Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Event Occurrence (1)
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— Park Sugwang has awakened normally. He seems to remember nothing of the incident at the time. No aftereffects or signs of mental abnormalities have been observed so far, with a detailed examination scheduled later. I've also attached the analysis results you requested, so please take a look.
Kang Jiwon checked the email from the Inspection Department team member and immediately opened the attachment.
The document, titled Mana Inspection Results, displayed various figures and charts indicating the mana levels of the subject, with a conclusion at the end.
"No way..."
…No anomalies detected in the subject's mana levels, and the analysis indicates E-rank equivalence.
Her hand trembled on the mouse.
The inspection results from analyzing Han Yujin's ability through the secretly installed mana measurement equipment in the interrogation room.
Han Yujin wouldn't have known, but the purpose of this mission wasn't Park Sugwang's interrogation at all.
He was just a low-level grunt to begin with, and no one expected him to have solid intel. The Inspection Department already had a good idea of who was behind it.
The real objectives, separate from whether the interrogation succeeded, were two-fold.
A re-inspection to check if his mana test had been manipulated during Hunter registration.
And a detailed assessment of his ability.
Of those, the re-inspection results showed no manipulation whatsoever in his Hunter registration.
Deep down, she had hoped Han Yujin had tampered with the test. Even if it complicated things, that would have been understandable. But this situation...
"Chaea."
"Y-yes? Yes!"
"Put in a request for a meeting with the Chief. Tell him there's additional reporting on this incident."
"Got it!"
Watching the energetic youngest team member grab the internal phone, she leaned back in her chair.
The attempt to get a detailed read on Han Yujin's ability.
Ridiculously, even that had failed because he was too fast and too successful, yielding no proper intel.
All they learned were the changes in his mana levels before and after using the ability.
Ironically, the fake objective they'd set up as a cover succeeded effortlessly, while the true hidden purpose failed completely.
She couldn't remember ever feeling this stupid.
As Kang Jiwon wallowed in quiet gloom, Min Chaea hung up the phone and hesitated.
"Um, Team Leader? The Chief says he can see you right now..."
"What?"
Kang Jiwon shot up from her seat.
She didn't even have time to mope.
The door to the Chief's office burst open, and Kang Jiwon stepped inside.
"Oh, Team Leader Kang Jiwon. I've seen the results too. Something else to report?"
A portly middle-aged man welcomed her with a friendly smile.
Looking around the dimly lit room, Kang Jiwon caught her breath from rushing over.
"Yes. It's just my personal hunch based on experience, but I judged it needed reporting."
The man handed her tea with a smile as she sat on the sofa.
"Experience meaning when that Hunter Han Yujin put you in a tough spot?"
"Yes. Back then, I sensed something off, but since I couldn't pinpoint the cause, I didn't report it. Seeing Park Sugwang, though, made me realize what that anomaly was."
The man waited quietly for her answer.
"It's the senses. A typical illusion is dream-like, with dulled senses, so someone well-trained can break free easily. But this was different."
Recalling the memory, Kang Jiwon shuddered without realizing it.
"All five senses, even the sense of time—they were so vivid you'd call it hyper-reality. The six hours I spent in that illusion still feel like part of reality. Park Sugwang, turned into an idiot, must have experienced something even worse."
The man stroked his chin slightly.
It didn't seem like Kang Jiwon was just here to warn about how dangerous Han Yujin's ability was.
"Even assuming he awakened a special ability, its power should scale with mana, so something that potent would consume a massive amount. But according to the mana level changes before and after in the results..."
Negligible.
Not small in absolute terms, but ridiculously low compared to the ability's strength.
In other words, the ability didn't scale with mana.
The man's friendly smile faded.
Because that meant more than just exceptional talent or a powerful ability.
"…Irregular. That's a possibility."
"Hmm..."
No matter how hard I glared at the translucent window in front of me, its contents didn't change.
A status screen displaying only the bare minimum info, just like in the game.
Of course, it didn't show hidden traits or anything like that.
In the game too, such data wasn't visible unless you dug into the files, so it was natural. Back then, it didn't bother me.
Most character info was memorized in my head anyway, and ignoring players' hidden traits didn't hinder the game much.
But now that it was reality, feeling like this body had some hidden trait yet unable to see it visually was frustrating.
A click sounded from the coffee pot, snapping me out of my thoughts. I poured water into the instant ramen cup.
Three minutes from now.
Over a week of nothing but ramen had me sick of it, but no choice.
I had a goal: move out.
I could afford something better with this mission's reward if I wanted, but what I sought wasn't just a temporary upgrade in living conditions.
At least two rooms.
One for alchemy crafting, so space was a must.
Alchemy could be attempted by non-Awakened if they knew the exact recipe.
I had all the game's recipes memorized, making it far more valuable than any ability.
Right now, I lacked materials and space, but I didn't want to let this knowledge rot.
'Getting isekai'd into a Goldfinger background with random generation would be amazing.'
Grumbling, after about two minutes, I grabbed my chopsticks.
Ramen tastes best when slightly undercooked, with a crisp, snack-like texture.
With one hand free, I picked up my smartphone and scrolled through communities and news articles.
No real purpose, just can't eat without my phone.
'Gahee, Magic Tower, mana stones, Gate攻略...'
Hunter-related stuff dominated everywhere.
Felt like a job hunter scouring conglomerate news.
In other words, a sense of hopelessness.
To grow as a Hunter, I had to hunt monsters and clear Gates eventually.
There was a reason non-combat abilities got treated like trash.
No matter how useful, growth lagged behind.
E-rank (0%)
My rank and EXP on the status screen.
How long until I could form a party and tackle Gates?
For now, focus on Association work.
I handled this mission well, even by my standards, so maybe another chance soon.
Making a D-rank ability criminal spill easily and fuzzing his memory for cleanup.
Impromptu application, but solid enough to impress.
While mixing cold instant rice into the ramen, one news article caught my eye.
[Arang Guild to Tackle A-rank Gate]
'Already that time, huh.'
The first event in DoG.
One of the four great guilds randomly tackling an A-rank Gate.
Link up with them in the tutorial for minor gains, otherwise just a passing event.
Arang Guild had the best balance among the four great guilds.
They cleared whichever Gate they got assigned smoothly.
No need to care. That was my conclusion as I went to hit back.
'Just check the names and Gate.'
An inexplicable unease made me skim the article quickly, and at the bottom, the info I wanted appeared.
…The Gate called 'Glowing Crystal Cave' is scheduled for conquest this week, and the Association analyzes that 'even accounting for variables, success is assured'...
"Ah..."
With a sigh, I closed my eyes without thinking.
The name I'd hoped was wrong confirmed the worst possibility I'd dreaded.
The Association's analysis was correct.
Even with variables, Arang Guild would succeed.
Just that in the process, unluckily up to three, luckily at least one would definitely die.
"…"
Why Arang Guild out of the four greats? Why that Gate out of countless others?
My head spun. Should I just sit this out?
It wasn't meddling over strangers' deaths.
If it were another guild, I'd chalk it up to bad luck, feel a twinge, and focus on my own stuff.
The issue was Arang Guild—and that one who inevitably died.
The next S-rank Hunter, the game's top utility, pinnacle of Barrier Creation users.
The one I'd seen as an overwhelming superior to Shin Sanghyeon.
'Jin Seohyeon.'
After long deliberation, I made my decision.
This wasn't a game with limited intervention.
This was clear reality. My actions could change outcomes.
I had no intention of letting my party member candidate drop out this early.