Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: F-Rank Dimensional Rift
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'A little.'
I wondered if Suni knew human standards of beauty.
Suni was growing rapidly even now.
Considering that, it could be seen as doing pretty well.
Still, who would ever task an AI with something like this?
If it were the old me, I might have just gone for it.
But now I had money.
Money doesn't lie. It was a truth piercing through from the past.
'Just search for the expensive ones.'
Suni's response sounded a bit downcast.
After instructing Suni, I turned my gaze to Jin-ah, who was driving.
I hadn't noticed because Hanna was in the way earlier, but now I could see she was quite a refined, typical Eastern beauty.
Without double eyelids, her sharp, classic Eastern eyes and simplicity suited her short hair perfectly, giving off the vibe of a quintessential cool city beauty.
'Her chest is a bit small, but her figure doesn't look bad either. Someone on Jin-ah's level would be fine...'
Jin-ah glanced at me staring at her and asked,
"Is there something on my face?"
Of course, I wasn't going to say what I was actually thinking.
"No.... I was just thinking that you're a beauty too, Jin-ah."
I brushed it off with a moderate compliment.
-Rumble.
The car shook briefly.
"...Don't joke around."
"I'm not joking."
".....We're here."
Was she embarrassed?
Looking closely, her face seemed a little flushed.
She had a surprisingly cute side.
Hero Friends Pioneer Camp.
The massive logo and signboard at the entrance were striking.
Was I the only one who found that logo embarrassing?
"Who the hell made this company's logo?"
"....The CEO did."
.....If the CEO liked it, who was I to complain?
I could tell she had strong narcissism.
I thought we'd arrived early, but the camp was mostly quiet, probably because the hunters had already gone out hunting.
'Awkward timing.'
It was that in-between time before lunch.
'Not really hungry, but I guess I'll hunt first and eat after.'
I got out of the car and looked around.
Unlike the rear areas I'd wandered before, this was a real battlefield for hunters.
F-Rank monsters roamed here in packs.
The camp was fenced in, with hunters holding bows or crossbows patrolling on top.
Probably Non-Awakened Hunters.
No high-rank monsters nearby, so they were sufficient.
A tanned man in his 40s approached.
"Jin-ah."
"Camp Commander. This is the hunter here to tackle the F-Rank rift we discussed today."
"Ah! The new hire. Nice to meet you. I'm Oh Jang-su."
"Park Un-ho."
We shook hands moderately, and I pulled out the large box from my pickup truck.
Jin-ah and the camp commander were talking about something, but I wasn't particularly curious.
Putting it in my Inventory would be convenient, but I couldn't go in hunting empty-handed.
So I'd brought the massive legendary holy sword Excalibur loaded on the truck.
"What the hell is that! Isn't that the Big Fucking Sword?"
I could feel how insanely famous the sword was, since everyone recognized it.
"Looks like another rookie Awakener showed up."
Some hunters sitting at an outdoor table at the nearby canteen muttered.
"Do Awakener rookies have a disease for showing off?"
"Bet you my whole fortune he'll show up with a different weapon next time."
My sharpened senses from body enhancement picked up the gossiping hunters at rest.
Thinking it wouldn't carry, their words were unrestrained.
But I didn't pay it much mind.
Jealousy from Non-Awakened Hunters was inevitable.
Actions over words.
I drew the greatsword from the box and swung it lightly with one hand.
"Holy shit... He's swinging that thing one-handed...."
A spark lit in the hunters' eyes.
"Strength type? Must be high rank too."
"Fuck, I wanna become an Awakener already."
Even so, carrying something like this around was inconvenient.
Weight aside, it was ridiculously bulky.
To veterans, it just looked like rookie's bravado.
A bit short on ranged attacks, though.
Maybe buy a few throwing spears next time.
There seemed to be some argument between Suni and the camp commander, but he accepted it once he heard I was D-Rank.
Still, the camp commander's expression toward me remained dubious.
Seeing it as rookie's arrogance, probably.
Though I wasn't at an age to be called a rookie.
Jin-ah approached me.
"Are you sure you're okay with this?"
Jin-ah came closer, looking worried.
"Yeah. I told you it's fine."
Jin-ah handed me a tablet with a skeptical look.
"Here's the info on the F-Rank Dimensional Rift you'll be tackling. We can lend you a detector if needed."
"Got one already."
I pointed to my backpack.
Which was actually empty.
Jin-ah backed off, having no more to say.
I skimmed the info on the tablet.
It was a Dimensional Rift 5km southwest of the camp.
Closer than expected.
Recently spawned?
Monster type... Lizards.
Official name: [Corrupted Being D-06 Kozad].
Just looked like lizards.
Hunters called them black lizards or just lizards.
F-Rank monsters: dark red lizards the size of medium dogs.
I sent the tablet data to Suni, slung the greatsword over my shoulder, and entered the brush.
Not long after entering, I experienced the greatsword's hindrance firsthand.
Snagging on branches was routine, and it bumped into trees often, slowing my steps.
Confirming no eyes on me, I stored it in my Inventory, and the world felt lighter.
A welcome party right from the start.
-Rustle rustle rustle!
The sound of rapidly parting bushes approached, and dark red lizards leaped out, baring sharp teeth with open maws.
As combat began, my senses expanded, making the scene feel like slow motion.
The greatsword was somehow in my hand.
I thrust it straight into the lizard's gaping mouth.
Only after stabbing did I realize the greatsword's tip wasn't pointed but thick and straight.
-Splurt!
Half the lizard shredded apart without resistance, spraying dark red blood everywhere.
I brought the sword down on the next charging lizard.
-Splat!
It split in half without a sound.
I kicked the one lunging for my leg.
-Thud!
-Crash.
It flew back, slamming into a tree that shook. It didn't twitch—dead.
As the monsters died, I felt energy flowing into me.
Was this mana?
I couldn't sense it normally, but now I could a little.
'Is this how you gain EXP?'
Simpler than expected.
Naturally, less EXP than from Mana Stones.
But this was an insanely broken ability.
Awakeners had to constantly grow their powers.
But there was no set answer.
Tons of superstitions: hunt a lot in gates, grind Mana Stones, etc.
The most common consensus was using your abilities a lot to grow them.
But even that didn't work for some.
Walking a path without landmarks required more patience than expected.
I knew that better than anyone.
Awakening wasn't the end.
It was another beginning.
Starting over late in life, after years of hunter fatigue, was tough.
14 years facing death threats in gates.
Odd if I wasn't worn out.
As a normal F-Rank Awakener, I'd probably be safely doing Herbalist Hunter work alone.
Not pushing this hard into hunts.
But I had the answer.
Get stronger just by killing monsters?
No game could be more fun.
Smirk.
A grin crept onto my face unbidden.
"This is total bullshit. Hunting feels so damn good."
My physical abilities far exceeded imagination.
Maybe because they were F-Rank monsters.
But massacring them was special for someone who'd been a Non-Awakened Hunter until recently.
The closer to the Dimensional Rift, the more lizards swarmed, and I advanced toward my goal, slaughtering them.
Skill proficiencies rose too.
The Inventory skill, which I'd seen as mere convenience, proved hugely helpful in combat.
Summon before attacking, strike, store right after.
A massive rectangular greatshield popped out in front of a lizard charging from behind.
The lizard bounced off the shield and tumbled back.
"Nice one, Suni."
Suni replied brightly.
Having granted Suni Inventory access, she assisted in combat using it.
Then a massive hammer dropped from above.
Mjolnir.
-Crunch!
The lizard flattened.
Felt like a mage, not a warrior.
Range was lacking, though.
1-meter radius.
Would raising skill level extend Inventory summon range?
My understanding of Inventory utilization deepened.
Monsters increased nearing the Dimensional Rift, but F-Rank trash mobs at best.
Just good EXP for me.