Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Emergency Hunter Recruitment
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【(Emergency) Looking for a Hunter to Enter a Level 2 or Below Gate! Beginners Super Welcome!!】
"Oh."
Having rented gear from Cheol-yong that wasn't a total rip-off and finished equipping it, Jeong-hyeon spotted a post that had just gone up on HunterNet.
His certification had gone through by now, so he had no issues browsing or commenting.
- It's a level 2 or below gate with zombies and skeletons. Easy difficulty, but we're short one spot, so posting this. Tank, healer, and main DPS are covered, so job doesn't matter. First come, first served, one spot.
It was like the post was beckoning Jeong-hyeon directly.
The location wasn't far from the Association either.
"Places like this, it's only right to head over immediately."
- I'm a level 1 hunter. Can I join? I'm at the Association right now.
Since it was first come, first served for one spot, Jeong-hyeon fired off a DM right away.
Among hunters who had just awakened like Jeong-hyeon, plenty didn't have guilds or fixed parties.
Even if they wanted affiliation, they needed track records, and no one was taking raw level 1 hunters, so they had to start as freelancers squeezing into open slots like this.
Hesitate, and the spot gets snatched.
Fortunately, a reply came from the poster almost immediately.
- Can you come right now? We're at a café near the gate.
- Of course. Heading there now.
Jeong-hyeon couldn't be sure his first message had sealed it, but his proximity probably helped.
And with that, his historic first raid was set.
Jeong-hyeon let out a deep sigh laden with all sorts of emotions.
"Whew. Think I can pull it off?"
From awakening to gear rental, things had gone smoothly thanks to endless videos he'd watched—plenty of mental rehearsal.
But entering a gate was the real deal: staking his life as a hunter.
Indeed, plenty of hunters who awakened couldn't overcome the fear at this stage and never raided.
But soon, Jeong-hyeon clenched his fist.
'Do well or not, I have to make it work.'
It was the moment he'd dreamed of for over ten years.
He couldn't stop just because of fear.
He'd already rented gear for a month. Turn back now, and it was back to that hellish byproducts workshop.
Spending living expenses to rent gear made from byproducts, only to return there?
Jeong-hyeon shook his head firmly.
'No way in hell.'
It was time to say goodbye to the stench of monster corpses.
Time to be the one making them.
Leaving the Association, Jeong-hyeon broke into a run.
He needed to loosen up, test his new trait lightly, but above all, save on taxi fare.
***
Café near the level 2 or below exclusive gate, "Corridor of the Desiccated Dead."
"He's coming now?"
Sun-hyeong, with his buzzcut and sturdy build that could prop up a chair, set down his phone and spoke.
Jeong-a, sitting across from him, frowned as she replied.
"This is ridiculous because of Sang-su."
And the one receiving Jeong-a's irritation with a kind smile was Do-yoon.
"Congrats on the Jeongjin Guild scout, right?"
There was a reason they'd gathered at the café early, before their planned 1 p.m. gate entry.
Their fixed party member and main firepower, D-rank level 2 lightning mage Han Sang-su, had suddenly ditched for an interview after getting scouted by one of the famous guilds, Jeongjin Guild.
Canceling the reserved—and rented—gate would've been a huge loss, so they needed to fill the gap fast.
Whether misfortune or luck, it was a low-difficulty gate even without Sang-su, so the three could hunt, but entering with fewer than the minimum four required special Association approval.
Hence the hasty post for anyone, no rank or experience required.
"Hey, come on. Even so, ditching a promise for an interview? Like that guy's gonna keep promises in the future."
Jeong-a shot a sharp tone at Do-yoon.
Not really mad at him, but the situation soured her mood.
Of course, Do-yoon had seen this side of her plenty, so he chuckled it off.
"Still, Jeongjin Guild's a life-changer. If someone we know got in there, it'd be great news."
"Ugh, seriously. You're not even mad?"
"It's done. Guy's at the Association, so he'll be here soon. That him?"
As Sun-hyeong chimed in, the café door opened.
And all three mouths shut.
Newly awakened hunter vibes, no question.
The bizarre gear and him scanning the café interior only confirmed it.
Sun-hyeong stood and raised a hand.
"Excuse me, Han Jeong-hyeon?"
"Ah, Lee Sun-hyeong?"
Bingo.
Recognizing Sun-hyeong, Jeong-hyeon headed straight over.
And as he drew closer, a hint of awkwardness crept into the party's eyes.
Jeong-a shot Do-yoon a look.
'Hey, that guy's...'
Do-yoon nodded.
Total newbie of newbies.
"Nice to meet you. Han Jeong-hyeon."
Reaching the table, Jeong-hyeon bowed politely.
His manners were solid, so Sun-hyeong, and even the seated Jeong-a and Do-yoon, stood briefly to greet back.
Sun-hyeong smiled awkwardly.
"Haha. Nice to meet you. You said you were at the Association...?"
"Yeah? Oh, just registered today."
"Ah... I see. Have a seat here anyway."
Expectations confirmed.
But they couldn't just chase off someone who'd shown up.
Sun-hyeong pointed to the empty seat by Jeong-a.
'I told you not to put "beginners welcome"!'
He ignored Jeong-a's sharp glare.
What most definitively proved Jeong-hyeon was fresh was,
"...Association rental gear, right?"
Above all, the stench wrinkling noses.
The armor set was split into parts, on the verge of breaking down.
Still, they couldn't grimace openly, so Jeong-a just asked.
Jeong-hyeon smiled awkwardly.
"Ah, yeah. Circumstances weren't ideal..."
Truth was, using Association rentals wasn't a big deal.
Plenty of low-rank hunters rented steadily.
But even they didn't walk around fully geared outside.
Jeong-a patted the large travel case by her side.
"Once this raid's done, get one of these first. Hunter gear stinks bad."
Hearing her, Jeong-hyeon glanced around.
Sun-hyeong and Do-yoon had them, as did others at nearby tables.
Realizing his outfit was off, his face flushed.
Now that he thought, he'd never seen hunters geared up on the street.
Monster stench was familiar, so maybe he'd been numb.
"Yeah, guess so. Makes sense..."
Seeing his embarrassment reminded them of their own fresh days?
The three chuckled softly.
Do-yoon brought up the next topic.
"I'm Kim Do-yoon, handling heals. You carry a mace—going battle healer?"
"Ah, no. Just the rental guy's recommendation."
"That guy recommends stuff besides shortswords?"
Cheol-yong seemed pretty known among hunters.
Probably a rite of passage for most.
Explaining fully would drag on, so Jeong-hyeon laughed it off.
"Anyway, gotta check. Mind showing your hunter ID? We'll show ours."
Sun-hyeong glanced at his watch and moved things along.
Reservation time, 1 p.m., was nearing.
Everyone pulled out wallets and IDs.
- Lee Sun-hyeong, 「Decent Toughness」(E), Lv.2
- Yoon Jeong-ah, 「Ten-Mile Eyes」(E), Lv.1
- Kim Do-yoon, 「Healing that Stops the Bleeding」(E), Lv.2
Tank Sun-hyeong, archer Jeong-a, healer Do-yoon.
Balanced comp, as the post said.
Close to the textbook setup.
Similar ranks and levels meant they'd awakened around the same time and partied together.
Ideally, mix in a high-rank or two, but those parties fell apart fast.
High-ranks eventually left to lead.
Anyway, solid for zombies and skeletons.
Jeong-hyeon's ID, on the other hand:
- Han Jeong-hyeon, Traits unregistered
Barely more than an ID card.
Usually, unregistered meant dud or jackpot, but...
'No jackpot here.'
All three thought it simultaneously.
If it was a hidden high-rank, they wouldn't slum it in a level 2 gate with randos.
Plus, "jackpot unregistered" was outdated.
High-rank IDs fast-tracked guild entry—who'd hide?
They'd be geared top-tier, raiding premium gates with big guilds.
99% F-rank dud.
"Uh... not on the ID, but what's your trait?"
"Agility type."
F-rank agility? Two classics came to mind.
'Faint Combat Sense or Somewhat Agile Movement, no doubt.'
Infamous for being worthless.
Of course, they had no clue Jeong-hyeon had both—and the synergy.
Sun-hyeong, Do-yoon, and Jeong-a exchanged glances.
Their party had unwittingly pulled a landmine.
But that didn't make them villains.
Villains would've kicked him or scammed him outright.
Instead,
"Fine. We three can clear it anyway, so let's try together. Missing our D-rank mage DPS, but adding frontline works better than lacking firepower."
They wouldn't just welcome him warmly.
Swapping D-rank Sang-su for Jeong-hyeon was a downgrade.
Knowing it was bonus luck, Jeong-hyeon spoke up gratefully.
"Thanks! I'll do my best."
He figured fifty-fifty odds himself.
Unregistered meant lone F-rank agility trait, probably. Few parties took fresh regs.
"But—"
Sun-hyeong wasn't done.
"Distribution: each keeps what they kill. You get that, right?"
Sun-hyeong looked a bit sorry, but no further concessions.
For briefly tense Jeong-hyeon, it was fine.
In "carry" or "bus" runs, equal shares were a pipe dream.
Veteran parties hogged it all.
Own kills only seemed stingy but was generous.
Generally speaking.
Their opponent was Jeong-hyeon.
'They think so, but I've got my aces too.'
Who was hiding more cards here?
Adjusting splits just 'cause he was a newbie?
No way.
Sun-hyeong, Jeong-a, Do-yoon couldn't imagine what might happen.
That was Jeong-hyeon's hand.
Strong enough they'd later yell "Cheat!"
But oblivious Sun-hyeong relaxed and continued.
"Alright, gate info time. As the name says, mostly zombies and skeletons..."
Plus, "Corridor of the Desiccated Dead" was practically an old friend to Jeong-hyeon—zombies and skeletons.
Listening to Sun-hyeong's briefing, Jeong-hyeon smirked inwardly.