Buying (1)

Leaving the midway zone, he found himself looking at familiar surroundings: the inside of his room.

'So warm.'

It was hard to believe he had been suffering in the bitter winter wind mere moments ago.

'They'll hold the fort.'

He thought of the orcs, dwarves, and elves, recalling his final orders. He would be away for three days, so they were to carry on as usual. Nothing difficult about that.

'Time to get moving.'

There was plenty he needed to acquire on this trip out. He opened his smartphone and made a call.

"Father. It's me."

―You cleared the gate?!

"No. I'm just making a quick trip through the midway zone. I have a lot to buy, and I'd like you to procure it for me. I'll reimburse you."

―What do you need?

"Food."

―How much?

"More than you can imagine. Any kind will do, so buy up everything. Focus on bulk quantities of filling foods for now."

―All right. But do you have something to carry it in? One spatial ring won't be enough.

"I'll borrow some spares from the company. Nine high-grade ones."

High-grade spatial rings almost never came up for sale, so borrowing them was the better option. Perhaps finally realizing the sheer scale of the food shipment, the chairman fell silent for a moment.

―... The midway zone gives you three days, correct?

"Yes."

―Understood. Your father will see what he can do. What else?

"Bones."

―... Bones?

"Yes. Please post a notice saying we're buying all available Hexar skulls, Iron Knight breastbones, cockatrice leg bones, gibbon arm bones, Mutonka spines, and Elephantman pelvises. Five hundred thousand won per piece. Have the company buy them, and I'll transfer the full amount."

The monsters he had listed all had something in common. Every one was around level 200, and each was famous for the exceptional bones in the specified part of its body.

At five hundred thousand won apiece, it would be a shame to kill them and leave the bones behind. People would take the time to dig them out. They could easily collect fifty in a single gate run. That made twenty-five million won—a tidy, guaranteed income for one trip through a C-rank gate.

He intended to use those purchased bones to replace parts of his skeletons.

'Any part will do.'

Their capacity only allowed for roughly one replacement. For his skeletons as they were now, replacing one bone with that of a level-200 monster was the best he could do.

―... Everyone and their dog will be digging for bones. Can you afford that?

"I'll only be buying for a limited time anyway. About two weeks should do."

He could buy some before going back in and bolster his skeleton forces, then replace any remaining bones after he returned. Any leftovers could simply stay in storage until their capacity increased, at which point he could replace them one at a time.

―Is this for a skill, by any chance?

"Yes. I think I'll need to take them with me when I go back in. I also need some high-level monster bones..."

―Goodness... How high-level?

"Dragonkin at level 500 or above should do. Just post a notice for those. Let me know if anyone responds."

Those bones would be exclusively for Cedric.

Very few gates featured dragonkin, and even there, their appearances weren't guaranteed. Difficult to kill and randomly encountered, they were practically worth their weight in gold from head to toe. Buying them would require a hefty offer.

―I'll look into it. By level 500 or above, you mean the higher the better, correct?

"Yes."

―Anything else?

"D-grade skill books, perhaps? Those should be listed at the auction house, so I'll only need a little help with them."

―Well, well. You've already reached level 101?

"Hidden gates really are nice. There's quite a bit in there that will help you too, Father."

―Oh...? Now I'm curious.

"I'll tell you when I get back."

―All right. Oh, by the way, your mother and the children are all coming home. It is winter break, after all.

"Oh, right."

He nodded.

Come to think of it, at this point in time, Kim Minwoo's younger brother, Kim Hyeongseok...

'He was studying abroad.'

He was studying at Harvard in the United States. The chairman's wife and youngest daughter had gone to America with him. With winter break here, it seemed they were coming back.

―Make some time for them. I know you had a falling-out with your brother, but you're still family. You should see each other.

"Did we? I've already forgotten all about it. I'll make time when they arrive."

―Good. Get on with your business.

The call ended.

'That takes care of the food problem.'

Buying it all himself would mean running all over the place. Far better to use his family's resources.

The second matter he needed to deal with was elixirs.

* * *

Inside the café, a familiar sight greeted Kim Minwoo as he walked in.

"It's been a while, Ms. Choi. Nearly three weeks, hasn't it?"

"Yes. I came because you called, but what did you need...?"

"What else but elixirs? How many intermediate elixirs have you made?"

"Uh..."

Her eyes darted about.

"W-well, there was that Mr. Siwoo? I had to make elixirs for him along the way too, so..."

"So how many have you made?"

"About a hundred and fifty..."

"Hmm. That's far too few."

"I-I didn't know you'd be back so soon..."

He had last bought elixirs roughly three weeks ago. Even if he had been level 51 then, she had expected at least another three months before his next purchase. Even a Super Rookie could only level up so fast.

Yet here he was already, asking for his supply?

"If you're buying them in advance, could you wait a little...?"

"I need them now. We both know elixirs become less effective as your level rises."

"... You're level 101?"

"Yes."

"Seriously, what on earth have you been doing to level up that fast?"

Had it even been much more than a month since he set that new record at level one? In other words, he had gained a hundred levels in a month. That speed defied common sense.

It had taken Isabella a month to reach level 49 and attempt her record. She had reached level 101 another three months later. A top-tier awakener had needed four months, and he had done the same in just one?

'He's an outright monster.'

Her jaw dropped.

"I'd prefer to buy directly from you, Ms. Choi. But at this rate... that might be a problem."

"W-when do you need them by?"

"Three days. Can you do it?"

"Eight hundred, right?"

"Yes. That should do."

Six hundred and fifty in three days. It wasn't impossible if she stayed up all night. After all, the closer a deadline loomed, the more superhuman a crafter's efforts became.

"I'll make them."

"I'll need you to meet that deadline."

"I won't sleep. I can take stimulants."

Just as expected. People needed a little crack of the whip to get them going. Kim Minwoo nodded in satisfaction.

"And you know the drill, right?"

Kim Minwoo raised a finger to his lips. Choi Yuna nodded frantically.

"Yes, yes! It's a private order anyway, so only Dad and I know who requested it. You don't have to worry. Strictly confidential!"

"Very reassuring."

"Um, but..."

"Yes?"

"I haven't heard anything about you entering a gate. Where on earth did you gain all those levels? Was it that hidden piece you found in the tomb last time?"

"Something like that."

"Wow... I'm so jealous..."

Envy practically spilled from her eyes. Crafting classes could level up by attempting to craft things, but that didn't mean they never entered gates.

Higher-ranked gates required increasingly large parties. That often meant people from noncombat classes joined them too, since success required much more than fighting strength alone.

Along the way, even crafters could stumble upon extraordinary opportunities: forgotten ancient crafting methods, recipes, or perhaps a special teacher. Discovering just one could turn a person's life around in an instant.

'I bet he's enjoying a hidden piece like that to his heart's content right now.'

She was jealous. She would have loved to tag along. Of course, she wasn't crazy enough to say that out loud.

'Well, at least I learned something good...'

Kim Minwoo had been quiet for a while after setting his record. Naturally, online communities everywhere had been speculating about his activities.

Even so, no one would imagine he was level 101 already. At most, they probably guessed he was somewhere in the mid-to-high fifties.

The corners of Choi Yuna's mouth lifted slightly at the intellectual superiority of knowing something no one else did. When Kim Minwoo's true capabilities finally came to light, the whole world might be turned upside down once again.

"I'll be going now. I have elixirs to make."

"All right. Good luck with the work."

Handbag in hand, she hurried out at almost a run.

* * *

[(Breaking) Ilseong Group Buying Food and Bones in Bulk? Unusual Moves!]

[(Breaking) Auction House D-Grade Skill Books Bought Out? Could Kim Minwoo Be Approaching D-Rank?]

[(Breaking) Ilseong Wants Dragon Bones! Announces Intent to Buy Bones of Level-500-Plus Dragonkin! Experts Say Kim Minwoo Is Likely Behind It All...]

News flooded in. Little wonder, since Ilseong Group and Kim Minwoo had been spotted making moves after a period of silence. Online communities were buzzing just as fiercely.

―Where'd all the guys calling Kim Minwoo overhyped just because he'd gone quiet disappear to? lmao He's nearly D-rank already! lol

―Bullshit lol. You think buying D-grade skill books means he's actually level 101? He's just stocking up early. Calm down lmao

―Even if he's stocking up, doesn't that mean he's at least past level 51? No reason to buy D-grade books already if he's still F-rank. Yep.

―That sounds doable. Isabella got that far in about a month. No reason Kim Minwoo couldn't.

―So what level IS Kim Minwoo now? Does he even enter gates? There's no way that wouldn't make the news.

―Been a while since I saw a necromancer buying bones. Maybe he got some kind of bound skill?

―I think Kim Minwoo found a hidden gate? Didn't they say he found some hidden piece in that tomb last time? Probably leads to it. That'd explain the food too. Not like he bought it to donate.

―Whoa. A hidden gate... Guess he got the skill there too. So fucking jealous. When do I get to enter one?

―Dream on lmao. With your skills, you'd just get stabbed in the throat and fucking die lol

―No, seriously, what fucking level is Kim Minwoo now?

―How would we know lmao. Probably around 60, though. I'd say 70 tops.

―Yeah, sounds about right. Honestly, saying 51 means he's worse than Isabella. That's just hating for no reason. Anyway, his leveling speed is insane. Already midway through E-rank...

―But what's he buying bones for? Genuinely asking.

―Looking at the list, they're all distinctive parts from each monster. Is he actually assembling summons out of bones? lol

―Maybe? But wouldn't assembling all those monster bones just make a Chimera? Can't even imagine them all mashed together lmao

―You couldn't even assemble them. The proportions are completely off. You'd just end up with a patchwork golem lol

While the community's users busily discussed Kim Minwoo, an enormous piece of news broke that would shake the forums.

[(Breaking!) Sword Immortal Emerges from Seclusion! Destination: S-Rank Gate, Dragon's Tomb!]

[(Breaking!) Korean Avengers Assemble? Raid Party Includes Divine Spear, Poison Demon, Fist King, and More...]

―Holy shit. Isn't Dragon's Tomb notorious for its difficulty?

―Yep. Top tier even among S-ranks. A high-ranking dragonkin randomly spawns as the boss. Kill one and drag its corpse out, and you're set for life lmao

―Are they seriously doing this for Kim Minwoo? lol Ilseong said they wanted dragon bones lmao

―Wow, that raid lineup is nuts. Looks like all the best Korean awakeners from the older generation got together. Divine Spear, Fist King, Poison Demon... Damn. They're all the Sword Immortal's friends.

―Behold the Grandpavengers. Holy shit.

―Grandpavengers? You crazy bastard lmaooo