The SSS-Class Hunter’s Garden Log Chapter 1

The world fell into chaos the day a red crack appeared in the sky over Seoul.

 

Monsters poured out from within, slaughtering people indiscriminately.

 

However, in response to this strange phenomenon, individuals began to awaken special abilities.

 

They were called Hunters, and they began to block these scientifically inexplicable rifts appearing across the globe—the Gates. 

 

And then, there was the Hunter among Hunters.

 

South Korea was the nation that possessed the world’s rank #1 SSS-class Hunter.

 

-Signs of a runaway Gate detected at Gangnam Station! The rating is unmeasurable; switching to Unclassified Gate status!

 

Static—

 

Yoon Hana furrowed her brow at the radio transmission flowing through her earpiece. 

 

Hana pulled the irritating earpiece out entirely, while a communication relay drone circled above her head. 

 

【SYSTEM】

 

< Skill ‘Shadow in the Smoke (L-rank)’ is active – Facial recognition disabled >

 

Hana’s face in the footage broadcast by the drone was blurry, like flickering static.

 

However, no one took issue with that.

 

The reason was simple: Hana was the world’s only SSS-class Hunter, known only as ‘1.’

 

“Wow, a Gate of this scale? It’s got to be at least S-rank.”

 

A distorted voice flowed from Hana.

 

It was a voice that was incredibly nonchalant, entirely out of place in the middle of such a disaster.

 

But despite her casual remark, Hana took a deep breath in and out.

 

She had faced countless Gates, but for some reason, she had a bad feeling today. 

 

‘Don’t overthink it. It’s probably nothing.’

 

To shake off her stray thoughts, Hana stretched her body as if she were out for a light stroll and then reached out her hand.

 

【SYSTEM】

< Bound Weapon ‘Gunshot of Clear Sky’ is being summoned. >

 

Bzzzzzt—.

 

An electronic hum sliced through the air.

 

Golden particles gathered above Hana’s hand, overlapping one by one like digital shards until a weapon took shape.

 

It had a body that looked like a fusion of metal and crystal, with a sleek, tapering loading mechanism.

 

In the center of the barrel, a wave core was embedded like a heart, and a blue pattern seemed to breathe with life.

 

Light spread over the silver luster, flowing like an aurora before flashing at the tip of the muzzle.

 

Standing before the Gate’s entrance, Hana tucked the butt of the long rifle tightly against her shoulder.

 

【SYSTEM】

< Skill ‘Mind Pressure (L-rank)’ activated. Piercing the target’s heart. >

 

───CRACK!

 

The moment Hana’s finger pulled the trigger, an explosive roar echoed through her mind.

 

The first shot.

 

The bullet lodged accurately in the chest of a giant avian monster that was taking flight, shattering its upper body into pieces.

 

As blood and bone fragments scattered in the air, Hana narrowed her eyes.

 

The monsters, having lost all reason, swarmed toward the entrance.

 

Venomous saliva dripped from the glistening teeth of their gaping maws.

 

If that sticky saliva even brushed against it, fragile human skin would melt instantly. 

 

That wasn’t all. There were monsters with dozens of eyes circling in the sky. 

 

Nightmares intent on swallowing the city scrambled to push through the Gate entrance.

 

However, Hana stood her ground without a hint of retreat.

 

Her slender fingertip pulled the trigger again.

 

Click, bang.

 

With a single discharge, the hearts of three flying monsters were pierced simultaneously.

 

Skreeee!

 

Agitated by the death of its kin, a flying beast spat out a glob of black venom.

 

【SYSTEM】

< Skill ‘Aiming Repeat (SS+ rank)’ activated. Switching to auto-fire mode. >

 

Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom! 

 

The rapid fire was intense enough to make her right hand vibrate.

 

As Hana’s muzzle aimed at the targets one by one, tracing a semicircle like a dance, the bullet marks left a trail like a trajectory, carving the monsters apart.

 

Fragments of the screaming, collapsing beasts scattered around her.

 

Having cleared the immediate area in an instant, Hana began pushing the injured hunters, who were lying collapsed, out of the Gate one by one.

 

“What the—Hoobae-nim? Why are you here?” (T/n : Hoobae is like a junior.) 

 

She discovered a familiar face.

 

It was Seo Kanghyun.

 

He was an A-rank, but the Association was watching him closely because of his immense potential.

 

Hana pulled the man—who was at least two heads taller than her—up by his long frame to support him.

 

He seemed quite badly injured, as Kang-hyun winced, his eyes bloodshot.

 

“…What about you, Sunbae-nim? Why are you here?” (t/n : Sunbae is like Senior)

 

“Seriously, you’ve totally thrown formalities out the window, haven’t you?”

 

Hana glared at her junior, who was actually older than her.

 

Of course, because of her skill, he couldn’t see her face.

 

“I’m here because it’s me. Just get out of here quickly, Hoobae-nim.”

 

“What about you, Sunbae-nim?”

 

Reaching the Gate entrance, Hana pushed the back of Kang-hyun, who was trying to hold his ground at the exit.

 

“I have to finish the Gate raid before I leave.”

 

But no matter what Hana said, Kanghyun stubbornly grabbed her hand and wouldn’t let go.

 

“Hoobae-nim, do you not trust me?”

 

“I don’t.”

 

The voice that gave the short answer was deeply subdued.

 

“You’re always getting hurt here and there and coming back, turning my stomach into knots. How am I supposed to trust you?” 

 

As he spoke, Kanghyun reached out his other hand toward Hana’s shoulder.

 

“Ugh.”

 

Hana bit her lip at the stinging pain.

 

Without her realizing when it happened, blood was flowing from her right shoulder. 

 

“See. You really never think about the people worrying about you, do you? My selfish Senior.” 

 

For a moment, Hana was speechless.

 

It was because Kanghyun looked somewhat angry, or perhaps even sorrowful.

 

Getting injured was a daily occurrence for a Hunter; she couldn’t understand why he was reacting this way now. 

 

But before she could solve this mystery—

 

BOOM!

 

With a heavy tremor, the Boss monster that had flown into the air began to charge straight toward the two of them.

 

“Get out, now!”

 

Hana pushed Kanghyun out of the Gate almost reflexively.

 

As their intertwined hands broke apart, Kanghyun’s eyes widened. 

 

“Sunbae-nim—!”

 

Ignoring his cry, Hana tried to quickly raise her gun.

 

“Wait…? What’s wrong with this?”

 

Suddenly, her limbs wouldn’t move, as if she were being held by invisible strings.

 

Her heart sank. This was a sensation she had never experienced before.

 

< Warning! System error detected >

< Unidentified external energy is interfering with the user’s abilities. Movement is restricted. >

< Time remaining until bug fix: 10 seconds >

 

“Ugh, external energy? What does that even—”

 

“GRAAAAAWR!”

 

While Hana struggled to activate her weapon, the Boss monster’s roar made her wince.

 

And before she could respond—

 

THWACK—!

 

The Boss monster’s horn pierced through Hana’s back in an instant.

 

“Gasp!”

 

A wheezing sound escaped Hana’s mouth.

 

As the horn that had pierced through to her abdomen was pulled out, blood gushed.

 

The world spun, and her vision wavered.

 

【SYSTEM】

< Critical injury detected: Liver rupture. Spinal damage. Injuries are severe. >

 

【SYSTEM】

< Bug fix complete. Skill usage restrictions lifted. >

< Bound Weapon ‘Gunshot of Clear Sky’ is being summoned. >

 

Hana lifted her hand, which had begun to move again, and gripped her gun.

 

She felt her life force fading rapidly along with the blood surging from her abdomen.

 

However, if she gave up now, even more people might be sacrificed. Hana forced her fading consciousness into focus.

 

The sensation in her fingertips was numbing and her vision was stained red, but she moved her finger on the trigger as if squeezing out her last bit of strength.

 

BANG—!

 

【SYSTEM】

< Boss monster killed. Gate stabilization initiated. >

 

“Haah, haah…”

 

Hana panted heavily.

 

It was an overwhelming difference in power.

 

If it hadn’t been for that strange bug just now, she wouldn’t have been hit by such an attack.

 

“Let’s get out for now.”

 

Questions about the bug flooded her mind, but Hana tried to balance her broken body.

 

However,

 

< Abnormal energy levels. Explosion will occur in 60 seconds. Exit the Gate immediately. >

 

“Ah.”

 

The damn Gate wouldn’t give her a break.

 

Hana frowned.

 

There was a one-in-ten-million chance of this happening—a case where the Gate went into a self-destructing rampage.

 

Furthermore, perhaps because she had lost so much blood, her eyes kept trying to close.

 

Just as Hana’s eyelids were about to drop, a shout reached her through the entrance that was still open.

 

“Sunbae-nim, hold on! I’m coming in right now…!”

 

It was Kanghyun.

 

He was screaming and struggling to get back into the Gate, shaking off the hunters who were trying to stop him.

 

“So pull yourself together, don’t close your eyes! Don’t you dare die!” 

 

< Warning! Time remaining until Gate explosion: 31 seconds >

< Predicted explosion radius: 12.7km >

 

Hana forced her eyes open and dragged her uncooperative body to sit against the wall near the entrance.

 

Then, click, she loaded a bullet again.

 

“Haha, I guess I really am selfish…” 

 

Hana looked at Kanghyun beyond the entrance for a moment and then put strength into her fingertips.

 

“I’m sorry, Hoobae-nim. But I have no choice.”

 

If the Gate collapsed like this, the entire center of Seoul would be wiped out. She couldn’t let that happen.

 

Hana stood up, suppressing the pain.

 

Turning around unsteadily, she aimed her muzzle directly at the entrance.

 

Bang—.

 

【SYSTEM】

< Skill ‘Energy Conduction (L-rank)’ activated. Gate entrance modification initiated. Autonomous isolation mode triggered. The entrance is being sealed. >

 

BOOOOOM!!

 

The Gate entrance shriveled in an instant due to the energy exploding from the inside.

 

The connection between the Gate and the outside world was completely severed.

 

It was done. Now the city would be safe.

 

However, the energy that had lost its outlet expanded above the Gate at a terrifying speed.

 

The internal explosion had begun.

 

Cough.

 

Hana wiped the blood refluxing from her mouth with the back of her hand.

 

At that moment, the inside of the Gate was swallowed by the explosion.

 

She thought she heard a scream calling out “Sunbae-nim!” in that instant.

 

She wasn’t sure because her ears were ringing from the blast.

 

Hana’s body was tossed into the air by the debris of the explosion before being slammed mercilessly onto the ground.

 

“Wow… it hurts… like hell…”

 

Amidst her fading consciousness, warning alarms began to blare incessantly.

 

Ding-! Ring-! 

 

【SYSTEM】

< Warning! Evacuate immediately! The Gate is exploding! User survival probability is less than 1%! >

 

【SYSTEM】

< Warning! User’s remaining vitality: 2.8% >

< User’s remaining vitality: 1% >

< User’s remaining vitality: Less than 0.3% >

 

Red lights flashed urgently on the system window.

 

【SYSTEM】

< Initiating emergency intervention. >

< The system is using ‘Core Authority’ for the user’s survival. >

< Warning! The system will incur critical losses. Converting the system’s core fuel into the user’s physical energy. >

< Side effects: Partial loss of system functions / Possible loss of user memories. >

 

Inside the Gate covered by the explosion, the thick dust settled, and in the silence, the system screen flickered and went out like a blown fuse.

 

Then, in a silence that felt like it would last forever—Ding! A cute notification sound rang out.

 

【SYSTEM】

< The system window is updating. >

.

.

.

< Update complete. >

 

【SYSTEM】

< Uwahh. User, please wake up! ;ㅅ; >