Chapter 5

◈ Chapter 5. Demon Hunter (2)

Indeed, I am a freelancer.

To return home after finishing work and find that the sun hasn't set yet—this is an opportunity for photosynthesis that I never had during my salaryman days.

I wanted to jump straight into the sunlit bed.

Thud—

I neatly hung the clothes I had taken off on the hanger.

Then, I headed straight to the bathroom.

I turned on the shower.

Shower—!

The discipline and rules of the damned nobility!

What annoys me more is that I'm gradually getting used to this tiring daily routine.

Still, let's try to think positively.

It's definitely a good thing that cleaning doesn't feel tedious.

"There's a lot of dust."

...No matter what, it felt a bit excessive to wear a mask while cleaning inside the house.

By the time I finished cleaning, the sun had set.

'Well, photosynthesis isn't in my destiny, I guess.'

I immediately prepared dinner.

I no longer settled for delivery food or quick meals.

Fresh ingredients delivered in the early morning.

Dishes prepared with skilled hands.

How can a noble be proficient in cleaning and cooking?

If asked, it's because Grandfel was a fallen noble.

"Not bad."

This is also a setting to explain how he learned to survive.

Of course, Grandfel's proud dignity was not shaken by something as trivial as getting his hands wet.

To me, it's a bothersome yet grateful trait.

'Anyway, cooking and eating is better for the body, right?'

Indeed, I can feel the effects of a disciplined life.

Thanks to always standing straight, my back pain has disappeared.

Chronic fatigue, insomnia, and other minor ailments that modern people suffer from have also vanished.

Of course, there are downsides too.

Looking in the mirror, my hair shone under the fluorescent light.

'Anyone would think it's white hair.'

The silver hair passed down through the Claudy family.

According to the setting, my hair is turning silver.

Fortunately, the silver hair suits my current appearance quite well.

Drip—

I brewed some green tea and had a tea time.

'At 50 cents per bag, this is quite a luxury. Really.'

Even as I thought this, I didn't mind at all.

I've learned to enjoy tea and take my time over the past few days.

This is also due to Grandfel's high self-esteem.

'Well, it's better than sitting in front of the computer right after eating, isn't it?'

Thanks to this, I have more time to think.

Because of this, I was able to reach a rather plausible possibility.

"...My dark past is affecting my real life."

One by one, as I became aware of Grandfel's settings, they became reality.

If that's the case, wouldn't the 'talent' of Grandfel, who was hailed as the greatest genius in the Claudy family's history, also be realized?

"Grandfel's talent was not limited to one area.

A sharp mind was a given.

His innate magical talent was such that he could mimic most spells just by watching them. Moreover, he had physical potential that matched his mental prowess.

There was a good reason why Grandfel was chosen as the family's successor at the tender age of seven."

The more I think about it, the more it feels like a middle schooler's idea.

Just threw in all the good and cool stuff, didn't you?

"Very embarrassing."

I muttered.

Whether it's because I'm embarrassed by my dark past or because the excessive praise is embarrassing.

That's something I'll find out gradually.

For that, I need a few tests.

"What a convenient era."

I accessed NetTube on my smartphone.

I searched for player videos.

Indeed, the saying that the rich are even richer is not without reason.

Channels of players with millions of subscribers appeared.

- Live Raid of the Griffin's Nest

- What skills does a Flame Wizard use?

-A Day in the Life of a Non-Combat Class Alchemist? Vlog Edition

Each video had an enormous number of views.

I understand.

Ordinary people can't even approach the rift, let alone be aware of its existence.

It's natural for them to be interested in players hunting monsters in the rift.

Of course, if the rift collapses, they can see it in the real world.

But then it would be a disaster, not a spectacle.

I chose an appropriate video.

"?"

Just as I was about to play it, a text message arrived.

The number was Nam Cheolmin's.

We didn't exchange numbers, but I contacted him first after seeing his job post.

So he must have my number.

...Why is this message so long?

Summarizing the long message, it was about wanting to meet.

Immediately, or if not, tomorrow.

This is troublesome.

"It requires concentration."

Unfortunately.

This could change my player life.

I sent a short reply and played the video.

A video of a boss raid with skills and magic flying everywhere.

After a while.

I watched the video with a straight posture and then spoke.

"Enough."

*

A high-end restaurant in Cheongdam-dong.

Nam Cheolmin and Nam Taemin.

The brothers were waiting at the meeting place.

"I still have my doubts."

"You believe half of it? For a lousy brother? Thanks."

"Bro, are you going to keep saying that?"

Nam Cheolmin burst out laughing when Nam Taemin got angry.

'Why didn't I know back then?'

My proud younger brother, Taemin.

"People have different talents. I just played games obsessively. You just didn't have enough time to play. You know more about Arcana than I do, I bet. I promise."

The fact that this guy genuinely recognized me.

To feel inferior to such a brother.

Nam Cheolmin was truly ashamed of his own foolishness.

"Just kidding. Just kidding."

"Because you're so unpredictable, I don't know if I should believe you..."

"Still, I won't go back on my word. I'll do a proper job as an analyst."

"Can I record that?"

"Sure."

"Ha, do you really believe this?"

Nam Cheolmin decided to quit being a player.

He planned to accept Nam Taemin's offer and work as an analyst for the guild.

This decision was, of course, due to the experience of having his body taken over by an imp.

'I knew my shortcomings long ago. But more than that.'

The man who saved him from despair.

There was no other way to repay him.

He didn't just defeat the imp.

He steadied his mind and moved forward.

He saved him.

Nam Cheolmin wanted to give a fitting response.

"At this point, I'm curious. You never misjudge a player... Did you really hunt an imp? Overwhelmingly?"

Nam Cheolmin nodded at Nam Taemin's question.

"Actually, 'overwhelming' is an understatement. How should I put it? He didn't seem to be tense or even slightly worried while fighting the imp."

"If you say so, then that's it. But I don't understand?"

Nam Taemin scratched the back of his head in frustration.

"Why would such a player enter a low-level rift?"

The reason was simple.

At the time, the man, Ho Yeol, was only level 55.

However, Nam Taemin and Nam Cheolmin didn't realize this.

Nam Taemin frowned and continued.

"Moreover, the battle itself is questionable. Resisting status effects means he had an incredible mental stat... And he fought with a dagger? Not magic."

"Right."

"Even with thousands of classes in Arcana, I can't guess."

Shaking his head.

Nam Taemin frowned.

But frustration and possibility are different things.

"...So, I want to recruit him and find out?"

After all, he's a player recognized by his brother.

Nam Taemin's rise to the 11th rank was largely due to Nam Cheolmin's help.

From analyzing boss patterns.

To the guild's management direction.

Recruiting new players.

He knew he wouldn't have reached this position without his brother's help.

"Well, I'm also grateful."

Moreover, he helped his brother.

So Nam Taemin wrote the recruitment contract with gratitude.

Checking the contract again, he clicked his tongue.

"Our new members, or even our officers, must never see this."

"Why? Will it cause a commotion?"

"Of course. This is a deal where we only lose."

But it's an offer that can't be refused.

Nam Taemin was confident.

So he waited for a reply with ease.

Buzz—

"Got a quick reply. What does it say?"

Even as the vibration sounded.

Nam Taemin calmly sipped his orange juice.

"...It's troublesome?"

"?!"

Drip—

Orange juice dripped from Nam Taemin's mouth.

"What, what, what?! Let me see!!"

It was even more unbelievable when he checked the text message himself.

-It's troublesome.

Just four characters.

A reply to that long message.

But who is Nam Taemin?

He caught the hint from that short message.

"...It's not a rejection, but it's troublesome."

His eyes narrowed.

"Surely, another guild made an offer first?"

Players are many, but valuable players are rare.

That's why guilds are obsessed with recruiting rookies.

Especially in South Korea, it's even harder to recruit promising players.

The [Tower of Mages] that rose in Seoul.

Thanks to this, all the major guilds are staying in Seoul.

Nam Taemin's narrowed eyes were directed at these competitors.

"These guys. Even if so, Seoul is our living room."

The best guild in South Korea, 'Gaon'.

But on a global scale, it's a stretch to be in the top five.

Nam Taemin was well aware of this reality.

That's why he couldn't afford to lose even one player.

"Bro, be more specific."

"What?"

"What does the guy look like? I might have to go and recruit him in person."

"What does he look like..."

At this, Nam Cheolmin recalled the man in his memory.

A dress shirt, slacks, and even dress shoes.

"First impression, I thought, 'Is this guy for real?'"

Inside the rift, he did wear proper items...

But it was an inappropriate outfit for someone who came to raid the rift, wasn't it?

Moreover, he kept the dress shoes on throughout.

But inside the rift, the man showed no signs of disarray.

When tangled in a melee with goblins.

When trapped and surrounded.

Even when facing the imp.

The man remained unchanged.

It was as if he was looking down from a high place.

"...But, it's hard to describe in words."

Nam Taemin asked the struggling Nam Cheolmin.

"Did you see some mythical creature? Why can't you describe it?"

...Mythical creature?

At this, something came to mind.

"...That's it!"

Although it didn't exist in modern South Korea and he had never seen it...

There was no better word to describe the man's appearance.

"He looked like a noble. A very noble one."

"...Huh?"

*

"Enough."

It was a story about possibilities.

As I stared at the video, various thoughts flowed through my mind.

It wasn't a primitive emotion like admiration or envy.

I was 'analyzing' the magic I saw.

"!"

The concept of magic appeared in my mind.

It was an impossible feat, of course.

Fundamentally, what I saw was a skill, not magic.

But I could see it.

If I had enough mana to back it up, I was confident I could manifest that magic...!

Of course, this wasn't 'Lee Ho Yeol's' talent.

"Seems my mind isn't set in stone yet."

The greatest genius in the Claudy family's history.

Grandfel's talent was certain.

Of course, it's too early to jump to conclusions.

But seeing the possibility, it's worth investing in.

Moreover, the possibilities are open in multiple areas.

Not just magic, but swordsmanship, archery...

Grandfel's talent wasn't limited to one area.

Well done, past Lee Ho Yeol.

Yeah, if you're going to set it, you might as well go all out with the cool and good stuff.

After all, it's equally embarrassing, isn't it?

Be proud of your dark past.

I know the possibilities are sufficient, but there's no need to rush.

Swordsmanship, archery, magic...

Deciding on a path right away wouldn't really benefit me.

This is due to the ambiguous nature of the Demon Hunter class.

But the word 'ambiguous' doesn't always mean flaws.

Yeah, it can also mean all advantages.

Even if not, it's better to keep all possibilities open for now.

"Then."

It's time to invest the saved stat points.

[Available Points: 12 Points]

I checked my status screen.