02. Training
Name: Ghost Town Level Range: 1–10 Party Limit: None Time Until Break: 80 days, 12 hours, 38 minutes
Kim Suho checked the gate information using his smartphone.
Ghost Town.
The level range was extremely low. But very few hunters operated inside this gate.
“Monsters appearing are ghosts.”
That was because the monsters in the Ghost Town gate were spirits—ghosts—who possessed racial traits that nullified physical attacks and had fear-inducing skills.
To operate in Ghost Town, one needed either light- or fire-based skills, as well as mental or healing skills capable of nullifying enemy attacks.
“That’s why everyone avoids it.”
The association had never officially released a statement regarding Ghost Town. But the fact that C-rank hunters were stationed at the gate entrance made it obvious—the association intended to use a special disposal method for this difficult-to-clear gate.
The method Earth’s hunters used when facing such gates was simple.
First, station hunters at the gate entrance.
Then, wait for the break.
Once monsters emerged from the gate and began invading Earth, the stationed hunters would eliminate them.
After the monsters were cleared, hunters would enter the now-empty gate to complete the dungeon.
“There are some parties that occasionally operate in Ghost Town…”
But compared to other gates where dozens or even hundreds of people fought simultaneously, the number was clearly much smaller.
“I have time to spare.”
To officially become a hunter after awakening, one had to attend combat classes held by the Hunter Association. Without learning how to fight, diving into a gate relying only on skills would lead to the hunter being hunted instead.
“Alright.”
After finishing his part-time shift at the convenience store, Kim Suho decided to head to the Hunter Association.
“Oh my…” Meow~ “So cute.”
As soon as his shift ended, Kim Suho went straight to the Hunter Association. He took a waiting ticket, waited his turn, and followed an association staff member into the consultation room.
At first, the staff member had responded indifferently. She was in charge of registering awakened individuals, so it wasn’t unusual for her. But when Suho used his skill to summon Sarang for the identification procedure, her expression changed.
“A cat?”
“It’s listed as an undead-type in the classification.”
“Undead? As in can’t die?”
“No—undead as in fire, lion.” (T/N: “불사자” sounds like “immortal” but can be interpreted as “fire lion.”)
“...Ah, fire, lion.”
“Yes. And the summoned creature’s skill was also fire-type.”
The staff member turned her head. Her expression softened as she watched Sarang groom herself after a brief look of fascination.
“This room is under the Oath of Silence. Could you use an offensive skill?”
“Ah, sure. Sarang(Korean word for Love).”
Meow~
Sarang straightened her back, lifted her chin, and let out a cry.
Mana flowed naturally.
A small flame formed above Sarang’s head.
It rapidly grew into a fiery arrow.
“It’s real. Do you have any other skills?”
“I only have the summon skill.”
“…I meant me?”
“Yes.”
“Then Sarang has two skills?”
“She does. One offensive, one support. Would you like to see it?”
“Is it okay to show me?”
“We’re in the Oath of Silence room, right?”
What kind of skill could it be?
“Can you demonstrate it?”
“Of course. Sarang.”
Meow~
Sarang strutted confidently toward the woman and gently pressed her paw against the staff member’s arm.
“Gasp!”
“Yes.”
“She’s making biscuits!”
“It’s a skill. It requires contact to activate.”
“I see. What’s its effect?”
“It dispels psychic abilities and magic.”
“That’s one powerful kneading!”
“It really is! An incredible kneading skill!”
Thanks to the staff member’s help, Kim Suho completed both the registration and class enrollment at once and was able to attend the afternoon session on the same day.
Class ran from 1 to 4 PM.
From 1 to 2 was theory. From 2:30 to 4 was combat training under the supervision of association hunters.
Theory posed no problem. How to respond to emergencies inside a gate, how to utilize the emotion system—most of it was well-known and could be found online.
“On average, Awakened individuals gain new skills every 10 levels. However, there are rare cases where someone obtains a skill before reaching level 10. Since this could increase overall combat potential, the association, the government, and the guilds have conducted research and testing.”
Even the student scribbling aimlessly and the one whispering to their neighbor turned their attention toward the instructor.
“As a result, we learned that increasing mastery of your first skill could lead to gaining new skills earlier than normal. You might wonder—why does skill mastery lower the level requirement for new skills?”
Initial skill mastery.
In Suho’s case, that meant his summon skill: Undead.
“The skills we gain every 10 levels are tied to our profession. Let’s take a high-ranking hunter as an example.”
The instructor picked up a piece of chalk and stood in front of the board.
Tap tap tap tap.
An A-rank hunter from the association.
Defender, Kang Sanhyuk.
“Kang Sanhyuk’s first skill was Mana Shield—an enhancement applied to his shield. After hitting level 10, he learned a mental skill: Earth’s Roar, which focuses all enemies’ attention on him within a certain radius.”
A tank.
The instructor wrote Tank on the board.
“Skills acquired at level 20 and 30 were the same—meant to protect allies and block enemy attacks. All tank-related.”
He then wrote Profession underneath.
“There’s no profession field in your status window, but based on skill progression, we can infer that such a concept exists.”
“Hmm?”
Even if not displayed, one’s profession dictates what skills they acquire.
That was the instructor’s argument.
The issue was this: while explaining early skill acquisition, he suddenly began talking about “professions.”
He circled Profession.
“A profession exists. Awakened individuals gain new skills every 10 levels, and they’re tied to their profession.”
Then he circled Skill.
“But if your skill mastery is high, Earth’s system judges you capable of learning the skill early—even before the target level.”
“So if I increase mastery, I could learn a level 10 skill at level 7 or 8?”
A student raised a hand.
“Correct. We call that preemptive acquisition.”
“Instructor, but you’ll get the skill at level 10 anyway, right? Why push to get it early?”
Fair question. You’ll get it eventually.
“If you preemptively acquire it, you also raise its rank earlier than others. Which means you could get your level 20 skill at level 17 or 18.”
“So learning the level 10 skill early helps you preemptively get the level 20 skill too?”
“Yes.”
The instructor smiled and turned to the board, writing the word Rank.
“You can measure skill mastery and flexibility by its rank. Not too difficult to understand.”
Class ended. The instructor checked the wall clock behind the nodding students.
“That concludes this session. We’ll meet in the underground training room in 30—no, 40 minutes.”
“Summoner?”
“Yes.”
“Ah… a summoner.”
The combat instructor nodded with a subtle expression as he looked at Kim Suho. After a moment, he smiled gently and spoke again.
“There are two main kinds of summoners: those who fight alongside their summons on the front lines, and those who support allies from the rear. What skill did you acquire?”
“A skill that dispels mental abilities and magic.”
“Then I suppose you’re rear-line type.”
“No—it requires contact to activate.”
“Oh, I see.”
There are all kinds of skills in the world. Contact-based support skills aren’t uncommon. After thinking for a while, the combat instructor gave Suho a choice.
“First, find a weapon that suits you. Try them all and then decide.”
“Got it.”
“Once you’ve picked, head up to the training arena.”
“Understood.”
Suho gave a short bow and walked over to the weapon rack.
“Front or rear?”
Staring at the options, he looked toward the guns.
“Let’s skip that.”
Ammo’s expensive—especially since it’s laced with mana stones to damage monsters. Guns, being consumable, were off the list.
“How about a bow…?”
Awakened individuals are taught to infuse mana into their weapons. Empowering arrows wasn’t too difficult.
But still…
“Nope.”
Even in high-level gates, empowered arrows get destroyed after one use—like bullets.
“A staff…”
Staffs imbued with magic.
Common among support-class Awakened who lack combat skills.
But…
“Also no.”
Too expensive.
No bows. No guns. No staffs.
“Pfft.”
Suho let out a dry laugh and moved toward the melee weapons.
“Screw rear-line.”
The combat instructor watched Kim Suho step into the arena.
A summoner…
Spirit tamer. Necromancer. Or maybe even a golem summoner, since there was a known skill for golem creation.
Is he using a sword because his support skill requires touch?
As Suho warmed up, the instructor met his gaze, cleared his thoughts, and asked,
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
“Then we’ll begin simulated combat using illusion skills. First monster is a goblin.”
He touched the arena floor and channeled mana.
Fwoosh!
A goblin appeared on the field.
The instructor moved to the edge, and Suho gripped his weapon tightly.
Spirit? Undead? Golem?
The instructor’s eyes gleamed as he studied Suho. But the latter, fully focused on the goblin, didn’t notice.
Wearing a serious expression, Suho shouted:
“Sarang!”
“…Sarang?”
“Summon!”
“Hmm?”
A spirit, maybe?
Cute names were usually reserved for spirits. The instructor smiled, expecting a rare spirit user—but the smile vanished instantly.
“…A cat?”
A fluffy red-furred cat with adorable looks and irresistible charm.
“A Persian?”
“It’s a Norwegian Forest Cat, not a Persian. Is that all you know?”
Hearing the voice from below, the instructor turned. A female combat instructor had somehow appeared beside him, eyes sparkling as she watched the arena.
KREEEEE!
The goblin charged.
Suho locked eyes with it, focusing all his energy.
Sarang, flopped across his head, looked down at the goblin.
Meow~
Fwoosh!
A flaming arrow formed overhead. Drained from the mana cost, Suho gave Sarang a mental command.
Whoosh!
The arrow flew straight toward the goblin.
Thud!
It pierced its body.
Meow~
BOOM!
With Sarang’s next cry, the arrow embedded in the goblin exploded.
“…Huh?”
“Hmm?”
“An explosion?”
The powerful blast drew everyone’s attention. As the crowd’s eyes gathered, Sarang gracefully raised her upper body and lifted her chin.
MEOW~!
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