Chapter 55
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Sling Strap
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Agh! This is embarrassing. Fine, I get it. I said I get it. Let’s call it.”
Instructor Park Byung-su scratched his thinning hair and backed away. Despite his talk of teaching me a lesson, the spar was over before he could even close the distance.
“You’ve definitely got the skills. High stats, cool head—makes sense those street punks went down like that.”
“Speaking of which, why are you trying to take them in? Anyone could tell they’re bad news.”
“That’s exactly why. Guys like that always cause trouble when they band together. Better if I scoop them up and keep them in line.”
Now I saw it—Park Byung-su knew exactly what they were like and still wanted to take them under his wing.
“Grind ‘em hard in training, and they’ll straighten out on their own. The ones who push back? Break a few limbs, and they fall in line. These types don’t have the guts, deep down.”
He grinned brightly as he said “break,” like it was no big deal. This guy had a bit of a psycho streak himself.
“That’s why you’re perfect in my book. Didn’t flinch sparring me? Impressive. Haha! You! Join my crew!”
For a split second, I almost said yes without thinking.
‘What’s with this guy? No way he’s an otaku too?’
But no, Park Byung-su was just making a straight-up recruitment pitch.
“At your age, with skills like that? Bright future ahead. But only if you’ve got a good guild with seniors who’ll back you up.”
Guild talk made me miss Assistant Instructor Song all over again. Those throwing lessons with her had been the best...
“Dunno which guild you’re with, but come to Black Bears. I’ll train you myself. Hell, I can get you into gates every day if you want.”
For a trainee who hadn’t even graduated the academy yet, daily gate access was an insane perk.
“But you might wanna switch weapons. You’re great with throws, sure, but we standardize ranged at bows. Can’t budge on that—hope you get it.”
“...Sorry, but no can do. I can’t change weapons or switch guilds.”
I bowed politely. Never planned to jump guilds anyway, and swapping weapons? Out of the question.
‘Giving up throws means giving up memories with Instructor Song. No guild’s worth that.’
“Honor among thieves, huh.”
“Not honor—love.”
“Love, eh... Young blood! Alright! I respect that spirit!”
Maybe this guy really was an otaku?
“But I’m not giving up! You’re too good!”
I’d rather hear that from a cute girl, not a balding, toad-like guy in his forties.
“I’ll let you into one of our guild gates. Try it out, then rethink my offer.”
“I’ll take the offer, but I won’t say yes out of obligation.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it! Feeling indebted over a free trial? Come on.”
Calling a 20-million-won 1-star gate ticket a “free trial”? Black Bears was no joke.
“Oh, and... could we spar again sometime?”
I figured I’d ask for a rematch while he was in a good mood. Squeeze every advantage I could.
“Hm? Spar? Why?”
“Like you saw, I’m solid with throws, but close range? Weak spot. Sparring a master like you has to level me up, right?”
“O-Of course! Next time, I’ll teach you for real.”
Park Byung-su perked up and nodded. Score—I’d snagged a solid sparring partner.
‘Time to learn how to handle spears while I’m at it.’
Reason I asked him? He was a spear master.
I’d picked up some close-quarters from sparring Instructor Song, but that was twin axes only—specialized stuff.
Never properly crossed blades with sword, shield, halberd, hammer, or spear experts.
Spearmen were especially tricky. Sparring him would fill that gap.
‘Plus one more thing I wanna test...’
I narrowed my eyes at the slightly torn sling strap.
* * *
“You Cha In-hyeok?”
A few days later, I arrived at the 1-star gate Instructor Park Byung-su mentioned. A guild member was out front checking IDs.
“Hunter license.”
“Don’t have one yet.”
“Right, yeah. Resident card then.”
He took it, scanned me head to toe, and smirked before leading the way.
“Welcome. Name’s Lee Chang-soo.”
“Just us two?”
“What, scared? Boss said you’re 2-star level skill-wise, but maybe not the guts?”
“Just checking. Fewer people means more loot for me.”
“Heh, took down those delinquents, huh? Ballsy. I like it! Call me senior from now on. Not in yet, but I’ll allow it.”
“Pass. Not joining Black Bears.”
“Yeah?”
Lee Chang-soo smirked and continued.
“Same as me back in the day. Took out a gang of punks at the training center, caught the boss’s eye.”
He leaned in, winking as he whispered.
“Boss probably wants two things. Rehab the punks. Recruit the real deal who wrecks ‘em.”
“So you’re the ‘real deal’?”
“Senior, I said.”
“Told you, not joining.”
“You will. I said no at first too. But...”
We reached the gate. A 1-star glowing green. Lee Chang-soo grinned back at me.
“Black Bears grows on you the more you see. Impossible to turn down. You’ll experience it. Inside.”
He thumbed the gate behind him. That’s when I noticed—he was unarmed.
“No weapon?”
“Just escort and support. Weapon? This is plenty.”
Lee Chang-soo held a staff-like rod, a huge bag on his back. I asked what was in it; he just laughed, no answer.
“Alright, let’s head in.”
Inside the gate: a massive cave. Walls and ceiling thick with white spiderwebs.
“Welcome to the Giant Spider’s lair. Junior.”
* * *
Shwaak!
Spider silk shot from the giant spider’s tail. I dodged quick, but stepped into pre-laid webs mid-step.
Sticky.
It glued to my shoes, hard to pull free. Meanwhile, the giant spider leaped straight at me.
“Damn, not me—go eat the mosquitoes at my place!”
I chucked darts fast, knocking back the charging spiders. But even after, they kept harassing me.
‘Shoes keep sticking. And recovering weapons is a pain.’
Darts buried in spider guts were webbed up bad—recycling would be a chore.
Might reuse later, but not this hunt. Suddenly, ammo-limited.
“Don’t wanna learn the bow yet?”
“Nah. This is fine.”
“Fair, just 1-star. Let’s push deeper.”
Not hard, but annoying. Like loving cooking but hating dishes.
Then Lee Chang-soo rummaged in his bag, pulled a vial.
“Rub this on your soles. Makes fighting way easier.”
“What is it?”
“Processed slime from giant spider feet. Repels webs.”
Sure enough, coated soles stuck less walking the webs.
“Whoa!”
I marveled; he beamed like a proud dad.
“See? Amazing, right? Join Black Bears, get dungeon-specific supplies like this in bulk.”
“Yeah, a bit handier.”
“If you were an archer, arrows too. Shame we don’t make thrown weapons.”
“Can’t I just coat my weapons in this?”
“Nope. Slime’s limited, and webbed-up? Useless.”
So bows or melee with slime-coated weapons it was.
‘What now? Almost out.’
Left: four darts, six kunai.
Inventory had Breeze, plenty spears—but not with company.
“Heh. See? Guild support’s a game-changer. This is nothing. Join up, get dungeon gear plus full strats from seniors.”
If true, hunting gets way safer. Boosts newbie survival big time.
“Leveling’s fast too. Tons of gates, sorted by tier—no plateaus. I joined last year, already level 20.”
Yeah. Convenient, quick, safe leveling? Dream job for most hunters.
But not me.
My path ain’t easy or safe. No one’s walked it before—no guides, no help.
And I didn’t want any. Growing coddled like a greenhouse flower? That kills you.
‘My place is the wild fields, not a greenhouse.’
So no matter how great Black Bears, I’m staying Santa Maria. Got someone there ready to charge the fields with me.
‘Gotta get stronger—to protect Instructor Song!’
Deeper in, giant spiders swarmed. Including a variant: giant shaman spider.
“Shaman too. See the stripes? Poison. Got antidote, but how you fighting? Looking low on throws.”
Like he said, even two-per-throw, weapons short.
“What’s the plan? Head back? Or... need a hand?”
He pressed the staff midsection—clank. Top extended, long blade popped out.
1.5-meter staff became 3-meter spear in a flash.
Sss—
Mana stone below blade glowed faint blue; frost formed on the edge.
[Snow Mountain Troll Essence Spear (C)]
[Attack 38. Durability 30. Weight 10]
[Frost clings to blade. Targets cut freeze and stiffen.]
Magic weapon. Not as good as Breeze, but solid.
“Too early to be impressed. Standard for team leads. Help?”
By then, throws depleted. One kunai left.
Lee Chang-soo figured I’d beg, twirling his spear to warm up.
But I wasn’t yielding prey.
‘Sorry, but our guild’s gear craft ain’t slouch either.’
Last kunai flew, piercing a giant spider’s head. Would wreck it digging to the body.
‘But pull before that...?’
“Get over here!”
Muttering playfully, I yanked my wrist. Kunai half-pierced, whipped back.
Instead of catching, I spun my wrist. Kunai orbited my hand.
Whirr—whirr—
“W-What?!”
Ignoring stunned Lee Chang-soo, I released the strap. Kunai rocketed, smashing a spider head.
Timed it, raised hand—kunai soared, bisecting a ceiling-drop spider.
Recovered, gripped tight. Finally, the linking object revealed itself.
“Leather strap?”
Lee Chang-soo nailed it—thin cord.
[Orc Leather Sling Strap (D)]
[Agility +3. Durability 40. Weight 0.5]
[Strap of orc leather. Tough yet supple.]