Ch.2929. Family Business

Alchemy is an essential skill to learn in the Farming World.

Not only for making recovery herbs, but also for creating various potions and processing fruits and herbs for sale—it’s an activity that increases the value of primary agricultural products.

When investing the same time and cost, it shows much better efficiency compared to farming that only requires seeds and time.

That’s why I proposed a partnership to Lee Jihyun.

Quite obviously, turning my recovery herbs into potions before selling them would yield greater profits.

But the reason I don’t do that and just sell the recovery herbs as they are is because I haven’t learned alchemy skills yet, and even if I did, unless it’s high-grade alchemy, the farming points required to purchase the necessary tools or learn the skills would be too precious to spend.

If an absolutely necessary moment comes, I’ll have to learn it, but right now, I don’t have points to invest just to earn a few extra coins.

I’d rather invest in farming instead.

But now, someone who can make potions for me—

And not just anyone, but someone with high-grade alchemy skills has crawled right in front of me on their own—how could I let this opportunity slip away?

Just looking at her, she’s clearly a pushover.

I lightly sweet-talked her, and she fell for it.

Well, as long as both parties reach an amicable agreement, that’s all that matters.

From the perspective of a poor alchemist with no money, gaining experience points for free and taking 10% of the profits might not be a bad choice.

Of course, if she’s really an A-grade alchemist, there would be plenty of people lining up to recruit her, but seeing her scrounging for recovery herbs in the marketplace, she might be looking further into the future.

So I tested the waters, and her response was positive.

I immediately came up with a rather plausible plan.

“Dad.”

“What is it, you rascal? Where are you now?”

“Dad, your company sells potions too, right?”

“What? What potions?”

“Isn’t your company the one that buys up dungeon items?”

“Huh. Suddenly calling me to say such strange things. It’s not buying up, it’s distribution, you fool.”

“So you do sell potions, right?”

“Yes, we sell potions. These days we can’t get enough potions to sell. Why do you ask?”

My dad runs a company.

I vaguely knew that he deals with hunters, but since I was too busy gaming, I didn’t know exactly what he did, but it seems I was roughly right.

“I found an A-grade alchemist, and I have a good business plan. Would you like to invest?”

“What? What investment?”

“An exclusive contract for continuous potion supply with an A-grade alchemist. Premium quality.”

“…”

His reaction could have gone one of two ways.

Normally, he would curse at me, asking if I’d lost my mind from the heat.

But Dad was about to say something, then after a moment of silence, he said:

“Come in first. Let’s talk properly.”

I wonder if he really believes me.

Or if alchemists are that valuable.

Maybe being a company president means he doesn’t dismiss even his son’s nonsense too hastily.

“Let’s go.”

“…Pardon?”

I took the bewildered-looking Lee Jihyun back to my home.

————————–

It was a strange situation.

Lee Jihyun sitting at the dining table with all sorts of refreshments laid out.

Dad and Mom sitting across from us, bringing tea and asking questions with curious expressions.

“How did you meet our Suhyun?”

“You say you’re an A-grade alchemist… is that true?”

“Ah… yes… we met at the market today…”

Even Kim Sujeong, who was on the sofa, came over and tried to dissuade her with an exasperated tone.

“Don’t do it.”

“Excuse me?”

“Whether it’s dating or business, don’t do it with him. He’s just a complete bum. He’ll just leech off you while living comfortably.”

“Get lost. You. We adults are talking here. Where are your manners?”

It’s like a comedy sketch, but I understand my parents’ feelings.

Their son suddenly went out and came back with a woman.

Then he asks (?) his dad for an investment he’s never asked for in his life.

Well, it’s not really asking, it’s more like half-forcing.

“So Dad, I brought this, and she’ll make potions with it. She’ll sell them to you. Exclusive contract. Premium price. You add your margin and sell them.”

“…”

“First, please provide 100 million won as a contract fee.”

Though it might seem like I’m rushing things, this conversation covers all the essentials.

Lee Jihyun showed her farming window to my dad, confirming her A-grade alchemy skills.

Dad’s expression showed he was intrigued.

At first, he probably thought I was bringing a girlfriend home for introductions.

“Are you really willing to make this contract?”

Dad asked Lee Jihyun, shifting from his casual home demeanor to something more befitting a company president.

Lee Jihyun, having apparently made up her mind, steadied her trembling voice and expressed her thoughts.

“Yes. I think it’s a good opportunity, so I came. If you can set a fair price, I think it will work well for three years.”

In a way, it’s a gamble.

With me as the primary producer and Dad as the tertiary seller, one might worry about being scammed by the middleman.

But after hearing Lee Jihyun’s determination, Dad nodded.

“Then let’s put the details in a contract…”

Finding it awkward to have such a conversation with his son who had spent his entire life in his room, Dad gave me some advice with a subtle expression.

“Are you sure you can keep sourcing recovery herbs? This contract only works if you can continuously provide them.”

“I’m an herbalist. I can smell herbs like a bloodhound.”

“…”

“Trust me and invest 100 million won, Dad.”

“Haah…”

It’s more anxiety than advice, to be honest.

But as they say, no father can win against his son.

“I’ll give it to you, thinking of it as your marriage fund.”

“Why would you give that to Ms. Lee Jihyun? Give that to me, and this is the cost of contracting with an A-grade alchemist. It’s profitable even if I can’t source recovery herbs.”

“What’s gotten into you lately? You seem like a different person.”

“I’m trying to be filial now that I’ve become a proper person. I’m a hunter now.”

In the end, Dad called his company to have a contract drawn up, saying they would sign it in a few days.

Lee Jihyun had to endure this uncomfortable situation until dinner, weathering Mom’s barrage of questions about whether she was really my girlfriend, before she could finally go home.

She looked exhausted and bewildered by the situation, but still seemed pleased.

“Thank you so much.”

“Thank me when the money comes in.”

The contract fee is money given in exchange for making the contract.

Of course, there’s the condition of selling potions exclusively to Dad’s company for three years, but she earned 100 million won just sitting there, and I can sell my recovery herbs at the price I want.

After that, I’ll get 90% of the money from selling potions made from my recovery herbs.

At least I won’t have to worry about planting and selling recovery herbs anymore.

“I’ll treat you to a meal next time.”

“Okay.”

Lee Jihyun hesitated for a while, then gathered her courage to say those words before saying goodbye and leaving.

“Whew.”

After spending 10 years in the Farming World just doing simple transactions like handing items to NPCs and receiving farming points, real-world trading is quite tiring.

Even that would have been difficult without Dad’s help.

But that’s what family is for.

Isn’t this what helping each other is all about?

At least in my opinion, none of the three parties in this deal are losing out.

All because of the recovery herbs I farmed from the Rift Dimension.

When I went inside, Dad called for me again.

“Suhyun, are you really an herbalist? Are you good at finding recovery herbs?”

Seeing Dad’s passionate eyes, which I’d never seen at home before, I asked:

“Dad, does your company do auctions too?”

It’s difficult to convince him about my abilities through explanation anyway.

And it’s bothersome.

“Yes, we do auctions. Don’t you even know what your dad does?”

“I just know you buy up stuff from hunters. You should tell me…”

“You spend all day gaming in your room, you brat. Dad doesn’t just buy up hunter items; I run a company that distributes and trades hunter items. Geez.”

“Then could you sell these too?”

“Your dad doesn’t have time for such… Gasp!”

I wasn’t sure if he could sell these too, but hearing that Dad’s company also does auctions made things easier for me, as I had one less thing to worry about.

“Where did you get these…”

“What is it, Dad? What? Did you steal these?”

“Why would I steal such things? I found them in a dungeon.”

“…”

Seeing Dad’s unusually high tension, even Kim Sujeong, who had been just perking up her ears from the sofa, came over to check the gloves and fang dagger I had taken out, then looked at me with disbelief.

It’s understandable that this defies common sense.

No matter how good your abilities are, if your level is low, you have no skills, and entering a dungeon is out of the question.

But suddenly, overnight, I brought hundreds of recovery herbs, made a contract with an A-grade alchemist, and now I’ve brought two B-minus grade items.

Faced with this series of incomprehensible situations, Dad simply gave up trying to understand.

“You know the auction agency fee is 20%, right?”

“I don’t know. Just sell them for me. For a high price. Having more good items at auction is better for you anyway, right?”

“That’s true… that’s true.”

There are many companies that conduct auctions.

And naturally, companies with good reputations attract more people.

From a hunter’s perspective, they want to sell safely, and having more bidders drives up prices, allowing them to sell at higher prices.

So to build trust, not only do you need to be safe, but you also need to be able to auction many good items.

This time, Dad made a phone call, gathered the items, and left the house.

“This son of mine, becoming filial after 26 years.”

How moving.

As he was feeling proud, Kim Sujeong clicked her tongue beside me.

“Just don’t cause any trouble.”