Training inevitably comes with injuries.
When I learned swordsmanship in the other world, I suffered sword wounds, and when I learned joint locks, I even broke bones.
Blondie is a Regen-type Hunter. A slight crack in a bone like this heals in an instant.
“Theory class? Hunter Kim Taeyang, theory studies don’t really suit you. Ah, sorry. I’m not ignoring you. Oh, you said you like studying…?”
This guy suddenly acted a bit strange.
Blondie had been training with great enthusiasm these past few days. Especially during sparring, he bit his teeth and threw himself into it.
But today, he suddenly said he wanted to attend a theory class.
‘That’s odd. He’s not the type to like theory.’
Come to think of it, most Hunters recruited by guilds already have at least a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
‘He likes studying as well as physical work.’
Kids these days really are different.
I smiled while brushing my index finger under my nose. Even young guys have things to teach you.
“Then shall we do some audio-visual education today?”
For some reason, Blondie’s face lit up brightly. Just a moment ago, he had been trembling as if he were sick.
Two weeks had passed before I knew it.
“Thank you for your hard work, Hunter Kim Taeyang.”
“Yes, Coach…”
Blondie’s face was stiff.
The arrogant attitude he had at first was completely gone.
Other trainers at the center watched Blondie’s transformation and gave a bitter smile.
They said, “If you’re with me, even a raging wolf turns into a tame lamb.”
That’s not it. It’s just that my sincere training reached him.
“This means our short training together is over.”
“Short…? Yeah, it was short.”
The rookie felt like the main character of his life after Awakening and carried himself with a confident air.
But Blondie realized the harsh reality of society.
In that sense, I was nothing less than a life mentor to Blondie.
“Starting tomorrow, you’ll enter the Instance Dungeon, right?”
“Yes, I’ll do well following what I’ve learned.”
“Of course. I trust you’ll do well as a Hunter. The Instance Dungeon Assignment Place is near Annyang Amusement Park. You know the location, right? Come around 9 a.m.”
Blondie flinched when he heard that. Why?
“Um, Coach…”
“Yes?”
“This might be a really random question, but…”
“Yes?”
“What are you doing tomorrow…?”
I blinked at Blondie’s question.
Why ask that all of a sudden? It’s obvious.
The reason I train so passionately is twofold.
First, to enter the dungeon, you need training support. And second… money… no, I don’t feel greed.
I just want the people I teach to survive. Really. I wonder if Blondie knows what a good person I am.
“Tomorrow, Hunter Kim Taeyang goes as a Supporter.”
“…”
“I didn’t expect you’d be so happy you’d almost cry.”
My chest swelled with pride. Sincerity really does connect.
The day of challenge for Awakening—Blondie’s first training day—had dawned.
As I was about to leave for work, my roommate, the Isekai Noble Lord, spoke up.
“Hey, did you get your paycheck?”
“Huh?”
I had gotten paid, that’s true.
But how did he know? Could he be using one of the Eye of Truth’s abilities? No way.
Losing magic power while traveling dimensions wasn’t just me.
Unless you form a Contract with the System here, you can’t use magic.
That’s just the Law of this World.
“Don’t look down on me just because I’m from another world. When I was summoned, basic modern knowledge was input into me, you know? So I know everything and nothing.”
“Know everything? What do you know besides eating?”
He returned from the other world not long ago and naturally has no savings, so money is tight.
Complaining about eating is cheap, but he does eat way too much.
I mean, wouldn’t three packs of ramen a day be enough?
Oh, of course, he should open at least one pre-packaged rice bowl.
But he eats over ten ramens a day. Always mixed with rice.
And he’s eating more and more.
Like an alien race collecting star-marked balls, getting stronger by the minute.
“Unlock hidden folder. New research folder, crane folder inside, then quail and sparrow folders.”
“Huh?”
“Want me to say more? Ring Basement King, Shin-chan is dehydrating…”
“Shut up.”
I swear I didn’t download those kinds of videos willingly. I was just downloading some movies I hadn’t watched yet.
And by chance. Pure chance, they were inside a folder.
I have no greed, but a collector’s urge, so I ended up gathering them one by one. Really.
That’s all there is to it.
I quietly slipped the external hard drive that Katrinne doesn’t know about into a drawer.
Good thing she hasn’t seen it.
There’s nothing impressive on it—just animal documentaries.
Really.
No fur coats.
“They say if you get paid here, you buy thermal underwear and treat yourself to good food.”
“Better quiet down before I shoot your forehead with thermal underwear.”
I warned this shameless eater not to covet my wealth.
“Well, still, on days like this, you know you gotta shoot, right?”
“I’m getting ready for work.”
“Hey, think about it. When your house had no electricity, you came to my place to eat and sleep. Don’t you remember?”
Katrinne’s eyes grew serious.
Her half-modern knowledge made things very annoying.
“At least, you should buy some black bean sauce noodles, right? Hm?”
She held up one finger, then seemed to realize the number was too small and raised three fingers.
“…”
Katrinne hesitated and folded one finger back down.
“See? Isn’t that right?”
I sighed softly.
‘Cup ramen again.’
I quietly called a Chinese restaurant and ordered a large jjajangmyeon and a small sweet and sour pork.
Come to think of it, I had fed her mostly ramen all this time because of lack of money.
She deserved a day like this once in a while.
“You’re going to taste the heavenly flavor.”
Katrinne’s eyes sparkled nervously at my words.
I generously ordered jjajangmyeon for Katrinne and left.
Feeding high-class food like jjajangmyeon to someone as useless and gluttonous as her was basically gambling.
Still, I had a reason for splurging.
It had already been half a year since we returned from the other world.
I felt a bit guilty for not having given her a proper meal until now.
Come to think of it, thanks to Katrinne, I never had to worry about food in the other world.
‘This repays that debt.’
Of course, there won’t be a next time.
I almost couldn’t enter the dungeon.
Suddenly, Blondie got sick and collapsed.
Worried, I went to his house.
For me, it was the dungeon exploration I’d been waiting weeks for.
To awaken quickly, you have to contact the dungeon often.
The only way I, an ordinary trainer, can enter a dungeon is as a porter.
When I arrived, Blondie was groaning with a fever patch on his head.
“Are you feeling sick?”
“Yes, Coach, I’m sorry…”
“There’s nothing you can do. If you’re sick, you’re sick.”
I thought I saw the corner of Blondie’s mouth twitch faintly, but maybe I was mistaken.
“They say exercise makes the man.”
Click.
I locked the door.
“If you can’t go into the dungeon, then there’s nothing else to do. Maybe there’s no point in a Hunter weak enough to catch a cold. Let’s just train together for life. By the way, Hunter Kim Taeyang’s house is big and nice. Must be from a wealthy family? Blondie, being blondie, huh? Haha, why aren’t you laughing? I’m joking.”
Blondie is Regen-type. Even though he said he was sick, his cold vanished within minutes.
Regen-types are really something. Hopefully, it wasn’t a fake illness.
Annyang Amusement Park was crowded with people.
But a Gate had opened at the park’s entrance.
Because the Gate wasn’t closed initially, the area was invaded by energies from another world and transformed into a Dungeon.
Land flowing with magic became uninhabitable for people, and plants and animals no longer grew.
Only rare lifeforms unknown to modern humans remained.
The street food vendors who once lined the park’s entrance had disappeared.
Instead, there were weapon workshops, Magic Stone markets, and an economy built around Hunters.
“We buy scratched weapons and armor!”
“Today’s no ordinary day. To talk about our potions…”
The Boundary of Magic has merchants.
No one knows when monsters might appear outside the dungeon, or what effect the magic boundary will have on their bodies.
Still, many open shops to make a living.
“Hwarang Guild Instance Dungeon training—two confirmed. No senior Hunter accompanying?”
“If not, you can only go as far as Layer 1.”
The Guarder at the dungeon entrance checked Blondie’s Hunter license.
I also had an ID card issued by the gym.
Guarders are soldiers employed by the government.
They help rookie Hunters who request rescue or arrest Hunters committing crimes.
In other words, they’re armed police.
“Have a good hunt.”
With the Guarder’s greeting, we entered the dungeon.
“Coach, this feels kind of unsettling.”
Blondie muttered while looking at the blue veil hanging at the dungeon entrance.
The dungeon entrance is made of magic.
“Just think of it as entering water. Don’t worry, you can breathe inside. Though the oxygen concentration might be a bit different since magic is involved.”
I said that and stepped inside the dungeon entrance first.
As my body passed through the veil, ripples spread and shimmered.
Soon Blondie followed me.
With each breath, fresh air penetrated my lungs.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
A sensation like the cells all over my body waking up spread through me.
“How is it, Hunter Kim Taeyang? Isn’t the air fresh?”
“Ah, yes… though it smells a bit fishy.”
Inside the dungeon, the air is purified quickly.
Still, the smell of blood means someone nearby has been butchering.
The source of the smell was not far.
Just then, someone was walking toward the entrance.
They looked like they had been showered in blood.
“Oh, Trainer Hyunbin, training too?”
“Hunter Kim Cheolsu, also practicing To broadly benefit the human world? How’s your income?”
“To broadly benefit the human world? Ah, hahaha. The sword’s still unfamiliar, so I keep splashing blood everywhere. I made a decent haul today, so I’m heading in. Trainer, want a drink later?”
“Not today. It’s the first day of training. Also, like I said before, Hunter Kim Cheolsu uses the sword well but his angles are off. That’s why blood splashes everywhere. It’s a lack of basic training. You need to cut in the same direction no matter when you swing. Come to the center. A little training will fix that fast.”
Hearing me smile, Kim Cheolsu’s pupils shook as if from an earthquake.
Blondie looked like he understood Kim Cheolsu’s feelings.
Why? What’s going on? Is there something I don’t know?
“No, you can’t just learn everything from one to ten. I’ll get skilled soon too. Ah, it’s already time! See you later! Oh, our vice guild master said to contact you with the business card I gave last time when you Awaken, okay? Yeah, then!”
Kim Cheolsu hurried off after that.
I felt a little disappointed and licked my lips.
When you take the training package, I get sales commission. It’s more profitable than just training.
Of course, I have no greed.
If I train someone, I can participate as a Supporter. That means more chances for Awakening.
If someone as strong as me from the other world Awakens, I’m not exaggerating when I say we can close nearly every dungeon.
That literally means peace for the people and safety for the country.
I’m not Awakening for popularity, money, or women.
So let’s try Awakening just once. Today feels like a good day.
-System connected.
Huh?
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