Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - A-Rank Gate (2)

『 Translator – Divinity 』

As a C-Rank Swordsman, I was Level 30. The experience gained from taking down the A-Rank Gate solo rivaled, or even exceeded, the experience I had gathered over 3 years.

Seeing as I jumped from Level 30 to Level 50 in an instant.

My rank, which hadn't risen even when I struggled like hell for 3 years, went up. Meaning I went from a C-Rank Hunter to a B-Rank Hunter.

One swordsmanship skill was added, and my mana and stats increased by a certain amount.

'...Crazy.'

The clear rewards didn't end here. The EXP increase was expected; a bigger reward was waiting.

In an instant, I received two achievements.

Considering you can raise one stat per 2 level ups, the effects of the achievements are truly enormous buffs.

The notifications in the system window showed no sign of ending.

Rewards were being distributed endlessly, and the Constellations were chatting as if delighted, to the point where my eyes hurt.

(Anonymous 1): This is it, this is it!! You have to grow like that to make it fun for me to watch!

(God of Rain and Sunlight): That fellow called Anonymous, seems like he's a more incredible fellow than we thought.

(Father of Crops): Sponsoring the Stealth skill was surprising, but... sponsoring an EX-Rank skill. Anonymous, what's your identity?

(God of Rain and Sunlight): Seems like Hero-grade or higher.

(Anonymous 1): Hehehe, there's no need to stand on ceremony. It's not like having money or skills is useful anyway, so might as well use them on this guy.

(God of Rain and Sunlight): May I know your esteemed name?

(Anonymous 1): You'll be in big trouble if you hear my alias. Enjoy the anonymity.

(Father of Crops): Everyone quiet! Jinwoo's receiving his reward!

(God of Rain and Sunlight): Since he subjugated an A-Rank Gate alone, and in less than a minute at that, the reward must be beyond imagination. I'm curious.

Waiting for the reward, I skimmed through the Constellations' chat.

The Constellation ranks are divided into Common, Hero, Fable, Legend, and Myth, and the thought occurred that Anonymous 1 might be a bigger shot than expected.

Seeing him casually sponsor an EX-Rank skill, even if it was one-time use... he probably wasn't an ordinary Constellation.

At that moment, the reward was distributed.

'...What is this?'

An item with an unhelpful description and an unmeasured rank entered my hands. The size of an ostrich egg, with a rock-like feel.

The egg's surface color was also black and white, and it had no scent whatsoever.

"Do you know what this is?"

(Anonymous 1): I don't know. But if it's a hidden item that comes out when cleared within 1 minute, wouldn't it be something good?

(God of Rain and Sunlight): An item that appears when cleared within 1 minute... you've obtained something designed not to be obtained in the first place.

(Father of Crops): Yeah, seems like it would be good to carry it around.

"What if it's something weird?"

(Anonymous 1): Didn't you say you're dying in a year anyway? If it's something weird, that's just too bad.

(God of Rain and Sunlight): You...!

The two Constellations got angry on my behalf at Anonymous 1's remark.

I didn't bother showing that I felt bad. He only talks like that; wasn't it Anonymous 1 who sponsored the EX-Rank skill and saved me?

He seemed to be clearly a Hero-grade Constellation or higher; even though I was a life soon to die, I didn't want to create friction with such a Constellation.

'They say you gain immense power just by becoming an Incarnation of a Common-grade Constellation; if he's Hero-grade or above, it's best not to antagonize him.'

Because I decided to live my remaining year beautifully.

"Then for now... shall I continue what I was originally planning to do?"

I stood up after putting the unidentified egg away in my bag. I was slightly disappointed that it wasn't as amazing a reward as I had expected, but I have no lingering attachment to being a Hunter now anyway. I was greatly satisfied just by having sustained my remaining short life.

(Anonymous 1): This guy, he ranked up and gained experience, yet he plans to travel calmly. I like that. Still, show us Gate subjugations sometimes.

(God of Rain and Sunlight): I don't know if his acceptance is slow or fast. Having used an EX-Rank skill, it's natural to develop ambition, yet you're just going to travel?

Seeing the God of Rain and Sunlight's chat message, I thought for a moment.

Certainly, the skill called Meteor Strike was incredible.

The sight of the orb growing larger and larger then exploding everything keeps coming to mind, and it's thrilling.

However....

"Isn't it foolish to act like a Hunter, being greedy for skills, when I don't have much life left? Traveling is better."

After speaking honestly, I gazed at the chat window.

"That's right, you two Constellations, thank you for saving me."

(Father of Crops): ...I should have sponsored too.

I only offered a simple word of thanks, yet one was envious and two were delighted.

(God of Rain and Sunlight): Hahaha! Sponsoring was worthwhile. Broadcast diligently.

(Anonymous 1): If you're grateful, keep broadcasting. You might not know, but sponsoring skills means shouldering an enormous burden.

I roughly know that too.

That's why I can be even more grateful.

* * *

If asked to name the undisputed top guild in Korea, everyone invariably mentions the Hwarang Guild.

Hunters from the Hwarang Guild's Gangwon-do branch rushed to where the A-Rank Gate had burst.

Gates from which monsters pour outwards are much rarer than one might think.

However, once one occurs, the damage increases exponentially, so various security measures have been secured nationwide.

When such a Gate is generated, emergency alert messages are immediately transmitted to people nearby, and guilds located nearby, like the Hwarang Guild currently, declare a state of emergency and dispatch immediately.

"Hurry! You never know where A-Rank monsters will flee!"

The Hwarang Guild Hunters moved to the point where the Gate burst even faster than usual, and as a result, the guild's elite Hunters were able to arrive at the Gate in less than 5 minutes.

"Everyone grab your gear and charge!"

"...Um, Team Leader."

"What is this?"

The Hunters getting out of the vehicles tilted their heads puzzledly. It clearly hasn't even been 5 minutes since the Gate appeared, and an A-Rank Gate at that....

"Why is it already subjugated?"

The A-Rank Gate was already cleared and had vanished.

"First, let's go inside just in case."

They entered the Gate. After subjugating a Gate, isn't it standard procedure to go inside and mine mana stones?

It seemed they might be able to find the Hunter who cleared this place if they went inside the Gate.

Of course, Jinwoo hadn't even considered that and had gone back down to the nearby river.

He had calmly started fishing again.

The Hunters were unaware of this fact as they entered the Gate.

As soon as they entered the interior, they couldn't contain their shock.

"Crazy...."

The inside of the Gate was desolate.

The monsters had burst without a trace, leaving only blood, and the mana stones were all smashed, lying shattered in pieces on the ground.

There wasn't a spot in that wide Gate without explosion marks, and the stench of blood filled the air.

'Is this even possible?'

Subjugated in under 5 minutes wasn't enough, now this immense explosive power too. It was truly as if a nuclear bomb had been fired inside the Gate. No, I don't know if even a nuclear bomb could kill an Alpha Minotaur in one shot.

It probably couldn't.

"Team Leader, couldn't the Gate have just exploded like this on its own?"

"That's not it."

The dense mana felt everywhere.

This was definitely the trace of a skill.

A-Rank Hunter Lee Gwangsu was certain of it.

Seeing the inside of the Gate blown up like this, the monsters found dead outside with their bodies torn apart made sense.

'He used the skill from outside the Gate.'

Since not even 5 minutes had passed since the Gate appeared, the Hunter who cleared it must be nearby.

"I'll report to the higher-ups; you guys find the Hunter who subjugated this place. We have to bring him to our guild somehow."

Gwangsu was certain that no Hunter with such destructive power currently existed in Korea. That meant, he thought, it was a Hunter who had awakened not long ago, leading to the conclusion that they had to find him somehow and bring him to the guild.

Just like that, all the Hunters exited the Gate and began searching the surroundings. Planning to grab anyone who looked like a Hunter and ask about the Gate, they searched the vicinity thoroughly, and an hour later.

"Any results?"

Lee Gwangsu, who had received orders from the Guild Director to find the mysterious Hunter somehow.

He asked his team members about their results.

"Well... there was no one who looked like a Hunter. It's also marked as Private on the Gate Clear Bulletin Board, so there's no information at all."

"You couldn't find him? Such a powerful individual vanished without a trace?"

"...Yes, there was one person by the nearby river, fishing with a shabby rod. He was laughing while looking at the empty air."

Apparently, the only person nearby was someone laughing while looking at empty air.

"Wait a minute, a Gate burst open nearby, and he was fishing by the river? Then isn't it that person?"

"...!!"

The Hunters headed back to that riverside.

Jinwoo had already vanished without a trace.

"You bastard! Even if he seemed like a weird person, you should have asked him about the Gate!"

"I'm sorry."

Gwangsu's resounding shout echoed by the riverside.

* * *

(Anonymous 1): Hey, I gave you a skill too, can't you give me just one piece of food?

Right after subjugating the Gate, I started fishing again.

After about 10 minutes and catching a few fish, the surroundings became noisy.

Because the Constellations whined that they preferred quiet, I drove the car about 30 minutes further to a nearby riverside.

Planning to eat dinner and sleep by this riverside today, I pitched the tent, took out a few fish, salted them, and started grilling.

(Father of Crops): It's embarrassing to say, but I've never eaten fish. I'd like to eat one too.

(God of Rain and Sunlight): It's quite funny seeing a fellow who didn't even sponsor say this. Even if someone eats, shouldn't it be me and Anonymous?

"Please don't fight. You can't eat it in the first place, right?"

(Anonymous 1): Won't there be a way if we look? Receiving sponsorship is possible, so why not giving?

What kind of sophistry is this?

Dumbfounded, I clicked my tongue a few times before opening the status window.

'...What, it really exists?'

The Irregular trait 'The Constellations' Streamer' has two skills.

One is for receiving sponsorships, and the other was for handing something over to the Constellations.

"It says I can offer a tribute to each viewer once per day?"

(Anonymous 1): Who raised your level? It was me, right?

(God of Rain and Sunlight): It was overshadowed by Meteor Strike, but Stealth was also a sponsorship with a huge burden.

"Of course, I should give it to you."

I held two pieces of grilled fish in my hands and used the Offering skill.

Then the two pieces of grilled fish disappeared....

(Anonymous 1): ...This is crazy. It's incredibly delicious? The sponsorship wasn't a waste! This is the first time I've tasted something like this!

(God of Rain and Sunlight): I missed the taste of fish I used to eat back home... This taste brings tears to my eyes. Thank you, Jinwoo. The sponsorship was truly worth it.

(Father of Crops): ...Jinwoo, I'll send a sponsorship, so please send an offering.

Actually, I was planning to just give one to Father of Crops too.

But if he offers a sponsorship first like this, I should accept it.

I nodded, saying I understood.

'Buff-type Food Ingredient Item...?'