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Chapter 10
Shin Juha’s practical exam lasted only ten seconds.
Naturally, those ten seconds were enough to capture everyone’s attention.
The ease with which he moved made him look like a seasoned veteran.
His confidence was backed by genuine skill, and although his performance wasn’t flashy, it left a powerful impression.
Among everyone who had passed so far, not a single person had managed to kill the goblin.
Being the first only made his feat even more unforgettable.
And it wasn’t just the examinees who thought so.
“Impressive.”
“What kind of unique ability did he awaken? Even if that goblin was only a holographic recreation, cutting it down in a single strike isn’t normal.”
“He hasn’t gained any levels yet, so the only explanation is that he awakened a high-grade physical stat. What incredible talent.”
“His swordsmanship isn’t ordinary either.”
Inside a hidden observation room overlooking the examination hall, representatives from various guilds praised Shin Juha one after another.
The earlier applicants had been so disappointing that the atmosphere had nearly become dull.
Now everyone leaned forward with renewed interest.
A talented applicant.
No guild affiliation.
Excellent combat skills.
Outstanding potential.
He was exactly the kind of treasure every recruiter present wanted.
If we can recruit him…
Our guild could become a major force.
No matter what, we have to sign him.
Not everyone looked at him favorably, however.
The most obvious exception was Seongun Guild, one of Korea’s Five Great Guilds and currently ranked fifth in the nation.
Damn that bastard.
He had publicly knocked out Lee Ji-hyung—the celebrity they had spent so much time and money grooming—and then completely ignored him.
Still… at least he was skilled enough to pull it off.
That much prevented rumors from spreading that Lee Ji-hyung had simply been weak.
A small consolation.
But it didn’t undo the damage.
The signing bonus.
The massive advertising campaigns.
The expensive elixirs and training they’d invested in him.
For one of the Five Great Guilds, the financial loss wasn’t crippling.
Even so…
Half of everything they’d spent had effectively gone up in smoke because of Shin Juha.
Since he touched our guild… he’ll pay for it.
The recruiter wanted nothing more than to curse him out.
But first…
He would approach Shin Juha politely and offer him a contract.
He was a professional.
Reason came before emotion.
If Shin Juha joined Seongun Guild, they’d recover far more than they had lost.
If the young hunter accepted…
The recruiter planned to “forgive” him by quietly slipping a few tricks into the contract.
He’s still just a kid.
Fooling someone who had never signed a contract before would be easy.
But if Shin Juha refused…
If I can’t have him… I’ll destroy him.
I’ll make sure he’s completely crushed.
The Seongun recruiter stared at Shin Juha with cold, calculating eyes.
“Applicant Number 200, begin!”
Crackle!
“Keeeeeek!”
“Number 200. Well done. You pass.”
…
“Number 201. Pass.”
Just as expected, both Seo Mina and Lee Ji-hyung defeated their goblins and passed the exam.
Even so…
Neither of them managed a perfect clear.
Seo Mina, whether because she was conscious of Shin Juha or simply confident in herself, unleashed all of her lightning the instant the test began.
Unfortunately…
It wasn’t enough to kill the goblin in one attack.
The monster activated its Rage skill, forcing her into a brief struggle.
It was understandable.
She still hadn’t fully awakened the unique ability that would one day make her an SS-Rank Hunter.
Even so…
It was disappointing.
Lee Ji-hyung appeared to have learned from watching her.
Instead of trying to finish the fight immediately, he carefully fought while anticipating the goblin’s Rage skill.
For two people who would one day wipe out goblins with a wave of a hand…
Their beginnings were surprisingly humble.
Well, of course.
Neither of them has fully awakened their stats yet.
Even after consuming elixirs and receiving professional training, the difference in basic attributes couldn’t be overcome.
The rankings assigned by the System differed greatly from the ranks humans gave hunters.
Monsters of the same rank were naturally stronger than hunters.
Normally, becoming an F- Rank Hunter only required entering the tutorial and gaining a single level.
Meanwhile…
Goblins were considered among the strongest monsters found inside the tutorial.
Without exploiting tricks or loopholes…
It usually took two or three F-Rank hunters, each having awakened at least two stats, to defeat one.
Of course…
In the future, the exploit I’d discovered in my previous life would become public knowledge, making goblins much easier to hunt.
At least those two awakened high-grade stats.
That’s why they could kill one at all.
Just look at everyone else.
Among over two hundred applicants, even many awakened individuals failed to defeat a goblin.
Even the twenty-three who passed had merely survived long enough to trigger the goblin’s Rage skill.
Still… that’s enough.
Being thrown against a goblin as your very first opponent was naturally difficult.
Once they entered the tutorial and killed even a single monster, they’d level up.
Anyone with genuine talent could probably awaken another stat after just a day of training.
Eventually…
The practical exam came to an end.
All the failed applicants returned home.
Only twenty-six successful candidates remained.
“Well done.”
“You will now accompany me to the Abyss.”
“Before that, the Association will distribute the standard equipment issued to all rookie hunters.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Association employees entered carrying twenty-three boxes.
“You will each receive basic equipment.”
Boxes were handed out to everyone except me, Seo Mina, and Lee Ji-hyung.
The other successful applicants happily examined their new gear.
“And promising recruits sponsored by guilds will instead receive equipment prepared by their respective guilds.”
One box bearing the emblem of Sunhwa Guild, ranked second in Korea…
And another with the insignia of Seongun Guild, ranked fifth…
Were placed before Seo Mina and Lee Ji-hyung.
Finally…
The last box arrived.
“And the top-ranked applicant will receive a special support package personally prepared by the Association President and the leaders of the Five Great Guilds.”
“Congratulations.”
I carefully opened the largest box.
Oh…
The equipment inside wasn’t even comparable to the standard issue.
It even surpassed the guild-sponsored gear by several grades.
But the very first thing I reached for was…
I have this again…
Resting on top of everything else was my Hunter License.
Its rank section remained blank since I hadn’t entered the tutorial yet.
Still…
Simply holding it again made me smile.
After putting the card away, I changed into my new equipment.
《Item: Black Crocodile Leather Jacket》
《Item: Black Crocodile Leather Pants》
《Item: Black Crocodile Leather Belt》
《Item: Shadow That Walks Upon Death》
《Item: The Clinging Black Hand》
Every support item was Normal F-Rank.
Better yet…
Three of them formed a complete equipment set.
《Set Effect Activated!》
《Premium Effect (3/3): The equipment automatically assists and adjusts to the user’s movements.》
Despite looking like a formal suit, it was unbelievably comfortable.
Far lighter than the combat gear I’d worn before my regression.
The boots, Shadow That Walks Upon Death, granted a slight stealth effect.
Meanwhile…
The Clinging Black Hand ensured I’d never accidentally drop my weapon.
And finally…
The highlight.
My weapon.
《Item: Flame Sword Filled with Frost》
Perfect.
The sword radiated both warmth and cold simultaneously.
A contradictory masterpiece that settled naturally into my hand.
I read its appraisal.
Item: Flame Sword Filled with Frost
Quality: Uncommon
Rank: C-
Description:
A sword forged by combining a Firestone that burned within flames for one hundred years and Frozen Essence that remained trapped in ice for another hundred years.
Created by an unnamed master craftsman.
Effects
- Minor resistance to Fire and Ice attributes.
- 10% chance to inflict Burn or Freeze on every attack.
Calling it “support equipment” almost felt insulting.
It was an exceptional weapon.
And its abilities were exactly what I needed.
Sword in hand, I boarded the waiting bus.
“We’re heading directly to the Abyss entrance.”
“Since this will be your first entry into the Abyss, you’ll all begin in a tutorial.”
“There are fifteen tutorial areas.”
“I hope each of you has already decided which one you’ll enter.”
As the explanation ended, I turned around to look at Seo Mina sitting behind me.
Silently mouthing the words…
Honor. Our. Bet.
She frowned.
I couldn’t help smiling.
Looks like I’m getting another free item.
Considering she was the granddaughter of one of Korea’s wealthiest families…
Her personal collection was bound to contain something valuable.
She didn’t look pleased.
Not that I cared.
She was the one who proposed the wager.
She chose the prize.
She simply misjudged my ability to kill the goblin.
Now she had to pay.
Surely she won’t try to back out…
She was a chaebol heiress.
Money was the last thing she’d worry about.
Before long, the bus stopped before a gigantic black vortex.
The Abyss Portal.
One of only seven gateways leading into the Abyss across the entire country.
We lined up before the portal.
After showing our Hunter Licenses to the Association staff, we approached its swirling entrance.
“Listen carefully!”
“The moment you step through this portal…”
“Your life becomes your own responsibility.”
“The Abyss contains unimaginable wealth and priceless treasures.”
“But it is also filled with monsters—and humans—who would gladly kill you.”
His expression was completely serious.
“Today you have only two objectives.”
“First…”
“Receive permission from the Abyss to enter and choose your tutorial.”
“Second…”
“Kill at least one monster inside the tutorial and level up.”
He took one final breath.
“I’ll say it again.”
“The Abyss is not a kind place.”
“Don’t push yourselves.”
“Return alive.”
“I’ll remain here until all twenty-six of you come back.”
“Now…”
“Enter!”
The examiner stepped aside.
“Let’s go!”
“I’m finally a hunter!”
“Mom! Dad! I’ll make you proud!”
One by one…
The former applicants—
Now official hunters—
Disappeared into the portal.
I was about to follow when…
Someone grabbed my arm.
“Hey, you!”
“What?”
The moment I saw who it was, I frowned in disgust and brushed his hand away as if something filthy had touched me.
“What the hell?!”
“If this isn’t important, get lost.”
“…Tch!”
“Which tutorial are you entering?”
Why did he care?
“What?”
“You planning to follow me?”
“That’s right!”
“This time I’ll prove I didn’t really lose to you!”
“And…”
His eyes briefly shifted sideways.
Following his gaze, I immediately understood.
This idiot…
He’s seriously trying to flirt inside the Abyss?
He looked toward Seo Mina, who happened to be watching us.
Now I understood why he seemed so confident despite losing to me twice.
He was showing off in front of the girl he liked.
Pathetic.
I almost ignored him.
Then…
An idea occurred to me.
…Wait.
Maybe I should tell him.
Lee Ji-hyung would definitely follow me.
Whether for revenge…
Or simply to pick another fight.
If he did…
I’d have the perfect excuse to deal with him legally.
But more importantly…
Seo Mina.
What if I forced her unique ability to awaken?
In my previous life…
She wouldn’t fully awaken it for another five years.
She was already strong before then.
But after awakening…
She became worthy of the title SS-Rank Hunter.
Because she awakened…
A Myth-grade stat.
On top of that…
She’d owe me a favor.
Having someone like Seo Mina indebted to me would be incredibly useful.
If necessary…
I can even bring her into the hidden stage I plan to clear.
I’d receive the bet’s reward.
Save my own effort.
Help awaken her ability.
All I’d need to do was ask for compensation in exchange for bringing her into the hidden stage.
For someone like her…
The benefits would far outweigh the price.
Having made my decision, I smiled.
“I’m going to Area 7.”
“…What?”
“Did I hear that right?”
“Area 7?”
“That insane place?”
“The desert?”
“There’s barely any monsters there, and it’s nothing but unbearable heat!”
“Mind your own business.”
“I’m going.”
“And hopefully…”
“We’ll never see each other again.”
I walked past him.
Then called out to Seo Mina.
“Don’t forget.”
“You lost the bet.”
“Prepare my reward.”
With that…
I stepped into the portal.
A strange sensation of weightlessness surrounded me.
System messages appeared before my eyes.
《You have entered the Abyss for the first time!》
《The recruitment period for new players is now in progress. Eligibility confirmed.》
《The Abyss System has synchronized with your Personal System.》
《Please choose your tutorial.》
《Once selected, your tutorial cannot be changed.》
“Area 7.”
《Tutorial Area 7 – Scorched Earth. Confirm?》
“Confirm.”
《Transporting…》
The floating sensation vanished.
The messages disappeared.
My surroundings changed.
Finally…
“I’m here.”
Before me stretched an endless desert beneath a blazing sun.
And…
“…Damn it! Why did you have to choose Area 7?!”
“…Since things turned out this way… let’s work together. I’ll give you the reward today.”
Just as I’d expected…
Lee Ji-hyung and Seo Mina had followed me into Area 7.
