Near the Hapjeong subway station entrance, Jinwoo stood contemplatively as he held the green key in his palm.
Ever since awakening in the hospital after the disastrous Double Dungeon incident, Jinwoo realized that things had changed completely for him, thanks to the strange existence that now rests within him.
It only took him a day to realize that his life was no longer in his control. That he is now the slave of the entity known as the System.
The Penalty Space, where he was transported to when he failed the Daily Quest, was proof enough of this fact.
However, this disaster also brought a blessing for the determined young man.
Looking beyond the cruel hold on his life that the System now held, there existed many things, such as the Status, the Ability Points, the Reward Boxes, the Inventory, the Quests, and many more functions that could help him become stronger than he could have ever hoped for.
He knew that nothing in this world is free. There must be a price to be paid for all of this.
However, he did not care about it.
If the System is determined to use him for some unknown goal, then he, too, will use the System for his own goals.
"So, this is the key to enter an Instance Dungeon, huh?"
Palming the key in his hand, he looked hesitantly at the subway entrance before he steeled his nerves.
"Since I am confident in running away, if I get into danger like last time, I'm just going to run."
With that mumble to boost his confidence and resolve, he turned the key in the air, causing a portal to manifest in front of the subway entrance that only he could see.
(System Panel: Click to see image)
Jinwoo cleared the notification with a thought and entered the dungeon when he felt a sudden shift behind him.
Alarmed, he tried to turn back, only to see that the entrance was now blocked by a solid barrier.
"No way!! The exit is blocked??"
He stopped shouting as he saw the phantom of a young girl from the real world easily pass through the barrier, not even acknowledging Jinwoo or the subway that had suddenly changed from a fully intact station to a ruin.
Jinwoo finally saw the anomalous situation and inspected his surroundings a little more before coming to a conclusion.
"So, this is something similar to a Red Gate then?"
"Shit! Now I can't run away if something happens!"
Suddenly, another notification arrived in front of his eyes that caused him to sigh in exasperation and worry.
(System Panel: Click to see image)
"Damn it, this dungeon is structured to not let me out unless I defeat the Boss and clear it."
Fear consumed Jinwoo's mind.
'I was struggling against E-rank monsters just a week ago, and now you want me to clear an entire dungeon on my own?? Without even a party to back me up?? Are you kidding me??'
And yet, despite the fear, he slowly started to descend the stairs, deeper into the Dungeon.
It did not take long for the E-ranked Hunter to run into his first monster.
(System Panel: Click to see image)
(Monster Image: Click to see image)
'Fuck! It's not easy dealing with E-rank monsters like goblins, how am I supposed to deal with something like this??'
As the wolf monster growled, Jinwoo tried to move, however, much to his horror, he found that his legs simply failed to obey his command.
'is it fear? Is that why I can't move? I thought I wouldn't be afraid anymore after what happened.'
The wolf pounced without warning, forcing Jinwoo to roll to the side.
As he barely escaped the powerful jaws of the monster, his mind raced.
'I don't have a Healer with me. I definitely can't get injured, or it will all be over for me!'
As the monster once again lunged, Jinwoo tried to jump to the side to escape once again, only to end up shooting himself into the wall nearby.
'Huh? What is this?'
Once again, the monster lunged, but this time, Jinwoo jumped over the beast as he started to realize that something was wrong with his body.
'Why do I feel so light? And, what is with this flexibility?'
As the fight went on, Jinwoo felt his fear slowly recede as determination once again flooded the front.
'Somehow, I got a second chance to realize my goal, to not be a burden on my family, to take care of my loved ones with my own strength. There is no way I am going to let fear dictate my actions anymore!!'
With that determination, Jinwoo stopped running and clenched his fist.
As the wolf lunged at him once again, its steel jaws ready to rip the hunter apart, Jinwoo struck out with a blow straight to its jaw, blowing the monster back into the walls, much to the two's surprise.
'…I see. So this is the result of using points in the System and my own daily training.'
'However. I haven't won yet. That thing is still stronger than me.'
Slowly gaining confidence in himself, Jinwoo began his counterattack.
The two beings, one hunter and one monster, locked eyes with each other before their deadly dance began.
The Monster used wild moves, using its instincts to lunge at the human, putting its entire weight behind its attacks while using its jaws for sneak attacks, aiming to kill its prey.
Jinwoo, on the other hand, used the hand-to-hand skills that he learned from his Uncle and Father in his teenage years and started attacking the beast, using every opertunity presented to him to get into its guard and attack its weak points, such as its eyes, its nose, its throat, the underbelly, and the back.
However, as the battle went on, Jinwoo realized that it wouldn't be easy to defeat the monster without a weapon.
'Wait, a Weapon?'
"Inventory!"
The system immediately opened the inventory window from which Jinwoo pulled out the first thing that caught his eye.
The long sword was given to him by Kim Sahng-Sik in the Double Dungeon to defend himself.
Combining his newfound strength with the sword, Jinwoo took the beast by surprise and cleaved it in two.
However, he could not even take a breather before two more wolves showed up.
And yet, Jinwoo felt calm.
'Now that I have a weapon. I am not afraid. Besides.'
He felt something change within him as he eyed the beasts coldly.
'Compared to those Statues, you are weak.'
This time, it was Jinwoo who lunged at the two wolves, using his sword to defend and attack.
Within a matter of minutes, he cleaved another wolf in two, causing the last wolf to turn and flee.
And thus began Jinwoo's trek on his path of Solo Leveling in the dungeon.
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"James. Take a look at this."
I took the file from Gunhee as we both sat in his office at the Association HQ.
Ever since the Double Dungeon incident, where Jinwoo nearly died, I have been spending time with the chairman to try and see if this was an isolated event or if my hunch was right and something more was at play.
And just as always, my hunch proved to be right as I went through the files.
"The Humanoid Monster from France, four years ago. The serial killer ex-hunter called X, another Humanoid Monster incident in Japan two years ago, which turned out to be a Dark Elf monster leading other monsters. The strange movement of the monsters in Jeju Island, according to the latest satellite surveys. The latest Double Dungeon incident. And all the minor incidents like the sudden appearance of Gates in rural areas and the abnormally high rate of dungeon breaks in Japan."
I put the file down and stared at Gunhee with worry, a worry that was reflected on the man's face as well.
"Something is happening, Gunhee. So many incidents in a few years cannot be a coincidence. Something is happening that we are unaware of, and I feel that whatever it is, it is going to affect us severely."
Gunhee nodded at my words as he pulled out another list and handed it to me.
"I feel the same. That is why I have selected a few hunters that could use some training to increase their skills, in case something does happen."
"Gunhee. No. I cannot train people, I don't have such experience, not to mention how different my fighting style is compared to a Hunter's. You know that."
The old chairman smiled at me.
"I know, that is why I am not asking you to train them. I am only asking you to accompany them into high-level dungeons so that they can train in there. I can feel at ease, knowing that they have a National-Rank hunter looking after them."
I wanted to deny his request immediately. However, I remembered the promise I made to myself just a week ago. That I would no longer stay on the sidelines and let any harm come to my family again.
From what my gut is telling me, things are really going in a worrisome direction, and Gunhee's request is logical. So there is no point in rejecting this.
"Fine. But I will only step in if their lives are in danger. And my first priority will always be my family."
"Done."
Gunhee smiled happily before it turned into a sad one.
"Are you coming to the funeral tomorrow?"
I felt guilt stab me in the gut at those words as I turned away.
"I don't know. I feel like I don't deserve to-"
"James, my Yejin saw you as a friend just as I see you. I am sure she would be saddened in the afterlife if you did not come for her funeral."
"….Do I deserve it? Gunhee? I let her die, despite having the power to save her."
The man who founded the Hunters Association to save the lives of people continued to smile sadly at me with his eyes barely suppressing the tears within.
"You do. You might think that you are guilty of her death since you hesitated to use your spells to save her when time was of the essence. However, you and I both know that even if you did use those spells, Yejin would have rejected your offer and forced her own mana to reject your spells."
He looked out of the window as his eyes grew distant.
"Do you remember what my Yejin used to say? 'Death gives meaning to life.'"
" 'And a life forcefully extended can never know the joys of living.' I remember. Your wife was quite the philosopher."
"That's what brought us together in our youth."
He walked over and sat beside me with his palm on my shoulder.
"Come to the funeral. Say your final goodbye to my wife. She would appreciate it."
Wordlessly, I nodded at his words as we continued to share our feelings of loss in silence.
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Author Notes: Read 5 chapters ahead on Patreon: patreon.com/Ruijard1