The Hermit's Mask and Labyrinth Supremacy
『【Unique】 Hermit's Mask』
◈ Stealth Lv.2
◈ Also undetectable by B-rank or lower detection skills.
“Whoa...”
A half-mask blending black and gold.
It even came with a skill attached.
The perfect stealth item.
Exactly what I needed.
Constellation ‘Master of the Black Star’ sheds tears.
Enough to make it cry, huh? What a massive expense.
“No idea how much you shelled out, but thanks. I'll put it to good use.”
Just words, but a thank-you seemed in order.
Constellations don't sponsor for free, after all.
Lucifer, checking the item himself, let out an exclamation.
“Oh... This one. Must've dropped a fortune. We only get the item, but constellations pay a huge price for it.”
You're the bold one who blackmailed it knowing that.
I equipped the Hermit's Mask.
“Now I can head out without hiding my identity.”
The moment I put it on, my body turned semitransparent. A glance in the bathroom mirror showed I'd vanished completely.
Oh yeah.
This was Stealth Lv.2 in action.
Not even detectable by B-rank or lower skills.
“Alright, your turn now.”
“Me, Master? I can hide my wings. I'll pass as a civilian.”
“No civilian looks like you.”
I stared Lucifer down. Even covering the black wings, his appearance was too striking.
Jet-black hair, crimson eyes, tall and well-built.
This guy's ridiculously handsome for no reason.
Model-level looks from overseas.
Anyone who'd seen him once would remember.
“Praise from Master? Glad I was born this good-looking.”
“Not praise...”
Fine for errands, but he'd draw eyes during raids.
The fix was simple.
“Turn into a crow.”
“Knew you'd say that.”
Like when we ditched Sa Choiheon—he turns into a crow, untraceable even by him.
And if needed, he could play the ordinary bird.
“Transforming now.”
Poof!
A flash of black light, and Lucifer was a crow, hopping onto my shoulder.
Caw, caw!
Target Lucifer (Crow Form) receives Stealth Lv.2 effect.
The item's effect applied to Lucifer on my shoulder too.
High-quality stuff.
This setup wouldn't raise eyebrows even around top hunters. Plenty summon animal familiars.
Preparations complete.
“Ready to head out, Master? I can carry you if you want.”
“Nah, skip that.”
One slip and instant death. Plus, flying via crow? Weird look.
Walking works fine.
Stepping out, I checked the Hunter app on my smartphone—unlocked with registration.
It listed gate and labyrinth dungeon locations.
“E-grade labyrinth's walkable.”
Outside, strolling while scrolling.
Not some grand intel op.
Just curious about Mumyeong buzz. Took down second world boss yesterday.
• Mumyeong downs second world boss after Black Weapon
• Hunter Association: Mumyeong hunter's whereabouts unknown
• Rank 1 Sa Choiheon: ‘Possible recruitment for Bulmyeol Guild’
• Korea's first SS-rank hunter emerges?
Portal sites flooded with Mumyeong news.
Biggest standout: recruitment offer.
Bulmyeol Guild scouting...?
Korea's undisputed #1 guild, Bulmyeol.
Salaries in nine figures, top training gear, elite equipment.
Every Korean hunter's dream.
Tempting, but...
Benefits come with strings. Join, and you're obligated.
Frontlines, risking life on S-grade gates. That's Bulmyeol.
Not for me.
Clashes with my retire-as-landlord plan.
No free exit—massive penalties likely.
“Whoa, the world's all about you, Master. Even Sa Choiheon's hunting you?”
Lucifer peeked at my phone from my shoulder. I shrugged.
“Focusing on getting stronger first.”
My skills make leveling fast.
S-rank won't take long.
Playing it safe hurts nothing.
“Wise choice, Master. Who knows what’s coming. Shall we?”
Lucifer flew to the door with loaded words.
I shook my head firmly at the excited crow.
“Hold up. Test first.”
One idea from the start.
Lucifer's vision share + my Instant Death...
I might not even need to leave home.
Caw—!
Lucifer the crow soared high into the overcast sky, diving fast toward a nearby gate.
Apostle Lucifer enters F-rank gate.
His vision shared live with me.
【Master, goblins ahead.】
Aerial view.
Goblins crashing through woods, clear as day to me.
【Lv.11】
Kiruk, kiruruk...
Higher level than the instance gate ones. Better, sharper weapons.
I'm outside the gate.
Weakling Extermination won't reach—100m range.
But plain Instant Death has no distance limit.
“Lucifer, snag one for me?”
【On it. Caw.】
Vwoom, kwagwagwa—!
Black beam from the crow's beak vaporized a goblin—and nearby trees. Flashy.
Hm.
Checked my status.
...No EXP.
Lucifer killed it, but no EXP gain.
If he's my apostle-familiar, it should share.
Obvious cause.
Me being outside the gate?
Yesterday, world boss maxed my levels, so no more EXP then.
Today? No cap. Should gain from kills.
“Let's enter together this time.”
Equipping 【Unique】 Hermit's Mask
Equipping 【Rare】 Cloak of Secrecy
Geared up with sponsor items, headed to F-rank gate.
Stealth duo worked wonders—no one noticed passing by.
No worries there.
Slipped into the F-rank gate easy.
“Master, you're here. Scoped goblin nests already.”
Followed Lucifer's lead, targeted two goblins in his view.
Kiruk, kiruruk!
Kiruruk...
“Die.”
Two words, aloud before another.
Thought it'd feel embarrassing in practice.
But with Lucifer? Fine.
Guess we'd bonded subconsciously.
Skill Instant Death - Weakling Extermination activated.
Plop! Splurt!
Two goblins exploded, dead instantly.
【Whoa, clean kill. Impressive up close.】
Lucifer fawned; I stayed chill.
Just a skill.
Now...
Checked EXP.
EXP gained.
It rose.
Small amount, but vision-share Weakling Extermination worked too.
Nodded.
Need to enter gate for EXP.
World boss was exception—cross-dimensional.
“Ah, must share dimension with kill for EXP. Noted.”
Lucifer bobbed his head. I pressed on.
“Clear fast and bounce.”
“Yes, sir!”
Checked for clear rewards.
Wiped every goblin—no alerts.
Figures. Never heard of rewards on normal gates.
Instances are special.
No need to clear normals then.
Next: labyrinth dungeon.
Definite rankings and rewards.
Labyrinth Dungeon.
A door etched with intricate patterns suddenly rose from the earth one day.
E-rank - Labyrinth Dungeon 1F
Strange to gate-clearers.
But brave pioneers turned it routine.
Persistent gate.
Resets periodically, reshuffles monsters—like gates otherwise.
But labyrinths have rankings.
That's the difference.
Hunters chase ranks for rewards.
“Man, humans everywhere here.”
Lucifer on my shoulder noted. True—hunters swarmed.
Nearby commerce hub: supplies, trades easy.
I beelined for the labyrinth.
Normally, log entry...
Too much hassle after.
Risk exposing as Mumyeong.
Screw it, dive in.
Passed the rune-carved iron door—labyrinth revealed.
This the maze.
Underground mustiness stung my nose.
E-rank - Labyrinth Dungeon 1F
Smooth stone corridor stretched ahead. Harmless look, but traps guaranteed.
Solo not recommended—injured? Screwed.
“Master, sensing other humans afar. Skirt them?”
“Yeah. Unless trouble.”
Multi-solo setup. Different starts, same goal.
Kill boss, escape.
“Lucifer, scout and disarm traps.”
“Did I say I could disarm...? ”
No.
But smash? Sure.
“Destroy everything visible.”
“Leave it to me!”
Black magic swirled around crow-Lucifer. He charged, aura-clad.
Kwagwagwa—!
Blasted traps, barreled through.
I followed.
Insanely strong.
I ordered it, but absurd. Ignores all traps.
“Left or right here?”
“Direction least likely to hit people.”
“Got it!”
Kwagwagwa—!
Labyrinth fell at breakneck speed. Hidden goblins, spiders—swept away.
Two levels in a flash. EXP at 70%.
Monopoly pace, still fast.
Kwaaang—!
Magic bullet from crow-Lucifer shattered boss door.
“Ki, kieek...?! ”
Goblin Rider atop giant spider.
【Lv.28】
Level 28.
I'm 24 now. No Weakling Extermination.
“Lucifer, handle it.”
“Piece of cake.”
Crow-form, fired black magic bullet.
Shuuu—! Kwaaang!
Straight hit, massive explosion rocked room.
Then the messages.
Chrrrk!
E-rank Labyrinth Dungeon cleared.
Clear rank: Legend
Calculating ranking score.
1st: Mumyeong [1,504 points]
2nd: Sa Choiheon [420 points]
3rd: Cheon Iryeong [397 points]
Rewards granted matching clear performance.