The Village of the Weak Goblin.

As anyone would expect, the capture of the F-Graded gate, which was the lowest-ranked gate, went smoothly. With the Tutorial Guide, Bae Sang-Su, guiding them and keeping them safe, the Hunters attacking the dungeon ruthlessly hunted the goblins. Their tension and fear had disappeared after the first few goblins were easily dispatched. Humans were adaptable creatures, and they were adapting to the title of Hunter. Among them was someone who was the most worthy of the title Hunter out of all of them.

“Um…”

“Guide Bae?”

“Where should we be going now?”

Lee Jun-Kyeong was acting alone, conducting a solo performance. He wasn’t learning how to be Hunter. No, he had been born as one. By hunting goblins alone, he was truly living up to his new title.

"Keeeeeeek!"

It was so much so that the goblins, who had only ever raged toward the Hunters, ran away screaming.

[You have frightened away many goblins.]

[You have completed the ‘Goblin Hunter’ achievement.]

[Your stats have increased slightly.]

Lee Jun-Kyeong was hunting goblins while listening to the notifications.

‘Goblin Hunter…’

Hunters deemed a few things important, one of which was achievements. Achievements were obtained when a person conducted a particular act or received someone’s recognition. While various rewards were based on achievements, the most common reward was an increase in Hunter’s stats.

‘...to think I’d have gotten it already.’

However, it was difficult for Hunters to obtain achievements. They were only obtainable if a person had enough skills to overwhelm the monsters. In most cases, Hunters with some experience would return to lower-ranked gates to obtain them. However, Lee Jun-Kyeong was different.

There was another important factor in earning achievements.

[ <The Sky of the Apocalypse> is by your side.]

The presence of the Sponsors. Very rarely, for some unique Sponsors, they could raise the level of a Hunter’s existence just by sponsoring them. <The Sky of the Apocalypse> was such a Sponsor.

“T…The confrontation is over,” said Bae Sang-Su in a trembling voice. Lee Jun Kyeong turned around and swung his spear, shaking off the blood from its tip.

"Kerruk…"

While there were a few goblins still left alive, most of them had been fatally wounded and had fallen on the floor. Most of the goblins were lying down, collapsed, with their lives slowly fading with each breath.

There weren’t many goblins in the fallen horde, maybe a little over a dozen. However, one Hunter had killed nine of the goblins alone during the Tutorial Graduation Ceremony.

'He’s overwhelming.'

Bae Sang-Su was sure Hunter No. 7 would become an overwhelming Hunter.[1] 

‘Maybe… he might end up comparable to them.’

There were great Hunters who had made a name for themselves around the world, like the Hunter Association’s President. Maybe he would find Hunter No. 7 among them soon. Or maybe even above them.

"Keruk!"

Bae Sang-Su spoke up again as he heard the voices of the goblins coming from afar. “There isn’t much further to the Boss! From this point on, we will be proceeding without a break!”

“Understood!”

“Damn it! I want to kill some of them too!”

“Let’s go together!”

The Hunters responded loudly at Bae Sang-Su’s orders. They had forgotten their fear and selfish ideas of self-preservation after seeing Lee Jun-Kyeong’s performance. Instead, it felt as though they had finally found the essence of what it meant to be a Hunter: confidence and anticipation. All the shouting Hunters became filled with these emotions.

***

"We’ll be at the boss room soon."

Bae Sang-Su had slightly softened his voice. They had arrived at the final barrier of the lowest dungeon gate. 

“It would be a mistake to assume the Boss would be the same as the goblins we have hunted thus far.”

The boss was a different breed, though it may have been the lowest-ranked dungeon with the highest survival rate. Even for Bae Sang-Su, a Tutorial Guide and a senior Hunter, it was impossible to predict all of the unexpected situations the group may encounter, even if he assisted them. The Boss of a gate could be considered a gate itself. It was a completely different existence from the common, widespread monsters that came before it.

“We will be checking our equipment here. Don’t try to save your potions. Take them if necessary. Inspect the condition of your weapons and armor, and examine your body for any issues.”

Bae Sang-Su slowly spoke according to the manual and thoroughly advised the Hunters. It was all a precaution, just in case. The Tutorial Graduation Ceremony always consisted of an attack on the lowest level gate. However, there had still been quite a few recorded fatalities. This wasn’t because the Tutorial Guides had been weak. Rather, there were many cases in which Bosses often had skills or strengths that had greatly exceeded expectations. When combined with the increased arrogance of the Hunters, who had gained confidence after dealing with ordinary monsters, this often led to unnecessary deaths. 

“You must not let your guard down.”

After giving one last warning, Bae Sang-Su started his own maintenance so that he could be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances to avoid losing the Hunters. The same went for Lee Jun-Kyeong.

'Great.'

He had checked his stamina, maintained his weapons, adjusted his armor, and evaluated his condition. He had no issues. Instead, he was in the best state. 

‘Is it not there yet?’

Lee Jun-Kyeong was waiting for something. As he had read in the book, his level rose quickly while it was still low. He had leveled up once more while traveling to the boss. He was quickly leveling up and reaching levels of power that matched his awakening D-Rank.

‘It’s still not there yet.’

He hadn’t obtained the power he had been waiting for.

The Demon King had the inconceivable power of the Player. However, being a Player was only his foundation. Lee Jun-Kyeong still hadn’t received the powers that had earned the Demon King his moniker. While the Demon King had multiple powers, Lee Jun-Kyeong had thought he would have obtained at least one of them. If he was able to receive it, then..

‘I can grow even faster.’

The Demon King had been a genius. Unlike Lee Jun-Kyeong, who was armed with the knowledge of the future and the sponsorship of <The Sky of the Apocalypse>, the Demon King had been a genius on his own merit. Whether in battle or strategy, he was a genius said to be the best at killing and destruction. They were on entirely different levels.

‘Still, he died.’

Even though he had been a genius.

Even though he had been sponsored by <The Sky of the Apocalypse>.

Even though he had those incredible powers, he had still died.

Died at the hands of the Twelve Heroes.

Lee Jun-Kyeong knew he wouldn’t be any different. He had obtained the power of the Demon King and was in a similar situation. No, he was in an even more extreme position. If things went the way he wanted them to, he could be met with more enemies, stronger enemies than that of the Demon King.

‘If things ended up like this, I’ll die too.’

He would die in a manner in which even all the opportunities he had been able to seize would have been futile. Therefore, Lee Jun-Kyeong set his biggest goal. It wasn’t a complicated one, nor was it grandiose.

Get stronger.

‘More so than anyone else.’

He would do anything to fulfill this plan. The priority was to obtain what the Demon King had even faster than the Demon King did.

"Are you all ready?"

It seemed like quite some time had passed while Lee Jun-Kyeong was thinking.

Nod.

Not a single Hunter raised their voice. It might have been that they instinctively knew that the Boss was nearby. The Hunters had begun to act a little more carefully.

“Then… Let’s set off. Everyone, please stand behind me.”

Bae Sang-Su sent the Hunters, whom he had stood in the front until now, behind him and stepped forward. No one complained about the new formation. 

“You all should be able to feel it. This is the magic power that the Boss exudes.”

The Hunters and Lee Jun-Kyeong could feel the charged air. It was a sticky magic power, so concentrated and dense that it felt like a weight upon their bodies.

"Kerrleuk!"

Goblins, seemingly more powerful than the goblins the Hunters had dealt with so far, were crying out and approaching. They may have come to herald the existence of a Boss.

“I will take care of the goblins.”

However, there was no need for the Hunters to make a move. 

Thump thump.

As soon as Bae Sung-Su made his announcement, the goblins running toward them suddenly became sliced into pieces and dropped to the floor. While everyone widened their eyes in surprise, Lee Jun-Kyeong reacted differently.

‘That’s a mature Hunter.’

He wasn’t shocked or awed. Rather, he analyzed and accepted the result. While he had lived in a world full of Hunters, it was rare to see the power of Hunters up close. That sort of power was the strength of a fully matured Hunter. However, this was before many Hero-Level Hunters had been born or the lower level’s ranking readjusted.

‘It’s impressive.’

It was a completely different method from how Lee Jun-Kyeong had been killing goblins. He wasn’t even able to see what had actually killed them either.

‘I would have died if Bae Sang-Su was my enemy.’

“It’s the boss!” yelled Bae Sang-Su. Everyone looked to where their Tutorial Guide was staring. The monster had a stature that was so large that it was impossible to believe it could have been a goblin. But, unlike the ones before it that only held sharp cutlery, it was holding a huge club studded with thorns.

“An orc…?” said Bae Sang-Su in bewilderment. To think that there was an orc within the goblin’s nest. Everyone was shocked by the unimaginable combination.

“Hunter No. 7!”

However, watching Lee Jun-Kyeong running forward without a hint of hesitation shocked Bae Sang-Su even more.

***

Lee Jun-Kyeong knew to be afraid of the boss. He also knew that having an orc as the Boss within a goblin’s nest was strange. Orcs were not monsters that should have appeared within a lowest-ranked gate. Instead, they were monsters that would appear at the minimum as a D-Grade monster or an E-Grade Boss. It didn’t fit into an F-Grade gate at all. Lee Jun-Kyeong knew he should have listened to Bae Sang-Su’s instructions. For most hunters, it would be difficult to scrape a win against a Boss in the first gate that they entered even if they followed the orders and commands of the Tutorial Guide.

Lee Jun-Kyeong knew all of this.

"Hunter No. 7!"

He ignored everything, racing towards the orc as soon as he saw it. He wasn’t stupid or arrogant. He wasn’t reckless. He had a reason to rush towards the orc.

[<The Sky of the Apocalypse> commands you.]

It was a voice he heard as soon as he saw the orc.

[Dispose of the orc.]

It was different from the courteous voice he had heard up until now. It was a little more direct, similar to the voice he had heard when Heimdall had stabbed him with the shining sword. It was rare for the Sponsor to speak to a Transcendent directly.

[Mission Start.]

‘A mission. They’ll give a reward.’

It was finally the opportunity for Lee Jun-Kyeong to possibly get what he had been waiting for. If he could get it at this point, it would make things much easier in the future. 

‘Just like the Demon King…’

Furthermore, while missions were not easily given, the circumstances changed when one was favored. A Sponsor’s favor was the key force behind creating truly powerful Hunters. He had to grab the favor that was being presented to him. So many things would change if he could only get the favor. For Lee Jun-Kyeong, he was confident that he would win this favor. At that point…

‘The most important thing is dealing with the orc.’

It wasn’t because he had received the mission instructions that were like the orders of his Sponsor. Instead, it was a challenge Lee Jun-Kyeong wanted to overcome himself.

The mission to deal with the orc wouldn’t simply end with its death. He not only had to deal the most damage to the orc but also had to grab its aggro. In other words, he would have had to become the boss’s antagonist, the boss's primary target.

"Chwiik?"

The orc had its attention drawn to the rushing Lee Jun-Kyeong.

“Haah!”

Without hesitation, Lee Jun-Kyeong took a breath and threw the spear in his right hand. The spear arced across the sky, accelerating faster and faster. Hurtling almost relentlessly, the spear rotated as it traveled like a typhoon.

Puheuk.

The spear drove deep into the orc’s shoulder.

“Damn it!”

However, Lee Jun-Kyeong was not happy with the damage he had inflicted. The deeply embedded spear had gotten stuck in the wrong spot, missing his intended target. His intention wasn’t to hit the shoulder but the heart. He had tried to pierce its heart in one blow, but he had missed and only damaged the orc’s shoulder.

"Cheweek!"

The orc emitted a ferocious scream, swinging its huge wooden club at Lee Jun-Kyeong. 

Clang!

The spear wasn’t the only weapon Lee Jun-Kyeong had been holding. He used the shield in his left hand to block the wooden club.

"Ugh…”

However, it was difficult for him to block its enormous power entirely. The entry-level shield wasn’t even qualified to be considered proper equipment and had crumpled beyond repair in a single attack.

“Keruk!”

Lee Jun-Kyeong vomited blood after receiving the blow.

Tap, tap, tap!

Fortunately, he used the momentum from the blow to reach his spear, tearing it from the orc’s shoulder. Then, he tossed the useless shield to the side as he retreated with his spear.

“Hunter No. 7!”

He could hear Bae Sang-Su calling out to him and could sense the confusion and shock exuding from the guide.

‘I can’t let him get involved.’

Bae Sang-Su was beginning to react to the sudden situation. No matter how strong the orc was, there was no way it would be able to match Bae Sang-Su. If the guide ended up intervening, the orc would be taken away from Lee Jun-Kyeong. Basically, he would fail the mission.

Worried about that happening, Lee Jun-Kyeong quickly shouted at Bae Sang-Su, “Please allow me to attempt to deal with him!”

"..."

Bae Sang-Su didn’t respond and fell quiet, as if he was considering the situation. The rookie Hunter’s request was so dangerous and absurd that he wanted to protest. As a guide, it had developed to the point where he should be stepping in.

‘That Hunter wants to try it.’

Not only that, but Bae Sang-Su also wished to see him try it on his own as well. He could tell that the request didn’t stem from the arrogance of someone who had overestimated his abilities without ever taking a hit. After all, the rookie Hunter was willing to try even after he had already endured a blow.

‘He really is different.’

Hunter No. 7 really was different.[2] Bae Sang-Su had become filled with anticipation, and it was a scorching hot feeling that made him feel conflicted.

“W…We would like to fight as well!”

“Wouldn’t it be okay to get involved once it became too dangerous?”

“I really want to try facing the orc!”

The other Hunters only served to fuel the fire within Bae Sang-Su as seeing Lee Jun-Kyeong dealing with the orc exhilarated him.

“Okay. However, I will get involved if there are signs of the situation becoming dangerous.”

Bae Sang-Su gave his permission, and someone immediately made a move.

“Hah!”

Lee Jun-Kyeong, who had been dodging the orc’s wooden club, thrust his spear again toward the orc’s head.