Turning Down Necrophilia

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Getting that gold was a win.

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But the name... it just screams bad vibes right off the bat.

"Corpse Arrival Certificate?"

That kind of wording felt off, so I searched it on Hunter Universe.

It's a Villain group.

The kind that creepily handles undead.

Apparently, they were wiped out after a successful subjugation.

Korea's side doesn't mention them at all,

Am I the first one here to get contacted?

Does that mean I'm screwed? Should I report this?

Why'd they contact me?

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

YouTube, maybe?

That seems the most likely.

With all the sponsorships rolling in, I watched the hot YouTube videos and saw the comments. Total chaos.

The aggro was so intense it scared me off from reading more.

Some were speculating demons or whatever,

Did that draw them in?

Villains? No thanks. I don't want anything to do with those shady bastards, even after I overcome my HP 1.

Villains terrorize people without even using gates as an excuse—purely malicious civilian attacks.

They often cause more damage than monsters.

"Hoo... you're the first."

I'd left all other guilds hanging without responding, but NecroPhilia was the first I straight-up [Rejected].

Wait, can I even reject them?

What if these creeps come hunting me down?

Sudden anxiety hit.

But rejecting was the right call.

They have no clue where I am.

Can't get paranoid over every little thing.

I've got the resolve for that.

Now I'm pissed.

How dare they see me as Villain material.

The gold's a gain, but shoving that absurd contract my way? That's reason for outrage on my end.

Getting hit with a love confession from a pile of corpses? I'm fuming.

My MMM and air rifle are screaming. Let's go out and crush some Villains right now.

You little shits... I get it...

I'll show them who I am when I get the time. That's my resolve.

Cartibes was an undead dragon,

One that's already been revealed to the world.

It razed a foreign capital, turned it into monster territory, then vanished naturally.

And this was the precursor symptom of that disaster.

"This means there's a high chance Cartibes's Egg has nested in South Korea."

"......"

This was something even the Bureau Director and Team 1 Leader knew.

No way they hadn't analyzed a monster disaster on dragon level.

"To sum it up."

1. Gate difficulties rising nationwide.

2. Highest gate frequency area is likely the egg's location.

3. If not found preemptively, hatchlings will emerge.

  * Too late once they hatch.

That's the current situation in three points.

"And the egg's probably in Seoul."

"Yes. Two gate formations already feel off. The range is vast too, so finding the egg won't be easy."

Real trouble now.

"Summon the high-rankers. To the Bureau."

Kim Chun-gyu ordered.

Cheon Seung-hyuk left without a word, leaving it to the Bureau's judgment.

We need more power.

This level of disaster is top-tier worldwide.

And it had to be here in South Korea.

- Shuffle.

List of high-rankers in South Korea, especially those under Bureau control.

And private guild masters who actively take Bureau requests.

Not enough.

We might barely contain it,

But the damage could be irreparable.

This time it's not an Imoogi—it's a dragon.

Several provincial cities might fall beforehand anyway.

Headache. This situation.

Can't we really recruit the unregistered one?

That insane DPS still haunts my eyes. If such a hunter were in the nation's hands...

Combat style unknown, but that firepower would massively boost national strength.

Driving me crazy.

Why hide his identity, hunt monsters but refuse the Bureau?

Money? Or wants something besides gold?

No clue.

But I can't just sit and twiddle thumbs.

Need to change our approach to him ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now.

Recruitment isn't the only way.

There are methods.

Just costs gold.

Kim Chun-gyu planned to scrape up budget, but one issue.

Too little info. Not even a hint he's on our side.

Just two gate clears.

Gargoyle one induced bizarre terror, hard for even me to judge good or evil,

Hoo.

Is he friendly to us?

Can't even guess,

Can't invest rashly.

That 100 million gold sponsorship was already huge.

If more investment backfires, irreparable mistake now.

To continue similar investments, just a bit more. Give us something to judge.

Damn.

One more clue. Who are you?

From that moment, contracts be damned—I'll decide.

So just one more.

Show us you're friendly to humans.

I'm the HP 1 sniper guy.

Slogan: no risk, high return or whatever.

Just wanna survive,

But a Villain guild contract throws me for a loop.

No need for wild fantasies. Ignore it.

Shut up and think.

Current situation's scary enough...

After two gates back-to-back, fear set in.

HP 1 instinct says gates will get worse...

My survival's still threatened.

Quick reorganization. No rest for a guy like me...

Create variables to boost survival odds even a bit.

Pumped shelter barrier all the way, deemed solid enough, invested remaining points in shelter area.

Always nervous ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about stubbing toes on furniture in this cramped space.

- Rumble...

Experienced it once, no fear now.

Noise faded, unwrapped from blankets, surveyed the room.

"Whoa..."

Feels like a very cramped house now.

Still spacious. Barely any furniture anyway.

What's next?

Didn't ponder long. I'm rich again.

Tons of Sponsorships plus NecroPhilia's fat one,

Rounded up, about 300 million gold.

Money means buy the sniper rifle I needed.

Still hesitant, but buy now if at all.

Can't practice forever, newbie habits need fixing—grab a solid main gun to learn fast.

So damn expensive.

Still shocking.

Minimum 100 million.

Bolt-actions cheapest. Want one anyway, lucky.

Under 200 million.

Three sniper rifles popped up.

■ Laser Eye = 200,000,000

■ Clear Shot = 180,000,000

■ Steady Shooter = 100,000,000

Pick the best fit.

First, Laser Eye.

High accuracy, range. Great.

But fatal flaw:

'Laser Pointer' built-in default.

"Hard pass."

Normally super convenient, but reveals position.

Maybe toggle off? Then why that price? Keep looking.

Second, Clear Shot.

"Ooh."

Accuracy-focused. Range barely improves.

This looks good.

Downside: price.

180 million too steep now.

Damage already high, no massive accuracy boost justifies it.

Doesn't guarantee 100% hits.

My skill has to keep up.

Range barely changes, disappointing.

Think more.

Not bad, seriously considering—bookmark it.

Third, Steady Shooter.

"Hmm."

Accuracy not far behind Clear Shot.

Tiny targets or long range might matter, but...

Probably not.

I like this one.

Worth the 'Steady' name.

Range definitely longer than practice gun,

Accuracy hugely improved.

But this description.

How tantalizing is that?

Gonna use this long-term.

Main weapon material.

Better a solid basic covering newbie to master.

Specialty guns later...

Plus only 100 million.

Way cheaper.

Didn't hesitate—bought it.

"Let's get along."

Unlike practice gun's goofy green, pure pro sniper rifle design.

All black—feels serious. Love it.

New gun gleaming.

Tingly like new car.

With resolve for serious sniping training, final setup.

'Supply Depot' opening.

Name didn't scream urgent.

Still, checked description via shelter status [New Facility].

"???"

One option jumped out.

Agent Quarters?

Level 21 can't open yet,

But message clear.

Hit 30,

Hire so-called agents.

"Finally."

New survival variable unlocked.

Growth desire ignites.

Chest swells.

Gate.

Open sometime.

Far away, safe one.

Weak but high EXP monsters. Scary ones no.

"I'm doomed..."

Hope's light again.

- Whirr...

As I steeled resolve, shelter's high-tech air purifier hummed away.