Jeonghyun’s hands were trembling.
The reason was, of course, the E-rank attribute that appeared on the updated store window.
Although he had hoped for a B-rank attribute, he was satisfied with filling the remaining slot with an E-rank attribute. So, the current situation exceeded his expectations.
“Moreover…”
[“Physical Ability Slight Enhancement” (E, Lv.1), 2C]
Fortunately, it was an attribute related to the strength he thought he needed while fighting the skeleton.
Since he had already secured agility with an F-rank attribute, there was no shortage of power to take down lower-level monsters if this attribute provided support.
‘It would have been nice if something like “Muscle Slight Enhancement” came out.’
It wasn’t a complete miss if it didn’t just enhance strength, but it wasn’t something he was particularly greedy about.
[You have purchased “Physical Ability Slight Enhancement” (E, Lv.1)]
“For now, let’s buy it right away.”
Without much hesitation, Jeonghyun purchased “Physical Ability Slight Enhancement.”
Before equipping it, he took a sip of water.
He remembered the pain he felt while absorbing the attributes.
‘They say it hurts more the higher the rank…’
Even when obtaining an F-rank attribute, it was painful, but he couldn’t imagine how much more intense an E-rank attribute would be.
But hesitating would only delay his growth.
Jeonghyun filled the last of the three available equipable attribute slot without further thought.
This time, the synergy window didn’t appear. However, he didn’t feel any regret about it,
“Ugh!”
Pain that made it impossible to even scream properly came over him.
It was inevitable, as it was a necessary part of building a body to support the significant improvement in physical abilities obtained from these attributes.
Moaning, Jeonghyun tore apart the blanket he was lying on.
Simultaneously, he gritted his teeth hard enough to make a grinding sound.
It was necessary, as there was no other way he could endure it.
‘Dentist… I need to make a dentist appointment!’
Even in a life-and-death situation, Jeonghyun made a resolution that next time, he would definitely biting down on a mouth guard.
***
“Hmm… huh?”
Jeonghyun, who fell asleep as if knocked out immediately after the indescribable adaptation pain, woke up only the next morning.
Due to the accumulated fatigue and pain from hunting at the gate, he had unknowingly fallen asleep.
If the fatigue needed to be relieved by sleeping deeply, Jeonghyun felt more surprise and discomfort than freshness upon waking up for a reason other than feeling refreshed.
Chirp! Beep!
Common noises like bird chirping and car horns sounded extraordinarily loud and vivid, making him wonder if he was sleeping by the roadside.
Jeonghyun, who got up, was still on his narrow one-room apartment bed. However, what he heard, saw, and felt were much more different from before.
“What is this?”
Jeonghyun looked down at his right hand.
Every fingerprint, every bone in each finger, was precisely visible to him.
While before, he could barely focus on one area if he concentrated, now he could see clearly even with slight focus.
He could even feel the weight of a speck of dust falling on his fingers.
It wasn’t the first time he experienced such sensations.
When he equipped the two F-rank attributes before, he also experienced a significant increase in his sensory perception.
If that was a leap to the level of an ordinary person from a non-hunter, this time, it was different.
“Is this… E-rank?”
Jeonghyun couldn’t help but mutter.
Overwhelming sensations that made him embarrassed about feeling satisfied with just his agility attributes and synergies.
And the first thing Jeonghyun realized with such enhanced sensations was…
“My house is a mess.”
Even in the midst of adapting to the pain yesterday, his one-room apartment turned into a battlefield.
Pillows had stuffing coming out, the blanket had turned into a tangled mess, and even springs were sticking out of the mattress.
Considering that the bed, which already took up half of the tiny apartment, looked like that, other things that seemed okay before now looked unbearably dirty.
Feeling overwhelmed by how to handle this situation, Jeonghyun soon corrected his thoughts.
After noticing the bags piled up, including those of Sunhyung’s group, he thought,
“Just buy new ones.”
It would have been unimaginable during his struggling days of dealing with his debts.
But now, Jeonghyun could easily handle such expenses.
He got up, picked up the bags, and left the room.
***
The familiar sight and smell of the workshop.
“Oh, my enhanced senses don’t like this smell.”
But Jeonghyun’s improved senses could no longer accept the familiar stench.
Fortunately, his sense of smell quickly dulled; otherwise, if it hadn’t, hunters who quit due to the smell alone would have been numerous.
As usual, Jeonghyun opened the door and cheerfully greeted the workers.
This time, his greeting was filled with sincerity, even though it had only been a day since he last visited.
“Hello!”
Although he had only missed one day, the team leader, who was drinking coffee near the entrance, looked surprised when he saw Jeonghyun.
“Oh, Jeonghyun, it’s been a while. Why didn’t you come yesterday? Were you feeling unwell?”
“Ah, team leader.”
Jeonghyun was genuinely glad to see the Team Leader. If it were up to him, he wanted to explain in detail about yesterday, whether it was about registering or hunting.
However, it seemed inappropriate to explain significant matters like awakening over the phone, so he had urgently mentioned having important matters and planned to meet and explain in person today.
Ever since he learned about Jeonghyun’s circumstances, he had taken care of him, consciously or unconsciously. This made Jeonghyun appreciate the team leader more.
Jeonghyun glanced around discreetly and talked with the team leader with low voice, “Um, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”
“Oh, sure, sure. Excuse me for a moment.”
The team leader’s expression became somewhat serious. Perhaps it was because Jeonghyun had never asked to talked to him privately before.
As for the other worker who had been chatting with the team leader, he excused himself. Jeonghyun with a somewhat reminiscent expression, spoke to the team leader.
“Team Leader, I’ve awakened.”
There was no intention to keep it a secret from the beginning. Not only had he been grateful for the Team Leader’s consideration all this time, but there was also the fact that it required a visit to the workshop.
“What did you say? You, Jeonghyun?”
The Team Leader’s sunburned face turned serious, with only his white forehead growing more prominent.
Jeonghyun hastily grabbed his arm.
“Yes, yes, but let’s keep it quiet-”
“Hey, everyone! Gather around here! Han Jeonghyun has awakened!”
Whether Jeonghyun wanted it or not, everyone would know in a day or two. Yet, the team leader had no prior knowledge of such a thing.
Without even noticing Jeonghyun’s desperate eyes, the Team Leader cheerfully called everyone together.
The workers inside the workshop, who had been chatting and sharing stories, left their places. They looked at Jeonghyun, and the team leader, with a bright smile.
“Jeonghyun awakened?”
“Oh, that’s good news. Congratulations!”
Everyone laughed and patted Jeonghyun on the shoulder, asking for handshakes. Jeonghyun awkwardly smiled and exchanged greetings.
It felt as if he were in the atmosphere of when someone from the neighborhood passed the civil service exam. People were eager, as if ready to catch a pig.
Maybe it felt that way because it could indeed be a kind of public appearance. It might also be because it was a monster slaughterhouse.
When the atmosphere calmed down a bit, the team leader, still smiling, asked Jeonghyun, “So, what did you want to say?”
There was no need to gather people and discuss it this way.
Blushing, Jeonghyun scratched his neck and said, “Well, I brought the monster materials I caught. I want to sell them.”
The team leader, not missing a beat, exclaimed, “Everyone! Jeonghyun wants to sell the monster materials he personally caught right here!”
“Oh, come on, did it have to be like this?”
“Wow!”
People cheered as if Jeonghyun’s public appearance was long-awaited.
Jeonghyun, who didn’t want to make a fuss right away, bowed his head and said nothing.
“Did Jeonghyun really awaken?”
“Good for him, good for him. Sell it a hundred or a thousand times.”
If he hadn’t come here, people might have been disappointed. People nodded as if they were relieved.
Perhaps thinking they had teased Jeonghyun enough, the team leader, without even noticing Jeonghyun’s grateful eyes, laughed and called everyone together.
“So, you want to say something?”
It wasn’t necessary to gather people and discuss it this way.
Jeonghyun, with a reddened face, began to explain the contents of the contract with the party. Although there was an unavoidable margin during the distribution process, he intended to keep the promise without playing tricks.
The amount that came out after all was around 5 million won (around 4000 USD) for Jeonghyun alone.
It was the amount equivalent to Jeonghyun’s monthly salary, earned in just one day of hunting.
“Since it’s your first time, I’ll waive the commission from the workshop specially. The next time, you will be charged with the fee.”
The result contained the team leader’s favor. In addition, the amount deposited into Jeonghyun’s account was 5,050,000 won, with an extra 50,000 won (around 40 USD).
“Uh, team leader, did this money get in by mistake?”
As the amount was not exactly rounded, Jeonghyun asked in confusion. The team leader, smiled.
“Consider that as pocket money Uncle gives you this as a celebration to you becoming a hunter.”
With that, he left the office.
The team leader was someone who expressed love with money.
After he sold all to his previous workplace, he returned home with unexpectedly large profits, Jeonghyun immediately began handling remaining tasks.
The first was quickly sending the share of the earnings to Sunhyung’s group and sending the settlement details, and next, naturally.
[Store List (Refresh Cost: 2 Coins)
“Meager Healing” (F, Lv.1), 1C
“Decent Grit” (F, Lv.1), 1C
“Worthwhile Archery Skills” (F, Lv.1), 1C
–
“Meager Combat Sense” (F, Lv.1), 1C
Current Coin Balance: 1]
After buying an E-rank attribute, and he needed to think about how he would deal with the remaining 1 coin.
‘Actually, leaving it alone wouldn’t make much of a difference.’
Starting to fully utilize the store made Jeonghyun realize something.
1 coin is extremely precious.
What if, later on, he falls short of 1 coin and misses out on buying a lucky jackpot attribute? That could be a missed opportunity.
Still, Jeonghyun ultimately decided to spend coins on purchasing a attribute like “Meager Combat Sense”
The reason being the condition that if he could collect three of the same attribute, they could be upgraded to the next rank.
Currently, all available slots were filled.
Although he considered buying healing attributes, using them might expose him, making it impossible to avoid attack while he was healing himself.
He had no choice but to rely on the healers in the party whenever possible.
Afterwards, Jeonghyun turned on the internet, bought things like a bed and bedding, and then accessed the HunterNet.
“Let’s see, F-rank…”
To fully utilize the attribute store, Jeonghyun had to become an expert on various attributes.
He needed to anticipate synergies in advance and couldn’t afford to search for attribute every time a new one appeared.
Of course, he wouldn’t easily give up his current agility synergy, but still.
However, as Jeonghyun examined the table with records of F-rank attribute, his attention was drawn to the real-time update document next to it.
“Newbie Hunter?”
Rumors about newbie hunters spread among hunters like half-urban legends, half-serious warnings.
Forgery of low-rank hunter IDs to infiltrate newbie parties, followed by disguised attacks resulting in the deaths of party members.
However, so far, all cases of intentional newbie hunters had been apprehended, and the remaining incidents were classified as simple accidents since they occurred in various regions.
Precautions such as not joining parties from HunterNet external sites, thoroughly verifying hunter IDs, and other obvious measures were added.
“Ah, the world is truly grim. We are already dealing with monsters, and now we need to take safety measures behind our backs.”
Jeonghyun clicked his tongue and returned to the the page he was reading about F-rank attributes.
