I was Mistaken for a Noble Hunter Chapter 20 - Leap (7)

Kang Ian received 50 million won from the Happiness Office.

 

But that wasn’t all.

 

The first Gate he entered, the Krupan Dungeon, where he connected with the Ohseong Guild members—the settlement for the Core Stones he acquired there had also been deposited.

 

[Deposit Amount: 1,250,000 won]

 

Since he had gone as more of a mercenary, his share of the profits wasn’t particularly high.

But that dungeon had been so easy that he could have cleared it alone, and he had also collected plenty of Evil Spirits.

 

Considering that, it felt like he had earned this money far too easily.

 

A total of approximately 51 million won.

 

“······.”

 

It was a huge amount of money.

 

Having grown up poor and still paying off student loans after graduating from college, this was the first time he’d held such a large sum.

 

He was so dumbfounded that it didn’t feel real. 

 

If it were just numbers in his bank account, it probably wouldn’t have felt real at all.

 

However, perhaps anticipating this, CEO Shim Junseok had withdrawn it all in cash.

 

Just looking at it made him think of all the things he wanted to do.

 

He could finally move out of his cramped, run-down studio apartment into someplace better.

 

‘Or should I give some to my parents?’

 

Kang Ian became independent at 20.

 

His family wasn’t well-off, and his parents believed that once a child turned 20, they were an adult and should be independent.

 

His home was in the countryside, but since he got accepted to a university in the Gyeonggi area, he naturally became independent and continued to live there.

 

On impulse, he picked up his phone and called home.

 

“Mom. How are you?”

 

-What’s the occasion? You barely call once a month.

 

“Haha… Just checking in. Anything difficult going on?”

 

– Nothing. What difficulties could we have?

 

She said that, but Kang Ian knew better.

 

His mother worked at a restaurant, and his father occasionally went to city-sponsored jobs for senior citizens.

 

They were making ends meet, but they had debt.

 

“How much is left on our debt?”

 

– Debt? Why do you ask?

 

“Just wondering.”

 

– Forget it. Don’t worry about it. It’s not your debt. Your mom and dad will take care of it.

 

His parents always said that.

 

So, he didn’t actually know how much debt they had.

 

But now that he had money, his first instinct was to help his family pay off their debt.

 

“Tell me. How much is it? Never mind. I’ll just send some over, so please accept it.”

 

– What?

 

Kang Ian immediately transferred 30 million won through mobile banking. 

 

He wanted to send the full 50 million, but he figured he might need cash on hand for unexpected expenses.

 

The moment his mother received the transfer notification, her voice shot up in shock.

 

– You, you!? What is this?

 

“Your son happened to make some money.”

 

– 30 million won? Is this real?

 

But that was only for a moment.

 

His mother asked cautiously,

 

– You didn’t do anything illegal, did you?

 

“Come on. Don’t you know my personality? I wouldn’t get involved with anything like that.”

 

– Right. I know you’ve been a good kid since you were young… but then what is this?

 

“Just… I earned it through investments.”

 

Kang Ian made an excuse.

 

He could have told her he awakened as a hunter, but his parents would definitely worry.

 

So, he decided not to tell them for now, and instead visit them in person later.

 

Telling them face-to-face would lessen the shock, and he could also show them that he was doing fine.

 

‘They might find out before I visit them though…’

 

Despite being an F-rank hunter, articles about him had already been published. Two, in fact.

 

Naturally, since they were about him, Kang Ian had read them. 

 

He was so embarrassed by how the articles portrayed him as a hero of society.

 

Still, he wasn’t upset because the comments were overwhelmingly positive.

 

No, he was rather pleased.

 

It made him realize why people tried to be good.

 

Anyway, his parents might find out because of the articles, but… well. 

 

Even if the articles got a lot of views, he doubted his parents would have seen articles about an F-rank hunter.

 

Still, if he continued like this, it would only be a matter of time before he became known… but then he could make a dramatic ‘ta-da!’ appearance at that time.

 

– Investment? Hmm… Okay. I’m sure you know what you’re doing. But aren’t you giving us too much?

 

“I’ve kept enough for myself, so please use it well.”

 

– Alright. Thank you, son. Call Soli too.

 

“Why bother calling? She’ll be fine.”

 

Kang Ian replied indifferently.

 

Kang Isol was his younger sister.  

 

She was also attending university in Seoul and living on her own.

 

Like typical siblings, they exchanged occasional greetings.  

 

Just about once a year.

 

-Soli is a girl. You’re nearby, so look out for her.

 

“That tomboy… Okay, I’ll call her.”

 

– Okay. Mom has to go now. Things are getting busy.

 

It seemed customers had arrived at the restaurant where she worked.  The call with his mother ended.

 

‘I should earn a lot of money so Mom can live comfortably.’

 

He had become a hunter, and he had talent.

 

He could definitely do it. It was just a matter of time.

 

He had originally planned to proudly pass the entrance exam for a large corporation, go home, and give his parents allowance money.

 

But life was unpredictable.

 

Kang Ian chuckled and, following his mother’s advise, called his sister.

 

– Ring… Ring…

 

– Beep… The person you are calling is not available…

 

She didn’t pick up.

 

***

 

The very next day.

 

Kang Ian was up and about early.  

 

A text message had arrived at the crack of dawn.

 

– Secured two E-rank Gates.

 

It was from CEO Shim Junseok.

 

After signing the contract yesterday, Kang Ian immediately requested E-rank Gates. 

 

He had accumulated plenty of Nobility by eliminating villains, but in contrast, he was now running low on Evil Spirits.

 

During the Black Gate incident, he had mostly been an observer and had barely collected any Evil Spirits at all.

 

‘The CEO is certainly competent. He gets exactly what’s needed right away.’

 

Since guilds also compete for gates, securing entry priority wasn’t easy.

 

But Shim Joon-seok had strong connections with the Association and had arranged it almost immediately.

 

Whether those relationships were built on trust or money, one thing was certain—he was competent.

 

‘Joining the office was a good decision.’

 

– But are you really planning to do two in one day? I understand Hunter Kang Ian’s skills, but you don’t need to overdo it on your first day.

 

Another message arrived from CEO Shim Junseok.  

 

Kang Ian immediately replied.

 

– Two is fine.

 

Two E-rank Gates.

 

E-rank was the same level as the Krupan Dungeon.

 

It was easy even the first time he entered.

 

The Ohseong Guild members who went with him back then did nothing but watch from behind.

 

Not only was it manageable, but it was almost too easy.

 

If anything, he wished he could clear five in a row.

 

An E-rank monster only yielded one or two Evil Spirits per kill.

 

The more he could hunt, the better.

 

But even CEO Shim Junseok couldn’t secure that many E-rank Gate entry permits in just a few hours.

 

‘I need to rank up quickly.’

 

There was a way to gain a lot of Evil Soul even with fewer Gate entries.

 

Entering high-rank Gates would solve everything.

 

However, Kang Ian was still an F-rank Hunter. 

 

For safety reasons, Hunters were only allowed to enter dungeons one rank above their own.

 

This rule existed to prevent valuable Hunter resources from being wasted.

 

Kang Ian understood the reasoning, but it was frustrating.

 

Based on his experience in the Black Gate incident, he was certain he could handle a D-rank gate.

 

If he could enter a D-rank gate, he would earn dozens of Evil Spirits per monster—

far superior in terms of efficiency.

 

‘It’s disappointing, but for now, I’ll focus on what I can do.’

 

With that thought, Kang Ian headed to the location CEO Shim had sent him.

 

The gate had appeared near the middle of Cheonggyesan Mountain,

so he parked his car at the base and sprinted up.

 

As he approached, he spotted soldiers standing guard around a temporary restricted zone.

 

After showing his Hunter ID and entering, he saw an orange swirling Gate.

 

An E-rank Gate.  He no longer felt even a hint of nervousness seeing it.

 

He just wanted to clear it quickly and leave.

 

Kang Ian stepped into the Gate.

 

* * *

 

Kang Ian briefly closed his eyes as he felt the sensation of his body being pulled into the vortex, then opened them again.

 

The space had completely changed.  

 

He was now standing in a meadow with short grass.

 

And in the distance, he could see wrinkled dwarves with green skin.

 

‘Goblins.’

 

A dungeon with goblins.

 

The most common type of E-rank Gate.

 

Goblins were small, their strength was average at best, and they weren’t particularly difficult opponents.

 

As long as one avoided being surrounded and watched out for the occasional poison dart, even an F-rank hunter could handle them without much trouble.

 

“······.”

 

Kang Ian moved with ‘Saint Kschnu’s Kite Shield’ equipped on one hand and a one-handed sword in the other.

 

His strategy within the dungeon was simple: block and strike.

 

Block the enemy’s attack with the shield, deflect it, and then attack in the opening.

 

It was very simple, and with enough skill, extremely powerful.

 

“Kreuk! Kreuk!”

 

Noticing Kang Ian’s approach, three green-skinned goblins looked his way. 

 

Their eyes gleamed as they stealthily approached.

 

Kang Ian adjusted his grip on the shield and glared at them. 

 

The goblins, seemingly wary of him, didn’t act rashly.

 

After a moment of strange standoff, the goblins made the first move.

 

“Kyaaak-“

 

They charged in a triangular formation.

 

One in front, two behind.

 

The goblin in front would draw attention, while the two behind would attack.

 

‘Then I should push them back strongly first.’

 

Timing it with the goblins’ approach, Kang Ian put his weight into the shield and shoved the goblin in front.

 

– Thud!

 

The goblin’s head burst open on impact, and its body was sent flying.

 

-Ding!

 

[You have defeated Evil.]

 

[Evil Soul + 1]

 

“······?”

 

Kang Ian flinched in surprise, his body stiffening.  

 

He swore he hadn’t intended to do that.

 

He had only meant to push it back…

 

‘Is the shield too powerful? Or have I gotten stronger?’

 

It was a shield worth 500 Evil Souls.

 

Clearly overkill for this situation.

 

Furthermore, unlike during the Krupan Dungeon, he had leveled up several times.

 

He wasn’t sure what the cause was, but he needed to adjust his strategy.

 

Kang Ian leaped forward, approaching the goblins who were more surprised than he was, standing frozen in shock.

 

– Slice!

 

– Crash!

 

He cut down one with his sword and smashed the other with his shield.

 

– Ding!

 

[You have defeated Evil.]

 

[Evil Soul + 1]

 

[Evil Soul + 1]

 

‘Just charge forward!’

 

Defense was unnecessary.

 

With gleaming eyes, he dashed into the depths of the dungeon.

 

He ran, defeating any goblins he saw.

 

His large frame quickly attracted attention. Goblins shrieked and rushed out from all directions.

 

It didn’t matter.

 

It was even better if they came closer.

 

– Crash!

 

– Crunch!

 

He swung his shield and sword in tandem, grinding the goblins like a blender.

 

He was prepared to use the wind to escape if things got dangerous, but such a moment never came.

 

-Ding!

 

[You have defeated evil.]

 

[Evil Soul + 1]

 

[Evil Soul…]

 

…

 

Leaving the flurry of messages behind, Kang Ian quickly conquered the dungeon.

 

It was like watching the hack-and-slash game Devil Lord 3 in real life.