Chapter 34
“Ah…”
I found myself shaking Jang Daewoong’s hand without thinking.
“Kehahaha, shy one, aren’t you? So, what class of hunter are you?”
Class?
Oh, he means which batch I became a hunter in.
It’s been three years since I awakened, so that makes me 9th class.
“Ninth,” I answered.
His eyebrows rose.
“Oh-ho, so you’re from the ninth class? You haven’t been awakened for long, then?”
He laughed heartily, then spoke again.
“Haha, to think you were in the same batch as the Dark Lord, Kim Hyukseon… What a coincidence. Well, would you look at that—your abilities are even similar.”
“Yes, well… in a way, I guess. I can still only summon skeletons, though.”
“Hahahaha. What does that matter! That skeleton of yours took down an A-rank hunter.”
His tone was unexpectedly casual.
Like we clicked somehow.
‘No—’
It was more accurate to say he just didn’t carry any sense of superiority.
Most rankers, once they reach that level, tend to get arrogant or feel above others.
“If you’re strong, that’s all that matters. Haha! Just like me. Now that I think of it, I’m curious—what would happen if you made me into a skeleton?”
This guy—no, this musclehead—was straightforward.
He approached me as a person, regardless of my rank.
“Well… you’d lose your muscles. Are you okay with that?”
“Gasp! No way! No! Don’t even joke about that!”
Jang Daewoong recoiled, running a palm over his massive forearm.
His overreaction made him seem like the lovable fool of the neighborhood.
‘A ranker giving off this kind of familiarity…’
Ah…
So rankers were human after all.
I’d honestly put them so high on a pedestal—
I half-expected their faces to glow with golden light.
‘Especially…’
In Jang Daewoong’s case, the contrast with the overwhelming force he’d shown earlier in battle was startling.
“Berserker,” I called suddenly.
I had to say this.
Today, I owed these rankers my life.
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry for the late introduction. Thank you for saving me.”
I bowed ninety degrees, giving a formal greeting.
“Hahaha, don’t thank me for taking out a bunch of bad guys!”
“If it weren’t for you and the others, it would’ve been… difficult.”
Difficult? More like I probably wouldn’t be alive right now.
“Heh, is that so? You even know how to show gratitude in times like this. Polite kid. I like you.”
“Thank you.”
“So, if you’re 9th class, that makes you… 23 years old?”
“That’s right.”
It was easy to figure out a hunter’s age from their class.
This world has been like this for exactly 12 years.
Awakening happens at 20 years old.
So the 1st class has to be 32 or older, and the 12th class is exactly 20.
Every hunter in the world follows that rule.
‘All that aside…’
No need to overcomplicate it—
I’ve had my ability for three years, so I’m 23.
“Haha, so I’m the older one. Call me hyung.”
“…What?”
Hyung Daewoong?
He just wants me to call him that?
Why is he coming in so strong?
It’s a bit much.
“Alright then, since I’m your hyung, I’ll be honest with you.”
“Uh… about what?”
“I’ve been wondering for a while, haha.”
Jang Daewoong rubbed his palms together, his biceps and triceps twitching grotesquely with even that small motion.
“What is it?”
“Ki Soyul. Why is she so attached to you? What’s your secret?”
“Oh! I’m curious about that too, Berserker.”
Out of nowhere, Lee Seonah jumped in.
“Right. That’s actually why we’re here,” Yoo Sangdon added, stepping closer.
Suddenly, all three sets of eyes were on me.
“Ah…”
I was caught off guard.
‘Well… I guess they’d be curious.’
Even with my recent growth, I was still just a small fry compared to them.
‘Kim Junsu…’
I glanced around.
Guessing the mood, he’d already headed home.
“Haha, if you’re not ready to talk, that’s fine.”
Jang Daewoong grinned and nodded.
“Because it looks like the star of the show we’ve been waiting for is finally here.”
“…Huh?”
Star of the show?
I tilted my head—
Ssk!
Without a sound, a figure appeared.
“Talking about me behind my back? That’s rude.”
Ranked 379th—the Shadow Empress, Ki Soyul.
“Haha, rude? We’ve been waiting for you.”
“Oh, Shadow Empress! You’re here?”
“Hey, Ki Soyul, that’s a bit cold. I even left my food unfinished because of your call!”
Yoo Sangdon grumbled.
“Do you even realize what it means for me to leave food? You should be grateful.”
“That’s actually touching.”
Ki Soyul gave a small chuckle.
Then she looked at me.
“Donghoon.”
“Y-Yes?”
I blinked.
“I told you before—I’d introduce you to someone who could change your life.”
Her jet-black eyes locked onto mine.
The rankers around us nodded knowingly.
“Haha, so it’s your turn this time, Shadow Empress?”
“Well, whoever brings it up first gets the turn.”
“I’m sitting this year out anyway, so I’m fine with it.”
I had no idea what they were talking about.
Gulp.
But I could feel it—
This meeting would truly change my life.
“However,” she continued.
“As you know, there’s no such thing as free information in this world.”
“No such thing?”
“That’s right. To be blunt, I want to help you.”
“…Help me?”
Why?
“You reminded me of myself— the hunger to grow stronger, the will to become a ranker, and even that look in your eyes when we first met. It was like seeing my younger self.”
“…”
An unexpected confession?
Better just listen for now.
“Back then, I had someone help me. That’s how I became a ranker.”
Leaning casually against a lamppost, she spoke.
The other rankers stepped back, giving me space to focus entirely on her.
“It’s the same for the others here. We all had help.”
“So there was a special reason you became rankers at such a young age?”
Her pupils widened slightly.
“You catch on fast. Yes, that’s right. Think about it—With so many hunters active for over 12 years, it’s unrealistic for people in their twenties to be rankers otherwise.”
“Wait.”
Yoo Sangdon raised his hand.
“That’s enough. You’ve already said too much before getting his answer. That wasn’t the plan, remember?”
“…Fine, I admit it.”
Ki Soyul nodded, then turned to me.
“Myself, Berserker, Black Sword, White Boar, and my brother, the Master Archer.”
“…?”
“Can I explain your… specialness to them?”
My specialness?
“You mean my opportunity?”
“Exactly.”
Her point was clear—
If I shared everything about myself, they’d share how they became rankers so quickly.
‘No…’
Actually, she wanted to help me, but to do that, I’d have to reveal my secret.
Only then could she convince the others.
‘Hmm…’
It was a bit of a risk.
I’d just seen how valuable my ‘opportunity’ was—it was enough to make groups attack each other.
‘But…’
These people seemed different.
Ki Soyul trusted them.
Berserker and the Master Archer didn’t need to covet my opportunity— they were already monsters in their own right.
‘Besides, what’s the big deal?’
An opportunity isn’t something they can steal.
The old man of the Ten Thousand Arts was my master alone.
‘And if my life’s in danger?’
If they wanted me dead, I’d already be face-to-face with the King of the Underworld.
“…”
In the end, my decision was simple.
“Why would I hide something like this? Of course I’ll tell you.”
The answer was yes.
Life is about taking the leap when the moment comes.
—
“Hahaha, a master who can beat up Ki Soyul? I’d love to fight him myself!”
“That is impressive. No wonder the Shadow Empress took an interest.”
Berserker and Black Sword both nodded after hearing her explanation.
Clearing her throat, Ki Soyul spoke.
“Ahem. That’s the end of my explanation. Now, we can share our side, right?”
But—
“Hold on.”
Yoo Sangdon still didn’t nod.
His expression was one of shock.
“Hey, you’re all taking this too lightly!”
“What’s wrong, White Boar?” Ki Soyul asked calmly.
“Are you kidding me? An old man who can steamroll rankers? And before that—another world exists? And Sunny’s some kind of absolute ruler over there too? That’s beyond busted!”
He looked at Berserker for agreement.
“Think about it—if he fully awakens, he could have ten ranker-crushing monsters as summons! That’s not a monster, that’s a calamity!”
“Hah, so he’s going to be that strong? Impressive, impressive. Haha!” Berserker laughed.
Yoo Sangdon clutched his chest in frustration.
“No, think this through, Berserker! This isn’t something we can handle!”
“Kehahaha, when you get strong, we’ll fight. Just don’t ignore me then, alright?”
“You lunatic…”
Still looking exasperated, Yoo Sangdon turned to Black Sword.
“Hey, Black Sword! Doesn’t the existence of another world blow your mind? This is headline news!”
“Hmm, I’ve always found this world mysterious.”
“…Huh?”
“Dungeons, status windows, monsters… Sometimes I think I’m in a dream I’ll never wake from.”
“That’s not what I—”
“White Boar,” Ki Soyul cut in.
“The information we’re about to share is just as incredible as his opportunity.”
“Well… I suppose so.”
“There are still many secrets in this world. Or have you forgotten why the five of us gathered in the first place?”
“…Hmph.”
He closed his mouth.
Meaning, fine—do as you please.
“Donghoon.”
“Yes.”
Finally—
It was time to hear their secret.
I straightened my back, focusing.
My heart was pounding.
What could the five of them have been hiding?
“There exists a ranker… who makes rankers.”
“…What?”
What did that even mean?
A ranker… who makes rankers?
“Do you know who recently made headlines as the youngest ranker?”
“…?”
Of course I knew.
Before I got my opportunity,
I’d been an E-rank mercenary, burning with jealousy.
Rank 949—
the Dark Lord.
“…No way.”
“That’s right. The Dark Lord, Kim Hyukseon. About half a year ago, on Berserker’s recommendation, he was the one we chose.”
“…Huh.”
Wait—
So he became a ranker because of them?
My heartbeat quickened.
A bit of heat rose to my head, making me dizzy.
My body stayed calm, but inside I was buzzing with excitement.
“From here, I’ll explain about the ‘Dungeon Maker.’”
Dungeon Maker?
My eyes widened, and I focused intently.