Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Unyielding Loyal Vassal
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[Sudden Coin Quest 'Unyielding Loyal Vassal' cleared.
Rewards will be distributed.]
[Hidden achievement, 'You... Can You See That?' accomplished. You have obtained 5 coins.]
[You have obtained 1 coin.]
['Excellent Movement Speed' (C)'s proficiency level has risen from 1 → 2.]
['Fairly Sharp Throwing Skill' (D)'s proficiency level has risen from 3 → 4.]
'Heh.'
It felt like there were a ton, and sure enough, there were.
Jeong-hyeon felt the anger bubbling inside him melt away at the dazzling array of rewards.
'Ah, this is worth acknowledging. Yeah, definitely.'
Coins alone totaled a whopping 11.
For taking down five puppets and one boss, it was incredibly generous.
On top of that, Jeong-hyeon had personally felled just the king puppet and the final boss—only two.
Plus, movement speed and throwing skill were his main traits right now, so the level-ups were especially welcome.
Movement speed had risen a bit quickly, but considering it activated constantly as movement speed in daily life and thought acceleration in combat, it wasn't all that strange.
'Combat sense could've leveled up too...'
But the top contributors in this gate raid were undoubtedly combat sense and mana sensitivity.
Only after downing the boss did Jeong-hyeon vaguely realize why he alone could see the puppets' strings.
It was because he was applying both combat sense and mana sensitivity simultaneously.
Did that mean this gate could only be cleared by him, an EX-rank?
He didn't think so.
A high-level A-rank with mana sensitivity might've noticed as well.
Of course, the difficulty would've spiked beyond imagination.
'This place had difficulty levels that were straight-up bullshit.'
Anyway, mana sensitivity was excused since it was equipped for the first fight.
Combat sense had been used long enough to potentially hit level 5, but it seemed blocked by the rank wall.
Low ranks were generally capped at level 4.
D-ranks occasionally hit 5, but it was extremely rare.
Hitting level 4 in this timeframe was insanely fast.
Jeong-hyeon’s battles so far hadn’t been ordinary,
Starting from F-rank meant lower proficiency requirements,
And synergizing with other traits likely boosted its growth.
Those were the rational reasons, though emotionally it felt different.
'Or maybe rank is just OP, and EX made the difference.'
It was an ironclad fact that S-ranks gained proficiency faster than F-ranks.
If S was like that, what about EX?
Trait shop proficiencies could be bought with coins, so bonus exp on shop-acquired traits made sense.
Whatever the reason, Jeong-hyeon just needed to hunt and make good use of the system’s rewards.
And then, the same alert appeared for everyone.
[You have cleared the mission of the level 5 gate 'King's Playground.']
Obviously, the gate was cleared too.
The party members, having survived a near-death ordeal, rejoiced and scanned their surroundings.
Just as Jeong-hyeon snagged his personal rewards, they too were due their mission gate clear reward.
An artifact, that is.
"Huh?"
The hunters' gazes, surveying the area, locked onto one spot.
No, they didn't even need to look around for it.
The terrifying boss that had nearly driven them to death.
The puppet was gone, but the axe it wielded remained right there.
"That's probably the reward, right?"
"Nothing else around."
With the axe confirmed as the gate clear reward, the hunters exchanged glances.
Precisely, Ga-yoon and the others.
No one else could use that weapon but her.
"Was just thinking it was time for a weapon upgrade. Perfect!"
She didn't jump for joy in front of everyone, but she didn't hide her delight either.
How could she?
Even top hunters couldn't just buy artifacts with money.
The harder the gate, the better the artifact's performance, so expectations were sky-high.
'Tch, was hoping for a dagger since it was the key material here.'
Jeong-hyeon smacked his lips inwardly but gave Ga-yoon a congratulatory gesture.
He'd gotten plenty of rewards anyway, and just the previous gate gave him Black.
Hoping for daggers twice in a row—daggers weren't common weapons—was just greed.
"Give it a swing."
As Jeong-hyeon nursed his regret,
Jun-won spoke to Ga-yoon, who had picked up the axe with its blade slightly embedded in the ground and was inspecting it.
She nodded once, stepped away from the party, and swung it vigorously.
Even after the grueling fight, the axe's momentum was fierce.
Whoosh—
And flames erupted from the blade in response.
"Whoa!"
Ga-yoon's eyes widened in surprise and joy.
Artifacts had varied special effects, but this one was obvious without checking.
Fire enchantment.
Among elemental magics, fire was especially popular.
Near-universal against most monsters, and for close-range DPS weapons, it massively boosted damage.
This axe was a jackpot artifact.
As thanks and congrats flew around, Jeong-hyeon seethed inside.
'No way—the gate's key material was a dagger, and they don't give it to me?!'
He'd just convinced himself two artifacts in a row was greedy.
But seeing the fire-enchanted weapon changed his mind.
A dagger that bursts into flames when thrown.
Didn't that sound thrilling?
'Who cares about Black! So what!'
Daggers were better the more you had.
Axes you carried one; daggers, over ten.
Black for trash mobs, fire dagger for boss finishers!
As Jeong-hyeon rationalized his greed, Ga-yoon timidly approached him.
"Um..."
"...Yeah?"
Jeong-hyeon, not expecting her to speak to him after swinging the axe excitedly, startled and replied.
Ga-yoon bowed deeply.
"Thank you so much. Without Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon, I wouldn't have gotten the artifact—or even survived."
"Uh..."
Jeong-hyeon stammered, flustered.
He had made the biggest contribution this raid.
But contribution and receiving thanks were separate matters.
Honestly, he'd solved many hunts before, but never gotten thanks like this.
Most just celebrated their own gains, or the petty ones denied his merit and harbored grudges.
But the thanks didn't end there.
"You're right. Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon worked the hardest."
Cha Jun-won.
"How are you so nimble... Honestly, healing you felt like a dream."
Park Ji-woon.
"Sorry for before entering the gate. No excuses, but you just rubbed me wrong."
Most surprising was Jeong Sun-il, who'd been the most hostile.
Stunned by the sudden wave of gratitude starting with Ga-yoon, Jeong-hyeon laughed it off.
"No, everyone worked hard."
Artifacts, rewards, contributions—all only possible because they survived and cleared.
Missing even one person, and no clear.
Especially the two vanguards had fought bloodied and bruised, so them taking rewards wasn't unfair.
"Still, Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon was the MVP. The artifact should've gone to you."
Ga-yoon spoke apologetically about taking it.
But if a dagger dropped, Jeong-hyeon taking the artifact would've been an issue too.
'No money...'
A fire-enchanted dagger would cost at least tens of millions.
He spent all earnings on gear, with no spare cash.
Last time, demi drake leather and others' leniency covered it, but these puppets vanished cleanly—no loopholes.
Tears blurring his eyes, he'd have to sell to Jeongjin Guild.
But if they insisted on thanks, who was he to stop them?
"If you're offering... maybe a bonus on the artifact share..."
Face was temporary; money eternal.
He wasn't joining Jeongjin for life as colleagues.
A little prodding couldn't hurt.
"...?"
At this point, it was just polite chatter.
The party, never imagining he'd demand rewards, tilted heads in confusion.
Joke or serious?
The mood turned awkwardly silent.
Jeong-hyeon, gauging reactions, laughed loudly and waved it off.
"Haha! Kidding, kidding! We hunted together—who takes more share?"
"Hahaha!"
Finally, they laughed along, as expected.
The surface vibe was harmonious, but one heart differed.
'Jeongjin Guild members can't share a bit with a cute junior...? Rich folks always want more.'
"Alright, great job everyone. Shall we head out?"
With things wrapped up inside, Jun-won said cheerfully.
For him, this raid was a golden opportunity and huge pressure.
Success meant solidifying Guild Master So Jeong-yun's trust and scouting new talent Han Jeong-hyeon.
Failure? Lost everything.
But hunters instinctively dulled to death.
Plus, Jeong-hyeon exceeded expectations.
'Wasn't this much even hunting with Assistant Manager Seo Jin-uk...'
Hunting 'cursed city' ghouls, Jin-uk rated him highly, but just top talent for his level.
Now, outshining him in a level 5 gate.
And that sudden thing—unconfirmed suspicions.
'Handling mana...?'
Absurd.
Ghostly throws and agility already implied three or four traits.
Mana handling meant another separate one.
But otherwise, how explain surviving mana strike with bruises, mirroring his move to shield Ga-yoon,
And sharp magic senses throughout?
Re-awakening rarity even in Jeongjin, let alone Korea.
Jun-won eyed Jeong-hyeon sharply, then laughed as eyes met and stepped forward.
'Can we recruit him?'
Even Jeongjin's HR, second to none in Korea, lacked confidence.
If not, still build ties.
That was his current assessment.
Exiting the gate to reality.
Like hunters post-tough fights, they deeply breathed and eyed surroundings anew.
Jeong-hyeon approached Jun-won with a stiff face.
"Team Leader Cha Jun-won."
"Yeah?"
Not expecting talk post-hunt, Jun-won looked puzzled.
And so serious?
But Jeong-hyeon's request blew past imagination.
"Could you give me a ride home? Or let me crash at the Jeongjin dorm you mentioned last time."
Too massive to imagine? No—too trivial.
'Why say this so seriously?'
After his feats, transport or a dorm night an issue?
He'd gladly give a whole floor of the 5-star-equivalent Jeongjin dorm.
Jun-won chuckled wryly.
"Of course. Rest as long as you want."
Jeong-hyeon's face, hearing it, was dazed.
'He says yes?'
It was a petty grudge request after his artifact share joke.
Drive exhausted post-hunt?
Demand dorm rudely after business?
Cruel, outrageous ask.
But Jun-won acted like it was nothing.
Jeong-hyeon would've failed face control.
'Big corp HR masters expressions too.'
Beyond magic, Jeong-hyeon highly rated him anew.