Riko stepped through the gate the moment he crossed the trembling black threshold. A strong pressure pressed on his body for a few seconds, then the sensation suddenly vanished. When he opened his eyes, he found himself in the middle of a vast forest. The trees were dense and close together, the ground uneven, and the air noticeably cold. No direct sunlight reached the forest, as if it existed in a permanent shadow.
Riko looked around cautiously and said in a low voice:
"This is a D-rank gate…"
He moved slowly between the trees, alert to any unusual movement. He held no weapon in his hand, relying only on his body. After several minutes of walking, he heard rapid footsteps coming from the left, followed by a low growl.
Riko stopped immediately and turned toward the sound. Three savage wolves emerged from between the trees. They were larger than normal wolves, their eyes red, and their fangs bared. The wolves spread around him in a circle, as if trained for hunting.
Riko said anxiously:
"Wolves…"
One wolf suddenly lunged at him. Riko tried to dodge by jumping backward, but the wolf scratched his arm with its claws. Sharp pain shot through him, but it wasn't fatal. Another wolf attacked from the right. Riko threw a punch, but it had no noticeable effect; the wolf bounced back and attacked again immediately.
Riko said while retreating:
"I can't fight with my bare hands… I'll die like this."
At that moment, he remembered something.
He said quickly:
"System… sword!"
A window appeared before him:
[System Storage Opened]
Riko reached into the void that appeared and pulled out a simple metal sword, sturdy despite its simplicity. He gripped it with both hands, feeling its true weight for the first time.
The first wolf charged again. This time, Riko waited for the right moment, then swung a quick horizontal strike. The blade hit the wolf's neck directly, and it collapsed to the ground without moving.
The other two wolves attacked simultaneously. Riko stepped back slightly, then thrust the sword directly into one's chest, dropping it, before spinning quickly to deliver a powerful vertical strike that finished off the third.
Riko stood panting, looking at his wounded arm. At that moment, the system window appeared:
[Automatic Healing in Progress]
[Combat Completion Reward]
Warmth spread through his body as the pain and minor wounds vanished within seconds.
Riko said in astonishment:
"Even healing…"
He continued through the forest, now moving with more confidence. After a short while, he heard sharp, unnatural laughter. He hid behind a tree and looked cautiously, spotting three goblins armed with rusty clubs and short knives.
He stepped out of hiding and approached them. One goblin noticed him and shouted, and they charged. Riko used his sword in a direct rush and began fighting. The goblins were slower than the wolves, but slightly smarter and attacked together.
After a short fight, the first goblin fell, then the second, then the third.
A window appeared:
[Goblins Eliminated]
[Level Up]
Riko felt his body slightly lighter and his strength slightly increased. He continued forward, facing other groups of goblins. With each fight, he gained more control over his sword, striking more accurately and moving more calmly.
[Level Up]
[Level Up]
He also faced other monsters of the same rank, each battle increasing his experience and power, without feeling extreme fatigue thanks to the system's support.
After a long time, he reached an open area in the forest. The ground was covered with enormous footprints. Riko felt the weight in the air increase, as if the pressure had intensified.
He said quietly:
"This… is the boss."
A massive goblin appeared, over twice the size of a normal goblin, muscles bulging, wielding a huge axe. It looked at Riko and roared loudly, then charged.
Riko barely dodged the first strike as the axe smashed into the ground. He tried to counterattack, but the goblin's skin was tough, and his strike wasn't enough.
The fight continued for a long time. The goblin attacked with tremendous force, and Riko relied on movement, retreating, and precise strikes. He took several glancing hits, falling multiple times, but he stood each time.
Over time, Riko noticed a pattern in the goblin's attacks. He exploited a brief opening, leapt forward, and delivered a series of consecutive strikes to its weak points. Finally, he landed a decisive blow that ended the fight.
The massive goblin collapsed to the ground.
The system window appeared:
[Gate Boss Eliminated]
[Level Up Significantly]
Riko took a deep breath, sat on the ground for a few seconds, then stood, looking around steadily.
Meanwhile, Hana sat in her room at the villa. Her mother entered calmly:
"Hana, your birthday is in a week."
Hana slowly raised her head and looked at her mother without replying.
Morning came quietly in Riko's neighborhood, but the calm was broken by the sound of fast footsteps.
Riko ran at a steady pace, sweat streaming down his forehead. His body had changed clearly over the past week; muscles more defined, taller, facial features sharper and more mature. He wasn't running for leisure, but completing a daily task imposed by the system.
He continued running for several minutes until a transparent window appeared before him:
[Daily Tasks Completed]
Riko stopped, bent slightly to catch his breath, then looked up at the window.
[Automatic Healing in Progress]
The window disappeared, and a light warmth flowed through his body, completely removing fatigue. He straightened and said in a low voice:
"What a refreshing feeling."
He sighed, then his expression suddenly changed as if he remembered something important.
'Right… today is Hana's birthday.'
Tension crossed his features for a moment.
'I haven't prepared a gift… how cruel of me.'
He looked at his hands, then his sports clothes.
'I need to put on a suit and go to the villa. Her birthday is being held there, and all her friends will be present.'
He walked slowly, thinking.
'After leaving the gate, I became D-rank, but rank advancement isn't as fast as I expected.'
He paused briefly, then continued his way home.
Meanwhile, in the rich Sol family mansion, the atmosphere was entirely different.
In the spacious hall, a young man in a fancy suit sat casually with one leg crossed over the other. His name was Sato.
His father, looking impatient, sat across from him.
The father said sharply:
"Boy, show some respect and adjust your posture."
Sato replied coldly:
"No, father, I like this posture, and I can't change it."
The father slammed the arm of his chair in anger. "You ungrateful child."
Sato smiled lightly. "Father, today I will attend Hana's birthday… as you know… I love her."
After a short silence, the father said, "I know."
Sato's smile widened, becoming more cunning. "As you know, father, you are old, and soon I will inherit this mansion."
Then he continued without hesitation: "I will marry her and kick you out. Even if my mother were alive, I would have done the same."
The father rose angrily. "Are you insane?!"
Sato stood as well, keeping his smile. "It's only a matter of days, and I will become the owner of this mansion."
He then turned and left the hall without waiting for a reply.
Night fell, and the lights filled Hana's villa.
The party was large, the number of guests many. Music and laughter filled the place.
Hana stepped into the hall wearing an elegant red dress. As she appeared, all eyes turned to her, and most of the young men clearly admired her.
Moments later, Sato entered the villa, wearing a luxurious black suit, exuding a strong fragrance. He immediately drew attention and confidently approached Hana.
He bowed before her, took her hand, and kissed it. Hana's cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment.
Sato said in a low voice:
"I will marry you soon, Hana."
Before she could reply, the main door of the villa opened.
Suddenly, silence fell, and everyone turned toward the entrance.
A tall young man with black hair and blue eyes entered, wearing a simple yet elegant suit. His body was muscular, his steps steady, his gaze sharp and calm at the same time.
He stepped inside without saying a word.
Hana looked at him, eyes widening in shock.
'Is this… Riko?'
Riko entered Hana's villa, steps steady, body muscular, face sharp.
He wore a formal black suit, holding a gift box for Hana in his hand.
Everyone stopped talking, the guests turning toward him in surprise.
The guests began whispering:
"Who is this person?"
"We've never seen him before."
"So handsome… is he a hunter?"
The girls whispered among themselves:
"Who is this handsome man?"
"Is he a family friend?"
Hana stood in the center of the hall, wearing the red dress, beside her father Kane Hyuga and mother.
Her eyes widened as she saw Riko approaching her.
'Could this person really be… Riko?'
She recalled a childhood memory: when she played with Riko in their garden, he told her:
"When we grow up, I'll marry you."
Hana smiled: "And I'll marry you too."
The guests returned to reality.
Riko stood directly in front of Hana, placed the gift box on the floor, then bowed and took her hand, kissing it.
Hana's face flushed immediately.
Sato, standing on the other side of the hall, looked at the scene angrily.
"Why are you kissing my future wife?" he shouted, reaching out to grab Riko.
Riko didn't move, only glanced at him from the corner of his eye, his eyes radiating a dark red aura.
Sato trembled and stepped back unconsciously.
Riko said in a cold voice:
"This is my fiancée. Who are you to call her your future wife?"
Sato looked at Hana in astonishment:
"Hana… is this your fiancé?"
Hana couldn't respond.
Sato's anger intensified:
"Why didn't you tell me you had a fiancé?"
He rushed toward her, shouting:
"You w—"
Before he could continue, Hana's father Kane Hyuga shouted angrily:
"Stop immediately!"
He then went straight to Sato:
"You despicable man, Sato Sol!"
The father continued sharply:
"You're just a dog to women, every day with a different girl!"
He added:
"You and your whore mother, and your dog father, are nothing compared to my family."
Sato froze, shocked. "Uncle… are you really saying this to me?"
The father replied firmly:
"Do you want me to stay silent and watch you insult my daughter? You're just a D-rank hunter, and I'm a C-rank hunter."
He added:
"Do you think you can defeat me, you insect?"
Sato grew even angrier, lifting his head, filled with rage:
"From now on, I won't call you uncle, because you don't deserve it!"
A battle aura emanated from Sato, surrounding him with lethal energy.
He shouted:
"Prepare to die, brat!"
Sato charged toward Hana's father at tremendous speed, body leaning forward, aura fully focused on the attack.
Before reaching him, Riko extended his hand.
He grabbed Sato's wrist in mid-air.
Sato's body stopped suddenly, frozen in mid-lunge, his foot off the ground.
The entire hall froze.
Guests, father, mother, Hana… all were stunned.
Riko stood firm, gripping Sato's wrist tightly.
He said in a low but sharp voice:
"Sato… don't you think you've crossed the line with the Hyuga family?"
Riko pressed slightly, and Sato trembled.
Riko continued:
"You don't want to marry."
"You just toy with girls from other families."
"You see women as tools for your pleasure."
"That mindset is wrong."
"You need to correct yourself, you sick man."
Sato broke free from Riko's hand, stepping back, panting:
'Is this person a C-rank hunter or stronger?'
Riko raised his head to him and said:
"Why are you just standing there?"
"Do you think I'll let you escape?"
Silence fell. Everyone in the hall breathed slowly, anticipating the next move from either of them.
End of Chapter 4