CH 172 Conundrums one after another

If you haven't noticed yet then let me inform you the Harem chapter is out and I already uploaded the pics so go there and give some likes.

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Today's anime meme is here. [ ]

**At Max Level, The Mana Blood Skill Will Be Unlocked, Turning Player's Blood Into Pure Mana Energy And Drawing Mana From The Life Around The Player Will Gain A Significant Boost. Filling Every Cell In Player's Body With Pure Mana. Player's Very Veins Will Transform Into Rivers Of Pulsating Mana, Coursing Through Player's Being.".**

"As Jin read the notifications, he couldn't help but feel a little smile appear on his face.

Jin stood there, his thoughts echoing within his mind. 'It finally happened,' he murmured quietly to himself, a mixture of relief and apprehension washing over him.

Months had passed, and the skill had finally leveled up. It had been a grueling journey filled with countless battles, trials, and growth, but it was far from over. In fact, the news that came with this achievement was a double-edged sword.

As Jin contemplated the time it had taken to progress from level 3 to level 4, he couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. It had consumed more time than it took to advance from level 1 to level 3 combined. The significance of this wasn't lost on him; reaching level 4 was twice as time-consuming as his previous milestones.

With a calculating mind, he extrapolated what lay ahead. If the rules remained constant, the time required to reach level 5 seemed daunting. The numbers didn't lie – it could take him over two years, even in the best-case scenario, with the most favorable conditions.

But the real shocker was what lay beyond. If this trend continued, if leveling from 4 to 5 was indeed twice as demanding as before, the road to mastery stretched out indefinitely. Over 64 years to reach level 10, possibly over a century if the max level was even higher.

The prospect of transforming his very blood into pure mana was incredible, promising powers beyond imagination. Yet, the thought of dedicating more than six decades to this endeavor weighed heavily on him.

At that moment, Jin knew there was only one solution – to force the skill to level up, just as he had done before. The path to greatness was one he was willing to tread, even if it meant challenging the very rules of this newfound world.

As over six decades stretched out before Jin, the weight of time pressed upon him, and his thoughts swirled like a turbulent sea. He couldn't help but feel that, despite his incredible powers and the knowledge he possessed, the pace of his skill leveling was agonizingly slow. 'It's too long, far too long,' he muttered, frustration etched across his face. 'Sixty years... I should be wielding the power of galaxies, if not more, by now. After all, I'm not just an ordinary person; I'm someone cursed with culture.'

As over six decades is too damn long, especially if you're reincarnated. If it's taking you this long to max out a simple skill, it means you are not reincarnated in my eyes.

And in the eyes of every person cursed with culture, 60 years is too long. In that time, you should at least be a medium-level god with the power of a galaxy or two. We are not normal people; we are cursed with culture.

And if it's truly taking you this long, then you are spitting in the face of all the fiction you have read in your life, considering they are true in a wide omniverse where not only every possibility exists but there is a separate whole multiverse for that possibility alone.

In his mind, he couldn't reconcile the idea that a reincarnated individual like himself would take six decades to master a skill that should have been second nature to him. Every piece of fiction he had ever read, every story he had ever encountered, suggested that his progress should have been far more rapid. It was as if he were spitting in the face of the vast multiverse of possibilities where every outcome existed.

'So, the only way to speedrun this is to use the Force,' he thought, his gaze distant as he remembered his previous experience with the pain, an environment rich in mana. The difference this time was that he needed something much grander, far more potent.

"Multiple dragon veins won't cut it," he contemplated, his brows furrowing with concern. 'Even a full-fledged dragon wouldn't provide enough mana. This time, it's a breach point, a significant level-up to evolve this skill into pure mana breathing. I need more than this planet can offer, perhaps more than any single place in the universe. In fact, it would be a miracle if there was a place in the universe where I could force this skill to level up.'

Jin's mind raced, contemplating the vastness of the cosmos and the possibilities within the multiverse. He knew he had to look beyond the confines of his current reality to find the energy-rich environment he needed to expedite his skill's progression.

And it's only possible if gacha gods were with me, that I could not only get a golden ticket but also a universe where this condition is fulfilled, a place filled to the brim with different energy and pure mana.

"Perhaps I need the favor of the gacha gods," he pondered, his eyes gazing upward as if seeking divine intervention, even if only to see a roof made of stone. 'RNG Gods, Oo Baing Who Sent Me Here, My Dear System, Oo Goddess of Luck, guide me to a golden ticket. A universe where the conditions align, a place teeming with diverse energies and pure mana. It's a leap of faith, but sometimes, even the most calculated decisions require a touch of luck.'

In that moment, Jin realized that to achieve his goals, he'd have to rely on more than just his immense power and intellect. He'd need a bit of cosmic luck to steer him toward the universe that held the key to his skill's evolution.

'So, only I can, at the moment, reach level 150 and complete the quest as soon as possible, and with more numbers, it shouldn't take more than a week to clear Angel's Layer.'

"While Jin was lost in his own super-speed thoughts.

'I'm definitely gonna abuse the hell out of this mana breathing skill...'

Jin shook his head, snapping out of his contemplative state. He was a master of efficiency, capable of processing complex scenarios in the blink of an eye. As he surveyed the situation and considered his upcoming plans, his mind worked like a well-oiled machine.

In mere seconds, he not only analyzed the current situation but also extrapolated it into a series of intricate plans for the near future. His ability to strategize and adapt was a testament to his super high investment and focus in intelligence.

But Jin was no stranger to uncertainty, and he knew the importance of having a backup plan. With lightning-fast precision, he devised a Plan B, just in case luck didn't favor him. It was this capacity to think ahead, to anticipate most possible outcomes, that truly made him proud that he was solely focused on INT Stat making him a super genius in every sense of the word.

Woo Jin-Cheol was the first to react as he knew what they all just witnessed is something that shouldn't be getting out unless Jin himself reveals it, which he knew was going to happen soon.

While everyone else was busy eyeing others around them, he quickly walked right up to Jin-Woo's side, pulled out his identification card, and displayed it proudly for all to see.

"We're from the Association's Monitoring Division."

Didn't matter whether you were a high-ranked Hunter or a low-ranked one, you'd inevitably tense up after hearing the name of the Monitoring Division. And this tactic was the right one.

It was only for a brief moment, but a hint of nervousness flashed past the expressions of the Hunters Guild members, with the sole exception of Cha Hae-In.

Woo Jin-Cheol seized upon this chance and carried on with what he wanted to say.

"The identity of Sung Jin-Woo Hunter-nim is being strictly guarded by the Association. It is highly classified information that cannot be revealed publicly."

Jin could only stand back and let him do this as he was key to get out of all the paperwork he had to do. Woo Jin-Cheol's skillful bullsh*tting.

Heck, his expression and words looked and sounded so natural that one couldn't help but wonder if he practiced it every morning while looking in the mirror or some such.

Whatever the case may be, his intentions definitely got through to the other party. At the same time, Woo Jin-Cheol sent the slightest hint of a signal to Jin with his eyes.

'We will assist you with avoiding unnecessary fuss when exiting from this place.'

Jin had an idea why the Monitoring Division was helping him, but since they were volunteering to take care of the aftermath, was there a reason for him to refuse now? Paperwork is something even his high INT stat doesn't like, so Jin nodded his head.

That's what he wanted, anyway.

The quick-witted subordinates of Woo Jin-Cheol quickly surrounded Jin like bodyguards.

"If you have any questions, please send them to the Association. We shall escort Sung Jin-Woo Hunter now. And remember what happened here should remain here; if anyone lets this get out, the Association will personally interfere and possibly terminate your Hunter's license. So please refrain from speaking out in public."

Not-so-subtle implication of 'We won't hear any of your objections and if this gets out in the press, the cost will be your career and possibly the bank account' was apparent in his hidden voice.

All thanks to Woo Jin-Cheol's hardened attitude, hard enough to shatter a rock even, the members of the Hunters Guild had no choice but to rein in their questions and stay silent.

"Shall we go?"

While being escorted by the agents of the Monitoring Division, Jin walked past the Hunters.

'Well, I am grateful,'

Once they got a sufficient distance away from the members of the Hunters Guild, Jin quietly asked.

"Why are you doing this all of a sudden?"

"By any chance, are you thinking of signing up with the Hunters Guild?"

Jin shook his head. As if he knew that such an answer was coming already, Woo Jin-Cheol quickly made his reply.

"What you did just now was to display the kind of power that exceeds rank SSS classification in front of the employees working for the largest, wealthiest Guild in South Korea. If you wish to avoid annoying matters in the near future, this method is the best one."

Indeed, he was right.

No one could tell just what lengths the wealthy Hunters Guild might go to secure another rank SSS Hunter. Other Hunters would raise their hands and welcome that, but Jin was different.

It was the same story for the Hunter's Association, too.

And so, the interests of both the Association plus he did a great favor to them, and trying to prevent the concentration of too much power in one specific Guild, and Jin's, who found the hindrance (?) of the Guilds annoying, lined up rather nicely.

Since this wasn't one-sided goodwill coming from the other party but something that would help both sides, Jin didn't feel uncomfortable by the current situation at all.

'Well, things have become more convenient thanks to the Association.'

Because this matter had been resolved quite nicely in a very expected manner, Jin could afford to float a thin, nearly imperceptible smile on his lips.

But, as they were about to exit from the boss room for good….

"H-hold on!!"

An urgent call came from behind the group.

Unintentionally looking back, Jin spotted Sohn Ki-Hoon approaching them while being supported by his big-framed colleague. All of his external wounds had been healed perfectly, but his complexion remained pale as he had lost a lot of blood.

'It'd be better for him to not move yet, though. Should I heal him, but it's not like he is dying; one visit to the hospital should be enough.'

Despite Jin's inner thought, Sohn Ki-Hoon managed to stand before him. He then bowed deeply.

"Thank you."

And he began speaking up his mind without holding anything back.

"Thanks to you, we are all still alive. On behalf of the raid team, I'd like to thank you."

If one believed the words of the Monitoring Division's Hunters, then this young man seemed to be burdened by some kind of circumstances preventing him from revealing himself.

'With that kind of power, it'd not be too strange if he does have some kind of an unspeakable circumstance.'

However….

He risked his identity being revealed to aid Sohn Ki-Hoon and the rest of the raid team. But, was that all? He didn't even ask for any compensation, either.

He could've easily requested the Hunters Guild for the corpses of the monsters or for the cost of saving the lives of the raid team, but he backed off without saying a thing.

He wasn't aware that this was something he is going to use in the future to exclusively buy some corpses from the Hunter's guild.

Anyway, how could he not bow down to this young man?

"….Thank you very much!"

His emotions now getting raw, Sohn Ki-Hoon bent his back forward 90 degrees once more. That sudden movement caused his aching body to scream out in pain, but he actually found that rather welcoming.

"His heart had welled up with emotions when he saw Jin kill the monster in the exact same fashion as how he had been toyed around with before. Thinking back to that moment was enough for him to thank this young man a countless number of times.

The Hunters of the raid team saw their leader bow down to express his gratitude and finally snapped out of their stupor.

'If it wasn't for that man….'

'He's our saviour, isn't he?'

'In that case, I shouldn't be standing around like this in a daze.'

They scrambled to get closer and bowed their heads as well.

"Thank you, Mister Port… No, I mean, Hunter-nim."

"If it wasn't for you, we…."

"Thanks to you, my wife won't become a widow now."

A young male Hunter who showed off his shaking hands back when Sohn Ki-Hoon decided to give up on raiding this dungeon approached Jin with a tearful face.

"Excuse me, Hunter-nim… It's because I'm really grateful so, like, can I hug you just this once?"

"Eiii, that's too much, dude."

"He's starting again. Someone stop him."

"Well, why don't you hug me instead, then??"

Hug.

"Euh-heok?! You're giving me the creeps, so let go of me!!"

Wahahahahaha….

For the first time ever since entering this particular rank A dungeon, the members of the raid team got to laugh to their heart's content.

Jin stared at these Hunters, feeling content inside. He didn't help them out for their flattery or for their praises, as he didn't even care about that, but their genuine thanks did automatically bring about a warm smile to his lips.

"….Ah."

Jin walked over to the female Hunter jumping up and down by the corner.

When he pushed forward the memo she gave to him earlier, the female Healer blushed and received it with both of her hands.

"T-thank you…."

Inwardly, though, she was admonishing herself.

'Ah-whew. Why did I even say those embarrassing things to him back then?'

She now had one more reason to kick her sheets before going to bed if and when she ended up remembering today's event in the future.

From the perspective of Mister Porter who could easily punch the dungeon boss to death while destroying the ground with the force of the punch alone creating shock waves, she must've looked really funny when she handed over a memo while saying it contained her final will.

She slightly raised her head and found that, thankfully enough, he wasn't sneering at her. No, actually – he began speaking to her in a bit of a strict voice.

"Miss Healer."

"Y-yes?"

The female Healer straightened her posture right away like a student being reprimanded for her sloppy behaviour.

"From today onwards, please refrain from placing your personal articles inside the raid team's luggage. It only serves to increase the volume."

"….Pardon me??"

The female Healer became utterly speechless, her eyes opening up to form round buttons. Jin grinned in satisfaction.

It was just for fun; He said all he wanted to say. And it seemed that the other party had pretty much said everything in her mind, too. So, putting the dazed female Healer behind him, he coolly turned around to leave.

"Let's go."

As soon as Jin began walking, the agents of the Monitoring Division moved together in one unit as if they had been rehearsing it.

There was one exception, though.

'Ah…'

Only Cha Hae-In had failed to say something to Jin, and she tried to reach out to him, but gave up in the end.

'I wanted to ask him for his contact numbers…. Or maybe his address? Asking for a date won't be too much right?'

All she wanted was to ask him if he could find some time to talk to her. However, she might be misunderstood if she asked him that now, what with the current situation not being settled yet.

It was then.

A female Hunter walked over to Cha Hae-In.

"Excuse me…. Vice Chair?"

"Yes?"

When Cha Hae-In turned around to look, the female Hunter pointed to her hand.

"Why are you carrying a pickaxe?"

Cha Hae-In's gaze drifted towards the head of the pickaxe, and her face began blushing rather quickly. She hurriedly lowered the pickaxe and cautiously asked.

"You think he found me weird?"

The female Hunter, a mage, tilted her head and asked back.

"Who did?"

And that caused not just Cha Hae-In's face, but even her neck to blush in the deep shade of crimson.

***

When they came out of the Gate…

Woo Jin-Cheol took a look at his wristwatch and asked Jin.

"We're planning to return to the Association, but, well…. If it's okay with you, why don't you ride along with us and join the Association President for dinner?"

"What time is it now?"

"It's quarter past five. PM."

'Mm….'

Although he was cutting it close, he should be able to arrive at the promised location in time.

Jin politely rejected Woo Jin-Cheol's invitation.

"Sorry. I've already made a prior engagement."

Shu, shu, fuu, fuu….

Yu Jin-Ho did his very best to maintain his calm by breathing deeply several times, just like how he saw it in one of the movies.

'My fateful hour is approaching.'

Indeed, Hyung-nim's choice would decide Yu Jin-Ho's fate.

His heart was palpitating faster, and he felt even more nervous compared to a few weeks ago when he was negotiating with his father for the right to become the Yujin Guild Master.

'Let's go back to my original purpose. My original purpose….'

It was no coincidence that he chose the exact same cafe as the first time he met Hyung-nim back when he proposed his plan.

'Without Hyung-nim's help, I wouldn't even be here right now.'

He began looking around the interior of the cafe while thinking as such, and he was able to see this place in a new light. Quite coincidentally, the table he chose was the exact same one as the last time, too.

Ringgg….

Along with the doorbell, Jin entered the cafe.

"Hyung-nim!"

Yu Jin-Ho discovered Jin and shot up from his seat with a welcoming smile on his face. He bowed down as his greeting. Jin performed a simple little greeting with a nod and settled down on the opposite side of Yu Jin-Ho. The latter sat down after that.

"So, what did you call me here for? Especially with the deal done"

Yu Jin-Ho raised his head, only for his eyes to widen.

"H-hyung-nim, your clothes…..?"

"Oh, this?"

Jin came running here right after killing the High Orcs so his clothing was understandably dirty. His shirt even sported bloodstains from the dying High Orc Shaman, too. He spoke as if there was nothing to worry about.

"I was coming straight from a dungeon, that's why."

'Heok!'

Yu Jin-Ho was taken by surprise once more.

"He was nothing compared to someone like Hyung-nim; after getting his Guild Master licence, all Yu Jin-Ho did was to waste time by drinking and partying. But, what did Hyung-nim do in the meantime? He possessed incredible power, yet he still found time to enter dungeons to further hone his crafts. That's why most times his phone was out of reach. It makes sense.

Suddenly, Yu Jin-Ho felt ashamed of himself.

'As expected of Hyung-nim….'

And at the same time, he held Hyung-nim in even higher reverence now.

The reason why Hyung-nim didn't bother to wipe away the blood on his clothes was probably because he was confident and forthright enough not to feel the need to hide his training process.

'Well, the evidence of battle would be more like a medal of honour that he earned through his own two hands, after all.'

Yu Jin-Ho's expression hardened. He was ready to follow Hyung-nim's decision, regardless of which direction he'd take.

So, he should come clean and don't hold anything back.

"Hyung-nim, actually…."

Yu Jin-Ho didn't leave anything out and reported everything that happened during the negotiation with his father to Jin- – even the event of Goh Myoung-Hwan's testimony revealing the truth of who saved the Hunters of the White Tiger Guild from the Red Gate incident, too.

'That man, doing something unnecessary….'

Still, that man did that for Jin's benefit, so he couldn't get angry at that. Plus money the money he got from the president would be good.

Perhaps that was the reason for Yu Jin-Ho's expression to be a bit more glowing than usual when he was talking about the Red Gate incident.

In any case….

Jin knew what Yu Jin-Ho was trying to say here.

"So, in order for you to become the Yujin Guild's new Master, you need my help, is that about right?"

Finishing all he had to say, Yu Jin-Ho calmly waited for Jin's reply. He didn't grow restless or try to sweet talk like how he would do normally.

'Well, I'm talking to Hyung-nim here, after all.'

Yu Jin-Ho was definitely thinking of leaving everything to Hyung-nim's decision.

Remaining silent as long as Yu Jin-Ho's worries were deep, Jin finally raised his gaze.

"Hey, Jin-Ho. I am…."

Gulp.

Yu Jin-Ho swallowed his drying saliva.

***

The Chairman of the Hunters Guild, Choi Jong-In, received a certain call. After answering that, he abandoned what he was doing, entered his private chamber, and began shouting out loudly at the phone.

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Bigger Chapter than usual

Stones?