Chapter 10
Beyond the bushes, an Orc Warrior approaches, emanating a fierce killing intent.
For most new hunters, just facing this bloodlust would make their legs give out. But a smile spread across Lee Seong-jun's lips.
'This is a boss monster.'
The F-rank common goblin monsters had been even more trivial and boring than he expected.
It was a given that they couldn't keep up with his movements, and they would pass out from just a single punch reinforced with internal energy.
He had wanted to test his current physical condition in combat, but the goblins weren't even good enough as warm-up opponents.
It had been an unsatisfying hunt, but now a decent monster had conveniently appeared.
'This should be at least a bit challenging.'
With a curved smile, Lee Seong-jun calmly and quietly draws up his internal energy.
He could feel his muscles toughening and bones hardening.
It was the moment of surpassing his body's current limits with the power of internal energy.
"Graaaah!!"
Thud-! Thud-!
With a fierce roar, the Orc Warrior charged at Lee Seong-jun.
In an instant, it closed the distance and swung its massive fist, as big as a head, violently.
'Fast.'
Despite its huge body, it was moving even faster than the smaller goblins.
However, it wasn't so fast that he couldn't dodge.
'Ghost Shadow Step.'
Lee Seong-jun's form begins to blur as he steps.
Though the Orc had an agile body, in the end it was just a beast without reason.
There was no way it could properly track Lee Seong-jun's movements, which were like a ghost's footwork, dispersing like a mirage.
In the end, the Orc Warrior's fist only grazed Lee Seong-jun's cheek, striking empty air.
Whoosh-!
The sound of wind being cut and the gust that followed showed just how much brute force was behind the Orc Warrior's punch.
'It would be difficult to match its strength directly.'
This meant he was lacking in both speed and power, the most important elements of combat.
However, Lee Seong-jun had the ability to instantly close this gap.
'Martial arts.'
With cold eyes, Lee Seong-jun slowly extends his arm as he watches the Orc Warrior's fist rush in again.
In the martial arts world, there was a saying: "Start late, arrive first."
This wasn't simply a name given to faster martial arts techniques.
More precisely, it meant completely understanding the opponent's movements and reversing the flow.
'And thus, reaching the destination first.'
Reading the flow of air around the approaching Orc Warrior's outstretched fist, Lee Seong-jun unleashed the Blood Hand Capture technique.
He grasped the bulging muscles as if to tear them, twisting his body to attempt a throw.
Normally, this would have been impossible.
Currently, Lee Seong-jun's internal energy wasn't that abundant.
At best, it was only at the level of a second-rate martial artist.
In contrast, the Orc Warrior was armored with bulky muscles and iron armor.
But this wasn't difficult for Lee Seong-jun with his countless martial arts and practical experience.
'...I'll borrow a bit.'
The principle of reversing and using the opponent's strength unfolds in the extended Blood Hand Capture.
His body remembers the necessary angles and timing.
Swish-!
The moment he raises his shoulder and twists his waist, the Orc Warrior's brute strength naturally becomes Lee Seong-jun's power, flowing like water.
Thud-!
Suddenly slammed to the ground, the Orc Warrior's eyes were filled with confusion and pain.
"Graaaah-!"
Lee Seong-jun didn't miss this opening as the Orc Warrior screamed.
Finding a small gap in its flailing movements, he clenches his fist and strikes towards the unarmored head.
'Blood Destruction Fist.'
It was the most basic fist technique learned upon joining the Blood Sect, but its power was not to be underestimated.
As a martial art that prioritizes only destructive power, it could be called the strongest third-rate fist technique.
Moreover, the one using the Blood Destruction Fist now was a being once praised as a Demon God.
'Stone Attack.'
Just before striking the Orc Warrior's head, the internal energy imbued in the Blood Destruction Fist's principle makes his fist as hard as rock.
Crack-!
With a sound like a watermelon bursting, the Orc Warrior's head is pulverized.
There's no living creature that could survive having its head crushed.
It was instant death - the Orc Warrior met a futile end with a single strike, unable to even scream properly.
Ding-!
[You have defeated the E+ rank boss monster, Orc Warrior.]
[You have defeated a boss monster alone.]
[Additional experience points are awarded.]
[Experience points greatly increased!]
[Congratulations! You have reached the required experience and leveled up to 10.]
[You have reached a level eligible for job advancement. Please check the Special Notes section.]
Despite his victory over the boss monster Orc Warrior, Lee Seong-jun's impression was extremely brief.
"Easy."
It wasn't just this battle.
Compared to when he first entered the Blood Sect and learned martial arts, it was far too easy.
His senses, honed through countless battles, naturally guided his body.
The memories engraved in his soul were trying to lead his inexperienced body.
A strong conviction came to him.
'I can become stronger.'
This wasn't by current standards.
It was the realm he had in the past, when he was praised as a Demon God, and would soon achieve again.
He could surpass that and reach an even higher realm.
The experience and knowledge accumulated as a Demon God, combined with youth and the system ability, opened up a new path.
'Good.'
It wasn't just the path as a martial artist that he saw potential in.
He became certain that his life with his family would change as well.
Lee Seong-jun's gaze turns to the Orc Warrior's corpse, and the shining stone floating above it.
'Magic stone.'
The reason why there was no energy shortage even after monsters took over much territory after the Great Cataclysm.
The most valuable currency on Earth with no comparison, and a high-efficiency alternative resource was right before his eyes.
Lee Seong-jun immediately reached out and grasped the magic stone.
'This much...'
From its size, about as big as an index finger, he could infer it was an E-rank magic stone.
The small size and low grade shouldn't be underestimated.
There was a reason skilled hunters received salaries in the hundreds of millions.
Even this E-rank magic stone was known to be worth 3 million won each.
Naturally, a deep smile spread across Lee Seong-jun's lips.
'At this rate, I can make a lot of money soon.'
He had earned hundreds of millions of won in just a day, or more precisely, a few hours of hunter activity.
'Not a bad harvest.'
A high-value magic stone worth hundreds of millions of won and four level ups.
Moreover, his existence would surely be imprinted on Kim Seong-hoon, working at the Association headquarters, due to the recent boss monster battle.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he had achieved all the goals for this hunt.
'That's enough for today.'
Though he was tempted to earn even more money for a quicker, happier life with his family, he shouldn't put the cart before the horse.
It was already almost dinner time with his family.
Making money isn't what brings happiness; we make money to live a happy life.
He had no intention of foolishly losing precious time with his family just to earn more money.
"Let's head out now."
"Y-Yes, understood!"
Kim Seong-hoon, who had been dazed watching the battle with the Orc Warrior, quickly came to his senses and hurriedly followed behind Lee Seong-jun as he headed towards the gate exit.
* * *
Association Headquarters, Returnee Management Team Leader, Jo Kang-hyun.
Sitting at his desk, continuously flipping through documents, Jo Kang-hyun frowned as he stretched with a loud noise.
Crack-!
"Oh, I'm dying."
It wasn't just a habitual phrase.
The Returnee Management Team, called a core department, with Jo Kang-hyun in his late 30s securing the position of team leader, might seem to enjoy enormous power and honor, but the reality was quite the opposite.
In fact, since taking the team leader position, he had been living a life where his sleep time never exceeded four hours a day.
This was due to the constant influx of calls from all directions, managing and monitoring returnees who couldn't adapt to modern times and kept causing various incidents, big and small.
He was barely hanging on because he was an awakened one and an A-rank hunter. For an ordinary person, this workload would have been enough to collapse long ago.
However, the situation wasn't entirely hopeless.
Perhaps because those around him recognized his hard work?
The news had reached even the vice president's ears, resulting in a generous bonus and a special vacation of two whole days.
"Ah, it's been so long since I've had a day off."
Jo Kang-hyun couldn't hide the smile that escaped as he looked at September 20th and 21st circled in red on the calendar on his desk.
Of course, he didn't have any special plans.
What Jo Kang-hyun wished for was just one thing.
From tonight until tomorrow afternoon, he wanted to sleep like the dead without receiving or making any work-related calls.
'Still, should I at least receive the morning report, just in case?'
For a moment, Jo Kang-hyun quickly shook his head at the thought that had unconsciously popped into his mind.
Among the returnees, those considered potential risks were being firmly managed and monitored.
And if there really was an urgent matter, they would come to his house to report even if they had to.
'How could I think about work during this special vacation I've received?'
C-rank awakened Kim Seong-hoon, called the ace within the management team.
Recognized not only for his excellent combat abilities but also for his outstanding work capabilities, he was being spotlighted as the next team leader, so most issues would be resolved at Kim Seong-hoon's level.
'Unless an extremely big task comes up, like the appearance of a returnee with the potential to reach SSS-rank, two days shouldn't be a big deal.'
While he was organizing his thoughts about the two-day vacation given to him, the clock hands were already pointing towards 6 PM, the quitting time for civil servants.
Jo Kang-hyun confirmed the quiet situation in the office without any problems and was about to get up from his seat after tidying up his things when suddenly—
Knock knock-!
Jo Kang-hyun's brow furrowed at the sound of knocking, like an unwelcome guest.
'Of all times, right at quitting time...'
Although he clicked his tongue in disappointment, it was work he had to accept.
Small greed leads to big loss; he might lose his vacation if he tried to avoid overtime now.
"What is it?"
"I have something urgent to report."
At that moment, Jo Kang-hyun's face darkened.
He couldn't help it because the only person in the Returnee Management Team with such a deep, cave-like voice was Kim Seong-hoon.
As mentioned earlier, he was an excellent employee who handled most issues on his own due to his outstanding work ability.
"Don't tell me... those Returnee Union guys have proposed ridiculous conditions again?"
"It's not related to the Returnee Union."
Jo Kang-hyun's eyes narrowed.
'If it's not about the Returnee Union, then...?'
Numerous tasks came to mind, but there was nothing that would require Kim Seong-hoon to come and report directly.
In the end, Jo Kang-hyun couldn't find the answer.
"Then what are you here for?"
"I have something to report regarding a promising talent."
"A promising talent? Who?"
As Jo Kang-hyun's head was about to tilt in confusion at the continuing questions, Kim Seong-hoon quickly continued speaking.
"We've discovered a returnee with the potential to reach SSS-rank."
Beyond the door, Kim Seong-hoon's report made Jo Kang-hyun's eyes widen like full moons.
[End of Chapter]