Due to the recent Earth Dragon Disaster, the vigilance of the entire nation skyrocketed.
There had been a similar incident in Australia.
The descent of the so-called Black Dragon, a four-star monster.
At that time, even the S-rank Hunters were fully mobilized, but they could not stop it alone and had to receive support from neighboring countries.
In the end, they managed to stop the disaster, but the damage was enormous.
If anything had gone wrong, Korea could have suffered the same tremendous losses as Australia.
Thanks to that, my own value shot through the roof.
With just a single successful raid.
- The cause of the four-star monster ‘Dragon’ incident lies with an awakened criminal…
- Disaster agency declares ‘Villain War’.
- Villain bounties! Rewards from 20 million to 1 billion for reports!
- Famous domestic guilds, including Myth, support the Villain Bounty. In favor of active crime eradication.
The danger of Villains who caused this incident was once again in the spotlight.
In truth, it had been 11 years since the Gate Incident, and people had gotten rather complacent.
Around Dungeons, unique business districts had formed, and even when a Gate appeared, people no longer felt fear and would pull out their phones to record.
It was an era where seeing a floating island drifting over the city led people to snap proof shots and upload them to SNS as if it were normal.
Of course, just because awareness had risen, there was no guarantee how long it would last.
Anyway, as the Disaster Director said, the war against Villains had been declared.
- Increasing Villains. Far too few Guards compared to the number of Villains.
- Hunter Lee Hyunbin appointed as Korea’s second Special Guard.
Normally, Hunters are indifferent to things that don’t earn them money.
News that I had been officially appointed as a Special Guard to face Villains spread quickly through word of mouth online.
⨽Isn’t the Delivery Man who caught an Office Worker the perfect fit?
⨽Looks like the Agency folks are finally working again?
⨽Of all S-rank Delivery Men, he’s the most likable.
⨽About the comment above, by any chance…?
Sometimes it’s fun to read the comments when an article is posted. Am I just an attention-seeker? I guess I am.
⨽But is it normal for a Civilian Hunter to have public authority?
⨽That’s true.
⨽It’s kinda shady.
“Shady…is your…face.”
Of course, there were some voices of concern. Most of those making such comments were from the Hunter circles.
Because they could enter a Dungeon without the need for bidding or anything, it must feel burdensome.
They’re worried about monopolization.
- Director Shin Chae-ho of the Disaster Agency, in response to a large number of petitions, including from Hunter Lee Hyunbin, is actively moving toward recognizing Hunters who worked hard during the disaster as National Merit…
Director Shin is certainly not some clueless man just sitting in a chair.
Usually, government agencies are always the target of criticism from the public. No matter what they do, people accuse them of wasting taxes.
Now, with my reputation at an all-time high, they put me at the forefront and began active PR campaigns.
- Hanul Guild’s Hunter Lee Hyunbin donates all shares of raw materials from the Dragon’s corpse to disaster area welfare.
The tough scales from the Dragon’s body fetched quite a price.
Since I took it down, it would seem natural that all the shares belong to me, but that wasn’t the case.
After all, those who participated in the battle also deserved recognition.
So, I boldly donated my entire share.
⨽Isn’t the Delivery Man a real big shot?
⨽Wow, if it were me, I’d be foaming at the mouth that it’s all mine!
⨽Honestly, people complaining that he got government privileges as a Civilian Guild member should reflect. If anyone deserves public authority, it’s someone like this who gives up all personal gain.
Thanks to that, favorable public opinion was spreading in the community.
Honestly, being praised everywhere is dizzying.
Still, who knows how long it will last. Public opinion can change in an instant.
Having a good image will definitely help with future activities.
After taking a break and web surfing, I checked the system messages.
-Current Assimilation Rate is 45%.
After defeating the Earth Dragon, the assimilation rate rose to 45%.
In other words, it means I’ve recovered nearly half the power I originally possessed.
-Communication with the Holy Sword Laevateinn has not been restored.
Unfortunately, communication with the Holy Sword still hasn’t connected.
-Hero Skill List
Close Combat (LV Max), Phantom Step (LV 3), Mago’s Eye (LV 2), Soul Breaker (LV 1), Leadership Increase (LV 3), Weapon Master (LV Max), Hero of Salvation (LV Max), Order of Knights (LV 1)
A new Order of Knights skill has appeared.
It’s an ability to train and strengthen knights who once served me.
Looking at the skill list brings back old memories.
The knights who were always by my side. With this skill, I’ve finally met the minimum conditions to create my own knights, just as the Demon King said.
There are a few people who come to mind for the Order of Knights. I’ll have to pick them when the time comes.
I know all the Hero skills, so that’s fine. But there’s a new skill on the Porter side that I have no idea about.
-Porter Skill List
Inventory Activation (LV 3), Inventory Freshness Maintenance (LV 2), Surface Invincibility (LV 1), Sterilization Invincibility (LV 1), Cleansing Invincibility (LV 1), Inventory Storage (LV 4), Domain Declaration (LV 1)
Domain Declaration.
A weird skill that seems exclusive to Porters.
“Domain Declaration.”
When I stretched out my hand and uttered the skill’s activation phrase, a pattern of letters appeared in the air.
Hexa Blocks spread out, centered on where I was standing.
“Storage.”
A can of soda within the Hexa Block’s range disappeared from my view. Checking my Inventory, I saw it was stored inside.
This is pretty neat.
An ability that creates a domain and lets me control the space within as I wish.
It’s fun. Checking out new stuff is always enjoyable.
Because I was low on mana, repeatedly activating skills made me feel a bit dizzy.
I checked my Status Window.
-Porter Lee Hyunbin LV 35
-Strength: 52 + 99
-Agility: 72 + 99
-Stamina: 40 + 75
-Mana: 10 + 51
-Luck: 30 + 55
Even with the buffs, my mana stat was only about 61. That means there’s a limit to how many times I can use skills.
Most of all, this new Domain Storage skill eats up a ton of mana, even though it’s a Porter skill.
With my current mana, I can use it consecutively about three times.
Maybe it’s because my proficiency is still low, or maybe for some other reason, but it’s oddly exhausting.
Well, if I keep using it over time and raise my proficiency, its performance will improve and the fatigue will decrease.
Still, the best way is to level up.
Having a high Level isn’t everything, but having good Physical stats definitely gives an edge.
‘I should raise my Level a bit.’
Right now, the average Hunter Level in Korea is between 30 and 40. For now, my goal is about Level 40.
I accessed the agency’s Network to check the Dungeon list.
I looked through the list of Dungeons spread across the country.
Let’s see.
From the lowest level to mid-level Dungeons, there are plenty right near my house.
I left home and set out alone to clear Dungeons.
After a long while, Im Jaejoon went to work at Hanul Group’s headquarters.
“You’re here.”
“Yeah, I’m here.”
The one he met in front of the chairman’s office was his eldest brother, Im Jaeho.
Still looking at him with hostility.
“Heard you’re doing well these days?”
“Yeah.”
“Lucky bastard.”
“It’s not luck.”
Im Jaejoon curled his lips and continued.
“It’s just that some people have a good eye for talent.”
“What? You little punk…”
“The Chairman wants both of you to come in.”
After exchanging tense stares, they fixed their clothes and entered the room.
There sat the giant of Hanul Group, Chairman Im.
“Im Jaeho.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“What’s your problem?”
“Sorry?”
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Im Jaeho was flustered.
The Chairman picked up the newspaper on the table and tossed it at Im Jaeho.
Thud.
The newspaper, hitting Im Jaeho, fell to the floor, its front page reporting on Hanul Furniture’s CEO Im Jaeho’s secret night party.
“If you want to play, do it with your own money. I sent you over to the furniture division after you wrecked the guild!”
“Uh, this is… this article is wrong.”
“Wrong, you say?”
Chairman Im, tiger-like, clenched his teeth, showing his anger.
“The mistake was not kicking you out sooner.”
“F-Father…”
“At least try to measure up to your brother. Even half. No, even a quarter.”
That was why Chairman Im had sent the two in together from the beginning.
He spread out another newspaper.
There, a story about Hanul Guild’s rapid rise took up the page.
-Hanul Guild surges from 21st to 10th place!
-Hanul Group stock prices rising!
-Hanul Guild. If they could do this well, why didn’t they before?
While Im Jaejoon’s expression didn’t change, his brother Im Jaeho’s face was flushed red and pale in turns.
The guild he managed had plummeted from 21st, but once his younger brother took over, it suddenly gained fame and rose sharply.
“Father.”
“Am I still your father right now? Get your head on straight.”
“S-sorry. But if you gave me S-rank kids like Jaejoon, who wouldn’t do well? Honestly, the best Hunter I had running the guild was B+. Comparing us is a bit much.”
“A bit? A bit?”
Chairman Im sighed repeatedly as if he was at a loss for words.
Though still young, Im Jaejoon had the dignity of a king’s son.
He never acted rashly and always managed himself well.
Most of all, those eyes.
If only that kid were the legitimate heir, not an illegitimate one—how wonderful it would be.
Chairman Im savored the mood of an old king.
‘Of course, nothing’s impossible.’
Thankfully, this was not an era where everything went to the legitimate son alone.
“Recruiting an S-rank Hunter was Jaejoon’s—no, Director Im’s doing.”
“…”
“And what about that Porter? Isn’t it Director Im who brought him in and made him S-rank?”
“……”
Getting S-rank Seohyeonji was fine. She focused more on entertainment than on being a Hunter.
But now, the presence of Lee Hyunbin, who awakened as an S-rank Supporter, was enormous.
‘Lucky bastard.’
Im Jaeho bit his lip in frustration.
At first, he’d laughed at how Jaejoon spent six billion to recruit a newly awakened Porter.
He’d called his friends to mock Jaejoon for hanging himself with his own hands.
Even their father, who always sided with Jaejoon, shut his mouth after he became Guild Master, tilting his head in disbelief.
But in the end, that blunder turned into the best choice.
Lee Hyunbin became the country’s fifth S-rank Hunter, and thanks to the dramatic events and circumstances, was hailed as a national hero.
‘The bubble will burst soon anyway.’
He was doing well now, but it was just luck. It won’t last.
Im Jaeho poured curses upon his younger brother.
“What’s the current market share?”
“2.5%.”
In just a few months, they had reached a top-10 market share.
It was a guild, supported by the group, that had once been mocked for throwing money down the drain.
“With the FA Hunters and newly recruited members training and joining next season, we should be able to rise to the top five.”
“Top five.”
Chairman Im stroked his chin and smiled, apparently pleased by Im Jaejoon’s report.
In contrast, Im Jaeho’s face darkened even more.
“That friend is a real blessing. Invite him to dinner sometime, will you?”
“He’s quite busy these days. I’m not sure if he’ll have time.”
“Too busy to meet the group chairman?”
“He’s even busier now that he’s been appointed as a Special Guard.”
Chairman Im smiled at Im Jaejoon’s words.
“That guy is really sharp. How did such talent fail every guild interview until now? Company interviews, that’s the problem. Certificates, degrees. What’s the point? Hunters just need to fight well. Can TOEIC scores help you talk to monsters?”
Chairman Im joked, looking steadily at Im Jaejoon.
Im Jaeho resisted the urge to storm out as he saw how differently the Chairman looked at his brother.
“Raise that friend well. Watch out for competitors trying to stir up public opinion.”
“You don’t need to worry. He’s good at managing public sentiment.”
“Right. I heard his Level was still low. Isn’t there anything the group can support?”
“It’s alright. It’s not low anymore.”
“Why?”
Chairman Im’s question made Im Jaejoon smile wryly.
“He’s already reached Level 50.”
“What?”
“What kind of nonsense is that…”
Im Jaeho shut his mouth under the Chairman’s ferocious glare.
Just as Chairman Im trusted Im Jaejoon, so did Im Jaejoon trust the Hero.
The Hero who, in another world, won impossible battles and drew his sword for others without asking for anything in return.
The Hero who fell with fatal wounds, having pushed himself in an impossible fight.
The knights risked their lives to withdraw the unconscious Hero.
But the enemy bypassed the enraged knights and ambushed the Hero.
Im Jaejoon still couldn’t forget that scene.
Ordinary citizens became meat shields to protect the Hero.
Limbs severed, bones exposed.
Even as their bodies were pierced, they protected the Hero.
A gruesome display of death spread out before him.
The sight of the furious Hero rising again in the midst of it all left a deep trauma.
“That friend has trauma, too.”
If you’re not the strongest, you’re nothing.
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