Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Rift (2)
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Choi Si-woo was pushing through the forest when he suddenly stopped.
A sudden hunch made him pull out a lighter from his inventory.
Click, click! Whoosh!
A flame sprang up from the lighter. It worked perfectly fine.
This wasn't some fancy lighter made from rift materials—it was a cheap hundred-won disposable one, yet it functioned normally.
'Jackpot.'
Consumables sold specifically for rifts were surprisingly expensive. Even a basic lighter cost over a hundred thousand won.
Most people started fires with flint or firesteels. But with his [Inventory], the rift's difficulty dropped a whole level.
'Next time, I should bring a few drones.'
Drones made from rift materials were insanely pricey, but regular ones weren't that bad.
"Hoo..."
He forced a deep breath to calm his excitement. Wandering a rift in this hyped-up state could get him seriously hurt.
This was his first time entering a rift alone, yet it felt strangely familiar.
'Ah, Park Jin-su's memories!'
The tracks on the ground jumped out at him.
Si-woo crouched down to examine the footprints.
'This is... a goblin?'
A green-skinned monster with a hooked nose that came up to an adult man's waist.
It had some official name, but since everyone called them goblins, even that had changed to goblin.
And now he spotted their tracks. Thanks to Park Jin-su's memories of chasing and hunting monsters right up until his death.
'This'll end quicker than I thought.'
He'd expected to spend the whole day scouring the forest for monsters, but luck was on his side.
He followed their tracks immediately.
'Found them.'
Before long, he spotted three goblins gorging themselves on an animal carcass.
They were shoving their heads into the corpse without a hint of caution—brutal, savage, and dumb as rocks, just like typical F-rank monsters.
He drew his main pistol from the holster on his chest.
'Wait. Come to think of it, no reason to waste this expensive gun.'
It was a dirt-cheap pistol and ammo made from rift materials. Bullets cost ten thousand won a pop—that said it all.
He'd bought it as an emergency backup, and it felt like a waste. For someone with an inventory, it was overkill anyway.
'Next time, grab a regular rifle.'
He shoved the distractions aside and focused. Steadying his breath, he aimed at a goblin's head. Slowly, he squeezed the trigger.
Bang!!
[Slaying. Karma +1]
His face twisted in annoyance. The sudden message had blocked his view.
He'd change the settings so these only popped up when he wanted from now on.
"Kiek?!"
"Kiiit!"
The remaining two goblins whipped around, scanning wildly.
They had no clue where the bullet came from. Low-rank monsters wouldn't even know what a bullet was.
Shing!
Hidden in the brush, he quietly drew his sword.
Just as one happened to glance back, he swung at its plump neck.
Slash—
A bit of resistance, then the goblin's head flew through the air.
"Kieeeek!!"
The last one snatched up a rusty dagger and charged with a roar. Two dead in seconds, yet it still came at him—that was a monster's ferocity.
'Time for a test run.'
First real fight since awakening his mana. He needed to gauge how much stronger he'd gotten.
Whoosh.
He leveled his sword tip at the goblin like a warning.
"Kiiik!"
His grimace deepened as it barreled forward, oblivious to the blade at its throat.
He wanted to test his enhanced physical abilities, but this was pointless.
Clang!
He smacked the dagger away and sheathed his sword.
"Kyak!"
He focused on the goblin charging barehanded.
Whoosh!
Its movements were crystal clear. Sharp claws grazed his side. He could see exactly where to strike, every opening.
'Easier than I thought.'
For a body strengthened by awakening plus Park Jin-su's experience, goblins were small fry.
He dodged a few swipes, got bored, and kicked it flying. He pinned the flailing goblin and stabbed its heart.
"Kiii..."
The noisy goblin went limp.
Even before awakening, he could've killed goblins, but not this easily.
It was like fighting a child—way too simple.
'Am I around E-rank hunter level now?'
He'd used a gun for the sneak attack, but he probably didn't need it anymore.
Clearing an F-rank rift solo with just a sword qualified as E-rank.
He sliced open the three goblins' chests. No mana stones.
'Strikeout.'
F-rank monsters dropped mana stones from the chest in about one out of every three or four.
That was a hunter's main income source.
Goblin claws fetched money too, but butchering them one by one? No thanks.
That was porter work—hauling corpses like these. He was done with that after three years.
'Kinda wasteful, but...'
Memories of his poor days made his hands itch. Leaving it felt like tossing cash on the ground.
'Hold back. Time to change my habits too.'
The claws nagged at him, but he ignored them.
He stored the daggers they'd dropped in his [Inventory]. Low-grade scrap iron, but still rift material—worth something.
Ideally, he'd just grab mana stones cleanly, but ignoring scrap was tough.
'Eh... I can just sell this stuff.'
*
He tracked traces and slaughtered every goblin he found.
Tracking wasn't easy for just anyone, but it was a breeze for him. Monster signs stood out sharp and clear.
Slash!
Blood sprayed as the hooked-nose monster's head hit the dirt.
"Kiek?!"
He cut down three charging goblins with a single sword.
"Hoo."
A light breath, then he kicked off the ground. The forest was vast, monsters plentiful.
How much time passed? About an hour of dashing through the woods.
He spotted five particularly burly goblins. One stood out, head a full size larger.
'That's the boss.'
The goblin leader glared at Si-woo with murderous eyes and hefted an axe.
It had realized its minions were all dead—pure rage now.
Whoosh!
Si-woo drew his pistol from inventory and aimed.
Much faster and handier than holstering. Great for ambushes too.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Aimed for the head, but it dodged. Boss perks—pretty agile. A bullet grazed its cheek.
The other two big ones didn't evade. Holes punched through their foreheads—instant death.
"Kyaaaak!!"
The remaining three went berserk, charging wildly. He stowed the gun and drew his sword.
Their frenzied rush spiked his tension. Definitely fiercer than average goblins.
Focus locked in.
The world slowed. Heightened senses caught the stench of rot. Muscles twitched visibly.
"Kieeeek!"
They rushed together, but with time lags.
Whoosh!
The first thrust its dagger.
Slash!
He lopped off the obvious wrist.
"Kiiik?!"
Ignoring the screaming goblin clutching its stump, he leaped back.
Crunch!
The axe slammed down vertically—he blocked. Then a dagger came at his side.
He twisted away on reflex.
Danger was opportunity. The unbalanced goblin's neck gleamed.
Bam!
He twisted the sword to deflect the axe—it grazed his shoulder and hit the ground.
Slash!
Goblin head airborne. He kicked the headless body for recoil and retreated.
Aside from the wristless screamer, only the boss left.
"Hoo."
The hyper-focused world sped up. His pounding heart thrummed in his ears.
Countless battles in Park Jin-su's memories, but this was Si-woo's first.
Logically, he knew he could win. But facing real danger, hunting monsters for real—his blood boiled.
'This is what it means to be a hunter...!'
Euphoria surged. He swung at the roaring beast.
*
An exit shimmered into existence in midair.
The boss goblin leader dead, the exit appeared—and he'd stuck close.
He picked up scattered blades from the ground and extracted mana stones from the bodies.
He stuffed every mana stone and blade into the backpack he'd brought as camouflage.
Step.
The moment he stepped out, the association staffer fiddling with his smartphone jumped.
"C-Choi Si-woo Hunter?"
"Yeah. Can you handle processing these byproducts?"
"No way...! You cleared it already? That was fast. What's your ability?"
He gave a vague answer to the staffer's awed stare.
"Got lucky. Boss was nearby."
No direct answer, so the staffer cleared his throat and started the appraisal.
As he waited, a blonde woman with overflowing cleavage approached.
Her breasts jiggled with every step.
"Oppa, got some time?"
Toned abs marked her as awakened. Fresh from a rift herself, her flushed face screamed seduction.
She crudely waggled a finger through a hole made with her hand.
'Hmm.'
Awakened folks' views on sex ran the gamut.
Some were wildly promiscuous, channeling battle adrenaline into hookups.
Others reacted with extreme conservatism. She was the wild type.
He almost refused out of habit, then paused.
Imagining her voluptuous body stirred him below. Hunting goblins wasn't life-threatening anymore, but it was rough and risky.
He got why some hunters lived loose. No real reason to hold back.
"Wait here."
She licked her plump red lips.
"Mmm... nice."
The staffer glanced over but said nothing. Common sight.
Final payout: 1.02 million won. Insane for a day's work.
'Fifty grand an hour?'
Actual time spent: under two hours. Overwhelming income.
Most F-rank hunters didn't rake in this much.
Usually teams of two or three, heavy consumables—daily take around two to three hundred thousand.
Park Jin-su's memories let him track and slaughter goblins fast. That made this possible.
'Jackpot.'
His mouth curved into a grin.
Just imagining future earnings thrilled him. F-rank paid like this—what about higher?
He turned to the busty woman swaying her thick hips.
"Let's go."
