Chapter 27
Lee Do-hyun had not yet undergone any noticeable growth, but he had already spent half a day thinking deeply about his plans at home.
Before graduating from the training center and forming a party, before entering the Black Gate, he needed to set short-term goals, he decided.
Surviving the Black Gate was the top priority, but it was wise to have a growth plan in addition to that.
Of course, he set aside anything regarding parties for now.
‘Since I don’t know who will join the party, I’ll put party planning on hold.’
He couldn’t make detailed plans without knowing the people involved, so he decided to focus only on his own goals.
His first priority was simple.
Before the current class graduated, he needed to gather Analysis Points, or AP, to learn Hwang Ha-na’s Severing Dark King trait.
It was one of the key skills he had not yet obtained, so he had to get it.
He was not sure whether Hwang Ha-na would remain the top instructor for the next class, so he had to acquire the skill within the next three weeks before meeting her again.
And the next goal was obvious.
Magic, of course.
‘I’ve already mastered all the basic magic spells, but I still haven’t learned all the advanced ones.’
He didn’t even need to look for Hana Rin for this; the Association supplied them, so he would simply target the ones offered there.
Since this goal was not urgent or high-priority, he set it aside for later.
The immediate, highest-priority goal was clearly Hwang Ha-na’s Severing Dark King trait.
Considering that, he would have to wander around and meet as many hunters as possible.
He had heard that many different races would appear inside the Black Gate, so he was not overly concerned about that.
However.
‘Once you enter, you’re stuck for at least a week.’
The Black Gate could only be entered in parties, and there was a minimum stay of one week required.
The longer you went, the less restrictive the rules became, but F-grade zones, being the lowest level, had no such restrictions.
It was also the most dangerous place because it was governed by the strictest laws of the Black Gate.
With a week-long stay, that was exactly where accidents happened the most among hunters, which is why some hunters called it the “sifting process” or “separating the wheat from the chaff.”
Especially harsh on Earth’s hunters.
‘They say all kinds of villains stick to them?’
Villains from other dimensions particularly targeted weak Earth hunters at the start, resulting in extremely high death rates.
Even with basic precautions, many hunters died because of these villains.
The reason they targeted beginners was simple.
Any lifeform killed inside the Black Gate could grant points, which is how monsters were born.
Villains often targeted easy-to-kill beginners who gave decent points, people who were afraid to climb higher.
In fact, many pathetic hunters had been filtered out by villains, which was why training centers had been established in every country.
After training centers were set up, death rates dropped, but danger remained.
‘Now it’s real combat, so I must keep my wits about me.’
Lee Do-hyun thought this as he made his way to the Association, finally about to meet the party members he had been waiting for.
But it turned out to be Ji Yu-chan, the one he had been bragging about growing tremendously by the time they met next.
Lee Do-hyun watched Ji Yu-chan awkwardly dodging questions and thought it was ridiculous, yet he secretly approved.
‘Of course. With Yu-chan, I wouldn’t have to swap party members often.’
Since parties were mandatory in the Black Gate, they had to form one anyway.
If a party member was below his standard, he would have to swap frequently, so why not pair up with someone with limitless potential and growth potential like Ji Yu-chan?
Even if a gap opened between them someday, given Yu-chan’s pride and perseverance, they would probably stay together for a long time.
As Lee Do-hyun pondered this, he noticed the Association staff member who had guided him to the party waiting room.
If one member was Ji Yu-chan, then the other must be…
‘Hana Rin?’
Could it really be Hana Rin?
Just to be sure, Lee Do-hyun asked the staff carefully.
“Could the other party member be…?”
When Lee Do-hyun asked cautiously, the staff member looked at the documents they had brought and answered.
“Ah, the one from the Magic Association is named Lee Ye-rin.”
Upon hearing that, Ji Yu-chan cleared his throat awkwardly, his embarrassment fading slightly.
“Humph, so it’s not Instructor Hana Rin.”
Lee Do-hyun nodded in agreement.
They had both gathered expecting Hana Rin, but she was apparently absent.
“Indeed. We were both thinking maybe we’d all meet up…”
“Besides, Instructor Hana Rin must still be teaching the students at the training center.”
Unlike the two of them who had already graduated, Hana Rin was still a guest instructor there.
It was only natural that she was not joining yet, with three weeks remaining until graduation.
It would be convenient if she were there, but Lee Ye-rin was quite accomplished for someone who had already earned a record like that.
Thinking this way, Lee Do-hyun secretly hoped for the best.
While waiting for the new magic hunter and another new skill to appear, the staff member suddenly checked his phone.
Then.
“Ah, he’s on his way.”
As the staff spoke, Lee Do-hyun looked toward the waiting-room door with some anticipation.
Footsteps soon echoed from the distance.
It was his first day, so perhaps he was wearing shoes, producing a rhythmic clacking sound.
Lee Do-hyun felt an inexplicable familiarity with that sound. It was clearly Hana Rin’s presence, even if the name was different.
Thinking it must be someone with a similar vibe, he waited.
The door opened, and a woman with a rather refined appearance entered.
At first glance, she looked like a vague or hazy figure.
Unlike Hana Rin, she was elegantly reserved, cautious, and composed.
So when Lee Do-hyun analyzed her, an oddly familiar status window appeared.
『Hana Rin』
『Trait: Sorceress Supreme (S)』
『Skills』
▶ 「Aether Heart (S)」
▶ 「Empress’s Majesty (A)」
▶ 「Intermediate Elemental Magic (D)」
▶ 「Intermediate General Magic (D)」
……(More)
『Stats』
▶ 「Strength: 10 → 13」
▶ 「Agility: 15 → 16」
▶ 「Constitution: 11 → 15」
▶ 「Mana: 32」
▶ 「Intermediate General Magic: Transformation」 currently in use.
“……?”
What was this?
Intermediate General Magic: Transformation?
When Lee Do-hyun saw it.
[『Hana Rin’s』 skill 「Intermediate General Magic: Transformation (D)」 has been analyzed.]
[Skill 「Intermediate General Magic: Transformation (D)」 analysis successful.]
[100 AP acquired.]
[Skill exceeds standard criteria.]
[Acquire skill 「Intermediate General Magic: Transformation (D)」 with 150 AP?]
Lee Do-hyun paid his remaining 50 AP to acquire it.
With the habit of skill acquisition, analysis text appeared before his eyes.
[Skill 「Intermediate General Magic: Transformation (D)」 acquired.]
[Skill exceeds current stats.]
[Skill cannot be activated at its original power.]
[Stats have risen, slightly reducing the growth gap.]
[Acquired skill permanently increases mana by +3.]
Lee Do-hyun quickly dismissed the text and looked at the newly arrived Hana Rin.
He wondered why she was hiding her true identity, but since he wanted to test it, he said without thinking.
“Instructor Hana Rin?”
To his surprise, the Hana Rin who had grown used to being called by him answered without hesitation.
“Yes. Why th—”
She caught herself and realized something was wrong, her puzzled expression growing wider as she stared at Lee Do-hyun.
Even though she was using the transformation, Lee Do-hyun quickly checked again. There was no flaw in the disguise.
Hana Rin shook her head vigorously while looking between Lee Do-hyun and Ji Yu-chan, stammering.
“Ah? Uh, uh?”
Watching Hana Rin panic, Ji Yu-chan glanced between her and Lee Do-hyun with confusion, then asked Lee Do-hyun in the same bewildered tone.
“Is that really Instructor Hana Rin?”
“……Ah, was it a mistake not to mention it?”
When Lee Do-hyun said that, the staff member also rolled his eyes unconsciously, and once the situation was clear, Hana Rin sighed and released the transformation magic.
The elegant Lee Ye-rin vanished instantly, replaced by Hana Rin’s original appearance.
She then shook her head in resignation.
Sighing heavily.
“Haaah. I was afraid it wouldn’t work, but… To see through it so easily is truly impressive.”
Watching the real Hana Rin appear, Ji Yu-chan looked at Lee Do-hyun with a mix of surprise.
He had felt no unease, yet Lee Do-hyun had noticed immediately.
He must be incredible, and Ji Yu-chan clicked his tongue in agreement.
When the Association staff member who had orchestrated this together grew flustered, Hana Rin stepped in to explain.
“To be honest, my appearance is too exposed to outsiders, so there was talk of changing my identity entirely before entering the Black Gate to avoid being kidnapped by foreign nations. I apologize for deceiving you both. I intended to tell you later… but you figured it out in one go.”
Both Lee Do-hyun and Ji Yu-chan understood the reason.
After all, Hana Rin was more than capable of such a thing.
Unlike the two who had not yet made any public announcement, she had already been exposed.
The saying went that to deceive enemies, you had to deceive your allies first, so Lee Do-hyun and Ji Yu-chan did not mind.
Instead.
“As Instructor Hana Rin, I welcome you. Besides, having spent time together as a magic hunter means it will be more comfortable.”
“Indeed.”
Lee Do-hyun agreed, and Hana Rin let out a relieved sigh.
Just then, the staff member suddenly received a call and looked troubled.
“Um… President Han Mu-yeol is on his way?”
“……?”
“??????”
“Eh???”
All three stared at the staff in confusion when the door opened.
In walked a tall, imposing man who looked like an unyielding fortress.
Ji Yu-chan and Hana Rin instinctively shrank back at the sight of his massive frame.
Sweat beaded on their foreheads from the overwhelming pressure, even without using mana pressure.
Only Lee Do-hyun kept his eyes wide open, staring at the man.
No, more precisely, he was staring at the text that had appeared in front of the man.
“Wow.”
Korean Hunter Association President and the first A-grade hunter on Earth, Han Mu-yeol, smiled faintly while watching Lee Do-hyun remain unfazed by the man’s aura.
“So… you truly are a monster worthy of the title.”
Lee Do-hyun looked at Han Mu-yeol with disbelief.
[Analysis failed due to excessive level gap.]
『Han Mu-yeol』
『Trait: ??? ??? (A)』
▶ Reached his limit.
『Skills』
▶ 「???」
▶ Analysis failed.
▶ Requires 3000 AP for detailed analysis.
‘Who on Earth would call him a monster…’