Chapter 01 - Solo Awakening as an Ex Rank-Munchkin
Name: Na Dan-sik. Age: 30. Occupation: Office worker at a small trading company. Position: Assistant Manager.
An orphan who had completed his military service.
This was Na Dan-sik.
Na Dan-sik had been abandoned at an orphanage as a newborn.
The name Na Dan-sik was given to him by the orphanage director, who hoped he would live a simple, uncomplicated life.
It wasn't just Na Dan-sik; all the children at the orphanage were given names similarly.
Something about how it would help them live long lives. Knowing the Director's sentiment, Dan-sik had lived his life without ever changing his name.
And today, once again, he was being chewed out by his department head.
The company Dan-sik worked for was a subcontractor for a manufacturer of Hunter-exclusive equipment. Their main job was processing the monster leather used in the suits.
“Assistant Manager Na, didn’t I tell you to check the quantity carefully? I told you the order from the head office was for 50 units, so why did you write 100 on the Purchase Order?”
“But I’m sure I wrote 50.”
“You’re sure? It clearly says 100 here, open your eyes and look properly! Hey! What? Where do you think you’re going while I’m talking to you!”
Ignoring the Department Head’s shouting, Na Dan-sik returned to his desk, rummaged through the purchase order folder in his email, and opened the file.
“Assistant Manager Na, are you crazy? Get back here right now!”
Na Dan-sik steadfastly checked the purchase order, then printed it and shoved it in the Department Head’s face. He was already getting an earful; a little more wouldn’t make a difference.
“Department Head, I wrote it correctly. Please look at this.”
The department head had done this before.
He had arbitrarily modified a purchase order Na Dan-sik had prepared, causing an ordering mistake. Then he had blamed Na Dan-sik for it, chewing him out just like today.
It seemed he was trying to pin the blame for his own mistake on him again.
He probably got drunk and chewed out the warehouse staff over the phone again.
Not only that, but the Department Head had also stolen Na Dan-sik’s achievements before. He had taken credit for a client Na Dan-sik had secured, reporting to the president that he had done it himself.
When Dan-sik had protested the injustice, the Department Head had responded by turning the tables shamelessly.
After this happened several times, Na Dan-sik had prepared a countermeasure.
He meticulously handled all work-related communication via email.
And now, he was shoving that proof in the Department Head’s face.
“If you look here, it clearly says 50 units, doesn’t it?”
The Department Head’s cheeks trembled as he looked at the Purchase Order.
He suddenly crumpled the document in his hand and threw it at Na Dan-sik.
“Assistant Manager Na! Are you trying to defy me, your department head! What is this! If I say it’s so, then it’s so!”
“Department Head······.”
“How can a person be so clueless? An Orphan! I took you in thinking you’d at least be quick-witted. What the hell is wrong with you? Tsk tsk.”
Today, the Department Head was seriously crossing the line.
Whenever he had the chance, the Department Head would humiliate Na Dan-sik by bringing up his background in front of the other employees.
It wounded his pride immensely, but he had survived by simply and foolishly ignoring it.
But today, it was getting on his nerves more than usual.
“Anyway, since this was your mistake, Assistant Manager Na, you go to the Head Office yourself and sort it out.”
Sorting it out meant going in person to apologize. It was something that could be handled over the phone, but the Department Head was deliberately making him go.
Of course, Na Dan-sik would have to cover all the travel expenses.
His company was located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, and the Head Office was in Gangnam, Seoul.
What’s more, Na Dan-sik didn’t even have a car, so he had to use public transportation, and he had to pay for it all out of his own pocket.
Ah, so this is what a bad expert is like.
The realization was dawning on Na Dan-sik anew.
He could hear the other employees watching from their desks, whispering.
“There goes that bastard of a department head again.”
“I feel bad for Assistant Manager Na.”
“The department head was the one who changed it.”
“He’s the one who screwed up, but he’s taking it out on Assistant Manager Na again.”
His colleagues whispered among themselves. But not a single one of them stepped up to say what was right.
Right, that’s how people are. Everyone puts their own safety first.
Na Dan-sik had no intention of blaming them. After all, why had he put up with it for so long?
Because any other job would be more or less the same.
And the Department Head only picked on Na Dan-sik, leaving the other employees alone. Because he had simply and foolishly endured it again and again, he was probably seen as a pushover.
Look at him now. Even though he could probably hear the employees’ quiet whispers, his glare was fixed only on Na Dan-sik.
‘For some reason, I’m really pissed off today.’
Rage boiled up inside him.
Should I really live simply and foolishly? Should I knock the Department Head’s teeth out?
The moment his anger reached its peak.
Tiring.
[You have Awakened.]
He blinked.
Immediately after, a status window appeared.
[Basic Information]
Name: Na Dan-sik
Race: Human
Class: Munchkin (EX)
[Stats]
Strength: unlimited
Agility: unlimited
Mana: unlimited
Stamina: unlimited
[Class Description]
Class: Munchkin (EX)
Description: You are a munchkin. That’s all you need to know. However, be wary of Power Inflation.
Power Inflation: Great power attracts powerful enemies.
What in the world is this? What did I awaken as?
Munchkin?
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
And EX?
He had never even heard of such a rank.
Even the class rank of the Hunter called the strongest in Korea was SS-rank.
His surprise was brief.
Even in that moment, he could see the Department Head, mouth agape, shouting.
“Assistant Manager Na, are you ignoring me now? Huh?”
Now he was even jabbing a finger into Na Dan-sik’s chest, shoving him. This happened often.
The finger moved up to his head.
Now he was hitting his head.
“I took you in because I felt sorry for you, you orphan, and now you’re trying to climb all over me? Huh?”
Na Dan-sik picked up the crumpled ball of paper from the floor.
It was the purchase order the Department Head had crumpled and thrown.
And for some strange reason, he felt a surge of confidence, as if he could do anything.
He grabbed the wrist of the Department Head’s jabbing hand.
“Aren’t you going to let go?”
So he let go, since he was told to.
CRASH!
The Department Head, unable to handle his own momentum, stumbled backward and fell.
He then shrieked at Na Dan-sik.
“You, you bastard! You think I’ll let you get away with this?”
A laugh escaped him.
“Fuck, I’m so sick of this.”
“What?”
The Department Head’s face contorted.
Na Dan-sik took out a sheet of A4 paper, wrote ‘Resignation’ on it in large letters with a pen, and placed it on the Department Head’s desk.
“I quit. I’m not your subordinate anymore.”
CRACK.
He deliberately slammed his hand down on the Department Head’s desk.
The desk shattered into pieces.
“Have a nice life.”
The Department Head’s eyes widened.
“You, don’t tell me you Awakened······.”
Na Dan-sik gripped the Department Head’s shoulder tightly.
Then he took out his phone, opened his email, and hit the send button.
He had sent the recordings of the Department Head’s verbal abuse toward employees and the evidence of his embezzlement he had collected over the years to the company’s audit team.
“Let’s never meet again.”
Leaving the sputtering Department Head behind, Na Dan-sik walked out of the company.
The sky today was exceptionally clear and refreshing.
***
After leaving the company, Na Dan-sik went straight to the Awakened Association.
An Awakened person needed a license issued by the Association to be active.
The Yongin branch of the Awakened Association, located in Suji District, Yongin.
It wasn’t far from the company Na Dan-sik had just left.
It was only a 10-minute walk away.
Na Dan-sik entered the building and went directly to the registration center. It was the place for newly Awakened Hunters.
An Examiner greeted Na Dan-sik.
“Are you here to register?”
“Yes.”
“Please share your basic information.”
Na Dan-sik shared his basic information with the examiner.
[Basic Information]
Name: Na Dan-sik
Race: Human
Class: Munchkin
The examiner blinked.
Munchkin?
What in the world is that?
A Hunter’s rank is not shared in their basic information.
This is to protect the Hunter’s personal information.
Therefore, only the Hunter themselves can confirm their rank.
Na Dan-sik could see the EX-rank, but it wasn’t visible to others when shared.
Still, the employee seemed surprised by Na Dan-sik’s class.
“Is there a problem?”
“Ah, no, sir. Please wait just a moment.”
The examiner found a document and held it out.
“This is a consent form stating that all Hunters must share their raid records electronically. Please sign here.”
Na Dan-sik nodded and signed the consent form.
The license was issued quickly.
An F was engraved on the license.
A Hunter’s rank could be raised by accumulating achievements through Gate raids. All Hunters start at F-rank and raise their rank through performance.
Na Dan-sik had just taken his first step as a novice Hunter.
“Mr. Na Dan-sik, congratulations on becoming a Hunter. I will now go over some important points.”
“Okay.”
“Newly Awakened Hunters must start with Grade 1 Gates. By starting with Grade 1 and accumulating raid points, you can raise your Hunter rank. This will also allow you to challenge higher-grade Gates.”
It was all information he already knew.
The examiner continued his explanation.
“And this is a list of Grade 1 Gates that you can enter, Mr. Na Dan-sik.”
Gates are ranked from Grade 1 to Grade 10, from weakest to strongest. The reason for this classification system is that it was based on the seismic intensity scale for earthquakes.
“The list also includes instructions on how to access Hunter Net, which you should find helpful.”
“Thank you.”
Hunter Net was a network accessible only to Hunters who had been issued a license.
It was a place to share information or buy and sell items. Items obtained from Gates could be traded at the Hunter Auction, which was run by Hunter Net.
However, Magic Stones had to be traded at the Magic Stone Exchange.
And the Magic Stone Exchange was located near the Association.
“I’ll give you some basic equipment. You can choose a weapon from the list here. Please note that it will not be reissued if it is damaged.”
“Do you provide repairs?”
“Repairs must be handled personally.”
It seemed they provided the equipment for free, but offered no support if it was damaged or needed repairs.
Na Dan-sik looked at the list and chose a weapon.
“I’ll take a dagger.”
The examiner took out a dagger and handed it to him along with a combat suit. After taking the equipment, Na Dan-sik said his goodbyes and left the Association.
He was a Hunter now.
He was thrilled.
Na Dan-sik immediately headed for a Gate.
He wanted to test his strength as a Hunter.
He was eager to find out just how powerful he was.
‘A Hunter…’
It was something he'd never imagined.
He had always thought of it as a world far removed from his own.
‘They say Awakening happens out of the blue…’
Gaining the qualifications to be a Hunter was said to be a sudden event. Most Hunters Awakened that way.
Whether old or young, those who were meant to Awaken, did.
But Na Dan-sik had always treated it as something that had nothing to do with him.
Just making a living was already more than he could handle.
Na Dan-sik headed to the nearest Grade 1 Certified Gate from the Association. A Certified Gate was one managed by the Association.
He showed his license.
“Are you here alone?”
“Yes, I am.”
“For solo play, we recommend you only go as far as the entrance to the boss room. Use this in front of the boss room, and I'll come and get you.”
In other words, the manager would defeat the boss in his stead and open the return gate.
End
0 Comments