Chapter 85 – Level 1,500

[Life Water Tree Branch]

-Type: Collectible

-Grade: A

-Feature: Bound Item

-Description: A branch from the Life Water Tree said to possess infinite mana. Gives off a subtle fragrance.

What appeared in his hand was a small wooden stick about the thickness of a finger.

A common-looking tree branch that seemed unremarkable to anyone.

But Min Do-jun’s expression couldn’t contain his excitement as it appeared different to his eyes.

‘To think such a precious material would appear…’

Most material items are bound items, making them difficult to obtain.

Beyond the hassle of having to hunt for them directly, the drop rates were extremely harsh.

Among these, the Life Water Tree Branch that just appeared was among the highest tier.

‘It’s an item you might get after killing thousands of those Bizarre Tree Spirits that are harder to find than bosses.’

Bizarre Tree Spirits are rare monsters appearing in level 2,500 A-rank dungeons.

An item that requires killing thousands of such creatures just appeared through a random box.

Of course, he wasn’t excited just because a hard-to-obtain item appeared.

He was anticipating the item that could be crafted with the material.

‘If I get just one more material with this, I can make the Elixir of Life.’

Elixir of Life.

An S-grade item said to revive the dead.

Getting the Life Water Tree Branch meant he was halfway to successfully making the elixir.

‘The other material can be obtained from A-rank dungeons level 2,000 and above.’

Min Do-jun’s level was still too low to get the materials.

‘Another reason to power level.’

Min Do-jun grinned, burning with enthusiasm.

* * *

The investors were the ones most damaged by the monsters’ appearance.

Property values near dungeons dropped exponentially.

But even in such gloomy circumstances, some businesses were booming.

Namely, guilds supporting hunters.

As hunters gained prominence, businesspeople rushed to establish guilds.

Blue Dragon Guild Master Lee Han-seok was one of them.

A businessman who would give up his liver and gallbladder for money.

Such a person was now fuming because of Min Do-jun.

“What about Hunter Min Do-jun? Still no contact?”

Lee Se-yun nodded at Lee Han-seok’s words.

“I asked the sales team, but there’s been no contact at all.”

“What? I generously gave him priority access, but he hasn’t shown his face since clearing the Tiger dungeon?”

When you invest, there should be returns, but there’s been no news at all.

“I’m not even asking for a contract. Shouldn’t he at least come out to treat us to a meal?”

“Ah… you’d get angry again if he actually said he won’t contract.”

“Hey, you!”

Lee Han-seok almost threw the ashtray in anger but held back.

The reason for his anger was simple.

He hadn’t recovered his investment for three months.

This fact was driving the businessman Lee Han-seok crazy.

“Just snatching priority access and completely shutting up… I didn’t think he was like that, but he’s completely shameless.”

Se-yun nodded in agreement.

“Seeing no news for three months, it seems he has no intention to contract.”

“Argh! If we’d put our guild member in instead of that guy, we’d be earning one person’s share more!”

“No, it’s the opposite. Without Hunter Min Do-jun, we’d have been wiped out by the boss and lost all the loaned items.”

“Hey. Our guild members can beat the boss too!”

“Well… I heard they couldn’t even scratch it.”

“So are you saying I should be grateful to Hunter Min Do-jun?”

“That’s not what I mean – let’s face reality. Just getting angry doesn’t help anything.”

Lee Han-seok’s eyes lit up.

When his nephew talked like this, it meant he had some solution.

“What is it? Got a good way to get the contract?”

“There is one. Though it’s a bit dirty.”

“Don’t tell me to give a huge bribe? I don’t have money.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then?”

Se-yun explained the plan in a quiet voice.

“Kekeke, that’s good?”

“With this, he won’t be able to resist joining our guild. Though we might earn his hatred.”

“Hey, is worrying about his feelings the issue now? Execute it immediately. I’ll provide the investment funds.”

Se-yun made a dumbfounded expression.

“You just said you had no money.”

“Who says I don’t? Hehe.”

Se-yun quietly smiled at Lee Han-seok who somehow looked excited.

* * *

[Level up!]

[Promoted to A-rank!]

[One skill slot added.]

‘Finally reached level 1,500.’

Three weeks after killing Kim Peter, Min Do-jun was able to promote to A-rank.

Coming out after hunting, Park Dong-yun clapped with his brightest face ever.

“Congratulations, Hunter! You’ve finally become A-rank!”

“Thank you.”

“This is truly moving. Just yesterday you were F-rank, and now already A-rank…”

“‘Yesterday’ is a bit of an exaggeration.”

Though many days had passed since then, to Park Dong-yun it felt instant.

Achieving A-rank in less than ten months was incredibly fast.

“Though I exaggerated a bit, this is really historically fast! Even Hunter Shin Kyung-min who just became S-rank didn’t reach A-rank this quickly!”

Min Do-jun didn’t particularly respond.

He acknowledged it too.

‘Even I think it’s fast.’

Before regression, it took Min Do-jun 3 years to reach A-rank.

But this life took less than a year.

Honestly, it was beyond expectations.

‘Maybe the day of completing revenge will come sooner…’

Min Do-jun had expected it would take about 5 years to kill Shin Kyung-min.

But at this rate, he could catch up within 3 years.

‘That’ll be your death anniversary, Shin Kyung-min.’

Min Do-jun, grinding his teeth of revenge, got into Park Dong-yun’s car.

“Going to the Hunter Wholesale Market?”

“Yes.”

Park Dong-yun had spent enough time with Min Do-jun to know without asking.

But even he hadn’t expected such rapid growth to A-rank.

‘To think I’m managing an A-rank hunter…’

It still didn’t feel real.

This would definitely mean promotion.

Though he wanted to hum from finally shedding his assistant manager title, he held back because of Hunter Min Do-jun.

Arriving at the wholesale market, Min Do-jun waved as he got out.

“No need to wait, go ahead.”

Noticing he meant it, Park Dong-yun nodded obediently.

“Understood! Good work today!”

“Drive safely.”

After sending off his manager, Min Do-jun entered the market.

‘No need to buy equipment, should I enhance skills first?’

He bought six skill grade enhancement stones at the market.

Though it cost about 500 million, it wasn’t much considering he’d saved over 40 billion.

[Enchant Sword’s damage amplification effect increased from 15%->20%!]

[Mana Sword’s damage increased from 150%->200% of magic power!]

[Fire Blast’s damage increased from 400%->500% of magic power!]

[Gust Blade’s damage per blade increased from 100%->125% of magic power!]

He enhanced 4 skills from B to A-grade.

Being main attack skills, he had to keep them until the end without deleting.

The same went for Invisibility as a utility skill.

[Invisibility duration increased from 10%->12% of magic power and cooldown reduced from 1 hour->45 minutes!]

Duration increased and cooldown decreased.

‘Not bad.’

Min Do-jun used the last enhancement stone on Ghost Wolf.

Then a somewhat different message appeared.

[Ghost Wolf has been promoted from B->A grade!]

[Ghost Wolf’s all stats increase by 30.]

[Skill ‘Howling’ added.]

[Size increases slightly.]

Light shone from Ghost Wolf’s body, and its puppy-sized form grew to the size of a regular wolf.

[Woof! Woof!]

Instead of puppy-like barks, Awo barked in a true wolf’s voice.

‘Oh, now you’re looking more like a proper wolf?’

[Woof!]

Min Do-jun smiled paternally at the sight, like a boy entering puberty.

‘Wonder what the new skill does?’

Min Do-jun checked Awo’s skill information.

[Skill – Howling]

-Description: Applies ‘Taunt’ or inflicts ‘Fear’ on enemies within 100 meters radius. Effect applies after saying skill name followed by chosen effect.

‘Hooh, this kind of skill…’

A skill that either draws aggro to gather enemies or scatters them with fear.

‘This is exactly the skill I wanted.’

It was a perfect skill for Min Do-jun, who was planning to focus on herding hunts.

‘This will work well with the skill I’m about to learn.’

Min Do-jun had already decided what to put in his newly added skill slot.

The area attack skill Magnum Burst.

A skill only usable by those who learned Enchant Sword, essentially a magic swordsman exclusive skill.

‘If I herd monsters within 100 meters with Howling and deal damage with Magnum Burst…’

He could cut hunting time several fold.

No need to waste time following tracking skills everywhere either.

‘Not bad?’

Min Do-jun with his plan entered the skill book shop.

Looking through the displayed skill books, he tilted his head and asked the owner.

“I’m looking for a skill book.”

“Yes. What’s the skill name?”

“Magnum Burst.”

The shop owner checked and shook his head.

“Sorry, but we’re out of stock.”

“Ah, I see.”

Min Do-jun wasn’t worried at this point.

He could just get it at another shop.

However.

“We don’t have that skill book.”

“Ah, if only you’d come earlier.”

“It sold a few weeks ago.”

Every shop he entered shook their heads saying they didn’t have the skill book.

At this point, Min Do-jun noticed something strange.

‘This is weird? A skill book that should be gathering dust is all sold out?’

Among 10 skill book shops, not a single one had Magnum Burst.

Some never had it, but most did and said it sold recently.

“Oh my, what a shame. It just sold yesterday.”

“Do you know who bought it?”

“I wouldn’t know. Their face was covered with a mask.”

The covered face made it even more suspicious.

“Were there any other suspicious points?”

“Well… Come to think of it, they seemed to really need that skill. Seeing how they came in right when we opened.”

“…”

Who else would need a magic swordsman skill besides him?

That’s when.

A call came from an unknown number.

“Who is this?”

-Hello, Hunter. This is Lee Se-yun from Blue Dragon Guild.

Min Do-jun’s eyebrow twitched.

‘No way?’

They say bad feelings are never wrong?

“Did you buy up all the skill books?”

When asked directly, Se-yun replied in a surprised voice.

-How did you know it was me?

“…”

-Ah, you must be looking for it at the market now. I knew you’d need it after reaching A-rank.

“What is this about?”

-Ah, don’t be too angry. I just wanted to have a conversation. So, would you come to Blue Dragon Guild? We have a lot to talk about.

Min Do-jun hung up without a word.

He was going to visit even if told not to.

‘You b*st*rd, I’ll definitely kill you.’