7 – Commercial Building

A shopping district was, in a word, an incredibly massive department store.

Its tremendous scale was like eight 20-story apartments stuck together, and the beautiful designs cared for the entire building of that size.

Indeed, it was made by gathering almost all of Korea’s top-tier Awakened in the architecture field and bringing in some S-class Awakened architects from abroad.

It was true that if you came to A shopping district, you could find anything, though it was expensive.

‘But there are two more of these?’

Thunderclap Palace’s Red Sand Merchant and Atlas’s Deep Sea Palace.

Both were stores managed by those groups, and their size was so immense that they wouldn’t be outdone by this A shopping district.

Thinking about it like that, Ha-yeon understood well why Korea was among the top in the world’s hunter industry.

All three of those shopping districts would definitely be in the top ranks if you ranked them across the entire country.

Elysia Academy also had a shopping district, but it only sold items suitable for the academy’s students, so its scale was small compared to this place.

“It’s huge….”

“I’ve been here several times, but I can’t shake that thought.”

On the other hand, Jin Ha-jeong, who seemed to have been here several times, walked leisurely.

Even if he said that, he must be used to it.

“I bought this here too.”

He said, shaking the wristwatch on his wrist.

It was a watch that looked very luxurious at first glance.

“It’s an artifact, and an A-grade one at that.”

“How much did you buy it for?”

“Hmm…. About 500 million won, I think. It was from my personal funds, so I got scolded a lot by my sister after buying this, but I don’t regret it…”

Ha-yeon could send him a somewhat sympathetic look as he spoke in a somewhat proud tone.

As someone who used to be a man, though not anymore, she could understand that feeling. Yes, of course.

Anyway, as they entered the building, cool air enveloped her body.

The temperature control was amazing too.

‘There’s no way she’s been here, when she went to C shopping district trembling.’

Ha-yeon chuckled and looked around this time.

As soon as they entered the building, there weren’t shops lined up immediately; the direction to go was different for each category.

For example, there were ‘Combat Supplies’ and ‘Daily Necessities,’ as well as ‘Jewelry Shops’ and ‘Artifacts.’

If you asked why a jewelry shop was in such a large category, Ha-yeon could only say it was because of the Ancient Dragon’s Gem.

“What do you want to do?”

Jin Ha-jeong’s voice reached her ear as she was pondering for a moment.

At that, she stopped thinking and headed towards the artifact section.

‘Honestly, buying combat supplies again is a bit much.’

She already had top-tier armor and a sword.

There was no need to buy them.

She would have money coming in soon for daily necessities, so she didn’t plan to buy relatively low-priced items, and she skipped the jewelry shop because most of them were just jewels unless it was the Ancient Dragon’s Gem.

That left artifacts.

Artifacts could be used in a very wide range of ways.

For example, let’s say there’s an artifact that sprays water.

This could be used in daily life, and it could even be used to wet enemies with little water and electrocute them if they had electrical abilities.

That’s why it wasn’t included in combat supplies or daily necessities, and it was newly created.

Anyway, if you didn’t really need anything, the artifact section was the most practical.

“Artifacts, huh? Hmm… I can buy you up to B-grade artifacts.”

Low-grade artifacts were cheap, but as you went to high-grade ones, they became exponentially more expensive, so he must have drawn the line first.

Anyway, as they entered the artifact zone, a truly vast space unfolded.

B-grade was on the 5th floor, wasn’t it?

F-grade was the lowest floor, so B-grade was on the 5th floor.

She had to take the elevator again.

“Do you have a general idea of what kind you want to buy?”

“Honestly, there’s not much to buy even in the artifact section. I’m thinking of buying recovery-type or other types of artifacts. Excluding elemental types.”

Elemental types were helpful in both daily life and combat, but to be honest, they weren’t necessary for her right now.

Buying other types would be more helpful.

In the midst of that, the elevator doors opened, and the appearance of the B-grade artifact shops came into view.

As expected, the difference that they looked distinctly more luxurious than the F-grade artifact shops caught her eye.

In the beginning, there were swords, shields, and weapons lined up, and as they went further inside, accessory-type artifacts were on display.

“Let’s go in for now.”

The reason why weapons were here was probably because they had performance that was more suitable as artifacts than as weapons and armor.

However, instead of carrying around those bulky items, it was much better to buy accessory-type artifacts and move easily, so they went straight in.

The hallway that ran through the middle of the store was very crowded and noisy.

But that didn’t bother her.

There were people who came to get autographs and people who took pictures without permission, but she didn’t pay much attention.

Honestly, what could they use it for even if they took pictures?

While walking down the street, she found a store.

“Buying here would be safe, right?”

“Well, there’s no place as safe as here if you’re buying for the first time.”

[Hunters]

It was a store with a very simple name, but this brand was a well-known conglomerate that sold artifacts from F-grade to S-grade.

It was quite famous even in foreign countries.

So, if you were thinking of buying for the first time, buying here was the safest choice.

It was a reasonable time, so there were quite a few people, but the store itself was large, so they were able to enter.

It was also because people made way for them.

As they entered the store, they saw display cases.

In the display cases, there were rings, necklaces, bracelets, and even glasses.

‘They all feel quite magical.’

Of course, it was just a speck compared to her magic power.

“Give me some recommendations.”

“Me?”

“You know more about this stuff, don’t you? You’ve seen me fight once too.”

Ha-yeon had never bought an artifact before, so she thought it would be best to get a recommendation from Jin Ha-jeong, who knew this field well, and the result was good.

“How about this?”

What he brought was a necklace that was in a deep place inside the store.

The aquamarine embedded in the necklace resembled her eyes.

“It’s an artifact that can temporarily restrain the desired target. There are people in our association who use something similar, but most of them are low-grade.”

Of course, magic power was imbued in that aquamarine.

It was probably obtained from a gate related to restraint.

Still, it was pretty.

“Give it to me.”

“Here.”

Ha-yeon received the necklace and put it around her neck.

Then, a system window appeared.

[You have equipped the item ‘Lenda’s Tears (B+)’.]

[You can use the temporary skill ‘Abyssal Restraint (B+)’.]

“Restraint.”

As soon as she received it, she tried it on Jin Ha-jeong as a test, but he paused for a moment and then moved again.

“Oh, it’s quite useful.”

“I have a good eye for artifacts.”

He only stopped for a moment and then broke free, but the opponent was an S-class.

The fact that he stopped even for a moment against an S-class meant that it was a really good artifact.

In a battle where even a little movement was important, stopping for a moment could be an important chance to seize victory.

‘But it took quite a bit of magic power.’

It wasn’t as much as when she attacked, but it took quite a lot for an artifact.

About half of that first strike.

It seemed that it was because she could use the important element of restraint in battle, so that much was being drained.

“Then buy this for me.”

She handed it back to Jin Ha-jeong, and he went to the counter and handed over the necklace, and then the employee at the counter said the price.

“It’s 80 million won. The card to pay with is over here.”

80 million won… B-grade was this much.

A-grade must be over 100 million won.

‘There was a reason why he said to buy below B-grade.’

She felt a little sorry for the high price, but the feeling that she had obtained such an artifact for free was even greater.

He took out the black card again and paid immediately, then took the necklace and put it around Ha-yeon’s neck himself.

….?

“Huh?”

“Why are you making such a dumbfounded expression?”

“No, why are you putting it on me?”

Um… Even if it was an artifact, wasn’t it a bit strange to put a necklace with a pretty jewel on a woman?

Wasn’t it? Was it because she couldn’t date that she didn’t know?

“Just think of it as bestowing a precious item.”

“Um… Is this precious in your standards?”

“Then do you want to buy it?”

She was immediately K.O.’d by those words, and she quietly fiddled with the necklace.

Ha-yeon, who smiled slightly because she liked the smooth material, sent him a thank you.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. The benefits we receive from you being in our association will be much greater in the future. I hope you will contribute more to the association in the future.”

“As expected, materialistic….”

The moment she opened her mouth to refute his words.

Suddenly, all the hairs on her body stood on end.

….!!

An enormous amount of magic power was felt next to her.

Jin Ha-jeong, who was next to her, must have felt it too, as he stopped for a moment and said to her.

“This… must be it, right?”

“Probably?”

Along with those words, a blue circle formed next to them.

Ha-yeon couldn’t help but laugh at the all-too-familiar blue circle.

An Irregular gate had been created.