First Hunt: Flames in the Corroded Sewer
Since it was my first time as a hunter, I messaged the broker straight away.
Tap, tap...
No reply. Had my shameless face thrown him off?
If that didn't work, oh well. When you've got nothing, you go with momentum.
📁 [Gwanak-gu_E-rank_Active_Gate_Status_260323.xlsx]
I don't have next of kin.
For safety, I should set it up for Dong-hyuk hyung or Yun-ha noona.
I opened the file.
"Not bad."
Tough words, but the Excel was impeccably clean. Even had pivot tables. This wasn't some street vendor level.
A true pro who knew hunter routes and gate statuses inside out.
Good. Time to lock in a dedicated... mark. No, a solid trading partner.
Monopoly is the most efficient, but you can't just hawk unverified rank in this game.
On Huntergram's recruitment board, a nice, straightforward ad like bibimbap popped up.
Stray cats not guild-affiliated, the riffraff.
Party leader accepted.
Even low-rank, fire DPS gets noble treatment everywhere—fast recruitment.
Four were already at the gate.
Leader was an E-rank tanker. Mountain of a man, but gear was beat-up standard issue. Freelancers all look the same—can't afford new stuff.
"Baek Sa-eon? Fire-type, right?"
"Yes. Hello."
"Great. Frontline tank, one melee DPS, sub-ranged DPS, back support. You'll be main ranged DPS—stick to damage from behind, no aggro."
Textbook comp. Time to gauge their level.
Party members' average mana levels are significantly lower than the user.
One stands out.
Black tracksuit top, bulging pockets on worn cargo pants. Roots neglected for lack of cash, pitch-black pink bob.
The woman leaning against the wall, half-lidded eyes zoning out, met my gaze.
She spoke leisurely.
"Oh. Fire-type, huh. Lucky. I just... throw iron balls."
Sub-ranged DPS. Song Ji-yul.
You have entered Gwanak-gu E-rank Gate 'Corroded Sewer'.
Party: 5/5. Recommended rank: E-rank.
Mob trash was by the book. Wild card was that pink bob.
Swish.
Song Ji-yul's half-closed eyes slowly opened.
Clang—!
Iron ball flew, bursting the corrode bug's head like a watermelon. Throw done in a blink.
Overlapped with her solo grinding that build down.
User's battlefield awareness is above normal range.
Obviously. Ten years as a cleaner.
"Boss section from here. Basic pattern is acid spray—"
Kaboom—!
Boss Corrode Queen was bisected, sprawled.
Elite Variant: Corrode King (D-rank High) appeared.
Evolved eating the queen? Beyond our party's paygrade...
"Full retreat!"
Ssssh—!
Waterfall of acid poured. Tank's shield melted like tofu on contact; melee DPS wounded.
In the panic, only Song Ji-yul stayed cool.
Options clear.
Poor fire in sealed sewer vaporizes acid into gas shower for all. One way.
"Tank, evacuate everyone behind 3 o'clock iron pipe. Outside acid range."
"Wh-what're you—!"
"Ten seconds enough."
Sounds insane, but wait.
No-choice tank pulled party; Song Ji-yul helped limp melee.
Gurgle—
"Correction."
Green acid sprayed frontally.
"Five seconds."
No need to dodge.
Time for a taste of Crimson Flame.
Sizzle—!!
High-heat curtain vaporized acid on contact.
Groan.
Belch ended spray.
Idiot. Should've checked its groggy state.
Kicked floor, dove under in one breath.
Can't just wide burn.
Maintain curtain, sewer oxygen burns out eventually.
Density up on scattered defense flames. That's the play.
Shift to physical mass striker.
Flames coalesced into a spear.
Spears aren't just for stabbing. Eat this.
Stab—!
Flame spear pierced weak spot, ignited.
Screee—!
Internals melted by own acid and heat, monster wailed and collapsed.
Kill confirmed. D-rank high, no biggie. No EXP notice?
This level won't cut for growth.
Wiped slime off new clothes, scanned around.
Party faces flushed with survival relief.
Song Ji-yul yanked one earbud, fixated on my right hand.
She half-lidded again.
"......"
Outside gate.
Tank approached, set shield down, deep bow.
"Thanks for saving us. Thought we were all dead."
Melee DPS limped over, clutching ribs, eyes full of awe.
"Byproduct split..."
Tank ventured cautiously.
"You soloed boss kill, so boss parts plus extra mob byproducts... 7:3 your way would ease us."
"No."
Cut him off firm.
"Even split as agreed."
"But... really okay? Boss contrib alone justifies full take..."
"Prime teaching material money can't buy outside. Call it my lesson fee."
Excuse, of course. Image management—drop a good deed rumor.
"One thing instead."
"Name it."
"I did nothing in this gate today. Say party lucked into boss weak spot."
Party exchanged uneasy glances.
"Keep lips sealed."
Tank stared blank long, bit lip, bowed again.
"Next party need, call us. Won't forget this grace."
Grace? Overkill for a gag fee.
Memorized all faces. Collect proper payback later.
Grabbed my share byproducts, snapped pics to broker.
Good. Insurance set. Account sent, deposit pinged instantly.
3,200,000 won from Siiu Bank (xxxx)
Busted ass for month's 1.8 mil pay. E-rank quick clear nets two months' salary.
Nice. Clears one small capital debt.
Refreshed stride after ages. Money photocopy from here, steady.
"Hey."
Party dispersed, but Song Ji-yul fiddled earbud cord, slouched waiting.
"E-rank, right."
"Yeah."
"Hmm. Feels like you're hiding rank."
Half-lidded eyes on me.
"Basis?"
"That Corrode King earlier. Knew it was D-rank high. E-rank smash no-breath?"
This one. Knew but watched.
"Got lucky."
"Ah, yeah. Sure."
Song Ji-yul nodded small. Clearly unconvinced.
Bored of digging, face said.
"Next party recruit, hit me up. Freelance, always free."
Handed crumpled convenience store receipt scrap.
Back scrawled Huntergram ID crooked.
[Song Ji-yul. D-rank Throw. Acceleration.]
Took ridiculous business card, asked.
"Why sit out earlier?"
"Huh...?"
"Your throws pierce that exoskeleton easy."
Squinter opened eyes. Looked, faint smile.
"...Pfft. Busted. Ideas sharp from start."
Swept pink hair behind ear.
"Was set, but your fire surer. Rode your coattails easy."
Song Ji-yul turned away clean.
Paused midway.
"That flame spear earlier."
"Yeah?"
"Kinda cool."
Song Ji-yul finished, trudged to roadside, gone.
......First "cool" ever. Missed timing, no clue how to react.
Any other pings?
Hunter Association Central Lab
Not on map, searched—attached to Association HQ.
"On my way."
Short visit intent sent. Headed straight.
Arrived, but... baffling. ......What's with my hunter license?