly impressed. 'This must cost a fortune.' It's pointless extravagance, but the water is undoubtedly refreshing. Gulp. Ding. - You have ingested [Essence of the Himalayas]. - Intelligence will increase by 1 for one hour. …So that's why indulgence makes sense. Well, this is how the redistribution of wealth happens, and how the economy stays active. Hmm. While I was contemplating how many bottles to take with me, the limousine came to a stop. Butler Kim announced in his robust voice. “We’ve arrived.” Stepping out of the car, the sight before me took my breath away. A soaring skyscraper. Its exterior gleamed with a magical glow even without direct sunlight, and at the entrance, uniformed guards stood waiting. “Wow. Amazing.” As I couldn't stop marveling, Manager Choi approached. “Impressive, right? It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say all the top 100 guild branches in the country are gathered here. Some branches of major international guilds you might have heard of, too.” Still fixated on the building, I replied. “The land value must be astronomical.” “Exactly. It’s practically the center of the gate area near Bucheon.” “Like Gangnam used to be?” “Though neither of us lived through those days, from what I’ve heard, it was probably even grander back then.” It's been a long time since real estate values flipped. Though it was before I was born, middle-aged hunters who lived through the pre-cataclysm often nostalgically recalled those days. 'Back then, having a house in Gangnam meant you were considered privileged.’ 'It was jokingly said that Bundang was above heaven, meaning it was prime real estate.' ‘Was it really that expensive?’ ‘Oh, it was exorbitant. Until the monsters invaded.’ That part of the story, I know. In the early days of the cataclysm, well-developed cities and dense population centers were prime targets for monster hordes, and humanity was completely unprepared. Gangnam and Bundang, the cities once destroyed, have now been rebuilt. Since the cataclysm, genuine prime land is categorized into two types. 'Safe zones, and gate-dense areas.' Safe zones are places with near-zero gate occurrence, making them the top residential areas for regular people, while gate-dense areas are ideal locations for hunter guilds to establish themselves. 'Like a snack shop in front of an elementary school.' There are over a hundred gates in Bucheon alone. While most are lower-level gates, in sheer numbers, this area ranks among the top ten densest regions in Korea. 'And this is the center of it all.' Surrounded by skyscrapers wherever you looked, it was immediately evident that this was no ordinary neighborhood—one where minor guilds wouldn't even dream of setting foot. "Such wealth..." I looked at Manager Choi with eyes filled with awe. "Let's work hard and move to a place like that someday." "I'll pledge my loyalty... Excuse me?" "Pardon?" "What is it?" Are you seriously asking because you don't know why? I barely swallowed the words that rose to my throat, and only then did a voice slip out. "You said we arrived." "Yes, we have." I turned sharply toward Butler Kim. "Mr. Kim, is this the right place?" "It is." Butler Kim nodded without hesitation and added, "But I believe you're looking in the wrong direction." "Direction?" "Yes, if you slightly turn your head to the right from where you are, you'll see it." Following his guidance, I turned my head and, after a moment of silence, spoke. "What is that decrepit building?" Amidst the luxurious high-rises, there stood a lone, small, and decidedly old building. Butler Kim explained kindly. "Technically, it's a supermarket." "More accurately, it looks like a corner store." I squinted, glaring at the dilapidated corner store. The yellow-stained sign read: [Sooni’s Store] "Who’s Sooni? The name sounds so old-fashioned." "She was a grandmother who lived here for 70 years." "Now that I think about it, it's quite a charming name for longevity." "She passed away two months ago." "Oh." Why is this happening to me? "She was quite stubborn, you see. During the redevelopment of this area, no amount of money could persuade her. By the time other guilds had already settled, we eventually acquired it through the descendants." “So, you’re saying that Sooni’s Store is our guild house?” “Precisely.” I looked at the half-collapsed Sooni’s Store with a mix of emotions. A guild house represents the guild itself, its face and reputation. No matter how expensive land is here, something like this... But then again, for a new guild, this in itself might be impressive. Perhaps my expectations were too high. In a world rife with scams, Manager Choi’s sincerity in showing me this place speaks volumes, enough to earn my trust. "Manager Choi." “Yes, Taekyung.” I grasped Manager Choi's hand firmly. “I’ll give it my all. Whether our guild house is Sooni's Supermarket or Sooni's Skyscraper, it doesn’t matter.” Manager Choi responded with a relieved smile. “Thank you for understanding.” “There’s a saying, you know—though beginnings may be humble, great achievements await!” “We’re already quite established. Mr. Kim, how much did that store lot cost?” Butler Kim replied without missing a beat. “Just over 2 billion won per pyeong.” “…2 billion won per pyeong?” “Yes.” After a brief silence, I spoke again. “Though we start great, I believe we’ll become even greater.” Both Manager Choi and Butler Kim shot their gazes at me, eyes piercing through. At that moment, as if wondering what kind of creature I was, they fixed their stare on me. Creak. Thud! The decades-old sign of [Sooni’s Store], delicately written in a classic font, fell to the ground. “…It’ll look better after some remodeling.” Manager Choi mumbled in a tiny voice. Just then, the door of the store opened, and someone stepped out. “Oh dear, it fell again.” Muttering to himself, a man lifted the collapsed sign with a single hand. The unexpected sight left me speechless. “Uncle Ggokjung?” It was Im Ggokjung, a good-natured, middle-aged E-class hunter, smiling broadly and waving at us. “Oh, Taekyung!” What in the world is going on? While I stood dumbfounded, Im Ggokjung approached and patted my shoulder. “How have you been? I heard you’ve become a C-class.” “But why are you here, Uncle?” “Haha! Why wouldn’t I be? Is it wrong for a guild member to be at the guild house?” He roared with laughter and continued. “I was bedridden in the hospital, but Manager Choi here came to see me out of nowhere and offered me a spot in the guild. So, I agreed without a second thought.” Manager Choi, still staring sadly at the fallen sign, added a note. “He seemed trustworthy.” “You’ve got principles for a young man. Kim here might be reserved, but he’s a good person. And as for Song…” “Hold on, just a moment.” What exactly is this situation? I asked as calmly as I could manage. “You’ve become members recently?” 苗. Manager Choi interjected again. “He seemed trustworthy.” “Youngsters with principles. Kim might be quiet, but… It’s driving me crazy.” “I heard that part. What about the others?” "Hmm?" “Where are the other guild members? Surely, the four of us here aren’t the only ones?” “Of course not.” Im Ggokjung replied decisively. “Miss Song went grocery shopping. She’s arranging a welcome party for you.” “Miss Song? That’s the last one?” “Yep. With Miss Song, that makes five. She went out an hour ago, so she should be back any moment now.” The rest of his explanation didn’t register with me. “Five members...” Is this a dream? As I stood there staring at the collapsing Sooni’s Store in a daze, it was Im Ggokjung’s hearty voice that snapped me out of it. “Oh, there she is. Miss Song! Over here! The new recruit is here!” Following his gaze, I turned my head. The final member of our fledgling guild, and one of our founding members. ‘She’ was there.