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Chapter 08
At 7 p.m.
As the sun set and the sky turned a beautiful orange, the workers at the truck cheered.
‘We’ll take the remaining customers, and we’re out of ingredients!’
They ran out of ingredients on their very first day.
It couldn’t have been a more perfect opening.
“Since you’re our last customer, it’s on the house! You ordered a pizza toast, right?”
Excited, Hyun-joon took the order instead of his brother and sister-in-law.
“…Yes.”
The last customer answered weakly.
He was covered in dirt and carrying a large bag—clearly a porter.
‘…But his potential is impressive for a porter.’
Hyun-joon activated his special ability to check the customer’s status and muttered, “As expected.”
[User Info – Kim Ho-won, Age 25]
- Awakening: O
- Rank: E
- Trait: Enhancement
- Usable Skill: Body Enhancement (E, strengthens the body for 3 minutes)
- Special Note: Hidden great potential!
- Currently suffering from severe depression
An enhancement-type trait.
‘He just doesn’t know how to use his trait.’
When people hear “enhancement,” they usually think only of body strengthening.
But enhancement has a much broader scope.
Item enhancement, skill enhancement, and more. If the trait level increases, he could become the strongest.
‘He just needs a little push.’
.
.
“Ha…”
Kim Ho-won sighed weakly and sat under the parasol.
‘How am I supposed to pay off all this debt?’
While running a business with a friend from the orphanage, that friend ran away with the funds.
That left him with a massive debt.
Soon he would turn 18 and leave the orphanage. He wanted to take the younger kids with him and live together.
He wanted to help those who would no longer be protected by society.
But he couldn’t even take care of himself—how could he help others?
‘I thought just awakening would be enough.’
His rank was the lowest, and his trait was nothing special—like a low-tier lottery ticket.
It wasn’t enough to support the orphanage kids.
“Your toast is ready.”
While he kept sighing, Hyun-joon sat in front of him.
“Oh, thank you, sir.”
Hyun-joon just smiled and told him to enjoy the food.
He thought about asking what was wrong but stopped.
‘If he needs counseling, he’ll speak first.’
Then Hyun-joon went to clean up, and Ho-won took a bite of the toast.
“Wow.”
He was impressed.
‘This is really good.’
It was just simple street toast, but because he was tired and hungry, it tasted amazing.
The sourness of the tomato sauce blended well with the other ingredients without being overpowering.
And most of all—
‘My anxiety is gone.’
All the worries that filled his mind disappeared.
“Thank you for the meal, sir.”
After finishing the toast, Ho-won approached Hyun-joon.
“Do you have a moment?”
Hyun-joon looked at his brother and sister-in-law.
They gave him a thumbs-up, and he smiled.
“Of course.”
“Thank you.”
The two sat under the parasol, each holding a toast and a soda.
It was a toast made with leftover ingredients.
“Sir, are you an awakened person?”
“Yes.”
Ho-won probably guessed that he was awakened because of the mana recovery.
Hyun-joon answered honestly.
“When I ate the toast, my mana recovered. Your trait must be a buff type, right?”
“It’s a cooking trait.”
“…Cooking? A cooking trait that restores mana?”
As expected.
This was the reaction he anticipated.
Hunters on Earth only see traits at face value.
But traits are not that simple.
“Do you know the saying, ‘Don’t look at the tree, look at the forest’?”
“Yes. I’ve heard it a few times.”
“I think traits should be seen that way.”
“Pardon?”
“Why do you think there are levels and ranks?”
“To gain experience from hunting monsters, level up, rank up, and become stronger?”
“Right. ‘To become stronger’ means there is potential for growth.”
“…Ah?”
Ho-won tilted his head, still confused.
“I can give buffs with my cooking trait because my trait level is very high.”
Hyun-joon took a breath and continued.
“As I cook and see people enjoy my food, the trait slowly grows.”
“Wow… I’ve never heard that before.”
“As it grows, interesting skills appear. Skills like restoring fatigue, and even recovering mana and stamina.”
“Wow.”
“That’s amazing, right?”
“Very.”
Ho-won asked with curiosity.
“So if I develop my trait, I can become better than I am now?”
“Yes. For example, the enhancement trait isn’t just body strengthening. It can also strengthen items.”
“….”
“So if you keep working hard, any trait can shine someday.”
“Thank you. My trait is actually enhancement.”
“Ah—haha! What a coincidence! That’s amazing!”
“Ha ha… really. Thank you. I learned a lot.”
“Traits are a bit forced at first. But if you keep developing them, you’ll naturally become stronger. I guarantee it.”
Just keep pushing yourself.
Then growth will come, and belief becomes reality.
‘You’re still young. Push yourself to the limit.’
Hyun-joon smiled at Ho-won.
He saw a younger version of himself.
The most painful moment is when you feel useless—and Ho-won was exactly there.
As someone who overcame that stage, he only had one thing to say:
“Just try without regrets. You’re young, aren’t you?”
“I’ll remember that!”
This is fate.
Maybe he should help him a little.
He flicked his finger lightly where no one could see.
click
And in the next moment—
[You have gained enlightenment!]
[Trait rank has increased by one level.]
[Skill ‘Skill Enhancement (C)’ has been created!]
“Was that your ability too, sir?”
“I don’t know what it is, but no. Do your best from now on.”
Hyun-joon smiled brightly and stood up.
“Th-thank you!! I’ll work hard!”
.
.
Ho-won went to an E-rank gate alone.
From D-rank gates onward, you should go in a party, but E-rank gates can be cleared alone.
Because Ho-won was now a D-rank hunter.
“Phew…”
I can do it.
I can do it.
Repeating those words thousands of times, he stepped into the gate.
“Ugh.”
In the unpleasant, humid gate, he moved step by step.
Then he saw a goblin in the distance.
He remembered the killing techniques he learned at the hunter academy.
‘Hold the dagger in reverse and aim for the jaw.’
In a boxing-like stance, he held the knife and stared at the goblin.
He wasn’t good at fighting, so his gaze was even more serious.
“Kieek!!”
A goblin charged at him.
‘Stay calm!’
Slash—
He swung his front hand as he was taught.
The goblin tried to dodge but was still hit, bleeding from the shoulder.
‘Success.’
Because it was his first successful attack, he got slightly careless.
At that moment, the goblin’s claws cut his hand.
‘Skill Enhancement.’
He used Skill Enhancement to raise the rank of his body enhancement skill.
[Body Enhancement – Strength and defense increase by 5 for 5 minutes.]
It was originally 3 minutes and +3, but now it had improved significantly.
Slash!
“Ugh.”
Ambushed by another goblin, he swung his knife backward.
“Kieek!”
Thanks to increased defense, he survived the ambush and killed the attacker in one blow.
He kept charging forward.
He kicked to break their balance and slashed them down, growing stronger with each fight.
He was out of breath, bleeding, and in pain.
He wanted to collapse immediately.
But he couldn’t.
‘He told me to try until the brink of death.’
Had he ever truly tried that hard before?
He had always labeled himself as a failure without trying.
This time, he decided to try.
[Level increased.]
[Skill ‘Item Enhancement (C)’ acquired!]
[Enhancing dagger!]
A normal dagger became a “Common Dagger (E)” for 5 minutes.
It gained a “critical hit” passive ability!
“…Traits really are endless.”
If he hadn’t met that food truck owner, he would have lived as a failure, hearing that his trait was useless.
But now… he had a chance to change his life.
Effort.
That was all he needed.
He now saw a path forward.
Even while fighting for his life, he felt lighter than before. The anxiety was gone.
Slash—
Slash—
Boss room.
He had already entered the room where the Alpha Goblin resided.
‘I used too many skills.’
He needed to push himself to the edge—but dying would reset everything.
‘I’ll come back later.’
The Alpha Goblin could sometimes use ogre-level power—and that would mean death.
Today, this was enough.
He gained understanding of effort, potential, and a bit of strength.
Stopping here was the best choice.
Ho-won used a return ticket and left the gate.
News report:
- “E-rank hunter Kim Ho-won has rapidly grown into a C-rank hunter and was selected by the Hope Guild draft.”
- “He realized the potential of his trait, slept 3 hours daily, and spent his awake time training and hunting.”
- “In just 3 days, he climbed two ranks, bringing hope to many hunters.”
Interview:
“I used to be someone who couldn’t support the orphanage kids I grew up with…”
The anchor’s eyes grew teary.
“But someone told me: ‘Trait potential is endless. You’re still young—keep pushing yourself.’ That saved me. Thank you!”
“Good.”
He had properly learned how to use his trait.
Of course, the rapid growth was thanks to Hyun-joon’s buffs.
But still—it was impressive.
“Most people wouldn’t even take the chance.”
A C-rank hunter can earn money and participate in raids, but they aren’t considered strong.
The news was not about strength, but about rapid growth.
He hoped Ho-won would become a famous hunter someday.
‘And hopefully promote our truck a lot.’
“Lee Hyun-joon! Stop daydreaming and get ready!”
“Ah, yes.”
Good.
Now their second business begins in Gapyeong.
