[Experience gained!]
I was a C-tier Executioner at level 30. The experience I earned from single-handedly defeating the A-tier Seid was the result of three years’ worth of accumulated experience—something I had toiled for without fail.
In an instant, my level jumped from 20 to 50.
[Congratulations, you have reached level 50!]
[Congratulations, you have successfully ranked up!]
After three years of hard work without any level increases, my rank finally rose. I had advanced from a C-tier Hunter to a B-tier Hunter.
The skill ‘Execution’ was upgraded, and my mana regeneration rate rose significantly.
… Insane.
But the Grim Rewards didn’t stop there. The experience boost was only the beginning; greater rewards awaited.
[Top Contributor Reward has been calculated and will be granted now.]
[Profession Upgrade: ‘Lightning Minotaur Slayer [A-Rank Profession]’ has been granted!]
- Effect: Strength +5, Vitality +5.
[Magic Upgrade: ‘A-Rank Gate Shortest Clearer [A-Rank Profession]’ has been granted!]
- Effect: Speed +5.
In an instant, I received two professions.
Considering that having over 20 points in Strength lets you maximize the skill ‘Execution,’ the effects of these professions were incredibly strong buffs.
[Top Contributor Reward calculation completed! Rewards are being granted now!]
There was no sign of the system window’s notifications ending.
Rewards were being handed out nonstop, and the guild members were breathing heavily as they hit the channel repeatedly, so much that my eyes hurt.
(Anonymous 1): This is it! This is what I needed! I have to grow to this level before I can even think about joining the major leagues!
(God of Rain and Sunlight): That Anonymous 1 person is more formidable than we thought.
(Farmer’s Father): I’m surprised by the skill support too. An EX-rank skill support? Anonymous, what exactly are you?
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Probably at least Hero Rank.
(Anonymous 1): Hohoho, no need for formalities. I don’t care about money or skills; just use whatever I have.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Can you even handle that much power?
[Anonymous 1]: Hearing your voice irritates me. Just enjoy your anonymity.
(Farmer’s Father): Quiet, everyone! Jinwoo just received a new reward!
(God of Rain and Sunlight): He single-handedly defeated an A-Rank Seid in under a minute. The rewards must be beyond imagination. I’m curious.
I read the chat as I waited for the rewards.
The ranks of guild members were divided into Commoner, Hero, Elite, True Elite, and God Class. It seemed Anonymous 1 might be stronger than expected.
Even if the skill was EX-rank, to use it so effortlessly means he probably wasn’t a casual Hero.
Then, the reward arrived.
… What the hell is this?
[Mysterious Unnamed Badge (Secret Battle Badge)]
- Description: A hidden item that appears when you clear an A-Rank Gate within one minute.
The description was vague, and the item’s rank was unknown as it landed in my hands. It felt like a boulder, about the size of an ostrich egg.
The surface was black and white with a strange aura.
“Do you know what a ‘Mysterious Badge’ is?”
(Anonymous 1): I don’t know. But if it’s a hidden item you get for clearing it within a minute, isn’t that good enough?
(God of Rain and Sunlight): An item rewarded for clearing within a minute? It must be incredibly rare.
(Farmer’s Father): Yeah, carrying that around could be useful.
“What if it’s suspicious?”
(Anonymous 1): It’s going to be revealed in a year anyway. If it’s strange, then that’s a pity.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Indeed…!
Anonymous 1’s words were met with nods from two guild members.
I didn’t bother showing any displeasure. After all, it was Anonymous 1 who gave me the EX-rank skill support and saved me.
I assumed they were at least Hero Rank or above, so I didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble with them.
‘I heard that even just responding to a regular Hero Rank guild quest grants significant power. It’s better not to provoke someone above Hero Rank.’
I decided to live my remaining year peacefully.
“Well then, I’ll trust you… Just keep doing what you’re doing.”
I placed the mysterious badge into the storage box and closed it. The reward I had received was not just a meaningless prize—it was something that would keep me alive. I had no choice but to be satisfied with preserving my remaining life as a hunter.
[Anonymous 1]: This guy ranked up and gained experience, yet he travels so calmly. I like that. But show us some gate hunting every now and then.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Not sure if it’s slow leveling or what. Having tried EX-rank skills, you’d gain some drive, yet he’s just wandering around?
Seeing the chat from the God of Rain and Sunlight, I paused to think.
Surely, the Neono Strike skill was an incredibly powerful skill.
The sphere kept expanding, with all sorts of explosions and blasts continuing to flash in my mind.
But…
“I only have a little time left to live. Trying to get greedy for skills and keep playing hunter doesn’t make sense. I’d rather enjoy the rest of my life.”
I honestly sent the chat message after that thought.
“Oh, right, thank you both, guild masters, for saving me.”
(Farmer’s Father): … I should probably support him as well.
I only gave a simple thank you, but one of them was envious and two were gracious.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Hehe! Worth the support. Keep up the live stream.
(Anonymous 1): Thanks, but don’t forget, skill support is a huge burden to bear.
I carried that burden silently.
That’s why I could be even more grateful.
*****
When the greatest gate in the Republic of Korea was announced, everyone rushed to the guild hall to report.
The Gangwon Province branch of the guild headquarters rushed to the place where the A-Rank Seid had appeared.
Gates with monsters pouring out of the portal were rarer than expected.
However, when one appeared, the damage increased exponentially, so security devices and barricades were promptly set up.
When such gates appeared, an emergency alert text was sent to the residents, and the nearby guilds immediately mobilized their emergency response teams.
“Hurry! We don’t know where the A-Rank monsters will attack!”
Hunters from the surrounding guild branches moved faster than usual toward the Seid’s location, and within five minutes, all relevant guild personnel had arrived at the gate.
“Equip your gear and charge!”
“… Um, team leader?”
“What is it?”
The hunters who got out of the vehicle looked confused. The gate had appeared less than five minutes ago, and it was an A-Rank Seid…
“Why is it already cleared?”
The A-Rank gate was already cleared and vanished.
“Well, let’s cautiously enter inside just in case.”
They went into the gate. It was only natural to enter after clearing the Seid to collect magic stones.
Inside the gate, they expected to find the hunters who cleared it.
Of course, Jinwoo had no such thoughts. He had already headed downstream to continue fishing.
The guild members entered the gate without knowing this.
As soon as they stepped inside, they were stunned.
“Crazy…”
The gate’s interior was in ruins.
Monsters were gone without a trace, only pools of blood remained, and the magic stones were all shattered into pieces.
Every corner of the large Seid bore signs of explosions, and the stench of blood hung thick.
‘Is this even possible?’
Not only was it cleared in under five minutes, but it had been destroyed so completely. It was as if a nuclear bomb had been detonated inside the gate. No, maybe even a tactical nuke wouldn’t have been enough to instantly kill a Minotaur.
It was likely impossible to do otherwise.
“Team leader, could the gate have exploded on its own?”
“No.”
A heavy magical aura lingered everywhere.
This was definitely the trace of a skill.
The A-Rank hunter, Lee Kyungsoo, had spread it around.
Seeing the inside of the gate in such a blasted state, it made sense that the monsters outside were immobilized and defeated.
‘He used skills outside the gate.’
Since the gate had appeared less than five minutes ago, the hunter who cleared it must still be nearby.
“I’ll report to headquarters. You all find the hunter who cleared the gate. No matter what, we need to bring him back to the guild.”
Kwangsoo was convinced that there was no hunter in Korea with such immense power.
He assumed that the hunter was recently awakened and thought that they had to be found and brought back to the guild at all costs.
So all the guild members began searching the area after exiting the gate.
Anyone who looked like a hunter was questioned about the gate. An hour later…
“Did you find the hunter?”
Kwangsoo asked his team after receiving orders from the guild chief to find the mysterious hunter.
“No one resembling a hunter was found. The gate clear notice board was set to private, so no information is available.”
“You mean no one found him? The guy who disappeared without a trace after clearing the gate?”
“… Yes, although there was one person by the riverside nearby, he was fishing quietly and didn’t show any intention to get involved.”
Near the riverbank, there was no one except an ordinary person who didn’t even seem aware of what had happened.
“Wait, you said someone was fishing near the river close to where the gate appeared? Could that person be him?”
“…..!!”
The guild members hurried to the riverside.
The hunter had already disappeared without a trace.
“What the hell! No matter how strange he is, he should’ve at least asked about the gate!”
“Sorry.”
Kwangsoo’s cold glare fell on the group as they silently admitted their failure.
*****
[Anonymous 1]: Hey, I gave you skills, but can’t you at least feed me?
I resumed fishing right after clearing the gate.
After about ten minutes, the fish stopped biting, and I started to get sleepy.
The guild members, quietly enjoying the calm, got into a car and headed for the nearby riverbank for more than thirty minutes.
Today, I planned to sleep by the river and eat the fish I caught, salting them to preserve.
(Farmer’s Father): Embarrassingly, I’ve never eaten fish before. I want to try some too.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): It’s strange that a supported guild member says that. If you’re going to eat, shouldn’t Anonymous be the first to eat?
“Don’t fight. You two didn’t even eat in the first place.”
(Anonymous 1): There must be a way, right? If it’s okay to receive support, why not to give it?
What kind of strange logic was that?
I rolled my eyes in disbelief but picked up two grilled fish.
“… Hey, you there, are you ready?”
The ‘Guild Members’ Streamer’ characteristic of this game has two types of skills.
One is receiving support, and the other is offering tributes to guild members.
“I heard each guild member can receive tributes once a week?”
(Anonymous 1): Who raised your level? Me, right?
(God of Rain and Sunlight): It’s a burden for a supporter to hide in the Neono Strike, so…
“Of course you should.”
Holding two grilled fish, I used the Tribute skill.
The two grilled fish disappeared, and then…
[Anonymous 1]: … This is insane. It tastes amazing. Supporting isn’t a burden at all! This is the taste of life!
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Eating fish from your hometown… it makes me tear up. Enough, Jinwoo. Supporters aren’t burdened.
(Farmer’s Father): … Jinwoo, since you’re getting support, please accept tributes too.
Actually, the Farmer’s Father was thinking the same.
If I’m going to give this much support, I should receive some too.
I nodded in agreement.
[Silver-Tier Life Elixir, Farmer’s Father has donated a buff-type food item!]
‘Buff-type food item…?’
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