I glanced at my phone, waiting for a follow-up text from the unknown number.
I was thinking that it was a potential commissioner. I only gave my contact information to people who had commissioned me in the past, so the only people who would have my phone number would be people who I worked with, or who knew people I worked with...
Well, I guess since I was registered as a Hunter now, the Association had my number too. But they would call via the official landline, not a cellphone number like this.
After a bit more waiting, I realized there wouldn't be a follow up. "Huh. Maybe it was a misdial?"
Those happened sometimes too. But eh.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket and took a look around.
I was still in Uptown. Since my lovely Yura was insisting on quality food for breakfast, I was out and about looking for what she requested.
For the record, I had already gone ahead and bought that ring to pop the question on a whim. That was line item number one, after all.
Had to be ready for the moment.
But anyway, after getting the ring and finishing up my call, I walked into the local Whole Foods megamarket.
Yes, Whole Foods was still a thing.
No, I didn't know why it was in New Seoul when it was an American thing.
Yes, since it was a Whole Foods megamarket in Uptown, it was filled with exotic ingredients and groceries meant for Hunters.
'Huh. This is basically like Monster Hunter or something, isn't it?'
Although the front of the store was normal enough as I walked in... mostly with self-checkout kiosks, a few actual human-run checkout lanes, and the typical lineup of candy, the rest of the store DEFINITELY wasn't.
Let me paint a picture for you.
Right inside the store and upfront, like I said, there was the normal checkout stuff.
But to the left... imagine like the gun section in a Walmart, but like, fantasy instead. We had railguns, mana cores, enchanted swords, spears, axes...
It was like an MMORPG weapon shop. Except, you know, in a freaking Whole Foods.
And why WHOLE FOODS?! Why not a Walmart?
I had, SO MANY questions.
Starting with why I'd never seen a place like this yet in the 19 and almost 20 years I'd been in this life.
Were ALL Hunter specific stores like this? Or was it just this Whole Foods in particular?
...Anyway, that was the left side of the store.
The right side of the store was for groceries. Obviously.
But the groceries on sale were NOT obvious.
I slowly wheeled my cart over to the right and glanced over the labels of the fruit on display.
Frost Watermelons (Increases resistance to heat on consumption, graded up to 100 Celsius).
Mighty Plantains (Increases physical power, graded up to 200%)
Silent Queen (Reduces sound output, graded up to 15 decibels)
It was a pretty ridiculous sight. All the fruits there were buffs. There were vegetables that were the same too, like something called an Endura Carrot that supposedly increased physical defense.
...I wasn't sure how people were even getting these metrics, but considering it existed, I guess that there must be a way to do so? Maybe the Hunter Association had tech to do it?
Like I told Yura though, I was a civilian with only passing knowledge of the Hunter lifestyle until now.
"It's a bit nostalgic though." I picked up a Mighty Plantain and turned it over in my hand. "Reminds me of a certain clan. A breath of the wild, you could say."
I chuckled at my own joke.
Yes, I do that.
No, I don't care if you judge me.
...Hm. I'm doing this more often. Note to self: try finding a Hunter with a mindreading ability one time and see if you can troll them by making them think you're talking to an extradimensional being beyond the fourth wall.
It'll be hilarious.
But anyway.
I put the Mighty Plantain back and then walked towards the back where the deli was.
Bladetuna sashimi cuts, Blacksteel Boar flanks, Thunderblast Cow steaks...
There were all sorts of cuts of meat for sale that reminded me of an MMORPG instead of a grocery store.
Still, judging from the prices... hitting up to 5000 SC for a single steak, it was definitely ritzy stuff.
Then again, I WAS in Uptown.
"Yo!" A young man's voice echoed.
Looking up, I saw that it was the deli worker standing behind the countertop.
A young man- No, a teenager really. Younger than me. Maybe 16 or 17 at best? Probably younger though. Wearing a black apron and a green uniform underneath said apron, he looked the part of the typical high school student working parttime for some spending money.
...Though to be working here of all places, he probably had to be a Hunter in training or something, right?
"Aren't you the guy who's dating Heavenly Lightning?! The new S-Ranked guy they're calling Demonfire?"
I wheeled my cart over and raised an eyebrow. "Haven't heard about 'Demonfire'... but if you're talking about Yura, then yes. ...Why?"
Was he going to blab to the paparazzi or something? No, how did he recognize me in the first place? I didn't think I was that famous just yet. My face, at least...
"My cousin works at HQ! You've GOTTA tell me how you can use a sword with fire! My ability's [Swordmaster] but it's just like basic swordsmanship! I wanna be able to swing fire and stuff like you too!"
I stared at the young man- No, at the kid.
He stared back at me with sparkling eyes.
"...Well. I'm running errands, so I can't right now, but-"
"OH! Right!" The teenager facepalmed and said, "You're here to buy stuff, DUH. What do you want? I'll spot you! Seriously!"
Oho?!
My eyes lit up and I said, "Far be it for me to refuse such a welcome offer~ Now... How about you give me a few steaks, some of that tuna sashimi..."