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Chapter : 17
Troll Hunter (3)
“So, where are we going now?”
“Obviously to buy equipment. Were you seriously planning to hunt trolls with your usual gear? I told you before that troll hunters use specialized equipment.”
“Oh, right!”
When Suhyun stared at him blankly, Kim Chang-sik gave an awkward grin. He felt embarrassed that he had thought less carefully than a completely inexperienced rookie.
“So, how much does the equipment for hunting trolls cost?”
“That depends on the person. Mercenaries are the same, right? The more you spend, the easier it is to hunt…”
Even among mercenaries, the money invested in equipment varied greatly. Some would spend recklessly or save for other purposes, and so they would skimp on equipment, even if it was slightly risky.
This was especially common among newcomers, so senior mercenaries often scolded rookies, saying, “You’ll die if you pinch pennies.”
“I plan to spend about ten million won.”
“What?! Really?!”
“From the way you look at the equipment, it doesn’t seem like you’re trying to save money. Why are you so surprised?”
“Because you’ve already spent a lot here. And now you have to spend that much again to deal with trolls?”
“If you catch trolls, you make money. You have to invest boldly.”
“Still… that’s overkill. What do you need so much money for?”
“Actually, I’m planning to get all the other equipment I might need elsewhere, too.”
“Oh. So you probably don’t even have the basics covered yet.”
When they started, Cho Seung-hyun had personally provided some initial equipment, but it wasn’t complete. Just a rifle, basic armor, and some tools. To really get going, they had to provide their own gear.
“Let’s start with the gun. Where was the gun shop you used to go to?”
“Huh?”
Chang-sik’s face brightened when Suhyun, who had always followed him, asked him for the first time.
“Ah, I know a good place. Follow me!”
Suhyun had always received military-issued gear, so he wasn’t familiar with decent civilian gun shops. Thinking this was his chance to show some seniority, Chang-sik led the way.
After the discovery of the Cameron Planet, multiple industries experienced a boom, including weapons development. Combat on Cameron was entirely different from Earth, requiring a different approach.
The same applied to guns. Cameron was a new frontier, and those who ventured there were explorers. Naturally, a flood of guns designed for them emerged. In less than a century, countless unique models had appeared and disappeared.
The rifle they used for this mission was the M19—a steady seller with reliable performance suitable for any situation, and a reputation to match the company. For novice mercenaries starting out, it was a solid choice.
“But it’s too ordinary, isn’t it?”
Suhyun thought so. The most distinctive feature of Cameron Planet was how quickly situations could change—and the magnitude of those changes. Surviving in that environment required more than just standard equipment.
Even the Calcutta Hell Crocodile required long-range engagement with this rifle, and trolls or Calcutta Gorillas were even worse.
Of course, such tough monsters were usually approached with specialized weapons or heavy firepower.
“Welcome! Looking for something? The catalog’s here, or you can see them in the back.”
“Do you happen to have a Barrett M110?”
“What?”
The shop owner looked at Suhyun incredulously, then glanced at Chang-sik, whom he already knew, and scolded him.
“Hey, you brought a rookie, but this isn’t a joke!”
“What? I didn’t say anything! He spoke for himself! Wait—don’t you know what that gun is? You’re planning to carry that into the jungle?”
“You can disassemble it for regular transport.”
“And what about the weight?”
“You have to be able to handle it. Without that firepower, fighting monsters is meaningless.”
The Barrett M110 was a monster sniper rifle, designed to penetrate the thick hides and endurance of monsters.
The problem was, to achieve that firepower, the gun had to be huge. On Cameron, where one must move quickly and unpredictably, a massive weapon was a double-edged sword.
The M110 was released after humans on Cameron were shocked by the first large monster encounter. Initially, it gained attention because individuals could theoretically handle huge monsters, but interest faded due to its weight and size.
On Cameron, the usual strategy for facing large monsters was to run away. Fighting was reserved for those with power armor or heavy weapons; an individual with just a gun wouldn’t stand a chance.
There was no need to risk life fighting monsters when money could be made by gathering resources and developing them. Being agile and successful was far more profitable.
From that perspective, the M110’s disadvantages outweighed its firepower. Mercenaries often complained it would get them killed or exhausted if they carried it around.
Yet Suhyun loved weapons that poured everything into firepower. As a former special forces operative, he couldn’t always avoid monsters. Dangerous monsters had to be eliminated to prevent interference with national projects. For him, a high-powered weapon could make hunting significantly easier.
“Hey, buy something else. That’ll ruin your back!”
“I’m fine. I’m paying with my own money, so don’t worry.”
Chang-sik, unaware of Suhyun’s skill, was nervous, thinking he was about to do something reckless.
“You can hunt trolls with something else. Better buy a rocket launcher—it’s easier. They’re weak to fire.”
“Rocket launcher? Who said you hunt trolls with rockets?”
“Some guy I knew in the military said it once. Is he wrong?”
“If you tried hunting trolls with rockets, and survived, you’d be insanely lucky. Anyone with experience wouldn’t dare. That rumor’s old but still….”
Chang-sik frowned in confusion.
“Why? Isn’t that good for trolls?”
“Ha… Where to start? First, if you hunt trolls with that, the price drops. Their hide and blood get damaged.”
Fighting monsters was life-threatening, but also a business. Chang-sik nodded, realizing he hadn’t expected such practical reasoning.
“Also, rockets are too flashy. Using one will attract others, and you’ll have to deal with them first. The bigger issue is control. Trolls can still move while badly injured. If they close distance, it’s over. Fire bombs are better if you want flames, combined with other weapons.”
Chang-sik shivered. He almost made a foolish decision based on someone bragging in the military.
‘Damn, that seemed suspicious!’
The guy who claimed to know trolls well was just repeating “Use rockets! One shot!” without explaining details.
“And this gun isn’t even for hunting trolls.”
“Huh?”
“There are plenty of other dangerous monsters here.”
Most importantly, a Calcutta Gorilla that held a grudge against him was still alive. Its vengeance was terrifying—if they met later, it would definitely attack.
This gun was for that moment.
“How much?”
“700.”
“Way too expensive. Honestly, no one else would buy this, so can you lower the price?”
“What? How can I? I’m practically selling at cost!”
“Selling at cost? That’s ridiculous. What do you think, senior?”
“Shopkeeper, that’s too much of a lie.”
“Hmm… 680!”
“Let’s make it 600.”
“You thief!”
“Harsh words. I know I still make a profit at 600.”
The shop owner flinched.
“670!”
“630.”
“650! No more discounts!”
Suhyun smiled and paid. Chang-sik watched in awe. Suhyun’s bargaining skills were superior.
“Where did you learn that?”
“Born with it.”
With the gun purchased, they now needed equipment for troll hunting. Though it was a gun shop, they also sold monster-hunting gear.
“Shopkeeper, I want to hunt trolls. Can you recommend proper equipment? What do troll hunters usually buy?”
“There’s a troll-hunting package in the catalog. Check it out.”
“Oh, they have that?”
Chang-sik admired the businessmen’s sense of profit and reached for the catalog. Many rushed to Cameron hoping for quick riches, and businessmen knew exactly what they wanted.
“Don’t bother with that package.”
“Why not?”
“It’s useless. They bundle mediocre items to sell at a high price.”
“W-what?!”
The owner shouted, but Suhyun wasn’t swayed.
“Expert troll hunters don’t share information—they use their own methods. They combine equipment themselves. Those public packages are just basic stuff. Waste of money.”
The owner was stunned, realizing that this supposed rookie knew exactly how the business worked.
Chang-sik proudly said, “He’s my junior!”
