Chapter Text
Gates — paths that lead from here to the other world. About a decade ago… the first gate appeared, and the inexplicable began to happen. For one, awakened beings known as hunters began to show up. They receive their powers during their awakening, and that power never changes.
I’m one of them. While I’m not the strongest hunter, as a top A-rank, I think I’m doing alright. I also don’t raid much anymore; now I’m the Chief Inspector of the Hunters Association’s Surveillance Team. While I do occasionally participate in raids, my main job is to keep an eye on the hunters.
Chief Woo Jinchul sat in his office, his cup of earl grey tea cooled and forgotten as he reviewed the reports from the Double Dungeon incident.
Only six of seventeen hunters survived. All but one of their stories matched, and that one had yet to wake up. Fatalities happened — that was the risk all hunters accepted when they stepped into a gate — but in recent years, those losses were far fewer with the precautions the Association had put into place. That said, to have this many deaths in a D-rank gate was nearly unprecedented.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly.
D-rank gates didn’t wipe out strike squads. They didn’t produce statues that could shoot lasers and kill hunters with a single strike.
A round stone-constructed room, stone statues all around against the walls — some with weapons, others with musical instruments — an angel-like statue holding a tablet of commandments, and a massive statue that could shoot lasers from its eyes, insta-killing. The final hunter had figured out that they needed to follow the commandments listed there for them to survive. When they kowtowed, the laser eyes stopped, but then the biggest statue with its creepy grin started walking, killing people with its sheer size. They found safety next to statues that held musical instruments… some of them, at least.
Then finally, a sacrifice to be made? They gathered at a sacrificial-looking altar and the doors opened. And then, without listening to that hunter, the others started abandoning the raid — abandoning the injured the moment the door opened.
Abandoning their teammates. He glanced at their files; he’d commit those names to memory. He understood the desire to live — he was a hunter too, after all — but to abandon their teammates at the first opportunity was despicable. He’d watch them. If their cowardice caused more injuries or, in the worst case, deaths, he’d revoke their licenses.
The only report he hadn’t gotten yet was from the last hunter, the one who figured out the statues’ rules. He and a handful of hunters from the White Tigers guild had charged in after the first deserter escaped and reported the double dungeon. They found him unconscious on a stone altar, his clothes shredded and soaked with fresh blood that also pooled and dripped from the round table.
Aside from the massive amount of blood around him, there were no visible injuries. The hospital reported he had yet to wake up. No injuries — not even a bruise. They said his body was weak, malnourished, and anemic; that, combined with the trauma of the dungeon, was why he was still asleep after three days.
Hunter Sung Jinwoo, E-rank, MP listed at 10. Jinchul had never seen an awakened person with such a low number; he was basically a civilian with that score. Most E-ranks scored at least 70. And his records… Jinchul shook his head. Had he ever left a dungeon uninjured? Hospitalized just from walking through an E-rank gate. Why was he even—ah. Hunter insurance was covering his mother’s medical costs. Father deceased, younger sister in high school. Gotta give the kid respect for enduring gates to take care of his family.
Kid… Jinchul almost laughed. He looked like a fifteen-year-old in his file photo, but he was twenty-four. Must’ve been an old photo.
How did he manage to survive this, and without a scratch despite the others reporting he’d lost a leg? Was it possible he’d re-awakened? He’d never heard of a re-awakening healing a major injury. If he’d re-awakened as a healer class… no, they generally couldn’t heal themselves well. And then it still left the question of who defeated the boss — and where did the room with the statues go.
Normally, he wouldn’t be the one following up on low-level incidents, not when he had stacks of B, A, and S-rank paperwork waiting on his desk, but this incident was unusual.
“Hunter Sung Jinwoo?” Jinchul asked as he knocked on the open hospital room door.
“Yes, that’s me?” Hunter Sung said. He was sitting up, hair a little messy but clean. Considering he’d been soaked with blood when they found him, the nurses must have had a difficult time getting it all off. His eyes were dark, tired, but calmer than someone who’d endured that incident — someone who was left to die — should have been.
“Apologies if I startled you.” Jinchul offered his business card. “My name is Woo Jinchul. I’m Chief of the KHA’s Surveillance Team. This is my assistant, Seo Minjun.”
“T-the Chief? Why are you here, sir? I mean—Chief Woo?”
“We’re investigating the reports of a double dungeon. You are the final survivor who has yet to provide an account. But before we begin — have you spoken with your doctor since awakening?”
“Ummm, no… I just woke up actually.”
With a nod from Jinchul, his assistant left to check with hospital staff.
When the doctor arrived, Jinchul stepped out. He was privy to portions of a hunter’s medical records regarding raid injuries, but he wanted to respect doctor-patient confidentiality.
A few minutes later, the doctor signaled for him. They discussed that Hunter Sung would be unable to participate in raids for at least ten days and requested he be placed on the no-call list.
“Sorry for the trouble,” Hunter Sung apologized.
“Trouble?” Jinchul raised an eyebrow. “By all accounts, including your own, you should be dead — or nearly so.”
Sung laughed quietly, rubbing the back of his neck as he averted his gaze. “Well… I’m kind of used to it.”
Something about that twisted in Jinchul’s chest. No one, even a hunter, should be used to almost dying.
Assistant Seo took notes as Hunter Sung reported his account. It matched the others. He asked after Hunters Song and Lee — the only two who’d stayed nearly to the end.
The shock on Hunter Sung’s face looked genuine when Jinchul offered his hypothesis of a possible second awakening.
A hunter’s ability was established when they awakened. Rarely, a hunter could awaken a second time, pushing beyond their limits — a C-rank to A-rank, a B-rank to S-rank.
Jinchul’s assistant opened a large case, setting up a device with a purple crystal beside the bed.
“This is a mana meter. Just place your hand on the essence stone.”
Jinchul watched as Hunter Sung complied. His surprise seemed real, excitement lighting his eyes as he eagerly retested. With his MP level… he couldn’t blame him for being hopeful.
If they’d truly met insta-kill level magic beasts, an average hunter couldn’t have handled it. The Association would’ve summoned A-ranks and even S-ranks. But the high-level beasts had vanished without a trace… leaving only one possibility: Jinwoo Sung had experienced a second awakening.
The mana meter beeped. A glance at the screen left Jinchul disappointed — 10. No improvement.
“What’s the result?” Hunter Sung asked.
“We must’ve made a mistake. I apologize,” Assistant Seo replied. “Your reading is the same as listed in your file.”
Jinchul nodded. “Thank you for your time, Hunter Sung. I hope your recovery goes well.” He kept his disappointment hidden as he left, his assistant packing the meter in a hurry.
Several days later.
Jinchul rubbed his temple. “How did we allow a D-rank gate to break in the middle of the city?!”
“I’m sorry, Chief — we sent out requests to available hunters but couldn’t find enough to form a raid group before the break.”
“What’s happening now?”
“Reports say several low-ranks have succeeded in dealing with the beasts and are fighting the boss.”
“Can they handle it? Or do I need to intervene?”
“…I’m not sure, sir.”
He sighed. They should have notified him before the break. If nothing else, he could have taken an Association team to clear the gate before it happened, or even just did it himself.
He went back to his office to grab his gear. “Where was the gate?” he asked while heading to the elevator, already putting his armor on.
Just before he reached the street, his phone pinged.
[Reports indicate that the boss of the gate has been defeated. The gate is now closed.]
He typed back quickly:
[How are the hunters? Do they still need assistance?]
[No, sir. Crews are on site. No fatalities or mortal injuries are being reported.]
He exhaled in relief as he removed his armor and headed back inside. He wasn’t worried about handling a D-rank boss himself — his concern was for the low-level hunters.
His mind drifted to the bright blue eyes of the hunter he’d met in the hospital…
The image of Hunter Sung haunted him enough that he went to the office of Jung Mira — one of two friendly false rankers he’d recruited. They worked undercover in raids, participating at their “registered” level to watch for problems and intervening when necessary. Jung Mira usually handled the E- and D-rank gates.
“Hunter Jung, I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Chief Woo — no, of course not. Please come in.”
“How has everything been? Any issues?”
“No sir. Everything’s been normal.”
“Glad to hear it.” He hesitated. “I’d like to ask about a hunter. His name has crossed my desk recently — Hunter Sung Jinwoo, from the Double Dungeon incident.”
“Oh, Hunter Sung. He’s one of the survivors, right?”
“Yes.”
“He’s a nice guy. I’m glad he made it out.”
“Tell me about him. Any possibility he’s a false ranker?”
“No. Definitely not.”
“You seem quite certain.” Jinchul said, slightly surprised with her certainty.
“I am. When I join raids with him, I try to stay next to him.”
“Why is that?”
“He gets hurt a lot. Like… a lot a lot. He’s fairly agile and perceptive — hyper-aware of danger inside a gate — but he’s got zero defense and not much attack ability. I stay near him because if anyone’s going to get killed, it’s him, so I try to protect him.”
She sighed. “He’s also got a bit of a protective streak. He’s good at alerts and will sometimes jump in to protect others… though I wish he wouldn’t, since he gets hurt more then the person he’s trying to help would have.”
“Hmm. And the other hunters? Do they not try to protect him — or each other?”
“At E- and D-rank, it’s a mixed bag, sir. Some are happy to have him there… because of what they call him, they’ll look out for him sometimes. Those raids are generally easy.”
“What do they call him?”
“It’s kind of mean, sir. They call him ‘The weakest hunter of all mankind.’”
“They call him that to his face?”
“The friendly ones don’t. The less friendly ones sometimes do.”
“And the ‘not so friendly’ ones?”
“Most ignore him. Whether he needs help or not — they don’t care. Then there are the ones who intentionally let magic beasts get to him to see what he can do.”
“Hmm.”
“I’ve spoken with Gate Assignments, to try to match him with certain friendly hunters whenever possible.”
“Alright. Keep up the good work, Hunter Jung.”
“Yes sir. Thank you, sir.”
Several days later, after confirming Hunter Sung’s release from the hospital, Jinchul had his assistant schedule a meeting. He normally didn’t involve himself like this, but he couldn’t shake the image of the younger man in that hospital bed.
He’d been too cute before, with messy hair and those blue eyes he couldn’t forget — though a little too young-looking for his tastes. But now, the man who arrived seemed older somehow. Taller. Had he only seemed small because he was malnourished? Maybe the hospital fed him well. Jinchul took a steadying breath. Sure, a healthy Hunter Sung was checking a few boxes, but he had to stay professional.
“Hunter Sung, thank you for meeting me,” he said, sitting across from the younger hunter and waiting for him to sit.
“How are you feeling? You were released yesterday?”
“Um—yes, sir. They let me go home yesterday. I’m doing fine. Thank you for asking.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Jinchul watched him fidget. “I must confess — I have some concerns regarding you.”
Hunter Sung looked up, those blue eyes wide. Jinchul imagined he could swim in those blue depths and never be tired.
“Your file documents not just the raids and gates you’ve completed, but also your injury reports. Simply put… I don’t think active duty suits you.”
“A-are you taking away my license, sir?” he asked, worried.
“No. You’re free to continue as you have been — though I don’t recommend it. I’d like to give you some career information here at the Association. Entry-level positions. They may not pay as well at first, but the mortality rate is infinitely better.”
Hunter Sung accepted the papers, barely glancing at them. He was quiet a moment, a small, almost sad smile on his face.
“Thank you… I don’t think I’m ready to give up being a hunter yet, but I’ll take this and consider it.”
Jinchul almost smiled back. The man’s determination was impressive — idiotic, but impressive. “Here is my card. If you decide to apply to any of them, you may use me as a reference.”
He stood and shook Hunter Sung’s hand when the younger hunter rose.
As he watched him turn to leave, the words slipped out before he could stop them:
“Just… don’t die.”
Jinwoo turned, blinking in confusion — then smiled. Warm. Enough to make Jinchul’s heartbeat stutter.
As he left the conference room, Jinchul couldn’t help but reflect. It was a sad smile… but a nice one, he could only imagine what a happy smile would look like on that face.
He prayed silently for Sung’s survival as he returned to his office.