“What on earth is going on?”

“Isn’t that an item?”

“They used a Demonic Relic in a duel?”

“And against first- and second-years when they’re third-years?”

The onlookers buzzed. Hearing the murmurs, Lee Ara’s squad couldn’t even lift their heads.

“I-It’s just… just an accessory that bumps your stats a little…”

The voice came from Ri Kuran, who had sunk to the ground at the back.

Park Gwangah’s eyes sharpened.

“Not a hint of remorse. I’ll be reporting this to the faculty.”

At that, Mahur and Ara jerked their heads up in alarm.

“Wait!”

“It was a voluntary spar!”

“Ara. Mahur. There’s no way you third-years don’t know that items are strictly forbidden in every duel held on Academy grounds.”

Their mouths snapped shut.

“If you don’t want me to report it, turn yourselves in,” Park Gwangah said, jerking a thumb over her shoulder.

The crowd’s silent stares were fixed on them from that direction.

“Either way, what you did is going to spread across the Academy.”

All three faces went bloodless.

In the end, Lee Ara, Mahur, and Ri Kuran meekly followed Park Gwangah toward the main building.

With those three included, no one in Gwangcheon is going to try demanding our HAUT slots again.

I watched their retreating backs and thought that.

“Losing even with a Demonic Relic… They’re not just weak, they’re hopeless,” Meiling said, incredulous.

“But how did you know they were wearing items?”

“Their cuffs were a little thick at the wrist, but it didn’t look like a smartwatch no matter how I squinted. So I took a chance and rolled the sleeves up.”

“Huh. Really? Sharp eyes.”

She gave me a look that said she was, just this once, mildly impressed.

In truth, it was the Lens of Lavzahi that tipped me off.

In Latessai, the HP and MP you gain on level-up are determined by your Physical and Stamina Aptitudes. Yet the trio’s HP and MP were higher than what their levels and aptitude multipliers should have produced—despite not wearing gear.

There were only two possibilities:

One, an ability that temporarily boosted their status.

Two, hidden equipment.

None of the three had abilities that increased base stats, so that left only one explanation: they were secretly wearing items.

And the easiest place to hide an item? The wrist, under a sleeve, where you’d normally wear a smartwatch.

Sure enough, the moment we rolled up their cuffs, the trick was laid bare.

To cheat and still lose that badly… they won’t be able to show their faces for a while.

They brought it on themselves.

Itaewon Hunter Market.

The largest hunter bazaar in Seoul, where you could find anything related to Hunters or the Demonic Realm.

Just off the main boulevard, down a side alley, stood a newly opened equipment shop.

Platinum Wing—a peculiar store.

They consistently sold low-level Rare items. Not only were those Rares of a quality you’d be hard-pressed to match elsewhere, their prices were reasonable.

As a result, wealthy families with children in Hunter academies were frantic to get their hands on Platinum Wing’s wares.

Not long ago, they somehow stocked over a hundred Rare pieces spanning levels 1 to 40, launched a discount fair, and the place never stopped buzzing.

Thanks to that, despite opening only recently, Platinum Wing was rapidly becoming famous across the Market.

Even their Normal- and Magic-grade gear was said to be solid, and regular customers were steadily increasing.

The reason it worked was the shop’s manager, Lee Donghyuk.

Every item that entered the store passed his inspection. If it didn’t meet his standards, he wouldn’t stock it, no matter how cheap it was.

A place you can trust. He knew how crucial that reputation was.

Before opening, Donghyuk was polishing a display of Magic-grade metal armor hung along the wall.

The special exhibition’s done, and until the next batch of Rares arrives, things should be calm for a while.

He recalled the recent madness and let out a wry chuckle.

“Pardon? A hundred? Young Lady, are you certain about that number?”

“I told you, didn’t I? Every single piece is Rare grade.”

Common sense said it was impossible.

Even a skilled Craftsman needed at least two weeks to make a single Rare item.

Yet Nam Yein—still just a student—had produced over a hundred Rare pieces in mere days, all while attending the Academy.

After confirming that every last one of them carried the same mana signature as Yein’s previous work, Donghyuk literally forgot to breathe for a moment.

There’s no way he’s making them the usual way.

Yein’s hands were calloused, yes—but they were a Hunter’s calluses, not a Craftsman’s. Donghyuk could tell at a glance.

He couldn’t imagine what method could mass-produce so many high-quality Rares.

He’d even wondered whether some Hunter ability was involved, but he’d never heard of an ability that created items.

Still, no matter how good business gets, I’d rather not go through that chaos again.

On weekends, Eleanor came early to help. But on weekdays, he had no choice but to run the place solo until she arrived after school.

It should be fine. That last time was a special case because of the Arms Collector, and Nam Yein seems to recognize the Young Lady now. I doubt he’ll dump a mountain of Rares on us again without warning…

Just then, the doorbell chimed.

“Mr. Donghyuk, I’m here!”

Eleanor bounced in, wearing overalls and a baker’s cap, a bright smile on her face.

“Welcome, Young Lady.”

Donghyuk bowed.

“I’m planning to head to the workshop around three today,” Eleanor said, picking up a polishing cloth like his.

“And Yein will be stopping by later. We’re going to discuss the Rare gear for next week’s intake.”

“Understood.”

They were dusting the shelves and sweeping the floor together when the bell chimed again.

“Ah, sorry. We’re not open yet—”

Eleanor turned toward the door—and froze.

Donghyuk, too, stared at the entrance with his mouth open. The cloth slipped from his hand.

“Ah, am I too early? My apologies.”

Smiling as he spoke stood none other than Cheon Jiwon, the Mayor of Seoul.

“You don’t have to follow me.”

“I’m not following you.”

“Then where are you going?”

“Where I want. None of your business.”

I sighed.

The bus rumbled back into motion, its engine growling.

“For the last time, I’m telling you—we’re not going there to hang out.”

Meiling turned her head away, pretending not to hear.

It was Saturday morning, and I had planned to head straight to the Hunter Market.

Last time, thanks to Persilla, I’d ended up dumping over a hundred Rare items onto Platinum Wing with no plan whatsoever.

I’d told Eleanor afterward that from now on we’d coordinate properly before putting stock into the store. The guilt of that still lingered a bit.

But she hadn’t blamed me at all. On the contrary, she’d thrown a “special exhibition” to promote the shop, and everything had sold out in just three days.

Which was why I wanted to have a proper consultation with her today.

—But then there was this.

[Nam Yein! Do you have plans today?]

“What the… you’re calling this early in the morning?”

[Answer me. Do you or don’t you?]

“…I was planning to go to the Hunter Market.”

[Hunter Market? What for?]

“Not to buy. I’ve got to meet with Eleanor.”

[…Eleanor?]

“Yes.”

[……]

“Hello?”

[I’m coming too!]

“What?”

That had been the gist of the conversation.

Even after I explained that it wasn’t for fun but for work, Meiling had insisted she was coming along.

I sneaked a glance at her now, sitting beside me.

Her cheeks were faintly flushed as she stared out the window. When she noticed my eyes, she snapped her head back at me, glaring.

“What? Got something to say?”

“You’re not in your black dress today.”

“Huh?”

She was wearing a sleeveless summer dress. Even for Meiling, dragging around layers of heavy fabric in this heat must’ve been unbearable.

“…Do I look weird?”

“No. It suits you.”

“Ugh…!”

Her face crumpled as if I’d just punched her in the gut, then she whipped her head back toward the window.

What’s with her? It’s not like I said anything wrong.

Soon, the bus pulled up at the Hunter Market stop. Meiling and I stepped out and made our way toward the central boulevard.

Because it was the weekend, the place was crowded even this early in the day.

Still… something feels off.

This wasn’t my first Saturday morning here, but I’d never seen the market this packed.

The closer we got to the center, the more it felt like all the people were heading in the same direction—toward where we were going.

“I wasn’t imagining it.”

I muttered the words as Platinum Wing came into view.

The storefront was overflowing with people.

“What’s going on? Why are there so many?” Meiling gasped.

Could the special exhibition have made the store this famous? Or is there some new event? I didn’t hear anything…

As I studied the crowd, another detail stood out.

Many of them had smartphones or smartwatches raised, recording.

“What, did a celebrity show up or something?”

“Let’s go check.”

Meiling nodded, and together we pushed our way through the throng until we could see inside the shop.

“—!”

The moment I saw, I understood the commotion instantly.

“What the… why is the Mayor of Seoul in there?”

Meiling’s voice barely registered.

So he came after all.

I had expected this.

In Latessai, crafted items carried a unique mana signature, like a fingerprint.

The first time I’d met Lee Donghyuk, he’d immediately realized that the so-called “Demonic Relic” I’d sold was actually something I’d made. The mana signature gave me away.

Mayor Cheon Jiwon had likely tracked the distinctive aura of the Weight of Phase Fixation I had given him.

And naturally, that trail would lead to Platinum Wing—the only shop I supplied.

So is he looking for the one who crafted it?

If that were the case, Eleanor and Donghyuk would cover for me.

But something felt off. If it were just an investigation, the mayor himself wouldn’t need to come in person.

Then another thought flashed through my mind.

Could it be about Persilla, not me?

It was possible.

Persilla’s level was 84. Even a group of Hunters couldn’t restrain a criminal of that caliber.

But Cheon Jiwon could. He alone, in all of Seoul, had the strength to handle her.

If he’s tracking Persilla, then it makes sense he’d come here. She’s visited Platinum Wing multiple times. Which means the real question is…

Just then, Cheon Jiwon abruptly turned.

He strode quickly toward the door.

The crowd scrambled aside to open a path.

Step by step, he advanced—until he stopped right in front of me.

“Well, if it isn’t Nam Yein.”

“Good morning, Mr. Mayor.”

We smiled as we exchanged greetings.

(End of Chapter)

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