Wearing Helmet, Heading to the Ground (2)
Somehow, he was finally able to begin his career as a beginner hunter.
Ryu Han-bin asked Sezori, “Is there anything I can do?”
“Do you have any quests in mind?” Sezori asked in return.
After a moment’s thought, Han-bin gave her an easy answer.
“Dungeon exploration…”
“Pfftt!”
The mockery immediately came back due to his remark.
“At your current level? Please wake up from your dreams.”
Although she laughed at him, she still seemed to have a pretty friendly personality.
Sezori thought about it for a while, then she continued.
“It would be too much to get a single quest at level 5, so it would be better to join another hunter team and start with simple chores. The other hunters in the hall stopped what they were doing and began to chat around again.
“Hey, Level 5 is too low to fit in the team, right?”
“Yeah. he should be at least level 10.”
“Well, he’s a smudged guy. Did he only come across trees in the mountains?”
“Is he really level 5? His muscles are a waste. Tsk, tsk.”
Ryu Han-bin looked at the hunters with indifferent eyes.
“No, let’s ignore these people…”
Their level was roughly like these:
[Race: Human. Prosecutor Lv. 13]
[Race: Human. Spearman Lv. 15]
[Race: Human. Archer lv. 12]
They all had modest levels.
Even Effir, who fell after one of Ryu Han-bin’s kicks, was a level 27 wyvern.
If Effir was released here, it would take less than a few minutes for him to eradicate all the hunters in the vicinity.
‘So if I look at people, only the race and level would be visible, huh?’ He thought.
It was the same when fighting Demon Dogs in Selha Latna and also when encountering Effir or the monsters in Satt Forest. He couldn’t grasp the monster’s skills or stats.
At that time, the guideline’s answer to his question was this:
[The search function of the guideline is based on the measurement magic of the Latna Continent and can only check the race, class, and level of any being.]
If general information about the being’s race was entered, additional explanations might be attached, but personal information such as names, skills, and stats couldn’t be produced. Even the performance of the measuring stone was lower than the guidelines since it could only check the user’s job and level.
‘This is a good thing. If that measurement stone had revealed my grotesque stats, it would have been a disaster.’ He chuckled profusely at the thought. As he looked at the other hunters indifferently, Sezori couldn’t help but feel sorry for him and even tried to appease him.
“Don’t be too disappointed. There are also those who didn’t officially learn swordsmanship and only trained their bodies like you, Mr. Eric.”
Ryu Han-bin, who was secretly checking the guidelines, looked like a new hunter who seemed helpless against the cold reality in her eyes. To be fair, from a different perspective, he really did look like he was gaping.
“Your basics look sturdy. You will level up in no time.”
“Ah, of course…”
Just as Ryu Han-bin uttered his awkward reply, a sturdy man sitting inside the hall rose from his seat.
“You. Your name is Eric, isn’t it?”
He was an elderly man in his early 40s. He was wearing armor, and a shaggy beard dangled from his chin. Though not as large as Ryu Han-bin, he looked quite big and strong.
“Hmm? You look pretty strong.”
[Race: Human. Prosecutor Lv. 25]
His level wasn’t as high as Effir’s, but he still had the highest level in that hall.
The man shrugged at him before continuing his thoughts. “Would you like to join our team?”
“Oh my God, Mr. Buckman. Are you scouting him? You seem to like this person.”
“But his level is too low! You’re going to kill him. The difference of more than 10 levels is enough to chew him alive!”
A man called Buckman struck Ryu Han-bin’s shoulder and laughed happily.
“We also have a mage and a spiritist on our team. There’s no better condition for you than this. What do you think, Eric?”
Ryu Han-bin pondered for a moment.
After a few moments, he finally reached a conclusion.
“If I’m going to be entering the ground, then I should at least wear a helmet.”
It was the perfect opportunity to learn and adapt to the world’s common sense next to the locals.
It was a very good “helmet.”
Ryu Han-bin lowered his head in confirmation.
“Please take good care of me!”
* * *
“Let me properly introduce myself. I’m Buckman Lowerfall, a level 25 Swordsman.”
Buckman pointed to the people sitting together at the table.
“And these are our team members.”
The copper-skinned brunette woman sitting on the far left of the table introduced herself next.
“Amber Barnett, level 21 Spear woman.”
To follow their example, a man with a slim body who looked to be in his mid-30s stood up as well.
“I’m Hubert Crutas, a level 18 Mage.”
A chubby woman who looked to be around the same age as Ryu Han-bin introduced herself last.
“Ewynn Lowerfall. I’m a level 16 Spiritist.”
Ryu Han-bin felt uncomfortable upon receiving everyone’s introductions.
‘Their self-introduction is so awkward…’
It wasn’t a game. It was a living human being who was saying, ‘I’m a blah-blah level~.’
‘But this seems to be the common culture of this world.’
He introduced himself the same way they did.
“I am Eric Garoon, a level 5 swordsman… or at least according to that stone.”
Buckman laughed and hit Ryu Han-bin on the back.
“Isn’t it a nice stone? You better check the stone often ‘cause otherwise you won’t know exactly how much you’ve gone up.”
Thanks to the guidelines, people from another world could know anyone’s information as soon as they lay their eyes on them, but the original Latna Continent’s measurement magic was not like that. The magic could only be activated by directly touching a magical tool called the measuring stone. It also required the consent of the party being measured to ensure one couldn’t just forcefully find out the levels of others.
The other team members also had something to say about him.
“Level 5… It’s a bit low.”
“It doesn’t matter. Buckman’s eye can be trusted.”
“I agree.”
No one could complain about Buckman’s decision. He seemed to be fairly creditworthy.
Ryu Han-bin sat at the table, relieved.
“Then what should I do now?”
* * *
Not long ago, a new dungeon appeared in a sparse field about 30 kilometers away from the city of Onpros. Labeled as the Alpha Dungeon, numerous monsters began pouring out of it, causing the nearby residents immeasurable pain. To retaliate, the Onpros Hunter Guild had officially requested the monster’s subjugation, though it was rumored that many hunters had already sweated blood due to the difficulty the dungeon possessed.
After hearing the story, Ryu Han-bin couldn’t help but ask what’s in his mind.
“Are we going to attack that dungeon?”
Buckman replied as if it was absurd.
“That’s just not possible.”
Ryu Han-bin learned that only senior hunters with a minimum level of 30 or more were permitted to attack the dungeon.
“We have to deal with the guys outside the dungeon.”
Even among the monsters in the dungeon, there was a law of weak flesh. After a dungeon has settled on the Latna continent, the relatively weak monsters seemed to escape out of the dungeon.
“It’s said that a group of Devolk had fled from the dungeon and settled near the Letron Village. They’re now causing quite a riot.”
Devolk was a low-level monster resembling a monkey and was only roughly around level 12. It was weak in a one-on-one fight, but they’re tougher when they’re gathered in a group.
“It looks like over a hundred of them have gathered. Our quest is to defeat them.”
“I see.”
Although he was slightly disappointed that it was not a dungeon exploration, Ryu Han-bin soon accepted it. It wasn’t that bad of an opportunity anyway.
‘Learning about this world is my top priority right now. It’s better not to draw attention.’
Buckman laughed and soothed Ryu Han-bin’s disappointment, seeing it as a form of a beginner’s spirit or motivation.
“Always keep your level in mind. Just because you’re big doesn’t mean you can’t get a knife stuck in you, right?”
Buckman was a pretty good person. He had good character and was extremely likable. As he got up from the table, Buckman concluded his word.
“We leave tomorrow. Let’s meet at the front of the north gate early in the morning.”
“Got it!”
* * *
It had been three days since he left Onpros City. Presently, the Buckman team was in the middle of a fight against the Devolk’s scouting party on a ridge outside of the Efen Plains.
Eek Eek Eek Eek Eek!
From all sides, Devolks rushed in with their claws protruding and their fangs bared.
Devolks were slow, but with their numbers exceeding a hundred, they were not easy targets. Besides, their power was enough to rip through a young adult easily.
Nevertheless, Buckman didn’t lag behind.
“Not a chance, you bastards!”
Rather, he endured and pushed the Devolk in front of him with a large shield.
With the long sword in his other hands, he pierced through the Devolks’ vital spots.
Eeek!
Amber was also elegantly swinging her splendid spear.
“Slow!”
Utilizing the cover and space Buckman and Amber provided, Hurbert, the mage, began to cast magic.
“Firestorm! Fire Lane!”
Ewynn, a spiritist, also joined in the fray, restoring the energy of her team members.
“Freleu’s wind, come forth!”
As black winds blew around them, spears and blades danced through the fray. Flames fell from the skies like searing rain as the winds healed them gently as it circled the battlefield. The screams of the Devolks echoed loudly, reaching beyond the ridge and the plains.
Yikes!
Eeeek!
Against a group of more than 100 Devolks, the Buckman team showed off their overwhelming strength. They’ve been working for a long time already, and their experiences as a group had removed any gap from their teamwork.
Meanwhile…
“… Everyone fights so well.”
Ryu Han-bin sat in a daze, hiding behind the ridge. He simply watched the battle unfold with a huge backpack on his back. It held all the luggage of the team members.
Why was Han-bin made to carry all of their items?
It was only logical, after all. His level was extremely low, but he was huge and strong. What position would be able to make full use of his build during a long trip?
A porter.
He was never expected to fight in the first place. It could be said that Buckman had deceived Han-bin. However, it was the custom for new hunters to gain experience by doing team chores.
With a sigh, Ryu Han-bin could only scratch his cheek.
“Well, this isn’t what I imagined…”
* * *
Buckman had apparently accepted Ryu Han-bin in his team to become a porter, but he wasn’t planning on keeping him as a porter forever. He was a good person with a good heart. He made Ryu a porter simply because he thought of giving ‘Eric, the level-5 beginner hunter,’ good combat experience and exposure.
While in the thick of the battle, Amber suddenly addressed Ryu. “Eric! One of the Devolks ran towards there! Take care of it!”
As the fray broke down, a Devolk was attempting to escape to the direction of Ryu Han-bin’s hiding spot.
-Let’s start with getting you used to combat. I’ve seen a lot of beginners who died wastefully without being able to level up—no need to worry. The profit distribution will be exactly equal.
Ryu Han-bin sighed, recalling Buckman’s kind voice.
“I can’t get mad at him for thinking about me…”
Setting that aside, he was given a task. He had to accomplish it.
Han-bin pulled out the great black sword he was carrying on his back and gently swung it.
It was really just a slight, very slight swing.
Boooom!
However, the Devolk, which was the same size as a full-grown man, was swiftly and easily cut in two.
It wasn’t just a simple cut either. Its skin was sliced and torn up, its bones and flesh were cleanly separated, and pools of blood splatted all over the battlefield.
Splaaat!
The mage, Hubert, opened his mouth as he watched the purple blood drop.
“Eeek! What is that?”
Why was that sword power so ruthless?
Even Buckman couldn’t do that if he hit it with all his might.
Ewynn and Amber also had similar thoughts and expressions.
“That person, you said he was only a level 5 Swordsman?”
“Oh my God, what kind of power is that…”
On the other hand, Buckman was delighted.
“As expected, my eyes were correct! If you have that kind of body, level 10 is just a piece of cake!”
It seemed that in Buckman’s eyes, Ryu Han-bin gave all that he could in that one swing from his position.
Without feeling uncomfortable, he praised Ryu Han-bin.
“You have great quality! You will be strong in no time.”
“T-thank you.”
It wasn’t long before they managed to get rid of all the Devolk groups.
After the fight, the party regrouped.
“With this, all the scouts have been annihilated…”
Buckman gave instructions to the group as he looked at the Devolk corpses that littered across the battlefield.
“Take the corpses and move them to a safe distance. We’re going to have to camp here tonight because tomorrow morning, we’re going to be hitting their nest.”
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