Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Absolute Defense Line (1)
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Hunter Association members were all Awakeners.
Kim Kyung-taek, the monster byproduct transporter, was no exception.
'Of course, just a regular Awakener without a Hunter license.'
-Glance.
Kim Kyung-taek glanced at the car's navigation.
Not all Awakeners became Hunters.
Some lacked talent, others just weren't suited for it.
But being an Awakener made ordinary jobs tough.
It wasn't discrimination.
It just naturally turned out that way most of the time.
Couldn't study as a kid because they were learning to control their strength.
Were athletes until they Awakened against their will.
Aimed for status but crashed into reality's wall.
Negative, unavoidable circumstances like those.
The Association gave them a chance to adapt to society.
To reduce those who went astray after Awakening.
Of course, they screened thoroughly before hiring, but it was a fact that folks like that existed in the Association.
"This client was one of those cases too, Kyung-taek-ah."
"That's the tenth time you've told me that story if you say it twice more."
Turning the wheel, Kim Kyung-taek said to his senior.
"Let's think positive. Plenty of Association folks live with upbeat attitudes."
"What? You plannin' to kiss ass for a promotion?"
"Deputy, your dialect... I can't follow it?"
Grumbling, Kim Kyung-taek pulled the trailer to a stop.
The deputy, about to say something, stuck his head out the window.
"Huh? Why stop already?"
"This is the spot. Let's unload quick."
"You bastard, you think I ain't workin'? I gotta pitch in too."
Opening the trailer, they rolled their shoulders together.
Kim Kyung-taek. Monster Byproduct Transport Team member at the Hunter Association.
He was one of the happy hires.
There were plenty like Kim Kyung-taek in the Association.
Wanting to safely use their Awakener talent.
Aiming for promotions in the stable Association job.
Craving proximity to famous Hunters.
Those harboring ambitions and fantasies upon joining.
The world had deputies like him, but also folks like Kim Kyung-taek.
"I'm not chasing promotions. Transporter pay is pretty solid anyway. Plus, chances to meet big-name Hunters up close."
"Kuhaha! Yeah, if you're happy, that's what counts, kid!"
The deputy stretched his massive shoulders too.
"Urgh, damn... But Kyung-taek-ah. This really the right spot?"
He checked the delivery address on his terminal, worried the junior had messed up.
"What kinda guy's our client, askin' to drop monster corpses right at the Gate?"
Delivering byproducts to a Gate entrance?
First time for something like this, even for the deputy.
Kim Kyung-taek looked around.
"Yeah, told you. Client's probably a Necromancer."
"Ah~ Necromancer? Someone you know?"
"...Deputy, you know what these monster corpses are?"
"Course I do, punk. I got seniority."
Puffing his chest, the deputy boasted.
"This here's Queen~ Elizabetty, kid. Boss mob."
"And you don't know who's picking it up?"
"Nah."
A fitting reply from someone who ignored all news.
Kim Kyung-taek chuckled briefly, then spotted something amazing.
Whoosh-!
A phone was flying through the sky.
"Wha-what?! Shit, Kyung-taek! What's that?!"
"That's our client's phone, I think?"
"Client?! ...Ah, the Necro, right? Ghost handlin' it?"
"Yep."
Wiping sweat from his palm, Kim Kyung-taek said,
"Probably Korea's most famous Necromancer right now."
The blinking deputy. Kyung-taek's shining eyes.
The unnoticed skit ended there.
The beautiful dancer alighted gracefully before them.
Her black hair was dark as night even in broad daylight.
Trululululu-!
As the transporters lost their words at the dazzling beauty's appearance, the phone El Ayla received from the ghost rang.
El Ayla answered and turned on speakerphone.
"Yes, yep! Loud and clear!"
"Yes! Looking forward to the stream!"
The man on the phone went quiet for a moment, then laughed.
"Yes! Uh, but anyway..."
Eyeing his stunned senior, Kim Kyung-taek pulled out his phone.
"Uh... could we get a pic with El Ayla?"
"Th-thank you!"
Jackpot! Viral post secured!
Kim Kyung-taek snapped a few proof shots for the community, and when El Ayla─as instructed by her master─flashed a V-sign, he nearly exploded with joy.
"Yep! Good luck, Hunter Yeoto!"
Thus, Kim Kyung-taek watched with pounding heart as Yeoto─no, he was home, but anyway, his summon prepared for the raid.
Behind-the-scenes access other Association staff never saw!
That's the thrill of being a transporter.
'...Why use zombies to haul the corpse, though?'
Drag-.
Zombies stuffing the queen spider's corpse onto the cart.
Kim Kyung-taek tilted his head.
Why bother with zombies?
Just move it directly─way easier.
'Hasn't turned Queen Elizabeth into an undead yet?'
Then why haul the corpse inside the Gate?
Curious, but he shrugged it off.
Who cares how─didn't matter.
Proof post for the community, stream tonight.
Post-work fun boosted─no complaints.
Successful streaming Hunters had tons of fans.
More than most idols.
And this was the 21st-century modern world.
Fans internet-savvy, they gathered in like-minded sites, chatting away─second nature.
But that day, the vibe was off.
Utterly random, hard-to-grasp post.
Communities ran on insiders' circuits and bait─tough to get without context.
Even so, wildly off-topic.
OP's first post on the topic, yet explanation skimpy.
But it wasn't just brief.
Far from insufficient explanation.
All users got it instantly.
Short post, full explanation─thanks to the attached image.
[◇ ♨Gorgeous Fireworks Show♨ Gonna Show You Something]
[◇ Channel: Yeoto]
Streamer Yeoto.
Hunter Jeong Do-jin's stream was on.
December 29th. 8:20 PM.
"Setup OK."
Setup and rest done, I sat in the chair.
Prepped inside the Gate, recovered mana used in setup, ate lunch, brushed teeth.
"Ugh...! Phew...."
Final stretch, then hit stream.
Ding~.
Crisp sound, wait room unlocked.
I greeted viewers fresh and peppy.
"Hello, viewers. Yeoto here. Thrilled to see you again."
Pre-notice and wait room helped─viewers flooded in, chat exploding.
Honorably, foreign languages too.
Sorry, can't reply─English only.
'Anyway, good─viewer spike fast.'
Checked sub-monitor, opened mouth.
"We've met maybe twice, yet your banter's thick as ballsack stew. Folks'd think I'm a 10-year vet streamer."
"Ah, sorry. Will make up with stream."
Sawadeecap bow for cultural sensitivity, then flipped screen to viewers.
"As you know, I'm kinda world-class handsome, so international news loves me. Actually thought of dropping a daily vlog today."
Unlike last Gate, artificial feel!
Sparse interior: long hallway like a corridor.
"But as a Hunter, can't slack from debut. Handsome living later. Always grateful."
Viewers hyped hard.
I waited for it to settle.
With apt BS chit-chat.
'Diving in start kills immersion.'
Why variety shows have banter segments?
Movie theaters run ads pre-show?
Give viewers cooldown time.
'Can't go deep-life-story unasked.'
Explanations without prompts? Snooze.
Reveal personal deets or skills? Insane.
BS perfect: cools heads, no boredom.
Blather safe if lines not crossed.
Ah, some never calm.
Fine by me. Builds hype.
"Alright. No need dragging with fluff."
Nodded.
Short and punchy today too.
"To main point. Today's stream: solo E-Rank Gate raid live."
Screen panned hallway.
Gate highlights: three.
Interior smashed like invaders passed.
Bats hanging from long dead-end ceiling.
And finally.
Endless hallway traps, traps, traps!
No intruders allowed.
Defiant dungeon look.
"Dungeon simple."
Raised index─Gate info essential.
"Push traps to end, beat guarding mad skeleton boss, wait closure. That's it."
Helpful chat supplements.
Friendly lecture sparked study fever? Someone asked.
Casual easy-mode questions.
Bitter smile, but got it.
Straight path, known traps.
Few monsters by width guess.
E-Rank─monsters weak anyway.
'Gate rank = monster strength.'
Ranked by mana measure.
E-Gate with C/B trash? Impossible.
'Strong trash ups Gate rank naturally.'
Measured mana rises.
Ah, bosses like Queen Elizabeth stronger─normal.
E-rank but C-difficulty.
Rare 'rank fraud' Gates.
That's why this Gate infamous.
Almost none means some exist.
"Gate name? Absolute Defense Line."
Laughing viewers spamming ? now.
Searched Gate name probably.
Realized where upon seeing inside─chaos erupted from shock.
"Nope? Seeing it through proper today."
In the pandemonium, someone asked.
[Ayla Husband donated 1,000 won.]
["Yeoto... Gate Absolute Defense Line right...?"]
"Yep. Correct."
[Ayla Husband donated 1,000 won.]
["Clear rate... 5%...?"]
"Precisely 4.8%."
Even clueless got it.
Shrugged.
"Appropriate level parties succeeded twice in half-century."
Time for recap.
'Gate rank measures outside mana─not true difficulty.'
Fewer inside monsters = lower rank.
Same E: ten E-mobs or solo stronger boss possible.
Big blind spot: one.
'Gauge misses non-mana threats.'
Non-mana dangers hard-detect!
Traps prime example.
Post-discovery: pre-raid scouts mandatory for unknowns.
'After this Gate found.
Get the hint?
[Aralia donated 10,000 won.]
["S-Rank Guild failed here too."]
[Aralia donated 10,000 won.]
["Was E-Guild then, GM/VGM passed out pantsless I recall."]
True.
Official attempts: 42.
Success: two.
4.8%.
Association handles most now.
Worst avoided Gate by all Hunters.
Cataclysm historian: 'Early find humanity's luck.'
24 traps doom even C-Rank.
Sneaky monsters target trapped Hunters.
End boss: skeleton mage masters all prior traps.
Cataclysm legend─future S-Guilds failed.
World's worst E-Rank: Absolute Defense Line.
"Haha. My maniac picks make Gate mandatory."
Screaming 'not the point!' viewers!
'Exact reaction wanted.'
Mokkabait level.
Awkward chuckle on purpose.
"Ok. Long expl, short main."
Shrugged, adjusted suit jacket.
Raised index to screen─calm signal.
"Today's stream... say, 30 minutes."
Work-life balance by hours.
Commute + work shorter better.
'Bye alternate-day OT cameraman days.'
Work-from-home: commute hell gone.
Shorten labor: perfect.
"One summon front, push Gate, close at 9 sharp."
Full bliss, handsome smile.
"Haven't had dinner yet."
0.5hr weekly, monthly pay NewTuber life.
Kya, ultimate. True labor reform.