Money is a Superpower

Hotel Lumen is a hotel that was built less than 10 years ago.

But no one denigrates Lumen as a groundless hotel.

It’s not just because the facilities are good, but because they have the class that justifies their reputation.

It is not a hotel chain that is selected as the best in the world for no reason.

And Lee Jeong-Hoon, the owner of such a hotel chain, is rolling on the floor.

“Butler Joo, I feel like it’s become even harder?”

The training that started when he was hospitalized at the strong request of the head butler.

Even after entering Lumen, the head butler continued to watch over and aided Jeong-Hoon, but Jeong-Hoon couldn’t erase the feeling that the training was even harder than it was when he was in the hospital.

“Treatment and recovery were the main goals when you were at the hospital. Now that you are fully recovered, we need to increase the intensity.”

Looking at Butler Joo who just laughed, Jeong-Hoon gave him a puzzled look.

Butler Joo has a body that is hard to believe that he is an old man in his 70s.

However, it was still strange that he didn’t seem a bit tired as he trained with Jeong-Hoon, who was in his 20s. On the other hand, Jeong-Hoon seemed like he was about to pass out. Mr. Joo’s stamina and strength. Such a thing was impossible to see in ordinary older people unless you’re an awakened being.

“Be honest with me, Butler Joo. You’ve Awakened, haven’t you?”

“… I’m embarrassed to say it myself that I’m an SSS-class awakener.”

Jeong-Hoon shook his head at the butler’s words, who spoke as if it was nothing to brag about.

The words of the butler made Jeong-Hoon doubt if he heard him correctly.

If he had said he was F-class, Jeong-Hoon wouldn’t have cared, but what he heard was definitely ‘SSS-class’.

“I think I heard you wrong because I was too tired – did you just say SSS-class?”

“Yes, you heard correctly.”

Jeong-Hoon shook his head when Butler Joo confirmed he heard him right.

“Hey, Butler Joo? Speaking of SSS-class, isn’t it the top level among the awakened? You know there are only 36 SSS-class hunters around the globe right?”

Although it was impossible to estimate the numbers of unofficial awakened beings, officially, there were less than 100 – 36 people to be exact – SSS-class awakened beings.

Each and every one of them is a walking disaster and is treated as an one-man army.

Jeong-Hoon had no choice but to doubt his ears because Butler Joo used the word ’embarrassed’ when speaking of a mighty SSS-class awakening.

“As someone who is serving the Lord, it would be worrisome if I was some low class awakened being. It is a pinnacle. That’s why I say I am embarrassed.”

“Hey, is my life in such a threatening position?”

“That’s not gonna happen.”

Jeong-Hoon, who noticed Butler Joo did not deny the idea, realized that he may be in a dangerous position.

“Let’s start our training once more.”

Although his life may be in danger, Jeong-Hoon smiled at the butler, thinking that it was no different than when he was a worker at the Dungeon Logistics Center.

It is said to be more dangerous than then, but it was much more reassuring to know he had an SSS-class Awakened being protecting him.

However, Jeong-Hoon decided that he should train just in case.

“You seem to have made up your mind.”

“…is it visible on my face?”

Jeong-Hoon, who had heard that what he thinks usually shows on his face, avoided his gaze at the words of the head butler.

“I’m glad you have made up your mind. Would you like to try the other forms of the training?”

When Jeong-Hoon made a puzzled expression at the idea of doing other ​​training than the physical training he had been doing, Butler Joo raised his right hand.

Thinking he was going to learn self-defense, Jeong-Hoon paid attention to the butler’s right hand.

Butler Joo put his thumb and index finger together and snapped, making a ‘click’ sound.

“Give it a try.”

There are hunters who snap their fingers as a motion of showing their superpowers.

It’s simple and pretty cool to see, so everyone uses it.

When Butler Joo recommended such a move, Jeong-Hoon awkwardly raised his hand.

“I’m not even a psychic, so it wouldn’t make any sense if I tried.”

Before following the move Butler Joo demonstrated, Jeong-Hoon grumbled.

Compared to the sound Butler Joo made when he snapped his fingers, the ‘click’ Jeong-Hoon made was much louder and clearer.

“Did you call? My Lord.”

“… Holy crap!”

When a woman suddenly appeared behind him the moment his fingers snapped, Jeong-Hoon unconsciously stepped back toward Butler Joo in fright.

The woman was carrying a thick briefcase called an Attaché case. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, but Jeong-Hoon did not believe the age that showed on her face.

It’s been said that awakened beings have late age-progression.

If she was able to appear in a snap of a finger, it was certain this woman was an awakened being.

“Hey, wasn’t this a hotel?”

However, the woman’s attire that didn’t seem suitable for a hotel employee caught Jeong-Hoon’s eye.

A black dress and a white apron with frills.

When we think of maid clothes, we often think of a certain attire. What she was wearing wasn’t the maid outfit mixed with a fetish element that we sometimes see, but a proper, traditional one.

Although this was Hotel Lumen, Jeong-Hoon didn’t feel the need for such a uniform.

“It may be a hotel, but it is also a home to your Grace’s hidden family lineage.”

“So you guys who work for a concealed family have no relations to the hotel? Just what kind of work does this family do to have a maid here?”

“My Lord, I am not simply a maid. I am a housekeeper, or the head maid.”

Jeong-Hoon shook his head at the proud remarks made by the woman wearing a maid’s uniform.

“I don’t think positions really matter.”

Jeong-Hoon didn’t even know much about this family in the first place.

It didn’t matter to him whether she was a maid or a head maid.

“I’m just relieved that Lumen’s female hotelier uniforms are not the maid outfits.”

If Jeong-Hoon had nothing to do with Lumen, he could just laugh and think this was a funny business.

However, he is the lord and, ostensibly, the CEO of Lumen.

He had no choice but to be worried about little things.

“Well, what do you think? Head Maid?”

“I take pride in this maid uniform. However, if your Grace thinks otherwise, then there is nothing we can do.”

Contrary to Jeong-Hoon’s relief, Butler Joo and the head maid discreetly exchanged words as soon as she finished her sentence. Jeong-Hoon looked at them.

“Hey, you two? Are you guys by chance taking my words as an idea to change all of Lumen’s female hotelier attires into maid uniforms?”

“Hahaha, didn’t I tell you? This family exists to achieve what the Lord wants.”

“But I didn’t say I wanted whatever you guys were planning!!”

Okay, there was a tiny bit of desire to do that, but Jeong-Hoon shook his head and hands in objection.

“Everyone will think Lumen’s out of its mind!”

It was Jeong-Hoon who shouted in order to stop them, but the other two shook their heads.

“My Lord, there is no one who looks down on Lumen. Lumen is a trend leader. Whatever we do, others will follow.”

Trying to look motivated, Jeong-Hoon pointed to the bag held by the head maid.

“For now, next time! Let’s discuss this next time, and let’s see what is inside the bag now!”

Although the two clearly knew Jeong-Hoon was trying to change the topic on purpose, they still nodded.

Whatever the Lord of the family says is law.

“Yes, let’s do that. Will you open your bag, head maid?”

At his words, the maid skillfully opened the bag with one hand, while holding it in place with the other.

“The training we will be doing will be on self-defense.”

“Well, I thought so. But… did we need this for self-defense?”

Looking at the contents of the bag, he recalled the definition of self-defense.

“Well, let’s put the pistol and the knife to the side.”

Since the world is so brutal, many people carry handguns and knives.

Up to this point, Jeong-Hoon accepted everything.

However, the lighter-shaped stick in the bag did not fall into the category of self-defense.

I saw this tool while working at the Dungeon Logistics Center.

It’s obviously a small grenade. It is a favorite item of hunters because it is safe and has a good explosive power.

“It’s easy to carry, so it’s perfect for self-defense.”

“Hey, grenades are strictly state-controlled weapons. In other words, isn’t it illegal for a civilian to own it?”

“It’s fine if you don’t get caught. Grenades are a real means of emergency in the first place. There’s nothing you can’t do besides use one of these in a situation where you know self-defense moves won’t be enough to protect you.”

Since Butler Joo didn’t seem to have the willingness to step down on the argument, Jeong-Hoon just went along with it.

“Then I will leave you in peace.”

“Thank you, head maid.”

“I look forward to your next calling, my Lord.”

After packing all the contents in the bag, the head maid politely bowed and disappeared.

Jeong-Hoon, who was just watching with his head nodding, suddenly became suspicious.

“Butler Joo? Have I ever called the head maid?”

“Did you not call her?”

“I just snapped my fingers.”

Jeong-Hoon accidentally snapped his finger without thinking.

“Did you call, my Lord?”

“Argh! Ah- no! Whoa, no, I just did it to… practice!”

When the head maid appeared before him again once he snapped his fingers, Jeong-Hoon focused the rest of his energy on calming his startled heart.

“Like you have seen earlier, we are ready to run to you whenever you call us with the snap of your fingers.”

“You and the head maid?”

“It’s not just the two of us. Your retainers are always on standby.”

“How do you tell them apart? If I snapped my fingers thinking ‘I need a doctor’—

Jeong-hoon snapped his fingers once more. Then, the doctor who was in charge of him when he was hospitalized suddenly appeared in front of him.

“My Lord, do you feel unwell?”

“… No, it was just a test.”

Jeong-Hoon, who had already been prepared for surprises to some extent thanks to the head maid, was able to hide his emotions as much as possible this time.

“But weren’t you a hospital doctor?”

“The hospital is run by a family. And I am your doctor. I avoided explaining this to you at that time because I thought you might become confused since you were recuperating.”

The doctor, who finished introducing himself, disappeared in an instant after hearing that Jeong-Hoon had called for no reason.

“Like how you just did there, there will always be vassals who can always answer your Grace’s calls.”

Hearing that, Jeong-Hoon snapped his fingers, thinking to call upon Butler Joo.

“Lord, I am right here. You do not have to call me.”

“… How did you know?”

“Being a good butler also means knowing how your master thinks.”

At those words, Jeong-Hoon snapped his fingers, wondering if there was a vassal more senior than the head butler.

“It seems they are unable to answer your call right now.”

“Ah, so it means there are certainly more people. I feel like I’ve become a psychic.”

The idea of someone being able to appear right next to you in a snap of your fingers is so surreal that he couldn’t help but think he was using true superpowers.

“But just how was he able to do it?”

“The vassals who can respond to your call are at least of S-class and above. It’s questionable, but those kinds of people are called superhuman, and this is natural.”

Although Jeong-Hoon didn’t question how the mechanics of the power worked behind his new found ability, new questions arose within him.

Usually, A-class awakened beings are able to become guild masters. Therefore, S-classes can be called walking businesses.

Jeong-Hoon got goosebumps when he heard that such people were waiting for his call.

“So…  isn’t the family a subversion or a secret organization to conquer the world?”

An organization with multiple S-class hunters and a hand grenade that is privately prohibited.

When Jeong-Hoon calmly asked about the growingly suspicious environment, Butler Joo smiled.

“If the Lord wishes for it, I will make it happen.”

“No, I don’t want it. Please, don’t ever do it.”

Shaking his head, Jeong-Hoon grabbed the pistol he had just received.

It was time to learn the self-defense technique that the Head Butler insisted on.