Kang-hoo had some free time after he got off at Yongsan Station.
There were fewer people around than before, so the number of trains heading to Gapyeong had decreased.
The first place Kang-hoo visited was the Hunter Market located inside Yongsan Station.
Operated directly by the Hunter Public Safety Bureau, the market was large and offered a wide range of items.
He had a total of 200 million won to spend.
He scoured the market for the best item he could afford, and he found success.
[Joy of the Sky - Weapon]
[Grade: 5th Grade]
[Strength +50][Health recovery speed increases fivefold if in a non-combat state for more than 30 minutes.]
It was an item that could be quite helpful for recovering health while resting or sleeping.
Of course, it wasn’t all-powerful due to its condition; a non-combat state meant not using any mana at all.
In areas outside the metropolitan region, where one must always be vigilant, such situations were uncommon.
Still, his strength had increased significantly.
After discarding his practice dagger and switching to this new weapon, he felt a dramatic change.
Kang-hoo gripped a stone he had picked up from a flowerbed in front of the station and exerted force.
Crrrunch. Crunch.
A stone he would not have dared to crush before was now shattered into pieces.
“Yes, this is what strength is.”
He had been neglecting it due to the overwhelming power of his skills.
In reality, strength, the foundation of all power, was always important.
Being an assassin class didn’t mean he needed agility just for swift movements.
The primal power to push one’s physical strength to the limit and cut off an enemy’s breath was crucial as well.
“Mana hypersensitivity does make me overly cautious during battles…”
Kang-hoo thought, stroking his forehead with his fingertips.
Mana hypersensitivity had its pros and cons, but the advantages far outweighed the disadvantages.
This was evident in the battle at Club Hades.
Despite the side effects, Kang-hoo’s ability to use his skills without worrying about mana allowed him to act liberally.
He stood out from other hunters who constantly had to manage their mana reserves.
No wonder Yun Sang-mi had asked him several times, “Aren’t you running out of mana?”
She must have found it puzzling.
Then.
Rumble!
A thunderous noise erupted from his stomach, which he had been neglecting. He hadn’t eaten anything since dawn.
“It’s time for a bit of a Seoul price experience.”
Despite the expense, he knew he couldn’t prepare for dungeon raids on an empty stomach.
He made his way to a restaurant.
And then.
“Galbitang. 150,000 won per bowl.”
He was confronted with the harsh reality of Seoul’s cost of living.
In Seoul, the price of food, reflecting the sacred value of peace and life, was exorbitantly high.
Typically indifferent to culinary delights, today he allowed himself an indulgence.
After devouring a 150,000 won bowl of Galbitang, not leaving behind a single drop of soup or a grain of pepper, he strolled along the streets near the station.
The sky, overcast like at Daejeon Station, felt strangely warm and gentle.
It must have been his imagination.
Feeling confident that nothing untoward would happen here, the world seemed different to him.
“Kyaa! Over there! He came this way! He must have turned his car around! Let’s hurry!”
“Ah, really? Why is it so hard to spot these oppas?”
“Hurry up and run! If we’re late, we won’t even be able to snap pictures!”
At that moment, women who appeared to be well into their thirties began to dash ahead with enthusiasm.
Their level of excitement and cheering was such that one might assume a celebrity had appeared.
The group Kang-hoo observed was merely a segment of the entire crowd, which was assembling from various directions.
‘Could it be.’
He had an inkling.
Without hesitation, Kang-hoo merged with the throng and started to race with them, noting several men among the enthusiasts.
Arriving at the epicenter of the commotion, he instantly grasped the reason for such a fervent gathering.
‘As expected…’
A group of hunters had secured their route and was heading towards the dungeon in the southern part of Yongsan Station.
They were hunters from the Jeonghwa Guild.
The guild, led by Jang Si-hwan as the master, was not only the undisputed number one guild in the country but also the ‘only’ guild in Seoul.
The saying that if you removed the Public Safety Bureau and the Jeonghwa Guild, there would be zero hunters in Seoul…
Was not a joke but the truth.
The Jeonghwa Guild had either absorbed all the other guilds in Seoul or cunningly framed them for crimes and disbanded them.
[The thoughts about the hunters and organizations that Jang Si-hwan believed to be absolutely evil were astonishingly distorted.
In his delusions, the line between truth and falsehood blurred, and sometimes falsehoods became truths.
He was so captivated by the notion that only the Jeonghwa Guild was absolutely good that he aligned all his thoughts with his delusions.
Therefore, even until the moment the Demon King descended, he failed to realize the enormous atrocities he had committed.]
Reflecting on it again, the story took a sudden turn towards the end with such a development.
The protagonist, who was supposedly the main character, lived in delusions and dreams, as revealed in the epilogue.
No wonder the serialized platform received a ton of backlash and was bombarded with low ratings.
Regardless, the Jeonghwa Guild was the only guild in Seoul, and people’s trust in them was beyond imagination.
Naturally, creating fandoms for the core members was an inevitable consequence.
“Kyaaah! Gwanhyeong oppa!”
“Gwanhyeong oppa! Please look this way once! Please! Just one photo!”
Especially among female fans, Chae Gwanhyeong was the person they were crazy about.
With his violet-colored hair that suited him exceptionally well, he waved at the people with a bright smile.
His expression and deep eyes, which seemed to contain all the darkness and sorrow of the world, stood in stark contrast to Kang-hoo’s.
‘He’s been quite favored too. How many constellations are attached to that guy?’
Kang-hoo scanned the constellation information that flickered incessantly above Chae Gwanhyeong’s head.
There were at least ten.
The information window didn’t even display everything, marked with […] and the content folded inward.
Of course.
Considering the rapid growth of Shin Kang-hoo after his escape from the detention center, this was just a ‘moderate’ favor.
In three years, Shin Kang-hoo would become an entity where all kinds of fortunes and opportunities in the world converged.
But that didn’t mean he planned to spend the next three years without any thought.
Since escaping Cheongmyeong Detention Center and facing events not in the original story, the content was already beginning to twist slightly.
‘Right, I missed something important. Focused only on what was given to me, I overlooked…’
Suddenly, a thought struck him.
Going forward, Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeong would continue to grow, monopolizing various fortunes and opportunities.
This was a natural narrative device in novels, granted to the protagonist and his allies.
Kang-hoo decided to intervene in these elements and turn them to his advantage.
He had enough information.
From items to relationships with other constellations, and even connections with people who would be crucial in the future.
There was a lot at stake.
There were ample opportunities to seize the benefits of a future of which they were yet unaware.
However.
‘The level is a problem.’
Considering all factors,
Kang-hoo concluded that he should at least reach level 50.
Even that number was a conservative estimate; thinking more liberally, he might need to aim for level 100.
‘First, fifty.’
Kang-hoo established his short-term goal.
He decided to put aside all other thoughts and concentrate exclusively on reaching level 50.
He decided to worry about the next steps afterward.
Feeling pleased to have realized an aspect he had overlooked amid his hectic adaptation to reality,
He knew the most delicious thing was to snatch what others were eating.
And that was precisely what he planned to do.
Ssshh.
Kang-hoo buttoned up his coat against the chill and turned to re-enter Yongsan Station.
That’s when it happened.
“That oppa… he looks kind of handsome, doesn’t he?”
“Yeah, for real. He resembles Minho from Nine Boys! No, he’s even more handsome than Minho?”
“Who is he?”
Women in the crowd began to whisper as they noticed Kang-hoo, who had been blending in quietly until now.
Despite his pale, bloodless face, his concealed allure was undeniable.
It even aroused a peculiar protective instinct.
Yet, no one dared approach a man they didn’t know.
Thus, Kang-hoo left Yongsan Station with ease.
Just setting a clear short-term goal!
That alone gave significance to the 150,000 won Galbitang he enjoyed at Yongsan Station.
That evening,
Kang-hoo arrived at Gapyeong Station at the designated time and promptly received a quick delivery from Master K.
Slipping ten Solarkiums into his inner pocket felt like loading a vault with cash, and it filled him with immense satisfaction.
“It’s too quiet here.”
Considering it was a weekday night and he was outside Seoul, the silence might be understandable.
But he had expected more people, perhaps those who had caught the last train from Yongsan, yet the place was deserted.
He double-checked his equipped items—emergency food, medicines, and Solarkium.
Now he was fully prepared to enter the dungeon.
He had also thoroughly studied the information about the dungeon provided in advance; all that remained was to await the entry time.
But then,
“Please! I’ll give you everything I have, just let me go! I’m begging you!”
Not far off, yet close enough to be heard, a woman’s plea pierced the silence.
He couldn’t simply ignore it, especially when the content suggested a grave crime might be unfolding.
“Don’t need everything. Just lend your body for a while. That’s all I’m asking.”
“The last train’s gone, and there’s no Public Safety Bureau nearby. No point in screaming.”
“Think a prince on a white horse is going to show up? Sorry, but we’ve already cut the throats of such guys.”
“Kekeke!”
He heard at least four men’s voices. There might have been more silent ones, so the minimum count was four.
Since it was on his way, Kang-hoo walked toward the source of the voices.
Going north from Gapyeong Station Exit 1, he encountered even fewer people.
The only convenience store in sight had closed before dusk.
“…”
In a dark alley, he spotted a woman being harassed by four men.
Buildings up to three floors loomed on either side, all long abandoned and empty.
“Help me, please!”
The woman, making eye contact with Kang-hoo, cried out desperately. The gang’s attention turned to Kang-hoo.
“Hey. You think this is a novel where you play the hero? Just mind your business, okay?”
“If you don’t want a knife in your heart, keep walking. Got it?”
Mana traces followed the daggers that two of the men spun.
They were hunters.
That explained their arrogance.
Without a word, Kang-hoo turned his head and walked away, his steps showing no hint of regret.
“See! Haha! Life isn’t like a novel, is it? Just strip quietly. We’ll be gentle.”
“Hehehe!”
As the four men watched Kang-hoo leave and began unzipping their pants in anticipation,
Pssht!
One of the more alert hunters, hearing a sound of wind, stopped unzipping.
That’s when.
Fwook!
“Kuhuk!”
Suddenly, Kang-hoo reappeared, swiftly stabbing one of the men ‘there’ before moving on.
Though it was a fleeting attack, it left the man’s groin soaked in blood.
Kang-hoo had not emerged from the south, where he had pretended to leave, but from the desolate north side.
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