Following the slicked-back hair guy, I found myself face to face with someone I never expected.
"Nice to meet you."
The 13th Branch Manager of the World Hunter Association, South Korean Branch, and a veritable S-class Hunter of South Korea who could pulverize anything with a single fist.
I could confidently say that every South Korean citizen knew this man, even if they didn't know the President's name.
"I'm Kang Chul-ho."
Iron Man Kang Chul-ho.
"…It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Kang Hyunwoo."
I shook his hand, which was easily twice the size of mine, and sat down.
It wasn't just his hands that were big. Even I, who was often told I was tall, had to look up to see his face.
He was a massive hulk, reminiscent of a minotaur.
'…But to think he's in his late fifties.'
Nearing his sixtieth birthday, he looked as young as someone in their late thirties, with the exception of a few light wrinkles. Just like Grandma Choi Youngok, his body's aging had slowed down because his magic had exceeded a critical point.
The fact that archmages who reached the 8th Circle looked like they were in their twenties was for the same reason.
However, my surprise wasn't just about his appearance.
Extremely refined aura. You wouldn't even feel an ounce of magic from him, to the point where you might mistake him for a regular person.
It was so faint and weak that you could barely feel it even if you intentionally focused, but the magic contained within was something I couldn't even dream of rivaling.
Despite reaching the 4th Circle, there was an insurmountable gap between him and me.
Even if I went all out, could I last ten seconds?
Impossible.
That single word filled my head. I swallowed dryly without realizing it.
The feeling I had when I witnessed the magic of the Master of the Magic Tower beyond the gate washed over me again.
"So."
Thump—the surrounding air suddenly grew heavy.
It was as if a virtual mass was pressing down on me.
This wasn't magic or a superpower.
"Is the probing over?"
Originally, magic didn't have mass, but he was giving his magic a tangible form based on an overwhelming amount of magic and a density commensurate with it.
"…You're much more vigorous than you appear on TV."
With that one word I managed to utter, the magical energy that had been pressing down on me vanished as if the pressure I had felt so far had all been a lie.
To be able to do this as easily as breathing.
Thanks to this, I was able to get a bit of a sense of how much weight the name of an S-class Hunter carried.
"A great achievement at a young age."
"It's insignificant compared to you, Branch Manager."
"I wonder."
When his cold gaze swept over me, goosebumps erupted all over my body.
I wasn't even sure if what I was feeling was a simple survival instinct or an arrogant competitiveness.
"Sorry for calling you so suddenly. Did you have any pressing business?"
I shook my head lightly.
It was true that I had other schedules, but I couldn't say that directly.
There's an old saying that you can even curse the king when he's not around, but that doesn't mean you can actually swear in front of the real President.
I wasn't so clueless as to voice my complaints in front of a living power, whose unofficial order of precedence was rumored to be higher than the President's.
Besides, I had no idea why such a person would call me. I could understand if I had exchanged the Minotaur's magic stone.
As if he had noticed my question, Kang Chul-ho carefully put down his teacup, which was smaller than his palm, and opened his heavy mouth.
"Do you remember exchanging the D+ class magic stone last time?"
Instantly, my head went cold.
'…Could it be that he called me to question the source of the magic stone?'
That thought was fleeting, and I shook my head. It was too much self-consciousness to think that someone who was a branch manager would call me for such a thing.
Just as the chief of police wouldn't investigate a criminal directly because he had nothing to do, it was hard to think that he, as the branch manager, would call me to question the source of the magic stone.
In the first place, even if I was questioned about the source of the magic stone, they would know that all I had to do was blame the Magic Tower.
"Don't be too nervous. I was just curious to know who the legendary genius mage was who created a circle in just a week."
Kang Chul-ho's gaze seemed to pierce me.
Just as I had sized him up, he was sizing me up as well.
Before long, a strange light appeared in his eyes.
After hesitating for a moment, he finished the remaining black tea in his teacup and opened his mouth.
"Two days ago, an unidentified gate was discovered in Dangjin City, Chungcheongnam-do. The measurement result was C-class."
He handed me a document that was on the desk, watching my reaction.
The title of the document was 'Unidentified Gate Report.'
"I'll cut to the chase. I want you to participate in this gate investigation team."
It was an inappropriate statement to make to a mage belonging to the Magic Tower, not to the Hunter Association.
Moreover, it was even more inappropriate for a branch manager of the association to say.
"…Could you give me some time to think about it?"
Unable to answer rashly, I wanted a brief reprieve.
"I expect an answer within three days."
***
It was already well past lunchtime when I came out of the Hunter Association building.
But I wasn't hungry. I was especially like that when my head was complicated.
Ding-
[S Bank]
[Deposit ₩207,600,000]
Besides, after seeing the deposit details, I felt full even without having to get lunch separately.
After exchanging all the magic stones I had brought in my bag, it came out to be a little over 200 million won. 200 million won with just pure magic stone income without any special by-products or collectibles.
It was like a barbecue restaurant not selling alcohol and increasing sales.
I was happy with the suddenly bulging bank balance, but as soon as I thought about the branch manager's request, my head became complicated again.
As compensation for this request, he promised 100 million won in cash, as well as granting any reasonable request.
It was more attractive to be able to ask for something from the Hunter Association's branch manager and S-class Hunter than the cash, but there were many things that made me reluctant to accept it rashly.
The Hunter Association shouldn't be short on manpower… Kang Chul-ho, why on earth would he propose such a request to me, who he met for the first time today?
No matter how much I thought about it, the answer didn't come easily.
I habitually scratched the back of my head. I had no choice but to put my worries aside and think about them later.
I turned to the church right next to the association building.
The glamorous exterior, which still looked like it had been plastered with money, stood out. The inside of the church I arrived at was deserted. I guess there aren't many people in churches on weekday afternoons either.
"Welcome, brother."
A man who appeared to be a priest approached me.
"What brings you to our church today?"
"I'm here to buy holy water. Where should I go?"
While exploring the dungeon this time, I realized that it was essential to carry extra holy water.
Potions can cause addiction if taken in large quantities, but holy water has no such side effects, and it was even more effective than potions overall.
"Ah, then would you follow me?"
The priest seemed to be in a good mood with the appearance of a customer who would sell holy water, and guided me with a brighter smile.
I followed him inside the church, and soon I was able to arrive at what seemed to be a very large chapel. The huge cross and the sunlight coming in through the colorful stained glass created a sacred atmosphere, and this place was also obviously plastered with money.
As I was looking around for a while, the priest brought me a small pamphlet.
"If you tell me the grade and quantity of the holy water you would like to purchase, I will bring it from the storage."
The grade of holy water was divided from the highest to the lowest.
"By any chance, what grade is the holy water usually made by the bishop?"
"The holy water made by the bishop is usually medium to high-medium grade."
I looked at the booklet for a while. As expected, the price was quite high. No wonder the Master of the Magic Tower brought it as a get-well gift.
"…Give me three medium-grade and two low-grade."
"Yes, thank you. Please wait a moment."
Unlike the priest who headed to the storage with a light step, my heart was heavy.
Even if it was a necessary expense, even my parents would say I was crazy if I told them the amount of money I had spent on five bottles just now.
Of course, I don't have parents, but I can't skimp on money for my life.
My heart is heavy now, but I have no doubt that the day will come when I will praise my current choice.
After a while, the priest's steps were more careful than ever as he returned with a silver tray.
"Here are three medium-grade and two low-grade holy water as you requested."
"…I'll pay by credit card."
I handed over the card with trembling hands.
Of course, now that I've reached the 4th Circle, I can earn as much money as I want, but that doesn't mean that the memories of the past 21 years of living as an ordinary citizen will disappear.
The priest, who received the card, smiled brightly and left the seat for a while. It seemed too materialistic to put a card reader in the chapel or something.
I let out a heavy sigh and slumped into the chair.
"I have a lot to do in the future."
Of course, going to meet Cheon Yeohwa was a happy thing that didn't need any other words, but after that, I had to answer the branch manager's request, and my promise with the Master of the Magic Tower was waiting for me.
Even now, with the Magic Tower admission just around the corner, I couldn't help but have a lot of worries because of my busy schedule.
Ding-
Of course, there might be no more serious worries than this right now.
The notification that rang this time didn't come from an app. When I turned on my cell phone for the first time in a while, a message from a familiar person had arrived.
[How's this?]
The owner of the message was Choi Hyena.
What she sent was a short word and a picture that looked like baby shoes.
[…What's this?]
[What else could it be?]
I was too afraid to see the next message that would follow.
[The shoes our baby will wear.]
Thud—the cell phone fell and rolled on the floor. It was a message that I couldn't bear to look at with my eyes open.
How did things turn out like this?
Was it wrong to take Choi Hyena like crazy, going beyond the scope of the rescue operation?
"Ha…"
Of course, I couldn't know the answer even if I thought about such worries. I couldn't tell Choi Hyena to erase it either.
I had already enjoyed it as much as I wanted, and now I was trying to avoid responsibility.
That was less than a man, even less than a human being.
"Marriage… I guess I have to."
If I think about it carefully, it wasn't that bad of a choice. Choi Hyena was unbelievably pretty, comparable to Iris and Cheon Yeohwa, and she was the only daughter of a family that was richer than an average chaebol.
Well… her personality is a bit flawed, but that's what marriage is originally like.
The process of two imperfect people meeting and gradually compromising and correcting each other for each other.
But I didn't know I would be doing it at this age.
I was worried and had a lot of concerns.
"Brother?"
"Ah."
The priest, who had returned at some point, was looking at me with worried eyes.
"Do you have any worries?"
"Yes? Ah…"
If it had been usual, I would have just said that nothing was wrong, but today I couldn't bring myself to say it.
"Brother, sometimes if you just keep your worries in your heart, you will get sick in your heart. If you're okay with it, how about making a confession?"
"Confession…?"