The Magic Stones inside the small box spilled across the counter with a clatter.
"Twelve standard Magic Stones and one bundle of lower-level dungeon materials. That comes to 14.5 million won in total. Would you like us to transfer the payment immediately?"
Taehu gave a slight nod at the settlement clerk's matter-of-fact question.
"Yes. Deduct the commission and deposit the rest into my account."
The clerk tapped the keyboard a few times.
A moment later, Taehu's phone vibrated briefly as a deposit notification appeared on the screen.
He had left all the expensive boss loot from the hidden area of the Gray Citadel to the other party members, yet his earnings were still considerable.
He had sold only the miscellaneous materials he had picked up while being treated as little more than a porter in the temporary party, along with the Magic Stones he had received as his share from the regular portion of the raid.
Even that had deposited well over ten million won into his account.
Compared to evolving the Sword of the Fallen Knight Commander for a second time and acquiring the ancient combat technique Knight's Footwork, this amount was practically a bonus.
Taehu made no attempt to hide the smile spreading across his face as he checked the transaction history.
Between the profits he had earned by uncovering the hidden value of discarded items at the appraisal center and the income he was now making from dungeons, his bank balance had become quite substantial.
After leaving the settlement office, he shook off the tension of the fierce battle and headed toward the subway station with light steps.
It was the weekend, and he planned to visit his parents' house for the first time in a while.
The moment he opened the front door, the rich, earthy smell of cheonggukjang stew washed over him.
"Oh, our son's here?"
Kim Misuk poked her head out of the kitchen, delighted to see him, an apron around her waist and a ladle in her hand.
But beneath her happiness, Taehu could see a poorly concealed grimace.
Even as Misuk placed side dishes on the dining table, she repeatedly pressed one hand against her lower back.
Whenever she made a larger movement, a faint groan escaped her lips.
Hwang Seongjin, who was sitting on the sofa watching television, clicked his tongue as he watched her.
"Your back is acting up again. I told you to go to the hospital first thing tomorrow."
"It's fine. A few more pain-relief patches and it'll settle down."
"Are those patches some kind of miracle cure? You did the same thing last time and ended up bedridden for days. This time, don't go to the neighborhood clinic. Go to a proper hospital and get some scans done."
"Do you have any idea how much it costs at a big hospital just to get put through one of those machines? I only overworked myself a little. It'll get better if I rest."
Misuk waved him off as though it were nothing and turned back toward the kitchen.
Seongjin watched her retreating back with obvious frustration.
Taehu, who had been hanging his coat over a dining chair, felt a sharp ache in one corner of his chest.
Because money had always been tight in the past, his parents had developed a habit of enduring even physical pain.
His mother putting up with her discomfort because she was afraid of the hospital bill was exactly the same as it had always been.
Without a word, Taehu took out his phone.
After a few taps, he opened the reservation system for a university hospital he was familiar with.
He selected its premium comprehensive health screening package, the most thorough option available for checking the entire body as quickly and precisely as possible.
The price for two people appeared on the screen.
Taehu pressed the payment button without the slightest hesitation.
BEEP.
A simple fingerprint scan later, a notification appeared confirming that the payment was complete.
Taehu suddenly spoke to Misuk as she bustled around preparing the meal.
"Mom, Dad. Keep next Wednesday morning free."
"Why? What's happening Wednesday?"
Seongjin asked casually without taking his eyes off the television.
"I booked comprehensive health screenings for both of you. The best package they have."
At those words, the clattering from the kitchen abruptly stopped.
Misuk approached the table with wide eyes.
"Health screenings? Why all of a sudden? It isn't time for our government health checkups yet."
"Not the basic national screening. This one checks everything thoroughly from head to toe. I just finished booking it."
"What? Those are incredibly expensive! How much did you spend?"
At Misuk's urgent question, Taehu held out his phone.
The moment she saw the amount displayed on the screen, her mouth fell open.
"Are you insane? You spent several million won on the two of us? Hey, cancel it right now!"
She sprang up in alarm and smacked Taehu sharply on the back.
Seongjin also shot up from the sofa with a startled expression.
"Taehu, I appreciate the thought, but why does a health screening cost that much? What a waste of money."
Faced with his parents' vehement reaction, Taehu merely gave them a relaxed, shameless smile.
He could hardly tell them that he had made tens of millions of won by appraising broken ancient Relics, or that he had defeated enormous monsters inside deadly dungeons by striking their weaknesses.
He needed to behave like an ordinary, successful office worker.
"Mom, Dad. You know they're treating me like the star employee at the Iljin Appraisal Center these days, right? My performance has been incredible, so they're really rewarding me for it. What I just paid is less than what I make in a day."
"No matter how well you're doing, what kind of job pays several million won a day? What are you, the director of the appraisal center now?"
"I'm not the director, but I make that much, so you really don't need to feel burdened by it. The cancellation fee would be even more wasteful, so you're both going no matter what. Understood?"
When Taehu firmly put his foot down, Misuk looked helplessly toward Seongjin.
Seongjin hesitated for a moment before clearing his throat and lightly patting his wife's shoulder.
"Ahem. Since he's already booked it, let's just go. Our son says he's making good money and treating us."
"Oh, honestly. What a waste of money……."
She grumbled, but Misuk could not hide the smile creeping across her lips.
Deep down, she was clearly pleased that her son had spent so much for their sake.
Watching the two of them, Taehu inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
He would keep the dangerous side of his life as a Hunter completely hidden while protecting this ordinary, warm existence for them.
That was the greatest reason he wanted to make money and grow stronger.
A few days later.
Fortunately, the examinations found no serious illnesses in either of his parents beyond minor age-related degenerative changes.
Misuk's back pain was also diagnosed as mild muscle soreness caused by overexertion from housework.
Only after hearing the results did Taehu finally feel the weight lift from his chest.
He took his parents to a scenic restaurant on the outskirts of the city.
Premium Hanwoo beef sizzled appetizingly over charcoal, filling the air with the rich aroma of rendered fat.
"Oh, this meat practically melts in your mouth."
Seongjin wrapped a large piece of beef in lettuce, popped it into his mouth, and broke into a broad smile.
Misuk's chopsticks moved just as busily, though she continued sneaking glances at the prices on the menu and complaining.
"Why is beef this expensive? If we bought this at the butcher's in the market, it wouldn't even cost a quarter as much."
"Mom, don't look at the prices today. Just eat as much as you want. I told you I'm paying for everything."
Taehu laughed as he piled perfectly cooked pieces of meat onto Misuk's plate.
He could not remember the last time the family had enjoyed expensive, delicious food together without worrying about anything.
Watching his parents peacefully chew their food made Taehu feel full even before he had eaten much himself.
After the meal, on the way home—
Taehu's car stopped in front of a large electronics store near his parents' house.
"Why are we here instead of going home?"
Seongjin asked as he unfastened his seat belt.
Taehu opened the car door.
"I thought we'd look around a little and walk off the meal. Come on, get out."
Once inside, Taehu headed straight for the section displaying massage chairs.
He had not forgotten Misuk once casually mentioning while watching television that it would be nice to have one whenever her back hurt.
Taehu stopped in front of the newest top-of-the-line massage chair and called over an employee.
"Mom, try this one."
"Me? Oh, no. I hate lying down on these things in stores and department stores. I feel like everyone's watching."
Taehu practically forced the hesitant Misuk into the chair and asked the employee to start it.
The machine moved smoothly, enclosing Misuk's body.
At first she remained stiff with tension.
Soon, however, an exclamation of relief escaped her.
"Oh, wow. This really feels like someone is massaging me with their hands. It feels incredible."
"Right? How does it feel on your lower back?"
"It presses right into it. That's perfect."
Seongjin, who had been watching with interest, casually ran his hand over the leather of the massage chair.
"I should try it later too. But how much does this thing cost?"
Seongjin checked the price tag standing beside the chair.
His eyes widened.
"Gah! Seven million won? Hey, get up! What kind of chair costs as much as a car?"
Misuk caught sight of the price tag and immediately panicked, struggling to get out of the machine.
"Hey, Hwang Taehu! Tell them to turn this thing off right now. Why are you even looking at something this expensive?"
But Taehu calmly pulled a card from his wallet and handed it to the employee.
"I'll take this model. Charge the full amount at once, and have it delivered to my parents' house on the earliest available date."
The employee's face lit up as he accepted the card and hurried toward the counter.
The moment Misuk saw what had happened, she smacked Taehu hard on the back.
"Are you seriously going to throw money around like water? I told you a pain-relief patch is enough, and you still went and bought this?"
Taehu rubbed his back and grinned.
"It's better than listening to you groan about your back hurting every day. Both of you have to use it for an hour every day. I paid good money for it, so if I ever find you using it as a clothes-drying rack, I'm really going to get angry."
"Oh, you troublesome child. What a waste of money……."
Misuk continued complaining, but she could not hide the pleased smile spreading across her face.
Seongjin had already walked over to the employee and was asking detailed questions about how to use the remote control.
Taehu quietly watched his parents and let out a short breath, one hand tucked into his pocket.
The numbers in his bank account.
They were the result of bloody battles with monsters in dungeons and nights spent appraising things everyone else dismissed as garbage.
At first, he had simply wanted to make a lot of money.
But looking at the scene before him now, Taehu once again understood what the money he earned truly meant.
It was not merely a number.
It was a sturdy shield that ensured his family no longer had to endure pain or inconvenience because they could not afford otherwise.
It was a means of giving them warmth and comfort.
The reason he needed to examine damaged equipment in the corners of the appraisal center and risk his life swinging the Sword of the Fallen Knight Commander through dark dungeons became clearer than ever.
'If I want to protect this peace, I need to become even stronger.'
Taehu's gaze grew firmer.
As long as he possessed the ability to uncover the value of discarded things, and as long as he had the courage to take up his sword and move forward without fear, this happiness would not be shaken.
"Son! Hurry up! Why aren't you unlocking the car?"
Seongjin, who had reached the electronics store parking lot first, waved and shouted.
"Coming!"
Taehu hurried toward his parents with light steps.
A calmer, more resolute smile than ever before rested on his face.