The Mad Collector's Mark
All Awakeners’ marks differ from one another, yet those within the same job class share clear similarities. Dealers’ marks are usually swords. Tanks bear shields, while mages carry staves or orbs. Supporters manifest either hands or hearts. In my previous life, my mark had been two hands cradling a heart.
“What the hell is this?”
The mark that appeared this time was unlike anything I had ever seen. A serpent biting its own tail formed a perfect circle, and inside it sat a five-pointed star—an Pentagram, or pentagram.
“Did a mark like this even exist?”
I had met countless hunters and seen thousands of Awakener verification photos in my past life, yet nothing like this had ever crossed my path.
“Kyaak!”
Thud!
“Kek!”
I backhanded an oncoming goblin and kept thinking. The creature flew nearly ten meters before crashing into the undergrowth. This was the phenomenon called Ether’s Blessing—newly Awakened individuals wielded superhuman strength for roughly five to ten minutes. It was a small courtesy granted to those who had just crossed the threshold.
“Status window.”
Guide? I had never heard of that role before. Roles were divided into five categories: Warrior, Assassin, Mage, Guardian, and Supporter. Every Awakener belonged to one or two of them. In my previous life I had been a Supporter with a secondary Mage role. Now I was a Guide, and my secondary role was listed as infinity.
“So that’s why it’s called Mad Collector?”
While I stood there stunned by the unexpected result, an announcement echoed through the area.
— Attention, all personnel on site. Bombardment will commence shortly. Please evacuate the area immediately. I repeat—
I snapped back to reality. This was no time to stand around gawking.
“Summon Spirit Sword.”
The Spirit Sword was the universal symbol of every Awakener—a partner that grew and changed alongside its master. Overseas it was called a Soul Calibur, though its form varied wildly. Choi Yoo-ra’s chains were her Spirit Sword. In my past life, fitting for a Supporter, mine had been a massive leather backpack.
This time, what would it be?
Shhhk.
A golden band coiled around my waist. Moments later, my Spirit Sword took complete shape.
“A belt?”
Upon closer inspection, it was more than just a belt. Rectangular leather pouches hung from both sides like magazine carriers.
Infinite Deck
A deck containing cards that can hold everything. The number of usable cards increases with the user’s rank. In theory, the number of cards is infinite.
Current Cards: Enhancement, Healing, Plunder, Search, Full Moon
The descriptions meant nothing to me, so I decided to test them. I reached into the right pouch and a card slid into my hand of its own accord. It was surprisingly heavy for a mere card—at least a kilogram.
Magic Card ★
Restores the target’s vitality, ether, and stamina.
Choi Yoo-ra was struggling in the distance. Let’s try this. I had never thrown a card before, so my motion was awkward, but it worked. The card shot toward her at high speed.
* * *
“What the—!”
Clang!
Startled, Choi Yoo-ra swatted the card away with her chains, clearly mistaking it for a throwing star. The card ricocheted off the metal.
Damn it. Why did she have to knock it away?
“Hah.”
I sighed and reached for another card, but it proved unnecessary. The card spun back like a boomerang and buried itself in her left side.
“Hrk!”
Choi Yoo-ra gasped, yet the result was far from bad. The card dissolved into light, and her wounds began to close.
“Wh-what is this?”
She looked genuinely surprised as the weight left her body.
“Don’t dodge the cards! And don’t knock them away either!”
“You threw that?!”
“Yeah!”
“You Awakened?”
“Yeah! Focus!”
I drew another card.
Magic Card ★
Temporarily strengthens the target.
I didn’t know the exact effect, but it looked helpful. I flung it at Choi Yoo-ra. The card struck her squarely in the chest.
Whoosh!
Blazing ether flames wrapped around her. Her chains thickened, and the blades along each link grew longer.
“What is this?”
Choi Yoo-ra frowned in disbelief, then swung her chains anyway. They moved at a speed she had never achieved before, coiling around a 3-star Wrecker.
“Kek!”
She yanked hard. The Wrecker’s body split in two with a horrific scream.
“Shit!”
“Kill that bastard first!”
The Wreckers weren’t stupid—they turned on me instead. Choi Yoo-ra refused to let that happen. Her empowered chains tore through them like a storm.
I sprinted toward Do-hyun and the couple. Do I have an attack skill? The Full Moon card appeared in my hand.
Whoosh!
The card transformed into a razor-thin disc mid-flight. It sliced clean through the necks of the Wreckers attacking the civilians. Blood fountained as their heads tumbled to the ground.
A chill ran down my spine. It cut that easily? Even seeing it with my own eyes, I could hardly believe the sharpness.
Let’s try again.
I threw another Full Moon card. Three more Wreckers lost their heads in quick succession.
“So this is what being a dealer feels like.”
Excitement surged through me. In my previous life I had been a 10-star hunter, yet because my primary role was Supporter I possessed zero offensive skills. I had spent every fight cleaning up after my teammates while they took all the glory. Some even said the only reason my party kept me around was for appearances.
Now I was severing heads with a flick of the wrist. Had my wish finally come true?
Not yet. Don’t get ahead of yourself. I still didn’t understand what the Mad Collector class truly was. First, I needed to finish the fight.
I hurled Full Moon cards at the remaining monsters. Their bodies fell apart like tofu.
* * *
Choi Yoo-ra delivered the final blow. Her chains shredded the Wrecker wearing the Joker Pepe mask.
“You’re the boss, right? Hohoho!”
She walked over to the fallen leader and ripped off his mask, revealing the face of a man in his mid-forties.
“Now, shall we keep that promise?”
“Promise?”
“I told you I’d cut it off and stuff it down your throat.”
“……!”
“Open wide.”
“Aaaaargh!”
I looked away. The Wreckers deserved far worse, so I didn’t intervene. I simply didn’t want to watch.
“Whew! That feels so much better!”
Choi Yoo-ra wore a refreshed expression, blood-splattered and grinning with mad delight. The callsign Bloody Mary suited her perfectly.
“Thanks for earlier. Good work. Oh, and congratulations on Awakening. You’re nobility now.”
“Nobility? Hardly. Nobility comes in many flavors.”
“True enough.”
As a 4-star hunter, she understood exactly what I meant.
“Supporter?”
When I didn’t answer, she offered her own theory.
“No, that doesn’t fit. Your killing power is way too high. But if you’re not a Supporter, then how do you explain the healing and enhancement? What are your primary and secondary roles?”
“Hmm.”
I buttoned my shirt to cover my chest. The mark only showed when I used ether, so there was no real need to hide it. It was purely psychological.
“I don’t see any reason to tell you. We’re not even in the same party.”
“Suit yourself.”
Choi Yoo-ra didn’t press further. Asking about another Awakener’s abilities without being in the same party was considered rude.
“Thank you both for your hard work.”
“We’re so grateful.”
The couple approached with heartfelt thanks.
“Congratulations. I’m honestly jealous.”
Do-hyun looked like he might burst from envy.
“Save the pleasantries. We need to move. Bombardment’s coming any second.”
“Right, let’s go.”
Just as we started walking, several cards slipped out of the deck on their own and floated above the Wrecker corpses.
“……?”
What were they doing?
“What the hell? Why are they doing that?”
“No idea. I just Awakened—I don’t know anything yet.”
“Fair point.”
Choi Yoo-ra nodded in understanding.
“Hurry up and figure it out. Unless you want to get bombed right after Awakening.”
“Got it. Checking now.”
I approached the nearest floating card.
Equipment Card ★
Obtains something of value from a corpse.
Something of value?
I picked up the card as if drawn to it. A dagger lying beside the body was sucked into the card with a soft shhhk.