Astonishing Senders and Katarina's Bloody Errand

The nicknames of the senders in these auto-hunt ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠messages were each more jaw-dropping than the last.

US Hunter Department Secretary, Heavenly Demon, President of the Korean Hunter Association, Rank 1 Guild Master…?! Is this for real?

Checking the info window, it seemed astonishingly genuine. Beings I'd only seen on Hunter Gallery that were up in the clouds were now desperately trying to scout me, promising all sorts of rewards.

Bzzz, bzzz. Even at this very moment, messages kept pouring in.

'These big shots are all clamoring to contact me.' Sure, I'd set an unprecedented record on the first floor. But I hadn't expected people of this caliber to be so eager for little old me.

If I accepted even one of their offers, my life would flip 180 degrees starting tomorrow.

However.

'…That would definitely blow my cover.' I calmed my excitement and thought rationally.

I knew my pathetic stats and the racial penalties of being a vampire all too well.

A noob vampire who couldn't eat garlic and got motion sickness just from sunlight.

If it came out that this was the true identity of the world's top prospect 'Progenitor'?

I'd get dragged to a lab for dissection, or at the very least become the laughingstock of the entire world. Obvious as day.

Besides, I had no particular desire to become famous or a hero.

I just wanted to live quietly and safely in my room corner, in peace.

The conclusion was clear.

'My identity… better keep it hidden.'

I cautiously extended my finger toward the X button on the system window.

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

Click.

I closed it without a second thought.

No need to reply and give them any openings. No response was the best response.

At that moment, Katarina, who had been watching my actions closely from the side, quietly spoke up.

"Master."

"Hm?"

"Even as the world's powers bow their heads and fawn over you, you don't spare them a glance and simply close the window."

Katarina's eyes began sparkling with blind admiration once more.

"As expected of my Master. It means the petty powers and wealth of the human realm aren't even worthy of holding your noble gaze."

"……."

No, it's because I'm scared?

"Ah, ahaha. Of course it is so."

I gave an awkward laugh and nodded vaguely.

In any case, I'd decided to reject all the scout offers. And I'd checked the second-floor clear rewards.

The second-floor rewards were on par with the first. No magic stones or skills this time, but plenty of gold and other items instead.

Now I faced the most pressing real-world issue.

Money.

With this past week's food budget spent, my bank account was truly empty.

I'd earned a good haul of gold from the first and second floors of the Tower of Trials, but that was cyber money for the system shop—not real cash.

To buy meat for tomorrow, I needed actual money.

I recalled the B-rank magic stone tucked away safely in my inventory.

The market price for a B-rank magic stone was a whopping 100 million won, according to the internet.

Selling just this one would cover me for the year.

The problem? I was an unregistered awakener with no official ID.

Legit channels like the Hunter Association or official exchanges required identity verification, so I couldn't sell there.

So during my week of gallery lurking, I'd scouted some shady back channels. The go-to for this was 'Darkgram,' an anonymous messenger popular among awakeners.

'I posted on the Darkgram black market channel.'

I pulled out my phone and checked Darkgram.

But the replies to my post were nothing like the warm welcomes in my system inbox.

'Hm.'

The response was ice-cold.

Of course—an anonymous account with no cred suddenly hawking a 100-million-won B-rank stone? Suspicion was natural.

Even if some dealers believed it was real, the huge sum made them hesitate to bite.

'Too much too soon. Maybe build cred first by selling low-grade potions or gear bit by bit….'

I was seriously pondering, about to set my phone down, when—

Ding!

A new message hit Darkgram.

"Oh?"

A bite at last.

I perked up and checked the message.

But my joy was short-lived. My instincts, honed from countless scams and backstabs in my dark gamer days, screamed danger.

'This feels off.'

Cash upfront, no questions asked.

And the meetup spot? A quick search showed an abandoned factory on Seoul's outskirts, deserted and remote. Come alone?

This reeked of a trap.

Lure me to a dark spot and snatch the goods—classic!

Obviously, no way. I couldn't.

Was I nuts enough to walk into the tiger's den?

I was about to ditch the deal without regret when—

"Master. Is something troubling you?"

Katarina, who'd been eyeing my expression, asked cautiously.

"Ah, 'tis nothing. Some rats seem to be setting a trap for this one's treasure."

I brushed it off lightly.

But Katarina's demeanor froze cold in an instant.

"……How dare they."

Killing intent flickered in her blood-red eyes.

"Vile insects not even worthy of worms dare covet Master's treasure and underestimate you?"

Katarina knelt on one knee before me, formally.

"Master. Please give me your command. I shall handle it."

Oh.

Come to think of it, I didn't need to go myself?

I had a trusty knight who'd shredded the first- and second-floor bosses in a second. Unlike frail me, she wouldn't get pushed around anywhere.

"Hmph. If thou wishest to go, I shan't stop thee."

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠inwardly cheered and handed her the B-rank magic stone with feigned arrogance.

"If those rats try any tricks, teach them a lesson and bring back the money."

"As you command."

Katarina took the stone and left home at the appointed time.

'Hehe. With Katarina's strength, she'll snag the cash safely, right?'

I relaxed, lay on the bed, and opened short-form videos.

Chomp, chew, chomp chew chew—

That same time. An abandoned factory on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seoul's outskirts.

Dozens of rough-looking thugs filled the factory interior.

They were low-level grunts from a massive underworld guild dominating Seoul's shadows.

"Hey, blade sharpened?"

"Yes, boss."

The gang lieutenant 'Viper' exhaled a long plume of smoke and cackled.

"Kekeke, what a sucker. Posts a B-rank stone on Darkgram with a throwaway account. Either an unregistered smuggler or stolen goods. We can snatch it clean, no backlash."

"Naturally, boss."

The thugs fondled their weapons with cruel grins—until

Creeeak.

The rusty factory door swung open.

"Boys, guest's here~"

Viper nodded, and the grunts turned, snickering toward the door.

But what stepped in wasn't a smuggler or newbie hunter.

A beauty in a black maid-style uniform, black hair in pink-tinted twintail ponytails swaying.

"……What the? Errand girl?"

Viper snorted in disbelief.

"Wheew~"

"Body's killer."

The thugs leered up and down her unreal figure and curves with sleazy smirks.

"Damn, celeb-level."

"Eyes are red though. Colored lenses?"

"Boss, can we play with her after?"

"Keke. Do what you want."

The men lobbed vulgar jokes and guffawed.

But the woman didn't blink at their crude taunts.

She just stared coldly, impassively.

"……I brought the goods."

She drew a brilliantly glowing B-rank magic stone from her bosom.

The thugs' eyes gleamed with greed.

"Oh, real B-rank! Hey, grab it."

No sooner said than a frontliner raised his sashimi knife.

"Hey, pretty. Be good, won't get hurt. Don't want a scar on that face? Hand it over quick."

As the man advanced slowly with his long blade—

The woman's eyes darkened chillingly.

Those impassive eyes, unmoved even by their jeers, now brimmed with thick killing intent.

"These worms dare covet Master's treasure."

BOOM—!!!

"……Huh?"

The approaching man's head exploded like a watermelon.

Blood and brains splattered everywhere as the headless corpse crumpled limply.

"……?!"

The factory fell deathly silent, like ice water dumped over them.

The thugs froze, unable to process the gore before their eyes.

"W-what the hell, just now……."

Viper stammered, voice trembling—

When her blood-red eyes turned to the rest.

"Pay for insulting Master… in blood."

That was the signal.

Whoosh—!

Splattered blood droplets in the air morphed into dozens, hundreds of crimson bullets, raining down on the thugs like a storm.

"Gaaahhh!!"

"S-spare… guk!"

A merciless slaughter.

Within seconds, limbs severed, torsos pierced—the factory became a crimson sea of blood.

Dozens of grunts turned to meat chunks without even proper screams.

"Hiiik……! P-please, mercy……!"

The sole survivor, Viper, collapsed, pissing himself, scrambling backward.

His dilated pupils reflected Katarina, a demon from hell.

Step, step.

She approached over the blood-soaked floor and mercilessly gripped the shivering Viper's head.

"H-hngh!!"

Looking down coldly, she asked.

"Where is your treasure vault."

How much time passed?

As I lounged waiting for results, the door lock chimed beep-beep.

"Master. I have returned."

Katarina entered.

As expected, not a drop of blood on her pristine outfit.

"Ooh, back safe. How'd the deal go?"

I asked eagerly.

Instead of words, Katarina gently set a massive black suitcase—half her size— at my feet.

Eh? We don't have anything like that at home. Where'd she get it?

Peeking into the slightly unzipped bag, I

"……?!"

Almost yelped.

It was stuffed with 50,000-won bundles and gleaming gold bars.

Eyeballing it, tens of billions at least.

No way a B-rank stone was worth this much.

'Crazy…?! I said sell the stone—what did she do? Rob a bank?!'

"As per your command, I disciplined them and took the money."

As my pupils quaked, Katarina knelt on one knee and reported proudly.

"I turned the vermins' lair into a bloodbath and seized all their wealth."

'…….'

Seems I've gotten tangled in a heinous crime.