ML Chapter 51

Swoosh swoosh swoosh!

Swords, axes, maces.

Dozens of weapons poured down like rain. But I could see clearly. Where and how each attack was aimed.

I dove into the gaps.

Slash—

Taking off the head of a C-rank monster, a Lizardman Warrior, was just the beginning.

Blood spurted from all directions as my spear drew an arc.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

• You have killed [Lv.40 Lizardman Warrior]!
• You have killed [Lv.41 Swamp Lizardman]!
• You have killed [Lv.40 Swamp Lizardman]…

“Kiiiii…”

The survivors retreat hesitantly.

These creatures that were spewing killing intent at their racial enemy now trembled in fear.

But only for a moment.

“KWAAAARGH!”

• Boss monster [Lv.52 Lizardman Chieftain] has appeared!
• Skill [Battlecry] is being used!

At least twice the size. The air explodes with the Lizardman Chieftain’s roar as he brandishes a massive mace. The retreating Lizardmen regain their senses and form ranks at their leader’s appearance.

And here I thought it would end easily.

Team Leader Choi’s leisurely voice came from behind.

“Think you can handle it?”

“Rich coming from someone who hasn’t lifted a finger for days.”

“Different story. This is a C-rank Gate.”

“Then help me out.”

After pondering, Team Leader Choi answered:

“Can’t do that. I’m wearing limited edition gear today. Would break my heart if blood got on it.”

“…Want me to really hurt you?”

With each exchange, my insides twist and my neck tightens like I’m taking internal damage.

Fighting monsters is better than this.

As I stepped forward decisively, Team Leader Choi dropped a comment:

“Retreat is also an option.”

The guy standing back with folded arms, worried about blood on his limited edition gear, makes a fair point. A painful point.

And…

“Why bother when there’s a better way?”

Up ahead, monsters surge forward like a wave, led by the Lizardman Chieftain. A mix of C and D-rank monsters—a force no ordinary C-rank Hunter would dare face.

If I were an ordinary C-rank Hunter, that is.

Status window open.

Ding.

The system responded instantly.

A week after returning to Hunter work, my status window showed level 40 and glowing text at the bottom.

• Remaining Points: 100

Since returning to reality, I hadn’t spent any remaining points. Pure curiosity—wondering how far I could go as I am.

But saving more would be reckless.

30 each to Strength and Stamina. 40 to Agility.

The next moment, remaining points hit zero.

But opposite to that, new power surged from deep within. A different me than just seconds ago stood here now.

Yeah, that’s it.

As my body trembled with euphoria—

“RAAAAARGH!”

The Lizardman Chieftain charged with a roar. Toward the massive mace casting its shadow, I extended my spear.

“First Flash.”

At the spear’s tip, the path of wind opened.

“Huh.”

Choi Minwoo let out a laugh.

The dense blood mist enveloping the swamp, and beneath it the scattered monster corpses, reflected in his eyes.

What is this.

Dozens of monsters including the boss were wiped out in an instant.

All this done by the spear tip of a C-rank Hunter who re-awakened just days ago.

Is this even possible?

A question he’d held since first meeting Jin Tae-kyung. That day he casually went to an E-rank Gate, overwhelming rare monsters that should’ve required two C-rank Hunters.

Plus the power he’d shown over the past few days…

C-rank Hunter? Don’t make me laugh.

The reason for starting raids with just the two of them was simple.

To see the limits of this interesting person. And to avoid others discovering him.

But at this moment, a thought suddenly struck.

Maybe he’s stronger than me… no, impossible.

Minwoo shook off the persisting thought and caught sight of Jin Tae-kyung.

He was holding the boss monster’s corpse—upper body gone—and wailing in anguish:

“No, my leather! This was expensive!”

…Someone like that couldn’t possibly be.

No, must not be.

Minwoo suddenly felt wronged.

Burning Friday. TGIF for short.

While twenty-somethings crowd bars and clubs in groups, I was running Gates with Team Leader Choi.

Once in the morning. Twice in the afternoon. After three C-rank Gates, it was already dark outside.

“Good work, young master.”

A familiar face now. Team Leader Choi called this strong-featured man in his 40s:

“You too, Butler Kim.”

Butler Kim. Not secretary, but butler.

Such an unrealistic title, I thought I’d misheard at first.

I’ve only ever met church deacons.

Back when I got 1,000 won weekly allowance as a snot-nosed kid, he was the thug who demanded 100 won tithe.

Of course, he didn’t call me young master, and when I refused to pay tithe, he muttered I was Satan’s child.

And seven-year-old me had to ask about everything I was curious about.

Mom, are you Satan?

Huh? Satan?

Yeah. The church deacon said I’m Satan’s child.

I’m your child, so you must be Satan, right?

That comment made mom into Satan.

I never got to eat church tteokbokki again, and the deacon nearly went to meet the Lord.

Thinking back, life’s really been a variety show.

“Did you want to say something…?”

Butler Kim’s voice snapped me back.

“It’s nothing. Just lost in thought.”

“Let’s head home now.”

Team Leader Choi had already changed into casual clothes. In his thin tailored suit, he looked just like a celebrity.

Life’s really fucking unfair.

I started removing equipment while grumbling internally. Carefully, of course. I looked up the price on the first day and… let’s not talk about it.

While Butler Kim took the equipment to load in the car, I asked Team Leader Choi:

“What time should I come tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?”

Team Leader Choi asked back in a puzzled voice.

“Today is Friday.”

“Yes.”

“Tomorrow is Saturday.”

“I know Friday comes before Saturday.”

Who’s he taking for an idiot?

“No, I mean.”

Team Leader Choi furrowed his brows.

“You’re not planning to work weekends too?”

“…Isn’t that normal?”

Team Leader Choi asked with a shocked face:

“When do you rest if not weekends?”

“Hmm. When I can’t find work?”

“How often is that?”

“Well, at most once a month if I rest a lot?”

“You were in a guild. Worked weekends too?”

“Yeah, if there was work.”

“Isn’t that violating Hunter labor laws?”

The seemingly perfect Team Leader Choi was ignorant of just one thing.

How the world works.

I smirked.

“What small or medium guild follows that strictly? They all just add extra pay for raids. Well, good for me.”

“What? Good?”

“I go to temp agencies on weekends.

Better to get extra pay from the guild than that. They even pay cash to avoid records.”

“Well, everyone does it…”

Team Leader Choi shook his head.

“Our guild follows labor laws.

Same goes for temporary contracts.”

That’s unfortunate. Looks like I’ll have to hit the temp agency this weekend.

Team Leader Choi watched me licking my lips with his peculiar gaze.

“Why go that far?”

“Why?”

“You’re a C-rank Hunter now. Could take it easier.”

“That’s… because I don’t know when the system might disappear.”

I caught the words trying to jump from my throat. That’s my secret, one I can’t tell anyone.

“No special reason. Got to row when the tide’s in.”

“Row that hard and the oar will break. Think about the people in the boat with you.”

“People with me? You mean you, Team Leader?”

“Well, like…” Team Leader Choi hesitated before continuing.

“Family.”

Family.

Just one word, but warmth seeps into every corner of my body. Though we talk occasionally, I haven’t seen them for over two months. Including time in murim, it’s been three months.

Has it been that long already?

Since father passed away, my life has been like a car climbing an endless hill.

So I had to keep pressing the accelerator. Afraid I’d roll backward if I let up. Afraid the engine would die any moment.

“Anyway, rest on weekends. Don’t think about temp agencies. That would violate the contract.”

“Ah, yes.”

Forcing me to rest like this, Team Leader Choi seems quite decent actually…

No, can’t fall for this level of emotional manipulation. After all the hardships I went through alone.

Team Leader Choi is an evil employer. Evil employer.

Making me rest weekends is obviously to work me harder next week. Just a slave master’s mindset of not wanting energy wasted elsewhere. Ruthless bastard.

“Preparations complete, young master.”

Butler Kim returned from loading the equipment.

That man suffers under an evil employer too. Can’t even go home at nearly 10 PM.

“Ah, about what I mentioned?”

“I brought it.”

“Give it to him.”

At the evil employer’s words, Butler Kim held out a briefcase.

“Here you are, Hunter-nim.”

To me.

“What? Me?”

While blinking in confusion, a thought flashed and I asked carefully:

“Don’t tell me this is money?”

“We agreed on weekly pay, didn’t we? Forgot?”

I did forget. Naturally thought I’d get paid Sunday.

I took the briefcase with a dazed expression. The so-called 007 briefcase had considerable weight.

“Is cash payment normal?”

“Of course not.”

“Then…”

“You said you preferred cash.

Especially crisp new bills.”

Was it yesterday or the day before when I mentioned that casually? Never expected it to come back like this. My evaluation of the evil employer went up a notch.

Though the most important part remains.

Tuesday through Friday. Four days’ pay total. My first weekly pay as a C-rank Hunter. Can’t help but have expectations.

Gulp. I swallowed and opened my mouth.

“So how much is…”

“Put in a bit more than the contract. Check the settlement details inside. We’re off now.”

“See you next time, Hunter-nim.”

Team Leader Choi and Butler Kim vanished just like that. Everything happened in an instant.

Watching the car’s taillights fade with a bewildered face, I opened the briefcase. Under the dim moonlight, I count the thick stacks of bills one by one.

One, two, three…

60 bundles of 100 bills each. That’s 60 million won.

“60 million? W-wait.”

Did I see wrong? Why are the bills yellowish?

Focusing internal energy in my eyes brightens my vision. And I saw.

On the bills, a kindly smiling lady in hanbok.

“AAAAAH! SHIN SAIMDANG! VIRTUOUS WIFE! MOTHER OF YULGOK YI I! WIFE OF YI WONSU!”

Speaking in tongues burst out unconsciously.

This is crazy. This is insane.

100 Shin Saimdang bills^[1] per bundle, times 60 bundles…

“Th-three hundred million!”

My legs gave out and I collapsed on the street.

Looking at the mountain of cash, I noticed something I hadn’t seen before.

A white paper at the very bottom of the briefcase.

Right. The settlement statement!

I hurriedly unfolded the paper.

It had every detail of the past 4 days’ earnings recorded.

Including the final amount paid to me.

The statement shows 30 million won?

What? Did I miscount?

Confused, so confused. My shaking pupils stopped dead at the final line.

[Bonus: 270 million]

And Team Leader Choi’s final words before leaving.

“Put in a bit more than the contract.”

Rumble.

Thunder and lightning storm through my mind.

I stood up on trembling legs.

Far away, the car’s now faint lights were visible.

It was like a ray of light.

“Ah. Ahhh…”

Team Leader Choi. No, he is ‘Light.’