Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: 1. F-Rank Arrow Sponge (3)
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Awakening.
Those who gained special powers could intuitively grasp their abilities, much like in a game.
'Status.'
His stats, first off.
Kang San's stats were incredibly plain.
Typically, hunters awakened with at least three stats. Strength and Agility were standard for everyone, with one more tied to whatever skill they acquired. But Kang San had zero skills, forcing him to scrape by in monster fights with just those two stats all this time.
It was enough to make him sigh.
At least the rewards bumped each by +1, bringing him close to the average E-Rank hunter mark of 30.
'Holy Power, though.'
A wave of unease washed over him.
He'd gotten it from the rewards, but something told him the skills might tie into it too.
'Skills.'
Guardian's Will
1. Defense and HP regen +1% per enemy engaged.
2. At HP ≤10%, full HP recovery and defense x2. (Cooldown: 1 week)
3. Evolves at Holy Power 50. (1/50)
"...This is the reward?"
Kang San's eyes widened.
The system's promised reward.
It had specified a one-star skill, but what he'd actually gotten was insanely powerful.
Most hunters stuck to one-star skills. Two-stars kicked in around D-Rank, and three-stars were rare treasures needing skill and luck. Word was, each step from three-stars up was a world apart in power—the highest known being six-stars. Guardian's Will was something else entirely. Growth skills transcended star ratings, evolving by form. A thrill shot through him at the massive payoff.
Jackpot.
This was a huge jackpot.
Risking his life to take down that ogre felt worth it now.
'The first quest mentioned +@ based on achievement. Not one-stars, but two higher-grade skills—must be because I maxed achievement. Ahh, Azmun, from today on, I believe in you.'
This quest's goal: rescue Kim Chun-sik.
Kang San had gone beyond, wiping out every ogre.
Trials and tribulations?
If rewards like this were guaranteed, he'd take them gladly.
He couldn't stop grinning.
After a life of misery, this unexpected luck had him bubbling with joy he couldn't hide.
'Oh right.'
Kim Chun-sik crossed his mind late.
Toward the battle's end.
Kim Chun-sik had blocked an ogre attack but collapsed, exhausted and bleeding out badly—on death's door. Kang San's eyes frantically scanned for him. A minute ago, all he could've done was basic first aid, but now things were different.
'Aura of Recovery.'
A brilliant light flared.
As Kim Chun-sik's wounds knit fast, Kang San's smile stayed glued on.
After hospitalizing Kim Chun-sik and reporting the F-Rank zone clear to the government, Kang San headed straight home.
His heart was still pounding.
Having double-checked this was real countless times, he searched online for similar cases.
[No search results.]
'Nothing.'
Azmun.
Quests granting stats and skills.
Not a single match anywhere.
The world had gamified, sure, but hunters grew via training—naturally building stats and skills—or rare zone-clear rewards. Monster byproducts helped too.
One thing was clear.
'No one in the world gets skills and stats from system quests.'
His head spun.
So was Luca Bellino telling the truth?
Past life as the Blood Demon, earning this absurd chance?
"Ha, haha."
A hollow laugh escaped.
How hard had he had it?
Even when effort after effort failed, he never blamed the heavens like others—he figured he just wasn't trying hard enough. So he gritted his teeth and pushed harder. Now realizing all that misfortune was literally 'heaven's fault,' he felt rage at the wasted struggle.
Twenty-five years.
Stained with failure and misery, plunging him into despair's pit endlessly.
"...At least figuring out misfortune's source now is a silver lining."
He tamped down his emotions.
The one gain from all that hardship.
No matter the mess, Kang San knew to clutch that single straw of hope.
Actually, it was pretty hopeful.
Azmun's trials.
Painful process maybe, but clearing karma with stats and skills as rewards? Sweet deal.
"But is the system really a god's conduit?"
An age-old debate since the world changed.
Theory: system from gods.
Azmun never came up, but Sun Priests in America and similar cults swore their deity was the system. Their claims rang hollow against Kang San's experience. They leaned on 'science can't explain it,' but he'd met Azmun's agent firsthand.
He dug deeper just in case.
So-called 'god's miracles'? Easy to debunk.
One of a kind.
God's quests: his exclusive privilege.
Thus.
'Opportunity.'
Risking life?
He'd welcome trials with rewards.
After baseless misery, this was massive luck.
'Fine, I'll claw through, clear all past karma. No clue what trash I was back then, but this life's me won't suffer for it.'
Resolve hardened.
F-Rank Arrow Sponge.
Grim now, but the future? Different.
Before plotting anew.
One loose end to tie up.
'Moon Sung-min, was it.'
The mage who'd bailed solo.
His turn to bear the karma.
Hunter.
In this field where hundreds, thousands died daily, Kang San had one rule to survive.
'Repay favors and grudges decisively.'
Forget恩怨, you're no better than a beast.
Repay favors for future blessings; settle grudges to avoid scorn.
Revenge was simple.
Report to the Hunter Management Bureau.
Summoned on report, Moon Sung-min blanched at Kang San.
"...H-How...?"
That day.
Abandoning the Arrow Sponges, he'd been sure they'd die.
No choice.
Always carried by connections, Moon Sung-min's mentality shattered when Fire Arrow missed. He'd thought he could solo without backup—that was the mistake. Ogre tearing into Arrow Sponges felt like it'd devour him next; he chose flight over fight. No guilt. That was their job, and he'd paid fair wage for their lives.
Just F-Rank Arrow Sponges anyway.
World wouldn't care if they died.
'Screwed.'
Moon Sung-min flicked his gaze away fast.
Acted casual, like nothing happened.
"Wh-Why'd you call me here?"
But his face betrayed him.
Couldn't stay cool against an ogre; no way against a bureau detective.
The detective smirked.
He said,
"Got a report. Moon Sung-min, who applied for the F-Rank zone raid, allegedly ditched his team and ran. As you know, intentionally dooming allies in the Backside World is a major crime."
"What nonsense! Got proof I ditched on purpose? I retreated—no chance of winning."
"Sure, sure."
Raids boomed.
Laws followed.
Especially after psychos in Backside World—clear intent meant murder.
Proof was the issue.
Most walked free, headache cases. But this? Simple for the detective.
"Lucky for us, reporter Kang San recorded it. Two F-Rank Arrow Sponges and a mage could've handled four ogres easy, but you bolted after Fire Arrow missed. Check the footage. Should prove intent in court, no sweat."
"...?!"
Moon Sung-min went ghostly pale.
Done.
Footage captured it all vividly; no excuse stuck with the detective. Per protocol, Moon Sung-min got cuffed. Intentional murder? Major crime—ten years minimum if proven. Outside, detective lit a smoke.
"Filming everything. Smart habit."
Right behind.
Kang San stepped out.
Only after confirming Moon Sung-min in holding.
"Lots of bad luck in my life. Always film for contingencies. Blown hundreds on action cams that hold up in fights."
"That so?"
Thorough prep.
Intentional kills mattered in Backside World, but few prepped like Kang San.
Action cams pricey, and if they planned murder, you're dead anyway. Folks scouted backgrounds more than filmed. Rare occurrences too.
Moon Sung-min: exception.
Resume fine, but real combat? Way underperformed, complicating things.
"Why stick to F-Rank Arrow Sponge gigs? Footage shows you're strong enough for army respect."
That footage.
Detective was genuinely impressed by Kang San dropping four ogres.
Normal hunters overwhelmed with stats/skills; Kang San? Pure combat prowess.
Didn't fit F-Rank.
Good talent.
To the detective's earnest gaze, Kang San shrugged evenly.
"Thought about it. Army issues monster guns—easier for me maybe. But they bounce off tough hides. Want to grow as hunter. Like I said, bad luck follows me; hate unprepared variables in this dangerous world. That's it."
Conversation over.
Moon Sung-min handled.
No reason to linger at bureau.
Kang San bid farewell, turning to leave—till a familiar face blocked him.
Early thirties man.
Bowed deep at Kang San.
"I see my benefactor!"
His name: Kim Chun-sik.
The Arrow Sponge teammate Kang San had just saved.