Chapter 72: Care about me a little more, Kei...

Early the next morning, Kei had just woken up when he heard a noisy commotion coming from downstairs. Without even having time to change into proper clothes, he hurriedly ran down the stairs.

Then, Kei stood frozen.

His usually quiet little shop was now packed with a sea of people. Hunters were crammed in tightly from inside the store all the way out to the street, with the buzz of conversations echoing endlessly.

Sora was standing behind the counter, her expression looking like she was about to cry at any moment.

"I’m sorry everyone, the upgraded spatial rings are really sold out! There aren’t any left in the store right now!"

She tried her best to shout as loudly as she could so that everyone inside the shop could hear, but that very statement only made the hunters even more explosive.

"Then when will new stock arrive?"

"Can we place a pre-order?"

"I’ll pay a higher price, please just sell me one!"

"Our team only needs one!"

They jostled and pushed against one another to talk to Sora, shouting loudly, while secretly shoving the people beside them to the back to squeeze themselves to the front.

"Stop pushing!"

Kei quickly walked over to Sora’s side.

"What’s going on?"

Sora turned her head and saw Kei, her eyes instantly lighting up as if she had seen a savior.

"Kei! Say something quick! Things are getting out of control!"

Kei looked at the crowd in front of him, then immediately understood what was happening.

The upgraded spatial rings had helped many hunters return alive from the Dungeon. That news must have spread throughout Dong-San City overnight.

"Everyone, please calm down."

Kei spoke up. His voice wasn’t loud, but thanks to a small amount of mana infused into it, everyone could hear him clearly.

The crowd gradually quieted down.

"The upgraded spatial rings are currently sold out. I can’t immediately mass-produce a large number of them in a short amount of time."

Some hunters showed disappointed expressions, but Kei quickly continued:

"From today on, each hunter team can only purchase one ring. After that ring has been used, you can then buy another one to replenish it."

A groan rippled through the crowd, and the hunters looked at one another, feeling that one ring per team seemed a bit too few.

"But that’s not enough!"

"This is a lifesaving item, only one per team is too little!"

"Kei, please increase the number!"

The hunters said noisily.

Kei calmly looked at them.

"If everyone buys multiple rings, other teams won’t have the chance to own them. I want to ensure that as many hunters as possible can use the upgraded spatial rings."

"Besides, isn’t it true that as long as everyone in the team holds hands, you can all be teleported out of the Dungeon?"

The crowd gradually fell silent.

Everyone present had experienced the dangers of the Dungeon, and a few hunters from the Black Rose Guild had been saved by the ring just yesterday. They understood well the value of a chance to survive.

"Then what about the price?"

A hunter asked.

Kei thought for a moment before replying:

"The price will go up. Because this is an item that can save lives in the Dungeon. I’ll announce the new price along with the specific delivery time."

After Kei set out the purchase rules and opened pre-order registration, the situation in the shop finally stabilized.

The crowd formed a line. Sora began recording the information of each team, while the other hunters could only stand and wait in silence.

Kei looked at the scene and let out a relieved sigh.

It was then that he noticed someone standing in the corner of the shop, observing all along.

Kang Ian stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall, a faint smile on his lips. His gaze had been fixed on Kei the entire time, as if he were eagerly watching a monkey jumping around in a zoo.

Kei’s mouth twitched.

If someone had been watching him like that, there was no way Kei could quietly slip away.

Sure enough, just five minutes later, Kang Ian walked straight over to the table where Kei was sitting, helping Kim Sora take down the order list for the spatial rings.

"Kei, you’ve become famous now."

Kang Ian pulled out a chair and sat down, resting his hands on the table as he said with a smile."The hunters in Dong-San city all know your name now. Everyone wants to get one of the space rings made by Kei. Some hunters even say you’re the savior sent by the gods to rescue them."

Kei felt a little embarrassed.

"Making good equipment for hunters is a Craftsman’s duty. I’m just doing my job."

Kang Ian stared at him intently, then slowly moved closer to Kei’s side.

He leaned down and whispered into his ear:

"What about me then? Don’t you care about me, Kei?"

Kei flinched and dodged to the side, glaring at him.

"Kang Ian, sit down and talk properly! Why do you always have to lean so close to me like that?"

Every time they met, Kang Ian stuck to Kei’s side like glue, which really made him uncomfortable. Kei wasn’t the type to enjoy close contact with people he wasn’t familiar with, and Kang Ian’s attitude was just too strange!

Kang Ian looked as if he had just been scolded by Kei into feeling hurt.

"I’m just an SS-rank hunter who’s been tormented by insomnia for years."

He lowered his head and looked straight into Kei’s eyes.

"Can’t you worry about me just a little more? Care about me a little more, Kei..."

Before Kei could respond, Kang Ian’s hoarse laughter rang out by his ear.

He lowered his voice again and whispered:

"I don’t know why, but every time I’m near you, my nerves seem to relax a little more."

Kang Ian’s gaze grew deeper.

"Kei, do you know why?"

Kang Ian still stared at him without blinking, waiting for Kei’s answer.