Chapter 54

 

When I washed up, changed, and came out, a delicious smell filled the whole house. I walked to the kitchen as if I were possessed. My eyes were wide open at the food that filled the table in such a short time.

 

“Wow. What’s all this?”

 

“Oh, it’s not done yet…….”

 

Yeon Seung-yeon, who looked back at me, admiring the table, stammered an answer. However, the hands handling the cooking utensils were constantly moving. My eyes widened in amazement at the rice grains flying out like a wave and settling back inside the round frying pan Yeon Seung-yeon was holding.

 

Wanting to see more, I snooped around and went back to avoid getting caught in Yeon Seung-yeon’s movements.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

When I asked him, sticking my head out of the side of his concentrated face, Yeon Seung-yeon was so startled that he jumped up on the spot.

 

“Ahh!! Ho, Ho-hyun nim!”

 

“Why are you so surprised?””

 

“In, in case you are hurt!!”

 

Yeon Seung-yeon, whose face was all red, didn’t know what to do and stammered words out one by one to explain.

 

“This is fried, fried rice……and, the steak is being restated for a while…….”

 

“Are you good at cooking?”

 

“Just a little bit. Since I have to live by myself……. It’s almost done, so have a seat!”

 

It was indeed true that the food was almost ready, as I quickly emptied the prepared food in an instant and patted my swollen stomach. Yeon Seung-yeon, who sat in front of me and watched me eat even though I prepared it, spoke carefully.

 

“……I’m so happy to be here with Ho-hyun nim.”

 

“Me too. I think I’m able to live now.”

 

It was okay when I ate alone with Han Seo-jin, but in a dorm full of team members…… Even thinking about it again made me uncomfortable.

 

“Tomorrow happens to be the day we decided to look at the studio for sale. It’s almost confirmed, so I think I can sign the contract right away if Ho-hyun gives me permission.”

 

“I came just in time. We have to buy new materials and making tools, right?”

 

“Uh…….Yes, yes. That’s right.”

 

Yeon Seung-yeon shook his head loudly. It was my first time buying the ingredients needed for the potion myself because they used to be prepared on their own.

 

“It’s going to be fun.”

 

“I’m also looking forward to it.”

 

***

 

When it comes to the streets of craftsmen, all Koreans will think of Moon Island and Wolgye Naru. Moon Island, where only the master craftsmen are allowed to enter, and Wolgye Naru, where ships are anchored, were sacred places for production where all producers, including blacksmiths, potion makers, tailors, and alchemists, gathered. 

 

Naturally, the market for selling items that are accessories for monsters or materials for production was also concentrated near Wolgye Naru.

 

“Alright, we’ve arrived! Young bosses! Let’s get off.”

 

The place where I stopped by the broker’s car was a quiet area, a little far from the place where the producers’ workshops were concentrated. 

 

I got out of the car and looked around. It was a little further away from the end of Wolgye Naru Street, rather closer to the residence of the general public. 

 

The broker said this, pointing to the small mansion next door.

 

“It’s this building. It’s a new building, and there are three built-in spaces inside that can be used as workshops or penthouses. There is also a front yard where you can raise small and cute animals or build a small garden, and it’s safety grade 4, so even if the gate bursts around you, it is safe. 

 

Even if you don’t do anything at the lower level, you can get enough compensation with the insurance we have at our brokerage, so don’t worry about it! Hahaha, although this area around Moon Island is a clean area where no gates have ever occurred in the first place.”

 

“Aren’t you such an only daughter?”

 

Yeon Seung-yeon, who was crumpled under the pressure of the broker, said.

 

“Well, since our profession is a profession, accessibility to Wolgye Naru must be good, but if it’s this far away…….I don’t think we’ll choose this place. I’d like to see another house.”

 

Courageous Yeon Seung-yeon defended quietly with a dissatisfied look. But he couldn’t beat a seasoned broker.

 

“Hahaha! It’s a little quiet, isn’t it? But that’s why you can even have a vegetable garden in a new building. The buildings near Wolgye Naru are ridiculous. Repair costs are higher. And since it’s far away, you can work out and take care of your health! Eh? 

 

Here, if you enjoy gardening, that’s healing, and if you eat them, that’s well-being! You can live while taking care of my work-life balance. And the nearby houses are all bought by ordinary and retired people, so they’re quiet, perfect for work. I purposely took out the items I saved to support the young bosses in the future. I’ll be sad if you don’t choose this.”

 

Since I hadn’t yet found an item that could change my appearance, I, who was standing behind him wearing a robe, nodded to those words. Although I thought the location was a bit far, the broker’s words sounded reasonable.

 

‘But I’m not just going to make a potion. A new building suits a new life.’

 

The downtown area was not good because we had to hide our identity. In many ways, I nodded because the conditions were good. Yeon Seong-yeon then said it in a sharp tone.

 

“What’s the point if you can’t meet the most basic requirements of the studio? There are a lot of times to go to buy ingredients, and you know that hunters have to be accessible in businesses that sell them. I remember that the first data you sent me was somewhere else than here.”

 

“That’s…….”

 

“Now, do you want me to sho-show you? I have brought a copy.”

 

The middleman, who was hesitant to speak, finally stepped back and said, as if he were embarrassed by Seung-yeon’s response, which he did not avoid even though he stuttered.

 

“That’s what I meant. Originally, there was a place that fits the set price. It was a historic workshop.”

 

“It’s west of Wolgye Naru. The first place you showed me.”

 

“Oh, you know very well……. Anyway, it’s a little cheap and well-equipped with production facilities, so it’s popular. But not long ago, someone started buying all the buildings around there.”

 

“Who? Are you saying it’s one person?”

 

I couldn’t hold back my curiosity and stepped in. The broker, who flinched at me who was quiet all this time, nodded, perhaps surprised.

 

“We’re just guessing. It’s the same routine. Making a deposit right away! Instead, they just buy it and no one comes in. I bought it for an extra amount of money, so the sales in that area are all gone now. House prices have risen sharply, and all new producers who are about to renew their contracts are moving to this side.”

 

“Oh, how……. Still, I also gave you a down payment, but when you introduced me, you said it was semi-final. Wasn’t there a sale?”

 

The broker couldn’t hide his embarrassment at Yeon Seung-yeon’s words. When I saw him, I tapped the ground with my foot and muttered.

 

“You sold it.”

 

“What?”

 

“Well, that’s…….”

 

“They gave you more money, didn’t they? So you sold it to them, didn’t you?”

 

“No, it’s not that simple…….”

 

When the broker failed to deny it, Yeon Seung-yeon opened his eyes wide with a betrayed look on his face.

 

“This is a breach of contract! Report to the Hunter Real Estate Association…….”

 

“Oh, my young friends. Bachelorette, bosses. Please let me off the hook. Huh? I did it for a reason. Here’s the fee, I’ll lower it to 5 percent. We are losing a lot of money here.”

 

“Five percent?”

 

The studios close to Wolgye Naru were a little different from ordinary houses. Instead of having the space and safety security needed by the producers in advance, they have to pay fees not only from rent but also from the money they earn.

 

‘The basic is 10 percent. I can’t believe you gave me a half discount…….’

 

I was thinking of making a lot of money, so it was natural to pay a lot of money. As soon as I tried to tell Seung-yeon that it was okay because it seemed like a good proposal, Yeon Seung-yeon shook his head.

 

“No……! I’ve lost my trust in the state and the broker. Honestly, new producers like us have a limited amount of money to make, so the fee doesn’t differ much. But the wasted time and the experiences and resources that can lay the groundwork for the beginning of production are things that you can’t get even for money. The broker took it away from us.”

 

When I heard Yeon Seung-yeon, he seemed to be right again. Looking back at the broker, he sighed deeply and put his head on it.

 

“……I see. Then, if I specifically trade this house, you will waive the fee. Instead, all the materials sent in advance will be returned to me. And there will absolutely be no report.”

 

I was surprised by the unconventional proposal.

 

“Wow, you’re giving me an exemption during the contract period? You’re such a good man!”

 

“No, it’s not, just one year……. Phew. All right. I’ll waive you for the first contract.”

 

It was obvious that they thought how much they would earn. In any case, in a deal that was beneficial to us. Yeon Seung-yeon and I headed to the brokerage house with the original contract we had received in advance at home.

 

There were only several brokers on the single floor of the building; it was a larger-than-expected company. Maps of metropolitan cities flowed on the screen next to whether they were in charge of the provinces.

 

Instead of the broker who went to answer the phone, the woman who appeared to be her colleague approached us to take care of our procedure instead.

 

“Yeon Seung-yeon nim?”

 

“Yes!”

 

The contract specially produced by the association was taken out, and Yeon Seung-yeon took out Hunter’s seal.

 

“This is the contract, we’ve filled out all the filling parts, and Seung-yeon, you can fill in all the blanks here and stamp your seal. I heard that the CEO has documents to receive?”

 

“Yes, here…….”

 

Giving out the original contract, Yeon Jung and I exchanged eyes.

 

‘He was the CEO?’