I've Become a Hidden Master
[Urban Terrorist A-rank Villain ‘Arnot’ Dead.. Killer Unidentified]
[A-rank Villain Vaporized in Just 3 Seconds.. "Only a Crater Left at the Scene"]
[Management Bureau: "Skill Not on Existing S-rank List.. Possible New Awakener"]
[Lightning from the Sky, 18m Diameter Crater Formed in City Center]
[Unidentified Mana Wave Detected in Cheonan Area.. Idle Dungeon Break Rumors Surge]
"Whoa, this is brutal."
Jin Do-hoon, a B-rank awakener and Hunter Management Bureau agent, muttered as he surveyed the scene. He was investigating yesterday's terror incident—and the appearance of an unidentified awakener.
"Do-hoon, any mana residue?"
Song Ha-na, another B-rank awakener out on the joint probe, asked while scanning for lingering mana around them.
"Hmm... faintly. But this area's mostly dissipated since not much time's passed."
Do-hoon, eyes closed in focus on her question, frowned slightly.
"Figures... Can you make anything out?"
"At this level... no."
Do-hoon's class was Mana Sorcerer, a rare investigative specialist among awakeners. Even beyond his own powers, he could read residual mana from crime scenes involving awakeners and visualize memories—making him vital to the Bureau.
"Checked inside that crater over there?"
"Not yet."
The massive crater where the lightning struck dead-on. Mana would be thickest inside, but Do-hoon, Ha-na, and the other agents couldn't muster the nerve to enter.
"...Gonna need protective gear first."
A quick peek inside revealed mana so dense it turned his stomach. For a mere B-rank like Do-hoon, jumping in meant instant peril.
Residual mana this thick... This ain't just S-rank level, is it?
He'd encountered S-ranks a few times at the Bureau. As a Mana Sorcerer, he'd gauged their bottomless mana pools and been awed more than once. Yet this crater's traces, hours old, surpassed them all.
"When's the gear arriving?"
"Just requested it—probably 30 minutes."
"Hmm..."
Do-hoon eyed the swirling mana in the crater, pondered, then sat and dipped one hand inside.
"Do-hoon?"
"Can't just wait idly... Gonna try reading a bit."
Eyes shut, he concentrated mana in his hand to trace the flow.
"..."
Ha-na and the others watched.
"Gahhhh!!!!!"
Moments later, Do-hoon screamed awake.
"Do-hoon! Snap out of it!"
"Hah, hah... hah..."
Ha-na puzzled over his ragged breaths.
"...Ha-na."
"Yeah, I'm here. Talk."
"You believe in God?"
"Huh?"
She stared, baffled by the random question.
"...I do now."
Ignoring her look, he panted with a hollow laugh.
"...Don't touch without gear. Needs strict control..?"
His words, now coherent, baffled her more.
Did he lose it? What's wrong?
She held back from prying—plenty of time after shift.
"Whoa, this game's still around."
Earth, 20 years on from my past life's—per God's scout note.
Back then, I grinded Dark Mushroom Tale hard. An RPG hitting 15-year milestone pre-death, still running. Gaming legend.
Can't use my old account, but fresh start? Fine.
ID and cards showed Lea, 20yo woman. Bank accounts? Trillions.
Double-checked units: one, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred million, billion... Phone calc confirmed unreal sum.
Dazed for minutes. Unlimited cash.
Not just Dark Mushroom—any game doable.
Pay-to-win fixes most, plus God's pad collab. No real spending beyond hobbies.
Need clothes tho.
Cabinet: one tee, jeans, PJs. For outings, multiples needed.
Scrolling idly waiting for download, an article caught my eye.
Unexpectedly, reactions weren't fear of my power or rash killing—mostly positive.
Awakener rights seemed to allow instant kills on rampaging villains in public.
Huh? So my solo angst was pointless?
Honestly, no guilt over the kill. Research showed international criminal with kill-on-sight order.
Bureau scouting, but no joining yet. Not active outside... Got God's powers, but I'm just a chill layabout.
Accidentally became "hidden master who slays top villain and vanishes." Not bad.
Good PR means no worries.
Dark mood gone, fresh yet tired.
Download completed.
"...Start tomorrow?"
Late night, no hunger—skip dinner. First day back chaotic, but no big plans.
"Real life starts tomorrow."
Groceries, clothes, games... Busy day ahead.
I shut down the PC, slipped into cozy bed, and drifted off.
Goodbye, past life. Welcome, this one.