LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 7: Adaptation
The next day.
[ahn yoon-seung, asked about the first A-class transmutation gate: “I don’t know anything about it…”]
“Those bastards at Seonhan Daily, did they really pick a headline like this?”
Clack, the man checking the online newspaper on his desktop nervously slammed his mouse down.
This made the hunter sitting on the leather sofa flinch.
“I think it’s fine…”
“Fine? What’s fine about it? From a quick glance, it reads like you answered that this isn’t your problem.”
“The actual article doesn’t say that at all?”
“Do people look like they’ll read through that long article?”
The head of the Neo Sisters Guild briefly sulked before returning to the glass table and slumping onto the sofa. Opposite him was Ahn Yoon-seung, who had recovered thanks to a healer’s treatment.
“Yoon-seung. Did it really have to be like this?”
He sighed while glancing over the scratches left on Ahn Yoon-seung’s body.
“That… uh, I know some other hunter caught the monster, not you. But you don’t even know that hunter’s name. If they’re stronger than you, they should be famous, but look. Nobody knows who they are from your description.”
“Yes.”
“Something’s fishy. That person could even be an unregistered hunter, yet why did you have to mention such a hunter?”
“…”
“If reporters hadn’t focused on the scoop of the A-class monster, this would be serious…”
“Ha, sir.”
“I’m only saying this for your sake, Yoon-seung.”
The head adjusted his glasses, trying to coax him gently.
“This will only tarnish your career. Who would like to hear you got beaten down investigating an F-class gate mutation and ended up being rescued? Huh?”
“…”
“Why didn’t you just say you caught a golem?”
Even A-class hunters take a hit to their image if they show weakness, which could be detrimental when forming a new team.
After various sentences poured out, the young man remained obstinate.
“I’m sorry. But I felt I had to be honest. It’s the least I can do for that hunter.”
Ahn Yoon-seung set down the paper cup he was holding.
“Besides, that person would never do anything illegal.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. A powerful awakened like that wouldn’t have let me go if they had something to hide, right?”
“Hmm.”
“They were a good person. I really want to do something to thank them…”
As Yoon-seung explained, the head eventually respected his wishes.
Sure. What’s one article? Ahn Yoon-seung is still young. People will focus on his potential rather than his failure.
“If you really feel that way, I understand. Then off you go. Rest well for a while.”
“Thank you.”
Soon after, Ahn Yoon-seung left the room.
The head quietly returned to the computer monitor. He began to scroll the mouse wheel, deep in thought.
“A hunter who simply killed the golem that Ahn Yoon-seung’s team couldn’t handle.”
Dyed hair. Severe crossed eyes.
He recollected the characteristics of the hunter Ahn Yoon-seung had taught him.
‘They can’t be S-class. Ultimately, they must be an A-class upper ranking awakened. But if their name isn’t known, could they be a quietly settled hunter from the countryside?’
Or perhaps an overseas hunter?
Many assumptions rushed in, but none were certain. One thing was clear: according to Ahn Yoon-seung’s testimony, the other party was quite the big shot.
The head scrolled the mouse wheel again.
If such a strong and decent hunter really existed, he wanted to meet them at least once.
A skinny blond man. I wonder what he’s doing now?
*
“Earthlings are gods!”
In a studio apartment near Mapo-gu.
A cult-like cheer echoed in the once-quiet room.
“The god exists! And He’s on Earth!”
I was curled up in the narrow room, holding a black rectangular object about 5.5 inches long.
Let’s get straight to the point.
“The earthling who made smartphones is a god!”
I was currently praising the inhabitants of this planet to no end.
The reason was simple: I finally remembered the unlock method for the belongings Kim Gi-ryeo had.
“Not even part of the privileged class, yet able to access information freely? Is this heaven?”
The incident that got me here occurred just yesterday.
I found out there was a gate I shouldn’t enter. After that, I went home and fell deep into thought.
-Illegal entry! I almost got caught by the police again. This won’t do.
Roaming around Earth without knowledge… yeah, I admit it.
Looking back, that was a terrible idea. So I decided to shift my top priority.
Instead of recovering my magic or earning money, I’d focus on gathering information first.
And while I was pondering where to extract such information, memories of Kim Gi-ryeo’s mobile phone came flooding back.
“Earthlings are gods!”
Now back in the present situation.
‘What should I search for this time? What could it be?’
I’d been fiddling with the mobile phone for already three hours.
In that time, I gathered the following pieces of information.
‘There was a bit of a misunderstanding.’
1. The gate I entered isn’t private property.
2. Each gate has different entry restrictions.
3. Ahn Yoon-seung wasn’t a petty thief…
The most important thing was about gate entry.
Upon further investigation, I found that Korea is a country that takes awakening management seriously, so entry into gates requires permission.
Then, it might be good to investigate the issuing authority for that permission for my future activities.
“First, I should go to the Hunter Association.”
I plugged in the now-warmed-up mobile phone and stretched.
‘Oh no! I forgot to search about golems.’
Just as I remembered the keyword I had missed, the phone’s battery showed only 2%.
So, with doubts swirling in my mind, I prepared to head out.
‘By the way, I walked the same path in the cave, but why didn’t the golem react when I passed, yet woke up in front of Yoon-seung’s party?’
.
.
.
Just noting, my curiosity about the golem was resolved much later in an unwanted way. Even genius alien mages forget what they meant to search for.
*
Korean Hunter Association.
More popularly known as the Hunter Guild.
Gi-ryeo’s house is quite close to this place. I thought as I entered the first floor of the building.
“I’m here to apply for a hunter certificate.”
“Do you have a record of taking the Awakening Test?”
“Yes. I believe I did it last June.”
I steeled myself for a long wait due to the crowd, but unexpectedly, my purpose was achieved quickly.
The attendant typed on the keyboard a few times and returned my ID card, saying, “The procedure is complete.”
“My nutrition cost…”
Though I lost the equivalent of 1.5 bowls of soup in hunter certification fees…
Anyway, I hurriedly headed to the next destination.
“Hello. Is this where the newbie hunter orientation is held?”
The association’s system turned out to be friendlier than I expected.
The Hunter Association fundamentally operated basic education for new awakened hunters.
Though attendance wasn’t mandatory, it was free, so there was no reason not to attend, right?
‘I’m curious about the content.’
Eventually, I arrived at an F-class gate.
I followed the association employee I met there inside the gate.
Inside, a few hunters who arrived earlier were gathered, and soon a uniformed employee began a brief safety training.
“-That’s all for the announcements.”
‘To sum it up, it’s to not act recklessly in front of monsters.’
The safety training was boring but thankfully not too long.
Finally, I thought we might actually have some hunting practice, but I tilted my head at the employee’s next action.
“First, I’ll distribute the equipment.”
He handed over some black object.
It looked similar to Kim Gi-ryeo’s phone, but it was the size and thickness of a brick…
“What’s this?”
As I reflexively asked that, I felt everyone’s gaze on me.
Oh no, did I just show my alien status?
“Don’t you know? It’s a basic analyzer. It’s equipped with Pixie Glass technology. I’ll show you how to use it right now.”
Pixie Glass.
That word felt oddly familiar.
“Once everyone has received it, please use the lens to look at the monster in front of you.”
There’s a saying that seeing is believing. I decided to follow the instruction.
‘That’s the monster of this gate…’
Beep.
Then, the black box displayed red letters like a digital clock.
[Poison Butterfly]
[Grade: F]
“Ah!”
Though it was brief information, it was sufficient to infer the device’s role.
Ah, Earthlings don’t use magic to identify enemies… they use tools!
“All analyzers output data based on information provided by international agencies, and they also support item search functions as well as monster identification.”
“Items?”
“Useful resources. Now, please take a look around and try using it.”
Is this what humanity’s magic tools look like?
With newfound excitement for this toy, I eagerly scanned my surroundings.
Beep.
[-]
It’s meaningless if I point it at a person.
Beep.
[Heat Resistant Fruit]
This must be the item identification function, huh? I brought the red fruit close to the lens, and the name appeared.
Then this should recognize this as well.
Beep.
[-]
…Huh?
“What’s this?”
I lowered the analyzer’s lens to the ground and stood quietly watching. However, the result was silence.
‘You said it identifies useful resources.’
Why isn’t it recognizing this soil?
The reason was easy to guess.
‘Is it only detecting things with mana?’
Using the presence of mana to differentiate between precious and non-precious things.
It’s convenient, but quite inaccurate.
‘They say my hometown used to work like that back in the day.’
I knelt on one knee and reached down to touch the loose soil. I could feel the texture of the damp earth.
‘Anyway.’
At first glance, it looks ordinary. But I knew the value of this.
‘These people don’t know about mana-absorbing materials?’
To find such a rare substance that absorbs mana beneath the ground of a gate used as a beginner training facility!
“Ha.”
I clutched a handful of dirt in my hand and wondered.
Even more strangely, if the study of magic had advanced even a bit in this world, they would surely know what was mixed in here.
Why is it only I who recognize this?
Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.
“Excuse me.”
I called over an employee nearby. Then I spoke right away.
“I have a question.”
“Yes? Please go ahead.”
“Do you know when awakened beings first appeared in Korea?”
Awakened beings.
Though I hadn’t searched it out precisely, I could guess from context.
Probably, the ‘Awakened’ on Earth is similar to the ‘mages’ I know.
‘Someone who uses magic to create mysterious phenomena.’
And the time when Earthlings started using magic was…
“Well, that was seven years ago. Eight years ago during the dungeon shock that awakened beings appeared all over the world.”
Upon hearing that answer, I nearly fell over in shock.
Because back home, we’ve been living with magic for about 60,000 years.
“What?”
That’s right.
In reality, I had been coexisting with magical primitive people all along.
That’s why these people couldn’t recognize such precious magical materials!
“…”
No wonder I thought all their tools felt electric; it was weird…