🔊 TTS Settings
Episode 8
This era is called the Age of the Superhuman.
It has already been ten years since the concept of <Awakening> became inextricably linked to humanity.
Homo sapiens endured countless agonies under a new power they had never experienced in tens of thousands of years.
But eventually, they adapted. And then they began to explore.
‘Ten years.’
Now, in the present, research on the <Gates>, which appeared simultaneously with Awakening, has also advanced significantly.
The Hunter Association has largely classified Gates into two types.
‘At least, until now.’
Because roughly nine years later, a divine-class Gate would appear, completely upending the very concept of a Gate.
It wasn’t just new (新), it was divine (神)-class.
It would be named the Millennium Gate, but explaining it would require more space than available.
Nevertheless, one point must be noted: that very Millennium Gate is my long-term goal.
‘The R&Y Guild is the immediate task.’
Anyway.
Back to the main point.
The first is the Abyss Gate.
The most commonly seen type.
The conquest method is the subjugation of the ‘Boss Monster.’
The difficulty varies wildly depending on the monsters that appear, divided into grades from E to S.
The reward for subjugation is usually Magic Stones.
They are the main resource, enough to instantly replace Earth’s core energy sources.
It’s the primary concern of every guild.
‘Because it’s the source of money.’
The second is the Chaos Gate.
Chaos, as in disorder.
Just hearing the name gives a sense of force.
That’s not the case.
‘It’s chaos in a different sense.’
The Chaos Gate is a phenomenon that humans can actually manage. It’s been a long time since the label ‘unknown phenomenon’ was removed.
In the early days of the Age of Super humans.
After conquering this supernatural phenomenon, humanity fiercely debated who should be the managing entity, regardless of nationality.
As they seemed to be heading for mutual destruction, they felt the need for compromise.
Eventually, under an agreement between international organizations and guilds, a new organization was created solely for the purpose of jurisdiction.
This was the background of the Hunter Association’s birth.
I arrived at that place.
“Welcome to the Hunter Association.”
The detailed address is Yeouido 64 Building.
Ah, to add one thing, Chaos Gates are also distributed within this building.
As mentioned, nearly 90% of Chaos Gates have been comprehended and brought under human control. The remaining 10% is chaos, that’s all.
Anyway.
“I’ve come to register as a hunter.”
Whether I was an Awakened or not was determined the moment I entered. The revolving door we passed through is a very small Chaos Gate. Non-Awakened can’t even enter.
‘It’s a terribly messed up organization.’
I’ve felt it before, but it feels freshly messed up.
The member flashed me a bright customer service smile.
“I see. Please wait a moment. I’ll call the team leader for you.”
The reception desk employee was quite polite. However, their gaze kept drifting to my side.
“Yes, Team Leader. An Awakened individual has come to register as a hunter.”
A glance.
“Ah, for your reference, a ‘Code One’ is also accompanying them.”
Of course.
Since they’re an acquaintance of Hunter Seo Bo-seok, sincerity is dripping even within the professional treatment…
‘If I came alone, I’d probably get a slightly better treatment than being turned away at the door… but not by much.’
Not long after, the elevator door near the reception desk opened.
A man in a tailored suit, guided by the employee, came towards us.
The man’s complexion was pale, but he looked like an ordinary office worker you could find anywhere.
After exchanging a few whispers with the employee, he greeted us.
“Hello. I’m Yoo-neung-hyeon from the Personnel Department’s 4th Team.”
“I’m Seo Won-seok.”
Behind the lenses, his eyes were moving busily.
“…If it’s not too much to ask, what is your relationship with Hunter Seo Bo-seok…?”
I answered bluntly.
“Is it mandatory?”
“Not at all. But since humans are involved, it has some influence, wouldn’t you say?”
“I see.”
“Yes. It’s entirely up to the Awakened individual’s discretion.”
“I’ll keep it to myself.”
“……”
Is there a problem?
“…My apologies.”
A strand of hair seemed to touch a bulging vein on the team leader’s forehead.
“By any chance, have you performed a self-grade inspection?”
As a side note, the Association sells self-grade inspection kits at designated specific stores. It was the Association’s last resort to reduce unnecessary time waste.
An unspoken warning not to come if you’re below D-grade.
I had done it.
“Yes.”
“What was the result?”
“E-grade.”
“……??”
What is that look, as if he’s seeing a new species of human?
He looks quite moved.
However, Team Leader Yoo -neung-hyenn exercised his professional consciousness and regained his composure.
“I’ll escort you.”
The moment the team leader was about to lead the way.
My brother nudged me with his elbow. Is it encouragement?
“Here.”
He was holding a dagger, but its appearance was peculiar. It was a simple dagger, but the blade was hollow where the blood groove, or fuller, should have been.
“A gift for passing the exam. It’s nothing special, I got it from a random box while running a D-grade Gate recently.”
“……”
I’m speechless.
Because I knew the true value of this seemingly shoddy dagger.
‘…That’s a Blood Shadow.’
Blood Shadow.
Weapon grade: High.
Myth. Legend. Hero.
Rare. High. Common.
Among the total six tiers, it’s the second from the bottom, so at a glance, it seems like a mediocre weapon.
The part to focus on is not the grade.
It can be inscribed with an <Engraving> that grants a specific effect. Not a random gacha, but at one’s own discretion!
‘This is a weapon obtained by hunting Ghouls.’
Knowledge I acquired while being a treasure hunter in my past life.
By the way, Ghouls inhabit Abyss Gates of at least B-grade or higher. It’s impossible for such a monster to appear in a D-grade…
‘Ah.’
I stored the received Blood Shadow and said.
“The world must have become really dangerous lately. Seeing that Ghouls appear even in D-grades.”
“……! How did you know that comes from a Ghoul…”
“Thanks. I’ll use it well.”
The team leader was pressing the elevator open button. His irritation was evident.
I walked quickly and stood next to the team leader. Then I waved to my brother.
My brother’s figure gradually disappeared behind the closing doors.
It’s a familiar scene.
‘It was like this on the day of the college entrance exam too.’
If it’s like that, the feeling is good.
Because it was the brightest period of my life.
Roughly 10 minutes later.
Team Leader Yoo, who had finished guiding and returned, got off the elevator. His facial muscles were full of irritation.
He snappily grabbed the bottled water handed by the desk employee. In Team Leader Yoo field of view, Hunter Seo Bo-seok’s figure came into sight.
Team Leader Yoo whispered to the employee.
“Has Hunter Seo not left yet?”
“…No. He’s just been watching the bulletin board since a while ago.”
Team Leader Yoo also looked at the bulletin board occupying one side of the wall.
=======================
2 F 212. Kim XX : Qwert-23
2 F 217. Park XX : Qwryt-37
2 F 266. Seo XX : Sityletr-66
…….
…….
=======================
The bulletin board listed which Awakened was running which Chaos Dungeon, written in a language only Association staff could understand, difficult for non-Association people to decipher.
Hunter Seo Bo-seok seemed concerned about which Chaos Dungeon his companion had entered.
The two Association employees glanced at Korea’s greatest hunter and exchanged whispers.
“What’s their relationship?”
“Not sure. I haven’t heard that Hunter Seo has immediate family… but they seem too close to be cousins.”
Hmm…
‘Should I try striking up a conversation?’
Team Leader Yoo, who had returned the water bottle, tidied his hair and moved towards Hunter Seo.
“I couldn’t greet you properly earlier, my apologies, haha. It’s remiss of us that the reception was so simple when Hunter Seo came in person. If you haven’t eaten, perhaps…”
“I ate before coming.”
A short answer.
Team Leader Yoo smiling face froze for a moment before he spoke again.
“You should eat regularly! You are the pride of Korea…!”
“I have a question.”
Team Leader Yoo expression brightened.
“Anything!”
“What kind of Chaos Gate is ‘Sityletr-66’?”
Chaos Gates. Their chaotic attribute lay precisely in their uncertainty.
Other dungeons aside, these days, Chaos Gates are manageable by humans to this extent.
They had even installed Gates floor by floor in order of lower grades.
But there was one unconquered aspect.
That was, you couldn’t know its type until you entered the Gate.
Of course, it operated within a fixed table, but regardless, it was random before entry.
Since lower-floor Chaos Gates significantly influence the determination of an Awakened’s grade.
Which Chaos Dungeon it is inevitably becomes a major issue for hunter aspirants or beginners.
“Hmm… that code… It seems your companion doesn’t have much luck with the draw.”
“What do you mean by ‘not much luck with the draw’?”
“Ah. Don’t get me wrong, Hunter Seo Bo-seok.”
Team Leader Yoo raised his index finger.
“I don’t know your companion’s Awakening ability, but that Chaos Gate is difficult to endure with E-grade patience. It’s a fight against oneself, so to speak!”
“Patience… a fight of patience, you say?”
“That’s correct! Unfortunately, so far, no Awakened has achieved a grade above B+.”
“I see.”
“……?”
Why?
For some reason, Hunter Seo Bo-seok let out a sigh of relief. Then he looked at Team Leader Yu.
“I might sound a bit like a braggart, but would you like to hear?”
“…Ah, yes. If it’s from Hunter Seo, of course.”
“That friend of mine is a graduate of Korea University College of Medicine.”
“…Oh… He was a talented person.”
In the present where Awakening abilities have replaced academic specs, what use would that be? Team Leader Yoo didn’t bother adding such an insensitive aside. He decided to listen to Hunter Seo’s words.
“He was always just sitting around, so I once asked him, ‘Is it bearable?’ Do you know what he said?”
“Something like, ‘It’s hard, but I endure and hold on’… something along those lines?”
“You’re wrong.”
He shook his head.
“He said, ‘I’m just sitting. What’s so hard about it?’”
The corners of Hunter Seo’s mouth lifted in a smile.
“When it comes to endurance, he’s a natural.”
“……”
Belatedly, Team Leader Yoo sensed the incongruity.
Hunter Seo Bo-seok hadn’t given Team Leader Yoo a single glance the entire time.
He was solely looking at the bulletin board.
Meanwhile, in Room 266 of the Association building.
After crossing a place like a hotel corridor, I stopped before a door.
Opening it, it was pitch black at first, but a few seconds later, a quest window assaulted my vision.
Survive as long as possible!
· Time inside the Gate passes significantly slower than in reality.
· All food and beverages brought from outside the Gate will evaporate. They will be returned after clearing the Gate.
· To obtain additional rewards, defeat the monsters within the Gate consecutively in the shortest time possible!
It was an extremely harsh quest description for someone with acquired anemia.
And of all things, the Gate monsters were those kinds of creatures…
My Luck stat being -44 wasn’t for nothing.
