Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Jeongjin Guild Newbies
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A sunny afternoon under clear skies.
"Hoo... This isn't easy, not easy at all."
Jeong-hyeon shook his head as he walked down the street, repeating over and over that it wasn't easy.
"Being weak isn't easy..."
If anyone else heard him, they'd be outraged at his words.
There was a good reason he was complaining so much about how quickly he was getting stronger.
It all stemmed from his visit to the association's training facility a few days ago, just as a test.
The association rented out facilities like training grounds and measurement rooms to hunters for a small fee as support.
Hunters typically tested their skills or honed their techniques there.
The EXP gained was next to nothing compared to actual gates, but the summoned monsters were high quality and, above all, it was safe.
Jeong-hyeon had stopped by to celebrate upgrading his Synergy to E-rank.
The facility he rented measured performance by inputting his rank and level to summon virtual monsters of matching strength, then rating him against peers in percentiles.
Higher ranks had less accumulated data, making it unreliable, but that wasn't an issue at Jeong-hyeon's current level.
"For now... maybe input D-rank, level 2?"
He couldn't pinpoint his exact rank and level, so he settled on a reasonable estimate.
The records were fully anonymized, leaving only scores, and the highest was D-rank level 1 anyway—no big deal.
The summoned monsters: four Red Rage Goblins.
"Kiieek!"
The Red Rage Goblins screeched fiercely, belittling the word "virtual."
Red Goblins had red skin, but Red Rage Goblins took it further with blood-like dark crimson hides.
They were tricky monsters, classified as such due to their ferocious aggression even after losing an arm.
But the result...
"What is this?"
Ten minutes into the test, no monsters remained around Jeong-hyeon.
The moment combat began, he swiftly threw a dagger.
His D-rank Throwing Skill lived up to expectations, piercing the lead goblin's skull and reducing their numbers.
The 3-vs-1 fight wasn't easy at first—he seemed on the defensive—but Synergy's evolution exceeded his imagination.
'This is completely different from F-rank.'
It still showed attack paths, but before, they were faint, requiring intense focus, with only about 80% accuracy.
That was why he took big and small wounds despite superior specs.
Now?
'The paths are much clearer, and the feedback is precise mid-way, making dodges easier.'
Not only was path visibility greatly improved, but enemy reactions were instantly reflected.
Proof: paths that had been drawn sometimes erased and redrew.
He still struggled to react in those cases, taking hits, but it was positive change.
'And they weren't vital spots anyway.'
His trait wasn't some combat operator—it was Combat Sense.
It visualized his instinctive senses, so accuracy rose inevitably when enemies targeted vitals.
His movement had improved dramatically too, making the debate between F-rank level 2 and E-rank level 1 seem pointless.
Early on, he moved on experience, but as he adapted, he felt himself speeding up.
'About 20%?'
20% was huge—F-rank level 2 and E-rank level 1 were treated as equals in practice.
'And it improved beyond F-rank Synergy, so efficiency will rise more with each rank up.'
Jeong-hyeon felt confirmed in prioritizing Synergy.
The test result:
- Your percentile against same rank and level: Top 1% or higher.
Far beyond his expectations.
Even at D-rank level 3, he hit top 25%.
"Hoo, so that's why I handled level 3 gates."
He honestly hadn't anticipated this, letting out a sigh.
The level 3 gate with F-rank Synergy: Rock Spider Cave.
He'd probably have hit top of D-rank level 2 then too.
Jeong-hyeon left the measurement room relieved.
That experience let him now spout astonishing lines like "being weak isn't easy."
It had been just under a month since he awakened.
While others barely raised skill levels once, he'd gone from F-rank to D-rank level 3.
Even games had easier early growth, but his curve was steep.
Living on the world's fringes like a game NPC, now he lived like a player more than anyone.
Hunting was intuitive EXP for him, and that EXP—now coins—gifted overwhelming growth.
"And today is the big hunting day!"
Jeong-hyeon's fist clenched.
Seo Jin-uk from Jeongjin HR had offered a hunt as thanks for saving Sang-su.
Today was the day.
"With Jeongjin's newbies, right?"
He hadn't expected a veteran party, so no issue.
It was new guild members, only months in, supervised by Seo Jin-uk—still, Jeongjin's reputation held weight.
Even rookies there were prominent hunters outside.
The only hitch:
"This gate sucks too."
Jeong-hyeon sighed deeply.
One reason he'd agreed to hunt with Jeongjin:
He wanted a proper, popular gate for once.
Recall Atarok Goblin Village.
Two villains in the party, sure, but the gate itself was flawless.
He thought big guilds hunted such spots.
"What the hell is 'Cursed Castle'?"
The gate Seo Jin-uk named: Cursed Castle.
Cursed Castle.
Level 3 difficulty, same as Rock Spider Cave.
But as the name suggested, it was notoriously unpopular.
Hunter Net called it an upgrade over Dried-up Dead Hallway.
A midnight ancient castle battered by eternal storms.
Unlike the hallway, no faint lights—hunting impossible without countermeasures.
Unlike the straight hallway, it had branching paths and rooms befitting a castle.
Of course, none were big issues for Jeong-hyeon.
His senses far exceeded peers; he wouldn't fall to darkness ambushes easily.
But the main monster: Ghouls.
Undead superiors incomparable to skeletons or zombies.
Rated slightly above Rock Spiders among low-rank hunters.
The atmosphere contributed, but it was no laughing matter.
Walking while thinking he was fated for crap gates, Jeong-hyeon spotted the meeting spot.
"No one's here yet?"
The association branch office looked empty—maybe he was first.
Before he could think it was early, a sedan with Jeongjin markings pulled into the lot, like the proverb about tigers.
Three people stepped out in turn.
"Han Jeong-hyeon, Hunter?"
The oldest-looking greeted first.
He knew the name and voice, so Jeong-hyeon guessed easily.
"Ah, Seo Jin-uk, sir?"
"Yes, nice to meet you."
Two hunters followed.
Probably the others for the gate.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Han Jeong-hyeon."
"...Yeah, whatever. Hi."
Despite his smile, responses were curt.
Not just awkwardness, Jeong-hyeon knew.
It was all too familiar now.
He sighed inwardly.
'Does Jeongjin only recruit these types?'
Big guild egos were understandable.
But shouldn't they think someone introduced by their boss had something going?
Jeong-hyeon turned to Seo Jin-uk.
"But one's missing?"
"Ah, they're coming separately. Should be soon."
Right on cue, a luxury coupe roared in.
'Something feels off.'
Jeong-hyeon unexpectedly missed Sun-hyeong's friendly smile.
First impressions shouldn't judge, but his past said otherwise.
The man who stepped out: tall, looks ambiguously sleazy yet handsome.
"Whoa, Seo, you're early. Sorry I'm late."
He grinned at Jin-uk first, then nodded to the others.
"Long time, Sang-jun hyung."
"You too."
"Yeah, yeah, how've you been?"
Probably joined around the same time.
Sang-jun exuded seniority from his entrance.
'Highest rank or level.'
Then he approached Jeong-hyeon.
"You're the unregistered one?"
Predictable greeting.
'Just register as EX-rank already?'
The impulse hit, but he suppressed it.
He hadn't avoided registration for punks like this.
Three忍 could avoid murder.
One murder avoided three忍, too.
Anyway, Jeong-hyeon smiled brightly.
"Yes, I'm the unregistered. Han Jeong-hyeon."
Sang-jun's brow twitched at the unflinching, relaxed response.
But he shrugged it off, leading the group.
"Alright, let's prep and enter. Wrap it quick."
"Sounds good, drinks after?"
"I'm in, Seung-hyeok."
Sang-jun and the three newbies entered first; Jeong-hyeon matched pace with Jin-uk behind.
"Excited?"
Jin-uk asked.
Jeong-hyeon gauged his intent, then nodded.
"Yeah. First time hunting with a guild like Jeongjin. Honored."
"Aw, come on."
Jin-uk waved it off with a chuckle.
At least Jin-uk was solid.
'So what if they're jerks? Just ride the bus easy.'
Jeong-hyeon smiled faintly, numb to such annoyances, and stepped inside.