Thumbs Up, Level Up

Chapter 171

“Is there anyone hurt? Please tell me, I’m a healer! My summoned beast can also heal you. So please let us know if you’re hurt!”

When Ji-Cheokj shouted, people came to their senses. He needed to at least treat those with the heavier injuries before the medical team arrived.

“Here! Tell the healer to come here!”

“I… I am also a healer. I can speak a little Korean.”

A foreign Hunter healed himself and then got up to try and treat others. Even non-healers took potions from the half-destroyed emergency kit on one side of the banquet hall and poured them on each other’s wounds.

“I had no idea that Um Ji-Cheok was that strong…”

“Why aren’t the people from downstairs coming to help us?”

When Ji-Cheok was treating the wounded, Ju-Ran approached him. She took off her helmet, and Ji-Cheok could instantly recognize the face that he had seen in the business section of a recent newspaper.

“Wow, that helmet is completely sealed. Can you even see properly with that?” Ji-Cheok asked.

“Is that going to be the first question you ask me?” Ju-Ran laughed.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

“You sure only think about your stream.”

‘That really might’ve been a bit rude, considering that it’s the first time we talk.’

As he felt a bit embarrassed, Ju-Ran put her thumbs up.

“You were incredible, Hunter Um Ji-Cheok.”

[You have received 10 Likes!]

‘Well… You don’t have to actually give me a thumbs up. Haha. This is embarrassing.’

* * *

Ju-Ran looked at Um Ji-Cheok, who was right in front of her.

‘He’s a very genuine guy.’

If she were to compare him to a drink, he was definitely a cocktail—lots of different tastes, colors, and textures were put together, and as they mixed, they created a harmonious whole.

‘I’m sure it was a ploy to distract the enemy when he rambled on about his stream.’

When fighting intelligent monsters who could communicate and understand what was going on, this kind of plan worked well to create openings.

‘Who in the world would risk their lives to film in this kind of situation? It’s nonsense. This sort of cold-hearted plan can only be conceived by someone who has experienced hell and worked their way up.’

Ju-Ran wondered how many plans Ji-Cheok had hidden behind that bright smile. Suddenly, Ji-Cheok started to look different. Of course, there was also one other reason for that change in opinion.

‘It was brave of him to think of rescuing people in that situation.’

Normally, humans thought about themselves when they fell into a crisis. However, Um Ji-Cheok was never like that.

‘He’s a true model Hunter with skills, brains, and a noble personality.’

Indeed, Um Ji-Cheok was to the Hunter world what the cocktail was to the bar—he had something that worked for every situation, and everyone found something about him that they liked. Even for those who didn’t like alcohol, he put up his non-alcohol version, the mukbang videos.

Ju-Ran had long since been aware of his personality, and that was why she and many other secret accounts would start their day by liking Ji-Cheok’s videos. It mattered little to her why or where from, all she cared was that they stanned Ji-Cheok together. Surprisingly, Ju-Ran was very tolerant when it came to stanning a Hunter.

One time, she had ordered her secretary to secretly make a meme praising Ji-Cheok. When she found out that others were using that meme to make sarcastic comments about him, she was furious. But a few moments later, she realized that this was all because Ji-Cheok was popular. Haters gonna hate.

‘God, my Umji is so handsome from up close.’

The little Shin Ju-Ran in her head was thinking ‘Even in these circumstances, Umji is handsome, caring,?and so smart that he is the number one Hunter in my book.’

In any case, regardless of what was going on in her head, her body was acting normally.

“Hunter Um Ji-Cheok, I don’t think you need to heal everyone here. There are other healers here, so why don’t you take a little break?” Ju-Ran asked.

“Ah, thank you, but I’m fine,” Ji-Cheok replied.

Her eyes sparkled at his firm and decisive reply.

‘Kya! Hundreds of pictures of us together just passed through my mind…’

She loved this kind of firm, student-president-type character. This type of character had been very popular in fan fiction and fan art since the early 2000’s. Even his jawline was so beautiful that she wanted to register it as a national treasure. She was confident that she could caress it for twenty-four hours straight.

“Then, would you like to have a chat with me? I mean, we’re comrades now, aren’t we?” Ju-Ran said.

“...”

Without replying, Ji-Cheok looked around. Most of the wounded had now been sorted out. He knew that this was enough to wait for the medical personnel to arrive. He couldn’t do anything about the dead, but among those who survived, no one was in critical condition.

‘Hm… I don’t know if I can get more Likes anyway,’?Ji-Cheok thought.

He had already received many Likes. While he was healing people, Likes were coming in every second. As he expected, the more desperate a person was, the more Likes they gave him. It was understandable—that was how human emotions worked, after all.

‘I think I should just chat with her a little.’

Ji-Cheok started to talk with her without knowing what was on her mind.

“It was so awesome that you saved all those people,” Ju-Ran said.

“Thank you.”

“The way you fought was also cool.”

“Ah, thank you so much.”

“I’m a big fan.”

“Oh? Umji, Gumji…”

Ju-Ran realized that the conversation was taking a weird path.

“I even want to show the video of today’s battle to my raid team,” Ju-Ran said.

“Oh, does that mean I can release today’s video?”

Ju-Ran’s heart jumped again as she saw his expression suddenly brighten.

‘Ah… His smile is legendary…’?Ju-Ran thought.

With trembling hands, she took out her wallet and handed Ji-Cheok a business card.

“If you need anything, please contact me.”

“Okay! Thank you!”

“I will contact you later through my secretary regarding advertising, so please answer the phone.”

“Oh wow. That is great. Thank you!”

Ju-Ran smiled.

“It would be nice to have a talk about advertisements with your brother and Mr. Seong Kwang as well,” Ju-Ran said.

“Huh?”

“I heard that Mr. Seong Kwang is having a hard time running an orphanage. This would be a nice way to support him.”

“Ah, yes! I will tell him about it!”

Ji-Cheok politely accepted the business card with both hands. She looked at Ji-Cheok and said, “Good luck~”

She was about to leave when Ji-Cheok suddenly stopped her.

“Oh, wait!”

“Yes?”

Ji-Cheok took something out of the [Shadow Pouch] and handed it to Ju-Ran.

“This is my business card.”

“Ah! That’s….”

“Yes, I just made a new one. This is actually my first time giving someone my new business card.”

Her eyes shined brightly at his words.

‘A Hunter that I’m stanning just gave me his business card… And it’s the first one! Oh my god! Look at the Umji slogan at the back! This is too cute!!!’

The little Ju-Ran in her brain was parading triumphantly and doing backflips, but she made sure her voice didn’t reflect that.

“The design is really well done,” Ju-Ran said.

“It was designed by my brother. Mu-Cheok!” Ji-Cheok called his brother.

“What’s up, hyung?”

Mu-Cheok approached him, and he naturally put his arm around his younger brother’s neck.

“This guy designed it all by himself. He’s very talented. Mu-Cheok, give her your business card.”

Mu-Cheok also took out his business card and handed it to her.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Ji-Cheok’s younger brother, Mu-Cheok.”

“...Are they both the same design? Only the color is different,” Ju-Ran said.

“Well, we’re brothers after all.”

The brothers did a fist bump.

“I see,” Ju-Ran said.

“Thank you so much for always watching and supporting my hyung,” Mu-Cheok said with a big smile.

“...It’s all because your brother has such good content.”

She had just received the business cards of her favorite and second favorite Hunters. She hadn’t checked the calendar this morning, was it her birthday already?

‘I’m going to take care of these and polish them and dust them and kiss them every night!’

Fireworks exploded in her mind. She was h-a-p-p-y.

‘I’m so glad I decided to come to the auction house. I got to meet my idol!’

Just then, something happened that drew her attention.

Could it be because of the aftereffects of that fierce battle? Ji-Cheok’s knees gave in, and he staggered to the side once, then he almost collapsed.

‘Oh no!’

Ju-Ran quickly reached out her hand and Mu-Cheok also did the same. However, it was someone else who grabbed Ji-Cheok from behind to save him from hitting the floor.

“Oops~ My temporary friend worked too hard today. I know he wanted to use all his strength to save the world, but he should also think about his health~”

It was a tall and slender man. Dyed perfect black from head to toe, the man stood behind Ji-Cheok, holding him up.

‘Who the hell is that?’?Ju-Ran thought.

Her sixth sense was ringing the alarm bell like there was no tomorrow.

* * *

‘I am freakin dying. I used up too much of my strength in this battle.’

After saying goodbye to Shin Ju-Ran, Ji-Cheok took his time to gather some mana until his mana flow stabilized. He also took out a potion from the shadow.

‘I can’t even tell if I’m a Hunter or a drug addict.’

Funnily enough, high-level Hunters had better mana recovery, but they also drank more potions than everyone, since they had more money and they could afford it. It was a very interesting world.

“It’s a good habit to take care of your body after a battle,” Reable said.

“I was going to lie down for a bit, but I wanted to be ready,” Ji-Cheok said.

“Be ready for what?”

“Haven’t you noticed yet? The door won’t open,” Mu-Cheok said while cleaning his weapons.

“Oh?”

“I’m sure you felt it too, hyung. The door is not budging at all.”

“I did,” Ji-Cheok said.

He knew that it was not over yet. The fact that the door wouldn’t open by this point was very strange.

“Hyung, take those first,” Mu-Cheok said.

“Which ones? Oh…those?”

“Yes. Just in case.”

Mu-Cheok pointed to some objects that were on the floor, far behind the podium. They were the items that had been sold at the auction but had yet to be delivered. Ji-Cheok had already taken the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, the Manpasikjeok, and the King’s Jade Belt. He had taken those because the terrorists had their eyes on them, but he now realized that the other items were also just randomly scattered around the hall.

“Wow… you have good eyes, Mr. Mu-Cheok. That’s a good idea,” Reable said.

While Reable was complimenting him, Ji-Cheok used his [Soul Telekinesis] to take the [Ring of the Poison Dragon Fang], [Right Eye of a Demon], [Jaso Elixir], [Bronze Maitreya in Meditation], and the statue of a sealed Demon. He couldn’t find other items, but these alone cost a ridiculous amount of money. He put everything in his [Shadow Pouch]. Then, he took more potions out of the pouch and drank them.

He didn’t have time to change his suit, so he took out the [Black Flaming Jacket], [Troll’s Ring of Regeneration], [Luminous Fairy Pendant], [Fragment of Illusion], [Bracelet of the Strong Arm], [Necklace of Abundant Blood], and [Boots of Double Strike].

He then tossed the [Fragment of Illusion], [Boots of Double Strike], and his new [Ring of the Poison Dragon Fang], which was worth 180 million won, to Mu-Cheok, who put them on right away.

While Ji-Cheok was putting on his own equipment, he saw Reable frowning.

“Why are you guys leaving me out? Where is my?item?”

To be fair, Ji-Cheok didn’t even know what the hell this guy needed. He used the mysterious and powerful technique called Mana Body with ease, and he had access to forbidden knowledge that humans could not understand.

‘How am I supposed to know what he needs?’

“Hm~ You can just give me the [Right eye of a Demon].”

‘But it’s worth around two billion won. Ugh…well… I guess I have to give it to him.’

Now was not the time to have misgivings about things that cost him nothing.

“Here.”

When Ji-Cheok took out the item from the pouch and gave it to him, Reable smiled and simply swallowed it directly.

“What are you doing?! Do you know how much that thing’s worth?” Ji-Cheok shouted.

“Whoa~ relax~ No matter how expensive it is, it’s cheaper than life, right? With this, I can do all sorts of fun things~ And that will help you survive, right?”

Ji-Cheok took a deep breath to calm down. Reable was right. The most important thing right now was to survive.

Bang! Bang!

“What is this? Why can’t I open the door?”

“I can’t get any signal in here… What’s going on…”