Chapter 8

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 8

Chapter Title: Those to Send Away, Those to Hold On To

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"Whoa, check out that guy."

"No way. He's catching them like it's nothing?"

Thwack!

[First Trial: Slay the foxes. (41/2)]

While everyone else was running around barely snagging one, I was casually taking down five or six. Of course they'd be amazed.

Of course, it wasn't always admiring glances I got.

"Hey, you! That was mine—I was about to grab it!"

Sometimes our prey overlapped, and they'd come storming over with curses.

Swoosh.

But when I raised my bloodied axe like this...

"......"

They backed off quietly, as if nothing had happened.

"Why do you keep catching them?"

And the friendlier types would approach just like this and ask.

'They've gotta be curious.'

In this freezing hellhole, sticking around hunting nothing but foxes instead of moving to the next area? Even I'd think it was weird.

"I'm not used to killing things."

Of course, I couldn't tell them the truth, so I gave a vague excuse.

"I'm scared to move on to the next area, so I'm just getting used to this one."

And they'd nod, buying it without suspicion.

"I get that. Yeah, it's pretty scary for me too."

They felt the same way themselves.

But the sharp, perceptive ones were different.

"Mind if I ask something, young man?"

I looked up to see men in suits radiating refined composure.

'Bodyguards?'

Wondering who they were protecting, I spotted a stunning woman with goddess-like beauty standing among the five men.

'Damn, she's gorgeous. Who is she?'

Long, straight black hair. Eyes calm and unmoving. Just standing there exuded elegance.

One of the nearby bodyguards pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it over.

"Cheongsung?"

The logo and company name emblazoned on the card slipped out of my mouth before I knew it.

"No way. That's Han So-hee from Cheongsung Group."

"The current heir to Cheongsung Group?"

Thanks to the murmurs around me, I pieced together her identity quick.

Cheongsung was Korea's top corporation.

Worlds apart from commoners like me.

Even in this biting cold, she showed no sign of discomfort—her lofty aura was like watching a solitary crane.

'A chaebol heiress, huh.'

The bodyguard who'd given me the card spoke up.

"We've been watching. You're catching more foxes than the trial requires. Any special reason?"

"No. I'm scared of killing things and not used to it, so I'm adapting here before the next area."

But the man in his mid-forties tilted his head.

"Is that so? Doesn't look that way to me."

"......"

"You've got no talent for lying, son."

"Honestly, I think so too."

I whipped the axe and nailed a fox passing right by. The bodyguard eyed it closely, gave a curt nod of respect, and turned away.

"Anyway, thanks for answering."

I returned the nod as he left.

'Real pros have eyes like that.'

Leagues above the group that tried stealing my gear earlier.

And they came prepared, too.

Cheongsung's young heir and her guards wore spring suits despite the cold, but each carried a thick backpack.

Worlds away from the shivering newbies who showed up empty-handed.

'Still, probably not easy for them.'

I got back to fox hunting.

"Anyway, thanks for answering."

Go Cheol-woo finished talking with Kang Min-jun and returned to his lady.

His subordinates from Strategic Planning, sitting by a firewood fire in a sheltered spot, gathered around as he approached.

Han So-hee, warming her hands, spoke first.

"What'd he say?"

"There's something to him."

"Couldn't get specifics?"

"Yes, sorry."

"Not like you, Director."

Strategic Planning Director Go Cheol-woo.

He was Cheongsung's dog—would do anything for the company and his lady.

Normal standards didn't apply. Laws? Irrelevant. He'd kill if needed.

"He didn't seem like an easy pushover."

"That guy?"

Han So-hee glanced at Kang Min-jun hunting foxes, her expression skeptical.

Slim build, skinny from malnutrition.

But even so, Kang Min-jun's stats were double an average man's.

Plus ten years of life-or-death experience.

Throwing an axe to hunt foxes might look mundane to a newbie, but Go Cheol-woo saw the skill beneath.

"If you say so, Director, then it must be. Guess we'll have to stick around a bit longer—annoying as that is."

"I'll find out quick."

The men scattered, massacring foxes.

Soon, Go Cheol-woo handed Han So-hee an item.

"Snowfield Fang. Says it dropped from a fox?"

"Yes, miss."

Han So-hee stared at the earring ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dangling from her fingertips, her face icing over.

"...Pathetic. What do you think?"

Her men agreed.

"Drop rate's lower than expected. Takes forever to farm enough. It's just tutorial gear—nothing special."

"And in grindy games like this, pushing to higher zones early saves time over lowbie farming."

Han So-hee thought the same.

"Life's the same. How fast you surge ahead—that's the key to success."

Money, connections, talent... use whatever to climb first.

That was her philosophy.

No time to waste in this dump.

'If gods exist, I'll prove not all humans are equal.'

Prove she was humanity's pinnacle, not some useful bug.

Han So-hee stood.

"We're moving to the next area now."

"Yes, miss. We'll prep."

But she didn't know.

No matter how sound the philosophy, human plans have limits.

This time, her choice was wrong.

"Miss, should we invite that young man along?"

Han So-hee eyed Kang ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Min-jun coldly and shook her head.

"No reason to drag along some fool pouring passion into trash. Intelligence is a skill too. Let's go."

"Yes, miss."

'They left after all.'

Last moment, our eyes met, and I hesitated a bit.

'No memory of her face.'

Meaning she dies early.

'Even big shots like her croak. Trials are brutal.'

A shame, though. Maybe I could've saved her if I'd meddled.

'Nah. My own neck's on the line—worry about others later.'

Time to focus on snowballing.

One slip, and it all unravels.

Thwack!

'Okay, another one.'

Of course, first goal's the snowfield accessories.

But I'm not grinding tutorial just for this.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Fox Slayer (Common): Deal 30% bonus damage to foxes.

'Finally popped.'

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Achievements.

One of the few ways players in the Selection Process can power up.

In some ways, more important than gear farming.

A whopping 30% bonus damage.

Theoretically, grabbing these alone makes you 30% stronger.

How effective? Insane.

Whir—thwack!

Before, I'd throw the axe then finish with a melee hit. Now? One throw does it.

'Clean. Speed's gonna skyrocket now.'

Some might say: Achievements later, right? No need to freeze your ass off.

"Ugh, so damn cold."

"Q-quick, let's finish and head to the next area like those guys earlier."

I smirked at folks rushing ahead.

'At least foxes don't attack first.'

This was the tutorial.

Designed to acclimate participants to killing and blood.

Next area? Whole different story.

Deadlier environments. Tougher hunts.

'Foxes just run. Easy mode.'

Sure, they counterattack when hit, but a tiny thing under a meter? Laughable.

'Good drops, easy achievements. Why rush?'

"Does that guy have a grudge against foxes or something?"

"NPC maybe? Hey, wanna chat?"

Days blurred as I roamed the snowy mountains, hunting nonstop. Crowds came and went.

Some with friends, some solo—but they grouped up before leaving.

Humans instinctively form packs for survival.

"Wanna join us for the next area?"

Always invited me last.

"Sorry."

"Ah..."

I turned them down flat.

New waves replaced the disappointed departures.

Then, participant vibes shifted subtly.

"Cough cough, sir, you okay?"

World ending? Outfits got ragged. New arrivals were filthy with ash and dirt now.

'Almost time.'

Pocket watch confirmed: Earth's end was nigh.

Final three women arrived, then the alert.