Chapter 29
“No…”
Saebyeok hurriedly opened her mouth in embarrassment, but before she could finish speaking, Hwang Taesan cut her off.
“They say the old man had more adamantium stashed away than he let on, so he made two keys instead of just one. He said he’ll charge extra for the cost, so be prepared.”
Then, he handed her three keys.
One of them was in the familiar shape she knew — the original <Safehouse Key>, radiating a dark crimson glow that gave off a mysterious vibe like the night sea.
The other two were copies. They looked identical to the original, but were slightly larger and a different color.
<Item: Safehouse Key Copy 1 (B)>
<Server: Earth (S3-EH)> Safehouse Key.
A master key copy created from the original.
Allows use of <Atlas’s Safehouse> when worn.
However, the safehouse owner must register the key for it to work.
Other than their color differences and the labels “1” and “2,” the copies were completely the same.
The one with a black key tinged with yellow light was No. 1.
The one with a black key tinged with blue light was No. 2.
“Strange items indeed. That earring—are you sure it’s really an item? The old man insisted it is, but to me it looks like nothing.”
“You can’t see it? That’s news to me.”
Saebyeok hooked the original <Safehouse Key> onto her ear and replied.
“If Hunter Hwang can’t see it, I doubt most Awakened can either. The old man probably managed to perceive it only because of his ‘Blacksmith’ title.”
Even he had said he couldn’t see everything about the item.
He mentioned that even the most basic item description was hidden, which suggested that anything related to <Server Administrator> might be invisible to other Awakened.
“This is your ability, and you didn’t know until now?”
“I told you before, I haven’t fully figured out all my abilities yet.”
It was really just the <Server Administrator> part she hadn’t understood, but since it was half-true, Saebyeok answered calmly.
“Anyway, I’d like to run some experiments. Could you help me, Hunter Hwang?”
She handed him one of the copies.
He could have refused, since she hadn’t explained what the test was for, but he accepted without complaint.
The keys that looked so large in Saebyeok’s hand looked almost miniature in Hwang Taesan’s.
When he held it as though about to use it, a golden door appeared beside them.
“That’s the door I saw before.”
“Try going in.”
He inserted the key into the hole in the center of the door.
The door trembled violently and then turned red. A completely different reaction than when Saebyeok had tested it in the dragon’s den.
Then, a notification appeared before the door.
!! Notification !!
Unregistered key detected. A registration request has been sent to the owner.
At the same time, a personal window appeared before Saebyeok.
!! Notification !!
<Dragon Warrior> Hwang Taesan requests registration for <Safehouse Key Copy 1 (B)>.
※ Registered copies (0/3): None
“So that’s how it works…”
After checking that there was no further information, Saebyeok pressed the Accept button.
Ding! Ding!
Another notification appeared simultaneously both in front of the door and in her personal window.
!! Notification !!
The owner of <Atlas’s Safehouse> on <Server: Earth (S3-EH)> has approved the registration.
<Dragon Warrior> Hwang Taesan is now designated as a manager of <Safehouse Key Copy 1 (B)>.
With the guidance complete, the red-fluctuating door shifted to blue.
!! Notification !!
<Safehouse Key Copy 1 (B)> has been registered to <Atlas’s Safehouse>.
<Dragon Warrior> Hwang Taesan is now registered as a manager.
No sooner had the notification ended than the key transformed into a ring.
Almost as if it instinctively knew what form the user would find most convenient.
Looking down at the thick ring in his palm, Hwang Taesan’s normally stern face showed obvious confusion.
“Is it really okay to just hand this over so easily?”
“I told you, this is just an experiment. Cooperate for a bit.”
She said it lightly, but in truth, Saebyeok already had a plan.
“Now, try going inside.”
Though still uncertain, Hwang Taesan complied.
The key turned smoothly, and with the sound of several locks opening, the door opened.
He stepped inside first, and Saebyeok followed close behind.
This time, there was no need for her to use her master key—the door he opened worked for both of them.
“So it really works.”
Though she half-expected it, seeing it actually happen left Saebyeok laughing in disbelief.
“Wait here a moment.”
She quickly stepped back out, grabbed the earring key, and summoned another door across from the one Hwang Taesan had opened.
When she entered…
“Wow! The doors are linked!”
From the inside, it looked as though she had entered through the same door he had used.
“Could you step back outside again? I want to check something else.”
Just as she placed her foot on the door to test how the inventory worked—
!! Notification !!
Please select your exit.
Han Saebyeok (Master Key): Korea Hunter Association HQ, 1st Floor
Hwang Taesan (Copy 1): Korea Hunter Association HQ, 1st Floor
-(Copy 2): –
!error! Data missing
Seeing the new notification, Saebyeok was too shocked to speak.
“Hunter Hwang, do you see this too?”
“What are you referring to?”
He didn’t seem to see anything.
“So only I can see it because I have the master key…”
Saebyeok chose Hwang Taesan’s exit and came outside.
Once she exited, the entrance she had used before disappeared automatically.
‘This is basically teleportation.’
Not only could the interior space be twisted, but the exterior connections could too.
‘There are Hunters with teleportation skills, but…’
They were extremely rare, and most of them had strict limitations—like usage counts or distance.
‘But this… this feels like it has no such limits.’
Perhaps because it was tied to the <Server Administrator> skill, that impression seemed justified.
“What else did you want to check?”
“Doesn’t the system show you an inventory-like grid? A window with a checkerboard pattern?”
“Inventory?”
The next moment, his eyes widened. At his muttering, a grid window appeared between them.
Since it was based on Saebyeok’s <Atlas’s Safehouse> skill, she could see it too.
“Whoa, it works!”
She clapped her hands when she saw the potions she had stored displayed inside.
“Try taking one out.”
“….”
Hwang Taesan withdrew a potion and then put it back, too stunned to speak.
After all, just moments ago, he had seen those very potions piled up in one corner of that mysterious room.
An inventory… where you could physically go inside and check it?
It was an unheard-of, incredibly rare ability.
“What kind of skill is this…”
“Shh. Only you must know, Hunter Hwang.”
Saebyeok placed her finger against her lips, whispering mischievously.
“From now on, let’s use this for exchanging information and items related to requests. Couriers are too risky—they might leak or lose things. And meeting face to face every time is troublesome.”
“The keys…”
Hwang Taesan fiddled with the <Safehouse Key Copy>, now in ring form, as he asked,
“How many can be made?”
If more could be created, he was willing to pay Saebyeok to distribute them among his guild members.
“Unfortunately, it can only be copied up to three times. And since the system clearly shows registration steps, I don’t think unregistered people can enter.”
Her answer left him slightly disappointed.
But soon, he nodded, understanding.
“No, it’s only natural that there would be such limits.”
The existence of a limitless inventory alone was enough to shatter common sense.
He greatly valued the fact that she was willing to share something like this with him so openly.
It felt like she was showing him how trust was truly built—that unreserved openness was part of why he was drawn to her.
“Actually, I was already thinking that it would be safer to pay the Scavenger group’s weapon costs in cash, to avoid leaving records. This will be perfect. I’ll store all of it here.”
“Great. And if I get any new request information, I’ll put it here to share.”
Sliding the ring onto his right index finger, Hwang Taesan gave her a brief nod.
“And could you pass this on to the old man? As for the cost of the work—”
At that moment—
“I had a feeling you’d come through the back door.”
A bright, outstanding voice rang out from the end of the hall.
“I didn’t realize you two were close acquaintances. If you’re plotting something, count me in.”
Though his tone was light, like joking banter, his eyes gleamed with a sharpness beneath the smile.
Kim Ihan was walking toward them.
Beside him were Lee Pado and the Association President.
