Even Today, the Ranker Dreams of Retirement

The night market on Kill Screen Island.

It was quite a famous spot among hunters.

“Selling rare ingredients found in Kill Screen! Dealing only in products from Kill Screen, not other dungeons—reliable premium quality!”

“Direct trade! You can get it cheaper than wholesale prices!”

“Ah, it’s cheaper than potion shoes!”

“Special 50% sale starting now for the next hour! Tearful urgent clearance sale due to inventory cleanup! An opportunity you’ll never find again if not now!”

“Buying items. Will pay high prices for used goods you want to sell!”

An endless parade of tents and shops stretched between the massive commercial districts.

Yellow lights, twinkling like those in a campsite, hung between them.

Some set up proper shops to do business, others pitched tents, and some even sat on mats laid out on the street without buildings or tents, selling their wares.

Their common point was that they were densely packed without room to step, eagerly selling goods and haggling.

“Well, since it’s a place where hunters from all over the world gather, it’s become a place for hunters to trade among themselves. The translation items also enable free trade regardless of nationality.”

Chae Jiseok, who had followed along, added as Habin looked at the scene. Kill Screen Island had the greatest advantage of being easily accessible from all over the world through portals. Hunters didn’t miss out on this advantage.

“They say every hunter who visits here stops by at least once. There are quite a few hunters who even settle down here and make a living just running shops.”

[Oh ho, it’s a completely different atmosphere from that department store place we visited last time! I like this free-spirited ambiance. It reminds me of where I used to live, especially the clinking sound of gold and silver coins changing hands…….]

“Do you accept card payments here?”

In response to Ahezar’s words, Habin asked the nearby merchant in a serious voice. The merchant selling skewers answered promptly.

“These days, everyone uses card payments. Visa? Mastercard? We accept them all. Bank transfers are okay too!”

“Oh, modern civilization is the best.”

[…….]

“How can you accept all cash when even the smallest item here costs at least a million won? That’s not possible.”

The merchant flipped the skewers at that moment. The meat and green onions skewered on the sticks sizzled as they charred over the fire. He continued speaking.

“Of course, these snacks are priced similarly to market prices, so people do pay cash when buying food. Would you like to try one?”

“Ooh! Tap and pay!”

Habin eagerly held out her card. She muttered with an expectant face.

“This place was also in the guidebook as a famous restaurant! They say the lamb skewers are especially delicious.”

“That’s right, not just hunters, but ordinary people come here in droves to eat this.”

The merchant nodding his skewer grilling with a satisfied expression. This was also one of the reasons why the Kill Screen night market was famous.

If it only sold items, it would have remained just a famous spot among hunters, but the night market’s offerings didn’t stop there.

Basically, it’s a place where people from all over the world gather regardless of nationality.

People from countless origins including Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America, and Oceania came here with their own cultures.

As diverse as the countless nationalities were the foods, drinks, and even tourist souvenirs.

It was also very famous for a renowned travel influencer’s statement: ‘If you want to travel the world in a day, go to Kill Screen Island!’

“It’s not just cuisine from various countries, but there are also many amazing fusion dishes where different cultures mix. For example…… you must try the sriracha cream chicken or the basil pesto sundae fries!”

Habin led Chae Jiseok with determined strides through the crowded people with barely room to step.

[The constellation ‘Nearest Light’ chimes in, saying it was a good idea to disguise yourself!]

Chae Jiseok had deliberately used an item to change his hair color before visiting the night market. He also covered his eyes with sunglasses and wore a mask meticulously.

Just like any celebrity or famous person would do.

For good reason.

“Chae-ssi, to think everyone would recognize you even in such a far-off foreign place.”

Habin sighed. Earlier when they went to watch the sunset, Jiseok had his original appearance, and people recognized him and flocked to him with every step.

“Oh! Aren’t you the vice guild master of Solaris?”

“It’s Chae Jiseok-nim! I’m a longtime fan! Since we’ve met here by chance…….”

“Hello, I’m a reporter from JSC. I heard that Guild Master Chae Jise participated in the 50th floor expedition team, do you, as the vice guild master, know anything about Kill Screen’s 50th floor?”

“My 7-year-old son is a fan of Chae Jiseok-ssi, could I please get an autograph?”

“Just one photo, please!”

It was a veritable storm of attention and requests.

“Somehow it seems even more intense than in Korea?”

“In Korea, we only met inside the training institute and our facilities, that’s why.”

Come to think of it, Habin had never gone out to the streets or public places with the Chae siblings before. At most, they met inside the training institute, Solaris building, or the department store’s luxury section.

Even when moving, they used private cars…….

Chae Jiseok continued to explain.

“Plus, this island is mainly visited by people who have permission related to Kill Screen business. Most people here are well-informed about the hunter world.”

Not just hunters and reporters, but even the ordinary people here were mostly involved in hunter-related work.

For them, Chae Jiseok was a celebrity they absolutely couldn’t ignore.

After all, he represents Solaris, the light of Korea, along with Chae Jise.

‘Well, I could have managed up to that point.’

The problem was that it didn’t end there.

“But who is this lady next to you……?”

“What’s your relationship?”

“I don’t think I’ve seen her face before…….”

The attention then shifted to Habin!

“Eh, huh? I’m just a stranger!”

At that time, a startled Habin had scuttled away from Chae Jiseok sideways like a crab.

If an article about them being together came out or if she got caught up in a troublesome interview, it would be extremely inconvenient!

That’s why Habin had insisted to Chae Jiseok before entering the night market.

‘If you want to come along to the night market, you absolutely must disguise yourself somehow so your identity isn’t revealed! Or we’ll have to go separately.’

Habin had asserted this to Chae Jiseok with a firm attitude, and thanks to that, he ended up in disguise.

Chae Jiseok, fiddling with his sunglasses, shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s not particularly uncomfortable. I’m used to it. I often do this when I go out normally too. I even lined up like this when waiting for Yeomdan pork cutlet last time.”

“Huh, you actually lined up for that yourself?”

“I worked on business inside the waiting tent while in line…….”

His voice was somewhat wistful.

By now, they were eating the night market’s specialty, bulgogi cheese hot dogs, that they had bought.

Munch munch.

Chae Jiseok continued speaking to Habin, who was listening quietly.

“It would probably be similar if you went out with nuna. By the way, how do you plan to go around with nuna later? You said you two were going to hang out together.”

Chae Jise had been a celebrity even before the Gate Crisis. People’s awareness of her would be equal to or greater than Chae Jiseok’s, not less.

“Hmm. I hadn’t thought about that part.”

“Still, if you cover up thoroughly or use items, people don’t recognize you as much as you’d think. We have our own methods too.”

“Your own methods?”

“Well, for example, renting out an entire department store on its day off, or using the movie theater inside the Solaris building……”

“Oh…….”

It seems the class of a chaebol hunter doesn’t go away.

“Is that possible? It’s the department store’s day off.”

“Originally, on department store holidays, they sometimes open deliberately for VIP customers by reservation only. We take advantage of that opportunity.”

“Hmm, then I guess I’ll have to disguise myself when going to the strawberry buffet too.”

Habin sighed and turned her head. Just then, a glittering sign in a corner of the night market caught her eye.

‘Test your luck!’

Habin’s eyes sparkled. She shouted in an excited voice.

“Chae-ssi, let’s go there next!”

“Huh? That’s…….”

Spinning wheels and gacha machines, and people holding cards and playing games in one corner.

At a glance it looked like a game arcade, but upon closer inspection, it was different.

The sight of people betting chips and money. The expressions of people completely focused on a single card.

“Isn’t this a gambling den?!”

[Gambling?! Is it gambling!?]

The simultaneous shocked reactions of Chae Jiseok and Ahezar. Ahezar hastily added.

[Gambling is not allowed! I’ve seen many who gambled away their family fortune and ended up becoming slaves themselves, living miserable lives!]

“Hyun Habin, think again. I’ve heard that losing your limbs is nothing when you enter places like this.”

[You could end up becoming a ‘thin ice, hot pants’ (someone who’s in over their head)!]

“Where on earth did you two hear all this?”

Habin shook her head with a blank expression.

“And what do you two take me for? I’m not going to gamble either, you know? It’s illegal in the first place.”

She pointed at the stand placed in front of the gambling den.

“But I’m going to buy some lottery tickets.”

“Lottery tickets?”

[Lottery tickets?]

After finishing her words, Habin cheerfully said to the clerk at the stand while holding out her card.

“I’ll take everything from here to there!”

“Why this? And why so much?”

“Life is all or nothing!”

“Even so, this is a bit……!”

Ahezar whispered to Habin so she could hear.

[Aren’t you rich to begin with! Why are you buying lottery tickets?]

Hyun Habin’s account balance already exceeded 9 billion won (feat. Hyun Siwoo). Ahezar couldn’t understand.

[The grand prize is only 1 billion won? And the other prizes are just unremarkable items.]

‘Kim Jaljal, what do you mean “only” 1 billion? The word “only” should never come after the amount of 1 billion.’

Habin answered while glancing at the prizes. There were various types. Including the 1 billion won cash prize, there were several expensive items and small miscellaneous items.

Habin paid a bit more attention to an item named ‘Star Fragment’ among the items classified as miscellaneous. The description next to it read:

-No effect, no value as a material. However, its luster is quite excellent, making it a high-grade item as a gemstone.

“Wow, that looks really pretty. I like it. It looks just like a broken candy piece, doesn’t it?”

After checking all the other items as well, Habin held out her card to the clerk.

“Anyway, please process the payment.”

Chae Jiseok interjected.

“Is there no limit to how many one person can buy? Is it okay to buy this many?”

“We don’t have such restrictions.”

‘……I guess that’s Kill Screen Island for you.’

Kill Screen Island, while somewhat controlled by SPES, was basically territory that didn’t belong to any country.

So while they were strict on public safety issues like actual murder and theft, sometimes there were loopholes in detailed regulations like gambling or lottery sales.

“Are you perhaps a hunter?”

The clerk, having just finished the transaction, scrutinized Habin with a sharp gaze.

“I should tell you in advance, our lottery uses a special method because of hunters with penetrating vision or appraisal abilities.”

“What kind of method?”

“You write down four numbers you like from the ones here on the lottery ticket, then we randomly draw four balls later, and if you match all the numbers on the balls, it’s first place, three matches is second place, two matches is third place. That’s how it works.”

“Isn’t this just regular lotto……?”

She had high expectations when they said it was a special method, but it was too similar to the familiar lotto.

“Scratch-off lottery tickets are too easy to see through. This is the method we found after much searching. The difference is that we do it on the spot for you!”

“Hmm…….”

“If you get first place, you can take any prize you want from all the ones here, second place is limited to prizes below this line, third place is the line below that, and fourth place is only the bottom line of prizes.”

“Okay. Let’s start then!”

Habin nodded readily. Her attitude was confident, as if she could win at any moment. She hummed a tune while writing down the numbers.

Then, she opened her skill window.

Removes the restriction on one of your currently inactive stats. (Usable twice per day)

‘Alright. Deactivation Release, applying to the Luck stat.’

Reflected. From now on, your ‘Luck’ stat will be considered 2.14 billion!

(Time remaining until skill effect disappears: 23:59:58)

“Just you wait.”

I’m going to sweep up all the prizes here.