Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Kraken Boar's Hunting Ground
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A Level 5 Gate. In front of the "Kraken Boar's Hunting Ground."
The gateway shimmered with its usual eerie glow as people passed through.
And right on cue, six hunters emerged.
But their expressions were somehow off.
It wasn't the hollow look of a poor haul, nor the gloom of injury or death.
They should have been beaming with joy mixed with exhaustion, but somehow, they weren't.
Their faces held an awkward, almost philosophical doubt about their own existence.
"Why am I even alive?"
One of them was seriously pondering that very question.
But one among them stood apart.
His face radiated pure fulfillment, like he owned the world.
The textbook image of a hunter who'd struck it big!
"Good work, everyone!"
He called out cheerfully, slinging a backpack bigger than himself onto his shoulder with ease.
"Y-Yeah... you too, Jeong-hyeon."
"Thanks to you."
The others mumbled back in awkward tones, a stark contrast to him.
Naturally, the one who looked like he'd raided a different gate altogether was Han Jeong-hyeon.
'Kekeke, jackpot this time.'
A thoroughly satisfying hunt.
At this point, Level 4 Gates felt too boring for Jeong-hyeon's skill level.
He'd wanted to tackle higher-level ones, but solo parties didn't exist above that, and even if they did, nobody recruited via HunterNet like for Level 4 and below.
Most went with guildmates they knew or longstanding fixed parties.
Then, just like his first time with Sun-hyeong's party at the "Clinging Corridor," opportunity knocked at the perfect moment with an open slot.
Jeong-hyeon's specs were beyond reproach now, so he slipped into the party without issue, and his performance once inside spoke for itself.
***
Of course, as an unregistered hunter, he'd drawn suspicion at first.
"You've really cleared a Level 5 Gate before, right?"
"Absolutely. You think someone's gonna hack HunterNet just to commit suicide?"
"Well... still feels off."
That was the party leader's reaction when they first met at the Gate.
He wasn't a newbie himself, but this was a first, leaving him a bit stunned.
Honestly, hunters knew their own level best.
High-level hunters couldn't enter low-level Gates due to system restrictions.
Low-level hunters could enter high-level ones, though.
Even a Level 1 could technically enter a Level 7 since it was "Level 7 or below."
But no one attempted such recklessness.
It was just a novel suicide method.
HunterNet even had a proverb: "A Level 1 trying to enter a Level 7."
Plus, his "armor"—Tadan Orc leather—was in tatters from brutal hunts.
'Tsk tsk, some beggar trying to strike it rich... pitiful.'
His HunterNet record checked out, and with Kraken Boars as the target, finding a replacement was tough, so they let him in.
But thinking they'd carry him through even one hunt soured the mood.
They'd insured against that with performance-based loot distribution—take what you kill—instead of even splits.
Still, one weak link dragged everyone down.
"Alright, fine. Let's go. First time hunting Kraken Boars, so hang back and watch."
"Got it."
At least he answered well.
Higher levels often meant shattered personalities, so in that regard, Jeong-hyeon was a pleasant surprise.
With suspicion and relief oddly mingled, they entered the "Kraken Boar's Hunting Ground."
But it didn't take long for everyone's thoughts to flip completely.
"Queeeek!"
"It's out!"
The interior was a wasteland dotted with shrubs.
Easy for the beasts to spot them.
Boar-shaped with bull-like size, they burrowed too, ambushing hunters frequently.
This one had burst from a sudden dip in the ground.
'Definitely tricky to spot.'
Even Jeong-hyeon, who sensed monsters faster than anyone, hadn't anticipated it despite activating Mana Sensitivity.
Detecting underground ones was hard, and they waited motionless until prey neared.
He'd heard the briefing, but the actual Kraken Boar was grotesquely ugly.
Its defining trait: not a pig face, but an octopus one with eight tentacles.
Always ranking high on creepy monster lists.
Appearance meant nothing to Jeong-hyeon, though.
'Anyone scared by this needs three days locked in the Cockroach Sewer.'
Having cleared every unpopular Gate, what was left to fear?
Goblins and orcs grew cuter with time. These focused more on disgust than strength.
Now, uglies like this just annoyed him.
"Tanks forward! Archers, attack after tanks are set—hurry!"
Boar-types charged blindly on sight.
Quick reactions were key, so the leader barked orders.
But.
Faster than the Kraken Boar lunging.
Faster than the hunters reforming ranks.
Jeong-hyeon's irritation hit zero.
*Whish—*
"...Huh?"
Something had sliced the air.
In the chaos, no one clocked what.
But the next reaction was clear.
"Queee—k!"
"?"
The beast, tentacles splayed for a charge, went silent—then dropped dead with a death rattle.
They stared blankly at the fallen Kraken Boar before the tank poked it with his shield.
No movement.
"It's... dead?"
"...Why?"
"Dunno. Bad meal?"
Debuting fierce, then keeling over?
The "bad meal" question felt eerily plausible.
Jeong-hyeon, knowing full well, smirked.
'It did eat something bad.'
The Kraken Boar had indeed ingested something fatal.
Just an uninvited dagger.
As it roared mouth agape, Jeong-hyeon had hurled Black right in.
His Throwing Skill, now Level 4 from clearing "King's Playground."
Boosted further by Mana Sensitivity's Level 2 Magic Enchantment.
[Acquired 1 Coin.]
True to Level 5 status, over 40% drop rate from a magic stone—nice.
Dagger one-shot plus coin? The boar must be fuming inside.
'Sometimes HunterNet crap posts pay off.'
Pre-raid, one caught his eye while researching Kraken Boars.
Not a guide or info thread—just idle commenters bickering.
- Yeah, your face is a Kraken Boar~
- Yours is a cockroach~
- Yeah, every time you open wide, it reeks like a Kraken Boar mouth?
- You done talking shit?
High-level spat like kids online.
Pathetic, but it sparked an idea.
"Opens its mouth?"
Common sense: innards softer than exteriors, except golems.
Mouth linked both.
Digging more, they flared eight tentacles and mouth wide pre-charge, roaring.
Others shuddered at the horror; Jeong-hyeon saw breakthrough.
Result: this.
No element, but Mana Sensitivity-forced power—straight down the throat? Instant death.
Blender guts awaited inside.
After a bit, Black returned to his right hand.
Covered in thick blood, mystery fluids, and meat chunks—the side effect.
'Ugh, this sucks.'
Only then, as he grimaced, did the party hesitantly ask.
"That... you, Jeong-hyeon?"
"Yeah, sure."
No point denying.
Couldn't claim lightning-struck virgin boar.
"Ah... haha, you throw daggers great!"
Party leader's face screamed *Really?*
Timing the maw, dagger through—easy said, but it'd disqualify it from Level 5.
Roar too brief, mouth tiny relative to bulk.
And instant kill with a dagger? Unless magic.
Which Jeong-hyeon had used.
'Didn't expect one-shot.'
Even he hadn't foreseen that.
Tougher-looking than it was.
HunterNet boasts—B-Rank Level 4 spells shrugged off, swords barely scratched—pure bluff.
Monster down, time for routine.
"Uh... what're you doing?"
"Hang on. Got something to handle."
Jeong-hyeon plopped before the pitiful corpse.
Hunters unused to post-kill fiddling stared baffled.
Familiar reaction—he'd show, not tell.
*Slice—*
Work knife like a sixth finger severed a tentacle.
"Ew?"
Slimy horror intensified disgust.
Jeong-hyeon savored their horror silently, focused.
Mutter loud enough for all.
"Kraken Boar legs are supposed to be great... hard to describe..."
Workshop foreman's secret: where'd all those legs go?
Initial confusion turned to coughs as they pondered.
All eight severed in seconds, he held them up.
"Rest for me... but wanna taste-test one each?"
"Ahem, yeah, stomach's rumbling."
Objectively, reckless eating raw monster meat?
But his opener stunned them, plus health benefits.
Skewered and grilled, they looked like giant squid sticks.
"Oh, legit tastes like squid?"
Flavor matched the look—solid.
Amazed, they devoured arm-thick tentacles.
'Somehow feel bad for Kraken Boars now.'
Populations would tank here and elsewhere.
Tasty and healthy? Perfect storm.
"Right? Health first."
Premium info—no broadcasting, but rumors spread.
'Gotta max out today.'
Rare chance—Jeong-hyeon's eyes gleamed.
Thus began the Kraken Boar massacre.