Solo Awakening as an Ex Rank Munchkin
Chapter 12
“Section Chief Park?”
He'd left at his usual time for work and ran into Section Chief Park at a café.
Park had been Na Dan-sik's superior at his old company.
“It's been a while.”
“How have you been, Dan-sik?”
“Ah, yes, well enough.”
“Listen, I'm sorry for pretending not to know you at the office.”
The sudden apology made him feel awkward.
“It's all in the past.”
“Department Head Kim was fired.”
“I see.”
“It's for the best. Everyone at the office seems to be breathing easier now that he's gone.”
“That's good to hear.”
“If you ever want to come back, Dan-sik……”
“No, I'm fine. I like things the way they are now.”
“Really? So you really did have an Awakening?”
“Something like that. Being a Hunter is my job now.”
“I see. You're looking well.”
“You take care too, Section Chief Park.”
“I hope you do well, Dan-sik.”
“Thank you.”
After parting with Section Chief Park, Na Dan-sik took the subway to Seoul.
His destination was Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal Station.
Getting off the bus, Na Dan-sik found the Grade 1 Gate in Seocho-dong.
It was one of the gates on the list that the Association had given him.
When he showed his license to the administrator at the gate entrance, this one, fortunately, just checked it and handed him a watch.
He didn't bow or greet Na Dan-sik in any particular way.
Na Dan-sik put on the watch and entered the Gate.
It was a dark, narrow tunnel.
Dim and damp.
Water dripped from the ceiling, and the sound of pickaxes striking could be heard.
Torches were lit intermittently along the walls.
[Grade 1] Defeat the Kobold Miners
A message appeared.
He gripped Blood Edge.
The way it felt in his hand was a work of art.
[Blood Edge]
Grade: A (Current) Can grow up to S+
Type: Longsword (One-handed)
[Options]
- Self-repairs when damaged
- Durability auto-recovers
- Restores within 24 hours even if broken
[Additional Options]
- 10% additional damage on enemy attack
- Ignores defense for 5 minutes
[Growth Conditions]
- 1,000 monsters defeated: A+
- 5,000 monsters defeated: S
- 10,000 monsters defeated: S+
The growth conditions were tough.
Still, Na Dan-sik thought it would be fun.
Na Dan-sik walked down the narrow path.
The deeper he went.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
A rhythmic sound echoed.
He moved further inside.
The sound of pickaxes grew louder.
As he rounded a corner, he saw five Kobold Miners swinging their pickaxes under the torchlight.
They were about a meter tall.
Dark brown skin and a protruding snout.
Sharp teeth, a yellow glint in their eyes.
They were clad in tattered work clothes.
Kiiik! Kiiik!
Five of them.
Na Dan-sik’s eyes narrowed.
[Beginner Senses has been activated.]
The Kobolds’ movements seemed to slow down.
Seeing their weak points, Na Dan-sik swung Blood Edge.
A red arc cut through the air, severing the necks of three Kobold Miners.
The remaining two staggered back in alarm.
But it was too late.
[Beginner Charge has been activated.]
Na Dan-sik’s body was already lunging forward.
STAB! STAB!
Blood Edge pierced through the chests of the two Kobolds simultaneously, as if skewering them.
Tiring!
[You have defeated 5 Kobold Miners.]
[You have received 3 Lesser Magic Stones.]
[Please proceed to the next area.]
The Kobold Miner Gate had to be cleared by moving through it section by section.
Na Dan-sik warped to the next area.
He entered a deeper part of the tunnel.
This time, too, Kobold Miners were swinging their pickaxes.
Five, ten, then fifteen.
He cleared them one area at a time.
Their numbers were large, but it was manageable.
Blood Edge danced relentlessly.
With every swing, a Kobold Miner fell.
“This is easier than I thought.”
Defeating five got him 3 Lesser Magic Stones, ten got him 6, and fifteen got him 9.
He continued to press forward, hunting as he went.
When he reached the final area, 50 Kobold Miners were gathered in a large space.
[Domain of the Munchkin has been activated.]
He wiped them out in one go with the area-of-effect skill.
[You have defeated a Kobold Miner.]
[You have defeated a Kobold Miner.]
[You have defeated a Kobold Miner.]
[······.]
A series of messages rang out.
[You have received 3 Lesser Magic Stones.]
[You have received 3 Lesser Magic Stones.]
[You have received 3 Lesser Magic Stones.]
[······.]
Magic stones from a total of 50 monsters were provided, at a rate of 3 Lesser Magic Stones per five.
And then.
[Congratulations! You have cleared the stage in a record-breaking shortest time.]
[You will receive 10 Lesser Magic Stones as an additional reward.]
No items dropped.
Not that he expected any.
There was no information suggesting items dropped here.
He had checked the Gate’s information before coming.
It was a Gate for beginners to farm magic stones.
It was said to drop magic stones more frequently compared to other Grade 1 Gates.
He took a bottle of water from his bag, took a sip, and waited for a moment.
[Hidden conditions have been met.]
As expected.
The message he was waiting for had arrived.
[Due to the effect of Power Inflation, the hidden stage, the Forgotten Kobold Kingdom, will now open.]
[Entering the Forgotten Kobold Kingdom.]
As a new door opened, Na Dan-sik stepped through it.
[You will now be given a hidden mission.]
[Mission: Defeat the Kobold King]
An underground palace unfolded before his eyes.
The ceiling looked to be well over ten meters high, and huge magic stones were embedded here and there, emitting a blue light.
In the center was a throne made of black marble, surrounded by mountains of gold, silver, and other treasures.
Soon after.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Heavy footsteps echoed.
A black shadow formed on the throne he thought was empty, and it rose to its feet.
[The Kobold King has appeared.]
“Kukuku, how dare you invade my palace······.”
The Kobold King sneered at Na Dan-sik in a low, deep voice.
It was a giant, easily three meters tall.
The magic stone armor covering its entire body glittered.
And the golden crown on its head shone with a particular brilliance.
As the creature extended its hand, a giant hammer materialized in its grip.
Each time it swung the hammer, the air seemed to tear.
“Become my prey. Kukuku.”
The creature rose from its throne.
And with incredible speed, it charged at Na Dan-sik.
Fast.
It was incredibly quick for its size.
Na Dan-sik threw himself to the side.
CRASH!
The hammer slammed into the spot where Na Dan-sik had been standing.
The floor caved in and cracked.
Shrapnel flew in all directions.
The power of the hammer was immense.
This is too much for a beginner.
If that hammer hit him, he'd be dead or seriously injured.
Dodging was the best option.
“Kukuku, not bad for a human.”
The Kobold King taunted, resting the hammer on its shoulder.
Then it lunged again, swinging the hammer.
Horizontally.
Na Dan-sik quickly ducked.
The hammer grazed over his head.
The wind pressure alone made his skin sting.
[Beginner Senses has been activated.]
Now!
He saw an opening.
He thrust Blood Edge forward.
[Beginner Longsword Arts has been activated.]
Na Dan-sik’s body moved on its own, the sword lashing out in a swift thrust.
CLANG!
The tip of the sword struck the creature’s armor.
Sparks flew.
But it didn't even leave a scratch.
The Kobold King snorted and swung its left fist.
A punch flying toward Na Dan-sik’s side.
[Beginner Evasion has been activated.]
He quickly retreated.
The Kobold King raised its hammer.
It was about to bring it down.
The hammer began to glow.
It's even using mana?
This was dangerous.
CRASH!
The hammer slammed precisely where Na Dan-sik had been standing.
A loud explosion erupted.
He only survived because he had retreated with all his might.
Sweat trickled down his forehead.
This was completely different from his battles so far.
Na Dan-sik tightened his grip on Blood Edge.
His gaze sharpened.
[Beginner Sword Aura has been activated.]
The blade glowed red.
A sharp sword aura enveloped the edge of the blade.
Na Dan-sik kicked off the ground.
SWOOOOSH!
Blood Edge drew a red arc.
Its target was the creature’s neck.
[Beginner Senses has been activated.]
He could see the weak point.
Blood Edge grazed the creature’s neck.
The Kobold King had barely managed to avoid it by tilting its head back.
But he had a second move.
Right in front of the Kobold King’s face.
[Domain of the Munchkin has been activated.]
KABOOOOM!
A mana explosion erupted.
The impact sent the creature stumbling backward.
The hammer dropped from its hand.
It seemed its muscles had been torn.
Not missing the opening, he swung Blood Edge again.
Aiming precisely for the creature’s neck.
The sword, arcing up from below, pierced through the creature’s throat.
SHLUK!
“Gack!”
The Kobold King’s eyes widened as it stared at Na Dan-sik.
“This… human… is quite… something….”
THUD!
Its massive body fell backward with a thud.
Watching the fallen creature, Na Dan-sik retrieved his sword.
Green blood gushed out.
Tiring!
[Congratulations, you have cleared the hidden stage.]
[As a reward for clearing the hidden stage, you will receive the Kobold King's Hammer and 2 Intermediate Magic Stones.]
He thought there wouldn't be an additional reward since the battle took some time, but he was wrong.
[You have succeeded in clearing it in the shortest time.]
[An additional reward will be given.]
[You have received 2 Intermediate Magic Stones as an additional reward.]
[You have received the Kobold King's Golden Pouch as an additional reward.]
[Kobold King's Golden Pouch]
Grade: S
Storage Item (Spatial Expansion Type)
A palm-sized pouch made of gold.
- Internal space: 5 square meters
- Weight: 200g
- Can store anything
It was a jackpot.
It was a subspace pouch, known to be rare.
To get one here.
He was truly lucky.
“This is amazing.”
And an S-grade, no less.
The internal space was enormous.
Of all the items I got here, this was my favorite.
Na Dan-sik exited the Gate.
The administrator looked at Na Dan-sik with a surprised expression.
It was a familiar reaction.
He returned the watch.
After checking the watch, the administrator looked at the clear record and was surprised once again.
And then.
Tiring!
[Power Inflation has been applied.]
[The Grade 1 Gate will be upgraded to a Grade 2 Gate.]
The administrator stammered for a moment, then hurriedly made a call.
Na Dan-sik left the administrator behind and started walking.
Just then, as if she had been waiting, a call came from Jin Seon-hui.
“Hello.”
- You’ve cleared it, I see?
“That’s right.”
- The Kobold Mine, I presume.
“Did you call just to confirm that?”
- Let’s sign the contract.
“Let’s do that.”
- Really?
“On second thought, it’s not a bad deal. You said it’s more flexible than a guild, and besides, I get to keep all the items.”
- That’s right. There’s no downside for you, Mr. Na Dan-sik.
“Isn’t it a loss for the Association?”
- The gates you’ll be upgrading are more than enough compensation for us. That’s a fact.
Jin Seon-hui sent a link through a messaging app.
It was a video link.
An unfamiliar woman was clearing the upgraded Gate with the tanker, Ma Dong-cheol.
- Our rising star is growing very well. The Magic Stones and items are quite lucrative, too.
“I see. That’s good to hear. I’ll come to the Association tomorrow.”
- Shall I send a car?
“No, I plan on staying in Seoul tonight. I want to try staying at a hotel.”
- Hotels are nice. Would you like me to book a room for you?
“It’s alright. I want to try doing it myself.”
- You deserve to have some fun like that. Understood. I hope you have a comfortable night.
He hung up the phone.
Na Dan-sik headed straight for the Magic Stone exchange.
He sold all the Magic Stones.
31,100,000 won was deposited into his account.
Na Dan-sik’s total assets now amounted to 83,600,000 won.
Then, he sat at a nearby café, drank coffee, and booked a hotel.
He chose one with a good view.
For once—he decided to enjoy it
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