Chapter 31: The Thread of Fate （7）
They moved to a different location.
Yoon Ji-tae said with a slightly embarrassed face.
“…I apologize for reacting sensitively during the battle. It may not be an excuse, but Rangers are quite sensitive about accepting new colleagues. Because we can d*e or live depending on the colleagues next to us, anytime, anywhere, I think I unknowingly felt hostile towards you due to the superficial figure of E-rank.”
“I understand. But why are you apologizing? Even now, that superficial figure won’t be significantly different.”
“Because I’ve witnessed your skills firsthand.”
E-rank.
A meager level of skill.
Although it was a rank that Kang San barely achieved over several years, in fact, many talented people are often assigned E-rank from the beginning. Yeon Woo-bin is a good example. That’s why I couldn’t agree with Kim Myeong-min’s explanation of special talent, but after witnessing your skills firsthand, I acknowledged that the team leader’s words had grounds.”
Arrows pouring in from all directions.
Kang San stood in front of Yoon Ji-tae.
It was a judgment that required bold courage, and even with the irregularly pouring arrows, Kang San didn’t let a single arrow slip through. It’s definitely not an easy task. Reality is not a game, and the angle of an arrow is unpredictable depending on the wind and the strength of the force. However, Kang San checked the trajectory of the arrows with sharp eyes and showed the appearance of blocking only the arrows aimed at Yoon Ji-tae.
I was impressed.
While being protected by Kang San, Yoon Ji-tae had the belief that he would be safe.
As the saying goes, “You can tell ten things by looking at one,” at least in the Orc Camp, Kang San was clearly a Tanker with sufficient ability.
And.
“I liked Kang San-nim’s judgment. Although you knew that the atmosphere around you was uncomfortable, as soon as you checked the urgent request of the rescue targets, you didn’t hesitate to intervene in the battle. At that time, you must have thought that shortening the rescue time was more important than the discomfort caused by interpersonal relationships. It actually helped. Like the team leader said, Kang San-nim showed skills beyond your rank.”
He acknowledged it.
Personality as a Ranger.
Potential for future development.
There were many positive factors to consider.
Therefore, Yoon Ji-tae had to tell the uncomfortable truth.
“So let’s stop here.”
“…Why?”
“Kang San-nim’s skills? I acknowledge them. If you continue to grow like this, you will become a Tanker recognized by everyone someday. Considering your solid basics and potential for development, it’s not impossible. And the judgment you showed in that moment and your attitude towards rescue operations prove that the team leader’s insight was accurate. Kang San-nim can become a good Ranger. If at least three years pass from now.”
The colleague we need now.
Is not a great Tanker in the future.
The Ranger’s mission is not always as easy as it is today, and several times a month, missions that require risking one’s life are assigned. Then, what kind of missions should Kang San carry out until then? Should he be deployed on easy missions like today and then be fully involved when he has developed his skills someday?
No.
The world doesn’t work that way.
From the moment he is accepted as a member of the Rangers, there is a high probability that Kang San will have to take on a mission that is beyond his capabilities someday. That’s the nature of being a Ranger. Especially those who sacrifice themselves, instead of retreating like cowards when it’s time to step up, they will accept the reality in front of them.
Just like I did.
Just like my colleagues did.
Yoon Ji-tae extended his hand for a handshake first.
“You’ve worked really hard today.”
Today.
At the line drawn by Yoon Ji-tae, Kang San shook his hand with a calm face.
✦✦✦✦✦✦
The situation was concluded.
Kim Myeong-min walked with Kang San.
“…As you know, I had some intentions for this meeting. Because Rangers are people who must trust each other, I judged that it was necessary to give you a chance to prove ‘Kang San-nim’s potential’ like this, rather than immediately putting you into a dangerous mission.”
“I expected that. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have called me for an operation suitable for me to handle.”
“So it was like that.”
Kim Myeong-min smiled bitterly.
Actually, he wasn’t the type to complain anywhere.
But he had to as a team leader, and he was also desperate enough to hold onto Kang San, who was only E-rank.
“Whether it’s Ji-tae or Yeon-su. They are all good people. People who can’t sacrifice themselves for others cannot work as Rangers in the first place. It’s just that the situation made them sensitive. We’ve had many colleagues so far, and repeated accidents create walls in our hearts when accepting someone new. Actually, it’s a bit embarrassing. I brought Kang San-nim into the team as if I were something, but in the end, I’m saying that the way to blend into the team is for Kang San-nim to prove yourself.”
Each had their own circumstances.
Kim Myeong-min who needed Kang San.
Team members who were wary of Kang San.
And Kang San who had no choice but to accept the offer.
It was impossible to fully understand each other’s interests in a short time, but Kim Myeong-min added as much explanation as possible.
“Once again, if you’re uncomfortable with the current situation, you don’t have to respond to the call. The Ranger position shouldn’t force sacrifice. At least when a problem arises that you can’t handle, it would be too despairing if it’s a choice made by others. Since the mercenary system is designed to give Rangers freedom, you can only respond to tasks you can handle in the future.”
“I understand.”
“Then━.”
Kim Myeong-min grinned.
If they had only talked about gloomy things so far, it was finally a chance to say something good to Kang San.
“You can look forward to it. You can’t handle this job if you’re only forced to sacrifice. Kang San-nim has become an official member of the Ranger team through this rescue, and ‘sufficient compensation’ will be paid soon.”
Kim Myeong-min’s words were true.
A few days later.
He received a call from the Hunter Management Bureau.
✦✦✦✦✦✦
The reward was substantial.
On the other end of the phone, the Hunter Management Bureau employee said in a friendly voice.
『Kang San-nim, you have been officially registered as a ‘Ranger’ as of now, and 10 million won will be paid as a bonus for the last rescue operation. And from now on, you can use the government’s welfare system. Facilities and medical systems necessary for training are all available free of charge, and if you want a hunting ground, you will be given priority in choosing. Not only that, but the rank of the item market will be improved. Rangers are classified as ‘Special’ grade, and not only will the rank of items you can see be upgraded, but if you submit a report for purchased items, the government will partially support you if it is deemed helpful for Ranger work. Besides that…….』
As Kim Myeong-min said.
This world knew that the Ranger position was impossible without sufficient compensation.
It was certainly an attractive welfare system.
First of all, it was beneficial just to use the training facilities and medical system for free, and the upgrade of the item market rank had tremendous potential value. Everything Hunters used was called an item. They each had their own unique abilities, and the market rank determined the items that could be viewed.
Special.
The authority to see almost any item.
If you could get government support, you could strengthen your power through items.
‘It’s not a one-sided loss. It’s a mission I have to accept anyway, but I feel like I’m being overcompensated.’
Rangers are a measure of a nation’s power.
If they don’t tie their ankles with benefits, there will be no one left to work for the country.
In fact, each country is desperate to recruit Rangers, and it’s not uncommon for them to secretly recruit Rangers from other countries. There was even an incident where a Spanish A-rank Ranger chose to transfer to the US, which almost led to a national conflict when the Spanish government rose up in protest.
“…The sky is clear.”
Kang San stared blankly out the window.
Whenever he looked at the blue sky like this, the hellish things happening in reality felt like a fantasy.
This incident.
Kang San had mixed feelings.
Seeing the Rangers throwing themselves into the fire and the rescue targets whose lives were in danger, Kang San thought that he didn’t need to blame the misfortune caused by karma solely on himself. Whether it was because of him or the world, the disaster would have happened anyway. It’s not like a disaster would definitely occur just because he existed, and it’s definitely not like other people would live in a safe world just because he didn’t exist.
The people who attacked the Orc Camp.
Could they have imagined?
The fact that there was an Orc Shaman not reported by the exploration team, and that they could have died because of it.
Then what if.
If Kang San hadn’t chosen the ant cave, could the people other than Kang San have been safe from the danger of the ant cave that existed ‘underground’? No. The weakened ground would have collapsed at any moment. Someone other than Kang San would have fallen into the ant cave, and the people attacking the E-rank hunting ground would likely not have survived like Kang San.
It was a dilemma.
Just because Kang San brought misfortune, it couldn’t be said that Kang San’s situation was the worst.
Didn’t Azmoon say it?
Trials.
Are only given at a level that can be handled at the moment.
Trials with an upper limit can be said to be better than those who face trials they can’t handle.
‘Rather, reality would be more cruel. If ordinary people encounter A-rank monsters, it’s a disaster they can’t survive no matter how hard they struggle and risk their lives. At least the disasters I have to deal with are problems that I, or by utilizing the abilities of those around me, can overcome somehow. Then I don’t have to act alone just because I’m unlucky. Just like I protected the party in the ant cave, there are trustworthy colleagues among people. No matter how harsh the situation is, they will need a glimmer of hope.’
He changed his thinking.
He would be cautious, but he wasn’t going to unconditionally reject people.
By developing more than now.
If he could protect his people, misfortune wouldn’t end in misfortune.
The Ranger mission was an excellent choice.
Unlike him, moths that throw themselves into the unknown world every day without a safety net called an upper limit.
Looking at them, Kang San was able to organize his thoughts to some extent.
✦✦✦✦✦✦
The future direction was clear.
‘I need to get stronger.’
Whether it was forming a party, carrying out Ranger missions, or risking his life in unexpected trials.
Growth was a necessity.
For now, rather than hastily forming a party, he was thinking of focusing on dungeons that he could raid alone and grow.
Before that.
Kang San visited the blacksmith.
‘It’s quite damaged.’
『Armor made of Orc leather』
『E-rank』
『Defense + 10』
『Durability 9%』
『Sturdy Longsword』
『D-rank』
『Attack + 15』
『Durability 20%』
『Sturdy Round Shield』
『D-rank』
『Defense + 18』
『Durability 5%』
Items.
They are an important element that makes up this world.
If the stats are the same, this defense and attack power offset each other, but depending on which items are used, the Hunter’s abilities are greatly enhanced. In that sense, Kang San’s items were very shabby. The price difference between items varied greatly depending on their rank, so he had to empty his pockets to buy a D-rank Round Shield. The reason he had been saving money so desperately was to buy Stat Stones or Skill Spirits with that money, or to strengthen himself with supplementary things like items.
Kang San left his items at the blacksmith.
Blacksmiths are a newly emerged profession in the new world, and their role is quite unique.
First of all, they weren’t Awakened.
They, who were just ordinary people, didn’t grant special abilities to items, but rather restored their durability by hammering a mixture of melted mana stones and steel onto the ‘items’. It was a newly created profession in the new era. If their work had been something more than granting new abilities, it would have been recognized for its considerable value, but the privilege of creating something from nothing was only granted to mages.
Enchant.
With the ability to enhance the abilities of items with magic, the magic system received tremendous treatment just for being mages.
“You’ve used them roughly. It’ll take three hours.”
“I’ll wait here.”
“Yes, yes.”
The blacksmith moved.
The work began.
As he lit the fire, a blazing flame rose, transferring tremendous heat to the container holding the mana stones.
Eventually, the mana stones melted down.
The blacksmith melted the steel in the same way, mixed the two, and began to hammer the sword in earnest.
Clang━!
Clang, clang━!
Tremendous heat surged in.
Regular and consistent hammering.
Kang San stared blankly at the sight.
Since ancient times, he had liked to watch until the work was finished whenever he entrusted weapons.
Whether it should be called a kind of fire gazing, the human being in the swaying mana and flames looked very attractive.
Clang, clang━!
Time passed.
10 minutes.
20 minutes.
30 minutes, and then 1 hour.
Like the second hand of a clock moving, the sound of hammering penetrated Kang San’s ears.
He was completely absorbed.
This situation, which was just a hobby he enjoyed in his daily life, began to pound on Kang San’s heart, and his vision began to blur.
‘…What is this.’
He opened his eyes wide.
He saw something new.
A man.
Kang San’s past life, a being called the Blood Demon in the Murim world.
Such a he.
Clang, clang━!
His image began to overlap with the blacksmith hammering.
