[The Gate has been cleared.]
[MVP of the Gate Conquest: ‘An Su-ho’.]
[Bonus experience granted for MVP selection.]
[One bonus stat awarded for MVP selection.]
[Level Up!]
[All stats increased by 1.]
[You have gained 1 bonus stat.]
A flood of system notifications filled Su-ho’s vision.
But this ti, there were more than usual.
[All stat grades have reached Orange tier.]
[As a special perk, the Unification Effect has been applied.]
[Remaining bonus stats will be distributed to unify all colored stats.]
[Stat information has been updated.]
Finally.
Su-ho clenched his fist as he read the notifications.
At last, he had acquired the Unification Perk.
Without hesitation, he pulled up his updated status window.
[An Su-ho]
Lv: 113
Class: Crusader
Traits: ＜New Blood＞ ＜Hercules Candidate＞
Strength (O): 24
Endurance (O): 24
Mana (O): 24
Perception (O): 24
Bonus Stats: 0
At long last, all four of his core stats had reached Orange tier.
Su-ho grinned.
He was only Level 113, yet he had already achieved this milestone. He was willing to bet that not a single person in the world had reached this level of growth so quickly.
‘At this pace, I’ll surpass my past life’s record in no ti.’
Just as he finished checking his status—
“The evil god has fallen!”
“The hero has slain the evil god!”
“Hurrah!”
“Hurrah!”
Cheers erupted.
The ship’s crew.
They had held their breath, watching in suspense as Su-ho fought the so-called Sea God.
And the mont he delivered the final blow, their anxiety turned into unrestrained celebration.
anwhile, the system began calculating the quest results.
[Calculating the remaining durability of the barrier.]
[Calculating the number of surviving mages aboard the ship.]
[Calculating the number of surviving crew mbers.]
[Calculation complete.]
[Highest score achieved!]
[For achieving the highest score, you are awarded 5 bonus stats.]
[Level Up!]
[All stats increased by 1.]
[You have gained 1 bonus stat.]
More notifications poured in.
Su-ho had maxed out all three quest objectives.
Of course, that was expected.
He had deliberately stayed close to the boss monster, absorbing its aggression to ensure the barrier, mages, and crew remained unhard.
Without hesitation, he allocated all bonus stats into Strength, then updated his status window once again.
‘Now then... ti to extract that.’
The locals’ gratitude wasn’t necessary.
After all, the mont the Gate disappeared, so would they—re constructs of the system.
Su-ho had more pressing matters.
Standing before the Sea God’s partially subrged corpse, he raised his Blood Sword.
Thunk!
He sliced into the beast’s remains, carving his way inside.
Minutes later—
He found it.
Sothing as large as his own head.
The Sea God’s ink sac.
‘Finally got it.’
A Tier 1 Boss Monster’s Ink Sac.
Technically, it was classified as a material item, but its market value was... low.
After all, not many people went out of their way to collect monster ink sacs.
But.
‘That guy would go crazy over this.’
That was why Su-ho needed it.
Because only that person could lead him to a true giant at this point in ti.
After securing the boss’s magic stone and other loot, Su-ho finally stepped out of the Gate.
*
“Oh, oh!”
“No way?!”
In front of the cara screen—
As the Gate Conquest Line appeared, signaling the successful clearing of the Gate, the monitoring team erupted into a frenzy.
Especially the deputy, who turned to Jeong Ho-yeon with an excited voice.
“Director! It looks like the Gate has been cleared!”
“Calm down. I can see it too.”
“What should we do now? Shouldn’t we open the barricade and start clearing out the barnacles?”
At the deputy’s question, Jeong Ho-yeon hesitated.
Should they?
But soon, he realized—there was no need to worry about that.
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
“Huh? What do you an—”
“Just look.”
Jeong Ho-yeon motioned with his chin.
At the Gate’s exit, Su-ho had already erged, cutting down the Dark Barnacles in a single stroke.
‘Annoying or not, it had to be done.’
Su-ho swiftly wiped out the remaining barnacles and stepped in front of the barricade, motioning with his hand.
Monts later, the barrier opened, and the soldiers welcod him with open admiration.
“You’ve done an incredible job.”
“Seriously, you’ve saved us all.”
The soldiers were overwheld.
Even though Square assignnts were generally considered easy, mariti Gates like this one—surrounded by barriers—were unpredictable and required constant vigilance.
But Su-ho had handled it effortlessly.
Even the damn barnacles, which barely flinched under gunfire, had been sliced apart like butter.
Su-ho simply nodded.
“I only did what needed to be done. Now that the Gate is cleared, I’ll be heading off.”
“Oh—yes! Thank you for your service!”
The soldiers, including Jeong Ho-yeon, saluted him with genuine respect.
Su-ho responded with a slight nod—
Then left Wolmido behind, heading straight for the next Sealed Gate.
*
[The Gate has been cleared.]
[MVP of the Gate Conquest: ‘An Su-ho’.]
[Bonus experience granted for MVP selection.]
…
[The Gate has been cleared.]
[MVP of the Gate Conquest: ‘An Su-ho’.]
[Bonus experience granted for MVP selection.]
…
Two.
That was the number of Sealed Gates Su-ho had cleared after the mariti Gate in Incheon.
In the process, he had gained three additional levels, and after clearing three Sealed Gates in a single day, he imdiately reported to Jeong Cheol-min.
—W-What?! Three?!
“Yes. I just finished clearing the third Sealed Gate.”
—The hell… Are you so kind of monster?
“…That’s a little harsh, calling a subordinate a monster, don’t you think?”
—You know that’s not what I ant!
“It was just a joke.”
—Tch.
“Anyway, I’m calling it a day here. I’m planning to check out another region over the next few days. Is that alright?”
Hearing this, Jeong Cheol-min narrowed his eyes.
—Oh, I see how it is. That’s why you rushed through three Gates today, isn’t it?
“Yes, you’re right.”
—Of course… No, wait, at least pretend to be subtle! How are you so blatantly confident about this all the ti?
“Better than lying, isn’t it? Just in case, I’ve placed an embargo on the second and third Gate clears, so you can stagger the reports. I’ll send the reports via email.”
—…Damn, you’re thorough. Fine. What’s this trip about?
“It’s a trade secret.”
—You and your damn secrets. Fine, do whatever you need.
“Thank you.”
With that, Su-ho secured the ti he needed.
Ending the call, he imdiately got into his car and drove toward Samcheok.
Because in Samcheok, there was soone he needed to et.
Samcheok Harbor – Late Night
By the ti Su-ho arrived, it was already late at night.
He didn’t care.
Samcheok Harbor was eerily quiet.
Once a bustling place, it had beco a ghost town after the Gate Shock left it abandoned.
But sowhere here, the person he was looking for should be.
‘He said he’d be in Korea this year… in Samcheok Harbor.’
Unaffected by the darkness, Su-ho wandered the harbor.
It didn’t take long to find him.
It was easy.
There was no one else around, and more importantly—
The sheer density of magic radiating from him was impossible to miss.
A lone figure sat at the edge of a breakwater, fishing.
The scene was almost comical.
No lights, no lanterns—just a fishing chair and a rod, with the man sitting completely still in the darkness.
Su-ho carried over a spare chair, setting it down beside the man and sitting casually.
“Mind if I sit here?”
“…?”
The man turned, surprised, staring at Su-ho with a puzzled expression.
But Su-ho, unfazed, grinned and kept talking.
“Nice to et you. First ti seeing each other, right?”
“…Who the hell are you?”
“My na is An Su-ho.”
The mont he said his na, the man’s brow furrowed.
He tilted his head slightly.
“…That na sounds familiar.”
“It’s a common na. But you, sir, are Martin Park, correct?”
At that mont, the man’s dimly lit eyes sharpened instantly.
“…Who the hell are you?”
This place—this specific spot—was sowhere he had deliberately chosen for its seclusion.
Yet now, so stranger had not only sat next to him but called his na outright.
Of course, he was on guard.
But instead of answering, Su-ho simply reached into his coat and scattered a handful of powder into the air.
A luminous dust.
The particles glowed, illuminating the area and revealing the man’s appearance.
Martin Park.
A man in his late 30s.
His unkempt gray hair was as wild as his overgrown beard, giving him a rough, almost hermit-like look.
Su-ho smiled.
“Let introduce myself properly. I’m An Su-ho, a civil servant of the Korean Hunter Association.”
“…A civil servant?”
“Yes. And you are Martin Park, a Korean-Arican Hunter, also known as the ‘Painting Summoner’, correct?”
Exactly as Su-ho had described.
Martin Park was a Korean-Arican Hunter affiliated with the United States, a man known for his unique summoning abilities.
His eyes narrowed, his displeasure obvious.
“…Why the hell is the Korean governnt looking for ?”
Of course, he was wary.
Even if Su-ho wasn’t a governnt agent, he would’ve been on guard regardless.
But Su-ho laughed casually.
“Haha, you’re uncomfortable because I approached you so suddenly. I completely understand. But I didn’t co here on governnt business.”
“Then why did you co? And more importantly, how did you even find ?”
Su-ho smirked.
“I tracked you down myself.”
“…And?”
“The reason I ca here is simple. I want to buy one of your paintings.”
“…What?”
At those words, Martin Park’s brows knitted together.
That was the last thing he expected.
Su-ho continued smoothly.
“I’ve been a huge fan of your work. I’ve seen all of your pieces and am eagerly awaiting your next release. So when I heard you were in Korea, I ca all the way to Samcheok.”
Martin Park stared at him in disbelief, then turned back to the water.
“…Ridiculous. If you were really my fan, then you’d know I don’t sell my paintings.”
“I do know.”
“Then why the hell are you here?”
Su-ho chuckled.
“Because the real reason you don’t sell your paintings is simple—you’ve never been offered sothing worthwhile in return.”
“…Go on.”
“You’re a 2-star Hunter. You don’t need money. But every single person who tries to buy your paintings only brings cash.”
“Damn right.”
Martin scoffed.
“Then what exactly are you offering?”
Su-ho’s grin widened.
“Ink.”
“…Ink?”
“Yes. Specifically—black ink. That’s why you ca to Korea, isn’t it?”
Martin Park’s eyes widened.
“…How the hell do you know that?”
“Haha, that’s not important. What is important is this.”
Reaching into his coat, Su-ho pulled out a dark, glistening object.
A massive ink sac.
The Sea God’s ink sac.
Martin Park’s expression froze.
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