Between Rock Bottom and Jackpot

[Boiling Rage(A), Skin Reinforcement(A), Earth Strike(A) consumed to spin the Whimsical God's Roulette. Uses remaining (2/3)]

'Go on, spin, damn it!' I figured at least one S-rank skill would pop out, so I waited anxiously for the roulette to turn.

'An S-rank's gotta come up, right? No way it flops now.'

This was the perfect moment to hit it big—fate wouldn't shit the bed here. Things that usually went wrong always smoothed out when the momentum was this good.

'What the fucking hell!!'

I glared at my status window, hands shaking with rage. I'd blown three A-rank skills from the Twin Head Ogre fight in one go. Trading three A-ranks for a single C-rank skill—what a goddamn magic trick.

'That fucking Whimsical God bastard.'

Only then did I realize I'd overlooked the "Whimsical" part in the skill name all this time. Honestly, it'd been pulling good skills so far.

'Is this why adults warn against gambling?'

Life's fleeting... A brutal wave of regret crashed over me. From 'Why am I even alive?' to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠'Worse than a bug,' my fighting spirit surged.

'Fine! What the hell is life anyway? Huh? One big hit and we're golden, right?'

I'd been banging my head on the chair in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠self-loathing, but I snapped my head up. Summoned the status window again.

'Yeah! Eyes shut tight—trade three S-ranks for one L-rank.'

I stared at the status window with bloodshot eyes like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a madman. For a good long while.

'Fucking... can't pick shit.'

I tore at my hair, writhing in agony. Aside from Thunderbolt, which I'd long decided to ditch, there wasn't a single skill worth sacrificing.

'Just stop here?'

Logic screamed it was the rational choice. But some baseless gut feeling tickled my brain. You know that vibe? No reason, but you just feel like it's gonna hit big.

'Fuck it.'

Gulp.

With trembling hands, I selected three S-rank skills.

I'd picked the mana trio. They fit together like lime and soda—seemed primed for some fancy mana-related skill.

'P-please. Please.'

I knew I shouldn't, but I was hooked on the roulette's curse. Thought I had iron self-control? Turns out I'm the type to go bust on a single bet.

No point regretting now. The die—er, roulette—was cast. Only the outcome mattered.

'Jack-fucking-pot!'

An unexpected jackpot exploded.

'Whimsical God, thank you. Sorry for the shit-talk earlier. You're the best god ever.'

Overwhelmed with emotion, I shuddered inside. My third L-rank skill. Technically the second acquired, since Talent came stock.

'This is insane.'

I'd have settled for one decent S-rank. Never dreamed it'd blow up like this.

'Yeah, I thought I was nuts watching that roulette spin.'

One use left. Gulp. I eyed my new L-rank Dragon Heart, Talent, and the Whimsical God's Roulette itself, swallowing hard.

'O-one more?'

Gambling's scary shit. Lose your hands, play cards with your feet—that was me. Good thing the roulette skill couldn't consume itself as material, or I'd have spun three L-ranks into a C-rank and jumped in the Han River.

'Whatever, uses reset over time anyway.'

I'd panicked thinking it was one-and-done three spins, but it refreshed periodically.

'Makes sense for an L-rank—not ending after three spins.'

The system's shitty descriptions meant you had to figure out skills yourself. Data piled up for low-ranks, but A-ranks and up? Hunters kept 'em secret.

'Public good? Who gives a fuck.'

No awakener pondered heroic responsibility like in comics. Everyone's too busy surviving.

"Haa~"

Suddenly, strength drained from my body, cold sweat pouring. Burning three A-ranks, then three S-ranks in a frenzy—heaven and hell a dozen times over.

Slump.

Tension gone, my eyes drifted shut.

'At least I got an L-rank.'

I took in the Dragon Heart skill and plunged into deep sleep.

Thump, thump... As its owner slept, the newly transformed heart pounded, pumping mana in earnest.

And, unbeknownst to him.

Kang Min-ho's sleeping body began to slowly change.

The same day, ten dungeons rampaged simultaneously. The hordes of monsters pouring out—including scattered mutants—wreaked astronomical damage.

Five hit Seoul and environs; the rest scattered across provinces. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Local areas, short on high-rank hunters, struggled hard. Quick reinforcements from Seoul cleanup saved the day.

The near-worst was Uijeongbu's dungeon. An unimaginable SS-rank monster emerged.

Once, a failed SS-rank dungeon in the US mainland turned Manhattan to rubble. Rumors swirled they'd have been better off nuking it from the start. SS-ranks packed unpredictable devastation.

Uijeongbu's Twin Head Ogre had even greater potential, per S-rank hunter and professor Kim Yo-han's testimony.

Government, Hunter Association, and Guild Alliance formed a joint task force to probe how an A-rank dungeon birthed an SS-rank beast.

SS-ranks were too big for any one group. But what really lit fires under them? The awakener who'd soloed it—known as C-rank at the time.

A solo SS-killer tilted the power balance like a joker card.

In the Hunter Association HQ's grand conference room, heated debate raged chaotically.

"That hunter can't just join one side!"

"Ahem—he's a Magic Officer Academy student. A student!"

"He can drop out! That hollow academy!"

"What? Ignoring a government-founded school's authority?"

"It's his choice. Not ours."

"Right! SS-rank dungeons piling up—wasting him in that school with unqualified teachers is a national loss."

"Unqualified? S-ranks as professors aren't enough?"

"Who said that? Stashing a gem in B-Class proves they can't spot talent."

"Hey! Watch your mouth. You kidding right now?"

Murmurs swelled.

Thud thud thud.

The task force chair banged the gavel three times, calming the chaos.

"Quiet! Unauthorized speaking means ejection."

"..."

They shut up instantly. Getting booted over nonsense would forfeit influence on the new powerhouse—pure idiocy.

"Professor Kim Yo-han?"

The sharply dressed professor bowed. "Yes, Chair."

Eyeing documents, the chair spoke slowly. "Kang Min-ho—is he still a Magic Officer Academy cadet?"

"Yes. Freshman, entered F-rank in C-Class, recently promoted to B-Class."

"Hmm, possible?"

Awakening ranks were lifelong, usually.

"Yes, he's an Irregular. Fastest growth around. Confirmed C-rank recently, so promoted."

"Oh ho~!"

"As expected."

"Confirmed Irregular."

The chair's icy gaze silenced them. "... "

"Per your report, his current rank is S?"

"Yes. I vouch. Second is Professor Park Cheol-gyu—attached."

"Hmm."

Gasps rippled. They'd spied the Irregular intel, but official confirmation hit different. A new S-rank who soloed an SS-beast? Top-tier S for sure.

I want him! Greed bloomed in every attendee.

Then.

"We need official verification."

A man doused the heat. Eyes turned—then averted upon recognizing Guild Alliance interim head Kwon Do-gyun, master of massive Hwarang Guild.

"Two S-rank endorsements feel premature. Especially with the sole witness, Professor Kim Yo-han, as one..."

Kim Yo-han stared coolly. "What do you propose, Hunter Kwon Do-gyun?"

Kwon smiled softly. S-rank auras clashed; the room chilled.

"Our new S-rank ace Kang Mir's prepping a Demon Dragon's Nest SS-rank raid. Have Kang Min-ho join to prove himself? Clearing an SS-rank—that's ironclad."

He grinned at Kim. "Oh ho~ Excellent idea."

"Two fresh S-ranks teaming on SS-dungeon. Great PR."

"Academy grad and Hwarang prodigy cooperating—mends rifts nicely."

'Tch. Outmaneuvered.'

Kim eyed the smirking Association rep. Pre-arranged alliance to weaken government.

The chair nodded slowly. "Agreed—include Hunter Kang Min-ho in the Demon Dragon's Nest raid."

Thud thud thud.

The gavel crushed Kim's chest.

"Pardon? Me... on a dungeon raid?"