Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Gaining Fame
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A Gate had been discovered in a remote mountain in Gyeonggi Province.
The first reporter was Investigator Oh Cheol-jung, who had been searching for clues in a nearby murder case.
He was the cop who had stopped and inspected Shin Noda's group.
The next day, he had followed their tracks—footprints and such—while pursuing them.
They had seemed suspicious in all sorts of ways.
But soon their trail vanished, leaving only the Gate standing there alone.
Oh Cheol-jung reported it to the management office right away.
Before long, crowds gathered.
Heroes, police, reporters.
But the hero manpower was sorely lacking to prepare for the worst-case scenario.
TV channels halted their broadcasts to air breaking news.
[Breaking news just in! A Gate has been discovered in a remote mountain in Gyeonggi Province. The Gate is currently closed, suggesting someone has already entered.]
Reporters hounded the first discoverer, Investigator Oh Cheol-jung, for info, and with permission from above, he released limited details.
[According to witness accounts, the suspected Awakener who entered the Gate is a Hero Academy student! Authorities have issued evacuation advisories for the Gyeonggi area—nearby residents, please evacuate immediately.]
The newsroom brought in a former C-rank hunter as an expert consultant.
"Academy students have entered the Gate. They're still just students, even if armed. What's your expert take?"
The expert sighed before speaking.
"Measurements show it's a D-rank dungeon. You can't judge a dungeon solely by its rank. Experience is crucial."
"So you're saying clearing it will be tough? The students got cocky?"
"From confirmed info, they're first-years, so limited dungeon experience. Clearing it would generally be difficult. They overestimated their own ranks."
The news portrayed them as in dire peril, on the brink of crisis, with the Gate on the verge of collapse and catastrophe imminent.
Internet news comment sections overflowed with malicious posts.
[Hero Academy's high standards are ancient history lol. I stopped respecting them after the 54th class.]
ㄴ[I guess you're living in the past lol]
ㄴ[I'm a respectable company CEO, kid. Grow up.]
ㄴ[Ah-ha! CEO's picking fights online at 2 PM~]
[These idiots might cause a Gate collapse with their nuisance lol]
[Always strutting around with swords, creating unease—serves 'em right^^]
[Everyone here get beat up by Academy students? Why so salty?]
ㄴ[Next up, Academy hopeful lol]
Truth be told, it did look dangerous on the surface.
If they all wiped inside, the Gate would collapse, unleashing a massive monster swarm.
It was such a remote rural spot that they scraped together every available hero—just three at most.
Those gathered at the Gate were visibly anxious.
'Support from Seoul is coming, but... it'll take at least an hour.'
'If that thing blows, we're done... They didn't even learn how to fight monsters!'
'Playing hero got 'em stuck—can't run, just waiting to die like dogs.'
Even those three were just C- and D-rank—not impressive at all.
Suddenly, the Gate rippled.
The black hole stretched wide, expanding in size.
It grew large enough for a big truck to pass through.
"Eek!"
The heroes panicked and backed away from the Gate.
Pathetic display.
Their antics aired live on the news.
Viewers were hugely disappointed by their amateurish performance.
They vented in the live chat.
[What the hell are they doing?]
[Those are heroes?;;]
[Taxes going to those clowns while Dark Knight gets villain treatment—this world's messed up?]
A human silhouette emerged from the Gate.
A man in sleek red full-body armor.
Spear in one hand, he strode out confidently.
"Wh-who are you!"
Shin Noda recalled the shady folks at the Gate yesterday and emerged first to scout the situation.
He could crush any trap or whatever with sheer force anyway.
The heroes drew weapons, on high alert.
'Humanoid monster?!'
They freaked out big time.
Humanoids were usually B-rank or higher powerhouses.
If real, no chance of winning, even in their dreams.
Tense standoff.
Live viewers gripped their screens in suspense.
Even to laymen, the red knight looked seriously strong.
[What is that?]
[S-rank monster vibes?]
[Beam 'em]
<RIP>
The knight surveyed the surroundings and chuckled wryly.
"Looks like there's some misunderstanding..."
Soon the rest of the group emerged, and with Lee Sang-hyeon and Park Ha-yeon's explanations, things calmed down.
Shin Noda released 'Polymorph' and sighed.
'Should've just dispelled it before coming out. Almost started a fight.'
Only after hearing the gist of the dungeon and circumstances could he finally rest.
The heroes who had faced off against the knight sighed in relief—no need to say it.
The chat exploded.
[That's a student? Thought it was a monster or vet hunter;;]
[Red knight is badass—that kid's gonna be A-rank hero someday?]
[Not cocky after all lol. Expert said clearing's tough, but they look chill af?]
Those who had trashed the Academy students as nuisances just moments ago flipped like ghosts, now singing praises.
Shin Noda's group got light reprimands and were released.
As Awakeners, they had the right to enter dungeons.
Plus, high school hunter cases weren't unheard of.
Afterward, rumors spread at school: Shin Noda had reached B-rank and led his own expedition to clear a dungeon.
Unfortunately, the rumor stars—Shin Noda and crew—got five-day suspensions.
The principal set up a private meeting to console Shin Noda.
" Talented folks like you are always welcome. But you broke the rules, and if every Tom, Dick, and Harry chases fame like you, hitting dungeons and causing nuisances—we can't let it slide without punishment. No hard feelings."
"Yes..."
Shin Noda acknowledged it.
Academy students, being Awakeners, mostly had strong egos and main character syndrome.
Wannabes rushing into dungeons could fail clears and spark disasters.
'Well, suspension means free time. Time to rescue those kids.'
He recalled the original story.
Right now, saving certain kids would prevent them turning villain later.
He didn't know their location, but with time on his hands, he'd track them somehow.
***
Kang Yu-jin was wiping bloodstains off the floor in a luxury home.
He worked for a special cleaning company.
Mainly tidying up death scenes.
Today's job: cleaning a robbery-murder site in a rich mansion.
He bent down to scrub blood that had pooled under the table.
Suddenly, a black orb caught his eye.
Kang Yu-jin picked it up and wiped it clean.
'Looks just like an Orb of Growth.'
He was originally an Awakener who graduated Hero Academy with top marks.
His story as a janitor had reasons.
It started with the 'K Pharma Villain.'
Shortly after 'Dark Knight' took him down, the government announced.
Expanded criteria for combat-unfit rulings.
Mandatory ankle monitors for rampage risks.
Kang Yu-jin possessed 'Necromancy,' distinct from spirit arts.
Not combat-unfit initially, he graduated top of Hero Academy, flower road to hero ahead.
Even reached contract stage with a major hero management.
But new laws passed, and he plummeted.
"Sorry, but let's call off the contract."
Management abruptly bailed.
"Huh? Why?"
The reason:
"You're behind on the news. Necromancy's now classified combat-unfit. You can't fight anymore, Mr. Kang."
"What?"
That day, the promising Hero Academy top grad became a useless spare.
Ankle monitor slapped on too.
Classmates pitied him at first, met a few times, then ghosted.
'Fuck... yeah, guess I'm useless now.'
He seethed but had no choice.
Kang Yu-jin thought:
'Necromancy's... not like spirit arts! Research it properly before making laws!'
Sure, as black magic, riskier than average skills, but manageable.
That's why it wasn't unfit before.
He holed up as a shut-in NEET for a while.
Family events: relatives poked his wounds knowingly.
"Yu-jin, when's your hero debut?"
"......"
"Oh right, weren't you ruled combat-unfit? Tough break?"
"Yes..."
"Then prep something else. Study for civil service. Can't just veg out."
Kang Yu-jin bolted from home, ran the streets.
'Fuck...'
Stay longer, he might snap and kill them.
C-rank Awakener here.
Killing normals was like wringing a chicken's neck.
An old boarding house caught his eye.
Police cars and a van marked 'Special Cleaning' parked out front.
"What's this?"
Approaching, Kang Yu-jin sensed soul energy.
His 'Necromancy' bound powerful spirits to his body, borrowing their power.
Soul detection was basic.
'Someone died.'
He wondered about working for that cleaning firm.
His 'Necromancy' gained proficiency near corpses and souls.
'Alright. Till this damn law changes, work there. Need cash too...'
Thus, he joined the special cleaning company.
One day on the job, he hit the jackpot.
A black 'Orb of Growth' radiating eerie vibes.
No sane Awakener would touch it.
Kang Yu-jin, disillusioned with life, didn't care if he died.
That 'whatever' mindset made him swallow the black Orb.
A translucent window appeared.
<[Skill Acquired]>
-------------<Skill>-------------
◈ Name
Seed of Evil
◈ Rank
000 F
◈ Description
Suffer and hate.
Gain power.
Additional Stats: 0
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'What kinda skill is this?'
Kang Yu-jin was annoyed.
He ate it recklessly, but pulling a dud sucked.
Then proficiency rose.
047 F.
"Huh?"
Additional Stats appeared.
Additional Stats: 47.
'No way...'
It didn't take long to grasp the skill's mechanic.
Originally meant for Yong Cheon-hwa, the skill went to him instead due to Shin Noda's history-altering butterflies.