Since the place was already fully furnished, there wasn't much to worry about in terms of moving in.
That alone saved me from a massive headache.
Instead of dealing with furniture, I focused on the essentials.
I unpacked the coffee machine I had bought earlier and carefully placed it on the kitchen counter.
...Okay.
That looks good. Everything else, though, I had to get myself. So I went out.
It didn't take long before my arms were filled with shopping bags.
Plates, forks, cups, a kettle, towels, basic toiletries, even small things like sponges and detergent. After that, I stopped by a nearby grocery store.
Nothing fancy, just simple ingredients, bread, eggs, milk, and of course, coffee beans.
I hesitated a bit in front of the shelf before picking one.
I'll just test it out later.
By the time I got back, the sun was already starting to set.
I set everything down and let out a small breath, looking around the space again. It still felt a little empty and unfamiliar, but it wasn't bad.
Slowly, I began putting things away, arranging the kitchen first, then the bathroom, then the small details that made the place feel a little more like mine. By the time I finished, I stood in the middle of the room for a moment.
The view from up here was incredible, and the space itself felt much bigger than I was used to. It was quiet, clean... and comfortable.
...So this is what it feels like to have money.
I shook my head, snapping myself out of it, and opened my newly bought laptop. After setting everything up and linking my account, I clicked into Hunter Net.
As expected, the most trending articles were still about... me.
My eyes slowly scanned the screen.
[ Post by ManaTheoryGuy: The Healer Still Hasn't Appeared, Where Are They Now? ]
[ Post by DungeonAddict77: No Guild Has Claimed Them, Isn't That Strange? ]
[ Post by RankObsessed: Could This Be a Hidden SS-Rank Awakener? ]
[ Post by Eyewitness_031: Someone Saw a Woman on the Rooftop ]
[ Post by GovWatchdog: Why Is There No Official Statement Yet? ]
[ Post by GuildInsider??: Are They Being Hidden by a Guild or the government? ]
[ Post by NumbersDontLie: Analysis of the "Rain Healing", Impossible Output? ]
[ Post by Marikacha: Confirmed S-Rank Hunters Attending the National Auction ]
Why are they still on that? It's been two weeks since then... But what caught my attention was the last one at the very bottom.
According to the post, the National Auction was a large-scale event jointly hosted by the world's five major powerhouses, Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and Japan hunter association.
Rather than belonging to a single country, it was an international gathering supported collectively by their governments. Each nation funded and organized the event through their representatives, who worked together to oversee its operation.
Every year, the hosting location rotated based on their agreement.
And this year, it was being held in Korea.
As for the confirmed attendees, there were quite a few A-rankers, a large number of S-rank hunters from all over the world, and even legendary L-rankers.
But the most interesting name on the list was,
"Saber."
A mysterious L-rank hunter whose identity remained completely unknown. No face, no background, nothing. The only confirmed details were his rank...
And that he was a man.
"Saber, huh..." I muttered under my breath, staring at the screen. "Could it be Jinhyuk?"
Well, he is an L-ranker, at least based on the stats I saw.
But that didn't make sense.
He walks around openly, doesn't hide his face, and no one really reacts to him, aside from the occasional glance because of his looks.
...Wait.
If he's really that strong, shouldn't people recognize him? Unless... They were hiding their identity!
"...."
I slowly leaned back in my chair.
No.
There's no way.
I shook my head and waved my hand dismissively, closing the screen as if that would erase the thought entirely.
Right as I did, my phone rang.
It was Jiyeon, calling at eight in the evening.
...Is something wrong?
I picked up immediately.
"Ah, is our Elena doing well?"
"Yeah. I just finished setting up at home," I replied. "Why did you call?"
"So cold already?" she laughed lightly. "Alright, I'll get straight to the point. Do you want to come with me to the National Auction~?"
"National auction...?" I frowned slightly. "Why would I go there?"
There was a brief pause on the other end.
"Oh dear," Jiyeon sighed dramatically. "Who wouldn't want to go to the National Auction? There's free food, free amenities, luxury lounges, private resting areas—"
"I can eat at home."
"...High-end desserts prepared by top pastry chefs."
"I can bake."
"...Unlimited premium coffee from international brands."
My hand froze.
"...What?"
Jiyeon smiled to herself on the other end of the call.
"They bring in specialty beans you can't even buy on the market," she continued casually. "Rare harvests, limited roasts, things reserved for high-ranking guests only."
Seo Elena went completely quiet.
In her mind, something had already shifted.
"...I'm not interested in the auction," she said slowly. "But..." Her voice softened just slightly.
"...the coffee sounds a bit interesting."
Jiyeon let out a quiet chuckle.
"Of course. But before that, we'll need to register you as a hunter. You don't have your license yet, right?"
I flinched.
"Uh... no. Do I have to?"
"Yes," she replied without hesitation. "If you're coming as my plus one, they'll need to verify your identity. It won't take long."
I hesitated for a moment before sighing.
"...Alright."
"Good," Jiyeon said, sounding satisfied. "Let's go tomorrow. The auction's the day after anyway, so we still have time."
"Okay. I'll stop by the guild tomorrow."
After ending the call, the room fell quiet again.
Then a small smile crept onto my face.
I hummed softly to myself as I walked over to the coffee machine, almost unconsciously picking up my pace.
What kind of coffee would they serve? I'm excited~