A Hunter on Borrowed Time Keeps Surviving - Chapter 7

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 7.
Hunter-Exclusive Shop.
A zone accessible only to Awakeners registered with the Hunter Association.
The exterior resembled an ordinary department store, but the moment you stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted entirely.
A mana scanner for identity verification operated constantly at the entrance.
Security personnel were stationed throughout to guard against any potential theft.
Given that the place dealt in expensive and rare merchandise, security was meticulous.
The inventory consisted of hunters’ exclusive weapons, protective gear, and auxiliary items.
“Obscenely expensive.”
Si-ul muttered while scanning the equipment on display.
It was a premium section reserved exclusively for S-rank gear.
“A shield alone for 1.1 billion won…? Are they insane?!”
The reality that S-rank hunters purchased such equipment without hesitation hit him like a physical blow.
‘Here I am scraping together 50 million won after getting my head caved in by golems dozens of times….’
As Si-ul calculated how many more skull-crushing encounters it would take to afford that item, he stopped counting somewhere around ten thousand.
‘Wait for it. One day I’ll level up to S-rank and buy every weapon in this place.’
With that resolve, Si-ul moved toward another section.
‘I don’t need equipment worth hundreds of millions, but good gear is essential. Today I’m not holding back on spending.’
The Rocky Gorge raid had taught Si-ul something crucial.
Immortality alone wasn’t enough to bring down strong opponents.
The strategy of relentlessly chipping away at an enemy’s health was sound, but it exhausted him thoroughly.
‘At this rate my body will hold up fine, but my mind will break first.’
For that reason, Si-ul had made a firm decision to come to the shop today.
He planned to reinvest all the profits from the last raid into equipment.
‘I need to buy a weapon that’ll seriously boost my attack power. My defense and vitality are already superhuman, so I need offensive gear to back that up.’
Si-ul passed the potion section and stopped before the weapon display.
Long swords, spears, axes—all manner of arms were laid out.
Then, in one corner, something caught his eye.
『 Tracker’s Blade 』 — A-rank
When thrown, it tracks the target and strikes true; after each attack, it automatically returns to its owner.
“Oh.”
Si-ul’s eyebrows lifted with interest.
It was a compact, sleek dagger.
Both its appearance and function were more than enough to capture his attention.
‘So it can be thrown from a distance and recalled, and it tracks targets like a guided missile?’
An exceedingly useful ability.
It seemed to fit his current combat style perfectly.
A weapon that could exploit an enemy’s vital points while he endured with his body—exactly what he craved.
‘What’s the price?’
Si-ul’s eyes found the price tag.
『 80,000,000 won 』
’80 million won? That’s cheap for an A-rank weapon. Doesn’t A-rank equipment usually go for over 100 million?’
Something seemed off, so he looked more carefully—this section sold secondhand items at discounted prices.
‘Even better.’
By coincidence, 80 million won was exactly the budget Si-ul had brought today.
It was the sum of 50 million won from selling the Red Magic Stone from the Giant Golem, plus the remaining 30 million won from his reward for disposing of the Wyvern Goblin.
‘Fate itself pointing the way, isn’t it.’
Si-ul smiled and reached out to pick up the dagger.
Tap.
But in that instant, someone seized his wrist.
“…?”
When Si-ul turned around, an unfamiliar woman was staring straight through him.
She wore a semi-formal outfit without a jacket.
The white shirt had both sleeves unbuttoned and rolled up.
Dark, long hair fell down the shoulders of this composed, austere-looking woman.
Question marks immediately filled Si-ul’s mind.
‘What the…?’
A stranger had suddenly grabbed his wrist.
‘Is this some kind of hunter pick-up attempt? But her expression is way too intimidating for that….’
Si-ul never could have imagined what was about to happen.
The fact that she was an S-rank Special Hunter belonging to the Government.
The fact that she was Baek Ga-hyeon, assessed as a key strategic asset even among Special Hunters.
“Who…?”
It was just as Si-ul reached that point.
Baek Ga-hyeon released her magical power at a speed Si-ul couldn’t even perceive.
【The characteristic ‘Memory Theft’ activates.】
A notification window visible only to Baek Ga-hyeon appeared above the point where their skin touched.
This was because the characteristic’s activation condition required “direct skin contact only.”
‘It’s troublesome that it won’t activate even if only a single thread of fabric brushes, but it’s a delicate ability because of that.’
Baek Ga-hyeon sneered, confident in her technique.
Her characteristic was, true to its name, the ability to steal the memories of her opponent.
It wasn’t memory search.
It was a power that robbed the opponent of their memories and permanently deleted those memories from the robbed target.
The supreme technique—uncovering the secrets of hostile nations or organizations while simultaneously stripping them of that information.
This was why Baek Ga-hyeon was evaluated as a key strategic asset even among Special Hunters.
‘I’m sorry, but you’re going to lose the last two weeks of your memories.’
Baek Ga-hyeon stared into Si-ul’s unsuspecting eyes and let out a sneer.
Kang Ho-cheol, watching this scene from a distance, also raised the corners of his mouth.
‘Caught.’
Kang Ho-cheol knew her ability well.
If she set her mind to it, she could erase up to a year of memories from anyone her characteristic caught.
‘Now I’ll finally be able to tell if that mysterious Rift really was a Black Gate.’
Kang Ho-cheol was certain of it.
…But then.
“Huh?”
Something was wrong.
The expression on Baek Ga-hyeon’s face, visible from afar, looked deeply confused.
Her eyes wavered and signs of panic were evident.
An unexpected situation had indeed unfolded for her.
【This target cannot be affected by this ability.】
“…?!”
It was a notification window she’d never seen before in her life.
Baek Ga-hyeon examined her own hands.
She checked whether the activation condition of her characteristic—direct skin contact only—had been met.
But her sleeves were still rolled up, and there was nothing that could pose a problem.
‘…Did I not use enough magical power?’
Baek Ga-hyeon quickly poured additional magical power into the technique.
【’Memory Theft’ cannot affect this target.】
“…!!”
Baek Ga-hyeon’s thoughts came to a complete halt.
“Excuse me.”
While she stood frozen in shock, Si-ul spoke first.
“Is there something you needed from me?”
Only then did Baek Ga-hyeon’s consciousness return.
She realized she was gripping the wrist of a man she’d never seen before.
She quickly released his wrist and spoke.
“I apologize. I found this short sword interesting. I was rude just now.”
Si-ul glanced at the short sword and nodded.
“You’re welcome to look. I’m still deciding myself.”
“No, I’m sorry.”
Baek Ga-hyeon fled the spot with a flushed face.
To Si-ul’s eyes, it looked as though she was embarrassed by her overeager action, but the truth was different.
‘My ability doesn’t work on him?’
Her pride had been wounded.
Since becoming a Special Hunter, Baek Ga-hyeon had never failed at Memory Theft.
And the opponent was merely a D-rank Hunter by official records.
‘Why on earth…!’
It was confusion for her, but had she known the truth, it would have been natural.
How could an S-rank Hunter easily extract information from a Dragon—an SSS-rank Judge?
A hundred years would be too soon to attempt such a feat.
* * *
Outside the shop, in the rest area.
Baek Ga-hyeon sat on a bench, gazing down at her palms.
The same hands that had gripped Si-ul’s wrist just moments before.
While Baek Ga-hyeon sank into thought, Kang Ho-cheol stood beside the bench, his eyes fixed on the shop’s entrance.
“The moment I noticed your ability was blocked, I considered capturing that man on the spot.”
Kang Ho-cheol shrugged his shoulders.
“If I’d tried that inside the shop, all hell would’ve broken loose. The security here is nearly as tight as the Government’s. I couldn’t make a move without drawing attention.”
He kept his gaze on the entrance as he spoke.
Then the automatic doors slid open, and the man they’d been waiting for emerged from the shop.
It was Si-ul.
A large paper bag containing a hefty weapon box hung from one hand, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
Kang Ho-cheol’s eyes tracked Si-ul’s movements.
“Should we bring him to headquarters? Knocking him unconscious and snatching him would be child’s play.”
“With respect, that man is not a criminal. I’d prefer we avoid such treatment of a civilian.”
Kang Ho-cheol shot her a sidelong glance.
“He could be dangerous. You failed the mission, after all.”
Baek Ga-hyeon’s shoulders flinched, but she quickly masked her discomfort with a laugh.
“You’ve got me there. The failure is real enough.”
“I’m not teasing. I’m saying this because he might be a genuine threat.”
“I didn’t sense any danger from him. So please, put away the killing intent.”
The faint aura of menace that had been radiating from Kang Ho-cheol’s frame dissipated at her words.
“So what’s the plan going forward? Even if we send him a summons to report to the Government, do you really think he’ll cooperate willingly?”
Baek Ga-hyeon shook her head, agreeing it was unlikely.
“If he were the type to cooperate, he would’ve reported that Rift by now. For the time being, let’s observe him a few more days. He’s definitely someone worth investigating.”
Baek Ga-hyeon watched Si-ul cross the street, brushing her hair back from her face.
“I thought this would be a tedious assignment, but it might turn out to be an interesting one after all.”
* * *
『 You have entered the B-rank Dungeon “Red Fang Hill.” 』
〈B-rank Gate — Jongno District 14〉
Dungeon Name: Red Fang Hill
Monsters Present: Orcs
Estimated Clear Time: Approximately 6 hours
“Stay sharp, everyone! Monsters can appear right from the entrance in this Dungeon!”
Following Min Hyeong-sik’s orders, Si-ul and the party members entered the Dungeon.
‘Here I am in another B-rank Dungeon, just three days later.’
Si-ul was impressed by Min Hyeong-sik’s Party’s ability to secure Gates so quickly.
According to rumor, Min Hyeong-sik’s Party had such a sterling reputation in the industry that several major guilds were constantly pitching outsourcing opportunities their way.
‘For me, that’s ideal. The faster I can stack up experience points, the better.’
Maintaining ties with this team had yielded surprisingly good results.
“Ugh! Si-ul, cover your nose…!”
Park Do-hyeon pressed his sleeve against his nose in warning.
A thick stench of blood hung heavy in the air.
“So they really do say this is a Dungeon where combat-crazed Orcs dwell.”
Gentle mounds of rust-colored earth, shattered spears and shields thrust into the ground at odd angles, and human corpses piled haphazardly all testified to the creatures’ savagery.
“I included information about Orcs in the Dungeon manual I sent you yesterday. Did you happen to read it?”
Park Do-hyeon asked, and Si-ul nodded.
“It said Orcs are a muscular race with high stamina and attack power, specialized in fighting in groups.”
“That’s right. This could turn into a prolonged battle, so you’ll need to manage your stamina carefully.”
Prolonged combat held no fear for Si-ul, though he couldn’t say he welcomed it either.
‘I don’t want this to drag on too long.’
“They’re coming! Ten of them, dead ahead!”
At Min Hyeong-sik’s shout, a pack of Orcs crested the hillside.
“Graaaaaah!!”
The crude axes and war hammers swung wildly as the Orc horde charged forward.
The party members formed up to meet them.
“We need to engage aggressively! Otherwise this will be a long fight!”
Min Hyeong-sik shouted from the front, thrusting his shield forward.
Si-ul, positioned as a supporter, quickly opened his inventory.
‘Time to test this out.’
『 Tracker’s Blade 』 — A-rank
When thrown, it tracks its target and strikes true, then automatically returns to its owner.
Si-ul aimed at an orc charging from the rear, roaring as it came.
He poured his mana into the Tracker’s Blade and hurled it forward.
Whoosh—!
It did not fly in a straight line.
Mid-flight, its trajectory curved, and like a living serpent, it twisted gracefully toward its prey.
“Huh?”
The eyes of his teammates widened at the sight.
Thunk!!
The Tracker’s Blade buried itself precisely between the orc’s clavicle and ribs, just below the throat.
“Ghhh—!”
The orc collapsed forward, no time even for a proper scream.
The Tracker’s Blade did not stop there.
Embedded and vibrating, it completely shattered the orc’s heart before drifting up into the air.
Then it returned smoothly to Si-ul’s hand.
“Wow….”
His teammates gasped in unison.
‘The blade even tracks. Insane.’
‘A weapon like that has to be A-rank or higher…?’
‘What rank is Si-ul even supposed to be….’
Aside from Min Hyeong-sik, no one yet knew that Si-ul was a Special Hunter (though that information was wrong), but after two raids together, they all recognized he was extraordinarily powerful.
So Min Hyeong-sik and his party members decided.
“Large rotation formation centered on Si-ul!”
“……?”
Once again, they chose to trust Si-ul alone.
Click. Click. Click. Click.
Min Hyeong-sik’s Party arranged themselves like flower petals around Si-ul at the center.
No enemy could reach him, yet he could burst through their ranks whenever he pleased.
“…When did you practice this formation?”
Si-ul asked with a bewildered expression, and Park Do-hyeon grinned and answered on behalf of the team.
“Right after the last raid ended!!”
…….
A Hunter with a Countdown to Death Continues to Survive
Author |
Katsumattsu
Publisher |
Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
Chief Editor |
Editorial Department
Published by |
Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. — Dream Books
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7th Floor, Gwangseong Building, 28 Bongeunsa-ro 114-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
UCI |
G720:N+A063-20260731071
Blog |
blog.naver.com/dreambookss
Twitter (X) |
@dreambookss
Submissions |
[email protected]
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. — Dream Books.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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