Chapter 12: Into The Depths (1)
B-Class Hunter.
In the world of Hunters, the rank ‘B’ carries several meanings.
It is the minimum rank that allows unrestricted participation in all high-level Gate and Dungeon expeditions, including S-Class.
And it is a guaranteed proof that ‘one has the ability to pull their own weight as a Hunter.’
“B-Class, huh.”
I smiled with satisfaction and pulled out my License.
The shabby bronze E engraved on it had changed into a sleek silver B.
And suddenly, the chat window on the monitor in front of me began to move.
[Stopping Shit With Shit: B-Class? Hyung was a B-Class Hunter in this trash game?]
[Monster Blocking Hunter: Ah, I knew itㅋㅋㅋㅋ You were a fraud after allㅋㅋㅋ Makes sense, you could live comfortably playing trash gamesㅎㅎㅎ]
[Trash Game Stalker Fan: Turning on stream after days just to deceive viewers… personality passed!]
Familiar IDs.
That’s right.
I had turned on my stream after quite a while.
Maybe because I started at the usual time, all 6 regular viewers gathered quickly.
“It’s not deception, Hyungs. It’s not like that.”
I waved my hand with a smile.
Of course, they couldn’t see it, but as always, they played along just fine.
[The Bald Is The Strongest: ㅋㅋRightㅋㅋ This doesn’t even count as deception. You guys saw real deception, didn’t you?]
[Final Veteran: Ahㅎㅎ That Hunter who barged into the Measurement Room yesterday?]
[Trash Game Stalker Fan: LOLㅋㅋ They said a record number of people gave up entering Hunter’s Denㅋㅋ My friend was there, said reality hit hard]
[Monster Blocking Hunter: More people were shocked seeing him with Yun Su-a and Yun Su-hyeokㅋㅋ]
‘That real fraud is me, Hyungs.’
They didn’t know that I was the Hunter who turned the community upside down.
Which made sense.
I had hidden both my name and rank on my License, and I never did face cam for 5 years.
Of course, there was one viewer who knew everything.
But he had never once chatted in front of others.
Even now, he was quietly watching my stream—
[Viewer1: Hmm? You all didn’t know?]
[The Bald Is The Strongest: ?]
[Final Veteran: ?]
[Trash Game Stalker Fan: ?]
[Stopping Shit With Shit: ?]
[Monster Blocking Hunter: ?]
“?”
6 question marks appeared instantly.
Including mine.
[The Bald Is The Strongest: Wait, Viewer1 was a real person?]
[Final Veteran: LOLㅋㅋ I thought it was Hyung’s alt accountㅋㅋ]
[Trash Game Stalker Fan: But why does he talk like thatㅋㅋ Old man vibes?]
The chat exploded instantly.
And cold sweat ran down my neck.
[Viewer1: To think those closest to our hero fail to recognize him. Listen well. ThisIsWhatTrashGameIs 님 is—]
[Ending Broadcast.]
It happened in a flash.
I ended the stream and immediately invited Viewer1 into a private room.
It didn’t even take 10 seconds.
Then I spoke calmly.
“Hyung, what’s going on?”
[Viewer1: Ah… Did I say something I shouldn’t have?]
“Not exactly, but…”
He probably wanted to reveal that I was the Hunter from yesterday.
A kind of loyalty.
Given I knew roughly who he was, I understood.
But still, I made it clear.
“Thank you for thinking of me. But I don’t want to reveal it yet.”
[Viewer1: I see.]
“At least to them, I want to remain ‘ThisIsWhatTrashGameIs.’ For now.”
‘MonMonMak’ had moved into my Status Window, but the original one I shared with them was gone.
These 6 viewers were remnants of that time.
Memories of laughing over a trash pixel game.
I wanted to preserve that.
“And I don’t want to suddenly go ‘I’m that S-Class Awakener!’ and show off.”
They would find out eventually.
There are places to reveal power.
And places to hide it.
This small group was the latter.
[Viewer1: Understood, Han-ul.]
After a pause, another message appeared.
[Viewer1: You truly cherish MonMonMak.]
“I used to. Maybe not cherish, but still.”
[Viewer1: That is fortunate. My Lord will surely be pleased.]
“My Lord?”
But Viewer1 said nothing more.
As expected.
I waited a bit, then restarted the stream.
All 6 viewers entered instantly.
“Sorry, Hyungs. My computer crashed again… I really need to replace it.”
[The Bald Is The Strongest: Again??]
[Final Veteran: Please upgrade your PCㅠㅠ]
The chat soon returned to the previous topic.
[Stopping Shit With Shit: But Viewer1 being real is insaneㅋㅋ What were they gonna say?]
[Trash Game Stalker Fan: That cut timing was crazyㅋㅋ]
But Viewer1 stayed silent.
I seized the moment.
“Ahem. Hyungs, I prepared new content today.”
[The Bald Is The Strongest: Another trash game?]
[Trash Game Stalker Fan: Already excitedㅎㅎ]
“As you know, I’m a Hunter. MonMonMak is done, so I’m returning to my main job.”
[Final Veteran: Finally!]
[Stopping Shit With Shit: ‘Main job’ sounds cool nowㅋㅋ]
The chat buzzed.
“So—recommend me a Dungeon.”
Silence.
Then—
[The Bald Is The Strongest: Wait, aren’t personal streams banned during Hunter activity?]
“I’ll clear the Dungeon and prove it with a clearance certificate. I’ll also share stories within limits.”
[Final Veteran: Guilds hide everythingㅋㅋ This is gonna flip things]
[Stopping Shit With Shit: Won’t you get targeted?]
Gates and Dungeons are different.
Gates transfer Monsters to Earth.
Dungeons don’t.
Instead, they create structures or caves where Monsters reside.
Most Dungeons reset unless ‘specific conditions’ are met.
Once cleared or abandoned, re-entry is impossible until reset.
[Monster Blocking Hunter: Dragon’s Nest]
[Trash Game Stalker Fan: Giant’s Restaurant]
The chat turned into competition.
And I knew how it would end.
[Trash Game Stalker Fan donated 50,000 won!]
Let’s go to Giant's Restaurant!
[Monster Blocking Hunter donated 60,000 won!]
Dragon’s Nest! Easy lizardㅋㅋ
[The Bald Is The Strongest donated 1,000,000 won!]
Spider Forest—bring me a Queen Spider leg
Ridiculous.
Then—
[Viewer1 donated 10,000,000 won.]
“?”
Hyung?
[Viewer1: I don’t know how to attach a message. Sorry.]
Silence.
Then I asked,
“What Dungeon?”
[Viewer1: Garden of Mind—Deep Layer.]
—?
The chat exploded.
[The Bald Is The Strongest: Are you trying to kill him??]
[Stopping Shit With Shit: No way you’re going right?]
Garden of Mind.
A notorious Dungeon.
The entrance is manageable.
The ‘Lake’ onward is a slaughterhouse.
No one challenged the Deep Layer for a year.
[Viewer1: I can support you.]
I smiled.
“Sounds fun.”
No warnings.
No doubts.
Then—no reason to refuse.
***
“Garden of Mind?”
Dungeon Management Bureau, Jongno.
“Yes. There’s a party heading for the entrance—”
“No. Solo expedition.”
“To the Lake?”
“Yes. Maybe deeper.”
The staff stared at me.
“You’re confident.”
“I am.”
He knew who I was.
“Then tomorrow, 4 PM.”
“Thank you.”
—Scrape.
Two people followed me out.
“Hunter Kim Han-ul.”
They handed business cards.
Aegis Guild—Pyo Myeong-hun.
Sanarae Guild—Jeong So-won.
The other 2 of the Big 3.
Yun Su-hyeok’s words had ripple effects.
Small Guilds backed off.
Big Guilds approached.
“We won’t waste your time,” Jeong So-won said calmly.
“We want you.”
Pyo Myeong-hun laughed.
“Aegis offers the best as well.”
Simple.
Professional.
“I’ll finish my business first.”
And so was I.