Chapter 58 – Level 1,000

Min Do-jun and the guild members came out after clearing the dungeon.

Although they hunted separately, they exited together.

“Huh! They’re out already?”

The Dawn Guild manager was shocked that they came out in just one hour.

But the surprise was brief.

The manager excitedly approached the guild members.

It didn’t matter that the hunter named Min Do-jun left without saying goodbye and went towards where his handler was.

After all, they would part ways soon, and wasn’t he just a low-level nobody?

“Hey guys! You said you’d set a new record, but you cut three hours off? This is amazing!”

Though the manager spoke excitedly, the guild members’ expressions were blank and dazed.

“What happened? How hard did you push yourselves to look so out of it?”

“Well…”

The guild members explained the situation with bewildered faces.

“What? You hunted separately instead of together?”

“Yes. And while we caught 40 monsters, that person alone caught over 150. Though we didn’t see it directly…”

At those words, even the manager’s expression turned disbelieving.

When they belatedly looked towards Min Do-jun’s group, they had already left in their car for the next location.

* * *

In a room hazy with cigarette smoke.

The middle-aged man who had been blowing smoke while staring at the wall turned his gaze.

Flinch-

The man standing stiffly trembled unconsciously at that gaze.

“A month has passed as promised. Yet you still haven’t found them?”

“I’m, I’m sorry.”

“I’ll give you a chance to explain. What’s the reason?”

“Ah, well… We went to the crime scene and had our spy in the Association re-examine the body… but there were no clues. The Association says there’s been no progress in the investigation…”

“Well, if even the Association can’t find them, it wouldn’t be easy for us.”

As the middle-aged man stood and slowly approached, the man’s face turned pale.

“However, that doesn’t erase your crime. This happened because you were negligent in monitoring guild members.”

“I’m… deeply sorry.”

“Then you won’t complain about receiving punishment.”

The middle-aged man’s hand turned dark green as he placed it on the man’s head.

“Urgh…”

After the energy seeped into his head, the middle-aged man removed his hand and returned to his seat.

“You failed your mission, so as planned, you’re sentenced to life. You may leave now.”

“Y-yes… Ugh! …sir.”

After the man left in pain, the middle-aged man lit another cigarette.

“Huff… Just wait until we catch whoever it is. We’ll show them what it means to make an enemy of the Black Sea Guild.”

A meaningful smile spread across the middle-aged man’s face.

* * *

Slash!

Boom!

[Experience +8,400]

[Level up!]

[Obtained B-grade Magic Stone]

‘The magic stones have really piled up.’

After focusing on hunting Nutria for a while, he had accumulated over thirty B-grade magic stones.

While having thirty items worth 120 million won each was certainly good news, Min Do-jun’s attention was on his status window rather than his inventory.

-Name: Min Do-jun (Born 2000)

-Level: 1,000

-Grade: B

-Combat Power: 242,072

-Domestic Ranking: 1,304

-World Ranking: 113,329

-Strength: 954, Stamina: 1,000

-Agility: 921, Magic Power: 1612

-Unassigned Stats: 0

-Traits: Revenge(S), Hunter Hunter(EX), Magic Swordsman(S), Indomitable Will(B), Rapid Growth(S), Weakness Detection(S), Tough Body(D), Weapon Refinement(D), Fire Resistance(D), Durable Equipment(C), First Strike(B), Weapon Mastery(S), Energy Recovery(S)

-Skills: Enchant Sword(B), Mana Sword(B), Fire Blast(B), Ghost Wolf Summon(B), Invisibility(B), Lion’s Roar(F)

‘Finally reached level 1,000.’

He achieved level 1,000 in just one month, when it was supposed to take at least five months.

Even Min Do-jun hadn’t expected to achieve it this quickly.

‘Now I’m qualified to enter A-grade dungeons.’

There was no need to hunt Giant Nutria anymore.

As he came out after finishing the dungeon, Park Dong-yun approached while clapping.

“Hunter-nim, you finally reached level 1,000? Congratulations!”

He must have checked the rankings on his tablet.

Min Do-jun waved his hand as if embarrassed.

“Stop it. Level 1,000 isn’t something to celebrate…”

“But your level has reached four digits for the first time. It must feel different.”

“Not really.”

“Come on, you must be happy.”

Park Dong-yun thought Min Do-jun was just hiding his feelings, but he genuinely didn’t feel much.

‘I already reached four digits in my previous life.’

Still, having higher combat power than his previous life was something to be happy about.

‘When I was level 1,000 in my previous life, my combat power was around 130,000.’

But now it’s 240,000.

Almost double the combat power.

‘This means the potential for future growth is limitless.’

He would easily surpass his previous life’s records.

His overwhelmingly faster growth rate was proof of that.

“Aren’t you happy, Hunter-nim?”

“Well, I am looking forward to being able to enter stronger dungeons.”

“Is that so? Then are you done hunting for today?”

“Yes. Please take me home.”

“Huh? Aren’t you going to get maintenance? I can drive you to the Hunter’s Wholesale Market.”

“No, maintenance won’t be necessary.”

Usually, reaching level 1,000 meant replacing equipment with stronger items, but Min Do-jun had nothing to replace.

He was already equipped with sufficiently strong bound items, not just B-grade but even A-grade.

‘There’s no need to replace the Lion’s Roar skill yet either. I’ll need it for the Cat-eyed Tiger dungeon.’

There was a reason he hadn’t removed the F-grade Lion’s Roar yet.

“Handler, from tomorrow I’ll be going to A-grade dungeons.”

“A-grade dungeons?”

Park Dong-yun recalled the list of A-grade dungeons available at level 1,000.

“At your current level, you can enter either the Cat-eyed Tiger or Rock Lizard dungeon. Which one would you like to go to? I’ll make a reservation right away.”

“I’ll go to the Cat-eyed Tiger.”

“Ah…”

Park Dong-yun sighed at the unexpected answer.

“That place is overcrowded, so you’ll have to wait a month after making a reservation. If possible, the Rock Lizard has a shorter wait time…”

“The Blue Dragon Guild contacted me a month ago.”

“What? The Blue Dragon Guild?”

The 5th ranked major guild in Korea contacted Min Do-jun?

It must have been a recruitment offer.

Although Min Do-jun had rejected guild offers until now, those were from guilds ranked below 6th.

It’s different with a top 5 guild.

‘Could it be that the Blue Dragon Guild offered him an enormous signing bonus…’

If so, even Min Do-jun might have been tempted.

The Blue Dragon Guild’s signing bonus would be incomparable to something like the intermediate random box gifted by the Center.

Realizing this, Park Dong-yun’s expression darkened rapidly.

“Hunter-nim… surely…”

Though he had an ominous feeling, fortunately, it wasn’t what he was worried about.

“They said they’d use their priority and asked if I’d like to join them in the Cat-eyed Tiger dungeon. Called it guild courtesy. So I’m going to raid it tomorrow.”

“Ah…”

While relieved, he felt slightly threatened as a competitor.

The Blue Dragon Guild’s intentions were obvious.

‘To think they’d use an A-grade dungeon as a bribe instead of money…’

If Min Do-jun is satisfied with the dungeon raid, he might leave for the Blue Dragon Guild.

‘I’ll need to discuss countermeasures with the department head later.’

Park Dong-yun drove towards Min Do-jun’s house with an uneasy heart.

* * *

“Phew, I’m exhausted.”

The Blue Dragon Guild Master clicked his tongue watching Lee Se-yun flop onto the sofa.

“What’s there to be exhausted about when you barely run a few dungeons a week?”

“Come on, Uncle. A-grade dungeons are really tough. The clear time is long, and there are various monsters to watch out for.”

“That doesn’t sound right coming from an A-grade hunter who just reached level 2,000? Isn’t it like a picnic for you?”

“No way. You know not all A-grade dungeons are the same level.”

“I can see you have too much free time.”

Just then, the intercom on the desk rang, and the Guild Master answered.

“What is it? What? Really?”

Seyun’s eyes sparkled with curiosity at his uncle’s reaction.

“Alright. Tell the Association to schedule it for tomorrow afternoon and get our team ready.”

As soon as he hung up, Seyun eagerly asked.

“What happened?”

“Hunter Min Do-jun has reached level 1,000.”

“What?”

Surprised, Seyun searched the ranking window in disbelief.

“Wow… he really is level 1,000!”

“Didn’t you say it would take at least five months?”

“I did… and that was assuming fast growth…”

This hunter Min Do-jun reached his target level in just one month.

Completely defying common sense.

“This one’s the real deal, huh?”

“Seems so.”

“You should be on your guard too? He’s rising at a frightening pace.”

“Come on… he’s still only level 1,000.”

“‘Only’? That’s already level 1,000.”

“…”

“Wow, never thought I’d see a hunter grow this fast in my lifetime. Makes me quite interested.”

“Is that why you scheduled the dungeon for tomorrow?”

“Yeah. Told them to set it for tomorrow afternoon.”

“What about the team? Which team is going?”

As the Blue Dragon Guild was a large guild managing over 300 people, they had many A-grade hunters.

Thus, even A-grade hunters were divided into teams.

“Obviously A-3 team.”

“Oh, then they should be reliable.”

Although A-3 team was among the lower-level A-grade teams, they were veterans with 6 years of experience, all around level 1,600.

“I was worried you might send a B-grade team in the 1,000 level range.”

“Hey! You think I’m that thoughtless?”

“Still, I should tell tomorrow’s team members. Tell them to do their best in the raid to make Do-jun want to join our guild.”

“Of course. That’s why we assembled the team.”

The Blue Dragon Guild’s reason for offering the raid spot to Min Do-jun wasn’t complicated.

It was to let him directly experience the Blue Dragon Guild’s prestige up close.

In short, it was a strategy to showcase the guild’s strength and make him want to join.

“Once he sees how well our guild works together, he’ll change his mind.”

“Probably.”

They must attract Min Do-jun and bring him into the Blue Dragon Guild.

“Looking forward to tomorrow.”

The Blue Dragon Guild Master smiled confidently.