Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Became a National 'Disaster'-Grade Monster
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Games without saves are fucking awful.
"Hmph! I'm mad at you now!"
"How could you step on an ant while walking down the street? Disgusting. You're failed this exam."
"Hunter, thanks to you not sacrificing yourself, my grandfather passed away. Couldn't you have died in his place?"
"No, fuck, why is everything so goddamn hard?!"
A vast open world that replicated the entire modern Earth.
The freedom to interact with every single passing NPC.
And on top of that, realistic graphics and storytelling grounded in raw realism.
The game I just bought, Hunters Blood, was a masterpiece with a Metacritic score in the high 90s, no doubt destined for god-game status.
That is, if you ignored the lack of save or load functions and the brutally realistic character arcs.
"Ah, damn it. Lee Hee-jung, that crazy bitch, went dark again. No, no. Delete this route too!"
How many characters had I already scrapped for a happy ending?
If you died midway, all your play data vanished. Even reaching an ending left the protagonist as the sole survivor in a grim, hopeless tale.
Still, I could confidently claim top 0.01% player status in Hunters Blood.
Because the gallery that popped up right at launch—Hunble Gal, they called it—was full of posts from players who hadn't even seen those bleak endings.
Humans always feel better looking down on someone even more pathetic than themselves.
I realized that while on my 39th character creation, scrolling through posts from players who hadn't even reached an ending.
There's always someone lower than the bottom.
"Now, what hunter should I raise this time..."
I'd already leveled up so many:
Shadow Hunter.
Assassin Hunter.
Mage Hunter.
Beast Hunter.
Priest Hunter.
Gunner Hunter.
Avenger Hunter.
Lance Hunter.
Archer Hunter.
Sculptor Hunter.
Item Hunter, and more.
All kinds of hunters, every single one...
"Huh?"
It hit me—I'd finally played every job available at launch.
"Hmm... Rerun time?"
A second playthrough was one thing, but restarting from zero with the same job? Total buzzkill.
Like my boner suddenly deflating.
Classic dead game syndrome.
Just a month after launch, I was already at 'now what?' while lurking the gal for new DLC announcements.
"...Huh?"
Zero recs, zero comments.
Obvious bait post, but hooked, I clicked.
[Super simple method. Keyboard: up up down down left right left right B A spacebar.]
"...Does this asshole think it's Tekken or something?"
Fighting game combo bullshit—I thumbs downed it immediately.
"...But let's try it."
Tap tap tap.
Few button presses, so I matched the rhythm once.
Suddenly, a system window I'd never seen popped up on the title screen, making me regret that downvote.
"Ooh!"
Gallery lurking is essential gamer education.
"So this is Monsterization Hunter?"
I scrolled down to check the details of the new option at the bottom of the character creation screen.
"Whoa..."
Starting stats were pathetically low.
Even the 'Beggar Hunter'—veteran trash pick—started at 2. This was worse.
And such a lengthy con list? Never seen it on others. Usually just 'weak to bleeding' or 'no ranged attacks.' Bottom has a bottom, indeed.
Growth crippled, no gear or skills to compensate, cursed birth where fellow hunters become enemies.
"...This is gonna be fucking fun, huh?"
Damn.
Whoa!
How did I miss this content?
Despite the flaws, that single pro had me thumbs-upping in excitement, clapping like a fool.
All stats max +18.
My best of 38 hunters, 'Wannafuckthosehugeboobsbad,' peaked at 14 in one stat at ending.
One stat. But all to 19 total here?
This might do it.
A true vet like me hadn't seen Hunters Blood's happy ending yet. This Monsterization Hunter would deliver.
Convinced, I created it.
Separate names for human and monster forms, fitting.
"Gonna take this seriously this time..."
Tap tap.
Human name: my real one.
For monster, after a moment's thought...
Tap tap.
My favorite alien manga protagonist.
"Perfect. Create..."
Job selected, names set. Time to start.
"...Huh?"
Sudden dizziness. Exhaustion crashed over me.
Come to think of it, how many days no sleep?
My forehead thudded onto the keyboard.
A weird fishy man-stink from my nose.
Something warm trickling down... whatever.
Body wasn't right enough to care.
"This ain't good..."
Sleeping like this felt disastrous.
At least to bed, but eyelids too heavy.
Whirr.
"Mm..."
Whirrr.
"Cold..."
Thought pad-lip immunity would send me to eternal rest.
Instead, evening darkness hit. I rose refreshed by the night breeze from the open window.
"Ahh. Slept great."
What time is it?
Peering out my 6-pyeong one-room, a pristine full moon hung in the sky.
Unreal, like game graphics—hyper-real yet exaggerated beauty.
"Ooh... pic time."
Perfect meme material for the gal. Reached for phone in pocket.
Something off.
"Huh?"
Rummaging my waist, felt a hard shell-like surface.
Like gripping a live, unskinned alligator hide.
Not just there.
"Did I... sleep without pants?"
Other side, legs below, chest, shoulders—all armored solid.
Not gym-hard; otherworldly firm. My body, yet not human.
Uneasy, I swallowed, slowly approached the window.
Closed it. Reflection met my eyes.
Skull-masked face.
Slit red pupils, sharp gaze between.
Jet-black armor-like flesh from head to toe.
Cosplay? Too real.
Stroking skin confirmed: this was me, no prop.
"This is... me?"
I wanted to play Monsterization Hunter, not become it.
Game possessing me? Me in game? Confusion sighed out—then.
Clank.
"Huh?"
Mind already chaos.
Rough propellers roared; lights bathed me through the window.
10th floor, damn it.
Helicopter hovered instant-close. Door opened: heavy machine gun, anti-personnel too bulky.
Like monster-grade firearms from the game... no, exact match.
Why aimed at me?
Reason? As lore vet, instant get.
Con: Hunters mark you for subjugation when Monsterized.
Looks like I was the target now.