**Name: Yong Sang-jae
Level: 17
Hunter Rank: Unconfirmed (Estimated: S)
Stats: Stamina (A), Strength (S), Intelligence (S), Agility (A), Magic (S), Luck (B)
Skills
- Master of Frost (S)
- Frostbite (S)
- Frost Shaping (S)
- Frostbite Wounds (S)
First Limit Release
- Frozen Domain (S)
- Ice Wheel Ring (S)
- Frost Wave (S)
- Winter's Gesture (S)**
I was at a loss for words.
This guy—how the hell is he already done with his first limit release?
And on top of that, he's got four extra skills.
All of them S-rank, without exception.
Wait, is S-rank something this common?
"Why the face, Baek Kang-hyun? You dropped your chopsticks."
"No, my hand slipped for a second."
"Here, take these."
"Oh, uh, thanks."
Yong Sang-jae pulled out a spare set of disposable chopsticks from the side. He peeled the wrapper off and handed it to me.
But even as I accepted them, my head wouldn't stop spinning.
'And why the hell is his level 17?'
Everyone I've seen so far has been stuck at level 1.
That's natural. You can't level up without clearing dungeons.
Levels represent experience.
And the only place to gain that experience is inside a dungeon.
'Yeah, he's probably been dragged into dungeons by his father.'
I knew Yong Sang-jae had been forced in and out of dungeons. But level 17? That's not something you get from a dungeon or two.
'And his skills too….'
Back when I saw his skill list through Opportunity, one of his basic skills was definitely A-rank.
Now it's gone—cleaned up like it never existed.
A perfect ability user with nothing but S-ranks across the board.
I double-checked. Nothing had changed.
'…Interesting.'
I didn't feel despair or vague frustration.
Instead, my heart pounded at the thought of surpassing someone like him.
My goal has always been just one: to become more than the greatest ability user.
To carve the name Baek Kang-hyun into history itself.
To do that, surpassing Yong Sang-jae isn't optional—it's required.
If I were the type to give up at something like this, I never would have jumped into that unknown gate in the first place.
What I feel right now is simply curiosity.
The instinct of a reporter when something new and exciting appears before them.
And at that moment, I noticed something.
'His skill list changed format.'
Unlike my skill list, which was arranged vertically, Yong Sang-jae's—after his first limit release—was displayed in a neat horizontal format.
Small details like that catch my attention.
It's fascinating.
"Baek Kang-hyun. Done eating?"
"Huh? Ah—n-no. Not yet."
I hurried to slurp down the rest of my ramen.
Was I zoning out too much? I didn't want him to get suspicious.
Though to be fair, it really was shocking.
Who would've thought Yong Sang-jae was level 17?
In the Hunter world, level by itself isn't everything—aside from limit release, it's just a measure of experience.
Still, it was surprising.
'Wait a second.'
If he's completed his first limit release, then… maybe I can check something.
I swallowed the ramen broth and sneaked a glance at Yong Sang-jae.
**Character: [Yong Sang-jae]
Step 1 – Hold both of Yong Sang-jae's hands. [Complete]
Step 2 – Enter a field dungeon with Yong Sang-jae, just the two of you. (0/1) [Unavailable]
Step 3 – Locked.
Step 2: Insufficient limit release count for Opportunity!
'It's open…!'
I gulped hard.
Sure enough, Opportunity's mission for Yong Sang-jae had unlocked its second stage.
But… what the hell was that requirement?
Go into a dungeon with him, just the two of us?
'Are you kidding me? That's even possible?'
Dungeons spawn randomly.
And since it specifically says "field dungeon," I can't cheat by using Polygon's hologram room.
Besides, would Yong Sang-jae even agree to enter a dungeon with me alone? He'd probably block me, saying it was too dangerous.
'No, forget it for now.'
That mission isn't the point right now.
What matters is what I just learned: to copy higher-level skills, it seems the target has to undergo limit release first.
'And that note about "Opportunity's limit release" probably means I need to release my own limits too.'
Damn, this Opportunity skill is complicated.
I'll have to sit down and sort it out later.
Just then, Yong Sang-jae stood up and called to me.
"Baek Kang-hyun, if you're done eating, let's go."
"Uh, yeah…."
I felt a bit guilty for spacing out.
But hey, curiosity isn't a crime. It's my reporter's instinct.
"So, where are we going?"
"To buy something, now that we've been accepted into Polygon."
"…Buy something?"
"Yes. Something you'll definitely need."
Something I need?
What could that be?
I was actually touched by Yong Sang-jae.
Seriously, what the hell was wrong with my past self?
How could I have ever thought about cutting this guy out of my life?
I owe him an apology.
"You like it?"
"Like it? I love it. This is amazing."
Seeing my happy face, Yong Sang-jae gave a small smile.
Well, of course I'd be happy.
"School uniforms should be bought from the best tailor."
"But is it really okay for me to accept something this expensive?"
"Think of it as a gift for passing. You've always wanted to get into Polygon."
"…But you passed too. Doesn't that count the same?"
"Then call it payback for three years ago."
"Three years ago? Oh… right. Sure."
The look in his eyes made me afraid to admit I had no idea what he was talking about, so I glossed it over.
To him, it was three years ago.
To me, it was thirteen.
'Three years ago… that must've been "Ignir's Return."'
The dungeon break that killed my parents.
I didn't know why Yong Sang-jae brought that up, but I nodded anyway.
'If he says it's fine, then it's fine.'
The old me would've let my pride get in the way and refused.
But not now.
I mean, do you know how much this costs?
Polygon uniforms aren't ordinary uniforms—they're made for ability users.
One set costs one million won.
With both summer and winter versions, that's two million!
'If it's given with a pure heart, I'll accept it with a pure heart!'
One thing I learned in the reporter business: the most important relationships between people are built on sharing.
'I'll repay Yong Sang-jae someday.'
I hugged the uniforms close to my chest. Bliss.
The truth is, I'm broke right now.
Our family inheritance all went to my relatives.
And I hadn't told them about my acceptance into Polygon.
Honestly, I wanted nothing more to do with them.
If it weren't for Yong Sang-jae's gift, my first day of school would've been rough.
'Still, I'll have to figure out a way to make money.'
I'll manage with the information I've collected in my reporter's notebook.
If there's one thing I've learned, it's that information is power.
And one day, I'll reclaim my family's inheritance too.
Not now, since I'm still technically a teenager.
But I've got time—I went back ten years.
Just then, Yong Sang-jae spoke.
"Baek Kang-hyun. Why are we at Gwangwoon Univ. Station?"
"Oh, I've got someone to introduce you to."
"…Introduce? I don't need introductions."
"It's not for you—it's for him."
That's right.
I was bringing Yong Sang-jae to meet Jung-hoon.
I'd called him two hours earlier, using the number we'd exchanged before. Told him I'd be bringing Yong Sang-jae along, and asked if he could make kimchi stew.
Yeah, I asked because I wanted to eat it.
That taste—I'll never forget it.
'Though we did take longer than I thought.'
We'd met at lunch, but by the time we reached Jung-hoon's place, it was dinner.
Turns out there are a lot more uniform brands than I'd realized.
I stole a glance at Yong Sang-jae.
'The "youngest S-rank ability user" title really carries weight.'
Every store in the department mall swarmed him.
Well, of course they would—if he wore their brand's uniform, it'd be free publicity.
The problem was the hassle.
'Not interested.'
'Don't bother me.'
'I'm buying from the same place as him.'
Because of those comments, the shopkeepers redirected their efforts toward me.
Why the hell was he throwing me under the bus?
Some kind of advanced bullying tactic?
But whatever. He bought me uniforms, so I'll let it slide.
By the time I was done grumbling in my head, we'd arrived at Jung-hoon's place.
It had been a while since I'd seen Jung-hoon's friendly face.
"Come in! Everything's ready!"
The moment we stepped inside, a spicy, savory aroma hit my nose.
Kimchi stew.
Damn, I was already drooling.
"Wow, Jung-hoon, the smell's insane. This is no joke."
"Hehe, it's been a while, so I pulled out all the stops. Sit, sit. Uh, and this is…."
"Yong Sang-jae."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Jung-hoon. Come on, sit down! The food's getting cold!"
Jung-hoon ushered us to the table.
And wow, he'd prepared way too much.
Not just kimchi stew, but side dishes too—braised tofu, stir-fried anchovies, you name it.
'Must be the tanker in him. He likes taking care of others.'
Makes sense. His skill Unshakable Will already hinted at that.
Come to think of it, there's even a meme that says skills reflect their owner's personality.
But then I took a whiff of the stew and realized…
"This isn't just regular kimchi stew."
"Oh, as expected of the written test's top scorer. Sharp eye."
What the hell does that have to do with anything?
Still, I smiled.
He made me food—I can put up with a little nonsense.
"So, what did you put in it?"
"Tada! Pork kimchi stew!"
He lifted the lid, and the stew revealed itself in all its glory.
Yeah. Even if he called me bald today, I'd forgive him.
Jung-hoon, you're a good guy.
A man who knows how to cook.
"Here, Sang-jae, try it too!"
"You said you wanted me to meet him. What's the reason?"
"Huh? Oh, that?"
Ugh, this guy.
Couldn't he wait until after we ate?
People soften up after a good meal. That was half the reason I asked him to cook in the first place.
"Ah, it's nothing. I just hit a wall while training my skills, but I figured it out during the practical exam. Today's just about friendship."
Wait—he already solved his problem?
Well, good for him then.
I glanced at Yong Sang-jae. His expression was puzzled.
"…Friendship?"
Right, he's not great with that stuff.
Before I could step in, Jung-hoon spoke.
"Yeah, we're all at the same school now. That makes us classmates!"
"…Classmates?"
"Exactly. You know the saying—family ties, school ties, regional ties. Now we're bound by school ties!"
Wow. I didn't know Jung-hoon could talk like that.
I always thought he was timid, but clearly, he can hold his own.
'Well, he is a tanker. Makes sense.'
In a dungeon, tankers need to be assertive.
If they hesitate on the front lines, the whole team crumbles.
"Anyway, let's talk later. Eat, eat!"
Yeah, let's eat.
I couldn't wait any longer anyway.
Honestly, I devoured it.
Yong Sang-jae, who claimed pork kimchi stew felt "off" and preferred tuna kimchi stew, ended up eating the most.
And now? He was asleep on Jung-hoon's bed.
Dragged him here just for him to sleep. What the hell.
'Am I his babysitter?'
Not my fault. Not at all.
But man, I was stuffed.
I'd eaten way too much.
And now I was peeling apples with Jung-hoon.
'Actually, I do want to talk with him a bit.'
What topic though?
I mulled it over for a while.
Then it hit me.
"Ah, Jung-hoon."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"You said you'd broken through a wall during the exam. What was it?"
I was genuinely curious.
His skill Unshakable Will already played an important role in my own skill set.
If he'd improved it, that could only benefit me.
"Oh, that? It's nothing big. I figured out how to switch my shield into a weapon."
"Switch your shield into a weapon?"
"Yeah. One of my skills, Dragon-Slaying Blade, isn't just for swords. Turns out, it can be used with both a shield and a sword."
"…Oh?"
"Yeah, it's hard to explain in words. I'll just show you sometime."
So that was it.
The explanation was simple, almost too simple.
But as someone who'd seen Jung-hoon's future, I knew exactly what he meant.
'So that was the wall he broke through.'
His usual gear was a greatsword and a shield.
He was a famous tanker—but what really made him stand out was that even his shield could be used as a blade.
The trick wasn't complicated.
You just attach the shield to the greatsword.
In the future, he'd use a special kite shield—teardrop-shaped, designed to split in half.
Once split, the two halves could be fitted onto the sides of his greatsword.
'And then the greatsword evolves into an even bigger greatsword.'
That was his trademark skill—Dragon-Slaying Blade.
Using it not only amplified his strikes but also gave added effects.
'Maybe I can use my own skills like that too.'
Once at Polygon, I'd have to choose my main weapon.
Might be worth reviewing my skills.
I popped a slice of apple into my mouth and opened my skill window.
**Name: Baek Kang-hyun
- Opportunity (Rank Adjusting)
- Observation (Rank Adjusting)
- Frost Shaping (S)
- Unshakable Will (A)
- Light's Veil (A)
- Empty Slot**
Looking over it, my skill set was pretty solid.
One attack, one defense, one passive.
All with decent synergy.
Honestly, this was a killer lineup.
'But with my current mana, Light's Veil is tough.'
I'd only used it once—against the Skull Drake.
That single use had drained nearly half my mana.
Clearly not something I could use casually.
'Might as well check the description more carefully.'
I fixed my gaze on Light's Veil.
And then—out of nowhere—a new message popped up.
**[Do you want to change the skill? (Target: Yoon Si-ae)]
- Silver Wings (S)
- Feather Blades (A)
- Light's Veil (A) [Currently Selected]
- Temporary Gate (A)
- Other target.**
What the hell is this?
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