While moving with Kang Baeksan, I checked the reward for saving Yongjun, the Advanced Random Box.
**[Legendary Achievement, ‘One Blessed by Luck’ has been acquired!]**
…The reward from the Advanced Random Box was none other than a Legendary Achievement.
**— Effect: The Luck stat is unlocked, and the Luck stat increases by 100%.**
I immediately checked my Status Window.
The value had increased by 100% due to the ‘One Blessed by Luck’ achievement, added on top of the base stats. Combined with the effects of the ‘Sword That Surpassed Limits’ and ‘Path of the Constellation’ achievements, plus food buffs, my current Luck stat easily exceeded 30.
‘This is a really high value.’
(Anonymous 1): You’ve obtained a good achievement.
‘What is this?’
(Returnee from the Demon World): It seems to be a Luck stat, literally.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): It probably just makes you luckier. I don’t have that stat, so I wouldn’t know for sure.
(Warrior Who Buys Death): I am also unsure.
The other Constellations also seemed uncertain, only guessing that it was likely a good stat. Then.
(Anonymous 1): I had that stat once. It’s gone now, though.
(Liberated Swordsman): ?!
(Anonymous 1): It is a stat that literally brings you luck. The more you raise it, the more absurdly lucky you become. For example, if you buy a lottery ticket, you’ll win first place.
‘…!’
(Anonymous 1): So, from now on, whenever you gather stat points, put them into Luck without fail. Your other stats are already high enough.
He was right; my other stats were already quite high.
‘I understand. Thank you.’
I took the advice of Anonymous 1. Just then, Kang Baeksan turned toward me and spoke.
“You can come in through here.”
“Understood.”
***
Baeksan looked at Jinu with a puzzled expression. Unlike many young people these days, his eyes were incredibly clear. Baeksan believed that while a person could lie about anything else, they could never hide the truth in their eyes.
He had lived his life judging people based on their first impressions through their eyes. Some of his acquaintances said this method was nonsense, but…
‘What can I say? My gut has always been right.’
If he felt someone’s gaze was sinister, they inevitably turned out to be a villain. As a devotee of the eyes, Baeksan observed Jinu closely. No matter how much he looked, the young man’s eyes were too clear.
They were kind, clear, and deep—a gaze that shouldn’t be possible for someone his age.
“You must have suffered a lot, haven’t you?”
Baeksan asked the S-rank Hunter—the S-rank Hunter who claimed he wouldn’t work as a Hunter anymore—out of the blue.
‘….’
Jinu had expected a recruitment pitch to return to the field, so he was slightly caught off guard, but he didn’t let it show as he replied.
“Yes, I suppose I have a little.”
“Could I hear a bit of your life story? Now that I’m older, I don’t get many chances to speak candidly with young people.”
(Returnee from the Demon World): That’s just Kang Baeksan’s personality. He’s not testing you; he’s genuinely curious about your life. He’s a sincere man in his own way.
Jinu decided to trust the words of the Returnee from the Demon World, Kang Min-seok, and continued the conversation.
“I’m terminally ill.”
“…!”
It was a blunt confession that skipped all the pleasantries.
(Anonymous 1): Look at this guy, just throwing it out there.
Baeksan’s eyes widened.
“What?!”
“I have a daughter. Originally, I was a C-rank Hunter, a swordsman.”
The fact that he had been a C-rank Hunter was already a matter of record. As soon as Jinu became an S-rank Hunter, all the information previously recorded with the Association became accessible.
A man who had been a C-rank Hunter suddenly gained a Spiritist trait and jumped to A-rank within half a year. An A-rank with double traits was surprising enough, but now he was an S-rank.
‘Why did a Hunter like this live so quietly until now?’
If he were a double-trait A-rank, guilds would have been in an uproar trying to recruit him. Baeksan had wondered about that, but now his question was somewhat answered. Jinu was traveling as a retired Hunter in the first place, and since he was terminally ill…
‘If he’s terminally ill, that changes things.’
Even then, there might be guilds trying to recruit him regardless, but to ask a Hunter with limited time to work under them until he died? That wasn’t something a decent human being would do.
Because of this, Baeksan fell silent.
How could he tell a terminally ill Hunter, “Since you’re an S-rank, please work hard for the country,” especially when the Association hadn’t done anything for him? Moreover, the man had a daughter!
As a father who also had a daughter, Baeksan looked at Jinu with sorrowful eyes.
Whether Jinu noticed his gaze or not, he continued his story.
“It’s mana poisoning. It happened because I spent every day in dungeons as a C-rank Hunter. I’d work as a porter when I was too tired to fight, then go back to hunting when I could. By the time I paid off my debts and saved some money, I found out I had mana poisoning.”
“….”
Baeksan groaned inwardly. Jinu’s situation was more pitiful than he had imagined.
“Since I have a daughter, I decided to retire and travel… but somehow, I awakened the Spiritist trait, and many spirits began to follow me.”
He meant that he had gained more family. It was hard enough to leave a daughter behind, but to have spirits as well… Baeksan was also a Spiritist. He had become a first-generation legend by achieving results that surpassed most S-ranks despite being an A-rank, thanks to the Spiritist trait’s infinite potential.
“Spirits are family.”
“That’s right.”
Jinu nodded, agreeing with Baeksan.
“I decided to take a step back from my busy life and find some leisure. That’s when luck found me.”
It was the truth.
Though it was somewhat forced, everything had started going well the moment he found some peace. Even after awakening his ability as a Streamer for the Constellations, if he had obsessed over hunting and survival as he had before, he likely wouldn’t have grown this much, nor would he be this happy. In that sense, he had given similar advice to Boyeon when they met in Gyeongju.
Jinu’s gaze drifted for a moment as he reminisced before turning back to Baeksan. Baeksan genuinely empathized with Jinu’s perspective.
“You’ve realized something important despite your youth. I only realized it in my old age.”
“You flatter me.”
“Mana poisoning, though….”
Baeksan also knew how terrible a disease mana poisoning was.
Even for an S-rank Hunter, who was considered the pinnacle of humanity, survival wasn’t guaranteed unless it was caught in its early stages. It was one of the most feared incurable diseases of the modern era, where one could suddenly explode or die of shock while writhing in pain.
Of course, it was accompanied by excruciating pain…
‘But when have Hunters ever been the type to go to the hospital willingly?’
To earn a bit more money, to finish one more raid, they would endure and endure until they finally collapsed. Kang Baeksan, who had been active since the early days, had seen countless colleagues vanish in that manner.
“…So, even now that I’ve become an S-rank, I don’t want to belong to any organization or work as a Hunter. This time I’m spending traveling with my family is too precious to me. If a dungeon breaks or a wave occurs in the places I visit, I will definitely go to suppress it, but I don’t want to do it out of obligation.”
“I understand.”
As Baeksan, he could fully understand that sentiment. Not only had he experienced numerous life-or-death battles, but he also had family members who were more important than his own life. Moreover, this young man before him was terminally ill; he must be in even more pain than Baeksan could imagine. As the days grew shorter, his worry for the family he’d leave behind would only pile up like snow.
Of course, Jinu was extending his lifespan day by day through the Path of the Constellation, but Baeksan, unaware of this, couldn’t help but feel doubly worried and sympathetic.
“It might be a rude question, but… how much…?”
Baeksan tried to ask how much longer he had to live, but then he stopped himself. It truly was rude.
“I have 1 year left.”
However, Jinu, sensing his intention, answered coolly without any sign of offense.
“….”
Baeksan groaned again. There was even less time than he had thought. If he were in Jinu’s shoes with only 1 year left, he would never risk his life as a Hunter either. He was actually grateful to Jinu for saying he would step up if a dangerous situation occurred.
“…Shall we walk for a bit?”
Jinu smiled and nodded at Baeksan’s suggestion.
“Aren’t you busy?”
“I’m not busy. What would a retired Hunter serving as a Branch Manager have to do? I just sit in my seat and sign documents.”
Jinu chuckled. The Busan Branch Manager was also the brother of the Hunter Association President. He was a first-generation legend who had reached the world rankings as an A-rank. Even though a whole day wouldn’t be enough to list his achievements, Baeksan was this easygoing and jovial.
(Returnee from the Demon World): Didn’t I tell you he was a good person? I met him a few times in the past. My memories were a bit fuzzy, but seeing him now brings them all back.
‘You’re right. He’s a very good man.’
Jinu agreed with Kang Min-seok’s words.
“Are you okay for time?”
“I’m fine.”
“Then… let’s have dinner. My treat.”
“If it’s alright with you, Branch Manager, may I treat you instead?”
“What? No, I can’t let you do that. I’m the Busan Branch Manager. It would be against the law for a Hunter to buy me a meal.”
“Ah, it’s just that I wanted to cook for you.”
Since Baeksan had heard Jinu’s life story, he knew that the young man enjoyed cooking.
‘He did say he traveled in a nice camping car and enjoyed cooking.’
Baeksan made his decision.
“In that case… I will gratefully accept.”
The two of them left the Association together. The sun was already setting, casting an evening glow over the city. After walking for a while, they arrived at the park where Jinu had parked his camping car.
“Would you like to come inside?”
“It’s alright. The weather is nice and the view is good, so I’ll wait out here for a bit.”
Jinu had secretly worried about what to do if Baeksan agreed to come inside. It was a polite gesture he had made subconsciously, so he was relieved when Baeksan declined.
Just then.
“Daddy!”
Byeol came out of the camping car.
“Byeol, come say hello. This is the Busan Branch Manager of the Hunter Association.”
“Hello! I’m Kim Byeol!”
The spirits that followed her out didn’t hide their forms and greeted Baeksan as well.
— Hello!
— Nice to meet ya!
— Hello there!
As Jinu had become an S-rank Hunter, the grade of the spirits had also grown. They appeared to be around the level of Intermediate Spirits, but their power and presence somehow gave the impression that they easily surpassed High Spirits.
Baeksan summoned his own spirit. His spirit body was a tiger.
— Greetings.
After the spirit greeted them, it activated transparency. It wouldn’t be good to show a tiger form to everyone. Jinu’s spirits smiled and greeted the High Spirit as well.
“This spirit’s name is Baekho. He’s one of my earliest spirits.”
“He’s a magnificent spirit.”
“….”
Baeksan looked over Byeol and Jinu’s spirits.
‘It’s a shame. Such a shame.’
Each spirit was well-trained, and their potential was immense. Moreover, Byeol was truly cute and kind.
‘To leave such children behind because he’s terminally ill… the heavens are truly indifferent.’
Baeksan’s eyes grew red.
‘Maybe it’s because I’m getting older. I’m becoming too emotional.’
No, he would have been sad even if he were younger.
Thinking that, Baeksan looked at Byeol.
“Would you mind if this old man gave you a hug?”
“Hehe, okay!”
Baeksan gave Byeol a warm hug.
“Byeol, while your father is cooking, why don’t you play with this grandpa for a bit?”
“Hehe, I’d love to!”
Baeksan summoned more of his spirits so Jinu’s spirits could play with them. Maru, Baekgu, and Sol looked at the High Spirits who possessed their respective elements. They shared warm stories like uncles and nephews. After about 5 minutes had passed…
*Whoosh!*
Baekgu, Sol, and Maru all opened their eyes wide, radiating effects in their unique colors.
*Flash!*
(Anonymous 1): They’ve become High Spirits.
The realization they gained from Byeol and the natural talent the spirits possessed had instantly come to fruition. As if they had been waiting for this exact moment, they simultaneously promoted to High Spirits.
Sitting on Baeksan’s lap, Byeol’s eyes widened, and she clapped her hands.
“Wow! Everyone! Congratulations!!!”
Seeing this, Baeksan rubbed his reddened eyes with both hands.