After doing the portal raid solo I immediately returned home. When I got home, Ji-Hae was already waiting for me there.
"Hyungnim... how could you finish the C-Rank portal in 30 minutes?!"
"Haha... I don't know either, I just killed all the monsters in there and suddenly it's over."
"Looks like you're getting stronger again hyungnim... it's a shame but I'm just a C-Rank hunter. I might not be of much help in the future."
"What do you mean? You've been very helpful in every raid, the information you have as well as your analysis in every raid is really useful."
"That's useful, but I'm not strong enough to kill a lot of monsters..." Ji-Hae said that in a disappointed tone.
"Don't worry, I'll help you improve your skills!"
"How?!" Ji-Hae asked in confusion.
"We'll talk about it later, for now let me rest and also let me show you my new sword hehe"
I took out the Red Crescent from the blank space and I showed it to Ji-Hae.
"Woah... this sword looks really cool and powerful!"
"That's right, its name is Red Crescent. And it's because of this sword that I was able to finish raids quickly."
"That's crazy! This sword is an S-Rank sword! How is that possible?!"
"I went to Kyle's Workshop this morning, and he made me this sword."
"That's great, looks like I'll have to make my own weapon too later!"
"Of course! We'll get the materials together!"
"Okay hyungnim... then I'll go back to my place. Good night!"
Then Ji-Hae goes to her own room, and I can finally rest. My mother had also prepared food and I immediately rested after I finished the meal.
The next day...
Ji-Hae came to my room in the morning, I was so confused because she came without telling me. Besides that his face looks gloomy, I don't understand what's going on.
"Hyungnim... can we talk for a minute?"
"Of course... what's wrong?"
"Lately I feel that my abilities are not improving..." Ji-Hae said that in a sad tone.
"That's fine... we can improve it together!" I answered to reassure him.
"No... I feel like I'm not helping much in every raid we do... whereas hyungnim has gotten really strong..."
"You were a big help when we raided! Don't you remember when we fought Haize you gave the information about the mana crystal around his neck! And that saved us all!"
"It can be replaced by other hunters, there are many hunters who have high knowledge"
"haahh... what's the matter with you?" I sighed.
"I don't think I can improve my skills because of the trauma I have... to be honest I was able to survive this long because of you hyungnim" Ji-Hae said that while looking at me.
"Trauma? What do you mean?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Do you remember hyungnim when we met the troll leader? I was scared and I couldn't move my legs."
"I remember that, then?"
"It was 3 years ago, it happened in 2017. There was a giant monster that came out of the portal, the monster was very big and everyone was running to save themselves"
"What happened after that?"
"I was walking with my mother, and the monster destroyed everything around it. To protect me, my mother sacrificed herself." Ji-Hae burst into tears after saying that.
I tried to calm him down by patting his shoulder, and let him let it all out.
It turned out that all this time he had been holding it in, I didn't know anything until he told me about it. And all this time I've always taken him to a dangerous place, I feel like a bad person.
I didn't think about this at the time, but now it all makes sense. Several times when we fought large monsters he must have felt scared. But I think he's been holding it in all this time because of me.
"Are you calm now?" I asked while calming him down.
"I'm sorry hyungnim, I didn't mean to cry but it just came out."
"No problem..."
After a while when the situation got better I tried to ask Ji-Hae some questions.
"So now you just live with your father?"
"I live with my father and I have an older sister"
"Ohh so you have a brother, I didn't know that."
"hehe of course because my older sister is shy and she rarely sees other people."
"I see, but if I'm not mistaken you used to go to the hunter academy, right?"
"That's right, it was my father who asked me to go to school there and also I was thinking of getting rid of my trauma by becoming a hunter."
"Oh I see, if your older sister also goes to the hunter academy?"
"That's right, he has a C-Rank hunter license but he doesn't like taking part in raids. Like I said she's a shy person."
"I see, I used to think you were just the son of a rich man who spent money to become a hunter."
"...I didn't expect you to think of me like that hyungnim" Ji-Hae made fun of me.
"Haha after all I will help you become stronger, so you should be more confident!"
"Alright hyungnim I understand!"
After that we finished talking about all that stuff. There was too much information for my brain to take in, but I was relieved that he was able to tell me.
Now that I have to help him become stronger, I think we'll start by changing his equipment.
After breakfast I invite Ji-Hae to go find equipment that matches her.
"Do I really have to change my gear?"
"Of course, I've been letting it go all this time. But now you have to change your equipment to become stronger."
"Okay..."
"Should we go to your company? Or do you want us to go to Hades' company?"
"Let's go to Hades' company! I want to have a look at the equipment there!"
Then we went to Hades' company, after arriving there we went straight into the building and looked around at the ground floor.
"Woah... this place is amazing hyungnim! There are so many hunters!"
"That's right, then let's go to the top floor"
Then we went up to the top floor and I took Ji-Hae to go to Kyle Workshop. I think I can ask uncle to help look at the equipment that fits Ji-Hae.
After arriving at the workshop Ji-Hae looked at me.
"Are you sure this is hyungnim's place? Why isn't anyone coming to this place?"
"Haha I was hesitant at first too, but you have to go inside to find out."
After that we entered the Kyle Workshop, and met with Kyle.
"You're coming here again young man" Kyle spoke to me.
"Yeah... today I want you to help me look at the equipment that matches my friend here."
"Ohh so the person next to you needs new equipment?"
"That's right, please help me find something suitable for him."
"Did he use a dagger as his main weapon?" Kyle asked.
"Yeah that's right! Do you have any good equipment for him?"
"Let me see..."
Then Kyle saw the items in his workshop, and it took him a while to find the items. If I take a look at the equipment he has here they all look good. But it's very difficult to ask him to make weapons personally, I'm lucky because I have good materials hehe.
"How about this?" Kyle showed me a black dagger that looked strong, I could tell it was a good one.
"This... this dagger looks really good!" Ji-Hae replied.
"Besides, take a look at this too, I think it will suit you." Kyle showed us a pair of gloves made of an unknown material.
"This glove feels light... yet very strong." Ji-Hae said.
"That's right... the glove is made of orichalium and I made it light with various other materials."
"This thing is so cool! I love all of this!" Ji-Hae looks excited.
"Okay... then take those two pieces of equipment."
"How much do these two pieces of equipment cost?" Ji-Hae asked.
"There's no need to pay for it that's not a good thing either so I'll give it to you." Kyle said.
"No way! Take this then, thank you uncle!" Ji-Hae gave him 100 million won and just walked away.
"Then we'll go first." I said.
Then we leave from there, and Ji-Hae looks even more excited. I think he's feeling better now, which is a good thing.
"Hyungnim this weapon and these gloves are really amazing!"
"Haha that's so true."
[Black Steel Dagger]
Price : 70 million won
Type : Weapon
Rank : B
Stats :
Strength +15
Dexterity +17
Endurance +10
Additional Effects:
Penetration Armor.
The weapon turned out to have a nice stat boost, in addition to having additional effects suitable for a dagger. I think this will really help Ji-Hae in future raids.
[Silent Scaled Hands]
Price : 15 million won
Type : Weapon
Rank : C
Stats :
Dexterity +10
Constitutions +5
The lightweight gloves had a nice stat increase for a C-Rank item. Even though it doesn't have any additional effects, with just those two stats I think it's pretty good.
"Now what are we going to do hyungnim?"
"Let's do a D-Rank portal raid but you'll be fighting all the monsters on your own, I'll help you if you're having trouble."
"Are you sure hyungnim? I don't think I can do it..."
"Trust me, I know you can do that."
"Alright then I'll look for the nearest D-Rank portal."
Then after Ji-Hae got the D-Rank portal, we went straight there.
When we arrived at the portal Ji-Hae looked unsure of his abilities.
"Let's go in!" I said.
"Okay!" Ji-Hae replied.
Then we entered into that portal, this portal is quite easy. There were only orcs and goblins in this portal, this included low-level D-Rank portals.
After we walked for a while, we met 1 orc.
"Ji-Hae kill that orc quickly!"
Then Ji-Hae moved quickly and he pulled his daggaer, he went straight for the orc's head and cut off its head.
"That's good!" I cheered him on.
"But it's only one orc, everyone can do it hyungnim..."
"No problem, that's a great start."
After that we continued to go deeper into the portal, because there were too many trees here we had trouble finding monsters. Luckily after walking for a while we managed to meet 3 goblins.
"Ji-Hae you have to fight all three of them at once!"
Despite his hesitation, Ji-Hae immediately moved and fought the three goblins. He had good movement, and he also had good instincts. He quickly moved to the side of the goblins to break their formation.
After they separated Ji-Hae quickly stabbed one of the goblins, and the goblin died instantly. Then the two remaining goblins tried to attack Ji-Hae at the same time, but Ji-Hae quickly dodged the attack. After that he counterattacked and did a wide slash and killed the two goblins.
"That's great.. you did really well!"
"I didn't expect that I could fight those 3 goblins alone, I used to fight with parties before meeting you hyungnim. But I feel better now."
Then I continued to accompany Ji-Hae to hunt the monsters inside the portal. And help him improve his abilities as well as his mentality.