Chapter 70 - A Strange Request

A New Priority

He closed the holographic interface and turned toward the butler.

"Find me everything on post-reset awakeners. Any confirmed individuals who retained their memories."

The butler gave a small nod. "Understood, Young Master."

Kyung-min's gaze darkened.

Somewhere out there, others like him existed.

And soon enough…

He'd have to find them.

Buying Dungeon Gear – A Strange Request

He swiped away the images and leaned forward, shifting topics.

"Dungeon gear can be bought, right?"

The butler tilted his head. "Of course, Young Master. But I assume you're not referring to personal equipment."

Kyung-min smirked. "I want a full set."

The butler raised a brow. "Define 'full set'?"

Kyung-min turned his chair slightly, resting his chin against his fist.

"Twenty complete sets of low-tier dungeon equipment."

The butler remained still for a moment.

Then—a single blink.

"…Would you care to elaborate?"

Kyung-min's smirk didn't fade. "Weapons, armor, everything. Daggers, scythes, swords, staffs, shields. Masks. Cloaks. Boots. Gloves. The whole thing."

The butler gave a slow nod, his expression unreadable.

"This… is not a standard request."

"Neither was reforging my daggers, but here we are."

The butler sighed but didn't argue. "We have contacts that can acquire them. Are you aiming for a personal collection or something more?"

Kyung-min tapped his fingers against the desk.

"Let's just say… I have a plan."

The butler didn't push further.

Instead, he simply bowed slightly. "Understood. I will handle the transactions."

A Plan In Motion

As the butler left the room to make the necessary arrangements, Kyung-min stared at his reflection in the darkened glass window.

Twenty full sets of dungeon gear.

A smirk formed beneath his mask.

"Step one—complete."

Now, it was time for step two.

A Quiet Night

For the first time in a while, Kyung-min allowed himself to relax.

After dinner, he retreated to his room, rolling his shoulders as he took in the familiar setting. The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast long shadows across the walls, and the weight of exhaustion finally settled in.

A deep exhale.

Lying on his bed, he let his body sink into the mattress, closing his eyes.

His mind, however, didn't quiet down.

The dungeon run, his summons, the efficiency of his new daggers—all of it played back in his head like a recorded simulation, breaking down every movement, every moment of wasted energy.

Even in rest, his thoughts raced ahead.

But eventually, fatigue won.

And for the first time in months—his sleep was undisturbed.

Nightfall – A Moment of Rest

For the first time in weeks, Kyung-min allowed himself to rest.

Not a restless, half-conscious state of awareness, but real rest.

The weight of battle, the tension of survival—it all faded into the background as he lay in bed, eyes closed, body finally at ease.

His mind drifted, thoughts muddled between the past and present, between who he was and who he was becoming.

Tomorrow… he would begin again.

Morning – The Usual Routine

Sunlight streamed through the curtains as Kyung-min woke before his alarm.

Routine was discipline, and discipline was survival.

After a quick shower, he changed into comfortable workout attire and started his usual regimen.

One hour of conditioning.

Push-ups, sit-ups, shadow sparring—simple, repetitive movements, but ones that reinforced the strength he had built.

Afterward, he dressed in a fitted black button-up and slacks—casual, but refined. Something comfortable yet presentable.

By the time he stepped downstairs, his sister was already waiting by the entrance, scrolling through her phone.

She looked up as he approached, blinking in surprise.

"...You're driving me today?"

Kyung-min tilted his head slightly. "Why? You don't want me to?"

She scoffed. "No, just surprised. You're always busy."

"I had time," he said simply.

His butler handed him the car keys as they walked outside.

The sleek black sedan sat parked at the entrance, polished and pristine.

He unlocked the doors, and his sister hopped into the passenger seat.

Morning Drive – The Dazed Onlookers

The ride to her school was mostly quiet. His sister was busy checking messages, while Kyung-min kept his eyes on the road.

But the moment they pulled into the school's drop-off area—

Whispers.

Heads turned.

A group of girls near the gates whispered excitedly among themselves, their eyes fixed on the sedan.

"Who is that?"

"That car is insane…"

Then, as his sister stepped out—

"Hey, isn't that Han Seo-yeon's brother?!"

"Wait—what?"

The murmurs grew louder, a few girls straight-up staring, one even nudging Seo-yeon with wide eyes.

Seo-yeon groaned.

"Great. Now they're going to ask me about you all day."

Kyung-min smirked slightly. "Enjoy your day."

Before she could retort, he rolled up the window and pulled away.

His sister would handle herself.

Right now—he had his own business to attend to.

A City That Changed Without Him

Kyung-min drove aimlessly, weaving through Seoul's streets, observing what had changed.

Billboards flashed advertisements of famous hunters. One displayed his former friends, the "Rising Stars," posing in front of a cleared C-Rank dungeon.

He barely spared it a glance.

His gaze drifted elsewhere.

The Rift.

An unnatural scar in the sky, pulsing with shifting light. He passed by one of its boundaries, where teams of hunters patrolled the edges, guarding against any unexpected surges.

And then—

The dungeons.

Protruding from the earth like tumors of another reality.

Some stood between skyscrapers, jagged and unnatural. Others had burst forth in public spaces—one in the middle of a park, its dark entrance pulsing ominously beneath the morning sun.

He even spotted one half-submerged in the Han River, water lapping against its edges.

This world had changed.

It had adapted.

And yet—

Return Home – Afternoon Delivery

By noon, Kyung-min had returned home, spending his time doing more workouts, reinforcing his body's endurance.

Then—

A sudden noise.

Engines rumbling outside.

He stepped onto the front steps—just in time to see several trucks pulling up into the estate.

Large cargo containers. Teams of workers hopping out, setting up displays.

The equipment he had ordered.

No—more than that.

There was far more than what he had initially requested.

Blades, staves, scythes, shields—everything.

One of the delivery workers, a well-dressed logistics officer, approached with a respectful nod.

"Mr. Han, we brought additional stock in case you were interested in more selections. Everything is here for your review before purchase."

Kyung-min glanced across the equipment laid out before him.

Swords of varying sizes and materials. Heavy greatswords, curved sabers, lightweight daggers.

Shields—small bucklers, large tower shields.

Magic weapons—staffs embedded with mana crystals, scythes that pulsed with faint enchantments.

He stepped forward, running a hand along one of the displayed daggers.

This would do.

"I'll take all of it," Kyung-min said.

The logistics officer blinked. "...All of it?"

"Yes."

Without hesitation, he reached into his inventory, pulling out 1,200 gold in neatly stacked coins.

His butler, already anticipating his request, stepped forward to handle the transaction.

The officer barely managed to keep his composure.

"This is… quite a sum," the man muttered.

Kyung-min turned slightly. "Did I overpay?"

The officer quickly shook his head. "No! Not at all. In fact, this is—well, more than sufficient."

"Good," Kyung-min said simply.

As the workers began unloading everything into the estate, his butler approached once more.

"Young Master," the butler said, his voice even. "Would you like me to allocate a portion of the funds to create a personal transaction card for you?"

Kyung-min paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Do it."

A card would be more convenient than carrying physical gold.

His butler gave a slight bow. "It will be prepared."

As the workers finished their unloading, Kyung-min gazed across the countless weapons and equipment now in his possession.

This wasn't just for himself.

It was preparation.

For what was coming next.

And he had no intention of being caught off guard.