《The Genius Assassin Who Takes it All》
Chapter 1: Escape (1)
Chapter 1: Escape (1)
Kang-hoo, are you okay?
At his colleagues voice, Kang-hoo looked into the single rusty mirror in the detention center that allowed him to see himself.
The rust umted along the edges of the mirror also bore unidentifiable bloodstains.
Hmm It seems the daytimebor was a bit too much.
Although his face had turned pale, Kang-hoo brushed it off expressionlessly.
It was due to his congenital mana hypersensitivity.
It happened often enough that it didnt seem like a big deal anymore.
A disease with its own pros and cons.
He had an overwhelming advantage in sensing, sympathizing, and attracting manapared to others.
However, using mana beyond what his body could endure led to exhaustion and copse.
In other words, it caused severe physical fatigue.
Therefore, ironically, physical recovery was more crucial for active mana usage.
But in a detention center that only saw its inmates as ves for mining magic stones, physical recovery was a distant dream.
Can you endure it?
Worrying wont change anything.
If its hard, at least say its hard.
Knowing what Kang-hoos silence meant, his colleague soon returned to his own iron bed.
Among the 61 workers in Block 18 of the detention center, everyone except Kang-hoo was deeply asleep.
3 AM.
The perfect midpoint between midnight, the sleeping time, and 6 AM, the waking time, which made it impossible to wake up.
But Kang-hoo, who no longer nned to sleep in his old bed, was exceptionally clear-headed.
Life is hard indeed.
Kang-hoo smirked bitterly.
He didnt find the situation awkward because he had possessed the body of a character from his own novel.
The Handbook of a Viin Turned Savior.
It was a popr work, but it received a lot of criticism due to a bad ending introduced as a twist at thest moment.
The plot twist was that the protagonist was actually an aplice of the Demon King, leading to the worst ending, where the world fell into the hands of the Demon King.
I deserved the criticism. I pushed it too far, trying to be different.
No matter how much he thought about it.
The ending was so disastrous that it seemed like apse of reason.
If he had possessed the main character - who became a viin at the end - Jang Si-hwan.
He would be revered as a hero of the world at this point in time, five years before the ending.
But he ended up possessing the body of Shin Kang-hoo, the unfortunate viin created to oppose Jang Si-hwan.
Having designed him as a cynical character and eliminated all positive aspects, starting with congenital mana hypersensitivity
It wasnt hard to be mentally devastated.
Moreover, in the past few days, the mental synchronization had beenpleted.
To the extent that he couldnt even remember who he was before the possession.
Of course, the memories of the original work were clear.
The longer the escape is dyed, the more I would miss the golden timing to save the world. Theres no time to waste.
In the story, Shin Kang-hoo started as a viin, but in the end, his essence was that of a savior.
The real viin was the one who aided the Demon Kings Advent and handed over this world to him.
The hero Jang Si-hwan and the thirteen revered hunters, known as The Thirteen Stars.
It wont be easy to find a loophole in this well-crafted world to their liking.
Shin Kang-hoos inherent cynicism overwhelmed his emotions, but he looked further into the future.
Only the aplices of the false hero could survive at the end of this story, which inevitably led to the Demon Kings ending.
If he couldnt change the future, hed die either way.
Unless, of course, he desired to live.
In fact, he could just slit his throat and die right now without much thought.
But the reason he couldnt do that was because, even in his deep pessimism, he saw a glimmer of hope.
That hope was the only light in his heart that made Shin Kang-hoo decide to leave the world and enter the plot of the original work.
Kang-hoo wanted to hasten that moment to today.
The reason was clear.
It was the day when the guards, who had been busy due to the arrival of a new inmate, were most exhausted.
[Shin Kang-hoo should have decided to escape from Cheongmyeong Detention Center that day. His hesitation that day gifted him three years of hell.]
Memories of the original work flickered like an illusion.
Kang-hoo shook his head and brushed off those memories.
Then, biting his lip, he stood up from the spot where he was looking at the mirror.
Today, I must get out.
He set a short-term goal.
Cheongmyeong Detention Center, a massive human exploitation site managed by the criminal organization Eclipse.
He would escape from the detention center.
It was not like the reality of post-apocalyptic South Korea outside the detention center would feel like heaven.
But at least he could enjoy the freedom of his body.
That was more than enough for him now.
A littleter.
You have one minute. Any longer, and not just your crap, but your life will be cut off.
Yes.
Kang-hoo entered the makeshift restroom next to the detention center under the guards watch.
As soon as he entered, the distinctive stench of the restroom and the smell of rotting corpses wafted over.
Originally, there were restrooms inside the detention center.
But so many inmates hung themselves in the restroom that this was a desperate measure.
This detention center, in a blind spot of human rights, was essentially a living hell.
And this restroom was just one of the stories that illustrated that.
Kang-hoo entered the restroom and looked around.
As he remembered, part of the exterior was dented inward from being kicked from the outside, creating a sharp edge.
Sharp and long enough to cut flesh and make a wound.
Swoosh!
Without hesitation, Kang-hoo cut his palm. Blood gushed out, soaking the floor.
50 seconds left.
Using his blood as ink and his opposite finger as a brush, Kang-hoo drew a pentagram on the narrow restroom floor.
It was a summoning ritual.
A ritual to call forth the Constetion Dimension Plunderer.
The reason Kang-hoo needed this Constetion now was simple.
The traits bestowed by Dimension Plunderer would all explosively boost his potential.
Escaping the detention center alone with the unremarkable Level 10 hunters body presented many obstacles.
For example, the guard waiting outside with a long sword was Level 45.
This meant he had at least a years experience as a hunter.
In other words, a direct confrontation would be difficult, and securing a power that could instantly reverse the situation was crucial.
Arent you done yet, brat?
The sharp voice of the guard was clearly audible, along with the scraping sound of metal.
40 seconds.
The pentagram sparkled, emitting a unique dark red glow.
Of course, this was just the beginning.
Kang-hoo raised his palm close to the pentagram, speaking the words that had been circling in his mind.
I know youre watching my fate. And I know you revel in your contractors tragedy, trials, and sorrow.
.
No answer came.
A contract with a Constetion was never a one-waymunication. It required an exchange of words and consciousness.
The Dimension Plunderer was not a petty being who would get offended by the insignificant humans informal speech.
On the contrary, it found it interesting.
The best person to utilize your abilities is me.
Still no response.
Kang-hoo echoed the words the Dimension Plunderer had once said to Shin Kang-hoo in the original work, who was pessimistic and denying the future.
The more you hesitate, the further the hope that wille to this world will be multiplied by several or dozens of times.
Life ahead would not be smooth.
Having possessed the body of a viin despised as a devil by the world.
Moreover, he had to confront the propaganda framework cleverly constructed by the Demon Kings aplices directly.
It would be difficult.
But that didnt mean he wanted to die meaninglessly in this world that had vividly be his reality, like a disposable tool.
Just then.
[Audacious one. I will give you a very short time to experience the power of a noble Constetion. Prove it.]
Its done.
Kang-hoo smiled.
As a Constetion, he would grant three traits when he selected a contractor.
First, maintain the proficiency of all skills learned or to be learned at their maximum.
Second, the ability to plunder boss skills and make them his own.
Third, the ability to plunder the contract of the Constetion worshiped by another hunter upon their death.
Each trait inevitably made the contractor powerful.
And now, what Kang-hoo could take advantage of was the first trait, skill proficiency.
Though he only had two skills, there seemed to be no problem with the required proof.
The proof he spoke of meant showing no fear in staining his hands with blood.
In other words, it meant to cut off the breath of the guard outside the door.
20 seconds.
Kang-hoo held his breath.
In the meantime, Kang-hoos two skills, temporarily boosted through traits, transformed into something entirely different.
Skill proficiency started at level 1 and only reached its maximum at level 20.
It required a long period of consistent effort and even rushed; it took at least 5 years.
Of course, reaching maximum proficiency had significance. It had to be that way.
Because all the coefficients, such as the duration of the skill, distance, destructive power, etc., skyrocketed significantly.
And now it has changed like that.
The Short Range Leap skill, which would have required luck to cover 1m, became a virtual space movement skill that could cover 12m in an instant.
The Lateral Movement skill, which was just a slight sidestepping, now allowed moving behind the target while in stealth.
Who would think the former andtter were the same skill?
This was the synergy between the character Shin Kang-hoo and the Constetion Dimension Plunderer. It was almost like a cheat.
5 seconds.
This son of a!
Creak!
The guard, feeling offended by Kang-hoosck of apology and no sign ofing out, opened the door.
After all, it wouldnt be a problem if one prisoner died.
After all, Seoul was the only ce where thew still functioned to some extent.
Elsewhere, it was a world ruled by warlords, criminal organizations, and mercenaries.
Might made right.
In the presence of strong power, even murder was not a crime.
Just then, the guard definitely saw Kang-hoo for a brief moment.
Their eyes met precisely.
But as if a person had be invisible, he disappeared from sight in an instant.
It made no sense.
He was only Level 10!
There was no way he would miss a prisoner with a level 35 lower than his own, a mere ipetent.
But then.
Swoosh!
Gah!
Something cold and metallic pierced through the guards carotid artery, prating the center of the neck.
A perfect fatal wound, leaving no time to scream.
What Kang-hoo inserted next to the guards neck was a chopstick.
A weapon he had intended to use cleanly to cut his own life when he had no more attachment to life.
However, the will to live had turned the direction of the chopstick towards the enemy, not himself.
And then.
[The contract is established.]
The noble Constetion responded to the call of a Level 10 hunter, worthless and pathetic, a lowly hunter.
Considering the majority of hunters who couldnt even dream of a contract with a high-ranking Constetion like Dimension Plunderer even past Level 100.
It was truly an extraordinary event.
Chapter 2: Escape (2)
Chapter 2: Escape (2)
Kang-hoo did not take the guards clothes; they were merely third-grade guard uniforms.
To execute his escape n, he required at least a second-grade guard uniform. The one before him wouldnt suffice.
Firstly, Kang-hoo picked up the long sword that the deceased guard had carried.
It was a weapon item rated at the eighth grade in the ssification system for hunter items, whichprised nine grades.
[Goblin Warrior''s Long Sword]
[Grade: 8th]
[Strength +10]
Simple enough, he thought.
There were no special effects.
Nevertheless, an increase in strength by 10 was significant.
Especially for Kang-hoo, whose physique was only slightly above average.
At present, Kang-hoos strength was a mere 5.
With an additional 10 points, he would at least match the strength level of someone after several months of weight training.
[Would you like to register the Goblin Warrior''s Long Sword in the ''weapon'' tab?]
He didnt hesitate toplete the registration.
Within the structure of the hunter system, stat effects from an item were not applied unless registered in this manner.
Since a hunter could register only one weapon, owning multiple weapons did not mean benefiting from all their effects.
I have to get to the main gate, he thought.
Kang-hoos gaze shifted towards the heavily fortified main gate.
Taking this route was the most direct path to a swift escape.
It was also the escape route that Shin Kang-hoo had chosen in the original story.
The tried-and-true solution.
Given that Cheongmyeong Detention Center didnt have many permanent guards, this was a logical choice.
Hunters withbat skills typically were out participating in dungeon raids, rather than overseeing detention centers.
That way lies a trap, he mused.
His eyes then moved to the northwest, towards Cheongmyeong Mountain.
At first nce, it looked dark,plex, and deficient in guard facilities, seemingly a safe escape route.
However, it was fraught with danger,den with snares and traps, including caves prone to deep copse.
It was a trap strategically set by Eclipse. Choosing that path would mean certain death.
I need to draw some attention.
Kang-hoo, holding the long sword, strode past cell block 18 of the detention center and began walking in a different direction.
It led to a nearby dormitory for senior officers.
The straight-line distance from cell block 18 was about 50 meters, quite close.
Considering the time, except for one guard on watch, everyone else should have been asleep.
In any emergency, a siren would sound, rendering it inefficient to have many guards on duty.
As he neared the dozing guard, he tried to be as quiet as possible.
Hmm?
The guard, sensing a faint presence, opened his eyes wide.
Since all guards were hunters, their keen senses were not to be underestimated.
Kang-hoo had anticipated this.
Having acquired the ability of the Dimension Plunderer permanently, he felt confident in handling the situation.
Whoosh!
Though it was a distance of over 10 meters, Kang-hoo instantly closed the gap using his leap skill.
It resembled less a flight through the air and more a sudden movement through space.
Kang-hoos position shifted in an instant, as if he had disappeared and reappeared from sight.
Swish!
With the long sword he had taken from the previously dispatched guard, he cleanly severed the head of the watchful guard.
Regardless of the high-quality reinforced equipment the guard wore, it was difficult to protect the most vulnerable partthe neck.
Whoosh!
The head fell, powerless to the ground.
Though the eyes stared at Kang-hoo with a look of bewilderment, he did not return the gaze and kicked the head aside.
He then quickly stripped the guard of his clothes.
Now, he was ready to start the actual escape. To buy even a little time, a disguise was crucial.
He couldnt possibly escape through the main gate in prisoner-specific attire like a prison uniform, could he?
He changed into the guards clothes in the blink of an eye.
Despite bloodstains on various parts of the uniform, it was not a significant issue.
He imed it was blood that had sttered while dealing with a dazed prisoner.
Incidents like this weremonce in Cheongmyeong Detention Center.
He also quickly changed into conveniently stripped shoes.
They were 9th grade item shoes.
These shoes increased the agility stat by 5, which resulted in an expected increase in main power by about 10%.
Given that Kang-hoos unique talent was quite excellent main power, the synergy seemed promising.
Drip! Drip!
Kang-hoo fetched an oil drum near the guard station and began to pour its contents all around, making sure not to leave any spot untouched.
Since it was early spring and still cold, the oil had been prepared along with firewood for making fires.
Having emptied the oil drum, he lit a fire with a lighter he had taken from the inner pocket of the dead guard.
Whoosh!
mes rose fiercely along the oil trail he hadid around the outskirts of the guard station.
This marked the beginning of his escape n.
Time passed.
As the mes grew, their distinctive burning smell wafted through the air, and guards who were either on watch in other blocks or had been awoken by themotion began to understand what was happening.
Whats this? A fire?
Its in front of block 18! Who did this? Arent bodies supposed to be incinerated at the incineration block, not here at the guard block?
Call the fire suppression team!
Since fires were a frequent urrence, none of the guards panicked.
This was, after all, a crime scene where thebor of hunter-origin prisoners was exploited, so the guards were prepared not just for emergencies but also forbat if necessary.
Suppressing the prisoners quickly was crucial for maximizing theirbor in the magic stone mines.
Around that same time,
Kang-hoo walked boldly towards the main gate.
His steps were unmistakable; he walked just like a guard.
Seeing Shin Kang-hoo approach the main gate with confidence, the guards never suspected him to be a prisoner attempting to escape.
The gaze and bright lights pressed down on him, but the more intense they became, the bolder Shin Kang-hoo walked.
His steps remained true to the original intent.
Kang-hoo neither hurried nor scanned his surroundings with an anxious expression.
Just then
Stop!
Click!
As lights flickered on in the guardhouses nking the gate, spotlights bathed Kang-hoo in their glow.
Since guards worked in shifts, they did not all recognize one another.
Unless they took a close look, distinguishing a fellow guard from a prisoner was challenging.
Kang-hoo called out calmly.
Hey, its me! From block 18! Theres a fire in our block, and its raging fiercer than we thought; we might need backup!
Amidst the crisis, he behaved even more nonchntly.
At the same time, he raised his arms and gestured behind him with his thumbs, redirecting the focused attention away from himself.
Damn, a fire?
Who the hell smoked here?
The diversion was sessful.
Soon, the lights dimmed, and the interest in Kang-hoo dwindled.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo quickened his pace toward a vehicle that was now in sight.
It was ready for departure.
Two guards were seated in the front, in the drivers and passengers seats.
The vehicle was an open-type military jeep, making it easy to see which guards were inside.
They bore three skull insigniasthird-grade guards.
The uniform Kang-hoo had donned belonged to a second-grade guard, a rank above theirs.
As Kang-hoo approached and nonchntly opened the door to sit in the back seat, the driver nced over and inquired,
Whats the matter?
Theres an escapee. They slipped out between the barbed wires northwest of block 18. Im heading there to cut off their escape route.
Kang-hoo replied smoothly.
These details were familiar to him, as he was the creator of this world.
His answer was calcted, free of hesitation or faltering.
You should have an assigned vehicle
The guard in the passenger seat nced at Kang-hoo, but being of a lower rank, refrained from further questioning.
Are we going to waste time talking here? Or would you prefer I get out and walk?
No, sir. Sorry. Ill take you to your destination immediately.
Chastened by Kang-hoo, the driver scratched the back of his head and pressed the elerator.
Kang-hoo, with his arms crossed, maintained as rxed a posture as possible, waiting for time to pass.
Soon, the two in front would notice something suspicious. It was clear he didnt look like the guard he was impersonating.
Moreover, if they examined the bloodstains closely, they might notice something odd.
Any attempt to hide or cover up might arouse more suspicion.
Of course, theter they realized, the farther he would be from the main gate.
Kang-hoo decided to buy more time.
Those prisoners. The ones who dont listen should be killed outright, not just put in solitary.
The driver chimed in.
Honestly, theyre only hunters in name, losers who cant even fend for themselves. Were rehabilitating them.
That was Eclipses slogan.
[Turning useless human trash into usefulborers.]
Kang-hoo had been kidnapped to Cheongmyeong Detention Center under such absurd pretexts.
The government and public authorities were confined to operating in Seoul.
Outside of that, it was a state ofplete anarchy.
Pass!
Meanwhile, the final checkpoint outside the main gate was cleared, and the jeep entered the road leading out of the detention center.
After a period of silence, when they were more than 300 meters away from the checkpoint, the guard in the passenger seat, who had been looking uneasy and continuously checking behind, asked with narrowed eyes.
Second-grade guard, sir.
Yes?
When did you arrive at block 18?
Two days ago.
You must have been on the ninth shift.
Thats right.
Up to that point, Kang-hoo could answer easily because he knew the information.
He also knew whom he had killed.
But the problemy in the question that came next.
What was todays password?
A password known only to the guards.
It was never mentioned in the original story, so remembering it was impossible, even if he returned from the dead.
Kang-hoo didnt try to think of a different answer.
He had foreseen this oue from the beginning.
There was only one answer.
Swoosh! Thud!
Like lightning, he swiftly picked up the long sword beside him and struck the heads of the two guards in session.
He made sure to imbue the sword with as much mana as possible.
While it didnt manifest as a buff or skill, infusing the sword with mana increased its lethality.
Urgh
Gurk
Their reactions were so swift that if Kang-hoo had hesitated even for 0.5 seconds, let alone a whole second, he might have been overpowered.
The dying driver, eyes flipped inside out, already had a magic skill cast in his left hand.
And the guard in the passenger seat extended his right arm, aiming a dagger at Kang-hoos shoulder.
Boom!
Ugh.
The jeep, now driverless, crashed into the dirt wall along the mountain road and stopped.
If Kang-hoo hadnt been holding onto the handle, he might have been ejected from the vehicle due to the impact.
Ping!
At that moment, Kang-hoos vision spun as if the world rotated 360 degrees.
Damn mana hypersensitivity.
He bit his lip hard.
Using all his mana for that strike seemed to have immediately overloaded his body.
Vroom!
From the direction of the checkpoint, the sound of an elerator being pressed echoed.
Seeing the approaching headlights, there was no doubt that they were heading his way.
This is the final hurdle.
Kang-hoo shook his head repeatedly to regain his senses.
The escape was not yet over.
He needed to put an end to it.
Chapter 3: Escape (3)
Chapter 3: Escape (3)
Descending the steep, dark path with only the moonlight for guidance,
Kang-hoo recalled the myriad of situations that had unfolded simultaneously just moments before.
During the escape, he had killed three guards, a deviation from the original story.
Considering my insignificant role in this world, such a change in the future is unlikely.
He hoped the future wouldnt twist until he had grown strong enough.
For then, he could leverage his knowledge.
Regardless, the days events signified a contract with a constetion three years ahead of schedule.
He steeled himself to grow stronger.
He had to fiercely and continuously exploit this trait and ability.
Otherwise, his escape would lose its purpose.
Rustle. Rustle.
Footsteps gradually grew closer along the slope.
Though dawn was breaking, he couldnt make out who was approaching, but one thing was clear:
Its a hunter who has made a contract with a constetion.
The red dot visible above the head of the pursuing hunter gave it away.
This clue was thanks to the activation of his Constetion Plunder ability, acquired after his pact with the Dimension Plunderer.
A constetion detection ability that automatically marks a red dot above the heads of those with a constetion.
[Skilled Empathizer]
[A neutral constetion with the ability to track mana.]
Ah, so thats how theyre tracking me. They can sense the flow of mana.
This realization exined how someone could locate him in the dark without any visible light source.
Unless it was an exceptional case, the hunters level would be no lower than 100.
Typically, one made a pact with a constetion upon reaching level 100
A process known as Selection.
Of course, pacts could be forged at much lower levels too.
Lower-ranked constetions sometimes deliberately chose early bonds with unsuspecting contractors.
In the end, everything hinged on individual prowess.
However, with a level 100 hunter on his trail, he knew luck alone wouldnt save him.
He needed to avoid a direct confrontation.
Instead
Draw them in and strike.
Kang-hoo had this thought as he came to a stop behind a thick tree that loomed before him.
It was a perfect hiding spot, where one could guess but not see their opponents position.
sh!
Kang-hoo cut his palm with the long sword he wielded.
Then, with his hand dripping fresh blood, he gripped a stone tightly.
The stone quickly became heavily stained with blood.
After a brief moment.
Thunk!
He thrust the bloodied stone into the tree at eye level with force.
The tree trunk, deeply indented, easily amodated the t stone.
He pulled all his remaining mana and infused it into the stone once more.
Holding his breath, he suppressed his hyper-sensitive mana state.
If he left it as it was, it would explosively draw in surrounding mana.
That wouldpletely undermine his camouge.
Ugh.
Engaging in an activity he should avoid, he was immediately struck by nausea and a metallic taste in his mouth.
It was a sign he was about to faint from hypersensitivity.
His body couldnt cope with the excessive mana use and recovery in such a short span.
Kang-hoo bit down hard on his teeth.
As he evaded an attack targeting the tree behind him, his body grew transparent.
Whish! Whish! Bang!
The hunter, who had rapidly closed in,unched himself forward with immense force, using his movement skill.
He felt the mana precisely behind the tree and unleashed his firepower there without a second thought.
You rat-like bastard!
He wielded an axe.
Thud!
The heavy de struck the tree with such force that it shook violently, the impacted area splitting diagonally.
But.
Nothing?
The most vital presence was absent.
Kang-hoo was nowhere to be seen.
The hunter, realizing his effort was in vain, suddenly faced a sharp longsword thrust from an unexpected direction.
Pierce!
Gurk!
The longsword that had prated below the jaw went straight through the middle of the face and came out above the forehead.
Kang-hoos aim was true.
Even a high-level hunter didnt have a steel jaw.
The hunter made the mistake of letting his guard down, trusting his abilities and being certain of Kang-hoos location.
[You have killed the target and plundered the contract with ''Skilled Empathizer.'']
[''Skilled Empathizer'' is now subjugated to ''Dimension Plunderer,'' and cannot escape except through annihtion or contract termination.]
[All abilities of ''Skilled Empathizer'' are now inherited by you.]
The message meant the hunter was dead, or there was no chance of survival.
Gu, Gurk, Gurk
With a look of disbelief, the hunter fell, clutching at Kang-hoo as he could.
No known hunter could plunder a constetions contract and im it as their own.
If one existed, he would have remembered.
Because it was an almost fraudulent ability.
Yet, the escapee who had just thrust a longsword into his face possessed such an absurd power.
Boom!
The hunter copsed.
The heart that had stopped could not beat again.
[View Additional Abilities]
[Mana Tracking Ability]
[Night Vision]
Good.
He had acquired a useful skill.
As soon as he obtained the night vision ability, his dark surroundings changed as if he had donned infrared night vision goggles.
The mana tracking ability would assist in finding hidden enemies, just as this hunter had tracked him.
However.
Bluarrgh!
Perhaps from overusing mana again with that recent strike, this time he couldnt suppress the unbearable urge to vomit.
It was so severe that red blood mixed into the vomit.
Just a little more strain and Ill die right here.
Kang-hoo surveyed his surroundings.
Just then, a new road caught his eye, a bit further down the slope.
Nearby, a dump truck loaded with sand was approaching.
First, I need to take care of this
Kang-hoo, head spinning, clenched his hands around an axe, a ne, and a bracelet he had taken from the dead hunter.
He didnt have time to examine theirposition; he sprinted at full speed and hurled himself onto the sand in the truck.
Thud!
His body merged with the sand.
Phew.
Kang-hoo exhaled a heated sigh, gazing up at the dawn sky.
So damn clear.
He was lost in thought for a long while, captivated by the twinkling stars, pondering where to begin.
First, he needed to find a safe ce.
Thirty minutester.
A man who had just received news from Cheongmyeong Detention Center was reviewing the contents.
Kang Dong-hyun.
He was the third inmand within Eclipse, a crime organization, ranked only below the enigmatic first and second.
Eclipse, notorious in the Chungcheong region forbor exploitation, employed many workers in the magic stone mines, as magic stones had recently surged in value.
With the advent of the hunters era, some minerals had transformed into magic stones, and Cheongmyeong Mountain contained one such mine.
Thinking of walking out the main gate, are we? Such confidence is unbing of a detaineemust have been his weapon.
Kang Dong-hyun gave a nod.
He admired Kang-hoos ability to find the most certain answer, though he was clueless about how he came up with it.
[Shin Kang-hoo]
[Level 10. Assassin ss.]
[All items were confiscated upon admission, and no further development information is avable. No known residence information either.]
He scrutinized the report that detailed Kang-hoos information.
Like most detainees, Kang-hoo had beginner-level specs, barely capable of fighting guards effectively.
Regardless of skill, one guard could easily subdue such an individual.
Even the lowest-ranking third-ss guards possessed basic skills at level 35 or above.
But.
A level 10 hunter took down two guards, levels 45 and 55, and even one with a constetion at level 100? Crazy bastard.
Kang Dong-hyun lit a cigarette, the me illuminating his face.
Taking the report at face value made him feel like a fool.
It just didnt make sense logically.
A level 10 hunter would have limited dungeonbat experience.
Especially after living in the detention center for over two years, hisbat instincts should have almost vanished.
Whatever the strategy, a powerful strike was necessary to take down hunters of that caliber without a fight.
One was stabbed in the neck from behind with a chopstick. Two had their heads split open in the backseat. And thisst one, even with mana tracking ability, got stabbed below the jaw?
It was a staggering oue.
It was almost as if they were asking to be killed.
Kang Dong-hyun wasnt angry about Kang-hoos escape.
Detainee escapes weremon.
Its not like things woulde to a halt without Kang-hoo.
If workers were needed, they could just kidnap more.
But a level 10 hunter overpowering such skilled hunters instantly was intriguing.
Interest aroused in a strange ce.
Just like the smoke he deeply inhaled, Kang Dong-hyuns gaze deepened.
To think hed be interested in an escapee he deemed a loser in life.
But Kang-hoos actions were special enough to warrant attention.
Near Daejeon Station.
Kang-hoo, after some difficulty, found a rare public phone and dialed a number that naturally surfaced in his mind, deeply ingrained in his subconscious from the original Shin Kang-hoo.
Hello?
A womans voice answered.
It was a familiar sound.
Relieved that he had reached her, he responded.
Its me, Kang-hoo.
Ka, Kang-hoo oppa?
Yes.
Oppa! What happened that you havent contacted me for over two years? Even if we broke up
Her voice, though chiding, was filled with sorrow and longing.
Her name was Han Seo-yeon.
She was Kang-hoos ex-girlfriend.
They had split due to personality differences.
Although they had broken up, they often stayed in touch like typical friends.
But for the past two years, they had lost contact.
She couldnt have known what had happened to Kang-hoo.
There was a reason.
Hecked the energy to exin everything, so he kept it brief.
Despite the time that had passed and the fact that they knew each other better than anyone else, she shifted the direction of the conversation.
Oppa, what do you need?
Just for a day. Let me rest at your ce.
Alright. Ille to pick you up right away. Where are you?
Near the public phone by Daejeon Station, exit 5. Sorry.
Sorry for what? Considering what you did for me in the past, this is only natural. Wait for me! Ill be there soon!
Chapter 4: The Client (1)
Chapter 4: The Client (1)
The scenery around him started to blur and run like ink in water.
Upon arriving at Han Seo-yeons officetel, Kang-hoo finally rxed and let go of all his burdens.
Not because he naively trusted her, but because she had always been foolishly trusting of him.
Despite the affection they shared until their breakup, they had be nothing more than parts of each others past.
Han Seo-yeon had always kept him in her heart.
Even after the breakup, she couldnt forget him.
Thats why he trusted her.
Even if others betrayed him, she couldnt, still clinging to her lingering feelings.
Han Seo-yeon was also a hunter.
Her level, at 150, was considerably higher than Kang-hoos.
From the moment they met, Kang-hoo had seen information about her constetion.
As a hunter, he considered her far more advanced than himself.
Han Seo-yeon looked at Kang-hoo with a pitying expression.
Although he looked much better than when she first brought him to her officetel, his face was still pale.
What exactly happened to you? Were you kidnapped or something?
She sighed deeply with a distressed look.
Kang-hoo responded to her rhetorical question.
I was kidnapped by Eclipse.
He had woken from a deep sleep some time before.
He was just resting with his eyes closed.
Even this was enough to feel his body rapidly recovering.
Oppa, didnt you sleep?
No, I slept well, thanks to you.
Kang-hoo shook his head.
Time had changed Han Seo-yeon too; her appearance was different.
Her once waist-length ck hair had been cut short, and her body was more muscr and tanned than before.
Thest time they spoke, she was just a novice entering the world of hunters.
Now, she seemed like a veteran hunter who had seen and survived it all.
Eclipse Were you dragged to the magic stone mine? Theyre known for kidnapping hunters.
Mana is essential for mining magic stones, so a low-level hunter like me was an easy target.
How difficult it must have been for you, oppa Im sorry. If I had kept in touch more often, this wouldnt have happened.
Tears seemed ready to fall from Han Seo-yeons eyes.
Before her emotions could deepen, Kang-hoo replied coldly.
You dont need to apologize for my fate, just as I dontment on yours.
But.
Lets leave it at that. This is the first andst time Ill be indebted to you. Lets call it even.
Pretending to be cold on the outside when youre not You havent changed, oppa. Its obvious.
Theres nothing good about being associated with me anymore. Eclipse might track me.
Oppa, Im a hunter too. Level 150. Ive reached a level where ordinary ones cant easily mess with me.
Good. Use that strength for yourself. You dont need to worry about me.
Instead of responding, Han Seo-yeon nodded silently, epting his words.
Kang-hoo was known not to open up easily once he had closed off.
Knowing his nature well, she didnt press further.
Instead, she offered him some prepared items, continuing the conversation.
Here are some new clothes for you to change into, and a clean, untraceable smartphone.
It seems your guild is operating cautiously in a grey area.
Yes. And heres one million won. I only took out as much as necessary, thinking you might refuse more.
Okay.
Ive also prepared some basic materials. If youre not nning to go to Seoul right away, it might be good to look at these.
The materials Han Seo-yeon handed him concerned unofficial mercenary groups, not formal guilds.
This was precisely the information Kang-hoo needed.
Joining a guild would be too risky for him.
He needed to minimize contact with The Thirteen Stars, as Jang Si-hwans influence extended to many domestic guilds.
Even if there was no direct connection to Jang Si-hwan, the possibility of falling under the influence of The Thirteen Stars was high.
In other words, it wasnt safe.
At the moment, The Thirteen Stars, or rather their underlings, were unaware of the constetion Dimension Plunderer.
But once they became aware, relentless pursuit and elimination attempts would follow.
Thats why being an independent client who only epted tasks from mercenary groups, without worrying about guilds or crime syndicates, was the best fit.
An independent client became aplete stranger once the task was done, with no further entanglement.
Seeing Kang-hoo focused on one ce for a while, Han Seo-yeon added,
I can connect you to the nearest mercenary group. An acquaintance of mine is the leader.
Any issue with using an alias?
Not at all. They wont ask anything beyond a basic level scan and verification.
Then, connect me there. It might be myst request.
Why do you keep sayingst? Think of it as paying back the love and care youve given me.
Seo-yeon.
Yes?
Dont get trapped in the past.
Han Seo-yeons hand paused as she was about to contact her acquaintance at the mercenary group.
Struck by the deep resonance of Kang-hoos words, she wiped her reddened eyes and made the call.
At the same time, she spoke to Kang-hoo with a voice strained to suppress her emotions.
Take care, oppa. Always stay healthy.
I wish the same for you.
With that, all past affection was buried in that moment.
Preparations moved swiftly.
The connection was made, and a meeting ce with the mercenary group leader was set near Daejeon Station.
After a brief hug with Han Seo-yeon, Kang-hoo stepped into a taxi heading back to Daejeon Station.
He then briefly examined the items he had acquired during his escape.
The axe seemed unnecessary, as he had no skill in wielding such weapons.
He could sell itter for a decent price, as there were hunters who specialized in axes.
[Ne of Favorable Winds]
[Grade: 7]
[Agility +15]
[Bracelet of Rising Vitality]
[Grade: 6]
[Stamina +25]
[1 additional stamina recovery per minute]
Chapter 5: The Client (2)
Chapter 5: The Client (2)
Before Judgment Day and the dawn of the hunters era, the area near Daejeon Station bustled with people.
That story dated back 10 years.
But now, it had turned into a ce of silence and stillness, with only the eerie, cold wind blowing through.
The once busymercial district, filled with many shops, had be a deste street lined with vacant spaces.
It had transformed into an empty street devoid of people, a secret zone hidden from prying eyes.
Lee Ye-rin stood at a distance from Kang-hoo and initiated the conversation.
I will only test one thing with Sun-kyu: Whether you can dodge skills. Thats it.
Given my assassin title, you want to see if I can at least fend for myself.
Right. Being able to dodge means youre also seizing opportunities to attack.
This was the type of test he desired.
No matter how eloquently one spoke, it meant nothing to someone who evaluated based on skill, like Lee Ye-rin.
They trusted their eyes, not their ears.
They valued a single movement over a hundred words.
Im ready.
Kang-hoos eyes sparkled.
[Unique Talent: Quite Excellent Strength/Exceptionally Outstanding Dynamic Vision]
He always had a unique ability at the ready for such moments.
A viin to always keep Jang Si-hwan on his toes that was the purpose of this arrangement.
He regretted not endowing himself with more talents back then, but he hadnt known he would embody the character.
Yet, he had solidly established his identity as an assassin, so he felt no anxiety about the future.
However, he recognized the need for caution.
There was a danger in overconfidence in his exceptional talents.
Jang Si-hwan and The Thirteen Stars held themselves to a high standard of skill.
If even these underlings, who thrived in a world of high skills, did so, there was no room forcency.
The test skill is
Right now.
Interrupting Lee Ye-rin who was about to kindly inform him of the test skill, Kang-hoo knew that manners didnt exist on a battleground filled with deceit and hypocrisy.
Swoosh!
Lee Ye-rin instantly conjured a green sphere of light in her hands.
He recognized the skill immediately.
Mist Tracker.
It created a minion in the form of mist thattched onto the target.
Even a mere touch left a trace on the targets body, allowing for tracking from afar.
It wasnt an offensive skill, so being hit wouldnt kill you.
But failing to dodge left evidence, effectively ending the test.
Swoosh!
Lee Ye-rin swiftly extended her hand, sending the Mist Tracker toward Kang-hoo.
Being able to control its movements at will made it particrly challenging.
If I can just dodge it properly, Ill have earned my keep.
Lee Ye-rin never envisioned Kang-hoo dodging it in her mind.
It was just a matter of how soon he would get caught by the Mist Tracker.
As expected.
Kang-hoo seemed unable to decide on a direction and stood still, tense in his spot.
The unpredictability must have been difficult.
As Lee Ye-rin injected more propulsion, the Mist Tracker sped up and quickly engulfed Kang-hoo.
Just then.
Whoosh!
Kang-hoos body, which had disappeared from sight for a moment, reappeared about ten meters back.
For a level 10 assassin, that basic leap skill is too shy, isnt it?
As a veteran like Lee Ye-rin, even if it wasnt her ss, she could estimate other skills.
The proficiency of the leap skill disyed by Kang-hoo matched that of an assassin over level 250.
That estimate was conservative; it could be seen as high as levels 350 to 400.
Once could be a coincidence.
Lee Ye-rin immediately increased the speed of the Mist Tracker.
Being a primary skill for her at level 250, maximizing its performance was quick.
Whoosh!
The noise of slicing through space was audible; the attack was lightning-fast.
Swoosh.
But Kang-hoo effortlessly moved two steps to the side, neatly dodging the attack.
He then used a nearby pir as a shield forteral movement, effectively concealing himself.
Behind the pir, he naturally activated his stealth skill.
Caught off guard, Lee Ye-rin tried to track the flow of mana to locate Kang-hoo.
In front?
She reacted instinctively and quickly retreated.
By a narrow margin, Kang-hoo materialized where she had just stood.
He had used his leap skill after stealth, aiming for a counter-attack.
Of course, there was no real intent to harm.
Wow.
Her exmation was a mix of surprise, shock, the unexpected, and relief.
Lee Ye-rin dismissed the Mist Tracker with a gesture.
The test having been apparentlypleted, she immediately questioned Kang-hoo.
Have you had training?
No.
The level scan showed 10. But these movements arent typical for that level.
Is it confirmed?
Kang-hoo deflected the question, seeing no need to borate.
The purpose of what had just transpired was what mattered.
Yes. Based on this, Id rate you as level 50 for requests.
Thats good to hear.
Despite the positive undertone in his words, Kang-hoos expression remained unchanged.
Observing him, Lee Ye-rin thought he looked like someone who had never smiled.
His facial muscles were notably rigid.
As if he had forgotten how to use them.
Clearly, he was a hunter with a past, but it seemed unlikely that he would share it with her.
That was the essence of their conversation, right?
He carefully avoided answering anything beyond the immediate topic.
Their next conversation took ce inside a ck van that Lee Ye-rin had provided.
Their discussion, intertwined with mercenary work, followed a simple form of offer and agreement.
The vans windows were fitted withyers of transparent tes, evidently for bulletproofing.
Feeling Kang-hoos gaze, she produced a contract, speaking.
A pesky gunman has been tailing metely. Getting too much love from those Eclipse folks. Ho ho.
That meant Eclipse was wary of her, likely due to conflicting business interests.
The gunman tailing her signified that a Gunner ss hunter, specializing in mana guns, was following her.
It was a warning indicating he could target her at any time, without even needing to pull the trigger.
Is this it?
Kang-hoo reached out to take the request form from Lee Ye-rin.
He found what she said somewhat interesting, but ultimately, it was her problem.
Knowing it didnt mean he had to care.
She hadnt asked for help first, either.
Yes. Its a request to track down a wanted person. Im the client. It should be a useful request for Mr. Sun-kyu.
Members of the mercenary group were adept at condensing content while capturing the essentials.
The request form Lee Ye-rin handed over contained only the necessary information and request, sinctly written.
[Kim Mok-hyun. Level 50. Mage.]
[Gyeonggi-do Osan. Abandoned ruins dungeon. Request for retrieval of the 3rd-grade item ''Bartalos''s Shoes.'']
Do I need to bring him back alive?
Hearing Kang-hoos question, Lee Ye-rin burst intoughter.
Ha, sorry. No ones ever asked me that so directly before.
Typically, people inquire why someone has be a wanted person.
In other words, they ask for the reason they are being tracked.
But Kang-hoo was asking whether he needed to capture the target alive or if it was permissible to kill him as long as he retrieved the item.
In fact, there was nothing bad to say about his question, and to put it nicely, it indicated he was professionally epting the request.
Lee Ye-rin continued.
Its okay to kill him. There have been too many civilian murders confirmed as Kim Mok-hyuns doing. You might even be doing a favor.
What about the Hunter Public Safety Bureau?
If caught, its onsite execution.
Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
A national agency with several hunter public safety officers, but their influence is only effective in Seoul.
Anyway, since the bureaus judgment provides official grounds, killing the target wouldnt be considered a crime if its deemed an execution.
Of course, in the current world where the legal system has crumbled, thews reach is extremely limited.
A small fry like Kim Mok-hyun, whether dead or alive, wouldnt concern anyone.
Then Ill just retrieve the requested item.
Sure. Everything else is outside of my request, whether Mr. Sun-kyu keeps it, disposes of it, or does whatever.
Lets get started right away.
The abandoned ruins dungeon is quiterge. It wont be easy, as its hidden away in some corner.
I understand enough just by the fact that you didnt go search for it yourself.
Chik. Chik. Fwoosh!
Kang-hoo immediately burned the request form. He had memorized the content, so there was no need to check it again.
She added.
The reward can be provided in various ways, how would you like to receive it?
Kang-hoo had one thing in mind even before receiving the request from Lee Ye-rin.
Just getting a dungeon raid license is enough. Especially for areas with many middle bosses andst bosses.
Middle bosses, also known as intermediate bosses, and the boss monsters.
He could steal skills from these two.
Obtaining the unique skills of the bosses, something no other hunter could achieve.
Kang-hoo wanted to increase not only his level but also the number of skills he owned as quickly as possible.
Thanks to the constetion, he could maximize proficiency in any skill he acquired, so it was definitely a benefit.
Alright. Will the reward be discussed postpletion? Or pre-agreed?
At Lee Ye-rins words, Kang-hoo turned to step outside, opening the car door.
Lets trust the chiefs sense.
With those words, Kang-hoo headed to the station to catch the Mugunghwa train to Osan, Gyeonggi-do.
On the train.
He thought himself lucky to have snagged a seat despite purchasing his ticket at thest minute.
But as soon as he sat down, he understood the reason for his fortune.
The entire seat was soaked in blood.
Judging by the vivid red color, it appeared there had been a knife fight there either the day before or the day prior to that.
It was almost a superstition.
Many hunters strongly disliked sitting on seats or benches with blood that hadnt yet faded.
In fact, trying to avoid such seats often resulted in altercations and physical fights in other ces.
However, Kang-hoo, who found superstitions and jinxes to be pathetic, didnt mind such things.
The abandoned ruins. Not a bad ce for my official debut into a proper dungeon. I know exactly how to raid it.
He was content with the beginning.
The entire abandoned ruins dungeon served as Shin Kang-hoos hideout in the original story.
Chapter 6: The Client (3)
Chapter 6: The Client (3)
Near Osan Stations ck market, Kang-hoo purchased the necessary ingredients.
Sebiu thick meat. Kobold blood. And a monster-specific anesthetic. Ive got everything, nothings missing.
He ced the ingredients into an old backpack he had bought cheaply from the market and slung it over his shoulders.
The tough meat came from the Sebiu, a monster resembling a cow but with meat too smelly and hard for human consumption.
The blood of kobolds, which was utterly useless for potion-making or any other purpose.
These items were not for Kang-hoos use.
Do you have some strange hobby? I mean, Im happy to sell waste materials, but I still feel sorry for selling them to you.
That might have been why the seller scratched the back of his head with a remorseful expression.
From the sellers point of view, he was being paid to dispose of what should have been thrown away.
But Kang-hoo desperately needed these items.
With them, he could prevent any variables that might arise when he encountered Kim Mok-hyun in the dungeon.
Kang-hoo didnt reply to the sellersment.
Silence was a form ofmunication he was ustomed to.
Especially when he thought a response wasnt warranted.
Keke. Seeing that you even bought anesthetic, it seems you have some other purpose. Youre not going to use it on a woman, are you?
If you open your mouth one more time, I might just use it on you. Shut up.
Eek!
The seller, who had been overly familiar and patting him on the shoulder in a distasteful manner, received a stern response from Kang-hoo.
The seller quickly retreated and sealed his lips.
Woosh!
Kang-hoo zipped up the backpack.
It was time to leave.
Kang-hoo walked toward the abandoned ruins dungeon.
This open dungeon, requiring no separate license, was always teeming with hunters.
As expected, a crowd of hunters lined up outside the dungeons entrance.
Hey you, is that your spot? Theres no ownership in a dungeon, whered you get the idea you could im a spot?
If youre baseless, just shut up. My cousin is part of Eclipse, you know?
These days, even dogs and cows talk about Eclipse. It looks like they even ept scum like you.
Its my cousin, not me!
Among them, hunters were already in the midst of a brawl.
Watching fights was as entertaining as watching a fire, so everyone stopped to watch the scuffle.
But Kang-hoo, without giving them a nce, went straight into the dungeon.
As expected.
The sight he had anticipated was right there.
The hunters from Osan Guardians, one of the well-known gangs near Osan Station, were visible.
They had set up their spot about 300 meters from the dungeons entrance.
They had even put up a boundary line and took turns controlling the area.
One hunter, who approached thoughtlessly too close, was beaten up by the Osan Guardians.
There was a reason for this control.
Monsters appeared here at an iparably faster rate than in other ces.
This was known as a monster flood.
Sigh.
Kang-hoo let out a short sigh and shoved his long sword into his waistband.
Figuring that daggers would be more suitable than a long sword for the monsters he would immediately encounter, he switched weapons.
[Basic Practice Dagger]
[Grade: None]
[Strength +1]
Since he was still short on money, Kang-hoo couldnt afford even the lowest, 9th-grade dagger.
But he believed that as long as he aimed well, the weapon didnt really matter.
Thats why he equipped the cheap practice dagger.
Of course, it would be the first weapon hed rece once he earned some money.
At that moment.
Squeak. Squeak squeak.
A monster that served as a sort of mascot at the entrance of the abandoned ruins dungeon appeared.
[Spiked w Rabbit]
A rabbit monster with unusually long and sharp ws, making it a very threatening attacker.
Its level was around 35, certainly not low.
Especially for a level 10 hunter like Kang-hoo.
Swoosh.
Kang-hoo, looking at the rabbit whose gaze met his head-on, sliced the tip of his left index finger with the edge of his sword.
This created a wound that dropped a bead of blood every second or so.
Squeak!
The rabbits eyes turned redder upon smelling the blood, its attacking instinct triggered.
Originally, it was a very cautious creature, making it difficult to approach. But now, its nature changed.
Ching!
All of the rabbits ws grew in an instant, each joint transforming into a menacing weapon.
The Spiked w Rabbits feature was its eleration.
As time passed, it became more frenzied, so prolonged battles were best avoided.
Kang-hoo didnt move.
The creature was extremely agile; earnestly running after it would only lead to it dodging and teasing him.
It was a scenario where he would waste his strength. So, Kang-hoo envisioned a reversed scenario.
Squeak!
That was to make the rabbit charge at him first.
Provoked, the rabbit moved just as Kang-hoo had anticipated.
The rabbit, vigorously kicking off with its hind legs, leaped towards Kang-hoo.
At the peak of its parabolic trajectory, as it began its descent, it aimed its sharp ws at Kang-hoo.
Whoosh!
Kang-hoo disappeared from sight using an activatedteral movement.
He had been waiting for this moment.
Lateral movement couldnt be used in mid-air. A target was necessary.
Squeak?
The Spiked w Rabbit tilted its head in confusion as Kang-hoo vanished. Its long ears fluttered.
But the confusionsted only a moment.
Whoosh!
Squeak!
As if hugging it from behind, Kang-hoo embraced the rabbit and thrust the dagger diagonally upwards from below its left chest.
It was an instant kill without the need for further checks.
The dagger, avoiding the sternum and ribs perfectly, pierced directly through the heart.
[Your level has increased to 11. The next basic skill acquisition point is at level 20.]
It was his first experience point gain in a long while.
At Cheongmyeong Detention Center, he hadnt gained even a speck of experience.
Now, on the brink of level 11, his level rose immediately, and Kang-hoo put one bonus point into stamina.
As long as I can manage my congenital mana hypersensitivity well, I actually dont need the mana stat.
For the time being, he nned to invest bonus stats solely into stamina.
This way, he could quickly recover from the stamina depletion caused by hypersensitivity overload.
[Mid-boss monster detected within a 500m radius. Automatic warning for threatening entities.]
Kang-hoo had happily epted the tracking request for Kim Mok-hyun from Lee Ye-rin, and now the reason for his eagerness became apparent.
It was the emergence of a medium boss monster, also known as a middle boss.
It was also a target for his skill plunder.
The more aggressive ones are easier to handle from my perspective.
Kang-hoos eyes shone with a cold light.
Although physically tougher, these creatures were easier to deal with mentally.
What was that just now?
What do you mean?
Didnt you see? He just went into stealth and immediately stabbed the Spiked w Rabbit in the heart from behind.
Really? Who was it?
That guy. Hes heading alone towards the Storm Forest.
At that moment, a hunter from the Osan Guardians, who had precisely witnessed Kang-hoos one-man show, clicked his tongue.
Although they werefortably reaping rewards by securing the monster flood point, they were hunters with at least level 50 in basic skills.
Considering Kang-hoo, who had just reached level 11, they were hunters of a much higher realm.
When they were at level 11, they couldnt even think ofing to this dungeon; they werent a match.
So, the hunter from the Osan Guardians naturally assumed Kang-hoos level was simr to his own.
Yeah, Dae-seong. I saw it too.
You saw it, brother?
Yeah.
Jo Young-jae, ranked third in the Osan Guardians and a level 65 hunter, nodded at his subordinatesment.
As a skilled yer with the special ss of berserker, he had secured a contract with a constetion early on.
Typically, during leisure time in the dungeon, he would look around but rarely found anything of interest.
But today was an exception.
Although brief, Kang-hoos precise movements left a distinct impression in everyones minds.
The Spiked w Rabbit was level 35.
Even Jo Young-jae could not kill the rabbit in one go, as he had not yet perfected his strategy.
It wasnt that he didnt know how to stab its heart, but rather that the rabbit wouldnt easily reveal it.
However, Kang-hoo had effortlessly approached the rabbit from behind and stabbed its vital spot with minimal movement.
His subordinate spoke to Jo Young-jae.
Judging by his skill, he must be of the assassin ss.
Thats likely. Such swift stealth abilities are only essible to assassins.
But isnt the stealth skill a basic ability acquired at level 200?
Yes. So, whats the origin of that stealth skill? Its perplexing. Im quite envious.
He possessed a skill that a hunter of this dungeons level should not have.
That was Jo Young-jaes realization.
It was unsurprising since, despite having connections with assassins, there were no known instances of anyone achieving the highest proficiency in that skill.
Even the hunters known as Named had only begun to max out one or two basic skills.
Not to mention those with the Named titleordinary hunters wouldnt even be aware of what the maximum proficiency level entailed.
Noticing Jo Young-jaes interest, his subordinates started to tter him, eagerly rubbing their hands together.
Should we recruit him?
If brother desires, we can capture such a man and have him bow before you, haha!
Should we strip him too? Perhaps enjoy some other fun?
Forget it. Weve already monopolized this entrance point. Lets take another look at him when hees out.
Heh, helle to brother on his own if we wait.
Jo Young-jae cast another nce at Kang-hoos retreating figure.
It was more jealousy than admiration or envy.
How did he possess such skills?
On his way to the middle boss, he hunted four more rabbits.
The dead monsters couldnt talk or share information, so they fell to the same pattern.
Thanks to this, he reached level 13.
Being at a lower level, Kang-hoo reaped significant benefits from hunting a few higher-level rabbits.
Kekeke.
Chapter 7: The Client (4)
Chapter 7: The Client (4)
Ventuss illusion technique surpassed that of other hunters, thanks to his unique Boss Skill Adjustment.
This made the illusion clearer, leaving virtually no afterimage. It was nearly impossible to discern the real from the fake.
Furthermore, the skills terrory in the fact that if plundered, it would instantly achieve maximum proficiency.
Such a skill stood out far beyond themon understanding.
Additionally, it was enhanced with the Boss Skill Adjustment.
The anticipation for it was undeniable.
I will kill you.
Dont just p your lips.
Kang-hoo casually flicked his middle finger back and forth in response to Ventuss murderous warning.
Paang!
Behind his mask, Ventus, smirking, deployed his illusion technique and closed in on Kang-hoo.
Suddenly, Ventuss body seemed to scatter left and right, creating illusions that were incredibly difficult to identify.
Yet Kang-hoo, blessed with Exceptionally Superior Physical Ability, could discern the truth by the slimmest margin.
The constetion he had acquired from a hunter he had in outside the Cheongmyeong Detention Center also cast its light.
That was the Mana Tracking ability.
The main body and the illusions had different mana densities, which allowed for their differentiation.
Its risky to engage directly with a mid-level boss. Better to coax out his weakness.
Kang-hoo took a slight step back.
This feint was deliberate.
It was amon cautious reaction for hunters faced with illusions, and a hint of fear would serve as the perfect bait.
Was it for that reason?
Ventus, with deceit perceived and fear sensed, elerated his attack, falling for Kang-hoos method acting.
As expected.
Even without artiction, the change in Ventuss facial expression was anguage Kang-hoo could read in his mind.
The coordinated movements of the illusion and the main body were clear to see. Knowing the real one, there was no cause for panic.
Kang-hoo, with a dagger in his right hand, discreetly concealed it behind his pocket, waiting for the perfect moment.
Then
Spa-at!
The illusion that invaded Kang-hoos field of vision suddenly lunged forward, a deceptive lure.
But a wise fish eyes the sure bait behind, not the shoddy one before it.
Tatat!
Kang-hoo evaded with minimal, controlled movements.
Merely two wide steps sufficed to escape the illusions embrace.
In that instant, he sprang forward, closing the gap with Ventus who was already within reach.
They were so near it almost seemed they would embrace.
Pwook!
Kang-hoos dagger, with murder as its sole intent, skewered Ventuss abdomen.
Except for the handle, the de buried itself deep within Ventuss guts.
Had he wielded the dagger with mere brute force at such close quarters, it wouldnt have prated as profoundly.
Yet the propulsion from his leap transferred into the daggers thrust, rivaling any attack skill.
The destructive force far exceeded the maximum power Kang-hoo could normally muster.
Kheuk! How?
Ventuss face clouded over, not only from quickly piercing the illusion but also from the impact of the blow.
But by then, Kang-hoo had already sidestepped stealthily behind Ventus.
He never expected a mid-level boss to fall from a single dagger thrust.
Instead
Puck!
Kuk!
Technically, Kang-hoo delivered a kick from behind, forcing Ventus down on one knee and arranging the stage.
As his strategy triumphed, the longsword he clutched in both hands was already plunging down diagonally with precision.
It traced a lethal path from the hollow of the corbone, targeting the heart through a diagonal route.
Even Ventus, with his thick pectoral muscles shielding his chest, could not survive this deadly blow.
!
Ive hit the target.
Both sensed it.
One tasted death.
The other felt that the fragments of memory he had recalled and revisited were indeed true.
Whoosh!
Kang-hoo forcefully removed the longsword that had prated his corbone.
Then, blood spurted out like a fountain, drenching his entire face.
Although it was definitely bitter and hot blood, it now felt almost like a stimnt that allowed him to feel pure exhration.
Ventuss wavering eyes soon scanned Kang-hoos face, which had moved in front of him.
On Ventuss face, filled only with emptiness, was a look full of injustice about the unbelievable situation.
The expression showed he couldnt understand how Kang-hoo knew exactly how to dismantle him.
There are three strategies. Either overturn the opponents n, twist it, or
Cough.
Before Kang-hoo could finish his sentence, Ventuss eyes rolled back as he copsed forward.
Or lure them into my trap and make them lose everything and die.
He concluded the most important part.
That was it.
The concept of this twisted game was thest one.
[Your level has dramatically increased to 16.]
A specialment appears only when the level increases by more than two at a time.
Thanks to taking down a mid-boss alone, the amount of experience gained was beyond imagination.
This would probably equal the experience of gangs who camp at the entrance and repeat hunting daily.
[Sessfully plundered the Illusion Technique skill from the target.]
Kang-hoos skill window sparkled, indicating that the plundering was perfectlypleted.
[Illusion Technique]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max]
[Creates five illusions for 15 seconds to distract the enemy''s vision.]
[Depending on external forces or the caster''s will, a dismantled illusion will produce a smoke effect for 3 seconds.]
[The movement of the illusion, reflecting the unconscious, can be varied but requires thorough training.]
Thanks to this ability.
He had to be stronger.
The maximum skill proficiency greatly enhanced the original skills concept.
For an assassin, no skill was better than one that caused visual disruption and confusion.
When I leave the dungeon, I might be able to add the basic skill I get at level 20.
Kang-hoo looked at the level 20 basic skill, still inactive but soon to be unlocked.
Rapid Stabbing.
A skill considered the bread and butter of the assassin ss.
Once maximum proficiency was reached, its official name changed, and its value skyrocketed.
It was also a bnce-breaking skill that the original creator had loaded with only the most overpowered options.
At that time,
Lee Ye-rin was on a call with a man she contacted regrly.
Perhaps the recent intentional disruptions of base stations by a criminal organization had affected the call quality.
It felt like barely catching a voice from far away, barely managing to maintain a conversation.
Lee Ye-rin said,
The call quality wasnt this bad even a year ago. Its getting worse.
He chimed in,
It cant be helped. Especially around Daejeon, its probably because of Eclipse or ck Panthers influence.
His voice was calm with a clear, low pitch.
That makes sense.
You seem to have had a tough timetely because of those Eclipse guys.
Its okay. Ive always been used to having eyes on the back of my head anyway.
Do you have any good hunters you can rmend? Were really short on manpower these days.
Hmm Would there be a hunter to Jang Si-hwans liking? Most of them would be cut at the entrance.
The person Lee Ye-rin was talking to was Jang Si-hwan himself.
He was a celebrity among hunters, someone ordinary hunters would love to meet but couldnt.
Since Lee Ye-rin had known him for a long time, they were having this conversation.
Im thinking of lowering my standards quite a bit. I want to train them up from the lower levels.
At that moment, Lee Ye-rin thought of Kang-hoo without hesitation. He indeed seemed different to her.
There is such a hunter.
Is that so?
But he needs to be more refined. Its too early to judge him right now.
Your rmendations have never been wrong. Although we lost some of your rmended talents in idents, those were their unfortunate mistakes.
Yes, its all in the past; no need to worry about it. Ill keep watching and let you know once its confirmed.
Okay. Our guild really needs talent. If you send us a good one, we will treat them the best.
Got it. Youre having a tough time.
Ive gathered some useful inside information about Eclipse. Ill send it through a secure email soon.
Thank you.
The short call ended.
Certainly, if Kang-hoo went to Jang Si-hwans guild, he could grow rapidly withprehensive support.
Lee Ye-rin felt no deep bond or closeness with Kang-hoo.
But for someone like Jang Si-hwan, always thirsty for useful talent, Kang-hoo was an attractive card.
The hunter with noticeable talent was just at level 10full of potential.
I guess Im quite captivated by his skills. Now Im thinking about the mercenary I just gave the first task to
Lee Ye-rin shook her head.
Theres no world as cold as that of mercenaries.
But maybe because of the strong impact Kang-hoo made in their first meeting?
His face kept lingering in her mind.
Meanwhile,
Aargh
Kang-hoo was taking the life of another mid-boss after Ventus.
Demon Iberia.
A female demon, conceptually simr to Ventus. A dark assassin, one could say.
Her attack pattern was intuitive and simple: forcibly pull the target and stab their vital points.
Usually, in Iberia raids, a defensive tanker would handle her.
Even if they got pulled and attacked, they could withstand it somewhat with their durability and health.
Of course, for assassins like Kang-hoo or mages with weak defenses, getting pulled meant certain death.
But Kang-hoo recognized the precursor movements of Iberias Abduction skill.
Therefore, he easily subdued her.
He had no reason to be caught off guard.
Originally, this was a forced summoning skill that pulled an enemy within a 7-meter radius to a point one meter in front of her.
[Abduction]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max]
[Summons a designated target within a 15-meter radius to a point one meter in front. Inanimate objects like items are also possible.]
[Multipurpose use of various skills is possible during Abduction.]
When he plundered the skill, its proficiency instantly reached the maximum, extending its range to more than double the original.
Furthermore, the restriction on using certain skills inbination before thepletion of Abduction no longer applied.
Chapter 8: Suppression (1)
Chapter 8: Suppression (1)
The trait currently bestowed upon Kang-hoo by the Dimension Plunderer felt like a down payment on a house.
It implied that there were still installments and a final payment to be made.
Constetions dont give all traits to a contractor from the start for a simple reason.
From the fourth trait onward, the contractors death could lead to the constetions extinction.
[There''s a whole different story between supporting a contractor without risk and supporting them with your life at stake.]
Kang-hoo gave a nonchnt expression in response to the Dimension Plunderers words.
I get it.
He understood the stakes.
Given the gravity of the decision, the Dimension Plunderers cautious reaction was to be expected.
He just had to demonstrate his abilities directly. Then, the heart would open naturally.
A littleter.
Kang-hoo entered a quiet space, removed from the monsters inside the dungeon.
He aimed for the spot where he was confident Kim Mok-hyun would be hiding.
The abandoned ruins dungeon, set in a modern city turned ghost town, was riddled with buildings.
Kang-hoo knew the perfect ambush point, where the guy could hide indefinitely and deal with any outsiders who came after him.
It was the same ce where Shin Kang-hoo, in the original story, had used as a hideout. Kim Mok-hyun would likely do the same.
Tsk-tsk.
Phew. Now it feels a bit more livable.
Kang-hoo sipped the sap of the Skium nt he had fortuitously found on his way.
A rarity in dungeons, this nt had calming and pain-relieving properties.
It was particrly effective for relieving congenital mana hypersensitivity triggered by excessive mana use.
Or for preventing a rejection reaction in the body due to mana overload.
Ive got five of these.
Kang-hoo discarded the desated Skium after draining itpletely.
He had four Skiums left in his inner pocket. Not nearly enough.
In a protracted battle or during a war of attrition, they could all be depleted at once.
The chance of finding Skium in a regr dungeon was almost 1%. Moreover, they all grew naturally, making mass collection difficult.
In Korea, there was just one person.
This person knew how to cultivate it by hand.
You had to go to him to buy them in abundance for money. Of course, haggling over the price was impossible.
I have to brace myself to go to Ground Zero.
Ground Zero was located where the DMZ used to be. It was a bit far.
Regardless, calming the hypersensitivity was one of the necessary steps.
In the midst of a fierce battle, being constrained by hypersensitivity could mean death.
Swoosh. Fssht. Swoosh. Fssht.
Kang-hoo practiced motion canceling to hide the trace of his Abduction skill while moving.
Originally, the Abduction skill involved gripping one hand like a fist and pulling the arm back twice as a preparatory action, like what Iberia did.
However, if you used another skill right after Abduction, 90% of the preparatory action was omitted.
It was like slightly gripping the fist, then immediately transitioning to the next skill. Of course, Abduction was activated.
But timing it right was difficult, so he kept practicing, and now he was getting it right.
Its about time.
Kang-hoo opened his backpack, preparing to take out the materials he had bought from the ck market.
Meat, blood, and anesthetics.
These were essential bait for the enemy he would face next. Without them, targeting Kim Mok-hyun would be a pipe dream.
He briefly looked up at the sky.
The powerless clouds, imbued with the red hue of the sunset, spread like flowing blood in all directions.
The scene outside the dungeon was no less gloomy and damp than inside.
Abandoned cars without owners.
A derailed train that had never been returned to its track.
A military helicopter that had crashed and whose crew was never recovered.
A vige that had be a den for a criminal organization and was now entirely deserted by civilians.
The scenery at the end of the world seemed even more severe outside than inside the dungeon. Byparison, the inside was peaceful.
Should I stop here?
Kang-hoo halted his advancing steps and stopped in front of a rock surrounded by thick bushes.
It was but a moment, but he caught a glimpse of someones shadow atop a 10-story building stripped down to its skeleton.
Found it well.
There was no need to scrutinize who the shadow belonged to. It was him.
Ziiik! Zzziiik!
Kim Mok-hyun tore enthusiastically into the dried jerky, savoring his first taste of outside food in a while.
Just a few hours earlier, his outside contact had made a visit and departed.
This informant, hired by Kim Mok-hyun, was looking for an opportunity to escape.
In the dungeon, where no electronic devices worked, information was delivered in an old but reliable method: paper.
[ck Panther has conditionally approved Mr. Kim Mok-hyun''s organization membership.]
[Just hand over the internal information of the mercenary group run by Lee Ye-rin.]
After reading it, Kim Mok-hyun burned the paper. It was best to leave no evidence.
Internal information meant details rted to the dungeon and rights that she owned.
For example, the ownership of a magic stone mine implemented inside the dungeon, not outside.
Or the potential for regrly obtaining high-grade items by defeating boss monsters.
He had verified and acquired this information after killing a mercenary who had traded with Lee Ye-rin for an extended period.
And since he had also stolen a third-grade item from Lee Ye-rin, she must be beside herself with rage.
Most hunters who came at her behest ended up dead.
Perhaps only one or two survived.
Recently, it had seemed that Lee Ye-rin had given up on revenge, as there had been no visitors seeking him out for several weeks.
Thats when, while looking for a chance to leave the dungeon, he received a message from ck Panther.
The ck Panther was a criminal organization that, in conjunction with Eclipse and the mercenary group Cheongan, controlled the rights to the dungeons in the Daejeon area.
All those fools who believed that womans drivel and surrendered their items. The dungeon is truly the perfect hideout. If I choose, theres a bounty of monsters to hunt.
Kim Mok-hyun chuckled to himself.
In reality, he had acquired ten items by eliminating hunters who attempted to apprehend him.
Among those were two fifth-grade items, each valued at well over 200 million won.
Then, suddenly,
Hm?
Kim Mok-hyun, who had been lounging against the railing of the windowless 10th floor, abruptly straightened up.
Someone wasing.
This was not an area where hunting monsters typically appeared.
That meant the other party had deliberately sought out this building.
There were two likely reasons: they were seeking refuge to recover from exhaustion, or they had some business here.
Either scenario presents another prey for me.
Kim Mok-hyun smirked and rapped his fingers against the concrete wall three times, tap-tap-tap.
Instantly, the figures lurking in the dark shadows of the pirs rose to their feet.
Dusk Wolves.
These creatures were a trial that hunters had to pass to gain an audience with him.
As soon as he gave the signal, the Dusk Wolves began to descend the stairs, with two already on the first floor, charging toward Kang-hoo.
He looks just like an assassin. Those types are perfect for being shredded like paper. Kuk-kuk.
Kim Mok-hyun munched on his jerky, peering down with a nonchnt gaze.
But then,
Kruck! Kruuk! Kruck!
The three Dusk Wolves that had been hurtling toward Kang-hoo came to an abrupt halt and eagerly devoured something on the ground.
It was meat, heavily seasoned and emanating a pungent smell even from a distance.
Despite the Dusk Wolves usual pickiness with their food, they were now uncontrobly gobbling it up.
Had this been the extent of it, it might have been dismissed as a mere incident, but what happened next was the real cause for concern.
Puuk! Puuk! Puuk!
Kang-hoo deftly climbed onto the back of a Dusk Wolf and plunged a dagger into its cervical spine, severing its nerves instantly.
What the hell, f*ck
Kim Mok-hyuns face turned ashen.
He had painstakingly tamed the Dusk Wolves, dungeon beasts, over time. He didnt feel confident fighting them himself.
But Kang-hoo had perfectly diverted their attention with meat and killed them while their guard was down.
It was impossible to kill a Dusk Wolf in one strike without knowing its exact weak point.
Failing to sever the nerves right away could lead to being devoured by the rest of the wolf pack.
The cleanup was done in an instant.
The wolves, having eagerly run down lured by Kang-hoos bait.
Under the haze and paralysis of the fast-spreading anesthetic, they lost their lives without even feeling pain.
Kang-hoo, an uninvited guest, was expected to end up as a meal for the Dusk Wolves.
However, the oue was entirely different. He swiftly dealt with the entire pack of Dusk Wolves in one go.
And then.
Pssst! Crack! Hiss!
Smoke rose from the first floor of the building, and the sound of Kim Mok-hyuns magically set traps being dismantled echoed.
What is this guy doing, damn it?
Kim Mok-hyuns hands trembled.
Kang-hoo was detecting the traps he had carefully hidden in hard-to-reach ces and corners.
It was as if he was looking through the building like someone who had defended it before.
Whistle! Whistle!
In desperation, Kim Mok-hyun blew his whistle, but the Dusk Wolves that should have rushed at the sound did not appear.
They were all dead.
F*ck, you think Im scared?
Kim Mok-hyun cursed, raising the heat in his body that had cooled during the rest.
The uninvited guest he thought would be dealt with by the Dusk Wolves was stronger than expected.
But that was it.
Kim Mok-hyun was equipped with a multitude of items, far exceeding the level of a level 50 hunter.
This was the basis of his confidence.
Calcting the added effects from his items, his effective level was well over 100.
[Fighter of Chaos]
[A malevolent constetion. It bestows abilities effective in causing enemies to lose their directional and visual senses.]
I am a precious being watched over by the constetion. Understand?
He smiled proudly, looking at the constetion window, grateful for the constetion that had recognized his talent long ago.
Let me show you the ck magic of hell.
Kim Mok-hyun prepared for battle with Kang-hoo, gathering the energy of corruption in his hands.
His eyes, which had been dark throughout, now turned blood-red.
[Rage of the Evil God]
[Enters an awakened state, consuming one mana per second.]
It was an awakening, a change that maximized the effect of the amulet he wore.
Now, the casting time of his skills would decrease dramatically. This meant that hell was about to unfold for the intruder.
He really stered traps all over.
Kang-hoo was carefully ascending from the first floor, dismantling the traps he spotted.
ying on a board tantly set with traps was an excellent way to get killed without a strategy.
But being able to view the scene from outside its influence, the ws in the traps were ringly obvious.
Except for when subduing the Dusk Wolves, Kang-hoo was leaping up the railings instead of the stairs.
The building, abandoned mid-construction and left as a bare frame, allowed such maneuvers.
Phew.
Chapter 9: Suppression (2)
Chapter 9: Suppression (2)
They didnt engage in leisurely conversation at the optimal timing.
Whoosh!
A skill manifested from Kim Mok-hyuns palm and shot towards Kang-hoo immediately.
Deep Purple me.
It was a level 1 basic skill of a dark magic hunter.
For Kang-hoo, it was equivalent to Leap.
Since the magic came from one staircase above on the railing, evasion to the rear or side was impossible.
Hmph!
Kang-hoo propelled his body forward, gripping the railing.
Bang!
Having entered the building, Kang-hoo narrowly avoided Kim Mok-hyuns first attack.
Kang-hoo was on the 4th floor.
Kim Mok-hyun was on the 5th floor.
A peculiar standoff ensued, each using the concrete walls as their ceiling and floor.
Who sent you here? Huh? What did they say, to kill me and take something? What did they tell you, kid!
Came for a pair of shoes.
Youre talking about Lee Ye-rin?
To me, shes just a client.
For Kang-hoo, Kim Mok-hyuns chatter wasnt too bothersome.
His head ached from consecutive uses of Leap.
That Lee Ye-rin! Shes sent many like you, blinded by money, to their deaths. Didnt she tell you?
Yeah. She said it might be herst request.
Phaha! You seem to have figured it out! Well, she is treated like the Grim Reaper by the mercenaries! Pffft!
Kang-hoo considered Kim Mok-hyun quite a talkative character.
Usually, in the original work, characters who bbered first often met an early demise
He was determined to ensure Kim Mok-hyun met such a fate.
Kim Mok-hyuns words were not surprising.
Hunters fundamentally didnt trust each other much.
Even when Lee Ye-rin presented him with an enticing request, he assumed it hadplicated issues underneath.
Unless she was a fool, she wouldnt just throw a request at him as a favor.
Now that he had confirmed Kim Mok-hyun was here, it was time to move to the next step.
Kim Mok-hyun.
What?
I want to offer you a decent choice.
Why are you wagging your tongue now?
Give up all the items you have, and Ill let you live.
What are you talking about, idiot? With my current item setup, I rival a level 100 mage. Are you stupid?
There was no need to go far to find a person fitting the expression speaking with a mouth full of rags.
Kang-hoo smirked slightly upon hearing Kim Mok-hyuns response.
The first andst negotiation had just broken down.
Do you hear this sound now?
What sound? Youve been talking nonsense for a while now. What is it?
Its the sound of your only bright future turning to dust.
Wham!
Right after finishing his words, Kang-hoo dashed up the stairs, the only path leading to the upper floors.
Kang-hoo had some prediction of Kim Mok-hyuns attack repertoire.
This was because Kim Mok-hyuns mentor and teacher, Jeon Jung-ho, had once been severely defeated by Jang Si-hwan in the original story.
Of course, the person who designed the battle scene was the original author, now Kang-hoo himself.
And thebat setup was exactly like that situation.
Tadadadat!
Kang-hoo quickly ascended and locked eyes with Kim Mok-hyun, who immediately used a skill granted by his constetion.
It was sight theft.
Before seeing Kim Mok-hyun, Kang-hoo had already figured out his strategy using the constetion information that had been floating around earlier.
Without slowing down, Kang-hoo responded by holding up his dagger to block his vision.
Covering his eyes with the side of the dagger to avoid sight theft was a ssic but difficult maneuver.
What?
Kim Mok-hyun was puzzled.
Sight theft usually works when the target turns their body backward, closes their eyes in advance, or even when their eyes are covered.
Its effective only if you precisely cover your eyes just before the effect of sight theft hits.
Kim Mok-hyun had never seen a hunter smoothly counter sight theft like this.
It was a move only possible with aplete understanding and anticipation of the skills mechanism.
Surprise was short-lived.
Kang-hoos hand twitched as if to make a fist, then stopped moving.
The movement was so brief that even the perceptive Kim Mok-hyun couldnt discern it as any specific skills preparatory action.
Suddenly,
Kwack!
Kim Mok-hyuns body floated in the air and was pulled towards Kang-hoo without a chance to react.
It all happened in a sh.
Kim Mok-hyun was dragged away, not understanding what was happening to him.
That was because the Abduction skill was a trademark of Demon Iberia, not typically essible to hunters.
Otherwise, everyone would have sought to acquire it.
Kang-hoo, having moved horizontally right after the Abduction, positioned himself behind Kim Mok-hyun in that moment.
His seamlessbinationpletely removed him from Kim Mok-hyuns line of sight.
Kang-hoo didnt miss this chance and thrust his dagger forward.
Using the long sword at his waist would have created a gap, possibly missing the right moment.
Puuk!
Aaaagh!
The forcefully thrust dagger pierced the right side of Kim Mok-hyuns back.
The attack was aimed at the left.
But as Kim Mok-hyun instinctively twisted his body after losing sight of Kang-hoo, the final impact point ended up on the right side of his back.
Chaaak!
Blood sttered on Kang-hoo as he roughly yanked the dagger out.
The chance to attack was still Kang-hoos. He immediately attempted to stab deeper into the back of the neck.
However, Kim Mok-hyun wasnt an easy target and countered immediately.
Chiik!
Mana Burn.
It was a dark wizard skill.
An aggressive skill that burns all the mana in the target area.
Papat.
Kang-hoo stepped back to avoid the attack that could burn his entire face.
Awakened state.
Kang-hoo frowned.
Kim Mok-hyuns reactions and counterattacks were much faster than he had expected. The reason had to be the awakened state.
Kim Mok-hyun used his own mana as coteral to dramatically increase his attack tempo, an effect of Awakening.
It didnt seem rted to the constetion, so there must be an item among his possessions causing the arousal effect.
Paat! Paat! Paat!
Kim Mok-hyun, having bought some time, began to hurl a session of Deep Purple mes at Kang-hoo.
Although Leap was useful, it wasnt sufficient to ignore a barrage of attacks.
Just because he couldnt be followed by the eye didnt mean he wasnt in the space.
Seems like I definitely need to strip him of his items.
He possesses overkill items. Effects like Arousal. Wonder whose back he stabbed to acquire these.
Tadadat!
Using Leap, Kang-hoo retreated as far back on the battlefield as possible.
There was no need to exert extra effort in dodging since Deep Purple mes were flying towards him like bullets.
Kang-hoo quickly moved to a location near a prominent pir at the center of the building.
Kwa-kwa-kwang!
The Deep Purple mes targeting Kang-hoo all hit the concrete pir and scattered.
The fragments flew in every direction, but the solid pir remained unscathed.
Stop ying tricks! How long will you hide there?
Kim Mok-hyun shouted.
Kang-hoo didnt respond.
Instead, he used the opportunity to deploy Illusion Technique from behind the pir.
Five illusions appeared, and only one of them was sent out from behind the pir.
At the same time.
Swoosh.
Targeting the front pir, he used ateral movement skill.
His body moved behind the pir, entering a state of stealth naturally.
The deception of throwing an illusion as a real body and the perfect disguise by hiding himself.
After a brief pause, Kang-hoo sized up Kim Mok-hyun. As expected, Kim Mok-hyuns attention was on the illusion.
Bang!
With a sound that tore through the space, Kang-hoo, who had Leaped, closed the distance to Kim Mok-hyun in an instant.
Clearly, Kim Mok-hyun had be seasoned from handling several hunters.
Dang!
The first attack, propelled by the force of Leap, was narrowly blocked.
Kim Mok-hyun used the level 50 basic skill, Devils Wall, to fend it off.
The block was more instinctual than calcted.
Kang-hoo immediately followed with his next move.
He pressed his body halfway onto Kim Mok-hyun and swiftly thrust the dagger.
The attack was hopeful, filled with mana, and executed as a rapid triple strike.
Puuk! Puuk! Puuk!
Kwack! Ack! Kwack!
Kim Mok-hyun groaned as the dagger stabbed him in quick session in the corbone, inside the left armpit, and the side of the waist.
Kang-hoo knew Kim Mok-hyun wore a chest te item beneath his clothes.
So, he targeted the less protected gaps instead of the well-armored areas.
His strategy was a resounding sess.
Kim Mok-hyun began bleeding profusely from the three wounds, like a burst water balloon.
Ha.
Kim Mok-hyuns short exhtion contained all his emotions.
Panic, surprise, and the fear of death.
Sweat broke out on his forehead.
It was too strange.
Every skill Kang-hoo used was extremely effective, deserving of the term extreme.
The way he cleanly switched to stealth and the short time it took to leap toward him afterward was noteworthy.
Even a level 100 hunter wouldnt have all skills so finely honed.
Normally, general logic would apply, but Kang-hoo was the exception.
Sht, sht!
Unable to bear the humiliation, Kim Mok-hyun explosively unleashed his darkly tainted venom.
Diving into a deeper Aroused State, he began to pour all his skills toward Kang-hoo.
He used a skill that temporarily made the ground mucky to hinder mobility, Hand of the Fallen.
On top of that, he invoked the wide-range skill Infernal Descent, causing mes to rain down from above.
Kang-hoo moved behind the pir again, using Leap twice in quick session.
No, nows the time.
Kang-hoo bit his lip as a headache slowly crept up on him.
He took a brief respite behind the pir, then immediately moved out.
Illusion Technique?
No.
It was a feint, making it seem like an illusion while he actually moved. The deception wasyered.
Seeing Kang-hoo apparently emerge from the opposite side of the pir, Kim Mok-hyun scoffed,
Idiot! You think Id fall for that again?
His gaze shifted to the other side.
As Kang-hoo advanced, using a dash instead of Leap, Kim Mok-hyun dismissed him even more, deeming him an illusion.
Had it been the real Kang-hoo, he wouldnt have approached so openly, giving away so much time.
Consequently, Kim Mok-hyun activated the defensive skill Devils Wall at the spot where he predicted the real Kang-hoo would appear.
At that instant.
Chapter 10: Suppression (3)
Chapter 10: Suppression (3)
Kim Mok-hyun saw a demon for the first time in his life.
Thud!
The first thing Kang-hoo did was trip the staggering Kim Mok-hyun, ensuring he fell to the ground.
This was because attacking an opponent from a prone position is very difficult, whether with magic or a sword.
The same applied to defense.
Defending from below, looking up, is challenging because it goes against gravity.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Aaaagh!
Kim Mok-hyun, usually so talkative, was in so much pain that he couldnt utter another word.
It was because Kang-hoo, who had knocked him down, continued to stab his wounded side with a dagger.
He showed no concern for Kim Mok-hyuns blood-sttered face or his writhing like a freshly caught carp, screaming in agony.
Dismantle, dismantle, and dismantle again.
He mercilessly subdued Kim Mok-hyun, as if stripping the flesh from a person.
Ovee with pain, Kim Mok-hyun couldnt even consider retaliating against Kang-hoo.
[The Constetion ''Master of Mobile Warfare'' highly praises your attack strategy as an excellent tactic.]
[A small amount of divine power is consumed to give you a slight buff.]
[Experience increase +0.1%]
Unexpected support arrived.
It ismon knowledge that numerous constetions watch over hunters.
However, receiving their support is rare, as it requires the use of divine power.
The fact that they expended some of their limited resources meant its value was significant.
Theres a big difference between mere verbal support and support that is genuinely useful.
[Ignore this pathetic support from a lowly constetion. It even diminishes my own dignity as your contracted master.]
Hearing the words of the Dimension Plunderer, Kang-hoo nodded.
His reaction, often driven by jealousy, should be interpreted as the opposite. It meant the support received was quite significant.
Cough! Cough!
Meanwhile, Kim Mok-hyun, who had been silently enduring the stabbings, finally showed a reaction.
That response signified
His death was imminent.
His limp arms, stuck to the cold concrete floor, signified his lost will.
Cruel bastard
Words and blood mixed as they emerged.
His irregr breathing signaled that his body had surpassed its endurance limit.
Its just the beginning.
You think capturing someone like me will change anything?
If capturing a worthless person like you could change the world, I wouldnt have considered living in the first ce.
What?
Just die quietly.
Crack!
Kang-hoo summoned his strength and drove the tip of his longsword through Kim Mok-hyuns forehead with precision.
It was an unequivocal instant death.
[You have killed the target and stolen the contract with ''Fighter of Chaos.'']
[All abilities of ''Fighter of Chaos'' are now inherited by you.]
[Don''t worry about this Constetion with a gag in its mouth. I will subdue it myself.]
The constetion theft also transpired quickly.
Given that the Dimension Plunderer immediately interjected ament, it seemed to experience struggle during the subjugation.
By absorbing the constetion, Kang-hoo naturally gained its abilities as well.
There were two in total.
One was a skill used by Kim Mok-hyun, and the other, unused, was new.
[Sight Steal]
[Shallow Chaos]
As proficiency peaked, the skill became significantly more potent than the version Kim Mok-hyun had employed.
Sight Steal now gradually turned the opponents vision to darkness while restoring it, making it more vicious.
Shallow Chaos induced disorientation and warped the surrounding visuals, a doubly twisted effect.
Jang Si-hwan didnt grow this fast from the start. I made it quite difficult for him.
Had Jang Si-hwan begun at the same point, Kang-hoos progress would be several times faster.
Kang-hoo meticulously examined theposition of his newly acquired abilities.
All synergized perfectly with his assassin ss.
Im not into undressing men, but
Kang-hoos eyes widened as he began to search Kim Mok-hyuns cooling body.
He needed to strip it entirely.
That was the only way to recover all the items Kim was wearing.
For items like belts, they were often worn under clothing for aesthetic reasons, necessitating a more thorough search.
As Kang-hoo recovered many items from Kim Mok-hyun, a thought urred to him.
Why modern hunters dont frequent dungeons.
The answer was simple.
Instead of struggling in dungeons,
it was more lucrative to kill well-equipped hunters and take their gear.
The recovery process was swift.
All except for one item, which he had to return to Lee Ye-rin, became Kang-hoos property.
He made quite a profit. Using those crepuscr wolves, he mustve had his way with every hunter that came by.
Kang-hoo gazed coldly at the corpse of the crepuscr wolf outside the building.
Deploying these creatures to handle intruders or for surprise attacks duringbat must have been Kims tactic.
It was no surprise that Kim had so many items, given the hunters who had fallen here.
[Evil Spirit''s Amulet - Amulet]
[Mollis Maniche - Gloves]
[Asura''s Insight - Breastte]
[Martial God''s y - Ring]
He equipped these first since they didnt ovep with his current gear.
He checked each itemsposition, nning a more detailed examination of the options when he had time.
[Evil Spirit''s Amulet]
[Grade: None]
[Consumes 1 mana per second to enter an ''Awakened'' state. Reduces skill casting time.]
Figures.
Kim Mok-hyuns confidence, manifesting as deep purple mes, must have stemmed from this amulet.
If he could quickly manage or suppress mana hypersensitivity, it would be an excellent amulet for Kang-hoo.
Aside from what he donned, the twelve Grade 9 items he secured were all destined for sale.
Even at the lowest price, they would fetch over 1 million won each, totaling at least 12 million won.
Itd be nice to hit level 20 on my way out.
He reached level 18 after killing ten crepuscr wolves. Precisely around 18.5, perhaps?
He intended to reach level 20 within the dungeon.
Attaining that would grant him elerated Stab, an essential skill and a lifeline for any assassin.
Level 20 Considering that guy is now level 800, theres no lower lowlife than me.
With a long path of leveling ahead, Kang-hoo gazed up at the sky, his eyes turning cold.
The clouds appeared near yet remained out of reach.
Thats exactly where Jang Si-hwan resided.
Yet, the world continued to turn perfectly in the hands of the powerful, stunning in its beauty.
Hyungnim, hes emerged.
Whered he go? Hes drenched in blood.
There are always those who backstab in dungeons. He probably just beat up some blind hunter and got his fill.
As Kang-hoos memory gradually faded, he once again came into Osan Suhos view.
Jo Young-jae noticed Kang-hoo as well.
Despite being touted as Osan Suhos number three, he was essentially a local thug, not even on par with warlords or guilds.
It was only theck of interest from warlords and criminal organizations in Osan that allowed him to y the role of a boss.
Hyungnim, should I fetch him?
Bring him here. I want to see his face.
Jo Young-jae gave a nod.
Truth be told, even if they caught Kang-hoo, they couldnt steal his skills.
But merely catching Jo Young-jaes eye was enough to irk him.
A level 65 berserker hunter.
His contract constetion was none other than Bloodthirsty Predator.
Yet, despite his strength, he was envious of Kang-hoo. The sense of inferiority was intolerable.
Osan Suhos ten hunters ceased their pursuit and encircled Kang-hoo.
Hey, you.
Eh? Just a moment. Ive got something to take care of.
Quiet and follow us.
But I said wait.
Kang-hoo had just attained level 20 and was in the process of checking the newly unlocked Bleeding Stab skill.
[Bleeding Stab]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max]
[Stacks a ''Bleeding'' status from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 50 on the target.]
[From 10 stacks, healing abilities be limited.]
[Stacks build up if the next attack urs within 2 seconds; otherwise, the stacks reset.]
The skill, once named elerated Stab, had changed its name and nature entirely upon reaching maximum proficiency.
The bleeding trait was only avable to assassins and berserkers.
Even then, both sses could only ess it as a constant option after they acquired the basic skill at level 200.
It was a significantly distant milestone.
Bleeding as a status effect made a perfect counter to healers and even bosses self-healing, marking it as one of the scarcest and most strategically valuable skills for hunters.
Even in teams formed for dungeon assaults, the first priority for recruitment wasnt healers but bleed dealers.
If it werent for the mana consumption with each use of Bleeding Stab, it would be an excellent skill.
Thanks to attaining maximum proficiency, the skills identity hadpletely transformed, and he was quite fond of the new capabilities.
Of course, his fondness was for the skill itself, not the situation he found himself in.
When Kang-hoo didnt respond, a hunter with pomade-styled hair threatened him.
Has this kid got nails in his ears? Cant you hear?
The object that barely grazed his chin at that moment was the hunters dagger.
It was a threatening gesture, but Kang-hoo, his expression unchanging, stared back at the hunter.
Alright, Im done here. What do you want?
Our Hyungnim wants to see you. You know who Jo Young-jae Hyungnim is, right?
Do I really need to know him?
That thing?
Where is it? Show me.
Then,
Has he lost his mind, spouting nonsense for a while now? This bastard
As the enraged hunter exerted force on his dagger, aiming to thrust it under Kang-hoos chin,
Kang-hoo, in an awakened state, sprang forward, sending the hunters hand flying into the air.
It wasnt just a simple deflection; he used the propulsion from his skill to sever the wrist.
Aaaagh!
The hunter, whose right hand had been cleanly sliced off, recoiled in horror.
The severed right hand flopped on the ground, ownerless.
Was it really this easy to cut off a persons hand?
Shit, shit, what the hell is this guy?
Faced with Kang-hoos response, as though he only lived for the moment, the hunters of Osan Suho stepped back a few paces.
Chapter 11: Suppression (4)
Chapter 11: Suppression (4)
Kidnapping intricately linked to the theft of sight.
Add to that a disorienting chaos that warps your sense of direction and vision.
For a guaranteed surprise attack, theres even a sideways lunge paired with a bleeding stab wound.
Kang-hoo had concocted thisbo. It was the scenario he envisioned while making his way to the entrance.
In fact, he wondered when he might ever utilize thisbination.
The task wasplete.
After returning and reuniting with Lee Ye-rin, he would either head to the dungeon or find some work.
But an unexpected dispute arose, and it involved Jo Young-jae.
In a fleeting moment, a precise battle of aim unfolded between Kang-hoo and Jo Young-jae, each with the others life in their crosshairs.
Naturally, Jo Young-jae was the first tounch an attack.
Kang-hoos reaction was akin to self-defense.
The only differencey in Kang-hoo evading Jo Young-jaes target, while Jo Young-jae failed to do the same.
Cough.
Before Kang-hoo, Jo Young-jae knelt, blood spilling copiously.
Severe woundscerated his neck, side, and chest, each one too critical to mend.
Truthfully, Kang-hoo had never intended to spill blood with Jo Young-jae. Initially, there was no animosity between them.
Certainly, he considered that Jo Young-jae might eventually be an underling of Jang Si-hwan.
This was because, ording to the original narrative, Jang Si-hwan would be conquering forces in the Osan region around this time.
The area teemed with criminal syndicates, providing ample pretext for subjugation.
Consequently, such gangs adept at cleaning up messes would be expected to fall in line.
Despite anticipating this, Kang-hoo had no immediate reason to single out Jo Young-jae.
But the instant their gazes met, Jo Young-jaes brow furrowed deeply, and he thrust his greatsword forward.
It was a despicable pre-emptive strike.
Of course, Kang-hoo believed in utilizing any means necessary to kill.
But that applied when there was a grudge or a motivelike fulfilling a contract for assassination.
Today, there was no such link between Jo Young-jae and him, yet he thrust the greatsword without hesitation.
If Kang-hoos leap skill hadnt been able to move more than 10 meters, his neck would have been severed long ago.
But he narrowly dodged with a backward leap, matching Jo Young-jaes slightly short charge distance.
Then Kang-hoo, in an awakened state, immediately followed with a forward leap and shed at Jo Young-jaes throat.
He exposed his malice first, which gave me a good opportunity to exploit his weakness.
Kang-hoo made this judgment.
Jo Young-jae was a berserker.
A ss that grew stronger over time, so avoiding prolonged fights was essential.
However, Jo Young-jaes aggressiveness had created an opportunity that Kang-hoo didnt miss.
Bro, brother
Ugh! Young-jae brother is dead!
He even made a contract with a Constetion
The gang members of Osan Suho, witnessing Kang-hoos unteral victory, were all in shock.
To outsiders, Jo Young-jae might have looked like a street boss, but to them, he was a god.
Equipped with three expensive grade-6 items and havingpleted a contract with a Constetion at level 65.
Such a god lost his life to someone he least regarded. It was an undeniable,plete defeat.
Kang-hoo took a srkium out of his pocket and said,
Ill give you exactly 5 seconds to choose. Im not forcing you, but the result will be the same.
Sipping. Sipping.
Kang-hoo diligently sucked the essence.
The attack on Jo Young-jae had been a single stroke, yet his head throbbed as if struck by multiplebos at once.
When Kang-hoo nced over, not a single one remained; they had all retreated.
In a world where death was no longer special, Kang-hoo also experienced no change in his emotions.
He had killed the man who had tried to kill him, and that was the end of it. There was no foolish sentiment, no wondering why he had killed.
Two.
Aaah!
As soon as Kang-hoo counted to two, they all retreated in a 36th-caliber dash.
The one trailing behind was the guy with the pomade perm who had lost his right hand to Kang-hoo at first encounter.
This is Jung Sun-kyu.
Yes, Sun-kyu. Have youpleted the task?
Yes. Ive retrieved it.
What about Kim Mok-hyun?
Ill contact you as soon as I get to Daejeon Station.
After exiting the dungeon, Kang-hoo ended his brief call with Lee Ye-rin.
He didnt inform her about Kim Mok-hyuns fate because that information also carried value.
Theres no such thing as a free lunch in the realm of information. And those who are thirsty dig their own wells.
[Bloodthirsty Predator]
[A neutral constetion. The likelihood of being immune to mental attacks increases as your health decreases.]
The ability stolen from Jo Young-jae wasnt intended, but it was the ability Kang-hoo most desired.
Considering the enemy, the most troublesome hunters are those with mind control.
What if they can casually make someonemit suicide ormand a colleague to kill?
A skilled mental-type hunter can easily turn such nightmares into reality.
Having a higher chance of resisting this was incredibly important inbat.
Regardless, Kang-hoo acquired three items from Jo Young-jae.
[Overture of Madness Gloves]
[Grade: 6th]
[Health +25]
[Mage Hunter - Bracelet]
[Grade: 6th]
[Anti-magic +25]
[Shoes of Pursuit]
[Grade: 6th]
[Agility +25]
[When pursuing a designated target, movement speed increases by 25%.]
All three items were of significant value.
Especially the Mage Hunter bracelet, which was exceedingly rare due to the difficulty in finding the anti-magic option.
Consequently, items rted to anti-magic were often rated a grade higher.
If sold on the market, they would fetch the same price as other 5th-grade items.
Ten minutester.
This ce seems good.
He arrived at the west side of Osan Station, a short distance from the long-abandoned ruin dungeon.
Though typically inconspicuous, the area drew attention today because of the unfolding spectacle.
Kill all the bastards of Pyeongjeong!
Even if the bastards of Bastard surrender, kill them!
Criminal organizations Pyeongjeong and Bastard, each aspiring to expand their turf into the Osan Station territory, were engaged in an outright war.
Their aggression was well-founded; the dungeon Gold Goblins Mine located on the west side promised substantial wealth.
Its closed-off nature allowed for easy control, and as a reset-style dungeon, the faster one conquered it, the faster they could profit from it.
The frequent discovery of high-grade magic stones meant that merely tapping into this resource could secure a daily profit in the hundreds of millions.
For any organization, there was no better foundation for operating funds.
At least, that was the norm in Osan.
Click. Shiiik.
Kang-hoo savored a can of coffee.
Observing the blood-drenched conflict from a hill that offered an unobstructed view, coffee in hand
It was akin to watching a film.
Silhouetted against the setting sun, the dark figures of the two factions shed violently, the brutality of their assault unmistakable.
Although the blood was concealed by the dusk, the pervasive atmosphere of agonizing death could not be hidden.
Kang-hoo detected someone approaching his vantage point.
This was his mana tracking ability at work.
If someone in the vicinity made use of mana-based hunting skills, they couldnt elude his notice.
Naturally, as Kang-hoo had experienced when he killed the original possessor of this ability, if someone purposefully misled him, he could be deceived
Turning his head slightly, he caught sight of a woman brandishing a two-handed greatsword as tall as she was, heading his way.
She was determined to stain her tongue blue, vigorously enjoying a cheap lollipop.
With her long hair fluttering, she wore a hoodie and sweatpants in a mismatched fashion.
She dressed more like she was out for a walk in the neighborhood than ready for battle.
She spoke first.
A prime spot, isnt it?
Kang-hoo nodded.
The distance was short as the crow flies, yet a long path through the battlefield.
She continued.
Theres no better ce to watch people die. Of course, its also perfect for getting killed while watching.
She sat down next to Kang-hoo, leaving just enough room for two palms to fit between them.
With nothing else to discuss with a stranger, Kang-hoo stayed silent.
Regrettably, Shin Kang-hoo, the original character, wasnt gifted with the talent for friendly banter.
In fact, he was almost devoid of it.
But she, undeterred, peppered Kang-hoo with her questions.
It felt as though she was talking to herself rather than expecting a response from Kang-hoo.
Are you a mercenary?
Kang-hoo nodded.
Im a mercenary too. Know any good mercenary groups? Good pay, low-difficulty tasks?
Desiring more money for less challenging tasks?
Such an attitude didnt quite fit a mercenary.
That seems like a misguided notion.
Haha! Cant handle contradictory statements, huh? A big catch, a real catch! I reeled you in!
Only then did Kang-hoo realize she had dangled bait to provoke a reaction from his stoic demeanor.
A clever attempt.
She had indeed reeled him in.
Im Yun Sang-mi. I wont ask your name. You look like you wouldnt tell.
Jung Sun-kyu.
A pseudonym?
Yes.
Mine too.
Kang-hoo shifted his attention back to the battlefield from Yun Sang-mi. Using pseudonyms wasmonce.
How many mercenaries used their real names? Nearly none.
Unless the real name was already widely recognized, rendering a pseudonym pointless.
Or if they were wanted.
There should be plenty of work around Daejeon Station. Eclipse has been stirring up trouble in all directions.
Eclipse. Five mercenaries I knew got killed by them. Quite a few are missing, too. Obviously, they must have gone to Cheongmyeong Detention Center
Yun Sang-mis words triggered the recollection of a name Kang-hoo hadpletely forgotten, causing him to frown.
Though he tried to disregard the memory, his body remembered the torture and abuse he had suffered there.
In that moment,
his body felt shriveled and a strong headache began to surge.
It was learned pain.
He had been forced to consume extreme amounts of mana to mine magic stones, leading to frequent bouts of mana hypersensitivity.
Just sweeping up the bounties on the higher-ups would be enough to retirefortably for a few years.
Like Kang Dong-hyun, that kind of higher-up?
Chapter 12: Club Hades (1)
Chapter 12: Club Hades (1)
Kang-hoo, upon seeing the information about the constetion contracted by Yun Sang-mi, wore a curious expression.
[Gale Sword Emperor]
[A neutral constetion. Supports the utilization of wind power in all sword-based attacks.]
Simply put, a swordsman who creates sword winds.
Not quite to the level of Aura des in fantasy novels, but capable of confusing opponents with wind generated alongside sword attacks.
Kang-hoo was curious because the Gale Sword Emperor constetion was not unfamiliar to him.
It was one of the ideas he had briefly considered during his days as the original author, wishing for such a constetion to exist.
Then, it was clear that his subconscious had naturally reflected it somewhere in the world.
As Kang-hoo silently observed the battlefield again, Yun Sang-mi pointed in one direction and said,
The bastard seems to be losing ground.
No. The bastard is deliberately giving space to Pyeongjeong. Its a lure.
Their assessments of the situation differed.
In truth, regardless of who won, the bad guys would be the victors.
Perhaps thats why.
The interest that had been burning at the perception of a decisive turn in the tide cooled down.
Yun Sang-mi, seemingly having the same thought, dusted off her pants and stood up, then asked Kang-hoo,
You look like a handsome vampire from a movie. So pale. Are you sick?
He always thought he looked pale, probably due to congenital mana hypersensitivity.
Im always kind of in pain.
He didnt deny it.
Even in the original story, no cure for congenital mana hypersensitivity was found until the end.
Of course, it was resolved in another way.
With Shin Kang-hoos death. More of a liberation than a resolution.
Where to now?
Daejeon Station.
Oh! Really? I was about to go there too.
Your reaction is a beatte. It doesnt seem like it was your original destination.
No, its not like that. Its close by. I had nned to go. I never expected to find a travelpanion so coincidentally!
She was a unique character.
Hunters usually didnt act friendly unless there was long-established trust.
In a dangerous world,panionship or co-traveling was naturally avoided. But Yun Sang-mi was different.
She must be very confident in her own abilities.
If one is confident in taking care of themselves, being open-minded isnt really a problem.
Usually, people trusted others only to be backstabbed, killed, or kidnapped.
But it doesnt matter if you are powerful.
Then well take the safety bus. The station area is a concern.
Kang-hoo pointed to the Pyeongjeong hunters starting to retreat towards Osan Station, caught in the Bastards lure.
They seemed to be nning a prolonged fight, using the subway structures as cover.
A safety bus was guarded by armed hunters, including those who handled magic bullets.
The high fare guaranteed safety during travel.
Kang-hoo chose thefortable option.
Inside the moving bus.
Yun Sang-mi, sitting next to him, fell asleep, hugging her greatsword like a teddy bear.
Her head asionally rested on Kang-hoos shoulder, but he neither paid attention to it nor pushed her away.
The limited leisure was given.
Kang-hoo reviewed the items he had obtained from killing Kim Mok-hyun.
He had put them on but hadnt checked theirpositions.
[Mollis Maniche - Gloves]
[Grade: 5th Grade]
[A one-handed mitt glove that allows you to instantly retrieve any ''recognized weapon'' within 5m.]
[Immediately upon wearing, it blends with the color and shape of the hand, making it difficult to discern as a glove from the outside.]
Linking it with a dagger would be best.
It was an item that reduced the burden of throwing daggers.
Instead of physically retrieving daggers that fell or got stuck, it allowed for easy retrieval with a simple hand gesture.
This dramatically reduced the waste of movement in weapon retrieval.
[Asura''s Insight - Breastte]
[Grade: 5th Grade]
[Mana +50]
[However, with the conversion option, it can switch to Health +50. The switching cooldown is 24 hours.]
Theres a reliable aspect to this.
Kang-hoo understood why Kim Mok-hyun was so confident in battle, with a 50-point boost to his mana stats.
If there hadnt been a conversion option, it wouldnt have impressed Kang-hoo much since he didnt have a thirst for mana.
But with the conversion option, the value of Asuras Insight changed.
It became a top-tierponent.
He immediatelypleted the conversion.
Had he not examined it closely, he would have missed the health boost.
Now, onto thest one.
[Martial God''s y - Ring]
[Grade: 5th Grade]
[Sturdiness +50]
[Can be upgraded one grade higher with the special material, red luminous stone.]
Sturdiness significantly increased defense against physical attacks.
As a ring that could be worn on any of the ten fingers, it was less burdensome.
He decided to sell the other items that increased magic power, as they were redundant and unnecessary for his build.
After checking everything, Kang-hoo looked around and noticed that several hunters on the bus had also fallen asleep.
The guards kept watch outside the window. Several motorcycles with the Bastard insignia swept by.
But knowing they could end up with a bullet in their forehead if they messed with the guards, they veered away from the road.
Should I go to Seoul?
The thought of Seoul suddenly crossed his mind.
Aside from the lure of dungeons or leveling up, there was no ce as safe as Seoul.
There, even if you dropped your wallet, no one would touch it.
If they did, it would only be to return it to the owner, or because they were from the Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
The problem was the exorbitant prices, such as paying over 20,000 won for a thin can of c.
A price for safety.
Still, a wild beasts cub is better than one in a zoo.
With that thought, Kang-hoo concluded his reflections.
Those who had smelled blood were better at smelling it, and those who had fought were more likely to strike again.
The Thirteen Stars.
To surpass all the cunning minions of the Demon King, even a moment of meaningless peace was too precious to waste.
Boom!
Huh! Slurp!
When the bus jolted over a speed bump, Yun Sang-mi, who was deeply asleep, hurriedly wiped below her mouth.
Falling deeply asleep at the slightest assurance of safety
This was a glimpse into the reality of hunters living in that world.
A world where the value of life had diminished.
Having arrived at Daejeon Station, Kang-hoo had nned to meet Lee Ye-rin with Yun Sang-mi, but it was toote at night, and Lee Ye-rin was busy with external work, so their timing didnt match.
Thus, the meeting was postponed to the next morning, leaving Kang-hoo with some free time that night.
He stopped by a well-known bar near Daejeon Station, but for some reason, it was closed that day.
Dont wander aimlessly, why not change your mood with a cocktail at our Fight Club?
Consequently, a solicitor nearby sessfully enticed Kang-hoo and Yun Sang-mi.
Wanting a drink and confident in his ability to handle himself in an emergency, Kang-hoo headed to a nearby underground Fight Club with Yun Sang-mi.
The clubs name was Hades.
Club Hades, starting from the third basement level, was more crowded than he had expected.
A fight between hunters was already underway on the specially constructed stage at the center.
With the fighters names disyed on arge monitor and money amounts updating below, it appeared to be a death match.
The stakes ced on the deceased hunter would go to the winning hunter and their bettors.
Can I dance?
Do whatever.
Kang-hoo gestured indifferently.
They were onlypanions, not aplete party.
As she moved to the stage and got lost in dancing,
Kang-hoo ordered the cocktail he had wanted since entering the club at the special cocktail bar.
Srkium Burst.
Oh? Youre drinking this?
Isnt it made to be drunk?
Actually, its more for show. Srkium has a bit of a you know, taste. Heh heh.
The bartender, with striking smoky makeup and red hair, chuckled and shrugged her shoulders.
The taste of Srkium was indeed awkward to describe outrightan adults-only kind of vor.
Its fine. I like it.
Kang-hoo handed over 100,000 won more than the original price.
It was a tip.
In such underground fight clubs, bartenders often had useful information to sell.
But it was hit or miss.
If the bartender knew little, the information might be useless, just trivial details.
So, people often tipped without much expectation, listening to the stories as if scratching a lottery ticket.
She asked,
Were strangers, right?
Nod. A silent answer.
Im Benny.
Bennyamon pseudonym, likely to be forgotten in a few days.
As Benny leaned forward to make the cocktail, following the recipe, her revealing outfit created a rather bold scene.
But Kang-hoo, surprisingly, only looked at Bennys face, as if he saw no reason to look elsewhere.
Benny let out a slightly incredulousugh, thinking maybe he was asexual.
Anyway, it was time to earn her tip.
Theres a rumor about a dungeon entrance on the unpublicized seventh basement floor of the Fight Club. People have gone in, but none havee out.
The building clearly had only up to six basements, as indicated in the lobby and on elevator buttons.
A dungeon means rights and interests, so it wasnt a far-fetched story.
Maybe it was a secret open-type dungeon, kept hidden because it was always essible.
Being always open, control inside the dungeon was necessary for when ess needed to be restricted.
Kang-hoo was about to ask why she told him this but held back.
Bartenders tales are often bluffs or rumors. Its best to filter them.
And theres talk that Blue Moon will soon merge with Eclipse. But if that happens
Just then.
Crash! Bang!
Sounds of sses and bottles breaking erupted simultaneously from all around.
Then, a sizable group of men in the crowd of clubbers rolled up their sleeves.
An organization with three diagonal swords as their insignia. Eclipse.
Hmm.
He roughly guessed what was happening.
This club, rtively known for moderate forces, was operated by the Blue Moon organization.
Chapter 13: Club Hades (2)
Chapter 13: Club Hades (2)
If Blue Moon had run the establishment, such a tragedy would not have urred.
But Eclipse, with In-su, had transformed their own establishment into a massive human trafficking site.
They must have carried out a long-term preliminary investigation,
realizing that the hunters who visited were quite a profitable target.
Huaat!
In the meantime, a hunter charged at Kang-hoo from behind, the Eclipse insignia on his sleeve visible.
His reckless charge with an axe suggested he was not skilled.
Swoosh! Thud!
Ugh!
The situation was quickly resolved.
Kang-hoo had disappeared from the hunters front and moved sideways, reappearing behind him to stab him in the nape.
When I see you guys, I think this: Are the higher-ups intentionally reducing their numbers to increase their profits?
Without a chance to react, Kang-hoo kicked the body of the hunter, whose breath had just been cut off.
The hunter, already having crossed the Jordan River, fell forward like a stalk of straw.
It made him realize anew
how dangerous the world he lived in was.
There was no opportunity tofortably enjoy a cocktail.
Meanwhile,
Yun Sang-mi, having spotted Kang-hoo, quickly grabbed her greatsword and followed him from the side.
Her expression showed disappointment, as if she had been having fun and didnt want it to end.
Seems like the liquor in Seoul is the best, after all.
I agree with that,
Kang-hoo nodded.
Liquor that you risk your life for isnt liquor; its poison.
He understood that this club, crowded with hunters, was not a safe haven but rather a giant fishing spot.
Lets go.
Taking the emergency exit seems better.
I agree. The main route is probably blocked, triple or quadrupleyers deep.
Yeah.
They might have even arranged a car to capture us and send us straight to the detention center.
Right then,
an announcement flowed through the club.
[Dear guests, it appears someone from the ck Lion has infiltrated our club to cause disruption.]
[Here at Eclipse, we aim to swiftly suppress internal dissent and restore order...]
Theyre talking nonsense!
Crack!
A chair thrown by one of the hunters struck therge speaker, instantly rendering it inoperable.
Who could believe them when Eclipse hunters were capturing other hunters right in front of their eyes?
Cover the rear.
What about Sun-kyu?
With the narrow stairway structure, its difficult for a greatsword. Its better if I take the front.
Got it! Are we forming a mixed team?
Think of it as a short-term business.
Right then.
Bang!
The sound of the emergency exit door on the second basement floor opening was heard.
Before identifying who it was, Kang-hoo first threw the dagger he was holding.
Thanks to the Morlis Maniche gloves, he could retrieve the dagger within five meters, so there was no worry.
Thud!
Ugh
Exactly when the door opened and the opponent poked their head out, the thrown dagger pierced right through their abdomen.
Looking over to the arm, the Eclipse insignia on the sleeve was clearly visible.
Yun Sang-mi, who was watching the situation from behind, asked,
Did you know who it was when you threw it?
No.
Thinking about it, the only hunters likely toe out here at this time were from Eclipse.
Kang-hoo reached out his hand.
Kraak!
The dagger embedded in the abdomen naturally flew into his hand as if being drawn to it.
Wow, telekinesis? Its the first time Im seeing an assassin ss using such a power.
Yun Sang-mi tilted her head.
Such telekic skills are usually used by mage-type hunters. It was rare for the assassin ss.
Meanwhile,
There, below!
Two Eclipse hunters who emerged from the emergency exit on the first basement floor pointed at Kang-hoo.
By that time, Kang-hoo was already using the Kidnap skill on one of the men who hade into his sight.
He didnt mind the railing in the middle; it was rather a good obstacle.
As expected.
Aaah!
The hunters head, suddenly pulled by the Kidnap skill, hit the railing.
Crack!
His body bent backward, striking the railing. The sound of bones crushing indicated at least a cervical fracture.
Eek!
The decision of his colleague, who had entered with him, was faster than light. He immediately turned and ran back through the door from which he hade.
This smells like an Irregr
Yun Sang-mis expression hardened, having witnessed the entire process. The assassin was using skills that werent easily essible to their ss.
The telekinesis used to retrieve the dagger could be overlooked, as its often an added item option.
But the Kidnap skill, which had captured the hunter without resistance, was not something hunters normally used.
It was a special skill exclusively used by certain dungeon monsters, specifically those of the demon race.
What about the rear?
Clear. Nothing there. It seems like they didnt think this far.
There must be plenty of prey inside the club. Lets get out fast.
Kang-hoo elerated.
Even as a few hunters peeked out of the emergency exit to secure the spot,
Kang-hoo promptly subdued them using Leap, Kidnap, Sideways Movement, and Sight Steal.
Yun Sang-mi, who ended up involuntarily closing for business behind Kang-hoo, could fully observe his capabilities.
And she realized.
He was a seasoned mercenary who had gained significant experience on the battlefield.
And he was an unusual man possessing several special skills. It wasnt a guess but a certainty.
[The Constetion ''Apostle of Justice'' is impressed by your direct practice of good conquering evil and supports you with a small buff.]
[Slight consumption of divine power to provide you a minor buff.]
[Experience Increase +0.1%]
Not really.
Kang-hoos mouth curled into a sneer.
Dimension Plunderer read his thoughts first.
[Cleaning up annoying trash only to find out it''s low-quality trash. That naive guy can''t see through you.]
Is there really such a thing as good conquering evil?
In this world, there are no such things as absolute good or absolute evil.
Those who blur and ultimately overturn this bnce are the Thirteen Stars.
The saviors whom the world believed to be heroes all turned out to be minions of the Demon King who betrayed humanity.
In this world, distinguishing between good and evil is meaningless.
Usually, people create afortable standard to think about.
That is, a powerful being is considered good (). Thus, in the current world, the one who dies is evil ().
Far from the scene.
Click. Sssshhh.
Having bought two cans of beer from a convenience store, they finally quenched their thirst.
Whats that?
Thest one who ran away. I swung the dagger and unintentionally got it when his finger got cut off.
Yun Sang-mi pointed at the ring dripping with blood, now worn on Kang-hoos little finger.
On the groundy a finger, belonging to someone other than Kang-hoo, discarded like a half-eaten sausage.
You saw something good today. Honestly, I think you have a reason to be a solo mercenary, right?
Yun Sang-mi gave Kang-hoo a thumbs-up.
Perhaps due to his ss characteristics, all the hunters who faced Kang-hoo werepletely crushed from the start.
Kang-hoo was the very embodiment of the saying, The one who strikes first wins.
What level are you? From what I saw, you must be over 100. You have a Constetion too, right?
Kang-hoo remained silent.
At times like this, its better to let them imagine rather than give concrete information.
Theres no need to correct them; let good misconceptions be.
I just want to sleep.
He felt the onset of mana hypersensitivity throbbing in his forehead.
He regretted not being able to finish the Skium Burst due to the sudden appearance of the Eclipse guys.
He had spent hundreds of thousands of won for a drink, only for it to end up as waste without even a sip.
Want to have a drink in my room?
No. I have an appointment with Lee Ye-rin at 9 AM. If you want to meet, be at Daejeon Station by 8:30 AM.
Where are you heading now?
Looking for a ce to catch some sleep. Its better we dont know each others whereabouts, so lets rest separately.
Kang-hoo turned away, casually waving his right hand as he distanced himself from her.
He nned to sell all the items he had postponed dealing with when he met Lee Ye-rin in the morning and convert them into cash.
Part of it seemed necessary to be spent on Skium.
That dawn.
Kang-hoo relieved his overexerted body from the battle at Club Hades with a cold shower.
Thanks to choosing an expensive motel, the water pressure was good, and more importantly, the bathtub wasrge.
He had been trying to find alternative means to reduce his excessive dependence on Skium.
Damn it
Perhaps because he overexerted his mana at the end of the battle, his body started acting up.
Rushing to the bathroom, Kang-hoo turned on the shower and thrust his head under it.
Since he wasnt wearing anything to begin with, there was nothing to hinder him.
This is going to be a problem.
His frown didnt ease. The weakness he exchanged for his great talent was a problem, especially because it was vulnerable to exploitation.
[Ever since Jang Si-hwan discovered the secret hidden in Shin Kang-hoo''s body, he never rushed into battle against Shin Kang-hoo. Time was ''always'' on his side.]
As the original story shed before his eyes, Kang-hoo fiercely sshed water on himself, trying to ignore it.
I thought I had a n
He couldnt remember the solution to the terrible disease, though it seemed to linger in his subconscious.
Like Yun Sang-mis Gale Sword Emperor Constetion, there had to be a way to resolve innate mana hypersensitivity.
He had thought of a treatment method to use when he created a crisis for Jang Si-hwan.
No choice then.
Kang-hoo considered the two stalks of Skium stored in his refrigerator.
It felt as though the fountain of life was running dry, and now, with only two stalks left, it was exactly that.
The following day, in the morning.
Kang-hoo and Yun Sang-mi met with Lee Ye-rin.
Yun Sang-mi had finished her pre-arranged conversation with Lee Ye-rin in a separate waiting room.
Kang-hoo was about to settle ounts with her and was looking forward to the reward.
I didnt think wed find Bartaross shoes so easily. Thank you, Sun-kyu.
A smile graced Lee Ye-rins lips as she took the requested item.
The shoes appeared to carry a special meaning for her.
Theyre undamaged.
To be honest, the thought of running away with them crossed my mind. I figured it wouldnt matter if I did.
I dont have the unpleasant habit of worrying about being backstabbed every hour of the day. Im looking for more jobs.
Kang-hoo shook his head.
As tempting as it might sound to run away, from that moment on, he would be in the same predicament as Kim Mok-hyun an unnecessary act.
Chapter 14: The Hill Of Storms (1)
Chapter 14: The Hill Of Storms (1)
He decided to obtain the strategy guide for the Storm Hill Dungeon.
Applying for the guide as soon as possible was advisable, so hepleted the application immediately through Lee Ye-rin.
The approval arrived 12 hourster.
Although he was disappointed to enter at 9 PM, he epted the time since he couldnt change it to his preference.
Our mercenary group controls the dungeon, and we always station guards at the entrance.
At least that way, well be alerted to any intruders.
Exactly. We cant stop external forces from meddling deliberately, but being aware of potential ambushes is within our power.
Thats good enough for me.
Kang-hoo nodded in agreement.
It wasmon for others to infiltrate a dungeon that was under exploration and attempt a surprise attack, only to be killed themselves.
Shall we discuss your next request?
Please, go ahead.
The first request was more like a screening process. Usually, half fail to make it past the initial cut-off
Her implication that I had survived a request with a 50% rate of survival struck me as rather odd.
Certainly, the risk of death was always present in mercenary requests.
But to casually consider a potentially fatal request as just a screening seemed callous.
Perhaps this cold and calcting approach contributed to the high sess rate of Lee Ye-rins mercenary group in advanced requests.
Anyway, it sounds like youre saying I did well. Lets move on to the main issue.
You were looking for a bounty hunter request with a significant reward, werent you?
Yes.
Ive put together a list of potential targets. They should be manageable. The hard part might be locating them.
Show me the list.
I nced over thepiled names.
Among those listed for the bounty request, one name stood out to me.
Heo Jeong-tae.
A character from the end of the original story.
As the narrative headed towards a grim conclusion, it was revealed that Heo Jeong-tae had been a covert assassin working for Jang Si-hwan.
The connection was only revealed at the end.
Until then, Heo Jeong-tae had killed several hunters considered righteous.
He was a murderer.
Until the end, the protagonist, Jang Si-hwan, only knew of Heo Jeong-taes existence.
The actual murder orders were handled by Jang Si-hwans close friend and aplice, Chae Gwan-hyeong.
However, the current bounty on Heo Jeong-tae was not for murder.
It was for stealing the Dungeon Stability Detection Device from the Gapyeong Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
He was not quite a major criminal, but the theft was too significant to be considered petty due to the national property theft charges.
It seemed like individual mercenary groups had their own bounty requests for this reason.
Thus, the Hunter Public Safety Bureau was the one offering the reward.
It was essentially a bounty guaranteed by the state.
[Heo Jeong-taes base, which was never found, was shockingly near Yangpyeong Station.
Just 500 meters from the Hunter Public Safety Bureau at Yangpyeong Station, he lived in Moonseong Vi.
It was a case of darkness under themp. The ipetent hunters of the Public Safety Bureau never caught him until the end.]
[Heo Jeong-tae''s base, which was never found, was shockingly near Yangpyeong Station. Just 500 meters from the Hunter Public Safety Bureau at Yangpyeong Station, he lived in Moonseong Vi. It was a case of darkness under themp. The ipetent hunters of the Public Safety Bureau never caught him until the end.]
As this was something that was written towards the end of the original story, I remembered the details about Heo Jeong-tae without a single mistake.
Given my memory of the buildings and scenery around his residence, locating him seemed straightforward.
Are you interested in Heo Jeong-tae?
Yes. The part about him favoring a spear is also intriguing. Its easy to target someone who needs a wide and long attack range.
Kang-hoo attached a usible reason.
In truth, knowing his whereabouts made up over 90% of the reason for my choice.
The reward is a bounty of 300 million won and a one-month lease for dungeons below level 100. However, there is a condition.
Alive?
Thats right.
Since the Public Safety Bureau officially issued the bounty, private punishment is out of the question, I suppose.
Especially since its not a murder charge.
The reward was quite tempting.
Of course, to capture the target alive, Id need to buy handcuffs in advance, just in case.
This wasnt about dragging some clumsy local thug.
The target was a hunter who could counterattack at any moment.
Lets take this request.
Are you sure? The hardest part with this guy is figuring out his whereabouts
Thats for me to handle.
Kang-hoo spoke with conviction.
He decided to go after Heo Jeong-tae only after he hadpleted the Storm Hill Dungeon.
If he nned his route well, he might reach level 30 within the dungeon.
Reaching that level would grant him the assassins basic skill, eleration.
Although it was a mere speed enhancement, it was essential.
Taking down Heo Jeong-tae will also yield a significant butterfly effect.
It was an opportunity to achieve multiple goals at once.
His level was estimated to be around 100.
That seemed like a feasible target. I had the strength for it.
After epting the request, Kang-hoo sold all his unnecessary 9th-grade items to Lee Ye-rin.
The transaction was swift and at a fixed price,ting him a total of 250 million won.
Then, he reached out to Master K, the sole seller of Skium in the country.
Since traveling to Ground Zero, where Master K was located, was too far, he arranged for a quick delivery at Gapyeong Station.
He bought a total of 10 units for 50 million wona steep price, but a necessary investment.
It was somewhat cheaper because Master K had recently harvested a crop, reducing the price.
Once more than half the stock was sold, prices would skyrocket by at least 50%.
That left him with a bnce of 200 million won.
Before heading to Gapyeong Station, Kang-hoo nned to stop by the ck market to buy a dagger with his remaining money.
The practice dagger he currently owned was too weak for hunting andcked strength.
Especially since he could afford a 5th-grade dagger, not purchasing a primary weapon would be a loss.
After the transaction,
Before leaving Daejeon Station, Kang-hoo exchanged brief farewells with Yun Sang-mi.
He doubted they would meet again, but she seemed to think otherwise.
If you have skills like yours, youll be in demand. Well meet again soon, I think.
I hope its not as an enemy.
Ho ho. That wont happen. Anyway, Id like to share useful information if Ie across any. Can I have your phone number?
Give me yours. Ill contact you if needed.
That sounds annoyingly cool, you know?
Its meant to be annoying.
At Kang-hoos remark, Yun Sang-mi handed him a business card.
She looked at Kang-hoo with a hopeful expression, but he did not give her his contact information.
Make sure to contact me! Even just for a casual chat, anytime!
As before at dawn,
Kang-hoo, without responding to Yun Sang-mis words, turned around and waved his hand, signaling all farewells.
Arriving at Daejeon Station, Kang-hoo first bought a ticket to Yongsan Station. From there, he would need to transfer to the ITX.
He had thought that the situation with Eclipse would have caused serious issues at the station, but it seemed to have been quickly resolved.
Of course, a quick resolution didnt mean a happy ending.
It meant that the situation was swiftly concluded, and many hunters inside Club Hades were taken away.
It was likely that they were either sent to the nearby Cheongmyeong Detention Center or loaded onto a human trafficking cargo ship bound for overseas.
Either oue was terrible, but the former was somewhat better since there was at least a chance of survival throughmunication.
And unlike Cheongmyeong Detention Center, which at least met the minimum nutritional requirements, overseas conditions were entirely different.
Then,
a little child waiting for the train to Yongsan with Kang-hoo jumped up and down excitedly, shouting,
Im so excited! So excited!
Next to the child stood a couple who appeared to be a year or two older than Kang-hoo, who was twenty-nine.
Are you that excited, Si-yun?
Yes, Mom! When we go to Seoul, can we go eat chicken at night?
Of course! In Seoul, Si-yun can do anything he wants!
Wow! Im really excited!
The childs cheerfulness was understandable.
Seoul, where all the manpower of the Hunter Public Safety Bureau was concentrated, boasted a near zero crime rate.
Ironically, this came at the cost of virtually abandoning regions outside the capital area.
.
Observing the happy family of three, Kang-hoo wore a curious expression.
He wondered if they were truly happy. For Kang-hoo, who had neither feelings nor memories associated with the word family, this was a natural reaction.
Anyway, this family heading to Seoul wouldnt have to worry about walking the streets at night anymore.
It seemed like the parents had made a big decision for their child, which also seemed a bit pitiful.
In Seoul, the Hunter Public Safety Bureau, and even Hunter Jang Si-hwan will protect us if anything happens.
Then, a name Kang-hoo didnt want to hear slipped out of the childs fathers mouth.
A belief in Jang Si-hwan that went beyond simple faith to blind faith among civilians.
That was how the world viewed Jang Si-hwan.
If he ever stood against him, that perception would flip 180 degrees against him.
[The train bound for Yongsan will be arriving soon. Passengers, please.]
The train wasing.
For the first time since waking up in Cheongmyeong Detention Center, Kang-hoo had a chance to pass through Seoul and go elsewhere.
At that time.
A woman was visiting Cheongmyeong Detention Center, enjoying a one-on-one meeting with the warden, Lee Taek-geun.
Lee Taek-geun, the person responsible for the entire detention center, maintained apletely submissive posture in front of the woman.
Warden Lee, dont you find this whole situation extremely strange?
The woman, with ck hair styled in a C-curl bob, looked disdainfully at Lee Taek-geun, her arms crossed.
Cha So-hee.
She was the third inmand of Eclipse and a confidant sent by Kang Dong-hyun to oversee the investigation of Kang-hoo. Her level was 250, which was high enough to join the upper echelons of any organization.
Its very strange.
Right? Hunter Shin Kang-hoo was confirmed to be level 10 before admission. He never went near a dungeon, except for mining magic stones.
.
Two guards of rank 2, three of rank 3, and even a Tracker constetion holder were killed by him.
Yes, post-mortem investigations suggest they were taken out without putting up much of a fight.
No matter how I think about it, the information doesnt add up. Are we missing something about Shin Kang-hoo?
Cha So-hees suspicions were not directed at Kang-hoo, but at Lee Taek-geun.
It didnt make sense that the victims, given their profiles, were killed by someone with a level of just 10.
Such incidents had always urred, and Cha So-hee had been diligently filling in the data by investigating the scenes.
However, this case seemed fundamentally wed.
A Level 10 couldnt possibly exert such power, not even if they were resurrected.
Chapter 15: The Hill Of Storms (2)
Chapter 15: The Hill Of Storms (2)
Kang-hoo had some free time after he got off at Yongsan Station.
There were fewer people around than before, so the number of trains heading to Gapyeong had decreased.
The first ce Kang-hoo visited was the Hunter Market located inside Yongsan Station.
Operated directly by the Hunter Public Safety Bureau, the market wasrge and offered a wide range of items.
He had a total of 200 million won to spend.
He scoured the market for the best item he could afford, and he found sess.
[Joy of the Sky - Weapon]
[Grade: 5th Grade]
[Strength +50]
[Health recovery speed increases fivefold if in a nonbat state for more than 30 minutes.]
It was an item that could be quite helpful for recovering health while resting or sleeping.
Of course, it wasnt all-powerful due to its condition; a nonbat state meant not using any mana at all.
In areas outside the metropolitan region, where one must always be vignt, such situations were umon.
Still, his strength had increased significantly.
After discarding his practice dagger and switching to this new weapon, he felt a dramatic change.
Kang-hoo gripped a stone he had picked up from a flowerbed in front of the station and exerted force.
Crrrunch. Crunch.
A stone he would not have dared to crush before was now shattered into pieces.
Yes, this is what strength is.
He had been neglecting it due to the overwhelming power of his skills.
In reality, strength, the foundation of all power, was always important.
Being an assassin ss didnt mean he needed agility just for swift movements.
The primal power to push ones physical strength to the limit and cut off an enemys breath was crucial as well.
Mana hypersensitivity does make me overly cautious during battles
Kang-hoo thought, stroking his forehead with his fingertips.
Mana hypersensitivity had its pros and cons, but the advantages far outweighed the disadvantages.
This was evident in the battle at Club Hades.
Despite the side effects, Kang-hoos ability to use his skills without worrying about mana allowed him to act liberally.
He stood out from other hunters who constantly had to manage their mana reserves.
No wonder Yun Sang-mi had asked him several times, Arent you running out of mana?
She must have found it puzzling.
Then.
Rumble!
A thunderous noise erupted from his stomach, which he had been neglecting. He hadnt eaten anything since dawn.
Its time for a bit of a Seoul price experience.
Despite the expense, he knew he couldnt prepare for dungeon raids on an empty stomach.
He made his way to a restaurant.
And then.
Galbitang. 150,000 won per bowl.
He was confronted with the harsh reality of Seouls cost of living.
In Seoul, the price of food, reflecting the sacred value of peace and life, was exorbitantly high.
Typically indifferent to culinary delights, today he allowed himself an indulgence.
After devouring a 150,000 won bowl of Galbitang, not leaving behind a single drop of soup or a grain of pepper, he strolled along the streets near the station.
The sky, overcast like at Daejeon Station, felt strangely warm and gentle.
It must have been his imagination.
Feeling confident that nothing untoward would happen here, the world seemed different to him.
Kyaa! Over there! He came this way! He must have turned his car around! Lets hurry!
Ah, really? Why is it so hard to spot these oppas?
Hurry up and run! If werete, we wont even be able to snap pictures!
At that moment, women who appeared to be well into their thirties began to dash ahead with enthusiasm.
Their level of excitement and cheering was such that one might assume a celebrity had appeared.
The group Kang-hoo observed was merely a segment of the entire crowd, which was assembling from various directions.
Could it be.
He had an inkling.
Without hesitation, Kang-hoo merged with the throng and started to race with them, noting several men among the enthusiasts.
Arriving at the epicenter of themotion, he instantly grasped the reason for such a fervent gathering.
As expected
A group of hunters had secured their route and was heading towards the dungeon in the southern part of Yongsan Station.
They were hunters from the Jeonghwa Guild.
The guild, led by Jang Si-hwan as the master, was not only the undisputed number one guild in the country but also the only guild in Seoul.
The saying that if you removed the Public Safety Bureau and the Jeonghwa Guild, there would be zero hunters in Seoul
Was not a joke but the truth.
The Jeonghwa Guild had either absorbed all the other guilds in Seoul or cunningly framed them for crimes and disbanded them.
[The thoughts about the hunters and organizations that Jang Si-hwan believed to be absolutely evil were astonishingly distorted.
In his delusions, the line between truth and falsehood blurred, and sometimes falsehoods became truths.
He was so captivated by the notion that only the Jeonghwa Guild was absolutely good that he aligned all his thoughts with his delusions.
Therefore, even until the moment the Demon King descended, he failed to realize the enormous atrocities he hadmitted.]
Reflecting on it again, the story took a sudden turn towards the end with such a development.
The protagonist, who was supposedly the main character, lived in delusions and dreams, as revealed in the epilogue.
No wonder the serialized tform received a ton of bacsh and was bombarded with low ratings.
Regardless, the Jeonghwa Guild was the only guild in Seoul, and peoples trust in them was beyond imagination.
Naturally, creating fandoms for the core members was an inevitable consequence.
Kyaaah! Gwanhyeong oppa!
Gwanhyeong oppa! Please look this way once! Please! Just one photo!
Especially among female fans, Chae Gwanhyeong was the person they were crazy about.
With his violet-colored hair that suited him exceptionally well, he waved at the people with a bright smile.
His expression and deep eyes, which seemed to contain all the darkness and sorrow of the world, stood in stark contrast to Kang-hoos.
Hes been quite favored too. How many constetions are attached to that guy?
Kang-hoo scanned the constetion information that flickered incessantly above Chae Gwanhyeongs head.
There were at least ten.
The information window didnt even disy everything, marked with [] and the content folded inward.
Of course.
Considering the rapid growth of Shin Kang-hoo after his escape from the detention center, this was just a moderate favor.
In three years, Shin Kang-hoo would be an entity where all kinds of fortunes and opportunities in the world converged.
But that didnt mean he nned to spend the next three years without any thought.
Since escaping Cheongmyeong Detention Center and facing events not in the original story, the content was already beginning to twist slightly.
Right, I missed something important. Focused only on what was given to me, I overlooked
Suddenly, a thought struck him.
Going forward, Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeong would continue to grow, monopolizing various fortunes and opportunities.
This was a natural narrative device in novels, granted to the protagonist and his allies.
Kang-hoo decided to intervene in these elements and turn them to his advantage.
He had enough information.
From items to rtionships with other constetions, and even connections with people who would be crucial in the future.
There was a lot at stake.
There were ample opportunities to seize the benefits of a future of which they were yet unaware.
However.
The level is a problem.
Considering all factors,
Kang-hoo concluded that he should at least reach level 50.
Even that number was a conservative estimate; thinking more liberally, he might need to aim for level 100.
First, fifty.
Kang-hoo established his short-term goal.
He decided to put aside all other thoughts and concentrate exclusively on reaching level 50.
He decided to worry about the next steps afterward.
Feeling pleased to have realized an aspect he had overlooked amid his hectic adaptation to reality,
He knew the most delicious thing was to snatch what others were eating.
And that was precisely what he nned to do.
Ssshh.
Kang-hoo buttoned up his coat against the chill and turned to re-enter Yongsan Station.
Thats when it happened.
That oppa he looks kind of handsome, doesnt he?
Yeah, for real. He resembles Minho from Nine Boys! No, hes even more handsome than Minho?
Who is he?
Women in the crowd began to whisper as they noticed Kang-hoo, who had been blending in quietly until now.
Despite his pale, bloodless face, his concealed allure was undeniable.
It even aroused a peculiar protective instinct.
Yet, no one dared approach a man they didnt know.
Thus, Kang-hoo left Yongsan Station with ease.
Just setting a clear short-term goal!
That alone gave significance to the 150,000 won Galbitang he enjoyed at Yongsan Station.
That evening,
Kang-hoo arrived at Gapyeong Station at the designated time and promptly received a quick delivery from Master K.
Slipping ten Srkiums into his inner pocket felt like loading a vault with cash, and it filled him with immense satisfaction.
Its too quiet here.
Considering it was a weekday night and he was outside Seoul, the silence might be understandable.
But he had expected more people, perhaps those who had caught thest train from Yongsan, yet the ce was deserted.
He double-checked his equipped itemsemergency food, medicines, and Srkium.
Now he was fully prepared to enter the dungeon.
He had also thoroughly studied the information about the dungeon provided in advance; all that remained was to await the entry time.
But then,
Please! Ill give you everything I have, just let me go! Im begging you!
Not far off, yet close enough to be heard, a womans plea pierced the silence.
He couldnt simply ignore it, especially when the content suggested a grave crime might be unfolding.
Dont need everything. Just lend your body for a while. Thats all Im asking.
Thest trains gone, and theres no Public Safety Bureau nearby. No point in screaming.
Think a prince on a white horse is going to show up? Sorry, but weve already cut the throats of such guys.
Kekeke!
He heard at least four mens voices. There might have been more silent ones, so the minimum count was four.
Since it was on his way, Kang-hoo walked toward the source of the voices.
Going north from Gapyeong Station Exit 1, he encountered even fewer people.
The only convenience store in sight had closed before dusk.
In a dark alley, he spotted a woman being harassed by four men.
Buildings up to three floors loomed on either side, all long abandoned and empty.
Help me, please!
The woman, making eye contact with Kang-hoo, cried out desperately. The gangs attention turned to Kang-hoo.
Hey. You think this is a novel where you y the hero? Just mind your business, okay?
If you dont want a knife in your heart, keep walking. Got it?
Mana traces followed the daggers that two of the men spun.
They were hunters.
That exined their arrogance.
Without a word, Kang-hoo turned his head and walked away, his steps showing no hint of regret.
See! Haha! Life isnt like a novel, is it? Just strip quietly. Well be gentle.
Hehehe!
As the four men watched Kang-hoo leave and began unzipping their pants in anticipation,
Pssht!
One of the more alert hunters, hearing a sound of wind, stopped unzipping.
Thats when.
Fwook!
Kuhuk!
Suddenly, Kang-hoo reappeared, swiftly stabbing one of the men there before moving on.
Though it was a fleeting attack, it left the mans groin soaked in blood.
Kang-hoo had not emerged from the south, where he had pretended to leave, but from the deste north side.
Chapter 16: The Hill Of Storms (2)
Chapter 16: The Hill Of Storms (2)
Euhuhuhu! Euhuhu!
It took only a few seconds for the four hunters trying to harass the woman to meet their harsh fate.
Kang-hoo quickly ended the fight by targeting their vital points.
In fact, it wasnt much of a battle.
He aimed for areas that would not be fatal if treated immediately.
Of course, this assumed they received prompt hemostasis; otherwise, they might die from excessive bleeding.
Kang-hoo took her hand and moved as far away from the scene as possible.
While heading toward the approaching safety bus, she did not let go of Kang-hoos tightly held hand.
Thank you. I tried to go home early and took a path I dont usually take, and then
Her choice of path seemed odd, but there was a reason for it.
There were plenty of rtively safe paths to choose from.
She had thought she would be fine even in a dangerous area, but she ended up in this predicament.
It would be rtively safer to follow the light, even if it takes a bit longer. Its not good to be close to darkness.
As Kang-hoo calmly reassured her, she sighed with relief and responded.
Thank you. I was so flustered that I didnt even have time to use my self-defense items or make an emergency call
Here ites.
Kang-hoo pointed to the approaching safety bus.
My name is Lee Seon-hee. May I ask your name? I really want to thank you. Really.
Its okay. I didnt do it for a reward.
Kang-hoo waved his hand dismissively.
However, the name sounded familiar.
Lee Seon-hee.
It was a name from the original story.
She would awaken about a yearter and be somewhat of an ally to Shin Kang-hoo.
Her unique emerald-colored hair and the long cross tattoo around her eyes made her memorable.
Well, it doesnt matter.
He thought about giving her a prophetic word about the future but decided against it.
She wasnt a very important character in the original story, and it was okay to let such characters flow naturally.
But still
Lets go. Be careful next time.
Kang-hoo turned around and waved casually, disappearing into the dark alley.
The person who had just advised Lee Seon-hee against being close to darkness
Now weed it, quickly vanishing into its depths.
Time remaining until dungeon entry: 5 minutes.
Precisely, it was the time left until the inside reset and was ready for a new raid.
Kang-hoo waited leisurely for the entrance to open, knowing that being in a hurry wouldnt speed it up.
In front of the dungeon, guards hired by Lee Ye-rin were already positioned, having arrived early.
They meticulously checked the surroundings, ensuring Kang-hoos safety before his entry.
Kang-hoo calcted numerous scenarios and conducted simted battles in his mind.
To others, it might seem impossible, but for Shin Kang-hoo, it was feasible.
He, the creator of the character, had shaped this person and endowed him with innate senses and abilities. It couldnt be impossible.
[You''ve grown remarkably. I didn''t expect such explosive growth in just a few days.]
All I need is time.
Kang-hoo spoke calmly.
Time to unfold his talents, time to conquer dungeons.
That was all he needed.
[Since you first became a hunter, your life has been like aption of tragedies and trials. I found that interesting.]
A Constetion that usually doesnt speak much was just that.
He felt delighted to receive such attention from it.
Even without ttering praise or support, his conversations carried value.
[Originally, I nned to observe more, but I reached out to you, drawn by your audacity. Looking back, I would have surely regretted it if I had waited longer. Keep proving your value.]
Just by speaking?
[Soon, there will be a harsh test for you. You''d better be nervous.]
With those words, the presence of the Dimension Plunderer faded away.
An important answer was received.
The word verification.
A Constetion that contracted with a hunter could trigger special quests, risking a significant portion of their divine power.
These quests were the only times when the concept of a quest, virtually nonexistent for hunters, became active.
The quest was a test to see if the contractor was worthy of receiving more of the Constetions power.
Thus, if the contractor died during the quest, they actually died, just like in a real dungeon raid.
Moreover, if the contractor died, the contract with the Constetion automatically terminated.
Sometimes, this was used as a tactic by Constetions wishing to cut losses with their contractors.
Of course, if the quest was sessfullypleted, they became permanently bonded.
In the meantime, as five minutes had swiftly passed, one of the guards at the dungeon entrance nodded to Kang-hoo.
Its ready. Please enter.
The hunters appeared to be over level 150, at a guess.
There were four guards in total.
A significant amount of money was being spent on dungeon escort.
However, they neither wondered nor judged anything about Kang-hoo.
They just moved around the dungeon, staying loyal to their assigned task.
Kang-hoo entered the dungeon.
Five mid-bosses.
One main boss.
If he seeded without mistakes, it would be the start of a lucrative raid with at least six skill-plundering opportunities.
Swoosh!
Kuk!
One shot.
Upon entering the dungeon, Kang-hoo steadily defeated the monsters, assessing hisbat power.
Any monster below level 20 was taken down in one shot.
They couldnt even respond to Kang-hoos leap skill.
Typically, a level 20 hunter held a slight advantage against a level 20 monster.
Slightly better than an equal-level monster, capable of winning one-on-one battles.
But thismon sense didnt apply to Kang-hoo, whose abilities and level discrepancy were ridiculously vast.
Already level 22?
About an hour after entering the dungeon.
His strategy of luring small groups of monsters and eliminating them suited the assassin ss well.
He took breaks without overdoing it and struck the monsters when ready, avoiding triggering hypersensitivity.
Indeed, by hoarding all the experience for himself, he leveled up noticeably fast.
Now then.
Kang-hoo nodded as he spotted something approaching from below the slope.
A mid-boss monster.
He habitually allocated the bonus points gained from leveling up into his stamina and then assumed a fighting stance.
Iceman.
The name was in, yet it conveyed a clear identity.
Its ability, epassing both trait and skill, was frost attribute infliction, which froze upon contact.
During their reconnaissance phase, as they began to charge toward each other,
Kang-hoo gained a tactical advantage over Iceman bybining sight theft and shallow chaos.
Normally, an intelligent-type monster would resist or at least attempt to dodge.
But Iceman, more of a brute-force type monster, rushed in, intending to confront the skills head-on.
As a result, having taken both skills squarely, Iceman experienced a suddenly altered world.
Uruk?
He could not see anything and lost his sense of directionhe couldnt discern front from back, up from down.
As Kang-hoo was gauging the distance, nning to respond with ateral movement at the right moment,
Uryak!
Iceman, having charged in the direction of the slope, suddenly missed his step and started tumbling down.
?
Kang-hoo watched disdainfully as Iceman slid down and struck his head on a rock.
Crack!
A sound that unmistakably indicated a broken bone emanated from Icemans head.
[The following skill can be plundered from the target under Plunder activation.]
[Frost Attribute Infliction]
And Plunder was activated.
Whats this, a shortcut
An unexpected shortcut had opened up.
Afterward,
Kang-hoo easily dispatched Iceman and his mid-boss counterpart, Fireman, with simr ease.
Using the Frost Infliction ability he had just acquired yed a role, but this guy was also not the brightest.
Not all mid-level bosses are intelligent, so it wasnt much of a surprise.
[Frost Attribute Infliction]
[me Attribute Infliction]
Two more skills joined the list.
Thanks to Plunder and their maxed proficiency, these two skills became versatile and useful in many ways.
Firstly, enchanting a weapon with elemental power could cause more pain to the enemy or hinder their healing.
Given enough mana, it was possible to freeze or burn upon contact.
Of course, it wasnt an immediate ignition or freezing, so using them cleverly together was key.
Im starting to deviate from my original ss specialty.
Kang-hoo was happy to see his skill set expanding beyond his swordsmanship.
Its always essential and advantageous for a hunter to enhance their abilities, whatever the reason.
This was particrly true for someone like Shin Kang-hoo from the original story, who was notably weak in team battles, almost to the point of being ineffectual.
He definitely needed topensate for that.
In the future, Jang Si-hwan, the main character, would exploit Kang-hoos inability to handle multiple opponents.
Aware of such a ring weakness, Kang-hoo had no ns to leave it unaddressed.
In that light, the ability to imbue and wield attributes would surelye in handy.
Now it feels like Im warming up.
As his body became more limber, Kang-hoo began to move quicker.
Three mid-level bosses remained to be defeated, not to mention the mob monsters he would encounter along the way.
Then, suddenly.
Whoooo.
The dungeons sandstorm, quiet until now, started to pick up again.
Though the desert area wasnt visible on the horizon, the preliminary data indicated it was close by.
Chapter 17: Skill Plunder (1)
Chapter 17: Skill Plunder (1)
Thud!
Kururuk!
If you can follow me, try to.
After that, Kang-hoo moved quickly through the dungeon, aiming to wound the w Lizards.
He avoided targeting their vital points.
Upon encountering them, he would swiftly strike a moderate wound and then retreat.
The highly aggressive monsters followed him furiously, their eyes aze with rage, at the slightest provocation.
Experience points from dungeon monsters were calcted based on two main criteria.
The first was contribution.
It considered the proportion of damage each hunter had inflicted on the monster.
Healers and buffers received a different coefficient.
For example, the amount of buff applied to the hunter who dealt the killing blow and the resulting increased damage were included in the calction.
The second criterion was the presence of damage.
Aside from healers and buffers, other sses needed a record of dealing damage to the monster.
Without it, even if they participated in the kill, they wouldnt receive any experience points.
What Kang-hoo was doing aimed to meet the second criterion.
A record of damage would ensure full experience pointster on.
They are following me madly.
Kang-hoo deliberately allowed his palm to bleed more.
The w Lizards chased after him, ring their nostrils and following the trail of blood.
Their numbers had grown to nearly fifty.
An unusuallyrge group.
Dangerouslyrge, in fact.
If Kang-hoo stopped even for a second, he would be instantly surrounded and torn apart.
He avoided this by moving along the mana waypoints he had set earlier.
These were markers he had ced before drawing the w Lizards out.
Trails of mana left behind.
Invisible, but detectable through mana tracking.
Thanks to his earlier preparations, he was able to continue leading them to the desired location without pausing.
Whooooo!
The sandstorm grew fiercer.
Kang-hoo navigated not by sight but by relying entirely on the mana waypoints.
w Lizard.
Experts at hit-and-run tactics, they were tricky to kill in straightforwardbat. But the rewards were good.
So, if he could wipe them out in one go when the opportunity arose, it would be a jackpot in terms of experience points.
Tadadadat!
Kang-hoo started picking up speed.
It was time. He hadnte here to y hide-and-seek with the monsters.
He ran, and ran, and then he ran some more.
As Kang-hoos speed increased, the lizards, their senses dulled by the smell of blood, also raced forward.
How long had he been running?
The moment Kang-hoo felt the absence of mana waypoints, he stopped!
Rolling
Something Kang-hoo had stepped on rolled down.
Turning around, he noticed a different emptiness beneath his heels than before.
A cliff.
It was the edge of the canyon he had been eyeing all along, the end of the path with nowhere else to go.
Dududada!
The sandstorm obscured the view, making the existence of the cliff unknowable to anyone.
The w Lizards grew more aggressive, lunging toward Kang-hoo, who had stopped.
They were determined to scratch Kang-hoo and feed on his blood and flesh.
Kang-hoo stood his ground.
Just as the leading lizards front paw was about to reach him, about 50 cm away from his body.
Swoosh!
He crouched low and used his leap skill.
His body slid over the dry ground like skating, swiftly leaving the scene.
Whish!
Simultaneously, he targeted the lizards silhouette for a sideways movement.
Then another leap, followed by moreteral movement.
With repeated use of his skills, Kang-hoo quickly moved away from the cliff.
It was a close call, but that made the evasion all the more perfect.
The lizards, lost in the sandstorm, couldnt find Kang-hoo in the end.
That was when the problem started.
Woah! Aah!
Kwak!
The w Lizards that managed to stop just in time at the cliffs edge were overwhelmed by the othersing from behind.
It resembled a pile-up crash on a foggy highway.
Kuaaaa!
A catastrophe unfolded.
Of course, it was a disaster for the w Lizards, but for Kang-hoo, it was a stroke of good luck.
He dealt with all the w Lizards without using any skills and earned experience points.
Like rain falling from the sky, the lizards helplessly plummeted to the ground from the cliff.
Given the height, there was no chance for them to miraculously survive.
In the meantime,
Pwook! Pwoook!
Kang-hoo diligently dispatched a few lizards that narrowly escaped the tragic fall.
Distracted by the screams of their kin, they perished without making a sound.
[Your level has significantly increased to 27.]
His level had climbed from 22 before capturing Iceman, to an impressive 27 after several increases.
[The Constetion Master of Mobile Warfare is astounded by your baiting strategy and can''t stop apuding.]
[A small amount of divine power is used to grant you a slight buff.]
[Experience Increase +0.2%]
The pleasure of leveling up wasplemented by the gratifying support of the Constetion. An experience increase buff is always wee.
[Impressive. Very good.]
Thepliment from the Dimension Plunderer added to his joy.
That wasnt all.
Just before falling into the abyss, one of the lizards Kang-hoo killed dropped a magic stone.
A rare loot from ordinary monsters, it seemed to mock the low odds.
A blue magic stone. Ten million won. Thats two stalks of Srkium.
Kang-hoo picked up the blue magic stone from the lizards corpse.
In the ranking system of magic stones, which is categorized by rainbow colors, its the fifth level. Yet, its value was considerable.
This was why Eclipse exploited hunters to mine magic stones.
Dungeons are about probability, but mines are a certainty. The difference is as vast as heaven and earth.
Whoosh
Soon, as if on cue, the sandstorm subsided.
It seemed more like a natural progression than something orchestrated for Kang-hoo.
Conversely, if one were to think about it
If Kang-hoo had hesitated even a moment longer in the final moments, his baiting strategy might have failed, endangering him.
Its a pity I cant use this strategy often, hemented.
Kang-hoo licked his lips in regret.
The monsters aggressiveness, the dungeon environment, and the timing all had to align perfectly.
It seemed unlikely that he could replicate this sess in the same dungeon again.
Yet, the achievement was significant.
He had earned experience points in one go that other hunters might take days, or even weeks, to umte.
If experience points were food, he would have eaten so much that he could have burst.
Meanwhile, Cha So-hee continued to investigate traces and records rted to Kang-hoo.
She briefly frowned at the sight of Lee Taek-geuns ashes, perhaps too emotional.
But having killed him already, she moved on coolly, leaving no room for sentiment.
Further investigation seemed to confirm that Kang-hoo was indeed level 10.
Cha So-hee called Kang Dong-hyun.
As soon as the call connected, she got straight to the point.
Please send a new deputy.
You know, Ive told you several times to control that temper of yours. Be careful, will you?
Kang Dong-hyuns reaction wasnt particrly surprised.
Frequent urrences like these, and cleaning up such messes, weremonce for them.
Neither of them thought it was a big deal and didnt dwell on it.
Im sorry. But the situation was nonsensical, and I got so frustrated that Ished out.
Ill send a recement right away. Make sure to encourage them and stabilize the situation. Understood?
Yes, sorry. In any case, Ill continue to investigate Shin Kang-hoo more thoroughly.
After ending the call, Cha So-hee examined the site where Kang-hoosst victim, the Tracker, had fallen.
The Tracker was a kind of human weapon being developed by Eclipse.
Completely drug-dependent, the Trackers body and mind were practically inert outside ofbat.
Selected and engineered for their fighting prowess, Trackers were hunters, elevated to level 90 or above.
Yet, this Tracker was instantly killed by Kang-hoo without a chance to resist.
The mana bait was good. A brilliant tactical decision, and it worked well. But
Cha So-hee was bothered by how the scene had yed out, contrary to conventional wisdom.
No way could an assassin ss, with just ordinary leaps and sidesteps, have deceived the Trackers eyes.
A human weapon cultivated by the organization itself wouldnt be fooled by simple tricks.
Theres only one possibility.
The only scenario Cha So-hee could confirm through numerous simtions was one.
It was where Kang-hoo used leap and side move skills, both at maximum proficiency.
Only then could he have escaped the Trackers sight and made a surprise attack from below the jaw.
The problem was,
How can I believe that a level 10 hunter performed such an impossible miracle?
That was the crux of the matter.
Even giving it the benefit of the doubt,
The gap between Kang-hoos publicly known information and his actual abilities was too vast to make any causal connection.
Cha So-hee, an investigator with a 100% sess rate who had never failed to reach a clear conclusion, was now facing a blemish on her record due to Kang-hoo.
It seemed she needed to do more than just follow Kang-hoos trail; it was time to find him directly.
Looks like Ive secured at least two or three Srkiums. I expected it, but I didnt think it would turn out this perfectly.
At that time, Kang-hoo encountered another middle boss while heading toward the location of the main boss.
Not one, but three of them.
Like the Ice Man and Fire Man series he had faced earlier, these were a kind of sibling-themed middle bosses.
Their name was Defender.
All three looked identical and were humanoid.
Imagine rugby yers around 2 meters tall.
Each specialized in a skill unique to them.
Specifically, defensive techniques.
Shield would also be an appropriate term.
Each of the three, however, specialized in slightly different areas.
Chapter 18: Skill Plunder (2)
Chapter 18: Skill Plunder (2)
Having three of them team up as middle bosses pretty much seals the deal.
Kang-hoo pragmatically assessed the situation.
If the three Defenders had been truly challenging, they would have taken the title of main boss in this dungeon.
Their presence indicated a critical weakness or an inherent issue.
He began with an illusion technique.
Five illusions, along with Kang-hoo, rushed toward the nearest Defender.
Ziiing! Zing!
Each Defender engaged in defense, utilizing their specialized skills. The most responsive was the forward Defender.
It appeared to be more agile, able to form a shield in front of itself based on its line of sight.
As expected.
The slowest was the rear Defender.
With a shield forming behind it, an immediate frontal response was not possible.
Thump!
Kang-hoo, with the Srkium tightly bitten between his lips, prepared to charge.
The moment he stepped forward, overusing mana seemed essential to determine the oue.
Boom! Bang!
Illusions exploded here and there, creating a smokescreen.
Distinguishing between real and fake had already been challenging, and even hitting a fake left a lingering smokescreen.
Three seconds of smokescreen was enough for Kang-hoo to close in on a Defender and target it.
Kang-hoo continued to create illusions, relentlessly targeting only the side Defender.
Hepletely ignored the front and rear Defenders as if they were inconsequential.
Perhaps because of this?
As the side Defender valiantly resisted Kang-hoos fierce attacks, the front and rear Defenders, sensing a pattern in thebat, became more aggressive.
Kang-hoo never engaged in direct confrontation with the physically imposing Defenders.
Instead, he continuously shifted his position usingteral movements, focusing on the side Defender.
Once he slipped behind them to hide, the other two had to reset their target, having no other choice.
In the case of monsters without the concept of caution, they would viciously attack even if it meant injuring their own kind.
Like pping a face as hard as possible to kill a bug on arades cheek.
They dont exercise caution because they prioritize the elimination of the nuisance over theirrades pain.
However, the trio of Defenders were different. They were cautious of each other, paradoxically missing several opportunities.
Kang-hoo dodged and kept attacking the side Defenders weak points.
Despite being solid in their core and supported by tworades, no significant gaps were visible.
Then.
During the battle, Kang-hoo caught a brief vulnerability in the rear Defender.
He was adjusting his gauntlet, fiddling with the wrist part, albeit a brief and seemingly insignificant moment.
To Kang-hoo, it appeared as a ring opening.
His body, not moving forward but sideways, suddenly reached the rear Defender in an instant.
Too close for a leap, Kang-hoo virtually teleported onto him.
[Bleeding Stab]
Whish! Whish! Woosh!
Kang-hoo swiftly jabbed the bleeding stab into the shoulder.
It felt like the dagger was digging deeper, perhaps due to the enhanced nature of the stabbing skill.
Ugh! Agh! Ugh!
Even as the rear Defender groaned, his arms reached for Kang-hoo, who seemed to hang onto his upper body, making it easy to grab him.
But by that point, Kang-hoo had already moved behind him using ateral move.
And then, adding one moreyer to his strategy.
[Sight Theft]
[Shallow Chaos]
Kang-hoo unleashed a series of Constetion skills that disrupted sensory systems.
Crunch!
Without hesitation, Kang-hoo bit into the Srkium stem.
He knew that the explosive release of mana would soon start to take effect.
Whoa!
The rear Defender, having lost both visual and spatial senses, iled his arms, unable to grasp the situation.
This reaction only served to hinder his allies, preventing the other two from approaching easily.
It was an opportunity for Kang-hoo.
Thwack!
He boldly climbed onto the back of the Defenders neck, positioning himself using the creatures shoulders as footholds.
Then.
Aaaagh!
Kang-hoo thrust his fingers into the left and right eyes of the Defender and gouged them out.
Eyes arent made of steel.
He exerted more force with his hands.
No matter how strong a monster was, the eyes remained one of its most vulnerable parts.
Even though higher levels might have reinforced shields in their eyes, that wasnt usually the case in dungeons under level 100.
Thump! Thump! Thud!
Kang-hoo relentlessly drove in more bleeding stabs.
Tenyers of bleeding stacked up quickly,ying the groundwork for the skills unique bleeding effect.
Shaaaa!
As expected.
Right on cue, the Defenders Major Recovery activated, a high-speed recovery mechanism.
However, the bleeding neutralized the recovery. It would have been ignored by higher-tier monsters, but
Sadly, the Defenders were not of such high specs. Their limits were clear.
Hurr!
The rear Defender groaned in frustration as its relied-upon recovery was rendered useless.
Meanwhile.
Kang-hoo, with the Defenders eyes bleeding profusely, twisted the dagger and pulled hard with all his might.
!
That was the end of it.
[The following skill can be plundered from the target:]
[Rear Defense]
[Acquiring Front and Side Defense willbine with this skill to recreate the ''Protective Barrier'' skill.]
This is it.
A slightly different message appeared.
Usually, acquiring a skill ended there, but this skill seemed to acknowledge a connection with others, offering a set effect.
Like collecting pieces.
Completing the skill pieces responsible for each directional defense would create oneplete skill.
One down, two to go.
Kang-hoo intensified his assault. There was no better time to strike.
He then used Abduction to summon the front Defender, simultaneously employing the newly stolen Rear Defense skill.
Up to this point, it was unclear why Kang-hoo used the Rear Defense skill.
The act of pulling an enemy from the front but defending from the rear was highly unnatural.
This oddity should have been an obvious clue from the start.
Regrettably, the front Defenderpletely misread Kang-hoos strategy.
And as Kang-hoo disappeared with ateral move, the front Defender finally sensed something amiss.
By then, it was toote. Kang-hoo was already forcefully pushing the Defender.
Screeeech!
Aaaargh!
Then the ident happened.
As the front Defenders body touched the barrier created by the Rear Defense skill, white smoke billowed.
It was a reaction caused by the Defenders body contacting the barrier set up as a stationary defense.
Of course, it was all part of Kang-hoos n.
A barrier, being a kind of enchantment, tends to resist and repel skills.
But against living tissue, it reacted like a hot iron te, causing rapid chemical reactions.
Caught off guard by this unexpected attack, the front Defender was at a loss. He was practically in shock.
He couldnt bear the feeling of his back burning up, having been struck in a weak spot.
Kang-hoo turned his back on the staggering creature.
Turning ones back to an enemy is usually thest thing to do on a battlefield.
But this time was different. There was a reason for it.
Screeeech!
Aaargh!
Kang-hoo had deliberately turned to make use of the Rear Defense skill he had just conjured.
He intentionally turned his body to create a barrier in front, effectively trapping the front Defender like meat in a grill.
A creativebination of attacks!
Boom!
The second of the three Defenders was now dead, all within Kang-hoos grasp.
Front Defense skill plundered.
Only one was left.
Next is you.
Kang-hoo pointed at thest middle boss destined to be his next victim.
After losing tworades in an instant and their morale shattered, the side Defender didntst long before he died.
His level soared close to 30, probably around 29.7.
[''Protective Barrier'' skill has been created. The previous three defensive skills have been discarded.]
A unification ording to the skill set effect ensued.
Protective Barrier.
Unlike the previous three, it could defend in all directions.
Being stationary rather than mobile, its strategic utility was greater.
Furthermore, with maximum proficiency, the Protective Barrier could be used in oveppingyers.
Setting up several barriers tactically along a route bombarded with tricky attacks was now achievable.
[Constetion ''Master of Mobile Warfare'' weeps at your strategy that would make even constetions cry.]
[A significant amount of divine power is expended to grant you a useful buff.]
[Experience Increase +1%]
?
Kang-hoos eyes widened.
He knew that the Master of Mobile Warfare was bing increasingly captivated by him, but he had not anticipated such an esction in support.
Usually, a small amount of divine power yielded a minor buff, but this time, the magnitude had increased.
[This contractor is mine. You, an insignificant constetion, cannot handle him.]
Whether intentional or not, a sharply worded message from the Dimension Plunderer appeared.
For Kang-hoo, thepetition between constetions was always wee, a thousandfold.
After all, it was a contest for ranking in terms of support.
The more support he received, the more the contractors favor could shift.
Chapter 19: Skill Plunder (3)
Chapter 19: Skill Plunder (3)
A short timeter.
Kang-hoo encountered the main boss in the wilderness and immediately engaged in a fierce battle.
It was called a battle, but he was busy dodging the relentless onught of the opponents attacks.
Just crazy.
Kang-hoo smirked bitterly.
Shadow ck Mage, Alisha.
A female boss monster with an androgynous, strangely enchanting voice.
Of course, that wasnt her only feature.
Herbat abilities felt overwhelming, making even Kim Mok-hyuns skills seem insignificant.
From the start, Kang-hoo couldnt approach her because of the relentless assault of her ck magic.
The more troublesome part was that:
Alisha covered her frontal defense with attacks targeting Kang-hoo.
For defense in other directions, she used a circr skill that revolved around her body.
Its usually called protective magic. It constantly rotates, targeting approaching enemies.
Because of that, leaping and sidestepping are practically sealed.
Sidestepping would move him to Alishas rear, right at the edge of the protective magic.
In other words, even if he sessfully sidestepped, he would be hit by the protective magic and immediately lose his stealth.
Naturally, hed be exposed to the damage of the protective magic, inevitably getting wounded.
He was worried about Alishas boss skill, Blood Flower.
Once a certain level of damage umted, she would use Blood Flower.
Then, Kang-hoos wounds and flowing blood would act as a catalyst, causing an explosion.
With his already low health, he wouldnt be surprised if Blood Flower instantly killed him.
Of course, Kang-hoo wasnt the only one finding Alisha troublesome.
Alisha was also dissatisfied with not havingnded a single attack since the battle started.
Main bosses have the feature of sharing data from past battles, even after dungeon resets.
Hence, Alisha had data from various battles.
However, there was no one like Kang-hoo, who hadnt been hit even once at the beginning of the fight.
She might have halted his advance, but that was all.
From a defensive perspective, it might have been a sess, but offensively, it was merely a waste of mana without any effect.
Moreover, since Kang-hoo easily evaded with leap skills, her assessment of his abilities was inadequate.
While Alisha red at Kang-hoo, searching for another opening,
Kang-hoo, too, was intently observing her, lending importance to their current confrontation.
Troublesome, but thats what makes it interesting.
Every phase of the battle was fraught with danger and challenge.
But it was only at this level that he would feel a sense of true aplishment and growth upon winning.
Honestly, if he stuck to opponents appropriate for his level, it would be easy. A few strikes and they would fall.
But his growth would then teau, and he might not acquire any valuable Plunder skills.
The reason Kang-hoo advanced so much faster than other hunters was straightforward.
He was hoarding experience from dungeons far above his level, making growth a certainty.
An average hunter would need at least a fortnight to progress, even with full guild support.
That was the bare minimum, and with rest and waiting periods included, it nearly amounted to a month.
Hmm
Kang-hoo, who seldom made a sound, emitted a hum for the first time in a long while.
He had already used up two Srkiums in what was nothing more than a skirmish without a direct sh.
I seem to have grasped her pattern of attack. The only skill Ive shown is my leap.
Kang-hoo, despite being at a disadvantage in the situation, believed he had a strategic upper hand. There was good reason for this belief.
It appeared to be time to make a decisive move.
Master of defense, thats just a facy. A stalemate is never a triumph. Its merely an excuse for those without skill.
Whoosh!
Kang-hoos body surged forward, charging in a direction he had not attempted before.
He had elegantly dodged Alishas attacks to the left, right, and with backward leaps until now.
Now, he had to dodge forward while charging, a highly difficult maneuver, yet necessary.
Especially when facing stronger bosses or hunters than Alisha, he would have to do this routinely.
Opting for the obvious evasion to the left, right, or backward would mean instant death from a single attack.
I see. Its clear.
Kang-hoos inherent talent, his excellent focus, and remarkable dynamic vision, shone brightly.
Though Alishas ck magic was fast, he could predict its trajectory with rity.
Whoosh!
He ducked to avoid the first purple me that came at him.
Since the purple me couldnt fly at low altitudes, he managed to evade by lowering his body.
Alisha wasnt easy to deal with, either.
At that moment, her second spell, a wind arrow, flew low to the ground.
This attack was entirely different from the previous ones. The wind arrow could fly at a very low altitude.
Huff!
Exhaling sharply, Kang-hoo leaped into the air. Aerial evasion was most suitable in this situation.
As expected.
Having already timed her jump, Alisha was linking her next attack to Kang-hoo.
She truly was befitting a main boss.
Her attack flow had no gaps. It was almost embarrassing topare her to the trio of defenders from before.
Kang-hoo had anticipated Alishas relentless attacks and nned his next countermeasure.
[Illusion Technique]
Swoosh!
Kang-hoos body scattered.
The Illusion Technique provided propulsion, subtly altering his trajectory in the air.
No deliberate change in direction was needed; the movement naturally twisted.
Whoosh!
Narrowly missing Alishas next spell, it was Kang-hoos turn.
Without hesitation, he used his Kidnap skill.
A mage must be dragged in and beaten up close!
This was an unchanging truth.
The next moment.
Kyaaak!
A high-pitched scream, unlike Alishas usualposed demeanor, echoed through the area.
The main boss realized that the situation had turned against her, just as Kang-hoo had intended.
Crazy.
Even while being dragged in, Alisha fiercely conjured magic in both hands.
It was a desperate struggle, and she was not easily defeated.
Her spirit wasmendable, worthy of a main boss.
If it came to a sh, Kang-hoo couldnd a hit on her, but he risked a severe counterattack.
Crunch!
Kang-hoo, who had been saving his Srkium, now put it in his mouth and chewed it thoroughly.
It seemed necessary to prevent a sudden explosion of mana hypersensitivity.
Just before colliding with Alisha,
Kang-hoo deployed a sidestep, moving behind her.
Initially, he had nned to deal with her with a dagger immediately after dragging her in, but he strategically abandoned that n.
He then expanded a protective barrier.
It was time to unleash all his strategically reserved skills at once.
Crackling!
The protective barrier collided with Alishas shield, causing a fierce reaction.
It was like testing which of two hot griddles was hotter by stacking them against each other.
With the protective barrier absorbing the shields impact, Kang-hoo had a perfect opportunity for a free attack.
Unfortunately for Alisha, her reaction was a half-beat too slow, probably due to overconfidence in her shields power.
She likely didnt expect an assassin to possess such a defensive skill.
Thanks to this, he gained the advantage of that half-beat.
Instinctively, his body moved before his mind, his hand already stretching forward.
Thrust!
Aaaah!
The dagger pierced deep into her left side, causing her immense pain.
[me Attribute Added]
Kang-hoo then added a me attribute to the dagger he held.
There was no better attribute than fire to deepen wounds and hasten the journey to death.
As he poured his mana into it, the dagger rapidly heated up, feeling as though it had just been pulled from a furnace.
Damn it.
The curse he had been holding back burst forth.
Pouring all his mana in one go, it felt as if his brain were draining along with it.
Despite his body writhing in pain, his clear mind forced him in front of Alisha.
And then,
Youre not the only stubborn one!
Kang-hoo, gripping the dagger tightly with both hands, powerfully plunged it into the upper part of her chest.
It was like melting hot metal burning through bone and flesh.
!
Even Alisha, a main boss with a fairly strong body, couldnt withstand the dagger.
It wasnt just a simple stabbing but more like pouring molten iron from a furnace.
The skin melted, the flesh melted.
Then, as the bones melted away, the frail heart hidden inside couldnt withstand it.
Numerous enemies hunters that Alisha had faced shed through her mind like a zoetrope.
And she realized.
Sometimes the life of a main boss can end so insignificantly, so pathetically
It was a performance that would have been admirable if she were an ally.
From start to finish, Kang-hoos responses and tactics were clean.
Including not showing his skills strategically, everything was well-nned.
Boom!
Alisha, fallen, couldnt revive her severed breath, despite her bulging eyes.
[Your level has drastically increased to 32.]
His level jumped three steps at once.
At the same time, the basic level 30 assassin skill eleration was automatically added.
A variety of elerations, such as attack and movement eleration, were most useful for Kang-hoo.
Furthermore, with maximum proficiency applied immediately, the range and extensibility of eleration were beyond imagination.
[The following skills can be plundered from the target with ''Plunder'' activated.]
[Blood Flower]
And the boss skill Blood Flower, which he had been anticipating from the start, was also acquired.
The skill was unmatched by any other hunter.
Its utility was limitless.
It could create a decisive wound at the battles outset.
Chapter 20: Skill Plunder (4)
Chapter 20: Skill Plunder (4)
The wine in the ss disappeared without a trace, only to be refilled several times.
In the safety of a house, where there was no need to worry about their surroundings, two womenfortably enjoyed their wine.
From time to time, a beeping rm sounded, but they ignored it as just a trace left by a passing stray cat.
Unnie, its really hard to see you these days!
Its the same for others. Arent you busy too? But why did youe to Daejeon?
Well, you know how it is with mercenaries? Just wandering around looking for work, ending up in ces like Daejeon, Busan, and so on.
Youre not going to say you came all this way just to see me?
Of course, I always want to see you, Unnie! But you have to agree to meet, right? Its a wonder were even meeting like this.
If you had answered just 10% of my calls, we would have met sooner. Were you with a man or something?
Are we going down this path of mutual revtions? Hahaha.
Anyway, its good to see you, Sang-mi. Ive been feeling a bit lonelytely.
Yun Sang-mi and Han Seo-yeon were deeply immersed in their wine.
They had been friends and Unnies for a long time but had grown apart since bing hunters.
Yun Sang-mi had be a wandering mercenary.
Han Seo-yeon had joined the Haeohwa Guild, a satellite guild of the Jeonghwa Guild, serving as the Daejeon branch.
Unnie.
Yeah?
I met an interesting hunter. I was at Osan Station for some business and ended up traveling with him.
Hey! You shouldnt travel so easily with a hunter you just met. Do you even know which group hes from?
Hey, hey. I do this all the time. I can take care of myself.
Hmmm Alright, so?
His name is Jung Sun-kyu. Probably an alias, but we ended up going to Daejeon Station together. And you know
Yeah, the incident at Club Hades. You said you escaped from there, right?
Right! That person cleared the way for me. His attacks were concise and destructive.
For Yun Salt to praise someone like that
Unnie, I always give credit where its due. There just havent been many hunters worthy of it.
What was his ss?
Assassin. He could take down or find weaknesses in most hunters with a single strike.
Anything unique?
His skills were highly refined. He must have a high level of expertise. It seemed like he had a high level, too.
Jung Sun-kyu Ive never heard that name before. Even as an alias, its unfamiliar.
Exactly. He didnt seem to have been active for long. It was his second deal with Lee Ye-rin.
Second?
Yes!
At this moment, Han Seo-yeons mind suddenly recalled someone who might coincidentally be making their second deal at this time.
Of course, numerous mercenaries came to Lee Ye-rin for requests, dozens a day.
But she remembered introducing Kang-hoo to Lee Ye-rin recently.
If Kang-hoo had sessfullypleted his first request, it would be about time for his second.
However, she didnt think Kang-hoo, who had just escaped from Cheongmyeong Detention Center, would receive such high praise from Yun Sang-mi.
If he had that level of skill, he would have escaped the detention center long ago.
By the way, Unnie, what happened with your ex-boyfriend? You said he suddenly contacted you?
Yes, Kang-hoo.
What happened?
It seems he was kidnapped by Eclipse and taken to Cheongmyeong Detention Center, to a mana stone mine.
So, he escaped from there?
Yes. Thats all I heard. He didnt tell me how he escaped or what happened.
Didnt your ex-boyfriend be a hunter just before you lost contact?
Thats right. Being trapped in the detention center, he probably couldnt develop much
Han Seo-yeon also found this puzzling now that she thought about it.
For Kang-hoo, there shouldnt have been any change in levels or stats.
How did he manage to escape from a detention center that was supposedly guarded by skilled wardens?
Unnie, you had a lot of lingering feelings for your ex-boyfriend. Why didnt you hold on to him tighter? You struggled after the breakup.
You know Kang-hoos personality. Once he decides its over, its over. He might worry about me secretly, but
Youre living too much in the past, Unnie.
Before we broke up, Kang-hoo said the same thing to me. I guess people think alike, right?
Ah, I dont know! Lets just drink more wine, cheers!
Although they were talking about amon acquaintance, they had no idea that Kang-hoo was the shared connection.
In a world where aliases change frequently, remembering someone by their name is almost meaningless.
Lucky me.
Kang-hoo picked up a green mana stone. Each was worth about 100 million won.
Blue mana stones were worth about 10 million won, so the price jumped significantly with just one grade higher.
It was generally believed that there was a 10% chance of obtaining a green mana stone from boss monsters, assuming a boss of Alishas level.
Definitely not an easy stone toe by.
Although it was a superstition, there was a saying that if you defeated a boss monster quickly, you got better rewards.
There was no verified data since it was just hearsay in the original story, but he had indeed defeated it quickly.
Seems like my mana hypersensitivity is actually helping me.
Thats what Kang-hoo thought.
His innate mana hypersensitivity wasnt just a burden.
It also enabled him to make strategic and calm decisions.
If he hadnt attempted a calcted attack, he would have been at a disadvantage due to his hypersensitivity.
Of course, this is a positive viewpoint. The flip side is that he was always under pressure.
The loot left by Alishas death included two items.
One was a grade-4 ring, and the other was a skill book.
Kang-hoo first checked the ring.
[Bloodthirsty Feast - Ring]
[Grade: 4]
[All stats +15]
[When the target is in a bleeding state, this ring worsens the bleeding by 50%.]
Found the perfect match for my Bleeding Stab. Fits well with the Blood Flowers traits too.
The ring, seemingly crafted toplement Alishas skills, turned out to be ideal for Kang-hoo.
He registered it for immediate use.
The ring was wless in every aspect, including its gradea +15 to all stats is an undeniable advantage.
[Health: 146]
He nced at his health stat.
While other stats had a long road ahead, health was paramount.
When he first awoke in the detention center, his health had been at 10.
Now, his health stat greatly exceeded that of an athlete, significantly boosting his endurance.
Of course, this only applied under normal circumstances. In battle, with intensive mana use, the dynamics shifted.
Once the side effects of innate mana hypersensitivity set in, he began to suffer intense headaches and nausea, losing 1 health point per second.
Compared to before, even when mana hypersensitivity struck, he now had the fortitude to withstand it for some time.
Previously, system overload urred after using two or three skills in quick session.
Now, he could manage four or five skills in a row.
Inbat, the ability to use even one or two additional skills can make a tremendous difference, often determining survival.
It seems hes be a bit more human. At least under normal circumstances.
With a slightly awkward but content smile, Kang-hoo reviewed the rest of the loot. Among them was a skill book.
[Skill Book Great Decapitation]
[Special Note: Swordsman Exclusive]
[Utilizes a certain amount of health and mana to execute a powerful strike in one blow.]
In in terms, if he learned it as it was, due to the ss penalty, he would only reap 10% of its effectiveness.
For Kang-hoo, an assassin ss, the skill would manifest as only a moderately powerful strike.
However, if he could negate the penalty, it might serve as a lethal one-hit kill.
Ill need a clever workaround for this one, so Ill keep it for now.
Since there was no immediate way to learn the skill, he decided to hold off for a few days.
There was no need to sell it hastily since there might be other ways to learn it without the penalty.
Just past midnight, Kang-hoo entered a bustling area near Gapyeong Station and stopped by a bar to cool off after the fight.
The ce was rtively safe.
Guards stood in the middle of the path, and it wasnt far from the Gapyeong Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
Fortunately, the modern bar served Srkium Burst, and Kang-hoo could order a drink to his liking.
Ive been wanting a drink since Hades.
Kang-hoo nodded as he took the Srkium Burst handed to him by the stoic male bartender.
It was a long-awaited drink.
Was it a reward for himself?
Srkium Burst, two more.
He ordered more.
He remembered what Beni had said about the unique taste of Srkium Burst, but it didnt matter.
Taste varies from person to person. As long as it tastes good to me, thats enough.
While drinking the second ss, Kang-hoo nced at his forearm.
His muscles had definitely grown.
His stamina had increased, too.
Even with alcohol in his system, his body didnt feel helplessly ck; it just rxed appropriately.
He nned to rest for a day before going to find Heo Jeong-tae.
Unless there were significant changes in the setting, he could figure out where Heo Jeong-tae lived.
However, he was more concerned about what to do after dealing with matters rted to Heo Jeong-tae.
Rests were just brief pauses; his body needed continuous growth.
Thinking of Jang Si-hwan, who held all the top privileges, he knew he needed to run a few more steps ahead.
Maybe I should visit Ground Zero a bit earlier
Just as Kang-hoos thoughts deepened, his smartphone vibrated.
Only two people knew this number.
Han Seo-yeon and Lee Ye-rin.
[Han Seo-yeon]
[I am Han Seo-yeon from the Haeohwa Guild! Please take care of me!]
The senders name appeared inly in three characters, along with the greeting added by the senders settings.
Knowing Han Seo-yeon was in a satellite guild of the Jeonghwa Guild wasnt pleasant.
Well, thats not a problem for now. There might not even be a sh with her.
Kang-hoo answered the call.
Yeah.
Oppa, sorry, is it okay to talk for a bit? Its a secure call. No wiretapping, so dont worry.
Its fine. Whats up?
Cha So-hee was at Daejeon Station. I just went out to buy some more wine with a friend and saw her.
Cha So-hee?
That was a name he couldnt forget.
The third-ranking member of Eclipse and Kang Dong-hyuns most trusted subordinate.
Also known as Kang Dong-hyuns hunting dog.
Shes been investigating you, Oppa, roaming around hotspots where mercenaries gather. Shes asking about your real name too.
So, the gist is Cha So-hee is after me.
Yeah, thats right. Be careful, Oppa.
Thanks. Ill hang up now.
Chapter 21: The Eye Of Truth, An Yeong-ho (1)
Chapter 21: The Eye Of Truth, An Yeong-ho (1)
Are you sure youve never seen it?
No. And even if I had, why would I tell you? Im not obligated to, am I?
It wouldnt hurt to cooperate with Eclipse. Wasnt the eye on the back of your head warning enough?
Got eyes but no one to pull the trigger. Whats the matter? Afraid of a fight with our mercenary group?
Afraid? If Kang Dong-hyun himself showed up, youd be dealt with swiftly, wouldnt you?
Then tell him to show up. Always sitting in a chair like a bedroom fighter, all talk and no action.
So, you havent seen it? If it turns out you have, it wont be ignored.
Get lost. Just go.
Cha So-hee had been investigating Kang-hoo while wandering around the Daeyeon Station area in search of mercenary hangouts.
Her investigation led her to Lee Ye-rin, who was at a desk epting applications for her mercenary group.
Lee Ye-rins mercenary group, Cheong-an (Blue Eye), and Eclipse had been at odds for a long time.
Both were rooted in the Daeyeon area and had already shed over territorial rights.
Eclipse hadnt wiped out Cheong-an earlier because Lee Ye-rin had solidly built up herwork of contacts.
This was especially true since Lee Ye-rin allied with the criminal organization Heuksaja, which, like Cheong-an, was antagonistic towards Eclipse.
It was like an alliance formed for mutual checks and bnces, reminiscent of the Wei, Shu, and Wu of the Three Kingdoms era.
In any case, it was a delicate bnce of power, so no one dared to act rashly.
Working hard, day and night, I see.
I told you to get lost.
Hmph.
Cha So-hee irritated Lee Ye-rin to the end, then gracefully left the scene.
Crazy woman.
Lee Ye-rin cursed loudly enough for Cha So-hee to hear, then turned her head away. She thought to herself,
If Eclipse is sending out hounds to sniff around for Mr. Kang-hoo, they must be very interested in him.
It seemed their aim was to capture Kang-hoo alive, not to kill him.
If they wanted him dead, they wouldnt be asking around. They would track him quietly and then eliminate him.
Not doing so meant Kang Dong-hyun, the person who sent the hounds, was keenly observing Kang-hoo.
I thought from the start he had unusual skills
Lee Ye-rins interest in Kang-hoo was growing, so she understood the concern, but she didnt like that Eclipse shared this sentiment.
I might just stir up some trouble. Hmph.
Interfering with Cha So-hees search for Kang-hoo was easy.
Simply attach some eyes to her back. By tracking her movements, they could diminish her chances of meeting Kang-hoo.
And of course, they would inform Kang-hoo of her whereabouts.
Although Lee Ye-rin didnt have a deep connection with Kang-hoo, she didnt want him to get involved with Eclipse either.
She decided to take a bit more care of Kang-hoo, her clienta hunter who only took requests from the mercenary group.
In the long term, she also harbored the ambition of recruiting Kang-hoo not just as a client but as a member of her mercenary group.
Chang-hyeon.
Yes, boss.
Call Gyo-seon. Its about time we gave him some work.
Understood.
Lee Ye-rin called her eye.
Kang-hoo erased thoughts of Cha So-hee with another round of Srkium Burst.
If he werent living like a dead mouse, this kind of situation was almost inevitable.
Out of curiosity, he checked the huntermunity and the official website operated by Eclipse.
There was no public bounty at their level, which meant they werent aiming to kill him.
This was something to ponder when he met Cha So-heea matter of probing intentions.
One more drink.
This is thest one, customer. Were running low on Srkium supply
Its okay. This will be thest one.
While waiting for the next drink, Kang-hoo got lost in thought.
After dealing with Heo Jeong-tae, he was nning his next move.
He could take a new request from Lee Ye-rin, but he wondered if there were other options.
The first thing that came to mind was Ground Zero.
Starting from the DMZ, once known as the demilitarized zone, it stretched into the former territories of North Korea.
An area empty of humans but teeming with monsters, which hunters referred to as Ground Zero.
From Sariwon in the west to Wonsan in the east, the entire expanse was Ground Zero.
You could enter without special permission. Of course, you were responsible for your own safety.
Its great for leveling up, and more importantly, its the ce to find Mad Srkium.
Mad Srkium.
A more concentrated form of Srkium.
It offered a stronger calming effect, granting about 30 minutes of freedom from mana hypersensitivity upon consumption.
Of course, a significant bacsh ensued, but it proved to be a substantial aid in battle.
Mad Srkium was difficult toe by, rarely found, and not avable on the market.
To acquire it, you had to search Ground Zero by foot.
After all, this is a space I created.
In the original story, Ground Zero was the ce where Shin Kang-hoo lured two of The Thirteen Stars and defeated them.
As the original creator, he recalled the useful locations since he had mapped out the terrain.
He wasnt acquainted with every detail, but he felt confident in locating a few field bosses and Mad Srkium.
Heres your Srkium Burst.
A reticent male bartender with sses passed Kang-hoo histest Srkium Burst.
Five cocktail sses stacked beside him were a testament to Kang-hoos consistent preference.
Just then,
the sole door to the modern bar on the third floor rattled, and a man walked in.
He looked around as soon as he entered, spotted Kang-hoo beginning to sip his drink, and eximed,
Bro! Did I keep you waiting too long? The guys uncle promised havent shown up yet!
He gestured with his hand and his tone seemed light-hearted.
However, his eyes betrayed a serious tremor.
Kang-hoo observed him without much reaction and casually nced over his shoulder.
Two men in outfits that were meant to be inconspicuous yet were anything but were peeking inside from the doorway.
Their gazes alternated between the man and Kang-hoo, quickly averting when they met Kang-hoos eyes.
The man, oblivious still, took a seat across from Kang-hoo and resumed talking.
His eyes had steadied, but his hands on the table trembled slightly.
Bro, youve been well, right?
The tails are gone for now.
Ah
The man flinched as Kang-hoo calmly mentioned that their two followers had vanished.
I understand the situation, but I hate to involve innocent people.
Im really sorry. I didnt think it through.
The man looked downcast at Kang-hoos cold remark and rose from his seat.
Then, Kang-hoo noted the constetion information above the man and tilted his head slightly.
[Eye of Truth, An Yeong-ho]
[A neutral constetion. Forces others to speak the truth, but the user must also always speak the truth.]
Eye of Truth, An Yeong-ho.
The name surfaced in his thoughts.
He was a character destined to oppose the Jeonghwa Guild alongside Shin Kang-hoo in the original story.
A character who loathed the Jeonghwa Guild until hisst breath.
His end was marked by a violent death, taking Shin Tae-seok, third inmand of the Jeonghwa Guild, with him in mutual destruction. His hatred ran that deep.
An Yeong-hos entrance into the tale was set to ur three years hence.
Furthermore, the main setting was Japan, not Korea.
The exnation was straightforward: his uncle held the position of vice-master in the Rikou Guild, one of Japans foremost guilds.
He had no reason to jeopardize his safety in Korea with such a powerful supportwork in Japan.
So why was he in Korea now?
Did his disdain for the Jeonghwa Guild stem from some mishap during his time in Korea?
It was a detail not found in the original, but it aligned with his tragic fate and the past that had been reshaped.
It was merely conjecture, but the two followers might belong to the Jeonghwa Guild.
An Yeong-ho was a figure of significance.
With the Rikou Guild of Japan firmly backing him, he had a lot of potential value.
At that point, he would have been incredibly weak.
Especially as a healer, he would have been even worse atbat.
Thats probably why he couldnt confront or shake off the followers and ended up here.
The cold wind lingered and passed by the empty spot left by the pitifully departing An Yeong-ho.
Thump!
Kang-hoo downed the remaining Srkium Burst in one gulp and stood up.
He caught An Yeong-hos shoulder just as he was about halfway down the stairs.
Wait a moment.
Yes?
Summarize the situation. Briefly.
I left the Jeonghwa Guild, and since then Ive been followed. But I dont know who they are.
It was as he suspected.
If things had followed the original course, An Yeong-ho would have been kidnapped by the Jeonghwa Guild there.
After that, his life would have bepletely entangled, and his hatred for them would have grown.
Stay here.
Kang-hoo stopped An Yeong-ho and sessfully hid in the shadows with ateral movement.
Looking down through the window from one floor below, he saw an out-of-ce scene.
The two followers he had seen earlier were smoking near the entrance.
No one else was around, and right next to the followers was an unidentified ck van.
This is too sloppy.
They wouldnt have just blocked the entrance.
Technically, there were exits both below and above the building.
It seemed they had tantly blocked the entrance, practically directing him to the rooftop.
As usual, theyre more systematic when ites to wrongdoing. This must be Chae Gwanhyeongs influence.
The n was set to rescue An Yeong-ho.
Not out of half-hearted sympathy or pity, but because of An Yeong-hos great potential value.
Moreover, if he became the savior who saved the life of An Yeong-ho, who takes everything seriously and is emotional?
He would try to repay the favor in any way possible.
That was just his nature.
In the original story, although he was a viin from the Jeonghwa Guilds perspective, he was like an angel to the Rikou Guild.
Wait. Ill clear the way to the rooftop.
Excuse me?
Ill deal with those above. Juste up after me.
Thank you. Really
Lets save the thanks until everything is sorted out. Just wait on the 4th floor stairs. The rooftop is next after the 5th floor.
Okay, I understand.
Pop.
Kang-hoo quickly vanished again into stealth mode with ateral move as soon as he finished speaking.
An Yeong-ho looked around in surprise, but couldnt sense Kang-hoos presence.
Meanwhile.
Kang-hoo leaped from the open window, climbing up one floor at a time using a leap technique.
Although he had to support his entire weight with his arms, his increased strength and stamina made it possible.
Moreover, there were no hunters nearby, and since he wasnt using attack skills, his stealth remained intact.
As Kang-hoo moved from the 3rd to the 4th, then to the 5th floor and the railing.
Neither the two followers on the first floor nor the two hunters already positioned on the rooftop noticed his presence.
The next moment.
Kang-hoo leaped from the railing and headed towards the two hunters guarding the entrance to the rooftop.
Chapter 22: The Eye Of Truth, An Yeong-ho (2)
Chapter 22: The Eye Of Truth, An Yeong-ho (2)
Wow
An Yeong-ho, who had followed Kang-hoo to the rooftop, looked surprised.
The fact that Kang-hoo had stealthily climbed up along the window frame while in stealth mode was astonishing.
Moreover, it was unbelievable that he had single-handedly subdued two hunters who should have been at least level 7 or 8 if they were sent to tail someone.
If he hadnt subdued them at once, one of them might have screamed or called for backup.
But, apparently, because they were killed in one strike, the followers at the first-floor entrance were still just looking around.
Lets get out of here.
Kang-hoo extended his hand.
He didnt usually take mens hands, but they needed to get out of the building quickly.
Fortunately, the buildings were of simr height and not far apart.
Thus, it was possible for Kang-hoo to leap over them, even with the efficiency halved for two-person jumps.
The two kept jumping from building to building until there were no more suitable structures for leaping.
Only after they had moved far enough from the modern bar building did their relentless leapinge to an end.
Thanks to taking breaks at intervals, Kang-hoo didnt trigger his hypersensitivity.
Phew. Phew. Phew.
The one who had worked hard was Kang-hoo, but it was An Yeong-ho who flopped down on his back.
Perhaps because he hadnt grown into a skilled hunter yet, An Yeong-ho appeared to have many clumsy aspects.
Thank you so much. I would have been kidnapped for sure if you hadnt risked your life to save me
An Yeong-hos eyes teared up.
In reality, Kang-hoo hadnt risked his life to save him, but there was no need to correct that impression.
I didnt help you for nothing.
Of course! I didnt mean to suggest repaying your kindness without giving anything in return!
An Yeong-ho bent forward as much as he could to show his utmost respect to Kang-hoo.
An Yeong-ho, the hunter who can only speak the truth.
There was no bluff or pretense in his words. Everything he said was sincere.
My name is An Yeong-ho! Im twenty-three years old. Could I at least know the name of my savior, even if its a pseudonym?
Jung Sun-kyu. Im twenty-nine. Its not my real name.
Sun-kyu hyungnim! Thank you so much!
An Yeong-ho spoke the truth, as per the characteristics of his constetion. Or rather, he waspelled to speak the truth.
If he didnt speak, he could hide the truth.
But once he started speaking, he had to tell the truth.
It felt awkward for An Yeong-ho to add hyungnim to a pseudonym, but it didnt matter.
Now that he knew Kang-hoos age, Kang-hoo began speaking more casually.
Why is the Jeonghwa Guild after you?
I dont know. I wanted to grow on my own in Korea, so I even turned down my uncles support.
Your uncle?
Oh, my uncle is the vice-master of the Rikou Guild, which firmly holds the top spot in Japans Kansai region
The Rikou Guild.
Yes, thats right! Do you know of it?
I do. The Rikou Guild is like the Jeonghwa Guild in our country.
Yes! My uncle is the vice guild master there. The guild master is his best friend.
You came to Korea despite having such a strong supporter.
Yes. I didnt want to rely on my uncles help, and Im more familiar with Korea.
Hmm.
Suzuki Fumiya. Thats my uncles name.
A familiar name.
There was not even a slight discrepancy between the content of the original story Kang-hoo remembered and An Yeong-hos words. It meant there was no lie.
Anyway, I left the guild because my ideas and the guilds operations didnt align. It wasnt a fixed-term contract, so there shouldnt be any problem
What exactly didnt align?
There were many instances where we had to treat hunters who were not affiliated with our guild. Clearly, they werent domestic hunters.
And?
In the underground training room, they made us repeatedly use the same skills under the guise of pattern analysis. Skills that I had already maximized proficiency in and didnt need to improve further.
They said it was for pattern analysis?
Yes, thats exactly what they said. Chae Gwanhyeong nim imed its the most crucial analysis for a hunter.
Kang-hoos brow furrowed deeply as realization dawned on him.
Yu Cheonghwa.
Among The Thirteen Stars.
A Chinese hunter capable of imitating other hunters skills and patterns existed.
Not as perfectly as Kang-hoos Skill Plunder, which allowed for understanding the usage and utilizing it with maximum proficiency, but
He could mimic it to an efficiency of roughly 10 to 20 percent of the original skill.
Naturally, it was a time-intensive process that required the victim to keep repeating the action.
The process An Yeong-ho described matched almost exactly with Yu Cheonghwas typical skill-copying route.
Due to the bad ending, The Thirteen Stars had be a massive conspiracy.
Thus, a connection at this point between them was not at all surprising.
With The Thirteen Stars exhibiting a sense of transcending solidarity, helping each other learn useful skills seemed only logical.
This is the unfolding scenario.
Kang-hoo smirked bitterly.
The Jeonghwa Guild was a bastion of colossal hypocrisy.
It even went so far as to pursue and attempt to abduct someone who had left the guild voluntarily.
Of course, they would have employed hunters whose affiliations were unknown to the public. Hunters who could be discarded at a moments notice if they caused any trouble.
I have 300 million won in my ount. I can transfer it to you right now. Consider it a small token of my gratitude.
I wont turn it down. In truth, it might even be a bargain for saving a life.
Youre right. And Ill ask my uncle to ensure the guildpensates you adequately.
Like what?
If youe to Japan, Ill grant you ess to the dungeons under my name whenever you want.
Born with a golden spoon, huh.
Ha ha. I cant deny it. But of course, thats separate from my debt to you for today
Is someoneing to pick you up?
They should be here in about 10 minutes. There seems to have been a fight between organizations on the road on the way here. It was blocked.
So thats why you were left to the Jeonghwa Guilds followers for a while.
When things start to get tangled up, they just keep getting more and more entangled. Anyway, just let me know your ount, and Ill transfer it right away.
Kang-hoo quickly provided his ount number.
As An Yeong-ho said, he is indeed a golden spoon. So, putting a straw in wont even be noticeable.
Later.
The situation was swiftly resolved.
Kang-hoo first received a token of appreciation of 300 million won from An Yeong-ho.
Next, Kang-hoo, through An Yeong-ho, alsopleted a call with his uncle, Suzuki Fumiya.
Kang-hoo utilized his ability to speak fivenguages fluently, which he didnt have as Shin Kang-hoo but did as the original author.
The conversation was straightforward.
Expressing gratitude for rescuing his nephew and offering a public announcement if desired.
Kang-hoo skipped all formalities and expressed his desire for assistance in his future activities in Japan.
And of course, to document all these conversation contents and guarantee them.
With electronic contracts now active, getting a guarantee regardless of distance was not difficult.
The official promise Kang-hoo obtained from Suzuki Fumiya was to issue ten licenses for dungeon raids owned by the Rikou Guild.
With Japan having as many worthwhile dungeons as Korea, Kang-hoo now had ten valuable cards to use.
Hyungnim, thank you so much. Ill be going then. Ill make sure Im the only one who knows the contact information you gave me.
Just go already. Youve been thanking me over and over. Its not like I helped you for free.
Still, thank you very much!
An Yeong-ho remained grateful until the end.
And so, their brief encounter came to an end.
For Kang-hoo, it was an unexpected connection to Japan.
Things seemed to be going well.
Kang-hoo had found a decent motel to sleep in and woke up just past 2 PM.
After taking alternating rides on the Gyeongchun Line and the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, he arrived at Yangpyeong Station around 4:30 PM.
It was a suitable time, just before early evening.
It was the perfect moment to begin his work.
Then, a call came from Lee Ye-rin.
Yes.
How did you clear that dungeon so quickly by yourself yesterday? It wasnt even an easy solo dungeon!
I didnt really time it.
You finished much faster than I expected, so we have plenty of time left on our guard contract!
Well, its a time contract, after all.
Anyway, I was just surprised. Its good to clear dungeons as fast as possible, though.
Lee Ye-rin poured out her praise as if scolding, then her voice lowered, sounding a bit awkward.
Upon reflection, this was her way of expressing gratitude and admiration, a typical Lee Ye-rin outburst.
Kang-hoo didnt say much, and Lee Ye-rin filled the silence.
You know about the reward for the Heo Jeong-tae job, right? Just checking again.
Of course.
The next request is set up. Its an infiltration mission Its highly paid but really difficult.
Where is the request?
The Jeonghwa Guild.
Fate continued to y such games. There was nothing he couldnt do just because the request came from the Jeonghwa Guild.
How about it? Interested?
As long as the reward is certain.
Im looking into giving priority to issuing dungeon raid licenses as a reward. Ill look into it more.
Ill contact you after dealing with Heo Jeong-tae.
Alright. Fighting!
The cheer was a bit out of the blue, but he hung up without giving it much thought.
For the time being, regardless of the request, his top priority was dungeons. In other words, leveling up took precedence.
He wouldnt have even started the Heo Jeong-tae capture request if it werent for the dungeon rental rights.
Money wasnt that important.
Kang-hoo checked his watch.
Too bright a time isnt good, nor is it when itspletely dark.
He nned to create the most advantageous situation for himself against Heo Jeong-tae, who had a high level.
A dimly lit time.
That would be the best time to disrupt the vision of a rush-type character like Heo Jeong-tae.
Slowly.
Kang-hoo began to move toward Heo Jeong-taes house.
Although the Yangpyeong Station area was bustling with people, no one recognized Kang-hoo.
6 PM.
Before the sun, now well past the west, created a red sunset and cast a subtle twilight.
Heo Jeong-tae left his house.
He was undoubtedly a man, but outwardly, he was unmistakably a woman in disguise.
With long hair, a dramatic makeover, and the help of shaping underwear
He appeared as a natural woman.
His legs were slender enough to make it impossible to guess he was a man.
Heo Jeong-tae was on the phone with a man from the moment he left his house. It was Chae Gwanhyeong from the Jeonghwa Guild.
As promised, if you kill Lee Yeong-mins uncle, Ill give you the remaining 200 million won. How about it?
Ill do anything for the pay.
His voice was unmistakably male, but outside, keeping his mouth shut was enough.
Good, work hard.
Just one question. If Lee Yeong-mins uncle dies, will Lee Yeong-min be loyal to Jeonghwa?
Exactly. Well say the culprit who killed his uncle on behalf of the guild is Red Eyes.
I see
Then Lee Yeong-min, with nowhere to go, will have no choice but to be loyal to our guild.
Very meticulous.
Anyway, contact me once its done. Ill pay you immediately.
Chapter 23: Heo Jeong-Tae (1)
Chapter 23: Heo Jeong-Tae (1)
He had a bad hobby. I respect most tastes, but cross-dressing skills are a little off.
Where did youe from? How do you know my name and where I live?
What if I answer?
What do you mean, what if I answer? Kid, cant you hear what Im asking?
Forget it. Come at me. One of us has to copse for this to end since you came here to feed me prison food.
As Kang-hoo flicked his finger, upping the ante, Heo Jeong-tae removed the long-haired wig he was wearing.
Then, a buzz cut, fitting the description of very short, was revealed.
On one side of his head was a patch, making him look unmistakably bald.
[Dark Priest]
[The seat of malign influence. Yourbat ability increases by 25% against hunters who serve constetions of neutral or good inclinations.]
Ive unexpectedly given him a buff.
Kang-hoo smirked.
Dimension Plunderer might give off an evil vibe, but in reality, it has a neutral inclination.
In some ways, considering the fate shared with Shin Kang-hoo and the Savior, its closer to a good inclination.
Whether good or neutral, it is different from the evil-aligned Dark Priest, so Heo Jeong-tae gets the buff.
The original work didnt detail Heo Jeong-tae so intricately, providing only basic descriptions of his appearance and where he lived.
Considering the constetion hes associated with, it seems he was appropriately shaped as a viin.
Moreover, due to the power of this constetion, his abilities might have felt stronger than anticipated in the original work.
You can still leave and save your life. I dont mind not killing hunters.
You think Im any different?
Kang-hoo looked down at his right hand.
He had already ended the lives of many hunters with the dagger he clenched there.
Of course, they all deserved to die, and he felt no sympathy orpassion.
In a harsh world where one must kill to survive, this was the bleak reality created by the original work.
Alright. Then now youll experience what its like to die!
Swish!
The moment his words ended, Heo Jeong-tae pulled a finger-sized object from his sleeve and clenched it.
Once he infused it with mana, it quickly extended into the form of a long spear.
The Powerful Spear.
Its nature was easy to deduce.
It resembled something like the Ruyi Jingu Bang. Of course, it couldnt extend indefinitely without limitations, but it was convenient to carry whenpressed.
Tap, tap!
Heo Jeong-tae then thrust the spear deeply, adopting a stance to restrict Kang-hoos movements.
He attacked diagonally from right to left, blocking a direct charge.
ng!
Kang-hoo parried the thrust with his dagger, Changgongs Delight.
Although much shorter than the spear, it needed only a narrow area to deflect the attack.
He still held back his kidnapping skill.
Against an opponent this vignt, a single failure with the skill could make it difficult to find another opening.
He reserved it as a sort of trump card.
After all, the fight was destined to end with one decisive strike.
Swoosh, bang!
Heo Jeong-tae mmed the spear into the ground. The attack was deliberate, regardless of Kang-hoos position.
Whoosh!
The resulting shockwave skimmed the ground and swiftly enveloped Kang-hoo.
!
He was struck.
The shockwave wasnt merely a blunt force; it had an stic property that tossed the victim upwards.
Suspended by the upward force, Kang-hoo found himself floating, and Heo Jeong-tae prepared his next move.
Kwang!
He unleashed a wind attack, swinging the long spear in a crescent motion through the air.
To be more precise, it was windced with sharpness.
Was it akin to a ded gust?
In any case, Kang-hoo was defenseless, hanging in midair.
Unable to leap under these conditions, he employed an alternative defense.
Whirring!
A protective barrier materialized around him.
Boom!
The sharp wind struck the barrier, but it held firm against the assault with its dependable strength.
Kwang! Kwang!
Heo Jeong-taeunched the de-wind two more times, but Kang-hoo easily dodged them and moved behind the protective barrier.
Which group do you belong to?
None.
Youre kidding. Such skills usuallye with guild backing, dont they?
I appreciate thepliment.
Heo Jeong-taes unexpected acknowledgment caused one corner of Kang-hoos mouth to curl up.
It seemed he was suggesting that Kang-hoo had undergone a professional training process, perhaps even at a guild level.
This was also due to the prejudice that assassin sses are far from being adept at defense-rted skills.
Kang-hoo hadnt forcibly learned this skill; he had plundered it, making it his own without any penalty.
Since it was highly refined, it could feel like a skill trained for a long time from the opponents perspective.
Kang-hoo gripped his dagger tighter.
Now that the protective barrier had been revealed, it would definitely factor into his opponents calctions.
He had ovee one crisis with quick thinking, but he didnt have many cards left.
Lets see.
Kang-hoo, who was about tounch a series of attacks, changed his strategy on the spot.
He decided to engage in a strategic war of attrition.
It wasnt a meaningless effort.
One of Kang-hoos unique talents, Exceptionally Good Dynamic Vision, excelled at catching the opponents habits.
If there was a certain preparatory action, like a habit, before a specific attack or aim?
It wouldnt escape his sharp and urate insight.
Then Kang-hoo lowered his stance, holding the dagger in a reverse grip to prioritize defense.
It marked the start of a defensive battle, more difficult than offense, but it allowed him to scrutinize the enemys tactics closely.
For nearly five minutes, Kang-hoo focused solely on defense.
Considering that one or two attacks coulde in just a second, five minutes was indeed a long time.
His anti-magic ability is excellent.
During this period, Kang-hoo noticed that Heo Jeong-tae couldpletely resist the influence of shallow chaos.
Additionally, Heo Jeong-tae cleverly prevented vision theft by using his long spear to block line of sight, as he appeared to have faced simr abilities numerous times before.
Jumping wasnt a viable option because of the spears distance control.
Lateral movement presented difficulties; whenever Kang-hoo vanished from view, Heo Jeong-tae would first thrust his spear behind him.
Kang-hoo had anticipated that Heo Jeong-taes momentum would be quite strong.
However, Heo Jeong-taes inner thoughts contrasted sharply with this expectation.
Despite employing every attack method, Kang-hoo seemed invulnerable for some reason.
The protective barrier was exceedingly troublesome.
Furthermore, Kang-hoos backward leaps and side movements, using the terrain for concealment, caused all targeted attacks to miss.
Heo Jeong-tae had not managed to inflict even a minor scratch on Kang-hoo.
For Heo Jeong-tae, who had never left an opponent unharmed before, this was a perplexing predicament.
Was that the reason?
Heo Jeong-tae estimated Kang-hoos level to be much higher than his own 110, perhaps around 160 or 170.
Although this was aplete misjudgment, he couldnt shake the feeling of such a refined skill level.
Moreover, Kang-hoos ability to use skills from outside the assassin repertoire made Heo Jeong-tae perceive the scent of a professionally trained killer.
In the meantime.
One things for certain. When he executes a powerful strike, he always slightly twists his waist to the left.
Kang-hoo discovered an important hint while he was concentrated on defending.
This action was a precursor to Heo Jeong-taes attack.
The waist twist.
It was too subtle to bebeled a habit and would barely be perceptible unless observed closely.
Of course, sometimes a habit is used to bait an opponent, but Kang-hoo doubted it was that sophisticated.
This was particrly true since he had disyed a counterattacking motion to probe the tactic.
If it were a habit shown just to bait, he would have reacted differently when he made that motion.
Then.
Afterpleting his calctions, Kang-hoo began to rush at full speed.
He tantly used the vision theft skill on Heo Jeong-tae.
Knowing it would be blocked, he had no expectation for the skill to hit.
Heo Jeong-tae, with lips firmly sealed, raised his long spear horizontally to block the vision theft skill.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo got closer to Heo Jeong-tae.
Right then.
Now.
He noticed Heo Jeong-tae slightly twisting his waist to the lefta preparatory action beforeunching a powerful attack.
It was a sign that he would switch from defense to offense.
A glimpse of an imminent switch between offense and defense!
Kang-hoo charged straight ahead.
With his dagger pointed forward, he made an obvious attempt to target Heo Jeong-taes abdomen.
Had he charged recklessly, he would have been hit by a counterattack and fallen, but he had a n after spotting the preparatory action.
It was
Wham!
A leap into the air.
Ah?
Heo Jeong-taes n to counterattack after a stylish dodge failed.
As the long spear stretched forward, Kang-hoo was already soaring over Heo Jeong-taes head.
He was caughtpletely off guard.
Heo Jeong-taes shoulders were stabbed in several ces.
A series of thuds echoed as a burning pain spread from his shoulders throughout his body.
The dagger had stabbed the shoulders three times, quite deeply.
Still not enough.
It was a bit early to use Blood Flower, and the wounds were insufficient. Kang-hoo decided to look for one more opening.
If his intention had been to kill Heo Jeong-tae, he would have stabbed the top of his head just now, ending the situation.
But since the objective from the start was capture alive, it was crucial to neutralize hisbat ability.
Kang-hoo charged again.
To Heo Jeong-tae, now the defender, the attack method seemed absurdly familiar.
First, a sight plunder was thrown, followed by a feint aimed at Heo Jeong-taes abdomen as he attempted to block it.
He faced a dilemma of choices.
Kang-hoo realized it then.
Heo Jeong-tae was merely a novice.
For the defender, being forced into a dilemma of choices was always a disadvantage.
Damn it
The powder Heo Jeong-tae had liberally applied between his furrowed brows mixed with sweat and trickled down.
He guarded his stomach.
His calction was based on the belief that no one would repeat the same, obvious trick.
Yet, that very trick was executed once again. Kang-hoos body soared through the air once more.
Puk-puk-puk!
Chapter 24: Heo Jeong-Tae (2)
Chapter 24: Heo Jeong-Tae (2)
He had seen hell.
Could there be a more apt phrase to describe the current situation?
Heo Jeong-tae was stunned by the explosion that erupted from his shoulder the moment Kang-hoo flicked his finger.
There had been no bomb nted, nor had anything explosive been thrown.
It was merely Kang-hoos finger flicking as a signal, and then, as if by magic, blood fountains spurted from both of Heo Jeong-taes shoulders.
Chakang!
A mighty spear ttered to the ground.
It hadnt been dropped willingly; his fingers could no longer muster the strength to hold it.
His shredded shoulders twitched erratically like those of a broken joint doll, and his arms dangled uselessly.
No matter how fiercely he grimaced and strained, he couldnt summon any strength in the areas below his shoulders.
Just one more hit.
You son of a!
Amidst Heo Jeong-taes expletive, Kang-hoo lunged forward and smashed his elbow into his adversarys face.
The force was enough to snap the neck backwardpletely, and Heo Jeong-tae had no chance of resisting.
Heo Jeong-tae, flung backward in a semi-circle mid-air, lost consciousness then and there.
It was a total knockout.
or so it seemed, but Kang-hoo, ever vignt, pressed on the fallen Heo Jeong-taes palms,
Poouuk! Puk!
embedding the spare practice daggers he carried. With this, he had neatly resolved the situation.
Without dy, he made a call.
Yes, this is Yoon Kyeong-hwi, the officer in charge at the Yangpyeong Hunter Public Safety Bureau. How may I assist you?
Here in front of Munseong Vi. Ive apprehended the wanted criminal Heo Jeong-tae.
Excuse me?
Hes bleeding out, so he might die if youre toote. You should hurry.
Oh! Understood! Well send a team immediately!
It appeared that, unlike the Public Safety Bureaus outside Seoul which were often inactive, this one was actually operational.
No sooner had he hung up the phone than he received a text confirming the report was filed, along with a notification that five officers had been dispatched.
There seemed to be no issue in securely transporting Heo Jeong-tae.
Kang-hoo then picked up the mighty spear that Heo Jeong-tae had dropped.
After all, only Heo Jeong-taes custody () had to be handed over to the Hunter Public Safety Bureau, not his items.
There wasnt a report of stolen items, and there was an unwritten rule about it.
[Mighty Spear - Weapon]
[Grade: 4th Grade]
[Strength +100]
[You can freely adjust the length of the spear as much as you want. However, the maximum length is fixed.]
It might not be his main weapon, but it seemed suitable as a spare weapon for emergencies.
A dagger, depending on the situation, might not be easy to remove from a target or could fly far away.
In such cases, having a spare weapon to buy time could be beneficial.
The spear seemed to fit the role of such a spare item.
Then,
Kang-hoo also removed a ring from Heo Jeong-taes blood-stained finger.
Normally, rings were worn without much thought, but this time, only one was on his finger.
[Hunter''s Blood - Ring]
[Grade: 5th Grade]
[Health +50]
[When health falls below 50%, recovery ability increases to 2.5 times the normal rate.]
Theres nothing else to see.
Kang-hoo immediately put on the ring.
The mere addition of 50 health points made him clearly feel a change in his bodys condition.
Health 197.
At this level, he wasparable to a high-level athlete, simr to a level 80 physical-type swordsman in terms of stats.
Of course, the base he had steadily built would be chipped away by mana hypersensitivity, but it was still quite high.
Since health was a stat Kang-hoo had coveted from the start, he couldnt pass up an opportunity to increase it.
He also acquired a few misceneous junk items, but none were of use to Kang-hoo.
These items were intended for sale to Lee Ye-rin or on the ck market.
He roughly estimated their sale price to be around 200 million.
Phew.
Only then did Kang-hoo exhale the breath he had been holding and sit on the unconscious Heo Jeong-tae.
It was somewhatfortable, like sitting on a cushioned chair, since there was no proper ce to sit.
A vividly bald head.
The scent of perfume was strong enough to sting the nose.
And paradoxically, cheerful A-line skirts with stockings
What a ridiculous sight.
Kang-hoo, seated on Heo Jeong-taes stomach, frowned at the stark contrast between the mans upper and lower appearances.
It was a hideous sight he hoped never to see again.
The officers who arrived on the scene were initially shocked to discover that Heo Jeong-tae lived so close to the Public Safety Bureau.
At the same time,
Everyones gaze naturally shifted to Kang-hoo.
Yoon Kyeong-hwi, who had handled the call with Kang-hoo, was the first to show appreciation.
We sincerely thank you for your help in this matter. There will be a reward, as publicly announced by the Public Safety Bureau. There might also be an additionalmendation.
Kang-hoo just nodded indifferently to the expected statement.
He had found a candy in Heo Jeong-taes inner pocket and was now busily chewing on it.
Do you wish for this case to be made public, or would you prefer to keep it private?
Just ask. Its not a big deal.
Publicizing the matter would only bring him nominal fame, which was of no interest to him.
The right time to leave his mark woulde; it wasnt when dealing with such an insignificant individual.
If its not too much trouble
Just one question.
Yes. How did you find Heo Jeong-tae? His whereabouts have been unknown until now.
Isnt the result what matters?
Yes, it is. But its just so astonishing. We had issued a wide search warrant.
That guy might worsen if he loses more blood, so see to him first. Then we can discuss the reward.
Kang-hoo steered the conversation away.
It was neither appropriate to exin with a usible lie nor was there any reason to exin.
Understood. Then.
Following Yoon Kyeong-hwis instructions, the five officers dispersed.
Two took charge of Heo Jeong-taes hospital transport and treatment, while the other two searched his house at the scene.
And Yoon Kyeong-hwi, taking charge of Kang-hoo, returned to the Public Safety Bureau and first issued the cash reward.
Only after seeing the exact 300 million won credited to his ount did Kang-hoos stiff face slightly rx.
In this world, until the substance is delivered, no matter how sweet the words or how nicely they are wrapped, they hold no meaning.
But now that the reward was confirmed, he felt somewhat relieved.
Of course, there was still one more reward left.
This is the list of dungeons that were previously announced. They are all under level 100, with detailed information.
May I take a look?
Of course. How could we rush someone who has done such a great deed? Please take your time.
Yoon Kyeong-hwi had been thoroughly humble from the start. Such was the position of the Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
In the early days of hunters, they used to have a significant presence, but now they were as insignificant as the dirt under ones nails.
One could say they were even worse off than alley cats.
Kang-hoo skimmed through the list.
With a one-month lease, he could raid a dungeon at least a dozen times.
What caught his interest were dungeons with numerous middle and main bosses.
Since skill plundering was indispensable, he wanted to gain substantial benefits in this area.
Then,
Kang-hoos gaze stopped at one of the dungeon listings.
This dungeon. It undergoes characteristic changes.
It was a dungeon mentioned in the original work.
Characteristic changes.
Aplete shift in the dungeons internal ecosystem and structure for unknown reasons.
In such a case, not only did the middle and main bosses change entirely, but the terrain structure changed as well.
Middle boss, main bosseach one, but with characteristic changes, a total of four. Four different skills.
Coincidentally, the timing of the change was set for the end of April, aligning perfectly with the current early April and the one-month lease.
Other dungeons had at most one main boss and two middle bosses.
There was no need to look further.
No lineup could beat this dungeon, offering up to four skills to plunder.
Gwangju Songjeong Station. Dungeon near exit 3.
When would you like the lease to start? Well secure exactly one month from your desired date.
A week from now.
Kang-hoo decided on the timing,
considering ns for Ground Zero, Lee Ye-rins proposed infiltration offer, and the need to relearn the beheading skill.
He nned to tackle these before attempting the dungeon.
Moreover, the area near Gwangju Songjeong Station, located in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, required an understanding of the power dynamics.
It was because that area was currently embroiled in a fiercelypetitive struggle for rights, almost on par with Daejeon.
Conflicts like those between Eclipse and Heuksaja, or Lee Ye-rins mercenary group Cheong-an, were rather mild inparison.
Then, a week from now, at midnight, we will issue the dungeon lease license. It will expire after 31 days.
Confirmed.
Kang-hoo entered his hunter registration number and checked the waiting status through the license search app.
All rewards had been received.
Yoon Kyeong-hwi would have learned his real name during the reward process, but Kang-hoo wasnt overly concerned.
To im government funds and rewards, one cannot hide their identity.
Leaving the Yangpyeong Hunter Public Safety Bureau,
Yoon Kyeong-hwi, who had seen Kang-hoo out to the entrance, asked,
Which request was it?
Cheong-an.
I see. If its from that mercenary group, theyre trustworthy.
Thank you for your hard work.
I hope well meet again if fate allows.
Kang-hoo, hoping that would never happen, left the Public Safety Bureau.
Leaving Yangpyeong early seemed wise to avoid unnecessary trouble.
The movements of the Jeonghwa Guild were always a few steps ahead of what one might expect.
Fifteen minutester.
While Heo Jeong-tae received emergency treatment under the supervision of the officers, Chae Gwanhyeong received a report from his subordinate.
It concerned Heo Jeong-tae.
The report was organized sinctly, in line with Chae Gwanhyeongs meticulous nature.
His expression twisted as he read it.
He got ambushed right after talking to me? Couldnt even fight back, and his arms are crippled?
Yes, thats what happened.
Was it the officers doing?
No. Theres no one in the Yangpyeong Hunter Public Safety Bureau capable of overpowering Heo Jeong-tae to that extent.
Then who?
I dont know. Whats certain is that someonepletely overpowered Heo Jeong-tae and handed him over to the Public Safety Bureau.
Chapter 25: Heo Jeong-Tae (3)
Chapter 25: Heo Jeong-Tae (3)
Upon arriving at Yangpyeong Station, I intended to take the Gyeongui-Jungang Line.
A group of hunters emerged from the station and ran towards Moonseong Vi, which was exactly where Heo Jeong-taes house was located.
Head to Moonseong Vi! Hurry!
Ill secure the CCTV footage!
Dont worry about the cost, just get it no matter what!
Yes!
Even without explicit confirmation, their earnest running and fluttering coat tails made it evident that they were from the Jeonghwa Guild.
The only issue warranting such urgency to obtain site data from the CCTV was the incident involving Kang-hoo and Heo Jeong-tae.
Really fast.
If the fight with Heo Jeong-tae hadsted a bit longer, or if the report had been dyed, I might have had to face those people.
Eventually, there would be a formal intersection with the Jeonghwa Guild, but
Kang-hoo thought it was unnecessary for it to be now.
While waiting for the train,
Kang-hoo pondered the future after Heo Jeong-taes arrest by the Hunter Public Safety Bureau, a departure from the original story.
Certainly, Heo Jeong-taes future would change.
Firstly, Chae Gwanhyeong would no longer consider using him.
This could mean that the Hunter Murderer, Heo Jeong-tae, who had been a loyal tool for Chae Gwanhyeong, might not appear at all.
Though he might walk the path of a murderer in apletely different form, there would be no need to coordinate with the Jeonghwa Guild.
This is how you nip it in the bud.
Thats what Kang-hoo thought.
This change might not seem significant now.
However, as these changes umte, they could turn into a massive butterfly effect, flipping the future upside down.
What if Jang Si-hwan and his gang are deprived of the opportunities they should naturally seize, and their minions are eliminated one by one?
The power that should belong to them in the future would diminish ordingly.
Conversely, Kang-hoo would catch up to them with an equal amount of power.
Interesting.
Kang-hoo smiled.
The destination he was now heading to on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, impulsively decided, was Yangsu Station.
This was because the dungeon where Jang Si-hwan had his fun adventures in the original story was located at Yangsu Station.
It was a turning point prepared by the original author to resolve Jang Si-hwans mana shortage.
Thanks to congenital mana hypersensitivity, Kang-hoo never experienced thirst for mana.
Although it came with severe side effects, when only considering its positive function, it was practically infinite mana.
Kang-hoos interest in the dungeon at Yangsu Station wasnt due to mana.
It was about who the middle and main bosses were.
The dungeon and monsters were around level 75, which was manageable for Kang-hoo.
Among them, the skills that could be plundered from the two bosses were:
[Shadow Step]
[Skill Enhancement (1-time)]
Especially the skill enhancement that could be obtained from the main boss had the potential to transform a skill into an ultimate ability.
Since only skills at maximum proficiency could be upgraded to ultimate abilities, it was a truly valuable opportunity.
[The train will depart shortly.]
He could see the backs of the Jeonghwa Guild hunters getting further away through the trains departing window.
Even if they checked the CCTV footage at the scene, they would likely only see his back.
After all, he had considered that when nning and moving during the fight with Heo Jeong-tae.
Of course, his hairstyle or clothes might have been exposed, but that could easily be altered.
Anyway, before Jang Si-hwan arrives.
He was determined to seize every opportunity for gain.
Kang-hoo had no intention of forgetting this overarching principle.
No matter what, he would im all elements that could aid in Jang Si-hwans growth for himself.
Be it fate, human connections, or hidden hidden pieces, all must be taken.
Descending at Yangsu Station and moving along, not too far away, one encounters Buyongsan, a mountain by name.
Although not particrly high, its rarity of human presence almost rendered it a no-mansnd.
Even before the era of hunters, the area near Yangsu Station was tranquilpared to the rest of the capital region.
However, now with unstable public safety, few people lived here.
Only the elderly, who had spent almost their entire lives here, remained, tending to their small gardens.
Even the hunters of criminal organizations saw little value in troubling these old folks.
Within 100 meters of Buyong Huangju Farm. A rock resembling the profile of a wolf serves as a marker.
He recalled as he moved.
The dungeon, barely emitting any mana, was impossible to find through mana tracking.
It was an undiscovered dungeon. Entering it would make one the first visitor.
He had to venture deep into an overgrown area with untrimmed bushes and weeds.
Fortunately, his clear memory of relevant clues prevented him from wandering too long.
Moreover, Buyong Huangju Farm, even active in the evening, provided adequate lighting in its vicinity.
Found it.
After about 30 minutes, he located the dungeon entrance.
The entrance, nestled between rocks and crevices, was a ce one could easily miss without a deliberate search.
Good.
Kang-hoo re-gripped his dagger and prepared his spear, ready to draw at any moment.
The Strong Impact Spear taken from Heo Jeong-tae would be useful in many ways, a versatile tool for quick responses.
Swoosh.
He then entered the dungeon.
The dungeons sky, greeting its first visitor, opened with the gloom of greyish-white clouds.
Fitting the assassination-oriented nature of the middle boss, the basic monsters of the dungeon also revealed their characteristics.
The ck Masked Men.
Reminiscent of martial arts novels or movies, these faceless figures covered more than half of their faces, appearing thus.
This will be fun.
Kang-hoo crouched down.
He didnt need to seek them out.
It seemed they would approach on their own.
Swish, swish, swish.
Around ten masked figures used nearby rocks and trees as stepping stones, approaching from various directions.
Their mboyant movements, weaving left and right, seemed somewhat skillful.
However, Kang-hoos excellent dynamic vision wlessly tracked each masked figures movements.
And when several masked figures used a front runner as a shield to leap into the air.
Thump!
Argh!
Kang-hoo swiftly extended the Strong Impact Spear he had drawn from his waist, striking a masked figure.
Although it didnt extend indefinitely, it could rapidly stretch to its full length.
Before the masked figure could reach him with an extended arm holding a dagger, Kang-hoo preemptively blocked the path.
He had thought it was just a strike, but the attacked masked figurey dead, bleeding profusely.
Killed in one blow.
Assassins are all like that. Light as feathers, easily shattered.
Kang-hoo brushed his own body.
It was sympathy for their condition. Despite gaining some muscle, the inherent fragility of an assassin couldnt be helped.
I particrly dislike extreme social distancing.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
He swung the spear.
Thump!
In the midst of this, one of the masked figures trying to approach low to the ground was struck on the head by the spear and copsed.
If he couldnt track their movements, controlling them with the spear would be meaningless, but now, it was a different story.
Since he could see their movements with his eyes, using the long spear to block their path in advance was easy.
With the absolute difference in length between the dagger and the spear, the masked figures were at a clear disadvantage.
sh!
Having quickly subdued two, Kang-hoo now used a surprise leap to engage them closely.
While the masked figures were disoriented, not expecting Kang-hoo to enter their midst,
Swoosh! Stab! Swoosh!
Kang-hoos dagger lightly pierced the throats of three masked figures with minimal effort.
A light stab, yet for them, it was a heavy blow, a one-way ticket to death.
As soon as he closed the gap and beganshing out with his spear, they had no way to respond.
The ten masked figures, unable to even graze Kang-hoos clothes, ally dead.
How dull,
Kang-hoo snorted.
Level 75 standard monsters were no longer a challenge.
At this rate, he felt confident he could handle level 100 dungeons without any issues.
Advancing rapidly,
Kang-hoo continued to overpower the masked figures blocking his path, quickly reaching the dungeons midpoint.
Given its small size, progress was swift. There werent many monsters either.
It was a dungeon obviously designed for Jang Si-hwans opportunity.
About 20 minutes after entering, the middle boss appeared.
His name was Zanyoung.
Unlike the masked figures, which seemed like a copy-paste of amon model,
He was quite impressive with long ck hair, red glowing eyes, and a mncholic gaze.
Shadow Step,
Kang-hoo reminded himself of the skill he could plunder from Zanyoung.
Zanyoungs Shadow Step skill was incredibly overpowered for a middle bosss skill.
But that was no issue, as only Zanyoung could use it, no matter how overpowered.
However, with Kang-hoos ability to plunder, it became an ultimate skill to be taken at any time.
Thats my bread and butter, Shin Kang-hoo.
Kang-hoo had never forgotten his identity.
The fastest way for him to grow stronger was to take skills like Zanyoungs, inherently overpowered by their mere existence.
Especially by augmenting his skillset with abilities others couldnt possess, everything became a weapon.
It was like constantly adding cards to use in the numbers game of battle.
Kang-hoo waited for Zanyoung to approach first.
While a skirmish with him seemed appealing, he didnt want to expend too much energy.
He was more concerned about the main boss than Zanyoung. It wasnt easy to predict.
Heh heh.
Seeing Kang-hoo not making an aggressive move, Zanyoung moved with augh of unknown reason.
The next moment.
Kuaa!
Zanyoungs erged shadow soared high into the sky, then split into three directions.
It was Shadow Step.
A skill that disperses three shadows in any desired direction, allowing him to move to the location of the shadows.
The shadows speed was extremely fast, and it could hide itself in darkness.
For an opponent, it was one of the trickiest skills to deal with.
Swoosh!
Kang-hoo responded immediately.
Illusion Technique!
A skill that could create five illusions, two more than Zanyoungs three shadows.
Amidst the confusion caused to Zanyoung, he chose one shadow to move to.
In the blink of an eye.
Kang-hoo caught a slight flicker from the shadow Zanyoung had decided to move to.
The visual disruption caused by the neat Illusion Technique created a short but distinct tremor.
Swoosh!
Without hesitation, Kang-hoo chose one of Zanyoungs shadows and pounced.
If it were a wrong choice, it would leave his rearpletely vulnerable, a worst-case scenario.
But I can see it.
It wasnt the case for Kang-hoo.
His exceptionally keen dynamic vision.
And the strategy naturally ingrained from designing a monster like Zanyoung as the original author.
Neatlybined in his mind, providing him with 100% strategic confidence.
There was no way he could be wrong.
Whoosh!
Without looking back, Kang-hoos thrown dagger pierced right through the center of Zanyoungs forehead.
The entire de buried itself in, leaving no doubt about the fatal blow.
[The following skill can be plundered from the target activated by Plunder.]
[Shadow Step]
Ill make good use of it.
Chapter 26: Journey To Ulsan (1)
Chapter 26: Journey To Ulsan (1)
[Skill Book - Back Attack]
[Special Note: Assassin Exclusive]
[When attacking a target from behind, damage is amplified by an additional 33%pared to a regr attack.]
It was a passive skill.
No need to consciously activate it or consume mana, and it didnt trigger mana hypersensitivity.
Given Kang-hoos frequentteral movements enabling back attacks, this skill book was a perfect match for him.
He absorbed the skill immediately.
It would be effective from the next battle, a reliable skill that promised efficiency.
[Shadow Step]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max]
[Creates five shadows to move and then instantly transports to one of the shadows.]
[Shadows immediately disappear if they move beyond a 100m radius or suffer physical damage.]
[The unconsciously created shadows mimic the owner''s movements, each moving differently.]
Kang-hoo checked the details of Shadow Step as well.
With maximum proficiency achieved, it was significantly more advanced than when Zanyoung had used it.
And my level has increased.
His level was now 33.
As was his custom, he allocated bonus points to vitality and reviewed his overall stats, which he had ignored for some time.
[Shin Kang-hoo Lv.33]
[ss: Assassin]
[Unique Talent: Quite Superior Strength / Exceptionally Keen Dynamic Vision]
[Strength 70][Agility 60]
[Health 198][Mana 20]
[Magic Resistance 45][Resilience 70]
Compared to his time before escaping Cheongmyeong Detention Center, he had undergone aplete transformation.
From a frail body at level 10 with vitality 10, he now possessed the vitality enviable by an athlete.
Of course, when his congenital mana hypersensitivity was triggered, it became a cursed body with a three-minute countdown.
But now, he had the foundation to endure that period.
It was a different story from when he immediately felt a threat to his life.
His mana was sufficient as it was.
Given his high ability to draw manapared to other hunters, he didnt need to worry about mana supply.
Ive only started to fulfill my role; the journey is still long.
He didnt revel in happiness; such thoughts didnt ur to him.
Kang-hoo focused only on the fact that he was now significantly more resilient than before and moved on.
It was time to meet the main boss in this small dungeon.
Although he had never met the boss before, discovering its name was too easy.
Because
Shin Kang-hoo.
Another version of him was the main boss of this dungeon.
Meanwhile, at the same time.
Chae Gwanhyeong, who suddenly showed up in his office, incessantly downed strong whiskey.
He was someone whom even Chae Gwanhyeong respected as a superior.
Jang Si-hwan, the owner and founder of Jeonghwa Guild.
The two were close friends, beyond a mere superior-subordinate rtionship.
So, Chae Gwanhyeongs impoliteness ofing to him and drinking without a word wasnt a problem.
Jang Si-hwan stood up.
His long hair fluttered.
His long ck hair, reaching down to his shoulders, was so fine that the word lustrous instantly came to mind.
Jang Si-hwan asked Chae Gwanhyeong,
Whats the matter?
One of my favorite tools has broken. And the research on An Young-ho has also fallen through.
Isnt that amon urrence?
Unlike the fretting Chae Gwanhyeong, Jang Si-hwan smiled and patted his shoulder.
But Chae Gwanhyeong looked at him as if to say, how can someone be so nonchnt, and added,
Theres nothing as frustrating as when things dont go as nned.
Gwanhyeong, a minor setback or a step back isnt a big deal for us. A bright future is already unfolding.
Whats so bright! Damn it.
Our dreams will inevitablye true. Anyone who stands in our way will be our enemy and reduced to ashes.
Jang Si-hwan, dont be too optimistic. Not everything is guaranteed.
Understand that the disappearance of one or two insignificant people wont change our future.
Jang Si-hwans expression suddenly shifted, his disdain for the deceased Heo Jeong-tae and the missing An Young-ho evident.
His look conveyed that the disappearance or loss of such insignificant people was meaningless.
Jang Si-hwan went on,
The world revolves around me. I am justice, I am good, and I am the path. Nothing can stop us, so dont take it too seriously.
Are you saying youre the protagonist of this world?
Chae Gwanhyeong, Jang Si-hwans friend and rival, retorted sharply.
Jang Si-hwan then nodded, his usual benevolent expression intact,
Yes. I am the protagonist.
At the battles climax, Kang-hoo found himself increasingly intrigued by his fight with another me.
This encounter was actually less challenging than his previous one with Zanyoung, as he was fighting against himself.
Thinking alike and employing simr strategies made the other Shin Kang-hoo too predictable.
Wasnt this a past version of myself?
Engaging with his past rather than a more advanced future self, he harbored no fear.
His recent improvisation of abination attack had left his counterpart struggling.
Kang-hoo, I dont just use daggers. I always have a second, a third n. But it seems you dont.
Watching his faltering duplicate, Kang-hoo patted his shoulder.
This gesture was more a signal of the impending end than one of encouragement.
As expected.
Cough!
The other him, unable to defend against Kang-hoos newly craftedbination attack even once, coughed up ck blood and died.
Since he was fighting himself as the boss, there were no new skills to im.
Thus, the system message presented an alternate reward, like the one Jang Si-hwan had obtained in the original story.
[Skill Enhancement (1-time)]
A chance to enhance only skills at maximum proficiency.
Its a skill enhancement.
In Kang-hoos case, due to the effects of his constetion, all his skills were at maximum proficiency, so he faced no restrictions.
Upgrading any skill would be destructive, making it usable as an ultimate skill.
Such skill enhancement rewards were extremely rare, even in dungeons.
In terms of probability, it was less than 0.001%, a figure that could easily be attached.
Moreover, to utilize this effect, one had to have a skill at maximum proficiency, which was no easy feat. It was a stringent requirement.
For now, Ill hold off.
Kang-hoo decided to keep the opportunity without using it right away.
There were a few skills he considered, but none fully convinced him yet.
After all, he could enhance it immediately whenever he felt like it, so there was no rush.
Just then,
[Red Ore Special Material]
This is a windfall.
A loot item appeared from the dead self.
He thought it was a stroke of luck when he obtained a skill book from Zanyoung. Things were going well.
Red Ore was extremely precious.
It was essential for upgrading item grades or unlocking hidden options.
It could not be bought with money, and if it could be, there would be no limit to the price. Its worth was what people were willing to pay.
Such value could easily skyrocket into the billions, not just millions.
Of course, if he were to sell it, there was a 99.9% chance that crazed criminals, rather than honest buyers, would flock to it.
So, it was better not to think of selling it unless necessary.
If Jang Si-hwan had gotten his hands on it, I would have regretted it.
Kang-hoo nodded.
Though impulsive, his decision toe here and the benefits he reaped had been substantial.
Shadow Step.
Skill Enhancement.
Red Ore.
None were easily obtainable, and for some, they could be once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
His business here was done.
He nned to return to Lee Ye-rin.
He considered visiting Ground Zero, but he still felt a bit underpowered for it.
Ground Zero was a ce of various variables, without rmended levels or standards.
In other words, it was a wilderness for hunters.
Hence, diving in with mere bravado could prove problematic.
Instead, he nned to extract a more lucrative contract from Lee Ye-rin and acquire better items with it.
Leveling up was important, but the basic item setup was just as crucial.
At the same level, the right item setup could make power feel ten times stronger.
The next morning,
Kang-hoo arrived at the prearranged meeting ce with Lee Ye-rin and met her.
Usually, they would meet at Daejeon Station, but todays meeting was at Pyeongtaek Station.
Thus, Lee Ye-rin initiated the conversation about the changed location.
The ce is a bit unexpected, isnt it?
If it was always Daejeon Station, that would be stranger.
True, youre right.
Ive handed over Heo Jeong-tae properly.
Ive already received a call. Did you say it was our request? Haha, I didnt ask you to do that.
Kang-hoo just nodded.
Though he didnt say it directly, this was business.
By subtly mentioning the name of the mercenary group he was associated with, he raised its status
Naturally, the mercenary group then provided the client with better, more useful requests.
Before we discuss the next request, theres something I want to tell you. Do you know Cha So-hee?
I know. Im aware that Im being followed.
Did Seo-yeon tell you?
Yes.
Right. It seems Eclipse is after her. I put someone on her tail thinking it might help Seon-kyu. Heh.
Hmm.
Ill keep sending you secure messages about Cha So-hees location.
Thank you for the favor.
Well, its not like Im using expensive resources. Theres someone under me who enjoys tailing. Haha.
Kang-hoo expressed appropriate gratitude.
It wasnt his request, but Lee Ye-rin was offering the favor.
He was thankful, but there was no need to be overly humble.
Rather, it meant that Lee Ye-rin found him attractive enough to be so meticulous.
Lee Ye-rin shifted the topic when she deemed the conversation sufficiently covered.
The initial task for you was infiltration, but it appears we need to modify it to assassination.
Assassination.
He could undertake it if thepensation was right.
Assassination jobs usually targeted those who merited death.
Lee Ye-rin might navigate a moral gray zone, but she wasnt one to kill without discrimination.
It was likely she screened the requests, meaning this target probably had iting.
Have a look.
Lee Ye-rin passed him a file.
Kang-hoos face tensed as he nced at the first page.
The Butcher of Ulsan?
A name he recognized appeared.
Chapter 27: Journey To Ulsan (2)
Chapter 27: Journey To Ulsan (2)
Heres the trantion of the provided text:
His real name is Gong Tae-su.
He earned the moniker The Butcher of Ulsan because numerous hunters died by his hands.
Operating in crime syndicates, warlords, and mercenaries alike, he kidnapped and killed indiscriminately, earning him utter disdain.
Despite being a trivial grudge, the biggest reason for the disdain was his disregard for the moral code of the criminal underworld.
If it involved money, he wouldnt hesitate to cut the throat of even a partner he agreed to work with, drawing widespread resentment.
Regardless, his criminal organization, Red Blood, was one of the groups based in Ulsan.
Its significant size meant that organizations disliking Gong Tae-su couldnt rashly provoke him.
Gong Tae-su was known for being crazy, and a wrong move could escte into a full-blown war with Red Blood.
Thus, most turned to mercenaries for discreet assassination contracts.
Assigning murders to mercenaries was safer, with fewer risks of being traced back.
In the original story, he doesnt die.
That was the reason for Kang-hoos grim expression.
There was a simr issue in the original story.
Many mercenaries gathered to kill Gong Tae-su.
However, it ended in a massacre of the mercenaries.
Gong Tae-su became more arrogant and sessful after that.
Of course, the difference between the original story and now is the presence or absence of Shin Kang-hoo.
Nevertheless, Kang-hoo knew the strategy and tactics Gong Tae-su used to lure and kill the mercenaries.
He also possessed the insight to see through the situation more clearly.
Kang-hoo, checking with Lee Ye-rin, asked,
Is this a fireworks show?
Thats right. Multiple mercenary groups have been assigned the task, and it seems everyone is aware and moving.
To be certain that the unfortunate protagonist isnt me is that it?
A bitter smile appeared.
The term fireworks show refers to a scenario where multiple mercenaries are hired to target one strong individual.
In such scenarios, one of the mercenaries inevitably loses their life. Its an unavoidable consequence.
However, this sacrifice enables the surviving mercenaries to more effectively target their prey.
In essence, if he doesnt perish, it bes an opportunity to close in on the target.
The goal is almost certainly achieved through numerical superiority.
Then, the hunter who endures until the end reaps all the rewards. Thats the crux of a fireworks show.
How many are we expecting?
Not exact, but I can give you a minimum estimate. A hundred.
Thats insane. With this kind of setup, more will join the fray.
The frenzy has already begun.
Lee Ye-rin chuckled.
Kang-hoo looked down, reviewing the details of the request and its associated rewards.
Lee Ye-rin continued to exin with ease.
You dont even have to kill Gong Tae-su. Just retrieve his left arm, and youll earn 2.5 billion.
Since he performs magic with his left hand more than 99% of the time, losing it is nearly as good as him being dead.
Thats correct. Actually, if you end up killing him, the reward decreases by 500 million. Odd, isnt it?
The reward was indeed significant.
It also reflected the number of organizations that bore grudges against Gong Tae-su.
If he remembered correctly, Gong Tae-sus level was in the early 200s.
In theory, even Lee Ye-rin could take him on alone.
But she refrains because Gong Tae-su is equipped with powerful items, depending heavily on item power.
Like moths drawn to a me, a single misstep could be fatal.
You can decline if it seems too challenging. Participation isntpulsory. However, I thought it might pique your interest.
Im in. Theres no penalty for failure, anyway.
Exactly. Consider it a breath of fresh air in Ulsan.
I ept.
Kang-hoo epted the contract.
He skimmed through it and then burned it.
The information was all from the original story he knew.
In the end, this assassinationor more precisely, a physical dismemberment requestwasnt about the level.
It was about seizing that one chance and making it count.
The fireworks show mentioned in the contract was scheduled for tomorrow evening.
Though there was a day to prepare, moving ahead of time seemed wise.
Kang-hoo parted with Lee Ye-rin in front of Pyeongtaek Station and headed to the terminal to catch a safety bus.
There, he unexpectedly ran into a familiar face and stopped.
Oppa, we meet again?
It was Yun Sang-mi.
Her address had naturally changed to Oppa.
She was dressed the same as thest time.
Either she didnt change clothes often, or it was some sort of battle outfit.
Why are you here?
Going to Ulsan to enjoy the sea breeze.
Seems we have the same idea.
Huh, you too?
Dont bother asking about my favorite restaurant. Im eating alone.
Ah, youre so cold-hearted.
Unintentionally, this made her another potentialpetitor.
Of course, their fighting styles and approach to the request differed, so a direct confrontation seemed unlikely.
Then Yun Sang-mi made an unexpected proposal.
Want to team up and split the rewards?
If you stand in my way there, youre an enemy too.
Gasp
Yun Sang-mi stepped back at Kang-hoos cold response.
She knew he wouldnt actually fight, but she felt a clear and distinct murderous intent from him.
It wasnt a flirtatious remark.
She highly regarded Kang-hoos abilities and thought teaming up could create better synergy.
But the negotiation was a failure.
There was no point in harboring any hopes at this stage.
There couldnt be a clearer refusal.
Then lets at least travel together. Its safer to take the safety bus to Ulsan, right?
Well, suit yourself. I wontin about sitting next to me.
Kang-hoo nodded.
15 minutester.
Kang-hoo and Yun Sang-mi boarded the Ulsan-bound safety bus at the terminal.
Had it been Daejeon Station, there would have been many hunters taking the Ulsan bus.
Now, including them, only three passengers boarded.
Already inside, excluding the bus driver, there were nine passengers.
He had thought standing room would be a relief, but surprisingly, there werent many people.
Just as the door closed.
.
Kang-hoo and Yun Sang-mi exchanged nces.
It was almost like a side nce, but the eyes conveyed everything clearly.
After the door closed, they realized this bus was essentially a criminal bus.
Two hunters, who appeared to be guards, were engaging in overly friendly conversations with passengers.
Normally, guards dont mix with passengers.
They need to be on alert, and that includes being wary of the passengers themselves.
While they mostly watch outside the bus, they dont neglect the interior.
Additionally, some of the passengers who were already on the bus had fresh bloodstains on them, not yet dried.
This meant they had seen bloodshed a few minutes ago, before the bus arrived.
Though it wouldnt have been difficult for Kang-hoo to get off the bus if he wanted to, he chose not to.
Among the ten hunters on the bus, excluding himself, Yun Sang-mi, and the driver, only one possessed a constetion.
They were all small fry.
Everyones mistaken. They think having more people simplifies the situation.
Kang-hoo casually sat in the front seats with Yun Sang-mi.
A bus, with its confined space, is not ideal forbat, but its perfect for surprise attacks.
Like strangling someone from behind with a cord or stabbing through the seats.
Its too good for creating unexpected attacks.
Kang-hoo pulled out his dagger, appearing to check its condition as if before sheathing it.
In reality, he looked at the reflection of the rear seats in the de.
Though he hadnt seen it when boarding, distinct bloodstainsy under the back seats.
And then,
Whoosh.
The sound of breathing from two passengers in the back seats reached him, as if they were synchronizing their breaths.
The next moment!
Swoosh! Slice!
Kang-hoo spun around with all his strength, channeling that force into a dagger strike to the rear.
His movement, maximized with a sudden eleration skill,
Ugh!
The opponent didnt have a chance to react.
The dagger pierced right through the center of their forehead, their eyes flipping as they died.
Thud!
Simultaneously, Yun Sang-mi, holding her greatsword in a reverse grip, stabbed through the seat, instantly killing her target with a chest wound.
Being in the front seat ironically provided the space to wield the greatsword.
Damn it! He noticed!
Kill them! Just kill them!
What are you doing, driver! Speed up! Just go!
Their true colors were revealed.
The remaining eight passengers, each gripping a weapon, targeted Kang-hoo and Yun Sang-mi.
The third passenger who had boarded with them at Pyeongtaek Station was also in on it, apparently biding their time.
The driver, pale-faced, frantically stepped on the elerator, likely having been threatened several times.
ncing at the driver, Kang-hoo noticed blood dripping from his right ear, a sign of a threatening cut.
Kang-hoo spoke,
Driver, hit the open door button.
Ill die if I do that!
If you dont, youll die by my hand.
Click!
As soon as Kang-hoo finished speaking, the door opened. With the bus moving, a strong wind rushed in.
Yun Sang-mi silently guarded his side, curious about what Kang-hoo would say next.
You guys. Anyone who jumps off now, Ill let live. You get one chance. Ill count to three. Three.
Idiot! Look at our numbers! Is this the time to be brave?
The nearest hunter yelled; he was a hunter without a constetion.
The hunter with a constetion, whom Kang-hoo had taken an interest in from the start, sat at the very back of the bus.
He sprawled with his legs spread wide, a posture that exuded arrogance and disdain for the world.
With his arms crossed, he casually observed the unfolding situation.
Two.
Ignoring the previousments, Kang-hoo continued his count.
The otherspleteck of movement suggested they were confident of a decisive victory due to their numerical superiority.
One. End.
After counting down, Kang-hoo immediately used the skill enhancement he had saved.
He used it on Blood Flower.
[Blood Flower]
[Skill Proficiency: Ultimate]
[Causes a powerful explosion using the target''s wounds and flowing blood as a medium.]
[Not limited to a single target; can select all targets within a 10m radius as subjects for Blood Flower.]
[To reapply Blood Flower to the same target, a day must pass.]
Good.
Kang-hoo clenched his fist.
The skill proficiency indicator turned Ultimate, symbolizing its highest ability status.
Now, Blood Flower was an unparalleled skill for finishing off multiple opponents in battle.
The explosive power it gleaned from blood and wounds had escted to a level far beyond the original Blood Flower.
Even a minor wound could now result in severe or fatal damage with a single use of Blood Flower.
Perhaps that was the reason.
Snap!
Kang-hoo flicked his finger, intending to send a clear warning to the kidnappers, using the two he had killed earlier as a sacrifice.
That instant.
Boom!
With a deafening explosion, the head of the hunter Kang-hoo had pierced earlier vanished without a trace before everyone.
Shit, damn it
What is that? What the hell is that?
People are exploding?
The entire gangs faces, once confident in their easy domination and unteral mistreatment, turned pale.
Their eyes conveyed that things had gone terribly wrong, far beyond a simple miscalction.
Chapter 28: Journey To Ulsan (3)
Chapter 28: Journey To Ulsan (3)
The one flustered wasnt just the gang boss sitting in the back seat; Yun Sang-mi felt equally bewildered.
It was a skill she had never encountered before.
Moreover, its novelty aside, the ability to explode a persons head was profoundly shocking.
She felt an involuntary chill run down her spine.
She couldnt begin to guess the nature of the skill.
Does it make the blood explode? Like how a ck magic hunters mana burning skill works? Maybe it incinerates the blood.
Yun Sang-mi, armed with plenty of hearsay and experience, pondered the makeup of Kang-hoos skill.
Ive never heard of a skill that burns blood. And its destructive power is on apletely different scale from that of mana burning.
In terms of raw destructive force, mana burning paled inparison.
At most, mana burning could cause minor burns.
How does this guy get stronger every time I see him? And all within a matter of days?
Yun Sang-mi couldnt help butugh hollowly.
The remaining gang members faces grew grim, likely a response to the humiliation and loss of theirrades.
It was as if the fear of meeting the same end began to spread among them like a contagion.
Anyone who wants to get out, get out now.
Kang-hoo gestured towards the still-open middle door of the bus with his dagger.
Yet the gang members shut their eyes tight, conscious of their bosss gaze from the rear.
Above all, they were mortified.
The thought of fleeing, when they still outnumbered their opponents eight to two, was disgraceful.
Perhaps that was the catalyst.
Die, you bastard!
Two gang members, refusing to dwell on the thought, rushed towards Kang-hoo.
Simultaneously,
Dont get in the way, just stay there.
Kang-hoo reached out towards Yun Sang-mi, who stood behind him.
It was a cautionary gesture, warning her not to step in unnecessarily.
If she engaged with her broadsword, he wouldnt be able to move as freely as he needed.
Yun Sang-mi nodded, signaling her understanding.
Although she itched to fight, she had no desire to obstruct Kang-hoos path.
Instead, she thought it might be more interesting to cross her arms and watch the situation unfold from behind.
It looked like fun.
Pfft!
With a leap, Kang-hoo vanished.
Yun Sang-mi, trusting in Kang-hoos ability to handle the fight, shifted her focus to the driver.
The driver, who had been staring ahead in terror, jerked as Yun Sang-mi approached.
Are you okay?
Yes, yes, yes! Im, Im fine!
I cant ask you to trust me, but dont worry. Were not here to harm you.
Ah, understood!
Just follow your usual route. Andter, when I signal, hit the brake once. Okay?
Understood!
Yun Sang-mi, harboring a mischievous n, made preparations to assist Kang-hoo.
Meanwhile.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Ugh!
Argh!
Kang-hoo had dived into the heart of the gang, plunging his dagger into their shoulders, armpits, and elbows.
It wasnt fatal, but he targeted areas that would disable their ability to fight instantly.
In the confined space, Kang-hoo deployed his illusion technique, sowing chaos with his unpredictable movements.
As a result, some hunters, aiming at Kang-hoos illusions, struck each othera critical error.
Moreover, Kang-hoos horizontal movement skill, which was vital to his survival, included a stealth effect that increased their disarray.
Where the hell is he?
In frustration, a hunter shouted.
To them, it was absurd that they couldnt even keep track of Kang-hoo in the rtively small bus.
But that moment of disbelief was brief.
Thud!
Ugh.
A hunters life ended abruptly, his mouth agape as Kang-hoos dagger pierced precisely through the back of his neck.
Kang-hoo surveyed the scene; aside from the boss, all the surviving hunters were clutching their wounds.
Had the fight urred in an open field, attacking so many in such a short span would have been impossible.
The narrow space was the ideal battlefield for Kang-hoo, whose evasion skills were exceptional.
He had only used the leap skill once at the beginning, and fortunately, it hadnt triggered his mana hypersensitivity.
Sigh.
Kang-hoo let out a short breath and activated Blood Flower.
The wounds he had diligently inflicted with the bleeding stabbing technique were quite deep.
Puff, puff, puff, bang!
In that moment, Kang-hoo, the boss, and Yun Sang-mi all witnessed it together.
The hunters deep wounds created a blood storm, scattering body parts wildly.
The hunter wounded at the elbow lost everything below it when Blood Flower activated.
The one stabbed in the armpit had their shoulder sliced off, hanging like a half-cut piece of meat.
Aaaagh!
My arm! My arm!
Aaaagh! Save me!
Screams erupted from all directions.
Despite Kang-hoo being right in front of them, none seemed to have the will to fight as they gripped their weapons.
Unable to believe the scene of shock and terror, the boss, who had been watching from behind, tried to get up.
Then.
Sir, now!
Yun Sang-mi signaled to the driver.
Screech!
The driver then mmed on the brakes with all his might, enough to cramp his legs.
Cough!
Caught by inertia, the boss, unable to steady himself, was flung forward.
On the other hand, Kang-hoo, who had kept an eye on the rear during the fight, had anticipated this.
He managed to hold on to a pole.
Then, like a gift box, the flying bossnded right into Kang-hoos arms.
F*ck.
A curse escaped the bosss lips.
Being caught by Kang-hoo was secondary.
Already, Kang-hoos dagger had pierced half a fingers length into his neck.
Just a bit more pressure, and the blood vessels near his neck were at risk of being exposed to the world.
[Father of Music]
[Listening to ssical music increases stamina recovery speed by five times.]
Was there such a constetion in the original work? What a variety of constetions.
Kang-hoo checked the information of the constetion contracted to the boss and tilted his head.
Of course, as the original author, all his numerous unconscious creations should have manifested in this world, so it wasnt strange.
Thanks to Yun Sang-mis apt assistance, Kang-hoo had secured a definitive advantage.
Considering whether to take the bosss life right then, Kang-hoo slightly changed his mind.
Killing the boss here and just plundering the constetion and items seemed somewhat unsatisfactory.
Kang-hoo called out to the boss.
Hey.
Why are you ring like that? Its not like I caught an innocent person. You guys were the ones trying to set us up.
At Kang-hoos sharp words, the boss sighed deeply and tried to bow his head.
But since the dagger was partially piercing his neck, he jerked back in surprise, returning to his original position.
A slight mistake could have deepened his wound and led to death.
The boss responded.
So what do you want me to do?
Unlike the others, your eyes are full of regret. I might be willing to negotiate.
There was a brief flicker in the bosss eyes.
Everyone fears death. Even Kang-hoo was no exception.
Especially a hunter leading such rookies must value his life more.
He must have been thinking he had stepped in it now.
What do you want?
This.
Kang-hoo curled his thumb and index finger.
Cash. He was talking about money.
When they boarded this bus, those guys must have thought the same.
I dont have it. I dont have any money.
Is that so.
Sssshh!
Aaaagh!
As soon as the words were out, Kang-hoo slightly twisted the dagger diagonally.
The boss screamed in pain, unable to bear the agony as flesh was gouged out.
So it doesnt really matter if you die now, does it?
Damn it
It must hurt. Ill overlook the swearing. But if I have to repeat myself, thats the end.
Wait, wait!
Feeling the force Kang-hoo exerted on the gripped dagger, the boss urgently extended his arms, shouting.
His voice carried not just a warning, but a genuine fear that his life might be at its end.
Atst.
I have 700 million! My ount holds 700 million!
He dered the price of his life.
Kang-hoos expression, which had remained stern, softened naturally.
Thats the spirit. Negotiations are straightforward when both parties shed their greed.
Five minutester.
Having confirmed the deposit of 700 million won, Kang-hoo appeared content.
The boss now possessed a mere 30,000 won, barely enough for his passage to the afterlife.
Finding no further use for the boss, Kang-hoo stood and yanked the dagger upward.
Sssshh!
Guk?
The boss, ring at him with eyes full of resentment, received a nonchnt shrug from Kang-hoo.
I said negotiations were possible. I never implied they concerned your life.
Pshhhh!
Boom!
The bosss life concluded with a spurt of blood, erupting like a fountain.
I must remember to listen to ssical music during my downtime.
The constetion Father of Music was newly listed among Kang-hoos constetions following a sessful plunder.
Despite its grandiose title, the Dimension Plunderer remained silent, perhaps due to its underwhelming abilities.
Kang-hoo then methodically dispatched the remaining hunters, whoy groaning from their wounds.
With their arms and shoulders, vital forbat, severely damaged, they posed no real threat.
Two tried to escape by leaping out of the bus door, but their fate was no kinder.
Tragically, they met their demise beneath the buss rear wheel, crushed to death in what amounted to suicide.
Thus, the bus was purged.
The ten hunters who had harbored grand ns to profit from Kang-hoo and Yun Sang-mi all took the express route to the afterlife.
Bus driver, shut the door. Its finished now.
Kang-hoo then addressed the driver, ncing at the still-open middle door.
The situation was resolved.
The only living people on the bus were himself, Yun Sang-mi, and the driver.
Yun Sang-mi, now breaking into a sweat, clicked her tongue as she looked at Kang-hoo.
It was proof that he had expended less energy than expected, even during such intensebat.
Oppa is really something
Everyone keeps their own spoils.
Alright.
Kang-hoo unzipped his backpack.
It was time to carefully pack the spoils of battle.
Monsters leave experience points when they die, and hunters leave items, dont they?
Now it was time to harvest the rewards of victory.
And then.
[Soul Mate - Gloves]
[Grade: 5th Grade]
[A one-handed glove item that increases health points ording to level.]
[Can increase health by up to a maximum of 200 points.]
Oh?
A particrly remarkable item caught his attention. It was a glove taken from the bosss hand.
Chapter 29: The Time Of The Beast (1)
Chapter 29: The Time Of The Beast (1)
With each level up, he gained free stats, and most importantly, the health stat, which was crucial for Kang-hoo.
Such items were known as stat-proportional items, highly valued for their efficiency.
Of course, their charm diminished once they no longer provided proportional benefits.
But by that time, it was likely that better items would be avable to wear, so there was no need to worry.
In short, for the growth phase, this items performance was superior to any other. Without hesitation, Kang-hoo removed the Prelude to Madness gloves and put on the Soul Mate gloves.
[Guided by the Wind - Shoes]
[Grade: 5th Grade]
[Agility +50]
[Permanent increase in movement speed by 33%.]
No need to think twice about changing these shoes.
Before taking off his current shoes, Kang-hoo double-checked them. It was always good to be thorough.
[Pursuit Shoes - Shoes]
[Grade: 6th Grade]
[Agility +25]
[When chasing a designated target, movement speed increases by 25%.]
As expected.
The new shoes were undoubtedly superior from any perspective.
Kang-hoo immediately changed into the new shoes. He could sell the old ones for something.
Afterward,
the items looted from the dead hunters were either duplicates or less efficient.
So, he categorized them all for sale. He estimated that selling them might easily bring in about 500 million won.
Kang-hoo didnt concern himself with the value of the spoils Yun Sang-mi collected.
That was her domain. Perfect separation of rewards was one of Kang-hoos fundamental principles.
Vrooom!
The safety bus continued its journey south.
The bus driver, having stopped his bleeding and resolved the interior situation, regained hisposure.
Especially since Kang-hoo had given him 2 million won for driving and medical treatment.
He had to push hard on the elerator. Thanks to that, the ride remainedfortable.
Although the bus smelled of blood, Kang-hoo paid it no mind. His expression was calm.
Yun Sang-mi asionally wiped her nose but soon grew ustomed to the familiar smell.
The silence inside the bus filled with sounds only after they stopped at a rest area.
Kang-hoo bought canned coffee, while Yun Sang-mi purchased canned beer, sparking a bit of conversation.
As usual, Yun Sang-mi was the first to speak, with Kang-hoo typically ying the listener.
Oppa.
No.
Eh? I just called you Oppa. Whats there to dislike? I havent even said anything yet?
Lets y solo.
What? Oppa, thats scary! Did you learn how to read minds or something?
No. When you seriously call me Oppa, it usually means you want to team up.
Tch. Youre really ying hard to get.
Yun Sang-mi pouted, her intentions exposed before she could articte them.
From her perspective, Kang-hoo was too valuable a resource to go solo. Of course, that was her personal view.
His skills were exceptional.
It seemed he could be dropped anywhere and resolve any issue.
He also seemed fearless.
In reality, she harbored more concerns.
Even during the earlier bus fight, despite her own skills, she felt daunted by the outnumbering foes.
Had Kang-hoo not been assertive in taking control, she genuinely contemted disembarking.
This was because she couldnt assess the full scope of the opponents capabilities.
Had they been exceedingly strong, her life could have ended there and then. But Kang-hoos actions were unwavering.
Maybe the closeness we share now is quite rare. I should be content with it.
With that thought, Yun Sang-mi settled her mind.
Kang-hoo didnt appear to maintain many social connections or understand them well.
Thus, their current level of acquaintance was likely closer than most.
Yun Sang-mi steered the conversation elsewhere.
What do you n to do when we get to Ulsan?
Assess the situation and decide. But I have no intention of being a sacrificialmb for fireworks.
Kang-hoo replied coolly.
Noticing that his words might havee off as terse, Kang-hoo casually inquired.
What about you?
Im looking for some useful fireworks. There are often many delusional ones in such ces.
Looking for cannon fodder, then?
Phrase it more eloquently, please. How can you be so direct?
Yun Sang-miughed
because her intentions had been seen through.
She was the type to use whatever resources she could to achieve her goals, not minding the means.
Her approach of moving separately and seeking opportunities waspletely different from Kang-hoos.
Dont drink too much. A sword dulled by alcohol is the most useless of all.
At least I dont wander around with a pale face like someone. Dont worry. Humph.
She nced at Kang-hoos face.
It was indeed pale. How could heck any color even after such a heated battle?
This man, who seemed to carry all the worlds tragedies, sorrows, and pain, had built a wall around himself.
Yun Sang-mi wanted to peek into Kang-hoos inner world.
Perhaps the more he refused to show, the more curious she became, like a contrarian.
But it seemed it would take time to open up Kang-hoos heart. It looked like it would require a lot of effort.
After arriving at the Ulsan Intercity Bus Terminal,
If theres a chance, lets meet again.
It seems youve made connections with Lee Ye-rin. Well probably meet often then.
How about exchanging contacts since were acquainted? I wont bother you.
Its because were only this acquainted that I wont do it.
Wow! That hurts my pride. You know, I get a lot of guys asking for my number.
Then give me yours. I dont n to give mine.
Your character is really something. Fine, Im leaving!
Dont block my way in the future.
Same to you, Oppa! Dont block my way. Hes mine to catch.
Though she turned away with an apparently angry face, a smile soon appeared on Yun Sang-mis face.
The more Kang-hoo treated her like that, the more she wanted to get closer.
Given there was also a romantic attraction, she seemed to view everything through rose-colored sses.
Yun Sang-mi quickly vanished.
Kang-hoo left the bus terminal, bustling with mercenaries, without dy.
Mercenaries gathering to target Gong Tae-su were not allies but potential rivals.
If they were unlucky, they could end up fighting each other while aiming for the same target.
Gong Tae-sus official schedule had been shared; he was expected to start an assault on a nearby dungeon soon.
Mercenaries were flocking to Ulsan Station and the bus terminal due to its proximity to the dungeon.
Unlike other mercenaries who were hastily moving toward the dungeon,
Kang-hoo chose apletely different path. He moved to the rooftop of a building that overlooked the dungeon.
His reason was simple; he had no intention of targeting Gong Tae-su.
The ns of the other mercenaries were predictable.
They would wait until Gong Tae-su and his team entered the dungeon, which would cut off external information.
During that time, they would clean up the surrounding area of the dungeon.
Then, as Gong Tae-sus group emerged, they would immediately ambush them.
This method was also the most certain way to target Gong Tae-su.
Since the dungeons entrance and exit were the same, there was no other escape.
At that moment,
Make way! Anyone blocking the path of Captain Gong Tae-su will regret it!
A booming voice echoed.
It emanated from the Red Blood organizations members moving forward. One of the subordinates with a loud voice seemed to be shouting.
At the center of the group was Gong Tae-su, the mage hunter with striking golden gloves.
The mercenaries who saw Gong Tae-su swallowed their nerves.
Although Kang-hoo was in in clothes, he could clearly discern their origins and nature.
But that wasnt his concern.
As expected.
The situation was unfolding exactly as Kang-hoo had anticipated.
He focused on Gong Tae-su, but no constetion information was visible on him.
Instead, the subordinates guarding Gong Tae-su had contracted constetions.
Has he created a mask? I dont know how, but its perfectly concealed.
Kang-hoo nodded.
The Gong Tae-su in sight was not the real one; he was a fake wearing Gong Tae-sus face.
Where the real one was, he didnt know, but it was clear that the man everyone saw was not him.
His thoughts couldnt stop there.
Before the fake Gong Tae-su appeared, mercenaries had positioned themselves around the area.
That meant the real Gong Tae-su might be nning arger encirclement to take them all down at once.
Who would want to let those who came to kill them go easily?
Especially the Butcher of Ulsan, it would be strange if he let them go without a fight.
Lets find him.
Kang-hoo surveyed the surroundings from the rooftop.
He wondered if Gong Tae-su, watching all this, was also itching to make a move.
The stage was well set in disguise, and if things went as nned, catching a big fish was just a matter of time.
Surely, the real Gong Tae-su would be watching from somewhere close, waiting for the perfect moment to counterattack.
That hotel isnt bad.
Kang-hoo eyed a hotel with a clear view of the dungeon.
The real Gong Tae-su might be staying there. Of course, the hotel would also be crowded with mercenaries.
Maybe its time for some shopping.
Kang-hoo refocused his attention.
Though he had quickly surveyed the surroundings in a moment of impulse, nothing would happen right away.
The dungeon Gong Tae-su nned to attack would take at least a day to conquer.
So, stepping out for a bit to visit other ces wouldnt pose a strategic problem.
With a market nearby, he intended to visit it and sell all the loot from the bus battle.
Based on that bnce, he nned to buy a useful item.
After selling everything, he expected his bnce to reach around 2 billion won.
With that amount, he could certainly purchase a fourth-grade item. Preferably a ring, as he had more room for essories.
An hour passed.
After scouring Ulsans Third Market, Kang-hoo chose an item that caught his eye the most.
It was a ring that seemed significant to him, as he suffered from mana hypersensitivity and pain exposure.
In fact, he had always wanted it, but could never find it in the market.
That item was
Chapter 30: The Time Of The Beast (2)
Chapter 30: The Time Of The Beast (2)
[Resilient Endurance - Ring]
[Grade: 4th Grade]
[Health +100]
[Constant pain reduction effect of 25% applied at all times.]
The ring was incredibly useful, providing an increase in health and a simultaneous pain reduction effect.
Kang-hoo had always sought ways to alleviate pain.
His motivation stemmed from his incurable congenital mana hypersensitivity.
Even when he entered a hypersensitive state, the pain reduction allowed him to endure.
But when hypersensitivity struck, severe headaches set in quickly, followed by body aches as if he were being hammered.
Kang-hoo aimed to grow stronger and endure even in such states.
Enduring pain was advantageous for him.
While the pain reduction was a notable benefit, the addition of a full 100 points to his health was even more significant.
Despite hypersensitivitys toll on his body, his increased health would postpone the inevitable.
In essence, he gained an additional 100 seconds.
In battle, those 100 seconds could alter the oue.
Having sold all his extraneous items andpleted his necessary purchases,
Kang-hoo stepped out of the market and stopped by a caf before returning to where he started.
He didnt particrly enjoy the expensive Americano but sought a moment to clear his thoughts.
Gulp, gulp.
Is canned coffee the real deal after all?
After downing half in a single swig, Kang-hoo mused with the bitter taste lingering on his tongue.
The sweetness of his usual canned coffee or the robust vor of Srkium Burst made this bitterness seem out of ce.
The frequently consumed Srkium juices mild sweetness entuated this even more.
I need to devise a way to learn the Mass Beheading skill book; otherwise, its efficiency will be too low
Kang-hoos eyes narrowed as he pondered.
Learning a skill outside his ss would, at best, result in a mere 15% efficiency.
Thus, if Kang-hoo simply learned the Mass Beheading skill, it would be in name only, as its power would be pitiful.
However, given Shin Kang-hoos ability to steal boss skills, an unconventional method was possible.
He could force a boss to learn a skill, then kill them and steal it.
Of course, this method couldnt apply to all bosses; otherwise, he would have done it long ago.
There are five possible ces in the country. Excluding the four under warlords control.
That left one.
The dungeon at Suwon Station, owned by the Onnuri Guild, which had a stronghold in that area.
After dealing with Gong Tae-su and receiving the reward, its best to head straight to Suwon Station.
He finalized his next move.
He aimed to learn the Mass Beheading skill before it was toote, adding another powerful attack to his arsenal.
A hunters pride lies in their skills, and more is always better. Theres no downside to having many skills.
?
Just then.
While ncing outside the caf window, Kang-hoo tensed slightly.
He had unexpectedly spotted his target.
It was Gong Tae-su.
Although he knew Gong Tae-su hadnt entered the dungeon, seeing him outside wasnt surprising.
It was unclear if he had other business or was just strolling around. Apparently, he was near the market.
[Archer God]
[With the spirit of the Archer God, your uracy with magic and arrow attacks increases fivefold.]
[Cradle of Gluttony]
[The constetion, ever craving mana, has perfected a peculiar system utilizing mana.]
[20% mana consumption for 20% health recovery whenever needed.]
Its definitely Gong Tae-su.
Kang-hoo confirmed the constetion information disyed on him and was certain.
It was Gong Tae-sus constetion.
Self-recovery and self-aiming correction.
Thats why he could easily take hunters lives.
Surviving well, killing effectively, it was natural that less skilled opponents would be eliminated.
It was just the beginning.
Constetions didnt readily attach to hunters between levels 100 and 200, observing them cautiously.
But once over level 200, when a hunter entered a stable and real growth trajectory, things changed.
Seen as safe assets unlikely to perish, constetions flocked to such contractors, eager to elevate their own status through the continuous growth of their bearer.
From this point on, the applications for constetion contracts increased.
Thinking about Heo Jeong-tae and the others, its somewhat revolting.
Kang-hoo, with his arms crossed, fixed his gaze on Gong Tae-su, who strutted around arrogantly.
A perfect disguise.
The decoy sent into the dungeon earlier as his double was the spitting image of Gong Tae-su.
Even seeing Gong Tae-su in disguise, it was impossible to recall the original face of Gong Tae-su.
It was somewhat repulsive to think this way, but in his disguise, he was quite attractive.
Thanks to the originals features, of course.
Without Kang-hoos ability to scan constetions, not even his sharp eyesight would have prated such a disguise.
There was a distance, and he had guards.
Pretending not to know each other, at least ten hunters were guarding the area.
Having guards even while in disguise indicated a calcted move.
It seemed unwise to make a rash attack.
Just then:
Vroom.
A town bus pulled up.
Gong Tae-su and his escorts boarded the bus staggered in time, appearing like ordinary people to any observer.
He wanted tofortably board the same bus and follow, but it wasnt a good idea.
A brief journey together might not raise suspicion, but if he followed Gong Tae-sus route too closely, it would arouse suspicion.
I really dislike sunlight
Kang-hoo frowned, looking at the rooftop of the building opposite him.
It was the time of day when the sun shone particrly strong.
He wanted to avoid the direct sunlight, but
To track Gong Tae-su less conspicuously, his best bet was to leap across buildings, monitoring the bus from above.
In the city center, enough buildings served as stepping stones.
Focus was crucial.
Gulp! Thump!
Kang-hoo gulped down the remaining Americano, set the cup down, and stood up.
Rattle.
The ice in the cup ceased rolling and settled back into ce.
Thump-thump-thump!
By that time, Kang-hoo was already quickly ascending to the rooftop via the stairs.
Vroom.
The bus had also started its journey.
The chase had begun.
I can endure this.
His steadily increased health allowed his body to withstand continuous skill usage.
Even as the bus elerated and the frequency of leap skill usage grew.
With the health to endure even when mana hypersensitivity was triggered, he gained stamina from the pain reduction effect.
And when the bus stopped at signals, Kang-hoo found moments to recover.
Shortly afterward,
Gong Tae-sus group disembarked from the bus about 1km away from the dungeon.
Initially, Kang-hoo thought they got off to maintain a safe distance from the site.
But as time passed, another purpose became clear.
This is the gathering point.
What Kang-hoo saw were hunters emerging from various buildings and structures.
All were in civilian clothes, but the murderous intent in their eyes was unmistakable.
These were Gong Tae-sus subordinates.
It was an borate scheme to ambush mercenaries waiting for the fake Gong Tae-su to emerge from the dungeon.
Fake Mercenaries Real.
This setup would establish the battle lines.
With this, mercenaries caught off guard from the rear would be defenseless.
There must be at least 100 of them.
Certainly, Gong Tae-su wouldnt have ced his men only here.
Simr numbers were likely stationed elsewhere.
Kang-hoo felt a chill run down his spine.
What emotions was Gong Tae-su experiencing?
Did he feel exhration at the thought of wiping out mercenaries from across the country in one fell swoop?
Probably. He likely wouldnt let them off easily.
To him, dying might be a mercypared to the hell he would unleash on the mercenaries.
Its a battle of patience now.
There was still time before the fake Gong Tae-su appeared.
Until then, the real Gong Tae-su would choose an optimal spot, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Kang-hoo too nned to wait till the end, hidden in the shadows and darkness.
Even with confidence in battle, diving into that massive crowd would be madness.
Hell be cautious since hes a mage.
Kang-hoo was confident Gong Tae-su, being a mage ss, would maintain distance from the main battlefield.
Mages struggle to disengage once a group determinedly sticks to them.
So, he likely sent subordinates while maintaining a distance to control the frontline and situation.
Kang-hoo intended to wait for a moment when Gong Tae-su was alone or with just a few guards.
Then.
As if sensing something odd, Gong Tae-sus gaze turned towards where Kang-hoo had just been.
.
But Kang-hoo, already in stealth mode throughteral movement, was out of sight.
Gong Tae-su, thinking he was just being overly sensitive, shifted his attention elsewhere.
It was time for Kang-hoo to disappear again.
The next dawn.
When the darkest hour arrived, with even the moon hidden behind clouds.
Gong Tae-su is out! Kill him! Kill him!
Mercenaries who had been waiting quietly shouted as the fake Gong Tae-su emerged from the dungeon.
The area around the dungeon, previously only asionally disturbed by passing cars, became noisy.
Convenience stores, hotels, restaurants, and alleys.
Mercenaries, hidden all over, appeared.
Protect the captain!
Retreat to the back!
The baits Gong Tae-su had previously scattered performed their roles aptly.
The flustered fake Gong Tae-su, obviously struggling, began to backpedal quickly with his subordinates.
Kang-hoo had no interest in the main battlefield.
He only focused on the sounds that reached his ears.
With Gong Tae-su orchestrating the scenario, most mercenaries present would meet their end.
Only those with some skill might survive or break through the encirclement.
Kang-hoo, on a whim, nced in that direction.
He wondered if Yun Sang-mi might be among the mercenaries, but he saw no sign of her.
Even if she were there, he had no intention of saving her.
Just then
Swoosh!
At a gesture from the real Gong Tae-su,
members of the Red Blood organization, who had been waiting at a distance and on the outskirts, started to move along the road.
The full-scale encirclement was about tomence.
It was the worst situation imaginable for the mercenaries.
Kang-hoos focus remained solely on Gong Tae-su.
After all, Gong Tae-su was his only target; there was no bounty on the head of anyone else.
Even taking just one arm would a reward of 2.5 billion won.
Focusing all his thoughts and attention on that moment was effortless for Kang-hoo.
Time passed, and then some more.
When the mercenaries, ensnared in the reverse encirclement, began to cry out in despair and charge towards their deaths,
Kang-hoo noticed Gong Tae-sus guards, one by one, move towards the battlefield.
Gong Tae-su was contributing his strength forplete annihtiona perfectly strategic choice.
But for Kang-hoo, who had waited for hours, holding his breath for the moment his prey was vulnerable,
now was the time for the predator to start his hunt.
Chapter 31: The Time Of The Beast (3)
Chapter 31: The Time Of The Beast (3)
Without drawing Gong Tae-sus notice, Kang-hoo slipped closer in the darkness, biding his time in silence.
Casting skills, executing them, performing a bit of follow-up, and then getting ready to cast another.
From a distance, Gong Tae-su consistently bolstered his subordinates attacks with his routine support.
Likely due to the presence of the Archer Constetion, his skills remained potent despite the significant range.
Whoosh!
Argh!
A spear-like gust of wind hurtled forth, impaling a mercenarys chest with unerring uracy.
The feasibility of such destructive power at over 200 meters was questionable, but for Gong Tae-su, it was no challenge.
The best moment to strike is during his casting.
Kang-hoo picked his moment.
Even the most adept hunter is bound by the passage of time.
Awakening can sh the duration of skill casts significantly.
Yet, Gong Tae-sus rhythm suggested hecked any awakening-rted gear.
Kekeke.
Gong Tae-su chuckled as he surveyed the fray.
The spectacle clearly entertained him.
Events unfolded just as he anticipated, with the mercenaries falling one by one.
The dungeon echoed mostly with their cries; thats how dire the situation had be.
2 seconds. Thats how long I can have him to myself.
Kang-hoopleted his mental prep.
Factoring in the guards and their potential reactions, he knew he could iste Gong Tae-su for a brief two-second window.
His breath became even more controlled.
He verified the consistency of Gong Tae-sus attack pattern, ensuring no deviations.
With no adversaries in proximity, Gong Tae-sus long-range assaults proceeded in a predictable sequence.
Timing everything precisely, Kang-hoo seized the moment right after Gong Tae-su released his next skill.
Then.
Wham!
He burst from the cloak of night. In the same instant, heunched a kidnapping skill at Gong Tae-su.
Ugh!
It was a sess.
Gong Tae-su, who had btedly noticed Kang-hoo appearing from an unexpected ce, was immediately pulled by the Abduction technique.
He had no chance to resist.
Focused on providing skill support at the front, he hadnt anticipated the ambush.
Whoa!
The moment their leader was dragged away, his subordinates shifted their attention, realizing what had happened.
Now was the time.
The brief window before they closed in was the only moment Kang-hoo could maintain a one-on-one fight.
Bang!
Kang-hoo employed an illusion technique, scattering five decoys resembling himself around as a distraction.
It was a tactic to buy time.
[Night Vision]
Thanks to the Skilled Empathizer Constetion, his constantly maintained night vision ability illuminated the darkness.
Now, nothing visually hindered Kang-hoo. In fact, it was so clear that it posed a problem.
F*ck!
Gong Tae-su, dragged away, cursed and immediately tried to use a short-distance movement skill.
A typical evasion method for a magic-based hunter, and an effective means to escape.
In fact, it was impressive that he had the mental fortitude to attempt escape as soon as he was abducted.
You, Ive got you figured out.
Kang-hoo had anticipated Gong Tae-sus evasion from the outset.
He hadnt expected the abduction to go off without a hitch. Gong Tae-su was no fool.
He had predicted that Gong Tae-su would attempt to move backward, positioning himself perfectly for a counterattack, and he was right.
Gong Tae-su, whose tactics Kang-hoo had foreseen, faced only one oue: a counterattack.
Swish!
Stab! Stab! Stab!
With a leap, Kang-hoo swiftly closed the distance and thrust his dagger into Gong Tae-sus left armpit and shoulder.
Gong Tae-su was wearing a fairly decent breastte, but unfortunately, it didnt offer protection for the shoulder and armpit.
Arghh!
Gong Tae-su screamed.
He couldnt believe it.
What kind of person had been keenly targeting his weak spots for so long?
The spot where Kang-hoo appeared was nowhere within the range Gong Tae-su had predicted for an enemy.
If he had sensed even a trace of mana or a glimpse, he would have cut it off long ago!
Gong Tae-su had never detected Kang-hoo, who had perfectly concealed his presence.
It was a fatal mistake.
This bastard!
re!
Filled with murderous intent, fierce mes rose above Gong Tae-sus right hand.
Too close.
Exposed to such insane mes, even Kang-hoo wouldnt be able to withstand them.
At the least, they would cause burns, and if exposed for too long, bones and flesh would melt in no time.
Kang-hoo leaped backward, retreating.
After all, the one-sided attack had ended.
Because of Blood Flower.
Boom boom boom!
Aargh!
As soon as he used the Blood Flower skill, an explosion urred in Gong Tae-sus left shoulder.
Having intentionally inflicted a deep wound from the start, Gong Tae-sus bones and muscles couldnt withstand the shock.
Arghh
Gong Tae-su groaned, reaching his right hand to his left shoulder.
The arm that should have been there was already gone.
Snap!
At that moment, Kang-hoo grabbed Gong Tae-sus left arm and quickly left the scene.
The guards were just arriving, and some were even shooting arrows toward Kang-hoo.
The objective was sufficiently achieved.
ng! ng!
Kang-hoo blocked the way with a protective barrier in the direction where the enemys attack mighte.
Zip. Zip. Zip!
He swiftly left the scene at full speed.
He finished everything cleanly just before the onset of mana hypersensitivity.
Upon rechecking, the left arm of Gong Tae-su was indeed his, confirmed by the tattoo and the phrase etched messily on it, which matched Gong Tae-sus favorite phrase.
He had done all sorts of luxurious modifications.
Even a magistone was embedded in his forearm.
Amon body modification among magic-based hunters.
Carrying what was essentially a portable mana battery.
There were numerous side effects, necessitating surgery by a specialist, yet the craftsmanship appeared to have been executed with great care.
Of course, the surgery was now pointless. The arm, severed from its owner, had be just a piece of meat.
Clutched between the stiff five fingers, three rings were apparent.
Even without a closer look, it was clear that they were mana-rted artifacts.
Since he had no use for them, Kang-hoo intended to get rid of them as soon as he encountered Lee Ye-rin.
Upon examining the quality of the rings, he found one to be of the 4th grade and two of the 5th grade. They could fetch at least 1.4 billion won.
Aaaah!
Ah! Save me! Please, save me!
The cries echoed in the distance.
The agonized screams of mercenaries filled the dungeon.
Aside from Gong Tae-su losing his left arm to Kang-hoo, their prospects were grim.
The chances of their situation worsening were significant.
Now missing his most critical left arm, the Butcher of Ulsan would be consumed by fury.
A sip of canned coffee would hit the spot.
Longing for a milk-vored canned coffee, Kang-hoo casually walked away from the scene.
The mercenaries efforts had been futile, while Kang-hoo collected the spoils.
Yet the mercenaries, oblivious to this, continued to shout for Gong Tae-su, seeking him desperately.
Their calls only intensified Gong Tae-sus anger.
Elsewhere.
Who is it? Who the hell is it! Argh!
Captain! We must retreat for now! Well fetch a hunter with healing powers immediately!
My arms gone, what use is that?
We need to staunch the bleeding! Youre going to copse at this rate!
Find out who did this! If there are photos, bring them to me!
Gong Tae-su bellowed in a furious rage.
He had never sustained such a grievous injury before.
He, who had trodden a victorious path, had never tasted defeat or failure.
The symbol of unbroken triumph had lost his most vital left arm.
It was questionable whether he could still function effectively as a mage hunter.
It wasnt just a blow to his pride; it was like being trampled, crushed, and thrown into a trash can.
Even in pain, he couldntprehend the battle with Kang-hoo.
What kind of skill could cause an explosion using the wounds on the shoulder and armpit as a medium?
By craftsmanship, it had to be the work of an assassin-type hunter, but the nature of the skill also bore characteristics of the magic realm.
I, Gong Tae-su!
An outcry filled with rage erupted.
Having lost his arm as a trophy, he couldnt wash away the humiliation.
There was only one way.
To find the one who had done this and end it, somehow.
That was the only perfect revenge.
Three hourster.
I got this like this?
I thought Id take a leisurely trip to Ulsan, but then I saw Gong Tae-su. I cut it nicely and brought it.
Wait a minute. This isnt a dream, right? Its really the arm cut by Seon-gyu, isnt it? This is real?
If it seems like a dream, then take it.
No, no! Im awake! This is real, its real!
Lee Ye-rins mouth fell open when she met Kang-hoo at dawn and verified Gong Tae-sus left arm.
It matched the information they had previously about the arm.
The tattoo with a famous quote in Latin, and the magistone, specially crafted for surgery, were evident.
She hadnt hoped for Kang-hoos failure when she gave the request, but she had not expected his sess either.
The title of the Butcher of Ulsan hadnt been given for nothing. He was strong and tactful.
How Kang-hoo had managed to make Gong Tae-su helplessly lose his left arm was beyondprehension.
Moreover, ording to information obtained from the scene in Ulsan, most of the mercenaries were either dead or captured.
The dead mercenaries were rather lucky, while those captured alive were in the worst situation.
They were not only fodder for Gong Tae-sus venting but also faced a high likelihood of being sold into human trafficking.
In other words.
Looking at the situation on the ground, it seemed as if the mercenaries had been massively sacrificed in a game set by Gong Tae-su.
Yet, Kang-hoo had effortlessly cut off Gong Tae-sus left arm and brought it back.
While the scene was hellish, it appeared to have nothing to do with Kang-hoo.
Lets settle up. Id like to receive the value for the left arm, and it would be great if you could buy these items immediately.
Wait a moment, Mr. Seon-gyu. Dont worry about the settlement; it will be done quickly. Can we talk about something else for a bit?
We can talk while settling up. Why do you want to start with a conversation?
Alright. Then lets begin by appraising these three rings while we talk. You want to dispose of all three, right?
Yes.
Upon Kang-hoos answer, Lee Ye-rin began examining each ring while continuing with the other matter she had mentioned.
Have you ever thought about quitting being a requester and joining our Cheong-an? Im confident we can support you well.
That yground is too small to be interesting.
I thought so. I expected that response, but it still hurts to hear it so quickly.
No offense meant.
Kang-hoo didnt dislike Lee Ye-rin. He simply thought their organization was too small.
For Kang-hoo, who intended to confront the Jeonghwa Guild, an organization muchrger than Cheong-an was necessary.
Mr. Seon-gyu, I really hope you will continue to work with our mercenary group. Honestly
Honestly?
I think I might fall for your skills, Mr. Seon-gyu. Ive managed thousands of requesters, but Ive never met a crazy guy like you.
Crazy guy, huh. Not a wrong description. Definitely.
Kang-hoo, who rarely smiled, let out a chuckle at the unexpected metaphor thrown by Lee Ye-rin.
Yes, he was certainly a crazy guy.
A madman living only for today, casting aside tomorrow. Exactly that.
Chapter 32: The Great Decapitation (1)
Chapter 32: The Great Decapitation (1)
The settlement was over in an instant.
Lee Ye-rin could handle much more money than Kang-hoo had anticipated.
As a result, it took less than five minutes to settle the request fee and the sale price of the items.
Bnce: 4.9 billion won.
At first nce, this might seem like a substantial sum, but the reality was different.
Grade 4 items would deplete the funds if she bought four, and Grade 3 items were entirely out of reach.
It was no wonder that the hunters world was referred to as their world.
As one ascended from the middle to upper to top tier, the economic scale that governed it shifted dramatically.
Top-tier hunters like Jang Si-hwan disregarded any items below Grade 4 obtained from dungeons.
Theybeled them junk items, considering them worthless.
Ha, this is really
Although Lee Ye-rin had expressed her astonishment several times before, the fact that she now possessed Gong Tae-sus left arm was still astounding to her.
She was capable of fighting Gong Tae-su on equal terms, but to maim him unterally like this was something else entirely.
It wasnt just spection; it was the harsh reality. This was because dealing with a hunter ranked in the 200s was no mean feat.
Lee Ye-rin, who had assessed Kang-hoos level at their initial meeting, thought as much.
Thus, even with Kang-hoos high level, she had assumed it would be challenging for him to surpass level 70.
A level 70 hunter inflicting such damage on a hunter more than three times their level?
That was inconceivable.
Nheless, Kang-hoos actions so far had been a series of feats deemed impossible.
I feel like the texture of the original work is changing little by little.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo was contemting while observing Lee Ye-rin, who gazed at him with sparkling eyes.
In the original story, the rtionship between Lee Ye-rin and Shin Kang-hoo was not as close or personal.
She indeed bes a powerful adversary to The Thirteen Starster on.
But she didnt have much interaction with Shin Kang-hoo. They just recognized each others existence and supported each other invisibly.
But now, she is showing enough interest to actively make a recruitment offer.
The main storyline of the original is about Jang Si-hwan. It shouldnt be a problem to touch the side stories lightly.
Kang-hoo thought so.
The original, written strictly around the protagonist Jang Si-hwan,posed the stories of the surrounding characters inly.
The story rted to Gong Tae-su was also briefly mentioned in the original as passing news.
Jang Si-hwanughed after watching the news.
"Ulsan has always been like that. Why bother with a crazy guy like Gong Tae-su and make life difficult for yourself?"
Since it wasn''t an ident in Seoul, the news article disappeared from his mind like vtile alcohol.
Thats the content.
This time, Jang Si-hwan would have heard about the series of events in Ulsan through the news.
But he would probably be talking about slightly different content.
He didnt seem to have much interest in it.
Just be careful not to touch the mainstream. Its better to get the attention of the Jeonghwa Guildter.
Thats what he thought when.
Lee Ye-rin presented a new request proposal.
The gold edging on the border made it feel like the level of the request had changed.
She started the conversation.
You like to get straight to the point, right?
Of course.
Its an assassination request. The targets name is Jo Gu-bin. Hes a murderer. A child kidnapper and murderer.
.
Kang-hoo didnt have a grand belief in justice.
But at least he had thoughts about lines that shouldnt be crossed as a human. The minimum duty.
But kidnapping children and then murdering them. Thebination of words felt horribly dreadful, and his expression turned into a frown.
The one who requested this is the victims father. What he wants is revenge for his daughter and himself. The death of Jo Gu-bin.
Have you located him?
Thest confirmed location was Ground Zero. There have been no records since then.
Cowardly bastard.
Kang-hoos expression turned bitter.
In reality, many criminals lived in Ground Zero.
It was such a dangerous ce that even the Hunter Public Safety Bureau hesitated to search there. The variables were too many.
The sess fee is 1 billion won. If you can recover the daughters belongings or even her body, there will be additional negotiatedpensation.
How much?
At least another billion won. Plus, the fathers desperate desire will be added to it.
Any additional details?
Theres a condition that must be met before the reward is paid. The client wants to see Jo Gu-bin dying.
Like a video call?
Exactly. Not a recorded video, but a live stream.
I can picture the father gritting his teeth, enduring each day for his daughters revenge.
How can we even measure that pain? It just hurts the heart.
Lee Ye-rins eyes reddened.
Kang-hoo also became deep in thought.
It felt not merely like punishing a viin, but a righteous journey to y a demon.
Chasing Jo Gu-bin, it seems likely that Ill naturallye across the Mad Srkium.
He needed the Mad Srkium anyway.
Since he had nned to visit Ground Zero at least once, it seemed like a good time to take care of everything there.
Besides, he had a rough idea of where Jo Gu-bin might be hiding.
After all, he, the original author, had designed the space of Ground Zero. Backtracking wouldnt be difficult.
Meanwhile.
What a disturbing dream.
Jang Si-hwan, who had woken up from a nightmare, gulped down red wine poured into arge cup.
The wine he roughly gulped spilled over his lips like blood, but he didnt seem to care.
Lately, Jang Si-hwan had been having frequent nightmares.
Someone kepting to him in his dreams, attacking him without warning.
What was scary was that the guy was so elusive, making his movementspletely unpredictable.
If you thought he was in front, he was behind; if he seemed below, he was above. It was like dealing with a ghost.
He turned on the TV.
Deleting all general channels and keeping only those rted to hunters was Jang Si-hwans long-standing habit.
Today, as always, he skimmed through domestic and international hunter news. Updating information was essential.
Then, a piece of domestic news caught his attention.
It was about a recent sh in Ulsan targeting Gong Tae-su, the leader of the Red Blood organization.
I had a feeling there would be a hunt for me someday. Did Gong Tae-su really n it?
The flow was as expected.
It detailed how mercenaries entangled in arge scheme by Gong Tae-su were either annihted or captured.
But what was noteworthy was this:
Gong Tae-su lost his left arm?
The news reported that Gong Tae-su, the very mastermind of the scheme, had sustained significant damage.
For a mage, having both arms, capable of precise control, is crucial.
But Gong Tae-su had lost hismonly used left arma major ident.
Moreover, the identity of the hunter who had cut off Gong Tae-sus left arm waspletely unexpected.
They had only a glimpse of his back, and that too from old, low-frame CCTV footage.
Without a clear view of his face, identifying him was impossible.
Theres always someone above those who run, and those who fly; someone who watches over everything.
Jang Si-hwan chuckled.
He didnt know who it was, but someone had aplished something remarkable.
Who could be the hunter who, in just two seconds, severed Gong Tae-sus left arm and casually took it as a trophy?
In a world full of issues, ordinary news is quickly forgotten.
But this news, he wanted to follow up on carefully. It seemed the person involved was extraordinary.
Jang Si-hwan immediately made a phone call.
To the Jeonghwa Guilds intelligence strategy team.
A team with exceptional gathering skills utilized the internal database of the Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
They meticulously searched for even the smallest piece of gossip and reported it.
Yes, go ahead.
The Gong Tae-su incident in Ulsan. Gather all the information about the hunter who severed his left arm and report it to me.
Understood.
The order was given promptly.
Documents rted to this hunter would soon pile up on Jang Si-hwans desk until his identity was revealed.
Before searching for Jo Gu-bin, Kang-hoo first stopped at Suwon Station.
He did so because the dungeon where he could learn the Great Decapitation skill was owned by the Onnuri Guild.
Their base was right at Suwon Station. Therefore, after meeting Lee Ye-rin at Pyeongtaek Station and heading north, he stopped at Suwon Station.
The atmosphere is different.
Although not as much as in Seoul, the area around Suwon Station was quite stable in terms of public safety.
There was even a festival-like event in front of the station, with hunters from the Onnuri Guild conducting a campaign.
The Suwon - Clean Hunter Campaign.
The name was a bit grand, but it simply meant that hunters would notmit crimes at Suwon Station.
Thanks to the influence of the Onnuri Guild, which tightly controlled the area around Suwon Station, the stations atmosphere was indeed pleasant.
Furthermore, numerous small and medium-sized guilds were openly recruiting members, which was quite a sight.
In other areas, there would have been fights long ago. Peacefulpetition was not usually tolerated.
Kang-hoo immediately looked for the Onnuri Guilds dedicated building.
The 15-story Onnuri Building stood prominently in front of the station.
Once inside the building,
Id like to speak with the person in charge of renting a dungeon license.
He found the responsible person in the lobby.
He added a bit more to the conversation.
I have this much money, so theres no need for sizing up.
He made sure to verify the money he had to prevent a wasteful conversation.
Kang-hoo hade prepared to spend about 1 billion won if necessary.
Given the opportunity to learn the Great Decapitation without any penalties
It was certainly not a waste.
The penalty-free Great Decapitation was a perfect one-hit skill.
It could serve as a sort of ultimate move.
Ill guide you. Pleasee this way.
A polite female guide started to lead Kang-hoo, clearly following instructions from her superior.
As expected.
By confirming his funds upfront, he avoided any remarks like who are you to rent it.
Such is the power of money.
It sidesteps judgments based on appearance and awkward refusals at the door.
When they reached the 13th floor in the elevator,
two floors below the top floor, he encountered the person in charge.
The man, with his strikingly dyed sports hair,
casually greeted Kang-hoo, his left hand shoved into his trouser pocket.
Im Han Seung-hyeok, the head of the Onnuri Guilds Dungeon Management Team.
As soon as Han Seung-hyeok finished his formal greeting,
I want to rent a single raid license for the Baltman Dungeon owned by the Onnuri Guild. My offer is 1 billion. I wont negotiate twice.
Kang-hoo immediately stated the terms he had in mind, making a unteral offer that left no room for negotiation.
Chapter 33: The Great Decapitation (2)
Chapter 33: The Great Decapitation (2)
Han Seung-hyeok tilted his head.
The amount offered was attractive.
Guildsmonly did not rent dungeon licenses to strangers on the first meeting.
So, there was nothing unusual about quoting a slightly higher price.
From the lenders perspective, if things did not align, they could simply choose not to rent.
However, Han Seung-hyeok could not understand why Kang-hoo was interested in the Baltman Dungeon.
It would be understandable if the dungeon offered sweet experience points or guaranteed high-quality magic stones.
But the Baltman Dungeon did not have such guaranteed perks.
The boss Baltman was indeed a distinctive monster, but the rewards were not special.
Han Seung-hyeok asked,
May I know the reason?
Ive wanted to tackle this dungeon for a while, and I had a very good dreamst night.
Do you think you might get a good item?
Something like that.
Thinking of burning 1 billion won on a dream seemed absurd to Han Seung-hyeok.
What dungeon is a lottery ticket? To justify 1 billion won, one must at least acquire a Grade 4 item.
Anyway, as Kang-hoo seemed quite eager to rent the dungeon license, Han Seung-hyeok changed his tune.
Hmm. Since its quite in demand, youll have to pay 1.2 billion won.
Scratch.
Kang-hoo pushed his chair back and stood up without a word, not even looking at Han Seung-hyeok.
If he had to pay more, he might as well negotiate from scratch with a warlord.
Warlords always wanted to amass military funds, so they frequently dealt in licenses.
Uh, excuse me?
Han Seung-hyeok was flustered.
The managersmission for license rental was 10%. The original offer already guaranteed 100 million won, but things seemed to be going awry.
1 billion! Lets settle at 1 billion! I got a bit greedy there, but lets cleanly cut it off at 1 billion!
Kang-hoo stopped.
Han Seung-hyeok probably thought it was a good deal.
Selling a dungeon license that did not sell well.
But for Kang-hoo, it meant something entirely different.
For an assassin ss, a skill like Great Decapitation is a rare find.
Even when avable through a skill book, its expensive.
At a minimum, it would cost around 10 billion won.
If such a skill could be acquired for 1 billion won using a trick, it would undoubtedly be a bargain.
Of course, from Han Seung-hyeoks perspective, who was oblivious to theplexities, Kang-hoo might appear to be a fool.
It was better for him to think that.
They agreed on the deal.
When can I go?
Kang-hoo turned his head to ask Han Seung-hyeok the most vital question.
The timing couldnt have been better.
The entry time for the Baltman Dungeon was in six hours.
Apparently, it reset at that time.
Thus, Kang-hoo rented a motel room near the Baltman Dungeon to wait.
Feeling slightly lethargic, he took a cold shower to revive his waning spirits.
After the shower, Kang-hoo checked the stock of Srkium in the refrigerator.
Seven wont be enough.
The Baltman required considerable firepower, and in the event of trouble, the Srkium might run out quickly.
It looks like I have no choice but to head to Ground Zero.
A visit to Ground Zero was necessary, regardless of the task involving Jo Gu-bin.
Once he resolved to go, numerous worries surfaced.
Ground Zero was a wilderness in the truest sense.
It was teeming with all manner of mutant monsters and ouw hunters.
Furthermore, hunters from North Korea sometimes ventured south, raising the possibility of encounters.
Unsurprisingly, rtionships with North Korean hunters were strained. If he was unlucky, they could even be adversaries.
Beep.
On a whim, he switched to the hunter-rted TV news and heard:
[The organization ''Taehwa River,'' based near Ulsan''s Taehwa River Station, has initiated arge-scale assault.
Their target is the Red Blood organization, now in disarray due to their leader''s grave injury.Taehwa River seems to be rallying all nearby organizations to seize this opportunity to drive them out.]
Its turned into an age of warring states.
Kang-hoo scoffed.
It didnt matter how things unfolded.
Even if Gong Tae-su died, another like him would emerge.
When a bad guy dies, usually an even worse one fills the vacancy.
Driving out viins for a better world, a better era, is something that happens only in novels.
Then, a call came in.
It was obvious who would call him first among those who knew his number.
Yeah, Seo-yeon.
Oppa, are you doing well?
It doesnt sound like you called just to check in. Just tell me what you need.
Cha So-hee went down to Jeonju. Not sure why, but it seems shes gathered some rted information.
Did you have someone follow her?
Yeah. I hired someone personally because I was worried about you. There shouldnt be any problems.
Thanks. But you dont need to go to such lengths.
Its not a bother. Im just looking after what I can.
Alright.
Oppa.
Yeah.
If you want, I can open a path for you in Seoul. Its really safe there.
Although she used Seoul as an indirect metaphor, she meant she could establish a connection with the Jeonghwa Guild for him.
For Kang-hoo, the Jeonghwa Guild was a ce filled with antipathy, destined to be his greatest enemy in the future.
Of course, he didnt think Han Seo-yeon brought it up with ill intent. It was her way of caring.
Its okay. Thanks for worrying about me.
If you ever need help, please tell me. Understand, oppa? Dont struggle on your own.
Got it. Seo-yeon, you also take care of yourself and be safe, especially when youre going into dungeons.
Yeah, I will!
Im hanging up. Take care.
Kang-hoo ended the call.
In the original story, Han Seo-yeon is someone who only ever had eyes for Shin Kang-hoo.
A symbol of pure love, so to speak.
In thetter part of the story, she even sacrificed her life for Shin Kang-hoo.
Ironically, her sacrifice triggered his rampage, leading to his tragedy.
For the first time, Shin Kang-hoo, who had always maintained hisposure against Jang Si-hwan, became emotional.
This became his fatal weakness, leading to his death at the hands of Jang Si-hwan.
It could be considered a splendid end for a viin at the climax of the story.
Han Seo-yeon
During the time they loved each other, Shin Kang-hoo in the original story spared no sacrifices for Han Seo-yeon. He loved her without regret.
With those memories dearly held in her heart, she now repaid a debt of gratitude to him.
With six hours of spare time, he would normally have gone straight to bed to sleep.
But today, with so many things on his mind, sleep eluded him.
So he turned on Huntergram.
It was a socialworking service exclusively for hunters, often used for promotion and cover videos.
Since manypetent hunters openly disyed their skills, there were plenty of their videos.
Naturally, there were also videos of Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeong.
Their unique view count surpassed one million in just one day after upload.
Their poprity was crazy.
Hmm.
Kang-hoos expression hardened as he watched the promotional videos.
Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeong were both high-level hunters with many contracted constetions, so theirbined abilities were inevitably formidable.
The biggest issue, however, was the overpoweredbination of their abilities.
Jang Si-hwan was a magic-space hunter, and Chae Gwanhyeong was a swordsmanship-space hunter.
Meaning they could freely change spaces and attack their opponents.
Instantaneously moving from east to west, a power guaranteed by their ability, it didnt even overload their bodies.
Their hunter nature was specialized in space movement, using short-distance movement skills to their hearts content.
He couldnt really me anyone since he had crafted them that way in the original work.
Even with the best disguise and hiding every nail and w, its dangerous within the Jeonghwa Guild.
He had considered joining the Jeonghwa Guild for faster growth, but the more he thought about it, the more the cons seemed to outweigh the pros.
Take An Yeong-ho as a close example; they had used and nearly kidnapped him, hadnt they?
Moreover, Yu Cheonghwa, one of The Thirteen Stars, was already in the Jeonghwa Guild, which was concerning.
If things went wrong, Kang-hoos skills could be copied by her. That was not a good situation.
If I really want to nestle in some faction, the warlords in Gangwon-do arent a bad option.
Kang-hoo wasnt interested only in the capital region.
In Gangwon-do, there were more human-like warlords.
Hunters gathered there under righteous beliefs like maintaining peace or eradicating crime.
He thought that ce was worth considering as well.
In the wilderness, survival is tough for many animals from birth due to predators.
And as they grow into adults, bing attractive prey makes survival even harder.
Kang-hoo felt he was in a simr situation.
He thought he needed to be on alert at least until he reached around level 200.
The risk of death is always present, no matter where one goes. There was not a moments peace.
After the waiting time ended,
Kang-hoo arrived at the Baltman Dungeon, where hunters dispatched by the Onnuri Guild were guarding the entrance.
This kind of service is nice.
Being an officially rented ce, they were meticulously attentive to follow-up management.
A few hunters looked at Kang-hoo curiously, and a hunter who seemed to be the team leader spoke to him.
Youre level 33, and youre entering the level 100 Baltman Dungeon? Solo?
Since a level scan was mandatory in the rental process, his level being known wasnt much of a concern.
But,
That damn numbers game is always the issue.
The team leaders words, which reduced his potential to mere numbers, irritated him.
Everyone judged by numbers, shivering in fear, convinced they would die if the gap was too wide. They gave up too soon.
Kang-hoo ignored them and entered the dungeon.
His n was to avoid engaging in multiplebats simultaneously.
He began his attack on the Baltman Dungeon carefully, slowly, and calmly, making sure not to overexert himself.
There was no race against the clock.
Having paid a steep price for ess to the dungeon, he didnt want to miss out on any experience.
As a result, he steadily leveled up.
Thanks to his passive skill Contempt for the Weak, his attacks from behind were effective, smoothing the path of conquest.
Yet, there was one nagging regret that persisted throughout the conquest.
The ss really cant overlook the impact of a weapon.
He was reflecting on his primary weapon and dagger, Skys Delight.
Typically, named hunters possess extremely expensive, valuable, and functional primary weapons.
These weapons are usually Grade 3 or higher ande with various utilities.
However, Skys Delight, at Grade 5, offered little beyond nonbat recovery options.
This was a constant source of regret.
Of course, the fact that he had reached his current level of skill without depending on the power of a weapon was remarkable.
But, always striving for excellence, he couldnt shake off a sense of inadequacy and yearning in the present moment.
Chapter 34: The Great Decapitation (3)
Chapter 34: The Great Decapitation (3)
So, he made a n.
He decided that if he were to buy an item in the future, he would focus all his attention on weapons.
Skys Delight was a sufficiently good weapon, but with enough money, he could acquire a much better dagger.
Kang-hoo prioritized weapons to ensure more firepower in battle.
Even upgrading to a Grade 3 weapon would make a significant difference.
Because he did not overexert himself and steadily conquered the dungeon, Kang-hoos level rose steadily.
He had now reached level 37.
He allocated all the bonus stats from leveling up to his health.
The special effect of Proportional Health from the Soul Mate Gloves also increased steadily.
Feeling a bit tired.
Kang-hoo massaged his stiff shoulders as he looked at the boss in front of him.
The ck mage, Baltman.
To go into more detail, Baltman was a health-type mage.
In other words, a mage with good stamina who could also cast magic.
He was capable of closebat due to his high endurance and could actively attack if needed.
Usually, mages feared getting hurt and avoided closebat.
But a health-type mage, confident in his recovery and stamina, could go all out without looking back.
Baltmans specialty was Scorching.
His primary ability wasbustion, and thus the battlefield was also designed with fire elements.
Torches were lit at intervals of three meters across the battlefield, and not far away,va flowed.
There was a chance of dying in theva, not just from Baltman.
Phew.
He took a deep breath.
Defeating Baltman was not just the priority.
First, he needed to provoke Baltmans special defensive skill.
Baltman often used a skill called Consume by Fire to block his opponents skills.
True to its crude name, it consumed iing skills with fire and swallowed them.
Doing so allowed him to absorb 50% of the mana invested in the skill by the opponenta bizarre skill.
Kang-hoo nned to make Baltman use this skill on the Great Decapitation skill book.
Once the skill book was consumed by fire, the Great Decapitation skill was learned, irrespective of the users will.
Boss monsters, unlike hunters, didnt receive penalties for learning skills of a different nature.
Therefore,
if Kang-hoo killed Baltman, he could steal the Great Decapitation skill from him.
A skill with its penalty cleanly erased, maintaining its 100% effectiveness.
Chomp.
He bit into a stalk of Srkium.
No matter how well he controlled his breathing in battle, it was impossible to kill someone like Baltman without an adrenaline rush.
So, he had prepared in advance.
Insolent creature! Why not save yourself the trouble and turn back?
Baltman was babbling from a distance, but Kang-hoo didnt respond.
Some hunters foolishly charged in when provoked by such words, but that was the dumbest case. It was of no help.
Whoosh!
Instead of replying, Kang-hoo opened the battle by linking the leap and eleration skills.
Leap was a skill in itself, a powerful skill that propelled one in the desired direction.
Whenbined with eleration, it allowed for almost instantaneous movement, like lightning.
As the number of usable skills increased, Kang-hoo had been devising abination of these two skills.
This was because he could activate the awakening effect significantly reducing skill casting time whenever he wanted.
Burn.
Baltman immediately responded.
Though startled by Kang-hoos incredible speed, Baltman seemed rather pleased.
Whoosh!
A giant wall of mes erupted from the spot Baltman pointed to with his fingertip.
The bright red, zing barrier emitted heat like a small sun ced right there.
It was powerful enough that even Kang-hoo couldnt ignore it and pass through.
Despite the fire right in front of him, Baltman himself didnt flinch or feel the heat.
Creating an area that blocks vision works to my advantage.
Rather than being surprised by Baltmans quick response, Kang-hoo saw it as an opportunity to use.
So, he created a wall of fire that blocked vision, simr to Baltmans, by infusing his protective barrier with fire attributes.
Since the protective barrier was the instable type, he could ce it anywhere he desired.
With that, Kang-hoo subtly extended his hand toward Baltmans position, which he had noted earlier.
The skill he activated was Abduction.
Baltman, seemingly unaware that something from beyond the invisible mes could seize him, was caught by surprise.
Ugh!
With a cry of defeat, Baltman iled in mid-air and was swiftly pulled in front of Kang-hoo.
Crack!
After securing Baltmans cor to prevent easy escape, Kang-hoo relentlessly drove his dagger into Baltmans shoulder and chest with the Bleeding Stab skill.
Aaargh!
Despite Baltmans groans, heunched another skill with his right hand.
It was a preemptive counterattack before the situation escted to death or severe injury.
Whoosh!
Damn.
Kang-hoo bit his lower lip and temporarily retreated.
Baltman shielded himself with a skill named Fires Blessing.
He converted his entire body into a towering me, made possible by his absolute immunity to fire.
Certainly challenging.
Unlike other boss monsters Kang-hoo had dispatched with ease before, Baltmans reactions exhibited a level of sophistication.
Yet, this didnt render Kang-hoo powerless. He had managed to wound Baltman.
Now, it was time to evaluate the damage.
[Blood Flower]
Pop! Pop! Pop!
With the activation of Blood Flower, simultaneous explosions burst forth from Baltmans shoulders, trapezius muscles, and upper chest.
This was the devastating effect of Blood Flower.
It utilized the wounds inflicted earlier as a conduit, dealing unexpected additional damage to the opponent.
Kang-hoounched another attack.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
This time, he employed Shadow Step.
Five shadows darted forward, and with the awakening effect, Kang-hoo executed Shadow Step once more.
Crunch!
He bit into a stalk of Srkium without hesitation, swallowing the juice that flowed out.
The onset of mana hypersensitivity was imminent.
When he created another opening in Baltman, he would need to strike relentlessly, without a moments pause.
Burn everything to ashes!
Baltman, seeing Kang-hoos scattered shadows, stretched his hand towards the sky in irritation.
Then, as if from nowhere, a rain of fire began to pour down like a shower.
Unable to target Kang-hoo specifically, Baltman decided to attack all targets simultaneously.
Hes not affected by his own attribute-based attack, which allows for such aggressive responses.
Kang-hoo inwardly envied Baltman.
As adept as he was with a dagger, being invincible to dagger attacks would be ideal.
Pop.
Kang-hoo quickly switched ces with one of his remaining shadows.
Baltman was not interested in the shadows; his focus was solely on Kang-hoos main body.
So when Kang-hoo suddenly disappeared from his sight, Baltmans pupils shook in panic.
Then.
Kang-hoo, having approached Baltman from the closest position, gritted his teeth and stabbed him with the dagger.
Thrust!
Argh! You!
Knowing Baltmans Fires Blessing skill from experience, Kang-hoo stepped back slightly before approaching again.
As he began to analyze Baltmans response patterns, his movements no longer seemedplex.
After being tricked by Shadow Step, he wouldnt want to fall for it again.
Kang-hoo set a trap.
He deployed the Shadow Step skill again, this time sending a shadow overtly in front of Baltman.
Having previously experienced the switch between shadow and body, Baltman wouldnt want to be fooled by the same trick.
At that moment.
Kang-hoo pulled out the Great Decapitation skill book from his pocket and threw it with all his might at Baltman.
While slightly adjusting the shadows speed, he timed it so the skill book would reach Baltman first.
Did his anger boil over from being sopletely dominated by Kang-hoo?
Aaaah!
With his face flushed red-hot, Baltman spewed forth mes like dragons breath.
He used the Consume by Fire skill.
It worked.
Whoosh!
Caught in the Consume by Fire, the Great Decapitation skill book vanished instantly without a trace.
In its ce, the contents transformed into a blue essence that slipped into Baltmans mouth.
Had it been any other skill consumed by fire, it would have replenished Baltmans mana.
Unfortunately, Baltman received not the needed mana but a strange skill he had no idea how to use.
The deed wasplete!
Now it was eptable to kill Baltman.
Kang-hoo could now steal the Great Decapitation skill from him.
Believing he had done something pointless, an infuriated Baltman reached out toward Kang-hoo.
Ill kill you!
Above his hands formed a whip-like object; it was the Fire Whip skill.
It whipped back and forth unpredictably and burst into mes upon impact, a highly troublesome skill indeed.
Kang-hoo, undeterred, used Leap to close the distance between himself and Baltman rapidly.
Before the fierce whip could touch him, he sidestepped behind Baltman.
Ugh.
Kang-hoo grimaced.
His body ached from using skills consecutively.
Even with the pain mitigation from Srkium and the Tenacious Endurance Ring, he was in this much difort.
Without these aids, he might have been writhing on the ground rather than fighting.
He was thankful for the existence of these auxiliary tools.
Despite the continuous drain on his health and the induced pain from mana hypersensitivity, he managed to endure.
Thrust!
Argh!
He drove his dagger between Baltmans waist and ribs from behind.
Being a boss monster of the mage ss, Baltmans internal armor was not very strong.
Kang-hoo gripped the dagger firmly and twisted it mercilessly, like opening a tightly sealed jar.
The act was hellish for the one enduring itthe pain of twisted skin, muscles, and even internal organs. It would have been abnormal to bear it even slightly.
Aaaaah!
Baltman screamed.
Kang-hoo did not stop; he plunged the Sight Steal and Shallow Chaos skills into Baltman.
By robbing his sight and confusing his sense of space, he ensured a final blow.
The Finale.
Kang-hoo had no intention of dragging out the battle.
There was no second chance in opportunity. No next time. No luck or fluke.
The first opportunity had to be thest!
Kang-hoo was determined to end it here.
Chapter 35: The Great Decapitation (4)
Chapter 35: The Great Decapitation (4)
Fwwoosh!
As expected, Baltman activated a mechanism to shield himself with the protection of fire.
Kang-hoo, having anticipated this response, had already retreated and quickly regted his breath.
Temporarily blinded by the theft of sight, Baltman had no idea of Kang-hoos whereabouts.
Thus, Kang-hoo resorted to an old but reliable method of attack for this situation.
Haap!
With a shout, he released the Spear of the Skys Delight from his fingertips, roaring as it flew toward Baltman.
It was a dagger throw.
Ill kill you! I will definitely kill y Argh!
Baltmans words were cut off as his body, aze with mes and revenge, was pierced right between the eyes by the dagger.
There was no need to check; the strike was clean and lethal, resulting in instant death.
Baltman fell to his knees, motionless as if time had stopped.
Loose lips often lead to a bad end.
Kang-hoo clicked his tongue as he confirmed Baltmans extinguished life amidst the mes.
[Your level has significantly increased to 39.]
[You have sessfully plundered the Great Decapitation skill from the target.]
Two messages appeared simultaneously.
He had reached level 39.
Level 40, which unlocked basic skills for assassins, was just within reach.
The excitement was inevitable; the new skill would start with maximum proficiency upon acquisition.
[Great Decapitation]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max]
[Consumes 25% of both health and mana to deliver a critical strike to a designated target.]
[Damage is proportional to the equipped weapon and the user''s total strength, and inversely proportional to the target''s resilience.]
[Monsters and hunters below 33% of the user''s level will meet instant death.]
With my level now at 39, monsters or hunters below level 13 will face instant death,
Kang-hoo noted, satisfied as he examined the Great Decapitation skill.
The skill configuration would have been disastrous if he had learned it with an upational penalty.
However, without any penalty and with maximum proficiency, theposition was almost overpowered.
A billion won spent on the license rental?
Not regrettable at all.
If one considered the potential value, it could have been worth ten, even a hundred times more.
The loot is decent too.
He then picked up two green magic stones that had dropped where Baltman died.
With each worth a hundred million won, he had recovered two hundred million won.
He was eager to reach levels 40 and 50 quickly.
The joy of gradually acquiring more skills was truly satisfying.
[You seem underwhelming.]
The Dimension Plunderer, who rarely spoke, initiated a conversation after a long time.
It felt pleasant to hear from the usually quiet constetion.
Thinking of tackling higher-level dungeons now.
[Indeed, that seems advisable. Your current level won''t provide sufficient motivation.]
Im ready for any test. Itd be nice if youd suggest one without hesitation.
[The decision is mine to make.]
When more constetions start showing interest in me, you might end up a forgotten old man in the back room.
[Your arrogant nature is charming, but don''t think it can provoke me.]
Huh, time is on my side.
Kang-hoo smiled slyly in response.
It was a disy of his confidence.
If he had been an unremarkable hunter, time would certainly have been on the side of the constetions.
However, Kang-hoo considered himself a hunter of considerable investment value from the perspective of the constetions.
He had already mastered dungeons below level 100 without much difficulty.
The only real challenge was the boss monsters, but even these remained within the realm of solvable problems.
For a level 39 hunter, soloing dungeons of levels 40 to 50 was typically the limit of capability.
But Kang-hoo was shattering these limits, turning the impossible into the possible.
This is why he was monopolizing experience points in higher dungeons, experiencing explosive growth.
It wasnt just a stroke of luck.
His wisdom had led him to utilize 200% of his capabilities.
That night,
Kang-hoo decided to celebrate his sessful skill acquisition at a bar near Suwon Station.
As per his usual, he ordered a Srkium Burst.
The bars atmosphere was lively and cheerful. Security seemed to be doing its job well, as there were no unpleasant incidents.
He mused that if the vibe of Suwon Station could be replicated elsewhere, it could make for a very livable city.
At the very least, there was no threat of sudden battles or bloodshed.
Yet one should never let their guard downpletely.
In ces too at ease with peace, hungry wolves tend to emerge.
Daejeon Station, now engulfed in a great war, was once a safe haven.
The tragedy unfolded when Eclipse and Heuksaja, greedy for the prosperity fostered in peace, reached out to Daejeon Station. Lee Ye-rins Cheong-an turned it into a battlefield.
Hmm.
Kang-hoo grimaced, noting his table was the only one with a solitary upant.
Its not that he minded being alone, but that didnt mean he preferred it.
The absence of a friend to share his struggles with was indeed a profound loneliness.
He could have confided in Han Seo-yeon, but that wouldnt have been fair to her.
Friendship. Love. These emotions hardly stir anything in me, probably because Ive grown numb.
A hint of self-mocking cynicism crept in.
Shin Kang-hoo was designed to be a character without warmth, cold-blooded.
Yet he wasnt perpetually cold; on rare asions, he thawed slightly.
I wonder how my friends from Cheongmyeong Detention Center are faring.
Like at that moment.
Fleeting memories and sentiments crossed his mind, but they stayed just that.
He never let empathy or pity sway him to make inefficient or dangerous choices. His actions were always controlled by reason.
One day, I should really take a good rest.
After finishing his Srkium Burst with satisfaction, Kang-hoo stood up to leave.
He had pushed his body quite hard in the battle with Baltman.
The ambiance of Suwon Station was tranquil enough to make him want to sleep there in peace.
His business there was now finished.
Next was Ground Zero.
From collecting Mad Srkium to dealing with Jo Gu-bin, as requested by Lee Ye-rin.
At that moment,
I wonder how hes doing?
In the VIP room, also known as the top floor of the Rikou Hotel, which is exclusive to Rikou Guild members and also a five-star hotel, a man reminisced about Kang-hoo over a ss of wine.
It was An Yeong-ho.
After returning to Japan,
He utilized his guilds internal and external intelligenceworks to investigate Kang-hoo.
Naturally, since he had used the alias Jung Sun-kyu, the information collected matched that name.
There seemed to be quite a bit of information.
However, when the data waspiled, it barely filled half of an A4 sheet, indicating its insufficiency.
From this, it was impossible to guess Kang-hoos actual skills or level, let alone how he acquired such abilities.
Each skill he used to save me was extraordinary even my uncle doesnt believe it.
An Yeong-ho vividly remembered every moment spent with Kang-hoo.
Even though he hadnt seen it himself, he had heard how Kang-hoo single-handedly subdued two level 80 hunters.
To kill trained hunters with one blow is no easy feat, nearly impossible.
Yet, Kang-hoo had easily subdued his enemies and saved him by leaping between buildings.
His ss was definitely Assassin, but thebination of skills he used seemed to go beyond the constraints of his profession.
Thats why his uncle and the assassin Suzuki Fumiya also misjudged and didnt believe it.
Of course, An Yeong-ho was deeply grateful to Kang-hoo for saving his nephew.
The privileges and benefits promised to Kang-hoo by the guild were not just lip service. He was nning to treat Kang-hoo with the respect he deserved.
He just thought that his nephews memories of Kang-hoo might have been somewhat exaggerated.
I hope he visits Japan soon. There are some good dungeons here. It would be nice to sync our rhythms.
Thinking of Kang-hoo, he felt admiration and awe toward the powerful.
It was like the feeling of seeing a celebrity, but perhaps even stronger because Kang-hoo had saved his life.
Maybe I should leave him a message?
He casually thought of contacting him, eager to know when he woulde to Japan.
An Yeong-ho, not liking to be indebted, wanted to show his gratitude to Kang-hoo in a more tangible way.
Jung Sun-kyu hyeongnim, how are you doing? I am An Yeong-ho, whom you saved before
He made his decision and acted swiftly.
An Yeong-ho began typing a message to Kang-hoo immediately.
The exorbitant cost of living in Seoul.
For the average person, the cost of living in Seoul was so high that it felt like having to drink bathroom tap water instead of bottled water.
But for Kang-hoo, who now had a significantlyrger bank bnce, this was no longer a major concern.
Seoul was indeed stable in every aspect.
Guards were stationed in every building.
And safety shelters were mandatory in every structure.
These shelters became safe havens for civilians when out-of-control huntersmitted violence or crimes.
Designed to withstand attacks for at least an hour, they usually held up until the Hunter Public Safety Bureaus officers arrived, often sooner.
Seoul isnt wrongfully called the city of CCTV.
Kang-hoo shook his head as he noticed CCTVs wherever he went.
While most people saw them as a strong protective measure, Kang-hoo perceived a different picture.
Jang Si-hwan and his group effectively used CCTV to control and monitor the public.
Anyone who fell out of their favor in Seoul couldnt escape their surveincework.
In other words, once you were targeted, there was nowhere to hide. You would inevitably be caught.
Then,
Breaking news shed across the giant screen at Seoul Station.
Just now, a meeting between Jeonghwa Guild Master Jang Si-hwan and Fortuna Guild Master Casey Rex took ce.
The two Masters moved to a conference room to sign an agreement on mutual cooperation andprehensive exchange.
Ha! Is Jeonghwa Guild going global now? The Fortuna Guild is recognized even in the U.S., right?
Exactly! Even guilds in China and Japan cant get in line with them, but Jeonghwa Guild broke through in one shot?
Its all thanks to Master Jang Si-hwan, right? Nothings impossible when youre that skilled!
Ah, its intoxicating, really intoxicating!
People rushed to heap praise on Jang Si-hwan and his guild after hearing the news.
In fact, the whole of Seoul seemed like a giant fan club for the Jeonghwa Guild, or more specifically, for Jang Si-hwan.
Given his status as Seouls hero, such favorable reactions werent surprising.
However,
The problem is that Casey Rex is one of the Thirteen Stars.
Knowing the ufortable truth, Kang-hoo could only view this nned y as petty.
Such a farce it was.
Chapter 36: Ground Zero (1)
Chapter 36: Ground Zero (1)
From Kang-hoos perspective, it might have seemed like a cunning n, but for Jang Si-hwan, it was a straightforward path to sess.
The hunters of the Fortuna Guild could now freelye and go in Seoul without any concern.
The agreement for mutual cooperation and full exchange was, in essence, no different from a guild alliance or union.
In emergency situations, Jang Si-hwan could help Casey or vice versa without it seeming unusual.
In this way, Jang Si-hwan narrowed the physical and psychological distance with the other members of The Thirteen Stars.
Afterying the groundwork thoroughly, they wouldter move as one unified body.
Seeing this, people were more likely to view them as a grand Hero Legion rather than question the authenticity of the alliance.
This was Jang Si-hwans grand scheme.
Or, more precisely, the karma of the original author who had set up the stage for the protagonist, Jang Si-hwan but thats another story.
In the original work, it was a scene brimming with excitement.
Kang-hoo bit his lower lip.
Jang Si-hwan, the protagonist who had gained the recognition of Casey Rex, one of the named hunters in the USA!
Look! See how impressive the protagonist in your novel is! That was the meaning behind the scene.
From Shin Kang-hoos perspective, it looked like a sinister design of evil people, making it ufortably irksome.
If he could, he would rush in and break up the entire setup. That was how displeasing thebination was to him.
Seoul is quiteplicated.
In Seoul, where even mercenary activities were not allowed, the city must always be under the control of the Jeonghwa Guild.
The workaround was to work for the Hunter Public Safety Bureau, but a government agency was not a good option.
Every action was recorded, making covert activities impossible. Moreover, the scope of work was limited.
And in a broader sense, the Hunter Public Safety Bureau in Seoul was essentially a second division of the Jeonghwa Guild.
Id like to avoid getting too involved with the Jeonghwa Guild, but I wouldnt mind getting a piece of any decent benefits.
A major event loomed on the horizon, spearheaded by the Jeonghwa Guild.
The assault on a superrge dungeon known as Judgment Hell was imminent.
This massive raid would involve a thousand people, and it was the only asion where mercenaries from outside were hired.
It served as a means of leaving room for outsiders as part of a talent scouting initiative.
Additionally, since the Judgment Hell dungeon belonged to the Jeonghwa Guild, there was no risk of conflict.
Kang-hoo contemted applying to take part in the raid.
The dungeon, true to its reputation of being superrge, featured many middle bosses and a plethora of secret internal terrains.
It was also the dungeon where Jang Si-hwan often reaped significant benefits when his growth stalled in the original story.
In other words, for Kang-hoo, there were plenty of opportunities to gain advantages. He was well-informed.
Gulp- Gulp-.
Kang-hoo guzzled therge can of coffee he had just purchased from the convenience store.
It was a 500ml can, supersized, so even after two gulps, there remained plenty.
Just then:
Youre not from Seoul, are you?
Suddenly, a womans voice came from behind.
Having no acquaintances in Seoul, Kang-hoo did not expect to recognize the speaker.
The husky, low-pitched voice carried a hint of awkwardness.
It seemed like the voice of a fluent foreigner speaking Korean.
Curious, he swiveled his head and recognized the woman.
Yu Cheonghwa.
He had instinctively remembered her face and name upon meeting An Yeong-ho previously.
Yu Cheonghwa, a Chinese national, was a member of The Thirteen Stars and a skill copyist.
Identifying her as Yu Cheonghwa was effortless.
She wore a ck blouse that boldly revealed her cleavage.
A red rose tattoo sprawled from her corbone to her upper chest.
Small star-shaped tattoos adorned the area below both eyes these were her distinctive features.
Red hair, red lipstick, a red jacket, and red pants.
With high-heeled shoes to match.
The dress code, undeniably red, was a clear indication of Yu Cheonghwas preferences.
What brings you here?
Kang-hoo asked with feigned nonchnce.
Yu Cheonghwa wouldnt have initiated a conversation if she knew who he was.
After all, they had not previously interacted.
Showing panic or reacting too strongly here would only serve to arouse unnecessary suspicion.
I just thought you seemed like a hunter from another city. Hunters who usually stay in Seoul dont pay much attention to the billboards.
I see.
He nodded, understanding the logic.
Kang-hoo had, in fact, been closely observing the news in Seoul.
Seoul is quite tedious, isnt it? The cost of living is exorbitant, and wherever you go, the same people are exploiting everything.
Although the observation was astute, Kang-hoo found it almostedicing from Yu Cheonghwa.
Here she was, reaping ndestine benefits from the Jeonghwa Guild, yet calling others opportunistic.
Hermand of Korean was remarkably fluent.
Had it not been for her faint foreign ent, one could easily mistake her for a native speaker.
Kang-hoos gaze involuntarily shifted to Yu Cheonghwa, as he braced himself to counterbnce her capabilities.
Yu Cheonghwa, famed for her skill mimicry, also possessed mental abilities as a secondary power.
The moment their gazes locked, Kang-hoo cluttered his mind with dark andplex thoughts.
His tactic was straightforward.
It was a defense mechanism against her mental scan, designed to thwart her attempts to delve into his mind.
When Yu Cheonghwa, having made eye contact with Kang-hoo, disyed a brief look of surprise and then a smile, the oue was clear.
She had attempted to subtly scan Kang-hoo, but her initial setback forced her to reconsider her assessment of him.
Naturally deflecting a mental scan like this meant one had to be of a superior level than the adversary.
Alternatively, it was within the realm of possibility for a professional hunter who had undergone rigorous mental resistance training.
[Misleading Fox]
[When no specific mental defenses are present, it acquires the status window information of targets of lower levels.]
[Great Replicator]
[Through repeated study and learning, it can replicate a target''s skill. However, the efficiency of the replicated skill does not exceed 20% of the original.]
[Silent Woman]
[Under any circumstances, information about contracted constetions other than the two main ones will not be disclosed.]
Even by looking at the confirmed constetion information, one could tell she would be a tricky figure.
There were three visible constetions.
However, due to the Silent Woman constetion blocking information about other constetions,
it was safe to assume that information about other constetions remained unknown.
[Interesting. There are worlds I cannot scrutinize.]
The Dimension Plunderer expressed surprise at not being able to delve deeper into Yu Cheonghwas constetion information.
It was no coincidence that she was a member of The Thirteen Stars.
The core constetions contracted by each member were as mighty as those held by the Dimension Plunderer.
There.
Yes?
Lets stop with the pointless attempts. I have no intention of opening the gate, so stop knocking.
Youre sharp. Did you anticipate that I would use mental abilities?
Im not that great a hunter. Dont worry about it.
He deflected the conversation smoothly.
While he wasnt averse to Yu Cheonghwas interest, there was no need to draw her attention unnecessarily.
They were destined to be enemies in the future; getting closer would bring no benefits.
Seeing you deny being a great hunter makes me even more curious. Its like a child saying the opposite of what they mean.
When Kang-hoo didnt respond, Yu Cheonghwa took out a business card wallet from her jacket pocket and handed him a card.
The business card was adorned with bright gold trim on a red background, bearing a familiar name.
Shinto Guild.
It was one of the top-tier guilds in China, ranking within the top five.
If you find domestic activities tedious or needprehensive support,e to us. We even have a department dedicated to Koreans.
So, this card is like a free pass?
Kang-hoo asked casually.
Absolutely. I reserve this card for those who have managed to resist my powers at least once.
I passed a test?
Something along those lines. Present this card anytime, and youll gain ess to influential figures.
I understand.
Or perhaps this might interest you as well. Dont hesitate to reach out to me here.
Yu Cheonghwa presented another card.
It bore her personal name and number.
Is this your private card?
Exactly. Feel free to contact me whenever you wish. The more you call, the more Ill reveal.
Her red lips formed a smile, and her enigmatic eyes fixed on Kang-hoo.
Though her flirtation was evident, Kang-hoo disyed no particr reaction.
Ill remember that.
Until we meet again.
If destiny permits.
Their encounter ended with those words.
The meeting was unexpected, yet it wrapped up seamlessly.
He had just made a connection with one of The Thirteen Stars.
The question arose: should he make full use of this connection, or should he dismiss it as though it never existed?
It was certainly a question worth considering.
Choosing whether to keep a close eye on them or maintain a distance they who would eventually be adversaries was not about morality but strategy.
He had to proceed with caution.
While he waited for the Gyeongui-Jungang Line train from Seoul Station to Imjingang Station in Paju,
Kang-hoo observed arge protest near Seoul Station, deep in thought.
Hunter Public Safety Bureau, take immediate action against the Abyss! Disband it!
Detain and execute the ringleader, Lee Hyun-seok, without dy!
If we cant do it alone, lets enlist the Jeonghwa Guild to bring down the warlords!
These vehement demonstrations were urring in more than one location.
The Abyss ().
One of the warlords closest to the capital region was a thorn in the side of the Jeonghwa Guild and Jang Si-hwan.
Because the Abyss persistently raised questions about the identity and misdeeds of the Jeonghwa Guild.
In the original story, Jang Si-hwan became annoyed by baseless rumors about him spread by the Abyss.
But considering the Devils Aplice ending, the words of the Abyss were not baseless rumors but the truth.
If I want to properly align myself, joining the Abyss would be the right choice. The Jeonghwa Guild finds them troublesome.
The Abyss was not a clumsy mercenary group or a disorganized crime organization; it was a different dimension.
A giant military organization.
So, if he wanted to operate within the influence of arge organization, the Abyss was a decent choice.
Of course, Lee Hyun-seok, the leader of the Abyss, was a staunch meritocrat, so for now, he would probably be treated coldly.
Kang-hoo, ncing at his text messages, noticed one pushed aside by spam.
The sender was An Yeong-ho.
It was a name of significance and value, one he had saved.
[Seon-gyu hyung, are you doing well? I am An Yeong-ho, whom you helped before.]
[When are youing to Japan? My uncle also wants to meet Seon-gyu hyung. Pleasee anytime.]
[The benefits I promised you then are still unchanged. It''ll be convenient for you to operate in Japan.]
Right, theres Japan.
Kang-hoos face lit up with satisfaction.
He didnt necessarily have to confine his activities to domestic affairs.
Thanks to the good connection he had made with An Yeong-ho, he could expand his considerations internationally.
For Kang-hoo, who constantly sought to inject momentum into his growth, this was an excellent opportunity.
Chapter 37: Ground Zero (2)
Chapter 37: Ground Zero (2)
Kang-hoo sent a casual reply to An Young-ho.
Telling him to stay well and that he would contact him when the timees, the message was predictable yet filled with a hint of expectation.
Itll be night by the time I arrive.
Kang-hoo gazed at the setting sun disappearing beyond the western sky.
While most hunters avoid traveling at night, Kang-hoo was different.
[Nocturnal Vision]
He possessed this ability.
He actually preferred the night.
Not only hunters but monsters too, depend on visual information.
Once he entered Ground Zero, he would need to be highly alert and cautious.
This ce was wild.
Filled with variables and mutants.
A moment of carelessness or wrong confidence could lead directly to death.
Crack. Crack.
Kang-hoo loosened the muscles in his wrists and neck, warming up to be ready forbat at any moment.
Once he reached the site, he wouldnt have time to prepare his body.
He nned to actively elevate his physical senses as he headed north along the Gyeongui-Jungang line.
In Ground Zero, every sense was crucial.
Two hourster.
After disembarking at Imjingang Station and a long journey, Kang-hoo arrived at Ground Zero.
Precisely, it was a location 1 km from the boundary fence and the entrance checkpoint.
What a mess.
The atmosphere was as bad as expected.
The checkpoint was managed not by the Hunter Public Safety Bureau but by a guild delegated by the Bureau.
The New World Guild.
Despite its grand name, they were merely opening and closing the gates of the checkpoint.
Their non-involvement in everything happening in the nearby streets of entertainment and pleasure was proof.
Though the area was rife with red-light districts and entertainment pubs, prone to frequent disputes, there was no intervention.
Even if a murder urred, they would just clean up the body and bloodstains and that was it.
The officers from the Hunter Public Safety Bureau, of course, never arrived, and the hunters of the New World Guild showed no interest.
Broken streetlights.
Abandoned cars scattered randomly.
And heaps of trash bags piled haphazardly.
This slum-like area appeared devoid of dreams, hope, or a future.
Even in the dpidated, abandoned buildings, the homeless expelled from Seoul had staked their ims.
Arguing over ownership was pointless, and a knife fight had already broken out by the time Kang-hoo arrived.
An intruder had tried to disce an established resident, resulting in a fatal stabbing.
Confronted with the tantly obvious red-light district and not wanting to deal with bothersome solicitation, Kang-hoo deliberately took a detour.
The main thoroughfares were close to the red-light district, so just one block over, the surroundings became significantly darker.
Suddenly,
His gaze met that of five hunters smoking marijuana in a dimly lit alley.
They were clearly hunters, as no ordinary person would dare to wander here.
Hey, stop for a sec?
Kang-hoo heard a voice call out to him as he tried to quietly slip by without engaging.
But he didnt answer. To converse here was to invite trouble.
There was only one exception.
The only time hunters in the red-light district showed interest in someone was when they were soliciting sisters looking for customers or when they were about tomit some nefarious act, taking advantage of thewlessness of the area.
I told you to stop, brat.
The hunter, angered by Kang-hoos disregard, raised his voice.
Kang-hoo wished they would simply go their separate ways, but that didnt seem to be in their n.
For every word you utter from now on, one of you will die. Go your way. Im giving you a chance.
Kang-hoo issued a short, stern warning and was about to take another step when
What the hell do you think youre doing, acting all tough
The voice that shattered hisst shred of patience echoed through the alley.
In that moment, Kang-hoo, using eleration and leaping, had already positioned himself behind the source of the voice.
He had movedterally at thest second.
Swoosh!
Ugh!
Kang-hoo, now behind the hunter, quickly slit his throat with a dagger, slicing through the most vulnerable part of the armor.
He remembered to connect the Blood Flower technique to ensure a sure kill.
Immediately after, a series of explosions burst forth from the already deeply cut throat.
Shit, what the hell is this
The remaining four were in shock.
They were stunned by thebination that decapitated the head with a single sh.
Instead of thinking they could somehow survive, the realization that a mere touch meant death filled them with terror.
Aaagh!
Without a moment to seek the brotherhood they had previously boasted about, the remaining four scattered in fear.
Kang-hoo watched their retreat with disdain and collected items from the dead hunter.
Though the items were not useful, gathering everything to sell could around 100 million won.
He was just a mediocre hunter adorned with cheap, cost-effective gear, so there was little sentiment involved.
He simply thought of it as making enough money to buy about 20 strands of Srkium.
At the entrance checkpoint.
Kang-hoo applied for entry and wrote a pseudonym in the register.
It was a meaningless procedure where any name would suffice.
There was only one thing they ensured: the level scan procedure.
Ah, a newbie.
The administrator, after scanning Kang-hoos level, sneered and looked at him dismissively.
Right from the start, calling him a newbie was a clear sign of disrespect.
Perhaps thats why.
Despite his expectations, the administrator began to act slyly.
Right now, theres a long waiting list for entry. You might have to wait about two days. Is that okay?
He started with a casual tone, without any formal introduction.
No anger rose within Kang-hoo.
He dismissed it like the buzzing of an insignificant insect; it wasnt even worth his attention.
Since he found it unworthy, the words seemed to pass by unheard.
No one else was waiting for entry, and the situation clearly allowed for it.
Such nonsense from the administrator usually signaled the expectation of a bribe.
Kang-hoo pulled a bundle of 50,000-won notes from his backpack and tossed them to him.
A hundred notes. Five million won.
Oh?
Open the gate.
Kang-hoo made his brief request.
The quick-witted administrator immediately changed his demeanor, scratching the back of his head.
Oh, my. Mister, it turns out theres one hunter who hasnt entered today. You can go right in!
It was preferable that he was candid about money.
Had he been someone who caused trouble, he might have ended up like the one whose throat was slit earlier.
Kang-hoo wondered if he realized.
That his shrewd action just saved his life.
Naturally, he wouldnt know. And someday, he might face severe consequences at the hands of someone else.
Today was not that day, fortunately.
Upon entering, Kang-hoo chose a tall tree to climb up rather than wandering aimlessly.
It was pitch-dark, with no lights to illuminate his surroundings since the sun had set.
In Ground Zero, there were no streetlights or lighting facilities.
To be precise, they had existed but were never repaired or reced after breaking or wearing out.
From a distance, he saw a hunter using a shlight to find their way.
This was a sensible choice, but in Ground Zero, it was the most perilous one.
The light became a beacon for numerous monsters, beasts, and other hunters.
Hmm.
Kang-hoo had a reason for not moving immediately.
There was an entity inside Ground Zero that greatly concerned him.
The monster known as the ck Conductor.
Also referred to as the Reaper.
A conglomerate of specters, it was an entity akin to a soul that couldnt be killed or cut.
Because of this, it made no sound, even when it approached closely.
Its ck form blended into the night, making it even more difficult to notice.
The frightening part was that if one became entirely entangled with the ck Conductor, they would lose their sight.
Then, they would suffer from mental delusions and be driven to suicide.
The control was so swift that the victim wouldnt realize they were dying.
Waking up to find oneself in the afterlife.
Then.
While scanning the area with his Nocturnal Vision ability, Kang-hoo noticed something odd.
A hunter, illuminating his path with a shlight, suddenly changed direction at a right angle.
Then, he threw himself onto a sharp rock ahead, struck his forehead, and copsed.
From theck of movement, it was clear that he had died instantly.
Should I go?
Kang-hoo descended from the tree.
ck Conductors have distinct territories and dont invade each others realms.
After leading an intruder to death, they have a cooling-off period.
Its simr to how a murderer takes a break after killing.
The previous hunters sacrifice gave Kang-hoo the confidence to move.
Sshhhh.
Kang-hoonded on the ground and unfolded a fluorescently marked internal map.
GZ-5. 11. 13. 19. 24. 45.
Key points were visible.
These six areas were certain to contain Mad Srkium.
As an original author, Kang-hoo often included these numbers as lottery numbers.
He had designated these as the areas where Mad Srkium appeared.
Since the numbers were assigned in order of proximity to the entrance, zone 5 was the closest.
Time to move swiftly.
He continued his journey.
It was night, and Ground Zero seemed to have entered an alert phase, making hunters less visible.
He also sensed an especially strong yin energy. It felt as if he could encounter ghosts just by turning his head.
The alert phase is a period when monsters be strongerpared to the stable phase, making it more dangerous.
However, it also meant more experience and rewardsa high-risk, high-return situation.
Kang-hoo actually preferred this period.
If handled well, he could gain twice the benefits than usual.
Then,
Hmm.
An unnatural-looking sunflower caught his eye, its petals unnaturally closed.
It should have been fully open, indicating it was not just a flower but a monsterized one.
A potential threat to hunters at any moment.
As Kang-hoo casually approached it, he suddenly leaped backward in line with the sunflower.
The closed sunflower petals opened wide, spewing a lime-green liquid.
Sssss!
It was highly acidic.
Everything it touched disintegrated instantly, be it rocks or bushes.
Truly wild,
Kang-hoo nodded in acknowledgment.
Then he quickly cut down the sunflower, which had exhausted its stored liquid.
Squeak
A pitiful death.
The mutant sunflower provided Kang-hoo with abundant experience and a blue mana stone before it ended its life.
A mana stone worth ten million won!
For the effort of cutting down a single flower, it was an exceptionally profitable deal.
Chapter 38: Ground Zero (3)
Chapter 38: Ground Zero (3)
Certainly, because he came prepared, it turned out to be a profitable deal.
Had he wandered by unknowingly, he might have forfeited his life, his most valuable asset.
This is why even adventure-seeking hunters usually avoid Ground Zero. Its unpredictability of death is a constant threat.
Consequently, only criminals with nothing to lose flock here. Only those unafraid of death dare to roam around Ground Zero.
As he looked around, skeletons began to appear more frequently.
Even without the mutant sunflowers, numerous dangers could im a hunters life.
The skeletons bore silent testimony to the severity of this ce.
Any items or wallets their original owners might have possessed were nowhere to be found.
It seemed someone had simply taken the valuables and left the bodies untouched.
Of course, such urrences were typical here, so they hardly surprised him.
Observing the vast array of skeletons, reminiscent of an enormous graveyard, he ventured deeper.
He still had about 1km to go to reach Area 5.
Given Ground Zeros expanse, merely traversing one area took considerable time.
Moreover, the proliferation of thick bushes, uncurbed by any weeding or logging, posed an additional problem.
Nheless, as he neared Area 5,
Kang-hoo spotted something unusual.
Why hasnt anyone touched this?
Beside a rocky a hunters corpse.
It was slightly dposed, clearly indicating death.
However, what remained near the rock was a dagger emitting a red glow, firmly grasped in the corpses hand.
While the nearby skeletons had been stripped bare to the point of taking their clothes,
This particr body was strangely intact.
It was evident that several days had passed since the hunters demise, yet there were no signs of disturbance.
Rushing towards it would be the act of a rank amateur.
Yet to disregard it out of fear was the behavior of a middling hunter.
A cautious, perhaps overly safe decision.
The ck Inducer.
Kang-hoo immediately grasped the true nature of the situation.
He detected a faint trace of mana emanating from the swollen clothes of the corpse, whichy dead with its head bowed.
His mana-tracking ability, far more sensitive than that of other hunters, had proven its worth.
It was a trap.
The deceased hunters belongings were deliberatelyid out to entice other hunters.
Then, the trap would swiftly assault any hunter who came near, leading them to their demise.
Lets give up.
He shook his head, rejecting the idea, and turned in the opposite direction.
To an onlooker, he would have seemed the very picture of a coward, overwhelmed and retreating.
But as he prepared to change course by circumventing a thick tree,
Ssssh!
He activated Shadow Step.
Kang-hoos shadow extended from him, taking a wide arc towards the corpse.
Whoosh!
He timed the switch with his shadow precisely.
In a moment, he transitioned from the trees concealment to the front of the corpse.
His maneuver was executed wlessly.
Taah!
He swiftly grabbed the dagger clutched in the corpses hand.
Then, employing Shadow Step once more, he traded ces with his shadow, which had surged forward.
Ugh.
He bit down hard on his lip.
The Shadow Step skill not only drained mana but also imposed the greatest physical toll of all his abilities.
In other words,
There was a limit to the strain his body and mind could withstand before mana hypersensitivity set in.
Surpassing this limit would induce mana hypersensitivity, with the consequences of Shadow Step being the most severe.
Using the skill twice consecutively pushed him past this limit, triggering immediate mana hypersensitivity.
Nevertheless, it was the double use of Shadow Step that allowed him to pull off such a cunning feat.
Kihehehek! Kihehehek!
The incensed ck Inducer, a creature resembling a fiend, gave chase to Kang-hoo.
Yet it failed to catch Kang-hoo, who persevered with physical and mental fortitude and chained his movement skills together.
The ck Inducer, wearing a furious expression, strangled a thick tree and finally gave up the chase.
After ensuring safety,
he examined the dagger he had retrieved from the corpse.
[Boundary of Massacre - Weapon]
[Grade: 4th]
[Strength +100]
[Grants the ability of Predator''s Track. Any opponent wounded by this weapon will leave a trail for 1 minute, even if they conceal their presence.]
Good.
A valuable weapon.
Of course, it wasnt a graduation weapon to use indefinitely, but a temporary measure until he could purchase a 3rd-grade dagger.
It boasted much better options, stats, and grade than his current Spear of Sky Joy.
Later, when he could afford a 3rd-grade dagger, he figured he could sell both the Spear of Sky Joy and the Boundary of Massacre.
In any case, it was an unexpected windfall.
A 4th-grade weapon was worth at least a billion won.
Hmm. Should I head back?
Kang-hoo shifted his attention.
The hunter who had carried such a dagger must have possessed considerable skill.
They might have been a criminal, but if not, it might be worth tracking the location of the corpse and gathering any belongings.
Items such as a hunters license, smartphone, and identification.
Perhaps this person was a missing individual, sought by family or acquaintances through the official huntermunity.
Just as there are bounties for criminals, rewards exist for finding missing persons, so he didnt want to overlook the opportunity.
Upon returning to the location, the ck Inducer was nowhere to be seen.
Since Kang-hoo had taken the bait item, the corpse had apparently lost its value to the creature.
Thus, Kang-hoo was able to effortlessly gather the belongings from the body.
Park Min-sung. Not a familiar name.
He noted the real name of thete hunter.
Having collected everything but the corpse, he intended to investigate further upon his return to Seoul.
While moving, he alternated between the use of illusion and Shadow Step, staying alert for any unforeseen events.
Ground Zero was teeming with monsters that used darkness as their cloak.
Finding monsters that didnt utilize darkness was even more challenging.
Yet the monsterscked intelligence; many fell for Kang-hoos illusions and shadows, lunging at him in response.
As a result, Kang-hoo steadily umted experience on the move.
He aspired to hit level 40 before encountering the first Mad Srkium, and his wish was fulfilled.
He achieved level 40 just as he was about to enter the designated area.
[Swift Evasion]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max]
[Allows you to dodge up to 5m in any cardinal direction: north, south, east, or west.]
[At maximum proficiency, a ''swift'' effect is added for instant evasive action.]
[During evasion, a resistance barrier is activated, enhancing your evasion rate against skills.]
The bonus from max proficiency feels fresh every time. Its a whole different ballgamepared to the basic skill.
A subtle smirk yed on the corners of Kang-hoos mouth.
Even the skills name had transformed.
The original level 40 basic skill for the assassin ss was simply Evasion.
But with maximum proficiency, it had evolved into Swift Evasion.
Simr to the way the elerated Stab skill had advanced to Bleeding Stab.
The range for evasive maneuvers had significantly increased from 1m to 5m.
In addition, a new evasion rate bonus was introduced during evasion, bolstering resistance against skills.
This implied a greater likelihood of skills missing or only causing a ncing blow.
These were skills that refined an assassins craft.
His satisfaction was palpable.
This location is really something else.
Kang-hoos expression contorted as he caught sight of the blooming Mad Srkium flower.
The optimism that had lit up his face moments ago vanished, reced by an air of discontent.
A Mad Srkium flower was perched precariously in the center of a cliff towering over 30 meters high.
And there was more.
True to the original narrative, a guardian known as an Enforcer stood vigil near the Mad Srkium.
Its official title was Punisher.
The nature of the Punisher was determined by an arbitrary type, and the type guarding this ce happened to be an assassin.
Ssssh!
Red energy swirled around the Punishers body, and its overall aura seemed stronger.
A characteristic of the Punisher was that its power changed depending on theposition and level of the hunters nearby.
Of course, this only applied within a 50m radius of the Mad Srkium, so it was a special condition.
There was nothing to be wary of anyway.
All the dungeons Kang-hoo had conquered were always two to three times more challenging than his level.
The Punisher would be stronger, but as long as it was within predictable limits, it wouldnt be a problem.
Whoosh!
As expected of a guardian protecting the Mad Srkium, it lunged at Kang-hoo first.
Its movement was faithful to the basic belief of the assassin ss: strike first to win.
[Swift Evasion]
Kang-hoo used Swift Evasion immediately.
There couldnt be a more fitting situation for this skill.
The Punishers attack was so sharp that it drew an orange line in the dark night sky.
Whoom!
The Punishers attack only brushed past Kang-hoos afterimage, as he had swiftly moved away.
The energy, full of anticipation, was disrupted by the suddenly enhanced evasion rate.
The battle between two assassins was thrillingly intense.
The moment an attack failed, the attacker was exposed to a counterattack, creating a hellish situation.
Timing was crucial, and now the Punishers first gamble hadpletely missed its mark.
So, without dy, Kang-hoo mixed eleration with a leap, charging directly at the Punisher.
A counterattack in a situation where there was no chance to escape,pletely cornered.
Kang-hoo, already induced with overload, decided to add another skill to the mix.
Shadow Step.
Shadows extended from behind Kang-hoo, forming arge circle toward the Punisher.
He focused the Punishers sight on one point and thrust the dagger straight.
Then,
Swish!
The Punisher pulled out another dagger and crossed them in the air, forming an X.
As expected.
The Punisher was no fool.
He tried to turn Kang-hoos counterattack, resulting from his failed attack, into another counterattack.
Truly, it was a sensible response worthy of his name.
Had Kang-hoo rushed in thoughtlessly, it could have been the end for him.
But,
Ssssh!
At the moment the X-shaped energy was released, Kang-hoo had already moved behind the Punisher.
It was a masterful change in position.
It seemed even the Punisher hadnt anticipated this, hesitating to locate Kang-hoos new position.
That moment.
Here I am, friend.
Thud! Thud-thud! Thud!
Kang-hoo, perfectly positioned behind the Punisher, began thrusting his dagger into its neck, shoulder, and back of the head without hesitation.
Hell was
Much closer than expected.
Chapter 39: Ground Zero (4)
Chapter 39: Ground Zero (4)
The Punisher exhibited its own tenacity.
It endeavored to hold on andunch a counterattack.
It clenched its teeth, attempted to ignore the pain, and twisted its body with all its might to strike back at Kang-hoo.
The effort was extraordinary.
Any other monster would have sumbed to injuries and perished by this point.
Yet, its resolve to defend the Mad Srkium at all costs endowed the Punisher with exceptional strength.
Thud!
Regrettably, the Punishersbat spirit was thwarted by a mere flick of Kang-hoos finger.
Blood Flower had been unleashed.
Like a paper doll in a gust of wind, the Punishers body convulsed uncontrobly before toppling forward.
The Blood Flower, emerging amidst the spurting blood, dealt crippling damage instantly.
Despite the Punishers attempts to persevere through sheer willpower, it could not withstand the force that exceeded its physical boundaries.
Sigh.
Kang-hoo let out a heated sigh.
Without Blood Flower, subduing it would have been a challenge, considering the intensity of its defiance.
The situation had been quite tense.
For the first time in a while, his assurance of victory was not absolute but wavered between 90% or slightly less.
Nevertheless, with the Punishers demise, no one remained to protect the Mad Srkium.
Kang-hoo ascended the cliff using powerful leaps, asionally grasping rocks to rest and conserve energy.
He interspersed breaks amidst the continuous jumps to prevent overstressing himself.
His enhanced strength made supporting his entire weight with just an arm or two effortless.
This was a feat unimaginable during his escape from the Cheongmyeong Detention Center.
Now, with his significantly increased strength stat, it was as simple as performing push-ups.
Upon reaching the midpoint of the cliff, Kang-hoo confronted the Mad Srkium directly.
It bore such a stark contrast to the typical Srkium that one might question if they were rted at all.
Whereas themon Srkium resembled aloe, the Mad Srkium looked more akin to a tulip.
Without prior knowledge, one would find it impossible to recognize them as rted.
Swoosh!
With just a slight effort, the Mad Srkium was easily plucked.
Finally.
Kang-hoo wore a satisfied expression on his face.
For the next 30 minutes, this little flower would make himplete. It freed him from all constraints and worries.
Of course, there was a bacsh proportionate to the strain after the 30 minutes of tranquility.
But the ability to focus undisturbed on battle for 30 minutes was significant.
This was especially true since congenital mana hypersensitivity made maintaining a mana supply a constant concern.
In other words, with Mad Srkium, he effectively had unlimited mana for 30 minutes. It was akin to having unlimited skills.
A single flower worth 100 million won more valuable than gold, he mused.
He couldnt help but chuckle at the thought.
Of course, he had no intention of selling it.
Moreover, not many hunters actively sought Mad Srkium.
Drugs and other substances were far more effective for pain relief and awakening than Mad Srkium.
Additionally, in terms of cost-effectiveness, drugs were much more affordable than the million-won Mad Srkium.
Nheless, the first Mad Srkium was now in his possession. There were still five more flowers to gather.
He needed to move quickly.
Huh?
Then, after a brief dy, something sprang out from the body of the deceased Punisher.
It was a green magic stone.
Also worth 100 million won.
The profit from magic stones seemed quite substantial.
Encountering magic stones was normally rare, but the characteristic strong negative energy of Ground Zero appeared to y a part.
It suggested that he was in an area less explored, untouched by other hunters.
Both dungeons and such external spaces offered better rewards when they were less conquered.
It was a verified statistic.
However, there was one thing that had been bothering him for a while.
The sensation that an eye was watching him.
Interestingly, the owner of the gaze moved freely among the trees.
Moreover, they did so without making any sound, quietly changing positions.
Had Kang-hoo not had night vision, he wouldnt have noticed he was being watched.
Kang-hoo didnt react because the observer maintained a safe distance.
The presence seemed more curious than hostile, as if simply observing.
Well, theyll make their move when the timees.
Kang-hoo, without giving it much thought, started moving to the next point.
If necessary, they would reveal themselves first, and if they wanted to fight, they would close the distance.
Then, he would respond ordingly. There was no need to overthink it.
Late at night,
the dense darkness of Ground Zero was filled only with silence and stillness.
asional screams of monsters or hunters were heard, but they garnered no attention.
People indifferently thought that a monster or hunter must have died and moved on.
Usually, these sounds urred only when other hunters were present; most of the time, they were unaware of what was happening.
Thus, she, who had been observing Kang-hoo from a distance, could focus solely on him.
Her name was Jung Yuri.
At a level of 250, she was a hunter who had lived in Ground Zero for quite some time.
She had no trouble surviving in the wild.
In fact, she felt much safer here than in a crime-ridden city where danger was unpredictable.
Hating sunlight, she found the dense foliage and trees of Ground Zero to her liking.
Following Kang-hoo discreetly wasnt particrly hard for her.
With her ability to transform, she could change her body to a form of ck smoke.
This allowed her to move lightly through the air, free from gravitys pressure.
If needed, she could even use her spatial maniption ability to create shortcuts.
Doesnt he ever get tired? He seems wless even against the tricky Punisher.
Kang-hoo busied himself moving to obtain the Mad Srkium, constantly engaging in battles with Punishers.
Having observed all these conflicts, Jung Yuri marveled at Kang-hoos prowess.
Punishers posed a challenge for anyone, as they adapted to an opponents skill and level.
Thus, defeating a Punisher demanded clever strategies to exploit weaknesses.
Regardless of a hunters skill, there was a limit to the number of techniques they could employ.
Yet Kang-hoo continued to introduce new variables into the situation.
She had already tallied over ten different skills just by observing.
To possess that many, his level had to be at least 200.
At that tier, one typically acquires basic skills at levels 1, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 100, and 200, adding up to eight.
Factoring in roughly three additional skills unique to ones ss, the total approached eleven.
Jung Yuri herself had amassed ten skills. Therefore, she surmised his level wasparable to hers.
His transition from offense to defense is seamless.
What Jung Yuri particrly noted was the absence of unnecessary movements in Kang-hoos maneuvers.
This rendered his attacks and defenses smooth, and crucially, his moves and routes were efficient.
He was the most adept hunter she had encounteredtely in Ground Zero.
He doesnt appear to be a fugitive.
Jung Yuri felt certain.
He wasnt a criminal hiding out here, but an outsider who hade with a specific objective.
That piqued her curiosity even more.
As if guided by an innatepass, how did he manage to locate only the spots containing Mad Srkium?
Once again, Jung Yuri shrouded herself in shadows, maintaining a gap as she tailed Kang-hoo.
There was plenty of time left before the break of dawn.
Thirty minutester.
Now Im beginning to sweat a little.
After vanquishing the Punisher and securing the sixth Mad Srkium, Kang-hoo atst took a moment to sit on a rock, resting for the first time.
He had reached the extent of his knowledge regarding the locations of Mad Srkium.
Whaty ahead was unknown territory.
He could have found more if he had searched, but it wouldnt have been easy since it would involve scouring the entire Ground Zero.
Looking at the six Mad Srkium flowers, he felt as if he owned the world.
In terms of time, three hours had passed. Considering one battle took about 30 minutes, these could ease six battles without much burden.
They would be strategically useful in the future, especially for creating variables.
Level 42.
His level had steadily increased.
Having dealt with six Punishers and a few minor monsters, the experience points were certainly significant.
If he hadnte alone or at a time when the Yin energy was strong, he would have barely crossed level 41.
Kang-hoo was reminded of the advantages of solo y and the importance of timing.
Swoosh.
Kang-hoo nced up at the top of a towering tree.
Someone had been watching for a long time.
Either they would show themselves eventually,
Or he thought they would lose interest and leave, but the owner of the gaze continued to watch him steadily.
Should I y a little trick?
Immediately, Kang-hoo deployed illusions and Shadow Step, scattering his clones in all directions.
This caused the observers gaze to be confused, unable to focus on one spot, and to start wandering.
It must have been even more disconcerting since they were watching from the darkness.
Images exactly resembling Kang-hoo scattered in every direction.
Meanwhile,
Thud! Thud!
He forcefully stabbed a dagger into the tree, rapidly climbing to the top.
Using leaps and eleration, he reached the top of the 40-meter tree in just a few seconds.
Hey.
Ah!
Why so surprised? Did you think I didnt know about you?
That, thats not it! But how long have you known?
From the beginning. I just didnt respond because you didnt seem hostile. But youve been watching too long, havent you?
An assassin, I get it, but climbing up a tree like this?
Curiosity killed the cat.
Kang-hoo sat down beside her.
From this high up in the tree, it should have felt dizzyingly high.
But both Kang-hoo and Jung Yu-ri satfortably, without worry.
At that moment,
Kang-hoos eyes sparkled as he carefully observed her face.
A face and a name came to mind, matching the description from the original work.
Distinct facial features with clear lines.
A stylishly done updo and heterochromic eyes ofpletely different colors.
From the side, her nose appeared sharp enough to cut paper, and she had rather full lips.
And the strong scent of acacia emanating from her body. There was a character in the original work that matched all this:
Jung Yu-ri.
A female hunter living in Ground Zero, a character who detested the Jeonghwa Guild to an extreme.
She harbored a deeper grudge than An Yeong-ho, having been betrayed by a hunter from the Jeonghwa Guild.
Her story was long.
To put it simply, she aspired to kill Chae Gwanhyeong, a key figure in the Jeonghwa Guild in the future. Her entanglement with him was so deep that her resentment seemed unending.
Destiny intertwines in such ways.
Kang-hoo nodded to the strange progression of fate and destiny, epting the coincidence.
Thats how human encounters are. Theyre not always inevitable.
Meeting important people in unexpected cessuch coincidences happen.
For Kang-hoo, who had decided to strategize against the Jeonghwa Guild, Jung Yu-ri was a significant figure.
Chapter 40: Ground Zero (5)
Chapter 40: Ground Zero (5)
Why have you been watching me for so long?
Just curious.
You know that following someone around in Ground Zero without a reason can lead to misunderstandings and fights.
Its okay. Im good at escaping.
So, did your curiosity get satisfied?
No, it deepened. Why are you here, anyway? This ce has few monsters, and the paths areplicated.
Jung Yu-ri was a woman of great curiosity, as characterized in the original work.
Unlike Yun Sang-mi, who often approached Kang-hoo with a clingy demeanor, Jung Yu-ris curiosity about Kang-hoo was genuine.
Her gaze felt different.
Youve seen it, right? I came here for the Mad Srkium.
I see
Jung Yu-ri gazed intently at Kang-hoo, as if trying to memorize every detail of his face.
It felt as though she was seeing someone up close after a long time.
She looked at him with a sense of wonder.
Anyway, Id prefer if you didnt follow me around anymore. Even if you mean no harm, I dont particrly enjoy being watched.
Sorry. Its been a while since Ive seen a hunter enter Ground Zero with such pure intentions.
Her reasons for being here were not entirely pure.
She had taken a job to track and eliminate Jo Gu-bin.
Only by fighting would she know how the fight with him would unfold; it could turn into a messy brawl.
Hows the world these days? Is the Jeonghwa Guild still dominating everything? Or has The Abyssnded a blow on them?
Jung Yu-ri changed the subject.
Her immediate mention of the Jeonghwa Guild indicated her dislike for them, as he remembered.
The anticipation she had for the warlord group, The Abyss, seemed to align with his views.
Kang-hoo decided to close the distance between them slightly.
To him, Jung Yu-ri was a figure of strategic importance.
Living in Ground Zero, she had grown rapidly beyond imagination.
Getting closer to her could prove beneficial for future endeavors. It would be a helpful rtionship.
So.
While Kang-hoo wasnt usually the type to initiate conversations, today he was actively engaging with her.
The entire Seoul is under the control of the Jeonghwa Guild. There are also quite a few satellite guilds outside of Seoul.
Thats serious.
Do you have personal grievances against the Jeonghwa Guild?
A lot. Very much so. There are people I must avenge. But I dont want to leave here right now.
I see.
But are you hurt? Why do you look so pale? Does eating Mad Srkium help?
Having been frequently asked about his paleplexion, he was no longer surprised.
He wondered if he should try tanning, but he doubted his naturally pale skin would change dramatically.
Its just the way I look.
You have an interesting skill set for an assassin. Did you collect good skill books?
Ive gathered them diligently.
Kang-hoo nodded.
Most of his skills were acquired through skill theft rather than skill books, but there was no need to exin that in detail.
Afterward,
Kang-hoo had quite a long conversation with Jung Yu-ri.
He wanted to rest after collecting all the nned Mad Srkium.
And he wanted to build a certain level of rapport with her.
It was preparation for the future.
Of course, he didnte across as desperately wanting her or being clingy.
He just listened to her stories and kindly responded to her questions, turning them back to her.
But even that seemed to have given Jung Yu-ri somefort.
Her loneliness must have been great.
Its time to move on.
I didnt expect to have such a long conversation in Ground Zero.
Fate is like that. Sometimes it connects unexpectedly, and sometimes it breaks.
Will youe back here again?
Why?
Just. You seem pure. How should I put it? Throughout our conversation, it felt like you were focused only on me.
Are other hunters different?
Some just look at my body or subtly try to create a secretive atmosphere
Its not unusual.
The quality of huntersing to Ground Zero couldnt be great.
It was fortunate if they didnt end up fighting.
Thats why he seemed to score higher in a rtiveparison.
And you look sad. Something about your face draws me in.
Do I look like Im about to cry?
No, its like some people whose eyes are soaked in sadness. Drowning in mncholy.
He guessed the character setting couldnt be ovee.
Shin Kang-hoo, the character, was always depicted with deep-seated negative emotions.
So, even if he tried to hide it, it seemed to show in his eyes, actions, or even in the way he spoke.
Yeah. Ille back. I dont know when, though.
Kang-hoo didnt give a definite date, but he made sure to promise to return.
Jung Yu-ri was worth the visit. She would be a lot of help in various ways in the future.
Please,e back.
Yeah. I just hope I wont be stuttering for ack of things to say.
Ill keep that in mind.
And dont die.
Kang-hoo left a word of concern for Jung Yu-ri, seemingly indifferent, and quickly left the ce.
Now alone, Jung Yu-ri touched the tree, still warm from Kang-hoos presence, lost in thought.
Her eyes were filled with many crossing thoughts.
Before dawn.
Having found a suitable cave to catch some sleep, Kang-hoo slept for about 2 hours and started moving with a refreshed body.
The sleep time was ridiculously shortpared to the norm, but his condition had improved more than expected.
The abundant mana and natural energy unique to Ground Zero seemed to give him strength unknowingly.
Kang-hoo had already identified the possible location of Jo Gu-bin.
For hunters without prior knowledge of Ground Zero, securing food was the first problem.
Difficulties in gathering or cooking meant they had to hunt monsters that were edible.
However, the ces where such monsters were distributed were limited. Thats why they were identifiable.
For instance, the sunflower that sprayed acidic liquid at Kang-hoo was an absolute no-go for consumption.
The moment someone ate it,
paralysis would start from the esophagus, leading to instant death. There was no chance for detoxification.
Eventually, Jo Gu-bin had to head to the limited ces where edible monsters were, which were near here.
Thest confirmed location of Jo Gu-bin was in the Imjin River area.
Kang-hoo was confident that Jo Gu-bin would definitely be in the ce he anticipated.
In this unpredictable wilderness, it was unlikely he would have the courage to wander around causing trouble.
Kang-hoo, who knew Ground Zero well, found it ufortable; Jo Gu-bin, who couldnt afford to be careless, even more so.
While moving, Kang-hoo deliberately traveled through rough terrains and slopes.
The Srkiums that grew along the safe routesmonly used by hunters had naturally long vanished.
However, there was a higher chance of finding wild Srkiums in ces untouched by hunters.
Thanks to that, he had been able to gather a few more Srkiums, totaling ten spare ones. That was sufficient.
Kang-hoo revisited the information about Jo Gu-bin, which he had received from Lee Ye-rin.
It was aption written by a father who had lost his daughter to Jo Gu-bin.
The handwritten notes in it were filled with resentment, anger, and sorrow in every letter.
asional tear stains reflected the despair of a father who had lost his daughter to a murderer.
The feeling of not being able to die until he had witnessed the revenge of his daughter.
His estimated level was 150.
He was of the magic type, and his main ability was freezing.
Not an easy opponent to deal with.
Freezing as an ability could be incredibly threatening, depending on how it was utilized.
Then,
a text message from Lee Ye-rin arrived.
[A designated request hase in for Mr. Seon-gyu. The client is the same person who assigned the Gong Tae-su case.]
[The client has a lot of trust in Mr. Seon-gyu. Would you like to ept it?]
Designated request.
A request that doesnte in often.
It means the client must trust the performers skills. If they werent certain, they wouldnt make the request.
But conversely, it also meant a significant reward was promised.
Given its a higher-tier request than before, it could be expected to be at least 2.5 billion won.
[First, I need to know the brief details and the amount of the request. Im busy now, so Ill look at itter.]
He sent the reply.
There was no need to rush. If Lee Ye-rin was anxious, it was her concern, not Kang-hoos.
It seemed there wouldnt be a need to worry about requests in the future.
Once he starts umting designated request clients, he could choose only the types of requests he wanted.
[From this point, 300 meters north is no longer under the jurisdiction of South Korea.]
[The Ground Zero in North Korean territory is essentially unmanaged, so be aware of all incidents and idents.]
He saw a warning sign.
North Koreannd is valuable in the long term.
Dungeons in North Korea are not systematically or regrly conquered, and there are many unknown dungeons yet to be discovered by hunters.
The dungeons known to be in North Korean territory are less than half of the actual number.
However, one cannot freely travel to North Koreannd outside of Ground Zero without the approval of the Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
There was too much foreshadowing spread about North Koreannd in the original work. Now that I think about it, I hardly collected it.
Kang-hoo, as the original author, smirked at the life he had lived.
He had scattered foreshadowing so aggressively that less than half was collected by the end.
That led to a lot of criticism for poor collection of foreshadowing, especially in conjunction with a traitors ending.
If it were a novel, just collecting the foreshadowing would be a super-long story. If my life after transmigration bes a novel, it would be really hard to conclude.
Kang-hoo chuckled at the ludicrous thought.
He felt he could easily pen several volumes filled with dungeon tales from North Korea.
Suddenly,
He sensed a faint ripple of mana nearby.
His ultra-sensitive mana detection, coupled with his tracking skills, picked up on the signal.
He couldnt discern the identity of the presence, but from this point forward, he had to be wary of Jo Gu-bin.
Thus, Kang-hoo quickly aimed for a tree in front to sidestep into cover.
At that moment, speed and stealth mattered less than finding a solid hiding spot.
How far had he traveled?
He was close enough now to make out the intruders face and attire.
Keke. I should havee to Ground Zero earlier. Strike from the shadows, and nobody knows the assant. Klkl!
A malevolent voice cackled, reverberating ominously under the overcast sky.
Got him.
It was indeed Jo Gu-bin.
Chapter 41: Punishment (1)
Chapter 41: Punishment (1)
Jo Gu-bin chuckled repeatedly as he alternated between putting on and taking off various items.
Each time, he reveled in checking the changing stats.
Who calls Ground Zero and of death? Its and of opportunities and treasures!
His shoulders shook with amusement.
This ce was essentially North Korean territory.
Thus, even if officers from the Hunter Public Safety Bureau conducted searches, they would overlook this area.
That was why Jo Gu-bin had killed a hunter who lived here.
This is the perfect ce to settle down. Good. I wont have to worry for a while. Keke.
He muttered to himself as he began to bury the body of the original owner sprawled on the ground.
He seemed intent on erasing his tracks, given the depth of the hole he had dug.
Dug-dug!
As he was busily sweating to bury the body,
Huh?
Jo Gu-bin sensed something.
An unidentified chill was lurking nearby.
At the same time, his instincts warned him.
Damn it!
He flung his body to the left instinctively.
Not because he saw something, but because he felt someones presence.
In that instant,
Swish!
Argh!
A dagger that narrowly missed his thigh, leaving a long cut, was Kang-hoos.
Had he not moved, it would have been his waist, not his thigh, that would have been pierced.
Damn it!
Jo Gu-bin cursed and pressed a button to activate one of the defense mechanisms installed by the previous owner.
Whirr.
With a mechanical sound, dozens of hanging water buckets overturned, spilling their contents.
It was a thick ck liquid that resembled paint and was menacing at a nce.
It seemed designed to both visually hinder and physically impede intruders.
Die, you bastard!
As Jo Gu-bin reached toward the sky, the spilling liquid instantly froze into sharp, spike-like formations.
[Ice Witch]
[From the ancient ciers, this constetion bestows ice attributes and enhances ice abilities.]
[Frenzied Murderer]
[After killing twenty humans in session, he inexplicably became a constetion, wreaking havoc in the celestial realm.]
[Once your kill count exceeds twenty, the constetion bestows random stat boosts at unpredictable intervals. These boosts are ongoing and permanent.]
One insignificant constetion hastched onto him.
Kang-hoo reviewed the list of constetions bound to Jo Gu-bin and let out a sardonic chuckle.
Providing extra stats for each kill? Its almost like an incentive for murder.
Regardless, he had a solid understanding of Jo Gu-bins capabilities.
The man was a hunter with mastery over ice powers.
He could turn ambient moisture or any spilt liquid into deadly weapons.
Whoosh.
Surrounding Jo Gu-bin, ice sharpened into lethal spikes whirled in the air.
It was a protective measure of sorts.
If Kang-hoo teleported recklessly while Jo Gu-bin was in that state, hed likely end up in even greater peril.
First, Kang-hoo took note of the substantial wound on Jo Gu-bins left thigh.
Without a means of rapid healing, the injury would surely hinder his mobility.
Endurance is key inbat.
Thats why Kang-hoo aimed for that obvious vulnerability.
Since the objective wasnt to rescue the man but to eliminate him, Kang-hoo wasnt about to quibble over tactics.
Kang-hoo intently watched the circling ice spikes around Jo Gu-bin.
At first nce, they seemed to move randomly as he brushed away several spikes.
But on closer examination, each spike orbited Jo Gu-bin at a constant speed.
Every shard had its own distinct pace.
Kang-hoo, with his sharp eyesight, quickly discerned the variation.
And as Jo Gu-bin readied a skill, Kang-hoo executed his teleportation maneuver towards him.
Uh-oh! Keuk.
Caught midair and pulled toward Kang-hoo, Jo Gu-bin scoffed in mockery.
Though taken aback by the unanticipated offensive strategy, he was certain he wouldnt be outwitted by such simple tricks.
Even if he were dragged along, Kang-hoo would also have been significantly wounded by the ice spikes.
But.
What?
Just when the ice spikes were expected to attack Kang-hoo.
Tadak.
Kang-hoo rolled forward through the gap.
Fwook!
He easily thrust his dagger into the front of Jo Gu-bins thigh.
It wasnt a simple basic attack.
He used the Decapitation skill.
Kang-hoo was determined to inflict a critical wound, even if it cost him 25% of his health and mana.
Keeoek!
Bang!
Simultaneously, Kang-hoos shadow, which had sprung back like a spring, had already secured a safe distance.
Soon, Kang-hoos figure, which had been right in front, blurred suddenly, and then he appeared, having switched ces with his shadow.
Keeeuuuh!
Jo Gu-bin clutched his left thigh and writhed in pain.
The ce where the dagger had entered and exited felt like it was burning with searing pain.
It was as if fire had been lit inside the wound, or as if it was being branded with a hot iron.
The pain intensified.
Heuk. Heuk.
I cant exert any strength.
It feels like my muscles and nerves arepletely severed.
Jo Gu-bin tried to maintain some defensive measures and use a skill against Kang-hoo.
But his mind, consumed by pain, couldnt provide the necessary concentration.
Jo Gu-bin eximed.
Damn it, who, who are you? What are you?
What do you mean? Im the guy who came to catch you.
Ive never seen you before
I dont know what you want me to do about that.
Kang-hoo looked at Jo Gu-bin with a disdainful expression.
A weakness of magic-using hunters is their vulnerability to pain.
Unlike closebat hunters, they need mental focus to use magic skills.
When pain urs simultaneously or bes unbearably deep and intense,
His concentration was disrupted, causing his uracy to plummet or making him unable to prepare at all.
Kang-hoos brief pause in attacking to respond to Jo Gu-bins words wasnt out ofcency.
Jo Gu-bin tried to counterattack, aiming to inflict a fatal wound.
He deliberately offered a timing.
Why are you trying to kill me, you bastard!
I dont think I need to listen to a guy who was just digging a hole to bury a corpse.
Did someone hire you or something?
Dont try to stall; juste at me. Lets see what youve got.
As Kang-hoo spoke, Jo Gu-bin, perhaps feeling provoked, sped his hands together.
Then the air around him began to swirl, quickly forming a sharp ice spear.
It goes without saying that the tip was sharp, and it seemed to possess high piercing power as it was imbued with mana.
But.
Tap!
As if he had anticipated it, Kang-hoo flicked his finger, activating Blood Flower, which unleashed havoc upon Jo Gu-bin.
Boom!
Aaaaah!
With a scream, Jo Gu-bins forming ice spear dissipated into nothingness.
It shattered.
But that was a secondary issue.
The real problem was that Jo Gu-bins perspective of the world began to shift sideways.
The explosion of Blood Flower had severed the already heavily damaged area below his left thigh.
It resulted in an amputation.
As his left leg, which had been barely supporting him, vanished, Jo Gu-bins body tilted and fell.
This is impossible
Jo Gu-bin wore a look of shock.
His opponent was a dagger-wielding assassin-type hunter.
Unless he was blind, he had clearly seen that characteristic.
Theres something known asmon sense.
Magic hunters typically employ long-range restraining spells, while assassin hunters favor closebat attack skills.
There might be exceptions, but the general pattern remains.
For instance, its unusual for an assassin to wield magic or for a mage to carry out close-range assassinations.
Yet, Kang-hoo had used magic to cause an explosion in Jo Gu-bins left leg from a distance.
Before Jo Gu-bin could make sense of this unimaginable scenario and understand what had happened.
Boom!
Ouch!
He lost his bnce and rolled on the ground.
Needless to say, his face hitting the wet and cold ground, covered with fallen leaves, was unpleasant.
Thud! Thwok!
With a leap to close the distance, Kang-hoo pulled out the Dagger of Skys Joy and drove it into the back of the fallen Jo Gu-bins hand.
The ground, somewhat hardened, allowed the dagger to prate deeply.
Aaaah!
Jo Gu-bin screamed.
Not stopping there, Kang-hoo took a practice dagger and drove it into Jo Gu-bins other hand.
Now with both hands pinned to the ground, Jo Gu-bin iled helplessly on his stomach.
Crunch!
Keeoek!
As if that wasnt enough, Kang-hoo pressed his heavily soled shoe onto Jo Gu-bins cheek as he stood up.
It was a pathetic sight.
What sin do children have, to be kidnapped and killed by someone like you? But then again, asking you for a reason is a luxury.
Keke! Its a sin to have a rich father! Isnt it? If youre that rich, protect your daughter better, kekeke!
Kang-hoo shook his head at Jo Gu-bins response, which had lost all semnce of logic.
He felt that even calling this waste human in the term human trash was too generous.
Jo Gu-bin, thinking his previous statement hadnt conveyed enough meaning, continued with a giggle.
You see, kids! They have an innocence that doesnt know the ways of the world, which makes deceiving them ten times more enjoyable Aaaaah!
Before Jo Gu-bin could finish his sentence, Kang-hoos dagger struck again.
Armpit, behind the elbow, entire wrist, groin, hamstring, Achilles tendon.
These were areas where even a minor injury could hinder movement and cause immense pain.
He had no intention of seriously listening to Jo Gu-bins nonsensical ramblings.
Aaaah! Ah! Please! Aack! It hurts so much!
Jo Gu-bin writhed in pain.
He knew his own pain so well, yet why couldnt he understand the pain of others?
Its likely because hes that kind of person that he became a criminal.
Kang-hoo didnt bother trying to understand Jo Gu-bin.
Overwhelmed by pain, Jo Gu-bin couldnt even think of using magic.
The situation had already been settled.
All that remained was to conclude the task.
Kang-hoo took out his smartphone and dialed the number given by Lee Ye-rin.
He called the father who had lost his daughter to Jo Gu-bin.
Before the ringtone could finish once,
Yes, Ive answered the call,
The mans voice tried to sound calm but couldnt hide the trembling emotion at the end.
Kang-hoo didnt reveal himself.
Instead, he filmed Jo Gu-bin writhing on the ground.
Calmly, he said,
Sir, I will now begin the revenge for your daughter.
It was a statement with a clear purpose, and for the listener, it was chilling.
Chapter 42: Punishment (2)
Chapter 42: Punishment (2)
The moment Kang-hoos cold words set the scene, Jo Gu-bins ordeal began.
With his vital muscles and nerves forbat severed, Jo Gu-bin was no more than a living corpse.
He tried to twist his wrist slightly to target Kang-hoo, but even that was rendered impossible.
What the hell, you bastar Aaaah!
Jo Gu-bins shout echoed loudly as he saw Kang-hoos video call, broadcasting him live.
He had not realized that the person on the other end was the father of the child he had abducted and murdered.
He is the father of the child you killed. You will not die until you apologize for your crimes.
Damn you, you bas Aaaah!
Before Jo Gu-bin couldplete his curse, Kang-hoos dagger sliced through his Achilles tendon once more.
Strength left his legs, and the agonizing pain became unbearable.
However, as Kang-hoo had pointed out, these wounds were not lethal.
Somewhere beyond the screen, the father, witnessing Jo Gu-bins plight, wept incessantly.
It was likely because he kept remembering his precious daughter, who had fallen victim to such a vile being.
Even if Kang-hoo was emotionally detached in many ways, he was not oblivious to the fathers anguished emotions.
He could feel it.
The impulse to surrender everything, countered by the extraordinary effort to persevere for the sake of his daughter.
You can choose to cooperate or not. But your writhing in pain is not your choice.
sh!
Aaaah!
Another cut was added.
This time, it went deeper into the armpit.
Kang-hoo hoped Jo Gu-bin would experience a searing agony.
Jo Gu-bin convulsed wildly.
Without any means to be desensitized to the pain, his torment must have seemed like insanity.
Kang-hoo watched dispassionately as Jo Gu-bins left leg bled profusely.
However, the bleeding wasnt as severe as he had expected.
That was due to the properties of the Blood Flower.
It would detonate using blood as a medium.
It seemed to temporarily cauterize the wound, acting as a makeshift hemostasis.
Of course, the wound would reopen and bleedter, but it momentarily stopped the bleeding.
Jo Gu-bins condition was exactly like that.
He still had some time before he would suffer from excessive blood loss.
You will eventually apologize. Its just a matter of how you die, Jo Gu-bin.
Kang-hoo infused his dagger with me attributes.
Now it was Jo Gu-bins turn to experience the pain of being scorched by fire and torn by metal simultaneously.
He had no desire to be an expert in torture, but he deemed it fitting for human trash like Jo Gu-bin.
And so, Jo Gu-bins lonely journey towards death began, taking the long way around.
10 minutester.
Ah, father, sir Im, Im sorry I, I killed your daughter. Im really, really sorry Cough!
Jo Gu-bin, coughing up blood, conveyed his apology to the father of the child.
Whether it was sincere or not was irrelevant to Kang-hoo or the father.
What mattered was that Jo Gu-bin, on the brink of death, writhed in pain, experiencing agony worse than death.
Thats enough Hyemin must have heard it. I believe she did.
I will inform a mercenary group about where this guy is. You can handle it afterward, or do as you see fit.
Thank you. Thank you so much Im truly grateful. You did what the Hunter Public Safety Bureau and thew couldnt do.
I merely executed the task I was given. I sincerely hope your daughters soul rests in peace.
This statement was genuine.
Even if Kang-hoo was indifferent to death, he didnt take the death of a child lightly.
I will never forget your kindness. Thank you.
With that, the video call ended.
Having recorded the call as a precaution, there would be no problem in receiving themission for the task.
Now, Kang-hoos business with Jo Gu-bin, in terms of the request, was concluded.
What remained was to deal with him and seize his items.
Sort of like spoils of war.
Jo Gu-bin.
You, you bastard Cough! Cough!
Now that youve served your purpose, you can die.
Thwock!
!
Jo Gu-bin, having fulfilled the purpose of the request, was of no further use to Kang-hoo.
He plunged the dagger deeply into the back of Jo Gu-bins neck.
He didnt forget to follow up with a decisive beheading skill blow.
He wanted to ensure there was no chance of survival.
Thus, Jo Gu-bin met his end on the cold ground, his eyes wide open.
[You have killed the target and seized the contract with ''Ice Witch''.]
[You have killed the target and seized the contract with ''Frenzied Murderer''.]
Two constetions were added.
Unexpectedly, along with the me attribute, he gained abilities rted to ice.
Of course, without specific ice magic skills, the effects wouldnt dramatically change.
But, he would enjoy using the ice attribute as a counter to monsters specialized in me.
Having attribute-rted abilities was always beneficial,
especially as he ascended to the upper echelons of hunters.
[One trashy constetion has been added. This guy might need some training.]
The Dimension Plunderer expressed its displeasure.
A constetion that caused chaos in the world of constetions was undoubtedly an entity they preferred to avoid.
Afterward,
Kang-hoo swiftly collected all of Jo Gu-bins items.
He stripped the corpse of its clothes and carelessly threw it in front of a nearby tree.
Respect for the dead?
Jo Gu-bin had no right to such respect, so Kang-hoo didnt bother with it.
Items that were awkward to wear or unnecessary were stored in the backpack he had brought.
The estimated value was one billion won
a significant amount.
These items had likely been stolen from the hunter who lived here before Jo Gu-bin.
Kang-hoo wore only one item:
[Robust Will - Ring]
[Grade: 4th Grade]
[Strength +100]
[The ring could be worn to increase stats, but it also could be absorbed permanently into the body.]
This means I can free up a slot for items if necessary.
The Robust Will Ring was a body-absorption item.
In other words, it could transform into a form that the body absorbed as needed.
Such body-absorption items could be solutions when difficulties arose due to ovepping item slots.
However, since there was no urgency to absorb the ring, he decided to wear it for the time being.
Just as he finished up, Kang-hoo received a video call from Lee Ye-rin.
It seemed to concern the settlement for the recent request.
She must have heard the news from the client.
Yes.
Youve worked hard. Ive received the report and checked the content. Are you hurt anywhere?
As you can see.
Kang-hoo showed off his entire body through the screen.
Apart from some of Jo Gu-bins blood, Kang-hoos body was spotless.
Youre amazing, Mr. Seon-gyu. Your sess rate for requests is 100%, and youre the fastest among all the requesters I deal with.
Is that so?
Yes. Usually, tasks like tracking criminals or finding missing hunters are calcted in months.
A month, I see?
Right! You never know where they might be or how they might be hiding. I never imagined the request would bepleted so quickly.
Lee Ye-rin on the screen continuously expressed her amazement.
It almost seemed as though she was rationally suspecting Kang-hoo had some sort of navigator for locating his targets.
After all,
thest clue was that he wasst seen at Imjin River Station.
Considering the vastness of Ground Zero and its dangers, tracking wasnt an easy task unless one had broad knowledge, judgment, and intuition from a wide perspective.
Anyway, I handled it well. Dealing with the body isnt my jurisdiction, so youll have to arrange that.
Got it! Oh! The father added an extra reward. The total is now 2.5 billion won.
Oh.
The original amount was 1 billion won.
There was a promised additional reward for finding the daughters remains or belongings, but, unfortunately, no trace of them was found.
Yet the father, expressing his gratitude, added an extra 1.5 billion won.
With such wealth, it wouldnt be difficult to identify who he might be, but Kang-hoo had no intention of doing so.
It didnt seem likely that they would meet again.
Avenging the child was enough.
Meanwhile,
Cha So-hee was reviewing gathered information in her office.
Eclipses base of operations was at Daejeon Station, but their informants were scattered across the country.
Having spent time in Cheongmyeong Detention Center, she was certain to recognize Kang-hoos face.
Of course, when she first distributed the details of Kang-hoos appearance to informants nationwide, it was just a vague feeling.
You never know where a hunter might go, when, or how.
It was impossible to pinpoint a specific location or ce.
But things had worked out well.
An informant in Seoul had reported Kang-hoos personal details.
This informant, a hunter working at Seoul Station, had ess to the CCTV inside and outside the station.
He had spotted Kang-hoo while reviewing past CCTV footage.
This information was immediately passed on to Cha So-hee.
Thest sighting was inside Seoul Station, waiting for a train. Given the trains route, it was heading north.
She had a hunch about where he was headed.
North meant Ground Zero.
She didnt know why he was going there, but given the circumstances, it was probably Ground Zero.
The CCTV footage was from the day before.
This meant he might have finished whatever he was doing and would likely return to Seoul Station.
But she didnt know when.
That rat bastard.
Cha So-hee clenched her teeth.
Had it not been for the capture order from Kang Dong-hyun, she would have wanted to kill him as soon as she found him.
Among those who had escaped Cheongmyeong Detention Center, Kang-hoo was the only one she had tracked for such a long time.
The thought that he was increasingly consuming her time filled her with growing anger.
She made a phone call.
The recipient was Kang Dong-hyun.
The connection was immediate.
Oh, So-hee.
Its Seoul Station.
Looks like he went that way?
He was confirmed at Seoul Station yesterday. Not sure, but it seems like he might have headed towards Ground Zero.
A guy who escapes the detention center and heads to Ground Zero not long after He really is something.
Youre praising him?
Haha. Gotta praise where its due. He might be your colleague someday.
Anyway, Ill wait at Seoul Station. Ill catch him right here and bring him in.
Bring him alive. I want to take a serious look at what kind of guy he is.
Ill bring him in alive, just know that.
Good. Just alive. Bring him in.
The call ended shortly after.
Damn it!
Cha So-hees face reddened as she pushed her chair back and stood up.
She felt like a dog chasing chickens, eager to finish this tedious pursuit.
Honestly, she felt that she could only be satisfied if she could cut his throat the moment they met.
And so.
The shadow of her pursuit, closing in on Kang-hoo, was drawing ever nearer, darkening around him.
Chapter 43: Team Play (1)
Chapter 43: Team y (1)
On his way back,
Kang-hoo decided to visit Jung Yuri instead of immediately returning to Seoul, given that he hadpleted the task quickly.
So, he reversed his direction and headed back the way he hade.
He had a rough idea of where she usually was.
The road was silent and deserted.
As he enjoyed the silence while walking, Dimension Plunderer initiated a conversation.
What do you think is the meaning of a constetion?
Constetion.
In the original work, constetions existed solely to enhance the power of the protagonist, Jang Si-hwan.
There wasnt any detailed nning or consideration for the constetions in the writing.
They were merely one of the means for bing stronger, with the constetions circling around Jang Si-hwan. That was about it.
In a way, it was a somewhat loosely defined part of the setting.
Thus, when Dimension Plunderer casually inquired about the meaning of constetions, Kang-hoo couldnt easily answer.
I havent thought about it.
He responded honestly.
Obviously, Dimension Plunderer wasnt asking about the literary aspects of the novel.
But given the timing of this topic, it was clear that it wanted to have a deeper conversation with him.
As you know, when you pass the test of a constetion, the fate of the constetion and the contractor be one.
Thats right.
Why do you think the fate of the constetion is linked to the elements constituting the contractors world?
Dimension Plunderers question seemed more like an invitation for Kang-hoo to ponder, rather than a mere query.
Simply because the world of hunters and the system do not just operate within human civilization?
The reason why contractors and constetions are tied in amunity of fate is simple. Its not just the contractors war.
So, its a war of constetions?
Exactly. Constetions arent the administrators of this world. Theyre just one of the elements.
What about the existence above them?
[I can''t speak about that. But one thing is certain. I don''t want to vanish as an ordinary constetion.]
Dimension Plunderers neutral voice was filled with determination as it spoke emphatically.
It added.
[Watching you, I keep getting more ambitious. My heart races. I''m increasingly confident that you can achieve anything!]
Dimension Plunderer, a powerful constetion whom Kang-hoo considered very important, acknowledged him with such intense emotion that it made Kang-hoos heart race.
It was a feeling of adrenaline rushing through him.
A sense of aplishment and pleasure different from receiving human praise thrilled his body.
For a moment.
His perspective on the world of hunters expanded, reaching the world of constetions and even beyond.
Where was the end?
Could he not see the ending of this world by just oveing Jang Si-hwan and The Thirteen Stars?
Then, was the Demon King also just one of these elements?
Since it was a question with no answer, it lingered in his mind for a while.
[Soon, I will test you. I look forward to your challenge that will please me.]
Im looking forward to it too. Full of anticipation.
Kang-hoo nodded.
After all, from the moment he became part of this world, he and Dimension Plunderer were in the same boat.
Although other facts and futures might change, his rtionship with Dimension Plunderer seemed unalterable.
A brief conversation.
The serious dialogue with Dimension Plunderer gave Kang-hoo new food for thought.
When he first possessed the body, he thought his goal was to live Shin Kang-hoos life and prevent the betrayer ending.
What about after that?
Ironically, he had never thought about it, captivated by the keyword betrayer ending.
The Dimension Plunderer reminded him of the theme he had missed.
He felt it would be a long journey.
On the way, Kang-hoo decided on his next destination after finishing his meeting with Jung Yuri.
That was Gwangju Songjeong Station.
He had received a one-month lease for a dungeon from the Hunter Public Safety Bureau, located at exit 3 of Gwangju Songjeong Station.
It was time for the license to be transferred.
With the dungeons transformation, a total of four skill plunders were possible; it was a ce he had to visit.
He couldnt dy, especially when it came to acquiring new skills.
Then.
Youre already here.
Kang-hoo sensed the rapidly approaching flow of mana and immediately recognized Jung Yuris presence.
Her constetion information also appeared when she came into view.
Youre quite early, arent you?
I finished my business quickly.
Her voice came from far above, not directly in front of him but from the top of a tree.
If she hadnt projected her voice, it would have been difficult tomunicate because of the distance.
She definitely possessed a unique ability.
When moving through space in the air, she transformed into a form like ck smoke.
Such abilities aremonly known as transformation abilities, and naturally, they are rare.
Moreover, transforming into ck smoke meant immunity to physical attacks in that state.
It was clear evidence of Jung Yuris potential.
In the original work, she was characterized as such.
Like Lee Ye-rin or An Yeong-ho.
Its perfect timing! Theres a dungeon I really want to enter, but theres a limit on the number of people.
Hmm?
I need more people! No matter how much I try to enter alone, it doesnt work. It seems I dont count as a corpse.
The example she used was macabre, but it wasnt strange considering corpses weremon at Ground Zero.
Would that be okay? Its fine for me to enter, but Im not the dungeon owner.
So what? Its not mandatory to conquer it. We can just look around and see if its worth finishing!
Jung Yuris cheerful response left Kang-hoo with nothing more to say.
It was a wee proposal for Kang-hoo.
Inside the dungeon, whether facing a middle boss or a main boss, defeating them would guarantee a skill plunder.
He was taking advantage of the rtionship he had previously formed with Jung Yuri.
Of course, he could only know what kind of ce the dungeon was once inside, so he didnt jump to conclusions prematurely.
He thought it was fortunate.
This would be a good opportunity to thoroughly examine her abilities.
Is this my first team y?
Reflecting on his memories, it seemed this was the first time he was conquering a dungeon with someone else.
Usually preferring to go solo, Kang-hoo was grateful just for being included, given his status as a guest this time.
The dungeon entrance was unusual, nestled between tworge intertwined tree trunks.
The area was encircled by dense trees, barely touched by sunlight.
The entrance itself was pitch ck, making it impossible to spot at a casual nce.
One could only recognize its existence by closely observing the fluctuating spatial flow.
Thus, the dungeon exploration began, resembling a sort of dungeon date(?).
The dungeon wasnt vast, nor was it teeming with monsters.
If 1 is barren and 10 is teeming with abundance, this dungeon would rate about a 2.5.
Consequently, the sporadically appearing monsters were dispatched leisurely, as we synchronized our movements.
The dungeons level was around 200.
It would have been challenging for Kang-hoo to tackle it alone, but with Jung Yuri, there was nock of firepower.
As a two-person team.
Matching the concept of entering, Kang-hoo focused on coordinating with Jung Yuri in every task.
He meticulously analyzed her abilities.
And he reached a conclusion.
There was no need to worry about her growth.
Transformation ability and magic utilization.
Plus, the capability to open portals from one space to another.
Jung Yuri, like Kang-hoo with his versatile options, had a broad array of attacks at her disposal.
She said she knew about ten dungeons like this one, known only to her.
With this information, it seemed feasible to continually grow by resetting and rotating dungeon explorations.
As they progressed, his level steadily rose to 46.
The high-level monsters provided substantial experience points.
Even though they shared the experience, my levellow as it wassaw a significant increase.
Thanks to Jung Yuri, he unexpectedly gained a lot, repeatedly expressing my gratitude.
He wanted to make sure to show appreciation for her consideration.
He never took any act of kindness for granted.
While moving, the two of us naturally continued our conversation.
Kang-hoo listened to her words attentively.
Being alone and lonelier than anyone, having someone to talk to was most important to her.
He trusted her nature, which was purely shaped from birth. Jung Yuri was like a nk canvas.
Thats right. I trusted and followed you because you said you needed me for the conquest. But then I was abandoned.
They used you as a guide, understandable. But to leave you behind injured without trying to help?
It seems, as Chae Gwanhyeong said, having hunters with such abilities isnt desirable.
Okay, lets say they had a reason to leave you. But why strip you of your clothes why?
He said he didnt want to waste letting me die, so he wanted to have his fun before that.
So you threw yourself down a slope and identally fell into a swamp, where you gained your transformation ability.
Yes thats right.
The story of Chae Gwanhyeong as told by Jung Yuri was dirtier than anything Jo Gu-bin could do.
He could now hear in detail the painful story of her past, which was omitted from the original work.
In summary,
During her time as an active mercenary, Chae Gwanhyeong used her well as the teams guide.
When she got injured and her utility decreased, instead of helping her recover,
He decided to leave her in the dungeon and even attempted to vite her in the process.
Leaving a hunter in a dungeon implies one thing.
When the dungeon conquest ends, they vanish without a trace along with the reset.
Its akin to murder.
Therefore, it was natural for Jung Yuri to seek revenge on Chae Gwanhyeong and bear a grudge against the Jeonghwa Guild.
The teammates with Chae Gwanhyeong must have belonged to the Jeonghwa Guild.
Even if they were merely following Chae Gwanhyeongs orders, they were still aplices in abandoning Jung Yuri.
I see why you came to Ground Zero. Its better here, where you only have to look out for yourself, than in a world where you cant trust anyone.
Thats right. Thats exactly what I feel.
In a way, our thoughts are alike. Different in expression and response, but alike.
Kang-hoo lightly patted her shoulder.
In truth, he wanted to give her a deep hug to soothe her wounded heart
But such physical affection didnt suit Shin Kang-hoos desated emotions.
It would have been too awkward and cringeworthy.
As our conversation deepened, we began to understand each other better.
Then
Kuaaaaang!
An explosion, reminiscent of a sonic boom, erupted not far ahead.
In that instant
Kwaddddduk!
Trees blocking the view all toppled in one direction, their trunks split in half.
A fierce and sharp storm of swords, capable of slicing through the center of any tree, regardless of thickness!
It was clearly a deadly technique from a middle boss, heading straight for them.
Kuaaaaang!
And the attack kepting at very short intervals, not evensting two seconds.
I can tell which boss monster this is.
A name sprang to mind.
He wasnt certain if it was just good luck today, but it appeared to be a great chance to acquire a useful skill.
Things seemed to be looking up.
Chapter 44: Team Play (2)
Chapter 44: Team y (2)
Middle Boss, Sport.
A swordsman-type monster whirled a heavy greatsword, releasing powerful storms in all directions.
As it received an infinite supply of mana from the same spot, there was no worry of the storm ceasing.
Moreover, with a 2-second interval between attacks, there were hardly any gaps, and the strike range was quite broad.
In summary, it was impossible to avoid Sports sword wind from any direction.
But that didnt mean there were no alternatives.
Depending on the situation, it was possible to bypass the middle boss without fighting.
Unlike the main boss, conquering them wasnt mandatory.
It was just that defeating them yielded rewards.
Thats a shame.
But passing by just because Sport was tricky to approach seemed wasteful, given the skills that could be plundered.
It had three skills:
Steel Storm.
Liquefaction.
Defensive Level 1.
Kang-hoo was interested in Defensive Level 1.
It was a passive skill specialized in protecting the body.
As the name suggested, it was a skill that could be upgraded in stages using magic stones.
I already had a n to tackle Sport.
But since Jung Yuris cooperation was crucial, I asked her.
Got any good ideas? I already have one in mind.
Somehow, I think your idea is the same as mine. Can I go first?
Ladies first.
Frontal assault seems difficult. Ill open a path, why not drop from above?
Jung Yuri pointed above Sports head with a cheerful expression.
Kang-hoo smiled upon seeing where her finger pointed.
He had the same idea.
Jung Yuri was a hunter with the ability to open spaces.
Although there were distance limitations, she could create a passage to significantly shorten the distance.
If she kept opening such passages in session, moving above Sports head was possible.
The storms range was about 5 meters above the ground, so moving above that height would suffice.
My thoughts exactly.
Yeah, that guys attacks are fierce, but his defense seems pretty weak.
Then Im counting on you.
Right now?
Why dy?
Okay!
Jung Yuri quickly opened a dimensional gate in front of Kang-hoo as soon as she finished speaking.
Simultaneously, she opened an exit about seven meters diagonally.
That was their method of movement.
Hoo.
After a short, deep breath,
Paang!
Kang-hoo leaped and swiftly entered the dimensional gate.
The real challenge was starting now.
Since skill duplication was impossible, Jung Yuri opened the next dimensional gate as soon as Kang-hoo emerged from the exit.
Initially, three dimensional gates continued upward, apparently to increase Kang-hoos altitude significantly.
After repeating this three times, Kang-hoo was now about 15 meters above the ground.
Even as Kang-hoo looked down from a position that would typically evoke fear, his expression didnt change.
Paang!
In the meantime, the sword storm unleashed by Sport viciously swept across the ground.
Each time, rocks turned to pebbles, and pebbles to dust, vanishing away.
It was a truly powerful attack.
Ill keep opening the doors!
Nows good!
Kang-hoo gave Jung Yuri a thumbs-up.
He knew she was intensely focused.
Quickly umting physical and mental strain, using spatial skills continuously demanded an immense toll.
It was like running 100 meters and then being asked to do it again immediately could the body bear it?
That was the situation.
But Jung Yuri, without showing it, instead offered a bright smile, easing any worries.
Knowing her true feelings, Kang-hoo put his all into the current situation.
Paat!
Another dimensional gate opened.
Thinking they had reached the apex, she started opening gates that gradually lowered in altitude.
With the ability to use leap skills even in mid-air, he actively jumped through the dimensional gates.
The approach was instantaneous.
Shortcuts continuously opened, closing the over 100-meter distance to Sport in no time.
Before long, Kang-hoo positioned himself directly above Sport, the top of its head clearly visible.
Just a gatekeeper concept.
He realized then.
The storm Sport unleashed in all directions was a repetitive response to a set input.
Despite Kang-hoos positioning above, Sport did not generate a storm targeting upward.
Swoosh!
Upon reaching the target point, Kang-hoo first threw a practice dagger toward Sport.
It was a light toss, more of a minor check than an attack.
He had a reason.
To neutralize Sports protective passive skill, Defensive.
Sure enough.
Shaaa.
The moment the practice dagger made contact with Sport, Defensive activated, nullifying the attack.
The defense was impressive, but it presented an opportunity.
Decapitation.
Without hesitation, Kang-hoo invoked the Decapitation skill, plunging straight down.
The position seemed so perfect that gravity alone appeared sufficient to pierce Sports skull.
Pwook!
Kang-hoonded precisely on target, striking down with the dagger.
Without a groan, he finished the situation with a single strike.
The dagger, buried deep with only the handle visible,pletely cut off Sports life force.
[The following skills can be plundered from the activated target.]
[Steel Storm]
[Liquefaction]
[Defensive Level 1]
Defensive Level 1.
He disregarded the other skills.
Steel Storm, with its casting time, was unsuitable for Kang-hoo, who fought in split-second intervals.
As he had confirmed with Sport, the Steel Storm skill had a dy of about 2 seconds.
For an assassin who needed to be swift, there was no room to spare 2 seconds.
In truth, Steel Storm was more of a shy skill than a practical one forbat.
Unless one nned tounch Steel Storm from afar like a mage, it wasnt very useful.
And the skill Fluidization didnt seem appealing either, as its mechanics were almost identical to those of eleration.
Indeed, there would be synergy if used alongside eleration, but improving the efficiency of eleration would be preferable.
[Self-Defense - Level 1]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max]
[A passive skill. Reactivates 1 hour after activation.]
[Once activated, Self-Defense nullifies an enemy''s attack. However, selective nullification is not possible.]
[Upgradable to level 2 with a Spirit Stone.]
If I time it correctly, I can definitely avoid an attack. This skill is the most useful for me.
He felt quite satisfied.
Assassins, by the nature of their ss, struggled to acquire defensive skills.
There wouldnt be any defensive skills among the basic ones to be addedter.
After all, it was the opposite direction.
In this regard, the Self-Defense skill pilfered from Sport appeared to hold great value for future use.
Furthermore, its upgrade potential promised limitless utility.
Sport hadnt dropped any significant loot.
However, the experience gained was extremely substantial.
His experience, which had just edged into level 46, skyrocketed to nearly the end. It was akin to jumping from 46.0 to 46.9, almost a full level up.
Wow! We work together so well, right? Have you ever moved like this before?
No.
But to navigate the passage so smoothly? Honestly, I was really worried about backup.
If you cant take advantage of such a clear path, you might as well hand in your hunter license.
That final strike you delivered to the head, was that a skill? It looked like a weak spot, but I didnt expect you to take down a mid-level boss in one hit!
Its all thanks to your setup. Because of you, the strategy seemed effortless.
What are you saying! Its your skills that made it a perfect execution; anyone else would have botched it. I was aplete mess!
Kang-hoo consistentlyuded Jung Yuris instinct, but she deflected the praise each time.
Are you not used topliments?
Actually, yes.
Youll get used to it.
The impact of spatial abilities depended on how they were used.
A skill could be considered worthless or a game-changer that dramatically turned the tide of an unfavorable battle.
Jung Yuris use of her spatial skills was so clean and efficient that it belonged to thetter category.
With such skills, he could trust her at least 90%, if not 100%.
In team y, trust is essential to fully utilize spatial abilities.
Without trust, you cant see the full effect; youd always worry when entering a passage.
Interesting.
It was also fascinating.
It felt like the first time they were admiring each others skills purely and not based on mutual interests.
Since he woke up in this world, it seemed like the first time he had engaged in battle without any burden.
Probably because his partner, Jung Yuri, was so pure-hearted.
Thats what Kang-hoo thought.
He considered himself tainted, a crow-like existence.
Kang-hoo, together with Jung Yuri, effortlessly leveled up to 47 by defeating minor monsters.
The milestone of level 50, where basic skills could be acquired, was now within reach.
Once level 50 was reached, the next chance to acquire basic skills would be at level 100.
So, after level 50, the supply of basic skills would be interrupted for a while.
Thats why the importance of skill plundering had increased.
Without actively obtaining skills in dungeons, it was hard to add new skills by other means.
But why is that guy just sitting there?
On the other hand, Jung Yuri tilted her head in confusion after identifying the boss monsters location and identity.
The monsters name was Legant.
Legant, unarmed and without armor, was kneeling as if praying.
If it looks obviously vulnerable, its usually a trap.
Kang-hoo stopped Jung Yuri, who was about to advance, with his hand.
He had a bad feeling about it.
Though just a few leaps away, close enough to strike, it seemed too easy.
There were no freebies in dungeon conquests.
Then, Kang-hoo approached Jung Yuri and whispered in a low voice, audible only to her.
Run. As far back as you can.
He sensed that something was off.
Chapter 45: Team Play (3)
Chapter 45: Team y (3)
Upon hearing Kang-hoos words, Jung Yuri ran away without asking why.
She knew well that he never spoke in vain.
Without looking back, she started running the way they hade.
About 10 secondster,
Kang-hoo saw Legant crumble like a copsing sandcastle.
It seemed as if he were embracing his own death.
It felt as though he would naturally die and disappear if left alone.
Whoosh!
So Kang-hoo rushed in and plunged his dagger into Legants body.
He couldnt just let himmit suicide.
He needed to be the one to end Legants life to perform skill plundering.
[The target is not eligible for plundering.]
[Instead, you can receive a one-time skill enhancement as a reward.]
I get it this way?
It seemed too easy.
Just as Kang-hoo was about to savor the thrill of acquisition, hoping his worst fears wouldnt materialize,
Boom!
The what if turned into as expected.
He had told Jung Yuri to run because he had sensed something, and now his fears had be reality.
It was the dungeon copsing.
Starting from 100 meters behind Legant, the dungeon began to crumble as if the world were ending.
Officially, the boss monsters conquest was over; it was dead. He had even received the reward.
The problem was what followed.
The dungeon was copsing.
Meaning, if they couldnt escape, it would be the end of their lives.
To enjoy the reward, one must first survive.
Damn it.
Kang-hoo cursed as he started sprinting with all his might.
The entrance they hade through must have turned into the exit.
They had to return the way they hade.
Kang-hoo took out a Mad Srkium from his pocket and chewed it without hesitation.
Skill enhancement was a reward far more valuable than something like a Mad Srkium.
It wasnt a waste to consume one of the six. Not eating it now would be insane.
At that moment,
Kang-hoo felt the constant heavy pressure in his head lift all at once.
Like breaking free from shackles?
It felt like liberation from all restraints at once.
The flow of mana felt clearer, and the constant headache that had been like apanion vanished.
His body became as light as a feather, and his vision sharpened to the point where he could see even the smallest speck of dust.
Is this what it feels like to perfectly suppress mana hypersensitivity? To experience sensory enhancement as well?
Using eleration and Leap, he swiftly left the scene, sensing the changes within his body.
He had believed Mad Srkium only suppressed the outward symptoms of mana hypersensitivity and eased the pain.
But it appeared that the senses dulled by chronic mana hypersensitivity were more extensive than he had realized.
To exaggerate a little, it felt as though he had encountered drugs.
He was momentarily overjoyed.
In any case, he was certain about its effects.
Todays experience would significantly aid in utilizing the remaining Mad Srkiums.
Looking back, he saw that everything was indeed copsing.
Everything, including thick rocks, tall trees, and expansive ins, was being sucked underground as if by a ck hole.
It was obvious, but being trapped in this copse would certainly spell doom for any ordinary person.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Kang-hoo kept executing Leap.
His mana supply was almost inexhaustible thanks to mana hypersensitivity, so he had no worries.
At that moment, without pain or limitations, he was in a state of virtually unlimited mana and skills.
Alternating between Leap and eleration with ease, he even caught up to Jung Yuri, who had started running before him.
She struggled with movement due to mana depletion.
This is the typical pattern for a hunter.
If not managed carefully, mana reserves are exhausted within a few minutes.
Then, as mana slowly replenishes, skills are utilized inefficiently.
However, Kang-hoo had the most options, being the least concerned about mana.
Take my hand.
You caught up already? Over this distance? And why offer your hand?
Lets run together. I will take the lead and resist. Hold my hand tightly and stay behind me.
Okay!
Jung Yuri firmly grasped Kang-hoos hand.
From that moment on, just like when they had rescued An Yeong-ho, they continued with a two-person Leap, holding hands.
It has already been 10 minutes. Hes been using Leap continuously, even while taking care of me
Throughout their escape, Jung Yuris eyes widened in disbelief at Kang-hoos incredible skill utilization.
If skills could be used infinitely just by will, no hunter would ever die.
That was what Jung Yuri thought.
Mana exists to show that nothinges without a price, much like money.
Being perpetually gued by a chronic shortage is the fate of mana.
Thats why countless hunters go crazy over items that increase mana and spend money on them.
Yet Kang-hoo was using skills like someone from a different world.
A skill that allows a 6-meter Leap in one go must consume a significant amount of mana.
He had already used such a skill dozens of times.
Still, without any change in his expression, he silently searched for an escape route.
At some point, deciding it was better to carry her, Kang-hoo was now carrying Jung Yuri on his back.
A Named perhaps?
Jung Yuri, oblivious to world news, suddenly had another thought.
Maybe he was a Named, known among hunters, who had decided to visit Ground Zero.
She couldnt search on her smartphone while in the dungeon.
She nned to search as soon as they got out.
But she was certain.
Jung Sun-kyu must be a hunter of a much higher level than her.
Only that could exin this seemingly infinite mana and skill usage. Otherwise, it wouldnt make sense.
Wow were far ahead. And were almost there!
Jung Yuri eximed, looking alternately ahead and behind.
The copsing phenomenon, which had seemed about to engulf them, was now quite far away.
Perhaps it was at the edge of the horizon?
They were so distant that even standing still for a minute would be safe.
The dungeon entrance they had initially entered loomed about 10 meters ahead.
Do you think I could enter this dungeon without you? Do you have to run like this every time you conquer it?
Seems so.
Its crazy. Arent you tired? Dont you get exhausted? Does your mana just keep springing forth? How is this possible?
Trade secret.
Kang-hoo deftly sidestepped Jung Yuris naive and curious inquiries.
Trade secret was, in fact, an appropriate response.
His congenital mana hypersensitivity was both his greatest asset and his most significant liability.
Indeed, it was a double-edged sword.
Lets get out of here, quick!
We should. I need to rest once were out. Let me know if you find a good tree to lie down under.
Sure! I know just the spot!
Kang-hoo could feel the effects of the Mad Srkium beginning to wane.
Once it wore off, hed have to face the onught of physical exhaustion like a billing due.
Given that he had been using Leap and eleration for nearly 20 minutes, hed be lucky not to pass out.
Quickly, the two made their way out of the dungeon.
Its copse would have no bearing on the outside world, and a reset of the dungeon itself was on the horizon.
Thanks! I didnt think Id get a skill enhancement as a reward. Did you get one too?
Yeah. Im deciding where to use it.
Ill boost a transformation skill! Its essential for me!
She appeared to have applied it immediately to her ability to transform temporarily into ck smoke.
Certainly an otherworldly talent.
It was a power that granted her the freedom to switch between human and non-human forms at will.
Naturally, this was her edge in battle.
Kang-hoo didnt possess any tangible treasures, but he viewed the single skill enhancement as worthy of the entire ordeal.
Such skill enhancements were unobtainable on the ck market and couldnt be consistently procured from particr dungeons.
Their value was no less than a staggering 500 billion won.
This was the price hunters ced on a skill enhancement.
It essentially rebirthed a skill.
Didnt Blood Flower be a lethal skill capable of taking the lives of multiple enemies at once through skill enhancement?
Regardless of the skill, the effect of enhancement was certain, like a promissory note.
A whileter
Kang-hoo, feeling the effects of the Mad Srkiumpletely worn off,y down in the spot Jung Yuri had shown him.
His body ached as if it had been hammered all over.
The headache was more intense than he had expected, and his limbs felt limp like taffy.
Perhaps that was why.
As soon as hey down in Jung Yuris perfect spot, he experienced an indescribablefort and happiness.
It seemed trivial, but it brought him a simple joy.
Then
Jung Yuri, who had been busily organizing something, sat down beside Kang-hoo.
The tree was spacious enough, and she had prepared it so well, it practically became a high-rise resting spot.
There was plenty of room for her to sit next to him.
Hey.
Hmm?
I felt sorry seeing you lying alone on the cold tree. If youre okay with it, would you like to rest your head on myp?
Since awakening in this world
Was it because these were the first words of pure human kindness he had heard after living so fiercely?
Even Kang-hoo, who usually responded quickly, hesitated this time.
Its not just for you But youve been my travel and conversationpanion. Im really grateful.
A woman who, despite being deeply betrayed by people, still longed for theirpany.
Jung Yuri was special, but in a different way.
Different from Han Seo-yeon, Lee Ye-rin, and Yun Sang-mi, with whom he had previously established connections.
Especially different from Han Seo-yeon, who always remembered and felt remorse for their past.
Well, its just ap pillow, nothing more. Your head might feel a bit heavy, though.
Its okay. Just lie downfortably.
Without further hesitation
Hey down, resting his head precisely on the inside of her thigh.
She had probably sweated a lot in the dungeon, yet she still smelled strongly of acacia.
The rest after the fierce battle and the frantic escape made his body feel even morenguid.
Although he felt overwhelmingly sleepy just by closing his eyes, Kang-hoo never sumbed to sleep.
Ground Zero was still the wilderness. One could never predict what variables might arise.
Kang-hoo blinked, looking up into her eyes, which from his perspective, appeared upside down.
Her eyes clearly radiated pure sincerity.
Time seemed to stand still as they locked gazes, without a word.
Thus, the rest of the two, in tranquility, passed quietly,municating only through their eyes.
Chapter 46: Jang Si-hwan (1)
Chapter 46: Jang Si-hwan (1)
Thanks foring back. I wanted to talk more. Make yourselffortable.
I should be the one thanking you. I received an unexpected reward, thanks to you.
If you hadnt been there, it would have been a dungeon where survival was the best oue, let alone conquering it. Im the one who should be grateful.
Lets just say we both benefited.
Right! It feels like we keep repeating the same conversation, huh?
Jung Yuri replied with a smile to the rare, warm exchange of gratitude between them.
It was unusual to see gratitude expressed when either could im all the credit.
Kang-hoo knew that Jung Yuri bore many emotional scars, so he intended to continue treating her with kindness.
He understood she wasnt someone who behaved in a calcting or selfish manner.
If you decide toe out into the world again, contact me. Heres my number. Ill definitely answer if Im not in a dungeon.
Kang-hoo handed his number to Jung Yuri, marking the first time he had ever offered his contact information to someone first.
Thanks. Ill get in touch if I leave Ground Zero. It was both fun and enjoyable.
I feel refreshed thanks to you.
Kang-hoo nodded.
Unless there was a sudden change in her feelings, Jung Yuri was unlikely to rejoin the world anytime soon.
But now that they had established a connection, maintaining it wouldnt be difficult.
Thus, the significant yet brief encounter with Jung Yuri came to an end.
It had been a fulfilling time, gaining both a friendship and an opportunity for skill enhancement.
He resolved to think carefully before using the skill enhancement, considering the many skills he wanted to improve.
It was a difficult choice among various options.
Before returning to Seoul Station,
just before reaching Imjingang Station, he received nearly simultaneous messages from Lee Ye-rin and Han Seo-yeon.
Curious, he read them, and both messages conveyed the same news:
Cha So-hee was at Seoul Station.
Both of them had kept an eye on Cha So-hee, hence they gathered the same information.
It seemed they both had assigned capable hunters to track her, as there had been no issues despite the lengthy surveince.
After sending a brief thank you message to both,
he decided to return to Seoul not by a safety bus or KTX, but by a private taxi.
Then he changed his route.
Instead of heading to Seoul Station, he chose to take a safety bus toward Gwangju Songjeong Station from Seoul Express Bus Terminal.
There were no other options.
The only ways to reach Gwangju Songjeong Station were from Seoul Station or the bus terminal.
It was risky to travel by anything other than KTX or a safety bus due to many hazardous areas.
Renting a car was an option, but it would inevitably lead to dangerous situations.
Considering their informationwork, theyve held out pretty well.
He wasnt surprised or flustered.
If Cha So-hee, a close associate of Kang Dong-hyun, was on the move, it was only a matter of time.
Rather, it was right to think that they had managed to y hide and seek for quite some time despite Eclipses significant information resources.
It doesnt make sense to shy away from bing stronger due to fear of attention or scrutiny.
The stronger you be, the more you will inevitably catch someones attention.
This is inevitable, a natural course of events, and something that will continue in the future.
Ultimately, it was a matter of when he would encounter Cha So-hee, hoping it wouldnt be too soon.
Perhaps after dealing with the matter at Gwangju Songjeong Station?
Because he knew her stats and abilities.
Her level was estimated to be at least 250, and she was a magic-type hunter specialized in fire elements.
The problem was she was a magic-type hunter who also enjoyed closebat.
Additionally, she was skilled with a dagger, making her a particrly challenging opponent.
No wonder shes called a hunting dog.
It wasnt a meaningless nickname.
Once she began attacking, she didnt let go until her target was dead.
It seemed more like Cha So-hee was trying to capture him for some reason, rather than kill him.
But he had no intention ofplying easily.
Being captured meant living like a ve under Eclipses control, just like in the detention center.
It meant eventually facing Cha So-hee, and one of them would have to die for the situation to end.
Even if he didnt intend to kill Cha So-hee, if he was not cooperative, she would show her intent to kill.
There was no room forpromise.
It was either death or survival.
Having arrived in Seoul via private taxi, Kang-hoo headed straight to Namsan Tower.
ording to Lee Ye-rins tip, Cha So-hee was still waiting at Seoul Station.
He had changed his destination to the Seoul Express Bus Terminal for different travel ns, but the bus was still a while away.
So, instead of doing anything else, he chose Namsan Tower as his destination to get some air and organize his thoughts.
Its peaceful here, he remarked.
Perhaps due to the heavy rain, only a few people were in the observatory.
Tables and sofas were arranged in front of therge windows for everyone to enjoy their drinks and rx.
This arrangement had been made about two years ago, mainly because of Jang Si-hwan.
Jang Si-hwan often visited the observatory, and at his request, the tower management had changed the entire flooryout.
This wasnt surprising, as it was detailed in the original story.
I created this situation, Kang-hoo thought to himself.
He gazed down at Seoul, shrouded in dark clouds and rain, lost in thought.
The emotions Jang Si-hwan might have felt looking down at Seoul from the observatory in the original story were now vividly conveyed to Kang-hoo.
[For Jang Si-hwan, the observatory was a ce where he always designed the future and tightened the ck in the present.]
He always drew energy from here, gaining the momentum to push forward. Many tasks stilly before him in the world.
The lines from the original story resurfaced in his mind without missing a single word.
Now that he thought about it, the word task seemed quite daunting.
The protagonists task was to head towards an ending where the world was thrown into the maw of the Demon King.
How could the author design such a future without getting shot in the head?
It felt as though he had been shot in the temple, so he pressed it with his fingertip.
Looking at Seoul through the wide ss, he naturally felt at ease to design the future and reflect on the present.
There was no special effect here, but it seemed to resonate with his heart unknowingly.
I cant face all thirteen stars alone. I need allies.
He analyzed the situation coldly.
He might be able to eliminate some of the thirteen stars himself.
But they were not fools.
Two or three might fall, but the survivors would join forces for a united response.
He needed to set arge stage and ce multiple chess pieces on it.
Even with a king, without a chariot, horse, or soldier, you cant win. You end up in a stalemate.
First, secure the line with Lee Ye-rin. Care for Jung Yuri, pay attention to An Yeong-ho, and create ties with The Abyss
His thoughts became clear.
Additionally, he might be able to change the fate of the forces eliminated by Jang Si-hwan and the Jeonghwa Guild.
A dark future loomed over Lee Hyun-seok, the leader of the warlord group The Abyss.
Being able to foresee the future, he could naturally sketch out how to respond now.
Just then.
!
He instinctively felt an unusual energy and turned his head.
It wasnt a sensation born of overflowing mana or a unique killing intent, but something felt fateful.
Like he had naturally recognized the presence in his subconscious, a tingling sensation?
He turned and saw Jang Si-hwan.
The protagonist of the original story and the greatest obstacle he would have to face.
Jang Si-hwan was the tragic cause of the worlds end.
A VIP spot.
The ce where Jang Si-hwan satmanded the best view of Namsan. The sofa beneath him was a top-quality luxury item, a worthy throne for Jang Si-hwan.
The number of constetions associated with Jang Si-hwan that he naturally scanned was ten.
But not all were visible.
Only the first ten constetions appeared on the list.
Looking down, he noticed pagesbeled [1], [2], [3].
Starting from page 2, the constetions were not even listed.
Simr to Silent Woman, a hidden constetion type he had seen with Yu Cheonghwa.
If I remember correctly, he has contracts with thirty constetions. Thats insane.
How could he erase the memories of the protagonist he had so meticulously created?
He didnt even want to think about which constetions Jang Si-hwan had.
The thoughtless boosting of them under the guise of protagonist buff was excessive.
He purposefully avoided looking too closely at the list.
Knowing the details now was both a curse and a poison.
Thus, he quickly dispelled the memories of Jang Si-hwans constetions that kept surfacing.
By focusing on other thoughts, he seeded in banishing those memories.
Thats why it might be interesting.
The thought suddenly made him wonder if he was going mad.
Having an ostensibly unattainable goal made the journey of growth feel less monotonous.
A perfect long-term motivation to strive beyond Jang Si-hwan, in addition to short-term goals.
Since arriving in this world, he had never lost his determination to surpass him.
Then he thought.
Why not just focus on growth by looking upward? Isnt that simpler?
There was no need to adjust the goals he had set.
Besides, he knew of future privileges and opportunities that Jang Si-hwan had yet to acquire.
He hadnt dared to think about them due to his current low level, but they were slowlying into reach.
Of course, he nned to im them all.
Not even a grain of rice for Jang Si-hwan.
Then, Jang Si-hwans gaze naturally met his.
His long ck hair, coupled with red eyes, exuded a decadent aura.
His pale, bloodless face, a signature unlike mine, gave off a different kind of decadence.
Jang Si-hwan was the first to speak.
Its rare for people toe to the observatory on days with such heavy rain Unexpected.
I wanted toe here.
Is this your first time?
Yes.
His voice, with its unique intonation and tone, contrasted with my response, delivered in a cold, low tone.
Jang Si-hwan, seemingly intrigued by his reaction of not being overly excited upon seeing him, a famous figure, chuckled while ying with his hair.
Typically, everyone gets flustered upon seeing Jang Si-hwan.
He was the only one to maintain a stoic expression and respond dryly.
To Jang Si-hwan, ustomed to admiration and envy, his reaction seemedpletely alien.
Enough to make him wonder who he was.
Chapter 47: Jang Si-hwan (2)
Chapter 47: Jang Si-hwan (2)
Where did youe from?
Yangyang. Its a bit far.
You seem to be a mercenary, isnt that right? Yangyang in Gangwon Province is well-known as a gathering ce for mercenaries.
Yes.
Kang-hoo nodded.
There was no need for Jang Si-hwan to know the specifics.
He gave Yangyang as his origin because, as the man said, it was a ce where many mercenaries gathered.
With so many mercenary groups there, there was no need to specify which one he belonged to.
A moment of silence passed.
Jang Si-hwan looked at him intently, as if expecting him to recognize him at any moment.
Being fussed over meeting a celebrity was the exact opposite of Kang-hoos character.
No, it was embarrassingly and ufortably impossible for him to even mimic.
On the other hand, there was also no reason to bother recognizing him. Whats so great about this guy?
How do they view the Jeonghwa Guild and me in Yangyang?
Jang Si-hwan changed the subject.
Even then, he seemed to want to impress upon Kang-hoo what kind of person he was.
Kang-hoo answered with an awkward smile.
There is a lot of interest in the Jeonghwa Guild and Mr. Jang Si-hwan, who created the orderly Seoul of today.
Oh, is that so?
Everyone wants to join the Jeonghwa Guild. Theres no need to wander, and you get support.
Thats pleasant to hear.
It was a lie to make him feel good.
Kang-hoo, who had never been to Gangwon Province, let alone Yangyang, fabricated a lie effortlessly.
Unless someone could sift through his thoughts, there was no way to detect the lie.
Jang Si-hwan continued.
Then, are you interested in joining our Jeonghwa Guild?
It would be a lie to say Im not interested. But unfortunately, I dont have the skills for it.
Our guild is always open for entry tests.
Im still embarrassed.
Youre very modest. Most hunters take pride in their skills, whether big or small.
Perhaps its because Ive been bested so often, but I reallyck confidence.
Their conversation unfolded, with both probing and learning about each other.
The exchange could have been casual, but Kang-hoo found himself tense throughout it.
You never know when or how the situation might change.
For some reason, Jang Si-hwan seemed unusually interested in him.
He was amiable, but not one to engage in lengthy conversations with a stranger.
With nothing more to say, Kang-hoo nced back and noticed Jang Si-hwans protective hunters beginning to stir.
They were simply doing their job.
Silently pressuring anyone who lingered too close to their unidentified charge.
The message was clear: dont overstay your wee. Such was their security protocol.
I should get going now. It was a pleasant visit to Seoul.
Take care. Brief though it was, it was good to meet you.
Wish you always well.
Kang-hoo exchanged insincere pleasantries before leaving.
The keen gaze of the escort hunter followed him until he was out of sight.
Perhaps because he avoided eye contact as much as possible, his face seemed unlikely to be remembered.
I should note here often.
In the descending elevator, a bitter smirk crossed Kang-hoos face.
The observatory was a ce of rest and reflection for Jang Si-hwan, and considering his frequent visits, it was probable they would encounter each other often.
To Jang Si-hwan, Kang-hoo was still just an inconsequential hunter, his interest only mildly aroused, if at all.
That was for the best.
There was no need for premature recognition until it was inevitable that his name and face became known worldwide.
Later on.
Kang-hoo settled into a safety bus bound for the bus terminal near Gwangjusongjeong Station in Seoul, lying downfortably.
He had scrutinized his surroundings until boarding the bus, managing to evade Cha So-hees notice.
Despite its cost, the premium safety bus offered amplefort.
Each seat was solitary,plete with small curtains, guaranteeing a decent amount of privacy.
Yet, the bus was sparsely popted with hunters.
The entire area near Gwangjusongjeong Station had originally been a massive battleground, leaving no reason to venture there unless you were a mercenary.
One could be dragged into a battle at any time, anywhere, and there was no point in risking your life unless you had a specific purpose like Kang-hoo or were employed by an organization involved in the conflict.
Hmm
Kang-hoo skimmed through the data he had collected earlier, filling in the gaps with his memory.
The content from the original work would be implemented exactly as it was.
The reason the entire area of Gwangsan-gu in Gwangju had be a battleground was straightforward.
There were three enormous magic stone mines located there, right inside open-type dungeons.
These were five timesrger than the Cheongmyeong Magic Stone Mine, connected to the Cheongmyeong Detention Center where Kang-hoo had been held.
The daily profit from these mines was at least 1.5 billion won, making them literal gold mines.
In a month, an organization could amass 450 billion won. Who would pass that up?
Four forces were fighting over these mines.
Three guilds and one mercenary allianceCheongho, Haeohwa, Yusu, and the mercenary alliance Kingdomwere involved in the contest.
Cheongho was the original guild established in the area, the local power.
The other three forces were outsiders entangled in this battle, with the Haeohwa Guild setting up a satellite branch.
Originally from Busan, they had extended their reach here, lured by the magic stone mines.
As Seoul was known for Jeonghwa, Busan boasted Haeohwa, a guild so influential that there was a saying about it.
Consequently, the Haeohwa Guild had established a foothold in Gwangju and continuously dispatched hunters.
The Yusu Guild took root in Gwangjuter, siphoning many members from Cheongho.
Kingdom, an alliance of mercenaries, was solely focused on iming the rights to the magic stone mines.
They might have had less camaraderie than other organizations, but they boasted numerous skilled individuals driven by profit.
The atmosphere was charged with tension.
Not because they were frightening, but because any ce could suddenly be a battleground.
With so many forces entangled, even those uninvolved could be mistaken forbatants and caught in the fray.
If it were just small-time troublemakers, he could deal with them himself.
But when the higher-ups got involved, things turned messy.
After a restful nights sleep, Kang-hoo awoke at the bus terminal near Gwangjusongjeong Station.
Some passengers had alighted along the way, and by the time he got off, he was thest one.
Without dy, Kang-hoo headed to a dungeon near exit 3.
He had pinpointed its location beforehand and wanted to assess how the area was managed.
An authentication system.
Just as he expected.
No police officer stood guard at the dungeons entrance.
However, the Hunter Public Safety Bureaus g was prominently disyed, and a secure iron door blocked ess to the dungeon.
In other words, entry was barred without a duly issued or authorized dungeon license.
Though considered a toothless tiger, the Hunter Public Safety Bureaus intervention in altering the structure constituted a criminal offense.
The vicinity was under full surveince by CCTV, and meddling with the Bureaus property made one a potential target of the Jeonghwa Guild. Hence, even the most audacious hunters refrained from tampering with the facilities.
Coborating with the Hunter Public Safety Bureau in sweeping for criminals and tracking fugitives could prove to be quite the nuisance.
About six hours to go.
Kang-hoo checked the approval time for his dungeon license on the app and walked away.
Since he couldnt enter the dungeon for another six hours, he decided to look for a ce to rest.
Thats when he heard it.
Hurry up! Move it, you lot!
Snap to it! Were not here just toze around!
Lets roll, Haeohwa! Move out, Haeohwa!
A morous group of hunters, moving swiftly, captured his attention.
They belonged to the Haeohwa Guild.
Fully equipped and with a sense of urgency, they appeared to be heading into battle.
The hunters from the Haeohwa Guild had a notorious reputation.
They didnt bother with prisoner exchanges; torture and murder were part of their daily routine.
The other threepeting organizations coborated to keep them in check, as they were so brutal.
On the battlefield, members of the four organizations would first target Haeohwa Guild members when they mingled.
Kang-hoo stopped in his tracks
and quietly watched them from a distance.
However, one of the hunters, who appeared to be the leader, noticed Kang-hoos behavior and shouted immediately.
Hey, whats with that guy? Why is he loitering here? Get him! Take him down!
Kang-hoo didnt want to expend energy before entering the dungeon and hoped for a peaceful passage.
But the Haeohwa hunters, visibly on edge, disyed hostility towards Kang-hoo without attempting to identify him.
Kang-hoo said,
Just go your way. Im not from here. If you dont want to get hurt, go do your job.
What did you say, you punk! Sounds like a Kingdom guy. Kill him! Go for the neck!
As expected, the conversation deteriorated after just one sentence, and Kang-hoo immediately assumed abat stance.
There were nine opponents.
Five were hunters contracted with constetions; the rest were insignificant.
Being misunderstood was exasperating, but it seemed better to issue a clear warning.
Tadadat!
Entering an elerated state, Kang-hoo charged towards the group, quickly closing the distance.
Unperturbed by the numerical disadvantage, his actions were decisive.
Just as he was about to close the gap with the leader, who also held a dagger,
Swoosh.
Kang-hoo deftly shifted from in front of the leader to behind him.
It was an unexpected change of position.
Fwoosh!
The leaders arms back spurted blood.
Kang-hoo had struck with his dagger.
Furthermore, he stabbed another hunter who was beside the leader in the side.
It served as a stark warning.
Crazy.
What the?
He disappeared and then suddenly appeared behind us, and we couldnt even react!
The expressions of the Haeohwa Guild hunters who had witnessed the entire sequence quickly hardened.
Anyone with eyes could see Kang-hoos movement.
Of course, their eyes werent following the movement but rather catching up with the situation btedly.
From an observers perspective, it might have seemed like a spectacle, but for the involved parties, it was a life-threatening afterthought.
The quick-witted among them realized that Kang-hoo could have killed the two but chose not to.
Hes no ordinary guy.
Lets get out of here.
Move quickly to the battlefield! Hes not our designated target!
Three hunters left.
Ironically, the ones bearing constetions were the first to retreat.
They knew the value of their lives.
The ones left with the leader were just small fries.
The observant ones made a swift exit.
The constetions werent worth much, so there were no regrets there.
Had they possessed more useful constetions, perhaps things would have been different.
Selfish but wise.
Kang-hoo smiled as he watched the three hunters leave without looking back.
But six foolish ones, not yet favored by Lady Luck, remained in front of him.
It was time for a swift cleanup.
Chapter 48: Growth, Again Growth (1)
Chapter 48: Growth, Again Growth (1)
Kang-hoo trusted his defensive abilities.
Such rechargeable passives proved handy when needed.
Moreover, his judgment was top-notch.
He could block any skill or attack at least once.
To put it extremely, he could even withstand a rock falling from the sky.
That was why he ignored the others and charged solely at the leader.
After Kang-hoo had struck him once earlier, the dagger-wielding leaders expression was far from bright.
But with onlookers present and his pride wounded, his aggression only seemed to increase.
Youre dead, punk!
As expected, the leader didnt back down.
The purple aura rising from his dagger appeared as a deadly strike brimming with murderous intent.
However, Kang-hoo still had an unused first-level defensive mechanism of Hoshin.
He was ensured invincibility.
Casting aside any thoughts of defense, Kang-hoo boldly charged at the leader.
And then
Whoosh! ng!
Their daggers crossed.
Somewhere, there was a sound of flesh being pierced, and elsewhere, a sound of deflection.
The oues were different.
Cough!
I told you to go your way.
The leader was dead.
The strike had been aimed precisely at the heart, supposedly nestled in the left chest.
Considering a beheading was included as a precaution, there was no chance for armor or anything else to provide protection.
[You have killed the target and plundered the contract with the ''Corrupt Agitator.'']
[Corrupt Agitator]
[Inflicts a painful wound effect, reducing the healing efficiency of the affected area by 25%.]
Not bad. Why was such a constetion with such a bad guy Well, its not my concern anymore. Now its my constetion.
Kang-hoo tilted his head as he reviewed the information of the constetion he had plundered from the leader.
It was quite a decent constetion.
Reducing healing efficiency meant not just hindering regeneration but also making any healing less effective.
For an assassin engaged in closebat and likely to inflict critical wounds, it was like scratching an itch.
How did he dodge that?
F, were screwed.
Hey, just run! The leaders dead!
Seeing their leader dead, the other hunters didnt look back as they started to flee.
A wise decision.
With their leader gone, any resistance from the subordinates would lead only to an obvious oue.
They were terrified by the invincibility disyed by Kang-hoos Hoshin.
They had seen it with their own eyes.
The leaders dagger strike was powerful enough to kill an ordinary monster in one blow.
But for Kang-hoo, it became a foolish attack that entirely missed, not even grazing him.
It was clear to all that this was due to Kang-hoos skill or some other effect.
[Quite a satisfying turn of events. My contractor is untouchable by such insignificant beings.]
The Dimension Plunderer expressed satisfaction.
All plundered constetions became subordinate to the Dimension Plunderer.
So its pleased reaction was no surprise.
[The more you please me, a noble constetion and a goddess, the greater the status that will be granted to you, my contractor.]
?
He doubted his ears.
He understood that the Dimension Plunderers pride in being a noble saint was one thing, but a goddess?
Due to the androgynous voice, he hadnt specified a gender, but the name implied something, didnt it?
Perhaps it was a preconception, but he had inwardly assumed it was male. It turned out to be the female form of a deity.
Of course, the gender wasnt important.
Tch!
Whoosh!
Cough.
In the meantime, a hunter trying to flee or counterattack Kang-hoo met with an anticlimactic end.
Had he continued on his way, he might have saved his life, but now, due to unnecessary bravado, another constetion changed ownership.
[You have killed the target and plundered the contract with the ''Cunning tterer.'']
[Cunning tterer]
[Increases the holy power of all contracted constetions by 15%. It continuously encourages them.]
The gourd came along with the vine.
Increasing the holy power of constetions was significant.
It raised their prestige and honor among the constetions.
This enhancement meant they could usually utilize more depth and intensity in their power.
For example, Kang-hoo, who could only perform a constetion scan, might gain the ability to do a stat scan.
It was just a hypothetical, but it could be a reality at any moment.
Thus, the matter was resolved.
Since he still couldnt enter the dungeon, Kang-hoo departed from the scene.
It didnt seem like anything extraordinary, as he encountered many dead bodies on his way out.
Not two, but four forces were contesting for dominance here.
With no alliances, everyone was a potential enemy.
If someone was not a friend, suspicion was the default response.
Kang-hoo, seated on the rooftop of a building with a view of the city, paused for a break with a can of coffee.
He had considered resting in a hotel, but it had temporarily shut down due to a recent sh.
So he found himself on the unsightly rooftop of an unfinished building, scanning the area.
Suddenly, he noticed the four factions entangled in a confrontation in front of the dungeon housing a magic stone mine.
Seemingly to avoid a drawn-out war of attrition, they had erected numerous barricades and were deeply engaged in long-range skirmishes, reminiscent of trench warfare.
asionally, when a hunter or two ventured out from cover and were killed, the remaining fighters grew more cautious.
Some attempted to dash into the dungeon without ncing back.
Once inside, their goal was to mine magic stonesact first, thinkter was the mindset.
But they inevitably became victims of the traps set up around the entrance.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A tremendous explosion imed dozens of lives in an instant; it was a veritable hell.
This is just pathetic, really.
He had secretly longed for a fierce battle full of strategy and tactics, or at least proactivebat.
But the reality resembled a petty neighborhood skirmish more than anything else.
Instead of strategic thinking or careful deliberation, there was only blind charging or aimless waiting.
So, he diverted his attention from the battlefield.
Continuing to watch didnt seem likely to yield any inspirational situations; it was merely a waste of eyesight.
Kang-hoo took out his smartphone and browsed Huntergram for videos and materials about the warlord group The Abyss.
After all, The Abyss was the group most openly confronting the Jeonghwa Guild in Korea.
The person speaking in the video was Lee Hyun-seok.
He always participated in and recorded every interview or video personally.
He doubted him as a reliable source.
It was probably because he believed no spokesperson could represent him better than he could himself.
Contrary to what you might think, the Jeonghwa Guild isnt a guardian of justice and goodwill. They are evil incarnate, disgustingly masquerading as such.
He couldnt help but nod in agreement.
But for Kang-hoo, who knew the original story, it was a different case.
How had Lee Hyun-seok discerned the Jeonghwa Guilds true nature?
This detail wasnt included in the original story.
The exnation is straightforward: in the original, Lee Hyun-seok was depicted as a lunatic spouting nonsense.
Since the novel was written from Jang Si-hwans point of view, Lee Hyun-seok was inevitably cast as a mad viin.
Satellite guilds, operating under the pretense of the Jeonghwa Guild, are sprouting up everywhere.
These satellite guilds monitor and eliminate any guilds that arent friendly or cooperative with the Jeonghwa Guild.
If you click the link below, you can witness the heinous actsmitted by these satellite guilds.
Upon clicking, Kang-hoo realized that Lee Hyun-seok had uncovered the existence of the satellite guilds more meticulously than he had assumed.
The Haeohwa Guild, where Han Seo-yeon was a member, also appeared on the list - it was internal information not easily essible.
At that point, it seemed there had to be an insider in the Jeonghwa Guild.
Moreover, promising hunters who stand out often disappear under mysterious circumstances within the Jeonghwa Guild.
They im these are disappearances due to dungeon idents, but isnt that too strange?
If it wasnt a major ident, retrieving the bodies should not have been too difficult.
In the next link, you can find a list of promising hunters who joined the Jeonghwa Guild and then vanished.
The subsequent content was also filled with high-credibility information that appeared toe from an inside source.
It was hard not to believe unless you were someone who blindly supported the Jeonghwa Guild.
The problem is that Lee Hyun-seok is soon going to be assassinated by his right-hand man, Mun Yu-seok.
Kang-hoo recalled this from memory.
Less than a month after this video was released, Lee Hyun-seok was assassinated by Mun Yu-seok.
In the original story, Mun Yu-seok was treated as a hero who killed a mad viin.
Even the readers gave Mun Yu-seok nicknames like Doctor and Martyr, seeing him as a satisfying character.
But from a changed perspective, its a dark future for a necessary ally.
Whether as a scapegoat or a distraction, Lee Hyun-seok needed to be kept alive for some reason.
After finishing up in Gwangju, I should send an email to Lee Hyun-seok or find another way.
It wasnt an urgent issue, but not something he could bex about either.
Lee Hyun-seok was a valuable pawn and had to be preserved.
Five hourster.
As soon as the one-month dungeon lease license period began, Kang-hoo immediately entered.
Since it was a temporary license, it was best to explore as much as possible while he could.
Moreover, because of the characteristic changes, he needed to explore the dungeon twice, quickening his pace.
Characteristic change.
Aplete transformation of the dungeons ecosystem andposition for unknown reasons.
In such cases, the entire setup changed, including the middle and main bosses previously explored.
For Kang-hoo, this meant he had four skill plunders scheduled.
The dungeon level was around 110.
Ordinary monsters no longer posed a threat to him.
Instead, fighting monsters served more as a warm-up exercise.
Swiftly progressing through solo y, Kang-hoo soon encountered the middle boss.
Its name was Greyper.
Known for shooting magic bullets, Greypers characteristic was its heavy magical gun.
Regrettably, the gun vanished upon Greypers death, making it unobtainable as loot.
The closer I get, the more advantageous for me, but the farther away I am, the more disadvantageous.
Despite the distance, Greyper was staring intently at him.
Since he hadnt yet entered its range, it didnt aim precisely.
What kind of skill will this guy give me?
Kang-hoo wondered, knowing only the name and characteristics but not the skills.
Considering gunner-type hunters typically had aiming skills, this one might possess something simr.
Perhaps an ability to expand and enhance vision, effectively narrowing the physical distance!
This was an essential skill element for Kang-hoo, who needed to target and hit his marks precisely.
Chapter 49: Growth, Again Growth (2)
Chapter 49: Growth, Again Growth (2)
The battle began in earnest, with fewer than 10 seconds passing.
Sweat trickled down Greyfers temple; he had prepared for the battle with a somewhat rxed mind.
.
Kang-hoos location was indeterminable.
He nned to use his long-range advantage, persistently sniping at the enemy before they could get close.
However, the n went awry from the outset.
Kang-hoo alternated between illusion techniques and Shadow Step, confusing Greyfers vision.
Even with his vision expanded and enhanced, he couldnt distinguish the real Kang-hoo from the illusions.
There seemed to be at least three identical Kang-hoos. He was lost in thought, trying to decide where to shoot as time swiftly passed.
In battle, every moment involves continuous choices that must be made quickly.
The more he thought, the faster the enemy moved and approached.
But Greyfer had given Kang-hoo too much time due to his hesitation.
Bang!
This isnt to say he didnt pull the trigger.
He fired a precise shot at what he believed was the real targeta powerful magic bullet.
Kang-hoo, prepared for such a situation, used a rapid evasion skill and ttened himself on the ground to dodge it.
It was a wise precaution.
Unfortunately for Greyfer, his sniper shot was aimed at an illusion, piercing emptily through the air.
A gunner and an assassin are indeed natural enemies.
Kang-hoo, having closed the distance, was at ease.
The one who panicked was Greyfer.
ustomed to long-range sniping, he needed to refocus even at close range.
In FPS games, sometimes one must have the sense to snipe without aiming.
Regrettably,
Greyfer, who served as a middle boss in a level 110 dungeon,cked such skill.
Even with Kang-hoo right in front of him, he sadly had to aim before pulling the trigger.
Thus, Kang-hoo easily inflicted vision theft and a shallow chaos on him.
If Greyfer had maintained hisposure, he might not have fallen so pathetically to thebination of these two skills.
Greyfers eyes filled with panic as Kang-hoo approached with surprising speed.
He couldnt even keep a poker face, making him easy prey.
After ateral movement, Kang-hoo meticulously shed Greyfer with subsequent attacks.
The moment a dagger embedded in his neck, his fate was virtually sealed.
It was only a matter of how he would die.
Whoosh!
Ultimately, along with Blood Flower, he met a gruesome end, his body spouting a fountain of blood.
[The following skills can be stolen from the target activated by Plunder.]
[Precise Aim]
Skill plunder was sessful.
Precise Aim.
Its like a telescopic effect.
A very helpful skill for wanting to see a specific target in greater magnification and high resolution.
For the assassin ss, which primarily conducts stealth attacks, its a skill that perfectly scratches the itch.
Being able to observe an opponent from a considerable distance, its utility bes boundless as it is used.
The start is good.
With a satisfied expression, Kang-hoo moved on.
His condition was excellent, and there was no need to catch his breath or rest. He was determined to rush through to the final section.
A whileter.
I guess they created a boss monster to induce guilt.
Kang-hoo, having reached the main boss area without any major incidents, now faced the final boss.
The main boss monster, Saemi.
A boss monster with the appearance of a child, specialized in psychic attacks.
The gender or age of the monster isnt significant.
However, the brief guilt felt when facing a childlike monster is a consideration.
In fact, the original story often used elderly, female, and infantile boss monsters to evoke psychological dilemmas and shake the protagonist Jang Si-hwan.
With fond memories of his grandparents who had raised him, Jang Si-hwan in the original story once refrained from attacking an elderly-type monster.
I recalled that episode received hundreds of angryments, which led to major revisions.
Anyway, Saemi was undoubtedly designed to provoke an attackers guilt.
It bore the exact appearance of a carefree seven-year-old child, replete with a bright smile.
Just need to think about it differently.
Kang-hoo thought simply.
Regardless of the bosses appearances, their primary goal was to kill him.
If you dont want to die, you have to kill. It was a simple judgment, not based on appearance.
Pop!
He engaged inbat immediately.
The skill Kang-hoo intended to steal from Saemi was Hallucination.
It created illusions or sensations that didnt exist, leading to confusion.
Essentially, Kang-hoos immediate concern was Saemis hallucinatory attacks.
The response is simple.
Mental attacks were known to be the hardest to counter, often avoided by hunters.
But Kang-hoo was different.
In the original setting, there was a simple and intuitive way to counter hallucinations.
That was, if you were already immersed in greater delusions than those induced by the hallucinations.
For example, imagining Lee Ye-rin nude or Han Seo-yeon corrupted and decadent.
Such thoughts, unlikely in normal circumstances, could be drawn up from the subconscious.
In this way, Saemis hallucinations wouldnt create significant mental disturbance or unpredictability.
Hallucinations meant nothing to someone already lost in delusion.
Ee-ing?
Was that the reason?
In most cases, the target would have been quickly disoriented by the hallucination, bing an easy victim.
But Saemi was surprised to see her opponent closing the distance rapidly, without any significant change in his expression.
This dungeons boss has many naive aspects. If the best n fails, move to the next best.
It was pitiful.
Typically, the first attack affected the opponent effectively.
This meant the initial method always worked, eliminating the need to consider other options.
Even if various strategies had been considered in the past, they became blunt over time.
Just like with the middle boss Greyfer earlier, and now with Saemi.
As her attempt to induce hallucinations failedpletely, Saemis gaze wavered.
Ah!
Finally, Saemi hastily resorted to a lethal skill for protection.
Kang-hoo hadnt expected to approach Saemi easily.
He was more focused on how quickly he could force her to use her important card.
It happened within the first 10 seconds of the battle.
In a card game analogy, it was like losing a poker face right at the start.
From the opponents perspective, it was either a quick fold or a n stripped down to the end.
Doo-doo-doo-doo!
Saemi started spinning in ce.
When a boss monster specializing in psychic attacks disyed such strange behavior, there was a reason behind it.
It was part of the process and means of attack.
However, Kang-hoo didnt slow down his approach to Saemi.
Because thats what Saemi wanted. Creating distance or dodging would give her time.
Then, Saemi would press harder with even stronger mental attacks.
It was likely that simple delusions wouldnt be enough to withstand them then.
In short, he had to finish the fight before Saemi could learn from the first oue and produce an improved second response.
At that moment.
Whoosh!
An acid sphere, perhaps?
A greenish sphere wasunched from Saemi.
To anyone, it looked filled with poison and acid.
He easily dodged it with rapid evasion.
Dodging a single sphere was easier than eating cold soup.
But then.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
No way?
This time, two spheres wereunched.
So, hepletely moved away from his original position to dodge them.
They seemed to beunched, predicting Kang-hoosteral movements, and maintaining a certain distance apart.
The attack continued.
And then.
What kind of nonsense is this?
He couldnt help butugh.
This time, there were four.
It felt like ying a shooting game, having to dodge while carefully managing his range of movement.
He actively used illusion techniques and Shadow Step.
It seemed he needed to switch ces with shadows often.
By making it hard to pinpoint the target with illusions, he could use more space.
Eight. Sixteen.
Then thirty-two. Sixty-four!
Saemis attacks demanded extreme evasion skills, but Kang-hoo avoided them all.
It was a victory of skill and senses he had diligently honed.
Without a doubt, if he hadcked even one skill, he would likely be visiting the afterlife by now.
Anyway, breaking through the gap, Kang-hoo seeded in stabbing Saemi as he intended.
Saemi, engrossed in her attack, was hit without realizing Kang-hoo was close.
You should focus on these acid attacks rather than psychic ones.
Keuk
With Kang-hoos sincere advice(?), Saemis life ended.
Fortunately, he avoided the attack, but had he failed, even Kang-hoo couldnt guarantee his safety.
Thick sweat drops on his back vividly disyed the tension of each moment.
[You have reached Level 49.]
Now at Level 49.
Next time in the dungeon, reaching Level 50 seemed certain.
A new basic skill was added.
As always, he invested bonus points in health.
For the sake of the Soulmate gloves, which scale with health, he nned to continue investing in health.
He checked his stats.
It had been a long time since he scrutinized them so carefully.
[Shin Kang-hoo Lv. 49]
[ss: Assassin]
[Unique Talent: Quite Strong Main Force / Exceptionally Excellent Dynamic Vision]
[Strength 120] [Agility 85]
[Health 438] [Magic Power 20]
[Anti-Magic 45] [Toughness 70]
Good. With full health, I can withstand mana hypersensitivity for at least 7 minutes.
With increased health, his body could now withstand mana hypersensitivity for longer periods.
Although his mana storage was limited, supply was not a concern, thanks to hypersensitivity.
The real issue wasnt supply, but the bodys inability to cope with the rapid influx of mana.
Thats an issue of endurance, to be calmed with potions like Srkium.
His health was certainly high.
For a Level 50 hunter, even one who prioritized health, 200 was considered exceptional.
Acquiring decent items at this level was very challenging.
Most hunters focused on easier, lower-level dungeons rather than attempting to solo more difficult ones.
However, thanks to his solid foundation and significant earnings, he could afford an equipment setup beyond imagination.
At this point, he might as well be considered Level 100, perhaps even 130. Possibly even higher.
In that instant
Setting aside skill plunder, theres another windfall.
Kang-hoo gazed at the mana stone dropped by Saemi and smiled with satisfaction.
The reward coaxed an involuntary smile to his lips.
Chapter 50: The Hunting Dog (1)
Chapter 50: The Hunting Dog (1)
A single yellow magic stone.
It was a magic stone with an average trading price of around 1 billion won.
Although the price fluctuated greatly due to the low trading volume, it usuallyted about 1 billion won.
At that time, Kang-hoo had a bnce of 6.4 billion won in his bank ount.
By selling the four green magic stones he had diligently collected, he could add another 400 million won.
Selling the item obtained from the guy who picked a fight before entering Ground Zero would yield another 100 million won.
Disposing of the mana-rted items acquired frompleting Jo Gu-bins request would add another 1 billion won.
By disposing of the yellow magic stone as well, he could amass a total of 8.9 billion won.
Ten billion won was just within reach.
Just a bit more effort in selling, and I could buy a third-grade dagger in a few days?
His goal was now within sight.
If necessary, he could even sell the Boundary of Massacre.
Since it was a fourth-grade dagger, it was worth 1 billion won.
That would scrape together a total of 10 billion won.
The purchase of a third-grade dagger seemed certain.
Feeling good, he pocketed the yellow magic stone and reviewed the list of activated Plunder Skills from Sami.
[The following skills can be plundered from the activated target:]
[Hallucination]
[Annihtion Grand Rotation]
So the skill that threw that acid ball was named Annihtion Grand Rotation. Sounds like something I would think of.
Surely, names and configurations he once thought of popped up in dungeons.
He had always felt it, but the realm of the subconscious seemed to be well implemented all over the world.
He remembered dreaming of dungeons that gave absurd rewards, and such ces must exist somewhere in the world.
Hallucination.
He decided to exclude Annihtion Grand Rotation from the plunder options.
It was shy and attractive, but it exposed a fatal weakness to long-range attacks while spinning.
Like a stationary target, it was a risky choice.
[Hallucination]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max]
[Induces hallucination in a single designated target. The target may experience abnormal sensations, pain, or phenomena.]
[Depending on proficiency, an ''Absolute Induction'' judgment is applied. A minimum of 0.2 seconds of guaranteed hallucination.]
[Instantly depletes 50% of the mana reserves.]
Oh-ho.
With maximum proficiency achieved, an attractive option was added to the hallucination skill.
Absolute Induction.
Even thosepletely immune to mental attacks would still experience hallucinations for a brief moment.
This difference was significant.
In that brief period, ones judgment could be impaired, facing a reality different from what one thought.
The skill required a lot of mana, so it couldnt be used recklessly.
However, as a strategic option, its potential utility seemed very high.
Hallucination,bined with assassination
A foolish target might lose their life without even realizing they were dying.
Hallucination with precise targeting. Ive obtained a skill option I would never have gotten by walking the path of an assassin honestly.
Kang-hoo left the dungeon with a proud expression.
Soon, a Trait Change would ur in this dungeon.
He nned to re-challenge it then to acquire new skills. Everything was proceeding exactly as nned.
Two dayster.
Today, as well, Cha So-hee, who had been disguised all day at Seoul Station, wore a gloomy expression.
In Seoul, known for its good public safety, she endured, but her expression was such that she might haveshed out at someone if not careful.
Though she had spent two fruitless days, her persistence with the informants finally bore fruit.
There was contact from Gwangju.
Someone with a simr appearance to Kang-hoo had been reported.
It was information received from an informant who asionally gathered intelligence from within the Haeohwa Guild.
The source was one of the subordinates of the captain of the group of hunters who had lost their lives to Kang-hoo.
Though slightly blurry, a photo captured Kang-hoos face.
When did he leave Seoul Station for Gwangju? Did he slip away via the terminal?
Knowing she was at Seoul Station, it was unlikely hed forsake afortable train for a bus.
There could only be one reason Kang-hoo managed to detour.
He was either receiving some kind of help from someone, or he had his eyes directly on her.
.
Only then did Cha So-hee begin to perceive the surroundings differently.
Among the multitude of people, she noticed two individuals whose gaze was particrly fixated on her.
The timing of their nces was irregr, but more frequent than one would expect from casual observers.
Damn it.
Anger surged to the top of her head.
No wonder Kang-hoo had slipped away like an eel; there were eyes watching.
Now she knew of their existence.
She knew where Kang-hoo was and had already arranged manpower in advance.
Before heading down to Gwangju-Songjeong Station, Cha So-hee tried to shake off the tails following her.
She had been too careless.
Being in the position of chasing Kang-hoo, she hadnt considered that someone might be watching her in return.
ming her own carelessness, Cha So-hee began to tail one of the eyes that was closer.
Whether to kill or chase away.
It was time to tidy things up.
And then head straight to Gwangju.
Finally, she had Shin Kang-hoos trail in sight.
At that moment, Kang-hoo was in the market.
He had just finished another round of conquering the dungeon that had undergone a reset and trait change.
His level had reached 51.
Thanks to this, the basic skill of a level 50 assassin was added, and he had plundered skills from both the middle and main bosses.
Three new skills were now at his disposal.
[Shadowless]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max]
[Uses 1 mana per second to eliminate 99% of footstep and mana traces.]
[However, one''s unique killing intent cannot be eliminated. Separate evasion or concealment mechanisms are required.]
A skill called Shadowless, akin to a first job change for assassins, had emerged.
Of course, given the sss inherent mana shortage, maintaining it for extended periods was challenging, but the skill was fitting nheless.
When footsteps and mana traces were eliminated, an individual became nearly undetectable by the enemy while in stealth mode.
Of course, the remaining one percent trace could still be picked up by hunters who were either highly sensitive or perceptive.
Nevertheless, it was a skill that rendered an assassin truly assassin-like, making it exceedingly valuable.
[Wind Thunder Formation]
[Blitz de]
These two skills were acquired from a dungeon that had undergone a trait change.
As the names suggested, the dungeon was entirely martial arts-styled, lending a distinct feel to the skills names.
Wind Thunder Formation was an area-of-effect type skill that did not affect the user, creating a domain for wide-range attacks, while Blitz de was a dagger-throwing skill.
Particrly for Blitz de, it was a throwing-type lethal skill exclusive to daggers and packed considerable power.
It was better to think of it as a long-range version of the Great Decapitation. That analogy fit perfectly.
Anyway, my bnce is now 10.1 billion won. Even after purchasing the third-grade dagger, Ill have 100 million won to spare.
Thanks to the plentiful green magic stones from the second dungeon conquest, he had managed to reach his target bnce.
Contrary to initial expectations, there was no need to sell either Skys Joy or Boundary of Massacre.
Once he bought a new third-grade dagger, he could use the remaining one as a throwing sub-weapon.
It was indeed a bustling area teeming with hunters and heavy foot traffic, offering a diverse array of items for sale.
In fact, he felt the market in Gwangju seemed to offer more variety than even Seouls.
He was reminded that the quality of items was not determined by the region, but rather by blood.
It meant that the area was likely a hotspot for frequent battles.
Use it well.
Of course.
Afterpleting the transaction and ount transfer meticulously, Kang-hoo received the third-grade dagger item.
Atst, he possessed a distinctive weapon that could be considered his signature.
[Blood Tear - Weapon]
[Grade: Third-grade]
[Strength +200]
[Anti-Magic +50]
[Durability +50]
It starts with stat boosts.
Kang-hoos usually impassive eyes widened.
A boost of 50 in both anti-magic and durability was significant, not just any ordinary stat increase.
Considering that a fourth-grade item typically offered a total stat increase of 100, and a third-grade averaged 200.
The additional increase in these two stats represented a kind of bonus.
Furthermore, since anti-magic and durability were generally challenging to improve, a single point in these stats was often valued as equivalent to two points in other stats.
The presence of such an item on the market suggested a deficit of skilled assassins.
Regardless of the backstory, it was irrelevant.
He was its owner now. That was all that mattered.
Kang-hoo scrolled down further in the item window.
Starting with third-grade items, a special effect was included. This feature defined the items identity.
[Taste of Blood - When attacking the same wound inflicted by Blood Tear, an additional 25% damage is applied.]
[Devouring - If Blood Tear''s de doesn''t taste blood within 24 hours, it will be extinguished forever. However, if it survives, Blood Tear grants its wielder an additional 2.5% in experience.]
The devouring effect wasnt challenging to sustain. After all, the de could be sated with animal blood as well.
In a bind, if there was no other blood avable, a small self-inflicted wound would suffice to feed the de.
Just upgrading the item grade had brought about a remarkable transformation in his physique.
His strength had soared by an impressive 100 points.
A strength now exceeding 200.
For the assassin ss, which typically prioritized agility, this was an extraordinarily generous stat.
Considering his level was merely 51, most assassins at this stage only had the base strength stat.
Typically, they were busy investing in agility early on, or splitting some into mana.
Kang-hoo now possessed much higher strength than regr swordsmen of the same level, while also maintaining maximized assassin traits.
It was as if two job sses had been mixed into one body. He could wield a greatsword without any issues.
That was when texts came from Han Seo-yeon and Lee Ye-rin.
Since he had eyes on both, the timing of the texts was always the same.
The content was almost identical, so he read Han Seo-yeons text with more care.
[Brother. Cha So-hee noticed she was being watched and killed it. The other eye seems to have barely escaped.]
[Thest confirmed location was heading to catch the KTX to Gwangju-Songjeong Station. Thats thest information.]
Finally, what was toe ising,
Kang-hoo murmured as he rotated his slightly clenched wrists, causing them to crack.
He felt confident enough to take her on now.
He had built the necessary foundation.
Avoiding confrontation wasnt always wise, especially now that the was closing in.
With swarm tactics andvish spending on tracking, there was no hiding within the country.
On one hand, he considered facing off with Cha So-hee and having a direct conversation with Kang Dong-hyun.
A mutual non-aggression pact, suggesting they both stop interfering with each other, seemed entirely feasible.
Kang Dong-hyun was a highly pragmatic person. Of course, he wouldnt dismiss anything unjust.
With Eclipses Investigator involved, some form of conclusion had to be reached. Only then would the chase end.
The timing is just right, he thought. He had surpassed the desired level 50 and purchased a dagger that was useful inbat.
With Srkium and Mad Srkium in ample supply, ten and five respectively, it seemed like the time to hunt the hunting dog.
The significant level difference with her was now irrelevant.
Is an assassin not a profession that thrives on exploiting opportunities?
He turnedmon sense into nonsense.
He possessed the ability to twist precise predictions into unexpected variables.
Kang-hoo trusted himself.
Chapter 51: The Hunting Dog (2)
Chapter 51: The Hunting Dog (2)
After returning to his amodation, Kang-hoo pondered over the message he should send to Lee Hyun-seok.
Lee Hyun-seok was relying too much on his loyal retainer, Moon Yu-seok, which was problematic.
Moon Yu-seok was in charge of most of the internal projects conducted by the warlord group The Abyss.
Being too close and trusting too much, Lee Hyun-seok had failed to notice any suspicious signs.
Moreover, Moon Yu-seok had be bold enough to leak internal information to the outside.
The problem is whether hell believe an anonymous email from someone hes never seen.
Kang-hoo drafted the email content.
It highlighted a few points rted to the internal projects linked to Moon Yu-seoks betrayal.
If investigated thoroughly, it would be clear that Moon Yu-seok had contacts within the Jeonghwa Guild.
Part of him wanted to personally collect and deliver on-site evidence.
For instance, he considered secretly filming Moon Yu-seok meeting a hunter from the Jeonghwa Guild.
However, with the timing of Moon Yu-seoks betrayal drawing near, if things gotplicated, Lee Hyun-seok could be killed before that.
Right. Sending it through a secure email should give it some credibility. It shows I know internal information.
Kang-hoo thought of Lee Hyun-seoks secure email address, not his public one.
Adding qhdks for security at the end of his public email address in English keyboard typing would do.
He remembered this part instantly as it was a setup in the original story.
Such memory was really helpful at times like this. Being his own writing, it was even more vividly remembered.
If Lee Hyun-seok took the email content seriously, issues would arise for Moon Yu-seok soon.
Either he would die or disappear without a trace.
But if there was no response within a week, Kang-hoo would have to prepare to investigate personally.
The Abyss could be a useful organization for Kang-hoo in the long run, at least as a chariot or a cannon in chess terms.
Therefore, he didnt want to simply watch Lee Hyun-seok die meaninglessly. He was determined to change this future.
Some timeter.
Whew, done.
Kang-hoo pressed the send button on his email and flung his smartphone outside the bathroom.
With a rare moment of leisure, he nned to rx in a half-bath and organize his thoughts about Cha So-hee.
In the original story, he had invested a lot of effort in the character of Cha So-hee.
Since Kang Dong-hyun was portrayed as a pivotal figure, it was only natural for his devoted retainer, Cha So-hee, to be highlighted as well.
But I didnt make her perfect.
Cha So-hee had a clear weakness. She always masked it with her strengths, but it was still there.
Huuh
He submerged himself into the hot water.
Kang-hoo sank into his world, a ce of silence, and visualized the uing battle.
He was ready to attack, not necessarily Kang Dong-hyun himself, but at the very least his hunting dog.
4 A.M.
Prepared to depart, Kang-hoo was already at Gwangju-Songjeong Station.
He had reserved a seat on the first train to Seoul.
The departure time was set for 6 A.M.
He had checked four bus terminals just to be safe, but Eclipses hunters were already positioned there.
It was as though they were boldly dering that he shouldnt even consider that route, as they upied the terminal waiting area.
Just entering the entrance seemed as though it would trigger chaos.
Taking the train had be his only option.
The area around Gwangju-Songjeong Station was akin to a giant furnace; the regr roads were impassable.
There, barricades and hiding spots had been arranged, with four factions entangled inbat.
To drive onto the road without caution could lead to an untimely and catastrophic death.
Given the state of the roads, the KTX was the only transportation means unaffected and safe to use.
If they havent gotten here yet, Ill board the first train at 6. If not, well, thats another story.
Click.
Kang-hoo took a sip from the can of coffee he had brought with him.
The coffee he had bought from the market contained stimting ingredients, and just one sip was enough to sharpen his mind.
It revitalized his body, which had benguid from the half-bath.
Gulp. Gulp.
The sound of his drinking echoed clearly in the surrounding silence.
It felt as though he was in the middle of an uninhabited area.
Kang-hoo fully savored the solitude.
Just then
Whirr.
The esctor, which had been motionless until now, began to move.
An esctor that didnt start unless someone stepped on it.
There likely werent many peopleing to the station at this hour.
Kang-hoo stood up.
He gripped Blood Tear in a reverse grip and stared ahead.
Simultaneously, he took out a Mad Srkium, ready to consume it at any moment.
He went over the contents of the talisman necessary to maintain his awakened state.
He had been using the awakened state continually, but it was always prudent to double-check.
[Evil God''s Talisman]
[Grade: None]
[Consumes 1 mana per second to enter an ''awakened'' state. Reduces skill casting time.]
The perfect talisman for inducing mana hypersensitivity. Its dangerous without Mad Srkium.
The talisman continuously drained mana, so it was vital to be free from all pain.
Once the mana supply issue was resolved, the Evil Gods Talisman allowed for rapid firing of skills.
This was due to the dramatic reduction in casting time.
Being able to chain together continuousbos in battle was crucial for Kang-hoo.
Especially against an opponent like Cha So-hee.
Eventually, the passenger who had taken the esctor appeared.
Cha So-hee.
As expected.
She always maintained her ck C-curl bob hair, steadfast at least in her hairstyle.
Click, click, click.
Her footsteps drew closer.
The distance was still considerable, yet the sound of her footsteps was as clear as if she were right beside him.
You rat. Finally found you.
You spent quite a lot onbor costs just to catch one rat, didnt you?
Shut up.
When Kang-hoo hit the nail on the head, Cha So-hee frowned and responded sharply.
He wasnt wrong.
Considering the number of informants mobilized to gather information on Kang-hoo, it easily exceeded hundreds.
Cha So-hee had always wondered whether it was worth going to such lengths.
But as it was themand of Kang Dong-hyun, her respected superior and benefactor, she had no choice but toply.
Kang Dong-hyun was that interested in Kang-hoo.
He wanted to make him his.
You found me well.
I set the stage for you toe here. It seems you didnt mind, since you showed up knowing that.
What are you trying to say?
That youre here waiting to follow me willingly. Isnt that it?
As they talked, Cha So-hee gradually moved closer to Kang-hoo.
No. I was waiting to cut off the pesky hunting dog thats been following me around.
Pfft. You, cut me? Kill me? Do you think thats possible?
Cut the clichs. In novels and movies, guys who talk like that tend to have a short lifespan.
Really? In the novels I read, show-offs like you are the first to die.
I know what youre going to say. Let me answer in advance: No.
I was worried about that.
?
I wanted to kill you from the beginning! I was hoping for anything but a Yes, and youre digging your own grave?
This development was expected, so it was nothing new.
A battle with Cha So-hee was inevitable.
Kang-hoo decided to use one of the two red jewels he possessed.
Against her, a magic hunter, defense was crucial.
[By using the red jewel, the ''Protective Level 1'' skill can be upgraded to ''Protective Level 2.'']
[Level 2 follows theposition of Level 1 but uses 25% of the mana to reactivate Level 1 without a cooldown.]
In essence, while Protective Level 1 has a one-hour cooldown after use,
Level 2 can be reactivated immediately by using 25% of mana, ignoring the cooldown.
It could effectively block a series of deadly attacks from the adversary.
Im really feeling the tension this time.
A life-or-death battle loomed.
Cha So-hee was on high alert.
Objectively, at level 250, she outssed Kang-hoo, who was only at level 51.
He finished reviewing Cha So-hees constetion information.
[The Great Sage of Kangdong]
[A constetion that allows you to see the invisible. Designate one target, and you can perceive their vague outline even if they are hidden.]
[Master of Maniption]
[A legendary figure who spent his eighty years mastering maniption and even ascended to the role of minister. His maniption skill enables him to replicate an opponent''s skill with 25% efficiency for one-time use.]
[The Grand cksmith of Inmmation]
[Enhances fire attribute by 250%.]
[The Grand cksmith of zing Fire]
[Enhances fire attribute by 250%.]
Chapter 52: The Hunting Dog (3)
Chapter 52: The Hunting Dog (3)
[Shadow Step]
Boom!
Kang-hoo swiftly deployed Shadow Step and switched ces with a far-reaching shadow.
Thankfully, he possessed a spatial movement skill; otherwise, he would have been burnt to death by the attack.
Whoosh!
The spot where Kang-hoo had just stood was now covered in ck soot.
Due to the intense mes, a CCTV camera above had melted like ice cream.
Kang-hoo didnt miss the opportunity and threw Skys Joy at Cha So-hee, who was momentarily defenseless from the evasion.
The skill hebined with it was Blitz de.
While Great Decapitation is a close-range fatal skill, Blitz de is its long-range counterpart.
Whirr!
Skys Joy, charged with explosive energy and consuming arge amount of mana, flew towards Cha So-hee, tearing through the air with a deafening noise.
Tch.
Cha So-hee, spotting the flying dagger, crouched and conjured a protective shield in front of her.
As a magic hunter, she naturally had a defensive shield, often referred to in English as a shield.
[Abduction]
Kang-hoo had already activated another skill, Abduction, by the time Cha So-hee deployed her shield.
Normally, when a defense mechanism is activated, skills like Abduction either miss or are automatically evaded.
However, the premature use of the skill was because Kang-hoo had already envisioned the subsequent scenario.
Then.
ng!
Ah!
Skys Joy, striking Cha So-hees shield, shattered it in one blow.
That was the power of Blitz de.
A mere dagger throw would have been easily deflected, but Blitz de was no ordinary skill.
It was a miscalction on Cha So-hees part.
She hadnt anticipated that Kang-hoo would possess a throwing-type fatal skill.
Such skills were notmonly associated with assassin-type hunters.
Aaah!
Simultaneously, the Abduction was executed sessfully.
With the shield gone, Cha So-hee, distracted by the dagger, failed to notice Kang-hoos Abduction and was suddenly pulled toward him.
Cha So-hees lips trembled as the distance between them rapidly closed.
It was an unexpected development for her.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo seemed to have expected this, moving fluidly into his next set of actions.
Damn it.
Cha So-hees expression darkened.
Quickly regaining herposure, she immediately reacted, being pulled toward Kang-hoo.
[Fireshape]
Whoosh!
She activated the skill Fireshape.
She transformed into a giant fireball.
Typical Cha So-hee.
As he saw Cha So-hee turned into a zing fireball hurtling toward him, Kang-hoo retreated without hesitation.
His original n had been to injure her during the Abduction, but now he risked severe burns before he could even stab her with the dagger.
The fire, enhanced by her constetions, was now 500% stronger than its original intensity.
Even a brief touch of the mes was dangerous and not to be underestimated.
They could inflict more than mere superficial burns.
Having created enough distance between them, Kang-hoo shrugged his shoulders while watching Cha So-hees fiery form.
Hmm.
What, never seen a body like this?
It seems youve been working out.
Why dont you burn off your body fat like I do? It would get rid of that belly fat.
Cha So-hee, who had been in uniform, now wore only a sports bra and shorts.
Her clothes appeared to have burned off when she turned into a fireball.
Her underwear must have had some special coating treatment, as it remained intact.
Suddenly.
Whoosh!
Ugh!
This time, Kang-hoo was the one lifted off the ground.
Cha So-hee had used Abduction.
With the Master of Maniption constetions effect, she could use thest skill she copied, though at only 25% efficiency.
Still, the speed at which she pulled him in was slower than Kang-hoos Abduction.
This might actually work to my advantage.
For both parties, closing the distance was benefici case of divergent dreams.
Kang-hoo needed to get closer for effective dagger attacks, while Cha So-hee could intensify the power of her fire.
Whoosh!
Cha So-hee, pulling Kang-hoo toward her, created a zing red fireball in advance.
The mere color indicated that contact wouldpletely erase anything in its path.
[Protective Level 2]
Kang-hoo had his own strategies but needed to defend against the fireball first.
So, he activated Protective Level 2.
Like Level 1, it followed the sameposition but allowed for continuous deployment based on the situation.
Whoosh!
As Kang-hoo was being pulled, the fireballunched by Cha So-hee rapidly closed the distance.
However, caught by the evasive effect of Protective Level 1, the fireball evaporated before it could reach Kang-hoo.
What?
Confusion filled Cha So-hees eyes.
It was rare to see a skill just evaporate like that.
Moreover, she had never imagined that an assassin like Kang-hoo would possess such a skill.
Swoosh!
In the meantime, Kang-hoo used the Morris Maniche gloves to retrieve Skys Joy.
He quickly stabbed it downward, preparing to use the skill Wind Thunder Formation.
For Wind Thunder Formation to activate, a weapon had to be nted in the ground as a medium.
The weapon essentially acted as apleted magic circle.
[Wind Thunder Formation]
Wind Thunder Formation was a buff-type skill.
Within a radius of five meters, excluding the caster, it whipped up a fierce tempest and cold gusts against all targets.
Although low in probability, it could also induce a powerful electric storm, leading to possible electrocution.
Perhaps sensing Kang-hoo was up to something strange?
Cha So-hee raised her hands high into the air.
Suddenly, red clouds materialized out of nowhere, beginning to rain fire.
Just as the Wind Thunder Formation didnt affect Kang-hoo, the fire rain couldnt harm Cha So-hee. Instead, it protected her.
Kaboom!
Aaagh!
But Kang-hoo attacked quicker.
The fully activated Wind Thunder Formation began tosh at Cha So-hee furiously.
With her clothes already burned away, relentless red wounds appeared on her pale skin.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
Damn it.
Kang-hoo wasnt unscathed either.
His body smoked and burned from the falling fire rain.
If the fire rain hit the same spot again, it felt like even the muscles and bones underneath would melt away.
Thankfully, the mes wererge, so there were fewer of them than actual raindrops.
[Aim]
He used the Aim skill to identify the nearest mes position and trajectory.
Upon magnifying and observing the movement, he could anticipate the path and power of each me.
Sh*t!
Cha So-hee, with deep cuts forming two lines on her cheek, cursed as she began to back away.
She seemed to realize that within its set radius, the Wind Thunder Formation was only attacking her and not Kang-hoo.
[Hallucination]
While Cha So-hee struggled within the Wind Thunder Formation, Kang-hoounched a Hallucination skill at her.
He leaped through the predicted path of the mes, narrowly evading them.
If his calctions were wrong, he would have been drenched in mes, but urate timing allowed him to escape the dangerous area with only a few brushes from the mes.
Whoosh!
Meanwhile, a fireballunched by Cha So-hee flew off in the wrong direction.
For someone as experienced as her, this was an entirely wrong direction a clear sign she was affected by the Hallucination.
Got her.
However, the duration of such tricks against a skilled hunter like Cha So-hee would never be long.
Time to y my trump card.
He decided to implement his second n.
He never thought he could defeat Cha So-hee with just one red jewel.
Given the obvious difference in levels and stats, the longer the battle dragged on, the more variables would emerge.
In various scenarios, he knew he would eventually be at a disadvantage.
So, he made his decision.
[I will use Skill Enhancement.]
[The skill to be enhanced is Protective Barrier.]
Without hesitation, he used his one-time skill enhancement opportunity on the Protective Barrier.
While the Protective skill specialized in neutralizing a single attack, the Protective Barrier was designed for sustained defense with a set durability.
[Protective Barrier]
[Skill Proficiency: Ultimate]
[Creates a circr transparent barrier that protects the caster from all sides.]
[Can be either an installed type, ced in a specific space, or an integrated type, moving with the caster.]
[Continuously depletes mana regardless of durability reduction and activates a 0.1-second invincible barrier when durability reaches zero.]
[When the Protective Barrier is destroyed, the Devastation effect activates, evaporating all mana within a 10-meter radius.]
Following Blood Flower, Protective Barrier was his second ultimate skill.
It was an upgraded version of the original Protective Barrier.
Unlike the original, which could only be installed, this new version could move with Kang-hoo.
Even if not for this moment, investing in a defensive skill was a wise choice for the long term.
An assassin ss must minimize the time spent on defense and maintain concentration.
With the Protective Barrier, there was no need to focus on defense until the barriers durability was exhausted.
In that case, I can focus solely on the attack. Its highly practical in many ways, he mused.
Whirr!
As Kang-hoo deployed the Protective Barrier, he charged at Cha So-hee.
He felt a huge amount of mana explosively depleting, but at that moment, it didnt matter.
Mad Srkium was suppressing the pain perfectly, and there was no penalty to his mana supply for the moment.
There would be a bacsh once the effect ended, but that was a problem forter.
[eleration]
[Leap]
[Shadowless]
Determined to settle the score, Kang-hoo relentlessly chained his skills.
In a state of maximum eleration, the scenery around him blurred into lines.
The Leap skill that followed harnessed an incredible amount of kic energy.
Amidst this, Shadowless minimized his presence and sound, causing Cha So-hee to notice himter than she normally would.
She was just recovering from the mire of Hallucination, but Kang-hoos next move was a half beat faster.
[Great Decapitation]
Kang-hoo gripped Blood Tear with all his might, ready to deploy it.
Great Decapitation possessed the destructive power he needed at this moment.
Think you can?
Cha So-hees voice,ced with venom, resonated.
Kaboom! Whoosh! Kaboom!
Enraged, Cha So-hee unleashed mes in all directions, targeting Kang-hoo.
Yet, the Protective Barrier, with its substantial durability, withstood a direct frontal assault.
Being integrated, it had no trouble protecting Kang-hoo, even as he hovered in the air.
Suddenly, the distance between Kang-hoo and Cha So-hee shrank to less than a hands breadth.
And then,
Thump
In Kang-hoos right hand, a heavy sensation; in Cha So-hees lower abdomen, a cold sensationboth transmitted simultaneously.
It was the moment when the fates of two individuals, facing the same situation but headed toward entirely different destinies, intersected.
Time seemed to stop.
Cha So-hees eyes, having ceased all movement, cautiously and fearfully looked down.
At that moment,
Whoosh!
She saw it.
Blood, as red as her zing mes, now soaked the previously unscathed skin of her abdomen.
And Kang-hoos cold voice chillingly echoed in her ears.
Ladies first. Ill maintain that courtesy even on the way to the afterlife.
Kang-hoo made this definitive statement, certain of Cha So-hees fate.
Chapter 54: Test Of The Constellations (1)
Chapter 54: Test Of The Constetions (1)
[The constetion ''Master of Mobile Warfare'' apuds your splendid battle performance.]
[The constetion ''Apostle of Justice'' endlessly supports you in your quest for righteousness.]
[The constetion ''Cunning tterer'' acknowledges that its new contractor is a much more impressive person.]
Along with the Dimension Plunderers suggestion, other constetions also sent positive feedback to Kang-hoo.
The Master of Mobile Warfare and the Apostle of Justice were constetions that had been consistently supporting him.
However, it was a pity that contracts had not yet been formed with them.
Theres a huge difference between support and a contract.
Perhaps because the great constetion, the Dimension Plunderer, was in the main position, there seemed to be a high barrier to entry.
It could be said to be the greed of a constetion wanting topletely own all its contractors.
Lets rest for just a day.
Kang-hoo requested a rest.
Challenging the test of the constetions now would likely result in immediate failure due to his exhausted state.
Failure in the test meant death, not just a simple defeat. There was absolutely no reason to take such a risk.
[Take all the time you need.]
The Dimension Plunderer did not rush Kang-hoo.
She wished for her contractor to be in the best condition for the test.
She genuinely cared for Kang-hoo.
Kang-hoo was certainly a contractor with the highest potential and prospects.
She did not want to lose him to other constetions under any circumstances. He had to be her contractor.
Thus, the test of the constetions was just around the corner.
Considering the statistic that most hunters take the test around level 150, Kang-hoo was facing it much earlier.
At just level 51.
In other words, this also meant that the Dimension Plunderer highly valued Kang-hoo.
Constetions never impulsively propose tests. They must have deemed his current abilities sufficient.
Afterwards, Kang-hoo safely arrived at Pyeongtaek Station and decided to take a day off in a secure hotel.
He checked in during the morning, yet the rooms ckout curtains made it feel like night.
As hey on the bed, Kang-hoo reviewed his battle with Cha So-hee.
It was definitely not easy.
He had been able tounch an early decisive move because he had sensibly found an opening.
Had Cha So-hee been a little more cautious and urate, the battle would havested much longer.
The mes had been a significant burden.
Being in a state of maximized firepower had been particrly troublesome.
He hadnt sustained any injuries because he had never taken a direct hit, but even a slight touch could have melted anything.
The fact that just a few drops of the small fire potion had left a scar on his shoulder was even more rming.
If Cha So-hee is this tough, I dont even want to think about how much harder someone like Kang Dong-hyun would be.
Kang-hoos expression turned bitter.
In truth, if he significantly lowered his standards, Kang-hoo was a hunter to be feared.
He was overwhelmingly powerful.
However, for Kang-hoo, who was always looking higher, no level ever satisfied him.
Defeating Cha So-hee merely led him to think of Kang Dong-hyun, which elevated his goals even further.
Should the daye when he defeats Kang Dong-hyun, his sights would then turn to individuals like Chae Gwanhyeong or Jang Si-hwan.
His fiercepetitive spirit and sense of purpose would not wane until he reached the top.
Did you check your mail?
Kang-hoo opened the mail app.
He wondered if it was too soon, but still clung to some hope.
Didnt you read it?
The read receipt indicated that the message had been read, and there was even a response.
[Who are you?]
Though the reply was brief, Kang-hoo took it as a positive sign.
If Lee Hyun-seok had thought the email was just nonsense, he would have read it and not responded.
In Korean, this is termed read but ignored.
But asking who it was implied that the information might be credible, yet the source was uncertain.
Kang-hoo sent a reply immediately.
[Be careful with Moon Yoo-seok. You naturally supervise your subordinates, right? Trust Moon Yoo-seok only 90%.]
He offered no further details.
If Lee Hyun-seok conducted a thorough investigation of Moon Yoo-seok, he would likely discover more weaknesses than he anticipated.
Simply cing a few trusted individuals to observe would reveal details of Moons betrayal within days.
Im really tired.
After sending the message, Kang-hoo threw his smartphone to the foot of the bed and drew the nket up to his forehead.
All he desired was to sleep soundly.
The confrontation with Cha So-hee had taken its toll on his already sensitive body.
He needed restorative sleep.
Ah, right.
Recalling something, Kang-hoo reached for his smartphone and opened the music app.
[The Father of Music]
[Listening to ssical music increases physical recovery speed by fivefold.]
The benefits of the constetion should be fully exploited.
This was due to the constetion that enhanced healing.
While resting, ying some ssical music was a simple task.
Soon, the sweet melody enveloped his ears, and a peaceful slumber enveloped him like honey.
Meanwhile, Kang Dong-hyun was viewing a video in his private quarters, undisturbed.
The footage was recovered from the deceased Cha So-hee.
It had been recorded by a small device attached to the front of the sports bra she wore.
The footage only covered the encounter between Kang-hoo and Cha So-hee at the train station.
Subsequently, Cha So-hees fiery assault destroyed all the CCTV and circuits, leaving no further evidence.
Kang Dong-hyun habitually installed recording devices in gifts to his trusted followers.
It was a longstanding practice.
The demise of his faithful henchmen didnt concern him much.
Even if they were lost, his intention was to use them for information collection until the end.
Without blinking an eye, Kang Dong-hyun thoroughly reviewed the entire battle between Kang-hoo and Cha So-hee that the device had recorded.
His conclusion at the end of the video was simple.
Cha So-hee was bound to lose.
The defeat was inevitable.
Kang Dong-hyun thought that even if the fight hadsted longer, Cha So-hee would have died.
The variety of skills Kang-hoo used was beyond expectations.
His movements were highly flexible, and his skill set was not limited to that of an assassin.
A hunter at level 10 changed this much in less than a month after leaving prison?
Kang Dong-hyun deeply inhaled his cigarette.
The strong tobo felt life-shortening with each puff, yet its charm was irresistible.
Kang-hoos growth rate was extraordinary. Even the term super-promising seemed inadequate.
It was too fast.
Such explosive growth was rare even among hunters who stood out internationally.
And those who grew so rapidly invariably became famous hunters.
It was like the case of Casey Rex from the Fortuna Guild in the U.S., a symbol of the elite course.
This is unbearable.
Kang-hoos remarkable skill had been sufficiently proven by Cha So-hees death.
However, after watching the video himself, the desire he had tried to suppress about Kang-hoo resurfaced.
It was impossible to just pass by a rough diamond that could be a gem if well polished.
So, he decided to change his strategy.
Previously, he had nned to relentlessly chase Kang-hoo with his hunting dogs and corner him.
Now, he was considering apletely different approach.
When Kang Dong-hyun pressed a button, a woman from the waiting room entered the office.
She had navy-colored long hair and a striking red headband.
Did you call for me?
Yeah. Theres something I need you to do.
Please tell me. Im ready to do whatever you ask.
Get close to this guy. Whether its as lovers or something casual, any kind of rtionship will do. Just get close to him.
Kang Dong-hyun turned the monitor to show her Kang-hoos face and information.
She nodded, asking:
Is this about love this time?
Yeah. With such looks, wouldnt your heart flutter a bit? Hes quite handsome.
Definitely makes my heart flutter. I might even really fall for him, you know?
It doesnt matter. Lets go for the long game.
Kang Dong-hyun exhaled the cigarette smoke leisurely and shrugged his shoulders, a gesture indicating he had plenty of time.
He had slept for a full 12 hours.
When he woke up, it was already 9 PM, as if an entire day had been deleted.
Having checked out, Kang-hoo met with Lee Ye-rin and sorted out all the items he had obtained from Cha So-hee.
After selling those, along with items he couldnt dispose of earlier, he earned a total of 10.5 billion won.
Bnce: 10.6 billion won.
It was a massive amount, enough to buy a grade 3 item on the spot.
As soon as the item trade with Kang-hoo wasplete, Lee Ye-rin presented him with a designated request form.
Unlike regr requests, this one was bordered in gold, giving it a more prestigious feel.
This is the designated request I mentioned earlier. Its the second request from the client who assigned the Gong Tae-su case.
What about the clients information?
Are you joking?
Kang-hoo nodded after throwing the yful question.
The lifeblood of a mercenary group is trust.
A mercenary group that discloses client information carelessly cannot sustain itself.
It bes a target of ostracism.
An enemy to other mercenary groups.
Therefore, it was impossible to extract information about the client unless they themselves requested or permitted the disclosure of their information.
The basic fee is 3.5 billion won, with an additional 1.5 billion won.
Ratheus Jaseok mining. I know its a Jaseok that is found only in certain dungeons.
Right. The client even meticulously attached the location and map information. Thats good news.
Well, it seems like bad news at the same time.
Kang-hoo frowned as he checked the surrounding situation indicated on the map.
The reason for the news being both good and bad was the same.
The meticulousness was problematic because it included information he wished he hadnt known.
Wait, this looks familiar.
He scrutinized the contents.
Upon examining the location, he naturally connected it to the original work.
A memory came to the surface.
If I remember correctly, this is an Imbnce Point, right?
It was a ce also known as an Unbnce Point, near the Jaseok mining site.
No, it was actually in the same dungeon.
The location was just slightly different, but it would be easy to find if he tried.
It was called so because it was a ce that offered excessive experience points and benefits due to its imbnce.
It also had a connection to Jang Si-hwans fate.
In the original work, it often appeared as a narrative device to continuously fuel his growth.
Minimum level 20. Depending on the umted imbnce, it can even rise to 30.
The reward for the request was one thing, but an even greater temptation awaited Kang-hoo.
Especially if it was a fate that could hinder Jang Si-hwans growth.
He had to be greedy for it.
He absolutely had to im it for himself. He couldnt let it slip away!
Chapter 55: Test Of The Constellations (2)
Chapter 55: Test Of The Constetions (2)
Before parting with Lee Ye-rin, Kang-hoo asked her to investigate Park Min-sung.
Park Min-sung was the owner of the corpse that held the dagger Boundary of Massacre when Kang-hoo visited Ground Zero.
Considering the dagger he carried, Kang-hoo surmised that Park Min-sung must have been a skilled hunter.
Thus, he had retained the hunters license, smartphone, and ID card from the corpse, making a note of its location.
The corpse might have belonged to a missing person sought by family or acquaintances in the official huntermunity.
Like criminals who have bounties, missing persons often had rewards, so Kang-hoo thought it worthwhile to check.
Lee Ye-rin declined the advance payment Kang-hoo offered, shaking her head.
She stated that since Kang-hoo had handled requests efficiently so far, she would conduct this one for free.
It was a gesture of goodwill.
Not wanting to reject such kindness, Kang-hoo dly epted her offer.
It was a favor given freely, so there was no obligation to reciprocate itter.
Before attempting the test of the constetions, Kang-hoo decided to stop by a modern bar near Pyeongtaek Station for a change of pace.
He aimed to be in the most rxed state possible before facing the test of the constetions.
Although his favorite cocktail, the Srkium Burst, wasnt known for its calming effects, the bars unique atmosphere and music always helped him clear his mind.
This visit was part of Kang-hoos usual routine, one he never neglected despite not being particrly stubborn.
En route to the bar, the area around Pyeongtaek Station was notably stable and well-maintainedpared to other regions.
Normally, encountering bloodstains or copsed individuals in dark alleys was routine.
Even potential high-crime zones presented no trouble.
Groups of hunters huddled together, smoking and murmuring amongst themselves, yet they caused no disturbances.
The hunters level challenging the test doesnt really matter, as the test of the constetions adjusts to it.
There was no pressure from the level.
If the test of the constetions had been set for a specific level, every hunter would have leveled up to take it on.
For those who had sufficiently grown, it would have been an easy test.
But because it was customized, the perceived difficulty remained constant regardless of when it was challenged.
It was incredibly difficult.
The constetions wouldnt offer a test as bait to eliminate bad contractors without good reason.
The fifty percent survival rate was telling.
One of the two hunters seeking to draw closer to their contracted constetion would inevitably perish.
But if you dont pass the test, you eventually stop growing. Its essential.
To avoidcency, one had to strengthen their bond with the main contracted constetion.
The fourth privilege from the constetion, unlocked through the test?
That was just the beginning.
High-ranking constetions like the Dimension Plunderer granted a staggering array of privileges.
Kang-hoo casually chose a seat at a table in the bar, picking a somewhat secluded spot beneath attractive lighting.
The bartender, distinguished by her smoky makeup, approached him as if it were second nature.
What can I get for you?
A Srkium Burst, please.
Huh?
Hmm?
In that moment, Kang-hoo and the bartender locked gazes, each sensing a familiar presence in the other. Then, they recognized why.
Kang-hoo was the first to break the silence.
Venny?
Club Hades! You were thest customer!
Thats amazing.
Wow, you were safe that day?
Thanks to you.
That day, during the massive kidnapping at Club Hades, Venny was the bartender who crafted Kang-hoos final cocktail before he fled the club.
Kang-hoo had been vaguely worried about what had happened to her, but, fortunately, she appeared to have escaped safely.
This is too much of a coincidence, isnt it?
Thats how fate works.
Wow the first drink is on me! I always felt bad for not finishing that Srkium Burst for you that day!
The cocktail was well-made. But the ss broke, so I couldnt taste it.
Oh, really?
I was just unlucky.
Kang-hoo chuckled, recalling the cocktail ss that had shattered into pieces when an ashtray flew out of nowhere.
It was an unusual coincidence that resulted in the ss breaking spectacrly.
He still remembered vividly how bad he had felt about it.
Kang-hoo continued the conversation.
I wont refuse a gift. But consider this a separate tip.
Kang-hoo handed her a tip equal to the price of a Srkium Burst.
It was his habit to tip bartenders and gather various information from them.
In ces other than clubs, this culture of tipping and information sharing was almost nonexistent
But Kang-hoo, ustomed to the underworld, knew its order and unspoken rules.
Hehe, I wont refuse it.
You look healthy. Thats good to see.
Right. I was really lucky. By the way, have you visited that ce I mentioned before?
The ce Venny referred to was the dungeon located on the seventh underground floor of Club Hades.
At the time, he had taken note of it but hadnt thought he would need to visit, so the memory had faded.
Initially, since Club Hades was owned by Eclipse, the possibility of essing it was nearly zero.
He wondered if it was worth the risk to visit a ce whose contents were unknown.
But since Venny brought it up again, there might be more concrete information.
No, I dont have any ties to Club Hades. Its not easy to gain ess. Is there something there?
Yes. The dungeon on the seventh floor underground. It exists, but no one has entered it.
Why? With such a ce, hunters would be rushing to it.
A dungeon hidden in a secret location would typically arouse the curiosity of hunters.
Since it belonged to Eclipse, they might have dispatched hunters to investigate.
Was there a particr reason they hadnt?
No one seems to be able to enter. Its not about the level or the number of personnel.
Have you heard any rumors?
I overheard two hunters who tried and failed to enter. They mentioned something about a mana issue.
Ah.
Thats when he realized.
It had to be a dungeon that demanded a hefty amount of mana just to gain entry.
Officially, it was known as a Limitless Mana Dungeon.
In essence, a hunter needed to inject a substantial amount of mana to unlock the door.
If a hunter couldnt muster or supply that much mana, entry was impossible.
This was because the mana radiating from a magic stone wasnt enough; the dungeon specifically required a hunters mana.
The embodiment of the subconscious.
Kang-hoo smiled ruefully.
This was a dungeon concept he had merely pondered in his mind in the original story, yet here it was, perfectly executed.
So no one has been able to get in. I heard even the boss was turned away.
This piqued his interest.
If by boss she meant Kang Dong-hyun, and he couldnt get in, then it was likely a dungeon that necessitated at least 500 mana.
I believe I can manage it.
Kang-hoos eyes gleamed with anticipation.
If he could endure the pain from his innate mana hypersensitivity, he could afford the entrance fee.
Given time, he could gather and provide an endless supply of mana.
It wasnt about the mana stat. It was about the continuous supply of mana.
With his mana hypersensitivity allowing for a virtually unlimited mana supply, this task was rtively simple for Kang-hoo.
This is my chance.
A realization struck him.
If the dungeon remained off-limits to all, there was no risk of being followed once inside.
The challengey in gaining ess to the building under Eclipses surveince.
But once he was inside the dungeon, nobody could interfere.
Moreover, a Limitless Mana dungeon likely had excellent rewards.
Since entrance was restricted, the rewards inside were generally enhanced due to limited exploitation.
This was why top hunters focused on hidden or unknown dungeons.
The first or long-awaited exploit guaranteed high rewards and experience. There was a reason for that.
Great info.
Kang-hoo handed over ten more 50,000-won bills as an extra tip.
My goodness. Is this information worth such a tip?
Venny quickly pocketed the tip with a broad smile, knowing the fickle nature of customers.
Kang-hoo replied with a smile.
It depends on who uses it and how.
The next morning, he began the test of the constetions.
Feeling great after a good nights sleep, his condition was better than ever.
[I wish you sess in proving your worth.]
As the test began, the Dimension Plunderer sent Kang-hoo a restrained but hopeful message.
Considering her personality, it was akin to fervent support.
It meant she wanted him to seed.
This is like my debut performance in front of numerous constetions.
Kang-hoo felt awkward, as if he were standing in the middle of a huge stage, and scratched his head.
The area was flooded with light pouring in from all sides, making it impossible to focus anywhere.
The light symbolized the constetions.
In other words, this ce was like being in the middle of the main stadium at Jamsil.
He was being watched by numerous audiences, the constetions.
It was essentially a showcase.
The test of the constetions allowed all interested constetions to watch.
It was like a public exam.
Therefore, every move inside was shared with all.
[The constetion ''Master of Mobile Warfare'' sends vigorous support, fully believing in your skills.]
[The constetion ''Apostle of Justice'' believes in your uniqueness and proudly deres its sub-sponsorship.]
[The constetion ''Fighter of Chaos'' acknowledges your skills, despite being an unfortunate contractor.]
Many constetions, with whom Kang-hoo had connections or that he subjugated through constetion plundering, raised their voices.
There were different approaches, but all acknowledged Kang-hoos significant skills.
Perhaps because of this, the already dazzling beams of light brightened even more.
The number of constetions watching was on the rise.
Whew.
Kang-hoo, who seldom felt nervous, took a deep breath and rxed once more.
Making a strong impression on the constetions now would greatly benefit him in the future.
This moment was crucial.
And then,
[The Dimension Plunderer has summoned a ck thought-form, ''gelum,'' for the test.]
The object that announced the start of the test appeared on the stage, and at the same time, an arrow pointing somewhere outside the stage came to life.
[Run with all your might to the location indicated by the red dot.]
[Before you reach it, you cannot kill gelum, and its whip will shatter your soul.]
A game of the chased and the chaser.
It was a test with a clear concept.
Chapter 56: Test Of The Constellations (3)
Chapter 56: Test Of The Constetions (3)
The Constetion Trials varied widely in form.
Some were chase types, where participants had to avoidbat at all costs and simply flee to the destination.
Others forced them into confined spaces with their opponents, where battle was inevitable.
In essence, the nature of the trial depended on the whims of the Constetions.
Thats why, when proposing a trial to a Constetion with whom you wished to break a contract, youd choose something challenging.
To put it bluntly, it was like giving them a hard time, as if to say, Just try and survive.
Of course, the Dimension Plunderer, who took a growing interest in Kang-hoo, held no ill will.
It had always observed Kang-hoos genius-levelbat sense and skills.
Hence, the Dimension Plunderer was curious to witness Kang-hoos fleeing abilities, which it had never seen before.
It cant be this easy.
Kang-hoo gave a wry smirk at the sight of the uphill path that served as the escape route.
There was a saying among Hunters:
A dungeon that seemed easy was never easy. In fact, it was a perfect death trap.
Kang-hoo was convinced that the Constetions trial was more than a physical test like climbing a hill.
There had to be a catch.
It wasnt just about evading the pursuing zgelum.
[The Constetions are cing spontaneous bets.]
[The stakes are heavily skewed toward the likelihood of Contractee Shin Kang-hoo''s death.]
[The Dimension Plunderer, confident in Contractee Shin Kang-hoo''s sess, boldly wagers a portion of its ster energy on his survival.]
[Constetions hostile to the Dimension Plunderer scoff at her naive gamble.]
Constetions or humans.
They all relished a gamble.
Kang-hoo nced at his status window and noticed that the odds of his death were nearly a decimal shy of 1.
He concentrated as intensely as he could.
The target was 4km away.
The distance was diminishing quickly.
Blending leaps with bursts of speed, he rapidly narrowed the gap.
The zgelum behind him quickened its pace as well.
The creature, its feet never touching the ground, glided like a specter.
It suddenly increased its speed, as if it had been holding back all this time.
At that moment,
As expected.
The first variable revealed itself to Kang-hoo, who had kept his eyes on the ground from the beginning.
Thorns.
ck thorns sprouted menacingly from the seemingly t earth, reaching for the sky.
They resembled sinister wands crafted from ck magic.
Should anyone be impaled, they would undoubtedly dangle, pierced and lifeless.
Swish!
Kang-hoo used a leap in the opposite direction and narrowly avoided the spike attack.
This move, however, brought him closer to the pursuing zgelum.
Yet, facing an increased possibility of death was a lesser evilpared to certain demise.
[Some Constetions mock your choice. They suggest that running forward would have been the better option.]
What cant be said with a loose tongue?
Kang-hoo smirked.
He then activated Shadow Step, making sure the shadows extended far ahead.
Kuhuhuhu!
The zgelum closed in suddenly.
Swish!
Without a seconds hesitation, itshed its whip towards Kang-hoo.
This whip could not be blocked. It shattered souls. It was the whip of death.
Ha!
Kang-hoo ttened himself and just managed to evade the attack.
The zgelums whip, designed to minimize variables, skimmed the area where Kang-hoos waist had just been.
A less precise dodge would have resulted in a hit, a perilous situation indeed.
[Leap]
[Great Decapitation]
Swish!
Ahh!
Then, crouching low, Kang-hoo dove forward from his prone position, shing at the zgelums ankle.
His strategy paid off.
The zgelum, overconfident in its seeming immortality, had not expected Kang-hoos counter.
Done.
In that instant, Kang-hoo switched ces with his shadow.
The distance between him and the zgelum dramatically increased.
He had sessfully traded ces with the shadow at the farthest range Shadow Step allowed.
[Many Constetions cheer! They apud your counterattack, tactics, and subsequent nning.]
The Dimension Plunderer emphasized that such cleverness in her contractor was just the tip of the iceberg.
As Kang-hoos tension began to ease slightly in response to the Dimension Plunderers overly protective reaction,
Screech!
Apletely ck demon, unseen until that moment, appeared in front of him.
Wielding a scythe over three meters long, it swiftly aimed for Kang-hoos waist.
[Swift Evasion]
He dodged differently this time.
The demons attack was vertical, not horizontal, enabling him to evade by changing position.
Whew.
A hot breath involuntarily escaped him.
Even Kang-hoo had to move instinctively and sensually, faced with such creatively challenging attacks.
The Constetion Trial was designed by the Constetion holding the contract, meaning it was the Dimension Plunderers creation.
Wouldve been infamous if a game developer.
Kang-hoo smiled and started running again.
Although he cleverly evaded the crisis, the Constetion Trial was still in progress.
3km, 2km, 1km, 500m
Thanks to relentless running, the zgelum could only close the gap to about nine meters at best.
Despite several sudden incidents, he smartly used Swift Evasion, Leap, and protective barriers to dodge them.
[The Dimension Plunderer apuds, admiring the clean state of her contractor, without a single drop of blood shed.]
[Even the previously hostile Constetions start looking at you differently, impressed by your smart responses.]
Everything was going well.
The initial five-kilometer distance seemed daunting, but closing thest 500 meters was easy.
Despite the relentless chase by the zgelum, Kang-hoo reached the destination and could press the Arrival button.
Is it over?
It cant be this anticlimactic
Kang-hoo hoped it was the end, yet he expected otherwise. His expectations were quickly shattered.
[The current space of 25m by 25m transformed into a restricted battlefield.]
[The invincible defensive barrier that made up the zgelum''s entire body began to disappear.]
[Eradicate the zgelum.]
Such a mischievous goddess, indeed.
Kang-hoo chuckled.
There was no such thing as a free lunch, after all.
The chase had been just the first trial, with a do-or-die second trial awaiting.
If I must, then I must.
Without hesitation, Kang-hoo charged toward the zgelum.
Now that its invincibility was gone, it was the creatures turn to fear death.
Not long into the battle, Kang-hoo discovered the zgelums most critical weakness.
It was the inherent dy in a whip attack, as it bent before straightening to strike the target.
The kic energy had to start from the shoulder, travel through the elbow and hand, and it took time to reach the tip of the whip.
Although the zgelums skillful movements seemed to minimize this dy, a gap in time definitely existed.
So Kang-hoo waited for the right moment while exchanging blows, aware that once a strategy is exposed, it bes hard to use again.
Like a game of cat and mouse, the zgelum, oblivious, pressed its attack on Kang-hoo aggressively.
In a fight between a dagger and a whip, focusing on evasion was easier than defense.
Moreover, unlike other weapons capable of rapid sessive strikes, the whip had its limitations.
For Kang-hoo, controlling the tempo of the battle was easier. Of course, he didnt reveal this advantage to the zgelum.
The level of the zgelum, indicated in the status window, was 165, three times higher than Kang-hoos.
Yet he was managing well.
Maybe it was because of his experience fighting against much stronger opponents, like Cha So-hee?
The zgelum felt like a perfect downgrade. The limitations of the whip as a weapon became clear.
Eventually,
Ugh!
Failing to fend off Kang-hoos deep incursion, the zgelums left chest was pierced.
The dagger, linked smoothly with a Great Beheading, imed the zgelums life in one swift strike.
[The ''Warm Wave'', a group of benevolent Constetions, couldn''t stop praising your wless trial.]
[All Constetions of the ''Warm Wave'' showed deep interest in you.]
[They expended their umted ster energy to grant you a significant buff.]
[Experience Increase +15%]
Crazy.
It was a substantial sponsorship.
The Warm Wave, a group of Constetions, had generously supported him.
The implications were significant.
Groups formed by Constetions with strong personal traits indicated like-mindedness.
This meant potential for more appeals and possibly group contracts in the future.
For instance, contracting with all the Constetions of the Warm Wave.
It wasnt impossible, as the protagonist, Jang Si-hwan, had significantly increased his contracted Constetions in a simr manner.
[Two Constetions who bet a considerable amount of ster energy on Contractee Shin Kang-hoo''s death died of shock.]
[The ''Grand Constetion Council'', managing all Constetions, swiftly stripped the fallen Constetions of their ranks.]
Setting aside the deceased Constetions, the emergence of the Grand Constetion Council was unexpected.
This was an unconscious creation not found in the original story.
Naturally, there had always been the notion of a managing entity overseeing many Constetions.
It just hadnt been incorporated into the story, but its existence had always been considered.
The Grand Constetion Council. Intriguing.
In a way.
Didnt it feel like the scale of the future challenges just got much bigger?
There might even be realms beyond Constetions.
The world of the supreme Constetions, always a part of the envisioned universe.
[Interest in Contractee Shin Kang-hoo among the Constetions rapidly intensified.]
[The solidarity among Constetions proud to sponsor and contract with Shin Kang-hoo strengthened.]
[The Dimension Plunderer''s status skyrocketed. Interest in her increased.]
A virtuous cycle,
Kang-hoo smiled.
The attention of the Constetions was always beneficial.
And the rising status and interest in his main Constetion? That was an undeniable advantage.
It seemed that his debut in front of the Constetions had been a resounding sess.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo noticed missed support messages, all boosting experience.
An additional 15% experience increase buff. Every little bit added up.
Just then,
[Seizing this momentum, how about another trial? I want to offer you the opportunity to enjoy my fifth special privilege.]
The Dimension Plunderer made an unexpectedly bold proposal.
Not one, but two Constetion Trials.
The privileges of the third and fourth, and then the fifth Constetions differed.
Gaining the fifth privilege could be a significant boost in power.
I cant resist that. Deal.
Kang-hoos response was crisp.
Chapter 57: Test Of The Constellations (4)
Chapter 57: Test Of The Constetions (4)
The second Constetion Trial followed immediately.
Thinking it better to do it sooner rather thanter, Kang-hoo didnt hesitate to proceed.
With the immediate continuation to the second trial, the number of observing Constetions increased by 50%.
The stakes have really gone up.
The more Constetions watching, the better.
Even if he could appeal to just one or two, it would be a gain.
[Eliminate the monster ''Dinato''.]
Hmm?
The instruction for the second Constetion Trial was too simplepared to the first.
What kind of creature was Dinato that the message was so brief?
At that moment, Kang-hoo saw a colorful, shimmering silhouette materialize out of thin air.
It wasnt humanoid like the zgelum he had faced before.
The monster was massive, easily surpassing the size of a 15-story apartment building.
Kang-hoos lips curled slightly.
He had expected the Dimension Plunderer to assign a challenging mission, but this was an unexpected twist.
Facing a giant monster was a whole different ball game from his previous battles.
Especially for assassins who rely on closebat, confronting such arge creature was daunting.
One wrong move and he could be crushed to death.
Considering the uing Hell of Judgment raid, this might be necessary practice.
He tried to see the positive side.
There was a major event led by the Jeonghwa Guilding up soon.
The Hell of Judgment raid.
A massive 1,000-person raid, the only one to hire mercenaries from outside.
Designed as a gigantic dungeon, it featured numerous mid-level bosses and many secret terrains.
Creatures like Dinato weremon there. It wouldnt hurt to have this experience in advance.
Of course, the only issue was that this wasnt just practice but a life-risking Constetion Trial.
[Your fourth privilege from me as your contractor will be linked uponpletion of this trial.]
Are you trying to provoke me?
[Haha. It''s not meant to cause rm. It''s just that I can''t grant the privilege beforehand.]
You really are mischievous.
Kang-hoo gripped his Blood Dew dagger in reverse. The method tobat such a monster was surprisingly straightforward:
Avoid unnecessary scouting and aim directly for the head by climbing the creatures body.
Stabbing the thick ankle, thigh, or torso with a dagger would be futile.
A fatal blow to a humanoid could be a mere scratch to a monster.
Hence, aiming for the head, the main control tower, was essential.
Even monsters with steel-like skin didnt have equally tough brains.
Crunch!
He chewed on a Mad Srkium.
Only three were left.
He had already used half of the six he obtained from Ground Zero.
They were difficult to acquire, yet quickly consumed.
But given the effects of Mad Srkium were significantly stronger than regr Srkium,
Kang-hoo decided to use this advantage strategically.
It was precisely for moments like this that he had acquired the Mad Srkium.
Roar!
Dinato, having spotted Kang-hoo, began to move its house-sized foot.
The sky seemed almost covered by the vast and heavy foot, leaving Kang-hoo no time to think otherwise.
A counterattack? An absurd choice.
He had to avoid it at all costs.
Who would think to stop or counter a falling car from the sky?
Dinatos foot was just like that.
Swoosh!
Leaping backward to create distance and then propelling forward, Kang-hoo secured his first position.
He nted his dagger into Dinatos calf.
Now, he climbed like ascending a rock wall, methodically making his way up Dinatos body.
The problem was that Dinato was no fool.
Noticing Kang-hoo in an annoying spot, Dinato began to move its other foot, trying to brush him off like scratching an itch.
Damn.
Kang-hoo withdrew his dagger from Dinatos calf and slid diagonally, opting for a strategic retreat over a reckless advance.
[The Constetion ''Strategist of the Wilderness'' nodded in approval of your cautious evasion.]
[Some Constetions assessed your rapid and excellent strategic decision-making consecutively.]
The response from the Constetions was positive, even though it wasnt a grand performance.
Theres no rush.
This sudden thought led Kang-hoo to change his approach to the Constetion Trial.
If he was confident he could kill Dinato without facing significant danger, why not mix in a bit of drama whilebating the monster?
Opportunities to disy ones capabilities in front of numerous Constetions are rare.
In fact, its a special situation only provided during Constetion Trials.
Otherwise, most Constetions only focus on their areas of interest.
With so many Hunters in the world, not all Constetions could focus on Kang-hoo.
Thus, he thought it best to add more dramatic elements to this moment.
Despite the life-threatening nature of a Constetion Trial, this thought made him even bolder.
Yeah, definitely crazy.
A smirk escaped him.
He wondered if this was a side effect of the Mad Srkium, feeling too calm, perhaps even fearlessly foolish.
Since the path upward was clear, as long as he could avoid Dinatos checks, it seemed feasible.
The first check using the opposite foot was slower than Kang-hoo had anticipated.
Swoosh!
He plunged the Blood Dew back into Dinatos body.
Sighing deeply, he began to climb again.
Two steps forward, one step back.
A lesson in the art of patience, essential to reach the monsters head.
Throughout the climb, Kang-hoo skillfully handled unexpected challenges while ascending Dinato.
For instance, when passing near Dinatos groin, a parasitic creature suddenly appeared.
It was a giant centipede, the size of a human, living off the monsters body.
Thanks to his long-range strike skill, like Lightning Speed, dealing with it wasnt an issue.
A typical assassin would have found a ranged response impossible.
But for Kang-hoo, it was a feasible strategy, eliminating the need for dangerous closebat.
Thus, Kang-hoo quickly neutralized the uncertainties.
He deliberately crafted and evaded crises, rapidly increasing the interest and tension among the observing Constetions.
Most Constetions granted only a modest amount of ster energy as sponsorship, insignificant to them but meaningful for Kang-hoo.
This spare change sponsorship cumted into a substantial buff.
The experience bonus from the second trial alone amounted to 55%.
Experience bonuses might seem trivial at the moment, but over time, they umte to significant growth.
The growth rate of a Hunter with a 100% bonus is drastically different from that of one without any bonuses.
While the difference might seem small over a day or two, over a year or two, it bes immense.
Keep the sponsorshipsing. Why save your spare change?
Confident, Kang-hoo continued his ascent, performing various stunts on Dinatos body.
He feigned falling into danger, narrowly avoiding Dinatos attacks.
While every situation seemed close, Kang-hoo had ample leeway within.
[The Constetion ''Strategist of the Wilderness'' expends arge amount of ster energy to grant you a substantial buff.]
[Experience Increase +15%]
Good.
Kang-hoo felt immense satisfaction seeing the experience buffs continuously umte.
The Strategist of the Wilderness, like others who began substantial sponsorships, granted significant buffs.
The total experience bonus Kang-hoo had umted reached +150%.
Where another Hunter would gain 10 experience points from the same monster, Kang-hoo would gain 25.
For Kang-hoo, specialized in monopolizing, a 150% bonus was more than just a number.
In the meantime,
Kuhuh. Kuhuh. Kuhuh.
Kang-hoo had reached the area near Dinatos Adams apple.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
As two hands targeted him, Kang-hoo easily evaded with ateral move.
I can handle a monster of this caliber.
He had set his own estimate.
If the monster wasnt agile, Kang-hoo could handle it with his abilities.
However, if the monsters movements or reactions improved by even 20%, it would be significantly more challenging.
All this was possible thanks to Kang-hoos eleration skill, which allowed him to push his body to the limit for maximum speed.
Without eleration, Kang-hoo was sure he would have been disarmed by now.
Then,
Swoosh!
Kang-hoo leaped powerfully from near the Adams apple, vanishing into Dinatos nostrils without hesitation.
For Dinato, this was the beginning of aplete nightmare.
A filthy space, yet a critical vulnerability.
Kang-hoo mercilessly sliced through the nostrils, tore out the eyes, severed the nerves, and dug into the soft brain.
No matter how gigantic, a monster couldnt withstand having its brain thoroughly mangled.
Groooar
Thus, Dinato, reduced to Kang-hoos ything for the Constetions entertainment, breathed itsst.
Contrary to the Dimension Plunderers expectation of a struggle,
Kang-hoo, using abination of his numerous skills, easily overcame the monster.
[Not bad at all.]
The Dimension Plunderers brief but intense message was conveyed.
Although it seemed like a minorment, Kang-hoo knew it was significant praise and recognition from her.
This is nothing,
he shrugged.
Had he expected to fail, he wouldnt have taken the challenge in the first ce.
He was always confident, just short of 100% sure. After all, 99.9% isnt considered perfect.
[When we ran a preliminary test, the survival rate for this trial was 15%. Yet you seeded.]
Hearing this from the Dimension Plunderer, Kang-hoo was momentarily puzzled.
?
A test calcted to be nearly fatal, given to him?
He had always thought her mischievous, but this was extreme.
Her words didnt seem like a joke.
The Dimension Plunderer.
Could she have been nning to kill him?
Chapter 58: Test Of The Constellations (5)
Chapter 58: Test Of The Constetions (5)
After the Constetion Trial concluded,
the number of subsidiary Constetions, also known as sub-support Constetions, surged significantly.
This surge meant an increase in potential candidates for the main Constetion.
Originally, Kang-hoo only had the Master of Mobile Warfare and the Apostle of Justice as his sub-support Constetions.
But now, the Strategist of the Wilderness had joined them, rising to be the secondrgest supporterafter the Dimension Plunderer.
In total, Kang-hoo had ten Constetions in the realm of sub-support.
To be a sub-support Constetion required substantial backing.
An experience buff of 235% is just insane.
Kang-hoo, not known for smiling often, couldnt contain his delight upon seeing his experience buff maxed out.
His showcase during the Constetion Trial had been a resounding sess.
With minor supporters included, over 500 Constetions now knew of Kang-hoos existence.
[He''s my contractor. Back off. Why are so many interested in my contracted Constetion?]
[Foolish woman. You''re the one who escted this. Now, it''s my turn to nurture this fellow.]>
[Woman? Well said. Your origin is a trivial dimension, isn''t it?]
Oh?
Kang-hoo, noting the names of the Constetions arguing with the Dimension Plunderer, looked on with interest.
The Strategist of the Wilderness was the one squabbling, the secondrgest supporter, and seemingly another goddess like the Dimension Plunderer.
The stage was now set for apetition among the Constetions, spurring more investment in their contractors.
It seemed probable that the Dimension Plunderer would boost her support beyond the usual Constetion privileges.
Likewise, the Strategist of the Wilderness might also attempt to entice Kang-hoo with her own advantages.
Caught in the middle of this, Kang-hoo could only celebrate his fortuitous predicament.
If Jang Si-hwan could progress in this manner, Kang-hoo was confident he could emte the protagonists path in the original story and master any required method acting.
Time to go.
His task here wasplete.
After sessfully finishing two Constetion Trials, the moment hade to depart and review his new privileges.
Parting was bittersweet, but he was certain that these Constetions would cross his path again.
Having made asting impression as Shin Kang-hoo, he knew more would observe him from the shadows.
[Main Constetion Dimension Plunderer]
[First, keep all acquired and future skills at maximum proficiency.]>
[Second, acquire the capacity to usurp boss skills.]
[Third, if you y another hunter, you may im their contract and the allegiance of their serving Constetion.]
[Fourth, teleport instantly to a predetermined location. This ability has a one-day cooldown.]
[Fifth, negate 99% of space-altering abilities within a 15-meter radius, excluding your own.]
It seems the Dimension Plunderers privileges heavily favor spatial maniption, he mused.
[Have I not emphasized enough? I stand apart from the other Constetions.]
The first three privileges dont seem to match the name Dimension Plunderer, though, do they? he remarked with a hint of irony.
[Yet they are the foundation for overwhelming power, are they not?]
Kang-hoo acknowledged with a nod.
That was the very reason he had been eager to forge a contract with her the moment he awoke in this world.
To outshine the protagonist and im the central role, he required such potent enablers for growth.
The fourth privilege appeared to be a clutch escape tool for critical situations, offering a means to vacate the battlefield without dy.
And crucially, it was not bound by distance.
Following the Constetion Trial, Kang-hoo scrutinized the finer points of his privileges.
[You may select a secure location. There is no cooldown or restriction on setting this ce, permitting alterations or updates at any time.]
Everything was as he had anticipated.
He realized he could change his safe haven on a whim.
With this privilege, even if he were in the USA, he could return to Korea immediately, as long as he had set his save point somewhere in the country, like his home.
The fifth privilege was essentially a unteral debuff, a passive type that was always active.
Of course, for hunters who didnt use spatial movement skills, this privilege would be ineffective.
But considering the hunters Kang-hoo often targeted, such as Jang Si-hwan or Chae Gwanhyeong, who relied on spatial movement skills in magic or swordsmanship, it was a different story.
Suppressing their spatial movement skills was like adding weights to their ankles.
It might not block physical movements enhanced by eleration or leaping abilities. But it should definitely block skills like Blink.
Although it was 99% in theory, the effect felt like 100%.
This is truly rapid growth.
Kang-hoo bowed his head, smiling brightly where no one could see him.
Today marked a dramatic turning point in his growth.
A level 50 hunter unlocking up to the fifth Constetion privilege?
Such cases were rare in this world. Even Jang Si-hwan hadnt achieved this.
For Kang-hoo, carving a new path beyond the protagonist was exhrating.
The destination for the mission given by Lee Ye-rin was near Pohang Station.
It was a ce not heavily popted.
Yet, with its numerous dungeons, especially the open ones, it always attracted hunters.
For hunters, it was like a tableden with food, leading to incessant conflicts and battles.
The scale was toorge for any one guild to monopolize, turning it into a battleground.
The battles were so frequent that even the Hunter Public Safety Bureau had withdrawn its nominal presence.
The message was clear: they didnt want to bother with it, leaving hunters to sort it out themselves.
As expected, the hunters went wild.
With zero chance ofw enforcement intervention, there was nothing to fear.
Hmm.
Looking at the distant speck of KTX Pohang Station, Kang-hoo hummed thoughtfully.
He revisited a postponed thought.
First, about skills.
There would be no new basic skills until level 100.
Looking ahead, only levels 200, 400, and 800 remained.
The expectation for new basic skills had significantly diminished.
Many hunters faced stagnation in growth around level 100.
Without new skills, they became stuck with a simr repertoire.
Buying skill books was an option, but those specialized for their ss were exorbitantly priced.
Skill books were rare, and powerful skills rarely entered the market.
They were often learned by the finder or sold to guildmates or acquaintances.
The key to defeating Cha So-hee was actually skills. Having many strategies means creating more variables.
Kang-hoo had always prioritized the importance of skills.
And he had more options to increase his skills than mere basic skill acquisition, like his unique ability to steal skills.
In the future, wherever I go, dungeons or regions, the top priority must always be acquiring skills.
He set his priorities straight.
Every location he visited had to consider skill acquisition. There was no time to waste.
Lee Ye-rin. Han Seo-yeon. Yun Sang-mi. An Yeong-ho. Jung Yuri.
Additionally, thoughts about the connections formed after escaping from the Cheongmyeong Detention Center resurfaced.
Lee Ye-rin.
She would be an important connection who would provide stable requests and act as an informant in the future.
She was also one of the people who would oppose The Thirteen Starster on.
Currently, he had a strategic alliance with Jang Si-hwan, but a significant issue that could strain their rtionship was likely to arise soon.
Han Seo-yeon. His ex-girlfriend.
He wanted to reserve judgment about her.
Considering she was currently affiliated with a satellite guild of the Jeonghwa Guild, the Haeohwa Guild, the outlook wasnt great.
If she felt a sense of mission or responsibility towards her guild, then there were even more elements that could lead to a fallout.
Yun Sang-mi.
She felt like strictly a business partner, but not someone he particrly wanted to take an interest in.
However, ording to Lee Ye-rin, she had collected a lot of information from various regions through her long mercenary activities.
So, it was worth considering expanding my activities through her.
An Yeong-ho. That guy will be the one to expand my stage.
Kang-hoo was particrly interested in his connection with An Yeong-ho.
Their rtionship was unteral.
After all, An Yeong-ho owed his life to him, right?
Moreover, since he was too good to the point of being naive, there was a high chance hed be a generous tree.
He also harbored deep hostility towards the Jeonghwa Guild, so their perspectives aligned.
And Jung Yuri.
An unexpected connection, but one he was most looking forward to.
She harbored even greater resentment towards the Jeonghwa Guild, especially towards Chae Gwanhyeong, than An Yeong-ho.
At the same time, she was someone who showed a lot of goodwill and interest in Kang-hoo.
There was a lot of potential for them to work well together.
Just then,
Kang-hoo slowly turned his head toward the approach of someone.
He had deliberately walked to a secluded ce for a walk, but someone was approaching.
In an unfamiliar ce, he wouldnt normally expect to see a familiar face. So, he wasnt particrly interested in who it might be.
But when he saw the face, he recognized the person.
The Silent Judge, Jeon Se-hyeok.
He recognized him immediately, although they had never met in reality because he was a character extensively sculpted in the original work.
A scar ran from the end of the right corner of his mouth to below the eye.
And a special demon mask made to cover from the nose to the chin.
He looked exactly like Jeon Se-hyeok as described in the original work.
Of course, he wasnt wearing the mask now and had it hanging at his waist. He seemed not to feel the need to hide his scar.
Having created his character with illustrations, the image I had in mind matched his actual appearance.
Although it was his first time seeing him, it felt as if it wasnt.
His level was currently between 350 and 400, so he was definitely not an easy opponent.
Moreover, he ranked among the top 3 bounty hunters on Eclipses most-wanted list.
His nickname, the Silent Judge, was no coincidence.
He targeted only criminal organizations like Eclipse and judged their hunters by bringing them to their death.
Soon, Jeon Se-hyeok and Kang-hoo were within close distance.
Seeing Kang-hoos face, Jeon Se-hyeok said somethingpletely unexpected.
You are Shin Kang-hoo, arent you?
Chapter 59: Magnetite Mining (1)
Chapter 59: Maite Mining (1)
Kang-hoo nodded.
Seeing the recognition on his face, he saw no reason to deny it when Jeon Se-hyeok asked with such certainty.
It wasnt strange that Jeon Se-hyeok knew about him.
He harbored a deep grudge against Eclipse and had special means of obtaining internal information.
Perhaps this involved an internal traitor or hacking into the informationwork.
This also indicated that he could ess Kang-hoos database from within Cheongmyeong Detention Center.
Furthermore, it implied that he was aware of the recent death of Cha So-hee at Kang-hoos hands.
Jeon Se-hyeoks life wont be long either.
Aware of his fate, Kang-hoo sensed a dark shadow looming over Jeon Se-hyeoks back.
Even though he had made a name for himself by killing many criminals, he would ultimately die at the hands of Kang Dong-hyun.
His error was challenging Kang Dong-hyun too soon.
Kang Dong-hyun was no easy foe.
To prevent his death, Kang-hoo would need to stop the impending fight with Kang Dong-hyun, but
Kang-hoo was skeptical about intervening to such an extent, unlike actively preventing a death ending like Lee Hyun-seok had done.
I remembered your face because it was quite memorable. Its interesting how fate has brought us together.
Jeon Se-hyeok, smiling genuinely, seemed quite amiable.
That made sense.
He despised Eclipse, and Kang-hoo had be an enemy to Eclipse by dealing with Cha So-hee.
They seemed to share an understanding, as both were inevitably targeted by Eclipse.
Whats your name?
I asked, feigning ignorance.
Exining how I knew him would have been moreplicated than simply acting unaware.
Im Jeon Se-hyeok.
Oh, the Silent Judge.
Thats what they call me, but I never asked to be called that. Haha.
Jeon Se-hyeok pulled something white from his pocket.
Expecting him to light a cigarette, I was surprised when he took out a candy stick instead.
Seeing him, usually drenched in blood, eating candy was somewhat disconcerting.
Are you heading in this direction because youre going to an open dungeon? The Lateus Dungeon?
Thats right.
Im also on my way there. How about we go together? I was feeling a bit lonely.
Sure, I dont mind.
An unexpectedpanion had emerged.
Both Kang-hoo and he appeared to be traveling alone.
He might have been going there for a request or perhaps to mine Zayoseok.
It was hard to guess the purpose of someone visiting arge open dungeon due to its diverse nature.
For the first five minutes, we walked in silence.
Feeling ufortable with the ongoing silence, Jeon Se-hyeok was the first to speak.
I never imagined Cha So-hee would die. She was someone I missed twice.
I was just lucky.
Capturing luck is also a skill.
You seem to know quite a lot about Eclipses internal information. Thats supposed to be confidential.
Kang-hoo narrowed his eyes.
The death of Cha So-hee was a mishap that Kang Dong-hyun himself had quickly resolved to the extent that it could be ssified as top secret.
Jeon Se-hyeok knew these details precisely, implying he had deep connections to information sources rted to Kang Dong-hyun or his affiliates.
Moreover, he even knows my face, doesnt he? This means he could also ess internal information.
A group of criminals without a single traitor would be too much like fiction, wouldnt it?
Jeon Se-hyeokughed.
Although he looked at least ten years older than Kang-hoo, he spoke with utmost respect. It seemed basic courtesy was ingrained in him.
I was quite surprised.
I want tomend your heroic act of eliminating Cha So-hee. You caught the most troublesome hound.
Theyll just raise new hounds anyway. They already have several active ones.
Since Cha So-hee used to handle the dirty work, Kang Dong-hyun must be quite upset about her loss.
Is that confirmed information?
The fact that they havent made Cha So-hees death public already confirms it.
Jeon Se-hyeoks recognition, who was nearing level 400, set his heart aflutter.
Yet, it also made him reassess Jeon Se-hyeoks worth.
He understood there was no need for deliberate protection or excessive involvement.
Jeon Se-hyeok could be a strategic asset against Eclipse, just as the Warlord Group The Abyss was against the Jeonghwa Guild.
If Jeon Se-hyeok, the Silent Judge, stood against Eclipse, they would hold each other in check.
I cant prevent him from shing with Kang Dong-hyun. Better to forge connections then.
His thoughts took a new direction.
Now connected with Jeon Se-hyeok, he nned to deepen their association.
Avoiding rash confrontations with Kang Dong-hyun could alter his destiny.
Jeon Se-hyeok went on.
If things continue this way, Eclipse will only grow more toxic domestically. Theyre vermin.
I concur.
Not one of them deserves mercy. If youre tied to Eclipse, you ought to live in fear of bing a headless spirit.
Jeon Se-hyeoks clenched teeth betrayed his simmering rage, a profound hatred etched in his gaze and demeanor.
Kang-hoo inquired.
Why are you heading to the Lateus Dungeon?
Just for a warm-up. I figured Id stretch out a bit before going after those Eclipse thugs again.
He was on the hunt.
The Lateus Dungeon catered to both level 50 and level 350 adventurers.
Monsters of varying levels and types were scattered throughout, allowing for selective hunting.
That does sound enjoyable.
The allure of an open-type dungeon. It might be crowded at the entrance, want me to clear a path?
No, thats alright. I prefer not to depend on others unless its necessary.
Following Jeon Se-hyeoks offer, Kang-hoo gazed at the entrance of the Lateus Dungeon, nowing into view.
As anticipated, bands of hunter mercenaries were congesting the entrance.
Although an open-type dungeon should be essible to everyone, suchmon sense did not apply here.
The logic of power easily overturned any sense of order and rationality.
Then lets go in first.
As you wish.
Jeon Se-hyeok took the lead.
As he approached the dungeon, the mercenaries parted like the Red Sea at Mosessmand.
Oh! Did our big brother arrive? Please go in. Youve had it tough!
Not taking an entrance fee?
Haha! How could we charge our big brother? Please, go right ahead!
Bending at a 90-degree angle, they treated him like a true powerhouse.
Watching the scene unfold, Kang-hoo burst into hollowughter, drawing hostile stares from a few sharp-eared mercenaries.
Meanwhile, Jeon Se-hyeok entered the dungeon. Kang-hoo also approached the entrance as if it were natural.
The reaction he received was starkly different.
Here, this is the dungeon of the bosses. Scum like you should eat at the free soup kitchen in front of the dungeon.
How about this?
Kang-hoo showed a bundle of 50,000-won bills he had prepared in advance.
Two hundred notes tightly bound with a rubber band. It was ten million won.
A significant amount, but the mercenary who had provocatively addressed Kang-hoo only frowned more deeply.
Who are you calling a beggar?
Arent you one?
Get lost. If youre not acknowledged like brother Se-hyeok, this dungeon isnt for just anyone.
Then try to stop me.
Kang-hoo immediately targeted the mercenary and initiatedteral movement.
Huh?
As Kang-hoo vanished in an instant, the mercenaries were taken aback.
However, a few with sharp senses assumed Kang-hoo had sessfully gone into stealth and aimed right at the entrance.
Even if he wasnt visible.
If they poured attacks in that direction, stealth wouldnt help him avoid them. It was a kind of blind fire.
But Kang-hoo, having anticipated even such primal responses,id down a Thunderstorm Array just before entering stealth.
Koo-woong-woong!
Aaah!
Argh! Scatter! Get away from the entrance!
A sudden storm of electric currents spread in all directions, throwing the mercenaries into chaos.
Damn it, that was close.
Shouldve taken an entrance fee, huh?
Who is that guy?
Mercenaries briefly caught in the range of the Thunderstorm Array cursed as they inspected their tattered clothes.
It was fortunate they moved quickly; otherwise, they would have been shredded.
Inside the Lateus Dungeon.
Its known for being tricky to get into, but you entered quite easily.
Peeking out from the entrance, Jeon Se-hyeok gave Kang-hoo a thumbs-up, impressed by his seamlessteral move and subsequent stealth, followed by the Thunderstorm Array.
His foundation is definitely that of an assassin, but his skillposition is quite unique.
The Thunderstorm Array seems to serve as an offensive skill against others but as a buff for himself.
Its rare for assassins, typically specialized in single strikes, focused attacks, and stealth, to possess such area-of-effect skills.
Such skills are almost non-existent in an assassins skill book, making the source of the Thunderstorm Array quite intriguing.
I tried to pay the entrance fee, but they refused, so I just entered.
Considering how Cha So-hee died, your skillbination was impressively clean.
Thank you for thepliment.
If its okay with you, how about we meet outside after exploring this dungeon? What do you say?
From their first meeting, Jeon Se-hyeok was quite proactive towards Kang-hoo, always the first to extend his hand.
He seemed to feel a lot of solidarity, knowing Kang-hoo had killed Cha So-hee.
Or maybe he already felt like they were on the same side, sharing amon enemy.
I wont refuse.
In 12 hours then. How about that?
Sounds good.
Then, exactly after 12 hours.
As the conversation ended, both Kang-hoo and Jeon Se-hyeok checked their watches.
Twelve hours would give them enough time to take care of the necessary tasks inside.
After parting ways with Jeon Se-hyeok, Kang-hoo headed straight for the maite mining area in the Lateus Dungeon.
This was his primary reason foring here, and the task he had been assigned. Visiting the Imbnce Points came secondary.
He first made for the well-known spots.
The closest maite mine to the entrance was within easy reach.
Of course, he did not expect the task to be easy. It was likely that forces were already upying it.
Then
Bang! Bang!
Magic bullets?
The sound of gunshots, a rarity and difficult to wield, reverberated through the air.
It appeared that a marksman skilled in using magic bullets was in the vicinity.
Chapter 60: Magnetite Mining (2)
Chapter 60: Maite Mining (2)
Turning toward the source of the sound, Kang-hoo saw a hunter perched on a difficult-to-reach five-story structure.
The building appeared unfinished, with the hunter barely protruding the barrel of a gun from the railing, aiming at the opposite side.
Given that the dungeons theme was abandoned mining city, deserted buildings were not unusual.
Hey! Dont freeze up, keep mining!
Stop just running your mouth and try climbing up yourself! See if you can mine with her sniping right there!
Damn it! Ill go, Ill go
Bang!
!
A hunter climbing a spiral path up a small hill screamed as a bullet met its mark.
The magic bullet, which pierced right through his temple, sent him directly to the afterlife.
Despite the distance, the uracy of the sniping was astonishingly precise.
[Precision Aim]
Kang-hoo activated the Precision Aim skill to magnify the image of the hunter sniping from the opposite side.
His view enhanced, he saw a woman in the crosshairs.
In his expanded vision, the woman had already turned her barrel toward him and was about to pull the trigger.
?
[Swift Evasion]
Kang-hoo immediately activated a skill.
Simultaneously, she fired three shots where Kang-hoo had been.
Her aim was not at Kang-hoos previous location.
She shot about 5 meters ahead.
All three shots hit the same spot.
Warning shots.
The message was clear.
Surprised by Kang-hoos instinctive evasion, the corners of her mouth twitched slightly.
She had aimed near Kang-hoos feet to intimidate him, but he had evaded swiftly.
She wore special goggles over her eyes, glowing red, undoubtedly an item of some significance.
Hmm.
Seizing the opportunity, Kang-hoo targeted a nearby rock and executed ateral movement to conceal himself.
Approaching the hill that was in in sight would have put him directly in line with her relentless sniping.
It seemed she was engaged in a skirmish with the hunters who had secured the hill, resulting in a stalemate.
The hunters hesitated to approach her, fearing a bullet would find its way to their heads.
She had taken her position as well but seemed unable to determine the right moment to flee.
They were engaged in a cat-and-mouse game.
In such situations, stalemates couldst quite a while.
Breaking the bnce usually requires reinforcements to arrive.
He moved towards her.
Although she was busy searching for Kang-hoo, who had disappeared from her sight, she couldnt pinpoint his location.
[Shadowless]
He used the Shadowless skill to virtually erase his presence.
Her n to track Kang-hoo using all her senses had been thwarted at that point.
Meanwhile,
Kang-hoo had quietly entered the building, swiftly reaching the fifth-floor railing where she was positioned.
Standing beside her, who was absorbed in scanning the surroundings, he spoke in a low voice.
What do you need?
Ah!
Startled, she turned to the sudden voice of Kang-hoo, who had just vanished but was now right beside her on the building.
Had Kang-hoo harbored the slightest intent to kill her, she would have been dead already.
Im curious whether youre after maite or just looking to fight those guys.
Who are you?
Me? Im here to mine maite.
Kang-hoo gestured towards the hill.
If maite could be mined here, there would be no need to venture deep into the Lateus Dungeon.
There would also be other hunters who had already imed spots there.
If the struggle was inevitable, she preferred to be here where backup was avable.
She responded.
I need maite.
Good. Then our objectives are the same. How much do you need?
500 grams.
Thats a reasonable request. What if I mine your share of maite and we work together?
Wouldnt that take a long time?
Thats my concern. Just let me know if you can contribute your strength. Dont worry about the rest.
Kang-hoo chuckled.
Mining maite required a substantial amount of mana.
It had been the same when he mined mana stones in the Cheongmyeong Detention Center.
Kang-hoo was often taken to the mines because he used mana highly efficiently.
Of course, they were unaware of his innate hypersensitivity to mana, which facilitated his mana supply.
For Kang-hoo, using mana was not an issue, so reaching the top of the hill was his sole objective.
I can do it.
Then, lets form a temporary team. Deal?
Deal.
They struck a strategic coboration.
She inquired.
Whats your name? Im Ban Se-yeong, twenty-four years old.
Jeong Sun-kyu. Twenty-nine.
Kang-hoo nonchntly provided a false name. Ban Se-yeong probably did the same; her name was likely fictitious too.
Then Ill call you Sun-kyu oppa.
You probably wont need to call me. Just spot the route for me. Focus on direct shooting, not covering.
Understood.
Whoosh!
As Kang-hoo vanished from view, Ban Se-yeong extended her senses once more.
Yet she still couldnt discern Kang-hoos location or movements.
It wasnt mere stealth; it seemed as though he had employed a skill to obliterate his presence.
The world is immense, and encountering a skilled hunter is no small matter, but stumbling upon an assassin of this caliber was extraordinary.
Unbeknownst to her, she hadunched three magic bullets as a warning, right in front of his feet.
If Kang-hoo had been hostile, she considered with a sinking heart, she would have been doomed.
Shortly thereafter.
What the hell is this guy?
Who are you?
As Kang-hoo emerged in front of the hill, the hunters were taken aback and adopted a defensive posture.
At least ten were visible.
None disyed constetion information.
Their levels were likely around 100.
Ban Se-yeongs constetion information, which he had glimpsed earlier, revealed a total of three.
By a rough estimate, Ban Se-yeongs level would exceed 200.
The fact that she hadnt overpowered these lower-level hunters suggested a significant vulnerability.
The biggest dilemma of every gunner is that they cant handle closebat. If you only focus on one thing, youll fail.
For high firepower, a gunner inherently has to carry a longer gun.
She held a rather long one. It became poison for any hunter who tried to get close.
Kang-hoo, his sword held in a reverse grip, raised both arms and spoke as politely as possible.
Guys, I just want to dig up two pieces of Maite and then Ill leave. Can I just rest somewhere for a moment?
What are you talking about, you idiot?
Do we, Kalbaram, look like fools to you, you newbie?
Ah, so your group is called Kalbaram. Nice name. Makes me want to send you to hell.
Where do you get off making jokes like that?
The Kalbaram group growled in response.
Amidst this, Ban Se-yeongs sniping seemed to worry them, as they busily chattered behind their iron barriers.
Useless fools.
It was disappointing that none of the hunters contracted with constetions, but it was time to stay focused on the goal.
Kang-hoo was more worried about the traps around the rocky mountain than the hunters guarding it.
If a skilled technician had set up the traps, approaching even after clearing out the hunters might be difficult.
Its a good thing that shes already annoying me. Hey, lets take care of this guy first!
The leader gave themand.
It was a strategic decision, thinking that Ban Se-yeong wouldnt be able to provide cover fire easily if they were mixed up in a melee.
Surely it was a very logical and right decision from the leaders perspective. The n looked good.
The only problem, however, was that their opponent, Kang-hoo, preferred ultra-closebat.
I wee it.
Kang-hoo greeted the breakdown of negotiations with a happy expression.
As soon as the battle began.
Hmm
Ban Se-yeong, her index finger on the trigger, straightened it and peeked out.
She realized there was no need for her toy down cover fire to make way.
Though Kang-hoo was encircled by ten members of the Kalbaram group, he was not at a disadvantage.
In fact, his stance was stable.
He wounded those who came at him first and only targeted parts essential forbat with precision.
Indeed, it was a mockery.
To such a degree that Kang-hoo didnt let the Kalbaram groupnd a single effective blow.
The gang members scattered across the rocky mountain were quite agile.
Their rapid movements meant that there were few casualties despite Ban Se-yeongs prolonged sniping.
Hence, Kang-hoo had anticipated he might face some difficulty.
But that concern was unnecessary.
Every time Kang-hoo blinked, his position changed so dramatically.
So much that it was the perfect time to confidently use the phrase, Now you see him, now you dont.
Especially when he employed illusion and Shadow Step simultaneously, even Ban Se-yeong couldnt help but shout in astonishment.
Determining which silhouette was the real Kang-hoo was impossible.
She felt a chill once more.
Was this not the same person she had marked as an enemy and at whom she had fired a warning shot?
To have survived that encounter, she felt as though she had been aided by the heavens.
Aaaack! Ahhh!
My leg! My leg
All members of the Kalbaram group caught up with Kang-hoo at the entrance of the rocky mountain screamed in agony.
Not one remained unscathed.
A battlefield that had been effectively swept clean.
A wless victory with no opportunity to even fire a single additional shot.
At that instant.
Thump!
Kang-hoo flicked his finger, delivering the coup de grce.
Blood Flower.
The members of the Kalbaram group were perfectly positioned within the st radius.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Insane.
Ban Se-yeong witnessed it clearly.
The blood blossoms that burst forth in midair from the wounded bodies of the Kalbaram group were a gruesome sight.
Blood Flower was the most savage and yet the most magnificent spectacle among all the skills she had witnessed.
Of course, for its victims, it was a fast track to hell.
What kind of hunter is he?
Ban Se-yeong reassessed Kang-hoo.
The situation had already been resolved, and her curiosity about him piqued.
She considered herself well-informed about hunters, yet she knew nothing of Kang-hoo.
From his wless stealth to stylish skills like Blood Flower, he was an assassin.
An assassin with such versatile abilities should have been renowned.
Jung Sun-kyus name and face were too unfamiliar to her.
Yet, for someone newly emerged, the depth and refinement of his skills seemed too advanced.
He was a manufactured skilled person, not a lucky one who had merely stumbled upon his abilities.
Perhaps that was why.
Gulp.
She found herself swallowing dryly as she observed him.
Chapter 61: Imbalance Point (1)
Chapter 61: Imbnce Point (1)
The task of mining enough Latheus Maite waspleted with ease once the group at the entrance had been dealt with.
Kang-hoo had worried about the intricately set traps designed to deter intruders.
But it turned out he had overestimated them.
The traps that were clearly visible were almostughably easy to avoid.
Of course, they seemed easy to Kang-hoo, but for another hunter, it might have been a different story.
Things went smoothly.
Nevertheless, some of the group had witnessed the battle and had headed back toward the entrance, a situation Kang-hoo noted.
Even if there were no issues here, there might be some when trying to leave the dungeon.
In an open-type dungeon, unlike a closed-type where the exit opens afterpletion, the entrance and exit are the same.
Lets think about that when the timees.
Kang-hoo put his worries aside.
There was no use in thinking about what might be at the entrance or how things could go wrong.
That would be dealt with when leaving, after checking and assessing the situation. Escape strategies could be formed then.
Kang-hoo called Ban Se-yeong over and shared the Maite with her.
He gave her the promised amount and took a little more than he had beenmissioned for himself.
The battle at the entrance had been surprisingly easy, but Kang-hoo wasnt heartless.
Even her mere presence likely deterred or inhibited some hunters from engaging in activebat.
Upon receiving the Maite from Kang-hoo, Ban Se-yeong bowed in gratitude.
Thanks. I thought things were going to get tough.
Well, I also got to mine Maite without going far, so its a win-win.
Seon-kyu oppa.
Yeah?
Which organization are you with? You seem like youd belong to a famous guild, right?
Hunters often ask about affiliations first if they think someone has skills.
Its a sort of prejudice, thinking that such a skilled hunter wouldnt go unnoticed by the world.
Of course, there are skilled individuals who choose to work as mercenaries.
Ban Se-yeong, standing right in front of Kang-hoo, was one such case.
Despite her skills, which Kang-hoo recognized, she chose not to join a guild due to her fatal weakness.
Yet, to Kang-hoo, she seemed like a perfectly optimized support gunner.
Her uracy with magical bullets was particrly impressive.
Unlike regr guns, firing a magic bullet involved ounting for mana flow, output, and air resistance.
Factors such as the targets toughness and anti-magic resistance also had to be considered,plicating the task ofnding a hit.
It was no surprise that gunners were highly valued in their profession.
At the same time, they were often viewed as inefficient. But she was an exception.
No affiliation.
Really? With your skills, and youre still unaffiliated?
Its my choice.
That doesnt make sense. In the fight earlier, you utilized a variety of skills in quick session. How?
Ban Se-yeong had assumed Kang-hoo was a hunter backed by substantial guild support.
She believed he must have had regr ess to skill books, given the variety of his attacks.
But upon learning he was unattached, she narrowed her eyes, suspecting that something was amiss.
She considered the possibility that Kang-hoo was lying.
Yet, what reason would he have to lie about his affiliation?
Looks like were done here. Would it be okay to get your number?
Kang-hoo, who didnt usually ask for numbers, made an exception this time.
His request wasnt out of courtesy, but from the thought that her joining as support would greatly enhance team efficiency.
Id be happy to! But, do I really match up with oppa?
Kang-hoos presence had already left Ban Se-yeong feeling quite intimidated.
If she had seen his level information, she might have wished to hide in a mouse hole.
In her mind, Kang-hoo was portrayed as a hunter of level 250 or possibly even higher.
Whether we match or not, well have to meet again and find out.
True.
With that, Ban Se-yeong quickly jotted down her number in response to Kang-hoos candid request.
She quite liked Kang-hoos stylerestrained yetmunicative.
Lets meet again.
Kang-hoo took her number and immediately left the scene.
There was no reason to stay at this now-deserted mining spot.
Now it was time to seek out the Imbnce Point.
The moment to benefit from the errors created by space-time and dimensions hade.
Meanwhile, at the same time.
Jang Si-hwan was continuously reviewing data about the mysterious figure who had taken Gong Tae-sus left arm.
He was spending more time on this than usual, to the point where Chae Gwanhyeong jokingly teased him for his interest.
It was abination of instinct and intuition.
Jang Si-hwan had always trusted his thoughts and feelings when it came to expanding his circle of useful colleagues and subordinates.
He felt that if there was even a hint of a connection, that person could be a significant ally.
Chae Gwanhyeong and the executives of the Jeonghwa Guild were prime examples of such connections.
The CCTV footage from the scene of Gong Tae-sus ambush was inconclusive.
Therefore, Jang Si-hwan secured all avable footage from buses, street cameras, and even rooftop cameras in the vicinity on that day.
After an initial filtering by his information team, they eliminated obvious civilians and hunters of the magic and healing types.
The categorization was easy, discernible by weapons and attire.
Furthermore, hunters affiliated with any guilds were excluded, as it was unlikely that they would target Gong Tae-sus arm unless they were insane.
This way, Jang Si-hwan waspiling a list of potential mercenary suspects.
The hunter who cut off Gong Tae-sus arm was undoubtedly a mercenary.
But then.
Huh?
A face, not widely known but familiar to Jang Si-hwan, appeared on the screen.
The face was familiar, but the memory was not immediate. Why was that?
He redirected his thoughts to the past.
Ah, the observation deck?
Then it came back to him.
The hunter had sat beside him at the observation deck.
The hunter whose expression remained unchanged even after seeing him.
His first impression stood out from other hunters, and that hunters face was now captured on video.
Heh he moved alone. Armed with a dagger? And he even chose the rooftop over a convenient bus?
Jang Si-hwans lips curled up in amusement.
It was Kang-hoo, caught on a CCTV that had inadvertently turned due to a loose joint.
With the high resolution, Kang-hoos brief appearance on the screen allowed for easy recognition of his face.
Of course, hunters with strong jumping abilities often hopped between buildings, either in pursuit or flight.
However, doing so for fun was umon, and there was another suspicious point.
At that time, Gong Tae-su was traveling on a bus on the road.
Meaning, the route Kang-hoo took in the video closely mirrored the buss.
Hey, this is getting interesting.
The thought that the man who had severed Gong Tae-sus left arm might be this very person sparked Jang Si-hwans curiosity.
The man from the observation deck, who had intrigued him from their first meeting, was now increasingly likely to be the hunter targeting Gong Tae-su.
Meanwhile.
The dungeons are vast, and there are many crazies.
Kang-hoo had just dispatched two hunters who had been tailing him, attempting a surprise attack. He was now examining the list of constetions they had acquired.
[Great Dictator]
[Solo y grants an additional 10% experience. Health recovery speed is doubled.]
[Desert Fox]
[In desert terrain dungeons, grants an additional 25% experience. Health recovery speed is doubled.]
Initially, Kang-hoo had assumed the two hunters were a couple or twins because their constetions were so alike.
Regardless.
The Great Dictator constetion synergized well with Kang-hoo, who almost always yed solo.
And the Desert Fox was an efficient constetion for those who frequented desert-type dungeons.
It was pathetic how these two, despite possessing such constetions, had died in a cowardly ambush.
Even gave me items before dying; they were like trees generously giving fruit.
Kang-hoo collected items worth 1 billion Won from the two hunters.
Since they were mana-rted items, they were useless to him, so he nned to sell them to Lee Ye-rinter.
After the briefmotion.
Kang-hoo, back on his original path, quickly located his destination, recalling the content of the story.
The Imbnce Point was hidden in a ce one could never find without a clear memory of the original story.
There it is.
It became visible.
A scene that couldnt be seen without close observation became identifiable to one who knew where the errory.
Among the dense forest trees swaying in the wind, there was one whose branches moved in the opposite direction.
Being a product of the system and data, the dungeon had this kind of error in its creation.
Among hundreds of trees, only this one branch defied the natural course.
A hidden space to activate the Imbnce Pointy behind that tree.
Since the space was transparent, one would never guess the existence of the Imbnce Point without prior knowledge.
Its like spiritual medicine in martial arts novels or mandragora in fantasy novels. Exclusive to the protagonist.
Imbnce Points carried such significance, serving as a turning point to aid the protagonists rapid growth.
In the original story, Jang Si-hwan regrly enjoyed the benefits of every Imbnce Point.
But that was no longer the case.
Approaching the spot, Kang-hoo extended his hand into the air, slowly releasing mana.
He was also ready to consume Srkium if the strain became too much.
He could tolerate a moderate headache, but if the pressure intensified beyond that, he nned to consume it.
Wooong. Wooong. Wooong.
The once-transparent space began to ovey with an opaque sky-blue as Kang-hoo infused mana into it.
For a brief moment, the Imbnce Point devoured a whopping 100 mana.
Fortunately, Kang-hoo had an almost infinite supply of mana; otherwise, the attempt would have ended there.
How much time had passed?
The energy in the space, now a vivid sky blue, began to swirl around Kang-hoo.
Shaaaaa!
It was quickly absorbed into Kang-hoos body as if drawn by a ma, happening in an instant.
And then,
[Level Up!]
[Shin Kang-hoo Lv. 55]
[Level Up!]
[Shin Kang-hoo Lv. 56]
[Level Up!]
[Shin Kang-hoo Lv. 57]
The level information in the status window updated continuously, rapidly climbing in numbers.
It marked the beginning of an experience point bonanza!
Chapter 62: Imbalance Point (2)
Chapter 62: Imbnce Point (2)
The experience buff must have been more effective than I thought.
Kang-hoo was surprised to see his level had jumped by dozens of stages.
His current level was 85.
Initially, he had expected to reach between 70 and 75, but he gained more experience than he had anticipated.
Of course, the increase was partly due to his lower level, but it was a remarkable growth spurt.
The once distant level 100 now seemed within easy reach.
[The Strategist of the Wastnd senses something special in your knowledge of this unique growth route.]
[The Apostle of Justice says this method of growth, though unconventional, is very gratifying.]
The constetions observing his growth expressed their interest. It must have been fascinating to them, knowing a different way to grow.
[There must be a reason you know this. Quite interesting.]
The Dimension Plunderer also chimed in.
Kang-hoo possessed knowledge that could never be known through ordinary means.
She had felt something special about Kang-hoo from the moment they first made a contract.
She had thought there was an unexinable secret to his birth.
Though she was keenly observant, she had not detected Kang-hoos possession.
I have a few more ces to visit.
There were four more Imbnce Points in his memory.
He vaguely knew the locations of two, while he only knew of the existence of the other two.
Thetter were just concepts in his mind, remnants of his subconscious.
The two known points were located on Jeju Ind and in Japan, respectively.
He nned to deal with the one in Japan when he went to meet An Yeong-ho.
Feels solid.
Kang-hoo invested all the bonus points he gained from the explosive leveling up into his health.
Clicking to raise his stats dozens of times in a row had its own kind of thrill.
Phew.
Feeling as if his soul had left his body, drained of mana, Kang-hoo casually sat down on a rock.
There was nothing around him.
It was a ce lush only with forests, devoid of monsters or resources worthy of mining.
Even as he extended his vision, he saw no other hunters. The silence was eerie.
I should head to Daejeon Station at least once. Having heard about it from Benny, I cant just ignore Hades.
He pondered his next move.
Knowing about the Limitless Mana Dungeon, he felt hesitant to simply pass by Club Hades.
Although exiting the dungeon was more worrisome than entering, the risk appeared worthwhile.
I think a visit to Master K would be beneficial as well.
He remembered someone he had contemted visiting on several asions.
Master K.
The sole hunter in Korea knowledgeable in cultivating Srkium and who had conducted extensive research on it.
An elderly man with white hair, exuding the aura of a schrperhaps even a sage.
A learned man, yet unaffiliated with any faction.
In the original story, there were mere hints of him being behind some significant power, but the details were vague.
Kang-hoo had apelling reason to meet Master K.
It was due to his congenital mana hypersensitivity.
He spected whether Master K, with his studies on Srkium, might have a solution for mana hypersensitivity.
Genuine Srkium was rare, and the standard Srkium failed topletely alleviate the pain.
He needed asting solution, and Master K could potentially offer a lead.
Could I truly cure this condition that has nearly be an identity for Shin Kang-hoo? The original narrative even imed that without it, he wouldnt be himself.
Kang-hoo chuckled as he remembered the original tale.
Readers also linked Shin Kang-hoo with a pallidplexion, enduring battles with difficulty.
The innate mana hypersensitivity, almost a trademark, cast doubt on the ease of finding a remedy.
Nheless, he had to try.
Deciding it was impossible without attempting was tantamount to conceding defeat.
Not trying guaranteed a zero percent chance of sess.
By making an attempt, the probabilities could shift in unexpected ways.
Now I need to start worrying about getting out.
His mission in the Latheus Dungeon wasplete.
Thanks to Ban Se-yeong, he had sessfully mined the maite and reaped the benefits from the Imbnce Point.
The remaining issue was how to evade the Gale Wind gang, likely stationed at the entrance.
Well, Ill have to outmaneuver them.
His conclusion was always simple.
If blocked, break through; if hindered, remove the obstacle. If they try to kill, kill them first.
On the way back,
Kang-hoo unexpectedly found traces of a mid-boss on a route he hadnt anticipated.
At first nce, it looked like a regr path, but a unique footprint caught his eye.
Dere was here.
Without seeing the owner of the footprint, Kang-hoo instantly knew the name.
Dere.
A humanoid assassin-type monster with a special skill called Artistry of the Veil.
Its a boss skill.
When the Artistry of the Veil is deployed, any form of stealth detection bes impossible within it.
Its level is always considered higher than any stealth detection ability, making it undetectable.
Even absolute stealth detection abilities are ignored and remain undetected.
Dere doesnt appear in a specific dungeon but is scattered randomly, making encounters unlucky for hunters.
Its because facing such a difficult opponent at a low probability brings no benefits.
However, for Kang-hoo, Dere could be a target for skill plundering, making it a stroke of luck.
Of course, this luck turns into a boon only if he kills Dere. Otherwise, its a poison.
Cant resist this one.
He was determined to capture Dere.
It wouldnt be easy, though.
However, the Dere in the Latheus Dungeon seemed careless, leaving footprints.
A shrewd and smart creature wouldnt have traversed terrain that left footprints.
Swiftly,
Usingteral movement and entering stealth mode, Kang-hoo began to stealthily follow the footprints.
Casting Mu-yeong to conceal his presence was merely a precaution.
The sound of footsteps began, pursuing an unseen adversary.
Two hours had passed.
Atop a hill near the entrance to the Latheus Dungeon, a man and a woman engaged in conversation.
They were Han Seung-hyeok and Ban Se-yeong.
These were connections Kang-hoo had previously established, and they were also cousins.
Afterpleting their tasks, they convened at a designated meeting ce.
Se-yeong, thats enough. If you ever need help, just look for me. Dont face things by yourself.
Oppa, if I constantly rely on help, I wont improve. I refuse to remain a mediocre hunter.
Arent you already mediocre?
Hey, oppa! Thats precisely why Im trying to surpass my current limitations!
Hahaha. However, as Ive mentioned before, it would be beneficial to learn to wield a secondary weapon.
Ive been giving it some thought.
If youd had even a rudimentary skill with a secondary weapon, you might not have needed assistance in the situation you described.
I feel as though Ive encountered a truly skilled hunter after so long. Jung Sun-kyu
Jung Sun-kyu, you say.
Han Seung-hyeok chuckled.
After piecing together Ban Se-yeongs ount and the location where she encountered Kang-hoo, he deduced the entire scenario.
The individual Ban Se-yeong had met was Kang-hoo; Jung Sun-kyu must have been one of his pseudonyms.
With ess to Eclipses confidential information, Han Seung-hyeok was aware of Kang-hoos actual identity.
He chose not to reveal Kang-hoos real name to Ban Se-yeong; there were valid reasons for the use of a pseudonym.
Did you encounter him as well, oppa?
Yes, I ran into him en route here.
Though they knew him by different monikers, they were referring to the same person.
Han Seung-hyeok nodded affirmatively, reflecting on the impressive feats Kang-hoo had demonstrated.
The high regard in which Ban Se-yeong held Kang-hoo was not mere ttery; it was a statement of fact.
Shin Kang-hoo.
For the first time in a long while, Han Seung-hyeok found himself genuinely intrigued by another hunter.
Thats why he had suggested they meet again after finishing their tasks in the dungeon.
Just then,
Kill him! Its that guy!
The one who killed ourrades!
Crush him!
The hunters guarding the dungeon entrance began to move en masse.
They were the Gale Wind gang.
More than just a gang, they were a sizable organization based in the Latheus Dungeon.
Ah? Isnt that Sun-kyu oppa?
Looks like weve got a show.
They both recognized Kang-hoo simultaneously.
And they were pleased about it.
With at least twenty Gale Wind gang members in sight and Kang-hoo alone, the odds were numerically against him.
In such a battle, the hunter under siege must create more variables and demonstrate a wide array of techniques.
It might be difficult for Kang-hoo, but from an observers standpoint, it was quite the spectacle.
Lets get this straight. Yourrades started the trouble, not me.
Fuck off and die!
Kang-hoos attempt at a calm discussion was in vain as the Gale Wind gang, weapons at the ready, charged at him.
Kang-hoos reaction was swift and decisive, as if he had known that talking would be futile.
Han Seung-hyeok watched intently.
It seemed Kang-hoo could deploy a different skill in the blink of an eye, and he didnt want to miss it.
What?
Suddenly, one of the hunters charging at Kang-hoo veered off in a different direction.
Theres a mental disruption skill.
Han Seung-hyeok understood immediately.
The hunter had his sense of direction scrambled by Kang-hoos shallow chaos skill.
He might not have known the skills name, but recognizing its effect wasnt difficult for Han Seung-hyeok.
An assassin with a mental disruption skill?
Dont try to judge Jung Sun-kyu by his ss. See him for who he is.
True to his words, Han Seung-hyeok refrained from pigeonholing Kang-hoo into any job ss.
Considering him versatile seemed most fitting, so he was unfazed by any skill Kang-hoo employed.
Then.
Haah!
The confused hunter suddenly leapt towards hisrade.
His earnest posture and tensed weapon indicated it was not a mistake but a firm conviction.
Its a hallucination.
It was a symptom of hallucination.
The affected hunter probably saw his target as Kang-hoo, not hisrade, hence the confident leap.
And eventually
Pfwah!
Argh! This, this guy
Friendly fire urred.
The situation turned chaotic right from the start of the fight.
What, whats this
Does he have a hallucination skill?
Uncertainty began to spread among the overwhelmingly numerous members of the Gale Wind gang.
Despite their clear numerical advantage, something seemed to go wrong.
Kang-hoos too-calm expression even evoked a sense of extreme dissonance.
Chapter 63: Kimcheon Liberation Zone (1)
Chapter 63: Kimcheon Liberation Zone (1)
[War God of the Mace]
[No matter which debuff skill you are exposed to, your toughness stat always remains above 100.]
[Mad Mathematician]
[For skills influenced by probability, it calctes and disys the exact odds.]
[Supremacy of the Strong]
[You be incapable of feeling sadness. However, you can activate it if necessary.]
He quickly sorted out the situation and confirmed the contracts with the plundered constetions.
Within just five minutes of the battlesmencement, five out of the more than twenty hunters had died.
Three of them had contracts with constetions, and Kang-hoo efficiently took over these contracts.
The rest either had tasteless constetions or no contracts at all.
From Kang-hoos perspective, there was no need to continue engaging with these individuals and depleting his energy.
So.
[Artistry of the Veil]
After overpowering Dere and plundering the Artistry of the Veil skill from him, he activated it.
Moving within the opaque, grayish veil, the enemies couldnt recklessly approach him.
A few hunters seemed to focus on trying to detect stealth, but
I cant detect anything
Back off. We dont know where he is!
Get out of here, you fools!
Unable to pinpoint Kang-hoos location, they all retreated in fear.
The situation had already turned hopeless in a 1 against 20 fight, and the addition of stealth made them lose the will to fight.
Sigh.
Having exited the dungeon, Kang-hoo took a deep breath and nced back, pondering the possibility.
He wondered if any of the Gale Wind gang hunters might follow him out.
But it appeared he had overestimated them, as none appeared.
Meanwhile, inside the dungeon, the Gale Wind gang members were moving farther away from the entrance.
After a brief dy, Han Seung-hyeok and Ban Se-yeong emerged, following Kang-hoo.
Seeing the two, who seemed to share a friendly rapport, Kang-hoo wore an intrigued expression.
The concept of connections often leads to unexpected rtionships, so it wasnt surprising.
After being hinted at by Han Seung-hyeok earlier, Ban Se-yeong left a message for Kang-hoo saying she would definitely contact him next time before she distanced herself.
Once Ban Se-yeong was sufficiently far away, Han Seung-hyeok began.
That was an impressive battle. You have quite a variety of skills.
I know a few tricks.
It looked like you came to this dungeon on a mission. But it doesnt seem like its your first time soloing, is it?
Actually, I almost always go solo rather than with others. I find being alone morefortable.
Reflecting on it, he realized he had never really teamed up with anyone in a dungeon.
Strategically, he had worked with others outside, like with Yun Sang-mi, hadnt he?
I initially thought about casually building a rapport over a drink. But Ive changed my mind.
What changed?
Han Seung-hyeoks interest wasnt unwee; in fact, it was quite the opposite. He was a valuable asset for future endeavors.
If he could gain insights into the workings of Eclipse through him, that would be even more advantageous.
Kang Dong-hyuns eventual confrontation with Kang-hoo was a certainty from Kang-hoos point of view.
Currently, they were in a strategic truce, but conflict was bound to happen.
Would you consider taking on a task?
A task?
An acquaintance of mine has asked for a favor. Somehow, I believe Mr. Kang-hoo would be quite adept at handling it.
A test?
If you could sessfully fulfill a request of this nature, I would be very interested in getting to know you better.
Though his words were indirect, they confirmed Kang-hoos suspicion that it was indeed a test.
Kang-hoo had no intention of proving himself to Han Seung-hyeok; he did not aspire to be his underling.
Yet, if passing this test was a prerequisite for getting closer to him, he was willing to do it.
Han Seung-hyeok seemed to always have his own way of vetting people before letting them in.
He didnt want to call it unusual.
Why wouldnt a skilled person want to build connections only with other skilled individuals?
If he disliked it, he could simply ignore it and not form a connection.
It didnt seem like you were running a mercenary group.
Thats right. Its not a mercenary group request but a personal favor.
Is the requester okay with this?
Of course. Were very close friends, so you dont have to worry about that.
Han Seung-hyeok nodded.
The information he whispered in Kang-hoos ear differed from what was expected.
Kang-hoo asked in surprise.
You want me to rescue the nephew of The Abyss leader Lee Hyun-seok?
Yes. His nephew, Su-hyeon. To be precise, Min Su-hyeon.
Min Su-hyeon.
The only bloodline of Hyun-seok.
He had received a request to rescue the missing nephew of Lee Hyun-seok.
It couldnt be issued as a public request, so he only asked his acquaintances.
That was understandable, as Lee Hyun-seok had many enemies, and a public request could be more harmful than helpful.
Someone might find and kidnap Min Su-hyeon to use as leverage against Lee Hyun-seok.
But Im not an acquaintance, am I?
But I think you can keep a secret. Besides, I know a lot about you, Mr. Kang-hoo.
Han Seung-hyeoks words could be interpreted as apliment or, in a way, a threat.
In other words, if the secret leaked, it would surely be his fault.
Have you considered doing it yourself?
Im confident in firepower but not in mobile warfare. Its an impossible request for me.
Hmm.
Han Seung-hyeok readily admitted his weakness.
The mention of mobile warfare suggested a need for speed and stealth in the operation.
Where do you expect to find Mr. Min Su-hyeon?
Its not just an expectation but a confirmed location. Its broad, but hes definitely there.
Where is it?
Kimcheon liberation zone.
Heading into hell, I see.
Kang-hoo smirked.
Kimcheon liberation zone.
Referred to simply as the Kimcheon Liberation Area.
The name might sound respectable, but in reality, its apletelywless city.
Its a gathering ce for rootless mercenaries, hunters expelled or disciplined by guilds, and a variety of criminals.
A true city of crime, its more popted than one might imagine, thriving even more than some cities, with all kinds of banned drugs and narcotics sold openly.
Moreover, murder and assault ur casually, with no repercussions as long as one follows a few rules of the area.
In fact, most hunters have no reason to visit this ce.
However, to save a person, it bes a high-risk location that one must scour.
Its also attractive for acquiring good items cheaply.
With the high mortality rate of hunters, the area is known for its active item trading.
Most of the items were either acquired by killing and plundering or through looting somewhere.
The reward will be at least 5 billion Won. Additionally, well offer various conveniences that The Abyss can provide through negotiation.
For example?
Multiple opportunities to explore dungeons in the northeastern part of Gyeonggi-do, which The Abyss firmly controls.
It was an enticing offer.
For Kang-hoo, who needed to increase his skills by capturing mid-bosses and main bosses in dungeon raids, this was an attractive proposal.
Han Seung-hyeok provided more details.
Also, Ill back you up. So if you seed in the rescue, youll receive considerable gratitude from Hyun-seok.
Backing me up, too.
Of course. Its not like finding a lost child in the neighborhood; its a mission that requires risking ones life.
I ept. Ill take the request.
Kang-hoo epted the mission.
Not because he was confident he could dominate the liberation area, but because he had calcted that he could escape safely without dying.
The basis for this confidence was the fourth privilege he had obtained from the Dimension Plunderer.
Namely, the ability to teleport to a designated location.
It could only be used once a day, but it was still a sufficient option.
Lets have that drink next time, how about it?
Sounds good. We can head out right away.
Their business here was finished.
Moreover, the distance from Pohang to Kimcheon wasnt too far.
Of course, he needed to deliver the mined maite and receive payment for the request.
He nned to ask Lee Ye-rin toe down to Pohang herself.
Since he had always amodated her, calling her over once shouldnt be a problem.
I appreciate your help. Hyun-seok has already sent a few hunters from The Abyss, but it seems they all died.
Its a bit ironic that youre sending me to such a ce.
Think of it as a sign of trust. Haha.
Kang-hoo believed that Min Su-hyeon hadnt died inside but had missed the chance to escape.
Given that he was a skilled magic hunter, he must have had the power to protect himself.
He probably couldnt leave because he was hiding somewhere inside.
Lee Ye-rin promptly came to Pohang upon receiving the call, and the settlement was swiftlypleted.
After finalizing the payment for the maite mining and selling unnecessary items, his profit increased by 7 billion won, securing a total of 176 billion won in liquid assets.
It was a sufficient amount to stir up the market in the liberation zone.
Unless he intended to buy items above grade 2.
A brief meeting with Lee Ye-rin.
But important discussions took ce.
For now, Im looking into Park Min-sung. He was indeed on the missing persons list.
Let me know if there are any updates.
Yes. And one more thing. There was a request from Jang Si-hwan about Mr. Sun-kyu.
Hmm?
Specifically, he asked to send CCTV footage of Sun-kyu and inquired if I knew about this person.
He must be investigating the Gong Tae-su incident. Why is he so interested in something that doesnt concern him?
Though he spoke casually, the content was worrisome.
The Gong Tae-su incident had nothing to do with the Jeonghwa Guild.
Nor did Kang-hoo have any connections with Jang Si-hwan.
Yet, Jang Si-hwans personal inquiry suggested an interest in the person who attacked Gong Tae-su.
Since Kang-hoo was that person, he couldnt wee the interest.
What was your response?
Of course, I brushed it off by iming ignorance. I am an independent entity, not Jang Si-hwans subordinate.
I trust you handled it with discretion.
He hinted subtly.
Even if questioned, she would remain silent.
For the leader of a mercenary group, trust is paramount.
Betraying information about an active client would undermine the trust ced in the mercenary group.
Rumors travel fast in this world.
Oncebeled as such, the fallout would be dire. Bing a public enemy would just be the beginning.
So, lets mark it here.
Kang-hoo surveyed the area, which wasrgely deserted, and prepared to set his save point.
[This location is a safe area. Would you like to set an immediate return point here?]
Should he need to rescue Min Su-hyeon, this would serve as his extraction point from the Kimcheon liberation zone.
Given its proximity to Kimcheon, it was a strategic location to evade any possible pursuit.
His preparations for the escape wereplete.
With the ammunition secured, the only task left was to make his way to the Kimcheon liberation zone.
Chapter 64: Kimcheon Liberation Zone (2)
Chapter 64: Kimcheon Liberation Zone (2)
Kang-hoo had set his return point near Pohang Station and promptly rented a car to head for the Kimcheon Liberation Zone.
The Liberation Zone was inessible by KTX trains and even safety buses.
Most travelers had to take a detour, and those who did pass through would do so without stopping, making disembarkation impossible.
The car Kang-hoo rented was a cheap model, even among other budget vehicles.
He was prepared to abandon or wreck it if necessary.
The Liberation Zone was a ce where anything imaginableand morecould happen; safety was far from guaranteed.
If Im lucky, I might snag items at really low prices.
This possibility was one of the reasons Kang-hoo was drawn to the Liberation Zone.
The usual market logic of pricing didnt apply there.
Prices could drop drastically as sellers hurried to unload their goods.
Items obtained by others and offered at low prices for a quick sale were alsomon.
The dubious origins of such items werent a concern for him.
After all, some of the items Kang-hoo wore had been taken from other people.
If I just find Min Su-hyun, I can forge a close connection with Lee Hyun-seok.
The mission to rescue Min Su-hyun was important.
Lee Hyun-seok had a reputation for being rigid and upromising.
However, he was a man who clearly upheld rtionships of gratitude and vengeance.
He would show trust and gratitude to those he was indebted to.
And he would exact revenge on his adversaries, no matter the time and effort needed.
This trait of his had remained consistent ever since he became known to the world.
Look at the atmosphere. Its dreadful.
Kang-hoo frowned as the Kimcheon Liberation Zone came into view on the horizon.
The apocalyptic atmosphere, heavily emphasized in the original story, gave the ce an extraordinary vibe.
The atmosphere in liberation zones, both domestic and abroad, was simr.
The sight resembled the gates of hell, with something red and ck smoldering.
The closer one got, the more dizzying and worrisome it became.
As he began to enter the narrow path leading to the Liberation Zone,
Vroom! Vrooooom!
suddenly, two trucks hidden nearby appeared and blocked Kang-hoos car from the front and rear.
They had sealed off the entrance to an old street that had be uninhabited no-mansnd.
Naturally, there was no one around to ask for help near the Liberation Zone.
Even if you tried to call 112, the area near the Liberation Zone was off-limits.
It would be fortunate even to connect a call to 112, as calls often got rerouted incorrectly.
For instance, a call for help might inadvertently inform criminals in the Liberation Zone since they controlled the base stations.
Gripping the steering wheel, Kang-hoo quickly concealed his presence as he noticed a group of hunters disembarking from the trucks.
Using a concealment technique, he opened the car door, and Kang-hoos presence vanished as if shrouded by a veil.
The transition was wless.
The hunters, who had targeted Kang-hoo, were confused by his sudden disappearance as they checked the car.
Whats this?
Where did this guy disappear to?
He must be hiding. Use the detection gear!
Two of the five hunters hurriedly donned goggles designed to detect invisibility.
Kang-hoo felt like apuding their preparedness.
But that was only a thought he entertained as a bystander.
By then, Kang-hoo had already set his sights on the lives of the two hunters with goggles.
[Technique of Concealment Veil]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv Max]
[Creates an invisible barrier within a radius of 11 meters.]
[Within this area, the user remains in a state of absolute stealth, undetectable by any sensory abilities.]
[However, once out of the barrier, the stealth effect disappeared along with the barrier, and the user''s movement speed doubled for 2 seconds.]
The Technique Veil he had obtained from Dera was a skill that synergized perfectly with Kang-hoo.
It was ideal for hiding and targeting the enemy or finding opportunities to escape when necessary, right?
The Technique Veil specialized in resolving tricky situations.
Its only downside was the high mana consumption it required in a moment, but that was manageable with Kang-hoos mana hypersensitivity.
The mistake the two hunters made as they were about to put on goggles was that they were too close to Kang-hoo.
Within the range of the Technique Veil, they couldnt anticipate his approach.
Even with goggles, they couldnt see Kang-hoo, and with his shadowless presence, they didnt notice him.
The oue was straightforward.
Thud! Thwooosh!
Ugh!
K-kh!
It was death.
Kang-hoo effortlessly took the lives of the two hunters, truly embodying the term lightweight.
As hunters without a Throne Contract, Kang-hoo had been confident of his victory from the start.
It was merely a question of how swiftly he could dispatch them, and given their blindness, he quickly made his move.
Shit, damn it, what the hell? Whats this?
The remaining three panicked.
Unable to pinpoint Kang-hoos location, they floundered in a one-sided assault.
Meanwhile,
Kang-hoo had targeted another hunter who leapt in to join the fray.
There might have been a chance for a fight, but the result was immediate death.
Of course, Kang-hoo used a beheading skill right from the start to avoid causing amotion
Yet, these opponents were too feeble.
They thought they could defend from front and back, overwhelming with their numbers and presence.
But Kang-hoo wasnt someone to be intimidated by such a flimsy encirclement and threats; he had far too much experience with these tactics.
Lets run! Lets run!
Hey, what about these guys?
Theyre dead! Just leave them, damn it!
Thest two showed some quick wit.
Willing to pay with their lives, they threw a few items they had and ran away, using the 36th strategy of retreat.
Kang-hoo picked up the items while they created time to escape.
What are they even trying to aplish
Watching the fleeing hunters, Kang-hoo disyed a look of disdain.
He felt no need to chase them, as they didnt seem worthwhile.
The useful items had already been discarded by them, further diminishing his urge to pursue.
Maybe I should just stop here.
After collecting various items from the dead hunters,
Kang-hoo parked his car in a secluded area, turned off the engine, and locked the doors.
He didnt drive into the nearby liberation zone because cars were prohibited from entering.
The total appraisal value of the items he collected was about 300 million won.
It was an embarrassing sum considering it came from three hunters.
The liberation zone and its vicinity werewless, but not everyone there deserved to be.
Many, like these guys, were so weak that they could lose their lives in one strike.
In thiswless ce, they merely exhibited madness and caused chaos.
Here, only the rule of power prevailed, and Kang-hoo found such a ce more to his liking.
Where force was necessary, one simply acted without hesitation, and the situation would resolve itself.
Damn it.
As Kang-hoo entered the outskirts of the Liberation Zone, he pinched his nose.
It was due to the pungent smell of various narcotics being burned.
He immediately put on a mask he had brought, just in case.
Breathing in this stench directly could make one staggeringly drunk in short order.
The variety of narcotics being burned was so diverse that it was impossible to identify them all.
Anyone staying here and inhaling this continuously
Would feel as if they were walking on water non-stop, with the world dissolving into pastel colors.
Furthermore, every breath would stimte the peripheral nerves, intensifying the excitement.
In short, it was the perfect environment for driving people mad.
Hehehe.
Hehe
Hunters lost in hallucinations and auditory illusions staggered around the streets.
Judging by theirck of proper weapons and clothing, they appeared to have been robbed early on.
Apparently, they were left alive since they had nothing of valuehardly worth killing.
A few blocks further in, the streets were quieter than I had expected.
It seemed unlikely that the hunters of the Liberation Zone had gone elsewhere; such quiet usually indicated an event was taking ce.
Sure enough.
The sound of amotion ahead and the scent of blood confirmed my suspicion.
A deathmatch?
A special arena came into view.
The same kind of fight I had witnessed in Club Hades was urring inside the Liberation Zone.
Fighters in the arena battled until one died.
That was what a deathmatch entailed.
The betting odds were set ording to each fighters skill, with stakes being ced ordingly.
A portion of the stakes was distributed to the twopeting hunters.
Naturally, the winning hunter imed his entire share of the bet.
And all items worn by the opponent could be taken as spoils, like war loot.
Kang-hoo wasnt interested in the match.
Just mediocre hunters killing each other meaninglessly in a battle.
More often, one found more faults than learning opportunities in such fights.
So, he had no desire to spoil his eyes by watching.
Instead, he headed to a market set up on one side of the arena.
Here, items looted as spoils from defeated hunters were sold.
One bizarre sight, though.
As if bragging, they disyed the dead hunters bodies behind the items for sale.
Clearly marking whose belongings they werein a nicer sense, a tribute; in a worse sense, an insult to the dead.
It made me wonder who had named this ce the Liberation Zone.
What exactly was liberated here? Liberated from this world to the afterlife?
Of course a self-diss. A secret I cant share with others.
Anyway, Kang-hoo set aside his difort and concentrated on his original objective: item hunting.
As he browsed the stalls, he noticed that the decent-looking items had already been sold.
Only replicas remained on disy after their sale, or items that were still awaiting payment.
Todays not my day, he thought.
There were plenty of items, but none of them useful.
The inventory changed daily,prised of items from deceased hunters.
Some days youd find such items, but other days, like today, youd find nothing.
Unfortunately, today belonged to thetter category.
But then, in that moment
Hmm?
His attention was captured by a skill book, one that had been handled by many hunters hands.
Skill books were usually so rare that it was said they couldnt be sold.
The fact that this one remained unsold despite its prominent disy meant it was probably of little or no value.
It was likely a skill book associated with a rare profession or one not worth learning.
But for Kang-hoo, it was a different story.
He had no problem learning any skill, regardless of the profession it was associated with.
Just as he had cleverly mastered the beheading skill with Baltmans help.
Chapter 65: Kimcheon Liberation Zone (3)
Chapter 65: Kimcheon Liberation Zone (3)
Kang-hoo picked up the skill book.
[Skill Book Age of Barbarism]
[Special Note: Berserker Exclusive]
[If the learners mana stat is below 50, all skill mana costs are reduced by 50%.]
As he checked the contents, he understood why other hunters had ignored the book.
There were two main reasons.
First, the proportion of Berserker-type hunters was very low, both domestically and internationally.
Second, once hunters surpassed a certain beginner status, their mana stat naturally exceeded 50.
It was not easy for a Berserker to maintain a low mana stat level.
A low total mana could lead to issues with endurance and hinder skill usage.
No wonder the book had been neglected, given such challenging prerequisites.
But its perfect for me?
However, Kang-hoo was different.
Thanks to his congenital mana hypersensitivity, he had not invested in his mana stat.
Past and present, Kang-hoo consistently kept his mana stat at 20.
While his mana stat might increase someday,
For now, the Age of Barbarism was a highly efficient skill book for him.
With all skill mana costs halved, there was no reason to refuse.
He approached the seller, who appeared to be handling the sale of the skill book.
The seller had over ten piercings in his ears, presenting an unusual appearance, but Kang-hoo only cared about the transaction.
How much for this?
Wee! Which item are you interested in? Oh, are you looking at this skill book?
Despite his fierce appearance, the seller responded with a friendly voice.
Appearances can indeed be deceiving.
Kang-hoo had never heard such a friendly voice in a ce like this before.
Yes, Im interested.
Youve checked the contents, right?
Of course.
Its priced at 2 billion won. Honestly, Id say its worth around 3 billion.
The starting price was preposterous, akin to spouting nonsense while high.
Such people were often skilled in haggling, intentionally setting absurd prices.
Kang-hoo, feeling it wasnt even worth responding, immediately turned and walked away.
He didnt hear anything at first, but kept walking.
There was a certain confidence that he wouldnt regret it even if his bargaining ploy didnt work.
Then.
Rustle, patter!
The sound of hurried footsteps followed him. The haste was evident, even stumbling mid-way.
Excuse me, sir!
?
Kang-hoo looked at the seller with disdain, and the sellers face naturally darkened.
Kang-hoo knew from the start that the items at his stall werent popr.
It seemed like a collection of hard-to-sell goods, poorly assembled.
He could understand the excitement of encountering an interested buyer.
But that didnt mean he had to overpay out of sympathy or pity.
I might have confused it with another item! The actual price is 1.5 billion
Ignoring him again.
Leaving more decisively than before, the seller finally called out a revised price in resignation.
1 billion, its 1 billion!
He had cut the price significantly.
It was slightly higher than what Kang-hoo had thought was a fair price.
No matter how inefficient the skill book was, a skill book is still a skill book.
If he pushed the price down further, the seller might give up, perceiving it as a loss.
However, Kang-hoo, with his trademark expressionless face, spoke dryly without even a twitch of his lips.
500 million.
A littleter.
This is why Ie to the Liberation Zone.
Kang-hoo, having carefully stored the skill book in his backpack, walked along the street with a satisfied expression.
He felt some stares drilling into the back of his head, but he ignored them as the deal was already done.
He had bought it much cheaper than expected.
In the Liberation Zone, prices are not standard but fluctuate based on the areas demands.
Like now, there was a possibility to buy far below the original price. The opposite could also be true.
If this skill book had been for sale at a market near Seoul Station, it could have fetched a price of 1 billion won.
He had saved 500 million won through some bold bargaining. It was a profitable transaction.
With that settled,
he needed to use Baltman for a cunning learning process, just as he had with the beheading skill.
Having previously made the acquaintance of the Onnuri Guild, it seemed feasible to negotiate with them again.
As long as he was willing to pay, renting a dungeon exploration license for a short period shouldnt pose a problem.
Even if this n didnt work out, he had other options, which made himfortable during negotiations.
Hmm.
Kang-hoo surveyed the deeper reaches of the Liberation Zone he had entered.
Unlike the bustling and brighter entrance, this area was cloaked in a yellow-tinged sunset, intermingling with elongated shadows.
It was as though the world consisted only of yellow and ck, creating an eerily somber tableau.
It wouldnt have been surprising if someone lurking in the shadows had targeted him.
ording to information from Jeon Se-hyeok, Min Su-hyeons presence in the Liberation Zone was a voluntary choice, not a result of kidnapping.
Kang-hoo couldnt understand why he would make such a crazy choice.
But looked at from another angle, one could attribute it to curiosity.
The Liberation Zone was indeed distinct from the normal world.
Buildings marred by rain and smeared with blood exuded a peculiar odor, stirring a mix of fear and curiosity about death.
Shadows that obscured the view always seemed poised to disclose either death or corpses.
Perhaps he was drawn to that thrill, to the world where death was an everyday reality the Liberation Zone.
Min Su-hyeon might have ventured too deeply and be ensnared by someplication.
For example, he might have purloined something significant or stumbled into a secret facility at the core of the Liberation Zone.
There were organized management bodies within the Liberation Zone tasked with preserving order.
They usually monopolized the profits from the core dungeons and magic stone mines at the center of the Liberation Zone.
Its possible I inadvertently triggered a taboo of one of these management bodies.
A few ces came to mind.
Many episodes of the original work were set in various Liberation Zones.
Kang-hoo had potential hotspots in mind.
But relying solely on that knowledge to venture in was risky due to the uncertainties of the Liberation Zone.
If things went wrong, he might have to urgently consider escaping instead of rescuing Min Su-hyeon.
Just then,
A coin Please, help me.
A begging voice came from a gloomy alleyway, where there had been no sound until now.
Probably a beggar who had upied a spot there, starting to beg upon noticing someones approach.
A hunter.
He was pretending to be a beggar but couldnt hide his mana. He was a hunter disguised as a beggar.
Kang-hoo didnt know why he was in disguise.
Looking at the well-decorated area around him, he seemed to have been there for a while.
Approaching the beggar, he took out ten 50,000-won notes and began to speak.
Have you seen a female hunter who is lost and wandering, or perhaps being pursued by someone?
Kang-hoo showed the beggar a photo of Min Su-hyeon that he had received from Jeon Se-hyuk.
Her face was pixted, but her distinctive pink hair was unmistakable.
If someone had seen such a unique hair color even once, they would recognize it immediately.
It feels like I might remember.
The beggar hesitated.
Kang-hoo offered another ten 50,000-won notes.
Does this jog your memory?
Ive seen someone staggering around somewhere. Where was it again
This time, he held out twenty notes.
The beggar continued without hesitation.
Theres a motel not far from here. Its in a rtively well-lit and safe area.
Please lead the way.
If he just mentioned motel, there would be too many potential buildings to pinpoint.
In the liberation area, there were too many abandoned motels, making the beggars information vague.
The beggar stood up.
Kang-hoo offered more money.
It was his way of ensuring thorough guidance.
If my memory serves right, its that way.
Unfortunately, the direction the beggar pointed was not promising.
Through his enhanced vision aided by the aiming skill, he saw the end of the alley, marked with bloodstains.
Right. I tried to take the easy route. That was my mistake. Its better to search on my own.
He epted the situation with a bitter smile.
It was a trap. These people preyed on passersby. Worse, they might even kill them.
Kang-hoo replied calmly, observing the beggar leading him into danger.
Right. If you guide me to the exact location, Ill reward you handsomely. Really handsomely.
Five minutester.
Theres always a reason why someone cant live ording to their fate.
Kang-hoo checked the 300 million won worth of items he had carefully packed in his backpack and left the scene.
Of course, the items had belonged to the beggar and his group who had tried to ambush Kang-hoo.
They appeared to have been targeting passersby orunching surprise attacks like this.
Without constetions or adequate skills, the hunters were quickly overpowered.
Its debatable whether a hunters life should be so fragile.
In the hunters world, where the logic of power is applied most brutally and precisely, this was not surprising.
Before he died, the beggar mentioned that he had seen Min Su-hyun.
But the location was much deeper than Kang-hoo had anticipated. It was right towards the heart of the liberation area.
The center of the liberation area was also the most dangerous.
Moreover, the entire liberation area was designed to disable smartphones by jamming the signals.
So, Min Su-hyun might have been hiding somewhere in the center, effectively trapped there by choice.
Swoosh.
Kang-hoo vanished.
His natural stealth, perfected through years of practice, was seamless.
Anyone unauthorized in the center faced mortal danger just by approaching.
Thus, Kang-hoo nned to move as invisibly and quietly as possible.
He had already donned his mask.
It covered everything but his eyes, ensuring he would avoidter identification.
An hour passed.
He found himself in a dangerous and precarious position deep within the liberation areas center.
There she is! Catch her!
We finally found her!
Was it a stroke of divine intervention or a harbinger of trouble?
He caught sight of someone with pink hair, frantically weaving through old buildings on the verge of copse.
I found her.
Pink hair.
The rescue target, Min Su-hyun.
Chapter 66: Kimcheon Liberation Zone (4)
Chapter 66: Kimcheon Liberation Zone (4)
Hunters in skull masks relentlessly pursued Min Su-hyun.
They belonged to the Ebony Bone, a faction that controlled the center of the Kimcheon Liberation Area, monopolizing various interests.
This dominance made it challenging for the diverse hunters flocking to the liberation area to even approach its center.
One wrong move could lead to detection by the Ebony Bone, resulting in death or capture to a ce where sunlight never reached, like an underground prison.
Woo-woong!
Motorcycles roared into action non-stop on the ground.
These were the bikes of Ebony Bone hunters, visibly powerful at a nce.
Papap! Pat!
Agile assassins moved atop the buildings.
Just as Kang-hoo had pursued Gong Tae-su, they used the rooftops as shortcuts, swiftly moving between them.
In addition, hunters who appeared to be from the magic ss floated in the air, moving about.
Min Su-hyun was fleeing using what seemed to be an eleration movement skill, but
With the situation as it was, she would be caught in less than a minute. The pursuit by Ebony Bone was organized and efficient.
Combat is pointless.
Kang-hoo quickly assessed the situation.
He contemted engaging inbat to carve out an escape route.
However, the power of the Ebony Bone members chasing Min Su-hyun was too overwhelming.
All of them seemed to have constetions as their basis, and their skill level was evidently much higher.
Furthermore,
What exactly did she steal?
The gloves Min Su-hyun wore on both hands were extraordinary, emitting a colorful, glowing effect.
Starting from 2nd-grade items, unique glows emanate from items.
The brightness varies depending on the items features, but the glow from Min Su-hyuns gloves was particrly intense.
They didnt seem like her own gloves but rather something she had stolen from here.
Did Min Su-hyun have a penchant for thievery? Yet, considering the ce she had broken into, it was akin to entering a tigers den.
Better to just take her and make a clean getaway.
Kang-hoo calmly suppressed his rising fighting spirit.
If he had no one to care for, a grand battle would have been quite a spectacle.
But now, he had someone to rescue.
The most challenging task in the world is to protect oneself and others simultaneously.
How often do people perish attempting to save someone who is drowning?
If he was determined to save her, he needed to quickly grab her and get out of the water.
Papap! Pat! Pat!
Kang-hoo used eleration and leaping repeatedly to close the distance to Min Su-hyun swiftly.
His body, now significantly more robust than before, handled the repeated skill use without any problems.
In the past, he would have felt nauseous, but now a swallow of dry saliva was enough to settle his stomach.
Just then,
A figure emerged, blocking Kang-hoos path in the alleyway.
It was an Ebony Bone member.
He had been monitoring the flow of mana around him, not expecting them to be far away.
Yet they were much closer.
The Ebony Bone member inquired,
Who are you?
If rescue hadnt been his top priority, he might have responded.
But now, there was no time for dialogue.
Even with Min Su-hyuns agility and skill, she couldnt elude multiple pursuers.
Had she been able to, Kang-hoo wouldnt have needed to intervene.
Paaht!
Instead of replying, Kang-hoo took action, brandishing his Blood Dew de and charging at the Ebony Bone member.
It was a deration of his intent tomunicate throughbat.
Hit and run is my specialty, Jeong Cheol-hoos urk!
Where did such overconfidence stem from?
Jeong Cheol-hoo, an Ebony Bone member who had boasted too leisurely about his evasion skills, met his end.
He believed he possessed a decent evasion talent and could dodge effortlessly, but Kang-hoo had already predicted his escape route by tracking the flow of his mana.
The concentration of mana in the direction he intended to move was a giveaway.
This phenomenon is known as mana paving the way before the execution of a skill.
A prelude that urred in an instant, undetectable by 99.9% of hunters.
But to Kang-hoo, who was more sincere and sensitive to mana than anyone else, the flow was crystal clear.
You take life too lightly.
Kang-hoo shed at Jeong Cheol-hoos throat and wiped the blood on his pants.
He then refocused his attention on Min Su-hyuns location.
She wasnt far if he considered a straight line, but the situation was urgent with numerous hunters, both on the ground and in the air, chasing her.
Kill her! Just kill her!
The Ebony Bone hunters were furious.
Min Su-hyun must have stolen an item belonging to a high-ranking member of Ebony Bone.
Even if she was Lee Hyun-seoks niece, it seemed unlikely that she would casually carry an item worth over a hundred billion won.
None of my business.
That was her problem to deal with.
Rescuing her would fulfill the request Jeon Se-hyuk had made of Lee Hyun-seok.
Kang-hoo didnt overthink it and steadily narrowed the distance between them.
Even if he failed to rescue her, he wouldnt be too disappointed. It was easier to think that way.
Mixing leaps, elerations, and the Shadow Step technique, he closed in on Min Su-hyun.
Ahh!
Startled by Kang-hoos sudden appearance, Min Su-hyun conjured blue energy in her arms, which appeared to be a freezing ability.
I came to rescue you, so dont resist.
What?
Jeon Se-hyuk sent me to fulfill his request.
Who are you?
What a hassle.
Ahh!
Not wanting to reveal his identity, Kang-hoo quickly grabbed Min Su-hyuns shoulder.
He had a dramatic means of escape from the liberation area.
There was just one catch the sess rate.
The fourth privilege from Dimension Plunderer, the long-range space teleportation, had a 100% sess rate when used alone.
However, when used with two or more people, the probability dropped to exactly 50%. It was a coin toss between sess and failure.
[Would you like to teleport instantly?]
[Teleportation with more than one person may not seed. The probability is exactly 50%.]
As he activated the ability, the system notification appeared.
He had to try to know. Without trying, one couldnt guess.
If it failed, he nned to protect her as best he could while attempting to escape.
If it failed Well, it would be unfortunate, but he could simply abandon her if necessary.
After all, she wasnt indispensable for shaping his future.
Hold my hand tightly.
What? Why?
If you dont, you might feel nauseouster.
You really came to rescue me?
Isnt it obvious, considering youre still alive?
She was either too young or too scared to understand where to begin thinking.
Regardless, Kang-hoo firmly grasped Min Su-hyuns nape, and she clutched his hand tightly.
His presence and her continued survival meant he wasnt an enemy, at least.
Damn it, who is he?
Just kill them both!
Theyve stopped! Those two have stopped!
Catch them at all costs! Its the bosss orders!
Listening to the Heukgol-dan members sharp voices, it became clear who the owner of the stolen item was.
Quite bold of her.
It seemed she had stolen a pair of gloves from the Heukgol-dan leader. The details would have to wait.
Paaaht!
Then, the teleportation began.
The surroundings began to distort like crumpled paper, eventually shattering into pieces.
It worked.
Kang-hoo felt a sense of relief.
Though he had considered the possibility of failure, sess was the better oue.
Koog, koog, koog!
Kang-hoo and Min Su-hyuns bodies trembled as they rapidly disappeared from the liberation area.
Whats happening
It could be an illusion! Search around! Dont panic, keep looking!
Shoot something! Fire, damn it!
Amidst the harsh words, the silhouette of a Heukgol-dan member came close.
But by then, Kang-hoo and Min Su-hyun had already vanished, teleported to a safe point Kang-hoo had set before entering the liberation area.
[Teleportationplete.]
It was a sess.
Min Su-hyun was safely rescued with Kang-hoos help, an escape she hadnt anticipated.
Thank you. Really, thank you.
Enough with the thanks. Shouldnt you contact someone first? Someone needs toe for you.
Yeah, I should. For now.
Min Su-hyun dialed Lee Hyun-seoks number on the smartphone Kang-hoo handed her.
While the call was connecting,
Min Su-hyun looked around curiously.
She felt they had traveled a great distance but couldnt pinpoint where.
Then,
Though not close, she could see Pohang Station in the clear distance.
This is insane
The journey from the Kimcheon Liberation Area to Pohang Station had taken only a few seconds.
Min Su-hyun couldnt help but be amazed by Kang-hoos spatial teleportation ability.
Many hunters possess spatial movement skills. Teleporting isnt in itself miraculous.
However, the ability to move such long distances instantly is another story.
Most can only teleport short distances, like 10m or 20m.
But this level of ability was akin to those found in fantasy novels.
Min Su-hyun knew well how difficult it was to acquire such spatial abilities.
Even a magic-based hunter specialized in spatial movement would need to surpass level 600.
Despite being a magic-based hunter herself, she didnt possess any spatial movement abilities, underlining their rarity.
Hello? Uncle?
At that moment, she connected with Lee Hyun-seok.
Since it was a number known only to close contacts, she assumed Lee Hyun-seok would answer, even though it was a first-time call.
Im in a safe ce right now. Where was I? Well I was in the Gimcheon Liberation Area
Silence followed.
Kang-hoo listened quietly, hearing rapid-fire loud voices from the other end of the phone.
It sounded more like Lee Hyun-seoks affectionate scolding, filled with concern, rather than him reprimanding her.
Min Su-hyun scratched her head.
Her neglected pink hair, matted and rigid, moved stiffly with her hand, like wires.
Okay. Then Ill stay around here. Im near Pohang Station. Yes.
The call ended.
Lee Hyun-seok instructed Min Su-hyun not to move elsewhere and to stay where she was for safety.
It seemed he preferred she stay in a location with assured safety, rather than risk being watched in another ce.
Kang-hoo, having no intention to move unnecessarily, casually settled down with Min Su-hyun.
Then.
He finally asked the question that had been nagging at him.
What exactly did you steal from Heukgol-dan?
Responding to Kang-hoos question, Min Su-hyun scratched the back of her head and, with an awkward expression, continued.
I stole the 2nd-grade item gloves from Heukgol-dans leader, Shin Jun-ho.
Why?
My constetions benefits are quite unique.
What could be so unique about her constetions benefits that she herself termed it quite unique?
Kang-hoo, clueless, tilted his head, anticipating an interesting story.
Chapter 67: Kimcheon Liberation Zone (5)
Chapter 67: Kimcheon Liberation Zone (5)
After hearing the whole story from Min Su-hyun, Kang-hoo understood why she had recklessly gone to the liberation district.
He still couldnt grasp her recklessness in entering without thinking of the consequences, but his conclusion was this:
Min Su-hyun had made a contract with a constetion that only activated hidden effects in certain items.
She could also understand theposition and ownership information of these specific items.
Thats why she couldnt resist the temptation and had ended up entering the Gimcheon liberation district.
She managed to steal the gloves that Shin Jun-ho had left behind.
However, she had no escape n and was trapped inside.
Given that she was in the territory of the famously coordinated Ebony Bone, she didnt dare think about escaping.
When Kang-hoo arrived, she was fleeing because she couldnt hold out any longer.
Her emergency food supply had run out, and her dehydration was worsening; she was in a desperate situation.
I was tearing my hair out in regret, ready to die. Thats when you showed up, brother.
Seems like you know youre foolish.
Its not just ordinary foolishness.
At Kang-hoos unexpectedly sharpment, Min Su-hyun smiled. She agreed with him and was not offended.
For her, she was just grateful that Kang-hoo, whom she was connected with, hade to save her.
She was also left in awe of Kang-hoos space teleportation ability that he had demonstrated.
Externally, his appearance and armed state clearly resembled that of an assassin, but his abilities were strangelyposed.
Anyway, once I safely hand her over to her uncle, my part is done.
I really want to express my personal thanks. I dont have money now, but if I ask my uncle
Its fine. Ill negotiate that myself with your uncle, so dont offerpensation arbitrarily.
Youre modest.
Its not modesty. Your goodwill would just interfere with my n to negotiate from a stronger position.
Youre quite prickly.
Business has to be conducted prickly, so theres no regretter.
Rip off my uncle a lot. Ill just reimburse him for that amount.
Be more careful next time.
I n to be.
Lets limit the old-fashioned advice to this much.
Kang-hoo handed her a bottle of water he had taken out of his backpack.
She had already finished two bottles, yet she still seemed thirsty.
The words Kang-hoo had just said were definitely not empty.
He intended to make Lee Hyun-seok owe him a favor and to use him thoroughly.
If the world could run beautifully on pure goodwill and kindness, how great that would be.
Unfortunately, this damned world is not so rosy.
Especially for Kang-hoo, whose many emotions have dried up, pure goodwill does not exist.
Everything is a process to strictly pursue profit.
If necessary, he can act as a good person or be the worst human trash.
The Thirteen Stars are exactly like that.
They constantly change their masks, cunningly controlling the world to suit their tastes.
No, its already in progress.
Take Chae Gwanhyeong, for example. Despitemitting such a terrible act against Jung Yuri,
On television, he actively defends womens rights and pain, and pledges to lead the fight against sex offenders.
To think of living with just one face in todays world is certainly a foolish thought.
Meanwhile, as Lee Hyun-seok had not yet arrived, Min Su-hyun kept talking out of boredom.
Arent you interested in my gloves?
Theyre not my gloves.
Still, its natural to be curious, right? A Grade 2 item isnt easily obtainable.
If I had intended to kill you, I would have been interested, but thats not an option now.
Uh then dont be interested.
Min Su-hyun shrank back.
Although she was more than three times his level, she felt intimidated by Kang-hoo, about whom she knew almost nothing.
The impression he had made on her from the beginning was so strong that she didnt want to upset him.
Just then,
Hes here.
Kang-hoo, recognizing Lee Hyun-seok first, stood up.
With his dark skin, scruffy beard, and crisply ironed military uniform, he was the spitting image of the character Lee Hyun-seok from the original work.
The shoulder board with a horizontal S symbol, representing his organization The Abyss, shimmered.
Uncle! Uncle!
Min Su-hyun ran toward Lee Hyun-seok.
She looked like a young niece excited to see her uncle.
Didnt I tell you to maintain amunication line wherever you go?
But Uncle, inside the liberation district, all signals were jammed, and my smartphone was dead.
Then you should havee out to a ce where you could make contact!
I lost my smartpher
Forget it. Go over there and stay quiet.
Lee Hyun-seok pointed to a car where two women in suits greeted Min Su-hyun.
They were probably bodyguards, tasked with escorting Lee Hyun-seok and protecting Min Su-hyun.
Thank you! Thank you, brother!
Min Su-hyun waved continuously at Kang-hoo as she moved away.
Would he see her again?
It seemed unlikely at the moment, but just in case, Kang-hoo awkwardly waved back.
Being Lee Hyun-seoks niece, she might appear often. After all, she wasnt a powerless hunter.
Then,
Alone now, Lee Hyun-seok politely bowed to Kang-hoo.
Thank you for rescuing my niece from the liberation district.
I was asked by Jeon Se-hyuk. Im not sure if it was appropriate to ept it privately.
I trust Se-hyuks judgment, so whoever he entrusts, I trust them too.
It seems you had some trouble on your way here.
Kang-hoo noticed Lee Hyun-seoks blood-soaked military uniform.
From a distance, he had thought the uniform was dyed red, but up close, it was stained with fresh blood. The smell of blood lingered.
Oh, this? I just dealt with a traitor inside.
Kang-hoos eyes sparkled.
Was Moon Yu-seok taken care of?
He had sent an email to his secure email address, so it wasnt entirely unrted.
But it didnt seem wise to directly ask if he had killed Moon Yu-seok.
Nor did it seem fitting to boast about sending the email.
He had already made enough of an impression by rescuing Min Su-hyun.
Unexpectedly, Lee Hyun-seok resolved his curiosity.
An anonymous tip came in. There was a traitor very close to me. It was dark under themp.
Its always the trusted axe that cuts the foot.
Kang-hoo replied slyly, smiling inwardly. It seemed his n had worked. Moon Yu-seok was dead.
Unless something unusual happened, Lee Hyun-seok wouldnt die pointlessly within a month.
This meant that Jang Si-hwans trajectory in the original story, where he had a smooth ride, could now change significantly.
Lee Hyun-seok would continue to obstruct Jang Si-hwan and the Jeonghwa Guilds path, both now and in the future.
If he drew aggro in various aspects, it would broaden the range of actions Kang-hoo could take.
Additionally, it would help disperse some of the attention that might otherwise be focused solely on himself.
This made Lee Hyun-seok a person of great strategic value. He also possessed remarkable skills in reality.
First of all, thank you for rescuing Su-hyun. I dont know how to repay this kindness.
You must have some idea in mind.
Kang-hoo spoke calmly.
Lee Hyun-seok, repeatedly bowing his head in gratitude, was clearly sincere.
I heard about the situation btedly. Did you move directly here from the liberation district?
Yes.
Was this the route you nned before going to rescue Su-hyun?
Yes.
An unbelievable space teleportation ability. Even Hosaka Kenji, known for space teleportation in Japan, would struggle with such a distance.
Lee Hyun-seok was right.
Hosaka Kenji.
A hunter in Japans magicmunity, specialized in space teleportation.
He had various space teleportation and position-switching skills.
Among them, his longest-range skill allowed him to teleport within a radius of 10 kilometers.
Even so, Hosaka Kenji was considered an authority in space teleportation.
But Kang-hoo had jumped a distance iparably farther in a single leap.
Though, of course, it was limited to once a day.
Well, everyone has their specialty.
But judging by your armaments, it seems youre into assassination. Quite interesting. Very interesting
Having experienced many battles, Lee Hyun-seok could tell what type of hunter Kang-hoo was at their first meeting.
An assassin.
And a highly skilled one at that, capable of taking a life with just a touch.
Lee Hyun-seok sensed a very cold but refined murderous aura emanating from Kang-hoo.
At that moment, he was ready to switch from defense to offense at any time.
It was obvious to Lee Hyun-seok. Kang-hoos readiness, always with battle in mind.
Lee Hyun-seok continued.
I keep forgetting the most important part. Lets discuss how to express my gratitude.
Kang-hoo had already thought about what he would say to Lee Hyun-seok.
The bounty, that is, the reward for rescuing Min Su-hyun, was set at 5 billion won. A significant sum.
But Kang-hoo wasnt interested in money this time. He wanted Lee Hyun-seok himself.
Kang-hoo understood his personality.
Lee Hyun-seok was someone who repaid kindness several times over and feltpelled to do so.
He could take advantage of this to make a good profit, but that would be a one-time deal.
However, turning that amount into a rtionship? That was a different story.
Id prefer to keep it simple.
Simple, as in the mary aspect?
Lee Hyun-seok nodded.
It was a mission originally tied to money. Kang-hoos reply was within expected limits.
His only niece, his only blood rtives life, had been saved. No amount of money would be too great.
But contrary to Lee Hyun-seoks expectations, Kang-hoo shook his head and replied calmly.
Just make time for a cup of teater. One tea time will suffice for me.
Pardon?
I mean, I dont need the money.
Kang-hoo responded, opting not to ept the life-saving reward in money but in another form.
Lee Hyun-seoks eyes sparkled, unable to discern Kang-hoos intentions.
Chapter 68: Encounter With Kang Dong-hyun (1)
Chapter 68: Encounter With Kang Dong-hyun (1)
The decision had been clear from the start:
To forge a bond.
Owing a debt for his nephews life, Lee Hyun-seok couldnt possibly dismiss the offer.
What began as a simple invitation to tea, Kang-hoo intended to transform into asting rtionship.
Would that suffice?
To meet someone like Mr. Lee Hyun-seok in person, its worth billions, not just millions.
Haha. I would never have imagined such a proposal. Isnt it quite modest for saving my nephew?
Lee Hyun-seoks response was precisely what Kang-hoo had hoped for, instilling a sense of obligation yet gratitude.
These feelings would ensure that their connection remained alive and active.
Isnt everything a matter of perspective?
Alright. Lets schedule tea soon and talk about more constructive topics.
Thank you.
Words alone are empty, so Ill give you this.
Lee Hyun-seok produced a small que from his pocket and presented it to Kang-hoo. This was the Blood Oath.
It featured a crimson background with a deep, abyssal design, and Lee Hyun-seoks signature was etched into it.
With this, Kang-hoo could call for a meeting at any time, facilitating private conversations.
Typically, a Blood Oath was bestowed only upon those with whom one shared a profound connection. For Kang-hoo to receive one was a significant gesture.
Jeon Se-hyuk likely owned one as well, considering his tight bond with Lee Hyun-seok.
Ill reach out soon.
Heres my contact.
Lee Hyun-seok passed him a business card.
It bore his private number.
Framed in gold, the card was evidently meant for exclusive, directmunication.
In other words, a number reserved for the most important individuals.
Should thest digits on Kang-hoos card read 0001,
The subsequent individual would have a card ending with 0002.
In such a case, if 0001 were to be leaked, the fault would clearly lie with Kang-hoo.
Thus, Lee Hyun-seok disyed trust but simultaneously set a test.
Should someone else ring using the number on this card, Kang-hoos trustworthiness would shatter instantly.
I will contact you.
Thank you. Next time, Ill ensure Su-hyun properly expresses his gratitude and apology.
No need, but I wont refuse.
Kang-hoo replied with a smile.
Thus, Kang-hoo established a firm connection with Lee Hyun-seok.
He had an exclusive meeting with a man hard for even notable hunters to approach.
The strategic value of this rtionship promised a more exciting future.
I should head to Daejeon Station now.
Kang-hoos gaze shifted toward the KTX Pohang Station.
It was time to board the train to Daejeon Station.
To Club Hades. To uncover the secrets of its seventh basement.
At that moment,
Shin Jun-ho, the leader of Ebony Bone, was furiously speaking to a hastily summoned man.
I dont care about the gloves. The woman who stole them will be found. But this guy, I want him caught and killed.
From the video alone, its hard to identify him
The man, listening to Shin Jun-hos words, nodded while crossing his arms.
Unlike Shin Jun-ho, who covered half his face with a skull mask, the man wore no such disguise.
Instead, his face had a peculiar look.
Was it the expressionless look, or theck of focus? It felt like looking at the fake face of an emotionless machine.
People who knew this man, including Shin Jun-ho, didnt call him by his name but by the nickname The Fixer.
With a 99% sess rate in missions.
Although expensive, once he was hired, he almost alwayspleted his assignments sessfully.
Shin Jun-ho continued speaking.
I really want to catch this guy who helped her. Not to kill him, but Im too curious about his abilities.
He disappeared out of the liberation zone in one go, you mean.
Exactly. Vanished without a trace. Since then, he hasnt been spotted on any CCTV within the zone.
Shin Jun-ho harbored both anger and interest towards this mysterious masked man.
After evaluating the situation, it seemed certain that the man possessed a skill for covering incredible distances.
Shin Jun-hos contracted constetion allowed him to absorb some abilities or skills by consuming a hunters flesh.
Meaning, if he could find Kang-hoo and consume him, he might acquire this spatial movement ability.
He thought it would not matter to lose a second-grade glove item in this case.
The value of the skill Kang-hoo used to save Min Su-hyun was significant.
Abilities involving time and space increased in value with their impact.
The Fixer, having grasped the context and flow of the situation, spoke up.
Moving his lips minimally, he emitted an uncanny, inhuman vibe.
Then, the current fee wont suffice.
Damn money-grubber
Whether I ept the job or not is my choice. Doesnt seem like a good response.
Lets hear why its tough with the current fee. Why?
Theres no information about the man. Apart from his spatial movement ability, nothing else is known.
Even with support from our Ebony Bone, thats no help?
Useless.
If any other hunter had spoken to Shin Jun-ho like this, their head would have met the ground by now.
But as a capable Fixer who had significantly helped Ebony Bone, he couldnt do that.
Shin Jun-ho said resignedly.
Fine. What will it take?
The fee will be an advance payment. Ill send an estimate; pay it first.
Alright, do that.
Wait a moment.
The Fixer slowly walked to where Kang-hoo had been, eyes closed, sensing something.
He had the ability to track and empathize with mana traces, a kind of spiritual power.
It was derived from his constetion but also synergized well with his innate nature.
Heh.
The Fixer showed an intrigued expression.
He saw itthe trace and intensity Kang-hoo left behind.
What do you see?
A very reliable constetion is backing him up. The scary part is, hes not afraid of that constetion.
Is he crazy?
Crazy and great are just a hairs breadth apart. My feeling is thetter. This will be interesting. Very interesting
The Fixer, with a rotten smile showing his curiosity, looked as if he were gazing into an uncanny valley.
Shin Jun-ho had sensed that the man who saved the woman was extraordinary.
This was actually a good thing.
If the Fixer could catch him, then Shin Jun-ho could steadily take that ability.
As always, this was what made Shin Jun-ho the leader of the Ebony Bone.
It was also the reason why the Kimcheon Liberation Area hade under their control.
I feel a strong pull.
A smile crept onto the Fixers otherwise expressionless face.
It was a smile that only appeared when he sensed an interesting, powerful presence.
Knowing the caliber of hunters that piqued the Fixers interest, Shin Jun-ho became intrigued by this sudden change in expression.
Who could this person be?
Make the payment. Ill start the chase immediately.
The Fixer was already fired up.
Coming from the liberation zone, Daejeon Station seems like a safe haven where one can stretch their legs and sleep.
Arriving at Daejeon Station, Kang-hoo chuckled at the scenery, which felt undeniably saferpared to the liberation zone.
Indeed, it was safer.
In the liberation zone, finding the bodies of dead hunters shortly after entering was not umon.
But at least in front of Daejeon Station, there were no corpses. Of course, there were quite a few menacing hunters around.
Especially hunters from Eclipse were easy to spot.
Hades is now under the control of Eclipse, making ess somewhat troublesome
Yet, he wanted to go.
The Limitless Mana Dungeon, where entry required massive amounts of mana.
If it was a dungeon that had been discovered but remained unentered, the rewards inside must be significant.
Once inside, getting out would not be an issue for Kang-hoo, thanks to his constetions ability to move through space.
A skill so effective that he considered the Dimension Plunderer irreceable by any other constetion.
Just then, his phone rang.
He hadnt mentioneding to Daejeon Station, could it be a womans intuition?
Yeah, Seo-yeon.
It was Han Seo-yeon calling.
She had invited him to her house.
During their dating days, Kang-hoo often visited her home, so it wasnt awkward for him.
He wondered why she had suddenly called, but there was a reason. She had officially joined the Jeonghwa Guild.
That meant she was scouted from the satellite guild Haeohwa, recognized for her skills.
Like being called up from the minors to the majors in professional sports, it was a naturally joyous asion.
He understood her happiness, but from Kang-hoos perspective, it felt like a twist of fate.
His ex-girlfriend now belonged to what might be his greatest adversary. Could things get more tangled?
No need to overthink. Its not like Im destined to fight Seo-yeon.
He decided to worry about it when the time came.
Upon entering Han Seo-yeons house, Kang-hoo took off his coat and drank the sparkling water she offered.
Thirsty, he found the drink refreshingly cool, and she began the conversation with a smile.
You seem to have changed a lot since Ist saw you. I can feel a strong mana aura even here.
Your ttery has improved.
No, really! I mean it. You know Im quite sensitive to mana.
Thats true.
Youre different from when we met after escaping Cheongmyeong Detention Center. You seem much stronger. Significantly so.
A lot has happened.
Kang-hoo nodded, recalling the past. Indeed, many things had happened.
The changes he had undergone were apparently noticeable even to those close to him.
Han Seo-yeon had always been sensitive to his slightest gaze and emotional shifts during their rtionship.
Given her perceptiveness, it wasnt surprising she had noticed the changes.
I didnt think you woulde.
Why?
You always try to keep a distance. So, this ce must be the most ufortable for you, right?
What if you think of it differently? If theres no burden of distance, its not necessarily ufortable.
Are you saying not toe closer?
We just have to remember we are good friends.
Hearing Kang-hoos words, Han Seo-yeon shook her head in resignation and took a gulp of water.
She wasnt hurt or disappointed by his words.
They were no longer in a romantic rtionship but simply friends who used to date.
Good friends. Yes, that seems like the right description.
She nodded in agreement and then vigorously took off her top.
It was unclear whether she did this intentionally or if she really thought of him as a friend beyond gender,fortable enough to do so.
With only her underwear on and her bare skin exposed, it could have been considered a flirtatious signal.
Looks like youve put on quite some weight since Ist saw you.
Kang-hoo bluntly shattered the atmosphere.
Chapter 69: Encounter With Kang Dong-hyun (2)
Chapter 69: Encounter With Kang Dong-hyun (2)
Han Seo-yeon safely changed into her pajamas and made her way to her room, thanks to the conveniently stifled atmosphere.
It seemed she had something to retrieve. Kang-hoo sat in the living room, savoring the subtle scent of coffee.
He could have given in to his instincts to any extent.
Though his emotions might have be desensitized, his desires were sharp and plentiful.
Sexual desire? Of course, he had it.
To survive in this insane world in a sane and ordinary manner, even sexual desires had to be managed.
But he didnt want to take advantage of her feelings just to satisfy a fleeting urge.
Treating Han Seo-yeon simply as a business partner was not easy for him, unlike for others.
It was likely that the character of Shin Kang-hoo from the original work had naturally oveid a pure heart.
No matter how many times he tried to dismiss it, it persisted like an indelible emotional imprint.
Soon, Han Seo-yeon returned with a thick stack of papers, announcing that she had found them.
Oppa, look at this.
What is it?
You know, the disease youre afflicted by.
Yes.
Han Seo-yeon was the only person aware of Kang-hoos congenital mana hypersensitivity.
This was the disease that had gued him ever since he awakened his hunter abilities.
Given their once passionate love affair, it was not surprising that she was privy to his condition.
Ive been researching it non-stop, and more recently, Ive delved deeper to find someone who can cure this disease.
There isnt anyone. Its incurable.
He stated to her, although he wasnt entirely without hope.
Yet, high hopes often lead to severe disappointments, so he deliberately kept his expectations low.
Theres a researcher in Romania who has been focusing on hunters who develop rare diseases post-awakening.
Romania?
Yes, a researcher named Mihai Bancu. Hes also a hunter and has been afflicted with potion hyperreaction.
Potion hyperreaction
It was not amon incurable disease.
However, Kang-hoo was not unfamiliar with it; he had considered the disease before.
Sensing something familiar, Kang-hoo immediately asked her.
So, he has an allergic reaction to potions?
Yes, exactly. He absolutely cant drink health or mana potions. Even the smell triggers a reaction.
Interesting.
Despite his dry expression of interest, Kang-hoo was inwardly surprised that the symptoms precisely matched those he had envisioned in the past.
This, too, was an unconscious realization, a kind of reality he often encountered these days.
There are also cases where he not only studied but also resolved conditions like epidermal proliferation and congenital analgesia.
He treated them?
Yes. It happened a month ago. Its a recent case. Heres a tranted version of the interview.
Looking at the materials handed to him by Han Seo-yeon, Kang-hoo saw that there were indeed cases of incurable diseases being cured.
It was not some third-rate tabloid article, but a high-quality piece meticulously written by an redited hunter media outlet.
It really was cured. The follow-up article also states there were no rpses or remaining traces.
Right! I really wish you would meet him, Oppa. Youve suffered a lot. Its an ongoing issue.
Hmm
He thought Master K might be the only solution, but it seemed necessary to consider options abroad as well.
Yet, caution was also needed.
His congenital mana hypersensitivity should not disappear entirely. Only the pain should be selectively removed like with tweezers.
If the hypersensitivity itself vanished, his greatest strength would disappear along with it.
Thank you, Seo-yeon. You didnt need to go through all this trouble for me. Youve worked hard.
Hard work? It was just good luck that I came across it.
Thats hard to believe, considering the amount of research youve done.
Kang-hoo knew well that Han Seo-yeon was thoroughly lying.
Given her personality, she consistently looked into it and possibly even went out searching herself.
She was that kind of person: devoted and always putting others before herself.
Kang-hoo added,
I want to repay you for these materials somehow. I hope you wont refuse.
Hmph. Its okay. I have plenty of money too,
Han Seo-yeon replied with a smile.
It wasnt an empty boast.
She was a talented hunter and had received a hefty signing bonus when she joined the Jeonghwa Guild.
Still, I dont like the idea of it being free.
Then just grant me one wish. Thatll make me happy, and you wont feel like its for free.
What is it?
Just spend today with me. Just for one day, like old times. Just once.
Seeing her eyes redden before she even finished speaking, Kang-hoos mind grew heavy.
He couldnt return to the feelings of the past, but he could recall and relive those memories.
If that was the repayment Han Seo-yeon wanted, he could certainly give it.
Not as an act, but with genuine feelings, because memories of those passionate times still remained.
Okay.
Kang-hoo responded briefly.
There was no need for a long conversation. They knew each other too well; a simple nce was enough.
The sun was already setting in the western sky.
The night that was about toe
Since he opened his eyes to this world, it would be the longest night, yet not a lonely one.
For just a brief moment,
He thought it might be alright to throw off the overly controlled reins of reason and be true to his feelings and instincts.
Perhaps not all emotions needed to be restrained.
With that, their time together flowed deeply, heatedly, and as quickly as the tide.
The next evening,
Kang-hoo arrived at a point about 500 meters away from Club Hades.
It was thriving, almost making one wonder if this was the same ce where arge-scale bloodbath and kidnapping had urred.
The evidencey in the customers who began to gather even before the sunset.
Groups of young souls entered, eager to revel in the pleasures and entertainment of a Friday night.
Most of them, he surmised, were either affiliated with Eclipse or were simply ordinary people.
Eclipse, a criminal organization, tended not to bother ordinary folk.
More precisely, they disregarded them for theirck of value.
Their primary targets were hunters who could manipte mana, whom they abducted and sent to detention centers to mine mana stones.
In essence, they needed workers capable of using mana, not ordinary people who were merely a drain.
The only concerning point is that the internal structure might have changed.
Given the previous battle, it was possible that the interioryout had been modified.
The stairs location might have remained the same, but the path could be different from what it was before.
Entering stealthily and hiding his presence in the shadows now seemed to be the best approach.
However, maintaining invisibility indefinitely was not feasible, whichplicated Kang-hoos ns.
Whatcha doing here?
?
Suddenly, someone tapped Kang-hoos shoulder from beside him.
Given that his only acquaintance at Daejeon Station was Han Seo-yeon, who could have recognized him?
He turned his head.
There stood a woman d in a body-hugging dress that matched Club Hades bold ambiance.
Her makeup and look were so altered that he didnt recognize her at first nce, but upon further inspection, it was indeed Yun Sang-mi.
Why are you here?
Thats my question. What brings you here, Oppa? And is that all youre wearing?
Did youe out to have fun?
Of course! Its not like someone like Oppa woulde to a club for fun. Did youe here to fight?
Her question was typical of Yun Sang-mi.
And she was not wrong.
There was no reason for Kang-hoo to visit a club just to dance; Kang-hoo was, in fact, quite a poor dancer.
His movements as an assassin were smooth and spectacr, but as a dancer, he was as stiff as a board.
Heid out the situation for her.
After all, it was a dungeon that she couldnt enter anyway.
In part, he also understood Yun Sang-mis heart, which was a million times more favorably inclined toward him than toward Eclipse.
After listening to his story, Yun Sang-mi appeared intrigued. It seemed like news to her.
Should I help?
I didnt tell you this because I need help.
Still, you have to go to the secret 7th basement level, right? Itll be difficult on your own, wont it?
Whether I go alone or with someone, its the same. If Im nning to solve this by force, its easier by myself.
Sure, if youre nning to brute force your way through. But youre making it sound too simple.
Then you have a not-so-simple way?
How about we pretend to be a couple madly in love for today?
Can you exin more simply?
This is a club. It wouldnt be odd for a man and woman to seek a more private space, driven by emotions that are heightened in this setting.
Kang-hoo was well aware of how emotions could escte among young men and women in a club, even though he himself was not fond of clubbing.
Yun Sang-mis suggestion seemed feasible.
Why bother? Even if you get in, you cant go any further than I can. Theres no benefit for you.
I just want to be in your debt, Oppa. You dont like owing favors.
Creating a debt on purpose. Heh.
He chuckled.
This was the same tactic Kang-hoo had used with Lee Hyun-seok the day before, and Yun Sang-mi was thinking along simr lines.
Truly, the human heart is fickle.
Creating a bond by having the other person feel indebted was undeniably effective.
So, will you help or not?
Yun Sang-mis voice took on an edge.
Her assistance would certainly facilitate the task.
If they could directly ess the 6th basement, it would minimize the time he needed to spend on stealth and concealing his presence.
Moreover, Kang-hoos face was not yet widely recognized by Eclipse.
Since Kang Dong-hyun had kept Cha So-hees death a secret, only a few were aware of Kang-hoo.
If there was an opportunity today, this was it.
Help me. Ill dly owe you.
Kang-hoo requested Yun Sang-mis assistance.
Reflecting on it, his connection with her seemed to be a bond that was not easily severed.
Currently, he was ready to synchronize his movements with hers once more in Club Hades, which had a more intense concept than before.
Upon entering Club Hades,
enough time had psed.
Just as Kang-hoo and Yun Sang-mi were about to pose as a couple drawn to each other, seeking an excuse to descend to the 7th basement,
Kang-hoo, surveying the area, unexpectedly noticed someone.
It was Kang Dong-hyun.
Everyones working hard.
He wasnt too distant, but luckily, their gazes didnt cross.
His appearance at that moment seemed far too convenient to be mere chance.
Whooosh.
Kang Dong-hyun exhaled a plume of smoke from his cigarette, scanning the surroundings.
At that instant,
Excuse me.
Kang-hoo used Yun Sang-mi as a cover and kissed her on the lips.
Kang Dong-hyuns eyes just skimmed over the top of Yun Sang-mis head.
Disys of intimate touch and flirtation were somonce in clubs that they almost went unnoticed.
Kang Dong-hyun looked away indifferently and then moved off in another direction.
They had narrowly escaped detection.
Chapter 70: Encounter With Kang Dong-hyun (3)
Chapter 70: Encounter With Kang Dong-hyun (3)
Do it properly.
What?
Is this the only way you can touch a woman youve locked eyes with?
.
If you act like youre acting, everyone will notice. You have to act with sincerity to not get caught.
Kang-hoo and Yun Sang-mi, intertwined as one, naturally headed towards the 7th basement level.
Contrary to expectations, the stairs leading to the 7th basement were tucked away in a corner.
In fact, there were already men and women who had arrived earlier enjoying themselves there.
However, there was just one problem: was there a separate surveince system in ce?
It reacts to mana.
Kang-hoo recognized it immediately.
The intangible barrier covering the entrance to the 7th basement level reacted to mana.
In other words, no matter if you tried to sneak or leap through here, you would be detected.
To avoid detection, one had to navigate through the irregrly intertwined barriers.
Fortunately for Kang-hoo, he could see the flow of mana.
After all, the barrier was a structure based on the mana of magic stones.
Judging by its construction, it seemed to have been built by a skilled hunter, obviously costing a considerable amount of money.
Could there be such an artisan within Eclipse?
Brother, your lips are thicker than I thought.
Is it ufortable?
No. People with thick lips are usually charming. I dont like men with thin lips.
Im causing you trouble.
What trouble? Im fulfilling my own desires. Heh. Its not often you get to kiss a handsome man.
Handsome
Youre handsome, brother. Dont be falsely modest. Handsome is handsome.
Yun Sang-mi lightened the potentially awkward atmosphere with jokes and yful remarks.
After all, it was true that he owed Yun Sang-mi for todays help.
Thanks to her, they avoided Kang Dong-hyuns gaze and made it smoothly to the front of the 7th basement.
Indeed, moving around as a couple in love, no one viewed them with suspicion.
Had they been looking around restlessly, searching for something, they would have followed long ago.
Yun Sang-mi whispered.
Do you have a n to escape?
Theres a sure way.
How?
Theres a safe way out of the club. Just get in.
Really?
Would I joke about this here?
Relieved by Kang-hoos answer, Yun Sang-mi sighed.
While Kang-hoo assisting with entering the dungeon was fine, she worried about leaving.
But with Kang-hoos surefire n, it seemed there was no need for concern.
Then Ill go now. Hades is fun today; the crowd looks lively.
Thanks. Thats enough for now. Ill make sure to repay this debtter.
No need to wait. Just give me your number. Thats my demand.
Is my number that valuable?
Its valuable because its hard to get. Give it to me now. No backing out at this point.
Okay.
Kang-hoo entered his number into Yun Sang-mis smartphone.
She called him, and seeing Kang-hoos phone ring, she turned off the screen with a smile.
Lets definitely go to a dungeon together sometime. I recently found a decent one.
An ownerless dungeon?
Yes, thats right. Ive already obtained approval from the Hunter Public Safety Bureau and secured ownership.
Thats enviable.
He truly meant it.
Having a personal dungeon meant having a training ground for leveling up anytime.
Most dungeons already had owners, so owning one wasnt easy, but Yun Sang-mi seemed lucky.
Ill contact you soon. Dont block my number.
Got it.
Then, Im off!
You owe me a lot.
Before Kang-hoo could finish waving, Yun Sang-mi coolly disappeared down the stairs.
Her face was flushed, but Kang-hoo didnt notice due to the dim lighting.
Well then. Shall we go in now?
He moved toward the barrier.
Though densely packed, there was just enough space for one person to slip through sideways.
It was an impossible gap for hunters who couldnt see through mana flows.
But Kang-hoo could see it.
Where and how to move his body to avoid contact with the barrier.
Silently
Kang-hoo naturally concealed himself in the darkness, disappearing cleanly as always.
The flow was good.
He had safely passed through the barrier.
He moved through a space cluttered with various items mixed with dust and a warehouse that smelled musty.
As it was a private area, there were no CCTV cameras, but Kang-hoo cautiously remained hidden as he moved.
It was his unchanging creed never to becent and always to be prepared for variables, even in seemingly safe conditions.
Somewhere in the seventh basement he had arrived at, there must be the entrance to the dungeon Benny had mentioned.
Invisible to the eye, its strong energy was palpable.
The dungeons energy, craving and indulging in mana, stretched far and wide.
But then.
Youve gone through a lot of trouble to get here. Wouldnt it be polite to say hello?
?
Uninvited guest. I already know where you are.
A familiar voice sounded.
The deep voice he vividly remembered from the call after killing Cha So-hee. It was Kang Dong-hyun.
Kang-hoo looked around and noticed an internal elevator connected here.
A secret elevator, judging by its absence from the outside view. A usible structure.
I should have been upstairs enjoying vodka. When did youe here? I had no idea.
Kang-hoo released his stealth.
Whether he fought Kang Dong-hyun or did something else, he had to reveal himself. He couldnt hide his face.
Besides, he and Kang Dong-hyun were already acquainted, though they knew each other from different circumstances.
Heh, to think Id see Shin Kang-hoo here. Surprising, isnt it?
Kang Dong-hyuns mouth curled into a smirk.
Kang-hoo, firmly gripping his Blood Dew, was ready to enter battle at any moment.
He also had ns to use spatial movement strategically, ording to the situation. His options were not limited to one.
I heard theres a very interesting sight in the 7th basement.
Who told you that?
From a reliable source.
While Benny wasnt exactly reliable, Kang-hoo deliberately made it sound usible.
It was a small ploy to make Kang Dong-hyun suspect an insider.
Of course, it wasnt particrly damaging, but it was still something.
Shin Kang-hoo. I never thought Id see you unless I forced a meeting.
Same here.
Hades is a club operated by our Eclipse. The dungeon is also our property.
Nobody can enter anyway. So, can I take a look inside?
Dont be presumptuous.
If no one can enjoy it, its okay for someone who can to take it all in, isnt it?
Your nonsense sounds almost logical.
Well, if you want to control the dogs, you have to speak theirnguage. Its not strange that you understand.
Youreback is quite sharp.
Im not just all talk.
He slightly lowered his posture.
Kang Dong-hyun was a physical hunter.
Boxing was his specialty.
Therefore, his ss was categorized as a fightera ss as rare as a berserker.
Kang Dong-hyun was an opponent Kang-hoo could never beat head-on.
Even though he could overpower level 250 Cha So-hee by exploiting weaknesses and creating variables.
Level 500+ Kang Dong-hyun was too much for Kang-hoo at this stage.
But, I can try to hold on and find a chance to enter.
There was no need for a life-or-death battle with Kang Dong-hyun here, nor did he n to have one.
Just buying time to quickly infuse the dungeon with mana would open the entrance soon.
Crunch!
He chewed on a Mad Srkium.
To pour endless mana into the dungeon, he had to consume Mad Srkium now.
Theres no free lunch, Shin Kang-hoo!
Boom!
With a resounding voice, Kang Dong-hyun closed the distance in an instant.
His bulging forearms were a prelude to the threat of his strike.
Swoosh!
Kang-hoo instantlyid a veil of tricks.
Within its radius, absolute stealth was maintained, ideal for buying time.
Simultaneously, Kang-hoo channeled most of his mana into the dungeon.
He wanted to get closer to infuse mana, but Kang Dong-hyun had already secured the key position.
Oh? A skill you didnt use when you killed So-hee? Is it a recent acquisition?
As Kang-hoo vanished, Kang Dong-hyun showed his interest.
He wore stealth-detection goggles yet failed to see Kang-hoo.
Absolute stealth skill. Perfect for an assassin. Cool. It suits you well!
Kang Dong-hyun gave a thumbs up, exuding ample confidence.
Kang-hoo remained silent, continuing his mana infusion.
His body absorbed the surrounding mana at an elerated rate, quickly nearing overload.
But the Mad Srkium allowed him to stave off the overloads effects for 30 minutes.
[Indomitable Fighting Spirit]
[As the battle prolongs, your strength increases proportionally, and your stamina recovers.]
Hes made a contract with that damned constetion.
Kang Dong-hyuns constetion information revealed one standout detail.
If Kang-hoo recalled correctly.
The Indomitable Fighting Spirit ranked easily among the top 100 constetions.
Comparable even to the Dimension Plunderer.
An absurd constetion perk.
Gaining strength and recovering during a fight? An insane advantage.
Hmm. Interesting. A considerable amount of mana has been funneled into the dungeon. Youre quite capable, arent you?
Kang Dong-hyun marveled at the steady stream of mana entering the dungeon.
He wasnt simply unable to locate Kang-hoo.
He wanted to gauge how well Kang-hoo could manage mana, enough to boldly pursue this dungeon.
To put it inly, it was beyond his expectations.
Kang-hoo could deliver an explosive amount of mana in a brief span.
A luxury ill-suited for an assassina ss notorious for chronic mana shortages and ranked in the top three for such deficits.
This wont do.
His eyes shimmered slightly.
Being toocent might lead Kang-hoo to unlock the dungeon door right under his nose.
Without dy, he started funneling power into his clenched right fist.
No need to find where Kang-hoo was.
He could shake the entire space in front of the dungeon with a strong shockwave.
Damn it.
The moment Kang-hoo realized Kang Dong-hyuns crude method, his expression hardened.
From the start, Kang Dong-hyun never intended to decipher the stealth. He just sted it away.
The strong always have a different approach.
Chapter 71: Limitless Mana Dungeon (1)
Chapter 71: Limitless Mana Dungeon (1)
Swoosh!
In the not-so-spacious corridor of the 7th basement floor, Kang Dong-hyuns Fist Wind devoured all the space.
[Protection - Stage 2]
Thanks to the quick deployment of Protection Stage 2, I managed to withstand the first wave of the most powerful Fist Wind.
But it was released in five stages, each slightly weaker than the previous one.
I had to block four more attacks that followed.
Combining protective barriers, rapid evasion, and leaping, I dodged the attacks with all my might.
Indeed, it was Kang Dong-hyun.
I thought to myself that even one direct hit by any of those five Fist Winds would have been devastating.
This was evident as the iron leg of a small desk next to me was bent into a shape.
It was a clear indication of what would have happened to human bones.
But in the end, I took no damage. I dodged all of Kang Dong-hyuns attacks, injecting more mana.
[Lightning Speed de]
Kang-hoo, pulling out a practice dagger, cast the Lightning Speed de skill and hurled it at Kang Dong-hyun.
An ordinary hunter would have either dodged or found a way to block the fiercely approaching dagger.
But Kang Dong-hyun, without hesitation, thrust his fist towards the flying dagger.
Haap!
The dagger and fist collided in an instant.
Although it was a practice dagger, it was an attack loaded with considerable momentum.
Apart from a few sparks from Kang Dong-hyuns fingertips, there was no change.
I half-expected his body to be pushed back slightly, but he only flinched.
Hes ridiculously strong.
While not underestimating his abilities, Kang-hoo had a simple image of Kang Dong-hyun.
Of course, he wasnt just brutishly strong. He had his strategies and tactics.
Butpared to other hunters of the same level, his physical prowess was indeed superior.
Eurgh! Eryahh!
Kang Dong-hyun, trying to hit Kang-hoo, who remained in stealth, thrust his fists everywhere.
Each time, strong shockwaves spread out, crumbling and shaking the inner walls, but he seemed unconcerned.
[Thunderstorm Array]
Toplicate Kang Dong-hyuns judgments, Kang-hooid a Thunderstorm Array, intentionally provoking him.
It was unlikely that the array would hurt Kang Dong-hyun, but it served to distract him with its triggered attack effects.
A lot of tricks up your sleeve, huh! Lets see how long you can keep up that stealth!
Kang Dong-hyun had a point.
Maintaining stealth required mana. It was impossible to remain invisible indefinitely.
Thus, if Kang-hoos attacks were effectively blocked while he spread attacks in all directions in the confined space,
eventually, Kang-hoo would either deplete his mana or find it difficult to keep up his stealth, potentially ending the standoff.
Unfortunately, Kang Dong-hyun underestimated Kang-hoos abilities.
He thought he had gauged Kang-hoos skills highly, but in reality, his estimation fell far short of Kang-hoos true capabilities.
Feasting on a Mad Srkium, mana consumption was Kang-hoos least concern.
Maintain stealth?
As long as Kang-hoo avoided direct impact, maintaining it for 30 minutes was effortless.
Kang Dong-hyun had not considered that under certain conditions, Kang-hoo could utilize mana without limit.
This was a critical oversight.
Kang-hoo continued to channel the mana that gathered endlessly into the dungeon, and the end began toe into view.
Good. Im getting the hang of this.
The 7th basement dungeon, voraciously consuming mana, was now absorbing significantly less.
This reduction signaled that the climax was near.
The dungeon was self-sufficient, not requiring more mana than a predetermined amount.
[Shadow Step]
[Illusion Technique]
[Sight Stealing]
Kang-hoo then unleashed several skills he had been conserving towards Kang Dong-hyun without hesitation.
Intent to attack? That had never been his strategy from the outset.
Kang-hoos strategy aimed to thoroughly disrupt Kang Dong-hyuns vision and buy time.
After all, it was an incredible feat for a hunter below level 100 to confront one over 500.
It was like a 7-year-old child taking on a 25-year-old athlete.
Can you picture it?
Without significant handicaps, such a matchup would not be possible, nor should it happen.
The win probability for one side was not 99.9% but 100%. The current battle between the two hunters was exactly that.
Done.
In the meantime,
The color of the dungeons entrance, having absorbed a generous amount of mana, began to change. It was ready to ept.
Huh?
Kang Dong-hyun tilted his head in confusion.
It didnt seem like much time had passed, but had the dungeon entrance already opened?
It had only been a very short skirmish, akin to the start of a reconnaissance mission.
From Kang Dong-hyuns perspective, he hadnt even properly warmed up yet. But on the other side, the situation had concluded.
And then,
Try to catch me if you can.
Kang-hoo taunted Kang Dong-hyun, who wore a stunned expression, with a rude hand gesture and entered the dungeon.
A smooth entrance.
Kang Dong-hyun, like a dog that had chased away the chickens, was left with nothing to do.
He thrust himself into the entrance in a flicker of hope, but all he received in return was a cold rebuff.
Hahaha. This is totally unexpected. Did I underestimate Shin Kang-hoos capabilities too much?
Kang Dong-hyun wore a look of defeat.
He knew from the battle footage with Cha So-hee that Shin Kang-hoo could handle a variety of skills.
He had also confirmed that Kang-hoo used many skills liberally in the footage.
Meaning, he thought of Kang-hoo as a hunter with a certain level of mana richness.
But to keep him in check while dodging attacks and simultaneously infusing mana into the dungeon
He hadnt considered the possibility of Kang-hoo managing three tasks simultaneously. To do so required a lot of mana.
But Kang-hoo managed to do it.
Kang Dong-hyun hadpletely misjudged Kang-hoos ability to handle mana.
I really want him on my side. With him, the loss of So-hee seems like a small price to pay
Kang Dong-hyun licked his lips.
They say you can tell a promising tree from its leaves, and Kang-hoos potential seemed golden.
For now, I must catch him when hees out of the dungeon. Damn. My stomach hurts for the first time in a while.
Kang Dong-hyun rubbed his stomach.
The thought of Kang-hoo effortlessly conquering a dungeon he himself couldnt enter made his stomach churn.
But there was no choice.
Kang Dong-hyun couldnt figure out how to enter the dungeon either.
He had been neatly tricked by Kang-hoo and ended up granting free admission without collecting a single entrance fee.
As soon as Kang-hoo entered the dungeon, he sped up and began his conquest.
Though it is referred to as the Limitless Mana Dungeon, this isnt a unique name for a single dungeon.
There are many dungeons like this, where arge amount of mana serves as the entrance fee.
Furthermore, there are dungeons that demand other forms of entrance fees, like the blood of a living hunter or other sacrifices.
The worst cases are those that demand the life of a living hunter. In other words, the door opens only when someone dies.
Most hunters, for moral reasons, are reluctant to enter such dungeons.
However, the world doesnt always follow moral and upright paths. Naturally, there were many hunters who brought sacrifices.
Despite the tricky dungeon entrance conditions and even the variable of Kang Dong-hyuns appearance,
I managed to get inside without any issues.
Kang Dong-hyuns carelessness yed a part, and the decision to chew on Mad Srkium was the right one.
The overall level of the dungeon seems to be around 200. The experience points also appear to be twice what I expected.
The dungeon had never been conquered before, and its internal energy had umted, resulting in generous rewards.
Even without special items or magic stones dropping, the experience points alone were plentiful.
This opportunityes only once.
Once the conquest was over, the same benefits wouldnt be avable in this reset dungeon.
It would revert to its original state, offering only half the experience points it now did.
Then.
Boom! Boom!
A middle boss, standing about 3 meters tall with a muscr build, emerged from the darkness.
I approached a bamboo area, on high alert, when I spotted it.
But then.
[Ad]
[In this special dungeon environment, you can definitely obtain one Red Jewel.]
The content disyed alongside the middle bosss name was something you wouldnt normally see.
The message implied that special rewards had been added due to the dungeons umted energy.
And that reward was a Red Jewel.
Red Jewels were essential materials needed to upgrade skills; without them, upgrading a skill couldnt even begin.
Kang-hoo already had one Red Jewel.
Possessing a Red Jewel allowed for the upgrading of the Protection skill to Stage 3.
Furthermore, it enabled the upgrading ofplex skills requiring more than two Red Jewels.
The fact that the middle boss was offering one suggested that main bosses might yield at least two.
I could potentially amass a significant stock of Red Jewels here.
The problem is that guy.
Crack! Crunch!
Growl.
Kang-hoo, irritably snapping bamboo, fixed his gaze on the middle boss named Ad.
An bipedal crocodile-like monster, it had one of its arms sharpened like a de.
Part of its body served as a weapon.
Getting a Red Jewel is like reaching for the stars, but its worth a shot.
Kang-hoo prepared for battle, emboldened by the effects of Mad Srkium coursing through him; there was nothing to fear.
Meanwhile.
Seems like nothings wrong.
Yun Sang-mi, engrossed in the pleasure-filled atmosphere of Hades, shifted her gaze.
Kang-hoo had been inside for quite some time without any news, which suggested he had entered safely.
Who am I to worry about him?
Yun Sang-mi briefly contemted her concerns for Kang-hoos wellbeing.
Whenever she saw Kang-hoo, she harbored a conviction that he wouldnt sumb to danger, despite it being an indistinct feeling.
This might have stemmed from her knowledge of Kang-hoos journey thus far.
Kang-hoo always appeared to have a backup or even a third n. When he failed, he never seemed to panic.
Frankly, she envied that.
Strategic thinking required confidence in ones capabilities, an impossibility without such confidence.
Yun Sang-mi was certain she couldnt face crises as adeptly and calmly as Kang-hoo.
Thus, her awe and admiration for Kang-hoos abilities came naturally.
Moreover, her personal fondness for him remained unchanged. He certainly possessed the charm of a suave city man.
Then
Rumble! Rumble!
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the closed emergency exit on the 6th basement floor.
The footsteps, heading downward, indicated movement toward the 7th basement floor.
She felt a twinge of worry.
The Kang-hoo who had entered was beyond her help.
But were they intending to capture Kang-hoo as he emerged from the dungeon?
Despite Kang-hoo mentioning he had an escape n, she couldnt quell her anxiety.
The brief tally of footsteps she heard suggested the involvement of at least twenty people.
How could he possibly evade a siege by so many hunters?
And with Kang Dong-hyun also in the club could Kang-hoo truly make it out alive?
Chapter 72: Limitless Mana Dungeon (2)
Chapter 72: Limitless Mana Dungeon (2)
Really, I cant believe it.
Captain, what happened?
A hunter has entered this dungeon. While I was too rxed, they invested arge amount of mana to gain entry.
How did they get in?
How? They poured all their mana into it, thats how.
Is that even possible?
Are you trying to joke with me?
Im sorry!
Kang Dong-hyun, who had summoned usefulbat forces from within and beyond Hades, stationed hunters at the dungeon entrance.
A sealed dungeon opens its exit in one of two ways once it is conquered.
Either a new exit materializes, or the original entrance doubles as the exit, leading back to the same ce.
Given that the chances were fifty-fifty, he deployed his forces as a precaution.
And in the event of a failed conquest, they would have to retreat through the entrance they used
In that sense, it was a tactically significant cement.
Hunters of various specializations were arrayed.
Not only close-range types adept with a range of weapons and long-range types with diverse binding attacks.
But also hunters skilled in spatial maniption and rapid movement. It was an assortment that included nearly everything.
Can you tell me who went in?
Everyone seemed intrigued by the unexpected visitor.
To date, no hunter from Eclipse had dared to enter the Limitless Mana Dungeon.
If someone had boldly entered a dungeon that even Kang Dong-hyun had not, what did that say about their prowess?
You guys wouldnt recognize them even if I said the name. When they emerge, apprehend them and learn their identity. There will be a reward for that.
Kang Dong-hyun smirked and lit a cigarette.
Now it was a matter of patience.
It had been ages since he needed to await someone like this, but now, waiting was his only option.
Kang Dong-hyun persistently fed mana into the dungeon entrance as an experiment.
But despite using potions, he was unable to secure the entrance ticket the dungeon demanded.
Creak.
Kang Dong-hyun sat down in a chair facing the entrance, deep in thought.
He meticulously arranged a to capture Kang-hoo as soon as he emerged.
Unless Kang-hoo suddenly gained the ability to teleport, there was no escaping from Hades.
Capturing Kang-hoo seemed almost certain.
Once caught, what would be the best way to handle him?
Hes too clever for his own good to be controlled normally. Taming someone like him wont be easy.
It would be great if he willingly became his minion, but that was no easy feat.
Among his loyal hounds, there had been those who changed their minds and tried to betray him.
For Kang-hoo, who had started off on the wrong foot, the likelihood was even greater.
Tracker.
There was only one way.
The Tracker, both a source of pride and fear for Eclipse, would be a good example.
If Kang-hoo could be controlled using the mechanism of the Tracker, a human weapon operated through drugs, it might work.
He didnt even need to be used as abat force.
With his level of mana utilization, just throwing him into a mana stone mine would rece the value of many prisoners.
Damn. Ive never waited this long for a woman, and now Im forced to wait like this; its not in my destiny.
Kang Dong-hyun lit another cigarette, his bitterness not easily soothed, as snickers echoed around him.
The first one tough,e here. Ill have you wait in a horse-riding stance until this wait is over.
Kang Dong-hyun was in a mischievously yful mood.
About ten minutester.
Squelch!
Ard bit his tongue and copsed in front of Kang-hoo, eyes bulging, breath ceasing.
Even dealing with this one took up so much stamina. The dungeons difficulty is indeed high.
Kang-hoo irritably wiped the thick beads of sweat off his forehead. It had taken longer than he expected.
The previous battle with Kang Dong-hyun seemed to have helped, as it wasnt too difficult.
But it was certainly not easy, and this realization naturally heightened his desire for growth.
Perhaps this longing would only disappear once he reached a level where he could no longer improve.
Level 999, maybe? That was a future concern. Of course, it was a wish he desperately wanted to fulfill.
His level had now reached 88.
The experience points buffer he had steadily built up felt significantly more impactful in a dungeon generous with experience like this one.
Two maites as well. Now I can convert skills that require two maites for upgrades.
The maites obtained from Ard were solid gains.
Given their immense potential for utility, calcting their mary value seemed pointless.
Theres a skill too.
What satisfied Kang-hoo the most was the skill he plundered from Ard.
There were several candidates, but he chose the one with the best efficiency.
[Mad Healing]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv Max]
[In a stationary state, converts 1 mana to 1 health for recovery. Enables rapid healing.]
With Mad Srkium consumed, this skill practically allowed for infinite health recovery.
Although it required being stationary, that just meant stopping briefly.
Or quietly standing in stealth mode to recover health.
Now, at least healers are out of my dictionary. I can heal myself.
No need to look far to understand what it means to be self-sufficient.
Kang-hoo himself was the embodiment of that phrase.
Having a self-healing skill as an assassin, usually weak in defense, was nothing short of overpowered.
Then, lets pick up the pace.
Having ovee the challenging mid-boss, it was time to hunt for monsters that would serve as mere punching bags.
He quickened his steps.
It wouldnt be surprising if Kang Dong-hyun or his cronies showed up from behind at any time.
To prevent them from gaining anything, he had to diligently wipe out monsters as he advanced.
The path was clear.
His steps were swift.
His mind was rxed.
He systematically took down monsters one by one, maintaining a one-on-one setup.
He didnt miss a single small monster, and his level steadily climbed to 91.
Gaining even two levels by monopolizing a typical dungeon was a hard feat.
Entering the Limitless Dungeon had proved immensely profitable for Kang-hoo; it was akin to not just tasting honey but bathing in a honey pot.
The good news wasnt limited to his levels.
Midway, he chanced upon a Srkium habitat and managed to increase his stash to 30.
Even the regr Srkiums, valued for their versatility, were now in ample supply.
He took down another mid-boss as well.
This one was named King Slime.
To call it a mid-boss was to be generous; it was more akin to a bonus monster.
Its defense was virtually nonexistent.
It didnt just squeak and take hits without fighting back; it also bestowed generous rewards upon defeat.
Consequently, his maite count hit three.
A dropped item added yet another talisman to his inventory.
[Soft Talisman]
[Grade: None]
[Emergency Use: Allows one-time use of a skill without consuming any mana. Cooldown of 1 hour.]
The talisman had obvious practical value.
What if you need to deploy a mana-intensive skill when mana recovery is slow?
In such cases, the Emergency Use feature of the Soft Talisman served as perfect insurance.
But there was one thing.
No matter how much he tried to get used to it, the name of the skill he had acquired from King Slime was distracting.
It was fortunate that only he needed to see it; verbalizing the skill would have been mortifying.
[Cuteness!]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv Max]
[Summons a medium-sized slime approximately 3m wide and 2m tall. It possesses no attack capabilities.]
Hmm
He found it a skill whose name he would rather not say aloud.
Despite its name, the skill was practical for certain scenarios.
The slimes considerable volume and opaque color made it useful for creating barriers.
It might also serve as a shield to intercept bothersome long-range attacks.
If I hadnt intercepted it, I would have regretted itter.
Forcing his way in had been worth it.
He had stolen skills, experience points, maites, and itemsthere was no shortage of rewards.
The thought that all these could have gone to Kang Dong-hyun or his affiliates
It certainly twisted his stomach.
Growing on his own was rewarding, but stealing a viins gains for growth was even more gratifying.
The difference in the maites and items he hadnt obtained today might have be a thorn in his sideter.
The moment he conquered the boss monster marked half a day since Kang-hoo had entered the Limitless Mana Dungeon.
He had reached level 94.
This achievement alone brought him close to what many would call a second heyday in a hunters life: level 100.
Furthermore, the boss monster had dropped 2 maites, bringing his total to 5.
Considering that over 90% of hunters never even glimpsed a maite in their lifetimes, this was a monumental sess.
The passive skill he had stolen from the boss monster had permanently increased Kang-hoos health.
[Enlightenment - Blood]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv Max]
[Permanently increases ''health'' by 100.]
The passive skill Enlightenment could also increase mana, depending on the choice.
But since Kang-hoo already possessed the skill book of the Age of Barbarism, there was no need to increase mana.
[Skill Book Age of Barbarism]
[Special Note: Berserker Exclusive]
[If the learner''s mana stat is below 50, all skill mana costs are reduced by 50%.]
In that case,
should the mana stat exceed 50, the skill book would be useless.
Given Kang-hoos wide array of skills and the need for diverse stat distribution, careful nning was essential.
A concern unique to Kang-hoo.
Ill take my time thinking about how to use the 5 maites for upgrades.
The manner in which he upgraded his skills wouldpletely alter their application in battle.
There were too many options to consider for an impulsive decision.
Then lets take a deep breath.
Kang-hoo steadied his breath.
Entering the exit might lead him to an unexpected location, or he could reappear through the same entrance he had used.
In thetter case, Kang Dong-hyun would likely be there.
Certainly not alone, but with arge number of his subordinates waiting.
Even a half-second of hesitation could result in him being stung to death in a beehive orpletely immobilized.
[Protection - Stage 2]
[Protective Barrier]
After preparing his defenses,
Swoosh.
Kang-hoo stepped toward the exit.
The next moment,
Hes out! Catch him!
Tie him up!
Block his movement area!
The what-ifs had indeed be reality.
Chapter 73: Limitless Mana Dungeon (3)
Chapter 73: Limitless Mana Dungeon (3)
If Kang-hoo had fully understood the abilities he possessed, the incident would not have happened.
As soon as Kang-hoo appeared at the entrance, which also served as the exit, Kang Dong-hyun grinned triumphantly.
It was disappointing that Kang-hoo was the only one who benefited from entering, but ultimately, he had fallen into Dong-hyuns hands.
However, everything Dong-hyun thought he had caught vanished like a wisp of smoke.
?
Kang Dong-hyun, in surprise, spat out the cigarette he had been holding in his mouth and stood up from his seat.
The first thing he noticed was the hunters, whose spatial movement abilities werepletely under control.
Originally, they were supposed totch onto Kang-hoo as soon as he appeared and use a binding skill.
Why isnt the skill working?
Spatial movement has been rejected!
But the skilled hunters were unable to use their signature skills.
A few rapidly deployed skills were all blocked by Kang-hoos protective barrier and his secondyer of defense.
Then.
You all have been working tirelessly.
With a middle finger salute, Kang-hoo disappeared without a trace.
It was a perfect spatial movement, neither a stealth, leap, nor a camouge.
The flow of mana that could only be felt from Kang-hoo hadpletely vanished.
He had managed a perfect escape, something that could never happen unless he had vanished from the area itself.
Heh, look at this guy?
Kang Dong-hyun let out a hollowugh.
This was a turn of events he had never anticipated.
His ability to manipte mana had been confirmed during his dungeon entries.
But to possess a talent that allowed him to escape from the scene sopletely?
It was an undeniable ability of instant movement.
This was a skill Kang Dong-hyun himself did not possess, and it was a difficult technique even for notable spatial movers.
I really ended up like a dog chasing chickens.
Kang Dong-hyun stroked his chin beard.
He had been outsmarted by Kang-hoo not once, but twice, and he had witnessed an unexpected ability.
With this I really cant give up. He makes me have to cling on, doesnt he?
His eyes quivered.
On the one hand, he felt ridiculed by Kang-hoo, as if he were only being used for good deeds.
Isnt that right?
Even the skilled Kang Dong-hyun couldntnd a scratch on Kang-hoo and ended up losing the dungeon.
All he had done in this ce was to coldly assess the situation, talk big, and posture.
Leader! What should we do?
It seems like he has escaped, hasnt he?
His subordinates, still not grasping the situation, hurriedly asked questions.
Then, Kang Dong-hyun waved his hands dismissively, giving his finalmand filled with resignation.
Disband everyone. Its over.
It was a perfect escape.
Kang-hoo, sitting alone in an empty lot, smiled slyly as he reminisced about the recent events.
He saw it clearly, even if briefly.
The moment Kang Dong-hyun, who had ced his skilled subordinates in strategic positions, tried to capture him when the time seemed right.
Thats how a numbers game works.
The side with more cards is overwhelmingly advantageous.
Moreover, the less you can predict your opponents cards, the more likely you are to be caught off guard.
Kang Dong-hyun had not anticipated that Kang-hoo possessed the ingenious tactic of spatial movement.
As a result, he ended up gifting a well-prepared dungeon, just as it was.
Now that the dungeon had been used, he lost interest in the dungeon on the 7th floor of Club Hades underground.
Going back there wasnt going to yield any Hematites, nor could he steal any new skills.
I left the Gimcheon Liberation Area too quickly. I should have done proper shopping.
The 16.6 billion won in his ount continued to bother him. Having a lot of cash isnt necessarily beneficial right now.
For a hunter, money is an important asset that can be converted into stats or abilities.
While money itself doesnt be stats, buying items with it can add to your stats.
So, it was better to keep only a reasonable amount of money and spend the rest on items.
There were still many items Kang-hoo had not equipped, and many stats he needed to raise.
I dont want to go back to Gimcheon. The more tranquil atmosphere of the Hongcheon Liberation Area doesnt sound bad.
A decent alternative came to mind.
The liberation area in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do.
It was muchrger than the Gimcheon Liberation Area and sold a wider variety of items.
Being close to North Korea, there was also a considerable amount of contraband flowing in through dark channels.
Moreover, there were quite a few technicians in the Hongcheon Liberation Area who performed special procedures on hunters bodies.
As Kang-hoo arrived at the Pohang Intercity Bus Terminal and was about to check the time for the bus to Hongcheon, a phone call came in.
He thought it might be Lee Ye-rin, and his guess was correct.
Yes.
Is it okay to talk?
Its fine, thats why I answered.
As usual, the conversation began with his somewhat gruff voice.
Lee Ye-rin, now ustomed to this manner of speaking, chuckled and continued without being bothered.
A targeted request hase in.
Whats the content?
You need to cooperate with the mercenary group that submitted the request and take care of the leader of their rival mercenary group.
It doesnt sound like fireworks.
Its not a political matter. Its a request with a code of justice implementation.
Isnt justice inherently rtive? Especially in todays world.
His pointed remark seemed to hit deep, and Lee Ye-rin was momentarily at a loss for words.
Its true.
In the current era, the truth is thoroughly obscured and distorted by images.
Take the Jeonghwa Guild, for example.
Lee Ye-rin is currently maintaining a friendship with Jang Si-hwan for various reasons
But as Lee Hyun-seok, the warlord of The Abyss, imed, she was well aware that the Jeonghwa Guild was involved in many unsavory activities.
Yet the world viewed the Jeonghwa Guild as guardians of justice.
They were trusted even more than the Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
Once Jang Si-hwanbeled someone a criminal, no matter what their defense, they were deemed untouchable trash from that day forward.
I misspoke. To put it simply, its a request for a check and bnce. A bit extreme, perhaps?
Whos the target?
I can only disclose that information if you ept. The requestes with a confidentiality obligation.
I ept.
Kang-hoo decided to take on the request.
Unless it involved killing a devout believer who had spent decades immersed in their religion, he had no reservations.
After all, there was no hunter who wouldnt stir up trouble when provoked, and such hunters often became the subjects of elimination requests.
Requests for the assassination of hardworking and diligent hunters at a high price were almost unheard of.
In fact, one could safely say they didnt exist. Mercenary groups would typically dismiss such requests.
Jeon Jong-du. Thats your target.
Jeon Jong-du?
Yes, hes the leader of the Osho Mercenary Group.
The name Jeon Jong-du didnt ring any bells, but Kang-hoo was familiar with the Osho Mercenary Group.
In the original story, it served as a front for a Russian criminal organization and guild.
They were guilty not only of selling a vast amount of domestic mercenary information to Russia but also of abducting hunters to trade them.
This led to a significant loss of talent within the country.
Indeed, in the original storyline, Jang Si-hwan saw this as a severe problem and took aggressive action to dismantle the group.
These events urredter than the current timeline, but the foundation for them had already been established.
Jeon Jong-du was not the brains of the operation.
He was just the tip of the iceberg.
Considering the promising and prospective hunters who had disappeared due to the Osho Mercenary Groups abductions, eliminating Jeon Jong-du and his higher-ups was far more beneficial in the long term.
Lee Ye-rin continued,
Jeon Jong-dus level is estimated to be at least 350. Ill send the detailed information through a secure email.
Whats the reward?
10 billion for his head, 30 billion if captured alive.
He must have a lot of information to spill, given the significant difference in rewards.
Inside information is always valuable, right?
Lets rify one thing.
Yes, go ahead.
I appreciate the high estimation, but is this really a suitable request for me? The target is level 350.
Kang-hoo chuckled.
Despite his rapid growth, Kang-hoo was still a hunter who had not surpassed level 100.
Lee Ye-rin was obviously, or rather, initially aware that Kang-hoos level was below 100.
Thats why Im proposing this to Mr. Sun-kyu. If I thought it was impossible, I wouldnt have suggested it.
Lets be honest. How muchmission are you receiving?
Pfft! Its not like that. I dont take extra personal introduction fees. Unless the official brokerage fee is increased?
So its pure goodwill I see.
Id appreciate it if you could call it full support and trust. Hoho.
Kang-hoo didnt particrly doubt Lee Ye-rin.
In fact, one reason Kang-hoo was interested in this request was that it wasnt a solo mission.
Having allies you could utilize significantly reduced the chances of encountering unexpected variables or dangers.
Kang-hoo asked about the remaining piece of the puzzle he hadnt filled yet.
So, which mercenary group will we be coordinating with?
The Kim Su-kyung Mercenary Group.
The Kim Su-kyung Mercenary Group?
Then,
An unexpected bigwigs name came out of Lee Ye-rins mouth.
Is heing?
Yes, I just heard from Lee Ye-rin. He epted. Says his name is Jung Sun-kyu.
A pseudonym, I suppose?
Are you asking because you dont know?
No, I mean, there are hunters like you, sir, who openly use their real names. I was just curious.
Not long after Kang-hoos conversation with Lee Ye-rin ended, Kim Su-kyung received a call from Lee Ye-rin.
Kang-hoo had promised to join their rendezvous point by the date Kim Su-kyung wanted.
Kang-hoo wasnt the only guest Kim Su-kyung had called, but it was still good news.
Kim Su-kyung, based around the Yangyang area, was a well-known named hunter in these parts.
On a positive note, he had been at the forefront of eradicating various criminal activities in the region.
Of course, he had ambitions for rights, but his justification was clear.
Recently, Jeon Jong-dus Osho Mercenary Group had started to be a thorn in Kim Su-kyungs side.
It was clear there were forces connected to North Korea or Russia higher up the chain, but they were indiscernible.
He nned to strike first, with disputes already being openly incited in the area.
If organizations like these started nesting in the territory, it would be harder to eradicate themter.
To think Id get to meet the person of interest who blew off Gong Tae-sus left arm.
He wore an intrigued expression.
The sses he lifted with his index finger reflected the moonlight, creating a sharp gleam.
It was a person he had wanted to see for some time.
The protagonist of the Gong Tae-su incident wasnt just of interest to Kim Su-kyung.
Any hunter with sharp eyes and ears would have been curious.
Chapter 74: Emilia Rose (1)
Chapter 74: Emilia Rose (1)
Can we trust her?
Whats there to trust when weve never even seen each others faces? Ability is the only basis for trust.
True, other than Jung Sun-kyu, there wasnt anyone else whom Ye-rin had only praises for, right?
If that picky woman sifted through and still praised so much, it must be trustworthy.
Kim Su-kyung nodded.
She had be acquainted with Lee Ye-rin a while ago. Ye-rin wasnt one to add unnecessary words.
Despite this, she always spoke highly of Kang-hoo from the beginning to the end, without any exaggeration.
Then there was no need to doubt and create unnecessary problems.
However, there was one thing that concerned Kim Su-kyung.
As an assassin-type hunter, close-quartersbat was a must, but could he really hold his own on the front lines?
Like it or not, Kang-hoo was the one who would have to position himself closest to Jeon Jong-du.
It was an inevitable fate for an assassin-type hunter. They couldnt just take lives from a distance.
I wish time would pass more quickly.
She was already feeling excited.
She had never seen Kang-hoo before, but she was looking forward to meeting him.
It was out of curiosity about his ability to cleanly sever the left arm of Gong Tae-su, the butcher of Ulsan.
This ce seems better.
Kang-hoo arrived near the entrance of the Hongcheon Liberation Area, leisurely observing his surroundings.
Unlike the Kimcheon Liberation Area, where the acrid smell of burning drugs had greeted him right from the entrance,
The Hongcheon Liberation Area was filled with the fragrance of acacia flowers nted along the streets.
Moreover, despite beingte at night, the streetlights were well maintained and brightly illuminated the area.
It was strange; normally at the entrance, there would be some minor disputes or a noisy atmosphere.
But as if something had happened, not a single soul was in sight.
It wasnt that there were no people to begin with but more like they had been drawn away by something.
However, there were no signs of a bloody smell or an intense flow of mana, so it didnt seem like a battle had urred.
The trail was easy to follow.
The residual heat and flow of mana eventually led to a single point.
When Kang-hoo arrived at the location, he encountered someone he had not expected.
Surrounded by numerous hunters, a female hunter suffered under an enthusiastic onught of autograph requests.
Emilia Rose?
Kang-hoo recognized her immediately.
Pumpkin-colored eyes.
Silver-grey hair with C-curls and wavy ends.
She wore an all-ck shirt and straight pants, adhering to her typical dress code.
She was a named hunter designated as Emilia Rose in the original story.
Her sharp nose, looking as though it could slice through anything, was an unforgettable feature.
Theres no answer from the constetion information.
Kang-hoo clicked his tongue as he browsed through the list of scanned constetion information.
In a simpleparison, it was the same number of constetions held by Jang Si-hwanthirty in total.
Of course, the reason for her vivid memory wasnt just the number of constetions.
Its because of The Thirteen Stars.
It was because of her future.
Currently, out of The Thirteen Stars that Kang-hoo had directly encountered or heard about, there were four: Jang Si-hwan, Chae Gwanhyeong, Yu Cheonghwa, and Casey Rex. Now, a fifth person was added.
However, whether Emilia Rose was currently a member of The Thirteen Stars at this point was unclear.
Her formal and direct appearance in the original story came muchter than the current timeline.
Yet, facing a potential adversary right in front of him brought a peculiar sense of excitement.
Emilias characteristics.
Shes adept in psychic and magical abilities. Thanks to her constetion powers, she can evenmunicate linguistically with animals and nts, not just humans.
That was Emilias hallmark.
She faced no barriers inmunication. Her main constetion enabled the exchange of all emotions andnguages.
The real reason she was fearsomey elsewhere.
It was her ability to imnt thoughts and beliefs into others, unnoticed. Very covertly and cunningly.
In the original work, she had handled many enemies without The Thirteen Stars direct involvement, using this method. Cowardly, indeed.
Is that why?
Even at this location, there were quite a few hunters intoxicated by her charm and seduction.
Some seemed ready to end their lives without hesitation if shemanded them tomit suicide.
Crunch.
Kang-hoo chewed on a Srkium he had taken out of his pocket.
This was to prevent Emilia from dominating his mind.
Avoiding her mental control was not difficult.
Initially, there was an unpleasant feeling, like a premonition, before one fell under mental control.
Catching that feeling and naturally steering away from it prevented one from being overtaken.
The problem was that Emilia used her charm skill stealthily.
The scattered charm, dispersed in all directions, was particrly potent against the opposite sex.
Like a male mantis mating with a female, knowing it would lead to its death, one lost their rationality.
Emilia So amazing
I wonder if shed give me an autograph if I gave her this item?
Even holding her hand would fulfill all my wishes. I wouldnt mind dying then, huh
Many hunters were already spouting such crazy things.
Emilia, enjoying their reactions, threw them a haughty look, escting their desire.
Then, Kang-hoos and Emilias gazes intersected momentarily.
Given the crowd, it was natural for their eyes to meet and then drift apart.
However, Emilia didnt move, continuing to stare at him for a long time.
Kang-hoo felt an unpleasant sensation invade his mind but he easily shrugged off the mental control.
For Kang-hoo, who knew how to evade, it wasnt difficult. Ignorance was the real danger.
As Emilia walked towards Kang-hoo, her gaze fixed.
Click. Click.
The ck t shoes she wore, matching her outfit, made a unique sound that heightened the tension.
This guy is surrounded by very toxic constetions. From one to ten, all attached to him are devils.
Then, Dimension Plunderer coldly remarked upon recognizing the nature of the constetions contracted by Emilia.
Looking at her constetions again.
Indeed, they were far more malevolent than those contracted by Jang Si-hwan or Chae Gwanhyeong.
The nature of a constetion contract often followed the hunters personality or instincts.
For a named hunter like Emilia, contracting with constetions of her desired nature was straightforward.
She was not a puremb led astray by the devil but rather shaping herself into a devil.
Excuse me? May I have a word with you?
Wow, whats with that hunter? Why is Emilia going up to talk to him?
Who is that?
Looks matter after all. Of course, Emilia wouldnt want to talk to squids like us.
Kid, whoever you are, you look pretty handsome.
Envious res pierced like knives as Emilia approached Kang-hoo.
Kang-hoo, indifferent to the other gazes and focused only on Emilia, asked back.
What do you want?
How about a drink? I have some decent liquor in my room.
Wow Crazy.
It wasnt just a simple conversation request or a date proposal; she was outright inviting a man to her room!
Resentful gazes poured toward Kang-hoo.
It doesnt seem like a trick.
After all, they had already ascertained that mind control didnt work on him during the unseen probing a little earlier.
It didnt seem like she was trying to pull off a visible trick.
Even if there were other ns, he had plenty of ways to escape the scene.
He could easily escape to a save point just by using instant teleportation.
Face stamping. That should be fine.
Kang-hoo nodded as he looked at Emilia.
Deal.
A private meeting with her seemed to have no downsides for him. He was curious about why she wanted to have drinks, though.
Although liberation areas were generally considered dangerous, there were private and safe ces.
Thus, the Phoenix Hotel, where Emilia was staying, was one of the safest ces in the liberation area.
It was directly operated by Kenax, the administrative organization managing the liberation area, and hence security was top-notch.
Messing with this ce could make one a target of extermination in the liberation area, so no one dared to tamper with it.
While following Emilia, Kang-hoo focused on only one thing.
Detecting any area where all skills and abilities would be suppressed.
If a lot of magic stones were used, creating a suppression zone was always possible.
For Kang-hoo, who could sensitively detect the flow of mana, it was easy to look out for such flows.
Fortunately, there were no signs of traps along the way. It seemed Emilia had no such intentions.
Entering her space, as expected, it was the penthouse on the top floor of the Phoenix Hotel.
She immediately poured whiskey into a well-polished, antique-looking ss.
Its Shackleton whiskey.
Amemorative one?
Not at all. Its the whiskey that Ernest Shackleton buried at the base camp during his Antarctic expedition in 1907.
You mean McKiys whiskey?
Exactly. That one.
He had anticipated it when Emilia started the conversation, but reality made his fingertips tremble.
If it was the actual whiskey, it was either from 1896 or 1897, one of the two.
Even if it was thetter, he was drinking a whiskey over 125 years old, rich in history.
This one ss wasnt about the price, but the profound meaning of the time it embodied.
Emilia filled the ss generously with whiskey and extended it toward Kang-hoo.
As she rolled up her sleeves, a pleasant musk scent wafted from her bronzed wrist.
Emilia continued speaking.
You are?
Jung Sun-kyu.
Nice to meet you, Sun-kyu. Do you know who I am?
Of course. Youre a name everyone hears when they start as a hunter.
Arent you curious about me?
Do I have to be?
Kang-hoo retorted.
Hunters known as Named possessed this strange kind of pride.
They found it odd if someone didnt react with surprise, admiration, or reverence upon meeting them.
Jang Si-hwan had once been intrigued by Kang-hoos indifferent response for the same reason.
Its that weird pride thing You dont know me? Really, you dont know who I am?
Well, its not like that.
In the end, were both just hunters. I dont think youre particrly special.
Hah.
Emilia burst intoughter at his sharply cold remark, which was chilling to the bone.
It was as if she was thinking, Youre the first person to treat me this way. Kang-hoos words had no brakes.
Chapter 75: Emilia Rose (2)
Chapter 75: Emilia Rose (2)
The conversation with Emilia had deepened unexpectedly considering it was their first meeting that day.
From Kang-hoos perspective, he wondered why Emilia shared such thoughts in front of him.
On one hand, he thought she must not be scared of him at all to bring up any topic so casually.
After all, speaking more to someone who posed no threat wouldnt expose any weaknesses.
Joining hands with a malevolent constetion to understand evil better. Doesnt it sound usible?
Hearing a serial killer im the world made them this way sounds just as delusional.
Thats what I believe. To truly understand pure evil, one needs to experience it firsthand.
Saying you need to kill someone to understand a murderer sounds exactly the same.
Ha-ha. Just the reaction I expected.
Kang-hoo had countered Emilias words, yet his tone remained calm.
It was evident he listened attentively to her.
ording to the original story, Emilias joining The Thirteen Stars is almost certain. But there could be variables.
Thats what Kang-hoo thought.
He couldnt fully trust what Emilia had just said. There was no reason to harbor false hope.
But what if, just what if, she had joined The Thirteen Stars out of curiosity about evil?
She could be different from people like Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeong, who had dreamt of being subordinates from the start.
Perhaps she had joined The Thirteen Stars for her own glory and riches, not solely driven by a conviction to serve a demon lord.
One shouldnt jump to conclusions.
However, if there was even a slight possibility of a different oue, the future could change entirely.
Know whats interesting?
What?
I can see the potential of every hunter I meet as a single, quantified figure.
Oh?
It was intriguing.
Since Emilias original character hadnt been detailed, this was new information.
A constetion that could discern potential was enticing even for Kang-hoo.
Why do you think I took a particr interest in you, Jung Sun-kyu, amidst a crowd?
Because of high potential?
Not just high. ording to the constetion, your potential is limitless. It means you have no bounds.
It might have sounded self-congrattory, but that constetion had urately perceived his true nature.
He could predict and foresee the future, and he was someone who could carve his own path toward it.
His growth potential and routes were boundless, so viewing his potential as infinite wasnt strange at all.
Thats why I was curious about you. Are you merely a person with high potential? Or are you someone who realizes their own high potential?
Emilias eyes glowed red.
She had tried to control Kang-hoos mind several times, but of course, she had failed.
Despite this, she asionally attempted it again, smirking bitterly each time she was blocked.
Kang-hoo knew exactly what she was attempting.
He also thought that if it came to a power struggle, she could definitely overpower Kang-hoo.
The difference in their strengths was clear.
However, Emilia was curious about the limitless potential she had never encountered since bing a hunter.
Even the constetion that valued her so highly had quantified her potential.
Only Kang-hoo received an infinite rating from it. In simpler terms, his potential was immeasurable.
Emilia continued.
The conclusion is thetter. You look at me without any fear, behaving as if you can see through everything, right?
Do I have to like it?
Ha-ha. Thats up to you. But I thought you were someone who urately understands their own value.
Im quite aware of what direction I should pursue and what my limits are.
Right. I sensed that. Youre not arrogant, but filled with confidence. Exactly on that fine line.
I feel like if I get praised a bit more, my fingers might start to wear down.
Jung Sun-kyu. If you have time,e to the Emilia Tower in Parister. Lets meet again.
Is this a scouting offer?
Lets just call it a curiosity between hunters. I know well that someone like you wouldnt join easily, no matter how many times I try.
Emilia shook her head.
Her extensive experience had told her so.
Hunters who clearly understood their own greatness and capabilities never casually aligned themselves with someone else, nor did they easily allow others by their side.
Because they knew their worth better than anyone.
They neither sought subordination nor gave a chance for it. If you tried to get close, they flew away.
Emilia felt the same aura from Kang-hoo and urately perceived it.
Just allow me to register your face once. Then you cane and go without any restriction.
The unexpected offer of face registration.
Kang-hoo didnt refuse.
His name wasnt being publicized, and a mere known face was not something to worry about.
On one hand, he was intrigued.
He never thought he would form a connection with The Thirteen Stars in such a way.
Coincidences came without a sound, and todays meeting with Emilia was exactly that.
If he hadnt impulsively decided toe to the Hongcheon Liberation Area, it wouldnt have happened.
Returning to the downtown area of the liberation zone, Kang-hoo immediately went shopping.
Already owning a good weapon, the Blood Dew, he excluded weapons from his list of interests.
Wearing the Asuras Breastte, which was efficient, he wouldnt need to look at anything below grade 4.
By excluding parts that didnt need recement, he narrowed down his focus.
Assuming the options were decent, he calcted that recing a ne and bracelet could be worthwhile.
Rings, in particr, seemed like the least burdensome part to upgrade.
His stat direction was clear.
Stamina, anti-magic, and toughness.
Kang-hoo was interested only in these three areas.
Anti-magic 95, toughness 320.
He checked his stats again.
Thanks to diligently wearing the right items, these two stats were quite high.
Considering the difficulty of boosting defensive stats for the assassin job ss, its significance was even more remarkable.
Its high for an assassin of a simr level, but low by my standards.
Kang-hoo was not satisfied.
He increasingly found himself entangled with more skilled hunters.
Just today, he had met Emilia, and before that, he had a skirmish with Kang Dong-hyun.
Against such hunters, 100% evasion was impossible.
No matter how skillfully one dodged, some attacks were bound to hit.
Eventually, you would get hit once or twice. The opponent wasnt a fool. You couldnt win every calction.
Thats why stats like anti-magic and toughness, which allowed the body to endure hits, were really important.
Using a skill to block means losing a turn in defense.
From a defenders perspective, the best scenario was not just to block well, but to be able to endure hits.
Thats what made Kang Dong-hyun a fearsome entity - his toughness.
Most attacks didnt faze him, so attackers couldnt calcte the gap in his defense.
Even if their attack seeded, there was no certainty it would slow down the opponents offensive.
Kang-hoo meticulously browsed the market and selected one of the items he had carefully chosen.
It was a ce with a sign in red letters that read No Bargaining, so he didnt attempt to negotiate the price.
Lets go with this one.
That will be 10 billion won. The exact price.
Indeed it is.
The item Kang-hoo purchased from the seller was a grade 3 item. It was a matte ck ring without any distinctive features.
[Shadow of Desire - Ring]
[Grade: 3]
[Toughness + 75]
[Anti-magic + 75]
It was a pretty decent ring.
Improving both stats simultaneously was quite challenging.
With the new ring, Kang-hoos toughness rose to an impressive 395, nearly reaching 400.
At this level, except for a direct hit from a deadly move, he could avoid instant death.
Given the huge difference between life and death, this was a very significant stat line to reach.
For a typical assassin following the normal growth curve, achieving such a toughness stat by level 300 was unlikely.
Earning money is hard, but spending it takes just a second.
Kang-hoo looked at his bank bnce, which had plummeted to 6.6 billion won, and made a bitter face.
Though his financial scale had changed since right after his possession, it still felt like childs ypared to hunters like Jang Si-hwan or Chae Gwanhyeong.
Its easy to find ways to splurge if you set your mind to it.
He wished he could remember lottery numbers from the original work, but there was no mention of the lottery in it.
Just then,
a broadcast for the entire liberation area began.
It wasnt a usual broadcast but one that aired only when there was a main event in the liberation area.
In other words, a death match was imminent.
The death match was one of the main sources of ie for the liberation area.
A huge amount of money was bet on the death matches, where hunters staked their lives.
With the liberation areas authorities taking a 5% betting fee, it was a goose thatid golden eggs.
Betting is just right for ruining oneself.
Kang-hoo was about to turn his steps toward another market.
While betting on a death match could multiply money two or three times,
it was also possible to lose tens or hundreds of billions in an instant.
Once you start thinking about recovering your principal, theres no way to get it back.
Stories of hunters who lost money, threw tantrums, and ended up as ghosts with severed necks
were no longer just urban legends.
The numerous false graves () around the special stadium where the death match took ce were proof.
The false graves were for hunters who, after demanding money and causing trouble, were killed by the liberation areas management organization, Kenax.
Just then,
Hmm?
The moment Kang-hoos eyesnded on therge electronic billboard disying the faces of the death match participants, his gaze froze.
He didnt recognize the first few hunters.
But Kang-hoo vividly remembered thest face that shed across the screen.
Even before the mans name appeared on the billboard, Kang-hoo found himself murmuring it.
Park Sang-oh?
This was a person who should not die at this point if things followed the original!
Yet there he was, boldly listed among the death match participants.
An opportunity to ce a bet with a 100% chance of winning had just presented itself.
Chapter 76: Crisis Is An Opportunity (1)
Chapter 76: Crisis Is An Opportunity (1)
Park Sang-oh.
A hunter who became a named character in the original work as a wandering mercenary, he used an outboxer style as a swordsman.
The reason Kang-hoo recognized Park Sang-oh was that he had dedicated significant effort to this character during the serialization of the original work, even including illustrations.
Since he looked exactly like he did in the illustrations, there was no reason to think of anyone else.
Park Sang-oh was not active domestically but primarily in Japan as a hunter.
He, too, disliked the Jeonghwa Guild, so he had declined their recruitment offer and gone to Japan instead.
Anyway, if things go as in the original, theres no risk of dying right now. Its like a guaranteed winning lottery ticket.
He unexpectedly found an opportunity to make money in an unforeseen ce.
His meeting with Emilia anding to the Hongcheon Liberation Area felt like multiple turning points.
Originally, he had no intention of paying attention, but now he couldnt ignore the death match.
In the death match, the only official information disclosed to the betting participants is one thing:
The level information of the participating hunters.
Since its verified through a level scan, the information isnt distorted.
Other than that, hunters who primarily seek out such death matches privately sell information.
The reliability varies greatly; there are cases of false information being sold, as well as true.
Ultimately, its up to the discernment of the buying hunter to differentiate.
Naturally, among the information sellers, there are named individuals whose information sells at a higher price.
People usually dont buy from sellers theyre seeing for the first time or from those with no past sales history.
Park Sang-oh has the lowest level.
Looking at the information disyed on the scoreboard, Park Sang-ohs level was over 50 lower than that of the other participants.
In such matches, the level difference is crucial.
It reflected the difference in stats and skills directly.
Judging from the situation, Park Sang-oh seemed to have participated before he got serious about this line of work.
During his domestic activities, Park Sang-oh earned a considerable amount of money by participating in death matches.
However, even with the information mentioned by the sellers, there was hardly any content about Park Sang-oh.
That meant he was an unknown participant to the sellers too. They couldnt sell information they didnt have.
The arena broadcast began.
-The main event of the day, the death match, will take ce at the special arena soon.
Under the management of Kenax, the death match has established itself as a sport with a 0% ident rate.
The handling of bets,missions, and distributions is officially approved by the Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
Bet with confidence. The dream of a quick fortune isnt as far away as you think.
Now, we will reveal each matchup and the betting odds. Please pay attention!
As the broadcast ended, the scoreboard disyed each matchup and the real-time odds.
[Jeon Guk-seon 1.2 vs. Park Sang-oh 3.0]
Wow! A sweet matchup! Isnt this match definitely in Jeon Guk-seons favor? Hes been on a great run recently, right?
Jeon Guk-seon, that guy! Didnt he easily defeat someone 35 levels higher than him in thest match?
Its not just that; hes totally crazy. That guy only goes for death matches!
All the hunters attention focused on the matchup between Park Sang-oh and another hunter.
Reflecting the expected win rate, the odds were drastically different. Naturally, everyone was interested in Jeon Guk-seons odds.
Its a guaranteed 20% gain; how can we give this up?
If we pass up a matchup thats a certain 20% return in 30 minutes, thats just foolish.
Hey, lets bet before the odds drop further. This is a matchup we cant miss.
But who is Park Sang-oh?
Who cares? Probably just some desperate fool who cant avoid death.
His level is 50 lower than Jeon Guk-seons. He must havee just to die.
Arent Kenax guys trying to rig the match? They might lose a lot of money if they dont adjust the odds quickly.
The hunters rushed to the betting tables set up in front of the special arena.
As the arena broadcast stated, there was a slight waiting period due to the approval process of the Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
Since the security of the bet money was guaranteed, everyone could cerge bets without any burden.
It feels like this to bet with knowledge of the future, Kang-hoo thought, smiling inwardly.
Of course, there was a very low probability that the future he had calcted could change, resulting in Park Sang-ohs death. That would mean the original story would go off track.
But that didnt matter to him.
If he had to pay 6 billion won as a tuition fee for such enlightenment, it didnt seem too regrettable.
The key was to not repeat the same mistake in the future. After all, money can always be earned through hard work.
Kang-hoo made apletely different choice at the betting tablepared to other hunters.
Ill bet 6 billion on Park Sang-oh. Please give me the dedicated ount.
Eh? Look, theres one guy throwing away his money.
When Kang-hoo bet on Park Sang-oh, the hunters looked at him with pity. Ignoring Jeon Guk-seon, who was recently on an unstoppable rise, and betting on the opposite seemed reckless.
They understood the desire for a windfall, but this level of recklessness was beyondprehension.
However, Kang-hoo, undisturbed, silently bet more than 90% of his entire fortune on Park Sang-oh.
Jeon Guk-seon! Quick! Hey, gather your money! Just bury it! If you bury it, youre guaranteed a 20% return!
Why bet on Park Sang-oh? Got too much money? Hurry, just go for the sure thing! Quickly!
The betting heavily favored Jeon Guk-seon, causing his odds to drop continuously as the hunters grew more frantic.
Out of curiosity, some hunters tried betting on Park Sang-oh as a long shot.
However, they typically wagered only a few million wonten million at the absolute most.
Amidst this frenzy, Kang-hoo ced an astonishing 6 billion won on Park Sang-oh Everyone couldnt help but see it as a fools errand.
Hmph.
Unperturbed, Kang-hoo simply crossed his arms and waited for the death match to start.
One hourter.
Wow That guy, his 60 billion turned into 180 billion. And then it shot up to 360 billion?
He bet on Park Sang-oh twice in session?
Uh And not just a few million, but a straight 60 billion followed by 180 billion.
An all-in, twice?
Exactly. I cant tell if hes just rolling in cash or if he has some sort of insight. The mans insane.
Hey, what made you go all-in on Park Sang-oh? Are you rted to him or something? Whats your angle?
Trade secret. Thanks for your concern.
After verifying the amount deposited in his bank ount, Kang-hoo left the premises.
His bnce had swelled to 366 billion won.
With its conclusion, todays death match had significantly boosted Park Sang-ohs worth with two consecutive victories.
It was unlikely that opportunities like today, with Park Sang-oh at triple or double odds, woulde again.
Instead, he was now likely to face low odds simr to those of Jeon Guk-seon.
As a wandering mercenary, he had strung together a series of victories in death matches.
It had been a one-off, but nheless significant.
Kang-hoo had quickly amassed a fortune. It was the easiest money he had ever made.
Sometimes, the thrill of easy money was the most satisfying.
He had spent 100 billion won.
But in an instant, he had earned 300 billion won, and he walked away, his steps lighter than ever.
Entering Meokjagolmok, the renowned food alley in the Hongcheon Liberation Area, Kang-hoo was greeted by an array of enticing aromas.
Just as he was about to pick up his chopsticks after ordering a generous serving of his favoritebination, tteokbokki and sundae, his phone rang.
It was Lee Ye-rin.
Yes, Ye-rin.
- Is it okay to talk?
Its fine, Ive just ordered.
- You asked for information about a hunter named Park Min-seong? A hunter who went missing in Korea.
Right.
- It seems weve found his family, but the personal details are a bit unusual. Theyre different from what you might expect.
What are they?
- He was adopted in Ennd when he was young. So, his parents are currently British.
Isnt adoption itself not particrly special?
- But both parents are well-known hunters in Ennd. He was reported missing there.
So, you mean he came to Korea without his parents knowing and then went missing?
- That seems to be the case, yes.
Please send me the information about the parents, and it would be great if you could also contact them. They shoulde and identify the body as soon as possible.
- Understood. Ill make contact right away.
Ill pay you a generous fee.
- I told you before, this time Im doing it entirely as a favor. Thats it. Anyway, Im hanging up now!
With that, the call ended.
Initially, he had just intended to help find the family of a hunter who hade to Ground Zero and tragically lost his life.
He never thought that this would lead to Ennd, and to well-known hunters at that.
Was his unconditional kindness being repaid with good fortune?
Fortunately, due to the special environment of Ground Zero, the bodys decay would be slower than expected.
Still, he hoped the parents woulde as quickly as possible.
Just then.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A vibration strong enough to shake the stic chair Kang-hoo was sitting on, as well as all the nearby structures, was felt.
It wasnt a minor collision, but a vibration youd feel during a significant explosion.
Whats that?
Did something explode?
Kang-hoo wasnt the only one who felt the vibration; everyone stood up.
As hunters, they were familiar with several incidents and idents that could cause such tremors.
In that moment,
Kaboom!
A series of explosions urred, sending a massive shockwave along with a deafening boom, violently enveloping everything in its path.
Had Kang-hoo not instinctively erected a protective barrier, he would have been helplessly swept away by the powerful shockwave.
A dungeon explosion.
Kang-hoo hadnt seen the site, yet he recognized the intensity and pattern of the shockwave and immediately grasped the situation.
A dungeon explosion.
The causes varied, but it typically happened when a dungeon was left uncleared for too long.
To simplify,
It was akin to putting a pot on high heat, sealing it tightly, and then having the stew overflow.
Dungeons needed periodic clearing to release their built-up energy.
Otherwise, the umted energy would start to spill outside, resulting in a dungeon explosion.
Typically, dungeons were one-way, preventing monsters from escaping.
However, during an explosion, the structure became two-way, allowing monsters to spill out.
Dungeons managed by the Hunter Public Safety Bureau were systematically monitored, making such incidents umon.
Yet, dungeons outside their control were managed by their respective owners.
Unfortunately, it appeared that there were shorings in Kenaxs dungeon management within the Hongcheon Liberation Area.
Its a nightmare from a damage control standpoint. But for me, could it be an opportunity?
Having endured the shockwave, Kang-hoo, clutching his Blood Dew, readied himself to head toward the explosions origin.
For Kenax, responsible for managing the chaos, it was a situation fraught with the risk of losing power.
But for Kang-hoo, a visitor in the Hongcheon Liberation Area, all the rampaging monsters represented a bounty of experience points.
Monsters that emerged, filled with dungeon energy, offered much better rewards than ordinary monsters.
Just like the monsters he had faced in the Limitless Mana Dungeon before.
Indeed, a crisis was an opportunity.
Chapter 77: Crisis Is An Opportunity (2)
Chapter 77: Crisis Is An Opportunity (2)
An explosion urred in a dungeon filled with speed-type monsters.
As I moved towards the epicenter,
I quickly grasped the characteristics of the rampaging monsters.
Usually, when a dungeon explosion urs, the inherent traits of the monsters be greatly amplified.
If there were monsters with tough exteriors, they would emerge with even thicker skins.
Those swift in movement would dart about as if their speed had fast-forwarded two or three times.
If the monsters were capable of magic, they would wield significantly more mana than usual.
This explosion had affected the swift-moving ones.
It created a situation ripe for damage to those unskilled in mobile warfare.
Argh!
Gasp.
Two hunters, oblivious to this, charged at the monsters and were instantly beheaded.
Two mantis-like monsters snipped off their heads with their pincers, severing them cleanly.
Under normal circumstances, such an attack would be entirely avoidable, but the monsters speed was so overwhelming that the hunters were struck down helplessly.
This will make for good training, Kang-hoo thought, taking the situation lightly.
He approached the battle with seriousness but didnt allow fear to take hold from the start.
Yikes!
Lets run! These creatures are too strong!
Hey! If we run, these monsters will rampage through the streets like mad!
So what! Kenax will handle it. Stop ying the hero and lets just run, idiot!
The hunters reacted instinctively, opting for a realistic escape.
In such a situation, dungeon licenses are meaningless anyway. Should I go in?
Kang-hoo had the bigger picture in mind.
Though he didnt know which dungeon it was, if an explosion had urred, there must be middle bosses and a main boss inside.
Defeating them would yield enhanced rewards and skills, far greater than usual.
There was much to gain from this situation, and he felt tempted.
With the explosion, the relevance of a strategy license was nullified.
Pop! Pop!
His enthusiasm soared to new heights with a fresh target in sight.
Yet, the monsters causing chaos outside the dungeon took notice of Kang-hoo, drawing a few of them in his direction.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Crack! Crackcrack!
Wow, thats fast.
He realized why the hunters, who had earlier lost their lives, had failed to react in time. The monsters velocity was simply astonishing.
Even Kang-hoo struggled to dodge as they assailed him from all directions at once.
Had he not performed an immediate backward dodge, he would have been cut down from any side.
[Wind Thunder Array]
He activated the Wind Thunder Array tounch a wide-area attack.
Facing such swift monsters, engaging multiple adversaries was challenging.
Thus, implementing a strategy to simultaneously weaken them was vital to prevent the fight from escting in difficulty.
Crunch! Crunchcrunch! Crisp!
Squeak! Screech!
The Wind Thunder Array proved highly effective.
In a moment, five mantis-like monsters within the range of the attack sustained numerous injuries.
Sharp gales tore at them, and sporadically, electric currents from the Wind Thunder Array would detonate.
Their bodies seized up and shook, as though they were undergoing electric shocks, exhibiting signs synonymous with electrocution.
Kang-hoo certainly didnt let this chance slip by.
[sh de Throw]
He unleashed the sh de Throw, a technique that focuses all ones power into a singr, hurled dagger, perfectly suited for these circumstances.
The dagger vanished from sight almost imperceptibly and then impaled the mantiss forehead in the blink of an eye.
Groan.
That marked its demise.
He then collected the blood essence using Mollis Maniche, thereby settling the confrontation.
It was an effective unteral trade-off of damage.
[Abduction]
Screech!
This time, he magically summoned one of the beasts directly before him.
Having provided a tracking service, he now performed a summoning.
The mantis, caught off guard and forcefully summoned by Kang-hoo, had no chance to escape.
Whoosh!
At the center of its abdomen, Kang-hoo smoothly embedded a blood essence just as it attempted to attack with its pincers.
Ssssssh!
Kang-hoo drew arge red line from the mantis abdomens center to its left shoulder.
It was a simple disy of brute strength, with no skill involved, yet the power was immense.
Crash!
Following the wound, body fluids, blood, and visceraeverything spiblespilled out.
The mantis couldnt even twitch and died standing, a case of shock.
Wow, damn. What is that guy?
Why is he dragging the monster right up to him and gutting it? What was that electric field he justid down?
Who is that guy?
How should I know?
The watching hunters were astounded.
Considering the scene where hunters screamed and died everywhere, this was a surreal sight.
Should we also join in? If we follow him, we might be able to kill some monsters too?
A shrewd hunter recognized Kang-hoos uniqueness and devised a usible n.
Seeing Kang-hoos knack for handling monsters, they wanted to pick up the leftovers.
After all, killing seasoned monsters would mean experience and rewards.
They figured that since Kang-hoo was alone and they were many, he wouldnt darein even if they tantly clung to him.
No matter how skilled a hunter is, they are powerless against numbers.
Youre suggesting leeching off him?
Exactly. Hes too busy with monsters to care about whats happening behind him.
Yeah. Look at him, a lone wolf. If we gang up, we might find a way to leech off him more than we think.
Heh heh. Lets go. And you know what? If youve got skills, you should help other hunters in a spirit of partnership, right?
How skillfully they rationalized their own actions.
A group seriously spouted such nonsense, yet everyone vehemently agreed, nodding their heads.
Anyway, unpleasant flies were buzzing around Kang-hoo.
Meanwhile, Jang Si-hwan continuously washed his hands in the most secluded bathroom of his house.
This ce, rarely used for its intended purpose, was located far from central areas like the study or living roomin the outskirts of the house.
Despite this, he had a reason to use this particr bathroom, so he was there.
Swoosh.
Water poured down, ceaselessly washing the red blood from Jang Si-hwans hands.
In the bottom right corner, blood from another source kept flowing into the drain.
It seemed this wasnt his first murder, as Jang Si-hwan showed no interest in the corpse.
He just kept muttering to himself while looking in the mirror.
Why dont you just rest peacefully inside? I mean, rest forever in the dream I created.
His voice, cold and detached, was quite different from the usual Jang Si-hwan.
Even his eyes were different.
Not the sad, mncholic eyes, but those filled with the madness of a murderer.
It was a gaze uncharacteristic of the usual Jang Si-hwan.
This isnt the world I dreamed of. Stop trying to break me down. This isnt it!
But you seem to quite enjoy the dream I created. Youre increasingly getting lost in it, arent you?
No! Thats not true!
Rx and indulge in the dream. Leave all theplex and difficult thoughts of a coborator to me.
No, I cant I absolutely cant!
A fierce argument between two distinct selves erupted from the same mouth.
But soon, as always, the altered ego of Jang Si-hwan emerged victorious.
Unbeknownst to Kang-hoo, this was how the original Jang Si-hwan had alreadyid the groundwork for the coborator ending.
The original story itself was a grand delusion.
Everything he believed he was fighting forthe cause and justicewas aplete delusion.
A delusion soplete because he had created it himself.
The real Jang Si-hwan was more cruel and brutal than anyone, indifferent to justice and a true viin.
Then.
Knock knock.
There was a knock at the door.
The only person who could be there as an outsider in Jang Si-hwans house was Chae Gwanhyeong, his close friend.
As Jang Si-hwan finished washing the remaining blood off, he said,
Come in.
Ah, the smell of blood! Ease up on the killing, man! Even disposing of the bodies without a trace is a job for me.
I never asked you to dispose of them. If it bothers you, just leave them here. Theyll rot or whatever.
Then the ce will reek of rotting corpses. Great living environment, huh?
If youvee to nag, just leave. My head hurts enough as it is.
Is that madman still talking to you?
What. Its not the first time. Dont worry about it.
The white towel he was drying his hands with remained heavily stained with blood.
Chae Gwanhyeong, who had a bit of a cleanliness obsession, deliberately looked away.
He couldnt bear to look at the blood-smeared towel.
He brought up a new topic.
Elizabeth says she wants to join us.
Did she say that herself?
Yes. She says she empathizes with our cause.
The Saint of Salvation has finally decided to save the world. She should have done that earlier.
Jang Si-hwanughed.
Elizabeth, the Saint of Salvation.
A healer-type hunter who traveled through Africa and conflict zones, healing and helping people.
Curing the sick, aiding the poor, and healing the incurably ill.
She was truly an icon of a saint, hence the nickname Saint of Salvation went undisputed.
Such a hunter expressed her intention to join The Thirteen Stars. Another faithful coborator had been added.
Meanwhile, at that moment.
Is human greed and envy inevitable? I thought they were only scavenging crumbs, but now theyre crossing the line.
Kang-hoo frowned deeply at the hunters who were not only hindering his path but also subtly threatening him.
Initially, he had thought they were just attacking the seasoned monsters he hadntpletely dealt with.
Since they were an obstacle in his path, he didnt mind them too much.
In fact, the hunters following him and finishing them off was somewhat convenient.
But then, at some point,
subtly, as if by mistake, someoneunched a skill attack at him.
They apologized in shock and embarrassment, but it was a chillingly precise attack that targeted his vulnerabilities.
Thinking of the rtionship as that between a crocodile and a plover bird had been a good start.
But the plovers, forgetting their role, now coveted the crocodiles flesh.
And Kang-hoo had no intention of showing mercy to those who hindered him.
His gaze remained forward, but he focused all his killing intent behind him.
And then,
Swoosh!
A clear crossing of the linea magic skill attack aimed straight at the back of Kang-hoos head.
Chapter 78: Crisis Is An Opportunity (3)
Chapter 78: Crisis Is An Opportunity (3)
It seemed necessary to set an example.
While deploying the Curtain of Techniques, Kang-hoo immediately concealed himself and dodged the magic attack using the Rapid Evasion skill.
He knew someone targeted him from behind, so he could dodge without looking.
From within the stealth provided by the curtain, he aimed precisely at the forehead of the Mage Hunter who targeted his life.
Shaaa!
Thanks to the Lightning Speed skill, the Blood Spear with tremendous propulsion flew instantly toward the Mage Hunter.
Since Kang-hoo threw the Blood Spear while hidden, the opponents perception was inevitably dyed.
And then
Pwook!
Cough!
The sharp de of the Blood Spear embedded deeply into the hunters forehead, almost invisibly.
It embedded so forcefully that it shattered the skull.
Wow
When did the dagger fly?
The remaining members froze in ce as if petrified.
They feared that moving toward Kang-hoo could result in meeting the same fate as their fallenrade.
You should have just scavenged the scraps within your means. Why did you take an interest in my cooking?
Im Im sorry!
Surrender came quickly, and dignity was promptly discarded.
Shaken by the death of a colleague and realizing the true fear, the Crocodile Birds quickly understood their ce.
They deeply regretted their mistaken desire to be crocodiles, even for a brief moment.
Now, it was a matter of what Kang-hoo would choose to do.
He could kill all the remaining ones, or, not wanting to waste his energy on trivial matters, spare them.
But sadly, they were not appetizing prey.
None of them had a proper Throne Contract. In other words, they were mere small fries.
Just then
?
Kang-hoo tensed up, feeling a sudden tingling sensation.
The dungeon that had exploded was right ahead. By distance, it was about 300 meters away.
The entrance wasnt far off, but he sensed an unusual aura.
Why isnt it a dispersal flow?
Kang-hoo sensed a wave pattern much more chaotic than the mana he had detected from the dungeon earlier.
Normally, after an explosion, the mana waves should have stabilized, but
He perceived aplex and tangled flow of mana.
It seemed that only Kang-hoo noticed this, as other hunters around him eagerly rushed towards the dungeon.
In the distance, hunters from the Kenax group were also assembling in significant numbers.
It was natural for them to hurry to the scene to clean up after the explosion.
At that moment
This is the real deal.
Without hesitation, Kang-hoo activated the second stage of his protective measures. He had a gut feeling.
Sure enough
Swoosh! Boom!
A suction effect preceded a massive explosion, as if drawing everything nearby into it.
The previous explosion in the dungeon was merely a prelude.
This was the actual detonation.
Kooong!
Kugh!
That was a narrow escape.
It was a truly close call; the protective barrier from Defense Stage Two barely absorbed the shockwave.
Had he deployed only a simple protective barrier, he would have sustained injuries from such a powerful explosion.
The cmity didnt end there.
Squang!
A second explosion erupted.
Kang-hoo activated the continuous use feature of Defense Stage Two, shielding himself again.
It was fortunate to be Stage Two; Stage One would have left him helplessly exposed.
Cold sweat trickled down his back. The sessive explosions took even Kang-hoo by surprise.
The moment was so dangerous that he couldnt help but consider Defense Stage Two his saving grace.
Hwiieeee.
A hollow wind whispered through the aftermath.
Kang-hoo surveyed the scene.
Hunters caught in the earlier erratic explosions were all dead.
There was utter devastation, not even a faint groan audible.
The hunters from Kenax, who had drawn near the dungeon, were either burst like balloons or shredded into several pieces.
The shockwave was something no human body could withstand; it was as if they burst like popcorn.
What a messed-up explosion.
Kang-hoo looked at the now-sealed entrance of the dungeon and smirked bitterly.
After the second explosion, the dungeons entrance, which had been bidirectional, became one-way.
Given the statistics that 99% of dungeon explosions are one-time events,
it was like winning the rare 1% gamble. The prize had been unattainable from the start.
The hunters who were lured in like moths to a me all met a gruesome end, with Kang-hoo as the sole survivor.
[''Great Catastrophe Darkness'' is deeply impressed by your insight that defied death.]
Hmm?
Kang-hoo startled at the sudden appearance of a message from a significant constetion.
The name of the constetion mentioned in the message glowed in golden light.
This was a privilege not even afforded to the Dimension Plunderer. In other words, it indicated someone of much higher rank.
The Grand Throne Hall, the entity that coordinates the orders of all constetions.
The names of constetions within the top 50 of the entire hierarchy in the Grand Throne Hall glow in gold.
Kang-hoo had pegged the Dimension Plunderers rank at around the 60th.
But now, an existence far superior had made itself known.
[A freak who just likes to watch death, huh? This guy''s turning up here?]
The Dimension Plunderer, who normally wouldnt blink at the appearance of an ordinary constetion, reacted immediately.
If she reacts, theres no need to ponder its significance. It means its something momentous.
At that moment,
Amunication channel, which only opened with the support of at least one constetion, activated.
Naturally, the one who initiated it was the Great Catastrophe Darkness. A series of unexpected events was unfolding.
[Intriguing. Typically, in such explosions, most perish. No, perhaps it''s urate to say all?]
The voice was chillingly indifferent.
It was a chill that could even p the face of the Dimension Plunderer.
As you can see the result.
Kang-hoo shrugged.
[Interesting fellow. It''s been a long time since I''ve seen one. You are indeed worthy of observation ().]
Observation?
Kang-hoo was surprised.
Observation meant that a constetion designated three hunters to be under its constant watch, a strong expression of intent.
It was akin to a shopping cart or wishlist in online shopping but with morepulsion.
In other words,
if a constetion decided to observe three hunters, it had to contract with at least one of them.
[Great Catastrophe Darkness has ''observed'' contractor Shin Kang-hoo. One remaining observation contract.]
[See you again, contractor Shin Kang-hoo.]
Great Catastrophe Darkness appeared abruptly, unterally observed, conveyed its message, and then vanished.
There was also a gift.
[''Great Catastrophe Darkness'', having expended arge amount of holy power, bestows upon you an enormous buff.]
[Experience Increase +100%]
The support was so immense that it made the backing from other constetions seem insignificant.
[Crazy.]
The reaction of the Dimension Plunderer was immediate and sharply edged.
Hadnt the Strategist of the Wastnd already been a potential main constetionpetitor?
Now a higher-ranked constetion had appeared, making it impossible not to feel heated.
Huh. My worth is rising.
Kang-hoo smirked.
Just by diligently engaging in everything, his value had skyrocketed beyond belief.
The once clear master-servant rtionship between the Dimension Plunderer and Kang-hoo was reversing. Or rather, it had already reversed. The Dimension Plunderer just didnt want to admit it.
Kang-hoo left the Hongcheon Liberation Area.
All events within the liberation area had been stopped due to the aftermath of the dungeon explosion.
Additionally, he had already reaped benefits from the Death Match, and with the markets closed for now, there was nothing left to gain.
He had taken everything he required.
He had formed a bond with Emilia and acquired a useful ring.
Moreover, with his recollection of Park Sang-oh, he easily amassed 300 billion won.
By sessfully handling the dungeon explosion, he even attracted the attention of a high-ranking constetion.
Things were going exceptionally well, almost too well to believe.
After departing from the Hongcheon Liberation Area, Kang-hoo made a beeline for Seoul.
He had learned that Park Min-sungs parents had already flown into the country via Gimpo Airport.
He had been puzzled by how they managed to arrive so swiftly from the UK, but it turned out they were in Japan.
It appeared they had nned something when they decided to go to Japan.
Still, considering their sons roots were in South Korea, their move was somewhat unfortunate.
In the meantime, Kim Su-kyungs mercenary group reached out to him.
He had thought his time in Seoul would be constrained, but now there was a change in ns.
Yes, this is Jung Sun-kyu.
This is Kim Su-kyung. Ive confirmed the information with Lee Ye-rin, but this is our first direct conversation.
Has there been a change in ns?
They were scheduled to meet the following day.
Typically, barring any changes, meetings wouldmence in person.
The target has extended their stay in the dungeon. We need to dy our ns.
I understand. How does this affect the subsequent schedule?
Lets reschedule for three days from now.
Understood. Ill see you then.
With that, the brief call concluded.
The previously tight schedule now had some breathing room.
With no urgency in dealing with Jeon Jong-du, there was no need to hasten.
Perhaps I should take some time to study the Era of Barbarians here?
The meeting regarding Park Min-sungs parents wasnt expected to be lengthy.
Given the three-day cushion provided by Kim Su-kyung, even if he finished todays obligations in Seoul, he would still have two days to spare.
With no urgent requests to handle or ces he needed to visit,
he thought it might be good to quickly learn the Era of Barbarians using the skill book tricks like before.
He could rent the Baltman Dungeon again from the Onnuri Guild near Suwon Station.
If not, he had second and third ns, so there seemed to be no issues.
Kang-hoo, who had just stopped at a rest area, opened his smartphone to check the secure email from Lee Ye-rin.
It contained information about Park Min-sungs parents, whom he would meet in the morning.
Who could they be, these named hunters in the UK with such high status?
With just the condition of being named, there were too many possibilities for Kang-hoo to easily guess.
And the moment he checked the email:
Spitfire Guild. The master and deputy master of this guild are Park Min-sungs parents?
Two prominent hunters appeared, exceeding his expectations.
The Spitfire, a UK-based adventure guild, was owned by Park Min-sungs adoptive parents.
For Kang-hoo, it was a moment that could potentially open paths not only to Japan but also to the UK.
Chapter 79: Journey To Yeosu (1)
Chapter 79: Journey To Yeosu (1)
Time passed quickly.
Kang-hoo declined their offer to meet in the morning out of consideration for their situation.
Instead, he met with them right away.
He could feel the heartache of parents whose child was being left alone even at that moment.
Although Kang-hoo had many emotionally worn-out parts, he was still capable of inferring and understanding others emotions.
Since he didnt prioritize sleep above all else, he wasnt inclined to sleep either.
The couple, Park Min-sungs parents, were the master and vice-master of the Spitfire Guild in the UK.
Their names were Ganiere and Melissa. Kang-hoo only remembered them after he learned their names.
They were not prominent characters, but they had been mentioned a few times in passing in the original work.
Regardless, Kang-hoo led Ganiere and Melissa to where Park Min-sung was.
There were no issues while traveling to Ground Zero in their privately arranged security vehicle.
At the site, they recovered Park Min-sungs body.
Thanks to the unique geographical environment of Ground Zero, Park Min-sungs body was almost undposed.
It looked like the body of someone who had died only a few hours ago, save for a bit of pus. The rest was intact.
Ganiere and Melissa, with tears streaming down their faces, ced their son in the freezerpartment of the security vehicle.
Watching the two of them weeping profusely, Kang-hoo could somewhat understand the heart of a parent.
On the other hand, he marveled at how they could give so much love to an adopted child, not rted by blood.
It was an emotion difficult for him toprehend with his practical and highly rational mindset.
After theypleted the recovery, by the time the unique musty smell of Ground Zero had somewhat dissipated on the road, Ganiere, who was driving, stopped the car for a moment and asked Kang-hoo for a talk.
Itcked etiquette and formality to have a conversation in the car.
And they needed to discuss important matters, unsuitable for a crowded area.
Kang-hoo, indifferent to the setting, exited the vehicle and walked to the side of the road.
The route to Ground Zero was nearly deserted and silent.
Ganiere initiated the dialogue.
I really dont know how to thank you. Thanks to you, we managed to retrieve our child.
I extend my deepest sympathies. I cant fathom the extent of your grief.
Although we adopted him, we loved and raised him with our whole hearts. Its heartbreaking, but we have to move past it.
Ganiere dabbed at his eyes.
Melissa had been silently crying, struggling to articte her words.
Kang-hoo inquired.
Were you unaware that your son was in Korea?
Thest update we got from Min-sung was that he was heading to Japan to connect with a hunter friend. It came through a phone call.
Hmm
Its confirmed that he made a stop in Tokyo. But the whereabouts of the friend he nned to meet remain a mystery.
Do you possess any leads?
Im not sure. The only connection to Korea he ever mentioned was the Jeonghwa Guild
The guilds name surfaced unexpectedly.
Could the Jeonghwa Guild be implicated in this incident? Was Park Min-sung an individual of such consequence?
Without the full context, spection is all that remains.
Yet, it seems improbable that the Jeonghwa Guild would expend considerable effort targeting Park Min-sung, given his seemingly minor importance.
The narrative shifts when the identity of Park Min-sungs parents is considered.
In the source material, both the UK and France were depicted as nations staunchly opposing Jang Si-hwan.
They were cast as the antagonists.
However, from this new vantage point, they appeared as bastions of justice that stood firm against the coborators to the bitter end.
In any case, the evidence at hand is scant.
Drawing connections without substance is futile, for theres no rationale to be discerned.
Would you like to join our Spitfire Guild as an Observer when youe to the UK, if its alright with you?
Ganiere, perhaps thinking it would lead to a fruitless conversation, changed the subject.
Ultimately, investigating the death of Park Min-sung was a task for the grieving parents.
They did not want to burden Kang-hoo, who had helped recover their sons body, with additional responsibilities.
Observer.
The term varies in different countries, but in Korea, it is often referred to as an invited mercenary.
Essentially, it is about formally weing an external guest at the guild level.
Though not a member, an observer receives treatment and support equal to that of guild members.
They enjoy certain privileges and rights as necessary, without being bound by the organization.
It is amon practice when guilds want to invite external hunters or bolster their forces.
In English-speaking regions, this role is also termed Observer.
Kang-hoo responded.
I would be grateful for such consideration. I am well aware of the Spitfire Guilds reputation.
It was lip service.
In truth, he had only remembered it that day, but words are what you make of them.
The offer was wee to Kang-hoo.
Being the best in Korea does not mean being the best in the world.
Jang Si-hwan in the original work was no different.
After conquering Korea and expanding overseas, his initial experiences consisted of severe beatings.
Of course, those experiences became a catalyst for his awakening, and heter emerged as a world-conquering power.
In any case, expanding overseas was essential, and he needed toy the groundwork beforehand.
He had created a reliable connection in Japan with An Yeong-ho.
Although he needed to consider his options carefully, through Yu Cheonghwa, he could make connections with the Shinto Guild in China.
And now, the UK.
Through Ganiere and Melissa, an opportunity to connect with the Spitfire Guild had presented itself.
The Spitfire Guild, ranked among the top 15 in the UK, specialized in daring adventures, uncharted territories, and pioneering efforts.
It possessed several rare dungeons that were not widely known, offering a plethora of exciting opportunities.
This is an Observer-exclusive license. It has my electronic signature on it, so it will be authenticated immediately.
Is it alright for you to give this to me?
You returned our son safely to us. You can use it personally or even sell it; it doesnt matter. This is a token of our gratitude, considering all youve done.
Except for the electronic necessities, the Observer license was crafted entirely from gold.
It was so exquisitely designed that merely looking at it stirred a strong desire to possess it.
Whats the duration?
Its indefinite. You can join our Spitfire Guild as an Observer at any time for life.
It was the ultimate reward.
Observer licenses were typically issued for brief periods.
Since its a one-sided privilege granted to outsiders, the guild had no need to maintain it indefinitely.
He had secured an opportunity that money couldnt buy.
Indefinite meant he could reap benefits from the Spitfire Guild at any time in the future without any obligation or responsibility to them.
Melissa, having just dried her tears, chimed in,
We really appreciate it. Please know that were also prepared to offer marypensation.
We will give you our private security contact. If you need anything, let us know. Well also issue a guild-endorsed gold card.
Gold card.
That referred to a credit card with a monthly reset spending limit.
One could spend freely within a fixed amount.
The limit varied depending on the agreement, but it typically started at a minimum of 1 billion won.
In essence, one could spend up to 1 billion won each month without worry. And that was just the starting point.
Kang-hoo believed the Observer license alone was ample rpense.
But he didnt want to turn his back on additional benefits he could reap, especially since he had earned them.
Kang-hoo asked, smiling.
Whats the monthly limit?
Afterward, Ganiere and Melissa, having recovered their son Park Min-sungs body, headed straight to the UK.
They nned to inter him in a family tomb they had prepared in advance for such a future event.
Unlike their frantic trip to Korea, they used their private jet for their more subdued return to the UK.
Now, Park Min-sung would beid to rest in his second homnd, where he had lived with his adoptive parents.
Good deeds are rewarded, right?
Kang-hoo looked at the Observer license and the gold card in his hands and smiled.
Now he had the privilege of using the dungeons and internal infrastructure of the Spitfire Guild at his leisure.
Moreover, he had been given a credit card with a staggering monthly limit of 2 billion won.
He had assumed the gold card would have a usage limit of a few years, but Ganiere had rified from the outset.
As long as Kang-hoo used it personally, its validity would be indefinite. It was a lifetime privilege, provided it wasnt transferred to an outsider.
Overwhelmed by a sudden wave of fatigue after the flurry of rewards, Kang-hoo checked into a hotel near Suwon Station.
After a restful night, he intended to visit the Onnuri Guild and apply for a dungeon conquest license, just as he had done before.
If he could re-enter the Baltman Dungeon, mastering new tricks as he had previously wouldnt pose a challenge.
That night, having slept deeply from morning untilte at night without interruption, Kang-hoo headed straight for the Onnuri Guild.
Han Seung-hyeok, chief of the dungeon management team, greeted him once more.
Kang-hoo anticipated a smooth discussion, but an unexpected obstacle arose.
Their dungeon conquest schedule was fully booked for the next month.
In addition, Han Seung-hyeok expressed curiosity about Kang-hoos persistent interest in the Baltman Dungeon as an outsider.
He persistently tried to uncover any unknown sweet spots or hidden rewards.
Furthermore, the cost of renting the license had been raised to 10 billion won, as if they had no intention of actually renting it out.
As a result, the negotiations broke down before they could even start.
Kang-hoo didnt exclusively need the Baltman Dungeon, so he didnt cling to Han Seung-hyeok.
Thus, Kang-hoos new destination became Yeosu.
The warlord of Yeosu was Jagang.
Among their dungeons, there was one where skill book tricks, simr to those in the Baltman Dungeon, were possible.
Though it had a different name, the dungeons internal structure andyout were more than 95% simr to the Baltman Dungeon.
The leader of the warlord Jagang, Kim Jah-ho, was of Chinese descent, and many of his affiliated hunters were also from the Chinesemunity.
As a result, as he entered their territory, the atmosphere felt reminiscent of Chinatown.
Sure enough,
Hey! Outsiders should walk in from here! Dont think about drivingfortably in your car.
Before he could even enter their managed area, he had to disembark from his car.
They seemed displeased with the sight of outsiders driving aroundfortably.
Chapter 80: Journey To Yeosu (2)
Chapter 80: Journey To Yeosu (2)
There were several troublesome checkpoints.
Even in insignificant alleyways, they demanded tolls.
Using the ridiculous excuse of preventing terrorism, they ran metal detectors over the entire body.
With even a single dagger, it was impossible to avoid detection by the metal scanners.
The hunters of Jajang, upon this, would be furious, questioning why the metal was detected.
However, the amusing part was that after making such a fuss, they would simply say it was nothing and let you pass.
It was then Kang-hoo realized the checkpoints werent really about safety or security but more about making extra money. So, he changed his approach.
He withdrew a generous amount of 50,000 won bills from a nearby ATM.
He made bundles of 1 million and 2 million won, offering them to the obstructive hunters.
But with a condition.
Ill give it only to the one who treats me with the utmost respect. Just one person. I wont choose several.
The atmosphere changed from that moment.
The checkpoint searches disappeared as if by magic.
They vied to clear the way, remove obstacles, and even brought iced water for Kang-hoo.
Is this the taste of capitalism?
Kang-hoo felt the joy of spending money as he proceeded.
The area was firmly under the control of the local warlords, with Jajangs gs fluttering everywhere.
Though not asrge as the group led by Lee Hyun-seok of The Abyss.
They were significant enough to be considered a local warlord.
Such a force likely had connections with local businesses, police, and the Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
No wonder the underlings acted so brazenly. It was an expected scene.
Contrary to expectations of difficulty in meeting the boss, Kang-hoos meeting with Kim Jahoh happened quickly.
When Kang-hoo inquired, offering a minimum of 1 billion won for dungeon rental, it seemed to pique interest.
It was rare for an outsider hunter toe to Yeosu to rent a dungeon license.
There must have been curiosity to meet.
Soon, he met Kim Jahoh.
His office was filled with the stuffed heads of wild animals.
Their eyes were wide open at the moment of death, which was chilling.
This was different from the neat and tidy offices of the Seoul hunters.
Although it was broad daylight, Kim Jahoh started the conversation, drinking vodka from his ss.
Not often we get outsiders here. You suddenlye wanting to attack our Jajang dungeon?
Ive been interested in a particr dungeon for a while.
I heard about which dungeon youre interested in. But theres nothing special about that dungeon.
Maybe intuition? I feel like this time I might find some good items.
Hey.
Hmm?
Are you, by chance, on drugs?
The conversation took a sudden turn, but it was an expected reaction.
Han Seung-hyeok had said the same thing before.
It was strange for Kang-hoo to think a dungeon they had attacked hundreds of times was special.
If it had been a less-explored dungeon or one with something special, they might have been surprised.
But it was a in, ordinary dungeon, so the sudden interest seemed iprehensible.
Moreover, the 1 billion won they proposed for the rental was no small sum.
Cant I just be a hunter who loves adventure?
I wont stop you froming to our dungeon and spending money on our organization, but its just too strange, isnt it?
Thats how the world is.
This guy, seriously. Hes really high or something.
Kim Jahoh clicked his tongue in disapproval.
In the Yeosu area, there were many stimntsing in from China.
Even if they werent strictly drugs, there were plenty of substances with drug-like effects.
Kim Jahoh understood Kang-hoos absurd curiosity in that context. It seemed to make sense.
After all, from Jajangs perspective, there was no loss in doing business with dungeon licenses.
Kang-hoo asked,
Deal?
Fine. Theres no problem with renting the license, but weve never opened a dungeon exclusively for an outsider before.
An escort?
More like a watcher. Dont expect any help.
Dont like seeing someone else get the good stuff, huh?
Haha. Just listen to the end.
Kang-hoo crossed his arms, waiting for him to continue.
Whether it was impromptu or a pre-existing policy, they seemed to have their own way of renting.
As Kang-hoo looked on indifferently, Kim Jahoh took another shot of vodka and continued,
The dungeon license fee is just 100 million won, but any loot obtained along the way belongs to us.
And?
We wont im ownership of the drop items from the middle boss and main boss. Everything else, however, is ours.
Think you can cover the 1 billion won with that?
Want me to be honest?
Why lie now?
If you die during the attack, everything you have bes ours.
Thats outrageous.
Kang-hoo burst into hollowughter.
Upon reflection, Kim Jahohs idea seemed quite usible.
It made sense.
If Kang-hoo died during the attack, the items he was wearing would naturally be Jajangs property.
No one woulde to im them, and they wouldnt be easy to track.
How about it?
Well, my business is with the boss monsters, so lets do it.
It wasnt a loss.
He hade to this dungeon in the first ce to acquire new skills.
Moreover, the rewards from the most important middle boss and main boss were off-limits.
Well kindly provide dungeon-rted information. But a level scan is a must.
Anytime.
As Kang-hoo nodded, Kim Jahoh used a scanning device he had brought out to scan Kang-hoos body.
The level scan process usually took about a minute, so a brief awkward silence followed.
After a while, seeing Kang-hoos level disyed on the scanning device, Kim Jahoh was visibly shocked.
Hey. Youre going into the dungeon with this level? You wont even get past the entrance. Dont want to die, do you?
Worrying about my life? How kind. Should we call it off then?
The dungeon monsters are all around level 200. Itll be really tough with a level under 100.
Whether its tough or not, well see after entering. After all, if I die, its me, not you.
True, Im overstepping. Alright. Ill assign someone to guide you. Remember, they wont help you, even if youre in danger.
Dont throw cold water on it now.
Kang-hoo replied nonchntly.
Kim Jahohs tone and reactions were slightly annoying, but he was quite cooperative in the end.
Considering he was a local warlord, I had expected some stubbornness, but the conversation proceeded smoothly.
Fortunately, the dungeon was ready for an attack, so he could enter without further dy.
A good start.
Kang-hoo entered the dungeon with the watcher 15 minutester.
The hunter appeared quite young, probably not even twenty years old.
After introducing themselves, Kang-hoo learned that the watchers name was Baek Seon-tae, an obvious alias.
Upon entering the dungeon, Baek Seon-tae crossed his arms and observed how Kang-hoo handled the monsters.
He saw no reason to exert himself, so he didnt bother to draw his weapon.
However, Baek Seon-tae watched Kang-hoos movements with interest, likely because they were of the same profession.
How long had he been watching Kang-hoo?
Once Kang-hoo had smoothly subdued the entrances monsters and finished his warm-up, Baek Seon-tae casually initiated a conversation.
They were in a lull between monster waves, creating a natural chance to talk.
Its been a while since Ive seen a good assassin. Good posture, no ws. Interesting, isnt it?
Hard to find assassins these days.
More like hard to find skilled ones. Most just show off and end up killed.
Pride in his own profession and disdain for other assassins who didnt meet his standards were clear in Baek Seon-taes words.
Kang-hoo shared a simr sentiment.
Many in the assassin profession try to look cool without possessing real skill.
These types usually have brief lifespans.
Being an assassin is one of the most sensitive professions among hunters.
One mistake can easily cost you your life, consistently ranking at the top in terms of upational risk.
If an assassination attempt fails, the assassin, being closest to the target, bes the easiest prey.
The saying high risk, high return isnt without merit; the stakes are indeed high.
Baek Seon-tae continued,
Is there a particr reason you had to choose this dungeon, even though youre giving up most of the rewards?
Call it a sense of adventure. Seeking unpredictability in an uncertain world. Something like that.
Kang-hoo spoke offhand, then slightly turned his head andughed as if he found his own response absurd.
His reason was clear.
He was here to learn skills through a skill book trick.
But he didnt feel like sharing his secrets with a stranger, so he resorted to talking nonsense.
Anyway, Im enjoying the view. Your level is unbelievably low for your skill.
Baek Seon-tae didnt conceal his sincerity.
His level was 250.
Compared to Kang-hoo, he was a 2.5 times stronger expert.
Yet, during the battle, he perceived near-perfection in Kang-hoos movements.
Clean, concise.
Seemingly effortless, yet each motion was sharp.
Not at all sloppy.
Any hunter would recognize how difficult it is for these descriptors to coexist.
If you couldbine these words into one, it would be perfection.
That was the caliber of Kang-hoos movements.
Meanwhile, aside from Baek Seon-taespliments, Kang-hoo was considering the current battle as training.
I need to dodge even more narrowly, to create the timing I want.
From the perspective of a novice, avoiding danger from the outset seems like the best strategy.
It significantly lowers the risk.
However, reality isnt always so simple.
An experienced hunter can predict your next move if you evade too early.
By showing your hand early, you make it easier for them to target you.
An experienced hunter naturally thinks a few steps ahead.
Theter I dodge, the more time and attack opportunities I can waste.
Kang-hoo dyed his evasion toplicate the opponents nning for their next move.
This was Kang-hoos next step in growth.
Chapter 81: Journey To Yeosu (3)
Chapter 81: Journey To Yeosu (3)
At that moment, at Seoul Station:
Im trembling.
A woman stood still in the lobby of Seoul Station, as if time had stopped, passing the time.
Her feet seemed glued to the ground, unable to shake off the heavy feeling.
She looked around excessively, her mind filled with vague fears.
Several times, she tried calling someone she remembered, but the connection never went through.
Well. You cant answer the phone when youre inside a dungeon. That must be it.
The woman was Jung Yuri. The person she tried to call was Kang-hoo.
For her, it was a new feeling.
She had chosen to live a secluded life in Ground Zero, never expecting it to end like this.
The catalyst was clear: it was thanks to Kang-hoo, who had unknowingly instilled energy in her.
He was like a ray of hope to her, someone deeply hurt and withdrawn from the world.
Jung Yuri gained the will to rebuild her future from the brief but intense memories with Kang-hoo.
Her life could have remained trapped in traumatic memories due to the horrific experiences with Chae Gwanhyeong.
But Kang-hoo had clearly shown her that not everyone was corrupt like Chae Gwanhyeong and that there were people with genuine goodwill.
He taught her that avoiding everything was not always the best approach.
If only I could explore Seoul with him. Oh well. Tsk.
After muttering aint (?) the person in question would never hear, her feet felt lighter.
Just imagining walking around Seoul Station and exchanging yful banter with Kang-hoo lightened her heart.
Lets just get some fresh air!
Jung Yuri stepped energetically out of the station.
First, she nned to buy a pretty scarf she always liked to wear around her neck.
Then, she decided to enjoy her rare visit to Seoul to the fullest.
From time to time, she noticed people looking at her, their gazes feeling particrly hostile
But she told herself it was just her imagination, trying to remain indifferent.
These emotions were overly exaggerated, products of the trauma left by Chae Gwanhyeong.
She reassured herself strongly. Its nothing. No one is looking at me.
Now, Ill live my own life.
Jung Yuri clenched her trembling hands tightly.
Once out in the world, she had to learn to survive without being preyed upon.
And she realized there were quite a few people around her who could help her stand on her own, like her grandparents, for instance.
Meanwhile, around the same time, Kang-hoos journey to learn the skill book of the Age of Barbarism continued.
I wonder how long its been since Ive seen a dungeon raid without any crisis.
Baek Seon-tae was astounded by the peaceful, almost leisurely pace of Kang-hoos dungeon raid.
Even the middle boss battle, which he thought would be a crisis point, went surprisingly smoothly.
Baek Seon-tae didnt know that Kang-hoo had managed to obtain a passive skill called Enhanced Bleeding from the middle boss.
When he was wounded by the middle bosss attack, the bleeding wouldnt stop easily, and now he knew why.
[Enhanced Bleeding]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv Max]
[Randomly increases the efficiency of skills with existing bleeding effects from 2 to 3 times.]
It would be a meaningless skill for a hunter without bleeding skills, but for Kang-hoo, who had skills like Bleeding Stab, it was a skill with great synergy.
Baek Seon-tae kept thinking Hes so efficient repeatedly as he watched Kang-hoo.
Assassin hunters all desire a style that is restrained yet effective with a single, clean hit.
But this is just an aspiration in theory; in actualbat, the situation is often messy.
Neither the targeted hunter nor the monster moves exactly as one anticipates.
With numerous variables and unpredictable responses, confusion is inevitable.
No matter how smart one is, its impossible to keep tens of thousands of scenarios in ones head.
Yet, Kang-hoo never showed signs of panic or sluggishness in his attacks and defenses.
It was as if he had a clear idea of how to respond to each of his opponents actions.
Of course, the reason for this was clear: he had a very diverse attack repertoire.
Baek Seon-tae had personally witnessed over fifteen different skills, far exceeding the number he possessed himself.
I cant stand it any longer.
Baek Seon-tae broke his resolve to remain an indifferent observer and to not show curiosity towards Kang-hoo.
Kim Ja-ho had warned him not to give his heart to outsiders or create ties of fate.
But Kang-hoo possessed too many qualities that Baek Seon-tae aspired to emte.
Although Kang-hoo was levels below him, he seemed like someone several steps ahead in skill.
And to Baek Seon-tae, level wasnt the most important factor. Level isnt everything.
Meanwhile, at that very moment:
Level 94 before the main boss.
Kang-hoo was contentedly reviewing his level, which he had raised to 94 in anticipation of the final battle with the main boss.
Level 100 was just within reach.
Reaching level 100 not only added basic skills.
It was also the time when all the constetions in the grand battle received a qualification notification.
In other words, it was an official notification to the constetions that a hunter had ovee many challenges and reached the mythical level 100.
At this point, all constetions would recognize the existence of this hunter, leading to many contracts.
Hence, over 99% of hunters above level 100 were contracted with constetions.
Any constetion would cling to them, regardless of rank or shorings.
Of course, this was nothing new for Kang-hoo, who had already contracted with the Dimension Plunderer before escaping from Cheongmyeong Detention Center.
But one thing was certain:
The qualification notification could provoke the constetions currently supporting or observing Kang-hoo.
The Strategist of the Wastnd might have prepared more sponsorship packages.
Or The Great Cmity - Darkness, who watched Kang-hoo, could have proposed a contract earlier than expected.
Therefore, reaching level 100 was significant for Kang-hoo.
The same held true for the Dimension Plunderer, his main contractor.
She had never revealed her nervousness to Kang-hoo, but she felt extremely anxious.
She couldnt predict when a rival constetion might appear. It was her greatest crisis.
After checking his bonus points, stats, and skills, Kang-hoo sat on a rock to rest briefly.
Excuse me, Mr. Jung Sun-kyu.
Then Baek Seon-tae, who had followed at a distance, spoke up.
He seemed curious, having been silent and merely observing until then.
Yes.
May I ask who your teacher is?
A teacher?
Yes. It seems you must have had a good one. Of course, the capacity to absorb their teaching is important, too.
Kang-hoo reflected on the word teacher because he didnt have one.
But he understood why Baek Seon-tae would assume he had a teacher.
Without a systematic shortcut provided by a teacher, his current skill level would have been impossible to achieve.
Indeed, many renowned hunters, referred to as named, often had good teachers.
For instance, Jang Si-hwan had a teacher he called his lifelong benefactor, although he was now deceased.
Lee Ye-rin also had a skilled teacher, though not from Korea.
Nheless, Kang-hoo wanted to give Baek Seon-tae a proper answer, so he replied yfully.
Yes, I do have a teacher. Its been a while since Ive seen them, but it feels as if theyre always right beside me.
Though he said this, Kang-hoos true teacher was himself. He was the source of all his enlightenment and learning.
This was by design how the character Shin Kang-hoo was conceived.
In the original story, he was not called Jang Si-hwans greatest rival and arch-enemy for nothing. He was a character who could challenge the protagonist.
As Baek Seon-tae observed him carefully, Kang-hoo joked,
Are you preparing to dig into my past?
Excuse me?
Your expression looks exactly like someone who wants to know more about another person. Overflowing with curiosity, arent you?
I wont deny it. But to say Im digging is a bit much! Im just genuinely curious.
Ha, its just a joke.
Kang-hoo rarely made jokes, but teasing Baek Seon-tae amused him.
He seemed like a fresh hunter, still pure and uncorrupted by the world.
Considering the culture of the warlord Ja-gang, he was an unconventional type of hunter.
Mr. Sun-kyu, if its alright, may I join you for the boss monsters conquest? Ill forego my experience points.
Then, Baek Seon-tae made an unexpected offer.
It was surprising that he wanted to join the boss monster conquest, as he had seemed content being an observer.
Saying he would forego his experience points meant he would leave the battlefield one minute before the boss monster died.
This would reset any contribution to the damage dealt.
Therefore, he wouldnt be entitled to any experience points.
He wanted to coborate, but leave all the rewards to Kang-hoo.
From Kang-hoos standpoint, there was no downside to epting such a generous proposal.
Kang-hoo surmised his intentions but inquired about his reasons nheless.
Why do you want to join?
I wish to synchronize with you. Watching you has left me impressed.
Im not so skilled as to be impressive.
To other hunters, maybe not, but to me, you have the skills to be a role model.
Kang-hoos lips twitched into a slight smile.
He found it difficult to dismiss the pleasant emotions stirred by Baek Seon-taes praise.
Kang-hoo, who typically critiqued himself harshly and with restraint, always sought out his faults and shunned self-satisfaction.
However, with Baek Seon-tae expressing admiration and awe, he couldnt suppress a sense of pride.
He was also intrigued by Baek Seon-taes abilities.
As a hunter in the same profession, I recognized there might be elements worth learning from him, especially given his high level.
Just follow the original rules, and Ill be grateful. After all, its my right to the boss monster.
Of course!
With Kang-hoos permission, Baek Seon-tae smiled innocently like a child receiving a gift.
He seemed genuinely pleased.
Just then,
The mes of death I have created will offer a shortcut to hell for the foolish creatures.
The boss monster, who had been sneakily watching Kang-hoo, delivered its line as if on cue.
A monster with such presence and intimidation would have made anyone shiver with its words.
However,
Its just spicy chicken anyway.
Kang-hoo casually dismissed the dignity and authority of the boss monster, Canabis, with a single phrasespicy chicken.
Canabis, aspiring to be a fiery phoenix, a burning incarnation of fire, was thus reduced to an insignificant chicken.
Chapter 82: Journey To Yeosu (4)
Chapter 82: Journey To Yeosu (4)
His skills are impressive.
Indeed, seeing it up close, its clear. Hes dodging everything deliberately, not just out of luck.
As the battle to take down Canabis intensified, Kang-hoo and Baek Seon-tae found themselves increasingly drawn to each other.
Of course, it was an appreciation of each others abilities, not the emotional attraction one might think.
Nevertheless, Baek Seon-tae recognized that Kang-hoos skills and evasion were intentional and calcted.
Kang-hoo concluded that Baek Seon-taes abilities were too good to waste in a minor regional warlord faction.
The extent of Kim Ja-hos skills remained unclear, though.
With Baek Seon-taes current skills, joining the Luminous Guild would have been easy. Not that he intended to rmend it.
Canabis struggled against the hit-and-run tactics of the two assassins.
Canabiss trait was to spew powerful mes, deterring enemies from approaching.
However, the mes werent infinite, necessitating brief cooldowns.
The problem was Kang-hoo and Baek Seon-tae never missed these opportunities.
Especially Kang-hoo, who could strike from a distance with skills like Luminous Intensity without getting close.
Plus, up close, he could use his beheading skill for devastating attacks.
Thus, Canabis was in a constant state of difficulty, whether Kang-hoo was near or far.
At some point, even the trajectory of Canabiss mes became predictable, allowing Kang-hoo to change position before they were spewed.
With skills like Shadow Step and illusion techniques, Kang-hoo made it even harder tond a hit.
Huff. Huff. Huff.
It was Canabis, not Kang-hoo or Baek Seon-tae, who was gasping for breath.
Having the ability to make human-like sounds, Canabis had made a heavy entrance, only to end up in a pitiful state. It would be embarrassing if it knew shame.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo charged again at Canabis. He needed to threaten its life to induce tricky situations.
Canabis, a humanoid magician like Baltman, had a different appearance and attack style but used simr tricks.
Canabis possessed a skill called Burn and Devour to defend against troublesome attacks.
When Kang-hoo prepared to throw the Thunder Array, Canabis flinched.
Having learned from previous attacks, it reacted nervously to the anticipated pain.
Then, as Kang-hoo made a powerful throwing motion, Canabis responded quickly.
Kyaaaaak!
Canabis spewed a me far more powerful than before, intending to melt and destroy the iing Jeongwangbido.
The deployment of the Burn and Devour skill.
Is it really bird-brained?
Smiling at the predictable response, Kang-hoo remembered how Baltman and now Canabis, monsters that had learned from pain, were easily deceived.
What left Kang-hoos hand wasnt Jeongwangbido, but a skill book from the Barbaric Era he had pulled out.
Unaware, Canabis used Burn and Devour to obliterate the skill book.
Simultaneously, its contents, transformed into blue essence, slipped into Canabiss mouth.
The Burn and Devour skill was meant to neutralize attacks while replenishing mana.
But Canabis inadvertently burned a skill book, gaining a random skill instead.
The setup wasplete.
However,
What just happened?
Clueless, Baek Seon-tae tilted his head.
What Kang-hoo had thrown wasnt a dagger, but a book.
For Baek Seon-tae, unaware of Kang-hoos skill-stealing ability, the situation was iprehensible.
At that moment,
It seems the time hase.
He signaled to retreat.
The end of Canabis was near.
Thanks to Baek Seon-taes assistance with the damage, the process was shortened much more than expected.
Now, all that remained was to retrieve the skills from the fire chicken that had been fed the skill book.
The table was set.
All that was left was to pick up the spoon.
Five minutester.
[Age of Savagery]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv Max]
[If the learner''s mana stat is below 50, all skill mana costs are reduced by 50%.]
Kang-hoo checked the Age of Savagery skill he had acquired after killing Canabis and sessfully plundering it.
Originally, it was a skill exclusive to berserkers, but thanks to a trick, the penalty for not matching the job disappeared.
Had he learned it as is, a penalty would have applied, reducing its efficiency to 10% of the original.
The mana cost would have been reduced by only 5%, a negligible effect.
However, thanks to the trick, he was able to fully acquire the skill and inherit its original efficiency.
Reached level 95, got the Age of Savagery, and even ate an orange mana stone. This is a total gain.
What made Kang-hoo even happier was the mana stone obtained from the deceased Canabis.
The orange mana stone had a market value of nearly 100 billion won.
In high demand by medium andrge guilds, it was easily mizable.
Red, orange, and yellow mana stones are not easy toe by as dungeon loot. The chances are very low.
But having beaten those odds and receiving such a reward, he couldnt help but feel good.
There was more good news.
[Fire Soul]
[Absolute fire resistance increases by 7.5%.]
At the moment Canabis died, he acquired a permanent buff in the form of fire-rted resistance.
Absolute resistance.
A resistance that is not ignored under any circumstances.
For example, if one achieves 100% absolute fire resistance, they would be unaffected by any fire attack.
However, absolute resistance is difficult to acquire, even for top hunters.
Unexpectedly, he obtained absolute fire resistance from Canabis.
If the 7.5% absolute resistance were converted into mary value, it would be at least 750 billion won.
Typically, the ability value of a hunter with 100% absolute resistance is considered to be 1 trillion won.
Beingpletely invincible against specific attribute attacks makes such a valuation not unrealistic.
Really this surveince was meaningful. Its been a day that gives me a lot to think about.
Baek Seon-tae naturally started a conversation, holding a notebook filled with densely written notes.
Well, if it was helpful.
Kang-hoo made an awkward expression.
He wondered if it was necessary to study him to such an extent, but on the other hand, he felt good about it.
Will youe to Yeosu again? Probably not, right? Theres no reason for you toe here.
Baek Seon-tae looked at the now open exit with a look of regret.
He felt as if he might not see Kang-hoo again if not now.
It seemed important to establish a connection here; otherwise, it felt like it would never happen.
His respect easily overrode his petty pride. What meaning does dignity have if the heart strongly desires otherwise?
Baek Seon-tae hurriedly ran up to Kang-hoo and bowed.
I really want to meet you again. Could we exchange contact information? You can also tell me your SNS.
Ill take your contact. I dont want to exchange it meaninglessly.
Oh, yes. Yes. Understood.
Kang-hoo made his stance clear.
Baek Seon-tae had been friendly from the start, and even now, he didnt seem to have any ill intentions.
But the human heart isnt something one can easily be certain of.
His interest was merely Baek Seon-taes personal greed.
Kang-hoo was indeed interested in Baek Seon-tae, but he wasnt seriously curious about who he was.
Then there was no need to approach him first. Thats what Kang-hoo thought.
Baek Seon-tae hurriedly wrote down his name, phone number, and a few SNS addresses in his notebook.
Then he carefully tore it out, folded it, and handed it to Kang-hoo, hoping he wouldnt lose it.
Baek Seon-tae added,
It doesnt matter if it takes a long time. Please contact me if you think of me.
Understood.
Then Ill proceed with the cleanup as I leave. The rest of the rewards belong to our warlord faction.
As much as you want.
Kang-hoo nodded.
It concerned the agreed part, and Kang-hoo had already gained so much that he lost interest in anything else.
The dungeon was meant to teach about the Age of Savagery, yet he received far more rewards than anticipated.
Simply selling the orange mana stone on the market could boost his bnce to 46.6 billion won.
After parting with Baek Seon-tae, Kang-hoo headed to a nearby hotel to alleviate the fatigue that had umted from the battle.
He wanted to rx first.
Surely, due to the high level of the dungeon, he felt considerable fatigue had umted in his body.
Upon entering the room, Kang-hoo filled the bathtub with hot water and started with a half-body bath.
He savored thenguid feeling spreading through his body. That was the appeal of a half-body bath.
Since itse to this, should I aim for 1 trillion won? It would be much easier with a second-grade item.
He felt greedy.
Possessing a third-grade item, Hyeolru, already provided significant power in dungeon assaults.
The ability to tackle dungeons far beyond his level wasrgely due to the advantage Hyeolru provided.
Thanks to its special effect, Taste of Blood, he benefited greatly from additional damage on repeated hits.
Being a third-grade item, Hyeolru also offered high resistance to magic and toughness, making it efficient in defense.
If a third-grade item like Hyeolru was this effective, a step-up item would be a game-changer.
Just in terms of stats, he would experience at least a 2 to 3 times increasepared to Hyeolru.
And the special effects wouldnt just be one or two, but a string of six or seven.
No wonder named hunters crave second and first-grade items.
Its like being reborn, causing a drastic change in a hunters abilities and direction.
Of course, even with money, finding an item that matches well is another challenge.
Should Kang-hoo gather enough money to buy a second-grade item, he nned to look overseas rather than domestically.
Items sold domesticallycked both the volume and diversity of those in the U.S. or China.
Sell the orange mana stone. And if I wrap up the case rted to Jeon Jong-du well
Depending on the situation, he could see his assets increase to the 700 billion won range.
If Jeon Jong-du died, the reward would be 100 billion won, but if captured alive, it would be 300 billion won.
After he deleted the spam texts and disaster alerts on his smartphone with an annoyed expression, he noticed several missed call notifications and chat alerts.
Heh. She came out of Ground Zero earlier than I thought.
The first person Kang-hoo exchanged numbers with was someone he once hoped would emerge from Ground Zero.
-Where are you? Im in Seoul!
-You didnt answer the phone, so you must be in a dungeon? Call me backter! Ill wait!
-[Photo]
-[Photo]
These were messages from Jung Yuri.
Chapter 83: Journey To Yeosu (5)
Chapter 83: Journey To Yeosu (5)
Kang-hoo called Jung Yuri to arrange a meeting, and they met at Seoul Grand Park.
Since he still had time before joining Kim Su-kyungs mercenary group, he had plenty of time to spare.
However, due to Jung Yuris suggestion, Kang-hoo found himself on an unexpected zoo date.
The character Shin Kang-hoo in the original work was someone who would never consider such trivial dates.
A character who, when visiting a zoo, would think about when and how the animals might be eaten.
Nevertheless, Kang-hoo didnt want to ignore Jung Yuris desire to visit the zoo.
So, Kang-hoo was riding the elephant train at the entrance of Seoul Grand Park with her.
Fun, isnt it? Exciting, right?
Arent you thrilled? We havent even seen the animals yet, and Im already excited! My hearts pounding!
The weather is really nice, indeed.
Kang-hoos heart was too worn out to match Jung Yuris childlike enthusiasm.
But the weather was so perfect that he naturally looked up at the sky.
A perfect day for a pic.
When such expressions were used in the novel, it was a blue sky like todays that he imagined.
What have you been up to?
Dungeons. Rest. Quests. Rest.
So, its just work, home, work, home?
Hunters have to live like that if they dont want to fall behind. They must constantly whip themselves.
If he had been a hunter without ambition, he would have just leveled up enough and wandered around easy dungeons.
But Kang-hoo had no such intention.
For a hunter dreaming of a higher world, rankings, and status, rest is a luxury. Its amon thought among many hunters.
Rx a bit today! Youre too tense!
Jung Yuris yful pats on Kang-hoos shoulder were filled with excitement.
Kang-hoo envied her for that.
This damned character Shin Kang-hoo had all such pure emotions eradicated.
Because in the original work, there was concern that he might be a viin straying in another direction.
Almost all positive emotions had been annihted for this reason.
It was fortunate that he still had the mouth and muscles to smile.
So, whether it was a hollowugh, a bitter smile, or a genuine one, he could still manage a smile.
Had this ability been removed too, he would have been no different from a robot, a mere imitation of a human.
Shall we get some ice cream?
Oh! You eat ice cream? You look like youd catch a cold just by eating ice cream.
What about my face?
You look like someone whos received their death sentence, so pale. It feels like I should be offering you a warm cafette instead of ice cream.
So youre saying you dont want it?
No, no! Of course, Ill eat it! If youre buying, Ill definitely have some!
Vani? Chocte? Strawberry?
Vani!
Two vani ice creams, please.
Even while ordering, it felt awkward.
What was a normal andfortable situation for someone else was not the same for Kang-hoo.
Maybe thats why he found Jung Yuris presence, constantly exuding pure and warm energy,forting.
After paying for the ice cream, the two began to walk slowly, holding their ice creams.
Being in the zoo, a ce where there was no need to hurry, allowed them to enjoy a leisurely pace.
Kang-hoo casually started a conversation.
You left Ground Zero earlier than I thought.
Yes. That time, with Sun-kyu
Im twenty-nine years old.
Ah! Then its morefortable to call you oppa. After parting ways with Sun-kyu oppa, I visited many dungeons here and there.
Is there a dungeon in Ground Zero that you can tackle personally?
Well, not exactly mine, but there are some dungeons that my grandfather owns, you know?
An unexpected story popped up.
Kang-hoo didnt know who Jung Yuris grandfather was.
However, owning dungeons indicated considerable wealth or ability.
In the original work, the only thing mentioned about Jung Yuri was herself, but who was her family?
Jung Yuri continued speaking.
Anyway, I was greatly inspired by you, oppa, and worked hard in the dungeons. And I thought about it.
Wanted to go out into the world?
Yes. I thought I could give it a try. I realized Im a pretty decent hunter! Notcking at all!
Youve gained enlightenment.
Right. Ive broken free from the shackles of negative thoughts!
That seemed good.
Jung Yuri is someone who can be proud of her abilities.
Kang-hoo subtly encouraged her toe out into the world because he recognized her value.
Of course, it was also partly to create a counterforce against the Jeonghwa Guild in the mid to long term.
Probably, Jung Yuri will grow well on her own without any extra attention.
With a level much higher than Kang-hoos, she is already far ahead in the race.
How much has your level increased?
About 10? Im not sure if thats a lot or a little.
You practically lived in dungeons then.
Yes, right! Hahaha!
For a level 250 hunter, raising 10 levels in such a short time is not easy.
Such growth suggests that the dungeons provided by her grandfather were quite exceptional.
Moreover, its likely that her grandfather provided various forms of help, like assigning a supporter.
Who could her grandfather be?
Curiosity prevailed over the desire to hold back the question.
But before he could ask, Jung Yuri added something.
Now Ive regained my curiosity about the world. Of course, my feelings of revenge towards Chae Gwanhyeong remain the same.
So youve developed the will to stand against the world.
Right. I wont take revenge without thought. Ive sorted out many things. Ill sharpen my knife quietly.
Jung Yuris eyes, which had been bright throughout, flickered with a hint of killing intent.
It was strong enough to momentarily startle Kang-hoo, who was watching.
Eat. Its melting.
Ah! What am I saying in this zoo full of innocent animals! Sorry, oppa.
The zoo isnt a sanctuary. Say what you want. But where is your grandfather?
Kang-hoo subtly changed the subject.
My grandfather? Oh, to be precise, hes not my biological grandfather. Hes the grandfather who adopted me!
So, not a stepfather, but a step-grandfather?
Yes, thats right. He said he didnt want to take the ce of my biological mother and father. He wanted to leave it as is.
I see. Did I ask an unnecessary question?
No, not at all! I dont resent my biological parents. Anyway, my grandfather is at Ground Zero.
Ground Zero?
Yes. You must have heard about it, oppa? Hes cultivating Srkium!
Ah, that person?
Yes! My grandfather!
I had a hunch, and it turned out to be true.
Jung Yuris grandfather is Master K.
The only one in the country who can cultivate Srkium.
A person Kang-hoo thought he could consult about his innate mana hypersensitivity.
That person turns out to be Jung Yuris adoptive grandfather. Fate connects in unexpected ways.
Even as the original author, who knows the content inside out, there are things beyond my knowledge.
The unconscious or areas not covered in the original work create their own threads like this.
Despite being in the world I created, there are unpredictable elements.
Of course, I know the main storyline, the major backbone, so its not a big issue.
Honestly, the fact that there are unpredictable parts was rather intriguing.
It brought a sense of tension.
Not everything will flow as expected, a literal, just-right amount of tension.
Anyway, if Master K is her grandfather, Jung Yuris value is much higher than Kang-hoo had thought.
As Kang-hoo pondered in silence, Jung Yuri tilted her head and asked,
Why? Do you have a bad history with my grandfather?
No, quite the opposite. I often bought necessary items from Master K.
He would wee you if you helped me! Tell me anytime you want to visit!
Good. Thats great.
Kang-hoo nodded.
Meeting Master K through Jung Yuri as an intermediary could facilitate a smoother interaction.
His existence was quite important to Kang-hoo.
The supply of Srkium was a secondary issue; it was his wealth of knowledge and experience that was valuable.
There was also Mihai Banku from Romania, recognized by Han Seo-yeon.
But it was uncertain whether he was a benevolent hunter or not.
Thats why Master K, somewhat pre-vetted(?), seemed more trustworthy,paratively speaking.
After that, walking along the main route of Seoul Grand Park, Kang-hoo and Jung Yuri had many conversations.
Through these, he guessed that Jung Yuris adoptive grandmother was also an extraordinary person.
Jung Yuri didnt borate, but it was clear her grandmother was also a hunter.
Moreover, she seemed like a powerful figure in the guild, influential yet not publicly known.
Kang-hoo unexpectedly gained a lot of information from Jung Yuri.
He felt good knowing she trusted him enough to share deep thoughts without reservation.
The concept of trust.
Having someone who trusts and believes in you is truly a happy thing.
On the other hand, Kang-hoo questioned himself.
Did he truly trust anyone 100%? The answer was a definitive no. He always viewed others with a degree of suspicion.
A close friend to share heartfelt friendship with.
A love that doesnt calcte or weigh.
He had none of these, only business rtionships.
Im lonely.
The conclusion was simple.
Lonely and isted.
Kang-hoo hoped that one day, he would find a friendship or love worth sacrificing his life for.
Wouldnt the world seem much brighter and more beautiful then?
At some point, Kang-hoo stopped getting lost inplex thoughts and enjoyed his zoo date with Jung Yuri.
Heughed at the cute animals and fully savored the sweetness of delicious snacks.
After the possession incident, for the first time, he allowed himself a proper pause in the relentless race he had been in.
During this pause, there was someone who made him feel not so alone.
Although it wasnt long, the half-day date became a meaningful recharging time for Kang-hoo.
Once he met Kim Su-kyungs mercenary group, the stage would shift to a battlefield of blood and flesh.
After the date, at the exit of Line 4 Daegongwon Station, where they would go their separate ways, they exchanged farewells.
Oppa, contact me whenever you need me. Of course, I cant answer if Im in a dungeon!
It was fun.
Oppa! Smile more! Earlier, your smile made you look so handsome! Really!
Did I smile?
Didnt you realize? You were smiling so brightly earlier!
Not smiling being the norm, he hadnt even realized he had smiled.
It couldnt have been a forced smile.
Because he was fully immersed in the time spent with Jung Yuri.
Anyway, Ill contact you again! Thanks, oppa!
Kang-hoo waved his hand in response.
And when she was far enough away, he muttered his true feelings.
Im thankful too.
Chapter 84: Bejumie (1)
Chapter 84: Bejumie (1)
On the day of the appointment, I met Kim Su-kyung and a member of his mercenary group at the agreed ce.
Except for Kim Su-kyung, all the mercenaries wore masks, and the same was true for Kang-hoo.
Kim Su-kyung, whose face was already well-known publicly, didnt feel the need to hide it.
They definitely had the aura of a mercenary group that had been through many battles.
To Kang-hoo, the mercenaries seemed well-armed, and above all, he could sense the lingering smell of blood.
Like a person who has lived in a damp semi-basement for a long time has a distinct mustiness, the smell of blood, once ingrained, neverpletely fades.
Kim Su-kyung greeted Kang-hoo cheerfully as soon as he saw him.
Nice to meet you. Im Kim Su-kyung.
Im Jung Sun-kyu.
Shall we skip the greetings with the other mercenaries?
No. We should greet each other, as we are going to work together towards the same goal.
Kang-hoo, who usually dislikes pointless formalities, thought this time was different.
They were all gathered with themon target of Jeon Jong-du.
There were members from Kim Su-kyungs mercenary group and hired mercenaries like himself.
Though their backgrounds and environments varied, they were colleagues, at least in this context, even if it was temporary.
Kang-hoo nned to fully utilize these colleagues. It was likely the same for them.
In using each other, the goal was to ultimately capture Jeon Jong-du.
Following Kim Su-kyungs lead, Kang-hoo greeted each mercenary in turn.
They introduced themselves with pseudonyms written on their masks, and Kang-hoo memorized each name.
He also checked what specific talents each possessed. Their skills were quite diverse.
Next.
The briefing about Jeon Jong-du began.
He was a hunter of the berserker ss with a level in the 350s, already notorious for numerous criminal allegations.
There were even videos as evidence.
Several videos showed him selling a well-known domestic hunter, promising in the country, to Russia.
Additionally, there were scenes of him trafficking in civilian women.
His actions were filthy and despicable, fitting the description of nuclear waste-grade trash.
Kang-hoo didnt view this mission as a simple battle of good versus evil.
He thought of it as a struggle between a bright future and a dark one.
Although Kang-hoo wasnt particrly interested in justice, losing talents in such a way was not beneficial.
It was a loss both domestically and for the entire huntermunity.
On another note, this cooperation with Kim Su-kyungs mercenary group also served to build connections with Kim Su-kyung.
Kim Su-kyung was going to be an influential figure in the eastern Gangwon region in the future.
Additionally, he was someone who fundamentally did not condone criminal activities by guilds or mercenary groups.
Long-term, this meant a potential conflict with the Jeonghwa Guild.
The atrocities of the Jeonghwa Guild were not well-known, but they were numerous.
Once Kim Su-kyung learned even a bit about them, he would undoubtedly develop a negative view of the Jeonghwa Guild.
Anyway, the briefing about Jeon Jong-du was detailed.
The battlefield would be an abandoned factory often used by Jeon Jong-dus gang for secret meetings.
While Kim Su-kyung was in charge of the overallmand, Kang-hoo was given considerable discretion.
Being an external mercenary, he was not expected to show excessive obedience or cooperation.
Of course, Kang-hoo had no intention of ignoring Kim Su-kyungsmands or undermining cooperation with the mercenary group.
However, strategically, if necessary, and if it was worth the gamble, he nned to act alone.
In fact, that was morefortable for him.
While part of a team in the broader sense, in the smaller frame, he preferred to operate solo.
If theyre not colleagues with good synergy, those who stick close by usually just get in the way.
1 hourter.
The group, havingpleted their final preparations, began moving toward the abandoned factory.
It started to drizzle, and since it was already dark, the path was shrouded in darkness.
Kang-hoo, using night vision, moved ahead as usual to ensure clear visibility.
Before leaving, he had volunteered to scout ahead for Kim Su-kyung, checking for guards or sentries.
As expected.
There were people guarding the area.
From the outside, with rusted containers and haphazardly stacked wooden boxes, it seemed impossible to see anything.
However, using the flow of mana and the ability to detect constetions, he was able to sense two hidden entities.
They were quite skilled at hiding, but since they were discovered, their fate was obvious.
Swish.
Kang-hoo, moving sideways into stealth mode and using Shadow Step, approached them silently.
And the two sentries, holding their breath in the darkness, guarded against uninvited guests.
Thud! Thud!
He subdued them in an instant.
The daggers he swiftly plunged into their necks caused both hunters to die instantly without even a scream.
Having generously used his beheading skill as a precaution, they had no chance to withstand the blow.
The victims likely didnt even realize they were dead.
Waking up to find themselves at deaths door in a way, it was a blessed death, as they died without pain.
The sentries, who died without even a chance to send a distress signal or alert, failed toplete any part of their mission.
Thanks to Kang-hoo leading the way, the path for Team 1, led by Kim Su-kyung, opened smoothly.
On the other hand, Team 2 faced a near-detection crisis midway.
They decided to take time and n to bypass the abandoned factory from the side.
The message was long-winded, but it meant the entry was dyed. Things gotplicated.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo silently subdued six sentries in order.
He further discovered a hidden, groundid boundary used for alerting.
This boundary had no offensive capabilities but could alert to enemy intrusion with a re-like effect.
Thanks to Kang-hoo urately identifying the boundarys location, Team 1 avoided stepping on it.
As expected, his senses are sharper than I thought. And he seems to have many useful abilities.
Watching Kang-hoos skilled response, movement, and pioneering the shortest route, Kim Su-kyung understood why Lee Ye-rin confidently rmended him.
It seemed that level was indeed an irrelevant factor, as Lee Ye-rin had said.
The fact that Kang-hoos level was still under 100 felt intimidating.
If he is this impressive now, he will be even more so as he grows.
He could be a textbook assassin, specialized in every process of silent killing.
As felt during their first meeting, Kang-hoo was a person who had experienced all sorts of battles.
The number of assassins he had seen on the battlefield could fill several dump trucks.
Yet, among all those assassins, Kang-hoos movements were exceptional.
They were clean.
To an assassin hunter, being clean is like being powerful for a hunter who handles swords and magic.
Its one of the highestpliments that can be given to someone in that profession.
Kim Su-kyung wanted to attach such an adjective to Kang-hoo without hesitation. He had a seasoned style on the battlefield.
Just as Team 1 approached the fastest route to the factory, a steep side path.
Boom!
An explosion urred on the opposite side.
It seemed there was an ident with Team 2, rendering Team 1s perfect approach meaningless.
Intruders!
North side! Its the north side!
Wailing!
Along with the rm siren, members of the Osho mercenary group were seen rushing out of the abandoned factory.
Jeon Jong-du was nowhere to be seen, however.
Due to Team 2s mishap, the element of stealth in their invasion had vanished. Now, it was a race against time.
Kim Su-kyung shouted,
Charge! Find Jeon Jong-du! Kill anyone who blocks our way! Keep it simple!
Amidst the intensifying rain, the mercenaries began charging toward the abandoned factory.
Kang-hoo spotted not the main entrance below the steep path but a side door, visible only upon a slight detour.
Usually, the main gate, therge entrance, is equipped with considerable security measures.
And its a point where enemy firepower can be concentrated, posing a risk.
Of course, Kim Su-kyung didnt order the mercenaries to advance without knowing this.
He did so because many mercenaries specialized in defense were ced at the front. He was confident they could withstand it.
However, Kang-hoo, who had been focused on Jeon Jong-du from the start, didnt want to waste energy on fruitless skirmishes.
Since Kim Su-kyung had permitted individual actions based on personal judgment and responsibility, there was no need to worry further.
Contrary to the expectation that entering through the side door would be easier,
Boom!
The moment the side door was blown away, Kang-hoo sensed that his n had slightly gone awry.
Bejumie ising out from here.
He frowned.
Bejumie.
A Russian word meaning madness. It implied that the individual came from Russia.
It was a giant hunter weapon.
More precisely, although technically a hunter, itcked cognitive abilities and existed solely for mechanical killing.
It was much more powerful than the trackers handled by Eclipse.
Thats because, from the hunter development stage, continuous drug injections were used to increase its size and height.
Plus, it was armed with quite efficient items. It wasnt a disposable concept like the trackers.
Bejumies characteristic was to target one enemy and attack until death.
Unless its own life is terminated, it relentlessly pursues its target.
To change this, only Bejumies master could redirect it with amand.
Though not confirmed, Jeon Jong-du seemed likely to be Bejumies master.
Look at its appearance.
Kang-hoo crouched down.
And gripped the Blood Dew tightly.
Bejumie, with a look that could put Frankenstein to shame, was unpleasant to even look at.
Either way, this wont be easy.
His body tensed up.
Bejumie was the pr opposite of Kang-hoo, to the extent that they could be considered extremes.
Bejumie was a giant, assault-type, and forceful. Itpensated for everything with its body.
In contrast, Kang-hoo was a hit-and-run, mobile-type, agile and evasive, with a stylish approach.
A fight between one who seeks to overwhelm and another who dodges and cunningly counterattacks.
As Kang-hoo nced back, another mercenary, having noticed the encounter with Bejumie, seemed about toe for support.
But the perceptive Kim Su-kyung read Kang-hoos intention in his eyes and stopped the mercenary.
Leave that side to Seon-gyu. If you go, youll disrupt his n.
Thats sensible.
Though he didnt say it out loud, Kang-hoo made a circle with his thumb and index finger, gesturing towards Kim Su-kyung.
It was a one-on-one situation.
He had to break through Bejumie to move on.
Kang-hoo was certain there was a reason Bejumie was ced near the side door, not the main gate.
Perhaps theres something they shouldnt approach, or a ce they want to hide.
Now it was time to face the Russian-made human barrier.
He must be cautious, as even one hit could be fatal. Absolutely.
Chapter 85: Bejumie (2)
Chapter 85: Bejumie (2)
Is it really possible that such a brute doesnt have a Constetion Contract?
During the scouting battle with Bejumie, Kang-hoo marveled that Bejumie could generate such firepower without a Constetion.
There could be two main reasons why the Constetions hadnt contracted with Bejumie.
Firstly, it might be because Bejumie, being of a certain level of intelligence, had been neutered in that aspect.
On the other hand, it could also be because the Constetions wouldnt want to contract with a human weapon designed to be thrown into battle and die.
Bejumie was clearly designed for tanking, hence his item configuration was impressive.
So much so that even when Kang-hoo hit him with a full-force strike of his shing de, Bejumie remained unfazed.
He bled profusely, but that was it.
Even the dagger lodged in his thigh didnt seem to hinder Bejumies mobility. He appeared impervious to pain.
Anyway, being able to take down such a guy would greatly appeal to the Constetions.
Kang-hoo wasnt just thinking about physical rewards like Constetion Plundering or item theft.
Level 100 was just around the corner.
It was important to continually appeal to the Constetions that were showing interest in him.
Especially to the Great Cmity Darkness, who was watching, he needed to showcase even more.
In a way, Bejumie was an excellent punching bag. A good beating would make for a splendid picture.
Kuahhhh!
Thats right. Does it tantalize you?
Bejumie charged at him.
There was a reason for this.
Kang-hoo had been continuously hitting and running under the guise of a scouting battle, inflicting wounds on Bejumie.
This was the exact scenario he wanted.
From an assassins perspective, approaching the target was the most challenging part.
But if the target willinglyes to you, theres no reason to refuse such a service.
[Hallucination]
Kang-hoo, who had been waiting to close the distance, cast a hallucination on Bejumie.
Human weapons like him had a major weakness: they were vulnerable to mental attacks.
Hallucinations, distorting the mind and making one see things, naturally fell into the category of mental attacks.
Whaaack!
As expected, Bejumie, caught in the hallucination, swung at the air where the illusion of Kang-hoo was.
It was a pointless attack, two steps ahead of where Kang-hoo actually was.
Pointless for Bejumie, but significant for Kang-hoo.
Ive been concerned about it for a while, but now its clear.
Kang-hoo had felt a slight tremble in Bejumies final punch motion during their scouting battle.
It was as if there was a difort in his shoulder that made him slightly twitch at the end.
And now, at this moment.
As Bejumies fist cut through the air, Kang-hoo used his Precision Aim skill to zoom in his vision.
Then he saw it clearly: pus-like fluid oozing out from under Bejumies armpit.
It was a situation that became visible only after zooming in, obscured by the dark surroundings.
Physical issues weremon for human weapons.
Often exposed to unsanitary conditions and sleeping anywhere, such issues frequently arose all over their bodies.
Moreover, since they couldnt express their pain and difort, the problems only worsened.
In the case of pets, if they are with a loving owner, they wont be neglected even if they are in pain.
But who would shower love on a being used as a killing machine for battle?
In the end, Bejumies armpit was like an invisible Achilles heel.
Kang-hoo didnt miss it.
[shing de]
The previous shing de strike to the thigh hadnt inflicted much damage, but Kang-hoounched it once more.
This time, the target was Bejumies armpit.
Whoosh! Fwshhh!
Kraaaah!
Thats a first for you, isnt it?
The de of the throwing dagger sank so deep that it became invisible.
It burrowed into the soft flesh, likely damaging the shoulder muscles.
Perhaps because the area had been festering and healing repeatedly, the bleeding was more severe than Kang-hoo had anticipated.
Not only that, Bejumie, in severe pain, instinctively stepped back.
It wasnt out of fear.
Bejumie chose to create distance from Kang-hoo to conceal his strategic disadvantage.
Only by gaining distance could he regroup and pull the reins for a powerful counterattack.
However, Kang-hoo, having read Bejumies intention, gave him no respite.
[Abduction]
Even at a distance, the Abduction skill could forcibly pull the target in, making it the best option in this situation.
Considering Bejumies hefty bulk, one might hesitate to engage in closebat.
But this time was different.
He was thwarting Bejumies attempt to create distance, strategically seizing the initiative.
Kwaak!
Bejumie, unable to resist the Kidnap, was pulled in a parabolic trajectory towards Kang-hoo.
Despite his heavy body, the speed of being pulled by the Kidnap skill was as if he were light.
Of course, Kang-hoo didnt foolishly attack Bejumie head-on as he was pulled in.
By the time Bejumie reached Kang-hoos original position, Kang-hoo had already movedterally behind him.
Swoosh!
Krrrgh!
The area Kang-hoo carelessly shed was the soft, indented part at the back of the neck.
It was slightly below where we typically say our neck hurts.
A good spot where the same force would induce the deepest wound and bleeding.
Yet, Bejumie, befitting the title of a human weapon, even in the midst of this, rotated his body to aim at Kang-hoo.
His reactions were half a beat slow, and despite being overwhelmed by pain, he didnt neglect to respond.
Thats the terrifying aspect of a human weapon. Even while groaning in pain, they calmly n their next move.
Here, a hunter who revels in their sessful attack or bescent, gets caught.
Many hunters had fallen to Bejumie in such a manner. This guy had learned from past experiences.
But what he missed was this:
Kang-hoo never let his guard down in any situation.
Instead, he used the opponents counter-strategy to n a counterattack.
That was exactly the situation at hand.
The moment Bejumie, groaning, twisted his body more violently to aim at Kang-hoo behind him!
Right here.
Kang-hoo had already moved behind Bejumie again. He read the counterattack and movedterally once more.
Thus, Bejumies powerful fist, filled with his intent, cut through the air in vain.
The blow of being outsmarted twice is much greater than once.
Because people usually throw their decisive move thinking they wont get caught a second time. Bejumie did just that.
Kang-hoo had already read his move and responded in advance.
Finally.
Thwok! Thwok! Thwok! Thwok!
Krrrghhh
Bejumie paid a high price.
It wasnt just the issue of being stabbed again in the bleeding wound.
That was just a tiny part of the storm Bejumie had to endure.
The problem was the substantial cumtive damage of Kang-hoos attacks in the recent exchange.
The time was nearing for Bejumie to reckon with the price of the blood he had carelessly shed.
Of course, Bejumie, unaware of Kang-hoos skills, didnt know of the impending storm.
And then.
[Blood Flower]
Puff! Puff! Bang!
The worst hell arrived, impartially inflicting pain regardless of whose blood was spilled.
Bejumie finally realized.
The wounds he had brutishly endured were returning like a giant boomerang.
Explosions induced by blood erupted one after another from his neck, armpit, and thigh.
It was a satisfying scene for anyone to see, Kang-hoonding a heavy counterpunch on Bejumie.
Even Kim Su-kyung, who was watching, admired Kang-hoos one-sided victory.
But just then.
Swoosh!
In an instant, mud and murky water sprayed backward, and the staggering Bejumie charged at Kang-hoo.
He had been waiting for a chance to counterattack, embodying the persistence of a killing machine.
Ah.
Kim Su-kyung sighed, observing that Kang-hoo was about to receive a counter punch.
Kang-hoo, seemingly celebrating his victory, turned his back to Bejumie and wiped the blood from his dagger.
And behind Kang-hoo, Bejumie appeared like a Yacha (night demon), drenched in blood.
Bejumies massive hands were poised to grab Kang-hoos head and twist it as one would wring out a cloth.
Kang-hoos demise seemed imminent.
No matter how skilled a hunter, one cannot survive with a twisted and broken neck. Never.
But just then.
Pssst
Bejumies expression contorted, convinced he had seized Kang-hoos head for the final blow.
The reason was simple.
He hadnt grabbed Kang-hoos head. What Bejumies hands had encountered was an illusion resembling Kang-hoo.
Wow!
Kim Su-kyung eximed.
While everyones attention was captivated by Bejumies movement in the heavy rain, they overlooked Kang-hoos.
Kang-hoo had already conjured a decoy using illusion magic.
He deceived everyone, feigning victory celebration with the illusion.
Even Kim Su-kyung, known for his keen observation, was duped.
It was inevitable, as Kang-hoo had deployed the illusion immediately after striking Bejumie.
From the beginning, Kang-hoo had anticipated that even after two sessful counterattacks, Bejumie would retaliate.
Incredible.
Kim Su-kyung was astounded.
Witnessing such a high-level strategic battle firsthand brought a thrilling excitement.
Moreover, the victor of this mental duel was their ally, Kang-hoo, which delighted him even more.
Meanwhile.
Lost in confusion after another failed attack, Bejumies vision suddenly turnedpletely ck.
The reason was.
Thwok! Thwook!
Kang-hoo, having climbed onto Bejumies back, stabbed his eyes with the daggers in his hands.
Kraaaah!
No matter how specialized in defense or how high-quality his equipment was, he couldnt protect his eyes.
Bejumie was helpless against Kang-hoos surprise attack from behind and tragically lost his vision.
Bejumies crude response actually worked perfectly for me.
Kang-hoo concluded the battle as he watched Bejumie punch aimlessly into the air.
It was a case where thinking too much turned out to be a poison.
If he had moved predictably, it would haveplicated Kang-hoos calctions.
Now came the finishing phase.
Maintaining a certain distance, Kang-hoo sought the right timing for the final strike.
Blind, Bejumie kept swinging at nothing, revealing the limitations of human weapons. An inherent blind spot due to relying on human senses.
Whirl! Click!
Kang-hoo, regting his breath while twirling the dagger between his fingers, soon crouched and gripped it in reverse.
To savor the joy of victory, he had to finish Bejumie. The battle was just beginning.
Here I go.
A short word from Kang-hoo.
In the dark, secluded space of the abandoned factory, with heavy rain falling.
Swoosh!
Blood sprayed high into the air.
Boom!
Bejumies massive body fell backward stiffly like a log.
Simultaneously, Kang-hoo calmly stabbed the fallen giants neck and chest area.
It was a sure guide to death.
Chapter 86: Jeon Jong-Du (1)
Chapter 86: Jeon Jong-Du (1)
The effect of the splendid fight with Bejumie was immediately apparent.
[All constetions of the ''Warm Wave'' apud you.]
[They use the collected star energy to grant you a significant buff.]
[Recover 1% of health every 10 seconds.]
Oh ho.
The first to react was the Warm Wave, a group of moderate constetions.
They had supported me quite a bit during thest Constetion Test, but this time they sponsored a different form of buff.
1% health recovery every 10 seconds.
Thats not a small amount.
Its a great help, especially when in need of recovery methods.
Moreover, since it continues to apply even while sleeping, the effect is especially good whenbined with sleep.
It wouldnt be strange to say that most of the health is recovered upon waking up.
[Great Cmity - The Darkness was deeply impressed by the perfect death you gave to Bejumie.]
[It evaluates that your potential is much higher than it thought.]
Well, of course.
With the praise from the Great Cmity - The Darkness, my shoulders tensed up with pride.
The Strategist of the Wastnd also boosted Kang-hoos mood with simrpliments.
However, unusually quiet was the Dimension Plunderer, who would normally have interjected.
Was it jealousy?
Or was it preparing something else? Its silence made me think differently.
Bejumie was cut down while escaping through the side door! Push harder! The main gate is also worth a try!
Meanwhile, Kim Su-kyung, having witnessed Kang-hoo splendidly subduing Bejumie, issued more aggressive orders.
He considered redirecting some forces to the side door breached by Kang-hoo but soon abandoned the idea.
The frontal engagement was fiercer than expected.
This meant the side door defense was almost non-existent. The enemy forces were concentrated at the main gate.
In this situation, if the key forces were diverted to the side door, it could undesirably focus attention there.
Kim Su-kyung trusted Kang-hoos ability to single-handedly suppress Bejumie and decided to entrust him with the side door route.
No matter what situation unfolded inside, Kang-hoo seemed capable of handling it adeptly.
Just then.
Its a trap!
A member of the Kim Su-kyung Mercenary Corps, who was trying to prate deeper, shouted urgently.
Kang-hoo, who was about to enter the side door, turned his attention to the shout.
The mention of a trap implied an imminent explosion. Could the sacrifice be prevented?
Ziiing!
At that moment, Kim Su-kyung, who had moved to the very front, stretched out both hands in the air and deployed a skill.
Kang-hoo quickly set up a protective barrier to withstand the aftermath spilling from the side door.
And then.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The trap exploded.
The firepower was considerable.
With such firepower, hunters exposed at close range couldnt avoid injury.
Thump! Thump! Thud!
But therge, elongated defensive wall deployed by Kim Su-kyung perfectly absorbed the explosion.
Casualties? None.
There were even no injured members of the mercenary corps. The traps explosion was neatly blocked.
Thats desirable.
Kang-hoos eyes shone.
Kim Su-kyung couldnt help but think that he wasnt named for nothing. In terms of defense, he truly was a specialized hunter.
If it came to a one-on-one with Kim Su-kyung.
Even if Kim Su-kyung couldnt kill him, the thought crossed his mind that with his solid defensive abilities, there would never be a day Kim Su-kyung would die.
Bang! Bang!
Meanwhile, gunshots, which hadnt been heard for a while, started ringing inside the abandoned factory.
Given the different sounds of the gunshots, there seemed to be at least two demonic snipers.
Be careful not to get exposed to the snipers! And also
As Kim Su-kyung was quickly issuing orders to his subordinates and was about to make an additional request to Kang-hoo, he turned his head.
But Kang-hoo had already disappeared, presumably having entered through the side door.
So quick.
He assessed the situation on his own.
The feeling that he empathized with the leaders perspective and quickly found what he needed to do was strong in Kang-hoo. It seemed he already knew what to do without being asked.
Shortly after, a few areas visible from the main gate, where Kim Su-kyung was observing, caught his eye.
These were blind spots for the Osho Mercenary Corps guarding the abandoned factory.
Kang-hoo had already moved up to the second floor and was navigating a path where the light barely reached.
His target was the demonic sniper positioned on the second floor.
The advantage of a demonic sniper is the ability to unterally secure a high point and target the opponent.
However, the downside is that they have to let go of their focus on their own location to concentrate on sniping.
This is because, in the process of securing a position, they tend to underestimate the likelihood of exposing themselves.
The assurance of rtive safety leads them to choose it as their sniping point. Thats their blind spot.
Really fast.
Kim Su-kyung saw that Kang-hoo, who had just seemed to have entered the beginning of the second floor, had changed his position in an instant.
He definitely had some kind of leaping or eleration skill.
Having such a skill wasnt strange in itself, but considering Kang-hoos level, it was exceptionally odd.
No matter how calmly considered, Kang-hoos skillposition and firepower were too disconnected from his level.
In fact, the word too much felt insufficient to describe it. Perhaps makes no sense would be more urate.
Then.
Whish. Whish.
There were just two attacks.
And spewing red blood from their necks, the two snipers futilely fell from the second floor down below.
It was a clean suppression.
The two snipers, who hadnt even been aware of Kang-hoos presence, lost their lives without being able to react.
Kang-hoo had thoroughly hidden his presence and figure by adding the curtain of artifice to his Shadowless Skill.
Combined with the snipers blind spot of being focused on sniping, the two met their grisly end.
[You have killed the target and stolen the contract with ''The Lonely Meditator.'']
[You have killed the target and stolen the contract with ''The Lazy Genius.'']
The profit is substantial.
Kang-hoo wore a satisfied expression.
The Lonely Meditator was a constetion that provided a buff to increase mental concentration by 10%.
An increase in mental concentration meant an improvement in skill casting speed.
Although not dramatically noticeable, it certainly reduced the necessary absolute time.
The Lazy Genius was a constetion that provided a buff to double mana recovery.
Considering the synergy with innate mana hypersensitivity, it was like adding wings to a running horse.
In fact, this was also the reason Kang-hoo targeted the two snipers as soon as he entered the factory.
Since they were enemies who had to be killed anyway, it was most important to plunder useful constetions.
Whirr! Thud!
A practice dagger, thrown with a time difference using the speed of light, pierced the back of the head of an Osho mercenary on the first floor.
As the bodies of the snipers fell to the first floor, the Osho mercenaries also began to panic.
The realization that the area above, where the snipers had been, was no longer safe dawned on them.
The sense of unease quickly intensified, changing the atmosphere inside the abandoned factory.
Push forward!
Kim Su-kyung, reading the flow like a ghost, ordered the mercenary corps to be more aggressive.
Moreover, with thete arrival of the 2nd team breaking through the back door route, the momentum definitely shifted.
What on earth is Jeon Jong-du doing?
However, Kang-hoo was curious about the whereabouts of Jeon Jong-du, who was nowhere to be seen despite the situation unfolding this way.
Although the overall atmosphere had shifted, the Osho Mercenary Corps still maintained a bnced stance.
It wasnt that Jeon Jong-du had simply run away. If that had been the case, Kim Su-kyung would have been notified.
All routes around the abandoned factory were guarded in anticipation of Jeon Jong-dus escape.
Since Jeon Jong-du wasnt an assassin type like Kang-hoo, he couldnt escape without leaving a trace.
If he hadnt run away.
Even in a bnced situation, it was strange that Jeon Jong-dus appearance was dyed in a ce where the battle situation could change at any moment.
Theres only one reason for this.
Something came to mind.
A reason why he couldnte to the battlefield even in an urgent situation.
Its when he absolutely needs time to maximize hisbat power.
One of the many settings in the original work. Something like a martial arts-style Absorption Technique?
If Jeon Jong-du is a berserker who gains strength from the flesh of hunters or monsters, the prediction fits.
Then, he would be gathering strength to respond to the unexpected attack of the Kim Su-kyung Mercenary Corps.
There must be a ce inside the abandoned factory where Jeon Jong-du could be hiding.
He searched intently.
The sooner he was found, the better.
Berserker types often exhibit power far beyond their known level orbat power.
Thats the advantage and disadvantage of the berserker job ss. Overall, there are many unpredictable elements.
There was a need to reduce variables.
There it is.
Then, a faint light was seen between a space piled with misceneous items and utensils in a corner of the second floor.
At a nce, mixed with the surrounding lights, it was hard to detect the presence of a different light.
However, calmly observing from a ce free of enemy attacks, a slight gap was visible.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ugh.
Traps continued to be triggered.
The Osho mercenaries found themselves being pushed back by their own defense lines, as the traps reacted to the Kim Su-kyung Mercenary Corps.
It was a strategy deliberately designed to drag out time, undoubtedly to buy time for Jeon Jong-du.
Kang-hoo once again used the Curtain of Artifice to enter stealth mode, unnoticed by anyone.
As he quickly approached the gap, an eerie silence pervaded, as if nothing was inside.
There was a faint light, however.
There was no sign of life, not even a hint of warmth escaping.
However,
I knew it.
An invisible, densely woven barrier was in ce.
Its reaction was unknown, but it was likely an offensive barrier prepared for intruders.
It could either cause an explosion by condensing mana or induce burns by generating high heat.
Despite the high maintenance cost, the fact that it was installed in this space confirmed its importance.
Squeeze.
Kang-hoo gripped the Blood Dew a bit tighter.
It was to quickly attack Jeon Jong-du in case of abat situation. The path had to be as short as possible.
This is my first real fight with a berserker.
The fight with Jo Young-jae was technically his first battle with a berserker hunter, but it was a bit ambiguous to call it the first.
That guy was a hunter with skills far inferior to Jeon Jong-du, barely worth the dirt under a toenail.
On the other hand, Jeon Jong-du was a berserker and simultaneously specialized in grappling.
A monster with a body size and unbelievably thick forearms that made the previously fought Bejumie look small.
Thats why he couldnt help but be tense.
With Jeon Jong-du, once you get caught, theres no next move.
A predetermined ending awaits.
Whether its the waist or neck, getting folded like a flip phone and facing death without being able to unfold again.
In other words, a farewell to this world.
Chapter 87: Jeon Jong-Du (2)
Chapter 87: Jeon Jong-Du (2)
The only weakness of a barrier designed to detect intruders is that it cannot be as dense as a.
If it were, each line of the barrier would interfere with the others, causing a contact reaction.
Thus, it wasmon for there to be gapsrge enough for one person to slip through.
Of course, even constructed this way, it wasnt a significant problem.
It was rare for someone to precisely perceive the mana flow connected to the barrier.
There are devices designed to search for it, but they are bulky andplicated to use, making them unsuitable for this kind ofbat.
In this regard, I was blessed.
Innate mana hypersensitivity allowed me to bypassplicated procedures and processes through sensation.
It was a privilege others didnt possess.
On the downside, it made me pay a hefty price with my body for excessive mana usage
Nheless, being able to detect barriers and traps in advance was a significant advantage.
Swoosh.
Kang-hoo effortlessly slid his body through a gap in the barrier, passing by without making contact.
His slender figure and snugly fitting clothes worked in harmony at that moment.
Im looking for you, Jeon Jong-du.
He began his search for Jeon Jong-du, who was hiding somewhere, with determination in his eyes.
A substantial reward was at stake for him. He couldnt afford to give up.
He carefully toyed with the Mad Srkium concealed in his pocket.
It seemed about time to consume it again.
Meanwhile, Jeon Jong-du was seething with frustration.
Damn it. If I had just a bit more time, I couldve managed this smoothly Xmi.
He couldnt hold back his anger.
He had been suspicious of the Kim Su-kyung mercenary group for some time.
But he never expected them to attack the factory so boldly and suddenly.
In a way, it was apse in safety.
Even though he knew the Kim Su-kyung mercenary group, an enemy faction, was on the move, he didnt expect them to strike today.
Thump. Thump.
Meanwhile, the corpse of a hunter beneath Jeon Jong-dus feet twitched at regr intervals.
This was because it was being drained of vitality by Jeon Jong-du.
Jeon Jong-du, a light warrior, possessed the ability to siphon the vitality of living beings.
This power stemmed from the constetion.
He used this ability for health recovery, and once his health was fully restored, it would lead to an increase inbat power.
This meant enhanced muscle strength, improved skill firepower, and so on.
At the moment, health recovery had long been achieved, and he was gearing up for a boost inbat power.
However, the level of improvement he desired was still unmet, reaching only about 40% of the maximum.
Thus, he needed more time, but the circumstances were far from favorable.
Jeon Jong-du cast another nce at the CCTV screens.
Not on the 1st or 2nd floors, but in the basements 1st and 2nd levels, numerous hunters were imprisoned.
These hunters were to be shipped on a cargo ship arriving from Russia the next day. They were high-quality merchandise.
The pre-sale booking price alone neared 50 billion won, marking them as fairly high-quality goods.
But now, the deal was not only at risk, but the entire storage warehouse faced the threat of destruction.
Upon further reflection, it wasnt just that; the fate of the entire Osho mercenary group hung in the bnce.
Xbal!
Unable to contain his impatience any longer, Jeon Jong-du stood up abruptly.
Thump!
He didnt refrain from kicking the already lifeless body, an unnecessary disy of anger typical of him.
I cant wait any longer, or everyone but me will be dead.
What frustrated Jeon Jong-du the most was the early elimination of the magical sniper hunters during the battle.
They had been strategically positioned but were silently taken out by an unknown hunter.
The internal CCTV failed to capture the assants face clearly, adding to his frustration.
But whoever it was, Jeon Jong-du was determined to fold them in half at the waist and finish them off if caught.
Creak. Creak.
His forearms, brimming with vitality, swelled to a thickness greater than that of a tire.
Unlike other hunters, who usually gear up with their weapons or attack items before heading into battle, Jeon Jong-du was merely flicking his bare hands and loosening his joints. His body was his weapon.
At that moment,
Hmm.
Jeon Jong-du noticed something tiny, like fine dust, flowing in.
This secret area was off-limits to anyone but Jeon Jong-du.
More precisely, theycked the authority to enter.
Moreover, with a barrier set up to detect intruders, entering unnoticed was impossible.
Yet, there was an uninvited guest.
Nothing was caught on the CCTV at the entrance, so who could have gotten in here?
Are you that rat?
Jeon Jong-du realized the presence of the intruder.
This person was the one who killed the magical snipers, the one who left almost no trace at the scene.
Considering there was no news from Bejumie, who was intentionally ced at the side door, it was clear he was also eliminated.
The opponent was surely nearby, yet remained silent.
Assassins were the job ss Jeon Jong-du hated the most. He loathed their darkness and secrecy.
Then,
Swoosh!
Out of the darkness, Kang-hoo appeared, and simultaneously, a thrown dagger flew at Jeon Jong-du.
It was a powerful throw, apanied by lightning-fast speed.
Crack!
Then, Kang-hoo chewed on the Mad Srkium. It seemed he couldnt fight Jeon Jong-du without a booster.
Poof!
The dagger flew and embedded itself in Jeon Jong-dus thick forearm.
Jeon Jong-dus response was too natural, as if avoiding it was never an option.
That hurts a bit.
Jeon Jong-du looked down at the dagger deeply lodged in his forearm and then pulled it out with his hand.
Blood flowed freely, but Jeon Jong-du didnt care.
It was a frequent urrence, so it didnt bother him.
With a forearm that thick, can you even properly apply ointment behind it?
Kang-hoo chuckled at the sight of Jeon Jong-dus body, which was thicker and more massive than he had anticipated.
Exaggerating slightly, Jeon Jong-du appeared to be twice the size of Kang-hoo.
Seemingly deeming the question unworthy of a response, Jeon Jong-du shifted the conversation.
Where are you from? Are you affiliated with the Kim Su-kyung mercenary group?
If youre curious, defeat me first, then ask.
Kang-hoo flicked his fingers, taunting Jeon Jong-du. Jeon Jong-du then grinned and responded.
Defeat? Im going to fold you.
It was the most chilling statement Kang-hoo had heard so far.
Was such a situation even imaginable?
Gulp.
Kang-hoo swallowed dryly, his anxiety palpable.
Initially, the n was to capture Jeon Jong-du alive by any means necessary.
This was because capturing him would yield a reward of 30 billion won.
Since Kang-hoo had ventured here, he was confident that support from Kim Su-kyung would soon follow.
ying a pivotal role in the capture would almost guarantee him a reward close to 30 billion won.
Furthermore, since Kim Su-kyung was the client, she wouldnt be paying herself the reward.
Until his arrival, his strategy was indeed focused on a live capture.
But.
Upon encountering Jeon Jong-du, his perspective shifted.
Jeon Jong-du was contracted with a total of five constetions:
[Ruthless Glutton]
[Dog of the Battlefield]
[Seeker of Endurance]
[Guide of the Wind]
[Master of Trickery]
Among these, the constetion that intrigued him the most was the Ruthless Glutton.
[Ruthless Glutton]
[It''s a neutral-aligned constetion.]
[Allows you to absorb vitality from monsters or hunters to recover health or increasebat power.]
His assumption was urate.
Health recovery was merely one advantage; he could also discern the effect of enhancedbat power.
Moreover, the effects of the other four constetionsplemented Kang-hoo well.
In this scenario, rather than capturing Jeon Jong-du and earning 30 billion, it seemed more advantageous to kill him and secure 10 billion.
Eliminating him would also allow for the acquisition of constetion contracts valued at over 20 billion.
A constetion like Master of Trickery carried high unpredictability but also the potential for a jackpot, akin to a lottery ticket.
Ruthless Glutton is the constetion that perfectly aligns with my solo ystyle.
Securing the Ruthless Glutton would eliminate the need for a healer.
Health potions? Redundant.
In just a short time, he could recover anywhere, at any time. The process would be streamlined.
However, the issue was,
With such constetion abilities, the moment Im caught by Jeon Jong-du, Ill be like a juice packpletely squeezed out.
He recognized the critical situation he needed to be extremely cautious of in the battle against Jeon Jong-du.
The vision of being grabbed, drained, and ending up like a deted balloon!
That scenario, not from a movie or a novel, could be his reality.
Furthermore, since Jeon Jong-du is a physical fighter known for grappling and overpowering his opponents, once caught, it would essentially mean the end of his life. He was sure of it. Instant demise.
He had to engage Jeon Jong-du with an extreme out-boxer strategy.
If I cant surpass Jeon Jong-du, Ill end up like Kang Dong-hyun. No, I wont even reach that level.
Kang-hoo viewed the confrontation with Jeon Jong-du as an inevitable challenge.
To progress, he must push beyond his limits.
He could opt out of the battle with Jeon Jong-du and leave, given the multitude of allies and enemies alike.
But not every future scenario will be to his advantage, including the caliber of enemies.
Thus, oveing even a difficult and challenging scenario seemed essential.
30 minutes.
He had to conclude the battle before the effects of the Mad Srkium wore off. There would be no second chance.
Die, you little!
Jeon Jong-du charged at Kang-hoo like an enraged buffalo.
Originally, the space wasnt veryrge for maneuvering. It was about the size of a 34-pyeong apartment.
Thud. Thud.
Moreover, since Jeon Jong-du had pressed the button on the desk before charging, the retreat path was naturally blocked.
He thought it was an open space, but there was a closing mechanism. Kang-hoo missed that detail.
A one-on-one situation was forcibly created. Now that the exit was blocked, there was no turning back.
[Shadow Step]
Whoosh!
To avoid contact, Kang-hoo diversified his movement options using Shadow Step.
And he thought.
If necessary.
If hes about to die, he could use teleportation to escape the scene.
Thinking of this psychological safety gave himfort.
Having a reliable backup n reduces worries and fears, adding boldness.
To catch an enraged bull, you have to be more rampant than the bull itself.
And so, the hunt began.
Chapter 88: Jeon Jong-Du (3)
Chapter 88: Jeon Jong-Du (3)
Dont try those cheap tricks, you bastard!
Jeon Jong-du, red as a raging lotive, charged towards Kang-hoos shadow.
Since he was only one and the shadows were many, Kang-hoo easily evaded.
He chose the shadow farthest from Jeon Jong-du andpleted his move. As always, it was a perfect maneuver.
But then.
Whoosh!
At that moment, Kang-hoo clearly heard a loud noise. It was the sound of something heavy flying through the air.
Damn it.
Checking the situation, he saw Jeon Jong-du, now even faster, charging from the opposite side.
The speed was beyond imagination, leaving Kang-hoo no chance to use his skills again.
Kahaha!
Jeon Jong-dus face, growingrger and closer like in a horror movie, filled Kang-hoos vision.
Boom!
Then the collision urred.
Kang-hoo spread a protective barrier to block Jeon Jong-dus assault, but it was impossible to do so without any damage.
Kugh!
He was thrown into the air.
Simultaneously, a wave of pain, starting from his elbow, the collision point, spread throughout his body.
This guy is insane.
A curse, almost apliment by Kang-hoos standards, escaped his lips. Jeon Jong-du. His strength was indeed as legendary as his reputation.
While flying towards the wall, Jeon Jong-du extended his arms forward, taking a grappling stance.
He nned to catch Kang-hoo, whether he bounced back or fell from the wall, and finish it then and there.
Fortunately, Kang-hoos mind was clear, and although he was hit, he wasnt seriously injured.
[Veil of Skill]
[Leap]
Thus,ying down the Veil of Skill and entering stealth, he used the Leap skill to bounce off the wall and escape the scene.
He was lucky to have his next move nned out, or else he would have been caught and killed instantly.
Youre quite skilled. Seems like you have quite a few options for escaping a tight spot.
Shut your trap, you brat.
Kang-hoo cursed at Jeon Jong-du, who was suddenly showing off, giving him a thumbs-up.
Seeing him smiling broadly at himself was quite irritating and slightly wounded his pride.
But on the other hand, he felt the fight might get more interesting.
A character like Jeon Jong-du was the most challenging opponent for Kang-hoo.
Assassination, after all, should be about striking a fatal blow, causing serious injury, or ending the life of the opponent in one strike.
But hunters of this type, with their enormous size and strength, do not easily fall.
Especiallypared to other sses, who might withstand one or two effective attacks.
With guys like Jeon Jong-du, getting caught meant death.
For such opponents, catching their prey marks the beginning of a fatal strike. Thats what he aimed for just now.
[Leap]
Swoosh!
Kang-hoo charged at Jeon Jong-du.
A passive and defensive battle made it difficult to create an opening in Jeon Jong-dus defense.
Even if he did create one, Jeon Jong-du could quickly regain his posture and be ready to defend before Kang-hoo could approach.
In the end, actively engaging and inducing a reaction was the only way to actively create an opening.
This was both the advantage and disadvantage of a berserker.
Powerful due to their immense strength, but in the process, they often unwittingly expose their own vulnerabilities.
As a Berserker, Kang-hoo himself was surprised at how swiftly his body moved, defyingmon sense and control.
Heh.
Jeon Jong-duughed, seeing Kang-hoo attack straightforwardly from the front.
He had faced many hunters from the assassin ss before. Such textbook patterns were all too familiar to him.
Probably, Kang-hoo would pretend toe in and then retreat, or use a movement skill like before.
Jeon Jong-du, unimpressed by ordinary dagger attacks, stretched out his arm, openly intending to grab him.
Just then.
[Gwi-yo-mi!]
Kang-hoo used a skill he had never used before.
Isnt a battle a contest of various skill options?
This skill had its own merit. Initially, the name had put him off.
Boing! Twing!
Suddenly, a human-sized medium slime filled Jeon Jong-dus view.
Jeon Jong-dus arm, stretched out with the intention of catching Kang-hoo, prated the slimes body.
Sh*t!
The slime, unexpectedly resilient(?), clung to Jeon Jong-dus arm like a thick booger, refusing to let go easily.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo, having conjured the slime and sessfully movedterally to target Jeon Jong-du, was now behind him.
It was a predictable rear movement tactic, but with the addition of slime creation in the mix, it became an unpredictable variable.
No. Even this is predictable.
But Kang-hoo, refusing to becent, decided to twist the situation further.
At the moment entangled with the slime, Jeon Jong-du would naturally expect Kang-hoo to position himself behind.
[Shallow Chaos]
So, he silently cast Shallow Chaos on Jeon Jong-du.
Loss of directional sense.
Distortion of surrounding vision.
A pretty good choice for someone who relies on instinct and possesses great strength.
Damn it!
Bang!
Jeon Jong-du smashed the slime.
The force was so strong that the slime burst entirely, scattering jelly-like droplets from the sky.
The bright eyes of the slime turned into an X, signaling its pitiful demise.
So far, so good.
Jeon Jong-du immediately turned his gaze to the back, precisely to the rear side where Kang-hoo was.
Having experienced countless situations of being caught from behind as an assassin, he wasnt startled.
He stretched out his arm fiercely. It would be quick to catch him at this distance.
Just then.
Whizz!
?
Jeon Jong-du saw Kang-hoos figure, which was clearly visible, dissipate like smoke the moment he touched it.
It was visible, but it wasnt there.
Was it a hallucination?
Or sensory disruption?
There are mental skills that induce distortion in this manner.
But.
He had never encountered an assassin employing such a technique before.
Just as he, a Berserker, was far removed from magical skills, this was uncharacteristic for them. There seemed to be no connection.
In that instant.
Swoosh!
Aaaargh!
Jeon Jong-du experienced an unexpected surge of pain from a ce he hadnt anticipated.
It was his groin.
Initially, there was a cold metallic sensation, followed by a fiery pain that seemed to engulf the wound.
Ironically, the intense pain helped to dissipate the Shallow Chaos that had just been cast on him.
But by then, it was toote.
Jeon Jong-du felt the stability of his lower body, which had been solidly supporting his massive frame, begin to falter.
The damage from being hit in the groin was too significant to be dismissed as a mere ident.
Keep going. More.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo was pushing himself even harder.
His recent attack, a critical skill, had been a resounding sess.
Even the most robust body cannot maintain a steel-like hardness everywhere.
There are rtively softer areas. Kang-hoo had been targeting those from the beginning.
[Visual Theft]
He robbed Jeon Jong-du of his sight.
Under normal circumstances, this skill was unlikely to work.
But now, overwhelmed by intense pain in the lower body, Jeon Jong-du couldnt maintain his focus.
Mental attacks are much more effective in such situations.
Jeon Jong-du might be a physically formidable hunter, but mentally, there were definitely gaps.
This son of a!
Whoosh! Wham!
Enraged, Jeon Jong-du frantically swung around, his attacks fueled by anger, aiming to tear apart anything within reach.
But Kang-hoo was not one to be easily caught by such reckless swings.
He observed Jeon Jong-du, holding his breath.
The situation seemed favorable, but a single misstep could result in Kang-hoo being caught, potentially revitalizing Jeon Jong-du.
It couldpletely turn the tables, leading to a perfecteback victory.
Then.
Come at me! Attack!
Jeon Jong-dus upper body leaned forward aggressively, attempting to grasp anything within reach.
His lower body, impaired, couldnt keep up with the movement.
When the bodys center of gravity is disturbed, a quick recovery can reestablish bnce. Failing to do so causes the body to follow its momentum.
Jeon Jong-du experienced thetter.
As his body leaned forward, his face became an easier target.
[Abduct]
Kang-hoo yed his trump card.
It was a risky skill to use against Jeon Jong-du, who could be lethal if caught, but the situation warranted it.
Ugh!
Jeon Jong-du was taken aback once again by the continuous use of skills uncharacteristic for an assassin.
His confusion didnt end there; his heavy body was now being pulled towards Kang-hoo.
The vision block from Visual Theft hadnt lifted yet, leaving Jeon Jong-du almost blind.
Kang-hoo crouched down.
He looked up at Jeon Jong-du, who was being summoned in front of him.
Chin.
He spotted the spot to aim for in a single strike.
Clutching the Blood Dew tightly, Kang-hoobined it with the beheading skill and thrust his dagger upward as he stood.
Swoosh!
The dagger, heavy with the sensation of cutting through bone, muscle, and flesh, pierced through Jeon Jong-dus tongue and pte.
Despite Jeon Jong-dus massive size, unmatched by any, not all parts of him were equally tough.
Grrr!
Finally, as the effect of Visual Theft faded, Jeon Jong-du, spotting Kang-hoo, bulged his eyes in shock.
The Blood Dew was deep in his face, emitting heat, but Jeon Jong-du was not yet dead.
His eyeballs seemed about to burst at the slightest breeze.
Jeon Jong-du, with murderous intent oveying his actions, appeared like a demon.
Pop!
Damn it.
Kang-hoos arms were caught by Jeon Jong-du.
Even with the dagger piercing his face, Jeon Jong-du hadnt lost his original monstrous strength.
Swoosh!
Soon, Kang-hoo felt his blood rushing to one side, and his energy started to drain.
One of Jeon Jong-dus constetion abilities had begun to manifest.
The absorption of life force was underway.
It felt as though not only the life force but also the mana from his body was beingpletely drained.
But that wasnt all.
Jeon Jong-du, gripping Kang-hoos arms, hoisted him high into the air.
It was as if he were on a human amusement ride, suddenly soaring upwards.
In a situation where any normal hunter would have perished, Jeon Jong-du held on.
Instead, it was Kang-hoo who was at risk of a counterattack.
If Jeon Jong-du initiated a downward strike with his added monstrous strength, Kang-hoo might end up like dried fish utterly ttened.
It would be a miracle if anything of him remained intact.
Crazy bastard.
Kang-hoo cursed, watching Jeon Jong-du unt his strength.
Even a little more time, and Kang-hoo too would suffer injuries, or worse.
So.
[Blood Flower]
He unleashed his finishing skill.
It was a skill he couldnt use at the beginning of the battle due to theck of significant wounds.
But now, with deep wounds in the groin and lower jaw, causing heavy bleeding, there was enough material.
Boom! Boom! Boom-boom-boom!
An explosion urred.
However, unlike previous times when Kang-hoo observed the beautiful end of Blood Flower from a distance, this time he was not spared.
He was caught in the st, experiencing the explosion of blood and flesh firsthand.
The phrase crazy bastard he had uttered earlier.
It summed up his frustration with Jeon Jong-dus relentless tenacity, making things difficult until the end.
I need a few days of rest.
Anticipating his body being wrecked in the explosion, Kang-hoo sighed quietly.
Chapter 89: Jeon Jong-Du (4)
Chapter 89: Jeon Jong-Du (4)
Wow. Did I just pass out for a moment?
Kang-hoo opened his eyes about a minute after being caught in the explosion.
Of course, he hadnt simply closed his eyes without a n; he had ensured Jeon Jong-dus demise.
So, as his tension fully dissipated, he had closed his eyes and inadvertently drifted off.
With Jeon Jong-dus demise, the five constetions he was contracted with all transferred to Kang-hoo.
The most coveted, the Ruthless Predator, was so satisfying it was almost painful to discuss.
The remaining four constetions also held high expectations.
[War Dog]
[For every 1% decrease in health, your strength correction value increases by 1%.]
After all, since strength is linked with firepower, this constetion offers good synergy with me.
Kang-hoo concluded his assessment of the War Dog constetion.
Of course, its best for an assassin not to lose health, but its reassuring to have something to fall back on if it happens.
[Endurer''s Pilgrim]
[Reduces pain by 50%.]
Somehow, I thought it wouldntpletely eliminate the sense of pain.
Feeling pain to a certain extent is beneficial.
If you cant feel it at all, it would be dangerous, but the Endurers Pilgrim seems to reduce it to just the right amount.
[Wind''s Guide]
[Mobility increases by 25%.]
[Master of Shell Games]
[Every 100 levels, a roulette wheel that activates a random reward is generated. There are no losses or bad rewards.]
Oh-ho.
While Winds Guide is straightforward, Master of Shell Games was a new constetion to Kang-hoo.
It was a concept never assigned to a core character in the original work due to its randomness.
It was an idea considered several times during the nning stage, so it seems it was finally implemented.
If rewards are activated every 100 levels, its an especially opportune time for Kang-hoo now.
His current level is 95.
Just 5 more levels, and it seemed like the Master of Shell Games constetion would activate its roulette.
Kang-hoo reviewed the details about the Ruthless Predator once more.
He then noticed an ability called Vitality Absorption was activated.
This ability allowed him to absorb vitality from anything he touched.
It could be activated or deactivated at will. Furthermore, to proceed with vitality absorption, he had to remain stationary.
It matched well with Jeon Jong-du, but its a bit hard to use in the middle of a fight for me.
Kang-hoo nodded as he envisioned the uses and applications of it.
Regardless, it was an ability that could be easily utilized while resting or after subduing an enemy.
He cautiously ced his hand on the dead body of Jeon Jong-du.
[Activating Vitality Absorption.]
And when he activated the previously deactivated vitality absorption,
Sssssss!
!
A vibrant energy flowed from Jeon Jong-dus body into Kang-hoos hand.
He could feel his health, which had significantly dropped during the recent fight, quickly recovering.
It felt like drinking a health potion that was absorbed instantly. The response was immediate.
There was another characteristic.
While vitality absorption was in progress, Innate Mana Hypersensitivity was suppressed for some reason.
To be precise, Innate Mana Hypersensitivity did not trigger. Mana recovery was slower.
Is it not an interaction, but rather a mechanism of opposite action?
I dont know why vitality absorption and innate mana hypersensitivity act oppositely.
But I could directly feel it, and it felt like one clue I needed to remember had been collected.
Probably, this knowledge Ivee to learn will be usefulter on.
Even the smallest clue rted to innate mana hypersensitivity is good to have. It will aid in research.
Cleanup proceeded quickly.
A fierce battle was still ongoing in the abandoned factory.
Loud explosions were frequent, and from the mix of screams, it seemed neither side had aplete upper hand.
Of course, Kim Su-kyungs mercenary group had the numerical advantage from the start, putting our side in a better position.
Kang-hoo stripped Jeon Jong-du of all his items.
Among them, he separately categorized and kept the items that were irreceable or hard to exchange.
The expected value was 20 billion won.
This valuepensated for the bounty lost by killing Jeon Jong-du instead of capturing him.
And he put on two grade-4 rings that were suitable to wear.
It was his first time wearing items with a set effect.
[Kalips (Left) - Ring]
[Grade: 4]
[Strength + 100]
[Strength + 25 (Will of Kalips)]
[Kalips (Right) - Ring]
[Grade: 4]
[Strength + 100]
[Strength + 25 (Will of Kalips)]
Thanks to the set effect called Will of Kalips, he gained an additional 50 strength.
Though I havent worn items with set effects yet.
In the medium to long term, focusing on collecting and wearing such items is better.
In the case of Jang Si-hwan, all ten rings he wears have one massive set effect.
Given that the protagonist is insanely buffed, the itemposition is quite overpowered.
Since Jang Si-hwan is Kang-hoos ultimate goal Its time to start paying attention to set effects.
Once I reach level 100 and add a basic skill, I should definitely use Hematite.
I currently have a total of 5 Hematites.
Its not just about saving valuable items that can be handy for skill upgrades.
The saying saving it until its toote applies in the world of hunters too.
Because there are countless instances where saving something forter leads to a tragic death and never being able to use it.
There had been some hesitation about how to use the 5 Hematites, but now my thoughts are clear.
Faster mobility and evasion.
I must invest Hematite in skills that can maximize the assassins characteristics.
Thats the only way to more adeptly handle characters who are inherently opposed to me, like Jeon Jong-du.
This battle with Jeon Jong-du concluded at this level because his weaknesses were evident.
Had Jeon Jong-dus level been merely 50 points higher or his reactions slightly quicker, the oue might have been different.
Absolutely 100.
Kang-hoo rose to his feet.
He resolved that as soon as this mission concluded, he would halt all other missions and concentrate exclusively on leveling up.
Alright, Jeon Jong-du. Its time for you to see the outside world.
Jeon Jong-dus lifeless bodyy there.
Kang-hoo seized him by the hair and began dragging him outside.
To the Osho mercenaries, who were fervently fighting, awaiting the arrival of their dependable captain, Jeon Jong-du.
It seemed the time hade to deliver the most definitive message with his body, to shatter their morale and will to fight.
Silence.
Ah
A minuteter, time appeared to stand still throughout the entire abandoned factory where a fierce battle had previously raged.
When everyones attention was captured by a loud noise emanating from one side of the second floors railing.
Every hunter who looked could see it.
The body of Jeon Jong-du, his jaw obliterated without a trace and his groin reduced to shreds.
And standing over Jeon Jong-dus face, sprawled on the floor, was Kang-hoos foot.
Damn, the captain
Died so easily?
Who the hell is this guy?
The first to be shocked were the hunters from the Osho mercenary group.
Jeon Jong-du was regarded as a god by them due to his formidable strength.
He was Jeon Jong-du, known for easily bending and twisting iron pipes or aluminum bats just for fun.
It was humorously said that even if the entire Osho mercenary group attacked him, they would all be defeated and killed.
Their faith in Captain Jeon Jong-du and his destructive power was unwavering. It was a natural trust.
However, the shock that Jeon Jong-du had been killed by a single hunter, not even a group of enemies, was profound.
It wasnt merely a death from a fatal wound in one ce.
It was a truly grotesque death, with his face and the center of his lower body reduced to tatters.
For hunters unaware of Kang-hoos skill Blood Flower and its power, such a reaction was natural.
Kang-hoo seemed to be a hunter of apletely different ss, not an assassin, given the visible wounds.
Your leader is dead. Think carefully if you still need to fight hard.
With an indifferent remark, Kang-hoo casually kicked Jeon Jong-dus body away.
Then, Jeon Jong-dus body fell below the railing,nding face-first onto the ground.
Crunch!
The sound of his nose and forehead breaking was heard, but no one cared since he was already dead.
Ah
The sigh released by one of the Osho mercenaries carried the collective sense of loss they all felt.
They had endured, relying solely on the arrival of Jeon Jong-du.
It was a wait that seemed destined from the start since Jeon Jong-du had promised to maximize hisbat power ande.
But the oue of their wait was not hope, but despair.
Now, it was a matter of timing. The question was when they would surrender to the enemy.
I didnt expect the situation to turn so dramatic.
Kim Su-kyung was equally surprised. Precisely, the entire Kim Su-kyung mercenary group was startled.
Its not that they hadnt considered Kang-hoo might seek out and confront Jeon Jong-du.
However, they had not anticipated at all that Kang-hoo would kill Jeon Jong-du and end it all.
They had imagined luring him out and then coborating with the mercenary group.
The hunters immediately behind Kim Su-kyung were elite forces organized to support Kang-hoo in case of an emergency.
But Kang-hoo had ended Jeon Jong-du on his own, rendering their ns useless.
Given the difficulty in confronting Jeon Jong-du directly, they had made extensive ns and even recruited external mercenaries
To have such a grand n end with the actions of a single hunter was dumbfounding.
Is it possible for a hunter under level 100 to take down someone at level 350?
Kim Su-kyung was open-minded. She believed that level wasnt everything and that there were always variables.
But a level 100 achieving aplete victory over a level 350 was beyond those variables.
Lee Ye-rin had emphasized several times not to judge Kang-hoo solely by his level.
At the time, Kim Su-kyung thought it was somewhat lip service, filled with trust in Kang-hoo.
But it wasnt.
Lee Ye-rin had spoken the truth as it was. Kim Su-kyung had misunderstood.
Admiration stops here.
As Kang-hoo had set a splendid stage for a sessful victory, it was necessary to wrap up quickly.
Kim Su-kyung shouted,
Your captain is dead! Dont resist meaninglessly! Surrender if you dont want to die in vain!
Kim Su-kyungs booming voice covered the entire abandoned factory.
It was as if she had a skill like a lions roar, so fiercely did her voice echo.
Kang-hoo, standing on the second-floor railing, held a practice dagger, looking down below.
If the fight were to start again, it was because there were hunters greedy for the constetion plunder.
He was targeting those guys.
But with the pir and main support of the mercenary group, Jeon Jong-du, dead,
There was no hunter daring enough to rush straight to the afterlife.
I surrender.
I also surrender!
Dont attack! Please!
Illy down my weapon!
The Osho mercenary group was disbanded that day. It was an anticlimactic end brought about by the death of Jeon Jong-du.
And at both the beginning and end of this battle, Kang-hoos name was clearly engraved.
It was Kang-hoos perfect performance, undeniable by anyone for his significant contribution and merit.
Chapter 90: Level 100 (1)
Chapter 90: Level 100 (1)
Half a dayter.
A man downed a ss full of vodka in one gulp, his expression bitter.
He had been fixated on the CCTV footage disyed on the monitor for a while now.
The footage originated from a deserted factory used by Jeon Jong-dus Osho Mercenary Group as a secret meeting ce.
Today, there had been a sh with the Kim Su-kyung Mercenary Group at that location, resulting in Jeon Jong-dus death.
Useless fools. I have no idea where all the money theyve made has gone. Ive invested quite a bit myself.
The man waved his hand in the air, a gestureden with disappointment.
His name was Niki Strakh. He was the master of the Kashimar Guild in Russia.
Kashimar means nightmare in Russian, which was quite fitting considering the nature of his work.
The goal of the Kashimar Guild was to kidnap useful hunters from overseas and weaponize them.
Bejumie, found in the abandoned factory, was one of the Kashimar Guilds creations.
The process, notoriously brutal, put human rights second to the cruelty of the method.
Moreover, the operation required a significant amount of patience andbor, making the supply far short of the demand.
The demand for human weapons that could be used freely anywhere existed worldwide.
Especially, guilds or organizations with dirty backgrounds preferred them more, even the Jeonghwa Guild had transactions with them.
The Osho Mercenary Group was one of the main suppliers of hunters to the Kashimar Guild from outside.
But this time, they werepletely annihted by the Kim Su-kyung Mercenary Group.
Not to mention, Jeon Jong-du, who seemed unlikely to die under normal circumstances, was dead.
Even if he had lived, rebuilding the mercenary groups power would not have been an issue.
But with its roots torn out, reviving it through its branches was impossible.
As a result, the supply route for hunters in Korea was cut off, at least until a recement was found.
Who could it be?
Strakh was closely examining the figure of Kang-hoo, captured on the screen.
There was internal CCTV in Jeon Jong-dus secret ce on the second floor, and that footage had been secured.
Although not visible to outsiders, Jeon Jong-du had absolute obedience to Strakhs orders, granting him ess rights.
Kang-hoos movements, adept even after being ambushed by Jeon Jong-du, were surprising.
Despite being physically overpowered by Jeon Jong-du, Kang-hoo was not.
Moreover, he twisted a typical counterattack pattern to strike unexpectedly, and there were indications he used mental skills, unsuitable for an assassin.
More than resentment for the fact that Jeon Jong-du was killed, Strakh was more interested in Kang-hoo.
Who could he be?
Using the guilds developed searchbot based on the secured footage yielded no information.
Given his skills, he seemed like someone whose photo would have appeared in Korean hunter broadcasts or articles at least once.
But the searchbot couldnt find any information on him, not even simr individuals.
Such a person would be more than enough as an alternative to Jeon Jong-du. Perhaps even better.
Strakh had no intention of giving up on the materials supply from Korea.
Hunters from Korea were highly valuable for sale and showed highpliance to experiments and drugs.
They were easier to modify and control, making the investment cost significantly cheaper.
Giving up on the Korean purchasing route was like cutting off a contract with a cheap source.
I should send someone.
Pondering over it in Russia wouldnt yield more information on Kang-hoo.
Strakh decided to create a direct route to approach Kang-hoo.
After all, if you look for someone, eventually youll find them.
Especially since this incident might have created a point of contact with the Kim Su-kyung Mercenary Group, it was possible to establish a connection.
Strakh was already considering Kang-hoo as the sessor to Jeon Jong-du in his mind.
Without even considering whether Kang-hoo himself harbored any such intentions.
40 billion won. It has been deposited. Please check. The process took some time due to therge amount.
Thank you for the prompt handling.
Kang-hoo had just confirmed the deposit of 40 billion won he received from Kim Su-kyung.
The bnce leaped from 36.6 billion won to 76.6 billion won.
This sum included the 10 billion won reward from Kim Su-kyung, 20 billion won from selling Jeon Jong-dus items, and another 10 billion won from the sale of the orange magic stone he had acquired earlier.
And the additional deposit is a personal thank you. Thanks to you, the battle ended early, and the damage was significantly minimized.
Following this, Kim Su-kyung transferred an additional 5 billion won as a token of gratitude for Kang-hoos efforts.
This brought the bnce to 81.6 billion won. Now, reaching 100 billion won seemed within reach.
Money.
When you deliberately set out to collect it, it can be quite challenging to earn.
Yet, by focusing solely on the work without giving it much thought, a significant amount had been amassed.
Of course, this was just the beginning.
To purchase more valuable and worthy items, more money was necessary. There was no ceiling.
As Kang-hoo looked at the bnce of over 80 billion won for the first time, he felt quite satisfied for a moment.
Kim Su-kyung then tentatively made a proposal.
Would you consider joining our mercenary group?
I dislike belonging somewhere the most. I dont like having to be mindful of others or having more people to worry about.
He gave a firm answer immediately upon hearing her proposal, as it was a sentiment he had always maintained.
Being part of a group, as opposed to being alone, meant taking on more responsibilities.
Kang-hoo wanted to focus solely on himself in all situations. After all, its a world where surviving is already challenging enough.
As expected.
Kim Su-kyungughed.
While the response was expected and thus not surprising, its swiftness and decisiveness seemed overly harsh.
Even with knowledge of Kang-hoos true feelings, she couldnt help but wonder if her mercenary group was that unattractive to him.
Thus, the proposal was rejected.
However, Kim Su-kyung introduced another form of tie that could link them.
How about being a client, then?
That would be eptable. It doesnt burden me, and I have the authority to choose.
Kim Su-kyungs revised proposal was epted by Kang-hoo.
There was no reason to decline.
Especially since Kim Su-kyung and her mercenary group were expected to continue their upward trajectory from now on.
With the Osho Mercenary Group, a hostile force in the original narrative, now eliminated, their growth was anticipated to quicken.
Hence, it was advantageous to establish some form of connection with Kim Su-kyung in any manner. It was a mutually beneficial situation.
Now I can also receive requests from the Gangwon-do area more frequently than before.
Although the requestsing from Lee Ye-rin were somewhat regionally distributed,
Requests from the Gangwon-do area had always been rare.
Perhaps there was some caution due to the rtionship with the Kim Su-kyung Mercenary Group.
Thanks to this development, there was an expansion in the variety of requests. It seemed to be a significant aid for the future.
Around the same time.
Why is it so crowded?
The troubleshooter, sent by the Ebony Bone gang leader Shin Jun-ho to track Kang-hoo, was wandering around Daejeon Station.
There were many signs of Kang-hoo here. A significant amount. But not enough to suggest it served as a base.
What the troubleshooter realized while tracking Kang-hoo was that pinpointing his location to one specific ce was challenging.
Hunters usually have a central area of activity they consider safe.
It seemed Kang-hoo had no such ce. Perhaps Daejeon Station was a location he visited only a few times, at most?
The smell is delicious This guy must have a lot of secrets.
The troubleshooter licked his lips with the tip of his tongue.
As he resumed his slow pace, he closed his eyes.
He was attuned to traces of mana, a sensation intertwined with his spiritual abilities, enabling him to quickly perceive sensations.
At that moment,
Its strong.
He sensed the presence of someone nearby with a significant trace of Kang-hoo.
It wasnt Kang-hoo himself, but unmistakably, this person was rted, carrying a trace that linked them to him.
What the troubleshooter saw was a woman walking in front of Daejeon Station, wielding a long greatsword.
Ive found a link.
The troubleshooter smiled.
He had finally found a starting point connected to Kang-hoo. It was time to elerate the tracking.
Swoosh.
On a night when a long-awaited downpour fell due to a northward-moving typhoon.
The weather was too severe for driving, so Kang-hoo rested in a safe hotel provided by Kim Su-kyungs courtesy.
Since the hotel was directly operated by the Kim Su-kyung Mercenary Group, safety was not a concern.
He wondered about the possibility of eavesdropping or illegal filming, but after a thorough check, no such devices were found. His worries were unfounded.
Entering the room, Kang-hoo filled the spacious rectangr swimming pool with hot water.
It took some time, but as hey on the bed without a thought, waiting, time passed quickly.
Eventually, Kang-hoo submerged himself deeply in the pool filled with steaming hot water.
He dove deep enough topletely submerge his head.
Kang-hoo went to the bottom of the pool and plunged into a world of submersion.
It was an excellent space for organizing and refining his thoughts.
To reach level 100 as soon as possible, I need to enter a dungeon. The downside of being a lone mercenary is theck of free ess to dungeons.
A lone mercenary.
It might seem appealing, but the main issue is theck of connections to dungeons due to not belonging to any organization.
If youre affiliated with a guild, you can easily be assigned to conquer dungeons owned by the guild.
Theres no need to worry about securing licenses or scheduling conquests. The guild handles everything.
However, mercenaries have no easy ess to dungeons other than open-type ones.
It would be a waste to use the Lee Hyun-seok chance now. Not yet.
There isnt ack of easier paths.
Since Lee Hyun-seok owed him for rescuing Min Su-hyun, he could ask for a dungeon license.
But considering the value and difficulty of the dungeons he owns, it would be too wasteful to use now.
There are many useful dungeons to attempt once his level is higher. Its a big loss for now.
What about Jeon Se-hyuk?
Thinking of Lee Hyun-seok naturally brought his friend Jeon Se-hyuk to mind.
Being a mercenary with his own strength, he likely owns a few dungeons as well.
Keeping the pondering short and actions quick.
Kang-hoo called Jeon Se-hyuk.
As if things were meant to go smoothly, Jeon Se-hyuk answered the phone before it could even ring outpletely.
-Yes, Shin Kang-hoo.
Along with Han Seo-yeon, one of the few who knew his real name.
Always being called Jung Sun-kyu and now hearing his real name felt ironically awkward.
Have you been well?
-Lets get straight to the point. I know you dislike unnecessary greetings or pleasantries.
Spot on.
This made the conversation easier.
If theres a clear request from both sides, theres no need to beat around the bush.
Kang-hoo broached the subject.
Do you have a dungeon suitable for a conquest? I just need it for farming experience points. I dont care about the loot.
Forsaking all loot.
It was a tempting offer if Jeon Se-hyuk had any dungeons to spare.
Chapter 91: Level 100 (2)
Chapter 91: Level 100 (2)
From the other end of the phone, Jeon Se-hyuk chuckled.
As Kang-hoo waited without any particr reaction, Jeon Se-hyuk cleared his throat and continued.
-Coincidentally, Se-yeong also received the same contact. I was actually looking for a usable ce.
Please only do so if its convenient for you. Theres no need to overdo it.
Since he was the one making the request, Kang-hoo spoke to Jeon Se-hyuk as cautiously as possible.
If he were to receive consideration now, it would be a favor, not something he was entitled to.
Jeon Se-hyuk didnt owe him anything. Their rtionship was equal.
-Not at all. I happen to have a dungeon avable among those I own. However.
However?
-This dungeon is not one Se-yeong can enter alone. I was nning to look for party members anyway.
That works out well, then.
-Since the dungeon is registered under a borrowed name, it might seem odd if you search in external databases.
Thats quitemon.
Kang-hoo spoke lightly.
Owning dungeons under borrowed names or renting them out is an openlymon practice due to the taxes imposed on dungeon ownership.
Who would want to pay taxes to the Hunter Public Safety Bureau when they receive no assistance from them?
Thus, exploiting the tax exemption for owning up to two dungeons per person became widespread.
In fact, not using such loopholes was considered foolish. The Hunter Public Safety Bureau didnt enforce it strictly.
-Youll need toe down to Busan for now.
I wont be an unwee guest, will I?
-If youe, Se-yeong will be very pleased. Juste down. You can have the loot.
I believe a price must be paid.
-Youring is the price. Youll understand why once you hear the story.
Understood. Ill contact you again when Im about to leave on the KTX to Busan Station.
-Today, right?
Yes. Ill contact you before departure.
-Good. See you soon.
The call ended.
It felt like everything was going smoothly.
Though he wasnt sure what kind of dungeon it was, the fact that his mere arrival was considered payment suggested
Its not a dungeon that can be entered alone. It requires at least two or three people.
Anyway, it seemed like a good situation.
With not much left until level 100, he wanted to reach his goal as quickly as possible.
On the KTX to Busan Station,
Kang-hoo recalled his battle with Jeon Jong-du as he watched the continuous rain outside the window.
The more he reflected on the fight with him, the more he found it to be significant and full of lessons.
It wasnt strange that the entire Osho Mercenary Corps surrendered immediately after confirming Jeon Jong-dus death.
Suppressing a level 350 hunter is definitely not an easy task.
Especially since Jeon Jong-du was a physical type hunter, which are notoriously difficult to kill.
Typically, such hunters are hard to take down because they excel in endurance, making it easy to miss the opportunity to kill them.
But since he was utterly defeated by Kang-hoo, everyone considered Kang-hoo much stronger than Jeon Jong-du.
That was the only exnation.
Of course, defeating Jeon Jong-du doesnt mean I can automatically beat any other level 350 hunter.
Kang-hoo didnt get arrogant.
Level can serve as a reference point but not an absolute measure. There are always variables.
Jeon Jong-du was impulsive, and hecked the wisdom to endure with patience against Kang-hoos persistence.
Kang-hoo was convinced that if Jeon Jong-du had been a bit smarter or thought more deeply, the oue might have been different.
Still, Im definitely making good use of this body beyond its limits.
He was wary of arrogance, but Kang-hoo did not forget to praise himself. There was no need to downy remarkable achievements.
On one hand, he also thought that possessing Shin Kang-hoos body had been a fortunate event.
Had he taken over the body of Jeon Jong-du or another viin, the subsequent nning would have been incrediblyplex.
Navigating many characters was too challenging with the knowledge he possessed, due to their significant drawbacks.
In this regard, the character Shin Kang-hoo was both fully developed and rapidly evolving.
Moreover, Congenital Mana Hypersensitivity was a significant handicap but also the best tool for unlocking boundless potential.
Once I reach level 100, I must meet Master K through Jung Yuri.
He was curious about Master K and eager to meet him.
Having a reliable intermediary like Jung Yuri made him think arranging a meeting was a good idea.
Additionally, there was the issue of his dwindling supply of Mad Srkium, which had reduced to two.
He knew of a few ces in North Korea with Mad Srkium, but essing them wasplicated due tock of rights.
Currently, one cannot simply enter North Koreas territory without permission.
Of course, there were hunters who ventured into North Korean territory without permission.
However, they were not protected under internationalw and had no recourse if they encountered disadvantages.
Thus, unauthorized entry into North Korea was not advised, as it was tantamount to risking ones life.
Kang-hoo called Jung Yuri.
Just as he was about to hang up after the phone rang ten times, she answered with a sleepy voice.
-Umm?
Seems like you were sleeping.
-No, its fine. I was just resting my eyes.
Wipe off the drool before you lie.
-Slurp.
Kang-hoo chuckled at Jung Yuris guileless response.
It wasnt that she was particrly humorous or amusing, but she often brought a smile to his face.
Perhaps it was the influence of her pure and untainted soul, subtly affecting him.
-Whats up?
I was wondering if I could see your grandfather? I have some items I want to purchase and things I want to discuss.
-Grandfather? That shouldnt be difficult. Hell be pleased if Im bringing someone along.
Thinking Im your fianc?
-Noo! Thats not it! Its just that hed be happy to use the excuse to see his granddaughter!
Then arrange the meeting.
-Okay, got it! But what are you doing now?
Im on my way to Busan.
-Why Busan?
For fun.
-Not hesitating even for a second to lie.
Thats right.
-Anyway, got it! Ill contact my grandfather and get back to you!
Thanks.
Things seemed to be proceeding smoothly. There was much he wanted to learn and inquire about from Master K.
Tap tap. Tap. Tap tap tap.
Suddenly, the rain became heavier, harshly beating against the train window, obscuring the view.
Inside the nearly empty carriage.
Kang-hoo reclined his seat slightly and closed his eyes, knowing time would fly once he arrived in Busan.
After her call with Kang-hoo ended.
Jung Yuri immediately called Master K.
Master K was notoriously difficult to reach, but for his granddaughter, Jung Yuri, he made an exception.
Thats right. She had been waiting for his call.
-Yes, Yuri.
Yul. Yuli.
It was Master Ks nickname for his granddaughter, Jung Yuri. Jung Yuri preferred being called that way.
Grandfather!
-Yes. Have you been eating well?
Im about to eat! Maybe Ill order pizza today!
-You had pizza yesterday too Make sure to eat something healthy too. Youre too picky.
Heh, got it, Grandfather! Oh! I called because I have something to tell you!
-What is it?
Do you know Jung Sun-kyu? Sun-kyu oppa.
-The man who pulled you out of your wandering life stuck in Ground Zero?
Um Thats a bit harsh, but yes, thats right!
Jung Yuri blushed.
When she said she didnt want to leave Ground Zero, Master K didnt try to stop her.
He said that the choice and the responsibility were entirely hers. He also mentioned that he didnt want to forcibly take her out of her shell.
In fact, both he and the grandmother had given all decision-making power to Jung Yuri.
Believing that ones fate and responsibilities are entirely their own was their creed.
But secretly, he had hoped her reclusive life would soone to an end, and his wish was granted.
The catalyst was Kang-hoo.
-So, why does this man want to see me?
Oppa wants to meet you, Grandfather. He has things he wants to buy and questions to ask.
-Me?
Yes. He really wants to meet you.
-Is he trying to be introduced as your husband?
Ah! Its not like that!
Jung Yuri blushed again.
Regardless, it was true that Jung Yuri harbored some romantic interest in Kang-hoo.
It wasnt strange for young men and women to be attracted to each others looks and personalities.
-How does that boy seem to you?
He seems like someone with many hidden stories. His eyes are deep and sad, as if hes embracing all the pain of the world.
-Is he a patient? Drug addicts usually have that look.
Grandfather.
Amon reaction from Master K, who dealt with many nts rted to Srkium and drugs.
-Alright. Since my granddaughter is introducing him with a clear judgment, I should trust your judgment.
From the outside, he might seem a bit off-putting. But hes been a great help to me.
-Thats enough for me. Contact me before youe. A call about 6 hours in advance should be fine for arranging the meeting.
Wow! Thank you, Grandfather!
-If youre short on pocket money, let me know. Same if you need a dungeon. Im hanging up now. A guest has arrived.
Yes!
After hanging up, Jung Yuri repeatedly kissed her smartphone, feeling her grandfathers warmth.
Her grandparents had always been such supportive and generous people.
Jung Yuri didnt want to disappoint them any longer.
Pulling herself together as a hunter and pursuing growth was her current goal and passion.
She had essentially received a green light from her grandfather.
All that was left was to visit Ground Zero when Kang-hoo was ready. That was all.
Meanwhile, at that time.
As the KTX was passing Kimcheon Gumi Station, Kang-hoo was awakened by a noisy sensation.
It wasnt the carriage that was noisy, but the message window visible only to Kang-hoo was in chaos.
The reason was that the constetions were fiercelypeting.
Scrolling up the message window, he found the content that seemed to have sparked the uproar.
It was the words of the Dimension Plunderer.
Even if you all dream of bing the main constetion, there is something called rank. Don''t you know?
Changing the main constetion is a matter of free will. It''s not a ce to squash your filthy backside on for too long.
The one to retort was the constetion, Strategist of the Wastnd. The sh between the two constetions had been anticipated.
Just then.
Those who steal crumbs from others. Those who wrap their worthless delusions in strategy. Both are pitiful.
The Great Cmity Darkness had joined this war.
The conflict among the constetions was more heated than expected.
Chapter 92: Level 100 (3)
Chapter 92: Level 100 (3)
The significance of a Main Constetion is exemplified by the Dimension Plunderer.
Firstly, it grants the contractor ess to all the benefits associated with the constetion.
This exins why Kang-hoo can steal skills, maintain maximum proficiency in all skills, and take the constetions of hunters he defeats.
It also includes the ability to teleport instantly to a designated location.
What if the Dimension Plunderer were merely a general sub-support constetion instead of the Main Constetion?
Then, such privileges would be inessible. Enjoying these privileges is exclusive to the Main Constetion.
The contractor, that is, the contracted hunter, could change their Main Constetion at will.
The decision of which to choose as a recement rested with the hunter.
While breaking a contract with a constetion was impossible, downgrading from a Main to a sub was permissible.
However, once a constetion was downgraded, reinstating its status was not possible.
This issue was not about emotional connections but a structural limitation within the hunters system.
Furthermore, a constetion downgraded from Main to sub could terminate the contract without any penalties.
For this reason, changing the Main Constetion was approached with caution and was notmonly done.
Of course, in the realm of skilled hunters, changes urred frequently.
This is because constetions offering more abilities and privileges were constantly emerging, sparkingpetition.
And now,
Kang-hoo found himself in a situation akin to this.
Honestly, surpassing the benefits offered by the Dimension Plunderer is no easy task. She is undoubtedly an appealing constetion.
Kang-hoo had his reasons for selecting the Dimension Plunderer as his first and Main Constetion.
His decision was based on long-term direction and strategy, rather than being impulsive.
The Strategist of the Wastnd, despitepeting with her, offers somewhat lesser privileges as a Main Constetion.
It specializes mainly in mental aspects, which dont synergize well with Kang-hoos job group.
The Catastrophe Darkness offers formidable power as its defining characteristic.
However, it requires the contractors vitality and an invisible type of spiritual energy in return.
Kang-hoo was concerned about this vague drain of power
Ultimately, the decision is his to make.
Thus, he didnt give a specific response. There was no need to solidify the position of the Dimension Plunderer here.
If theres a chance, the constetions will continue to vie for his favor.
The message left by the Strategist of the Wastnd was clear.
Contractor, I don''t mind not being the first. I just want you to enjoy my benefits.
It was a groundbreaking statement.
He didnt seek the position of Main Constetion but offered his power for enjoyment.
Its akin to offering goods for free. From the recipients standpoint, theres absolutely no loss.
However, the question remains how the Dimension Plunderer would perceive this.
Then, the Catastrophe Darkness also shared its thoughts.
I desire a position befitting my status, and naturally, I cannot share a table with other inferior constetions.
But I covet you, the contractor. And I am a being that can offer you infinite power and glory.
A three-way battle, huh? Interesting.
Kang-hoo chuckled.
He thought that he should open a separate channel to talk with the Dimension Plundererter.
If the offer from the Strategist of the Wastnd remains unchanged, theres no reason to refuse her generosity.
However, its crucial that the Dimension Plunderer, as the Main Constetion, does not take this emotionally.
Negotiation is his responsibility.
Then,
Vrrrr.
The smartphone vibrated.
It was Yun Sang-mi.
The number she took aspensation for Kang-hoos indebtedness from theirst meeting at Club Hades.
Therefore, he was pleased to receive her call. She wasnt someone to contact him over trivial matters.
Yep.
Are you on a train?
Right.
I thought so. Youre speaking in a lower voice than usual, so I guessed you werent at home.
Whats up?
Ive got a dungeon license. Want to join me? We agreed to hang out together, remember?
It was a tempting offer.
He was in need of leveling up and had been searching for dungeons, even considering going as far as Busan.
If the dungeon she mentioned matched his level, it would also meet Kang-hoos requirements.
It was a timely offer in many ways.
After meeting with Ban Se-yeong and Jeon Se-hyuk, seeing her seemed like the perfect n.
Would it be okay to contact you tomorrow or the day after?
Of course. Its not urgent. I didnt have any other partner in mind for this dungeon anyway.
Thats good to hear.
Why act so surprised? Youre good at this. I trust your abilities.
Just wait a bit, then.
Alright. Ill wait for your call.
Yep.
The call was short but beneficial.
He wasnt sure about the scale and rewards of the dungeon hed be exploring with Ban Se-yeong.
Even if he found himself slightlycking in growth there, it felt like a solid backup n had formed.
Busan Station, where he arrived, had seen the rain stop early on.
As expected of a hunters ma second only to Seoul, the area around Busan Station was bustling with hunters.
It was crowded enough to truly understand the meaning of the phrase packed like sardines.
Looking at the guild and mercenary booths set up in front of the station, Seoul seemed almost modest byparison.
And for good reason, since Seoul only allows for mercenary recruitment.
In Seoul, under the exclusive management of the Jeonghwa Guild, other guilds business activities are banned.
Of course, this is unofficial.
Officially, the Jeonghwa Guild ims to pursue coexistence with other guilds, but thats quickly proven to be nonsense within 3 seconds.
Too many people, even for a busy ce.
Even considering the usual bustle, it was exceptionally crowded.
Particrly, there were many hunters wearing the insignias of the Jeonghwa Guild and the Haeohwa Guild.
Curious about the situation, he looked closer and saw that a major event was happening in front of the station.
It was a meeting between Hong Haechang, the master of the Haeohwa Guild, and Shin Tae-seok, the third-ranked hunter of the Jeonghwa Guild.
In the original story, Shin Tae-seok was the hunter who died in an explosion alongside An Yeong-ho, whom he tried to avenge. An irredeemable piece of trash.
Kang-hoo narrowed his eyes.
If Jang Si-hwan is likable trash and Chae Gwanhyeong is two-faced trash,
Then Shin Tae-seok is just trash in every visible aspect, beyond recycling.
Currently, Shin Tae-seok was in charge of the Jeonghwa Guilds dirty work.
Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeong would usually give the orders, and Shin Tae-seok would carry them out.
Then,
Through therge disy installed in front of Busan Station, the reason for their meeting today was revealed.
[Today, the Haeohwa Guild has resolved to engage in full-scale mutual exchanges with the Jeonghwa Guild.]
[The alliance between the undisputed top guilds in Busan and Seoul is expected to influence the domestdscape in the future.]
Its changed.
The flow differed from the original story.
In the original, Jang Si-hwan almost despised the Haeohwa Guild.
Considering the traitor ending its possible that even thinking about it was a fantasy.
Kang-hoo considered the possibility that everything before the traitor ending in the original work was a dream.
That is, most of the content he wrote for the original work is Jang Si-hwans imagination in this world.
Then, the usibility of the traitor ending aligns.
Right?
If the actions and movements of Jang Si-hwan, who believed himself to be justice incarnate in the original, werent real?
Then, Jang Si-hwans current preparations to be a viin are neatly exined.
Anyway, seeing the viins joining forces was not exactly a pleasant sight for Kang-hoo.
This meant the domestdscape was about to beplicated, as the announcement on the disy suggested, and not in a favorable manner.
Checking his smartphone, he found a message from Jeon Se-hyuk stating he had just arrived and was parking, so he would be slightlyte.
As Kang-hoo waited for the two, he paid closer attention to the hunter-rted news continuing on the disy.
[The Jeonghwa Guild announced that as of 8 a.m. today, they wouldmence a purge in the Osan region.]
[It was revealed that the Pyeongjeong and Bastard guilds, involved in serious crimes such as human trafficking, drug trafficking, and rape in Osan, are the targets of the purge.]
[These forces are known to include numerous wanted criminals and hunters under criminal suspicion.]
Thats quick.
Jang Si-hwans purge of the Osan region was also part of the original story.
The external pretext, of course, was spouting nonsense about purging for justice.
It was easy to package with the cooperation of the Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
Anyway.
The reason Jang Si-hwan coveted the Osan area was simple: it housed many valuable dungeons.
It was a ce beneficial for guild development and contained many dungeons he personally wanted to conquer.
He thought it would eventually happen, but the timing was much earlier than in the original workmore than a year earlier.
Pyeongjeong and Bastard are not guilds that can be easily purged. Theyre adept at guerri warfare from the start.
Kang-hoo anticipated a prolonged purge by the Jeonghwa Guild in Osan, as it was in the original story.
Then,
The security around Gold Goblins Mine might be loosened. If I can just get in, it would be perfect.
Now, dungeons that were unapproachable due to the full-scale war between Pyeongjeong and Bastard might be within reach.
Gold Goblins Mine.
As the name suggests, its a ce with a lot of loot to collect as rewards.
And its a dungeon with a special space that only Kang-hoo knows about, meaning theres a lot to gain.
Things are getting interesting.
Now, in some aspects, the timeline is moving faster than the original, or entirely different elements have started to emerge.
Of course, considering the overall flow of the story, its not something that would significantly impact it.
Still, the vast knowledge of the original work that Kang-hoo possesses is valuable information that can be used at any time.
Five minutester.
Kang-hoo met Jeon Se-hyuk and Ban Se-yeong in the bustling area just outside Busan Station.
Jeon Se-hyuk wore a mask this time, different from when Kang-hoost saw him.
With the mask covering his scars, only his refreshing eyes were visible, making him look much more handsome.
Ban Se-yeong, having taken off her specialized goggles worn inside dungeons and fully made up, looked quite beautiful. She could pass for a sessful beauty creator.
Jeon Se-hyuk, who greeted Kang-hoo warmly, immediately pointed to a building near the station.
Shall we go?
Whats in the building?
Well, its my office, to be precise.
The entire building is his office. The top floor is essentially a penthouse.
Ban Se-yeong added the exnation in ce of Jeon Se-hyuk.
A hunter using an entire building as personal space isnt strange. Its possible with enough money.
Whatplicated Kang-hoos thoughts, however, was the question Jeon Se-hyuk asked him afterward.
Do you know about the Kashimar Guild with Russian nationality?
Chapter 93: Level 100 (4)
Chapter 93: Level 100 (4)
I understand.
Kang-hoo nodded.
The Kashimar Guild was the one that had manipted Jajangs Osho Mercenary Corps from behind the scenes, effectively treating them like mere extensions of their own power.
This was because Niki Strakh, the master of the Kashimar Guild, was considered a superior counterpart to Jeon Jong-du.
Jeon Jong-du had revered him as a master, a sentiment only possible because their dispositions were nearly identical.
However, Kang-hoo was curious about the sudden mention of the Kashimar Guild.
He would have understood if Kim Su-kyung, who had fought alongside him, had brought it up.
But it was surprising that Jeon Se-hyuk, who seemed unrted, mentioned the guild associated with the Osho Mercenary Corps.
Realizing that his mention might seem out of the blue, Jeon Se-hyuk exined his reason.
Its not about anything else. Originally, a partner who was supposed to be with us has been kidnapped by that guild.
The Kashimar Guild?
Yes, thats correct. The dungeon were heading to requires three people to synchronize, and now were one short.
Naturally, there would be a gap since the dungeon required three people to work together, but they were down to two.
The Kashimar Guild was even worse than the Osho Mercenary Corps.
If the Osho Mercenary Corps were like neighborhood thugs, then the Kashimar Guild was a well-organized, giant criminal organization.
Moreover, their external facade was so polished that their reputation was asmendable as the Jeonghwa Guilds.
Especially since they had solid connections within the Russian political sphere, they were almost universally praised in Russia.
Kang-hoo, having never met the kidnapped hunter, was curious about their fate.
Have you confirmed their survival?
Yes, we contacted them yesterday. We sent the money they demanded, and for now, theyve kept them alive.
Jeon Se-hyuks expression was grave.
Kept them alive.
Because the money sent to the Kashimar Guild tranted into time for the hostages life.
Once that time passed, the Kashimar Guild would either trade the hostage or use them as a test subject.
Bing a human hunter weapon, like Bejumie, was also a frequent urrence.
Seeing Kang-hoos bitter expression, Jeon Se-hyuk continued.
I would like to go there myself and smash everything, but realistically, its impossible.
Cant this be resolved through Mr. Lee Hyun-seok?
Kang-hoos question held significance for Jeon Se-hyuk, who shared a brotherly bond with Lee Hyun-seok.
In fact, Lee Hyun-seok had more connections and influence with guilds abroad than domestically, including in Russia.
Requesting help from Hyun-seok is too shameful, so Ive kept it a secret.
I miss you, brother Dong-jae
Then,
Ban Se-yeong mentioned the kidnapped hunters name, her eyes slightly reddened.
Dong-jae. It was not a name that could be specifically identified, nor was it verymon.
Kang-hoo, familiar with the original story, remembered a name and cautiously asked.
Is this brother Dong-jae, Mr. Park Dong-jae, specialized in buff skills?
Oh! Yes, thats right. Do you know Dong-jae?
Just heard rumors among hunters.
Jeon Se-hyuk was surprised by the response, and Kang-hoo quickly provided a usible exnation. It was amon urrence, after all.
Kang-hoo was also slightly taken aback by his correct guess.
Park Dong-jae.
Known as the Frenzied Conductor, he was a very skilled buffer.
In the original story, a connection between Shin Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae was almost made, but Jang Si-hwan blocked it.
There were several reasons for this.
One of them was because Park Dong-jaes mentor, Bok Hyeong-seok, was killed by Jang Si-hwan.
The reasons given were punishing evil and implementing justice, but those were merely the victors assertions.
Anyway, from Jang Si-hwans perspective, Park Dong-jae, a disciple of an evil person and dreaming of revenge for his master, was a thorn in his side.
Moreover, as Park Dong-jae became a formidable ally for Jang Si-hwan, and Shin Kang-hoo started showing interest in him,
Jang Si-hwan felt threatened and had him assassinated. It was an assassination involving many of the guilds elite members.
Having Park Dong-jae by your side is definitely a plus. Its not just a simple addition, but almost like multiplication.
Until now, Kang-hoo had been attracted to the abilities of people like Ban Se-yeong or Jung Yuri.
Butpared to having Park Dong-jae by his side, they were hardly worth mentioning.
For Kang-hoo, who could maximize the power of a single attack, whether or not he had the support of a buffer was very important.
Park Dong-jae was truly a hunter who could give wings to Kang-hoo.
I hope we can find him. So this is why his appearance in the original work was dyed so much.
Knowing the behind-the-scenes story made the reason for thete encounter with Shin Kang-hoo in the original work understandable.
Clearly, Park Dong-jae was a hunter worth utilizing. Kang-hoo wanted to forge a connection with him by any means.
It was both an instinctive intuition and a rational recognition that he was the right hunter for him.
Kang-hoo decided to suggest something to Jeon Se-hyuk. It wouldnt make sense for him to step forward directly.
I think getting help from Mr. Lee Hyun-seok is a good idea. We cant ignore the fate of our partner.
Im seriously considering it.
If needed, Ill lend my strength as well.
It was a voluntary offer from Kang-hoo, who usually wouldnt step forward unless money was involved.
Jeon Se-hyuk thought that Kang-hoo, the requester, wouldnt offer his strength out of mere goodwill.
But there couldnt be any malice. Could it be that hes a good person? Jeon Se-hyuk smiled enigmatically.
Moreover, as Park Dong-jae emerged as a formidable ally for Jang Si-hwan, and Shin Kang-hoo began showing interest in him,
Jang Si-hwan felt threatened and orchestrated his assassination, involving many of the guilds elite members.
Having Park Dong-jae by your side is definitely a plus. Its not just a simple addition, but almost like multiplication.
Until now, Kang-hoo had been drawn to the abilities of individuals like Ban Se-yeong or Jung Yuri.
However,pared to having Park Dong-jae by his side, they paled in significance.
For Kang-hoo, who could maximize the power of a single attack, the support of a buffer was crucial.
Park Dong-jae was indeed a hunter who could give wings to Kang-hoo.
I hope we can find him. So this is why his appearance in the original work was dyed so much.
Understanding the behind-the-scenes story rified the reason for the dyed encounter with Shin Kang-hoo in the original work.
Clearly, Park Dong-jae was a hunter worth leveraging. Kang-hoo was determined to forge a connection with him by any means necessary.
It was both an instinctive intuition and a rational acknowledgment that he was the right hunter for him.
Kang-hoo decided to make a suggestion to Jeon Se-hyuk. It wouldnt make sense for him to approach directly.
I think getting help from Mr. Lee Hyun-seok is a good idea. We cant overlook the fate of our partner.
Im seriously considering it.
If needed, Ill lend my strength as well.
This was a voluntary offer from Kang-hoo, who typically wouldnt step forward unless money was involved.
Jeon Se-hyuk suspected that Kang-hoo, the requester, wouldnt offer his strength out of mere goodwill.
But there couldnt be any malice. Could it be that hes a good person? Jeon Se-hyuk smiled enigmatically.
As expected.
Just as he had anticipated, Jeon Se-hyuk was using an entire building as a training ground.
It seemed he had purchased thend and constructed the building himself.
Next to it was the Haeohwa Guilds 5th training ground.
Before entering, they caught the eyes of hunters belonging to the Haeohwa Guild, all of whom greeted Jeon Se-hyuk respectfully.
Of course, they did not seem to recognize Kang-hoo standing next to Jeon Se-hyuk, as he wasnt a well-known face.
Once inside, they found a variety of expensive training facilities equipped.
There was also a simtion facility, featuring high-cost equipment that could replicate a virtual dungeon environment.
Additionally, nearly ten sets of high-end training suits equipped with highly sensitive sensors were prepared.
The array of top-tier equipment used to establish this training ground likely cost hundreds of billions of won.
Change into the training suits. Well set the training level to 300. Higher is better than lower.
Sounds good.
Kang-hoo epted Jeon Se-hyuks suggestion.
Training inherentlycks the tension of realbat, leading to a potential drop in focus.
Thus, itsmon practice to intentionally set the difficulty a level or two higher.
After a while,
The trainingmenced.
The concept of the virtual training was set to evasion and sniping.
Given the maze dungeonsposition with numerous long-range attacks, evasion was a necessary priority.
Sniping was crucial for Ban Se-yeong to ensure she could support Kang-hoo from the back, requiring prior verification.
The training, without breaks,sted about 5 hours.
ording to Jeon Se-hyuk, it was the first time they had trained for such an extended period.
Even when he had trained with Park Dong-jae in the past, they would be exhausted after about 3 hours.
However, Kang-hoo did not let out a single moan throughout the training, focusing intently and sweating silently.
After the training ended,
While Kang-hoo was showering off his sweat in a separate shower room, the remaining two exchanged words.
The topic of their conversation was Kang-hoo, who was not present.
Brother, did you see? Clean hits, zero damage. Its like the training results of Brother Sun-kyu.
I saw. Impressive.
Is impressive all you have to say? Not a single hit taken during training.
Others might have been more surprised. But Ive said it before, havent I? Jung Sun-kyu is an assassin whose skills deserve recognition.
Plus, he threw daggers twenty-nine times without missing once.
Skills and fundamentals dont lie.
Jeon Se-hyuk had known from the start that Kang-hoo was no ordinary individual.
He had subdued Kang Dong-hyuns hunting dog, Cha So-hee, in a one-on-one match, oveing nearly triple the level difference.
From the start, he was a hunter of a different caliber, so his impressive performance paradoxically wasnt surprising.
It was expected.
Thinking of Kang-hoo as a recement for Park Dong-jae without hesitation was for the same reason: proven skills.
Se-yeong needs someone with the ability to create a stage for her to excel on, like Shin Kang-hoo.
That was Jeon Se-hyuks thought.
For the sake of paving a smooth path for his cousins growth, the rtionship with Kang-hoo was very important.
If they couldter rescue and bring Park Dong-jae, he too wanted him by Kang-hoos side.
This was Jeon Se-hyuks conviction, honed by experiencing all manners of battles as a hunter.
The only thing Kang-hoocked was level. He already possessed potential and skills.
Ignoring such talent would be an unforgivable mistake.
It was a loss in itself.
Chapter 94: Proving Worth (1)
Chapter 94: Proving Worth (1)
The assault on the dungeon had begun.
Though the dungeon had an official name, the trio affectionately called it The Maze Dungeon.
As the level rose,
the dungeons they encountered often twisted in suchplex ways, making each experience quite memorable.
This was actually a dungeon concept heavily influenced by the original authors intentions.
Creating a maze-like dungeon was a way to increase the difficulty, which from a creators standpoint, was quite fun.
However,
Being on the challenging side, it sucks.
Experiencing it firsthand wasnt exactly pleasant. One had to be constantly on alert.
Hmm.
Upon entering the dungeon, they immediately spotted three snipers in strategic positions, dominating the entrance.
While not exceptionally skilled, their status as snipers meant they were not to be underestimated.
In sync with their n, Kang-hoo immediately initiated his rush. The closest one became his target.
Leap
eleration
Leap
Hebined the most basic skills in a sequence. Quickly closing the distance to the target was the priority for now.
Though it momentarily strained his body, there was nothing better than the simplebination of eleration and leap.
Bang!
First, Ban Se-yeongs gun barrel erupted in fire.
One of the snipers, positioned in a triangr formation, was hit in the right shoulder by Ban Se-yeongs sniping.
Then, Jeon Se-hyuk, known for his archery, held off his attack and instead drew the snipers fire.
Pretending to aim at the sniper on the right rear, he stepped back two paces.
The next moment.
Bang! Thud!
Where he had just been standing, sparks flew, and a misfired magic bullet dispersed into nothingness.
Jeon Se-hyuk chose to lure instead of attack, and his strategy proved sessful.
Now it was Kang-hoos turn.
Swoosh!
No sound was heard, yet the unmistakable sensation of a snipers gun being precisely aimed lingered in the air.
A very slight pain was felt as the flow of mana, guiding the magic bullet, concentrated on a single point.
Ordinary people, let alone most hunters, could never detect this.
But for Kang-hoo, endowed with innate mana hypersensitivity and heightened senses, it was easily perceivable.
Shadow Step
Whoosh!
In that instant, Kang-hoos shadow split into three.
Caught off guard by the sudden development, the sniper wavered, now forced to aim for the real Kang-hoo.
It was soon confirmed that the shadows were mere decoys, and the real Kang-hoo remained in his original position.
Kang-hoo had taken cover behind a tree in his path.
Vrooom!
The sniper increased the mana output.
Determined to obliterate Kang-hoo along with the tree trunk, the sniper, wearing a triumphant smile, pulled the trigger.
Bang! Crack!
As expected from a high-output magic bullet, the tree exploded into pieces. Naturally, Kang-hoos fate, supposedly hidden behind it, was presumed to be sealed.
But then.
?
Expecting to see Kang-hoos flesh and blood scattered, the sniper tilted his head in confusion when none were in sight.
At that moment.
One of the figures, previously thought to be a shadow, transformed back into Kang-hoos form, a sight that was witnessed.
By then, Kang-hoo had already prepared to throw the Blood Tear at the sniper.
Blitz de
Kuwaah!
Due to the incredibly short distance and Kang-hoo putting his full strength into the throw, a loud noise emanated from the dagger.
The Blood Tear, slicing through space in an instant, embedded itself in the snipers forehead before he could react.
Not only that, but another sniper, who had noticed Kang-hoos approach and attempted to target him instead of Jeon Se-hyuk,
Pffft!
Died instantly, following hisrade.
When Jeon Se-hyuk managed to draw the snipers fire away by opting for evasion instead of an attack,
Kang-hoo had already prepared a sequence. Knowing that Jeon Se-hyuk hadnt attacked first, he had thought ahead.
It means he didnt just assume Jeon Se-hyuk would handle it because it was his responsibility.
Wow.
Neat, right, oppa?
Indeed. Assassins usually rely on skill, but Seon-kyu always incorporates a bit of strategy.
Doesnt that put a lot of pressure on you, having to outsmart your opponent? If theyre smart, I could be in danger.
Se-yeong, think of it this way. If Im confident Im smart, theres nothing more fun than a battle of wits.
Im really bad at that
Imagine youre Zhuge Liang from the Three Kingdoms. It would be fun to toy with someone dumber, right?
Jeon Se-hyuk patted Ban Se-yeongs shoulder, offering encouragement.
She was definitely more of a fighter who relied on her body and instincts rather than her brain. Of course, that was also a strength.
Anyway, thats how the entrance obstacle was taken care of.
When they hade with Park Dong-jae before, Ban Se-yeong was the only one capable of immediate long-range sniping.
Even if they managed to take out one sniper, dealing with two required time for a strategic approach.
Although Jeon Se-hyuk was skilled with a bow, he couldnt fire arrows as swiftly as magic bullets.
However, this time, thanks to Kang-hoo stirring up trouble among them, their path was cleared too easily.
Its my first time coordinating with a proper assassin, so its thrilling.
Without realizing it, Ban Se-yeong already regarded Kang-hoo as a proper assassin.
She had teamed up with numerous hunters before, but there was always one or two things that didnt sit well with her.
But not with Kang-hoo.
Before she could even think of aint, he had already taken action.
Just now, as well.
The moment Kang-hoo took out his designated sniper, his next attack was already targeting the sniper aiming at Jeon Se-hyuk.
With another hunter,
Ban Se-yeong would have had to provide supporting fire or at least shout a timing cue.
The concept of clicking right away is hard to achieve without having previously synchronized well.
Do your best. I still believe youll make a great partner. Make the most of it while you can.
Jeon Se-hyuk said with a smile.
Although he hadnt known Kang-hoo for long, a hunters skills and fundamentals could be quickly assessed.
Kang-hoo not only had the basics down as an assassin but also showed remarkable potential for growth.
It made one wonder if the job title assassin was sufficient to describe him.
If informal titles were allowed perhaps names like dual ss, or triple ss would be fitting.
This was because the skills he possessed were not solely assassination-oriented but had different directions as well.
From now on, Jeon Se-hyuk nned to focus solely on opening rooms, not on gaining experience.
That was the agreement.
Later, during the boss monster strategy, he would lend his strength, but even then, in a supporting role.
The person in charge of leading and ordering in this trio was Kang-hoo, the one with the lowest level.
It might seemughable from the outside.
But as a team member looking from the inside, it was an obvious and undeniable setup.
The first room, if cleared quickly, opens up a shortcut.
Right. As we discussed in the briefing, the faster the dungeon is cleared, the better the rewards.
Then we should dope up a bit.
Crunch! Crunch!
Kang-hoo took out a Srkium and chewed it vigorously.
He would have liked to eat a Mad Srkium and use mana freely in battle, but
Mad Srkium was too precious for such use. He wished he could obtain it indefinitely.
One of the reasons he wanted to meet Master K was precisely because of the issue tied to Mad Srkium.
Since its not something that can be bought just with money, he wanted to seek his advice.
Whats that?
Srkium.
Isnt it just for calming effects? I heard its not that great for pain relief.
Well, think of it as a routine, like chewing gum.
I see. To each their own!
Unaware of Kang-hoos unique physical condition, Ban Se-yeong had no idea how crucial Srkium was to him.
Kang-hoo was certain.
Without Srkium, he wouldnt have been able to grow so freely up to this point.
It transformed what could have been a severe handicap, innate mana hypersensitivity, into an advantage.
Both of you, please raise your hand when youre ready. The dungeon count will start the moment the door opens,
Jeon Se-hyuk kindly guided.
If he was left alone in the starting room, the next room would open.
Since one person must always remain in the previous room to maintain the passage,
He was set to take on this role until the end.
And only in very critical situations, upon request from Kang-hoo or Ban Se-yeong, would he provide long-range support.
Until then, unless requested, no matter how dire the situation appeared, he decided not to intervene.
For the sake of improving their skills, Kang-hoo and Ban Se-yeong shared a desire to avoid easy help.
Before starting,
Kang-hoo said to Ban Se-yeong,
I wont look back. Ill run, trusting you, so support me. Then, Ill definitely do more than my share of the work.
Should I trust you?
You wont be able to not trust me.
Ban Se-yeong nodded and smiled brightly at Kang-hoos confident words.
It might seem like baseless confidence, but she liked Kang-hoos confidence.
And always, Kang-hoo had proven the reasons for his confidence himself. So there was no distrust.
The moment the door opened.
Whoosh!
Kang-hoo disappeared from Ban Se-yeongs sight.
He had already entered the center of the room in an instant by consecutively deploying eleration and Leap.
Especially towards the end, he used Shadow Step to push his shadow deeper and change his position.
Thanks to this, Kang-hoo was already in the middle of the room before the door had fully opened.
This was the spot in the room teeming with the most monsters.
The monsters were Awakened Orcs, not particrly durable but with high attack power.
Bang!
Kwaaah! Waaah! Kweeek!
Ban Se-yeongs magic bullet, spewing fire, obliterated the heads of four orcs in a single shot.
Given their low durability and high density, a single attack proved significantly effective.
The goal of clearing this room wasnt to showcase power but to eliminate all monsters as swiftly as possible.
Kang-hoo immediately set the stage.
Wind and Thunder Formation
He boldly initiated the Wind and Thunder Formation.
Entering it meant enduring a barrage of electric currents and de winds, essentially a death zone.
Positioned at the center of the Wind and Thunder Formation, Kang-hoo cast a protective barrier around himself in anticipation of the impending chaos.
This ce was about to turn into a zone of death.
He intentionally became bait, knowing that without doing so, the monsters wouldnt converge.
Knowing he would survive within the Wind and Thunder Formation allowed him to take such a risk.
Strategy often involves sacrificing a part of oneself topletely take the enemys life.
Kang-hoo smiled triumphantly.
There truly is no end to strategy and mind games.
And the thrill of drawing in naive foes to obliterate them in one fell swoop was the most exhrating.
It was a pleasure unmatched by any other, perhaps even more gratifying than sexual pleasure.
Chapter 53: The Hunting Dog (4)
Chapter 53: The Hunting Dog (4)
¡°Me¡ I?¡±
Cha So-hee couldn¡¯t believe it.
Kang-hoo had skillfully extracted the dagger.
Blood poured ceaselessly from the wound, making her question if it truly was her own.
She had known she was caught off-guard and anticipated Kang-hoo¡¯s approach, countering with a magic skill.
She struggled with the Hallucination skill, yet she didn¡¯t overlook Kang-hoo¡¯s tactics.
Nevertheless, Kang-hoo broke through her magical defense and swiftly closed the distance, stabbing her in the abdomen.
0.1 second.
Had she had just that slight amount of time, she could have blocked Kang-hoo¡¯s attack.
She had sensed something amiss and was about to protect herself with the Fireshape skill.
For others, 0.1 second might pass unnoticed, but for them, it was a crossroads of fate.
¡°I¡¯m not¡ not yet¡¡±
She wasn¡¯t dead yet.
Certain of her lingering life, Cha So-hee tried to lift her hands towards Kang-hoo.
He looked at her nonchntly,pletely at ease.
Given time, she could have burned his face beyond recognition.
But her thoughts remained mere delusions.
Kang-hoo had already moved to his next action.
[Blood Flower]
Boom!
The noble ritual of summoning the Blood Flower imed Cha So-hee¡¯s abdomen.
She watched as a burst of blood erupted from her wound, like fireworks nted through her belly, turning droplets of blood into a floating garden.
¡°Choke¡¡±
From the gaping wound in her abdomen, blood gushed out uncontrobly.
It seemed as though not just blood but also her intestines, things that should never be exposed, were spilling out.
¡°Cough! Cough! Cough!¡±
Each violent cough ejected thick, dark blood, exacerbating her condition with every spasm.
The wound expanded with each cough, entrenching her in a vicious cycle.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
As Kang-hoo circled Cha So-hee, she couldn¡¯t even twitch a finger.
Despite her will, her knees buckled, and her head, previously held high, now drooped forward.
Her arms, once upright, now dangled lifelessly, barely seeming attached to her body.
¡°Cha So-hee.¡±
¡°Creak¡¡±
¡°It made me realize I need to put in more effort. Thinking I always need to dodge an attack is really dangerous.¡±
Tap. Tap.
Kang-hoo patted Cha So-hee¡¯s shoulder. His conclusion was sincere.
From the moment he realized facing Cha So-hee¡¯s mes head-on was difficult, he felt extremely limited in his movements and tactics.
He was fortunate to have the red jewel and skill enhancement opportunity saved; otherwise, things could have been different without that leeway.
¡°The ¡®bullet¡¯ I prepared as a contingency yed its part well.¡±
With Protective Level 2 and Protective Barrier, I¡¯ll be relying on these two quite a lot in the future, just as I do now.
¡°So then.¡±
Thump!
Without wasting any more time, Kang-hoo thrust Blood Tear powerfully next to Cha So-hee¡¯s neck.
He didn¡¯t forget to utilize Blood Tear¡¯s special effect, ¡®Taste of Blood¡¯, and stabbed the same spot again.
Boom!
That was the end.
Cha So-hee, who had stopped breathing, crossed a path of no return.
¡°Phew.¡±
As he looked at her fallen body, he finally felt his tension release, and his body rxed.
The effect of Mad Srkium hadn¡¯t worn off yet, but he felt a psychological easing.
He felt the four constetions that had been contracted with her naturally seeping into him.
The coveted constetions.
Especially, he was very interested in the Master of Maniption, which he had sessfully usurped.
[Maniption]
[Recently used skills of the opponent can be replicated with 25% efficiency for one-time use, consuming 34% of total mana.]
A skill with high mana consumption, but it seemed ideal for creating variables.
Hadn¡¯t Cha So-hee used Abduction in just that way to pull him in?
He had fortunately anticipated her next move; otherwise, he would have been burnt to death.
Then¡ª
Vibrate. Vibrate.
The sound of a smartphone vibrating came from a spot not far from the battle site.
Driven by curiosity, he discovered Cha So-hee¡¯s smartphone on the ground.
When she transformed into Fireshape, incinerating all her clothes, the phone must have slipped from her pocket.
An abandoned smartphone.
Upon inspecting the screen, he recognized the name of someone closely associated with her.
Kang-hoo epted the call.
¡°¡¡¡±
¡°Did you capture Shin Kang-hoo?¡±
¡°No, your hunting dog is dead.¡±
¡°Hmm? Did I dial the wrong number?¡±
¡°You dialed correctly. It¡¯s just that the hunting dog who was supposed to answer has crossed the rainbow bridge.¡±
¡°Heh, so So-hee is dead, then.¡±
The voice was Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s.
He was the third-ranking hunter of the criminal organization Eclipse.
A man whomanded numerous ¡®hunting dogs¡¯ like Cha So-hee.
Unlike the shadowy first and second inmand, he was more involved in external operations.
There were rumors suggesting the first and second didn¡¯t exist and that Kang Dong-hyun was the actual leader.
Spection was that iming to be third in the hierarchy served as a distraction.
Kang-hoo, from the original story, didn¡¯t know the precise details, as they were deliberately ambiguous.
He recalled debating it often in the realm of his subconscious.
Whether to make the first and second ranks truly exist or to leave them as figments of the imagination.
Kang Dong-hyun pressed on.
¡°So-hee was level 250. She wasn¡¯t someone easily defeated.¡±
¡°She had many weaknesses.¡±
¡°That¡¯s true. So-hee trusted her abilities too much. Not acknowledging the possibility of being ovee was her fatal error.¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s insight into Cha So-hee¡¯s vulnerabilities aligned perfectly with Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s assessment.
Despite losing a valued subordinate, Kang Dong-hyun did not express any regret.
Was Cha So-hee merely a pawn to him, or perhaps even less?
Well, it didn¡¯t matter anymore.
The job was done.
Kang-hoo had been warned.
¡°You have enough to worry about. Don¡¯t bother with an insignificant hunter like me. It¡¯ll onlyplicate things.¡±
¡°Insignificant? Don¡¯t be modest. A level 10 hunter who escaped from Cheongmyeong Detention Center and killed an investigator. How can I consider you insignificant?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not hard to kill once. It¡¯s doing it again that¡¯s the trick.¡±
¡°True. That¡¯s correct. If prey can¡¯t be hunted by hunting dogs, it¡¯s not prey but a predator. But¡¡±
¡°¡?¡±
¡°Can¡¯t we meet at least once? I¡¯d like to see your face in person.¡±
¡°I¡¯m single, but I¡¯m not into men. Sorry, but I¡¯m not interested.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s see each other if we get a chance. It¡¯s not about fighting. I¡¯m just very interested in you.¡±
¡°If fate allows, we¡¯ll meet. If you¡¯re so curious,e find me yourself.¡±
¡°Ha-ha. Okay, okay! Fine. Shall we agree to keep quiet about this incident? Let¡¯s not make it any noisier for each other.¡±
Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s words were a suggestion not to spread word about this incident.
It was his way of proposing a truce.
An unspoken agreement to leave each other alone.
Kang-hoo nodded.
¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡±
¡°Just leave So-hee¡¯s body. I don¡¯t care what you do with the rest.¡±
¡°nning a funeral?¡±
¡°She believed in and followed me since she was young. I owe her at least a bottle of soju at her grave.¡±
Kang-hoo didn¡¯t argue, understanding Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s character.
He intended to collect all the items Cha So-hee had been carrying.
He would use what he could and sell the remainder in the market.
Kang Dong-hyun began to wrap up the conversation.
¡°Take care, Shin Kang-hoo. Eclipse is always open to you. You deserve to be treated well.¡±
¡°But you¡¯re not worthy of that.¡±
Kang-hoo replied bluntly and ended the call.
Pretending to be a good person, Kang Dong-hyun was a colossal ¡®trash¡¯, a symbol of Eclipse.
At that moment, in Cheongmyeong Detention Center, inmates who had outlived their usefulness were dying, being discarded.
At the top of that system, at the center ofmand, sat Kang Dong-hyun.
That alone made him a viin.
The cleanup was swift.
Since Cha So-hee was a magic hunter, most of her items specialized in mana.
He nned to sell them all.
The estimated appraisal value was over 10 billion won.
However, one ring was too beneficial for Kang-hoo to hesitate to wear.
¡°No wonder she felt unusually sturdy.¡±
Wearing the ring taken from Cha So-hee, Kang-hoo understood her resilience.
[United Oath]
[Grade: 3rd Grade]
[Stamina + 200]
[Unity - Reduces all physical attack damage by 10%, separate from the Stamina stat.]
It increased the hard-to-raise Stamina stat by 200, which was equivalent to an increase of 400 in other stats.
And the special effect ¡®Unity¡¯ reduced damage first, making it easier to withstand attacks.
¡®Now I can enter closebat more confidently. With this level of Stamina, even deep cuts should be shallow.¡¯
With just one item equipped, his toughness, which was originally 70, leaped to 270 instantly.
To put it simply, it felt like he had a thickyer of pigskin wrapped around his entire body.
This meant his skin and flesh could endure more, reducing the size and depth of injuries he would have to endure.
The situation was settled.
Cha So-hee¡¯s corpse would be dealt with by the station staff when the first train arrived.
Then, it would be time to blend in with the passersby and take the KTX.
Since Kang Dong-hyun had proposed a truce first, there shouldn¡¯t be any more nuisances clinging on.
Even if there were, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem.
It didn¡¯t seem Kang Dong-hyun would recklessly cause more trouble.
For now, the n was to head toward Pyeongtaek Station.
There were things to discover about the request from Lee Ye-rin, as well as handling Cha So-hee¡¯s possessions.
¡°Ugh.¡±
As the effects of the Mad Srkium subsided, his body began to feel unbearably heavy, as though it were melting.
It was like carrying a heavy refrigerator with one¡¯s entire body.
He felt rooted to the spot, endlessly sinking into the ground.
Then, a voice.
[I was deeply impressed by this battle.]
The voice of the Dimension Plunderer resonated.
In the past, it had maintained apletely neutral tone, but now it was slightly higher.
Her voice initiated a conversation unexpectedly.
Clearly, she had something to say.
[It seems the time hase for you to take the test of the constetions.]
The Dimension Plunderer presented Kang-hoo with the next challenge he had anticipated.
The test of the constetions.
It was a process through which he could acquire the fourth effect from her and an opportunity to secure a lifelong ally.
Chapter 95: Proving Worth (2)
Chapter 95: Proving Worth (2)
See? His strategy is clear.
Jang Si-hwan, arms crossed, voiced his admiration while watching Kang-hoo fight in the first room.
Kang-hoo, acting as bait, had set up a Wind-Thunder Formation, capturing all the monsters that swarmed in.
The enhanced battle orcs were not particrly resilient, despite their improvedbat abilities.
The Wind-Thunder Formation, a skill that scratched and shocked with the power of wind and current, was seen by Jang Si-hwan as difficult to withstand for long.
It was a wide-area skill, and the frequency of its swirling attacks inside made it deadly.
Kweeeee!
With sounds like pigs being ughtered, the enhanced orcs fell in all directions, torn to shreds.
And whenever Kang-hoo threw his dagger at lightning speed, four or five orcs were pierced through their heads and killed.
The dagger itself was so powerful that it smashed through one orcs head and then anothers.
Meanwhile,
Kang-hoo was also satisfiedly watching his own firepower.
The Calix Ring set I took from Jeon Jong-du this time is exceptionally effective. I can really feel the 250 strength boost.
The significantly increased strength proved its worth.
Given the assassins reliance on strength stats, this was a natural oue.
With life drain, theres no worry about stamina.
Kang-hoo, looking at the fallen enhanced orcs, wore a rxed expression.
Even if there were issues with stamina, he had alternatives, so there was no concern.
Thinking of other hunters who had to manage their stamina without healers or potions, he felt relieved of a great worry.
Hurry.
Kang-hoo increased his speed.
The enhanced orcs didnt requireplex strategies.
The assessment of theirbat power and intelligence wasplete. The conclusion was to beat them quickly and efficiently. It was simple.
Illusion Technique
Kang-hoo actively sent out clones made with illusion techniques among the orcs.
The creatures,cking the insight to distinguish real from fake, attacked whatever was closest.
A predictable response.
In the meantime,
Kang-hoo freely scattered shallow chaos and vision-stealing skills among the orcs, dancing through them with his sword.
The orcs, having no resistance to such mental skills, werepletely helpless.
Losing their sense of direction, they struck their own kind or crashed into the wrong ces.
For Kang-hoo, it was simple to approach these bumbling orcs from behind and end them by thrusting his dagger into their cervical vertebrae.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Reallyfortable. Is this a feast?
Ban Se-yeong, lying prone and focusing on her target, pulled the trigger with a content expression.
With all of Kang-hoos attention on the monsters, no orcs came her way at all.
She was so at ease that she even nced over at Jang Si-hwan from time to time.
When she hade with Park Dong-jae before, she was the one in the frontline attack position.
Jang Si-hwan was a supportive observer, and Park Dong-jae, being a buffer, foundbat challenging.
Indeed, even with other close-range fighter hunters besides Park Dong-jae, Ban Se-yeongsbat was not easy.
Hunters with the sense to divert attention as neatly as Kang-hoo now were rare.
Many hunters, seeking their ownfort, subtly demanded a division of roles.
She understood the reluctance to suffer alone.
However, for a gunner, for whom aiming, sniping, and positioning were critical, frequent movement was more of a loss than a gain.
Having struggled with this aspect often, Ban Se-yeong found this moment exceptionally blissful.
A gunner, as a gunner, just needed to trust her teammates and repeat aiming and shooting - a new world shed hardly experienced in her gunner life up to level 250.
I cant believe it!
Ban Se-yeongughed brightly.
Just before entering the battle,
Kang-hoo had confidently spoken the truth. It wasnt nonsense but reality itself.
It was definitely easier.
At the same time, the speed of the attack had dramatically increased.
This was because Ban Se-yeongs magic bullet sniping was extraordinarily powerful.
Sometimes, when Kang-hoo saw seven or eight enhanced orcs burst at once, even he was surprised.
In any case, if some orcs seemed interested in Ban Se-yeong, Kang-hoo would divert their attention.
With skills like Shadow Step, which could disorient and change position depending on the situation,
Not a single enhanced orc couldfortably approach Ban Se-yeong from a distance.
At least some of them lost their lives to her magic bullets while trying to approach.
In the end, the orcs stood no chance in the forced battle with Kang-hoo and were helplessly ughtered.
A perfect speed battle!
The battle in the room, which required facing hundreds of orcs, ended smoothly in just a few minutes.
And then the systems scoring began.
Good job.
What do you mean, good job? You did everything, oppa.
Ban Se-yeong came next to Kang-hoo to see the scoring results.
Though each persons status window disyed the results, it was better to share the joy or sorrow of the oue together.
[The data of 10,000 randomly selected simr dungeons will be quantified to evaluate this attack.]
The systems message appeared simultaneously for Kang-hoo, Ban Se-yeong, and Jang Si-hwan.
The world is vast.
Naturally, the number of hunters who have attacked a room of the same type as this one would exceed the whole worlds count.
Therefore, the systems announcement of quantifying data from 10,000 instances didnt sound far-fetched.
What was the previous best record?
A. We went all out with full doping on Awakening agents and even rented expensive items, but A was the highest.
Considering Ban Se-yeongs skills and Park Dong-jaes inability to fight, they had expected around a B.
It seems Park Dong-jaes buff effects were quite good, better than expected by one grade.
Anyway, that was that.
They were curious about this judgment result.
It felt like they had attacked quite quickly, but without a clear benchmark forparison, it was hard to predict.
Just then.
[Afterbining the attack time and the average damage per minute inflicted on monsters, you have been awarded an S+ rating.]
[As per the systems special privilege for an S+ rating, the shortcut route of this dungeon is opened.]
[If you maintain an S+ rating by quickly attacking the dungeon, two Hematites will be guaranteed as rewards.]
Wow, is this for real? Crazy?
Ban Se-yeong stepped back in surprise, took off her goggles, and rubbed her eyes several times.
She couldnt believe it.
She had thought they might reach an S rating at most, given how cleanly Kang-hoo had set up the y.
Jang Si-hwan thought the same. Being more conservative, he had expected an A+.
But they had exceeded all expectations and received the highest rating.
It meant that the attack waspleted quickly, and all monsters were hit with powerful attacks simultaneously.
It wasnt just luck that the monsters died; it was a clear focus of firepower.
To guarantee Hematites
Oppa, youre really crazy!
Thwack!
Ban Se-yeong hit Kang-hoos shoulder.
It was a good thing he was still on edge; otherwise, if he had been rxed, that hit could have spun his shoulder around.
Ban Se-yeong was equally shocked.
Kang-hoo, too, was drawn to the reward of obtaining Hematite if they maintained this speed to the end.
Since Hematite, essential for skill upgrades, is a rare item difficult to obtain even with money.
Even with abundant wealth, its unattainable due to its scarcity. No one is willing to sell it.
Thus, the market price isnt reflective of actual transaction values but rather represents highly personal transactions between friends or family.
[Especially in the case of this challenger, despite being at the lowest level, they precisely targeted the monsters vital points.]
[Among the collected dungeon data, they are a remarkable challenger who showed the most significant skill gap rtive to their level.]
Does the system even givepliments?
Ban Se-yeong gaped at the continued praise from the system and the printed photo of Kang-hoo. It was a message she had never seen before.
Huh.
Kang-hoo chuckled lightly.
Labyrinth dungeons like this evaluate hunters taking on the challenge and praise those with exceptional skills through messages. Its part of the original setting.
It was familiar to him, but it seemed like a first for Ban Se-yeong. Jang Si-hwan had a simr expression.
[A 5-minute rest period not counted towards the dungeon count is provided.]
[Pleaseplete your preparations and get ready to enter the next room.]
A brief rest period was given.
Kang-hoo retrieved his practice throwing daggers from among the bodies of the enhanced orcs.
And Ban Se-yeong, cooling her overheated gun barrel with special equipment, gave Kang-hoo a thumbs-up.
Oppa, am I just riding the bus?
Bus.
It seemed an odd thing for her, considerably higher in level, to say
But that was the situation.
The driving force and nning clearlyy with Kang-hoo. Everything went as he envisioned.
Next,
The room Kang-hoo and his party entered in thebyrinth dungeon was the Expansion Room.
Considering the concept of battling like mad previously, the Expansion Rooms setup was simple.
All they had to do was press a gold button on a small altar at the dungeons increasingly distant end as time went on.
Immediately upon pressing, the attack would conclude.
Of course, failing to keep up with the dungeons expansion rate didnt mean the attack failed.
The peak-expanded room was designed to shrink back down, and they could press the button then.
The issue was dealing with monsters swarming from regeneration points in all directions until that moment.
Apart from the initially set monsters, regenerating monsters did not give experience, so drawn-out battles were decidedly unfavorable.
Nor did it mean the monsterscked killing ability; death meant the end. There was no next time.
Entrance.
The 30 seconds before entering was the waiting time. The dungeons full view was visible, and they estimated their strategy.
Kang-hoo had finished his considerations when Ban Se-yeong cautiously spoke up.
Oppa, Ive seen a point before. If we hold that, even a hundred to one is possible.
Should we hold out?
Got a better idea?
I couldnt be sure until I saw it with my own eyes. But now, I think its possible.
What do you mean its possible?
The gold button, I think I can press it.
No way, even with Dong-jae oppas maximum eleration buff, it was like trying to draw blood from a stone.
Lets think simply. You hold the one against a hundred point. Ill chase the button.
Oppa, if it goes wrong, on the way back, its a monster hell! Its different from the previous room!
Lets make a bet. If I chase the gold button and fail to press it, then Ill give you a Hematiteter.
Oh?
Ban Se-yeongs ears perked up at the unexpected offer. The temptation of Hematite was that strong.
But no matter how fast Kang-hoo imed to be, doubting he could chase the rapidly expanding end was reasonable.
The gold button wasnt just lying in front of them upon entry.
ording to the criteria for a small dungeonyout, the altar and button were ced more than 500m away.
And they had to chase an end that moved tens of meters away every second.
They would have to pursue it at an even greater speed, considering the monsters interference along the way.
Seeing Ban Se-yeong merely look tempted without saying much, Kang-hoo prodded her.
Lets each put a Hematite on the line. Do it, or dont. How about it? A little fun like this should be part of a dull dungeon attack, right?
By now, Kang-hoo was enjoying the dungeon.
Only Ban Se-yeong and Jang Si-hwan were taking it seriously and gravely.
A rare smile was on Kang-hoos lips.
It seemed there was fun in testing the limits of what his body could challenge, the end of those limits.
Chapter 96: Proving Worth (3)
Chapter 96: Proving Worth (3)
Deal!
With Ban Se-yeongs agreement, the deal was strucka significant wager involving the rare material known as Hematite.
She didnt ept Kang-hoos proposal lightly.
The Expansion Room was a ce Ban Se-yeong had visited several times before, alongside Jeon Se-hyuk and Park Dong-jae.
Even Jeon Se-hyuk, with his overwhelmingly superior stats, couldnt match half the rooms expansion speed.
No amount of eleration buffs and agility items could change the impossible.
Especially Park Dong-jae, who had a penchant for recording and analyzing data, concluded:
Only a professional assassin hunter, specializing in skills and beyond level 500, could possibly manage it.
Trusting this assessment, Ban Se-yeong had faith in Park Dong-jaes judgment.
He was never off the mark. If he doubted his conclusions, he wouldnt voice them at all.
[Let''s begin.]
Swoosh.
Instantly, the barrier blocking the path to the Expansion Room crumbled.
Pop!
Simultaneously, Ban Se-yeong made her way towards the previously mentioned one-man army point.
Securing that spot meant there were no issues with defense in the Expansion Room. Simply enduring was sufficient.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo entered an elerated state and immediately executed a leap.
Just as the 12m leap was concluding, he seamlessly used Shadow Step to continue his movement.
Upon activation, Shadow Step caused three shadows to extend forward from Kang-hoos body.
This move also had a leaping effect, with the shadows stretching about 8m in front instantly.
Using Leap consecutively ces a significant strain on the body.
However,bining Leap, Shadow Step, and then Leap again significantly reduces this strain.
For instance, if the strain from the former sequence is considered a 10, thetter sequence only exerts about a 5.
Kang-hoo continued to intersperse eleration skills between each move relentlessly.
Normally, this wouldnt be a good choice.
The advantage of eleration skills is that they can elerate infinitely without limit, but thats also their downside.
Because it mechanically applies eleration, ignoring the physical limits the body can endure.
In other words, thoughtlessly using eleration could result in the body not withstanding the pressure and breaking.
Breaking would be rather fortunate; unluckily, it could burst or be torn apart, leading to death, which wouldnt be strange.
Its starting toe.
After using eleration about five times, his body started sending signals.
Its enough at this point. Going further will cause problems. Moderation is key.
But in a world where a single mistake could cost a life, where does moderation fit?
It was a word that didnt suit him. Living moderately means growing moderately and dying moderately.
He didnt want to live that way.
The dystopian world was made bearable only by pushing to ones limits.
The original creator filled it with a dark, damp worldview, filled with resolute determination.
Therefore, one must give their best at every moment. Only then can one grow and transcend a level.
At the same time.
Whats with that guy? Hes scary
As Ban Se-yeong started to pick up speed, she saw Kang-hoos figure, which began to blur with afterimages.
Exaggerating a bit, it felt like a tail had formed behind Kang-hoo, like aet.
Initially, she thought he was just fast, really fast, but now her impression changed to, is that even possible?
Indeed.
Kang-hoo seemed to have reached a realm beyond what a human, no, a hunters body could endure.
Looking back, Jeon Se-hyuk was also moving as far forward as allowed to observe the situation.
It was secondary whether the body could endure it; could the mind withstand the pressure of the skills?
No matter how you looked at it, Kang-hoo was using skills non-stop.
Skills always require mental focus, so continuously using them in such a manner made it impossible for the mind to endure.
Yet, from Ban Se-yeongs perspective, there wasnt a single hint of faltering in Kang-hoos figure.
Like a beast silently stalking its prey, Kang-hoo quietly pursued the increasingly distant altar.
.
She had thought of and tested this method countless times.
Naturally, she had concluded it was absolutely impossible. At least, she never expected to experience it herself.
Flutter.
Her fingertips trembled.
Monsters were just starting to appear, swarming towards Ban Se-yeong.
These creatures could simply be dealt with one by one from the position she was holding.
Bang! Bang!
Ban Se-yeong mechanically pulled the trigger, keeping her eyes on Kang-hoo.
At some point, Kang-hoos surroundings zed red. He had be faster.
For the first time since bing a hunter, Ban Se-yeong found herself in disbelief at the capabilities of another hunter.
Through her growth to level 250, she had encountered many skilled hunters.
She had never thought their abilities were impossible. Because they were hunters.
Being hunters meant turning the impossible into possible, and their abilities were thought to be limitless.
But Kang-hoos ability was an exception.
It was inconceivable for a hunter under level 100 to disy such capabilities.
It was like.
Seeing a toddler who just learned to walk running 100m in under 10 seconds. Thats absurd, right?
Yet, that was happening with Kang-hoo.
I must be quite mad.
At that time, Kang-hoo was smiling.
His body, which had reached its limit long ago, had been silently screaming for salvation.
His entire body felt like ice cream melting in intense heat.
Of course, the friction with the air, amplified by eleration, was being withstood by a protective barrier.
However, the barrier didnt free him from all pressure, just lessened it slightly.
The burden on the body was one thing, but the real issuey in the pain from continuous skill usage.
ckouts kept urring; his vision turnedpletely ck, and his brain felt as if it were about to burst.
Ugh.
Kang-hoo swallowed the cough that almost escaped. Even a minor cough would significantly disrupt him now.
As the pressure on both body and mind increased, paradoxically, he felt himself entering a state of trance.
He was devoid of thoughts.
Despite the acute mana sensitivity triggered by excessive mana use and his rapidly declining physical strength.
Strangely, his mind was clear.
The more intense and distinct the pain became, the clearer everything in the world seemed.
It feels like its going to burst, like Im going to fall, but paradoxically, it seems like nothing will happen.
That was his conviction.
It seemed as though his body and mind were reveling in this severity. An unbearable exhration, perhaps.
Madman.
Kang-hoo thought of the word that suited him best andughed.
By now, constetions werepeting to send out messages.
He hadnt looked at the content, but they were likely praises or astonishments for his far-surpassed limits.
And then, at some point.
The altar, which had only seemed to grow more distant, began to rapidly approach.
He had caught up with the rooms expansion rate and even surpassed it.
He pursued it stubbornly.
Focusing solely on one goal, he had no interest in anything else, not even his own body.
How long had he pursued?
The altar, which had rapidly approached as if fast-forwarded, was now right in front of him.
Thud!
Kang-hoo pressed the button on the altar. At that moment, everything in the dungeon stopped.
The endless expansion of the room, and the flow of monsters swarming towards Ban Se-yeong.
Everything turned into a handful of ashes, and that became the oue for the two people in this room.
[The time taken to conquer this dungeon has been calcted, resulting in an S+ rating.]
Phew
Kang-hoo exhaled a hot breath.
At the same time, he felt the experience points from all the vanished monsters being settled all at once.
His level jumped to 96 in a sh.
Even though he had only conquered one room, his level had immediately climbed a step.
Usually, when approaching level 100, it was difficult to gain even one level from a single dungeon.
Its not for nothing that hunters stake their lives on leveling up. Its truly a long and arduous path.
So it is possible.
Thump.
He slumped to the ground.
He was paying the price for pushing his body and mind to the extreme, beyond even the utmost limits.
Though he thought he had just slumped down, Kang-hoos gaze was now directed towards the sky.
His body, devoid of any strength, had sumbed to the flow of gravity.
After investing in stamina points as usual, Kang-hoo checked his status for the first time in a while. It was time for a mid-check.
Shin Kang-hoo Lv. 96
ss: Assassin
Innate Talent: Quite Excellent Strength / Remarkably Superior Dynamic Vision
Strength 470 Agility 85
Stamina 532 Magic Power 20
Magic Resistance 170 Toughness 395
Who would believe these stats belong to an assassin not even level 100?
The corners of his mouth naturally lifted.
Thanks to his congenital mana hypersensitivity, he didnt need to invest stats in mana.
He could focus all his growth energy on stamina.
His current stamina was much higher than that of a same-level tank-type swordsman who considers stamina their main stat.
It meant he could perform the tanking role even better than a same-level professional tank.
The same went for magic resistance and toughness.
The notable point is that Kang-hoo is neither a tank-type swordsman nor a hunter specialized in defense.
Yet, all rted stats are high. Not to mention his countless skills.
For an ordinary hunter, a magic power of 20 might seem pitiful.
However, congenital mana hypersensitivity transformed this low total mana into an advantage rather than a drawback.
Age of Barbarians
Skill Proficiency: Lv Max
If the learner''s mana stat is below 50, the mana cost of all skills is reduced by 50%.
The Age of Barbarians, a berserker-exclusive skill acquired through a loophole, was the cherry on top. Who else could im such a uniquebination?
One Hematite secured.
Clutching the blood dew tightly, Kang-hoo closed his eyes and whispered.
The bet with Ban Se-yeong was serious business.
The difference between upgrading a skill with a Hematite or not was truly significant.
It wouldnt be surprising if that one skill ended up determining life or deathter on.
Of course, Ban Se-yeong must have been confident she wouldnt lose in this incredible bet.
He felt the dungeons breeze for a moment.
The scent of flowers in the wind, which he hadnt noticed while running absorbed in a trance, now caught his attention.
Yes, it was the scent of dandelions.
The tickling at the tip of his nose was a very pleasant fragrance.
But it was too peaceful a scent for a dungeon filled with blood and flesh.
How much time had passed?
Crazy brother! Youre really crazy! Even if its for a Hematite, to create such an unbelievable situation?
Put down the gun for now.
Opening his eyes, Kang-hoo was startled to see Ban Se-yeongs face upside down and the gun barrel right in front of him.
Ban Se-yeong was looking down at him with trembling eyes and hands.
Her gaze still couldnt believe the situation.
Right.
It would be stranger to believe it.
Chapter 97: Proving Worth (4)
Chapter 97: Proving Worth (4)
The strategy began to gain momentum.
The maze dungeon was designed in such a way that the quicker you conquered each room, the greater the amplification of the experience points reward.
Due to the emphasis on speed, there were numerous cases of death from overexertion. Injuries were countless.
The desire for records, in essence, became a temptation towards death, rendering it exceedingly dangerous.
Thats why Ban Se-yeong didnt entertain any desires for records when she decided to venture into the dungeon with Kang-hoo.
Even with Park Dong-jae, the buffer, the speed battle seemed unlikely to change with Kang-hoos addition.
But now, she held an almost boundless trust in Kang-hoo and was eager to take on the challenge.
The next room they entered was dubbed the Room of Proliferation.
The boss monster, known as the Death Knight, materialized in the center of the dungeon as soon as the conquestmenced.
It was the Death Knightmonly depicted in fantasy novels and movies.
The reason for the rooms name became apparent when
Upon their entry, the number of twenty small monsters, Deglins, they encountered started to multiply.
These lizard-like creatures possessed the trait of inevitably splitting into two over time.
And to sessfully conquer this room, the Death Knight had to be defeated without exception.
In other words, if the Death Knight wasnt in, the Deglins would continue to split and multiply.
The official strategy was to allow for maximum division and then capture them all.
Though termed an official strategy, it was a desperate tactic devised because they couldnt defeat the Death Knight.
Furthermore, since Deglins spawned from division did not yield experience points, it was essentially hardbor.
Brother, leave the Deglins to me.
I wont look back.
Okay. Not a single Deglin wille near you.
Is the position selection okay?
There are more vantage points than I expected. Dont worry. It wont be dangerous.
Kang-hoo nodded at Ban Se-yeongs seemingly reliable words.
Ban Se-yeongs uracy was much higher than Kang-hoo had initially judged.
In the chaos of a melee, it was rare to see a magic bullet she fired from a secure position miss its target.
Considering the world of hunters, where an uracy rate of over 75% was considered marksman level, she was exceptional.
Sssssk.
Boom!
As soon as the barrier was lifted, Kang-hoo began to sprint at full speed towards the Death Knight.
Thanks to sufficient rest after conquering the Room of Expansion, his physical condition was optimal.
If it seemed like his body couldnt handle it anymore, he nned to chew on the remaining Mad Srkium.
There was always a solution.
Screech! Squeak!
Noticing Kang-hoos approach, the Deglins started to drool thick saliva and tensed their hind legs.
They were determined to block the intruder threatening their master, the Death Knight, by any means necessary.
But from that moment, Kang-hoos trust in Ban Se-yeong truly began to shine.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Ban Se-yeongs gun muzzle emitted a blue light, sniping the Deglins.
Despite the considerable distance, the magic bullets that flew in an instant decapitated three Deglins.
It was a precise shot by Ban Se-yeong, perfectly targeting the moment when three Deglins were aligned.
The action didnt stop with sniping.
Crack.
The magic bullet caused an explosion at its final destination, instantly freezing the surroundings near Kang-hoo.
Magic Bulleta magical skill.
This skill, known as Magic Bullet-Magic, materializes magic at the scene immediately after a sessful snipe.
Since the magic activates only after the lethal impact of the magic bullet, it required a high degree of proficiency.
Ban Se-yeong was indeed skilled.
Though not as much as Kang-hoo, she was definitely a formidable individual with abilities beyond her level.
As expected, my judgment was correct.
Kang-hoo smiled.
His initial impression that she would be perfect for a support role was indeed correct.
She specialized in covering and supporting, demonstrating high usability.
Then.
Kang-hoopletely discarded the 1% doubt he had about her and sprinted at full force.
His sole focus was on the Death Knight.
However, there was one tricky part.
The Death Knight stood imposingly in front, like a totem pole, presenting few openings.
The Death Knights weakness was inside the helmet. In other words, the battle would be easier if the helmet was removed.
Its entire body was protected by thick armor, making it difficult to find an opening.
Certainly not an easy opponent.
But there was apelling reason why it had to be captured. It was because of the passive skill the boss possessed.
The following skill can be plundered from a target with activated plundering:
Silence of the Necromancy
This was the skill.
Considering the various types of dungeons they would frequently encounter in the future, this skill was absolutely necessary.
Lets see
ng!
Kugh!
Ssssss!
In a probing attack, Kang-hoo, who had charged at the Death Knight from the front, groaned as he was pushed back.
The power of the great sword wielded by the Death Knight was tremendous.
It was fortunate he could withstand it; a slightly weaker grip would have caused him to lose his sword.
Boom!
He charged again.
There was only one way to create an opening in the Death Knight, which moved like a fortress.
Induce as much movement as possible. Movement creates openings.
Otherwise, it bes a fortress, standing tall like an iron castle.
Whoosh!
ng!
Huh.
Kang-hoo, pushed back again, sighed with a slight sense of frustration.
The enemy managed maximum defense with minimal movement. It was a perfect example of tanking.
Bang! Bang!
Meanwhile, Deglins charging at Kang-hoo were killed by Ban Se-yeongs support fire.
Kang-hoo trusted Ban Se-yeong, so he didnt even nce back.
I think I understand why we decided to go for a direct assault during the pre-briefing.
Jeon Se-hyuks words echoed in his mind.
No matter what tricks we attempt, they never work on this guy, so lets opt for a long-term strategy.
Gathering all the Deglins that had split to their maximum and having Ban Se-yeong snipe the Death Knight from afar.
Thoughbeling it a direct strategy seems somewhat inurate, it was the only approach that came to mind.
However, merely sitting in ce couldnt be deemed a strategy.
The more impregnable the enemy appears, the more we must devise a solution.
Even if we might abandon the dungeon, could we surrender when facing a formidable, challenging enemyter? Impossible.
Kang-hoo revised the strategy.
A frontal assault was futile, and a rear attack was ineffective due to the Death Knights heavy armor.
Then, creating variables, introducing variations to the conventional flow, was preferable. Breaking the norms.
Patience is necessary.
Kang-hoo bit his lip.
To maximize the impact of a tactic that breaks the norms, one must adhere to a very conventional approach until the moment of deviation.
Kang-hoo intended to charge repeatedly until the Death Knight became ustomed to his predictable attack patterns.
Allowing the creature time to learn his attack patterns was a very deliberate strategy.
They battled in this manner for 5 minutes.
Due to the Death Knights formidable strength, Kang-hoo was rapidly losing stamina from the continuous exchanges.
Every time he blocked the Death Knights greatsword attacks, his elbows and shoulders ached.
It was fortunate that he managed to block them; a mere touch from the greatsword would have cleanly sliced him.
In fact, several rocks Kang-hoo had used for defense were sliced cleanly.
They were cut so precisely that one could consider using them to build a castle.
As time progressed, the Death Knight moved with greater ease than before.
It even taunted Kang-hoo by lowering its greatsword or nodding its head at times.
Each time, Kang-hoo outwardly appeared furious. It wasnt perfect, but it was a somewhat convincing method acting.
Then,
Thinking Kang-hoos patterns were predictable, the Death Knight approached aggressively.
Before, Kang-hoo always retreated and then countered half a beat slower.
The Death Knight naturally learned this pattern and could predict Kang-hoos response.
But the next moment,
Kang-hoo, who seemed to flinch backward, surged forward instead.
?
Caught off guard, the Death Knight awkwardly stopped.
Kang-hoo quickly dived toward the Death Knights lower body and pushed off its ankle with all his strength.
It was a clean leg sweep that perfectly fit the description of a sliding tackle in ser.
!
The gamble paid off.
The properly tripped Death Knight iled its arms before falling.
It was inevitable.
Unless it had a skill to perform somersaults or backflips, there was no way to counter.
Naturally, such a method was absent for the Death Knight, whose heavy movements and weapon were its main strengths.
Koong!
The Death Knighty on the cold ground, iling its arms.
It was trying to grab its momentarily lost greatsword, but a bigger problem was right before its eyes.
No, it was already entering its field of vision.
Phooook!
!
A silent scream burst out.
A dagger had entered through the gap meant for vision in the helmet protecting the entire face.
Without a chance to defend, both of the Death Knights eye sockets were mercilessly shattered by Kang-hoos Hyeru.
Pfshshshsh!
An unidentified ck liquid spurted inside the helmet, quickly drenching Kang-hoos entire face.
Kang-hoo, undeterred, struck down on the Death Knights wrist that was about to grasp the greatsword.
Even though it was protected by armor, not all pressure could bepletely shielded.
Kakang!
Soon, the greatsword slipped further from the Death Knights grasp.
Kang-hoo then forcefully grabbed the top of the Death Knights helmet and rudely stripped it off.
The more the Death Knight was stripped, the more its weaknesses were exposed, a natural process.
Kiiiik.
The grotesque face of the Death Knight was fully revealed.
Amidst the decaying pale light of the skull, countless maggots and unidentifiedrvae filled the gaps.
That moment.
Instinctively sensing danger, Kang-hoo halted his attack and propelled his body into the air.
The next moment.
By a hairs breadth, Kang-hoos previous position was grazed by the Death Knights hands.
In the midst of that, the Death Knight had tried to grab Kang-hoo. It was a close call.
Of course, thanks to Kang-hoos splendid response, the Death Knight lost its turn to attack.
Now, it was Kang-hoos turn.
ak!
Kang-hoonded on the Death Knights chest and raised his Hyeru high.
Taang!
Simultaneously, Ban Se-yeongs timely support fire followed.
She aimed at the right armpit of the lying Death Knight, and the bullet hit the target precisely.
Thanks to that, the Death Knights attempt to grasp the greatsword again was thwarted. It was the worst situation.
Of course.
My turn.
For Kang-hoo, it was the best situation.
Chapter 98: Proving Worth (5)
Chapter 98: Proving Worth (5)
Not even half a day had passed before Kang-hoo and his party were already facing thest room.
It goes without saying.
The Death Knight that Kang-hoo had faced in the previous room of proliferation did not rise again after being defeated.
This was because Kang-hoo had focused on attacking the neck and then cleanly finished it off with Blood Flower.
A level of proficiency beyond the maximum. As an Ultimate skill, its power was formidable.
The strategy of speed had worked.
Thanks to this, Kang-hoo was able to raise his level to an impressive 98 before facing thest room.
Before entering, he had thought that reaching level 97 would be a significant achievement.
The abundance of experience gained through swift attacks alleviated his concerns.
At this rate, reaching level 99 seemed possible after tackling thest room.
If he meets Yun Sang-mi after conquering the maze dungeon and goes through the dungeon once more, reaching level 100 was guaranteed.
Silence of the Commanding Dead
Skill Proficiency: Lv Max
Consumes 10 mana per second to disguise as an undead, emitting their unique aura so as not to be detected.
However, beings with holy energy cannot use the Silence of the Commanding Dead.
I wont ever be in a situation where I cant use it, even if I were to die ande back.
Kang-hoo read the tooltip rted to the skill Silence of the Commanding Dead he had stolen from the Death Knight andughed.
Holy energy usually refers to divine power, also known as sacred power.
For example, the well-known Hunter Elizabeth, the Saint of Salvation, primarily uses sacred power.
She is also one of The Thirteen Stars.
Recalling memories rted to sacred power naturally brought Elizabeth to mind.
Indeed, she was also one of The Thirteen Stars, probably bing a member around this time.
However, it wasnt until 5 years from now that it became publicly known she was a member of The Thirteen Stars.
This was because she had perfectly disguised her identity and acted as the Saint whom people praised.
Anyway, 99.9% of hunters fight based on magic power, but there are exceptions like Elizabeth.
Dark Age.
Another thing that came to mind was the Dark Age.
If divine power represents light, then the Dark Age represents darkness.
The skill, Silence of the Commanding Dead, which belonged to the Death Knight, allowed one to indirectly experience the Dark Age.
While Silence of the Commanding Dead uses mana to disguise as undead,
the Dark Age inherently possesses the aura of the undead. In other words, Silence of the Commanding Dead offers a taste of it.
In the original work, the Dark Age was an unattainable dream. There was no being with the ability to steal it.
The concept of the Dark Age exists within the worlds setting.
In specialized dungeons or dungeons of a higher level than now, skills exclusive to the Dark Age often appear.
If one could steal those skills, they would be able to secure skills based on the Dark Age.
Being the Dimension Plunderer, Kang-hoo has the option to do so.
Meaning, other hunters, even if they know of the existence of Dark Age skills, cannot use them.
Then there must certainly be a skill that converts magic power into the Dark Age. Since Ive thought of that skill.
Kang-hoo trusted his subconscious.
As the original creator, his subconscious has shaped many elements of this world, even those he hadnt thought of.
Surely it exists.
And if he were to acquire the skill to convert to the Dark Age then his identity as a hunter would also change.
My writing wasnt too shabby. There are many usable settings. And quite a bit of usibility.
Kang-hoo wiped the blood still clinging to his Blood Flower with a half-self-admiring (?) smile.
Yaaaawn
Just then,
the sound of Jeon Se-hyuk yawning, who had been sleeping in the previous room, was heard.
During their 30-minute rest, it seemed they opted for sleep to alleviate boredom.
Meanwhile,
Ban Se-yeong, having replenished her mana and tended to her weapon, quietly approached Kang-hoo to start a conversation.
Brother.
Yeah.
Howe your attacks are so precise? Its fascinating how you strike as if youve measured every situation with a ruler.
Its all about maintainingposure.
Kang-hoo responded candidly.
He had almost never lost hisposure in battle up to this point.
Of course, he was always on edge. He was keenly aware that death could strike at any moment.
Thats why, paradoxically, he felt at ease. The looming possibility of death was a reminder that he was still alive.
Had he shared the reason for hisposure, Ban Se-yeong would have instantly deemed him insane.
The expansion and proliferation rooms were impressive, but you nearly handled everything in the rooms of limit and suppression on your own.
I can manage because I have something to rely on.
He deflected the praise to Ban Se-yeong.
His trust in her support allowed him to fight with freedom. She was, without a doubt, an excellent partner.
Moreover, since they specialized in extreme close and long-range attacks, their paths rarely crossed.
Yet, on the battlefield, they moved as if they were a single entity.
Honestly, its a bit intimidating. If someone like you gains both levels and items, then the title changes.
What do you mean?
Named.
She remarked, cleaning her goggles.
Though her tone was light, Ban Se-yeong was genuinely fearful of Kang-hoo.
He seemed like a man brimming with secrets, concealing his true power.
So much so, she even inquired with Jeon Se-hyuk whether Kang-hoos constetion might be one that distorts level information.
Its still a long way off. I havent even reached level 100 yet.
Thats exactly why its frightening. Youre not even level 100, but yourbat power rivals that of levels 300, 400.
Its impolite to say that in front of your cousin brother.
You admitted it, though?
Anyway, lets keep syncing up our moves. For both of us, preemptive victory and blocking the enemys first move are the forms for sess.
Changing the subject, huh. Anyway, Im saying youre awesome. I dontpliment just anyone.
I appreciate it.
Kang-hoo showed a thumbs-up.
Although he preferred extreme solo y,
With a partner like Ban Se-yeong, who was in sync with him, he felt team y was entirely feasible.
It was honestly fun.
Having someone to talk to made it less boring.
But no matter how good a partner was, there was one thing he couldnt overlook.
The issue with the loot.
As Kang-hoo always wanted to monopolize the loot, having a partner wasnt entirely wee.
Unless the partner unterally conceded. Of course, that wasnt a virtue.
Thest rooms conquest ended without any variables.
Of course, befitting the symbolism of being thest room, it took a considerable amount of time and required using their brains.
This ce was also a room where a minimum of 3 people was mandatory.
It started with every area being a safe zone, and over time, the danger zones increased.
Since the areas where challengers stood the longest became danger zones,
Ban Se-yeong took charge of leading them.
Starting from the outskirts of the room, changing it to a danger zone made the inner movement easier.
Thus, Kang-hoo and Jeon Se-hyuk busily moved to avoid staying in any area for too long.
Boss monster Dirude.
The conquest of this creature ended sooner than expected, thanks to Kang-hoos skill, Silence of the Commanding Dead.
Dirude, an undead monster, recognized Kang-hoo, who was disguised by Silence of the Commanding Dead, as one of its own kind.
Thanks to this, Kang-hoo easily inflicted a fatal wound on Dirude by swiftly moving to its back.
Although the battle against the boss monster ended anticlimactically, its significance was not to be taken lightly.
The mere possession of a skill that allows one to disguise oneself as undead was extremely rare.
Watching Dirude, who failed to recognize Kang-hoos presence until the end, Jeon Se-hyuk and Ban Se-yeong were astonished.
Dirude, which had followed their every move,pletely ignored Kang-hoos actions.
Both understood that it was because Kang-hoo was treated as one of the undead. Thats why they were so surprised.
If he had been a dark mage or belonged to a buffer ss with skills rted to disguise, they might have understood.
But Kang-hoo was an assassin.
Moreover, it wasnt just a simple change in appearance; he had transformed his aura into that of an undead, hadnt he?
Exactly what skill did he obtain, and how did he manage to disguise himself so wlessly? It was a mystery.
Even if they asked, he wouldnt reveal it, and not asking only made their curiosity grow.
Nevertheless, they seeded in reaching level 99.
As promised, Ban Se-yeong handed over the hematite to Kang-hoo, and his collection of hematite reached a total of seven pieces.
Though they would disappear along with a skill upgrade as soon as he reached level 100,
Having seven pieces of hematite, which was difficult to obtain even one, was a significant asset.
Hematite was so valuable that not even a fortune could buy it. Thats how precious it was.
[After meticulously grading the entire dungeon''s conquest process, you have been awarded an S+ rating.]
[In addition to the final rating, as a reward for sessfully exploiting the shortcut route, you are provided with ten orange magic stones.]
Wow!
Wow. Is that a billion won?
At the moment the final reward was confirmed, including the previously awarded hematite, Ban Se-yeong and Jeon Se-hyuk eximed in astonishment.
The maximum reward they had received until now was two orange magic stones.
Which is worth two billion won in market value. It was not a small amount. It was indeed a huge gain.
But this time, they easily surpassed the maximum reward, receiving five times thepensation.
Kang-hoo tilted his head.
Is that a lot?
He wasnt pretending to be ignorant; he genuinely couldnt grasp the magnitude.
He had expected the reward to be satisfactory, but this was exceptionally generous.
Lets meet outside!
Jeon Se-hyuk immediately made his way to the dungeon exit.
As he had stated from the start, he had no interest in iming the dungeons conquest process or its rewards.
He tactfully departed to avoid any difort, a testament to his good manners.
Just as Kang-hoo was about to discuss the distribution of the ten magic stones,
Ill take just one.
Ban Se-yeong spoke up first.
What seemed like a potential dispute over distribution was resolved in an instant.
Should one not refuse a favor?
Yet, Kang-hoo added an extra orange magic stone for Ban Se-yeong, keeping eight for himself.
There was a rationale behind his decision.
He could have taken nine orange magic stones, content with Ban Se-yeongs gesture
But he chose to reciprocate with another act of kindness, aiming to foster a beneficial rtionship for the future.
It was an investment Kang-hoo was making in her, considering his limited opportunities for dungeon conquests.
As much as Jeon Se-hyuk could mitigate the dungeon issue to some degree, it was akin to bribery.
If offering a magic stone worth a billion won could secure multiple dungeon conquest opportunities?
Then it would be a bargain. Kang-hoo was thus looking at the bigger picture.
Meanwhile,
The orange magic stones acquired from the maze dungeon were all sold through a marketce well-known to Jeon Se-hyuk.
Subsequently, his bnce soared.
It became feasible to exchange for a second-grade weapon item without any trouble.
Chapter 99: Proving Worth (6)
Chapter 99: Proving Worth (6)
1.61 trillion won.
That was the bnce in Kang-hoos ount after he had sold all the orange magic stones.
Considering that Grade 2 items typically go for around the 100 billion won mark, purchasing them was now easily within his reach.
Finally.
He could proceed with acquiring the item he had been eyeing for some time.
Its sad to part ways, oppa.
Well see each other again.
We wont see each other if theres no dungeon, right?
I cant deny that.
As the moment to part ways approached, Ban Se-yeongs face was etched with regret.
Typically, such emotions are kept hidden, but Ban Se-yeong seemed to have no desire to conceal her feelings.
Ill pick a good dungeon and clear it thoroughly for Se-hyuk oppa.
Se-yeong, Im listening.
Help me, oppa! Okay?
Maintain your dignity, man!
Hohoho.
Kang-hoo also allowed himself a slight smile at the banter between Ban Se-yeong and Jeon Se-hyuk.
Such moments were genuinely enjoyable to witness.
Of course, this was a demeanor that didnt quite fit him. He wasnt one for jokes.
Nevertheless, Kang-hoo promised to meet Ban Se-yeong again and they parted ways.
From Jeon Se-hyuk, he received a referral to a VIP market in Busan.
This was a special market one could only ess after proving they had more than 50 billion won.
It involved a bnce verification, but it came highly rmended due to its selection of high-quality items.
Busans VIP market is renowned. It receives many items from abroad.
This concept wasnt new in the original story.
With some effort, finding a suitable Grade 2 weapon was feasible. The challenge was finding a dagger.
An hourter.
While waiting for the VIP market to open in the evening, Kang-hoo checked into a nearby hotel.
He reached out to Yun Sang-mi.
To achieve level 100, Yun Sang-mi was currently the quickest option.
Was she anticipating his call?
Yun Sang-mi answered the phone before it could evenplete its first ring, almost as if by ident.
-Oh, oppa? That was quicker than I thought.
Thats right. I finished my business earlier than expected. Is the dungeon raid still on?
-What are you talking about? Hey, Mr. Jung Sun-kyu! I kept my schedule open for you; how could it not be?
Dont take it so seriously.
-Kukuk. Whos taking it seriously?
Thinking about it, Yun Sang-mi was indeed joking.
Was it because of worn-out emotions? He hadnt noticed the cheerfulness and yful tone.
It was also a characteristic of the inevitable human, Shin Kang-hoo, so Kang-hoo shook his head as if resigned.
Then, he changed the subject.
Ill buy just one item here in Busan and then take the KTX back. Where should I go?
-Its on the outskirts of Daejeon. Ill let you know the ce when youre about to leave.
Lately, it felt like he was visiting Daejeon quite often.
Still, since it was close to the capital region and rtively safe, he did not hesitate to go there.
Looking at the power dynamics in the Daejeon area, it wouldnt be surprising if it exploded at any time.
The delicate bnce of power paradoxically maintained peace in Daejeon.
Ill contact you around dawn.
-Got it. I should probably get some sleep.
Take care of your condition.
-Ill be waiting.
Okay.
The brief call ended.
There seemed to be no issue with the dungeon raid, so reaching level 100 was a certainty. It was just a matter of time.
Then, Kang-hoo received a text from Jeon Se-hyuk.
It was a detailed guide about the location and rted matters of the VIP market.
Although Kang-hoo already knew about it, he reviewed the information once again.
You must verify having more than 50 billion won in your ount. And the VIP market only deals with items of Grade 3 and above.
In other words, it was a ce frequented by well-off clients. There might be unexpected encounters.
Was it around this time?
Kang-hoo suddenly remembered something and searched for a keyword on the desktop in his room.
The Hell of Judgment.
It was about arge-scale dungeon raid that the Jeonghwa Guild was expected to post a recruitment notice for soon.
As expected, recruitment posts and rted videos were uploaded.
The person who opened the video was Jang Si-hwan, an individual who always exuded a peculiar aura.
[Dear respected and beloved hunters, hello? Although I am unworthy, I am Jang Si-hwan, the representative of the Jeonghwa Guild.]
[The huge dimensional gate discovered at Ground Zero three months ago has led us to an unknown world.]
[We have decided to call it the Hell of Judgment. A ce where death is trivial, this ce is undoubtedly hell.]
At first nce, Jang Si-hwans words might seem like he was quite scared of the dungeon.
But the reality was different.
It was a thoroughly intentionalment.
To stimte the curiosity and desire of hunters who enjoy challenges and adventures, he pretended to be scared.
Because mercenaries who rush in like moths to a me, not afraid of danger but seeking stimtion, were exactly what the Jeonghwa Guild needed.
In fact, it was a recruitment notice for cannon fodder, but almost no hunter would realize its true nature. Maybe none at all.
[This vast and unknown world is not something the Jeonghwa Guild can handle alone.]
[We want to offer the opportunity to challenge, to share trials and hardships, and to grow together.]
[We are waiting. We are recruiting heroes to participate in the raid of the Hell of Judgment with the Jeonghwa Guild.]
The response was explosive.
Whether thements on the video were genuine or not, they were full of praise for Jang Si-hwan.
The response was embarrassingly positive, marveling at the Jeonghwa Guild for sharing an opportunity they could have monopolized.
However, due to the Jeonghwa Guilds excellent external image, it sounded usible.
The intention is clear, but the temptation is irresistible. I dont want to passively watch opportunities go by.
Kang-hoos goal was clear.
During the raid of the Hell of Judgment, Jang Si-hwan was set to experience significant growth, gaining two very meaningful fortunes.
In essence, it was a magnificent stage crafted by the author for the protagonists development in the original story.
He had no intention of letting this opportunity slip by.
It was only logical to seize it.
Especially since the beneficiary would eventually be an adversary, there was even more reason not to relent.
The interview is the problem,
Kang-hoo said, frowning.
Mercenaries recruited from outside had to undergo an interview process.
During such a process, some personal information naturally gets transferred, and all records are stored in a database.
If one stands out during the raid, theres a high likelihood that the Jeonghwa Guild will take notice.
Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeongs interest would be piqued as well. That was a worrisome aspect.
Still, lets go for it.
Kang-hoo busily moved his mouse, beginning to prepare the mobile application.
The method was straightforward.
All that was needed was a pseudonym, a photo, a brief career introduction, and level information. Including ss information would be a bonus.
The rest would be up to the interviewers to determine during the interview process.
If I write too little, I could be eliminated during the document screening, so maybe I should list the types of skills a bit more generously.
Hiding too much could result in not even being considered.
Although it was regrettable to have to reveal some skill information, it wasnt as if he nned to live his life without utilizing skills.
Kang-hoo began to list the skills he deemed safe to disclose.
Most likely, the document reviewers would be skeptical of this content. They would find it unbelievable.
That was precisely what Kang-hoo was counting on. Curiosity would drive them to invite him to the actual interview.
At that moment,
Outside the range Yun Sang-mi could detect, a man was stealthily following her.
Strong power, yes, but not apanied by the requisite agility.
Maintaining a safe distance, Yun Sang-mi seemed unaware she was being followed.
During this time, she finished a call, and the man instinctively sensed the connection.
The mans identity was that of a fixer.
The mana traces thickly surrounding Yun Sang-mi matched those identified in the Kimcheon Liberation Area.
If they were that closely rted, then it was highly likely the person on the other end of that call was involved.
Then the picture became clear.
All he had to do was wait.
Keeping Yun Sang-mi within surveince distance, he was confident the counterpart would soon reveal themselves.
Interesting. I look forward to confronting them. Its been a while since something made my heart race like this.
The fixers lips curled up awkwardly, expressing as much emotion as he could muster.
He was eager for a confrontation.
Although Shin Jun-hos instructions meant he couldnt kill, they implied that as long as he didnt kill, everything else was fair game.
In other words, a full-on power struggle was not out of the question.
The fixer licked his lips and disappeared back into the shadows.
Yun Sang-mi still seemed unaware of anything.
Given his specialization in concealing his presence, it would be more surprising if she did notice.
That night.
Theyre quite thorough.
After undergoing the procedure of bnce confirmation and facial photography at the entrance, Kang-hoo was entering the VIP market.
The VIP market lived up to its reputation by upying an entire 10-story building.
The buildings owner and the person in charge of operating the VIP market was named Kang Bok-hwa.
It wasnt a namemon among the younger generation, suggesting a middle-aged woman.
It was an unfamiliar name to Kang-hoo. It was definitely not mentioned in the original work.
Upon entering, he noticed quite a few foreign hunters in the lobby.
There were Japanese and Chinese hunters, of course, but also hunters from the United States and Germany.
Especially, there seemed to be many magic-oriented hunters, as the proportion of magic items among the sale items was high.
Overhearing conversations among the customers, it seemed Kang Bok-hwa had brought in a lot of items from overseas.
It almost feels like a behind-the-scenes yer Who could it be?
He couldnt guess.
To airfreight items for sale in the VIP market from overseas would require more than modest capital.
Of course, they wouldnt have bought everything outright, likely brought in on consignment.
Still, a 20% appraisal fee as a deposit was required, which was no small amount.
To consign a Grade 2 item, a deposit of 20 billion won was necessary.
Everyone was dressed to the nines, exuding an aura of luxury everywhere.
However, Kang-hoo, who came in rather in clothes, attracted many hunters stares.
To put it nicely, they were looking at him; to put it negatively, they were close to ignoring him.
Of course, Kang-hoo didnt care.
Fights could break out here too, and his current outfit was optimized for any potentialbat.
Just then.
A man in front, drinking champagne and tightly holding a woman by the waist, was warmly greeting the surrounding hunters. Every hunter he faced bowed their heads.
He was curious.
ncing at the mans face, his identity became clear.
Right. It would be disappointing if such a person wasnt here.
The third-ranked member of the Jeonghwa Guild.
It was Shin Tae-seok.
Chapter 100: Fixer (1)
Chapter 100: Fixer (1)
Ive seen many named characters.
Shin Tae-seok was nothing special, just one among many.
The woman beside Shin Tae-seok looked familiar, and upon closer inspection, I remembered someone.
Lee Seon-hee.
The woman who had saved me from some nasty people at Gapyeong Station before.
She bore a resemnce to her. Of course, it wasnt the same person.
Lee Seon-hee would awaken about a year from now and be a moderate ally to Shin Kang-hoo in the original story.
Shes notable for her emerald hair and the long cross tattoo by her eyes.
I wonder how shes doing? Since shes still a civilian, there probably isnt much news about her.
Lately, Kang-hoo has been craving connections, so he didnt take such encounters lightly.
He had made sure to leave a strong impression on Ban Se-yeong and Jeon Se-hyuk for that reason.
After saving Min Su-hyun, he also solidified his ties with Lee Hyun-seok for the same reason.
Jeonghwa Guild, and even more so, The Thirteen Stars, are not enemies he can take on alone.
If they were dumb viins, it would be nice, but the original storys meticulous characterization made them smart viins.
Therefore, without power akin to a god, it was impossible to take on The Thirteen Stars alone.
I was serious about The Thirteen Stars. They were a group of heroes who would save the world, and I wanted to make them cool.
Kang-hoo reminisced about his time as the original author and smiled bitterly.
In the end, he had ended up giving the viins a lot of material.
Of course, now hes trying to break the mold with Shin Kang-hoos body after putting in even more effort.
Nevertheless, while Lee Seon-hee came to mind, it seemed she couldnt be utilized right away.
As time passed and she naturally awakened, their paths would likely cross again.
It was three hourster that Kang-hoo finally decided on the weapon item he would purchase.
Initially, he thought about checking the international market rather than the domestic one.
As he began to examine the selection more closely, several weapon items piqued his interest.
However, the selection of dagger-type items was disappointingly limited.
Furthermore, hunters seemed to show little interest in them.
Most close-range hunters preferred swords or greatswords.
The primary users of daggers were assassins, who constituted a small fraction of the hunter poption.
Without any negotiation, the price was fixed at 100 billion won.
The deal was facilitated by a VIP market manager, who had been granted full authority by Kang Bokhwa.
His ount bnce plummeted from 161.6 billion won to 61.6 billion won in a blink, yet it remained a significant sum.
He was reminded of the immense profit thebyrinth dungeon raid had yielded.
Even after purchasing a grade 2 weapon item, he had a considerable amount of money left.
Maybe I should gather about 40 billion won more and invest in another grade 2 item.
At that moment, greed began to take hold.
The sum of 100 billion won no longer seemed out of reach.
This phenomenon likely exins why hunters expenditures increase as they be stronger, broadening their financial perspective.
Greed propels one to aim higher, seeking a certain standard of quality, prestige, and wealth.
This feels new.
Kang-hoo shifted his attention to the grade 2 weapon item he had just acquired.
Its purple glow was eye-catching, yet it failed to draw any interest.
Such indifference was typical in the VIP market.
For these individuals, acquiring a grade 2 item was hardly noteworthy.
Kang-hoo scrutinized the item.
Corrupted Conviction - Weapon
Grade: 2
Strength +350
Stamina +100
Magic Resistance +100
Durability +50
This dagger offered 150 more strength, 100 more stamina, and 50 more magic resistance than Hyeru.
Considering the price difference, it was undoubtedly a valuable purchase.
The boost in the challenging-to-improve magic resistance stat was particrly attractive.
Of course, these stats were only part of what made it satisfying.
I looked further down.
Items from grade 1 to grade 3 have special effects that define the items identity.
In the case of Hyeru, it had effects like Taste of Blood and Gluttony.
ck Tears - Increases all skill efficiency by 10% and damage by 20%.
Hmm.
I almost let out an exmation but consciously suppressed my emotions, making it obvious to those around me.
For Kang-hoo, who possesses a variety of skills and types, the effect of ck Tears synergized exceptionally well.
For example, a leap skill that currently moves 12m would extend to 13.2m under the effect of ck Tears.
Considering how many hunters refine their skill proficiency just to move an extra 1m, or even 50cm
It represented a significant change.
Moreover, this changees easily, simply from wearing the item, without any additional effort.
Although ck Tears alone was satisfying, there were still two more special effects.
Distorted Awakening - Allows the absorption of some stats from weapons of the same type using Corrupted Conviction.
Up to 5 absorptions are possible, and the higher the total stats of the weapon to be absorbed, the greater the absorption amount.
When Corrupted Conviction is brought close to the weapon intended for absorption, Distorted Awakening activates.
It feeds weapons to weapons.
It reminded me of a model often seen in games, precisely the kind described as feeding.
Since it mentioned the same type, it means other daggers need to be absorbed.
With only 5 opportunities, it seemed best to feed it high-quality weapons.
Of course, caution is necessary.
It would be a loss to feed it a grade 1 weapon item in an attempt at Distorted Awakening.
Corrupted Resolve - Disys the location of 5 items with the set effect ''Corrupted Resolve''.
The items can only be disyed if they are in a dungeon, and their location is unknown if owned by someone specific.
The list of 5 items includes: Dagger, Breastte, Ne, Two Rings.
It was a series of interesting contents.
Having recently developed an interest in set effects, this special effect came at just the right time.
Already in possession of the dagger Corrupted Conviction, it was time to search for the remaining four items.
The detailed tooltip disyed the locations of the other items, all of which were in dungeons.
This is too good.
Kang-hoo was pleased.
While the dagger already boasted passable basic stats and the ck Tears effect,
the addition of Distorted Awakening and the potential value of Corrupted Resolve made it even more appealing.
Had Corrupted Conviction been a long sword or greatsword, it would have been sold long ago.
The fact that theres less demand for daggers, due to the scarcity of assassin professions, turned out to be quite fortunate.
From one to ten, everything was to his liking, including the unique purple glow of Corrupted Conviction.
Unless theres apelling reason to switch to a grade 1 weapon item, it seemed hed be sticking with this one like a lover for a while.
Also, he made ns to search for the remaining four items of Corrupted Resolve if the opportunity arose.
Achieving the set effect sooner rather thanter was preferable.
The move to Daejeon urred immediately after leaving the VIP market.
I managed to catch thest KTX train to Seoul Station. There was no reason to dy, so I boarded the KTX right away.
Ive sent the dungeon location via text. Ille to Daejeon Station to pick you up, brother.
Is that necessary? Just rest there. Ille down and take a taxi.
Are you sure?
Why do you sound like an amateur? Its not my first or second day doing this.
Its because its dark outside.
How is it on your side?
Its not very dark around here because there are factories operating 24 hours.
Then stay there.
Okay. What about food?
Lets grab a sandwich before we go in. Ill buy it from a convenience store, so you dont need to get anything.
I want a chicken sandwich!
Order received.
I had just finished a brief call with Yun Sang-mi while on the train to Daejeon Station.
Being nocturnal and not requiring much sleep, neither of us was tired.
Moreover, with Kang-hoo nearing level 100, his eagerness to reach that milestone was palpable.
He was also looking forward to testing the Corrupted Conviction he had purchased from the VIP market in a dungeon.
Time flew by quickly.
Upon arriving at Daejeon Station, Kang-hoo took a safety taxi to the dungeon where he was supposed to meet Yun Sang-mi.
Although safety taxis are quite expensive, they are driven by hunters who have obtained taxi licenses, ensuring safety and emergency response.
Hmm
But something felt off.
Right after disembarking at Daejeon Station.
Throughout the taxi ride, none of the calls made to Yun Sang-mi connected.
While the location was set, so proceeding as nned was enough, it was unusualpared to her usual promptness in answering calls before they even fully rang.
It was unlikely she was sleeping due to tiredness, nor did it seem like her to leave her smartphone behind to attend to something else.
She must be taking a break.
He didnt think much of it.
She wasnt the type of hunter to be easily overpowered by some mediocre thugs.
Ten minutester.
He arrived at the scene.
Kang-hoo paused momentarily while heading towards the dungeon located about 500 meters off the main road because he felt a heavy and damp, very sinister energy emanating from the direction of the dungeon they had agreed to meet at.
Clearly, it was magical energy at its core, but the nature of this magic was extremely dark.
Usually, theres only one situation like this: when theres a hunter skilled in ck magic of the ck mage type nearby.
Not a low-level ck mage like Kim Mok-hyun he had encountered before.
But when theres a high-level ck mage of level 300 or above nearby, this kind of energy is often felt.
Is it right to say its an unmistakable energy?
Just as being near a flower allows you to smell its fragrance, being close to a ck mage hunter darkens the nature of magical energy.
Beep.
Kang-hoo pressed the call button again, attempting to reach Yun Sang-mi.
The phone rang.
And then, a ringtone sounded from somewhere on the other end. Setting thetest songs as her ringtone was typical of Yun Sang-mis style.
But she didnt answer. It wasnt that she was deliberately ignoring the call, but rather, it seemed she was in a situation where she couldnt respond.
Kang-hoo walked calmly.
It appeared something had indeed happened to her, but at least it didnt seem like she had lost her life.
As he got closer, he could sense not only the energy of ck magic but also the unique aura of Yun Sang-mi.
Who could it be?
Who would incapacitate Yun Sang-mi, rendering her unable to fight, and wait here for him?
It was clear the person was waiting for him. As if Yun Sang-mi wasnt the main target.
The moment he arrived at the scene,
He finally met the gaze of the man who had Yun Sang-mi knocked out and tied tightly to a wooden pole, waiting for him with his arms crossed.
Ah, this is it. Ive been waiting for you. Nice to meet you, nice to meet you. Hahaha.
The mans expression, previously impassive, brightened at Kang-hoos arrival. He even smiled faintly.
But,
Are you crazy? Starting with that creepy smile, you look like a fool.
Kang-hoos harsh words hit their mark directly.
It was pure disdain, with no filter, for the repulsive intruder.
In that moment, Kang-hoo btedly recalled the mans identity, piecing together his memory.
The Fixer.
A lunatic among lunatics, even portrayed as a viin in the original story.
He had stumbled upon someone even more troublesome than Cha So-hee.
Chapter 101: Fixer (2)
Chapter 101: Fixer (2)
Fortunately, Yun Sang-mi appeared unharmed.
Sensing his concern for her, the fixer inquired,
Is she your girlfriend?
Whats it to you?
With looks like yours, it wouldnt be surprising if you had a girlfriend. Anyway, Ive been perfectly mannered.
Knocking someone out cold and tying them to a tree, then picking a fight with me, and you talk about manners.
I was only following my orders to bring you in, nothing more.
Should I bow down in gratitude then?
At Kang-hoos retort, the fixerughed, his shoulders shaking. It seemed he found something amusing.
The fixer is a ck mage.
Assuming equal skills.
ck mages are among the most challenging professions because of the wide range of techniques they can use.
There are far fewer ck mages than assassins, making it difficult to gainbat experience.
Jang Si-hwan is called the best hunter in South Korea precisely because he is a renowned ck mage.
Dealing with him is no simple task. He has an exceptional ability to create variables.
As the fixer fiddled with his handcuffs, Kang-hoo asked,
Lets get to the point. Why are you looking for me?
Youve been to the Kimcheon Liberation Area. And you rescued a woman who stole an item from the leader of the Ebony Bone.
Did Shin Jun-ho send you?
Thats right. Its strange to sit idly by after losing a second-grade item, isnt it?
Impressive. There was no way you could have known my identity.
Hehe. Thats exactly my strength. I can track anyone with just a trace of mana.
Like a detection dog?
Not quite the right expression, but close enough in context. Kekeke! How amusing.
Your sense of humor is truly unique.
Kang-hoo looked at him with disdain.
It seems Shin Jun-ho sent him. Strictly speaking, it would be correct to say he was after Min Su-hyun, the woman who stole the item.
But targeting him meant they were interested in his abilities.
Kang-hoo was aware of how Shin Jun-ho steals other hunters abilities.
All the while I was tracking you, I could smell it. A very special scent. You have a very delicious and luxurious smell
Unable to think of a reply, Kang-hoo looked at the fixer with a disgusted expression.
However, the fixer, fully immersed in the atmosphere, continued with bodynguage included,
Ive always dreamed of a battle like this. Fighting against someone with a unique and special power, different from others.
Must be nice to have your wish fulfilled.
Exactly! This moment is like a grand and splendid symphony of battle to me!
Sure, keep babbling.
Kang-hoo folded his arms, listening to the fixers nonsense.
Meanwhile, he scanned the fixers constetions. He had four contracted constetions.
It was difficult to determine the exact level, but this suggested he could be in the 300s.
This wont be easy.
A top-notch ck mage.
Though the magic and assassination fields see each other as natural enemies,
the ones who feel more pressured are usually the assassins.
They need to get close to engage inbat, an inevitable fate for close-range professions.
Guardian of the Dark Sanctuary
Fallen Prophet
Drug King
Lady of Light
Look at the constetion information. As expected, its totally insane.
The constetionposition was unique.
The Guardian of the Dark Sanctuary, for example, is a constetion that grants the ability to convert mana into dark energy.
Dark energy.
Its a concept used separately from mana,monly utilized by undead-type monsters and bosses.
Hunters, except for ck mages, hardly ever use it because theyck dark energy-based skills.
Dark energy-based skills are almost exclusive to monsters, with little connection to hunters.
But not for Kang-hoo.
He could steal skills from undead-type boss monsters, allowing him to utilize dark energy-based skills and harness dark energy.
The constetion, akin to the Drug King, turns one into a crazier person when they consume drug-type substances.
It seemed the fixer was surrounded by entric constetions that suited him perfectly.
The four constetions the fixer possessed were highly sought after.
There was no way the battle with the fixer would end well. If not killed, one would end up killing.
Even if the fixer captured him alive, being killed by Shin Jun-hos hand meant the oue would be no different.
Kang-hoo not paying attention to a word the fixer was rambling about heard him finish.
Lost in his own high, the fixer stretched out his arms leisurely and said,
If you defeat me, your girlfriend will be safe. But if not, shell suffer an unfortunate fate.
Thanks for the manners.
Kang-hoo showed a thumbs-up, not forgetting to extend his middle finger after a brief pause.
Crunch.
He chewed on thest Mad Srkium he had.
Whether it turns out good or bad, I guess I have to go to Ground Zero.
He needed more Mad Srkium and had business with K. Now, there were even more reasons to go to Ground Zero.
And then,
On a night shrouded in darkness, the stage is truly excellent. Lets create harmony together, friend.
With the fixers nonsensical talk, the battlemenced.
Lady of Light
Look at the constetion information. As expected, itspletely insane.
The constetionposition was unparalleled.
The Guardian of the Dark Sanctuary, for example, is a constetion that grants the ability to convert mana into dark energy.
Dark energy.
Its a concept distinct from mana,monly utilized by undead-type monsters and bosses.
Hunters, except for ck mages, hardly ever use it because theyck dark energy-based skills.
Dark energy-based skills are almost exclusively used by monsters, with little relevance to hunters.
But not for Kang-hoo.
He could steal skills from undead-type boss monsters, allowing him to utilize dark energy-based skills and harness dark energy.
The constetion, akin to the Drug King, turns one into a crazier person when they consume drug-type substances.
It seemed the fixer was surrounded by entric constetions that suited him perfectly.
The four constetions the fixer possessed were highly sought after.
There was no way the battle with the fixer would end well. If not killed, one would end up killing.
Even if the fixer captured him alive, being killed by Shin Jun-hos hand meant the oue would be the same.
Kang-hoo not paying attention to a word the fixer was rambling about heard him finish.
Lost in his own high, the fixer stretched out his arms leisurely and said,
If you defeat me, your girlfriend will be safe. But if not, shell suffer an unfortunate fate.
Thanks for the manners.
Kang-hoo showed a thumbs-up, not forgetting to extend his middle finger after a brief pause.
Crunch.
He chewed on thest Mad Srkium he had.
Whether it turns out good or bad, I guess I have to go to Ground Zero.
He needed more Mad Srkium and had business with K. Now, there were even more reasons to go to Ground Zero.
And then,
On a night shrouded in darkness, the stage is truly excellent. Lets create harmony together, friend.
With the fixers nonsensical talk, the battlemenced.
Kuuuu!
As Kang-hoo charged at the fixer, he was blocked by a wall of demons.
A level 50 basic skill of a ck mage.
On terrain with variable elements like dirt or sand, it pulls up these elements to construct a wall.
Compared to Kang-hoos intangible protective barrier, the wall of demons was a visibly solid wall.
Fast.
The fixers reaction was much faster than expected.
By the time Kang-hoo attempted to leap forward, the wall had already been erected.
Moreover, the wall exuded slimy ck hands in clusters, indicating high proficiency.
Swoosh! sh!
Kieee!
Kang-hoo stepped back, cutting off the hands. The hands writhed in pain before retreating back into the wall.
Once again.
Attempting to close the distance with a leap, the fixer had already erected triple walls.
High proficiency.
Naturally, proficiency in ones main skills tends to increase with higher levels.
It seemed imprudent to regard the fixers ck mage skills as merely ordinary in proficiency.
He might have elevated the proficiency of his basic skills to the maximum.
Carelessness was not an option.
Then.
Paaang!
I decided to change my strategy.
Using Shadow Step, I diversified my attack routes in unpredictable ways.
Since the Wall of Demons was constructed only in the direct path, circumventing it was simply a matter of going around.
Hmm.
The dispersal of five shadows in various directions, akin to Shadow Step, might fluster some.
But the fixer coolly shifted his gaze between the shadows and Kang-hoos real body.
His focus was neither overly concentrated on one nor too dispersed.
However, there was a gap.
The moment one shadow moved beyond the fixers field of vision!
Kang-hoo attempted to shift to the shadows location. Or at least, he tried to.
But then.
Fsssst.
Gone?
The shadow disappeared.
It wasnt attacked, nor did it exceed its range. It simply vanished.
Kekeke. Tricks are good, but in the face of mana burning, everything is equal.
The fixer waggled his index finger from side to side at Kang-hoo, signaling the futility of his efforts.
The fixer remainedposed.
And his proficiency in each basic skill was high. This method could block many skills.
As Kang-hoo crouched, contemting another skill to use.
The fixer said with a smile,
Are you around level 300? Your jumping power is excellent, and the skills you possess are quite unique.
It seemed the fixer believed Kang-hoos level was simr to his own.
Kang-hoo, for his part, saw no need to correct the misunderstanding, as it cost nothing to have one.
Ive been cutting corners too much. Yes, lets admit that.
Perhaps stimted by the fixers leisurely response, Kang-hoo found himself naturally smiling.
So far, the battles had been about exploiting the enemys unpreparedness.
It felt like he had always been fighting and winning with a strong hand, being a powerful entity not well known to the outside.
However, the fixer had the insight to preemptively block various possibilities based on diversebat experience.
Now, being seen as a hunter on his level by the fixer made him more cautious.
Shall we expand the game?
Mind games and strategies were also Kang-hoos enjoyment. Deciding enough was enough, he moved to escte the fight.
Technique''s Curtain
A curtain with a radius of 11m wasid down, and Kang-hoo disappeared.
The skill was mana-consuming but manageable thanks to the barbaric era cutting the mana requirement in half.
Kang-hoo, within the curtain, concealed his presence using the No Shadow skill and quietly moved along the edge.
He both approached and distanced himself from the fixer, moving outward.
Absolute stealth skill, is that it?
The fixer licked his lips with an intrigued expression, unable to sense even Kang-hoos minor movements.
But his contemtion didntst long.
Raising his hands high, the fixer began to summon purple mes.
A level 40 basic skill of a ck mage, Falling mes.
Each purple fireball vibrated intensely, and Kang-hoo noticed the intention.
He cant detect me, but hes trying to locate me by interference in the waves?
The response was neat enough to deserve praise, even from an enemy.
It was enviable that the fixer had a method to deal with absolute stealth so effortlessly.
Of course, admiration only went so far.
Anticipating such a response from the fixer, Kang-hoo had a next n in mind.
It was a simple yet sharp maneuver requiring precise distance measurement, abduction.
Being slightly away from the position where Techniques Curtain was deployed, he couldnt use it immediately.
Thus, at the edge of the Techniques Curtains range, he sequentially used three skills.
Thanks to consuming Mad Srkium, he endured; otherwise, he would have suffered from splitting headaches due to thebination.
eleration
Leap
Abduction
Thebination was executed in an instant.
Argh!
Bybining the leaps potential radius of 13.2m with the abduction range of 16.5m, he covered a total distance of nearly 30m in a single breath.
Bringing himself closer to the opponent and pulling them in made it feel like an instant approach!
It was a capture in the blink of an eye.
This?
The fixers expression stiffened.
Can this really happen? That expression was vividly painted on the fixers face.
Chapter 102: Fixer (3)
Chapter 102: Fixer (3)
However, the fixer wasnt without countermeasures.
It wasnt as though we were ying a turn-based game; the moment one realizes theyre in a crisis, a response is mandatory.
During the process of being kidnapped by Kang-hoo, the fixer realized he had definitely taken a hit.
He cleanly admitted to being caught by Kang-hoos strategy and had finished calcting to expose his left shoulder.
The idea was to twist his body as much as possible since there wasnt enough time to use a defense skill.
Instead of exposing his shoulder, the fixer used that time as an opportunity for a counterattack.
What Kang-hoo unfolded was precisely oxidation, a skill that could also be selected as a basic skill at level 200.
Depending on the preference of the ck mage hunter, one could choose among oxidation, ignition, or exhaustion. The fixer chose oxidation.
Kang-hoo prepared to thrust a dagger into the fixers heart, linking it with a beheading skill.
He wouldnt just let it happen, though; the target was clear. Its cleanest to cut off the breath in one go.
Just then.
As expected.
He hadnt thought he would only be on the receiving end, and sure enough, a red light sparked from the fingertips of the fixer.
It was enough to realize that he had no intention of being gracefully defeated, whatever the skill might be.
Cant be satisfied with the first spoonful.
Kang-hoo wasnt too greedy.
Its arrogant to think of ending the battle with one strike against a quick-reacting ck mage.
However, since the fixer seemed to have finished nning to expose his left side, he decided to take the result.
Pwook!
Kuhuk!
The moment a dagger pierced about a fingers depth into the fixers left shoulder, Kang-hoo immediately withdrew it.
Then, using the fixers body as a stepping stone, he pushed off with his foot and leaped backward. He had evaded.
The next moment.
Fsssst! Tssss!
As expected.
Where Kang-hoo had been, a circr green space appeared, bursting into mes along with smoke. It was the oxidation skill.
It seems he chose oxidation at level 200. Well, it does have the highest lethality.
The expectation was spot on.
In exchange for exposing his left shoulder, the fixer aimed for his life. It was a chillingly rational judgment.
Thanks to focusing on the change that urred at his fingertips, what if he had been intoxicated by the sess of his strategy?
He wouldve been shaking hands with Jeon Jong-du, whom he had killed not long ago, in the afterlife.
Kuh. Thats quite something. It hurts?
Just do one thing at a time. Either show pain or act as if its nothing.
Its damn painful. This has a tremendous bleeding effect Its not easy to stop the bleeding.
Kang-hoo was confident about bleeding.
The bleeding effect was important because it dyed clotting and could suppress or reduce the opponents healing ability.
It was a very important option for hunters and quite rare.
The higher you go in the world of top hunters, the harder it bes to find a bleeding dealer.
Especially necessary for catching boss monsters that dont die due to their formidable healing abilities.
Without it, strategizing was absolutely impossible. Not even if hundreds like Jang Si-hwan came.
Its better to disturb the bnce in advance.
Kang-hoo spontaneously changed his mind. Originally, he had nned to aim for another chance to strike like now.
But seeing the fixers calm and swift response, his thoughts changed.
He saw a need to create a physical imbnce in him, to significantly increase the likelihood of psychological cracks.
In other words, it was necessary to deliver undeniable damage, even if he wanted to ignore it.
Snap!
Flicking his fingers.
Blood Flower
Puffff-Bang!
From the bleeding left shoulder of the fixer, a beautiful flower of red blood blossomed.
The explosion was so powerful that the fixer, who boasted a somewhat muscr physique, was sent fluttering like a paper doll.
Of course, Kang-hoo wasnt merely standing by idly after deploying the Blood Flower skill.
Abduction
Another Abduction attempt ensued.
However, it was thwarted by the wall of demons that the fixer had erected just moments before.
He had positioned his body behind the demons wall.
Since Kang-hoo had anticipated this blockage and prepared a skillbination in advance, a second n was swiftly enacted.
Hallucination
Shadow Step
The strategy involved using Hallucination and Shadow Step in tandem.
Although the Hallucinations duration was brief, at 0.2 seconds, it was an inevitable trigger, leaving the fixer with no choice but to be affected.
Kut!
The vision momentarily induced by the Hallucination depicted a surreal scene where the world seemed to melt away like ice cream.
Owing to that, he was unable to track all the shadows darting across his field of vision, and this time, he missed one.
In that instant, Kang-hoo unveiled an option he had never utilized in actualbat before, one he had reserved for a special asion.
Master of Maniption
A skill of maniption that he naturally acquired after defeating Cha So-hee and seizing the constetion.
It was a skill that enabled him to replicate one of the opponents skills and use it at 25% efficiency.
The mana consumption was substantial, and the chance to replicate a skill recently used by the opponent wasnt always advantageous, but the timing was perfect.
At this moment, the most recent skill employed by the fixer was oxidation.
It was also the ideal skill to replicate.
Pah!
At that moment, Kang-hoo, utilizing Shadow Step, moved to a position out of the fixers sight.
Master of Maniption Oxidation
Then, after pinpointing the fixers location, he executed the oxidation skill.
He immediately rushed toward the fixer with a leap, as it took time for oxidation to properly activate.
Hmph!
This time, as if noticing Kang-hoos approach, the fixer snorted and unleashed a skill with his right hand.
Suppression Chain.
A skill that only ck mage hunters could obtain through skill books, it entangles the opponent with an opaque, grayish-white energy.
It was a type of binding skill, where the duration varied with the anti-magic stat, butplete immunity was impossible.
As soon as Kang-hoo was caught, a signature skill of ck mage hunters, deep purple mes, exploded.
The deep purple mes that enveloped Kang-hoos entire body caused an instant chain ignition.
Fortunately, he had previously activated a protective level 2 skill; otherwise, he would have been instantly burned to death.
Thanks to the protective level 2, the deep purple mes were cleanly neutralized.
And then.
Sizzle!
Aaaaack!
The oxidation skill, entering with a dy, melted away part of the fixers right side and some of his internal organs.
It all happened in an instant.
?
The fixer looked down at himself with a half-dazed expression.
This skill was the oxidation skill.
The basic skill at level 200 that he himself used. But now, that skill had been turned against him by Kang-hoo.
Does this mean the assassin has the ability to replicate skills? It was utterly iprehensible.
Even the cautious and astute fixer had never considered that his own skill could be turned against him.
If the opponent had been from the magic domain, perhaps, but skill replication on an assassin? It didnt seem to fit at all.
First pierced through the shoulder, enduring it, but the second time there was no turning back.
Pwook!
Then, another strike from Kang-hoo,unching an extra dagger with lightning speed, hit its mark again.
Shi, shi.
Pain surged from his abdomen, so intense he couldnt evenplete his words.
The sensation of his entire body stiffening was extremely unpleasant.
The fixer clumsily reached into his pocket with his right hand and retrieved a bag of white powder.
Whether it was a drug or a stimnt, it appeared to be designed to work in conjunction with the constetion Drug King.
That wont work.
Kang-hoo, having anticipated the fixers counterattack and maintained his distance, swiftly closed the gap once more.
The fixer, reeling from consecutive hits, found it impossible to concentrate.
Furthermore, as a dagger thrown at lightning speed struck his right shoulder, both of his arms were effectively incapacitated.
Losing the use of both arms, vital for a ck mages precise control, was tantamount to a death sentence.
Whir! Thud!
Ssssh! Thud!
Kang-hoo, keeping an appropriate distance, continued to hurl additional daggers with incredible speed.
Even from afar, Kang-hoo clearly possessed the means to inflict significant damage.
Kuhuk. Huak. Uhak
With each dagger thatnded, the fixer struggled to keep his bnce, staggering backward.
But that onlysted for a moment.
Upon the impact of the third dagger, he finally fell backward, unable to stand any longer.
Kwoong!
Kuluk!
Falling headfirst without bracing himself properly, the fixer coughed up dark red blood.
His abdomen was shredded, barely holding together, no longer able to support his body.
Twuk.
The bag of white powder, which the fixer failed to consume in time, dropped to the ground.
Kang-hoo looked down with disdain and remarked,
Reporting a drug addict is the solution. Was it 125?
Kuhuk! Huak
And with that, it was over.
Ovee by the overwhelming shock, the fixer died on the spot from cardiac arrest.
In a fitting end for his first appearance, he died with a smile on his face, resembling a madman.
Not a pigs head for a ritual offering, but one might think he died content.
Pwook!
Kang-hoo drove a dagger into the fixers heart to ensure his death.
I was 99% sure he was dead, but such lunatics sometimes wake up momentarily only to die again.
Hunters refer to this as asting effect, a phenomenon not umon among those of the ck mage type.
Four constetions aligned themselves toe under Kang-hoos control.
It was a moment that underscored the formidable power of the Dimension Plunderer.
No one other than the Dimension Plunderer could take another hunters contracted constetions without any loss.
It was no coincidence that Kang-hoo had chosen her as his main constetion. There simply was no better option.
The constetion abilities held by Disaster Darkness were far less rare and versatilepared to those of the Dimension Plunderer.
Guardian of the Dark Sanctuary
Grants the ability to convert 25 mana into 1 unit of dark energy. However, only 1 unit of dark energy can be generated per minute.
It feels like gathering dust to build a mountain, but this is the way to start umting dark energy. Quite the unexpected case.
Dark energy will prove to be of high utility value in the future. Its a stat almost nonexistent among other hunters.
If he can plunder dark energy skills and gather them, they will be very useful.
Corrupted Prophet
In exchange forpletely eradicating emotions, it increases a specific stat by 100.
Ill consider this one optional and hold off for now.
Theres a vast difference between being worn down by emotions and having none at all.
Kang-hoo, though cold in some respects, wished to retain warmth in others.
A minimal amount of emotion is necessary. Life devoid of joy, anger, sorrow, or pleasure isnt just nd; its utterly uninteresting.
Drug King
When inhaling or ingesting narcotic drugs,bat efficiency progressively increases up to 10 levels.
A constetion for drug addicts. Shouldnt such constetions be expelled from the grand battles?
He chuckled.
A constetion that maximizesbat power in exchange for drugs, but adhering to its concept might reduce the contractors lifespan.
Perhaps the Drug King constetion doesnt intend for its contractors to live long.
Lady of Light
Provides an experience buff matching the numerical date of each month.
Thats interesting.
Thus, the Lady of Light constetion was acquired.
He acquired four unique constetions.
An unexpected battle with the fixer ensued. And so, Kang-hoo created another turning point.
Chapter 103: Skill Upgrade (1)
Chapter 103: Skill Upgrade (1)
At that moment.
Buzz. Buzz.
The sound of a smartphone vibrating emanated from the dead fixer¡¯s clothes.
Kang-hoo carefully untied the knot of the tree that had been binding Yun Sang-mi.
Since she was still unconscious, he gentlyid her on a nearby t rock.
It was chilly, so he thoughtfully covered her with his coat.
Next, he examined the smartphone he had retrieved from the fixer¡¯s clothes.
The caller¡¯s name was saved as Shin Jun-ho. To anyone, it would seem to be the name of the leader of Ebony Bone.
In the past, it had been the same with Cha So-hee; calls from higher-ups always seemed toe around this time. It was almost magical.
As soon as Kang-hoo answered the call, the impatient Shin Jun-ho immediately inquired.
¡°Did you take care of it?¡±
¡°Yes, the mercenary you sent.¡±
¡°What¡?¡±
¡°The fixer is dead.¡±
¡°Who are you?¡±
¡°Never mind. If you have business with me,e find me yourself. Whether you can or not, I don¡¯t know.¡±
¡°Hey, you, you bastard¡!¡±
Kang-hoo taunted Shin Jun-ho unterally, then hung up and crushed the smartphone under his foot.
He was annoyed by the possibility of the phone vibrating again. Anyway, his business was concluded.
¡°Yun Sang-mi.¡±
Kang-hoo gently shook Yun Sang-mi, hoping for a response, but she remained motionless.
His healing skill was strictly for his own use, so he couldn¡¯t apply it to her.
For now, all he could do was hope that time would pass and she would awaken.
Given her condition, he wasn¡¯t overly concerned since it was clear the fixer had only put her to sleep.
The unexpected free time.
Kang-hoo reflected on his fight with the fixer, realizing once again the challenges of facing a ck mage.
In group battles, encountering ck mages is rare since they are positioned at the very back.
However, facing one in a one-on-one situation proved how troublesome the profession could be.
Their means of attack and defense were unlike typical skills.
With skills that burn, melt, and distort, a single mistake could lead to instant death.
Instant death skills, which are rare in other professions, are quitemon among ck mages.
The oxidation skill he had returned to the fixer was no exception.
If vital areas like the heart or head were included in the oxidation¡¯s range, instant death was certainly possible.
¡®The thought of facing Jang Si-hwanter is even more terrifying.¡¯
Jang Si-hwan is the epitome of a ck mage. Of course, his abilities as a ck mage are only part of his power.
He¡¯s a guy who¡¯s received the protagonist buff to its fullest, making the mere thought of fighting him headache-inducing.
The life of bing a true protagonist, surpassing the protagonist, is certainly not going to be easy.
Yun Sang-mi woke up about 10 minutester.
As Kang-hoo had expected, there was no particr problem with her body or mind.
The onlyint was a bit of stiffness, likely due to being tied to a tree while unconscious.
¡°Oppa, what happened? I don¡¯t remember anything. It all happened so suddenly¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s nothing. The situation you¡¯re worried about didn¡¯t happen.¡±
¡°To say it¡¯s nothing, isn¡¯t the condition of the dead body in front of us too severe?¡±
Yun Sang-mi frowned as she looked at the face of the dead fixer with a smile.
The ugliness was such that one might wonder how a person could end up looking like that.
Compared to Kang-hoo, it was as if not even worthy of being called a squid, perhaps not even a squid¡¯s leg.
¡°It seems they were targeting us, though I¡¯m not sure why.¡±
He dodged the question with a suitable lie.
There was no point in mentioning the liberation area or Ebony Bone since it wouldn¡¯t help the situation.
Moreover, with the fixer dead, Shin Jun-ho couldn¡¯t obtain information about him.
The fixer had been able to track him down without even knowing his face by following the traces of mana.
But Shin Jun-ho didn¡¯t have such abilities. It was more likely that he would change his target to Min Su-hyun.
After all, she was at least publicly recognizable, which made it easier to track her down based on the information avable.
When Kang-hoo exined the situation calmly, Yun Sang-mi didn¡¯t press for more details.
However, she seemed to be wounded in pride by the fact that she had been caught off guard and knocked unconscious.
Being caught off guard is just like that.
If you¡¯re not vignt, even hunters of much lower levels can catch you by surprise.
Especially since the fixer was over level 300, higher than Yun Sang-mi, so it wasn¡¯t something she should feel ashamed of.
Of course,pared to Kang-hoo, who never lets his guard down, there were somepses in her vignce.
After hearing the story, Yun Sang-mi¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
She felt indebted to Kang-hoo for saving her life due to her own carelessness.
¡°Thank you, oppa. I was too careless. I almost put you in danger too.¡±
¡°If it¡¯s a happy ending, that¡¯s all that matters. No need to dwell on the past. Besides, we¡¯re richer now.¡±
Kang-hoo showed her the items he had taken from the fixer.
As expected of a magician, the items were focused on the magic stat, so they weren¡¯t particrly useful to Kang-hoo.
However, they were valuable items, and selling them all could easily at least 30 billion won.
Such is the world of hunters.
As one advances to higher levels, the concept of how much money is lost when a hunter dies also esctes.
At least, since it was a fixer, it¡¯s worth this much, but if a named character like Jang Si-hwan died, the loss would be in the trillions.
The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer; this exists in the world of hunters, where prization is even more severe than among ordinary people.
¡°The Public Safety Bureau said they sent a patrol officer right away. Let¡¯s wrap this up and head back, oppa.¡±
¡°How¡¯s your condition?¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine since I had a good rest. The dungeon isn¡¯t big, so let¡¯s go in and out quickly.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
Reaching level 100 was a certainty, so his thoughts had already moved beyond that point.
When he first came to this world, reaching level 100 seemed like a distant dream.
For a hunter, attaining level 100 is seen as the second major milestone, and now it was almost within reach.
The strategy unfolded swiftly.
The difficulty level was manageable, and the dungeon waspact, making it not too challenging.
However, since they were a duo, the experience gained was significantly more.
This allowed them to prepare for the boss monster, just shy of reaching level 100.
To be precise, about level 99.9? Defeating the boss would exactly elevate them to level 100.
A one-hour break, requested by Yun Sang-mi, gave them a chance to sit on the cold, hard ground and share the sandwiches they had packed.
Despite being cold and as hard as rocks, the sandwiches tasted incredibly sweet after the fight.
¡°Sun-kyu oppa.¡±
¡°Yeah.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t expect us to conquer this so quickly. You must possess a lot of bleeding maintenance skills, right?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that I have many bleeding skills, but more that my skill set excels at maintaining bleeding.¡±
¡°There were quite a few monsters with high regeneration and recovery abilities, but you made that section seem effortless.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the benefit of bleeding.¡±
¡°You seem to have everything but bleeding. Honestly, isn¡¯t it a bit like cheating to also have bleeding? Tsk.¡±
Yun Sang-mi yfully pouted.
Bleeding isn¡¯t just caused by a sword¡¯s cut; it¡¯s an attack option.
That means attacks without bleeding allow the opponent to quickly stop the bleeding and recover.
But with bleeding¡
The effectiveness of skills rted to hemostasis, recovery, and regeneration drops drastically, making it almost negligible.
What would normally restore 100 health points now only restores 50, 40, or even less, despite using the same skill.
In dungeons above level 400,
You¡¯d encounter monsters with such high regeneration abilities that calling them ¡°bizarre¡± would be an understatement.
They constantly heal and regenerate wounds, making it crucial to disrupt this process.
Hence, as one progresses into the world of higher-level hunters, finding a ¡°bleeding dealer¡± bes extremely difficult.
This is because the bleeding effect can only be obtained from specific skills or items.
Due to its rarity, naturally, many seek it.
Yet, despite not being at a high level, Kang-hoo is in a situation where he can maintain bleeding almost constantly.
From Yun Sang-mi¡¯s perspective, it was baffling. The bleeding never stopped during their strategy.
Kang-hoo responded,
¡°I do consider it a part that significantly increases my value. I¡¯m well aware of its rarity.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what I mean. I wonder if you¡¯ll stop hanging out with meter. There might be too many people calling for you?¡±
¡°If you find a good dungeon, I¡¯ll hang out with you. Isn¡¯t that a good enough promise?¡±
¡°Hmph, you sound like a ve to capitalism.¡±
¡°Ugh.¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn
Yun Sang-mi jabbed Kang-hoo in the ribs with all her might.
Even Kang-hoo, who seemed like he wouldn¡¯t shed a tear even if stabbed, appeared to have a weak spot in his ribs.
Finding amusement, Yun Sang-mi poked Kang-hoo¡¯s ribs several times until he couldn¡¯t help butugh.
Though trivial, experiencing such positive emotions and expressions, even asionally, was precious to Kang-hoo.
Perhaps he was wary of bingpletely numb to emotions.
Alone, it might not be noticeable.
But when interacting and being with someone, the dull and dampened emotions felt stimted.
Kang-hoo considered this a vital spark that allowed him to exist as a ¡®human.¡¯
Without such emotions, he would be no different from the fixer who died earlier.
A being that is human but not quite human. Therefore, a being destined to be eternally lonely.
With the defeat of the boss monster, the long-anticipated goal was finally achieved.
Level 100!
For the first time since possessing this body, an extra digit was added to the level disy, moving from two digits to three.
¡¾Clone Technique¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾Creates a clone that closely resembles the original. The clone acquires a certain percentage ofbat ability.¡¿
¡¾With maximum proficiency, the clone possesses 33% of the original''s firepower.¡¿
¡¾The clonests for a total of 10 seconds, consuming 10% of health and 35% of mana to create.¡¿
A basic skill was added.
Clone Technique.
Unlike illusion techniques, this skill summons another entity with offensive capabilities resembling the original.
Thanks to the maximum skill proficiency, the firepower increased from 25% to 33%, and the duration extended from 5 seconds to 10 seconds.
It was a moment to feel the power of the perks provided by Dimension Plunderer anew.
A basic skill famous among elite assassins for its proficient and dazzling usage, Clone Technique.
A signature skill of assassins that creates an undeniable variable even when known to be fake.
This marked the beginning of a change in the direction ofbat that he would pursue as an assassin.
Chapter 104: Skill Upgrade (2)
Chapter 104: Skill Upgrade (2)
Meanwhile,
The skill stolen from the boss was ¡®Copse¡¯.
Although my mind was preupied with acquiring the Clone Technique, the efficiency of the Copse skill was quite satisfactory.
In the case of Copse, it was possible to temporarily create a sinkhole on dirt or sandy ground.
It worked on any terrain that wasn¡¯t hard. The hole wouldn¡¯t be very deep, but it was a skill sufficient for creating variables.
Among other spoils, a few magic stones were yielded to Yun Sang-mi.
The amount was embarrassingly small, even to offset the cost of a dungeon license.
Thus, reaching level 100 came to an end. Now, it was time to decide what to do with the hematite.
I had been pondering it from time to time, but this would be the first time to seriously consider it.After parting ways with Yun Sang-mi, I nned to drop her off at her home with the intention of observing.
She had a second house in Tanbang-dong, Daejeon, where she stayed.
The original n was to drop her off at her home and then check into a hotel to rest, but¡
I changed my mind seeing Yun Sang-mi¡¯s unusually paleplexion.
It seemed to be a problem that she had fainted due to the troubleshooter and then immediately continued with the dungeon assault.
So, afterying her in bed, I wet a towel thoroughly and ced it on her forehead, although it was an old-fashioned method.
I didn¡¯t forget to provide her with emergency medicine and warm water.
Being emotionally numb doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t know how to care for someone, though Yun Sang-mi seemed surprised.
¡°You know how to nurse someone back to health, that¡¯s unexpected.¡±
¡°I knew you would say that.¡±
¡°It must have been too much for my body, being subdued and knocked out by that lunatic.¡±
¡°I wonder if I rushed the dungeon assault too much.¡±
¡°Not at all. I was the one who suggested we go in. It¡¯s just the situation. You don¡¯t need to me yourself.¡±
¡°Anyway, rest up. I¡¯ll stay by your side until you wake up.¡±
¡°Wow¡ That¡¯s so unlike you.¡±
¡°My blood may be cold, but I¡¯m not frozen. Instead of babbling, why not just sleep?¡±
¡°Heh, then can I be in your care?¡±
Yun Sang-mi tried to act fine, burying herself in the nket with a yful expression.
Kang-hoo could feel it.
She definitely wasn¡¯t in good condition.
It was just an act; she wasn¡¯t okay. At the very least, she needed a proper sleep.
And sure enough,
In less than 10 seconds, Yun Sang-mi fell into a deep sleep, evidently exhausted.
Stepping out onto the terrace for a moment, Kang-hoo called Jung Yuri.
Having reached level 100 and with no Mad Srkium left, there was now a definite reason to meet K.
I had thought about stopping by Osan Station on the way, but it seemed better to take care of necessary things first.
-Hello¡ Ugh.
Jung Yuri¡¯s voice on the phone sounded like that of a dying person.
Of course, 6 a.m. wasn¡¯t exactly a suitable time for a call.
¡°Did I call too early?¡±
-No, it¡¯s okay¡ I¡¯m fine, just give me a moment.
Immediately after, the sound of her washing her face vigorously could be heard. It was a real-life example of the expression ¡°splish ssh.¡±
Then, a fully awakened Jung Yuri continued the conversation.
-I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m still tired even after sleeping so much. Maybe it¡¯s because I changed my bed?
¡°Is it okay to talk?¡±
-Yes, it¡¯s fine. Brother, have you started missing grandfather now?
¡°Yeah. I need to go to Ground Zero. I have things to buy and questions to ask.¡±
How about we meet at Seoul Station tomorrow morning and go from there? Grandfather is closing up shop today.
¡°What does ¡®closing up¡¯ mean?¡±
-It¡¯s also the day for harvesting Srkium and organizing the stock!
¡°Ah, then I definitely need to avoid today.¡±
-Right. That¡¯s why I said let¡¯s meet tomorrow morning.
¡°Shall we take the train from Seoul Station?¡±
-No! I¡¯ll arrange the transportation! You just need toe to Seoul Station. Is 7 a.m. okay?
¡°No problem.¡±
-Then, tomorrow morning at 7, I¡¯ll be gone!
The call ended with Jung Yuri¡¯s yful voice.
It was slightly puzzling that she insisted on arranging transportation instead of taking the train.
This was because, once you leave Seoul and head towards the northern part of Gyeonggi, public safety bes quite unstable.
Not only was the Abyss present in the north, but numerous criminal organizations were also stationed there.
Passing through the areas under the control of the Abyss was as safe as being in Seoul, thanks to Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s management.
However, traveling through regions not under their control, which werewlessnds rife with kidnappings and attacks, was a different story.
It wasn¡¯t surprising to have a bazooka fired at cars moving on the road.
Jung Yuri couldn¡¯t be unaware of this, so she must have meant that she could arrange for a ride that ensured safety.
This would require a significant amount of money, making me curious about who she had in mind.
Perhaps it involved an enigmatic figure, possibly with the assistance of her grandmother.
Anyway, that was for tomorrow to reveal.
Kang-hoo decided to examine the Hematite upgrade while enjoying the cool breeze on the terrace.
It wouldn¡¯t do to proceed in the living room where Yun Sang-mi was sleeping, in case a bright sh urred and caused a nuisance.
¡°Let¡¯s set aside 2 of the 7 Hematites, just in case Ie across a skill with good efficiency.¡±
He decided to use only five.
This was because it was possible to acquire skillster that were morepatible with Hematite. It was necessary to have reserves.
The first thing Kang-hoo invested Hematite in was a grade 5 item ring specialized in toughness, the Martial God¡¯s y.
Normally, items can¡¯t be upgraded with Hematite.
However, items marked as ¡®possible¡¯ for upgrade, like the Martial God¡¯s y, existed.
Since it was an item rted to one of the valuable stats, toughness, the investment value of Hematite was sufficient.
The value of investing in Hematite for an item was maximized when upgraded to grade 2 or grade 1.
¡¾Would you like to proceed with the upgrade to a grade 4 item?¡¿
¡¾This item can be upgraded with Hematite, consuming a total of 1 piece.¡¿
¡¾Upgrading to a grade 3 item will consume 2 pieces of Hematite.¡¿
Kang-hoo immediately confirmed.
Although he couldn¡¯t invest all the Hematites today, it was clear that investing one in advance was necessary.
¡¾Martial God''s y - Ring¡¿
¡¾Grade: Grade 4¡¿
¡¾Toughness +150¡¿
¡¾This special item can be upgraded one grade higher using Hematite.¡¿
¡°Nice.¡±
Thanks to the upgrade, the toughness stat increased from 50 to 150.
His current toughness is 495.
Normally, exceeding 500 toughness significantly reduces basic attack damage from hunters below level 75.
Ordinary attacks would hardly scratch him, making it difficult to even cause a scrape.
¡°To reach grade 1, I need 2, 3, 4¡ a total of 9 pieces. Well, that¡¯s something to work on gradually.¡±
Though the efficiency of Hematite might feel low for now, Kang-hoo saw it as an investment for the future.
Preparations for the future were sufficient.
Now it was time to bring about immediate and definite changes.
Kang-hoo unhesitatingly chose Self-Defense ¨C Stage 2 next.
It was an essential skill for Kang-hoo, who wanted to minimize investment in defensive movements or psychology.
¡¾Would you like to use 1 piece of Hematite to upgrade Self-Defense to Stage 3?¡¿
Minor messages continued to appear, but Kang-hoo deleted all the unimportant notifications.
The upgrade waspleted instantly.
The disappearance of a single Hematite significantly changed the skill tooltip, making Kang-hoo wonder if it should really be this simple.
Seeing this, he thought about how much the hunter system resembled a game system.
¡¾Self-Defense ¨C Stage 3¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾Passive Skill. When activated, it takes 1 hour to reactivate.¡¿
¡¾By activating Self-Defense, you can nullify all attacks from outside for 0.5 seconds.¡¿
¡¾33% of the owned mana can be used to reactivate Stage 2.¡¿
¡°0.5 seconds of absolute invincibility. And it¡¯s saying that I can nullify two attacks non-selectively.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded, understanding the tooltip.
0.5 seconds could block any attack, and afterward, it could block two more attacks.
The word ¡®absolute¡¯ in item or skill evaluations always signifies a significant benefit.
Of course, it¡¯s a skill that can¡¯t be used consecutively, requiring a time-based cooldown.
It seemed really useful for do-or-die moments or when a strategic counter is needed.
Relying on the invincibility judgment, it¡¯s possible to rush in boldly. A very reliable insurance for an assassin.
Next, Kang-hoo invested a Hematite into the Illusion skill.
Originally, the skill had a 0.2-second absolute induction of illusion, making it a very useful skill.
After the upgrade, the absolute induction time of Illusion increased from 0.2 seconds to 0.75 seconds.
An increase of 0.55 seconds.
It might seem short as it¡¯s less than a second.
But in that brief moment, a lot can happen in the world of hunters.
A minor injury could be severe, and a severe injury could lead to irreversible death.
Knowing the significance of that time, Kang-hoo felt the increase was substantial.
Next was Shadow Step.
Originally, it was possible to move to the position of one of five shadows.
Through the upgrade, it became possible to utilize all remaining shadows.
From the opponent¡¯s perspective, they need to be cautious of not only the main body but also the positions of all five shadows.
It bes a headache. Of course, for Kang-hoo, who enjoys outsmarting his opponents, this was exciting.
And thest Hematite was invested in the Clone Technique.
With just one Hematite, the skill firepower evaluation of the clone increased from 33% to 50%.
The ultimate goal is to have both the clone and the original yield 100% firepower.
It¡¯s a story for the distant future, but Kang-hoo believed he could eventually make it a reality.
¡°Sigh. It feels like all the old blockages are being cleared away.¡±
After investing all Hematites except for the spare two, Kang-hoo let out a hot breath.
He had held his breath unconsciously while carefully examining the changed skill descriptions.
With the current configuration, it seemed much easier topete with hunters at the level of Jeon Jong-du or troubleshooters.
Of course, this was just spection.
Lifting his gaze slightly and thinking about someone like Kang Dong-hyun made him feel constrained again.
However, even Kang Dong-hyun couldn¡¯t ignore and break through the judgment of absolute invincibility.
Kang-hoo felt good about using the Hematites efficiently across the board, anticipating significant benefits toe.
Just then,
¡¾The Constetion ''Master of Shell Games'' offers you the opportunity to spin a wheel without a miss.¡¿
He finally paid proper attention to the constetion message alert, which he had neglected due to being preupied elsewhere.
The message that caught his eye was left by the Constetion ¡®Master of Shell Games¡¯.
Yes. It was time to spin the wheel of fortune.
Chapter 105: Master K (1)
Chapter 105: Master K (1)
Is there anyone in the world who doesn¡¯t like free stuff? Kang-hoo also liked the roulette that brought unearned ie.
A roulette without a single loss. Just hearing about it makes one feel good. Isn¡¯t it a gain no matter whates out?
The roulette, activated like a hologram in mid-air, was densely filled with numerous options.
To mention just a few:
¡¾5 Orange Magic Stones¡¿
¡¾1 Random Skill Book¡¿
¡¾Increase of 75 Magic Stats¡¿
¡¾Level Up by 1¡¿
These were some of the options.¡°If an increase in magic statses up, I¡¯ll have to discard it.¡±
Kang-hoo smirked.
Due to the effects of the Barbaric Age, any chance for an increase in magic power had to bepletely blocked.
Anyway, there was no pressure since anything that came out would be a benefit.
No matter how much he thought about it, it wouldn¡¯t change anything, so Kang-hoo immediately spun the roulette.
While the roulette spun itself ¨C Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t even interested ¨C under the brilliant lights.
Kang-hoo turned his attention to the piled-up messages from the constetions.
Having been so busy, he hadn¡¯t checked the contents that the constetions were interested in.
For starters, about thirty constetions he had never heard of before had made minor contributions.
Most of them were experience buff contributions, which were the least burdensome in terms of divine power, but it wasn¡¯t bad as every little bit adds up.
Constetions are cautious.
They make small contributions just enough to make their presence known and then keenly observe the hunter.
Once a hunter is led to receive divine power contributions, that much divine power bes ¡°invested.¡±
It¡¯s like investing a lot of money into item or skill settings in a game and then being unable to quit.
The more you invest in a hunter, the bigger the loss if you pull away from them¡¡
Meaningful investments have to be made carefully. The tentative response was understandable.
¡°Still, it¡¯s a good start that thirty new constetions showed interest by the time I reached level 100.¡±
It was a decent beginning.
In the original story, about thirty constetions revealed themselves when Jang Si-hwan reached level 100.
Of course, there could be higher cases, but at least he was on the same starting line as Jang Si-hwan. It was considered a sess.
Then:
¡¾The constetion ¡®Strategist of the Wastnd¡¯ formally makes you an offer.¡¿
¡¾It doesn¡¯t matter if I¡¯m not your main constetion. I just want you to enjoy the privileges I have as a contractor.¡¿
¡°¡¡¡±
It was an extraordinary proposal.
To put it in a metaphor:
It¡¯s like telling a man who already has a lover that it¡¯s okay if he doesn¡¯t love me, just let me stay by his side.
Not asking for anything from the contractor, but wanting them to enjoy the power of the constetion.
Usually, lower-ranked constetions do this to be with an attractive contractor.
However, the ¡®Strategist of the Wastnd¡¯ was a constetion ranked within the top 200 in the Grand War.
If they wanted, they could easily find another attractive contractor and be their main constetion.
Bing the main constetion means that as the contractor grows, the status of the constetion also rises.
Otherwise, it doesn¡¯t affect their own value at all.
Moreover, once privileges are provided, it creates a rtionship almost indistinguishable from a main constetion, making it impossible to abandon the contractor.
The one-sided interest and love of the constetion.
For Kang-hoo, it was a bewildering but the best offer with absolutely no reason to refuse.
¡¾I highly value your will to fight, your strategies and tactics, all of it.¡¿
¡¾Just being able to im a spot and watch from it would be enough for me to have a pleasant time in the Grand War.¡¿
Her heart was palpable.
Could it be that another named constetion would join him, alongside the Dimension Plunderer, who was already a significant figure in his own right?
He didn¡¯t show it, but
his heart was trembling.
The constetions that Kang-hoo had plundered from the hunters he had killed
were like the Strategist of the Wastnd; they were subordinated to the contractor in a rtionship of ¡®servitude.¡¯
Because Kang-hoo could only plunder constetions that had formally contracted.
For example, among the four constetions he obtained from killing the Problem Solver, three were subordinated.
But this wasn¡¯t strange.
Because they were not high-ranking constetions.
Rather, given the abilities of the Problem Solver, they probably wanted to cling to him first, seeking vicarious satisfaction.
A constetion like the Drug King would have been exactly the type to cling to the Problem Solver like a leech.
¡¾What do you think?¡¿
Perhaps getting anxious, the Strategist of the Wastnd slightly nudged Kang-hoo for an answer.
Her constetion¡¯s privileges weren¡¯t a perfect fit for him, but having them would undoubtedly be beneficial.
There was no reason to refuse.
The Dimension Plunderer couldn¡¯t say anything about this part. It wasn¡¯t a threat to the position of the main constetion.
¡°I¡¯m fine with it.¡±
¡¾You cheeky guy. You¡¯re all informal with me but polite to some lowlife X.¡¿
The Dimension Plunderer, who seemed to have been quiet, grumbled. He must have been watching the conversation.
Kang-hoo smirked.
Since he had let his guard down from their first meeting with the Dimension Plunderer, it was awkward to start being formal now. No, it was bothersome.
¡¾Contractor, I ask for your will once again. Do you ept the contract? Your answer will be conveyed to the Grand War.¡¿
¡°Of course.¡±
¡¾Good. I will formally report to the Grand War and obtain permission for the contract. It will take some time.¡¿
¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll do my best not to fall short of expectations.¡±
¡¾Of course. You¡¯ve always been like that.¡¿
¡¾Since when have you been watching to say I¡¯ve always been like that?¡¿
¡¾Even when you, girl, were bored watching over the contractor and fell asleep, I was watching every move.¡¿
¡¾So low-ranking, you have nothing else to do, I see.¡¿
¡¾Where is this dog barking from?¡¿
Kang-hoo shook his head at the unexpected quarrel between the two constetions.
Soon, the message window quieted down.
They were probably bickering in their own space.
It was an obvious expectation, but it seemed like their rtionship wouldn¡¯t be good moving forward.
If you looked at it as a picture, it was as if they were fighting over a man.
The one who backs down loses.
And nobody was nning to back down easily.
¡°It¡¯s still spinning.¡±
He thought he had spent quite a bit of time talking with the Strategist of the Wastnd.
The rotation of the roulette was still ongoing. However, it was now noticeably slowing down.
And then, teasing the viewer¡¯s heart, it seemed like it would stop, then kept going.
¡¾1 Orange Magic Stone¡¿
¡°That¡¯s not it.¡±
He thought he had lowered his expectations, but seeing the rtively poor (?) reward made him shake his head.
After all, if it¡¯s a free gift, it might as well be generous!
After several teases of seeming to stop, catching Kang-hoo¡¯s gaze each time.
It finally stopped.
The free reward he won from the shell game roulette was immediately.
¡¾Skill Copy 1 Time¡¿
¡¾You can copy one skill you¡¯ve directly observed from any hunter regardless of their gender, level, or ss.¡¿
¡¾There are no penalties for ss mismatch during the acquisition process, and the efficiency is inherited at 100%.¡¿
¡°¡¡Is this a jackpot?¡±
Although he spoke inly, as it was far from being showy, it really was a jackpot.
A special window rted to skill copying was added to the status screen.
It was positioned to be easily visible, ready for use at any moment.
This oue was the best possible.
Copying a skill from one of the most renowned named individuals would be the most efficient approach.
Jang Si-hwan was also an excellent choice.
He possessed a considerable number of high-level dark magic skills. There were many hunters who could be potential targets.
¡°Feels like things are going well right after reaching level 100.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded as he gazed at thendscape outside the terrace, which appeared particrly bright and cozy today.
It would be nice if every day were like today, but dark clouds could gather at any moment.
The next day.
He met Jung Yuri in Seoul.
On the way to Seoul, he had another call with Yun Sang-mi, who said her condition was very good.
He felt good, thinking that the care he had provided seemed to be effective.
At the same time, he felt sorry that Yun Sang-mi had also suffered because of her involvement with him.
¡°I should use this before the month is over.¡±
Kang-hoo fiddled with a gold card he had taken out of his wallet.
It was a gold card authenticated by the Spitfire Guild. With a monthly limit of 2 billion won, there was a need to spend it wisely.
After meeting K, Kang-hoo nned to pay for the Srkium he would buy from him with this card.
It was considered a purchase of consumables.
Hunters earn a lot of money, but they also spend a lot.
That doesn¡¯t mean all hunters are wealthy.
It¡¯s possible to be wealthy without spending money. However, growth would stall, and one would eventually fall behind.
Hunters capable of umting a lot of money usually have high pride in themselves and are more passionate.
Cases of nning to just umte a certain amount and then retiring from hunting life were notmon.
Hunters with such a mindset usually grew slowly or died in dungeons.
Then.
¡°Oppa!¡±
He heard the cheerful voice of Jung Yuri calling him.
Turning his head, he saw her dressed casually in a white T-shirt, jeans, and a leather jacket, exuding a simple 20s vibe as if she were on her way to meet her grandfather.
¡°You¡¯re here.¡±
¡°Did you wait long?¡±
¡°Not at all. You arrived just in time.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go! I¡¯ve prepared the car in advance, so let¡¯s head to the parking lot!¡±
¡°Is it a rental?¡±
¡°See for yourself! It¡¯s too bothersome to exin!¡±
Jung Yuri pulled Kang-hoo along.
Perhaps because she was going to see her grandfather, Jung Yuri seemed to be in a particrly good mood.
The excitement was understandable. The mere thought of meeting one¡¯s blood rtives often brings happiness.
The car they arrived at in the parking lot was much nicer than Kang-hoo had anticipated.
¡°Is this a safety limousine?¡±
¡°Yes! Exactly! It¡¯s equipped with everything from bulletproofing to a self-defense barrier system linked with magic stones!¡±
¡°¡¡Must be expensive.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay. Grandma sent the car for us to use! Ah, Mr. Driver! I¡¯ve brought a guest with us!¡±
Jung Yuri busily exchanged greetings.
The man who appeared to be the driver also seemed to be a hunter.
In the car behind, which appeared to be apanying them, there were bodyguards dressed neatly in suits. They, too, were hunters.
¡®Who exactly is she?¡¯
Kang-hoo was curious about the identity of Jung Yuri¡¯s ¡®grandmother,¡¯ a figure shrouded inplete mystery.
A safety limousine with this level of setup could be as expensive as a mobile home.
The price isn¡¯t really the issue, but the maintenance costs for driving it are.
To maintain all these features and travel to Ground Zero, it would cost at least 90 million won per trip.
The magic stones used for the barrier maintenance had to be discarded afterward.
They can¡¯t be reused or reced, so it¡¯s essentially like throwing money away on the street.
¡°Yuri.¡±
¡°Yes?¡±
¡°Can I know who your grandmother is?¡±
Kang-hoo, who usually doesn¡¯t show curiosity, couldn¡¯t help but ask this time.
He was also a bit ¡®scared¡¯ by Jung Yuri¡¯s family rtions.
Her grandfather is Master K, who tightly controls the Ground Zero area, and her grandmother is a hunter with even greater wealth.
Together, they appeared to be a couple of considerable influence.
Jung Yuri, after pondering for a moment, observed Kang-hoo¡¯s expression and chewed on her lips.
As Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes sparkled in anticipation of an answer, Jung Yuri chuckled and responded.
¡°Secret!¡±
Chapter 106: Master K (2)
Chapter 106: Master K (2)
In the car on the way to Ground Zero.
As we moved away from Seoul, the surrounding scenery changed rapidly.
Unlike the organized, clean, and safe feeling of Seoul¡¯s bright and livelyndscape,
Streets with broken streetlights, heavily cracked asphalt, and abandoned cars looked deste.
Of course, people live in such ces too. The murderous cost of living in Seoul is hard for even the middle ss to bear.
It¡¯s too greedy to wish for every space in the world to be filled with light and happiness.
Originally, the source material, ¡°The Viin¡¯s Guide to Saving the World,¡± depicted a world close to dystopia.
Kang-hoo, who knows this better than anyone, didn¡¯t harbor any vain hopes.
Meanwhile,Jung Yuri, who had been waiting to see if Kang-hoo would speak first, pouted her lips.
Conversations with Kang-hoo always required her to initiate the topic.
He would only speak first if there was a matter at hand; otherwise, he was as still as a statue.
With his expressionless face, sometimes she wondered if he was a mannequin or a wax figure.
Observing Kang-hoo, she felt like she was looking at a man with many thoughts and a sad story.
A sense of solitude seemed to emanate from his tightly closed lips, as if he was carrying a heavy burden alone.
Hidden behind the silence, she instinctively felt hisplex emotionalyers. There was something about him.
That¡¯s why, despite Kang-hoo¡¯sck of conversational skills, she found herself wanting to talk to him more.
¡°Jung Sun-kyu?¡±
¡°Yes?¡±
¡°You¡¯ve been looking out the window for a while now, is there something bothering you?¡±
¡°No, not really.¡±
¡°Brother. You said you applied for the Hell¡¯s Judgment mercenary recruitment, right?¡±
¡°Yes, I submitted my application.¡±
¡°I¡¯m going to apply too! It¡¯s a unique opportunity for growth, and I thought I¡¯d broaden mywork this time.¡±
Kang-hoo tilted his head.
Since it¡¯s an operation organized by the Jeonghwa Guild, there¡¯s a chance she might encounter Chae Gwanhyeong.
Would it be okay for her, considering he¡¯s a major source of trauma in her life, almost like an enemy?
Sensing Kang-hoo¡¯s concerns, Jung Yuri continued.
¡°It¡¯s okay! Even if I see Chae Gwanhyeong in person, I think I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ve practiced a lot of mind control and learned how to conceal my feelings.¡±
¡°Are you really okay?¡±
¡°Yes. My desire to move towards a bright future is stronger than my painful past memories! It¡¯s all thanks to you.¡±
¡°The conclusion seems a bit.¡±
¡°Really. I¡¯m not one to make empty promises, you know?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t n to move in a team. That¡¯s how I applied.¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s your choice. I¡¯m not saying we should go together! I was just expressing my interest in participating.¡±
¡°Prepare well.¡±
¡°I will! Of course¡ I haven¡¯t forgotten about that. I¡¯ll definitely seek revenge. Until then, all I can do is patiently wait and endure.¡±
Herst words unveiled the pain she had buried deep in her memories, enduring it with all her might.
Anyway, with Jung Yuri¡¯s determined response, the limousine returned to a silence as deep as a swamp.
The atmosphere inside the car perfectly matched the damp-looking sky outside.
Jung Yuri took out wireless earphones, inserted them into her ears, and started listening to music.
It was the ssical music that hadforted her when she was alone in Ground Zero, preventing her from feeling lonely.
Kang-hoo turned his gaze back to the window.
The thought of meeting Master K in person made even the usually unppable Kang-hoo tense.
There were many indirect mentions of K in the original work.
However, he never appeared directly at the heart of the story because he had never met the protagonist, ¡°Jang Si-hwan.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t desire the answers. I just think it would be great if you could illuminate the path.¡±
Hoping to alleviate even the vagueness surrounding his congenital mana hypersensitivity.
Even now, the fundamental problem remains unsolved, though he has be somewhat capable of enduring the side effects and pain.
¡°Brother, don¡¯t be too nervous. Grandfather has a good impression of you. I¡¯ve spoken highly of you.¡±
¡°Alright.¡±
Jung Yuri¡¯s words sounded strange, as if he was meeting his inws. It wasn¡¯t the case, but he seemed visibly nervous.
Kang-hoo took a deep breath to calm his excited emotions, reminding himself that this meeting was not something to feel intimidated by.
Even after arriving at Ground Zero, it was only after delving much deeper that we reached K¡¯s territory.
Its official name is ¡°Yuri Land.¡±
The name carries a story; it was established by K in honor of adopting Jung Yuri.
At first nce, the name might seem childish, but understanding the story behind it warms the heart.
The extent of K¡¯s territory was so vast that determining its boundaries was impossible.
K supplies a significant amount of stimnts and medicinal drugs to the Hunter Public Safety Bureau and the Jeonghwa Guild.
Given the near-monopoly andrge-scale supply, it was understandable why the cultivation area was so extensive.
Even a brief look around revealed that there were more than 100 workers inside, busy with their tasks.
Additionally, there were guards hired specifically for their safety, in equal numbers.
As we disembarked at the entrance of the main gate,
A man with an expression as impassive as Kang-hoo¡¯s approached and greeted us.
He first bowed politely to Jung Yuri, who greeted him warmly.
¡°Moon Hyung-seo! Long time no see?¡±
¡°Wee, Miss.¡±
¡°We¡¯re the same age; just call me Yuri!¡±
¡°It would be inappropriate for me to address such a valued person of our master informally. I cannotply with that request.¡±
¡°Anyway, we¡¯re here! This is Sun-kyu brother! He¡¯s a guest who will meet Grandfather today!¡±
¡°I see. Nice to meet you. My name is Moon Hyung-seo.¡±
Kang-hoo acknowledged Moon Hyung-seo¡¯s bow with a nod, without offering a handshake.
Moon Hyung-seo.
A new name for Kang-hoo.
He appeared to be a close confidant who served K with unconditional loyalty. There must be a story there too.
¡°Moon Hyung-seo is a friend whom Grandfather and I trust more than ourselves. Brother, you don¡¯t need to be too cautious around him.¡±
Thanks to Jung Yuri¡¯s exnation, Moon Hyung-seo¡¯s character was quickly understood.
Except for K, his wife, and Jung Yuri, probably no one else would view him kindly.
Such devoted confidants usually suspect all others, considering them potential enemies.
It was no surprise that Kang-hoo, a guest, would not be an exception.
Sure enough, Moon Hyung-seo immediately pointed a detector at Kang-hoo.
¡°There¡¯s a security procedure. We¡¯ll take one photo of you, and all weapons must be surrendered.¡±
¡°By all means.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded his approval.
He almost wanted to apud K for being so thorough with external checks.
Lax security creates loopholes, which can turn into variables.
What if K were kidnapped abroad or fell into the hands of a criminal organization?
Then the supply of medicinal herbs in the country would be upheaved. Ground Zero would be no man¡¯snd.
The process was swift.
The photo was taken instantly by a camera at the entrance, and Kang-hoo temporarily handed over his weapons.
The search was silent, suggesting things might proceed quietly, but¡
Midway, Moon Hyung-seo nced at Kang-hoo and added something he hadn¡¯t said earlier.
¡°Just to be clear, don¡¯tmit even the smallest rudeness towards Master K. You understand, right?¡±
¡°Whether something is rude or not seems like it¡¯s for Master K to decide. Truly ¡®just to be clear.¡¯¡±
Kang-hoo responded with a smile to what seemed like a slightly overstepping warning.
Typically, a confidant with such a singr focus has a narrow field of vision, often unknowinglymitting rudeness themselves.
Of course, they are unaware of it, which sometimes leads to problems, even escting to fights.
¡°It¡¯s a word of caution.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll return that phrase as it is.¡±
He retorted, not backing down.
Sensing the atmosphere souring suddenly, Jung Yuri quickly intervened.
Swish!
She swiftly smacked Moon Hyung-seo on the back, trying to defuse the situation in her own witty way.
¡°Moon Hyung-seo, stop repeating the greeting spiel like a robot and move on. Brother and I will manage on our own!¡±
¡°Understood, Miss.¡±
Kang-hoo observed Moon Hyung-seo¡¯s back as he walked away, checking his constetion information.
There are five contracted constetions.
Even at a low estimate, that puts him at level 400.
Moreover, the fact that he has contracted with the ¡°Lancer of the Holy Spear¡± constetion suggests he specializes in spear techniques.
Likely, he has a talent, which is why he¡¯s bonded with a constetion specialized in a specific profession.
However, since he didn¡¯t bring a weapon to today¡¯s meeting, it was hard to gauge urately.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, brother. Moon Hyung-seo tends to be overly cautious and meticulous.¡±
¡°No need to apologize. Everyone is just ying their role. I just spoke my mind.¡±
¡°Thank you for understanding.¡±
¡°As long as the line isn¡¯t crossed, it¡¯s something I can hear and let go. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±
He was sincere.
Although Moon Hyung-seo¡¯s words were slightly irritating, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t hold onto the feeling.
However, he couldn¡¯t help but think the sharp reaction Moon Hyung-seo showed towards him was out of ¡®jealousy¡¯.
It¡¯s possible, isn¡¯t it?
If Moon Hyung-seo had feelings for Jung Yuri, it would make sense for him to be concerned about a man she brought along for the first time.
¡°Quite the character, indeed.¡±
Kang-hoo smirked, reflecting on Moon Hyung-seo. He seemed like a character who would be memorable for being quite stubborn.
The meeting with K happened immediately.
We were able to meet in a reception room specially prepared on the first floor of what appeared to be his research building.
¡°Grandfather¡!¡±
¡°My granddaughter! How hard must it have been toe all the way here?¡±
¡°It wasn¡¯t hard at all! Grandma arranged a limousine for us, so my brother and I came here veryfortably.¡±
¡°I wondered why suddenly money was withdrawn from my ount this morning¡¡±
¡°Eh? Didn¡¯t Grandma pay with her own money?¡±
¡°My money? Where is my money? It¡¯s your grandmother¡¯s money.¡±
¡°Pfft! Grandfather got tricked, so tricked!¡±
¡°Is that so. This young man is Jang Sun-kyu, right?¡±
¡°Yes! This is Sun-kyu, my brother! Brother, this is Grandfather! People often call him Master K!¡±
¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Jang Sun-kyu.¡±
Kang-hoo greeted K politely.
His personal information was shrouded in secrecy, making it impossible to estimate his level.
There was no mention of his level anywhere. Even scouring the news only resulted in spective articles.
Looking at his constetion information, there were more than ten.
At the very least, that would put him above level 500, conservatively speaking, and likely much higher.
¡°¡¡±
¡°¡¡±
A moment of silence passed between them.
Without speaking, Kang-hoo felt a pressure rolling in like high waves from K¡¯s gaze.
Was it the feeling one gets when facing someone specialized in intuition, insight, and even a bit of mysticism?
Yes, it was like meeting someone with a strong spiritual presence, a feeling that¡¯s indescribable, hence all the more mysterious.
And such thoughts were mirrored.
¡°An interesting fellow.¡±
K, locking eyes with Kang-hoo, was thinking the same.
Chapter 107: Master K (3)
Chapter 107: Master K (3)
The conversation didn¡¯t start off with depth.
Instead, Kang-hoo and K kept exchanging silent nces, revealing their mutual curiosity.
Though no words were spoken, there was an unspoken agreement to have a private conversation once Jung Yuri left the room.
What Moon Hyeong-seo brought, under K¡¯s instructions, was Fortis Tea.
Fortis is a nt with a mild awakening effect, only harvestable in specific dungeons.
In reality, it was used more for its ability to remove fear than for its awakening properties.
This was K¡¯s thoughtful gesture, noticing that Kang-hoo was nervous at their first meeting.
¡°I¡¯m truly grateful. Thanks to you, our Yuri has ended her wandering.¡±
¡°The choice was Yuri¡¯s. I merely unraveled a small thread.¡±¡°That thread, even her grandparents tried to unravel, but she just wouldn¡¯t grab onto it.¡±
¡°Grandfather! That was¡ At that time, everything was frightening. Could I not trust people?¡±
¡°I know, I know. That¡¯s why I¡¯m thankful again to young Sun-kyu. Truly grateful.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right.¡±
From K¡¯s words, it became clear how difficult and painful Jung Yuri¡¯s period of suffering must have been.
Such is the nature of trauma.
The perpetrator may not even realize they¡¯ve caused trauma, or if they do, they might not take it seriously.
But the victim lives in pain every moment, unless they can ovee and manage it themselves.
For this reason, Kang-hoo felt even morepassion and sympathy for Jung Yuri.
A pure soul had been tainted by the likes of Chae Gwanhyeong.
Afterward, they exchanged pleasantries and discussed everyday matters for about 10 minutes.
Since the topic was Jung Yuri, Kang-hoo listened quietly.
Though there was much to say, the conversation essentially revolved around Jung Yuri¡¯s purity and passion.
It made him think that her grandparents would be a strong support for her moving forward.
He wondered if he could hear about the grandmother¡¯s existence, but the conversation didn¡¯t steer in that direction.
And then,
¡°Yuri.¡±
¡°Yes, Grandfather.¡±
¡°I¡¯d like to have a word with young Sun-kyu alone. Could you give us a moment?¡±
¡°Ah, should I?¡±
Jung Yuri didn¡¯t find the conversation between Kang-hoo and her grandfather odd.
She understood that Kang-hoo¡¯s visit was for business, such as purchasing goods.
Of course, it also provided Jung Yuri an opportunity to introduce her benefactor, but the purpose was clear.
¡°Please check the storage for high-quality Srkium, especially the Mad Srkium.¡±
¡°I will! Can I go with Hyeong-seo? It¡¯s boring alone, and I thought we could chat.¡±
¡°Even if you told him not to, he¡¯d follow. He¡¯s more loyal to you than to me, actually.¡±
¡°Ah, that¡¯s not true.¡±
¡°Do you even understand what that guy feels?¡±
¡°He¡¯s all about Grandfather, isn¡¯t he?¡±
¡°Anyway, try to pre-select the premium ones. And clean them if possible.¡±
¡°Yes, I got it! Brother, have a good talk with Grandfather!¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
As soon as she finished speaking, Jung Yuri left the room.
The room, built with soundproof walls and doors, ensured that no sound escaped.
After a moment of silence,
And after moistening his slightly dry mouth with the sweet-scented Fortis Tea,
K quietly broke the silence, looking at Kang-hoo who was observing him.
¡°Kang-hoo.¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°You truly pursue a lonely and solitary destiny. Isn¡¯t it difficult? It¡¯s not an easy path.¡±
Kang-hoo flinched for a moment but responded with a faint smile.
The words from K could be seen as cold reading. They could apply to anyone.
Kang-hoo retorted,
¡°Master K, you must also feel loneliness at times, especially when you¡¯re pessimistic about the future.¡±
¡°Ha-ha. You thought my previous statement was just cold reading. Isn¡¯t that a too obvious retort?¡±
¡°It¡¯s something I sensed from the worry in your eyes.¡±
¡°Right. Thoughts are free for you. Anyway, I can sense it. You are a very special person.¡±
Could he see something?
It¡¯s possible.
A fixer he had previously killed had tracked him purely through the flow of mana.
Such ability must epass a spiritual concept of power, which includes insight.
Just because he can see through things doesn¡¯t mean Kang-hoo can bepletely honest about everything.
It¡¯smonly referred to as revealing heavenly secrets.
A single word can drastically alter the timeline, acting as a catalyst.
¡°I do want to live a special life.¡±
¡°People like you have a clear end. A hero or a viin. What do you think, too simplistic?¡±
¡°No. I just think it¡¯s better to be a dignified viin than a hero with a tainted reputation.¡±
¡°Right. I¡¯ve been too abstract in my conversation. Anyway, I¡¯ve wanted to say that from the start.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
What K might have seen in him wasn¡¯t that important.
Regardless of how K viewed or judged him, it wouldn¡¯t change his direction or thoughts in life.
However, his curiosity about K deepened. What kind of abilities does he possess as a hunter?
What¡¯s certain is that he¡¯s thoroughly concealing his power. Numerous pieces of constetion information prove that.
¡°I think I know why you wanted to see me. Will you speak first, or shall I tell you what I suspect?¡±
¡°Would you tell me?¡±
¡°Like Yuri said, you¡¯re not one to speak first. Alright, I¡¯ll tell you what I suspect. You have a fatal issue with your body.¡±
¡°¡¡¡±
Thinking this was merely cold reading seemed unlikely, given the unusual hand movements that followed from K.
He spread his arms.
Creating a flow that seemed to gather energy around him, spiraling.
¡°It¡¯s absolutely invisible on a microscopic level. But macroscopically, it can be faintly observed.¡±
¡°What do you see?¡±
¡°Your reaction to mana is abnormal. With this flow, you shouldn¡¯t worry about mana.¡±
K pinpointed his essence.
Not that he diagnosed the congenital mana hypersensitivity disorder itself.
That was for Kang-hoo to know, and for K, meeting him for the first time today, it was indeed a deep insight.
As Kang-hoo hesitated to speak, K emphatically added his reasoning.
¡°The reason you specifically seek out Srkium, Mad Srkium, must be to manage pain. But it¡¯s only a temporary solution.¡±
By now, it was clear he had seen through everything.
Kang-hoo felt there was nothing left to hide. In a way, it was a relief.
There was no need to exin his condition in detail. It seemed K had already made his judgment.
¡°I admit it. I came to seek your opinion on this matter.¡±
¡°It seems I¡¯m the one eagerly spilling words even though you have the concerns.¡±
¡°I thought it wouldn¡¯t be easy to exin. You might not believe it.¡±
¡°So, you thought if I seemed not to understand, you¡¯d hold back.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m willing to pay whatever rted costs.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s get straight to the conclusion.¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know the exact answer either. However, I have researched a simr condition before.¡±
¡°What condition?¡±
¡°It was about three years ago, I believe. I can¡¯t reveal his real name, so let¡¯s call him Hunter A. The problem was an overreaction to buff skills.¡±
¡°Does receiving buffs cause his body to not hold up?¡±
¡°Exactly. We did a lot of research back then, even coborated with researchers abroad.¡±
¡°Could you tell me who?¡±
¡°Mihai Bancu. A researcher from Romania. You probably won¡¯t know him unless you¡¯re interested in this field. It¡¯s a name unheard of otherwise.¡±
Contrary to K¡¯s expectation, Kang-hoo was familiar with the name. Of course, that wasn¡¯t the main point.
¡°How did the research go?¡±
¡°To put it simply, it was a waste of money. We tested every hypothesis, even those that seemed like delusions.¡±
¡°Any progress?¡±
¡°Yes, one of my hypotheses was correct. Bncing. It sounds simple, but it was a difficult task to implement.¡±
Kang-hoo was intrigued.
How did he approach it? Kang-hoo found himself swallowing nervously without realizing it.
Then, K pped the sofa and stood up. Was this the end of the conversation?
¡°¡¡?¡±
¡°Shall we proceed with the transaction first?¡±
Indeed, he was a natural businessman.
It felt like receiving a reality check rather than being in a novel.
K¡¯s cunning business tactics were annoying yet somehow likable.
As designed (?) by K, the transaction for Srkium proceeded smoothly.
He already had 28 normal Srkiums, so he didn¡¯t purchase any more.
Instead, he bought 20 Mad Srkiums, each costing 100 million won.
The amount precisely matched the limit of the gold card provided by the Spitfire Guild.
During the transaction,
Jung Yuri wasn¡¯t by his side as she was out walking with Moon Hyeong-seo.
Instead, each Mad Srkium was well-packaged with a heart-shaped sticker on it.
Despite being a simple sticker, it made him chuckle. Perhaps it was its innocent charm.
Kang-hoo checked the card statement, which showed a payment of 2 billion won, and smirked bitterly.
Indeed, it was expensive.
¡°Every time I see Mad Srkium, I¡¯m reminded of its insane price.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not easy for me to procure either. The sess rate of natural cultivation is too low.¡±
¡°Considering that, it might actually be a reasonable price.¡±
¡°The price has been lowered recently due to less demand. At its peak, it cost 300 million won each.¡±
¡°Not many are looking for it these days?¡±
¡°There are too many alternatives. Everyone wants a mix of awakening agents and painkillers.¡±
¡°Are you talking about drugs?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t deal with drugs. But many who buy from me do add drugs to the products.¡±
Buying 20 Mad Srkiums seemed to be a stroke of luck after all.
Reflecting on it, Kang-hoo couldn¡¯t think of any ce he could directly go to acquire them.
He had a vague idea of a few locations, but the search area was too vast.
It would take days to visit, which wasn¡¯t feasible at the moment.
¡°The packaging seems sturdy, good for storage.¡±
¡°By the way, how do you have a gold card from the Spitfire Guild?¡±
¡°It just happened?¡±
¡°That guild is quite strict about its dealings. They wouldn¡¯t just give a gold card to an outsider.¡±
¡°There¡¯s a bit of a story.¡±
¡°Must owe you a personal favor, huh? Heh, you¡¯re bing more interesting by the minute.¡±
K¡¯s eyes sparkled.
From their first meeting, he had thought this young man was extraordinary, but the more he learned, the deeper his curiosity grew.
What kind of story does he have?
And why does his body seem to be cursed with troubles?
He was very curious.
Chapter 108: Master K (4)
Chapter 108: Master K (4)
Rumble.
Suddenly, a heavy downpour apanied by thunder and lightning struck the area around Ground Zero.
The rain hitting the window poured so heavily that it was almost impossible to see outside.
Although I was focused on the conversation with K,
I thought it would be difficult to return to Seoul today because of the heavy rain.
Of course, this wasn¡¯t the problem at hand.
K poured another cup of steeped Fortis tea for Kang-hoo and asked,
¡°How¡¯s the tea?¡±
¡°It¡¯s good. It feels like my emotions are not fluctuating and are merging into one.¡±¡°What do you think would happen if you mixed the powder of dried Fortis petals with drugs?¡±
¡°I guess I wouldn¡¯t be able to see right from wrong.¡±
¡°Right. Whatever I sell outside, it¡¯s all mixed with drugs. What the heck is the Hunter Public Safety Bureau doing¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s just the second division of the Jeonghwa Guild anyway.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t deny that since it¡¯s not wrong. Of course, they are my main customers, hahaha.¡±
Kughed.
Then, he continued the conversation they had before the deal in the now warm atmosphere.
¡°To a hunter who had buff overreaction syndrome, I tried applying both buffs and debuffs at the same time. It wasn¡¯t lethal, but I applied a debuff skill.¡±
¡°Did it work?¡±
¡°Yes. The overreaction disappeared. Now, do you get a sense of how we should approach this?¡±
¡°If we make as much mana flow out as we draw in¡¡±
Kang-hoo trailed off.
ording to the mechanism exined earlier, that would be the correct approach.
However, congenital mana hypersensitivity has the advantage of quickly recovering mana at the cost of side effects.
If we solve it by releasing an equal amount of mana, it essentially bes a moot solution, ending up with zero gain - a foolish resolution.
A situation that results in neither pain nor gain is useless.
K, sharing Kang-hoo¡¯s thoughts, nodded and cleared up Kang-hoo¡¯s doubts.
¡°I know. If we do it that honestly, it bes a foolish method. But what if we release fake mana?¡±
¡°Is that possible?¡±
¡°Sorry, but this part is just a hypothesis. It¡¯s just a primary idea. But theoretically, it¡¯s possible.¡±
¡°I¡¯d like to hear more about the concept of fake mana.¡±
This story had never appeared in the original work, so Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes sparkled more than ever.
The world was created even in ces where the original author¡¯s consciousness and the content of the original work did not reach.
From Kang-hoo¡¯s perspective, it¡¯s a situation of ¡®knowing everything except what is unknown.¡¯ And this hypothesis was an unknown story.
¡°The force that rotates around the heart. We call it mana or magical power.¡±
¡°That heart is also called a mana heart. There are various nicknames, but officially.¡±
¡°Yes. That is real mana. There¡¯s no doubt it¡¯s mana.¡±
The core of the matter had not yet been revealed.
Kang-hoo slightly tilted his head in curiosity, and K turned on the tablet PC that had been ced on the stand on the table.
He quickly entered a few search terms and found a reference image.
It was an image of the mage, Gong Tae-su, who had previously lost his arm.
¡°Do you know who this is?¡±
¡°The blood butcher of Ulsan, Gong Tae-su, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°You know well. He lost his left arm not too long ago. They say the arm was worth billions.¡±
¡°¡¡±
The owner of those billions was right in front of him.
But, except for Lee Ye-rin, no one knew the truth, so there was no risk of the secret leaking out.
¡°The master of the Jeonghwa Guild seems quite interested. Who could have possibly taken the arm of someone like Gong Tae-su, he wonders.¡±
¡°I see.¡±
¡°They seem to be reviewing everything from the CCTV footage at the scene. They even asked me if I knew who it was.¡±
¡°Since it was a mercenary, their face would have been covered, making it not easy to identify.¡±
¡°But there are records of the skills used at the scene. Cross-referencing them could eventually lead to identification.¡±
¡°That makes sense.¡±
¡°We ended up discussing Gong Tae-su. You know he had a magic stone embedded in his forearm, right?¡±
¡°I understand it was a high-level human modification technique.¡±
¡°Right. It¡¯s a procedure that can have many side effects if done incorrectly. But he sessfully underwent the surgery, though he did lose his arm.¡±
¡°Did you do it yourself?¡±
¡°Who did it is a secret. However, if you can imnt a device that releases mana in the body like that.¡±
¡°It would act as fake mana.¡±
¡°Exactly. For that, we need a micro talisman-type item, especially one with an emission option.¡±
¡°The requirements are getting moreplicated.¡±
¡°Yeah. That¡¯s the first hurdle. Plus, you¡¯ll need to have the talisman engraved into your bodyter.¡±
¡°The hypothesis is usible enough to be appealing.¡±
¡°Right? I think so too. Hahaha.¡±
Just because the hypothesis seems usible doesn¡¯t mean we can celebrate prematurely. But there¡¯s also no need to be pessimistic.
¡°Micro. Talisman. Emission option.¡±
¡°Right. I¡¯ll look into where we can purchase or obtain one and let you know.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t get your hopes up too much. Even if we find one, the hypothesis could still be wrong, and finding it could be difficult.¡±
¡°Having hope is enough.¡±
It was Kang-hoo¡¯s sincere thought.
In a long and dark tunnel, seeing a single ray of light at the far end is enough to give hope.
The same is true now.
Compared to resigning to and epting the side effects of congenital mana hypersensitivity,
The possibility of resolving the side effects, even if it¡¯s not 0%, is much better.
¡°You mentioned earlier that you have an arm item, right?¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±
He nned to sell the item he had obtained by killing the troubleshooter while he was here.
The estimated appraisal value was 30 billion won.
After selling it, his bnce would exceed 110 billion won, allowing him to purchase another Rank 2 item.
¡®I need to go to Seoul for an interview rted to the Hell of Judgment. While I¡¯m there, I can check out the market in Seoul.¡¯
His next schedule was set for Seoul. The n was straightforward, leaving his mind uncluttered.
Before concluding his private meeting with K, he exchanged parting words with Kang-hoo, offering a kind smile.
¡°The fact that my granddaughter felt warmth from your ice-cold blood means you, too, have a warm essence.¡±
¡°Yuri has been a good stimulus for me. She possesses many emotional nuances that Ick.¡±
¡°Right. Don¡¯t just look after my granddaughter as if she were a child. But do offer her a lot of support. She thrives on encouragement and cheering.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±
¡°And you know, consultations like this will cost ten million won per hour from next time. You catch my drift?¡±
¡°That¡¯s quite cheap.¡±
¡°Haha, is it? Then next time, make sure to deposit the advance payment beforeing.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll remember that.¡±
¡°Just like Yuri said, you take jokes seriously. That¡¯s why she finds it no fun.¡±
¡°¡¡±
Kang-hoo responded with silence to the pointed remark.
It¡¯s true. Even to himself, he seemed dreadfully dull.
The rain, as Kang-hoo had anticipated, didn¡¯t stop but instead grew heavier.
This was also due to hisck of interest in weather forecasts.
Turning on the weather news, he saw that a short-term heavy rain warning had been issued early for the central region.
As a result, Kang-hoo and Jung Yuri ended up staying a day at K¡¯s vi, thanks to his consideration.
To be precise, they nned to leave once the rain stopped, but it was uncertain when that would happen.
¡°Brother, it¡¯s ready! Just wait a moment! I made a lot, thinking you¡¯d want seconds!¡±
Ignoring Kang-hoo¡¯s okay, Jung Yuri ¡®insisted¡¯ on showcasing her cooking skills by making tomato pasta.
The aroma itself wasn¡¯t unpleasant, but it¡¯s a known fact that the true test of food lies in the tasting.
Kang-hoo¡¯s expression was aplex mix of emotions as he eyed the meticulously decorated and served pasta.
Should he be honest if it tasted bad, or would it be better to lie?
Then he pondered, how could he arrange his facial expressions to lie convincingly¡ While he was lost in thought,
Jung Yuri¡¯s fork was already lifting the abundantly twirled pasta to his mouth.
Pasta consumed under duress.
Although the taste was mediocre, Kang-hoo chose to lie for Jung Yuri, who had put in so much effort.
¡°It¡¯s good.¡±
However,
¡°It would taste better than your expression suggests, even if I were eating crap. Tch¡¡±
Jung Yuri was visibly upset.
Kang-hoo, usually adept at lying in tricky situations, found it unexpectedly hard to tell a harmless lie.
Some timeter,
¡°¡¡±
¡°Hmm¡¡±
Kang-hoo and Jung Yuri sat idly in front of a floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the gardenwn visible outside.
Call it a ¡®rain daze¡¯ ¨C that trance-like state induced by watching the rain.
It was surprisinglyforting. Maybe it was the sensation of their mental clutter momentarily clearing?
Just then,
Both Kang-hoo and Jung Yuri¡¯s smartphones rang at the same time.
The notifications were emails.
¡¾From Jeonghwa Guild Dungeon Management Team to Mr. Jung Sun-kyu¡¿
¡¾You have passed the document review for the Hell of Judgment expedition. Pleasee to Jeonghwa Building 5 near Samsung Station by 12 PM tomorrow.¡¿
¡¾The interview will take ce in the Rosemary Hall of Building 5, where you will be directed right from the entrance.¡¿
¡°Is itmon to notify about an interview the evening before?¡±
Kang-hoo chuckled.
As expected, he had passed the document review. It seemed Jung Yuri had also passed her document review.
¡°What time is your interview?¡±
¡°Noon.¡±
¡°Mine is at 6 PM! After the interview, I can head straight to Sindorim Station.¡±
¡°Do you have a dungeon schedule?¡±
¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve packed my schedule tight until the Hell of Judgment raid! Today is my only day off!¡±
¡°I see.¡±
¡°They say the rain will stop by dawn, so let¡¯s leave then. Maybe we should get some sleep now?¡±
¡°That sounds good.¡±
Sleeping in the car is ufortable.
With nothing else to do but zone out, now was the perfect time to sleep.
Following Jung Yuri¡¯s suggestion, Kang-hoo headed towards a dark room visible in the corner.
The vi was so spacious that there were countless rooms, making rest no issue.
At 2 AM,
After confirming that the rain had stopped, Kang-hoo and Jung Yuri left the vi in the same secure limousine they had arrived in.
Since the driver and bodyguard had been on standby, no preparation time was needed.
On the way to Seoul,
The audio being somewhat ufortable for Jung Yuri, she turned on the small TV installed in the middle of the back seat.
A hunter-rted news broadcast caught Kang-hoo¡¯s attention, with an impressive headline.
¡¾A massive battle urred at Jeonju¡¯s Jeondong Pharmaceutical building. Revealed to be the work of ¡®The Sun¡¯.¡¿
¡°It seemed like it was bound to happen.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded without surprise.
Jeondong Pharmaceutical, nominally a pharmaceuticalpany, was actually central to the distribution of narcotic stimnts.
Moreover, it was notorious for illegal modifications and secretive human experiments.
The force that had been backing Jeondong Pharmaceutical was the guild ¡®Paradise¡¯.
And this time, they were apparently attacked by ¡®The Sun¡¯.
The Sun was a fairlyrge criminal organization in the Jeonju area,rger than the infamous Eclipse.
And,
¡®Major Kang Tae-yang is also Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s half-brother.¡¯
An organization that also held secrets known only to the original author.
This was an organization that, recalling rted memories, had more reasons to be displeased than pleased.
¡®The south will be noisy.¡¯
Kang-hoo¡¯s gaze deepened, foreseeing the future.
Of course, in his memories, Kang-hoo was diligently searching for fragments that could benefit him.
Chaos often signifies opportunity.
Chapter 109: Interview (1)
Chapter 109: Interview (1)
The pharmaceutical industry has often deviated from its original mission nowadays.
Medications aimed at Hunters are sold at steep prices, skewing research efforts towards this demographic.
Substances ssified as narcotics or stimnts, in particr, fetch exorbitant prices, making them highly sought aftermercially.
Consequently, some pharmaceuticalpanies even receive funding from international criminal organizations for their research endeavors.
In thisndscape, Jeondong Pharmaceuticals is considered a minor yer.
Thepetition among thesepanies is fierce, with each one desperate to uncover the others¡¯ secrets.
Thispetition naturally leads to an increase in requests for mercenaries to attack or sabotage the research facilities or supply warehouses of rivalpanies.
Kang-hoo anticipated that he might soon receive such requests from either Lee Ye-rin or Kim Su-kyung.
As long as thepensation is substantial, there would be no reason to turn them down.
After all, with the exception of a few ethical pharmaceuticalpanies, they¡¯re all in the same murky waters.
Upon his arrival in Seoul, Kang-hoo promised to meet Jung Yuri again in the future and they parted ways.
He also made sure to thank her for arranging a meeting with Master K.
Rather than a verbal thank you, she suggested a drive along the west coast for their next meeting, indirectly inviting him on a date.
If their schedules allowed, taking a short break with her wouldn¡¯t be too much of a hassle.
Kang-hoo took the subway to Samseong Station and made his way to Jeonghwa¡¯s 5th building.
From the tform screen doors to the stairs, advertisements rted to the Jeonghwa Guild were omnipresent.
These included guild promotions and videos showcasing their achievements, broadcasted by the guild itself.
Some ads celebrated or showed support for Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s officers, courtesy of their ¡®fans¡¯.
The most striking were the birthday advertisements for Chae Gwanhyeong, put up by his fans.
¡¾Chae Gwanhyeong, we¡¯re grateful you were born and are with us. Always be with us. We love you.¡¿
¡¾On the day Chae Gwanhyeong came into this world, it snowed for the first time. Now it¡¯s our turn to be the first snow.¡¿
¡°¡¡¡±
Kang-hoo, who wouldn¡¯t flinch at gruesome and grotesque sights, grimaced at the message.
From a fan¡¯s perspective, thesements are sincere.
But knowing the true nature of Chae Gwanhyeong, it was worrisome.
I can assure you.
Chae Gwanhyeong has no interest in those who call themselves his fans.
It would be a blessing if he doesn¡¯t treat them like bugs.
He is immersed in a belief in destiny, thinking he is a chosen being.
To him, those who are not Hunters are just ¡®trash¡¯ created by God, unworthy even of breathing.
Passing through the dizzying array of advertisements to the exit, the situation outside was no less intense.
Hundreds of people were protesting against the guilds based around Osan Station, Bastard and Pyeongjeong, condemning them.
They were showing fervent support and performances of solidarity for the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s campaign in Osan.
¡®If I ever be an adversary of Jang Si-hwan, those criticisms and curses will also be directed at me.¡¯
Kang-hoo wore a bitter expression.
Seoul, a city of peace and stability.
To Kang-hoo, it felt like a vast swamp of death.
For those who follow and blindly believe in the Jeonghwa Guild, it¡¯s a paradise on Earth.
But for those on the opposite side, it¡¯s a city of death, where they could be oppressed at any moment.
If Jang Si-hwan orders it, there¡¯s enough madness in Seoul to kill friends or family without hesitation.
¡®Impressive, indeed.¡¯
Kang-hoo admired the uniforms of Jeonghwa Guild members passing by on the street.
Touched by a famous designer, everything down to the smallest detail was perfect.
Thus, the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s uniform is considered a symbol of honor.
Even when there¡¯s a chance to wear casual clothes, they end up wearing their uniforms. It¡¯s a matter of career and honor.
Recently, the Jeonghwa Guild, having massively recruited members from its satellite guilds,
usually ensures that newly joined members from other regions get a tour of the Jeonghwa buildings in Seoul¡¡
Kang-hoo thought Han Seo-yeon might be somewhere around too. She would be living well on her own terms.
Near the Jeonghwa 5th Building.
Perhaps because it was the day for interviewing external mercenaries, the area around the building was already crowded.
Given their backgrounds, a variety of rough-looking individuals were present.
Many had appearances that screamed, ¡°I¡¯m a mercenary,¡±plete with scars like badges of honor.
Then.
Thud!
A bald hunter bumped into Kang-hoo¡¯s shoulder as he passed by. It wasn¡¯t a light tap but felt deliberate.
That was still fine.
In such ces, it¡¯smon for some to show off their strength through unnecessary antics.
Unfortunately, the bald guy crossed the line the moment he saw Kang-hoo, who was a stranger to him.
Perhaps because Kang-hoo¡¯s slender build looked small and easypared to his own bulk?
¡°Why did you hit me?¡±
¡°Are you giving me a chance to speak?¡±
¡°Hey, I¡¯m asking you. Why did you hit me?¡±
Kang-hoo noticed the insignia on the bald man¡¯s shoulder, indicating he was from the Hae Young Guild.
Perhaps he thought he had the backing of the Jeonghwa Guild due to their mutual exchange partnership.
Of course, the Hae Young Guild itself had a bad reputation for being full of arrogant members.
Kang-hoo looked annoyed.
¡°What do you want? Do you want an apology?¡±
¡°Apologize. Now.¡±
¡°Sorry. Now I¡¯ll be going.¡±
Although he apologized, it was done in a manner that was bound to upset the listener.
Without any hesitation, Kang-hoo turned to leave, prompting the bald man to throw a punch without a second thought.
Thud!
The bald man¡¯s fist exploded against the back of Kang-hoo¡¯s head. The impact sound was crystal clear.
But something was off.
Swish! sh!
A sharp cutting sound came from behind him, and suddenly, his entire body felt cool.
¡°Aaagh!¡±
¡°What, what¡¯s with that guy!¡±
Passersby, who were just walking by, screamed upon seeing the bald man suddenly in his underwear.
Looking to see what had happened, the bald man realized his fist hadnded on a clone, not Kang-hoo.
Kang-hoo had used a clone technique before the fist could reach him and quickly moved to the side, easily getting behind the bald man.
¡°If you cause trouble one more time, you¡¯ll bepletely naked next time. Behave yourself.¡±
Kang-hoo, with a mocking smile, looked at the bald man and then turned away.
But the bald man, already humiliated, wasn¡¯t about to back down.
¡°Fck off, you little sht!¡±
Another punch flew.
Whoosh!
This time, it was Shadow Step.
As if toying with the bald man, five shadows flickered in and out.
As the confused bald man¡¯s gaze darted forward, Kang-hoo moved to one of the shadows behind him.
And then.
sh! Swish!
Within the precise and clean movement of a dagger, the bald man was¡
Twuk.
¡°Aaagh!¡±
¡°Pervert, it¡¯s a pervert!¡±
¡°What¡¯s that, is that all?¡±
¡°Is there even anything there?¡±
He becamepletely naked.
The humiliation mixed with the screams was just an added bonus.
Click, click!
The session of camera shes followed. An embarrassing history for the bald man was created in an unexpected ce.
By then, Kang-hoo, the one who caused the situation, had already left the scene, vanishing silently along with his invisibility.
At that moment.
¡°What are you watching so amusingly?¡±
¡°There was a scuffle near the building entrance. It was resolved so effortlessly and swiftly.¡±
¡°Who was it?¡±
¡°I thought the face looked familiar; it was the hunter we¡¯re interviewing today.¡±
¡°Who?¡±
¡°Jung Sun-kyu. The hunter whose skillbination listed on the paperwork caught my attention.¡±
¡°Ah, the assassin?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
Two peers in theirte forties, who were also lovers, were having a conversation. They were responsible for interviewing Kang-hoo today.
Their names were Kong Yu-seok and Ko Ju-hee.
Within the guild¡¯s hierarchy, they were ranked 16th and 17th, specializing in physicalbat and magic, respectively.
Both were at level 425, indicating theirpatibility not just as lovers but also in terms of strength.
¡°How was it?¡±
¡°The use of clone technique andteral movement was impressive. And that Shadow Step skill seemed quite fascinating.¡±
¡°That skill that allows instant teleportation to a shadow¡¯s location?¡±
¡°Yes. I searched through the skill book database, but there was no record of Shadow Step¡¡±
¡°Well, not all information is in the database. But if it intrigued you, he must be skilled.¡±
¡°Yes, to put it simply, he¡¯s clean. Cleanliness being a top priority for an assassin.¡±
¡°Sounds promising?¡±
Kong Yu-seok and Ko Ju-hee¡¯s gazended on Kang-hoo¡¯s photo in the middle of the documents they were holding.
Both had marked his file with a red star, indicating their curiosity during the document review phase.
The person of interest had arrived.
They were the appointed examiners for him. The impending meeting made their hearts flutter with anticipation.
At the end of the corridor, in the interview room, numerous hunters were seated, filling up the chairsid out in a line.
There seemed to be an endless queue of hunters, more than one might expect.
Kang-hoo found the chair with his name and sat down.
He wasn¡¯t sure how the sequence was arranged, but being near the front, it seemed he wouldn¡¯t have to wait long.
However, as time passed, the atmosphere outside the interview room began to feel strange.
Twenty hunters went in before Kang-hoo, and all were rejected.
If they had been deemed suitable for the expedition team, they would have been directed to a separate room for a one-time contract procedure and briefing, which would have taken a considerable amount of time.
Yet, not a single person emerged from the long wait, a clear sign of rejection.
¡®It seems they¡¯re picky even in their search for heroes.¡¯
Kang-hoo snorted.
Given it¡¯s the Jeonghwa Guild, they could afford to be selective. Perhaps many mercenaries didn¡¯t meet their standards.
He was confident in passing their stringent verification; the only question was how much he should reveal.
¡°Jung Sun-kyu?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Pleasee in.¡±
Following the guide, Kang-hoo entered and immediately recognized two faces in front of him.
Kong Yu-seok, Ko Ju-hee.
Characters created with intention in the original work.
A couple designed to depict a beautiful and meaningful middle-aged love, but ended up bing background characters in the narrative.
One of the couples he felt sorry for when writing the epilogue, now before him in person.
Though termed middle-aged and in theirte forties, in person, they could easily pass for their mid-thirties.
¡°Jung Sun-kyu? Could you step forward a bit? We need to verify your face again.¡±
At that moment, Ko Ju-hee, with her distinctive pointed nose and a mole, started the conversation.
As Kang-hoo stepped forward, Ko Ju-hee nced between the documents and Kang-hoo, then tilted her head in curiosity.
¡°Is it really you?¡±
Chapter 110: Interview (2)
Chapter 110: Interview (2)
¡°It¡¯s a picture from when I was a bit heavier. It might look different now.¡±
Kang-hoo knew the reason.
It was because he used a photo taken before he entered Cheongmyeong Detention Center.
It was also a picture taken with Han Seo-yeon, his lover at the time, at a studio.
It was a solo shot taken as a bonus concept, but it was too good to discard.
Attaching it to his documents, it seemed to make his current lean face look different.
After all, he was quite heavier back then, so it¡¯s not strange to look like a different person.
¡°Looking closely, it¡¯s indeed you. Now, let¡¯s start the interview immediately. The questions will mainly be asked by Commissioner Gong.¡±
Go Ju-hee pointed to Gong Yu-seok, sitting next to her.
Though she spoke in a very official tone, her eyes were dripping with love.
An undeniable instinct of men and women, a beautiful sight.
Gong Yu-seok cleared his throat a couple of times and then continued with the questions.
¡°You¡¯ve mentioned your skillposition. Is this true? There seems to be a discrepancy with your level.¡±
¡°Please specify where you see the discrepancy.¡±
¡°You said you¡¯re level 100. Normally, at level 100, having 7 basic skills and a few additional skills is the max.¡±
Gong Yu-seok was correct.
In fact, counting two or three additional skills was already generous, as many hunters only have the basic skills.
Originally, aside from acquiring basic skills and ss skill books, there was no way to add more.
And skill books were worth a fortune.
The chances of finding them in dungeons were incredibly low, and even if found, they might not be for the same job ss.
Unless the skill was useless or had low utility value¡
To Gong Yu-seok and Go Ju-hee, the additional skills Kang-hoo possessed seemed too good.
¡°No need for a lengthy exnation. How about I just show you?¡±
Kang-hoo initiated.
Shadow Step, Illusion Technique, Protective Barrier, Craftiness Veil, Kidnap. These were the five skills Kang-hoo disclosed.
Shadow Step and Craftiness Veil had already been revealed when he humiliated the bald man.
Revealing them wasn¡¯t a loss but rather an appeal, so there was no issue.
¡°Let¡¯s see. In dungeons, there are various unpredictable situations, so we need to see if you can handle them.¡±
Gong Yu-seok and Go Ju-hee¡¯s eyes sparkled.
For an assassin at only level 100, the question was whether these listed skills truly existed.
It was time for direct verification.
And then.
Whish! Whish! Whish!
Kang-hoo smoothly demonstrated his skills, starting with Shadow Step, a familiar movement.
After a whirlwind skill demonstration concluded in an instant.
¡°Hmm¡¡±
¡°They¡¯re real. And the skills seem to be highly proficient¡¡±
Gong Yu-seok and Go Ju-hee were at a loss for words, barely realizing they were trailing off.
There had been assassins in previous interviews.
But that assassin had clumsily shown clone techniques, only demonstrating hectic hit-and-run tactics.
Though shy, itcked substance and seemed full of openings.
However, Kang-hoo was different.
Hebined his skills in a way that remained in ce while disrupting the enemy.
Especially the Kidnap skill, which pulled targets towards him, made it even less necessary for Kang-hoo to move.
The exchange of looks between Gong Yu-seok and Go Ju-hee had already concluded their judgment on Kang-hoo.
It was puzzling why such a talent was a mercenary instead of being affiliated with a guild.
If he applied to join the Jeonghwa Guild, he had the fundamentals to be weed with open arms.
He was not an assassin honed by just a day or two of training. His skill proficiency also seemed quite high.
Still, Go Ju-hee shifted the topic, seemingly deeming it improper to pass him immediately.
It was a question that had to be asked, but the timing had been missed.
¡°Let¡¯s hear what you aim for in the raid of Judgment¡¯s Hell?¡±
¡°Individual raiding.¡±
¡°There¡¯s no need to move as a team, but wouldn¡¯t that be quite dangerous?¡±
¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±
¡°Judgment¡¯s Hell isn¡¯t an easy dungeon. There¡¯s a reason we¡¯re even recruiting outsiders.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re going to die, you¡¯ll die regardless of being together, and if you¡¯re going to live, you can do so even if you¡¯re apart.¡±
¡°Still, taking downrge bosses together would give you unique buffs or loot benefits.¡±
¡°I¡¯m more interested in adventuring and exploring than raiding Judgment¡¯s Hell.¡±
Kang-hoo made an outright lie, one he could tell without a change in his expression.
His goal had been clear from the start.
It was to preemptively seize opportunities that Jang Si-hwan or Chae Gwanhyeong might reach.
He didn¡¯t want to give those two, who were already in a good state of growth, any more advantages.
¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be too regrettable?¡±
¡°I¡¯m satisfied with the experience.¡±
The examiners¡¯ puzzled reactions were understandable.
Normally, raiding such mega-dungeons is done in team units swarming together.
But that would make independent action impossible, so Kang-hoo hadid the groundwork in advance.
After all, it wasn¡¯t mandatory, so they would likely stop at rmending it.
However, Kang-hoo would have to share information about the areas he explored and scrutinized personally.
That was something Kang-hoo had considered before mentioning it, so he wasn¡¯t worried about it.
¡°Alright. I¡¯m very curious about the process, but you possess skills that don¡¯t match your level. Good to see.¡±
¡°I appreciate thepliment.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll allow the individual raiding part. A guide will speak to you about information sharing and the signing of a one-time contract.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡±
¡°As you know, the individual raiding part excludes you from the loot distribution except for the final boss monster.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡±
He was never interested anyway.
The entire structure of therge-scale raid was designed so that the Jeonghwa Guild could reap most of the benefits.
Kang-hoo¡¯s interest extended far beyond mere crumbs in Judgment¡¯s Hell.
The contract was swiftly concluded.
It was, in essence, a contract.
The entirety of its content revolved around the distribution of loot and the exemption from responsibility for any deaths duringbat.
In other words, it was practically a consent form for potential death, so there were no uses of particr note.
He was informed that the raid wouldmence within 7 days, with final notification given the day before.
It was puzzling why they wouldn¡¯t specify the date. Setting a specific D-day and starting then would have been more straightforward.
¡°They might be excluding monsters they can easily capture on their own. No need to do others any favors.¡±
He vaguely guessed their intention, so the uncertain schedule didn¡¯t seem odd.
Of course, he thought the notification process was transparent, but it was purely for convenience.
Soon after, Kang-hoo made his way to the elevator after leaving the interview room.
The line for the interview extended to the elevator, so he opted for the freight elevator at the emergency stair entrance.
It was an elevator people normally used, boarded without much thought.
But then.
A familiar face appeared.
Chae Gwanhyeong.
He seemed to have been riding the elevator alone,ing from the top floor, which must have been the VIP levels of the building.
Chae Gwanhyeong didn¡¯t even nce at Kang-hoo.
Normally, when someone enters an elevator, they at least exchange nces, but he just kept looking at his smartphone.
¡°Look at the constetions.¡±
There were twenty-five in total.
At this rate, a level of over 700 was guaranteed. This wasn¡¯t much different from what he remembered from the original story.
For a moment, Kang-hoo contemted ambushing and killing Chae Gwanhyeong. It wasn¡¯t entirely out of the realm of possibility.
¡°Let¡¯s leave dreams as dreams.¡±
But then, his reason took over.
If it was just about killing Chae Gwanhyeong, there would have been no need for hesitation. That would have been the end of it.
However, the moment he killed Chae Gwanhyeong, he would be a public enemy.
Narrowly, an enemy of the Jeonghwa Guild, broadly, an enemy of The Thirteen Stars, and even further, an enemy of the people.
This would significantly reduce his freedom of movement and make him a top priority on the wanted list.
The losses would overwhelmingly outweigh the gains, so he didn¡¯t want to make a reckless move driven by emotions.
¡°Ha, damn¡ They¡¯ll be annoyingly gathered at the entrance again. Like bugs.¡±
Chae Gwanhyeong carelessly spoke out, then shrugged his shoulders upon realizing Kang-hoo¡¯s presence.
It was embarrassing for Kang-hoo to enter, but it was a gesture filled with confidence, as if to say, what could you possibly do about it?
Then, as the elevator reached the first floor.
No sooner had Chae Gwanhyeong stepped out than his fans crowded in the lobby began shouting.
¡°Oppa! Gwanhyeong Oppa! Happy birthday! Look here! Just once, please! Just once!¡±
¡°Oppa! Happy birthday! Sincerely!¡±
¡°I¡¯ll definitely go to the departure ceremony! I¡¯ll be watching from a good spot!¡±
Despite the cheers of numerous fans, Chae Gwanhyeong didn¡¯t even nce their way and headed elsewhere.
He might have at least waved his hand for the sake of image management, but he seemed preupied with something else.
Then.
¡°Huh? Who¡¯s that oppa?¡±
¡°That oppa is really handsome too! Who is he? A Jeonghwa Guild hunter?¡±
¡°Given he¡¯s not in uniform, seems not? Look at his nose. It¡¯s so sharp! Cool!¡±
Fans, disappointed for missing Chae Gwanhyeong, redirected their attention to Kang-hoo.
¡°¡¡¡±
Kang-hoo felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu from an incident that had happened at Yongsan Station.
He quickly turned at a right angle and swiftly moved away from the crowd¡¯s gaze.
He didn¡¯t want to care about meaningless attention.
Afterwards, Kang-hoo headed to Seoul Market, located near Konkuk University Station.
Seoul Market wasn¡¯t just one ce, but a total of five.
Among them, the Seoul Market at Konkuk University Station was the first branch. It was also referred to as the main branch.
Fittingly for the number one branch, it mainly sold high-quality and valuable items.
Out of curiosity, he first looked for a talisman with the release option mentioned by Master K.
Unfortunately, it was not to be found.
So, he turned his attention to ss 2 items, as originally intended.
Among these, Kang-hoo particrly wanted to change his ne.
This was because the Ne of Favorable Winds he was currently wearing was ranked seventh.
The stat option only provided a +15 to agility, which wasn¡¯t significantly impactful.
Then.
While browsing around for nes, a particr spot caught Kang-hoo¡¯s eye.
It was a separate sales area, with a g proudly hung in the center of the zone.
It was the g of the Shinto Guild.
Meaning, this area was directly managed by the Shinto Guild. There were also officials present.
It wasn¡¯t strange for the Shinto Guild to be in Seoul, as they had exchange rtions with the Jeonghwa Guild.
However.
¡°¡¡?¡±
The person overseeing the sales in this area was someone he knew.
Chapter 111: Snatching The Chance (1)
Chapter 111: Snatching The Chance (1)
It was Yu Cheonghwa.
When we first met, she wore a ck blousebined with an all-red color scheme.
Today, it was the opposite.
A red blouse with all-ck colors. Her fair skin made anybination suit her well.
The small star tattoo below her eye.
And the red rose-shaped tattoo visible through the gap of her two unbuttoned blouse buttons.
She was exactly as Kang-hoo knew Yu Cheonghwa to be.
As soon as Yu Cheonghwa locked eyes with Kang-hoo, she attempted a mental scan.
Kang-hoo, who had been prepared from the moment he saw her, naturally thwarted Yu Cheonghwa¡¯s attempt.
As their gazes met, Yu Cheonghwa smiled slyly.
Considering she was trying to peer into his mind so openly yet could be so shameless, she wasn¡¯t someone with just an ordinary face.
Despite her innocent appearance, she was a person with inscrutable intentions.
Indeed, in the original work, she had the lowest sense of belonging to The Thirteen Stars after Emilia Rose.
Rather than thinking of The Thirteen Stars as blood-rtedrades, she seemed more inclined to treat them as big clients.
She sold a considerable amount of items and skill books to Jang Si-hwan, Chae Gwanhyeong, Casey Rex, Elizabeth, and others.
Her amassed wealth was all used to solidify her position in China.
Anyway.
It seemed like the Shinto Guild had set up a big game, so he thought he might as well watch.
¡°Do we meet like this?¡±
¡°It seems so.¡±
¡°Seoul feels really small at times like this. I didn¡¯t expect to meet you at the market.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s stop trying to look inside people¡¯s heads.¡±
¡°Heh, you¡¯re quite persistent. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve met a hunter who can resist me like this.¡±
¡°Trying to open someone¡¯s front door without permission is not polite.¡±
¡°If I made you ufortable, I apologize. It seems like an upational hazard.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a very trivial reason.¡±
Yu Cheonghwa scratched the back of her head at Kang-hoo¡¯s pointed remark.
Although his words might sound unpleasant to some, she recognized her own rudeness.
iming it as an upational habit wasn¡¯t untrue.
It had be second nature to scan anyone she met¡
It wasn¡¯t that she harbored malicious intent to peer inside others; it had simply be a habit.
Naturally, the person on the receiving end might feel ufortable.
¡°By the way, you haven¡¯t used the business card I gave you? You didn¡¯t call either.¡±
¡°I haven¡¯t had any business in China yet. And I¡¯m not particrly interested in the Shinto Guild.¡±
¡°That stings my pride a bit.¡±
¡°I¡¯m just staying true to my own pace.¡±
Kang-hoo was curious about what Yu Cheonghwa saw in him.
Was it his nearly perfect resistance to mental scans?
Even though he hadn¡¯t shown her anything concrete, she seemed quite fixated on him.
Of course, the Shinto Guild is known for aggressively recruiting foreign hunters.
They sweep up talents using China¡¯s unique capital power, often referred to as ¡°China Money.¡±
This has been the Shinto Guild¡¯s operating philosophy for a long time.
Indeed, within the Shinto Guild, there is an elite unitposed of capable hunters from various nationalities.
Kang-hoo steered the conversation in a different direction.
¡°I¡¯m looking to buy an item. I¡¯m considering a second-grade item, preferably a ne.¡±
¡°Wow! A second-grade item?¡±
¡°I have enough money.¡±
¡°No, I didn¡¯t mean to imply you didn¡¯t have the money. It¡¯s just that we haven¡¯t had any big spenders these past few days.¡±
Yu Cheonghwa gestured broadly with both hands. Her distinctive trait was herrge hand movements during conversations.
Strangely, this helped keep the focus on the conversation, seeming like an intentional behavior.
¡°May I see it?¡±
¡°This ce mainly sells items below grade 3. We have a special sales area set aside for that.¡±
¡°So, items above grade 3 are over there?¡±
¡°Yes. It¡¯s the building right next to us. It¡¯s a sales outlet authorized by the Jeonghwa Guild and the Hunter Public Safety Bureau.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
For a moment, he wondered if this was Yu Cheonghwa¡¯s ¡®trickery¡¯¡ªperhaps luring him into the building to kidnap him or something¡ A scenario that was entirely possible.
However, he wasn¡¯t worried since he had the ability to teleport, a special privilege given by the Dimension Plunderer.
If things seemed to go awry, he could simply escape immediately.
¡°Follow me. I¡¯ll guide you personally. It¡¯s been a while since the chilly salesroom had some warmth!¡±
Yu Cheonghwa, with a delighted expression, kindly began to guide Kang-hoo, showing a gentle smile and an eye smile, with no apparent hostility.
Of course, one cannot be too careful.
As she said, the top floor of the building next to the Seoul Market headquarters was the Shinto Guild¡¯s VIP market.
It seemed to be a measure to prove that it was indeed authorized by the Jeonghwa Guild and Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
The badges of the guards ced intermittently were indeed from these two organizations, not a disguise.
Following her silently,
Kang-hoo revisited his memories of Yu Cheonghwa from the original work.
Suddenly, a line of her dialogue that had been buried in his memory surfaced.
¡¾I like heroes who make me feel proud of myself. I hate being despised trash.¡¿
At the time of writing that dialogue in the novel, it was depicted merely as words spoken in a drunken state of emotion for having be a ¡®hero¡¯ among The Thirteen Stars.
But now, it seemed different.
He started to think that The Thirteen Stars might not be a projection of her convictions.
Indeed, there was a line Jang Si-hwan said to Yu Cheonghwa in the original work.
¡¾Yu Cheonghwa. Sometimes I wonder if you align with us only for the money. You''re free to leave whenever you want. I want heroes who intend to save the world with conviction and mission. Heroes can sometimes be hated by those who can''t understand their depth.¡¿
It felt like sensing a hidden fracture in the conversation.
Originally, when writing this part, he envisioned it merely as a power struggle or a sharp critique.
Looking back now, it seems Yu Cheonghwa¡¯s sense of solidarity was much lower than expected.
Perhaps,
Like Emilia Rose, there might be an opportunity to exploit a weakness. To ensure The Thirteen Stars aren¡¯t thirteen.
¡®Look far ahead.¡¯
Kang-hoo was not in a hurry.
Such high-level scheming shouldn¡¯t be approached impulsively or spontaneously. One must look far and wide.
¡°Here! Once we open this door and enter, the entire space will be filled with grade 1, 2, and 3 items.¡±
As Kang-hoo nodded to Yu Cheonghwa¡¯s words, she forcefully pushed the door open.
As she said, countless shelves were filled with various items, neatly disyed.
It was a feast of various items that seemed to be much more than what was seen at the Seoul Market headquarters.
It was a scene that once again made him realize the continental scale of inventory.
¡°I¡¯ll take a look aroundfortably.¡±
¡°By all means. I won¡¯t bother you by following around. I hate to bother people when they¡¯re shopping.¡±
¡°Then.¡±
Kang-hoo began to meticulously examine the items from the disy at the entrance.
Some items were disyed with their physical forms alongside a manual noting the options.
Others were disyed as samples with a manual and a note on the possible delivery schedule and duration.
With the Shinto Guild¡¯s private jet ready for shipping, it was exined that the items could be received quickly.
¡®Really a lot.¡¯
Even Kang-hoo, who seldom marvels at anything, was astounded by the sheer volume of merchandise avable for sale.
The total value of the items here, ifbined, could easily exceed tens of trillions of won.
For this reason, this floor was surrounded by a thick protective barrier, starting from the elevator to the entire inner wall.
It was likely a luxurious system that cost about 200 million won a day in maintenance.
Normally, Kang-hoo prefers to shop quickly.
But this time, there was so much to see that it took quite some time.
At some point, he lost track of time, thoroughly enjoying the process of viewing items.
Perhaps about two hours had passed?
Yu Cheonghwa, who had been making a call in a soundproof transparent ss booth, came out.
It was time for Kang-hoo¡¯s decision.
¡°Let¡¯s go with this one.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s see¡ Breath of the Traitor? It¡¯s a decent ne. The assassin ss has a lot of interest in it.¡±
¡°How much?¡±
¡°It¡¯s 1.1 trillion won. I¡¯m sorry, but bargaining is not possible. It¡¯s already discounted sufficiently.¡±
¡°Hmm.¡±
Current bnce: 1.116 trillion won.
After paying for the ne, 16 billion won would remain.
Although it was still a significant bnce, it seemed impossible to shake off the feeling of being nearly broke.
However,
The ne was certainly worth it.
Above all, it was necessary for Kang-hoo, who aimed to minimize reliance on others and be a solo all-rounder.
¡°Just so you know, when you purchase an item from the Shinto Guild, you can exchange it onceter on. The value has to be equal, though.¡±
¡°I¡¯m aware.¡±
¡°Ha-ha. It¡¯s a unique service, right? That¡¯s why we have many regr customers. Jang Si-hwan is also a major customer.¡±
In the original work, Yu Cheonghwa did sell items to The Thirteen Stars quite frequently.
Including the chance to exchange, it meant one could change their mind once and swap it out.
And from the second time onwards, it was possible to rece the item by paying additional money.
It was very convenient, as one could change their setup to their liking without the hassle of selling and buying.
¡°Let¡¯s go with the Breath of the Traitor.¡±
Kang-hoo pointed to the ne.
It was time to discard his old, shabby-looking grade 7 ne and move on to this new one.
After quickly settling the bill,
Yu Cheonghwa tactfully left the spot while Kang-hoo was putting on the ne.
After all, what remained was a farewell, thanking him for the transaction.
¡¾Breath of the Traitor - Ne¡¿
¡¾Grade: 2nd¡¿
¡¾Strength +50¡¿
¡¾Agility +200¡¿
¡¾Magic Resistance +200¡¿
¡¾Durability +50¡¿
¡®Since the Ne of Favorable Winds only increased agility by 15, this is a monumental improvement.¡¯
All stats significantly increased.
This time, Kang-hoo focused on the agility stat because he felt ack of fundamentals inbat until now.
So far, Kang-hoo had relied on skills, including eleration, for swift mobility and movement.
This resulted in his movements being too sluggish when he couldn¡¯t use his skills, at least by his standards.
A high agility stat feels like being constantly elerated and mobile without needing skills.
¡®Depending too much on skills means I¡¯m an easy target when I can¡¯t use them smoothly.¡¯
What could be worse than being a target dummy? He didn¡¯t want to end up in such a state.
Before checking the updated stats, Kang-hoo reviewed the two special effects attached to the Breath of the Traitor.
Special effects.
One of the reasons for purchasing high-grade items.
Depending on what effects they provide, they can create tremendous synergy with the wearer.
¡¾Poison Suppression¡¿
¡¾Recovery Suppression¡¿
At first nce, these effects naturally obstruct certain flows.
The reason for deciding to purchase the Breath of the Traitor. Options deeply rted to the identity of the ne.
Chapter 112: Snatching The Chance (2)
Chapter 112: Snatching The Chance (2)
Poison Suppression
It¡¯s an effect that defends against poisoning.
Of course, it doesn¡¯t cure the poisoned state, so eventually, an antidote must be consumed to clear the poison.
But it blocks the path to bing poisoned, making it somewhat akin to being half-immune.
Healing Suppression
This effect activates when the target under this effect is attacked.
If the target¡¯s health is above 75% of the total, it prevents any healing mechanisms from working.
For instance, a hunter with a total health of 100 who suffers damage from Kang-hoo, who has the healing suppression effect, and drops to 80, would not be able to use potions or healing skills because the health is above 75% of the total.
The duration of healing suppression is 30 minutes, which might not seem long, but in the context of battle, it¡¯s considerably lengthy.This had significant implications.
Normally, skilled hunters meticulously recover their health from the beginning as it starts to drop.
That¡¯s because there are hardly any skills that dramatically restore healthter on.
Even if there are, they require a healer with a named title to make it possible.
However, being in a ¡®debuff¡¯ state with healing suppression makes it impossible to attempt recovery from the beginning.
The peak point where healing can be attempted significantly lowers, adding psychological pressure.
¡®Since many hunters use poison adeptly, poison suppression has significant meaning.¡¯
While healing suppression is beneficial, Kang-hoo rated poison suppression higher.
This made Kang-hoo no longer need a healer.
Usually, their role involves granting immunity or detoxifying poison states.
But if there¡¯s already immunity, there¡¯s no need to seek a healer¡¯s aid. Kang-hoo has his ways of recovering health.
It seemed fitting to strike through ¡®healer¡¯ from the list of needed partner professions moving forward.
Bluntly put, they were nothing but a burden and experience thieves.
Of course, the narrative shifts significantly with abat healer like the Savior Saint, Elizabeth.
With the substantial upgrade of the ne this time, the health stat naturally exceeded 500.
To be precise, 545.
With such a figure, physical attack damage from hunters below level 75 can almost be considered negligible.
It¡¯s a survival of the fittest scenario, where the strong thrive within the system-influenced concept of stats.
Magic damage from skills would still affect him, but physical damage could essentially be ignored.
¡®Those wielding knives can now be sufficiently disregarded.¡¯
Kang-hoo smiled in satisfaction.
At the lower levels, swordsmen are particrly abundant. With abundancees a proportional increase in mediocrity.
Moving forward, he could fully leverage the health stat he had diligently umted when dealing with such individuals.
After receiving the authentication certificate for the Breath of the Traitor ne and the official guarantee certificate from the Shinto Guild from Yu Cheonghwa.
As he arrived in front of the elevator to say goodbye, she initiated the conversation again.
¡°Excuse me.¡±
¡°Yes?¡±
¡°Have you seriously considered joining our guild?¡±
¡°No, I¡¯d rather not think about it seriously yet.¡±
¡°That¡¯s quite blunt, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Given what I know about the light and dark sides of the Shinto Guild, it¡¯s not particrly appealing.¡±
Yu Cheonghwa¡¯s expression stiffened for a moment before rxing at Kang-hoo¡¯s candid response.
Kang-hoo knew.
If you join the Shinto Guild, they¡¯ll fully support you, but leaving the guild is not an option.
Contrary to appearances, the Shinto Guild was obsessively possessive about its talents.
Especially the guild master, Go Cheon-young, was recognized as a madman among madmen in the original story.
If he couldn¡¯t have a talent, he wouldn¡¯t let them live to benefit others; that was his principle.
The Jeonghwa Guild, too, could not dare topete with the Shinto Guild, being so dark and, frankly, filthy.
Yu Cheonghwa had meticulously kept Go Cheon-young¡¯s wrongdoings under wraps, pondering whether Kang-hoo might be aware of them. However, she deemed it unlikely, attributing his behavior to a general distaste for major guilds instead.
¡°I understand. I hope we can meet again if fate allows it.¡±
¡°I appreciate seeing the good items. If I have the chance, I¡¯lle to buy more. There are many things I like.¡±
¡°You¡¯re always wee! I¡¯ll be here since we¡¯re operating as a permanent store this year.¡±
¡°Got it.¡±
Ding.
Soon, the elevator arrived.
And Kang-hoo vanished from Yu Cheonghwa¡¯s view.
Though it was a typical farewell scene between a seller and a buyer, often witnessed in the market,
¡°¡I didn¡¯t expect even myst attempt to be thwarted.¡±
Yu Cheonghwa bit her lip, frustrated by the failure of mind control, which proved ineffective even when she believed Kang-hoo was sufficiently at ease.
It was rare for her to be so fixated on someone, but Kang-hoo had ignited an unusual fascination within her.
Ironically, she didn¡¯t even know Kang-hoo¡¯s real name, let alone his alias.
After departing from the VIP market of the Shinto Guild, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t head to Seoul but made his way directly to Osan Station.
His sights were set on the Gold Goblin¡¯s Mine dungeon, currently the scene of a fierce conflict.
Checking the news on his smartphone, Kang-hoo discovered that events were unfolding more rapidly than anticipated.
In the original storyline, the Pyeongjeong-Bastard alliance managed to fend off the Jeonghwa Guild in up to three direct confrontations.
They leveraged home ground advantage and sessfully employed guerri tactics to disrupt the enemy¡¯s rear.
However, the news reported that the alliance had been decisively beaten in the second direct confrontation.
They were now desperately recruiting unverified mercenaries, a worrying development.
This indicated a need to bolster their ranks, suggesting significant casualties.
Thus, Kang-hoo made his way to Osan before it was toote.
If the Gold Goblin¡¯s Mine dungeon fell into the hands of the Jeonghwa Guild, it would be toote to enter.
Then, he would miss the opportunity inside, and it would eventually fall into Jang Si-hwan¡¯s hands.
He didn¡¯t want to see that happen, even in death.
The area around the Gold Goblin¡¯s Mine dungeon was uneventful, likely due to the chaos.
It was getting dark, and a forecasted downpour significantly reduced visibility.
The rtiveck of interest here was probably because the fierce battles were happening elsewhere.
No one in their right mind would venture into a dungeon leisurely during a guild war.
Entering was one thing, but timing the exit wrong could lead to emerging amidst enemies, resulting in instant death.
There were indeed people near the dungeon.
Hunters from the Pyeongjeong-Bastard alliance and the Jeonghwa Guild were facing off around the dungeon entrance.
They were keeping watch.
Both sides prevented each other from entering the dungeon, naturally not entering themselves either.
Kang-hoo stealthily moved towards the dungeon entrance, using thempposts as cover from their sight.
He also used the Shadow Step skill to hide his presence as much as possible and quietly approached the dungeon entrance.
He was cautious with his footsteps.
Being out of their sight didn¡¯t mean he waspletely undetectable. A mistake could still reveal him.
Fortunately, the forces deployed here seemed to be surplus personnel not needed forbat.
Despite Kang-hoo quickly approaching the dungeon, they seemed utterly oblivious.
And after a while,
¡°That was easy.¡±
Kang-hoo could enter without difficulty.
It was a kind of burry made possible because both sides were too busy watching and guarding against each other.
¡°My body feels significantly lighter. I definitely move faster now. It¡¯s good even without using skills.¡±
Kang-hoo kept fiddling with his ne, clearly satisfied.
Basic stats don¡¯t lie. They consistently reveal their value, especially when enhanced.
This is why hunters invest in items.
No matter how much money you save, it never seems to be enough. There¡¯s always something new you find yourself wanting to buy once you have the funds.
Like today, when Kang-hoo spent 110 billion won just to acquire a grade 2 ne.
¡°Sigh.¡±
He took a deep breath and, looking forward, noticed the mining routes splitting into three, just as he remembered.
Since the dungeon¡¯s starting point was at the base of a mountain housing the mine,
the surroundings were dominated by rugged mountain paths, including several cliffs with sheer drops.
About 5 minutes from the starting point, by foot, the path diverged into three distinct routes.
The west route is known for magic stones, the north for experience points, and the east for skill books.
The goblins that appear here are equipped with high-tech devices and can fire magic bullets, making them formidable opponents in one-on-one battles.
Furthermore, the weapons looted from goblins cannot be used outside the dungeon, which is a disappointment.
The moment you step outside, they immediately corrode into ash, rendering them useless externally.
Of course, inside the dungeon, you can seize and use them as much as you like.
¡®Since leveling up wasn¡¯t my goal anyway.¡¯
Kang-hoo chose the east route, aligning with his original objective.
Not for the revenue from skill books, but for the ¡®fateful encounter¡¯ point located along the east route.
In the original story, Jang Si-hwan found his fateful encounter in that secret space.
Since it¡¯s 4 years before the story¡¯s conclusion, that event hasn¡¯t urred yet. In other words, it¡¯s a ce he¡¯ll visit within the year.
He immediately set off.
Because other uninvited guests could enter the dungeon at any moment.
Given that he entered a dungeon in a city currently embroiled in conflict, it was unpredictable when a battle might erupt.
After about 5 minutes of walking,
He came upon a fork in the road.
Once you choose a path here, it¡¯s very hard to switch to a different route without going back to the starting point.
Just then,
¡°¡¡?¡±
Kang-hoo suddenly felt a chilling presenceing from the north route, making him shiver.
It felt even colder than the depths of a frozenke. It was a dark aura.
Who could it be?
The aura was so strong that even the Troubleshooter¡¯s w marks seemed insignificant inparison.
¡®Could it be?¡¯
Kang-hoo clenched his dagger.
In an uncertain situation where the opponent could not be identified, it was best to be ready forbat at any moment.
Even just from the aura felt, it was clear the entity was far more skilled than himself.
¡°Ah, I¡¯m hungry. Did I refine it for too long?¡±
Then, a voice came from a blind spot hidden by rocks.
Refining, in the original story, often referred to handling power or aura that amplified irregrly.
It seemed there was some issue the opponent had to deal with.
¡°Yawn¡¡.¡±
Soon, with a yawn, the mysterious identity revealed itself.
He was walking towards Kang-hoo, shirtless, with steam visibly rising from his body.
The next moment,
¡°Huh? A lookout?¡±
He recognized Kang-hoo first.
Chapter 113: Snatching The Chance (3)
Chapter 113: Snatching The Chance (3)
It was Jang Si-hwan.
Kang-hoo was momentarily surprised but quickly grasped the significance of this situation.
¡°This guy. He sent his guild members to the front lines and sneaked into the dungeon to reap the rewards.¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s contemptuous gaze was hidden behind an expressionless face, directed at Jang Si-hwan.
Jang Si-hwan is an exceptionally skilled ck mage, so much so that calling him ¡®skilled¡¯ would be an understatement.
He¡¯s a multi-talented individual, proficient in ck magic and spatial skills, simr to Kang-hoo, who isn¡¯t limited to just the assassin job ss.
With his abilities, it would have been easy for him to control the minds of all hunters stationed near the dungeon entrance.
Hence, he could have entered the dungeon without anyone realizing it. Probably, even the memories of the hunters guarding it would have no recollection of him entering.
Just as Kang-hoo had prepared for unexpected mental attacks when he approached Yu Cheonghwa, he did the same now.Although Jang Si-hwan hadn¡¯t attempted anything yet, Kang-hoo couldn¡¯t afford to let his guard down.
Comcency often leads to unexpected problems arising from where one least expects it. It¡¯s a timeless truth.
Contrary to his feelings, Kang-hoo spoke to Jang Si-hwan in a calm, collected manner.
¡°Pleased to meet you.¡±
¡°You managed to enter the dungeon quite well. Everyone else seems to be turning back. Didn¡¯t anyone stop you?¡±
Jang Si-hwan¡¯s words implied that despite the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s guards at the entrance, how did Kang-hoo manage to deceive them and get in.
¡°Since I entered without anyone noticing, naturally, there was no one to stop me.¡±
¡°Oh? I see. Rx for now. I¡¯m not asking to interrogate you.¡±
Jang Si-hwan shrugged his shoulders.
Meanwhile, he was recalling his memories of Kang-hoo, or rather, the lookout, recalling the first unusual meeting.
While scrutinizing the CCTV footage surrounding the Gong Tae-su incident, he spotted a figure heading towards the rooftop of the building. It was Kang-hoo.
Jang Si-hwan still didn¡¯t know Kang-hoo¡¯s name, but the location triggered memories of their memorable first encounter.
In the CCTV recording, Kang-hoo was seen following the same route as Gong Tae-su¡¯s bus on the building¡¯s rooftop.
However, this observation alone wasn¡¯t sufficient to conclude that Kang-hoo was the one responsible for severing Gong Tae-su¡¯s left arm.
During that period, numerous mercenaries were after Gong Tae-su due to the ¡®fireworks.¡¯
¡°Master K mentioned that Jang Si-hwan is keen on identifying the assant who targeted Gong Tae-su.¡±
As Kang-hoo locked eyes with Jang Si-hwan, he organized his thoughts.
If Jang Si-hwan had been examining the site of Gong Tae-su¡¯s assault¡
It was probable that he got caught somewhere.
Even without direct proof of his involvement in Gong Tae-su¡¯s attack, his face might have been captured by a nearby observer.
Jang Si-hwan was shrewd.
He could be fully aware of everything and just pretend otherwise, or act oblivious to subtly extract information.
The persona of Jang Si-hwan was one that Kang-hoo had affectionately crafted before transforming into ¡®Shin Kang-hoo¡¯ in this ursed world.
Wasn¡¯t he the main character in the original narrative?
That¡¯s why Kang-hoo couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. This individual was another version of ¡®me,¡¯ and thus, an astute one.
Kang-hoo remarked.
¡°Yes. I entered with a focus on a specific market segment. It¡¯s a rare opportunity, after all.¡±
¡°I had the same idea. Technically, this dungeon isn¡¯t under anyone¡¯s ownership, correct?¡±
¡°Currently, that¡¯s true.¡±
His response hinted that the dungeon would soon fall under the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s control.
Jang Si-hwan¡¯s slightly tense expression eased upon Kang-hoo¡¯s tacit acknowledgment.
The reddish tint in Jang Si-hwan¡¯s eyes softened, yet with a subtle sharpness disguised as gentleness, he scrutinized Kang-hoo.
¡°When coincidences pile up, interest tends to grow where there was none before.¡±
The lookout, and now, the dungeon.
This was already the second unexpected meeting between Kang-hoo and Jang Si-hwan.
Considering he had directly gathered information about the incident involving Gong Tae-su¡
Jang Si-hwan and his intersections now numbered three times. By this point, they would definitely be etched in each other¡¯s memories.
¡¾Overwhelming power indeed.¡¿
¡¾A worthy opponent stands behind the contractor in front of us. It won''t be easy.¡¿
¡¾The great battlefield is indeed narrow.¡¿
The Dimension Plunderer, Disaster ¨C Darkness, and Strategist of the Wastnd each shared their impressions about Jang Si-hwan.
It was rare for them to express admiration, indicating they were feeling tense.
Then,
¡°Would you like one?¡±
Jang Si-hwan offered Kang-hoo an energy bar he pulled from his pocket.
In the original story, Jang Si-hwan frequently ate energy bars, his favorite snack, so it was natural he¡¯d brought some with him.
¡®Combine this with a dalgonatte, and you have Jang Si-hwan¡¯s happy snackbination.¡¯
It was a clear memory.
Wasn¡¯t Jang Si-hwan the one who knew more about himself than he did?
¡°I won¡¯t decline.¡±
Kang-hoo epted the energy bar, tore open the wrapper, and chewed it thoughtfully.
It tasted really good.
¡°You and I are alike.¡±
¡°Excuse me?¡±
¡°In the way we eat, not enjoying the taste.¡±
Jang Si-hwanughed.
Seeing each other, it did seem they were both nibbling unenthusiastically.
Just by looking at their expressions, one might think they were eating reluctantly, just to survive.
Jang Si-hwan, unlike the characteristically dysfunctional Chae Gwanhyeong and Shin Tae-seok, clearly had manners.
Of course, this personality was carefully crafted in the original story.
He was friendly, kind, took good care of those around him, and wanted to help those in trouble.
He had the personality of a typical hero character. However, everything was ruined in the ending.
If one were to interpret this behavior, tracing back from the ending, it could also be seen as a perfect pretense.
Behind a smiling face, no one knows what¡¯s hidden. Only he would know.
While finishing the remaining half of the energy bar, Jang Si-hwan changed the topic to a more direct question.
¡°What do you think about the Osan suppression?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have any thoughts on it. It¡¯s someone else¡¯s business for a wanderer like me.¡±
¡°So, it doesn¡¯t matter to you who wins?¡±
¡°The guild that wins is just. Justice is a luxury for the losing guild.¡±
At those words, Jang Si-hwan¡¯s eyes briefly shed with interest before returning to normal. Kang-hoo noticed the change.
It must have been an interesting answer. Typically, people would offer more principle-based statements in front of Jang Si-hwan.
Like wishing for the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s victory because they represent justice¡ nonsense.
Kang-hoo simply recognized and spoke about the reality influenced by the logic of power, not offering unconditional praise.
¡°What an enlightening answer.¡±
p, p, p.
Jang Si-hwan apuded, either impressed by the response or perhaps sarcastically.
Either way, that concluded the brief meeting and snack time with Jang Si-hwan.
Contrary to worries about being treated as an unwee guest and potential problems, nothing happened.
And then, Jang Si-hwan headed west, opposite to Kang-hoo¡¯s direction.
It seemed today was not the day for destiny to find him.
Kang-hoo, having encountered Jang Si-hwan inside the dungeon, wanted to secure his fate a bit more quickly and thus began moving east again.
Since conquering the dungeon wasn¡¯t his main objective, Kang-hoo only dealt with monsters that were in his way as he moved.
Still, since the monsters were rich in experience points, he enjoyed significant growth.
When Kang-hoo arrived at the designated spot, he sessfully reached level 101.
During his journey, Kang-hoo managed to defeat a Goblin Mid-Boss, who was swinging its axe with great ir. Despite being a rather insignificant creature with a forgettable name, as a Mid-Boss, it bestowed upon him a skill.
¡¾Gourmet of the Rotten¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾A skill that makes even spoiled food taste delicious.¡¿
¡°Considering this as a skill¡ Well, finding pleasure in spoiled food is a unique ability since it¡¯s not something most can do.¡±
Kang-hoo chuckled while inspecting the Gourmet of the Rotten skill he had gained from the Goblin Mid-Boss.
He couldn¡¯t help but question if this skill truly belonged on his list.
The issue with spoiled food isn¡¯t consuming it; it¡¯s the aftermath.
Nevertheless, upon reaching his destination, Kang-hoo diligently surveyed the area.
¡¾The mountain peak resembled a scissor shape formed by the thumb and index finger in a game of rock-paper-scissors.
Near this distinct peak, hidden among the thorns, Jang Si-hwan stumbled upon something out of the ordinary.
It was a location he wouldn¡¯t typically explore, but that day proved to be exceptionally fortuitous.¡¿
The description in the original text perfectly mirrored the scenery before him.
The journey was swift.
Although the thorny area had a somewhat cliff-like terrain, making it challenging to ess on foot,
Kang-hoo possessed enough strength to cling to rocks and crevices, making it manageable.
Rustle. Rustle-rustle.
As he slowly cleared the thorns with his dagger, a transparent, shimmering space came into view.
It was a sight entirely divergent from the dungeon¡¯s mountain setting.
¡®Jang Si-hwan found a yellow stone at this spot.¡¯
Inside,
Rainbow-colored stones floated around, resembling a zero-gravity environment.
In the original story, Jang Si-hwan, unaware of the ce¡¯s nature, randomly picked up a nearby stone.
It happened to be a yellow stone.
However, to Kang-hoo, who was well-versed in the magic stone hierarchy, the stones held different meanings.
Knowing that red magic stones were the most precious, he assumed the red stones here would be of utmost value.
Consequently, they were located farthest away.
¡®No matter which stone I choose, it seems it will greatly benefit me.¡¯
A space destined by fate.
It was designed so that any choice would lead to a gain.
Yet, Kang-hoo could only recall the fate linked to the yellow stone.
The rest might just be subconscious manifestations. The nature of this subconscious would have to be explored by delving into it.
¡°Huh.¡±
After taking a deep breath,
With his body tensed, Kang-hoo bravely entered the transparent space without hesitation.
¡®Just as I thought.¡¯
The surroundings transformed.
He found himself in the heart of the universe.
Surrounded by countless stars, gxies, and uniquely shaped nebe, the profound darkness was visible.
In the original story, Jang Si-hwan was mesmerized by this sight, losing track of time.
¡¾The order of the Grand Battle must be preserved. We shall promptly eradicate this tainted space.¡¿
An unfamiliar voice echoed. While the speaker was insignificant, the message was crucial.
Kang-hoo dashed towards the red stone with all his might. Despite the absence of solid ground, he sprinted.
He employed every skill at his disposal, including leaps and eleration. That was the distance to the red stone.
In the silent emptiness of space, the area swiftly faded away.
Everything distorted and vanished as if being drawn into a ck hole, a terrifying spectacle.
It was a narrow escape.
The speed at which space copsed nearly matched Kang-hoo¡¯s velocity towards the red stone.
Failing to grasp the stone would render his attempt to alter Jang Si-hwan¡¯s destiny futile.
¡®Just a bit more.¡¯
He clenched his teeth.
He needed to outpace the copsing velocity. Further, farther, just a tad more. He pushed through, enduring excruciating pain.
And then.
Snap!
The instant Kang-hoo¡¯s hand closed around the red stone,
¡°¡!¡±
He was engulfed by the copsing space.
Abruptly, he found himself back in front of the thorny bushes, clutching the stone tightly.
The stone then disintegrated into a handful of ashes, transforming into something entirely new.
It materialized into a sheet of paper.
A peculiar document densely packed with unfamiliar content.
¡¾Twisted Contract¡¿
An enigmatic contract materialized, its purpose utterly inscrutable.
Chapter 114: Snatching The Chance (4)
Chapter 114: Snatching The Chance (4)
¡°What¡¯s this?¡±
I tilted my head, puzzled.
A twisted contract, huh?
Just the name itself seems unsettling, as if it refers to a contract that was inherently wed.
¡°Could it be?¡±
It wasn¡¯t mentioned in the original story, but it was a concept Kang-hoo had considered while writing once.
It involves a scenario where, during the process of linking a sanctum and a contractor in the Grand Holy War, the contract is incorrectly filled out, leading to the ¡®death¡¯ of the contractor.
However, there was never a detailed setting for something called a twisted contract.
I examined the contents.What could possibly be written to justify such a name? There must be a story behind it.
¡°It¡¯s a standard contract between a sanctum and a contractor¡ The seal of the Grand Holy War is even stamped on it.¡±
Everything seemed in order.
Of course, hunters don¡¯t typically sign such contracts when forming a pact with a sanctum.
This means that this contract is one that circtes between the Grand Holy War and the sanctums.
To uphold the order of the Grand Holy War, contracts like these are present in the world of sanctums, simr to those among humans.
However, I remembered the voice I heard in the mysterious space I had entered earlier.
¡®To maintain the order of the Grand Holy War, it said it eradicates erroneous spaces.¡¯
There¡¯s definitely something amiss with this contract.
Kang-hoo scrutinized the contents more closely and discovered the issue in an unexpected ce.
It was a nk space.
I hadn¡¯t given it much thought, assuming it was a standard part of the contract format.
But there was a significant issue there.
¡¾Special Agreement¡¿
¡¾The owner and creator of this contract, the sanctum (???), can maintain the contract with the contractor (???) permanently.
The contractor can firmly hold the position of the main sanctum. This is with the contractor''s consent.
This contract must be fullypleted within 1 day of its contents being confirmed.¡¿
¡°This means¡ I just need to write the names. It doesn¡¯t matter who the sanctum contracted with. If I write my name as the contractor.¡±
A chill ran down my spine. I understood why it was called a twisted contract.
It¡¯s a contract that should never see the light of day.
Perhaps it¡¯s a contract that was lost due to a mistake by the Grand Holy War or an old format that is now obsolete.
Had it fallen into the hands of another hunter, it might not have been a big issue.
Because the power of the contract would only take effect if the name of the sanctum is urately filled in.
A regr hunter, not knowing the names of any sanctums other than the one they¡¯ve contracted with or are sponsored by, wouldn¡¯t be able to use it effectively.
Even contracting with the one sanctum sponsoring them wouldn¡¯t have dramatic effects.
However,
¡°I can steal a sanctum.¡±
For Kang-hoo, it¡¯s a different story.
He has the scanning ability to know exactly how many sanctums someone has and their names.
He can steal any sanctum.
Moreover, thanks to the power of this contract, he can incorporate it as the main sanctum, coexisting with the Dimension Plunderer as his main sanctum.
With just a day or so to ponder, Kang-hoo has already decided whose sanctum he¡¯ll steal.
¡°Jang Si-hwan.¡±
It has to be him.
The leader of The Thirteen Stars, the great viin of this world, and at the same time, the embodiment of the protagonist¡¯s buff.
By stealing Jang Si-hwan¡¯s power here, I can deprive him of his growth momentum.
I¡¯ve narrowed down two candidates to steal the sanctum through the contract, but I decided to ponder a bit more.
There¡¯s no loss in stealing the sanctum a bitter.
¡°I can definitely hit him hard. With a critical hit. It¡¯s more meaningful than just a simple reward or fate.¡±
It was a meaningful fate.
It¡¯s not just about stealing Jang Si-hwan¡¯s abilities. It also gives Kang-hoo a significant boost.
It¡¯s as if the total amount of abilities has been halved.
¡°It¡¯ll be like a bolt out of the blue for him.¡±
Kang-hooughed, thinking of Jang Si-hwan facing an absurd situation today.
Perhaps it was the thought of hitting him hard, but even the corners of his mouth, which usually didn¡¯t rise easily, went up.
The contract of the Grand Holy War holds an irresistible force.
Even if it¡¯s a twisted contract, the contract will be established. Of course, sorting out the disturbed order is the responsibility of the Grand Holy War.
At that time,
Jeon Se-hyuk was talking to a man inside a security-enhanced safety booth.
It was Lee Hyun-seok.
The warlord of ¡®The Abyss¡¯ and his childhood friend.
¡°I got information about Park Dong-jae. nting an insider back then really paid off this time.¡±
¡°Where is Dong-jae?¡±
¡°I thought he might be in Moscow since that¡¯s where Kashimar Guild¡¯s base is, but that was aplete miss.¡±
¡°Really?¡±
¡°Yeah. He¡¯s in the country. Kashimar has so many hostages under their control, they didn¡¯t bring any from overseas.¡±
¡°Those damn bastards¡¡±
Jeon Se-hyuk gritted his teeth.
Even when he had transferred money to Kashimar Guild to ensure Park Dong-jae¡¯s safety,
Their negotiator had said Park Dong-jae was safe and well in a vi on the outskirts of Moscow.
They even showed photos of the vi and took pictures of someone who looked like Park Dong-jae from the back.
Since there had been a real video call, there was no doubt he was somewhere in Moscow.
But to think he was in the country.
The light was under the bushel.
Jeon Se-hyuk asked,
¡°Where?¡±
¡°He¡¯s under the control of the Osho Mercenary Corps. After Jeon Jong-du died, it seems the remnants are using him as a financial resource.¡±
¡°Like reconstruction funds?¡±
¡°Probably. Holding hostages like Park Dong-jae and periodically collecting ransom turns out to be quite a business.¡±
¡°Can we get the location information?¡±
¡°I can provide all the confirmed information, including the location. But public support will be difficult.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m really indebted to you for finding out this much. I¡¯m actually very thankful.¡±- Considering the surroundings, you¡¯ll need a skilled assassin. It¡¯s impossible to get in there with brute force.
¡°That bad?¡±- To the remaining Osho Mercenary Corps, the hostages are theirst bastion. The security is extremely tight.
¡°A skilled assassin¡¡±
It wasn¡¯t Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s intention, nor was he suggesting someone in particr, but,
At that moment, Jeon Se-hyuk was vividly reminded of one person and found himself somewhat taken aback.
The face that came to mind with the phrase ¡°skilled assassin¡± was Kang-hoo¡¯s.
From here on, it¡¯s up to him.
He desperately wanted to save Park Dong-jae, but he couldn¡¯t afford to be reckless. It wasn¡¯t the ce for that.
Jeon Se-hyuk¡¯s gaze deepened.
Could Kang-hoo possibly do it?
No, more importantly, would Kang-hoo be willing to help?
Obviously, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to ask outright, so he began to ponder what offer to start with.
Having no further business at Osan Station, Kang-hoo had moved up to Suwon Station by the evening.
And as always, I was at the modern bar near Suwon Station, drinking a Srkium Burst.
A cocktail made by the taciturn male bartender. Surprisingly, it had a depth of vor.
¡°Considering everything, these two constetions are the best options. I just need to steal one of them.¡±
I was at the final stage.
Kang-hoo knew better than anyone which constetions Jang Si-hwan had contracted with.
Not just through scanning, but because of the unique knowledge as the ¡®original author¡¯ vividly present in his mind.
Kang-hoo revisited the details of the two constetions he had noted down.
¡¾Pure ck Pathfinder: Perfectly mediates to prevent the body and mind from going berserk during the handling of dark energy.¡¿
¡¾Retractor: Sacrifices one constetion contract to recover all physical and mental states. The sacrificed constetion ceases to exist.¡¿
Both constetions were among the top 25 in rank within the Grand Holy War.
¡°If I take the Pure ck Pathfinder, Jang Si-hwan¡¯s handling of dark energy will be extremely unstable.¡±
The Pure ck Pathfinder wasn¡¯t called a cheat constetion for no reason in the original work.
It cleanly solved the issue of going berserk, a chronic problem in dealing with dark energy.
In other words, if Jang Si-hwan loses this constetion, his effectiveness as a dark mage would significantly diminish.
¡°Taking the Retractor would erase his safety.¡±
The Retractor wasn¡¯t a bad choice either.
In the original work, Jang Si-hwan frequently used high-risk, high-return tactics thanks to the Retractor constetion.
It was his confidence that he could revive even a nearly dead body. Essentially, it was like having life insurance.
Just before the final decision,
Kang-hoo thought through various scenarios.
The chance of getting another unexpected opportunity like the twisted contract was extremely low.
The fate he intended to snatch in the Hell of Judgement was far from this kind.
How much time had passed?
After weighing his options carefully, Kang-hoo nodded in determination.
¡°Right. There are alternatives to the Retractor.¡±
He decided to forgo the Retractor.
For Kang-hoo as he was now, the benefits of the Retractor constetion were few.
To activate its effect, a contracted constetion, not a sponsoring one, had to be sacrificed.
Currently, Kang-hoo¡¯s main constetion was only the Dimension Plunderer.
Even if the Strategist of the Wastnd was to be added soon, that would only make two.
None of them could be easily sacrificed. Each was precious.
In other words, even if he snatched it from Jang Si-hwan, it wouldn¡¯t be of immediate help. It would take a considerable amount of time.
The Pure ck Pathfinder was different.
If I start using dark energy skills in earnest, the biggest worry at that time will disappear instantly.
Instability 0%.
The Pure ck Pathfinder grants unparalleled control over dark energy, neutralizing all uncertainties.
Without the Pure ck Pathfinder, manipting dark energy is akin to handling delicate ss.
With the Pure ck Pathfinder, it feels like holding a stic cup without the fear of dropping it. The perspective shifts.
¡°This will be interesting.¡±
Kang-hoo smirked malevolently, envisioning Jang Si-hwan losing one of his primary constetions right before his eyes.
He now nned to return to the hotel and inscribe the twisted contract.
Since the Grand Holy War had not nullified the contract, they had no grounds to contest this maneuver.
That night.
¡¾The contract between ''Jang Si-hwan'' and the constetion ''Pure ck Pathfinder'' has been terminated.¡¿
¡¾The contract with the constetion ''Pure ck Pathfinder'' will be transferred to a new contractor following an officially recognized subsequent contract.¡¿
¡¾This contract was established by an officially recognized formal contract of the Grand Holy War.¡¿
¡°F*ck, what¡¯s this. What¡¯s happening now? What is this? No, what is this¡¡±
Jang Si-hwan found himself in an utterly ludicrous situation, one he had never before faced.
He had lost his main constetion, the Pure ck Pathfinder, right before his eyes, without even knowing who had imed it.
To him, the Pure ck Pathfinder was not just a fundamental aspect of his identity as a dark mage but also a constetion that greatly enhanced his destructive capabilities.
It also managed the vtile dark energy and stabilized his erratic mind.
But now, it was gone.
¡¾The instability of dark energy begins to amplify. 1 unit of dark energy will naturally dissipate every minute.¡¿
¡°F*ck¡¡±
A sudden, immense loss.
Unable to restrain his fury, Jang Si-hwan unleashed, expelling ck energy from his entire being.
Crash! ng!
The exterior walls and windows of the penthouse shattered instantly.
In the aftermath of Jang Si-hwan¡¯s rage, he had lost his sanity.
¡°This is absurd¡¡±
His lips and fingers trembled.
He had relied solely on the Pure ck Pathfinder and made no preparations for handling dark energy on his own.
A severe problem had arisen.
Chapter 115: Park Dong-jae (1)
Chapter 115: Park Dong-jae (1)
¡°It seems like contracts like this would always be wee. It¡¯s regrettable, but I¡¯ll have to be satisfied with just having tasted it once.¡±
Kang-hoo eyed the Pure ck Seeker, who had risen to the status of a ¡®Main Constetion,¡¯ the same rank as the Dimension Plunderer.
The privilege of a Constetion is a very special benefit, exclusive to those who achieve the status of Main Constetion.
Thanks to the twisted contract, a Main Constetion was added without any issues regarding order or bnce.
He could now enjoy the benefits from the Dimension Plunderer along with those provided by the Pure ck Seeker.
Since he didn¡¯t undergo a typical Constetion test, he initially obtained three advantages.
First, he was granted a ¡®Dark Energy¡¯ stat of 100.
This bes the seventh stat, joining themon stats all hunters use: strength, agility, health, magic power, anti-magic, and toughness.
Hunters usually refer to this as a special stat and highly value its rarity.There are special skills that can only be activated with this stat, and they are quite powerful.
Although he hasn¡¯t yet obtained a skill to convert magic power into Dark Energy.
Just having the foundational Dark Energy created without the intermediate steps significantly reduces the time required.
Typically, to directly awaken the Dark Energy stat¡
It¡¯splicated to describe in detail and necessitates a long journey of at least three years, in the best-case scenario, to be frank.
Second, he was granted the ability to recover 1 Dark Energy per minute.
This is a great ability that the Pure ck Seeker could bestow upon a contractor, being one himself.
Normally, Dark Energy can only be replenished by converting magic power into Dark Energy or by being in a ce where Dark Energy is present.
But with the second privilege, even if all Dark Energy was depleted, it could be fully restored in 100 minutes.
This was one of the reasons why Jang Si-hwan in the original work did not hesitate to use Dark Energy wherever he fought.
Third, it was possible to suppress the inherent properties of Dark Energy, such as irregrity, variability, and unpredictability.
It could be perfectly controlled with the power of a Constetion.
Having snatched this ability from Jang Si-hwan, it¡¯s obvious how great his sense of loss would be.
It¡¯s as if Kang-hoo had snatched the Dimension Plunderer away from him. The foundation of all his calctions would be shaken.
Now, Jang Si-hwan has to be much more careful when using Dark Energy than usual.
The Dark Energy might explode in an unexpected ce.
Or, the Dark Energy might evaporate without reason.
It¡¯s like having a t tire on a moving car; stability is now far from reach.
¡°Dark Energy skills are the key.¡±
The foundation has beenid, but the road ahead is still long. Without Dark Energy skills, Dark Energy is useless.
To enhance its utility, skill plundering is essential, but Dark Energy-rted skills are hard toe by domestically.
There are few undead monsters with useful skills. It¡¯s necessary to look overseas.
Then.
¡¾I''m already frustrated with someone else coveting the main constetion, but why did you bring this guy?
Moreover, how is this contract that allows him to maintain the same rank as me valid?¡¿
The Dimension Plunderer was furious.
The ¡®this guy¡¯ here likely refers to the Pure ck Seeker.
Her audacity to call someone of such high rank as him ¡®this guy¡¯ ismendable.
¡°I used something called a twisted contract. It¡¯s a contract approved by the Great War, so there shouldn¡¯t be any problems.¡±
¡¾I knew that the work at the Great War wasn''t perfect, but they haven''t disposed of that insane contract temte?¡¿
¡°Why don¡¯t you go ask them yourself?¡±
Kang-hoo replied with a smile.
This was a conversation that had to be had among the Constetions themselves.
He was simply the party who discovered and ingeniously exploited a loophole in the contract.
However, what came next was equally surprising news for Kang-hoo.
¡¾I never imagined I''d encounter a former lover here. A trash that can''t resist women.¡¿
¡°¡¡?¡±
That implied.
Were the Dimension Plunderer and the Pure ck Seeker former lovers? Simr to his own rtionship with Han Seo-yeon?
¡¾New contractor, wee. I''m not sure when you became aware of me, but this is indeed surprising.¡¿
The Pure ck Seekerpletely disregarded the Dimension Plunderer¡¯s remarks and addressed Kang-hoo directly.
It must have been a shock for her as well.
Especially after abruptly ending her main contract with Jang Si-hwan and then forming a connection with a new contractor.
And even more astonishing if the new contractor¡¯s Main Constetion happens to be her former lover.
¡°The rtionship was established through the contract, so I believe there won¡¯t be any issues.¡±
¡¾My stance is straightforward. Regardless of the contract utilized, the power of the Great War is paramount, and I will honor that.
And if someone is astute enough to discover and leverage such a contract, they are worthy of being a new contractor.¡¿
¡°Thank you for your understanding. I won¡¯t disappoint you. I¡¯ve always been this way.¡±
¡¾What transpired between her and me is our concern. We''ll manage it, so you needn''t worry excessively.¡¿
¡¾You insane fool! What do you mean you''ll manage it¡¡¡¿
¡¾The Constetion ''Pure ck Seeker'' exercises strong control, effectively silencing the conversation.¡¿
An unexpected reunion of former lovers.
Their issue is something they must resolve on their own. The Dimension Plunderer¡¯s mind must be overwhelmed, considering he already has numerous adversaries.
Kang-hoo returned to the hotel he had reserved in advance, changed intofortable attire, and watched hunter-rted news on TV.
Today¡¯s broadcast was filled with many entertaining offerings, including variety shows and movies.
However, Kang-hoo had never once switched to those channels.
Whenever he turned on the TV, there was only one channel he watched: a professional cable broadcast dedicated solely to hunter news.
The full-scale attack by the Jeonghwa Guild began about an hour ago.
The Jeonghwa Guild stated that to prevent mercenaries with impure intentions and external forces from colluding, they would elerate their extermination efforts.
The Hunter Public Safety Bureau has issued a second-ss arrest warrant for all 13 executives of Pyeongjeong.
The charges include drug trafficking and distribution, as well as the kidnapping and human trafficking of promising domestic talents.
¡°It seems like he¡¯s really upset.¡±
Seeing the news, it appeared Jang Si-hwan had every reason to be furious.
The cooperation from the Hunter Public Safety Bureau like this definitely indicated Jang Si-hwan¡¯s influence.
In the original story, the rtionship between the Hunter Public Safety Bureau and the protagonist, Jang Si-hwan, was ¡®positive.¡¯
It was a cooperative rtionship for the implementation of justice.
But now, at the end, with the situation¡¯s nature and essence changed, the Public Safety Bureau is nothing but an aplice to viins.
Curious, Kang-hoo turned on Huntergram.
He didn¡¯t use social media, but Huntergram was the one tform he checked for news about well-known hunters.
It was a quick and easy way to catch up on the activities of popr named hunters.
Especially Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeong, who actively used SNS, always had updates on their ounts.
Upon entering, there was a battle video that seemed to have just been uploaded.
Calling it a battle was an understatement; it was essentially a one-sided massacre video by Jang Si-hwan. The victims were the Pyeongjeong-Bastard alliance.
The brutal scenes required special verification to view, and Jang Si-hwan¡¯s ruthlessness was evident.
Thements were already flooding in.
The top fixedment by Jang Si-hwan listed the fabricated charges against the deceased hunters.
Below it,ments in support of Jang Si-hwan and the Jeonghwa Guild were posted incessantly.
With the page refreshing automatically every 5 seconds, dozens of newments appeared each time.
Negativements were immediately met with dislikes or mass reporting, leading to their first-level filtering.
A manipted world.
No other phrase could describe it better.
Seoul has be a massive fortress, constructed by Jang Si-hwan, Chae Gwanhyeong, and the Jeonghwa Guild.
For those allied with them, it¡¯s heaven; for their adversaries, it¡¯s hell.
5 minutester.
As the news continued to overflow with content about the battle in Osan, Kang-hoo turned off the TV.
Then, out of habit, he put on his Bluetooth earphones to listen to ssical music while doing push-ups.
At that moment, he received a call.
It was from Jeon Se-hyuk.
¡°Yes.¡±
-Is it okay to talk now?
¡°I was just resting. What¡¯s up? I don¡¯t recall asking you for anything.¡±
Kang-hoo tilted his head.
It wasn¡¯t that he minded receiving calls from Jeon Se-hyuk; rather, he hadn¡¯t given Jeon Se-hyuk any reason to contact him.
It was too soon to discuss entering another dungeon since they had only just parted ways.
Moreover, if it had been about that, Ban Se-yeong would have been the one to contact him. Jeon Se-hyuk was merely an observer.
¡®Ah. Could that be it?¡¯
Suddenly, it clicked.
The reason Jeon Se-hyuk might be looking for him seemed to be the right guess.
-Do you remember talking about Dong-jae before? Buffer Park Dong-jae. He¡¯s a younger brother I deeply care about.
As expected.
¡°I remember.¡±
-Uhm¡ I¡¯m not sure if I should say this.
¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like you, Jeon Se-hyuk. Go ahead, you¡¯re going to say it anyway, right?¡±
-Hm. Yes.
After Kang-hoo called him out, Jeon Se-hyuk cleared his throat. Kang-hoo was right.
He continued.
-I¡¯ve found Dong-jae¡¯s location. I¡¯ve gathered the necessary information and figured out the approach, but¡
¡°It seems like sneaking in won¡¯t be a problem, but you¡¯re worried about getting him out safely.¡±
-Exactly.
Infiltration is always like that.
Finding a way in is possible by finding gaps here and there.
The problem is what happens inside and then getting out.
After some action is taken inside, it¡¯s hard to leave as quietly as when entering.
Especially with a hostage rescue. The guards protecting the hostage have to be subdued first, so it can¡¯t be quiet.
Park Dong-jae.
He was one of the individuals Kang-hoo most desired.
He was indeed interested in people like Ban Se-yeong, Jung Yuri, and An Yeong-ho.
Butpared to his interest in Park Dong-jae, they were clearly second priority.
He preferred solo y, but if he had to do a team y, the first choice, or rather, the zeroth choice would always be Park Dong-jae.
¡°Just a moment. Can I call you back in about a minute?¡±
-That¡¯s fine. Sorry to bother you at night.
¡°Not at all. I¡¯ll call you back. Then.¡±
Kang-hoo hung up the phone.
Once he could approach Park Dong-jae, he had already finished nning how to get him out.
It was the fourth special privilege given by the Dimension Plunderer, the ability rted to teleportation.
However, there was a part that confused him.
So, he immediately spoke to the Dimension Plunderer.
¡°Miss Dimension Plunderer, sorry to interrupt you while you seem to be talking with your ex, but could I possibly ask you a question?¡±
¡¾Impudent. Speak with respect.¡¿
¡°May I request your esteemed opinion, Miss Dimension Plunderer?¡±
After Kang-hoo quickly adjusted his approach, the Dimension Plunderer, who was about to snap at him, was taken aback. Soon, she replied.
¡¾Speak.¡¿
¡°About the teleportation ability. I understand it¡¯s 100% sessful alone, and 50% with two. But I was wondering if ¡®alone¡¯ strictly refers to myself.¡±
He reverted to casual speech, but she didn¡¯t seem to mind and promptly answered.
¡¾It''s not just about who is alone; it''s about the number of people involved.¡¿
¡°So, when there are two people, if I use teleportation on the other person, excluding myself, does it mean a 100% sess rate?¡±
¡¾Correct. You were unaware. The description doesn''t mention ''I'' or ''myself,'' does it?¡¿
It was exactly as the Dimension Plunderer had said.
That¡¯s why he had thought the tooltip was vague, but it wasn¡¯t vague at all; it was precisely as stated.
Since the probability of 100% is divided among the total number of people present, it indeed guarantees sess when one is alone.
¡®Park Dong-jae will definitely be rescued.¡¯
This makes the calctions much simpler.
Chapter 116: Park Dong-jae (2)
Chapter 116: Park Dong-jae (2)
I had another call with Jeon Se-hyuk.
For Kang-hoo, since a n was established to ensure Park Dong-jae¡¯s safety at 100%, the conversation went smoothly. Of course, there was one problem¡ªhis own safety.
¡°Let me start with the conclusion. If I meet Mr. Park Dong-jae, I guarantee a 100% escape.¡±
-100%, you say?
¡°Yes. It¡¯s possible.¡±
-May I know how?
¡°I¡¯ll tell you when we start. There¡¯s no need to say it now.¡±
Kang-hoo drew a line appropriately.
It¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t trust Jeon Se-hyuk, but there¡¯s a proper order and phase for conversations in matters like this.Telling how things will end before even starting is not Kang-hoo¡¯s style.
Especially since he values having control and proceeding at his own pace even more.
-For now, Se-yeong will move, and some colleagues who share my intentions will also take action.
¡°Are they reliable?¡±
-They are more trustworthy than me. They all know Dong-jae. They are also dear brothers to him.
¡°Too many people can be a poison, but a suitable number won¡¯t hurt.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
Rescuing a hostage is not about the number of people involved.
Especially if the enemy can take the hostage¡¯s life at any time if things go south.
-If you rescue Dong-jae as promised, I can also give you the ownership of the maze dungeon we went to before.
¡°That¡¯s a bit unfair.¡±
-Excuse me?
¡°The dungeon isn¡¯t essible alone. Even if I receive its ownership, it¡¯s meaningless unless I form a team.¡±
He hit the nail on the head.
Of course, Jeon Se-hyuk didn¡¯t have bad intentions when making such an offer.
It just shows how important Park Dong-jae is to him and that he¡¯s prepared to pay the price.
The sentiment was fully understood.
However, pointing out the ws in his proposal was necessary for rity.
Understanding his feelings doesn¡¯t mean Kang-hoo would refrain from speaking his mind; indecisiveness is far from his nature.
-There are other dungeons avable. I was short-sighted.
¡°Anyway, it would be better to meet in person. Where will the target location be?¡±- It¡¯s in Gangwon Province, rted to the Osho Mercenary Corps.
¡°Not the Kashimar Guild?¡±- There¡¯s a backstory to that.
¡°Thene up. I¡¯m at Suwon Station. It seems like a suitable ce.¡±- Understood. I¡¯ll contact you as soon as I¡¯m ready toe up.
¡°Then.¡±
The call ended.
Since there¡¯s still time left before the assault on the Judges¡¯ Hell, participating in rescuing Park Dong-jae seemed feasible.
Had it been someone else, the n might have been met with skepticism.
But Park Dong-jae was different.
Investing time was worthwhile, and he could offer gratitude simr to An Yeong-ho¡¯s indebtedness.
Connections aren¡¯t just solidified through simple acts of kindness. Sometimes, it¡¯s necessary to create emotional debts.
This subconscious creation strengthens bonds. Human emotions are indeed tricky.
Assuming good intentions and efforts will be recognized for their sincerity? That¡¯s nonsense only found in novels.
¡°Jeon Se-hyuk gathering information and making a sloppy n doesn¡¯t seem likely. Infiltration won¡¯t be an issue.¡±
In Kang-hoo¡¯s calctions, rescuing Park Dong-jae was not a variable. It was a constant.
Using his teleportation ability, he could safely extricate him.
The problem was himself.
Given that he could only use his teleportation ability once a day, his own escape was crucial.
¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to sell the dungeon to hire mercenaries en masse rather than giving it to Sun-kyu oppa?¡±
¡°Are you talking about a fireworks disy?¡±
¡°Yeah! It seems like it would be cheaper. I¡¯m not looking down on Sun-kyu oppa, but considering the cost aspect.¡±
¡°Dong-jae is a hostage. Do you think those dirty bastards from the Osho Mercenary Corps won¡¯t slit his throat if things go south?¡±
¡°Umm¡¡¡±
¡°They¡¯re basically at rock bottom in life. That¡¯s why they¡¯re trying to suck everything they can from the hostage. What do you think they¡¯ll do first if things fall apart?¡±
¡°That¡¯s true.¡±
Ban Se-yeong, who was about to suggest a different approach to Jeon Se-hyuk, scratched the back of his head.
¡°It¡¯s not about saving several hostages but somehow saving Dong-jae. A numbers game isn¡¯t the answer.¡±
¡°Oppa, don¡¯t you have quite awork of assassins? I mean, those with real skills.¡±
¡°Yes, but they all have too much on their tes to take on from one to ten, so they refused.¡±
¡°I see¡ that makes sense.¡±
It was understandable.
If you¡¯re not specialized in stealth and infiltration, entering a building unnoticed is very difficult.
In the midst of a frontal assault, it might go unnoticed, but under normal circumstances, reliance on the assassin profession is extremely high.
That¡¯s why all of Jeon Se-hyuk¡¯s assassin contacts refused.
The risk was too high.
Most importantly, they had to bring out the hostage alive. Having someone to protect adds a significant burden.
If the mission had been infiltration for assassination or to destroy or steal information, support would have been abundant.
But it was a hostage rescue, so everyone expressed their refusal. They weren¡¯t that desperate about Park Dong-jae.
¡°I¡¯m curious about the n. He guaranteed 100% escape for Dong-jae, but how is it possible?¡±
It was a lingering question that Jeon Se-hyuk couldn¡¯t shake off.
He knew better than anyone that Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t one to bluff or make baseless assertions.
There must be confidence behind his words, but he couldn¡¯t guess. Not 99%, but 100%, what could it be?
Jeon Se-hyuk nced at Ban Se-yeong, who shrugged.
¡°How would I know something oppa doesn¡¯t? Let¡¯s trust in Sun-kyu oppa¡¯s confidence.¡±
¡°We need to quickly consider other proposals.¡±
¡°Dong-jae oppa is someone worth that effort. Let¡¯s focus on that for now.¡±
¡°Right. A hunter on the verge of level 400 can¡¯t even save his own brother.¡±
¡°People have their own specialized talents. Don¡¯t be too hard on yourself, oppa. I¡¯m too dumb toe up with such a n.¡±
¡°That¡¯s true.¡±
¡°What¡¯s with that quick eptance without hesitation¡¡.¡±
Ban Se-yeong felt like she had suffered an unexpected defeat in her attempt tofort Jeon Se-hyuk.
The meeting happened quickly.
Jeon Se-hyuk, who was in the middle of forming a team, led them straight to Suwon Station.
They convened in a security office that Jeon Se-hyuk had rented in advance for their meeting.
Following Jeon Se-hyuk¡¯s lead, they exchanged greetings with the group he had brought along.
Although they all shook hands with Kang-hoo with friendly eyes,
Unlike the trusting Jeon Se-hyuk and Ban Se-yeong, their eyes were full of doubt.
This was because they had heard that Kang-hoo¡¯s level had just surpassed 100.
In a way, Kang-hoo had the lowest level among all the present members.
Since Kang-hoo was to y a key role, skepticism was inevitable.
Of course, no one showed it outwardly.
There wasn¡¯t a single hunter present who could confidently im to rece Kang-hoo¡¯s position.
There were no assassins, and no one else was confident about rescuing Park Dong-jae with 100% certainty like Kang-hoo.
Jeon Se-hyuk led the briefing.
Kang-hoo nned to figure out the infiltration strategy based on the information shared during the briefing.
The n was simpler than expected.
The calction of the infiltration route was easily solved, thanks to the internal map Jeon Se-hyuk received from Lee Hyun-seok.
Initially, the area holding the hostage wasn¡¯t apleted building but one under construction.
This was a variable caused by the sudden attack of the Kim Su-kyung Mercenary Corps and the death of Jeon Jong-du due to Kang-hoo¡¯s efforts.
Thus, there was a security loophole in the venttion shaft line going from the first floor to the basement.
Moreover,
Jeon Se-hyuk had acquired a master key from an insider through the Kim Su-kyung Mercenary Corps.
There was no need to pick the lock of the security door where the hostage was held. It could be opened with the master key.
¡®The Osho Mercenary Corps isn¡¯t an organization boiling with brotherhood but follows a very capitalistic flow.¡¯
Kang-hoo nodded his head.
It was not surprising to have traitors rampant in such a scenario.
If it were a closely-knit organization, cooperation from an insider would rather be seen as a trap.
Considering their cohesion, it was certain they¡¯d spill any information, whether they had it or not, tempted by money.
After the final check, Jeon Se-hyuk turned the conversation to Kang-hoo.
The most crucial part of the discussion hadn¡¯t been mentioned yet.
¡°We need to address the most important puzzle. Of course, I would carefully request an exnation from Mr. Sun-kyu.¡±
¡°It seems like we¡¯re fully prepared. There¡¯s a route with poor security, and we have the master key.¡±
¡°Right.¡±
¡°After rescuing the hostage, the whole team will attract attention from the outside during my escape.¡±
¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±
In essence, as Kang-hoo tries to escape after sending out Park Dong-jae,
Jeon Se-hyuk¡¯s team ns to raid the temporary detention center from the outside, dispersing their forces.
In any case, when the enemy¡¯s forces are divided, the focus on Kang-hoo will inevitably loosen.
¡°I understand your intentions, but it¡¯s not pleasant being viewed with suspicious eyes.¡±
Other team members, hit by Kang-hoo¡¯s words, averted their gazes in embarrassment.
He didn¡¯t want to me their inner thoughts. If they don¡¯t understand, they can¡¯t help but doubt.
They must be curious how a level 100 assassin like himself is confident in ensuring Park Dong-jae¡¯s 100% escape.
No, aside from understanding, they couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine how it would work.
While the assassin profession specializes in infiltration, it struggles with protectingpanions.
The method to dispel doubt is straightforward.
Prove it.
Aware of this, Kang-hoo was ready to demonstrate. However, he had something to dere first.
Regardless of their opinions of him, he was determined to surpass their expectations.
¡°Mr. Se-hyuk, may I borrow your body for a moment?¡±
¡°¡Yes?¡±
¡°Just a touch on the shoulder, once. That¡¯s all I ask for your consent.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not difficult for me¡¡¡±
¡¾Would you like to teleport?¡¿
¡¾The sess rate of transporting one person is exactly 100%.¡¿
Before he could finish his sentence, Kang-hoo tapped Jeon Se-hyuk¡¯s shoulder, harnessing the power of his constetion.
The next instant.
¡°Huh?¡±
¡°What, what?¡±
Jeon Se-hyuk vanished from everyone¡¯s sight, disappearing quietly, without a sound or a gust of wind.
¡°How, how did that happen? Where did Se-hyuk oppa go? Is it like invisibility?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not it.¡±
Kang-hoo chuckled and shook his head at Ban Se-yeong¡¯s incorrect assumption.
Then, he pointed towards the smartphone Ban Se-yeong was holding.
¡°Why the smartphone?¡±
¡°Try making a video call.¡±
Following Kang-hoo¡¯s suggestion, Ban Se-yeong immediately made a video call to Jeon Se-hyuk.
Shortly after, Jeon Se-hyuk answered the call, and his surroundings appeared on the screen.
¡°Oppa? Where are you?¡±
¡°It seems like my camera is showing the window of the office we were just in. Isn¡¯t it?¡±
And everyone could see it.
Jeon Se-hyuk, who had been in the office just moments before, was now on the rooftop of the building across.
At that moment, any doubt about the 100% probability was dispelled.
And.
¡°This can¡¯t be real.¡±
Someone whispered.
Chapter 117: Park Dong-jae (3)
Chapter 117: Park Dong-jae (3)
The video callpleted all the necessary verification.
Kang-hoo simply changed Jeon Se-hyuk¡¯s location. Everyone witnessed it firsthand.
There were no further questions, no reason to inquire further, nothing at all.
It was a situation where the saying ¡°seeing is believing¡± fit perfectly.
A whileter,
Having returned to the office, Jeon Se-hyuk looked back and forth between Kang-hoo and himself with a surprised expression.
It was a wless teleportation.
There was no feeling of strangeness, nor did any change ur to the body during the process.
It was as if he had been on the rooftop in an instant, as if he had always been there. That was all there was to it.¡°This was the basis of your confidence that you could save Dong-jae.¡±
¡°Do you understand now?¡±
¡°I¡¯d like to apologize for my skepticism about things that couldn¡¯t be understood logically.¡±
Jeon Se-hyuk bowed his head.
Then, his colleagues hurriedly bowed their heads and conveyed their apologies to Kang-hoo.
Kang-hoo, who would not take such trivial matters to heart or forcefully make an issue out of them, lightly snorted and nodded as if it was okay. It was as if to say, let¡¯s consider it a minor incident.
Then, Ban Se-yeong, finding a gap in the conversation, spoke to Kang-hoo.
¡°Wait. But it seems like we missed one thing. Oppa, can you escape using that skill just now?¡±
Ban Se-yeong was as concerned about Kang-hoo¡¯s safety as she was about Park Dong-jae¡¯s.
It wouldn¡¯t do for the rescuer to fall into danger while trying to rescue a hostage. That was bothering her.
¡°To definitively save Mr. Dong-jae, I need to put in the legwork to get out myself.¡±
¡°See? What did I say? How is this different from you bing the hostage? It¡¯s dangerous.¡±
Ban Se-yeong¡¯s concern was appreciated. Of course, the others probably felt the same.
¡°That¡¯s why we move together. When I go into escape phase, it¡¯s to attack from the outside.¡±
¡°But¡ there are 25 members of the Osho Mercenary Corps in that building. And the one acting as their leader is level 200.¡±
¡°There¡¯s hardly any protective barriers, and the surveince system isn¡¯t even half-built. There are plenty of gaps.¡±
¡°Are you really sure it¡¯ll be okay?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not going in there to throw my life away just to save Mr. Park Dong-jae, so don¡¯t get ahead of yourself.¡±
Kang-hoo patted her shoulder reassuringly.
During the briefing.
The reason Kang-hoo thought it was okay to use teleportation for Park Dong-jae was simple.
The level of the leader controlling the subordinates guarding the ce wasn¡¯t very high.
Of course, that didn¡¯t guarantee an easy victory, but at least it made it calcble that they wouldn¡¯t die.
There seemed to be just one problem to solve.
Having demonstrated the teleportation ability to people.
It now required a day¡¯s cooldown.
Once that issue was resolved, the most crucial puzzle piece of Park Dong-jae¡¯s rescue operation would be ready.
¡°Let¡¯s cross-check the routes again. We need to organize how we will coordinate from both inside and outside.¡±
Kang-hoo shifted the topic to the next issue.
A rescue is not child¡¯s y.
No matter how perfect a n seems, variables can always arise on-site.
To safely rescue a crucial connection.
And also to boldly demand useful dungeons from Jeon Se-hyuk.
Kang-hoo wanted to handle the situation professionally. And the strategy meeting continued until dawn.
The next night.
¡°Eat.¡±
Thunk.
A broth made simply with barley rice and soybean paste, with a few pieces of kimchi ced on a stic tray in front.
The repetitively simr meals felt like a copy-and-paste job, now entering its first month.
¡°¡¡¡±
¡°Aren¡¯t you eating? Should I take it away?¡±
The man outside the iron door teased the man trapped inside by repeatedly inserting and withdrawing the tray.
There was just enough space at the bottom of the iron door for the tray to slide through. He mischievously toyed with it.
This ce served as a secret hideout for the ¡®remnants¡¯ of the Osho Mercenary Corps, nestled on the outskirts of Yangyang in Gangwon Province.
It was also a building that, while not yet fullypleted,cked nothing in terms of holding hostages.
¡°I¡¯ll eat.¡±
The man pulled the tray toward him with a sullen expression. He had to eat. It was the only way to stay alive.
After all, his colleagues were outside, working hard to ensure he didn¡¯t die.
He knew well that it was thanks to Jeon Se-hyuk that he was still in this cold solitary cell and not on an operating table. Jeon Se-hyuk had paid a hefty sum to extend his life.
¡°Is your friend or brother or whatever not a sucker? Giving whatever amount of money they ask for, and that too, depositing it promptly? Kekeke.¡±
The man outside, a guard, seemed to find the situation amusing.
Of course, he would. Simply for holding onto one person, they were receiving hundreds of millions of won deposited every week.
That money was surely being funneled into the pockets of the Osho Mercenary Corps members here.
It seemed there were about fifteen hostages like himself trapped here.
So, it wasn¡¯t hard to imagine each mercenary pocketing hundreds of millions of won a month.
The guard continued.
¡°Think of it as going on a diet for a while. If it seems like you¡¯re eating too well, they won¡¯t deposit the money so promptly.¡±
¡°¡¡¡±
¡°Got to make your heart race a bit, so they hurry up and deposit the money.¡±
¡°Bastards.¡±
¡°Yeah, keep cursing. I¡¯ve heard that so much, it doesn¡¯t even faze me anymore.¡±
Whistle-whistle-whistle-.
The guard whistled leisurely as he disappeared somewhere.
As always, he¡¯d probably be watching the TV installed at the end of this underground space, bursting into unpleasantughter.
Park Dong-jae forcefully stuffed the barley rice into his mouth, chewing diligently.
He couldn¡¯t give up. He had to survive, not just for himself, but for his colleagues who were thinking of him and trying to help.
But¡
As time passed, it was true that his spirit was weakening.
¡®I shouldn¡¯t have gone to Ground Zero. I should¡¯ve known there¡¯d be bastards there preying on hunters like me, driven by curiosity.¡¯
That was the source of his troubles.
Given the many intriguing elements near Ground Zero, the problem was going there alone.
The ce, known as a ¡®hot spot,¡¯ was where hunters from the Kashimar Guild were in disguise.
It was a mystery why Russian hunters hade all this way, but that was the oue.
He had lost consciousness without even realizing he had been kidnapped, and when he woke up, he was here.
Initially, he thought he might have been dragged to Russia since he heard Russian all around.
Luckily, he was still in Korea.
However, where exactly he was and what the building was used for remained a mystery.
Right then.
Boom! Thud!
Swoosh! Swoosh! Stab!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡
Amotion broke out not too far from outside the door.
The first two sounds were heavy objects falling to the ground in session.
The three sounds that followed were of slicing, more slicing, and then a deep stabbing noise.
Those were undoubtedly sounds that could be made when slicing and stabbing through the flesh of a person or animal.
Then, thest.
The sound was that of blood spurting out from a person¡¯s body like a fountain.
Such a sound wouldn¡¯t ur if the blood merely trickled out. It happens when blood gushes out as if a vein has burst.
¡°Kuk. Kek. Kukuk¡¡.¡±
Step. Step. Step.
The gasping of the guard, struggling even to breathe properly, was drowned out by the footsteps of someone approaching closer.
The next moment.
¡°Mr. Park Dong-jae. Where are you?¡±
For the first time, his own name was called out. Someone was searching for him.
¡°H-here!¡±
Beep. Beep-beep-beep.
Soon, something touched the iron door, and the firmly locked door swung open.
It was the moment when the thick iron door, which seemed as if it would never open no matter how many times one pulled, opened effortlessly.
The person who stood before him outside the door was neither Jeon Se-hyuk nor his colleagues.
Instead, Park Dong-jae was met with apletely unfamiliar face.
Why did this persone to save me? Was it at Jeon Se-hyuk¡¯s request? If so, could this individual be highly skilled?
As his thoughts began to race, Park Dong-jae¡¯s fingertips trembled slightly.
Upon reflection, exiting through the door wasn¡¯t the main issue. In a way, the real challenge was just beginning.
To escape from this ce, situated on the 4th underground floor, reaching the lobby on the 1st floor was the minimum requirement.
The Osho Mercenary Corps guards wouldn¡¯t let them pass easily. A confrontation was inevitable.
¡°Tell Mr. Jeon Se-hyuk to act immediately upon meeting. I¡¯ll start from the bottom and work my way up.¡±
¡°H-how can I meet¡¡¡±
Before Park Dong-jae could finish his sentence, Kang-hoo had already teleported him.
Having pre-adjusted the save point to an agreed location on the outskirts, their reunion happened in an instant.
They had escaped the cold, musty-smelling underground dungeon.
As a dumbfounded Park Dong-jae looked around, he was greeted by familiar and weing faces.
Jeon Se-hyuk and Ban Se-yeong.
And there were the hunters with whom he had shared a close bond, referring to each other as brothers. It felt like a dream.
It was unbelievable.
Did the person who just saved him naturally use a skill to move him outside?
The weapon in his hand was clearly a dagger.
Seeming to belong to a profession far removed from teleportation, an unpredictable event had unfolded.
Even the shortest estimate of the teleportation distance exceeded 700 meters.
Possessing such spatial movement skills is no easy feat. It¡¯s a challenging skill, even for those in magician job sses.
Setting aside the joy of reunion momentarily,
Park Dong-jae, recalling what he had been told, ryed the message to Jeon Se-hyuk.
¡°He said to act immediately. He¡¯s starting from the bottom and working his way up!¡±
¡°Right. The real challenge begins now. We¡¯ve rescued you, so it¡¯s time to extract Mr. Seon-gyu, who went to save you.¡±
¡°Ah¡¡.¡±
Only then did Park Dong-jae realize
That the man named ¡®Seon-gyu¡¯ had first sacrificed himself to rescue Park Dong-jae.
And that now, he had to navigate the difficult process of escaping.
No matter how confident one might be in their rescue abilities,
How many hunters would risk their lives to save a stranger they had never met before?
Even asking himself, it was a question without an easy answer. After all, everyone has only one life.
¡°We just need to distract them! Draw as much aggro as possible! Killing these bastards here isn¡¯t our main goal anyway!¡±
Jeon Se-hyuk reiterated their objective once more.
Their mission wasn¡¯t to subdue the remnants of the Osho Mercenary Corps but specifically to rescue Park Dong-jae.
Now that Park Dong-jae was safe, ensuring Kang-hoo¡¯s safety became paramount.
Creating chaos among the opponents was essential.
Then,
¡°Kuk.¡±
Ban Se-yeong chuckled.
Thinking of Kang-hoo, a certain term came to mind that seemed to encapste him perfectly.
It was a descriptor that felt fitting enough to be the title of a novel.
¡°The Lone Genius Assassin.¡±
Chapter 118: Park Dong-jae (4)
Chapter 118: Park Dong-jae (4)
Kang-hoo deliberately used the master key to unlock all the iron doors, freeing the other hostages trapped behind them.
He didn¡¯t forget to issue a warning, however.
¡°I¡¯ve unlocked the doors, but I won¡¯t be responsible for your safety. The choice is yours.¡±
It would be wonderful if, like the hero of a superhero movie, he could safely rescue all the hostages.
Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t devoid of such desires. It¡¯s not that he was heartless or emotionless.
However, it was impossible to safely lead more than a dozen hostages out.
Especially since he was the onlybatant inside the building.
All the hostages were hunters, but they were left without any useful items.
They had been stripped of everything by the Osho Mercenary Corps, amon fate for those kidnapped.Without their core weapons, even using skills would result in reduced firepower andbat effectiveness.
¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡±
¡°Let¡¯s stick together and get out!¡±
¡°Running separately will only lead to death if we¡¯re caught!¡±
¡°Let¡¯s do it!¡±
Being hunters at their core, they quickly reached a consensus on their thoughts and actions.
However, some hunters showed no intention of moving even after Kang-hoo unlocked the doors.
That was also a choice.
They preferred to seek safety here rather than risk death by attempting a reckless escape.
If asked whether it was a good choice, Kang-hoo could confidently say it was not.
Whether the hostages and Kang-hoo escape sessfully or not, those left behind are likely to be targets of vented frustration.
¡°I gave them the chance to choose, so I¡¯ve also given them the chance to be responsible for the oue.¡±
Kang-hoo thus freed himself of any lingering regrets for the remaining hostages. Everyone¡¯s fate was not his responsibility.
He maintained his stealth, usingteral movement and blending in with the hostages.
Rather than using them as shields, he waited for the attention naturally drawn to them.
Sure enough.
¡°The hostages are escaping! Catch them! It¡¯s okay to kill anyone who resists! Crush them!¡±
A hunter from the Osho Mercenary Corps shouted upon spotting the escaping group.
He didn¡¯t seem to be the leader but appeared to have the authority tomand the five mercenaries with him.
¡°Let¡¯s overwhelm them! We outnumber them!¡±
A man among the escaping hunters naturally tookmand and shouted. It was a wise decision.
Panic and fleeing would only increase the number of deaths.
It was better to strike first, even at the cost of some sacrifices, and seize their weapons.
¡¾Technique of Concealment¡¿
Kang-hoo deployed the Technique of Concealment.
The invisibility gained fromteral movement would be immediately canceled upon attacking, so this was to better hide himself.
¡°Kill them! They¡¯re unarmed!¡±
An Osho Mercenary Corps member confronted them head-on.
While everyone was rushing out with the single-minded intent to escape, Kang-hoo saw the sacrifice of one or two individuals as inevitable.
But two men at the forefront caught his eye. They seemed deeplymitted to the mission of saving people.
¡°Hmm.¡±
It troubled him.
Using their ¡®lives¡¯ could make it easier to exploit the mercenaries¡¯ gaps.
He wanted to give credit to the courage of the two men who were willing to risk their lives despite knowing the danger.
To speak coldly, it wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t help them. It was just a matter of efficiency.
¡¾Lightning Quick de¡¿
¡¾Lightning Quick de¡¿
He consecutively used the Lightning Quick de skill and threw two throwing knives he had on him.
The knives were cheap, meant more for deterrence and mobility interruption than for killing, and did not need to be retrieved.
Swoosh!
The two knives flew through the narrow space between the hostages with a swooshing sound.
Thunk! Thud!
¡°Argh!¡±
¡°Damn it!¡±
The knives hit a mercenary who had been about to split the heads of two men in half with his greatsword.
One knife lodged in the armpit of a mercenary, causing him to drop his greatsword.
The other knife lodged in the back of another¡¯s hand,pletely altering the trajectory of his sword at the final moment.
¡°Ah¡!¡±
¡°Did you save us?¡±
The two men regained their senses.
They realized.
Kang-hoo had just saved them from a situation where they could have died.
At that moment.
Suddenly, Kang-hoo appeared out of thin air.
Thanks to the invisibility from the Technique of Concealment, Kang-hoo, who had been invisible, revealed himself as he stepped out from behind the veil.
¡¾Stepping out of the veil immediately removes the invisibility effect, the veil disappears, and you gain doubled movement speed for 2 seconds.¡¿
Enjoying the speed enhancement from stepping outside the Technique of Concealment.
Whoosh! Wham!
A series of coordinated knife attacks immediately overwhelmed the two mercenaries.
From such a close distance, and appearing silently to slit their throats and move on.
¡°Gah!¡±
¡°Ugh.¡±
The two mercenaries realized toote that there was a problem with their necks and hurried to stem the bleeding.
Whoosh!
But the blood spurted out much stronger, gushing forward like a flood.
¡°It¡¯s this bastard!¡±
The remaining three mercenaries noticed Kang-hoo and tried to change their direction of attack.
However, the situation worsened for them as the two greatswords dropped by the just-killed mercenaries ended up in the hostages¡¯ hands.
¡°No, let¡¯s retreat!¡±
¡°Throw a smoke grenade!¡±
One of the mercenaries, quicker to judge than the two who had died, detonated a smoke grenade.
Consequently, the entire fourth basement level was engulfed in smoke and chaos.
Kang-hoo was also caught in the smoke, unable to see through it by any means, including night vision.
However, Kang-hoo had a different ability to detect enemies.
The Ster Scan ability.
The three fleeing mercenaries each had a ster contract, which allowed Kang-hoo to see red dots above their heads.
This meant that even without sight, he could still pinpoint targets and directions.
¡°Sigh.¡±
He took a deep breath.
Swish!
With all his might, he threw the grade 2 dagger, Corrupted Conviction, using the Lightning Quick de technique.
Trusting in the Molis Maniche gloves, which allowed him to retrieve one ¡®recognized weapon,¡¯ heunched his attack.
Then,
¡°Argh!¡±
One of the Osho mercenaries was instantly killed as Corrupted Conviction lodged squarely in his neck.
The knife, without deviating, smashed straight through the cervical vertebrae.
¡°S-shit, f-fuck¡!¡±
¡°What the hell is that guy? What on earth?¡±
The end for the five mercenaries, who had shown up with great bravado to subdue the hostages, was pathetic.
Three died, and two fled without looking back.
They were so hurried they left the door, which should have been properly closed to auto-lock, wide open.
As a result, their escape route inadvertently became the same as Kang-hoo¡¯s and the hostages¡¯.
A total disaster.
From the beginning, apart from their name, the mercenary group was nothing more than a gathering of mediocrities.
Especially since they had no attachment to the organization, the idea of regrouping was a far-off concept for them.
Inside and out.
The fate of the Osho Mercenary Corps, which had been profiting off hostage-taking, was racing towards its end.
Zero hostage casualties.
Numerous mercenary casualties.
The situation turned out much better than Kang-hoo had anticipated.
An unexpected variable had made the situation resolve in a favorable direction.
¡®I thought even if they were remnants, they would at least have some structure or sense of mission.¡¯
The state of the enemy was too severe.
Too selfish.
Even though they could have easily made Kang-hoo¡¯s pursuit or the hostages¡¯ escape difficult.
Instead, they chose to flee to save their own lives, not looking back.
Of course, one of them had his wits about him.
They encountered their leader in front of the elevator on the second basement floor.
His name was Park Jun, one of Jeon Jong-du¡¯s confidants, and he was an assassin-type hunter like Kang-hoo.
A man with a short sports haircut and dozens of piercings on his lips and ears was striking.
As soon as Park Jun saw Kang-hoo, he disyed hostility.
¡°You¡¯re the bastard who released the hostages on your own.¡±
¡°And you¡¯re the bastard who locked up the hostages on your own.¡±
Giving back as good as he got.
There¡¯s no better way to irk someone.
Kang-hoo maintained a distance of about 10 meters from Park Jun. For assassins facing each other, it was a distance that could be closed in the blink of an eye.
Aware of this, a tense standoff ensued despite the proximity.
¡°Because of you, I lost a whole business deal. Of course, killing you would more than make up for it.¡±
¡®That Constetion is interesting.¡¯
Kang-hoo savored the information on Park Jun¡¯s Constetion caught in the Ster Scan. Then Park Jun snapped at him.
¡°Do you like men, you bastard? Why are you drooling over me?¡±
¡°Because you look tasty.¡±
¡°Huh¡ You¡¯re crazy.¡±
¡°Even with good ingredients, if you can¡¯t cook, it won¡¯t taste good. That¡¯s exactly you.¡±
¡°What are you babbling about, you homo?¡±
Park Jun seemed to interpret the ¡®taste¡¯ Kang-hoo mentioned in apletely different context.
Kang-hoo then slightly lowered his stance, ready to respond to Park Jun¡¯s movements.
A fight between assassins rarelysts long. It ends quickly, sometimes in an instant.
That¡¯s why Kang-hoo didn¡¯t even consider taking Srkium.
Kang-hoo, who usually enjoys taking the initiative, exercised caution this time against Park Jun.
Seeing Kang-hoo, who had been eagerly shing his other mercenary subordinates, be cautious, Park Jun scoffed.
¡°I don¡¯t know how you killed our boss. Probably just got lucky.¡±
¡°Maybe I did.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded in agreement.
¡°The boss was the type to let his guard down a lot. I¡¯ve warned him repeatedly, but he never changed.¡±
¡°Park Jun. How about we quietly make a peace treaty here and both back off?¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°Why waste our energy and risk our lives needlessly? If we just ignore each other, I can escape, and you can find a way to live.¡±
¡°Idiot! You¡¯re all scared and now spewing nonsense!¡±
Park Jun, who took great pride in his abilities as an assassin, thought Kang-hoo was scared.
In reality, the death of Jeon Jong-du remained an unsolved mystery to everyone.
It made no sense that Jeon Jong-du, with his high level and physical prowess, would lose in a one-on-one fight.
So, everyone assumed that Kang-hoo had stealthily approached right before the fight.
And that Jeon Jong-du, who was engrossed in boosting hisbat power through life force absorption, missed Kang-hoo¡¯s stealth.
A ridiculous death due to carelessness and exposing a vulnerability. A usible conclusion, albeitpletely different from the truth.
Kang-hoo¡¯s passive response immediately provoked the aggressive Park Jun.
Originally, he had nned to measure the timing of his attack while observing, but now it seemed clear that taking the initiative would be advantageous.
Then.
Swish!
Kang-hoo made the first move.
He chose to engage directly by leaping forward and thrusting his dagger, opting for a frontal assault.
¡°What a fool.¡±
Park Jun was not flustered.
His specialty was precisely evading such attacks with rapid avoidance, even transformed into an ultimate skill through the effect of his Constetion.
But, at that moment.
¡°¡?¡±
His evasion skill did not activate.
¡°Damn it.¡±
Park Jun¡¯s mind went nk.
He was unaware of Kang-hoo¡¯s fifth Constetion privilege.
The perfect counter to his space movement skill limitation.
Chapter 119: Park Dong-jae (5)
Chapter 119: Park Dong-jae (5)
30 secondster.
¡°What a poor sight.¡±
Kang-hoo grimaced as he collected items from the deceased Park Jun, valued at around 500 million won.
Had he sold these items to fund the reorganization of his group?
The items he wore did not match his level and status, being cost-effective rather than powerful.
Among hunters, it was called a moner setup,¡± meant only for appearances.
Park Jun¡¯s fate was sealed the moment his evasion skill was blocked, exactly what Kang-hoo had aimed for.
Had Park Jun used a leap or eleration skill, he might have narrowly avoided the attack.
However, ¡°evasion¡± or ¡°quick evasion¡± were skills judged as spatial movement.¡¾Fifth, within a 15m radius, I can suppress everyone''s spatial movement skills by 99%, excluding myself.¡¿
This is why evasion waspletely blocked by the fifth constetion¡¯s privilege.
Park Jun, who had prepared to evade as usual, hesitated at the moment.
His hesitation proved fatal. Had he instinctively moved, he could have saved his life.
Upon closer inspection, the fifth privilege allowed for excluding allies from its effect.
At first nce, it could seem useful for preventing friendly fire, but the system was not that wed.
Anyway, Kang-hoo thought he should review the tooltips of all skills when he had more time.
Going into detail often revealed differences from what he initially knew.
For instance, with teleportation. Until now, he thought it always had to include himself.
¡°Hmm.¡±
The severed head of Park Jun on the ground.
His eyes, unnoticed, carried the resentment of his final moments.
After executing a beheading, Kang-hoo immediately cast Blood Flower, leaving the head no chance to survive.
Park Jun¡¯s death allowed Kang-hoo to plunder a significantly useful constetion contract.
It was why he had been interested from the moment they met; he desperately wanted this constetion.
¡¾Merciless Assassin¡¿
¡¾You can designate one of the basic skills to change into an ultimate skill.
¡¾You can change the designated skill up to 3 times. After that, changes are impossible.¡¿
It seems Park Jun had converted his level 40 assassin¡¯s basic skill, evasion, into an ultimate skill.
That¡¯s why he tried to use evasion as soon as he noticed Kang-hoo¡¯s movement.
The transformation into an ultimate skill, called ??? in Korean or Ultimate in English, was significantly impactful.
Kang-hoo had previously used a skill enhancement opportunity to turn Blood Flower into an ultimate skill for the same reason.
Thanks to that, Blood Flower, which was limited to one-on-one, could now affect multiple targets.
As long as they were within range, even hundreds could be affected by Blood Flower.
¡°I need to think about which basic skill to touch.¡±
Leap. Lateral movement. Bleeding stab.
eleration. Quick evasion. Shadowless. Clone technique.
So far, these 7 basic skills were automatically acquired by Kang-hoo as he leveled up.
While the Clone technique was most appealing, the calction changes if other basic skills be ultimate skills.
Since there¡¯s no immediate need to choose, he decided to put it on hold for now.
¡°I expected a fierce battle. It seems I overestimated the opponent.¡±
Kang-hoo felt the destion of the entire building as the cold wind blew.
He had expected a fierce battle with the remnants of the Osho Mercenary Corps, mingling hot sweat and blood for escape.
By the time Park Jun died, they had already fled through a pre-prepared emergency exit.
If they had defended with determination, they could have recaptured some hostages and put Kang-hoo in danger.
However, the mere survival instincts of those unworthy made things too easy.
It worked out well for Kang-hoo.
Thanks to that, he not only plundered the highly valuable constetion of the Merciless Assassin.
Because of Kang-hoo, Park Dong-jae was made to owe his life. This was the ¡°debt of the heart¡± Kang-hoo had been contemting.
The cleanup was finished by dawn.
The escaped hostages were picked up by Kim Su-kyung¡¯s mercenary group, who had agreed to cooperate after being contacted by Jeon Se-hyuk.
They personally escorted them back to the safety of their families or acquaintances.
And agreed to receivepensation for it. It was a savvy move by Kim Su-kyung, who highly values local reputation.
Meanwhile, they didn¡¯t pursue the fleeing members of the Osho Mercenary Corps.
It wasn¡¯t worth it, and there was a risk of being ambushed since this was essentially their home ground.
After the battle,
Thus, everyone rested or slept in the amodations Jeon Se-hyuk had reserved for the whole day.
However, Jeon Se-hyuk, Ban Se-yeong, and Park Dong-jae, drowned in the joy of their reunion, had no thoughts of sleeping.
And naturally, Kang-hoo, who usually sleeps little, ended up staying awake as well.
For that reason, the four gathered in the room Jeon Se-hyuk had reserved for himself.
It was a small drinking session with a bit of beer and snacks, modest but without the pressure.
After taking a shower, Park Dong-jae immediately grabbed both of Kang-hoo¡¯s hands as soon as he saw him arrivete.
¡°Thank you so much. Truly, thank you! Because of you, Mr. Sun-kyu, I was able to live!¡±
Park Dong-jae, holding Kang-hoo¡¯s hands, cried endlessly as if greeting a savior, a messiah.
Kang-hoo knew he was an emotional person but was surprised to see him cry this much.
¡°It¡¯s good that nothing happened.¡±
Kang-hoo replied with an awkward smile.
He was about to say something brash like, ¡°Well, I had to make the dungeon worth the money,¡± but fortunately, he paused and chose a different response.
Sometimes, it¡¯s important not to counter the other¡¯s emotions with your own but to simply ept them.
¡°I thought I was surely going to die. You really are a lifesaver. I will never forget this for as long as I live.¡±
Tears streamed down from Park Dong-jae¡¯s deeply bowed head.
Kang-hoo could feel his sincerity. He hoped the tears would wash away all the hardships he had endured.
¡°Thank you, Sun-kyu oppa. If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have even thought to save Dong-jae oppa.¡±
¡°Well, I could do it because I¡¯m an assassin. You trusted me, and that¡¯s why I proved it.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not it! Which assassin uses a teleportation skill? Only you can do that!¡±
¡°I agree with Se-yeong. He was joking about it earlier, saying he¡¯s a genius assassin who does everything on his own.¡±
Jeon Se-hyuk chimed in.
Kang-hoo involuntarily nodded upon hearing the joke Ban Se-yeong made.
It wasn¡¯t incorrect.
While he started as an assassin, Kang-hoo¡¯s abilities were continually expanding in various directions.
Indeed, he aspired to grow into an all-rounder capable of handling everything on his own.
¡°If I can, I do want to handle everything by myself.¡±
Kang-hoo admitted honestly.
It¡¯s not a vain desire.
As long as he continues to strive and challenge himself, he can plunder skills and constetions, so the path is always open.
Kang-hoo finally took a rxed look at Park Dong-jae¡¯s constetion information.
¡¾Mother of the Beginning¡¿
¡¾Improves the efficiency of all buff skills by 25%, and one main buff skill by 55%.¡¿
¡¾Adventurer of Passion¡¿
¡¾Increases the chance of getting an item of one grade higher from middle and main bosses by 33%.¡¿
¡¾Priest of Altruism¡¿
¡¾Increases the experience gain of allies maintaining three or more of your buff skills by 5%.
And the increased amount of their experience gain also adds to your own.¡¿
¡®It seems like the constetions are telling him to be a buffer for life.¡¯
Seeing Park Dong-jae¡¯s constetion information, it became clear why he had no choice but to diligently follow the path of a buffer.
Though the original story wasn¡¯t written in such detail, Park Dong-jae¡¯s fate seems perfectly filled in.
¡®Park Dong-jae must not be given up on.¡¯
Kang-hoo resolved internally.
If his constetions are this impressive before his true power has fully emerged,
once he starts forming more official constetion contracts, he will be an unmatched support.
There¡¯s absolutely no reason to give up on Park Dong-jae, who is a surefire asset when on your side.
That must be why Jeon Se-hyuk and Ban Se-yeong also want to be by his side.
Of course, their interest isn¡¯t driven by a mercenary desire to exploit him, but rather it highlights his significant value.
Then, Park Dong-jae said,
¡°The guy guarding the fourth underground level imed he was level 150. So, when I learned Mr. Sun-kyu had subdued him, I assumed he must be at least level 200.¡±
The jailer who was beheaded as soon as they emerged from the venttion duct was level 150?
Kang-hoo tilted his head in doubt.
That seemed improbable, given his mediocre abilities and, more crucially, his absence of constetions.
It was probably a bluff, but it appears Park Dong-jae was misled by it.
¡°But now you¡¯ve surpassed level 100. I can hardly believe it. No, nobody will.¡±
¡°Level is just a number, after all.¡±
¡°Exactly. I¡¯ve trulye to understand the meaning of those words now.¡±
¡°Be cautious in the future. Ground Zero isn¡¯t a ce for the merely curious.¡±
¡°Yes. Even if I¡¯m asked to go, I won¡¯t. I have no reason to be there.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve endured a lot.¡±
¡°I owe you my life today, and I¡¯ll spend the rest of my life repaying that debt. I¡¯m truly grateful, Mr. Sun-kyu.¡±
Park Dong-jae bowed deeply to Kang-hoo once again.
He reminded Kang-hoo of An Yeong-ho, who also continuously expressed gratitude out of a sense of indebtedness.
It wasn¡¯t a burden.
After all, wasn¡¯t he a lifesaver?
For such a person, giving up even a liver or galldder wouldn¡¯t be considered too much. Indeed, that would be the case.
The drinking session that extended through the first, second, and third rounds ended after Jeon Se-hyuk and Park Dong-jae passed out.
Park Dong-jae fell asleep, blissfully intoxicated by the alcohol he hadn¡¯t tasted in a long while.
Jeon Se-hyuk, overwhelmed with joy at having saved his cherished younger brother, threw caution to the wind and drank until he passed out.
The matter of transferring dungeon ownership was to be finalized before Kang-hoo and Jeon Se-hyuk parted ways.
Jeon Se-hyuk had provided a list of dungeons he owned, and a few of them caught Kang-hoo¡¯s interest.
Kang-hoo was newly impressed by Jeon Se-hyuk¡¯s wealth.
Of course, he mentioned that the cost for the dungeons to be transferred to Kang-hoo would be billed to Park Dong-jae, but that was likely said in jest.
He is definitely not the petty type to demand the cost of saving a life from the person he saved.
Meanwhile,
Kang-hoo and Ban Se-yeong were drinking beer for the fourth round in Kang-hoo¡¯s assigned room at the lodging.
Unlike Ban Se-yeong, whose face had turned a shade of pink, Kang-hoo¡¯splexion hadn¡¯t changed at all.
In fact, it seemed even paler than before he started drinking, as if he had applied powder.
While sitting quietly by the window overlooking the dawn valley, sipping beer in the dim light,
Ban Se-yeong cautiously broached the subject.
¡°Have you ever been in a rtionship, oppa?¡±
Chapter 120: Preparation (1)
Chapter 120: Preparation (1)
¡°Sure.¡±
Kang-hoo doesn¡¯t usually talk about the past first, but since there¡¯s no reason to hide it, he answered honestly.
¡°How was it?¡±
¡°When we were dating, everything was great.¡±
He remembered his time with Han Seo-yeon.
Looking back on Shin Kang-hoo¡¯s life, before he awakened as a hunter, those were the happy times.
When Han Seo-yeon became a hunter, that¡¯s when their rtionship started to face problems.
Their worlds became different, and as their ability to empathize with each other started to diverge, conflicts became frequent.
At some point, Kang-hoo concluded that it was right for them to break up, for Han Seo-yeon¡¯s sake as well.For her to fully develop her abilities as a hunter, and to find someone to guide her¡
He was convinced that his existence, as a non-hunter, would only be a burden.
Thus, Kang-hoo unterally sought to break up and intentionally did not respond to Han Seo-yeon¡¯s contacts.
Was it because he disliked her? No.
It might seem like a nonsensical reason, but it was for her sake. He didn¡¯t regret that decision even now.
¡°After parting so cruelly, I looked for her as soon as I got out of Cheongmyeong Detention Center. I really have a thick face.¡±
Kang-hoo smiled bitterly.
On one hand, he was grateful to Han Seo-yeon for worrying about him, burying the sorrow of the past.
He hoped that she would be able to grow her dreams further in the Jeonghwa Guild.
Moreover, he hoped they would never face each other as enemies in the future. He did not wish for a tragedy.
Having finished his thoughts, Kang-hoo asked Ban Se-yeong.
¡°And you?¡±
¡°Me? I did have someone I was seeing.¡±
¡°Did you break up?¡±
¡°We did break up, but, um¡ would ¡®widowed¡¯ be the right term? It turned out that way.¡±
¡°Hmm.¡±
For hunter couples, or in cases where one of them is a hunter, bing widowed is moremon than one might think.
The death rate for hunters is tens of times higher than that of non-hunters, or regr people.
There are countless deaths inside dungeons, and it¡¯smon to be killed due to entangled interests.
Especially in the outskirts of the capital region, wherew enforcement is poor, the death rate is much higher.
Therefore, Ban Se-yeong¡¯s story of widowhood was not particrly surprising.
¡°We were ambushed by Eclipse.¡±
¡°Eclipse¡ an ill fate.¡±
¡°Right. Though for a different reason than Se-hyuk, both of us really hate Eclipse.¡±
¡°Couldn¡¯t find the culprit?¡±
¡°No. We only managed to recover some of my boyfriend¡¯s belongings. The dungeon reset before we could retrieve his body.¡±
¡°It must have been hard.¡±
¡°Well, it¡¯s something I¡¯ll carry with me for the rest of my life. I made a promise at my boyfriend¡¯s columbarium.¡±
¡°What was it?¡±
¡°I promised that if I could look at my boyfriend¡¯s photo ced there and still manage to smile, only then would I meet someone new.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a good resolve. Your boyfriend would want you not to be tied to the past forever.¡±
¡°I guess so. But so far, every time I go, I end up crying. Seems like I¡¯m still far from smiling.¡±
Ban Se-yeong¡¯s eyes welled up with tears.
Given her usual lively and bubbly appearance, it was unexpected she carried such a heavy story.
It seemed all the more pitiful that she had experienced such deep pain at such a young age.
Perhaps feeling embarrassed for getting too emotional, Ban Se-yeong awkwardly scratched the back of her head and asked.
¡°So, you don¡¯t have anyone you¡¯re seeing now?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to. I think that anyone I love will just end up in danger.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°Noment.¡±
Kang-hoo didn¡¯t want to go into detail about the path he wishes or needs to take in the future with Ban Se-yeong.
He mimed zipping his lips, concluding the conversation.
Love, always a thrilling and pleasant word, but¡ Kang-hoo thought it was a luxury for him.
He believed it was right not to pursue love, for his own sake and for the sake of anyone who might be by his side.
That afternoon.
After discussing the strategy for the Hell of Judgment, Kang-hoo and Jeon Se-hyuk agreed to meet again for the dungeon handover procedures.
They had chosen a ce they liked, but the transfer of ownership was moreplicated than expected.
Since there was no immediate rush for the dungeon, simply setting the appointment was sufficient.
After exchanging contact information with Park Dong-jae, Kang-hoo headed back to Seoul early.
The strategy meeting for the Hell of Judgment was scheduled for the next day at 6 PM.
As nned, Kang-hoo was assigned to the scouting team, which meant he would departter than the main force.
The main force was to enter the dungeon at 3 PM the next day, leaving a 3-hour gap.
The reason for the main force¡¯s earlier entry was simple: they would only move along a previously scouted safe route, making it unnecessary for the scouting team to enter any uncharted areas first.
Inside the L Hotel in Myeong-dong, overlooking downtown Seoul.
Kang-hoo was taking a rest there.
Despite the exorbitant cost of a night¡¯s stay, it was iparably peaceful for a quiet stay.
¡°Paired in twos. Partner: Jin Hyo-young. I have no idea who that is.¡±
Kang-hoo reviewed the information received in preparation for joining the next day.
The scouting teams were organized in pairs.
Teams were formed to cross-verify the internal scouting information.
The Jeonghwa Guild isn¡¯t foolish.
Sending just one person into an unknown territory and taking their word for it was out of the question.
Thus, they were organized into pairs, serving as checks on each other. All scouting teams were arranged this way.
Jin Hyo-young.
The attached photo showed a woman with blue-ck hair and a noticeable pink headband, not affiliated with any group. This implied she was a mercenary, though her origins were unclear.
¡°I¡¯ll find out when I meet her.¡±
Meeting someone unknown wasn¡¯t strange. It would be stranger to meet someone familiar.
Gulp, gulp.
Kang-hoo took in the view outside the window, drinking the canned coffee he¡¯d bought in abundance before entering the hotel.
Even just a few sips would empty the can, but Kang-hoo enjoyed its unique aftertaste.
Sweet yet bitter, tantalizingly straddling an ambiguous line, perhaps?
¡°I should go to Japan.¡±
It seemed like the right time to use the An Yeong-ho chance.
Having joined forces with the Shadow Sovereign, Kang-hoo now had dark energy stats.
To utilize dark energy, one must use skills based on dark energy, meaning such skills needed to be plundered.
However, among the domestic bosses, few had skills rted to dark energy.
Even those that did weren¡¯t very useful inbat. The efficiency was also quite bad.
It¡¯s not for no reason that hunters, especially the higher-ranked ones, operate internationally.
There¡¯s a ¡®deficiency¡¯ in resources that cannot be filled by operating solely within the country.
That¡¯s why Casey Rex, master of the Fortuna Guild in the USA, formed ties with the Jeonghwa Guild.
From their perspective, there are quite a few rewards avable only in Korea.
Then, a call came in.
Now that he had shared his number with many, simply receiving a call didn¡¯t indicate who it was from.
The caller was Lee Ye-rin.
¡°Yes.¡±
-Mr. Seon-gyu, how have you been?
¡°What¡¯s the request about?¡±
-Ah! I started with a greeting. You should at least react. It¡¯s embarrassing otherwise, isn¡¯t it?
¡°Have you been well?¡±
-You sound like a machine.
¡°I hear that a lot.¡±
Despite the frivolous conversation, Lee Ye-rin chuckled, seemingly amused by Kang-hoo¡¯s character. Perhaps because she was surrounded by eloquent and witty male mercenaries, Kang-hoo felt even more unique to her.
-We¡¯ve received a request. It¡¯s not specifically for a mercenary, but it does specify a profession.
¡°An assassin, you mean?¡±
-Yes. It¡¯s rted to a pharmaceuticalpany. You can guess the general idea, right? I can¡¯t mention the target beforehand.
¡°Let¡¯s hear the details.¡±
-The request is to set fire to aboratory where a certain pharmaceuticalpany is conducting secret human experiments.
¡°It sounds like you¡¯re trying to portray it as stopping inhumane, hical experiments.¡±
-Ho ho. Right. If you strip away the packaging, it¡¯s just about keepingpetitors in check.
It seemed like bait.
This marks the beginning of what¡¯s known in the original story as the ¡°White War,¡± apetition among pharmaceuticalpanies.
The White War was waged over the distribution and supply rights for stimnts, namely drugs.
Hence the name White War.
Unlike in the Americas and Europe, where the restructuring around major pharmaceuticalpanies was nearlyplete,
the Asian sector was characterized by a proliferation of numerous pharmaceuticalpanies.
While somepanies steadfastly refused to deal with drugs,
others were willing to research and develop even beyond drugs if it meant profit.
As a result, there were massive defections of researchers from existing pharmaceuticalpanies through headhunting,
or entirepanies being acquired byrge capitals, leading to a shift in direction.
It was indeed an era of chaos.
The spark of the White War seemed to have been definitively ignited by a previous incident involving an electric pharmaceuticalpany.
¡°Let¡¯s put it on hold.¡±
-Pardon?
¡°I have some personal matters to attend to. I¡¯ll contact you again after handling this.¡±
-Should I pass it on to someone else?
¡°It seems like we¡¯ll continue to receive simr requests in the future. Please do that.¡±
-Understood. Please make sure to contact me as soon as you¡¯re done. I have high expectations for Mr. Seon-gyu.
¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it as well.¡±
-Hmm?
Kang-hoo ended the call with words that left a peculiar aftertaste.
The White War is essentially a war of mercenaries, a proxy war representing pharmaceuticalpanies.
Therefore, it was highly likely that mercenaries, not just from within the country but also from abroad, would be heavily involved.
And if cheap mercenaries were sought, hands would likely extend towards China or Russia.
¡°Either this or that.¡±
Regardless of the country, dealing with mercenaries was always going to be problematic.
However, given there¡¯s no counter to sheer numbers, it was hoped that foreign mercenaries would onlye in moderation.
Of course, such wishes were nothing but dreams.
Reality always turns out to be much filthier and more chaotic than imagined. The White War would be no different.
The next day at 2:30 PM.
Kang-hoo arrived at the meeting ce much earlier than the scouting team¡¯s entrance time at 6 PM.
He had chosen to enter a nearby caf¨¦.
The entrance to the Hell of Judgment was located near the Paju Publishing Complex.
By then, the site was already crowded with numerous journalists who hade to cover the event and fans supporting the Jeonghwa Guild.
ording to estimates by the Hunter Public Safety Bureau, over 10,000 people.
That count only included those at major thoroughfares, and in reality, the number was likely several times higher.
The scene, managed by not just public safety officers but also soldiers, was truly a spectacle to behold.
¡®This brings back memories.¡¯
Kang-hoo¡¯s reflective mood wasn¡¯t due to today¡¯s operation. It was because this was the ce where Shin Kang-hoo, in the original story, lost his left arm to Jang Si-hwan.
The critical injury and loss of his left arm here ultimately hampered Shin Kang-hoo beyond recovery, painted as a viin with convictions and a tragic backstory, his death at the hands of Jang Si-hwan saddened many readers.
¡®No reruns this time.¡¯
Of course, such an event would absolutely not happen again. Or rather, it must be prevented.
Just then,
A strong perfume scent that sharply stimted Kang-hoo¡¯s senses entered along with the sound of the caf¨¦ door opening.
The intense fragrance didn¡¯t fade but quickly approached Kang-hoo.
Curious, he turned to look, and there was the female hunter he was supposed to meet as his scouting team partner.
¡°Mr. Jung Seon-gyu?¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±
¡°Hello? I¡¯m Jin Hyo-young.¡±
A typical and expected greeting for a first meeting. However, Kang-hoo felt a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu from her.
Chapter 121: Preparation (2)
Chapter 121: Preparation (2)
The conversation with Jin Hyo-young was brief.
It couldn¡¯t be helped since they weren¡¯t searching together; rather, she was a watcher for cross-verifying information.
Thus, they decided to meet at a designated spot in the dungeon every 12 hours to re-examine each other¡¯s covered areas.
However, even if it wasn¡¯t for the d¨¦j¨¤ vu felt at the beginning of the conversation, Jin Hyo-young¡¯s suspiciousness was definitely perceived.
Considering her role as a hunter whose main position is searching, her perfectly fittingbat uniform could be chalked up to personal preference.
The strong perfume and excessively applied makeup could also be seen as a matter of personal taste.
But throughout the conversation with Kang-hoo, Jin Hyo-young kept groaning.
Shemented her inability to join thebat team due to being level 85.
Moreover, she expressed her long-time admiration for assassin sses like Kang-hoo¡¯s and even inquired about skills she pretended not to know.Had Kang-hoo not known the essence of Jin Hyo-young, he might have thought she was just a curiously-minded female hunter.
In fact, her style was quite appealing.
Aside from the strong scent of perfume, she had many qualities that could attract men.
However.
The constetion scan by Kang-hoo revealed two constetions for her.
Unless she was a talented hunter who awakened her powers early, such a level definitely indicates she¡¯s surpassed level 200.
If she had the capability to contract with constetions early, she would have been assigned to abat team, not a search team.
It seemed she lied, thinking Kang-hoo would never find out. It was quite a slick lie.
Kang-hoo considered that she might be a watcher sent by the Jeonghwa Guild.
Or it was possible that she was nted by outsiders.
After all, such team formations are arbitrarily done by insiders.
It¡¯s unlikely that the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s executives would be involved in every teamposition.
Bribes might have been used to tailor the team to someone¡¯s liking during the team formation stage.
¡®Maybe I¡¯ll y along. Since the approach seems intentional, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to see what lies behind it.¡¯
Kang-hoo decided to go along with Jin Hyo-young¡¯s suspicious approach, convinced there was a 100% chance of a hidden agenda.
6 PM.
The search team¡¯s entrymenced.
Team 132, consisting of Kang-hoo and Jin Hyo-young, was assigned the southeast route, exactly the direction Kang-hoo had initially requested.
The terrain was rugged, and the variables were many, deterring most.
For Kang-hoo, that only made it more appealing. The opportunity he soughty precisely in that direction.
Upon entering the dungeon, they were greeted by an endless expanse of ck earth ¨C a veritable feast for the eyes.
It was clear why it was named the ¡®hell¡¯ of judgment.
The ground was a ckvand formed from cooledva.
With not even a trace of minor vegetation, only irritating and unpleasant smoke rose from the ground¡¯s crevices.
Regrettably, there appeared to have already been casualties, as dposing corpses were visible up close.
¡°Wow, look at the size of that giant.¡±
¡°It¡¯s quiterge.¡±
¡°About 15 stories of an apartment building?¡±
¡°Could be more.¡±
In the direction Jin Hyo-young pointed, a battle between a giant and a raid team was already in progress.
A middle boss? Main boss?
No.
It was merely a member of the giant species, a regr monster.
The giant species of monsters were all unbelievably massive in size.
And the rewards they offered were very generous, enough to satisfy hundreds of people attacking them.
Of course, the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s hunters would naturally contribute the most and take almost all the prime rewards.
The rest of the members were essentially just extras, though they likely weren¡¯t aware of this fact.
At that moment, Jin Hyo-young shouted.
¡°Jang Si-hwan is there too!¡±
Indeed, Jang Si-hwan was seen in the air, frantically casting magic, just as she had said.
Was it because he lost the Dark Arbiter?
He seemed to be using white magic skills rather than dark magic skills, which require a mix of darkness and magical power.
¡®He does look cool.¡¯
The performance of a mage often includes shy elements, captivating even those who are merely spectators.
But inside, he must be rotting away. Nothing feels as terrible as losing what you once had.
¡°See you in 12 hours.¡±
¡°Yes. Stay safe.¡±
¡°You too.¡±
Kang-hoo lightly bid farewell to Jin Hyo-young and moved in the opposite direction.
Throughout his movement, he meticulously recorded the surrounding terrain, even sketching some parts.
He didn¡¯t postpone his assigned tasks, irrelevant to his main objective.
Ku-woong, Ku-woong.
Despite the great distance, the shaking of the earth caused by the giants¡¯ movements was felt even here.
With each movement, likely many hunters were losing their lives in vain, like flies.
Most of them, over ny-nine percent, would be mercenaries who joined without knowing any better.
Like the point of opportunity in the Gold Goblin¡¯s Mine was under a hidden thorn bush at the base of a mountain.
In the case of Judgment¡¯s Hell, the point was located where hot magma continuously flowed nearby.
Technically a point, but in reality, entering without knowing meant certain death.
Because asionally, eruptions urred less than 100 meters away.
Although magma eruptions followed a slight pattern, it wasn¡¯t perfectly predictable.
¡¾The reason Jang Si-hwan came here was due to a sense of dissonance he felt since entering the dungeon.
His highly sensitive senses were constantly drawn to a hole just big enough for one person to enter.
It seemed to be not just a simply dug hole but a hidden space covered with loosely solidifiedva.
He guessed that in such imperfectly formed mega-dungeons, there could indeed be a twisted space or two.¡¿
The details of the original content vividly came to mind without missing a beat.
Seeing thements full ofints about Jang Si-hwan¡¯s slow growth on the day it was supposed to be finished left an impression.
That day, while finalizing the manuscript, he impulsively added a new point of opportunity.
It was meant to be the main storyline of conquering Judgment¡¯s Hell, but it veered off into this opportunity route instead.
The readers¡¯ reaction was unexpectedly positive.
However, from that point on, the nned storyline became twisted, causing trouble up until the deadline.
¡®I did give quite a bit. No, actually, it was an upgrade much needed by the protagonist,¡¯ he thought.
Kang-hoo nodded to himself in agreement.
This point of opportunity was meaningful even for Jang Si-hwan, who was already quite developed.
For Kang-hoo, who had a much longer journey ahead and higher potential, it held several times more significance.
¡°It¡¯s definitely morefortable,¡± he mused.
It seemed he was truly suited for going it alone.
Walking alone, unconcerned with anyone¡¯s gaze, his steps felt lighter and morefortable.
Since it would take some time to reach the point, it was time to diligently observe the surrounding terrain.
Having been provided a good location, it was natural to fulfill the assigned tasks ordingly.
While moving,
Kang-hoo browsed through some skills he hadn¡¯t favored much until now.
Increasing the number of skills is important, but utilizing what you have is equally crucial.
There wasn¡¯t a single useless skill among those Kang-hoo had acquired so far.
Even the Cute! skill, obtained from the Slime King, was surprisingly useful for blocking long-distance attacks.
The slime¡¯s inherent cuteness is a bonus. It¡¯s so cute that you don¡¯t even feel like popping it.
¡°Quick Evasion.¡±
Despite being a basic skill for assassins at level 40, it was seldom used.
He was ustomed to short-distanceteral movements and leaps, so the slight pre-concentration required for Quick Evasion felt bothersome.
The advantage of Quick Evasiony not in how much distance it could cover but in its side effects.
¡¾During evasion maneuvers, a Barrier of Resistance effect is activated, increasing your evasion rate against skills.¡¿
This effect.
An increased evasion rate means there¡¯s a higher chance to deflect attacks, much like how like poles of mas repel each other.
Effectively, it causes skills to seem to miss. That¡¯s the principle behind evasion rates.
¡°When faced withplicated skillsing from all directions, relying on the Barrier of Resistance effect seems like a good strategy.¡±
An apt analogy is drawn.
Sometimes, minimal effort can yield the greatest efficiency. The Barrier of Resistance is a prime example of this.
¡°Protective Barrier.¡±
Simrly, the Protective Barrier was either selectively used or nearly ignored altogether.
However, this skill also has a valuable aspect in its side effects.
¡¾If the Protective Barrier is destroyed, a ''Destion'' effect is triggered, evaporating all mana within a 10m radius.¡¿
It¡¯s highly effective at instantly severing the magical power supply when facing a magic-oriented opponent.
Especially in situations where mana is scarce, the Destion effect can significantly disrupt the mana supply in the affected area.
It¡¯s useful for creating unpredictability.
The reason Kang-hoo hadn¡¯t really needed to use the Protective Barrier was straightforward.
He had always engaged in extreme offense mode, often referred to as ¡®extreme attack¡¯ mode.
He even defeated Jeon Jong-du, who possessed tremendous brute strength, without retreating in a direct confrontation.
But against someone like Kang Dong-hyun, or more cunning opponents, its utility value would increase significantly.
¡°I¡¯ve really used illusions and maniption techniques very sparingly. No, no, that¡¯s not good. Sticking to a fixed set of tactics isn¡¯t advantageous.¡±
Snap! Just like that!
Kang-hoo snapped his fingers as if to remind himself.
A predictable set of tactics can be quickly exploited by an observant opponent.
Hasn¡¯t Kang-hoo overpowered many enemies in such a manner? There¡¯s no reason the opposite couldn¡¯t happen to him.
Two hours passed.
Ten pages of the in notebook Kang-hoo brought to record his exploration were filled to the brim.
Electronic devices are unusable inside dungeons, necessitating such old-fashioned record-keeping.
It had a certain old-school charm and was enjoyable. Both text and drawings have their own vor to savor.
Reviewing the contents, it seemed he had documented all relevant information discovered during his journey here.
Adding a bit of personal bias, it seemed like a perfect 100-point record.
And then.
¡°Finally.¡±
The point of opportunity he had been anticipating from the start was now in front of him.
Indeed, hot magma was ceaselessly flowing down the already formed path.
About 30m apart, with magma flowing above and below, there was a pit in the middle.
Without further thought, Kang-hoo jumped into the pit. After all, there was a separate exit.
Since no battle was necessary, he entered without tension.
What weed Kang-hoo inside was andscape entirely different from what the name ¡®Judgment¡¯s Hell¡¯ would suggest.
Yes, it was a ce full of light and warmth, fitting words like heaven or paradise.
The familiarndscape he had described in his writing.
With thisndscape, memories of the original story began to resurface as well.
Along with the ¡®luxuries¡¯ enjoyed by Jang Si-hwan.
Running horses, growth stimnts necessary to give wings to the protagonist, Jang Si-hwan.
Now it was time for another being in this world, the true protagonist Shin Kang-hoo, to take them.
On the field, where a gentle breeze was blowing, there was an elegantly shaped wooden round table.
On it.
There were two books.
Each book was different, containing a kind of ¡®essence¡¯ that leads to an opportunity.
Though they appeared as books, simply touching them activates their contents.
Kang-hoo¡¯s hand naturally reached for the book on the right.
He was more curious about the oues rted to this book.
That was precisely it.
¡°Hidden Skill.¡±
A special skill, one of only 77 kinds that exist in the world of hunters! It was about one of those skills.
Chapter 122: Hidden Skill (1)
Chapter 122: Hidden Skill (1)
Hidden Skill
A skill that cannot be acquired through ordinary means. It stands as a unique ability within the world of hunters.
Take, for instance, a ck mage skill that serves as a lesser counterpart to ¡®Blood Flower,¡¯ a technique frequently utilized by Kang-hoo.
Consider mana burning as another example.
By maximizing your proficiency in mana burning and further enhancing it with hematite or upgrading the skill, it bes possible to burn a portion of the mana emanating from your opponent, inflicting damage in the process.
Of course, it doesn¡¯t hold a candle to Blood Flower, which triggers explosions by igniting blood, yet the principle behind it is somewhat simr.
However, the nature of a hidden skill is such that it manifests in a form uniquely suited to its wielder during the activation process.
Given that the manifestation process is intentionally designed to be both challenging and meaningful, locating simr skills proved to be a daunting task. If one were found, it was likely also a hidden skill.
Hidden skillsy in wait for their rightful owners somewhere in this world, concealed within a ¡®hidden rift.¡¯Jang Si-hwan was astounded to discover he had acquired such a hidden skill.
He was equally thrilled by the potential power. What kind of skill would be bestowed upon him, a mage?
This marked the beginning of Jang Si-hwan¡¯s journey to uncover a hidden skill, as narrated in the original story¡ªa tale intertwined with destiny.
The skill bestowed aligned perfectly with its discoverer. In the original narrative, Jang Si-hwan came into possession of a skill known as ¡®Great Crimson me.¡¯
This magical ability summoned a pit of fire, asrge as a house, from the sky¡ªa diminutive version of Meteor.
¡®There¡¯s just one issue. It might not be a grave concern, though.¡¯
Before mastering the hidden skill, Kang-hoo highlighted a potential problem.
The acquisition of a hidden skill triggers a notification sent to all hidden skill holders across the globe.
Fortunately, the acquirer¡¯s name or appearance remains confidential.
However, the name of the skill and the ss of the acquirer are revealed.
That means, by looking at the skillter on, it¡¯s possible to infer that the hunter who received the notification at that time is this particr hunter.
And there¡¯s one more thing.
Owners of hidden skills could steal each other¡¯s hidden skills.
The method was simple: they just had to kill them. If you killed an opponent who owned a hidden skill, it naturally passed on to you.
For this reason, in thetter part of the original work, hunters with hidden skills waged a bloody war against each other.
Of course, the victor was The Thirteen Stars.
¡®It¡¯s not like I can¡¯t make sauce because I¡¯m afraid of worms. Even if I can¡¯t eat it, it¡¯s still worth trying.¡¯
Kang-hoo proceeded with the learning process.
It would be foolish to give up on a hidden skill out of fear. No, it was unthinkable.
Learning one hidden skill summoned from a hidden rift, analyzing the acquirer¡¯s disposition.
Session is in progress.
¡®White Day sh/ck Moon sh¡¯ has been activated.
The following information is transmitted to all hidden skill holders by the hidden rift:
¡®White Day sh/ck Moon sh¡¯ acquired.
Assassin ss.
¡°Two names? Does that mean it¡¯s two skills?¡±
Unlike the basic skill window, the hidden skill was disyed in a separate hidden skill window.
Usually, one acquires one skill, so the divided name was strange.
However, it also felt like it was one skill with the way it was notated.
He examined the detailed tooltip.
Condense magic power or dark energy for up to 10 seconds, then release a crescent-shaped de energy forward.
The longer the condensation time and the more energy, the stronger the power, and upon blocking, a sh (magic power) or darkness (dark energy) zone is created.
¡°I see.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
White Day sh uses magic power, while ck Moon sh uses dark energy.
The structure of manifestation is the same, but the name changes depending on which power it is based on.
Moreover, blocking White Day sh causes a blinding effect, or a ¡®sh¡¯ effect.
Blocking ck Moon sh creates a temporary zone of darkness where nothing can be seen.
¡°To think I would get a dark energy skill like this.¡±
It was surprising, yet the fact that I had acquired it felt incredibly satisfying.
Since it uses magic power and dark energy separately, it might be possible to use them consecutively depending on the situation.
However,
It seemed like it would ce a significant strain on my mana sensitivity.
Kang-hoo immediately assumed the posture.
The basic action, acquired naturally during the skill learning process, was drawing an arc with a dagger.
But this was just the basic action; the skill mechanism remained unchanged even if the action varied.
So, carelessly, I condensed the dark energy to its maximum in a posture where I extended the dagger forward.
¡°Oh no.¡±
100 units of dark energy vanished in less than 2 seconds.
Then, how much dark energy could ck Moon sh possibly contain? I was curious about the maximum.
¡°Ugh, as expected.¡±
An intense headache surged through me.
The overload was several times worse than that caused by Shadow Step, which would be second only in causing such a reaction.
The next moment,
Swoosh!
A sorrowful sound emanated from the dagger, and a crescent-shaped de energy in a dark red form was released.
The swiftly flying de energy sliced a thick tree 15 meters away in half cleanly.
If there had been a person, they would have been cut in half while standing, in a powerful attack.
¡°Great beheadings and lightning-speed dodging have their limits set by the skill coefficient. But this is truly a finishing move skill.¡±
The assessment wasplete.
It¡¯s an attack skill whose destructive power can increase proportionally to the skill caster¡¯s ability.
Ordinary hunters often refer to such skills as ¡®finishing moves,¡¯ a universal and straightforward term.
¡°I¡¯ll need to refine this. I need to practice a lot.¡±
Kang-hoo wore a satisfied expression.
Regardless of its power, it¡¯s a unique skill in the world that only I possess. And there are no limits to its firepower.
¡°You know a lot. It¡¯s clearly a coincidence, yet you don¡¯t seem surprised at all.¡±
At that moment, Dimension Plunderer casually initiated a conversation.
There probably isn¡¯t another being that observes me as intently and constantly as she does. She must hold a great deal of affection for me.
¡°I guess I¡¯m just lucky.¡±
I replied nonchntly.
In reality, it¡¯s because I know everything, allowing me to see through the obvious loopholes in this world.
¡°I¡¯m curious. Go ahead and open that book next to you. I¡¯m not the only one curious.¡±
Though Dimension Plunderer was the only one speaking, why did it feel like the Pure ck Pathfinder was beside me?
In fact, the only joy that the bored constetions in the great war find is in watching the life of their contractor.
It would be a lie to say they aren¡¯t interested when Kang-hoo is growing so rapidly every time they look.
I then ced my hand on the remaining book.
I already knew what this book was about.
¡°You can add 3 more main constetion slots.¡±
¡°The constetions contracted in these slots will be treated as main constetions and will rise in rank along with the contractor¡¯s growth.¡±
¡°Additionally, benefits can be provided to the contractor, and amunity can be formed with other main constetions.¡±
Adding more main constetion slots.
In other words, the one-on-one love between Kang-hoo and Dimension Plunderer is over.
Of course, the bnce had already been broken from the moment Pure ck Pathfinder joined, but it¡¯s elerating.
¡°Damn it.¡±
Then.
A short and powerful word from Dimension Plunderer, realizing that there would be morepetitors, pierced Kang-hoo¡¯s ears.
It was a reaction typical of her.
A short whileter.
Exiting through the exit, Kang-hoo was once again confronted with the dry air of the familiar Hell of Judgment.
In a realm beyond anyone¡¯s knowledge, he had achieved great feats.
And now, in a distant ce, Jang Si-hwan was engaged in fiercebat.
The destiny that had bestowed upon him wings upon reaching level 800 had disappeared forever.
Losing the chance to add a main constetion slot was a devastating setback.
Many high-ranking constetions will not form contracts unless they are offered a main constetion slot.
In the original narrative, after Jang Si-hwan added slots, he formed contracts with three constetions ranked within the top 35.
From that moment, Jang Si-hwan transformed into an unstoppable entity.
In a world where leveling up at the highest ranks takes at least a month, he aplished the miraculous feat of advancing one level per day. This was the ultimate manifestation of the protagonist¡¯s privilege.
¡®For now, Dimension Plunderer and Pure ck Pathfinder. And, if approved by the Great War, even the Strategist of the Wastnd.¡¯
Currently, three main constetion slots are firmly secured.
Dimension Plunderer is an existing main constetion contract, Pure ck Pathfinder is a result of a twisted contract, and the Strategist of the Wastnd is a unteral contract that offers benefits without ovepping slot usage.
Therefore, the newly added slots can be fully allocated to new constetions.
Deciding who will fill the remaining three slots requires further deliberation.
The constetions of the Great War will soon recognize that Kang-hoo possesses numerous main constetion slots.
Offers will start to arrive soon. The Disaster - Dark Constetion is likely seeking an opportunity.
¡®Through this event, Jang Si-hwan lost between nine to fifteen constetion benefits.¡¯
Of course, seizing future value doesn¡¯t immediately close the gap between him and me.
But it effectively halts his growth and significantly boosts my momentum to catch up.
A long race remains unpredictable until someone crosses the finish line.
¡°Looks like my work here is done.¡±
Kang-hoo dusted off the dirt on his clothes and checked the map again.
The information was meticulously organized and detailed.
With this, cross-verification should pose no problem. If anything, I might even receive praise.
Having decided on the rendezvous point with Jin Hyo-young, Kang-hoo started walking faster than ever.
His steps were lighter than before.
At that time,
In an old castle struck by thunder and lightning, along with heavy rain that had started in the morning,
A man and a woman were having a conversation.
Just by looking at their dress code, the stark contrast between ck and white, and the aura they exuded, their rtionship was clear.
If anyone outside saw this pair, they would doubt their eyes nine out of ten times.
Her attire, starting with a trademark pure white dress, was white throughout.
Her name is Elizabeth.
The very Elizabeth whom people call ¡®the Saint of Salvation,¡¯ also a member of The Thirteen Stars.
The term ¡®holy¡¯ fits her better than anyone else.
However, opposite her sat a man to whom the terms ¡®corrupt¡¯ and ¡®sinister¡¯ suited perfectly.
Vincent Meyer.
In the world of hunters, he is famous for selectively killing only the most capable hunters.
It would be right to make a murderer pay for their crimes, but the problem is that he¡¯s too strong to be dealt with.
The unlikelybination of an angel and a demon was blending into the subtle aroma of ck tea.
Elizabeth said, ¡°A hidden skill acquirer has just appeared. Who could it be? It doesn¡¯t seem like one of our members.¡±
¡°It¡¯s from the assassin ss, so it¡¯s not from our side. Who could it be? Interesting. El, any namese to mind?¡±
El.
A nickname, a short form for Elizabeth.
It¡¯s a natural abbreviation given the length of her name.
¡°Japan? Maybe Kusanagi Itsuki is capable?¡±
¡°But he¡¯s supposed to be in treatment right now¡ No, there¡¯s no information about him going into a dungeon.¡±
¡°Vincent, what do you think?¡±
¡°Any news from Korea? If Jang Si-hwan entered a mega-dungeon like the Hell of Judgment, there could be hidden rifts.¡±
¡°But the Jeonghwa Guild doesn¡¯t have any usable assassins. Above all, individual action would be impossible.¡±
¡°We don¡¯t know that. There could be one ant messing around in the strategy team.¡±
Vincent¡¯s eyes gleamed blood-red.
Hidden rifts never appear in small and insignificant dungeons.
They usually manifest where many hunters gather, causing unseen imbnces.
For Vincent, who has been collecting data on such matters for a long time, Korea was the most suspicious region.
At this moment, the only ce with a major strategic issue happening is the Hell of Judgment.
Someone with a hidden skill that even Jang Si-hwan hasn¡¯t obtained¡ is somewhere in the Hell of Judgment.
Vincent licked his lips, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
After taking a sip of his tea, he turned to Elizabeth.
¡°El. How about we take a trip to Korea this time?¡±
Chapter 123: Hidden Skill (2)
Chapter 123: Hidden Skill (2)
Kang-hoo met Jin Hyo-young at the agreed-upon point.
Her map, as densely filled with notes as Kang-hoo¡¯s, seemed to hold significant strategic value.
Jin Hyo-young, having received the map from Kang-hoo, smiled and said,
¡°You¡¯re really thorough. There was no need to go to this extent, but the Jeonghwa Guild will appreciate it.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a rare opportunity, isn¡¯t it? If given the chance, one must work hard. Who knows, they mighte looking for uster?¡±
¡°Was everything okay?¡±
¡°It was quiet. Though, I did get startled a few times when smoke suddenly billowed from the ground.¡±
¡°It¡¯s time for us to go our separate ways. Cross-checking is the most tedious part, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Information isn¡¯t free.¡±¡°If you don¡¯t mind¡ would you like to take a break and have a drink? I brought some chamomile tea beforeing here.¡±
Jin Hyo-young took out a thermos filled with chamomile tea and paper cups from her backpack.
Although Kang-hoo had brought bottled water in his backpack, a warm cup of tea seemed like a good idea.
Of course, her kindness ¨C albeit minor ¨C seemed suspicious, but a cup of tea wouldn¡¯t pose a problem.
And in case of any suspicion of poisoning, there was always the Breath of the Counterfeit God, so he felt he could let his guard down a bit.
¡°I¡¯ll dly ept. Let¡¯s sit here. I¡¯ll roughly clean the top.¡±
Kang-hoo pointed to a t rock lying between them.
It was a bit dusty, but he casually wiped it down with his sleeve.
Since he wore these clothes intending to get dirty in the dungeon, getting them dirty wasn¡¯t a concern.
¡°You have good manners.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just for the tea. I wouldn¡¯t have bothered if we weren¡¯t drinking tea.¡±
¡°Ha-ha. You¡¯re also witty.¡±
Is this considered wit?
Kang-hoo felt that Jin Hyo-young was showing more interest and reactions towards him than necessary.
Even now, as she poured a cup of tea and fanned herself, she casually rolled up her sleeves.
Tying her hair into a ponytail, making her neckline clearly visible, she bit a rubber band in the process.
The faint scent wafting from her exposed neckline added an extra touch.
It could be seen as over-immersion, an overreaction.
It¡¯s possible to read too much into trivial actions.
However, Kang-hoo was troubled by the fact that Jin Hyo-young had lied to him from their first meeting.
If they were only going to see each other once, why bother lying?
They weren¡¯t going to work closely together, and a lie about one¡¯s level certainly seemed suspicious.
¡°There¡¯s no harm in keeping my distance. After all, Jin Hyo-young isn¡¯t someone I need,¡±
he thought simply.
There was no need to be curious about what Jin Hyo-young was up to.
If she had any business with him, she would continue trying to contact him, to close the distance.
But if his concerns were overblown, everything would just be an incident, and their connection would end.
Observing what she would do next seemed best. His thoughts and judgments would align ordingly.
During the tea,
Kang-hoo and Jin Hyo-young watched a war at the far end of the horizon.
Despite the distance, the giants¡¯ forms were clearly visible.
Every time they moved, though it was an illusion, it felt as if the ground here was shaking.
Jin Hyo-young silently watched the battle alongside Kang-hoo, staring at him intently.
Kang-hoo felt her gaze but pretended not to notice.
Seeing her bite her lip repeatedly, he paid even less attention.
Then, Jin Hyo-young broke the silence.
¡°Over there.¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Do you want to grab a drink outside after we¡¯re done exploring? I¡¯m good with either food and alcohol or light cocktails.¡±
¡°Cocktails sound good.¡±
¡°I have a favorite bar in Seoul that I frequent. I¡¯m also friends with the owner. What do you think?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
Since the continuous ¡®temptation¡¯ didn¡¯t work, it seemed like she changed her approach to be more direct.
He believed that it no longer mattered who showed interest first between a man and a woman; that era had passed.
Yet, he had never shown any particr kindness or interest towards Jin Hyo-young.
There had to be a clear reason for her proactive behavior. It was instinct, intuition, and certainty.
Thus, he nned to y along. If her interest was genuine, then enjoying a drink together would suffice.
Or¡
¡°It¡¯s about finding the one hidden behind.¡±
For the purpose of cross-verifying each other¡¯s information.
Kang-hoo and Jin Hyo-young returned to their respective paths and parted ways.
Now was the moment to meticulously check if the information each had gathered matched reality.
Just then,
A red re, symbolizing a distress signal, shot up into the sky.
Although there wasn¡¯t a dedicated rescue team inside the dungeon, this was the agreed-upon signal for dangerous situations.
Of course, responding wasn¡¯t mandatory, so ignoring the signal and not going to the rescue wouldn¡¯t be an issue.
¡°Hmm.¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s steps veered toward where the re had beenunched.
Launching a re in this direction indicated an encounter with a difficult monster.
It wouldn¡¯t be a giant.
If there were giants, Kang-hoo would have seen them, and ordinary hunters would have fled long before.
¡®The ck Guide?¡¯
He considered another possibility.
The ck Guide.
A conglomerate of ghosts, a monster Kang-hoo had previously encountered at Ground Zero.
At that time, Kang-hoocked the power or ability to defeat the ck Guide.
Power aside,
Defeating the ck Guide required a force antithetical to it, or one that was perfectly synchronized.
In other words, one needed to utilize divine power or the same dark energy.
Now, not only did he possess the dark energy stat, but he also had the skills to utilize it.
Kang-hoo headed straight to the scene.
Having a way to confront it, ignoring the ck Guide as a monster was too tempting.
Especially since it could, albeit at random chances, permanently increase the dark energy stat.
With the importance of the growth of the seventh stat, dark energy, it became necessary to diligently hunt it.
Especially since dark energy cannot be increased with bonus points, seizing every opportunity to raise it was the prudent choice.
Now was precisely that opportunity.
¡°Let¡¯s get out of here quickly! If we mess up with the ck Guide, it¡¯s a silent death, unseen by mouse or bird.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re going to die, do it alone. Why set off a re? We almost got involved.¡±
¡°Right. Let¡¯s run!¡±
When Kang-hoo arrived at the scene, the hunters were all running hard in the opposite direction.
They nced at Kang-hoo but seemed too rushed to escape to say anything.
Perhaps the words exchanged among themselves were deemed sufficient information.
For now.
The location of the ck Guide was immediately evident. It was beneath a cliff where the sunlight hardly reached.
The hunter who seemed to have shot the re was already dead.
Given the state of the body, it seemed to have fallen prey to the minions of the ck Guide.
The ck Guide never travels alone. There¡¯s always a monster in the underground to synchronize with.
¡°¡¡¡±
He waited for a while.
Havinge this far, he had no interest in performing good deeds for others, preferring to let bystanders escape.
How much time had passed?
Finally, after two hunters lurking from a distance disappeared, no other hunters showed interest in this area.
Everyone seemed to have given up on confronting the ck Guide, having ¡®absolutely¡¯ no means to deal with it.
Step by step.
He deliberately made noise as he walked towards the direction of the ck Guide.
Noticing this, the ck Guide turned its head from the darkness created by the cliff.
The ck Guide, a mass of numerous ghosts, had no fixed form.
The one he had encountered at Ground Zero before had taken the typical form of a demon.
But this one resembled an elderly woman, full of wrinkles.
Was it a strategy to weaken the opponent¡¯s heart? Or was that all it knew how to mimic?
Either way, the ck Guide approached Kang-hoo with futile attempts that had no effect on him.
¡®Anyway, I can¡¯t attack this guy with other skills. If I can¡¯t finish it in one hit, I¡¯ll retreat without hesitation.¡¯
His calctions were alreadyplete.
Divine power, dark energy.
Since it could only be eliminated in these two ways.
He nned to attack with Heuk Wol Cham, and if that didn¡¯t cut off its breath, he would immediately retreat.
Thanks to the Pure ck Constructor, the dark energy he had exhausted for a skill demonstration earlier was fully restored to 100%.
He positioned himself and waited.
¡¾Heuk Wol Cham¡¿
He started charging simultaneously.
It didn¡¯t matter how he prepared the skill, but this time, he stuck to the basic motions.
Hiding the de of the dagger slightly towards his side, he earnestly concentrated the dark energy.
Keheehee¡
The ck Guide closed the distance with an unpleasant sound, making Kang-hoo ufortable.
If engulfed by it, even Kang-hoo would have no answer. Thus, he needed to attack before being enveloped.
However, acting too quickly might alert it to dodge, so he waited with as much patience as possible.
Thud.
Though subtle, he felt movements underground, likely the minions of the ck Guide.
He wasn¡¯t sure which monster it was, but it was likely one that could freely move through tunnels underground.
¡°¡¡¡±
Holding his breath.
He waited, and waited some more.
The Heuk Wol Cham, with 100% dark energy invested, was alreadyplete. All he had to do was release it.
Kkekkekke.
Seeing that Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t evading, the ck Guide let out an even more bizarreugh.
It was convinced.
That this human was too scared to even think about escaping, just like the person who had died before.
Despite his ability to escape, he trembled with fear and met his end standing.
If¡
If the ck Guide were to die from the attack using Heuk Wol Cham, Kang-hoo was determined to visit Ground Zero again.
Since the ck Guide was difficult to catch, the rewards were quite generous.
The explosive gain in experience was a given.
In terms of magic stones or items, it could also yield unexpectedly high earnings.
Jang Si-hwan had significantly increased his level by exclusively hunting monsters of this kind after bing able to harness dark energy.
Two-tenths of the process that elevated Jang Si-hwan to the unprecedented high level of 800 urred here.
Kuooo!
The body of the ck Guide, now only five steps away, expanded immensely.
Like an eagle coiling its body before greedily spreading its ck wings to fiercely pounce on its prey.
The ck Guide, intending to swallow Kang-hoo whole, maximized its size.
Devil¡¯s Embrace.
The moment one is embraced, all memories and time stop. Trapped in eternal darkness, in death.
Whoosh!
Just as the disgusting breath of the ck Guide wrapping around Kang-hoo was about to touch his face!
Krrring!
Out of the deep darkness.
A crimson crescent de drew a sharp curve, striking at the heart of the ck Guide in an instant.
The next moment.
Boom!
The body of the ck Guide, unable to scream, exploded into pieces and scattered.
Pssss!
The numerous ghosts pouring out aimlessly in all directions after losing their master were a bonus.
Being untouchable and unreachable, most hunters considered them entities that could never be killed.
Thus, they were like a tantalizingly unreachable delicacy, always out of reach.
To Kang-hoo, however, these beings became a valuable source of experience.
He was vividly experiencing the benefits of a hidden skill.
¡¾For being an unchallenged monster for an excessively long time, additional experience is obtained.¡¿
¡¾Your level has significantly increased to 103.¡¿
A two-step increase in level!
The effectiveness was undeniable.
Chapter 124: Hidden Skill (3)
Chapter 124: Hidden Skill (3)
And then,
Kieek!
A ¡°Tunnel Spider¡± that had emerged from the ground after a dy was killed by the Great Beheading Skill, its head and chest pierced through.
It paid the price for greedily intruding, thinking the owner hadid out a feast.
¡°Huh?¡±
As the Tunnel Spider was naturally torn apart by the Great Beheading, something inside its body became visible.
Digging deep into it and pulling it apart revealed a few undigested items from its stomach.
These appeared to be remnants undigested during the process of digesting a dead hunter it had consumed, with the upper part of the body gone.
Despite the foul smell, Kang-hoo, without changing his expression, swiftly took only what was necessary.Among the items, there was one that Kang-hoo found useful; the rest seemed seble.
¡¾Persistent Duel ¨C Bracelet¡¿
¡¾Grade: 4th Grade¡¿
¡¾Health +100¡¿
Compared to the 6th-grade bracelet he was wearing, the ¡°Bracelet of Rising Vitality,¡± this one increased his health by a whopping 75.
There was no reason not to switch. Kang-hoo immediately put on the new bracelet.
¡°May your soul rest in peace.¡±
Kang-hoo prayed for the repose of the item¡¯s former owner, who had met such a tragic end.
Anyway,
The effectiveness of the ck Moon sh was clearly realized in the process of defeating the ck Guide this time.
In this manner, it was possible to hunt the ck Guide, which most hunters avoid.
Of course, due to the issue of dark energy recovery, it couldn¡¯t be done frequently.
But, at least when the dark energy was fully recovered, it seemed possible to hunt one ck Guide each time.
¡°It seems right to use the ultimate skill enhancement opportunity linked to the assassin of ruthlessness on the clone technique.¡±
Kang-hoo made up his mind.
After killing Park Jun and obtaining the constetion of the assassin of ruthlessness during the rescue of Park Dong-jae,
He had been contemting which basic skill would be best to enhance to the ultimate level.
Anything would naturally be good, but he aimed to link it to an essential skill if possible.
And after using the ck Moon sh,
Kang-hoo painfully realized the power of a hidden skill is beyond what one could imagine.
However, unless the opponent is a fool, they wouldn¡¯t simply watch Kang-hoo attempt to fully charge.
Monsters might find it difficult to predict hunters¡¯ skills and miss the timing due to self-centered thinking.
But a quick-witted hunter would prepare to evade as soon as they saw the dark energy condensing at the tip of Kang-hoo¡¯s dagger.
Then, the effort and time spent aiming for a one-strike kill with ck Moon sh would be in vain.
No, it would be fortunate if it just became ineffective; it could even lead to a counterattack, endangering his life.
The choice was quickly made.
If it doesn¡¯t seem right, it¡¯s possible to change it up to 3 times, so adjustments can be made.
Soon, the ¡°Clone Technique¡± skill was transformed into an ultimate skill under the effect of the constetion of the assassin of ruthlessness.
¡¾Clone Technique¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Ultimate¡¿
¡¾Only the options added or changed by the user''s settings are disyed.¡¿
¡¾The duration of the clone is increased from a total of 10 seconds to 20 seconds.¡¿
¡¾Originally, the clone had to be ''directly'' controlled, but now it has the added ability to ''learn''.¡¿
¡¾Learning status can be checked separately by clicking the ''Learning'' tab.¡¿
¡°Learning up to the realm of the unconscious, huh? This definitely seems right.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
The identity of an assassin ultimatelyes down to stealth and the clone technique.
Especially the clone technique, depending on the assassin hunter¡¯s sense and response, can yield vastly different results.
Being able to kill an enemy that won¡¯t die and turning a situation of death into an opportunity for survival.
From now on, it seemed necessary to dedicate oneself to training with the Hundred Day sh and ck Moon sh, if only for the clone¡¯s learning.
The motivation for repetitive training wascking since proficiency was always at its maximum, but now, it¡¯s a different story.
Afterwards,
Having met Jinho Young again, Kang-hoo confirmed that there were no issues with their cross-verification.
In other words, there were no errors or omissions in the information recorded on the map, and everything was as intended.
After all, the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s search team would go through the verification process once more, making it perfect information.
Beforeing out,
Climbing up the hill towards the entrance, Kang-hoo surveyed the battlefield from a clear vantage point.
The battlefield had been adjusted, and Jang Si-hwan¡¯s team was much closer than before.
¡°It¡¯s impressive, I have to admit. But then again, it¡¯s my n, so it couldn¡¯t be otherwise.¡±
Kang-hoo marveled at the coordination between Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeong.
Jang Si-hwan was deploying spatial opening magic in session, mobilizing Chae Gwanhyeong in the air.
Chae Gwanhyeong didn¡¯t have wings or the ability to fly.
Yet, as if he could, Chae Gwanhyeong was pouring attacks on the giants from mid-air.
When about to fall due to gravity, Jang Si-hwan would lift Chae Gwanhyeong to a higher position again.
It was like infinite power, infinite rising, so Chae Gwanhyeong didn¡¯t know how to fall from the air.
Kang-hoo couldn¡¯t help but snicker to himself.
Not out of ridicule or derision, but because he had created such a formidable enemy.
Facing these opponents who freely utilized the ground and air, what preparations should he, an assassin, make?
Kang-hoo realized anew that the list of skills he needed seemed endlessly long.
After emerging from the Hell of Judgment, Kang-hoo returned with Jinho Young to the search team andpleted the submission of their findings.
He wondered if there would be an additional rigorous verification process, but there was none.
It was probably confidence.
Everyone knew what would happen if they messed around in a matter involving the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s name.
Being targeted would be the least of their worries; they¡¯d have to watch their backs every day.
So, they must have assumed it was properly sorted out. If any discrepancies were foundter, they¡¯d just deal with them then.
Kang-hoo put off Jinho Young¡¯s suggestion to have a drink today for another time.
Wanting to see her reaction by turning her down once was the first reason.
The second was that Jeon Se-hyuk hade up to Seoul for some business with Park Dong-jae.
Meeting with Jeon Se-hyuk was more important, as they had to finalize the dungeon ownership transfer.
So, leaving a disappointed Jinho Young behind, he headed to Seoul Station, where the two were already waiting.
A drink with a woman he had met for the first time today was less important than¡
A dungeon filled with skills ripe for the taking was far more crucial.
So, without hesitation, he chose Jeon Se-hyuk and Park Dong-jae. It was a choice fitting of Kang-hoo, who pursues practical benefits.
¡°Let¡¯s go with this dungeon.¡±
¡°Sounds good. It seems like the most meaningful use of a dungeon. I¡¯m really pleased.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll cherish and manage the dungeon well, befitting the reputation of its original owner.¡±
¡°Thank you once again for saving Dong-jae. We will never forget it. Neither I nor Dong-jae will.¡±
¡°It feels good to have been of help with my little tricks.¡±
Though long-distance spatial movement can hardly be called a little trick.
Jeon Se-hyukughed it off, knowing that Kang-hoo was trying to be as humble as possible.
Even if he was being ttering for helping in exchange for dungeon ownership, it didn¡¯t seem at all displeasing.
To Jeon Se-hyuk, Kang-hoo appeared to be very polite. In other words, he didn¡¯t make pointless remarks.
¡°All the preliminary steps have been taken. Just enter the dungeon code here, and it will be forever owned by Mr. Seon-gyu.¡±
Though Park Dong-jae was present, he referred to Kang-hoo as Seon-gyu.
Jeon Se-hyuk had prepared the ownership transfer procedure on his mobile, entering the real name.
Unless one is a hunter without a birth registration, Kang-hoo, too, is a hunter with a national ID card.
In official procedures or documents, one¡¯s real name must be used.
Of course, having one¡¯s real name listed here doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯ll fall under the surveince of the Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
The Hunter Public Safety Bureau only manages the overall database, including approvals, denials, and retrievals.
They hardly ever look into who owns which dungeon.
This is because there¡¯s a shortage of personnel to manage the dungeons owned by the Hunter Public Safety Bureau itself.
When they can hardly manage their own affairs, they have no time to be concerned with what others have.
¡®Even at the lowest estimate, this dungeon is worth at least 30 billion won. It would fetch that price even in a quick sale.¡¯
Jeon Se-hyuk really spent a lot of money.
Even if he earns more and cherishes Park Dong-jae like a brother, such expenditure is not ordinary.
Kang-hoo sensed Jeon Se-hyuk¡¯s desire to forge a strong bond of gratitude and favor within his thanks and kindness.
There is no kindness without reason.
Even if one isn¡¯t consciously aware of it, there¡¯s definitely a reason embedded in the unconscious.
For example, the desire to deepen ties with this person.
It¡¯s like the ¡°debt of gratitude¡± Kang-hoo aimed to instill in Lee Hyun-seok. There¡¯s certainly a possibility.
It didn¡¯t really matter.
Whatever the intention, the ownership of the dungeon was changing. Now, it¡¯s Kang-hoo¡¯s forever.
And Jeon Se-hyuk was still a person of great utility value in the future.
He is quite a righteous person.
He has a good rtionship with Lee Hyun-seok and boasts a widework in the Gyeongsang region.
Furthermore, he findsmon ground with Kang-hoo in their mutual disdain for the Jeonghwa Guild and Eclipse.
¡¾From now on, theplete ownership of Gyeongju Dungeon, registration number 331, is transferred to Hunter ''Shin Kang-hoo''.¡¿
¡°Thank you.¡±
Kang-hoo expressed his gratitude once more.
A 30 billion won rescue mission.
For Kang-hoo, the task was so effortlessly manageable that he¡¯d jump at another chance should it arise.
This ease was primarily due to the disorganized nature of their adversaries, the remnants of the Osho Mercenary Corps.
Kang-hoo had high hopes for the abilities of the main boss of the Gyeongju Dungeon, often referred to simply as Gyeongju Dungeon.
The boss¡¯s skill involved enhancing the buffs he applied to himself, effectively amplifying them.
Maximizing the effects of buffs was crucial for conducting solo or small-group dungeon raids in the future.
With the right synergy, Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae could effortlessly conquer most dungeons together.
Together, they could perform with the efficiency of three, no, more than four individuals¡ªboth in theory and practice.
Then,
¡°There¡ I don¡¯t have money right now, but I really wanted to give you this, so I brought it.¡±
Park Dong-jae presented something with an awkward expression.
Perhaps because Jeon Se-hyuk had shown such grand gratitude, his own offering seemed somewhat modest inparison.
¡°What is it?¡±
Jeon Se-hyuk, appearing more curious than Kang-hoo, nudged Park Dong-jae.
Then Park Dong-jae flinched and
carefully unwrapped something encased in cloth.
It was an item tenderly wrapped in a cloth reminiscent of something a grandmother in the countryside might use.
Chapter 125: Hidden Skill (4)
Chapter 125: Hidden Skill (4)
What Park Dong-jae produced was a magical stone.
Kang-hoo showed no particr change in expression, as Jeon Se-hyuk hit Park Dong-jae on the back of his head.
¡°Hey! This is just a magical stone. What¡¯s so great about it that you had to keep us waiting and even wrap it up?¡±
¡°It must mean something.¡±
Contrary to Jeon Se-hyuk¡¯s opinion, Kang-hoo did not think lightly of Park Dong-jae¡¯s magical stone.
Park Dong-jae¡¯s personality wasn¡¯t one to make a rude joke if he had manners.
Then, Park Dong-jae warmly epted Kang-hoo¡¯s words.
¡°Right! This guy was the first magical stone I obtained in a dungeon. After carrying this around, things have really gone well for me.¡±
¡°Like a talisman?¡±¡°Yes, exactly. I¡¯ve survived death five times with it, and I even found two buff skill books I needed. If this isn¡¯t a talisman of luck, what is?¡±
¡°You weren¡¯t carrying this magical stone when you were kidnapped by the Kashimar Guild, were you?¡±
¡°That¡¯s correct¡¡±
Kang-hoo smirked.
It seemed like the wrong time tough, but augh came out anyway. He seems to really think of it as a talisman.
That¡¯s possible.
Superstitions aren¡¯t created for no reason. The reason routines develop is simr.
Whatever the reason, the magical stone seemed truly precious to Park Dong-jae.
So.
Ironically, he didn¡¯t want to receive it.
¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that. I¡¯ll take the thought.¡±
¡°Eh? Is it because my return gift is too shabby? This is just an initial gift.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not about that.¡±
¡°I n to continue expressing my gratitude to Mr. Seon-gyu as I earn money. It won¡¯t be disappointing.¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s not about the amount. It¡¯s just that receiving it feels like a burden. So, let¡¯s just leave it at that.¡±
¡°Ah¡¡±
¡°If you really want to repay me, how about volunteering to go to a dungeon togetherter? How does that sound?¡±
A counter-offer was made.
Having a buffer like Park Dong-jae for free would be the best deal.
Of course, that meant he nned to take him to a very challenging dungeon. That¡¯s how to make the most of it.
¡°Of course! Actually, a lifetime free pass is also possible! Really!¡±
¡°Up to a lifetime, though.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sincerely offering. They say the most blessed person is the one who is most grateful.¡±
¡°Calvin Coolidge.¡±
¡°Oh! How did you know?¡±
¡°It¡¯s one of my favorite quotes.¡±
¡°Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.¡±
¡°Jacques Maritain.¡±
¡°Wow! You have quite the knowledge of quotes?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve answered two.¡±
¡°Anyway, this guy Dong-jae¡ Sorry, Mr. Seon-gyu. He really likes this kind of conversation.¡±
¡°No. I also enjoy being able to use my niche knowledge.¡±
Kang-hoo shook his head.
Park Dong-jae¡¯s character was clear. He¡¯s also a character who really enjoys reading.
The reason Park Dong-jae could grow into the best buffer was because he had read countless papers by hunters.
He used papers for indirect experience and research material for things he couldn¡¯t experiment with or challenge himself.
¡°Anyway, please do call me. Whatever happens, I¡¯ll prioritize Mr. Seon-gyu¡¯s request.¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll make good use of the chance. Take the magical stone back. Bring it when we go to a dungeon together.¡±
¡°Ah! Got it. Hahaha!¡±
Park Dong-jae¡¯s lively and positive demeanor was a pleasure to see.
Perhaps it¡¯s because of his character that he meshes well with colleagues like Jeon Se-hyuk, who has a serious side, or Ban Se-yeong, who is unpredictable.
Compared to Kang-hoo himself, his personality is at the opposite end of the spectrum, but that made him all the more interesting.
The drinking session deepened.
One of Seoul¡¯s advantages, aside from the high cost of living, is the convenience of being able to drinkfortably anytime, anywhere.
Staggering along dark streets poses no issue whatsoever.
He obtained quite a lot of information from the conversation with the two.
First, he learned that Park Dong-jae dislikes Eclipse just as much as Jeon Se-hyuk does.
Two of his decade-long friends were kidnapped by Eclipse, their life and death unknown. He¡¯s still looking for them.
Thus, Park Dong-jae had spent a long time nning and had nted an insider within Eclipse.
The fact that Jeon Se-hyuk could learn about Cha So-hee¡¯s death from Kang-hoo was also thanks to this insider.
Park Dong-jae referred to his entirework of insiders as the ¡°ck Network.¡±
And he said that the influence of the ck Network extends to almost all significant guilds and warlords in the country.
Thework of information was much broader than Kang-hoo had thought.
In this respect, he was much more meticulous and strategic than he appeared on the surface.
Park Dong-jae knows all the information from the insiders connected to the ck Network.
But the insiders do not know each other, not even a minor clue was ever shared.
¡°I need to hold on to him tightly.¡±
The expected value of Park Dong-jae, already high for being a skilled buffer, skyrocketed.
Of course, Park Dong-jae himself seemed oblivious to his own worth, but it was clear to Kang-hoo.
The ck Network seemed like it would be very helpful.
The reason Park Dong-jae currently had no money was because maintaining thework required a tremendous amount of funds.
It was inevitable.
If prioritizing the safety of the insiders, more financial support for their activities would be necessary.
The number of drinks they had kept increasing, but strangely, no one was getting drunk.
At one point, Jeon Se-hyuk had to leave the table for a call requiring security.
Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae remained. Park Dong-jae filled Kang-hoo¡¯s ss to the brim and changed the topic.
¡°I heard from Se-yeong and Se-hyuk that you overwhelmingly updated the highest record of the maze dungeon.¡±
¡°I did.¡±
¡°And I heard that you almost single-handedly crushed the internal strategy.¡±
¡°It ended quickly.¡±
¡°Se-hyuk and Se-yeong, surprisingly, are picky about praising outsiders. To be exact, they¡¯re very cold.¡±
¡°I see.¡±
¡°But when they talk about Mr. Seon-gyu, it¡¯s nothing but praise. No, they said there¡¯s nothing to criticize.¡±
¡°The maze dungeon strategy went smoothly since it was our first time together, and we coordinated well.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the thing. Even if the synergy is off, if you go together a few times, it gets twisted and twisted again.¡±
¡°It was quite fun.¡±
¡°I scored lower than Mr. Seon-gyu¡¡±
¡°Injury?¡±
¡°No. It made me want to tackle a dungeon properly with such a person!¡±
It was a typical Park Dong-jae response.
He likes challenges and adventures.
That led him to Ground Zero, where he was kidnapped.
Likely, Park Dong-jae would enjoy dungeons that test limits and offer trials more than ordinary strategies.
¡°The dungeon that Se-hyuk handed over to me, we¡¯ll tackle it soon. Let¡¯s sync up then.¡±
¡°Good. As I said earlier, I¡¯ll go for free! Shall we shake on it?¡±
¡°Suddenly?¡±
¡°To firmly grasp hands in advance, to see if we sync up well! We¡¯ll sync our feetter.¡±
¡°Are you joking right now?¡±
¡°¡Did you not find it funny?¡±
In various ways, Park Dong-jae was a character with a clear personality.
The drinking session with the two ended in the early hours of the morning, and Kang-hoo slept soundly until that evening.
Since he had no ns afterward and it had been a while since he drank heavily, he wanted to rest well.
During his sleep, he received a light morning greeting from Jin Hyo-young, but since he was asleep, the message was automatically ignored.
Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t in a hurry, so he thought it might be a good opportunity to test his patience.
As evening turned into night.
Kang-hoo, who had arranged to meet with Lee Ye-rin, headed straight to Daejeon Station to meet her.
The purpose was to check on Yun Sang-mi¡¯s condition and also discuss the direction of future requests with Lee Ye-rin.
As soon as he got off at Daejeon Station, Kang-hoo called Yun Sang-mi.
She answered the phone earlier than expected.
Yes, brother.
¡°I wanted to ask how you¡¯re feeling.¡±
Me? I¡¯m good. But I¡¯m about to enter a dungeon now? Let¡¯s talkter. Bye!
¡°¡¡.¡±
The call was cut off before he could reply.
Usually, Kang-hoo was the one to hang up first, but today it felt like the roles were reversed.
Anyway, it seemed like her condition was good enough to enter a dungeon, which relieved him a bit.
Given Yun Sang-mi had gone through trouble because of him and his work, it was natural for him to worry.
Then.
¡°What are you doing standing around in front of the station? I called you from behind, but you didn¡¯t respond.¡±
Someone tapped Kang-hoo on the shoulder from behind. It was Lee Ye-rin.
They had nned to meet a bit further from Daejeon Station, but she seemed to being out of the station too.
¡°Ah, I just finished a call.¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes lit up as he spoke. It was because Lee Ye-rin¡¯s constetion had increased by two sincest time.
¡®It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if she¡¯s gearing up for rapid growth.¡¯
Considering Lee Ye-rin¡¯s future position, a steep growth curve starting now wasn¡¯t strange.
It was probably around this time.
When she began aggressively merging and acquiring small mercenary groups and buying out their dungeons.
Lee Ye-rin¡¯s mercenary group, Cheong-an, wasn¡¯trge, but herwork was wider than imagined.
Thus, with the money she had consistently earned, she had enough capital to finance the acquisitions.
¡°Shall we move to a more private ce? Today¡¯s topic is somewhat serious. We also need to maintain security.¡±
¡°Where should we go?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go to my mercenary group¡¯s building. It has sufficient security facilities, so it¡¯s safe.¡±
¡°Alright.¡±
It was his first visit to her mercenary group¡¯s building.
Until now, they usually met near Cheong-an Mercenary Group¡¯s permanent information booth in front of Daejeon Station.
The Cheong-an Building, located about 1km west of Daejeon Station.
They resumed their interrupted conversation only after entering a perfectly soundproofed room inside the Cheong-an Building.
Lee Ye-rin was the first to speak.
¡°The mercenary market is unusual these days. With the surge in demand for mercenaries, the supply shortage is worsening.¡±
¡°It sounds like good news for a requester like me.¡±
¡°That¡¯s true. Not to mention the fees for requests, but also the sess and lifepensation have skyrocketed.¡±
¡°There must be a reason for the sudden increase in demand.¡±
Kang-hoo asked, even though he already knew, wanting to confirm once more.
The reason was obvious.
It was because of the war among pharmaceuticalpanies, known as the ¡°White War.¡± The current situation was like the calm before the storm.
¡°The pharmaceuticalpanies are expanding the battlefield. You know, right now, the price of stimnt drugs in our country is the highest in the world.¡±
¡°Yes, I know. I heard that foreign countries are desperately trying to establish supply lines here.¡±
¡°It seems like the pharmaceuticalpanies have made up their minds. If they can monopolize the market instead of sharing the pie as they are now.¡±
¡°They could rake in the money.¡±
¡°Exactly. And with this trend, foreign capital is also entering the market.¡±
¡°Each pharmaceuticalpany must have different backers. There must be those from China and Russia, right?¡±
¡°Of course. The number of foreign hunters entering from those two countries this month has jumped by 450%pared to the previous month.¡±
¡°That¡¯s crazy.¡±
The signs were definitely not good.
Aside from the war among pharmaceuticalpanies, this could lead to an international war among mercenaries.
The domestic situation was bound to get very noisy.
It would be a relief if it were just noisy, but it was likely to be bloody.
The curtain of the White War was gradually rising.
Chapter 126: Jin Hyo-young (1)
Chapter 126: Jin Hyo-young (1)
Since then, through Lee Ye-rin, I was able to gain some insight into the current dynamics among pharmaceuticalpanies.
The calm before the storm was undeniable.
Observing Lee Ye-rin, the current shortage of mercenaries appeared to be a significant issue.
It was unavoidable.
Given that one of her primary sources of ie involved connecting clients with mercenaries for various tasks.
The dwindling number of avable mercenaries could pose a deeply concerning problem.
¡°But in the original work, the White War was almost negligible. There wasn¡¯t much cause for concern.¡±
Reflecting on it.
In the original narrative, the White War was merely a minor disturbance for the protagonist, Jang Si-hwan.Particrly since it didn¡¯t affect his main operations in Seoul.
From that moment, he shifted his focus to international endeavors, having already dominated the Tribunal of Hell.
This marked a quest for greater growth, as the domestic scene had be too limited for Jang Si-hwan.
¡°It¡¯s reality for me. Does this reflect the difference in perspectives shaped by our environments?¡±
Kang-hoo nodded in agreement.
That thought had crossed his mind.
What if I had been taken over by someone like Chae Gwanhyeong or Casey Rex instead of Shin Kang-hoo?
How differently would I have perceived the world? It¡¯s difficult to fathom.
Had I been Chae Gwanhyeong, would I have eliminated my friend Jang Si-hwan, who was on the path to betrayal, and taken his ce?
Had I been Casey Rex, would I have led the Fortuna Guild in America and initiated an attack on Korea¡¯s Jeonghwa Guild?
These hypothetical scenarios became more fascinating the more I contemted them.
Nevertheless, the reality remains that I am Shin Kang-hoo.
The original protagonist¡¯s arch-nemesis, a genius assassin fated to meet his demise.
I am determined to alter that destiny.
¡°Sun-kyu?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Is something on your mind?¡±
¡°No, just sorting through my thoughts for a moment.¡±
Lee Ye-rin drew his attention back when Kang-hoo had been silently staring off into space for a while.
She continued speaking.
¡°What kind of request do you want to take?¡±
¡°First off, I¡¯ll refuse all group requests that require teamwork. Don¡¯t even suggest them.¡±
¡°Does that mean you want a blind position?¡±
Blind position.
It means, instead of fighting a frontal battle on behalf of pharmaceuticalpanies, other mercenaries do that.
And within that, being assigned a mission to move cleverly alone.
For example, using the battle as a cover to infiltrate a pharmaceuticalpany through loosened security.
Utilizing the battle, in essence.
Of course, not caring about anyone means not being protected by anyone, meaning.
From beginning to end, all processes and risks must be handled and resolved by oneself.
¡°Correct.¡±
¡°That means there¡¯s a high likelihood of high risk, high return. It¡¯s also a position with a high mortality rate.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve lived like that all along, nothing new to me.¡±
¡°Okay. Then can we start right away?¡±
¡°Wait a moment. Shall we take a break and talk?¡±
¡°Sure. I was just craving a cup of coffee. Do you want anything? I¡¯ll prepare it.¡±
¡°A can of coffee.¡±
¡°Good choice. See you in 10 minutes.¡±
A brief pause marked the conversation with Lee Ye-rin. As soon as she left, Kang-hoo immediately made a call.
The recipient was An Yeong-ho.
The call barely rang twice before An Yeong-ho quickly answered, as if he had been waiting.
-Ah, hyungnim! Sun-kyu hyungnim! This is finally the first time I¡¯m making a call like this! Right? Nice to meet you, hyungnim!
¡°Have you been well?¡±
-Of course, hyungnim! Are youing to Japan now?
¡°I was actually calling to ask about that. If I were to move tomorrow, would that be possible?¡±
-Ah! Tomorrow?
¡°It¡¯s okay to answerfortably. It¡¯s on me for not informing you ahead of time.¡±
-I think I¡¯d need at least three days. The Rikou Guild is currently in a full-scale war¡
¡°I heard that you recently signed a peace agreement with the Toushi Guild?¡±
-That was a ruse.
¡°Scoundrels.¡±
-Give me three days, and I¡¯ll somehow make arrangements within that time. It¡¯s definitely possible.
¡°No, that¡¯s okay. Let¡¯s talk again once the guild situation is somewhat settled.¡±
-Are you sure, hyungnim?
¡°I don¡¯t want to go dungeon crawling while worrying about getting stabbed in the back.¡±
-Ah¡
¡°Let me know when things ease up on the battlefront. Always be careful.¡±
-I¡¯m sorry, hyungnim.
¡°What¡¯s there to be sorry about? Just let me know once everything is set for going to Japan.¡±
-Understood!
That was the end of the call with An Yeong-ho.
If there were no problems, the n was to dedicate ourselves to dark energy farming in Japan rather than taking on mercenary requests.
It seemed like the situation wasn¡¯t suitable for that at the moment.
The rtionship between the Rikou Guild and the Toushi Guild in Japan is akin to that between the Jeonghwa Guild and the warlord group, The Abyss, domestically.
They are essentially archenemies.
The Jeonghwa Guild and The Abyss have not yet engaged in a full-scale war.
However, it seems Japan is already shedding real blood. The situation didn¡¯t look good.
After hanging up, Kang-hoo then called Park Dong-jae.
Unlike An Yeong-ho, Park Dong-jae took a while to answer, his voice heavy with sleep.
-Se, se, Sun-kyu nim¡¡. Ugh.
¡°Seems like you were sleeping.¡±
-Yes, I just returned from a dungeon run at dawn. Running around for the first time in a while, my body just couldn¡¯t keep up.
¡°I¡¯ll just get straight to the point.¡±
-Wait. Just a moment, please. Let me properly wake up and take this call. I don¡¯t want to take it half-asleep.
A brief wait.
After a few coughs, Park Dong-jae¡¯s groggy voice cleared up.
-I¡¯ve been waiting for your call.
¡°I was thinking of heading to the dungeon received from Se-hyeok nim. How about we try syncing up?¡±
-What¡¯s theposition of the party nning to tackle it? Three? Four?
Park Dong-jae misinterpreted Kang-hoo¡¯s intention, an easy mistake to make.
¡°Just the two of us.¡±
-Oh? Ah! Just you and me?
¡°Yes. Since it¡¯s not a melee concept dungeon, I think the two of us will suffice.¡±
-Sounds good. Let¡¯s go check it out! The dungeon is just in standby mode right now, isn¡¯t it?
¡°Tomorrow evening. How does that sound?¡±
-Perfect. I need a good rest today, and I have some work rted to the ck Network tomorrow morning.
¡°Then, let¡¯s meet at the front of the Gyeongju Dungeon at 6 PM tomorrow. You know the ce, right?¡±
-Of course. I¡¯ll be there on time. Thank you!
¡°Alright. Let¡¯s meet tomorrow.¡±
The coordination wasplete.
Although Japan would have to wait, the schedule to explore the buff dungeon with Park Dong-jae was set.
There was a buff enhancement skill I particrly wanted to acquire, so I prioritized it over epting requests.
¡°For now, I¡¯ll put the mercenary requests I receive from Lee Ye-rin on hold. My price is bound to go up anyway.¡±
I decided not to rush.
The demand is only increasing, not decreasing, so Kang-hoo had nothing to regret.
If anything, the ones bing anxious and desperate would be the clients seeking high-quality manpower.
Afterward,
Kang-hoo informed Lee Ye-rin that he would not ept any mercenary-rted requests for a while.
Leisurely enjoying tea time, they discussed the domestic political situation at length.
In this regard, Lee Ye-rin, who shared as much knowledge as she had, was quite helpful.
And while parting,
I newly set a teleportation point on a vacant lot about 1 km north of the Cheong-an Building.
After rescuing Park Dong-jae, it was a newly designated point. A perfect location should I need to visit the Cheong-an Building.
After wrapping things up, Kang-hoo then made a call to the person who could fill his evening time. It was Jin Hyo-young.
A short whileter,
In her hotel room, afterpleting her makeup, Jin Hyo-young looked at her reflection in the mirror with satisfaction.
¡°You¡¯re beautiful, truly beautiful.¡±
It¡¯s often said that women are their own harshest critics. Jin Hyo-young had never seen it that way.
She was well aware that her exceptional appearance was a potent tool in her interactions with men.
Thus, upon bing a hunter, she actively sought ways to leverage her beauty as much as her abilities.
This approach was precisely what she employed while working with Eclipse, using her allure as a sort of ¡°honey trap¡± to attract targets.
Although it¡¯s referred to as luring, she was indifferent to their fates after she brought them in, as that was Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s concern.
In any case, by being acknowledged by Kang Dong-hyun in this regard, she managed to ascend to a significantly high rank within Eclipse.
Additionally, during dungeon raids, she received support to steadily gain experience points while facing less danger.
Moreover, she always received more than 30% of the items and assets obtained from the hunters she lured aspensation for her efforts.
Of course, her appearance wasn¡¯t the sole factor that facilitated these operations.
Jin Hyo-young also had a skill specialized in inducing addiction.
Particrly, a technique that quickly induced a sleep state in monsters or hunters.
This was known as sleep addiction.
There¡¯s hardly a more significant vulnerability than falling asleep in front of an enemy.
Jin Hyo-young possessed the perfectbination to incapacitate someone effectively.
She made a call.
The call with Kang-hoo had concluded earlier, and they had agreed to meet in Seoul for drinks.
-It¡¯s me.
¡°Oppa Dong-hyun. Is everything ready?¡±
-Did Shin Kang-hoo take the bait?
¡°How could he not? It¡¯s all been leading up to this. He reached out earlier, saying he wanted to meet today.¡±
-Any suspicious vibes?
¡°I sensed caution from our first meeting. But my information won¡¯t be exposed, right?¡±
-That¡¯s true.
¡°The level database registered with the Hunter Public Safety Bureau has also been tampered with. It hasn¡¯t been corrected, right?¡±
-Right.
¡°Then there¡¯s no way he can know anything about me correctly. Even the Jeonghwa Guild didn¡¯t know.¡±
-Is the hotel the same one as before?
¡°Yes. I¡¯ve already booked a room. It¡¯ll also be the room where Shin Kang-hoo will end up.¡±
-I¡¯ve already arranged for a car to be on standby. Make sure to bring him over without any harm.
¡°Don¡¯t worry. Unless he has the ability to count how many constetions I have, he won¡¯t know a single truth about me, not even my skills.¡±
The evening moon that had risen outside shone in Jin Hyo-young¡¯s eyes, reflected in the mirror.
Kang Dong-hyunughed heartily over the phone, the kind ofugh thates when things seem to be going well.
-You have to take what you want, right?
¡°Right.¡±
-Look forward to it. Let¡¯s properly wee our skilled hunter.
¡°Understood. I¡¯ll contact you.¡±
After hanging up, she looked at herself in the mirror and murmured as if casting a spell once more.
¡°Really pretty.¡±
And then, at 2 a.m. the next day,
As the moonlight, feeling peculiarly eerie and sweet, just began to seep through the window.
Boom!
The door opened, and a man and woman entered the room, immediately intertwining as one.
¡°Haah.¡±
¡°Huuh.¡±
The two looked at each other with dreamy eyes, exhaling hot breaths.
Then, without anyone taking the lead, they began passionately removing each other¡¯s clothes.
It was the beginning of a concerto created from the right mix of alcohol, mutual attraction, and irresistible desire.
Chapter 127: Jin Hyo-young (2)
Chapter 127: Jin Hyo-young (2)
¡°Hmm.¡±
¡°Are you okay?¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine. It seems I got scratched somewhere.¡±
The mood, which had been quickly heating up, took a brief pause due to the pain Kang-hoo felt in his wrist.
It felt as though he was pricked by something sharp.
However, Kang-hoo, with a face that seemed to say there was nothing to worry about, softly enveloped Jin Hyo-young¡¯s lips once again.
He realized that paradoxically, the less there was any feeling of love, the more one could immerse themselves in physical contact.
It¡¯s as if¡ being able to treat the other person like a soulless doll made any action feel less burdensome, perhaps?
From the moment Kang-hoo met Jin Hyo-young, he knew she did not approach him with pure intentions.He reached out to her first today to draw out the mastermind hiding behind her.
If it were merely to prevent danger, he would not have met her in the first ce, since he had figured out her purpose.
But having already seen through her, he wanted to see what was behind that.
Even though he had never seen Jin Hyo-young¡¯s skill, he could guess her abilities in advance.
Thanks to the Constetion Scan.
¡¾Dream Demon¡¿
¡¾When you directly kill a target induced into a sleep state with a skill, you permanently gain 10 magic power.
This can be done up to 100 times, after which Dream Demon provides a special bonus of advancing to a new stage.¡¿
¡¾Heart Demon¡¿
¡¾Gives twice the enhanced feeling of fear to enemies or monsters who are afraid of the contractor.
Mental attacks from enemies who fear the contractor arepletely neutralized against the contractor.¡¿
From the start, after seeing Jin Hyo-young¡¯s constetion, he judged that she would have abilities rted to sleep.
Abilities rted to inducing sleep are as varied as any other skill.
However, Kang-hoo presumed she wouldn¡¯t possess a high-level skill, given that her main constetions were two.
For instance, a skill that directly subdues the mind and induces a sleep state.
Such a skill would only be achievable for a sufficiently skilled hunter, with Yu Cheonghwa being a prime example.
However, Jin Hyo-young wasn¡¯t at that level and seemed to rely on tools or items to induce sleep.
That must have been the ¡®pricking¡¯ sensation when Kang-hoo and Jin Hyo-young, intertwined, entered the room.
Through that injury, Jin Hyo-young must have utilized her skill to induce sleep.
Indeed, at that moment, Kang-hoo too experienced a brief sensation of lethargy.
But it was a futile trick.
A 2nd-grade ne recently bought from the market, Breath of the Rebel God, sessfully neutralized the sleep poison.
¡°Should I y along a bit more?¡±
Kang-hoo pushed Jin Hyo-young onto the soft bed.
¡°Ah!¡±
Her long hair fluttered, releasing a sweet fragrance.
If not for the invisible battle of wits, it could have been a passionate night between a man and a woman¡
But Kang-hoo was merely ying the part of a man consumed by lust.
Surprisingly rational. He just didn¡¯t show it outwardly.
¡°Sun-kyu, were you always like this?¡±
¡°Why would I be?¡±
¡°You weren¡¯t like this when you first saw me. You looked at me as if I was a block of wood, but now you¡¯re so proactive?¡±
¡°How could I remain indifferent towards a pretty woman like you? Don¡¯t waste time. It won¡¯t work.¡±
¡°Ahh! ¡¡Sun-kyu!¡±
As he roughly grasped her hands and began to savor her neck, a soft moan escaped from her.
In the process of shaping the character Shin Kang-hoo in the original work.
Even though most of the warmth of being human was taken away, he was made to be faithful to his desires.
The desire for growth.
An unyieldingpetitive spirit that does not want to lose.
And a fearless pursuit of primal and instinctual desires.
The desire-filled actions Kang-hoo is showing Jin Hyo-young right now are genuine.
It¡¯s just that they contain no love. Neither party harbored love for the other. That¡¯s all there is to it.
¡°Phew.¡±
A rough breath, steeped in instinct, burst from Kang-hoo.
Jin Hyo-young, embracing Kang-hoo with both arms,ughed with her face buried in Kang-hoo¡¯s shoulder.
¡°You¡¯re finished.¡±
Even with skills that could give Kang Dong-hyun a hard time, it seems inevitable in front of a woman.
¡°Cha So-hee. So, you said I couldn¡¯t do it. That the world doesn¡¯t run on strength alone.¡±
Jin Hyo-young had always felt a sense of inferiority towards Cha So-hee, who was secretly favored by Kang Dong-hyun.
Inbat, Cha So-hee, with her exceptional skills, was always Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s first choice of confidant.
Watching Cha So-hee, Jin Hyo-young had always wanted to surpass her at least once.
And now, that thought was bing a reality.
Shin Kang-hoo, whom even Kang Dong-hyun couldn¡¯t handle, was nowpletely enamored and about to be incapacitated.
¡°¡Ah!¡±
The moment Jin Hyo-young felt Kang-hoo¡¯s hand sneak inside her clothes, intending to add anotheryer to her method acting.
Swoosh!
Kang-hoo drew a dagger from within his clothing with his other hand.
The dagger quickly came to a stop right in front of Jin Hyo-young¡¯s pupils. A slight shake downwards, and the cornea would have been ripped open, a dangerously close position.
¡°Speak. Who are you.¡±
¡°Sun-kyu¡? What do you mean?¡±
Jin Hyo-young deflected, considering it could just be the typical suspicion of a hunter who doesn¡¯t trust others easily.
However, Kang-hoo shook his head, disregarding her poorly executed sly act.
¡°I¡¯ll seriously consider sparing you if you tell me who sent you.¡±
¡°¡¡±
Have I been found out?
It doesn¡¯t make sense.
Unless Kang Dong-hyun himself told him, all information about her level and ss was camouged.
Her level wasn¡¯t even 100, fitting more the setting of a scout with just a knack for running.
This setting was too mediocre to suspect someone powerful behind her.
¡°There won¡¯t be a second negotiation.¡±
sh!
¡°Aaah!¡±
The tip of the dagger drew a red line across her cheek.
¡°This face might be precious to you, but not to me. I¡¯m someone who values my own life.¡±
¡°So what! It¡¯ll be the same in the end!¡±
¡°¡?¡±
¡°You¡¯ll soon fall asleep! How long do you think you can keep up this arrogance? Will you?¡±
As she spoke, Jin Hyo-young repeatedly pricked Kang-hoo¡¯s forearm with the ring on her left index finger.
At first, he didn¡¯t notice, but now he saw that pressing a specific part of the ring extended a sharp needle-like part.
Probably, this was used to make a wound, and through that wound, inject the sleep-inducing effect of her skill.
Since her level wasn¡¯t high enough, the preparation was bound to be imperfect.
¡°How crude.¡±
¡°Why aren¡¯t you asleep¡?¡±
Jin Hyo-young¡¯s eyes wavered.
The ¡®sleep poison¡¯ she induced was supposed to make even Kang Dong-hyun unable to resist sleep.
Of course, Kang Dong-hyun would not give a chance for a wound, but if caught off guard like now, there would be no stopping it.
She had already made a wound on Kang-hoo.
And through that wound, the sleep-inducing skill ¡®Cradle¡¯s Whisper¡¯ was injected several times.
Shouldn¡¯t he be asleep by now?
Kang-hoo was perfectly fine.
¡°Trying to take the easy way out, huh?¡±
¡°¡¡±
The moment Jin Hyo-young heard Kang-hoo¡¯s words, a shiver ran down her spine.
Was shepletely seen through from the beginning? From where did he start to know? And how did he know?
This means n A has failed. But fortunately, there¡¯s a n B.
Just as Jin Hyo-young wriggled her body, attempting to signal the standby team outside the hotel.
Swoosh!
Kang-hoo firmly grasped Jin Hyo-young¡¯s hand. He was attempting to teleport.
With two people, the probability bes 50%, so depending on the oue, Kang-hoo was nning to adjust his next move ordingly.
And then.
Pop!
¡°Sess.¡±
¡°Huh?¡±
Kang-hoo and Jin Hyo-young found themselves not in the hotel in Seoul but in an entirely unexpected ce: Daejeon.
The dagger at Jin Hyo-young¡¯s neck remained poised. At any moment, her life could be snuffed out.
Jin Hyo-young gazed at the Cheong-an building sign in front of her, her expression one of disbelief.
What just happened?
Why had they suddenly moved from Seoul to Daejeon, which was quite a distance away? Could this be Kang-hoo¡¯s doing?
¡°Onest time. Who is behind this? Just tell me that.¡±
¡°Fuck off, you bastard!¡±
A harsh curse, ill-fitting of her elegant appearance, erupted from her lips.
Crrrk. Crrrrk. Crrk!
Jin Hyo-young¡¯s blouse and skirt were ruthlessly torn apart.
At the same time, Jin Hyo-young¡¯s entire body was enveloped in a thick, dark red shell that appeared to grow scales.
It all urred in a blink of an eye.
The shell seamlessly encased her neck and face, forming a protective barrier without any weaknesses.
¡°This is an interesting ability.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll kill you¡!¡±
Her voice transformed.
Where previously a delicate high pitch was heard, it had now shifted to a neutral tone.
Not just her appearance, but her voice had changed as well.
Jin Hyo-young positioned herself at a safe distance from Kang-hoo.
Aware that he was an assassin, she exercised utmost caution.
Meanwhile.
¡¾Clone Technique¡¿
Kang-hoo summoned a clone.
It was his first time deploying it effectively in realbat.
The clone that materialized bore an uncanny resemnce to Kang-hoo, even replicating the small mole near his eye.
The Clone Technique¡¯s hallmark is that it generates a clone as identical as the user perceives himself to be.
Had Kang-hoo been oblivious to the small mole near his eye?
Then, the mole wouldn¡¯t have appeared on the clone. This is how inexperienced assassins often give away their clones.
However, for Kang-hoo, blessed with superior observational skills and meticulous attention to detail, this posed no issue.
¡°¡¡±
Kang-hoo silently took cover behind his clone.
Jin Hyo-young then began to move, altering her course. She needed to pursue the real Kang-hoo, not the clone.
However, Kang-hoo matched his movements with the clone, changing his position as much as she changed hers.
Having a clone as a ¡®wall¡¯ in front made creating blind spots (ËÀ½Ç) easy.
¡¾Hundred Days sh¡¿
By that time, Kang-hoo was already preparing the Hundred Days sh.
He assumed the durability of the scales Jin Hyo-young possessed seemed quite high.
Even if her offensive capabilities werecking, if the exterior maximized defensive abilities¡
It meant that ordinary physical attacks and half-hearted skills were likely to be ineffective.
Meanwhile, Jin Hyo-young had her own thoughts.
¡®All I need to do is get close.¡¯
As Kang-hoo anticipated, this exterior neutralized all attacks below a certain damage threshold.
While it rendered her skill utilization capabilities useless, it drastically increased her physical stats like strength inpensation.
In other words, it became possible to strangle or crush her opponent to death with superhuman strength.
Wham!
Jin Hyo-young charged at Kang-hoo.
She didn¡¯t forget to defend her front by crossing her arms in an X shape in case of an attack.
Since the assassin¡¯s typical repertoire involves approaching from the front and then moving sideways to attack from behind.
She had alreadypleted such calctions.
She was not someone to be defeated by such low-level tactics.
Just then.
For a brief moment, Kang-hoo, who was thoroughly hidden behind the clone, locked eyes with her.
¡°¡?¡±
At that moment.
Regardless of the high anti-magic resistance she had raised in preparation for battle, Jin Hyo-young felt herself falling into an illusion.
No, she was already ensnared.
Every direction was chaotically mixed like paint dissolved in water, irreversible.
¡®Is this an absolute judgment?¡¯
An ¡®absolute¡¯ judgment that pierces through all defenses and skills.
She had never imagined that Kang-hoo would possess such an advanced illusion-inducing skill.
Assassins typically possess skills befitting their profession.
Handling spatial skills like teleportation or mental skills like illusions is difficult for them.
Yet, Kang-hoo already possessed an unbelievablebination of these two skills.
This was different from the skill information gathered after Cha So-hee¡¯s death regarding Kang-hoo.
Kang-hoo had upgraded once again.
¡°Sigh.¡±
A short sigh escaped.
At that moment, the Hundred Days sh, unleashed from the dagger, flew through the gap created by the illusion and sliced through her waist.
It was a strike that contained everything. It wasn¡¯t a matter of whether her exterior could withstand it or not.
Chapter 128: Jin Hyo-young (3)
Chapter 128: Jin Hyo-young (3)
¡°I didn¡¯t mean to kill you¡¡±
Thud!
Tragically, Jin Hyo-young¡¯s life was abruptly ended. She couldn¡¯tplete her sentence before sumbing to death.
¡°I didn¡¯t know you would die from that attack either.¡±
Kang-hoo sneered at the lifeless Jin Hyo-young.
What she likely meant to say was that she hadn¡¯t intended to kill, so why should she be killed?
The more I ponder it, the more absurd it seems.
She clearly didn¡¯t understand that being alive to face kidnapping or trafficking is a fate far worse than death.
Had she truly considered such oues, she would never have embarked on her dangerous path.To leave behind words iming she didn¡¯t intend to kill, after attempting to drag someone down with her, is ironic.
Given Jin Hyo-young¡¯s valuable skills and appearance, her demise was indeed regrettable.
Nheless, I acquired the Constetions of Nightmare and Heart Demon, which had piqued my interest even before the battle.
The Constetion of Nightmare might not be immediately beneficial, but the Constetion of Heart Demon seemed particrly useful for future encounters.
It means I can now perfectly neutralize mental attacks from adversaries who fear me.
Fortuitously or unfortunately, her death came enveloped in a dark-red outeryer.
Thus, she was spared the indignity of being left exposed. Though, in a way, this could still be considered a form of exposure.
Kang-hoo meticulously relieved her of her possessions.
I removed her magic-focused items, nning to sell them, and kept a ¡®bracelet¡¯ that seemed useful for myself.
The bracelet I¡¯m currently wearing is a Rank 6 ¡®Mage Hunter¡¯ bracelet, which boosts anti-magic by 25.
The bracelet worn by Jin Hyo-young offered far superior benefits.
¡¾Pear Blossom - Bracelet¡¿
¡¾Rank: 4¡¿
¡¾Anti-Magic +50¡¿
¡¾Durability +50¡¿
There was no reason for me not to make the switch.
I was quite satisfied with it.
It made me question if I had been overly frugal with my investments in bracelets until now.
¡¾Shin Kang-hoo Lv.103¡¿
¡¾ss: Assassin¡¿
¡¾Unique Talent: Quite Excellent Strength / Exceptionally Excellent Dynamic Vision¡¿
¡¾Strength 670¡¿ ¡¾Agility 270¡¿
¡¾Stamina 721¡¿ ¡¾Magic 20¡¿
¡¾Anti-Magic 445¡¿ ¡¾Durability 595¡¿
¡¾* Dark Energy 100¡¿
Checking my stats on the full screen for the first time in a while, I was generally pleased.
It¡¯s no problem to deliberately keep my magic below 50.
As for the Dark Energy stat, the ¡®*¡¯ indicates it¡¯s a stat that doesn¡¯t exist for traditional hunters.
The same goes for the marking of hidden skills; for instance, White Day sh and ck Moon sh are marked with a (¡¯*¡¯) next to their names.
¡°All in all¡ it¡¯s worth about 5 billion won.¡±
Kang-hoo estimated the value of the items he took from Jin Hyo-young.
That¡¯s quite a profit for a 12-hour investment.
And then.
I checked her smartphone. If someone had ordered her, they would have made at least one call.
So, I looked at the call log, and what do you know, a too familiar name caught Kang-hoo¡¯s eye.
¡°They really are up to all sorts.¡±
The person who left their name all over the recent call records was none other than Kang Dong-hyun.
Jin Hyo-young was also a hunting dog sent by Eclipse. Or perhaps¡ it could be said she was a honey trap.
Kang-hoo made the call.
Kang Dong-hyun seemed to be waiting, as the connection was immediate.
-So quick? Was Hyo-young better at this than I thought?
¡°Just spouting nonsense.¡±
-What, f*ck?
A moment of sharp swearing passed between them. Their expressions darkened simultaneously.
Kang-hoo¡¯s face was filled with displeasure, while Kang Dong-hyun appeared slightly flustered.
Kang Dong-hyun asked.
-Is Hyo-young dead?
¡°Even if you think of your hunting dogs¡¯ lives as worthless, isn¡¯t it too easy to throw them away?¡±
-Her sleep ability didn¡¯t work either? Wow¡ Impressive, Shin Kang-hoo?
¡°If you¡¯re praising me because you¡¯re embarrassed about being beaten twice, I¡¯ll ept that.¡±
-Yeah. Quite embarrassing. Happy now?
¡°Why are you so interested in me?¡±
-You know why.
¡°Kang Dong-hyun. Given the circumstances, Eclipse better watch its step from now on.¡±
-Why, are you breaking the non-aggression pact?
¡°I can forgive favoritism, but not stalking. I hate it even more when someone like you clings.¡±
-Alright. Look forward to it. You¡¯d better watch your back from now on. I tend to hold grudges more than you think.
¡°Isn¡¯t it your side that¡¯s at a disadvantage, with so many of you? I¡¯mpletely alone.¡±
-Shin Kang-hoo. You won¡¯t be able to use the alias Jung Sun-kyu anymore. I¡¯ll help you find your lost self. How¡¯s that for consideration?
¡°As usual, a guy who sends underlings twice because he doesn¡¯t have the guts to show up himself. Do whatever you please.¡±
-Shin Kang-hoo. Be careful. The next time you meet me in person, there won¡¯t be a next time.
¡°Thene yourself. Don¡¯t just hole up in your room smoking cigarettes.¡±
-Shin¡!
Kang-hoo hung up the phone.
Given that things with Eclipse had been bad from the start, bing officially enemies now didn¡¯t bother him.
It was rather fortunate that he had been able to live quietly until now since escaping from the Cheongmyeong Detention Center.
The same went for the alias.
Even if his real name became known to the world, it wouldn¡¯t have been a problem.
If he had been a hunter making noticeable achievements using his real name, there might have been a lot to hide.
For Kang-hoo, his real name was a symbol of the innocence before he was dragged into the Cheongmyeong Detention Center.
That is, even if they followed his real name to investigate his life, they¡¯d only find 29 years of living as an orphan.
It was rather fortunate.
He nned to reveal his real name to the people around him this time.
Operating under his real name would make license processing and official tasks much faster.
Of course, this would also allow the Hunter Public Safety Bureau to officially monitor him, though that was a downside.
Since monitoring was merely about observing results after the fact, it wasn¡¯t really a problem.
¡°¡¡.¡±
Kang-hoo stared expressionlessly at Jin Hyo-young¡¯s body, lying in the empty field for a long time.
What had she wanted?
Was it Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s approval?
Or was it to constantly affirm her superiority based on her looks and fill her self-esteem?
Step by step, step.
Indifferently, Kang-hoo¡¯s steps faded into the reeds against the backdrop of the dawn moon.
The delicate bnce between life and death was not unique to this ce; it urred everywhere.
It was just another dawn, nothing special. Just a bit more tumultuous.
Afterward.
Having moved to Gyeongju in advance, Kang-hoo checked into a hotel and rested well.
Kang-hoo had decided to meet Park Dong-jae in the evening, so there was still plenty of time.
Hunter News was reporting as breaking news that Jeon Electric Pharmaceuticals¡¯ first storage warehouse had exploded.
The storage warehouse, filled with expensive and various raw materials, had high security.
This meant that a significant number of people were involved in this explosion.
The mes of the White War were properly igniting.
From the perspective of Jang Si-hwan in the original story, it was just a slightly noisy issue outside of Seoul.
But from the perspective of a mercenary, reality waspletely different. It was a close and possible reality that one could be swept into.
¡°I do need to farm Dark Energy for sure¡¡±
Kang-hoo muttered.
Of course, increasing the Dark Energy stat alone wasn¡¯t the answer; Dark Energy skills also needed to be improved.
For this, strategizing in Japan was essential, but unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t go right away.
However, he could look at the Rikou Guild¡¯s owned dungeon list in advance and make ns.
For example, he could request a list prioritizing dungeons with an undead concept.
¡°I wonder if asking for observer status is too much.¡±
Observer status allows one to receive treatment almost as if they were a guild member, without actually being affiliated.
The treatment Kang-hoo received from the Spitfire Guild was precisely this observer status.
If the Rikou Guild could extend that much power, activities would be much easier.
It seemed necessary to make good use of An Yeong-ho. Given his uncle¡¯s immense power, it wasn¡¯t as if there were no options.
¡°Speaking of which¡ if I go to the Rikou Guild, does that mean I¡¯ll meet Akiyama Takashi?¡±
Suddenly, a name came to mind.
Akiyama Takashi.
A hunter currently acting as an observer for the Rikou Guild and also a member of The Thirteen Stars.
Unlike other members who were active publicly, no one had seen Takashi¡¯s face.
Even The Thirteen Stars had not seen him; they had only heard his voice.
The reason was simple.
The entity active publicly was Takashi¡¯s avatar, not his actual self.
This was a concept separate from avatar magic, where the avatar and the original were amunity of fate.
The avatar grows through outside activities, while the original stays home, ¡®controlling¡¯ the avatar.
Surprisingly, this control was conducted through a special pad designed by Takashi himself.
For Takashi, every moment of controlling the avatar was like ying a game.
They shared not only sight and senses but also fate. If the avatar dies? The original dies too.
¡°By now, he must be indulging in the samurai concept, causing chaos by dressing his avatar in various colored masks.¡±
It was uncertain if there would be business this time. However, he did want to meet him if possible.
Because he was very skilled at analyzing patterns and debuffs in new dungeons, Jang Si-hwan had personally recruited him in the original story.
He joined The Thirteen Stars not out of a sense of mission but for the opportunity to take on various challenges.
¡°This should be interesting.¡±
Thinking ahead about his activities in Japan brought both anticipation and a bit of nervousness.
The ecosystem there was different from Korea¡¯s, and there were guilds hostile to Korean hunters.
Since it was a foreign country, there were definitely things to be cautious about, so he nned to move carefully.
5:30 PM.
¡°Are you here?¡±
Park Dong-jae, who had arrived 30 minutes earlier than the agreed time on purpose, greeted Kang-hoo.
The messages exchanged just before had said he was just leaving Gyeongju Station, but that must have been a lie.
¡°You lied.¡±
¡°I wanted toe early to check the surroundings and see if there were any dangers.¡±
¡°All by yourself?¡±
¡°It¡¯s a small token of gratitude for my lifesaver.¡±
¡°Anyway, we should drop formalities now. It gets annoying when there¡¯s a lot to say.¡±
¡°Okay. I¡¯ll call you ¡®hyung¡¯. No, I will!¡±
¡°Right. Let¡¯s go with that.¡±
The sorting of their rtionship was swiftlypleted.
As Kang-hoo was older than Park Dong-jae, they naturally settled into a brotherly rtionship.
Kang-hoo asked.
¡°The briefing?¡±
¡°Not needed. This dungeon is one that Se-hyeok hyung, Se-yeong, and I used to frequent. What about Seon-kyu hyung?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve already gone through the materials handed over to me. Ah, and from now on, call me Kang-hoo.¡±
¡°Huh?¡±
¡°That¡¯s my real name. Jung Seon-kyu is an alias.¡±
¡°Ah¡!¡±
¡°There¡¯s been an issue that makes it impossible for me to hide my alias anymore.¡±
Kang-hoo gave a wry smile and showed him a screen he had just pulled up on his smartphone.
It was the content of a new hunter marked for assassination on Eclipse¡¯s official website.
The photo was a mugshot taken just before being incarcerated in Cheongmyeong Detention Center.
¡¾Shin Kang-hoo¡¿
¡¾From Cheongmyeong Detention Center. The alias currently known to be used is ''Jung Seon-kyu''.
Updates will continue as other aliases are identified.¡¿
He has a history of killing key Eclipse members Cha So-hee and Jin Hyo-young, and of infiltrating Club Hades to illegally utilize the underground dungeon.
As of today, this hunter is designated as a first-ss assassination target by Eclipse, with the following bounty set:
¡¾For capture: 20 billion won and all equipped items.¡¿
¡¾For elimination: 5 billion won and all equipped items.¡¿
¡°Wow.¡±
Park Dong-jae¡¯s mouth hung open in shock.
A big shot was standing right in front of him.
Chapter 129: Buff (1)
Chapter 129: Buff (1)
At that time.
Everyone who could contact Kang-hoo had received a message from him.
It was a link to the official website of Eclipse, which Kang-hoo had shown to Park Dong-jae.
Jung Yuri, who happened to be with Master K at the time, also received the message with him.
¡°Was it really Hunter Sun-kyu who killed Cha So-hee? No, should I call him Brother Kang-hoo now¡?¡±
¡°Jin Hyo-young had been active until recently. Looks like he¡¯s recently deceased. He was a cunning one.¡±
¡°Grandfather, why would Eclipse disclose such information?¡±
¡°It¡¯s too obvious. It¡¯s Kang-hoo, no, the young man Sun-kyu taking a hit at Kang Dong-hyun. To anyone, it looks like a hit list posted in anger, doesn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°I heard both were skilled enough to be called Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s hunting dogs.¡±¡°Now I understand why he used an alias. Originating from the detention center¡ Escaping from that horrific ce. He¡¯s no ordinary young man.¡±
¡°His real name seems to fit his image better. The name Sun-kyu sounded a bit too soft.¡±
¡°Anyway, Kang-hoo will have some headaches now. There¡¯s nothing good about getting entangled with Eclipse.¡±
¡°On the contrary, it must be annoying for Eclipse as well, right?¡±
Jung Yuri¡¯s words made him nod. That made sense. After all, it¡¯s an organization with much to protect.
¡°Having two hunting dogs killed means Kang Dong-hyun is likely angered by it.¡±
¡°Exactly.¡±
¡°With so many enemies, Eclipse probably has more to lose than gain. Especially considering Kang-hoo¡¯s skills.¡±
Kughed.
Judging from what Jung Yuri told him, and his own assessment of Kang-hoo¡¯s skills.
Unless a high-ranking executive or Kang Dong-hyun himself steps in, killing Kang-hoo would be difficult.
Maybe he issued the hit order because he dislikes getting involved in troublesome matters.
Then, the ¡®underlings¡¯ would target Kang-hoo themselves. It would save him the hassle and waste of time.
¡°I¡¯m not sure exactly, but both Cha So-hee and Jin Hyo-young must have been hunters over level 200.¡±
¡°Level isn¡¯t everything.¡±
¡°Brother Kang-hoo is amazing, isn¡¯t he?¡±
¡°Yes. That¡¯s why he pulled you out of Ground Zero and brought you outside like this.¡±
¡°Right. Hehe.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s see. If Kang-hoo needs help, he¡¯ll ask for it himself. If not, he¡¯ll handle it on his own.¡±
¡°I think I¡¯ll do that too.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t meddle unnecessarily. He¡¯s used to handling things on his own.¡±
¡°Yes, Grandfather.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡±
¡°Brother Se-hyuk. You knew, didn¡¯t you?¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°That Brother Sun-kyu was involved with Eclipse like this.¡±
¡°I knew. It¡¯s just that there was no need to talk about it publicly, so I kept it to myself.¡±
¡°Everyone was curious. It was clear that Cha So-hee had died, but no one knew who killed her.¡±
At that time, Ban Se-yeong and Jeon Se-hyuk were also having a conversation.
Visiting the official website of Eclipse had be part of their daily routine.
They couldn¡¯t miss the hit order against Kang-hoo prominently disyed on the main page.
Ban Se-yeong was shocked.
Unlike K and Jung Yuri, who could only guess vaguely at Kang-hoo¡¯s level, she knew his level precisely.
Simply put, he had killed two hunters whose levels were more than double his.
No, considering when Cha So-hee died, one could even guess the difference to be three to four times.
¡°I told you. It would be good to continue building a rtionship with Mr. Kang-hoo.¡±
¡°I knew he could handle things on his own, but I didn¡¯t expect him to be hunting down the hunting dogs like that¡¡±
¡°Looking at Jin Hyo-young¡¯s death, it seems Kang Dong-hyun tried to use a honey trap on Mr. Kang-hoo.¡±
¡°Kang Dong-hyun, the coward! Instead of fighting directly, he tried to lure him with a woman and kidnap him?¡±
¡°That¡¯s just the kind of person he is. He¡¯s never properly faced me either.¡±
Jeon Se-hyuk frowned.
It seemed to have worked out for the better.
Both Jeon Se-hyuk and Park Dong-jae, along with everyone in their circles, despised Eclipse.
This disdain only brought them closer, forming a psychological bond. Their rtionship was destined to grow much closer.
Given Kang-hoo¡¯s skills, it seemed more likely that Kang Dong-hyun would be the one to suffer in the future.
It was akin to attaching a difficult-to-remove tumor that causes more severe pain the longer it remains attached.
¡°Anyway, Brother Kang-hoo is really scary. I¡¯vee to see him in a new light. I knew he was formidable, but¡¡±
¡°Probably Kang Dong-hyun wanted to somehow take him and make use of him. That¡¯s how things ended up like this.¡±
¡°That makes sense. With Brother Kang-hoo¡¯s skills, he¡¯s worth coveting. Even I desperately need teamwork¡¡±
¡°Hey, don¡¯t be like that. Until recently, you were saying that our cousin brother was the best, Se-yeong.¡±
¡°The era of Jeon Se-hyuk is over. It¡¯s the era of Shin Kang-hoo. Hohoho.¡±
As they joked around, their expressed valuation of Kang-hoo increased, though not overtly stated.
For Kang Dong-hyun, designating him as a public enemy of the organization was meant to show a firm resolve to eliminate him.
However, to those familiar with Kang-hoo, it seemed to increase his worth instead.
This situation might lead to mercenary requests from those who are not fond of Eclipse.
Jeon Se-hyuk thought it seemed as if Kang-hoo was ying from above Kang Dong-hyun.
¡°Keuk.¡±
That¡¯s why heughed.
It seemed it would be even more interesting.
Kang-hoo asked Park Dong-jae, who had just entered the dungeon,
¡°Can you tell me who the hunters were that went into the dungeon just before us?¡±
¡°Uh, that is¡¡±
Park Dong-jae was still dazed, reminiscing about the notice posted by Eclipse.
But Kang-hoo continued the conversation as if it was nothing out of the ordinary.
¡°It seems like the notice is bothering you. Cha So-hee and Jin Hyo-young were trying to drag me to Eclipse. They were nning to kidnap me.¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s not that. I know those two were trash! It¡¯s just hard to believe that you killed them. They were all trained hunters. They wouldn¡¯t have been easy enemies.¡±
¡°If you think about the training and preparation I had, it might be easier to understand.¡±
¡°Ah! Well¡ Yeah, that makes sense!¡±
¡°Pride is something one gives oneself.¡±
¡°Huh? Whose quote is that?¡±
¡°Study it until we meet next time. Anyway, nothing will change. Only the name people call me has changed.¡±
When Kang-hoo patted Park Dong-jae on the shoulder, he finally snapped back to reality and remembered Kang-hoo¡¯s question.
¡°Ah! Brother Se-hyuk, and two hunters I got to know through him. I also went with Baek Seong-ho and Jang Sun-young.¡±
¡°Are you talking about the two hunters from the Myeongga Guild?¡±
¡°Yes! Do you know them?¡±
¡°Not personally, but I know their names. You¡¯ve dealt with some high-ranking individuals.¡±
¡°I do have quite a few people I¡¯m looking for.¡±
¡°That¡¯s for sure.¡±
Park Dong-jae must indeed be skilled.
The Myeongga Guild is an elite guild, gathering hunters above level 450.
It¡¯s a guild where hunters who are significant in their fields have gathered.
Though they don¡¯t have a specific base, their activities span nationwide due to their wealth.
They own many dungeons, and many guilds and organizations request their coboration.
If they specifically called for Park Dong-jae, there¡¯s no doubt about his skills.
¡°How should we coordinate our movements, Hyung?¡±
¡°Do we really need to set aside time to coordinate? Let¡¯s trust your intuition.¡±
¡°What do you mean?¡±
¡°I can check the buffs that are applied to me in my status window. I¡¯ll fight ording to that.¡±
¡°¡Is that possible? To urately calcte buffs, wouldn¡¯t it be better to hear it from the buffer?¡±
¡°Checking the status window is part of my everyday routine.¡±
Kang-hoo shrugged his shoulders.
Like when ying a game.
Just as one meticulously checks the minimap for map y, Kang-hoo always monitored his own status.
It wasn¡¯t difficult.
All it took was a nce.
For Kang-hoo, it had be routine, nothing new at all.
However, hunters who are not used to this habit, like Park Dong-jae just mentioned, rely on being notified by the buffer.
For example, ¡°eleration buff 30 seconds remaining!¡±, ¡°eleration buff 15 seconds remaining!¡±, and so on.
It¡¯s convenient for those listening.
But for the buffer speaking, continuously reporting the status of all buffs can be quite annoying.
¡°Hyung, if I start throwing buffs like crazy, you might getpletely tangled up. Are you really okay with that?¡±
¡°Then try to tangle me up. For every time you do, I¡¯ll give you a maite.¡±
¡°What color mag¡ Ah! You have to tell me the color, Hyung!¡±
Kang-hoo deliberately (?) kicked off from his spot and moved forward. It was Kang-hoo¡¯s way of ying around.
Park Dong-jae had no intention of being greedy in this dungeon, grateful to Kang-hoo for the opportunity.
He considered even having such thoughts a sin.
He nned to repay the life debt he owed to Kang-hoo like this continuously.
On the one hand, he was curious to know what kind of person Kang-hoo was. It was clear he was a skilled hunter.
The next moment.
¡°Uh! That¡¯s incredible.¡±
A buff was immediately applied to Kang-hoo.
He almost got tangled up, just like Park Dong-jae said. The eleration was applied incredibly fast.
The efficiency was twice that of the eleration skill Kang-hoo possessed.
¡¾Rush Instinct - 55 seconds¡¿
¡®Long.¡¯
The duration of the buff was quite long.
Normally, the duration of a basic buff skill acquired or learned from a skill book was 20 seconds by default.
Only by increasing proficiency could the duration be extended.
With that duration, it¡¯s highly likely that the proficiency is at its maximum or near it, meaning it was used tens of thousands of times.
And then.
Whoosh!
It felt as if the view of the world opened up anew, with a heightened focus on visual information.
This was also a buff.
¡¾Mental Focus ¨C 53 seconds¡¿
¡¾Strategic Control - 39 seconds¡¿
Mental Focus significantly increases the receptiveness to visual information entering the field of vision.
Strategic Control filters out unnecessary information, such as insignificant pebbles on the ground.
In other words, it¡¯s a buff that ensures you can clearly see only what needs to be seen, and the effect was distinctly felt.
It felt like when eating Mad Srkium, experiencing the world differently.
¡®Insane.¡¯
An exmation naturally came out.
Park Dong-jae is still a growing buffer, and like Kang-hoo, he has plenty of room to grow.
If he¡¯s already impressive enough to warrant such an expression, there¡¯s no need to discuss his future potential.
Just then.
From behind, Park Dong-jae¡¯s voice, filled with eagerness, reached him.
¡°Hyung, how is it? The buff¡¯s killer, right? Everyonees looking for me for this taste. How about it? Are your hands itching?¡±
Then, Kang-hoo grinned and shouted back at Park Dong-jae.
¡°Yeah, let¡¯s die together!¡±
That was when Park Dong-jae should have realized.
What happens to the person trying to keep up with a horse that¡¯s been given wings to fly¡
The rampage of Kang-hoo, now properly winged, began from that moment.
Chapter 130: Buff (2)
Chapter 130: Buff (2)
¡°Gasping, gasping, gasping.¡±
¡°Sigh.¡±
¡°I really shouldn¡¯t have spoken up; I really messed that up¡¡±
¡°Dong-jae, you¡¯re too talented to only operate domestically. That was really good. I was very satisfied.¡±
¡°I feel like I¡¯m going to pass out.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s take a break.¡±
After nearly an hour of continuous fighting with monsters, Kang-hoo gave Park Dong-jae a thumbs-up.
The buff significantly sped up his movements, bringing Kang-hoo many benefits.
Beyond the buff effects, it was a chance to slightly break free from the effects of mana hypersensitivity.With his usualbat style, Kang-hoo¡¯s use of eleration often resulted in overload as time passed.
This was especially true when using high-overload skills like Shadow Step.
However, Park Dong-jae¡¯s buff allowed him to reduce the use of such position-switching skills.
Maintaining an elerated state through the buff meant there was no need to use his own eleration skills.
This made positioning easier, reducing the need to use Shadow Step as a spatial movement skill.
The skill became more efficient.
¡°It feels like I¡¯m on a legal drug without side effects. Strange analogy, but that¡¯s the feeling.¡±
The reduced overload meant less worry about mana hypersensitivity, adding boldness to his movements.
Kang-hoo had always been interested in Park Dong-jae¡¯s buffs, but experiencing them firsthand made it more tangible.
He resolved that Park Dong-jae must be kept close as arade. He was the ultimate buff ¡®shuttle.¡¯
They faced no obstacles up to the mid-boss section.
Lying in front of Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae was the freshly in corpse of the mid-boss.
With the mid-boss¡¯s death, his level matched up perfectly to 105.
Kang-hoo managed to steal a buff-amplifying skill from the mid-boss as he had intended.
¡¾Over-immersion¡¿
¡¾The efficiency of all buff skills increases from 1% to 100% in one-second increments, continuing to rise.
Once it reaches 100%, it enters an ''over-immersion'' state, maintaining it for 10 seconds before increasing again from 1%.¡¿
It was a passive skill.
When it reached 100% and entered ¡®over-immersion¡¯, it created a devastatingbination if timed correctly with other buff skills.
He was quite pleased with it.
Since the skill progressed automatically, he only needed to monitor the situation as it unfolded.
Meanwhile,
During the hour-long break Kang-hoo suggested, Park Dong-jae reflected on the battle.
He enjoyed giving buffs.
Like a cksmith who feels pleasure watching the masterful use of a weapon he crafted.
As a buffer, Park Dong-jae felt tion seeing a hunter fully utilize his buff beyond 100%.
However, buffs aren¡¯t always visibly apparent.
And depending on how they are treated, they are often pejoratively referred to as a buff ¡®shuttle.¡¯
Without appreciation for buffs,mands like ¡°Hey! Why aren¡¯t you buffing? Hurry and apply full buffs!¡± weremon.
Jeon Se-hyuk always expressed gratitude to Park Dong-jae.
But in fact, most of his other connections mechanically received buffs as if they were expected.
And perhaps because of their reliance on buffs, they failed to exhibit properbat capabilities.
It was as if they weren¡¯t truly engaged in every battle¡ªa bit like a screw was loose.
But not Kang-hoo.
In fact, Park Dong-jae doubted his own buff distribution was sufficient, considering how explosively Kang-hoo moved, never once ckening in battle.
¡°The expression ¡®wringing out everyst bit¡¯ seemed to fit perfectly. Kang-hoo was definitely maximizing the buff¡¯s efficiency.¡±
¡°Moreover, even though they jumped right into battle without syncing up, there was no sense of discord.¡±
¡°It¡¯s embarrassing, but I feel like a healer who¡¯s joined a high-level raid in a game. That¡¯s exactly the position I¡¯m in.¡±
Park Dong-jae critically assessed his own role.
He wasn¡¯t controlling the situation with his buffs; on the contrary, he waspletely led by Kang-hoo.
Instead of checking if the buffs were used well, he had to think about what more he could offer.
The pace was dictated by Kang-hoo. This meant Park Dong-jae could immerse himself in his role.
¡°It¡¯s fun¡¡±
His heart was pounding.
Up until now, Park Dong-jae had been a mechanical buffer, quite set in his ways.
But syncing with Kang-hoo, he found himself thinking a lot at every moment.
He had to decide where to position himself and which buffs to apply to maximize effectiveness.
Being able to ponder these intensely! Park Dong-jae really liked that.
Kang-hoo seemed different than before.
The hunter who could use buffers better than anyone wasn¡¯t far off. He was very close.
¡°Did I overdo it?¡±
While resting, Kang-hoo pressed his throbbing forehead.
It was a familiar headache, nothing new, but it reminded him of his congenital mana hypersensitivity.
Now, the effects of mana hypersensitivity inbat could be controlled with Mad Srkium.
At least, it wasn¡¯t likely that normalbat would be disrupted due to mana hypersensitivity.
As long as the supply of Mad Srkium is maintained, there would be no such variable.
However,
One thing still concerned him.
The freedom from all pain and suppression for 30 minutes after taking Mad Srkium meant¡
It was ¡®postponing¡¯ the pain, not ¡®eliminating¡¯ it. That is, he would have to face the bacsh after 30 minutes.
Until now, he hadn¡¯t fought to the extreme, so he could somewhat withstand the aftermath.
But what if he used up the full 30 minutes in a long, intense battle?
¡°I haven¡¯t found the answer to this yet.¡±
For Kang-hoo, the answer to this question was still unclear, as he hadn¡¯t experienced it yet.
Now, an answer was needed.
Due to Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s misced curiosity and the resulting tension, the likelihood of them getting on each other¡¯s nerves was increasing.
For now, it might be the hunters under Kang Dong-hyun who are actively moving around.
But someday, a confrontation with Kang Dong-hyun seemed inevitable.
And even if Cha So-hee and Jin Hyo-young were gone, Eclipse still had many capable officers.
There were still many battles ahead.
After taking enough rest and replenishing their energy, Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae resumed their fric pace.
In their initial rush, even Park Dong-jae was caught off guard, losing control of his breathing halfway through.
But this time, both were so intensely engaged in the battle that they swept through the dungeon as if in a trance.
Park Dong-jae had to yell about mana depletion, so intense was their focus onbat and buff application.
Normally, just applying key buffs and keeping track of time would be enough to conserve his mana.
But with Kang-hoo¡¯s greed and curiosity, even seemingly minor buffs were fully utilized.
Thus, trying to maintain a full buff statepletely depleted his mana.
It was fortunate that Kang-hoo heard Park Dong-jae¡¯s shout and stopped; otherwise, Park Dong-jae might have copsed.
When they reached the boss area, Kang-hoo¡¯s level had risen to an impressive 108, an increase of 3 levels.
Considering it¡¯s difficult to gain even 1 level when in a group of four¡
They could truly appreciate the advantage of only two people sharing the experience.
¡°Bro, you knew from the start this was rmended for four people, right?¡±
¡°The optimal rmended number of people is written right under the dungeon code. It¡¯s impossible not to notice.¡±
¡°This seems like a two-person raid is only possible because of you. It¡¯s actually a dungeon specialized for mob hunting¡¡±
¡°We lured them one by one and captured them in a speed contest. There¡¯s no need to catch them all at once, right?¡±
¡°One-on-onebat suits an assassin better anyway.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
Just because there¡¯s a standard doesn¡¯t mean it applies to all battles.
Kang-hoo focuses on concentrated firepower, which is why one-on-onebat is much more efficient for him.
Thus, he lured and dispatched the grouped monsters one by one.
This ironically made the strategy faster.
If it had been one against many, it would have taken much longer. The efficiency would naturally have been worse.
¡°Since we cleanly executed the two-person strategy with you, three or four-person raids suddenly seem trivial. It feels bothersome, right?¡±
¡°Is that good news?¡±
¡°Honestly, I thought to myself beforeing that a two-person team of an assassin and a buffer was too risky and dangerous.¡±
¡°If we base it on defense, the risk is high. But if we base it on a sure first strike, it changes the story.¡±
¡°Yes. I felt it. The saying ¡®the best defense is a good offense¡¯ fits you perfectly.¡±
¡°For an assassin like me, that¡¯s high praise.¡±
¡°My level keeps rising too. Now I understand why Se-yeong wanted to raid dungeons with you.¡±
Ban Se-yeong also has her uses.
As Kang-hoocks long-range attack capabilities, she is essential for dungeons that require long-range options.
Neither Park Dong-jae nor Ban Se-yeong is everything.
Depending on the situation, there are partners whose efficiency can be maximized.
If not for these special cases, ying solo would actually suit Kang-hoo best.
He had teamed up a few times recently, but he was nning to return to his original solo direction.
There are plenty of dungeons suitable for solo y, especially towards Japan.
¡°I think of a buffer as the flower of the battlefield. I¡¯ve never thought of it as insignificant. You are amazing.¡±
¡°I really respect an assassin like you. There are so many assassins who just pose. It made me think I could develop a phobia of nonexistent assassins.¡±
Thump!
Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae exchanged a fist bump, a simple yet profound gesture of mutual respect.
Five minutester.
¡°Herees the main dish.¡±
¡°Sigh. I¡¯m a bit nervous since it¡¯s just the two of us instead of four. But I trust you, so let¡¯s do this.¡±
¡°Keep your distance. I¡¯ll handle him, so don¡¯t try to intervene.¡±
¡°Understood.¡±
With those words, Park Dong-jae retreated about ten paces.
It was a prudent move.
As a buffer, Park Dong-jae was particrly susceptible to attacks.
During their previous strategy discussions, there had been moments of danger for him, and Kang-hoo hade to his rescue using a kidnap skill.
Without the ability to immediately rescue him from a distance, the kidnapping skill proved crucial for extracting him from perilous situations.
The boss monster they faced was named Roshe.
He was humanoid and a brawler.
In some ways, he resembled Kang Dong-hyun, though Kang Dong-hyun also wielded a sword.
¡¾Selfish Indulgence¡¿
The moment Kang-hoo confronted Roshe, his gaze locked onto the skill he could steal from him.
Selfish Indulgence.
It was the ideal buff support skill, precisely what he had hoped to find in this dungeon.
Chapter 131: Buff (3)
Chapter 131: Buff (3)
There are three main features to Roshe¡¯s abilities.
Once a battle starts, he always applies buffs to both himself and his opponent.
His body emits red, yellow, and green auras,monly referred to as ¡°traffic light buffs.¡±
Each buff has its own characteristic, which can be interpreted as either a buff or a debuff.
The red one doubles the attack damage but also doubles the damage received from the opponent.
The yellow increases mana consumption by two-fold, while halving the skill cooldown time.
The green activates a lethal point, creating spots where damage enters abnormally.
This is more of an automatically activated buff, so it cannot be plundered.
Still, it definitely introduces significant variables intobat.Roshe¡¯s favorite skill, ¡°Selfish Indulgence,¡± amplifies the efficiency of his buff skills.
Whenbined with the traffic light buffs, it truly creates a hellish situation.
Then, Park Dong-jae said,
¡°Hyung, which way should we adjust the buffs?¡±
¡°Go at your own pace!¡±
Kang-hoo gave the decision to Park Dong-jae. A buffer needs to be proactive.
In the intense battlefield, it¡¯s not possible for abatant and a buffer to continually synchronize the desired form of buffs.
¡°Being spot on¡± is crucial for a buffer.
However, it seemed Park Dong-jae had been overly passive, likely more due to his team¡¯s handling than his own fault.
Kang-hoo trusted him.
He is a thinking buffer who enjoys wrestling withplex considerations.
¡°Ha ha! Ha!¡±
Seeing Kang-hoo, Roshe pretended to throw a one-two punch, catching his breath.
Kang-hoo put a Mad Srkium in his mouth as a precaution; he didn¡¯t eat it but was ready to at any moment.
¡°Just hold out until the green buff appears.¡±
He had clearly set his direction.
Roshe was definitely a stronger and more durable monster, making a head-on fight unwise.
The red buff wouldn¡¯t work out equivalently, and the yellow buff wasn¡¯t particrly appealing.
Sensing Kang-hoo¡¯s cautious approach, Roshe kicked off the ground and charged aggressively.
He nned to maximize the damage effect by applying Selfish Indulgence to the red buff.
¡¾Illusion Technique¡¿
¡¾Clone Technique¡¿
He used both skills simultaneously.
Illusions spread out in a spiral around Kang-hoo, naturally mixing in with the clones.
Kang-hoo, aware of even the smallest speck on his body, made the clones and illusions look identical.
¡°Ha ha!¡±
But Roshe, unconcerned, punched hard at the Kang-hoo visible on his right side.
Shhh! Whack!
He threw a full-powered uppercut.
It was a confident, decisive blow.
There was a reason for his confidence.
The only Kang-hoo on the right side was holding a dagger.
Boom!
The uppercutnded precisely under the chin, crushing bones and sending Kang-hoo flying into the air.
And as Kang-hoo fell from the sky, Roshe¡¯s right punch was already exploding forward.
Then.
¡°Kuh!¡±
Suddenly, as if sprung back by a spring, Roshe¡¯s body was pulled sharply backward.
It was a kidnapping.
What Roshe had just fiercely attacked was Kang-hoo¡¯s clone.
Whooosh!
¡°Arghh!¡±
A heavy stab from behind by Kang-hoo¡¯s dagger inflicted a deep wound on Roshe.
As he stabbed with the dagger, he immediately followed with a beheading strike, leaving Roshe no chance to withstand.
¡°Kuh! Uh!¡±
Roshe wildly threw punches in all directions, trying to get as far away from Kang-hoo as possible.
Despitending a hit, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t take another turn, knowing how dangerous Roshe still was.
Getting too close could lead to a counterattack he wouldn¡¯t be able to recover from.
Roshe wasn¡¯t too dumb nor too smart; he was ¡®just right¡¯ in terms of intelligence. That¡¯s why Kang-hoo didn¡¯t underestimate his intellect.
At that moment.
¡°Wow. I was fooled too.¡±
From a distance, Park Dong-jae, who had been observing the fight and applying speed buffs to Kang-hoo, was surprised.
He, too, had thought that the Kang-hoo holding the dagger was the real body.
That made sense since the other illusions, and what he thought was the real Kang-hoo (but was actually a clone), weren¡¯t holding daggers.
¡°Ah, on purpose?¡±
Smart Park Dong-jae quickly figured out Kang-hoo¡¯s strategy.
It was deliberately made to look fake, so obviously fake that it wouldn¡¯t even be questioned.
¡°¡¡±
Having realized Kang-hoo¡¯s strategy, Park Dong-jae felt a chill run down the back of his hand.
Thinking one step ahead and presenting unexpected choices is perfect for trapping those who are only moderately smart.
¡°Tsk!¡±
Roshe bit his lip when he realized that the short-range teleportation skill he tried to use didn¡¯t work.
If it were any other hunter, they would have used a blink skill to close the distance immediately.
However, due to the suppressive effect of Kang-hoo¡¯s fifth constetion, the skill didn¡¯t manifest at all.
¡°Woohoo!¡±
Roshe chose to confront head-on.
This time, he emitted a powerful shockwave in all directions, aggressively overwhelming Kang-hoo.
¡°Hmm.¡±
Kang-hoo hesitated to use his illusion technique. It wasn¡¯t just a simple shockwave but one that disrupted magical flows.
Meaning, even if he used his illusion technique now, the illusions could be neutralized instantly.
Recklessly engaging could drastically limit his options.
Roshe¡¯s assault was fierce.
It seemed he hadbined the buff amplification from Selfish Indulgence with eleration, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.
¡¾Shadow Step¡¿
This time, Kang-hoo sent five shadows stretching back from his rear.
Because Kang-hoo¡¯s real body served as a shield, blocking the iing shockwave from the front.
The shadows, using Kang-hoo¡¯s real body as a wall, extended in a line and were unaffected by the shockwave.
¡®He¡¯s really fast.¡¯
Thanks to Park Dong-jae maintaining full buff status, Kang-hoo could just about keep up with the movement.
Without the buffer, Kang-hoo would have been reduced to dust long ago.
Increasing the number of attackers could easily capture him.
However, that would reduce the efficiency of growth.
It seemed moreforting to consider this level of difficulty as a constant.
¡°Uwah!¡±
This time, Roshe rushed up to Kang-hoo andunched an overhead punch from above.
Kang-hoo had no intention of blocking Roshe¡¯s attacks from the beginning. He was entirely focused on dodging.
Pop, pop.
Kang-hoo easily dodged Roshe¡¯s first attack by using Shadow Step; it was almost too clean.
¡°Ugh¡!¡±
Roshe, as if provoked, drooled thickly.
It was a well-considered blow, but it only stirred the air.
¡°Way!¡±
Roshe, muttering unintelligibly, then forcefully charged his legs.
It was the motion just before a leap.
Since humanoid monsters strictly follow human movements, it was possible to predict this action in advance.
Kuwaang!
The sound was almost like a sonic boom, splitting the space.
Filled with venom, Roshe aimed a straight punch at Kang-hoo¡¯s torso.
Pop, pop!
Another dodge using one of the remaining shadows worked again.
Previously, the shockwave Roshe had emitted had dissipated, and the shadows were now dispersed in all directions.
¡°Eeeek!¡±
Bang, bang!
As two consecutive strikes failed, a frustrated Roshe mmed the ground.
He was busy chasing Kang-hoo¡¯s shadows, essentially shoveling the air.
¡®Hidden skills won¡¯t work.¡¯
Kang-hoo made a cool assessment.
The temptation for a one-hit kill was stronger than ever, but Roshe was really fast.
Bad timing could mean getting immediately overwhelmed, which would likely be fatal.
Thus, Kang-hoo chose:
¡¾Master of Maniption¡¿
He used a skill Roshe had employed in his first attack, adapting it through Master of Maniption.
The chosen skill was the uppercut Roshe had used initially, formally known as an uplift punch.
Just then.
Sssing. Sssing. Sssing.
Along with an eerie sound, a green buff appeared on both Kang-hoo and Roshe.
Activation of lethal points.
One was created under Roshe¡¯s chin, and another was marked at the center of Kang-hoo¡¯s abdomen.
¡°Kwoh!¡±
Without a moment to think further, Roshe, seeing the mark on Kang-hoo¡¯s belly, leaped again.
Despite being heavily overloaded from continuous attacks and leaps, his obsession with killing the aggravating human in front of him was iparable. He ignored it, on purpose.
Kang-hoo, noticing Roshe¡¯s leap, chose another shadow to switch ces with.
As there were still shadows to spare, it was a stress-free evasion maneuver.
However, this time.
¡°Haa!¡±
Roshe, spotting the shadow Kang-hoo had switched with, quickly changed direction.
The sharp turn made a crunching sound in his knee joint, but that was exactly what Roshe had aimed for.
¡°¡¡!¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes widened uncharacteristically at Roshe¡¯s unexpected move.
He was about to be caught without a chance to react.
But.
¡¾Swift Evasion¡¿
For the first time in a while, Kang-hoo pulled out a basic skill.
It was Swift Evasion.
The reason was clear.
¡¾During evasion maneuvers, a barrier of resistance is activated. Evasion rate against skills increases.¡¿
Timing it right, the barrier of resistance effect significantly boosts the evasion rate.
A higher evasion rate means there¡¯s a much lower chance of being hit squarely by an enemy attack.
Swift Evasion moved Kang-hoo approximately 75 cm.
It was just enough distance to narrowly dodge Roshe¡¯s uplifted punch.
In fact, he could have dodged morefortably, but Kang-hoo wanted to verify the exact distance he had calcted.
If he was wrong¡?
He nned to use a defensive maneuver to survive the turn¡ªa kind of insurance to protect his life, allowing him to take bold actions.
Whooosh!
¡°Uh!¡±
Even if it was by merely the width of a thumb, Roshe¡¯s punch grazed past Kang-hoo¡¯s face.
The force was strong enough to seemingly warp Kang-hoo¡¯s face with the wind.
However, Roshe¡¯s attack ultimately failed, whether it was a close miss or not.
¡¾Master of Maniption ¨C Uplift Punch¡¿
¡¾Decapitating Strike¡¿
Then, it was Kang-hoo¡¯s turn.
Shhhh! Fwoosh!
The Decapitating Strike, linked with the Uplift Punch, instantly pierced beneath Roshe¡¯s chin.
Thanks to the green buff, this spot had been designated as a lethal point.
Even if it hadn¡¯t been a lethal point, any hit there would have devastated the insides of the face.
¡°Gah!¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s dagger shattered the jawbone, slicing through muscle and tongue to damage Roshe¡¯s brain.
It was the moment Kang-hoo¡¯s careful strategy and patience paid off, executed perfectly.
¡°He¡¯s insane, totally insane¡¡±
From a distance,
Park Dong-jae¡¯s trembling voice faintly echoed.
A picture of victory that was invisible to him. It seemed Kang-hoo had a n all along.
Chapter 132: Jeju Island (1)
Chapter 132: Jeju Ind (1)
After defeating Roshe,
Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jaepleted their management of the magic stones and loot, then departed the dungeon for the city center.
Kang-hoo had reserved a hotel in the heart of Gyeongju city, and Park Dong-jae also had business downtown.
En route, they liquidated all their items at a marketce.
From previously unsold items to everything they had amassed from the dungeon this time, they sold everything.
The resulting bnce was approximately 5 billion won. It was somewhat disappointing, especially considering it had once exceeded 100 billion won.
His level had now reached 110.
He felt quite pleased with this upward trajectory.
This was, indeed, the growth pattern typical of Named Ones.The strategy of gaining experience, either through monopoly or minimal sharing, was part of their rapid development process.
Many Named, including The Thirteen Stars, almost invariably adopted this approach.
As ater, Kang-hoo had to make up ground more extensively and swiftly, which required extra diligence.
While Park Dong-jae was busy selling some items at the market and acquiring what he needed,
Kang-hoo was scrutinizing the skill he had seized from the boss monster, Roshe. It was a critically important skill.
¡¾Selfish Indulgence¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾Selects one buff skill on oneself, increasing its efficiency by 300%.¡¿
Roshe had utilized this to enhance his eleration. Consequently, Kang-hoo had witnessed an rmingly high speed.
Kang-hoo aimed to replicate this.
If hebined his own eleration skill with Park Dong-jae¡¯s eleration buff and then applied Selfish Indulgence?
An unimaginably incredible speed could be achieved.
However, there was a caveat. His body needed to withstand it. If it couldn¡¯t, it would be more detrimental than beneficial.
Nheless, the option to utilize it despite the risks, as opposed to not using it at all, represented a significant distinction.
Moreover, there were numerous buffs that could improve efficiency, not limited to eleration alone.
Maximizing health recovery or dramatically reducing skill cooldowns were possibilities.
¡®The skill Selfish Indulgence itself seems like a cheat. It was given as a special trait to bosses, and being able to steal it as a Dimension Plunderer feels like it¡¯s breaking the bnce.¡¯
Kang-hoo smiled faintly.
The detailed mechanics in the original story were now proving to be a big help.
Had they tightly controlled the bnce and not created such a skill for Roshe,
Kang-hoo wouldn¡¯t be benefiting like this now.
¡®It¡¯s a bit bittersweet.¡¯
The faint smile turned into a bitter one.
Living in this world, he was newly aware of the original story¡¯s loopholes.
From Shin Kang-hoo¡¯s perspective, it was a joyous development, but did it mean the author was truly sincere about the novel?
¡®Back then, I was toox, drunk on unexpected poprity.¡¯
He had thought any content, even if a bit flimsy, would be cheered by the readers.
Even when he produced a traitor ending, he had thought it clever, expecting apuse.
¡®The readers wanted a happy ending. They wanted genuine writing from the author more than anyone. I was the only one lost in other thoughts. Arrogantly so.¡¯
Though it¡¯s a tale of a past life now, Kang-hoo decided to learn from it.
Because it¡¯s a story he could very well apply to his current situation.
If he were satisfied with his current abilities and thoughtxly, he¡¯d eventually be devoured by the darkness of this world.
At this moment,
If Jang Si-hwan appeared before him, he would die.
Even if he was incredibly lucky and killed Jang Si-hwan, escaping death himself would be difficult.
The minimum expectation was ¡®death¡¯. The worst was dying in disgrace, with not even a body left behind.
Anyway.
Thanks to Selfish Indulgence, Park Dong-jae¡¯s buffs can now be maximized to their full potential.
Once I have my own buff skill, I can use it inbination as effectively as possible.
This Roshe raid was truly meaningful. Moreover, owning the dungeon made it even more significant.
Then, havingpleted his purchases and sales, Park Dong-jae approached Kang-hoo.
¡°Hyung! Did you wait long?¡±
¡°No. I was just checking my level and experience points. It turned out well.¡±
¡°What¡¯s your level now?¡±
¡°110.¡±
¡°Anyone would think that¡¯s a lie. Honestly, if you said 310, I¡¯d believe it.¡±
¡°Nice ttery.¡±
¡°No, really. Hyung, you know I¡¯ve worked with many high-level hunters.¡±
It¡¯s not just talk.
Park Dong-jae was a buffer sought out by high-level hunters.
Kang-hoo realized this time that Park Dong-jae was the real deal.
¡°Go on, tell me.¡±
Kang-hoo watched Park Dong-jae with arms crossed and a curious expression. What praises would he list?
¡°Hyung, when you receive a buff, you adapt yourbat strategy right away. If it¡¯s eleration, you go for mobility warfare.¡±
¡°If it¡¯s focus, you dodge and deflect the enemy¡¯s attacks.¡±
¡°Right, exactly! That¡¯s why when you maximize the efficiency of a buff, your firepower improves.¡±
¡°Seems others don¡¯t do that?¡±
¡°Most just inte their damage and enjoy the thrill of the buff. It looks more impressive.¡±
¡°Combat shouldn¡¯t just be for show.¡±
¡°Many hunters are too focused on appearances, toozy to bother withplex buff strategies.¡±
¡°That¡¯s too easy.¡±
¡°You said it.¡±
Park Dong-jae sighed.
In this regard, Kang-hoo prompted him to think creatively, not just as a simple buff shuttle.
He reminded him of the obvious yet forgotten fact that he was a ¡®buffer.¡¯
Some might not find such meaning in it.
But for Park Dong-jae, Kang-hoo was the first outsider to appreciate his true value.
¡°Habitualbat eventually leads to idents. I don¡¯t want that kind of fight.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why! I think I should prioritize staying in touch with hyung for a while.¡±
¡°If there¡¯s a dungeon to raid, anytime.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have more connections than you think. With some negotiation, we could even visit dungeons owned by others.¡±
¡°Can I owe you for that?¡±
¡°It¡¯s cheappared to the life you saved for me. Leave it to me!¡±
Kang-hoo chuckled at Park Dong-jae¡¯s earnest appeal, patting his chest.
Innocent, and sometimes naive to a fault?
Certainly, there was an untainted purity in Park Dong-jae, much like Jung Yuri.
Park Dong-jae and I parted ways then.
I was supposed to go to a hotel in the city and enjoy a cool cocktail.
But Jeon Se-hyuk and Ban Se-yeong urgently called Park Dong-jae for a dungeon raid they had scheduled.
So, as soon as I entered the hotel, I took a half-bath and watched the hunter news on the bathroom TV.
As expected, today¡¯s headlines were stered with pharmaceuticalpany issues.
This time it wasn¡¯t an explosion.
The lead senior researcher at Jeondong Pharmaceuticals was killed in an ambush while moving to a safe house.
¡°It¡¯s an inside job.¡±
Definitely a coboration with an insider.
Someone in the car carrying the senior researcher, or escorting it, must have leaked the information.
The Hunter Public Safety Bureau has urged the cessation of indiscriminate acts of terror and vowed severe punishments for hunters who kidnap and kill researchers, but
sadly, nowbreaker is intimidated by the mere roar of a paper tiger¡ªit¡¯s just fodder for gossip.
Then,
Lee Ye-rin called.
¡°Yes.¡±
-Sun-kyu! Or should I call you Shin Kang-hoo now?
¡°Whatever isfortable. I¡¯ll understand as long as you¡¯re not confused.¡±
Since Kang-hoo had already informed his acquaintances about his real name, their reactions were not surprising.
Just in case, Kang-hoo added,
¡°But I mentioned putting off requests rted to the pharmaceuticalpany.¡±
-Oh! I¡¯ve already dyed those, no need to worry about that.
¡°So, what then?¡±
-It¡¯s not about the pharmaceuticalpany but apletely different type of mercenary request.
¡°What is it?¡±
-It¡¯s a request from a raid team looking for a bleeding dealer. Just keep the bleeding consistent.
¡°What¡¯s thepensation?¡±
-50 billion won upfront, 50 billion uponpletion, and first choice of any drop items from the boss monster.
¡°Hmm.¡±
It¡¯s an enticing offer.
Of course, that¡¯s the preliminary judgment. I need to hear more details.
-The dungeon¡¯s level range is between 350 and 400. The raid team consists of 9 members, and they¡¯re looking to fill one more spot.
¡°Can you disclose who made the request?¡±
-Yes, it¡¯s the Gru Guild of Jeju Ind. You know, the guild that has a tight grip on Jeju Ind.
¡°Of course.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
Gru Guild.
Famous for monopolizing all privileges within Jeju Ind and having members of various nationalities.
Notably, they¡¯ve publicly dered ¡°perfect neutrality.¡±
Thus, they are neither cooperative nor uncooperative with the Jeonghwa Guild.
Nor do they provide any special privileges to Jeonghwa Guild members for activities within the ind.
In other words, if you¡¯re not a Gru Guild member, they treat all outsiders with the same standards.
In the original story, there wasn¡¯t much interaction between the protagonist, Jang Si-hwan, and the Gru Guild.
Because they had neither ill will nor goodwill towards Jang Si-hwan. They weren¡¯t interested in matters outside Jeju Ind.
-How about it? Aren¡¯t you a bit intrigued? It¡¯s about dealing bleed damage, not just DPS. I think with your current level, Kang-hoo, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Shall we proceed?
¡°Just a moment.¡±
Kang-hoo pumped the brakes on Lee Ye-rin¡¯s fast-moving proposal.
The conditions are good, but the deal seems too easy.
Aside from the high dungeon levels, there¡¯s also the issue of a severe shortage of mercenaries recently.
Moreover, conceding first pick of the boss monster¡¯s drop items implies¡
The dungeon itself must be challenging.
With mercenaries in high demand and the dungeons being tough?
The negotiation table needed a reset.
Kang-hoo continued,
¡°Let¡¯s adjust the terms. Double the upfront andpletion payments. And add a priority pick for the mid-boss too.¡±
-Uh¡
Lee Ye-rin seemed to choke a bit, perhaps finding the proposal too radical from her perspective, given her role in mediating and collecting fees.
But now, the requesting party found themselves at a disadvantage due to the disrupted supply-demand dynamics.
However, to ease her burden and facilitate negotiations, Kang-hoo offered her a concession.
¡°Here¡¯s a pitch: I can ensure the bleed doesn¡¯t stop, to an almost cruel extent.¡±
-I¡¯ll consult on that right away.
The renegotiation began.
Chapter 133: Jeju Island (2)
Chapter 133: Jeju Ind (2)
Contrary to my expectations of a long call, the conversation between Lee Ye-rin and the client ended quickly.
Though she used several phones and the sound was faint, I could still catch some of the conversation.
Of course, it wasn¡¯t enough to grasp the full context. Soon after, Lee Ye-rin continued speaking.
-The negotiation is over.
¡°What did they say?¡±
-They agreed to ept everything. But if the bleeding doesn¡¯t stop, they¡¯ll revert to the original proposal.
¡°They¡¯re asking for ountability.¡±
-They¡¯re saying to earn their keep.
¡°Let¡¯s ept it. As I mentioned earlier, what they want from me doesn¡¯t seem to be about dealing damage.¡±-That¡¯s right.
¡°It¡¯s just a simple task for me.¡±
-When should I notify them tomence?
¡°Tell them I¡¯ll head to Jeju Airport as soon as it gets light. Around 8 AM.¡±
-Mr. Kang-hoo, you¡¯ve always been quick to act, which I appreciate. You never hesitate, do you?
¡°Think of it as having a good client.¡±
-Then I¡¯ll send the relevant documents right away, including information about the person we¡¯ll meet tomorrow.
¡°Yes.¡±
The call ended.
My phone kept vibrating during the call, and it turned out there were numerous texts from Yun Sang-mi.
¡¾Was Kang-hoo really Shin Kang-hoo?¡¿
¡¾Sister Seo-yeon talked about you before. I talked about you too!¡¿
¡¾Back then, I thought you were Sun-kyu, and she thought you were Kang-hoo. It seems we were talking about the same person under different names, doesn¡¯t it?¡¿
¡¾I just talked with Sister Seo-yeon. Is this okay? We¡¯ve really been marked by Eclipse.¡¿
Yun Sang-mi had written everything she wanted to say despite not receiving any replies, showing her determination.
Kang-hoo replied.
¡¾Check the Eclipse website for the hit list. See how many are on it. There are over 200, excluding me. Don¡¯t worry.¡¿
¡¾Really. And I don¡¯t think you¡¯re in any danger, brother.¡¿
¡¾Ah! Thank you so much for taking care of mest time. It was the first time I ever received such care.¡¿
¡¾I wish you¡¯d spit on your tongue before lying. Anyway, I¡¯m doing well. Let¡¯s meet again.¡¿
¡¾Take care, brother.¡¿
Although it was a brief text conversation, Yun Sang-mi¡¯s concern was genuinely appreciated.
A heartfelt concern is only possible with a warm heart.
¡°I better get some sleep.¡±
Kang-hooy down on the bed and, as always, yed some ssical music before falling asleep.
It¡¯s time to boost recovery with the full effects of the constetion.
At that moment.
Baek Seon-tae, having finished a tiring day, returned home and couldn¡¯t take his eyes off his monitor.
As a member of the Jajang military faction from Yeosu, Baek Seon-tae generally had no reason to focus on news from other regions.
However, he was very interested in the notorious domestic criminal organization, Eclipse.
Especially, he found the monthly published hit list from Eclipse always intriguing to follow.
Typically, being on that list meant you were a challenging and difficult opponent.
Usually, before anyone gets on that hit list, they are eliminated by investigators or hounds representing the organization.
Just then.
¡°Huh?¡±
The face of the newly updated person on the list was too familiar.
It was the man known as Jung Sun-kyu.
While also an assassin, this man had inspired Baek Seon-tae to genuinely want to learn.
He was registered on the hit list, under his real name, Shin Kang-hoo.
¡°Mr. Sun-kyu, or should I say, Mr. Kang-hoo, did you kill Cha So-hee and Jin Hyo-young? Or rather, when did Cha So-hee die?¡±
One learns factste if they are not attentive to the world¡¯s news.
Cha So-hee¡¯s death had happened some time ago, but it was kept confidential and only recently became known.
Cha So-hee had been a hunter whom Baek Seon-tae met just once, renowned for her excellent fire maniption skills.
For Baek Seon-tae, facing a master of fire-based abilities was daunting.
It turned out that Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s favorite hound had been killed by Kang-hoo, as had Jin Hyo-young¡¯s.
¡°My eyes weren¡¯t mistaken.¡±
He bit his lip hard.
From the first time he saw Kang-hoo, he sensed something extraordinary about him, and he was right.
Of course, there were disappointments.
¡°Why don¡¯t you contact me? Really, not sending any messages¡ Every single move was a work of art.¡±
Kang-hoo had unterally received his contact details and SNS, which remained silent to date.
He had hoped Kang-hoo would contact him sooner, but now he worried he might be forgotten.
¡°Maybe I should leave Yeosu behind. It¡¯s not fun anymore, and ying the boss of this alley has grown tedious.¡±
Baek Seon-tae¡¯s eyes deepened as he habitually brought a canned beer to his lips.
To make it big, one must y in the big waters. Yeosu felt too small for him.
And somehow.
He thought following Kang-hoo might provide a breakthrough that could surpass his current stagnant growth.
Yes, it was a vague hope. But it seemed like Kang-hoo knew a different path that could lead somewhere else.
As dawn dispelled the darkness and the eastern sky began to reveal a red hue,
Emilia, who had nned to return to France on a morning flight, reopened her packed suitcase.
This was because her ns had changed.
It was the person she was talking to on the phone who had changed her usually unchangeable schedule.
¡°Vincent, what sudden wind has blown you here?¡±
It was indeed Vincent Meyer.
They had known each other for a long time as members of The Thirteen Stars, though they weren¡¯t close.
They had never truly shown their true feelings to each other. They were more like strict business partners.
I¡¯m going with El. I want to travel around Korea a bit, and while at it, see some familiar faces.¡°
¡°It seems there are quite a few in Korea. Casey has also signed an agreement with the Jeonghwa Guild, and they are currently raiding that dungeon¡¡±
-Yu Cheonghwa is also there, and Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeong wille out of the dungeon if we wait. Maybe we can call Takashi too?
¡°That hermit won¡¯te out. If he does, it will surely be a clone.¡±
-A cloneing means the same as the original. It¡¯s all the same.
¡°Seriously. You should have told me earlier. How can I make arrangements on such short notice?¡±
-I¡¯ll pay double the flight cancetion fee. So, dy it a bit. Let¡¯s see each other¡¯s faces.
¡°Alright, contact me as soon as you arrive in Seoul. It¡¯ll be my first time greeting Lady Elizabeth.¡±
-El has high expectations for you. She acknowledged you as someone more beautiful than herself.
¡°Don¡¯t start a fight over strange things. Juste quickly.¡±
-We¡¯re taking off soon. Let¡¯s meet when Ind.
It seemed like the gathering would be bigger than expected.
Jang Si-hwan, Chae Gwanhyeong, Yu Cheonghwa, Casey Rex, Elizabeth, Vincent Meyer, and herself.
At least seven people¡¯s participation was certain. Perhaps they could also call Takashi from Japan.
Meeting colleagues was always enjoyable, but Emilia was curious why Vincent wasing to Korea.
He wasn¡¯t someone who would travel just to see people. There had to be something significant he was here for.
Something had caught his attention, but she couldn¡¯t guess what it was.
¡°Should I prepare some weing food?¡±
Emilia enjoyed cooking, so she thought it might be a good opportunity to show off her culinary skills.
At the same time, she was curious to see how Elizabeth, who had recently joined as a new face, would react.
¡°Is the Saint of Salvation the truth or a hypocrite?¡± Emilia thought there was a 99% chance of thetter.
Because this damn world favors those who can pretend to be truthful more than the truth itself.
Morning.
As nned, upon arriving at Jeju Airport, Kang-hoo was greeted by aforting energy and couldn¡¯t help but smile.
He hadn¡¯t yet seen the city, but just feeling the gentle warmth enveloping his body made him feel as if he had returned to a peaceful, cozy hometown. It was almost magical.
The airport operated in coboration with the Hunter Public Safety Bureau and the Groo Guild for processing.
Due to the stringent security measures in ce, a significant number of criminals were detected at the checkpoint stage.
Just as Kang-hoo entered, two hunters were being led away in handcuffs.
As expected.
On the many disy boards around the airport, the recently arrested hunters¡¯ information and list of crimes were disyed.
¡¾Oh Daegi¡¿
¡¾Assaulted the hunter ¡®Kim Seok¡¯ at a public gambling hall in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, and fled with 1 billion won.¡¿
¡¾Dojugwang¡¿
¡¾Unterally assaulted a female passenger sitting next to him on a KTX train heading to Seoul Station and fled.¡¿
Typically, the charges filed with the Hunter Public Safety Bureau are recorded, and it was the same for these two hunters.
Cases like Kang-hoo¡¯s, where the deaths leave no trace, or the deceased deserved to die, do not constitute charges.
More precisely, even if there are charges, it is closer to turning a blind eye.
Nheless, Kang-hoo had no issues and quicklypleted the procedures to exit the gate.
Numerous guilds were actively promoting nearby, specializing in gathering, mining, and exploration.
Presumably, the Groo Guild monopolized the core elements, while subcontracting the rest.
Otherwise, such aggressive recruitment wouldn¡¯t be allowed.
Just then.
¡°Mr. Shin Kang-hoo, over here!¡±
An official from the Groo Guild, recognizing Kang-hoo, called out his name.
Turning, he saw a man wearing a badge with theurel symbol of the Groo Guild.
¡°Is that you?¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. I¡¯m from the Groo Guild. I¡¯ll ensure your safe passage to the meeting ce. Please, this way.¡±
The man bowed politely and carefully guided Kang-hoo to where he needed to go.
A secure limousine, which he had once ridden thanks to Jung Yuri, was ready.
After Kang-hoo boarded, the man cautiously continued.
¡°You may have received some materials earlier, but I have organized them for better readability. Please, feel free to look at this.¡±
The man handed over materials that were much tidier than the ones received before.
¡°Thank you.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll ensure a quiet ride to the site. If you need me, just press the bell. Take care.¡±
Soon, a barrier that perfectly soundproofed and isted the driver and passenger seats was raised.
At the same time, another barrier was activated.
The structure was thoroughly soundproof and bulletproof, a thoughtful provision by the Groo Guild.
He reviewed the content again.
As he had learned earlier, there would be 9 members in the team, making a total of 10 including Kang-hoo.
Theposition was a typical firepower setup.
One tank, four mages, four archers.
This type of team ismonly called a heavy damage party, focusing on maximizing damage output.
What¡¯s most important here? The only melee dealer and the key to aggro, the tank?
No.
¡°If there¡¯s no bleed, all nine are useless.¡±
It was the presence of a bleed dealer like Kang-hoo. This setup was missing the most crucial puzzle piece.
Chapter 134: Jeju Island (3)
Chapter 134: Jeju Ind (3)
While Kang-hoo marvels at thendscape and flow of Jeju Ind, a ce not deeply explored in the original work.
Bleeding dealers, members of the Gru Guild awaiting Kang-hoo¡¯s arrival, were engaged in conversation with one another.
The person leading the raid team was a man named Ma Jinho.
Currently, he holds the position of third inmand, acting in ce of the guild master and vice guild master who are active abroad.
Ma Jinho, the main tank with a level of 435, had a physique that was the epitome of tanking,posed entirely of muscle.
¡°Why is this damn bleeding option only manageable by assassins and berserkers?¡±
Ma Jinho grumbled.
Other sses could also inflict bleeding effects, but these had very short durations and long skill cooldowns.
The bleeding effect isn¡¯t just about cutting with a sword to make blood flow.It¡¯s a natural course of action that, during the process, inhibits internal recovery and healing.
This was heavily dependent on the ss.
Assassins and berserkers had bleeding-type skills as their level 200 basic skills, always at their disposal.
Of course, there were exceptions.
One of the basic skills of assassins, ¡®elerated Stabbing¡¯, evolves into ¡®Bleeding Stabbing¡¯ when it reaches maximum proficiency.
But, easier said than done, achieving maximum proficiency was a very difficult and arduous task.
In simple terms, reaching level 200 was quicker than maxing out the proficiency of elerated Stabbing.
¡°Captain, do we have many bleeding options?¡±
¡°We have Bleeding Stabbing, not just elerated Stabbing.¡±
¡°Wow¡ They¡¯ve surpassed level 100 not long ago, and they¡¯ve already maxed out their proficiency?¡±
¡°That¡¯s what they say. There¡¯s no need to boast about it, especially when taking on a request. Lee Ye-rin wouldn¡¯t introduce someone like that.¡±
¡°Did they just eat and practice stabbing all day?¡±
¡°Anyway, that seems to be the basis. There are also options to worsen or enhance the bleeding state.¡±
¡°Is it an item?¡±
¡°They lumped the exnation together because there¡¯s no need to exin in detail.¡±
¡°If you believe exactly what it says, the specs are pretty impressive, aren¡¯t they?¡±
¡°Indeed. It¡¯s a pity that the level is too low, but we didn¡¯t ask for a damage dealer.¡±
¡°Finding a real bleeding dealer is harder than finding a healer. Really valuable. Internal cultivation is too difficult.¡±
¡°You said it.¡±
Ma Jinho scratched the back of his head.
The Gru Guild had tried cultivating bleeding dealers before.
They couldn¡¯t always rely on external mercenaries and had invested a lot in guild-level efforts for a long time.
However, assassins and berserkers, being based on closebat, were highly exposed to danger.
Especially when the key task was ¡®maintaining bleeding¡¯, they had to stick close to the target no matter what.
There were always casualties.
Bleeding dealers sometimes had to actively attach themselves to the target to maintain the bleeding as much as they had to.
High-risk situations weremon, and there were no talents who could endure it.
High-level raid teams that couldn¡¯t find bleeding dealers, therefore, sought dungeons where bleeding wasn¡¯t necessary.
It was obviously a stopgap measure.
A dungeon without bleeding meant it was a low-level dungeon, and ordingly, the rewards were lower.
It would be safe and easy, but it meant a significant loss of growth momentum.
¡°Ah? A person named Shin Kang-hoo has just been added to the Eclipse¡¯s hit list?¡±
¡°That was all discussed yesterday, Jihoon¡¡±
¡°Ah, sorry. I must have dozed off yesterday.¡±
¡°Focus. I said to rx, but not to lose your mind.¡±
¡°Yes, sorry.¡±
Although raid member Jihoon mentioned it btedly, in fact, everyone was curious about Kang-hoo because of this.
Even if they disliked Eclipse, hunters usually hesitated to challenge them.
Investigators from Eclipse can entangle you unfavorably. Still, they generally don¡¯t take things to an extreme end.
They either keep avoiding or find a middle ground by cooperating somewhat with Eclipse.
That was the usual response of hunters because Kang Dong-hyun was unusually persistent.
But it seems Kang-hoo, without any hesitation, took the lives of two investigators who threatened him.
To put it badly, it felt like he was living on his own smugness; to put it nicely, it seemed like he was confident in his abilities.
Ma Jinho wanted to see whether this slight difference made Kang-hoo extraordinary or reckless.
-We will arrive soon.
Then, the message came.
The safety limousine carrying Kang-hoo had arrived.
¡°Everyone, get up. Let¡¯s test quickly, and if there¡¯s no issue, head straight to the dungeon.¡±
Ma Jinho stood up.
It was time to greet the guest.
¡°Jeon Jong-du would look like a child next to him. Is he a person, or a human model made by sticking tires together?¡±
The first word that came to mind for Kang-hoo when he saw Ma Jinho was ¡®muscle monster.¡¯
It seemed like even if three Kang-hoos stood side by side, they would bepletely hidden by him.
Of course, he had his vulnerabilities.
¡°Ah! Bees! It¡¯s bees!¡±
When a single housefly flew past his ear, he panicked, wrapping his head with both arms and crouching down.
¡°Captain, it¡¯s just a fly, not a bee. What are you doing, this is¡¡±
¡°It was a bee, man! Hm. Hmhm.¡±
He tried to act nonchnt, but since Kang-hoo had already seen everything, Ma Jinho¡¯s face stiffened.
He had wanted to dominate the first meeting somewhat, but now he seemed like a coward afraid of flies.
Before the embarrassing atmosphere enveloped himpletely, Ma Jinho loudly greeted Kang-hoo.
¡°Wee! Wee to Jeju Ind! I am Ma Jinho, the executive director of the Gru Guild.¡±
¡°I¡¯m Shin Kang-hoo. I am not affiliated with any organization. It¡¯s nice to meet you and everyone else here.¡±
Kang-hoo politely greeted each raid team member standing behind Ma Jinho.
All the mages were men, and all the archers were women. It wasn¡¯t intentional; it just happened that way.
¡°Shall we go straight to the test? I¡¯ve heard from Lee Ye-rin that you dislike formalities.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go. We can talk enough while we move.¡±
¡°It¡¯s right nearby. We will conduct a bleeding-rted test in a dungeon we own.¡±
¡°That¡¯s convenient. It¡¯s an open type, I guess?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. The interior is perfectly controlled by our guild. There¡¯s no problem at all.¡±
Following Ma Jinho¡¯s lead, Kang-hoo matched his stride beside him.
Perhaps because of hisrge size, every step he took made it feel like the ground was shaking.
To satisfy his curiosity during the walk, Kang-hoo asked Ma Jinho a question.
¡°Excuse me.¡±
¡°Yes?¡±
¡°Are the guild master and the vice guild master absent?¡±
¡°Yes. They are in Sweden, participating in a long-term dungeon expedition project.¡±
¡°So their absence isn¡¯t a big problem?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. As you know, our guild, based in Jeju Ind, ispletely neutral.¡±
¡°Are there no variables?¡±
¡°Not at all. Even if Jang Si-hwan from the Jeonghwa Guildes here, he¡¯ll be treated just like any other hunter.¡±
¡°I see.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
Asking about the current situation in Jeju Ind was a kind of insurance for the future, in case his life on the maind becameplicated due to entanglements with Eclipse or the Jeonghwa Guild.
He was considering using Jeju Ind as a temporary refuge if necessary.
From the looks of it, it seemed entirely possible.
As soon as we entered the dungeon, the first thing that came into view was a monster tightly bound with thick ropes.
Its body glowed green at regr intervals before fading away, clearly possessing a self-healing mechanism.
Ma Jinho added an exnation.
¡°As you can see from the status window, its name is quite long. We just call it Subject No. 1.¡±
¡°I see.¡±
The monster¡¯s name resembled the scientific designation of a dinosaur,posed of an extensive array of letters.
Not keen onmitting it to memory, Kang-hoo opted to simply call it No. 1.
¡°This one has been frequently used for practice, so its patterns and condition are well understood. Please, proceed.¡±
¡°Excuse me for a moment.¡±
Kang-hoo immediatelyunched an attack on No. 1.
Since the objective was not to learn how tobat the creature but to test bleeding abilities,
Kang-hoo could engage without any sense of pressure.
¡¾Bleeding Stab¡¿
He initiated the attack with Bleeding Stab.
¡°Ooohooo!¡±
Ignoring No. 1¡¯s pained reaction to the dagger attack, Kang-hoo adeptly performed the Bleeding Stab.
After the stabbings surpassed ten times and the bleeding stacks reached ten,
¡¾Healing Limitation¡¿
An additional debuff was inflicted on No. 1, constraining its healing capabilities.
Ssssh!
Shortly after, No. 1 attempted to heal itself using its standard recovery mechanism.
However, the healingsted only about half its usual duration, and its effectiveness was significantly reduced.
Kang-hoo felt confident.
¡¾Bleeding Enhancement¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Lv Max¡¿
¡¾Randomly amplifies the efficiency of existing bleeding effects from 2x to 3x.¡¿
A passive skill named Bleeding Enhancement, which he had previously acquired in Yeosu.
Furthermore,
¡¾Crimson Consumption¡¿
¡¾When bleeding is applied to a target, it intensifies the bleeding state by an additional 50%.¡¿
Owing to the ¡°Crimson Consumption¡± ring¡¯s effect, the bleeding impact was maximized.
Although the bleeding from Bleeding Stab typicallysts only 2 seconds, necessitating rapid sessive attacks,
Thanks to these two effects, the refresh timing could be prolonged from a minimum of 4 seconds to as much as 6 seconds.
Moreover, these enhancements substantially diminished the healing efficiency to below 50%.
Had he been tasked with demonstratingbat, his movements would have been more elegant.
However, since the test was solely to verify bleeding abilities, Kang-hoo simply plunged his dagger in a monotonous manner.
As a result, the unfortunate No. 1 continued to writhe in pain.
¡°That seems a bit overpowered.¡±
At that moment, one of the female archers spoke up, Kim Ji-hye. She was a seasoned veteran in the Gru Guild.
Ma Jinho had already figured it out, but wondering if everyone else felt the same, he asked Kim Ji-hye.
¡°What do you think, Ji-hye?¡±
¡°The Bleeding Stab makes maintaining bleeding too easy. Initially, the basic skill doesn¡¯t even use much mana.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right.¡±
¡°I thought that alone was impressive enough. We just needed the bleeding.¡±
¡°Go on.¡±
¡°But the efficiency and duration of the bleeding are too good. It seems tost at least 4 seconds, and the suppression of healing goes up to 75%, not just 50%.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve seen it urately.¡±
Meanwhile, No. 1 tried several times to recover its health, each time with poor efficiency.
Not only that, but it also tried to activate its self-cleansing buff to remove the bleeding.
Puff.
Kang-hoo easily renewed the bleeding.
¡°Yawn¡¡±
He even yawned, stretching leisurely beside No. 1.
A valuable guest had arrived.
Although not openly stated, everyone internally acknowledged that a very capable mercenary hade.
Without further inspection, the verification wasplete. Kang-hoo had thoroughly captivated the members of the Gru Guild.
Chapter 135: Versatile (1)
Chapter 135: Versatile (1)
The strategy schedule has been confirmed.
It¡¯s set for 6 PM.
From noon onwards, everyone proceeded with the final preparations for the briefing.
Kang-hoo, having already finished his preparations ande downstairs, didn¡¯t have anything particr to take care of.
The same was true for Captain Ma Jinho, who had long since prepared for departure.
Thanks to that, the two of them could enjoy tea time. It was an impromptu gathering that wasn¡¯t part of the n.
¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen a Bleed Stab user. Assassins are rare to begin with.¡±
Throughout the conversation, Ma Jinho couldn¡¯t focus on one ce, perhaps because of the flies buzzing around nearby.
No matter how big you are, it¡¯s hard not to be afraid of bugs. Kang-hoo could understand.¡°We¡¯ve trained a lot in this area. After all, it¡¯s a profession where you live by bleeding.¡±
¡°Until now, I¡¯ve mostly dealt with Berserkers. As you know, when the proficiency of the Level 1 basic skill reaches its maximum, Bleed activation bes easier.¡±
¡°That makes sense.¡±
¡°But it¡¯s harder to find Berserkers¡ Going to higher-level dungeons is quite challenging.¡±
¡°Once you reach around Level 400 in the dungeons, you have to maintain Bleed, right?¡±
¡°Yes. From then on, if there¡¯s no Bleed, it¡¯s a dungeon where you can¡¯t survive.¡±
It was as the original setting dictated.
Because of this, Assassins and Berserkers, who could be rtively niche, attract attention as they go higher.
It¡¯s not just for show that ces like the Jeonghwa Guild invest heavily in Assassin and Berserker sses.
It¡¯s because they are extremely useful in high-level dungeons. No, without them, the strategy wouldn¡¯t work.
¡°I¡¯vee prepared to work hard for a living. I¡¯ll cover the damage dealing.¡±
¡°Just maintaining Bleed is enough. After all, that¡¯s the contract condition.¡±
Ma Jinho nodded.
Apart from Kang-hoo, there was no need to worry about firepower with the 9-man extreme DPS team.
Of course, if Kang-hoo could also contribute some damage, it would be the cherry on top.
At that moment, Ma Jinho resumed the conversation he had momentarily paused.
¡°If the synergy in this dungeon strategy proves to be satisfactory, could we possibly request your strategy for the next one as well?¡±
This was a wee suggestion for Kang-hoo.
In reality, Kang-hoo should have been the one to initiate requests in other areas first, but the opportunity had presented itself.
If the other party expresses regret first, it opens the door to confidently make demands using that as leverage.
From Ma Jinho¡¯s perspective, having secured a valuable Bleed dealer, he wouldn¡¯t want to let the opportunity slip away.
His eagerness inadvertently created a favorable opportunity.
¡°We¡¯ll need to check the schedule, but it should be feasible. However, there¡¯s one condition for negotiation.¡±
¡°Please, go ahead.¡±
¡°There¡¯s a dungeon I¡¯m interested in exploring. It¡¯s owned by the Gru Guild.¡±
He seized the opportunity naturally.
The goal wasn¡¯t to conquer the dungeon but to visit the Imbnce Point within.
He had experienced it once before, and in Korea, this dungeon on Jeju Ind was thest such point.
One of the remaining three points is in Japan, with the locations of the other two still unknown, even in the original narrative.
¡°Not a strategy, but an exploration?¡±
¡°Yes. I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s a really beautiful spot inside. It¡¯s said to be a dungeon where outsiders are normally not allowed.¡±
¡°I see. If it¡¯s just for exploration, there shouldn¡¯t be any issues¡ We¡¯ll look at it with an open mind.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡±
The negotiation concluded smoothly.
The Imbnce Point is a morale booster in itself. It also serves as evidence of the world¡¯s imbnces, symbolizing the disparities.
As the level can easily rise to at least 2 or 30, it was an opportunity not to be missed.
Kang-hoo shifted the conversation.
¡°Jeju Ind is peaceful, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Jeju is indeed peaceful because it maintains perfect neutrality. There are no exceptions. Everyone whoes here is treated equally.¡±
¡°I was surprised by the substantial security from the airport onward.¡±
¡°There are many bastards who know about Jeju¡¯s peacefulness and try to hide within it.¡±
Ma Jinho¡¯s gaze, revealing his unmasked hostility, was tinged with a sense of justice.
In fact, he had quite a record of personally arresting external criminal hunters who had infiltrated the ind.
It¡¯s technically an arrest, but he often left the criminals nearly incapacitated, which made them fearful.
¡°How are the civilians doing?¡±
¡°Very well. Perhaps because our guild master and vice guild master are sisters, they are very attentive. As you know, there are a lot of female hunters and civilians living here too.¡±
¡°It must be a great happiness to be able to walk the streets at night without worry.¡±
¡°Yes. It¡¯s no coincidence that it ranks as the second-best city to live in after Seoul every year.¡±
Ma Jinho smiled.
Something in his nce seemed to carry a lot of thought, as if he had his own story.
No one is without a story, but the topic Kang-hoo brought up seemed to have stirred some deep emotions in him.
Perhaps it rted to a cherished person or acquaintance he lost to issues with public safety.
¡°Ah, just to caution you, if you find it difficult to maintain Bleed, don¡¯t overdo it.¡±
¡°Then I wouldn¡¯t be earning my keep.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a discussion forter. Everyone¡¯s life is precious. Even if we¡¯ve just met, I wouldn¡¯t want to lose you right before my eyes.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
He liked the feeling that, even though he was a mercenary paid with a fee, he wasn¡¯t being used as a mere tool.
Excluding Ma Jinho¡¯s rough appearance, he seemed to have a warm heart inside.
This might be why he manages many things smoothly as the third-ranking member of arge guild.
6 PM.
After a detailed briefing and a question-and-answer session, the dungeon strategy began.
Although it was a high-level dungeon, its actual size wasn¡¯trge, so they only packed a small amount ofbat rations.
Preferring to keep light, Kang-hoo almost didn¡¯t eat before entering the dungeon.
Maybe half a sandwich at most? He usually preferred to start on an empty stomach.
Immediately upon entering, Kang-hoo asked for understanding to test something and faced a monster one-on-one.
¡°I can increase the cumtive damage, but it¡¯s really hard alone.¡±
The conclusion came quickly.
He was able to suppress recovery based on skillfully maintaining Bleed, but their health was no joke.
He could take them down one by one if he tried, but it seemed like the efficiency would plummet.
Kang-hoo was disappointed, but¡
In fact, the thoughts of other hunters and Majin-ho, who were watching the one-on-one, were a bit different.
Initially, an assassin hunter just over level 100 facing a monster one-on-one was thought to be impossible.
Kang-hoo considered his insufficient damage and the long y time negatively.
However, those watching from the sidelines rated his audacity to target a monster that was four times his level without much trouble highly.
Given enough time, it seemed he could even handle a solo y, which was surprising.
The warm-up was over.
Kang-hoo actively moved after understanding the physiology of the monsters a bit differently from the dungeons he had tackled so far.
The first strategic point was simple in structure, as shared in the briefing earlier.
A gatekeeper monster, heavilyyered with enormous health and toughness, was guarding a drawbridge-like bridge.
Like London¡¯s Tower Bridge, the bridge could be raised and lowered.
Naturally, the drawbridge guarded by the gatekeeper monster was raised to its maximum height.
To connect both sides, either the monster had to be subdued or the operating mechanism had to be driven by another method.
A wide distortion zone that suppressed spatial movement spread out, and the gap between the dropped sections of the bridge was too long to leap over.
In other words, no matter how much they racked their brains, without connecting the drawbridge, there was no solution.
The conclusion from the pre-briefing was to resolutely press down on the gatekeeper monster, even if it took some time.
Up until now, it was a straightforward approach, and there weren¡¯t really any other options.
However, once he arrived at the scene, Kang-hoo¡¯s thoughts changed slightly.
After all, the gatekeeper monster is just that, a gatekeeper, so the rewards it offers are hardly satisfying.
Therefore, there¡¯s no need to go out of our way to defeat it. It would onlyplicate managing our stamina unnecessarily.
¡°Hold on. Give me about three minutes. I think I can find an easy way to get across the bridge.¡±
¡°Really?¡±
¡°Prepare to run as soon as the bridge is connected.¡±
¡°We¡¯re always prepared, but what are you thinking¡?¡±
¡°Since it¡¯s out on patrol at the farthest point, let¡¯s just try to time it right.¡±
Swoosh!
No sooner had he finished speaking than Kang-hoo disappeared from the view of Ma Jinho and his group.
When they managed to locate Kang-hoo again, he had already arrived far ahead.
The gatekeeper monster, Pisces.
This creature, with a carp-like head and a bipedal humanoid form, was clutching a trident.
The tips of the trident were coated with a dark red liquid, which likely was either a paralyzing or blinding poison.
¡®If I tantly attract attention, even a fish-head would clearly understand the purpose.¡¯
While there were many options to deceive Pisces¡¯s eyes, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t rush.
Sometimes, overestimating the opponent¡¯s intelligence can help in strategizing.
Everyone watching Kang-hoo¡¯s movements held their breath.
What could he be thinking when no tactics other than a frontal attack had worked in this ce so far?
¡¾Illusion Technique¡¿
Kang-hoo first created several illusions to test the waters.
Like before, he made one of the illusions appear more convincingly as the real thing.
The actual body had a dagger tucked inside his sleeve, while the fake illusion brazenly wielded it.
¡°Buzz! Buzz!¡±
Not sure if a fish-head could buzz, but¡ Pisces thrust the trident menacingly.
The trident quickly closed the distance and easily crushed one of the illusions.
As the illusion dispersed, it created a smokescreen, and Kang-hoo used the opportunity to deploy his Shadow Step.
Pisces turned around, thinking Kang-hoo was trying to deceive him and move to the mechanism.
However, Kang-hoo was directly attacking Pisces from the front, seemingly without a second thought.
He maintained a certain distance, effectively cornering Pisces.
¡°Buzz! Buzz!¡±
Pisces boldly lunged forward with his trident aimed directly at Kang-hoo.
But Kang-hoo, anticipating the predictable move, dodged the trident with a Rising Leap.
Instead, he used the top of Pisces¡¯s trident as a step, leaping once more over the creature.
¡°Buzzz!¡±
Pisces quickly swung his trident upwards, targeting the air.
Kang-hoo had broken his prediction once, but he didn¡¯t seem flustered.
Pisces had much confidence in his physical abilities. It wasn¡¯t unfounded confidence.
Then.
Swish!
Kang-hoo¡¯s position switched with another shadow.
The signature ability of Shadow Step to switch positions.
Thanks to this, Pisces¡¯s strike only cut through an irrelevant shadow.
He kept getting irritated, but he thought that ultimately, he just needed to clear out any visible foes.
The illusions were also cleared out, and the recent skirmish had made one shadow disappear anyway.
But just then.
Creaking.
Rumbling¡
Suddenly, a loud noise came from an unexpected direction, and soon the drawbridge began to lower and connect.
¡°Buzz¡?¡±
Pisces¡¯s eyes widened. How could the bridge he hadn¡¯t touched be moving?
Soon he would find the answer.
The one who had operated the mechanism was none other than Kang-hoo. From a distance, Kang-hoo shouted at Pisces.
¡°That¡¯s a decoy, you fool.¡±
Chapter 136: Versatile (2)
Chapter 136: Versatile (2)
The strategy was simple, but the process was intricate.
Kang-hoo, who had attracted Pisces¡¯ attention at the front, was not the real Kang-hoo but a clone.
If the clone¡¯s movements had been sloppy, Pisces would have realized something was amiss and shifted its focus.
However, Kang-hoo¡¯s coordination, even utilizing the physical abilities of the clone, was wless.
He waspletely deceived.
When Pisces was fully distracted by the clone, Kang-hoo movedterally to its rear.
Heid a curtain of technique and silently operated the machinery using Mu-yeong.
Caught up in the battle, Pisces had no inkling that another Kang-hoo could be behind it.
Meanwhile, the team members, having deciphered Kang-hoo¡¯s n, quickly crossed to the opposite side via the lowered drawbridge.An astonishing event unfolded.
They passed the first gate without unnecessary confrontations with Pisces, all too effortlessly!
The bulky-bodied Pisces could only stomp its feet in frustration on the other side of the bridge.
Once Kang-hoo assessed the situation and joined his team on the bridge, Ma Jinho gave him a thumbs-up.
¡°I never imagined we could reduce the time so significantly.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not like we need to kill him to get the key; just operating the machinery was enough, so I thought a bit.¡±
Kang-hoo shrugged his shoulders.
Now, he should be ustomed to such tactics.
As they approach higher and top-tier dungeons, passing through conditional paths besmon.
Gatekeeper Pisces was among the simpler challenges of such tactics.
Some ces required the deciphering and arranging of unknown characters.
And in others, certain monsters had to be killed, while others were preserved, to open the way.
Teams that brutishly power through dungeons tend to get phased out around levels 400 and 500.
Simply because they can¡¯t progress.
Ma Jinho bowed again, expressing his gratitude.
¡°I owe you one.¡±
¡°We are a team, after all. I wanted to save our energy, and it worked out well.¡±
¡°Clone, rhymes. That was pretty good. Weughed watching you. Did you intend that?¡±
¡°Ha, as if.¡±
It wasn¡¯t intentional, but it seemed to havee off as a dad joke.
Given Kang-hoo¡¯s stern face, one wouldn¡¯t expect him to crack such jokes, but that just made it funnier.
More amusing than an ad-libbingedian, it¡¯s the ¡®funny lines¡¯ from a good-looking celebrity.
Thanks to breezing through what was expected to be a time-consuming section, the speed of their progress increased.
Originally, they nned to subdue Pisces, cross the bridge, then rest.
But they boosted the team¡¯s morale without draining any stamina.
With Kang-hoo ying both the roles of a bleed dealer and a tactical character, expectations were heightened.
¡°You can start watching now. Their recovery pattern is terrible, so just deal with them.¡±
¡°May I assist at will?¡±
¡°Would be grateful if you did.¡±
Kang-hoo could have just watched, but he deliberately joined the battle.
Because chances to face monsters of level 400s aren¡¯t frequent.
He wanted to see firsthand how much his attacks impacted them.
Also, he wished to check the difficulty level. No harm in experiencing it beforehand.
¡°Haaa!¡±
Watching Ma Jinho provoke a group of monsters with a loud shout, Kang-hoo looked surprised.
As expected, the range of his taunt pulling monsters was quite extensive.
Had he not been focused, even Kang-hoo might have been drawn into the taunt, such was its influence.
Of course, he didn¡¯t just admire.
Kang-hoo sent shadows, illusions, and clones among the monsters that were not provoked.
Monsters, not being particrly clever, began to gather in small groups upon seeing the uninvited guests who were not their kind.
It was an excellent strategy.
Having clustered the monsters nicely for striking, the archers and wizards unleashed their area attacks.
This resulted in an efficient spectacle where a single attack damaged several monsters evenly.
While the main damage was channeled through Ma Jinho, the residual auxiliary damage was also effectively utilized, thanks to Kang-hoo.
Efficiency: 100%.
Thus, the monster elimination proceeded swiftly.
A wizard, having noticed Kang-hoo¡¯s movements, spoke to the archer and veteran, Kim Ji-hye.
¡°Sister, have you ever seen anything like this? I¡¯ve never seen an assassin ss gathering monsters.¡±
¡°Exactly. Usually, they try to hit from behind or look for the right timing for a hit-and-run.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what I mean. But with skills like shadows or illusions, he moves aggressively instead.¡±
¡°He seems very focused. Whether it¡¯s the illusions, clones, or shadows, none moves sloppily.¡±
¡°I see why Cha So-hee died. With such tactics, it would be hard to trace where the real one is.¡±
¡°That¡¯s creepy¡ Having only seen burdensome assassins so far, I¡¯m not used to godly ones.¡±
¡°Damn burdensome assassins¡¡±
Burdensome Assassins.
It¡¯s a term for assassins who are more of a burden than an asset.
Referring to assassins who are overly focused on back attacks or stealth attacks, pursuing a passive attack pattern.
In fact, in a group strategy, roles should naturally switch depending on the situation.
But hunters too absorbed in the assassin role focus only on ambushing from unseen ces!
This often resulted in them not moving actively until their teammates had set everything up.
This is why there was an aversion to the assassin ss in areas below level 200.
Being faithful to the ss¡¯s purpose is fine, but excessive rigidity can be frustrating.
However, Kang-hoo was now performing another role on the battlefield, that of a sub-tanker.
Drawing the monsters¡¯ aggro to one ce qualifies as ¡®provocation,¡¯ a virtue of tankers.
¡°Good, good! Really good!¡±
The team members, appreciating Kang-hoo¡¯s efforts, enthusiastically encouraged him and focused more on linking skills.
They initially thought having him as merely a bleed shuttle was sufficient, but a proactive, great mercenary had arrived.
It was truly satisfying from the start.
Afterward, with momentum built in the attack, the party was able to advance to the middle boss section.
Perfectly conserving stamina in the gatekeeper Pisces section had a tremendous butterfly effect.
Moreover, due to Ma Jinho and Kang-hoo¡¯s coordination in the ¡®trash mob¡¯ section,
The four main dealers, being mages and archers, could continue huntingfortably.
The middle boss monster they faced was named Edax.
A lizard-type monster with a notablyrge mouth, its characteristic was that if bleeding stopped even briefly, its health surged as if stepping on an elerator pedal.
Therefore, regardless of the type of bleeding, it was crucial to maintain it continuously.
As soon as the battle started, Ma Jinho and Kang-hoo began moving diligently.
Other dealers thought Kang-hoo would dodge and watch the patterns, but they were mistaken.
Not wanting to prolong ytime, Kang-hoo was proactive from the start in checking the patterns.
And.
Crunch!
He deciphered the preliminary action hidden in Edax¡¯s most tricky pattern, the ¡®big bite.¡¯
This was achieved by observing various parts of Edax¡¯s body with a precision-targeting skill.
¡®Just before doing the big bite, it tenses up its stomach, and the scales slightly lift in a diagonal direction.¡¯
This is why habits are scary.
Habits so ingrained that one doesn¡¯t even realize them.
In baseball, this is like a pitcher, whose habits have been figured out, suddenly getting hit mercilessly one day.
In sports, even if one¡¯s habits are analyzed, they can be changed, and it¡¯s not a matter of life and death.
But in the world of hunters, it¡¯s different.
What if your habits are picked up by an enemy? It can be fatal because patterns be predictable.
Sure enough.
As Ma Jinho was dealing with Edax, it nced back at Kang-hoo, causing its abdominal scales to twist diagonally.
The next moment.
¡¾Rapid Evasion¡¿
Crunch!
Kang-hoo cast Rapid Evasion and narrowly dodged Edax¡¯s bite. It was a close call.
¡°Wow!¡±
¡°Whoa! That was really close!¡±
¡°Did you predict that in advance?¡±
Everyone was holding their breath, worried about disturbing Kang-hoo.
Edax¡¯s bite might have been manageable for a defense-maximized Ma Jinho.
But for an assassin like Kang-hoo, it could have been a lethal strike.
However, Kang-hoo easily dodged the attack and unleashed a series of attacks on the now defenseless Edax.
As a quadrupedal monster, when its targeting failed, the time taken to make the next move was lengthy.
The umted bleeding stacks reached 10, suppressing recovery.
Soon, they rapidly increased to the maximum of 50 stacks, entering a state of excessive bleeding.
In the excessive bleeding state, attempting to recover could paradoxically reduce health even further, albeit randomly.
Though not the official term, hunters often call this phenomenon ¡°Death Heal.¡±
Recovery urs, but it ends up being negative, effectively reducing health.
At 50 stacks, this Death Heal phenomenon can ur probabilistically.
And.
¡°Kueeek¡!¡±
Edax, trying to recover from the rapid loss of health, spat out viscous saliva and screamed.
It was caught in a Death Heal.
In the midst of this unexpected major mishap, the furious Edax began searching for a target to vent on.
Ma Jinho, standing firm like a mountain, was tough, so it turned to Kang-hoo, who had been bothering it from the start.
system-start
¡¾Rapid Evasion¡¿
system_end
Crunch!
First bite failed.
¡¾Illusion Technique¡¿
Boom! Pop! Boom! Boom!
Creating a disorienting smoke effect by intentionally forming and then dispersing illusions in all directions.
Crunch!
¡¾Shadow Step¡¿
Using shadows for positional shifts, the second bite failed, as did the third and fourth.
Even thest.
Crunch!
¡¾Cutie!¡¿
What Edax viciously bit into wasn¡¯t Kang-hoo but a suddenly formed slime.
At this point, Edax¡¯s remaining patience and sanitypletely snapped.
The dim-witted middle boss monster lost itsposure entirely. Its future was undoubtedly bleak.
Shortly thereafter,
Trapped in suppressed recovery, Edax, on the express train to the afterlife, ultimately couldn¡¯t withstand the concentrated attacks and died.
Had Kang-hoo been less involved, catching the middle boss wouldn¡¯t have triggered the Skill Plunder.
Thanks to his active participation in the battle, Kang-hoo managed to beautifully plunder one of Edax¡¯s skills.
That was precisely,
¡¾Whisper of Favorable Winds¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Lv Max¡¿
¡¾Permanently increases ¡®Agility¡¯ by 100.¡¿
This was a significant boost in the agility stat, which had been neglected due to a focus on vitality.
Chapter 137: Versatile (3)
Chapter 137: Versatile (3)
¡°Shall we settle up and then rest? You have priority, and it seems like the obvious choice for you.¡±
During the loot distribution, Ma Jinho offered Kang-hoo an orange magic stone valued at ten billion won.
This was because the magic stones dropped by Edax were one orange and one yellow.
It looks like things are going well.
Of course, for the Groo Guild, who conceded the priority, it was a bitter situation.
Kang-hoo alone pocketed ten billion won, while the remaining nine split the billion-won magic stones.
¡°Thank you.¡±
¡°No need to mention it. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen someone manage their stamina so well after hunting Edax.¡±
¡°What was it like before?¡±¡°Usually, they would be exhausted by the Piscis section. They would arrive here already fatigued.¡±
¡°Do they rest once more?¡±
¡°That would be too disgraceful, so we capture Edax. But after that, a mandatory 12-hour rest is required.¡±
Ma Jinho smiled, looking back at his teammates who were resting.
Although they were resting, they enjoyed the break with jokes and pranks.
In the past, everyone would have been utterly exhausted, sprawling on the floor to rest.
For Kang-hoo, the passive skill ¡®Whisper of Favorable Winds¡¯ stolen from Edax was the greatest satisfaction.
The ability to permanently increase stats without equipping an item is a significant advantage.
Later, when every part of the body has items equipped.
From that point, the task of pulling additional stats from items bes very challenging.
It¡¯s then that the stats diligently invested through leveling up and such permanent stats shine.
Ma Jinho asked,
¡°Do you often join raids as a mercenary like this?¡±
¡°No, this is the first time I¡¯ve participated as a bleed dealer.¡±
¡°¡What?¡±
Ma Jinho was surprised.
It was hard to believe it was Kang-hoo¡¯s first time, given how wless his movements were from start to finish.
¡°I often solo or tackle small-scale personnel, so I don¡¯t feel pressured in one-on-one situations with monsters.¡±
¡°Ah. You prefer to minimize the number of yers.¡±
¡°If you share the experience too much, it loses its vor.¡±
¡°Ah, I agree.¡±
Ma Jinhoughed.
Anyway, this was the first time he participated with the primary purpose of maintaining bleed.
No matter how you think about it, cognitive dissonance urred because all of Kang-hoo¡¯s movements were too clean.
¡°Recently, the perception of assassins hasn¡¯t been good, but Shin Kang-hoopletely changed that.¡±
¡°It¡¯s tough to find a good assassin, just like it¡¯s hard to find a sensible healer.¡±
¡°Exactly. Everyone was skeptical, but now they might be fans of Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
Ma Jinho nced back, and everyone was pointing at Kang-hoo, talking andughing.
From their gestures of vigorously waving at Kang-hoo, it was very likely they wereplimenting him.
¡°The raid damage was beyond imagination; there¡¯s a thrilling feeling in beating down monsters.¡±
¡°Our guild gathered only the elite. We¡¯re also called Team Groo 1.¡±
¡°Team Groo 1, huh¡¡±
¡°When the guild master and deputy guild master arrive, I get immediately demoted to Team 2. Haha.¡±
Just as Ma Jinho said, the two top-ranking members of the Groo Guild, who are also siblings,
Were swordsmen like Ma Jinho and main tankers.
If he was the type to solidly hold the center of the battlefield with his massive body and strong defense,
The two were known for their dazzling skill usage and coordination, trapping the monsters as if in a swamp.
They not only provoke but also significantly reduce the mobility of the monster horde using a variety of skills.
For example, by creating a slowdown zone or applying a debuff to reduce a monster¡¯s mobility.
Since there¡¯s no precise term to refer to them, they aremonly called ¡®Debuffer Tankers.¡¯
¡°I¡¯d like to meet them.¡±
Hunters with unique forms or abilities are always a subject of curiosity.
In the original work, the two sisters were briefly mentioned as the owners of the Groo Guild.
This time, I was eager to see them in person. Debuffer Tankers. It sounded quite interesting.
At that moment.
Boom!
Among the brothers who were drinking, the younger one mmed the table, which had been set with bottles and sses.
Fortunately, the table was made of reinforced wood; otherwise, it would have been split in half long ago.
¡°Why are you so worked up?¡±
¡°Are you not angry? Look at our internal hierarchy in Eclipse that was just reorganized. Is this normal?¡±
¡°¡Damn.¡±
The elder, trying to ignore the contents, cursed.
The two brothers, Choi Jin-ho and Choi Jin-su, were three years apart and served as executives in Eclipse.
Unfortunately, they were ssified as lower-tier executives, evident from their role managing dungeon licenses.
While looking at the hierarchy chart, Choi Jin-ho muttered,
¡°Jin Hyo-young died, and yet why is our personnel movement still in a backlog¡¡±
¡°At least let us manage the tracker unit or give us the team leader position for Tracker Team 5 or 6.¡±
Both were extremely frustrated.
When Cha So-hee died, there was a general reshuffling of positions among the executives, naturally leading to promotions.
However, even then, the Choi brothers were not considered for a position change.
Instead, executives who were below them used Cha So-hee¡¯s death as an opportunity to climb up,
Effectively bypassing the brothers and experiencing a two-step rise in rank.
They tolerated it then,
Thinking that the boss, Kang Dong-hyun, had some ns. But now, the same situation urred.
Hunters they used to manage as lower-tier executives had now moved up the ranks.
¡°Damn. Do two people have to die for us to move up? This is too much.¡±
¡°Should we just confront the boss directly? We have contributed to Eclipse!¡±
¡°Forget it. Ever seen anyone talk back to boss Kang Dong-hyun and survive?¡±
¡°So, how long do we have to endure this disrespect? Bro, we have families to support too.¡±
The ¡®family¡¯ Choi Jin-su mentioned referred to their subordinates, not their actual families.
Anyway, having subordinates who call them ¡®boss¡¯ doesn¡¯t mean much if they can¡¯tmand respect.
After a moment of silence.
Choi Jin-ho, biting his lip hard, stood up as if he had made a decision.
¡°Jin-su.¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°It seems we should be bounty hunters.¡±
¡°What bounty?¡±
¡°You know the boss is all focused on that damn Shin Kang-hoo. If we kill him, we get a reward, items, and a promotion. It¡¯s a three-in-one deal.¡±
¡°Bro, he¡¯s not an easy target. Cha So-hee died, and so did Jin Hyo-young. They were stronger than us.¡±
¡°Idiot. They moved alone because they were too proud of themselves. We move as twenty.¡±
¡°Hmm¡¡±
¡°Use some as cannon fodder while we y to our strengths, even Shin Kang-hoo can¡¯t do much.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s throw some guys in and snipe with a magic bullet?¡±
¡°Exactly. No matter how tough an assassin is, a headshot will end it.¡±
¡°Right. There¡¯s no defeating numbers. Just need the right timing.¡±
Both Choi Jin-ho and Choi Jin-su were gunners. Specifically, snipers like Ban Se-yeong, specializing in long-range attacks.
¡°Right. It makes sense for us to break through. We can¡¯t just sit around waiting for a chance to fall.¡±
¡°Get the kids ready. A couple of newbies should be enough for dungeon management.¡±
¡°Will it be okay with some sacrifices?¡±
¡°Damn it. If we keep being protective of our subordinates and end up being left behind, we¡¯ll die too.¡±
¡°¡Damn.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s prepare. Let¡¯s start by gathering information on ces where Shin Kang-hoo frequently appears.¡±
With that, the two brothers took action.
The hit list posted on the official Eclipse website by Kang Dong-hyun had a significant impact.
Although the Choi brothers were the first to act, they were not the only ones thinking this way.
For Eclipse hunters seeking the boss¡¯s favor, the target for extermination was indeed an attractive prey.
Perhaps it was because the journey up to the middle boss monster segment had gone smoothly.
The approach to the main boss monster segment also progressed without any incidents, like a one-sided game.
The strategy was so sessful that the health and magic potions brought along were never even used.
Contrary to what Ma Jinho said about always using up the potions he brought, this time the potion bag remained unopened.
The level had already reached 113.
If Kang-hoo had only been the shuttle for bleeding, he wouldn¡¯t have found much fun in terms of experience¡
But Kang-hoo actively engaged in damage dealing throughout the strategy, reaping significant results.
With such a flow, if they catch the boss monster, they might even hope to reach level 120.
That means raising more than 10 levels in a high-level dungeon.
Of course, not just anyone can do this.
If you just suck your thumbs in a high-level dungeon, you won¡¯t even get a speck of experience.
Everything is the fruit of effort, so there¡¯s no gain without effort.
¡°Ha¡ Now we have to face the most tedious and tricky boss monster, Gloria.¡±
Ma Jinho pointed at the boss monster in front of him.
Kang-hoo had been watching for a while too, and there was a reason why Ma Jinho sighed.
Gloria was a giant female-type boss monster, approximately 5 meters tall.
A peculiar feature of Gloria was that she floated in the air, her entire eyes covered with a blindfold.
ording to the pre-briefing done before entering the dungeon, there was a story behind it.
Was it that Gloria, not wanting to see the corrupted world anymore, had gouged out her own eyes?
Regardless, Gloria, who had gained the ability to ¡®see¡¯ without seeing, perceived the world in a different form.
She was a boss monster that uniquely had ¡®no¡¯ offensive capabilities on her own.
To find a simr case¡
It was reminiscent of Regant, a boss monster that Kang-hoo and Jung Yuri had previously tackled.
At that time, Regant vanished as soon as Kang-hoo touched it, marking the beginning of the dungeon¡¯s copse.
Regantcked attack capabilities, yet the copsing dungeon served as a form of attack.
Gloria was slightly different.
Approaching her could easily result in her death, but the protective zone surrounding her posed the real challenge.
The danger was so acute that a careless approach could lead to instant death within a death zone.
Not just receiving damage or injuries, but literally dying on the spot.
The protective zone around her contained death zones that constantly shifted, posing a threat to any hunters who dared approach.
Additionally, attacks in the form of instant-death rays sporadically shot from the outskirts of the zone.
Ma Jinho referred to it as the ¡®murder ray,¡¯ stating that merely brushing against it would reduce the body to a handful of ash.
This was why attacking Gloria required continuously inflicting damage from a distance.
Maintaining bleeding was not an option, making it a tedious task akin to unleashing skills over an extended period.
This was the reason everyone was consuming high-calorie meals in preparation for the drawn-out battle.
However, Kang-hoo had been closely observing Gloria and her surroundings the entire time, utterly focused.
He hadn¡¯t even noticed Ma Jinho speaking beside him.
Ma Jinho said,
¡°What are you thinking? You don¡¯t need to maintain bleeding on this one. Actually, you can¡¯t.¡±
Then Kang-hoo asked,
¡°If we just break through the instant-death zone¡ Is Gloria¡¯s endurance really that weak?¡±
In that moment, Ma Jinho thought.
Could this ¡®crazy¡¯ assassin have devised an unexpected and unique strategy?
Given Kang-hoo¡¯s history of exceeding expectations, anticipation naturally surged.
Chapter 138: Versatile (4)
Chapter 138: Versatile (4)
About 10 minutes had passed.
Focused on observing the changes in Gloria and the surrounding environment, Kang-hoo finally broke his silence.
Worried about distracting Kang-hoo, Ma Jinho, who had been waiting quietly by his side, cautiously spoke up.
¡°The instant-kill zone is a ce where emergency responses are impossible. I believe you are well aware of that.¡±
¡°Yes, I am aware. That¡¯s why I took the time to examine it more closely.¡±
¡°¡Yes?¡±
¡°It seems like I have some calctions figured out. May I try to tackle it alone?¡±
At Kang-hoo¡¯s question, Ma Jinho cocked his head. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn¡¯t understand Kang-hoo¡¯s intentions.
¡°Do you intend to face Gloria alone? It was designed to be impossible to do so.¡±¡°The usual method is to continuously attack from a distance with skills, slowly killing it, right?¡±
¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±
¡°But it seems that Gloria itself is quite weak. It¡¯s the surrounding defense mechanisms that are the problem.¡±
¡°That¡¯s also correct.¡±
¡°So, it seems like a problem that could be solved simply by approaching.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why the usual method is¡¡±
¡°Please just tell me yes or no. Can I attempt it alone? Or not?¡±
There was determination in Kang-hoo¡¯s words, while Ma Jinho¡¯s mind was filled with question marks.
However, the actual challenger seemed to have an exmation mark firmly embedded in his thoughts. What could he be seeing?
¡°We are still in the maintenance period, so there is plenty of time left¡¡±
¡°Then may I go ahead?¡±
¡°Yes. There is no problem.¡±
Snap!
No sooner had Ma Jinho finished speaking than five shadows centered around Kang-hoo split the space.
Swoosh!
One of the shadows was hopelessly dispersed after being hit by a killing beam.
Ma Jinho nodded his head as if to say, ¡°I thought so.¡± The fate of the other shadows was likely no different.
More importantly, since Kang-hoo hadn¡¯t moved from his spot, it seemed like he was just putting on an act.
If he had any intentions, he would have moved himself long ago. It must be fear that made him send the shadows instead.
But just then¡ª
Snap!
Kang-hoo vanished from sight.
In that moment, Kang-hoo had seamlessly moved to where the nearest shadow had been.
Ssss!
Then, a killing beam shot indiscriminately from all directions into the area, but it failed to touch the pre-positioned shadow or Kang-hoo¡¯s actual body.
And then¡ª
Snap!
Once again, Kang-hoo relocated to the next shadow¡¯s position.
Immediately afterward, another killing beam swept over the spot Kang-hoo had just vacated. It was a momentarypse.
¡°Is he positioning himself 10m, 20m at a time, matching the pattern like that?¡±
Ma Jinho¡¯s mouth, previously tightly closed, dropped open. Kang-hoo had already halved the distance.
Meanwhile, the remaining shadows diligently moved, skillfully evading several killing beams.
Not only that, but Kang-hoo himself was never in the same spot at a dangerous timing.
Actually, the killing beam was a problem, but the damp and moist ground also posed a challenge to movement.
Even if he chose a path to move, it was impossible to proceed cleanly.
Either his foot would sink deeply, or he could slip unexpectedly.
And if a killing beam were to pass through in such a situation? It would be a direct ticket to the afterlife.
However, Kang-hoo effortlessly navigated such a troublesome process with a shadow shift.
¡°What¡¯s going on, suddenly?¡±
¡°Captain, what¡¯s happening?¡±
The team members were equally astonished by the sight of Kang-hoo crossing about 100 meters straight to Gloria.
At first, they thought they had seen it wrong, but upon closer inspection, Kang-hoo was indeed drawing closer to Gloria.
¡°What¡¯s happening? It¡¯s unfolding just as you see.¡±
¡°Just a graze from the killing beam would kill him!¡±
¡°I¡¯ve told you all about it. He went anyway.¡±
¡°No, can that really¡ work?¡±
Everyone¡¯s fists were tightly clenched as they remembered the fate of their colleagues who had been sacrificed to the killing beams.
There were hunters who had bravely crossed before, confident they wouldn¡¯t die, only to be killed while screaming.
They died without leaving a will. The bodies? Not a trace was left to retrieve.
Just then.
Snap! Snap!
Kang-hoo, seizing the optimal timing, arrived in front of Gloria in an instant with two uses of shadows.
Wearing an eye patch and standing as if in meditation, Gloria did not move at all.
It seemed she was designed as such a boss monster. Guarding the ce, but an eternally sleeping entity.
But it¡¯s the surrounding guardian realm that makes her untouchable.
When Kang-hoo looked back, he saw Ma Jinho¡¯s jaw cartoonishly drop.
Until now, the struggle to capture Gloria, who had been so easily breached, was unimaginable.
He had thought about it several times.
It would be really easy to capture her if approached. But turning thought into reality was extremely difficult.
Yet, Kang-hoo made the seemingly impossible imagination a reality! Easily, with his own skill.
Leaping with all his might, Kang-hoo climbed onto Gloria¡¯s shoulder and gripped a dagger.
Althoughpletely defenseless, just in case Gloria made an unpredictable move.
And then.
Whoosh!
Kang-hoo¡¯s dagger, filled with the force of a great beheading, pierced through Gloria¡¯s left chest.
Ripping through the heart and fracturing within, the dagger took Gloria¡¯s life all too easily.
¡¾Your level has dramatically increased to 130.¡¿
¡¾Sessfully plundered the Resonance View skill from the target.¡¿
¡°This is it.¡±
The thrilling pleasure of leveling up made Kang-hoo¡¯s nose twitch.
When he had captured the middle boss monster Edax, the expected final level score was set at a maximum of 120.
But because he monopolized the experience, his level soared beyond that.
Kang-hoo¡¯s contribution was 100%. The other hunters had no noticeable contribution, making it a perfect solo feat.
Explosive leveling ensued.
The plundering of the Resonance View skill was monumental.
But the good news didn¡¯t stop there.
As Gloria, whose breath had ceased and head had dropped, oxidized into a handful of ashes, she left something behind.
¡°Did a red magistonee out?¡±
As Ma Jinho recognized and eximed, it was indeed half a red magistone and one orange magistone.
A single red magistone has a base price of 100 billion won.
Thus, even half of it has a guaranteed market value of 50 billion won.
¡®Having the right to loot first is so reassuring. Thanks to the White War, I¡¯ve broken even.¡¯
The White War had always been a serious concern.
However, due to the mercenary scarcity caused by the White War, the value of bleed dealers also increased.
Because of this, raid teams in need of bleed dealers had to offer loot priority rights.
In fact, even if only one orange magistone had been found, it would have been considered a jackpot.
But the appearance of a red magistone would certainly have Ma Jinho and the Groo Guild writhing in agony.
Of course, they couldn¡¯t break the agreed-upon promise. It¡¯s a matter of honor. In every way, Kang-hoo was the only one who truly benefited.
None but Kang-hoo gained any experience points from Gloria.
After finishing the cleanup, Kang-hoo proceeded with the settlement of the red magistone and the request fee.
After adding up the down payment, the bnce, and the magistone settlement, his ount bnce became 850 billion won.
Beforeing to Jeju Ind, having even 50 billion won felt precarious; now, it seemed unreal.
Of course, it wasn¡¯t that the Groo Guild made a losing deal.
They had managed to secure one orange magistone that dropped alongside the red magistone.
This was significant because the magistone earnings were substantial in the regr monster clearing sections.
If calcted as the total settlement amount for the entire raid, they had pocketed at least 200 billion won.
Even if the distribution was made equally, it was over 20 billion won per person for half a day¡¯s raid.
This was typically the scale of distribution after a raid.
However, the story changed unexpectedly when Gloria dropped a red magistone.
ording to Majin-ho, the number of times Gloria had been captured was over 100, just counting the times he had personally noted.
Including times not properly checked, it would be double that.
He had never seen even a speck of a red magistone, not to mention half a piece.
This time, because Kang-hoo was given priority for loot, it had be ¡®as if it never happened¡¯.
Thanks to Majin-ho¡¯s consideration, Kang-hoo had some flexibility as he had finished his own settlement before the team¡¯s total settlement.
Rather than thinking they were robbed of quality loot by Kang-hoo, they seemed satisfied with the quick raid.
Apart from the Gloria case, they had diligently collected experience, so in fact, there wasn¡¯t much toin about.
While Kang-hoo refreshed his dry throat with cool water and caught his breath, he checked the skill obtained from Gloria.
¡¾Resonance View¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾Even in a state of blindness due to poisoning or skill force, you can still secure vision.¡¿
¡¾Resonance View actively helps the user perceive the world in ck and white.¡¿
¡¾Consumes 0.5 mana per second only when in a state of blindness, and the ability is limited if mana is insufficient.¡¿
Although it is detailed, in brief, it meant immunity to blindness.
Even if blind, through resonance, one can perceive the world in ck and white.
Apart from losing color, one can maintain a state almost no different from usual.
¡®With night vision, no problem even at night. With Resonance View, I can handle being blind¡¡¯
One by one, handicaps are being erased, steps taken towards perfection.
Eyes are of paramount importance.
It¡¯s not without reason that hunters with eye injuries experience a significant decline inbat ability.
It would be somewhat fortunate if onlybat ability were affected, but it¡¯smon for hunters to meet unexpected deaths in dungeons.
Distorted and limited vision restricts information flow, slowing down responses to unforeseen events.
This is just from injuries alone, not to mention blindness.
If a hunter ispletely unprepared, it could lead directly to death from an enemy¡¯s targeting.
¡®Feeling pretty proud today.¡¯
Had I not discovered the loophole, I would have remained a mere spectator in the Gloria raid.
Thanks to an efficient camouge and position-shifting skill called ¡®Shadow Step¡¯, I secured a significant advantage.
Once again, I recognized the value of the skills I¡¯ve diligently acquired since being possessed.
Indeed, the more skills, the better.
Collect them, and one day they will prove invaluable.
And today, the Resonance View obtained from Gloria will do just that.
To a future ¡®enemy¡¯ who was certain Kang-hoo would be blinded by their attack¡
It will deliver the most lethal counterpunch.
Chapter 139: Nikita Boronin (1)
Chapter 139: Nikita Boronin (1)
Afterwards.
As promised to Ma Jinho, Kang-hoo ventured into the dungeon for an ¡°exploration.¡±
It was a short yet intense journey in a dungeon linked to the Imbnce Point.
Since the dungeon couldn¡¯t be tackled alone, he ignored the monsters.
Relying on memories from the original work, he meticulously extracted only the fruits of the Imbnce Point.
¡°The rest of the points were only briefly mentioned in the novel, so they are rather vague.¡±
While he could still benefit from the remaining points, his certainty diminished.
Finding a needle in a haystack is an entirely different challenge from finding a needle on a sandy beach.
Thanks to this, his level surged, reaching 160 in one go.A staggering gain of 30 levels.
Perhaps because of this, the constetions¡¯ messages and sponsorships began to react explosively.
The constetions, including main ones like the Dimension Plunderer and the Pure ck Executor, now intensely focused on Kang-hoo, who seemed to know the secrets of this world.
The Great Cmity ¨C Darkness was no exception, always keeping a close watch on him.
Everyone was curious about where he had acquired such knowledge, but Kang-hoo kept that to himself.
After all, revealing such secrets could be incredulous and questionable.
¡°I¡¯ll invest in stamina only up to level 200.¡±
He had also decided on a new direction.
Considering reallocating the points gained from leveling up to stats other than stamina.
Of course, it wasn¡¯t something he needed to decide hastily. It warranted careful consideration.
The reason Kang-hoo had consistently invested in his stamina stat was simple.
When congenital mana hypersensitivity triggered and his stamina began to deplete due to the handicap.
He hoped his body could endure as long as possible, even during prolonged fights.
So far, there had been no battles long enough to be called wars of attrition.
Even when there were challenges, the powers of Srkium and Mad Srkium had helped him withstand them to some extent.
However, he couldn¡¯t always be optimistic that such situations would continue indefinitely.
And Mad Srkium wasn¡¯t a cure-all; it merely postponed the overload without solving it.
What if the fight continued beyond the duration of Mad Srkium¡¯s effects?
Then, not only would the overload be a problem, but the postponed aftereffects woulde rushing in like crazy.
At such times, the only thing that could help him endure was his stamina. Without it, he would quickly be exhausted.
¡°A full-body assassin, huh? Even I find it a grim hybrid.¡±
Kang-hoo gave a bitter smile.
He was a unique kind of assassin, created by the peculiar circumstances of his body with severe handicaps.
But Kang-hoo liked his congenital mana hypersensitivity, which was both a curse and a blessing.
It had allowed him to sessfully fight enemies with much higher levels so far and to utilize skills that were nearly miraculous.
If the mana issue hadn¡¯t been resolved, no matter how many skills he had, they would have been exhausted after a few uses.
Meanwhile,
Kang-hoo had officially received another proposal from Ma Jinho to join him in conquering a dungeon.
Since the dungeon was very small, the raid was expected to be very short.
They had agreed on priority for the drop items from the middle boss and the main boss.
No upfront payment or final payment was requested. It was a ¡®debt of gratitude¡¯ that Kang-hoo intentionally left with Ma Jinho.
Leaving a small debt meant thatter, Ma Jinho would inevitably have to be more deferential to Kang-hoo, whether willingly or not.
Because Kang-hoo had grasped that it was Ma Jinho¡¯s nature.
People like Lee Hyun-seok, who are straightforward and clear about their gratitude, never forget their obligations.
The next raid is scheduled for noon tomorrow.
Thanks to that, he had just over a day to rest.
Kang-hoo was able to fully rx for a day in a vi owned by the Groo Guild, thanks to their thoughtful consideration.
Even the entrance of outsiders, including Groo Guild associates, was strictly controlled¡ªa perfect and assured gesture of consideration.
Swoosh.
Just then, a rain shower began on Jeju Ind, swiftly purifying the sky that had been filled with fine dust.
Kang-hoo, who preferred the sound of rain to that of snow, stepped out onto the terrace to enjoy the ambiance.
Apanied by a steaming Americano, it was a moment of simple joy in everyday life.
Just then,
¡¾The constetion ''Strategist of the Wastnd'' speaks to you with a voice full of emotion.¡¿
¡¾Finally, the Grand War has officially been approved. Now, as your main constetion forever, I am greeted with an exhrating moment!¡¿
The Strategist of the Wastnd had spoken after a long time.
It seemed that it had taken a while to receive approval from the Grand War.
¡¾Crazy X. He is acting all high and mighty.¡¿
The Dimension Plunderer, hostile towards the Strategist of the Wastnd, immediately cursed and spat venom.
The Strategist of the Wastnd did not even show any signs of being provoked, as if such talk was beneath him.
¡¾Perhaps as a high-ranking constetion, maintaining your dignity would be appropriate. That''s not like you.¡¿
The Pure ck Executor seemed concerned by the Dimension Plunderer¡¯s sharp response and carefully spoke up.
But.
¡¾Ah, so you''re a constetion that values dignity, and you ended up marrying another constetion because of that?
If that¡¯s what you call dignity and ss, maybe I should live like a yboy too.¡¿
¡¾Hmm¡¡¿
The Pure ck Executor was easily subdued(?) by the Dimension Plunderer. No further messages from the Pure ck Executor were seen.
The hostile reaction from the Dimension Plunderer did not pose a problem to the contract.
It was more an outpouring of emotions, and eventually, the Dimension Plunderer also held back his words and disappeared somewhere.
Probably not because he wanted to interfere.
More likely, it was out of a desire to possess Kang-hoo, who was growing rapidly and dazzlingly, all to himself.
Yes, it was a strong possessiveness.
As the atmosphere quieted down again, the Strategist of the Wastnd continued.
¡¾I hope the abilities I can grant you will be useful.
Please grow wonderfully. I will watch over you leisurely, with the heart of a parent who loves unconditionally.¡¿
¡°Thank you.¡±
Kang-hoo bowed politely.
Although the Strategist of the Wastnd wasn¡¯t physically present, he bowed, thinking that he was being watched.
¡¾Now, I will activate the special contract that has received approval from the Grand War.¡¿
No sooner had he finished speaking, the contract was formed. It was the moment Kang-hoo gained his third main constetion. Rather than an equal exchange, it was a one-sided courtship from the Strategist of the Wastnd, a main constetion contract that was all gain for Kang-hoo.
Simultaneously, three special privileges from the Strategist of the Wastnd were activated.
¡¾First. You will be 90% immune to mental attacks from hunters within twice your level range.
Even if there¡¯s a 10% chance of failure in responding, ¡®irvoyance¡¯ will activate to enforce immunity. However, it cannot be reactivated for one day.¡¿
¡®Oh, nice?¡¯
True to the mental specialization of the Strategist of the Wastnd, the first constetion privilege was substantial.
So far, aside from using tricks to counter mental attacks,
The only thing he had used was the constetion effect of the Bloodthirsty Predator, which he had stolen from Jo Young-jae of the Osan Suho hunters.
The constetion effect increased the chances of being immune to mental attacks as he lost health.
But it was conditional, and the probability was not very high, about 5%.
But now, through the Strategist of the Wastnd, he could significantly raise that level.
Of course, there was the condition of being within twice the level.
Since Kang-hoo¡¯s level was 160, hunters up to level 320 were covered.
It might be difficult to face Yu Cheonghwa or Emilia Rose immediately,
But if he diligently raised his level, even they could be within a manageable range.
¡¾Secondly, when a long-range dealer''s ''Sniping'', ''Aiming'', or ''Targeting'' is activated, you can perceive it beforehand.
''Intuition'' is triggered, and you can immediately realize that you have be a target.¡¿
¡®It¡¯s a lifesaver. Many times, one can die without even knowing when faced with a skilled sniper or archer.¡¯
It was indeed a useful ability.
Knowing in advance that someone is targeting you can be the difference between life and death.
¡¾Thirdly, ''Soul Wave'' is used to sever the mental connection with an enemy or a summoned entity.
It consumes 250 mana and induces mental strain, but it canpletely reset the enemy''s state.¡¿
¡°This is¡¡±
A rather attractive privilege.
However, just as the tooltip suggests, the bacsh it brought Kang-hoo was significant.
Kang-hoo tried using Soul Wave as a test.
Since the ability of the constetion was transferred along with all knowledge upon the contract, it wasn¡¯t difficult to use immediately.
Pssssh!
Out of nowhere, an invisible wave rippled through the air, as if vigorously shaking something invisible.
This could incapacitate the undead summoned by a necromancer using dark magic spells or
serve as a definite counterpunch to hunters using summoned creatures.
However,
¡°Argh.¡±
The massive mana consumption triggered an overwhelming overload throughout his body.
Despite having items to alleviate pain, it was so excruciating that it felt like his head was going to burst.
The overload was not moderate but severe, suggesting that it needed to be used very cautiously.
Even casting it twice in session felt like it wouldpletely drain his head.
Still, it was too good to pass up.
The Dimension Plunderer, Pure ck Executor, and Strategist of the Wastnd each specialized inpletely different areas.
Thus, the constetion abilities he acquired perfectly addressed different needs without any ovep.
It was an ideal distribution for Kang-hoo, who dreams of being an all-rounder, handling everything alone.
¡¾Do you really like my contractor that much? You are a fool.¡¿
With that remark from the Dimension Plunderer, who suddenly reappeared to tease the Strategist of the Wastnd,
Kang-hoo was once again quietly experiencing another phase of growth.
At that time,
A male hunter, having justpleted immigration procedures, was leaving Jeju Airport.
Clean-shaven head, stylishly dressed with rose-gold framed sses and a neatly tailored suit.
The man, exuding a cold, intellectual aura, met someone waiting for him outside the airport.
It was Ma Jinho from the Groo Guild.
¡°You¡¯ve arrived, Mr. Nikita.¡±
¡°How have you been? I¡¯m d to hear that the delivery went well. Were there any defects?¡±
¡°Not at all. The Kashimar Guild is renowned for producing military supplies for dungeons, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Thank you for always trusting and entrusting us. I¡¯m here to introduce a new product.¡±
¡°It could have been done via video call. Isn¡¯t this trip a bit too much trouble?¡±
¡°Haha. Actually, I have some other business to attend to as well.¡±
Nikita Boronin.
An executive of the Kashimar Guild and also the manager responsible for issues in Korea.
He is as fluent in Korean as he is in Russian, somunication was never an issue.
Usually, as Ma Jinho mentioned, Nikita preferred video conversations,
but this time, he specifically came down to Jeju Ind to promote a new product. It seemed he had an ulterior motive.
Ma Jinho asked,
¡°May I know what it is about?¡±
¡°I¡¯vee to meet Hunter Shin Kang-hoo. It¡¯s an important matter reflecting the master¡¯s intentions.¡±
Nikita¡¯s response clearly revealed the purpose of his visit.
Chapter 140: Nikita Boronin (2)
Chapter 140: Nikita Boronin (2)
Having been resting at the vi, Kang-hoo received a call from Ma Jinho.
They hadn¡¯t exchanged numbers, so the call came through a direct line installed in the vi.
¡°It¡¯s unusual for him to call; there must be some issue.¡±
¡°Yes, this is Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
-This is Ma Jinho. Do you have a moment to talk? Sorry to disturb you while you¡¯re resting.
¡°It¡¯s okay. I wasn¡¯t sleeping. What¡¯s going on?¡±
-There¡¯s a guest who insists on meeting you. However, I can¡¯t arrange it arbitrarily.
¡°Me?¡±
-Yes, that¡¯s right.Kang-hoo frowned.
No acquaintance knew he was here; he wasn¡¯t one to inform everyone either.
From the way Ma Jinho spoke, it seemed to involve an outsider, but Kang-hoo had no idea who it could be.
¡°Who is it?¡±
-It¡¯s someone named Nikita Boronin. He is an officer from the Kashimar Guild and manages their operations in Korea.
¡°Nikita Boronin¡¡±
The name wasn¡¯t familiar.
Although the Kashimar Guild was often mentioned in the original story, there was no mention of a person named Nikita Boronin. He seemed not to be a high-ranking officer.
Still, the mere fact that he was from the Kashimar Guild was troubling.
Of course, someone like Ma Jinho wouldn¡¯t have a negative perception of the Kashimar Guild.
He would see their well-packaged public facade, unaware of the hidden truths.
However, for Kang-hoo, who had bad experiences with the Kashimar Guild, this meeting was unwee.
It was because he had disbanded Jeon Jong-du¡¯s Osho Mercenary Corps, which was under the Kashimar Guild.
News about Jeon Jong-du¡¯s death had spread, and his face had be known.
It wouldn¡¯t have taken long to identify him, Shin Kang-hoo, as the person involved.
The Kashimar Guild¡¯s intelligence capabilities were more than sufficient.
He must have been located after information leaked at Jeju Airport.
¡®The fact that they formally requested a meeting means they don¡¯t intend to fight. Otherwise, they would have chosen a different approach.¡¯
Using Ma Jinho as an intermediary, the focus was initially on dialogue.
He was eager to meet him.
This was a prime opportunity to understand what brought him here and to assess the Kashimar Guild¡¯s perspective on the Jeon Jong-du incident.
-What will you do?
¡°Let¡¯s meet. But I don¡¯t want the hassle of going out.¡±
-Don¡¯t worry. I will apany Mr. Nikita and ensure your ce is secure.
¡°Then,e here.¡±
-Yes, we will do just that.
Thus, the meeting with Nikita was set.
A visitor from the Kashimar Guild. He was somewhat eager to hear how Nikita would start the conversation.
It was likely not going to be a pleasant discussion.
One hourter.
Kang-hoo and Nikita convened in a conference room situated on the outskirts of the vi.
Ma Jinho took it upon himself to personally oversee the security of the conference room.
Given it was their first meeting, unexpected situations were a possibility.
This was to avert any physical confrontations or any severe incidents.
Seated around a moderately sized round table, Kang-hoo and Nikita faced each other.
¡®He must be in the 400s in terms of level.¡¯
Nikita¡¯smand of constetions made estimating his level straightforward.
Given the stature of the Kashimar Guild, he was likely a mid-level officer, but definitely not of low rank.
Nikita broke the silence.
¡°Mr. Shin Kang-hoo, your efforts in dismantling the Osho Mercenary Corps and even eradicating its remnants were quite remarkable.¡±
Is this what they call speaking in an out-of-body manner?
He casuallymended the fact that Kang-hoo had annihted a mercenary group affiliated with his own guild.
Kang-hoo retorted with a disbelieving snort.
¡°There were witnesses at the scene. Even a passing dog would recognize Jeon Jong-du was under the Kashimar Guild¡¯s protection unless it waspletely ignorant.¡±
Nikita chuckled at Kang-hoo¡¯s response.
¡°Ha-ha, is that so? I wouldn¡¯t be aware of that. The dead tell no tales, do they?¡±
¡°You¡¯re denying it?¡±
¡°No matter how highly you value the dead, they can¡¯tpare to the living. That¡¯s what I believe.¡±
¡°So, you discarded him and want to switch to a new vessel?¡±
¡°That¡¯s an oversimplification. Our Kashimar Guild has always preferred the talented.¡±
¡°Save your clumsy ttery. What are you really trying to say?¡±
¡°The Kashimar Guild will fully support you. How about establishing a power base in Gangwon Province?¡±
¡°So, you want me to be the next Jeon Jong-du? That¡¯s absurd.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not absurd. With our proper support, you won¡¯t end up dead like Jeon Jong-du.¡±
¡°Why didn¡¯t you support Jeon Jong-du like that then?¡±
¡°He wasn¡¯t worth that much.¡±
Nikita responded frankly.
Kang-hoo then lowered his slightly agitated voice and spoke calmly in his usual tone.
¡°If you need a damage dealer, let me know. I happen to be in Jeju for that reason. I can go to Russia anytime.¡±
¡°Mr. Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
¡°¡?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not asking you tomit crimes. I¡¯m offering a new life to an outdated hunter.¡±
After hearing this, Kang-hoo doubted his ears. Could such an absurd proposition be so neatly packaged?
Nikita¡¯s words essentially boiled down to human trafficking.
They were making it sound like giving hunters, taken against their will, a new life by selling their bodies.
¡°Why do you decide that?¡±
¡°There are more hunters dying or going missing than new ones emerging. Shouldn¡¯t we prevent hunters from dying meaninglessly?¡±
¡°So, why do you get to assign that meaning?¡±
That was the end of minimal courtesy and respect.
Nikita wasn¡¯t joking. He was speaking sincerely, filled with conviction.
That¡¯s what made it more frightening. He was justifying crime without a change in his expression, talking about values.
¡°I may be in a gray area, but I haven¡¯t given up being human. Enough. Go back.¡±
¡°That¡¯s unfortunate. I thought we would get along well, given that hunters pursue practicality and profit.¡±
¡°Because I pursue practicality and profit, I¡¯m saying no. Why do something when you don¡¯t know when you¡¯ll die?¡±
¡°That¡¯s truly regrettable.¡±
¡°I also regret it. I never imagined you guys could be so dense. Look for someone else. I¡¯m done.¡±
He stood up from his seat.
Even if Kang-hoo agreed to Nikita¡¯s proposal a hundred, a thousand times over, would it really go as they say?
Kang-hoo was sure it wouldn¡¯t.
If Kang-hoo¡¯s value disappeared and he was in danger, would they discard him mercilessly like Jeon Jong-du?
The conversation was doomed from the start. Kang-hoo knew it, but as expected, the conversation ended.
Nikita also stood up, wearing a bitter smile.
He must have seriously thought he could get through to Kang-hoo, which made him even more frightening.
After the encounter with Nikita, he simply buried it as an unpleasant incident.
The next day at noon, the second dungeon raid was carried out as scheduled with the Groo Guild.
It was a raid on a very short-distance, small-scale dungeon, so it ended around evening.
Kang-hoo¡¯s level hit a neat 165, and now level 200 was beginning toe into sight.
From the middle boss and main boss, he obtained one orange magic stone each as loot.
Thanks to this, after disposing of these outside the dungeon, his bank ount bnce reached 105 billion won.
Once again.
He had amassed enough to easily afford a second-tier item.
He also managed to steal some quite useful skills from each of the bosses.
[Agility Enhancement A]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max]
[Passive Skill. Permanently increases agility stat efficiency by 7.5%.]
While it doesn¡¯t increase stats in the status window, it functions like a buff skill that is always active.
Agility Enhancement A is the lowest grade of passive skill.
Subsequent alphabets indicate higher percentages of increase, marking this as the first start.
[Mark of Fire]
[Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max]
[Passive Skill: Permanently increases absolute fire resistance by 2.5%.]
Thanks to the Mark of Fire, his total absolute fire resistance reached 10%.
This was in addition to the previously obtained 7.5%.
Now, he could automatically reduce any fire-based attack damage by 10%.
What if one day it reaches 100%¡? Then, he wouldn¡¯t need to fear fire skills anymore.
For instance,
he could walk over zing mes and still maintain his physical integrity, thanks to his resistance.
The unexpected proposal that brought him to Jeju Ind had reaped him many benefits, like a gift.
He added four skills. His ount bnce increased explosively.
Plus, the explosive leveling he experienced while visiting the Imbnce Point.
It was a perfect journey.
Kang-hoo boarded the ne, leaving behind pleasant memories and a meaningful connection with the Groo Guild.
Given his entanglements with Nikita, he did not want to stay in Jeju any longer.
Elizabeth. Vincent. Emilia. Yu Cheonghwa. Casey. And even Takashi¡¯s avatar.
A total of six people gathered.
Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeong, who were still raiding the Judgment Dungeon, were unavoidably unable to attend.
After confirming everyone was present, Vincent was the first to start the conversation, as he had brought the new and unfamiliar member, Elizabeth.
¡°This is Elizabeth, who has just joined our Justice. She¡¯s as beautiful as you¡¯ve heard, right?¡±
Vincent¡¯s mention of ¡®Justice¡¯ was a reference to The Thirteen Stars.
At this time, not all thirteen members of The Thirteen Stars had gathered yet, hence there weren¡¯t thirteen of them.
Therefore, the provisional name Justice became the symbolic term for this gathering.
The name The Thirteen Stars would be finalized only after the thirteenth member joined.
The membership of Justice wasn¡¯t yetplete at 13, though it was close to that point.
-Pleased to meet you.
The first to shake hands with Elizabeth was Takashi¡¯s avatar.
Takashi¡¯s avatar, who attended in traditional samurai cosy, spoke through a speaker attached to his mouth.
¡°Ah. Nice, nice to meet you. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you. They said your face can¡¯t be seen directly.¡±
Elizabeth smiled and shook hands with the avatar. It was a cold hand, devoid of any warmth.
As each person introduced themselves to Elizabeth.
Vincent naturally started discussing the purpose of this visit.
¡°Did you all see? A new hidden skill owner has emerged. I¡¯m convinced that the owner appeared in Korea.¡±
It wasn¡¯t solely for this that he came to Korea, but it was also a curiosity he desperately wanted to solve.
The first to respond to Vincent¡¯s words was Casey Rex.
Casey, with amethyst-deep violet eyes, was the master of the Fortuna Guild.
¡°It looks like you came because you couldn¡¯t stand seeing someone else¡¯s good fortune. Do you really want to steal that hidden skill that badly?¡±
Vincent shook his head in response to Casey¡¯s remark.
¡°It¡¯s not because someone else is doing well! The hidden skill should be possessed by someone who deserves it. It¡¯s a blessing that shouldn¡¯t easily fall into the hands of just any lucky Joe.¡±
¡°So you¡¯re saying it¡¯s envy that¡¯s driving you. Why beat around the bush? That¡¯s unlike you.¡±
¡°F**k.¡±
Casey¡¯sment hit the nail on the head.
Chapter 141: Ulleungdo (1)
Chapter 141: Ulleungdo (1)
The dishes Emilia meticulously prepared were met with positive reactions from everyone.
Except for Takashi¡¯s clone, who couldn¡¯t eat for practical reasons, everyone savored the meal.
Especially Elizabeth, who repeatedly asked Emilia to refill her te.
Contrary to the other members¡¯ expectations of a potential power struggle, the two engaged in friendly conversation.
However, a smiling face doesn¡¯t always signify a kind heart.
Vincent, being perceptive, picked up on the subtle tension between Emilia and Elizabeth.
Both aimed to outshine the other in charm and beauty, a typicalpetitive instinct.
To mask this mentality, they acted friendly and kind towards each other.
Yu Cheonghwa, another female hunter, showed no interest in such mind games.Like Vincent, she was curious about who possessed the hidden skill.
Yu Cheonghwa approached Vincent.
¡°Vincent.¡±
¡°Yeah.¡±
¡°Do you suspect any assassins?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not very familiar with the Korean side. Do you have any insights?¡±
Yu Cheonghwa shrugged in response to Vincent¡¯s question.
For a moment, the face of a different person shed through her mind.
A man she had recently learned about, Kang-hoo.
Before Kang Dong-hyun published all the information about Kang-hoo on the Eclipse official website.
Yu Cheonghwa was unaware of Kang-hoo¡¯s alias or real name.
She only remembered him as a skilled assassin who had perfectly blocked her mental skills.
And it was only recently, when she saw his name on the assassination list, that her questions were answered.
She considered him a fairly skilled assassin, and her assumption was correct.
Given that he had provoked Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s wrath, it was clear how much Kang-hoo must have angered him.
However,
No matter how high Kang-hoo¡¯s potential was, iming a hidden skill seemed beyond his reach.
As Vincent mentioned, hidden skills are not something ¡®lucky nobodies¡¯ can acquire.
Yu Cheonghwa concluded that Kang-hoocked the qualifications to be the owner of one of the 77 hidden skills in this world.
¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±
Yu Cheonghwa shook her head.
No matter how she thought about it, it wasn¡¯t Kang-hoo.
There must have been another skilled assassin in the raid. After all, there are plenty of named assassins.
Vincent sighed in frustration.
¡°When are Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeong going to show up? We need their cooperation to find anything.¡±
Vincent was already feeling impatient.
Was it because he had a long cooling-off period after thest murder?
He was desperate to cover his face with hot blood again.
Like a pressure cooker with steam rising and simmering, his urge to kill was bubbling up continuously.
Meanwhile,
Just before boarding the ne, Kang-hoo received an unexpected call from Master K and changed his destination.
As the ne stabilized at cruising altitude,
Kang-hoo was listening to the recorded conversation with Master K.
The conversation had been so rushed and hectic before takeoff that he missed some parts.
¡°I found a ce where you can ¡®indirectly¡¯ obtain a miniature talisman with a release option.¡±
¡°Where? Is it a dungeon?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve inquired worldwide, but currently, there are no avable items for sale.¡±
¡°Is there another method?¡±
¡°Yes. There¡¯s a way tobine materials. You synthesize the core of the release into a colorless talisman.¡±
¡°What should I obtain?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry about the core of the release; I can get it through my wife. The colorless talisman is the problem.¡±
¡°Yes, please tell me.¡±
¡°You should go to Ulleungdo. Kim Sin-ryeong is there. You can purchase it from him.¡±
¡°Kim Sin-ryeong?¡±
¡°Yes, Kim Sin-ryeong. He¡¯s also known as the Hand of All Trades. Do you know him?¡±
¡°Not in detail.¡±
The Hand of All Trades, Kim Sin-ryeong.
She¡¯s a woman in herte fifties, but her appearance looks like she¡¯s in her twenties due to her skill in modification and procedures.
The reason for her youthful appearance is surprisingly because she wears a mask that looks exactly like a young person¡¯s face.
Creating such masks is also one of her skills.
The masks are remarkably realistic, yet the parts that can¡¯t be masked still show considerable wrinkles.
In the original work, Kim Sin-ryeong¡¯s name appears when Gong Tae-su, the butcher of Ulsan who lost an arm to Kang-hoo, imnts a mana stone in his left arm.
At that time, her name was only mentioned briefly, but now it¡¯s a crucial name for Kang-hoo.
-Anyway, it seems that friend is resting at her vi in Ulleungdo. Go and see her.
-Understood. Just give me the location, and I¡¯ll find her myself.
-No, I¡¯ll send Hyung-seo to Ulleungdo, so let him guide you. He¡¯ll also bring my letter of rmendation.
-Ah, you mean that young friend?
-Yes, I¡¯ll make sure he knows not to be rude, so don¡¯t worry too much.
-Understood. I¡¯ll head towards Ulleungdo right away. Thank you for your consideration.
-Consideration, huh? Just make sure to have plenty of money ready. I¡¯ll collect the priceter.
-Of course.
-Oh, and¡ you know, right? Kim Sin-ryeong¡¯s vi is one big trap.
-I know that.
-Good. Don¡¯t overdo it. It¡¯s fine to take the test, but it doesn¡¯t mean you should jump into a coffin.
As K mentioned at the end, Kim Sin-ryeong didn¡¯t easily meet those who sought her.
Usually, to meet her, one had to visit her vi, which she used as a hideout.
The path from the main gate to the vi was filled with all sorts of mazes and traps.
Even with a trillion won, a free pass was impossible. One must pass her ¡®test.¡¯
Many hunters have died trying to meet Kim Sin-ryeong.
She didn¡¯t even handle the corpses, so those who came to retrieve the bodies often died as well.
¡®A colorless talisman¡¡¯
This is the first time hearing the name.
What meaning does it hold to be called a colorless talisman?
Perhaps the answer can only be obtained by meeting Kim Sin-ryeong. It¡¯s time to be on high alert.
Kang-hoo closed his eyes and began recalling all memories and details about Kim Sin-ryeong from the original work.
He couldn¡¯t afford to miss even the smallest detail. Understanding her personality and characteristics was crucial.
Arriving in Ulleungdo was just as dusk began to fall.
Having traveled by boat for three hours from Gangneung, the feeling of stepping on solid ground felt strange.
Many who suffered from severe seasickness often vomited uponnding, but Kang-hoo was not sensitive to such things.
¡®It looks just like I saw it in real life.¡¯
Seeing the familiar scenery, Kang-hoo felt a sense of warmth, as if he had returned to his hometown.
When writing the original work, Ulleungdo was a ce he would visit when he wanted to experience life away from home.
He often stayed at well-prepared guesthouses scattered throughout Ulleungdo.
He stayed for at least a month, sometimes over a year.
Thanks to incorporating the things he saw and felt during that time into his descriptions, the world was recreated exactly as it was.
But just then.
¡°¡¡?¡±
Kang-hoo tilted his head upon seeing a familiar figure¡¯s back.
A man carrying aptop bag and holding arge 1-liter Americano was walking somewhere.
¡®Is that¡ me?¡¯
It was definitely the same clothes, appearance, and actions he had during his stay in Ulleungdo.
He quickly followed the figure.
What is this? Is it someone who looks like me? Or am I seeing things? Is it just a coincidence?
Though he followed the man who had just turned into a side street, the figure disappeared without a trace.
As if he had never been there, he vanished without leaving a single clue.
¡°Hmm.¡±
With no way to track him, Kang-hoo stopped.
It was a strange experience.
Maybe it was a fleeting ovep with memories from his life before the possession.
That seemed the most usible exnation.
A short whileter.
Moon Hyung-seo arrived in Ulleungdo, resulting in an awkward meeting at the harbor.
As soon as Moon Hyung-seo saw Kang-hoo, he bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle.
It was clear that Master K had given him a stern talking-to, as he now seemed exceedingly polite.
Unlike before, his bangs were now styled to hang loosely, and his attire was more casual.
Moon Hyung-seo appeared much softer, almost resembling a college student, with his usual severity noticeably diminished.
¡°I¡¯ll guide you right away. Sorry for beingte.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not like the ship schedules are predictable; no need to apologize.¡±
¡°I should have taken the earlier ferry and scouted the area beforehand. Please forgive me.¡±
¡°Forget it. Just lead the way.¡±
With an awkward smile, Kang-hoo signaled for Moon Hyung-seo to proceed.
Considering they were about to meet Kim Sin-ryeong for the first time, he felt no urge to hurry.
During their walk,
Moon Hyung-seo kept casting wary nces around.
While it¡¯s always wise to be cautious, his behavior seemed overly so.
¡°Is there a problem?¡±
¡°Um¡ this is unofficial, but.¡±
¡°Yes?¡±
¡°In the past ten days, ten hunters living in Ulleungdo have vanished without a trace. There¡¯s been no sign of them since.¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s expression darkened slightly at Moon Hyung-seo¡¯s revtion.
Ulleungdocked a Public Safety Bureau and had no main force overseeing it, making it a ce where everyone had to fend for themselves.
This created a location full of uncertainties.
Despite the presence of many civilians, which generally led hunters to avoid bloody conflicts as much as possible,
If civilians were to die as a result of hunter conflicts, the Hunter Public Safety Bureau would step in directly.
Their involvement would mean the appearance of the Jeonghwa Guild, so everyone ¡®behaved¡¯ ordingly.
Yet, there was an unsettling issue.
The concentrated disappearance of hunters was difficult to dismiss as mere coincidence.
¡°Ulleungdo has several open dungeons, so it¡¯smon for hunters toe and go.¡±
¡°Everyone is cautious, but despite that, these disappearances keep urring.¡±
Whoosh!
Moon Hyung-seo pulled out a spear he had minimized, infused it with magic, and expanded it back to its original size.
It seemed capable of shrinking and stretching, akin to Kang-hoo¡¯s emergency weapon, the Spear of Intense Strength.
Yet, it boasted a much more superior appearance than the 4th-grade Spear of Intense Strength.
It appeared to be at least a 2nd-grade spear, fitting for someone of Moon Hyung-seo¡¯s caliber.
At that moment,
¡°Wait.¡±
Kang-hoo halted, sensing an unusual presence from behind, and seized Moon Hyung-seo.
Suddenly, a dense, cold chill surged from behind.
It was a sudden and overwhelming force that immobilized his entire body.
In that instant, a certain figure shed in his mind. Kang-hoo called out to Moon Hyung-seo.
Chapter 142: Ulleungdo (2)
Chapter 142: Ulleungdo (2)
Unlike Kang-hoo, who used his evasion skill to swiftly leave the scene,
Moon Hyeong-seo was a half-beat toote in his reaction. He responded, but not perfectly.
He instinctively raised his spear to block the front, seeding in this,
but he couldn¡¯t prevent the ¡®mysterious entity¡¯ that suddenly appeared from touching him.
And then.
¡°Damn.¡±
Moon Hyeong-seo realized he was in a different space from Kang-hoo, despite it being simr. They had been separated.
There was a clear reason for using the expression ¡°the same but different,¡± which is inherently contradictory.
¡°To think I¡¯d be spatially isted.¡±It was spatial istion.
If the ¡®ck Guide¡¯ lived in Ground Zero, the ¡®ck Shadow¡¯ lived to the north of Ground Zero.
To be precise, it was a monster that could only be seen from the northern side.
This creature could hide and split its form simultaneously, making it a rather tricky entity.
It was hostile to the ck Guide living in Ground Zero and was immediately repelled upon approach.
Their territorial battles were fierce, and being significantly outnumbered, it couldn¡¯t contend with the ck Guide.
Thus, it was a creature unseen in the southern part of Ground Zero, but it had entered Ulleungdo.
Now, the mystery of the missing incidents became clear. It was undoubtedly this creature¡¯s doing.
The missing people probably weren¡¯t just spatially isted; they were likely devoured.
They were eaten so cleanly that not even their bodies could be found.
¡°Five minutes¡¡±
Moon Hyeong-seo checked the five-minute debuff activated on his status window and bit his lip.
Spatial istion was ssified as a debuff. It rendered the target unable to do anything.
Although he could see Kang-hoo right in front of him, he couldn¡¯t touch him, as if trying to grab smoke.
¡°Damn. I can¡¯t do anything like this. The Master told me to ensure his safety¡¡±
Moon Hyeong-seo gritted his teeth.
Unlike the ck Guide, the ck Shadow was much trickier to deal with.
Its exact level wasn¡¯t fixed, but it typically boasted a power level exceeding 300.
No wonder hunters disappeared without a trace.
If you made even a slight mistake during the confrontation, you¡¯d be devoured in the blink of an eye.
Knowing it had a much higher level, the ck Shadow deliberately isted him.
It was both clever and powerful.
Could Kang-hoo endure?
Moon Hyeong-seo was doubtful.
He furrowed his brows and tightly closed his eyes, only able to stomp his feet in frustration.
Meanwhile,
Kang-hoo, noticing Moon Hyeong-seo had fallen into spatial istion, immediately recognized the presence of the ck Shadow.
Spatial istion was an ability that temporarily removed a troublesome enemy from the battlefield.
It was one of Jang Si-hwan¡¯s frequently used abilities, though not unique to him alone.
Jang Si-hwan often used this ability to send dungeon boss monsters with tricky wide-area attack patterns into another space.
There, the monster would waste its efforts alone in the isted space before returning.
Spatial istion was one of the elements that Jang Si-hwan found quite enjoyable, making it a frequent feature in the original work.
Of course, Jang Si-hwan wasn¡¯t likely to appear here. So, Kang-hoo thought of another possibility, which was the ck Shadow.
The Great Sage of Kangdong,
A constetion that can see through the unseen. If a target is designated, its form can be perceived as opaque even if it hides.
Kang-hoo designated the ck Shadow using the ¡®Great Sage of Kangdong¡¯ constetion.
This constetion, which he had plundered after killing Cha So-hee, proved incredibly useful in situations like this.
Thanks to this, even though the ck Shadow concealed itself through stealth, its movement path was clearly visible.
It resembled a clump of exhaust fumesing out of an old truck.
Right then,
Kshhh!
The ck Shadow, which had been circling from a distance, suddenly charged towards Kang-hoo.
It didn¡¯t lose momentum, even as it approached at an incredible speed, seemingly unaffected by air resistance.
Protective Barrier.
Boom!
¡°Ugh!¡±
A collision urred immediately.
And then.
Crash! Crackle! Crash!
The ck Shadow collided with the protective barrier, causing numerous scratches in a short time.
The force of its attack was powerful enough to tear and shatter the barrier where it wed through.
¡°What a damn nuisance.¡±
Kang-hoo expressed his hostility without restraint. It was a truly heart-stopping moment.
If it weren¡¯t for the protective barrier, those torn fragments would have been his flesh.
This creature was tricky.
It transformed into smoke when evading or staying distant,
then materialized only when it needed to attack,unching a fierce assault.
This selfish damage exchange on its own terms was enough to make Kang-hoo curse.
Kshhh!
¡°Ugh.¡±
Without a moment to breathe, the ck Shadow charged again.
Kang-hoo considered pulling out the Srkium from his pocket and consuming it, given the situation.
But it didn¡¯t give him any chance.
The creature immediately surged forward.
Crash!
Kang-hoo barely managed to block it again with his protective barrier.
This time, the barrier shattered much more easily, as the creature seemed to have increased its output.
It was difficult to call for help due to the evening time. Even if he could, there was no one to rely on.
Even if a passing hunter saw the scene, they would likely pretend not to notice rather than help.
Moon Hyeong-seo¡¯s spatial istionsted at least five minutes. Relying on his help was also unlikely.
¡®Let¡¯s keep it simple for now.¡¯
He made a clear decision.
For now, he would focus on blocking the ck Shadow¡¯s attacks with extreme defense, looking for a chance to counterattack.
Understanding the creature¡¯s attack methods, patterns, and speed was essential before nning the next move.
Any borate strategy would be useless if it didn¡¯t match the situation.
Combining assassination and defense was a contradictory term in any form.
But Kang-hoo was confident. He had diligently gathered skills for moments like this.
Now it was time to put them to use.
A whileter.
¡°His skills are quite impressive.¡±
Moon Hyeong-seo, who had been watching the battle between Kang-hoo and the ck Shadow from an isted space, admired.
Even though Kang-hoo was primarily on the defensive without significant counterattacks,
his response was wless. It was much more solid than Moon Hyeong-seo had anticipated.
Kang-hoo¡¯s protective barrier skill was the most impressive.
It was rare for an assassin to have such a setup-type and mobile defense skill.
Given the skill¡¯sposition, durability, and utility, it could easily be considered a professional tanker¡¯s skill.
And that wasn¡¯t all.
Kang-hoo didn¡¯t just rely on honest defense by building walls to block attacks.
Moon Hyeong-seo was impressed by the quick evasion skill that allowed him to leave the scene immediately.
This is a basic skill that can only be used when the evasion skill has reached its maximum proficiency.
Moon Hyeong-seo¡¯s basic skills, obtained at level 1 and level 10, were just about to reach their maximum proficiency.
However, evasion is a basic skill for assassins at level 40.
Given the typical growth curve of assassins, reaching maximum proficiency in this skill was impossible at this point.
But Kang-hoo was using it very effectively. The ck Shadow wasted a lot of effort because of this.
The same was true for position switching using Shadow Step.
Kang-hoo skillfully dodged and changed positions while the ck Shadow moved like lightning.
Of course, the creature was so fast that it quickly identified Kang-hoo¡¯s new position and attacked again.
However, even a brief dy was enough to tire the ck Shadow.
Moon Hyeong-seo thought Kang-hoo¡¯s skill in handling the ck Shadow was far superior in terms of stability.
Kang-hoo¡¯s responses were not impulsive or instinctual but thoroughly calcted.
In other words, he wasn¡¯t just defending thoughtlessly.
As expected.
Suddenly, ck energy began to rise from Kang-hoo¡¯s body¡
Kssh?
The ck Shadow, which had been attacking with all its might, suddenly lost track of Kang-hoo¡¯s position.
¡°Could it be?¡±
There was only one reason for such a scenario: it happens when the opponent is undead.
So¡ does Kang-hoo have a skill to disguise himself as an undead?
Moon Hyeong-seo¡¯s eyes widened in shock.
When the calctions regarding the ck Shadow wereplete,
the skill Kang-hoo used tounch his counterattack was the Silence of the Necromancer.
Silence of the Necromancer.
It consumes 10 mana per second to disguise as an undead, exuding their unique aura, so it remains undetected.
Even with the ¡®Age of Savagery¡¯ skill reducing mana consumption by half, Kang-hoo, with a mana stat of 20, lost 25% of his total mana per second.
So, the skill¡¯s overload increased rapidly, but its strategic utility was clear.
¡®As expected.¡¯
The ck Shadow lost track of Kang-hoo¡¯s position.
The creature didn¡¯t have separate vision; it identified positions based on its sense of alienation from humans.
It didn¡¯t need to see eyes, nose, and mouth precisely, as long as it could identify the form.
He immediately deployed a veil of trickery and simultaneously sent out a clone using the duplication technique.
The n was to make the creature believe that his reappearance was the return of the previously vanished self.
The clone wouldn¡¯t be affected by the Silence of the Necromancer skill, making it feel like the original Kang-hoo.
Meanwhile,
ck Moon sh.
He prepared a hidden skill.
To cleanly finish off the ck Shadow, this method was the best and only option.
Once identified, it was nearly impossible to ignore or escape.
Even if he managed to escape, he would eventually be caught again, facing either spatial istion or inevitablebat.
He decided to end it here.
Kssh! Krssh!
Seeing Kang-hoo¡¯s clone, the ck Shadow raised its offense again.
Even while gathering dark energy for the ck Moon sh, Kang-hoo controlled the clone as much as possible.
If the clone was destroyed too early, the creature might start guarding its surroundings.
¡®Good.¡¯
The dark energy rapidly depleted, and the ck aura of the ck Moon sh began to heat up on his dagger.
Bncing both tasks was incredibly challenging, but Kang-hoo gritted his teeth and managed it.
Maintaining the Silence of the Necromancer skill brought on an earlier-than-expected headache.
This issue wouldn¡¯t be resolved just by increasing the mana stat.
It was a problem caused by congenital mana hyperactivity, which absorbed mana at an overwhelmingly fast rate.
The issue wasn¡¯t the total amount of mana but the abnormally fast recovery rate of mana.
Even with a high mana stat, skill usage still resulted in mana consumption.
This gap was immediately filled by the hyperactivity, making overload unavoidable in any situation.
Just then.
¡®It¡¯s ready.¡¯
The energy for the ck Moon sh reached its peak.
The dark energy bottomed out, and the ck Shadow still targeted the undying clone.
Everything was perfect.
In the darkness created by the veil of trickery, Kang-hoo prepared his first andst strike.
And then.
Shing!
The ck-red sword energy cut through the cold night air with a chilling breath.
Swish!
It sliced the body of the cursed creature created by the darkness in half.
It was the moment when the seemingly uncuttable shadow disappeared.
Yes.
It was dead, cut in half.
Chapter 143: Ulleungdo (3)
Chapter 143: Ulleungdo (3)
Before the space istion was lifted, Mun Hyeong-seo¡¯s eyes twitched as he saw the ck shadow die.
He got goosebumps.
It wasn¡¯t because he was scared of Gang Hu.
It was because Gang Hu ended the ck shadow with an unexpected counter skill of such firepower at such a fast pace.
Mun Hyeong-seo had never killed a ck shadow in one blow like that. It was an impossible scene.
To kill a wraith-like monster like the ck shadow in one hit, the conditions were extremely difficult.
For example, it had to be a form that utilized arge amount of holy power or dark energy to wipe it out at once.
That meant Gang Hu could handle dark energy.
Is he saying that an assassin, not even at level 200, can handle dark energy?There¡¯s a reason dark energy or holy power is called the seventh stat.
It¡¯s because it¡¯s extremely difficult to master and even harder to gather a usable amount once mastered.
But Gang Hu seemed to already have a sufficient amount of dark energy. It was unbelievable.
¡°Come out slowly. The situation is over.¡±
Gang Hu spoke with a smile in the direction he assumed Mun Hyeong-seo was.
He must be thinking various thoughts inside the isted space. Wondering what kind of skill it was.
Meanwhile, Gang Hu was examining the dark energy stats he obtained by killing the ck shadow.
¡¾You have defeated the ''ck Shadow'' and obtained the randomly activated dark energy stat ''20''.¡¿
¡®This is a real gain.¡¯
He couldn¡¯t help but smile.
He got much more dark energy at once than he expected. Thanks to that, his dark energy stat was now 120.
The reason this stat is so precious is that the seventh stat cannot be increased by investing points.
It could only be increased purely by hunting monsters or obtaining items.
Items with the seventh stat option were very rare, making them extremely difficult to acquire.
So, defeating things like the ck guide or ck shadow was the only way to increase it.
But even that followed strict probabilities, and the probability itself was in the single digits¡
There were more situations where he couldn¡¯t get it than where he could.
If he hunted monsters of this type all day, getting even 1 point would be a lot.
Considering all the time focused on obtaining dark energy, it was like saving about a month.
All from a single battle.
Eventually, Mun Hyeong-seo returned to the original space as the istion was lifted and bowed deeply towards Gang Hu.
It was because Master K had repeatedly asked him to take good care of Gang Hu as if he were himself.
Failing to live up to the words of the master, whom he revered more than a god, filled him with immense self-reproach.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lord Gang Hu. It was my fault.¡±
It was surprising to see Mun Hyeong-seo, who wouldn¡¯t blink even if poked in the eye, showing such weakness.
It meant that K¡¯s request had absolute significance to him.
But Gang Hu had no intention of ming Mun Hyeong-seo.
The reason he was isted was simply that the ck shadow had targeted him.
Conversely, if the ck shadow had persistently targeted Gang Hu, he would have been the one isted.
¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. The choice of that thing is always a gamble. It wouldn¡¯t be strange no matter who it chose.¡±
¡°But¡¡±
¡°Let¡¯s be thankful it ended in a happy ending. I had some fun too.¡±
Although his level didn¡¯t rise, Gang Hu was satisfied as he gained a considerable amount of experience at once.
Especially the increase in the dark energy stat was wee.
It would allow him to upgrade the already powerful ck Moon sh to another level.
Mun Hyeong-seo, thinking that continued apologies might be burdensome, changed the subject.
¡°It was a brilliant response. The skill attack was so clean. I couldn¡¯t have anticipated it at all.¡±
He wanted to somehow ease the awkward atmosphere created because of him.
At this point, he felt embarrassed about his sharp response and warning to Gang Hu during their first meeting.
Mun Hyeong-seo knew that the skill Gang Hu used to kill the ck shadow was far from ordinary.
He had some guesses but deliberately kept quiet. Gang Hu hadn¡¯t mentioned the skill either.
Mun Hyeong-seo was a man of few words, thanks to Master K¡¯s teachings.
Moreover, since Gang Hu was a special guest of Master K, he didn¡¯t want to divulge any secrets.
If anything, he would rather keep them hidden. However, he wanted to show his respect for Gang Hu.
¡°The timing was perfect.¡±
¡°I¡¯m still a bit dazed. That thing shouldn¡¯t appear south of Ground Zero.¡±
¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like it came down on its own. Someone might have deliberately brought it.¡±
¡°Are you saying it could be the work of a hunter?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not impossible. The ck shadow is an intelligent being. It could have made some kind of agreement with a hunter.¡±
¡°Hmm¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s all spection. Anyway, it¡¯s better not to use the word ¡®impossible¡¯ in the future. There¡¯s no 100% certainty.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll correct that.¡±
¡°What¡¯s there to correct? Just give yourself good feedback. It¡¯s not bad to consider various scenarios.¡±
¡°That¡¯s true.¡±
Mun Hyeong-seo nodded.
Even though he was receiving advice, not advice, from someone much lower in level than him.
He didn¡¯t feel bad or prideful about it. It made sense, after all.
Luckily.
Thanks to Gang Hu¡¯s brilliant response, the incident with the ck shadow ended as a mere happening.
Mun Hyeong-seo made a resolution.
As Gang Hu said, he would erase the word ¡®impossible¡¯ from his mind.
Because it seemed like a very dangerous idea. It limits one¡¯s thinking.
In that sense, Gang Hu¡¯s response this time felt even more impressive. He learned something good.
Of course, it was partly because both Gang Hu and Mun Hyeong-seo moved while focusing more on the surroundings.
They did witness some hunter gangs picking fights and shing with each other along the way.
But since it was a personal matter, they ignored it. There was no need to act out of a sense of justice.
Before they knew it, they arrived in front of Kim Sin-ryeong¡¯s vi.
Calling it a vi was an understatement; it was more urate to call it a mansion or arge hideout.
Even if they took a car from the entrance, it seemed they would need to go much further inside.
The distance from the main gate to the actual residence was quite long.
¡®There are already some casualties.¡¯
As Gang Hu nced inside from outside, he saw quite a few hunter corpses here and there.
Strangely, there was no smell of rotting bodies. Was there some special treatment done to the fences or the interior bushes?
The corpses of the dead hunters were slowly drying up, looking unusual.
As if they were slowly being drained of life, bing nutrients for something else.
¡®Perhaps part of the security and surveince system of the entire vi is powered by biomass.¡¯
Various spections were possible.
Thinking that the entire vast space of the vi was a test area made his chest feel heavy.
There was no fear of failure. If his life seemed to be in danger, he could use teleportation.
Of course, if that happened, he wouldn¡¯t pass Kim Sin-ryeong¡¯s test, and the subsequent steps would beplicated.
At that moment.
Mun Hyeong-seo pressed the visitor bell at the main gate.
As if she had been waiting, a husky female voice was heard as soon as the bell was pressed.
-Who is it?
¡°It¡¯s Mun Hyeong-seo. I came with the client sent by Master K. We are ready to meet.¡±
-I would like to see the client¡¯s face.
Kim Sin-ryeong¡¯s voice and tone had a color that could easily be called unpleasant, depending on how one listened.
She could be someone who lived with a sense of superiority, or someone with great pride.
It didn¡¯t matter either way.
Now was the time when the colorless talisman, which could only be obtained from her, was essential.
Gang Hu moved to a position where he could be seen well on the screen and slightly leaned his face forward.
Then, a response came immediately.
-Oh? You¡¯re handsome? Hyeong-seo, looking at you like this, you seem like a squid* byparison.
¡°¡Must you say such things here?¡±
Mun Hyeong-seo made a perplexed expression, but he didn¡¯t think Kim Sin-ryeong was wrong.
Anyone could see that Gang Hu had an attractive appearance. Mun Hyeong-seo had an ordinary face at best.
-I just wanted to see the face. Hyeong-seo, you follow the person I send ande inside.
¡°Yes.¡±
-Our handsome client must enter ording to the rules I set. Do you agree?
¡°Sure.¡±
Gang Hu nodded.
-If you feel like you¡¯re going to die while doing it, you can run away anytime. Just don¡¯t expect to show your face here again.
¡°See you soon.¡±
Gang Hu replied confidently.
He had finished his research on her to a certain extent. The outline was sufficiently drawn.
And then.
Creak¡
The firmly closed iron gate of the main entrance began to open slowly.
At the same time, a maze area with thick darkness, formed by bushes and thorny nts, appeared not far away.
It looked tricky enough to make one think it wouldn¡¯t be easy. It was the start of the ¡®test.¡¯
Following the guide, Mun Hyeong-seo moved through a special underground passage and could immediately meet Kim Sin-ryeong.
Because Kim Sin-ryeong and Master K had a deep friendship, Mun Hyeong-seo naturally became close to her.
Kim Sin-ryeong handed a warm cup of coffee to Mun Hyeong-seo and asked with eyes full of curiosity.
¡°What sudden wind blew that he, who rarely sends clients, sent one this time?¡±
¡°He wants to help.¡±
¡°Oh ho¡ That person, who rarely opens his heart to outsiders?¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±
¡°Can you tell me what kind of person he is? That way, it would be fun to watch here, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±
Dozens of screens were disyed where Kim Sin-ryeong pointed.
They all showed the maze and trap zones inside her vi in high definition.
It was possible to zoom in on the screen if needed and to switch angles as well.
The system was designed for specialized observation, to the extent that one could say it was made for realistic viewing.
¡°On the way here, we encountered a ck shadow. I don¡¯t know the reason, but that was the situation.¡±
¡°Ah? Recently, there have been frequent hunter disappearance cases on Ulleungdo. Was it that thing¡¯s doing?¡±
Kim Sin-ryeong¡¯s eyes sparkled.
The fact that many hunters had been sacrificed didn¡¯t seem to affect her much. The same was true for Mun Hyeong-seo.
Perhaps because disappearances or deaths weremonce in this world, there was no special thought about it.
¡°Yes. But during the initial response process, I was isted due to my inexperience.¡±
¡°Then does that friend mean he faced the ck shadow one-on-one? What happened to the ck shadow? Did it escape?¡±
¡°No. It died. With a single attack, split exactly in half.¡±
¡°Oh ho? Is that possible?¡±
¡°Yes. It seems possible.¡±
Kim Sin-ryeong unknowingly licked her lips with her tongue. It was a unique reaction when her interest was piqued.
Just then.
¡¾Challenger, First Area Passed.¡¿
A message popped up on the monitor, indicating that Gang Hu had passed the first trap.
It was the most cautious area because it was just the beginning. So it was expected to take quite a bit of time.
But Gang Hu had already passed.
¡°Look at this guy¡¡±
Her lips curled into a smile.
A fun guy had appeared.
Chapter 144: Ulleungdo (4)
Chapter 144: Ulleungdo (4)
¡®How truly mischievous.¡¯
Kang-hoo let out a sigh of relief with his head lowered after passing the first trap.
In conclusion, it was a sess. The scenario inferred from Kim Sin-ryeong¡¯s personality in the original work matched perfectly.
A seemingly uneventful starting area.
A space with neatly growing beautiful flowers, a stylish bench, and streetmps.
Therefore, it seemed like a safe starting point, which made it easy to let one¡¯s guard down. There was a trap set there.
When Kang-hoo sent his clone inside, a spear immediately flew towards him.
The spear, imbued with magic skills, would have skewered himpletely if it had hit.
There was a line from Kim Sin-ryeong in the original work that Kang-hoo always remembered.The moment I feel the greatest thrill is when Ind a blow that my opponent did not anticipate.
The meaning behind her words was that she greatly enjoyed catching her opponent off guard strategically and tactically.
A brightly lit space that waspletely different from the ominous, dark entrance of the maze.
For a moment, Kang-hoo also thought that this might be a sort of waiting area.
But Kim Sin-ryeong had caught him off guard. If he had entered without thinking, his life would have ended there.
¡°Hmph.¡±
Now in sight was a path that significantly narrowed and darkened.
The entire test area was in the form of a maze.
The walls were made of a solid structure woven from wood and thorny brambles.
One might think that burning the wood and brambles would create a shortcut.
But doing so would lead to instant death.
Because numerous explosive traps were linked within the gaps of the wood and brambles.
Trying to break through the wall would result in the wall exploding, leaving no trace of the person.
Before moving forward, Kang-hoo sent a clone created by illusion magic ahead.
Even though it seemed like a path where nothing could happen, he was extra cautious.
Kim Sin-ryeong enjoyed defyingmon sense. She always left gaps in seemingly safe ces.
Ironically, she made no special preparations in ces that appeared dangerous.
By exploiting these gaps, she caused confusion in her opponent¡¯s judgment. It was quite malicious.
As the clone entered the path.
Crash!
The ground, which had been t moments ago, shook, and sharp spears shot up.
¡®This is exceedingly cruel.¡¯
Kang-hoo smirked bitterly.
Not only did sharp spears shoot up, but they were alsoced with poison.
Even if the spears didn¡¯t pierce him, a slight touch would have poisoned him.
The spears remained upright.
Since her ultimate move failed, it seemed safe to pass through now.
However, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t move. This time, he sent a shadow created by his Shadow Step skill.
Then, in the next moment.
Swish!
A strong suction force emerged from the left wall of the maze, sucking in the shadow.
Thrust! Thrust! Thrust!
Three short spears hidden within the thorny brambles shot out, stabbing the air.
It was a shadow, so the spears missed, but if it had been a person, they would have been pierced through the back or chest.
Satan, demon.
These words fittingly came to mind repeatedly in the current situation.
Nothing had gone as nned from the start to now.
The seemingly safe entrance was the most dangerous area.
A space set up to appear as if it had only one trap contained another trap.
So Kang-hoo created another clone and sent it into the area with the two variables.
Then.
Crash!
Now, the walls on both sides came together, leaving no gap in the middle.
Indeed.
The final trap was a deathtrap where the walls would crush and press the body to death.
¡°Cruel, truly cruel.¡±
Kang-hoo clicked his tongue.
At this point, it felt less like customer acquisition and more like an intent to kill, making his mind foggy.
Afterward.
Kim Sin-ryeong and Moon Hyeong-seo watched Kang-hoo¡¯s responses through a monitor, continuously amazed.
Kang-hoo thought carefully and responded to the traps Kim Sin-ryeong had meticulously designed.
¡°To say he¡¯s just cautious, he boldly crosses sections that should be crossed boldly.¡±
Moon Hyeong-seo agreed with Kim Sin-ryeong¡¯s reaction. He, too, had observed and felt something.
¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. He doesn¡¯t seem to be acting out of fear.¡±
¡°That guy has so many skills he can utilize, so his ability to handle variables is far superior.¡±
¡°Indeed, it¡¯s entirely different from the typical skill set of an assassin. Some skills don¡¯t even match well.¡±
¡°Exactly. It¡¯s impressive how he uses that slime whenever something feels off.¡±
On the screen, a slime suddenly appeared, enduring various attacks and then perishing.
Moreover, when Kang-hoo decided to deliver a decisive blow, he surrounded himself with a protective barrier.
As a result, from Kim Sin-ryeong¡¯s perspective, who had carefully designed the game, it was incredibly frustrating.
It felt like ying rock-paper-scissors with someone who already knew what move you would make.
Moon Hyeong-seo, who had been secretly admiring Kang-hoo¡¯s movements, subtly started the conversation.
¡°Isn¡¯t he different from the hunters we¡¯ve seen so far?¡±
¡°Yeah. He¡¯s a smart kid who knows how to think. He doesn¡¯t think solely from his perspective but looks at it from mine as the designer.¡±
¡°I think so too.¡±
¡°Moreover, he seems to have calcted everything and just pushes through with his diverse skill set.¡±
¡°Wow. Already¡! Has he almost reached the end?¡±
¡°His shadow maniption skill is amazing. He can check for traps with the shadow he sends ahead. If he thinks it¡¯s safe, he changes positions.¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±
Feeling annoyed by the continuous praise, Kim Sin-ryeong reacted with agitation.
¡°That bastard is crazy! What kind of assassin is that? Where did hee from?¡±
It was indeed apliment.
Some timeter.
The meeting with Kim Shin-ryeong took ce. Since he passed her ¡®test¡¯ without any issues, it was an expected oue.
Kang-hoo chuckled as he reflected on the traps and structures he encountered on his way here.
No matter how he thought about it, Kim Shin-ryeong was indeed entric.
Every space bore traces of her efforts to kill the guest who sincerely sought her out.
Of course, no one was forced to enter and die. The hunters who met their end here all entered of their own ord and died.
Kang-hoo thought there was no reason to me Kim Shin-ryeong. The problem was the hunters who foolishly challenged and died.
Soon, the sound of slippers dragging signaled Kim Shin-ryeong¡¯s arrival in the reception room, having prepared to meet.
At that moment, Kang-hoo couldn¡¯t help but smile, which was rare for him. Her face was so unusual.
Kim Shin-ryeong furrowed her brows and asked at Kang-hoo¡¯s reaction.
¡°Why are youughing?¡±
¡°No matter how skilled you are, using a famous face so tantly is a bit much, isn¡¯t it?¡±
Kim Shin-ryeong¡¯s face was not her own but that of Saint Elizabeth of Salvation.
The mask was so meticulously made that one could mistake it for Elizabeth just by looking at the face.
Of course, it couldn¡¯t cover the wrinkles on her neck or hands, but still.
Mask-making was also one of her skills. In fact, the term ¡°invisible mask¡± might be more fitting than just a mask.
¡°I just wanted to try having a pretty face, why?¡±
Kang-hoo didn¡¯t press further in response to Kim Shin-ryeong¡¯s bold reaction. It was right to respect preferences.
¡°Is this enough to pass the test?¡±
¡°Well¡ honestly, I¡¯d like to say it was excellent. I have to give credit where it¡¯s due. It was very clean.¡±
¡°The series of harsh traps were truly daunting. I don¡¯t ever want to challenge it again.¡±
¡°Judging by your performance, I think it¡¯d be fun if you tried challenging my vi in America sometime?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll pass on doing anything suicidal twice.¡±
¡°Anyway, let¡¯s talk. What do you want to buy from me?¡±
¡°The Colorless Talisman.¡±
¡°Do you know what the Colorless Talisman is?¡±
¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±
Kang-hoo answered honestly.
There was no reason to pretend to know in front of her. It would only cause trust issues.
¡°It¡¯s made by dismantling and disassembling a talisman with existing options until nothing remains.¡±
¡°Ah.¡±
He had guessed, but hearing it was much more intriguing.
It sounded easy, but if stability faltered even a little, the item would turn to dust in the dismantling process.
Not partial damage or loss of function, but simply bing a handful of ashes.
Most skilled craftsmen knew nothing about dismantling items.
Moreover, there were only a handful of dismantling experts in the world.
Kim Shin-ryeong was one of them.
She was especially skilled at dismantling even the smallest and most intricate talismans.
¡°I¡¯ve already priced it. 9.99 billion won. But I¡¯ll give you a special discount.¡±
¡°How much?¡±
¡°Free.¡±
¡°Huh?¡±
He expected a 20% discount at most, thinking he would pay around 8 billion won.
Her proposed price was free. Zero won. Could this be true?
¡°Thanks to you, I learned a lot about improving my traps. Consider it a consultancy fee.¡±
¡°Since you¡¯re being generous¡¡±
¡°Shut up and take it as is before I cancel the discount. If you try to haggle, I¡¯ll raise the price again.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡±
Kang-hoo swiftly canceled his thought of asking for more consultancy fees.
Kim Shin-ryeong promptly handed over the talisman she had prepared.
As its name suggested, it was a colorless talisman.
Even in the item window, it had no options except for its disyed name. It looked as if it had been erased by an eraser.
¡°I¡¯ve finished all the post-processing. From what I¡¯ve heard from K, it seems you have a lot of stories. You must have had a hard time.¡±
¡°Everyone has stories. It¡¯s just how it is.¡±
¡°You speak well. Anyway, I liked what I saw in the test today. You did well.¡±
¡°Thank you for thepliment.¡±
¡°So, I have a proposal. Are you interested?¡±
¡°Yes, go ahead.¡±
Kim Shin-ryeong¡¯s eyes sparkled. Passing her test seemed to have made a significant impression.
As the conversation turned personal, Moon Hyeong-seo naturally left the room.
With just the two of them left, Kim Shin-ryeong spoke up.
¡°I have an assassin-type summon I¡¯m working on. Could you help me with its training?¡±
¡°A summoner, are you?¡±
¡°Yes. My essence is summoning. Crafting and dismantling are secondary skills.¡±
It was unexpected.
She was specialized in both, which was rare. She was certainly not an ordinary ability user.
¡°It¡¯s not hard to help, but I can¡¯t do it for free.¡±
¡°The dagger you¡¯re holding. It seems to have a weapon-feeding option? How about this? I¡¯ll provide a weapon for feeding. Would that pique your interest?¡±
Kim Shin-ryeong, seeing through the dagger¡¯s characteristics, made an unexpected, bold proposal.
This created the possibility of activating the ¡®Distorted Awakening¡¯ option of the dagger ¡®Corrupted Conviction.¡¯
Chapter 145: Ulleungdo (5)
Chapter 145: Ulleungdo (5)
There was no reason to hide the item¡¯s properties when she could judge them without even looking at the options.
Kang-hoo asked.
¡°How did you know?¡±
¡°I can see it with my eyes.¡±
Kim Shin-ryeong answered briefly. That alone was a sufficient answer.
Just as Kang-hoo could see the information of other constetions, she could also see it with her own eyes.
Kim Shin-ryeong, who had contracts with more than ten constetions, had a level of at least 500.
Therefore, it wasn¡¯t strange that someone specialized in crafting and disassembling could see the essence of the item.
However, the question remained.The weapon she could consume would be expensive, so why invest in him?
Was it just because she liked him at first sight and was willing to give away an expensive weapon?
Or was she trying to make a big deal out of giving a low-grade item?
Seeing Kang-hoo¡¯s gaze deepen with a different meaning, Kim Shin-ryeong sneered and said.
¡°Are you worried I might throw you some useless trash?¡±
¡°I think there¡¯s not enough reason for that.¡±
¡°Here. Take a look for yourself. A suspicious guy like you needs to see it with your own eyes to be satisfied.¡±
Kim Shin-ryeong tossed a dagger to Kang-hoo. Kang-hoo caught it and checked the options immediately.
Unlike ordinary items, this one had a unique feature from the start.
¡¾Tranquility - Weapon¡¿
¡¾Grade: 7th Grade¡¿
¡¾This weapon is damaged for unknown reasons, and you cannot benefit from its original options when equipped.¡¿
¡¾Strength +35¡¿¡¾Not applicable¡¿
There was a warning.
While it had stat options, they were not activated.
Kang-hoo temporarily removed his existing dagger and equipped this one, but there was no change in stats.
This phenomenon existed even in the original work.
However, since the focus was solely on Jang Si-hwan¡¯s growth, Jang Si-hwan¡¯s items never ended up like this.
Yes, it was the protagonist¡¯s privilege. The author didn¡¯t want the protagonist to suffer even a small loss.
Anyway, there was a destroyed item before him. An item that had lost its value.
¡°It¡¯s a destroyed item.¡±
¡°Yes. It¡¯s useless for a hunter to equip it. The stats don¡¯t change. It¡¯s trash.¡±
¡°Oh¡!¡±
At that moment, Kang-hoo had a sh of insight.
It¡¯s true that equipping it was meaningless. But there was meaning in ¡®feeding it.¡¯
It only didn¡¯t provide benefits when equipped, but the situation could be different otherwise.
It was a loophole in the setting.
¡°Now do you understand? I have quite a few items like this that you can¡¯t even imagine.¡±
¡°¡¡¡±
He was intrigued.
For ordinary hunters, these items had lost their value and would have been discarded or sold cheaply.
But for some reason, Kim Shin-ryeong had been collecting such items. The exact reason was unknown.
¡°If you cooperate with me, I could give you high-grade items for free. For zero won.¡±
¡°That¡¯s quite tempting.¡±
¡°Right? It piques your interest, doesn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a waste to buy them to feed, but it feels good to get them for free.¡±
¡°Do you need my cooperation now?¡±
¡°No, not now. Let¡¯s just exchange contact information. I¡¯ll contact you if needed.¡±
¡°I have a busy schedule, so I might not be able to clear time as you wish. I ask for your understanding.¡±
¡°Who¡¯s saying otherwise? I¡¯m talking about meeting after coordinating our schedules. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not calling you to boss you around.¡±
It was quite an interesting issue.
He didn¡¯t know what kind of dagger she would give him.
But if she handed over high-grade destroyed items, many stats would be added to the dagger.
As she said, it was true that it would be a waste to buy them to feed.
However, getting them for free meant Kang-hoo wouldn¡¯t lose anything.
Of course, he had to see in what form she needed his help.
If he felt he was being taken advantage of, he was ready to break the deal.
Kang-hoo despised deals where he felt manipted.
Thus, the brief yet intense encounter with Kim Shin-ryeong ended.
As soon as the deal was over, she vanished into her room in the basement of the vi.
Leaving only a short farewell, she disappeared without looking back.
In a different sense, she was a person with a clear character.
As soon as Kang-hoo and Moon Hyeong-seo left Kim Shin-ryeong¡¯s vi and arrived in the city, they exchanged farewells.
Kang-hoo nned to sleep at a safe hotel he had booked on Ulleungdo, while Moon Hyeong-seo had other ns.
Due to the high number of visitors on Ulleungdo, there were night ferries avable, albeit a bit risky.
Of course, to prevent idents,rger-than-expected ferries operated, making the fare somewhat expensive.
Moon Hyeong-seo, who had been consistently polite and respectful throughout, maintained his demeanor even when parting ways.
¡°Today was very impressive. Even Kim Shin-ryeong was quite amazed.¡±
¡°I see. She had every reason to be.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded in satisfaction, knowing he had passed through the trap area without a single scratch.
¡°It made me think a lot. It was quite inspiring.¡±
¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯m d.¡±
¡°If it¡¯s okay with you¡¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Can we have a sparring match next time? I want to refine my techniques against assassins.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have much experience against spearmen either. It seems like a sparring match could benefit both of us.¡±
¡°Yes, I¡¯d like to request that.¡±
¡°Good. Next time we see Master K, let¡¯s set it up. Do you have a ce?¡±
¡°Of course. We have well-prepared sparring equipment.¡±
¡°Okay, let¡¯s do that.¡±
¡°I have received the colorless talisman, so Master will contact you directly once he¡¯s ready.¡±
¡°Take care.¡±
¡°Yes. I will inform Master to contact you as soon as possible.¡±
¡°Thanks.¡±
And so, they parted ways.
There was still quite a bit of time before dawn.
However, it was too early to try to sleep, as the tension from experiencing numerous traps in the vi had yet to dissipate.
At that moment.
¡°Today, it¡¯s that.¡±
Seeing a convenience store in his line of sight, Kang-hoo nodded.
A can of beer and butter-grilled squid. Today, for some reason, thisbination seemed like it would be a perfect treat.
1 hourter.
¡°Japan is not yet on standby. It¡¯s best to carefully observe the White War for now.¡±
Kang-hoo, enjoying ate-night snack at the hotel, reviewed the ns he hadid out.
Although he wanted to expedite the trip to Japan, it was dyed due to local circumstances.
This was not a situation that could be resolved by rushing, so he decided to waitfortably.
The White War was in its early stages and was too overheated.
More than 90% of mercenary requests were concentrated on the bloody battlefield.
While it was an ideal environment for making a big score, the chances of dying right at the start were high.
Kang-hoo did not like the idea of charging into a chaotic battleground.
You never know when and where a blind attack mighte from. Death also bes a matter of luck.
¡°Going to France to meet Emilia right now seems out of the blue. It¡¯s too low a level.¡±
The trip to France was also premature.
It was burdensome to suddenly increase contact with Kim Su-gyeong¡¯s mercenary corps or the Groo Guild.
If he showed an eager approach first, it would be difficult to gain an advantageous position.
¡°Park Dong-jae, Jeon Se-hyuk, Ban Se-yeong. I feel closer to this line now. There are no problems with Lee Ye-rin, Yun Sang-mi, and Jung Yuri either.¡±
His useful connections were gradually increasing. Of course, so were his adversaries.
Originally, he was only at odds with Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s Eclipse, but recently, another was added.
That was Russia¡¯s Kashimar Guild.
They could retaliate at any time and in any form. However, he had no intention of backing down.
¡°Yes, there was Lee Hyun-seok.¡±
At that moment, a name that had been pushed to the back due to recentck of contact came to mind.
It was Lee Hyun-seok.
He still kept the blood token and personal number he received from rescuing Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s nephew, Min Su-hyun.
The pretext at that time was just to have tea.
Lee Hyun-seok wouldn¡¯t have taken it at face value. He wasn¡¯t that oblivious.
Given the number andposition of dungeons owned by Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s Abyss, there was no better choice domestically.
The timing was also good.
If he dyed too much, the gratitude for saving Min Su-hyun might fade.
Now was the perfect time to rekindle and elevate that gratitude, and to show off.
Moreover, his reputation had risen recently due to the assassination order from Kang Dong-hyun, making it a natural opportunity to appeal.
¡°Next is the Abyss.¡±
He decided his next destination.
It seemed it was time for Lee Hyun-seok to repay the debt he owed him.
At that time.
Despite it being dawn, Lee Hyun-seok was busy verifying information with his eyes fixed on the monitor.
The vast amount of information collected took quite a bit of time to check.
Although he could delegate this to his intelligence team or trusted subordinates¡
Lee Hyun-seok, who had to see and judge for himself, would never allow that.
Next to him was Min Su-hyun, with her long pink hair tied roughly, dozing off.
¡°Su-hyun. Su-hyun.¡±
¡°U, uuung¡? Uncle, what is it?¡±
¡°Look at this. As expected, I was right. This bastard Kim Dae-man. He had connections with the Kashimar Guild.¡±
¡°So¡?¡±
¡°What do you mean ¡®so¡¯? It¡¯s proof that there¡¯s a secret deal between the Jeonghwa Guild and the Kashimar Guild.¡±
¡°Haaam¡¡±
¡°Right, telling you was a mistake. Go get some sleep. From tomorrow, take a good rest at home.¡±
¡°Uncle!¡±
The phrase ¡®take a good rest at home¡¯ carried multiple meanings.
It implied that the support and assistance from the Abyss would also take a break. It meant cutting it off.
Sensing the cold atmosphere, Min Su-hyun suddenly perked up.
¡°Right, you said before that the Jeonghwa Guild might have a connection with the Kashimar Guild!¡±
¡°Enough. Go in. My interest has already waned.¡±
¡°Uncleee!¡±
¡°Enough. For now¡ hmm?¡±
At that moment.
The smartphone that Lee Hyun-seok had ced at the top of his desk drawer started ringing.
It was a call from number 1 on his contact list. In other words, it was a call from Kang-hoo.
Knowing the recent issues rted to Kang-hoo and Eclipse, Lee Hyun-seok was d to receive the call.
Abyss had as bad a rtionship with Eclipse as they did with the Jeonghwa Guild.
While they didn¡¯t openly sh, they had countless conflicts.
It was an anticipated call.
Lee Hyun-seok immediately took out his smartphone and answered Kang-hoo¡¯s call.
¡°This is Lee Hyun-seok. I¡¯ve been waiting for a call from the benefactor who saved my niece, Su-hyun. It¡¯s good to hear from you.¡±
Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s words were filled with gratitude from the start.
For Kang-hoo, who made the call, it was a pleasant start to the conversation.
It seemed the talk would go well.
Chapter 146: Abyss (1)
Chapter 146: Abyss (1)
A rainy morning.
Incheon Airport, always bustling, was packed with passengers preparing for departures and arrivals from the early morning.
Recently, with the outbreak of the White War, the demand for foreign mercenaries had surged.
As a result, many mercenaries from countries like China, Russia, and Mongolia were entering the country.
If they were nning domestic terrorism or attacking civilians, their entry would be strictly controlled.
However, since they were war mercenaries participating only in the pharmaceuticalpanies¡¯ wars, they were not restricted from entering.
Of course, all passengers who were not citizens were thoroughly checked.
At the very least, it was impossible to hide one¡¯s name, identity, or activities upon entry.
From the start, even foreign mercenaries wanted to enter the country openly, not through dangerous means like smuggling.Amidst the crowd, a man navigated through.
Despite the gloomy weather, he wore unnecessary sunsses, giving off an air of arrogance.
¡°Damn weather.¡±
The man frowned.
He kept looking around. The person who was supposed to meet him hadn¡¯t shown up yet.
Just then.
¡°Oh! Here! So-hyeok, over here!¡±
Another man who recognized him waved vigorously and rushed over.
The man¡¯s frown loosened.
¡°In-ho hyung. It¡¯s been a while.¡±
¡°Yes, So-hyeok. I thought you would continue your activities in China, but suddenly you have a schedule in the country. It surprised me.¡±
¡°What¡¯s so surprising?¡±
¡°You said you didn¡¯t want to work in the country. That¡¯s why the boss sent you to China.¡±
¡°I have a reason I can¡¯t stay idle.¡±
Kim In-ho slightly nodded at So-hyeok¡¯s answer.
But he seemed slightly skeptical rather thanpletely convinced.
Kim In-ho.
He was a member of the criminal organization ¡®Tae-yang,¡¯ which dominated the Jeonju region.
He was also the trusted aide of the boss, Kang Tae-yang, who was Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s half-brother and skilled at mediation due to his easygoing nature.
So today, he came out personally to ¡®escort¡¯ his notoriously ill-tempered younger brother.
¡°But you had a really bad rtionship with your younger sister, didn¡¯t you? I heard youpletely split when she joined Eclipse and you joined Tae-yang.¡±
Kim In-ho cautiously started.
Indeed. This man¡¯s identity was Cha So-hyeok, Cha So-hee¡¯s older brother.
As Kim In-ho said, their thoughts and beliefs were different, leading them to choose different organizations.
The problem was that the leaders of Eclipse and Tae-yang were Kang Dong-hyun and Kang Tae-yang, respectively.
They were antagonistic towards each other, more like enemies than siblings. Their rtionship couldn¡¯t be described as merely bad.
ording to rumors, each believed the other was responsible for killing their mother.
They saw each other as enemies who killed their mother, betraying familial bonds.
So, it was no wonder they were at each other¡¯s throats.
And this hostile rtionship extended to their subordinates as well.
Cha So-hyeok nodded.
¡°That¡¯s right. We did split. But you see, even if So-hee is to be killed, it should be done by her own brother, not by anyone else.¡±
¡°¡¡¡±
¡°I must kill Shin Kang-hoo. That¡¯s my duty as her brother. I will grind his bones and blood and offer them to So-hee¡¯s spirit.¡±
Grit.
Cha So-hyeok ground his teeth.
His purpose for entering the country was clear from the beginning.
To kill Kang-hoo.
He had no intention of leaving the country until he achieved this goal. He would use any means necessary.
Noon.
Despite Min Su-hyun¡¯s offer to greet Kang-hoo himself, it was Lee Hyun-seok who personally came to meet Kang-hoo at the agreed location.
Given the importance of security, the meeting ce was changed four times during phone calls in between.
The purpose was to check if anyone was tailing Kang-hoo, and fortunately, there was no one.
The ce where Lee Hyun-seok met Kang-hoo was inside a hotel directly operated by the Abyss.
Over 90% of the guests were hunters affiliated with the Abyss, and with many benefits, it was practically free to use.
The ce Lee Hyun-seok led Kang-hoo to was the penthouse in the hotel.
They entered and activated the soundproofing facilities perfectly.
Lee Hyun-seok, who had kept his mouth shut firmly, finally spoke. He had ensuredplete security.
¡°I saw the news about Kang Dong-hyun this time. Really¡ it was impressive. I have a newfound respect.¡±
¡°To survive, you have to fight.¡±
¡°You captured two cunning female investigators from Eclipse who were known for their wits.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know about their cunning. Anyway, I think I just got the appropriate results.¡±
Kang-hoo spoke calmly.
Cha So-hee was overly eager, and Jin Hyo-young was overconfident in her appearance and skills. Both had ws.
¡°I dissuaded Su-hyun froming to thank you personally. I thought it might undermine the significance of the meeting if he unintentionally offended you.¡±
¡°It seems you have a mischievous nephew. Indeed, our first meeting wasn¡¯t ordinary.¡±
Kang-hoo recalled the asion when he went to rescue Min Su-hyun.
Min Su-hyun had entered the Kimcheon Liberation Area alone, intending to steal an item from Shin Jun-ho, the leader of the Ebony Bone.
Though he no longer did such ¡®foolish things,¡¯ thinking back to that time, he was indeed a reckless troublemaker.
¡°Since then, I¡¯ve been managing and supervising him directly, curbing his curiosity significantly.¡±
¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡±
Although he said this, Kang-hoo could sense Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s affection for his nephew in his words.
It felt more like a father¡¯s love than an uncle¡¯s. It was like seeing a doting father.
As the conversation began, Kang-hoo naturally started assessing Lee Hyun-seok as a constetion.
It matched exactly with the settings implemented in the original work. If so, his level should be around 620 now.
When Lee Hyun-seok died due to Moon Yu-seok¡¯s betrayal, his level was exactly 620.
¡°If there is anything you want from me, feel free to tell me. Repaying the favor for saving Su-hyun is not a burden for me.¡±
The way Lee Hyun-seok spoke without specifying the scope of the reward was slightly intimidating.
It might not be 100% goodwill; it could also be a test to gauge Kang-hoo¡¯s character and thoughts.
However, Kang-hoo twisted his thinking one more time. There was a simpler and more meaningful choice.
¡°I would like to hear about the reward you can provide. Please feel free to speak without any burden.¡±
He passed the ball back.
It was a situation where that was eptable.
The direction of the conversation didn¡¯t matter much.
No matter what, the fact that Kang-hoo saved Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s beloved nephew didn¡¯t change.
Until the reward was settled, it was right that the initiative of the rtionship was with him.
Did he expect this answer?
Or was he prepared to give the same answer regardless of what he heard?
Lee Hyun-seok immediately responded without hesitation to Kang-hoo¡¯s words.
¡°I will give you free ess to five dungeons owned by the Abyss. I am authorizing it.¡±
The dungeons owned by the Abyss were managed by the Abyss and had no influence from the Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
In other words, as Lee Hyun-seok said, he had full authority. If he guaranteed it, it was perfectly guaranteed.
¡°Can you provide information on the dungeons to help me choose the five?¡±
¡°I can provide information on everything below the 2nd grade. That should make the selection easier.¡±
Lee Hyun-seok readily agreed to Kang-hoo¡¯s request. Information on the 1st and 2nd grades involved core strategies and secret routes, so it was right to protect them.
It meant it wasn¡¯t an area of information that would be disappointing if not shared. It was confidential.
Perhaps thinking the reward was insufficient, Lee Hyun-seok raised his index finger and added more.
¡°One more thing. I can organize a support team for you. Experience monopoly guaranteed.¡±
¡°It seems you have a professional team for training.¡±
¡°Yes. It¡¯s a team that helps promising talents grow faster.¡±
The Abyss was famous for operating various elite teams.
If memory serves right, the team that supports growth was called ¡®Cheongho Unit.¡¯
And the teamposed of snipers was called ¡®Jeokho Unit,¡¯ and the team of assassins was called ¡®Heukho Unit.¡¯
They each undergo rigorous training to be the best and are Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s solid core forces.
¡°Five dungeons¡¡±
¡°Does it seem insufficient?¡±
¡°No. I just think I need to choose carefully. Thank you for your consideration.¡±
Kang-hoo bowed politely.
This was sufficient.
Considering how closed the Abyss was as an organization, this consideration felt even more special.
Originally, external people could never enter the dungeons owned by the Abyss. They didn¡¯t hire mercenaries either.
All strategies were handled internally, so there was a lot of veiled information.
For the Abyss to offer five dungeons to Kang-hoo.
And to attach a support team to help with smooth experience farming was an extraordinary gesture.
¡°Additionally, I can assist with the sale of tricky items or the purchase of useful items.¡±
¡°May I ask just one thing? I would appreciate an honest answer.¡±
¡°Go ahead.¡±
¡°You are giving me ess to dungeons that are rarely opened to outsiders. Do you trust me?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not so much about trusting you, Shin Kang-hoo, but trusting the situation. It¡¯s true that you saved Su-hyun, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Since that situation is true, I am expressing my gratitude sincerely. If a situation arises that denies such a past, I too will deny you, Kang-hoo.¡±
¡°A wise answer.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s call it a realistic answer. Haha.¡±
In short, it meant he would respond differently based on how much trust he showed or didn¡¯t show.
It was a fitting answer for Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s character, who clearly distinguished between gratitude and resentment.
Anyway, with this, Kang-hoo was promised the opportunity to strategize in five dungeons owned by the Abyss, which could serve as a catalyst for growth domestically.
Most of the dungeons owned by the Abyss were valuable.
Especially attractive to Kang-hoo were the dungeons with numerous mid-bosses and main bosses.
If he could list and include such ces in his strategy, it would be possible to acquire arge number of skills.
During the brief pause in conversation.
Lee Hyun-seok seemed to have thought of something else and cautiously changed the topic with a question to Kang-hoo.
It was a deep, direct question that came unexpectedly.
¡°By the way¡ what do you think of the Jeonghwa Guild? I would like to hear your thoughts.¡±
It was a heavy and significant question for the listener.
Chapter 147: Abyss (2)
Chapter 147: Abyss (2)
At Kang-hoo¡¯s request, the meeting location was changed.
The two left the penthouse, which was spacious but ultimately enclosed, and walked along a wellndscaped trail.
Kang-hoo cautiously continued the conversation outside, feeling the fresh air, after postponing it inside.
¡°It¡¯s hard to feel affection for an organization where hypocrisy swallows the truth.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a good answer.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t believe in absolute good or absolute evil in this world. I think being honest about being evil is better.¡±
¡°For example?¡±
¡°Like the Malum Guild in Italy. They openly call themselves viins.¡±
¡°They even named it that way. Malum is a Latin word symbolizing evil, right?¡±¡°Yes, I believe so. It¡¯s better than pretending to be righteous like the Kashimar Guild or the Jeonghwa Guild.¡±
There was no special emotion mixed in Kang-hoo¡¯s in answer. It was a long-held thought.
It certainly wasn¡¯t said to please Lee Hyun-seok. He had no need to tter him.
However, he thought his future direction aligned with Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s goals.
Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s Abyss was a single organization capable ofpeting with the Jeonghwa Guild domestically.
The Jeonghwa Guild attacked the Abyss using various social media and media outlets for a reason.
It was because they felt threatened.
While organizations like Bastard or Pyeongjeong, which operated in Osan, could be framed and destroyed easily, this didn¡¯t work for the Abyss.
Moreover, it was toorge to be restrained by other guilds or organizations teaming up against it.
Even organizations that were cooperative with the Jeonghwa Guild often backed off when proposed to confront the Abyss.
Just as the Jeonghwa Guild had many satellite guilds, the Abyss also had quite a few satellite organizations.
The ¡®Taehwagang¡¯ organization in Ulsan was a representative example.
After Gong Tae-su was injured, they united the surrounding forces and crushed Gong Tae-su¡¯s ¡®Red Blood¡¯.
Currently, the ruling power in Ulsan was no longer Red Blood. It was Taehwagang. It had be part of the Abyss¡¯s sphere of influence.
Kang-hoo wanted to use the Abyss¡¯s organizational power and cohesion as a weapon.
If they continued to hinder the Jeonghwa Guild, it would be easier to keep the Thirteen Stars in check.
For that, a deep involvement with the Abyss, rather than strict neutrality, was needed.
Kang-hoo intended to get closer to Lee Hyun-seok with just the right stance. Of course, he couldn¡¯t entrust everything to him.
¡°I heard a lot about you from Se-hyuk. About rescuing Park Dong-jae and attacking the dungeon.¡±
¡°Did he talk about me?¡±
¡°Recently, his main interest has been you, Kang-hoo. He¡¯s always been interested in skilled hunters.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a pleasant thing to hear.¡±
¡°In fact, Se-hyuk even suggested personally recruiting you into the Abyss.¡±
¡°That.¡±
¡°I know. I think it¡¯s a waste for you to be just a mercenary, but I can¡¯t be greedy.¡±
¡°Uh-huh.¡±
¡°Because even a single act of greed can draw more attention and put you in danger.¡±
Lee Hyun-seok was cautious.
Kang-hoo appreciated Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s consideration. It showed a desire to protect good talent.
Lee Hyun-seok added,
¡°I sense that you¡¯re not an ordinary person, Kang-hoo. You may not believe it, but I have a good eye for people.¡±
¡°I always think Lee Hyun-seok is a special person too.¡±
Kang-hoo was sincere.
If there was one regret about Lee Hyun-seok, it was that he was too lonely.
If he had one more powerful force to support him, things would be very different now.
The Jeonghwa Guild might have been driven out of the capital area, and the Abyss could have be the ruler of Seoul.
¡°And I don¡¯t want a talent like you to join the Jeonghwa Guild. It¡¯s too dangerous.¡±
¡°I have no intention of belonging to any group. That won¡¯t change.¡±
Lee Hyun-seok nodded with a smile, as if he expected Kang-hoo¡¯s firm answer.
¡°Although I haven¡¯t secured evidence, I believe Jang Si-hwan has a hidden and dirtywork.¡±
¡°Awork?¡±
¡°A sort of shadow organizationposed of well-known figures like Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwan-hyeong.¡±
¡°¡¡.¡±
However, the added words had a significant impact on Kang-hoo.
Lee Hyun-seok seemed to recognize the existence of the Thirteen Stars.
Unless one knew the full details of the original work and its members, no one could know this at this point. Yet, Lee Hyun-seok was sensing it.
¡®Lee Hyun-seok is more than capable of being a game-changer.¡¯
Kang-hoo was convinced.
Lee Hyun-seok knew and wanted to know more than Kang-hoo thought.
His deep-rooted resentment against the Jeonghwa Guild was much colder and sharper than Kang-hoo¡¯s.
In the original work, Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s death at this point led to the copse of the Abyss and the reshuffling of the domestdscape.
With Kang-hoo¡¯s help, betrayer Moon Yu-seok was eliminated, dramatically altering Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s future.
Kang-hoo thought it had a high potential to be a true turning point. Naturally, in a very advantageous direction for Kang-hoo.
¡°Anyway, my skills are not great, but if you need an assassin, let me know. I can be a blood shuttle.¡±
¡°Haha. Got it. But I want to save that contact for your sake.¡±
¡°At your convenience.¡±
¡°For dungeon-rted matters, I¡¯ll give you Su-hyun¡¯s number. Contact him, and it¡¯ll be handled with top priority, so there won¡¯t be any issues with dungeon attacks.¡±
¡°Can I also get dungeon-rted materials from Min Su-hyun?¡±
¡°Yes. I¡¯ve instructed him to prepare thoroughly, so he will do it right. He has a lot of gratitude for you, Kang-hoo.¡±
¡°Understood.¡±
Like this.
Kang-hoo stepped firmly into the influence of the powerful entity, Abyss, and Lee Hyun-seok.
From now on, he would need to engage in smart maneuvering.
If he acted openly under the shadow of Abyss, he would be an easy target for the Jeonghwa Guild.
But if he distanced himself from Abyss, his ability to use them effectively in the future would be diminished.
Since it was entirely up to his judgment to navigate and manage the situation, Kang-hoo unconsciously swallowed dryly. He needed a delicate and precise management strategy.
At that time.
After finishing the first raid on the Hell of Judgment, Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwan-hyeong came out of the dungeon for a brief rest.
The two were meeting other members of Justice who had gathered earlier.
After exchanging greetings and casual conversation about each other¡¯s well-being, Vincent naturally brought up the topic of hidden skills.
Vincent, his body tensed with excitement, kept pressing Jang Si-hwan.
¡°Jang Si-hwan. There is definitely an assassin who gained a hidden skill during the Hell of Judgment raid.¡±
¡°Does it bother you that much?¡±
¡°I told you. Hidden skills should be wielded by those worthy of them. Not just anyone should handle them.¡±
¡°If you need a punching bag, let me know. There are quite a few hunter criminals sentenced to death by the Public Safety Bureau.¡±
¡°Such guys don¡¯t taste good, don¡¯t taste good.¡±
By ¡°taste,¡± Vincent meant the ¡°killing¡± taste. Everyone understood Vincent¡¯s meaning.
Jang Si-hwan, recalling team management, answered.
¡°The first team is managed by me, so it¡¯s out of the question. And up to the seventh team, there are no assassin sses.¡±
¡°This guy probably acted alone. That¡¯s why no one knows.¡±
¡°Alone¡ Well, there is one assassin I can think of.¡±
Jang Si-hwan¡¯s eyes glowed red.
Chae Gwan-hyeong was ring at Vincent with an expression that suggested he found this unnecessary.
However, Jang Si-hwan and Vincent, who got along surprisingly well, were discussing this issue seriously.
After a brief thought.
¡°Shin¡¡±
Jang Si-hwan, who remembered the name clearly, started to utter the surname of the assassin suspected of acquiring the hidden skill.
If the assassin was of that caliber, it was reasonable to suspect they had secretly acquired the hidden skill.
After parting ways with Lee Hyun-seok.
Kang-hoo headed to Gyeongju Station, where his own reset dungeon was located.
Though it was quite a challenging dungeon to tackle alone.
Since it was entirely his dungeon, he could stay without worrying about others.
Moreover, thanks to Jeon Se-hyuk¡¯s consideration, a manager was always present to keep an eye on the dungeon, providing additional peace of mind.
Of course, the manager didn¡¯t only manage Kang-hoo¡¯s dungeon.
However, since each dungeon had multiple CCTV instations and frequent checks, there was an advantage in being able to prepare for emergencies.
If an uninvited guest entered the dungeon, at least a warning re could be fired.
¡°It¡¯s definitely tough alone.¡±
Due to the high level of the dungeon, the monsters¡¯ movements were generally swift and smart.
When he had Park Dong-jae¡¯s buffs, it felt like running lightly on t ground.
Now alone, it felt like running up a steep slope. The rtive pressure was palpable.
¡°No wonder buffs are called a drug. Hunters who experience the high of buffs can¡¯t easily quit.¡±
Heughed bitterly.
Just as Park Dong-jae was amazed by Kang-hoo¡¯s skills and yearned for team y with him.
Kang-hoo, too, missed the team y with Park Dong-jae¡¯s buffs.
He almost wanted to acquire a buff skill book to learn and use it cunningly at all times.
But buff skill books were among the rarest and hardest to find among hunter skill books.
Even the most trivial buffs never appeared on the market.
If two or three were traded in a year on the official market, it was considered a lot.
On closer inspection, even those trades were often just recorded transactions among acquaintances.
Kang-hoo¡¯s visit to this dungeon was not for the raid but for training.
Unlike Jeon Se-hyuk, who could set up a luxurious training ground with money, Kang-hoo still had many items he wanted to buy with his funds.
So, he decided to use the dungeon as his private training ground. It was better since he could also have actualbat practice.
Kang-hoo focused all day on refining his main skills.
Initially, he put the most effort into his clone technique.
As it was a clone with learning abilities, its movements became more varied with training.
Even when there were gaps where he couldn¡¯t directly control the clone, it showed good movements, as if it were an AI steadily growing through learning. It was fun to nurture.
He also trained extensively with the abduction skill.
Previously, he mostly used the abduction skill to drag targets in for attacks.
But now, as the level and power of opponents increased, the risk of the abduction skill became very high.
If he made a mistake and brought the wrong target, it could provide a critical attack opportunity for the opponent.
So, he nned to use the abduction skill to pull in surrounding structures to block and obstruct the view.
The skill¡¯s meaning was not just limited to dragging monsters or hunters. Its application was free.
However, there was a skill that kept catching his eye, rted to the two extra hematite stones he had.
He came up with an option that could change the slightly disappointing skill options he had felt recently.
It was a skill he had used effectively for a long time but had clear shorings in terms of firepower.
Chapter 148: To Chuncheon (1)
Chapter 148: To Chuncheon (1)
It¡¯s the very Wind Thunder de.
Since the past, whenever the opportunity to upgrade a skill arose, this was the skill I prioritized.
The reason is simple: among the skills Kang-hoo possesses, it¡¯s the only one capable of area-wide attacks.
However, it was impossible to predict what the skill would be if upgraded.
Still, it was possible to make an educated guess.
Based on the skill settingsid out in the original story¡
If the Wind Thunder de were upgraded, the electrical storm would likely be the main concept rather than a secondary one.
Like the ¡°Psionic Storm¡± skill from a certain gamepany¡¯s game.
¡°Indeed, Ick in the area-wide attack department.¡±He judged himself coolly.
In fact, having such a diverse range of skills as an assassin is already a cheat.
But Kang-hoo¡¯s greed had no end.
To be an all-rounder, he thought it was necessary to have at least one skill that could be confidently used in any field.
Long-range attacks were supplemented by the Lightning Speed Dagger, and close-range burst damage was covered by the Great sh.
For mental attacks, he could use Illusion and Shallow Chaos, and self-healing was possible through Frenzied Healing.
If needed, he could also use Life Absorption, one of the abilities of the Constetion he had robbed from Jeon Jong-du.
Additionally, maintaining bleeding, as proven in cooperation with the Groo Guild, was unparalleled.
But there were many shorings in the area-wide attack skills.
Although he had Wind Thunder de, it was closer to being a nuisance to the enemy rather than a killing tool.
In the dungeon, it was only capable of causing minor scratches unless it was against low-level monsters.
¡°It would be perfect if I could achieve a picture of mass hunting.¡±
Given the nature of his profession, one-on-many battles were not the preferred type for an assassin.
This is because the mechanics of the skills were focused on one-on-onebat.
However, if Kang-hoo could obtain a useful area-wide skill¡
He thought it would be possible to gather monsters in one ce and wipe them out with an area-wide skill.
Wasn¡¯t this the exact picture that came out during the dungeon strategy with the Groo Guild?
Kang-hoo and Ma Jinho gathered monsters into a narrow area, and the magicians poured area-wide attacks on them.
¡°Right. Maximizing the existing skills is also a method. I¡¯m d I saved the Hematite.¡±
Having made up his mind, Kang-hoo prepared to upgrade the Wind Thunder de.
It was slightly disappointing that it wasn¡¯t a skill enhancement.
Skill enhancement, which could be obtained with a very low probability in dungeons, would immediately turn the skill into an ultimate.
However, upgrading the skill through Hematite also brought changesparable to that.
And if he wanted to further empower the Wind Thunder de, he could use the Constetion of the Merciless Assassin.
Since there were various methods, he decided not to think tooplicatedly.
Two Hematites were immediately invested.
Perhaps because two upgrades were done, the second time brought a change in the skill name.
[Thunder Strike]
[Skill Mastery: Lv. Max]
[A skill that unleashes a powerful electrical storm on all targets within an 8-meter radius, excluding the caster. There is a 33% chance of inducing the ¡®Electrocution¡¯ effect, which can act critically depending on the target''s anti-magic stats.]
[Consumes 10 mana per second, with a maximum skill duration of 8 seconds. Cooldown time: 10 seconds.]
¡°Thunder Strike. Nice name.¡±
If Wind Thunder de felt vaguely connected to wind and electricity, Thunder Strike had a clear concept.
In fact, the strike range increased from Wind Thunder de¡¯s 5-meter radius to 8 meters. In terms of diameter, it increased by 6 meters.
Moreover, unlike Wind Thunder de¡¯s low single-digit chance of electrocution, Thunder Strike had a much higher probability of causing electrocution.
It could inflict additional damage on enemies with low anti-magic stats, making it strategically advantageous.
As long as team members didn¡¯t get caught in the electrical storm, there would be nothing to worry about.
¡°I need to test it.¡±
Kang-hoo smiled as he saw a group of monsters lurking ahead.
As always, monsters were excellent sandbags. They didn¡¯t provide false information.
What would be the result if he activated Thunder Strikebined with Blood Flower on them?
That question was soon answered.
The countless blood stters and flesh of the scattered monsters told the whole story.
Area-wide attackbined with area-wide explosion.
Thebination was fantastic.
It was beautiful.
After finishing his personal training, Kang-hoo received a call as if it had been waiting for him.
It was a call from Lee Ye-rin.
He had already stated that he wouldn¡¯t ept requests rted to the White War, but seeing that the call came, it seemed like a different kind of request hade in.
¡°Yes, this is Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
-Kang-hoo, a request unrted to killing hase in, so I contacted you.
¡°Is that really the case?¡±
-At least if things go as I expect? No one will die.
¡°I¡¯m concerned about the conditional part.¡±
-Would you like to hear it first? You can refuse if it¡¯s not eptable.
¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡±
Lee Ye-rin¡¯s strength was in constantly selling requests.
If the client didn¡¯t want a specific request, she would suggest it in a bypass form.
It was her knack to make the client ept the request somehow.
Of course, she didn¡¯t force or push the eptance of the request in the process.
-A request hase in to deliver the Red Key to Jeongmun Pharmaceutical¡¯s No. 1 researchb.
¡°If it¡¯s the Red Key¡ it¡¯s usually used to activaterge-scale barriers.¡±
-That¡¯s right. Normally, to prevent unauthorized activation, it requires three Key Holders to turn it simultaneously.
¡°Why is that?¡±
-Jeongmun Pharmaceutical¡¯s No. 1 researchb in Chuncheon is under heavy attack by multinational mercenaries.
¡°Why?¡±
-It seems Jeongmun Pharmaceutical has decided to distribute ¡®Jeongmunhwan¡¯ soon. It¡¯s an awakening drug developed over a long period, with almost no side effects.
¡°They¡¯re trying to steal the technology.¡±
-Yes. Considering the circumstances, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if the Jeonghwa Guild was involved, but it¡¯s too quiet.
As Lee Ye-rin said.
Anyway, Jeongmun Pharmaceutical is a pharmaceuticalpany based in South Korea without any foreign capital.
Judging by the past actions of the Jeonghwa Guild, they would intervene in such cases for any reason.
Public opinion itself flows in that direction. There is a sentiment to protectpetent domestic pharmaceuticalpanies.
Whenever such public opinion arises, the Jeonghwa Guild would step in as if they had been waiting for it, ying the role of heroes.
¡°Obviously. They¡¯re probably backing them.¡±
-If that¡¯s the case, why would they bother using outside help? They could handle it themselves.
¡°If there¡¯s a way to reap the benefits without getting their hands dirty, I wouldn¡¯t step in personally either.¡±
He said calmly.
Unlike Kang-hoo, who saw through the true nature of the Jeonghwa Guild, Lee Ye-rin seemed not to have thought that far yet.
Kang-hoo continued.
¡°Let¡¯s focus on the details of the request.¡±
-It seems one of the Key Holders has been kidnapped, making it impossible to activate the barrier.
¡°If we deliver the Red Key, can the researchb hold out until then?¡±
-Currently, the multinational mercenaries have halted their attack. They¡¯re probably waiting for payment.
¡°Capitalism at its finest.¡±
-The researchb does have defense facilities, so they wouldn¡¯t take risks withoutpensation.
¡°If we deliver the Red Key, will the researchb be fine afterward?¡±
-It seems they¡¯ve designed it to hold out for at least 15 days. They¡¯ve invested a lot of money into theb.
¡°Despite spending all that money, they can¡¯t activate it because they¡¯re missing one Key Holder¡¡±
-It¡¯s a typical example ofcency.
¡°What¡¯s the payment?¡±
-5 billion upon start, 50 billion upon sess. Plus, they promised 10 capsules of Gakshinhwan upon sess.
¡°Gakshinhwan?¡±
-Yes. You¡¯ve heard the rumors about it, right? They¡¯re pretty urate.
¡°Yes, I know.¡±
Kang-hoo was slightly surprised.
Gakshinhwan.
A pill developed by Jeongmun Pharmaceutical that temporarily maximizes brain utilization.
Due to side effects and bacsh, the effective duration is very short, only 10 seconds after ingestion.
Considering the 2-3 seconds it takes to spread inside after swallowing, the actual effective time is about 7 seconds.
It¡¯s not yetmercialized.
It¡¯s a drug handled in very small quantities within Jeongmun Pharmaceutical, with clinical trialspleted beforemercialization.
The effect is definite.
It allows for the calction of all enemy attack actions and movements simultaneously.
It can solve difficult mathematical problems and, rtively speaking, makes time feel very slow.
In the original story, Gakshinhwan ismercialized a year from now.
It¡¯s a situation where he can obtain a special drug that hasn¡¯t yet seen the light of day.
What makes Gakshinhwan scary is that it uses all-natural ingredients, so the side effects are minimal.
Unlike narcotic stimnts, it doesn¡¯t cause sensory or cognitive system disturbances or destruction after ingestion.
This seemed like a challenge worth taking on.
Since it was just a matter of delivering the key, it wasn¡¯t a request to kill anyone, as Lee Ye-rin said.
Kang-hoo asked.
¡°Can we start the briefing immediately?¡±
-How would you like to proceed? Video call?
¡°No. I need to check many things, so I¡¯ll go directly. I¡¯ll head to the Cheong-an Building.¡±
As soon as he finished speaking, Kang-hoo activated his teleportation ability.
The surroundings instantly changed to andscape centered around the Cheong-an Building.
It was the very spot where he had recently taken down Jin Hyo-young.
Kang-hoo arrived at the Cheong-an Guild a few minutes after the call ended.
Although it wasn¡¯t a situation that needed exining, Lee Ye-rin was quite surprised.
Unless Kang-hoo had been waiting near the Cheong-an Building when he made the call, his quick visit was made possible by his ability to change locations instantly.
While long-distance travel skills are not unusual, it¡¯s a different story if the person using the skill is an ¡®assassin.¡¯
But her thoughts were soon wrapped up in brief surprise.
Kang-hoo¡¯s skillposition was something even the open-minded Lee Ye-rin couldn¡¯tprehend.
So at some point, she gave up thinking about it altogether.
It¡¯s Kang-hoo. It¡¯s only natural for him to have such skills. It was a form of positive resignation.
Soon, Lee Ye-rin led Kang-hoo to the meeting room for the briefing and continued exining the request.
After seeing the reward, he thought it wouldn¡¯t be easy, but the briefing confirmed it was beyond imagination.
¡°Besides the multinational mercenaries guarding the perimeter, the problem of physical distance is significant.¡±
¡°How many failed cases were there before?¡±
¡°Seven. All were sniped midway and died. The hunters who attempted aerial infiltration¡ died before touching the ground.¡±
¡°Every time I receive a request, it feels like the ones with many prior casualties alwayse to me?¡±
¡°That¡¯s because we believe Kang-hoo can somehow seed. It¡¯s true.¡±
¡°No extramission?¡±
¡°Just a little? I do get a bit more, but that¡¯s all for collecting preliminary information for you, Kang-hoo!¡±
¡°Hmm. That makes sense.¡±
¡°Hey! It¡¯s not just that it makes sense, it¡¯s true! Anyway, there¡¯s no need to overdo it. I¡¯ve already told the client it would be hard to find someone.¡±
¡°So we need to safely pass through this distance to enter the researchb?¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. It¡¯s really¡ long.¡±
Kang-hoo traced a line on the satellite map disyed on the monitor screen.
The distance he had to move was so long that his finger had to move for a while.
At this point, he would need to take Mad Srkium and continuously use his skills without rest.
The extreme of extremes.
Since he had to push his body to the limit, he couldn¡¯t be free from the side effects of congenital mana hypersensitivity.
This seemed like it would be the toughest request he had ever undertaken.
There might be no battles involving blood and sweat with others.
But it seemed likely to be a desperate struggle with himself, challenging his limits.
Chapter 149: To Chuncheon (2)
Chapter 149: To Chuncheon (2)
The next day.
Specifically, it was around the time when the cooldown period for the teleportation ability had ended.
Kang-hoo arrived at the northern part of Chuncheon. It was the location of the First Research Institute of Jeongmun Pharmaceuticals.
In terms of physical distance, Ground Zero was not as far away as expected.
Meanwhile, about 500 meters north of Kang-hoo¡¯s location, an area was under control.
It was not governmental control but private control carried out by mercenaries.
There was even a makeshift sign that prohibited entry, stating it was a dangerous area.
The name of the controlling group was written on the sign, and it was ridiculous.
[Defenders of Justice]Justice. A word that made him sick.
The more one talks about justice, the less likely it is that they are truly just.
A prime example is Eclipse.
They have two main slogans.
One is the well-known ¡®Turn useless human trash into useful workers.¡¯
The other is ¡®Let the lost justice take root in thisnd.¡¯
It is a form of inferiorityplex. They engage in all sorts of injustices and try to erase that color.
In contrast, Abyss, which is oftenbeled a terrorist organization, was better in that regard.
Abyss¡¯s slogan is ¡®With true faith, we offer truth; with false beliefs, we bring death.¡¯
Lee Hyun-seok, when opposing the Jeonghwa Guild, never spoke or emphasized justice.
Anyway, seeing the signs set up by the multinational mercenaries surrounding the research institute wasughable.
Around the area, there were many broken vehicles of the Hunter Public Safety Bureau. Naturally, there were no corpses to be seen.
Despite the mercenaries wreaking havoc to this extent, the Jeonghwa Guild or Hunter News said nothing.
This made him certain that the Jeonghwa Guild was backing them up. He was 99.9% sure.
¡®I¡¯ll do my best till the end.¡¯
Kang-hoo exhaled a hot breath.
He had already told Lee Ye-rin that he might have to give up themission midway, depending on the situation.
In such a case, he also promised to return the Red Key.
Although he didn¡¯te here with the intention of failing, he had secured insurance for the worst-case scenario.
¡®The Qigong Masters are the problem¡¡¯
Kang-hoo was most wary of the ¡®Qigong Masters¡¯ among the mercenaries guarding the research institute.
Qigong Masters, a ss systematically nurtured in China, excel at manipting space or attacking opponents with intangible energy.
As experts in creating variables, they were a headache for Kang-hoo, who enjoyed calcted ys.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Kang-hoo checked the on-site map on his smartphone again.
It was the final check of the route.
Closing his eyes, he pictured the situation.
No matter how he pictured it, the scenario was always urgent. There was no leisurely picture.
Although it was dangerous, the reward for themission, the ¡®Gaksinhwan,¡¯ was too tempting to give up.
Oncemercialized, its price would be ten times higher than now, bing a must-have for hunters.
Using it beforemercialization would help create variables in his favor.
¡®No matter how money-driven they are, they must value their lives. Yes, I¡¯ll go with this route.¡¯
Kang-hoo, having chosen the best route, immediately hid in the darkness with a horizontal movement.
An assassin lives and feeds on darkness.
Not only had it gotten dark, but the cloudy weather also started to drizzle slightly, making it the best time to approach.
Dying further was not an option, as the multinational mercenaries could move at any time.
Meanwhile.
The leaders of the multinational mercenaries surrounding the First Research Institute were having a meeting.
They exchanged information about the tasks assigned to their hunters and the current situation.
¡°Our side has secured all the existing points without missing any. Snipers are meticulously ced.¡±
¡°We, handling the outer perimeter, have dealt with and cleaned up seven hunters who approached with malicious intent.¡±
¡°We are requesting contract renewal with the client and have received a reply that it will be processed within an hour.¡±
¡°Hmm. It looks like all the gears are fitting together. Once the contract is renewed, we can enter through the western gate, right?¡±
¡°Yes. The western gate is already heavily damaged. We¡¯ve ced many snipers there, so they won¡¯t dare toe out carelessly.¡±
¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if all the internal information is destroyed. Information is also in people¡¯s minds.¡±
The man leading the entire multinational mercenary group,posed of numerous mercenary corps, tapped his temple with his index finger.
His name was Jung Seon-rak.
A level 550 Qigong Master Hunter and an executive of China¡¯s Shinsu Guild.
Shinsu Guild is a satellite guild of the Shinto Guild and has a prizing public image.
Shinsu Guild has arbitrarily punished those called ¡®viins,¡¯ stepping far outside the bounds of thew.
They would catch and kill any hunter who had oncemitted violence against civilians, regardless of the reason.
They were also the guild most actively capturing and ¡®executing¡¯ hunters wanted by the Chinese government.
As they dealt with criminals based on their own rules rather than the state¡¯s legal judgment, public opinion was sharply divided.
However, most people, disillusioned with lenientw enforcement, weed their ¡®justice.¡¯
This time was no different.
Soon, the media in Korea would be filled with reports on the corruption and crimes of Jeongmun Pharmaceuticals.
usations of drug distribution and production, never touched by the pharmaceuticalpany, were meticulously fabricated.
Since the stage was set, it was natural to y their best.
Jung Seon-rak was waiting for the final contract renewal with the client to bepleted.
When the final payment is made, Jeongmun Pharmaceuticals¡¯ First Research Institute will be the target of a full-scale attack.
They nned to kill all the hunters and personnel, leaving only the key members.
As long as the memories are alive, they even decided to cut off their hands and feet if they resisted poorly.
Just then.
¡°An intruder detected! A hunter has entered through the ¡®Heuksun¡¯ line in the southeast and is rapidly moving northwest!¡±
The alert reporting the appearance of an uninvited guest approaching from outside was heard.
Every hunter who had appeared before had boarded the express train to the afterlife without exception.
It seemed there were still foolish hunters who had not learned the fear and dread of death.
¡°Looks like another idiot hase.¡±
Everyone heard the alert report but did not think much of it. Jung Seon-rak felt the same.
Instead, he saw it as an opportunity to make some money. Even if the hunter died, the items would remain on the site.
Whoever took the dead hunter¡¯s items would own them. Naturally, the leaders here had priority.
In fact, they had already had quite a bit of fun getting items from hunters who recklessly approached the site and died.
But at that moment.
¡°¡¡?¡±
Jung Seon-rak¡¯s expression changed as he watched the ¡®intruder¡¯ on the CCTV screens installed everywhere.
The intruder¡¯s position was changing rapidly, much different from what he had expected.
Using leap-type skills to move several meters in an instant was basic.
When there were structures that could be targets, the intruder used horizontal movement to hide.
The fact that horizontal movement and concealment were activated indicated maximum skill proficiency.
It seemed highly likely that the intruder was at least a level 200 skilled assassin. Perhaps even higher.
Bang! Bang!
With a time difference, the magic bullet snipers continued their shots.
Since they were targeting from hidden points, it was the most difficult suppression to avoid.
Most hunters who had tried to approach the research institute were almost dealt with at the ¡®sniper interception line.¡¯
The quiet sniping of experienced snipers was as deadly as the Grim Reaper.
There¡¯s even amon saying among hunters, ¡°The most f***ed up thing is a sniper who has taken position.¡±
¡°Wait. What is this?¡±
Jung Seon-rak¡¯s expression became more distorted.
The intruder on the screen was quickly updating his position.
Everyone spent time being astonished, looking at each other¡¯s faces. They couldn¡¯t believe their eyes.
For some reason, not a single magic bullet hit the intruder.
They didn¡¯t even miss.
Even the group of mercenaries ced to slow down the intruder¡¯s speed at the midpoint were injured.
They were mercenaries ced to physically obstruct the intruder¡¯s movement in case the sniping was breached.
But they were scattered in panic by the unbelievable wide-area attack executed by the intruder, who seemed to be an assassin.
Suddenly, a circr magic circle appeared, and a storm of electricity swept through the air.
Even Jung Seon-rak, who had been through all sorts of battles, thought it was an absurdbination of skills.
Deploying a curtain to enter a perfect concealment state. Pulling structures to use as a defensive wall!
On top of that, creating a defensive barrier to protect oneself and even using illusions!
All of these skillbinations were derived from a single assassin. He was not an ordinary person.
¡°Damn, this is messed up. Ye Jin-bin! Clear the way! Hurry!¡±
Jung Seon-rak, who had been overly confident in the boundary line he had set up, shouted, realizing he had been caught off guard.
Ye Jin-bin, Jung Seon-rak¡¯s closest colleague and the leader of another mercenary group, had space maniption abilities.
Ye Jin-bin immediately entered a ¡®hyper-focused¡¯ state and opened a path covering a considerable distance.
Since this skill was used externally, it was not affected by the fifth constetion perk of space movement skill suppression within a 15-meter radius of Kang-hoo.
And in the next moment.
Jung Seon-rak appeared less than 10 meters from Kang-hoo.
¡®A big shot has appeared.¡¯
Kang-hoo bit his lip tightly.
From the constetion information alone, he could tell that a skilled person over level 500 had appeared.
Even in this situation, Kang-hoo continued to mix leaps and elerations to keep moving.
Jung Seon-rak also elerated his movement by releasing a strong force backward. It was his own form of eleration.
¡®A Qigong Master.¡¯
He immediately recognized Jung Seon-rak¡¯s essence. A high-level Qigong Master was impossible to face one-on-one.
Moreover, his body was in bad shape due to pushing his skills to the limit during the approach.
Although he had taken Mad Srkium to dy the aftermath, the strain on his body was not gone.
Because he had used mana excessively like a berserker, his entire body felt extremely heavy.
At that moment.
Swoosh.
Kang-hoo noticed Jung Seon-rak¡¯s finger motion, bringing his middle fingernail to the thumb¡¯s fingerprint side.
It was a gesture as if he were flicking something off his finger, making a circr motion with his fingers!
Without time to think further, Kang-hoo immediately deployed a protective barrier. It was an instinctive defensive response.
And then.
Bang!
Crack!
Jung Seon-rak¡¯s single flick of a Qigong Bullet shattered Kang-hoo¡¯s protective barrier into pieces.
¡°¡¡¡±
A monster stood before him.
Chapter 150: To Chuncheon (3)
Chapter 150: To Chuncheon (3)
¡®What¡¯s this guy?¡¯
When he deflected the Ki st, any normal hunter would have been unable to respond and would have died.
At the very least, they should have been severely injured. It was because heunched the Ki st with full force.
However, Kang-hoo deployed a protective barrier, blocking the iing Ki st attack.
Though the barrier waspletely shattered, the Ki st also lost its power and disappeared.
In the end, it was an equivalent exchange. Mutual destruction urred, and it was as if nothing had happened.
Jung Seon-rak was curious about Kang-hoo¡¯s identity, unable to fathom his skill linkage.
With half of his face covered by a mask, there was no information avable other than that he was an assassin.
Meanwhile.After experiencing Jung Seon-rak¡¯s Ki st attack once, Kang-hoo abandoned the thought of engaging in a one-on-one fight.
It wasn¡¯t just a one-on-one situation.
Looking at the situation unfolding behind him, he saw that the sniper riflemen were repositioning themselves.
Although the sniping had ceased due to the distance, it was unknown when the snipers would pull the trigger again.
Moreover, even though there was some distance, quite a few mercenaries were seen running for support.
Buzz-. Buzz-.
As Kang-hoo scanned his surroundings, the entire space was subtly wavering.
A high-level Ki master could create such changes in the surrounding space without doing anything.
The wavering of the space meant that illusion techniques were fundamentally blocked.
Even if illusion techniques were deployed, as soon as they were caught in that wavering, the illusions would dance like taffy.
It would then be easy to distinguish between the real body and the illusions. Using skills would be pointless.
¡®The target direction is the same. I¡¯m trying to get inside the researchb, and that guy is trying to prevent me from entering.¡¯
The final destination was the same for both him and Jung Seon-rak. Only the desired oue was different.
Therefore, Kang-hoo decided to take a strong twist on the obvious flow that both knew.
From the opponent¡¯s perspective, there would be significant confidence in their own skills.
Thus, showing a tendency to avoid the fight would seem more natural rather than awkward.
Kang-hoo nned to twist that natural expectation. Like a cornered mouse suddenly biting a cat.
He nced at the researchb.
There was still no reaction from inside theb to open the door or send someone to meet him.
It was a wise decision.
Opening the door wrongly could lead to Jung Seon-rak breaking through the entrance directly.
The reason theb could withstand the multinational mercenary group was the thick iron door.
The iron door was covered with all sorts of defensive barriers, and snipers were ced to cover it.
If the iron door was breached, there would be no way to stop the mercenaries who would then storm in.
There weren¡¯t manybat forces inside the first researchb, so if it was breached, there would be no solution.
This was also an ident created by ack of safety awareness.
One of the Red Key Holders, who must always be stationed, arbitrarily going out was a critical safety mistake.
The decision to focus solely on technological development and not anticipate being targeted was also a mistake.
At least having the minimum preparedness allowed them to buy some time.
But that wouldn¡¯tst much longer.
The nextrge-scale attack could not be withstood without activating therge barrier triggered by the Red Key.
At that moment.
¡®One person.¡¯
Kang-hoo sensed the aim of a sniper focusing on him.
It was thanks to ¡®Intuition,¡¯ one of the constetion abilities he gained from the Strategist of the Wastnd.
Before he could precisely position himself in the sniper¡¯s aim, he could perceive it through intuition.
Despite numerous previous sniping attempts, Kang-hoo cleverly avoided the danger zones in advance.
This time was no different.
His intuition clearly told him that the sniper¡¯s target was not him but Jung Seon-rak.
¡®If it¡¯s a pincer attack, it¡¯s manageable.¡¯
Kang-hoo sensed that the sniper, despite being in a position to aim at Jung Seon-rak, was waiting for the right moment. No exchange of nces was needed; he felt it from experience.
If a sniper misses once, their position is exposed, and the opponent bes more vignt.
Thus, there is a saying that the best sniping is a single shot. It perfectly fits practicalbat.
Paaat!
He immediately used Shadow Step.
Since illusion techniques were suppressed, Shadow Step was the most useful in this situation.
From the moment he faced Jung Seon-rak, Kang-hoo barely used stealth. It was useless.
A Ki master was adept at handling the surrounding Qi senses or deliberately disrupting the flow of Qi.
Absolute stealth would also be instantly revealed.
In fact, a Ki master would wee an assassin¡¯s stealth.
Because an assassin gains psychological stability and confidence in stealth mode.
Their agility unconsciously decreases.
¡®Chase me. When the chase reaches its peak, I¡¯ll be a feisty mouse biting the cat.¡¯
Bang!
Paang!
A brief exchange urred. It was a sh between Jung Seon-rak¡¯s Ki st and Kang-hoo¡¯s self-defense.
Bang!
Another Ki st flew in.
ng!
This time, Kang-hoo deftly blocked the Ki st with an abandoned iron te he had picked up.
From the outside, it looked like an unfair fight.
Kang-hoo was using his defense skills to the fullest.
Jung Seon-rak was simply snapping his fingers to attack.
But that¡¯s a misconception.
Jung Seon-rak was also gathering as much Qi as possible to burst towards Kang-hoo.
Every time it was blocked by a skill and scattered, he felt deep anger.
He thought the one-on-one situation should have been resolved already.
Right then.
¡°Ha.¡±
For the first time, Kang-hoo, who had never even taken a small breath, opened his mouth towards Jung Seon-rak.
Jung Seon-rak sensed it. This skilled assassin had reached his limit.
He had no choice.
He had moved continuously from a long distance to this point.
Even if he had inhaled a lot of drugs, he could be said to have endured really well at this level.
Yes, it was time to copse. He had reached his limit and was about to burst.
At that moment.
¡°¡¡!¡±
Jung Seon-rak felt the sniper¡¯s gaze targeting him.
It was an expected result.
From the beginning, he knew there was a sniper aiming at the intruders approaching the first researchb.
It wasn¡¯t surprising or unexpected, as it was within his initial predictions.
¡®Yeah, that¡¯s what assassins do. They buy time with sniping and n to get inside.¡¯
The strategy was obvious.
It was a good tactic to fall for if the target was a weakling with no skills.
Since chasing Kang-hoo, Jung Seon-rak had already anticipated this scenario.
In other words, he was prepared to break the n.
Bang!
A magic bullet flew towards Jung Seon-rak from inside theb, apanied by magical mes.
¡¾Qi Wall¡¿
But it was easily blocked.
The Qi Wall, much thicker than Kang-hoo¡¯s protective barrier, easily stopped the magic bullet.
It barely cracked, making additional sniping pointless.
¡¾Thousand Wave Strike¡¿
Jung Seon-rak unleashed his ultimate move.
Anyone could see that Kang-hoo was clearly trying to enter the nearestb door.
So, withoutplicated thinking, he decided to tear apart everything in that direction.
Whether he tried to block it or clumsily dodge it, he would be blown to pieces without a chance.
Swish!
At that moment, Kang-hoo, who had been retreating repeatedly, suddenly charged at Jung Seon-rak.
¡°Humph.¡±
Jung Seon-rak snorted.
Even a passing dog could see that he was using a clone technique to buy time.
It was a typical assassin¡¯s trick: using clones or illusions to dy time.
Jung Seon-rak, having experienced this countless times, paid no attention to the clone.
As expected, the clone merely passed by without doing anything.
He wouldn¡¯t have the mental capacity to control a clone while being so busy running away.
Clone techniques were not easy to handle.
Sure enough.
Kang-hoo, running towards theb, was frantically moving left and right, putting on a show.
It looked like a desperate attempt to dodge the Ki sts.
It was meaningless.
He was going to blow away the entire space. Only solid steel would survive inside.
Boom!
The shockwave from the Thousand Wave Strike swept over everything, including Kang-hoo and the structures.
The shockwave was so powerful that the concrete outer wall shattered into dust.
Kang-hoo, caught in the shockwave, was torn to pieces, meeting a grim end.
It was a pitiful death, torn like a sheet of paper.
However.
¡°¡¡?¡±
Something was off.
There was no blood or flesh scattered around, which should have been everywhere if a person was torn apart.
Especially the blood!
Not a drop of the red liquid, which would have dripped even from a small cut, was seen.
In a fleeting moment that felt like an eternity, countless thoughts crossed Jung Seon-rak¡¯s mind.
Just for a moment.
A shiver ran down his spine, starting from the back of his head.
He realized he had been outsmarted.
It was a masterful move by Kang-hoo, exploiting his blind spot with significant risk.
Bang!
Jung Seon-rak reflexively propelled himself forward while releasing a Qi st backwards.
The reason was simple.
What had passed him was not a clone but the real Kang-hoo. The danger was behind him.
Was his response quick enough?
Jung Seon-rak was satisfied to have escaped without pain.
Kang-hoo had managed to get behind him but hadn¡¯t continued the attack. A small fortune in misfortune.
But right then.
Drip.
A hot sensation ran down the back of his thigh. It could only be blood.
Adding to that, a burning pain followed his hamstring muscle.
The pain wasn¡¯t absent.
It was just that there wasn¡¯t enough time for the pain to register due to the quick cut on his thigh.
¡°Damn¡¡¡±
Jung Seon-rak¡¯s face twisted.
Having taken a heavy hit, he had to somehow block the next attack. He had to defend.
¡¾Qi Wall¡¿
Without looking, he deployed the Qi Wall behind him to buy some time.
The response was swift.
But Kang-hoo had no intention of attacking the wall.
Simply.
Tap!
He flicked his finger once more.
¡¾Blood Flower¡¿
Boom!
With an explosion of red blood, Jung Seon-rak¡¯s body was hurled into the air.
He was definitely screwed.
At that moment, the thought of death overwhelmed Jung Seon-rak¡¯s mind.
Fear of death. An unbearable terror surged through him like a tsunami.
Chapter 151: Surgery (1)
Chapter 151: Surgery (1)
It wasn¡¯t just Jung Seon-rak who was flustered.
The expressions of his colleague Ye Jin-bin and the mercenary captains watching from the safety tent also twisted.
It had been so long since they had seen Jung Seon-rak bleed.
Usually, he was the one making his targets bleed, not the other way around.
He had been caught off guard and properly stabbed by an unknown assassin.
It was a bold and terrifying move that no one had anticipated.
The only fortunate thing was that Jung Seon-rak managed to protect himself while taking sessive blows.
Amidst his injuries, this was the one positive aspect he could cling to for a mental victory.
Kang-hoo tried to end Jung Seon-rak¡¯s life by linking a leap right after using Blood Flower.Thanks to Jung Seon-rak gritting his teeth and wildly unleashing his Qi Wall, Kang-hoo¡¯s path of movement was restricted.
Of course, this did notpletely stop the chain of attacks.
Jung Seon-rak lost the ring and pinky fingers of his left hand to Kang-hoo, who prated the gaps between the Qi Wall.
Needless to say, he also lost the rings he was wearing on those fingers.
Kang-hoo took Jung Seon-rak¡¯s two fingers as if they were trophies and disappeared into the researchb.
Boom!
The door opened just in time to let Kang-hoo in, and then immediately closed firmly.
¡°What did I just see?¡±
Ye Jin-bin looked dumbfounded. It wasn¡¯t just about Jung Seon-rak getting hit.
If an unidentified mercenary had entered the researchb from the outside, there was only one reason.
It must have been to deliver the Red Key to activate the protective barrier for the entireb.
They had kidnapped one keyholder at the beginning, but the security wouldn¡¯t have beenx enough to have no spare key.
Sure enough.
ng! ng! Whirrrrr!
As the power supply kicked in, the exterior of the main researchb began to glow blue.
It was a barrier powered by mana supplied from arge number of mana stones.
This would render any attack meaningless for at least two weeks.
Any attempt to attack from outside to inside or vice versa would be nullified.
For theb, which was more focused on defense than offense, this was a profitable deal.
In the meantime, theb would wait to deploy external forces. Now, time was on their side.
¡°We¡¯re totally screwed.¡±
Another mercenary captain muttered.
With the supposedly invincible Jung Seon-rak taking a hit, all the work done so far had returned to square one.
However, the atmosphere wasn¡¯t ming Jung Seon-rak. They thought they would have fared simrly if it had been them.
Though not openly stated, everyone acknowledged Kang-hoo¡¯s skills.
No one disagreed that he was no ordinary assassin. It was just bitter since he was an enemy.
¡°How can someone mess things up so much? This is really annoying.¡±
Ye Jin-bin frowned.
On the other hand, he regretted dying the attack point until the client¡¯s deposit was made.
But that¡¯s the nature of mercenaries. They don¡¯t proceed with work out of goodwill. Payment muste first.
In any case, because of that one assassin, the 300 billion wonmission turned into nothing.
Pharmaceuticalpanies must have spent a considerable amount hiring the assassin.
Having protected theb, technology, and personnel, they had won.
The multinational mercenaries had only a lonely retreat left. Unfortunately, there were no other options.
At that time.
¡°Thank you! Really, thank you!¡±
The head of the main researchb, Ahn Seong-hoon, repeatedly bowed his head to Kang-hoo in gratitude.
He thanked him so profusely that it was hard to count how many times he bowed.
¡°That¡¯s enough gratitude. It wasn¡¯t done for free. I understand your joy, though.¡±
Kang-hoo epted Ahn Seong-hoon¡¯s thanks with his usual bluntness.
If one were to properly trante his inner feelings, it would mean he was proud to have done his job well.
He always ended up saying things far removed from his true feelings.
However, this had be part of his identity and character, so it rarely changed.
¡°I can¡¯t believe it. Because of Jung Seon-rak, all the mercenaries who tried to help us have died.¡±
Ahn Seong-hoon looked out of theb with an incredulous expression.
He saw Jung Seon-rak in the distance, clutching his severed fingers and bleeding profusely.
Theb¡¯s perception of Jung Seon-rak, who had seemed like a merciless killer, now seemed almostughable.
At the same time, Kang-hoo, who hadnded a proper blow on Jung Seon-rak, seemed even more impressive.
¡°Director.¡±
¡°Yes?¡±
¡°I want to thank the sniper who helped me at thest minute. That one shot was crucial.¡±
He was sincere.
The sniper¡¯s support, precisely timed, had given him the opportunity to target Jung Seon-rak.
Had Jung Seon-rak not felt uneasy about the sniper, the n might not have worked.
This was because Kang-hoo¡¯s strategy was to make Jung Seon-rak ¡®misinterpret¡¯ the sniper¡¯s cover fire as an attempt to buy him time.
Though they hadn¡¯t exchanged a single word or nce, their thoughts had aligned.
¡°I was going to bring him over, but he refused¡¡±
¡°Refused?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t he ab associate?¡±
¡°Technically, he¡¯s a mercenary. Though long-term hired, he is guaranteed solo action¡¡±
¡°Understood. Please convey my thanks to him if you get the chance.¡±
¡°I will definitely do so.¡±
It was disappointing.
He was curious about the sniper, who seemed as sharp as Ban Se-young, but it seemed a meeting was not desired.
He quickly brushed off his regrets.
Then, he checked the movements of the multinational mercenaries visible through the CCTV again.
Seeing the activation of the protective barrier, the mercenaries were retreating quickly.
It was a wise choice.
An activated barrier was like a giant rock. No matter how many eggs you threw at it, only the eggs would break.
With this, the goal was achieved.
When the barrier was lifted in two weeks, it would be entirely up to Jeongmun Pharmaceutical to decide how to prepare for what came next.
The multinational mercenaries might attack again, or nothing might happen.
Of course, that wasn¡¯t his concern.
The settlement was carried out as quickly as possible at Kang-hoo¡¯s request.
This was because the effects of Mad Srkium were wearing off, and a damp sensation was spreading rapidly throughout his body.
He had used his skills continuously, without a moment¡¯s rest, while approaching the researchb earlier.
And then, as the final touch, fighting with Jung Seon-rak had overloaded his body.
Mad Srkium had deferred all physical pain and pressure, fortunately.
Without it, he wouldn¡¯t have been surprised to copse and cough up blood much earlier.
Amission fee of 55 billion won.
Plus ten Gaksin Pills.
He received all the promised rewards. Checking his bank bnce, it was suddenly 140 billion won.
Feeling like a ticking time bomb was about to go off, he quickly said goodbye to Ahn Seong-hoon, the head of the researchb.
Using his teleportation ability, he returned to the safe hotel he had previously checked into.
And after about a minute.
¡°Ugh¡!¡±
Kang-hoo couldn¡¯t hold back the nausea and began to vomit.
Before themission, he had only drunk a few sips of water instead of eating, but he even threw that up.
At the same time, he felt a pain in his head as if it was being struck with an axe.
Even with the considerable pain relief effect of the item, it was this bad.
He thought that without the item, he might have fainted or died from shock.
¡°Hah. Hah. I now realize how much I¡¯ve relied on Mad Srkium¡ Ugh!¡±
Before he could finish his self-deprecating review, the nausea surged again, and he bent over.
It was excruciatingly painful. It felt like experiencing extreme pain that even narcotic painkillers couldn¡¯t suppress.
Thanks to suppressing the pain, he could exert superhuman strength that was unmatched for his level.
But it wasn¡¯t free. His body, pushed to its absolute limits, presented him with the bill.
That was the current pain, and his body was rebelling and breaking down.
Still, on the other hand, he felt proud that he could even face a hunter three or four levels higher than him.
In a normal situation, such a power disparity wouldn¡¯t have even been possible to bridge, even for a moment.
That¡¯s why Jung Seon-rak let his guard down against him and got hit.
The two rings on the table in his room were proof. They were the results of Jung Seon-rak falling prey to him.
¡°Hoo. Hoo.¡±
Panting heavily, Kang-hoo came out of the bathroom and headed towards the window.
The sight of the white walls all around made him feel nauseous just by looking at them.
He thought that maybe looking at an open view might help calm the dizziness.
¡°Damn¡¡±
But unfortunately, the sky he saw was melting like ice cream.
Everything he saw and felt was not normal.
The aftermath of pushing his body beyond its limits was more destructive than he had imagined.
Perhaps because of that.
Crash!
Kang-hoo picked up the ss of water he had poured in advance, but, unable to bear the difort, he shattered the ss.
He would need at least a full day of rest. His body demanded it in no uncertain terms.
At the same time.
Boom!
A man clutching his neck fell to the ground, looking at two men with a resentful expression.
But only for a moment. The man who had stopped breathing lost focus in his eyes and left the world.
Though it seemed like the scene of a fierce battle, ironically, this was inside Jang Si-hwan¡¯s penthouse.
And the person drenched in the dead man¡¯s blood was Vincent Meyer.
¡°Dammit, it¡¯s not this guy.¡±
Vincent swore at Jang Si-hwan as he red at him.
Even though he knew it was pointless, he wanted to deal with his frustration somehow.
Jang Si-hwan shrugged nonchntly and asked Vincent again.
¡°No hidden skill?¡±
¡°None¡ So it really wasn¡¯t there.¡±
¡°I thought he was just hiding it even if he had it, but I guess not. Anyway, I need to get paid. You killed a promising talent, thanks to you.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have money. I can give you a dungeon. It¡¯s my dungeon in Romania. It¡¯s properly registered under my name.¡±
¡°Then it¡¯s no problem.¡±
Even though a promising talent raised by Jeonghwa Guild was dead, Jang Si-hwan¡¯s expression remained calm.
It was disappointing, but he thought it was no big deal. They could recruit and raise another promising talent.
That emotion was more akin to losing a possession than a person.
The assassin hunter who was expected to acquire a hidden skill was the promising talent ¡®Shin Hee-seong.¡¯
But it had been a miscalction.
In return, he was receiving an expensive dungeon, so he even felt like it was a profitable deal.
Meanwhile, Vincent, seemingly frustrated with this approach, changed his strategy.
¡°Give me the list of all the assassins who participated in the Hell of Judgment raid. I need to check them all, even the beginners.¡±
He nned to take direct action.
Chapter 152: Surgery (2)
Chapter 152: Surgery (2)
Meanwhile, Lee Ye-rin was able to confirm the on-site news from Jungmun Pharmaceuticals, their client.
It was that Kang-hoo had safely delivered the Red Key.
Moreover, it goes without saying that he had also shaken off the pursuit of Jeung Seon-rak, the mercenary leader.
On top of that, it was said he even cut off Jeung Seon-rak¡¯s fingers, causing him to lose his ring item.
¡°I never imagined he would not only seed but alsond a blow on the captain.¡±
Lee Ye-rin clicked her tongue.
The saying that Kang-hoo always exceeds expectations was perfectly fitting.
Because it was Kang-hoo, she had thought he might seed in this request that everyone else had failed. She had expectations, naturally.
But she had also thought that if a powerful external force intervened, the possibility would vanish entirely.Jeung Seon-rak was not just any mercenary guarding theb¡¯s vicinity; he was their leader.
Lee Ye-rin was confident that if she had faced Jeung Seon-rak, she wouldn¡¯t havested even a few seconds.
That¡¯s the reason for the existence of levels.
The gap in skills and stats, coupled with the gap in experience, bes a formidable wall that¡¯s hard to ovee.
Yet Kang-hoo had overturned thismon sense.
No matter who heard this news, they would undoubtedly react the same way she did.
Jungmun Pharmaceuticals had also expressed a desire to have Kang-hoo check the security of otherbs.
It was a task to assess which direction of theb was easiest to breach and which areas were poorly guarded.
They judged that Kang-hoo was perfect for this request, as it required a skilled and perceptive hunter.
¡°This is quite stimting¡¡±
Lee Ye-rin bit her lip.
She was not only an excellent broker in securing and guiding requests but also a hunter herself.
Seeing Kang-hoo¡¯s remarkable growth made her envious. She felt a desire to follow him.
Considering the level when she first met Kang-hoo, her own growth felt insignificant.
From a third-party perspective, Lee Ye-rin¡¯s growth was undeniably rapid.
However, since she was evaluating herself against Kang-hoo, it inevitably felt slow.
¡°Should I really lift the restriction?¡±
Lee Ye-rin tore off a memo she had stuck in Kang-hoo¡¯s file.
It was a note setting the maximum request level at 350, considering Kang-hoo¡¯s current level.
This meant that the upper limit for requests was set at what could be proposed to a level 350 hunter.
Even that was a high estimate, considering Kang-hoo¡¯s current level was seen as more than twice that.
But this restriction seemed meaningless.
If he could evade Jeung Seon-rak¡¯s pursuit, would level 400 be enough? No, even that was low.
¡°Alright, let¡¯s lift it. If I propose it, he¡¯ll ept it ording to the difficulty. Lifting the restriction.¡±
Crumple!
Lee Ye-rin threw the crumpled memo into the trash can.
Restrictions were meaningless to Kang-hoo. And since he would be the one making the choice anyway, there was no need to worry.
She thought it was also meaningless for her to judge whether it was possible or impossible.
Wasn¡¯t it so?
Seeing Kang-hoo sessfullyplete all the requests that were thought to be impossible.
¡°I should start taking international requests soon. The brokerage fee is much higher, and there are many attractive requests.¡±
Lee Ye-rin decided on a new direction. Kang-hoo was now one of her VIP clients.
In that case, it seemed best to find requests that were attractive to Kang-hoo and also brought her substantialmissions.
The domestic mercenary market clearly had its limits. She wanted to expand Kang-hoo¡¯s range of activities.
¡°¡I am human after all.¡±
Kang-hoo woke up after sleeping for a whole day.
Thanks to the ckout curtains, he had no sense of time passing. It had been a day.
As a result, the view outside the window was the same as before he fell asleep.
Except for the fact that the date and day disyed on his smartphone had changed to the next day, everything seemed normal.
He felt refreshed, as if his body, which had seemed to sink and shatter endlessly, had recoveredpletely.
Kang-hoo recalled his body experiencing both the highest and lowest points, feeling relieved on the other hand.
He had never been so physically exhausted before, so at one point, he wondered if his body didn¡¯t know pain.
He had worried that some sensory issues might cause his body not to function properly.
It was an unnecessary worry.
His body was honest, crying out in pain when it hurt.
¡°It feels weird.¡±
It felt exactly like the moment when surging sexual desire was resolved all at once.
After pushing his body to the limit and recovering with enough rest, he felt quite refreshed.
He did think it was a bit perverted to find pleasure in this process, but he didn¡¯t care.
Such pleasure was wee anytime. It meant he had performed well on the battlefield.
¡°I was drained.¡±
Since he had slept without a single phone call, he thought he had slept well. But when he checked his smartphone, it was dead.
He didn¡¯t know when it had turned off, but it seemed to have happened shortly after he fell asleep.
After plugging in the charger and turning on the smartphone, the first thing he saw was a message from Park Dong-jae.
¡¾Hyung, do you know? Someone targeting you has recently entered the country. Reliable information.¡¿
¡¾The name is Cha So-hyeok. He¡¯s a hunter from ¡®Sun¡¯ and Cha So-hee¡¯s older brother. Verified through the ck Network.¡¿
It seemed to be information obtained from a deep source, too deep to be called just insider information.
This meant there was an insider at a mid-level or higher position, suggesting how much effort had gone into acquiring this information.
Kang-hoo had always felt the limitation of gathering information alone.
Lee Ye-rin was more focused on request-based information and had a broader view of the domestic scene.
But Park Dong-jae, while he mightck in macro aspects,
he undoubtedly excelled in detailed, in-depth information in specific fields.
Kang-hoo highly valued Park Dong-jae¡¯s usefulness. His worth was high as both a buffer and an informant.
It was very satisfying to have someone like Park Dong-jae, who trusted and followed him while paying close attention.
¡°Cha So-hyeok.¡±
An unfamiliar name.
In the original work, Cha So-hee was depicted as a loyal subordinate of Kang Dong-hyun, but she was not a hunter with significant focus.
Therefore, it was unlikely that her older brother would have been portrayed in detail. His name wasn¡¯t even mentioned.
However, living as Shin Kang-hoo, he had formed an inseparable bad rtionship with Cha So-hee.
In the process, with Cha So-hee¡¯s death, a new vendetta was created. It was a blood feud.
It was clear that he hade to avenge his deceased younger sister.
There seemed to be no way to avoid it. Not that he intended to avoid it, of course.
¡°He¡¯ll be persistent until it¡¯s over.¡±
As Kang-hoo loosened his stiff neck, he checked the additional data Park Dong-jae had attached.
His level was between 350 and 400. He was an extreme damage-dealing style swordsman who used a greatsword aggressively.
While it might sound exaggerated, from an assassin¡¯s perspective, he was among the top 5 most challenging concepts to deal with.
Not that there was an easy ss, but such extreme damage-dealing swordsmen could kill with a single blow.
A ss with a one-hit-kill capability was certainly the nemesis of an assassin, who had rtively poor endurance.
At that moment.
Bzzzt!
Park Dong-jae contacted him directly.
Was the timing just right?
Or did he know Kang-hoo had just checked the message and called immediately?
¡°Yeah, Dong-jae.¡±
-Hyung! Did you see the message?
¡°I saw it. Thanks for the information.¡±
-Thanks? It¡¯s just regr information I collect anyway, nothing special!
¡°Regardless.¡±
Park Dong-jae¡¯s reaction was too obvious, pretending it was nothing.
The more he spoke like that, the more it paradoxically showed he cared a lot. Knowing his personality, it made sense.
-Hyung! Do you want to go to a dungeon? This time, the Myeongga Guild offered us a dungeon!
¡°They offered us a dungeon?¡±
Well, they¡¯re giving us the opportunity to enter. You could call it a license rental. That¡¯s the right term.
Is this the power of connections?
When you know someone, and that person is valuable, such things happen.
Dungeon exploration was always a wee offer for Kang-hoo, who owned few personal dungeons.
Especially if it was a ce he had never visited, its value skyrocketed.
If he could eliminate the middle boss or main boss, he could definitely steal a skill.
Since the dungeon Park Dong-jae mentioned was one Kang-hoo had never visited, just going would be beneficial.
¡°What kind of dungeon is it?¡±
-It¡¯s quite unique. Specifically, we¡¯ve been guided to a special entrance to an open-type dungeon.
¡°So, if we enter, it¡¯s not directly a dungeon but a passage?¡±
-Yes! You have to go through that passage to enter the open-type dungeon.
¡°Any other peculiarities?¡±
-Hunters from all over the world gather there. You¡¯ll probably see quite a few foreign hunters.
¡°And we can¡¯t go back through the passage we used?¡±
-Right. If we enter through Passage A and another hunter enters through Passage B, we can¡¯t use B to go back.
¡°I get the structure.¡±
-Rmended level 300. The management is under the American guild Canis, but they only control the main area.
¡°Got it. What¡¯s the date?¡±
-Tomorrow night at 9. How about it? I¡¯ll send the meeting ce on the map right after this call, hyung.
¡°Okay. Tomorrow night it is. See you then.¡±
An unexpected but certainly beneficial schedule appeared.
Opportunities rted to Lee Hyun-seok or An Yeong-ho were secured dungeons that could be essed anytime.
However, such sudden opportunities were rare and might note again.
A dungeon connected to hunters from other countries. As much as he was curious, he thought he needed to be cautious.
There was still time until dawn.
Having slept the whole day, Kang-hoo, who had no more sleep to squeeze out, suddenly thought of Huntergram.
Instead of passively watching AI-rmended content, he was actively looking for someone he wanted to see.
Since it was the Huntergram of a somewhat famous person, the name popped up at the top as soon as he typed it.
¡¾Akiyama Takashi¡¿
Akiyama Takashi, one of Japan¡¯s renowned hunters, and also a member of The Thirteen Stars.
There were many words to describe Takashi, but the core term that prated all those descriptors was one:
¡°Variant.¡±
For this reason, public perception wasn¡¯t great. Negativements on his Huntergram were not umon.
Moreover, even The Thirteen Stars considered Takashi a variant and didn¡¯t keep him close.
In the original work, Takashi was always doing something else during The Thirteen Stars meetings.
It felt like he couldn¡¯t concentrate, much like a five-year-old child.
For this reason, most of Takashi¡¯s words and actions were ignored.
When decisions were made, he was just informed, and he didn¡¯t particrly mind.
Still, thanks to Yu Cheonghwa and Emilia taking care of Takashi like sisters, he wasn¡¯tpletely isted.
However, Chae Gwanhyeong disliked Takashi and often openly suggested expelling him from The Thirteen Stars.
¡°Honestly, looking at the current picture, he¡¯s the easiest to separate from The Thirteen Stars.¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes deepened.
If Takashi had the weakest sense of belonging, maybe he could shake his heart somehow.
Considering the issue with An Yeong-ho that would take him to Japan, it seemed like good timing.
By now, eight of The Thirteen Stars should be gathered. Five were still scattered.
Before they fully assembled, he wanted to create a crack among them.
Like quietly spreading poison.
Chapter 153: Surgery (3)
Chapter 153: Surgery (3)
At that time.
¡°Hmm. So, this is the video secured from the scene, right?¡±
¡°Yes. Due to the bad weather, the quality isn¡¯t very clear.¡±
¡°That¡¯s fine. This is enough to understand. Anyway, it¡¯s a video of Jung Sun-rak being attacked, right?¡±
¡°Yes, it is.¡±
Yu Cheonghwa was watching a video handed over by her subordinate.
It was a scene where Jung Sun-rak, an executive of the Shinsu Guild, was struck down by Kang-hoo at the First Research Institute.
Since Shinsu Guild was a satellite guild of Shinto Guild, to which she belonged, she always kept an eye on it.
She had especially watched Jung Sun-rak since he was a promising talent. Now he was a named figure.She wasn¡¯t particrly interested in the fact that the target was Jungmun Pharmaceutical. Such incidents weremon.
However, the fact that Jung Sun-rak was attacked by an unknown assassin piqued her curiosity greatly.
¡°This defense line, it¡¯s the one where mental-type hunters are stationed, right?¡±
¡°Yes. It¡¯s to hold them off once the outer defense line is breached.¡±
¡°But the assassin in the video passes through without even hesitating once?¡±
¡°Yes. It seems our expectations werepletely off. The same would be true for Jung Sun-rak.¡±
¡°What, it doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s because of some item. It seems they purely resisted seduction or confusion with sheer ability?¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±
¡°Moreover, the use of skills is unique too. For an assassin, the skill usage is too varied, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°We believe it¡¯s not an ordinary assassin. There¡¯s also a possibility that it¡¯s a mercenary from abroad.¡±
¡°Who on earth is it?¡±
Yu Cheonghwa tilted her head.
For a moment, an assassin came to mind.
Shin Kang-hoo. An assassin who Yu Cheonghwa had tried to mentally scan several times, but it had never worked.
However, it seemed far-fetched to connect the assassin in the video with Shin Kang-hoo.
Firstly, Jung Sun-rak¡¯s level was high. ording to the information about Kang-hoo from Eclipse, the gap was too big.
Moreover, his face was covered by a mask, making it impossible to visualize a proper image.
Though Kang-hoo¡¯s face came to mind, the link was weak. It felt like too much of a leap.
If someone who knew about Kang-hoo¡¯s Shadow Step skill had seen the scene, their reaction might have been different.
But she didn¡¯t know Kang-hoo¡¯s skill set precisely. She just knew it was extraordinary.
A subordinate asked.
¡°Should we investigate further?¡±
¡°Yes, discreetly. I don¡¯t want other guilds or mercenary groups getting interested.¡±
¡°Yes, understood.¡±
¡°Jung Sun-rak got taken down¡ This is interesting. Whoever the assassin is, their value just shot up.¡±
Yu Cheonghwa had a face full of curiosity. It was clear that this assassin was highly skilled.
Morning.
Kang-hoo, after receiving a call from Master K, was heading to Ground Zero.
Thanks to Master K¡¯s consideration, he was able to board a safe limousine, making the trip veryfortable.
Since there was plenty of time until the promised meeting with Park Dong-jae at night, there were no issues.
Upon arriving at Ground Zero¡¯s ¡®ss Land,¡¯ the scene was the same asst time.
Numerous workers were protected by an equal number of guards, busy with the harvesting operation.
The thorough safety gear worn by the workers highlighted Master K¡¯s meticulous care.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo tilted his head at the unexpected person who came to greet him.
¡°Wee. I¡¯ll escort you. Master is waiting.¡±
¡°Someone else came out.¡±
¡°Yes. Moon Hyeong-seo has gone to the north.¡±
¡°Went to the north?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
The one who came out instead was a woman who looked to be in her early forties. Naturally, it was their first meeting.
However, based on the Constetion information, she seemed to be at a simr level to Moon Hyeong-seo.
Her main field appeared to be simr to Ban Se-yeong¡¯s, a gunner. The Constetion options were biased towards uracy and concentration.
¡°I see.¡±
¡°Follow me. Only the guide has changed; everything else remains the same.¡±
¡°May I know your name?¡±
¡°Hwang Bo-hye.¡±
¡°I see. Since I mighte here often, I thought it would be good to know your name in advance.¡±
Hwang Bo-hye.
If she reced Moon Hyeong-seo in his absence, she could be considered Master K¡¯s second confidant.
Following Hwang Bo-hye, they arrived at the ce where K was, just like before.
As soon as the meeting began, Hwang Bo-hye left, and the surrounding personnel withdrew as well.
It was an arrangement to secure the confidentiality of the conversation. Everything was done in an instant.
K, seeing Kang-hoo, initiated a handshake warmly.
¡°You look worse than before.¡±
¡°I overdid it yesterday. Myplexion was already bad, and it seems it got worse.¡±
¡°Oh. People might think you came wearing white makeup. You must have pushed your body to the extreme?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
There seemed to be no point in hiding his physical state from K.
He immediately noticed that Kang-hoo had overexerted himself due to mana hypersensitivity just by looking at his changedplexion.
It wasn¡¯t a mere guess; his intuition had proven urate time and again, leading Kang-hoo to feel more eptance than suspicion.
¡°After returning from Ulleungdo, Hyeong-seo seemed quite stimted by you and went for training.¡±
¡°I heard he went to North Korea.¡±
¡°There¡¯s no better ce to get stronger than thatnd.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it dangerous? Even the Hunter Public Safety Bureau gave up on identifying the monsters and vegetation in North Korea.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s also and of opportunity. Ever since people could no longer live in North Korea.¡±
K was right.
Since the beginning of the Hunter era,
Unlike other countries that quickly adapted to reality and formed their own power structures,
North Korea regarded the emergence of hunters as a threat to their regime. To them, hunters were enemies.
However, it was impossible for hunters, who had gained unprecedented power, to simply die off.
Eventually, a civil war broke out, and in the process, hunters who should have been the future¡¯s strength died in vain.
As a result, there was not enough power to subjugate the monsters that emerged from dungeon explosions in each region.
That led to the present situation.
Most people who lived in North Korea moved to China. And North Korea became a yground for monsters.
In fact, this was only a known part of the story; there were rumors of undead hunters existing.
Or there were stories that unimaginable hybrid species had arisen through interbreeding with monsters.
¡®The original story should have had more hints about North Korea. With the hints dropped, it¡¯s not surprising if anything happens.¡¯
Kang-hoo recalled the original story and chuckled.
No wonder readers asked where the North Korea hints had gone when he left a postscript after finishing the story.
Thements criticizing theck of North Korea hints had more than three times the likespared to the author¡¯s postscript.
K changed the subject.
¡°Anyway, everything Hyeong-seo saw about you on Ulleungdo will be kept secret. Don¡¯t worry.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not worried. There¡¯s no reason for such foolishness.¡±
¡°Right. In this harsh world, the tighter one¡¯s lips, the longer they live. We know that well.¡±
K nodded.
Then he casually handed something to Kang-hoo that was ced on the shelf next to him.
Though he hadn¡¯t received an exnation yet, Kang-hoo could immediately tell what it was. K quickly added an exnation.
¡°It¡¯s abination of a colorless talisman and an expulsion core. I learned the crafting method directly from Shin-ryeong a while ago.¡±
¡°Have you known her for a long time?¡±
K¡¯s familiarity in calling Kim Shin-ryeong without formality indicated a close rtionship. It didn¡¯t seem like he had called her just once or twice.
¡°Well¡ should I say we almost got married? In the past tense, of course.¡±
¡°Oh.¡±
They either broke off an engagement or separated before making a promise to marry.
In any case, it seemed they once had a rtionship where they loved each other.
For a moment, K¡¯s eyes sparkled. It was understandable since it likely reminded him of his youthful romance.
¡°Anyway, I made it using the crafting method I learned from Shin-ryeong. But don¡¯t expect too much.¡±
¡°I¡¯m much more pessimistic and negative than you might think. I have no expectations.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
Although he hadn¡¯tpletely let go of his expectations, if he were to quantify his hope, it would be about 10%.
¡°Okay. Let¡¯s proceedfortably. Let¡¯s move to the sterile room for the procedure. We must also be cautious about infection.¡±
¡°Yes, please.¡±
The special sterile room they moved to, while not prepared for major surgery, was equipped for minor operations.
Inserting a small talisman into the body was something that could be performed without issues.
After conducting local anesthesia, the process of inserting the talisman ended quicker than expected.
Thinking he might need to talk to K to alleviate boredom was unnecessary worry.
K meticulously finished the suturing and disinfection process before carefully speaking to Kang-hoo.
¡°Use your skill. It¡¯s better to keep using it and induce mana recovery.¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
Kang-hoo immediately began using his skills in session.
He focused on auxiliary skills like Frenzied Healing, which aren¡¯t connected to offensive actions.
Normally, mana would be rapidly consumed, and with rapid recovery, his body would be overloaded.
This would cause pain.
If K¡¯s hypothesis was correct, the talisman would release fake mana, reducing the overload.
It would provide a breather.
Mana recovery proceeded normally, but the physical strain was minimized.
Feeling the changes in his body from start to finish, Kang-hoo let out a brief groan.
¡°Mm.¡±
¡°How is it?¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t feel the overload for about 5 seconds. But after that, it was the same.¡±
¡°Just as I thought¡¡±
¡°And it seems the benefit of those 5 seconds isn¡¯t immediate recovery. There seems to be a cooldown.¡±
¡°Could you¡ wait a bit longer?¡±
¡°Yes, let¡¯s do that.¡±
Afterward, 30 minutes passed.
Then, just like before, the talisman provided a brief respite from the overload.
It appeared that the cooldown period was about 30 minutes.
After that, there was about a 5-second window where the overload from mana hypersensitivity was alleviated.
Considering he thought there would be no results at all, Kang-hoo found this quite satisfactory.
¡°Looks rather inadequate.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t be full on the first bite. Still, having 5 seconds every 30 minutes provides some indirect experience.¡±
¡°Does itpletely relieve the pressure?¡±
¡°Yes. During those 5 seconds, there¡¯s no overload at all. Mana recovery is normal.¡±
¡°That means the hypothesis itself wasn¡¯t wrong.¡±
¡°In other words, it suggests the need for continuous expulsion power.¡±
¡°Right. With the current talisman we made, it doesn¡¯t reach that capacity. The output is low.¡±
¡°Are we moving towards a secondary hypothesis that requires a higher-level colorless talisman and expulsion core?¡±
¡°Haha¡ Right.¡±
Kughed but looked troubled.
They had direction, but pursuing that direction was no easy task.
Even obtaining the current colorless talisman from Kim Shin-ryeong had been a challenge, given its high sensitivity.
Obtaining something of a higher level might also be difficult for Kim Shin-ryeong. It was a very challenging task.
¡°I¡¯m feeling good.¡±
Unlike the somewhat disappointed K, Kang-hoo¡¯s response was positive.
He had cracked open a change.
For something he thought would never change, he had caused a crack in his congenital mana hypersensitivity.
If additional information were gathered and confidence and experience umted¡
He was sure it would lead to a better state than now. There would be no negative consequences.
K, surprised by Kang-hoo¡¯s positive response, smiled and answered:
¡°You said you were much more pessimistic and negative than I thought, but it turns out it was me who was darker, not you.¡±
¡°I think it¡¯s just the beginning.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right. Considering the start, it¡¯s actually good not to be disappointed.¡±
¡°Exactly.¡±
¡°I was foolish.¡±
K reflected lightly, feeling pleased.
Yes. Change had begun.
The two were sure that congenital mana hypersensitivity would not remain an incurable disease forever.
Chapter 154: Stimulation (1)
Chapter 154: Stimtion (1)
K and Kang-hoo decided to part ways and reconnect once they could obtain a new colorless talisman.
Currently, the ¡°emission hypothesis¡± was the one with the highest probability.
Thus, neither Kang-hoo nor K felt the need to establish or test any other hypothesis.
Before leaving, Kang-hoo asked K to take his time and look into it slowly.
Rushing it wouldn¡¯t solve the problem. Since it was a matter of waiting, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t want to put unnecessary pressure on K.
Kang-hoo moved to the ce where he was supposed to meet Park Dong-jae.
The entrance to the dungeon where Park Dong-jae had rented a license from the Myeongga Guild was in apletely unexpected location.
It was a storage room located in the basement of a six-story studio-type building around Cheongju Station.
A trash heap filled with all sorts of odds and ends that no one would care about.Of course, he had heard that the basement storage had been intentionally set up that way.
Even if someone peeked inside, they wouldn¡¯t think of entering further.
It would be ridiculous to station personnel at such a ce, even if it had a dungeon entrance.
So instead, they seemed to have installed detailed CCTV and camouged the interior and exterior.
As soon as Park Dong-jae, who had arrived early and was waiting for Kang-hoo, saw him, he raised both arms enthusiastically to greet him.
¡°Hyung! I missed you!¡±
¡°Just raise your hand. No need to run over.¡±
¡°Hyung¡ Do you think I¡¯m the type to like men?¡±
¡°The world is a rough ce these days, so I wouldn¡¯t find it strange.¡±
¡°Your reactions are always so boring.¡±
¡°I hear that a lot. So, you should adapt.¡±
¡°Se-hyeok hyung is more receptive. Too bad!¡±
¡°I am Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
If the author¡¯s personality had been oveid on him, he would certainly be a reaction-rich person.
But now, with Shin Kang-hoo¡¯s personality deeply embedded, expressing intense emotions felt awkward.
It was a feeling he couldn¡¯t endure due to the cringe.
Even if there were emotions swirling deep inside him, expressing them outwardly felt incredibly ufortable.
¡°Being a buff shuttle is tough. I¡¯mpletely worn out. My throat is all hoarse.¡±
As Park Dong-jae said, his voice waspletely hoarse.
He must have been shouting the remaining buff time andposition list to his team members.
Park Dong-jae added.
¡°ying with you is the mostfortable. I thought about you a lot.¡±
¡°It would befortable ying with me.¡±
¡°Exactly! So when the Myeongga Guild offered me the dungeon, I called you right away.¡±
¡°What about Jeon Se-hyeok or Se-yeong?¡±
¡°They¡¯re not dailypanions, this is solo y time. We¡¯re not always together.¡±
Naturally, while scanning Park Dong-jae¡¯s constetion information, Kang-hoo raised an eyebrow slightly.
Sensing the subtle change in expression, Park Dong-jae asked cautiously.
¡°Gasp, don¡¯t tell me¡ Did you inform them?¡±
Park Dong-jae was off the mark.
Kang-hoo could see an additional constetion attached to Park Dong-jae.
It wasn¡¯t there thest time they met, but it seemed to have been added as a main constetion this time.
Adding a constetion already.
He knew Park Dong-jae had great potential, but his growth curve was steeper than expected.
Compared to Kang-hoo, he fell short in rtive terms, but it was rapid growth from a general hunter¡¯s perspective.
¡¾Worshiper of the Sacred Body¡¿
¡¾Actively assists all buffed targets with 0.5 health recovery per second.¡¿
¡¾If a buff is cast on an ally with a debuff, the debuff effect is reduced by 10%.¡¿
¡®Look at this guy, slyly stepping into the healer¡¯s territory. A buffer assisting with health?¡¯
Interesting news.
A constetion like the Worshiper of the Sacred Body is usually attached to healer-type hunters.
Yet, it was attached to Park Dong-jae, a buffer. It¡¯s a constetion that wouldn¡¯t be out of ce even for a skilled healer.
Of course, constetions don¡¯t approach based solely on the ss of the contractor.
They meticulously review the contractor¡¯s ability expansion, potential, and overall utility.
It seemed the Worshiper of the Sacred Body saw Park Dong-jae¡¯s potential and climbed aboard before the main event.
¡®If the original story were followed, Park Dong-jae would be trapped in the basement now. But the future has changed.¡¯
Park Dong-jae, who came out into the world earlier than in the original story, was quickly unleashing his potential.
It could be considered the butterfly effect triggered by Kang-hoo himself.
With Park Dong-jae trusting and following him, it was a win-win situation in many ways.
¡°Why would I tell them? I don¡¯t usually talk unless it¡¯s the person involved.¡±
¡°Right¡ That sounds like you. You seem like the type who wouldn¡¯t spill secrets even if parents asked.¡±
¡°Exactly right.¡±
¡°Oh! If you want, I can also try tracking Cha So-hyeok¡¯s movements. Want some help?¡±
It was a wee offer.
It wasn¡¯t imposing on him; it was closer to receiving goodwill without any expectation of return.
Since Kang-hoo felt indebted to Park Dong-jae for saving his life, it seemed like an act he willingly did.
¡°Then please take care of that. The siblings are really troublesome. If they hadn¡¯t chased me in the first ce, none of this would have happened.¡±
¡°I really don¡¯t get it.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t even try to understand. It¡¯ll just give you a headache. Why try to understand?¡±
¡°Because it¡¯s annoying they¡¯re bothering you.¡±
¡°If they block, make them move. If they try to kill, just kill them. It¡¯s simple.¡±
¡°¡¡±
Park Dong-jae was momentarily speechless, staring at Kang-hoo¡¯s calm response.
He certainly seemed like a cold person without blood or tears.
It felt like if he became an enemy, he could strike without mercy at any time.
It was something he had felt since their first meeting.
Although Kang-hoo was at a lower level than himself, it never felt that way. He seemed like a senior.
It was as if he exuded an aura just by being still.
Even Park Dong-jae, who didn¡¯t feel intimidated in front of Jeon Se-hyeok, was particrly cautious around Kang-hoo.
¡°Let¡¯s do a final briefing once more before we go in. I¡¯ve reviewed the contents, but just to be sure.¡±
¡°Sure. Shall we go in? We¡¯re not entering the dungeon right away anyway.¡±
¡°Right. Since this is an open space, it¡¯s better to have a secret passage.¡±
¡°Okay, let¡¯s go!¡±
Before entering the dungeon, they conducted a final briefing.
Naturally, the topic of Park Dong-jae¡¯s ¡°ck Network¡± came up.
It¡¯s an era of information warfare.
However, with so many forces emerging and the information they handle and derive being divided,
Information was abundant, but real information was scarce.
As all sorts of fake information and news spread, the amount of garbage information far exceeded the real information.
This was something Kang-hoo felt firsthand.
For example, 70% of the good deeds people knew about the Jeonghwa Guild were fabricated.
They were not a criminal organization but were disguised as one, iming to eradicate them and achieve justice.
The death of a promising member within the Jeonghwa Guild was often disguised as a righteous death for unknown reasons.
The article about a hunter¡¯s death that Kang-hoo saw on his smartphone before meeting Park Dong-jae was the same.
It said that Shin Hee-seong, one of the promising members of the Jeonghwa Guild, had died. He was one of the assassin prospects.
Something felt off.
The cause of death was said to be a fall while unexpectedly slipping off a cliff during dungeon exploration.
In other words, he missed his step and fell to his death.
Given the nature of the assassin ss, they are highly sensitive to changes in the surrounding terrain.
So, it¡¯s unlikely he would have moved recklessly near a cliff. It didn¡¯t make sense not to notice it.
¡®Could it be these guys?¡¯
A strange thought suddenly came to mind.
Perhaps they found out that a hunter had recently acquired a hidden skill.
Then they identified the job group as an assassin and killed the expected candidate?
It was entirely possible.
The Thirteen Stars had a hunter obsessed with other people¡¯s hidden skills. That would be Vincent Meyer.
In the original work, he was depicted as a hunter with demonic talent and had the lowest importance.
Now, with the identity of Jang Si-hwanpletely overturned due to the coborator ending,
It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if Vincent Meyermitted murder for hidden skills.
Jang Si-hwan might turn a blind eye knowingly, or he might not know at all. There are many possible directions.
Anyway,
The ck Network was the best route to eliminate such fake information and obtain practical information.
Park Dong-jae said the investment he had made for a long time was finally paying off.
Moreover, he took the initiative to promise Kang-hoo that he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to share information if needed.
From Kang-hoo¡¯s standpoint, receiving such benefits was a great help and support.
Park Dong-jae¡¯s ck Network.
Kang-hoo believed it could fill the gap in his information warfare.
For various reasons, it became clear why he couldn¡¯t let go of Park Dong-jae.
To keep him properly, it seemed more important to impress him in this dungeon raid.
After finishing the briefing and conversation,
They passed through the passage and officially entered the dungeon, where Kang-hoo immediately finished the preliminary work.
¡¾Selfish Indulgence¡¿
¡¾Designate Buff Skill: Instinct of Sprint¡¿
It was a task using the buff enhancement skill obtained from Roche.
The buff designated for a 300% enhancement was Park Dong-jae¡¯s eleration buff skill, ¡°Instinct of Sprint.¡±
Since it was done immediately, he thought there would be no change in his body.
¡°Hmm?¡±
Park Dong-jae had already applied all the buffs he could. It happened in the blink of an eye.
It was impossible unless buffing without leaving buff time gaps was a habit.
In nonbat situations, many buffers save their buff skills to conserve mana.
¡°Buff settingplete.¡±
¡°That was quick.¡±
¡°I¡¯m Park Dong-jae, hyung.¡±
¡°Good.¡±
Kang-hoo showed a thumbs up.
He was both looking forward to it and worried.
With Selfish Indulgence applied to the eleration buff, the efficiency would explode to more than triple.
To feel the speed and see the effect, a prerequisite must be met.
One must be fully adapted to the elerated state with body, eyes, and senses.
If he couldn¡¯t create movements and variables to maximize the effect with the elerated body?
He would merely be iling around uselessly.
He could make fatal mistakes amidst the mixed-up vision and sensory errors from excessive eleration.
As a test, Kang-hoo decided to lightly leap with eleration.
It¡¯s a basic movement.
In the next moment,
¡°Huht¡ Ugh!¡±
A groan escaped Kang-hoo¡¯s mouth as he tried to lift his body lightly by raising his heels.
His body, caught in faster eleration than expected, was springing out like a coil.
The insane eleration was enough to distort his face, pressed against the air pressure, into a squashed bun.
Selfish Indulgence!
The effect was certain.
Chapter 155: Stimulation (2)
Chapter 155: Stimtion (2)
¡°It¡¯s a bit hard to adapt. If I make a wrong move, I might get injured¡ but the taste of this boost is good.¡±
After casting a speed buff and indulging in selfish indulgence, this was the overall evaluation I came to.
It was fast. Insanely fast to the point that the problem wasn¡¯t the speed, but whether my body could withstand it.
Especially when suddenly changing directions or trying to stop, the physical resistance was beyond imagination.
If I overdo it just to indulge in the speed, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if I end up with broken bones or torn muscles.
Going forward, I¡¯ll need to learn how to handle my body at maximum speed buff when Park Dong-jae is around.
On a wide-open highway, speeding isn¡¯t a problem, but speeding on a winding road is a recipe for disaster.
That¡¯s exactly how it was now.
No matter how fast you are, if you can¡¯t handle it skillfully, it¡¯s just a one-way ticket to the afterlife express train.After finishing the test, I set a save point for teleportation at the starting point.
Since I knew from the beginning that this dungeon had many variables, in case of an emergency, I nned to ensure at least Park Dong-jae¡¯s safe escape.
When I exined the situation to Park Dong-jae in advance, his eyes sparkled with admiration.
¡°You¡¯re worrying about the buffer first, hyung. Bad guys usually abandon buffers and let them fend for themselves.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry. Those guys will get weeded out eventually. As long as buffers don¡¯t have a bullet in their head, they won¡¯t team up with those guys again.¡±
¡°Right. There¡¯s quite a cklist managed separately by the bufferwork too.¡±
¡°What¡¯s the bufferwork?¡±
¡°It¡¯s exactly what it sounds like. A secretivemunity just for buffers. It¡¯s more closed-off than you¡¯d think.¡±
¡°Makes sense. If internal information leaks out, it would cause trouble for many people.¡±
¡°Oh, hyung! Look over there. It seems like Canis hunters are tackling arge-scale monster.¡±
When I looked in the direction Park Dong-jae pointed, indeed, hunters were confronting a massive monster.
Canis.
They¡¯re the managing entity of this open-type dungeon.
They¡¯re a well-known guild in the US, though not quite on par with the Fortuna Guild.
At that moment, a group of hunters emerged from the direction where the Canis Guild was fighting.
All of them wore Canis Guild armbands, and most had hostile expressions.
No matter who was here, they didn¡¯t want to interact with anyone not involved.
As expected.
¡°Everyone stay at least 500 meters away. You never know when this ce might expand into a battlefield. If it does, we¡¯ll kill any hunters who get in the way.¡±
A Canis Guild gunner hunter threatened, aiming his gun.
It was a strong indication that they didn¡¯t want any hunters other than those from the Canis Guild to interfere.
If it were any other guild or group of hunters, a bloodbath would have ensued immediately.
But neither Kang-hoo nor Park Dong-jae had any such intentions. The Canis Guild was the managing entity, after all.
It¡¯s a kind of privilege. As the guild managing the dungeon, they¡¯re guaranteed special hunts.
If you don¡¯t like it, you can challenge them.
But obviously, it wouldn¡¯t end well. Especially for a well-regarded guild in the US.
So Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae retreated without hesitation.
¡°Hyung, what did they say?¡±
Park Dong-jae, who was terrible at English, asked Kang-hoo, understanding it was a warning from the word ¡®kill¡¯.
¡°They said it¡¯s their hunting area, so get lost. Or die.¡±
¡°Oh.¡±
¡°Simple, right?¡±
¡°Yeah. But hyung, you¡¯re pretty good at English, aren¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Korean, Chinese, Japanese, English, Latin. I can speak these fivenguages.¡±
¡°Wow¡ That¡¯s crazy.¡±
¡°I regret not learning more.¡±
It was true.
Someday, I¡¯ll be active on the world stage too. I didn¡¯t want to facenguage barriers then.
Of course, just knowing English is usually enough to get by anywhere.
But the original author¡¯s interest innguage studies during his life was very helpful.
Especially Japanese and English, which I could speak as fluently as a native.
On the other hand, my Chinese was slightly weaker, rtively speaking. Although, it was still at a native level.
Kang-hoo turned his attention away from the busy northern area where Canis Guild¡¯s monster ¡®raid¡¯ was happening.
He pointed towards the south and east.
As mentioned during the briefing before entering the dungeon, these were areas with rtively fewer hunter entries.
The terrain was very rugged and challenging, with many dense forests making visibility difficult.
For these reasons, hunters preferred the open northern and western areas for better visibility and response to variables.
¡°Dong-jae.¡±
¡°Yeah?¡±
¡°As I said earlier, this open-type dungeon is full of mid-bosses and main bosses.¡±
¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡±
¡°How about just hunting mid-bosses and main bosses? If you match my pace, I¡¯ll give you all the loot.¡±
¡°Will you be okay with that? I¡¯m just a buffer, but you¡¯ll have to fight properly.¡±
¡°That¡¯s my problem.¡±
¡°As long as it¡¯s okay with you, I have noints. Especially if I get all the loot.¡±
¡°Deal?¡±
¡°But what do you get in return, hyung?¡±
At that moment, Park Dong-jae asked a sharp question.
It was a natural thought.
Offering the loot means there¡¯s something else I want in return.
However, from Park Dong-jae¡¯s perspective, if he took the loot, there would be nothing left for Kang-hoo.
Though he was slightly taken aback, Kang-hoo smoothly navigated the situation with a prepared answer.
¡°Exclusive experience points.¡±
¡°Ah, so you want me to step back at thest minute? So you can get all the experience points?¡±
¡°Exactly.¡±
¡°That means I¡¯d have to give up the experience points¡ Well, I guess it¡¯s a good chance to make some money.¡±
¡°Deal?¡±
¡°Okay. Deal.¡±
The transaction was finalized.
The reason Kang-hoo was so eager for the mid-bosses and main bosses was none other than skill plundering.
In an open-type dungeon of immense scale, numerous mid-bosses and main bosses existed.
For Kang-hoo, this ce was akin to a giant buffet.
It was so vastpared to the Hell of Judgment that there were many ¡®side dishes¡¯ worth coveting.
Of course, the high level of the dungeon meant that the difficulty was quite high. There wouldn¡¯t be any easy targets.
A single skill is invaluable.
Even if he yielded loot worth hundreds of billions to Park Dong-jae, Kang-hoo wouldn¡¯t feel any regret.
Depending on the skill acquired, a single skill could rece that value.
Skill books fetch high prices. Simrly, acquiring skills inherently holds great value.
After moving south with Park Dong-jae for about an hour.
As they distanced themselves from the dungeon entrance, which served as a sort of assembly point, the surroundings became quieter.
The number of hunters they asionally encountered on the way significantly decreased, and the frequency of encounters dropped noticeably.
Although there were minor skirmishes along the way, hunting isted monsters was not a big deal.
It was just enough to get a taste ofbat, making them long for a proper fight.
At that moment.
A hunter, who had been scarcely visible, appeared.
Though his appearance was different from typical hunters, he was undoubtedly a hunter.
Park Dong-jae suddenly sped his hands and spoke to Kang-hoo when he saw the unexpected appearance of a priest.
Of course, he lowered his voice so the priest couldn¡¯t hear.
¡°Hyung, why is there a priest here? Judging by his outfit, he seems like a father.¡±
¡°Who knows.¡±
¡°I think I see a dead hunter¡¯s body over there? And it looks like he¡¯s praying for him?¡±
¡°Hmm.¡±
¡°It must be tough,ing all the way here to pray for a deceased hunter¡¡±
Seeing the priest¡¯s genuine appearance, Park Dong-jae¡¯s wariness quickly dissipated.
Naturally, since the priest was holding the hands of the dead hunter and praying for him.
He even drew a cross over the book and cross ced on the hunter¡¯s chest. Tears falling in the process were a bonus.
From the start, Kang-hoo was observing the priest with narrowed eyes.
The information about his constetion was too alien for him to be a devout priest.
¡¾Despicable Priest¡¿
¡¾When you perform a ritual praying for the soul of a hunter you killed with your own hands, you get 1 to 10 bonus stat points at random once.
You can do this up to twice in 24 hours, and if you reach the limit, you must wait 24 hours before the next attempt.¡¿
A constetion that conditionally grants bonus points from hunters he kills himself.
It¡¯s a constetion that incites serial killing. Essentially a murder-encouraging constetion. It¡¯s designed to be that way.
He was certain this wasn¡¯t a real priest. It was more likely a demon disguised as a priest.
At that moment.
The fake priest, who had slowly risen, wiped his tears and bowed cautiously to Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae.
Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae also greeted him.
However, Kang-hoo signaled behind his back where the priest couldn¡¯t see.
One middle finger. The agreed-upon signal to indicate an ¡®enemy.¡¯ A target to be wary of.
Park Dong-jae quickly understood and greeted more politely.
Going even further.
¡°It¡¯s admirable. There aren¡¯t many who would pray for the souls of the dead in a ce like this.¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s just heartbreaking to see such tragic deaths. Are you heading this way?¡±
¡°Yes, we are. And you, Father?¡±
¡°I was trying to solo here but realized my limits. Unfortunately¡¡±
The priest turned back to the dead hunter and made the sign of the cross.
However, the direction of the cross waspletely wrong. He didn¡¯t seem to notice and remained serious.
Park Dong-jae gulped, sensing tension. It could transition into abat phase at any moment.
Kang-hoo took a step towards the fake priest. It didn¡¯t seem like this situation would pass quietly.
If he was hunting hunters alone here, his skills wouldn¡¯t be ordinary.
Moreover, the disguise of a religious figure, ideal for breaking others¡¯ defenses, made him even more effective.
Kang-hoo began.
¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡±
To which he replied.
¡°No, not at all. If it¡¯s alright, may I pray for you two? I have a constetion that significantly boosts luck.¡±
¡®Even his lies sound creative and convincing.¡¯
Kang-hooughed inwardly.
If he hadn¡¯t been able to scan his constetion information, he would¡¯ve been easily fooled.
Who would refuse a prayer to increase luck?
It could even instill belief in those who previously had none. It could be interpreted as a kind of buff.
At that moment.
Realizing further pretense was pointless, Kang-hoo took another step closer to the fake priest.
And in a low voice, whispered in his ear.
¡°Cut the crap, you bastard.¡±
A short, sharp insult aimed at someone selling out faith for their own gain.
Chapter 156: Stimulation (3)
Chapter 156: Stimtion (3)
In a split second, their intents intersected.
The fake priest, realizing his identity had been exposed, thrust the cross he was holding towards Kang-hoo.
Whether it was intended for assassination or not, the bottom of the cross, which had been concealed by his hand, was smeared with poison.
Of course, Kang-hoo had already executed ateral movement, avoiding the cross attack.
¡°Hmph!¡±
However, as if anticipating Kang-hoo¡¯steral movement, the fake priest immediately struck backward.
He had already recognized that Kang-hoo was an assassin by the dagger he held.
Therefore, he had considered the possibility that Kang-hoo would use a highly skilledteral movement, and it had indeede to pass.
Whoosh!The fake priest¡¯s attack sliced through the air.
He was still unperturbed. He had anticipated Kang-hoo might useteral movement once more.
Considering Kang-hoo¡¯s skill to recognize his disguise, he thought such a maneuver would be expected.
Thus, he abruptly shifted his center of gravity backward and deployed his skill in the original forward direction.
¡¾Binding Technique¡¿
A skill that immobilizes the target, rendering them vulnerable to all attacks.
It was the fake priest¡¯s lifeline skill. The hunter he had offered a prayer for earlier had also been immobilized and stabbed in the neck, unable to do anything.
¡°¡¡!¡±
Creak!
Soon, Kang-hoo, caught in the binding technique, looked at the fake priest with a startled expression.
His eyes seemed to show a mental panic from being unable to move.
However, there was one thing that bothered him: one hunter who seemed to be an aplice was too quiet.
But judging by his attire and previous observations, he appeared to be a nonbatant hunter.
In other words, he concluded that the hunter wasn¡¯t targeting him due to ack ofbat ability.
¡°Today, you will also be my daily stats. I will mercifully spare that one, but you must be my sustenance.¡±
With a smug smile, he ced his hand on Kang-hoo¡¯s left chest.
He was about to use a skill that released a powerful shockwave from his palm.
Killing in this manner would result in a rtively clean appearance outwardly. Of course, the inside of the body would be a mess.
As he exerted force with his palm to use the finishing skill,
Psshhk!
A feeling and sound of cold metal piercing through flesh simultaneously urred.
¡°¡¡?¡±
But it wasn¡¯t the feeling or sound that should havee from his skill.
A shockwave should produce an explosion sound, not a stabbing sound.
Moreover, since he was the one using the skill, there was no reason to feel cold metal.
This meant that¡
¡°¡¡!¡±
The fake priest¡¯s eyes widened as he realized the reason for the sound and situation.
It all happened so quickly that he couldn¡¯t even scream.
Barely managing to look down, he saw a dagger poking through his throat.
He couldn¡¯t even groan, only making a hissing sound as air escaped.
The situation was already over.
There was no way to survive a throat pration without divine intervention. Unfortunately, he was not someone blessed by divine favor.
At that moment,
¡°Wow, hyung. Did you n for all of this?¡±
p p p!
Park Dong-jae, who had been watching the situation with a frightened expression, pped in response.
The fake priest showed a puzzled expression at Park Dong-jae¡¯s words, but only for a moment.
Gush!
Spewing a tremendous amount of blood, the fake priest copsed and died.
No matter how much he tried to endure, it was a death caused by excessive blood loss.
Kang-hoo, who was behind the fake priest, nodded as he looked at his fallen body.
¡°Calcting a counter to the counter is not difficult for a hunter who knows how to use their head. That¡¯s why I twisted it once more.¡±
¡°You mean you knew that guy would use his head twice?¡±
¡°Rather than knowing, I gave him some credit for the intelligence to deceive hunters.¡±
¡°So, you movedterally once more, summoned a decoy, and then movedterally again?¡±
¡°Exactly.¡±
¡°Wow, this setup is really well done. Hyung, you¡¯re no joke.¡±
¡°Mind games. That¡¯s the fun ofbat. Winning is fun. Losing means death.¡±
Tap tap.
Kang-hoo nudged the lifeless body of the fake priest with his toe. The body was growing cold.
Two new constetions¡¯ information he had acquired by defeating him appeared on the list. They were useful ones.
¡¾Deceitful Priest¡¿
A constetion that led to the fake priest¡¯s death, Deceitful Priest.
Now, if he kills two hunters a day, he will receive additional rewards(?).
Of course, he didn¡¯t intend to kill anyone just for the rewards.
But the world is vast, and there are plenty of people to kill. When the opportunity arises, he would use it diligently.
¡¾Corrupt Undertaker¡¿
¡¾You can locate dead hunters within a radius of 250m.¡¿
The Corrupt Undertaker constetion didn¡¯t immediately seem useful.
He wondered how locating dead hunters could be of any help.
The incident and ident sites seem to be quite helpful in recovering the bodies of dead hunters.
¡®Perhaps it could also help in retrieving the bodies of hunters who died somewhere in these open dungeons and in obtaining items?¡¯
A usible idea crossed his mind.
If a hunter was intentionally killed by someone, all items would be taken afterward.
However, if they died from a fall or an unexpected monster attack.
In such cases, they would likely die with all their items still on them.
If he could locate such bodies, he could add unexpected windfalls to his gains.
¡®A scenario where one can¡¯t help but wee someone¡¯s death. Hence, the name Corrupt Undertaker?¡¯
Kang-hoo added a usible reason and epted it. Anyway, it seemed quite useful.
Park Dong-jae couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the dead body, as if he was still feeling the lingering effect of Kang-hoo¡¯s stratagem.
¡°Wow¡ It¡¯s like a novel. A novel with an assassin protagonist who sees through everything.¡±
¡°One always wants to be like the protagonist of such a novel. Of course, it¡¯s just a novel.¡±
Kang-hoo gave a bitter smile.
He felt a strange sensation as he spoke.
The life he was living was precisely the life depicted in a novel.
However, to Kang-hoo, it was ¡®reality¡¯ and not a ¡®novel.¡¯
In a novel, if a character dies, they disappear as text.
In his current life, if he dies, all his life disappears. His soul would be extinguished.
¡°Hyung, take a breather. I¡¯ll take care of the items.¡±
¡°I¡¯d appreciate it.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
It wasn¡¯t because he wanted to rest, but because he was drawn to a newly appearing message.
¡¾The constetion ¡®Frenzied Murderer¡¯ offers you 30 stat points for meeting a special condition.¡¿
¡¾However, 15 points are provided for resistance and endurance stats, and 10 points for special stats.¡¿
The constetion Frenzied Murderer, from whom he had stolen after killing Jo Gu-bin, unexpectedly provided a bonus stat.
He wondered what the special condition was, but there was no detailed tooltip.
It seemed the constetion had some criterion in mind, and this time, the ¡®quota¡¯ for killing had been met.
Perhaps because he met the condition by killing a bad person, he felt rather good. It felt like receiving a reward.
Without hesitation, Kang-hoo chose the dark period stat.
Raising special stats by even 1 point was a tough and tedious process.
Unless there was an urgent need for other stats, choosing special stats was the top priority.
Especially now, when he had just started making progress in the dark period stat.
Even a slight increase in stat would significantly enhance the power of his dark period skills.
¡®This is great.¡¯
Thanks to the Frenzied Murderer, he gained 10 dark period stat points.
The face of Jo Gu-bin, whom he had killed before, shed before him.
He was human trash who deserved to die a hundred times. He must be burning in hell right now.
Then suddenly.
At an unexpected moment, a personal channel rted to a constetion opened.
The personal channel was used for private conversations when there was a need for a confidential discussion.
Since each conversation consumed the constetion¡¯s holy power, it was rarely opened.
Unless it was a secretive conversation, it was usually reced by messages.
The main constetion, the Pursuer of Pure Darkness, was the one who requested the conversation. It was the first one-on-one conversation with him.
¡¾Let¡¯s get straight to the point. I want to propose a constetion trial to you. Will you ept it?¡¿
As expected, it was about the constetion trial.
It was a necessary passage to obtain the fourth privilege of the main constetion.
Without taking the constetion trial, one would remain forever enjoying only three privileges.
Kang-hoo recalled the previous constetion trial proposed by the Dimension Plunderer.
Fortunately, it had a happy ending, but he remembered what she said after the trial ended.
¡¾When I conducted a preliminary trial, the survival rate of this trial was 15%. Yet, you managed to pass.¡¿
He was dumbfounded upon hearing this. He wondered if she intended to drown him from the beginning.
Kang-hoo thought the Pursuer of Pure Darkness might be looking for a way to ¡®legally¡¯ sever ties with him.
But despite that, it was right to take a gamble on his proposal.
For a top-ranked constetion in the top 25 of the grand war, it was normal to extract at least one more benefit.
Kang-hoo responded to the Pursuer of Pure Darkness using the method ofmunicating through thoughts.
Since Park Dong-jae was also present, he did not speak aloud. There was no need to.
¡®I will do it. However, I would like to receive a sufficient exnation first. Will I be summoned to a space for the constetion trial?¡¯
¡¾No. It¡¯s a trial that can be performed in reality.¡¿
¡®So, it¡¯s not a summoning?¡¯
¡¾Correct. The method is simple.¡¿
He tilted his head slightly.
The trial for his previous contractor, Jang Si-hwan, wasn¡¯t in this form.
ording to the original story, the Dimension Plunderer¡¯s trial involved being summoned somewhere to undergo the trial.
Then.
Is the content of the trial different because the current contractor is Shin Kang-hoo and not Jang Si-hwan?
A big question mark formed.
Kang-hoo asked.
¡®What kind of trial is it?¡¯
¡¾Kill the hunter contracted with the constetion of Pure Hypocrisy. That is the trial I propose.¡¿
Killing a hunter contracted with a constetion! It was the most direct and yet inevitably difficult trial.
Chapter 157: Skill Abundance (1)
Chapter 157: Skill Abundance (1)
¡®Must I kill my opponent as well?¡¯
¡¾The ck Hypocrite and I are mortal enemies. Therefore, the same test is given to their contractor.¡¿
¡®So, does my opponent know about me?¡¯
¡¾Hehe. You''re underestimating me. No, he won''t know about you until he faces you directly.¡¿
¡®Then please provide me with information about the opponent. It¡¯s the most basic information needed for the test.¡¯
¡¾Will you ept the test?¡¿
¡®Of course.¡¯
Kang-hoo nodded.
It was a test to gain more power from the Seeker of ckness, not any other constetion. There was no reason to refuse.Upon Kang-hoo¡¯s agreement, the Seeker of ckness disyed the face and name of the target.
¡¾Contractor: Bang Seong-hoon¡¿
¡®A pseudonym, perhaps. Well, it¡¯s not surprising.¡¯
A familiar face appeared.
The name confirmed through the constetion was certainly the real name registered in the system.
The opponent named Bang Seong-hoon was currently ranked 8th in the Eclipse organization, and his real name was Go Kyung-ho.
The reason Kang-hoo recognized his face instantly was that Go Kyung-ho was the second most well-known face in Eclipse after Kang Dong-hyun.
Being well-known also meant he was the most despicable kind of person.
Go Kyung-ho was heavily involved in many of the kidnappings and smuggling operations initiated by Eclipse.
Thus, hunters often referred to Go Kyung-ho as Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s ¡®enforcer¡¯ because he took on all sorts of dirty work.
ording to the original storyline, his level would be in the high 300s by now.
¡®Let¡¯s just keep an eye on him for now. There¡¯s plenty of justification for killing someone like Go Kyung-ho, but victory is another matter.¡¯
Kang-hoo decided to approach cautiously.
Not only was Go Kyung-ho formidable, but targeting him alone was also challenging.
He needed to n carefully and wait for the right moment to strike. He also had to be prepared to face his guards.
Of course, the motivation was clear.
Eclipse itself was a group of viins, so eliminating them would also be an act of justice.
Furthermore, passing the Seeker of ckness¡¯s test would mean gaining the power of the ck Hypocrite constetion.
¡¾There''s no rush. Do it when you''re ready. I will watch and wait with pleasure.¡¿
¡®I understand clearly.¡¯
Ranked 8th in Eclipse, Go Kyung-ho.
Kang-hoo had received his first direct ¡®murder request¡¯ from a constetion. And it wasn¡¯t an easy target.
Later.
Thanks to Park Dong-jae¡¯s concession, Kang-hoo managed to gather quite a few items from the fake bride.
Including the items taken from the hunters he had previously killed, the loot was even more valuable.
Estimating conservatively, he felt he could secure at least 35 billion won once everything was cashed out.
Since there were no items that Kang-hoo could use, he decided to sell everything once he left the dungeon.
However, Park Dong-jae showed interest in some of the items and proposed buying them all from Kang-hoo.
From Kang-hoo¡¯s perspective, whether he sold them on the market or to Park Dong-jae, the oue was the same in terms of cashing out.
So, he handed everything over to Park Dong-jae, and they agreed to settle the payment once they were out of the dungeon where electronic transactions were possible.
Park Dong-jae immediately equipped some of the items, and he seemed very satisfied, likely because his mana had increased significantly.
Mana items were meaningless to Kang-hoo, but for a buffer like Park Dong-jae, they were the best options.
¡®With the addition of the proceeds from selling these items, I feel like I¡¯ll have around 175 billion won.¡¯
Seeing his growing bnce, greed started to set in. With just a bit more, he could reach a bnce of 200 billion won.
That would be enough to acquire two 2nd-grade items, allowing him to invest in other equipment.
However.
Looking further ahead, another thought urred to him.
Why not save even more to aim for a 1st-grade item instead?
It was a matter of choice.
Should he aim to upgrade all his equipment to 2nd grade, or focus on acquiring one definitive weapon?
Kang-hoo pondered various possibilities in this happy dilemma.
He didn¡¯t think he would reach a conclusion anytime soon.
After some time.
While diligently searching for a mid-boss monster, Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae finally found their target.
The monster named Lupes had a body as hard as rock.
It felt like a moving statue. Another description that fit was a ¡®rock golem.¡¯
¡°Hyung. How about we just pass by this one? It seems like a dagger won¡¯t even scratch it.¡±
¡°Disappointing, Park Dong-jae.¡±
¡°Huh? Ah! I wasn¡¯t underestimating you, hyung. It just seems tough to deal with! I wasn¡¯t disregarding you at all!¡±
¡°That¡¯s even more disappointing.¡±
¡°Ugh¡¡±
¡°Rocks aren¡¯t meant to be smashed. They¡¯re meant to be shattered.¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s mysterious smile made Park Dong-jae tilt his head in confusion.
Park Dong-jae¡¯s reaction was typical. Kang-hoo was also deliberately being yful.
There are three main types of monsters that hunters avoid. The top type is the statue kind.
This is because they inherently resist physical attacks.
Of course, if the level or strength is low, they often can¡¯t withstand attacks and break.
But for a boss monster like Lupes, it¡¯s a different story entirely.
It doesn¡¯t get pierced, and stabbing it does nothing. Making it explode or shatter? Nearly impossible.
That¡¯s why Park Dong-jae suggested not wasting energy and looking for another monster.
¡°Trust me. Just keep a safe distance and support me. I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡±
¡°Got it.¡±
¡°I¡¯m going.¡±
Kang-hoo immediately charged at Lupes.
Lupes, noticing the approach, red at Kang-hoo and raised both arms in a guard position.
In the next moment.
Siiing!
One of the special abilities granted by the Strategist of the Wastnd, ¡®Intuition,¡¯ activated.
Intuition had been quite effective when facing Jung Sun-rak and the multinational mercenary group before.
Back then, it had allowed him to detect and evade the sniper¡¯s shots, not getting hit even once.
This ability was now being applied to Lupes as well.
Before Lupes could deliver a powerful punch, there was a targeting process. It was a sort of precision aiming.
¡®I can find a faster way than n A.¡¯
Recognizing Lupes¡¯s traits, Kang-hoo modified his n.
And then.
Whooosh!
Kang-hoo effortlessly dodged Lupes¡¯s punch by utilizing elerated movement.
He didn¡¯t use a swift evasion orteral movement skill but moved his body directly to dodge.
With the eleration buff and selfish indulgence in ce, such high-speed evasion maneu.
¡°I¡¯m going.¡±
Kang-hoo immediately charged at Lupes.
Lupes, noticing the approach, red at Kang-hoo and raised both arms in a guard position.
In the next moment.
Siiing!
One of the special abilities granted by the Strategist of the Wastnd, ¡®Intuition,¡¯ activated.
Intuition had been quite effective when facing Jung Sun-rak and the multinational mercenary group before.
Back then, it had allowed him to detect and evade the sniper¡¯s shots, not getting hit even once.
This ability was now being applied to Lupes as well.
Before Lupes could deliver a powerful punch, there was a targeting process. It was a sort of precision aiming.
¡®I can find a faster way than n A.¡¯
Recognizing Lupes¡¯s traits, Kang-hoo modified his n.
And then.
Whooosh!
Kang-hoo effortlessly dodged Lupes¡¯s punch by utilizing elerated movement.
He didn¡¯t use a swift evasion orteral movement skill but moved his body directly to dodge.
With the eleration buff and selfish indulgence in ce, such high-speed evasion maneuvers were possible.
Although his body was heavily burdened, it was an eptable pressure in the early stages of the battle.
Lupes¡¯s eyes quickly turned red, a sign of his rising anger.
As Kang-hoo engaged in the battle, he quickly assessed the surroundings and started luring Lupes.
He continued to evade Lupes¡¯s powerful punch attacks again and again.
Using illusion techniques, he scattered illusions everywhere, dismantling them instantly to create a smokescreen effect.
As a result, their peripheral vision was increasingly obscured by the haze, allowing them to focus more on each other.
Lupes was slower in movement than Kang-hoo had anticipated.
Hence, Lupes¡¯s attacks targeting Kang-hoo repeatedly failed, and he became even more enraged, attacking more aggressively.
Evasion, evasion, and more evasion.
Kang-hoo¡¯s body was almost within reach, but Lupes¡¯s attacks continued to miss, driving him into a fury.
It was like seeing a mosquito buzzing around your ear but not being able to catch it.
Enraged by the hunt he couldn¡¯t give up, Lupes lunged at Kang-hoo with the intent to crush him.
With his massive body, it seemed like a reasonable choice to squash Kang-hoo.
However, there was a problem.
The battlefield, obscured by the smokescreen, had a cliff at its edge.
From the moment the battle began, Kang-hoo had continuously hidden the end of the path using the illusion smokescreen.
Chichichiching!
Lupes desperately tried to slow down, barely keeping his feet on the ground.
But at the perfect moment, Kang-hoo movedterally and collided with Lupes at full strength.
Boom!
That was the end.
Lupes, unable to control his already unstable bnce, was pushed over the edge.
What remained was the empty air with no ce to step.
Lupes fell from the high cliff, dying instantly.
Just as Kang-hoo had said, Lupes was shattered. It was a meticulously calcted ¡®suicide.¡¯
From Lupes¡¯s corpse, a list of skills to be looted appeared, and the choice was made immediately.
¡¾Petrification¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾Consumes 10 mana per second to temporarily transform the front of your body into solid stone.
However, movement speed decreases to 10% of its original speed during the transformation.¡¿
¡¾Additional durability proportional to defense stats and a base physical resistance of 15%.¡¿
Examining the detailed tooltip, Kang-hoo concluded that its durability far exceeded that of a protective barrier.
Moreover, although movement speed was restricted, spatial movement skills were not suppressed.
This meant that skills like rapid evasion or leap could still be used inbination.
Using the highly increased defense of the body like a shield, it was possible to charge at the enemy.
¡®An assassin that can also tank? Truly¡ a terrifying hybrid, even by my standards.¡¯
Heughed incredulously.
In truth, it was augh born of sheer joy.
The key traits of an assassin, as Kang-hoo saw it, were stealth and versatility.
From that perspective, being able to adopt the advantages of other professions like a chameleon was¡ an enormous strength.
Breakingmon sense and creating unpredictability was the best choice, and it was devastating to the opponent.
¡°Hyung, I¡¯m sorry! I couldn¡¯t step back in time, so I didn¡¯t get all the experience. You took it all.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay. I didn¡¯t share the strategy, so it¡¯s natural. There wasn¡¯t enough time to notify you.¡±
¡°That was amazing! Only you could set up such a trap. If it were me, I would have peed myself at the cliff¡¯s edge.¡±
¡°These types are difficult to control and stop once they start moving. That¡¯s why it¡¯s hard for them to stop once they get going.¡±
¡°I feel embarrassed for suggesting we avoid it.¡±
¡°Watch carefully. There are no monsters we can¡¯t catch. If you think intensely about a method, the answer will definitelye.¡±
¡°Respect! Pure admiration!¡±
Park Dong-jae raised both his thumbs towards Kang-hoo.
They couldn¡¯t retrieve any loot from Lupes, who had fallen.
But for Kang-hoo, gaining the skill ¡®Petrification¡¯ was already a significant achievement.
He foresaw many future uses for the Petrification skill. Its strategic value was very high.
Afterward.
Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae continued to move forward and hunted two more mid-boss monsters.
The two additional skills they acquired were also high-value skills, like the one they got from Lupes.
¡¾Sturdy Stacking¡¿
¡¾Survival Instinct¡¿
Indeed.
It was a skill-rich season.
Chapter 158: Skill Abundance (2)
Chapter 158: Skill Abundance (2)
¡®It would be best to maximize the effect of the ¡®Firm Ovep¡¯ by linking it with a protective barrier. That¡¯s the only way.¡¯
Kang-hoo linked the skills.
¡®Firm Ovep¡¯ was a skill that doubled the thickness of a shield or barrier-type skill.
Only one skill could be designated, and for Kang-hoo, the protective barrier met the conditions.
The skill he obtained earlier, ¡®Petrification¡¯, was indeed a defensive skill, but it wasn¡¯t a shield or barrier-type skill.
And ¡®Survival Instinct¡¯ was a one-time passive skill that made the user absolutely invincible for about 5 seconds if their health dropped below 10.
The one weakness was that if the health exceeded 10 and then dropped to 0 in one go, invincibility wouldn¡¯t trigger, and the user would die.
The health must hit the boundary between 0 and 10 at least once.
In reality, the mid-boss monster who had this skill died from Kang-hoo¡¯s Decapitation without even having the chance to activate ¡®Survival Instinct¡¯.Even though it was conditional, thanks to ¡®Survival Instinct¡¯, it was as if he had gained an extra life.
¡°Hyung, are you used to the eleration buff now? Your face looks much more rxed than before.¡±
¡°My face looks rxed? Was I frowning?¡±
¡°You¡¯re a perfectionist. Didn¡¯t you know? I¡¯ve always noticed it by watching your expressions.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t know that.¡±
It seemed Park Dong-jae had been observing Kang-hoo¡¯s facial expressions closely throughout their team y.
As he said, Kang-hoo was indeed a perfectionist. This world required it to survive.
However, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t realize that his expressions revealed when his skill linkage was not smooth or when there were deficiencies.
Upon further reflection.
He didn¡¯t think he always showed his expressions during battles.
Perhaps he felt morefortable now with Park Dong-jae, naturally expressing his inner feelings.
It was because he trusted him that much, and he liked the flow of the battle enough to break down unseen walls.
¡°Shall we take a break?¡±
¡°Yeah, let¡¯s rest. It¡¯s about time for ama. The mid-boss monsters are generally tough.¡±
¡°Yeah. It feels like they have high durability stats. The damage doesn¡¯t seem to hit properly.¡±
¡°Exactly. Here, sit over here. That rock looks a bit damp.¡±
Kang-hoo checked the spot for Park Dong-jae to sit first. He didn¡¯t forget to brush off the dust.
¡°Wow¡ such good manners.¡±
¡°My manners improve because you¡¯re worth it. Otherwise, I¡¯d just tell you to sit anywhere.¡±
¡°Oh, thank you!¡±
Park Dong-jae sat down with a bright smile.
He immediately realized that what Kang-hoo said was a significantpliment.
That was Shin Kang-hoo¡¯s way of speaking. He always conveyed his true meaning indirectly. Uninterestingly.
Even something that could be expressed as ¡®You did so well,¡¯ he would change to a slightly deted version.
Knowing Kang-hoo well now, he even felt grateful for such expressions.
On the other hand, he was always curious about Kang-hoo¡¯s inner thoughts, as he rarely smiled except at moments like this.
Why did this person always seem so serious, as if he were shouldering all the sadness and pain of the world alone?
What took away his smile, leaving only sarcasm and coldness?
Even after subtly asking Jeon Se-hyuk and Ban Se-yeong, who didn¡¯t know Kang-hoo¡¯s past, they could only tilt their heads in puzzlement.
At that time.
The Choi brothers, Choi Jin-ho and Choi Jin-su, who were tracking Kang-hoo¡¯s traces, kepting up empty-handed.
They tried to find him based on the information they had gathered, but they couldn¡¯t find a trace of him.
The house he supposedly lived in the past had already been rebuilt and no longer existed.
There were no family members, no friends either. Even visiting his alma mater, there was no graduation photo of him.
It was as if he were a ¡®ghost¡¯ with no trace of his life left behind.
However, they did have some sess.
One of the informationworks they had spread widely finally yielded results.
It turned out that Kang-hoo was a client of the mercenary group ¡®Cheong-an,¡¯ based in Daejeon.
Was it a case of being hidden in in sight?
Kang-hoo had connections with Cheong-an, who were growling at Eclipse over the hegemony of the Daejeon area.
ording to the information, Kang-hoo had recently made a transaction with Lee Ye-rin of Cheong-an.
Choi Jin-su said to his brother.
¡°Hyung.¡±
¡°Huh?¡±
¡°Instead of just digging around, how about we set up a base in Daejeon and wait?¡±
¡°Because he deals with Cheong-an?¡±
¡°Yeah. If he¡¯s working as a client, he¡¯ll have toe at some point.¡±
¡°He can exin and eptmissions over the phone.¡±
¡°But he¡¯lle at least once. He¡¯s traveling all over the country anyway, chasing him seems meaningless.¡±
¡°Hmm¡¡±
Thinking it over, Choi Jin-ho nodded at his brother¡¯s reasonable suggestion.
¡°He will definitelye. If there¡¯s a big deal, he¡¯lle in person. Let¡¯s set up a base in Daejeon.¡±
¡°That¡¯ll be morefortable.¡±
¡°Yeah. Hyung, we have to catch that bastard! I really want to catch him. I want to be loved by the boss!¡±
¡°Okay. Got it.¡±
Seeing his younger brother¡¯s enthusiasm, Choi Jin-ho clenched his fists.
In truth, Kang-hoo had done nothing wrong to them¡
Yet, Kang-hoo had be the one who hindered their promotions and transfers, darkening their futures.
Perhaps because of that.
The enmity growing in their hearts turned into sharp daggers, tearing at the imaginary Kang-hoo in their minds.
Their anger had reached its peak.
The dungeon was indeed vast.
After a sufficient rest, Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae hastened their progress and defeated two more mid-bosses.
Their level had now reached 165, and they had added two more valuable skills to their arsenal.
¡¾Soul of Ice and me¡¿
¡¾Increases ice resistance by 5%.¡¿
The first was ¡®Soul of Ice and me.¡¯ It was a resistance-type passive skill, simr to ¡®Scar of Fire,¡¯ but for ice.
A 1% resistance is valued at about 10 billion won. Thus, a 5% resistance would be worth 50 billion won.
At this stage, the resistance effect might not be noticeable.
However, as it umtes to 20% or 30%, the resistance effect bes evident.
Furthermore, if it reaches 100%, it providesplete immunity to a specific attribute.
For example, if fire resistance is 100%, you could lie in burning mes forever without getting burned.
¡¾Soul Engraving¡¿
¡¾Allows engraving on up to five items.
These items can be retrieved within a 100m radius.¡¿
The second skill was ¡®Soul Engraving.¡¯
This skill was an enhancement to the weapon retrieval enjoyed with the item gloves ¡®Mollis Maniche.¡¯
Despite its unique name, engraving was a simple task of adding up to five items to the list.
Reconfiguring it was also not difficult.
The only condition was that it could only be applied to items owned by the user.
It didn¡¯t work for substituting people or pulling excessively heavy objects.
¡°It¡¯s almost the end.¡±
¡°Seems like it. This route appears to be blocked except for beyond that rock wall.¡±
¡°Looks that way.¡±
Kang-hoo looked ahead.
There was a rock wall.
Beyond it, the path continued for a bit before turning into an endless sea.
Unless they nned to venture into the sea, this was clearly the end of the chosen route.
They had already acquired four skills in this dungeon. The term ¡°skill abundance¡± was apt.
All the skills added were valuable without a single throwaway. It was a record-breaking achievement.
Park Dong-jae seemed satisfied with the loot and showed no signs of discontent.
Just then.
Park Dong-jae, who had taken a sip of water from his bag, started to speak.
¡°Hyung, do you know about the Mystery Dungeon?¡±
¡°Of course, I do.¡±
Mystery Dungeon.
It was a unique dungeon that appeared in the most unexpected locations and was bound to the hunter who discovered it.
This meant the hunter who found the dungeon was the ¡®only¡¯ key to entering it.
Moreover, once bound, the dungeon entrance turned invisible. However, it remained visible to the bound hunter.
Since the owner was the key, other hunters couldn¡¯t enter even if they pinpointed the location.
There was one more characteristic.
Every time, everything inside the dungeon, including theyout and structure, changed. Everything from one to ten was different.
Hence, knowing the strategy was meaningless in this dungeon.
Many had entered thinking it would be easy, only to meet tragic ends.
Kang-hoo asked back.
¡°Why?¡±
¡°Apparently, the Myeongga Guild owns quite a few Mystery Dungeons. They made an offer.¡±
¡°To join them?¡±
¡°Yeah. It¡¯s a dungeon with guaranteed rewards. Though it¡¯s risky, the synergy we¡¯ve built reduces that burden.¡±
¡°True.¡±
¡°They suggested you join them as well.¡±
¡°Me? I don¡¯t know any of them. I was surprised to be included in this as well.¡±
¡°It means I¡¯ve been promoting you well, Hyung.¡±
¡°So, you were busy selling me without my knowledge.¡±
¡°A rough diamond bes a gem only after it¡¯s polished. Hyung, you need to be a gem quickly.¡±
Park Dong-jae¡¯s words sparkled like a gem. He genuinely seemed to care about talent.
¡°I can adjust to the rhythm, but I wonder how they¡¯ll perceive me.¡±
¡°I¡¯m here for you, Hyung.¡±
¡°Honestly, I have no reason to refuse. On the contrary, I want to go. Just haven¡¯t had the chance.¡±
Kang-hoo epted Park Dong-jae¡¯s proposal.
A Mystery Dungeon required the utmost adaptability.
No matter what situation arose, one must not panic and have various means to respond ordingly.
It was the exact opposite of a dungeon that hunters who liked fixed methods and directions would prefer.
He wanted to go if he could.
Since it was a dungeon where the hunter was the key, one couldn¡¯t get a chance to enter without connections to the owner hunter.
There were no new Mystery Dungeons in the country for Kang-hoo to im, making it otherwise unattainable.
¡°Alright. I¡¯ll contact the Myeongga Guild as soon as we exit the dungeon. They¡¯ll be pleased!¡±
¡°That would be good.¡±
Thus, another unexpected path opened up. It was another great gift from his bond with Park Dong-jae.
Just then.
Boom! Thud!
Suddenly, vibrations from beyond the previously unmoving rock wall reverberated through.
Although there were only vibrations and no sound, a slight shift to the side revealed the reason.
A soundproof barrier centered around the rock wall blocked all external noise.
It seemed like a structure created by some monster beyond the rock wall.
In other words, something was already happening on the other side.
Chapter 159: Skill Abundance (3)
Chapter 159: Skill Abundance (3)
Curious about the situation on the other side, Kang-hoo climbed the cliff with Park Dong-jae using a leap.
It was the same method they had used before when they ascended from the lower floors to the rooftop to rescue An Yeong-ho.
Though the original leap power was halved with an extra person, it was still sufficient to scale the cliff.
Luckily, there were plenty of spaces to step on and rest along the way.
¡°You can do all sorts of things, hyung.¡±
¡°Now it¡¯s an inside joke.¡±
¡°No, I knew it before, but I didn¡¯t realize you could use it for rock climbing.¡±
Park Dong-jae clicked his tongue as he looked down the cliff route he had climbed with Kang-hoo.
He knew about the leap skill, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to be used for vertical ascension.Even with an extra person, the propulsion was strong enough to cover a significant distance.
Reaching the top of the cliff, he peeked over to see the situation on the other side at a nce.
As they crossed the sound barrier, the sounds from the scene became vividly audible.
The sound barrier only blocked sound, allowing them to cross freely without any issues.
¡°Hmm¡¡±
Kang-hoo surveyed the battlefield.
Three hunters were fighting what appeared to be the main boss monster.
¡°A swordsman, a magician, and an archer. It¡¯s a goodbination. But why do they all look so bad?¡±
¡°The swordsman looks the worst. It seems like he¡¯s injured.¡±
¡°Indeed. It looks like he has a muscle tear in his side. His sword movements are awkward.¡±
¡°You can see that?¡±
¡°Can¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Uh¡ I can¡¯t see it.¡±
¡°Work on your discernment.¡±
Kang-hoo smiled as he chided him. Of course, he wasn¡¯t trying to upset Park Dong-jae.
Finding clues by observing the situation is one of the most important virtues for a hunter.
If the information is there and you can¡¯t interpret it, you¡¯re the one at a disadvantage. It removes any advantages you might have.
¡°Should we intervene?¡±
¡°No. They¡¯re the team that came before us, so there¡¯s no need. Just letting them know we¡¯re here should be enough.¡±
¡°What should we do?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s move a bit closer and show our faces. Make sure to show that we mean no harm.¡±
Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae took a few more steps forward.
Their figures became visible at the edge of the cliff, making them clearly noticeable to the others.
If they had malicious intentions, they could easily attack the hunters from behind right now.
They could use the boss monster¡¯s attack patterns as if they were their own, creating an advantageous situation.
But Kang-hoo always thought of himself as someone in the gray area.
He didn¡¯t want to stoop to dirty tricks, the kind that human trash would use.
It¡¯s more that he could but chose not to. It might be thest bit of conscience left in him.
¡°¡¡±
Kang-hoo held his breath and observed the main boss monster¡¯s movements.
Its name was Turbo. It was a humanoid monster with a slender build but considerable destructive power.
On closer inspection, Turbo had attack patterns simr to ¡°Sammy¡¯s Annihtion Rotation¡± that Kang-hoo had faced before.
The reason the three-man team was struggling was that they couldn¡¯t properly respond to this pattern.
Turbo¡¯s orbs were far more numerous than Sammy¡¯s Annihtion Rotation.
These orbs had a powerful force that pushed targets backward whether they blocked or got hit.
The closer they were when blocking or getting hit, the exponentially greater the damage.
There was another tricky aspect.
After pushing the hunters back, Turbo would whip them with its main weapon.
The long whip could strike from a considerable distance, making it a nightmare for those facing it.
Crack!
¡°Argh!¡±
Eventually, one of the swordsmen was struck by the whip, coughing up blood and falling back.
Park Dong-jae flinched and was about to get up, but Kang-hoo held him back.
¡°Wait.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it dangerous?¡±
¡°Helping before being asked is meddling and an insult to them.¡±
¡°Ah¡¡±
¡°You might think it¡¯s a good deed, but they might see it as taking away their chance to prove themselves.¡±
¡°Taking away their chance to prove themselves¡¡±
¡°They¡¯re holding on because they think they can. If they can¡¯t, they¡¯ll kneel and beg even without you stepping in.¡±
¡°Got it, hyung.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t assume they¡¯ll see your good intentions as good. It¡¯s an arrogant thought.¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s words enlightened Park Dong-jae, who nodded repeatedly. He was absolutely right.
By then, the three hunters had noticed Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae¡¯s presence.
They wanted to ask for help, but as Kang-hoo said, these hunters were determined individuals.
They knew that giving up or asking for help in such a crisis would hinder their growth.
So they fought with all their might, but the situation kept worsening.
Quite some time passed.
Kang-hoo quietly observed all of Turbo¡¯s movements, memorizing each one vividly in his mind.
Park Dong-jae also studied Turbo¡¯s patterns at Kang-hoo¡¯s suggestion.
As a buffer, he had to learn, knowing that ignorance meant death. He didn¡¯t take Kang-hoo¡¯s words lightly.
¡°It looks like the next strike will be the end. Their bnce ispletely broken.¡±
Kang-hoo, who had been quietly observing, muttered as he watched the swordsman.
Park Dong-jae thought the swordsman was holding up quite well, but his prediction was immediately proven wrong.
¡°Argh!¡±
Soon, the swordsman was struck near the neck by the whip, rolling his eyes and flying through the air.
He probably lost consciousness the moment he felt the pain in his neck, not even realizing he had screamed.
With the main tank down, the magician and archer grew desperate.
The swordsman had been suppressing Turbo¡¯s movements to some extent, so this was a major crisis.
¡°Please help us!¡±
The magician shouted.
But Kang-hoo did not move at those words.
He wasn¡¯t here to be benevolent. He was waiting to provide help in exchange for a definite price when necessary, like a mercenary.
As Kang-hoo remained still, the archer beside him shouted.
¡°Do you need coteral?¡±
Nod.
Kang-hoo reacted.
Then the magician seemed to realize they had missed something important and pulled something from their pocket.
It was an orange magic stone.
The magician took out two, and the archer took out one.
The magician gathered them and used a telekinesis skill to send them to Kang-hoo in one go.
Coteral worth 30 billion won.
This was enoughpensation to intervene.
In their haste, they even showed their desperation, knowing Kang-hoo could take the stones and run.
¡°Let¡¯s split it after we finish. I¡¯ll hold onto it for now.¡±
¡°Hyung, are you sure?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve got it figured out. You?¡±
¡°Honestly, I¡¯m a bit worried. Its pattern is tooplicated. It¡¯s chaotic.¡±
¡°Just make sure you don¡¯t let the buffs get interrupted. Stay farther back than the magician and archer. That way, you won¡¯t be the first target.¡±
¡°Got it.¡±
Kang-hoo didn¡¯t forget practical advice. Although indirectly, he was telling him to use the magician and archer as shields if necessary.
Kang-hoo used the leap skill with Park Dong-jae,nding on the ground.
If he had made Park Dong-jae jump without thinking, his legs wouldn¡¯t have survived.
Thanks to Kang-hoo¡¯s ¡°Cuteness!¡± skill creating a sort of safety cushion beforending, Park Dong-jaended safely.
Of course, the safety mechanism was only applied to Park Dong-jae. Kang-hoonded lightly on his own.
Dispersing the weight on the body through movement was a basic skill essential for an assassin.
¡°Keep them at maximum range. I can¡¯t protect you while I¡¯m focused on Turbo.¡±
Kang-hoo gave a warning and a request to the magician and archer.
He spoke in English, and they seemed to understand immediately. It reaffirmed that English is indeed a globalnguage.
¡°Thank you.¡±
¡°Please take care of it.¡±
He created a sturdy protective barrier reinforced with multipleyers right in front of them.
It was a very robust frontal defensive barrier, twice as thick as before.
¡°Wow¡¡±
¡°Such a defense skill here?¡±
The magician expressed astonishment as they watched Kang-hoo head towards Turbo.
They hadn¡¯t expected an assassin to disy a defensive skill with higher durability and thickness than their own.
For a magician, the mana shield was a basic yet highly skilled defense option. But it was no match for Kang-hoo¡¯s protective barrier.
It made them feel quite dejected for a moment.
Their prized skill seemed inferior to an assassin¡¯s skill.
At that moment.
Roar!
Turbo used the ¡°Tornado¡± skill, creating multiple orbs once again.
The swiftly flying orbs struck the protective barrier, but it held strong against the attacks.
The magician, archer, and Park Dong-jae were amazed not only by the barrier¡¯s durability.
In the meantime, Kang-hoo was weaving through the orbs, rapidly approaching Turbo.
The swordsman had tried to dodge Turbo¡¯s attacks before, but ultimately failed and was pushed back, blocking with his sword.
But Kang-hoo, anticipating the projectile paths, hadn¡¯t been hit by a single orb.
¡®Mixing up the rhythm makes it seem irregr, stimting the hunters¡¯ fear and making it hard to see the pattern objectively.¡¯
Kang-hoo had made his judgment.
There was a definite route the orbs passed through. That was the regr route. He always avoided this route.
And when projectiles flew at irregr intervals, it was a pattern disguised as irregrity. There were five possible routes.
After going through five different patterns, it returned to the first pattern.
Combining these two major scenarios, a temporarily safe route emerged.
Kang-hoo aimed for that route.
¡°Wow¡¡±
¡°What am I seeing? It¡¯s too fast to dodge by sight.¡±
¡°He¡¯s not dodging by sight. He¡¯s dodging by knowledge.¡±
The magician and archer¡¯s mouths were agape, full of admiration for Kang-hoo¡¯s skills.
Kang-hoo was already within a step or two of reaching Turbo.
Turbo was as startled as the teammates watching from behind.
Despite trying to avoid it, Turbo couldn¡¯t believe its attack had been dodged so effortlessly.
Kang-hoo¡¯s clothes didn¡¯t even have a scratch, and he was now right in front of it.
It was a severe blow to its pride. Turbo¡¯s calm face turned red with anger.
Kang-hoo approached and leapt up, raising his dagger.
Without overthinking, he decided to plunge the dagger first.
At that moment.
¡°Ugh.¡±
Turbo, making eye contact with Kang-hoo, smirked and vanished from sight.
Chapter 160: Skill Abundance (4)
Chapter 160: Skill Abundance (4)
One of Turbo¡¯s peculiarities was his ability to useteral movement.
It was a characteristic Kang-hoo had immediately noticed from observing the previous battle, so it was within his expected range.
However, on the contrary, there was something Turbo did not know: Kang-hoo could also useteral movement.
¡°Huh¡?¡±
Turbo was clearly startled to find Kang-hoo had disappeared from his rear, despite having moved behind him.
Since he had usedteral movement to move behind his target, it was only natural for Kang-hoo¡¯s back to be visible.
However, there was nothing where Kang-hoo should have been.
Puk! Pukpuk! Puk! Puk!
¡°Argh!¡±A lot happened in an instant.
Turbo was helplessly struck by Kang-hoo¡¯s attack from behind, which he had not anticipated at all.
The onught was so sudden and intense that he felt a burning sensation from his neck down to his waist.
¡°Ha ha! That¡¯s our Kang-hoo hyung!¡±
Park Dong-jae, who was watching the situation, shouted out.
He felt triumphant because Turbo¡¯s mockery while evading Kang-hoo¡¯s attacks withteral movement hade back to bite him.
Wasn¡¯t it so?
Turbo had scoffed, as if to say, ¡°I can avoid your attacks any time.¡±
But his proud evasion maneuver had beenpletely countered by Kang-hoo¡¯s identical response, leaving himpletely frustrated.
In the end, Turbo¡¯steral movement turned out to be a foolish act.
He would have been better off engaging in a head-on fight. This was a loss like no other.
The only fortunate thing for Turbo was that his spinning maneuver had temporarily forced Kang-hoo to back off.
¡°Ugh¡ damn!¡±
Turbo, filled with rage, mmed his fist into the ground with all his might.
This was another of Turbo¡¯s techniques that Kang-hoo had identified earlier, known as Ground Smash.
It¡¯s a skill thatunches the target into the air with a time dy, but since the projectiles could be seening, it was possible to respond to them.
¡°¡¡¡±
Kang-hoo didn¡¯t move, waiting for the Ground Smash projectiles to approach.
Since they had tracking and homing capabilities, dodging prematurely would be pointless and would only waste energy.
Kududud!
The Ground Smash projectiles flew towards Kang-hoo, shaking the earth and rocks.
Fwip!
He responded neatly with the Swift Evasion skill. Seeing it and dodging it made it impossible to miss.
¡®As expected, focusing on the pattern rather than the appearance simplifies the response.¡¯
Kang-hoo smiled with satisfaction.
This approach was also a method often used by the original Akiyama Takashi.
One of his theories was the ¡®Universal Pattern Theory.¡¯
The idea was that there was no monster you couldn¡¯t defeat if you understood its pattern, regardless of the level difference.
Although Takashi¡¯s rationale might have seemed far-fetched, it was highly persuasive to Kang-hoo.
The reasoning was that the creator of this world wouldn¡¯t have meticulously designed every main boss monster.
This referred to the creator of the world, namely, the original author himself.
Of course, Takashi hadn¡¯t lived with the awareness that he was a character in a novel¡
He genuinely theorized about the creator. In the end, Takashi¡¯s prediction was correct.
For now, Kang-hoo held back the Blood Flower skill.
He judged that Turbo hadn¡¯t yet umted enough damage to be taken down in one hit.
Meanwhile,
Boom! Bang!
Pew! Pew!
Abined attack from a mage and an archer hit Turbo in session.
Distracted by Kang-hoo, Turbo lost his bnce and staggered without any countermeasures.
Another opportunity presented itself.
¡°Hoo!¡±
Turbo, seeing Kang-hoo approaching with hot breath, threw another punch.
Puff!
But this time, it was a decoy.
Turbo, having momentarily lost track of Kang-hoo¡¯s position, wasted a lot of effort on nothing.
Turbo was haunted by the terror of histeral movement being seen through,pletely exposing his rear.
To block Kang-hoo¡¯s approach, he resorted to his spinning pattern again.
He thought he could at least drive Kang-hoo away with this threatening move.
Certainly, it was strong enough to make Kang-hoo reconsider his approach.
He executed a spinning maneuver that generated far more projectiles than before, seemingly an enhanced version.
The Shadow Step was used appropriately.
Kang-hoo could easily change positions by using a shadow left behind.
The remaining shadows all approached Turbo.
They were just shadows, so it didn¡¯t matter if they were all struck and disappeared. There was no need to hold onto them.
But Turbo, seemingly bothered by Kang-hoo¡¯s shadows, spun even faster.
¡®In that case.¡¯
¡¾Master of Maniption ¨C Ground Smash¡¿
The calction was set.
Kang-hoo had temporarily copied Turbo¡¯s Ground Smash skill using Master of Maniption.
He returned the Ground Smash to Turbo, who was overreacting to the shadows.
Turbo, focused on spinning, was unaware of his replicated skill flying towards him.
The next moment.
Kududud!
As the Ground Smash skill hit Turbo.
¡°Ugh!¡±
Turbo¡¯s body was lifted into the air. Naturally, his spinning skill was interrupted.
At that moment.
Kang-hoo identified one shadow that had barely survived the spinning pattern.
Immediate position switch!
In an instant, Kang-hoo, who had been far away, moved right next to Turbo. It was the perfect position.
¡¾Lightning Strike¡¿
Kang-hoo enveloped Turbo¡¯s entire airborne body with a refreshing surge of electricity.
Crackle!
Then, approaching Turbo while entrusting himself to the electrical spectacle, Kang-hoo drove a powerful strike into him.
Kang-hoo, unaffected by the Lightning Strike he had created, was not hindered by the electricity at all.
Finally, the decisive blow wasnded.
Puk!
¡°Gah¡!¡±
Hell had begun.
Turbo¡¯s back and waist were already shredded, and blood poured from his abdomen exposed by the strike.
This was the first time Kang-hoo had used the upgraded Lightning Strike against a boss monster.
He hadn¡¯t expected much since the previous Lightning Strike had been somewhatcking against boss monsters.
¡°This is good.¡±
The effect was better than expected.
The frequency of the electric discharges was overwhelmingly high, and the additional damage inflicted by entering the wounds was significant.
The tough, dry outer skin wasn¡¯t much affected by the electricity, but the moist flesh inside was a different story.
Especially when it consisted of blood vessels, muscles, and numerous organs.
¡°Ugh! Ugh!¡±
Even after falling from the air, Turbo couldn¡¯t control his body, which was shaking uncontrobly.
Blood gushed endlessly from his wounds, like a leaking water balloon.
There was no need to drag it out any longer.
¡¾Blood Flower¡¿
Kang-hoo activated the most suitable skill for the current state of Turbo.
Then,
Boom! Bang! Bang!
Turbo¡¯s body exploded mercilessly, ending his life as a living bomb.
Considering his confident start, his final moments were pitifully miserable.
¡¾Your level has significantly increased to 170.¡¿
Kang-hoo¡¯s level shot up due to the massive amount of experience points gained.
Additionally, the skill plunder feature was activated.
Although skills like Ground Smash and Spinning were added to his skill list, he excluded them from the selection.
Ground Smash took time to attack the target, making it a skill that didn¡¯t sync well with Kang-hoo¡¯s pace.
As for Spinning, he excluded it for the same reason he hadn¡¯t plundered Sammy¡¯s skill earlier.
So, the final skill he chose was Push.
He decided to plunder the passive skill Push, which Turbo had used in conjunction with his spinning attack.
¡¾Push¡¿
¡¾Proficiency: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾Adds pushing force to projectile or object attacks.
If deactivated, no force is added.¡¿
¡¾The current list of skills where Push can be applied is as follows:¡¿
¡¾Blinding sh. ck Moon sh. White Sun sh.¡¿
¡®Good. Using Push to disrupt and throw off bnce will be very valuable.¡¯
It was a skill he liked.
Skills that could create variables were always wee.
Moreover, the skill performed the pushing process automatically, so there was no need to pay extra attention.
This was a highly useful option. It was too good an option to be possessed only by a monster like Turbo.
The cleanup proceeded afterward.
As prearranged, Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae¡¯s roles were split into demon and angel, respectively.
While Park Dong-jae checked the condition of the three hunters who had helped and tended to them carefully,
Kang-hoo stood with his arms crossed, ring sharply at them.
The matter of the spoils from killing Turbo had yet to be settled.
Contrary to Kang-hoo¡¯s expectation that they might have second thoughtster, they responded immediately.
¡°We have no desire to be greedy after barely surviving. We¡¯re satisfied with just sharing some experience points.¡±
The three hunters said almost simultaneously without any hesitation.
The swordsman hunter, who had been severely injured, had regained some strength thanks to the potion Park Dong-jae had brought.
They all had various injuries, but none were life-threatening.
¡°It was an impressive battle. I¡¯ve never seen an assassin dominate a boss monster like this.¡±
¡°And without support from other sses, it was practically solo tanking.¡±
The mage and archer hunters shared their impressions.
Honestly, it was enough to make them feel demoralized.
After all, Kang-hoo had taken down the boss monster they had struggled with as a trio, all by himself.
Of course, Kang-hoo believed Park Dong-jae¡¯s continuous buffs and the support from the mage and archer also yed a part.
But the hunters seemed to think Kang-hoo had done it all by himself, intoxicated by his performance.
¡°I¡¯m d it ended without any issues. We¡¯ll gratefully ept the spoils.¡±
Kang-hoo replied calmly.
With the spoils matter resolved without conflict, the atmosphere lightened significantly.
In the hunters¡¯ world, such matters often became seeds for further conflicts.
Helping or being helped often led to forgetting gratitude and conflicting over gains.
At that moment,
Kang-hoo noticed the familiar insignia on the hunters¡¯ uniforms and asked,
¡°Which guild are you from?¡±
¡°We all belong to the Spitfire Guild. The Spitfire Guild of Ennd, have you heard of it?¡±
He had sensed a British ent in their speech, and it turned out he was right.
Kang-hoo was well aware of the Spitfire Guild.
After all, the gold card with a 2 billion won monthly limit that he was using had been given to him by the Spitfire Guild.
¡°Of course, I know it well. It¡¯s the guild that gave me this. It¡¯s a precious connection for me.¡±
Kang-hoo naturally took out the gold card from his wallet.
It was a meaningful item given to him directly by Ganiere, the master of the Spitfire Guild.
At that moment,
¡°Wow¡ You received this?¡±
The hunters¡¯ expressions showed astonishment.
It was proof that the man before them was someone of great importance to their guild master.
He was no ordinary person.
Chapter 161: Small Fry (1)
Chapter 161: Small Fry (1)
The conversation with the three members of the Spitfire Guild ended well.
From the moment he showed the Gold Card, they adopted apletely subservient attitude.
They even went so far as to ask Kang-hoo to put in a good word with the master when he met himter.
It was understandable since the presence of the Gold Card made it clear he was a VIP guest of the guild master¡
It wasn¡¯t unreasonable for them to be so deferential. They believed Kang-hoo to be a high-level expert.
In addition to the orange mana stone taken as coteral, they also secured three orange mana stones obtained as loot from Turbo.
And he even got a talisman for enhancing buff skills.
After the three from the Spitfire Guild left, Park Dong-jae handed over all the mana stones to Kang-hoo.
Then Kang-hoo asked.¡°Why are you giving this to me?¡±
¡°Why else? You worked hard to get them, so they belong to you. I don¡¯t have any im to them.¡±
¡°We agreed, didn¡¯t we? I take the experience points, and you take all the loot.¡±
¡°This wasn¡¯t a boss monster raid.¡±
¡°Still, a promise is a promise.¡±
¡°No, this is different. Don¡¯t even think about giving it up. If you don¡¯t take it, I¡¯ll throw it away!¡±
Park Dong-jae¡¯s determination seemed firm.
Reading his intent, Kang-hoo epted without further refusal.
It seemed the battle with the Spitfire Guild members was considered separate from the earlier raid.
Thanks to this, Kang-hoo secured a total of 60 billion won worth of mana stones, including the ones taken as coteral.
In return,
He gave the buff-enhancing talisman obtained as loot to Park Dong-jae.
It was meaningless to him since it didn¡¯t enhance his own buffs but rather the buff skills he used.
It was perfectly suited for Park Dong-jae and had no use for him. There was no reason to hesitate in giving it away.
¡°Thank you, hyung. I¡¯ll use it well.¡±
¡°Same here. Use it well.¡±
¡°By the way, hyung. When did you start getting such VIP treatment from the Spitfire Guild?¡±
Park Dong-jae was as curious about it as the three who had been surprised earlier.
The Gold Card isn¡¯t something just anyone can get. It¡¯s a kind of token given to truly grateful benefactors.
In other words, it implied that the master of the Spitfire Guild owed a significant debt to Kang-hoo.
Park Dong-jae couldn¡¯t guess what that debt might be.
¡°There was such a thing. It¡¯s a sad story, so I don¡¯t want to tell you the details.¡±
Kang-hoo deflected the question.
Thinking about Park Min-sung brought up memories of his parents, Ganiere and Melissa, which made him feel heavy-hearted.
Even if he had never been a parent, he could empathize with the emotions.
He didn¡¯t want to recall those feelings unnecessarily. Sad emotions were quite unpleasant for Kang-hoo.
It was like a forbidden emotion that the character Shin Kang-hoo should never feel. It was exactly that kind of feeling.
¡°You¡¯ve got good eyes. You should be a gem soon, hyung.¡±
¡°You¡¯re already a gem.¡±
¡°¡That¡¯s not true.¡±
¡°Anyway, let¡¯s head back. There¡¯s no more route to proceed, and it¡¯s time to return.¡±
¡°Rest?¡±
¡°Yeah. Rest.¡±
¡°Phew. Finally¡ I was wondering when we¡¯d get a proper break. Oh, gosh.¡±
As soon as Kang-hoo finished speaking, Park Dong-jae copsed on the spot.
Although he hadn¡¯t shown it, he had been quickly exhausting himself trying to keep up with Kang-hoo.
Kang-hoo was more passionate and burning like a furnace than Park Dong-jae had imagined.
Being with someone who never showed signs of fatigue made him change too.
Somehow, just saying he was tired felt like an apology.
So, he had endured with sheer willpower until now, but he had reached his limit.
Not only his physical strength but also his mental strength had hit a wall. A maddening headache wasing on.
¡°The sess rate is 50%, but let¡¯s try teleporting back.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been curious about this for a while. The time you saved me from the Osho Mercenary Corps was with teleportation, right?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°100% meansplete sess. So, what does 50% mean? Could only half of my body be transported?¡±
Kang-hoo couldn¡¯t help butugh at Park Dong-jae¡¯s witty (?) idea.
It wasn¡¯t mockery. The probability issue could be interpretedpletely differently without a clear approach.
If it were as Park Dong-jae suggested, Kang-hoo wouldn¡¯t use teleportation unless it was 100%.
After all, if only half of his body moved, it would mean instant death, and he wouldn¡¯t take such a ridiculous risk.
¡°The body is considered to be fully transported. The issue is whether theplete teleportation seeds or fails.¡±
¡°Ah, that¡¯s simple.¡±
¡°Yes. The teleportation skill isn¡¯t as detailed as you think.¡±
It¡¯s the power of the original work.
Thanks to it not being overly detailed, there were no variables in teleportation.
If the original author had been a weirdo, he might have made Park Dong-jae¡¯s imagination a reality.
¡°Okay, I understand. Each of your skills is so amazing that I¡¯m always curious.¡±
¡°Ask anytime you¡¯re curious. Except for trade secrets, I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡±
¡°Alright, then shall we trust our luck and teleport?¡±
¡°Yes. If it fails, we¡¯ll walk back. If it seeds, we¡¯ll save more than half a day.¡±
¡°Oh, God, please¡¡±
After lightly holding Park Dong-jae¡¯s shoulder, who was pretending to pray with his eyes tightly closed.
Without any hesitation, Kang-hoo used the teleportation skill.
[Would you like to teleport?]
[Teleporting more than two people may not seed. The probability is exactly 50%.]
He ignored the warning.
It was a simple matter of sess or failure. There was no need to get hung up on the words.
And then.
sh!
The teleportation seeded.
Right after teleportation seeded, bringing them back to the starting point instantly, Kang-hoo thought to himself.
¡®It was also 50% when I saved Min Su-hyun, and it seeded. It seeded when I swapped ces with Jin Hyo-young. By the odds, isn¡¯t it bound to fail this time?¡¯
It was a thought that came to him while considering the numbers.
A 50% chance, yet it seeded three times in a row.
If this happened in a gacha game, everyone would expect three consecutive failures soon after.
¡®I should probably offer some sacrifices for the time being.¡¯
If there were no issues, he thought he should use it every time the cooldown resets for the next three days.
Of course, using it alone is 100%, so he would need someone to apany him.
Anyway, the dungeon raid waspleted. It was a raid summed up by the phrase ¡°a bountiful harvest of skills.¡±
Listening to other hunters at the entrance, the Kanis Guild was in the middle of their third raid.
It looked interesting.
Elite hunters were coordinating perfectly, creating a picturesque scene.
So, on the other hand, he looked forward to it.
The mystery dungeon raid he would tackle with the people from the Myeongga Guild.
They were already known as elite hunters, so there was no doubt about their skills.
Outside the dungeon, Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae rxed with a cold beer to soothe their spirits.
Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t particrly fond of alcohol, but he knew how to match the mood of those who liked it.
A can of beer paired with butter-grilled squid on a bench tasted incredibly good.
Park Dong-jae said this was his routine. Beer was the elixir of life he rewarded himself with for returning alive.
Hunters have various routines, and for Park Dong-jae, a beer was an essential element.
Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t particrly interested in jinxes or routines. They could cloud objective thinking.
After downing about half the can,
The dampness of his tired body subsided somewhat, and a pleasant buzz started to rise.
Park Dong-jae spoke up.
¡°Hyung, be careful from now on. I worry about you more than I do Se-hyuk hyung. You¡¯re making more enemies.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re going to dip your hands into every tasty pie, you¡¯ll inevitably get some crumbs on you.¡±
¡°Still, given who we¡¯re up against, it¡¯s a legitimate concern.¡±
¡°I always appreciate your concern. But don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯m always on guard.¡±
¡°Got it. By the way, did you know? Se-hyuk hyung is nning to hit the Eclipse guys hard soon.¡±
¡°Come to think of it, Se-hyuk has been pretty quiettely.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
Jeon Se-hyuk was a hunter with a deeper grudge against Eclipse than Kang-hoo.
The reason they became close so quickly was also because of their shared animosity toward Eclipse.
It wasn¡¯t surprising.
There had been no quiet period for Jeon Se-hyuk.
Until now, Jeon Se-hyuk had been visiting and ughtering at Eclipse¡¯s various hideouts, big and small¡
He had been causing trouble for Kang Dong-hyun.
But Jeon Se-hyuk was so powerful that Kang Dong-hyun couldn¡¯t easily take action against him.
Judging by the situation, Kang Dong-hyun decided that stepping in personally would lower his status.
It might be a good opportunity to join Jeon Se-hyuk and have a refreshing sword dance together.
To pass the test set by the ck Constetion, he needed to kill Go Gyeong-ho.
Eclipse¡¯s eighth-ranked officer, enforcer Go Gyeong-ho. From a perspective of coveting abilities, he was a tempting target.
¡°Dong-jae.¡±
¡°Yeah?¡±
¡°If you ever need information fees, let me know anytime. I¡¯ll pay a fair price for any information I need. I won¡¯t refuse a favor.¡±
¡°That works for me. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll charge you for really important information. I¡¯m not a pushover.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good for me.¡±
¡°I¡¯m going to invest more in the ck Network. No, I¡¯ll go all-in. I believe in the power of information.¡±
Park Dong-jae seemed to be bing an important key in Kang-hoo¡¯s future ns.
And right now, this rtionship was working very conveniently for Kang-hoo.
Kang-hoo intended to manage their rtionship well so that it wouldn¡¯t reverse or distort.
As long as he didn¡¯t show excessive subservience to Park Dong-jae or express unnecessary gratitude.
If he did that¡ Park Dong-jae would always be there like a sunflower facing the sun.
Separating his feelings of valuing Park Dong-jae as a buffer and strategically using him.
Kang-hoo could manage this separation of seemingly indivisible emotions.
It was both a great advantage and a w that made him stark and unsentimental.
Of course, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t care. Whatever form it took, it was all part of himself.
There was no need to be surprised or deny it. This and that were all him.
There was no need to worry if the other person could ept it.
Just do what he wanted. He had always done so, and he always would.
Two hourster.
Right after parting ways with Park Dong-jae, Kang-hoo received a call from Lee Ye-rin and was now at Daejeon Station.
With teleportation on cooldown, he had just arrived by the early morning KTX train.
The topic she hinted at for their conversation today was ¡®overseas missions.¡¯
It was a proposal with much greater expansion potential than Kang-hoo had anticipated.
Chapter 162: Small Fry (2)
Chapter 162: Small Fry (2)
Looking at Lee Ye-rin, who came to meet him at Daejeon Station, Kang-hoo spoke.
¡°These days, the area around Daejeon Station is quiet? It seems like it has stabilized a lot.¡±
¡°The Heuksaja has been quiettely. Eclipse is deliberately ignoring us because they don¡¯t want to get tangled with us.¡±
¡°Does that mean the status of Cheong-an has changed?¡±
¡°It¡¯s more like Eclipse has more things to worry about. They have more external issues to deal with, right?¡±
Kang-hoo nodded as if he fully understood her words.
Putting Kang-hoo on the assassination list was just one of the many tasks Eclipse had.
Recently, Eclipse, which has been aggressively expanding its influence, had experienced many conflicts here and there.
Like a drug, taking over the existing powers is not easy.However, the areas that Kang Dong-hyun is interested in usually have organizations that hold power.
Therefore, it was moremon for their forces to expand through fierce battles rather than bloodless upations.
Naturally, there were casualties in the process, and the people rted to the casualties became enemies.
Eclipse was constantly experiencing the inevitable karma.
Therefore, they avoided making trouble with Cheong-an, with whom they had bad rtions.
¡°Get in. It¡¯s a safe limousine.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡±
Thanks to Lee Ye-rin¡¯s consideration, they were able to safely move to the Cheong-an building in the limousine.
There wasn¡¯t much conversation in the car.
However, there was one serious question that Lee Ye-rin asked.
¡°Do you still keep in touch with Seo-yeon these days?¡±
¡°I used to until recently, but nottely. I don¡¯t usually initiate contact.¡±
¡°I see. Since Seo-yeon joined the Jeonghwa Guild, there has been no news at all.¡±
¡°Is that so?¡±
¡°Yes. She doesn¡¯t check her personal messages at all and doesn¡¯t answer calls. It doesn¡¯t seem like her number has changed.¡±
There can be many reasons why a person can¡¯t be reached, so it wasn¡¯t worth jumping to conclusions.
But the fact that she went silent after joining the Jeonghwa Guild made Kang-hoo¡¯s thoughts go in a different direction.
Considering An Yeong-ho and Jung Yuri, only bad thoughts coulde to mind first.
Of course, to be honest, Han Seo-yeon is not an outstanding hunter that the Jeonghwa Guild would be eager to recruit.
Still, it was hard not to worry. It was a separate issue from his feelings for her.
¡°Since she was scouted by a satellite guild, it might take her some time to adjust.¡±
Kang-hoo lightened the heavy atmosphere.
He thought it was likely she was just adjusting. After all, there would be certain standards and conditions demanded by the top guild in the country.
In the process, she would need time to shed the freedom and lightness she was ustomed to as a member of the Haeohwa Guild.
He believed she would do well on her own. She was meticulous. She wouldn¡¯t make big mistakes.
¡°I¡¯m sorry. I rambled on about something too personal. It¡¯s not even rted to you, Kang-hoo.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not entirely unrted. I understand your concern as a close sister.¡±
Kang-hoo shook his head.
Lee Ye-rin is a person with charm in such human aspects.
As a mercenary leader, she pursued more than just business.
That might be why they got along so well. She was good atpromise, mediation, and persuasion.
After arriving at the Cheong-an building, Kang-hoo talked with Lee Ye-rin in a newly created room.
It was a dedicated VIP room for guests, and he felt his body recovering as soon as he entered.
He looked around and found that a barrier linked to magic stones was constantly activated, stimting his healing ability.
The saying ¡°money solves everything¡± applies everywhere, even in the hunter¡¯s civilized world.
Just entering the room made him feel revitalized.
¡°Isn¡¯t this room nice?¡±
¡°It must have cost a lot.¡±
¡°We configured only the VIP rooms like this on a trial basis, but we will change the entire Cheong-an building.¡±
¡°Even the training facilities?¡±
¡°Of course. We n to invest generously for the differentiation of our Cheong-an Mercenary Corps.¡±
¡°That¡¯s quite attractive.¡±
¡°Right? With this setup, it¡¯s possible to increase the training volume by at least twice the usual amount.¡±
Kang-hoo was more surprised by her ability to afford such facilities than by their existence in the Cheong-an building.
The Cheong-an Mercenary Corps isn¡¯t thatrge. If divided into groups, it would be medium-sized.
But to make such aggressive investments, a capital power exceeding that of arge mercenary corps was essential.
This meant hermissioning skills were quite impressive.
The Cheong-an Mercenary Corps wasn¡¯t widely known for its strength. Their power wasn¡¯t overwhelmingly superior.
She must be earning significantmissions or fees through various requests.
Her clients weren¡¯t limited to just him.
¡°Let¡¯s talk about overseas matters.¡±
Kang-hoo changed the subject.
After catching up, the core issue of the day was the overseas requests.
¡°Actually, attractive and lucrative proposals usuallye from two countries. You can guess, right?¡±
¡°China. Russia.¡±
¡°Correct. Besides the vastnd, there are many guild wars and battles there.¡±
¡°There must be a lot of rights and interests they want to im or seize. As a hunter, I¡¯m quite curious.¡±
Kang-hoo agreed.
China and Russia have many unique dungeons that are hard to find in other countries.
There are also manyrge-scale raid dungeons like the Hell of Judgment.
Although top secret, there are even dungeons connected to other ¡®dimensions¡¯.
It wasn¡¯t mentioned in the original story. But as the original creator, the memory existed in his subconscious, so it wasn¡¯tpletely absurd.
¡°But since Kang-hoo doesn¡¯t like this part, we willpletely exclude it. We refuse to ept any requests from China or Russia.¡±
¡°Please also block any indirect requests.¡±
¡°Of course. Once you get involved with requests rted to China or Russia, it can get out of hand.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re unlucky, you might find yourself thrown into the middle of a cartel conflict without even knowing it.¡±
¡°Exactly. It requires a lot of operational finesse, so as a broker, I¡¯m not too keen on it either.¡±
Lee Ye-rin smiled.
It was a lip service remark.
Many hunters already recognize her skills. There¡¯s no way she would have any requests she doesn¡¯t like.
Kang-hoo knew that she was deliberately agreeing with him just to go along with his words.
¡°Except for those two countries, it doesn¡¯t matter which country we ept requests from. But there are some conditions.¡±
¡°Go ahead.¡±
¡°I prefer dungeon exploration or raids. And the more middle bosses or main boss monsters there are, the higher the priority.¡±
¡°Just a moment.¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Can I know why you prefer boss-oriented raids? Not just out of personal curiosity, but because it might help in attracting clients.¡±
¡°If I say it¡¯s because it¡¯s good for gaining experience, does that sound too vague?¡±
To be exact.
It¡¯s because the conditions increase the number of skills he can plunder.
But he couldn¡¯t tell Lee Ye-rin that directly, so he spoke evasively.
¡°Interested in loot?¡±
¡°That¡¯s part of it.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
If you rece ¡®loot¡¯ with ¡®skills,¡¯ it¡¯s quite an urate statement.
¡°Got it. Then I¡¯ll focus on that point when epting requests.¡±
¡°I¡¯m setting a lot of conditions, but it would be nice if it¡¯s nearby. If possible.¡±
¡°Understood. These days, overseas requests are also active in Southeast Asia. Trust my connections.¡±
¡°I always do.¡±
That¡¯s why Kang-hoo doesn¡¯t change his main client. He trusts Lee Ye-rin¡¯s skills and her abilities.
There¡¯s the Kim Su-kyung Mercenary Corps as an alternative, but they fall shortpared to Lee Ye-rin¡¯s Cheong-an Mercenary Corps.
After that, Kang-hoo talked with her longer than he had expected.
He carefully listened to information about the domestic situation that he could get from her.
Of course, he didn¡¯t forget to pay for the information.
There¡¯s no set price, but it raised the value and meaning of the information she had.
There were some obvious pieces of information he already knew, but also things he had no idea about.
For instance, the news that the Karona Guild of Russia failed in an attempt to steal confidential information from the Jeonghwa Guild.
The Karona Guild is famous in Russia, next to the Kashimar Guild.
It was mentioned only once in the original story, so he was curious about the background of the n to steal the confidential information.
Would that background be beneficial to him, the opposite, or meaningless?
Anyway, he could gather a lot of interesting information.
He also confirmed the types and current status of requests mainlying from each country overseas.
If he could secure the requests stably, there were quite a few that seemed really interesting.
Honestly, he was quite excited. It felt like his desire for adventure and challenge was being stimted.
As he was about to wrap up their nearly two-hour-long meeting.
Lee Ye-rin brought up a topic she hadn¡¯t mentioned during the entire conversation.
¡°There are Eclipse¡¯s sniper hunters not far from the Cheong-an building.¡±
It wasn¡¯t surprising since he had somewhat expected it.
¡°Are they targeting you, Lee Ye-rin?¡±
¡°No. I went out a few times to draw their fire, but they didn¡¯t shoot?¡±
She tried to provoke them on purpose. She must have been confident enough to attempt it.
¡°Then.¡±
¡°They must be targeting one of our clients. But since you¡¯re on the assassination list¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±
¡°Pardon?¡±
¡°Since I¡¯m already in conflict with Eclipse, it won¡¯t be a problem to deal with a few small fry.¡±
¡°I can arrange for a safe limousine. There won¡¯t be any issues.¡±
¡°No. It¡¯s time to deal with this. It¡¯s also time to send a warning to Eclipse.¡±
Kang-hoo intended to handle the snipers outside, regardless of whether they were targeting him or not.
However, the circumstances made it quite likely they were after him.
Among Lee Ye-rin¡¯s main clients, he was the only one in conflict with Eclipse.
Lee Ye-rin did have long-standing conflicts, but they had be rather dull over time.
It was a chance to stretch his hands.
But.
There was one thing that bothered him.
So he asked Lee Ye-rin.
¡°But is Cheong-an not dealing with it directly out of consideration? Or is it intentional neglect?¡±
Chapter 163: Small Fry (3)
Chapter 163: Small Fry (3)
¡°It¡¯s best if you judge that as you see fit, Kang-hoo. I need to be cautious with my words.¡±
Kang-hoo didn¡¯t respond to Lee Ye-rin¡¯s statement.
Even if Cheong-an knew the truth, it wasn¡¯t necessary for them to step in and resolve everything.
They were business partners, not a shared destiny to handle everything together.
There was no need to interpret it in terms of good or bad. Kang-hoo brushed aside unnecessary thoughts.
¡°For now, I understand. Please proceed with the request as discussed. I¡¯ll be waiting for good news.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll do my best to bring back a better request.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡±
With that, the meeting with Lee Ye-rin ended.Before leaving the Cheong-an building, Kang-hoo movedterally and naturally entered a stealth state.
Waiting.
It¡¯s something entirely different from just doing nothing, as Choi Jin-ho and Choi Jin-soo realized.
Doing nothing was quite familiar to the two brothers. That¡¯s how it was in Eclipse.
But waiting was unfamiliar. It was a rare situation.
Both were gunners and specialized snipers, but strangely enough, theycked persistence.
The foremost virtue of a sniper is to wait patiently, but they failed to maintain the basics.
¡°Yawn¡¡¡±
Perhaps that¡¯s why.
Choi Jin-soo, waiting for the uncertain arrival of Kang-hoo, yawned and stretched.
It was a typical movement to loosen up his stiff body, nothing significant.
But at that moment.
Swish!
¡°Gah!¡±
Something passed by Choi Jin-soo, who was stretching, and he urgently clutched his neck.
The situation unfolded in an instant.
St!
Choi Jin-soo tried to staunch the sudden flow of blood, but it was a futile struggle.
Without even a moment toprehend who or how he was killed, Choi Jin-soo lost his life.
¡°Damn it, what the hell?¡±
The only slight constion was that Choi Jin-ho, looking in his brother¡¯s direction, saw what happened.
It was Kang-hoo.
He didn¡¯t know how Kang-hoo found them hiding so far from the Cheong-an building.
They were discovered. That was what mattered.
¡°Shin Kang-hoo! Kill him!¡±
¡°Attack!¡±
The subordinates stationed with them rushed toward Kang-hoo.
Without time to mourn his brother¡¯s death, Choi Jin-ho tracked Kang-hoo¡¯s movements.
That was the priority now.
He had a trick up his sleeve.
Though it was a one-time use, he could perfectly track an opponent within a 1 km radius.
Whether Kang-hoo went into stealth or hid behind obstacles, he would still be exposed.
¡°Aargh!¡±
¡°Gah!¡±
In a brief moment, two subordinates lost their lives.
Kang-hoo repeatedly utilizedteral movement and stealth, ravaging the subordinates.
¡°Damn it.¡±
Choi Jin-ho, aiming precisely at Kang-hoo, bit his lip.
He wanted to single out and kill Kang-hoo like a pincushion, but it was difficult.
The subordinates were fighting mixed in.
In a way, the subordinates were buying time, slowing Kang-hoo¡¯s movements.
¡®Then.¡¯
Choi Jin-ho thought.
Using the subordinates¡¯ ¡®noble sacrifice¡¯ as leverage, he vowed to kill Kang-hoo.
He would ept the unavoidable sacrifice heavily.
He justified the possibility of team-killing. It was a decision the subordinates couldn¡¯t even dream of.
¡®Got him.¡¯
Choi Jin-ho, having aimed perfectly, held his breath.
He then calmly pulled the trigger after fully capturing Kang-hoo in his sight.
Once the gunshot was heard, blood would stter from the center of Kang-hoo¡¯s forehead.
Even if a subordinate was in the way, they would fall, bloodied, with Kang-hoo.
Bang!
Finally, the gunshot was heard.
Choi Jin-ho was confident of his sess.
Thud!
As expected, the back of the head of a subordinate, ovepping Kang-hoo¡¯s path, burst.
Choi Jin-ho wasn¡¯t surprised at all. It was an anticipated situation. Kang-hoo¡¯s death was the priority.
But for some reason, Kang-hoo, who should have been shot in the forehead, was unscathed.
¡°What the¡?¡±
Choi Jin-ho saw it.
Though he had returned to his original form, Kang-hoo¡¯s body had momentarily turned to stone.
It was clearly a skill¡ªa defensive skill that hardened and strengthened the body.
This was unexpected.
How did an assassin acquire a body transformation defensive skill, which even tanker swordsmen found difficult to have?
There was no time to ponder. Kang-hoo had already pinpointed Choi Jin-ho¡¯s location and was approaching.
Kang-hoo used a means to quickly strike Choi Jin-ho.
Light Illumination.
It was a precision strike from Kang-hoo, skilled in throwing, to prevent Choi Jin-ho¡¯s escape.
¡°Hup¡!¡±
Seeing the flying dagger, Choi Jin-ho raised his rifle diagonally, ready to defend.
He was being severely underestimated.
No matter how low he was rated, did they think he¡¯d fall for such an obvious dagger throw?
Choi Jin-ho nned to deflect the dagger and then leave the scene at full speed.
After seeing Kang-hoo¡¯s response, he had abandoned the thought of fighting properly.
The difference in strength was clear!
If he could block the sniper so easily, there was no point in the next fight.
Bang!
Choi Jin-ho blocked the flying dagger with full strength. Though clumsy, his defense was perfect.
But then.
¡°Urgh!¡±
At the moment of blocking the dagger, Choi Jin-ho¡¯s body lifted into the air and flew for a while.
He had merely blocked a dagger, yet his body floated as if pushed by something.
¡°Argh!¡±
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Without a moment to prepare, his body crashed to the ground and rolled unceremoniously.
He didn¡¯t even know how he was rolling due to his confusion.
The situation had gone terribly wrong.
Choi Jin-ho¡¯s mind was filled with the word ¡®escape.¡¯ To survive, there was no other way.
¡°Ptooey!¡±
Spitting out the sand that had entered his mouth, Choi Jin-ho quickly stood up.
There was still time.
He was sure he had time to escape¡
Thunk!
At least, Choi Jin-ho thought so, but unfortunately, his fate ended there.
Even with a slight time difference, he ended up following his brother, Choi Jin-soo.
By then, Kang-hoo had already embedded a dagger right in the center of Choi Jin-ho¡¯s forehead.
¡°I¡¯m just returning what you gave me. It seems you have no way to withstand it. So, you must die.¡±
Kang-hoo twisted the deeply embedded dagger 90 degrees and looked at the dead Choi Jin-ho, whose eyes had rolled back.
He wasn¡¯t a familiar face, nor a highly skilled sniper.
Rather than an investigator or close associate sent by Kang Dong-hyun from Eclipse¡
He felt more like the leader of small fry who wanted to make a name for himself after seeing the assassination list.
That was the level of skill they possessed.
Kang-hoo had known Choi Jin-ho intended to snipe him. He also knew the subordinates would be sacrifices.
However, Choi Jin-ho¡¯s level didn¡¯t appear high through the constetion¡¯s observation, so Kang-hoo deliberately used the petrification skill.
If he didn¡¯t test it in situations like this, there wouldn¡¯t be many opportunities to experience the power of petrification normally.
The test was a great sess.
Kang-hoo¡¯s front, which had instantly turned into solid stone, easily blocked Choi Jin-ho¡¯s sniping.
With this level of defense, he could likely withstand the average firepower of a sniper like Ban Se-young.
Of course, if it were a fatal blow with all the power poured into it, the calctions would be different.
¡°Both of the brothers are dead!¡±
¡°Aaah! Let¡¯s run!¡±
¡°We¡¯re screwed, damn it!¡±
The subordinates, having lost both leaders in an instant, started fleeing in a panic.
Having confirmed Choi Jin-ho¡¯s death through the sess of constetion plunder, Kang-hoo pursued them.
He had no intention of letting a single one live from the start.
The only mercy he could offer to those who tried to kill him was a quick ticket to hell.
A unteral massacre began.
In the midst of it, Kang-hoo experienced something new for the first time.
It was a special phenomenon he hadn¡¯t been able to feel before due to the conditions not being met.
It was¡
¡¾Great Decapitation¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾...(omitted)...¡¿
¡¾Monsters and hunters with a level less than 33% of the user¡¯s level will die instantly upon being struck.¡¿
This was the content at the end of the tooltip for the Great Decapitation skill.
Until now, Kang-hoo hadn¡¯t encountered monsters or hunters with a level one-third of his own, so he didn¡¯t know.
This time, while dealing with the subordinates of the two small fry brothers, the conditions were met.
The results were astonishing.
Some of them, despite only sustaining minor injuries from a ncing blow from Great Decapitation¡
¡°Ugh!¡±
¡°Gah!¡±
They clutched their chests, foaming at the mouth, as if their hearts had suddenly stopped.
It was certain death.
¡®It seems right to read the manual thoroughly to the end.¡¯
Kang-hoo looked at the ones who lost their lives absurdly(?) and showed a pitiful expression.
Did they think gathering in a group would change the situation despite their unworthy skills?
Such a weak mindset. That¡¯s why they followed such small fry as their leader.
¡¾Soul Tracker¡¿
¡¾Limited to once per person, it allows perfect tracking within a 1 km radius. Even in a stealth state.¡¿
¡¾Meditator¡¿
¡¾Maintains focus at twice the usual capacity without causing any physical overload.¡¿
Kang-hoo checked the list of two constetions he had plundered from Choi Jin-ho and Choi Jin-soo and was satisfied.
The Meditator constetion applied as a passive skill, so he could forget about it after recognizing its acquisition.
The Soul Tracker constetion seemed likely toe in handy.
Though it was unfortunate that it was a one-time use, it was a sure way to track a hidden target.
Choi Jin-ho must have aimed boldly at Kang-hoo, relying on that constetion.
But despite having good constetions, hecked the corresponding skill and judgment.
¡°Good master found.¡±
Kang-hoo sneered.
The two constetions would probably consider themselves lucky to have found a much better contractor.
In fact, they should see it as good fortune. They legally changed contractors.
Swoosh. Swish.
Kang-hoo wiped the blood-soaked dagger on his clothes.
His whole body was covered in blood, so the clothes would go straight into the trash without even being washed.
It¡¯s a hunter¡¯s dilemma to live with blood as apanion. They can¡¯t wear their favorite clothes for long.
At that moment.
While deeply immersed in battle, Kang-hoo encountered a new piece of information he had momentarily forgotten.
¡¾You have fulfilled the daily murder quota twice.¡¿
¡¾By performing a ritual to pray for the victims¡¯ repose, you can gain stats twice with a random chance.¡¿
¡¾Pray for the repose of the dead with a reverent heart. That is the courtesy towards them.¡¿
¡°Damn it¡¡±
Talking about a murder quota and then mentioning repose and courtesy.
No matter how he looked at it, he couldn¡¯t feel any affection for this constetion.
Of course¡ That didn¡¯t mean he would refuse the stats it offered. He had to take what he could.
Chapter 165: Distorted Awakening (2)
Chapter 165: Distorted Awakening (2)
Reading Kang-hoo¡¯s curious gaze, Kim Shin-ryeong smiled.
¡°Interesting, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Did you make it yourself?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m developing it for self-defense, but I¡¯m having trouble controlling the firepower. Of course, there¡¯s no problem with the gun itself; it¡¯s just that the firepower is too strong.¡±
¡°That¡¯s impressive.¡±
Among the various fields rted to hunters, Kang-hoo found crafting and manufacturing the most difficult and impressive.
It wasn¡¯t a field that could be mastered merely by having the relevant knowledge.
A certain amount of innate talent and intuition were also crucial.
Since there was no set form, quick thinking and adaptability were also very important.While Kang-hoo couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the magic bullet gun,
Kim Shin-ryeong, who had been watching him intently, spoke with a peculiar smile.
¡°You¡¯re quite handsome. Do you have a girlfriend by any chance?¡±
¡°No, I don¡¯t. And I don¡¯t n to have one in the future.¡±
¡°You n to keep that handsome face to yourself?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to make someone else share in the dangers of this world with me.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a thoughtful answer.¡±
¡°Yes. It¡¯s something I¡¯ve pondered over quite a bit.¡±
Though it ended up being a serious answer, it was a thought he had had for a long time.
¡°If I were 25 years younger, I would¡¯ve confessed first! What a shame, time is cruel¡¡±
¡°If I had met you 25 years earlier, I might have confessed.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve got good lines, don¡¯t you?¡±
¡°I mean it.¡±
Kim Shin-ryeong burst intoughter at Kang-hoo¡¯s yful response.
It wasn¡¯t that she was attracted to him as a man.
She just honestly expressed her reaction to a handsome man, regardless of age.
It was part of her personality.
She never beat around the bush. She spoke her mind unfiltered.
If looked at objectively,
Kang-hoo found Kim Shin-ryeong still quite attractive.
She must have been a beauty in her younger days.
Even now, her body was so toned that she could pass for someone in her 30s.
It must have taken a lot of effort. Such a body couldn¡¯t be achieved without self-discipline.
After exchangingpliments and feeling good about it,
they continued their conversation inside her mansion.
Through therge ss window, Kang-hoo saw a summoned creature in the training ground, which Kim Shin-ryeong had summoned earlier.
While sipping the coffee she offered, he closely observed the summoned creature¡¯s movements.
Perhaps finding the prolonged silence awkward, Kim Shin-ryeong changed the subject.
¡°Am I disturbing your observations by talking?¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Did you know? In China, there¡¯s a separate unit that only handles summoned creatures.¡±
¡°Are you referring to the Shinto Guild or the Divine Beast Guild?¡±
¡°Yes. They train the summoners to the extreme, making them handle an enormous number of summoned creatures.¡±
¡°I heard that summoner hunters don¡¯t live long. They say they have short lifespans.¡±
¡°You could say they¡¯re half-machines. It¡¯s hell if you have to face them. There¡¯s no escape.¡±
¡°How bad is it?¡±
¡°They can control more than ten of these creatures at once. If they push it, up to twenty?¡±
¡°¡¡¡±
What Kang-hoo was looking at now was a summoned wolf.
It was very agile and aggressive.
In terms of level, it was around 300. Of course, its durability and stamina were quite low.
Handling dozens of such creatures at once would be quite challenging.
On the flip side, it meant the summoner had to exert superhuman mental strength.
That¡¯s why they couldn¡¯t live long. A year of their life consumed as much mental energy as ten or twenty years for others.
¡°Always keep an eye on the information from China. Even if it¡¯s another country, it has a significant impact on ours¡¡±
¡°And it¡¯s expected to have even more. We can¡¯t be free from its influence.¡±
¡°Yes. Anyway, talking about summoned creatures brought us here. What do you think of ck Wolf?¡±
ck Wolf. A ck wolf.
It was the name Kim Shin-ryeong had given to her summoned creature, and it matched its appearance perfectly.
¡°The attack patterns it shows against the wooden target are too simple. I think I know why.¡±
¡°Why is that?¡±
¡°It¡¯s obvious. The hunter it considered as a learning model didn¡¯t put in full effort.¡±
¡°The teacher wasn¡¯t good?¡±
¡°Precisely, it only showed textbook moves. So the learning was limited.¡±
¡°You¡¯re sharp.¡±
¡°I just said what I saw. Nothing more, nothing less.¡±
Kang-hoo was right.
Even without giving any information, Kim Shin-ryeong was impressed by Kang-hoo¡¯s insight into the process.
She had shown the ck Wolf to other hunters before, but they gavepletely different answers.
The ck Wolf was agile and showed mboyant moves with destructive power.
Its performance was dynamic and energetic enough to leave a strong impression.
But Kang-hoo saw the underlying emptiness. It wasn¡¯t just a superficial cold reading.
¡°Can you help me a bit? I don¡¯t want my summoned creatures to grow up half-baked.¡±
¡°I have one requirement.¡±
¡°What¡¯s that?¡±
¡°I¡¯d like it to fight me with its full power. I noticed it hesitates at the most critical moments.¡±
¡°Really?¡±
¡°This means it has been frequently controlled by its master. It didn¡¯t have the final decision.¡±
At that moment, Kim Shin-ryeong¡¯s eyes widened.
Kang-hoo had pinpointed an unspoken truth.
Indeed, she was not the type to leave the strategic movements up to the summoned creature.
She believed her value as a summonery in skillfully controlling the summoned creature, including in battles.
She controlled it closely, and the ck Wolf was good at matching her control.
Although she had never told anyone this, Kang-hoo seemed to have already figured it out.
¡°If this continues, it will remain half-baked. It¡¯s like creating an automated machine and not trusting it enough to let it operate on its own.¡±
His analogy was spot on.
The more surprised she was, the more her trust in Kang-hoo¡¯s insight and skill grew.
¡°Got it. I¡¯ll try not to interfere in any way.¡±
¡°That will do. If you do that, I think I can learn something from it too.¡±
Kang-hoo loosened up.
If the ck Wolf fought with all its strength, he felt there would be much for him to learn as well.
It seemed like a mutually beneficial situation, and that¡¯s exactly what it turned out to be.
He simply pointed out what he saw, but Kim Shin-ryeong seemed quite surprised.
It wasn¡¯t surprising.
For someone who had spent much time on crafting and manufacturing, handling a summoned creature might have felt awkward.
Her necessary research and thoughts were probably more focused on crafting and manufacturing.
¡°I¡¯ll take care of soundproofing and blocking visibility, so don¡¯t worry about outside eyes and just fight.¡±
¡°Sure.¡±
When Kim Shin-ryeong pressed a few buttons, the color of the barrier surrounding the training ground changed instantly.
At first, it seemed to only block sound, but it also blocked visibility like tinted windows.
It was quite advanced technology.
Whether it was a vi or a mansion, any facility rted to her always exceeded expectations.
¡®I should brace myself.¡¯
He bit his lip.
Since the summoned creature grew ording to its master¡¯s level, it wouldn¡¯t be an easy opponent.
Kang-hoo reviewed the skills he strategically decided to exclude, including ck Moon sh and White Day sh.
Then he prepared for battle with the ck Wolf, determined to fight seriously.
After that.
Watching the battle between Kang-hoo and the ck Wolf, Kim Shin-ryeong felt a lot.
First of all, the ck Wolf struggled much more than she had expected.
It seemed as though Kang-hoo had anticipated its attack routes, turning every attempt into a counterattack.
¡®He never repeats the same pattern.¡¯
Kim Shin-ryeong was amazed at how seriously Kang-hoo was taking this situation.
He could have just pretended to fight hard, making it look shy.
But he didn¡¯t. He created various variables, helping the ck Wolf learn broadly.
As the ck Wolf acquired these skills, its attacks became sharper, and then Kang-hoo took the position of learning.
It was a positive cycle.
¡®He¡¯s highly refined. Efficient.¡¯
Kim Shin-ryeong¡¯s final assessment after closely observing Kang-hoo.
For an assassin, efficient movements are crucial.
If there¡¯s any waste, they be an easy target for their opponent.
That¡¯s why there are few high-level assassins. The risk of exposure is too high.
¡®How did he acquire so many skills? Even with what I¡¯ve seen, he has more than 20.¡¯
Kim Shin-ryeong was curious.
It was a natural curiosity stemming from her admiration for Kang-hoo¡¯s skills.
If Kang-hoo¡¯s current skill level was like this, once he leveled up properly, he would be what they call a ¡®monster¡¯.
His attack repertoire was incredibly diverse. Not just sufficiently numerous, but unfathomably so.
Despite her keen observation over the ten-minute battle, she couldn¡¯t find any repetition in Kang-hoo¡¯s movements.
Because of this.
The visibly improved ck Wolf stood out.
It seemed excited, as if it had met a worthy opponent, and fought enthusiastically.
Though she asionally felt the urge to control it, she resisted and let the ck Wolf do everything.
¡®I understand why K is interested in him. Once you see him, you can¡¯t let go.¡¯
Kim Shin-ryeongughed.
It had been a long time since she had praised a hunter so highly.
Even Moon Hyeong-seo¡¯s spear skills, which K always boasted about, had received a lukewarm review from her.
But not Kang-hoo.
He was wless.
It was as if¡ he was born to be an assassin.
After 15 minutes of intense and impactful training.
In the end, the ck Wolf, unable to withstand the fatigue, was struck by Kang-hoo¡¯s final move and vanished.
The final moment was impressive.
The ck Wolf tried to ambush Kang-hoo using a spatial movement technique but failed.
Kim Shin-ryeong immediately realized that this was not a mistake by the ck Wolf but a result of Kang-hoo¡¯s abilities.
Suppressing spatial movement! It was rare for her to be surprised, but she couldn¡¯t help but gape.
She thought it was enough.
It had been a good experience for the ck Wolf, and the same for Kang-hoo.
However.
¡°Do you have any other types of summoned creatures? I feel like I¡¯m not quite warmed up yet.¡±
¡°¡What?¡±
Kang-hoo made an unexpected proposal.
The training she thought was over seemed to be just beginning for him.
Chapter 166: Distorted Awakening (3)
Chapter 166: Distorted Awakening (3)
Kim Shin-ryeong finished Kang-hoo and the summons¡¯ training muchter than expected.
Even though a long time had passed, Kim Shin-ryeong was never bored for a moment.
This was because he was constantly watching Kang-hoo¡¯s movements and observing the battles with the summons with great interest.
At one point, he swallowed dryly and was surprised by how sore his throat was.
It meant that he had been watching with his mouth open,pletely lost in the spectacle. He hadn¡¯t even realized it.
¡®It¡¯s definitely not just luck.¡¯
With his sharp insight, Kim Shin-ryeong recognized that Kang-hoo¡¯s skills were not a result of mere chance and luck.
Even a hunter who gains great power by chance can easily demonstrate destructive power in a short battle.
But a long-term battle is different. It requires experienced skills and a seasoned approach.Kang-hoo was thoroughly thetter.
Instead, he used the movements of the summons as a resource, upgrading himself step by step.
Kim Shin-ryeong had called Kang-hoo because he needed him, but it felt like the opposite had happened.
It felt as if he had helped Kang-hoo grow. That gave him a mix of strange emotions.
¡°Really.¡±
Kim Shin-ryeong burst into a hollowugh as he looked at the state of his summons.
They all had the status of ¡®recovering.¡¯ It meant all the summons had copsed while fighting Kang-hoo.
He had not used the summons with full power as he would in actualbat.
But by now, he calcted that Kang-hoo could at least ¡®hold out¡¯ against him.
Considering the difference in level, it was impressive that Kang-hoo could even hold out.
Kim Shin-ryeong pped his hands toward the sweaty Kang-hoo and said strongly,
¡°Well done. Very well done. It was a delightful time. I hope it wasn¡¯t too much trouble?¡±
He was sincere.
He was very grateful that Kang-hoo had trained with full power without holding back.
Of course, there was a promised reward, but still, Kim Shin-ryeong felt the sincerity.
¡°We both benefit, so I did my best. Your summons are all top-notch. I¡¯m impressed.¡±
Kang-hoo was astonished several times by how powerful Kim Shin-ryeong¡¯s summons were.
Their growth status was excellent, which was surprising considering they hadn¡¯t been neglected.
Apart from some minor issues in training, their basicbat sense was good.
They were desirable aspanions. Although it wouldn¡¯t happen, he wanted to try working together in a dungeon.
¡°Really interesting. If I asked you to tell me who your master is, would that be rude?¡±
¡°Shall I be honest?¡±
¡°I¡¯d appreciate it.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have one.¡±
¡°Lies.¡±
¡°It¡¯s true.¡±
As soon as Kang-hoo answered, Kim Shin-ryeong couldn¡¯t believe it and called it a lie.
If he had reached this level of assassination skill without a master, how much more powerful would he be with a good one?
Even without knowing, he would be an even more destructive assassin than he is now.
¡°My summons can handle hunters in the 250 to 300 level range.¡±
¡°I noticed.¡±
¡°You fought brilliantly against such summons. And you¡¯re self-taught? Should I believe that?¡±
¡°Whether you believe it or not is up to you, but my answer is always the same. I have no master.¡±
Kang-hoo found Kim Shin-ryeong¡¯s reaction amusing. It felt good to be acknowledged.
¡°Anyway, thank you. Now it¡¯s time to keep my promise. Are you ready?¡±
¡°Of course.¡±
¡°Wait a moment. I need to fetch something from the secure storage.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll wait.¡±
¡°Come inside. You can warm up by the firece.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t refuse.¡±
Kang-hoo followed Kim Shin-ryeong inside and settled by the warm firece.
Meanwhile, Kim Shin-ryeong went down to the basement and didn¡¯te up for a long time.
He thought she was going to a nearby basement, but she seemed to be going much deeper.
Given her line of work, it wasn¡¯t surprising.
Security being the top priority made sense. It¡¯s far better to be excessive thancking.
¡®Grade 3 or 4, perhaps.¡¯
Kang-hoo guessed that much.
It wasn¡¯t like Kim Shin-ryeong had gotten the broken weapon for free.
She probably paid a considerable amount for it. Therefore, it would be difficult to give Kang-hoo a very expensive item.
Realistically, Grade 4 seemed most likely. Even Grade 3 would be a luxury for a mere acquaintance.
Anyway, Kang-hoo¡¯s purpose ining here was to build a connection with Kim Shin-ryeong.
It was an investment for the future.
Obtaining a broken weapon was a small pretext. It wasn¡¯t something he¡¯d regret losing.
He had already achieved his goal.
Kim Shin-ryeong seemed quite satisfied with the full-powered battle against her summons.
Her eyes and words, which couldn¡¯t hide her emotions, proved it. They were filled with trust and affection.
How long had he waited?
His body, slightly chilled from the sweat, was now thoroughly warmed by the firece, to the point of feeling hot.
Kim Shin-ryeong came back with a dagger and casually threw it to Kang-hoo.
It was sheathed, so there was no problem catching it roughly.
She said.
¡°Look. It¡¯s a broken weapon, so it can¡¯t be used in actualbat. But there should be no problem using it to feed your weapon.¡±
¡°Thank you. Just a moment.¡±
As soon as Kang-hoo unsheathed the dagger and held the item in his hand.
¡°¡¡?¡±
He was shocked to see the grade of the item disyed in the status window. It wasn¡¯t grade 4 or 3 but grade 2!
He was given an item worth 100 billion won.
Of course, since it was a broken weapon, the purchase price would have been much lower, but initially, it would have been worth 100 billion won.
¡°How does it look?¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it a grade 2 item?¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±
Kim Shin-ryeong had an expression that said, ¡°What¡¯s so great about it?¡±
It didn¡¯t feel like a crude disy of wealth.
It felt more like she was saying, ¡°Did you think I couldn¡¯t afford something like this?¡± It was the confidence of someone who had plenty.
¡°You¡¯ve given me something very valuable.¡±
¡°The purchase price wasn¡¯t much. Don¡¯t forget it¡¯s a broken weapon. No need to feel overly grateful.¡±
Kim Shin-ryeong shrugged her shoulders and turned to sip her thoroughly steeped tea.
Most people would have watched Kang-hoo¡¯s reaction or his facial expression.
But she seemed indifferent.
¡°Then I will use it right away.¡±
¡°Yes, go ahead.¡±
¡¾Distorted Awakening ¨C By using the corrupted belief on a weapon of the same series, some of the stats can be absorbed.
A total of 5 absorptions are possible, and the higher the total stats of the weapon, the higher the absorption amount.
When the corrupted belief is brought near the weapon to be absorbed, the distorted awakening will be activated.¡¿
Kang-hoo double-checked the tooltip onest time before proceeding with the distorted awakening.
As the description stated, when the corrupted belief was brought near the broken weapon, the distorted awakening was immediately activated.
There was no hesitation in the process.
The result came out right away.
After feeding the broken weapon with strength 300 and agility 300 stats to the corrupted belief.
The stat increase of the corrupted belief rose from strength 350 to 440, and agility from 0 to 90.
A total increase of 180 stats.
Considering that it was raised using a material with no value as a weapon, it was a great gain. Moreover, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t invest a single penny in this process.
¡°How is it? About a 30% increase?¡±
¡°Exactly. Strength increased by 90, agility by 90.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good. Even if you¡¯re curious about the purchase price, don¡¯t ask. I won¡¯t tell you even if it kills me.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me. I¡¯ll imagine it¡¯s inted in a favorable direction on purpose.¡±
¡°You¡¯re quite cheeky. Are you trying to curry favor?¡±
¡°I¡¯m just saying I won¡¯t forget my gratitude.¡±
¡°You have a silver tongue. Why do you answer so smoothly?¡±
¡°If you talk to me often, your thoughts might change.¡±
Kang-hoo said with a slight smile.
Considering how close Park Dong-jae and Jung Yuri always criticized his ¡®boring¡¯ conversations¡
Kim Shin-ryeong still didn¡¯t know much about him. It was probably because she had only seen part of him.
¡°I hope you can help with the summon training often in the future. I¡¯d also like to meet in other ways.¡±
¡°Is there another issue?¡±
¡°Well¡ I¡¯d like to have the opportunity to test the daggers I craft or modify.¡±
¡°Tester?¡±
¡°Something like that. I¡¯ll pay a fair price each time, so don¡¯t worry about that.¡±
¡°Sounds good. Contact me, and we¡¯ll schedule a meeting.¡±
¡°Yes. Good job.¡±
¡°Thank you for the dagger. I¡¯ll make good use of it.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s meet often.¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
Thus ended the meeting with Kim Shin-ryeong.
Among all his experiences, it was the easiest way to increase his stats.
Feeding a weapon and immediately seeing stat changes¡ªif growth were this easy, how great would it be?
Anyway, Kang-hoo, who had left her mansion, walked along the well-paved road in front of the mansion to get some fresh air.
At that moment.
Letters slowly began to appear at the bottom of the status window rted to the corrupted belief.
They hadn¡¯t been there right after feeding the weapon, but they were now appearing in color.
¡¾By achieving a special condition, a new option is being activated. It will be activated after the set waiting time.¡¿
¡°I¡¯ve never seen this before.¡±
It was an issue he hadn¡¯t experienced in the original work.
The protagonist, Jang Si-hwan, didn¡¯t have an item that absorbed other weapons like the corrupted belief.
Since the novel didn¡¯t often describe the items of characters other than the protagonist.
Such things were never mentioned in the narrative.
He had considered it once while nning, but he had never detailed it.
¡®This too.¡¯
It would be in the realm of the unconscious.
A structurepletely shrouded in mystery.
The special condition wasn¡¯t revealed, nor was the set waiting time known.
The content flowed entirely at the system¡¯s pace.
¡®I guess I¡¯ll need to research the field of feeding items in the future. It¡¯s close to the unknown.¡¯
There was more to study.
It was indeed himself who had shaped this vast world view.
But he hadn¡¯t painted every picture. He had left some parts nk, leaving room for thought.
Those nks were now filling up like the ¡®new option.¡¯
There was no need to exin or create the unexplored parts of the novel¡¯s world.
But in this world, all nks were filled.
The answers to those nks had to be found in the unconscious.
In the ambiguous and vague boundary between knowing and not knowing.
At that moment.
¡¾A hunter who has acquired the hidden skill ¡®Bloodthirst of Madness¡¯ has appeared.¡¿
A hidden skill notification shared only with the owners of hidden skills popped up.
At this moment.
Somewhere on Earth, a hidden skill rted to bloodthirst had appeared.
Chapter 167: Pride Of The Fighter (1)
Chapter 167: Pride Of The Fighter (1)
At that moment.
¡°What is this?¡±
Vincent stopped when he saw the hidden skill notification.
He had been tracking down one of the assassins who had just participated in the Hell of Judgment strategy.
He had followed him to a fairly close distance, but upon seeing the skill notification, he stopped without hesitation.
Even as he watched the hunter get away in a taxi, he let him go without any particr feeling.
Bloodsucking Madness.
No matter how he thought about it, it was clear that a hunter specializing in bloodsucking had obtained it.
Globally, there were less than a hundred hunters who used bloodsucking as their main ability.To have obtained a hidden skill, it had to be a primary focus for them.
Even among those, only a handful would be highly skilled enough.
¡°I can definitely figure out who it is.¡±
A smile spread across Vincent¡¯s face.
A hidden skill owner appeared that was much easier to narrow down than those with skills like White sh/ck Moon sh.
Ideally, he wanted to continue his current investigation.
But there was no guarantee.
There were more people on the assassin list than he expected, and finding each one individually was too difficult.
If it were a dungeon without mercenaries, he could just catch them within the Jeonghwa Guild.
But since that wasn¡¯t the case, he had to investigate all external personnel, which was bing exhausting.
¡°I don¡¯t know who it is, but consider yourself lucky. Be grateful that I¡¯m more interested in bloodsucking.¡±
Vincent lit a cigarette and blew away his lingering regrets with the drifting smoke.
Given his abilities, bloodsucking seemed to have better synergy.
Additionally, the owner of this hidden bloodsucking skill was easy to identify, so if he didn¡¯t hurry,petitors would increase.
That was uneptable. He needed to go quickly, kill the owner, and steal the hidden skill.
In other words, the owner of the assassin hidden skill currently in Korea could be foundter.
If Vincent himself couldn¡¯t find them, Jang Si-hwan or Chae Gwanhyeong wouldn¡¯t find them easily either.
Vincent immediately called Elizabeth. As soon as the call connected, he left an abrupt message.
¡°El. Let¡¯s go to Romania.¡±
Kang-hoo was heading to Busan to meet Jung Yuri.
It wasn¡¯t a nned appointment; he had just been contacted.
It was Jung Yuri¡¯s call, saying she was in Busan to visit her grandmother.
She still hadn¡¯t told him who her grandmother was, but she mentioned she¡¯d be in Busan for a few days.
Furthermore, she had VIP market VVIP status, inviting him to browse together¡ªa tempting offer he couldn¡¯t refuse.
For Kang-hoo, who was looking for good item deals, it was an offer he couldn¡¯t turn down.
As soon as he sat down on the KTX heading to Busan, he received a call from Park Dong-jae.
For security, he entered a blocking booth before answering.
¡°Hey, Dong-jae.¡±
-Hyung. We got official confirmation from the Myeongga Guild. They want us to join in on the Mystery Dungeon strategy.
¡°What are the other terms?¡±
-Not much. They even promised to officially give you ¡®Observer¡¯ status.
¡°That means they¡¯ll provide all basic support.¡±
-Exactly. It means you just need to show up!
¡°When¡¯s the date?¡±
-Soon? There¡¯s a dungeon waiting for a reset right now, but as you know, it doesn¡¯t reset at a set time.
¡°Let me know as soon as you¡¯re ready. I can cover it within 6 hours.¡±
-Got it, hyung! I¡¯ll contact you as soon as it¡¯s ready!
¡°Good job.¡±
-No need for thanks. I¡¯m working hard selling your name, so don¡¯t worry!
¡°¡¡¡±
The tone of thest remark felt a bit off, but he hung up feeling good anyway.
Technically, he could pursue dungeon strategies through Lee Hyun-seok as well.
But Kang-hoo preferred to seize harder-to-reach opportunities first.
He could always go to Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s dungeons, but not the Mystery Dungeon.
Opportunities must be seized when they arise. And once seized, they mustn¡¯t be let go.
Using the spare time, Kang-hoo briefly called Jeon Se-hyuk and prepared for his meeting with Jung Yuri.
How should I put it?
It¡¯s not like it was a meaningful date, but meeting her made his heart flutter for some reason.
Maybe it was because she was a bright person,pletely opposite of himself.
Being with her made him feel like he was being enveloped in white light.
¡°Oppa, over here!¡±
¡°You got here first.¡±
¡°Of course! The person who invites should wait, not the oneing.¡±
Arriving at Busan Station, Kang-hoo met Jung Yuri waiting at the exit.
Even before getting close, he could smell a pleasant fragrance from her. Her choice of perfume was quite good.
¡®Improved. Already two.¡¯
Kang-hoo admired the two new constetions¡¯ information that appeared on Jung Yuri.
Both Park Dong-jae and Jung Yuri were growing rapidly, benefiting significantly from the changed future.
Of course, they themselves wouldn¡¯t know the future had changed.
But for Kang-hoo, who could see everything, it was nothing short of amazing and surprising.
¡°Want to get some air first, or should we go to the market first?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s get some fresh air. My head was hurting a bit anyway.¡±
Kang-hoo rubbed his slightly aching forehead.
He hadn¡¯t felt anything earlier, but now he felt a dyed aftereffect.
It was likely because he had exerted all his strength while fighting Kim Shin-ryeong¡¯s summoned creatures.
Moreover, he hadn¡¯t touched Srkium or Gaksin Pill, so the fatigue had umted in his body.
¡°Then, shall we go to a good restaurant first? I know a great ce for pork soup!¡±
¡°Sounds good.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go, oppa! Today, everything¡¯s on me!¡±
Jung Yuri cheerfully grabbed his hand and started walking.
Kang-hoo silently looked down at their hands.
It felt less like the trembling handholding of lovers and more like the excited grip of a happy child.
She might not think much of it, but Kang-hoo kept giving and then taking away meaning from it himself.
Just because he didn¡¯t want to date anyone didn¡¯t mean he was immune to feelings of attraction.
It was probably that¡ªjust the fluttering feelings one has towards the opposite sex. The kind any man would feel.
Anyway, he started the city tour of Busan following Jung Yuri.
Even though the Hae-young Guild was heavily criticized, Busan¡¯s security was good thanks to their firm grip on power.
It was a short but enjoyable time.
The warmth he felt among the bustling crowd in the downtown area had its own special meaning.
Considering his past actions, where he rarely interacted with ordinary people, it felt even more special.
After finishing their half-day date, they were on their way to the market.
Since it was within walking distance, they walked along the tree-lined road, chatting.
¡°It¡¯s really been a while since I rested.¡±
¡°Have you only been going to dungeons?¡±
¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right! I¡¯ve been running non-stop. You too, right?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve always been pretty busy. By the way, solo y or team y?¡±
¡°That¡¯s a secret! But I hate mindlessly increasing numbers, so I usually optimize it!¡±
Listening to her, he thought she was quite simr to himself.
And that was indeed the most efficient way, especially if you wanted to maximize growth speed.
¡°By the way, have you had many transactions here? Bing a VVIP must have very stringent conditions.¡±
Bing a VVIP at the market is simr to how it works at a department store.
The basic premise is that you need to spend a lot.
But Jung Yuri had only recently returned to reality. Did she get a lot of support from Master K?
However, her answer took an entirely unexpected direction.
¡°Are you curious?¡±
¡°Of course.¡±
¡°My maternal grandmother owns the market.¡±
¡°¡¡¡±
That exined everything.
The mystery surrounding her family was unveiled.
Kang Bok-hwa. She was Jung Yuri¡¯s grandmother. She was also Master K¡¯s wife.
Her grandfather was a major yer controlling the Ground Zero area, and her grandmother controlled themercial circles in the Gyeongsang region.
Both sides had enormous influence, and Jung Yuri was their granddaughter.
¡°I also came here to buy some items! Pick something good too, oppa. My grandmother has a great eye for these things.¡±
¡°This is really unexpected.¡±
¡°I¡¯m only telling you because it¡¯s you. Normally, I wouldn¡¯t say anything. But I know you can keep a secret.¡±
¡°Thanks for trusting me.¡±
¡°I¡¯m grateful, so I trust you. Haha.¡±
The market entrance was crowded with visiting hunters.
Kang Bok-hwa¡¯s VIP market required several steps to enter, but thanks to Jung Yuri, they went through without any hassle.
They entered through a special route leading to the VVIP lounge, not the public one.
Although they met security guards several times, they passed without any issues.
They even went straight to a secret room within the VVIP lounge.
This was a route only allowed for those who had Kang Bok-hwa¡¯s permission.
At the entrance of the secret room, two men and women greeted Jung Yuri politely.
But they shot sharp looks at Kang-hoo behind her. It was an understandable reaction.
Their presence reminded him of Moon Hyeong-seo and Hwangbo Hye guarding Master K.
That¡¯s right. Someone of Kang Bok-hwa¡¯s stature would naturally attract a lot of attention and threats.
Kang-hoo spoke first.
¡°Please let me know if any procedures are needed. I don¡¯t want to be suspected unnecessarily.¡±
Given their role, it was natural to be hostile towards unverified outsiders.
The man on the left shook his head at Kang-hoo¡¯s words.
¡°No, go ahead. It seems everything is within our control.¡±
Seeing his confident response and checking his constetion information, Kang-hoo saw a valid reason for it.
One of the constetions had the ability to turn back time.
Although it only granted one chance, it was reason enough for his confidence.
The man seemed willing to use his one chance for Kang Bok-hwa, demonstrating his loyalty.
Thanks to this, they could enter the secret room withoutying down any weapons.
And Kang-hoo finally met the VIP market¡¯s chief manager he had been curious about.
¡°Grandmother¡¡!¡±
¡°Oh my, Yuri. Why has your face tanned so much? Anyone would think you¡¯re a different person!¡±
¡°Have I gotten much darker?¡±
¡°You look healthier, but I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll turn into apletely different person next time.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll go back to my original skin tone eventually! You know my skin is very fair!¡±
¡°I know! But if it umtes too much, it can permanently change your skin tone and texture, so check carefully.¡±
¡°Yes, grandmother!¡±
Jung Yuri¡¯s appearance as she hugged Kang Bok-hwa was the epitome of a granddaughter¡¯s love for her grandmother.
Kang Bok-hwa¡¯s response was equally loving. Her deep affection was unmistakable.
Just then.
After finishing her hug with her granddaughter, Kang Bok-hwa naturally looked at Kang-hoo and spoke with a smile.
¡°Have you been to our market before? I remember you.¡±
¡°¡¡?¡±
How long had she been watching? Another unexpected revtion emerged.
Chapter 168: Pride Of The Fighter (2)
Chapter 168: Pride Of The Fighter (2)
While talking more, Kang-hoo realized that Kang Bok-hwa¡¯s memory was beyond imagination.
It was actually due to the constetion ability she had contracted.
In any case, Kang-hoo felt a bit uneasy.
He wondered if she had been targeting him for a long time and investigating him behind the scenes.
If that were the case, it meant he hadn¡¯t noticed at all and needed to recalibrate his senses.
Like Master K, Kang Bok-hwa felt grateful to Kang-hoo for giving her granddaughter a turning point.
Perhaps that¡¯s why she was full of curiosity in the blossoming conversation over a cup of tea.
¡°I heard about Eclipse. I think many people were surprised by the news.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry for changing the subject, but please feel free to speak casually.¡±Kang-hoo tried to lighten the weight of the conversation from Kang Bok-hwa¡¯s initially polite demeanor.
However, Kang Bok-hwa politely refused Kang-hoo¡¯s offer with a benevolent smile.
¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s my principle. I try to keep manners with all guests, regardless of age or gender.¡±
¡°Grandma! If you do that, what about grandpa¡¡±
¡°Yuri, shh?¡±
Kang Bok-hwa¡¯s zing gaze immediately fixed on Jung Yuri, who then quieted down.
It seemed that the hierarchy of this house was Kang Bok-hwa, Jung Yuri, and Master K, in that order.
Of course, in a good sense. It meant they were doing their best in their respective fields and loving each other together.
Nodding his head, Kang-hoo continued his response to her words.
¡°Understood. I apologize for interrupting. It seems like the news about Eclipse has spread widely.¡±
¡°It¡¯s an organization that has garnered a lot of hatred all around? People are enthusiastic about news of justice being served.¡±
Kang Bok-hwa¡¯s reaction was simr to that of the general public or hunters towards Eclipse.
It would be strange if there was no reputation at all.
Kang Bok-hwa thought so, but Kang-hoo himself seemed a bit annoyed.
He appeared to be slightly irritated by all the fuss over something that was taken for granted. However, he didn¡¯t seem arrogant at all.
¡°It¡¯s an honor that you recognize it.¡±
¡°I hope you don¡¯t misunderstand my presumptuous words.¡±
¡°Please, go ahead.¡±
¡°Do you know that more people are watching Shin Kang-hoo than you might think?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t specify who exactly, but I know I¡¯m receiving quite a bit of attention.¡±
¡°Be careful of ces that seem the least interested in you. If they should be interested but remain quiet, it means they are doing a lot of background research.¡±
Her seemingly indifferent remark deeply resonated with Kang-hoo¡¯s mind.
There were many ces that openly showed interest in him. On the negative side, it was organizations like Eclipse or the Kashimar Guild.
On the positive side, it included groups like Cheong-an of Lee Ye-rin, Kim Su-kyung¡¯s mercenary group, and Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s The Abyss.
Among them, the Jeonghwa Guild was absent.
Jeonghwa Guild, which was more sensitive to domestic news than anyone else, had never shown any interest in Kang-hoo.
Of course, from the abundant talent pool of Jeonghwa Guild, Kang-hoo might not seem like a very exceptional hunter.
But Kang Bok-hwa had a slightly different opinion. It was a sufficiently usible thought.
¡°Thank you for your words.¡±
¡°As I get older, I tend to worry a lot about things. I hope you understand, Kang-hoo.¡±
¡°No, you have given me good advice. It made me rethink things.¡±
¡°Shall we start talking about the items then? Yuri, shall we look at the items we talked about with grandma?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡±
¡°Great, grandma! But did you get it?¡±
¡°I had a hard time finding it. I went all the way to Cuba to get it. Isn¡¯t that much better than grandpa?¡±
¡°Thank you, grandma! You¡¯re much better than grandpa!¡±
¡°And yet, you say the opposite in front of grandpa, right?¡±
¡°Huh, how did you know?¡±
¡°I just guessed, but you can¡¯t lie, my Yuri¡¡±
In the midst of the cheerful banter between the granddaughter and grandmother, Kang-hoo found himself smiling unknowingly.
Jung Yuri seemed to know the structure of the secret room well, leading the way ahead of Kang Bok-hwa.
Kang Bok-hwa walked beside Kang-hoo, matching his pace, and shifted the conversation that had momentarily focused on Jung Yuri.
¡°Thank you for looking after Yuri. Both my husband and I are often too busy when we are busy.¡±
¡°I haven¡¯t done much to take care of her¡¡±
Did Jung Yuri overstate his involvement? He hadn¡¯t given her much attention to say he had taken care of her.
When she came out of Ground Zero, he had sent a few messages of concern.
But since then, he had only trusted her will and epted her calls.
¡°Not as a grandmother, but as a fellow hunter, she¡¯s a very talented child. She will work well with Kang-hoo.¡±
¡°I agree with that.¡±
Kang-hoo recalled matching with Jung Yuri before. Indeed, she had good basic skills.
She had a different charm from Park Dong-jae.
She had almost no restrictions on spatial movement and was as adept at hit-and-run tactics as he was.
In other words, if considering mobile warfare and guerri warfare, teaming up with Jung Yuri was quite a good idea.
¡°Many guilds overseas are collecting information about Kang-hoo. Haven¡¯t you heard?¡±
¡°To be honest, I haven¡¯t kept up with all the domestic news either.¡±
¡°If you ever need to go to Japan, be careful. Both in a good and bad sense, there is quite a bit of interest.¡±
¡°Is that so? Thank you.¡±
The words made Kang-hoo, who was soon to go to Japan where An Yeong-ho was, think deeply.
She wouldn¡¯t exaggerate for no reason, and she must have obtained reliable information from somewhere.
With various overseas sales routes, it wasn¡¯t strange to have simr routes for information.
Following Kang Bok-hwa into the secret room within the secret room.
There were countless items stored there.
The humidity and temperature were meticulously checked and managed, far different from ordinary storage methods.
Each item had its origin written on it. For items on loan, ¡°loan¡± was also noted.
For loans, Kang Bok-hwa would first pay a portion of the deposit and take the item.
If it sold, she would pay the remaining bnce to the original owner and keep the difference as profit.
The deposit was usually set at about 20% of the item¡¯s price.
In other words, without trust in the intermediary, this sales structure couldn¡¯t start at all.
This shows how much trust Kang Bok-hwa had in the business world.
Inside, Kang-hoo inspected mainly breasttes.
The current breastte he wore, the Insight of Asura, was a 5th-grade item that raised his health by 500,000¡ªa decent item.
Since he had enough money to upgrade to a 2nd-grade item, he wanted to find something useful.
¡°If you¡¯re looking for items with good special effects, this Rose Gold line is great.¡±
Kang Bok-hwa pointed to the rose gold-colored frames coated on the front of the disy case.
Following her guidance, Kang-hoo inspected the breasttes in the line and indeed found many with useful options.
¡°Can I focus alone for a moment?¡±
¡°Of course. In the meantime, I need to proceed with a transaction with Yuri.¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
It seemed that even with her granddaughter, Kang Bok-hwa conducted transactions properly. Jung Yuri seemed to take it as a given.
While Kang Bok-hwa stepped away for a moment, Kang-hoo scanned the breasttes.
It was a pleasant dilemma of figuring out which item was less attractive rather than which was the least valuable.
¡®Even the market operated by Yu Cheonghwa wasn¡¯t like this. The same goes for the VIP market.¡¯
The value of the items seen in the secret room seemed much higher thanbining the two markets.
Of course, it could be because they gathered high-priced items.
On the other hand, it was impossible to estimate the total value of the items in this room.
5 trillion? 10 trillion?
No, it could be even more.
The dilemma didn¡¯tst long.
What Kang-hoo wanted from the breastte was ¡®stability¡¯ rather than stats.
Given the nature of the assassin¡¯s job, exposure to danger was inevitable.
So, having some kind of insurance for such situations would be great.
Coincidentally, such an item was here. It was an option he wouldn¡¯t have even seen in other markets.
The transaction proceeded immediately.
The price was 100 billion won without any discount.
It was the mostmon fixed price formed ording to the grade.
Neither Jung Yuri, Kang-hoo, nor Kang Bok-hwa mentioned any negotiation.
They seemed to think that negotiating itself would devalue each other¡¯s worth.
Thus, it felt like a cool transaction where the purchase was decided and the payment made immediately.
Considering the typical market scenario, this transaction flow was unusual.
¡°Would you like to try it on right away? The fitting room is over there. Check the texture carefully too.¡±
Kang Bok-hwa guided him to the fitting room after receiving the payment.
Asking to check the texture meant that if it wasn¡¯t satisfactory, they would take extra care.
Changing the lining without affecting the item was always possible.
Of course, skilled craftsmanship was needed, and it seemed they had enough such manpower internally.
Kang-hoo, entering inside, immediately took off the Insight of Asura and wore the new breastte.
¡¾Pride of the Fighter - Breastte¡¿
¡¾Grade: 2nd Grade¡¿
¡¾Agility +350¡¿
¡¾Anti-Magic +50¡¿
¡¾Resilience +50¡¿
¡¾Guardian ¨C Defends against a fatal blow that could lead to instant death once. This ability then disappears.¡¿
¡®It¡¯s worth it just for the Guardian.¡¯
Kang-hoo had been interested in this option from the beginning.
A fatal blow that could lead to instant death usually meant a direct strike to the heart.
Of course, there would be many conditions if you looked at it in detail, but the intuitive meaning could be summarized in one word.
One coin.
It¡¯s a term symbolizing a life in games.
Kang-hoo valued the Guardian at that level.
If you could buy a life for 100 billion won, it was definitely a profitable deal.
Unless he wasted the opportunity, it was definitely worth it. Kang-hoo had several insurance policies.
For example, the teleportation ability was a kind of life insurance. It allowed him to escape in emergencies.
¡®The texture is nice. It feels like wearing well-fitting underwear that clings to your chest.¡¯
Satisfied with the fitting, he was about to step out of the fitting room.
Crack!
From outside the secret room, precisely from what seemed like another room, came a cracking sound.
Kang-hoo, not knowing what it was, turned to Kang Bok-hwa, who smiled and responded.
¡°Hoho. It seems a customer with ill intentions failed while trying to steal an item from the VIP room. There¡¯s a barrier thatpletely blocks teleportation skills.¡±
¡°¡¡¡±
As expected of a born merchant, her precautions were meticulous. One nasty petty thief met their end that way.
Chapter 169: Pride Of The Fighter (3)
Chapter 169: Pride Of The Fighter (3)
The barrier that blocks all space movement skills increases in cost exponentially with its area.
Even just catching a petty thief once would have consumed a massive amount of mana stones for the barrier.
Though it would have easily cost tens of billions of won, considering the items inside, it wasn¡¯t a significant investment.
In a world where no one could be trusted, Kang Bok-hwa¡¯s investment would have been a meaningful one.
Sure enough, Kang Bok-hwa added words that supported Kang-hoo¡¯s thoughts.
¡°Even a petty thief would have basic item settings. You can replenish with what you take from them.¡±
¡°That¡¯s true.¡±
¡°It¡¯s one thing to underestimate the market. Hohoho.¡±
Her casualughter showed that this wasn¡¯t a rare urrence.She seemed to be relieved more about securing the items safely rather than being happy about someone¡¯s death.
Afterward, Kang-hoo started looking through items again, thinking of changing one more item with the remaining money.
However, there was nothing that caught his eye except for the Pride of the Warrior he had bought as armor.
It wasn¡¯t that the options were bad; it was just that none of them met Kang-hoo¡¯s picky standards.
Of course, just wearing the Pride of the Warrior brought significant changes.
Both his magic resistance and physical toughness increased by 50, enhancing his stability against both magical and physical attacks.
Additionally, his agility stat, which he had been prioritizing, increased significantly by 350 points.
This meant he didn¡¯t need to focus on his agility stat for the time being. His usual movements also became very swift.
Just as Kang-hoo was about to wrap up the transaction since there was nothing more to check.
Kang Bok-hwa brought up an interesting topic.
¡°Have you ever heard of an item called Infernus?¡±
Infernus.
In Latin, it means hell. Though he remembered the word, he didn¡¯t know about the item.
Kang-hoo shook his head.
¡°No, it¡¯s my first time hearing it.¡±
¡°Grandma, not that story again! Please don¡¯t bring it up unless necessary! It¡¯s not even a good story!¡±
As soon as she started, Jung Yuri waved her hand to stop her.
From her intense reaction, it seemed like it wasn¡¯t a pleasant story. Jung Yuri¡¯s expression was extremely dark.
However, Kang Bok-hwa¡¯s expression was different.
¡°I¡¯m telling you because I think he¡¯s someone worth talking to.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve told that story to every VIP, and already more than five hunters have been caught up in it and became fools!¡±
¡°It¡¯s also an opportunity to get a first-grade item cheaply.¡±
¡°I¡¯d like to hear it.¡±
Before the argument between Jung Yuri and Kang Bok-hwa escted, Kang-hoo cut in to change the atmosphere.
He thought he understood the reason.
Jung Yuri was worried that Kang Bok-hwa was rmending a dangerous item to Kang-hoo.
Kang Bok-hwa, on the other hand, thought it was sufficiently attractive information and was even more eager to share.
First-grade items start at 5 trillion won at the lowest price. There is no limit to the highest price. It¡¯s practically unlimited.
In fact, some of the really expensive first-grade items cost 50 or 60 trillion won.
One might wonder who would buy and sell such items, but the hunter¡¯s world is where the unreal bes real.
¡°There is an item called Infernus. It¡¯s a talisman item, and its grade is first-grade. It¡¯s the relic of a deceased hunter.¡±
¡°Please continue.¡±
He focused on her words.
This wasn¡¯t mentioned in the original story.
If the story had formed in the realm of the unconscious, someone must have taken it before Jang Si-hwan could get interested.
And since it hadn¡¯t caught Jang Si-hwan¡¯s eye afterward, it wouldn¡¯t have been covered in the story.
¡°The bereaved family is selling this item. There was also a will of the wearer during his lifetime. To find a new owner.¡±
¡°It wouldn¡¯t be a free service, right?¡±
¡°That¡¯s correct. Whether it¡¯s the bereaved family¡¯s decision or the will of the hunter who wore it, I don¡¯t know. They charge 49 billion won per attempt to wear it.¡±
¡°Precisely, it¡¯s 49 billion won for an attempt to wear it?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. If this talisman item recognizes the wearer as its owner, the ownership changes. It¡¯s the process of ¡®binding.¡¯¡±
¡°What if it doesn¡¯t?¡±
¡°The talisman turns the wearer into an idiot. Or it inflicts a simr level of mental damage.¡±
¡°Binding¡ That means once it recognizes the owner, it can¡¯t be sold or taken by others?¡±
Kang Bok-hwa nodded.
The concept of binding wasn¡¯t unfamiliar.
It¡¯s not amon issue up to the second grade, but from first-grade items, it often urs.
¡°Yes. The item binds only to the hunter it recognizes as its owner.¡±
¡°49 billion won to be an idiot or to be the owner and gain more than ten times the value.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right.¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes deepened.
He had no direct information about Infernus. However, he knew a lot about such ¡®verification¡¯ processes.
It was a well-established setting in the original story. Usually, items of this kind recognize hunters with high potential.
Although they might think it¡¯s rted to evil ck magic or mental maniption.
The actual method of dealing with it was simple. Just reflect your life as it is onto the item.
The key was honesty itself, not unnecessary resistance or false memories.
However, hunters who didn¡¯t want to show their shameful and dark sides to an item¡
would have dealt with the item with hypocrisy and pretense and ended up bing idiots, as mentioned.
¡°I¡¯d like to try my luck as well. I have the money, and if I can get a first-grade item, it¡¯s the best opportunity.¡±
¡°Brother! That¡¯s too dangerous! Didn¡¯t you hear what I said earlier? You¡¯ll be an idiot! It¡¯s not just about losing money!¡±
¡°It¡¯s not an item that can¡¯t be worn. The previous owner did wear it, right?¡±
¡°Still! What if you be an idiot who can¡¯t do anything?¡±
¡°Then I just won¡¯t.¡±
¡°That¡¯s easier said than done! It¡¯s not like that, is it? Grandma, please stop him! This is the problem!¡±
Jung Yuri raised her voice.
It was a shout deeply filled with concern for Kang-hoo.
Kang Bok-hwa, knowing her granddaughter¡¯s feelings, quickly changed the subject.
¡°Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that such an item exists. It¡¯s an interesting issue, after all.¡±
¡°No, I don¡¯t want to stop at just knowing. I want to formally take this opportunity. What should I do?¡±
¡°Oppa!¡±
¡°I have a n. Trust me. I¡¯m not recklessly pushing myself, Yuri.¡±
Kang-hoo patted Jung Yuri¡¯s shoulder, who was on the verge of tears.
He wasn¡¯t confused because he understood both Yuri¡¯s worries and Bok-hwa¡¯s intention of sharing the information.
Kang Bok-hwa answered.
¡°The bereaved family is nning to visit our market as soon as they enter Korea.¡±
¡°Aha.¡±
¡°You just need to formally register your intention. If you change your mindter, you can give up. Though you won¡¯t get another chance.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll do it. Is there a queue ahead of me?¡±
¡°No, since those incidents Yuri mentioned, there haven¡¯t been any applicants.¡±
¡°Then please put me in immediately. I¡¯ll prepare for it.¡±
The conversation ended smoothly.
A first-grade talisman item, Infernus.
What story is hidden behind it? And what stats and effects could it offer?
He was excited.
Not just a second-grade but a first-grade item would exceed expectations, even if considered insignificant.
On his way out after finishing the transaction with Kang Bok-hwa, Jung Yuri poured out her worries to Kang-hoo like a machine gun.
¡°Oppa, are you really okay? I was curious and wanted to try it too, but I couldn¡¯t. It¡¯s too scary, bing an idiot.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay. Besides, the worst that can happen is death.¡±
Jung Yuri looked exasperated at Kang-hoo¡¯s nonchnt mention of death.
It wasn¡¯t that she thought less of him, but that he seemed so detached from the fear of death.
It was a mindset she couldn¡¯t even fathom.
¡°You¡¯re going to do it no matter what, right?¡±
¡°Yeah.¡±
¡°Then all I can do is pray for you to be the lucky one. That¡¯s all there is.¡±
¡°Just do your thing. Praying won¡¯t change life or death.¡±
Kang-hoo said calmly.
As both the original author and Shin Kang-hoo, he was an atheist, indifferent to gods.
Jung Yuri, perhaps realizing that her excessive worry could burden Kang-hoo, changed the subject abruptly.
¡°I¡¯ll stay here with Grandma for a few days! What about you?¡±
¡°I¡¯m going to the dungeon. I need to test the performance of the armor I bought.¡±
¡°Oppa, it was short, but I was happy to see you, even for a bit. Every time Ie to Busan, I¡¯m alone. Not this time.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s meet briefly whenever our paths cross, like this time. And thanks for opening the trade route with Grandma.¡±
¡°Grandma has so many items. Visit often. You¡¯ll be surprised.¡±
¡°I was already surprised.¡±
Thanks to Jung Yuri, Kang Bok-hwa handled the transaction as a VVIP.
To actually obtain such a qualification, the purchase price must be at least 5 trillion won.
And that¡¯s purely for purchases, not considering sales.
However, due to her granddaughter¡¯s charm offensive and personal curiosity, the hurdle was significantly lowered.
Of course, he was asked to keep confidentiality, which he had no intention of viting.
Thus ended his date with Jung Yuri.
It was almost confusing whether the date or the item purchase was the main focus.
In any case, his rtionship with Jung Yuri naturally led to meeting Kang Bok-hwa.
And it led to an opportunity to get a first-grade item at a bargain price, a rare chance.
Considering the timing Kang Bok-hwa had guided, it seemed to align roughly after his return from Japan.
Kang-hoo then met Jeon Se-hyuk.
He had some free time before meeting Park Dong-jae.
He had arranged to meet Jeon Se-hyuk briefly after contacting him before meeting Jung Yuri.
The ce they met was neither near a station nor Jeon Se-hyuk¡¯s hideout but a new location.
When he first received the address, he wondered if there was even a building there, but it was an empty reed field.
A ce where no one would notice even if a few people were killed and left there.
Jeon Se-hyuk, who met Kang-hoo, reached out first for a handshake and started the conversation.
¡°The ce is quite unique, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°No. In fact, I prefer it. At least we¡¯re free from prying eyes.¡±
¡°You think the same as me.¡±
¡°I¡¯m satisfied.¡±
¡°I wanted to continue the brief conversation we had over the phone.¡±
The ¡®conversation¡¯ Jeon Se-hyuk referred to was about Eclipse.
As Park Dong-jae had informed him, Jeon Se-hyuk was preparing to trouble Eclipse.
There¡¯s a reason Eclipse feared Jeon Se-hyuk. He persistently tormented them.
Recently, he had been neglecting his role while hanging out with Kang-hoo, but his true focus was elsewhere¡ªjudging the viins of Eclipse.
Kang-hoo nned to join in and have a significant battle.
The purpose was clear.
Publicly, it was about justice.
A bit deeper, it was about strengthening his rtionship with Jeon Se-hyuk.
And ultimately, it was a process to pass the ¡®ck Path Seeker¡¯s¡¯ test.
One way or another, it was something he had to do properly at least once.
Chapter 170: Mystery Dungeon (1)
Chapter 170: Mystery Dungeon (1)
At that moment,
Takashi was receiving a call from the Rikou Guild.
Due to using a voice modtor, his voice sounded quiteical.
It was exactly the kind of voice you¡¯d expect from a whistleblower appearing on a news report with their face covered.
However, in stark contrast to his modted voice and the cheerful demeanor of his doppelg?nger,
Takashi¡¯s expression, focused on the call, was more serious than ever.
His deeply sunken dark circles only entuated his somber appearance.
He nced at the enormous stack of paper coffee cups, the number of which was hard to discern.
Finally, he began to respond to the call that he had only been listening to.¡°So, a hunter named Shin Kang-hoo wants to meet me.¡±
-That¡¯s correct. He¡¯s a hunter we¡¯ve been wanting to meet for a while, and now he¡¯s eager to get the chance.
¡°I don¡¯t know this hunter at all.¡±
-That¡¯s why we¡¯re asking carefully.
Takashi scratched his greasy hair. He opened theptop right next to him.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
His fingers moved quickly as he typed in Kang-hoo¡¯s name and searched for information.
He wasn¡¯t using a search engine but a program he had built himself.
In no time, information about Kang-hoo was disyed, revealing some interesting news.
¡°Hmm.¡±
-How does it look? We will pay for the meeting.
¡°The Rikou Guild paying for a meeting requested by Hunter Shin Kang-hoo¡ that¡¯s quite interesting.¡±
-He¡¯s a rather important guest.
¡°Money is not an issue. Let¡¯s meet. Meeting new people is always fun.¡±
-Understood. We¡¯ll reconfirm the schedule and let you know. Thank you.
¡°Sure. Take care.¡±
The call ended.
Takashi carefully examined the information about Kang-hoo.
Although involved in a few peculiar incidents, he didn¡¯t seem like an extraordinary hunter.
He was involved in a few notable idents and incidents, but not someone the Rikou Guild would be so deferential to.
Most likely, he was either close to a guild executive or someone rted to a person who owed their life.
¡°Thetter, I¡¯d guess.¡±
Takashi roughly surmised.
Anyway, the Rikou Guild wouldn¡¯t offer special treatment to just anyone, so he must be someone special.
However.
¡°I wonder what he wants to do with me.¡±
That was what puzzled Takashi.
Why would someone with a poor public image like himself want to meet in person, traveling all the way to Japan?
Simple queries could be solved through secure messages or personal emails within the Hunter Gram.
¡°Well, no need to rush. The one who¡¯s thirsty should dig the well first, right? But the water¡¡±
Talking about thirst, his cup was empty. Opening the fridge, he found thest bottle of water had already been consumed.
¡°Ha¡¡±
Takashi sighed.
His doppelg?nger was still in Korea.
To buy bottled water, he¡¯d have to go out¡ but he was as fearful of direct human interaction as he was of seeing a cockroach.
And since this ce was far from bustling areas or downtown, delivery wasn¡¯t an option.
¡°Tap water¡¡±
He thought he¡¯d have to find another way to quench his thirst in a hurry.
It was inconvenient without his doppelg?nger.
Late at night, Kang-hoo met Park Dong-jae as scheduled.
He had also sessfully wrapped up his conversation with Jeon Se-hyuk. They would be coborating soon.
Their target was Eclipse.
Jeon Se-hyuk was boldly nning to target one of Eclipse¡¯s hideouts.
Among them was a ce connected to ¡®Go Kyung-ho,¡¯ someone Kang-hoo was also after.
¡°Hyung! Why so busy?¡±
¡°Busy? I¡¯m way early for our appointment.¡±
¡°No, I mean you were meeting Se-hyuk hyung earlier. And before that, weren¡¯t you in Busan?¡±
¡°I managed my time well.¡±
¡°Hyung, sometimes you seem to manage time down to the second. It¡¯s scary.¡±
¡°It¡¯s good it¡¯s only sometimes.¡±
Kang-hoo chuckled.
It was true he tried not to waste any time.
He had a lot to do and many goals to chase.
¡°Cha So-hyuk. He¡¯s still in Daejeon. Seems like he can¡¯t pinpoint your location.¡±
¡°Since I have ties with the Cheong-an Mercenary Corps, it seems he¡¯s setting up shop over there.¡±
He remembered the twin gunners he had killed before.
They must have been in a simr situation.
With his widespread movements andck of affiliation, it was impossible to pin him down to a specific region.
So, the only ce they could frequent was the Cheong-an Mercenary Corps, narrowing the search to Daejeon.
That¡¯s why they were stationed there.
Cha So-hee received extensive support and information sharing from other organizations at the Eclipse Guild level.
However, Cha So-hyuk couldn¡¯t expect that, so he would likely continue to suffer around the clock for the time being.
¡°Since he¡¯s not very sensitive, collecting information won¡¯t be difficult. Leave the marking to me, hyung.¡±
¡°Did you get any rest?¡±
¡°Yeah. Got it cheaply. Don¡¯t worry, you don¡¯t have to burden yourself.¡±
¡°Thanks a lot.¡±
¡°I still have a long way to repay my life debt. Let¡¯s work hard to pay it back!¡±
Kang-hoo appreciated Park Dong-jae¡¯s modesty, far from boasting.
If he had gone on about how much he was doing for Kang-hoo, it would have been different.
A person¡¯s true worthes out in the smallest details. In that sense, Park Dong-jae was a good guy.
¡°What about the dungeon?¡±
¡°Secured. Just need to move. Shall we do a quick test before we go?¡±
¡°Is there enough space near the dungeon for that?¡±
¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve arranged everything. Hyung, you¡¯re not feeling pressured, right? You look a bit stiff.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not pressure, just curiosity about what kind of people they are.¡±
Hunters from the Myeongga Guild.
Known for their elite small team, this guild was stronger than expected.
Even Eclipse¡¯s reckless hunters wouldn¡¯t dare touch Myeongga Guild members.
The guild¡¯s first rule was that if you touch one member, the whole guild will chase you to hell for revenge!
Because of this well-known fact, no one dared mess with Myeongga Guild members.
There were cases where people falsely imed to be Myeongga Guild members.
In such cases, the revenge was even more severe than touching the actual guild members.
The basic punishment was ¡®disappearance.¡¯
Not a single hunter who impersonated a Myeongga Guild member was ever seen again.
¡°Let¡¯s go, hyung. Everyone is waiting.¡±
¡°Dong-jae, you¡¯ve worked hard. Thanks to you, we¡¯re going to the mystery dungeon.¡±
¡°Of course, you deserve it. Let¡¯s go! Everyone¡¯s waiting for the protagonist!¡±
The location of the mystery dungeon was much more hidden than Kang-hoo had expected.
It was in the basement of an old apartment building abandoned due to the constructionpany¡¯s bankruptcy during construction.
Even in the basement, it could only be seen by crawling through a copsed wall.
More curious than the process of getting there was how they even knew there was a dungeon entrance here.
As Park Dong-jae mentioned, there was an open space near the apartment suitable for skill demonstrations.
Three hunters from the Myeongga Guild had already arrived on-site. They were today¡¯spanions.
The three people facing Kang-hoo introduced themselves.
¡°Hello. I am Jang Tae-jin, the younger brother of Guild Master Jang Sun-young and a Qigong Master.¡±
¡°I¡¯m Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
Qigong Master.
He had faced this ss before against Jung Seon-rak.
The roots of Qigong Masters are in China. Therefore, Jang Tae-jin might have studied there.
Examining the constetion information, the contracts were made to help with energy sensing, fitting the Qigong Master¡¯s traits.
¡°Hello. I¡¯m Choi Ho-soo. I was gathering strength earlier, so I might look a bit off.¡±
¡°I¡¯m Shin Kang-hoo. Impressive.¡±
Next was Choi Ho-soo. He didn¡¯t mention his ss, but it was evident.
He was a werewolf.
He would likely y the tank role in this team. Hisrge build already indicated that.
And finally.
¡°Hello? I¡¯m Yeon Su-ah. A Shaman.¡±
¡°I¡¯m Shin Kang-hoo. It¡¯s my first time seeing a Shaman ss.¡±
¡°Hehe. It¡¯s notmon¡ right?¡±
The woman named Yeon Su-ah was a Shaman.
Qigong Master, Werewolf, Shaman.
All rare sses. They weren¡¯t deeply covered in the original work either.
They were mentioned briefly without much detail.
Theposition was good.
Adding Park Dong-jae to these three wouldplete the team, covering both melee and ranged attacks.
The Shaman would act as both buffer and debuffer while handling ranged attacks with various spells.
The Qigong Master would provide strong burst damage.
The Werewolf would handle tanking and closebat, leaving no gaps.
¡®Dong-jae must have really sold me well.¡¯
Kang-hoo looked at Park Dong-jae, who seemed proud and was busy surveying the dungeon surroundings.
It seemed like they were curious about Kang-hoo because of Park Dong-jae¡¯s enthusiastic promotion rather than a dire need.
Nevertheless, finding a skilled assassin was challenging.
Moreover, as a burst damage dealer, Kang-hoo was a valuable additional option.
Everyone¡¯s reactions were positive.
The subsequent conversation was about the news that people who knew Kang-hoo encountered first.
Indeed, the incident with Eclipse served as an effective self-promotion.
Once he had a decisive fight with Jeon Se-hyuk, his name would rise further.
The repeated praise was something Kang-hoo had heard so many times that he let it wash over him.
Not because he disrespected theirpliments, but because the content was always the same.
After the pleasant time of acknowledgment ended.
Kang-hoo stood in the center of the open space, gripping a dagger and preparing for the skill demonstration.
Park Dong-jae spoke.
¡°Hyung! How will you demonstrate? Need help?¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s better to show it as it is. Buffs aren¡¯t always on.¡±
Kang-hoo shook his head.
For the opponent to urately evaluate the skill, no additional conditions should be attached.
Kang-hoo wanted them to assess him based on his pure skill.
He added.
¡°I¡¯ll link all the skills I use in one go. Please watch closely.¡±
Jang Tae-jin, Choi Ho-soo, Yeon Su-ah, and Park Dong-jae all focused their attention on Kang-hoo.
As Park Dong-jae described, ¡®He handles everything himself,¡¯ the assassin.
They wanted to see with their own eyes if the hype was real.
They were all level 400 and above, seasoned veteran hunters.
They had enough experience to judge someone¡¯s abilities coldly. And of course, Kang-hoo was no exception.
Chapter 171: Mystery Dungeon (2)
Chapter 171: Mystery Dungeon (2)
The demonstration ended quickly.
Kang-hoo showcased all his skills except for the hidden technique ¡®ck Moon sh/White Sun sh¡¯ and a few key abilities.
Since he would have to use them in the dungeon anyway, there was no burden in revealing them.
The conclusion drawn by the three who meticulously examined Kang-hoo¡¯s skills was simpler than expected.
There was a reason why Park Dong-jae confidently rmended him.
Kang-hoo was entirely different from the image of an assassin they had in mind.
All three of them gave the highest score to the diversity of Kang-hoo¡¯s skills.
The variety of skills is something that cannot be ignored for a hunter.
In baseball terms, it¡¯s like a pitcher having a variety of breaking balls.So, the opponent, the batter, has to worry about which breaking ball (skill) ising.
Kang-hoo had so many skills that it was hard for the opponent to predict his moves.
By the time they had checked over fifteen skills, they had given up remembering each one.
¡°I told you, Kang-hoo hyung has more than what we can imagine.¡±
¡°Dong-jae, enough. It¡¯s embarrassing.¡±
Kang-hoo sent a nce to Park Dong-jae, who was promoting his charm on his behalf.
Though he was incredibly grateful, it was awkward to be praised so earnestly.
Of course, it felt good.
Seeing the reaction of the three bing much more favorable made him feel even prouder.
¡°Thank you for the demonstration. It was impressive. Now I understand Dong-jae¡¯s confidence.¡±
Jang Tae-jin was the first to give a direct response.
As the younger brother of Jang Sun-young, the master of the Myeongga Guild, he was a significant figure.
With his recognition of Kang-hoo, the reactions of the other two followed suit.
¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡±
¡°I would say we¡¯re lucky not to face him as an enemy¡ Is that too much?¡±
Choi Ho-soo and Yeon Su-a added their responses. They were genuinely favorable, not just empty words.
¡®This is going to be fun.¡¯
Kang-hoo also looked forward to exploring the mystery dungeon with them.
Although it was unpredictable and likely dangerous, that made it even more exciting.
The biggest feature of a mystery dungeon is that it provides pensation experience points¡¯ for lower-level hunters.
As the lowest-level hunter among them, Kang-hoo had high expectations for the experience points.
Moreover, since the middle bosses and main bosses did not follow a fixed pattern or number, there were many factors to exploit.
As long as he didn¡¯t die, the rewards he could get were much more diverse and plentiful than in a regr dungeon.
Before entering the dungeon, Kang-hoo checked an item he had dyed examining.
It was a ring he obtained from a hunter named Jung Seon-rak during a mission rted to the First Research Institute.
He had cut off Jung Seon-rak¡¯s finger and taken two rings.
One ring was specialized for mana, which he nned to sell.
He had considered selling it when he met Kang Bok-hwa but missed the opportunity.
The other ring, which he had been wearing, was just now being examined for its options.
He hadn¡¯t rushed to check it because it didn¡¯t seem urgent.
¡¾Lightness - Ring¡¿
¡¾Grade: 3rd Grade¡¿
¡¾Agility +200¡¿
¡¾Magic Resistance +15¡¿
¡¾Durability +15¡¿
It was a ring specialized in agility.
For the Qi Gong master Jung Seon-rak, it was likely topensate for hisck of mobility.
For Kang-hoo, it was a well-suited ring.
More stats are always better, and agility increases basic mobility when skills aren¡¯t avable.
Due to his congenital mana hypersensitivity, Kang-hoo had focused on developing stamina.
It wasn¡¯t that agility wasn¡¯t important; it was just that stamina had been his top priority for survival.
So, a ring specialized in agility was a wee addition.
¡®I need to stay sharp. If I get overwhelmed by the tasks, that¡¯s a bigger problem.¡¯
He realized he needed to regain his focus amidst the hectic schedule.
Holding onto useless items was a loss in itself.
He needed to quickly convert them into cash, exchange them for useful items, or use them to buy higher-level items.
The dungeon exploration began.
It was likely thest schedule before going to Japan.
As soon as they entered the dungeon, what greeted Kang-hoo¡¯s party was not the dungeon¡¯s unique atmosphere or background.
It was a rain of arrows pouring down as soon as they entered. Archers who had taken the high ground and were lying in ambush.
They were humanoid archer monsters, resembling elf archers from fantasy movies.
When Kang-hoo recognized the situation and began to respond, his teammates were already reacting.
Pak! Papak!
Choi Ho-soo stood at the front, inting his body to its maximum, taking the arrows with his bare body.
¡®Is that possible?¡¯
Kang-hoo, who had moved away from the team with a purpose, was astonished to see Choi Ho-soo taking the rain of arrows.
Even if he trusted his skill ¡®Petrification,¡¯ he couldn¡¯t endure it so boldly.
Choi Ho-soo was bleeding profusely but was taking the attacks with his thick skin.
Additionally, special outer skin was activated to protect vital and vulnerable areas like the eyes.
His setup was perfect for tanking.
Ting! Ting! Ting!
Jang Tae-jin created Qi walls here and there, blocking the threatening paths of the arrows flying from all directions.
Wiiiiing¡
Yeon Su-a, burning a talisman, created a magical barrier that significantly slowed the speed of the arrows.
Inside that barrier, the arrows moved so slowly it seemed as if even time itself had slowed down.
Within the barrier, Yeon Su-a could wave her hand and collect the arrows one by one.
Park Dong-jae was pouring defensive buffs on Choi Ho-soo, who was taking most of the arrow rain.
¡®They¡¯re all good.¡¯
Kang-hoo was very pleased with how no one panicked and everyone responded skillfully and calmly.
It showed what professionalism was all about, and it was clear why they took pride in themselves.
But just then.
¡®Is that the leader?¡¯
Kang-hoo identified a particrly intense presence of mana at the fingertips of one of the archers.
Unlike the other archers, the amount of mana infused in a single arrow was beyond imagination.
The scarier part was the incredibly short time it took to concentrate such high-powered mana into one point.
Kang-hoo, repeatedly elerating and leaping, quickly closed the distance and reached out towards the archer.
It was the preparatory action for the abduction skill.
Though it had been a while since hest used the abduction skill, it seemed very fitting for the current situation.
¡°Ugh!¡±
The archer leader groaned as he was pulled towards Kang-hoo by the abduction skill.
Piiing!
In the meantime, an arrow left the bowstring, flying towards the direction of the group.
And then.
Swish¡ Thunk!
The arrow passed through Yeon Su-a¡¯s barrier without any interference and lodged into a tree behind them.
Had Kang-hoo not created a variable with the abduction, someone would have been severely injured.
¡°Oh.¡±
A short gasp escaped.
The power the archer leader possessed was enough to make one¡¯s spine tingle. Thankfully, they avoided a crisis.
All three sets of eyes turned to Kang-hoo. They had narrowly avoided danger thanks to him.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo, behind the abducted archer leader, wrapped his arm around his neck and stabbed him with a dagger.
It was a decapitation with full power, intended to kill in one blow.
And at the same time.
Paang!
Five shadows shot out from Kang-hoo, rushing towards the group of archers chaotically.
Pook! Pook! Pook!
As if one decapitation wasn¡¯t enough, Kang-hoo stabbed the archer leader¡¯s neck a few more times with the dagger.
Then, activating Blood Flower without hesitation, he chose one of the shadows and moved.
He found himself in the middle of the archer group, far from the archer leader.
Boom!
The bloody explosion of the archer leader was like a scene from a movie.
The leader, who had been proudly shooting arrows, nowy headless on the ground.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
In sync with that, Kang-hoo changed positions four times in a row, ughtering four more archers.
The archers, not expecting the shadows to be ¡®solid,¡¯ were helplessly stabbed to death by the dagger.
They had taken the high ground in advance, but once an uninvited guest started rampaging within, the archers, weak in closebat, had no answer.
Attempting to hit Kang-hoo by swinging their bows ended inplete failure.
Pook!
¡°Keuk!¡±
Instead, they had their arrows taken by Kang-hoo and were stabbed in the eyes or neck, dying miserably.
Moreover, the Blood Flower that came to every wounded archer was like a grim reaper.
¡°Is this the power of an assassin?¡±
¡°This is exactly the kind of proactive and aggressive assassin we always wanted.¡±
¡°In other words, an active assassin.¡±
At that moment, the three who were watching Kang-hoo¡¯s one-man show each madements of admiration.
They thought they had dealt with the situation very skillfully themselves.
They believed that after defending, if they initiated a counterattack, the situation would settle easily.
But Kang-hoo went a step further andpletely overturned the enemy¡¯s ambush site.
Additionally, recognizing the distinct characteristics of the archer leader, he pinpointed and killed him through abduction.
As a result, the four, including Park Dong-jae, avoided injuries. This was an undeniable fact.
Park Dong-jae spoke to the three, who were admiring, with a triumphant look.
¡°What do you think? Isn¡¯t he amazing? His judgment and execution are all fast. It¡¯s really hard to keep up.¡±
¡°We can¡¯t make a final judgment based on just one instance, but his initial response was much faster and sharper than ours.¡±
Jang Tae-jin nodded in agreement.
It wasn¡¯t natural for an assassin. Even if they moved fast, it was hard to subdue many enemies so quickly.
¡°If the arrow hade straight, Ho-soo would have been hurt. If he dodged, I would have been hurt.¡±
Yeon Su-a added her opinion.
Kang-hoo¡¯s action to neutralize the archer leader¡¯s attack was significant.
She thought the power of the arrow could vary, but she hadn¡¯t expected it toe through the deceleration barrier.
The more she reflected on it, the more relieved she felt. A sigh of relief naturally came out.
Then.
¡°Wait!¡±
Kang-hoo urgently shouted, stopping the team from moving forward.
With the archers subdued, it seemed there was nothing more to worry about¡
But Kang-hoo, who had already approached, was at a spot less than 50cm from Jang Tae-jin¡¯s foot.
Scrape. Swish. Scrape.
Using the tip of his dagger, he lifted a man-sized trap hidden in the ground.
It was a magical explosion trap that reacted only to a certain weight.
A trap no one had sensed or expected. It seemed Kang-hoo had seen it.
¡°¡¡¡±
A moment of silence followed.
It was a moment that made them realize again why Park Dong-jae had so confidently praised Kang-hoo.
Chapter 172: Mystery Dungeon (3)
Chapter 172: Mystery Dungeon (3)
Mana Trap.
Strictly speaking, it¡¯s not amon trap found in dungeons.
It was often installed in hunters¡¯ residences or guild facilities for security purposes.
It wasn¡¯t unusual for a trap to be touched by human hands; in fact, it was expected.
However, it was rare to see such traps in dungeons. This is because it requires an intelligent being to set it up.
So, except for Kang-hoo, no one thought there would be a mana trap.
Even in a mystery dungeon with all kinds of variables, they didn¡¯t think there would be traps.
They were mistaken.
The party was surprised and astonished as they watched Kang-hoo dismantle each trap along the route.Even Yeon Su-ah, who was the best at sensing the flow of mana among them, couldn¡¯t detect the traps.
If they had detection equipment, they would have found them immediately, but mechanical devices didn¡¯t work inside the dungeon.
In the end, they had to rely on their senses to find them, and Yeon Su-ah could only tilt her head in confusion.
The number of traps Kang-hoo dismantled along the route totaled fifteen.
Their firepower was powerful enough to cause serious injury at least up to the ankle.
Even if they were weak, they were enough to sacrifice a few toes.
¡°This¡ feels quite embarrassing.¡±
Jang Tae-jin¡¯s face turned red.
Beforeing to the mystery dungeon, he had talked to Park Dong-jae about the strict criteria for joining external members.
They had to be good at dealing with variables, not be a burden to the team, and meticulously check for danger factors, among other reasons.
But considering the current situation, it was clear they were the problem.
Having missed the most dangerous aspect, they had no excuse.
They were all moving forward safely thanks to Kang-hoo. Without him, someone would have definitely gotten hurt.
Kang-hoo continued to do his work silently, not reacting to Jang Tae-jin¡¯s response.
He knew that remaining silent was more beneficial than adding unnecessary words.
It was a strategic silence.
The people from Myeongga Guild would be valuable to use in the future.
Their connections and ties to dungeons were extensive and deep beyond imagination.
Making a good impression now would be usefulter.
Just as Kang-hoo had gained favor from the Groo Guild when he visited Jeju Ind, it was the same now.
¡®Interesting. Very interesting.¡¯
Kang-hoo continued to move forward, leaving his bewilderedrades behind.
Who is the more important person here?
He wanted to pose this question to them, although they were probably already deep in thought.
At that time.
Kim Shin-ryeong was sweating while continuouslymanding her summoned creatures at her residence.
It felt refreshing to be out in the open training ground instead of the dark, damp crafting room.
She felt she had been neglecting her summoned creatures, so she was greatly increasing their training time.
In fact, it was also enjoyable to see the movements of the summoned creatures, whose abilities had greatly increased thanks to Kang-hoo.
¡°They really are something. It wasn¡¯t just about pouring skills into my summoned creatures without thought.¡±
She was very satisfied.
The change was so significant that she could clearly feel the addition of ¡®thought¡¯ to the movements of the summoned creatures.
Looking back, it was because Kang-hoo constantly targeted the gaps in the summoned creatures during their training.
Instead of immersing in showing off skills, he focused on persistently targeting the gaps of the summoned creatures.
As a result, the level of the summoned creatures, which had repeatedly learned to defend and respond, increased significantly.
This wasn¡¯t just about good training.
It was about who conducted the training, how they yed the role of a teacher, and how valuable they were!
It was an issue to be approached from that perspective.
Kim Shin-ryeong kept thinking about Kang-hoo. The more she tried not to think about him, the more she did.
Leaving the flow of thoughts alone only made her think about him more. It was as if she was deeply attracted.
¡°Someone like him would be fun to equip with crafted items and test them¡¡±
Her hobby, or rather her passion, naturally came to mind.
Being a tester.
In gaming terms, it¡¯s like being a beta tester who experiences it before release.
Kim Shin-ryeong, skilled in making and modifying various items, often created items with unique options. She had done so in the past and was still doing so.
In the past, there was someone she used to equip with her crafted items, receive feedback from, and get great advice.
Though he had now be the worst viin she would never see again, back then, he was one of her most cherished ones.
¡°Vincent Meyer¡¡±
The name she had tried to erase came to mind.
He was someone she wanted to nurture and support properly, and she had invested a lot in him. He had followed her that much as well.
But it was all pretense.
Everything he showed her was fake, and his true nature was now that of a murderer.
Kim Shin-ryeong always felt guilty about Vincent Meyer¡¯s notoriety.
She felt the same guilt towards the hunters who were sacrificed because of him. It felt like a monster had grown because of her.
Despite not wanting to be hurt again, she kept getting drawn to Kang-hoo.
It was because of his undeniable skills. The more she saw, the more attractive he became.
Just like a gem that couldn¡¯t hide its sparkle no matter how much one tried to ignore it.
That was exactly how Kang-hoo was now.
She wanted to keep watching and create connections with him.
Even with the painful experience of being severely hurt before, she wanted to be foolishly led by this connection again.
It wasn¡¯t a rational affection, but it was indeed a strong attraction as a hunter to another hunter.
¡°I think I¡¯ll need some whiskey tonight.¡±
Kim Shin-ryeong,pletely lost in thoughts that began and ended with Kang-hoo, shook her head and headed to her room, craving strong alcohol.
It was time for a break.
His level had increased by one to 171. This level of experience gain was truly profitable.
Usually, with four or five people, they would need to reach the mid-boss at least to expect a level up.
However, thanks to the additional experience pointsing in, he gained rtively more benefitspared to the remaining four.
Kang-hoo, along with Park Dong-jae, had separated from the group for forward reconnaissance and vignce.
Now, it was time for the two to scout while the remaining three rested.
The next break would be aplete role reversal, a nned rotation.
Once Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae confirmed they had moved far enough, the three remaining people began their usual conversation, shifting the topic to Kang-hoo.
Jang Tae-jin, who had observed Kang-hoo most meticulously, was the first to speak.
¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about maintaining bleeding. In some ways, he¡¯s much more adept at creating variables than Hose.¡±
Jang Tae-jin and Choi Hosu were the same age, while Yeon Su-ah was younger, so the two spoke casually with each other. Only Yeon Su-ah addressed the two ¡°brothers¡± with formal respect and courtesy.
Choi Hosu nodded.
¡°I¡¯m the type to quietly endure iing attacks to buy time. Shin Kang-hoo is more about setting up the board himself.¡±
Yeon Su-ah added her opinion.
¡°What I appreciate most about Kang-hoo is that he¡¯s an assassin. Typically, assassins don¡¯t act like that, right?¡±
¡°Because the risk is too high.¡±
¡°Exactly. Like Tae-jin oppa said, he¡¯s already fragile as an assassin. If he dies doing that, it¡¯s only his loss.¡±
¡°His basic stats seem a bitcking, but he covers it with skills, so it¡¯s not a problem at all.¡±
¡°Yes. His basic movements are slower than expected, but his skill-based speed is incredible. I lost track of him several times.¡±
¡°How many skills does he have?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know. He keeps varying his skills, especially the shadow-rted ones. I can¡¯t figure out if each shadow is separate or how they work.¡±
The conversation flourished.
Ultimately, all three were impressed by Kang-hoo¡¯s skills.
His utilization of abilities was so excellent that it couldn¡¯t be underestimated by calling it a ¡®skill advantage.¡¯
No matter how good the ingredients are, a dish can turn out bad if the chef¡¯s touch is poor.
But ording to the trio¡¯s standards, Kang-hoo was the best chef.
He knew how to use his skills appropriately and how to maximize their effects.
This was something that couldn¡¯t be disyed without cold judgment and a variety of experiences.
Then.
¡°What are we doing, really?¡±
Jang Tae-jin burst intoughter.
He felt a sudden surge of self-deprecation.
Usually, when entering a mystery dungeon, the main topic was the review of the previous battle.
They would discuss their shorings, reflect, or boast about their achievements.
However, since entering the dungeon, their conversation had always centered around Kang-hoo.
Even though Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t present, out scouting, they kept talking about his skills.
In fact, it was a ¡®trademark¡¯ of Myeongga Guild members.
They always paid attention to, admired, and sought to learn from skilled hunters.
This was the driving force behind the current elite few.
To the three Myeongga Guild members, Kang-hoo was an undeniable talent they couldn¡¯t overlook.
Was it the level? No.
In fact, his lower level made him more promising. It meant he had much more potential for growth.
At the same time.
While scouting with Park Dong-jae, Kang-hoo could confirm the mid-boss area not far away.
The mid-boss monster¡¯s name was Falks. He wielded a giant scythe and had a humanoid appearance.
It was also the final destination of their mystery dungeon strategy. The main boss monster was too powerful.
After hearing the rted briefing, Kang-hoo thought there was no reason to be greedy.
Kang-hoo said.
¡°The dungeon is fascinating. The monsters aren¡¯t stupid. They areposed of thinking, non-aggro types.¡±
¡°Right. The monsters in the mystery dungeon are particrly smart. Even if you lure them, they stop chasing.¡±
¡°That surprised me.¡±
In the previous battle, Kang-hoo tried to lure and eliminate some leader-type monsters.
It was amonly used method in dungeons to iste and easily eliminate monsters.
But the mystery dungeon¡¯s monsters could think and judge.
After chasing for a while, they sensed something suspicious and returned to their original positions.
Moreover, they would wait patiently and ambush if necessary.
Instead of revealing themselves immediately upon sensing a presence, they would hide until the approach was close.
There were more than one ambush by archers. And their cunning increased over time.
¡°Half excited, half worried.¡±
So, Kang-hoo felt tense as he looked at the mid-boss monster, Falks, he would soon face.
A strong enemy with brains was the most troublesome. The least desirable opponent.
Of course, this increased his expectation for the skills he would plunder from it.
Half a dayter.
Kang-hoo, killing all the monsters on the route, steadily raised his level.
By the time his level went from 172 to 173, and then to 174.
Kang-hoo and his party had reached a position 100 meters from Falks.
And then.
¡°¡¡It¡¯s really big.¡±
Everyone was astonished by the sight of Falks holding a scythe over 4 meters long.
Falks, gripping the scythe much longer than his body with both hands, was already excited.
¡°This won¡¯t be easy.¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s gaze deepened.
To attempt a meaningful attack on him, it was essential to close the 4-meter distance in one move.
Maintaining or closing the distance poorly could result in being struck by the scythe.
It seemed like a tough opponent.
This was the charm of the mystery dungeon, but also a risk that could end it all in one go.
The boundary between hell and heaven was a hair¡¯s breadth away.
Chapter 173: Mystery Dungeon (4)
Chapter 173: Mystery Dungeon (4)
The battle started immediately.
From the beginning, since the Mystery Dungeon¡¯s internal structure changes each time one enters, there is no specific strategy to clear it.
Therefore, the only way was to conduct exploratory battles and gather data, which marked the beginning of the strategy.
Shiaaang!
As soon as it started, Falks swung his scythe greatly, creating a massive de wind towards Kang-hoo and his party.
When the de wind, resembling the shape of a scythe, cut through space, the space itself began to split.
It was not just a simple shape of a scythe; the twisted space followed its shape.
Jang Tae-jin and Yeon Soo-ah began with a standard response, using their defensive skills.
Without knowing exactly what kind of enemy Falks was, they couldn¡¯t justunch an all-out offensive recklessly.Kuuung! Kuuung!
The iing de wind immediately shattered Jang Tae-jin¡¯s Qi Wall and hit Yeon Soo-ah¡¯s defensive field.
Even Choi Ho-soo, who usually confronted the enemy directly, was cautious this time.
In a situation where the power was not urately measured, charging in recklessly could lead to death.
However, Kang-hoo¡¯s response was different.
As Falks moved towards an unknown device after creating the de wind at the beginning.
¡¾Soul Tracker¡¿
¡¾Tracking target ''Falks''.¡¿
¡¾Full tracking within a 1km radius. Even in perfect stealth mode.¡¿
Kang-hoo utilized the Soul Tracker constetion ability he had plundered from the Choi Jin-ho and Choi Jin-soo brothers earlier.
Although it could only be used once per target, it was not an ability meant to be used twice against a monster.
Taaat!
Falks pressed a button with his fingertip, activating the device.
Suddenly, a greenish glow spread out in all directions, and then a change urred.
What had just been rock-like structures decorating the terrain began moving, turning into living stone golems. That¡¯s right. The golems were Falks¡¯ minions.
Simultaneously, Falks naturally disappeared from everyone¡¯s sight. It was undoubtedly stealth.
¡°Let¡¯s retreat for now!¡±
Jang Tae-jin shouted.
The minions began moving, but Falks, their master, was nowhere to be seen.
Jang Tae-jin spread his Qi sense to its maximum to search the surroundings, but Falks¡¯ trace was elusive.
It was the same for Choi Ho-soo, who tried to sense the enemy¡¯s scent through the flow of the wind, and Yeon Soo-ah, who chased after the presence through the flow of spiritual energy.
All three of them pursued Falks with all their might, but he had disappeared without a trace.
¡°I¡¯m really useless at times like this.¡±
Park Dong-jae, who uttered these self-reproachful words, was in the same situation. As a buffer, he had no ability to detect stealth.
However, at that moment, Kang-hoo was already running towards somewhere with all his might.
He disappeared as silently as Falks, to the extent that even Park Dong-jae, who was tracking Kang-hoo¡¯s location, lost him.
It happened almost simultaneously.
As Falks vanished somewhere in the canyon terrain, Kang-hoo also disappeared without a trace from view.
¡°Kang-hoo hyung?¡±
Park Dong-jae tried to pinpoint Kang-hoo¡¯s expected location following the flow of the buffs, but it was just an empty space.
In a situation where it was impossible to know where he was, the golems powered by the device began surrounding them one by one.
The situation itself was not dangerous.
Already adapting to the situation, the rest of the party retreated to prevent the formation of a siege.
All processes were swift, standard, and in a very desirable direction to minimize risk.
Park Dong-jae had always been in sync with the Myeongga Guild members in such an atmosphere.
Therefore, they had achieved stable dungeon strategies by maximizing gains and minimizing losses.
However, Kang-hoo was not there.
It was something Park Dong-jae had anticipated even before entering the dungeon.
Kang-hoo tended to respond in a twisted way rather than dealing stably with special situations.
He was the type to turn factors that could be dangerous to him into greater dangers for his opponent.
Rather than defending against an attack, he counterattacked much more aggressively. The approach was distinctly different.
Sure enough.
Kuuung!
A crashing sound came from a ce that none of the other party members, including Park Dong-jae, had expected.
It was somewhere in the middle of the canyon, a little away from the current battlefield.
It was quite a distance to move in just a few seconds.
But the protagonists of the crash were none other than Kang-hoo and Falks.
¡°Kaaah¡!¡±
Falks, a humanoid monster who couldn¡¯t speak humannguage, let out a scream like a gargling sound.
He was iling his arms in the air, experiencing a wingless fall.
Having already lost his most important scythe, he waspletely disarmed.
Of course, the situation did not turn entirely against Falks.
In the process of colliding to make Falks fall, Kang-hoo was inevitably caught in the situation.
He too was falling with a slight height difference from Falks in the air.
Shwiik! Shwiik!
In the meantime, as he repeatedly struck Falks with rapid de techniques, he managed to push him further.
At that moment.
Paaat! Pat!
Kang-hoo used the Shadow Step skill to adjust his position and prevent his own fall.
One of the shadows scattered in the air found a spot on a rocky protrusion between the canyon walls.
Using it, Kang-hoo moved to the rocky protrusion, taking a brief moment to catch his breath.
Kuuung!
With a dull sound, Falks¡¯ body fell to the ground without wings.
Crunch!
¡°Kwoooar!¡±
Several ces were broken.
The most severely fractured area was his knee.
His left knee waspletely bent outward. It was so cleanly folded that it made one doubt their eyes.
It was the best situation to press Falks.
However, due to the increasing number of golems, Kang-hoo¡¯spanions were stuck.
¡®I was too aggressive.¡¯
Kang-hoo thought as he observed the current situation of hispanions.
They were looking at him with bewildered expressions.
Of course they would.
They must have wondered how he found Falks, who couldn¡¯t be tracked even by the flow of Qi or spiritual energy.
Falks¡¯ stealth was very clean.
Although it was unknown what method he used, it was certainly very difficult to track.
However, thanks to the Soul Tracker, Kang-hoo could easily find him as if he had applied a special filter.
If he had tried to track him only by the flow of mana, he would have responded muchter.
In that case, he would have been hit by the de wind sent by Falks, who had positioned himself somewhere in the shadows of the canyon.
¡®Quickly.¡¯
Kang-hoo swiftly approached Falks, who was groaning in pain.
Falks¡¯ scythe and de wind were still threatening, and the number of golems kept increasing.
Kang-hoo, using the Curtain of Techniques and the Shadow Step skills consecutively, approached Falks from behind.
As a middle boss monster, Falks quickly regained hisposure even amidst the pain.
He even tried to reach for the scythe that had fallen not far away.
At that moment.
Paaat!
Kang-hoo, who had been hiding his presence perfectly, leapt at Falks from behind.
Without much thought, he stabbed a dagger into the back of Falks¡¯ neck, which could be considered his weakest point.
Pook!
¡°Khurrr!¡±
A deting sound escaped from Falks¡¯ mouth.
Falks, preupied with watching his golems fight the party in front, missed Kang-hoo¡¯s movement and ended up showing a gap.
It was only ¡®one time¡¯ of carelessness, but it was a fatal mistake.
Of course, Falks didn¡¯t just take it lying down.
Although he couldn¡¯t grab the scythe, he still had enough strength to swing his thick, elongated arms.
Whooong!
With a sound of cutting through the wind, Falks¡¯ fist, tracing a semicircle, flew towards Kang-hoo¡¯s face.
In an instant, Kang-hoo considered buying time with skills like Quick Evasion but immediately changed his mind.
Rather than giving Falks a chance to catch his breath, he decided it was better to push him more aggressively.
Therefore,
Kang-hoo chose the Petrification skill.
Cudududuk.
In the blink of an eye, Falks¡¯ fist hit the front part of Kang-hoo, which had turned into solid stone.
Thunk!
A dull sound was heard, and Kang-hoo¡¯s body was only slightly pushed back, ending the defense.
Although cracks appeared on the stone form created by the Petrification, Kang-hoo¡¯s body was unharmed.
Taking this chance to counterattack, Kang-hoo pulled out another dagger from his sleeve and threw a Rapid de Technique at Falks.
Falks managed to block the attack quite stylishly by crossing his arms.
Taaang!
¡°Keuk!¡±
But the next part was the problem.
Exposed to the pushing effect, Falks¡¯ body was pushed back, and his center of gravity copsedpletely.
It was a gap caused by his broken knee from before.
At that moment, Falks saw it. Kang-hoo was already diving towards his lower body.
At the same time, burning pain spread from his knee, popliteal fossa, inner thigh, and groin indiscriminately.
Before he could react, he had lost all his lower body¡¯s key parts.
By the time Falks realized the situation, it was already ¡®over¡¯. Naturally, thinking that the attack had ended here was Falks¡¯plete misconception.
There was still one more trick left. It was the Blood Flower.
Puh-puh-puh-pung!
A burst of blood erupted.
Unlike the usual form of the Blood Flower, where umted wounds on the upper body be the reference point and blood is scattered like fireworks,
Falks, who had deep wounds on his lower body, spewed out a lot of blood downward instead of upward.
It was a bizarre and eerie sight, almost like seeing someone suffering from severe lower body bleeding.
Taking advantage of the moment when Falks was dazed by shock and pain, Kang-hoo added one more option.
Thunder Strike.
For Falks, whose wounds were deepened by the Blood Flower and whose raw flesh was exposed, it was the worst choice.
It was like torturing his blood-soaked lower body with electricity. Hell was right before his eyes.
Crackle-crackle!
¡°Kaaaargh!¡±
That was the end.
Falks, unable to withstand the unbearable shock of the electric current transmitted throughout his lower body, foamed at the mouth and copsed.
Although it wasn¡¯t enough to kill him, it was more than enough to knock him out with shock.
It was impossible to calcte how much time and effort would be needed to defeat him in a standard battle.
But Kang-hoo did not miss the variable created by his active counterattack until the end.
And the result was stark. Between life and death, loss and reward.
Finally, a skill that could be plundered from Falks was activated.
There were a few other options, but only one choice required no hesitation for Kang-hoo.
¡¾Hyper Sensory ¨C Weapon¡¿
¡¾Comprehensive knowledge of basic usage and application of all types of weapons is instilled.¡¿
¡¾The basis of knowledge is the basicmon sense of the weapons handled by the contractors who have signed with the constetions of the Great War. Passive skill.¡¿
¡®Shall I try using a scythe this time?¡¯
The corners of Kang-hoo¡¯s mouth curled up as he nced at Falks¡¯ scythe, fallen without its owner.
Chapter 174: To Japan (1)
Chapter 174: To Japan (1)
The spoils of war were rather meagerpared to expectations. Ten yellow magic stonesbined had an appraisal value of 10 billion won.
With five team members, the distribution amounted to about 2 billion won per person.
This was by no means a small amount.
However, as the economic scale grew, it rtively seemed less significant.
Kang-hoo¡¯s level rose by 4, reaching 178 in an instant.
The reason was simple: Kang-hoo defeated Falks by himself.
This time, Park Dong-jae¡¯s buff support was absent as he was aiding other team members, making it a true solo y.
¡®But there are still many monsters that can be defeated one-on-one, so it¡¯s still advantageous.¡¯
This was Kang-hoo¡¯s overall assessment.Like when he faced Falks, it was still possible to create variables by targeting weak spots or core areas.
Even monsters with good endurance and high health had weaknesses when targeted at vital points.
There was a possibility of being killed in a single strike.
However, as the level increases and the dungeons be much more challenging than now¡
That¡¯s when ¡®mechanical¡¯ monsters start to appear.
These creatures have no discernible weak points and fight desperately until they die.
Even if there were circuits that could be considered weak points, they had recement systems, making them meaningless.
This was a setting that the original author carefully crafted to raise the difficulty level of monster strategies.
As a result, it has now be a challenging future that Kang-hoo will eventually face.
Of course, the anticipation outweighed the worry. The rewards for difficult challenges are certainly significant.
¡®It¡¯s not bad to be proficient with various weapons. Sometimes, long-rangebat is necessary.¡¯
Kang-hoo ced a high value on the skill he seized from Falks.
For the assassin trait, daggers were indeed the best-fitting weapon.
Other weapons would be adverse conditions that kill its distinctiveness, with little synergy.
However, one cannot rely solely on daggers forever. The level of opponents to face would keep rising.
Among them, there would be hunters who, based on their superior skills, would not allow close-quartersbat.
For enemies who desperately try to maintain distance, daggers be the most useless weapon.
It¡¯s not just a matter of getting close. Those hunters have meticulously studied methods to prevent close approach.
Ultimately, it bes a rock-paper-scissors battle, where one can y only one card with one weapon.
Therefore, Kang-hoo wanted to create the possibility of utilizing various weapons such as longswords, greatswords, short spears, long spears, axes, whips, and so on.
Knowing how to use them and not knowing are as different as heaven and earth.
The reason he hadn¡¯t used the strong spear obtained from Heo Jeong-tae before was precisely this.
He didn¡¯t know how to handle a spear. He vaguely thought it might just be about swinging it around.
¡®I need to allocate more time to training. Now, I should be able to handle at least a spear as a secondary weapon.¡¯
Just by thinking about it, the ways to use a spear came to mind. Thanks to the ultra-sensitivity ¨C weapon skill.
As Kang-hoo cooled his suddenly heated body, organizing his thoughts in his own way¡
The rest of the party, who had passed the golem that disappeared along with Falks¡¯ death, found Kang-hoo.
Since the strategy prepared up to this point waspleted, it was time to turn back and leave.
As Kang-hoo had obtained everything he needed, he had no particr regrets.
Considering Falks¡¯ level, going deeper would likely have resulted in hardship.
¡°Although I don¡¯t usually say this first, I hope we can work together on the next strategy.¡±
The one who spoke first was Jang Tae-jin. Kang-hoo was curious about his assessment, and the content was very positive.
¡°Actually, it was because I believed in you three and Dong-jae that I could y freely at the front.¡±
¡°Hyung, you¡¯re really! Humility is your passive skill.¡±
Park Dong-jae said, poking Kang-hoo¡¯s side.
In Park Dong-jae¡¯s view, Kang-hoo seemed genuinely unaware.
That such humility could kill the opponent twice.
When interpreted conversely, it could mean, ¡®What were you doing in the back while I was at the front?¡¯
Of course, the three people here weren¡¯t that narrow-minded.
But humility turning into arrogance is just a fine line. Regrettably, the interpretation depends on the listener¡¯s level.
Yeon Soo-ah said,
¡°Actually, we generally take a conservative approach in all movements. We are safety-oriented.¡±
¡°I respect that trait as well. It¡¯s a matter of difference, not wrongness.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded in agreement. It was sincere. Moving aggressively isn¡¯t the only answer.
¡°But I realized this time. If you see a picture that can dramatically turn the situation, you should take the gamble.¡±
Choi Ho-su, standing next to her, was surprised by Yeon Soo-ah¡¯s words.
She was the most defensive among the threepanions, to the point of being extreme.
The reason being her position as a shaman, the most vulnerable to closebat and melee battles.
But even she seemed to have learned a lot from seeing Kang-hoo¡¯s proactive response.
¡°If you find it, I will take on the role of the hunting dog targeting the gaps like a sharp spear.¡±
Kang-hoo replied inly.
It didn¡¯t matter if they continued to be a reliable shield. That would alleviate worries about the rear.
¡°Let¡¯s meet again. You were amazing.¡±
Choi Ho-su gave a short but clear evaluation of the teamwork with Kang-hoo. That was enough.
¡°See? Didn¡¯t I tell you I would introduce you as a genuine assassin? Visit Kang-hoo hyung often before he gets busier! You¡¯ll need to take a number!¡±
With Park Dong-jae¡¯s excitedmotion beside him¡
Kang-hoo satisfactorily wrapped up his first mystery dungeon strategy.
With no alternative strategies avable, the perceived difficulty level of the dungeon was significantly high.
He realized he must stay alert when visiting mystery dungeons in the future. Comcency is the enemy.
After finishing the strategy anding outside, Kang-hoo had a brief conversation with Park Dong-jae and then parted ways.
There was nothing special to talk about.
However, Park Dong-jae promised to investigate Eclipse more thoroughly and meticulously.
He specifically mentioned that he would focus on tracking Cha So-hyuk.
Unlike when he used to feel quite pressured while tracking Cha So-hee, Cha So-hyuk was less burdensome.
This was partly because Kang-hoo¡¯s stage of activity had be national.
Additionally, the organization ¡®Sun¡¯ to which Cha So-hyuk belonged was smaller in scalepared to Eclipse.
Moreover, Kang-hoo was apletely different person nowpared to when he was being chased by Cha So-hee.
¡°What should I do now?¡±
Kang-hoo suddenly called someone who came to mind.
Recently, he was realizing the weight of ¡®rtionships¡¯.
Rtionships cannot be bought with money, and you cannot obtain them just because you want them.
Items can be bought if you have money, but rtionships require equivalent effort and toil.
Perhaps that¡¯s why he didn¡¯t want to take the rtionships close to him lightly.
The call was connected immediately.
-Oppa? What¡¯s up? Should I buy a lottery ticket today? Receiving a call from you first!
¡°How have you been?¡±
-No news is good news, oppa! How about you? Well, you¡¯re always busy, right?
¡°You know me, always the same.¡±
-I¡¯m in front of a dungeon right now. These days, I¡¯m running dungeons non-stop except when sleeping.
¡°With a team?¡±
-Yes. The team¡¯s synergy is great, and we have a lot of connections for dungeons. It¡¯s perfect for focusing on growth.
¡°That¡¯s good. Dungeons are always a headache.¡±
-Right? Later, if I want to go to a proper dungeon with you, I need to improve my skills, don¡¯t I?
¡°You¡¯re already good enough.¡±
-Come on, don¡¯t tter me. Anyway, I¡¯m doing well. Oppa, always be careful. There are many eyes on you.
¡°Well¡ I can¡¯t deny that.¡±
-I have to go now! Let¡¯s talk again! Bye!
¡°Next ti¡¡±
Before Kang-hoo could finish his sentence, the call ended.
He smiled. It felt good to think that people around him were also growing together.
Kang-hoo wanted people like Park Dong-jae and Jung Yuri to continually stimte him.
So that he could look up and forward, not down or sideways.
He had reached a position where he was recognized even by hunters from the Myeongga Guild.
Butpared to the members of The Thirteen Stars, his skills were still insignificant.
Is there anyone from The Thirteen Stars whom he could beat one-on-one right now¡?
Even if he didn¡¯t die, he couldn¡¯t guarantee a draw or a win.
The road ahead was still long.
After that day.
Kang-hoo rested for two consecutive days except for one outing to sell items.
He sold a total of eight items.
Among them was a ring taken from Jung Sun-rak, and the magic stones distributed this time.
He also sold some armor and the Eyes of Asura that he thought might be useful but weren¡¯t needed as reserves.
The items included the Prelude to Madness gloves, Wizard Hunter anklets, Tracker¡¯s shoes, Ne of Favorable Winds, and Bracelet of Rising Vitality.
He sold all eight items at a nearby market and managed to collect a generous sum of 35 billion won.
Gathering small amounts adds up to a mountain; converting everything to cash resulted in a significant sum, unexpectedly so.
For two days, Kang-hoo stayed holed up in a safe hotel, resting in his room all day.
The next schedule was confirmed.
A trip to Japan.
He received a call from An Yeong-ho.
The dungeons coordinated with the Rikou Guild were all safely prepared.
It seemed to be outside the influence range of the Tou n in the all-out war.
He also received a positive response from Takashi regarding their meeting.
¡®How to win over Takashi¡¯s heart is the problem. I guess I need to raise my energy level, unlike usual.¡¯
He had a rough idea of how to approach Takashi in mind.
Contrary to his outward appearance, Takashi had quite a cynical side, so caution was needed in the approach.
Showing a clich¨¦d image wouldn¡¯t attract his interest.
If so, the n to create a connection with Takashi would go awry from the start.
¡°Finally going to Japan.¡±
Lying on the bed, he felt his body sinking deeper.
He seemed to have umted fatigue. He intended to shake it all off before going to Japan.
Kang-hoo didn¡¯t tell anyone about his trip to Japan except An Yeong-ho.
Not even Park Dong-jae, whom he had be closer to recently. There was no need to expose his whereabouts unnecessarily.
Lying in bed, he suddenly recalled the events in Ulleungdo.
Back then, on Ulleungdo, he saw a figure that looked exactly like his original self.
It was too clear to be an illusion or hallucination, and it lingered in his memory.
Who could it be?
He, the original author, was living in this world as Shin Kang-hoo.
If that ¡®original author¡¯ was alive, who would be inside? Another version of him?
It would have been nice to find out, but regrettably, he let him go without even holding his hand once.
¡°I should visit Ulleungdo again. Don¡¯t know if he¡¯ll be there.¡±
He felt regret.
If it was a mistake, at least getting that certainty would ease the odd feeling.
Two dayster.
Kang-hoo met An Yeong-ho and his uncle Suzuki Fumiya at Osaka Airport.
It was the first trip to Japan that he had promised and longed for since he saved An Yeong-ho long ago.
It was also the moment when Kang-hoo, whose activities had been limited to Korea, took his first step abroad.
Chapter 175: To Japan (2)
Chapter 175: To Japan (2)
¡°Hyung! Wee!¡±
As soon as the immigration process waspleted, An Yeong-ho greeted Kang-hoo warmly.
Except for the low tone of Park Dong-jae, his voice was high-pitched, making him seem like a second version of Park Dong-jae.
In An Yeong-ho¡¯s eyes, there was a look of respect and gratitude as he gazed at Kang-hoo.
¡°It¡¯s been a while, Yeong-ho.¡±
¡°It¡¯s really difficult to bring you to Japan! I¡¯m sorry. I should have tried harder.¡±
¡°Your uncle is listening in the back; isn¡¯t that a bit risky to say?¡±
¡°Oh! Ah! Is it?¡±
While Kang-hoo was shaking hands with An Yeong-ho, Suzuki Fumiya naturally took his ce beside him.The Rikou Guild had firmly established itself as the top guild in the Kansai region of Japan.
Suzuki Fumiya was the vice guild master of such a guild, a significant figure.
If not for being An Yeong-ho¡¯s uncle, it would have been much less likely for such a high-ranking hunter to be present.
Checking Fumiya¡¯s constetion information, it seemed he would easily exceed level 600.
He couldn¡¯tpare to Jang Si-hwan or Chae Gwanhyeong, but he had enough skills to surpass someone like Kang Dong-hyun.
An Yeong-ho stepped back slightly, and Fumiya extended his hand to Kang-hoo.
¡°Nice to meet you¡.¡±
¡°You can speakfortably in Japanese. I can speak and understand it quite well.¡±
Kang-hoo said with a bright smile in Japanese to Fumiya, who was about to greet him in Korean.
It was convenient not to have anynguage barriers in such matters.
¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Suzuki Fumiya, the vice guild master of the Rikou Guild and Yeong-ho¡¯s uncle. Please call me Fumiya.¡±
¡°I¡¯m Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
¡°I heard this is your first time abroad. How do you find Japan? Not much different, right?¡±
¡°From the airport alone, it¡¯s hard to say, but overall it doesn¡¯t seem much different from Korea.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded at Fumiya¡¯s question.
That¡¯s what he had researched beforehand.
Japan also has simr implicit rules to Korea, so they don¡¯t mess with airports or railways.
Of course, it helped that most of Japan¡¯s Hunter Public Safety Bureau¡¯s forces were focused on these transportation facilities.
Because of that, the airport area seemed calm, and there didn¡¯t appear to be anything to be cautious about.
However, the constant announcements on the electronic bulletin board about wanted criminals were quite intimidating.
Among them were notifications about some hunters with extreme tendencies.
[Ishihara Yuji]
[First-ss Wanted Target]
[A highly dangerous hunter repeatedlymitting indiscriminate murders targeting hunters from Korea and China.] ¡®Right, that bastard exists.¡¯
In the original story, there was never a main plot set in Japan.
The protagonist, Jang Si-hwan, mostly operated in the US and Germany when working abroad.
But Japan wasn¡¯t entirely absent from the story.
There was information derived from Takashi, which included details about Ishihara Yuji.
Yuji, who had anti-Korean and anti-Chinese tendencies, was a maniacal murderer despised even by Japanese hunters.
It was more like he forced a reason to justify his killings rather than having genuine tendencies.
As the bulletin board announcement stated, he targeted Korean and Chinese hunters without reason.
Even judging by the current known level, he was over 500.
Moreover, with abination of berserker and assassin traits, he was quite a tricky hunter.
That¡¯s why he was a first-ss wanted target, and despite the cooperation of public safety bureaus from Korea, China, and Japan, he was still atrge.
Even though he would be closely protected by the Rikou Guild, he decided not to let his guard down.
If he met Takashi or had any outside activities, he had to protect himself in the end.
The Rikou Guild might be friendly and considerate, but they wouldn¡¯t handle every single action for him.
Fumiya led Kang-hoo to the secure limousine waiting in front of the airport.
It was a much more specialized limousinepared to the one he had ridden, thanks to Jung Yuri.
At a nce, it seemed like a luxury vehicle that could easily cost billions of won per ride.
Was saving An Yeong-ho worth this much?
It seemed a bit excessive, but on the other hand, considering he saved a beloved nephew from a life-threatening situation, it made sense.
Thus, while riding in the limousine to the Rikou Guild¡¯s building, they had more in-depth conversations in the car.
An Yeong-ho, who seemed like he would chatter away, kept silent, possibly due to an agreement with Fumiya.
¡°You know, when I first contacted you, your stature had really changed a lot. Do you know that?¡±
¡°I somehow gained both notoriety and fame. Does the guild monitor domestic trends?¡±
¡°Of course. We¡¯re also considering cooperation with Korean guilds to expand our reach.¡±
¡°Any progress?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t disclose the details, but it¡¯s not easy due topetitors. Haha.¡±
Fumiya¡¯s words, with a bitter smile, hinted at the Touishi Guild.
To operate in Korea, cooperation with the Jeonghwa Guild is essential.
Simply put, it is difficult to operate domestically without the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s permission.
In the original story, Jang Si-hwan intentionally instigatedpetition among several Japanese guilds for cooperation.
In return for cooperation, he maximized the benefits he could get.
As the protagonist, he was quite clever in doing so.
Looking back from the Rikou Guild¡¯s perspective, it seemed rather cunning.
¡°I see.¡±
¡°Anyway, you were always an important guest, but now you are even more so.¡±
¡°Thank you for everything.¡±
¡°Not at all. We are also making our investment. Just know that all investments are sincere.¡±
¡°Of course.¡±
Rikou Guild is the most proactive in recruiting foreign hunters.
This is also why Rikou Guild, which was originally outside the top 3 in the Kansai region, has risen to the top position.
So, this kind of approach was not unfamiliar.
They must have already assessed Kang-hoo¡¯s value and are proceeding with their investment.
Some people call this a ¡®fool¡¯s errand,¡¯ but their current status proves that it¡¯s not wrong.
¡°This is the list of dungeons you requested. Please review it one more time.¡±
Kang-hoo received the documents from Fumiya and scanned through the contents.
It was the same as what he had previously checked.
To target the Dark Era farming, Kang-hoo had deliberately listed undead-type dungeons.
All of them were in standby mode, ready to be attacked at any time. This meant there were no hunters inside them.
¡°I¡¯ve confirmed it. You¡¯ve put a lot of thought into this.¡±
¡°Honestly, our guild members are a bit hesitant about these dungeons. Undead often defy calctions.¡±
Fumiya was right.
This is due to the undead¡¯s unique insensitivity, their near-ignorant endurance, and their suppressed fear and terror.
Therefore, they naturally preferred dungeons that proceeded as expected.
At that moment.
An Yeong-ho, who was beside them, excused himself and took a phone call, ncing at Kang-hoo and Fumiya.
If it were a personal call, he wouldn¡¯t need to be so cautious, suggesting it was rted to the matter at hand.
When An Yeong-ho put the call on hold, Fumiya immediately asked.
¡°What¡¯s the call about?¡±
¡°Takashi contacted me.¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes sparkled.
He had said that the preliminary arrangements with Takashi were already finished. There shouldn¡¯t be more to discuss.
Was he trying to cancel the meeting? That wouldplicate Kang-hoo¡¯s n to connect with Takashi.
He didn¡¯t show it.
But he was very curious about the content of the call.
Soon, a conversation ensued between An Yeong-ho and Fumiya.
¡°What¡¯s the call about?¡±
¡°Takashi-sama is at the training ground now. He asked if you could see him now.¡±
¡°Now?¡±
¡°Yes, uncle. He already knows that Kang-hoo hyung has arrived.¡±
¡°Did he hack the airport CCTV? We haven¡¯t announced it publicly.¡±
¡°Uncle, how should we respond?¡±
¡°This doesn¡¯t seem like something you should ask me. Kang-hoo, what do you think?¡±
Fumiya asked Kang-hoo¡¯s opinion.
Kang-hoo, who usually took the lead in meetings, made an exception this time.
The thirsty one digs the well. And Takashi was worth the effort.
Kang-hoo immediately replied.
¡°If it¡¯s okay, let¡¯s move to the meeting ce right away. I can¡¯t miss the chance to meet such an important person.¡±
Fumiya and An Yeong-ho exchanged slightly awkward nces at Kang-hoo¡¯s response.
They arranged the meeting because Kang-hoo wanted it.
But the perception of Takashi in Japan was very negative. He was ssified as someone to be avoided.
Why did Kang-hoo want to meet Takashi so much? No one could guess his true intentions.
Even An Yeong-ho, who trusted and appreciated Kang-hoo for everything, felt the same way.
The ce where Takashi called Kang-hoo was a training ground.
Until they arrived, Kang-hoo had imagined a personal training ground at a private residence or vi, like Kim Shin-ryeong¡¯s.
Usually, that was the case.
But Takashi¡¯s training ground was an abandoned factory.
It felt like the abandoned factory targeted when they attacked Jeon Jong-du¡¯s Osho Mercenary Corps.
Moreover, all the windows were blocked so that no one could see inside from the outside.
It seemed like special iron tes were added to the interior windows, turning them into walls.
¡°Is this disrupting your schedule?¡±
¡°No. Yeong-ho and I have kept todaypletely free. No worries.¡±
Seeing the two people who apanied him to meet Takashi, Kang-hoo scratched the back of his head.
Takashi had warned that no one except the concerned parties should approach, so they had to stop here.
¡°Then, I¡¯ll be back.¡±
Kang-hoo began to stride towards Takashi¡¯s training ground.
The surroundings of the abandoned factory, with weeds growing as tall as a person and roads in a terrible state, exuded a sense of destion.
Since it was Takashi¡¯s alter ego moving, not his main body, he could remain indifferent.
Even Takashi¡¯s main body wasn¡¯t known for cleanliness, so his house must be a mess.
From the original story, it was mentioned that he was toozy to even go out to buy a bottle of water, enduring it.
In a pinch, he would drink tap water. Due to the unsuitable tap water, he would suffer from stomachaches.
The moment he reached about 10 meters in front of the iron gate that seemed like the main entrance of the training ground,
Clunk.
Kang-hoo stopped.
There were no warning signs or special markings, but Kang-hoo did not move any further.
¡°¡¡¡±
Standing still, he began to broadly observe the surroundings of the abandoned factory.
Then, he could feel many tightly designed detection barriers, making it impossible to pass unnoticed.
They were invisible to the eye.
But Kang-hoo, who could sensitively detect the flow of mana, felt as if the flow was visualized.
¡®This damned shut-in is ying tricks from the first meeting.¡¯
A clear ¡°´¨¡± (river) character was etched on Kang-hoo¡¯s forehead.
Chapter 176: Akiyama Takashi (1)
Chapter 176: Akiyama Takashi (1)
In the original story, Takashi always emphasized memorizing patterns and pursued ¡®thinking y¡¯ as his top priority.
In a way, he was sincere about everything, especially strategy. He enjoyed pondering and challenging himself fiercely.
On the other hand, The Thirteen Stars had a different approach.
They also enjoyed trials and hardships when they were beginners, preferring to face difficulties.
However, once their levels and skills reached a certain point, they preferred to conquer easily using simple methods.
There was no need to take risks unnecessarily.
They had a strong tendency to avoid injuries or failures that could diminish their value.
After all, they could just send a separate exploration team to experience trial and error.
They would gather essential information from them and then proceed with a near-perfect strategy.Takashi always disliked this in the original story.
While it was enjoyable to explore various dungeons thanks to The Thirteen Stars, that was all there was to it.
So, towards the end of the original story, Takashi sometimes acted separately from The Thirteen Stars.
At that time, the words he left behind were as clear as if they were written directly by Kang-hoo.
-Eating fruit without knowing the value of hardship is sweet. But knowing the value of it makes the fruit an unforgettable, exhrating drug.
Naturally, hispanions¡¯ reactions were lukewarm.
Especially Chae Gwanhyeong, who was hostile towards him, said that if he kept spouting nonsense, he should just quit The Thirteen Stars.
¡®He doesn¡¯t open up easily. But once he does, he gives everything.¡¯
That¡¯s how Kang-hoo defined Takashi.
As much as he liked adventure and challenge, he needed to focus on that aspect. He was a passionate hunter.
Some of his publicly known entricities were a disguise. It was a mechanism to weed out shallow connections.
¡°¡¡¡±
Kang-hoo stopped in ce, focusing all his senses on the flow of mana around him.
To the naked eye, nothing was visible, but it was a spectacle of countless mana traps.
The expression ¡®venomous¡¯ seemed fitting, as traps wereid everywhere.
If Takashi, who designed them, wasn¡¯t fully aware, he would likely trigger them.
The more he concentrated,
The more he saw and felt.
While he couldn¡¯t see with his eyes, he could draw a map following the flow of his senses.
¡®I should be praised for managing my weight. If I were obese, I wouldn¡¯t have even made it here.¡¯
A smirk appeared on his face.
The area densely packed with mana traps would be impossible to pass with a different body type.
Swish. Swish swish.
Having finished his calctions, Kang-hoo started moving without hesitation.
He didn¡¯t rely on his sight at all. After all, there was nothing visible.
He trusted his body¡¯s sensations. He moved following the routes his senses deemed safe.
There were parts where he had to jump high orpletely leap over obstacles.
Half by his own will, half by necessity, he ended up adding a bit of performance. Takashi was probably watching him.
When he nced back, he saw An Yeong-ho and Fumiya watching with worried expressions.
It must have seemed odd, jumping in midair and then crouching down in empty space.
It didn¡¯t matter.
What mattered now was how Takashi was viewing him, more than the two behind him.
At the same time, as Kang-hoo predicted, Takashi was watching all the movements through CCTV.
Since it was his training ground, he had taken CCTV instation seriously. There were numerous CCTVs.
Thanks to this, he could see Kang-hoo¡¯s movements from various angles, and Takashi¡¯s eyes grew sharper.
¡°Not bad.¡±
When Kang-hoo avoided the first few traps, Takashi thought he was lucky.
Because there were close calls where his toes or body almost touched the traps.
But as time passed, Takashi realized his initial judgment of attributing it to luck was wrong.
Kang-hoo avoided the traps as if he had a map of the trap lines in his head.
At some point, he moved without any close calls, maintaining a safe distance.
¡°Look at this guy¡¡±
Takashi sipped his coffee, heavily sweetened with sugar, and leaned closer to the monitor.
His neck, already suffering from tech neck, was protruding even more today.
He seemed to understand why someone would want to see him directly.
There seemed to be a part of his skill that was reliable. He could prove it with more than just bluffing.
While Takashi was continuously impressed, Kang-hoo had already ventured quite deep inside.
So far, countless hunters had tried to pass the traps out of curiosity or for tests like this meeting.
But Kang-hoo was the first to reach the section marked G by Takashi.
To prate deeply from the entrance section A to the inside of the abandoned factory, one had to clear up to section H.
Kang-hoo was now approaching thest section. It was a first-time entry record.
Just then.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
As if performing acrobatics, Kang-hoo moved his body back and forth, jumping and crouching.
Swoosh!
In a long leap, he darted between the trap lines in section H in one go.
Kang-hoo precisely caught the only safe gap that existed diagonally.
It was such a perfect entry that it could be said someone had imnted the blueprint in his head.
¡°Pffft!¡±
Takashi burst outughing.
Testing a guest with such entricity was amusing in itself.
But it was also funny to see Kang-hoo taking it seriously in such an obviously quirky space.
For others, it might be an iprehensible sense of humor, but for Takashi, it was pure enjoyment and fun.
¡°This is interesting, really interesting. Oh, I shouldn¡¯t be doing this now.¡±
Takashi, who had been focusing on the video, started fiddling with the pad busily.
He hadn¡¯t thought he would need to use the microphone attached to his clone, but it seemed he needed to converse with Kang-hoo.
¡°Ahem. Ahem. Hm-hm. Hm-hm.¡±
He cleared his throat, which had be quite hoarse after remaining silent for so long.
If he spoke wrongly, the first conversation could turn into a disastrous off-key exchange.
Takashi¡¯s eyes grew serious.
He wouldn¡¯t know what kind of person he was until he talked to him, but he was very intrigued.
He wanted to talk to him quickly.
¡®When will this warrior¡¯s obsession end? It¡¯s funny every time I see it. Does he intentionally try to make peopleugh?¡¯
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo, who had entered the final section,ughed at the sight of Takashi¡¯s clone stationed at the site.
He had wondered if the clone was still in Korea by this time, but it seemed to have returned.
After all, traveling from Korea to Japan took only a few hours, so it wasn¡¯t strange to be in Korea in the morning and Japan in the afternoon.
Takashi¡¯s clone was adorned in red armor covering the entire body, a demon mask, and was stered with talismans inscribed with mysterious Chinese characters.
It had a Chinese ir to it for a Japanese style, but the base was distinctly Japanese.
In summary, it was a grotesque hybrid.
It seemed like something Takashi would do, but there was an inevitable question of whether it had to be this way.
At that moment.
Swish! sh!
Takashi¡¯s clone, with shy movements, thrust a sharply honed katana right in front of Kang-hoo¡¯s nose.
It was so close that if it had moved a finger¡¯s breadth further, it would have cut somewhere on his nose.
But Kang-hoo didn¡¯t blink and stared straight into the clone¡¯s eyes.
Although it was Takashi¡¯s clone, it was also connected to the real Takashi.
The link between the clone and the real body wasn¡¯t just mechanical.
If it were, it would be blocked in the dungeon. The use of electronic devices created by human civilization was impossible in the dungeon.
But the clone could share sensations with Takashi anytime, anywhere. It was a spiritual connection.
-I heard you wanted to see me. Why, Shin Kang-hoo?
Although the words came from right in front of him, they felt distant due to the microphone.
For a moment, Kang-hoo wondered if this distance was the distance of fate between him and Takashi.
A kind of idle thought. A random thought to endure the tension paradoxically.
Within that, Kang-hoo found hisposure and was ready to speak confidently.
Kang-hoo¡¯s concept was simple.
He nned to benchmark the way Emilia got close to Takashi in the original story.
The method was ¡®bold approach.¡¯
Ridiculously, it was about showing confidence that he liked Takashi and that Takashi would like him too.
A formal approach would only strongly stimte Takashi¡¯s twisted distrust and be meaningless.
For instance, admiring his skills, calling him cool, or saying he had longed to meet him.
These lip service-like remarks would be poison to Takashi.
Considering his original personality, it was hard to start a conversation like this.
But Kang-hoo decided to act like the person Takashi wanted and perform ordingly.
¡°Let¡¯s be friends.¡±
What did you say?
At Kang-hoo¡¯s blunt response, Takashi¡¯s clone tilted its head to one side.
It was exactly the reaction of someone thinking, ¡®What kind of nonsense is this?¡¯
¡°Not the kind of shallow, window-dressing friends who tter each other without soul. I mean friends who sweat, sh,pete, and grow together.¡±
-Why should I?
A short rebuttal, but the slight tremor in his voice revealed his surprise.
It was a positive signal.
It was Takashi¡¯s natural defense mechanism not to show his true feelings easily.
The tremor was a human w Takashi couldn¡¯t control perfectly.
¡°We¡¯re always lonely, aren¡¯t we? Isn¡¯t that right?¡±
He raised his tone a bit.
It was a high tone, not fitting his usual low-middle tone voice, but it added more power to his words.
-You don¡¯t know me. What do you know to lump us together like that?
¡°Not knowing is a problem we can solve by getting to know each other. Even if we were strangers, once we¡¯ve met, we¡¯re not strangers anymore.¡±
-You¡¯re seriously talking nonsense?
¡°Even nonsense sounds usible when spoken seriously.¡±
Takashi tried to refute Kang-hoo¡¯s sly response but then closed his mouth.
It was fascinating to see Kang-hoo speak calmly as if such words wouldn¡¯t faze him.
He also wondered what gave him such confidence.
Curiosity was the keyword that ran through such thoughts.
Unknowingly, Takashi was getting caught up in Kang-hoo¡¯s proactive attitude.
It was a fresh shock for Takashi, who had rarely experienced such straightforward approaches.
Except for The Thirteen Stars, he was always an object of fear and respect.
So, he had never seen a hunter approach him so ¡®boldly.¡¯ Everyone was afraid.
Rising interest.
For this reason, Kang-hoo, who had started to look different since passing through the mana traps, began to appear special.
If someone suddenly saw a person differently, some might scoff and say it¡¯s like writing fiction.
But his heart felt that way.
Like a filter ovey, curiosity about Shin Kang-hoo began to grow infinitely.
It was instantaneous and enough to stimte Takashi¡¯s inquisitive spirit.
Chapter 177: Akiyama Takashi (2)
Chapter 177: Akiyama Takashi (2)
-Let¡¯s see your skills.
¡°Shall we?¡±
-I¡¯m not so lonely that I¡¯d ept just anyone as a friend!
From Takashi¡¯s forceful voice, Kang-hoo paradoxically felt his loneliness.
Knowing Takashi¡¯s character from the original work, it was a reaction he couldn¡¯t ignore.
Takashi¡¯s emotional response to people and his attraction is a bit twisted.
That¡¯s both Takashi¡¯s charm and his w. It makes it hard for people to approach him easily.
Whoosh!
Takashi¡¯s doppelganger threw a wooden practice dagger that had been lying on the floor. Then he himself picked up a wooden longsword.Takashi found it intriguing that Kang-hoo was bold and spoke his mind without feeling intimidated in front of him.
From what he had gathered through research, Kang-hoo¡¯s abilities seemed quite impressive. At least, he didn¡¯t seem out of ce at his current level.
If Kang-hoo turned out to be all talk and no substance, Takashi could just cut ties. They weren¡¯t particrly close anyway.
So, there was no pressure.
If Kang-hoo passed the test, they¡¯d be friends; if not, it would just be a one-time encounter.
Kang-hoo also saw it as a good opportunity.
He didn¡¯t think he could pass Takashi¡¯s test with just a few words.
¡®Now is the perfect time.¡¯
He was convinced.
If more time passed here, the Thirteen Stars would start getting closer to Takashi again.
In a few months, they¡¯d begin tackling several difficult dungeons.
At that time, Takashi would y a crucial role in the strategy. The ¡®Universal Pattern Theory¡¯ that he babbled on about woulde into y.
After that, the Thirteen Stars would often seek Takashi out ording to their needs, increasing their interactions.
When that time came, no matter how much Kang-hoo tried, it would be unlikely to change Takashi¡¯s mind.
-The counting will be taken care of by therge monitors in front and behind us, so don¡¯t worry. Thirteen it is.
As soon as Takashi finished speaking, the number 10 appeared in red on therge disy board.
Then the countdown began.
The numbers behind Takashi were sorge that they were almost distracting.
At that moment.
Woooo. Woooo. Woooo.
The doppelgangers scattered around the training ground began to rise one by one.
Unlike the detailed doppelganger directly controlled by Takashi, these were crudely made to resemble him.
They had a necromantic feel, but they couldn¡¯t be ssified strictly as necromancy.
Especially, the rtionship between Takashi and the doppelganger he directly controlled was akin to a fatedmunity.
To put it simply, the directly controlled doppelganger was the main body, while the others were just conceptual extensions.
¡®It wasn¡¯t intentional, but I¡¯ve got a good card in hand. I wondered when I¡¯d use it.¡¯
Kang-hoo mentally prepared a card for aggressive use from the start.
He had considered several strategies, but none seemed as good as this.
The number on the disy had be 1 before he knew it.
Swish. Swish.
Takashi (the doppelganger, no different from himself) and Kang-hoo each took their stances.
They kept their eyes fixed on each other, ncing at the disy board¡¯s time.
And when it hit 0.
Boom! Boom!
They charged at each other.
There was no strategic retreat or watching; it was an aggressive start.
At that moment.
¡¾Third, use ''Soul Wave'' to sever the mental link with an enemy or summon.
It consumes 250 mana and causes mental strain, but canpletely reset the enemy''s state.¡¿
Kang-hoo first yed his hand. It was the Soul Wave.
This was the third constetion privilege he received from the Strategist of the Wastnd, and it was his first time using it.
¡°¡¡Ugh!¡±
Pain hit with a timeg.
The severe headache was strong enough to ignore the substantial pain mitigation effects from his items.
Without the pain mitigation, the pain would have been unimaginable.
He was sure he would have copsed, seeing stars. The headache was that intense.
Fsssst.
At the same time, Takashi¡¯s ¡®insignificant¡¯ doppelgangers crumpled to the ground like straw in the wind.
Takashi¡¯s first doppelganger was also affected by the Soul Wave.
As it was mentally connected to Takashi, it couldn¡¯t escape the impact.
-¡¡Wow!
A surprised exmation filled with astonishment came through the microphone.
Takashi wasn¡¯t surprised by the attack that severed the mental link.
It was obvious that such an attack would be a weakness for someone like him.
So, as soon as the link with the first doppelganger was severed, he immediately reconnected, and the gap was very short.
Kang-hoo, who had tried to get closer, stopped short at Takashi¡¯s quick response.
However, Takashi was surprised that Kang-hoo, known as an assassin, used such a skill.
Cutting mental links was naturally a mental skill, typically used by hunters specialized in magic.
It wasn¡¯t a skill expected from an assassin. There was no ovep.
-Not bad¡¡.
As Takashi was about to continue hisment in admiration of Kang-hoo¡¯s attempt.
Kang-hoo used Soul Wave once more. This time, he also connected it with a sh step.
Approaching closely was risky, but keeping a distance allowed one-sided pressure.
Then, through prior exploration, it was also clear that the Soul Wave, although brief, created a definite ckout.
¡°Ugh!¡±
Kang-hoo groaned.
He could use it twice somehow, but three times was impossible.
Mana was the second problem; the intensity of the pain was on another level.
Using the skill, he felt like he might experience a ckout from the pain himself.
It was a brief but dizzying experience that blurred his vision. It wasn¡¯t a good sign.
While Takashi, caught in the second Soul Wave, staggered, a thrown dagger hit him.
Though he barely twisted his sword diagonally to block it, it was just a block.
He couldn¡¯t prevent being caught up in the ¡®Push Back¡¯ that Kang-hoo had sent along with the dagger.
-Ugh!
Takashi¡¯s body flew in a parabolic arc. The unprepared push-back¡¯s destructive power was evident.
Without hesitation, Kang-hoo leapt and elerated towards Takashi.
Such an opportunity wouldn¡¯te twice with a skilled opponent. Even one chance was a lot.
Thus, he thought this was thest opportunity, and the situation seemed quite favorable.
At that moment.
Screeching!
Even as his body was flying, Takashi tightly gripped his longsword and shed it across the ground.
It was as if he was intentionally trying to spark mes.
Swoosh!
Soon, something mixed with crimson light from the created mes fiercely attacked Kang-hoo.
¡®Damn.¡¯
As expected, Takashi hadn¡¯t built his level and skills idly.
Even after taking a proper hit, he immediately entered the counterattack phase.
His tendency to consider all possible oues in a fight was remarkably simr to Kang-hoo¡¯s.
In an instant, he was engulfed by light.
Alreadymitted to chasing Takashi, he couldn¡¯t avoid it.
Thus, he took it head-on.
At that moment, Kang-hoo felt the skill was causing blindness. He couldn¡¯t see ahead.
¡¾Resonance Sight¡¿
The response was immediate.
A skill that automatically consumes 0.5 mana per second only in a blind state.
Like the Soul Wave he had used earlier, he wondered when it woulde in handy, and thanks to Takashi, it got its first use.
¡®I can see clearly.¡¯
Though the world was seen in ck and white while the blindnesssted, not being affected by blindness at all made the skill highly valuable.
Kang-hoo felt grateful to Gloria, who contributed to acquiring the skill.
Pretending to be blind, Kang-hoo staggered.
Whoosh!
Then, Takashi, seizing the moment, sent a sword energy made from his longsword at Kang-hoo.
Though the practice wooden sword was not sharp, the energy was sufficient to deliver a blunt strike.
However, for Kang-hoo, who could clearly see the trajectory thanks to Resonance Sight, it was a meaningless attack.
Tap, tap.
Kang-hoo dodged the sword energy with light, nimble movements.
Takashi couldn¡¯t believe his eyes.
Kang-hoo¡¯s blindness hadn¡¯t been lifted. The debuff was still in effect.
Yet, Kang-hoo evaded the attack as if he could see the path clearly.
It was too precise to be mere prediction, an effortless and clean evasion.
-Haha.
Takashi chuckled in frustration. In a short time, Kang-hoo had surprised him twice.
First, he was surprised by the skill that forcibly severed the link with his doppelganger.
Second, he was surprised that Kang-hoo had a countermeasure to easily ovee blindness.
Assassins, who focus on extreme attacks, are naturally weak to debuffs or disruptions affecting them.
Thismon ¡®chronic disease¡¯ of assassins didn¡¯t apply to Kang-hoo.
And then.
-Starting to get angry?
Kang-hoo got the reaction he wanted from Takashi. It seemed he was getting riled up.
-Wait a second. Let me light up.
Then came the second expected reaction.
Though he used the term ¡®light up,¡¯ it wasn¡¯t the usual cigarette.
Takashi burned something mysterious, a kind of secret weapon for intense focus.
In the original work, it was rumored to be drug-rted, but nothing was confirmed.
Nheless, putting it in his mouth meant he was more serious about the situation than ever.
And the real battle began.
Although their practice weapons weren¡¯t threatening, their attitudes towards each other were more threatening than ever.
It was a fierce skirmish.
As the fight continued, Kang-hoo realized more and more how tough an opponent Takashi was.
Facing a doppelganger instead of the main body meant the constetion scan didn¡¯t work, which was frustrating.
Thus, it was difficult to pinpoint the areas Takashi specialized in or his objectives.
Even in the original work, the constetion settings weren¡¯t exined in detail, leaving little to infer.
Of course, considering the considerable level difference, just holding his ground was enough to earn full marks.
The primary reason the battle was getting tougher was:
¡®He¡¯s analyzing my patterns.¡¯
Kang-hoo felt that Takashi was gradually ¡®learning¡¯ and ¡®studying¡¯ his movements.
Reading an opponent¡¯s patterns wasn¡¯t unique to Kang-hoo; Takashi could do it too.
In fact, he was more persistent.
To add variables to the fight, Kang-hoo actively used Shadow Step in conjunction with doppelganger and illusion techniques.
But somehow, his main body¡¯s position kept getting revealed, and his tricks weren¡¯t working.
¡®Do I have a habit?¡¯
Kang-hoo questioned himself, but he wasn¡¯t aware of any.
If he couldn¡¯t recognize it himself, it must be a very subtle habit, barely noticeable.
But Takashi seemed to see it.
At that moment:
-Haah!
With Takashi¡¯s shout, the wooden sword he swung with all his might shed right in front of Kang-hoo¡¯s approaching face from behind.
In a split second:
Swoosh¡!
Kang-hoo¡¯s front hair, caught in the maximum sword energy created by the wooden sword, was cleanly cut off.
If it were a real fight, and if his body had been slightly more forward, his face would have been gone.
¡°Damn.¡±
Once again, a frown formed on Kang-hoo¡¯s hard-working forehead.
Indeed, Takashi was no ordinary person.
Chapter 178: Akiyama Takashi (3)
Chapter 178: Akiyama Takashi (3)
-This should be enough; let¡¯s stop.
¡°Pardon?¡±
-We aren¡¯t fighting on equal footing right now. I¡¯ve seen enough of your skills.
Takashi dered in a detached voice that they should stop.
From Kang-hoo¡¯s perspective, things were just heating up, but Takashi seemed to think otherwise.
The meaning was clear enough.
Even without a conclusive result, the judgment wasplete.
No matter how conservatively estimated, Takashi¡¯s level was at least above 550. It couldn¡¯t be lower.
At the beginning, Kang-hoo had used soul waves tounch an aggressive attack, creating a dangerous situation.That must havepleted his calctions. It doesn¡¯t always need to end conclusively to form a judgment.
-But did you know?
¡°What do you mean?¡±
-When you use shadow-rted skills, you have a habit. If you don¡¯t fix it, it¡¯ll be tough for you.
¡°As expected¡¡±
A habit.
He was talking about a habit.
Kang-hoo had repeatedly been detected during his use of the Shadow Step skill.
He had suspected as much.
It seemed there was a habit he was unaware of that was revealing his position.
Kang-hoo cautiously asked.
¡°Can you tell me?¡±
-Let me emphasize that expecting to get something for nothing isn¡¯t a good idea.
Takashi¡¯s response was immediate.
Although Kang-hoo didn¡¯t expect much, it was a response typical of Takashi.
He really hated words like unearned ie or freeloading. He despised such people.
Kang-hoo hadn¡¯t asked expecting an answer. He was just probing.
Being a perfectionist, it kept bothering him. What exactly was giving him away?
¡®If I¡¯m unlucky, I might end up losing this.¡¯
Kang-hoo bit his lip lightly.
He had intended to make Takashi think about him, but it seemed they were equally matched in this regard.
By intentionally creating unresolved issues, Takashi ensured that Kang-hoo couldn¡¯t take him lightly.
Of course, it was true that Kang-hoo had made a significant impression on Takashi as well.
Takashi had ended the practice battle without any reaction because he acknowledged Kang-hoo¡¯s skill.
If there had been any doubts or dissatisfactory points, the test would have been much longer.
-I still don¡¯t understand why you want to get close to me. But a light contact should be fine.
Takashi casually said as he handed a crumpled piece of paper from his clone¡¯s body.
It seemed like trash, but it had Takashi¡¯s Huntergram secure ount name written on it.
It appeared he had a separate ount for personal direct messages aside from his public one.
Takashi continued.
-DM me. Let¡¯s not use intermediaries. It¡¯s tiresome if too many eyes are watching.
¡°Good idea.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded as he epted the paper.
He didn¡¯t mind Rikou Guild¡¯s attention, but there was no need to involve the guild in personal meetings.
-Get going. It¡¯s time for training.
¡°It was short but enjoyable.¡±
-I hope you find some answers to your habit next time we meet. It won¡¯t be easy though.
¡°If it¡¯s okay then, please teach me a move. I¡¯ll try to crush you with all my strength.¡±
-Don¡¯t talk about impossible goals recklessly. It¡¯s important to live realistically.
¡°Hmph.¡±
Ignoring Takashi¡¯s potentially provocative words, Kang-hoo left the abandoned factory.
Takashi¡¯s words could be tiresome if taken literally.
He just needed to judge whether Takashi was speaking to him or not. If he was, it meant he was interested. If not, then he wasn¡¯t.
Thus, Takashi¡¯s continued talking was a perfect score by Kang-hoo¡¯s standards.
Their acquaintance was solidified.
The next meeting wouldn¡¯t be difficult if he didn¡¯t irritate him unnecessarily.
Thus, among the members of The Thirteen Stars, he had created the first ripple in one man¡¯s heart.
For Kang-hoo, it was the most crucial first step. The cracks were just beginning.
¡°Uncle, why is Kang-hoo interested in Takashi? There are many other well-reputed names.¡±
¡°I doubt he wanted to meet him without reason. But you¡¯re right, Takashi¡¯s reputation isn¡¯t great.¡±
¡°He isn¡¯t even affiliated with a guild. He owns many private dungeons though¡¡±
At that time, An Yeong-ho was talking with his uncle, Suzuki Fumiya, while waiting for Kang-hoo.
The topic, as always, was Kang-hoo.
No matter how he thought about it, Yeong-ho couldn¡¯t understand why Kang-hoo was so eager to meet Takashi.
Even Fumiya, who was usually good at reading minds, couldn¡¯t guess Kang-hoo¡¯s intentions this time.
Of course, Takashi didn¡¯t have a great public image, but he wasn¡¯t a hunter without skills.
His clone abilities sometimes surpassed the limits of the human body.
The very existence of clones often produced results that defied human biomechanics.
For his opponents, it meant many disruptions in calctions. In other words, there were many variables.
¡°Enough. Don¡¯t think about it anymore. Just serve Kang-hoo with utmost respect.¡±
¡°Got it, Uncle.¡±
Fumiya cut off the conversation topic. It was something a third party couldn¡¯t understand anyway.
After all, Takashi was just an observer for Rikou Guild, not an actual member.
Takashi and Kang-hoo¡¯s Rtionship.
While one could be curious about the rtionship between Takashi and Kang-hoo, there was no need to develop it further.
¡°The Jeonghwa Guild in Korea is structured around its executives, so the influx of promising neers is slow. There are many gaps.¡±
¡°Uncle, do you think we could recruit Kang-hoo into the Rikou Guild?¡±
¡°Absolutely. Moreover, we have many members recruited from overseas, which is highly regarded for our expansion.¡±
¡°I will use all my capabilities to support Kang-hoo hyung in every way.¡±
¡°Just make sure not to lose your dignity.¡±
¡°I will remember that!¡±
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo, who hade out of the abandoned factory, joined the two.
Without any questions, Fumiya and An Yeong-ho led Kang-hoo directly to the limousine.
It would certainly be impolite to ask about the secret meeting with Takashi.
Kang-hoo appreciated their consideration andfortably got into the limousine.
On the way to Rikou Tower, the main base of Rikou Guild.
Kang-hoo was lost in thought in his independent seat.
The more he tried to postpone it, the more persistently the thoughts came up.
¡®Shadow Step is a huge part of my attack repertoire. But it was read.¡¯
For the first time since transmigrating to this world, he deeply contemted his own imperfection.
Innate assassin talent.
A constetion with the best abilities.
He had grown perfectly and impressively within that harmony until now.
But a small crack appeared in what he thought was his wless image.
It was the habit Takashi mentioned this time.
Since their first meeting was a ¡®mock battle¡¯, today¡¯s incident passed off as a happening.
If he had met Takashi on the battlefield? Today would have been the day to smell incense behind the screen.
He felt a mix of regret and expectation.
Regret for his imperfection.
Expectation because he had parts to fill and grow.
He kept thinking about Takashi in various ways. It would be great if Takashi thought the same, but who knows.
The meeting with Takashi was a significant turning point for both him and Kang-hoo.
After arriving at Rikou Tower, Kang-hoo, guided by Fumiya,pleted the final check of the dungeon strategy.
All the dungeons were of the undead monster type as Kang-hoo requested, and the level was just right.
Kang-hoo declined the team Rikou Guild offered to support him. He preferred solo y as much as possible.
However, since he was an outsider and Rikou Guild was in full-scale war with Toushi Guild.
He requested all resources allocated to him be concentrated on dungeon security.
No matter how good the dungeon strategy is, being ambushed would be fatal.
He decided to apany An Yeong-ho to a dungeon that required a healer.
He wanted to assess An Yeong-ho¡¯s skills, and Fumiya had also requested it. It was like killing two birds with one stone.
Kang-hoo nned to start the dungeon strategy alone from the next day.
He was eager to see how much dark period farming was possible.
If he could gather about 15 dark periods per dungeon, it would be a profitable venture.
After that,
Fumiya, who had moved Yeong-ho out since he had no right to involve himself in core business within the guild,
requested a separate tea time with Kang-hoo. It was a signal that he had something to discuss privately.
Though he had some guesses, Kang-hoo was willing to have a conversation with Fumiya regardless of the answer.
Rikou Guild held a firm grip on the Kansai region and would continue to solidify that position.
Of course, they hadn¡¯t seized the hegemony of all Japan.
But just being the number one guild in the resource-rich Kansai region, their charm and future value were immense.
Chrrr.
A fragrant tea was poured into the cup.
In the warmer atmosphere, the conversation flowed. The initial awkwardness of the first meeting had mostly dissipated.
Fumiya started the conversation.
¡°You¡¯ve made a significant step in Japan. Yeong-ho has talked about that day numerous times.¡±
¡°I just helped because I thought it was the right thing to do. Yeong-ho thought a lot about it too.¡±
¡°You are a benefactor to my nephew. Furthermore, you are a benefactor to my sister and me.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a new experience for me as well. The fact that this connection brought me to Japan is very moving.¡±
It was sincere.
It was a moment that made him realize the butterfly effect of connections.
If there was no connection with An Yeong-ho, even if he came to Japan, his steps would have beenpletely different.
He might have been involved in rough mercenary requests and driven into some harsh situations.
Japan, like Korea, had many areascking in public safety.
Especially in Kyushu, where numerous guilds were fiercelypeting, to the extent it was called the New Sengoku Period.
It could be described as a giant hell. The battles were so intense that the demand for mercenaries was high.
But instead of making connections in such a field, he hade as a valuable guest of a stabilized guild.
Therefore, he couldn¡¯t help but feel the powerful influence of connections.
The same thought applied to Jung Yuri and Park Dong-jae. Many things changed because of them.
At that moment,
Fumiya, who drank a considerablyrger amount of tea than before, nced at Kang-hoo.
It was a look suggesting he wanted to say something important. When Kang-hoo gazed back at him, Fumiya got to the point.
¡°Would you consider having an affiliated guild for limited overseas activities?¡±
Chapter 179: Wind Of The Gods (1)
Chapter 179: Wind Of The Gods (1)
Fumiya¡¯s suggestion was a reasonablepromise.
If he had brought up the guild in a way that would affect all of Kang-hoo¡¯s activities, he wouldn¡¯t have even considered it.
But he added the condition of ¡®limited to overseas activities.¡¯
In other words, he was asking if the Rikou Guild would be suitable only when working abroad.
It was an enticing proposal.
¡®Just like most hunter novels, my novel also portrays that skilled hunters are better off as frencers.¡¯
However, in this world, as Kang-hoo thought, frencers were given more privileges.
That loophole was precisely the ¡®Observer.¡¯
An existence that received the same treatment as guild members, or even better, without any obligations to the guild.Previously, the Spitfire Guild had also proposed the Observer position to Kang-hoo.
It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t understand Fumiya¡¯s desire to recruit talent, but the alternative was too clear.
Kang-hoo responded.
¡°That¡¯s fine. If you wish to propose cooperation, you can grant me the Observer status.¡±
¡°Of course¡ I see.¡±
Fumiya nodded and smiled. It was a response that showed he had expected this answer.
He seemed to have wanted to try once, without adding unnecessary words.
¡°If the Rikou Guild needs me and grants me the Observer status, I will consider it as my first priority.¡±
¡°Understood. We¡¯ve been having a hard time finding a hemorrhage dealer recently. I will certainly convey your message.¡±
¡°Thank you. Is the number of assassins or berserkers in the guild low?¡±
¡°Very low. We lost quite a few during the all-out war with the Toushi Guild. There¡¯s an imbnce.¡±
Fumiya pressed his forehead with his thumb. It was a problem that gave him a headache the more he thought about it.
Theck of assassins was amon issue among most guilds.
Kang-hoo knew well that the value of his profession was being highly evaluatedpared to the past.
¡°Anyway, I appreciate your proposal, but I have to decline. I hope you understand.¡±
¡°Not at all. Proposals and rejections are everyday urrences for hunters. There¡¯s nothing else, just regret.¡±
Fumiyaughed.
He was quite an impressive person with a warm smile. He would certainly make a good uncle to An Yeong-ho.
The Rikou Guild would continue to prosper unless there were any significant variables.
Despite having the Toushi Guild as a hostile force, it would actually be an opportunity to strengthen their power through appropriate tension.
An hourter.
Kang-hoo was walking through Osaka city with An Yeong-ho.
An Yeong-ho had dragged Kang-hoo out under the pretext of a gourmet tour.
Since the dungeon attack was starting tomorrow and he had no ns for separate training today.
Kang-hoo reluctantly followed An Yeong-ho, observing the scenery of Osaka city.
Looking at An Yeong-ho¡¯s constetion information, he had grown significantlypared to when they first met.
Although it was difficult to gauge the exact level, it seemed to be at least 250.
Kang-hoo asked.
¡°What level are you now?¡±
¡°Level? Around 265?¡±
¡°What was it when we first met?¡±
¡°About 137, I think.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve raised it quite a lot.¡±
¡°My uncle didn¡¯t want me to get beaten up, so he made me practically live in the dungeon. I really wanted to die¡ seriously.¡±
¡°You should be grateful that you have an uncle who can give you such opportunities.¡±
¡°That¡¯s true. He carried me a lot too. I really need to make it worth it. So many people have helped me.¡±
It seemed that they had also carried out operations to transfer experience points to An Yeong-ho through unconventional methods.
In fact, such growth is only possible withprehensive support.
An Yeong-ho¡¯s strength lies in his exceptional healing skills and intuition.
However, his extreme weakness is that he has nobat abilities. His killing power is zero.
That¡¯s why, when Kang-hoo first met him, even much lower-level hunters couldn¡¯t do anything.
For An Yeong-ho, running away was the only option. That was his weakness.
¡®The constetion also supported his growth by providing experience points, so there shouldn¡¯t be any worries in the future.¡¯
An Yeong-ho¡¯s future seemed bright, just like Jung Yuri and Park Dong-jae.
Since he avoided a deep grudge with the Jeonghwa Guild, he would likely continue to grow within the Rikou Guild.
An Yeong-ho was also a significant asset for Kang-hoo.
As apetent healer, he could be a great help in tackling tough and challenging dungeons in the future.
With the vice guild master of the Rikou Guild, Fumiya, and the backing of many well-known rtives.
There were many factors that could help Kang-hoo expand his connections both directly and indirectly. Yes, he was valuable enough to use.
¡°Hyung.¡±
¡°Yeah?¡±
¡°My uncle has researched a lot about you. It¡¯s definitely not a background check. He¡¯s very interested in skilled assassins.¡±
¡°I heard earlier. He said there are few assassins in the guild.¡±
¡°He also has some acquaintances in the Groo Guild, and he heard about your exploits there!¡±
¡°Are you talking about the mercenary work I participated in as a hemorrhage dealer?¡±
¡°Yes, exactly! It¡¯s also difficult for our guild to findpetent hemorrhage dealers, to be honest.¡±
¡°Is it that scarce?¡±
¡°Very much. In the international mercenary market, the pay rted to hemorrhage dealers has tripled in the past few months.¡±
¡°Oh.¡±
It was interesting news.
The international mercenary market literally refers to the global market for hiring mercenaries regardless of nationality.
The multinational mercenary group that attacked the first researchb of Jeongmun Pharmaceuticals was also born this way.
Although arge number of hunters from China had concentrated, the structure was still like that.
¡°Considering your recent growth, no matter how I look at it, you¡¯re a talent we absolutely can¡¯t afford to lose.¡±
¡°Yeong-ho, you¡¯re really honest.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right, I can¡¯t lie. No, I can¡¯t even if I wanted to.¡±
¡°You shouldn¡¯t be involved in recruitment then.¡±
¡°True, hyung. Hahaha!¡±
An Yeong-ho burst intoughter.
¡¾irvoyant of Truth¡¿
¡¾A neutral constetion that makes the target speak the truth but alsopels the user to always speak the truth.¡¿
An Yeong-ho, with the Eyes of Truth as his main constetion.
As a result, whatever he says ends up being the truth. It¡¯s hard for him to speak indirectly.
The best way not to be caught by Yeong-ho¡¯s constetion is simple. Don¡¯t speak.
Once you start talking, you¡¯ll only speak the truth, so business conversations need to be handled carefully.
At that moment.
At sunset, when the peaceful red glow of the evening descended along the horizon.
¡°Catch that guy!¡±
¡°It¡¯s the Toushi Guild!¡±
Suddenly, the surroundings became noisy.
Even though only two phrases were heard, it was enough to understand the situation.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±
An Yeong-ho looked around.
Where did the noisee from?
Judging by the circumstances, it seemed that a Toushi Guild member had infiltrated Osaka city and was discovered by the Rikou Guild¡¯s patrol.
As they were in an all-out war, it was as if a spy had entered the enemy¡¯s territory.
¡°This way! Over here!¡±
¡°Here!¡±
Citizens shouted.
The citizens, enjoying peace under the Rikou Guild¡¯s jurisdiction, had high trust in them.
Naturally, they were hostile to the Toushi Guild hunters.
At that moment.
The Toushi Guild member, who had momentarily lost his direction, turned the dagger he was holding.
He targeted an elderly woman walking with her granddaughter.
With a rough hand, he pushed the granddaughter aside and immediately aimed the dagger at the grandmother¡¯s neck.
¡°Grandma! Aaah!¡±
The child cried.
¡°Yuko! Don¡¯te here! Grandma¡¯s fine! Run to thosedies over there!¡±
The grandmother, worried that her granddaughter might get involved in the sudden hostage situation, waved her hand frantically.
¡°You damn bastard.¡±
An Yeong-ho cursed without hesitation.
He was about to stop Kang-hoo from getting involved when he realized.
¡°Huh?¡±
Kang-hoo, who should have been right next to him, was gone.
He hadn¡¯t heard a single sound, yet Kang-hoo had already moved. It was an unexpected result.
That wasn¡¯t the only thing that surprised An Yeong-ho.
When Kang-hoo reappeared, he was already positioned behind the Toushi Guild member.
It happened in the blink of an eye.
And then.
sh! Swish! Shick! sh!
Kang-hoo¡¯s dagger mercilessly cut through the Toushi Guild member¡¯s body.
Both wrists, the hamstrings behind the thighs, and the back of the neck!
He chose the best spots to disable the opponent¡¯s ability to fight.
It was a deliberately targeted attack.
The situation unfolded so quickly that the Toushi Guild member had no time to threaten the grandmother.
Instead of holding a hostage, he ended up being butchered.
¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡±
The blood-covered grandmother moved away from him.
Although she was covered in blood, none of it was hers. It was all from the vile ¡®bastard.¡¯
¡°Wow, what¡¯s going on?¡±
¡°Who is he? Is he a hunter from the Rikou Guild?¡±
¡°He saved the grandmother immediately!¡±
Passersby, witnessing Kang-hoo¡¯s amazing performance, all took out their smartphones to film him.
Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t particrly pleased with the filming, but he couldn¡¯t just watch the grandmother be in danger.
In this moment, he seemed to have briefly forgotten that it wasn¡¯t his business.
Perhaps he hoped that a tragedy wouldn¡¯t befall the grandmother, who was living a happy life with her granddaughter.
He had no regrets.
Even if thinking selfishly, not all actions need to be for oneself.
¡°Kheugh!¡±
Thud!
The Toushi Guild member, who had been perfectly disarmed by Kang-hoo¡¯s dagger, fell to his knees.
The unceasing flow of blood indicated his inevitable fate.
¡°Thank you! Really, thank you!¡±
The Rikou Guild¡¯s patrol was approaching quickly.
Both were swordsmen hunters, which exined the slow pursuit. It¡¯s the inevitable drawback of sword-wielders.
But right then.
¡°Damn it¡!¡±
The furious Toushi Guild member bit his lips, and soon his whole body began to swell.
¡®Self-destruct.¡¯
Kang-hoo knew well what this change meant. It was essentially a suicide bombing situation.
Rather than using an external bomb, the mana within his body would serve as the explosive medium.
If he detonated now, the explosion, along with the mana, would endanger everyone nearby.
Snap!
So, he snapped his fingers.
Blood Flower.
In this situation, it was the safest way to disarm the ¡®human bomb.¡¯
And then.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
With a bloody explosion, red flesh rained down from the sky like snow.
Fortunately, the grandmother, who had returned to her granddaughter, had already covered the child¡¯s eyes and ears.
At least, the gruesome scene was shielded from the young one¡¯s view.
Chapter 180: Wind Of The Gods (2)
Chapter 180: Wind Of The Gods (2)
The Towusi guild member caught in the Blood Flower died instantly. There was no reason to doubt his death, as he had exploded.
As always, Kang-hoo thought that the constetion would be plundered from that hunter.
Just as the plunder was about to proceed, a message suddenly appeared indicating that the contract had been terminated.
The message was as follows:
¡¾The contract with ''God''s Wind'' has been terminated. This contract cannot be maintained with an unbound contractor.¡¿
The information about the constetion, God¡¯s Wind, which had briefly appeared in the constetion window, was fading.
He quickly checked the content.
¡¾God''s Wind¡¿
¡¾Grants a glorious opportunity to be a member of the Divine Soldiers to the contractor who ends their life by self-destruction.¡¿ ¡®What is this eerie description?¡¯
His brows furrowed.
Not only does it imply that death is not the end, but that it serves as a bridge to what follows.
It seemed the Towusi guild member had chosen self-destruction without hesitation.
Kang-hoo couldn¡¯t guess what the Divine Soldiers mentioned there were. It wasn¡¯t a setting in the original work.
If it¡¯s a setting not found in the original work, there are two possibilities.
It¡¯s either a lightweight setting that didn¡¯t need to be established or a setting rted to the Demon King.
One of the two.
The reason for not establishing a setting rted to the Demon King was too simple.
The novel¡¯s ending was just before the Demon King¡¯s appearance. Hence, the ending involving the Demon King¡¯s subordinates.
¡®It seems more like thetter. To think I¡¯d see such a constetion here.¡¯
Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes deepened.
The constetion observing Kang-hoo seemed equally surprised, as the Great Catastrophe ¨C Darkness spoke up for the first time in a while.
¡¾Darkness always lurks slyly behind the light. You''ve discovered a secret darkness nearby.¡¿
¡®Do you know about God¡¯s Wind?¡¯
¡¾I do not. It seems to be of a different kind from me.¡¿
The response from the Great Catastrophe ¨C Darkness was brief. What could this constetion, unknown even to the constetions of the Great War, be?
Given the mention of self-destruction and Divine Soldiers, it doesn¡¯t seem like an ordinary constetion.
It feels like it would have made a name for itself in the Great War, but the Great Catastrophe ¨C Darkness knows nothing about it.
¡¾It might be an entity on the outskirts of the Great War. Or it could be a secret within the Great War itself.¡¿
The Dimension Plunderer added.
Because the story was about a constetion that even constetions didn¡¯t know well, Kang-hoo¡¯s tension rose.
It felt like facing an unknown truth. In terms of the novel, it felt like only a hint was given, creating a mysterious mood.
A hint that even the original author didn¡¯t know.
Anyway, saving his grandmother¡¯s life and making the Rikou Guild indebted once again was a sess.
However, it wasn¡¯t a pleasant feeling to have plundered a constetion only to lose it again.
Of course.
¡°Brother, I¡¯ll handle things here for now, so why don¡¯t you go back to the lodging? I¡¯ll collect the items.¡±
Thanks to An Yeong-ho¡¯s tactful intervention, a form of reward appeared.
It seemed he intended to hand over the items retrieved from the deceased Towusi guild hunter.
It would be sufficient aspensation. Or perhaps more than enough.
¡°Alright. It doesn¡¯t seem like a situation where we can just rx and have a meal. Let¡¯s clean up and see.¡±
¡°Yes, brother.¡±
¡°Good job.¡±
He turned back towards the hotel.
People were capturing Kang-hoo¡¯s image on their smartphones, taking videos, but he didn¡¯t pay much attention.
The skills he used in this battle were only the Veil of Craftsmanship,teral movement, and the Grand sh.
However, it seemed likely that this would be a hot topic on Hunter Gram for a while.
It would be fortunate if he didn¡¯t get a cringe-worthy title like ¡®Osaka Justice Enforcer¡¯.
On the way back to the hotel, Kang-hoo conversed more with the Great Catastrophe ¨C Darkness and the Dimension Plunderer.
First, the Great Catastrophe ¨C Darkness asked not to be doubted.
Even though Kang-hoo didn¡¯t particrly doubt him, he strongly emphasized having no connection with God¡¯s Wind for a simple reason.
He didn¡¯t want to be lumped together with it in Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes.
At the same time, it was because he still maintained interest in Kang-hoo.
His surveince was still ongoing, and among the three contractors he was watching, Kang-hoo was undoubtedly the best.
However, due to the constetion¡¯s pride, he was dissatisfied with being on the same level as other constetions.
Anyway, during his hesitation, Kang-hoo had grown significantly, so the bnce had tilted quite a bit.
Currently, it was a situation where the Great Catastrophe ¨C Darkness had to carefully consider Kang-hoo¡¯s mood.
The Dimension Plunderer, who had never had her plundering rejected before, was flustered.
Her reaction was unlike her usual calm andposed demeanor.
For now, Kang-hoo decided not to think too deeply about parts he couldn¡¯t find answers to.
Because thinking in circles would only lead to endless questions.
It would only trigger unnecessary anxiety. If even the constetions didn¡¯t know, he wouldn¡¯t find out.
Since he had found a clue about God¡¯s Wind this time, he would eventually see its entirety.
He would think about it again then. Knowing that there was a constetion called God¡¯s Wind was enough for now.
After wrapping up the conversation, he rxed in the hotel, watching TV.
As always, he turned on the Hunter-rted channel. It was all in Japanese, but he had no difficulty understanding.
-Hunter ¡®Hosaka Kenji¡¯ has been spotted with the current top-level fugitive ¡®Ishihara Yuji¡¯.
The Japanese Public Safety Bureau expressed concerns about thebination of the two hunters.
They also warned Hosaka Kenji to immediately cease his cooperation with Ishihara Yuji.
¡°Two crazy guys met.¡±
Kang-hoo chuckled dryly.
Hosaka Kenji is a well-known hunter in Japan for his spatial utilization abilities.
When Kang-hoo rescued Min Su-hyun:
-¡°It¡¯s truly an incredible spatial movement ability. Even Hosaka Kenji, who is famous for spatial movement in Japan, would find such a distance difficult.¡±
The person Lee Hyun-seok mentioned was him.
Kenji¡¯s long-distance spatial movement skill easily exceeds 10 km.
While Kang-hoo¡¯s teleportation ability has limitations, Kenji can use his skill anytime as long as he has mana.
Thebination of Kenji¡¯s spatial ability and Yuji¡¯s extreme damage-dealing ability.
It¡¯s abination seen many times. It¡¯s the samebination as Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwan-hyeong¡¯s abilities seen in the Hell of Judgment.
-¡°The video recorded yesterday showed the two entering Osaka city.¡±
-¡°The Rikou Guild immediately issued a warning statement about the two hunters, demanding their immediate departure from Osaka city.¡±
¡°It¡¯s going to be quite troublesome.¡±
It seemed that the timing of the visit to Japan was not ideal.
Of course, if one were to nitpick every single thing, there would be no ce to go. It¡¯s something to ept.
¡°There is no paradise in this damn world. Maybe hell, but not paradise.¡±
Lying on the bed, Kang-hoo murmured a familiar phrase.
It was one of the things the original Shin Kang-hoo said to Jang Si-hwan.
It truly suits this world. An era where strength bes thew, and weakness bes a sin.
¡°Phew.¡±
As soon as he exhaled a hot sigh, he fell asleep.
To focus on farming the Dark Period from tomorrow, recovering his stamina was essential. He needed to improve his condition.
A week passed since then.
Level: 188.
His level increased by 2 each time he cleared a dungeon, and he had cleared a total of five dungeons.
¡¾Shin Kang-hoo Lv. 188¡¿
¡¾ss: Assassin¡¿
¡¾Unique Talents: Quite Excellent Stamina / Exceptionally Keen Vision¡¿
¡¾Strength: 760¡¿¡¾Agility: 1015¡¿
¡¾Stamina: 841¡¿¡¾Mana: 21¡¿
¡¾Anti-Magic: 510¡¿¡¾Endurance: 660¡¿
¡¾* Dark Period: 280¡¿
His Dark Period stat had greatly increased.
It rose from 130 to 280, an increase of 150.
He had predicted about 15 Dark Period per dungeon, achieving double the target. It was a significant overachievement!
¡°Srkium, I used Mad Srkium to my heart¡¯s content. This must be what it feels like for bones and muscles to melt.¡±
Lying sprawled in front of the dungeon exit, Kang-hoo was cooling off in the cold wind.
He was down to 8 Srkium, and Mad Srkium had also dropped to 10. It was time to buy more.
He had saved up his Gaksinhwan.
There were many times when he felt the urge to use it.
However, due to its rarity and difficulty to replenish, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to use it. His hands trembled.
Nevertheless, he managed to seed in the strategy. It was partly because the dungeon level wasn¡¯t very high.
¡°ck Moon sh is significant.¡±
That was Kang-hoo¡¯s overall assessment.
If an average hunter had tackled the same strategy, they would have barely raised their Dark Period by 30 across five dungeons.
Hunting wraith monsters is essential forrge-scale Dark Period farming, but it¡¯s impossible to kill them without the right skills.
Kang-hoo used the hidden skill, ck Moon sh, which utilizes Dark Period, to hunt wraith monsters.
The difference between having the relevant skill and not having it resulted in more than five times the expected value. It was an enormous disparity.
¡°I plundered two skills from the fifth dungeon, which had a mid-boss and a main boss¡ This is enough.¡±
In the previous four dungeons, whichcked mid-bosses or main bosses, no additional skills were obtained.
However, thest dungeon had two bosses, and he managed to gain skills from them.
¡¾ck Night (ÆáÒ¹)¡¿
¡¾Skill Mastery: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾On nights without the sun, the recovery speed of Dark Period doubles.¡¿
Currently, Kang-hoo¡¯s Dark Period recovery speed is 1 per minute, thanks to the Pure ck Pilgrim.
Thanks to ck Night, he could now expect a recovery of 2 per minute, provided it¡¯s nighttime.
Dark Period cannot naturally recover without the influence of constetions, so rted effects are extremely important.
¡¾Hypocrisy (ƒ^ÉÆ)¡¿
¡¾Skill Mastery: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾When attacked with divine power, part of the divine power is converted to Dark Period. However, non-attribute attacks are excluded.¡¿
Another intriguing skill was obtained.
Perhaps because all the undead monsters in the dungeon were based on Dark Period, the skill became specialized like this.
In the future, there will be times when he faces monsters that wield divine power or fights with hunters.
Thinking ahead, it was a very good setup.
For instance, it would be greatly beneficial when facing divine power-based hunters like Saintess Elizabeth.
¡®Currently, there¡¯s only one Dark Period-based skill, ck Moon sh, but it will increase in the future.¡¯
It was simr to investing in a promising blue-chip stock, so Kang-hoo had high expectations.
Dark Period-rted skills are powerful, just as the rarity of the stat suggests.
Dark Period is generally expected to double damage for every 150 points up to a stat of 1,000.
Thus, ck Moon sh, which increased by 150 this time, could be expected to do at least twice as much damage as before.
Even conservatively speaking, that much, and considering various variables, it could very well be 2.5 or 3 times more.
¡°Damn Takashi bastard.¡±
Being alone in the dungeon, he cursed Takashi immediately.
During the entire week of tackling the undead dungeons, Kang-hoo struggled to regain the habit of Shadow Step.
But he couldn¡¯t find it.
Although he memorized every movement, he couldn¡¯t identify where the problem was.
That thought made his movements and posture more refined, but it left him feeling frustrated.
With this, the tug-of-war with Takashi waspletely one-sided.
Of course, he gritted his teeth and didn¡¯t send a single trivial DM to Takashi during the entire week.
He had deeply appealed to be friends, so now he decided to wait until Takashi contacted him.
That¡¯s Takashi¡¯s personality.
If he gets too close, he loses interest and pulls away.
Yes, ¡®entric¡¯ was the perfect term. To maneuver his psychology, the right recipe was essential.
Chapter 181: The Qualification Of A Friend (1)
Chapter 181: The Qualification Of A Friend (1)
The rain that had started in the evening grew heavier, and by midnight, it had turned into a full-blown downpour.
The TV, which was left on, broadcasted a breaking news segment about a heavy rain warning. It seemed that some areas were already experiencing flooding.
Whether in Korea or Japan, heavy rains always caused a ruckus.
Going out in such weather would be pure misery.
However, standing on the terrace, sipping coffee while overlooking the city, had its own charm.
The unique rhythm created by the raindrops became a pleasant noise. It felt like it was wiping away all unnecessary thoughts.
The hotel, with a clear view of Osaka¡¯s cityscape, was sofortable that I could imagine living here forever.
This hotel was exclusive to members and affiliates of the Rikou Guild, and the service quality was truly exceptional.
¡°I¡¯ve managed to increase it by another 15 billion won.¡±15 billion won. That was the amount recovered from selling the items of the Touishi Guild member who had lost his life to Kang-hoo.
Thanks to An Yeong-ho personally overseeing the entire process, all I had to do was check the bnce without worrying about anyplications.
185 billion won.
That was the amount in the bank ount.
Including the small change, it would add up to an extra 10 or 20 million won, but that calction was left aside.
Moreover, once midnight passed and the new month began, the limit on the gold card would be reset.
Last month, I used the gold card provided by the Spitfire Guild to purchase supplies from Master K.
This month would likely be simr to thest, especially since the supply of Srkium and Mad Srkium was running low.
Kang-hoo was thinking about other tasks that could be done in the future.
As for farming during the dark period, as long as the dungeon was ready, it could be done at any time.
The reason for stopping after clearing five areas wasn¡¯t just due to physical exhaustion.
Spending an entire week facing nothing but undead monsters had be tedious.
Thebat patterns and routines had grown too monotonous, so I intentionally broke the flow.
Familiarity, adaptation, and repetition.
These were changes I despised the most. They stifled creativity and led tocency.
¡°Skill copying requires caution, so I can¡¯t make up my mind easily.¡±
The chance to copy a skill obtained earlier was still avable.
¡¾Skill Copy 1 Use Remaining¡¿
¡¾You can copy one skill from a Hunter, regardless of gender, level, or ss, as long as you have witnessed it directly.¡¿
¡¾There are no penalties for ss mismatch during the process, and efficiency is inherited 100%.¡¿
It was a 100% freedom skill copy with no restrictions or limitations.
As long as the target was a Hunter, and the skill was something seen directly with one¡¯s own eyes.
If these conditions were met, even a skill from a level 1,000 Hunter could be copied.
The first person I thought of copying a skill from was Jang Si-hwan.
However, attractive skills weren¡¯t exclusive to Jang Si-hwan. Besides, he was a bit different from Kang-hoo.
Since the chance to copy a skill couldn¡¯t be taken back, I was carefully considering my options.
On the other hand, thinking about it so much had also made it a situation where the opportunity might just go to waste.
¡°Should I perhaps look for Cheonsalnosu?¡±
I decided to change my line of thought.
Cheonsalnosu.
A named assassin in China who had just turned seventy this year.
As an assassin like Kang-hoo, he had a lot of skills worth copying.
However, as indicated by the ¡®sal¡¯ (kill) in his nickname, he responded to outsiders with absolute retribution.
Because of this, no Hunter dared to approach the ce where Cheonsalnosu resided.
Regardless of their intentions, they would be killed by his hand before they had a chance to exin.
¡°Though it¡¯s risky, in terms of value, Cheonsalnosu might be the better option. I¡¯ll need to go to China soon.¡±
After much consideration, it seemed that copying a skill from an assassin like him would be the best choice.
He had a wide range of skills specialized in assassination, whether for mass killing or single-target killing.
Even if I could sessfully copy just one of these, future battles would be much easier.
Of course¡ it was still uncertain whether I could get close enough to witness a skill with my own eyes.
Kang-hoo started thinking about other tasks that could be done while still in Japan.
The skill-copying task rted to Cheonsalnosu was meaningless until I went to China.
¡°Wasn¡¯t the Corrupted Truth in Japan?¡±
What came to mind was the set effect rted to the dagger Kang-hoo was currently wielding, the Corrupted Conviction.
¡¾Corrupted Resolution ¨C Disys the location of five items that possess the set effect ¡®Corrupted Resolution.¡¯
The location can only be disyed when the item is in a dungeon, and cannot be known if owned by a specific individual.
The list of five items is as follows: Dagger, Breastte, Ne, and two Rings.¡¿
The dagger was already in Kang-hoo¡¯s possession.
Upon checking the location of the others, the breastte was in Germany, and the ne was in South Africa.
One of the rings was in China. The remaining one was confirmed to be in Japan.
Since it disyed the current location like a GPS, it was easy to pinpoint which dungeon it was in.
The only problem was¡
¡°Fukuoka Liberation Area, huh?¡±
The problem was which territory that dungeon belonged to.
In Japan, it was called Fukuoka Kaihoku, simr in name to Korea¡¯s Liberation Area.
Judging by the nature of the situation, it was simr to Korea¡¯s Osan situation.
Multiple guilds werepeting for the open dungeon and the right to mine the magic stones.
There was a guild that almost took control, but it fell through at thest moment due to the formation of an anti-force alliance.
This area was far from Rikou Guild¡¯s jurisdiction. Officially, I couldn¡¯t expect any help.
So, I called An Yeong-ho, just to see if he had any connections in the Fukuoka Liberation Area.
If anyone could help, it would be him.
Due to drinking a lot of coffee all evening, I couldn¡¯t sleep when dawn came.
So, I headed to the underground training ground that Fumiya had kindly arranged for me.
Since I couldn¡¯t sleep anyway, I thought I might as well loosen up my body a bit.
It wasn¡¯t that my body wasn¡¯t tired, but I disliked the idea of lying around idly when I couldn¡¯t sleep.
Inside, there was a variety of weapons. It felt like they had everything except for what they didn¡¯t have.
Of course, they weren¡¯t high-end weapons since they were meant for practice and training, but they were more than sufficient for individual practice.
Kang-hoo, who had been fiddling with a dagger for a while, soon pushed it aside.
After spending an entire week gripping a dagger, he wanted to avoid any interaction with it, at least for now.
¡°Should I give it a try?¡±
The weapon Kang-hoo chose was a magic bullet gun.
Thanks to his passive skill, Ultra-Sense ¨C Weapon, he didn¡¯t need to learn the basic operations separately.
Since he didn¡¯t have any gunner-rted skills, he couldn¡¯t use any skills to utilize the magic bullets more effectively.
However, the basic magic bullet shot, which involved condensing mana, was still possible.
All he had to do was gather the mana into a single point.
Then, the gun¡¯s focusing device would gather the mana in one ce and startpressing it to the maximum.
Beep. Beep beep. Beep.
Kang-hoo pressed a few buttons on the training device located inside the training ground.
It was a device that created virtual targets, allowing you to set the desired level in front of you.
Using magic stones, it generated a sort of mana mass. You could think of it as a barrier resembling a human body.
He set it to simte a level 200 Hunter, creating a virtual target with durability and stamina to match that level.
And then.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz!
Kang-hoo began pouring mana into the magic bullet gun at full power.
The existing mana was immediately sucked in and vanished at the start, and soon after, Mana Hypersensitivity activated.
Then, as if watching a vacuum cleaner, the surrounding mana was explosively sucked into Kang-hoo.
That mana was absorbed straight into the gun, and every time it did, the magic bullet gun vibrated.
As time passed, the gun began to turn slightly red, showing signs of overheating.
Just as his body, feeling the strain of excessive mana recovery, started to groan from a headache.
¡°Hoo.¡±
Kang-hoo took a deep breath and fired at the virtual target, aligning with the aiming point.
It was a trigger pull in a state where only pure mana was infused. No skills were used.
And at that moment.
Boom¡¡!
The virtual target exploded.
At the same time, the message ¡°Instant Death¡± appeared on the scoreboard to the right.
In other words, the magic bullet Kang-hoo had just fired was powerful enough to instantly kill a level 200 Hunter!
¡®So, this is how Mana Hypersensitivity can be used? In that case, the magic bullet gun might actually be quitepatible with me.¡¯
Kang-hoo¡¯s eyebrows twitched.
Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be possible to use such a powerful shot frequently.
It also required time to gather mana, so it wasn¡¯t a card that could be used instantly in an emergency.
But using the magic bullet gun as a supplementary or secondary concept seemed quite viable.
Or, in a pinch on the battlefield, it would be possible to improvise by seizing and using the enemy¡¯s gun.
Suddenly, Kang-hoo remembered something Ban Se-young had said in the past.
A genius assassin who handles everything by himself.
If I could handle other weapons, wouldn¡¯t it be possible to call myself a genius ¡®Hunter¡¯ who handles everything alone? He smiled at the silly thought.
¡°I really have no sense of humor or wit in this area.¡±
Kang-hoo was judging himself more critically and urately than anyone else.
While Kang-hoo was resting and trying to find a way to reach the Fukuoka Liberation Area through An Yeong-ho.
Takashi was staring at the DM window of the secure Huntergram ount, with no contact even after a week.
¡°Did I offend him by pointing something out? He didn¡¯t seem like the kind of person to be so petty.¡±
Since the day they met, and he sent that first message to confirm the address, Kang-hoo hadn¡¯t contacted him at all.
Although he didn¡¯t desperately want to meet him, Kang-hoo was someone whose skills he wanted to observe more closely.
But as time passed without contact, he started wondering if he had somehow offended him.
The truth was¡ he was bored.
He hadn¡¯t had much interaction with the members of Justicetely.
Even when they briefly gathered in Seoul before, it was just to see Vincent and Elizabeth.
In fact, no one paid much attention to him during the gathering.
Of course, he didn¡¯t expect them to.
He just wanted to chat a little under the name of ¡®colleagues¡¯ or ¡®friends,¡¯ to get to know each other better.
But it seemed everyone was too busy with their own matters or just didn¡¯t care about him, as no one really spoke to him.
Even Emilia and Yu Cheonghwa, who usually treated him warmly, were now entirely focused on the newly joined Elizabeth.
Since then, both of them seemed to have gone into a dungeon, as they were out of contact.
Even though he was a member of Justice, Takashi was feeling a sense of istion so profound it bordered on loneliness.
Although he didn¡¯t show it, Takashi was feeling cold and distant emotions throughout his entire body.
¡°There really aren¡¯t any decent assassins. I can¡¯t remember seeing anyone promisingtely, but that guy¡¡±
Kang-hoo was definitely different.
That¡¯s why he kept thinking about him.
It didn¡¯t seem like Kang-hoo had shown everything in front of him, and it would be fun to explore further.
However, seeking out Kang-hoo without a good reason felt like a blow to his pride, and it would look bad.
So, he decided to throw out some bait.
But then.
¡°No, what kind of friend doesn¡¯t contact at all? Is a friend someone you only look for when you need something?¡±
While sending the message, Takashi grumbled.
Kang-hoo was exactly the kind of person who was annoying but whom you still wanted to see!
Chapter 182: The Qualification Of A Friend (2)
Chapter 182: The Qualification Of A Friend (2)
¡°As expected.¡±
Kang-hooughed as he checked the notification on his suddenly buzzing smartphone.
It was because Takashi had sent a message through Huntergram. The content was as entric as Takashi himself.
-Hey, handle it like I asked.
-Oh, I sent this by mistake. I meant to send it to someone else. Sorry about that. Carry on.
It seemed he didn¡¯t want to directly ask why there had been no contact, so he pretended it was a mistake.
¡°No fool would fall for such a clumsy act, but in this situation, it¡¯s better to y along.¡±
Just as hisughter began to fade, another message popped up, making him chuckle again. Such a simple guy.
For the past week, Kang-hoo had been in a situation where he wanted to contact Takashi but couldn¡¯t.He was curious about the unresolved issues Takashi had left behind, yet he deliberately kept his distance.
It wasn¡¯t a situation where he could meet Takashi just because he wanted to. For Kang-hoo, farming during the dark period was his top priority.
At that time, whether intentional or not, not contacting Takashi naturally turned into a game of push and pull.
It might seem odd to use the term ¡®push and pull¡¯ between two men, rather than between a man and a woman¡
But if we¡¯re talking about rtionships between people, it¡¯s clear that push and pull had worked to his advantage.
Right now, if you remove The Thirteen Stars from Takashi¡¯s personalwork, he would bepletely alone.
It wasn¡¯t surprising that loneliness clung to him like a passive skill. It was almost an inevitable oue.
And so¡
Kang-hoo pretended to fall for the content of the message and replied smoothly.
-Oh, I was so busy that I missed the chance to contact you. It¡¯s great timing. How have you been?
He didn¡¯t forget to boost Takashi¡¯s pride a little. This much was easy.
Two hourster.
Kang-hoo was able to meet Takashi in a location not far from Osaka city.
Technically, he met Takashi¡¯s clone, but seeing the clone was almost like seeing the real person.
The meeting ce was in front of a slightly old, but still fairly well-maintained, five-story apartment building.
However, it didn¡¯t seem like anyone lived there.
Usually, in such apartments, there¡¯s a distinct human scent, but the surroundings werepletely quiet.
As he wondered why, Takashi¡¯s clone, standing next to Kang-hoo, spoke up.
¡°Several of the apartment¡¯s front doors have be entrances directly connected to dungeons.¡±
¡°Did you buy the entire apartment?¡±
¡°That¡¯s the conclusion, yes.¡±
¡°It¡¯s the most certain way to manage a dungeon.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded as his question was answered.
This wasn¡¯t an umon situation.
Dungeon entrances don¡¯t always appear in predetermined ces.
For example, they might appear in front of a subway exit or on an apartment rooftop.
In some cases, they even appear in the middle of a river or sea, which always makes ess challenging.
¡°Convincing thest resident was the hardest part. But now that I¡¯ve secured the entire dungeon, it¡¯s fine.¡±
Takashi, with his arms crossed, nodded in satisfaction, which somehow looked amusing.
It seemed he wanted to boast but didn¡¯t want to do so openly, yet he also wanted some reaction from Kang-hoo.
At this point, Kang-hoo was intentionally trying to dive into Takashi¡¯s loneliness to strengthen their bond.
So, even though he understood Takashi¡¯s ¡®trivial¡¯ intentions, Kang-hoo skillfully responded to his expectations.
¡°That¡¯s impressive. By securing the area like this, it definitely makes it hard for other hunters to get involved.¡±
¡°If they interfere, they¡¯ll all die.¡±
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Takashi swung his sword threateningly. His movements were indeed sharp¡ªboth light and destructive.
Takashi continued speaking.
¡°The dungeon connected to this apartment has a unique entry method. So, I¡¯m having a bit of trouble with it.¡±
¡°Like what?¡±
¡°Depending on how you enter, the part of the dungeon you connect to changes. The scenery varies based on the method.¡±
¡°Is there an unknown case?¡±
¡°Exactly.¡±
Takashi affirmed it naturally, but Kang-hoo didn¡¯t take his words at face value.
Takashi, being the cautious type, would never show an uncharted dungeon to an outsider.
It¡¯s due to his perfectionist tendencies. He doesn¡¯t reveal a future he can¡¯t predict to others.
Especially when it¡¯s only their second meeting. He¡¯s not the type to cause trouble for others.
¡®He¡¯s testing me on purpose.¡¯
Kang-hoo realized that Takashi was conducting a kind of test.
If we give it a fitting name, it would be assessing the qualifications of a friend.
It¡¯s something Takashi did with Emilia and Yu Cheonghwa in the original work as well. He was checking if they could get closer.
Kang-hoo asked.
¡°Is it alright for me to experience this dungeon? It seems like it¡¯s something Takashi-nim is currently researching.¡±
¡°What else would hunters build connections for? It¡¯s all about conquering dungeons. Since you wanted to see me, let¡¯s take this chance to explore the dungeon.¡±
He was trying to sound as cool as possible, but it was so obvious that it wasn¡¯t cool at all.
Would Takashi realize it? If someone filmed him and showed him, he¡¯d see how awkward he looked.
Kang-hoo sensed Takashi¡¯s immaturity in this aspect. In a good way, it could be called innocence; in a bad way, well¡
In fact, Chae Gwanhyeong in the original work really disliked this trait of Takashi.
He criticized him for not being able to hide his true intentions, saying that one day The Thirteen Stars would be in danger because of Takashi.
As someone who believed in fate, once Chae Gwanhyeong made up his mind, there was no turning back.
¡°Please do some scouting. After all, assassins are specialized for this kind of work, right?¡±
¡°Understood.¡±
As soon as the words were spoken, Takashi started moving busily.
The process was quite peculiar.
When opening the front doors of some houses, portals leading to the dungeon appeared.
Stepping in and out of these, and at times infusing them with mana, it felt as if there was a predetermined pattern for moving forward. It wasn¡¯t just random actions.
How much time had passed like this?
At some point, a crimson-lit passage suddenly opened as if a new door had been unlocked.
It was an open path into the dungeon that had been blocked until now.
Kang-hoo, who had finished preparing, spoke up.
¡°I¡¯m going in.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll follow right after you.¡±
Before stepping forward, Kang-hoo summoned his clone with a cloning technique.
For a moment, Takashi¡¯s eyes trembled slightly. He had grasped Kang-hoo¡¯s cautious approach.
But to avoid showing his thoughts, he quickly masked his expression, returning to his usualposed demeanor.
As Kang-hoo¡¯s clone entered the dungeon.
Shuaa!
Through the eyes of the clone, Kang-hoo could see a ming sword descending straight from the air.
The sword was over 5 meters long and seemed thick enough to require several grown men to hold it together.
It was clear that this was not a me sword meant to be blocked, but one that had to be avoided at all costs.
Tap-tap!
The clone narrowly dodged the attack, barely escaping being engulfed in mes by a hair¡¯s breadth.
Simultaneously, a string of fire connected to the clone, as if someone had targeted it.
¡°A long-range pattern, huh?¡±
He could guess what it meant.
This was why Takashi had asked him to go in first¡ªbecause there were such variables from the start.
He must have wanted to observe Kang-hoo¡¯s response, and it was a good start. Thankfully, he hadn¡¯t sent his main body in first.
Swish.
Soon, Kang-hoo¡¯s main body entered the dungeon as well. Only then did Takashi follow behind him.
Inside, Kang-hoo took the ce of his clone, which had entered the disappearance stage after its duration ended, and positioned himself to lure the me sword.
Kang-hoo was certain.
There was an entity somewhere in the dungeon creating the me swords, and the sword was falling at the farthest point from it.
Yes, it was a judgment based on the theory of patterns in all things that Takashi always insisted upon.
Sure enough.
Fsss.
The clone soon disappeared.
When Kang-hoo positioned himself at a distance, a connected ring of fire wrapped around him from somewhere.
Bang!
At the same time, Kang-hoo used Shadow Step to send a shadow trailing behind Takashi.
Then, just as the me sword was fiercely plunging toward Kang-hoo¡¯s main body from the air.
sh!
Kang-hoo swapped ces with the shadow. It was a perfect exchange.
He quickly moved out of the me sword¡¯s range, sessfully handling the long-range pattern.
Afterward.
Kang-hoo¡¯s ¡®grind¡¯ was repeated at regr intervals.
Each time the me sword was about to fall, he would use his main body to ¡®designate¡¯ the target, then swap ces with the shadow when the sword struck.
It was a process that needed to be repeated within 20 seconds, but Kang-hoo executed the pattern withoutint.
¡°Takashi, you¡¯re testing me hard from the start? Well, this world is mine anyway.¡±
Kang-hooughed inwardly.
The numerous dungeons that appeared in the original work.
He had designed the patterns and content of the major dungeons, if not all of them.
Therefore, even if it was a pattern he had never experienced directly, he could quickly recognize and respond to it.
This time was no different.
From the moment he anticipated a long-range pattern, he immediately responded by using his skills.
If he had entered this dungeon without any thought, he might have been sliced in half and died right from the start.
Thinking about it, the situation was quite precarious. He could have lost his life.
Takashi must have known this.
He probably believed that only someone who could pass this level of test was qualified to get close to him.
If Kang-hoo didn¡¯t have the skill to survive, there was no need to see more.
He wouldn¡¯t have regretted it even if Kang-hoo had died. After all, he probably thought death was just a matter of time.
¡°I¡¯ll show you.¡±
Kang-hoo began to speed up. The long-range me sword pattern was now over.
What other pattern awaited him? It didn¡¯t matter. He was ready to think on his feet.
¡°Interesting, this guy.¡±
As time passed, Takashi¡¯s curiosity about Kang-hoo grew deeper. His intrigue only increased.
In fact, if Kang-hoo hadn¡¯t responded properly to the pattern, Takashi was prepared to step in at any time.
Just as Kang-hoo had guessed, Takashi had alreadypleted the pattern trials at various connected dungeon entrances.
He had given Kang-hoo bonus points right from the start when he used the cloning technique before entering.
Takashi liked Kang-hoo¡¯s cautiousness, his refusal to take safety for granted, even when things appeared secure.
Next, Takashi was impressed when Kang-hoo recognized the long-range pattern as soon as he entered and used Shadow Step to deal with it.
It was alsomendable how Kang-hoo continued to handle the long-range pattern every time the cooldown ended. He didn¡¯t shirk responsibility.
Going forward, Kang-hoo continued to analyze the pattern, repeatedly moving closer and farther strategically.
At some point, he even began to lead Takashi, saying, ¡°This direction is safe.¡±
¡°He¡¯s as meticulous as me, or even more so. I really like this guy more than I thought.¡±
Takashi found himself increasingly attracted to Kang-hoo¡¯s sharp and skillful handling of patterns as a hunter.
The theory of patterns in all things!
In the dungeon strategy theory that Takashi believed in, Kang-hoo was almost like a textbook.
It was as if he was the one who had designed this dungeon, considering even the smallest details in his response.
It was incrediblyfortable.
Chapter 183: The Qualification Of A Friend (3)
Afterward, Kang-hoo and Takashi continued to advance inside the dungeon.
There were hardly any battles with monsters, and even if there were, they were swiftly dealt with.
Thirty minutes passed like that.
Kang-hoo focused silently on solving the dungeon¡¯s patterns.
Thanks to that, Takashi, who had nothing to do, started feeling bored.
¡°Shall we stop now?¡±
Takashi was the first to break the silence.
Kang-hoo replied with a smile.
¡°It seems you¡¯re not curious about anything else anymore?¡±¡°Hmm?¡±
¡°I was wondering how long you¡¯d continue with the tests.¡±
¡°Well¡ I suppose this is enough?¡±
Even though his true intentions were exposed, Takashi didn¡¯t seem particrly embarrassed.
After all, he had brought Kang-hoo to a dungeon where the patterns were tantly obvious. Only a fool wouldn¡¯t have noticed.
Takashi asked another question.
¡°Didn¡¯t you want to take it easy in an unfamiliar dungeon?¡±
It¡¯s a natural instinct for a hunter.
Facing uncertainty can be directly linked to death, so most hunters avoid it.
Of course, there are hunters who enjoy challenges and adventures, but usually, they prefer to have prior information.
That way, they can minimize risks while reaping all the rewards.
Kang-hoo shook his head.
¡°Well, who knows what might happen next? Is there any point in trying to stayfortable in a dungeon?¡±
¡°Heh.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just my nature to stay constantly alert, ask questions, and explore and understand the situation.¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s words, spoken nonchntly, carried genuine sincerity.
Since awakening in this world, Kang-hoo had never lived in peace.
For an ordinary person, the situation would have already led to extreme fatigue and breakdown.
But Kang-hoo enjoyed the tension.
And he was grateful to have a goal he had to pursue with all his might.
The Thirteen Stars were still a significant threat to Kang-hoo, making them a motivating force.
Takashi, who was in front of him now, was no different.
In terms of level alone, he was at least three times higher than Kang-hoo. They were onpletely different nes of existence.
¡°Honestly, I was surprised. You have quite a few impressive skills for an assassin.¡±
Takashi spoke in admiration.
If he knew that what he saw today was only a portion of the skills Kang-hoo possessed, he would be even more astonished.
After all, since Takashi was still connected to The Thirteen Stars, Kang-hoo hadn¡¯t shown him everything.
Still, Kang-hoo had confidence that it was enough.
Takashi focused on observing Kang-hoo¡¯s Shadow Step, Duplication Technique, Intuition, and Soul Wave.
Even though it¡¯s natural for an assassin to excel in deception.
It was quite surprising to see that Kang-hoo also had preemptive evasion abilities and mental capabilities.
While Takashi¡¯s foundation was swordsmanship, his mastery of the Duplication Technique alone had brought him to his current level.
Hunters admired Takashi¡¯s ability to manipte duplicates and also found it extremely tricky.
Just having one or two additional secondary abilities attached to a primary skill could change how one is evaluated.
But Kang-hoo had quite a few skills thatpletely broke away from the assassin mold.
And Takashi was certain.
Kang-hoo hadn¡¯t fully trusted him yet, so he had deliberately hidden some of his abilities.
That only made Takashi more curious. The more something is hidden, the more one naturally wants to see what¡¯s inside.
An assassin with great skills and specs, who constantly questions everything and works tirelessly.
Takashi found Kang-hoo quite appealing. He felt they were cut from a simr cloth.
Outside the dungeon.
Kang-hoo and Takashi sat on the steps in front of an apartment.
Since the apartment was on a hill, a long flight of stairs led down from the front.
Although no one lives here now.
It seemed like the kind of stairs where children would have run up and down while ying when people still lived here.
Takashi drank the coffee he had prepared in his backpack. It was warm mixed coffee in a thermos.
It was questionable why he brought it since a duplicate couldn¡¯t drink, but thanks to him, Kang-hoo got free coffee.
While sipping the warm coffee and soothing his slightly chilled body,
Takashi¡¯s duplicate, sitting beside him, pretended to drink and matched Kang-hoo¡¯s rhythm.
At that moment, a man came out from the mansion visible at the bottom of the stairs, took out the recycling, and returned.
Sitting here and looking at the scenery brought to mind a residential area from the 1990s¡
It was cozy and peaceful, a ce where no other thoughts intruded. It felt good.
The silence that followed was also fine. Kang-hoo enjoyed silence rather than finding it awkward.
But there was something Kang-hoo really wanted to say to Takashi, so he broke the silence and spoke first.
¡°I¡¯m not looking to chatter with you or deliberately seeking any benefits.¡±
It was the truth.
It was true that he approached Takashi to separate him from The Thirteen Stars.
But he absolutely hadn¡¯t approached him just to extract dungeon information or something valuable from him.
On the contrary, he genuinely appreciated Takashi¡¯s passion for the meticulous analysis, research, and strategy concerning the dungeon.
There was certainly a part where he felt that they were simr.
Takashi asked back.
¡°Don¡¯t you think you don¡¯t know much about me? This is the first time we¡¯ve met, after all.¡±
¡°Does that matter?¡±
¡°¡¡¡±
Indeed.
When a rtionship was formed and how well you knew each other was never the most important thing.
That¡¯s how it is with hunters.
Even if you were close and friendly yesterday, you could be enemies today.
If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s fortunate. Tomorrow, they might not even be by your side. Death is always near, like the wind.
¡°I just want to approach and conquer each dungeon with the same affection as you do. I want to meticulously study, conquer, and feel the satisfaction of those heart-pounding dungeons.¡±
Kang-hoo found himself speaking much more than usual in front of Takashi, who wasn¡¯t good with words.
He didn¡¯t find it unnatural or unpleasant.
It was because Takashi was important enough for him to suppress his natural personality and speak with higher tension.
Takashi, seemingly moved by Kang-hoo¡¯s words, nodded in agreement.
¡°I also like to challenge dungeons fiercely from start to finish. It makes me feel alive.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded instead of responding. That was a very Takashi-like answer. He was just like his character in the original story.
Takashi added.
¡°I tested you before, too. I¡¯m sorry for testing you again this time. I just wanted to know more about you.¡±
¡°I understand.¡±
¡°Next time, would you like to properly strategize with me? There are quite a few unsolved dungeons left.¡±
¡°That would be great.¡±
Of course, it¡¯s okay.
Regardless of cutting ties with The Thirteen Stars, Takashi is also a very capable hunter.
Honestly, it¡¯s more a question of whether he would fit in with me, rather than me wondering if I¡¯d fit in with him.
¡°Let¡¯s not worry about each other¡¯s level or what we do. It¡¯s too exhausting.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s just make sure we pull our own weight, then.¡±
¡°Next time, I¡¯ll contact you first. I hope by then, we can at least call each other by name.¡±
¡°I¡¯m Shin Kang-hoo. I¡¯m 29 years old.¡±
¡°Akiyama Takashi. Thirty-three.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll call you hyung.¡±
¡°No, just call me Takashi. I¡¯m not too fond of the word hyung¡¡±
At that moment, Kang-hoo paused as a thought about Takashi crossed his mind.
It wasn¡¯t directly mentioned in the original, but it was implied¡ªsomething about Takashi and the younger brother he lost, which had led him to live as a recluse.
It seemed that had been faithfully reflected in the character. If that¡¯s the case, Kang-hoo could fully understand Takashi¡¯s pain.
¡°Alright, Takashi.¡±
¡°Yeah, Shin Kang-hoo. Let¡¯s meet again.¡±
The two stood up and brushed off their seats.
Kang-hoo was so ustomed to farewells and reunions that the sudden shift in atmosphere didn¡¯t feel awkward.
As Kang-hoo was about to leave the apartmentplex and say goodbye to Takashi, Takashi showed him his right pinky finger.
At first, Kang-hoo wondered what kind of signal it was, but Takashi¡¯s next words cleared up all the confusion.
¡°When you use Shadow Step, your pinky finger trembles slightly. Check it yourself. You¡¯ll see the difference.¡±
It was about a w in Kang-hoo¡¯s habit, the weakness in his Shadow Step skill, which he had never been able to resolve on his own.
As a gift for bing friends, it was a significant one, as precious to Kang-hoo as life itself.
Back at the Rikou Tower.
Kang-hoo went straight to the underground training room to start practicing.
As Takashi had pointed out, there was indeed a slight tremor when he used Shadow Step.
¡®Because the mana distribution wasn¡¯t perfect, the mana flow changed just before movement.¡¯
The cause had been diagnosed.
It was a habit.
His eagerness to deploy the shadow quickly had led him to only cover 99% of the details, not 100%.
The missing 1% was the slight tremor in his pinky finger.
¡®I¡¯ve gained advice that can¡¯t be bought with money. It feels like a block has been lifted. And I saw this on our first meeting.¡¯
Kang-hoo felt a renewed sense of admiration for Takashi¡¯s observation skills.
He was pretty good himself, but in terms of observation skills, he seemed to be a bitckingpared to Takashi.
In any case, he felt proud to have gained something significant today.
Getting closer to Takashi didn¡¯t require deep contemtion.
With him, it¡¯s better to be straightforward and push forward honestly than to overthink or calcte.
After all, he¡¯s the type who doesn¡¯t respond well to beating around the bush or ttery.
So Kang-hoo nned to continue being honest with Takashi in the future.
If he thought Takashi was valuable, telling him so straightforwardly would be the right answer.
It might sound strange depending on how it¡¯s heard, but Takashi was the kind of person who really appreciated such honesty.
¡°I¡¯ll postpone the remaining five dark dungeons for now.¡±
Kang-hoo checked the current situation on his smartphone, confirming the strategy schedule he had deliberately put on hold.
The full-scale war with the Toushi Guild was intensifying again.
Of course, the dungeons weren¡¯t in thebat zone, but he didn¡¯t want to push himself unnecessarily.
¡®I remember that the Imbnce Point is near JR Sapporo Station. But the exact location isn¡¯t clear.¡¯
One of the reasons Kang-hoo came to Japan was because the Imbnce Point was here.
It was a space he had already enjoyed domestically, a ce where he could take advantage of the errors created by time and space.
He had always nned to visit it when he came to Japan, but he couldn¡¯t remember the exact location in detail.
The original text mentioned it like this:
-The Imbnce Point near JR Sapporo Station was located inside an eerie dungeon next to a building that never received sunlight.
Jang Si-hwan had wondered how on earth he found the Imbnce Point here. The location was that absurd.
With that information, he would have to find a dungeon that met those conditions. It wouldn¡¯t be easy.
Just then.
A call came from An Yeong-ho.
Since the dungeon talks were on hold, there could only be one reason for him to call at this point.
¡°Hey, Yeong-ho.¡±
-Hyung, I found someone who can help us enter the Fukuoka Liberation Area. We¡¯ve got a free pass for the checkpoints.
¡°An insider.¡±
He had acquired a human pass to enter the Fukuoka Liberation Area.
Chapter 184: The Corrupted Truth (1)
Contrary to Kang-hoo¡¯s expectations that Ahn Yeong-ho would ask all sorts of questions, he didn¡¯t ask anything at all.
He simply obtained the ¡°Human Pass¡± that Kang-hoo needed, without questioning why it was necessary.
For Ahn Yeong-ho and the people dealing with him, silence often holds a more straightforward meaning than expected.
It means there is something they want to hide.
In front of the All-seeing Eye of Truth, people are forced to speak the truth, so they choose silence to prevent the truth from being exposed.
Kang-hoo assumed that Ahn Yeong-ho would probably conduct his own investigation into the Fukuoka Liberation Area.
It didn¡¯t matter to him at all.
After all, the Liberation Area is a ce where hunters live and fight, and it wouldn¡¯t be strange if someone visited out of curiosity.
Of course, it would be easy to bebeled as crazy. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if you got shot by a magic bullet and died anywhere, anytime.Thanks to Ahn Yeong-ho, Kang-hoo secured the pass to enter the outskirts of the Fukuoka Liberation Area.
The dungeon Kang-hoo had to go to was the Kanashimi Dungeon.
In Japanese, ¡°Kanashimi¡± means sorrow, and if expressed in the Korean style, it would be called the ¡°Sorrow Dungeon.¡± It¡¯s a name that seems to hold a story.
The entity managing the Kanashimi Dungeon was the Hayabusa Guild, which was also a dominant force in the Fukuoka Liberation Area.
True to its name, which means ¡°Falcon,¡± the Hayabusa Guild could potentially be the leading force in the Fukuoka Liberation Area.
They were on the verge of seizing all the rights.
However, a coalition of anti-Hayabusa forces, unwilling to stand idly by, had formed to resist them.
Guilds that were thought impossible to unite under any circumstances hade together as one.
As a result, the Fukuoka Liberation Area was at war every day.
With mercenaries of unknown nationality mixed in, it was nothing short of hell.
Among them, there were quite a few crazy people who openly came to enjoy killing.
In such a ce, even if Ishihara Yuuji suddenly popped up, there probably wouldn¡¯t be any hunters who would be surprised.
¡®There¡¯s definitely an irresistible charm to the Kanashimi Dungeon.¡¯
As Kang-hoo thought, there was a peculiarity to the Kanashimi Dungeon.
You could gain experience points just by simply being inside the dungeon.
Though the amount was minimal, the fact that you could umte experience points by just staying still attracted many hunters.
Especially those with low levels who couldn¡¯t find a way to level up.
In turn, many hunters came with the intention of kidnapping these low-level hunters or stealing their items.
They would often deliberately pick fights or hide and kill others to easily gain loot.
Thus, the Fukuoka Liberation Area was a vast arena of survival.
As for the remaining five dungeons Ahn Yeong-ho had, he informed that the strategy would be on hold for two days.
After sufficiently expressing his gratitude for the help, he immediately departed for Fukuoka.
When he headed to the rendezvous point with the coborator Ahn Yeong-ho mentioned, it turned out that the coborator was already there, prepared.
Both Kang-hoo and that person were wearing masks, so there was no way to recognize each other.
The only piece of information Kang-hoo knew about him was that he was from the Hayabusa Guild.
As expected, he was an insider.
But even so, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t fully trust this insider.
There were not infrequent cases where insiders were recruited by the opposition and became double agents.
So, just in case, he had also nned an escape via teleportation if necessary.
¡°Get in. It might be a bit awkward, but if you cooperate with this, I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡±
The insider pointed to the passenger seat of the sedan he had brought.
In the spot he pointed to, there was a long wig that seemed to be for a woman, ced with a nket.
He added an exnation.
¡°When we¡¯re checked, just put on the wig and cover yourself with the nket. Just let a bit of your hair show.¡±
¡°Got it.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
It was a way to get inside without the hassle of fighting or dealing with traps on the outskirts.
Even though it might look a bit awkward, as he said, Kang-hoo had no intention of refusing an easy method.
Soon after, Kang-hoo put on the wig and covered his body with the nket as much as possible.
Though there was still some distance to the Fukuoka Liberation Area¡¯s checkpoint, he prepared in advance.
Whoosh.
Rumble, rumble.
However, suddenly a strong wind started, followed by a heavy downpour.
He hadn¡¯t checked the weather forecast for the Fukuoka area, but it felt like a typhoon wasing. And it seemed to be quite arge one.
Whether it rained or not wasn¡¯t particrly important. The weather inside the dungeon would be different anyway.
Thus, the journey to the Liberation Area began.
The atmosphere of this entry was different from that of the Kimcheon Liberation Area, which had been rtively easier to approach.
Although Kang-hoo had been half-expecting that things wouldn¡¯t be so easy just because the person was an insider¡
Contrary to his expectations, entering the Liberation Area was achieved with surprising ease.
When they were stopped at the entrance for inspection, it ended with the insider showing his badge indicating his affiliation and rank.
There was a brief moment where someone looked at Kang-hoo sitting in the passenger seat, but the insider smoothly deflected it with a clever response.
-¡°She¡¯s my girlfriend who¡¯ll be with me tonight. Want me to show you her face if you¡¯re curious?¡±
-¡°Oh, no! Haha! Have a great night! You guys work so hard!¡±
-¡°Use this for yourpany dinner. You guys are doing great work.¡±
-¡°Thank you!¡±
By disguising Kang-hoo, who only revealed a small part of the wig, as his ¡®girlfriend,¡¯ the insider avoided all the hassle.
To further erase any suspicion, he even offered to show her face, which cleverly removed any doubts.
It was a smart strategy.
Even while the inspection was ongoing, gunshots could be heard nonstop in the surroundings.
There were even sounds of explosions, likely thest moments of a hunter who had tried to enter through abnormal means.
It was easy to guess that they had probablyid down a lot of mana traps or military-grade mines.
Understanding the situation wasn¡¯t difficult, and it made Kang-hoo once again realize the necessity of ¡®normal¡¯ entry.
Following the insider deeply into the Liberation Area, Kang-hoo was provided with a ce to stay.
The insider then suddenly disappeared, and Kang-hoo also left the provided amodation.
This was because he didn¡¯t fully trust him.
After fulfilling the request made by Ahn Yeong-ho, the insider could easily sell the information to the Hayabusa Guild without hesitation.
Since Kang-hoo had no intention of staying in the Liberation Area for long anyway, he immediately headed towards the location of the Kanashimi Dungeon.
¡°If you kill a member of the Hayabusa Guild, you will die too.¡±
As Kang-hoo moved towards the dungeon, he recalled one of the rules of the Fukuoka Liberation Area.
It seemed like there should be more detailed rules, but surprisingly, this was the only rule in the Liberation Area.
This was the reason why the full-scale war between the Hayabusa and anti-Hayabusa forces had been ongoing for months.
Murder, revenge for murder, and more revenge, a vicious cycle of retaliation¡
It was not normal.
¡°It¡¯s strangely fascinating, no matter how many times I think about it.¡±
Kang-hoo marveled at the set tracking effect that kept disying the item¡¯s location like a GPS.
Of course, the tracking structure was only possible for items connected to the Corrupted Resolution.
Anyway, since it clearly showed the location, there was no uncertainty about where to go next.
The problem was the process.
¡°This is a living hell.¡±
Even though there was still quite a distance to the Kanashimi Dungeon, battles were already taking ce in the streets.
Since no civilians lived there, most buildings were abandoned and in darkness.
Even the buildings were not an exception, with shattered windows and grotesque frameworks exposed.
Bang!
A gunshot echoed from somewhere.
Under the backdrop of pouring rain and a lonely crescent moon, a hunter fell, spilling blood.
It seemed like a hunter who had been moving through the rooftops got killed by a skilled sniper.
But that was only for a moment.
¡°Aaah!¡±
As soon as the sniper¡¯s position was exposed, another hunter approached and killed the sniper.
The sniper, who had just killed someone, met the same fate shortly after.
¡°¡¡±
Stealth seemed like a good option, even if it was a bit annoying and required attention.
Kang-hoo targeted a long-dead streemp and immediately executed ateral movement.
He quickly moved towards the dungeon while remaining in stealth mode.
What he just saw was merely an appetizer. The real chaos would be at the front of the dungeon.
30 minutester.
As Kang-hoo arrived at the front of the Kanashimi Dungeon, he faced the expected scene of a fierce battle.
There were so many hunters mixed together, fighting everywhere, that it seemed impossible to count them all.
It was more of a chaotic brawl than a strategic battle, with hunters focusing on killing visible enemies.
But in another sense, the battlefield was so vast that strategy seemed meaningless.
Since Kang-hoo had no intention of dancing with a sword in this hellish pit, he moved straight towards the entrance.
There were quite a few snipers visible.
Fortunately, no sniper detected his stealth and aimed at him. If they had, his intuition would have alerted him.
¡°Something¡¯s strange.¡±
The scene looked suspicious.
The entrance was surprisingly poorly guarded. There didn¡¯t seem to be much sniping aimed in that direction.
Normally, a lot of firepower would be concentrated at the entrance since it was the only way into the dungeon.
But it seemed like they didn¡¯t care much if someone entered.
Even the Hayabusa Guild¡¯s hunters didn¡¯t seem concerned about the entrance, as if they had something to rely on.
Kang-hoo had a hunch.
He checked one of the skills he had observed among the hunters he passed by.
¡¾Master of Maniption¡¿
He immediately used the Master of Maniption skill to copy one of his skills for a one-time use.
Before he knew it, he was right in front of the dungeon entrance.
There should have been some sniping at least, but it was still quiet. There were no signs ofmon magic bullets either.
In any case, Kang-hoo, who had no choice but to enter the dungeon, didn¡¯t hesitate.
Swoosh!
Kang-hoo¡¯s body slipped through the entrance and into the dungeon.
¡¾Petrification¡¿
¡¾Cloning Technique¡¿
¡¾Master of Maniption - Guardian Shield¡¿
He deployed three skills in quick session.
He protected his body with Petrification, used a clone to act as a bullet shield in the front, and built a barrier using the Guardian Shield copied from another hunter¡¯s skill.
Sure enough¡
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots rang out in quick session.
The area around the dungeon entrance, which he briefly surveyed, was a massive graveyard.
It was the fate of the hunters who entered, thinking the entrance was lightly guarded.
Indeed.
The seemingly loose defense was a thoroughly intentional trap.
The foolish hunters who fell into it all met their end.
But Kang-hoo was different.
Whoosh!
Kang-hoo swiftly used Shadow Step to distance himself far from the entrance.
¡°He broke through!¡±
¡°Damn it, catch that guy!¡±
¡°How the hell did he figure it out?¡±
The Hayabusa Guild members, panicked by the survival of an intruder, urgently began chasing Kang-hoo.
And then¡
¡°¡¡±
A female hunter, recognizing the Shadow Step skill, stood up, realizing that the intruder was someone she had encountered before.
There was no doubt that she had seen that skill somewhere recently.
Chapter 185: The Corrupted Truth (2)
It was amusing to see the members of the Hayabusa Guild frantically chasing behind him.
On one hand, he thought it was eerie how meticulously they had set up the trap.
As he moved further from the entrance, the number of bodies piled up here and there seemed to increase.
Some had managed to escape the dangerous area near the entrance.
However, the joy was short-lived, as he found a body not too far away with a hole through the back of the skull.
Kang-hoo checked the location he had set for ¡®Teleportation¡¯ again.
It was right in front of the entrance.
Meaning, if he used teleportation, he could appear at the entrance, which also served as the exit, and leave immediately.
As long as he wasn¡¯t caught or killed here, there was no need to worry about escaping. He just shouldn¡¯t get distracted.Bang! Bang!
Amidst this, the sound of gunfire loudly assaulted Kang-hoo¡¯s ears.
Despite hearing the gunshots, he didn¡¯t dodge because his intuition had not been triggered.
His intuition not being triggered meant the aim wasn¡¯t precise, so there was no need to worry.
¡°It¡¯s absurd.¡±
Yes, it truly is.
It was astonishing that a being with such powers, a Constetion, had offered him a contract, bowing unterally to him.
Reflecting on it, it felt like a blessing to have encountered the Strategist of the Wilderness.
¡°A chase without a challenge isn¡¯t fun.¡±
While evading his pursuers, Kang-hoo orchestrated the situation just as he had envisioned.
¡¾Copse¡¿
The skill he actively used was ¡®Copse¡¯, which he had acquired in a dungeon he entered with Yun Sang-mi.
Crack-crunch!
As soon as he used the Copse skill, a pit formed instantly as if he had dug the ground with an invisible excavator.
The pit wasrge enough to bury at least a dozen adults, not something to be overlooked.
¡°An assassin that digs pits? That¡¯s really crossing the line.¡±
He chuckled.
The sight of him running while creating pits behind him with a dagger in hand was a picture he couldn¡¯t get used to.
Just then.
¡¡!
His intuition triggered.
¡¾Cutie!¡¿
Kang-hoo created a slime and swiftly moved to the right using the quick evasion skill.
Boom!
Then, exposed to sniper fire, the slime¡¯s eyes turned into X¡¯s, and it burst in ce like a popped balloon.
There were nine snipers chasing him.
All armed, they were numerically overwhelming, but it didn¡¯t mean they were at an advantage.
The snipers, going through the aiming process, posed no challenge for Kang-hoo.
However, there was an exception.
One of them pulled the trigger immediately without a separate aiming process, using what¡¯smonly referred to in games as ¡®no-zoom¡¯; the original term was ¡®eye aiming¡¯.
It¡¯s a method only skilled hunters capable of precise sniping can manage because it¡¯s extremely hard to hit the target.
The moment his intuition was triggered, the trigger was already pulled, making it a challenging foe for Kang-hoo.
Thus, Kang-hoo decided to disrupt his opponent¡¯s vision even more by using Shadow Step.
No matter how good he was at evading, it wasn¡¯t possible to dodge bullets indefinitely.
And bullets were the best means of killing, as a single mistake could be fatal.
¡°Let¡¯s see how resilient you guys are.¡±
Kang-hoo clenched his teeth and increased his speed.
He was in the dungeon to obtain a set item. There was no way he was thinking of giving up now.
At the same time.
¡°It¡¯s funny how coincidences work.¡±
The look in her eyes sparkled as she chased Kang-hoo.
She hadn¡¯t expected to encounter this man here, hence her thoughts on coincidence.
Previously, when Kang-hoo hade to deliver a Red Key to the First Research Institute under Jungmun Regtion.
It was this sniper, who had been checking sniper points inside the institute and monitoring the market fluctuations.
Her reason for being here was simple: she was employed as a mercenary by the Hayabusa Guild.
Famous for her sniping skills, she had traveled from the vastnds of Korea to Japan.
Her skills needed no verification.
Back then, just by supporting a single sniping attempt, she had cut off two of Jungmun Regtion¡¯s fingers.
Knowing what kind of hunter Jungmun Regtion was, she had no reason to doubt Kang-hoo¡¯s abilities.
So, it wasn¡¯t strange that the snipers around her kept missing consecutively.
It was an expected oue.
Even then, Kang-hoo had easily dodged the concentrated sniper fire from the multinational mercenaries.
As if he had an early warning system. Thanks to that, the snipers had be theughing stock.
¡°I¡¯m supposed to specialize in quick movement, yet the distance isn¡¯t closing.¡±
She felt tense.
She thought she was good at both sniping and chasing, but Kang-hoo was an exception.
Discussing the pursuit of a nimble assassin might seem absurd.
But the important thing was that Kang-hoo was continuously dodging while being targeted by the snipers.
He wasn¡¯t just blindly running; he was moving while dodging from side to side, with the snipers trailing behind him.
Yet, they still couldn¡¯t catch up.
If it had been a straightforward race, Kang-hoo would have been lost beyond the horizon long ago.
¡°Damn it, let¡¯s just give up.¡±
¡°Hey, he¡¯s getting farther away, damn!¡±
¡°Damn it¡¡±
Swearing erupted from behind.
These guys were good with magic bullets but utterly useless in a prolonged chase.
All of them were gasping for breath, losing the will to continue the pursuit and stopping in their tracks.
Initially, there were nine pursuers, but now only she remained. She probably figured that was enough.
That was because the entrance and the exit were the same, so she calcted that she would inevitably meet Kang-hoo again.
¡°I don¡¯t want to kill him; I¡¯m just curious about what kind of person he is.¡±
She picked up her pace again, thinking differently from the snipers who had been chasing Kang-hoo before.
They say if coincidence happens twice, it¡¯s fate.
She had been intrigued by the hunter¡¯s true nature back then too, wondering what abilities he had and what kind of hunter he was.
Of course, in a world where even knowing each other¡¯s names was difficult, a proper introduction was unlikely.
Still, she had wanted to exchange words. If she had known, she would have spoken to him at the research institute back then.
Back then, she had blocked off the opportunity to connect, thinking herself a mystic or something simr.
Hissing.
Soon after, she broke away from her group and eagerly followed Kang-hoo.
¡°Hey, hey! Why are you following him?¡±
¡°Just stop, man!¡±
¡°Forget it. That guy, he¡¯s just a mercenary anyway. Let him do what he wants. Dying is his fate, whatever.¡±
¡°She¡¯s got some nerve¡¡±
A few hunters tried to stop her, but they weren¡¯t very insistent.
After all, she was just a temporary mercenary. They didn¡¯t see any need to be overly concerned about her.
Just as the distance neither closed nor widened, Kang-hoo looked back.
He witnessed an unexpected situation.
He was already aware that the only sniper following him was the hunter who had been eye-aiming.
But he had focused solely on disturbing her line of sight and keeping distance, not knowing when he might be shot.
But when he looked back, at some point, she was no longer aiming her magic bullet gun at him.
She had slung it over her back. There appeared to be no other weapon in her hands, nor did it look like a pistol.
Moreover, her hands were raised as if she had no intention of fighting.
¡°¡¡¡±
So, Kang-hoo stopped as well.
Simultaneously, she also stopped and gestured with her hands that she wanted to talk.
¡®If we close the distancepletely, it will also increase the opportunities for me.¡¯
It seemed there was no significant risk in talking to her up close.
At close range, an assassin has a definitive advantage over a gunner.
Kang-hoo stood still as she gradually approached him.
Although they were both masked, as she got closer, it became apparent she was a woman.
The thick double eyelids and the long hair flowing out from behind her hat were telltale signs.
Once they were sufficiently close, she was the first to break the silence.
¡°You. The First Research Institute under Jungmun?¡±
¡°Hmm?¡±
At first, he wasn¡¯t sure what she meant.
He thought he might have misheard. It wasn¡¯t a situation where a conversation about the Jungmun Research Institute shoulde up.
As Kang-hoo looked puzzled, she exined further.
¡°I was the one who sniped to support you back then.¡±
¡°Was that so?¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s response was nonchnt.
He certainly remembered. During that time, he had received help from a sniper while fighting Jungmun Regtion.
But that alone didn¡¯t mean she had been there on the field with him.
¡°We had made eye contact, didn¡¯t we? You wanted to strategically draw in Jungmun Regtion for a counterattack.¡±
¡°Hmm.¡±
¡°At that time, I recognized your n and adjusted my sniping tempo ordingly. I just didn¡¯t want to expose my identity by greeting you since I was there as a mercenary.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
Whether or not she had been the sniper inside the institute at that time wasn¡¯t very important to him.
He felt grateful for the help, but that was it.
However, he did think she was skilled, separate from that.
The abilities she demonstrated in the dungeon today were no ordinary feat.
The methods to counter her were straightforward, but if they hadn¡¯t been, he might have been shot by now.
¡°Back then, when I saw you cut off Jungmun Regtion¡¯s fingers, I thought you were exceptionally skilled. And today is no different.¡±
¡°I appreciate thepliment if that¡¯s what it is.¡±
¡°The world is really small, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Indeed. I¡¯m not sure if you were that person back then, but if you were, I would have liked to thank you.¡±
He spoke inly.
It was also a chance to say something he hadn¡¯t said back then. Whether she was the person or not didn¡¯t matter much now.
¡°Could you contact me if you ever need a capable gunner? I really like skilled assassins.¡±
A flush appeared momentarily between her masked eyes.
What¡¯s with this woman? It wasn¡¯t as if he had said something particrly embarrassing, but she seemed shy.
The mood didn¡¯t quite match, but personal preferences vary, so he would respect that.
Just as Kang-hoo preferred Park Dong-jae, a buffer, she had a preference for assassins.
The more an assassin attracts the enemy¡¯s attention, the more opportunities a sniper has to take a shot.
But that¡¯s only when they¡¯re working together; it¡¯s apletely different story if they¡¯re adversaries.
She pulled out a piece of paper from her bosom and quickly scribbled something with a pen she had on hand.
Then, she crumpled it slightly and threw it to Kang-hoo.
It was the address for a secure Huntergram ount, simr to one he had received from Takashi before.
It¡¯s a private ount shared only with specific people and is never exposed on any public ount.
¡°My name is Ayane. Please contact me. I really want to¡ do something with a skilled assassin.¡±
¡°State your objective clearly. What do you want to do?¡±
Kang-hoo sharply retorted to ¡®Ayane,¡¯ who had oddly blushed to this point.
Chapter 186: The Corrupted Truth (3)
Chapter 186: The Corrupted Truth (3)
Afterwards, I parted ways with Ayane.
I wondered if there was ever a need to contact her. It felt simr to when I first met Baek Seon-tae.
She is undoubtedly a hunter with considerable skills, but is there a need to meet specifically?
Except for the brief coordination at the Main Gate Research Institute, I have never seen Ayane¡¯s skills in action.
Of course, the fact that the Hayabusa Guild has brought in external mercenaries indirectly confirms her capabilities.
It¡¯s rare to employ external mercenaries for guarding a dungeon with vested interests.
However, that trust did not extend as far as to me.
¡°It¡¯s curious indeed. To meet like this here. You must be just dipping your toes into the grey boundaries like me.¡±
Usually, I would consider such a connection to be fleeting and move on.But Kang-hoo decided that he might contact Ayane when he has some free time.
Giving up the original pursuit and sharing contact information probably means a significant expression of interest.
Why she is so engrossed in me is a mystery, but perhaps it will be resolved when we meet again.
Anyway, after that, I caught some monsters conveniently located along the path to my destination.
Having a sort of GPS indicating the location of the Corrupted Truth made things really convenient without uncertainties.
Before I knew it, my level reached 190.
Reaching the threshold of level 200, where I acquire a basic skill, was now within sight. Just 10 more levels to go.
Would the items be from monsters or hidden in geographical features?
Just as my curiosity peaked, I finally saw the location holding the Corrupted Truth.
There, a lone monster was upying the spot pointed out by the status window.
Sssssss¡ Shh¡
At first nce, the heavy greatsword was being dragged along the ground. To call it a monster seemed more human than not.
¡°Undead?¡±
Judging by the pallor, it definitely wasn¡¯t a living human. Parts of its body were rotting and crumbling.
¡°Grrrr¡¡±
Clutching the greatsword in both hands, it wandered aimlessly with unfocused eyes.
It seemed like itcked the strength to carry the greatsword, but that wasn¡¯t the case.
It must be ready to exert force at any moment, typically just loosening its muscles intentionally.
Kang-hoo attempted a Throne Scan.
If it were a pure undead, there would be no throne, but if a hunter, he could find out the throne information.
¡¾Throne information of a deceased hunter cannot be confirmed.¡¿
¡°But it¡¯s moving.¡±
A deceased hunter.
Yet, a moving hunter.
The word that came to Kang-hoo¡¯s mind was ¡®hybrid.¡¯
Hybrids are a type of mutant monster that emerged in the North Korean region.
They are byproducts of areas untouched by human hands for long periods.
Though hybrids exist in North Korea, their numbers are overwhelminglyrger in Western Australia.
After the age of hunters began, so many monsters appeared in Australia that people in the west massively migrated east.
Thus, Western Australia became a yground for all sorts of hybrids.
Among them, there were nimble kangaroo-monster hybrids, causing headaches for the Australian Public Safety Bureau.
¡°Ugh¡ it¡¯s making me feel nauseous.¡±
The hybrids originating from North Korea had a bizarre creation process.
Despite being written in the original text, Kang-hoo bit his lip as he felt a wave of nausea rising.
The North Korean-derived hybrid monsters are cases where the Brood Queen imnted her offspring in the body of a deceased hunter.
The ¡®Brood Queen¡¯ is a female and sovereign of wasp-like mutant monsters, erged by mutation.
Instead ofying eggs, it births offspring that immediately hatch and grow inside a human body.
They take over the brain, establishing themselves and using it as a control tower to manipte the human body.
The hunter¡¯s abilities are maintained while bing a deceased entity, which made them difficult to deal with.
¡°I found the ring.¡±
The ring was dangling on a ne worn by the hybrid. It was the Corrupted Truth.
ncing around, I noticed a hunter¡¯s body well-hidden behind a rock not visible before.
It wasn¡¯t visible at first, but changing my position to check the hybrid¡¯s location made it visible.
¡°If so many hunters have died here, there must be one reason. It has an instant-death ability.¡±
Kang-hoo looked at the corpses of hunters who seemed to have died without a fight.
To call it a death at the end of a chaotic battle seemed off as the bodies were generally clean.
Considering the progression of dposition, there were very few wounds on the bodies.
Judging by the fact that they were stripped of their items, it seems they were killed elsewhere and then gathered here.
¡¾Lee Gwon-su¡¿
The monster¡¯s name appeared.
It seems its name from life has be its monster name.
I¡¯m not sure why the owner of a body that died in North Korea ended up here, but that¡¯s none of my business.
Anyway, seeing a hybrid directly, which was only mentioned as a plot point in the original work, felt strange and quite unpleasant.
To think someone came up with the method of imnting offspring in a dead human¡¯s body to inherit their abilities.
¡°First and foremost, be wary of the instant-death skill.¡±
Kang-hoo clearly set his prime directive and prepared to engage in battle with Lee Gwon-su.
¡°Yeah, could I really get a grade 2 item for free? A price must naturally be paid.¡±
Before approaching.
Kang-hoo deployed a skill particrly effective against undead-type monsters.
¡¾Commander¡¯s Silence¡¿
A skill that camouges one as another undead. If it works well, the situation could resolve quite smoothly.
Whirrrring!
As soon as Lee Gwon-su sensed that Kang-hoo¡¯s presence had disappeared from afar, he immediately raised his greatsword to activate a shield.
Just in case, Kang-hoo stopped using Commander¡¯s Silence.
Swoosh.
Lee Gwon-su then lowered his greatsword and deactivated the shield.
¡°He¡¯s meticulous.¡±
After that, Kang-hoo repeatedly used and stopped Commander¡¯s Silence.
Each time, Lee Gwon-su synchronized with Kang-hoo, creating and retracting his shield.
Keeping Commander¡¯s Silence on continuously to understand the pattern meant that the shield didn¡¯t drop.
¡°For now, Commander¡¯s Silence is dismissed.¡±
It wasn¡¯t effective in this setup.
Kang-hoo reflected on his underhanded intentions. Yes, it¡¯s no fun if the monster is too foolish.
He closed the distance.
A battle between a greatsword and a dagger meant that closebat was inevitable.
Although he was at a disadvantage in terms of length, he was clearly faster.
But as Kang-hoo approached, Lee Gwon-su¡¯s actions, which had been defensive, began to change.
Ooong. Ooong. Ooong.
It was a stationary spin.
Like Sammi¡¯s Annihtion Great Spin and Turebo¡¯s Tornado skill before.
Monsters with threatening offensive abilities often employed spinning attacks.
From the opponent¡¯s perspective, these attacks were quite tricky because they left little room for vulnerabilities.
¡°It¡¯s not a blender.¡±
Exactly like that.
It felt like approaching a human blender. A wrong move could mean getting shredded to death and bones.
This intimidation was always present in spinning attack patterns.
¡¾Blinding Speed de¡¿
Kang-hoo targeted Lee Gwon-su with a spare dagger. Since timing the approach was difficult, he tried stabbing first.
Spinning wasn¡¯t all-powerful; rather, exploiting vulnerabilities during such times could inflict significant damage on Lee Gwon-su.
Usually, their own bodies aren¡¯t protected during a spin due to the deactivation of defensive mechanisms.
But at that very moment.
Chak! Daang!
¡°¡¡¡±
A different response than Kang-hoo had anticipated came while he was spinning and expected to deflect the dagger.
The moment the dagger left Kang-hoo¡¯s fingertips, Lee Gwon-su stopped moving and immediately struck the dagger down.
If not affected by the spin and dizziness, this was the most standard and safe defense method.
¡°Phew.¡±
Kang-hoo exhaled a hot breath mixed with various emotions. It seemed the battle wouldn¡¯t be easy.
Before starting the battle in earnest, Kang-hoo consumed one Mad Srkium.
Before he knew it, the remaining count had dwindled to a single digit: nine. It was time to contact Master K.
Lee Gwon-su possessed a repertoire of defenses that made long-range attacks almost ineffective.
Therefore, instead of maintaining distance, Kang-hoo chose to engage in close-quarters melee.
Through the perilous melee, Kang-hoo learned that Lee Gwon-su¡¯s mental fortitude was waning.
Dressed in a human guise but more insect-like, it had poor resistance to mental disruption.
This was a separate issue from itsbat prowess and rted to the total mental capacity of the ¡®Brood Queen,¡¯ the core insect.
Consequently, it was continually affected by skills like hallucinations, sight theft, and shallow chaos.
These led to distorted senses, loss of sight, and skewed bnce, causing disruption.
Kang-hoo suppressed Lee Gwon-su¡¯s spinning attack pattern as much as possible while unleashing a fierce assault up close.
Of course, Lee Gwon-su also counterattacked fiercely a few times.
During moments of stalemate in the battle, the recovery option Kang-hoo used proved very effective.
¡¾Frenzied Healing¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Lv Max¡¿
¡¾Converts 1 mana to 1 health in a stationary state, allowing for ultra-fast recovery.¡¿
It was a healing skill obtained from Ad previously.
With Mad Srkium, Kang-hoo was suppressing the pain of mana hypersensitivity, making it an invaluable tool.
Thus, when Lee Gwon-su allowed Kang-hoo a moment to breathe, it inadvertently permitted his health to fully recover.
After acquiring the skill, there hadn¡¯t been much need for focused usage, but now, in a battle of attrition, it became essential.
Because of this skill, the gap between Lee Gwon-su¡¯s and Kang-hoo¡¯s health widened.
While Lee Gwon-su¡¯s mouth increasingly gaped, Kang-hoo¡¯s breathing quickly stabilized.
To avoid a favorable situation for Kang-hoo, it needed tounch relentless attacks.
However, Lee Gwon-su¡ªor rather, the Brood Queen controlling his body¡ªwasn¡¯t making the best decisions.
There was another problem.
¡¾Protective Barrier¡¿
¡¾Forced Destruction by Will¡¿
Kang-hoo was intentionally destroying the protective barriers he kept creating.
The Protective Barrier skill was used to reliably safeguard the body from enemies.
Though it¡¯s a ¡®defensive skill¡¯ by design, Kang-hoo utilized it in a different way.
Much like how the side effects of a medication can be beneficial for some people, the current usage of the Protective Barrier was exactly that.
¡¾Upon destruction of the Protective Barrier, the ''Devastation'' effect activates, evaporating all mana within a 10m radius.¡¿
The Devastation effect.
Until now, it was an inconsequential option activated after destruction, but this time it was different.
Kang-hoo had realized that Lee Gwon-su was drawing a significant amount of mana from the surroundings.
Lee Gwon-su¡¯s mana utilization efficiency was extremely poor, like a car with bad mileage.
By intentionally destroying the protective barriers and triggering the Devastation effect, all surrounding mana was obliterated.
For Kang-hoo, who could draw mana from further away due to mana hypersensitivity, this was undoubtedly beneficial.
Lee Gwon-su was inevitably being pushed into a flow where he was running out of time. This was, in essence, a prelude to death.
The Genius Assassin Who Takes it All
Boom!
Lee Gwon-su has fallen.
Though he was stripped of reason, he had a second life bestowed upon him. Yet, even that flickered out.
Whoosh! Whirring!
A baby bee, having split open Lee Gwon-su¡¯s crown, began pping its wings, attempting to escape.
However.
¡¾Lightning Strike¡¿
A refreshing electric shower killed the bee on the spot above Lee Gwon-su¡¯s crown without it even properly pping its wings once.
Had it lived and escaped, it would have found another victim. The dungeon is vast, and there are many hunters ready to die.¡°Utilized devastation effectively.¡±
Kang-hoo looked at the fallen Lee Gwon-su, a satisfied expression on his face.
Unfortunately, since it was treated as a dead being, the throne was not plundered.
The swordsmanship and skills themselves were quite decent, as they belonged to the body¡¯s original hunter owner.
Thus, Kang-hoo had even considered a long-term battle. He saw hardly any gaps.
The devastation effect of the protective barrier was the turning point.
Lee Gwon-su, who possessed various skills to protect himself or drive enemies, became a half-baked swordsman once he couldn¡¯t supply mana due to the devastation effect.
Cutting off the mana-dependent swordsman¡¯s source left only a shell.
His level has reached 191.
If this is the experience gain from hunting one creature, then the travel expenses are more than recovered.
Before other hunters could appear, Kang-hoo immediately recovered a ring from Lee Gwon-su¡¯s ne.
The Corrupted Truth Ring.
It¡¯s a set item with the corrupted conviction dagger he¡¯s currently using.
¡¾Corrupted Truth ¨C Ring¡¿
¡¾Grade: 2nd¡¿
¡¾Strength +100¡¿
¡¾Stamina +100¡¿
¡¾Agility +100¡¿
¡¾Absolute resistance to me, ice, lightning, and physical attacks increases by 5%.¡¿
¡°Resistance is key.¡±
He reviewed the stats and basic tooltip first.
The stats were excellent, but the additional options were also appealing.
Absolute resistance means the effect is subtracted before any damage is applied.
For example, if you have 10% me resistance and receive 100 me-rted damage:
First, it reduces to 90, and then the next line of defense is applied.
For this reason, if there is an attribute with 100% absolute resistance, it is invincible to that attack, no questions asked.
Indeed, within The Thirteen Stars, there exists a hunter with absolute resistance to a specific domain.
A prominent example is Chae Gwanhyeong.
He has 100% absolute resistance to freezing attacks,pletely ignoring them.
¡®me is the highest at 15%. Considering most magic-oriented hunters use me, it¡¯s a gain.¡¯
His umted me absolute resistance had reached 15%. Not a negligible figure.
There are no items, skills, or thrones that dramatically increase resistance.
So, it¡¯s like umting grains of sand into a mountain. Carefully saved up, someday it will be a valuable trait protecting him.
Kang-hoo¡¯s gaze remained on the item¡¯s effect.
¡¾ck Tears ¨C All skill efficiency increases by 5%, damage by 10%.¡¿
¡¾Demon¡¯s Whisper ¨C If there are hidden stats, permanently increase by 25 upon wearing the ring.¡¿
ck Tears was an option also present on the dagger. Items of the same series linking effects.
Demon¡¯s Whisper was good news for Kang-hoo, who possessed a dark phase.
He immediately put on the ring to check the effects.
However, since he was already wearing the maximum of 10 rings, he removed the Hunter¡¯s Blood, which only added 50 stamina.
And.
¡¾Summon Corrupted Spirit (Corrupted Resolve)¡¿
Lastly, he confirmed the linked set effect of Corrupted Resolve. Summon Corrupted Spirit was a skill.
¡¾Summon Corrupted Spirit¡¿
¡¾Proficiency: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾Using 100 mana, summons a dark wraith, a Corrupted Spirit, that reacts to dark phases and divine power.¡¿
¡¾The Corrupted Spirit only targets those who feel dark phases and divine power, and has no offensive capabilities.¡¿
¡¾In the ¡®Corrupted Spirit¡¯ state, it has no offensive capabilities, but it bes capable of offense as a ¡®Corrupted Summon.¡¯ To achieve this, an upgrade requiring the permanent consumption of dark phases is needed.¡¿
¡¾Corrupted Summon Evolution ¨C Dark Phase 200¡¿
¡¾Corrupted Evolution ¨C Dark Phase 500¡¿
¡°Except for thest two insane options, he¡¯s quite decent.¡±
It was a valuable skill.
In essence, using Corrupted Spirits, he could find ghostly monsters whose main source is dark phases.
Useful in ces like North Korea. There, ck Inducers and ck Shadows swarm.
Moreover, since it also reacts to divine power, it¡¯s possible to find hidden healers and the like.
It¡¯s unfortunate that it has no offensive capabilities, but if it did, it wouldn¡¯t be a 2nd-grade item.
¡°I¡¯ve fulfilled a wish.¡±
Securing a significant set item seemed to erase his fatigue entirely.
This is the power of set items. It creates unexpected variables in his abilities.
An assassin that can handle wraiths too. He¡¯s slowly breaking out of the assassin mold.
Though he won¡¯t lose his assassin identity, his ability to create variables is increasing.
After that.
Kang-hoo ventured further into the dungeon, spurred by a notion, but soon gave up and turned back.
The approach terrain was inherently disadvantageous for outsiders, coupled with a significant increase in monster difficulty, making it not yet feasible to tackle.
Moreover, being a dungeon within the liberation area, it wasn¡¯t safe to let one¡¯s guard down while moving around.
Although the Hayabusa Guild members had given up the chase midway and turned back, it was uncertain when they would regroup and return.
Thus, usingteral movement to stealthily escape, he immediately teleported to the entrance.
Since he had marked the location upon entering the dungeon, his return was instant.
¡°¡¡¡±
For a brief moment, he spotted Ayane among the Hayabusa Guild¡¯s gunmen, her distinctive gaze recognizable even behind a mask.
With nobat and a lull, no hunter detected the stealthed Kang-hoo.
Ayane, too, was seen pushing a chocte bar through her mask, replenishing her stamina.
Having exited the dungeon, Kang-hoo crossed the still active battlefield.
As the effects of Mad Srkium were about to wear off, he found a secluded spot to rest.
The aftermath of the battle with Lee Gwon-su, where he had exhausted all his strength, was more severe than he had anticipated.
He had timed his exit well, but the pain made him wonder what would have happened had he beente.
¡°Phew.¡±
Kang-hooy down on a cold rock, closing his eyes to avoid the spinning night sky.
A brief rest seemed like it would significantly improve his condition. A moment to catch his breath was all he needed.
Later, safely back at Rikou Tower, Kang-hoo watched the news that the battle in the Fukuoka Liberation Area had intensified.
The Hayabusa Guild, apparently struggling with their own forces, had hired arge number of mercenaries.
Hunters who had been active in Southeast Asia were now flowing into the Fukuoka Liberation Area.
The issue was that this was not an officially authorized visit by the Japanese Hunter Public Safety Bureau. Essentially, it was an illegal entry.
However, in a struggle for dominance in the liberation area, such legalities were of little concern.
The influence of the Japanese Hunter Public Safety Bureau didn¡¯t even reach the Fukuoka Liberation Area in the first ce.
He felt it was a timely escape. Had he hesitated even two days, ess would have been much harder.
Now, only five more dark phase farming dungeons remained. Thest of these, he would visit with An Yeong-ho.
Ayane was not a concern right now; he nned to contact herter.
However, suddenly thinking of Takashi, he sent him a DM via Huntergram. It was a simple message:
-Be careful on the roads, it¡¯s raining.
He sent it without much thought and chuckled.
Telling someone who doesn¡¯t go outside to be careful on the roads¡ªan everyday greeting to someone living an unusual life.
He nned to forget about it after sending it, but a read receipt appeared as if it was awaited.
Then, the icon indicating typing appeared, but Kang-hoo turned off Huntergram.
At that moment.
Blink! Blink! Blink!
The rms in each room of Rikou Tower began shing.
An emergency broadcast ensued¡ªan unusual situation for Rikou Tower, which rarely broadcasts.
¡°Hmm.¡±
Kang-hoo, dressed only in his underwear, hurriedly grabbed his clothes.
Meanwhile, the broadcast continued:
-Hosaka Kenji and Ishihara Yuuji have been spotted near Rikou Tower.
-They are tampering with the power facilities of the Support Tower, so an immediate response is necessary.
-Hunters affiliated and over level 300 are to gather at the main gate immediately.
¡°Set effect activation?¡±
Kang-hoo snorted.
The ¡®set effect¡¯ he referred to was the worst synergy that urs when two crazies team up.
Hosaka Kenji excels in spatial utilization, and Ishihara Yuuji has traits of both a berserker and an assassin.
When these two sync up, it¡¯s disgustingly painful for their opponents.
If they decided to engage in guerri warfare, there would really be no way to handle it.
Then, An Yeong-ho called him.
He was about to call anyway, but it seemed An Yeong-ho had something to say first.
¡°Hey, Yeong-ho.¡±
-Brother, no need to worry and just rest. This is our guild¡¯s matter.
¡°It doesn¡¯t seem too good though.¡±
-There¡¯s no need for you to get involved.
It wasn¡¯t the wrong thing to say.
It was an incident happening within Rikou Guild¡¯s jurisdiction, so it was right for them to handle it.
But conversely, there wasn¡¯t much the Rikou Guild could do if Kang-hoo decided to step in.
¡®I¡¯ve been curious about this.¡¯
Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes sparkled.
Hosaka Kenji and Ishihara Yuuji.
Both were unrivaled bastards, but apart from that, their skills were considerable.
They were a maddeningbination, reminiscent of the Jang Si-hwan-Chae Gwanhyeong duo, which further piqued his curiosity.
Since Rikou Guild members were also gathering, he might be able to use them as shields if needed.
¡°Let¡¯s hang up.¡±
-Brother, you¡¯re noting out, right?
¡°Handle it. I¡¯ll take care of myself.¡±
-You¡¯re really noting out? The amodations are safe, just stay there!
¡°Got it, hang up.¡±
The situation didn¡¯t look good.
To Kang-hoo¡¯s knowledge, today, including Fumiya, many executives had headed to the battlefield.
A full-blown war with the Toushi Guild was intensifying, and key forces had significantly shifted east.
Therefore, the current hunter force at Rikou Tower was likely weaker than expected.
Or rather, it was questionable if any real substance was left since the elites had moved east.
Casually turning his head outside the window.
Across from a hotel about 500 meters away, a man was dancing with his sword against Rikou Guild members.
Ishihara Yuuji.
The madman was clearly visible.
Chapter 187
Chapter 187
Boom!
Lee Gwon-su has fallen.
Though he was stripped of reason, he had a second life bestowed upon him. Yet, even that flickered out.
Whoosh! Whirring!
A baby bee, having split open Lee Gwon-su¡¯s crown, began pping its wings, attempting to escape.
However.
¡¾Lightning Strike¡¿
A refreshing electric shower killed the bee on the spot above Lee Gwon-su¡¯s crown without it even properly pping its wings once.
Had it lived and escaped, it would have found another victim. The dungeon is vast, and there are many hunters ready to die.¡°Utilized devastation effectively.¡±
Kang-hoo looked at the fallen Lee Gwon-su, a satisfied expression on his face.
Unfortunately, since it was treated as a dead being, the throne was not plundered.
The swordsmanship and skills themselves were quite decent, as they belonged to the body¡¯s original hunter owner.
Thus, Kang-hoo had even considered a long-term battle. He saw hardly any gaps.
The devastation effect of the protective barrier was the turning point.
Lee Gwon-su, who possessed various skills to protect himself or drive enemies, became a half-baked swordsman once he couldn¡¯t supply mana due to the devastation effect.
Cutting off the mana-dependent swordsman¡¯s source left only a shell.
His level has reached 191.
If this is the experience gain from hunting one creature, then the travel expenses are more than recovered.
Before other hunters could appear, Kang-hoo immediately recovered a ring from Lee Gwon-su¡¯s ne.
The Corrupted Truth Ring.
It¡¯s a set item with the corrupted conviction dagger he¡¯s currently using.
¡¾Corrupted Truth ¨C Ring¡¿
¡¾Grade: 2nd¡¿
¡¾Strength +100¡¿
¡¾Stamina +100¡¿
¡¾Agility +100¡¿
¡¾Absolute resistance to me, ice, lightning, and physical attacks increases by 5%.¡¿
¡°Resistance is key.¡±
He reviewed the stats and basic tooltip first.
The stats were excellent, but the additional options were also appealing.
Absolute resistance means the effect is subtracted before any damage is applied.
For example, if you have 10% me resistance and receive 100 me-rted damage:
First, it reduces to 90, and then the next line of defense is applied.
For this reason, if there is an attribute with 100% absolute resistance, it is invincible to that attack, no questions asked.
Indeed, within The Thirteen Stars, there exists a hunter with absolute resistance to a specific domain.
A prominent example is Chae Gwanhyeong.
He has 100% absolute resistance to freezing attacks,pletely ignoring them.
¡®me is the highest at 15%. Considering most magic-oriented hunters use me, it¡¯s a gain.¡¯
His umted me absolute resistance had reached 15%. Not a negligible figure.
There are no items, skills, or thrones that dramatically increase resistance.
So, it¡¯s like umting grains of sand into a mountain. Carefully saved up, someday it will be a valuable trait protecting him.
Kang-hoo¡¯s gaze remained on the item¡¯s effect.
¡¾ck Tears ¨C All skill efficiency increases by 5%, damage by 10%.¡¿
¡¾Demon¡¯s Whisper ¨C If there are hidden stats, permanently increase by 25 upon wearing the ring.¡¿
ck Tears was an option also present on the dagger. Items of the same series linking effects.
Demon¡¯s Whisper was good news for Kang-hoo, who possessed a dark phase.
He immediately put on the ring to check the effects.
However, since he was already wearing the maximum of 10 rings, he removed the Hunter¡¯s Blood, which only added 50 stamina.
And.
¡¾Summon Corrupted Spirit (Corrupted Resolve)¡¿
Lastly, he confirmed the linked set effect of Corrupted Resolve. Summon Corrupted Spirit was a skill.
¡¾Summon Corrupted Spirit¡¿
¡¾Proficiency: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾Using 100 mana, summons a dark wraith, a Corrupted Spirit, that reacts to dark phases and divine power.¡¿
¡¾The Corrupted Spirit only targets those who feel dark phases and divine power, and has no offensive capabilities.¡¿
¡¾In the ¡®Corrupted Spirit¡¯ state, it has no offensive capabilities, but it bes capable of offense as a ¡®Corrupted Summon.¡¯ To achieve this, an upgrade requiring the permanent consumption of dark phases is needed.¡¿
¡¾Corrupted Summon Evolution ¨C Dark Phase 200¡¿
¡¾Corrupted Evolution ¨C Dark Phase 500¡¿
¡°Except for thest two insane options, he¡¯s quite decent.¡±
It was a valuable skill.
In essence, using Corrupted Spirits, he could find ghostly monsters whose main source is dark phases.
Useful in ces like North Korea. There, ck Inducers and ck Shadows swarm.
Moreover, since it also reacts to divine power, it¡¯s possible to find hidden healers and the like.
It¡¯s unfortunate that it has no offensive capabilities, but if it did, it wouldn¡¯t be a 2nd-grade item.
¡°I¡¯ve fulfilled a wish.¡±
Securing a significant set item seemed to erase his fatigue entirely.
This is the power of set items. It creates unexpected variables in his abilities.
An assassin that can handle wraiths too. He¡¯s slowly breaking out of the assassin mold.
Though he won¡¯t lose his assassin identity, his ability to create variables is increasing.
After that.
Kang-hoo ventured further into the dungeon, spurred by a notion, but soon gave up and turned back.
The approach terrain was inherently disadvantageous for outsiders, coupled with a significant increase in monster difficulty, making it not yet feasible to tackle.
Moreover, being a dungeon within the liberation area, it wasn¡¯t safe to let one¡¯s guard down while moving around.
Although the Hayabusa Guild members had given up the chase midway and turned back, it was uncertain when they would regroup and return.
Thus, usingteral movement to stealthily escape, he immediately teleported to the entrance.
Since he had marked the location upon entering the dungeon, his return was instant.
¡°¡¡¡±
For a brief moment, he spotted Ayane among the Hayabusa Guild¡¯s gunmen, her distinctive gaze recognizable even behind a mask.
With nobat and a lull, no hunter detected the stealthed Kang-hoo.
Ayane, too, was seen pushing a chocte bar through her mask, replenishing her stamina.
Having exited the dungeon, Kang-hoo crossed the still active battlefield.
As the effects of Mad Srkium were about to wear off, he found a secluded spot to rest.
The aftermath of the battle with Lee Gwon-su, where he had exhausted all his strength, was more severe than he had anticipated.
He had timed his exit well, but the pain made him wonder what would have happened had he beente.
¡°Phew.¡±
Kang-hooy down on a cold rock, closing his eyes to avoid the spinning night sky.
A brief rest seemed like it would significantly improve his condition. A moment to catch his breath was all he needed.
Later, safely back at Rikou Tower, Kang-hoo watched the news that the battle in the Fukuoka Liberation Area had intensified.
The Hayabusa Guild, apparently struggling with their own forces, had hired arge number of mercenaries.
Hunters who had been active in Southeast Asia were now flowing into the Fukuoka Liberation Area.
The issue was that this was not an officially authorized visit by the Japanese Hunter Public Safety Bureau. Essentially, it was an illegal entry.
However, in a struggle for dominance in the liberation area, such legalities were of little concern.
The influence of the Japanese Hunter Public Safety Bureau didn¡¯t even reach the Fukuoka Liberation Area in the first ce.
He felt it was a timely escape. Had he hesitated even two days, ess would have been much harder.
Now, only five more dark phase farming dungeons remained. Thest of these, he would visit with An Yeong-ho.
Ayane was not a concern right now; he nned to contact herter.
However, suddenly thinking of Takashi, he sent him a DM via Huntergram. It was a simple message:
-Be careful on the roads, it¡¯s raining.
He sent it without much thought and chuckled.
Telling someone who doesn¡¯t go outside to be careful on the roads¡ªan everyday greeting to someone living an unusual life.
He nned to forget about it after sending it, but a read receipt appeared as if it was awaited.
Then, the icon indicating typing appeared, but Kang-hoo turned off Huntergram.
At that moment.
Blink! Blink! Blink!
The rms in each room of Rikou Tower began shing.
An emergency broadcast ensued¡ªan unusual situation for Rikou Tower, which rarely broadcasts.
¡°Hmm.¡±
Kang-hoo, dressed only in his underwear, hurriedly grabbed his clothes.
Meanwhile, the broadcast continued:
-Hosaka Kenji and Ishihara Yuuji have been spotted near Rikou Tower.
-They are tampering with the power facilities of the Support Tower, so an immediate response is necessary.
-Hunters affiliated and over level 300 are to gather at the main gate immediately.
¡°Set effect activation?¡±
Kang-hoo snorted.
The ¡®set effect¡¯ he referred to was the worst synergy that urs when two crazies team up.
Hosaka Kenji excels in spatial utilization, and Ishihara Yuuji has traits of both a berserker and an assassin.
When these two sync up, it¡¯s disgustingly painful for their opponents.
If they decided to engage in guerri warfare, there would really be no way to handle it.
Then, An Yeong-ho called him.
He was about to call anyway, but it seemed An Yeong-ho had something to say first.
¡°Hey, Yeong-ho.¡±
-Brother, no need to worry and just rest. This is our guild¡¯s matter.
¡°It doesn¡¯t seem too good though.¡±
-There¡¯s no need for you to get involved.
It wasn¡¯t the wrong thing to say.
It was an incident happening within Rikou Guild¡¯s jurisdiction, so it was right for them to handle it.
But conversely, there wasn¡¯t much the Rikou Guild could do if Kang-hoo decided to step in.
¡®I¡¯ve been curious about this.¡¯
Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes sparkled.
Hosaka Kenji and Ishihara Yuuji.
Both were unrivaled bastards, but apart from that, their skills were considerable.
They were a maddeningbination, reminiscent of the Jang Si-hwan-Chae Gwanhyeong duo, which further piqued his curiosity.
Since Rikou Guild members were also gathering, he might be able to use them as shields if needed.
¡°Let¡¯s hang up.¡±
-Brother, you¡¯re noting out, right?
¡°Handle it. I¡¯ll take care of myself.¡±
-You¡¯re really noting out? The amodations are safe, just stay there!
¡°Got it, hang up.¡±
The situation didn¡¯t look good.
To Kang-hoo¡¯s knowledge, today, including Fumiya, many executives had headed to the battlefield.
A full-blown war with the Toushi Guild was intensifying, and key forces had significantly shifted east.
Therefore, the current hunter force at Rikou Tower was likely weaker than expected.
Or rather, it was questionable if any real substance was left since the elites had moved east.
Casually turning his head outside the window.
Across from a hotel about 500 meters away, a man was dancing with his sword against Rikou Guild members.
Ishihara Yuuji.
The madman was clearly visible.
Chapter 188
Chapter 188
As they stepped outside Rikou Tower, the chaotic scene around them was evident.
It wasn¡¯t raining yet, but the air was heavy with moisture, as if it could pour down at any moment.
While the height of the tower provided a view of the scene, it became obscured once outside.
Two hunters from Rikou Guild were seen hastily seeking refuge in another building, bleeding profusely from their arms.
They likely sustained injuries from Yuuji.
Battling hunters, especially when injured, is akin to a suicide mission.
They must have left the battlefield immediately. Fortunately, other hunters filled the void to ensure their safe retreat.
¡°Capture them!¡±
¡°Surround them!¡±As Rikou Guild¡¯s hunters amassed, gaining a numerical advantage, their voices grew louder.
But by then, Yuuji, with a smirk, shifted the battlefield.
Using Kenji¡¯s ability, they opened a spatial passage to another building.
Yuuji moved through this passage to another building, and soon after, the passage disappeared.
Then, Yuuji ambushed a member of Rikou Guild who was scouting to check his own movements.
Blood sttered twice.
Regrettably, the lifeless bodies of two guild members hung limply from the rooftop railing.
¡°¡¡.¡±
Kang-hoo quietly surveyed the situation.
Chasing Yuuji while Kenji was coordinating was a poor strategy.
Despite feeling infuriated as Yuuji continuously drew ¡®aggro,¡¯ it was crucial to ignore him calmly.
Chasing him would be futile as Kenji could simply shift locations using his ability.
¡®Spatial opening abilities aren¡¯t invincible or omnipotent.¡¯
Jung Yuri had a simr experience.
Although she possessed a useful ability, Kang-hoo had previously identified several ws in it during an encounter.
A notable w was the shape of the opened passage, which could hint at the caster¡¯s location.
Thus, in the current situation, the shape of the passage could suggest where Kenji might be.
Such meticulous observation is beyond the grasp of ordinary hunters.
However, Kang-hoo had keenly observed her abilities when they were at Ground Zero. It was an umon ability that warranted closer attention.
Blood sprayed in all directions.
Yuuji, with a maniacal expression, continuously altered the battlefield, relentlessly cutting down Rikou Guild members.
Well-trained hunters managed to escape from the scene with only injuries.
However, lower-level and less trained hunters tragically lost their lives to his hand.
Typically, such murders have usible reasons or justifications, but Kenji and Yuuji had none.
Just because they were bored.
Though it sounds insane, this was the content of a recent post on Hunter Gram.
-Feeling bored today, thinking of hanging out in Osaka. Go Hunter Public Safety Bureau! Show us your ipetence.
Despite being a top wanted criminal, Yuuji publicly ridiculed the Japanese Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
By specifying Osaka, it was clear that Rikou Guild was the target.
And with the exnation that they were simply bored today, they justified their actions. Truly insane.
¡®Focus.¡¯
Kang-hoo continued to track Yuuji¡¯s movements, shifting from one location to another.
Every time a passage connecting spaces opened, Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes darted around.
He was deeply engrossed in identifying patterns of the passages, adhering to Takashi¡¯s ¡®Theory of Everything Patterns.¡¯
Screams continued, and casualties mounted, but he didn¡¯t let emotions get the better of him.
The key was Kenji.
Without locating Kenji, chasing Yuuji would be as futile as a dog chasing chickens.
How much time had passed?
Despite Rikou Guild members¡¯ valiant efforts, casualties began to umte.
¡°Found him.¡±
Kang-hoo pinpointed Kenji¡¯s location based on the patterns and vanished into the darkness.
The silent pursuit began, perfectly concealing his presence using the Shadow Step skill.
Meanwhile.
Takashi, having learned of the situation in real-time via Hunter Gram, was busily monitoring numerous disys.
ess to the CCTV database around Rikou Tower allowed for unfiltered real-time observation.
The situation on the ground was dire.
Rikou Guild members seemed unsure how to counter the duo of Kenji and Yuuji.
Perhaps.
They knew, yet couldn¡¯t ignore Yuuji¡¯s threatening movements since he was targeting critical infrastructure around the tower.
This posed a direct threat to the security of the tower and the lives of those inside.
¡°It¡¯s still right to locate Kenji¡ This is a pathetic response,¡± muttered Takashi.
It seemed like the higher-ups were all absent, which would exin the guild¡¯s disorganized response despite its skilled hunters.
¡°I think I know the location.¡±
Approaching it the same way as Kang-hoo, Takashi analyzed the subtle distortions and directions of the passages and deduced backwards.
Kenji had habits too, and those habits left small but telling differences, much like fingerprints.
¡°Found him.¡±
Takashi pinpointed Kenji¡¯s location and turned on the CCTV pointing in that direction.
Then, it came into clear view.
Kenji, disguised as a guard at a bar with an outdoor terrace.
For safety, bars usually employ several guards to focus on protecting the patrons.
That was the bar where Kenji was, perfectly disguised in a guard¡¯s uniform.
He appeared to be patrolling the area, subtly flicking his fingers.
That gesture was the starting point for using a spatial skill to open a path for Yuuji.
The distance was too great to send a clone to the scene from there.
And while contacting the Rikou Guild was an option, it seemed unnecessary.
Even if they were contacted, a clumsy response might just give Kenji a chance to escape.
As Takashi pondered what to do next,
¡°What¡¯s this?¡±
A familiar man appeared on the screen.
He had already pinpointed Kenji¡¯s location and wasunching a fierce attack.
In an instant, numerous exchanges of stealth detection, daggers, and magical skills took ce.
The sudden outbreak caused the patrons to panic and flee.
Even the guards were flustered, unsure of how to handle the situation.
¡°Ha! Shin Kang-hoo is showing up here?¡±
Takashi burst outughing.
He realized that Kang-hoo was thinking the same as him, dealing with the situation effectively after identifying the core of thebination.
Locating Kenji persistently after deciphering thebination proved effective.
In the footage, Kang-hoo was relentlessly driving Kenji back from the start.
Indeed, it was the best choice.
Only in this way could Kenji be prevented from using space skills considering Yuuji, and Yuuji¡¯s movements could be restrained.
Additionally, the battlefield was limited to the outdoor terrace on the bar¡¯s rooftop.
Therefore, using clone techniques and Shadow Step to disorient Kenji¡¯s vision was also a good move.
Compared to the frustrating response from Rikou Guild members earlier, this felt utterly refreshing.
¡°You¡ I acknowledge it, truly.¡±
p, p, p.
Takashi apuded.
Yes, every movement and action in the world has a pattern. No one can escape it.
He had always hoped that someone else shared his mindset, and Kang-hoo¡¯s actions were just what he desired.
¡°Hey, I really wish you¡¯d fight where the cameras can catch you. Phew.¡±
In Takashi¡¯s hand was suddenly a bottle of water and half a bag of unfinished potato chips.
It was time to watch.
¡°F*ck, what the hell is this guy doing?¡±
Meanwhile, Kenji was flustered, caught off guard by Kang-hoo¡¯s sudden appearance.
He had perfected his disguise and even added makeup, never suspecting his location would bepromised.
How could Kang-hoo have recognized him when even the working guards couldn¡¯t?
Contrary to Kenji¡¯s assumption that Kang-hoo had recognized his face.
Kang-hoo had been following only Kenji¡¯s location from the start.
It was only during the battle that he recognized his face.
He was certain of Kenji¡¯s location at the bar¡¯s outdoor terrace due to habitual directional cues found in the patterns of spatial passages.
And he found him on-site due to the sensitivity of his congenital mana hypersensitivity, detecting the flow of mana.
It was a terrible picture.
The issue wasn¡¯t whether Kenji could handle Kang-hoo but the constant interruptions.
Having bbed about ¡®ying¡¯ in Osaka, it would be embarrassing to get beaten and sent back.
The annoying mosquito must be swatted away.
When you turn on the light to catch a swift mosquito, it usually flees. First, he needed to create some distance.
As Kang-hoo surged forward after retreating from Kenji¡¯s magical deterrence.
Whoosh!
Kenji skillfully opened a space in front of him, leading to an odd pathway.
The fifth throne benefit of the ¡®Dimension Plunderer,¡¯ spatial movement skill suppression, only suppresses blink or teleport-type skills. It doesn¡¯t suppress the creation or distortion of space.
¡°Damn.¡±
Without slowing down, Kang-hoo was sucked into the passage and came out on the opposite side of the terrace.
Although the hastily created passage didn¡¯t allow for long-distance travel, it was enough to buy some time.
That wasn¡¯t all.
Before the passage closed, Kenji reached out his hand, making a grasping gesture.
Wham!
Recognizing the skill rted to spatial distortion, Kang-hoo leaped out.
Just in time, a twist urred in the space where Kang-hoo had been standing. It was a distortion.
Had he stayed in ce?
His waist and abdomen would have been torn apart by the spatial distortion, possibly sliced horizontally.
As soon as Kenji sent Kang-hoo away, he was already opening a passage to another space, not wanting to fight in a ce now disadvantageous to him.
Kenji hurled himself towards the passage. Losing him here would make it difficult to chase him again.
Kang-hoo used his leap and eleration skills in session, stubbornly following Kenji.
In the final moments, he exploited the Shadow Step¡¯s instant shadow projection to doggedly pursue him.
¡°S*it!¡±
Kenji was flustered as Kang-hoo rapidly closed the distance, ignoring the perspective.
It wasn¡¯t an illusion; it was reality.
Kang-hoo barely made it into Kenji¡¯s spatial passage before it closed.
Chase sessful.
As Kang-hoo paused to catch his breath in relief, he saw Kenji¡¯s face mocking him.
And then.
The meaning of that mockery became apparent.
¡°Hmm.¡±
Kenji and Kang-hoo were helplessly falling through the air between buildings, with no structure to rely on.
The teleport had been used up earlier in the Fukuoka Liberation Area, leaving no second n.
¡®F*cked.¡¯
That word alone was sufficient to summarize the current predicament.
Definitely f*cked.
Chapter 189
Chapter 189
Kenji¡¯s sneer had meaning.
If they fell through the air like this, the assassin-looking guy would have no means of escape.
He had purposely chosen a space with no nearby structures to rely on.
Using a space-manipting skill through shadows was impressive, but¡
Even then, escaping in the vast open air as they both plummeted was impossible.
¡°Ha.¡±
With an expressionless face, Kenji scoffed down at Kang-hoo, ready to open a portal.
He nned to slip in alone at the right timing, making it impossible for Kang-hoo to follow.
His calctions were all set.There are no wings in freefall. An assassin without wings only has hell to go to.
But at that moment.
¡°Ugh!¡±
Kang-hoo gestured towards him, and suddenly his body was irresistibly pulled towards Kang-hoo.
It was a kidnapping skill.
Kenji, who had not anticipated such a skill from an assassin, was caught off guard.
Being overly confident was his mistake.
However, he wasn¡¯t just a sitting duck; while being pulled, he used a magical skill to protect his body.
Thanks to that, a protective barrier just barely enveloped him.
Thwoomp!
Kang-hoo, who had tried to stab Kenji in the stomach with all his might, missed.
The next moment.
Crack!
Without hesitation, Kang-hoo embraced Kenji with full force as if they were a couple about to face theirst moment together.
¡°This shit¡¡±
Kenji¡¯s face turned ashen.
He hadn¡¯t opened the portal yet.
The timing was the worst.
¡°Now what? We either die together, or we live together.¡±
Whispering into his ear, Kang-hoo¡¯s voice was chillingly calm.
He was neither emotionally agitated nor consumed by excessive anger.
¡°Are you nuts?¡±
¡°Introducing yourself?¡±
¡°F*ck¡! Are you seriously crazy?¡±
¡°Why do you introduce yourself?¡±
Kang-hoo increased the intensity of his embrace.
Kenji was still enveloped in a protective barrier, making it difficult to inflict any wounds with the dagger.
But he could still entirely restrain Kenji. It was about forcing a choice.
¡°Do you want to die together?¡±
¡°That would be a cheap deal for me.¡±
Kang-hooughed.
Seeing Kenji¡¯s constetion information, he appeared to be well over level 400.
Constetions specializing in spatial maniption were abundantly attached to him.
Though he wanted to kill him and take his constetions, Kenji¡¯s defensive capabilities were exceptional.
It seemed not without reason that the original text suggested that the only way to kill Kenji was when he was actually dead.
In a world where killing and dying are norms, people are desperate to protect themselves.
Kenji was a hunter specialized not in killing but in ¡®not dying.¡¯ In that, he was the opposite of Kang-hoo.
Kenji nced down. As they tangled and fell, they were gaining more speed.
If they continued this standoff, they would indeed end up dead as Kang-hoo had said.
No matter how much he surrounded himself with protective barriers, surviving a fall from hundreds of meters was impossible.
¡°Bullshit.¡±
Kenji finally opened the portal.
It looked like he might escape safely with Kang-hoo, but he had no time to worry about that.
He couldn¡¯tmit double suicide with a madman intent on dying together. For now, he had to live.
He had thought he was detached or indifferent about death until now¡
But experiencing it, he realized he wasn¡¯t.
The thought of actually dying made his mind go nk.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, the portal opened.
Boom! Bang! Thud!
Kang-hoo and Kenji tumbled over the cold asphalt for a while.
During this, Kang-hoo did not lose sight of Kenji and swiftly threw a dagger like lightning.
Swoosh! ng!
But Kenji¡¯s response was quick.
Deeming the existing protective barrier insufficient, he thickly formed a mana shield in front to block the dagger early.
Then, alternating between eleration and leaping, he tried to close the distance, but Kang-hoo kept opening new spaces to push him away.
Kang-hoo also used his Shadow Step to create variables in the situation.
He calcted that choosing one of the five shadows for a surprise attack would expose a gap in Kenji.
Swoosh! Rustle! Swirl!
But it beautifully missed.
Kenji responded by opening multiple portals corresponding to the number of shadows.
Each shadow that got sucked into a new space vanished from Kang-hoo¡¯s sight without a trace.
¡°Good. I like that. That¡¯s what you¡¯re known for.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded at his own thwartedbination.
Kenji¡¯s response was clean.
He had a way to eliminate the variable of shadows entirely, and it matched the answer Kang-hoo had thought of.
A skilled guy indeed had the judgment and ability to respond appropriately to the situation. Kenji was such a person.
¡°Tricky indeed.¡±
ssified broadly as a magic hunter, Kenji was uniquely exceptional in defense too.
When the full-force decapitating attack bounced off the barrier, Kang-hoo realized it wasn¡¯t ordinary defense.
The destructive power of a decapitating strike wasn¡¯t something ordinary defensive mechanisms could withstand.
Especially in closebat, where magic hunters are usually treated as corpses. But Kenji was an exception.
Then.
Kenji¡¯s nce shifted slightly.
As they naturally distanced themselves, it was another opportunity for creating space.
There was only one reason he would open a space without an approaching issue. Yuuji must being.
¡°Curiosity and recklessness are a thin line apart. This isn¡¯t good. Maybe it¡¯s time to wrap up and pull out.¡±
Kang-hoo exerted full force on his legs. Winning against thebination of Kenji and Yuuji was difficult.
Not because of hisck of skills, but because the total synergy they could create together was overwhelmingly superior.
So he changed his target.
He aimed for Yuuji, who was likely toe through that passage.
He never imagined that Kenji, well-hidden, would be mixing it up in a fight with another hunter.
Full sprint!
Kenji ignored it.
Seeing the silhouette of a man entering through the open passage, he unleashed a powerful decapitating blow with all his might.
He also didn¡¯t forget toy a thunderstrike trap in the passage as a secondary measure. It was a whirlwind attack.
The next moment.
¡°Why is Kenji sote¡ Gah!¡±
Yuuji, who had carelessly stepped inside, felt a heavy pain in his stomach and stopped in his tracks.
At the same time, the person who had stabbed him in the stomach had already vanished to the other side of the passage.
The passage began to close naturally.
¡°Cough?¡±
Yuuji was engulfed in deep pain, not even having a moment to think about who had just stabbed him.
It wasn¡¯t just a simple sh with a dagger; it had forcefully ripped through the muscles and flesh of his nk.
Crackle! Crack!
And the feast of currents falling from above was an added bonus.
Kenji, who had realized the situation, had blocked it with a shield, but he couldn¡¯t reverse the wound in the stomach.
¡°Shit, shi¡ X.¡±
Thud!
Yuuji copsed.
Just moments ago, he had been joyfully tormenting members of the Rikou Guild, enjoying the disparity in strength.
He had entered through the passage opened by Kenji feeling good, only to be struck by an unexpected blow.
Yuuji looked back.
There, across the passage, he saw the man who had been watching him¡ªKang-hoo.
Behind Kang-hoo, some members of the Rikou Guild who had joinedter were also witnessing the scene.
¡°Yuuji got stabbed! This guy did it!¡±
¡°Die, you bastard!¡±
¡°Did you think you were invincible forever? Huh?¡±
They cheered, feeling triumphant at the sight of Yuuji being struck down by Kang-hoo.
Kang-hoo¡¯s consistently calm demeanor felt oddly out of ce.
Yuuji and Kenji had clearly seen Kang-hoo.
They didn¡¯t know his name or affiliation yet, but they would find out eventually.
¡°Cough!¡±
Yuuji coughed up blood.
The internal injury was worse than he thought.
At this moment, it seemed crucial to quickly leave the scene.
But Yuuji¡¯s misfortune was not over yet.
Snap!
A flicking sound came from Kang-hoo.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Immediately, a fountain of blood sprayed from his stomach.
And then.
Swoosh!
The door of the opened space closed.
For Yuuji, who hade to Osaka with Kenji ¡®for fun,¡¯ this was the beginning of a nightmare.
He was in critical condition and urgently needed medical treatment.
After that.
Kang-hoo immediately returned to his amodations at the Rikou Tower.
He had no intention of exining the situation to the Rikou Guild members in detail, so he refused any requests for dialogue.
Even considering the absence of the executives, this incident was a significant blow to the pride of the Rikou Guild.
This incident would likely cause quite a headache for the executives, including Fumiya, in managing the aftermath.
Their publicmitment to ensuring the safety of Osaka city had turned out to be empty words.
The excuse that Kenji and Yuuji were Named and thus unavoidable wouldn¡¯t really resonate with people.
Vroom! Vroom!
As soon as he connected and turned on his smartphone, which had been off, it vibrated incessantly.
Checking it out, he found a series of personal DMs from Takashi via Hunter Gram arriving one after another.
The DMs he had sent earlier were now bombarding him like an rm because he had just turned on his phone.
-What are you doing now? Fighting one-on-one with Kenji?
-Kenji is really good at using spatial abilities. He¡¯s also good at defense. It would be tough with your skills, wouldn¡¯t it?
-You¡¯re not dead, are you? You¡¯re not showing up on CCTV?
-Where did Yuuji go? If he¡¯s still alive, report and contact immediately. I¡¯m worried.
-Not picking up? Don¡¯t die!
¡°What is this madness?¡±
Kang-hoo looked perplexed.
He knew Takashi was the type to show small concerns and care for close people.
But feeling genuinely worried about his safety felt strange. Maybe they had gotten somewhat close in a short time.
If Takashi had seen him fighting Kenji through CCTV¡
He might have felt a sense of kinship based on how he responded to the situation ording to pattern theory.
There was no need to doubt Takashi¡¯s sincerity. He was genuinely worried, and fortunately, the oue was good.
Kang-hoo used the voice channel on Hunter Gram to contact Takashi.
Takashi answered before the ring even finished once.
-Are you alive?
¡°I am alive.¡±
-Hey, you¡
The rest of Takashi¡¯s words were a cascade of curses that didn¡¯t need to be taken seriously.
Kang-hoo momentarily pulled the phone away from his ear until Takashi¡¯s voice subsided, then brought it back.
-Not many hunters have died at Kenji¡¯s hands. Even if it was out of curiosity, it was too reckless. That.
¡°Was it that bad? It seemed manageable.¡±
-You¡¯re crazy. Totally crazy¡ If Kenji hadn¡¯t been preupied with Yuuji, you¡¯d be dead!
¡°I went knowing he¡¯d be preupied. Anyway, I¡¯m alive, so don¡¯t worry too much.¡±
Life is worth just one coin. Be careful.
Takashi¡¯sst words resonated deeply.
That¡¯s right. There¡¯s no next if you die.
The original Shin Kang-hoo also had a crazy tenacity, like a hunting dog charging forward.
Looking back, his possessed self seemed to have exactly mirrored that.
In that moment, curiosity had outweighed fear or terror, enough topletely suppress any negative thoughts.
Maybe the essence never changes.
It was really fun to face a much stronger hunter. He even managed tond a proper hit.
But, as Takashi said, everyone only has one life, and that¡¯s something to remember.
For someone who died today, tomorrow is just an imaginary time that will never exist.
And he was someone who had reasons to live tomorrow even more fiercely than today.
Chapter 190: The Drawn Gaze (1)
A video of Kang-hoo rescuing a grandmother and her granddaughter from members of the Toushi Guild became popr on Huntergram.
People who were drawn in by the algorithm admired Kang-hoo¡¯s bravery and his warm act of saving the elderly woman.
Some were also pleased that a Korean hunter had gone to Japan and managed to bring some honor to their country.
Huntergram, a must-have app among hunters, was so essible that almost everyone had seen the video.
This included Han Seo-yeon, who was watching the video of Kang-hoo with a proud smile on her face.
¡®Oppa, it looks like you¡¯re doing well. You¡¯ve grown so much as a hunter too. You¡¯ve really be amazing. It¡¯s almost unbelievable.¡¯
The memory of reuniting with the once-missing Kang-hoo was still vivid in her mind.
Back then, he had looked like someone on the brink of death. His skin was paler than it was now, and he was much thinner.
Moreover, as a hunter, he was just beginning to make his mark, and his level was far below Han Seo-yeon¡¯s.But now, he had grown so much that it made the past seem insignificant. No, ¡°rapid growth¡± would be a more fitting expression.
Compared to herself, it felt like he had surpassed her growth a long time ago.
Just by watching Kang-hoo¡¯s movements in the video, she could tell. He would likely be unmatched now.
At that moment.
The leader of Team 59, to which Han Seo-yeon belonged, walked in. As the team number suggests, it wasn¡¯t a top-tier team.
In Jeonghwa Guild, teams up to Team 15 were considered elite, so their level was far below that.
The team leader spoke.
¡°Today¡¯s training is postponed. Instructors Gong Yo-seok and Go Joo-hee are absent due to an urgent matter.¡±
¡°What happened?¡± Han Seo-yeon asked.
It wasn¡¯t so much an interrogation as it was anticipation; she had been eagerly looking forward to training with the two.
The two of them were renowned hunters in the Jeonghwa Guild, often referred to as the ¡°wannabe couple.¡±
Not only were they skilled, but they were also specialized in teaching others.
¡°The Master has summoned them.¡±
¡°The Master?¡±
¡°Yes. You understand, right?¡±
¡°Yes, I understand perfectly.¡±
Han Seo-yeon nodded.
When the guild¡¯s master calls for you, there is nothing more important. Absolute obedience is a given.
With the unexpected free time, Han Seo-yeon considered sending a text to Kang-hoo for the first time in a while and picked up her smartphone.
But.
¡®No, I¡¯m not ready yet.¡¯
She quickly shook her head.
Recently, Han Seo-yeon had cut off contact with everyone to focus solely on training and growth.
This included Kang-hoo and Lee Ye-rin as well.
She was training with clenched teeth, determined to show her changed self, so she couldn¡¯t afford to weaken now.
Today¡ just seeing Kang-hoo¡¯s impressive appearance after a long time was enough for her.
He was someone running hard toward a better future. She didn¡¯t want to be a small hindrance.
¡°Wow, this hunter is really amazing. Didn¡¯t he take down Eclipse before? And now he¡¯s even going after Toushi Guild?¡±
¡°What was his name again? Shin Kang-hoo?¡±
¡°Yeah. He¡¯s also really good-looking. Check him out. Does he have a girlfriend? If he does, I¡¯m so jealous.¡±
The other members of the team also started watching the video on Huntergram and marveled at the video rted to Kang-hoo.
Perhaps because it was praise for someone she knew, Han Seo-yeon felt proud even though they weren¡¯t talking about her.
Indeed, Kang-hoo was someone fully deserving of such praise.
Before meeting with Gong Yo-seok and Go Joo-hee.
Jang Si-hwan, who had been staring at his monitor, moved several videos to the ¡°on hold¡± folder.
Among them was a video investigation of the person who had cut off Gong Tae-su¡¯s left arm.
Although they had tracked it for a while, they gave up due to ack of solid evidence.
The main reason was the absence of footage from the scene when Gong Tae-su¡¯s arm was cut off.
Moreover, Gong Tae-su considered the incident a ck mark on his record and had kept his mouth shut, which halted further investigation.
On top of that, Gong Tae-su¡¯s Red Blood Organization had been driven out of Ulsan, so their whereabouts were unknown.
It would have been nice if they had found a lead when they were searching hard at the beginning.
Since they were still going in circles, Jang Si-hwan naturally lost interest, and the rted videos soon disappeared from his sight.
Although it wasbeled the ¡°on hold¡± folder, it was practically the trash bin. There were plenty of other videos to review.
Soon, following the secretary¡¯s guidance, Gong Yo-seok and Go Joo-hee entered Jang Si-hwan¡¯s office.
Jang Si-hwan¡¯s office, neatly arranged in a ck-and-white concept, was simple and uncluttered.
Because of that, the two had no reason to look anywhere else but at Jang Si-hwan.
Jang Si-hwan spoke.
¡°I know you¡¯re busy, so I appreciate youing here. It must be hectictely, with such a tight training schedule.¡±
He greeted them with a polite bow.
Jang Si-hwan¡¯s manner, as he respectfully guided them to their seats, was impable.
Despite being in the highest position as the Master, Jang Si-hwan was always courteous, which made the two particrly fond of him.
Jang Si-hwan never crossed the line.
He had never engaged in the typical power trips. In fact, it was Chae Gwanhyeong who often did that. What a scumbag.
Go Joo-hee spoke.
¡°It¡¯s nothing. The training instructions were what we requested. We¡¯re enjoying our work every day.¡±
Gong Yo-seok added.
¡°Thanks to your consideration, we¡¯re managing our work-life bnce well, so there¡¯s no need to worry. But you called us earlier than expected.¡±
¡°External recruitments have been raretely, haven¡¯t they? Except for the internal promotions from the satellite guilds.¡±
The two nodded at Jang Si-hwan¡¯s question.
Although arge number of hunters had been sent from satellite guilds like the Haeohwa Guild to the Jeonghwa Guild¡
As Jang Si-hwan said, it had been quite some time since they had recruited someonepletely new from outside.
Jang Si-hwan continued speaking.
¡°None of the candidates rmended by other sources have impressed me. Do you have any hunters you¡¯d like to rmend?¡±
¡°Baek Seon-tae, an assassin¡¡±
¡°Ah, the one who was with the Jajang warlord in Yeosu? His weaknesses are too apparent.¡±
Jang Si-hwan immediately provided feedback before Gong Yo-seok could even finish speaking about the first candidate.
It wasn¡¯t just talk when they said he kept up with the information on people; it was clear he was well-informed.
¡°Jo Yoon-jun, a swordsman hunter¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ve seen him, but he¡¯s overrated. He¡¯s the one who requested to transfer from the Haeyeong Guild, right? Just let Haeyeong keep him and deal with the consequences.¡±
The second rmendation was also dismissed outright.
They even considered rmending Han Seo-yeon, but since she was already a guild member, Jang Si-hwan wasn¡¯t interested.
He questioned whether it was necessary to pay attention to someone who would naturally grow ording to the guild¡¯s established process.
The discussions about the three hunters, who seemed quite promising, were quickly dismissed without further consideration.
So, the two decided to bring up a hunter they had been discussing frequently with each other recently.
The person in question probably had no idea they were being mentioned, but Gong Yo-seok and Go Joo-hee had talked about them quite a lot.
That person was none other than.
¡°What about Shin Kang-hoo, the assassin hunter? He made a name for himself in the Eclipse-rted incident and has recently gained fame due to the Osaka issue.¡±
It was Kang-hoo.
Gong Yo-seok, concerned that Jang Si-hwan might not be familiar with the hunter, brought up a photo of Kang-hoo on his smartphone.
In truth, Jang Si-hwan had been quite busytely, making him somewhat disconnected from the Eclipse incident and domestic news.
But when he saw the photo, he realized it was someone he had met before.
He had seen him at the observation deck and even had a one-on-one encounter with him at the Gold Goblin¡¯s Mine.
Furthermore, Kang-hoo had participated in the recentrge-scale raid on the Hell of Judgment.
Unbeknownst to him, they had crossed paths quite frequently.
¡°Is there any additional information on him?¡±
Jang Si-hwan¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest, a stark contrast to his earlierck of enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo was receiving a gratitude-filled conversation from Fumiya, who had hurried back from the battlefield.
All the members of the Rikou Guild who were present testified that Yuji had been unexpectedly struck by Kang-hoo.
Moreover, some of the city¡¯s CCTV footage had captured Kang-hoo¡¯s fight with Kenji.
Although the video was brief, it was more than enough to prove his actions at the time.
This was already the third time Fumiya was indebted to Kang-hoo.
Throughout the conversation, Fumiya couldn¡¯t hide his embarrassment. His pride had undoubtedly taken a hit.
¡°The guild will provide you with a substantial reward. Would financialpensation be eptable?¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m not interested in money. However, I would like you to help me find some information that might be difficult to investigate.¡±
¡°Are you requesting an official investigation? Or something more covert?¡±
¡°Thetter.¡±
Kang-hoo declined the mary reward for a different reason.
After observing the Rikou Guild, he realized they possessed far more information than he had initially thought.
He discovered this during various conversations he had with An Yeong-ho via messages. They were remarkably well-informed on external matters.
The reason was likely simple.
They probably operated their own informationwork, and its scale was likely beyond imagination.
There was also a possibility that, like Park Dong-jae, they had insiders within multiple guilds or organizations. Or perhaps they had sessfully bribed them.
So, Kang-hoo intended to use Fumiya to acquire information that would be awkward for him to obtain on his own.
The mary reward he passed up would be equivalent to the price of that information.
¡°What information are you seeking?¡±
¡°I want a list and detailed information on all the dungeons near JR Sapporo Station. If possible, I¡¯d also like to know the procedures for raiding them.¡±
¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking¡¡±
¡°Go ahead.¡±
¡°Could you tell me why you¡¯re interested in Sapporo? I mean no offense.¡±
¡°Would you be satisfied if I said it¡¯s just a good feeling?¡±
Of course, it wasn¡¯t a satisfying answer.
It was vague, after all.
But it wasn¡¯t something he could openly say¡ªlike, ¡°There¡¯s an Imbnce Point there, so I need to check it out.¡±
So, although it might have seemed like a casual response, he chose to give a misleading reason.
¡°Understood. I¡¯ll gather all the necessary data. Will that suffice as your reward?¡±
¡°As long as nothing is omitted.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
This was a golden opportunity to climb several levels at once, and if he could get it all done with just this reward, it would be aplete win.
Fumiya, unaware of the deeper implications, was unknowingly ying into Kang-hoo¡¯s favor.
¡°Understood. I¡¯ll use my top hunters to investigate. I¡¯ll have it done within two days.¡±
As expected.
It seemed there was indeed a secret informationwork within the guild.
Otherwise, it would be difficult to promise such a timeline. There was also a high possibility that they had informants ready to contact at any moment.
Thus, the groundwork for locating the Imbnce Point in Japan wasid.
Now, the only thing left was to clear the remaining five dungeons for dark age farming.
Once that was done, the primary objective of Kang-hoo¡¯s visit to Japan, his dark age growth, would be aplished.
Since that day,
five days had passed.
Of the five remaining dungeons, four had been cleared.
Now, only thest dungeon, which he would tackle with An Yeong-ho, remained.
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 191: The Drawn Gaze (2)
Level 194.
The Dark Period spans from 305 to 425.
The stock of Srkium decreased from 8 to 3, and the stock of Mad Srkium decreased from 9 to 4.
These were the changes that had urred to Kang-hoo over the past five days.
¡°I would like to secure as much Srkium and Mad Srkium stock as possible.¡±
-Srkium is not an issue since I grow it myself. The problem is with Mad Srkium¡
¡°Is there an issue with the supply?¡±
-As you know, Mad Srkium cannot be cultivated. Recently, securing stock has be impossible.
¡°Is there no other way?¡±-There is, but it would require entering North Korea. Right now, both Hyung-seo and Bo-hye are busy, so it¡¯s not feasible.
¡°Understood. I¡¯ll visit you as soon as I return to Korea and personally take care of securing the Mad Srkium.¡±
-That might be necessary. Anything else you need?
¡°Nothing for now. I¡¯ll contact you immediately if anythinges up.¡±
-Alright. Take care of yourself.
The call with Master K had just ended. They had discussed the additional purchase.
Srkium wasn¡¯t a problem, but it seemed there was no stock of Mad Srkium.
It wasn¡¯t surprising that Mad Srkium was hard to secure since it could only be found in nature.
Someone else might have taken it first, or it could have disappeared into the hands of a monster.
¡°Phew.¡±
Kang-hoo let out a rough breath as hey down on the sofa.
Level 200 was just around the corner. Just a little more, and he could add another basic skill.
In the previous four dungeons, there were no mid-bosses or main bosses, so he had steadily increased his Dark Period.
Of course, that was still a significant gain. Dungeons where you could obtain the Dark Period were not thatmon.
Moreover, the increase in the Dark Period was substantial because he had captured monsters from the wraith series, which had not been caught before.
If he were to attack the reset dungeons again, the increase in the Dark Period would be noticeably lower than it is now.
That¡¯s why Kang-hoo had no intention of revisiting the same dungeons. It was also questionable whether the Rikou Guild would allow it.
¡°It does feel a bit empty.¡±
Although he had secured the Dark Period, he felt a bit disappointed because he hadn¡¯t obtained any items or skills.
For that reason, he looked forward to the dungeon he would soon enter with An Yeong-ho.
That dungeon had a boss monster and the potential for some worthwhile loot.
Sarak. Sarak.
Kang-hoo fidgeted with the pill bottle containing the Gaksin Pills that he had taken out from his pocket.
He kept it close at hand, intending to take it if necessary, but he hadn¡¯t touched it yet.
Since it was much harder to obtain than Mad Srkium, it wasn¡¯t something he could easily bring himself to use.
However, just as the saying goes, ¡°Hesitation turns treasures into trash,¡± there mighte a time when he would have to take it boldly.
¡°I¡¯m
The dampness in his body kept pulling him into the cozy embrace of the sofa.
Lately, he had been consuming Srkium and Mad Srkium non-stop, and the fatigue had significantly umted.
Mad Srkium is not a panacea. It¡¯s more like pouring the future into the present.
Even if his stamina recovered,
The fatigue and damage umted both physically and mentally remained embedded throughout his body.
Kang-hoo thought.
He couldn¡¯t confirm it directly, but if he were to tear open his body, he wondered if it would be stained entirely ck inside.
It felt as though his body and mind were thoroughly soaked in the drug. Like well-pickled cabbage for kimchi¡
The streetlights at night seemed unusually blurred, and the morning sunlight didn¡¯t feel weing at all.
At times, he even imagined that he might be a bloodthirsty creature.
Chwareuk!
He pulled back the curtains.
2 AM.
The view of Osaka city outside was vibrant. Although not as much as Seoul, it had its unique energy.
But to Kang-hoo, the scene held no particr impression.
Although his stage had shifted from Korea to Japan, the environment surrounding him hadn¡¯t changed much.
As he made new connections, he also made new enemies, and cities shrouded in darkness existed here too.
Is there no paradise in this world?
Is there nowhere to rest in peace, even for a month, no, even for a week, without having to hold a dagger?
Where there are dungeons, there are hunters, and where there are hunters, there is always conflict.
Even if everything seems peaceful on the surface, the seeds of conflict are always being sown somewhere.
¡°Ending¡ Ending¡¡±
The word of purpose that he was moving towards echoed in his mind.
The Thirteen Stars were still intact.
As long as they existed, no matter where he went in the world, he would always have to endure the stench of the Demon King.
It¡¯s a long journey.
Before he knew it, Kang-hoo had fallen asleep, tightly clutching his dagger.
It was a habit he had developed a long time ago.
That morning.
Ma Jin-ho was weing the first and second inmand of the Groo Guild, who had just returned on an early morning flight.
The two who disembarked at Jeju Airport had tanned, bronze skin, unlike before they left.
Oh Yu-jin, Oh Hye-jin.
The master and vice master of the Groo Guild, they had been in Sweden when Kang-hoo visited earlier.
Both were recognized as skilled hunters with swords and were often called upon both domestically and internationally.
The Groo Guild members and Ma Jin-ho, who hade directly to greet them at Jeju Airport, waved warmly at the two.
Since they were on such familiar terms, there was no need for formal greetings or excessive protocols.
¡°Did youe?¡±
¡°No matter how close you are, what kind of greeting is ¡®Did youe?¡¯ to the Master?¡±
¡°Wee back, Master.¡±
¡°Ugh, that sounds even worse. Just do it the usual way, oppa.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, Yu-jin, Hye-jin.¡±
Ma Jin-ho patted Oh Yu-jin and Oh Hye-jin on the shoulders.
It was a different scene from what one might expect from a typical guild.
If something like this had happened in the Jeonghwa Guild, Chae Gwanhyeong would have stepped in and dealt with such an ¡°insubordination.¡±
And while Jang Si-hwan might have intervened to stop it, he wouldn¡¯t have strongly opposed Chae Gwanhyeong¡¯s actions.
It was like ying the roles of good cop, bad cop. The Jeonghwa Guild had a harmony of hypocrisy and recklessness, but that didn¡¯t exist here.
On the way back to the guild¡¯s hideout.
The Oh Yu-jin sisters dismissed the guild members and caught up on overdue conversations with Ma Jin-ho.
The first topic was Kang-hoo, who had recently joined the Groo Guild as a mercenary blood dealer.
The younger sister, Oh Hye-jin, who was slightly slower in understanding, was busy reading through the documents on Kang-hoo.
The main conversation was between Oh Yu-jin and Ma Jin-ho.
¡°I¡¯ve checked all the materials you sent. I also saw that there was an update on recent news from Japan.¡±
¡°Yeah. There was something about it that really tugged at a man¡¯s heartstrings. A hero who saved a grandmother and her granddaughter.¡±
¡°It was impressive enough to seem like a scripted scene, even though it was a real situation.¡±
Oh Yu-jin¡¯s eyes sparkled.
¡°ording to the information, it seems the Rikou Guild invited him to Japan. They said he met Suzuki Fumiya.¡±
¡°That ce has always been active in recruiting foreign hunters, hasn¡¯t it? It¡¯s not surprising that he went there.¡±
¡°It seems he¡¯s drawing a lot of attention. Even Nikita Boronin from the Kashimar Guild visited him before.¡±
¡°I was surprised when I heard that the guy who never showed up even when invited finally appeared.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying. If Nikita himself got involved, it means the Kashimar Guild had something important to convey.¡±
¡°It seems unlikely that they would take interest in just another blood dealer. That would be too one-dimensional.¡±
¡°There¡¯s probably a reason, which might have been proven to some extent while working together as mercenaries.¡±
The Groo Guild members, including Ma Jin-ho, had a favorable view of Kang-hoo.
It was inevitable, considering they had gained so many conveniences while clearing dungeons together.
Especially since Ma Jin-ho, known for his strict judgment, found Kang-hoo to be wless.
¡°I¡¯ve talked with Hye-jin about it too. We¡¯re considering pushing for his recruitment at the guild level.¡±
¡°Will it work?¡±
¡°We won¡¯t know until we try. Our guild ispletely neutral, right? That could be a significant attraction.¡±
¡°Neutrality as an attraction¡¡±
¡°There are quite a few hunters who dislike sucking up to the Jeonghwa Guild, especially hunters like Shin Kang-hoo, who are proud and aloof.¡±
¡°Hye-jin, even when giving an example, using ¡®sucking up¡¯ sounds a bit crude. Watch yournguage.¡±
¡°Then should I say something else?¡±
¡°¡¡±
¡°Anyway, we¡¯re nning to push actively. Assassins are in short supply these days. They say you can¡¯t even find a good assassin in hell.¡±
¡°Is it the same in Sweden?¡±
¡°There, assassins have practically disappeared. If one appears, even at level 1, they immediately scout and recruit them.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a real mess.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying. Before things get worse here, we need to secure skilled assassins quickly.¡±
That evening.
Kang-hoo, who had finished preparing to farm thest Dark Period, met with An Yeong-ho.
Since An Yeong-ho himself was participating in the raid, more personnel than usual were deployed around the dungeon.
It seemed that because of his well-known connection as Fumiya¡¯s nephew, they were concerned about bing a target for the Toushi Guild.
Kang-hoo tilted his head as he watched An Yeong-ho moving awkwardly despite the warm weather.
¡°Why are you so stiff?¡±
¡°I¡¯m too nervous thinking about going with you, hyung. It¡¯s great, but I¡¯m also really worried.¡±
¡°Your level is higher.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not the issue. Since I have nobat ability, I might be a burden to you¡¡±
¡°I think you¡¯re underestimating the role of a healer.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it just being a heal shuttle?¡±
¡°You should remember that not just anyone can do that shuttle job. Your self-esteem seems quite low.¡±
¡°I¡¯m just like that¡¡±
Knowing that An Yeong-ho couldn¡¯t lie, Kang-hoo understood that his words weren¡¯t just modesty but genuine.
Of course, Kang-hoo¡¯s response was also sincere. There¡¯s a reason healers are often called the flower of dungeon raids.
¡°Having a healer to provide healing as a foundation is advantageous. Minor injuries can be left to the healer, allowing the team to fight like mad, knowing there¡¯s always the possibility of recovery.¡±
¡°Is the expectation that high?¡±
¡°Of course. Especially for a hunter like me, who¡¯s always bleeding in closebat.¡±
Although Kang-hoo left some parts unsaid, there was more he expected from An Yeong-ho.
His healing abilities would be particrly helpful in managing the aftereffects of taking Mad Srkium after 30 minutes.
It might minimize or even eliminate the semi-exhausted state that follows.
¡°Sorry, hyung. I think I¡¯ve been too hard on myself.¡±
¡°Try running with me and see for yourself how much help you are. If it doesn¡¯t seem right, I¡¯ll tell you.¡±
¡°Yes, hyung.¡±
¡°Alright, let¡¯s go in.¡±
Kang-hoo immediately entered the dungeon.
An Yeong-ho followed closely behind, and Kang-hoo called for a scout team that matched the dungeon¡¯s concept.
¡¾Summon Fallen One¡¿
Kiiyaaaah!
As soon as the summoning skill brought forth the Fallen One, a horrifying screech, like nails on a chalkboard, erupted.
¡°Ugh! What is this? A ghost? What is this?¡±
An Yeong-ho¡¯s startled reaction to the Fallen One was an added bonus.
But only for a moment.
His gaze soon shifted from the Fallen One to Kang-hoo, filled with curiosity and amazement.
¡°Hyung, do you have a skill that can summon creatures like this?¡±
Chapter 192: Joy And Hatred (1)
¡°Hey.¡±
¡°Wow¡ I suddenly thought I saw a ghost because I felt weak. I even heard hallucinations.¡±
¡°If there¡¯s a monster in the form of a wraith, this guy will react first. It may look like this, but it¡¯s quite useful.¡±
¡°Understood, Hyungnim. It feels like a skill that would suit a necromancer, shaman, or dark mage, but I always acknowledge what you possess.¡±
¡°Why, because I have a lot of skills?¡±
¡°Hyungnim¡¯s skill acquisition mechanism is something I can¡¯t understand no matter how much I think about it. Ah, I don¡¯t mean that in a bad way.¡±
¡°I have no intention of denying it either.¡±
Kang-hooughed.
Typically, an assassin has skills suitable for an assassin. This is because the branching of basic skills urs that way.Even when acquiring skill books, learning skills from other sses is generally a disadvantage, making it even more so.
But thanks to the Dimension Plunderer, Kang-hoo can steal skills from mid-bosses and main bosses without penalties.
Moreover, by using tricks, he can learn skill books from other sses, leading to unrestrained branching.
That¡¯s why hunters who face Kang-hoo find him difficult. He¡¯s unpredictable.
Kang-hoo first sent the Fallen Spirit ahead.
Although he expected the dungeon entrance to be teeming with monsters, the surroundings were quieter than anticipated.
To prevent his body from stiffening, Kang-hoo kept loosening up, mixing in appropriate side-to-side movements.
An Yeong-ho also managed his heightened senses by repeatedly activating and deactivating his healing skill.
How long had they walked like that?
An Yeong-ho, feeling stuffy from keeping his thoughts to himself, subtly opened up.
¡°Hyungnim, I¡¯ve been worried about somethingtely. May I speak about it?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s hear it. If it¡¯s a pointless worry, I might give you a piece of my mind.¡±
Having seen An Yeong-ho¡¯s low self-esteem earlier, Kang-hoo preemptively warned him.
If An Yeong-ho started to devalue himself again, Kang-hoo was ready to scold him harshly.
¡°With everything so unsettledtely, I¡¯m worried about my uncle. The Towshi Guild would target him first.¡±
¡°That¡¯s undeniable.¡±
¡°Even though he¡¯s always prepared, I still worry.¡±
¡°Have you expressed this to your uncle?¡±
¡°Not yet.¡±
¡°Keep it that way. From what I see, Fumiya-nim is moremitted to safety than anyone else.¡±
¡°Do you think so?¡±
¡°He¡¯s someone who understands the weight, responsibility, and symbolism of his position. Don¡¯t worry.¡±
¡°Maybe I was worrying needlessly.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay to worry. But keep it to yourself. If you share these worries, it can twist all stable thoughts.¡±
¡°Ah¡¡±
¡°Breaking perfection is simpler than you think. Just suggest it might not be perfect, and that¡¯s it.¡±
¡°So it¡¯s not about being perfect or not.¡±
¡°Exactly. Just raising the issue makes the other person think about it repeatedly. It¡¯s like when you¡¯re told not to think about an elephant, and you keep thinking about it.¡± ?
Kang-hoo¡¯s calm voice helped An Yeong-ho feel more at ease.
Until just moments ago, An Yeong-ho had been worried that his uncle might be in danger while he was away.
Suddenly, he felt embarrassed. With a slightly flushed face, An Yeong-ho hurriedly changed the subject.
¡°Oh, by the way, Hyungnim, I¡¯m really thankful and sorry. You¡¯ve helped me and our guild in so many ways.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t do it for free.¡±
¡°Still, it¡¯s not just me. My uncle and the guild members see you differently now.¡±
¡°You mean in a good way?¡±
¡°Of course! Many people have be interested in you, Hyungnim! The incident in the city and the matter with Yuji too!¡±
The series of events in Osaka had indeed significantly boosted Kang-hoo¡¯s reputation.
The act of killing a member of the Towshi Guild had been glorified as heroic and had been prominently featured on Hunter Gram.
The blow dealt to Yuji continued to spread rumors within the Rikou Guild.
It was strange that the rumors hadn¡¯t spread, especially since the Rikou Guild had officially expressed their gratitude.
Just then¡
Kshkshkshk!
The Fallen Spirit reacted.
Like an eagle that had spotted its prey, the Fallen Spirit swooped down from the air.
At the spot where the Fallen Spiritnded, a wraith-like monster stood proudly.
Its name was Soul Hunter. The monster¡¯s very name was unpleasant.
It looked just like a dark mage wearing a ck robe, shooting spheres filled with ck smoke.
These spheres separated the soul from the body. If hit, there¡¯s a chance of being separated from your body.
The fortunate part is that the speed of the spheres is slow enough to dodge if you focus.
However, as time passes, the number of these spheres, nicknamed ¡®Soul Spheres,¡¯ increases around the area.
The key to defeating the Soul Hunter is to kill it quickly before the situation drags on.
Of course, normal attacks arepletely ineffective. Only attacks using dark energy or divine power are effective.
Kang-hoo nned to use the method he established while conquering the dark energy dungeon.
It¡¯s not perfect. The efficiency isn¡¯t great, and thepletion is low.
But since it¡¯s crucial for future progress, he continued to attempt it, even though it¡¯s stillcking.
This involved infusing basic attacks with dark energy. To be able to imbue his attacks with dark energy.
When using dark energy-rted skills, Kang-hoo tried applying the sensation felt in his body to his basic attacks.
It wasn¡¯t an easy task, but after repeated training, he finally made a breakthrough.
Though the efficiency might be low, he was able to improve the structure so that some dark energy could be used in basic attacks.
Thanks to that, his basic attacks, barring efficiency issues, were now all effective hits.
¡°Yeong-ho.¡±
¡°Yes?¡±
¡°As I said before entering the dungeon, while you¡¯re assisting me, if you find yourself with some leeway, try healing the Soul Hunter too.¡±
¡°¡Will it work?¡±
¡°Just try it first and thinkter. Don¡¯t self-censor beforehand.¡±
¡°Understood, Hyungnim.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t oveplicate it. Think of the Soul Hunter as me. Imagine this guy is at death¡¯s door, and use your healing skill with all your might, as if you¡¯re trying to save it.¡±
¡°Ah¡¡±
¡°You¡¯re notcking the talent of a battle healer. You just haven¡¯t found the right method yet.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡±
¡°Yes, go ahead. Even if it doesn¡¯t work, keep trying. After all, you have nothing to lose, right?¡±
¡°Yes, Hyungnim!¡±
¡°Alright then, let¡¯s go.¡±
Kang-hoo immediately charged towards the Soul Hunter.
Timed perfectly, the Fallen Spirit also began a circling maneuver, continuously disrupting the Soul Hunter¡¯s sight.
Although it had no attack capabilities, it was perfectly capable of being a persistent nuisance by hovering in front.
Ssshhh!
As Kang-hoo approached, the Soul Hunter shot a Soul Sphere.
The sphere¡¯s speed was about as fast as an adult walking briskly. So, if you¡¯re aware of it, you can easily dodge it.
However, when it reaches a 30-meter radius, it bounces back as if hitting a wall andes back¡
It¡¯s best to memorize its return trajectory; otherwise, you might get hit by a blind sphere.
¡°Whew!¡±
Swoosh!
With a basic attack using a dagger, Kang-hoo shed at the Soul Hunter.
Normally, this would have been a meaningless swing, slicing through nothing but empty air.
However, since he somehow infused the attack with dark energy, a red line appeared on the Soul Hunter¡¯s body.
An effect yed out as if Kang-hoo¡¯s dagger left a wound on the Soul Hunter¡¯s body along its path.
Of course, that alone didn¡¯t kill the Soul Hunter.
It was more of a symbolic sign that damage was inflicted; the body wasn¡¯t actually split.
¡®The efficiency isn¡¯t good yet. It seems to be less than 10% of what I envisioned.¡¯
It was an effective attack, but not fatal. That was Kang-hoo¡¯s cold assessment.
It seemed like a lot more refinement was needed. Considering he was just getting started, there was no need to rush.
Still, perhaps because Kang-hoo managed to wound it with a basic attack, the once-confident Soul Hunter momentarily hesitated.
In that brief moment,
Kang-hoo maximized the confusion by using illusion magic and Shadow Step.
¡¾ck Moon sh¡¿
He activated a hidden skill.
This was a skill Kang-hoo had consistently used while conquering undead-type dungeons.
Without ck Moon sh, it was impossible to kill wraith-type monsters, so he had used it in almost every attack.
As a result, it took considerable time to conquer dungeons since he had to use dark energy and wait for recovery.
Fssssh!
The ck Moon sh, which started at the tip of Kang-hoo¡¯s dagger, flew toward the Soul Hunter with a strange sound.
The sound of death approaching!
But for the Soul Hunter, who was encountering this type of attack for the first time, it was an inexplicable dirge.
At the same time,
An Yeong-ho, watching the mysterious skill projectileunched by Kang-hoo, was puzzled.
When Kang-hoo said he had conquered undead-type dungeons earlier¡
An Yeong-ho assumed he had bypassed wraith-type monsters like the Soul Hunter during his conquest.
Since he hadn¡¯t witnessed the conquest firsthand, he made a mon sense¡¯ judgment.
Killing wraith-type monsters is only possible with an attack that matches their attributes.
In other words, unless Kang-hoo possessed dark energy or divine power, it would be impossible to kill the Soul Hunter.
Handling such special stats wasn¡¯tmon knowledge.
It¡¯s difficult enough to secure the stats, let alone have the skills to use them.
Even if someone had the stats, there were many cases where they couldn¡¯t use them due to ack of skills.
However, Kang-hoo used a skill as if he was well-prepared.
¡®Not only does Hyungnim possess dark energy, but he also has the skills to utilize it?¡¯
Based on the circumstances, yes.
The Soul Hunter isn¡¯t an easy opponent. It¡¯s considered quite tricky.
Even if someone could handle dark energy, multiple confrontations would be necessary to deal meaningful damage¡
Boom!
Just when he thought multiple battles would be needed, the Soul Hunter, struck by Kang-hoo¡¯s ck Moon sh, exploded on the spot.
Like a water balloon pierced by a needle, it instantly shattered into hundreds of pieces. Instant death.
¡°¡¡±
An Yeong-ho¡¯s fingers trembled.
Not only could Kang-hoo handle dark energy, but he also knew how to utilize dark energy skills.
That¡¯s why he had confidently ventured into undead dungeons alone. Kang-hoo¡¯s confidence had a solid foundation.
Since An Yeong-ho had no experience with hidden skills, he hadn¡¯t expected ck Moon sh to be one.
But the power was clearly imprinted in his mind.
The Soul Hunter met its end with just one strike. There wasn¡¯t even time to practice as a battle healer.
¡°I didn¡¯t control my strength well. I intended to give you some practice towards the end, but I finished it in one hit.¡±
At some point, Kang-hoo had returned to An Yeong-ho¡¯s side and apologized for finishing it with a single blow.
The calm demeanor of this life-saving Hyungnim, who was also an outstanding assassin, was the finishing touch to the scene.
How far does his skill extend?
Even An Yeong-ho, who had developed a keen eye under a talented uncle, couldn¡¯t begin to guess.
A true monster stood before him.
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 193: Joy And Hatred (2)
Chapter 193: Joy And Hatred (2)
A fresh start with a good mood after killing the Soul Hunter and fortunately obtaining the ¡°Dark Weapon 1.¡±
Kang-hoo and An Yeong-ho continued to push forward, frequently encountering Soul Hunters along the way.
Thanks to getting ustomed to fighting them, by the second encounter, they crushed the enemy without any mistakes.
Thus, Kang-hoo focused on practicing how to imbue the dark energy into his basic attacks.
An Yeong-ho, following Kang-hoo¡¯s instructions, concentrated on practicing attacks that utilized healing abilities.
Naturally, sess wasn¡¯t immediate, and An Yeong-ho repeatedly failed to the point of tears.
From the start, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t expect An Yeong-ho to seed right away when he gave him advice.
If that were the case, then all healers in the world would bebat healers by now. There¡¯s a reason whybat healers are rare.
Kang-hoo trusted in An Yeong-ho¡¯s talent. He believed that Yeong-ho would be able to achieve it.It was as if An Yeong-ho, looking at Kang-hoo, was saying, ¡°Of course, you can do it, because you¡¯re my big brother.¡±
Kang-hoo felt the same. He believed that An Yeong-ho would be able to do it because he was An Yeong-ho.
They passed the first section of the dungeon, often referred to as Section A.
Finally, they entered Section B.
This section was one where An Yeong-ho¡¯s presence was crucial, and Kang-hoo weed hispanion for this very reason.
It was due to the constant debuff activation.
Starting from Section B, the ¡°Plunder¡± debuff became active, and the dungeon¡¯s boss monster continuously drained their health.
If it were just a matter of losing health, it wouldn¡¯t be a big problem. They could simply endure it.
The real issue was that the longer they took, the more the boss monster at the end of the dungeon would recover.
In other words, it sucked the vitality from the hunters and used it as nourishment to restore itself. It was like cooking porridge only to feed it to the dog.
Thus, while restoring their health, they had to move forward quickly. It was a tricky two-track situation.
¡°Hyung*, don¡¯t worry about my health. You don¡¯t need to worry about your health either. I¡¯m really good at healing.¡±
As soon as the ¡°Plunder¡± debuff started to drain their health, An Yeong-ho¡¯s healing burst forth.
Kang-hoo was startled by the sudden influx of healing and turned to look at him, only to see An Yeong-ho grinning and giving him a thumbs-up.
¡°You¡¯re healing really fast.¡±
¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve optimized my healing to the max. It¡¯s a trade secret, but I¡¯ll let you in on it, hyung.¡±
Due to the influence of the ¡°All-seeing Truth¡± constetion, there was no hiding anything from this guy. He was always straightforward.
Kang-hoo collected his thoughts before responding.
If he said something, and An Yeong-ho activated the ¡°All-seeing Truth,¡± Kang-hoo wouldn¡¯t be able to lie.
¡°I appreciate it if you want to share, but I don¡¯t n on bing a healer, so why bother? Just keep it to yourself.¡±
¡°You¡¯re my lifesaver, hyung. I can tell you anything. Well, except for guild secrets, of course.¡±
This, too, was An Yeong-ho¡¯s sincerity.
Luckily, he wasn¡¯t crazy enough to suggest sharing guild secrets with Kang-hoo, or the reaction might¡¯ve been different.
¡°Anyway, I¡¯m really impressed with the speed. How about your mana?¡±
¡°No worries. I¡¯ve taken great care with my mana-rted items, so I¡¯m good.¡±
¡°Alright, let¡¯s keep going, speed is key.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll support you!¡±
Puuuk!
Kang-hoo switched ces with one of the shadows behind the Assassin and immediately delivered a Decapitation sh.
Due to the mana and stamina consumption unique to the Decapitation sh, Kang-hoo felt his body grow significantly heavier, but he ignored it.
In a fight between assassins, speed is the key.
Kang-hoo swiftly switched ces with two more shadows and delivered two additional Decapitation shes in session.
The three Assassins, who had been iling at his clone, had their necks punctured neatly in unison.
Then¡
¡¾Blood Flower¡¿
Finishing off with a blooming flower of blood!
With a slight dy, the Assassins sprayed fountains of blood from their necks, falling forward one after the other.
It was an explosion caused by the blood flowing from the gaping neck wounds, making it nearly impossible for them to survive.
¡°Wow!¡±
An Yeong-ho eximed in awe.
How many assassins could destroy their enemies with such style and destruction?
An Yeong-ho thought Kang-hoo¡¯s fight just now looked like a scene from a movie, or perhaps a well-drawn painting.
He even thought Kang-hoo resembled a novel¡¯s protagonist.
No matter how strong the enemy was, Kang-hoo would ultimately subdue and kill them¡ like a true hero!
But his admiration was short-lived.
¡°Phew.¡±
Kang-hoo exhaled roughly and staggered slightly, prompting An Yeong-ho to quickly reach out.
Right now, the most important thing was the recovery of Kang-hoo, the man he was supporting.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo picked up an orange mana stone dropped by one of the dead Assassins. It was worth 10 billion won.
¡°Hyung*, are you alright?¡±
¡°The skill consumes a lot of stamina, but with your healing, I¡¯m recovering quickly.¡±
¡°It¡¯s performing well, right?¡±
¡°Yeah, I knew it would.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded in agreement.
An Yeong-ho¡¯s healing was definitely different. It felt like receiving highly concentrated recovery energy.
Because of that, his stamina recovered faster, and the amount restored was muchrger than usual.
¡°Hyung, I like to think I¡¯m pretty sharp, but honestly, I had no idea where you were this time.¡±
¡°Seems like mybo worked well.¡±
¡°It wasn¡¯t just ¡®well,¡¯ it was awesome! It¡¯s like the God of Assassins is right here with us!¡±
In reality, most of today¡¯s assassins were nothing more than burdens¡ªnicknamed Burdens¡ªand even those were rare.
In An Yeong-ho¡¯s eyes, Kang-hoo, who actively controlled the battlefield and created his own opportunities, was nothing short of impressive.
Kang-hoo, however, didn¡¯t seem to think much of it. An Yeong-ho, on the other hand, thought Kang-hoo was truly amazing.
Despite his skill, Kang-hoo never acted arrogantly or disrespectfully. He possessed the virtue of humility.
¡°Let¡¯s go. Thanks to you, my stamina is fully restored. No need to waste time.¡±
¡°Yes, hyung! Let¡¯s go right away!¡±
After quickly wrapping up what could have been a time-consuming situation, the two moved forward without hesitation.
They continued their advance.
During their movement, they engaged in several battles.
However, thanks to An Yeong-ho, who took care of their stamina concerns, they fought without worry.
They could focus solely on thebat, allowing them to crush the monsters one after another, and as a result, Kang-hoo¡¯s level rose to 197.
As they moved into the section where the boss monster awaited, known as Section C, Kang-hoo paused for a moment, lost in thought.
Feeling the cool breeze blowing from somewhere, his mind, which had been fully immersed in battle, began to rx slightly.
¡®The supply of Hematite has dried up recently. I think I missed out on getting skill books for other sses, too.¡¯
Hematite, essential for upgrading skills and items, was as rare as it was valuable.
In the early stages, he had secured a good amount of Hematite, allowing him to upgrade his skills and items, reaping the benefits.
However, since he hadn¡¯t found any in the recent dungeons, he hadn¡¯t been able to upgrade anything since hisst boost.
There were still a few ces where he could reliably obtain Hematite.
North Korea was nearby, and there were also a few locations in China that Jang Si-hwan had visited in the original story.
If Kang-hoo had been reincarnated earlier, he would¡¯ve enjoyed the benefits of many more ces.
But since some time had passed, part of the fruit had already fallen into Jang Si-hwan¡¯s hands.
Hematite is a byproduct of great strategic value.
At the very least, from now on, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t want a single piece of Hematite to fall into Jang Si-hwan or his crew¡¯s hands.
¡®I¡¯ll have to make a trip to North Korea¡ There¡¯s also the matter of securing more Mad Srkium. I have enough motivation to go.¡¯
Kang-hoo sorted out his thoughts.
If he went through Master K, he could probably find a way to easily ess the North.
Depending on the situation, he might have to coborate with Moon Hyeong-seo or Hwangbo Hye. He couldn¡¯t do it alone.
¡®I¡¯ll also need to get some skill books.¡¯
If he restricted himself to assassin-type skills, it would be very difficult to find skill books.
But if he looked into the less popr sses, his options would expand significantly.
Since he could absorb other ss skills without penalty by exploiting loopholes¡ there was no need to be picky.
¡®So much to do.¡¯
It was really a busy time.
If Kang-hoo had lived a life of contentment, he would¡¯ve spent his days rxed and carefree.
But the cursed fate of the ¡°Savior¡± kept pushing him to look upwards and whipping him to keep running.
And from the perspective of someone who knew how things would end, he couldn¡¯t just let everything go towards catastrophe.
¡®Even if I can only manage to break them in half.¡¯
That thought crossed his mind.
If he could make five or six of The Thirteen Stars defect, how much easier would things be?
Even if he managed to pull Takashi out, The Thirteen Stars would still have twelve remaining members.
Kang-hoo wanted to rid himself of Hunters like Yu Cheonghwa and Emilia, who didn¡¯t really belong in their group.
He also wanted to prevent those expected to join in the future from falling into their grasp.
Jang Si-hwan, Chae Gwanhyeong, Casey, and Vincent were untouchable. They were too far gone, rotten to the core.
But as for the others, there was room to work. Creating a rift wasn¡¯t entirely impossible.
Chapter 194: Joy And Hatred (3)
Even if it¡¯s not explicitlybeled as betrayal, there are ways to nurture a character who bes an antagonist.
For example, figures like Lee Hyun-seok of the Warlord Abyss or Lee Ye-rin of the Cheong-an Mercenary Corps are good examples.
They have already formed anti-Jeonghwa forces or are soon to do so.
In the original story, most of the figures opposing Jang Si-hwan met their end in death¡
But that will no longer happen.
Even if it were to happen, I n to prevent it somehow.
¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡±
¡°Right. The boss monster standing alone like that looks terrifying. Even scarier since it¡¯s ying two roles at once.¡±
¡°Ready?¡±¡°Yes, hyungnim!¡±
A littleter, Kang-hoo and An Yeong-ho were looking at the dungeon¡¯s middle boss and main boss monster.
As a middle boss, its name was ¡°Joy,¡± and as a main boss, it was called ¡°Hatred.¡±
It had a structure where two faces were attached to one body, unlike the typical structure with a face and the back of the head.
Joy was the face in front that smiled, and Hatred was the face behind, full of rage.
The first to open the battle was Joy.
Unlike Hatred, its concept was that of a typical tank character, enduring attacks with its body.
¡°As I mentioned before, the creature has a recovery pattern. I¡¯ll handle maintaining the bleed effect and suppressing its recovery, so don¡¯t worry about that.¡±
¡°Understood. I¡¯ll focus on exploiting the death heal chance when the recovery pattern kicks in.¡±
¡°Good. You¡¯ve got it down.¡±
Death heal refers to a scenario where, in an attempt to recover from excessive bleeding, the health instead depletes by the same amount as the recovery.
It only activates when the bleed effect reaches the maximum of 50 stacks, making it a very tricky condition to meet.
After all, not only is it difficult to reach 50 stacks, but the duration is also short.
Thanks to his enhanced bleed ability, Kang-hoo could maintain the bleed effect for a minimum of 4 seconds and up to 6 seconds.
In other words, depending on the situation, as long as he inflicted a wound within 4 to 6 seconds, it was possible to stack the bleed to the next level.
¡°Conserve your mana as much as possible. It¡¯s better to save your cards during Joy¡¯s phase, as it shares information with Hatred.¡±
¡°Of course. I n to stick to basic healing, hyungnim.¡±
¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡±
Kang-hoo immediately charged toward Joy.
As the uninvited guest approached, Joy¡¯s ever-present smile twisted into an even wider grin.
It felt as if it couldn¡¯t express anger or hatred, recing emotions with an exaggerated smile.
That made it even more grotesque, resembling something like a traditional Hahoe mask.
¡°Not fully recovered yet.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
Thanks to his and An Yeong-ho¡¯s steady advance, Joy¡¯s recovery was lessplete than expected.
ording to the strategy guide from the Rikou Guild,
Hunters typically arrived after being severely drained by the plundering debuff, always facing Joy in its best condition.
However, this time, blood was still trickling from parts of Joy¡¯s abdomen and thighs.
It¡¯s unclear why the boss monster started with a penalty, but that¡¯s just how the dungeon was designed.
In a way, it also served to gauge the abilities of the hunters challenging the dungeon.
The stronger and more skilled the hunters, the sooner they would arrive before Joy could fully recover.
¡°Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo!¡±
Joy unleashed a series of one-two punches, threatening Kang-hoo.
Being a massive humanoid monster, even the simple act of extending its fists stirred up wind.
Swiish! Swiish!
Kang-hoo didn¡¯t pay much attention to Joy¡¯s attacks, stabbing its body ording to his original n.
The punches weren¡¯t worth taking head-on, so he dodged them with slight footwork.
¡°You¡¯re fast.¡±
An Yeong-ho¡¯s eyes gleamed as he watched the fight between Kang-hoo and Joy.
Despite Joy¡¯s boxing-style punches aimed at Kang-hoo, he hadn¡¯t taken a single hit at such close range.
Meanwhile, each time Kang-hoo¡¯s dagger passed through, blood sttered, steadily building up the bleed stacks.
Instead of going for one powerful blow, Kang-hoo aimed for multiple hits, seeking to stack the bleed effect.
His style hadpletely changed from the destructive approach he used against previous monsters.
¡°You certainly have a long duration. That¡¯s why you seem to attack so calmly.¡±
The typical bleed dealer¡¯s stack duration is 2 seconds, while Kang-hoo¡¯ssts for 6 seconds, three times longer.
A 4-second difference is massive on the battlefield, where every second counts, and it was fully reflected in the battle.
Kang-hoo retreated whenever Joy tried to push aggressively.
As long as he seeded in an attack within the extended bleed duration, he could maintain the effect.
The enhancement from the bleed effect typically triggered an additional duration of about 5 seconds, somewhere between the usual minimum of 2 and the maximum of 6.
Even when considering the average, his bleed duration was 2.5 times longer than the standard bleed dealer.
In an instant, the bleed had stacked up to 50.
From that moment on, his battle style shifted from a ¡®dodge and counterattack¡¯ strategy to an all-out offensive.
He didn¡¯t overuse his skills.
He simply dodged Joy¡¯s simple, straightforward attacks withteral movements, striking from behind.
Whether Joy was just dumb or simply too simple-minded, it steadily whittled down its own health.
Perhaps it fought without much concern, relying on its recovery.
After all, when the recovery pattern was triggered, its health would recover by more than 50%, no matter what.
Because of this frustrating recovery pattern, the dungeon was unpopr within the Rikou Guild.
The dungeon had been practically half-abandoned, with the most recent raid attempt urring about three months ago.
At that moment.
¡°Uhuuu!¡±
Joy took a deep breath, preparing to initiate its recovery.
It was a forced pattern, activated immediately, so there was no way to dy or interrupt it.
¡®Hyungnim has already set everything up!¡¯
An Yeong-ho clenched his fists. Death Heal could only be triggered with 50 bleed stacks¡ªa rare condition.
An Yeong-ho had only experienced it in dungeons where he had gone with many bleed dealers.
He didn¡¯t expect to see it in a two-man raid, but Kang-hoo had perfectly set the stage for it.
¡°Huaaah!¡±
Joy raised both arms to embrace the iing wave of recovery energy.
Even as Kang-hoo relentlessly drove his dagger in, Joy ignored it, knowing it would recover soon anyway.
An Yeong-ho didn¡¯t consider failure for a second.
It was thanks to what Kang-hoo had said before they reached the final area.
Even if Death Heal doesn¡¯t trigger and it recovers normally, the recovery pattern would¡¯ve filled its health anyway, so failing isn¡¯t an issue.
Even if Death Heal triggers but it recovers due to an off-timed heal, it would¡¯ve lost some health anyway, so it¡¯s fine.
An Yeong-ho knew well that Kang-hoo said this to keep his mind under control.
If the process got messed up.
It would only mean more trouble for Kang-hoo, who would have to work harder to maintain the bleed effect and deal damage.
But to prevent unnecessary distractions, Kang-hoo had cleverly reframed the situation to ease the burden.
¡®Time to earn my keep!¡¯
An Yeong-ho bit his lip hard. Then, as Joy began recovering, he cast his ultimate recovery spell.
It was his most confident healing skill, and the crowning ability of any healer.
The next moment.
¡°Urgh!¡±
Joy¡¯s face twisted as it entered recovery mode, its eyes rolling back.
It was clearly in shock.
Just as Kang-hoo had nned, Death Heal had triggered.
And then.
Shaaah!
A wave of recovery energy enveloped Joy.
¡°Keh-heok¡!¡±
Instead of healing, it fueled Death Heal. The very recovery energy turned into damage.
¡°Yes!¡±
Kang-hoo shouted.
At that moment, Kang-hoo rushed in, attacking Joy, now caught in a double-damagebo of Death Heal and the recovery energy.
As it rapidly lost health, Joy entered a state of shock and exhaustion, leaving it as helpless as a fool.
¡°Woo¡ Woohoo! Hooray!¡±
An Yeong-ho raised his arms in triumph without even realizing it.
He never expected to see something he had only known in theory y out so smoothly!
Whether or not he shared in An Yeong-ho¡¯s joy, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t waste the opportunity and was busy butchering Joy.
Now unable to resist, Joy was helplessly sttering blood under Kang-hoo¡¯s relentless shes.
There was nothing left to see.
Kang-hoo, having driven his dagger into Joy¡¯s body all over, confirmed that the ¡®seasoning¡¯ was sufficient and activated Blood Flower.
Boom! Boom!
And with that, it was over.
The perfect synchronization between the two had turned Joy¡¯s tricky recovery pattern into a death sentence.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo checked the skill he had just stolen from Joy upon its death and smiled in satisfaction.
¡¾Affinity - Divinity¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾The efficiency of divine power recovery or healing skills increases by 33%.¡¿
It was a skill that heightened affinity, increasing responsiveness to a particr attribute.
Because of this, Joy¡¯s recovery patterns likely had much higher self-healing amounts than expected.
Of course, now that Death Heal had triggered, this had be a fatal trait.
¡®It¡¯s a passive skill, so I don¡¯t need to pay much attention to it. This is good.¡¯
You can¡¯t rely indefinitely on a healer to recover and support healing skills.
So even with a single recovery, efficiency mattered, and this timely acquisition of a good skill was a relief.
¡®Considering this, they haven¡¯t really learned much about my skills. I¡¯ve only shown off someteral movement and eleration, huh?¡¯
Kang-hoo steadied his breath, preparing to face the next boss monster that would soon appear.
Although Joy¡¯s body had been torn apart in the explosion, with blood spilling from its mangled flesh¡
Fwooosh!
Suddenly, dark energy erupted from Hatred¡¯s newly opened eyes, engulfing its entire body.
Then, as if rewinding time, the scattered flesh and blood returned to their original ces.
As if nothing had happened, Hatred¡¯s new face emerged, along with a perfectly healed body.
Hatred, after its reassembly, now had a lean and slender body, unlike the massive Joy from before.
¡°Ugh.¡±
An Yeong-ho groaned.
Even at a nce, Hatred radiated an overwhelming sense of intimidation.
Above all, the chilling cold that rapidly dropped the surrounding temperature was murderous.
The once mild air was now cold enough to leave white frost in each breath.
¡®It¡¯s not just the dark aura¡ªthis monster¡¯s skill is the main reason we¡¯re here.¡¯
Kang-hoo smacked his lips.
The real prey was Hatred.
Among the skills Hatred favored, there was one that Kang-hoo absolutely wanted.
It was ¡®Distortion sh.¡¯
A skill partially linked to space distortion, making it incredibly troublesome for anyone facing it.
In other words, the most challenging opponent had just appeared for Kang-hoo, who was currently in the challenger¡¯s position.
The easy, fun warm-up was over. Now, it was time for a fierce fight to im the prize.
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Chapter 195: Joy And Hatred (4)
The most effective trigger for fear is silence.
The absence of sound feels like standing on thin ice that could break at any moment.
Ahn Yeong-ho and Park Dong-jae often tense up when they meet Kang-hoo because he rarely speaks.
Since they can¡¯t tell what he¡¯s thinking or feeling, it¡¯s only natural for them to feel uneasy while watching him.
The current ¡°Hatred¡± was the same.
It was constantly moving, aiming for Kang-hoo¡¯s life, but it didn¡¯t even let out a single groan.
As if it deemed making any sound beneath its dignity, a scornful gaze could also be felt.
Though Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t bothered by it, Ahn Yeong-ho found that look of Hatred quite unsettling.
The tricky part about Hatred wasn¡¯t just that it was an assassin-type monster that moved swiftly, but also that it used a skill called ¡°Line of Distortion.¡±It created a line of space within a 10-meter radius, connecting directly, and ced it somewhere.
It couldn¡¯t be seen with the naked eye, only sensed through mana flow.
When someone passed through it, the line wrapped around their body like crossing a marathon finish line.
Then, if distortion was triggered, much like activating Blood Flower, space twisted at the point of contact.
From that moment, flesh would begin to be dug out, and if left unattended, the line would burrow deeper, eventually cutting the body in half, leading to death.
To remove the line, one had to pull it with their hands, causing additional damage in the process.
In terms of raw destructive power, the skill wasn¡¯t as instantly lethal as spatial distortion.
However, as a tool for effectively restricting an opponent¡¯s movements or luring them in, it was an optimized ¡°obstacle.¡±
From the opponent¡¯s perspective, it was extremely troublesome.
If one couldn¡¯t detect its position through mana flow, it would evoke a fear of the unseen.
¡¾Self-Indulgent Consumption ¨C Natural Healing¡¿
Meanwhile, at the start of the battle, Kang-hoo was amplifying the mana buff Ahn Yeong-ho had cast on him.
Thanks to that,bined with his innate mana hypersensitivity, his mana recovery speed was extraordinary.
Considering that Ahn Yeong-ho hadn¡¯t used this skill in previous battles, it was evident that the skill had a very long cooldown.
With Natural Healing¡¯s 2.5x mana recovery ratebined with Self-Indulgent Consumption¡¯s 300%, the synergy became 7.5 times more effective¡ªan absurdly high figure.
Against Hatred, Kang-hoo was following a pattern of solid defense followed by swift counterattacks.
The opponent was highly aggressive, and each attack carried significant destructive power.
A typical characteristic of assassin-type monsters.
Hatred aimed for one big strike.
In a brawl, if Kang-hoo got caught by one of those major hits, it could be fatal, making recovery nearly impossible.
Ssshhh! Fsssst!
¡®That thing is truly annoying.¡¯
Hatred¡¯s right hand had the ability to transform into a lethal weapon at will.
The tricky part was that the de could extend indefinitely.
Kang-hoo had nearly miscalcted the distance and been caught off guard by it several times.
Though now, he had found a way to deal with it.
¡¾Quick Evasion¡¿
By using the Quick Evasion skill, Kang-hoo leveraged the Resistance Veil effect that activated with it.
During evasive maneuvers, his evasion rate for both skills and attacks increased, allowing him to avoid danger.
Because of this, Hatred¡¯s right-hand attack only grazed the spot where Kang-hoo had been standing moments ago.
On the other hand, Kang-hoo, knowing Hatred was quick to learn, never repeated the same attack pattern.
¡¾Copse¡¿
Rumble!
This time, it was Copse.
Hatred stumbled, unable to maintain bnce as the ground under its feet gave way.
Had it reacted faster, it could have kicked off the ground before it sank, but its response was half a beat toote.
¡¾Hallucination¡¿
As Hatred¡¯s body faltered and its mental focus wavered, Kang-hoo immediately cast Hallucination.
Whether sessful or not, the skill guaranteed a 0.75-second hallucination effect.
Though not extremely dramatic, Hallucination slightly distorted the opponent¡¯s field of vision.
Caught in the copse, Hatred¡¯s focus on Kang-hoo weakened, making it the perfect variable for Kang-hoo to exploit.
Whoosh!
Hatred quickly found footing and leaped into the air.
However¡ª
Kang-hoo was nowhere to be seen.
Despite quickly scanning in all directions, not even Kang-hoo¡¯s body heat could be detected.
Hatred didn¡¯t know.
In that brief moment, Kang-hoo hadid down a veil of stealth and was already waiting at the spot where Hatred wouldnd.
¡¾No Shadow¡¿
Completely erasing his presence, Kang-hoo had hidden his position with meticulous precision.
Hatred felt frustrated.
It thought it had set a perfect trap with the Line of Distortion to snare Kang-hoo, but nothing worked.
Kang-hoo, with his heightened sensitivity to mana flow, could feel the line in his body even if he couldn¡¯t see it.
But Hatred underestimated Kang-hoo¡¯s sharp instincts. It doubted that such a thing was even possible.
Anyway, as soon as itnded, Hatred nned to reset the Line of Distortion and threaten Kang-hoo again.
Dragging the fight out into a chaotic melee and luring Kang-hoo into the lines would certainly be amusing.
But just then¡ª
Hatred sensed something unusual where it was about tond.
Though invisible, it felt something off¡ªits senses as sharp as Kang-hoo¡¯s.
However, descending from the apex of an arc in midair made evading the danger nearly impossible.
As expected.
¡¾Lightning de¡¿
Kang-hoo immediately threw his dagger.
It was a threatening dagger throw with a push-back effect included.
¡°Tch!¡±
For the first time, Hatred made a sound.
With no way to defend himself at the moment, he crossed his arms in an X shape.
It was much better to sacrifice an arm than to be stabbed somewhere more critical.
Even in a disadvantageous situation, Hatred quickly thought of a cheap exchange. At least, he thought it was ¡°clever.¡±
However¡ª
Thud!
Boom!
The dagger struck Hatred¡¯s arm, and the push-back effect activated, sending his body flying backward.
The impact was so tremendous that Hatred¡¯s body bent into a C-shape.
Kang-hoo didn¡¯t miss the opportunity and quickly followed after the airborne Hatred.
A skilled assassin never misses a chance and never lets go of prey once it¡¯s in their jaws¡ªlike a beast with a powerful bite.
At that moment¡ª
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Hatred, flying backward, threw two daggers hidden behind his back at Kang-hoo.
The reverse propulsion made them slower, but they were close enough to still be a significant threat.
¡¾Petrification¡¿
ng! ng!
Kang-hoo momentarily halted and used his skill to turn his entire front into stone, blocking the attack.
Without any push-back effect, Hatred¡¯s dagger throw was meaningless against petrification.
¡°Damn it.¡±
Hatred instinctively sensed danger.
His counterattack, created by squeezing out everyst bit of strength in a disadvantageous situation, had been too easily rendered ineffective.
When one uses an opportunity, a bill is always issued in return. Kang-hoo was that bill.
¡¾Fire Attribute Enchantment¡¿
Sizzle!
Kang-hoo¡¯s dagger, now enchanted with fire, began glowing red-hot.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
While Hatred was still tumbling backward like a spring after crashing into the ground, unable to stop¡ª
Kang-hoo swiftly closed the distance, without hesitation, and delivered a decisive sh.
He didn¡¯t worry at all about the toll on his stamina. He trusted Ahn Yeong-ho to cover for him.
Thud!
The sh pierced Hatred¡¯s left forearm, hitting the exact spot where the Lightning de had struck earlier.
Meanwhile, Hatred reshaped his right arm into a de, fiercely aiming for Kang-hoo¡¯s side.
Entangled inbat, Hatred thought it was a fight worth engaging in. After all, it had turned into a melee.
¡¾Self-Defense ¨C Level 3¡¿
ng!
Hatred¡¯s calctions were immediately off.
The dagger, intended to dig deep into Kang-hoo¡¯s side, was blocked by his Self-Defense ¨C Level 3 skill.
It caused a 0.5-second disarm effect.
Thud! Thud!
Kang-hoo retaliated twice, stabbing Hatred¡¯s left forearm again.
This time, Hatred¡¯s elbow and forearm were torn apart, and the pain was beyond imagination.
Even Hatred, who had kept his mouth shut all this time, couldn¡¯t help but let out a groan.
However, Hatred¡¯s mental fortitude turned his pain into determination, and once again, he targeted Kang-hoo.
Still within close range, Hatred believed that if it was worth trying for Kang-hoo, it was equally worth trying for him.
Whoosh!
With a slicing sound, Hatred¡¯s right arm, transformed into a de, aimed for Kang-hoo¡¯s abdomen.
But¡ª
¡¾Self-Defense ¨C Level 2¡¿
It was blocked again.
This time, it was Self-Defense Level 2.
Hatred¡¯s attack was sessfully thwarted by another disarm chance.
Kang-hoo¡¯s clean response took into ount the assassin¡¯s weakness ofcking multi-hit capability.
At that moment, Hatred¡¯s mind went nk. Something had gone terribly wrong.
Two of his strategic attacks werepletely blocked by Kang-hoo¡¯s well-hidden Self-Defense skills.
The price for failure was a left arm that was now in tatters, barely recognizable as part of his body.
¡¾Thunder Strike¡¿
Crackle!
A storm of electricity relentlessly battered the copsed Hatred on the ground.
Since the thunderous current didn¡¯t affect Kang-hoo as the caster, Hatred could only take the hits one-sidedly.
¡°Keuk keuk¡ Keuk keuk.¡±
Hatred let out a crazedugh. It was theugh of someone steeped in despair.
His body jerked uncontrobly as the electricity surged through the wound in his left arm.
¡°Have youughed enough?¡±
Kang-hoo pressed his left hand against Hatred¡¯s throat, who was still shaking withughter.
His functioning right arm was pinned down by Kang-hoo¡¯s knee, leaving Hatred effectively disarmed.
Whoosh!
It was then that Hatred¡¯s recovery pattern began to activate, albeitte.
Unlike Joy, the mid-boss monster, Hatred¡¯s recovery pattern was active¡ªit had to trigger it himself.
But it was toote.
Kang-hoo decided to take a much safer route to finish him off than risking a death blow.
That method was¡ª
¡¾Decisive sh¡¿
Thud!
¡ªembedding a dagger right into the center of Hatred¡¯s forehead.
And that was the end.
The electric current from Thunder Strike fried Hatred¡¯s brain in an instant through the wound on his forehead.
Hatred¡¯s time and memories froze the moment Kang-hoo drove the dagger into him. There would be no next time.
With Hatred¡¯s death, Kang-hoo¡¯s skill window flickered as the Line of Distortion was acquired through plunder and session.
¡¾Line of Distortion¡¿
¡¾Skill Mastery: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾The caster designates the start and end points, creating a line of space up to 10 meters between them.
The space line ispletely invisible to the naked eye and has the durability and sticity of a thin thread.
When "Distortion" is activated, space twists along the surface of the line, inflicting damage.
Regardless of the length, 50 mana is consumed to cast it, and only one Line of Distortion can be maintained at a time.¡¿
¡®Finally.¡¯
Kang-hoo had obtained a skill specialized for assassins.
A skill perfect for controlling an opponent¡¯s movements while leading them to his desired battlefield¡ªa skill that suited Kang-hoo¡¯s enjoyment of creating unexpected variables.
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Chapter [NaN]: ?? New! Donation Section - Support early translations!
The rewards didn¡¯t end with just skills.
I obtained one more orange magic stone.
Since I had also acquired one during the previous strategy against the Assassins, I shared it equally with An Yeong-ho.
Then, I received an item reward that I had never seen before since living in this world.
It was the ¡°Buff Book.¡±
The Buff Book was simr in form to a Skill Book, but once learned, it was permanently absorbed into the body.
There were no ss restrictions, and it didn¡¯t require any learning ability, making it very essible.
Of course, it was such a rare book, even more so than a Skill Book, that it was almost impossible to find. I was lucky.
¡°Hyung-nim, I¡¯m fine! I¡¯ll keep it a secret that you got it. I really mean it. This isn¡¯t a concession out of obligation.¡±An Yeong-ho quickly stepped aside, perhaps wanting to avoid any conflict over the ownership of the Buff Book with Kang-hoo.
Hepletely looked away. He didn¡¯t seem curious about what kind of book it was or what effects it had.
Thinking that his previous exnation wasn¡¯t enough, An Yeong-ho added another reason.
¡°Thanks to you, I¡¯ve realized the potential of bing abat healer. I consider that to be an expensive education in itself.¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll take it without reservation.¡±
¡°Yes, Hyung-nim. I¡¯ll also have to think about my direction as abat healer!¡±
¡°You can definitely do it. You¡¯re more than capable. Keep practicing as I taught you, and one day, it will all click.¡±
¡°Yes!¡±
In the warm atmosphere, the distribution issue was neatly resolved.
Kang-hoo immediately absorbed the buff from the Buff Book. There was no need to dy.
[Buff ¨C Repentance]
[Once per use, removes all harmful effects and restores health to 99%.] @@novelbin@@
¡®This is useful for situations where I¡¯m overwhelmed with debuffs. It¡¯s pretty good.¡¯
It was a high-value buff.
Among the buffs learned through the Buff Book, there was a characteristic of buffs with usage limits.
Even after using it once, it wouldn¡¯t disappear but would enter a recharge standby state.
If you used a specific offering, you could recharge it for another use.
Of course, the offering wasn¡¯t something ordinary, so it required a considerable investment of time and effort.
I gained a buff, and after acquiring 20 points of dark energy from Hatred, my dark energy stat rose to 446.
At this point, I could estimate that I could kill any hunter below level 150 with a single ck Moon sh.
This estimate assumed the opponent had even basic defense skills.
¡®The farming is done.¡¯
There were no more ces in Japan to further grow my dark energy. Expecting more would be difficult.
The fight with Hatred was also a good experience for Kang-hoo.
Until now, he had rarely fought against skilled assassin hunters.
Yuji had been the closest in that field, but their encounter had ended briefly.
Even that was an embarrassing situation where Kang-hoo had one-sidedly taken him down, so it was hardly a fight.
In any case, thanks to An Yeong-ho, Kang-hoo hadn¡¯t needed to rely on the power of Srkium in the final dungeon strategy.
It was a moment when he truly appreciated the value of a skilled healer.
An Yeong-ho¡¯s charm, different from that of buffer Park Dong-jae, was also felt. That kid would continue to grow rapidly.
¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s time to rest.¡±
¡°Yes, Hyung-nim! Shall we go?¡±
Kang-hoo and An Yeong-ho wiped off their sweat and, with satisfied expressions, headed out of the dungeon.
The strategy wasplete.
As soon as they returned to Rikou Tower, An Yeong-ho met his uncle, Fumiya, and began recounting his tales of valor.
An Yeong-ho, who usually gave cold assessments of himself and his teammates, was strangely showering Kang-hoo with praise.
As expected, even his notoriously picky nephew hadn¡¯t found any faults in Kang-hoo.
¡°There was no need to worry about sustaining bleeding, and Death Heal was automatically triggered at the highest stack.¡±
¡°The two most difficult conditions were handled as a matter of course. You must¡¯ve had it easy, Yeong-ho.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me! Plus, he showed me how I could realize my potential as abat healer!¡±
¡°Is that true?¡±
¡°Instead of approaching it theoretically, he guided me through it emotionally, and that surprisingly became the breakthrough.¡±
¡°Hoho. I didn¡¯t expect that.¡±
Even the Rikou Guild had been trying to awaken An Yeong-ho¡¯s abilities as abat healer.
They weren¡¯t fools, and they had a rtively established curriculum in ce.
But despite applying various theories in training, the ability to heal duringbat had remained elusive.
However, after going through a dungeon with Kang-hoo, An Yeong-ho had, albeit faintly, begun to show an aggressive healing style.
There was a vast difference between never starting and opening the floodgates.
Once the path of talent was opened, it could be developed further through repeated training, making this a meaningful event.
An Yeong-ho¡¯s admiration for Kang-hoo continued.
Fumiya, listening to his nephew, became increasingly curious about Kang-hoo.
¡®Shin Kang-hoo¡¯s background is well-known because of the Eclipse¡¯s execution order. He was said to be a level 10 hunter when he was in the detention center.¡¯
The fact that he had been in the detention center for a long time meant that he didn¡¯t have the ability to escape.
No fool would stay in such a ce without trying to escape, especially when death coulde at any moment.
Then, one day, he suddenly escaped from the detention center and experienced a life-altering transformation.
The time it took from escaping the detention center to his current state wasn¡¯t years¡ªit was just a few months.
It was impossible to understand this rapid growth without assuming some abnormality, like hiding his power.
Sure, if we conceded a hundred times, his level could be raised somehow.
An Yeong-ho was a case of being intensively trained by the guild, so it was possible to force his level up.
But skill and proficiency are different.
The skills and abilities Kang-hoo currently had couldn¡¯t have been built up in just a few months.
Just the number and arrangement of skills An Yeong-ho mentioned made Fumiya embarrassed about his own skill window.
Looking purely at numbers, he had fewer skills than Kang-hoo. It was a matter of diversity.
¡®Should I find a way to keep Shin Kang-hoo close?¡¯
Since the strategy for the ten dungeons he had requested was over, there were no official points of contact left with Kang-hoo.
¡®Ah, there was the investigation of Sapporo Station.¡¯
Fumiya recalled the materials he had handed over to Kang-hoo a few days ago. The information Kang-hoo had requested regarding Sapporo Station.
It seemed that Kang-hoo was interested in the dungeon strategy near there.
However, without any connections in Japan, Kang-hoo wouldn¡¯t be able to acquire a license to attack the Sapporo dungeon.
In other words, he would have no choice but to seek out Fumiya. A very certain point of connection.
¡®With that, I can keep him around, and if I offer him a dungeon strategy that requires a bleed dealer¡¡¯
At least for now, the calction was that he could keep Kang-hoo attached to the Rikou Guild.
Having formed a rtionship already, Fumiya definitely wanted to leave a good impression of the Rikou Guild on Kang-hoo.
Even if it wasn¡¯t for recruitment, they could still utilize Kang-hoo in a cooperative role, simr to an observer.
Publicly, it could create the image that Kang-hoo was an ally of the Rikou Guild.
In that case, guilds that didn¡¯t want to sh with the Rikou Guild would avoid approaching Kang-hoo. They would want to steer clear of unnecessary conflict.
It was Fumiya¡¯s strategic approach.
It wasn¡¯t his style to go out of his way to overly pamper a hunter just because they left a good impression.
While being considerate, he constructed a usible boundary to make it appear as though the hunter was aligned with the Rikou Guild.
That was his first n.
At the same time.
Kang-hoo came out of a longer-than-usual shower, his face flushed, shaking the water out of his wet hair.
He then took out the documents that Fumiya had handed him a few days ago.
All the information about the dungeon near JR Sapporo Station, which he had requested earlier.
Everything was so meticulously organized that there were no missing pieces or insufficient exnations.
¡°I¡¯m finally getting a proper look at it.¡±
The documents even included photos and videos, and the dungeon containing the Imbnce Point was identified.
¡®A creepy dungeon next to a building that never gets sunlight all day.¡¯
He had been relying on memories from the original work, which were only left in writing, but the materials were so detailed that he found it right away.
This was because there was such a phrase in the dungeon description.
This dungeon is rarely exposed to sunlight, hence its nickname, the Shadow Dungeon.
There was a superstition that it had a very strong yin energy, giving off an ominous vibe, which led to fewer attempts by hunters to attack it.
It was easier to pinpoint than if he had gone to check the ce in person. Once again, Kang-hoo realized the strength of Rikou Guild¡¯s intelligencework.
¡°There¡¯s no way I can break through this on my own, so I guess I have no choice but to rely on Fumiya¡¯s connections. It¡¯s not like he¡¯ll just give it to me for free.¡±
Kang-hoo thought while holding his smartphone.
Though Fumiya had a favorable attitude toward him, he was definitely not the type to give away things for free.
If he were, Rikou Guild wouldn¡¯t have risen to its position as the top guild in the Kansai region.
Fumiya was someone who firmly believed in give-and-take.
Even in the recent strategy for the Dark Energy dungeon, it seemed like Fumiya¡¯s gratitude and consideration for saving An Yeong-ho were one-sided.
But if you looked closely, there was meaning in circting a dungeon that had not been properly attacked for a long time.
Moreover, by leaking some information outside, he had painted a picture that Kang-hoo was somewhat friendly with the Rikou Guild.
Kang-hoo had tolerated it because the Rikou Guild had its value, but Fumiya¡¯s strategy was clear.
As the phone rang while he called Fumiya.
Kang-hoo suddenly remembered that he had never seen the master of Rikou Guild.
There had been few mentions of them even publicly. It was just like Eclipse.
There, too, the name of Kang Dong-hyeon, who was called the third in rank, was frequently mentioned, but there was no information about those higher up.
-Yes, this is Fumiya.
¡°This is Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
The call had connected in the meantime.
There was no need to exchange unnecessary pleasantries, so he got straight to the point.
¡°I¡¯d like to attack the Shadow Dungeon near Sapporo Station. Could you help me make the connection?¡±
-As you know, the Sapporo area is currently dominated by the Jigoku Guild. They¡¯re the ruling guild.
In Japan, the top guild in each region was typically called the ruling guild. It seemed to be a familiar term.
Jigoku, which means ¡°hell¡± in kanji, gave off an ominous feeling just from the name.
-It would be difficult through normal means, but if you use my name, it might be possible.
He didn¡¯t give a definite answer, instead offering a spective response. This meant there were hidden conditions.
It was likely that fulfilling certain conditions would make it possible. Until then, it would remain in the realm of ¡°might be possible¡± indefinitely.
They both knew each other¡¯s intentions too well.
There was no need to waste energy. Since their interests and needs aligned, there was no need to beat around the bush.
Kang-hoo immediately asked back,
¡°What do I need to do for you?¡±
Chapter [NaN]:
The rewards didn¡¯t end with just skills.
I obtained one more orange magic stone.
Since I had also acquired one during the previous strategy against the Assassins, I shared it equally with An Yeong-ho.
Then, I received an item reward that I had never seen before since living in this world.
It was the ¡°Buff Book.¡±
The Buff Book was simr in form to a Skill Book, but once learned, it was permanently absorbed into the body.
There were no ss restrictions, and it didn¡¯t require any learning ability, making it very essible.
Of course, it was such a rare book, even more so than a Skill Book, that it was almost impossible to find. I was lucky.
¡°Hyung-nim, I¡¯m fine! I¡¯ll keep it a secret that you got it. I really mean it. This isn¡¯t a concession out of obligation.¡±
An Yeong-ho quickly stepped aside, perhaps wanting to avoid any conflict over the ownership of the Buff Book with Kang-hoo.
Hepletely looked away. He didn¡¯t seem curious about what kind of book it was or what effects it had.
Thinking that his previous exnation wasn¡¯t enough, An Yeong-ho added another reason.
¡°Thanks to you, I¡¯ve realized the potential of bing abat healer. I consider that to be an expensive education in itself.¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll take it without reservation.¡±
¡°Yes, Hyung-nim. I¡¯ll also have to think about my direction as abat healer!¡±
¡°You can definitely do it. You¡¯re more than capable. Keep practicing as I taught you, and one day, it will all click.¡±
¡°Yes!¡±
In the warm atmosphere, the distribution issue was neatly resolved.
Kang-hoo immediately absorbed the buff from the Buff Book. There was no need to dy.
[Buff ¨C Repentance]
[Once per use, removes all harmful effects and restores health to 99%.]
¡®This is useful for situations where I¡¯m overwhelmed with debuffs. It¡¯s pretty good.¡¯
It was a high-value buff.
Among the buffs learned through the Buff Book, there was a characteristic of buffs with usage limits.
Even after using it once, it wouldn¡¯t disappear but would enter a recharge standby state.
If you used a specific offering, you could recharge it for another use.
Of course, the offering wasn¡¯t something ordinary, so it required a considerable investment of time and effort.
I gained a buff, and after acquiring 20 points of dark energy from Hatred, my dark energy stat rose to 446.
At this point, I could estimate that I could kill any hunter below level 150 with a single ck Moon sh.
This estimate assumed the opponent had even basic defense skills.
¡®The farming is done.¡¯
There were no more ces in Japan to further grow my dark energy. Expecting more would be difficult.
The fight with Hatred was also a good experience for Kang-hoo.
Until now, he had rarely fought against skilled assassin hunters.
Yuji had been the closest in that field, but their encounter had ended briefly.
Even that was an embarrassing situation where Kang-hoo had one-sidedly taken him down, so it was hardly a fight.
In any case, thanks to An Yeong-ho, Kang-hoo hadn¡¯t needed to rely on the power of Srkium in the final dungeon strategy.
It was a moment when he truly appreciated the value of a skilled healer.
An Yeong-ho¡¯s charm, different from that of buffer Park Dong-jae, was also felt. That kid would continue to grow rapidly.
¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s time to rest.¡±
¡°Yes, Hyung-nim! Shall we go?¡±
Kang-hoo and An Yeong-ho wiped off their sweat and, with satisfied expressions, headed out of the dungeon.
The strategy wasplete.
As soon as they returned to Rikou Tower, An Yeong-ho met his uncle, Fumiya, and began recounting his tales of valor.
An Yeong-ho, who usually gave cold assessments of himself and his teammates, was strangely showering Kang-hoo with praise.
As expected, even his notoriously picky nephew hadn¡¯t found any faults in Kang-hoo.
¡°There was no need to worry about sustaining bleeding, and Death Heal was automatically triggered at the highest stack.¡±
¡°The two most difficult conditions were handled as a matter of course. You must¡¯ve had it easy, Yeong-ho.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me! Plus, he showed me how I could realize my potential as abat healer!¡±
¡°Is that true?¡±
¡°Instead of approaching it theoretically, he guided me through it emotionally, and that surprisingly became the breakthrough.¡±
¡°Hoho. I didn¡¯t expect that.¡±
Even the Rikou Guild had been trying to awaken An Yeong-ho¡¯s abilities as abat healer.
They weren¡¯t fools, and they had a rtively established curriculum in ce.
But despite applying various theories in training, the ability to heal duringbat had remained elusive.
However, after going through a dungeon with Kang-hoo, An Yeong-ho had, albeit faintly, begun to show an aggressive healing style.
There was a vast difference between never starting and opening the floodgates.
Once the path of talent was opened, it could be developed further through repeated training, making this a meaningful event.
An Yeong-ho¡¯s admiration for Kang-hoo continued.
Fumiya, listening to his nephew, became increasingly curious about Kang-hoo.
¡®Shin Kang-hoo¡¯s background is well-known because of the Eclipse¡¯s execution order. He was said to be a level 10 hunter when he was in the detention center.¡¯
The fact that he had been in the detention center for a long time meant that he didn¡¯t have the ability to escape.
No fool would stay in such a ce without trying to escape, especially when death coulde at any moment.
Then, one day, he suddenly escaped from the detention center and experienced a life-altering transformation.
The time it took from escaping the detention center to his current state wasn¡¯t years¡ªit was just a few months.
It was impossible to understand this rapid growth without assuming some abnormality, like hiding his power.
Sure, if we conceded a hundred times, his level could be raised somehow.
An Yeong-ho was a case of being intensively trained by the guild, so it was possible to force his level up.
But skill and proficiency are different.
The skills and abilities Kang-hoo currently had couldn¡¯t have been built up in just a few months.
Just the number and arrangement of skills An Yeong-ho mentioned made Fumiya embarrassed about his own skill window.
Looking purely at numbers, he had fewer skills than Kang-hoo. It was a matter of diversity.
¡®Should I find a way to keep Shin Kang-hoo close?¡¯
Since the strategy for the ten dungeons he had requested was over, there were no official points of contact left with Kang-hoo.
¡®Ah, there was the investigation of Sapporo Station.¡¯
Fumiya recalled the materials he had handed over to Kang-hoo a few days ago. The information Kang-hoo had requested regarding Sapporo Station.
It seemed that Kang-hoo was interested in the dungeon strategy near there.
However, without any connections in Japan, Kang-hoo wouldn¡¯t be able to acquire a license to attack the Sapporo dungeon.
In other words, he would have no choice but to seek out Fumiya. A very certain point of connection.
¡®With that, I can keep him around, and if I offer him a dungeon strategy that requires a bleed dealer¡¡¯
At least for now, the calction was that he could keep Kang-hoo attached to the Rikou Guild.
Having formed a rtionship already, Fumiya definitely wanted to leave a good impression of the Rikou Guild on Kang-hoo.
Even if it wasn¡¯t for recruitment, they could still utilize Kang-hoo in a cooperative role, simr to an observer.
Publicly, it could create the image that Kang-hoo was an ally of the Rikou Guild.
In that case, guilds that didn¡¯t want to sh with the Rikou Guild would avoid approaching Kang-hoo. They would want to steer clear of unnecessary conflict.
It was Fumiya¡¯s strategic approach.
It wasn¡¯t his style to go out of his way to overly pamper a hunter just because they left a good impression.
While being considerate, he constructed a usible boundary to make it appear as though the hunter was aligned with the Rikou Guild.
That was his first n.
At the same time.
Kang-hoo came out of a longer-than-usual shower, his face flushed, shaking the water out of his wet hair.
He then took out the documents that Fumiya had handed him a few days ago.
All the information about the dungeon near JR Sapporo Station, which he had requested earlier.
Everything was so meticulously organized that there were no missing pieces or insufficient exnations.
¡°I¡¯m finally getting a proper look at it.¡±
@@novelbin@@
The documents even included photos and videos, and the dungeon containing the Imbnce Point was identified.
¡®A creepy dungeon next to a building that never gets sunlight all day.¡¯
He had been relying on memories from the original work, which were only left in writing, but the materials were so detailed that he found it right away.
This was because there was such a phrase in the dungeon description.
This dungeon is rarely exposed to sunlight, hence its nickname, the Shadow Dungeon.
There was a superstition that it had a very strong yin energy, giving off an ominous vibe, which led to fewer attempts by hunters to attack it.
It was easier to pinpoint than if he had gone to check the ce in person. Once again, Kang-hoo realized the strength of Rikou Guild¡¯s intelligencework.
¡°There¡¯s no way I can break through this on my own, so I guess I have no choice but to rely on Fumiya¡¯s connections. It¡¯s not like he¡¯ll just give it to me for free.¡±
Kang-hoo thought while holding his smartphone.
Though Fumiya had a favorable attitude toward him, he was definitely not the type to give away things for free.
If he were, Rikou Guild wouldn¡¯t have risen to its position as the top guild in the Kansai region.
Fumiya was someone who firmly believed in give-and-take.
Even in the recent strategy for the Dark Energy dungeon, it seemed like Fumiya¡¯s gratitude and consideration for saving An Yeong-ho were one-sided.
But if you looked closely, there was meaning in circting a dungeon that had not been properly attacked for a long time.
Moreover, by leaking some information outside, he had painted a picture that Kang-hoo was somewhat friendly with the Rikou Guild.
Kang-hoo had tolerated it because the Rikou Guild had its value, but Fumiya¡¯s strategy was clear.
As the phone rang while he called Fumiya.
Kang-hoo suddenly remembered that he had never seen the master of Rikou Guild.
There had been few mentions of them even publicly. It was just like Eclipse.
There, too, the name of Kang Dong-hyeon, who was called the third in rank, was frequently mentioned, but there was no information about those higher up.
-Yes, this is Fumiya.
¡°This is Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
The call had connected in the meantime.
There was no need to exchange unnecessary pleasantries, so he got straight to the point.
¡°I¡¯d like to attack the Shadow Dungeon near Sapporo Station. Could you help me make the connection?¡±
-As you know, the Sapporo area is currently dominated by the Jigoku Guild. They¡¯re the ruling guild.
In Japan, the top guild in each region was typically called the ruling guild. It seemed to be a familiar term.
Jigoku, which means ¡°hell¡± in kanji, gave off an ominous feeling just from the name.
-It would be difficult through normal means, but if you use my name, it might be possible.
He didn¡¯t give a definite answer, instead offering a spective response. This meant there were hidden conditions.
It was likely that fulfilling certain conditions would make it possible. Until then, it would remain in the realm of ¡°might be possible¡± indefinitely.
They both knew each other¡¯s intentions too well.
There was no need to waste energy. Since their interests and needs aligned, there was no need to beat around the bush.
Kang-hoo immediately asked back,
¡°What do I need to do for you?¡±
Chapter 196: The Pursuer (1)
Chapter 196: The Pursuer (1)
The rewards didn¡¯t end with just skills.@@novelbin@@
I obtained one more orange magic stone.
Since I had also acquired one during the previous strategy against the Assassins, I shared it equally with An Yeong-ho.
Then, I received an item reward that I had never seen before since living in this world.
It was the ¡°Buff Book.¡±
The Buff Book was simr in form to a Skill Book, but once learned, it was permanently absorbed into the body.
There were no ss restrictions, and it didn¡¯t require any learning ability, making it very essible.
Of course, it was such a rare book, even more so than a Skill Book, that it was almost impossible to find. I was lucky.
¡°Hyung-nim, I¡¯m fine! I¡¯ll keep it a secret that you got it. I really mean it. This isn¡¯t a concession out of obligation.¡±An Yeong-ho quickly stepped aside, perhaps wanting to avoid any conflict over the ownership of the Buff Book with Kang-hoo.
Hepletely looked away. He didn¡¯t seem curious about what kind of book it was or what effects it had.
Thinking that his previous exnation wasn¡¯t enough, An Yeong-ho added another reason.
¡°Thanks to you, I¡¯ve realized the potential of bing abat healer. I consider that to be an expensive education in itself.¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll take it without reservation.¡±
¡°Yes, Hyung-nim. I¡¯ll also have to think about my direction as abat healer!¡±
¡°You can definitely do it. You¡¯re more than capable. Keep practicing as I taught you, and one day, it will all click.¡±
¡°Yes!¡±
In the warm atmosphere, the distribution issue was neatly resolved.
Kang-hoo immediately absorbed the buff from the Buff Book. There was no need to dy.
[Buff ¨C Repentance]
[Once per use, removes all harmful effects and restores health to 99%.]
¡®This is useful for situations where I¡¯m overwhelmed with debuffs. It¡¯s pretty good.¡¯
It was a high-value buff.
Among the buffs learned through the Buff Book, there was a characteristic of buffs with usage limits.
Even after using it once, it wouldn¡¯t disappear but would enter a recharge standby state.
If you used a specific offering, you could recharge it for another use.
Of course, the offering wasn¡¯t something ordinary, so it required a considerable investment of time and effort.
I gained a buff, and after acquiring 20 points of dark energy from Hatred, my dark energy stat rose to 446.
At this point, I could estimate that I could kill any hunter below level 150 with a single ck Moon sh.
This estimate assumed the opponent had even basic defense skills.
¡®The farming is done.¡¯
There were no more ces in Japan to further grow my dark energy. Expecting more would be difficult.
The fight with Hatred was also a good experience for Kang-hoo.
Until now, he had rarely fought against skilled assassin hunters.
Yuji had been the closest in that field, but their encounter had ended briefly.
Even that was an embarrassing situation where Kang-hoo had one-sidedly taken him down, so it was hardly a fight.
In any case, thanks to An Yeong-ho, Kang-hoo hadn¡¯t needed to rely on the power of Srkium in the final dungeon strategy.
It was a moment when he truly appreciated the value of a skilled healer.
An Yeong-ho¡¯s charm, different from that of buffer Park Dong-jae, was also felt. That kid would continue to grow rapidly.
¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s time to rest.¡±
¡°Yes, Hyung-nim! Shall we go?¡±
Kang-hoo and An Yeong-ho wiped off their sweat and, with satisfied expressions, headed out of the dungeon.
The strategy wasplete.
As soon as they returned to Rikou Tower, An Yeong-ho met his uncle, Fumiya, and began recounting his tales of valor.
An Yeong-ho, who usually gave cold assessments of himself and his teammates, was strangely showering Kang-hoo with praise.
As expected, even his notoriously picky nephew hadn¡¯t found any faults in Kang-hoo.
¡°There was no need to worry about sustaining bleeding, and Death Heal was automatically triggered at the highest stack.¡±
¡°The two most difficult conditions were handled as a matter of course. You must¡¯ve had it easy, Yeong-ho.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me! Plus, he showed me how I could realize my potential as abat healer!¡±
¡°Is that true?¡±
¡°Instead of approaching it theoretically, he guided me through it emotionally, and that surprisingly became the breakthrough.¡±
¡°Hoho. I didn¡¯t expect that.¡±
Even the Rikou Guild had been trying to awaken An Yeong-ho¡¯s abilities as abat healer.
They weren¡¯t fools, and they had a rtively established curriculum in ce.
But despite applying various theories in training, the ability to heal duringbat had remained elusive.
However, after going through a dungeon with Kang-hoo, An Yeong-ho had, albeit faintly, begun to show an aggressive healing style.
There was a vast difference between never starting and opening the floodgates.
Once the path of talent was opened, it could be developed further through repeated training, making this a meaningful event.
An Yeong-ho¡¯s admiration for Kang-hoo continued.
Fumiya, listening to his nephew, became increasingly curious about Kang-hoo.
¡®Shin Kang-hoo¡¯s background is well-known because of the Eclipse¡¯s execution order. He was said to be a level 10 hunter when he was in the detention center.¡¯
The fact that he had been in the detention center for a long time meant that he didn¡¯t have the ability to escape.
No fool would stay in such a ce without trying to escape, especially when death coulde at any moment.
Then, one day, he suddenly escaped from the detention center and experienced a life-altering transformation.
The time it took from escaping the detention center to his current state wasn¡¯t years¡ªit was just a few months.
It was impossible to understand this rapid growth without assuming some abnormality, like hiding his power.
Sure, if we conceded a hundred times, his level could be raised somehow.
An Yeong-ho was a case of being intensively trained by the guild, so it was possible to force his level up.
But skill and proficiency are different.
The skills and abilities Kang-hoo currently had couldn¡¯t have been built up in just a few months.
Just the number and arrangement of skills An Yeong-ho mentioned made Fumiya embarrassed about his own skill window.
Looking purely at numbers, he had fewer skills than Kang-hoo. It was a matter of diversity.
¡®Should I find a way to keep Shin Kang-hoo close?¡¯
Since the strategy for the ten dungeons he had requested was over, there were no official points of contact left with Kang-hoo.
¡®Ah, there was the investigation of Sapporo Station.¡¯
Fumiya recalled the materials he had handed over to Kang-hoo a few days ago. The information Kang-hoo had requested regarding Sapporo Station.
It seemed that Kang-hoo was interested in the dungeon strategy near there.
However, without any connections in Japan, Kang-hoo wouldn¡¯t be able to acquire a license to attack the Sapporo dungeon.
In other words, he would have no choice but to seek out Fumiya. A very certain point of connection.
¡®With that, I can keep him around, and if I offer him a dungeon strategy that requires a bleed dealer¡¡¯
At least for now, the calction was that he could keep Kang-hoo attached to the Rikou Guild.
Having formed a rtionship already, Fumiya definitely wanted to leave a good impression of the Rikou Guild on Kang-hoo.
Even if it wasn¡¯t for recruitment, they could still utilize Kang-hoo in a cooperative role, simr to an observer.
Publicly, it could create the image that Kang-hoo was an ally of the Rikou Guild.
In that case, guilds that didn¡¯t want to sh with the Rikou Guild would avoid approaching Kang-hoo. They would want to steer clear of unnecessary conflict.
It was Fumiya¡¯s strategic approach.
It wasn¡¯t his style to go out of his way to overly pamper a hunter just because they left a good impression.
While being considerate, he constructed a usible boundary to make it appear as though the hunter was aligned with the Rikou Guild.
That was his first n.
At the same time.
Kang-hoo came out of a longer-than-usual shower, his face flushed, shaking the water out of his wet hair.
He then took out the documents that Fumiya had handed him a few days ago.
All the information about the dungeon near JR Sapporo Station, which he had requested earlier.
Everything was so meticulously organized that there were no missing pieces or insufficient exnations.
¡°I¡¯m finally getting a proper look at it.¡±
The documents even included photos and videos, and the dungeon containing the Imbnce Point was identified.
¡®A creepy dungeon next to a building that never gets sunlight all day.¡¯
He had been relying on memories from the original work, which were only left in writing, but the materials were so detailed that he found it right away.
This was because there was such a phrase in the dungeon description.
This dungeon is rarely exposed to sunlight, hence its nickname, the Shadow Dungeon.
There was a superstition that it had a very strong yin energy, giving off an ominous vibe, which led to fewer attempts by hunters to attack it.
It was easier to pinpoint than if he had gone to check the ce in person. Once again, Kang-hoo realized the strength of Rikou Guild¡¯s intelligencework.
¡°There¡¯s no way I can break through this on my own, so I guess I have no choice but to rely on Fumiya¡¯s connections. It¡¯s not like he¡¯ll just give it to me for free.¡±
Kang-hoo thought while holding his smartphone.
Though Fumiya had a favorable attitude toward him, he was definitely not the type to give away things for free.
If he were, Rikou Guild wouldn¡¯t have risen to its position as the top guild in the Kansai region.
Fumiya was someone who firmly believed in give-and-take.
Even in the recent strategy for the Dark Energy dungeon, it seemed like Fumiya¡¯s gratitude and consideration for saving An Yeong-ho were one-sided.
But if you looked closely, there was meaning in circting a dungeon that had not been properly attacked for a long time.
Moreover, by leaking some information outside, he had painted a picture that Kang-hoo was somewhat friendly with the Rikou Guild.
Kang-hoo had tolerated it because the Rikou Guild had its value, but Fumiya¡¯s strategy was clear.
As the phone rang while he called Fumiya.
Kang-hoo suddenly remembered that he had never seen the master of Rikou Guild.
There had been few mentions of them even publicly. It was just like Eclipse.
There, too, the name of Kang Dong-hyeon, who was called the third in rank, was frequently mentioned, but there was no information about those higher up.
-Yes, this is Fumiya.
¡°This is Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
The call had connected in the meantime.
There was no need to exchange unnecessary pleasantries, so he got straight to the point.
¡°I¡¯d like to attack the Shadow Dungeon near Sapporo Station. Could you help me make the connection?¡±
-As you know, the Sapporo area is currently dominated by the Jigoku Guild. They¡¯re the ruling guild.
In Japan, the top guild in each region was typically called the ruling guild. It seemed to be a familiar term.
Jigoku, which means ¡°hell¡± in kanji, gave off an ominous feeling just from the name.
-It would be difficult through normal means, but if you use my name, it might be possible.
He didn¡¯t give a definite answer, instead offering a spective response. This meant there were hidden conditions.
It was likely that fulfilling certain conditions would make it possible. Until then, it would remain in the realm of ¡°might be possible¡± indefinitely.
They both knew each other¡¯s intentions too well.
There was no need to waste energy. Since their interests and needs aligned, there was no need to beat around the bush.
Kang-hoo immediately asked back,
¡°What do I need to do for you?¡±
Chapter 197: The Pursuer (2)
Chapter 197: The Pursuer (2)
¡°I¡¯m getting sick of cup noodles¡¡±
A man roughly slouched on a creaky chair, shoveling cup noodles that smelled stale into his mouth.
Takashi was eating cup noodles that he couldn¡¯t remember when he had bought, simply because he didn¡¯t feel like going outside again today.
After taking a bite of his meal, he began furiously typing on his keyboard, chatting with someone.
There were about ten people in the chat room, which was called ¡°Taki Fam.¡±
Unintentionally, after Takashi created the anonymous chat room five years ago, the group bonded and stuck together.
There were ten members in total, all of them hunters.
They had only met in person once, during the early days, but it was a disaster because everyone just stood around awkwardly without saying a word.
It was like gathering ten mute people together, with everyone just staring at their phones instead.Since then, they scrapped offline meetings and exclusivelymunicated through the chat room.
Because Takashi was the one who created the chat, the group naturally became known as ¡°Taki Fam.¡±
Though Takashi didn¡¯t put much meaning into it, hisrades felt a bit differently.
Among the members in the chat, Takashi was the highest-level and the most well-known hunter.
For one reason or another, the group tended to revolve around Takashi, even calling him their leader.
-¡°Did you hear? That bastard Yuji got so badly injured he had to get treated by Kosuke.¡±
-¡°Kosuke?¡±
-¡°Yeah, Nakanishi Kosuke. That perverted freak.¡±
-¡°He must¡¯ve been desperate. Anyone who gets treated by Kosuke usually means someone died nearby.¡±
-¡°Exactly. The wound he got from that hunter from Korea must¡¯ve been worse than we thought.¡±
Today¡¯s topic was about Ishihara Yuji, who had been struck down by Kang-hoo.
Since they were all hunters with a good informationwork, sensitive info often got passed around.
The same went for the news about Yuji.
The fact that such deep details had been leaked meant the intel probably came from Kosuke¡¯s side.
Kosuke was a hunter specializing in dark magic, transferring life force from one living being to another, enabling healing.
At first nce, it might seem like he was doing good, but the issue was that saving one life always meant another would die.
Moreover, he had a necrophiliac tendency, which drew heaps of criticism.
Watching hisrades¡¯ conversation, Takashi stuffed more cup noodles into his mouth and typed quickly.
-¡°That Korean hunter? I¡¯ve been getting to know him recently.¡±
It wasn¡¯t much of a statement, but a slight grin appeared on his face as if he had made a new friend.
In Taki Fam, mentioning someone¡¯s existence or name implied that person had some kind of value.
The current topic of conversation was Kang-hoo, so he felt the need to highlight his connection to him.
By being close to Kang-hoo, Takashi¡¯s own value also increased.
-¡°How do you know that hunter, Takashi? I heard he¡¯s currently active with the Rikou Guild.¡±
-¡°He came to me. Said he really wanted to meet me.¡±
-¡°Bullshit. You, sitting at home with greasy hair, scratching your scalp, with your hand down your pants?¡±
-¡°Nishida, do you want to die?¡±
Despite telling the truth, hisrades¡¯ disbelief was disappointing.
But it was true.
Kang-hoo had specifically sought him out through the Rikou Guild, saying he really wanted to meet him, and their meeting had taken ce.
However, Takashi¡¯srades, who had known him for a long time, simply scoffed.
-¡°Nah, losers always attract each other. Maybe that hunter has the same vibe and was drawn to you?¡±@@novelbin@@
-¡°There¡¯s always someone out there who likes what everyone else hates. Nopetition, right?¡±
-¡°Isn¡¯t that hunter a guy? Takashi, are you gay?¡±
-¡°You bastards¡¡±
Perhaps it was because of all the bad karma Takashi had umted over the years, but no one believed him, no matter how earnestly he spoke.
Meanwhile, in Daejeon.
Cha So-hyuk, who had just heard the news about Kang-hoo, was furious.
A video of Kang-hoo had been uploaded to Hunter Gram, showing he was currently in Osaka.
Cha So-hyuk had been waiting in Daejeon, where the Cheong-an Mercenary Corps was based, expecting Kang-hoo to show up any minute.
But he had been digging in the wrong ce.
¡°I¡¯ve been running around like a damn fool. Shit.¡±
Cursing colorfully, Cha So-hyuk puffed irritably on a cigarette, blowing out smoke.
Next to him, Kim In-ho fidgeted anxiously. Now that Kang-hoo¡¯s location was known, the next steps were predictable.
¡°So-hyuk, I know what you¡¯re thinking, but be careful with international moves.¡±
Given Cha So-hyuk¡¯s fiery personality, it was clear he¡¯d head to Japan.
The two had just visited the columbarium where Cha So-hee wasid to rest earlier today.
In front of Cha So-hee¡¯s portrait, Cha So-hyuk had sworn once again to kill Kang-hoo.
With revenge consuming his thoughts, there was no way he would sit back now that he knew Kang-hoo¡¯s whereabouts.
The problem was that Osaka was under the jurisdiction of the Rikou Guild.
If Cha So-hyuk rashlymitted murder there, it could cause a conflict between his group, ¡°The Sun,¡± and the Rikou Guild.
¡°Don¡¯t make light of this just because it¡¯s not your problem, hyung. So-hee is dead. You expect me to just sit back while the murderer walks free?¡±
¡°If a conflict arises with the Rikou Guild, it¡¯ll be hard to operate in Japan in the future.¡±
¡°Rikou Guild? Screw them! I don¡¯t care. As long as I get my revenge, I don¡¯t give a damn what happens afterward!¡±
¡°So-hyuk¡¡±
¡°Do I need to kill my own hyung, too? Should I remind you to ¡®stay calm and be cautious¡¯ by smashing your face in?¡±
¡°¡¡±
Kim In-ho was speechless at Cha So-hyuk¡¯s recklessness, though he understood his pain.
But he knew that, in situations like this, keeping a cool head was critical.
However, it seemed that no further persuasion would work on Cha So-hyuk. His anger and hatred were too deep.
What was needed now was realistic advice.
Kim In-ho changed direction.
¡°Then, instead of going straight to Osaka, head to Tokyo. A member of the Toushi Guild was brutally killed by Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
¡°Are you suggesting I avenge the Toushi Guild?¡±
¡°You might be able to get some support with that as an excuse. Having the Toushi Guild backing you would make things easier.¡±
¡°What should I say when I get there?¡±
¡°¡Never mind. I¡¯ll go with you. It might be better if I help you.¡±
Kim In-ho nodded as if resigned.
With Cha So-hyuk¡¯s temperament, there was no chance of a proper negotiation, and in the worst-case scenario, they might even earn the hatred of the Toushi Guild.
Rather than watch things spiral out of control, it seemed better to stay by Cha So-hyuk¡¯s side and assist him properly.
At this point, Cha So-hyuk¡¯s revenge was a foregone conclusion.
Since the head of their organization, Kang Taeyang, had ordered Kim In-ho to support Cha So-hyuk, he couldn¡¯t just leave him be.
However¡
Kim In-ho had doubts about how Cha So-hyuk, blinded by emotions, would fare against Kang-hoo.
Shin Kang-hoo, a cold and ruthless hunter. Could Cha So-hyuk really defeat him?
The next day.
After a good night¡¯s sleep, Kang-hoo reviewed the information rted to the Shadow Dungeon and formted his ns for solo y.
Yesterday.
His negotiations with Fumiya had gone well.
He secured a raid license for the Shadow Dungeon from the Jigoku Guild.
In return, Kang-hoo agreed to participate in the raid of a dungeon that had been a headache for the Rikou Guild.
However, Kang-hoo had maneuvered the conversation to ensure that his requests were prioritized.
In other words, after visiting Sapporo, he would join the Rikou Guild for the raid in the agreed order.
Just then, his phone rang. It was a call from Park Dong-jae.
He hadn¡¯t had a chance to contact him while in Japan, so maybe it was just a casual check-in?
But considering how busy Park Dong-jae usually was, it seemed more likely there was an important reason for the call.
¡°Hey, Dong-jae.¡±
-¡°Hyung. I¡¯ve been trying not to bother you while you¡¯re resting or working, but¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine, go ahead.¡±
-¡°Cha So-hyuk and Kim In-ho boarded a flight to Haneda Airport. They¡¯re definitely headed to Tokyo.¡±
It seemed inevitable.
Kang-hoo had been thinking about a confrontation with Cha So-hyuk for some time.
Moreover, with the rumors spreading through Hunter Gram, there was no way Cha So-hyuk would just let it slide.
In fact, it was almost surprising that it hadn¡¯t happened sooner. They should have fought long ago.
¡°If they¡¯re going to Tokyo, they must be looking for the Toushi Guild.¡±
-¡°That¡¯s likely. You did take down one of their bastards, right? It could be rted to that too.¡±
¡°The picture ising together.¡±
ording to what he had heard from Park Dong-jae, Cha So-hyuk was a hotheaded and impulsive hunter.
If he had learned that Kang-hoo was in Osaka, he should have immediately booked a flight to Osaka, enraged.
The fact that he was acting more rationally and going to Tokyo first was probably due to Kim In-ho¡¯s influence.
-¡°Are you going to be okay, hyung? Maybe you shouldy low for a bit? Things could get messy.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a problem I have to deal with sooner orter. Running or hiding isn¡¯t the answer.¡±
Kang-hoo shook his head.
He hadn¡¯te to Japan to avoid Cha So-hyuk.
He had business in Japan, and he simply didn¡¯t want to y along with Cha So-hyuk¡¯s schedule.
But now things were different.
If he left Japan just because Cha So-hyuk wasing, it would make things awkward when he returnedter.
As long as Cha So-hyuk remained alive, their bad blood would never end.
It was time to cut ties once and for all.
When he killed Cha So-hee, he had epted that this would create a bad rtionship with Eclipse.
Of course, back then, he hadn¡¯t known about Cha So-hyuk¡¯s existence, but now that he did, this was an unavoidable conflict.
-¡°Should I talk to Se-hyuk hyung about it?¡±
¡°What¡¯s the point of getting another Korean hunter involved in a knife fight in Japan? No, thanks. I appreciate it, though.¡±
-¡°I¡¯m just worried.¡±
¡°Trust me, I¡¯ve got this under control. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡±
-¡°Hmm¡¡±
¡°Take care of yourself. Thanks for the call.¡±
Kang-hoo hung up immediately.
The longer the conversation dragged on, the more worried Park Dong-jae would be. He didn¡¯t want to cause unnecessary concern.
¡°It feels like the bounty on my head will rise soon.¡±
Kang-hoo let out a hollowugh.
It was inevitable.
As you grow stronger, just as many people will cheer for you as those who envy or try to block you.
Among them, there are always extremists who wille into conflict with you.
And conflicts between hunters usually end in death for one party.
One death will lead to another revenge, and once that revenge ispleted, another vendetta will arise.
Would killing Cha So-hyuk really end things?
Probably not.
Cha So-hyuk¡¯s criminal organization, The Sun, would surely keep an eye on him after that.
But of course, that didn¡¯t mean he could just die ¡°politely.¡± Avoiding conflict wasn¡¯t the answer either.
¡°Should I call Ayane?¡±
Suddenly, she crossed his mind.
When he had fought with Jung Seon-rak, she had been a gunner hunter, and though it was their first time working together, they had disyed wless teamwork.
If Ayane, a hunter of the Gray Border, joined him in this mud-filled battle of revenge, she might be the hidden card he needed.
Chapter 198: The Pursuer (3)
Chapter 198: The Pursuer (3)
¡°Gyoseon. Is this¡ verified information?¡±
¡°Yes. It has been cross-verified. We¡¯ve secured photos and footage from the scene. It¡¯s not a copy, and no separate recording devices were used either.¡±
¡°I had a feeling¡¡±
¡°It seems we¡¯ve opened Pandora¡¯s box. Even I was shocked.¡±
At that moment, Lee Ye-rin was receiving a report from Hwang Gyoseon, her trusted confidant and cherished younger sibling.
Whenever an important investigation was needed, she would always call Hwang Gyoseon. This time, his skills were also required for the investigation.
The investigation was about the Jeonghwa Guild.
She had conducted the investigation to address the nagging suspicions she had harbored, and the results were beyond her imagination.
Hwang Gyoseon continued speaking.¡°First, here are the photos from the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s human trafficking activities with the Kashimar Guild. You see Kim Dae-man, right?¡±
¡°Rank 4 in Jeonghwa Guild.¡±
¡°Correct. It seems Kim Dae-man is the information and contact point for Russia. He almost exclusively handles that.¡±
¡°¡¡±
¡°And these people in handcuffs¡ no matter how I look at it, they seem like our country¡¯s people. More precisely, they are hunters.¡±
¡°Indeed.¡±
¡°It¡¯s hard to dismiss it as a mere deviation, especially since he didn¡¯te alone. There are quite a few hunters from the Jeonghwa Guild. Here¡¯s the rted photographic evidence.¡±
¡°¡¡±
Every time Lee Ye-rin saw these damning pieces of evidence, revealing deeper truths, her expression grew more rigid.
The Jeonghwa Guild had been seen as a beacon of positivity and justice, not just to Lee Ye-rin, but to many others as well.
It was a ce that truly understood the value of hunters, treated talent well, and nurtured them professionally.
That¡¯s why the Jeonghwa Guild was the number one guild aspiring hunters aimed to join.
Currently, as the guild was no longer officially recruiting, the only way to join was through its satellite guilds.
A prime example was Han Seo-yeon, who had been affiliated with the Haeohwa Guild before being ¡°promoted¡± to the Jeonghwa Guild.
Because they were pulling hunters from the satellite guilds in this way, the satellite guilds were seeing a surge in applicants.
Thanks to this, the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s satellite guilds, rooted in various regions, were expanding their influence.
On the surface, the Jeonghwa Guild appeared to represent virtue, but the reality was quite the opposite.
¡°And this is an internal document. It¡¯s the final activity report of the hunters who joined through our mercenary corps¡¯ contractor, introduced by the leader.¡±
¡°Like Yoon Jae-na and Myung-ji?¡±
¡°Yes. We also have the final activity records of Kim Yoon-jae and Lee Myung-ji. Take a look.¡±
¡°Where did you get this?¡±
¡°It was obtained from inside the Jeonghwa Guild. It cost a bit, but we made sure not to leave any traces.¡±
¡°Hmm¡¡±
Lee Ye-rin frowned as she flipped through the papers. What shocking information would she find this time?
As she read, Hwang Gyoseon added more exnation.
¡°Kim Yoon-jae didn¡¯t die inside the dungeon. He died outside. The time when we were told he died and the time he entered the dungeon are too different.¡±
¡°He couldn¡¯t have even been inside the dungeon in the first ce. But they said he died in the dungeon?¡±
¡°Yes. In fact, there¡¯s a record of him entering Jeonghwa Building 8 during that time.¡±
¡°Why did they kill him?¡±
¡°Wouldn¡¯t the reason lie within the guild itself?¡±@@novelbin@@
The evidence Hwang Gyoseon had gatheredpletely exposed the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s deceit.
Without something to hide, there would be no reason to cover up the truth with lies.
As the circumstantial evidence wasbined with solid proof, Lee Ye-rin¡¯s expression hardened into one of certainty. The Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s true nature was different from its public image.
At that moment.
Another attendant entered.
They had a meeting scheduled, and the attendant was there to inform them of the guests¡¯ arrival.
¡°Gong Yu-seok and Go Joo-hee, whom you had a meeting scheduled with, have arrived. Shall I invite them in?¡±
Someone had arrived from the Jeonghwa Guild.
They hade seeking information and advice regarding certain contractors with whom they had transactions through the Cheong-an Mercenary Corps.
Under normal circumstances, she would have rmended good hunters with good hearts to them¡
But now, there was no longer any reason to do so.
She had to protect them.
Particrly, they had shown an unusual interest in one person: Kang-hoo, one of Lee Ye-rin¡¯s main clients.
Evening.
Kang-hoo was looking out over the city of Osaka through a wide-open window while sipping a beer.
In truth, he wasn¡¯t much of an alcohol drinker. He preferred coffee and rarely touched alcohol.
But every time he returned from a dungeon with Park Dong-jae, he had to go along with his routine and drink beer with him.
Now, whenever his mouth felt idle, he habitually reached for beer. Even without any snacks, the taste wasn¡¯t bad.
¡°Mm.¡±
Kang-hoo was reying the conversation he had just had with Lee Ye-rin.
If he summarized their talk, it went like this:
First, the Jeonghwa Guild had sent Gong Yu-seok and Go Joo-hee to look into Kang-hoo.
These two were people Kang-hoo had previously encountered during the face-to-face screening for Judgment Hell, so they were not strangers.
Since they were involved in recruiting external talents, it was natural for them to take charge.
Of course, it wasn¡¯t likely they were acting alone. This must have been under Jang Si-hwan¡¯s orders.
Lee Ye-rin had told Kang-hoo that she deliberately spoke poorly of him to them.
She gave them false information, saying he had more ws than what was publicly known and that he had harmed other mercenaries to ensure the sess of his missions.
Lee Ye-rin had also mentioned she no longer trusted the Jeonghwa Guild and would send him the relevant documents.
Additionally, she had warned him to be extremely cautious, as the Jeonghwa Guild had started taking an interest in him.
¡®This is exactly the oue I had expected from the start.¡¯
Kang-hoo remained calm, in contrast to Lee Ye-rin¡¯s agitated and trembling voice.
The Jeonghwa Guild had always been like this.
The world only saw the polished and distorted front, and that was the root of the problem.
For those who had seen the true face of the Jeonghwa Guild, much like the warlords of the Abyss, this news was nothing surprising.
However, Lee Ye-rin seemed to be feeling a deep sense of betrayal.
¡®This is going well. It seems like Lee Ye-rin is finally following the original storyline, turning against Jeonghwa.¡¯
Things were progressing as expected.
The timing was a bit earlier than nned, but that worked in his favor.
Lee Ye-rin was smart.
She wouldn¡¯t openly show her hostility toward the Jeonghwa Guild like the Abyss.
She would probably act cooperative and friendly while secretly plotting another path. There was no need to worry about her.
¡®If this is how it¡¯s ying out, it might be impossible to avoid some interaction with the Jeonghwa Guild. In that case, maybe it would be better to get close to them first and then break away.¡¯
His thoughts began to expand.
Avoiding the situation or running away wasn¡¯t the only solution, but doing something rash was not ideal either.
Jang Si-hwan wasn¡¯t a fool.
In the original story, Jang Si-hwan was portrayed as a master of the poker face and specialized in strategic approaches.
He must have some impression of Kang-hoo due to their memorable encounters.
If Kang-hoo acted erratically or disyed poor skills in an attempt to deceive the Jeonghwa Guild, it would only draw more attention.
From Shin Kang-hoo¡¯s perspective, Jang Si-hwan wasn¡¯t a foolish, one-time viin.
He was a smart viin, one who could push the world into a giant pit of downfall.
To deceive someone like him, the deception had to be precise and natural.
He wasn¡¯t one of those brainless viins in a novel who would fall for the protagonist¡¯s nonsensical tricks.
Just before midnight.
Ayane checked a message on her secure ount with Hunter Gram, which she hadn¡¯t expected to receive.
There was only one person who had been given this ount recently, so she immediately knew who it was¡ªKang-hoo.
Since Ayane didn¡¯t know Kang-hoo¡¯s real name, she had stored him in her memory as the ¡°handsome assassin.¡±
The message was simpler than she expected.
-How would you like to hunt down some despicable hunters? They have more than enough reasons to die.
She wasn¡¯t particrly interested in killing for the sake of it.
Nor was she concerned with delivering justice.
She simply lived by the logic of capital, crossing borders as she pleased.
If someone paid her to deliver justice, she would do it. If they paid her to kill someone, she would kill.
One example was the job in Fukuoka¡¯s Liberation Zone, where she camped at the dungeon entrance, killing intruders.
In a ce where the concepts of good, evil, justice, and injustice had vanished, morality had no meaning.
Nevertheless, Ayane felt her heart race at Kang-hoo¡¯s message.
The first time she had met him was at the Front Gate Research Lab.
She had turned down the meeting out of embarrassment, something she regretted to this day because the memory of that moment remained vivid.
Before she fell for his looks, she had fallen for his skills. He was exactly the kind of skilled assassin she had always dreamed of.
The message from Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t a fancy date proposal or a gentle, sweet expression of affection.
It was a blood-soaked invitation to ¡°hunt hunters.¡±
Her short-term contract with the Hayabusa Guild had just ended, and with no jobs on her schedule, she was resting.
The life of a wanderer meant being here today and there tomorrow.
It seemed like a good time to change her stage.
-Where should I go? And what spoils can I expect? Who¡¯s the target?
Ayane, her mind now fixated on meeting Kang-hoo, began to fire off her questions.
After that day.
Kang-hoo began building his n, preparing for the inevitable sh with Cha So-hyuk.
It wasn¡¯t as if he could immediately tackle the Shadow Dungeon in Sapporo.
And the dungeon raid he had promised to Fumiya was set for after the Shadow Dungeon, so there was nothing on his current schedule.
For now, he broke out of his reclusive lifestyle of staying holed up in Rikou Tower unless he had external tasks.
If he wanted to give those aiming for him a chance, stepping outside was not optional, but necessary.
He enjoyed drives both in and out of the city.
He carefully crafted an image, as if he were cautiously sticking to safe areas.
He also made movements suggesting he was searching for hidden or mystery dungeons using special measuring equipment.
On the surface, it looked like he was just satisfying his curiosity about the region while taking in the fresh air.
During this process, Kang-hoo became aware of four people tailing him.
He only confirmed it once.
He didn¡¯t check again. Drawing their attention unnecessarily would ruin his n.
Three days passed like this.
Kang-hoo had expected Cha So-hyuk to charge in recklessly, but surprisingly, he was taking a cautious approach.
It was likely influenced by therades who came with him or perhaps by advice from Kim In-ho beforehand.
Like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike, they were watching for the best opportunity to hunt him.
Kang-hoo pulled his car over near the outskirts of Osaka and had a conversation with An Yeong-ho¡ªwho was actually Ayane¡ªwhile heading somewhere.
¡°Hey, Yeong-ho. The readings from the device are showing a strong signal here, so there must be something.¡±
¡°The guild¡¯s dungeon data doesn¡¯t show anything in that location?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll check it out further. I don¡¯t need any backup. I¡¯m just out here for a little fresh air anyway.¡±
Feigning a conversation with a silent partner, Kang-hoo continued moving to a more isted area.
To draw out the ones tailing him and finish them off, the stage needed to berge. The fewer witnesses, the better.
¡®Four.¡¯
There were a total of four enemies.
Cha So-hyuk, along with three hunters, likely supported by the Toushi Guild.
Kang-hoo¡¯s side had two.
One was Kang-hoo himself, and the other was his ¡°hidden card,¡± silently lying in wait somewhere.
Chapter 199: The Pursuer (4)
Chapter 199: The Pursuer (4)
After arriving in Osaka.
Cha So-hyeok had wanted to kill Kang-hoo the moment he saw the car he was in and his back.
However, the Tou-si Guild had sent three hunters to help him, as part of their own revenge.
There was also Kim In-ho¡¯s persistent request: to wait until he confirmed that Kang-hoo had no tail before making a move.
Cha So-hyeok had been suppressing the boiling rage within him and enduring it. He felt like his blood was boiling backwards.
For several days, he tracked Kang-hoo from a distance.
As expected, Kang-hoo, who often went on drives around the city and outside, seemed to be quite cautious.
Every time he went somewhere, he was always on the phone with someone, constantly looking around and remaining vignt.
However, the one thing Cha So-hyeok had been most worried about, the Rikou Guild¡¯s escort, was absent.It seemed that since he wasn¡¯t a member of the guild, they weren¡¯t too concerned about him to that extent.
Additionally, it appeared that Osaka¡¯s overall security was being maintained well enough for Kang-hoo to feel somewhat at ease.
After waiting for four days, the perfect moment to target Kang-hoo finally arrived.
After tracking him for over 30 minutes, Cha So-hyeok confirmed that there was no Rikou Guild escort tailing him.
He had followed him far enough to the outskirts where, no matter what happened, there would be no immediate external intervention.
From the situation, it seemed like Kang-hoo had been exploring a hidden dungeon.
Was he nning to im ownership if he found one?
Even overseas, Kang-hoo¡¯s greed disgusted Cha So-hyeok.
But at some point, Kang-hoo stopped moving.
He then sat on an old rock nearby, turning to look back.
He even crossed his arms, staring directly at Cha So-hyeok.
Eventually, their eyes met, and the first words Cha So-hyeok heard from Kang-hoo were:
¡°Cha So-hyeok?¡±
Kang-hoo had called his name urately.
Jang Si-hwan believed it was better to sever ties with ill-fate.
Even if you tried to avoid it and let it hang loose, in the end, that ill-fate would chase you down again.
That¡¯s why, even if it was awkward, he never tried to avoid ill-fate. He always faced it head-on and challenged it.
At the same moment.
Kang-hoo was recalling a phrase written in the original novel.
No matter how much he thought about it, it was a deeply meaningful phrase. And right now, Cha So-hyeok was the perfect example of it.
No matter how much he tried to avoid and distance himself, the tangled thread of ill-fate could not easily be unraveled.
There was only one solution.
To cut it off through death. Only then would the thread not stretch any further, nor give the uneasy feeling that it might tighten someday.
¡°Cha So-hyeok?¡±
Upon seeing the face that resembled Cha So-hee¡¯s so much, Kang-hoo instantly recognized him as Cha So-hyeok.
It was a face that anyone would say made them unmistakably siblings.
Even when he lived the life of the original author, and even now, living as Shin Kang-hoo, Kang-hoo had never had siblings.
So, it always fascinated him. Were brothers and sisters, no matter their gender, always this identical?
He wondered what it would feel like to have a younger sister or older sister who looked like him. And if that face was smiling?
Since he had never experienced it, he could only imagine. But if someone who looked like him had long hair and was smiling brightly¡ it would be really strange.
¡°Shin Kang-hoo, you bastard.¡±
A string of curses right at their first meeting.
It was exactly the reaction Kang-hoo had expected. Cha So-hyeok probably thought his sister had been wrongfully killed.
¡°¡¡±
Kang-hoo took advantage of the silence to assess the enemy¡¯sposition.
There were four in total.
Cha So-hyeok was a swordsman.
While there are different styles of swordsmen, Cha So-hyeok could be ssified as an extreme damage dealer, focused solely on offense.
And then, standing behind him, ready to join the battle at any moment, were three hunters from the Tou-si Guild.
They appeared to be a ck mage, an archer, and an assassin.
Whenbined with the swordsman, Cha So-hyeok, they formed one of the most troublesome teampositions to face.
It was a well-rounded team, capable of attacking from close range, long range, and making surprise moves from behind, which gave Kang-hoo a headache.
For a brief moment.
He impulsively thought about using the pre-designated spot to teleport away.
But he immediately dismissed the idea. Escape wasn¡¯t the answer. It would only buy a short amount of time and thene back as an even bigger wave.
¡¾The Great Sage of Kangdong¡¿
¡¾A constetion that can see through the invisible. It can designate a single target and track them, even if they are hiding, by revealing their blurred silhouette.¡¿
First, Kang-hoo used the Great Sage of Kangdong constetion to secretly track the assassin.
The effect was subtle enough that the assassin would be unaware they had been targeted.
He also finished calcting his response to the ck mage, who seemed poised tounch a mental attack.
¡¾First: Hunters whose mental attacks are within twice the level of the contractor will face a 90% immunity.
Even if there¡¯s a 10% chance of failure, the ¡®Insight¡¯ ability will activate, forcing immunity. However, it can only be used once per day.¡¿
This was the first benefit of the constetion¡¯s mental attack immunity.
Considering Kang-hoo¡¯s current level, the ck mage¡¯s level would need to be below 399.
Judging by the situation, it didn¡¯t seem likely that Cha So-hyeok had brought a top-tier ck mage hunter over level 400.
As for the archer, Kang-hoo already had a n in ce with his ¡®Hidden Card,¡¯ ready to deal with any unexpected variables.
Cha So-hyeok, with veins bulging from his hand as he gripped his sword tightly, spoke to Kang-hoo.
¡°Today, I¡¯ll take revenge for So-hee, and for the Tou-si Guild as well.¡±
¡°Kuk.¡±
Kang-hoo let out a snicker, which immediately caused a frown to form on Cha So-hyeok¡¯s face¡ªa clear sign of displeasure.
Kang-hoo continued to speak.
¡°Nice speech, but you can¡¯t seem to paint the right picture. Well¡ I guess even a pathetic revenge is still revenge, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°You fucking bastard!¡±
As expected of Cha So-hyeok¡¯s hot-headed personality, he immediately red and charged forward at the obvious provocation.
Papat! Woooong! Viiing!
At the same time, the three behind him also sprang into action.
The assassin used Invisibility, a basic level 200 skill, and slipped to the side.
The ck mage formed a ck sphere at his fingertips with a hand gesture.
The archer drew his bowstring, utilizing a skill simr to a clone technique, likely aiming to divert attention.
Kang-hoo quickly popped a Mad Srkium into his mouth. Now, only three were left.
¡¾Soul Wave¡¿
He immediately used Soul Wave.
Even though the effect of the Mad Srkium hadn¡¯t fully kicked in yet, and a headache was starting to build, he ignored it.
The next moment.
Pssst¡!
The sight of the archer splitting into at least ten clones disappeared, leaving only the original body visible. The connection was severed immediately.
At that moment.
Bang!
A heavy gunshot rang out, and blood sttered from the archer¡¯s temple. It was a sniper¡¯s bullet.
¡°¡?¡±
For a brief second, Cha So-hyeok and the other two were stunned. It was an unexpected variable.
There were no buildings nearby where a sniper could have positioned themselves.
The nearest structure was an old abandoned building about 900 meters away.
¡®Judging by the power and speed, it¡¯s safe to assume that this is close to Gunner¡¯s hidden skill.¡¯
Kang-hoo was impressed by Ayane¡¯s reliable sniping performance.@@novelbin@@
Of course, it was a one-time killshot. It would take a considerable amount of time for the skill to recharge.
In other words, the three-on-one battle was unavoidable from now on.
¡°Charge!¡±
Cha So-hyeok shouted, rushing toward Kang-hoo.
Despite being startled, Cha So-hyeok made the right call.
If there¡¯s sniper support, the best strategy is to mix in with the enemy, making it hard for the sniper to target anyone.
Since the distance between them wasn¡¯t too close, the sniper would have to be cautious if they didn¡¯t want to risk friendly fire.
After checking the constetion information of the remaining three, Kang-hoo estimated that their levels weren¡¯t as high as he initially thought.
Including Cha So-hyeok, they were likely all in the 300 range. At worst, they might be in thete 200s.
¡®Start with the assassin.¡¯
Kang-hoo¡¯s first target wasn¡¯t the aggressive Cha So-hyeok or the distant ck mage.
It was the assassin, who shared the same ss as him.
When facing multiple enemies, the assassin is the ss most easily lost from view.
Even though he had the assassin under invisible tracking, a brief moment of distraction could cause him to lose track of their movement. Hence, he prioritized eliminating the assassin.
¡¾Clone Technique¡¿
He created a clone and sent it toward Cha So-hyeok.
¡¾Illusion Technique¡¿
He then used illusions, sending them toward the ck mage to intentionally disrupt his sight.
¡¾Shadow Step¡¿
He added one moreyer.
By scattering five shadows in different directions, he made it difficult for the enemy to make a decision.
From their perspective, it would seem like eleven versions of Kang-hoo¡ªone clone, five illusions, and five shadows¡ªwere all moving at once, creating utter chaos.
He charged at the assassin.
Just then, a tickling sensation crept into his mind.
It was the ck mage¡¯s attempt at mental interference. There was clearly a rted skill involved.
However, thanks to the Strategist of the Wastnd, the ck mage¡¯s attempt was nullified.
At that moment, a subtle exchange of nces urred between the assassin and the ck mage.
The assassin¡¯s look seemed to ask, ¡°What the hell just happened?¡± while the ck mage¡¯s gaze showed bewilderment.
They likely had a prearranged n that was blocked by Kang-hoo¡¯s mental immunity.
The assassin, who was typically vulnerable to magical attacks, probably didn¡¯t expect to counter it so easily.
Meanwhile, the Tou-si Guild assassin flinched as he saw Kang-hoo rushing toward him with precision.
He was supposed to be in Invisibility.
Sure, someone might be able to guess his position from signs like faint sounds, the ground¡¯s movement, or the wind¡¯s flow.
But the way Kang-hoo was moving straight toward him indicated that he had pinpointed his exact location, which should have been impossible.
¡°Screw it!¡±
Even if he was discovered, it didn¡¯t matter.
After all, a fight between assassins is simply a matter of who can stab the vital spot with a dagger first.
As long as he could get close, he was confident he could take him out. He had the perfect kill skill for that.
But at that very moment.
¡¾Veil of Technique¡¿
Kang-hoo disappearedpletely from the assassin¡¯s sight.
It was as if Kang-hoo had been erased from the space entirely.
Even within his heightened senses, the assassin couldn¡¯t detect Kang-hoo¡¯s presence.
It felt like Kang-hoo was operating on a concept far beyond normal Invisibility. The term Absolute Invisibility would be more urate.
The assassin quickly calmed his startled mind.
Since neither of them could see each other, it was just a game of hide-and-seek now.
Still, just in case, he gripped his dagger in reverse and continued to turn his body left and right, prepared for anything.
In any case, tounch an attack, Kang-hoo would have to cancel his invisibility. No invisibilitysts forever.
But then, a variable urred.
¡°Urgh¡!¡±
Suddenly, the assassin¡¯s body was yanked backward.
Kang-hoo, who had moved behind him, used a kidnapping skill.
The assassin, who hadn¡¯t been able to detect Kang-hoo¡¯s position, had no time to respond and was pulled without resistance.
But the assassin wasn¡¯t stupid.
Even though he was caught off guard by an unexpected skill, he immediately deployed the Clone Technique as he was being dragged, creating a shield.
It was mysterious that Kang-hoo¡¯s invisibility didn¡¯t break, even after using such an obvious skill.
But he did what he had to.
He reactivated Invisibility, erased his presence with No Shadow, and performed sidesteps with eleration.
Had his skill been at the highest mastery level, the sidestep would have be a backstep, but unfortunately, his mastery wasn¡¯t quite there yet.
Still, he had executed a textbook evasive maneuver, faithfully utilizing the assassin¡¯s core skills.
Quickly redeploying his invisibility and hiding his figure again¡ªa perfect 100-point response!
That¡¯s how the assassin evaluated his own maneuver.
But he hadn¡¯t realized one fatal w.
A hunter had witnessed everything from start to finish with his own eyes. That hunter was Kang-hoo.
Moreover, Kang-hoo, hidden within the Veil of Technique, remainedpletely unseen by anyone.
It was perfect invisibility.
The assassin¡¯s level was more than 100 above Kang-hoo¡¯s, but the gap in skill usage was like night and day.
Sadly.
Only the assassin himself was unaware of this fact. Like a frog in a well.
Chapter 200: The Pursuer (5)
Chapter 200: The Pursuer (5)
Kang-hoo, who had long since positioned himself behind the assassin throughteral movement, was observing his every move.
He was slightly worried the assassin might realize he had moved behind him, but that had been an overestimation.
¡°Fuck! Where are you? Shin Kang-hoo! I¡¯m asking, where are you?!¡±
Cha So-hyeok¡¯s voice, filled with rage, rang out. Despite his anger, it seemed he was frustrated that his enemy remained out of sight.
¡°¡¡¡±
The assassin was holding his breath, carefully observing his surroundings. He was being as cautious as possible, keeping his body tense and low.
When both parties are hidden, a strange stillness hangs in the air¡ªit¡¯s the nature of an assassin¡¯s battle.
To figure out where the opponent is, one must even read the smallest flow of the wind.
However, Kang-hoo had no need for that. From the start, the assassin had been within his sight.There was no need to drag this out.
The assassin, looking in the wrong direction, had no idea where Kang-hoo was.
And so¡ª
Swish! sh!
Kang-hoo grabbed the assassin¡¯s head and shed his throat in one swift motion. With the strike connecting directly, the assassin¡¯s flesh and muscles were severed.
¡°Gurgh! Gah! Gurgle¡!¡±
A thick red line formed in the middle of the assassin¡¯s neck as he repeatedly let out gurgling sounds, like air escaping from a deted balloon.
Even in this state, the assassin stubbornly tried to turn his body to attack Kang-hoo.
Stab! Stab! Stab!
But Kang-hoo, with an emotionless face, made three more precise cuts to the assassin¡¯s neck.
Immediately, air and blood gushed from the gaping wounds in the assassin¡¯s throat.
¡¾Blood Flower¡¿
A finishing blow.
The assassin¡¯s blood spurted out in a spray, almost as if it had been sprayed from a nozzle.
Along with the assassin¡¯s death, two constetions were instantly plundered, but there was no time to check the list.
Two enemies remained.
Meanwhile¡ª
Cha So-hyeok¡¯s attack had dispersed Kang-hoo¡¯s doppelganger, and the illusion he had summoned vanished as its time limit expired.
All that remained was a shadow.
The ck mage seemed to have realized that mental attacks didn¡¯t work on Kang-hoo and now began to deploy offensive skills.
Rumble.
Basic skill: Hellfire Drop.
A purple sphere of me descended from the sky, aiming to restrict Kang-hoo¡¯s movement.
It appeared the ck mage was quite skilled. The Hellfire spread across a wide area, and smoke rose from the spots where itnded.
This meant the attack wasn¡¯t just a typical fire attack but also involved an oxidizing effect.
If caught in it, even if one was in hiding, the smoke would reveal their location and cause significant pain.
¡°Shin Kang-hoo¡!¡±
Cha So-hyeok came charging in at full speed.
Cha So-hyeok had one weakness¡ªhis incredible offensive power was offset by hisck of mobility.
That¡¯s why he was slower than Kang-hoo had initially calcted.
And even if he got closer, there wasn¡¯t much pressure to worry about.
Papak!
Just like now, all Kang-hoo had to do was pick one of the shadows and swap positions.
Cha So-hyeok would be left chasing shadows like a dog chasing chickens.
Kang-hoo continued maintaining the maximum number of five shadows while monitoring the ck mage¡¯s actions.@@novelbin@@
The final one-on-one with Cha So-hyeok could wait. First, he had to deal with the ck mage, who was more of a nuisance.
Taaang!
At that moment, Ayane¡¯s second sniper bullet struck Cha So-hyeok¡¯s front legs, causing sparks to fly.
It seemed difficult tond a clean hit, as Ayane had to target a moving opponent from a distance. A predictable result.
The reason the archer had been killed by a single shot earlier was because they had stayed in one spot the entire time.
Hitting a stationary target is something anyone with some knowledge of guns could do.
Fssst. Fssst. Fssst.
Just then, Kang-hoo noticed several invisible dots forming not far from him.
¡®Ignition.¡¯
It was the ck mage¡¯s basic level 200 skill, Ignition.
Ignition could be followed up with either oxidation or exhaustion, but it seemed this ck mage had opted for Ignition.
What¡¯s terrifying about Ignition is that fire can ignite from these invisible points.
And once the mes touch your body, they spread as if gasoline has been poured over you.
It¡¯s a perfect skill for forcing self-immtion on someone.
But thanks to his innate mana hypersensitivity, Kang-hoo could immediately detect the location of the invisible points.
So, he quickly swapped ces with a shadow slightly away from the Ignition points.
Taaang! Taaang!
More sniper bullets flew in, hindering Cha So-hyeok¡¯s advance.
Judging by the faster reload time, it seemed Ayane had switched her bullets from killing shots to suppressive fire.
Though they hadn¡¯t exchanged words, Kang-hoo could tell exactly what Ayane was thinking.
She was signaling for him to suppress Cha So-hyeok¡¯s movements as much as possible so she could deal with the ck mage.
¡®We think alike.¡¯
He had felt the same during the battle at the First Research Lab; Ayane was well in tune with his thoughts as an assassin.
It was almost as if they were thinking and breathing in sync.
Most hunters make decisions based on their own perspective.
A sniper, for example, would only focus on whether the timing was right for a shot or whether there was an opening in the target.
In that process, they often neglect the movements of theirrades or partners.
It¡¯s inevitable, a sort of upational hazard, as they must focus on their primary role¡ªsniping.
But Ayane had read that Kang-hoo had ced Cha So-hyeok at the bottom of his priority list.
The ss of the hunter sent by the Tou-si Guild had not been discussed beforehand. There was no way to find out.
She assessed the situation while thinking of Kang-hoo, realizing that the current position was exactly what Kang-hoo had aimed for.
¡¾Cuteness!¡¿
Kang-hoo summoned a reliable slime in the path of Cha So-hyeok¡¯s movement and immediately threw his Lightning Dagger at the ck mage.
¡°Hmph.¡±
Had the ck mage known why Kang-hoo always opened with a Lightning Dagger attack, he wouldn¡¯t have scoffed.
Unfortunately for the ck mage, he didn¡¯t notice anything unusual as Kang-hoo¡¯s dagger flew at him in a predictable path.
Two of hisrades had fallen too easily. Wasn¡¯t this assassin underestimating him, the highest-level one here?
¡¾Devil''s Wall¡¿
The ck mage instantly summoned a wall in front of him. It was his well-practiced basic defensive skill.
Boom!
The dagger collided with the wall and bounced off. The ck mage was confident in his sessful defense, but then¡ª
Bang!
Something unexpected happened.
The Devil¡¯s Wall was pushed backward. It was due to the knockback effect attached to Kang-hoo¡¯s Lightning Dagger.
Thud!
¡°Urgh!¡±
As a result, a ridiculous situation unfolded where the ck mage¡¯s face and body collided with the wall he had summoned.
Though he blocked the dagger, he hadn¡¯t expected the wall itself to be pushed back.
Taking advantage of the moment when the ck mage staggered from the blow to his face¡ª
¡¾Sight Theft¡¿
¡¾Mild Chaos¡¿
Kang-hoo cast his disruption skills.
Normally, a ss like the ck mage wouldn¡¯t fall for such obvious blinding skills.
But now was different. The moment when one manages their pain is their most vulnerable moment.
¡°Damn it¡!¡±
Realizing there was a problem with his vision and senses, the ck mage immediately used the Ignition skill.
Anyone could see this was the perfect moment for Kang-hoo to strike.
Thus, the ck mage randomly created ignition points around him, intending to block Kang-hoo¡¯s approach.
It was a strategically sound decision.
¡®Good.¡¯
This was exactly what Kang-hoo had been aiming for.
Using his Master of Maniption skill, Kang-hoo copied the ck mage¡¯s Ignition skill and deployed it toward the staggering mage.
¡¾Master of Maniption - Ignition¡¿
Whether the ck mage realized his own skill was being used against him or not, he continued casting more skills in desperation.
Allowing an assassin to approach meant certain death for any magic user.
So, the ck mage unleashed skills like Hellfire Drop and True Purple me without pause.
He thought this would prevent Kang-hoo from closing the distance.
In reality, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t approach as the ck mage expected. He merely returned the mage¡¯s own skill.
And tragedy struck.
Fwoosh!
¡°Grrgh! Gaaaah!¡±
The ck mage¡¯s body was instantly consumed by mes, ignited by the very Ignition he had cast.
Both Cha So-hyeok and the ck mage, the unfortunate victim, were shocked.
Hadn¡¯t he just cast an Ignition he never even used? This was impossible.
Unless he had a death wish, such a suicidal act didn¡¯t make sense. It was absurd.
¡°Hoo.¡±
Kang-hoo, taking a moment to catch his breath, gripped his dagger in reverse and threw it at the ck mage again with all his strength.
The Lightning Dagger was powered by not only his skill but also by sheer physical force.
And then¡ª
Swish!
The dagger, slicing through the mes, struck the center of the ck mage¡¯s forehead, ending his life.
¡¾Soul Imprint - Corrupted Faith¡¿
¡¾Soul Imprint - Recovery¡¿
Kang-hoo then retrieved the dagger he had marked earlier,pleting his cleanup.
Now, only Cha So-hyeok remained.
Turning his attention to Cha So-hyeok, Kang-hoo snapped his fingers without even looking back.
He was likely dead by now.
The final touch was the clean confirmation kill with Blood Flower. Behind Kang-hoo, the blood sprayed out like petals from a flower.
Meanwhile, Cha So-hyeok, having dealt with Ayane¡¯s suppressive fire and the unexpected slime, charged at Kang-hoo again.
Papak.
But with Kang-hoo swapping ces with his shadow, the distance between them, which had been narrowing, widened again.
For the second time, Cha So-hyeok found himself in the futile position of a dog chasing a chicken.
¡°Fuck¡ What the hell are these guys? Why did they die so pathetically?¡±
Pausing his pursuit for a moment, Cha So-hyeok spat out curses as he looked at the dead bodies of the hunters lying on the ground.
The Tou-si Guild had sent these hunters, iming they would be of great help.
But within minutes of the fight starting, all three of them were dead.
An unexpected sniper had appeared out of nowhere, killing the archer in an instant.
While Cha So-hyeok¡¯s movements were thoroughly disrupted, the assassin and ck mage were both killed in quick session.
Cha So-hyeok had anticipated that Kang-hoo wouldn¡¯t go down easily.
But he hadn¡¯t imagined the three of them would die so early in the battle.
Despite all of them being hunters over level 300, they had all lost their lives to Kang-hoo¡¯s strategies.
Even the cement of the sniper could be considered part of Kang-hoo¡¯s prearranged n.
As Kang-hoo faced Cha So-hyeok, he nced in Ayane¡¯s direction.
He signaled by drawing a circle with his index finger.
The message was clear¡ªstay out of it. From now on, he wanted to settle things one-on-one with Cha So-hyeok.
Cha So-hyeok red at Kang-hoo.
He hade for revenge, bringing a partner along for the mission, but now he looked ridiculous.
¡°Coward. Using a sniper?¡±
¡°And it¡¯s not cowardly for you toe with backup to kill just one person?¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°If you don¡¯t understand the meaning of the word ¡®cowardly,¡¯ don¡¯t use it.¡±
Gnash.
Cha So-hyeok gritted his teeth.
The more they exchanged words, the more they fought, the more he felt disgusted by Kang-hoo.
Of course, this disgust was subjective to Cha So-hyeok alone. Objectively speaking, Cha So-hyeok was the repulsive one.
¡°I have no reason to hold back anymore. I¡¯ll chop off your head and offer it before So-hee¡¯s grave.¡±
¡°Better get ready to smell incense with her.¡±
Kang-hoo raised his middle finger, further provoking Cha So-hyeok¡¯s anger.
This fight wouldn¡¯t end until one of them was dead. There was no middle ground. No mediation was possible.
Perhaps that¡¯s why¡ª
In an instant, Cha So-hyeok¡¯s eyes and entire body turned red, and smoke began to rise from him.
It was clear to anyone watching that this was an awakening skill, a highly dangerous transformation.
¡°Even if I have to consume my own blood, I will kill you. Bloodthirst. Feel my fury, Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
An overwhelming killing intent,pletely different from before, emanated from Cha So-hyeok.
The true duel was about to begin.
Chapter 202: Change (2)
Chapter 202: Change (2)
¡°Hoo.¡±
As Cha So-hyeok died, Kang-hoo¡¯s first reaction was to let out a big sigh.
Was it relief? Or perhaps a sense of liberation?
It seemed like both.
On one hand, it felt like a sigh of relief from having finally fought a worthy opponent after so long.
¡®So many constetions¡¡¯
The things he hadn¡¯t noticed during the fight now became clear.
He saw the constetions he had taken from Cha So-hyeok, the ck mage, and the assassin. And their items too.
There were too many to check all at once, and more importantly, the duration of Mad Srkium was about to end.In other words, it was time to stop the runaway train and cool down the heat that had built up.
Ayane was walking toward him.
He had promised her the items held by the archer. It was something they had already discussed.@@novelbin@@
Since she had a 100% im on the hunter¡¯s death, it was only natural to secure the corresponding spoils for her.
As Kang-hoo collected the items from the three hunters he had killed, he immediately called An Yeong-ho.
-Yes, hyung-nim.
¡°Yeong-ho, I think you¡¯ll need to clean up a bit.¡±
-Huh? Did something happen all of a sudden? I knew you were out, but¡
¡°One hunter with a personal grudge against me and three from the Tou Shi Guild came after me. They wore the insignia.¡±
-What the¡ hyung-nim, are you okay? You¡¯re not hurt, right? Are you safe? Where are you?
In response to An Yeong-ho¡¯s rapid-fire questions filled with concern, Kang-hoo answered calmly.
¡°Yeah, I killed them all, so it¡¯s fine. But I need you to clean up. I¡¯ll send the location.¡±
-Got it, hyung-nim. My uncle is here with me, so I¡¯ll tell him right away.
¡°Thanks, I owe you.¡±
Since they were in Rikou Guild territory, there shouldn¡¯t be any issues with handling the cleanup.
Kang-hoo decided to dispose of all the items he couldn¡¯t wear from the three hunters.
There was also the matter of the orange mana stone from the Undead Dungeon that he and An Yeong-ho had visited before¡
It felt like he was giving Yeong-ho more work to do, but at least the troublesome parts would be dealt with.
¡¾You have fulfilled your daily quota of two kills.¡¿
¡¾If you conduct a ritual to pray for the souls of the deceased, you may gain two random stat boosts.¡¿
The vile priest constetion unted itself as usual.
Since stats were too precious to ignore, Kang-hoo offered a brief prayer.
Of course, he didn¡¯t sincerely wish for their peaceful afterlife. He just hoped they¡¯d suffer in the hellfires of the underworld.
There wasn¡¯t even the slightest chance he would wish for peace for those who had sought his life.
After praying for their souls twice, he gained 3 strength and 3 agility stats, respectively.
Stats didn¡¯t just fall from the sky, so it was still a gain.
At that moment.
Ayane, who had already approached him from a distance, looked at Kang-hoo with shining eyes and spoke.
¡°As expected, my instincts weren¡¯t wrong. Amazing. You¡¯re exactly the kind of assassin I want to be!¡±
Since she had said the same thing when they first met, he was already used to it.
Thanks to her, the n had gone smoothly.
They had been outnumbered, and their levels were lower, so it was crucial to reduce the enemy¡¯s numbers. She had been a great help.
In fact, Kang-hoo had been able to n the attack more aggressively because Ayane was with him.
If she hadn¡¯t been there, he would have changed the n¡ªperhaps luring only Cha So-hyeok, or focusing solely on him.
¡°You did well. I owe you. Now, let¡¯s¡¡±
¡°¡Huh?¡±
At that moment, as he continued speaking, Kang-hoo staggered slightly.
Even though he seemed fine just a moment ago, cold sweat began to drip down his forehead.
That night.
In a hotel room in downtown Osaka, Ayane reflected on the day¡¯s events.
Despite having drunk plenty of wine from her ss, she wasn¡¯t even slightly drunk.
Perhaps it was because the vivid memories of the day left her no time to get intoxicated? Today¡¯s events were that fascinating.
¡°I don¡¯t care about who died. What¡¯s stuck in my mind is every move, skill, and reaction of Shin Kang-hoo¡ He was¡ impressive. Truly impressive.¡±
Ayaneughed as she gazed out at the night view of Osaka through the wide-open window.
She had rarelyughed while watching another hunter fight.
Most hunters¡¯ battles had too many ws to count.
Some said she was too harsh, but she thought it was fine to have high standards.
In Ayane¡¯s critical eyes, Kang-hoo was perfect.
That¡¯s why she kept being drawn to him.
Her admiration and curiosity toward a strong person had driven her to be who she was today and fueled her fighting spirit.
¡°But¡¡±
There was one thing that bothered her.
Just as they were about to wrap things up, Kang-hoo had suddenly started sweating and sat down to rest.
He had been sweating profusely, and hisplexion had paled. He looked as if he were gravely ill.
He had said he was fine and sat on a rock to rest, but he kept pressing his forehead, groaning softly.
¡°Maybe¡ he¡¯s terminally ill¡¡±
The thought crossed her mind.
Her heart ached for a moment.
Could he be burning away thest of his life, slowly fading away in loneliness?
Thinking back to his first impression and appearance, it wasn¡¯t hard to imagine. He had seemed like someone living only for today.
What kind of hunter would dare to fight head-on against someone nearly three times their level?
That was exactly how Kang-hoo fought against Jeung Seon-rak. She knew his level was below 200.
Jeung Seon-rak was a ki master hunter with a level well over 550, even by conservative estimates.
¡°I might not see him again. He could die¡¡±
Thinking that way, Kang-hoo¡¯s image ovepped with sadness, loneliness, and solitude. She even began to tear up.
Ayane immediately grabbed her smartphone. If today was thest, she wanted to leave him a message.
At the Same Time
Kang-ho chuckled as he read the direct message Ayane had sent him through Huntergram.
¡°A terminal illness, huh? I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d be so imaginative.¡±
Ayane had sent a message asking if Kang-ho was gravely ill and if there was no cure for his condition¡ It was a very cautious inquiry.
At some point, Ayane hade to believe that Kang-ho was living a life with little time left.
It was an understandable assumption.
After their fight, Kang-ho had to sit down and rest due to the aftereffects of Mad Srkium.
He hadn¡¯t moved much, just taking shallow breaths while sitting on a rock, which might have led her to think that way.
He briefly wondered if he should have taken Gaksinhwan instead.
Though the effectsted for only a short time, it allowed him to enter an awakened state far beyond his limits.
He had saved it, thinking he might regret using itter, but it seemed like he would have to use it soon.
For instance, when he faced Go Gyeong-ho during the Constetion Trial of the Pure ck Seeker¡ it would certainly be necessary.
Kang-ho replied to Ayane with a message, his tone serious but filled with yful sarcasm.
It wasn¡¯t entirely wrong.
Even without a terminal illness, no one living in this world could guarantee their safety tomorrow.
¡°Her skills were solid.¡±
She was a gunner capable of killing a hunter from a considerable distance with a single shot.
Though their connection had been unexpected, Kang-ho thought it might be worth staying close to her.
She was a superior version of Ban Se-yeong. Just by thatparison, Ayane¡¯s value skyrocketed.
At that moment.
A message came from An Yeong-ho.
He hadpleted the final appraisal of the items and mana stones entrusted to him for sale, and they were now up for sale.
He also mentioned that there would be an official statement from the Rikou Guild.
Even though the attackers were outsiders, they had openly targeted Kang-ho within the guild¡¯s territory, so it couldn¡¯t simply be overlooked.
That was a matter between the guilds, so Kang-ho didn¡¯t concern himself too much with it.
For now.
Kang-ho checked the items he had kept for personal use, separate from the ones he had entrusted to An Yeong-ho.
First, he took off Molis Maniche, the 5th-grade gloves.
Then, he equipped the gloves he had obtained from the assassin.
The name was ¡°ursed Ties,¡± a 3rd-grade item.
Molis Maniche was no longer necessary.
Since he could now retrieve weapons whenever he wanted using Soul Imprint, the gloves¡¯ former utility had diminished.
¡¾ursed Ties ¨C Gloves¡¿
¡¾Grade: 3rd-grade¡¿
¡¾Agility +100¡¿
¡¾Bloodstorm ¨C Allows the use of an additional weapon, limited to daggers. However, the additional weapon must be of a lower grade than the main weapon.¡¿
The Bloodstorm effect.
This was the reason Kang-ho had decided to wear the ursed Ties gloves as soon as he saw them.
The exnation was simple.
With these gloves, he could dual-wield daggers.
To be precise, if he wielded an additional dagger, its stats would also be applied.
Under the regr system, only one weapon could be equipped per slot, like any other weapon.
But with the Bloodstorm effect, he could wield two.
Kang-ho¡¯s main weapon was Corrupted Conviction, a 2nd-grade dagger.
That meant he could equip Blood Tear, a 3rd-grade dagger he had been holding in reserve.
¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to start practicing dual dagger techniques.¡±
Now that he could wield two daggers, just holding them without using them would beughable.
He nned to train whenever he could. Since he was ambidextrous, adapting to wielding a dagger in his left hand would be quick.
Next, he removed his 5th-grade shoes, As the Wind Guides, which reduced his agility by 50.
However, the new 4th-grade shoes, Ste, boosted his agility by 100, giving him a increase of 50.
After equipping Blood Tear, he checked his stats for the first time in a while. Thanks to Blood Tear, his stats had risen significantly.
¡¾Shin Kang-hoo Lv. 197¡¿
¡¾ss: Assassin¡¿
¡¾Unique Talents: Quite Outstanding Speed / Exceptional Dynamic Vision¡¿
¡¾Strength 1063¡¿¡¾Agility 1168¡¿
¡¾Stamina 909¡¿¡¾Mana 21¡¿
¡¾Magic Resistance 560¡¿¡¾Durability 710¡¿
¡¾* Dark Period 446¡¿
¡°By minimizing stat and item investment in mana, I can significantly increase my other stats.¡±
His strength and agility had surpassed 1000, and his stamina was nearing that mark.
For an ordinary hunter to achieve this setup, they would need to be at least level 350 and have invested heavily in items.
But by avoiding mana investment, he had freed up resources to boost his other stats, resulting in a substantial increase.
Compared to other assassins of the same level, his specs were overwhelmingly superior.
Most hunters had to invest in mana stats and items to solve the chronic mana problem, which limited their overall stats.
But for Kang-ho, increasing his mana had no meaning.
His Congenital Mana Hyperreactivity caused pain because his body explosively absorbed mana.
It was a matter of speed, not quantity.
As long as he had this condition, there would be no reason to invest in mana stats.
In fact, he had to ensure his mana stat didn¡¯t exceed 50.
Considering how every hunter struggled to increase their mana, his trait was truly ironic.
Of course, this was part of what made Shin Kang-hoo¡¯s identity unique.
An unchanging, fingerprint-like trait.
Chapter 203: Change (3)
While I was rxing in a half-bath after a long time, I received a call from An Yeong-ho.
Except for issues rted to item sales, I had asked him not to contact me for at least a day.
Since he was calling, it seemed the item sale had beenpleted.
¡°Hey, Yeong-ho.¡±
-Hyung, the item sale is finished. The appraisal was quick, and we found a buyer right away.
¡°It must have been an internal guild sale then.¡±
-Yes, that¡¯s right. Since it was the item you obtained after killing the Tou-si Guild members, it gained more poprity.
¡°How much?¡±
-79 billion won. Shall I deposit it right away? That¡¯s the amount after taxes.¡°Go ahead and transfer it.¡±
-Yes, it will be deposited from our guild¡¯s dedicated ount. Oh, by the way, a few items were destroyed and couldn¡¯t be sold.
¡°I figured that would happen.¡±
-I¡¯m sorry. They lost their value as items, so I tried selling them as mementos, but¡
¡°Forget it. Even if you gave it to me, I wouldn¡¯t take that junk.¡±
Kang-hoo smirked.
This is the problem with Blood Flower.
It specializes in delivering a fatal blow by causing all of the umted wounds of an enemy to burst at once.
However, in the process of bodies exploding, the equipped items get destroyed more often than expected.
Especially nes with low durability were the primary victims of Blood Flower.
For Kang-hoo, who often targeted the neck in his attack repertoire, it was an inevitable fate.
This time was no different.
More than four items were broken due to Blood Flower. Because of that, the final settlement was disappointing.
After a short wait, the deposit notification appeared.
-Hyung, it¡¯s deposited!
¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve confirmed it. Thanks.¡±
-Enjoy your rest! We won¡¯t contact you until you reach out first, hyung!
¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be in touch.¡±
He ended the call right away.
When he checked through his bank app, the ount bnce showed 264.1 billion won.
A creative economy where you earn money by killing hunters. It wasn¡¯t what I intended, but the result turned out well.
¡°A time when death bes money.¡±
That phrase was also written in the original story.
It¡¯s a time when you can kill a hunter, steal the items they own, and turn them into your fortune.
It¡¯s also the reason why hunter-on-hunter killings have be rampant worldwide.
Because it¡¯s profitable.
In the early days of the hunter era, the Public Safety Bureau still had considerable power, and back then, the rule ofw somewhat prevailed.
But now that ¡°survival of the fittest¡± has be the default, it¡¯s a different story. No one protects your life anymore.
¡°Even first-grade items are starting to¡¡±
Greed was rising.
The minimum price for a first-grade item is 500 billion won, with no maximum price limit.
Kang-hoo¡¯s desire for a first-grade dagger was growing significantly.
Especially since he already had the ursed Gloves.
Even if he equipped a first-grade dagger, he could still wear the second-grade dagger Corrupted Conviction that he currently had.
Then, a thought about the elusive 0-grade item suddenly crossed his mind.
It requires two first-grade items as materials, so it wasn¡¯t something achievable right away, but someday, it would be a goal to reach.
For this reason, no matter how much money he earned, it never felt like enough.
This is also the hunter¡¯s economy. Once you decide to spend, burning through billions of won is nothing.
¡°Sigh.¡±
Kang-hoo let out a hot breath and sank back into the tub.
Then he checked the information of the constetions he had plundered. He had dyed looking at them because he was focusing on other matters.
¡¾Invincible One¡¿
¡¾Damage is enhanced by (level difference * 0.1)% when facing a lower-level target.¡¿
¡¾Endurer¡¿
¡¾Skill evasion rate increases by (level difference * 0.01)% when facing a higher-level target.¡¿
These were the two constetions he plundered from Cha So-hyeok. Although their names were different, the concepts seemed quite simr.
They were constetions that could be used effectively against both stronger and weaker opponents.@@novelbin@@
In simple terms, you could hit weaker enemies harder or dodge stronger enemies¡¯ attacks better.
¡°No wonder. I felt like my hand holding the dagger was going to tear apart.¡±
There were several moments during the fight with Cha So-hyeok when his sword and Kang-hoo¡¯s dagger shed.
Each time, Kang-hoo felt like his right hand was shaking to the point of breaking. It was that powerful.
Now it made sense¡ªit was because of the Invincible One constetion.
The Endurer constetion also seemed quite useful.
Even a slight increase in evasion rate means there¡¯s a higher chance of dodging a skill, no matter how small.
¡¾ck Sunset¡¿
¡¾You can designate one skill and change it to a skill that incorporates the dark period.
To reassign, you must permanently consume 10 units of dark period.¡¿
¡¾Sessor of the Diagonal Line¡¿
¡¾You can learn one skill from a hunter you have killed.
Once learning isplete, the constetion contract will increase your dark period by 25.¡¿
These two constetions were plundered from the ck mage. As expected, given the profession, the constetions were rted to the dark period.
¡°I guess ck Sunset would work best with Decapitating Strike¡ Sessor of the Diagonal Line can be put on hold for now.¡±
The ability to utilize the dark period alongside skills had significant implications.
Another method to hunt spectral monsters like the ck Guide or ck Shadow had now be avable.
Currently, hunting is only possible with ck Moon sh or with basic attacks thatck power due to low synergy.
However, if I can create a parallel skill using the ck Sunset constetion, that skill would be another viable option.
As for the Sessor of the Diagonal Line constetion, it allows me to learn one skill from a hunter I¡¯ve killed.
I need to think carefully about this.
Even though it¡¯s a lower-tier version of skill copying, useful skills aren¡¯t always exclusive to high-level hunters.
¡¾Third Eye¡¿
¡¾You can install a third eye at a designated location and share its field of view.
The third eye is invisible but easily breakable due to its sensitivity to mana flow.¡¿
¡°This is for reconnaissance. While it¡¯s technically constetion plunder, it feels more like I¡¯ve stolen a reconnaissance skill.¡±
The Third Eye, plundered from an assassin, also seemed useful in various ways.
Regardless of any preparation hunters do before entering a dungeon, the most concerning aspect is always the rear.
Even though we check for safety as much as possible, you never know who might strike from behind.
To counter that, nting a Third Eye would at least allow detection of intruders. Its weak durability, however, remains an issue.
I had filled the constetion slots efficiently.
Thanks to the Dimension Plunderer, this was all possible.
Not only could I im items from the hunters I killed, but I also gained the additional benefit of their constetions.
It was a special privilege that other hunters couldn¡¯t enjoy, and it made me feel unique all over again.
¡°I need more main constetions.¡±
Just when I felt momentarily satisfied with constetion plundering, my thoughts naturally extended in a different direction.
It was about the three remaining empty constetion slots.
The constetions Dimension Plunderer, Strategist of the Wastnd, and Seeker of Pure ckness didn¡¯t upy those slots.
Though the reasons were different, none of them posed a hindrance to me.
I didn¡¯t want to impulsively fill all the slots, but I was thinking of filling at least one of them for now.
Even though caution is good, holding back too much isn¡¯t always the best approach.
As I pondered this new concern, the three main constetions each voiced their opinions.
¡¾Do whatever you want. You wouldn¡¯t listen to me anyway.¡¿
Dimension Plunderer was the first to react, as expected.
That statement implied she would respect my decision, even if I invited a new constetion. By now, I understood her way of speaking.
¡¾If it helps you, I¡¯ll support whatever decision you make. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡¿
Strategist of the Wastnd always offered encouragement! As expected, she gave the anticipated response.
¡¾Everything will be as the contractor wishes.¡¿
Even Seeker of Pure ckness humbly supported my decision.
Although he was the highest-ranking among the three main constetions, he had never acted arrogant or condescending.
Yet, at the same time, there was something that made me feel tense. There was always this subtle sense of distance.
¡°Well then, as for filling the constetion slot¡¡±
Just as I was about to appeal for a new sponsor or supporter among the constetions that had been watching over me.
One constetion that had been silent for a while suddenly appeared.
I had half-expected this to happen, and it seemed like my bait worked. It was exactly what I had hoped for.
¡¾I think it would be nice if I could take one of those spots.¡¿
It was the voice of the Great Cmity ¨C Darkness.
Like Seeker of Pure ckness, Great Cmity ¨C Darkness was a high-ranking entity within the top 50 of the Grand Holy War. Their name was written in gold.
¡°Have you made up your mind? I¡¯d be honored.¡±
I said in a soft voice.
It was amusing to be having such a conversation while lying naked in the bathtub¡
But in the world of constetions, which transcends the realm of humans, such trivial things like nudity wouldn¡¯t be a source of amusement.
¡¾Out of all the entities I¡¯ve observed, nonepare to you. And that includes the ones I haven¡¯t observed.¡¿
A highpliment.
They had watched many hunters but hadn¡¯t found one as remarkable as me.
¡°Shall we join forces then?¡±
¡¾There¡¯s just one thing I¡¯d like to mention. It seems there are constetions in this world even we are unaware of.
I¡¯m deeply curious and want to find these constetions¡ªor the contractors allied with them¡ªtogether with you.¡¿
¡°I fully understand what you¡¯re saying. It seems the previous incident is still weighing on your mind.¡±
¡¾It would be a lie to say it isn¡¯t.¡¿
A god¡¯s wish.
I clearly remember that event as well. It had involved constetions even unknown to other constetions.
At the time, it seemed like an enormous mystery for the future, but for now, I held off making any judgments.
Thinking and worrying wouldn¡¯t solve the problem.
In due time, new clues and circumstances rted to that matter would naturally surface.
When that timees, I¡¯ll think about it again. There¡¯s no need to overthink it now.
¡¾I already secured approval from the Grand Holy War long ago. Let¡¯s proceed with the contract.¡¿
They must have been thinking about it for a while and had already secured preliminary approval.
Yet, they had kept silent, probably because they didn¡¯t want to share the same table with the other constetions.
Constetions also live off pride. I could understand Great Cmity ¨C Darkness¡¯s feelings perfectly well.
¡¾Sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on the same thrones as those three¡ what a troublesome situation.¡¿
Dimension Plunderer grumbled, but I didn¡¯t mind. She always expressed herself in that way.
The contract proceeded swiftly.
With approval from the Grand Holy War already secured, and since there were no disagreements, everything went smoothly.
Then.
Soon, the three special benefits rted to the Great Cmity ¨C Darkness constetion were revealed.
¡¾First: By utilizing the contractor''s unique mana recovery rate, you can rapidly recover the dark period at that speed.¡¿
However, the physical strain on the body will increase by five times.¡¿
¡®Not bad. If I use it too often, I¡¯ll end up a wreck, but it¡¯s great for emergency recovery.¡¯
Maybe because it¡¯s a high-ranking constetion?
The initial benefit addressed a frustration I had been feeling for a while.
The remaining two benefits also intrigued me, and my eyes brightened in anticipation.
Chapter 204: Change (4)
¡¾Second, if the monster provides a period of darkness, a small numeric indicator will appear above its head.¡¿
¡®This allows for pinpoint farming, specifically targeting monsters with a period of darkness.¡¯
It was now possible to hunt targets more effectively.
Since one could determine in advance if the monster provided a period of darkness, it would be easier to focus on growth.@@novelbin@@
Of course, monsters that possess this period of darkness only appear in dangerous areas like Ground Zero or North Korea.
So, regardless of whether one knows if a monster has this ability or not, the hunting difficulty remains high.
However, just being able to avoid wasted efforts made this feature highly advantageous.
¡¾Third, you can entrust one of your skills to the Dark Sanctuary and ''borrow'' a skill that utilizes the period of darkness.¡¿
¡°This¡ is the key.¡±Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes gleamed.
Entrusting a skill meant a conditional seal.
Even though the term ¡°borrow¡± was used, it essentially meant that one could use the borrowed skill as if it were their own during the borrowing period.
You could give up a skill you didn¡¯t use much and receive a more frequently useful one in return. And it would be a dark period skill.
Kang-hoo entrusted the most useless skill he had to the Dark Sanctuary.
¡¾Devouring Appetite¡¿
¡¾Skill Mastery: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾A skill that allows you to make spoiled food taste delicious.¡¿
It was a skill he obtained from a Goblin mid-boss in the Gold Goblin¡¯s Mine Dungeon.
He had never used it and couldn¡¯t think of a situation where he would need it in the future.
He gave it up without hesitation. It was a skill that, even if lost, wouldn¡¯t impact him at all.
In return, a list of dark period skills avable for borrowing from the Dark Sanctuary appeared.
The term ¡°Dark Sanctuary¡± wasn¡¯t unfamiliar.
It was already known that there was a Guardian of the Dark Sanctuary among the constetions. This constetion had killed and plundered a fixer in the past. ?
It seemed like the skill was sourced from there, possibly connected to the Cmity ¨C the power of darkness.
Kang-hoo pondered for a long time.
Skills utilizing the dark period were destructive and valuable.
It wasn¡¯t something to choose impulsively.
Especially considering the current limited application of dark period skills, careful thought was necessary.
How much time had passed?
By the time the water in the bathtub began to cool, Kang-hoo finished his deliberation and made his choice.
¡¾(Ashen) Thorn Hell¡¿
¡¾Skill Mastery: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾Utilizes the dark period to create a strip of darkness on the ground. Along the strip, sharp dark thorns will surge from the ground. If not carefully controlled, the thorns might rise in the wrong ce or copse.¡¿
Seeing the parentheses in the skill¡¯s name, it seemed that it wasmonly abbreviated as ¡°Thorn Hell.¡±
Upon learning the skill, information on how to manifest the Thorn Hell was directly instilled into him.
However, the precise control and regtion mentioned in the skill tooltip appeared to be something that required training. It wouldn¡¯t be easy.
¡°I¡¯ll take this.¡±
Kang-hoo made his decision.
In exchange for the strange skill of eating spoiled food and making it taste good, this was the best deal.
It also seemed like it would provide many tactical advantages inbat.
In terms of ssification, it aligned more with ck magic or shamanism, a skill that would be difficult to associate with an assassin.
Thus, Thorn Hell became Kang-hoo¡¯s new skill.
His to-do list had grown.
He needed to work on mastering Thorn Hell and diligently continue his dual dagger training.
Moreover, he still had the matter of the Imbnce Point, so he needed to visit Sapporo.
He had already received a message from Fumiya earlier.
He was told everything was ready, and all Kang-hoo needed to do was go.
However, upon checking the dungeon¡¯s details, it was clear that solo clearing wasn¡¯t possible. So, he decided just to gather some experience points.
After that day.
Kang-hoo immersed himself in his training. Aside from sleeping, he spent all his time practicing dual dagger techniques and mastering Thorn Hell.
In the midst of it, he adjusted his schedule to visit the Imbnce Point in Sapporo¡¯s Shadow Dungeon.
His level surged to 225.
While it would take other hunters at least two months to level up, it took Kang-hoo just one day.
It was explosive growth, benefiting only him. Perhaps forever¡ as long as he kept his mouth shut, no one would ever know.
¡¾Invisibility¡¿
¡¾Skill Mastery: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾A skill that allows you to instantly hide your appearance. Consumes 0.1 mana per second but does not conceal your presence or sound. Separate evasive actions are required.¡¿
¡°Indeed, maxed-out mastery effects are always amazing.¡±
Kang-hoo smiled, satisfied as he looked at his Invisibility skill.
Without maxed-out mastery, the mana consumption per second would be 1, ten times the current amount.
This was why it was impossible for assassin hunters to maintain invisibility indefinitely.
In other words, this was why the magic stat was crucial.
To use the invisibility skill for extended periods, arge amount of mana was essential.
However, with maxed-out mastery, Kang-hoo had drastically reduced his mana consumption, and the Savage Age skill further halved the mana consumption.
On top of that, thanks to his mana hypersensitivity, his recovery rate was overwhelmingly high.
Now that he could endure the mana consumption, the burden had significantly decreased.
He no longer needed to dodge stealthily to activate invisibility; he could hide anytime, anywhere.
¡®I¡¯ve seen all there is to see with the Imbnce Point¡¡¯
There were still two unknown locations. While the symbolic markings were known, the exact locations remained elusive.
Unless luck happened to be on their sideter, finding them would be as difficult as locating a needle in a haystack.
Meanwhile.
Having surpassed level 200, Kang-hoo had some fun with the constetion ¡°Master of Maniption,¡± which had been activated.
Every time his level increased by a hundred, a constetion came as a gift.
This time, the gift was a ¡°Random Skillbook.¡± Upon breaking the seal, a random skill would be granted.
Since it could be learned through a loophole anyway, there was no issue with acquiring it. It would just take a little extra effort.
However, unlike ordinary skillbooks, the random skillbook required a different method to break the seal.
The offering required to unseal it was the ¡°Heart of the Swarm Queen.¡±
In other words, this meant Kang-hoo needed to visit North Korea.
Ignoring the random skillbook, thinking nothing special woulde out of it, was not an option since it always held the potential for great rewards.
It could even yield high-level or top-tier skills that didn¡¯t match Kang-hoo¡¯s current level.
In any case, he would have to head to North Korea upon returning to the country to acquire the ¡°Mad Srkium.¡±
It seemed he now had an additional reason to go to North Korea.
Although it would be quite dangerous, the rewards were certain enough that dying the trip wasn¡¯t an option. If he was going, he was going.
¡®Starting from level 201, I¡¯ve been investing in agility stats, so it looks like I¡¯ve chosen the right second direction.¡¯
After surpassing level 200, he began investing the bonus stats in agility.
He had increased his stamina enough, and since there was no longer synergy with his items, there was no need to invest further.
¡¾Soul Mate ¨C Gloves¡¿
¡¾Grade: 5th Grade¡¿
¡¾A single-hand glove item that increases stamina by the same amount as your level.¡¿
¡¾It can increase stamina by up to 200.¡¿
Someday, when he obtained higher-grade gloves, he would have to unequip these.
Still, up until level 200, these gloves had reliably provided an additional point of stamina, making them quite valuable.
Since their function ceased at level 201, Kang-hoo redirected his stat investment into agility without any hesitation.
¡°Now, all I have to do isplete the dungeon raid I promised with the Rikou Guild, and I¡¯ll be free for a while.¡±
His remaining schedule had been simplified.
Officially, his only remainingmitment was to finish the dungeon raid with the Rikou Guild.
Afterward, he could either meet with Takashi and Ayane or return home for a bit.
He was still in contact with both of them.
He had also nned to have a drink with Ayane in the evening.
He wasn¡¯t unaware of what an adult drinking session implied.
But he didn¡¯t really care either.
The choices and responsibilities were all his to bear. As long as he wasn¡¯t irresponsible or selfish, that was enough.
¡°This is my report on Cha So-hyuk¡¯s death. I confirmed it personally, and no information has been omitted.¡±
¡°Is that so.¡±
¡°¡Excuse me?¡±
¡°I said I¡¯ve confirmed it. He¡¯s already dead, so there¡¯s nothing more for me to know, is there?¡±
¡°Boss.¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t you feel any regret?¡±
¡°When So-hyuk was ying outside my control, I had already abandoned him. I knew this would happen.¡±
At that time, Kim In-ho was meeting Kang Tae-yang.
Kang Tae-yang, the leader of the criminal organization ¡®Tae-yang,¡¯ was also Kim In-ho¡¯s superior and close to Cha So-hyuk.
However, Kim In-ho¡¯s loyalty was entirely dedicated to Kang Tae-yang, and his heart leaned toward him as well.
No matter what, the top priority was always his boss, Kang Tae-yang.
Still, the fact that someone of Cha So-hyuk¡¯s rank within Tae-yang had died left Kim In-ho feeling somewhat disheartened by how little remorse Kang Tae-yang showed.
¡°The same goes for when I cut ties with Dong-hyun. A younger brother who doesn¡¯t listen to his older brother¡¯s words¡ what use is there in that?¡±
¡°I was short-sighted. I¡¯m sorry, Boss.¡±
¡°A prodigal son left home and died, and now my past is being dragged back up. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±
¡°Yes, I understand.¡±
¡°Make a public statement. Say that Cha So-hyuk acted on his own and express deep apologies to both guilds. Assure them it won¡¯t happen again.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡±
Although Kim In-ho had his regrets, he didn¡¯t dwell on them.
After all, he was a part of the Tae-yang organization, and no one within the organization could rise above its leader.
Absolute obedience to Kang Tae-yang, the leader and pir, was a given. Cha So-hyuk had failed in that.
Kang Tae-yang shifted the topic.
¡°By the way, that Shin Kang-hoo guy, he¡¯s really something. He killed both So-hyuk and three hunters from the To-woo Guild, didn¡¯t he?¡±
¡°There was sniper support.¡±
¡°But only one archer died from the sniper. In the end, it was one against three, and he won.¡±
¡°That¡¯s correct. The sniper after that only interfered with movement and didn¡¯t inflict any injuries.¡±
At the time, Kim In-ho had been surveying the scene.
One of his specialized abilities was being able to clearly observe a target, even from a great distance.
If one couldpare it to a camera with zoom and shrink functions, that would be urate. He had just that kind of ability.
¡°Now I understand why Dong-hyun issued a kill order. That guy must have really gotten under his skin. And he¡¯s got skills too?¡±
¡°From what I¡¯ve gathered, they even crossed paths at Club Hades.¡±
¡°And he escaped?¡±
¡°Yes. It seems he used some form of teleportation ability to disappear right in front of Kang Dong-hyun.¡±
¡°Puhaha! An assassin with teleportation?¡±
¡°Yes, it¡¯s verified information.¡±
¡°That¡¯s hrious, really¡¡±
Kang Tae-yang licked his lips with the tip of his tongue. He was more intrigued by Kang-hoo¡¯s existence than by Cha So-hyuk¡¯s death.
He had heard bits and pieces about Kang-hoo from various sources before.
At first, he thought Kang-hoo was just a mediocre hunter and had dismissed him as such.
But now, after hearing the news of Cha So-hyuk¡¯s death along with the other hunters who had died in the process, his thoughts changed.
An assassin, a profession notorious for its vulnerabilities in groupbat, had not only sessfully defended against a 1v3 fight but also killed them all?
This was impossible without a foundational level of high skill.
It meant Kang-hoo was not an ordinary assassin.
Chapter 205: Change (5)
Kim In-ho subtly shifted the direction of the conversation, a timely move since the topic of Kang Dong-hyun hade up.
¡°Do you still feel the same way about Kang Dong-hyun?¡±
¡°Of course. He must die. How could I livefortably without avenging my mother?¡±
¡°Shall we investigate further?¡±
¡°No need. He definitely did it. He killed her because she wasn¡¯t his birth mother. He probably had an inferiorityplex about being an illegitimate son.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t bring up Dong-hyun unless I do. I¡¯ll handle family matters myself.¡±
¡°Yes, I understand.¡±
Kang Taeyang, feeling unsettled, lit a cigar he hadn¡¯t smoked in a long time.Kim In-ho saw Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s image ovepping with Kang Taeyang¡¯s profile.
They resembled each other so much that it was hard to believe they had different mothers.
Yet they both denied being real brothers.
Moreover, each imed the other was the one who killed their birth mother.
Kim In-ho didn¡¯t want to meddle in family affairs, but he regretted the strained rtionship between Kang Taeyang and Kang Dong-hyun.
If only they could merge the Eclipse organization with Taeyang¡¯s organization, their influence would be overwhelmingly powerful.
After all, both were based in Daejeon and Jeonju and had nationwideworks.
Kim In-ho believed the synergy would be tremendous.
However, the grudge between the two brothers seemed too deep.
Around noon.
Kang-ho met with representatives from the Rikou Guild for a briefing on the dungeon they were about to attack.
Since his drink with Ayane was scheduled for the evening, he had plenty of time. He also had skill demonstrations in mind.
The first person to greet Kang-ho, as always, was An Yeong-ho, and there were two other people at the meeting who were new to him.
Fumiya wasn¡¯t there.
The dungeon raid wasn¡¯t appropriate for his level, and he was currently on a tour of cities under the guild¡¯s jurisdiction.
Since the all-out war with the Toushi Guild showed no signs of abating, they were focusing on strengthening their internal unity.
¡°Hello? I¡¯m Shiraishi Miyuki, the team leader of Special Strategy Team 3.¡±
¡°I¡¯m Hayashi Eto. My position is the ¡®bagman¡¯ for Team 3. I handle all sorts of odd jobs.¡±
The two neers introduced themselves first, and Kang-ho formally introduced himself as well.
¡°I¡¯m Shin Kang-ho. Nice to meet you.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t mind what Eto said. He¡¯s our main tank in the team¡¯s structure.¡±
¡°I see. By the way, I heard the Special Strategy Team of the Rikou Guild only takes on very difficult missions.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s also a reflection of the dungeon we¡¯re about to enter. However, it¡¯s not extremely difficult, so I¡¯m here as the Team 3 leader. Otherwise, it would have been handled by Team 1 or 2.¡± ?
Eto¡¯s slender build didn¡¯t quite match the symbolic role of a main tank.
However, therge shield he carried appeared to be the key item that allowed him to function as a tank.
Miyuki, even while standing still, emitted heat from her entire body.
¡®Is she a fire mage?¡¯
As expected.
While moving to the meeting room for the briefing, Kang-ho learned about the sses of the others, confirming his assumptions.
Miyuki was a fire mage specializing in single-target burst damage, and Eto was a defense-focused swordsman. An Yeong-ho participated as a healer.
All of them, including Kang-ho, were below level 400, and there was a reason for that.
¡°The dungeon we¡¯re entering is a special reinforcement dungeon. There¡¯s no limit to the number of people allowed, but¡¡±
¡°If certain conditions such as the number of participants or level thresholds are met, the difficulty and internal structure change drastically.¡±
Before Miyuki could finish her exnation, Kang-ho provided the information he knew. These were the settings from the original story.
In Korea, special reinforcement dungeons only existed in North Korea, but Japan had quite a few of them across the country.
In China, there were even cities filled exclusively with special reinforcement dungeons. It was as if it was all intentionally designed that way.
Miyuki continued.
¡°As you know, the role we¡¯re asking Shin Kang-ho to y is maintaining sustained bleeding. It¡¯s definitely not easy.¡±
¡°I¡¯m prepared for it.¡±
Kang-ho nodded.
Once a dungeon wasbeled as a ¡°special reinforcement dungeon,¡± the chances of clearing it easily vanished.
If the Rikou Guild, the top guild in the Kansai region, had to request external help from someone like Kang-ho¡
It meant that their internal assassins and berserkers couldn¡¯t solve the problem on their own.
¡°However, before entering the dungeon, you¡¯ll have the chance to face the monsters recreated in 3D modeling in our training facility.¡±
¡°That sounds good.¡±
Kang-ho thought it might be the strength of being the top guild in the Kansai region. Of course, just because a guild held hegemonic power didn¡¯t mean its facilities were always top-notch.
Many guilds focused on quantitative expansion, neglecting qualitative improvement.
A typical example was the Toushi Guild, which opposed the Rikou Guild.
That guild prioritized numbers, making minimal investments in training and safety facilities.
¡°So, after the internal briefing, we¡¯ll move to the training grounds. But before that, shall we discuss rewards?¡±
¡°Settling unpleasant topics early isn¡¯t a bad idea.¡±
Rewards were always an issue.
If the tug-of-war or power struggle over rewards dragged on, negotiations could take days.
It would be fortunate if a deal was reached, but many cases ended in failure due to greed.
¡°Would you prefer to take everything except for the boss? Or take all the boss loot?¡±
Miyuki presented a simple choice.
It wasn¡¯t an unexpected scenario, but since this was an official guild request, Kang-ho had expected more detail.
However, the options were straightforward and easy to understand.
From the Rikou Guild¡¯s perspective, no matter what Kang-ho chose, the total expected benefit would be the same.
The value assessment of loot typically worked that way. The average of statistical data doesn¡¯t lie.
For Kang-ho, though, taking all the boss loot was the obvious choice.
There was a chance of getting high-grade items, and he was much more eager for high-level gear at the moment.
Kang-ho replied briefly.
¡°I¡¯ll take all the boss loot.¡±
Thus, the negotiations ended quickly.
Afterward.
After a 2-hour and 30-minute deep briefing session, they moved to the Rikou Guild¡¯s exclusive training facility.
Even though there was no particr danger, they traveled in a secure limousine as a gesture of respect toward Kang-ho.
On the other hand, it seemed like they were worried, albeit a low chance, about the possible appearance of Kenji or Yuuji.
The special training facility was located on the outskirts of Osaka.
Though described as being on the outskirts, the security inside and outside the facility was so tight that it resembled a fortress.
In fact, the Rikou Tower itself seemed less secure byparison.
¡°This is the ce where Yuuji once came to y and got repelled. The security systems here are really top-notch.¡±
An Yeong-ho said proudly, his chest puffed up with pride.
It was worth being proud of. Even Kang-ho admired the security, which was superior to the First Research Lab¡¯s.
But soon, An Yeong-ho¡¯s expression changed, as another thought crossed his mind.
¡°Hyung, I¡¯m sorry. Not just about this, but I should¡¯ve always ensured your safety¡¡±
¡°I told you it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s all going as expected. I¡¯m fine since I managed well on my own.¡±
¡°Still¡¡±
¡°If we had involved your guild unnecessarily, I would have lost out on item sales. Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m satisfied.¡±
¡°Understood, hyung.¡±
Miyuki and Eto watched Kang-ho and An Yeong-ho¡¯s conversation with content expressions.
It seemed they were touched by the mutual care they showed for each other.
Although Kang-ho spoke in a detached manner, it was clear he was concerned about An Yeong-ho.
Miyuki, who valued An Yeong-ho as both a brother and a promising talent, appreciated this side of Kang-ho.
She added to the conversation.
¡°I was shocked when I received information about the battle. How did you fight so perfectly?¡±
¡°There was sniper support.¡±
¡°That doesn¡¯t even count as a variable! Even though you took out one with sniper support, you still had to face three in the end, didn¡¯t you?¡±
Any hunter who had heard about Cha So-hyuk¡¯s death would have shared Miyuki¡¯s thoughts.
Assassins specialize in one-on-onebat.
That¡¯s not a bias; it¡¯s just how the ss is structured, just like how mages specialize in long-range attacks.
Yet, Kang-ho didn¡¯t just defeat one opponent but several, and they were abination of swordsman, ck mage, and assassin.
Logically, it¡¯s hard to believe.
The enemy team had no weak links¡ªtank, damage, and rear attack were all solid. It was a nightmare to deal with.
And yet, Kang-ho finished the battle with only minor injuries, which was astonishing.
Even more surprising was that all four opponents, including the dead archer, were at least 100 levels higher than Kang-ho.
¡°If you let your guard down, you die. And if you don¡¯t want to die, you have to fight fiercely until the end.¡±
Kang-ho spoke calmly.
The more indifferent he sounded, the more extraordinary he appeared to those listening.
An Yeong-ho emphasized his point.
¡°Our hyung always exceeds any expectation! Even other guilds in Japan are already showing tremendous interest in him!¡±
Despite being in Japan, it felt like Park Dong-jae was standing next to him.
Was it just a feeling?
After arriving at the training ground.
Kang-ho entered the virtual training simtion, where he faced monsters recreated from the dungeon.
The facilities were far better than what Kang-ho had anticipated.
The virtual monsters, rendered in 3D, moved almost as fast as their real-life counterparts.
In poorly designed training facilities, it¡¯smon for the movement of virtual creatures to feel out of sync to the person training.
Sometimes, a monster said to be fast would move slower than expected.
There were even cases where, despite hitting or cutting a virtual monster, the hit detection was unresponsive.
You might wonder, what¡¯s the big deal? But in a dungeon where life is on the line, it makes all the difference.
The role of a bleeding damage dealer requires adapting quickly to unknown dungeons, relying on instincts honed during training.
After all, in order to inflict the ¡®bleeding¡¯ effect on a monster, you have no choice but to engage in closebat.
A special reinforcement dungeon is a high-level dungeon.
Entering with a mindset of ¡°This should be good enough¡± could easily lead to danger.
Afterward.
A secret training session was held, with no one allowed to observe except An Yeong-ho, Miyuki, and Eto.
All CCTV, recording, and audio equipment inside the training ground were turned off, and smartphone filming was also banned.
The three held their breath, focusing on Kang-ho¡¯s every movement. It was a personal request from Fumiya.
Moving silently, Kang-ho struck multiple active targets, triggering virtual bleeding effects.
The three of them were astonished by how Kang-ho utilized his Shadow Step skill.
The ability to instantly switch positions using various shadows!
In a short time, Kang-ho caused bleeding on six widely separated targets. As long as there was a shadow nearby, he could strike.
In that moment, countless bleeding damage dealers who had systematically tackled targets one by one seemed foolish inparison.
An Yeong-ho¡¯s bold ims that Kang-ho would exceed expectations were not just empty words.
Was that why?@@novelbin@@
At some point, the three forgot to even speak and merely watched Kang-ho¡¯s training in a daze.
There was no room for criticism.
It was a perfect spectacle where all they could do was silently observe.
Chapter 206: One Standing Out Among The Crowd (1)
At that time.
¡°Damn it! Is this really my eye? Is this red-dyed eye really mine? Aaaagh!¡±
Yuuji screamed in fury as he looked at his left eye, which had turned red.
It was a phenomenon that urred as a result of being treated with ck magic by Gosuke, a kind of mark.
A brand indicating that his body had been deeply exposed to cursed ck magic, and that he could never turn back.
Of course, for Yuuji, it was an unavoidable choice.
After being struck by Kang-hoo and receiving abo attack, including the Blood Flower, he was severely injured.
With a nationwide warrant out for his arrest in Japan, receiving treatment at a hospital was out of the question.
Thus, he had no choice but to rely on ¡®unofficial¡¯ treatment, which came from Gosuke.In hindsight, Kenji¡¯s decision to take Yuuji to Gosuke¡¯s ce was an excellent one.
No matter how he was treated, the important thing was to stay alive. That¡¯s how serious the injury was.
However, Yuuji couldn¡¯t ept the sight of his eye, changed by Gosuke¡¯s treatment.
¡°Well, at least the treatment is done. Kenji paid the price, and since we killed a young hunter for it, the side effects should be less.¡±
Gosuke covered his uncontrobly moving right eye with his long bangs.
That¡¯s one of the reasons hunters found Gosuke so repulsive.
He was rumored to be entric, but his grotesque appearance was the main issue. His eyes were the centerpiece.
¡°Damn it! Can¡¯t this eye be fixed?¡±
¡°It can¡¯t be fixed. You asked for the treatment, so you deal with the consequences. I just did my job.¡±
¡°You bastard¡¡±
¡°Well, why don¡¯t you two have a nice little chat? I¡¯ve got some tidying up to do, so try not to break anything.¡±
Gosuke left the room.
Kenji crossed his arms and looked at Yuuji with pity in his eyes. A gaze that seemed to say, ¡°How pathetic.¡±
At that, Yuuji erupted.
¡°Kenji, you bastard! Isn¡¯t it because of your shitty spatial maniption that this happened to me? What are you staring at like that?¡±
¡°Are you ming me for this now?¡±
¡°Of course, I¡¯m ming you for leaving the space open like an idiot! Who else would I me?¡±
¡°Weren¡¯t you the idiot who walked right into the passage and got wrecked by a much lower-level assassin?¡±
¡°What did you say, you bastard?¡±
Boom!
An enormous amount of killing intent surged from Yuuji. It was the cold and dark energy of ck magic.
The ck magic¡¯s traces remained within his body due to Gosuke¡¯s treatment. It was deeply unsettling.
Kenji looked down at Yuuji with a look of disdain, ming him for everything.
Of course, the real cause of the situation was Kang-hoo¡¯s clever, split-second decision. Even Kenji hadn¡¯t foreseen that move.
In hindsight, it was true that things had gone wrong the moment Kang-hoo discovered his hiding ce.
Looking back, he still couldn¡¯t figure out how Kang-hoo had located him.
After the incident, while gathering information, Kenji naturally learned Kang-hoo¡¯s identity.
A hunter from Korea.
He wasn¡¯t particrly well-known and didn¡¯t seem to be of high level either.
As he recalled the event:
The assassin hadn¡¯t even used Stealth, a basic level 200 skill.
It wasn¡¯t something to save. Basic skills are there to be used, not hidden like secret weapons.
So, even if Kang-hoo¡¯s level was exaggerated, it couldn¡¯t be higher than 199.
Yet, Yuuji, a level 500, had been taken down by Kang-hoo. It wasn¡¯t even a sneak attack that could excuse it.
It wasn¡¯t a minor wound either¡ªit was a serious injury. How humiliating could it get?
Perhaps that¡¯s why he kept ming himself. But this had crossed the line. Kenji had no intention of going along with it.
Thinking about it, Kenji also grew angry at the verbal abuse. Whose fault was it, really?
¡°Because you failed to draw proper aggro, a bastard like Shin Kang-hoo found me and ambushed me, you asshole.¡±
¡°Are you seriously saying that?¡±
¡°I¡¯m the one who opened the space so you could fight and run wild as you pleased. Now, clean up your own mess.¡±
¡°You¡¯re really pushing it, aren¡¯t you?¡±
¡°If you¡¯re embarrassed, just admit it. Then I¡¯ll sympathize. Don¡¯t be pathetic and me others. It¡¯s disgraceful.¡±
¡°Kenji! You son of a bitch!¡±
As their shouting match escted,
Gosuke¡¯s snickering could be heard from outside the door, along with his muttering, clearly intended for them to hear.
¡°A duet of two idiots who got wrecked by a low-level assassin. Give it a rest. You both look like fools.¡±
¡°Arrrgh!¡±
Bang! Bang bang! Bang!
Yuuji angrily mmed the bed he was lying on.
No bed exists that could withstand the sheer strength of a hunter. It shattered on the spot.
Yuuji screamed again.
¡°Kenji, get out! If you¡¯re not out of my sight immediately, I¡¯ll kill you and Shin Kang-hoo, too.¡±
¡°You idiot¡ When you were begging for help, where was all this attitude? You¡¯d better watch your back too.¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°Are werades who share blood? Brothers? We¡¯re just two misfits. Once we split up, you¡¯re nothing but a stranger.¡±
¡°You son of a¡!¡±
Just as Yuuji swung the dagger next to him to strike Kenji, Kenji vanished on the spot.
It was absurd to think that Yuuji could kill Kenji, who was specialized in spatial maniption. At least not with Yuuji¡¯s abilities.
Yuuji¡¯s eyes burned with fury, especially the red one, which hadpletely changed color, even the iris.
Looking at himself in the full-length mirror, Yuuji didn¡¯t seem much different from the grotesque figure Gosuke had mocked.
The root of all this was Shin Kang-hoo. Yuuji¡¯s anger was entirely directed at Kang-hoo.
¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go to Korea, kill everyone I see, and me it all on him. That¡¯ll lead me to him eventually, right?¡±
A revenge n, too simple and brutal, began to form in Yuuji¡¯s mind.
The rage consuming his thoughts made it difficult to think rationally. All he could focus on was killing.
¡°Cough!¡±
But it didn¡¯tst long.
Perhaps overwhelmed by his fury, the wound in his abdomen tore open, causing Yuuji intense pain.
A painful cough followed.
Yuujiy back down on the bed, forced to brood over his anger.
Three hours of pre-practice and training, as well as demonstrations from each other, went smoothly without any shorings.
Compliments were exchanged all around.
Miyuki and Eto, in particr, were very impressed by the bleeding sustain performance Kang-hoo had shown.
And for good reason, as the use of shadows allowed him to perform multi-directional attacks, targeting several enemies.
Eto also had a bleeding induction skill, but it was strictly a one-on-one technique, allowing for only one target at a time.
However, Kang-hoo could target six in a short time if he wanted to.
The final schedule for the dungeon raid was set for tomorrow evening.
Since evening had just begun, there were about 24 hours left.
Kang-hoo bid farewell to the three and boarded a secure limousine, heading to the meeting ce with Ayane.
The ce he met her was a modern bar in a bustling area of Osaka.
In addition to tables where patrons could chat with bartenders, the bar also had several rooms for more private conversations between customers.
Each room was designed so that the inside couldn¡¯t be seen from the outside, ensuring good privacy.
In other words, no one outside could see what went on inside.
Kang-hoo, dressedfortably in his usual ck and white outfit, stood in contrast.
Ayane had gone full makeup to the point that Kang-hoo barely remembered what she originally looked like.
She wore stiletto heelsmonly referred to asbat shoes, and had even changed her hairstyle.
Her bangs were cut straight across, her long ck hair reached her shoulders, and her lips had a cherry tint.
She wore a halter neck, off-shoulder knit that highlighted her corbone.
If Jung Yuri gave off a pure, innocent vibe, Ayane radiated a seductive charm with gray undertones.
Plus, at 170 cm tall, her 12 cm heels put her nearly eye-level with Kang-hoo.
As soon as Kang-hoo saw her in front of the bar, he told her exactly what he felt.
¡°You look like a different person dressed like this. You looked good before, but you look really beautiful today.¡±
¡°Kang-hoo, you look great even when you dress casually. I guess a good facepletes the fashion.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t your ankles hurt? It seems like you¡¯re practically walking on your toes.¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll be sitting soon anyway, and I won¡¯t be standing for too long.¡±
Click-ck.
Listening to the sound of high heels, which he hadn¡¯t heard in a while, Kang-hoo followed her inside.
Once seated.
They each ordered a cocktail of their choice.
As always, Kang-hoo ordered a Srkium Burst but asked for it to be made stronger this time.
Perhaps it was because the weather was a bit chilly. He needed something to warm him up.
Soon, the cocktails arrived.
Just as Kang-hoo was about to clink his ss lightly against hers, Ayane spoke.
¡°I got the payment settled well through the Rikou Guild. I didn¡¯t expect them to care since you¡¯re an outsider.¡±
¡°Well, in the end, we worked together and took down a hunter from the Toushi Guild. It¡¯s their way of saying thanks, I guess.¡±
The two were the same age.
They had dropped formalities while exchanging DMs on Huntergram, so the atmosphere wasn¡¯t awkward.
¡°Anyway, thank you.¡±@@novelbin@@
¡°There¡¯s no need for thanks. We both got what we worked for, and it was a happy ending for both.¡±
Kang-hoo let out a lightugh.
This wasn¡¯t some pure love story where they had sacrificed their lives to save each other.
Kang-hoo had strategically asked for help, and Ayane had helped him purely for her own gain.
At that moment.
¡°By the way, Srkium Burst¡ isn¡¯t that an adult¡¯s drink? Are you okay with that?¡±
Ayane pointed at Kang-hoo¡¯s cocktail and chuckled. This wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d heard this.
The bartender Benny at Club Hades had also said something simr when Kang-hoo ordered a Srkium Burst.
¡°It¡¯s more of a decorative item. Srkium has quite a¡ unique taste, doesn¡¯t it? Hehe.¡±
The bartender with the striking smoky makeup and red hair. Kang-hoo wondered if she was doing well now.
¡°I drink it because I like it, so taste isn¡¯t really an issue.¡±
¡°Well, if you¡¯re fine with it, I guess it doesn¡¯t matter.¡±
¡°Want a sip?¡±
¡°No, thanks! I¡¯ve tried other cocktails, but I just can¡¯t stomach Srkium Burst. It¡¯s too gross for me.¡±
Kang-hoo burst intoughter, having beenbeled as someone with an unusual taste for a disgusting cocktail.
Perhaps because Benny and now Ayane kept emphasizing the taste, Kang-hoo couldn¡¯t help but think about it more.
His long-enjoyed cocktail suddenly tasted different after an offhandment.
As Ayane noticed Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes lingering on the cocktail, she seemed to sense the odd atmosphere and quickly changed the subject.
Apletely different topic.
¡°I looked into you while I was resting. But I got curious. You know someone named Lee Ye-rin, right?¡±
Then, an all-too-familiar name came out of Ayane¡¯s mouth.
Lee Ye-rin, the leader of the Cheongan Mercenary Corps. Why was her nameing from Ayane?
Chapter 207: One Standing Out Among The Crowd (2)
¡°Of course, I know well.¡±
¡°I¡¯m receiving requests from that person. Like the Jeongmun Pharmaceuticals incident, and now, the Fukuoka case.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t realize, but we¡¯ve already had a connection?¡±
¡°Exactly. If you think about it differently, Lee Ye-rin handled it well. It¡¯s better if the clients don¡¯t know each other, right?¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
It was definitely not a matter to question why Lee Ye-rin didn¡¯t give him a heads-up.
On the contrary, it was right to praise her. As Ayane said, information between clients should be kept separate.
That way, there¡¯s a reason for someone like Lee Ye-rin, a ¡°middleman,¡± to be involved.
Otherwise, it would be pointless.¡°I¡¯m also receiving domestic requests from Lee Ye-rin, and I¡¯ve left some international requests with her as well.¡±
¡°She does seem capable. She has quite a few connections in Japan too.¡±
¡°Seems so.¡±
¡°Will you be staying in Japan?¡±
¡°No, I have some things to take care of back in Korea. I might return, but I can¡¯t guarantee it.¡±
He was nning to set up frequent routes between domestic and international locations.
No matter what, it was true that Kang-hoo¡¯swork was primarily based in Korea.
Therefore, he couldn¡¯t focus solely on activities abroad. The art of maintaining a proper bnce was crucial.
¡°So¡ what are you nning to do next?¡±
It was a vague question. Although he understood her curiosity, the question was too broad.
So, Kang-hoo responded with a simrly vague answer. There was no need to go into detail with her.
¡°Grow. Get rid of anyone blocking my path. And look after those who stay with me.¡±
¡°Which side am I on?¡±
¡°Our trust is still thin, isn¡¯t it? You belong to no side. Though we are slowly building it.¡±
Ayane looked slightly disappointed.
It was as if she wanted to get closer to Kang-hoo but couldn¡¯t find a way to do so.
Bing closer¡ establishing trust.
It may seem easy in words, but it¡¯s extremely difficult in reality.
Any seasoned hunter knows how dangerous it is to trust someone.
In today¡¯s world, yesterday¡¯s ally might stab you in the back today.
Kang-hoo had never fully trusted anyone, not even Master K or Kim Shin-ryeong.
Instead, he weighed how beneficial it was for them to trust him and judged their trust ordingly.
Those involved might feel hurt if they knew.
But Kang-hoo had always thought that way to prevent his emotions from loosening up.
The only exception was Jung Yu-ri. He trusted her about 95%.
As the atmosphere grew slightly cold, Kang-hoo changed the subject.
He didn¡¯te out to ruin the mood of a pleasant drinking session.
¡°What about you? What are your ns?¡±
¡°I¡¯m nning to focus on international requests. I want to fight hunters from various countries. There are plenty of strong ones, aren¡¯t there?¡±
¡°That¡¯s an interesting n.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll tell Lee Ye-rin about it. If you¡¯re interested, why don¡¯t we do an overseas request together sometime? If it doesn¡¯t work out, we can always go our separate ways.¡±
A joint request.
It didn¡¯t sound bad. While solo requests didn¡¯t need it, a group mission might be worth considering.
He had already verified Ayane¡¯s skills twice, so there was no need to doubt them. She was definitelypetent.
¡°Sure, let¡¯s do that.¡±
¡°Yay! Awesome!¡±
Despite her cold and elegant image, she clenched her fist in excitement, a picture of pure enthusiasm.
Her true nature was apparent in this moment. A woman with many simple sides.
Ayane asked again.
¡°That thing you said before, is it true? Are you really going to die? Won¡¯t you live long?¡±
He had made a joke back then, and since she hadn¡¯t said much, Kang-hoo thought she had taken it as a joke and moved on.
It seemed the idea of dying tomorrow had resonated with her. Her expression was very serious.
Kang-hoo smiled.
A joke ceases to be a joke when it gets too serious. He didn¡¯t want to push it that far.
¡°I¡¯m not terminally ill, but mentally, I live like I am. It¡¯s hard to live long in this era, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Well¡ that¡¯s true.¡±
Kang-hoo didn¡¯t think he was wrong.
He still had a long way to grow. There were many variables. Especially the Thirteen Stars¡ªwhenever he thought about them, tension filled his body.
To induce their division, his first n was to approach Takashi.
But he hadn¡¯t built a deep connection with him yet.
It was still likely that Takashi¡¯s emotional tiesy more with the Thirteen Stars.
Even if he disliked Chae Gwanhyeong.
He would need more opportunities to distance himself.
¡°I can¡¯t guarantee tomorrow to the person I meet today. I just hope nothing happens.¡±
Ayane¡¯s eyes sparkled at Kang-hoo¡¯s words. It seemed she had sensed the hidden sincerity behind them.
Despite appearing cold and cynical, she felt that he cared for and looked after those close to him.
That made her like him even more.
He wasn¡¯t a fool driven by blind devotion, nor was he someone who only thought of himself and trampled on others.
And so, the conversation deepened.
They talked about their daily lives, training methods, and their thoughts on different sses.
Ayane mostly led the conversation, but Kang-hoo responded well, keeping the atmosphere lively.
As they emptied quite a few cocktails, both of their faces started to flush without anyone realizing it.
Ayane spoke first.
Whether it was instinct or something she had intended from the beginning, the words came out naturally.
¡°Would you like to stay together tonight?¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s response was quite simple.
¡°If it¡¯s purely instinctual, then I¡¯m fine with it. But if there¡¯s another motive, I¡¯d rather decline.¡±
A night between adults. It could either be a fleeting me that burns hot for a day or the start of a long-term rtionship.
Kang-hoo was referring to the former. His desire not to be emotionally entangled was clear.
¡°Okay.¡±
Ayane nodded.@@novelbin@@
As Kang-hoo said, even if they spent tonight together, they had no idea what tomorrow would bring¡ªthat¡¯s the life of a hunter.
If they could burn brightly tonight, tomorrow didn¡¯t matter. Tomorrow¡¯s worries were for tomorrow.
And so¡ the night between the two stretched long and intense, as if they were people without a future.
The next afternoon.
After having ate breakfast and lunch with Ayane, Kang-hoo returned to Rikou Tower and began warming up.
He was preparing for the evening dungeon raid, and at the same time, trying to get used to the dual daggers.
He had always been ustomed to having one hand free, but now that both hands were upied, it felt different.
It was like wearing new shoes¡ªnot ufortable, but something that would take time to adjust to.
He set up an imaginary enemy and practiced alternating between his left and right hands, striking with the daggers.
Since his dominant hand was the right, his left-hand movements felt unsatisfactory.
It felt like his timing was off by a quarter beat. And typically, bad premonitions don¡¯t lie.
¡®I shouldn¡¯t use my left hand in critical situations.¡¯
He set a general rule: key skills and important attacks would be done with his right hand.
Using his left hand to create variables might just backfire and be a liability.
At that moment.
A phone call came in.
As the number of people he knew increased, it became harder to predict who was calling.
Curious, he answered, and it was Jeon Se-hyuk. One of his top priorities to contact once he returned to Korea.
¡°Yes, this is Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
-This is Jeon Se-hyuk. Are you doing well? I saw the news. Cha So-hyuk? That guy, Cha So-hee¡¯s brother, went to Japan?
¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Thanks to him, I¡¯ve be the viin who wiped out his siblings, even for the one in the afterlife.¡±
-Who would think you¡¯re the viin? It¡¯s more like a necessary act of justice.
News sure travels fast.
Once something is reported on Huntergram or the Hunter news, it spreads quickly.
Of course, there¡¯s so much hunter-rted news that if you don¡¯t check every day, you¡¯ll miss things.
Kang-hoo didn¡¯t know this, but Jang Si-hwan had only recently realized Kang-hoo¡¯s existence for that very reason.
Living such a fast-paced life, it¡¯s easy to be desensitized to the issues of the hunter world.
Jeon Se-hyuk continued speaking.
¡°I¡¯ve gathered quite arge group. Soon, we n to make a real move on Eclipse.¡±
¡°Oh.¡±
It was the news he had been waiting for.
Attacking Eclipse was necessary, not only for the Constetion¡¯s trial but also for dealing with the followers of the Dark Seeker.
However, taking on Eclipse by himself was overwhelming, so Jeon Se-hyuk expanding the scope was a wee move.
¡°We¡¯ve already raided several of their branches. That bastard Kang Dong-hyun must be fuming.¡±
Through the smartphone, Kang-hoo could hear Jeon Se-hyuk¡¯s excited, raspy breaths. His revenge on Eclipse was genuine.
¡°I¡¯m nning to wrap up my business in Japan and head back to Korea soon. Let¡¯s meet up then.¡±
¡°Sounds good. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡±
¡°Alright, take care.¡±
It was certainly reassuring to have an ally. Jeon Se-hyuk was indeed the right person to handle Eclipse.
Kang-hoo had been tied to Eclipse with bad blood from the start.
With the added motivation of the Constetion¡¯s trial, there was no reason not to join Jeon Se-hyuk¡¯s effort against Eclipse.
When he returned, there would be a storm of blood.
And the world would see the attack on Eclipse not as a crime but as justice and retribution.
There was no shortage of reasons to be a hero.
Chapter 208: One Standing Out Among The Crowd (3)
Kang-hoo didn¡¯t insist on taking the left route simply because he could farm during the dark period.
Even during the briefing, they had mentioned that choosing the left route would reduce the travel distance by more than half.
However, since there were many specter-type monsters on that path, it was naturally avoided¡
From Kang-hoo¡¯s perspective, who could utilize the dark period, they weren¡¯t an impossible target.
He was just going to ignore it if there was no gain from the dark period, but from the start, prey appeared.
The monster¡¯s name was Dark Knight.
Though the naming was as simple as it looked like an ordinary monster, it was definitely one that would aid in his growth during the dark period.
¡°I¡¯ll clear the way. Just handle the non-specter monsters. I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡±
¡°Will you be okay?¡±¡°If you don¡¯t trust me, just watch and judge for yourself. Alright, I¡¯m off.¡±
Before the words even fully left his mouth, Kang-hoo¡¯s body shot forward like a spring.
Though it¡¯s a universal truth that assassins are fast, Kang-hoo¡¯s movements were far quicker than the three had expected.
While Miyuki was absentmindedly watching Kang-hoo¡¯s back, Eto asked from the side.
¡°Captain, what are you thinking about?¡±
¡°Just¡ I was wondering how it would feel if I had to face that hunter as an enemy.¡±
Imaginary sparring was amon form of image training for many hunters.
It¡¯s like how professionals, after a game of Go, casually review the process and refine their thoughts.
Skilled hunters could watch the movements of theirrades, acquaintances, or partners and easily envision a virtual battle.
¡°What¡¯s the conclusion?¡±
¡°I¡¯d like to say I could win because of the level difference. But honestly, I don¡¯t think it would be possible.¡±
Just as Miyuki¡¯s candid review ended, a thud sound apanied the death of the Dark Knight.
Kang-hoo¡¯s deadly decapitation strike from behind had severed the monster¡¯s head.
¡°If he can handle the dark period like that, he¡¯s bound to be even more dangerous. Really¡ amazing.¡±
¡°I heard he was an unknown hunter in Korea not long ago. How did he change so quickly?¡±
¡°No idea. He could¡¯ve had an epiphany or lucked into some unusual ability. Or¡¡±
¡°Or what?¡±
¡°Well, maybe he¡¯s a time traveler from the future like in novels, or maybe he¡¯s an author who entered his own story.¡±
¡°Heh. I had a feeling you¡¯ve been reading a lot of novelstely. Your imagination¡¯s getting wild, Captain.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just that nothing else makes sense. Honestly, don¡¯t you think it would only make sense if you put it like that?¡±
¡°True, it does.¡±
In the brief time they were talking, five more Dark Knights had died.
These were beings that could only be killed during the dark period. That¡¯s why the three of them couldn¡¯t even touch them!
But Kang-hoo had already taken down six. As expected, he didn¡¯t seem particrly moved by the result.
¡°I¡¯m so jealous¡ If I could handle special stats like that, the range of monsters I could deal with would change drastically.¡±
Miyuki pouted her lips.
She was full of envy for Kang-hoo, who possessed so much that she didn¡¯t.
That¡¯s how rare and valuable the dark period or divine power stats werepared to regr stats.
Even after facing multiple specter-type monsters, he wasn¡¯t showing any signs of fatigue, which indicated that his stats were quite abundant.
If not, then he had a fast recovery rate. Either way, there was no end to her envy.
And then.
Krrreeeeek!
Another Dark Knight fell in the distance.
It seemed Kang-hoo had fully warmed up.
In a short time, Kang-hoo had raised his dark period stats by 3 points. He hadn¡¯t spent much time, nor had he exerted much effort.
It was all thanks to the second perk of the Great Cmity ¨C the Dark Constetion, which made it easy to find monsters that provided the dark period.
It felt like hunting monsters in a game where you already know which ones will drop items.
It felt great.
The dark period stat had now reached 449.
Since the dungeon was currently in ¡®night¡¯ mode, the recovery speed of the dark period was doubled due to the ¡®Seven Nights¡¯ skill.
Feeling that everything was going well from the start, his body felt much lighter.
Kang-hoo didn¡¯t have any particr superstitions, but dungeons that started well always seemed to end well too.
Afterward.
The party that chose the left route advanced with a two-track approach.
Kang-hoo kept sniping the specter-type monsters, while the other three dealt with the rest of the monsters.
Although the path was short, the high monster density significantly increased their experience gain.
Perhaps due to the special nature of the enhanced dungeon, their level also increased.
They had already leveled up once before encountering the middle boss monster.
Had this been a regr dungeon¡
They probably would¡¯ve only gained about half as much experience, which would¡¯ve left them at level 225.5, and even that would¡¯ve seemed like a lot.
To confirm, Kang-hoo asked Miyuki about the middle boss monster.
¡°That¡¯s the middle boss, right?¡±
Middle boss, shortened to ¡®mid-boss.¡¯
Miyuki nodded.
¡°Yes. It¡¯s the Blut Duke. Blut means ¡®blood¡¯ in German, so the name has some meaning.¡±
¡°The outfit lives up to the name.¡±
Standing before them was the Blut Duke, dressed in full aristocratic attire reminiscent of a medieval noble.
It was a mage-type monster whose specialty was ¡®Blink.¡¯ In other words, it was adept at short-distance teleportation.
However, there was one more trick up its sleeve¡ªit frequently used the ¡®Blood Drain¡¯ skill.
Because of that, some hunters from the Rikou Guild had previously been killed when their blood was drained by the Blut Duke.
As it drained their blood, the Blut Duke gained vitality, while the hunters died from shock. It was incredibly tricky to deal with.
Once bitten, it seemed nearly impossible to escape due to the fangs.
At that moment.
Rumble!
The Blut Duke, having detected the presence of an intruder, stretched both hands forward and formed a seal.
It was a pre-attack movement.
Then, numerous magical spheres appeared above the magic circle, and smoke began to rise.
¡°Hah!¡±
Eto shouted as he forcefully raised his shield to block the front.
It wasn¡¯t an ordinary block; a golden radiant shield with a divine aura emerged.
The range was vast, and its sturdiness was impressive enough to make Kang-hoo admire its durability.
Bang bang bang!
Although many magic spheres struck the shield in quick session, Eto¡¯s shield held up beautifully.
An Yeong-ho supported Eto¡¯s stamina, as the shield¡¯s defense skill consumed stamina.
Meanwhile, Miyuki, who had created multiple spears of fire, hid behind Eto andunched a surprise magical attack.
True to her role as a hunter specializing in single-target strategies, the magic shot forward like a massive fire dragon.
However.
Zap! Pop!
The Blut Duke, who could freely use Blink, easily escaped the scene.
The evasion was so quick that it made Miyuki¡¯s effort seem in vain. She even sighed, ¡°Ah,¡± in frustration.
But she quickly regained herposure and spoke as if advising Kang-hoo.
¡°Since his movements are fast, we should slowly close in and find an angle¡ huh?¡±
She naturally turned her gaze to where Kang-hoo was supposed to be, but he wasn¡¯t there.
¡°Yeong-ho, what¡¯s going on?¡±
¡°What do you mean?¡±
¡°Where did Kang-hoo go?¡±
¡°He was behind me¡ huh? What the?¡±
It was only then that everyone realized Kang-hoo had disappeared without a sound. They had no idea when he had vanished.
Kang-hoo was already moving in a wide arc.
He had noticed that Eto¡¯s shield skill was shy, and the reactions from the magic collisions were elerating.
Because of this, the Blut Duke hadn¡¯t noticed Kang-hoo sneaking around in stealth mode.
¡®All I need is to get close once. Guys like him tend to over-rely on their evasion skills.¡¯
He had a n.
Why doesn¡¯t Kang-hoo fear death when facing stronger enemies?
It¡¯s because he has the psychological ¡®insurance¡¯ of being able to escape the scene using his teleportation ability if needed.
Kang-hoo believed that the Blut Duke was also confident in battle because of his Blink ability.
Therefore, he was sure that if he could counter Blink, he could create a significant opening.
As the distance between Kang-hoo and the Blut Duke narrowed to within 15 meters¡
¡°Heh.¡±
The Blut Duke, realizing Kang-hoo¡¯s presence, grinned as he looked at him. It was a smile that said, ¡°Even if you approach, what can you do?¡±
He lightly sped his hands together.
It was the pre-movement before using the Blink skill¡ªwhat¡¯s called casting.
But then.
¡°What?!¡±
His face turned ashen.
Blink didn¡¯t activate. More precisely, it wasn¡¯t that it failed, but the activation itself was blocked.
By then, Kang-hoo had already closed the gap and was ready to deliver a decapitation strike with his dagger.
The Blut Duke still had a moment to respond. He could have used a defensive skill.
But.
¡®Just as I thought.¡¯
As Kang-hoo expected, the Blut Duke attempted to use Blink again. He must have thought his casting was sloppy the first time.
What¡¯s the price of misjudgment?
It¡¯s the lost time.
And in a battlefield, lost time brings you closer to the agony of death.
Thud!
¡°Aaargh!¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s decapitation strike pierced the left side of the Blut Duke¡¯s chest. Even Kang-hoo was surprised by how deeply the dagger lodged.
Of course, due to the monster¡¯s nature, it didn¡¯t result in instant death. However, it was undoubtedly a critical hit.
As Kang-hoo prepared to pull out the dagger and strike again¡
¡°Kuhhk!¡±
The Blut Duke attempted to use Blood Drain, so Kang-hoo quickly leaped back, propelling himself to escape.@@novelbin@@
Though delivering another hit was important, what was more crucial was avoiding taking one himself.
¡°As expected, fools are easy to handle.¡±
Kang-hoo smiled as he looked at the Blut Duke, who was clutching his chest in pain.
Of course, it wasn¡¯t that the Blut Duke was truly foolish, but he had fallen prey to Kang-hoo¡¯s ploy.
The issue was that the Blut Duke had been overly reliant on his main skill, Blink, believing it was infallible.
He was so immersed in that belief that Kang-hoo¡¯s constetion perk, which suppressed spatial movement skills, shattered that overconfidence.
¡¾Fifth, within a 15-meter radius, I can suppress the use of spatial movement skills by 99% for anyone other than myself. However, skills that open a pathway between spaces or distort a confined space are not suppressed.¡¿
Kang-hoo proudly checked his constetion perk again.
It had been a partial counter against Kenji, but it was aplete counter against the Blut Duke.
And it would also serve as a counter to ¡®spatial + swordsman-type¡¯ hunters like Chae Gwanhyeong, who frequently used the Blink skill.
Kang-hoo was certain that if he ever faced Chae Gwanhyeong in the future, this perk would shine.
Meanwhile.
Not long after the battle had started, the moment they saw the Blut Duke struck down by Kang-hoo¡¯s decapitation attack¡
The remaining three, who had been dealing with the magic attacks and watching the scene, were shocked.
An unbelievable sight had unfolded.
Up until just now, the Blut Duke had easily evaded attacks using Blink, as if toying with them.
But with Kang-hoo, he hadn¡¯t used Blink. No, he clearly couldn¡¯t use it.
In that case¡
¡°Does that mean there¡¯s something that suppresses spatial movement?¡±
The conclusion veered in a different direction.
Was it really right tobel Kang-hoo with just the title of ¡®assassin¡¯?
Though none of them voiced it first, all three were thinking the same thing in their hearts.
Chapter 209: One Standing Out Among The Crowd (4)
Later.
The strategypletely changed.
Although no one asked Kang-hoo directly, all three were certain that Kang-hoo could suppress Duke Blut¡¯s Blink.
Thus, Miyuki also began to press Duke Blut with her ultimate fire magic.
¡°Kuuaa! Kuaaaah!¡±
Massive spears of me flew in at regr intervals.
Because Kang-hoo kept a close distance, Duke Blut was having a hard time.
Unable to use Blink, he was forced to defend, and his skills were limited to shielding.
The problem was that even amidst this, Kang-hoo was constantly aiming at his nks and rear.Puuuuk!
¡°Kraaaagh!¡±
In the end, Duke Blut was struck by the decapitation sh once again. It was a vicious cycle.
If he tried to dodge Kang-hoo¡¯s decapitation sh, he couldn¡¯t avoid Miyuki¡¯s ming spears, and vice versa.
An Yeong-ho, noticing that Kang-hoo was exhausting his stamina with the decapitation shes, supported him with long-range healing.
Meanwhile, Eto effortlessly blocked Duke Blut¡¯s counterattacking spells.
The attacks were ineffective.
All Duke Blut could do was defend as he continued to take a beating.
Eventually, driven into a corner, Duke Blut, in a desperate attempt, tried to drain Kang-hoo¡¯s blood.
It was the perfect timing, as Kang-hoo was approaching tond another decapitation sh, making the situation ideal for bloodsucking to work.
However.
Pyororong!
¡°¡¡?¡±
Sensing Duke Blut¡¯s attempt to drain his blood, Kang-hoo summoned a slime with the Cutie! skill and retreated.
As a result, Duke Blut was left tasting only the jelly of the poor slime. His fangs sank into the wrong target.
At that moment.
Whoooosh!
A massive fire dragon, even stronger than the earlier ming spears, flew toward Duke Blut.
It was clear to anyone that this was a skill with a long cooldown time. If hit, he would be reduced to ashes, leaving no bones behind.
Even though he couldn¡¯t use Blink, Duke Blut increased his speed, trying to move and escape.
Since Kang-hoo had retreated after summoning the slime, it seemed like an escape was possible.
But then.
Popopopop!
Suddenly, explosions of blood erupted from his entire body.
Caught in an unavoidable explosion, his body iled like a ragdoll.
At that moment, Duke Blut realized just how doomed he was.
The Blood Flowerpletely paralyzed Duke Blut¡¯s movements. No matter how much he willed it, his body wouldn¡¯t respond.
And then.
Kuaaaah¡
A pir of fire rose where Duke Blut stood, engulfing him entirely.
Though his silhouette was ckened, it was clear to see Duke Blut caught in the mes.
¡®He¡¯s not dead yet.¡¯
Tat-tat-tat!
At that moment, Kang-hoo was already rushing toward Duke Blut.
If the silhouette was still visible, it meant that he hadn¡¯t yet been torn apart or killed inside the mes.
As expected of a mid-boss monster.
This was a preview of the higher-ranking boss monsters Kang-hoo would face in the future.
They don¡¯t die easily. Even when struck by a surprise attack, they don¡¯t die instantly.
They endure with tough durability and resilience,sting until their special defense mechanisms are broken.
¡¾Line of Distortion¡¿
As he sprinted at full speed, Kang-hoo created the starting line on one side and began stretching it out.
Next, Kang-hoo made the ending line, pulling the Line of Distortion taut before pushing it forward.
It was as if he had tied a rope tightly between two pirs and then pushed one of them forward.
In the next moment.
¡°Kuhheok!¡±
The Line of Distortion naturally wrapped halfway around Duke Blut¡¯s neck.
Soon, the line contracted and tightened, circling around Duke Blut¡¯s neck like a scarf.
¡¾Distortion¡¿
The distortion activated right after.
Even for the battle-hardenedpanions, a gruesome scene unfolded before their eyes.
Duke Blut¡¯s neck started to slice open as blood spurted out in all directions, as if it was being sawed by a wire.
This onlysted for a moment; Duke Blut¡¯s body, already weakened by the Blood Flower and Miyuki¡¯s me Dragon, had no strength left.
Deng!@@novelbin@@
Caught in the Line of Distortion, Duke Blut¡¯s neck couldn¡¯t withstand the pressure and was severed from his body.
It was an instant death.
¡¾You have leveled up to 227!¡¿
Immediately, the level-up notification appeared.
Perhaps because this was a special reinforced dungeon, the experience points were quite rewarding. It felt like a significant gain.
There were no dropped loot items. Everyone grumbled about theck of rewards after such a fight, but¡
Kang-hoo had noints, as he had already achieved his primary goal of stealing skills.
The newly activated skills were short-range teleportation and bloodsucking. It seemed that the skill they had tentatively called Blink had a formal name.
¡®Bloodsucking it is.¡¯
It didn¡¯t take long for him to decide.
For Kang-hoo, there were plenty of alternatives to Blink-type skills.
Rather than moving a few meters with Blink, switching positions using Shadow Step was far more efficient in his current situation.
Moreover, Blink-type skills should never be used when mana interference or distortion phenomena urred.
In short, as the restrictions on usage increased, the value of Blink-type skills decreased for Kang-hoo.
Once he chose Bloodsucking, the skill information appeared in his skill window.
¡¾Bloodsucking - Human¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾Drains the blood of a living ¡®human¡¯ to restore health.
The longer the bloodsucking duration, the exponentially higher the amount of health restored, while the opponent¡¯s health rapidly decreases.¡¿
¡®I won¡¯t use it often, though.¡¯
It¡¯s not a skill to be used in regrbat.
With stronger skills avable, there would hardly be a need to risk embracing the enemy just to suck their blood.
However, in an exhausting closebat situation, it could be a deadly counterpunch.
The structure of the skill allowed him to recover health as he drained the enemy¡¯s life force.
This meant that not only did he recover, but the gap between his and his opponent¡¯s health would widen by a factor of two.
¡®It suits my paleplexion, I guess.¡¯
Kang-hoo let out a quiet chuckle.
Sometimes, when he saw his pale face in the mirror, he couldn¡¯t help but think he looked like a vampire from a movie.
¡°Wow! That finalbo was amazing! Thanks to the setup you created, Kang-hoo, the me Dragon hit perfectly!¡±
Miyuki rushed over and enthusiastically gave Kang-hoo two thumbs up.
Her voice was filled with excitement, perhaps from witnessing such a fantasticbo y.
¡°Our skills worked in perfect harmony.¡±
¡°It was originally meant for suppression! But thanks to the explosion you created, it ended up being a finisher!¡±
¡°Well done.¡±
Kang-hoo made sure to acknowledge her supporting firepower. Compliments, after all, were like a tonic for anyone.
¡°Brother¡ Can¡¯t you just stay in our guild forever? I¡¯d love to keep enjoying this view.¡±
¡®Japan¡¯s Park Dong-jae¡¯ had already turned into a praise machine, spilling out words of admiration.
Sometimes, the level of hispliments was so high that it made one wonder if Park Dong-jae was being sarcastic.
But since An Yeong-ho was bound by a constetion that allowed only truth, there was no doubt that he was sincere.
¡°I¡¯ve never seen Blink being suppressed before. With Duke Blut¡¯s main skill blocked, he turned into a fool right away.¡±
¡°Thanks to Eto¡¯s defensive skill drawing his attention, our nking attacks worked.¡±
¡°You tter me. I¡¯m just d we could clear a difficult section more easily. You were amazing.¡±
They exchangedpliments with Eto as well.
Though the conversation might seem cheesy, there wasn¡¯t a single person insincere in this exchange.
During their journey through the middle andter stages of the dungeon, there were no particr issues.
No wraith-type monsters appeared, nor did they encounter any tough monsters with high endurance.
Of course, since the tricky parts of this dungeon usually began in the mid-tote stages, everyone was on high alert.
And then.
Chwaak! Chwararak! Chwaak!
The sound of a powerful whip cracked through the air, loud enough to be heard clearly even from a distance.
¡°It seems like they¡¯re finallying.¡±
¡°Now, the main stage begins.¡±
Miyuki and Eto let out deep sighs and started loosening up their tense bodies.
This was the point where Kang-hoo¡¯s reliance on the Bleeding Sustain skill would be crucial.
The monsters they now faced were called Fallen Berserkers.
Their entire bodies emitted a bluish light, as if they had been soaked in poison.
Their primary weapon: whips.
Their striking range was quite long, and the power of each hit was strong, making them a burden for close-range fighters.
These monsters had extreme resistance to both physical and magical attacks unless they were inflicted with a bleeding effect.
Although not quite 100%, their resistance increased so much that they were nearly impossible to damage.
On the other hand, once bleeding was inflicted, they died much faster than regr monsters.
The problem was that there were so many of them that dealing with each one by inflicting bleeding individually was impractical.
If they approached without the bleeding effect, the Fallen Berserkers would apply tremendous pressure.
¡°Eto, since you can cause bleeding in one-on-onebat, focus on taking down the nearby ones individually.¡±
¡°Understood.¡±
Kang-hoo took the lead in issuing the main orders for this section.
Even though Eto was of a much higher level than Kang-hoo, he immediately nodded and followed the orders.
From the start, Miyuki, Eto, and An Yeong-ho were all open-minded hunters, so they didn¡¯t let level dictate their attitudes.
¡°Miyuki, focus your firepower on the Fallen Berserkers affected by bleeding. No need to use your big skills recklessly.¡±
¡°Got it.¡±
¡°Yeong-ho, take this opportunity to practicebat. Even if you identally heal the enemy, don¡¯t worry. Just go for it.¡±
¡°Yes, Brother.¡±
¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡±
Pang!
Kang-hoo spread out his Shadow Step in five different directions, scattering shadows all around.
At the same time, his main body charged straight toward the Fallen Berserker that was approaching from the front. The monster was already tightening its grip on the whip.
Shiiik!
The whip swung back.
As the Fallen Berserker rotated its shoulder forward, preparing to strike with the whip¡ª
¡°Ueek!¡±
The monster let out a startled sound as it was suddenly pulled toward Kang-hoo, caught by his Kidnapping skill.
Its movement to swing the whip was disrupted. But that was just a minor issue¡ªthe biggest problem was¡
Puuuk!
It was struck squarely by Kang-hoo¡¯s decapitation sh. The de pierced right through the center of its chest.
¡¾Blood Flower¡¿
Popopopop!
The start was clean.
The Fallen Berserker, struck by abination of the Decapitation sh and Blood Flower, had no chance of surviving in its weakened, bleeding state.
It exploded like a firecracker, dying instantly.
Since the Decapitation sh consumed both stamina and mana, it couldn¡¯t be used recklessly.
However, Kang-hoo wanted topletely overwhelm the first one as a show of force, and his n worked.
The group of Fallen Berserkers, baring their yellow teeth in aggression, hesitated for a moment.
Position switch.
This was the beginning.
Kang-hoo began switching ces with the shadows he had attached to the other Fallen Berserkers, striking them.
¡¾Bleeding Stab¡¿
A basic skill that induces bleeding.
¡¾Bleeding Enhancement¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Lv Max¡¿
¡¾Doubles or triples the effectiveness of bleeding skills at a random chance.¡¿
With the Bleeding Enhancement passive applied, each Fallen Berserker suffered from bleeding for 4 to 6 seconds.
Compared to the usual 2 seconds, it was a much longer duration.
Puk! Pupuk! Puk!
It took Kang-hoo only about 2 seconds to induce bleeding on all five of them, evenly and ¡°fairly.¡±
Normally, this time wouldn¡¯t even be enough to deal with a single one.
But in that time, Kang-hoo had killed one.
And on the other five, he induced bleeding, stripping them of their resistances in a wless performance.
And that wasn¡¯t all.
He was already nning to continue the bleeding chain, using Shadow Step again.
Kang-hoo had prepared the entire table by himself.
All that was left was for the three of them to dig in and finish the job.
Chapter 210: One Standing Out Among The Crowd (5)
Later, it became a struggle for Kang-hoo just to kill the berserkers he had kept under the bleeding status.
Eto, Miyuki, and An Yeong-ho continued to eliminate the berserkers affected by the bleeding.
However, there were more that Kang-hoo had caused to bleed, maintaining the status while stripping away their resistance.
At some point, Kang-hoo changed his approach to handle and kill about half of them himself.
Miyuki was aware of how exceptional Kang-hoo¡¯s ability to maintain bleeding was, having heard about it.
The news she received from the Groo Guild and An Yeong-ho¡¯s firsthand experiences confirmed it.
But until one sees it with their own eyes, doubts naturally linger.
Miyuki¡¯s honest thought was, ¡°How impressive could it really be?¡±
Kang-hoo¡¯s skill far surpassed what could be described as ¡°impressive.¡±Now, she understood why An Yeong-ho constantly said he didn¡¯t want to lose Kang-hoo.
His skill was top-tier.
It wasn¡¯t just because he had skills that were favorable for maintaining bleeding.
Kang-hoo used every second to its extreme. In the shortest possible time, he applied bleeding to as many berserkers as possible.
Moreover, none of the berserkers with bleeding recovered or regained resistance.
He meticulously renewed the status.
Since Kang-hoo began wreaking havoc on the front lines, Miyuki hadn¡¯t seen a single berserker without bleeding.
Every berserker within range had their resistance stripped and was reduced to soft, tender meat.
¡°Captain, this area has be so easy. Thest time I was here, it was hell¡¡±
¡°Right? I feel like I¡¯ve barely done anything.¡±
Unlike Kang-hoo, who was here for the first time, Miyuki had been assigned to this dungeon before and had plenty topare it with.
They had previouslye with assassins, berserkers, or sses that had bleeding skills.
But maintaining the bleeding didn¡¯tst long, and they couldn¡¯t hit multiple monsters at once, so the pace was slow.
Ultimately, it was a one-at-a-time battle. Even with four people, they could only take down one at a time.
But now, each person was handling one, and in an instant, they dealt with four berserkers.
Not only that, but Kang-hoo asionally detonated the lightly stabbed berserkers with his Blood Flower skill, killing them.
The mere snap of his fingers delivered a deadly judgment, and the more Miyuki watched this skill, the stranger it seemed.
In Kang-hoo¡¯s assassin form, Miyuki saw the traits of a ck mage, a berserker, and a sorcerer all at once.
It was no wonder why Cha So-hyuk and the three hunters from the Toushi Guild were annihted.
All of their expectations had been shattered.
There¡¯s no way they could have imagined Kang-hoo would possess this level of ability. It must have been beyond their wildest dreams.
As they easily passed through the berserker section, the pace of the strategy significantly elerated.
Each crucial section featured a variation or superior version of the berserkers.
But with Kang-hoo¡¯s bleeding induction and maintenance, they easily broke through.
As a result, Kang-hoo¡¯s level shot up to 229. Every monster they encountered was a bounty of experience.
As the threepanions constantly praised him, Kang-hoo became more aware of his value.
His abilities as an assassin, which seemed so natural to him, were incredibly valuable and rare to others.
Moreover, the current hunter world was globally suffering from a shortage of skilled assassins.
This phenomenon was a great boon for Kang-hoo, given theck ofpetent assassins.
Even in international mercenary work, there would likely be many seeking his skills.
Perhaps he could even choose his assignments to suit his taste or demand a higher pay than usual.
¡°I¡¯ve grown a lot sinceing to Japan. It feels like a refreshing turning point.¡±
This was Kang-hoo¡¯s overall evaluation of his hectic schedule in Japan.
Meanwhile, the tasks waiting for him back home had piled up.
He had to visit The Abyss dungeon he had discussed with Lee Hyun-seok and further strengthen his bond with him.
Additionally, he needed to visit North Korea regarding the Mad Srkium and the random skill book.
It was also time to check in on Lee Ye-rin regarding some overseasmissions.
Moreover, he needed to establish connections with Master K and Kang Bok-hwa through Jung Yuri, not to mention Kim Shin-ryeong.
These were all powerful and valuable connections, and none could be overlooked.
Especially Lee Hyun-seok, who was a key figure for Kang-hoo, considering his stance against the Jeonghwa Guild.
Some timeter.
¡°Finally¡¡±
¡°We¡¯ve made it here. The boss monster we had only researched for its real vs. fake detection method before running away.¡±
The group was preparing for the final boss of this dungeon, R¨¹ge.
They were already aware of its traits.
It would frequently split into two, with the real and fake bodies separated, as is typical of such monsters.
The problem was that hitting the real R¨¹ge would drain its health twice as fast.
But hitting the fake one would restore five times the damage as health.
A mistake would be fatal.
Takashi would have drooled at just hearing about its pattern, a boss monster like this.@@novelbin@@
The detection method was simple.
You just had to maintain R¨¹ge¡¯s bleeding status at the maximum. If you maintained 50 stacks of bleeding, it was very easy.
At that point, even if it split, the real R¨¹ge¡¯s body would shine differently from the fake.
Otherwise, the clones and the real one were indistinguishable.
Randomly attacking them was also impossible, as hitting the wrong one would restore its health and undo all their efforts.
Even if they correctly identified the fake, R¨¹ge would stop splitting and revert to its original form, making it futile.
If it split again, they¡¯d be forced into another guessing game, like flipping a coin.
In the end, maintaining 50 stacks of bleeding was essential to judge the real R¨¹ge.
Given that previous teams had struggled with the fallen berserker section, there was no way they could have handled R¨¹ge properly.
With heavier responsibility weighing on Kang-hoo¡¯s shoulders, he took a deep breath and pulled out the Mad Srkium.
¡®If I take this, only two will be left. Once it¡¯s over, I must return home. I can¡¯t go without Srkium.¡¯
Kang-hoo nodded as he looked at the two remaining Mad Srkium in his pocket.
It felt like looking at thest few cigarettes in a pack.
An odd sense of anxiety crept in. He felt he needed to replenish it quickly to ease his mind.
R¨¹ge. Humanoid. Muscr.
It had both close-range and long-range attack patterns.
At close range, it used grappling attacks, and at long range, it fired energy sts. A troublesome hybrid, through and through.
Recognizing the monster¡¯s core aspects, Kang-hoo took out one Gaksin Pill just in case.
¡°Could you draw out the long-range patterns for me? Don¡¯t worry about me, just focus on R¨¹ge.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry about this side.¡±
Eto, with confidence, began advancing while creating a massive barrier.
As a tank specialist, he was clearly well-suited to absorbing attacks.
He even had a skill that reinforced his entire body like steel, making Kang-hoo think he wouldn¡¯t be able to prate it.
Boom! Boom!
R¨¹ge sped its right wrist tightly with its left hand, and with a recoil from the right wrist, it fired an energy st.
The st was concentrated into R¨¹ge¡¯s right fist, and each time it fired, R¨¹ge¡¯s shoulder recoiled from the force.
Meanwhile.
Kang-hoo, moving swiftly while hidden, made a wide arc around the battlefield, just like when he faced Duke Blut.
asionally, he nced at Eto. He saw Eto firmly taking the energy sts head-on.
Though Eto was pushed back with each st, that was all there was to it.
Miyuki and An Yeong-ho, standing behind him, were neither caught in the shock nor affected by it.
¡®I don¡¯t need to worry about them. Eto is stable. I can focus on my task.¡¯
The key to teamwork is not to have someone carry the others.
It¡¯s important to work seamlessly together so that even when apart, no one has to worry.
In that sense, thebination of Eto, Miyuki, and An Yeong-ho seemed well-coordinated.
¡®But I¡¯ll need to be careful not to get grabbed.¡¯
R¨¹ge¡¯s body was thicker than Jeon Jong-du¡¯s, whom he faced when confronting the Osho Mercenary Corps.
Back then, getting caught felt like certain death, and R¨¹ge didn¡¯t seem any different.
Swish. Swish.
Maintaining his stealth while using Shadowless, Kang-hoo continued his approach towards R¨¹ge.
Perhaps annoyed by how well Eto blocked its energy sts, R¨¹ge red in his direction, focusing intensely.
Quietly.
Kang-hooid down the Line of Distortion.
R¨¹ge wasn¡¯t looking in Kang-hoo¡¯s direction yet and didn¡¯t seem to realize an invisible line had been ced.
Kang-hoo visualized several movements in his mind. He was calcting how to move based on R¨¹ge¡¯s reactions.
He could see several useful futures.
Whether R¨¹ge would y along would only be clear in the fight, but drawing the picture was enough.
¡¾Summon Fallen Fiend¡¿
The first move was this.
It had no attack power, but it was perfect for distracting and drawing attention with strange noises.
Screeeeeech!
The fallen fiend soared high into the sky and flew towards R¨¹ge like a wild horse freed from its reins.
Then, Kang-hoo used his Clone Technique to send a doppelganger towards R¨¹ge.
¡°¡¡¡±
As the fallen fiend darted about wildly in front of R¨¹ge, the muscles around R¨¹ge¡¯s eyes twitched.
However, R¨¹ge showed no reaction. It casually punched the approaching doppelganger away.
As the doppelganger crumbled pathetically, R¨¹ge snorted, as if expecting it, and red at Kang-hoo.
R¨¹ge¡¯s main focus remained straight ahead. There were many enemies, and Eto¡¯s provocations were relentless.
So even when another of Kang-hoo¡¯s clones approached, R¨¹ge didn¡¯t pay it any mind.
After all, the doppelganger¡¯s killing power was far less than the real body, and its movements were sluggish inparison.
R¨¹ge instead concentrated on channeling even more energy into an even stronger st aimed at Eto.
At that moment.
sh!
Kang-hoo¡¯s clone closed the distance between them in a burst of speed and stabbed R¨¹ge in the back with a dagger.
But.
¡°¡¡?¡±
It wasn¡¯t a clone; it was the real Kang-hoo.
The dagger that pierced through R¨¹ge¡¯s back was infused with the energy of Grand Decapitation.
Crunch!
At the same time, Kang-hoo cast the Ice Affinity on his dagger, instantly freezing the wound deep inside.
This paralyzed R¨¹ge¡¯s senses in the surrounding area, including its back.
The muscles and cells froze solid.
¡°Kaaaargh!¡±
Boom!
With a scream, R¨¹ge¡¯s fist veered off course, and it fired its energy st into an empty space.
In the process, the recoil impacted its shoulder, causing another wave of pain to surge through its back.
Realizing it had been toyed with by Kang-hoo, R¨¹ge¡¯s insides boiled with rage.
It was so ashamed of its earlier indifference, thinking it had only been a clone, that its face burned with embarrassment.
The price of arrogance and hubris was immense pain, and it was no wonder R¨¹ge was seething with fury.
sh! sh! sh!
Kang-hoo steadily began stacking bleeding stats.
The groundwork had only just begun.
R¨¹ge had always relied on easy recovery through splitting and camouging, fighting with a ¡°just slice me open¡± attitude.
But now, Kang-hoo was about to show it just how exhausting and extreme an assassin¡¯s persistent mind games could be.
As R¨¹ge turned its body to prepare an energy st aimed at Kang-hoo.
¡¾Master of Maniption¡¿
Kang-hoo copied the energy st skill using the Master of Maniption. With that, he had one more hidden card up his sleeve.
Chapter 211: Preparations For Return (1)
Boom!
A qi cannon was fired consecutively.
The qi cannon, painfully squeezed out, failed to properly aim at Kang-hoo.
By utilizing swift evasion, Kang-hoo dodged slightly to the side, and the qi cannon missed himpletely as it flew by.
At that moment¡
Crack, crack, crack!
R¨¹g¨¦¡¯s body started to split.
It was his usual pattern.
Whenever he was cornered or needed to recover his strength, he immediately split his body to seek an opportunity.The process was simple: his body literally ripped in half, splitting into two.
It was almost like dividing a lump of dough in half.
As a result, those watching often felt a strange sense of difort.
¡°Now!¡±
Kang-hoo shouted.
He had already umted 50 stacks of bleeding, so identifying the real R¨¹g¨¦ was as easy as pie.
From the moment R¨¹g¨¦ began to split, Kang-hoo had already aimed a copied qi cannon, using his maniption skills, at the real R¨¹g¨¦.
The real R¨¹g¨¦, having split while under maximum bleeding stacks, was easy to identify as he emitted a red glow.
Next.
Whether the qi cannon hit or not, Kang-hoo immediately began charging White Sun sh.
Up until now, he had only used ck Moon sh while hunting spectral monsters, but White Sun sh was far more convenient to use.
After all,pared to the Dark Phase with its many recovery limitations, it was better to utilize magical power.
Fwoosh¡
Magical power explosively gathered at the tip of Kang-hoo¡¯s dagger, shaping itself into a sharp form.
In the meantime, Eto rammed into the real R¨¹g¨¦, and Miyuki relentlessly struck him with ming spears.
An Yeong-ho joined in as well, now having a grasp on things, using healing skills to torment R¨¹g¨¦.
The fake was thoroughly ignored, leaving R¨¹g¨¦ to suffer exponentially increasing damage as the price for his split.
The only drawback of White Sun sh and ck Moon sh was that they required charging time.
But R¨¹g¨¦, preupied with fending off the attacks of three hunters, couldn¡¯t pay attention to Kang-hoo.
And finally¡
Shiiiiing!
White Sun sh, releasing a silver sh, flew straight into the center of R¨¹g¨¦¡¯s back.
¡°Gahhh!¡±
R¨¹g¨¦ coughed up blood.
At the same time, White Sun sh¡¯s sharp edge left a wound that cut deep into his back.
Thanks to the boss monster¡¯s durability, the attack didn¡¯t pierce throughpletely, but the force was enough to shred the flesh on his back.
And that wasn¡¯t all.
The sh effect of White Sun sh went off, temporarily blinding R¨¹g¨¦.
¡®The Dark Phase is still saved.¡¯
Since Kang-hoo had already used White Sun sh, he needed to wait for his magical power to recover, but the amount of Dark Phase was still sufficient.
In other words, he could use ck Moon sh at any time. That meant he could deploy two consecutive hidden skills.
¡°Graaaaah!¡±
R¨¹g¨¦ roared in rage.
In an attempt to recover through his split, he had instead been severely hit, and his health had plummeted to an absurdly low level.
At the start of the battle, he had thought the human assassin was the weakest, but he was gravely mistaken. Kang-hoo was the most troublesome.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo had sent one of his clones forward to distract R¨¹g¨¦, further irritating him.
¡°Hrrrgh!¡±
R¨¹g¨¦, his temper ring, angrily swatted Kang-hoo¡¯s clone aside and charged forward.
At that moment, several of Miyuki¡¯s ming spears struck his back, but he ignored them. The real threat was that assassin.
Rumble!
The ground trembled as R¨¹g¨¦, a massive figure, charged toward Kang-hoo.
It was a dangerous situation, one that Kang-hoo could easily dodge, but for some reason, he remained still.
Just as R¨¹g¨¦ was about to pause at Kang-hoo¡¯s strange response¡
Swish!
It felt as though an invisible thread wrapped around his waist.
Though it didn¡¯t restrict his movement, it felt as though something had coiled around him like a belt.
Then, distortion activated!
In that instant, R¨¹g¨¦ realized he had fallen into a trap.
The thread of distortion wound around his body, grinding his waist and abdomen.
It felt like being sawed in half by a thin wire! The pain was excruciating.
St!
Blood sprayed everywhere.
Both R¨¹g¨¦ and the onlookers, including Miyuki, were shocked, unable toprehend what was happening.
Pop. Pop!
During this, Kang-hoo approached with Shadow Step, applied a simple bleed effect, and retreated back to his original position.
¡°Graaaah!¡±
Unable to bear the pain, R¨¹g¨¦ began to frantically tear off the thread of distortion wrapped around his waist.
It was his typical pattern.
Unable to endure the pain, he desperately tried to remove the cause of his suffering.
It was amon monster mistake, not understanding why Kang-hoo had used the distortion thread.
While R¨¹g¨¦ focused on his body, Kang-hoopleted charging his ck Moon sh to its maximum power.
And just as R¨¹g¨¦ finally ripped off the thread of distortion, extinguishing the immediate threat¡
Shwoosh!
ck Moon sh, flying at lightning speed, struck R¨¹g¨¦ squarely in the chest.
St!
Blood sttered both front and back.
The blood spraying forward came from the severe bleeding caused by the wound inflicted by the ck Moon sh.
The blood spraying backward was due to the immense pressure applied to the earlier wound, causing yet another tear.
¡°Guh¡¡±
R¨¹g¨¦, who had once carried the image of a mighty warrior, let out a deting groan.
Even in such a state, he seemed determined to seize a chance for recovery, as he began to split again in an instant.
However.
This was the exact opportunity Kang-hoo had been waiting for, and it became R¨¹g¨¦¡¯s fatal mistake.
The moment of splitting was when the body became most vulnerable, even if only for a brief time.
It was clear that this weakness existed, and Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t going to let the moment pass.
Snap!
A sharp sound echoed as Kang-hoo snapped his fingers.
At the same time, Blood Flower activated, causing R¨¹g¨¦¡¯s body, in the middle of splitting, to explode violently.
There was more than enough blood to fuel the Flower of Blood, so the scale of the explosion was immense.
R¨¹g¨¦ was utterly destroyed.
The failed split and the doubled damage from the explosion were disastrous.
The usually imprable moment of division had be his worst downfall, as it coincided with the detonation of Blood Flower.
R¨¹g¨¦¡¯s body, now back to its original form, was so torn apart that it barely resembled a living creature.
His back, waist, chest, and stomach were in shreds, with muscles and flesh indistinguishable from one another.
¡°Gah! Gaaah!¡±
The blood R¨¹g¨¦ was vomiting wasn¡¯t just blood; it contained everything that could spill from a body.
Meanwhile, Miyuki, who had just created a massive ming spear, paused.
¡°¡¡±
Seeing the situation seemingly resolved, she stopped, realizing that no further effort was necessary.
And, as expected.
Kang-hoo, who had already dashed forward, leaped over the half-kneeling R¨¹g¨¦, aiming at his head.
Squelch!
He drove a decisive blow straight into the crown of R¨¹g¨¦¡¯s head. It was a perfect strike to end his life.
¡°¡You took him down like this.¡±
Eto, who had been tanking and watching Kang-hoo¡¯s actions from start to finish, was impressed.
Was this what you¡¯d call nning?
Looking at the ¡°ending¡± brought about by R¨¹g¨¦¡¯s death, it felt as if they were witnessing a stage y orchestrated by Kang-hoo.
It hadn¡¯t been a chaotic bloodbath of flesh and gore.
Kang-hoo had methodically utilized his team members,ying the groundwork to drive R¨¹g¨¦ toward his death.
R¨¹g¨¦ had stayed within the lines of Kang-hoo¡¯s blueprint, ultimately charging headfirst toward his own demise.
Who would have thought that R¨¹g¨¦¡¯s high-speed rush toward Kang-hoo would be like opening his own coffin and jumping in?
¡°I thought you only asked me to maintain the bleed¡¡±
Miyuki, retracting her now unnecessary ming spear, looked at Kang-hoo with reverence.
The thought of facing Kang-hoo as an enemy and standing a chance seemed impossible and was now etched into her mind.
The skill linkage she had witnessed from Kang-hoo had no consistency or uniformity.
It wasn¡¯t meant negatively. In short, it waspletely unpredictable.
The initial briefing where he¡¯d simply asked her to maintain the bleed now felt embarrassing in retrospect.
At this point, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that Kang-hoo had handled everything himself.
Eto, Miyuki, and An Yeong-ho might deserve a small share of the credit.
But really, could the three of them have killed R¨¹g¨¦ on their own? Absolutely not.
¡°Now do you see why I always praise Kang-hoo hyung whenever I talk about him? This is why. When you enter a dungeon with him¡¡±
An Yeong-ho beamed proudly.
His connection with Kang-hoo began with gratitude, as the man who saved his life in Korea.
Though his experiences with the Jeonghwa Guild had been dreadful, now, in hindsight, he was grateful for that misfortune.
It had allowed him to meet Shin Kang-hoo.
And An Yeong-ho was certain of one thing.
Kang-hoo was a hunter who would soar even higher, someone to look forward to not just today, but tomorrow as well.
¡®Did I finish this without using the Elixir of Divinity? Is that an unseen benefit?¡¯
Kang-hoo nodded as he looked at the ten bottles of the Elixir of Divinity, still neatly sealed in the vial.
He always kept them close, thinking he might need them, but so far, he had never actually used one.
With R¨¹g¨¦¡¯s death, Kang-hoo¡¯s level had increased by three at once, bringing him to level 232.
It was a significant leap, more than expected.
Perhaps it was because R¨¹g¨¦ had never been defeated before, and so the experience gained was substantial.
Finally, the moment of reward hade.
They had already agreed that everything dropped by the boss monster would belong to Kang-hoo.
His gaze first turned to the skill theft that had been activated by R¨¹g¨¦¡¯s death.@@novelbin@@
Ego Split.
Qi Cannon.
Shell Game.
These were the three skills that had been activated.
Ego Split was a skill that induced body division, just as seen earlier¡ but Kang-hoo had no need for it.
He already possessed the Clone Technique, a much superior skill. There was no need to actually tear his body apart.
As for Shell Game, it was far too random.
What kind of skill was it? With Shell Game, you would open a box, and randomly either a buff or debuff would emerge.
For example.
Just like what had happened to R¨¹g¨¦ earlier, your damage might recover fivefold, but on the flip side, your damage might double.
Unless you wanted to gamble with your life, this mischievous skill wasn¡¯t worth the risk.
So Kang-hoo chose Qi Cannon.
The skill alone would allow him to perform the role of a qi user to some extent.
¡¾Qi Cannon¡¿
¡¾Skill Mastery: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾A skill that uses magical power to condense surrounding energy and release it forward with great force. The power scales with the condensed energy and magical power used, and it does not require additional focus.¡¿
As soon as Kang-hoo tried the skill, energy naturally gathered in one of his hands just by activating it.
It felt like a scene from a martial arts movie, where a character prepares to unleash a powerful strike. The energy gathered on its own, waiting to be unleashed at any moment.
It seemed like this skill would be incredibly useful for creating unexpected variables duringbat. It was entirely different from his usual assassin techniques.
But just then.
As Kang-hoo finished the skill theft and shifted his gaze, something caught his attention.
Though R¨¹g¨¦ hadn¡¯t dropped any magical stones or items, there was a separate reward that had been activated:
Skill Enhancement (1 use).
It was Skill Enhancement!
A chance to evolve any skill into an ultimate ability once it reached maximum mastery.
The rarest reward had appeared after a long absence.
Chapter 212: Preparations For Return (2)
I discovered two hematitete because I was too focused on skill plundering and skill enhancement.
¡®Isn¡¯t this way better than not finding any mana stones or items?¡¯
A faint smile appeared.
This was because both the hematite and the skill enhancement were just what I needed. The reward hit the spot.
While nothing particrly valuable dropped, it was a good haul based on future potential.
¡°Wow! Did you really find hematite? I¡¯m so jealous!¡±
Miyuki shot a gaze full of envy at the two hematite pieces Kang-hoo had picked up.
It seemed she hadn¡¯t noticed the skill enhancement, which had directly applied through the status window.
If she knew that not only did Kang-hoo get two hematite pieces, but he also got a skill enhancement opportunity, she¡¯d probably be even more envious.Kang-hoo decided to maintain a ¡°benevolent silence¡± and nodded.
¡°Yeah, things turned out well.¡±
Currently, Kang-hoo had a total of three ultimate skills.
The shadow clone technique was an ultimate skill conditionally elevated in conjunction with the Constetion of the Unfeeling Assassin.
The purely enhanced and upgraded skills were the protection barrier and the Blood Flower.
All three were highly effective skills that he was using well.
The protection barrier had often proven useful beyond its defensive purpose, particrly due to its ¡°devastation¡± effect.
Thus, ultimate skills further elevated the value of already useful skills.
It seemed he¡¯d have to spend some time pondering which skill to elevate as the fourth ultimate skill.
With that, the special enhancement dungeon raid with the Rikou Guild came to a sessful end.
It was a perfect raid, leaving no room for regret. They had found the optimal strategy for taking down Ruge.
Kang-hoo decided to return to Korea for now.
There were no further tasks to handle in Japan, and nothing else came to mind.
However, he did feel the need to have onest conversation with Takashi. That guy required special care.
That evening.
After booking a flight back to Incheon Airport for the next morning, Kang-hoo sent a direct message (DM) to Takashi.
-As you know, I¡¯ve managed to untangle some nasty knots of bad lucktely.
I had a st raiding a dungeon with the Rikou Guild hunters. As for the boss¡ well¡
It was a rather lengthy message.
He had gone into a lot of detail about the boss¡¯s patterns.
A typical hunter would probably yawn halfway through or skip it out of boredom.
But Takashi was the kind to read every single letter Kang-hoo sent, even salivating over it.
He was even doing mental image training while looking at each word.
Takashi sent a reply.
-I¡¯ve been keeping up with all the recent news. Be careful. Guys like Yuji and Kenji don¡¯t have normal minds.
-I¡¯m aware.
-But seriously, you¡¯re pretty amazing. You¡¯re maintaining 50 stacks of bleeding that easily?
-An assassin who can¡¯t do that deserves to die. Right? Assassins exist to keep the bleeding going.
-Humblebrag much? Fine. Want to join me in a Mystery Dungeon soon? Ready to show off?
-Sure. Just let me know when. Korea and Japan are close enough. Just need a ne.
-I might contact you soon. Like, really soon.
-No problem. As long as I¡¯m not in some unreachable ce, I¡¯ll respond immediately.
-Good! I can¡¯t stand not knowing things. Be prepared. Show me your skills!
-Hit me up. Until then, take care.
-This is gonna be fun. Can¡¯t wait!
The DM conversation with Takashi wrapped up in a warm, friendly tone.
Just as Kang-hoo had intended.
Takashi was the kind of guy who got excited like a child whenever he talked about dungeons or patterns, eyes practically glowing.
That¡¯s Takashi¡¯s character.
He enjoys the thrill of the unknown world of dungeons and the creativity they bring.
It¡¯s as if he¡¯s trying to figure out what the ¡°Creator¡± had in mind when designing the dungeon and its monsters.
From Kang-hoo¡¯s perspective, it felt like Takashi was taking an interest in the Creator¡ªhimself, the ¡°original author.¡±
After all, he was the one who built and shaped this world. That¡¯s why it felt even stranger.
In any case, though Kang-hoo was leaving Japan for a bit, it seemed he would have to return soon.
With the countries so close, it would likely be asmon as visiting a neighbor¡¯s house.
The next day.
Kang-hoo returned to Korea via Incheon Airport.
Just like Japan, Korea also had an impable level of security, making him feel once again how safe it was.
Incheon Airport, being a major hub in Asia, was incredibly crowded.
Moreover, wherever he went, hunters dispatched by the Hunter Public Safety Bureau were on high alert.
There was even a minormotion when someone suspected of a crime was arrested on the spot.
While going through immigration.
Kang-hoo was surprised by the number of people who approached him with questions.
They asked if he was the person from the videos. Thanks to Huntergram, his face had be quite recognizable.
Although he wasn¡¯t exactly a celebrity, it felt odd to be recognized.
In Korea, people who drew attention were usually hunters from the Jeonghwa Guild or, on the flip side, viins.
Kang-hoo was bing known despite not belonging to either group.
Having swiftlypleted the immigration process, Kang-hoo immediately called K.
He had contacted K once before returning to secure the Mad Srkium, which was the most urgent priority.
-You¡¯re calling right away, I see. So, you¡¯ve arrived? Judging by the airport announcements, you must be in Incheon?
¡°That¡¯s right. I just got here.¡±
-I have an easy schedule today. Everything¡¯s ready for delivery. Can youe right away?
¡°Yes, I can.¡±
-I¡¯ll set up a secure limousine at Seoul Station. Come over, and we¡¯ll talk.
¡°Understood.¡±
-Alright, see youter.
After ending the call with K, Kang-hoo decided to head toward Seoul Station, but before that, he called Jung Yuri. Since he had just finished the call with K, she came to mind. However, the call didn¡¯t go through at all. She must have entered a dungeon.
¡®She did say she¡¯s been focusing on leveling uptely, and it seems like she¡¯s practically living inside a dungeon.¡¯
While the saying goes that ¡°no news is good news,¡± thepleteck ofmunication made him slightly worried.
¡®Is this what it feels like to be a parent?¡¯ He wondered. Even though he believed she was doing well, theck of contact made him feel uneasy.
¡®Anyway, I¡¯ve left a missed call record, so she¡¯ll probably call back once she checks it.¡¯
Being the curious person Jung Yuri was, once she saw the missed call, she wouldn¡¯t be able to resist calling back immediately.
He thought he would check on her well-being when she called.
It was also true that Kang-hoo felt a little more concern for Jung Yuri than others.
He hoped she wouldn¡¯t be hurt again by others, like she had been in the past she had buried deep within.
If that ever happened again¡
He thought she might undergo some form of darkening. After all, the line between an angel and a devil is thin.
When Kang-hoo arrived at Seoul Station, what caught his eye was arge banner hanging at the front of the station.
The content was an announcement from the Jeonghwa Guild, recruiting hunters directly.
¡®At this time, the Jeonghwa Guild didn¡¯t recruit directly, opting to promote from satellite guilds instead.¡¯
That was how Kang-hoo remembered it.
The content of the original story came to mind.
[With the copse of The Abyss due to Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s death, there was no longer any need to replenish manpower.
As a result, Jang Si-hwan focused more on qualitative growth rather than quantitative expansion of the Jeonghwa Guild.
They withdrew all recruitment notices, both for the Jeonghwa Guild and its satellite guilds, shifting to internal management.]
¡°Ah.¡±
Kang-hoo immediately found the reason from the first part of his memory.
In the original, The Abyss, a warlord group, disbanded following the death of Lee Hyun-seok.
Lee Hyun-seok was killed by Moon Yu-seok¡¯s betrayal, and Jang Si-hwan then installed Moon Yu-seok as a puppet leader of The Abyss.
From there, Jang Si-hwan absorbed internal talent in stages, mitigating the shock and clearing out subpar hunters.
But now, The Abyss was still united under Lee Hyun-seok.
The traitor, Moon Yu-seok, had been killed by Lee Hyun-seok thanks to Kang-hoo¡¯s tip, and Lee Hyun-seok was still alive and well.
With the future changed, the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s stance had also shifted.
Given The Abyss¡¯s stronghold in the northern and northeastern regions of Gyeonggi Province, it made sense that they would feel burdened.
It was understandable that they were now aggressively recruiting hunters. Increasing numbers was crucial at this point.
Moreover¡
-Even at this very moment, as you watch this video, Lee Hyun-seok is piging food from civilian homes or ughtering innocent civilians, falsely using them of coborating with the Jeonghwa Guild.
-This video is absolutely not manipted. Just step outside into the northern region, and you¡¯ll see this happening frequently.
-Hunters of The Abyss, wake up! Your leader is not human. He is a murderer disguised as a man.
Next to the banner, arge screen was broadcasting a special segment, exposing the atrocitiesmitted by The Abyss.
A popr celebrity had even been recruited to narrate the video, filled with condemnation and usations.
In the original story, The Abyss had never been depicted as such an evil organization.
In fact, the case had copsed after Lee Hyun-seok¡¯s death, long before The Abyss came into conflict with Jang Si-hwan.
Among the warlord groups, it had been considered rtively rational, so there was no basis for such nder.
The term ¡°fabricated world¡± suddenly came to mind.@@novelbin@@
Unfortunately, everything Kang-hoo was seeing in the video was false.
¡®It seems like the winds of war are starting to blow in the capital as well. If they cross the line, Lee Hyun-seok won¡¯t stay silent.¡¯
After all, wasn¡¯t Lee Hyun-seok leading the charge against Jeonghwa?
The Abyss hunters were elite.
They had been repeatedly trained in battles, constantly raiding Ground Zero and areas near North Korea.
That¡¯s likely why Jang Si-hwan was so desperate to recruit external hunters. The current force must be insufficient, for sure.
Eventually, Kang-hoo arrived at Seoul Station and boarded the secure limousine that had been waiting for him.
As usual, apart from a brief greeting with the driver, he was guaranteedplete privacy throughout the journey.
The soundproof barriers in the limousine were raised, and the protective barriers for the vehicle were activated.
Just as Kang-hoo was about to take out his earphones to listen to some music, he received a call from Kim Shin-ryeong.
¡°Yes, this is Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
-Are you very busy?
Without even a brief greeting, she got straight to the point.
It was a style Kang-hoo appreciated the most. No need for the pointless pleasantries.
¡°I¡¯m busy, but my schedule is flexible. What¡¯s the matter?¡±
-I wanted to ask if you could help with summoner training again. And while you¡¯re at it, maybe test some new items?
The former was expected, but thetter wasn¡¯t. It piqued his interest.
She was skilled at crafting, synthesizing, and modifying items.
Often, unexpected items emerged from her hands, though she did mess up spectacrly from time to time.
Item testing meant she wanted to check the performance¡ªand possibly the marketability.
So, if she had created a decent item?
Kang-hoo, being the first to test it, would have the chance to purchase it before anyone else.
The opportunity to be the first to get his hands on her newest creation! It was too good a chance to pass up.
Chapter 213: Preparations For Entry (1)
¡°Since I have a prior appointment with Master K, may I contact you after finishing everything?¡±
-Ah, a prior appointment? Don¡¯t worry. I have things to do as well. I¡¯ve received a production request from Japan.
¡°From Japan?¡±
-Even if you¡¯re curious, don¡¯t ask. I won¡¯t tell you.
Since she was active in many fields, it wasn¡¯t strange for her to receive requests from Japan.
Although I was curious about who made the request, it seemed unlikely I would find out even if I asked.
¡°Then I¡¯ll contact you as soon as I finish this task. You¡¯re still in the country, right?¡±
-Yes, that¡¯s right.
¡°Understood.¡±The call with Kim Shin-ryeong ended.
As soon as I returned to Korea, it felt like all the pending tasks rushed in at once.
Being busy was better than idling, but it was true that the schedule was running chaotically.
As time passed, more people were looking for me, and there were also more people I had to find.
This must be what they callworking.
When Kang-hoo lived as the original creator, he was an introverted person who rarely left the studio.
The only reason he ever went out was to meet with the management¡¯s representatives.
That too ceased when the global COVID-19 pandemic broke out, giving him even less reason to go out.
That istion also existed in Shin Kang-hoo¡¯s life, but he was trying to consciously change it.
It was true that he struggled to do everything on his own, but no one could handle every single thing alone.
And if there were useful resources or people, it was only right to actively utilize them.
For that, propermunication and interaction were essential. Even if he had no outward personality,
he had to at least act like he did.
Every time I saw the name ¡°Yuri Land,¡± it felt strangely out of ce.
When Kang-hoo arrived at Master K¡¯s hideout and stepped out of the secure limousine, K personally weed him.
Usually, Moon Hyeong-seo or Hwang Bo-hye woulde out, but it seemed both were absent.
When Kang-hoo slightly tilted his head in confusion, K, noticing his thoughts, burst outughing.
¡°I can¡¯t even tell who¡¯s the master and who¡¯s the assistant anymore. Both of them are gone, so I had toe out.¡±
¡°What happened?¡±
¡°Hyeong-seo is still training in North Korea, trying to level up¡ Bo-hye followed him there.¡±
¡°Is that kind of rtionship allowed?¡±
¡°I promised them, after all. I told them I¡¯d give them at least three months off every year for their personal growth.¡±
¡°With this level of welfare, you might want to consider who¡¯s the master and who¡¯s the servant.¡±
¡°They¡¯re both Hunters. I¡¯m a Hunter, too. If we neglect growth, we¡¯ll be left behind. Come on, let¡¯s walk.¡±
K extended his hand.
Perhaps because Kang-hoo was as young as Jung Yuri, K extended his hand warmly, as if seeing a grandchild.
But Kang-hoo stood still for a moment, staring nkly at K¡¯s hand, as if time had stopped.
It felt awkward. He had never experienced holding someone¡¯s hand tightly and walking together.
Neither as the original creator nor as Shin Kang-hoo. Warmth was always something distant from him.
Of course, Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t so rude as to ignore K¡¯s warm heart and kindness.
He grasped K¡¯s hand firmly.
The rough calluses along K¡¯s palm conveyed a brick-like texture, a different level of ruggedness from his own.
Embedded in that texture was a lifetime of everything¡ªan existence that could not avoid having dirt on their hands.
K remarked,
¡°Your hands are pretty soft.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve developed a lot of calluses where I grip my dagger, but the other parts are still soft.¡±
¡°You probably haven¡¯t had many chances to get them bloody. Think of it as a good thing. Once they get rough, they never soften again.¡±
K¡¯s face, gazing somewhere up at the sky in reflection, seemed to carry the weight of his memories.
There was likely a story behind his words. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising, considering everything K had been through.
He continued,
¡°I need to talk to you about the talisman. There¡¯s a snag. It¡¯s hard to get a hold of colorless talismans. Even Shin-ryeong says he¡¯s out of stock.¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine. Please don¡¯t feel pressured. If I thought this could be resolved quickly, I wouldn¡¯t have started this job in the first ce.¡±
Kang-hoo shook his head.
Congenital Mana Sensitivity was a long-standing, deeply-rooted ailment for Kang-hoo as a Hunter.
He had lived with it for so long that he never expected it to magically disappear overnight.
By now, he had gotten quite used to the pain and had be skilled at walking the precarious tightrope between thresholds.
Moreover, the very existence of Congenital Mana Sensitivity gave Kang-hoo a certain tension.
The pressure of time.
From a negative perspective, he could endlesslyment why such a penalty was ced on him.
But from a positive view, it meant he never wasted time in any battle.
It forced him to constantly research and find ways to maximize the efficiency of both time and skills.
In short, he could never afford to rx.
Comcency? For Kang-hoo, it was an impossible feeling. In battle, time was never on his side.
¡°I¡¯m doing my best, so I¡¯d appreciate your patience.¡±
¡°I¡¯m already grateful just for your concern about my problem. Truly.¡±
Kang-hoo bowed his head.
K was genuinely worried about his Mana Sensitivity. Kang-hoo could feel his sincerity.
It wasn¡¯t easy for someone to think about another¡¯s problem as if it were their own. People were inherently selfish.
So, he was grateful for K¡¯s concern, even though it came with a sense of guilt.
¡°By the way, I saw the news from Japan. Looks like you tangled with a madman. Are you going to be okay?¡±
¡°Who are you referring to?¡±
If only there were just one madman.
Kang-hoo had crossed paths with quite a few people who had blood on their hands, so he had to ask who.
There was Cha So-hyeok, members of the Touushi Guild, and then there were Yuji and Kenji.
Now that I think about it, I¡¯ve dealt with quite a few people. Thanks to that, I¡¯ve gained quite a bit.
¡°I¡¯m talking about Ishihara Yuji, the wanted criminal ssified as Grade 1 by the public safety bureaus of Korea, China, and Japan.¡±
¡°I just wanted to make sure that if he could stab others, he should be aware that a de could also end up in his own body.¡±
¡°Haha. He¡¯s famous for his hit-and-runbat style, but you managed tond a solid blow on him? I was surprised.¡±
¡°Well, the situation worked out in my favor, allowing me to hit him. I¡¯m not sure about a direct confrontation, though.¡±
¡°I heard he was seriously injured? Recently, you¡¯re the first one to inflict such a severe wound on Yuji.¡±
¡°If he¡¯s still alive, I doubt he¡¯s getting proper treatment. He waspletely unguarded when it happened.¡±
Kang-hoo was certain that Yuji had survived. This was because the constetion plunder hadn¡¯t urred.
If Yuji had diedter, all of his constetion contracts would have been transferred to Kang-hoo.
But that hadn¡¯t happened.
This meant Yuji must have been healed by some other means.
There¡¯s no way a wanted criminal would reveal his face at a hospital or receive treatment from a healer like An Yeong-ho.
The conclusion is obvious.
Yuji must have sought help from a hunter who dabbled in ck magic, someone who had stepped into the gray or ck zone.
In that case¡
The next time I face Yuji, I¡¯ll have a strategy.@@novelbin@@
There¡¯s a way to exploit the ¡®weakness¡¯ that a hunter who has exposed his body to a ck mage inevitably develops.
Kang-hoo already had it in mind.
¡°Do you think you¡¯ll be okay?¡±
¡°Yes. It won¡¯t be easy, but I¡¯ve already sketched out how to deal with him.¡±
¡°As expected, you always have a n. Heh.¡±
K smiled and patted Kang-hoo on the shoulder, a gesture of confidence and encouragement.
Some timeter¡
In K¡¯s private workshop, Kang-hoo looked at arge map.
It was a detailed map, focusing on the northern areas, with Yuri Land at its center.
Instead of a satellite image, the map was drawn in 3D, and the reason was simple:
When satellite images were taken of North Korea, they came out blurry, making identification impossible.
Even drones often crashed due to unknown interference or distortion.
As a result, despite being in the 21st century, they were stuck using a half-hand-drawn map.
K pointed to an X-marked spot on the map. Kang-hoo could guess what it meant.
¡°This ce has already been harvested for the Mad Srkium. It¡¯s useless to go back there.¡±
¡°All the nearby locations are marked with Xs.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. I marked them so we wouldn¡¯t waste time going back to the same ce. The next likely spot is here.¡±
¡°That¡¯s definitely North Korea.¡±
¡°Exactly. It¡¯s north of the Ground Zero line, so it¡¯s essentially North Korea. This is the safest route.¡±
K¡¯s finger traced a series of sharp curves on the map.
Whether looking at the map or the movement of his finger, it was clear that the route wouldn¡¯t be easy.
K added a word of caution.
¡°Be careful. There¡¯s a monster called the Swarm Queen in North Korea. Have you heard of it?¡±
¡°Yes, I have.¡±
¡°That makes it easier to exin. The Swarm Queen isn¡¯t the only threat. Her hybrid minions are dangerous too.¡±
¡°I n to avoidbat as much as possible.¡±
Though Kang-hoo said that to K, in truth, he was determined to find the Swarm Queen.
That¡¯s the only way to steal her heart and break the seal on the random skillbook.
Of course, the skillbook could turn out to be something trivial, making the sacrifice meaningless.
But the opposite could also be true. Without opening it, there¡¯s no way to know, so Kang-hoo was prepared to take the gamble.
¡°If it feels too risky, waiting might be a good idea. You can always send Hyeong-seo or Bo-hye once they¡¯re back.¡±
¡°No. I don¡¯t have that luxury.¡±
Kang-hoo shook his head.
He wanted to visit North Korea at least once.
In the original work, it was a ce filled with endless unresolved plot points!
He wondered how all those unconscious threads were implemented in North Korea.
¡°Take the map. It¡¯s just a copy, so don¡¯t feel pressured.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡±
¡°By the way, there¡¯s one more thing you should keep in mind¡¡±
¡°Yes, please go ahead.¡±
¡°There are a lot of unauthorized facilities in North Korea. Since there¡¯s no one to officially recognize or regte them, they just pop up everywhere.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve heard that quite a few criminals have fled there. Whether they survive or not, no one knows.¡±
¡°Exactly. The problem is that there are more unlicensed facilities owned by the Kashimar Guild than you¡¯d expect.¡±
¡°Are they using it as a waypoint?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. In the past, the Osho Mercenary Corps used to kidnap and traffic hunters, passing them through that route.¡±
¡°Even though the Osho Mercenary Corps is gone, human trafficking itself hasn¡¯t been eradicated¡¡±
¡°Precisely. That route is still being used. Those facilities might be closer than you think.¡±
¡°You¡¯re saying a confrontation could happen.¡±
¡°Yes. If you don¡¯t factor that in, you¡¯ll be caught off guard.¡±
Kang-hoo lightly bit his lip at K¡¯s words.
He had no intention of picking a fight with the Kashimar Guild. After all, North Korea wasn¡¯t his home ground either.
The problemy with them.
To Kashimar Guild hunters, anyone who wasn¡¯t a member of their own organization was viewed as a potential ¡®product.¡¯
In awless ce like North Korea, where there was no public safety or observers, if Kang-hoo ran into them¡
It was obvious how they would see him. Kidnapping and very, guaranteed.
Chapter 214: Preparations For Entry (2)
Afternoon.
Kang-hoo decided to leave after resting at the guest vi inside Yuri Land, thanks to K¡¯s hospitality.
The rain, which had just begun, was expected to stop by nightfall.
Of course, the weather wouldn¡¯t make much difference when heading to the dangerous Ground Zero¡
Still, the rain wasing down quite heavily, so he wanted to avoid it for a bit.
He re-nned his route based on the map K had given him.
¡°First, I¡¯ll grab the Mad Srkium here. Then, it¡¯s best to go deeper and find the Queen of the Herd here.¡±
The shortest route felt satisfying, but optimistic predictions were usually wrong.
So, he added a few detours to the route, as it seemed more realistic this way.¡°I¡¯ll be going quite far north. This area is a nomunication zone, but I can¡¯t avoid it.¡±
It was clear that he would end up in amunication dead zone.
Realistically calcting this made him feel at ease. It seemed he would be stepping into North Korean territory quite thoroughly.
While resting, he saw arge number of trucks passing by outside the window.
All of them bore the emblem of the Jeonghwa Guild.
The Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s emblem was a rather impressive design, representing zing mes.
In the original story, there had been an illustration of this emblem, and he recalled the readers had responded well to it.
[Unwavering conviction, unbreakable persistence.]
Along with the emblem, the slogan was also visible.
In the original, it was a phrase that stirred some pride, but from Shin Kang-hoo¡¯s perspective, it felt revolting.
Who exactly were the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s hunters sacrificing themselves for, under this misguided conviction and forced persistence?
The shadow cast by Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeong had infiltrated deeply and covertly.
Even when strange or problematic elements were found within the guild, their affection and pride in the guild made them ignore the ufortable truth.
¡°There¡¯s no way our guild would do that. The master wouldn¡¯t be that kind of person,¡± they thought, caught in a cycle of denial.
Surprisingly, the Jeonghwa Guild had turned into a kind of cult, intoxicated by the figure of Jang Si-hwan.
Every process was structured that way.
While the hunters might casually criticize Chae Gwanhyeong, they would never do the same to Jang Si-hwan. They believed in himpletely.
¡°K said he doesn¡¯t fully trust the Jeonghwa Guild either. Guess it¡¯s hard to avoid capitalism.¡±
Seeing the endless stream of Jeonghwa Guild trucks, Kang-hoo couldn¡¯t help but remember K¡¯s words and chuckled.
Of course, he didn¡¯t doubt K¡¯s intentions.
The more transactions K made, the more profit he earned. And it was the Jeonghwa Guild spending the money.
Then,
a phone call came.
It was from Jung Yuri.
¡°Hey.¡±
Oppa! Where are you? I didn¡¯t even realize you¡¯d called; I¡¯ve been in a dungeon for the past three days! How¡¯ve you been?
¡°Yuri Land.¡±
What? Why are you there, Oppa? Did youe because you knew I was here?
¡°Of course not.¡±
Kang-hoo bit his lip and nodded, immediately putting an end to Jung Yuri¡¯s cute assumption.
He could¡¯ve cheekily said he came to see her, but he couldn¡¯t manage to say it and just hit a wall instead.
However, it seemed Jung Yuri was immune to it, as she responded even more cheekily.
Actually, I nned my dungeon schedule nearby, knowing you¡¯de here!
¡°That¡¯s a bit much.¡±
Ugh, you¡¯re no fun! Where are you? I¡¯ming to see you. It¡¯d be a shame not to meet aftering all the way here!
¡°I¡¯m at the guest vi.¡±
Ah, that ce? Bored? You must be, without Hyung-seo or Bohye-noona to talk to.
¡°To be honest, the two you mentioned aren¡¯t exactly people to talk to. It¡¯d be more awkward if they were here.¡±
Heh, true. Anyway, wait for me! I needed a break too, so I¡¯lle rest with you!
¡°Alright. See youter.¡±
Since the vi was quiterge, there was no need to misunderstand Jung Yuri¡¯s intention to ¡°rest together.¡±
By evening,
he met Jung Yuri.
As soon as she saw Kang-hoo, she waved her hand energetically from afar, looking like a child.
To Kang-hoo, who wasn¡¯t one to wave back more than a few times, her greeting seemed even more childlike.
Jung Yuri ran over to give him a hug but stopped when she saw his stoic expression.
Then she muttered under her breath, loud enough for him to hear.
¡°You really can¡¯t act happy to see me, huh? Running all the way here is embarrassing.¡±
¡°You know that.¡±
¡°Know what? Hmph.¡±
¡°By the way, your skin¡¯s gotten quite tanned. I can see the bronze.¡±
¡°Right? The dungeon I went to was in constant daylight, and the sun was no joke. I gotpletely tanned!¡±
¡°You look healthy.¡±
¡°Standing next to you, the contrast is really noticeable. Wow¡ Is this like the difference between milk chocte and regr chocte?¡±
Jung Yuriughed as shepared her bronzed skin to Kang-hoo¡¯s paleplexion.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo observed a new constetion that had appeared on Jung Yuri while they were apart.
¡¾Cmity God¡¿
¡¾The grudge and curse towards the target of vengeance continuously stimte the target¡¯s unconscious.
Neurological and psychological changes may ur, depending on the target¡¯s mental strength.¡¿
¡®Even if she doesn¡¯t show it outwardly, her deep-rooted hatred for Chae Gwanhyeong has now summoned a constetion.¡¯
Thinking of the always cheerful and lively Jung Yuri, this constetion seemed like herplete opposite.
Besides the constetion scan, there might be other positive elements benefiting her that he hadn¡¯t yet noticed.
But based on what he had confirmed, her desire for revenge against Chae Gwanhyeong had reached its peak, embodying a curse in its purest form.
Kang-hoo, who knew Jung Yuri¡¯s painful past better than anyone, wasn¡¯t surprised by her contract with such a constetion.
He only hoped that the constetion¡¯s harsh intentions wouldn¡¯t taint her pure spirit too deeply.
Jung Yuri changed the topic.
¡°Oppa! Do you have a moment? There¡¯s something I want to ask you, and I think you¡¯d know.¡±
¡°What is it?¡±
¡°Recently, while going through dungeons, I¡¯ve been feeling stuck. Could you check something for me at the training grounds?¡±
¡°Of course.¡±
The two of them headed to the practice training grounds located right next to the vi.
Though it didn¡¯t seem like a ce that people visited often, the training ground was neatly organized.
There wasn¡¯t even a speck of dust, and the interior was bright, which was a refreshing changepared to the gloomy atmosphere of Ground Zero.
Jung Yuri stood in the center of the training grounds and continued talking.
¡°As you know, my abilities are mainly based on magic, right? I mix offensive spells with my ability to open spatial passages, plus my smoke form ability.¡±
¡°I¡¯m aware.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
Her ability to open spatial passages was simr to Kenji¡¯s, and her unique feature was the ability to transform into ck smoke.
¡°Lately, I¡¯ve been feeling frustrated when I open spatial passages. When battles get intense, I have to open passages without a break¡.¡±
Pa-at! Pa-pat!
Jung Yuri demonstrated.
As she repeatedly opened and closed the passages, her rhythm started to break at some point.
She added more exnation.
¡°It feels like I¡¯m half a beat behind. Since the passages materialize slower than I expect, my battle rhythm gets thrown off too.¡±
¡°Keep going. Do it until you get tired. I¡¯ll observe quietly, and if I notice something, I¡¯ll tell you.¡±
With his arms crossed, Kang-hoo carefully watched Jung Yuri¡¯s use of space.
Perhaps it was due to Takashi¡¯s influence, or maybe it was part of his innate nature.
When he focused, patterns and habits that had been invisible became clear.
It was as if he could break down every movement and change into extremely short time intervals and make judgments.
As he observed Jung Yuri¡¯s ability,
he recalled the incidents with Kenji and remembered what was covered in the original story.
Then, the problem became visible. And simultaneously, the solution came to mind.
¡°Stop for a moment.¡±
¡°Huh? Why?¡±
¡°You don¡¯t need to continue.¡±
¡°You already¡ saw something?¡±
¡°I saw the issue, and I think I know why it¡¯s happening. I can also give you a solution.¡±
¡°¡Really?¡±
Jung Yuri seemed surprised.
She hadn¡¯t confided in Kang-hoo expecting him to solve her problem, just to vent her frustration.
But now that he was offering a solution, she was taken aback. Could Kang-hoo really see what was wrong?
¡°But it feels wrong to just tell you for free.¡±
¡°Should I give you a kiss¡ or something?¡±
¡°Do you really think a measly kiss is a proper reward?¡±
¡°Oppa, that hit hard! Ouch!¡±
¡°Enough. Listen.¡±
Thement was a joke.
Jung Yuri was his partner moving forward. If there was something he could help her with, he should help.
He also hoped she¡¯d surpass Kenji in spatial maniption. She was talented enough.
Kang-hoo continued.
¡°When you open a passage, don¡¯t think about the entrance and exit. Try reversing it.¡±
¡°You mean I should think about the exit first, then draw the entrance?¡±
¡°Yeah. The process of opening the passage is too causally linked, which is where the hesitationes from.¡±
¡°You¡¯re saying I¡¯m overly concerned with safety?¡±
¡°The key to spatial maniption is boldness. The more you hesitate, the slower it gets. Caution isn¡¯t the answer here.¡±
¡°¡Ah!¡±
It seemed like something had clicked for Jung Yuri, and she let out an exmation.
While anyone could give advice, the understanding had toe from within her.
Since Jung Yuri was talented, the slight hint Kang-hoo provided seemed to have made a significant impact.
And perhaps because of that,
she started opening passages in rapid session again. This time, the process flowed smoothly.
She had escaped the ¡®half-beat¡¯ nightmare.
The feedback had resulted in an immediate change, and even Kang-hoo was surprised at how quickly it happened.
¡°Wow¡! As expected, Oppa, you¡¯re amazing! Did you really see the issue as soon as I started? Really?¡±
Chook! Chook! Chook!
¡°¡.¡±
Before Kang-hoo could even react, Jung Yuri began peppering his cold cheek with yful kisses.
¡°Ah.¡±
¡°Um.¡±
¡°Uh¡ I usually do this when I¡¯m happy, just like I used to with Grandma and Grandpa¡.¡±
Noticing Kang-hoo¡¯s lukewarm reaction and gaze, Jung Yuri scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
¡°Kuk.¡±
Kang-hoo chuckled.
It was cute how she expressed her happiness like a child, then quickly became embarrassed about it.
These were actions Kang-hoo could never bring himself to do, feelings he could never imitate.@@novelbin@@
¡°Oppa, thanks so much. How did you even see that? I got chills for a second. You¡¯re an assassin, right?¡±
¡°Just because I¡¯m an assassin doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m only good at assassin-rted moves.¡±
¡°But to give such a deep and insightful piece of advice, you¡¯d need to have knowledge about other professions, right?¡±
¡°As long as it has a happy ending, that¡¯s what matters.¡±
¡°I¡¯m so d I asked you, Oppa. No one else suggested thinking in reverse.¡±
¡°From now on, when you feel stuck, try thinking in reverse. It¡¯s surprisingly effective.¡±
What seems like opposites, like forward and reverse, are more interconnected than they appear.
It was an approach often used in the original story, and it worked here as well.
¡®In the end, it¡¯s my world.¡¯
Kang-hoo once again felt the reality of the world he lived in.
A world designed exactly ording to the creator¡¯s intent.
That¡¯s why he could pinpoint solutions so sharply.
But at the same time, it was also a world where he would inevitably face a dark future he didn¡¯t want to confront.
Because of that,
he wanted to twist it.
If everything flowed ¡®naturally,¡¯ the only thing left at the end would be ¡®despair¡¯ without a trace of hope or dreams.
By twisting the natural order, despair could be turned into hope.
Lee Hyun-seok, who should have died long ago, was alive and causing havoc for the Jeonghwa Guild.
And Park Dong-jae, who should be suffering in prison, was growing explosively, revealing his potential.
Chapter 201 Change (1)
From the moment the battle between Kang-hoo and Cha So-hyuk began, Ayane lowered her gun and watched their fight.
There was a signal from Kang-hoo not to add firepower, and she didn¡¯t intend to anyway.
She held her breath and observed.@@novelbin@@
Compared to the battles she had seen in the Fukuoka Liberation Area that disgusted the eyes of other hunters, the current scene was almost a masterpiece.
Kang-hoo¡¯s movements, in particr, were so impressive that Ayane couldn¡¯t help but admire them several times.
However,
¡®An assassin below level 200 keeping a thorough distance from a swordsman over level 300¡¡¯
Ayane realized that Kang-hoo¡¯s level was below 200 due to his inability to immediately use stealth.
The level 200 basic skill for assassins, ¡®Stealth,¡¯ allows for instant concealment.
But Kang-hoo¡¯s stealth always activated withteral movement or by hiding behind a curtain of technique.
That made it even more impressive.
It meant that histeral movement skill had reached maximum proficiency.
And it also suggested there was a skill indirectly supporting his stealth.
From her observations of Cha So-hyuk¡¯s movements, Ayane judged that his level was well over 300.
Considering the level difference and special awakening skills, he should have finished Kang-hoo off long ago.
The number that represents a level isn¡¯t there for no reason. It proves the difference in skills and abilities.
Yet Kang-hoo was oveing that gap with skill and ability.
¡°From a swordsman¡¯s perspective, isn¡¯t this enough to drive you crazy? Even watching is infuriating¡¡±
Ayane clicked her tongue as she saw Kang-hoo maintaining an extreme distance. It was truly frustrating.
Cha So-hyuk was desperately trying tond a valid attack on Kang-hoo, but he had never seeded.
It was a situation bound to make one angry.
Even after casting his self-enhancing buffs and unleashing a wild flurry of attacks, Kang-hoo still wouldn¡¯t close the distance.
In baseball terms, it felt like a pitcher continuously throwing pickoff attempts without ever delivering to the te.
Since there was no direct confrontation, frustration was inevitable.
¡°If he were a smart swordsman, he would adopt a slow-paced approach too, but he doesn¡¯t seem like that kind of person.¡±
Unlike Kang-hoo, who remained expressionless throughout the fight,
Cha So-hyuk, as Ayane saw him, was hot-tempered to the core. His eyes were half-rolled back even now.
He hadpletely fallen into Kang-hoo¡¯s strategy.
At that moment¡ª
Bang!
Cha So-hyuk, screaming curses, lunged at Kang-hoo with a powerful strike aimed at him.
But the attack was instantly blocked by a protective barrier, and Kang-hoo quickly widened the distance using Shadow Step.
¡°Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!¡±
Cha So-hyuk furiously mmed his sword into the ground in frustration.
His failed attack, despite finally making contact, had been negated by defense, driving him to the edge.
Moreover, his stamina had been heavily drained, and he momentarily paused to regte his disrupted breathing.
That was when it happened.
Kang-hoo, who seemed to have retreated, swapped ces with another shadow and rushed at Cha So-hyuk.
It was a counterattack so swift that there wasn¡¯t even half a second to catch his breath.
¡°You bastard¡!¡±
Though Cha So-hyuk wasn¡¯t a fool, he immediately gripped his sword and generated a gust of wind with all his strength.
It was a response that utilized his full power to repel Kang-hoo.
Whoosh.
But Kang-hoo easily retreated again, using the shadow as if he had no intention of fighting in the first ce.
¡°Wow¡ this must be really frustrating, huh?¡±
Ayane admired the scene.
As expected, her sharp eye from the time Kang-hoo fought fiercely with Jeung Seonk wasn¡¯t wrong.
He was the real deal.
A truly outstanding assassin.
Among all the assassins she had encountered up until she reached level 400, Kang-hoo was undeniably at the top.
No,paring him to the other ¡®trash¡¯ assassins she had met felt like an insult.
Strong, overflowing with skill, but always calm and never arrogant¡ªan assassin who knew how to control his emotions.
Ayane, arms folded, watched Kang-hoo with a smile as if she were a proud mother.
She thought, ¡°What an incredibly well-grown assassin.¡± Watching him was a pleasure to her eyes.
Meanwhile¡ª
¡®Doesn¡¯t this guy ever get tired? What a maniac.¡¯
Kang-hoo maintained his everposed poker face, though many thoughts were running through his head.
The first task of drawing Cha So-hyuk into his pace had undoubtedly been a sess.
Cha So-hyuk was showing more and more openings, and his patience was wearing thin, causing him to act even more recklessly.
In the process, he was making unnecessary movements, further depleting his own stamina.
The remaining duration of the Mad Srkium was roughly 10 minutes.
Due to his extreme evasion strategy, once its effect wore off, Kang-hoo felt like he might copse.
Cha So-hyuk was exhausted too, but so was Kang-hoo. He had merely dyed it with the Mad Srkium.
Distortion de. And ck Moon sh.
These two skills were being saved as much as possible to be used in a finishingboter.
¡®No need to rush. Even if nothing happens for five minutes, a battle can end in a second.¡¯
He steadied his emotions.
The one more anxious than himself was Cha So-hyuk, so Kang-hoo needed to maintain a calm appearance.
The more one shows their anxiety, the more likely they are to lose.
Kang-hoo nned to endure patiently until a clear opening appeared.
Six more minutes passed.
There were two incidents.
Cha So-hyuk eventually sustained two wounds on his left arm from Kang-hoo¡¯s Decapitating Strike.
Though they weren¡¯t deep wounds,
it wasn¡¯t at full strength either, and it wasn¡¯t to the extent that he couldn¡¯t grip his sword properly.
On the other hand, Kang-hoo suffered wounds on his left leg and left arm, though they didn¡¯t hinder his movement much.
After all, he was ambidextrous, and since his main hand was the right, it didn¡¯t affect hisbat ability.
¡®This Bloodlust skill is really annoying. Why does itst as long as Mad Srkium?¡¯
Cha So-hyuk¡¯s self-buff skill, Bloodlust, exceeded Kang-hoo¡¯s expectations.
Thanks to this skill, Cha So-hyuk, who should have been exhausted, was able to keep pushing through like a stubborn beast.
Throughout the battle, Kang-hoo never had a moment of ease.
Dodge, strike, retreat.
This must be what a battle between skilled fighters looks like.
At a higher level, this would be a normal fight.
It was nothing like fighting the much weaker Choi Jin-ho and Choi Jin-su brothers earlier.
So while it excited him, his body was screaming that it was on the verge of copse.
In fact, oveing the level difference of more than 150 was an incredible feat.
¡®He¡¯s losing hisposure. Cha So-hyuk more than me. He¡¯s bing more aggressive but less defensive. Three minutes left¡¡¯
Now, Cha So-hyuk had reached the state Kang-hoo had been waiting for.
It was like a boxer whose guard drops at the end of a match. That¡¯s exactly what Cha So-hyuk looked like now.
Of course, it wasn¡¯t easy for Kang-hoo either to maintain his stance with his dagger raised.
¡°Stop running, you bastard, and fight me!¡±
Cha So-hyuk finally cursed in fury and charged again.
His bloodshot eyes were filled with murderous intent, as if they were about to burst.
¡®It¡¯s time.¡¯
Atst, the opening Kang-hoo had been patiently waiting for appeared.
He used all his skills¡ªillusion magic, clone techniques, and Shadow Step¡ªto distract Cha So-hyuk¡¯s attention.
In the meantime,
He hadid down a skill he had prepared in secret behind him: the Distortion de.
It was an invisible line of death mana stretching not far away, impossible to detect with the naked eye.
If Cha So-hyuk hadn¡¯t been so distracted by the illusions and shadows, he might have noticed the slight ripple in space.
But with hisposure lost, Cha So-hyuk shed through the illusions and shadows,ughing wildly.
¡°Haha! I¡¯ll disperse them all with a single swing!¡±
After clearing away the illusions and shadows, Cha So-hyuk charged directly at Kang-hoo.
This time, due to using several skills in a row, Kang-hoo couldn¡¯t create distance.
Even the shadows he could have used were dispersed by Cha So-hyuk. It was a learned response.
ng! ng!
Twice.
Their weapons shed¡ªCha So-hyuk¡¯s greatsword against Kang-hoo¡¯s dagger. The narrow de of the dagger made the pressure much greater.
¡®Again.¡¯
Kang-hoo once more deployed Shadow Step, sending one shadow behind him.
The remaining four were sent to Cha So-hyuk to obscure his vision.
But Cha So-hyuk ignored thempletely and focused only on Kang-hoo.
With the Distortion de behind him, Kang-hoo¡¯s movements were restricted.
Kang-hoo decided to strategically let his body take a hit.
sh!
He purposefully made it look like he exposed his front just enough.
Half of it was an act.
But the timing was slightly off, so his body leaned forward more than expected, and the hit went in deeper than intended.
St!
Blood sttered from Kang-hoo¡¯s abdomen.
The wound didn¡¯t reach the peritoneum, just a long cut across the surface.
Thus, it made the situation look even more convincing.
Seeing the blood, Cha So-hyuk¡¯s expression changed.
¡°Die, you bastard!¡±
Excited at the thought that he had finallynded a hit on Kang-hoo, Cha So-hyuk leaped with determination.
He was intent on putting all his strength into smashing Kang-hoo down once and for all.
Whoosh!
At that moment, Kang-hoo shifted his body into the shadow he had ced behind him. It was the same maneuver he had used before, with no noticeable difference.
Cha So-hyuk should have stopped here.
He should have, but¡
Thud thud thud!
As soon as his feet touched the ground, he sprinted forward like a bull charging at a red cloth.
And then¡ª
Swoosh¡
He was caught in the Distortion de.
The line that coiled tightly around his chest brought an immediate sense of difort.
¡°W-What is this¡?¡±
From the moment his body touched it, the Distortion de revealed itself, glowing an ivory hue as it became visible.
When in contact with the human body, the mana reacted, giving it color. That was precisely the situation now.
Kang-hoo activated the distortion immediately.
¡°Aaagh! Aaargh!¡±
The line wrapped around Cha So-hyuk¡¯s chest acted like a sharp saw, sending blood spraying and tearing through muscle.
The constant distortion made it seem as if his flesh was being sliced by the twisting space.
¡°W-What the hell!¡±
Panicking, Cha So-hyuk struggled desperately, trying to tear the line off.
He couldn¡¯t maintain hisposure with the fear that his body might be sliced in half if this continued.
Blood sprayed from his hands as he grabbed the line, but that didn¡¯t matter. Removing it took priority.
At that moment¡ª
¡¾ck Moon sh¡¿
Kang-hoo was already prepared for the next move.
If he used Decapitating Strike or sh Dagger here and the situation spiraled out of control, it would only get moreplicated.
A decisive strike seemed most fitting. To sever the ill-fated connection between him and Cha So-hyuk¡¯s sister.
¡°Hoo.¡±
He took a breath.
Channeling as much dark energy as possible, he maximized the power of ck Moon sh.
And then¡ª
¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡±
Cha So-hyuk, having finally torn off the bloody line with his two blood-soaked hands, screamed in rage and lunged again.
Swish!
At the same time, ck Moon sh left Kang-hoo¡¯s sword.
The cursed sword of the ck moon, carrying the song of death.
The fatal strike was aimed directly at the center of Cha So-hyuk¡¯s chest.
Then¡ª
Swoosh¡
Cha So-hyuk felt it.
The destructive energy that could not be blocked by a sword split his weapon in half and sliced through his chest.
His gaze, which should have been focused solely on Kang-hoo, was now involuntarily directed toward the sky.
That¡¯s right.
His body was no longer where it should have been; it was flying through the air.
Chapter 215: North Korea (1)
The next day at dawn.
As soon as the sky cleared, Kang-hoo immediately left the vi.
Jung Yuri, who had fallen asleep early in the evening, didn¡¯te out of her room even once.
She must have been thoroughly exhausted from the forced march through the dungeon. I even heard a faint sound, like she was softly snoring, before stepping outside.
Heading north, Kang-hoo summoned his Fallen Spirit, continuously scouting the surroundings.
And whenever necessary, he used the ¡°Third Eye¡± constetion to position a watcher behind him to monitor the rear.
Since Ground Zero was full of monsters that moved silently, this was a precautionary measure.
Sssss! Sssss!
The Fallen Spirit diligently searched around, moving frantically to locate monsters emitting dark energy.Its frantic movement only meant one thing: no relevant monsters were nearby.
Relieving some tension from his body, Kang-hoo continued moving north.
As he went further, he felt the surroundings grow quieter.
Even the noise one would expect from nature seemed swallowed up by something and faded away.
It felt as if I had been dropped into a world where I was the only one left.
¡°¡¡.¡±
White bones gradually came into view.
It wasn¡¯t unusual to see human remains in Ground Zero.@@novelbin@@
There were corpses of hunters killed by monsters, and ordinary people who had died trying to flee north because they had nowhere else to go.
Sometimes, people were murdered and their bodies were discarded here, an urrence so frequent it was almost routine.
Because of its geographical features, Ground Zero was a ce where outsiders rarely ventured.
The situation was so bad that even the Public Safety Bureau said if they only focused on recovering the bodies of hunters from Ground Zero, they could uncover thousands of unsolved murders.
About two hours after leaving the vi.
Arriving at the first point, there was no sign of the Mad Srkium.
To be precise, someone had torn it apart, eaten part of it, and left remnants. Clearly, it was the work of wild animals.
Usually, a guardian known as the ¡°Punisher¡± watches over the location of the Mad Srkium.
However, this guardian only reacts to humans, so it wouldn¡¯t have stopped the ¡°gourmet¡± feast of wild animals.
And when the Mad Srkium disappears, the Punisher leaves as well, leaving behind nothing but an empty space.
At that moment¡ª
Ksshhrrrk!
The Fallen Spirit reacted.
¡®Oh.¡¯
Kang-hoo turned his gaze to where it had dashed off, and sure enough, there was a monster.
The ck Guide.
It was a creature he had encountered before.
A monster that could wrap its enormous body around you like a cloak, robbing you of sight and driving you to madness before killing you.
Before the Great Catastrophe ¨C before forming a contract with darkness ¨C I wouldn¡¯t have known if there was dark energy present or not, so I would¡¯ve had to attack first just in case.
But now, I could decide whether to hunt the ck shadow or ignore it.
That¡¯s because a number was disyed above the ck Guide¡¯s name.
¡¾3¡¿
¡¾ck Guide¡¿
Could I really pass up a creature that gives me 3 units of dark energy? No way. I had to chase it down and capture it.
Right now, Ground Zero is in a ¡°border period.¡± Monsters are stronger, but the rewards are greater.
¡®This should be interesting.¡¯
Just then, Kang-hoo detected another monster, halting in his tracks.
He had almost missed it while focusing on the ck Guide, but about 10 meters ahead, there was a mutant sunflower.
Thest time he encountered it, he lured it into spraying its acidic fluid to capture it. It had been a somewhat risky method.
But this time, it seemed he could take it down in a different way. And it was a good opportunity for practice, too.
¡¾Thorn Hell¡¿
Kang-hoo chose Thorn Hell.
The full name was Ashen Thorn Hell, but it was often abbreviated unless specific configurations were required.
Upon using the Thorn Hell skill, dark energy slithered off Kang-hoo¡¯s left hand and sank into the ground.
Then, a line became visible to Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes¡ªthough it would be hard for others to see it¡ªlike someone had drawn a straight line with a pencil from where Kang-hoo stood to the mutant sunflower.
And the moment that line reached the desired position, Kang-hoo clenched his left hand.
This was the activation gesture for Thorn Hell, a move learned alongside the skill itself.
At that moment¡ª
Crash!
ck thorns shot up from beneath the ground in regr intervals.
The first thorn rose near Kang-hoo¡¯s position, and the final one erupted under the sunflower.
Kiheeeee¡!
The mutant sunflower let out a nasty shriek.
It couldn¡¯t detect Kang-hoo¡¯s exact position yet, so it only screamed.
Crash!
The thorns would strike the target, sink back into the ground, and then reemerge at the next interval.
In terms of timing, the thorns rose and fell in about one-second intervals at the same spot.
¡®So, the dark energy isn¡¯t transforming into thorns, but it¡¯s manipting the terrain to create thorn-like shapes.¡¯
Kang-hoo naturally confirmed the skill¡¯s mechanism.
If this skill couldn¡¯t be used in mid-air, it might only manifest thorn shapesposed of pure dark energy.
In that case, it would likely function more as a spiritual attack than a physical one, targeting ghost-like monsters.
¡®I need to maintain concentration. The line keeps trying to waver and veer off in the wrong direction.¡¯
Using the helpless mutant sunflower as a test subject, Kang-hoo checked everything he could.
Since dark energy was being consumed throughout the casting process, the expenditure was by no means small.
To control the line or band of dark energy extending from himself to the target, precise handling was necessary.
For a brief moment, his focus slipped elsewhere, and he felt a tingling sensation in his fingertips as the line veered to the side.
However, the firepower was undeniable.
Whether it was soil, rock, or concrete beneath the ground, the thorns manifested in the appropriate solid form for the terrain.
The physical damage they inflicted was substantial.
Since the sunflower was a nt, it endured being pierced here and there, screaming in pain, but it held on.
If it had been a person, it wouldn¡¯t have been surprising if they were impaled somewhere.
Crack! Crack!
Screeeeech¡
Sssshhh.
Before long, the mutant sunflower vomited up the acidic liquid it had stored inside its tightly closed blossom and died.
In the past, I would¡¯ve used a risky method to lure out that acid, which could have easily filled a bucket.
But resolving it with Thorn Hell from 10 meters away meant I didn¡¯t even have to get dirt on my hands or feet.
¡¾Silence of the Commander¡¿
¡¾Stealth¡¿
Immediately, Kang-hoo used Silence of the Commander to approach the ck Guide.
Though he had moved quite close, the ck Guide remainedpletely unaware of Kang-hoo¡¯s presence.
Taking up a position behind the ck Guide, Kang-hoo prepared his ck Moon Strike. It was a wraith-type monster, after all.
He used only about half of his dark energy.
And the moment the charge wasplete, without hesitation, heunched ck Moon Strike at the ck Guide.
The next moment¡ª
Boom¡!
The ck shadow, pierced right through its center by the ck Moon Strike, burst like a balloon on the spot.
It happened so quickly that it didn¡¯t even realize it had died, or what had happened.
¡¾You have acquired 3 units of dark energy!¡¿
¡¾Your current total dark energy is ¡®452¡¯.¡¿
¡®Is it really this easy?¡¯
At this level of power, it seemed like not just the ck Guide, but even the ck shadows could be fair game.
They seemed to have been reduced to mere gatekeepers, no longer the terrifying threats they once were.
Now, I found myself actively seeking out monsters with numbers above their names, rather than fearing them.
¡®Thorn Hell, this is a fun skill. I¡¯ll be using it a lot from now on. It¡¯s great for creating unexpected oues.¡¯
Kang-hoo recalled the sensation he could still feel in his fingertips.
When using Thorn Hell, he felt like a ck mage.
ck mage hunters typically used skills to control dark energy like this.
The unique aspect was that Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t a ck mage, but an assassin. That in itself was an interesting variable.
Two more hours passed after that.
During this time, Kang-hoo caught three more ck Guides, adding another 3 units of dark energy.
Considering that even getting 0.5 units of dark energy would be a blessing, he made sure to capture any creature offering a reward.
¡¾(Emergency Alert) Warning. You are currently 50 meters from a nomunication zone!¡¿
His smartphone kept ringing.
Since 300 meters away from the nomunication zone, it had been sending warnings every 5 meters.
Once you enter a nomunication zone, all forms of contact be impossible.
In truth, even if something went wrong here, no one coulde to help anyway¡
But still, it served as a notice that I would soon bepletely cut off from the outside world.
In other words, this was the final boundary of the state¡¯s influence.
Finally.
Kang-hoo entered the nomunication zone. The emergency alert messages stopped bothering him.
¡®Now, the next point is¡¡¯
As he checked the map to set his new direction¡ª
Rustle. Rustle.
Footsteps could be heard.
Kang-hoo quickly used Stealth and scanned the source of the noise, spotting a hunter walking.
It looked just like ¡®Lee Gwon-su¡¯ from the Kanashimi Dungeon, resurrected by the Brood Queen, undoubtedly a hybrid.
The name of the monster, which resembled a hybrid, was Ham Woong-ho.
He had the appearance of a middle-aged man, with about half of his head balding.
A strange feature was the uniform, simr to what high-ranking officials might wear.
As a result, unlike Lee Gwon-su from the Kanashimi Dungeon, Ham Woong-ho had a fuller body.
¡®So the Brood Queen must be somewhere close by. Wait. But what¡¯s that?¡¯
Something in Ham Woong-ho¡¯s hand caught Kang-hoo¡¯s attention.
It looked like a bouquet, upon closer inspection.
However¡ª
¡®Mad Srkium?¡¯
That bouquet wasn¡¯t just any ordinary flower¡ªit was made of ten Mad Srkium flowers bundled together.
Though crudely gathered and held tightly, the bouquet had everything it needed.
The flowers were intact, and the Mad Srkium, too, was in its original state.
¡®I didn¡¯t expect this.¡¯
He had thought about searching for another point, but now it seemed like a blessing had rolled right into hisp.
If he could kill this guy, he¡¯d be able to collect the Mad Srkium as well. Two birds, one stone.
In stealth, Kang-hoo began sprinting toward Ham Woong-ho at full speed. Strike first, win first, right?
Just then¡ª
Fwoosh!
Suddenly, ck and red energy surged from Ham Woong-ho¡¯s body.
Swoosh!
He turned his head, detecting Kang-hoo¡¯s presence.
¡¾Curtain of Technique¡¿
Kang-hoo quickly set up the curtain.
Once he entered full stealth, Ham Woong-ho seemed to lose track of him, looking around in confusion.
From the way he wasn¡¯t directly following with his eyes, it seemed his vision had deteriorated¡ªor maybe he had lost it.
¡®Is he a ck mage?¡¯
Judging by theck of any weapons or clear attack movements, he seemed to be in the magic category.
In this case, the best strategy was to strike fast and retreat quickly.
All he needed was the Mad Srkium, so as long as he could steal it from him, he¡¯d be good to go.
Just as Kang-hoo prepared to leap forward again¡ª
Khaaaa!
Suddenly, Ham Woong-ho raised both arms high and let out a powerful roar.
¡®Damn.¡¯
Kang-hoo now understood why Ham Woong-ho was walking around Ground Zero so confidently, without any protection.
Buzzzzz!
From the previously silent trees around him, countless ¡®ck dots¡¯ began to fly into the air.
¡¾Bloodsucking Flies¡¿
There must have been thousands of them¡ªswarms of insect monsters that fed on human blood.
Chapter 216: North Korea (2)
¡®The imagination of humans¡.¡¯
Kang-hoo wore a bitter expression.
He realized that the bloodsucking flies were a reflection of the unconscious.
Bloodsucking flies¡ªa monster concept he had once considered using in the original work but decided to scrap.
He thought he would never see them again, yet they had manifested in reality as an expression of the unconscious.
First.
Kang-hoo sprinted at full speed towards Ham Ung-ho.
The bloodsucking flies had just started to take off from the trees, but there was still a bit of time left.
¡¾Shadow Step¡¿ He scattered shadows in multiple directions, just in case.
Then, he plunged his dagger straight into the throat of Ham Ung-ho, who was ring at him with wide eyes.
Ham Ung-ho, who appeared to be a ck mage, was too exhausted from the process of summoning the bloodsucking flies to resist.
Following that, Blood Flower.
Kang-hoo snatched away the bouquet of Mad Srkium from Ham Ung-ho, who was twitching like a deted balloon.
Bzzzzz!
The bloodsucking flies closed in, pping their wings even more intensely as they approached Kang-hoo.
¡®If they bite me, there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll make it out alive.¡¯
Even a drop of blood sucked by each of those flies, and his body would be drained dry.
Kang-hoo considered using ¡®teleportation¡¯ to a pre-designated point near Yuri Land but quickly dismissed the idea.
It felt too easy.
¡¾Protective Barrier¡¿
So, he created a powerful shield around his body using a protective barrier.
Bzzz! Bzzz! Bzzz!
Ksssk! Sssk! Kssssk!
The bloodsucking flies crashed into the barrier, their wings pping furiously, trying to gnaw at it.
Some of them were so crazed by the thirst for blood that they pressed their bodies against the barrier, even as they burned.
Kang-hoo managed to respond thanks to his defensive skill; without it, he would have already been a corpse.
¡®Ham Ung-ho might have been used as bait.¡¯
The thought crossed his mind that another hunter might be after the Mad Srkium Ham Ung-ho was carrying.
He turned his gaze and noticed a spot that had been in his blind spot earlier.
Therey a heap of bones, as if deliberately ced for all to see. It wasn¡¯t just a few bodies.
¡®How many fell victim?¡¯
Judging by the visible skulls, there were at least 20. That meant at least 20 people had died.
He sensed that this ce was being controlled by someone¡¯s intellect.
It could be the queen of the swarm who created the hybrid Ham Ung-ho, or perhaps there was a third entity.
He checked the positions of the shadows.
One of the five shadows he had sent out had reached the farthest distance.
There was also a wide escape route ahead, with fewer trees where bloodsucking flies could be hiding.
The next moment.
¡¾Protective Barrier¡¿
¡¾Forced Destruction by Will¡¿
Kang-hoo deliberately shattered the protective barrier, causing a devastating effect.
A destion that evaporated all mana within a 10-meter radius.
Although temporary, it could disrupt insect-type monsters that tracked hunters via mana flow.
Immediately afterward, he swapped positions with one of the shadows.
Whoosh!
The view changed.
When he looked back, the bloodsucking flies were still swarming where he had just been.
Some of them were biting into the fragments of the shattered protective barrier scattered everywhere.
Others collided with each other in their rush to attack him, ending up biting one another.
¡°¡¡.¡±
His heart sank.
Because of their small size, people often underestimated their threat.
But insect-type monsters could be even more dangerous thanrger ones. They were harder to see.
Bloodsucking flies, sleep-inducing flies, venomous flies, paralyzing flies, and so on.
There were plenty of creatures capable of quickly neutralizing a hunter¡¯s defense system.
He was already feeling the mysterious atmosphere unique to North Korea.
It was entirely his own fault as the original creator.
A massive blunder born from scattering all sorts of hints and failing to tie up any of them.
Still, he had a method to deal with it, and he managed to retrieve the Mad Srkium without a scratch.
Once he confirmed that the bloodsucking flies were no longer chasing him, Kang-hoo paused to organize the bouquet.
He only needed the Mad Srkium he was going to consume, not the entire bunch.
Using deft movements with his dagger, he trimmed off the flowers and took only the necessary fruits.
Having been uprooted from the ground for so long, they were as dry as biscuits.
Of course, there was no issue with their effectiveness. They justcked moisture and had a crumbly texture.
¡°It¡¯s practically a cemetery.¡±
As he tucked the harvested Mad Srkium into his inner pocket, he noticed the scattered white bones around him.
Apart from the bone mound he saw earlier, there were quite a few bodies abandoned here and there.
What was eerie was that the bones were hidden in spots that couldn¡¯t be seen unless one came close.
It was a sign that someone had moved them.
Given that they hadn¡¯t been cleaned up despite the ability to do so, there might have been a reason for leaving them.
Perhaps it was rted to necromancy, or it could be tied to a hidden curse. The possibilities were endless.
And then.
Six hours had passed.
The sun was beginning to rise, but the darkness here still lingered.
It was because the enormous trees, which grew so high they seemed to touch the sky, had formed a dense grove.
Their official name was ¡°Mongdari Trees.¡±
The name might sound cute, but ¡®Mongdari¡¯ generally refers to things that appear like a human form at night.
In reality, Mongdari Trees had trunks that made them look like humans turned into trees.
Moreover, their broad,rge leaves effectively blocked out the sunlight.
For that reason, the area covered by the Mongdari Tree grove remained shrouded in darkness.
While moving,
Kang-hoo asionally practiced his Thorny Hell technique, adjusting it to match the speed of the Dark Period.
Whenever he paused briefly to catch his breath, he would practice dagger attacks, focusing on using his left hand.
Not a single minute was wasted.
If everything were perfect and there was nothing left to improve, he could rest easy¡ but¡
His growth was always ongoing. As long as the constetions and skill plundering continued, it would never stop.
Then,
Whoosh!
A rough wind sound came from above. There was only one reason to hear such a sound here.
¡¾Swift Evasion¡¿
Sensing the situation instinctively, Kang-hoo quickly assessed the approaching sound and immediately dodged backward.
A thick tree branch swept past the spot where he had been standing, narrowly missing him.
¡°Ground Zero is always like this.¡±@@novelbin@@
Though the situation was close, he wasn¡¯t startled or panicked.
It was a characteristic of Ground Zero¡¯s ecosystem.
Here, nts did not just stay still, and not all rocks or stones were necessarily solid.
It was a ce wheremon sense was overturned.
Whirr!
The movement of the tree branch caused the nearby flowers to sway violently.
As a result, golden pollen scattered in the air and drifted toward Kang-hoo.
¡¾Poison Suppression¡¿
At that moment, the poison suppression effect from his Breath of the Reverse Spirit ne activated.
The pollen was meant to induce sleep. Without the ne, he would have fallen asleep right then and there.
The next moment,
Step.
¡°¡¡!¡±
Kang-hoo felt an odd sensation as he stepped on a t stone hidden beneath the fallen leaves, prompting him to leap away immediately.
And then¡ª
Thunk!
The stone he had stepped on suddenly sank downward.
It was a pathway that plunged straight down, like the interior below a manhole cover.
This was why casualties increased the further north one went in Ground Zero.
Anyone entering here intending to live might as well be walking on a minefield.
Yet, Kang-hoo had his own methods of handling the situation, allowing him to move without facing any major crises.
Though his body was tense, he was always prepared for such stress, so it wasn¡¯t anything new.
Arrival at the Mad Srkium Point.
Kang-hoo had reached a location 30 km north of where Yuri Land was.
What used to be a city was now no different from the wild, with everything frozen in time.
Abandoned cars, old cans discarded on the road, and construction materials that never made it to their intended sites.
In the northern part of Ground Zero, the world that touched North Korea was trapped in the past like this.
¡°Three Mad Srkiums, huh?¡±
Ahead of him, he could see a Punisher.
And behind it, three beautifully blooming Mad Srkium flowers.
If he managed to acquire those, he would have a total of 15. Enough tost for a while.
Though he wanted to harvest more, this was the only nearby point.
The next one was 30 km further north, and even Kang-hoo couldn¡¯t guarantee his safety there.
Punishers, as he¡¯d seen before, were created in forms that mimicked various professions.
Furthermore, their levels adjusted ording to the intruder¡¯s level, meaning the difficulty always felt the same.
If a Level 1 came, it would match that level; if a Level 500 came, the Punisher¡¯s level would adjust ordingly.
¡°A Qi Master, huh.¡±
Thest Punisher he faced was an assassin; this time, it took on the form of a Qi Master.
Someone inexperienced in fighting Qi Masters might struggle, but Kang-hoo had experience ingrained in his bones.
Specifically, from his battle with Jung Seon-rak.
No matter how skillful the Punisher was, it was merely a weaker version of Jung Seon-rak.
Of course, he couldn¡¯t let his guard down.
Kang-hoo recalled the first rule of his anti-Qi Master strategy: never hesitate. That was the key.
Alternating between eleration and leaps, he charged toward the Punisher.
The Qi Master¡¯s Qi Ball attacks were tricky and threatening, no doubt.
But hesitating or flinching would only allow the Qi Master to chain attacks, leading to injury or death.
That¡¯s why Kang-hoo trusted his instincts and boldly rushed forward.
Swish.
The Punisher¡¯s fingers subtly lowered. It was a movement signaling the imminent release of a Qi Ball.
He could predict the trajectory.
Unless there were special circumstances, Qi Balls had no homing ability.
Thus, they rarely curved or turned at sharp angles. It wasn¡¯t something the Punisher could achieve.
So¡ª
Bang!
As the Punisherunched the Qi Ball¡ª
Kang-hoo bent his knees, lowering his body and gliding over the ground.
Watching the approaching Qi Ball, he didn¡¯t forget to arch his back, dodging it smoothly.
This way, he maintained his momentum while skillfully evading the Qi Ball.
Simultaneously, Kang-hoo used sh de to throw a dagger at the Punisher.
It was a two-pronged strategy,bining evasive maneuvers with an attack.
¡°¡¡!¡±
The Punisher, momentarily flustered, raised a Qi Barrier half a beat toote, blocking the dagger attack.
Since a knockback effect was applied, the Punisher¡¯s Qi Barrier shattered, causing him to be pushed back.
The Punisher immediately erected another Qi Barrier.
Unlike the transparent form of a typical Qi Master¡¯s Qi Barrier, the Punisher¡¯s was opaque.
In other words, both Kang-hoo and the Punisher were now hidden from each other¡¯s view, unable to pinpoint each other¡¯s positions.
It seemed like the Punisher¡¯s n was to obscure visibility andunch another round of threatening Qi Balls.
But¡ª
¡¾White Sun sh¡¿
Kang-hoo recognized the Punisher¡¯s feeble strategy and was already preparing a big move.
The tip of his dagger was already brimming with condensed energy, growing into a potential cmity.
Chapter 217: North Korea (3)
Beyond the Qi Wall, the Punisher, unaware of what awaited, condensed the Qi Bullet in his right hand.
He prepared to send it flying beyond the quiet wall.
As much as they were cautious with each other, he assumed Kang-hoo would likely be waiting rather than readying an attack.
Even if he was preparing to attack, the assassin would still have to approach, so he thought initiating the attack was his responsibility.
However¡
Boom!
¡°¡¡?¡±
The thunderous roar left the Punisher with a question mark on his face. There was no reason for such a sound¡
Screech!Snap!
¡there was.
The Hundred-Day sh, flying like a raging bull, instantly shattered the Qi Wall and sent the Punisher flying.
The wall shattered like ss, and the Punisher behind it became a headless ghost in an instant.
The death was so sudden that he died without even having a chance to close his eyes.
¡°Ugh.¡±
Kang-hoo, having confirmed the Punisher¡¯s death, groaned while clutching his throbbing forehead.
Relying solely on condensed magical power without other means brought on a wave of headaches.
¡°Well, at least it ended in one go. The performance is solid, as always.¡±
There¡¯s a reason why the Hundred-Day sh and the ck Moon sh are known as hidden skills.
Unlike general skills, which have limitations on their maximum power depending on mastery andposition¡
Hidden skills produce output proportional to the input invested. The stronger the input, the greater the power.
This bes a wild card.
If one cannot gauge the opponent¡¯s strength, the power of hidden skills also falls into an unpredictable realm.
Thus, the Punisher died.
Kang-hoo leisurely gathered three Mad Srkium Flowers. After some processing on-site, he totaled 15.
Additionally, he gathered Srkium found alongside the Mad Srkium Flowers.
15 Mad Srkium.
20 Srkium.
One of his two objectives here¡ªsecuring Srkium¡ªwas mostlyplete.
He did feel a slight desire to gather about five more Mad Srkium¡
But since those points were far north, he decided to leave it at that.
After all, there would be plenty of opportunities to obtain them in the future, and K might even be able to procure them through other means.
If it came to that, Moon Hyeong-seo or Hwang Bo-hye could help secure them, so there was no need to push too hard.
¡®Now, let¡¯s find the Queen of the Swarm.¡¯
He updated his next goal.
The Queen of the Swarm¡¯s heart¡ªa necessary ingredient for unsealing the Random Skill Book¡ªwas his target.
Since he had confirmed the existence of the hybrid species, the Queen of the Swarm must be somewhere nearby.
It was now time to find her.
Meanwhile,
Gong Yu-seok and Ko Joo-hee were submitting a report on Kang-hoo to Jang Si-hwan.
Their task was to carefullypile and hand over data so that Jang Si-hwan, the final decision-maker, wouldn¡¯t have to look into matters himself.
They were responsible for talent training and recruitment.
To them, Kang-hoo was an exceptional talent to be recruited urgently and their top priority of interest.
But to Jang Si-hwan, it meant something different.
In their eyes, Jang Si-hwan was an extremely busy man.
He was overwhelmed with countless tasks and had a lot on his te.
Moreover, due to personal matters that couldn¡¯t be disclosed to the public, his training time had significantly increasedpared to before.
There was a problem with his ability to control the Dark Energy.
A defect had developed in an ability he once wielded without issue.
Such urrences are rare unless someone suddenly loses their power.
For this reason, Jang Si-hwan had many matters to prioritize.
Therefore, his interest in Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t as intense as that of Gong Yu-seok and Ko Joo-hee.
It could also be a matter of perspective.
To Jang Si-hwan, who had long surpassed level 800, Kang-hoo was merely a ¡°somewhat special¡± assassin.
After all, Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t the only assassin; simr talents could be found in other countries as well.
After meticulously reviewing the report, Jang Si-hwan alternated his gaze between Gong Yu-seok and Ko Joo-hee.
¡°There¡¯s been ongoing conflict with Eclipse, and he even fought with Kenji and Yuuji this time? Plus, he killed a Hunter who came to assassinate him and a member of the Toushi Guild?¡±
Ko Joo-hee answered first.
¡°Yes. ording to unofficial sources, it seems he also contributed to the fall of the Osho Mercenary Corps.¡±
At that moment, a brief glint flickered in Jang Si-hwan¡¯s eyes before it faded.
¡°The Osho Mercenary Corps¡ where were they based?¡±
¡°They were a human trafficking group operating around Gangwon Province.¡±
¡°Oh, right. That¡¯s it.¡±
Though Jang Si-hwan made a slightly disinterested expression, they didn¡¯t attribute any particr meaning to it.
¡°On top of that, given his participation in the Hell of Judgment as part of the exploration team, he seems to have a favorable impression of our Jeonghwa Guild to some extent.¡±
¡°He¡¯s been involved in shes with Eclipse and shed blood in Japan, so it¡¯s certainly not a typical course of action, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±
¡°I agree.¡±
¡°However, he participated in the Hell of Judgment as an explorer rather than a corebatant¡ was that necessary?¡±
Jang Si-hwan squinted one eye.
His mind wandered in a direction different from the doubts that preupied Gong Yu-seok and Ko Joo-hee.
To the matter of hidden skills.
During the Hell of Judgment, a hidden skill rted to assassins had definitely appeared.
Even Vincent had taken an interest in it,ing to Korea with the intent of seizing that hidden skill for himself.
Of course, there were many other assassins in the exploration team, not just Kang-hoo.
With the introduction from Yu Cheonghwa, at least ten assassin hunters from the Shinto Guild hade as mercenaries.@@novelbin@@
They had joined the exploration team for experience, so if Kang-hoo was a suspect, they should also be considered.
He also recalled instructing Vincent to kill Shin Hee-seong, a promising assassin from a guild he suspected.
Naturally, it was a misstep. In any case, the owner of the hidden skill has yet to be revealed.
Gong Yu-seok changed the topic.
¡°Actually, his activities in Japan have been more remarkable than the domestic ones. His standing with the Rikou Guild is quite favorable.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s not overreact. If we push too hard, someone like him will get overly confident.¡±
¡°What should we do?¡±
¡°In my view, Hunter Shin Kang-hoo is a person who hides more than he shows.¡±
¡°Does that mean¡?¡±
¡°Approach him on two tracks. Both of you make direct contact, but also keep an eye on him separately.¡±
¡°Then shall we arrange a meeting through Lee Ye-rin?¡±
¡°That sounds good. Ms. Lee Ye-rin is friendly with me and our guild. Let¡¯s proceed with that route.¡±
Jang Si-hwan made his decision.
At the same time, he added one more discreet instruction.
¡°And by the way, we still have the list of assassin hunters from the Shinto Guild who participated in the Hell of Judgment, correct?¡±
¡°Yes, we do.¡±
¡°Investigate every one of them. Budget is no issue; look into their whereabouts and report to me personally.¡±
¡°Understood.¡±
The ten assassin hunters from the Shinto Guild.
And Kang-hoo.
Out of these eleven, the hidden skill¡¯s owner was undoubtedly among them.
And if Kang-hoo indeed possessed that hidden skill¡ he could be an invaluable asset to keep close.
There are only 77 of these skills worldwide.
The fact that he was chosen by that skill alone speaks to his potential and future value.
Time passed until just before noon.
Kang-hoo had entered a vige, though he couldn¡¯t pinpoint the exact location.
Because the entire vige was swarming with hybrid species.
All the beings wandering the streets like zombies were hybrids.
This led Kang-hoo to conclude that the Queen of the Swarm must be nearby.
Kang-hoo, concealed through stealth, quietly observed the situation.
The hybrids patrolled only at fixed intervals, like machines.
No bodies or bones were visible around.
Of course, this didn¡¯t mean there were no dead here. Hybrids are perfectly capable of cannibalism.
Since they even chew through bones, it was possible all traces had been erased.
Then¡ª
¡®They stopped.¡¯
The entire horde of hybrids suddenly froze, as if frozen in time, standing still in their tracks.
It was like watching North Korean soldiers facing their leader.
For hybrids, their coordination was uncanny. They even turned their heads with precision, a truly remarkable sight.
Only one being could exert this level of control. The Queen of the Swarm.
¡®As I thought.¡¯
A figure, appearing female, was visible entering through the vige¡¯s right-side gate¡ but it was a monster.
Naked, her entire skin was colored yellow and ck like that of a ho.
She looked as though a two-meter-tall woman had donned a bodysuit imitating a ho¡¯s coloring.
The main difference from a human appearance was that her hands were sharpened like spikes.
In the original storyline, the Queen of the Swarm was only mentioned by name, with no detailed physical description.
Ultimately, this tooy in the realm of the unconscious, but she was far more menacing than the image he¡¯d vaguely imagined.
Then¡ª
¡®¡Hmm?¡¯
A new element appeared, one he hadn¡¯t anticipated.
A convoy of armed trucks arrived through the vige¡¯s left-side gate, opposite the Queen¡¯s entrance.
Though he couldn¡¯t hear their conversation from a distance, their appearance was clearly not Asian.
¡®Kashimar Guild?¡¯
It was usible.
Even if their base was by the sea, entering ind was simple with the right transportation.
The hunters disembarking from the truck used modified firearms to capture weaker hybrids.
The hunters, seemingly oblivious to the Queen of the Swarm¡¯s presence, targeted mainly hybrids resembling children.
Since they weren¡¯t killing, it seemed they had separate research or strategic motives.
An imminent sh!
Predictably enough.
Sensing something suspicious, the Queen of the Swarm suddenly grew enraged and charged toward the left gate.
¡®Is she an enhanced type?¡¯
Her speed was unimaginably fast as she tore through the ground.
She was even faster than Kang-hoo at his maximum sprint.
Though he wondered why she wasn¡¯t using wings, for now, running seemed faster.
And then¡ª
The enraged Queen of the Swarm began ughtering the hunters.
It wasn¡¯t even a battle.
Each time the Queen swung her sharp arms, the hunters were sliced apart like tofu.
From Kang-hoo¡¯s unintended vantage point, it was a chance to observe the Queen¡¯s attack patterns.
But for those on the ground, it was pure hell.
¡®They¡¯re too low-level.¡¯
For hunters in a danger zone, their skills werecking.
Of course, maybe his standards were too high, but their basic response skills seemed insufficient.
At that moment, one hunter managed to react properly and drove arge sword into the Queen of the Swarm¡¯s back from behind.
Though wounded in hisst moments, this swordsman hunter took her down with him.
Shk!
Kang-hoo rose from his position.
He had been waiting for the right moment to intervene, and with the Queen of the Swarm now injured, this seemed ideal.
It didn¡¯t matter to him who those dead hunters were or where they came from.
If they were hunters operating in an organized manner on thisnd, they were 100% tied to crime. They were far from innocent.
Victory and defeat.
Life and death.
In a battlefield where choices are binary, the only thing that matters is the oue. The process was irrelevant.
Chapter 218: Queen Of The Swarm (1)
¡°Takashi, how have you been?¡±- Me? I¡¯ve always been fine on my own, you know? But it¡¯s nice of you to check in.
¡°Are you working out at all?¡±- Why would I do the most pointless thing in the world¡? No, I¡¯m not.
¡°Handling your clones still requires your body to be in good health, right? You¡¯re being toocent.¡±- Every time you say things like this, Yu Cheonghwa, it makes me think of you as my mom or older sister.
At that moment, Yu Cheonghwa was video calling with Takashi.
There wasn¡¯t any particr reason¡ªshe just thought of him and decided to check in.
Usually, when she called, his voice would be pretty low-energy, but today, he seemed lively.
It could just be because of the voice modtor Takashi used, which altered his tone.
Of course, the person on the video screen wasn¡¯t actually Takashi but an image he put up.
Even Yu Cheonghwa, who considered herself close to Takashi, had never seen his face.Much less his real voice.
Once, she asked him to reveal his real voice just once, but he firmly refused.
¡°What have you been up to?¡±- Just been running a few dungeons, organizing info where pattern analysis is needed.
And I met an interesting hunter¡ we¡¯re scoping out a dungeon to tackle together.
¡°Interesting? There¡¯s someone who caught your interest? You, who finds meeting people boring?¡±- You might know him too. Hold on¡ªI¡¯ll put up a picture.
Soon, Kang-hoo¡¯s face appeared on the screen.
Naturally, Yu Cheonghwa recognized him.
They first met at Seoul Station.
She remembered being intrigued by this stranger when her mental scan didn¡¯t work on him.
And there was also the time he bought an item from a special market she operated¡ªan unforgettable face.
Recently, she¡¯d seen news of his activities in Japan on Huntergram, so she immediately recognized him.
¡°Shin Kang-hoo?¡±- Yep, figured you¡¯d know. I¡¯ve taken an interest in himtely. He¡¯s totally my type. Like a Takashi 2.0.
¡°Oh? Really?¡±
If even Takashi, notorious for his selective social circle, was this interested in him¡
Then it was clear that something about Kang-hoo had captured both Takashi¡¯s and Yu Cheonghwa¡¯s attention.
And then Takashiunched into a long story.
Meanwhile¡
Emilia was sipping Shackleton whisky alone in a penthouse overlooking the Eiffel Tower.
She hadn¡¯t had a drink in a while¡ªthest time was when she met Kang-hoo.
¡°The night view of Paris is beautiful, no matter how many times I see it.¡±
Emilia loved her homnd, France.
But as a Hunter, it was one of the worst ces to base her growth, so she didn¡¯t stay long.
Hungry for growth, Emilia was actively involved in overseas activities when she joined Justice.
With skilled Hunters like Jang Si-hwan, Justice was a whole new world.
It was an elite group with perfect conditions for expanding herwork and taking advantage of it.
Justice provided ess to dungeons filled with rewards and experience points that she couldn¡¯t ess alone.
That¡¯s why she stayed with Justice¡ªshe could always feel the thrill of growth, with constant stimtion.
Buttely, she had doubts about the group¡¯s true purpose.
It was too diverse in its members to just be a social club.
Take Vincent Mayer, for instance¡ªhe¡¯s a serial killer. He openly admits it himself.
The only reason Emilia didn¡¯t show distaste or scorn toward Vincent was simple.
She didn¡¯t want to lose the benefits of being in Justice. And she couldn¡¯t afford to upset Jang Si-hwan.
¡°We¡¯re not exactly ying heroes here, but we¡¯re not outright viins either¡¡±
That was Emilia¡¯s dissatisfaction.
Clearly, this group wasn¡¯t about friendship. But Jang Si-hwan always kept its purpose vague.
He¡¯d said he was gathering people with vision to pave the way for the future¡ but what kind of vision was that?
Of course, he¡¯d never asked Emilia about her personal beliefs or ideas.
But once, she¡¯d identally used her psychic abilities on him and managed to see into his mind.
It was then that Emilia discovered something peculiar: Jang Si-hwan wasn¡¯t alone.
She distinctly felt there was another persona¡ªanother presence hidden behind a veil.
Since then, she¡¯d sensed that Jang Si-hwan had reasons for concealing things from this group.
She wanted to understand what that was.
While she, too, pursued power and honor, she had strong reservations about Vincent¡¯s borderline actions.
On top of that, Jang Si-hwan was aplete hypocrite.
She¡¯d never genuinely trusted Jang Si-hwan.
This wasn¡¯t just her own opinion¡ªher close friend Yu Cheonghwa had thought the same for a long time.
At that time¡
Kang-hoo was locked in fiercebat with the Queen of the Swarm.
It was an intense battle with no chance to even catch his breath.
He¡¯d already chewed up the Mad Srkium and was holding the Gakshin Pill between his lips, ready to swallow at any moment.
The one-on-one fight with the Queen of the Swarm was manageable for now. They exchanged blows in a challenging but bnced skirmish.
But the problemy elsewhere.
¡®This is a nightmare.¡¯
The Queen of the Swarm¡¯s offspring emerged from her body and crawled into the corpses of the hunters who had just died.
Thest hunter who had stabbed his greatsword into the Queen of the Swarm also died, and he was no exception as a target.
As a result.
¡°Grrahhh¡¡±
All of the deceased hunters were being reanimated as hybrids.
Moreover, ever since a purple aura began emanating from the Queen of the Swarm, the surroundings changed.
The hybrids that had been still in the vige began converging on this location.
In a situation where even facing the Queen of the Swarm alone was a struggle, the addition of the hybrids was like a death sentence for Kang-hoo.
¡®In that case¡¡¯
Kang-hoo made his move.
Anything other than one-on-onebat here would be reckless.
From the beginning, the Queen of the Swarm was a monster far beyond Kang-hoo¡¯s level.
If the hybrids, retaining the abilities of the hunters they had once been, joined in, his death was certain.
So, he movedterally behind the Queen of the Swarm and immediately activated teleportation.
¡¾Would you like to teleport?¡¿
¡¾Teleporting with more than one person may fail. Sess rate: exactly 50%.¡¿
If sessful, he would escape the battlefield with her; if he failed, his n was to at least leave the vige.
After all, his own life mattered more than the Queen of the Swarm¡¯s heart.
In the next moment.
Pah!
¡¾Teleportationplete.¡¿
He had seeded.
Upon suddenly transporting to a different battleground, the Queen of the Swarm looked startled.
The hybrids who would have assisted her were gone, and the surroundings¡ªnts, atmosphere¡ªhadpletely changed.
But only for a moment; as long as Kang-hoo was still in front of her, the Queen of the Swarm continued her assault.
Her sharpened arms flew toward him with the intent to pierce his body.
¡¾Qi st¡¿
Kang-hoo used the Qi st to halt her movement.
Since the Qi st immediately flew from Kang-hoo¡¯s fingertips, the Queen of the Swarm had no choice but to block it.
Boom!@@novelbin@@
The shockwave pushed the Queen of the Swarm back a step.
But she quickly raised her heels, putting pressure on her toes, and charged forward again.
Swish! Swish!
She swung her arms menacingly.
Had Kang-hoo not retreated while blocking with dual daggers, his hands¡ªor even fingers¡ªwould have been severed.
¡®She¡¯s relentless, pushing in like an infighter¡ she¡¯s even harder to handle.¡¯
The Queen of the Swarm¡¯s attacks, as if she had erased the concept of defense from her mind, were exceedingly tricky.
If he had to estimate her level, it would be around 500 at the very least, likely not under 450 even if he were being generous.
With such an opponent, a drawn-out battle was certainly not in his favor.
The intense exchange from the start drained him, taking a toll on his stamina despite the absence of mana usage.
The Queen of the Swarm¡¯s breathing had faltered as well, but he felt his own rhythm was more disrupted.
¡®Let¡¯s finish this before we both grow too ustomed to each other¡¯s patterns.¡¯
He made his decision.
Due to the intense skirmish, he had already exposed more of his attack patterns than initially nned.
Before his every move became predictable to the Queen of the Swarm, he decided to make his final gambit.
And so.
Crunch!
He bit down on the Gakshin Pill he had been holding between his teeth.
The pill shattered, its fragments sliding down his tongue, through his throat, and into his esophagus.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In that moment, three consecutive attacks from the Queen of the Swarm came at him, and Kang-hoo barely managed to fend them off as he retreated.
The relentless pressure made it hard to defend from his spot.
The Queen of the Swarm fought as if she were living only for that moment.
The various wounds on her body didn¡¯t seem to bother her at all, and she didn¡¯t let out even a single groan.
Right then.
¡°¡!¡±
Kang-hoo sensed everything around him transforming into something entirely different.
This change began the moment the effect of the Gakshin Pill, now dissolving in his stomach, started stimting his senses and nerves.
The previously dark and dreary sky now radiated a brilliance as if shrouded in light.
In the direction of the sun, it glowed so intensely it felt as if a portal to heaven had opened.
Moreover, he could see every minute detail: the Queen of the Swarm¡¯s skin, fine hair, eyshes fluttering, and the slight blinks of her eyes.
Everything appeared as if magnified under a microscope, finely split into frames.
Not only that.
Even the way her fine hair and eyshes swayed in the breeze seemed divided into frames.
His movements remained unchanged, but it felt like the world around him had slowed down.
¡®I can see it.¡¯
The Queen of the Swarm¡¯s two iing arms, the sharp spikes¡ªhe could predict exactly where they were aiming.
¡¾It¡¯s possible to process all enemy attacks and movements at once.
Even solvingplex math problems bes feasible, as well as experiencing a slowed perception of time.¡¿
The effects of the Gakshin Pill were just as described in the original notes.
It was like a feeling of unlocking and breaking past limits. A dramatic transformation had taken ce.
Of course, the duration of this effect was only about ten seconds. Considering the time it took to chew, swallow, and feel the effects, it wouldst a maximum of seven seconds. ??????????£Ó
¡¾eleration¡¿
He maximized his movement speed, closing in aggressively on the Queen of the Swarm while simultaneously evading her.
Normally, such a boldbination of approach and evasion would have been nearly impossible.
Kang-hoo twisted his body.
Without using skills like Swift Evasion or Leap, he relied solely on pure bodily movement.
This resulted in a narrow but precise escape from the Queen of the Swarm¡¯s swinging arms.
While it wasn¡¯t unprecedented for her attacks to miss during previous exchanges¡
The difference now was that he had evaded forward rather than backward.
This meant that at the moment her attack missed, the Queen of the Swarm had exposed a critical opening.
Just as expected.
Thud!
Kang-hoo¡¯s lethal strikended directly on the Queen of the Swarm¡¯s side.
The strike was so powerful that, instead of pulling out the dagger, he had to reach for a spare one in his gear.
¡°Gyaaaah¡!¡±
For the first time, a high-pitched scream tore from the Queen of the Swarm¡¯s mouth.
The tables had turned.
Chapter 219: Queen Of The Swarm (2)
Kang-hoo twisted his body, drawing a semicircle with the dagger lodged in the Swarm Queen¡¯s side.
There was no need to distance himself from the Swarm Queen; he just had to turn with his back pressed against hers.
Soon after.
Thud!
Using the dagger in his left hand, he delivered a brutal sh to the opposite side of the Swarm Queen¡¯s waist.
He felt the strain from her health dropping by almost half in an instant.
The massive sh consumed 25% of both his health and mana simultaneously, demanding a high toll.
Once again, the dagger struck deep, making it difficult to withdraw.
It was a disy of unbelievable strength, likely driven by his fierce determination to capture the Swarm Queen at all costs.Although he had used his primary dagger, Corrupted Conviction, and his auxiliary dagger, Blood Tears, Kang-hoo still had Boundary of Massacre and Joy of the Sky.
Both were backup daggers at 4th and 5th grade, respectively.
As his main weapon grade increased, he no longer needed to use them as primary daggers, but he always kept them on hand as spares.
With Boundary of Massacre in his main hand and Joy of the Sky as his secondary, Kang-hoo immediately prepared for the next attack.
The previous dagger would be retrieved once he killed the Swarm Queen. He paid it no mind.
¡°It¡¯s not over yet!¡±
Kang-hoo, having stabbed both of her sides, rotated his body again,ing face-to-face with the Swarm Queen.
He elerated forward, mustering all his strength to drive the third brutal sh into her chest.
Thud!
¡°¡!¡±
The Swarm Queen, possibly missing the timing to groan, could only re at Kang-hoo with wide eyes.
With the force of three sessive strikes, her body stiffened, and it seemed like she was gasping for breath.
Still.
The effects of the Enhanced Sensory Pill lingered.
Even after receiving three fatal strikes, the Swarm Queen swung her arm, aiming to decapitate Kang-hoo.
It was threatening as it crossed in a scissor-like motion right in front of him, but he dodged it with the Enhanced Sensory Pill¡¯s quick calctions.
It was close, but he managed to avoid it unscathed.
¡°Ugh.¡±
¡¾Mad Regeneration¡¿
Kang-hoo, feeling the strain from his sharply depleted health, took a step back to start recovering.
With nearly 70% of his health and mana drained in an instant, his body was under intense pressure.
This was a heavy burden that went beyond the effects of Mad Srkium and the Enhanced Sensory Pill.
Kang-hoo¡¯s skills naturally pushed his body to the extreme, in an overpowered state.
Both the Mad Srkium and the Enhanced Sensory Pill added further strain on his overheated body.
It¡¯s true he grew stronger as a Hunter, but his lifespan as a human? Well¡ it was questionable.
Repeating this kind of abuse, he was sure he wouldn¡¯t live a full life.
As the Swarm Queen staggered, Kang-hoo took a moment to regain his breath and partially restore his health.
Despite the three brutal shes, the Swarm Queen was still alive.
Tat-tat-tat!
With his final dagger, Joy of the Sky, he dashed toward the Swarm Queen.
Her arms began to rise again, but they moved sluggishly, much slower than at the start.
In the meantime, Kang-hoo leaped up, using her bent knee as a foothold to propel himself high into the air.
Then, clutching Joy of the Sky with both hands, he plunged the dagger into the center of her crown.
¡¾Brutal sh¡¿
The fourth brutal sh.
Although his maximum starting health had now plummeted to a fatigued 10%, he wasn¡¯t concerned.
¡°Kkugh¡¡±
The Swarm Queen let out a death rattle.
With daggers embedded in her sides, chest, and the top of her head, it was a grotesque sight.
Even more shocking was that, despite all this, the Swarm Queen still clung to life.
¡¾Blood Flower¡¿
Kang-hoo activated Blood Flower without hesitation.
Scarlet blooms erupted all around as the embedded daggers were caught in an explosive force and flung out.
¡¾Soul Imprint - Retrieve¡¿
He utilized a skill to retrieve his daggers.
The four daggers in Kang-hoo¡¯s hands were now stained dark red, entirely covered in blood.
Cough.
As the effects of the Enhanced Sensory Pill faded, the world changed.
The once-bright sky returned to its original dimness, and time, which had seemed slowed, resumed its normal pace.
The wings that had made his body feel light disappeared, but since his senses returned to normal, it didn¡¯t feel strange.
It was a little disappointing.
Now he understood why Hunters turned to stimnt drugs.
Once you experience surpassing your limits, your original self feels trivial and insignificant.
¡°Krgh¡¡±
The Swarm Queen staggered.
Kang-hoo felt anew the persistent life force that kept her alive even as blood poured from her entire body.
He realized that as he climbed higher in difficulty, the level of bosses he would face would likely be simr.
Furthermore, high-ranking, top-tier Hunters challenging the limits of humanity would possess simr strength.
With his stamina drained, he didn¡¯t want to charge at the Swarm Queen again. There was a risk of unexpected developments.
So.
¡¾Thorn Hell¡¿
He cast Thorn Hell on the immobile Swarm Queen, whose life clung to a thread.
The ground, mixed withrge and small stones, provided a favorable environment to cast Thorn Hell.
He positioned himself slightly to her side and activated Thorn Hell.
Crack! Crack!
Two thorns emerged, precisely spaced, delivering two hits to the Swarm Queen¡¯s body.
And with that, it was over.
The Swarm Queen, who had been hanging on like a ragged paper doll, let out her final breath with Thorn Hell.
His level soared to 234 with her death.
The experience was rewarding, but he had no desire to solo-hunt her again.
To hunt with ease, it was essential to have a buffer like Park Dong-jae, an absolute necessity.
¡°Hah. Hah.¡±
Finally, Kang-hoo allowed himself to breathe heavily, catching his breath.
His body felt unbearably heavy, but he had a purpose to fulfill. Extracting the heart. The final task remained.
¡°What?¡±
-The Swarm Queen¡¯s corpse might have some use. If we leave it as it is, it¡¯ll start decaying. Can you handle it?
¡°So, you captured the Swarm Queen, and it¡¯s near Yuri Land?¡±
-Yes, it¡¯s nearby. You should be there in about 15 minutes.
K, who had just received the message from Kang-hoo, was rxing with a cup of tea but sprang up in surprise.
He was shocked first by the location near Yuri Land, and then by the fact that the Swarm Queen had been ¡°captured.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll get ready right away. Actually, I¡¯ll send Yuri ahead. But how did you catch it?¡±
-Doesn¡¯t the result matter most?
¡°That¡¯s true¡ but, you know, even Hyeong-seo and Bo-hye struggled against the Swarm Queen.¡±
K clicked his tongue.
The Swarm Queen¡¯sbat level was high, and usually, hybrid species moved with her, making her a challenging target.
With all theplications and difficulties involved, people generally avoided provoking the Swarm Queen.
But he had captured her.
However, the location was odd.
The Swarm Queen didn¡¯t usually reside near Yuri Land. Theck of hybrid species made that clear.
-I¡¯ll be waiting.
¡°Yes, yes. Just wait there.¡±
K hurriedly began to put on his clothes. He regretted barely sipping his tea, but the corpse, far more valuable than the cost of tea, was waiting.
Jung Yuri, who had arrived on-site first on K¡¯s orders, looked in astonishment at the Swarm Queen¡¯s corpse.
There was no doubt¡ªit was the Swarm Queen. The deep dagger marks on her body were clearly visible.
¡°My brother killed this?¡±
¡°Yeah.¡±
¡°But hasn¡¯t he been away from the vi for a while? Has he been around here all this time?¡±
¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡±
Kang-hoo held back his words.
He didn¡¯t particrly want to exin his teleportation ability.
It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t trust her; he just didn¡¯t feel like broadcasting it.
In any case, from the context of the situation, it wouldn¡¯t be hard to guess what happened.
The fact that both Kang-hoo and the Swarm Queen were not where they were supposed to be only led to one exnation: ¡°they moved.¡±
¡°Wow¡ I really can¡¯t believe it. Brother, even Hyeong-seo and Bo-hye couldn¡¯t capture the Swarm Queen.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve already heard.¡±
¡°Oh, from Grandfather? I don¡¯t mean to downy you, but the Swarm Queen is a really tough monster.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s just look at the results.¡±
Kang-hoo chuckled awkwardly.
To be honest, she wasn¡¯t wrong.
Isn¡¯t the result what matters? Dead or alive, it¡¯s just one or the other.
Even if you fought well, if the enemy survived, you failed. Even if you fought poorly, if the enemy died, you seeded.
¡°Let me freeze it for now.¡±
Jung Yuri started to infuse a chill into the Swarm Queen¡¯s corpse sprawled on the ground.
The left chest seemed particrly wounded, but she didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. There must have been a reason for it.
Kang-hoo noticed that Jung Yuri had gained a new skill rted to freezing and nodded.
Growth wasn¡¯t exclusive to him. Jung Yuri seemed to be unlocking her potential as well.
After that.
Kang-hoo and Jung Yuri passed the time, chatting while waiting for K.
Jung Yuri was curious about Kang-hoo¡¯s experiences in Japan, and Kang-hoo was curious about what she¡¯d been up to.
As they exchanged stories, time passed quickly. But then.
¡®No bacsh?¡¯
As the effect of Mad Srkium wore off, Kang-hoo prepared to rest and tilted his head in puzzlement.
This battle with the Swarm Queen, where he consumed both Mad Srkium and Enhanced Sensory Pill, had been a chaotic and intense fight.
Given the circumstances, it wouldn¡¯t have been strange for him to be in a state of exhaustion once the effects ended, considering how hard he¡¯d pushed himself. R?¨¤£Î??¦¢§§S@@novelbin@@
However, even as the duration ended, his body felt light. He didn¡¯t feel the expected fatigue.
Only a bit of physical weariness lingered¡ªjust the natural fatigue from thebat itself.
¡®Could it be?¡¯
Could using both Mad Srkium and the Enhanced Sensory Pill allow him to control the aftereffects?
When he first took the Enhanced Sensory Pill, he¡¯d noticed the unexpected synergy with Mad Srkium.
The reaction of his brain and senses had been heightened beyond the usual case.
However, he hadn¡¯t anticipated that even the aftereffects would be mitigated.
He would need to test it again, but for now, it seemed that taking them together caused no repercussions.
Of course, the Enhanced Sensory Pill was a rare item, so it couldn¡¯t be used frequently. But he¡¯d discovered an unexpectedbination.
With nine Enhanced Sensory Pills left, he could likely control the aftereffects at least nine more times.
Eventually, K arrived.
As the Swarm Queen¡¯s corpse was loaded into a vehicle for preservation, Kang-hoo¡¯s mission in North Korea concluded.
Although he had 14 remaining Mad Srkium, he¡¯d achieved his goal by securing the heart.
Once he returned, he nned to finalize the details of selling the Swarm Queen¡¯s corpse with K.
And immediately afterward, he would unseal the Random Skill Book.
The 100% chance, unscratched lottery awaited him, making his heart race.
Chapter 220: Queen Of The Swarm (3)
Before discussing the handling of the Queen of the Pack¡¯s corpse with K, Kang-hoo first said his goodbyes to Jung Yuri.
Jung Yuri, who had rested for just one day, was now embarking on another rigorous dungeon raid starting today.
Both Kang-hoo and K weed her proactive and energetic demeanor.
As she left in a secure limousine, she waved until they were out of sight.
After a long farewell, K, with a peculiar smile, remarked to Kang-hoo.
¡°Yuri seems to say goodbye to you more than she does to me. That¡¯s probably just my imagination, right?¡±
¡°Yes, it¡¯s probably your imagination.¡±
¡°Well¡ I suppose she¡¯d prefer a young, handsome fellow over a gloomy old man.¡±
¡°Are you jealous?¡±¡°Oh, yes. It feels like my granddaughter won¡¯t always stay as my little girl.¡±
¡°I¡¯m joking.¡±
¡°Heh, I am too.¡±
Kang-hoo, who rarely joked around.
But with K, he felt oddly at ease when speaking. Perhaps it was the unique vibe K gave off.
¡°Let¡¯s walk. We don¡¯t have to talk only in the office, after all.¡±
¡°Yes, let¡¯s do that.¡±
Kang-hoo matched his stride to K¡¯s pace.
K¡¯s walking speed was easily three times slower than Kang-hoo¡¯s.
Kang-hoo, being an assassin, naturally moved swiftly even in everyday life, while K¡¯s style was leisurely and rxed.
So, for each step he took, Kang-hoo counted to two or three internally. That way, their steps aligned.
¡°The Queen of the Pack¡¯s corpse can be disposed of in two ways. First, sell it to me immediately and receive 7.5 billion won.¡±
¡°That¡¯s quite a high amount.¡±
¡°Well, I might resell it at a profit, so it¡¯s hard to say if it¡¯s high or low, haha.¡±
¡°Aren¡¯t you being a bit too honest?¡±
¡°Am I? Maybe a little. Anyway, that¡¯s the first option. The second is to extract the Queen of the Pack¡¯s bile.¡±
¡°Are you handling it yourself?¡±
¡°No, I have a specialist for that. I can¡¯t tell you who, but they guarantee at least one vial of bile.¡±
¡°So, one vial of bile is equivalent to 7.5 billion won.¡±
¡°Exactly. It¡¯s a choice between quick cash or a future investment.¡±
The bile of the Queen of the Pack amplifies the effects of awakening buffs and awakening drugs by three times.
Itsts for 30 seconds, with no known side effects.
However, one has to kill a Queen of the Pack to obtain a single vial, making it an exceptionally rare substance.
In terms of rarity, it surpasses even Mad Srkium or Gaksin-hwan.
¡°How long does it take to extract the bile?¡±
¡°Since it needs to be refined to avoid toxicity, it¡¯ll take at least two days.¡±
¡°I see.¡±
¡°Once it¡¯s ready, I¡¯ll deliver it myself, whether by courier or in person. Don¡¯t worry about delivery.¡±
¡°Even if it¡¯s overseas?¡±
¡°Of course. I¡¯ll make sure it reaches your hands¡ªthat¡¯s my definition of ¡®delivery.¡¯¡±
¡°I¡¯ll go with the second option then. The bile seems far more valuable.¡±
¡°I thought you might.¡±
K smiled.
His expression hinted that he already knew Kang-hoo wouldn¡¯t choose the first option.
The bile of the Queen of the Pack is undeniably powerful, tempting as it may be.
However, Kang-hoo had no desire to face another Queen of the Pack anytime soon; today¡¯s battle was tiring enough.
Even if he had to fight one again, he hoped to have other hunters by his side.
That evening.
Kang-hoo, feeling physically worn out, took K¡¯s offer and rested at a vi, enjoying a solitary night.
The ce had a lively atmosphere when Jung Yuri was around, but now it was quiet to an extreme.
Reflecting on the day¡¯s battle with the Queen of the Pack, he recalled the sensations he felt through the Gaksin-hwan.
It was as if a world filled with despair and tragedy was suddenly reced by joy and ecstasy.
For a brief moment, he felt like he could die happy. Even his peripheral senses were thrilled.
It crossed his mind that it might have been a type of euphoria. Short-lived, yet the sensation was pure pleasure.
Had he not been fighting the Queen of the Pack so intensely, he might have been lost in the pleasure alone.
¡°Hmm.¡±
Kang-hoo thought of a few faces.
Kang Bok-hwa, Jung Yuri¡¯s grandmother.
He still had a meeting with her regarding the first-grade talisman ¡®Infernus.¡¯
Since there was no contact yet, it seemed that arrangements for the surviving rtives with the talisman had not been made.
Although he was 99% confident in his n for the talisman, there was still a hint of uncertainty.
¡°If Takashi calls, I can head to Japan. But the real hot topic is Jeon Se-hyuk, isn¡¯t it?¡±
Checking his smartphone, half of the recent Hunter-rted news was about Jeon Se-hyuk.
Apparently, he hadn¡¯t just hit one or two branches of Eclipse. And he certainly wasn¡¯t working alone.
This led Kang Dong-hyun to issue a ¡°Special Assassination Order.¡± It¡¯s a level above the first-grade assassination order on Kang-hoo.
What this means is that, from the moment a special assassination order is issued, a dedicated team is formed.
A special team within Eclipse is set up to counter Jeon Se-hyuk¡ªsignifying they are determined to kill him.
While Kang-hoo wanted to rush over to Go Gyeong-ho and kill him toplete his constetion trial,
he knew Go Gyeong-ho wasn¡¯t foolish enough to roam alone. Working with Jeon Se-hyuk¡¯s ¡°team¡± was essential.
However, with the special assassination order in ce, Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s close aide, Go Gyeong-ho, would soon take action.
The opportunity to encounter Go Gyeong-ho on the battlefield mighte sooner than expected, making an approach easier.
¡°Let¡¯s break the seal.¡±
Kang-hoo ced a random skill book on the table in front of him, then prepared the heart of the Queen of the Pack.
Despite being stored outside for quite a while, the heart remained in its original state, showing no signs of shriveling or decay.
The unsealing method was simple.
By bringing the offering required for unsealing into contact with the subject and infusing it with magical energy, it activates.
Afterward, the subject will automatically go through the process of unsealing itself, following the set procedure.
Kang-hoo immediately brought the heart close to the skill book and began to infuse it with magical energy.
As a blue aura appeared, the skill book glowed and began absorbing the heart¡¯s essence.
¡®Is this ck magic?¡¯
The skill book greedily devoured the heart as if sucking it through a straw, draining everything inside.
Just moments ago, the heart had a vivid, lifelike hue, but it quickly turned into a dry, shriveled fragment.
Meanwhile, the previously blue-glowing skill book took on a purplish hue.
While colors don¡¯t typically represent specific professions, this color evoked the image of a ck mage.
¡®It¡¯s changed.¡¯
The name updated immediately.
¡¾Skill Book ¨C me of Death¡¿
¡¾Special Attribute: ck Mage Exclusive¡¿
As expected, it was an exclusive skill book for ck mages. He could use a workaround to learn it, just like when he studied the skills of the Age of Barbarism. R??N???§§?
It was a bit troublesome, though.
However, the perk of acquiring a ck mage¡¯s skill without any penalty was reason enough not to hesitate.
As they say, strike while the iron is hot.
Kang-hoo revised his n to leave in the morning after spending the night here.
He decided to head to Suwon.
There, the Baltman Dungeon managed by the Onnuri Guild was located¡ªnearby and suitable for using a workaround.
Late at night.
A man was about to snap at his secretary¡¯s report about an unannounced guest, but he froze when he checked the visitor¡¯s identity. It was a familiar face.
¡°What? Shin Kang-hoo?¡±
¡°Yes, sir. Do you remember me?¡±
¡°Of course! Back then, I never imagined you¡¯d grow into such a hunter¡¡±
The man¡¯s name was Han Seung-hyeok.
He was the team leader who had previously leased the Onnuri Guild¡¯s Baltman Dungeon license to Kang-hoo for a whopping 1 billion won.
At the time, and even now, he was in the same position with his level barely increasing.
He had no particr ambition to push himself beyond his current state.
Content with his life, he earnedmissions by leasing dungeon licenses.
When he first met Kang-hoo, thetter wasn¡¯t as well-known as he is now.
Back then, he thought only a fool would pay a billion won to rent a dungeon.
But now, things had changed.
A big shot had returned.
He figured that if he hurried out to greet Kang-hoo warmly, he might leave a good impression.
It never hurts to establish connections with influential people, as they mighte in handy someday.
The secretary asked.
¡°What should we do?¡±
¡°Take him to the guild¡¯s VIP reception room. I¡¯ll personally attend to him. Be quick.¡±
¡°Yes, sir.¡±
Even before meeting Kang-hoo, Han Seung-hyeok¡¯s back was already half-bent in anticipation.
It was second nature for him to be submissive to the strong and overbearing toward the weak.
And he had firmly ced Kang-hoo in the ¡°strong¡± category.
The next dawn.
Having cleared the Baltman Dungeon, Kang-hoo checked the new skill added to his skill list.
He could barely recall what was said during his meeting with Han Seung-hyeok, except for his ssic opportunistic submissiveness.
Considering he might need the Baltman Dungeon frequently for learning skills from other sses,
hepensated Han Seung-hyeok generously, well above the standard license fee. Opportunistic types like him are susceptible to money.
This gave him ess to the dungeons managed by the Onnuri Guild.
Even if it wasn¡¯t the Baltman Dungeon, the guild had several dungeons they leased to outsiders.
Though Onnuri Guild isn¡¯trge, it possesses a decent number of lucrative dungeons.
He figured his connection with Han Seung-hyeok woulde in handy.
He nned to continue buying him off whenever necessary.
Despite hisckluster character, Han Seung-hyeok had considerable authority within the Onnuri Guild due to his business acumen.
¡°Exciting.¡±
Kang-hoo stood in a nearby clearing to test the skill¡¯s firepower and learn its usage.
This was a space where hunters often tried out their skills, so it wasn¡¯t an unusual spot for this purpose.
¡¾me of Death¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max¡¿
¡¾Infuses dark energy to create an inextinguishable me of darkness.
The installed form consumes less dark energy but has limited range, while the active form generates a me in one¡¯s hand.¡¿
¡¾The proficiency max effect activates ¡®Annihtion.¡¯
Additionally, the me can be exploded using dark energy.¡¿
In the installed form, it manifested as a wall of mes, simr to amon in-game effect.
In the active form, he could control a me orb in his hand.
If he triggered Annihtion to cause an explosion, he could target multiple enemies in a wide area.@@novelbin@@
Alternatively, he could inflict multiple streams of damage on a single target. There were various possible applications.
¡°To handle everything on my own, I must dabble in different areas. Why should it be different for a ck mage?¡±
With a confident smile, Kang-hoo raised his left hand, ready to cast the me of Death.
In this moment,
for a brief time, Kang-hoo was a ck mage wielding dark energy.
While he would always remain an assassin at heart,
if one were to ask about his identity, perhaps ¡°hybrid¡± would be the best word.
For Kang-hoo certainly possessed that versatility.
Chapter 221: Meeting (1)
Lee Ye-rin called.
Since he could check his skill anytime, he canceled the activation and answered the call right away.
¡°Yes, this is Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
-Are you free to talk?
¡°If I wasn¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t have answered.¡±
-Ah¡
Lee Ye-rin sighed briefly, perhaps because she was met with Kang-hoo¡¯s characteristic bluntness from the start of the conversation.
Considering that most of Lee Ye-rin¡¯s clients are easygoing and enjoy jokes¡
Kang-hoo is undoubtedly among the dull ones. If ranked by dullness, he would certainly be at the top.¡°Is there an overseas request?¡±
-Ah, that matter is still under discussion. There are quite a few details to coordinate.
¡°I see. Then, what¡¯s the reason?¡±
-I received a call from the Jeonghwa Guild. They want to arrange a meeting with you.
¡°Why didn¡¯t they contact me directly?¡±
-They want to show respect. They think contacting you directly might seem less formal.
¡°Whose status are they worried about?¡±
-Yours, of course. They want to approach as carefully as possible.
¡°Hmm.¡±
Kang-hoo pondered briefly.
There was no real reason to avoid the meeting.
In fact, avoiding it would be strange.
Kang-hoo knew Jang Si-hwan¡¯s nature, so he couldn¡¯t help but be curious about his every move.
But if he looked at himself from Jang Si-hwan¡¯s perspective, the picture would be entirely different.
To Jang Si-hwan, he was just one of many hunters.
For instance, he recalled meeting Baek Seon-tae from the local warlord group Jajang during a previous trip to Yeosu.
Back then, Baek Seon-tae even gave him his contact information and showed a lot of interest.
However, Kang-hoo considered Baek Seon-tae just a peculiar assassin, nothing particrly remarkable.
Since then, he hadn¡¯t been curious about Baek Seon-tae, nor did he care to know where he was or what he was doing.
If he swapped positions, cing himself in Baek Seon-tae¡¯s shoes and Jang Si-hwan in his own, he could somewhat understand.
Jang Si-hwan might find him intriguing.
But to go beyond that, he would need to stand out and grow even more than he does now.
Otherwise, from Jang Si-hwan¡¯s position, ¡°Shin Kang-hoo¡± would only seem somewhat unique at best.
-What should we do?
¡°Let¡¯s meet. Since this is happening, let¡¯s just suggest the Cheong-an Building. I might as well take care of two things at once.¡±
-Meeting me first, then taking care of the next agenda all in one go?
¡°Can a monk move first? The temple has to move.¡±
-Haha. That joke was actually funny. Maybe I¡¯m getting old.
¡°If you lump me in with old-timers like that¡ Haha.¡±
Kang-hoo chuckled.
-When should we meet?
¡°I¡¯m in Suwon right now. I¡¯ll head straight to Daejeon. Please arrange the meeting with the Jeonghwa Guild as soon as possible.¡±
-Got it. Shall I send someone to Daejeon Station?
¡°No need. I¡¯ll go myself and get a feel for the surroundings. Don¡¯t worry about meing.¡±
-Alright, then. I¡¯ll wait.
After ending the call, Kang-hoo headed directly to Suwon Station.
He would have opportunities to train and hone his Death me skill anytime. He didn¡¯t feel it was a loss to not disy it now.
Daejeon Station.
Since he hadn¡¯t visited recently, the area around Daejeon Station had changed noticeably.
The gs and emblems of the Cheong-an Mercenary Corps and Heuksaja were flying more prominently than before.
And the hunters affiliated with Eclipse, who used to appear asionally, were nowhere to be seen, as if they had disappeared entirely.
Therefore, despite expecting some level of conflict upon arrival at Daejeon Station, there was nothing to worry about.
Currently, Kang-hoo was under a kill order from Eclipse, so many were actively pursuing him.
Of course, unless they were skilled hunters, they were risking their lives trying anything.
As he sipped his takeout Americano to freshen his dry mouth¡
He overheard a conversation between two men nearby and listened in slightly.
¡°By the way, why are those Eclipse guys nowhere to be seen at Daejeon Stationtely?¡±
¡°Eclipse has too many enemies. They¡¯re stretched too thin, so they¡¯ve pulled out from here.¡±
¡°Well, they did deploy hunters here to provoke Cheong-an and Heuksaja, didn¡¯t they?¡±
¡°There isn¡¯t even a dungeon here at Daejeon Station, honestly. It was just to cause trouble.¡±
¡°I heard they stationed quite a few hunters here for symbolic reasons. They must have more urgent issues elsewhere.¡±
¡°Who knows why they go looking for trouble? Wasn¡¯t that guy who died in Japan recently named Cha So-hyuk? He¡¯s Cha So-hee¡¯s brother, right?¡±
¡°Oh, really?¡±
Despite being civilians without ess to Constetion information, the two men seemed very interested in hunter-rted issues.
It¡¯s only natural.
The quality of life changes depending on which hunter organizations influence their neighborhood.
Daejeon is still rtively livable.
This is because Cheong-an, Heuksaja, and Eclipse maintain a delicate bnce of power, paradoxically keeping the peace.
Although it¡¯s an uncertain peace, bnce is maintained for now, and conflicts are rare.
¡®What is Yun Sang-mi up to?¡¯
Someone he always thought of when he came to Daejeon Station.
He shared quite a few memories with Yun Sang-mi in Daejeon, so he often remembered her when he least expected it.
He knew she was dedicated to dungeon exploration, but it felt as though she had suddenly gone silent.
¡®Well, no news is good news.¡¯
Overthinking would be a luxury.
He decided that if she needed him, or if she missed him, or if she remembered, she would reach out, and he moved on.
Just as the two men had mentioned earlier, Eclipse¡¯s traces had noticeably vanished.
It seemed Kang Dong-hyun was struggling.
A whileter.
Lee Ye-rin, who came out to greet him in front of the Cheong-an Building.
Upon meeting her, Kang-hoo narrowed his eyes as he looked at her constetion information.
Since thest time he saw her, she had gained one more constetion. This time, it was a constetion that strengthened her defenses.
For a mage like her, acquiring defensive abilities maximized stability.
For Lee Ye-rin, who pursued a radically ¡°out-fighter¡±bat style, this constetion was an ideal match.
As Kang-hoo¡¯s gaze seemed different from usual, Lee Ye-rin yfully shrank back and asked,
¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡±
¡°You look like you¡¯ve gained some weight.¡±
¡°Wow¡ You just say that right to my face?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t lie.¡±
¡°You¡¯re getting better at jokes, Kang-hoo!¡±
¡°It wasn¡¯t a joke.¡±
¡°Tsk. You really know how to counter well. Come on, this way. I¡¯ll guide you personally.¡±
Perhaps because they¡¯d spent a lot of time facing each other, Kang-hoo had be quite friendly with Lee Ye-rin.
Thinking back, after he possessed Shin Kang-hoo¡¯s body and escaped the Cheongmyeong Detention Center¡
Lee Ye-rin was the first connection he made after Han Seo-yeon.
During the early adjustment phase, Lee Ye-rin yed thergest part in helping him adapt. Yun Sang-mi too.@@novelbin@@
While moving to the VIP lounge.
Lee Ye-rin praised Kang-hoo non-stop, talking about his achievements in Japan.
How he rescued a grandmother and granddaughter, how hended a solid hit on Yuji and Kenji, and how he took down Cha So-hyuk and the Touushi Guild members. ?????¨§??
Considering that everyone repeated these stories upon hearing them, they must have left a strong impression.
Once they arrived in the lounge, they sat down, and Lee Ye-rin continued the conversation over coffee with Kang-hoo.
¡°Because of the fame Kang-hoo has gainedtely, whether by choice or not.¡±
¡°Not by choice.¡±
¡°Yes, then not by choice! Because of that, a lot of clients overseas have been requesting mercenaries.¡±
¡°It¡¯s probably due to the shortage of bleeding dealers rather than my fame. A single video alone wouldn¡¯t change their perception.¡±
¡°You¡¯re underestimating the power of video. Those with keen eyes can recognize something special just from that.¡±
¡°Well, it¡¯s good news nheless.¡±
¡°Indeed. It¡¯s be easier to set the stage under favorable conditions. And setting the stage is my specialty¡¡±
¡°I¡¯m counting on you.¡±
¡°Is there anything else I should consider when epting requests? Feel free to let me know.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll prioritize requests from Germany or South Africa.¡±
¡°Understood.¡±
Lee Ye-rin didn¡¯t ask for any further exnation.
Not having excessive curiosity is one of the virtues of a skilled broker.
If she had personal curiosity, she could investigate on her own. No need to show it.
¡°May I bring up a different topic?¡±
¡°Sure, go ahead. I also ept date requests, you know.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that.¡±
¡°¡Learn to take a joke!¡±
¡°I met Ayane. I have her consent to mention this. She also agreed that I could talk about her to you.¡±
¡°One moment.¡±
Lee Ye-rin paused the conversation briefly and made a phone call.
Kang-hoo knew exactly who she was calling. Naturally, it would be Ayane.
It was a reaction he had expected. Partly, he brought it up to test her response.
If Lee Ye-rin had casually started talking about Ayane after Kang-hoo imed he had her permission¡
He would have questioned her capability, thinking she didn¡¯t understand the weight of being a broker.
But she didn¡¯t.
¡°Ah, yes. I see. I confirmed it. So with that consent, I¡¯ll proceed if there are rted matters.¡±
The conversation, which seemed to include mutual consent and opinions, concluded.
Lee Ye-rin resumed speaking to Kang-hoo.
¡°It¡¯s a necessary verification process, so I paused the conversation and made a call. I hope you don¡¯t mind?¡±
¡°Of course.¡±
¡°It¡¯s amazing how these coincidences ovep. Although, I did arrange both for the Jeongmun Pharmaceutical case.¡±
¡°Going to Fukuoka in Japan wasn¡¯t part of the original n, though.¡±
¡°Exactly. And then Ayane was there for a request I received. I suppose it¡¯s fate.¡±
¡°Thanks to that, I was able to express myte gratitude. For the help we exchanged back at theb, which we couldn¡¯t acknowledge.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
¡°Ayane is really picky when ites to evaluating hunters. It shows especially when she¡¯s choosing a partner¡¡±
Seeing Lee Ye-rin¡¯s reaction, it was clear Ayane had high standards. Lee Ye-rin continued,
¡°If she finds a truly impressive hunter, her focus shiftspletely. She bes captivated, in a good way.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a unique trait.¡±
¡°Exactly. She treats hunters without skill as absolute trash. Courtesy greetings? Humility? None of that.¡±
¡°Hmm¡¡±
¡°The fact that Ayane is this interested in Kang-hoo means she acknowledges that his skills are different.¡±
¡°Ayane is skilled too.¡±
¡°Right. That¡¯s why it¡¯s even more impressive. To capture the interest of such a selective hunter is amazing.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t intend to capture her interest, but she¡¯d already invested her interest by the time I knew.¡±
Kang-hooughed, recalling his encounter with Ayane in the Fukuoka Liberation Area.
At that moment.
Lee Ye-rin, her thoughts seemingly shifted, adjusted her seat and her expression grew slightly somber.
¡°Among the overseas requests, I¡¯ll coordinate those that can be linked with Ayane upon mutual agreement. But that¡¯s not the main topic for today.¡±
Kang-hoo had an idea of what wasing, but he deliberately tilted his head as if he didn¡¯t.
Discussing the expected ¡°topic¡±¡
It would be better for her to realize and address it herself than for him to prod unnecessarily.
And that was¡ª
¡°Today, I want to talk seriously to you about the Jeonghwa Guild. I hope you listen closely.¡±
It was a conversation to confront her resentment towards the Jeonghwa Guild, reminding her of the fate her character was heading toward in the original story.
Chapter 222: Meeting (2)
¡°Your treatment isplete. I hope you understand that this is the best we could do.¡±
¡°This¡ is the best?¡±
¡°Since we couldn¡¯t recover the lost fingers, this is the best possible restoration at the moment.¡±
¡°Anyone can see this fake finger barely moves naturally. And this is supposed to be the best?¡±
Meanwhile¡
Back in China, Jung Seon-rak stared at his fingers with a face full of fury, following his reconstructive surgery.@@novelbin@@
He had lost two fingers to Kang-hoo when they met in front of the First Research Institute¡¯s main gate.
He sought out a reputable ¡®specialist¡¯ in Shanghai for the surgery, but the results fell short of his expectations.
¡°Still, it¡¯s a miracle I managed to restore over 20% of the previous finger functionality. Not to brag, but this result would be hard to surpass anywhere else.¡±¡°A miracle? A miracle is when it¡¯s fully restored. This is just leaving me crippled!¡±
¡°This is as far as I can go. If you want full recovery, you should try going to Gosuke.¡±
¡°Are you even listening? You¡¯re telling me to go to a Japanese guy¡ªa ck mage psychopath¡ªfor treatment?¡±
¡°That¡¯s enough. It¡¯s rude to keep berating this person. He came here just to operate on you, despite everything.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just frustrating, hearing these annoying suggestions! Who knows if he used me as a test subject?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll handle things from here. You may go. Your payment should have been deposited. Thank you.¡±
¡°¡Alright.¡±
The specialist quickly left.
The man calming Jung Seon-rak was Yeo Jin-bin, his longtimepanion from the First Research Institute.
They had built a deep friendship since childhood, forming a close bond.
Yeo Jin-bin also served as a ¡®restraint¡¯ for Jung Seon-rak¡¯s hot-headedness.
He was the only one Jung Seon-rak would listen to.
After the specialist left, Yeo Jin-bin raised his voice in reproach.
¡°Why are you taking it out on an innocent person? Didn¡¯t you call him knowing what you were getting into?¡±
¡°I just can¡¯t ept that my fingers are like this¡¡±
Jung Seon-rak trembled slightly, staring at his fingers that still wouldn¡¯t move as he wished.
This issue had affected his mastery of Qi Gong Dan, the most crucial skill for him as a Qi Gong master.
Though he could still use it, precise and intricate control was now out of reach.
A massive blow to his full potential.
For Jung Seon-rak, who prided himself on his level, skill, and ability, this was a severe shock.
¡°Do you have any leads on him?¡±
¡°We¡¯re looking, but the face in the video footage is hard to make out.¡±
¡°He must have been hired for the job. A mercenary, right? Then there should be information on his contract.¡±
¡°Do you know how many mercenary groups are in Korea? And gaining ess to internal information is no easy task.¡±
¡°Still, we need to find him! My pride won¡¯t allow me to spend my life never knowing who he is, unable to get my revenge!¡±
¡°Alright, calm down for now. Let¡¯s focus on regaining more sensation in your fingers first.¡±
¡°What? Telling me to go to Gosuke? That specialist is lucky I didn¡¯t kill him.¡±
Grit.
Jung Seon-rak gritted his teeth.
Even Jung Seon-rak, desperate to regain feeling in his fingers, was put off by Gosuke¡¯s reputation as an infamous Japanese ck mage.
¡°I¡¯ll search for the assassin based on the skills and movements used back then, so don¡¯t worry. It shouldn¡¯t be an international mercenary.¡±
¡°Hoo¡ Give me a cigarette.¡±
Jung Seon-rak put a cigarette to his lips, his expression darkening as he looked at the bloody bandage over his injured fingers.
Would he ever get his revenge on the hunter, whom he could barely recognize by his piercing gaze alone, who had dealt him this unforgivable humiliation? ??¦?¦Â¨§?
Drip.
Blood seeped from his clenched fingers as his nails dug into his skin. He was barely holding back his fury.
All the things Kang-hoo discussed with Lee Ye-rin brought him a sense of satisfaction.
She had obtained key evidence of the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s misdeeds, and her fury over it was evident.
At first, Kang-hoo wondered why she was telling him about the guild¡¯s true face.
If Kang-hoo were a hunter with ties to or a desire to get close to the Jeonghwa Guild¡
Lee Ye-rin¡¯s words could serve as evidence against her, and he could use it to gain favor with the guild.
But, of course, Lee Ye-rin was no fool.
She had met Kang-hoo in a special room where all radio and electronic devices were disabled.
Their conversation was entirely verbal, leaving no proof except her own memory.
Still, there was one regret: when she had first acquired information on the guild¡¯s misconduct and reached out to him.
At that time, she had let her guard down and confided in him without safeguards.
If Kang-hoo had harbored different intentions, Lee Ye-rin could have easily be a target of the Jeonghwa Guild.
It¡¯s not that she couldn¡¯t escape if necessary, but any personal trust between her and Jang Si-hwan would have been shattered.
Kang-hoo pointed this out.
Revealing her true thoughts without full trust in the other person was not wise.
Lee Ye-rin, normally meticulous, had momentarily let her anger over the guild¡¯s misdeeds cloud her judgment.
Regardless, she had exined the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s dangers to Kang-hoo and urged him to be cautious.
For Kang-hoo, it was nothing new.
However, he refrained from stoking her animosity further or intensifying her emotions.
Only by reaching her conclusions would she firmly align herself against the Jeonghwa Guild. Her conviction had to be self-realized.
Any excessive emotional involvement could backfire.
But now that Lee Ye-rin had openly shown her hand, there was no longer any need to doubt her sincerity.
She would now skillfully pose as an ally to the Jeonghwa Guild while digging deeper into their dark secrets.
With her meticulous personality and capabilities, gathering data wouldn¡¯t take long.
After finishing a deep conversation with Lee Ye-rin, Kang-hoo proceeded to his next scheduled meeting with Gong Yoo-seok and Go Ju-hee.
Greeting the two with feigned cheerfulness from the entrance, Lee Ye-rin put on a convincing act of being delighted to see them.
In the VIP meeting room, Kang-hoo greeted Gong Yoo-seok and Go Ju-hee, helping to ease the tense atmosphere with his introduction.
¡°Last time, we met when you were acting as judges for the assault eligibility review, but today, the setting is quite different.¡±
¡°Even if we¡¯ve met before, a proper introduction is necessary. I¡¯m Go Ju-hee from Jeonghwa Guild.¡±
¡°I¡¯m Gong Yoo-seok, officially the Team Leader of the External Talent Strategy Department. Ju-hee here is the Deputy Team Leader.¡±
When they¡¯d been judges, both had dressed rather extravagantly.
But today, perhaps due to the asion, they wore simple ck suits, giving off a more restrained look.
Thanks to Kang-hoo greeting them first with a much higher level of energy than usual, he found himself momentarily out of things to say.
After an awkward silence, Go Ju-hee spoke up.
¡°Our Jeonghwa Guild has been closely observing your activities, Shin Kang-hoo. Not as surveince, of course, but because we find you to be a very intriguing person.¡±
Watching Go Ju-hee lie without blinking an eye, Kang-hoo understood the nature of the meeting.
When tasked with talent acquisition, it was essential to start by ttering the other party.
He chuckled at the random thought of how different the conversation would have been if An Yeong-ho had been sitting beside him.
¡°Not only with what happened with Eclipse but also with the Osho Mercenary Corps. They were filthy scum,¡± Gong Yoo-seok added.
It was interesting that he knew about the Osho Mercenary Corps, a topic not widely known.
Of course, word could¡¯ve spread from Kim Su-kyung¡¯s mercenary group.
After all, the Jeonghwa Guild has connections with the Kashimar Guild, so they could have easily acquired information.
But the fact that they knew a piece of information Kang-hoo had never publicly disclosed and were mentioning it so casually¡
¡°This must be a disy of Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s intelligence-gathering capabilities, an intimidation and appeal tactic.¡±
The strategic intent was evident.
Knowing about the Osho Mercenary Corps clearly demonstrated the link between Jeonghwa Guild and Kashimar Guild.
They likely spoke without much thought, but to Kang-hoo, their remarks only solidified his suspicions.
¡°Cha So-hyuk was not a hunter our Jeonghwa Guild approved of either. I¡¯m still curious as to how you managed to defeat him,¡± Go Ju-hee said.
¡°Most of our guild¡¯s executives think the same. Many were surprised.¡±
Taking a sip of his tea, Kang-hoo nodded in acknowledgment.
Sensing Kang-hoo¡¯s boredom with the endless ttery, Go Ju-hee changed the topic.
¡°Our Jeonghwa Guild supports hunters like Shin Kang-hoo, who pursue justice and show explosive potential for growth!¡±
¡°Of course, this isn¡¯t the first recruitment proposal you¡¯ve received. But rest assured, our Jeonghwa Guild can provide far better conditions and environments than any other ce!¡±
Their confidence shone through in every word. That¡¯s Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s pride.
In the original work, their pride-filled derations had been endearing.
But from Shin Kang-hoo¡¯s position, it felt unsettling, as though they were subordinates of traitors.
It wasn¡¯t their fault, of course. But their fate, leading to the abyss of darkness, was certain.
¡°Even if the conditions are favorable, any hunter favored by Jeonghwa Guild has a predictable future.¡±
Kang-hoo knew all too well how close An Yeong-ho hade to disaster.
If he joined, he¡¯d immediately undergo ¡°training,¡± and his skills would be systematically copied by Yu Cheonghwa.
There were endless horror stories circting in the rumors about the Jeonghwa Guild.
The resentment in his heart for the Jeonghwa Guild was strong, particrly toward Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeong.
Yet, openly disying his hostility would be foolish.
Hinting at the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s negative aspects and showing reluctance would be a moderate approach.
But to truly master the situation, there was a simple tactic: divert all the attention onto himself.
Like this.
¡°I¡¯ve admired the Jeonghwa Guild for a long time. What hunter wouldn¡¯t?¡±
The two nodded in agreement.
They seemed slightly surprised by his overly friendly response, probably expecting him to reject them outright.
¡°There¡¯s no need for a proposal. If I were an ordinary hunter, I would have joined long ago.¡±
¡°Are you saying¡?¡±
¡°But, as you know, I have too many enemies right now. And I know myself too well. My personal feelings alwayse first before any sense of belonging, so yes, I am selfish.¡±
Kang-hoo nced at their expressions.
He briefly considered mentioning the Observer but decided it wasn¡¯t the best choice.
It wasn¡¯t impossible that they¡¯d use the guise of training before a dungeon assault to spend more time in contact.
If he tried to avoid them, it would only seem more suspicious.
Thus¡
¡°Sticking to a one-sided admiration without any expectations of eptance is the best choice.¡±
Kang-hoo was acting.
Pretending to long for the Jeonghwa Guild, only to consider himself an unworthy wild beast.
The die was cast.
Now, it was time to observe Jang Si-hwan¡¯s reaction. Would he recognize Kang-hoo¡¯s self-deprecating rejection?
He was curious to see his response.
Chapter 223: Meeting (3)
The meeting with the two people from the Jeonghwa Guild concluded just like that.
As Kang-hoo expected, perhaps because it was their first meeting, they didn¡¯t take any further aggressive actions.
They probably came with some guidelines from Jang Si-hwan, instructing them not to be overly submissive.
¡®They¡¯re definitely keeping an eye on me.¡¯
He could sense it.
Jang Si-hwan is meticulous by nature.
That¡¯s just how he operates.
Behind n A, there are always ns B and C, especially when dealing with people.
If he were someonepletely unrted to Jang Si-hwan up to now, he might not give it a second thought.But, whether by coincidence or fate, various connections have formed between them.
The incident at the observatory and the encounter in the Gold Goblin¡¯s Mine are good examples.
Moreover, Kang-hoo had previously participated in the infernal campaign led by Jang Si-hwan, where external members were recruited.
That¡¯s where an assassin with a hidden skill appeared.
Of course, Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t the only assassin under suspicion. Hunters from China had participated at the time as well.
But just being a ¡®person of interest¡¯ is enough to catch the cautious Jang Si-hwan¡¯s attention.
¡®Definitely a two-track approach.¡¯
Gong Yoo-seok and Go Ju-hee are the ¡®light¡¯ approach. And there¡¯s bound to be an invisible ¡®dark¡¯ approach too.
Thus, he had no intention of lowering his guard.
To surpass the protagonist he, the original author, had created, Kang-hoo needed a wisdom that went beyond mere thinking.
After wrapping up the meeting with Jeonghwa Guild.
He said his goodbyes to Lee Ye-rin over the phone, who had left earlier for mercenary business, and then stepped outside.
He nned to head to Daejeon Station, book a room at the safety hotel run directly by the Cheong-an Mercenary Corps, and maybe visit the bar when he received a call.
¡®Ma Jin-ho? What¡¯s going on?¡¯
It was Ma Jin-ho from the Groo Guild.
¡°Yes, this is Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
¡°Hello, this is Ma Jin-ho from the Groo Guild. I wonder if you remember me?¡±
¡°Of course.¡±
¡°If it¡¯s convenient, may our Guild Master and Deputy Guild Master visit you?¡±
¡°You mean the three of you are nning toe to see me? I¡¯d like to hear the reason first.¡±
¡°It¡¯s nothing grand. Both of them are very eager to meet you, Shin Kang-hoo.¡±
By ¡®the two of them,¡¯ he must mean Oh Yoo-jin and Oh Hye-jin. From what Kang-hoo knew, they were quite skilled swordsmen.
In the original work, the Groo Guild, based in Jeju Ind, maintained a neutral position, and that was about all there was to them.
They were neither positively nor negatively influenced by Jang Si-hwan, so they weren¡¯t deeply explored.
The Oh Yoo-jin and Oh Hye-jin sisters ran the guild, with Ma Jin-ho handling the tough jobs. They maintained strict neutrality.
That was all there was to the Groo Guild¡¯s involvement in the original work. They had no interest outside Jeju.
Of course, just because that was the case in the original story doesn¡¯t mean it will remain so.
The life of Shin Kang-hoo haspletely changed. The butterfly effect is happening in ways big and small.
¡°Where would you prefer to meet?¡±
¡°We¡¯lle to wherever you are. There¡¯s no need for you to trouble yourself.¡±
¡°In that case, let¡¯s meet at Daejeon Station.¡±
¡°Understood. Apologies for the sudden call and the rushed arrangement.¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll leave a message once the arrival time is set.¡±
¡°Please do.¡±
Kang-hoo ended the call.
The Groo Guild¡¯s visit was predictable. Either they wanted to recruit him or build a connection.
Lately, things have been quite tense. Assassins are in high demand worldwide.
From Kang-hoo¡¯s perspective, someone who doesn¡¯t require blood dealers, the scarcity of assassins wasn¡¯t particrly special.
It came so naturally to him. Even when soloing, maintaining the bleeding effect was never an issue.
But most huntersck the ability to sustain the bleeding effect, and their craving for it is intense.
Especially for upper and top-tier hunters, the demand for bleeding effects has surged as its importance grows.
Didn¡¯t the Rikou Guild recently ask Kang-hoo to help with a dungeon that required a bleeding dealer?
¡®If I want to raise my worth, it might be wise to enhance my options rted to bleeding.¡¯
He felt the need to strengthen skills or linked options rted to bleeding.
Although he was already more than capable, if he had been content with that, he wouldn¡¯t be living so intensely.
The identity of Kang-hoo, who could ¡®do everything alone,¡¯ had be his defining trait.
¡®There¡¯s that ck magic skill that adds bleeding options to minions. If I use it¡ I might be able to link it to the shadow in Shadow Step, which conditionally qualifies as a minion.¡¯ ???¦??¨§??
His thoughts expanded.
The challenge was obtaining the ¡®Skillbook¡¯ central to his n, but if he was determined, it wasn¡¯t impossible.
The only issue was that this skillbook was in North Korea.
¡®North Korea again, huh.¡¯
Even for Kang-hoo, who knew so much, it remained a mysterious world, scarce in information and extremely tricky.
As if the northernnd was luring him in, he let out a dryugh and bit his lip.
The more his ambition grew¡ the more frequent his trips to the north of Ground Zero seemed inevitable.
A bar near Daejeon Station.
He hadn¡¯t picked a specific ce but just chose one in the busiest district.
With guards posted around the area, he could drinkfortably, so he settled there.
The moment he entered, Kang-hoo instinctively ordered a drink from the bartender who was walking his way.
¡°A Srkium Burst, please.¡±
¡°Yes! A Srkium Bur¡ huh? Wait! We meet again?¡±
¡°Hmm?¡±
Turning his head, Kang-hoo thought they were about to try and chat him up as they would with any first-time guest.
And there she was, standing right before him. It was Beni.
They had met before at Club Hades, and once again when he went to Pyeongtaek.
¡°Pyeongtaek wasn¡¯t profitable enough, so I came back to Daejeon! This is actually my home ground!¡±
¡°Oh, so you went there and then came back.¡±
¡°Seeing you again here! They say if coincidences repeat, it¡¯s destiny. Isn¡¯t this fate for us?¡±
¡°Then, I¡¯ll buy your cocktail.¡±
¡°Huh¡ is that all? No romantic lines about fate or anything?¡±
¡°Nope.¡±
¡°Meh. Still, it¡¯s nice seeing you again! I¡¯m working at a bar that the Cheong-an Mercenary Corps backs up!¡±
The first time he met Beni was at Club Hades.
Since Eclipse had torn the ce apart, her image of Eclipse couldn¡¯t be a positive one.
Probably why she left Daejeon for a bit to work in Pyeongtaek.
But with someone calling her back and the stable support of the Cheong-an Mercenary Corps, she returned.
Thanks to her, he wouldn¡¯t be drinking alone.
Kang-hoo bought her a cocktail, adding a bit extra for information.
¡°Oh my! Here, cocktailse with conversation tips included, so you didn¡¯t have to add that.¡±
¡°Then should I take it back?¡±
¡°No, no! I didn¡¯t mean it like that! It¡¯s just, well, I really appreciate it. Haha.¡±
Beni chuckled as her eyes, guided by a capitalist instinct, traced the number of bills he handed her.
Kang-hoo knew well.
These bartenders tend to share more exclusive and confidential information based on the money they receive.
You can¡¯t fully trust a bartender¡¯s intel, but the cost is often worth the entertainment.
And Beni had proven reliable with her information before. Hadn¡¯t it brought him some amusement?
But shortly after.
Beni returned the money he¡¯d just given her and presented him with a Srkium Burst, albeit a different color.
He¡¯d been curious about what she was so focused on preparing out of his sight, and it turned out she had changed the color.
¡°This is a Cherry Blossom Srkium Burst! Try it, and if you don¡¯t like it, I¡¯ll bring you the original.¡±
¡°Seems like you¡¯re up to something strange.¡±
¡°You¡¯ll change your mind once you try it. Just a regr Srkium Burst can be a bit nd, don¡¯t you think?¡±
¡°Alright. But why return the money?¡±
¡°Well¡ let¡¯s just say I¡¯ll only ept your gesture. No one¡¯s ever given such a generous tip before.¡±
¡°You¡¯re not satisfied with the amount?¡±
¡°No, no! I¡¯m just epting the sentiment. Let¡¯s say I¡¯m buying this round in celebration of seeing you again!¡±
Kang-hoo pocketed the returned money.
He figured she wouldn¡¯t ept it directly, so he decided to leave it at the counterter.
Beni took a sip of the cocktail he¡¯d bought her and, with her lips slightly moistened, continued.
¡°There are a lot of interesting stories circting in Daejeon these days. This one¡¯s about Eclipse¡ªabout the ranking above Kang Dong-hyun. Have you heard of it?¡±
¡°That rumor about there being uncertainty over who ranks above him?¡±
¡°That¡¯s themon rumor. But the word is, the first or second in rank is a foreigner.¡±
¡°You mean they¡¯re actually ranked first or second?¡±
¡°There might be two of them, or just one. But if they exist, they¡¯re both foreign hunters.¡±
¡°So, you¡¯re saying Kang Dong-hyun is just a puppet?¡±
¡°Exactly.¡±
In the original story, Eclipse naturally disbanded.
After the Jeonghwa Guild dered war on crime, they dried up Eclipse¡¯s funding.
Crime organizations generally rely on a massive capital base, and without funds, they couldn¡¯t survive.
There was no further mention of Kang Dong-hyun¡¯s movements afterward.
So, there¡¯s no way to know if there was a foreign hunter backing them.
¡°If it¡¯s true that a higher-ranking foreign hunter exists, it means Kang Dong-hyun is just a toy.¡±
¡°Interesting, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Where did you hear that?¡±
¡°From a hunter who left Eclipse. Actually, I overheard it rather than directly heard it.¡±
It¡¯s quite a heavy story to dismiss as mere gossip. Of course, it¡¯s not something he can believe outright.
Intriguing stories.
That¡¯s the appeal of the enigmatic tales bartenders share with patrons.
Seventy percent may be lies, but the thirty percent truth hidden within makes it all the more engaging.
When Kang-hoo¡¯s normally icy gaze started to sparkle with interest, Beni eagerly continued.
¡°And here¡¯s something about ck Lion. This onees directly from one of their higher-ups!¡±
¡°Sounds interesting.¡±
¡°Lately, ck Lion has been doing a lot of facility upgrades and putting serious effort into recruiting external hunters.¡±
¡°They¡¯ve set up tons of booths around Daejeon Station.¡±
¡°Yes. That¡¯s because a massive amount of capital came in from Russia. It seems they secured a significant investment.¡±
¡°Do you know from where?¡±
¡°No, I don¡¯t know that part. But they apparently sold a portion of the mining rights for a magic stone mine in return.¡±
¡°Whoever the higher-up is, he has a loose tongue.¡±
¡°He¡¯s a boastful old guy, haha.¡±
Was it just his imagination, or did the mention of Russian capital naturally bring the Kashimar Guild to mind?
Of course, he couldn¡¯t fully trust Beni¡¯s words.
But the story matched the current situation closely enough that it couldn¡¯t be brushed off as a mere drunken tale.
Especially since his connection with Eclipse was fundamentally bad blood, he couldn¡¯t help but be concerned.
The untold story of the two Daejeon-based organizations¡¯ hidden backers¡ªa tale left untouched in the original story.
What could be lurking behind that shrouded veil?
What if Kang Dong-hyun isn¡¯t truly the pinnacle of Eclipse?
The scale of the enmity he¡¯d cultivate in the future could grow evenrger.
Gulp- Gulp-@@novelbin@@
Lost in thought, he downed his cocktail in one go.
The ¡°Cherry Blossom¡± Srkium Burst tasted surprisingly good.
Chapter 224: Meeting (4)
Returning to his room, Kang-hoo drew a rough map of Korea on an A4 sheet of paper.
He wanted to get a more intuitive feel of the current domestdscape.
First.
He wrote the name of the Jeonghwa Guild over Seoul and shaded it in red. Red signifies potential enemies.
¡®Seoul belongs to Jeonghwa Guild and the Public Safety Bureau. From the moment I go up against Jang Si-hwan, they¡¯re myplete enemies.¡¯
For now, Seoul is Jang Si-hwan¡¯s stronghold, the grand fortress he¡¯s built.
It¡¯s not the fault of the Seoul residents. It¡¯s Jang Si-hwan¡¯s calcted efforts to build trust.
Next, Kang-hoo marked the northern and northeastern parts of Gyeonggi Province with blue, indicating potential allies.
¡®The Abyss¡¯s territory. Their hold there provides good ess to North Korea.¡¯In terms of area, the Abyss upies a farrger region.
However, battles between hunters aren¡¯t about capturing territory.@@novelbin@@
It¡¯s about size and quality, and in that respect, the Abyss is at a clear disadvantage.
Then, Kangwon Province.
Aside from the cities near the East Sea, many satellite guilds under Jeonghwa Guild are based here.
Although there are fewer active hunters in this area, it can broadly be considered part of Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s domain.
¡®The Abyss is effectively surrounded. That¡¯s why even Lee Hyun-seok can¡¯t focus solely on Seoul.¡¯
Like a sandwich, the Abyss is squeezed between Jeonghwa Guild and its satellite guilds on both sides, restricting their activities.
Moreover, to Kang-hoo¡¯s eyes, many of these satellite guilds seem like mere ¡°pretenders¡± that are not actually affiliated with Jeonghwa Guild.
This means that if the Abyss wrongly targets a satellite guild, it could backfire badly.
They might end up used of ughtering guilds unrted to Jeonghwa Guild.
And Lee Hyun-seok doesn¡¯t have enough force to make a move on Seoul.
The structure makes it difficult to escape this encirclement.
Without outside intervention, this stalemate is unlikely to change.
Although a bit further away, there¡¯s the Haeyeong Guild in Busan, a guild that has agreed to cooperate with the Jeonghwa Guild.
The Haeyeong Guild¡¯s base is in Busan, but its influence subtly extends over the Gyeongsang region.
This makes the southeastern part of the country an area lightly influenced by the Jeonghwa Guild.
¡®This is the focal point.¡¯
Kang-hoo drew two lines.
Two straight lines epassing the central region, including southern Gyeonggi and Daejeon.
Currently, this area is in a state reminiscent of the Warring States Period, with numerous guilds vying for control.
Even in Daejeon, three groups are entangled, paradoxically keeping Seoul¡¯s influence at bay.
¡®To break the deadlock, the central region, including southern Gyeonggi and Daejeon, needs to form an anti-Jeonghwa line.¡¯
If this area shifts to oppose the Jeonghwa Guild, Seoul could end up encircled.
¡°Phew.¡±
Feeling a dull ache in his head, hey down on the bed.
Drawing maps doesn¡¯t change anything in reality.
However, it can provide direction for his future strategies. For now, Daejeon appears to be the focal point.
Coincidentally, Lee Ye-rin¡¯s Cheong-an Mercenary Corps is stationed there. But so are potential adversaries like ck Lion and Eclipse.
¡°Daejeon, Daejeon¡¡±
The name lingered on his lips.
It felt as though Daejeon would y a crucial role in shaping the country¡¯s power dynamics.
He had a dream.
In his dream, Kang-hoo saw himself living the life of the original author.
He thought much of it had merged with Shin Kang-hoo and nearly faded from memory¡
But the dream brought forgotten memories and unconscious thoughts to the surface, vividly presenting them as reality.
His dream self posted the final chapter with satisfaction, only to wake up and check the tform¡¯sment board, which had turned into a war zone.
The final chapter¡¯sments were flooded with criticisms and usations, and the rating had dropped by nearly two points overnight.
Feeling a shudder in his hand, his mind went nk, a mix of fear and dread churning within.
In that moment, he realized.
He hadn¡¯t just ended it poorly; he¡¯d ended it terribly wrong.
What he thought would be a unique finale, an attempt at differentiation, had be nothing but a failure.
He regretted it toote, chastised himself, and cried out, but there was no way to undo it.
The readers¡¯ fury only grew when he announced revisions to the final episode.
They demanded to know why he had chosen an aplice¡¯s ending¡ an undeniable critique for the original author.
So he screamed.
That he wanted to make things right.
That he wanted to go back.
If he could turn back time, he¡¯d fix the ending of his novel, the one he¡¯d ruined!
And now.
¡°What a filthy dream.¡±
Kang-hoo woke up, drenched in cold sweat, and ruffled his hair. It was a dream he wished he hadn¡¯t had.
Whether or not he could ever return, he didn¡¯t want to recall the life he had before possessing this body.
What matters now is the present.
Looking back changes nothing.
¡°Phew.¡±
He chugged the water in the ss beside him and turned on the TV.
The news reported a breaking story about an explosion at the Fourth Research Institute¡¯s main gate.
Apparently, it wasn¡¯t a conflict with an external hunter but an internal explosion.
¡°An inside job?¡±
A highly usible deduction.
If he back-calctes in alignment with the ¡°aplice ending,¡±
there¡¯s a strong chance that Jeonghwa Guild nted an insider within Jeongmun Pharmaceuticals.
In the original story, the distribution timeline for Gakshinhwan was about a year from now.
However, the distributor wasn¡¯t Jeongmun Pharmaceuticals but Raimer Pharmaceuticals¡
¡°Why did this just ur to me now? My mind must have been elsewhere.¡±
A sudden realization altered Kang-hoo¡¯s expression.
The fact that the distributor for the same drug changed in a year indicates internal or external issues within Jeongmun Pharmaceuticals.
Thest incident with the First Research Institute confirmed that the Jeonghwa Guild has a twisted greed toward Jeongmun Pharmaceuticals.
They didn¡¯t try to control the multinational mercenary forces nor make any statements denouncing them.
That means¡
There¡¯s also a chance that Raimer Pharmaceuticals, Jeongmun¡¯s future new name, wille under foreign influence.
For instance, it could fall under the influence of the Fortuna Guild led by Casey Rex.
In the original story,
all it says is that Jang Si-hwan instructed Chae Gwanhyeong to secure a stable supply of Gakshinhwan from Raimer Pharmaceuticals.
There were no subsequent issues rted to the supply or the pharmaceuticalpany, so it wasn¡¯t further explored.
¡®The reason Jang Si-hwan and Jeonghwa Guild aren¡¯t stepping forward directly is simple. It keeps them clear of monopoly allegations.¡¯
A well-nned setup.
¡°If that¡¯s the case¡¡±
The fall of Jeongmun Pharmaceuticals no longer feels like someone else¡¯s problem.
The overwhelming efficacy of Gakshinhwan was something Kang-hoo experienced firsthand.
If it flows freely to the public?
It would be yet another advantage for Jang Si-hwan, who currently holds the upper hand in level and growth.
¡®In the end, I can¡¯t avoid getting involved.¡¯
Kang-hoo bit his lip tightly.
Should he let Jeongmun Pharmaceuticals run its course for a year, or prevent the tragedy awaiting a year from now?
He needs to calcte carefully.
At that time.
A special guest had arrived at K¡¯s Yuri Land.
He was someone who hade immediately upon receiving K¡¯s call, while quietly traveling in Korea.
He was extracting bile from the preserved corpse of the Queen of the Swarm, kept in pristine condition.
K assisted him nearby, and he skillfully carried on with the work, even cracking a joke.
¡°Am I still doing grunt work like this, even at my age?¡±
¡°You know as well as I do. Nobody can manage perfect extraction and refinement like you, hyungnim.¡±
¡°I¡¯m seventy, you know. The cold pierces my bones. And I really can¡¯t stand the chill unique to this ce.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I prepared plenty of high-quality medicinal ingredients for you. Lots of them.¡±
¡°And this guy you¡¯re giving it to¡ªhe¡¯s an assassin, you said? It can¡¯t have been easy to capture the Queen of the Swarm.¡±
¡°He¡¯s quite a skilled assassin, hyungnim. Shows promise in many ways.¡±
¡°What do you know about assassins? Don¡¯t talk nonsense. Nine out of ten are just showoffs.¡±
¡°And what about you, hyungnim?¡±
¡°Me? I¡¯m one of the real ones. A true saekak (assassin) through and through.¡±
¡°Hyungnim.¡±
¡°What now? Why do you keep calling me?¡±
¡°Instead of raising your infamy as the Thousand Killing Elder, isn¡¯t it time you focused on training future generations?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not like I went after anyone. I only killed those who insisted oning after me.¡±
¡°That¡¯s hardly any different.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t impose your weak X-like personality on me. Just leave it at that. I live the way I want.¡±
¡°Hmm¡¡±
K gazed sympathetically at the elderly man with white hair.
His real name was Wei Zhongyang.
A Chinese assassin better known by his alias ¡°Thousand Killing Elder.¡±
People who could wlessly refine the Queen of the Swarm¡¯s bile into a safe, liquid form were rare.
That¡¯s why K personally summoned him to Yuri Land.
The two had known each other for a long time, having worked together in the Beijing Martial Arts Group during their younger years.
¡°Everyone has their own way of living. I don¡¯t criticize you for living under your wife¡¯s thumb.¡±
¡°That¡¯s different, hyungnim.¡±
¡°Enough. Let¡¯s skip the headache-inducing talk and finish this refinement so we can have some good gaoliang liquor.¡±
¡°Yes, hyungnim. I overstepped.¡±
¡°You¡¯re still full of energy, huh? Wait until you¡¯re my age. Just taking care of yourself is hard¡¡±
The Thousand Killing Elder let out a groan.
But from K¡¯s perspective, his body looked as muscr and toned as someone in their twenties¡ªsmooth and solid.
A sudden thought crossed his mind.
If Kang-hoo could learn under the Thousand Killing Elder, just how much more could he grow?
There was indeed potential and anticipation. But the elder had never taken on a disciple.
The meeting with the three Groo Guild executives took ce early in the morning.
Somehow, he ended up meeting the top three in the guild hierarchy at once.
With all the guild¡¯s pirs present, Kang-hoo felt slightly more tense than when he met the two from Jeonghwa Guild.
For about a minute, he couldn¡¯t focus on the conversation.
It was an inevitable rite of passage, but he wasn¡¯t interested in obvious ttery.
Seeing Kang-hoo¡¯s unchanging expression, Master Oh Yoo-jin cut to the chase, sensing the awkwardness.
¡°I once received an offer to join a major guild. But I turned it down and created my own. I imagine you feel the same. If we invited you to ¡®join the guild,¡¯ you¡¯d refuse, right?¡± ??£Î?????
¡°It feels like you¡¯ve read my mind, so I don¡¯t have much to add.¡±
Kang-hoo nodded.
It wasn¡¯t about whether the Groo Guild was good or bad. It was about whether it was necessary.
He doubted they came all this way to say something so obvious. There must be another reason.
And indeed¡ª
¡°We need a skilled assassin. And you, Kang-hoo, need enticing dungeons, right?¡±
¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±
¡°So, I¡¯m proposing a partnership. What do you think of a partnership contract?¡±
Oh Yoo-jin threw a curveball.
Chapter 225: Meeting (5)
Partnership Agreement.
This refers to an arrangement where both parties are granted the opportunity to ¡°utilize¡± each other once.
Although formal, the partnership agreement is published on a dedicated page of the Public Safety Bureau¡¯s website.
Currently, with the Bureau¡¯s authority confined to the capital region, it is hard to im the agreement has substantial binding force or influence.
However, in the event of a vition, the detailed publication of the breach could deal a significant blow to the vitor¡¯s reputation.
While the agreement doesn¡¯t enforcepensation orpliance for breaches, it couldpletely destroy trust in the hunter involved.
For instance:
If Kang-hoo requested andpleted a strategy for a dungeon owned or leased by the Groo Guild, he would, in turn, need to participate in a dungeon strategy requested by the Groo Guild.
Of course, the partnership agreement is strictly limited to dungeon strategies and cannot include requests to attack specific factions.Since neutrality is strictly maintained, contracts involving open-type dungeons are also prohibited.
This is because the likelihood of disputes arising within open dungeons is significantly high¡ªa preventative measure to eliminate potential issues.
¡°This is a win-win deal for me.¡±
From Kang-hoo¡¯s perspective, it was essentially like visiting the dungeon twice.
He would request a dungeon out of his own necessity, and the other party would guide him for the same reason.
The likely expectation from the Groo Guild was that Kang-hoo would act as a ¡°bleed shuttle¡± for their ns. This was already anticipated.
Looking at it from any angle, it seemed profitable¡ªso much so that it felt harder to find a reason to refuse.
Although Kang-hoo had already made up his mind, he hesitated slightly before answering, prompting Oh Yu-jin to emphasize further.
¡°As you know, our guild has maintained a neutral stance, strengthening rtionships with foreign guilds over time,¡± Oh Yu-jin said.
¡°I¡¯m aware of that,¡± Kang-hoo replied.
¡°In particr, we have strong connections with Northern European guilds. I can assure you¡¯ll have opportunities to visit many countries.¡±
Northern Europe indeed boasted numerous attractive dungeons, each with its own stories and allure.
Furthermore, there were dungeons that could potentially influence Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeong through ¡°destiny.¡±
Many of these dungeons held significant strategic value, making the proposal difficult for Kang-hoo to refuse.
¡°Fine. How about we start with a one-time contract?¡± Kang-hoo countered.
Typically, partnership agreements involve a total of two to three engagements.
One engagement often isn¡¯t enough to build trust or avoid the impression of merely ¡°testing the waters.¡±
Given that partnership agreements inherently carry a foundation of mutual trust, two or three engagements are considered standard.
However, due to hisck of trust in the Groo Guild, Kang-hoo decided to limit the terms to just one engagement.
¡°That works. Shall we proceed that way?¡±
¡°Yes, let¡¯s move forward,¡± Kang-hoo replied.
¡°Do you agree to have the partnership posted on the website? It¡¯s a formal procedure, but it can¡¯t proceed without your consent.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Kang-hoo confirmed.
There was no harm in letting the partnership with the Groo Guild be public knowledge.
The issue wasn¡¯t showing alignment with one particr side but rather maintaining neutrality¡ªand the Groo Guild was perfectly neutral.
With that, the agreement was finalized.
If the Groo Guild had known Kang-hoo could steal skills from mid-bosses or main boss monsters, they might have altered the terms to their advantage.
For Kang-hoo, exploring diverse dungeons was invaluable for growth, making this a wee proposal.
From the Guild¡¯s perspective, they believed they had secured an opportunity to utilize Kang-hoo as a bleed dealer for one instance.
Kang-hoo had no intention of dispelling their pleasant misconception. It was better to let them remain in their happy illusion.
On their way back to Jeju Ind after finalizing the partnership with Kang-hoo, Oh Yu-jin nced at the contract bearing Kang-hoo¡¯s signature with a satisfied expression. §²?£Î?????£Ó
¡°The beginning is always like this. Over time, we¡¯ll integrate him into our guild. I¡¯m confident. With our connections, he¡¯ll grow more interested.¡±
Both Oh Hye-jin and Ma Jin-ho shared her sentiment. The current talented hunters in their guild had all joined in the same way.
They were certain Kang-hoo would be enamored by the Groo Guild¡¯s charm.
Should that happen, they envisioned a highly capable assassin thriving under the Groo Guild¡¯s name.
Of course, Kang-hoo himself wasn¡¯t even considering such possibilities, but the trio indulged in their daydreams of receiving such benefits.
Returning to the hotel, Kang-hoo deliberated on which dungeon to request from the Groo Guild.
It was best to make the most of the opportunity, especially since the Groo Guild was skilled enough to make it worthwhile.
Though he still had ns regarding the Abyss Dungeon promised to Lee Hyun-seok, there was no rush for that.
¡°If I¡¯m heading overseas, it¡¯d be ideal to choose a ce that could simultaneously hinder Jang Si-hwan or Chae Gwanhyeong.¡±
Stealing destiny¡ªthis was a recurring thought for Kang-hoo.
While it was impossible to erase the destinies Jang Si-hwan had benefited from through his ¡°protagonist halo,¡± future encounters could be intercepted.
In Norway, Oslo.@@novelbin@@
Near Oslo Cathedral, there exists a site with multiple dungeon entrances clustered together.
Centered around the cathedral, thirteen dungeon entrances are arranged in the shape of a cross.
People often referred to this location as the ¡°Holy Dungeon.¡±
The area surrounding the dungeon had exceptional healing and recovery properties, so much so that a hospital had been built nearby.
This permanent buff was not a baseless rumor but a scientifically and medically proven phenomenon.
In the future, Jang Si-hwan would acquire a useful ck magic skill book there, and Chae Gwanhyeong would obtain a first-grade greatsword.
In the original story, ¡°Saint of Salvation¡± Elizabeth had orchestrated their entry into the dungeon.
Without connections to the Oslo-based ¡°Gratia¡± Guild or the cathedral, it was impossible to ess the dungeon.
Even though Kang-hoo had long been aware of it, he couldn¡¯t consider attempting entry.
Approaching through mercenary groups wasn¡¯t an option either, making ess via Lee Ye-rin infeasible.
However, upon entering into a contract with the Groo Guild, an unexpected avenue opened up.
¡°The problem is, even if I can go, I must have onepanion with me.¡±
All 13 Holy Dungeons have a strict participant limit: a minimum of two people and a maximum of two.
In other words, only two people can enter¡ªneither one nor three participants are allowed.
For this reason, in the original story, Jang Si-hwan took hispanion, Chae Gwanhyeong, and they obtained their destinies together.
If Kang-hoo were to go there, he would have to choose someone to apany him to share the fortune.
¡°Since the dungeon was originally designed to also boost Chae Gwanhyeong¡¯s power, it¡¯s impossible to monopolize it.¡±
The opportunities in the dungeon activate individually, making it impossible for one person to take everything for themselves.
Ultimately, Kang-hoo had to choose someone he could trust the most and who seemed likely to stay by his side to share the fortune meaningfully.
Several faces crossed his mind.
The first was Park Dong-jae. He was apetent buffer and had high loyalty towards Kang-hoo.
Next was Jung Yu-ri. Considering her growth trajectory in the original story, she had the highest potential to soar if given the right opportunities.
An Yeong-ho also couldn¡¯t be overlooked, as he already had substantial backing for growth from the Rikou Guild.
Adding a stroke of fortune to that could further enhance his capabilities.
¡°Or¡ Takashi?¡±
In terms of trust, his score was still rtively low.
However, thinking about who would have the most impact upon gaining fortune, Takashi seemed like the right choice.
Of course, he was still affiliated with the Thirteen Stars, and the trust he had built with Kang-hoo wasn¡¯t strong.
Choosing him could inadvertently end up strengthening a member of the Thirteen Stars.
¡°It¡¯s a matter that requires careful consideration.¡±
Who could provide the most significant help without betraying him? Kang-hoo couldn¡¯t help but delve deeper into the matter.
What was certain was that he had to cut off the fortune Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeong were bound to obtain.
Even if sharing the fortune with anotherpanion turned out to be futile, he had to prevent those two from benefiting.
After wrapping up the meeting with the Groo Guild, Kang-hoo found himself with some free time.
There was still time before he would receive bile from K, and there had been no further contact from Kim Shin-ryeong.
With no predetermined dungeon strategies to tackle, his body felt light, but he had nothing to do.
So, Kang-hoo decided to head toward Suwon Station to visit the Onnuri Guild.
Thanks to the generous bribe he had given Han Seung-hyeok earlier, there was now a possibility of leasing a dungeon license owned by the Onnuri Guild.
When Kang-hoo reached out, Han Seung-hyeok happened to be awake and said he was avable to meet immediately.
Without hesitation, Kang-hoo boarded a train heading to Suwon Station.
On the way to Suwon Station,
News about the Jeonghwa Guild yed on the station¡¯s disy screens.
The report detailed how the Jeonghwa Guild had ¡°reconstructed¡± after subjugating all criminal forces in Osan.
The Jeonghwa Guild had both crushed and rebuilt the area, attaching grand names like ¡°Reconstruction¡± and ¡°Key Business Ventures¡± to the effort.
While it was nauseating, the public response was overwhelmingly positive.
¡°Should I move to Osan? If the Jeonghwa Guild is directly managing it, security will be solid, right?¡±
People¡¯s reactions were generally favorable, with high hopes that Osan was finally bing livable.
With the Jeonghwa Guild now controlling all interests in the Osan area, things would likely turn out as the people hoped.
At least from the perspective of civilians, there was no choice but to wee the Jeonghwa Guild.
Suddenly, Kang-hoo thought of the Public Safety Bureau.
Currently, the Bureau was so closely tied to the Jeonghwa Guild that people called it their ¡°second battalion.¡±
However, this partnership did notst until the end in the original story. A rift eventually urred.
The Public Safety Bureau assassinated Jang Si-hwan, Chae Gwanhyeong, and other key figures in the Jeonghwa Guild.
They attempted to seize the guild¡¯s assets and influence but were caught and suffered retaliation.
In the original story, the Bureau was depicted as more corrupt than demons, making their downfall a moral victory.
But Kang-hoo wondered if they were truly an ¡°unjust¡± force or if it was worth reconsidering in light of the story¡¯s ending.
Like the White Rose Mercenary Group, which had been falsely used of terrorism and eradicated by Jang Si-hwan.
It was also possible that the Public Safety Bureau had been given ¡°false charges.¡±
¡°If the Public Safety Bureau falls under Jeonghwa Guild control, they could wield official authority. Although their cooperation seems formal for now¡¡±
Comparing the Public Safety Bureau to a passage from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it resembled the faction that controlled the Han Emperor.
Even if the emperor was merely a puppet,mands issued under his name carried weight. That was precisely what the Bureau had be.
But if the emperor disappeared and they inherited legitimacy, they would, in effect, be the emperor themselves.
¡°Monster.¡±
When Kang-hoo thought of Jang Si-hwan, the word ¡°monster¡± always came to mind.
He recalled a line from a drama: ¡°To catch a monster, you must be a monster even more ruthless.¡±
How could he dismantle the fortress the Jeonghwa Guild had built so solidly under their name?
Was there no game-changer?
Inside the rattling train, Kang-hoo gripped the dagger in his pocket tightly.
This world, after all, was still a damned ce.
Chapter 226: Upgrade (1)
Kang-hoo met Han Seung-hyeok.
Facing Han Seung-hyeok, who maintained an utterly submissive attitude, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t forget to act generously.
If Han Seung-hyeok had no utility, such an attitude would have been a reason to dismiss him outright.
But things were different now.
Han Seung-hyeok was a hunter responsible for the management and coordination of dungeons owned by the Onnuri Guild.
This meant that the money Kang-hoo gave Han Seung-hyeok directly tranted into ess to the guild¡¯s dungeons.
Thus, the investment wasn¡¯t wasteful.
Kang-hoo, who had plenty of money but no dungeons, and Han Seung-hyeok, who had dungeon ess but no money¡ª
Their interests aligned perfectly, making it a win-win situation for both.¡°What¡¯s this money for?¡±
¡°Health insurance fees.¡±
¡°Pardon?¡±
¡°Since overworking must be routine with managing the guild¡¯s dungeons, don¡¯t skimp on your health care.¡±
¡°Ah¡! So that¡¯s what it¡¯s for! Thank you!¡±
Han Seung-hyeok quickly stuffed the wad of cash Kang-hoo handed him into his suit pocket.
Though this money was entirely for Han Seung-hyeok¡¯s personal use, it served a greater purpose.
Even obtaining the rights to one dungeon could guarantee acquiring skills.
Dungeons invariably contained mid-bosses and main bosses, meaning at least two skills were assured.
Considering that the value of a single skill could easily reach billions or even tens of billions,
The few hundred million won Kang-hoo was pouring into Han Seung-hyeok¡¯s pockets was nothing inparison.
¡°You¡¯ll always receive an extra 20% on top of the officially set license rental fee. If you cleverly reduce the rental fee, the difference is yours to keep.¡±
Though Han Seung-hyeok looked older due to his naturally aged appearance, the bnce of power in their conversation was different.
In the hunter world, power and money dictated hierarchy, and to Han Seung-hyeok, the wealthy Kang-hoo was an eternal ¡°hyungnim.¡±
While Han Seung-hyeok was busy counting the bills, Kang-hoo added in a low voice:
¡°But if I catch you manipting the set prices, you¡¯ll face retroactive consequences for every trick you¡¯ve pulled.¡±
¡°Oh, no way! That won¡¯t happen! I¡¯ll periodically share the rental fees with you.¡±
Kang-hoo preferred mary discussions.
Han Seung-hyeok, for his part, was a moderately corrupt manager¡ªjust enough to safeguard his position while avoiding unnecessary greed.
Han Seung-hyeok asked:
¡°What kind of dungeon are you looking for? I can guide you toward the one with the most relevant keywords.¡±
¡°Are you familiar with the specifics of all the dungeons owned by the Onnuri Guild?¡±
¡°Who sells their own goods without knowing them? Of course, I am.¡±
¡°Then, I want a dungeon that¡¯s level 300 to 400 and can be tackled solo.¡±
¡°¡Excuse me?¡±
¡°Did you not hear me?¡±
¡°Ah, no, I was just wondering if your standards might be set too high.¡±
To ¡°solo¡± a dungeon of level 300 or higher, a hunter had to be at least level 400.
And even then, only highly skilled level 400 hunters could manage it.
In fact, the Onnuri Guild had only a handful of hunters capable of soloing such dungeons.
¡°It seems my generous payment is making your thoughts moreplicated. Makes me wonder if I made a mistake.¡±
¡°No, not at all! I spoke out of turn! There is such a dungeon! It¡¯s just that it¡¯s been neglected for a while.¡±
At Kang-hoo¡¯s calm yet pointed warning, Han Seung-hyeok ceased overthinking and focused on his purpose.
He quickly pulled out a file and handed over information about a dungeon with an intriguing title:
¡°Mystery Dungeon.¡±
It was a type of dungeon simr to those previously encountered with members of the Myeongga Guild.
The hunter who first discovered the dungeon held the key to entering it.
Moreover, its internalyout changed entirely with every entry, rendering strategy guides meaningless.
Apparently, such a dungeon was among the Onnuri Guild¡¯s assets.
Han Seung-hyeok exined:
¡°In fact, it¡¯s never been cleared. However, from exploration attempts, we¡¯ve gauged its level to be around that range.¡±
¡°So, you¡¯re saying repeated forays into the entrance have determined that the initial monsters are at that level?¡±
¡°Yes, exactly! Actually, we were about to outsource it to the Myeongga Guild for clearing, but¡¡±
¡°What¡¯s the rental fee?¡±
¡°Two billion won!¡±
Without a word, Kang-hoo pulled out the Fallen Conviction dagger from his pocket and toyed with it, causing Han Seung-hyeok¡¯s face to turn pale.
¡°But! Since it¡¯s currently too difficult to handle, entry will be free of charge.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll make sure you earn plenty ofmission, so don¡¯t bother trying to upsell me. This is yourst warning.¡±
¡°Understood. Thank you.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s avoid unnecessary effort on both sides.¡±
¡°Yes! At any rate, the dungeon is ready for immediate entry. The key-holding hunter is on standby as well.¡±
¡°I¡¯d prefer not to have anypanions.¡±
¡°The key-holder will simply guide you in and then leave immediately. No re-entry will ur.¡±
¡°How will the rental process be handled?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll outsource it. Noplicated records will be kept.¡±
Han Seung-hyeok implied that there would be no formal record of Kang-hoo leasing the dungeon license.
Instead, the guild would only log a simple entry indicating that a troublesome dungeon had been outsourced.
Although Kang-hoo didn¡¯t mind the Onnuri Guild knowing about his existence, he preferred not to leave traces everywhere unnecessarily.
If he had to, he would¡ªbut if avoidance was possible, it was only natural to minimize such traces.
Thunk!
Kang-hoo threw a bundle of 500 million won from his backpack onto the table.
Even after spending money like this, Kang-hoo¡¯s bank ount still proudly disyed a bnce of 263 billion won.
Unless he bought extremely expensive items, Kang-hoo found that spending money was harder than earning it.
¡°Keep up the good work from now on.¡±
¡°Of course, hyungnim!¡±
At Kang-hoo¡¯s dependable words, Han Seung-hyeok bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle.
In Han Seung-hyeok¡¯s straightforward way of thinking, a hunter with money was a hyungnim, a senior, and a respected client.
As Han Seung-hyeok promised, the hunter from the Onnuri Guild, who served as the key, only entered the dungeon with Kang-hoo and then promptly left.
Although Kang-hoo didn¡¯t think Han Seung-hyeok would try anything foolish, he wasn¡¯t willing to trust himpletely either.
¡¾Third Eye¡¿
¡¾Install a third eye at a designated point to share its field of vision.
The third eye is invisible due to its transparent form, but it is highly sensitive to mana flow and easily breakable.¡¿
Kang-hoo installed the eye.
Since there was no need to monitor other areas, he aimed its vision toward the dungeon entrance.
Separate from the view of his two eyes, the entrance¡¯s sight naturally streamed into his mind.
Initially, Kang-hoo worried this might cause confusion in processing information, but his concerns were unfounded.@@novelbin@@
It felt like viewing a minimap in a strategy game or a split screen in a broadcast.
¡°This is great. The vision is clear, and it feels like I¡¯ve set up a live CCTV feed.¡±
It seemed like a skill he could continue using for its high value.
If he needed to monitor the rear,cking such a skill would mean relying on manpower.
Every hunter who understood the importance of conserving manpower knew how invaluable saving ¡°just one person¡± could be.
Squeeze.
Kang-hoo gripped the Fallen Conviction dagger with his left hand.
Until a fight required his utmost effort, he nned to primarily use his left hand.
The reason was simple.
Specializing in one hand became a ¡°habit¡± over time.
For example, an assassin who always used a dagger with their right hand would inevitably attack from the right side.
This meant that:
For an opponent, the ideal counter was to strike from the left while dealing with the outer attacks.
¡°I should add another option to my training regimen.¡±
The additional option was aggressive evasion.
Aggressive evasion meant dodging an attack not backward, but forward.
This was important because the act of dodging itself directly transitioned into a counterattack.
Normal evasion ended with dodging, leaving the opponent free to continue attacking.
In contrast, aggressive evasion not only dodged but also shifted the momentum to Kang-hoo, opening more strategic choices.
¡°The battle with the Brood Queen taught me a lot.¡±
That fight had been highly stimting.
Although he used Mad Srkium and Potion of Transcendence to win, Kang-hoo didn¡¯t think it was normal to rely on such methods.
Of course, being in the mid-200 level range while aiming so high might be unrealistic for now.
The Brood Queen, after all, was close to level 500.
But aiming high would help Kang-hoo hold his own against level 300 or 400 hunters.
Why?
Because hunters, unlike monsters, could boost themselves using stimnts or drugs.
Skill or potion-based enhancements weren¡¯t exclusive to Kang-hoo; they were variables anyone could employ.
That¡¯s why he maintained a high standard. This way, he wouldn¡¯t be caught off guard by power differences in the future.
¡°What skills might I find?¡±
With curiosity-filled eyes, Kang-hoo faded into invisibility and disappeared somewhere.
He wasn¡¯t interested in small fry.
His only goal was to quickly reach the mid-boss or main boss and fiercely steal their skills.
Two hourster.
¡°This is fun, really fun.¡±
Kang-hoo was thoroughly enjoying the dungeon¡¯s increasing gravitational pressure.
It felt as though he had entered a training chamber, his body growing heavier as he advanced.
This forced him to use his eleration skills more frequently and intensely than he had nned.
Moreover, adapting his body to the gravitational pressure required him to develop more effective postures.
Every step of this process was fascinating.
The value was immense.
Some hunters possessed abilities to implement gravity-based attacks.
Thus, the strengthening of gravity wasn¡¯t an improbable environment but a variable one that could be encountered at any time.
¡°This is why Mystery Dungeons are called unexplored, fun lotteries.¡±
While such challenges could be grueling trials for others, for Kang-hoo, they were exhrating stimuli.
Experiences like this were rare.
After defeating the mid-boss, Kang-hoo checked the skill he had acquired.
The boss wielded a spear, and though Kang-hoo thought it might be difficult to handle, the enemy had more gaps than expected.
¡¾Fire Dragon Spear¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Lv. Max¡¿
¡°I like the name.¡±
As the name suggested, the skill revolved around spearbat.
Thanks to his hypersensitivity, Kang-hoo had already grasped the basics of spear techniques despite never practicing them before.
Plus, he had the Lance of Might, an item he had taken from Heo Jeong-tae.
So, without furtherplications, he could immediately test the skill¡¯s firepower.
¡¾Lance of Might ¨C Weapon¡¿
¡¾Grade: 4¡¿
¡¾Strength +100¡¿
¡¾Allows thence¡¯s length to be freely adjusted, up to a set maximum.¡¿ Kang-hoo pulled the Lance of Might from his pack, extended it to its maximum length, and activated the Fire Dragon Spear. §²??£Î??¦¥?
At that moment¡ª
Whoosh!
A massive ming dragon coiled around thence, spewing fierce mes and emanating overwhelming energy.
It was clear.
The Fire Dragon Spear was imbued with the fury of a dragon, capable of incinerating and melting everything in its path.
Chapter 227: Upgrade (2)
Seoul, inside the Public Safety Bureau building.
A man wearing a name tag that read ¡°Yoo Do-hoon¡± greeted a group of officials entering the building.
¡°Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Director. Greetings to all three of you.¡±
These were the figures referred to as the ¡°one-two-three¡± of Seoul¡¯s Hunter Public Safety Bureau.
Commissioner Kang Hyo-tae, Deputy Commissioner Bong Seong-pil, and Seoul Director Ahn Gyeok-ho.
Although the authority of the Bureau was divided among these three to prevent the concentration of power¡
The trio had essentially formed a single ruling body, consolidating the power into one focal point.
Perhaps as a result¡
Yoo Do-hoon, who had long been on their bad side, was once again thoroughly ignored by them today.¡°Deputy Commissioner, it seems clear that the Jeonghwa Guild is doing an excellent job in dungeon management, wouldn¡¯t you agree? You were truly impressive today.¡±
Ahn Gyeok-ho was quick to tter the Deputy Commissioner, carefully monitoring his mood as usual.
¡°Impressive? Nonsense. It¡¯s all thanks to the Commissioner¡¯s groundwork, isn¡¯t it? Seoul remains peaceful today solely because of him!¡±
The Deputy Commissioner¡¯s sycophant ttered his superior, and the superior beamed with satisfaction.
¡°By setting a fine example like this, our juniors have nothing to worry about. Don¡¯t you agree? Hahaha!¡±
The top leader let out a heartyugh, prompting the other two to p enthusiastically.
This overly familiar scene didn¡¯t even draw a scoff from Yoo Do-hoon anymore. Everything had rotted beyond repair.
On the first floor of the Seoul Hunter Public Safety Bureau building hung a series ofrge, prominently disyed photos.
They were all pictures of key Bureau officials alongside Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwan-hyeong.
It was as if they were worshiping divine favor, with the photos framed in massive disys and revered in the lobby.
Their devotion was so extreme that they assigned daily shifts to clean the frames repeatedly.
If even the tiniest speck of dust or a fingerprint was found, the cleaner was immediately fired.
¡°Phew.¡±
Yoo Do-hoon sighed, feeling the lingering traces of the despicable atmosphere left behind by the now-departed officials.
Even though the Bureau was criticized as the Jeonghwa Guild¡¯s second battalion, Yoo Do-hoon remained loyal.
That was because the Bureau was still the only public institution that safeguarded the interests and realities of Hunters in the country.
Moreover, he harbored a deep desire to protect the people living within the Bureau¡¯s jurisdiction in this bleak world.
Though others dismissed it as futile, it was a conviction Yoo Do-hoon had always held close to his heart.
¡®Where is our Bureau heading? The Jeonghwa Guild isn¡¯t the entire world.¡¯
But his hopes for the Bureau were dwindling as it turned into a pathetic organization solely focused on pleasing the Jeonghwa Guild.
And those who rebelled against the leadership, like Yoo Do-hoon, were all demoted and ¡°exiled¡± to the basement.
Yoo Do-hoon wasn¡¯t alone there, however. Several Hunters who shared his ideals also upied menial roles.
¡°Ugh.¡±
As he descended the stairs to the basement, the distinctive stench of corpses hit him instantly.
Once again, he had to handle the post-processing of bodies retrieved from Ground Zero.
Though it felt more like a mortician¡¯s job than anything rted to the Bureau, it was necessary to stay employed.
Grip.
Yoo Do-hoon clenched his fists, suppressing his anger and resentment as he forced a fake smile onto his face.
And so¡
The day of an outcast despised by the Bureau began again in the basement, surrounded by rotting corpses.
It was another ordinary, worthless, and unremarkable day.
Meanwhile¡
After confirming the firepower of the ming Dragon Spear, Kang-hoo turned his attention to other matters.
The skill¡¯s effect was evident, as the entire spear was engulfed in zing mes, maximizing its lethality.
However, since the weapon was a spear, it didn¡¯t provide any stat advantages for an assassin like Kang-hoo.
This led him to consider an unconventional idea: Could the ming Dragon Spear skill be applied to a dagger?
The answer, in short, was yes.
It was a possibility unique to Kang-hoo. His ss allowed him to learn skills from other sses without penalties.
Of course, the ming Dragon Spear skill inherently created mes based on the length of the weapon, so the mes produced on a dagger were much shorter than those on a spear. ?¦¡?§°?????
Nevertheless, the fact that it was possible expanded his options and removed the need to stick to spears.
¡¾Shin Kang-hoo Lv. 235¡¿
¡¾ss: Assassin¡¿
¡¾Unique Talents: Moderately Superior Agility / Exceptionally Superior Visual Acuity¡¿
¡¾Strength: 1063¡¿¡¾Agility: 1203¡¿
¡¾Endurance: 915¡¿¡¾Mana: 21¡¿
¡¾Magic Resistance: 560¡¿¡¾Toughness: 710¡¿
*¡¾Dark Energy: 455¡¿
¡°Every time I see my Mana stat, it makes my heart race.¡±
Kang-hoo swept his chest with relief as he reviewed his status window and noticed the unusually low Mana stat.
If the Mana stat exceeded 50, he would lose the benefits of the Barbaric Era effect entirely.
Although he was cautious, there was one variable.
The stat bonus granted when he prayed for the souls of fallen Hunters.
The effect of the Vile Priest constetion granted random stat increases with each prayer.
¡®If my Mana stat surpasses 30, I¡¯ll have to stop those prayers entirely.¡¯
For now, it was fine at 21.
But given the possibility of gaining up to 10 Mana points at once, he wasn¡¯t willing to take unnecessary risks. His hard limit was 30 Mana.
¡°At least I know where to apply my skill enhancements now.¡±
Kang-hoo paused briefly.
Having cleared the mid-boss immediately upon entering the dungeon, he needed a moment to catch his breath.
He had initially nned to dy using the skill enhancement opportunity he had recently acquired.
If possible, Kang-hoo wanted to copy a Named¡¯s skill and enhance it.
But there were no guarantees.
More specifically, he was unsure how best to use his one chance at skill copying.
So, instead of waiting indefinitely for a new skill to copy, he decided to enhance the most valuable skill he currently possessed.
Kang-hoo had three ultimate-level skills through skill enhancement: Shadow Clone Technique, Protective Barrier, and Blood Flower.
The Shadow Clone Technique was specialized for deception and diversion and was already being utilized effectively. Protective Barrier was perfectly tailored for defense.
And Blood Flower was an essential skill used in every battle as a finisher or a method to inflict severe injuries. It was his best skill.
Among these cherished skills, if Kang-hoo had to pick one to enhance, there was only one choice.
It was Great Execution. Recently imbued with the Dark Age attribute, it now had immense versatility.
¡°I use Great Execution as much as Blood Flower for finishing blows. It¡¯s definitely not wasted as an ordinary skill.¡±
With minimal hesitation and swift decision-making, Kang-hoo linked skill enhancement to Great Execution.
All indicators and details of the skill immediately changed.
What would the evolved ultimate-level Great Execution look like? For now, the name remained the same.
¡¾Great Execution¡¿
¡¾Skill Proficiency: Ultimate¡¿
-Consumes 15% of both HP and Mana to deliver a critical blow to a designated target.
-Damage scales with the total Strength of the user and the weapon equipped while being inversely proportional to the target''s Toughness.
-Monsters or Hunters with levels less than 33% of the user¡¯s level are instantly killed.
-The target impaled by the dagger used for Great Execution suffers permanent bleeding until the dagger is removed.
-Condemnation: Activates execution on enemies with HP below 10%. Can be used once per day. Execution causes shock, resulting in instant death, but is only enabled if the user''s contribution to the damage is at least 50%.
¡°The HP and Mana consumption decreased from 25% to 15%. That¡¯s quite a relief.¡±
He was pleased with the changes right from the first line.
Using a quarter of his HP and Mana versus just over a seventh made a significant difference.
Moreover, while conditional, the fact that bleeding persisted as long as the dagger remained embedded added new tactical options.
The most intriguing feature was the Condemnation option. Kang-hoo envisioned various ways tobine it with his other skills.
For instance, he could use Blood Flower to deal significant damage to a weakened enemy, reducing their HP to below 10%, and then activate execution.
ording to the original work¡¯s lore, the instant death option was a concept superior to invulnerability¡ªit was inescapable death.
Upon closer inspection of the detailed tooltip, it seemed that enemies with HP below 10% would automatically have the execution icon activated.
The icon, resembling a blood-dripping dagger, unmistakably signified death to anyone who saw it.
With this, Kang-hoo now had four ultimate-level skills.
Considering that most Hunters struggled to acquire even one, this was an overwhelming advantage.
This advantage was made possible because upgrading to an ultimate-level skill required maximum proficiency¡ªa fundamental condition that couldn¡¯t be ignored.
Thanks to the Dimension Plunderer constetion, Kang-hoo could start any skill, even an unconventional one, at max proficiency.
It was a moment that reaffirmed the power of a constetion. The ¡°constetion buff¡± was real, as impactful as item buffs.
At that moment, Kang-hoo suddenly stopped.
¡®Could there be resistance to side effects whenbining Mad Srkium with Gakshin-hwan?¡¯
He recalled thebination of two remedies that had worked remarkably well during his fight against the Hive Queen.
In the original work, The Viin¡¯s Survival Guide as a Savior, there was no such thing as a cure-all.
Every gain came with a price, necessitating careful consideration of benefits and losses.
Yet, the Mad Srkium and Gakshin-hwanbination seemed to have no drawbacks in his current circumstances.
During the novel¡¯s serialization, he had received feedback from readers calling him a ruthless author who put the protagonist through extreme hardships.
It seemed unlikely that Shin Kang-hoo¡¯s weaknesses would be so easily ovee. There would surely be a price or drawback to using them.
¡°Well¡ seems like I¡¯m reaping the karma. Comining would just be a self-inflicted insult.¡±
Kang-hoo let out a bitterugh.@@novelbin@@
Everything in this world was of his own making.
Even what he couldn¡¯t remember was likely the subconscious product of his mind.
Who could he me?
He had no choice but to adapt and challenge whaty ahead.
Four hourster.
Havingfortably reached level 236 and closing in on 237, Kang-hoo entered the boss monster zone.
Based on his solo experience in this mysterious dungeon, monsters up to level 350 were manageable.
While taking on groups was challenging, luring them into one-on-one fights was entirely feasible.
¡°So, you¡¯re the master of this ce.¡±
Kang-hoo muttered as he spotted the boss monster.
It stood upright, fixing its gaze on him with amanding presence.
Its name was Leo.
A lion-like, bipedal humanoid monster.
Its perfectly sculpted muscr frame suggested that this fight would be far from easy.
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