Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Hunter Net Rumors
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Chapter 94
"Heh heh, well now."
Jeong-hyeon emerged from the gate with a laugh much like Doil's.
It felt strangely hollow, and since he couldn't quite grasp what was happening around him, all that came out was that empty chuckle.
Doil, having reached the pinnacle of his craft, might have felt something similar.
Or rather, Jeong-hyeon was simply too overjoyed to contain himself and had thought of the person who fit the moment best.
Jeong-hyeon's intent to test his own power had succeeded halfway and failed halfway.
The success lay in feeling just how much stronger he'd become compared to before.
'Especially Black—it was flying.'
The other daggers and the mace were decent materials for mana enchantment, but Black was on another level.
If the efficiency of magic imbued into Black was 100, the others were around 70.
Moreover, by some coincidence—or perhaps statistically—the additional effects of mana enchantment triggered more reliably when attacking with Black.
For fire, it was explosions; for electricity, chain shocks; for wind, enhanced cutting power. Water seemed like increased density, but it wasn't suitable to test on goblins.
But the real jackpot was the neutral attribute.
'I felt bad wasting it on goblins, so I couldn't use it properly.'
Imbuing neutral mana coated the weapon in a transparent aura.
Up to that point, it wasn't much different from other attributes.
But the moment it struck a target, the sheer destructive power of the weapon felt entirely different.
Throwing a dagger left wounds incomparable to the blade itself, and swinging the mace tore flesh like a bomb had gone off.
For Jeong-hyeon, who had to use ordinary weapons and mind others' gazes, it seemed like the most practical attribute.
Of course, its destructive power was no joke, but it was still better than wrapping daggers and the mace in fire or electricity.
However, while he'd gained plenty of insight into mana enchantment, he hadn't been able to fully test his other enhanced traits.
Just touching the red goblins made them drop dead, so measuring his true strength was impossible—eventually, hunting even felt like a chore.
'And after getting that 7-coin drop, the rate plummeted to 10%, killing any motivation.'
That coin drop rate was the decisive factor in Jeong-hyeon ending his hunt and heading out.
Due to the "Trait Shop" conditions, repeatedly killing the same monster lowered the coin acquisition probability.
He'd known this before, but hunting solo this time made it hit hard.
Killing monsters weaker than his level caused an even steeper drop—eventually to single digits, leaving no reason to continue.
There was plenty of reservation time left, but he'd already achieved his goals from booking, so no need to drag it out.
Even so, after hitting a mission gate for a big payout, grinding low-rate goblins felt tedious.
"Here's the disposal fee."
"Yes, I'll process the payment."
This time, he even pulled off the bold move of not dismantling the red goblins at all.
He paid the Association staffer who'd come in early for the fee.
Jeong-hyeon hurried home, lost in thought.
'What now?'
Getting much stronger via mana enchantment was great.
The problem was how to explain this ability in front of others.
It had always looked suspicious, but back then everything was agility-based, so he could brush it off.
But throwing daggers with mana enchantment on top?
He'd try to hide it as much as possible, but against an unexpected strong foe, he'd need to use everything at his disposal.
This was beyond what excuses could cover.
Not using his traits felt too frustrating.
'Should I just keep getting special approvals and hunt solo from now on?'
The thought crossed his mind, but he shook his head.
Any gate he entered now would need to be at least level 5.
Level 4 was a breeze even blindfolded, but gates were unpredictable by nature.
Wandering carelessly and dying to bad luck would be his own fault.
No clever solution came to mind despite brainstorming, and irritation bubbled up.
'Why am I even stressing over this?'
Early after awakening, hiding was priority.
It was the innate gap between EX-rank and S-rank.
S-ranks were said to be leagues above from birth.
They started at level 1 but grew fast, with trait power unmatched by other S-ranks.
No wonder completed traits had proficiency levels.
But Jeong-hyeon's EX-rank was different.
It started with a slight edge but was purely growth-type.
Its potential was unknown, but initially no different from a low-rank hunter.
Now, Jeong-hyeon felt confident in his growth.
He wasn't planning to start a MyTV channel bragging about being EX-rank.
'Huh? MyTV could work.'
No plans for guilds or the Association anyway—it tempted him briefly, but it was too soon.
Public parties should allow unrestricted hunting without prying eyes.
As long as he didn't seem ridiculously over-specced, it should be fine.
No—it had to be.
The nervous guy dies, right?
Better to strut confidently than suffer in silence; fewer suspicions that way.
With his mind made up, Jeong-hyeon's steps quickened.
***
After Jeong-hyeon left the red goblin gate,
Urban legend-like rumors began spreading on Hunter Net within days.
The first post went like this.
- Bros and sis. Lowbie hunter noob asking about artifacts.
No mission gates, just your standard level 5 clears. Hunted with a guy I'd never seen before today? Dude's a throwing dagger and mace wizard? Other stuff's OP too, but anyway... suddenly mid-hunt he starts enchanting his own weapons with magic. Multiple elements, not just one. Says it's an artifact effect—does something like that even exist?
- ?? Noob... lame.
- Dreaming too hard lololol
- Pfft, if that artifact existed, why hunt level 5s? Sell it and coast for life.
The poster didn't fully believe it themselves, so comments were pure mockery.
Single-element artifacts were already jackpot material—multiple?
Just a bad joke.
Most commenters were artifact-less hearsay hunters, but they were certain.
No such artifact existed.
Even top hunters from famous guilds flaunted artifacts with wild abilities, but never multi-element enchantment.
The issue was similar posts popping up steadily every few days.
- Guys, artifact that imbues multiple elements?
- Throwing hunter casting magic today, what a dream kekekeke
Most posters seemed half-disbelieving themselves, but one sparked a big flame war.
- Where's that artifact? __ Level 5 scrub stirring drama, gross
└ It's real! I saw it myself. Even grilled Valen Taurro sirloin and said it's tasty—why won't you believe?
└ Dude;; Make sense first. Valen Taurro meat? Ugh block.
Unlike prior posters scared off by hate, this one stubbornly defended their account.
It hit real-time popular briefly, but the outlandish content meant no believers, and the post vanished soon after.
However.
While everyone tsked at some attention-seeker,
Someone had watched from the first post to deletion.
A vast room.
Packed with luxury furniture money alone couldn't buy, a man lounged in an armchair in designer clothes.
He smirked at the tablet.
"Check this out."
He'd skimmed initially, dismissing Hunter Net's quality, but persistent similar posts piqued his interest.
Especially since they all got deleted within a day.
Looked like an interesting guy had appeared.
***
"Guess I was right."
Naturally, Jeong-hyeon knew about the Hunter Net rumors.
They were clearly from his party members.
Post-red goblin, he'd joined five public parties—all level 5 gates.
He planned full displays but not without prep.
He bought a generic ring online, claiming it enabled his multi-attribute enchantments.
No one truly bought it, but what could they do?
No one would demand to try another's artifact.
If they did, a monster demo shut them up.
Still, one per party spilled on Hunter Net, but as expected, no believers.
If he'd claimed S-rank instead, it'd be more credible.
Absurd lies become "weird rumors" when spread.
That was Jeong-hyeon's plan.
'Once I'm famous and strong enough, MyTV channel to stake my claim. Who'd mess then? Heh heh...'
- R r r
Mid-pleasant fantasy, Jeong-hyeon turned toward the entrance.
'First visitor since moving in.'
No indoor noise, so the urgent guest knocked hard.
"Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon? Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon, you home?"
Urgent-sounding voice.
Jeong-hyeon tensed.
Polite honorifics suggested no ill intent, but urgent visits never brought good news.
No alert from Association guards outside meant no threat.
'Association?'
Likely.
Intercom showed a sweating middle-aged man in a suit.
"Who is it?"
"Ah, from Association Operations! Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon?"
Association confirmed.
He flashed ID to the camera.
Association Operations, Choi Nam-sik.
Jeong-hyeon opened the door.
"What brings you...?"
Tension lingered.
He recalled signing docs with Min-seok, including emergency call response.
'Some break?'
But the purpose was far from expected.
"Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon! What the hell have you been doing?!"
"...Doing what?"