The Director's Downfall and My First Skill
“Haaah...”
Kim Seol-bi let out a long sigh and pulled out her phone. She then made a call to someone. I couldn't tell who it was at first, but a fawning, high-pitched voice burst from the speaker, treating her with utmost deference—just like everyone else did.
“Yes, Minister. You've had a hard day.”
Her single remark revealed exactly who she was talking to. The director froze like a statue, and even I was shocked. Only my mentor remained clueless, still bewildered by the unfolding situation.
“Yes. I had something ridiculous happen to me today. You told me to contact you anytime if anything came up, right?”
“H-Hunter! Ma'am!!”
The director stammered in terror, his eyes welling up with tears.
“P-Please, just this once... have mercy...”
Kim Seol-bi ignored him and handed the phone over. “Take it. The minister has something to say to you.”
“Ah...”
The director took the phone from her with trembling hands. His face darkened to a sickly purple as the call continued. Finally, tears streamed down his puffy cheeks.
“Y-Yes, yes. I understand. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry...”
Kim Seol-bi exchanged closing pleasantries with the minister and hung up.
“I didn't mishear you, did I? You said you'd make sure Sung-gi could never set foot in this place again.”
“Ah...”
The director looked like his soul had been sucked out. He couldn't even muster a denial, just nodded meekly.
“I'm sorry...”
“In a way, it's a relief. At least we weeded out trash like you from the industry.”
Her icy words sent a chill through my own chest. Still, I felt no pity for the director. Without her, I would've endured that humiliation, lived that wretched life—it was obvious.
She wasn't wrong. As someone about to live as a hunter myself, fewer rotten apples in the industry was a good thing.
“Sung-gi...”
My mentor, still utterly lost, turned to me. “You know Seol-bi?”
His face screamed utter disbelief.
“Director.”
Kim Seol-bi spoke up.
“Y-Yes!”
“You have one last task.”
She glanced at my mentor as she said it. The director caught on instantly, spun around, and kicked the still-kneeling bastard hard.
“You fucking dog! This is all your fault! Apologize, now!”
“Oof!”
Too fixated on my connection to Kim Seol-bi, my mentor tumbled across the floor from the kick.
“How's this my fault?!”
He'd seen how things had played out, knew the director's fate was sealed. No need to grovel, he figured.
“I'm still the director here! You'll never work in this field again, you hear me?!”
“Fuck you! It's do or die for me too! I could barely stomach your ugly mug—let's settle this!”
They grabbed each other's collars and devolved into a pathetic scuffle.
What a pathetic sight.
Kim Seol-bi sidled up to me and hooked her arm through mine. “Ignore them. Let's head into the dungeon.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah.”
They weren't people I'd see again, anyway. Irrelevant to my life. Let them brawl like animals.
With another staff member's help, we completed the entry procedures. Arm in arm with Kim Seol-bi, I headed to the dungeon entrance.
#
So this is a dungeon.
In the facility's changing room, I swapped into my new gear. Kim Seol-bi emerged in her hunter equipment, looking stunning. Her natural beauty amplified by top-tier gear made her resemble a goddess from an RPG.
She carried no weapon. Truth be told, I didn't know her abilities well. Mania-level fans memorized not just Korean high-rankers but every S-rank hunter worldwide. I wasn't one of them.
I'd deliberately ignored famous hunters. Their success only highlighted my misery.
Better if I'd never awakened. Ten years of false hope and crushing disappointment weren't joyful. A normal life might've yielded far more happy memories.
Why dwell on what darkened my existence?
Thus, I knew only the names and faces of Korea's S-rank hunters, not their skills.
Instead of a weapon, Kim Seol-bi wore sturdy gloves. A gorgeous bracelet adorned her wrist—far superior to mine.
Mental ability user?
Bracelet gear varied wildly in effects, so I couldn't assume.
“Shall we go?”
She smiled at me. Beautiful in casual clothes, but in hunter gear? She evoked a fantasy world's heroine.
My gear was no slouch either. Bought with excessive spending at the department store—impossible without her help, given my finances.
Sword and shield in hand, mental-user bracelet on my wrist. Luxuries most avoided until pinning down their abilities.
“Don't push yourself too hard. Got it, Sung-gi?”
Her goddess-like concern melted my heart. With an S-rank at my side, what was there to fear? Her easygoing strength eased my first-dungeon nerves.
“Heard this place has zombie-type monsters...”
Kim Seol-bi mentioned. I'd heard too, settling crystals with returning hunters.
Basic spawns: zombie rats, zombie dogs, zombie humans. Humanoids strongest, highest crystal value.
“Kinda boring, huh?”
She grinned. For an S-rank, sure. But her nonchalance hid specifics.
Revealed in our first skirmish after entry.
“Huh?”
Walking the dim dungeon, a flash flickered ahead. Could be reflective rock, but the following sound confirmed life.
“Squeee! Squeak!”
Rat cries—but low, growling, far from cute. Chilling, hair-raising.
D-rank dungeon. Tough for an E-rank like me. Instinctual mana-threat dread was natural.
But then—
Flicker!
A streak of light, and Kim Seol-bi was suddenly far ahead, right in front of me moments ago.
“Zombie rat. First time seeing one. Kinda cute.”
She dangled one by the tail. Five times normal sewer rat size, rotting flesh zombie-style. Holding the grotesque thing casually, calling it cute. Her dungeon experience checked out.
Its head cleanly severed. 0.1 seconds? She sensed, moved, sliced in darkness like lightning.
No weapon, so barehanded—mana-infused, not literal chop.
That revealed her power: lightning-fast dealer overwhelming foes.
Common type, worlds apart by rank. S-rank: one rat, 0.1 seconds.
Interactions with favored targets are strengthened.
Agility has increased.
Skill Hand Blade Cut acquired.
“Huh?”
The message popped up, my body flashing brightly. Hunters grew like this, right? Growth wasn't just rank-ups—stats, skills too.
But why? What triggered my agility boost and new Hand Blade Cut skill?
Hand Blade Cut?
Straightforward name, but no clue how to use it.
Useless like this...
Then—thud. Something grotesque dropped before me.
Enhanced dynamic vision post-awakening identified it: another zombie rat, like hers.
“Squeeee!!”
I flinched at the repulsive cry, chills racing down my spine.
“Sung-gi!”
Kim Seol-bi moved to intercept—but my hand shot out first.
“Huh?”
My hand blade glowed brilliantly, cleaving the zombie rat in half.
The moment I grasped Hand Blade Cut.