Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: 7. The Ring of Connections (7)
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They changed venues.
Yoon Ji-tae spoke with a slightly awkward expression.
"...I apologize for reacting so sensitively during the battle. It might not be much of an excuse, but Rangers are extremely cautious about accepting new comrades. Your life can hang by a thread—or be saved—depending on who's standing beside you and when or where danger strikes. So, despite myself, I felt a surge of hostility toward your E-Rank rating on the surface."
"I understand. So why apologize now? Your rating hasn't changed much on paper, has it?"
"Because I've seen your skills firsthand."
E-Rank.
A pitiful level of power.
It was a rank Kang San had barely scraped together over years of grinding, but those with real talent often started at E-Rank right out of the gate. Yeon Woo-bin was a perfect example. That was why he couldn't buy into Kim Myung-min's talk of "special talent" at first—but having witnessed it himself, he now acknowledged the team leader's judgment had solid ground.
Arrows raining down from every direction.
Kang San had planted himself in front of Yoon Ji-tae.
It was a decision that demanded bold courage, and even against the erratic barrage, not a single arrow slipped past him. No easy feat, by any stretch. Reality wasn't a game; arrow trajectories shifted unpredictably with wind and force. Yet Kang San tracked them with sharp eyes, blocking only those aimed straight at Yoon Ji-tae.
It was impressive.
Under Kang San's protection, Yoon Ji-tae truly believed he was safe.
One glimpse reveals the whole: at the very least, in the Orc Camp, Kang San had proven himself a capable tanker.
And then.
"I liked your judgment, Kang San. Even knowing the awkward atmosphere around you, the moment you heard the rescue targets' urgent call, you jumped into the fray without hesitation. You must have figured shortening their wait time took priority over any personal discomfort. And it worked—we saw you perform beyond your rank, just like the team leader said."
He acknowledged it.
A Ranger's character.
Potential for growth.
There was plenty to view positively.
Which made it all the harder for Yoon Ji-tae to voice the uncomfortable truth.
"So let's leave it here."
"...Why?"
"Your skills? I admit them. Keep growing like this, and you'll become a tanker everyone respects someday. With your solid fundamentals and room to improve, it's not impossible. That split-second decision-making and your attitude during the rescue prove the team leader's eye for talent. You could be a fine Ranger. In at least three years or so."
What they needed now wasn't a tanker who'd shine in the future.
Ranger missions weren't always as straightforward as this one; several times a month, they were life-or-death gambles. So what missions would Kang San handle in the meantime? Stick him on easy ops like today's until his skills ripened, then bring him along for the real deal?
No.
The world didn't ripen that patiently.
From the moment they accepted him as a Ranger, the odds skyrocketed that Kang San would face a mission beyond his current abilities. That's what being a Ranger meant. Those who sacrificed for others wouldn't cower like cowards at critical moments—they'd face reality head-on.
He had.
His comrades had.
Yoon Ji-tae extended his hand first.
"You worked hard today."
Today.
Kang San clasped the offered handshake with a calm face, noting the line Yoon Ji-tae had drawn.
The meeting wrapped up.
Kim Myung-min walked alongside Kang San.
"...As you probably guessed, this get-together had a purpose. Rangers must trust each other implicitly, so rather than throwing you straight into high-risk ops, I figured showing off 'Kang San's potential' like this was the way to go."
"I suspected as much. Otherwise, you wouldn't have called me for an op I could actually handle."
"Sharp as ever."
Kim Myung-min gave a wry smile.
Truth be told, he wasn't one to whine about regrets.
But as team leader, he had to, and he was desperate enough to cling to an E-Rank like Kang San.
"Ji-tae, Yeon-su—they're all good people. No one who can't sacrifice for others could ever be a Ranger. The situation just made them sensitive. We've lost comrades before, and repeated tragedies build walls when welcoming newcomers. It's a bit embarrassing, really. I hyped you up like some big shot to get you on the team, only to say blending in means proving yourself."
Everyone had their reasons.
Kim Myung-min, who needed Kang San.
The team members wary of him.
And Kang San, with no choice but to accept.
Too short a time to fully grasp each other's positions, but Kim Myung-min added what explanation he could.
"One more time: if this setup feels off, you don't have to answer the call. Being a Ranger shouldn't mean forced sacrifices. If you get stuck with something beyond you because of outside pressure, it'd be utterly despairing. Mercenaries exist to give Rangers flexibility, so just take on what you can handle from here on."
"Got it."
"Then—"
Kim Myung-min grinned.
Up till now, it'd been all gloom; finally, a chance to share good news.
"Look forward to what's next. You can't survive this job on sacrifices alone. Thanks to this rescue, you're officially on the Ranger team, and hefty compensation's coming your way soon."
Kim Myung-min spoke the truth.
A few days later.
A call came from the Hunter Management Bureau.
The rewards were solid.
Over the phone, the bureau staffer spoke kindly.
Just like Kim Myung-min said.
This world knew a Ranger's role demanded ample rewards or no one would take it.
Undeniably enticing perks.
Free training and medical alone were a win, but the item market upgrade held massive potential value. Everything hunters used was called "items," each with unique abilities, gated by market tier.
Special Grade.
Access to nearly every item out there.
With government backing, he could bolster his strength through gear.
'Not a raw deal by any means. Missions I have to take anyway, but it feels like overcompensation.'
Rangers defined a nation's power.
Without perks to bind their feet, no one would serve the country.
Nations vied desperately to recruit Rangers, with secret poaching from rivals commonplace. Once, when a Spanish A-Rank Ranger defected to the US, Spain nearly erupted into a national dispute.
"...Nice clear sky."
Kang San stared blankly out the window.
Gazing at such a vivid blue often made the hellish realities feel like illusions.
This incident.
Kang San felt a swirl of emotions.
Watching Rangers leap into flames and rescue targets teetering on death's edge, he realized he didn't need to blame himself alone for his karmic misfortunes. Disasters came from him or the world alike—they were inevitable. His existence didn't guarantee calamity, nor did his absence ensure anyone's safety.
The Orc Camp raiders.
Did they ever imagine an unreported Orc shaman lurked, capable of dooming them?
So if.
Had Kang San skipped the Ant Nest, would others have been safe from its underground threat? No. The weakened ground would've collapsed eventually. Someone else would've fallen in, and E-Rank hunters tackling it likely wouldn't have survived like he did.
A dilemma.
Kang San carrying misfortune didn't make his the worst lot.
Hadn't Azmun said it?
Trials.
Were given only at levels one could bear.
Trials with an upper limit were better than those without, crushing the unprepared.
'Reality's harsher still. Ordinary folk facing A-Rank monsters? No thrashing or desperation saves them—that's true apocalypse. My disasters, at least, I or my allies can overcome somehow. So no need to go lone wolf just because I'm jinxed. Like protecting my party in the Ant Nest, people need reliable comrades. Even in the cruelest spots, a sliver of hope's essential.'
He shifted his mindset.
He'd filter carefully, but no blanket rejection of others.
Grow stronger.
Enough to shield his own, and misfortune wouldn't stay mere misfortune.
Ranger duties were an excellent choice.
Moths to the flame, hurling into the unknown daily without his safety net.
Watching them, Kang San sorted his thoughts somewhat.
His path forward was clear.
'I need to get stronger.'
Whether partying up, running Ranger ops, or gambling life on unforeseen trials.
Growth was non-negotiable.
Rather than rushing a party, he'd focus on soloable dungeons to level up.
But first.
Kang San visited the smithy.
'They're beat to hell.'
Items.
A cornerstone of this world.
Equal stats canceled out via defense and attack, but the right gear massively boosted a hunter's prowess. By that metric, Kang San's kit was downright shabby. Items varied wildly in price by rank, so even his hard-saved cash had gone to scraping together that D-Rank round shield. He'd hoarded every penny to buy stat stones, skill spirits, or gear upgrades.
Kang San handed his items to the smithy.
Blacksmiths were a new trade born in this era, with a peculiar role.
They weren't Awakened.
Mere civilians, they didn't imbue special powers. Instead, they hammered mana stone and steel alloys onto items to restore durability. A fresh occupation for a new age. Had their work granted new abilities, they'd command huge value—but creation from nothing was mages' domain.
Enchantment.
Boosting items via magic earned mages immense respect just for being mages.
"These took a beating. Three hours."
"I'll wait here."
"Sure thing."
The blacksmith got to work.
Furnace ignited, roaring flames heating the mana stone vat.
Soon, the stones melted gooey.
He liquefied steel the same way, mixed them, and started hammering the sword in earnest.
Clang—!
Clang, clang—!
Oppressive heat rolled in.
Rhythmic, steady strikes.
Kang San watched blankly.
Since old times, he'd loved lingering at smithies till jobs finished.
Like fire-gazing, but the human forging mana and flames held magnetic allure.
Clang, clang—!
Time passed.
10 minutes.
20.
30, then an hour.
Like a ticking second hand, hammer blows drilled into his ears.
He was entranced.
This mundane hobby quickened his pulse, vision blurring.
'...What is this.'
Eyes widened.
Something new appeared.
A man.
Kang San's past life, the Blood Demon of the martial world.
There he was.
Clang, clang—!
Overlapping the hammering blacksmith.