The rumor that the weakling Haren had taken down a mid-size monster spread like wildfire through the monster hunter guild.
Has there ever been a time in my life when my name carried such renown?
For the first time ever, my name was on everyone's lips—and in a good way.
A somewhat goofy smile crept onto my face.
Was I always the type to crave praise like this?
I never knew I was such an easy guy to please.
But this wasn't the time to bask in it.
My body was still burning through life force, and I needed to replenish it.
Monster hunting was absolutely essential.
So, as always, I pushed open the doors of the monster hunter guild to take on a mission.
Just as I headed toward the counter—
"Hey there."
A voice called out to me.
I turned my head. Standing there was a tall man.
Flashy blond hair and a pair of distinctive goggles perched atop his head.
He had that air about him—like he was the protagonist of the world.
His name was Egoi.
His nickname was Gold Coral—technically the name of his team, but that's what they called him.
Coral was some sea creature, or so I'd heard. Not that I'd know.
I've never seen the ocean.
The one man in the Laoren branch who could solo a mid-size monster.
That was Egoi.
Rumor had it he was heading to the capital soon. I never expected him to talk to me.
Not that we'd ever exchanged a single word in our lives.
"What is it?"
"Did you really take down a mid-size monster all by yourself?"
Doubt flickered in Egoi's eyes.
I could guess why he was skeptical.
Normally, it took a full team of ten monster hunters to bring one down.
And here I was, claiming to have done it solo.
Any veteran mid-size monster hunter would find that hard to believe.
"I'll say this upfront: I have no intention of proving it. And you don't have to believe me."
I didn't hunt mid-size monsters to show off to anyone.
I did it solely to survive.
Belief or proof? It didn't matter to me.
"I'll keep hunting monsters from now on, and this kind of thing will keep happening."
I laid out the facts plainly. Egoi stared at me for a long moment.
Then he scratched the back of his head.
"Huh. Got it. Sorry if I came off sharp. I just wanted to warn you to be careful—if it was some fluke."
Mid-size monsters didn't fall to flukes.
He knew that, but the world was unpredictable.
Like how instant death magic suddenly appeared in my life one day.
So Egoi had just come over to offer some simple advice.
"Mid-size monsters vary wildly in strength from one to the next.
Unlike large or small ones, you can't gauge them just by looking."
His tone felt like he was talking to a newbie, and it left a bitter taste.
Five years grinding in the same guild, and I still wasn't memorable enough.
Just a reminder of my place.
"Egoi, quit sticking your nose in."
"That guy's such a busybody."
Off in the distance, what looked like Egoi's teammates called him over.
"Ah, but if you really did take down a mid-size monster, I'd love to scout you."
He handed me a business card.
It read: Monster Hunter Team Gold Coral.
"Hit me up if you're interested!"
Egoi waved and walked off.
What a straightforward guy.
His teammates naturally gathered around him.
They were comfortable with each other, camaraderie on full display.
I took in the sight for a moment.
My instant death magic didn't need comrades like that.
That kind of scene would always be distant from me.
Not that I envied it.
Right now, I had my own path to follow.
So I grabbed a request for the outskirts—mid-size monster territory—and headed straight to the counter.
Meril, the ever-present receptionist, was there as usual.
She smiled warmly, just like always.
"Haren, another mid-size monster hunt?"
"Yes, please."
"Got it registered. Solo again?"
"That's right."
Now that I'd already bagged one, she registered it without hesitation.
"Honestly, I don't like how the guild's treated you."
She said it casually while filling out the paperwork.
As a guild staffer, she'd heard all the rumors.
"So I'll be rooting for you."
"Thanks."
Her kindness carried a genuine warmth.
No wonder she was the guild's star employee.
Lots of fans made sense.
"Oh, and lately, there's been bandit sightings in the outskirts."
"Bandits, with all the monsters around?"
"Yeah, not sure on details, but they're from the west—Jefran city. Word is the Laoren count's house is sending out a subjugation force soon."
"Better safe than sorry."
Sometimes humans were more dangerous than monsters.
I took her warning to heart.
"Good luck out there today!"
With Meril's send-off, I left the guild.
Gazes followed me from all corners, but I ignored them.
I had one job.
Hunt mid-size monsters—today, like always.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Thud—
A mid-size monster collapsed right in front of me.
Its life force extinguished by my instant death magic.
A lion-like beast with six eyes.
After felling it, I caught my breath, and vitality surged back into my body.
The power from its life force coursed through me once more.
"Muscles are filling out."
I tugged at my sleeve, revealing defined arms.
Even my once-flat abs felt firm and solid.
Three mid-size monsters today.
Absorbing their life forces had boosted my physical abilities yet again.
I sliced off the lion beast's mane and paws, packing them neatly into my bag.
The bag that used to feel heavy was now featherlight.
My body had truly leveled up.
Maybe it was time to get serious about training.
At this rate, I could put up a decent fight.
Clank—
Iron gears clicked underfoot.
Custom boots I'd made after that last mid-size monster encounter.
They latched onto monster hides with iron spikes.
They'd come in handy today.
"That old man's got a real knack for this stuff."
A blacksmith acquaintance I'd known for years.
Pricey, but top-notch work, so I kept going back.
If your skills weren't enough, your gear had to be.
That's why I'd scraped together every coin for equipment.
Should treat the old man to a meal soon.
Gratitude for the gear.
But dusk was falling.
Monsters got fiercer at night.
Time to head out of the forest.
My sense of direction was sharp, so I turned to go—
Rustle rustle—
Sounds of multiple figures moving reached my ears.
I froze.
Instinctively crouching, I strained toward the noise.
Thanks to the life force boosts, even faint sounds were crystal clear now.
Senses like hearing had sharpened too.
And those footsteps? Definitely human.
Out here in the outskirts.
I knew exactly who they were.
The bandits from the west.
West of Laoren: Jefran.
The baron's city, plagued by recent security issues.
Word was the baron was bedridden, leaving his young son as heir.
His retainers exploited it, mismanaging the territory and tanking the finances.
To top it off, dimensional rifts were spiking.
Monsters everywhere, taxes in chaos, security in ruins.
No way the city ran normally.
Criminals poured out of Jefran.
Desperate folks turning to crime to survive.
Bandits fleeing from there to this harsh north.
Jefran's situation must be dire.
What to do.
They weren't far.
Detouring would take me toward the village outskirts.
Few people lived there, but still.
Bandits were probably eyeing it.
Fugitives from the west.
Gold wasn't their goal—food and supplies.
When survival's on the line, people get ruthless over sustenance.
The old me would've run without looking back.
Back then, I thought justice belonged to the strong.
That mindset hadn't changed much.
To claim justice, you needed power.
To have it recognized, even more so.
Without it, I'd just end up like my father.
Did I lack power now?
My fist clenched.
No.
I had the power to instantly kill anything.
Hesitation didn't last.
I kicked off the clanking boots.
Barefoot on the underbrush.
Years of running for my life had toughened my soles.
No scratches from this.
I moved silently through the forest.
Ears tuned to the sounds.
They grew closer.
In the distant shadows, I spotted them: a group moving quietly.
Masks on, weapons in hand.
Ragged clothes, starved looks.
Behind the masks, eyes burning with murderous intent.
The gaze of those willing to kill for their own lives.
For a fleeting moment, I pitied them.
Just victims of hunger's breaking point.
But some never crossed that line, no matter how hungry.
Abandoning morals was their choice.
"Village is close."
"Soon as we arrive, torch the biggest house.
Everyone'll come rushing out to put it out."
"Grab everything we can—my stomach's stuck to my spine."
Snatches of their talk drifted over.
Their minds were set on looting the village.
So I wouldn't hesitate either.
From the shadows, I seized the rearmost bandit's back.
Hand extended to the last one's back.
The flame of life force dwelling in the man's body.
I snuffed it out with a grasp.
Easier than with a monster.
The bandit dropped dead.
His body pitched forward.
Thud—
The one ahead collided with the falling corpse.
"Hey, what the—"
Irritated, he turned. My hand clamped his face.
The flame went out.
The two up front finally noticed, turning back.
Seeing the bodies, they fumbled for weapons.
"Ambush!"
Before he could yell, I charged.
My enhanced body moved like a beast in the dark.
Muscles rippled fiercely.
Senses sharpened to a razor's edge.
My raw physicality was on another level now.
A bandit swung wildly.
But to my eyes, it was sluggish.
Boosted reflexes read every move.
One step, a twist at the waist—sword dodged.
Easy when you could see it coming.
Distance closed in a blink.
My hands shot through their swing, grabbing arms.
Thump—
Flames extinguished.
Two more bandits down.
Thud—thud—
Seven bandits total.
Four gone with a gesture.
My gaze rose slowly through the shadows.
Three left, finally spotting me.
A mix of emotions in their eyes.
But the biggest? Terror.
Comrades dying at a wave of the hand.
An unbelievable sight.
"A-a mage?"
One pleaded desperately.
Implying he'd grovel if I was.
Too bad.
"No."
I lowered into a stance, facing them.
"Just a monster hunter."
I had none of a mage's arrogance or mercy.
Only the will to enforce my crude sense of justice.