The Nameless Slayer Emerges

Thump, thump.

My heart was racing uncontrollably. A surge of exhilaration coursed through my entire body.

I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.

"Ha... ha..."

I'd really done it. I'd taken down the Imugi.

Me, a mere F-rank hunter, had slain a world boss that even top hunters struggled against—with nothing but a single word.

Proving it beyond doubt, the system window floated clearly before my eyes.

Enter a nickname, it said.

'Nickname... nickname...'

I tried to calm my feverishly heated head.

Normally, people entered their real names here.

Of course they did. It was a chance to boast about your achievements and strength.

Gaining fame as a hunter would bring recruitment offers from top guilds. Land one of those, and you'd bask in overwhelming wealth and prestige.

In a word: life-changing.

For a split second, the urge to punch in my name—Joo Kanghyeok—surged up.

'No, not now.'

I had to think rationally.

My unique skill Instant Death's cooldown was 44 days. Meaning, for the next 44 days, I was nothing special.

On the other hand, the utility of Instant Death was beyond imagination.

'...Kills the designated lifeform.'

I didn't need to test it to know. Humans were probably included.

Even to an outsider like me, it was a dangerous power.

'What if someone comes after my ability?'

Paranoia? Hardly.

Hunter kidnappings and experiments were rampant worldwide.

'And...'

Even relying on a major guild or the Hunter Association was risky.

If things went well, I'd get top-tier treatment. If not, I could end up isolated on a national level.

'The problem is, I wouldn't have a choice.'

I'd just have to do whatever they said.

Because right now, I lacked the power to resist.

'Better keep it secret until I grow stronger.'

After racking my brain, that was the conclusion.

So, the nickname would be this.

"Nickname: Mumyeong."

"Yeah, that... wait. Hold on."

The kanji was wrong.

It was "name" (名), not "life" (命).

Shouldn't it reflect my intent exactly?

Before I could raise the issue, the nickname was registered.

Setting the nickname finalized the contributions. Familiar names of famous hunters scrolled by.

Mine sat proudly at the top.

No changing it now, apparently.

'Whatever. Close enough.'

Mumyeong with "life" or "name"—same fake name either way.

Level 10 in an instant from slaying the Imugi.

...Who knew there was a daily level cap.

But it wasn't over yet.

The subjugation rewards were still pending.

Shaa—

A cascade of pure white light descended before me.

"Whoa..."

A single ticket gleaming in radiant gold.

A medal forged from pure gold.

And a pinkish soul orb.

The legend dagger shimmered with an iridescent black sheen.

The coins had deposited straight into my system account.

'...These rewards are insane.'

Over the top for just uttering a single word.

'No time to gawk.'

Tap, tap.

I quickly searched my smartphone for item prices.

'Legend dagger market price...'

Legend grade from the start. Worth a whole house, easy.

My eyes widened at the results.

Minimum 3 billion won—up to 6 if I played it right.

...My hands were shaking now.

Mom, I really turned my life around. No need to job hunt forever. Sell this dagger, and I could live off the fat forever.

'If I could sell it, that is.'

It blatantly said ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it was made from the Black Imugi. Selling this would be like advertising my identity far and wide.

Defeats the purpose of the alias.

With my decision to stay hidden, selling would have to wait.

Next item.

'Constellation, huh...'

Constellations were beings from other worlds. They sponsored hunters with items and support, from what I knew.

'Neat item.'

This and the Imugi's soul didn't seem usable right away. Still, bound to come in handy later.

Deep down, I wanted to sell everything and live easy.

Essentially, life graduation. The financial freedom I'd dreamed of was right here.

Buy a building, collect rent. Done.

Just minutes ago, I was a job-hunting slacker. Now, the landlord dream was one step away.

That left one item...

This one.

A ticket for a new skill.

My only skill right now was Instant Death. With its 44-day cooldown, it was as good as useless most times.

'Should I use it?'

I needed at least one practical hunting skill to escape F-rank.

'Hm?'

As I went to activate the ticket, the TV news—left on in the background—started blaring something I couldn't ignore.

- So, an unidentified hunter named Mumyeong has appeared.

- It means Korea has a powerhouse capable of dropping a world boss in one hit.

- Experts speculate at least S-rank, possibly higher...

It was about Mumyeong.

The city ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠damage was severe, but quick evacuations meant no deaths. Plenty injured, though.

Worst-case averted.

All hunters safe too. Thanks to Mumyeong slaying the boss before disaster struck.

'...Good call stepping in.'

The public's focus poured onto the mystery hunter Mumyeong.

Portal site articles on my phone were all the same.

Curiosity piqued, I searched 'Mumyeong'.

Communities were exploding.

Scouring videos one by one?

Of course they'd find nothing. I was home.

In front of the TV, dropping the boss with a word. Finding me would be the weird part.

'Internet blows up fast.'

Every board flooded with Mumyeong talk.

No surprise. World bosses weren't meant for solos.

I'd thought the same.

Until today, when one person outdid an entire force.

If it wasn't me, I'd be posting too.

Something like that.

Oh yeah, awakeners had their own community?

Was access like this?

"Access community."

But same vibe. Everyone hunting for Mumyeong.

Egosurfing. What celebs do, searching your own name.

Addictive already.

Didn't comment.

Instant Death cooldown: 44 days. Defenseless till then.

Just a normal hunter.

No showing off. Time to get stronger first.

I picked up the New Skill Acquisition Ticket (Legend) I'd meant to use earlier.

'Skill first, then plan.'

Legend ticket—something good's coming. Could lead to explosive growth.

'Prefer a solid attack skill.'

Skills usually match aptitude.

Healer? Healing or buffs.

Swordsman? Sword skills.

Problem: No clue what mine was.

'Reaper? Overthinking.'

Ridiculous even to me. Any attack skill would do.

Or start as a porter. Level 10 still F-rank.

'Let's see.'

I tore the ticket with a rip.

Shaaa—!

Blinding gold light, then the message.

Legend skill.

But Instant Death again.

'Holy shit.'

Tasted it once already. Heart racing. Another cheat skill?

I tapped the window.

'Whoa.'

Cheat skill again.

Unlike the unique Instant Death, this had conditions.

'Only targets below my level.'

Currently level 10. From Imugi ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠kill.

Means instant kill on levels 1-9.

'Radius capped at 50m.'

Not as potent as the unique skill.

Still ridiculously broken.

Because...

'Zero cost.'

No mana, no stamina drain.

Any enemy in range? Dead.

Pure cheat.

Then—

Scuttle scuttle!

Something creepy crawled across the wall. A grotesque brown thing skittering up fast.

"D-die!"

No hesitation.

I yelled on reflex.

And instantly—

Splat!

The cockroach climbing the wall burst. Shattered pieces rained to the floor.

Performance confirmed.

"Scared the shit outta me."

I wiped the wall and floor with tissue, pondering.

'...But damn, it worked.'

A cockroach died to my power.

Just a bug, but bigger implications.

Cockroaches count as level 0, apparently. Non-monster animals were targets too.

Even humans...

Frightening power.

Is it okay for someone like me to have this?

Don't overthink.

'Power's all in how you use it.'

Like a kitchen knife.

Great tool for prepping ingredients, cooking delicious meals.

Sometimes hurts people or worse, but the knife isn't bad.

Just the user.

'Use it right, and it'll be a huge asset.'

I stood up.

'Got the skill—time to test it.'

How's it work in gates? Need hands-on to master.

Understand my powers intimately to wield them right in a pinch.

'Register as hunter first.'

Job worries? Long gone.

Bright future ahead—job at some company won't cut it.

Get strong, sell all items, become landlord.

Cheat powers, and settle for landlord? Nah, landlord's the floor.

Hunter life's a lottery, but deadly too.

Best to grind young, retire rich quick.

Okay, life plan set.

Time for the first step toward golden future.

Test the new skill.

As I steeled myself and rose—

Ding!

"...?"

A new message appeared.

'Master of the Black Star...?'

Since the system arrived with monsters, another existence emerged.

Constellations.

God-like beings from transcendent realms beyond awakeners, influencing our world.

One was watching me.

Even wanted to sponsor me.