<Episode 97>
I rubbed my eyes and checked the contents of the system window again.
Could I register this massive center as my shop?
And it wasn’t even a shop that had been opened using a Shop Opening Ticket.
‘If it’s registered as a shop, does that mean I can upgrade it like the others? Can I install items in it too?’
If that was the case, there was no reason to hesitate.
Carefully, I selected the [Yes] button.
Pop! Pop-pop-pop!
A flashy fireworks effect exploded across the system window.
—
New Shop Registration Complete!
Your reputation is spreading across the entire world.
System Surprise Gift 😀
Know-It-All Helper (A)
—
I hurriedly opened my inventory to check.
Inside was a single large sticker with “Excellent Job!” written across it in giant letters… the kind kindergarten teachers would use to praise children.
‘…What the heck is this?’
Judging from the name alone, I couldn’t even begin to guess what it was for.
Tilting my head, I clicked View Item Details almost hypnotically.
—
Know-It-All Helper (A)
“Wow~ You used your skill all by yourself without Mom telling you to?”
Effect: Upon attachment, one skill possessed by the caster may be automatically activated.
‘Requires the caster’s mana to be recharged every 240 hours.’
—
“…Gasp!”
I instinctively covered my mouth.
In other words, this was a passive item that could automate one of my skills.
With this item, instead of personally blessing every batch of bungeoppang as I had just done, the machine would continuously produce golden bungeoppang on its own.
‘It needs recharging, but only once every ten days!’
I’d expected to be chained to the center permanently, so this was an incredible outcome.
“Wait! There’s one more thing I’d like to share!”
After the reporters left, I stopped the Director and Team 1 just as they were about to leave.
“Something to share?”
Ignoring their puzzled expressions, I strode directly toward the enormous bungeoppang machine.
Then I took out the Know-It-All Helper sticker and firmly slapped it right in the center of the machine.
Smack!
“…A sticker?”
“I’m not finished yet!”
Finally, I selected Blessing Touch as the designated skill.
Vooooom—!
The gigantic machine began vibrating slightly.
Golden patterns slowly emerged across its surface before being completely absorbed into the machine itself.
‘Oh, so the item’s been applied now?’
Filled with anticipation, I flipped the machine’s power switch back on.
The conveyor belt immediately began rattling to life.
Then, just like when I had manually cast the skill earlier, bungeoppang radiating a brilliant golden glow started pouring out.
“Huh? What’s going on? The bungeoppang looks different. Is the machine malfunctioning?”
The Chief Secretary hurried toward the machine in alarm.
I lightly stopped him and smiled casually.
“I just obtained a new item and applied it. Now the skill should activate automatically for about ten days even if I’m not here.”
“You obtained it just now? And it’s an item that automatically applies skills?”
“Yes. It appeared as a system reward. Isn’t that great?”
I finished speaking with a bright smile.
Then I suddenly noticed the strange atmosphere hanging in the air.
‘W-What? Did I do something wrong? Why is everyone acting like this?’
As I nervously darted my eyes around, Hyunwoo-ssi stepped up beside me and quietly whispered into my ear.
“Haneul-ssi, reward items aren’t normally obtained that easily. Most Hunters don’t even reveal that they’ve acquired one.”
“O-Oh! I didn’t know that.”
Startled, I immediately shut my mouth.
The system was always handing me useful things whenever I needed them, so I’d assumed it was the same for everyone else.
Fortunately, only the Director, the Chief Secretary, and Team 1 were present.
“Everyone, please make sure what you just heard doesn’t leak outside. If word gets out, someone might even try to steal the facility itself.
Hunter Haneul, you don’t have any more of those sticker items, correct?”
“No. The one I used on the bungeoppang machine was the only one.”
“Good. It seems the item itself has been absorbed into the machine. Since obtaining another identical item would be difficult, we’ll have to protect this machine at all costs.”
The Director immediately turned to the Chief Secretary with a sharp expression and ordered an increase in the center’s security classification along with additional personnel deployment around the facility.
Feeling embarrassed, I lowered my hand and quietly nodded.
‘I really need to keep my mouth shut about system rewards from now on.’
***
After that heart-stopping commotion finally passed, the Director began giving me a proper tour of the center.
She introduced each department and the employees who would be working there.
Since preparations for the official opening were underway, most of the staff had already reported to work.
‘Wow… this is no joke.’
Facility Operations Team.
Item Production Team.
Customer Service Team.
The entire operation was far more organized than I’d imagined.
“We had far more applicants than expected, so the interview process was quite difficult. After all, this place carries the name of the world’s first SS-rank Hunter. We couldn’t just hire anyone.”
The Chief Secretary proudly puffed out his chest while guiding us around.
He even subtly bragged that he’d personally conducted interviews for managerial positions and above… the future faces of the center.
Clap! Clap!
The Director casually ignored his excessive self-praise and clapped her hands.
“Now then, let me briefly explain how the center will operate going forward.”
To summarize the Director’s explanation:
The Hunter Management Bureau would have loved to distribute the side effect treatment items completely free of charge to suffering Hunters.
However, the reality was that maintaining such a massive center and handling nationwide distribution involved enormous expenses, making universal free distribution impossible.
Instead, prices would be determined according to each Hunter’s rank and income bracket.
“Of course, we’ve also prepared support measures for lower-ranked Awakeners who cannot afford treatment costs. We’re building a system that will allow them to exchange mana stones obtained from clearing gates as payment.”
The Director winked at me.
“And the profits generated here will be paid out to you monthly, separate from the contract fee you received before the center opened. You remember that, right?”
I nodded so vigorously it was almost automatic.
Of course I remembered.
Before the center officially opened, I’d visited the Bureau headquarters and signed a contract covering skill usage and exclusive item supply rights.
The signing bonus alone contained more zeros than I’d ever seen in my life.
On top of that were incredibly generous profit-sharing percentages for every item sold and guaranteed royalties for future overseas exports.
It was obvious the Bureau had gone all out to secure me.
Just to be safe, Hyunwoo-ssi had even personally arranged a legal team from a major law firm to review the contract.
Their verdict?
‘”Other than a few minor clauses, there’s absolutely nothing to revise. The terms are practically perfect.”‘
‘Which means…’
‘I’ve become unbelievably rich.’
Imagining the money that would soon appear in my bank account, I hurriedly began doing mental calculations.
‘The building my parents used to run their shop in now belongs to the landlady, so I can’t buy it immediately… but it might go up for sale someday…’
“When that day comes, I’ll buy it in cash without taking out a loan.”
I was grinning to myself when I suddenly noticed how quiet everything had become.
Looking up, I found the Director and all of Team 1 staring at me with amused expressions.
“Ah–Ahem! Yes! Ah, that’s a very reasonable and excellent operating model! Perfect!”
I coughed awkwardly and quickly regained my composure.
At that moment, Hunter Kang Min asked with a worried look.
“Come to think of it, what about your original shop, Noona? Now all Hunters will be able to taste food properly…”
“Oh, right. If the side effects get treated… won’t your shop lose customers?”
I smiled broadly at everyone’s cautious concern.
I had already prepared for exactly that possibility.
“We’re planning to change our strategy too.”
I grinned.
“You can look forward to it!”
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