**Cursed Object**
"It seems to be a machine error."
The conclusion was reached in a rather anticlimactic fashion.
At the young official's words, the Hunters seemed to accept it with a "well, that figures" attitude. They reasoned that a zero-point index was simply impossible, no matter how you looked at it.
"Hunter Yoon Gaon, please request a re-measurement after your mission. It’s good to know your initial index."
"Ah, yes..."
【......】
The Black Heron, which had been quiet for a while, was starting to get on my nerves. It had been noisy enough about wanting blood, so why was it so silent now?
With that decided, there were five of us in the entry team, including myself.
"Everyone, put on your gas masks! We’ll be entering shortly!"
Soon after, we walked toward the Gate.
It was my first time entering a Dark Zone. Since these areas were usually strictly controlled by the military, it was a completely foreign experience.
At first, light swirled around us, and when I came to my senses, I was in the middle of a dark, gloomy forest.
"Everyone, be careful. They say goblins frequent this area."
"Those little runts might lack physical strength, but they’ve got a cunning streak."
Perhaps because everyone was wearing gas masks, our voices sounded muffled. It didn't look like they had a clear field of vision, either. It was quite uncomfortable.
"Goblins? They’re not even as tough as a large dog. One lead slug and they’re dead."
The other Hunters nodded in agreement with Hunter Park Junsik.
"That’s right. Even a high schooler could take down a goblin."
"Well then, let’s get to gathering. There are plenty of weeds around here."
Our mission was to record and collect the vegetation of the Dark Zone.
"Student Gaon, don't just collect the same thing. Gather a variety. You never know what might be useful."
"Thank you for the advice."
I started by swiping at the surrounding plants and stuffing them into a bag. Most of them looked like common weeds, and I wondered if they would actually be of any use.
"It’s a vegetation survey, but there’s really nothing special here."
"Well, since it doesn't pay much, the work isn't exactly extraordinary. Even the clients are probably just hoping to hit the jackpot."
After all, it wasn't as if vegetation worth a fortune was just lying around everywhere. Aside from the academic achievement of surveying flora from another world, it didn't seem particularly meaningful. Of course, discoveries are made by accumulating such data, but that was irrelevant to us right now.
"Whew... it’s incredibly uncomfortable trying to pull weeds while wearing a gas mask."
One of the older Hunters complained.
"Mr. Jo, if it’s that uncomfortable, stop using the standard-issue gear and buy your own, like Mr. Park."
The Hunters' gazes turned toward Park Junsik. Indeed, Park Junsik’s mask was quite different from ours. Unlike the standard-issue gas mask used in the military, he was only wearing goggles and a mask. It must have been much more comfortable than a full gas mask.
Park Junsik scanned the surroundings for a moment before walking deeper into the forest, and no one tried to stop him.
"Isn't that dangerous?"
"He knows what he's doing. A guy like Mr. Park isn't going to get caught easily."
"Exactly. He’s even got an Artifact on him, so what’s there to worry about?"
The Hunters dismissed Park Junsik’s solo action as if it were nothing. Well, if everyone said it was fine, I supposed it was fine.
【Blood... I crave blood...】
The Black Heron was having another fit now that we were in the Dark Zone. I couldn't help but wish at least one monster would show up.
"Man, I'm out of breath."
"Let's change the filters soon."
Had we been gathering for about two hours? The Hunters crouched down, rubbing their aching lower backs.
"Anyway, it’s all just weeds. It would’ve been better if we’d at least found some poisonous mushrooms."
"This trip is a total bust, a total bust!"
The Hunters sighed, lamenting that they wouldn't get a special bonus since they hadn't found any rare vegetation. I had walked around quite a bit, but since I’d only pulled up weeds, I didn't think this would pay well either.
"But isn't the daily wage of one million won guaranteed?"
"It’s not worth the trouble, not worth it."
"Every time you visit a Dark Zone, your Karma jumps by a thousand. You can't work for a week just to recover from that."
"If we at least hunted some mobs, we could pick up some byproducts."
"I have to hunt diligently just to cover the cost of my bullets."
Everyone chimed in, lamenting their earnings. But not everyone was in the same boat.
"Huff! Huff...!"
"Mr. Kim, are you alright?"
Hunter Kim Tae-jin didn't look well. His breathing wasn't just labored from the gas mask; it was heavy and ragged. It looked painful just to watch him struggle for air.
"Are you okay?"
"It’s the signs of corruption! Damn it, I was always on the edge, but wasn't the five-thousand range supposed to be the safe zone?"
The entry cutoff was set at under five thousand, meaning that even if it rose above five thousand after entering, it was considered a safe zone. It meant that even if your Karma index approached six thousand after entering the Dark Zone, you wouldn't easily succumb to corruption.
"Sir, are you alright?"
"Huff...! Huff! I-I'm fine! I'm just a little tired, that's all."
With a dark expression, Hunter Kim Tae-jin reached for his bag. He pulled out a syringe and some liquid, and proceeded to inject himself.
"What is that?"
"Morphine... Kugh! That’s better."
Morphine? That narcotic painkiller?
"Wait, isn't it illegal to inject morphine without a doctor's prescription?"
"H-heh... heh! You can get... anything on the Hunter Web."
"Leave him be. Isn't this what you have to do to survive in the Dark Zone?"
"Opium is actually pretty good for fighting off the contamination."
Seeing the other Hunters brush it off so casually, it seemed like a common occurrence among them.
"What do I do? I’m already starting to regret coming here to work as a Hunter."
I could see a future where I became an addict, suffering from withdrawal symptoms. I had thought I would never have anything to do with that world.
【Blood! Blood! Blood for the throne of blood!】
It seemed this Cursed Object was also suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
*Rustle!*
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached from beyond the bushes. The Hunters simultaneously placed their fingers on their triggers.
"It’s me, it’s me."
"Mr. Park?"
It was Hunter Park Junsik. I hadn't seen him while gathering and wondered if he’d gone far, but it didn't look like he’d been gathering anything.
"Where have you been?"
"I went to see if there was anything nearby."
"And? Did you find anything worth money?"
At that, Hunter Park Junsik grinned and replied.
"Everyone, gather 'round."
At Park Junsik’s words, the Hunters gathered one by one. Wondering what he had to say, I put down the weeds I was pulling and approached.
"I found a goblin settlement nearby. The one the official mentioned. It’s not as far as I thought."
It seemed he hadn't been gathering, but searching for a goblin settlement.
"Let’s take them out."
"Huh? That’s not our mission."
"Isn't that dangerous? They’re still monsters..."
Two of the Hunters looked uneasy at Park Junsik’s suggestion.
"Dangerous? They’re just goblins, what’s so special about them?"
"That’s right. Aren't goblins the weakest monsters? They die with one rifle shot."
"That’s not wrong, but..."
As opinions split among the Hunters, Park Junsik pushed more aggressively.
"Think about it. Do you really want to spend your time pulling these weeds for pocket change? You know as well as I do, the real money is in the 'Artifacts' you get from clearing a Gate."
"Well... the Gate is what creates the Artifacts."
"Artifacts do pay well."
Seeing their receptive reactions, Park Junsik grinned and showed the ring on his finger.
"This is an Artifact I got from clearing a Gate. If I sold it on the market, it would easily go for over ten million won."
"My goodness..."
"That’s ten times our daily wage."
"And it’s not just about the Artifacts. You know goblin privates are used as medicinal ingredients, right? You can make fifty thousand won per head."
Goblin privates are used as medicine? What on earth for?
【If you grind up goblin privates into a powder, they do serve as an aphrodisiac.】
*Hmph.*
I had no use for that, so why was I feeling tempted?
【More importantly, blood! Blood...!】
The Black Heron’s withdrawal symptoms were reaching their limit. It looked dangerous, but since I’d made a promise, maybe I should join in.
"Goblins are nothing. They’re the smallest of the small fry."
"Those goblins are just target practice in front of a rifle."
The Hunters’ lines were so full of death flags that I started to feel anxious.
***
The first monster I encountered in the Dark Zone.
I had seen monsters burst out of Gates occasionally, but this was my first time seeing one in person rather than on a screen. The shriveled, wrinkled green skin and the oily stench. The madness in their tiny, bead-like eyes made me realize just how threatening a monster could be.
I didn't even want to get close to them physiologically.
And there was no need to.
*Bang! Bang-bang!*
*Kreeek!*
To put it simply:
Goblins were indeed pushovers.
Every time the muzzles flashed, the green runts fell one after another. I had wondered if they would be dangerous because they were Dark Zone monsters, but they were all equal in the face of a gun.
"Kee-eek!"
The goblins, rushing in with nothing but stone axes or daggers, were being unilaterally slaughtered by 5.56mm rifle rounds. It was no wonder the Hunters were so confident about their firearms.
Among them, Hunter Park Junsik was clearly the standout.
"You're too slow, too slow!"
Park Junsik was running through the settlement as if he were clearing it out, shooting down goblins with his rifle. He looked faster than a sprinter, and he was shooting while on the move.
"As expected, Artifacts are amazing."
"Should I try to get one, too?"
"I heard they cost as much as a mid-sized car..."
Park Junsik’s performance was thanks to the power of his Artifact. Because of the ring that granted him speed, the goblins couldn't keep up with him at all with their short strides.
"I can't just stand here."
Everyone else was shooting them down, and I hadn't caught a single one. If I didn't want to hear the Black Heron whining in the middle of the night, I had to catch at least one goblin.
【The smell of blood! I smell blood! The smell of fresh blood that hasn't gone cold yet!】 It’s fascinating how it can’t see, yet it can still smell and taste.
I headed toward a shack, following the Black Heron’s guidance. I stayed on high alert, just in case I was ambushed.
The goblins’ shacks were surprisingly large relative to their height. It wouldn’t have been strange if they were originally built for humans.
In cartoons and novels, they usually live in caves, so did they just kick out the humans and take over their homes?
Most of the buildings were as large and spacious as human dwellings, so it wasn't uncomfortable.
"Kee-ik...!"
I encountered a goblin inside. It had been rummaging through something, but it noticed me and turned around.
"Kyaaaaaaack!"
The moment the goblin saw me, it shrieked and lunged, its eyes filled with madness.
【Be careful. It may be a mere creature, but for a novice—】
*Swish.*
*Thud!*
【???】
The goblin’s body, sliced in half, rolled across the floor.
I didn't expect it to cut quite that cleanly.
"Hey, isn't your blade a bit too sharp?"
【Uh, well...】
"What's wrong?"
"Wasn't this your first time in combat?"
"It is my first time, but it's a monster. If I don't kill it, won't it kill me?"
The orphanage director once said:
「Gaon, you must never use violence against people. The only things you are allowed to use violence against are monsters.」
The director wouldn't say anything wrong.
"Anyway, I killed it. Aren't you going to drink its blood?"
【Hmm! Plunge the sword in!】
I suppose I have to press it against the body to drink the blood.
I wondered why I had to be stuck with such a troublesome Cursed Object, but I did as it wanted and plunged the Black Heron into the goblin’s corpse.
*Sluuuuuurp!*
Immediately, the Black Heron began absorbing the blood from the goblin.
I could feel the blood inside the goblin’s body being absorbed into the Cursed Object, drying up in real-time.
And it wasn't just blood being absorbed.
"Hmm?"
It felt as if some intangible energy was flowing into my body through the Black Heron.
It was a sensation hard to describe in words, but it was undeniably there.
【Haa...! Blood after such a long time! It’s greasy with fat and the quality is low, but well... it’s not bad.】
The Black Heron seemed quite pleased after finishing its meal.
I asked about the sensation I felt while it was feeding.
"I felt something strange just now."
【You absorbed Karma.】
"Absorbed Karma?"
【Haven't you heard already? They say that when Hunters kill monsters here, their Karma Index rises.】
"So that’s what absorbing Karma is?"
Isn't that a bad thing?
The Black Heron giggled and mocked my reaction.
【What a foolish thing to do. To properly absorb Karma, you shouldn't just kill them and leave them be; you must take their very souls. Those people are just absorbing the dregs and whining about their Karma going up.】
According to the Black Heron, one can only truly grow stronger by absorbing blood and Karma directly like this.
It claimed that absorbing Karma accelerates the awakening of magical power and expands it.
【Absorb more blood and Karma! I will grant you the power!】
"I don't really need it."
【What!】
In short, doesn't that just mean my Karma Index will go up even more?
Is there any need to take such a risk?
I think a daily wage of one million won is enough.
Wouldn't being greedy just hasten my own death?
I rummaged through the shack to see if there was anything else, but I was disappointed to find only junk.
"......Ah. I messed up."
【What is it?】
"I should have cut off the goblin's junk before drinking its blood."
I just threw away 50,000 won.
【......】
I walked out with the silent Black Heron at my waist, and the other Hunters were gathering the goblin corpses.
Hunter Kim Tae-jin, who hadn't been looking too good, was drooling while harvesting goblin junk; it was quite a sight to behold.
"Young man Gaon, where have you been?"
"I found some goblins near the shacks. I took care of them."
"Oh~ so you've lost your virginity, then?"
It seems they call it "losing your virginity" when you kill a monster for the first time.
"Let's deal with the goblins later and start looking for an Artifact. To clear the Gate, we need to retrieve the Artifact and head back."
Hunter Park Junsik didn't seem to have any attachment to the goblin junk.
There were nearly thirty of them; if you added them all up, that would be about 1.5 million won.
"Where is the Artifact?"
"Usually, the boss has it."
A boss? Is there a separate boss monster?
The Hunters checked their rifles and headed in unison toward a certain spot.
It was the largest and most ornate house in the goblin village, and the entrance was decorated with things like skulls, creating an eerie atmosphere.
"Looking at the state of the entrance, is it a Goblin Shaman?"
"A Shaman? Then, aren't those the guys who use spells and stuff?"
"Isn't that dangerous......"
"It's still just a goblin."
They seem too careless... In movies, doesn't something always go wrong at times like this?
Arriving inside with a mix of worry and concern, we encountered a bizarre-looking goblin dressed like an African tribal chief.
"Kya-hat! Kya-kya-kyak!"
Even to a layman like me, the room was clearly plastered with ritualistic items.
The Goblin Shaman had decapitated five goblins and was preparing something dangerous!
*Bang!*
"Gack!"
Oh, it died.
That was a bit anticlimactic.
"It looked like it was doing something weird, so I just shot it. That's fine, right?"
"Good job, Mr. Kim."
"I was worried because you didn't look so good, but you're sharp."
The Hunters, having disposed of the goblin so easily, immediately began rummaging through the Goblin Shaman.
"Is this it?"
The ring on the Goblin Shaman’s finger looked loose.
It was a size that would have fit a human perfectly, and once pulled off, it emitted an eerie energy, much like the Black Heron.
It was just like when the Black Heron, having lost its host, used to bewitch those around it.
"What kind of Artifact is it?"
"We'll have to get it appraised to know that."
"I hope it's a normal Artifact. If it's a Cursed Object that bewitches people, the resale value drops significantly."
"Well, they say they're powerful, but it's high risk, high return."
The Hunters fiddled with the Artifact, trying to appraise it themselves.
"Can I touch it too?"
"Oh, Gaon. Sure, it's all part of the experience."
"Don't put it on, though. We don't know what kind of item it is—"
【Hey, no, you idiot. That—】
*Slide.* It went onto my finger.
In that instant, the wicked energy emanating from the ring sent me into ecstasy.
"——don't."
"Huh?"
"Wait a minute......"
With everyone's eyes fixed on me, I said to them:
"My precious......!"
Gollum!
【Does this guy not know how to resist anything?】
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