Chapter 6
The weakling Haren had defeated a mid-sized monster.
That rumor spread rapidly throughout the Monster Hunters’ Guild.
Had I ever been famous in my life?
For the first time ever, my name was being talked about—for a good reason.
For some reason, a faint smile crept onto my face.
Was I always this fond of praise?
I never knew I was such an easy man.
Still, this wasn’t the time to celebrate.
My life force was still being consumed, and I needed to replenish it.
Hunting monsters was unavoidable.
So, to take on another mission, I opened the guild doors again today.
Just as I was about to approach the counter—
“Excuse me.”
A voice called out to me.
When I turned my head, I saw a tall man standing there.
Brilliant blond hair, and goggles perched uniquely on top of his head.
He had the kind of presence that made it feel like he was the protagonist of the world.
His name was Egoi.
His nickname was “Golden Coral”—more precisely, that was his team’s name.
They said coral was something that lived in the sea, but I wouldn’t know.
I had never seen the ocean.
In the Laoren branch, there was only one person capable of taking down a mid-sized monster alone.
That was Egoi.
I’d heard he’d be heading to the capital soon, but I never expected him to talk to me.
Then again, we had never exchanged a single word in our lives.
“What is it?”
“Is it true that you defeated a mid-sized monster by yourself?”
Suspicion filled Egoi’s eyes.
I understood why.
Normally, it took about ten hunters working together to bring one down.
And here I was, claiming I did it alone.
Of course it would sound strange to an active mid-tier hunter.
“I’ll say this in advance—I don’t intend to prove it. And you don’t have to believe me.”
I wasn’t hunting monsters to show anyone.
I was doing it to survive.
So belief and proof didn’t matter.
“I’ll keep hunting monsters, and the same situation will repeat itself.”
After hearing that, Egoi stared at me for a moment.
Then he scratched the back of his head.
“Hmm… I see. Sorry for being sharp with you. I just wanted to warn you—if it was a fluke, you should be careful.”
You don’t defeat a mid-sized monster by luck.
But still, anything could happen in this world.
Like suddenly gaining an instant-death spell one day.
So Egoi had only come to give a bit of advice.
“Mid-sized monsters vary greatly in strength depending on the individual.
You can’t judge them just by looking, like small or large monsters.”
The way he spoke—it felt like he was addressing a rookie.
It left a bitter taste.
Even after spending five years in this guild, I wasn’t memorable enough.
It was just another reminder of my place.
“Egoi, stop sticking your nose into everything.”
“Tch, that guy…”
From afar, people who seemed to be his teammates called him over.
“Ah, but if you really did defeat a mid-sized monster… I’d like to scout you.”
He handed me a card.
On it was written: Monster Hunting Team “Golden Coral.”
“Well then, contact me if you’re interested!”
Egoi left after saying goodbye.
Straightforward guy.
His teammates naturally gathered around him.
They were familiar with each other, showing clear camaraderie.
I watched them for a moment.
With my instant-death ability, I didn’t really need companions.
That kind of scene… would probably always be distant from me.
Not that I had anything to envy.
Right now, I just needed to do what I could.
So I immediately picked up a request for a mid-sized monster in the outskirts and headed to the counter.
As usual, the staff member Meryl was there.
She smiled warmly as always.
“Haren, hunting a mid-sized monster again?”
“Yes, please.”
“Alright, I’ll register it. Going solo again?”
“That’s right.”
Since I had already hunted one, she didn’t hesitate to register it.
“To be honest, I don’t like how the guild has treated you.”
She spoke casually while writing the documents.
As a guild employee, she seemed to know quite a lot.
“So I’ll be cheering you on.”
“Thank you.”
I felt warmth in her kindness.
No wonder she was the guild’s face.
It made sense she had so many fans.
“Also, there have been reports of bandits appearing in the outskirts lately.”
“Bandits? With monsters around?”
“Yes. Apparently, they’re from the western city of Jephran. The Laoren count’s family is planning to deal with them soon.”
“Better to be cautious.”
Sometimes, humans are more dangerous than monsters.
I took her advice seriously.
“Well then, good luck today.”
With Meryl’s send-off, I left the guild.
I could feel eyes on me from all around, but I ignored them.
There was only one thing I needed to do.
Hunt mid-sized monsters.
＊ ＊ ＊
Thud—
A mid-sized monster collapsed before me.
Its life extinguished by my instant-death ability.
A lion-type monster with six eyes.
After taking it down, I caught my breath—and felt vitality return to my body.
Once again, the energy granted by absorbed life force flowed through me.
“Did my muscles grow?”
Pulling at my clothes, I could see defined muscles on my arms.
Even my once-flat abdomen now felt firm.
Today, I had hunted three mid-sized monsters.
Absorbing their life force significantly boosted my physical abilities again.
I cut off the lion monster’s mane and wrist and stored them in my bag.
The bag, once heavy, now felt light.
That meant my physical abilities had reached a new level.
Maybe it was time to seriously consider training.
At this level, I might actually perform well in combat.
Clink—
A metallic sound came from my boots.
They were specially made after my last hunt.
Boots that could latch onto a monster’s body using metal spikes.
They proved very useful today.
“That old man really knows how to make things.”
A blacksmith I had known for a long time.
Expensive, but highly skilled.
If you lacked ability, at least your equipment had to make up for it.
That was my belief.
I’d spent everything I had on gear.
I should treat him to a meal soon.
This gear deserved thanks.
Anyway, it was getting dark.
Monsters became more ferocious at night.
It was time to leave the forest.
Just as I was about to head back—
Crunch… crunch…
I heard multiple footsteps.
I froze.
Instinctively lowering my body, I focused on the sound.
Maybe due to absorbing life force, my senses had sharpened.
Even faint sounds were clear now.
And these… were human footsteps.
Out here, in the outskirts.
There was only one possibility.
Bandits from the west.
Jephran.
A city plagued by chaos—bad governance, monsters, broken finances.
Crime had become inevitable.
These bandits… had come north to survive.
What should I do?
They were getting closer to a village.
There were people living on its outskirts.
Their target was obvious.
Not money—food.
When people want food more than gold, they become cruel.
The old me would’ve run without hesitation.
Back then, I believed justice belonged only to the strong.
That hadn’t really changed.
Without strength, you’d die like my father.
But now… did I lack strength?
I clenched my fist.
No.
I had power.
The power to kill anything instantly.
My hesitation didn’t last long.
I took off my boots.
Stepping barefoot into the brush, I moved silently.
My calloused feet handled it easily.
I advanced quietly through the forest.
Soon, I saw them.
Masked men, armed.
They looked starving.
Their eyes burned with killing intent.
I felt a brief pang of pity.
But even in hunger, some people don’t choose this path.
In the end, it was their choice.
“A village is close.”
“Set fire to the biggest house first.”
“We’ll loot everything—we’re starving.”
That was enough.
I moved.
From the shadows, I grabbed the rearmost man.
I extinguished the flame of life within him.
Unlike monsters, it went out easily.
He died instantly.
Thud—
His body fell forward.
“What are you doing—”
Before the next man could finish, my hand wrapped around his face.
His flame went out.
Two more turned.
“Enemy atta—!”
Too late.
I moved like a beast.
Faster than ever.
Their movements looked slow.
I dodged, closed distance—
Grabbed.
Extinguished.
Two more fell.
Seven in total.
Four dead in moments.
I slowly lifted my gaze.
Three remained.
Their eyes were filled with fear.
“Are… are you a mage?”
One asked desperately.
If I were, they’d beg.
But—
“No.”
I lowered my stance.
“I’m just a monster hunter.”
I didn’t have a mage’s arrogance or mercy.
Only the will to enforce my crude sense of justice.
