5 - I Have Become a Popular Figure

Whoa...

I let out an internal gasp of admiration.

Clearing the Nightmare difficulty at super speed had yielded insane rewards. My level shot up by 5 in one go, and a ton of prizes flooded into my inventory.

Gold and potions were nice, but what really caught my eye ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was the mana stone—a hot commodity in the hunter world.

A B-rank mana stone. I didn't know the exact market price, but selling just this one would let me feast on premium Hanwoo beef without worry for a good while.

I was so thrilled it felt unreal.

And on top of that, a bonus skill as extra reward.

Not a combat skill, but it seemed incredibly useful. A-rank to boot.

For a summoner type like me—who stays back and issues orders without getting hands-on—it was pure honey.

I turned my gaze to Katarina, the one responsible for all this.

My first familiar knelt demurely at my feet, having obliterated the massive orc boss.

I was truly, deeply grateful. I felt like dropping to my knees myself.

"...Well done. Thou art quite serviceable."

But the best praise I could muster was that. I hid my trembling fingertips behind my back, nodded casually as if unimpressed, and commended her.

"Your praise humbles me, my Lord."

Katarina spoke calmly, but her lips twitched upward. She'd looked so cool shredding that orc earlier. Seeing her light up at praise made her a bit cute.

"Let us return now."

"As you command, my Lord."

We left the Tower of Trials without lingering and returned to my cozy one-room apartment.

The same moment.

Korean Hunter Association headquarters.

"Emergency!! President! It's an emergency!!"

Analysis Director Hyun-seok Oh burst through the door of the top-floor president's office, his face pale as a ghost.

President Taesung Kim furrowed his brow, setting aside his documents to look up.

"Director Oh. What is it? Did an S-rank gate pop open smack in the middle of Gangnam?"

"N-no, it's not that! The Tower of Trials ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠record...!"

Hyun-seok Oh panted as he continued.

"Tower of Trials Floor 1, Nightmare difficulty—world record clear time just updated! And the nationality is Korean!"

Clearing Nightmare Floor 1 without a time limit was enough to qualify as A-rank potential. Taking first place meant Korea had another S-rank prospect—a massive deal.

But.

"World record? Why's that an emergency? If one of our promising hunters did it, isn't that great news?"

Taesung Kim responded calmly, unsurprised. His innate composure and aversion to fuss made it possible.

"The problem is the clear time."

"Ah, did they break the 'devilish one-minute' barrier? That would explain your panic, Director."

"It broke, alright. Clear time: 1 second."

"...Pardon?"

Kim Taesung's stoic expression turned dumbfounded in an instant.

"One second? You're joking. Server glitch?"

"We thought bug at first too. But we checked the system directly—it's a legit clear! See for yourself!"

"Heh. Even an A-rank hunter in the field would struggle to take down that Floor 1 Nightmare orc boss in one second..."

"The real issue: we can't identify the clearer. Unregistered awakener!"

An unidentified unregistered awakener had overwhelmingly surpassed the records of countless S-ranks worldwide. Not just S-rank—this defied the entire ranking system.

In a word: a calamity-class prospect had emerged.

"A monster has been born in Korea."

Taesung Kim murmured gravely. Director Oh nodded in agreement.

"What's the monster's nickname?"

"'True Ancestor'."

True Ancestor.

Taesung Kim etched the alien, arrogant name deep in his mind.

"...Director Oh. Find this True Ancestor immediately."

His eyes gleamed.

"Use any means necessary. Locate 'True ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ancestor' before America or China snatches them—bring them to our Association no matter what!"

As the president predicted.

Korea wasn't the only one in uproar.

Governments, associations, and mega-guilds worldwide—from America, China, Europe—were stunned by the impossible clear speed.

...Insane.

Lying in bed scrolling my smartphone, I swallowed hard.

My room corner was as peaceful as ever, but the outside world was on fire.

What the...? How'd they guess?

Some comments nailed my identity so creepily it startled me.

Every refresh added dozens more.

Portal news mains were plastered with clickbait like [Monster Prospect Emerges in Korea! Who is 'True Ancestor'?].

Communities, YouTube, SNS, news—everywhere was about me.

'Am I gonna get dragged off?'

I was seriously worried.

Unregistered awakener pulling this massive aggro.

Fixed nick, not even private.

Bigger issue: I'm a vampire now.

If Association or gov finds me, secret lab dissection?

"...My Lord."

Then, Katarina—standing primly by the bed—called in a low, sunken voice.

Her blood-red eyes, peeking at my phone, glinted with murder.

"These wretched human insects dare mock your great name. I shall go forth at once, rip out their tongues, and force them all to kneel!"

Katarina declared furiously.

She was fixated on a specific comment.

"Silver hair red eyes flat-chest cutie so hot...?! To utter such blasphemy against your divine form...! This one I shall personally skin alive and punish!"

'Pls don't quote it verbatim... Makes it worse...'

My face heated up. I opened my mouth to stop her.

"Ahem. Pay it no mind. Why should a noble stoop to match the chatter of mere mayflies?"

Just curl up and ignore.

But Katarina's reaction was something else.

"Ahh...!"

She clasped her hands over her chest like struck by epiphany, exhaling deeply.

"To deem such human clamor and insult as mere trifles... Your vessel, vast as the sea, is beyond the grasp of a created being like me."

Katarina bowed with profound reverence.

I eyed her coolly.

Vast vessel?

My gaze drifted to where her hands rested—on her chest.

Maid outfit buttons strained against overwhelming volume.

Glancing down at mine: not totally flat, slightly mounded.

But compared? No contest.

'...Pretty sure your vessel's way bigger.'

I sighed inwardly at her bursting shirt.

Anyway.

Hunter Gal info said fixed nicks show only nationality and name—no personal details.

So unless I dox myself, low trace risk.

I shook off the unease, deciding to stock food with gold and B-rank stone sale in mind.

But can't go out daytime.

"Katarina. Go shopping."

I handed her my card, assigning the errand.

"Beef, my Lord?"

"Yes. Buy plenty—for you too."

Commanding her, curiosity struck.

She's my familiar, looks full vampire like me—daylight okay?

"Dost the sun's rays trouble thee not?"

Katarina answered flatly.

"Yes. Thanks to your exalted blood, 'tis but a slight queasiness—naught more."

"...!"

What?!

I reeled.

That brutal nausea... just "slight queasiness"?!

My pinky tip in sunlight earlier was agony!

She didn't even see it as penalty.

'Sigh. Master with less pain tolerance than familiar. Pathetic.'

Self-loathing hit; outwardly stern, I waved dismissively.

"Fortunate. Make haste."

"Your command, I obey."

Katarina bowed politely and left.

Reality crashed; I burrowed under covers for cat shorts.

Tower of Trials has weekly cooldown per floor.

One week forced vacation.

Blissful NEET life passed idly.

No friends anyway—not the wandering type—but now daytime penalty locked me in. Spent on Gal browsing and games.

Finally, cooldown reset today.

"Let us go, Katarina."

"Yes, my Lord."

We entered Tower Floor 2.

Boss: massive troll warrior in armor, wielding flail. Bigger than orc, insane regen.

Result: same as Floor 1.

Katarina flicked her finger—troll's heavy armor shredded like paper, exploded traceless in 1 second. No regen chance—pulp can't heal.

Mm, good good.

Record alerts barely fazed me now.

Week of adaptation.

#1 just ranks up—no prizes.

But this time, new message.

Oh.

Mailbox.

System chat with other hunters.

'Right, heard of this.'

Knew from Gal, but non-awakener—no details.

As I tapped curiously—

Bzzz! Bzzzzz!!

My holographic system window vibrated wildly.

"...?!"

Eek?!

And the senders filling the screen—mind-blowing.

Th-this the popular life?

Endless messages scrolling; I just blinked in shock.