Acquired the Scam Rune in the Academy

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Unlike other specialized fields where one’s abilities might be lacking, butcher Holders are in demand everywhere due to their scarcity in numbers. Even the Holder Association and the government sometimes employ them… For them, worries about employment were like tales from a distant land.

“Next, there’s the heart, blood, bodily fluids, and so on… Anything that can serve as research material is sold as byproducts. Especially creatures like the S-grade monster we hunted today have more to harvest.”

Monster byproducts weren’t merely used as materials for production. They were popular items even in Holder scientific institutes like rune research facilities. The modern Holder system was a domain full of mysteries, and there were still many secrets yet to be uncovered. Scientists who sought to discover new facts through monster byproducts were still conducting research somewhere.

“Then, can’t you directly gain items from monsters?”

“Most of the items are in the dungeon’s rest room. So, that’s mostly true.”

“But not always.”

Listening silently, Jeong Seon-young interjected.

“Sometimes, items like weapons used by monsters can also be actual items. The probability is low, though.”

That’s not entirely wrong. In fact, items can be gained from field monsters too. For instance, creatures like Goblin Warriors. Just like items dropping from enemies in a game, sometimes the equipment they use can be items. Even a Normal-grade equipment could fetch a considerable sum, so there were Holders who specifically hunted these creatures.

However, I had never gotten one. Not once, even while tackling ‘Goblin Lair‘. Even the equipment from the boss monster ‘Goblin Chieftain’ was not an item. [Goblin’s Bronze Shield] had come from the treasure pouch of a Golden Goblin.

So, the chance to gain items from field monsters was low.

“Oh, and was that recently not classified as the highest-grade undead dungeon again?”

I answered Jeong Seon-young’s question.

“Room of Approaching Death?”

“Oh, yeah! The boss monster in that dungeon was an S-grade creature, and the weapon it used was an Epic-grade item.”

“Death Knight….”

S-grade monster Death Knight. The boss of the dungeon classified as the highest-grade, <Room of Approaching Death>. Jeong Seon-young clapped her hands when I mumbled the name.

“Right, Death Knight. You know everything, huh?”

“That was the dungeon Holder Song Do-hyuk tackled. I saw him when he was a rising knight.”

Song Do-hyuk, the heir to the Song Clan, one of the two renowned swordsmanship clans in Korea. One of the top three large clans domestically, along with <Judgment of Fire> and <Royal>, and the clan master of <Dragon Flame Sword>. S-grade Holder Song Do-hyuk. Information about him, who rose to the top with his swordsmanship alone, was so well-known that I could learn about him through newspapers and articles, even without being A transmigrator.

“Anyway, I’m not interested in leather, so keep that in mind. I’m going for the gills.”

“Gills?”

“Yeah. That creature seems to be very skilled in water-based magic, so I’m thinking something interesting might come out from studying its gills. Plus, usable items can be bought at regular auctions anyway.”

The auction house that would be held in Daegu tomorrow. Not all the items appearing here were related to Swirl Leviathan. Regular auction items would appear first, and the byproducts of Swirl Leviathan would be included as additional items. That’s why even those who participated in the disaster monster hunt often didn’t obsess over these byproduct auctions.

That is why I wasn’t nervous about this auction where high-grade Holders participated. Besides S-grade magic stones, many good items would appear in the auction.

“Senior, do you often research byproducts?”

“Of course. All magic users are not just battle Holders, but also researchers. Better magic comes from long contemplation and research.”

I nodded in agreement. It made perfect sense.

“I’m interested in the magic stone.”

Taking a sip of coffee, I answered her earlier question.

Jeong Seon-young’s eyes widened at my response.

“Magic Stone? S-grade monster magic stones are likely to be as popular as leather. Do you have a lot of money?”

I smiled lightly in response to her question.

The market price for B-grade monster magic stones is 42 million won. For A-grade monster, it’s 300 million won. So, the S-grade monster magic stones would cost at least over 1 billion won. I’ve heard of prices ranging from 2 to 5 billion won.

For an ordinary Holder, it’s an unimaginable amount. But…

‘I’ve prepared bullets for this day.’

The academy’s underground dungeon, which regenerates every week. I’ve consistently tackled the dungeon and saved money over time.

The main hunting targets were B-grade lizards. Although hunting in a duo with Kim Chae-eun was slightly less efficient than a five-member party, we’ve hunted nearly 200 creatures.

Even if I divide the profits from magic stones by half, it would amount to 4.2 billion won for me. Adding the byproducts of monsters caught while advancing to a C-grade Holder and the dungeon profits from owning ‘Goblin Lair’, it’s quite substantial.

After subtracting investments for Choi Yoo-min and Choi Arin, my living expenses, essential costs, and other expenses… I would still have around 4 billion won left immediately. With this much, I wouldn’t lag behind other Holders in terms of purchasing power.

‘If I’m short on money, I can borrow some from her or Chae-eun.”

Kim Chae-eun also has a similar amount of money as me. We’ve hunted together in dungeons before.

Honestly, the sum is quite large to borrow…

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

When I stared at her, Kim Chae-eun asked with a mischievous smile.

I lightly shook my head and answered.

“Just in case.”

Because it’s you, Chae-eun. I’m sure we can figure something out.