Chapter 23

 

Wednesday, 10 AM.

Over a hundred students were lined up in front of the entrance of the F-class Rift located in San 1-9, Sajik-dong, Jongno-gu. They were all wearing the standard suit with no patterns and were equipped with a Mana Gun and dagger placed around their waist.

Chatter. Chatter.

“Everyone, please focus.”

The professor leading the class drew their attention by clapping his hands.

Then he pointed at the three men standing at the entrance of the Rift.

“First of all, let me introduce you to these people who will be guiding us in our Rift Tour today. This is the chief of the Rift Management Department, Kang Chul-soo, and the two people next to him are officers Kwon Hyuk-soo and Lee Do-jun.”

Clap clap clap.

The three who were introduced then bowed slightly.

“Then, I look forward to working with you guys today.”

The professor said as he shook hands with Kang Chul-soo.

Kang Chul-soo then cleared his throat and began to talk to the students.

“Hello, I am Chief Kang Chul-soo of the Rift Management Department. I’m truly honored to meet the students from Hunter Academy today. To give you a brief introduction, this is an F-class Rift with F-class monsters, particularly goblins. 

“……”

“Perhaps goblins may not pose a challenge to you guys, but as Rifts are very unpredictable, this Rift was chosen considering your safety as our first priority. So does anyone have any questions?”

Someone raised their hand.

A long-haired girl that was beaming with vibrancy.

It was Lee Eun-ju, the famed sister of the Sword Emperor, who was so beautiful that few people even mistook her as a celebrity.

“An F-class rift… I heard the Rift Management Department selected this Rift, but aren’t you looking down on us too much?”

The students around her nodded in sympathy.

Most of them were already somewhat skilled even before they entered the Hunter Academy.

Thus, having a Rift Tour to an F-class Rift was quite boring for them.

At that moment, Kwon Hyuk-soo opened his mouth.

“By any chance, are you Lee Eun-ju, the Sword Emperor’s sister?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I understand why you guys feel that way, especially you, Lee Eun-ju, as you belong to Class A. However, today’s Rift Tour is actually the first time you guys would enter a Rift; thus, our goal for today is just to get the grasp of a Rift’s atmosphere. So please be understanding.”

Lee Eun-ju got tongue-tied at his response and decided not to complain anymore.

“Please enter in an organized manner.”

Kang Chul-soo, Kwon Hyuk-soo, and the teachers of the academy entered the Rift first.

Do-jun remained outside, guiding them to enter one by one while witnessing their enthusiasm.

And Lee Eun-ju, who was standing at the back, was grumbling.

When she reached the entrance of the Rift, she stopped and looked at Do-jun.

“Hey, mister. Are you the one in-charge?”

“I am not in charge, so to speak. I’m merely here to assist.”

“Hmm.”

＊ ＊ ＊

Inside the F-class Rift…

A usual sight of a wide green grassland could be seen.

No other Hunters could be seen as the academy restricted the access of the Rift for days.

“Kereuk.”

Goblins were walking about leisurely in groups of three to five.

The students didn’t really expect much from before, but when they saw the sudden change in scenery and monsters walking in the field, they smiled.

“So this is the inside of a Rift… ”

“It’s an entirely different world!”

“It’s quite exciting to actually be here in person compared to just watching all those videos before.”

The students started chattering loudly.

Before they even get distracted further, the professor caught their attention with just a single clap.

“Alright, let’s take a look around the Rift with the officers first. Then, later on, you will be given time to hunt independently. Please stand in line again. If you make use of the maps we’ve provided, it’ll be an efficient tour.”

The students took out their maps and opened it.

It was a perfectly drawn map which has been made and regularly updated for a year.

In addition, it contained all of the detailed information about the Rift.

After a while.

Kang Chul-soo stood in front of the students again, while Kwon Hyuk-soo and Do-jun stood at the back.

The goblins did not launch a preemptive attack since they outnumbered them.

It was a survival instinct that animals naturally have.

“Everything’s going well.”

Kwon Hyuk-soo muttered while still on guard.

If it went on accordingly, they could finish the Rift Tour safely.

Do-jun nodded his head.

“So, which one is your daughter?”

Kwon Hyuk-soo asked, whispering.

Do-jun then pointed his finger at someone who was 10 meters away.

As Kwon Hyuk-soo looked over to where he pointed at, he became a bit surprised.

“Uwah! what a beauty. She’ll make a lot of guys cry when she grows up.”

As Kwon Hyuk-soo said, Seol Yoon-hee looked like a celebrity.

She looked young since she hadn’t lost her baby fat yet, but he couldn’t imagine how much prettier she would be when she grew older and became more mature.

At that moment, Seol Yoon-hee turned her head and saw Do-jun and Kwon Hyuk-soo talking.

Earlier, professor Lee Joo-hyung and Chief Kang Chul-soo explained the Rift in a loud voice, but she couldn’t hear them at all.

Suddenly,

Do-jun and Seol Yoon-hee made eye contact.

Seol Yoon-hee then blushed.

‘How cute.’

Do-jun smiled.

＊ ＊ ＊

An hour had passed since they entered the Rift.

It didn’t take much time for them to tour the entire Rift since they were only going around without hunting monsters.

“Then, from now on, you can start hunting independently. You can team up with your friends to form parties, or you can hunt by yourself.”

Professor Lee Joo-hyung announced, looking at the students.

The only monsters in this Rift are goblins, and there were also no boss monsters.

As long as one is cautious or alert with their surroundings, they won’t be in any danger.

“But please don’t go too far.”

Lee Joo-hyung’s supervision was no longer required.

The students smiled.

Tak.

“Well done.”

Kang Chul-soo walked up and said.

Kwon Hyuk-soo smiled as he placed his arms on Kang Chul-soo’s shoulder.

“Thank you for your hard work, Chief.”

“I’m going to take a break now. Goodness. I wonder why they have so many questions.”

Kang Chul-soo shook his head.

The students were hunting goblins… no, they were slaughtering them.

Every time a Mana Gun flashed, a goblin’s body would burst.

Then a goblin’s head fell off as a student wielded his dagger.

“I wonder if a number of them would be interested in signing a contract with us when they graduate?”

“…Fat chance, I guess.”

Kang Chul-soo clicked his tongue.

The reason why he ran around all day was to instill a good image of the Rift Management Department amongst the students; that’s why he felt a little drained now.

＊ ＊ ＊

Bang!

Mana seeped into the Mana Gun and was converted to a bullet. Then it was fired.

The bullet from the gun went through quickly in the goblin’s head.

“Phew.”

Seol Yoon-hee wiped the sweat from her forehead.

It was just a little bit, but she could feel that she had grown from a month ago.

The next time she undergoes body strengthening, surely she will gain more mana.

“How was it?”

“It was cool.”

Do-jun said with a smile on his face.

Seeing your daughter grow up is one of a parent’s greatest joys.

Whiiir.

‘What’s that?’

Swoosh.

Do-jun looked up at the sky.

When he entered the rift, the sky was surely clear without a speck of cloud.

‘The sun is setting.’

Wooong.

The air current in the Rift became different.

It was gradually getting faster.

And if one move their gaze along the current,

A goblin could be seen.

But it was a little different from all the other goblins present inside the Rift.

‘Oh?’

The goblin had a skull tattoo on his forehead.

‘According to the report, there was no boss monster.’

Do-jun took out his Space Tab and accessed the Rift Management System.

He went through the information of the Rift again, but there was no mention of a boss monster.

‘It’s not attacking.’

The goblin didn’t charge towards Do-jun nor Seol Yoon-hee.

“Father, stay back.”

Clack.

She raised her Mana Gun and aimed at the goblin’s forehead.

Even if it was a boss monster, they were still at an F-class Rift.

If shot with a Mana Gun bullet in a vital spot, it would die instantly.

Jiiing.

Mana began to gather into her Mana Gun and formed into a bullet.

Bang!

Plop.

Blood spurted out from the goblin’s forehead before it collapsed.

Seol Yoon-hee smiled widely and walked towards the corpse.

At that moment,

Buzz!

A black electric current emerged from the goblin’s body.

[You have defeated the Rift Guard.]

[The conditions have been met. A Rift Event will occur.]

[The difficulty level is set to random.]

“…Eh?”

Zap! Zap!

Space began to split from the ground towards the sky.

It looked crazy, knowing how high the sky was.

Then another Rift appeared.

Rumble!

‘W-What is happening…?’

Seol Yoon-hee stepped back from shock.

Then, a gust of wind blew from inside the Rift.

Her body floated and was pulled into the Rift. The Rift was about to close when…

Boom.

Do-jun kicked the ground and jumped into the Rift.

[You have entered the Izaas’s lair.]

Soon, the Rift that swallowed Do-jun and Seol Yoon-hee disappeared.

＊ ＊ ＊

Plop.

Seol Yoon-hee, who had calmed down a bit, sat down.

[You have entered Izaas’s lair.]

[Commencing special event!]

[Survive for at least 30 minutes or kill Izaas. Rewards will be given upon succeeding.]

A deserted valley.

In the midst of it all, a huge dragon was there.

And it was blowing its nose.

“…Uhm.”

Fortunately, he had successfully followed her.

Swoosh.

Do-jun looked down at Seol Yoon-hee, who was frightened.

Seol Yoon-hee was surprised to see Do-jun silently standing next to her.

“D-dad… t-that’s…”

In Seol Yoon-hee’s mind, only the word ‘death’ had crossed her mind.

Three years ago, a Great Rift appeared in Busan.

Something similar to the <Dragon Tribe> which was first discovered there.

At that time, 8 S-class Hunters and 20 A-class Hunters were deployed to catch ‘Masalys’, the dragon that appeared at that time, which they were able to defeat after three days of fighting.

‘Is this it?’

Do-jun sighed.

He took off his suit jacket and covered Seol Yoon-hee with it.

“…Dad?”

“Let me borrow your Mana Gun for a while.”

“…What?”

Do-jun picked up the Mana Gun from Seol Yoon-hee’s waistband.

「Trivial beings.」

Izaas opened his mouth.

From there, a big fireball was being created as the dragon was getting closer to them.

Dragon’s Breath.

Two S-class Hunters were killed instantly with that blow.

“Stay there.”

Do-jun walked forward.

Seol Yoon-hee’s eyes widened.

She tried to get up to stop Do-jun. However, her legs weren’t listening.

“…D-Dad, wait!”

At last.

Dragon’s Breath was fired.

KWAAAAAAAAAHHHH!

At that moment, Seol Yoon-hee doubted her eyes.

Dragon Breath was split into two before Do-jun.

And after a while, it stopped.

Seol Yoon-hee then looked at Do-jun, who was perfectly fine.

“You shot once. It’s okay if I do the same, right?”

Do-jun said, pointing the Mana Gun at Izaas.

The Inner Qi from his body began to gather and seep into the Mana Gun.

At the same time, the air trembled, and the earth shook.

Rumble!

「W-wa-wait a minute!」

Izaas cried for a time out in a hurry.