Chapter 20: Complicated

All of the hunters that had some strength left were charging toward the Broodmother and targeting its eyes.

Fshaa, Fshaa–

Keuk, Kheuk–

Kim Ji-woo could feel the Broodmother Mana was decreasing at a rapid pace along with its weak voice.

Hosh, Hosh–

Park Jae-jin clenched his fists. He was glad everything was over now. Even if he lost the Magic Crystals and Magic Stones, as long as they could close the Portal Gates without losing the hunters and porters, he was happy with it.

Nothing could be better than clearing the dungeon with all the members who were still alive.

The porters that scared to get close before. Now, walk in a hurry to the entrance after hearing the cheers.

Mister Lee pat Ji-woo’s shoulder on the side. He was smiling and loosened up the tension since they cleared the dungeon.

“We did it!”

“First time we hunt dungeons like this!”

“We are strong! We can kill a beast like the Broodmother!”

Ji-woo knew the hunters were capable of slaying the beast. But, he doubted they could win away unscathed from the Broodmother.

Of course, Ji-woo didn’t mind the result. He was just glad the hunt on this time in the dungeon didn’t meet any trouble.

“Jae-jin Hyung! There is Mana Core beside the Dungeon Bead! Hurry!”

“For real?”

Park Jae-jin was shocked to hear that there was Mana Core from the Broodmother drop. He walked toward where the hunter shouted at him.

The shape of Mana Core was like an ore.

Park Jae-jin held the Mana Core with both of his hands.

Ji-woo at the entrance couldn’t see what they were doing. But, he could feel there was an enormous Mana at where Park Jae-jin stood.

‘Is that the Bead? I don’t think so.’

Ji-woo didn’t know from where the gigantic Mana was coming.

Mister Lee then pulled Ji-woo and invited him to gather with the others. “Let’s go and join them.”

Both of them joined the crowds.

“We got a great harvest this time around.”

“Yeah, with 7 Magic Crystal and 2 Magic Stones. We are rich!”

Hahaha–

The place was full of laughter. The hunters were proud of what they got this time. It was worth being exhausted.

Actually, just the Magic Crystal and Magic Stone alone were not enough to make them feel happy like that after clearing the dungeon.

It was the Mana Core that made them more happy than usual. They forgot that coming back alive from the Portal Gate should be the most precious thing.

Mana Core was worth 30 million to 50 million Won in the market. The potential profit from this hunt was around 115 million Won.

Aside from the hunters and porter’s monthly pay from the guild. They could get a bonus of about 1 million to 2 million Won each person.

Maybe, it was a small amount for the current cost of living. But who knew, maybe next time. The Ganjang guild members go to the Portal Gate again. They could get a huge harvest from the dungeon.

Ji-woo was speechless looked at their reactions.

‘When they’re in a state of despair, they hope to make it through alive. But having crossed the obstacle safely, they expected to get more than they have.’

In the Magical world, this situation was the same too. Of course, it was common to be happy to have the unexpected.

But because of that, people sometimes became greedy and forgot what was important to them. So, they would throw away their life for something that was not worthy of their life so freely.

Be grateful, and don’t eat anything more than you can chew.

Ji-woo shook his head, and Park Jae-jin immediately told the hunters to be quiet. He picked up the Dungeon Bead.

“Let’s go back first.”

Park Jae-jin destroyed the bead in his hand.

Creak–

Zip, Zip–

One by one, all of the Ganjang guild squad got transported back to the real world.

Zap, Zap–

They were standing outside the Portal Gate. All the hunters and porters turned their heads and looked at the level-2 Portal Gate, where the Mana was slowly starting to dissipate. They watch until it fades.

Pong–

The gatekeeper from the shrine house came to greet and bow at them.

“Wah, it’s only 2 hours, mister Park congratulation on successfully closing the Portal Gate here. Then my job observing this place is done too. Thank you.”

Hahaha–

Now, the gatekeeper could go back and get his payment since the Portal Gate was closed. Unless there was another Portal Gate, show up around the place. The guard wouldn’t get needed anymore. In the end, it was Ganjang guild private property. They hold the management in the area.

The Ganjang Guild bought the expensive Portal Gate rights from the Hunter Association. And now they were reaping the harvest from the dungeon to make up for those initial losses.

“Kim Ji-woo~si, thank you. We will contact you through mister Lee later.”

Park Jae-jin tapped Ji-woo’s shoulder after thanking his work for the squad as a part-timer. Ji-woo nodded his head, agreeing with Park Jae-jin’s order.

The porters now took off their artifact suits while waiting for the guild bus to pick them up.

Ji-woo gave back his artifact suit to mister Lee. This time without missing anything like the previous incident.

“Thank you, mister Lee.” Ji-woo bows his head to thank mister Lee.

“It’s okay. I’m grateful to you for working as a part-timer with us. Ah, right, give me your bank account. I will transfer the payment after arriving at the guild headquarter.”

Then Ji-woo gave his account number to mister Lee.

Not long after, the bus came to pick them up. And, all of the Ganjang guild people go on board.

On the way, inside the bus.

Ji-woo’s high school friend approached him again like earlier at the seat on the back.

“See? Nerd, This is a D-rank hunter.”

Ji-woo didn’t mind getting called a nerd because that was how he was in high school before he came to the Magical world.

Of course, Jiwoo had no plans to clear up the misunderstanding that he had changed from before. It was not worth his time for scum like Jung Tae-ha.

Was 30 years in that world was not enough time for someone to change their personality?

Of course, it was enough. There were even some people that changed in one day under some particular circumstances.

Hehehe–

Jung Tae-ha grinned at Ji-woo. He wanted to show off his achievements as a hunter in front of his former high school friends.

“You’re lucky for taking this part-time job. Even though it is not much, you still can expect to get some little bonus from the Ganjang guild.”

Ji-woo, with his, didn’t care attitude, nodded. He was too lazy to care about Jung Tae-ha.

“You not forget my offer from back then, right? And came when I told you to come to the gathering of high school alumni.”

Ji-woo nonchalantly nodded again at Jung Tae-ha.

Jung Tae-ha got irritated by a lazy attitude from Ji-woo. But, he couldn’t make trouble on the bus.

Because it seemed mister Lee felt attached toward Ji-woo and leader Park was in a good mood after clearing the dungeon with the excellent result.

Jung Tae-ha didn’t dare to mess around, thinking about those two possibilities. He then left Ji-woo with a sneer.

Ji-woo didn’t respond to it. It was such a waste to confront a little kid that still didn’t grow up yet.

Then Ji-woo got off at the previous stop. While the Ganjang guild bus continued to the headquarter.

‘I hope it’s enough to support mom a little bit.’

Ji-woo knew he might not get much from this work. After all, he was just a part-timer and a porter, not a hunter.

—- —-

Noon, at the Street food stall, Ji-woo was back to his mother’s place first.

At the stall place, Ji-woo saw Hwang Eun-bi talking with his mother.

“Oh, Ji-woo~si. Where have you been?” Eun-bi asked him while waiting for her food.

“Ji-woo~ya, you back. Did you eat already? Wait, Eomma will cook some for you.”

Ji-woo sighed at the two women in front of him.

One was asking where he was, the other was asking about food.

“Not from anywhere, just strolling around.”

Ji-woo answers it indifferently.

Eun-bi glared at him after hearing the reply.

“Did that glare really necessary? You might admire me in the future if you keep looking like that.”

Eun-bi acted like she vomited and did the Merong thing to Ji-woo.

Ji-woo shrugged, looking at overreacting Eun-bi on the side. He sat and asked his mother about Kim Ji-won.

“Mom, how about Ji-won?”

Ji-woo’s mother answered while cooking the food. “She is still in school.”

‘This brat is going overboard to make mom worry like this. It seems like I need to talk with her later.’

When Ji-woo came, he saw his mother keep looking at the phone. It was happening in the morning too. He was sure his mother worried about Ji-won.

“Imo, you need to scold Ji-won without mercy. So that she is self-aware and not acting naughty anymore.”

Ji-won turned his head to look at Eun-bi, didn’t knowing that she knew his sister too.

Ji-woo’s mother wiped her hands on the apron. “It’s okay. She just had a bad day. That’s why she acted like that. Imo is sure she will be fine.”

“Imo pampered Ji-won too much.”

Eun-bi still didn’t realize she got stared at by Ji-woo on the side.

“Say, how much did you know about my family?”

Aaa–

Eun-bi was surprised by a sudden question from Ji-woo.

“You just startled me. Can’t you please tell me first if you want to talk to me?”

Ji-woo got dazed hearing Eun-bi’s words. He didn’t know how this logic could exist.

‘Even if I tell you first, you still will be surprised. How can I do that without shocking you?’

Ji-woo then tapped Eun-bi’s shoulder.

“Don’t touch me if you want to speak.”

Ji-woo didn’t know what he should do now. He felt like headbanging to the wall was the right choice.

‘Talking to a woman is always complicated.’