"Alright! Perfect condition!"
Forgetting he'd planned things out yesterday only to sleep like a log, Jeonghyeon—without a shred of conscience—sprang out of bed, fatigue completely gone.
"Clear head means the plans come easy."
With the contract slapped on Kang Moojik yesterday, field entry would be a breeze.
Now the real question: what to do next, and how.
"..."
Jeonghyeon pondered for a moment, lost in thought, then kicked back from his seat and stood.
"Screw it. Plans always go to shit anyway! No plan is the plan!"
Was this him charging ahead recklessly now that he'd received the Demon King's revelation, or just his true self that the Light Dragon Solgaleh had kept suppressed? Either way, Jeonghyeon was brimming with motivation.
Acting like it was his all along, he rummaged through Kang Moojik's clothes, threw on whatever, and—without a care—tore the room apart.
"It has to be here somewhere..."
Searching like he was hunting for hidden snacks, Jeonghyeon spotted something and shouted.
"Ha, knew it! Knew you'd be here."
He'd found a built-in safe in the corner of the room. Pulling out the Blood Dissector, he...
BOOM!!!
...smashed it open with brute force.
From the shattered remains tumbled a finely honed sword.
The so-called Sword of Status.
This was the blade Kang Moojik loved flashing at porters whenever he got the chance, bragging it proved his elite status.
"Nearly made my ears bleed with that crap."
Kang Moojik, always yapping about his "great Kang family," really was the precious fifth son of a wealthy clan. They'd been rich and legit even before the gates opened and monsters poured in, letting him suck on the sweet life as a settlement officer. He'd apparently shelled out big bucks for this weapon in prep for his own awakening.
And now Jeonghyeon was licking his chops, ready to put it to good use.
"Let's see...! Attribute Disruption!"
🗡 Finely Honed One-Handed Sword 🗡
Attribute: Iron One-Handed Sword
Traits (NEW!): Excellent balance between hilt and blade. Sharpness is lacking, but durability is top-tier.
Rank (NEW!): E
Attribute Liberation: 0%
"Oh!"
Attribute Disruption had leveled up to 3, unlocking new sections: Traits and Rank.
"The harvesting knife must've jumped past F- to G-rank by now."
Jeonghyeon snatched up the sword. His morning plan? Follow the Demon King's quest, even if it pissed him off.
⚡ QUEST ⚡
Liberate the attributes of 3 weapons. (1/3)
💎 REWARDS 💎
Attribute Disruption level up, Attribute Insight, ???
Completing this would reveal if his Epic Weapon potential was limited to the harvesting knife—or if maxing liberation at 120% turned any weapon Epic.
Of course, Jeonghyeon could charge in like this thanks to his pre-regression experience and battle-honed instincts.
"Alright then. Time to hit the field?"
He swung the well-balanced sword lightly through the air and headed out.
"You the guy? Kim Jeonghyeon."
At the field checkpoint, as Jeonghyeon handed over his porter ID, some guy butted in.
Bald as sin, with a sleazy face screaming untrustworthy.
I'm no face-reader, but yeah, you're definitely Kang Moojik's kin.
"Yeah."
Jeonghyeon's curt reply left the man blinking in surprise before sighing heavily.
"Look... I get it, guys like you with balls of steel are a dime a dozen. But no need to push it here."
"Push what?"
"I've taken the payoff already, just gotta let you through. No need for a pissing contest between us."
Figured Kang Moojik had blabbed some bullshit, but this guy seemed reasonable enough, flexible even.
"That so?"
"Damn right~! I know nothing. You switch from porter to hunter overnight, or go full hero and slay the Demon King? Don't care. I just open the gate."
Smart bastard, got a good eye.
"Got it. Mind if I go? Got shit to do."
"Sure thing. But like I said a million times—I know nothing."
"About what?"
"What I heard? This."
The man cautiously handed over a ticket.
Unlike the F or E-rank fields with hobgoblins and goblins that non-hunters could enter, this one read D-rank Draco Field.
"Heard it was D-rank Draco Field. Seriously, I know jack. Don't shoot the messenger."
Ah, now it clicked why he kept insisting he knew nothing.
Kang Moojik had stabbed him in the back even then—skipping the F-rank for a D-rank pass. Smartass thought he'd off Jeonghyeon in a higher field, pocket the leftover commission.
Think scraping goblin mana stones makes you goblin-smart? Dumb fuck.
Jeonghyeon smirked and nodded.
"Cool. Thanks even. Goblins weren't cutting it anyway."
"Hah, love the bravado. Remember this: F and E have safeties, senior hunters on standby. But D? That's pro hunter turf—no backup."
"Know it. Thanks, asshole."
Jeonghyeon clapped the man's shoulder—leaving him torn between offense and amusement—and headed for the D-rank field.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Fields have unique ecosystems.
Existing within Korea's terrain, each manifests wildly different climates.
"Ugh. Hot."
Jeonghyeon's spot mimicked pre-gate Southeast Asia: sweltering, humid hell.
Lush jungle, dangling vines and trunks everywhere. Hacking through green-brown tangles with his sword, he hunted dracos.
"Come... on...! Like goblins...! Show up already...!"
Swinging drained his stamina fast; by the time sweat soaked him, only goblins appeared.
These jungle-adapted, field-rank-evolved goblins swung down vines with tactics.
"Kieek! Gut the human! Gang up!!!"
"Kill!"
"Kill the males!! Spare the females!!"
Thanks to Attribute Disruption rank, he understood goblin speech. Handy.
Yesterday they'd just annoyed him, but now? Deep-seated monster hatred from his past surged back.
The bastards who raped, murdered, toyed with his friends.
Monsters who massacred humans just 'cause they were physically superior. Rage projected onto these goblins—he couldn't hold back.
⚡ PERSONAL TRAIT ACTIVATED ⚡
Monster Hatred
Attack power and combat will vs. hostile monsters greatly increased.
"Pathetic. Not even worth a laugh."
Dismissing even a sneer as too generous for goblin scum, Jeonghyeon slashed emotionlessly.
Like this was the perfect end for Demon King grunts.
"Fucking monster shits..."
One swing: four or five goblin heads rolled.
Shlick!
He cleaved a massive conifer and the goblin chief in one go.
"Gurgle..."
Finally—a monster worth venting on: a draco.
Green-scaled, bipedal lizards with hardy hides. Twin horns evoking goats; future guild mascot material. But now? Punching bag.
"Yo, what's up, you fuck?"
"Kurk?!"
Swish.
Dead before it registered. The innocent(?) draco might've panicked, but Jeonghyeon wasn't here to cool off yet.
"All you fucks... come out!"
He gnashed his teeth, roaring.
Kill males, spare females.
He'd always seen monsters as enemies to slaughter, fueled by hate. But they viewed humans like livestock. Disgusting.
And here he was, dancing to the tune of their boss, Malekith the Demon King. Self-loathing piled on, hardening his heart.
"Come out!!"
The jungle answered his war cry.
"Kurk..."
"Kurkkurk..."
"Kieee..."
Red eyes glowed through the vines, encircling him.
"Bring it. I'll kill every last one."
"Kieek!!"
Like a war movie, dracos swarmed.
Armed with long foreclaws, tough talons, pack tactics—they charged.
"Ants stay ants, no matter the swarm..."
Jeonghyeon had crushed Demon King Army elites like Manticore Phalanxes. This? Child's play.
"Hup!"
He wielded the long, sharp sword like an extension of his body.
Swish, slash!
Slash!
Forehand, backhand—blades danced free. Tough scales split along seams wherever his tip passed.
Mid-massacre.
"Kwek! Kuworrr!!"
An old-looking draco bellowed.
Obvious boss aggro-pull-and-run.
Young ones kept charging, oblivious.
Boss vanished into the jungle.
"Cowardly fuck running? Think I'll let you?!"
Even as dracos mobbed, Jeonghyeon carved through. Clear target—no retreat.
Swish!
Slash!
Shortly after shredding the pack, he caught the boss at its nest.
"Ha... fuck. You value your own kind, huh?"
Huddled females and hatchlings stared like he was the devil.
"Who's the villain here?"
Saying that, he had zero qualms playing monster slayer—thunk, lopping the old draco's head.
"Kerk..."
With a metallic screech, the boss's death rattle ended. Yanking the blade free, Jeonghyeon watched them recoil in terror.
Hatchlings whimpered in fear. As guilt flickered... he spotted a glint in the nest.
Shards of hunter armor.
"Ha."
Bloodstained scraps hinted at their gruesome ends.
Jeonghyeon exhaled in relief.
Thanks, even.
"Sorry, pity play don't work on me."
It proved he wasn't the real monster.
"You fucking shits."