Chapter 14
“No, I couldn’t possibly.”
Seo Wonseok politely declined.
“What you’ve done for me today is more than enough.”
“Come on, it’s nothing. Anyway, why are you lingering here? There’s nothing worth buying.”
“I was looking at that mask.”
“That one?”
Seo Wonseok glanced at the mask.
“……”
“If you really want it, I could buy it for you.”
Seo Wonseok shook his head firmly.
Taking it outright would cheapen his own worth. Better to keep a proper distance.
Jeong Hamin scratched the corner of his mouth with his thumb.
“Probably no one else will buy it anyway. If you really want it, I could ask the store to Keep it for you.”
“What’s a Keep?”
The explanation that followed was straightforward.
Keep meant exactly what it sounded like—reserving an item in advance. You applied for a pre-purchase, and when you converted mana stones to Credits, it automatically finalized the transaction.
“I’m not sure it’s worth going that far, but if Hunter Seo wants it… Though it does cost a 1-Credit deposit.”
“Handy tip.”
“Haha!”
Jeong Hamin flashed his teeth in a grin.
“By the way, the instructions for how to Keep are in the tin case I gave you. There’s a QR code at the bottom, right? Scan that, sign up with your Hunter Card ID, and then…”
Now all that’s left is earning Credits.
That’s right. It’s finally time for the Abyss Gate.
The store after the two had left.
As closing time approached, a Hunter slipped inside. His face was completely hidden under a hood and mask—a suspicious figure if there ever was one.
The clerk approached to announce closing time.
“Excuse me, sir. We’re closing soon.”
“……This one.”
The man hesitantly pointed at the mask with a finger. It was an item no other customer had given a second glance.
The Hunter asked timidly.
“There’s a red sticker next to it… Does that mean it’s sold?”
“Ah, a previous customer Kept it. Unfortunately, unless they cancel, you can’t buy it.”
“……I see. Got it.”
The Hunter tugged his hood lower in a silent bow, then cast a lingering glance at the mask.
“Thanks for your help.”
“Ah, sure. Come again!”
“Doubt I will…”
Muttering gloomily, the Hunter shuffled away.
“Ah, that place sells it for 10 more Credits… Maybe I should get one there.”
On his briefly exposed ankle bone.
A red thread wound around it, invisible to himself or others.
A one-room apartment in Goyang City.
The hand scraping the mouse wheel came to a stop.
The Hunter Store online mall search was more or less done. Couldn’t buy anything. Items like these weren’t available for online transactions anyway.
But Keeping is possible.
Paid 1 Credit to mark it as Purchase Pending. Then pick it up at the Hunter Store in Seongsu.
Of course, first-floor items cost 1 Credit to Keep, but upper-floor stuff was way pricier. Jeong Hamin had mentioned it.
“Keeps acting all buddy-buddy, but he’s a solid info source.”
Creeeak.
I cradled the back of my head with interlaced fingers. The chair’s backrest springiness pressed into my shoulders.
Just Kept it for now.
Keeps weren’t indefinite. Had to claim within 96 hours of reserving.
If you didn’t pick it up within four days, the Purchase Pending auto-canceled.
Naturally, the 1-Credit deposit got refunded. It said so at the bottom. I leaned back, reading the tiny terms aloud.
“……Refunded without fees if the claimant is alive……”
Refunded if alive.
Hmm……
Becoming a Hunter is really sinking in……
World-famous Hunters raked in money and fame like it was nothing.
But where there’s light, there’s shadow.
Chaos Gates that humans could control were mostly managed by the Association. Staff there rarely faced life-threatening danger unless it was an emergency. Comfy jobs, low pay.
Looked down on by Hunters.
Hunters were the heroic warriors on the front lines, battling monsters.
They dove into the unknown dungeons called Abyss Gates, risking death every time.
Low-grade gates have over 90% survival rates, at least……
But B-rank and above? Mortality skyrocketed.
An unprepared raid party—commonly called a wipeout squad—thrown into an A-rank had under 3% survival odds.
Hunters lived with death as a constant companion.
They deserved respect, in my book.
But rubbing shoulders with death so much turned plenty of them a bit unhinged.
Chosen-people complex was practically passive. Tons of articles about addictions wrecking their families. Lives that close to death? Sanity cracks eventually.
“Tomorrow……”
I officially join their ranks.
A far cry from my past life, dipping just a toe in as a porter.
The reason I have to stake my life on Abyss Gates.
It was right there on my computer screen.
I’d spent a total of 4 Credits to Keep two items.
Couldn’t browse closely earlier with Jeong Hamin around.
More than that……
I allocated 3 Credits to the second item, the Potion Ring, for its Keep.
It was from the upper floors.
That’s right—I’d infiltrated the online store’s upper-level listings.
How? ……
—Hunter Jeong, can you see upper-floor items online?
—Probably not?! There’s a separate dedicated QR code.
—Mind if I take a look?
—Looking’s fine. Snap a pic if you want! But it won’t capture right. The code’s mana stone-processed, so normal recognition fails.
—……I see.
Click.
It worked?
I’d let out a silent cheer.
Because inserting the mana stone SD card I’d gotten from Gija-ryeong captured it perfectly.
Worth a shot, just in case.
—Yeah, didn’t work after all.
—Haha! A Hunter like you could head up there anytime.
—Does pickup have to be the claimant?
—Any Hunter of the matching floor grade is fine!
And so, the Potion Ring was now within reach.
A ring embedded with a ruby-like red gem.
The gem could store a set amount of potion. When the owner’s life hung by a thread, it detected the heartbeat and injected it automatically. For someone like me, plagued by constant anemia and injuries, it’d be a lifeline.
Level-ups offered sporadic stamina boosts.
I didn’t want to gamble my life on chance.
I’m no gambling addict Hunter!
Anyway.
For now, my eyes were on the tantalizingly out-of-reach Potion Ring. It gleamed beautifully.
At this point in time, it’s 70 million won.
Later, its stellar utility would make it infamous, prices jumping three or four times due to shortages.
Regression had its perks.
Snagging future value early—for my exclusive use.
“First, the cart list.”
Don’t convert to won.
Bad for mental health.
To snag all this within four days, even a hundred sub-D-rank gates wouldn’t cut it.
Those Abyss Gates were fiercely competitive, and rewards got split anyway.
The mana stones trickling into your pocket?
Pennies, really. Tiny Credits.
Need to stay low-key.
Like a needle in my pocket.
That’s when it happened.
Closing the online store, browsing portals, an article caught my eye.
About Han Biyeol.
“Cleared a D++ Abyss Gate today?”
Damn, living it up. Not his style.
More than that……
No shared EXP flowing in like last time.
Seemed my hypothesis held: Eternal Blessing didn’t trigger beyond a certain distance.
Lazing in this drab apartment wouldn’t bring EXP rolling in. Had to get moving.
Which means overlapping paths with my subordinates.
The two I knew:
Brother Seo Boseok, the Hunter.
And Han Biyeol.
Bro would show if I called.
Even without reasons.
Didn’t want that.
He’d already given so much—couldn’t suck him dry. A chance encounter? Fine, call it luck. But duty as a human said no.
“Han Biyeol……”
Him, it’s okay.
But the guy’s swamped with guild work. Wonder if I’d run into him easily.
What to do.
A groan of dilemma stuck to the roof of my mouth.
“Gotta head out early tomorrow.”
I rose from the chair, flopping onto the bed.
I’d already decided on the Abyss Gate.
Some might wonder here.
Abyss Gates pop up randomly—how can you plan tomorrow’s destination ahead?
Gate studies have advanced enough to predict a few spawn points……
But not to measure ranks yet. Maybe in five years.
“Tomorrow, COEX.”
But I knew the Abyss Gates spawning at COEX—and their ranks.
Because in my past life, after bro died, I memorized every Abyss Gate that appeared.
To dig into the cause of his death.
Not that it mattered, but back then I needed something to obsess over. Cramming was my specialty—decent time sink.
……Who knew it’d pay off.
“No more useless thoughts. Sleep.”
Sleep’s the best medicine.
Bled a lot today, exhausted.
Right before closing my eyes, I touched the Red Slime. It bouncily pushed back. Stuffed full of blood, plump as could be.
Blood reserves should be good now.
Anemia prevention.
Shoved a water bottle in my mouth.
Once levels go up enough for more HP, anemia might ease.
Please.
“Haha.”
Die—no, live……
Hydrated enough, I drifted off.
Tossed a bit, but slept soundly enough.
The next day.
I texted bro right after waking.
Typos kept happening.
Nerves from my first raid kept me up.
Sent it, headed to wash up and leave.
KakaoTalk ping.
Lightning reply.
Bro: If you want full solo independence, I’ll take a rare vacation~
“Abusing authority much, this Hunter.”
Was gonna laugh it off.
Then an inexplicable chill of unease gripped my chest. What was this?
Goosebumps on my arms.
Instinct screamed: my minus-44 Luck warning me.
So I replied quick.
No question there.
Pinned and sent the spot as ordered, prepped to head out.
Then punched through hellish rush-hour subway—worse than any gate—to reach COEX.
Barricades already up, no-entry zone. Association staff with warning lights blew whistles, evacuating civilians.
I veered away from the crowd.
Sure enough.
“Halt.”
Sunglasses-wearing Association clerk blocked me.
“No civilians allowed.”
“I’m a Hunter.”
“……? Show your Hunter Card.”
Face screaming you, in no gear? A Hunter? Supposedly, card checks were just routine procedure.
Hurts my feelings, really.
Need Credits for gear first.
Newbies get grilled on experience—same as any corporate gig.
Not wanting hassle, I rummaged in my pocket. Clerk crossed arms smugly, eyeing me.
“Gasp!”
Sudden exclamation from the Association side.
Next instant, someone bellowed thunderously.
“You idiot!”
Not at me—at the clerk.
“I told you! It’s just a routine check!”
“But… Team Leader, this guy looks totally……”
Yuneobyeon chewed out his subordinate.
“Don’t judge by appearances! Write up a report when you get back to HQ!”
“……Sigh, yes sir.”
Yuneobyeon tsked at the subordinate’s retreating back. Peak hypocrisy textbook.
He beamed at me.
“Good to see you again after just a few days, Hunter Seo.”
“Yeah. Didn’t expect you here. Don’t Association staff enter Abyss Gates?”
“Ah, well.”
He glanced back subtly.
Before the COEX entrance.
A 3-meter jade oval shimmered in midair.
An Abyss Gate.
Make that two.
Twin Gates phenomenon.
“Two gates mean civilians could get swept up easily. Rare occurrence, so we step in for control.”
“Tough job.”
“Thanks for saying so.”
Super friendly. Big temp drop from the other day—giving me hives.
“Hunter Seo’s dedicated. Got your card the other day and straight to the front lines.”
“That’s why I became a Hunter.”
“Model answer.”
Yuneobyeon swept back his bangs.
“Wait over there a sec. Staff are measuring gate ranks with detectors now.”
Clerks prowled the gates holding metal rods.
I nodded at the nearby tent.
“That waiting area?”
“Yes! A few Hunters already there.”
Eye-smile courtesy, lifted the flap.
“Huh!”
“Huh?”
“Huh!!”
Same syllable.
Different vibes.
One word, whole conversation. Universal language.
But.
……Huh……
I was thinking the same.
……How’s the party this cursed.
Disaster luck for real.
Ah.
My Luck’s hopeless.
Haha.
Hahaha.
Behold the lineup proving my misfortune stat.
Sellout Jeong Hamin Hunter.
“Hunter Seo! Long time no see—wait, one day!”
Delusionally misunderstood Han Biyeol Hunter.
“……Not content with being a reporter, now tailing me……?!”
Something’s got him seriously twisted?