This NPC is That NPC
“Do you have any skills related to blacksmithing?”
“No, but if you just give me a chance, I’m confident I can work hard at it.”
“Hmm… Then what about your strength and stamina stats?”
“Both strength and stamina are at 10.”
“Sigh… That won’t cut it. Even for simple assistant work, you need at least 20 strength and 25 stamina. Still, your enthusiasm is impressive, so please contact us again after raising those stats.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Haa. A deep sigh escaped me the moment I hung up.
“Blacksmithing’s out of the question, huh.”
That call had been to the seventh smithy—this one newly opened. Even with the lowest requirements so far, it was still beyond me. The first place I called demanded a whopping 100 strength. Compared to that, 20 seemed generous, but it was still an impossibly high wall for me.
“Next is another smithy, so skip. Now leatherworking workshop. Handcraft stats probably disqualify me here too, but whatever—let’s try.”
I dialed again.
“Yes, this is XX Leather Workshop.”
“Hi, calling about the hunter job listing.”
“Oh, perfect timing—we’re short-staffed. When can you start?”
Oho, this felt promising. They skipped straight to start date instead of conditions. Still, burned before, I asked the same questions I’d posed to other leather shops.
“I don’t have tanning skills or leatherworking skills. No handcraft stat either. But if you hire me, I can do anything well.”
A brief silence followed.
“Sigh… That’s a shame. Sorry, but without those abilities, it’d be tough.”
“Got it. Thanks.”
Another sigh after the call ended.
“Hoo. Leatherworking’s a no-go too.”
Confirmed kill. I knew it deep down, but rejection even from a place desperate for help meant it was absolutely impossible. Leatherworking was off the table.
“Haa~ Damn it, fuck. A hunter who’s still job-hunting like a fresh grad. What kind of bullshit life is this?”
The curse I’d been holding back finally burst out. I’d slaved away as a jobless grad before awakening, and now as a hunter, I was still stressing over employment. A truly cursed, godforsaken life.
After accepting I couldn’t enter dungeons, I spent the day in a daze. No thoughts came. Not even anger—just absurd emptiness. I wasted the day away, and the next morning, somewhat recovered, I resumed my job search.
“Yeah. I’m a hunter now, so it should be easier than before. For a perennial jobless guy like me, landing anything is a win.”
Monster corpses and dungeon materials were mana-infused, impossible for normals. Production-class hunters were always in short supply, jobs plentiful. I figured it’d be easier than my pre-hunter days.
Reality hit harder than expected. It was worse now. No production class meant no required stats or skills. Couldn’t enter dungeons to level up either. So, awakened hunter or not, I was still a hopeless jobless grad.
*
“Haa, maybe I should just do day labor.”
Rejected from every hunter job listing, I hit rock bottom, self-abandonment mode. Day labor popped into my head. Awakening granted twice the physical prowess of an average adult male—no issue there. No skills needed made it perfect for me.
Day labor as last resort, I gave the hunter job board one final scan—lingering attachment.
Then, a new listing appeared.
“Huh? What’s this? Any hunter okay?”
Probably loaded with fine print on the details page. Even potion specialists demanded handcraft stats minimum, often herbalism skills. No high hopes—just checking the new post out of curiosity.
［Hiring hunter to work at Origin Potion Workshop.
Conditions: Any hunter. No other requirements (no handcraft or herbalism skills needed).
Term: 3-month contract.
Pay: 20 million won.
Work: Trimming herbs and toxic herbs. Beginners master in 10 minutes.
Inquire anytime: 010-xxxx-xxxx］
“Ooh, first time like this. Not even ‘inquire’—straight-up says no handcraft or herbalism needed. And 6.66 million a month? Short-term sucks a bit, but beggars can’t be choosers.”
I called immediately.
“Yes, Origin Potion Workshop.”
“Calling about the hunter job listing.”
“Yes, can you start today?”
Instant work query tensed me up. But after so many false hopes, no overexcitement. Calmly, I double-checked.
“You really have no conditions? No handcraft, no herbalism skills. Strength and stamina both at 10.”
“Doesn’t matter at all. Can you start today?”
“Yes! Right away. 30 minutes to arrive.”
“Got it. See you in 30.”
I whooped as the call ended.
“Woo! Yes! It worked! Thirty minutes—hurry!”
Joy mixed with curses; no time to savor—I bolted out. 30 minutes was a rash promise; traffic could stretch it, no room for delay.
Luckily, hustling got me to Origin Potion Workshop just before 30.
Origin Potion Workshop.
I gawked at the workshop. First time hearing of it; desperate hiring suggested small-scale. But this size? Large-scale for sure.
Cautiously, I entered.
“Hello. Kim Suho, the hunter who just called.”
“Ah, you’re the one starting today. Quick arrival. Head to the workshop behind the building.”
Following the clerk’s directions, I exited and circled back. A massive warehouse loomed, guarded.
ID check cleared, I entered.
“Guh.”
Mountainous herb piles shocked me.
Then, someone called.
“Kim Suho?”
“Yes? Yes, that’s me.”
A man stood there.
“Gotta start work now—come here. I’ll show you. Oh, cool if I talk casual? Not bossing; just hate stiff talk.”
No old-man vibes. Free-spirited, hates constraints. Casual felt natural.
“Yeah, fine. Go ahead casually.”
No intro chit-chat; straight to herb trimming demo. Piles made it obvious.
“This herb’s Kercardia. Heard of it?”
“No, first time.”
Kercardia? Obviously not.
“No biggie—names don’t matter. Common herb, also toxic. Used in many potions.”
“T-to-toxic?”
Job ad flashed: herbs and toxic herbs. I stammered, spooked.
“No worry. Toxin only in stem thorns—mind those, and these special gloves prevent pricks. Watch the demo.”
He gripped stem end, scissors on other.
“First, cut leaves. Scissors at leaf tips, like so.”
Snip.
Leaf fell easily.
“Red bags for leaves. Now thorns from tip—blue bags.”
Snip. Snip.
All thorns off, scissors down, tongs up.
“Finally, peel bark with tongs, bag stem in yellow. Today: 3 bags each, total 9. Questions?”
“No.”
Seemed easy. He knew; demo done, back to work opposite me.
I claimed a spot, started.
Snip. Snip.
‘Leaves first.’
Snip. Snip.
‘Careful, careful. Thorns!’
Scrape.
‘Peel bark last.’
True to word, no difficulty. Steady: cut leaves, thorns, peel stems.
Careful, no mistakes.
‘Workshop size, herb volume—not small-time.’
While working, I eyed the future. 3-month contract now, but beyond?
Only the instructor here. Show well, opportunity possible. 6.66 mil monthly—unthinkable sans hunter status.
Instinct screamed seize it; I gave my all.
A week into work. Same routine: Kercardia leaves, thorns, bark.
Familiar now—speedy, accurate.
Finished batch, grabbed new stem—impossible wonder struck.
Class NPC effect activated.
Understood herb ‘Kercardia’.
Potions using Kercardia as material unlocked.
Potion unlocked— automatically opens.
At 100% understanding, potions can be purchased and traded to others.
To be continued in the next chapter...
The Hunter Who Awakened as an NPC