Chapter 104: Snake Oil Salesman Kim Ki-Rok? (2)
The Golden Lion Guild, one of the leading guilds in Daegu and a designated Protection Guild, had a rising star, one who was giving Guildmaster Baek Min-Hyuk and the team leaders a massive headache.
His name? Kang Han-Dan.
Because of how unique it was, people usually called him Hunter Kang Ha-Da[1].
He was a C-Class Hunter who had obtained a B-Class skill upon Awakening, a beast transformation skill similar to Baek Min-Hyuk's. Unlike most Awakened individuals who started at E-Class, Kang Han-Dan began as a D-Class Hunter.
His ability to increase his stats through beast transformation worked exceptionally well, and he quickly reached Level 50 in a short period. The problem was that, having awakened at the age of twenty and grown rapidly, he looked down on other Awakened.
"Now get going," Baek Min-Hyuk said to Kang Han-Dan, who had been summoned to the Guildmaster's office.
Scowling in response, he said with a serious face, "Hyuk-hyung."
Kang Han-Dan was also the Guildmaster's cousin and had received considerable benefits from the guild upon joining. Baek Min-Hyuk stared at his relative—blonde hair and an earring in one ear, hands stuffed into the pockets of his long black coat—and gritted his teeth inwardly.
"Aren't you going to take your hands out of your pockets?" Baek Min-Hyuk said.
His cousin obliged, letting them hang awkwardly by his side.
"And I told you not to call me hyung," Baek Min-Hyuk continued scolding.
"Ah, geez."
"Ah, geez?"
"Nothing, Guildmaster."
Baek Min-Hyuk sighed as he looked at Kang Han-Dan's pouting expression and began to explain.
"The day after Valentine's Day?"
"That's right, the day after Valentine's Day. Anyway, there is a very important Gate campaign on that day."
"Agh, do I have to participate? I guess I have no choice. I am the future ace of the Golden Lion Guild, after all."
"You won't be able to participate."
Kang Han-Dan frowned. "What?"
"I said you won't be able to participate."
"Why not?"
"Because there's a level restriction."
"There's a level restriction on the Gate?"
"No, but the Gate is extremely dangerous. It's beyond what the Golden Lion Guild can clear alone. So, there's a level requirement for the participants."
Kang Han-Dan's interest was piqued. "What's the requirement?"
"At least Level 70."
"That's insane! I have to raise my level by 20 in just two months?"
"Well, there is a way..."
"Hah! Knew I could count on you, bro. Tell me."
"You have to follow the instructions of DG Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok and clear the Gates he assigns."
"Kim Ki-Rok?"
"Refer to him as Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok."
"Isn't he a technical—no, support Hunter?"
Kang Han-Dan tended to look down on technical and support Hunters because he hunted monsters with brute strength alone, without relying on any backup. Unlike other Hunters who grew by hunting in teams, it was clear from the start that he would become a lone Hunter.
Hence, when Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok made his proposal, Baek Min-Hyuk saw the perfect opportunity.
Baek Min-Hyuk chuckled to himself.
Yes, he needs to go through some hardship to come to his senses.
"Hmm... bro."
"That's Guildmaster to you."
Kang Han-Dan clicked his tongue. "Guildmaster Baek Min-Hyuk."
"What."
"You said that restriction was put in place because the Gate was too dangerous, right?"
"Correct."
"Then, if I showcase my skills to the person who set that restriction, could I participate without increasing my level?"
A triumphant smile spread across Kang Han-Dan's face as Baek Min-Hyuk fell silent.
Wow. Baek Min-Hyuk was inwardly impressed as he recalled what Kim Ki-Rok had said.
"Ah, Hunter Kang Ha-Da... no, Hunter Kang Han-Dan, right? I've heard of him. The formidable Kang Ha-Da! He's famous. If you bring this up to Hunter Kang Han-Dan, he will definitely try to bypass the level restriction by showing off his skills to the person who set it."
Faced with the idea of grinding every day to raise his Level, Kang Han-Dan, annoyed, immediately looked for a shortcut.
"Who is the Guildmaster who set the level limit?"
"Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok."
Kang Han-Dan frowned. "What? A support Hunter who only uses skills from the rear..."
Though he muttered under his breath, Baek Min-Hyuk still caught it. He narrowed his eyes at his cousin, who simply shrugged in return.
"You know what Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok said?"
"What did he have to say?"
"If you have a complaint, come to the DG Guild and settle it yourself."
Kang Han-Dan laughed, incredulous, and then turned to Baek Min-Hyuk, looking pleased. "Bro, when are you going back to Seoul?"
"Tomorrow."
"Then let's go together. I need to see this guy."
***
With a huge explosion, Kang Han-Dan was thrown back. His body slammed into the wall.
"The... fuck..."
"Wow!"
"How is that possible?"
"Isn't he a support Hunter?"
The onlookers gathered in the Hunters Association's underground training ground stood frozen, mouths hanging open.
Kim Ki-Rok tilted his head and casually juggled the daggers. "Are you done?"
Kang Han-Dan barely managed to stand on his trembling legs. "It's not over, you dogshit bastard! Skill, Werewolf!"
His flashy blonde hair turned silver, his nails grew longer, and his pupils changed from black to red. His shirt tore apart, unable to contain his swelling muscles.
"Hehehe! It seems the dog isn't me, but Hunter Kang Han-Dan."
Kang Han-Dan growled in response.
During his beast transformation, Werewolf Kang Han-Dan's physical abilities increased dramatically, but his instincts overwhelmed his intellect, leaving him to act on impulse.
He roared and stomped the ground.
Kim Ki-Rok, still juggling three daggers, finally moved. He threw one as a distraction, shifted the remaining two daggers to his sides, and twisted his body slightly.
Shiiik!
It looked like a narrow escape, but it wasn't. Kim Ki-Rok kicked hard at Kang Han-Dan's exposed side.
However, Kang Han-Dan turned his head, unfazed. "Like that would do..."
"You're right. That won't do anything. But my Level is higher than yours, and so is my mana control."
A booming explosion erupted the moment Kim Ki-Rok finished speaking, the blast folding Kang Han-Dan in half and sending him tumbling across the ground. Without missing a beat, Kim Ki-Rok casually resumed juggling his daggers.
"Get up. I'll show you just how powerful the strength of a support-class Hunter can be, the kind you've always looked down on. And by the way, I haven't even used my one and only combat skill, Mirror."
Hearing that Kim Ki-Rok had been fighting him using only raw physical strength and mana control, Kang Han-Dan sprang to his feet. His nails extended once again, and he bared his teeth. But despite his fierce appearance, his eyes darted side to side, betraying his unease. Rather than charging forward, he instinctively stepped back.
Seeing this, Kim Ki-Rok just gave a strong clap, which prompted Kang Han-Dan to recoil before he could stop himself.
"Fuck..."
A flush crept up Kang Han-Dan's face. If they had been alone, he might have shrugged off his reaction with bravado. But with representatives from every guild involved in the Gate clear, along with the next generation of aces watching, there was no playing it cool.
"Do you understand now why the level restriction is necessary?" Kim Ki-Rok asked.
Kang Han-Dan remained silent, unable to answer without swallowing his pride.
"If not, we can continue." Kim Ki-Rok wasn't about to let up.
Should he quit now? Kang Han-Dan hesitated, then clenched his teeth, glaring at the still-composed Kim Ki-Rok.
"It's not over yet..."
"Then bring it on. This time, I'll show you my full power." Kim Ki-Rok said, removing the bracelet from his wrist and setting it on the ground. "But first, appraise this."
Kang Han-Dan eyed him warily, suspicious of some kind of trick, but the curious spectators were the first to react. Those who used Appraisal gasped in shock.
"That's insane!"
"He was fighting while wearing that?"
Whatever effect the bracelet had, it was enough to stir disbelief from even the seasoned Hunters. Slowly, Kang Han-Dan turned his head and activated the Appraisal system, his eyes fixed on the bracelet.
[Bracelet of Weakening (E)]
Description: A beautiful bracelet with a weakening spell
Effect: Strength -3, Vitality -3
Kang Han-Dan's eyes flickered rapidly as Kim Ki-Rok tossed another bracelet from his opposite wrist onto the ground.
Kang Han-Dan confirmed that this other bracelet had the same effect as the first.
"The ring is an artifact that weakens Magic stats, and the necklace weakens Willpower. I am wearing seven in total with similar effects."
"Why...?"
"For the extra challenge! Plus it helps with my mana control, too. For your information, every DG Guild member wears these artifacts in daily life."
Video footage of the DG Guild showed its members always wearing accessories. Until now, everyone, including Kang Han-Dan, had assumed they were just for show. No one imagined a guild barely six months old could afford such expensive artifacts.
They had heard the nickname "Crazy Bastard," but was he truly insane?
"Looks like it's finally my turn to show off. My level was about 50 from wearing these."
Kang Han-Dan's pupils shook like an earthquake. He had believed he lost because of a level gap, but this revelation hit him hard.
"So, want to keep going?" Kim Ki-Rok asked.
Kang Han-Dan shook his head.
As he walked away, shoulders sagging in defeat, Kim Ki-Rok turned to the next generation of guild aces who had been watching. "Anyone else think the Level limit's unnecessary? If so, step forward."
A wave of competitive spirit stirred, but no one moved.
Despite his wild reputation, Kang Han-Dan's abilities were well-known, and judging by what they had just witnessed, none could claim his skills had been exaggerated. No one could say with confidence they would fare any better than he had.
Kim Ki-Rok sneered at the Hunters who were avoiding his gaze. "I'll make sure you all understand why this level limit exists."
***
Baek Min-Hyuk approached Kim Ki-Rok, who sat in the corner of the arena, casually downing an energy drink. The official match time had ended.
"You."
"Yes, Hunter Baek Min-Hyuk, King of the Hundred Beasts."
Baek Min-Hyuk's face twitched with irritation at the playful mention of his old title. "Ah, come on." He sighed, then composed himself. "Do all members of the DG Guild wear weakening artifacts?"
"That's right."
"So every DG Guild member has abilities above their level."
"Yes," he replied curtly.
"How much of a difference are we talking about?"
"It depends on how many artifacts they wear, and on their daily routines and training, but on average..." Kim Ki-Rok raised his right hand, fingers spread wide. "About this much."
"Five levels?"
"Yep."
"Shit."
All DG Guild members lived like Hunters around the clock, and because of that, their abilities surpassed their actual levels.
"Who has the highest additional stats?" Lee Yeon-Hwa asked.
Not only the representatives of each guild but also the officials of the Association focused their attention.
"Excluding Mr. Man-Kook, it's Miss Ji-Yeon."
"Miss Ji-Yeon?"
"Yes."
"How much?"
"10."
"How about Hunter Jeong Man-Kook?"
Jeong Man-Kook was already well-known for his Calorie Buff skill with its permanent stat-boosting effect, Delicacies.
"20."
The benefits Jeong Man-Kook had gained by consistently eating food prepared with Kim Ki-Rok's Cooking Skills had clearly paid off.
Through Gate clears and defense battles, Jeong Man-Kook had reached Level 62, but his average stats were equivalent to a Level 82 Hunter.
1. Omitting the final consonant in his name made it sound like "strong" in Korean. ☜