Chapter 5

Chapter 5 - Coin

『 Translator – Divinity 』

Near Hongcheon River.

Hunters who had just come out of a Gate were requesting help from their surroundings.

"Grrrk...! Ugh...!!"

Saessak Guild, a guild counted among the top five in Korea.

Its Hunters had just emerged after subjugating a B-Rank Gate.

The Hunters, having just emerged from the Gate, could only call 119, unable to do anything else around the man.

Because the injuries of the Swordsman, Lee Suho, were severe.

The Gate was cleared dramatically, but Lee Suho's body had wounds everywhere. The bleeding was also severe, and despite using potions, the wounds showed no sign of improving.

A-Rank Healer Kang Juyeon, belonging to the top national Hunter ranks, urgently tried to use a skill, but the skill didn't activate.

'Damn it.'

If only the mana seal were lifted, something could probably be done, but I feel like I'm going crazy. Because I have to watch a colleague suffer right before my eyes.

Moreover, this place, Hongcheon, doesn't have many fire stations, and even if they exist, they are quite far from the Gate.

Meaning, if things go wrong, Lee Suho could become permanently disabled.

At that moment.

"Is something wrong?"

Jinwoo approached while taking a bite of a Golden Apple.

* * *

"Wow, this tastes amazing."

Running towards where the sound came from, I took a bite of the Golden Apple.

Being a food ingredient from another dimension, I had high expectations inwardly, but the taste exceeded those expectations. It was much more delicious than I thought.

The apple's sweetness was even stronger, feeling like eating something dipped in honey.

However, the sweetness didn't leave my mouth feeling dry or make me thirsty. Because the apple itself was overflowing with juice, my thirst was refreshingly quenched.

'Feels like apple juice.'

Smiling with satisfaction, I ran towards where the sound came from.

"What the...."

The situation was more serious than I thought.

(Anonymous 1): ...Ooh, quite the bloody scene.

(God of Rain and Sunlight): If he's not helped right away, he'll die or be in big trouble. Human lives are more fragile than one might think.

(Father of Crops): Wait a moment, I'll look for something that helps stop bleeding.

(Water God of Cheongha): I too should look for something helpful for my descendants.

I was inwardly surprised by the Constellations' warm-heartedness. Because I had thought the Constellations were cruel beings crazy for amusement.

Well, enough idle talk.

I ran up to the people who looked like Hunters and asked about the situation.

"What's wrong?"

"By any chance, are you a Hunter?"

"That's right."

They began to explain the situation.

To summarize in a word, they cleared the Gate, but the healer's mana is sealed, they said. They've used all their potions, and since paramedics or healer support will arrive late, time is critical.

"If you happen to have any spare potions, could you share some? I will definitely compensate you."

"I don't have potions, but if the healer-nim's mana seal curse is just lifted, will everything be resolved?"

"Uh... yes, that's right."

(Anonymous 1): This bastard, don't tell me?

(God of Rain and Sunlight): Ha, clever.

(Father of Crops): Hehe, then that Hunter ends up living thanks to me.

I handed over the Golden Apple.

(Father of Crops): Probably, if someone other than you looks at the Golden Apple, most of the information will appear filtered. Except for the fact that it's an item sponsored by a Constellation, no other information can be confirmed.

Thanks to this chat, I could relax and hand the Golden Apple over to the healer.

"...What is this?"

The healer's eyes widened after confirming the Golden Apple's effect.

I'm not used to making a show of generosity. And I don't have the personality to enjoy lots of attention.

Since I'd given all the help I could, the path I chose was to return the way I came.

"I don't think you need to compensate me."

Because I already received compensation from a Constellation.

'Coin? What's this?'

After briefly thinking I should return to the tent and find out about Coin, I used the Stealth skill.

"...! What! Where did he go?"

"What was that person?"

"F-First, save Suho!"

"Ah, right!"

Realizing anew the usefulness of the Stealth skill, I watched the heavily injured Hunter get treated. When the wounds had healed to some extent, wearing a satisfied smile, I returned to the tent.

* * *

As soon as Jinwoo entered the tent, he waved his hand at the Constellations.

"I'll turn the broadcast back on tomorrow. I need to sleep today."

Many things had happened.

Because so many things difficult for an ordinary person to understand had occurred in just one day, my thought was to at least get some sleep quickly.

The worry 'What if this is a dream?' also crossed my mind.

If this is a dream, I'll probably wake up the moment I fall asleep.

Hoping this reality wasn't a dream, Jinwoo prepared his sleeping place.

(Anonymous 1): Make sure to turn on the broadcast tomorrow, or else I'll find you somehow.

(God of Rain and Sunlight): Me too.

(Father of Crops): Me too.

(Water God of Cheongha): If he's a descendant, he will keep his promise. Everyone, don't worry.

Jinwoo chuckled and turned off the broadcast.

He glanced once at the unidentified egg in his bag, then lay down in his sleeping bag.

"I don't know what your identity is, but come out of the egg quickly. Because I'm curious."

Thus Jinwoo fell asleep, and at that time.

The Saessak Guild Hunters had to dash straight to the Guild HQ. They, who belonged to the Gangwon-do branch, explained the entire situation to the Branch Manager as soon as they returned to the branch.

"...Some man gave a Constellation's sponsored item and left?"

"Yes, he vanished in an instant without a trace. Right before our eyes."

"And that Constellation's sponsored item lifted the mana seal curse instantly?"

"That's what I'm telling you."

Hearing that, the Branch Manager immediately contacted HQ, and the Hunters abruptly found themselves boarding a car heading to HQ.

What was stranger was that the driver of the car was the Branch Manager himself.

To think the Branch Manager, an A-Rank Hunter ranked within Korea's top 50, was driving himself all the way to HQ.

And at this hour, close to midnight?

Something was strange.

Suho, whose life had barely been saved, carefully asked.

"Branch Manager-nim, why are we suddenly going to HQ?"

"The Guild Master apparently wants to hear about the Hunter who saved you."

"...! The Guild Master?"

One of the few S-Rank Hunters in the country.

To think such a big shot would call for mere guild members, wanting to meet them.

Tension flitted across the Hunters' faces.

"He was certainly an extraordinary person, but... to this extent?"

Handing over a Constellation's sponsored item means he has an Incarnation contract with a Constellation. Since there are only about three Hunters contracted with Constellations in Korea, he's naturally someone to be coveted.

'But is it serious enough to even call us in the middle of the night?'

This thought occurred to them. It's certain he's a talent all guilds in Korea would covet, but is it serious enough to call injured guild members directly in the middle of the night just to hear the story? Couldn't they just hear the story roughly through the Branch Manager and then search?

"The Guild Master said that the person who saved you seems to be the same person who subjugated the A-Rank Gate."

"...! Ah!"

All the Hunters exclaimed as if they had realized something. The news heard all day long while at the guild today was precisely the A-Rank Gate 1-minute clear. The news from this afternoon that a mysterious Hunter subjugated an A-Rank Gate in less than 5 minutes and then disappeared.

To be precise, the Hunter known to have subjugated it using an incredible skill within 1 minute, the one all Hunters nationwide are searching for with fire in their eyes.

Moreover, since there was absolutely no trace of him moving as a team, the Hunter who stimulates even more curiosity!

"The place where the A-Rank Gate burst and the Gate you guys subjugated, you know they're close, right?"

"...Yes, they were close."

"You said a mysterious Hunter handed you a Constellation's sponsored item and disappeared without a trace."

"...That's right?"

"Meaning he possesses a skill that allows disappearing without a trace, and if he's such a person, erasing his presence right after subjugating an A-Rank Gate would also be possible."

"Aah!!"

In that case, the conclusion is that the mysterious Hunter who helped the Saessak Guild members is the 'Private' one who subjugated the A-Rank Gate in an instant.

"That's why the Guild Master summoned you directly. Because the guild that finds such a Hunter first will be the winner."

"Ah...."

Now they finally understood the reason.

It was a more important matter than they had thought.

"That Hunter's face, you remember it, right?"

"Yes, I remember."

"You must tell everything without omission. Because if this works out well, your contribution will count as the largest."

"Understood!"

The Hunters struggled desperately to somehow recall Jinwoo's face.

* * *

The next morning.

As soon as I woke up, I turned on the broadcast.

(Anonymous 1): First!

"...Yes?"

This sight of a noble Constellation, and the very one who gave me an EX-Rank skill at that, shouting 'First!' claiming he arrived first.

'The community really ruins people.'

Dumbfounded, I chuckled.

(God of Rain and Sunlight): I thought my neck would fall off waiting.

(Father of Crops): Shit... I thought I'd die waiting.

(Water God of Cheongha): Descendant, you may need to reduce your sleep.

...I only slept for 6 hours. I woke up at 6 AM.

"Well, understood. By the way, esteemed Constellations, what is Coin?"

The 100 Coin I received as sponsorship yesterday.

The turn came to find out how to use this.

(Anonymous 1): Haa, God of Rain and Sunlight, you son of a bitch... you shouldn't sponsor Coin, punk!

(God of Rain and Sunlight): ...I sponsored it accidentally without realizing. Sorry.

(Father of Crops): If Jinwoo gets a taste of Coin... I'll need to manage my wallet properly from now on.

These people, I asked them how to use Coin, but they just kept saying weird things.

What could be inferred from that chat was roughly that Coin is the Constellations' currency.

'Anyway, it must be something good.'

It was a moment when my anticipation rose to its peak.