The Returner Switches Job To Hunter

Chapter 13 - I received USD 500.000

 I had received USD 500.000 as a reward.

 Maybe for some millionaires, it was pocket change. But for me, it was enough to make my hands shake.

 I was thinking about how I should spend my earnings from the lottery... No. I mean reward for catching a criminal, but I thought I should buy a house before anything else.

 I was starting to get tired of living in a tiny room with Katrin.

 Now that I think about it more carefully.

 The first time I saw Katrin was ten years ago. Back then, she was around 8 years old.

 But now that 10 years had passed, she had become an adult. 

 Even though she was still a little kid to me, I felt she should have her own private room. 

 After all, Katrin was at a complicated age.

 No. I shouldn't think like this. It isn't like I'm her father or anything. 

 Not only I'm not married, but I also don't have a girlfriend.

 The truth is that the most urgent thing is equipment. Even if I'm good at close-range combat, there's a limit to how well you can fight in real life without having any equipment. 

 Think about it. It doesn't matter how good I am at putting a nail in the wall. It will always be more effective to use a hammer rather than something like a stone.

 It's also more comfortable.

 The main point here is that equipment is indeed very important. But, equipment pieces for hunters are too expensive. 

 A normal armor made of steel doesn't cost that much money. You could also order one that was okay for use in dungeons. 

 But, once the armor had some fancy material like titanium mixed in it, the price went up. 

 Weapons that had a Magic Stone in them were even more expensive. 

 The main ingredient for ether weapons was magic stones. Then, because this had to be mixed with other ingredients, the price increased even further. 

 On top of that, magic stones of high purity were extremely expensive. What I want to say with this is that it is out of reach for me.

 'Well, once I enter a guild, I'll probably be able to buy one.'

 First, I need to buy whatever gear I can. Even low-class ones.

 After all, he still had the two-handed sword that was gifted to him by the orc champion the other day.

 Anyways, I went to a real estate agency.

 Although it wasn't enough to buy a nice house, I had decided to buy one for USD 300.000

 But there was one thing bothering me.

 "Youg man, I'm giving you a good price for this house. It really is a bargain."

 "Excuse me. I'm just wondering. Do you know who I am?"

 "Huh? Have you visited us previously?"

 "No."

 "Because of my old age, I tend to forget things."

 It was the first time we saw each other, so there was no way he would know me.

 But the strange thing was that everything was too quiet.

 I had awakened. Not only that, I was able to catch a famous villain. I also had the record of having the most amount of inventory. 

 I had done a lot of things that should've been news material. I thought South Korea would be covered by news about me. But nothing of that had happened.

 'Well, it's not that I was expecting to become famous after catching one villain.'

 After closing the deal, I search for my name on the search engines.

 - Lee HyunBin

 The only news available was news about a famous person with the same name that had admitted to dating someone.

 - Anyang Amusement Park Dungeon

 The only news that appeared mentioned that a villain named 'The Salaryman' had been captured at the Anyang Amusement Park by a hunter.

 It didn't even say my name.

 If it were going to be like this, why did the reporters ask me so many questions? What a useless bunch of guys.

 Even though it was a shame, I had nothing to worry about. After all, I'm eventually going to get fame and recognition. 

 Even people from TooShin Guild are trying to scout me.

 If the news that I'm about to dual-awaken, I would probably be able to get more money for signing off with a guild. 

 No. Since I'm starting from zero, I should try to get to the top once more.

 I was the strongest in the other world. If I'm going to start again from the bottom, I should try to reach as high as possible. 

 'I should buy Katrin some food.'

 Since she watches the news, she has probably already knows that I've received a reward. 

 Then she'd probably demand me to buy her some food. What an arrogant child.

 She's trying to live from the fact that she's helped me in the other world by giving me a place to stay, food, and some equipment.

 'Last time I ordered jajangmyeon and tangsuyuk, she really liked it. So that should be okay, right?'

 While living as a ruler in the other world, she probably got to eat a lot of different delicious food. But the fact that she was just eating noodle-based foods saddened him a little bit. 

 After all, she came to this era because of me.

 Well, I've received a lot of price money, and my income will probably keep growing. So I shouldn't worry about every single penny spent. 

 Once I entered the old rusty room, I saw Katrin gaming with her headset on.

 She was wearing a white tee and sweatpants. That's definitely the look of an unemployed game addict. If only she had some beard on that chin, it would be perfect.

 "Hey misters, can't you see that the healer will die if you don't tank properly?"

 It seems like she's doing another raid.

 The Katrin I remembered was a workaholic.

 I remember being amazed by the sight of an eight years old kid stamping the reports with a seal almost as big as her face. 

 After seeing that, I remember saying to her that she should also act according to her age. She should also go out, play, and have some fun.

 - A pig that doesn't work, doesn't have the right to eat.

 She was talking about me, who had been staying in the castle having fun and doing nothing else with the excuse of being the hero. 

 The kid that used to say rude things like that, had grown to become a game addict.

 Have I ruined this kid? Have I failed at educating this kid?

 "I'm signing off. Yes, good luck."

 It seemed like the raid was over.

 Katrin complained while looking at the monitor. 

 "Is he playing with his tongue? How can he be so horrible? Old man, what do you think about a tanker that just strengthens the weapon and doesn't get other defensive items?"

 "Sometimes, I forget that you're not someone from this world."

 "What are you talking about? Also, oh yeah. I'm hungry."

 Just as expected.

 If she isn't hungry, it would mean there's something wrong with her.

 "I think that you're eating more and more."

 "Huh? What are you talking about? I didn't have dinner yet."

 Of course, you didn't. After all, it's lunchtime. 

 Well, I was already planning to buy her something delicious to eat. So let's stop bothering her.

 "Jajangmyeon and tangsuyuk?"

 "Big size."

 "Okay."

 After seeing me order food through my cellphone, Katrin became excited and came down from the chair.

 "Hey, did you get the prize money?"

 She knew, just as expected.

 "Just because I got money, it doesn't mean I can spend it without thinking carefully. You're not planning to increase the amount of food you eat, right?"

 She really ate a lot. A normal person usually has three meals a day. In the case of Katrin, it was three times that.

 Was it because she was still growing? The most amazing thing was that she hadn't gained weight despite eating so much.

 "What are you talking about? Also, what are you going to do with the money?"

 "Don't lust over it. I've put the downpayment for a house."

 I was planning to use USD 300.000 to buy a house. With the rest of the money, I planned to buy some equipment. 

 Why is this brat making a treacherous smile? 

 "I knew it. I was sure that the first thing you'd buy is a house."

 "Why?"

 "Oh, that's because you need some alone time."

 "What are you talking about?"

 "You need to be alone while watching documentaries about animals that don't have fur." 

 Wait, that really are just documentaries.

 I downloaded those because I mistook them for another thing.

 "It's okay, I understand."

 "There's nothing you need to understand. If you keep humiliating people like that, I will cancel the food order. Why? Because if you keep doing this, you'll lose my trust. And I can't eat with people I don't trust."

 Katrin seemed surprised by what I had just said.

 Then she grabbed her bag and took out a paper from it. Was it a leaflet? Or maybe a pamphlet?

 "Oh no... Has our trust broken? Then I'll need to cancel all this equipment I've bought..."

 "What equipment?"

 Katrin took out a white paper from the pamphlet. Contract for special hunter equipment? What is this?

 Ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand?

 There really was a contract for buying a USD 150.000 power suit and gauntlets. 

 "Equipment? Is this mine?"

 "Who else? What am I going to do with hunter equipment?"

 "Where did you get the money?"

 From where did a kid whose happiness consisted of eating ramyeon get enough money to buy pieces of equipment that cost USD 150.000?

 The only explanation I could think of was that she had found some gold while walking on the streets. 

 At my question, Katrin acted as if she were crying.

 "I sold items."

 "What items?"

 "The items of the game I was playing, of course."

 I couldn't believe what I was hearing. But wait, what kind of game item is so expensive?

 "You really seemed to like that game. Why did you suddenly sell your items?"

 "I'm considering quitting that game. I think I won't need to play anymore."

 Well done. You were spending too many hours gaming. Despite your pretty face, now you look like a panda. 

 Even though she is very pretty, her dark circles have worsened because of video games. 

 "You've officially become a hunter, right? I've heard that the only equipment you have is a sword you've taken from an orc. You're the only person I know in this world. So I don't want you to get hurt."

 Even though she's a video game addict, she's a very sweet, kind, and intelligent girl.

 I was moved by it. It's not because she has bought expensive items for me. Her feelings are what moved me. Yeah, her feelings. 

 "I never knew your highness was thinking about me so deeply. If there's anything else you wish to eat, please tell me."

 "Hmm... I really want to eat chop suey."

 "Understood."

 Wait, how does she know what a chop suey is? Oh well, who cares. I ordered chop suey and kkanpunggi. 

 Is this why they say that it's worth raising a child?

 I called the Chinese food restaurant from which I had ordered food. As soon as I ordered more food and finished paying, a number I'd never seen called.

 "Mister... There's something I haven't told you..."

 "Hello?"

 Katrin was about to say something when I answered the phone call. 

 I beckoned Karin to wait a minute. She nodded while smiling.

 - Am I talking with Mr. Lee HyunBin?

 "Yes. May I know who I am talking with?"

 - Hello. I'm Kim MinJeong, from the gate control department. Since you've saved many lives and done something that serves as a role model for others, we wanted to award you an 'Order of Military Merit.' 

 "An award?"

 I had never received any kind of awards, even when I was still in school. 

 An 'Order of Military Merit?' Once I receive this, I'm entitled to a privileged pension. Right? Also, I get to take a picture with an important person. 

 - Yes. Also, you'll need to have a previous meeting with the director. Are you okay with that?

 "Yes."

 - I'll send you a message later with the time and place for the meeting. If you happen to be busy at that time, you just need to send me a message with time.

 "Okay, thanks."

 As soon as I ended the call, Katrin happily clapped.

 "Wow! Are you going to receive an award? Nice! When you were in our world, you never received any kind of distinction."

 The other world, huh? It was full of betrayal and revenge.

 "So, what did you want to tell me?"

 "Hmm? Oh, it's nothing important."

 "You're not going to ask me for more food, right?"

 "No, it's nothing. Really. Don't worry." 

 Your face is full of doubts. It seems like it's something that you've been struggling with for a while. It's all written in your face.

 "Just tell me. You're eventually going to do it, so why not do it now?"

 Katrin remained silent. After thinking about it for a while, she carefully opened her mouth.  

 "Mister. To tell you the truth, I've awakened."

 "Awaken?"

 "Yes..."

 What is she talking about? The only thing she's done is stay indoors while gaming. 

 "Did you awaken as a food-eating god? How much more are you planning to eat? Oh my god."

 "No!" 

 "No!"

 "Don't imitate me!"

 "Don't imitate me!"

 Katrin frowned her fine eyebrows as if they were a piece of paper. First, I should listen to her story.

 "Okay, understood. What did you awaken as?"

 Since she's a person from another world, her awakening isn't something unreasonable. The probability of awakening increases if you frequent the dungeon, but some people awakened in normal residential areas.

 "It says level 1, Lord..."