Chapter 6: Devotion

What is it that hold the most value? Is it power to rule over the world? Is it endless wealth and fortune? Is it having a name not known by none? 'Tis none. Anything that is done by giaining, has value only that to an external extent. But that of giving, has value to an immeasurable degree, the feeling of contentment and satisfaction, to it that one would no longer try to find what's needed to fill in the void left in one's existence. One's purpose of living...is to find that missing piece, and live on with contentment until the door of death opens up for him.

***************

July 20th, the day of the Chairman's press conference, where he'll announce the newly examined A Rank hunter. Might I say that this is very nerve-racking... and why the heck did I agree to speak here today? If they were to find out that I'm an S Rank, they would go crazy...and probably too confident.

"We are here today, to welcome the newest member of humanity's final hope. Let us welcome, the newly registered A Rank hunter of the Hunter Association... Hunter Seok Jin Woo!"

*applause*

"Greetings, I am Seok Jin Woo, the newly registered hunter of the Hunter Association, I am pleased to be here in front of you today, as I am welcomed by humanity, to be part of its last frontier, against the forces that purge us today. I ask for your guidance, that in the near future, I would be of help, to end our suffering, and regain our freedom!"

Nailed it! I'm so good at speeches...

*applause*

...

After that, Chairman Go took me to a meeting. He said it was with another hunter, and a close friend of his, and apparently a First Gen.

"It's been a long time, Son Jaewon."

"It sure has, Go Seolbok."

"..."

Am I a third-party here?!

"You must be Seok Jinwoo, I have heard about you."

"Thank you for your recogni-"

"When do you plan on telling the world that you're an S Rank?"

"Did Seolbok-nim tell you? How much did he tell you?"

"Pretty much everything."

*glare*

"Don't worry, he'll stay quiet."

Somehow I also feel that way. I guess he can be trusted, he's a First Gen too, maybe he'll understand me.

"Mr. Jaewon, may I ask a question?"

"Sure."

"What will you do if I tell you that I have authority over what you call 'the Void'?"

I'll have to gain his trust. It's will be best to have a firm relationship with top rankers, so I could exclude myself when a dispute grows.

"Sigh...Jaewon, Mr. Jinwoo here is...the Master of the Void."

I can tell, he's in shock. I guess I'll have prove it to calm him down.

"[Workspace]"

*SWOOSH*

"Welcome to my workspace, or as you'd call it...the Void."

"Thi-this is..."

...

According to Jaewon-nim, the Void is what was training new hunters, but 2 years ago, it stopped, and a bright purple screen appeared in front of the First Gens, it said that they need to prepare for the return of the Master of the Void, who will be humanity's greatest ally, and the key to the further creation of powerful and potent hunters, exactly what humanity will need to embark on Project Level Up. That made me think...what exactly is Project Level Up? What does it have to do with us humans?

"Ugh...so frustrating."

Jaewon-nim, Seolbok-nim, and the rest of the First Gens had the same dream, the survival of humanity, and the discovery of the truth behind this tragedy. They were devoted to fulfilling their dream, they wanted to protect humanity, even in front of death's door. They were content with the rest of their circumstances, as long as they fulfill that dream...such bravery, such devotion, such determination...I wish I had that before...so I wouldn't have to suffer for years...oh well, past is past.

When I told them that I agree to continuing the training of hunters in the Void, their faces lit up full of hope, but I told them that it's until I reach the required level.

Since we were in the Void, I had them try fighting the boss monster that I fought, and I showed them how my authority works on the Void. They were shocked when I had X summon some monsters, as well as when I told them that the purple screen that appeared before them was my assistant, X. But I think they were shocked the most when they saw the boss monster that I had to fight for 5 years... how typical.

When we cane back and sent our farewells, I had Bokcheol-nim arrange a few dungeons for me to raid, he said that B Rank dungeons were the most I can get, so I took that. I need to harvest materials for my equipment, so I took the opportunity. And apparently, I broke the fastest record of a raid, which took half a day, because it only took me 4 hours to harvest so much materials from each of the four dungeons.

Then I went to Bokcheol-nim to start forging, but he was too tired, so he taught me how to forge and told me to try forging the equipment myself. But he was shocked that I had so much talent in forging...so much that he wanted me to be his successor. I refused though, because I know that being a blacksmith requires time and devotion, and I had neither of those. I'm neither patient nor devoted...but I do wonder why I'm getting worked up whenever I fight monsters, as if I was devoted on something that keeps pushing me to fight.

After a few hours I successfully completed forging the [Blood Wyvern Necklace], the [Cyclone Earrings], the [Lightning Falcon Boots], and the [Four Elemental Rings].

Afetr augmenting them, they could be hailed as national tresures.

*PING*

[Blood Wyvern Necklace] increases vitality by tenfold, and adds the skills, Blood Wave, Gale, and Bleeding Strike.

*PING*

[Cyclone Earrings] enhances the wind element, improves agility, and adds the skills, Wind Hurricane, Vacuum Field, and Wind Storm.

*PING*

[Lightning Falcon Boots] enhances the advanced elemental magic, Lightning, increases mana capacity and agility by twofold, and adds the skills, Lightning Dash, Thunderclap, and Lightning Glory.

*PING*

[Four Elemental Rings] enhances basic and advanced elemental magic by tenfold, and each adds a unique skill set, namely: [Hell's Demise(Fire)], [Spatial Movement(Wind)], [Frozen Field(Ice)], and [Land Collapse (Earth)].

Just these four equipment are already of immeasurable value, I wonder what else I'll make. But for the meantime, I'll participate in the dungeon closing crusade, I heard there was a boss monster in one of those dungeons...

I wonder...how will I fare to a real one now?