Ch.102102. The SS-Rank Hunter’s Request

A guest came from America.

“Suhyun. Someone named Kelin wants to meet you. They’re an SS-rank hunter and say they have a request for you.”

It seems they came to Gwangjin Distribution, perhaps having heard rumors about my connection to the company. Judging by how Dad is talking, they must have offered quite an attractive proposal—just for the chance to meet me.

“How much did you get?”

Honestly, I wasn’t particularly interested in meeting anyone.

I already knew America had their eye on me, and it felt like they were taking a roundabout approach. But regardless of what conditions they might offer, I had no intention of going there, so I was rather indifferent.

Of course, that didn’t mean I had any reason not to meet them.

This wasn’t some childish argument with conditions like “If we meet, you have to marry me” or “If you drink this, you’re dating me.”

It was just a casual meeting to hear their proposal—enough of an action to maintain appropriate tension in various quarters.

Truthfully, did I have any reason not to leave Korea? No.

But now that I found myself in this position, did I have any reason to leave Korea? Also no.

I realized for the first time how much one’s homeland affects their psychological state.

The thought of leaving Korea, where I’d been born and lived for 26 years, to adapt to a new land already gave me a headache.

Above all, the language barrier—I couldn’t even contemplate learning a new language.

I know it’s funny for me to say this when I already consider the Rift Dimension my home and feel awkward in my parents’ house like it’s someone else’s.

But perhaps because of that, I had no desire to go to America or any other country, regardless of how good their offer might be.

It wasn’t so much that I loved Korea, but rather that it was comfortable.

What could be better than having a place to rest when I occasionally come out from developing the Rift Dimension?

As for money, it’s nice to have, but I’m already earning enough not to worry.

So I’ll move if I receive adequate compensation for wasting my time listening to their proposal.

That’s all there is to it.

“They promised to invest 100 billion when they came to participate in the auction, and they’ve contracted an additional 100 billion to meet you this time.”

“I’ll go right now.”

Investing in Gwangjin Distribution is essentially investing in me.

The bigger Dad’s company gets, the easier it becomes for me to dispose of items.

With the communication channel going through Dad rather than directly through me, he and his employees filter out the annoying tasks, allowing me to just show my face when needed.

Dad probably works hard in the process, but it’s give and take.

“Hey. Drive me.”

“Mmm… what is it?”

I woke up Kim Sujeong, who had been sleeping late after staying up all night, and headed to Gwangjin Distribution.

——————

In the guest reception room at Gwangjin Distribution.

A woman and an interpreter were sitting across from Dad.

Dad gave up his seat when I arrived.

“Thank you.”

“You go out too.”

Since the 200 billion investor wanted to speak with me alone, I sent Kim Sujeong out with Dad.

Only the American woman and the interpreter remained in the room with me.

“Hello. I’m Kelin.”

The American who introduced herself as Kelin extended her hand with a bright smile.

Blonde wavy hair.

Snow-white skin.

Golden eyes matching her hair, with a charm that drew people in.

She was tall, and though her low-cut dress wasn’t flashy, it captured one’s attention.

So this is an American.

If someone asked me to describe a typical beautiful white woman, I’d probably think of someone like her.

“Ah, yes. Hello.”

After I sat down, Kelin said something in English.

As soon as she finished, the interpreter translated into Korean.

“I contacted you after seeing Suhyun’s video from the dungeon backflow incident a few days ago.”

“Ah. Why me… I heard you’re an SS-rank hunter.”

I had looked up information about Kelin on my way here.

Well, not exactly me—I heard what Kim Sujeong knew about her.

SAINT, America’s #1 ranked guild.

Kelin, America’s #1 ranked hunter, a member of that guild.

An SS-rank ice magic user with level 77.

Her blonde hair and tall stature might make one think of passionate fire magic, but the ice spectacle she displays in dungeons has earned her the nickname “Ice Witch.”

Though she doesn’t really give off witch vibes.

Why would someone like her seek me out?

At best, stopping a B+ rank dungeon backflow is something Kelin could handle alone without needing me.

What could she possibly need from me that’s worth investing so much money?

“First, may I ask: are you an S-rank healer, Suhyun?”

“Ah.”

Right.

If she has business with me, this would be it.

“No, I’m not S-rank.”

“…?”

Both the interpreter and Kelin looked momentarily confused by my confident answer.

“According to our analysis, it was at least S-rank healing magic.”

“Sounds like you need to fire your analysts.”

I surprised them briefly before revealing the truth.

“It’s SS-rank.”

“Oh my God!”

Kelin uttered words I recognized after hearing the translation.

Well, claiming SS-rank is also a lie, but there’s no need to show all my cards to someone who seems to need my holy magic.

The interpreter calmly conveyed Kelin’s excited words.

“Do you have the Cure or Purification skill?”

Instead of answering, I asked a question.

“So there’s someone who needs healing?”

“…”

Kelin hesitated briefly before nodding.

“We need to treat someone with an illness that modern medicine cannot cure.”

Then she began to reveal her cards.

“I haven’t only approached you—I’ve secretly made offers to all S-rank healers.”

“Is there a reason it needs to be S-rank or higher?”

The [Purification] skill. Used to cure status ailments, this skill is often used as an alternative to modern medicine.

When I received this skill, I thought I’d be sitting on a gold mine for that very reason.

Of course, it can’t cure all diseases—some it can heal, others it can’t. But if there’s just one common yet difficult-to-treat disease it can cure, sitting on a gold mine would be an understatement.

That’s why some healers focus solely on researching and testing their skills on patients, eventually becoming hunter-physicians.

As I mentioned before, healers are already extremely rare, and among them, those with purification skills are even rarer compared to healing skills, and the criteria for which diseases can be treated is unknown.

If there’s one consistency, it’s that higher-ranked purification skills have a much better chance of being effective.

A lower-ranked purification skill will never cure a disease that a higher-ranked one cannot.

“Purification skills up to A+ rank have been ineffective.”

So Kelin has been making considerable efforts.

The fact that she’s approaching me, who was only recently discovered, suggests she’s probably already approached most known healers.

Still, there should be some S-rank healers out there—was there not a single one with an S-rank purification skill?

“Well, I do have the purification skill.”

“Could you possibly demonstrate it?”

“That’s not possible. I’ll just tell you it’s SS-rank.”

Kelin started to say something but told the interpreter not to translate it.

Though I couldn’t understand English, I could tell she realized she was in the weaker position.

Verifying whether my skill is truly SS-rank probably isn’t important to her.

At this point, she’d probably believe me even if I claimed SS-rank but used an F-rank purification skill.

But she’s already seen my healing in the video, so she must have some level of trust.

“I’ll give you 10 billion as an advance payment. Just come with me to America after the auction ends and use your skill. After the treatment, I’ll give you another 10 billion, and if the treatment succeeds, I’ll provide an SS-rank item and consider you my lifelong benefactor.”

She finally made her request.

“200 billion just for going there and back?”

“Yes. Whether you succeed or fail, you’ll receive 200 billion.”

“Who exactly are you trying to heal…”

An SS-rank hunter would be swimming in money.

200 billion?

They probably earn at least 200 billion a year.

There’s a reason SS-rank hunters are called “walking corporations.”

For such a desperate matter, 200 billion might not be a significant loss even if wasted.

After all, for an “incurable” disease, all one can do is keep grasping at straws and hoping for a miracle.

In the past, people could only wait for death, but since skills appeared, these have become diseases for which treatments simply haven’t been found yet.

But no matter how wealthy someone is, it’s not normal to spend 200 billion without hesitation.

Especially showing such devotion to a stranger?

“Is that important?”

The interpreter said something Kelin hadn’t.

They must be quite close if the interpreter feels comfortable speaking like this.

Kelin restrained the interpreter and said:

“My father.”

I could understand that much.

“Hmm…”

I had more or less anticipated this even without hearing the answer.

Only family could inspire such selfless dedication.

It was a difficult decision.

Between the sound-absorbing stone auction and dealing with the ogres, it was already time-consuming, and going to America would add at least another 3-4 days.

While there was no urgent need to get back to the farm, I had to consider whether the compensation was worth that time.

“I’ll decide after seeing the SS-rank item.”

I made a counter-proposal.