Chapter 12
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Into the Heart of the Garden (1)
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B-Rank Hunter.
In the world of Hunters, the rank ‘B’ carried several meanings.
It was the minimum rank required to participate without restriction in all high-level Gate and Dungeon expeditions, including S-Rank ones.
It was a seal of approval, certifying that one was ‘more than capable of pulling their own weight as a Hunter.’
“A B-Rank, huh.”
With a pleased smile, I took out my license.
The humble bronze ‘E’ that had been etched on it was now a brilliant silver ‘B’.
Suddenly, the chat window on the screen in front of me started moving.
[Shit is Blocked by Shit: B-Rank? CrappyGame-bro, you were a B-Rank Hunter?]
[Monster-Blocking Hunter: Ah, I knew this guy was a flexer lololol. Right, you had to be at least B-Rank to play crappy games without worrying about making a living, right? ㅎㅎㅎ]
[CrappyGame-bro's Stalker Fan: Turning on the stream after days just to flex on your viewers… What a personality! Approved!]
Familiar IDs.
That’s right.
I had turned on my stream for the first time in a while.
Perhaps because I started at my usual time, all six of my loyal viewers gathered before long.
“A flexer? Not at all, guys.”
I waved my hands dismissively with a smile.
Of course, they couldn’t see my gesture, but my regulars, as always, were having fun on their own.
[Bald is the Strongest: lol right lolol. This barely counts as flexing. You guys saw what a real flex is, didn't you?]
[The Last Hardcore Player: Ah ㅎㅎ The Hunter who crashed the evaluation room yesterday?]
[CrappyGame-bro's Stalker Fan: Lmao, I heard that caused a record number of people to give up on joining Hunters Den lolol. My friend was there and said the reality check was brutal.]
[Monster-Blocking Hunter: I heard more people felt the reality check from seeing him with Yoon Sua and Yoon Suhyeok zzzzz]
Actually, that real flexer is me, guys.
They had no idea that I was the Hunter who had turned the community upside down.
In a way, it was only natural.
I had only shown my license with my name and rank covered, and I hadn't used a face cam in five years.
Of course, there was one viewer among them who knew everything about me.
But he had never once typed in the chat when other viewers were present.
Even now, he was probably just quietly watching my stream…….
[Viewer 1: Hmm? Everyone, were you not aware?]
[Bald is the Strongest: ?]
[The Last Hardcore Player: ?]
[CrappyGame-bro's Stalker Fan: ?]
[Shit is Blocked by Shit: ?]
[Monster-Blocking Hunter: ?]
“?”
In an instant, six question marks filled the screen.
Including mine.
[Bald is the Strongest: What, Viewer 1 was a real person?]
[The Last Hardcore Player: Lmao, I thought he was just CrappyGame-bro’s alt account this whole time lolol.]
[CrappyGame-bro's Stalker Fan: Lmao, but what’s with his way of talking? lolol Is he an old man?]
The chat window, with only six people, erupted in an instant.
And I started to sweat.
A thick, cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck.
[Viewer 1: My, my, for the closest ones to not recognize our hero. Listen carefully. Mr. What Kind of Crappy Game Is This is—]
[The stream has ended.]
My movement was as swift as lightning.
After ending the stream, I immediately invited Viewer 1 to a private room.
The whole thing took less than ten seconds.
And to the obediently-entered Viewer 1, I asked in a calm voice.
“Sir, what’s with the sudden change of heart?”
[Viewer 1: Oh… Did I say something I should not have?]
“No, it’s not that you shouldn’t have said it, but…”
It seemed Viewer 1 had wanted to reveal that I was the Hunter who had crashed the evaluation room yesterday.
A kind of loyalty, I suppose.
Knowing the general identity of ‘Viewer 1’, I could understand his reasoning.
But that was why I had to clearly state my intentions.
“I appreciate you thinking of me. But I don’t want to say anything just yet.”
[Viewer 1: I see.]
“To these people, I want to remain as ‘What Kind of Crappy Game Is This’. For now.”
‘MonMonMak’ had been transferred to my status window, but the original ‘MonMonMak’ where we had cried and laughed together was gone.
These six loyal viewers were the last vestiges of the old ‘MonMonMak’.
That time when we were happy, clinging to a pixelated game that reeked of crap.
They were like living memories.
For now, at least, I wanted to leave the memories of that time untouched.
“And I don’t want to suddenly pop up in there and brag, ‘Actually, I’m that S-Rank Awakened Being!’”
They would find out on their own someday.
There’s a time and place to reveal one’s abilities.
And there’s a time and place to hide one’s specialness.
This community of six belonged to the latter.
What was the point of puffing out my chest and showing off in such a small space?
[Viewer 1: I understand, Mr. Hanul.]
After a brief pause, another line of chat appeared.
[Viewer 1: Mr. Hanul, you truly do cherish MonMonMak.]
“I did. Well, maybe not to the point of cherishing it.”
[Viewer 1: I am relieved. My Lord will surely be pleased as well.]
“Yes, I’ll tell them myself when the time is right. But since you’re here after a while, is there anything you need to tell me? It’s just you and me here.”
[Viewer 1: Yes, you are already doing well. At this rate, my Lord will soon have a change of heart.]
A change of heart?
But Viewer 1 didn’t say anything more.
As expected, he wasn’t one to just give out information freely.
After a short wait, I started a new stream.
Immediately, all six viewers entered at the same time.
“Sorry, guys. My computer decided to act up again… Ugh, I really need to get a new one this time.”
[Bald is the Strongest: Man, what is with that timing again?]
[The Last Hardcore Player: CrappyGame-bro, please get a new computer… Should we start a mission for it?]
The clamoring chat of the viewers soon turned back to the previous incident.
[Shit is Blocked by Shit: But Viewer 1 being a real person is such a plot twist lolol. So what were you going to say?]
[CrappyGame-bro's Stalker Fan: His timing for getting cut off was as bad as CrappyGame-bro’s computer lol.]
But Viewer 1 simply remained silent.
Not missing my chance, I cleared my throat and jumped in.
“Anyway, guys. I’ve prepared some new content for today.”
[Bald is the Strongest: MonMonMak flopped, so what kind of crappy game are you bringing this time?]
[CrappyGame-bro's Stalker Fan: I’m already excited ㅎㅎ.]
“As you all know, I’m a Hunter. MonMonMak is gone, so I was thinking of getting back to my main job.”
[The Last Hardcore Player: Finally, the hardcore crappy game Hunter makes his debut!]
[Shit is Blocked by Shit: Whoa, is there a streamer who makes the phrase ‘main job’ sound cool?]
The chat window buzzed with excitement.
A smile crept onto my lips as I continued.
“In that spirit, I’m taking dungeon recommendations.”
For a moment, the chat came to a halt.
Then, one viewer typed.
[Bald is the Strongest: Uh, but aren’t personal broadcasts of Hunter activities banned?]
“Yes, so instead, I’ll clear the dungeon you recommend and verify it with a clearance certificate. Of course, I’ll also share stories within the permissible limits.”
[The Last Hardcore Player: Damn, that’s our CrappyGame-bro! Everyone’s so tight-lipped about those ‘dungeons,’ calling it classified or leaking know-how, even the guilds ㅎㅎ. You’re about to shake things up.]
[Shit is Blocked by Shit: Is our CrappyGame-bro gonna get on some guild’s bad side?]
Gates and Dungeons are different.
Gates are a type of dimensional portal that transfers monsters to ‘Earth’.
Dungeons do not transfer monsters.
Instead, they are bizarre structures or caves where monsters reside that are generated on Earth.
Most of these dungeons do not disappear even after being cleared unless a ‘specific condition’ is met.
They reset after a certain amount of time.
Awakened Beings who have cleared it once, or given up midway, cannot re-enter the reset dungeon.
[Monster-Blocking Hunter: For a dungeon, it’s gotta be the Wyrm’s Nest, right?]
[CrappyGame-bro's Stalker Fan: Nah, the Giant’s Restaurant is better.]
And so, like this.
From those created right after the Great Cataclysm with a 30-year history.
To famous dungeons that have appeared as recently as a year ago, they exist all over the country, and even the world.
The chat was already a battlefield, with everyone competing to have me take on their favorite dungeon.
And I knew very well how this competition would end.
[CrappyGame-bro's Stalker Fan has donated 50,000 Won!]
Let’s go to the Giant’s Restaurant! Let’s go get a meal from the big giant bro!
[Monster-Blocking Hunter has donated 60,000 Won!]
Nah, it has to be the Wyrm’s Nest. I heard the Wyrm is just a lizard. Dragon egg omelets are totally possible.
[Bald is the Strongest has donated 1,000,000 Won!]
Tear off one of the Queen Spider’s legs in the Spider’s Forest, deal?
This ‘betting donation’ was only possible because they were all self-proclaimed rich kids.
[CrappyGame-bro's Stalker Fan: Dude, what’s with dropping a million won right away?]
[Bald is the Strongest: You can add more if you want~ I can go up to 2 million at once ㅇㅇ.]
[Monster-Blocking Hunter: Ah, if only I hadn’t invested in stocks, I could’ve easily done 3 million, damn.]
I stared at the chat window with mixed feelings.
Really, how did such monstrous people get hooked on this crappy game stream?
Although, I guess they were hooked on the madman who poured all his donated money solely into crappy games.
It was then.
[Viewer 1 has donated 10,000,000 Won.]
An unbelievable number flashed across the chat window.
- ?
“?”
Sir?
[Viewer 1: I do not know how to write a message with a donation, my apologies. Mr. What Kind of Crappy Game Is This.]
“……”
After a wave of question marks, the chat went dead silent.
They were probably all in the same pose or state of mind as me.
Mouth agape, frozen in place.
“Ah, yes. Sir. Which dungeon would you like to recommend?”
It was the streamer’s job to liven up the mood at times like this.
[Viewer 1: I will choose the ‘Depths’ of the Garden of Mending the Heart.]
- ?
The Depths of the Garden of Mending the Heart.
As those words appeared, a flood of question marks began to rise once more.
It was understandable.
[Bald is the Strongest: Old man, you’re crossing the line. Are you trying to get our cute streamer killed?]
[Shit is Blocked by Shit: This is honestly not it. CrappyGame-bro, you’re not really going, are you?]
[Monster-Blocking Hunter: Just wait till tomorrow, I’ll pull my stocks and donate right away.]
The Garden of Mending the Heart (Sushim-ui Jeongwon).
That bizarre dungeon, created about four years ago, was famous in this field.
[CrappyGame-bro's Stalker Fan: Forget clearing it, don’t you know how many Hunters have met a gruesome end at the ‘Lake’?]
Dungeons could be dangerous, or they could be not.
Their difficulty varied wildly, sometimes serving as useful training grounds for novice Hunters to gain real-world experience.
Or turning into slaughterhouses where high-level Hunters died like flies.
The Garden of Mending the Heart, up to its entrance commonly called the ‘Main Gate,’ was the former.
From its center, known as the ‘Lake,’ it was closer to the latter.
Near Sillim Station, a department store building where construction had been halted due to legal disputes.
The hanging garden that had burst through that building was an impregnable skyscraper.
The highest record was set a year ago by Yoon Suhyeok and his Pungbaek Guild members, who cleared up to the garden’s ‘Lake’.
- That crazy dungeon isn’t something you can just clear when you want and leave when you want.
After reaching the area just before the Depths, Yoon Suhyeok, who came out battered and bruised, made that famous remark.
For a year, no Hunter had challenged the Depths of the Garden of Mending the Heart.
But Viewer 1 simply added one more calm statement.
[Viewer 1: I can provide support.]
Another flurry of question marks.
But I just grinned and muttered.
“Clearing the Depths of the Garden of Mending the Heart, sounds fun.”
Viewer 1 only said that one thing.
That he could provide ‘support’.
He didn’t say it was beyond my abilities, nor did he even tell me to prepare thoroughly.
If that’s the case.
There was no way I was going to turn down a free answer.
* * *
“The Garden of Mending the Heart, you say?”
The Dungeon Management Bureau, directly under the Association Headquarters in Jongno.
The receptionist continued speaking as he tapped on his keyboard.
“Understood. There’s an expedition team aiming to clear the ‘Main Gate,’ shall I put you with them?”
“No, I’ll be going on a solo expedition. My goal for now is up to the ‘Lake.’ If the opportunity arises, I plan to challenge the Depths as well.”
“A solo expedition to the Lake… you say?”
The receptionist, who had been wearing a bored expression, looked at me for the first time.
“The gap between the ‘Main Gate’ and the ‘Lake’ in the Garden of Mending the Heart is significant. And you want to break through to the Lake on a solo expedition…”
“It’s fine.”
I nodded confidently.
The receptionist didn’t seem intent on stopping me any further.
He knew.
He knew that I was the B-Rank Hunter who had turned the evaluation room upside down two days ago and had been granted an unprecedented three-rank promotion internally.
Besides, he probably figured that once I experienced the Main Gate, I’d be satisfied and stop the attempt.
“Registration complete. Please be at Sillim Station, Exit 6, by four p.m. in a week.”
“Would tomorrow be possible?”
At my question, the receptionist looked at me with a surprised expression.
“Tomorrow… you say?”
“Yes, I’ve already finished all my preparations. And since it’s just me, it won’t take long to go through the procedures.”
“It’s possible, but you’ll overlap with another expedition team. Will that be alright?”
“I don’t mind.”
“Then I’ll schedule you for four p.m. tomorrow.”
“Thank you.”
*Scrape.*
As I stood up from my seat, the sound of a couple more chairs scraping came from behind me.
It was the man and woman in suits who had been following me since before I entered this place.
And I had figured out their identities right after they started tailing me.
“Hunter Kim Hanul.”
“We have something to discuss with you for a moment.”
As soon as I left the Dungeon Management Bureau, the two of them calmly presented their business cards.
I took the cards and read them.
Pyo Myeonghun, HR Team Leader, Aegis Guild.
Jeong Sowon, HR Team Leader, Sanarae Guild.
The HR team leaders of the other two of the top three guilds, excluding Pungbaek, were standing before me.
- This is a proposal from me as the Vice Guild Master.
Two days ago.
Yoon Suhyeok’s words hadn’t just captured the attention of the general public.
The statement from the Vice Guild Master of ‘Pungbaek’ had a much wider ripple effect.
First, it completely blocked the approach of smaller guilds that would have swarmed me like hyenas.
This world is full of vultures looking to leech off clueless newcomers.
But no one was brave enough to stick their neck out for talent that the Vice Guild Master of ‘Pungbaek’ had his eye on.
And second, it made those who stood shoulder to shoulder with him—
the other two major guilds—turn their attention to me.
“You’re a busy man, so we won’t hold you up here.”
As I took the business cards, Jeong Sowon, the HR Team Leader of the Sanarae Guild, spoke first.
She had an intelligent and sharp look, and her voice was calm to match.
“Our Sanarae Guild is always waiting for someone like you, Hunter-nim.”
“Hahaha, you beat me to it!”
This time, Pyo Myeonghun of the Aegis Guild let out a hearty laugh befitting his large frame.
“The same goes for the Aegis Guild. Please know that the Pungbaek Guild is not the only one that can guarantee you the best treatment, Hunter Hanul.”
They didn’t try to sweet-talk me, nor did they try to make a deal by mentioning how much they would offer.
We want you too.
That was all.
Was this the mark of the top three guilds?
Or should I call it professional?
“I appreciate the offers, but let’s talk again after I’ve finished what I need to do.”
And I, too, at times like this, was a professional S-Rank Awakened Being.