Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: First Solo Gate
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As soon as I stepped out of the academy, I opened the hunter-exclusive app.
“This app has been a while.”
In my previous life, successive gate breaks had collapsed most government systems, rendering this app useless.
I searched for gate information in the app and found one I could tackle right away.
“F-Rank Goblin Gate. Perfect for my current situation.”
F-Rank gates, the lowest tier, were plentiful, so booking one wasn’t difficult.
I ducked into a nearby supermarket, loaded up my bag with high-calorie energy bars and sodas, then hailed a taxi.
“Please head here.”
I showed the driver the gate’s address and set off.
I checked my bank balance—after paying the fare, I’d be nearly broke. Most of this month’s allowance would vanish, but I’d make money after clearing the gate, so it didn’t matter.
“We’re here.”
Lost in thought, I hadn’t noticed our arrival until the driver spoke up.
“Thank you.”
After getting out and walking a short distance, I spotted the gate. It was a blue portal about five meters across, much like the one from my graduation exam.
I showed my hunter license and app reservation to the Awakener Management Bureau official guarding it.
“Going in alone?”
Even for a goblin gate, an F-Rank hunter going solo was unusual—a fair question.
“Yes.”
“Weapon?”
“My ability means I don’t need items.”
I was unarmed, wearing only the thin protective suit issued as an academy graduation gift. The academy didn’t provide weapons.
“Think it over and come back?”
He checked my info, concern in his eyes, and urged me once more.
“It’s fine. Solo entry doesn’t break any rules, right?”
“True enough. Go ahead. Good luck.”
The official entered my details into his tablet with a look that said he’d done his duty, then handed back my license.
The government’s stance was clear: mandatory academy training fulfilled their obligation. They couldn’t babysit every hotheaded rookie who ended up dead.
Of course, some rookies charged in recklessly, failed to hunt, and just ran around wasting the gate’s capacity. In those cases, they could lose their hunter qualification.
I stashed unnecessary items in the storage lockers at the entrance. Uncleared gates limited you to gear weighing about as much as your body, hence the facilities.
I stretched thoroughly and stepped through the gate. A dim cave stretched ahead, just like in the graduation exam. I plunged in, scanning boldly for goblin traces.
After walking some distance, a goblin lurking in the corner leaped at my back.
I spun around and kicked it square in the chest, sending it flying. I knew goblin habits inside and out, academy or not.
Now it was time for serious hunting.
I shook out my fists in the air and charged the fallen goblin. I finished it with a stomp to the head, then sprinted deeper into the cave.
Spotting a goblin pack while running, I barreled in without a thought for their numbers or weapons, smashing them one by one.
The academy taught defense first, then attack—but that didn’t suit my skills. The more hits I took, the tougher I got, and my regeneration improved accordingly.
Goblins clinging to my back or slashing my legs? I handled them one at a time. Their dull blades barely scraped my skin, unable to pierce my reinforced muscles.
Some wounds burned—poison-coated or filthy daggers—but my poison resistance made the effects fade fast.
No goblins left standing? I bolted without pause to hunt the next.
It felt like sprinting 100 meters while running a marathon inside the gate—my heart pounded like it might burst. Hunters had better stamina than normals, sure, but no one hunted like this.
I’d pushed past my limits several times already, taking down about twenty goblins, when it happened.
[Level up.]
Academy training built stats without hunting, so no levels. Solo hunting filled my experience fast.
My body felt instantly lighter. Riding the momentum, I rampaged through the gate like a tiger loosed in a pen.
* * *
I bashed the head of the last goblin in yet another pack, and a faint blue light filled the gate.
Gate clear signal.
Now came the tedious part: recovering mana stones and materials.
I backtracked my path, slicing open goblin corpses to extract stones and collect usable drops. No proper extraction dagger, so I used a decent one from the goblins.
Recovery took longer than the hunt, but I was flat broke—no way I’d leave the stones behind.
When I finally exited the gate, the official gawked at me, eyes wide.
“You look pretty rough.”
Even I could see it: the academy suit in tatters, crusted blood smeared everywhere—total injury vibe.
“Uh, you okay there?”
His face filled with worry at my state.
“Ah, yeah. I’m fine. Please log the clear. Thanks.”
The stunned official stared after me for a long moment as I walked away.
I found a nearby mana stone exchange via the hunter app and headed there. Luckily, it was walking distance. In this state, I didn’t want to go far.
The staff inside gave me the same look as the official, but I ignored it, dumping goblin mana stones from my bag onto the table. Small F-Rank gate, but solo clear netted over fifty stones.
“Buying mana stones?”
I slid my hunter license over.
“Ah? Oh! Right!”
The young-looking clerk snapped to attention, inspecting each stone, cleaning them, and weighing.
“Goblin weapons too?”
“Scrap value only.”
He glanced at my bag.
“I’ll take it.”
I handed over the whole bag and leaned against the wall to wait. He finished the tally.
“Total: 9,058,000 won.”
He handed me my license and receipt.
“Thanks.”
The receipt showed a 30% fee deducted. Gate-adjacent exchanges thrived on that cut. Funds went straight to my registered account with the Awakener Management Bureau, all tracked.
The fee stung. Next time, somewhere else.
* * *
“Hey! You okay?!”
I opened the door, and Jaewon rushed out, face full of worry at my state.
Couldn’t walk around naked, so I’d grabbed a cheap t-shirt from a convenience store, but my hair and arms were still crusted with blood.
“Ah? This? I’m fine. Totally unharmed. Let me wash up first. Then let’s grab food.”
I left the flustered Jaewon behind and hit the bathroom, scrubbing off the blood with hot water. Cleaned up, I came out in just underwear and changed into fresh clothes. My bigger frame made them tight, but it’d do.
“Your body looks insane. Jealous…”
“Exercise and yours will too.”
“Pass. I knew hunter work was brutal, but not that you’d come back blood-soaked right after the academy.”
“Don’t worry. I’m fine. See? No wounds. Let’s go—I’m starving. We’ll talk over food.”
“My allowance is tapped out. Can’t eat out. I made rice—let’s eat here.”
“Hey, man! I’m a hunter! I got this! Let’s go!”
I laid it on thick with exaggerated tone and volume.
“Big bro!”
They say money turns guys into brothers—Jaewon called me hyung on the spot.
Jaewon and I devoured meat like maniacs at a nearby grill joint. We polished off fifty servings in under an hour. Probably forty-five were mine. Later, the owner’s wife grilled them at the next table over.
We added cold noodles and rice bowls, and soon the boss and all the staff crowded around, staring in awe.
As we paid and left, a queasy-looking Jaewon glanced at me.
“Do awakeners normally eat like that?”
“Probably just me.”
My energy storage and compression would only improve—meaning even more food ahead.
“Jealous, Jiseok.”
On the uphill trek to our place, Jaewon’s expression darkened a bit. Job hunting wasn’t going well, leaving him down.
“Don’t be. It’s not all sunshine and roses.”
“Why not?”
“Just is. You’ll land a job soon. Don’t stress. Worst case, can’t I feed you?”
I knew he’d get hired quick. Even if not, finding him work was no big deal.
“You punk. Thanks anyway.”
His face eased up a little. We grabbed a case of soju and headed back. Ordered three chickens and drank like fish, but poison resistance kept me sober. Chugging hard liquor like water might buzz me, but no real urge.
After cleaning up, seeing Jaewon snoring like he’d die reminded me how precious this ordinary life was.
This time around, I’d protect it no matter what.
* * *
No hangover, but I was hungry, so I dragged the groaning Jaewon out for haejangguk. Despite yesterday’s feast, I stacked up multiple bowls.
“You eat like a champ…”
Jaewon eyed me queasily.
“Then I’m off to another gate. Catch you at dinner.”
“Again? Wasn’t that yesterday? Isn’t it once a week?”
He was shocked at the frequency.
Some folks say, “Awakeners are superhumans—they can handle it.” But think boxing or other sports: a month’s rest between matches. Hunters risking life against otherworldly monsters? Full physical and mental recovery in a day? Near impossible.
“A rookie like me has no time to slack. Lots ahead.”
“You’ll wreck yourself. For the money?”
He was genuinely concerned.
“Sure, gotta earn, but it’s not just that. I graduated academy with a commendation. Don’t worry. See you tonight.”
For the next few days, I cleared goblin gates, but they stopped raising my stats. Time for a higher rank. That meant promotion.
Promotion required meeting conditions, including a set number of gate clears—so I stuck with F-Rank gates for now.