Chapter 8: The 701st Wave (1)
After receiving the request fee and returning home, I turned on the computer as I always did.
Normally, I would’ve launched MonMonMak and started streaming right away.
But now, that trash game no longer exists in this world.
‘Instead, it’s inside my body.’
Or rather, inside my Status Window.
Either way, one thing was certain.
This game has changed my life.
While sipping cola, I opened the news section on a portal site.
Every article in the Top 10 by views was related to Hunters, Gates, or Dungeons.
“Hunter, huh.”
It was a dream I had given up.
I had regrets, but not enough to abandon reality and cling to it.
7 years ago, when I was dismissed from Hunters’ Den after being assigned E-rank and ridiculed by everyone—
Back then, I thought I’d never have anything to do with this world that dominated all headlines.
‘But now.’
It hadn’t even been 4 days since I Awakened.
Yet I had already stepped deeply into this world.
To the point of being connected to famous figures who shaped headlines with their every action.
[Pungbaek Guild’s Yoon Su-a reveals A-grade item “Horus’s Ring” obtained from Dungeon “Garden of Observation.”]
I clicked the top headline and skimmed through it.
“Horus’s Ring, huh.”
The article matched the headline.
Yoon Su-a, Team Leader 2 of Pungbaek Guild, had revealed an A-grade item she obtained from a Dungeon a week ago.
An A-grade item was worth over 1 billion won in cash.
The “Horus’s Ring,” with a sapphire embedded at its center, looked valuable at a glance.
Though its detailed effects weren’t revealed, it likely either provided high stat boosts or enabled the use of a new Skill.
Naturally, the comments were full of envy.
— Wow, A-grade items really look different.
— How strong is Yoon Su-a gonna get? Isn’t she already on par with her brother?
└ Nah, she’s not at Yoon Su-hyeok’s level yet.
└ True. Still, she’ll probably hit S-grade soon.
└ lol S-grade isn’t some common thing. There are only a handful in the world.
— Lucky… I can’t even get A-grade in games.
— But seriously, what is that photo of Yoon Su-a? She looks like a goddess.
└ Damn, both siblings are visuals-first Hunters;
“So that’s A-grade, huh.”
But I couldn’t relate to those reactions.
For me, envying an A-grade item now would be hypocrisy.
“I wonder how this compares in real-world terms.”
I muttered while staring at the silver-framed glasses in my hand.
[Beholder Sage’s Glasses]
A Unique-grade item.
The item grades from MonMonMak matched those in reality.
I could conclude that easily.
I had seen a Goblin, boosted by Item Power, one-shot an Ogre the size of a house.
These glasses also increased stats and granted a new Skill just by being worn.
If sold, they’d be worth at least several billion won.
‘Of course, items obtained from Premium Draw can’t be sold.’
There was no need to deal with attention or Guild interference.
[Items obtained through Premium Draw can only be equipped by the linked user and Monster.]
A new line that appeared under the Mystery Random Box in my Status Window after obtaining the glasses.
In other words, these were bound items.
Not being able to sell them was a bit disappointing, but it didn’t matter.
I could just monopolize items, grow stronger, and make money in other ways.
Which brought me to the real question.
“Why go this far for me?”
After entering society early and struggling through life, I learned one thing clearly.
Nothing in this world is free.
Even if it seems like generosity at first, it always comes back in some unexpected way.
This mysterious ability was no different.
I couldn’t let my guard down.
I needed more information.
“Still not here, huh…”
I muttered while looking at the window in the corner of my screen.
My streaming channel, which activated automatically when I turned on the computer.
Maybe because it had been a while, not a single viewer had joined.
Not even “Viewer 1.”
The only one I could ask about this ability was “Viewer 1.”
‘Well, I’ll figure it out myself. I’ve got time.’
After waiting about 5 minutes, I cleanly ended the stream.
There was no point in lingering.
Like Premium Draw, I’d learn more as I used my skills.
Ding—!
Just as I returned to the news section, my phone rang.
I checked the message with a bored expression.
[Hello, Hunter Han-ul. This is Yoon Su-a from Pungbaek Guild. Do you have a moment to talk?]
I immediately straightened my posture.
***
— Ah, hello, Hunter Han-ul!
Yoon Su-a’s voice came through the receiver.
It felt strange.
Especially after just reading articles and comments praising her.
“Yes, hello.”
I didn’t show it.
“What happened with the Ogre corpse?”
— Ah, yes! I was actually calling about registering the settlement with the headquarters.
Getting straight to the point, she replied slightly flustered.
“Understood. Can we register it tomorrow morning? I’d like to process it as soon as possible.”
Since payments were only issued after official registration, I didn’t ask further.
— Yes, I’ll register it by 9 AM tomorrow. The settlement amount will be transferred immediately.
“How much is it?”
— After deducting processing costs, including byproduct sales and part of the request fee, the total is 33,000,000 won. I’ll send the breakdown tomorrow.
Gasp.
I held my breath.
To avoid making a pathetic sound.
33,000,000 won.
It took less than 1 minute for Gono to crush the Ogre’s skull.
In just 1 minute, I earned what I used to make in a year as a cleaner at Gate sites.
— Uh, Hunter Han-ul?
After a pause, she called out carefully.
“Ah, yes. Then I’ll check the details tomorrow.”
— Understood. Ah, Hunter Han-ul, if you have time—
“And I’d like to handle the registration in person at the Management Headquarters.”
Usually, Guilds handled it remotely.
But I needed to be there.
Not just for the settlement, but for something else.
— Then we’ll need someone to accompany you for the process!
Fortunately, she didn’t ask why.
And for some reason, her tone brightened.
“Yes. I’ll need someone to confirm that I killed the Ogre. Anyone from Pungbaek Guild will do.”
— Then I’ll set the appointment for 9 AM tomorrow at the Awakened Management Headquarters!
“Thank you.”
— Yes, Hunter Han-ul. Have a good day.
I was about to hang up, but stopped.
I had to say it.
“Ah, and.”
— Yes?
“Congratulations on the Horus’s Ring.”
— Ah, thank you. Honestly, I didn’t want to show it off, but the Guild Master said it helps build the Guild’s reputation… Of course, A-grade is amazing, but I didn’t want to boast.
“It’s not boasting. It’s an A-grade item. People are going crazy over it. Anyway, congratulations.”
— Thank you. But please don’t misunderstand! Have a great day!
She hurriedly ended the call.
Of course, I didn’t misunderstand.
Looking down at the glasses in my hand, I grinned.
Even so, I was someone with a fulfilled heart.
***
After hanging up, I began organizing the Skills linked to Monsters Stop Monsters.
“Defeat real-world Monsters, obtain Magic Stones, convert them into Gold, and hire Monsters.”
Hired Monsters were registered in my Status Window through “Summoning.”
And like Gono, they could be summoned wearing the same items equipped in MonMonMak.
After hunting the Ogre and gaining a decent amount of Gold, I realized something else.
“Just having enough Gold doesn’t mean I can hire every Monster.”
After selling the Ogre’s Magic Stone, I had 130 Gold.
That should’ve been enough to hire most Goblins and even lower Kobolds.
But the list opened through Trade with the Lord remained mostly greyed out.
[List of Monsters Available for Trade with the Lord]
Goblin Slave: Hired 1/1
Goblin Fighter: 70 Gold
Goblin Archer: 70 Gold
Goblin Elder: 100 Gold
↓
…
Only two were highlighted in blue.
The Goblin Fighter.
And—
Ogre Berserker: 420 Gold
The suddenly available Ogre Berserker.
There was only one meaning.
‘To hire a Monster, I need to have killed that type at least once.’
The Soul Stone Gono brought after killing the Ogre.
It wasn’t just for Premium Draw—it also unlocked Monster hiring.
“Not as easy as I thought.”
I scratched my head with my pen.
So even Dragons or 8-star Monsters would need to be defeated once?
Nothing was free after all.
Just as I closed my notebook—
[Prepare for defense.]
“?”
A familiar message appeared.
One I had seen countless times.
Yet it felt completely out of place.
Because it wasn’t on my monitor—but in my Status Window.
“Why is this here?”
I touched my earlobe in panic.
But the enlarged Status Window didn’t respond.
Then suddenly—
“This is…”
The message disappeared, replaced by tiny pixel graphics.
A maze like an anthill, with spacious rooms.
“MonMonMak?”
‘Monsters Stop Monsters.’
That veteran trash game unfolded before my eyes.
And before I could fully process it—
[The 701st Monster Wave will begin in 10 minutes.]
The countdown started.