I was Mistaken for a Noble Hunter Chapter 35 - Fame (11)

Kang Ian was completely absorbed in the joy of working out.

 

Actually, it wasn’t so much the joy of exercising but the joy of seeing his stats increase.

 

– Ding!

 

[Your body is strengthened through high-load training.]

 

[Strength + 0.1]

 

Another message popped up.

 

Kang Ian clenched his fist tightly.

 

After seeing this message several times, he had figured something out.

 

It didn’t just appear when he exercised.

 

‘It appears when I completely exhaust my muscles. When I feel completely drained.’

 

Naturally, it wasn’t easy.  

 

Only someone truly skilled at working out could target their muscles precisely and inflict the proper fatigue. 

 

Otherwise, they’d just be straining their joints inefficiently.

 

“Hup—!”

 

Therefore, every time Kang Ian lifted on the bench press, he made sure to exert every ounce of strength in his muscles.

 

And his dedication caught the attention of Kang Hopoong.

 

“Hey, friend.”

 

“?”

 

Kang Ian, who was focused on his own workout, turned his head at the voice.

 

‘Wh-what is this behemoth?’

 

That was his first thought upon seeing Kang Hopoong. 

 

The giant was over 190cm tall, and incredibly broad as well.  

 

Kang Ian wasn’t short himself, but he had to crane his neck to look up at Kang Hopoong.

 

“I was watching you, and you seem to be working out properly. How about training together?”

 

“Uh… sure. Sounds good.”

 

Kang Ian nodded.

 

It wasn’t easy to completely exhaust his muscles working out alone.

 

But if there was someone to assist him, he could prevent injuries and push himself to the limit.

 

Moreover, Kang Hopoong looked like a master of exercise.  

 

Just look at that massive, muscular physique. 

 

He was bigger than most bodybuilders.

 

‘Is he a hunter with bodybuilding as a hobby?’

 

Kang Hopoong, ‘The Great Mountain’.

 

 An A-rank hunter and quite famous, but Kang Ian didn’t recognize him. 

 

After all, he had only recently entered the hunter industry.

 

If he had heard the name, he might have thought, ‘Ah! That person?’ but he wasn’t familiar enough to recognize him by sight.

 

His knowledge of industry figures was still limited.

 

“I see you were doing bench presses. I’ll spot you, so let’s increase the weight.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Kang Hopoong moved towards Kang Ian’s head, adding plates to the bar.

 

“Th-This much?”

 

“Don’t worry. I’ll lift it right away if you feel like you’re going to get crushed.”

 

Kang Hopoong gestured for him to lie down.

 

Kang Ian followed his instructions. 

 

He tried lifting the barbell, and it didn’t budge.

 

“······?”

 

“Keke. Don’t be a wimp.”

 

With Kang Hopoong’s initial help, he was able to lift it.

 

“Alright, one!”

 

And then the hellish training began. 

 

Kang Ian’s face turned crimson.

 

“Control your breathing! Breathe!”

 

A time of intense focus followed, driven by the need to survive. 

 

But it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.  

 

Kang Hopoong knew exactly where Kang Ian’s limit was and helped him maintain that level.

 

– Ding!

 

[Your body is strengthened through high-load training.]

 

[Strength + 0.1]

 

The messages appeared much faster now, almost twice as fast as when he was working out alone.

 

So, even though he felt like dying, it was worth it.

 

‘What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger!’

 

He’d heard that saying somewhere, and it had never resonated with him as much as it did now.

 

He wouldn’t die from this anyway.

 

So, he might as well train with the resolve to die!

 

And Kang Hopoong was pleased with this attitude.

 

‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone work out this seriously.’

 

As an A-rank Hunter, he was wealthy enough to own a private fitness shop.

 

However, he enjoyed the atmosphere of working out with others, so he would occasionally visit public gyms. 

 

That was how he came across Kang Ian.

 

He could see that Kang Ian was pushing his muscles to their absolute limit.

 

It wasn’t easy for someone to push themselves that hard alone, and it was quite impressive.  

 

It was always fun to work out with someone like this.

 

So, they became workout partners, and it wasn’t bad.

 

‘His rank… must be higher than C-rank. Maybe low B-rank?’

 

Judging by how much weight he could lift, Kang Hopoong estimated as much.

 

His strength was decent, but his willpower was even more impressive.

 

Kang Hopoong had been a hunter for over 20 years, but it had been a long time since he saw someone like this.

 

Their workout that day lasted for almost three hours.

 

Kang Hopoong, also fired up, worked out incredibly hard. 

 

Kang Ian barely managed to keep up, gritting his teeth.

 

By the time he got home, his legs were so shaky he could barely walk.

 

– Keke. You’ve got quite a talent for working out. Your strength noticeably increased by the end, even if just a little bit, compared to when we first started. Quite fascinating. Here’s my number, let’s work out together often. Give me a call next time you come here. We’ll coordinate our schedules.

 

Kang Hopoong entered his phone number into Kang Ian’s smartphone and left.

 

***

 

The next day…

 

“Ugh, uhh… I’m dying…”

 

His entire body was sore. 

 

It was so bad that he couldn’t even sit up in bed after waking up. 

 

He had to roll over and practically fall out of bed.

 

Shoulders, arms, back, chest, abs, thighs, buttocks…

 

There wasn’t a single part of his body that wasn’t aching.

 

Even going to the bathroom was agonizing, and his arms trembled as he tried to lift a glass of water.

 

“This is ridiculous.”

 

A hunter’s body had incredible recovery and resilience. How could lifting a glass of water be this difficult?

 

Still, it was proof of how hard he’d worked yesterday, so he felt a sense of accomplishment.

 

After drinking some water, Kang Ian painstakingly walked back to his chair and sat down.

 

The moment his butt touched the seat, he clenched his teeth from the pain.

 

But that only lasted a moment. 

 

Soon, a smile spread across his face.

 

The reason was simple.

 

It was shopping time.

 

“Heheh. What should I buy?”

 

At that moment, he completely forgot about his physical pain and smiled brightly…

 

He had accumulated over 1000 Evil Souls.

 

This was enough to buy some pretty decent items at his current level.

 

He scrolled through the shop window.

 

He scoffed at the low-tier items worth 1 to 100 Evil Souls and skipped past them.

 

Starting from the 100-range items, he began paying close attention.

 

Then, something caught his eye.

 

[Sun Insignia Armor]

 

– Armor worn by a knight who was once blessed by the sun. Made of a special material called Sunsteel, it is lightweight and durable.

 

– Reduces all fire damage by 50%.

 

– Increases the attack power of fire-based skills by 6%.

 

– Required Evil Souls: 840.

 

“Ugh… that’s really expensive.”

 

A whopping 840 Evil Souls. 

 

His finger trembled as he hovered over the purchase button. 

 

He agonized over the decision.

 

“Alright. This is the right choice.”

 

Being a hunter was nothing like playing a game.

 

Survival and defense had to come first.

 

In that sense, the Sun Insignia Armor was one of the best items available for under 1000 Evil Souls, offering exceptional protection. 

 

And it was lightweight too. 

 

Being both sturdy and lightweight meant he would be able to move quickly and efficiently, which was a huge advantage.

 

“And it increases fire resistance by 50%.”

 

A 50% reduction in all fire damage. 

 

This wasn’t an option you’d normally find on such a ‘cheap’ item. 

 

This level of resistance was likely due to the special lore surrounding the Sun Insignia.  Normally, the percentage would be much lower.

 

Of course, he wasn’t sure when he’d need fire resistance, but it couldn’t hurt to have it.

 

There was one more reason for his choice.

 

“Increased fire attack power. This will definitely synergize with my buff skill.”

 

<Blessing of Judgmental Flame>, the skill book he obtained after clearing the dungeon quest.

 

It was a buff skill that generated an aura that inflicted fire damage. 

 

 The Sun Insignia Armor would likely amplify the power of this buff.

 

It was a good decision all around; he had no regrets.

 

However, he felt a pang of longing for something else.

 

“Ha… I really want to buy this.”

 

In the Nobility Shop, a single pill was displayed on Kang Ian’s screen.

 

[Valhalla’s Compressed Mastery (P) – Intermediate Enhancement]

 

– Required Nobility: 1200.

 

Valhalla’s Compressed Mastery (P) was the very first passive skill Kang Ian had purchased.

 

By consuming a single pill, he gained proficiency in all weapon skills.

 

However, the effects of the Compressed Mastery pill didn’t end after a single use.

 

The one Kang Ian consumed was the most basic version. According to Devil Lord 3’s description, it granted weapon proficiency equivalent to that of a trained soldier.

 

If he used an additional pill for intermediate enhancement, his proficiency would increase to the level of a knight.

 

In the game, passive skills like this worked by increasing damage when using the same weapon repeatedly.

 

However, in reality, where he had to physically move his body, things would be a bit different.

 

‘That’s why it’s even more important. I definitely need to buy it, but… 1200 Nobility? How am I supposed to save that much?’

 

Even if he combined all the Nobility he’d earned so far, it wouldn’t even be half the required amount.

 

In the end, he could only stare longingly at the item before turning off his computer.

 

***

 

After that, Kang Ian left his house.

 

His destination was the Happiness Office.

 

“You’ve arrived.”

 

“Yes, CEO.”

 

“Please have a seat. But your face… you look exhausted?”

 

“Haha… I worked out a bit too hard.”

 

CEO Shim Junseok chuckled as Kang Ian groaned, struggling to even sit on the sofa.

 

“From a CEO’s perspective, that’s a good attitude. It’s good for a hunter to get stronger. Just be careful not to get injured.”

 

“I understand.”

 

“The reason I called you today is for a request. We didn’t get to talk much over the phone yesterday, right? Red Rose has sent a request.”

 

It was a request worth a staggering 100 million won. 

 

The request entailed entering a C-rank Gate with members of the Red Rose Guild.

 

“They’ve also stated that all crystals and other by-products obtained inside will be evenly split among all participants. Technically, it’s a ‘request,’ but in reality, they’re being incredibly generous. They could just take their own guild members, but they’re deliberately offering this to you, Hunter Kang Ian.”

 

“I see.”

 

Kang Ian nodded, already having an idea why.

 

Red Rose’s Team Leader, Choi Seobin, had promised to repay his favor.

 

This request was probably part of that.

 

‘Well… it’s not that appealing…’

 

He wasn’t particularly thrilled. 

 

The reward was 100 million won, and he could obtain Evil Souls by entering the Gate.

 

But Kang Ian’s mind was preoccupied with the ‘Valhalla’s Compressed Mastery (P) – Intermediate Enhancement’ he had seen that morning.

 

‘I’d rather take a request to hunt down another villain or something…’

 

The news, which had been filled with villain-related incidents, was quiet today. He was disappointed.

 

Just then…

 

– Ring ring ring~

 

“Ah, excuse me for a moment. It’s a call from the Association.”

 

“Go ahead, take it.”

 

Shim Junseok’s smartphone rang. 

 

After checking the number, he apologized and answered the call.

 

“Yes. This is Shim Junseok from the Happy Office.”

 

– CEO! There’s been a Gate outbreak in Hwaseong!

 

“…What?”

 

Shim Junseok’s smiling face froze instantly.

 

– And the Gate is near an apartment complex!

 

“What?? How could they let something like that happen?!”

 

– There’s no time for a detailed explanation. We’re requesting assistance! Please send hunters from your office!

 

“…”

 

Shim Junseok couldn’t answer immediately.

 

‘This is too dangerous.’

 

A Gate outbreak. 

 

That meant the monsters inside had escaped. 

 

If this happened inside an urban area, then the place would already be in chaos.

 

Fighting monsters in the middle of the city meant urban warfare—something that posed a tremendous risk to hunters.

 

Due to the surrounding terrain and obstacles, even monsters that would be easy to handle in an open area could pose a significant threat.

 

‘And there will be civilian casualties. Protecting and evacuating them while fighting monsters… that’s incredibly risky.’

 

The best course of action was to reject the request.

 

Even if it meant damaging the office’s reputation, it was more important to protect his affiliated hunters.

 

Having made up his mind, Shim Junseok opened his mouth to respond.

 

“Ah… I’m so sorry, but… all the hunters in our office are currently on other missions…”

 

– Swish. Swish.

 

At that moment…

 

Kang Ian interrupted Shim Junseok, waving his hand to get his attention.

 

“?”

 

As Shim Junseok looked at him quizzically, Kang Ian mouthed the words:

 

Take. The. Job.

 

“???”