Murim Login - Chapter 219

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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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Chapter 219
Since the dawn of the Great Cataclysm, humanity has classified monsters and established hierarchies based on countless experiences of death and destruction.
Accordingly, the rank of each Gate was determined by the grade of monsters inhabiting it.
However….
‘Exceptions exist everywhere.’
Anomalous Gates were precisely that. Existing beyond the boundaries set by humans, they were literally anomalies themselves.
Another variable had inserted itself into the Gate—a space still treated as an enigma by humanity.
‘It’s the worst.’
D-rank monsters could emerge from F-rank Gates, B-rank monsters from D-rank Gates.
That alone would be a horrific nightmare, but one greater problem remained.
‘Rare Monsters.’
Encountering unexpected high-tier monsters was already infuriating, but those that appeared this way all possessed power exceeding that of monsters of the same rank.
The term “Rare Monster” was born from that moment.
And not long after, one question was raised.
‘Then what about the Rare Monsters appearing in A-rank Anomalous Gates? Aren’t they too strong to be classified in the same tier?’
For hunters, A-rank was the highest realm achievable through a single awakening.
Among them, those recognized as the strong were granted the glorious title of Ranker.
This was a problem that applied to monsters as well. After extensive debate in academic circles, a new designation was born.
‘Named Monsters.’
True calamities that transcended the A-rank boundary.
Team Leader 1, who alone survived and returned, said that a Named Monster existed here.
In this very space where we stood—the Wyvern’s Nest.
“Bullshit!”
Won Myung-hun shouted harshly, seizing Team Leader 1 by the collar.
“A Named Monster? There’s no way something like that is here.”
“I’m telling the truth. I saw it with my own eyes.”
Team Leader 1 continued, his voice trembling.
“It was several times larger than an ordinary wyvern. So massive that even seeing it directly with both eyes, I couldn’t believe it.”
“Shut up!”
Yet the terror Team Leader 1 had experienced from the Named Monster was far greater than imagination.
Despite bearing the title of A-rank hunter, he was gripped with fear like a seven-year-old child.
“That creature is in a different league from any wyvern we’ve faced. We need to escape right now.”
“Kim Jong-hun, you bastard….”
Grrrrind.
Won Myung-hun ground his teeth, but that was all.
Though he had shown underwhelming performance in every aspect, he too was once an A-rank hunter who had reached Ranker status. He couldn’t possibly be unaware of a fact everyone here already knew.
Won Myung-hun’s intimidation of Team Leader 1 was merely a defense mechanism to conceal his own fear.
‘There should have already been signs of an Anomalous Gate.’
I knew well, having experienced it directly three years ago.
An unusually sparse appearance of monsters. And an abundance of mana stones disproportionately generous compared to the monsters we’d slain.
I had no knowledge of the latter fact. Byproduct disposal fell under the Star Guild’s jurisdiction, and regardless of how cooperative this raid was supposed to be, Won Myung-hun was the commander making all decisions.
‘But that commander just made a catastrophic blunder.’
This wasn’t a minor lapse in judgment.
The creature stalking us somewhere in this Wasteland wasn’t an ordinary wyvern—it was a Named Monster.
“Damn it all….”
Choi Team Leader spoke to Won Myung-hun, who was spewing crude profanities.
“Let’s stay calm. Immediate withdrawal is our priority in this situation.”
“Calm? Do I look calm to you right now?”
“I meant to compose yourself and face reality squarely.”
Choi Team Leader’s steady voice continued.
“Fortunately, it’s not too late. If we retrace our steps as quickly as possible, we can reach the Jungle within an hour. But if we confront it here in this Wasteland….”
“Who doesn’t know that? Stop meddling so much.”
The cheerful, courteous gentleman had vanished. At Won Myung-hun’s irritable demeanor, Choi Team Leader’s eyes grew cold.
“I’m disappointed. I didn’t expect you to take it that way.”
“Disappointed? You keep saying ‘cooperation, cooperation’ like we’re equals now… Damn it, there’s no point talking. Just stop telling me what to do. I’m already in a foul mood.”
They say you can see a person’s true nature when they’re in crisis.
In that sense, Won Myung-hun was exactly this caliber. The fact that I’d once admired him as an idol now tasted bitter.
Won Myung-hun spoke to his guild members with an anxious expression.
“Just grab the mana stones. We’re heading back to the Gate Entrance as fast as we can.”
There were two exits from the Gate. The entrance where we came in, and the exit that opens when the boss monster is defeated.
Under the current circumstances, choosing the former was obviously the right call.
“Yes, sir.”
Preparations wrapped up quickly. The problem was Team Leader 1, who remained deathly pale.
“What’s wrong with him?”
Kim Butler, who had been following a step behind me in silence throughout, answered my murmur.
“He’s been exposed to the monster’s Fear.”
“An A-rank Hunter?”
“Because the opponent is a Named Monster.”
“I see.”
“And rank is merely a measure of power. It has nothing to do with mental fortitude.”
Even so, an A-rank Hunter succumbing to Fear was extraordinary.
It had to be one of two things. Either Team Leader 1 possessed weak mental resilience by nature, or the Named Monster was that formidable.
‘Personally, I’d prefer it to be the former.’
With that thought, I approached Team Leader 1 to help him to his feet, but he flinched as if burned.
“It’s fine. I’m not trying to hurt you. You know that, right?”
“J-Jin Tae-kyung.”
“You’re still coherent. Now pull yourself together and get up. Or stay sitting there and become prey.”
“Ugh!”
Sometimes fear is more effective than courage at spurring action.
At the word ‘prey,’ Team Leader 1 scrambled to his feet and looked around with anxious eyes.
“Where… where is it?”
“It’s not here. But how have you managed to survive all this time?”
This was something I’d wanted to ask since earlier. No one had bothered to wonder about it once the term “Named Monster” came up.
At my question, Team Leader 1 began grinding his teeth.
“I had no choice.”
“…I see.”
He’d fled. Abandoning his team members.
But I didn’t condemn him. Not because I understood him, but because I didn’t believe I had the right to judge.
‘I could curse him, but at least I’m not one to talk.’
Whether or not Team Leader 1 sensed my thoughts, he began rambling on.
“We were approaching cautiously, but it saw us. And then it spread its wings—black wings—wide open…”
“Black wings?”
“Y-yes. Its entire body, from head to tail, was pitch-black.”
A memory suddenly surfaced. The screams that had filled the cave, and those massive wings.
That wyvern I’d encountered back then had also been entirely black.
“A Black Wyvern.”
“No, it’s different. It was several times larger and stronger than any Black Wyvern I’ve ever seen. That thing… it was a true monster.”
If that were the case, then it couldn’t be the one I’d faced three years ago.
After the Sangdong Station Anomalous Gate incident, I underwent countless investigations. The investigation team that visited the scene to determine the truth of the incident concluded that it didn’t deviate significantly from the category of a typical Black Wyvern.
‘Then where could that thing be now?’
Monsters inside Gates regenerate at regular intervals. By the time the investigation team arrived, it had already vanished.
Whenever I drank alcohol, I found myself thinking about it.
Where could that thing be now? Could it have been killed by another hunter’s hand? If it were still alive, would I ever get the chance for revenge?
‘Now it’s possible.’
As long as we both remained alive, the day would come when we’d meet again.
I had left it with an indelible memory, and it had done the same to me.
But today didn’t appear to be that day.
“Jin Tae-kyung.”
“Tae-kyung!”
The guild members, having finished their preparations, were waiting for me. And it was the moment I took a step to join their formation.
“One eye.”
A single word that suddenly burst from Team Leader 1’s mouth caused my body to stiffen.
As I slowly turned around, I saw Team Leader 1 covering his own eye with a trembling hand.
“What did you just say?”
“That’s right. One of its eyes was damaged. As if something had pierced it…”
“…!”
In that instant, electricity coursed down my spine. My mind went white, and my fists clenched involuntarily.
Three years ago, I had charged at that thing prepared to die.
Gathering every ounce of strength, I unleashed a thrust—no, a desperate stab—and the spear tip pierced directly into its eye socket.
It had been my final act of defiance, and the only mark I’d left upon it.
‘It’s him.’
I didn’t wonder how an ordinary Black Wyvern had become a Named Monster.
Every hair on my skin stood on end as witness, while my thundering heart served as both judge and jury.
Everything that composed my being screamed in unison.
The mysterious Named Monster that Team Leader 1 had mentioned was the very creature that had branded me with an indelible nightmare three years ago.
‘Finally, we meet.’
I couldn’t find words to describe this emotion.
Fear? Joy?
My entire body trembled with an indescribable feeling.
It was then—my senses honed sharper than ever before, mingled with the thick scent of blood.
– Kyaaaaaaa!
At the distant roar, I lifted my head.
From the horizon of the Wasteland where the sunset was fading, wings stained entirely black were flying toward us.
* * *
‘Damn it. Damn it. Damn it!’
Curses looped endlessly through Won Myung-hun’s mind.
The plan was already ruined. Now he had to worry about their very lives.
‘A Named Monster.’
The situation was more dire than it had been eight years ago—far more dire.
Won Myung-hun had just finished hurrying the Guild members through their preparations and was about to give the signal to depart.
“It’s here.”
The low voice that pierced his ear made his heart sink.
Especially because that voice belonged to Jin Tae-kyung.
“W-what do you mean?”
“Prepare for combat. Or run with all your might.”
“That’s not what I’m asking!”
“What else would it be?”
Jin Tae-kyung’s eyes looked unfamiliar—cold and distant.
The person before Won Myung-hun now was neither his devoted fan nor the foolish twenty-something who giggled mindlessly.
‘What is this feeling?’
As Won Myung-hun flinched, Jin Tae-kyung’s dry voice emerged between his lips.
“Take everyone with you. I still have the necklace.”
“…What?”
What was this bastard saying?
In that moment of confusion, Jin Tae-kyung’s lips curved into a smile.
“Why so surprised? Did you think I wouldn’t know?”
“You… you son of a bitch.”
“Jong-hun’s hyung. Or rather, Won Myung-hun.”
Won Myung-hun’s body froze. Not from humiliation, but from the weight pressing down on him.
A gravity he had never felt before emanated from Jin Tae-kyung.
“Whatever you’ve done, whatever you were planning to do. I’ll overlook everything up until now. But.”
Between strands of disheveled hair, eyes sunken in shadow gleamed with lethal intent.
“Never bare your fangs again.”
“…!”
“I’m done talking. Get out.”
Won Myung-hun’s lips moved, but no words escaped them.
Regarding me with an indescribable gaze, he turned his body away roughly.
I felt the stares of the Peace Guild members finally piercing the back of my head as they realized something had transpired.
‘Pathetic bastards. How dare they….’
But it didn’t matter.
Jin Tae-kyung and those ragtag guild members would all be dead soon enough.
Moments later, Won Myung-hun and the Star Guild members sprinting away with all their might heard a roar echoing from far behind them.

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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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