Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: A Desirable Talent
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"Since we cleared out most of them earlier, the monsters aren't showing up much. That's a good thing, right?"
"Um..."
Won-ho nodded without a word at Jeong-hyeon's innocent question.
It was true—the monsters weren't appearing much.
They had drawn in and killed every monster around while mining, so of course there wouldn't be any left.
'Just what the hell does this guy do?'
That was Won-ho's honest question.
Before awakening, when he lived in a one-room apartment village, his relationship with Jeong-hyeon had been close to a grudge.
Back then, with nothing but his body to rely on, he scraped by as a day laborer. Every evening, the guy next door made a racket, so how could he not be annoyed?
But after a month or two of that, he started feeling a strange fondness—what they call "love from annoyance."
In his lonely life with no one to talk to, it wasn't ideal, but having someone to chat with every night was oddly nice.
That's why, right before awakening as an A-Rank and signing with Vice Guild to move out, he'd left a pack of beef as a gift.
'Back then, I just thought he was some young punk addicted to games.'
With all the talk about ranks and updates, he'd assumed it was some kid hooked on the latest hunter-worldview game.
But then that neighbor punk suddenly becomes the president of the gate office that contracted as Vice Guild's savior pitcher.
From the HR team's vibe, he seemed pretty famous, even if Won-ho didn't know the details.
Yet once they entered the gate, Jeong-hyeon turned out to be a powerhouse beyond words.
Not only did he handle monsters solo that would require a full party—without batting an eye—
Earlier, with Kim Jeong-geun's magic help, he'd pretty much sunk the mantis single-handedly.
'Even if it's reawakening...'
From chats among Vice Guild members, they suspected he had both Magic Enchantment and Throwing Skill traits.
But that didn't explain the insane mobility against the mantis or the mace's destructive power.
"Got something to say?"
Feeling Won-ho's stare, Jeong-hyeon asked. He shook his head.
"Nah. Just realizing you're really damn strong."
Jeong-hyeon chuckled at Won-ho's frank reply.
"I have to be. If I want to kill every last monster."
Won-ho instinctively hunched his broad shoulders a bit.
He could feel the deep rage in Jeong-hyeon's voice.
Thinking about it, this young guy had lived alone in that one-room village for years.
It was around the time orphans who'd lost parents to sudden gates and monsters were entering society en masse—maybe Jeong-hyeon was one too.
Won-ho had lost his fiancée—to-be and parents back then too.
After that, he'd lost all will to live.
That's why, even awakening to an absurd high-rank A-Rank trait, he'd signed with Vice Guild.
And agreed to enter the "Merrillium Mine's Gems," no better than a death trap.
To kill all monsters, he had to get strong.
Had Won-ho ever thought that way once?
"Hmm..."
It was so long ago he barely remembered.
But one thing was clear.
Sticking with this punk wouldn't make survival too hard.
"Won-ho, you know Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon from before?"
Then Lee Deok-jin asked casually.
It was odd seeing the usually quiet Won-ho chatting, and they seemed like old acquaintances.
"Just neighbors once."
"Oh, what a connection. You and Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon from the same neighborhood... Maybe that place has good vibes?"
Good vibes.
Yeah, one could think that.
Especially since two guys from the same villa—not just neighborhood—both became hunters.
As they walked with those thoughts, Jeong-hyeon and the party reached the second cavern.
"Whoa, tons of marium here too, right?"
"Yeah, all of this is marium."
"Let's work hard here too then!"
At Jeong-hyeon's upbeat order, the party pulled out their mining tools like before.
By the pace so far, efficiency beat a typical level 6 marium mine gate.
Unlike open-field gates where you hunt veins, here it was dense in tight caverns—and Jeong-hyeon guarded perfectly so they could focus on mining.
Plus, earlier they'd worried if he could handle monsters alone and couldn't concentrate fully, but now even that was gone.
What was there to worry about when he soloed the mine gate's worst monster, the mantis?
'We just mine the ore nice and easy.'
The Vice Guild members all thought the same, as if by agreement.
Meanwhile, Jeong-hyeon was enjoying it in his own way.
Mission gates varied wildly anyway, but this felt no different from a normal gate.
'Feels like the rock spider hunt?'
Even then, just as excitement built, some mutant boss screwed it up, ending in frantic escape.
No signs of that here, and these monsters felt way easier than those rock spiders.
Sure, high level—so without Onyx dagger and Magic Enchantment, he'd have struggled—but that was still his skill.
Boom boom—
Soon after settling, mining started.
Jeong-hyeon watched them a bit, then fixed on Won-ho.
'Definitely a desirable talent.'
He'd chewed him out early for poor power control, but Won-ho hadn't shown offense.
Passing the first cavern, facing cave orc packs a couple times, he'd watched others hunt too—Won-ho's axe skill and party sense were sharp.
Focused on his role yet naturally blocking variables—wide field of view.
No slacking against agile cave orcs unlike regular ones; quick despite his size.
A-Rank? More than enough.
Fast growth too—solid firepower in most gates.
Best, he quietly did his job like now.
'Essential virtue for HJH Gate Office.'
Absolute obedience to President Jeong-hyeon's word!
Only office worker Min-ji so far, but he dreamed of a company snapping to his orders someday.
From society's rock bottom to leading obedient employees as prez.
What a romantic dream.
Clack clack—
Amid mining noise chaos, Jeong-hyeon's ears and skin keenly caught monster signs.
'To appeal to a potential hire, gotta show some force.'
Thinking that, he stood.
No dagger this time.
These—he'd handle with mace only.
"Kweeek—!"
Five cave orcs charged fast, roaring.
Cave darkness plus their pale eerie look made them ghostly, not orcish.
"Man, orcs are just impossible to like."
Party members glanced at Jeong-hyeon—who seemed not to use Throwing Skill—but no big reaction.
Just subtly shifting toward their gear, ready for combat.
Whatever, Jeong-hyeon stood mace-ready like a gate guard at the open cavern entrance.
Something lunged from dark—rusted handaxe swung quick.
Jeong-hyeon leaned back slightly to dodge, then smashed the orc's head with mace.
'Next, gotta get Strength Enhancement no matter what.'
From early awakening to now, lacking strength was the regret.
Physical Ability Enhancement helped, but for kills, every hit needed vitals—annoying.
Not dreaming of Won-ho's A-Rank "Destructive Strength Enhancement."
Even C-Rank "Decent Strength Enhancement" would make these flailing orcs easy.
Anyway, next: midsection spear and right-arm shortsword.
Not random; somewhat coordinated.
'Pig heads are still pig heads.'
Jeong-hyeon dove between the two charging fiercely.
Clang—
Blocked right with mace, twisted spear wrist to disarm.
Before scream from broken wrist, let shortsword flow to stab its buddy instead.
Since Movement trait hit B-Rank, even "this too?" moves were possible.
Synergy with Thought Acceleration smoothed the gap.
In one breath, three orcs dead or disabled.
"Kweeik!"
Seeing comrades drop instantly, the last two—neck-and-neck—hesitated roaring.
Stab—
Jeong-hyeon jabbed mace spike into one's chest without pause.
Park Cheol-yong first recommended it at association rental; mace changed, but spike design stayed.
That useful.
"Running?"
Last one turned tail.
Perfect for Jeong-hyeon, bored of sitting, set on macing orcs.
'No dodging while fleeing, right?'
Swoosh—
Visible to naked-eye Jeong-hyeon maybe, but not orc.
Black left his hand, impaled spine.
Onyx dagger for perfection, but retrieving annoying.
Thud—
Orc crumpled like toy robot sans batteries.
Second cavern's first fight done.
Stowing returned Black and mace, Jeong-hyeon turned.
Fight at entrance start—party saw sidelong, but no fuss.
'Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon being himself.'
Now just par for course.
And Jeong-hyeon was getting bored his way.
Even mission gate—even thought level 5 clear easy—didn't expect *this* easy.
Mantis mildly fun, but not his match.
'Ah... don't tell me it'll end mining one wall gem and mission clear?'
Repeat of them mining, him monster-slaying sparked needless worry.
Though if so, prior attempts wouldn't have failed.
Slap—
Realizing weak mind, Jeong-hyeon suddenly smacked his own cheek.
'What're you thinking, you fool!'
When was life ever easy?
This gate'd toss weaklings then backstab somehow.
Trusted his skill—not his luck.
Meanwhile, Vice Guild watched Jeong-hyeon slap himself and shake head wildly.
'Tsk, great power comes great responsibility.'
Pitying him secretly.