[currently]
K-Times" "The World on the Brink: New Dungeons and High Talent Hunters Emerge" By Ji Eun Kim, Senior Correspondent
In this ever-changing world, altered by the sudden appearance of dungeons and the rise of exceptional individuals known as Hunters, humanity stands at the cusp of a new era. Reports of dungeons appearing worldwide keep pouring in, along with tales of extraordinary bravery and power. These dungeons have given rise to new, highly skilled Hunters possessing unparalleled abilities, who now serve as the forefront of humanity's defense.
One name, in particular, has been on everyone's minds lately—the 8th Apex Hunter. Though the identity of this mysterious figure remains concealed, rumors suggest the person may be from Korea, solidifying the nation's reputation as a hub for Hunter talent. The world watches with anticipation as this exceptional Hunter faces dungeons previously believed unbeatable.
As Ji Eun Kim clicked his phone and shut down the page, a heavy sigh escaped his lips as he looked up at the evening sky.
"Mister Han, come here..." It was none other than Mister Jung, an elderly man in his sixties. Han Ji Woo had often worked with him, performing dungeon cleaning duties and odd jobs.
Han Ji Woo replied, "Coming..." as he approached Mister Jung.
As they exchanged greetings, a group of individuals nearby engaged in gossip about Han Ji Woo's situation.
"Did you hear what happened to Han Ji Woo? Man, that guy's such a loser. He's stuck with an F-rank, right?"
"Isn't he the one who works with old man Jung, doing those dungeon cleaning duties? What a way to waste his life. He's never going to be anything more than a janitor at this rate."
"I feel kind of sorry for the guy, though.
Meanwhile, as they chatted, Mister Jung approached Han Ji Woo.
"Mister Han, don't mind what they're saying..."
"I appreciate your concern, but this is normal for me, until that fateful day..."
"Ten years ago," Han Ji Woo began to narrate, his voice carrying a weighty tone, "a calamity descended upon Earth—an event no one could have foreseen. Gates, mysterious rifts leading to dungeons, began to manifest all over the world. From these gates emerged monsters..."
"Our modern human weapons, once thought to be the pinnacle of technology and power, were utterly ineffective against these otherworldly beings. Cities fell, forests burned, and despair gripped humanity."
Han Ji Woo's eyes flickered with determination as he continued, "But just when all hope seemed lost, humanity was gifted with something extraordinary—abilities. People all around the world started to manifest incredible powers, as diverse as the individuals themselves. Some had superhuman strength, others could manipulate elements, and more..."
"These gifted individuals became known as 'Hunters,'" he explained, his voice filled with pride. "They became our last line of defense against the encroaching darkness. Armed with their unique abilities, they ventured into dungeons, battled the monstrous creatures within, and closed the gates, sealing them off from our world."
"But not all are successful with their lives and have strong abilities or have been contracted by large guilds. People like him with F and E ranks have it much worse..."
"They had pretty much the same strength as humans, just a little better at recovering from injuries. To beat a normal E-rank monster, you would need at least two E-ranks or one F-rank."
"Of course, due to the free medical treatment for any person who is a Hunter, they would still challenge these dungeons, whether they are strong or weak. While E-rank Hunters can be considered 'pay less trash' and can be used as bait, their income is not that high, since most of them are not under contract and are picked by a group of hunters. They can only keep small monster cores for themselves or must be extremely lucky."
"Of course, being a Hunter is not the only job related to dungeons. There is something a little better, which is normally considered disgusting and labor-intensive—this is 'Dungeon Cleaners.' Only the elderly and people in need of quick cash typically do it, but you can earn around 600,000 Won. Of course, with today's inflation, this won't buy you even a month's worth of rations."
Mister Jung handed Han Ji Woo a suit. "Wear this for today's expedition."
Han took the suit and put it on. Suddenly, from a few steps away, an old friend of Mr. Jung appeared, breaking the silence.
"Hey, Mr. Jung, is that you?" Mr. Park asked, his voice carrying a mix of surprise and delight.
Mr. Jung turned to see the familiar face of his old friend and broke into a warm smile. "Mr. Park, is that really you?" He responded, his emotions bubbling to the surface. "You actually recognize me, old man."
Mr. Park chuckled, a twinkle in his eye. "Come on, I'm not that old."
As the two old friends reunited, they engaged in a heartfelt conversation. Mr. Park revealed the reason for his continued work as a cleaner, despite his age. "I thought about quitting," he admitted, "but my daughter is taking the university exams and needs some quick cash."
Mr. Jung nodded, understanding the pressures of family responsibilities. "I see. But don't you have a son living in America? Why don't you go there?"
Mr. Jung sighed, his expression somber. "My son never looked after me or his mother after his marriage. He frequently gets into fights with his wife, and my granddaughter came out of all that suffering. I sent her to med school. Fortunately, I have a few stocks, so I can easily cover her tuition, you know."
He gestured towards Han Ji Woo and asked Mr. Jung, "Who is this?"
With a friendly manner and a hint of pride, Mr. Jung introduced Han Ji Woo. "This is my acquaintance, Mr. Han. He also works with me to tackle these dungeon cleaning duties, you know."
Mr. Park, intrigued, asked, "Isn't he that Han Ji Woo,?"
Mr. Jung's expression tightened, and he shot a worried glance at Mr. Park. He leaned in closer to his old friend and spoke in a hushed tone. "Please, Mr. Park, let's keep that sensitive topic to ourselves."
Realizing he had crossed a line, Mr. Park immediately regretted his words. He nodded and lowered his head, offering an apology. "I'm sorry, mr han. I didn't mean to bring up old wounds."
The tension from Mr. Park's comment regarding Han Ji Woo's past hung in the air for a moment. Han Ji Woo, however, didn't take it too seriously. With a reassuring smile, he replied, "It's okay, please don't mind me. Everyone thinks like that. It's alright."
Mr. Jung let out a sigh of relief, and the old friends continued their conversation, sharing stories and anecdotes from the past, gradually mending the brief rift that had formed between them.
But as their conversation reached a lighthearted moment, suddenly, at the entrance of the dungeon, a group of new reporters and authorities from the association had gathered. Their sudden appearance piqued the curiosity of the association members.
The reporters wasted no time and approached mr jung who looked the oldest, asking, "What grade of a dungeon is this?"
Mr. Jung, ever the cooperative member, answered, "It's just an F-rank dungeon."
Upon hearing this, the reporters and authorities seemed disappointed, vanishing back to seek stories at higher-ranked dungeons. As they left, a group of hunters, clad in impressive gear and exuding an air of strength, entered the scene.
Curious about the newcomers, Han Ji Woo turned to Mr. Jung and asked, "Which guild do they belong to?"
Mr. Jung observed the group and replied, "They're from the "Abyssal Monster Guild."
Mr. Park, intrigued, asked, "Isn't that a new guild?"
Mr. Jung nodded, his tone reflective. "Yes, they were established only about six months ago. But they've been rapidly gaining prominence due to their secretive guild master, who wields both power and money. They've been recruiting talented hunters from all around Korea, and it seems their guild leader is among the few S-ranks in the entire country."