Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Dark red blood dripped steadily from the troll’s wounds and splattered onto the ground.

Chaeho lightly nudged the massive corpse with the tip of his boot.

There was no response at all from the muscles beneath its tough hide.

Its knee tendon had been severed, and the vital point beneath its neck had been pierced through. The mutated troll was completely dead.

Leaving the horrifyingly huge corpse behind, Chaeho adjusted the position of the sword sheath at his waist and continued deeper into the cave.

With the most unnatural and dangerous presence now gone, the cave actually felt strangely quiet.

Normally, in a Gate of this size, the boss monster responsible for maintaining the dungeon’s balance and its group would be located somewhere near the deepest section.

It did not take long before Chaeho reached a wide cavern.

Damp moss covered the floor like a carpet, and standing in the center was a giant Ratman leader with the strength of an ordinary D-rank monster. Several surviving Ratmen surrounded it.

Squeak! Screech!

The moment they sensed Chaeho’s presence, the Ratmen’s red eyes flashed as they bared their teeth.

But after enduring the murderous pressure of a C-rank mutated troll just moments ago, their threats felt no more intimidating to Chaeho than a neighborhood stray cat hissing at him.

“There are just a lot of them.”

Chaeho drew his sword again and adjusted his grip.

Without the slightest hesitation, he charged straight into the middle of the Ratman group.

The first two Ratmen leaped toward him, their sharp claws aiming for his throat.

But Chaeho did not stop.

He did not even bother slowing down.

He twisted his upper body ever so slightly, allowing the claws to miss him by a paper-thin margin.

Then, using nothing more than a quick snap of his wrist—

Slash!

He cut through both of their necks one after another.

Blood sprayed through the air.

Breaking through that crimson mist, the giant Ratman boss charged at him while swinging a heavy club.

The weapon tore through the air with a dull, violent sound.

In the past, Chaeho would have immediately activated his skill, even if only for a brief moment, so he could accurately read the attack’s trajectory.

But now, there was no reason to waste the skill he had been carefully preserving.

His senses had already been sharpened to their limit while fighting the mutated troll.

The Ratman’s clumsy shoulder movement and poorly balanced stance were completely obvious to him.

Instead of retreating from the incoming club, Chaeho stepped forward.

Half a beat faster than the Ratman expected, he entered directly inside its reach.

Slice.

There was a soft sound, almost like leather being torn.

Chaeho’s sword passed precisely beneath the giant Ratman’s armpit.

The blade cleanly severed one of its most vulnerable vital points.

The monster could not even scream properly before collapsing onto the ground.

With their leader dead, the surviving Ratmen panicked and tried to retreat.

But Chaeho’s footwork was much faster.

Every time his sword cut through the air, another helpless monster crashed to the ground.

There was not a single unnecessary movement.

Within only a few minutes, every enemy inside the wide cavern had been eliminated.

Chaeho calmly watched the remaining traces of mana disperse into the air as he loosened his shoulders.

“As expected, my body really does feel lighter than before.”

He caught his breath and began collecting the mana stones without the slightest hesitation.

The fact that he could now move like this and control a battle without relying on Time Slow meant something important.

His fighting style was developing in exactly the right direction.

Hunter Association, Settlement Center No. 3.

Holding his waiting number, Chaeho checked the electronic display showing that it was finally his turn and approached the counter.

He removed the backpack hanging over his shoulder and dumped a heavy pile of leather and mana stones onto the appraisal table.

“Thanks for your work. I’d like to settle the rewards from a D-rank Gate.”

The employee put on a pair of thick gloves with a mechanical smile and began sorting through the contents.

He skillfully separated the thin hides and small mana stones belonging to ordinary Ratmen.

Then suddenly—

His hands stopped.

“Uh...?”

The employee’s eyes fixed on the unusually large and thick pieces of hide with their rock-like texture.

Then his gaze moved toward the enormous mana stone glowing with a distinct red light.

He looked up at Chaeho with an alarmed expression, as though something had gone terribly wrong.

“Excuse me, Hunter. Where exactly did you get these?”

“They came from the Area Four D-rank Gate I just cleared.”

“What?”

The employee frowned in confusion.

“That should definitely be a stable-type dungeon... A mana stone and hide of this size couldn't possibly come from an ordinary D-rank monster. Even with just a quick look at the texture and mana wavelength, this should belong to a monster at least around lower C-rank.”

“There was one mutated individual mixed in.”

At Chaeho’s calm response, the employee swallowed dryly.

A D-rank Hunter without even a fixed party had entered a stable Gate, encountered a mutated monster with C-rank combat power, killed it alone, and returned alive.

It was difficult to believe under normal circumstances.

But the undeniable evidence was sitting directly on the appraisal table.

“Ah... Yes. Please wait for a moment. I think these will require a detailed appraisal.”

The employee hurriedly carried the hide and mana stone toward the advanced appraisal equipment in the back.

A while later, he returned after checking the machine’s data several times.

His face was filled with undisguised astonishment.

“It has been officially confirmed as material from a mutated troll. This particular individual developed an unusually advanced form of skin hardening, so the hide should be extremely useful for producing armor. The mana stone is also quite pure.”

The employee quickly typed on his keyboard before turning the monitor toward Chaeho.

“This amount includes the basic rewards for monopolizing the dungeon materials, the boss drop items, and most importantly, the premium purchase price for the mutated monster materials. Please check the total.”

Chaeho silently looked at the number displayed on the screen.

In the past, when he worked as a porter in a C-rank party and handled every unpleasant job that the others avoided, this was the kind of money he might barely have seen after months of exhausting labor.

And even then, only if the party became exceptionally lucky and gave him a small share of their windfall.

This was different.

He had earned all of this from a single raid.

Through nothing but his own judgment and strength.

“Please proceed with that amount.”

“Of course. I’ll transfer it to your registered account immediately. Good work today, Hunter.”

After leaving the settlement center, Chaeho pulled his smartphone from his coat pocket and checked the mobile banking notification.

When he saw the amount clearly sitting in his account, a pleased chuckle escaped him.

It really is different.

He could finally feel it.

His improved combat ability and judgment were directly transforming into immediate and tangible income.

There was no need to show off in front of others like some high-ranking Hunters.

There was also no need to gamble his life recklessly.

As long as he prepared properly and acted carefully, he could earn more than enough money.

Even though he had suddenly gained a large amount of cash, Chaeho did not let himself get carried away.

His next destination was the Hunter-exclusive shopping district near the Association.

He did not even glance at the massive stores filled with flashy top-of-the-line equipment.

Instead, he entered a practical weapon shop located farther inside an alley.

“Welcome. Looking for anything?”

The owner wiped his grease-stained apron and greeted him in a rather blunt tone.

Chaeho removed the sword from his waist and placed it on the counter.

“The blade is badly damaged.”

The owner drew the sword from its sheath and examined it from several angles.

“Good grief. What the hell were you hitting inside the dungeon? The blade’s chipped all over like someone knocked its teeth out. This isn't something you can fix with a whetstone anymore. You’ll need a new one.”

“I know. I pushed this one pretty hard while going through several dungeons. Please recommend something with a similar balance but better durability.”

“Let’s see...”

The owner nodded before bringing several swords from the storage room.

They were not expensive weapons whose prices had been inflated with flashy decorations or unnecessary mana enchantments.

They were practical steel swords made purely for a Hunter’s fundamental needs—

cutting and thrusting.

Chaeho picked up one of them and lightly swung it through the air.

The weight settled naturally into his wrist, and its balance was far better than his previous sword.

“I’ll take this one. Also, please replace my worn-out breastplate and wrist guards with equipment around the same grade.”

Chaeho completely avoided unnecessary spending.

He only purchased practical equipment that was absolutely necessary for actual combat and would not interfere with his movements.

It was a reasonable investment.

One that would prevent a loss in combat effectiveness and allow him to continue his future raids more safely.

Carrying his new equipment in both hands, Chaeho’s steps felt far lighter than they ever had back when he carried heavy luggage as a porter.

An old neighborhood packed with small multi-family houses.

After passing through the familiar narrow alleyways, Chaeho arrived in front of his parents’ home.

He entered the code into the peeling electronic door lock and stepped inside.

“I’m home.”

The moment he passed through the entrance, a loud rattling sound came from the balcony.

It was the old washing machine.

Every time it entered the spin cycle, it shook so violently that it almost seemed to dance on its own.

The refrigerator squeezed awkwardly into the corner of the kitchen was not much better.

Whenever its motor started running, it produced a deep, unpleasant humming sound.

His mother, who had been sitting on the living room floor trimming bean sprouts, raised her head.

“Son, you’re back earlier than I expected. You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

“No. Today’s Gate wasn’t anything serious. Where’s Father?”

“He said he was tired and went to lie down in his room a moment ago.”

Chaeho placed his bag on the floor.

He looked at the refrigerator.

Then he looked toward the noisy balcony.

Normally, these inconveniences were things he barely paid attention to.

But today, they stood out more than usual.

Chaeho dropped onto the living room sofa and pulled out his smartphone.

He opened an online appliance shopping app and began searching through different models.

He ignored complicated smart features.

Instead, he selected a sturdy modern washing machine and refrigerator with plenty of basic capacity.

Then, without hesitation, he pressed the purchase button.

Next, he opened his banking app and transferred a generous amount of living expenses into the account his parents shared.

Ding-dong.

A moment later, a deposit notification sounded from his mother’s old smartphone nearby.

She casually checked the screen.

Her eyes widened.

“Oh my... What is all this money? Chaeho, why did you send so much into our account?”

“Today’s Gate settlement paid pretty well. I found somewhere that gave me a fair price for the hide and mana stones. There are probably plenty of things you need around the house, so don’t hold back. Spend it comfortably.”

His mother immediately frowned.

“Still, you can’t just give us this much money all at once. Replacing your old equipment and buying things like potions must cost a fortune. Did you leave enough money for yourself?”

“I already replaced my equipment, and I have enough left for myself.”

Then he added casually,

“Oh, and I ordered a new washing machine for the balcony and a refrigerator for the kitchen. The installers will come the day after tomorrow, so you only need to open the door for them.”

His mother placed the basket of bean sprouts onto the floor and approached him with a deeply worried expression.

“You haven’t been pushing yourself too hard lately, have you? I heard you quit that regular party and started going into dangerous hunting grounds by yourself. Earning a lot of money is nice, but what if you get overconfident, go somewhere dangerous, and something terrible happens? Your father and I are perfectly fine living like this.”

Just then, the bedroom door opened.

His father had apparently come out into the living room as well.

“Your mother is right. Every morning and evening, the news talks about Hunters getting injured. Seeing you suddenly spend this much money makes your old man too nervous to even sleep. That work might pay well, but everyone doing it is putting their life on the line, aren't they?”

There was far more concern than happiness on their faces despite the large amount of money their son had brought home.

Chaeho could clearly feel how deeply his parents worried that he might get hurt—or worse.

He slipped his smartphone back into his pocket and gave them a calm smile.

“Don’t worry. Protecting my life comes before anything else, so I never push myself beyond what I can handle.”

“Really?”

“Of course. You know I’m the first person to run away when things become dangerous. I don’t recklessly throw myself into fights either.”

He continued reassuringly,

“I just happened to get lucky this time and found some expensive monster materials. So don't worry about it. When the new refrigerator arrives, just fill it with lots of good food for me.”

His voice was as steady and calm as always.

Only then did the heavy worry covering his parents’ faces slowly begin to fade.

“I’ll sleep here tonight. It’s been a while, so let’s have breakfast together tomorrow too.”

His mother sighed.

“All right, all right. There’s no winning against a grown son once he makes up his mind. I’ll cook plenty of meat tomorrow morning, so hurry up and wash yourself.”

“Okay.”

Chaeho watched his mother return to the kitchen with a relieved expression.

His father quietly cleared his throat before returning to his room.

Chaeho leaned deeply into the sofa.

He imagined the loud noises of the old appliances disappearing from the house soon.

His family’s daily life would become a little quieter.

A little more comfortable.

He had gained the power to make the movement of the world slow down to an extreme degree.

And with it, he now had the opportunity to earn amounts of money that the porter version of himself could never have dreamed of touching in his entire life.

But what he truly wanted was not some grand authority.

Nor was it extraordinary fame as a Hunter.

It was something much simpler.

To protect this ordinary and peaceful life his family had—

securely, without allowing anything to threaten it.

That alone was more than enough reason for him to continue entering real battles, training himself, and becoming stronger.

Chaeho quietly closed his eyes.

The tension that had kept his body tightly wound throughout the entire day slowly faded away.

The comforting scent of a peaceful evening drifted through the small living room.

To be continued.