Ch.3333. Taking Responsibility

Kim Soo-jung pulled over to the side of the road while driving, rested her head on the steering wheel, and stayed that way for a while.

“Why? Do you regret it?”

“…No, you did well. Thank you.”

Her tone was slightly refreshed.

But it was filled with subtle and complex emotions.

Sigh. She exhaled and looked at me, lifting her disheveled head.

“Oppa, what’s going on with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“That SSS+ rank thing you mentioned about me. Is that real?”

“Do you think it’s real? Where would such a rank even exist?”

“Open it.”

“Open what, you crazy girl? Being so forward, that’s not what you should be asking a man to open.”

“…Ugh. I meant open your status window!”

“That’s rude.”

“…You’re really something else.”

Just as I knew Kim Soo-jung well, she knew me too, and she seemed to be looking at me with confident eyes.

It made sense.

Her biological brother, whom she’d known for 23 years, had been holed up in his room playing games for over a decade, then suddenly disappeared for a week and returned with healing herbs and items worth over 50 million won.

Not to mention a glass stone that could fetch billions at auction.

Something absolutely impossible with just an awakening.

And today, I had shown performance beyond what a newly awakened hunter could display in a C-rank dungeon.

Her guild.

While it was a small to medium-sized guild—equivalent to a small company—it was still a solid party with an A-rank tanker and a B-rank damage dealer.

That’s why she had been sticking with them despite the crappy treatment, enduring day by day for growth.

But that all fell apart today.

“I was planning to quit anyway. Things have been getting too intense lately… so you don’t need to feel too sorry.”

“I don’t feel sorry at all.”

“If you give me the glass stone, I could join a pretty decent guild as a glass stone mage.”

“I haven’t even decided to give it to you yet…”

“You need to level up anyway, right? Let’s go together. I won’t hold you back. Just until you grow stronger.”

This might be the first time I’ve had such a serious conversation with Kim Soo-jung.

Though I wasn’t being particularly serious.

Maybe I should just give her the glass stone and tell her to join another guild.

Her persistent clinging is becoming concerning.

I have absolutely no intention of entering dungeons with her.

“Ah! I’m leaving my guild because of you. Take responsibility!”

In the end, this girl started throwing a tantrum.

——————————-

When I got home, there was good news waiting.

“I’ve made the deposit. Thank you.”

“Please make the potions quickly and bring them.”

“Yes! I’ll make 10 samples first and come see you.”

Ji-hyun said she had successfully finalized the contract with my father and had deposited the money for the healing herbs.

My account, which had always shown zero, now had 60 million won in it.

The healing herbs cost about 52 million won, but Ji-hyun generously sent 60 million, saying she had received a contract deposit thanks to me.

I didn’t refuse it.

Although it was technically taking money from my father, Ji-hyun had essentially earned 100 million won for free when she would have had to take out a loan otherwise, so taking a few million as a commission fee wouldn’t be a problem.

And my father also told me about the auction schedule.

“The auction will be held the day after tomorrow, and both the gloves and the fang dagger will be up for sale. We’re promoting it heavily and will try to get a good price.”

“Okay.”

“And about the glass stone… that…”

My father glanced at Kim Soo-jung cautiously as he asked.

Since Kim Soo-jung had been watching me from a distance since entering the house, constantly looking for opportunities to throw tantrums, she quickly responded to his lowered voice.

“Dad, that’s mine. Don’t touch it.”

“Ahem. Hmm. If we put the glass stone up for auction, we could promote it for about two weeks to inform overseas hunters as well. Since there haven’t been any glass stones on the market recently, we might get an even higher price…”

“Should I sell it?”

“Well, it’s your item, Soo-hyun, so if you want to…”

“Dad! Oppa is still thinking about it! That’s not fair!”

As my father said, it’s my item, so it’s my decision, but from my father’s perspective, he would also want to give it to his daughter, who is a mage.

But his desire for a transaction is also because it’s a good opportunity as the company president.

If rumors spread that a glass stone appeared at auction, the credibility of the company’s auctions would skyrocket.

A glass stone, of which only a few exist worldwide, being sold not by a famous conglomerate but by a small Korean distribution company?

It would immediately earn a reputation as a small but powerful company.

In that sense, auctioning the glass stone would be the right choice.

Giving it to Kim Soo-jung VS selling it through my father’s company at auction.

Honestly, if we were to calculate the cost-benefit analysis, even Kim Soo-jung would have to choose the latter, given the absurd imbalance.

If I give it to Kim Soo-jung, she’s the only one who benefits.

Her future as a mage would certainly be bright.

Wearing an accessory made from a glass stone, of which only a few exist worldwide, would give her tremendous bonus points when joining a guild.

On the other hand, if I sell it through my father’s company at auction, both my father and I would be happy.

More people would seek out my father’s company, generating more profit, and as it grows, it would be easier and faster for me to find or sell items I need in the future.

The additional money could solve almost all the inconveniences I face when buying necessary items from Earth to take to the Rift Dimension.

With that kind of money, I wouldn’t run out of funds buying Earth items unless they were exceptionally expensive.

“No matter how I think about it, there doesn’t seem to be any reason to give it to you, right? I might as well use it myself.”

“…”

Kim Soo-jung probably knows this too.

A C-rank becoming 20% stronger—how much stronger could that really be?

Saying that would hurt her feelings, but someone needs to be blunt.

“Dad, you say it. A C-rank mage wearing a glass stone accessory is like putting a pearl necklace on a pig.”

“…You just said it yourself!”

Kim Soo-jung pouted but finally accepted reality.

“I know. I was just being greedy for once. Sell it…”

My father’s expression turned bitter as he watched her dejected figure retreating to her room.

Is this what parental love feels like?

The desire to give a 7-billion-won jewel to his daughter, even knowing it doesn’t suit her.

When I was alone with my father, I asked him seriously.

“Dad, you choose.”

“Choose what…?”

“The glass stone. Whether to give it to Soo-jung or sell it at auction. You decide.”

“…Are you sure about this?”

“I can always find another one.”

“Haha… my son seems like a different person.”

My father didn’t refuse.

Seeing my serious expression, he seemed to realize I wasn’t just testing him.

I was sincere.

Honestly… what have I done for this family in 26 years except eat their food and leech off my parents like a parasite while playing games?

If it weren’t for the Rift Dimension, I’d probably still be doing that, and might have continued until my parents died.

Maybe even after they died, living off their inheritance.

Clearly, the glass stone I obtained at this stage is valuable and would create great synergy with my “Leap Slash,” but I had no regrets.

I felt like I could get another one soon anyway.

Let’s consider it repaying a debt.

I had barely taken a few steps away without regret when my father called me back.

“Soo-hyun. Let’s give it to Soo-jung.”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

“Here. You give it to her. It’s yours after all. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. We’re family.”

Indeed, people need to have some generosity.

Would I have had the opportunity to show such filial piety when I was a broke bum with nothing to my name?

I took the glass stone and opened Kim Soo-jung’s door.

“What! I’m fine, so stop teasing me and get out!”

“I need to go shopping, so drive me.”

“…You…”

I tossed the jewel to Kim Soo-jung, who was getting up after lying under her blanket.

She caught it reflexively, her eyes widening.

“Dad says to give it to you.”

“Oppa…”

“Make sure you don’t lose that pearl necklace on a pig.”

Teary-eyed, Kim Soo-jung charged at me like a wild boar.

“Don’t overdo it.”

“Oppa, thank you. I love you.”

I lightly pushed her away with my finger, then grabbed the car keys from the desk and rushed out.

“Let’s go. From today, I’m your lifelong chauffeur. Call me anytime, anywhere. I’ll come even at 4 AM.”

I didn’t respond.

I was planning on that anyway, even without her saying it.

——————–

Giving the glass stone to Kim Soo-jung was a satisfying choice, even if it wasn’t the most efficient one.

Kim Soo-jung accompanied me shopping without complaint, not only carrying the items I purchased but also taking the initiative to buy other necessary things.

I don’t know how long this will last, but since I can take back the glass stone even after it’s made into an accessory, I can always reclaim it and teach her a lesson if she starts acting up again.

“Are you moving somewhere?”

“I’m becoming independent.”

“…Are you moving out?”

“I’m earning money now, so it’s time to live on my own.”

Her constant questioning was a bit annoying, but it was something I’d have to deal with eventually.

I managed to get through it this time, but rather than leaving for 7 days at a time claiming to be in dungeons, it would be better to just move out. That way, I wouldn’t risk anyone suspecting I was going to the Rift Dimension rather than dungeons.

And it’s also more convenient to explain buying a mattress and such as moving out.

“Why so many boxes of ramen…”

“And what’s with all these snacks? Why would you eat these in a dungeon? Buy some preserved foods instead.”

“Just buy what I tell you to buy.”

Anyway, giving her the glass stone had its effect, and I was able to finish shopping without further complaints.