Chapter 48

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 48

Chapter Title: Rewards from the Red Gate

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Two days after the successful expedition into Jeju Island's Red Gate.

The members of the Association and Arena didn't leave Jeju right away. Instead, they rented out an entire nearby resort to rest up.

Aside from Tusinjeon, most of Arena and Association personnel were injured, and there were plenty of other matters to handle besides.

In the midst of all that, Kang Hyuk was enjoying a rare sweet vacation.

"...This is beyond expectations."

A break that was a little different from everyone else's.

"For something from a Red Gate, the haul is excessive."

His lips twitched with a mutter.

The message popped up over the massive gauntlet in his hand. Kang Hyuk's eyes gleamed.

'The OPG series. And among them, the pinnacle OPKG.'

The OPG (Orc Power Gauntlet) series was renowned as the most popular and efficient item line.

Just wearing one massively boosted physical abilities and granted special orc powers depending on the variant. It was beloved by all close-combat hunters.

And the OPKG he'd just acquired was the absolute best of the bunch.

'An item only obtainable from Warlord raids. Wearing it alone grants power surpassing the apex green-skinned monster, the ogre. But for me, its true value goes beyond raw strength.'

This OPKG boasted absurd durability, able to withstand any physical attack.

'In other words, one of the few items that can contain a giant's power.'

His lips twitched again.

He stared at the OPKG for a while, chuckling softly, then his eyes sharpened once more.

"And that's not the only thing I got."

He looked down at his hand.

"Warlord's soulstone. From a near-A-grade beast."

The moment he activated his power—

Bang!

A harsh explosion rocked the room briefly.

Bzzz!

Feeling his dramatically enhanced strength, Kang Hyuk's lips curved up.

And it wasn't just his imagination.

The giant's power he'd only handled at 6% upon entering this world was now nearing 10%.

'Add in Partial Giantization, and I can wield up to 12%.'

It fell short of the 16% he'd managed with HQ Chief Lee Hyun-wook's help, but it was more than enough to rival a B-grade hunter.

This was far more efficient than the OPKG alone.

'It took me 9 years to handle 10% of the giant's power before. Now it's shortened by a whopping 8 years... My growth rate is terrifying.'

A smile burst forth with the thought.

But it was too early to grin ear-to-ear.

'The expedition's greatest gain isn't the giant power or the OPKG.'

He gazed at the black stone in his hand.

'The real prize is this stone.'

A simple description.

But the creator's name at the bottom changed everything about its value and meaning.

'Raymon Kim. An S-grade hunter like me. And...'

Kang Hyuk's eyes flashed as he trailed off.

'The woman known as the Million Summoner, who in the future plunges Seoul into the abyss.'

Even on the brink of death, he hadn't known.

How could those five national-level hunters summon an S-grade gate and freely control its monsters?

Impossible, even for the world's top hunters.

'This stone and the coffin in my underground bunker revealed the secret.'

His eyes gleamed with a mutter.

'They enter gates via the black coffin. And...'

Through this black stone in his hand, they could modify monsters' bodies.

'Humanizing the Warlord. Even self-destructing it.'

That's why it mattered.

Gates are graded primarily by their boss monster's strength.

Forcing a monster's body to awaken would naturally raise the gate's grade.

'Arbitrary gate creation via the black coffin, then modifying monsters with this black stone to boost the grade.'

If his theory held, they could open gates of any grade whenever they wanted.

'Meaning gates could be used as 'weapons.'

Everything clicked.

How that S-grade gate devastated future Seoul.

'Before that S-grade burst in Seoul, the highest was A-grade. Seemed like a simple disaster then, but now...'

Even that S-grade was manipulated by them.

A sinister smile crept across Kang Hyuk's face.

'The mystery unravels. I've uncovered one of their biggest secrets.'

Learning in 30 years early what even 30 years later couldn't reveal.

No need to explain its significance.

'This simplifies my task.'

He couldn't be certain, but unlike the future, they couldn't fully control the coffin and stone yet.

Proof: the stone was labeled 'Unfinished.'

A perfect product wouldn't have that tag.

'They're still experimenting to perfect the black coffin and stone.'

His job was straightforward: keep experimenting with the unfinished stone and coffin to uncover and thwart their plans.

'That buys me time to build strength to crush them completely, while weakening their forces. Two birds, one stone.'

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Kang Hyuk nodded in satisfaction.

But he wasn't overly optimistic.

'Jeju Gate growing this big should've been in my knowledge. But I didn't know. Meaning...'

His actions were creating a butterfly effect, altering the future drastically.

'Perfectly plausible. At this point originally, I wouldn't have found the Shadow of Swiftness or black coffin in Gangwon-do.'

More surprises could come.

He planned to keep changing the past.

But he wasn't afraid.

'I expected this. No need to panic or rush.'

Nodding, he carefully pocketed the black stone.

Then—

Ding!

His smartphone rang.

No one should call at this hour, so he tilted his head and answered.

[Team Leader! When are you coming?!]

A familiar voice.

The forgotten promise hit him.

'Black pork samgyeopsal with the team on Jeju.'

Grabbing his jacket, he replied.

"On my way now. Lee Hwan-seung."

[Ugh! Hurry! The meat's burning!]

Chuckling at the urging, he opened the door.

And headed to the basement BBQ joint.

"......"

Countless stares stabbed his back.

Whispers followed.

"Whoa... It's Kang Hyuk."

"Kang Hyuk? The S-grade awakener?"

"Whoa. First time seeing him this close."

Awe laced the murmurs, just as HQ Chief Lee Hyun-wook warned.

"Sh-Should I ask for a photo?"

"Dude, have some pride. To another hunter!"

"But man! Didn't you see him fight? Dropped the Warlord in one hit!"

"T-True... Wanna go together?"

Kang Hyuk clicked his tongue.

'Knew it'd be like this, but the attention's too much.'

The Jeju Red Gate brought huge gains, but one regret: revealing his power too early.

'If not... We couldn't have taken the Warlord, but I'm exhausted now.'

S-grade talent or not, a D-grade facing a Warlord was absurd, even with Lee Hyun-wook's aid.

No wonder the on-site hunters were buzzing.

'This pointless spotlight invites trouble. Gotta talk to Association President Kang Cheol-woo later.'

As he walked, pondering—

"Um, excuse me!"

Someone called him.

Despite the stares, no one had approached before, so he paused.

Turning, he saw a woman with light brown hair.

'Whoa, isn't that Kim Min-ji?'

Onlookers gasped, holding their breath.

'The woman who's graced Hunter Fashion three times!'

'One of Arena's three goddesses!'

'And those two... were in that close fight?'

Kim Min-ji fidgeted.

"H-Hi! I'm Kim Min-ji from Arena!"

Kang Hyuk cocked his head skeptically.

"Yeah, Kim Min-ji."

"Um... that is..."

"Yes? Speak."

She clamped her mouth shut.

Stealing glances at his cold gaze, she thought.

'...This reaction's unexpected.'

His sunken eyes were worlds apart from other men's stares.

She pondered.

'Hmm... What to do.'

Kim Min-ji was proud of her looks.

And knew how to leverage them.

Starting a chat with a stranger? Easy.

Some embarrassment? No issue.

S-grade talent who'd smashed a Warlord? Worth momentary shame for ties.

But facing his gaze, her smile and charm faltered.

'...Makes me like him more, damn it.'

Flustered and flushed, she licked her dry lips and steeled herself—

"Team Leader?"

"Ye-sol?"

"...What're you doing?"

An intruder cut in.

Kim Min-ji turned to see a pale-skinned girl.

"And what brings Ye-sol here?"

"Came to fetch you since you weren't coming."

"...That burned?"

Lee Ye-sol looked away instead of answering.

Locking eyes with staring Kim Min-ji—

'...!'

Something sticky seeped into Kim Min-ji's mind and body.

Startled, she stumbled back.

"Wh-What?"

Shaking her head, she met Lee Ye-sol's ongoing glare and froze.

Then bolted.

"...?"

Kang Hyuk tilted his head at the sudden sprint.

Lee Ye-sol approached, gently tugging his sleeve.

"Meat's almost all gone, Team Leader."

He stared down at her upturned face for a moment.

"Yeah. Let's go."

They walked side by side to the underground mall.

Silence settled naturally.

"......"

Kang Hyuk glanced sideways.

"Lee Ye-sol."

"Yes?"

"How long you gonna hold on?"

"...Hold what?"

"My sleeve."

Her eyes widened.

Panicking, she let go.

"S-Sorry."

"No need."

"...Okay."

As they resumed walking, someone dashed over.

This time, a familiar voice.

"K-Kang Hyuk!"

"Senior Officer Lee Yeon-hee?"

Supporting her panting form, he frowned.

"...What now?"

She started to look up, then hesitated.

"What do you mean?"

"You only run like this for disasters."

She blinked, then burst laughing.

"Fair point. Huh... Come to think, we've only met over crises lately. But this is good news."

"Good news?"

"Yeah. Lend an ear."

Without warning, she leaned ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in and whispered.

"...!"

Lee Ye-sol's eyes narrowed and twitched.

Kang Hyuk, hearing it, murmured in shock.

"That person?"

Lee Yeon-hee nodded.

"Yes. You should go now. Charter flight's ready."

His eyes lit up.

"To the Blue House, right?"

Near Gangwon-do's foothills.

Three men appeared in the vast mountain range turned monster nest.

"Around here?"

The other two nodded.

Blocking earth and rocks vanished, revealing a massive cave.

Confirming their target, the trio entered.

"......"

Soon, a colossal temple emerged.

Cracked everywhere unlike its prime, one wall dented as if smashed by something huge.

Eyeing the traces warily, one muttered.

"Ogre died here."

"Our gatekeeper's dead."

"No mana or magic traces."

The other two echoed in unison, same tone.

In the eerie sync, they pressed on.

Passing dismantled traps, they reached a grand altar.

"......"

A pitch-black square devoid of light.

Scanning it, they muttered again.

"The item that should be here is gone."

"We knew that from the report."

"True. But seeing it ourselves is different."

They continued scouting and conversing.

"Quest broken."

"Restrictions lifted?"

"Someone took the coffin."

"Chance they figured its secret?"

"Likely. Restrictions gone."

As they absorbed all intel—

One's eyes sharpened.

"Found it."

"What?"

"A trace."

The other two moved.

Spotting something in his hand, they murmured in surprise.

"This is..."