Chapter 9
[Analysis Post) Proof That Nova's Hidden New A-Rank Hunter Is a Summoner-Class Hunter
Everyone knows Nova officially announced last time that it had secured combat power equivalent to three new A-rank Hunters
There were even comments asking why they bothered saying three people's worth instead of just three people, and whether they'd actually recruited an S-rank Hunter, but that was obviously nonsense
At an S-rank Hunter's level, even ten A-ranks would have a hard time
And with this Gangbuk Gate, Nova's new Hunter recruit has been confirmed
It was the open Gate held over in the Mapo area this time
(Photo of congested road and crowds of people)
I was on the sixth floor of the building right next door, and the moment I saw the Gate burst open live, I started filming
As expected, Nova Guild arrived before Union to sort things out, but something showed up much faster than the main assault units of both guilds
“This can't be….”
A photo in the post, seemingly a screenshot from the video I filmed. A pure-white blur is descending at a speed too fast for the camera to capture properly.
Only a blurry afterimage remained, leaving its shape impossible to make out.
[You wouldn't know from photos alone, right? Watch the video]
Amid cars stopping and people scrambling around in panic, something fell from the sky and slammed into the ground in an instant.
Even though it was filmed from the sixth floor, the impact sound was captured so clearly that the video shows people startled by the loud noise moving toward the windows.
[I watched to the end, and it looked like a bird-type familiar, yeah
The most surprising part is that it arrived exactly three minutes after the Gate burst open
Whatever that probation-period thing was, it rescued a handful of people and then left
It rescued one kid who looked like an elementary schooler, went deep into the Gate area, returned some item, and disappeared
The familiar's intelligence also seems top-tier, and its speed and combat power are both excellent
More than anything, the biggest thing is that the Hunter controlling the familiar wasn't on site
You know how important response time is to how much damage or casualties there are, right? A Summoner who can cover everything remotely from at least hundreds of meters up to several kilometers, plus combat-capable familiars numbering two or more
If it's something like that, then the announcement that they bolstered their strength by the equivalent of three A-rank Hunters doesn't sound strange at all. If they said they brought in just one A-rank, it'd feel a bit lacking, you know
If you object, you're wrong; everything I say is right]
“Hmm….”
The more I read, the more it felt persuasive, but I know better than anyone that it's not because I'm the one involved. More than that….
“Who are you calling an elementary schooler?!”
I kicked my chair back and ran to the bathroom to check the mirror.
“Eh, um.”
Okay, fair.
But anyway, I'm not Nova Guild's hidden new combat power. A Summoner? I'm not even sure that's the class, but if I had to pick the closest thing, it would probably be similar….
More importantly, Suri is my golem.
“Suri! Come look at this!”
ㅡKiit?
Suri, who had been watching Minyum and Daengdaeng bouncing around on the mattress with a look of disgust, came trotting over when it heard me.
“U-ugh..!! H-hey! Look here!”
After struggling to lift the incredibly heavy Suri onto the chair, my arms started shaking almost instantly. Once I somehow got Suri onto the chair, Suri began staring intently at the computer screen.
“See this? You showed up!”
ㅡKiit….
After staring for a few seconds like that, Suri got off the chair as if it had no interest. Does it maybe not know how to read..? No, familiars aren't supposed to be able to read, but
Daengdaeng even tells me my balance and gives thumbs-ups. That's how it is.
The comments' reactions are no joke either.
-ㅇㅇ : Yeah, S-ranks really were just all hype after all
ㄴHoosta : Don't guys like this eventually hit S-rank once they've got some seniority?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ : This one's pretty hyped up too
-Hanjukgeom : The familiar performance looks insanely busted
-Utaha's Water-Drop-Shaped Fan : Please, a cute high school girl
ㄴ Utaha's Water-Drop-Shaped Fan : Let me stan a Korean Hunter too
ㄴ Kim Heukgan : There's Yoo Chaerin, you know
ㄴ Utaha's Water-Drop-Shaped Fan : Get out of here, you grandma-lover
ㄴ Kim Heukgan : You crazy bastard
ㄴ ㅇㅇ : But there's a high chance it's actually a minor, since there's no reason to hide their identity
ㄴ Utaha's Water-Drop-Shaped Fan : I believe you, seriously
-RamzKabilGOA : Union again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and agaaain!!!!!
-ㅇㅇ : Where the hell does Nova keep bringing these Hunters from?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ : There's a rumor they artificially cultivate humans with skills
ㄴ MaxiMaxi : What lol
ㄴ ㅇㅇ : Sounds like a lie, right?
-Eldan : For kilometer range, that'd be S-rank, for fuck's sake. Say something that makes sense
-Halsagijoteun Busan : Anyway, so it's another Gyeonggi-area one, damn it
Of course, there were a ton of weird people gathered there, but among them there was one comment that caught my eye.
-Maekhamtong : From what I saw, there must've been a Hunter nearby. It makes no sense to fight when the Summoner isn't in sight.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ : Do you have anything going on?
ㄴ Maekhamtong : I'm an active Summoner
ㄴ Maekhamtong : Controlling two or more familiars from hundreds of meters away << possible only if you have line of sight
ㄴ Maekhamtong : Separately, each at max range << absolutely impossible
ㄴ KesillaGood : Could it be that your rank is just too low?
ㄴ Maekhamtong : I'm B-rank, and even A-ranks nearby can't do it. It only makes sense if it's S-rank
ㄴ KesillaGood : Seriously?
A comment posted by someone who claimed to be a current Summoner. Is it really that hard to control familiars? Honestly, I don't think I gave Suri any special orders at all.
Ordinarily, familiars do prioritize protecting their master above all else, but I've never seen one suddenly pop out from nowhere without any command at all.
Which means….
“Suri, how did you know I was in danger?”
ㅡKiit
Suri, who had been sprawled on the floor, lifted its head for a moment to look at me, then lay back down without saying anything. Was it tired from using its strength, or did it just not want to talk to me?
“Hmm.”
Anyway, I guess our golems are incredibly intelligent. The only commands I'd ever actually given them were come here, go there, show me your balance, and guide me.
Suri fought on its own and made its own judgment….
“Ugh, I don't get it. I'm hungry.”
First, I should eat.
* * * * *
ㅡDing
“Eep.”
While I was cooling down the hot bar I had microwaved because it was too hot, I heard a message notification from Daengdaeng.
“Daengdaeng? Who is it?”
ㅡBeep!
Text appearing tiny on the monitor screen.
“Han Dohee? What's up?”
A private message sent through Huntwit DM. It was a text from Han Dohee.
-Han Dohee : Eve
-Han Dohee : Isn't this something you made?
-Han Dohee : (Address)
-Eve : Ah, this
-Eve : Yeah, it's Suri
-Han Dohee : What's Suri?
-Eve : The name I gave my eagle golem
-Han Dohee : lol
-Han Dohee : You really are a kid
-Han Dohee : Ah
-Han Dohee : You're actually a kid, huh
-Eve : I'm not a kid;
Han Dohee must have seen the post that went up on Silbe too. Han Dohee sent me the link to the post containing the video of Suri taking down a monster, and seems to have been surprised by Suri's abilities.
-Han Dohee : Pretty strong
-Han Dohee : Want to go to a Gate together?
-Eve : A Gate;? I'm a beginner, though?
-Han Dohee : It's fine, we're going to an easy one
-Eve : Just the two of us?
-Han Dohee : Three, if I include one friend
-Eve : That's awkward;;
“Hm.. a Gate, huh.”
Gates are good. If Daengdaeng is going to make money off stocks, first I need seed money. Actually, I'm already doing fine without that kind of thing, but still, it'd be nice to make money too.
More than anything, being a Hunter was like a dream to me. I'd get to flex like crazy in the Awakened Gallery, all over the guys who still hadn't awakened.
It's not my main goal or anything, but it's kind of like a bucket list item….
-Eve : By the way, where do you live?
-Han Dohee : Seocho area
-Eve : Not that far, I guess
Looks like Han Dohee lives around here too. As far as I know, Han Dohee is an independent Hunter. I think they go into Gates with a few acquaintances.
“Should I give it a try..?”
What do I need to enter a Gate?
First of all, combat power. That part is a must; no need to explain. Gear and consumables are also needed, and it's good if you have a proper party too.
If Han Dohee is bringing acquaintances, that should solve it. I don't really seem to have any equipment needed for Hunter work, though.
“Should I check a shopping site..?”
The representative domestic Hunter gear sales site is 'Hunter Item Thanks.' Famous Hunters-turned-streamers who do internet broadcasts keep advertising it.
“Whoa.. what is this..?”
But every single thing is ridiculous in price. Loads of gear expensive enough to need ten Daengdaengs at the same time. F-rank gear costs around 400,000 to 600,000 won, and C-rank gear that looks usable starts at 3 million at the very least.
The single-edged sword Han Dohee gave me probably cost about this much too.
“But I don't use weapons, do I..?”
A major expense for Hunters with a Summoner class isn't weapon or gear maintenance, but the feed cost for their familiars. Monster carcasses are a little cheaper, but if they need mana stones, it gets a lot more expensive.
But Suri, Daengdaeng, and Minyum don't really seem to eat anything, so what gives?
“Suri, are you hungry by any chance?”
ㅡKiit
Suri, who was lying down, shook its head. Guess it isn't hungry, and Daengdaeng and Minyum are reacting the same. Which means…
“I.. don't have anything to take care of?”
-Eve : When are we going?
-Han Dohee : How about we go right at 4 tomorrow?
-Han Dohee : Let's just do a light round for about an hour
-Han Dohee : We're going here
-Han Dohee : (Address)
-Eve : Hmm
After checking the address bar, it showed Gate information. It seems to be an entry-type Gate that spawns small goblins. The environment is just a normal forest or plain, and there doesn't seem to be anything particularly dangerous about it.
Even non-awakened people could go in and come back out under Hunters' protection, so the difficulty is easy.
-Eve : Okay, okay
-Han Dohee : If you don't have a car, want me to pick you up?
-Han Dohee : You're a total kid, lol
-Eve : ㅡㅡ..
-Eve : Yes, please ㅠ
-Han Dohee : Okay lol
“Phew.. a Gate..! I'm excited!”
After checking the address Han Dohee sent, it's a low-difficulty Gate open even to civilian Awakeners. It's not owned by any guild, but by the Korea Hunters Management Association, so there's no entry fee either.
Han Dohee and I... since it's our first time meeting, I'm a little nervous, but going with someone I already know would definitely be much less awkward. Besides, Han Dohee has at least a rough idea of what I look like..?
“Suri! Let's go to work tomorrow!”
ㅡKiit?
“We're going to hunt monsters! Got it?!”
If Suri can fight, then I could make a ton of money by working as a Hunter too. And then... with the money I save up, I could buy more rare metal and make golems? Later on, maybe I could even fuse with Suri a bunch to power us up?
“Uu.. oooh..!!”
I'd become a super amazing, ridiculously strong Hunter, the kind the gallery freaks would dote on just for showing up. Suri gave me a bored look and stared at me.
“Hm? What's wrong?”
In response to my question, Suri tilted its head and pointed with one wing at a piece of furniture standing against the wall. It was the old wardrobe I had never really opened.
Wardrobe.
“W-what! I don't have any clothes!!”
That's right. Come to think of it, I don't have anything to wear out right now. Tomorrow at 4 PM is already the Gate entry time, and if I count the travel time, there's not much time left.
“W-what do I do, Suri?! Daengdaeng?! I don't have any clothes!”
ㅡBeep?
Even if I ordered some suitable clothes for delivery, it'd obviously be too late. The surest method is to go to a store myself….
“Aaaah..! I-I need clothes..!”
I had just gone out, and then ran myself half to death. The running alone was murderous, and I really almost died when the Gate burst open, too.
“Haa.. what do I do..?”
Suri approached me as I was worrying and racking my brain.
“S-Suri..? Are you telling me to buy clothes for me instead..?”
Without making a single sound, Suri extended one wing and pointed somewhere.
The direction toward the front door.
“Meaning, stop whining and go buy them already..?”
ㅡnod nod
“Sniffle... That's so mean....”