Murim Login - Chapter 50

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

Chapter 50
I stood frozen, my jaw dropping at the sight before me.
Within the oppressive heat and humidity, an endless wetland stretched out along dense forests—a landscape that seemed to have no boundary.
“So this is a D-rank Gate….”
I had known that higher-ranked Gates possessed vaster spaces. But I never imagined the difference would be this stark.
“Quite expansive, isn’t it?”
I answered, my earlier irritation forgotten.
“It certainly is. Overwhelmingly so.”
“This is actually about average. From B-rank Gates onward, you’d need to hire a dedicated guide.”
“…A guide seems necessary even now.”
“Not today.”
Choi Team Leader produced a laminated sheet of paper and showed it to me.
“What is that?”
“A map. They gave it to me when I received the rights transfer.”
A map—so we wouldn’t get lost….
“Wait a moment. What did you say?”
“I said it was a map.”
“No, not that. What did you say after that?”
“Are you referring to the rights transfer?”
Yes, that. That’s the one.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what I said.”
Choi Team Leader spoke as though it were nothing remarkable.
“This Gate is mine.”
“Pardon?”
“More precisely, I hold exclusive rights to it.”
Perhaps it was the wetland air, but my palms grew damp and my throat parched.
I swallowed hard.
‘Exclusive Gate rights?’
In South Korea, Gates are national property.
Since the Great Upheaval, mana stones had become the cornerstone of energy, and Gates were nothing less than inexhaustible diamond mines. Yet this man possessed exclusive rights to one.
‘Just who is this person?’
I had known he was from a wealthy family, but not to this extent.
“Shall we depart?”
Choi Team Leader strode ahead, his silhouette radiant. Ah, that golden gleam, that unmistakable aura of untouchable wealth.
‘I will dedicate myself to your Guild.’
I made a solemn vow.
* * *
The Wetland Zone was a labyrinth.
Without Choi Team Leader as my capable guide, I would have wandered for hours. How long had we been walking?
– Screeeech.
As I drew upon my mana, the cry became clearer—the monsters were arriving.
‘At least twenty of them.’
According to Choi Team Leader’s explanation on the way here, the monsters appearing in this Gate were Wetland Zone Lizardmen.
They lived divided into multiple colonies under a single tribe, and this appeared to be one of them.
“It’s a small colony closest to the entrance. About twenty of them, so let’s dispatch them quickly and move on.”
Choi Team Leader pushed forward, sweeping aside vines. Normally he was a refined young master, but once combat began, he was something else entirely. The way he charged forward like an eight-ton truck with a broken steering wheel practically radiated raw masculinity.
‘Damn, that’s cool.’
Even if thirty Lizardmen became a hundred, I felt like we could sweep them all away together with Choi Team Leader.
Now I understood why players felt so intimidated by high-level users in online games.
“Screeeech!”
Perhaps because of that, my first encounter with the Lizardmen felt surprisingly tense-free.
There was only curiosity about monsters I’d only seen in photos and videos before.
“Oh, they’re big.”
Even the smallest of the twenty was a full head taller than me.
With their minimum two-meter height, sleek musculature, and thick tails, they looked even more imposing.
‘Though not quite as much as the Hop Goblin Warrior I faced yesterday.’
These grotesquely-featured basketball prospects didn’t seem particularly pleased by our arrival.
– Screech!
– Kik, kik!
Dozens of harpoons in their hands glinted brightly. I watched them approaching from the front in an encircling formation and spoke.
“No archers, then.”
“Wetland Zone Lizardmen mostly use harpoons. Just be careful of thrown spears just in case.”
“Got it.”
True to form—Choi Team Leader really did know his stuff. He even had his arms crossed casually.
“Screeeech!”
They’d closed to just twenty meters away. I grinned at Choi Team Leader.
“These guys aren’t afraid of anything.”
“That’s the Lizardmen’s nature. They’re reckless and prefer direct confrontation.”
“I see.”
The distance had narrowed to ten meters. I was beginning to notice Choi Team Leader’s crossed arms.
“Looks like we should start fighting soon.”
“Yeah, we should.”
“…Ah, yes. We should.”
Whiiiiing-!
Then four or five harpoons tore through the air in a rush. In my F-rank Hunter days, I would have seen my life flash before my eyes, but now I simply swung my spear lightly and deflected them.
Clang clang clang!
That’s when I felt something was wrong.
– Screeeech!
– Kik! Screeeech!
Why are those bastards acting like that?
Their eyes rolled back white, shrieking like madmen—this goes beyond hostility into pure hatred.
Choi Team Leader tossed a comment at my bewildered expression.
“It’s because of the equipment.”
Equipment? Why would equipment—oh!
‘Lizardman Hide Set, Slayer’s Spear.’
Damn, just look at those names.
If I were a Lizardman, I’d have gone berserk too.
‘Come to think of it, they’re only throwing spears at me.’
With their tribal enemy right in front of them, Choi Team Leader might as well be invisible.
This means I’m about to get bombarded with attacks—wait, hold on.
“Did you plan this?”
“Plan what?”
“You dressed me up in this to draw aggro while you clean up—that’s exactly the strategy here, isn’t it!”
“I swear it isn’t.”
Choi Team Leader’s expression turned serious as he continued.
“I’ll just stand here.”
“Pardon?”
“You’ll draw the aggro and conduct the raid. Don’t misunderstand.”
What the hell is this nonsense.
“So you’re saying… I fight alone?”
“Yes.”
“And you just stand there with your arms crossed watching?”
“I’ll uncross them.”
“Are you fucking—”
“Spear incoming.”
Shrieeeek!
The moment the spear flew, green scales flashed from all directions as they surged forward. Choi Team Leader, who had hastily retreated, shouted solemnly.
“Fighting spirit!”
This guy’s completely insane.
I wanted to charge over and grab him by the collar right then, but spears came flying from every direction.
Clang!
– Shriek!
“You damn things.”
I gritted my teeth and drew up [Ki Perception]. Twenty spears suddenly erupted above their heads.
[Lv.40 Lizardman Tribesman]
Level 40…
I gripped the spear tightly.
“You’re all dead.”
Ding.
–
[Lizardman Leather Set]
increases damage dealt to that monster by 10%.
–
[Lizardman Slayer’s Spear]
increases damage dealt to that monster by 20%.
– All
[Lizardmen]
in this Gate now regard you as an enemy. They will never cease until they have avenged this grudge!
At the same time, the Slayer’s Spear traced a heavy arc through the air. The foundational techniques of the Jin Family spear art, honed to the seventh level, poured down upon them.
Crack!
* * *
– Kiiiii….
The yellow reptile’s eyes slowly closed. The green Wetland Zone was submerged in the corpses and blood of those who had fallen before, and not a single Lizardman remained standing.
Ding.
– Level Up!
– Level Up!
I turned away from the cheerful system notifications. Choi Team Leader was leaning against a tree. He said he wouldn’t fold his arms, yet there he was with them crossed—twice as irritating.
“What are you doing?”
Choi Team Leader, who had been watching me silently, threw something. A small drink bottle containing red liquid. A potion to restore depleted stamina.
“Are you giving me a bottle and medicine now?”
“For someone who’s supposedly ill, you look remarkably healthy. Not a single scratch on you.”
…That’s a fair point. For a moment, I was almost convinced.
While I hesitated, Choi Team Leader opened his mouth.
“I apologize.”
And he didn’t stop there—he bowed at the waist. It was such a formal apology that I had nothing to say. My irritation softened in an instant, but I needed to hear his reasoning.
“Why did you do that?”
“I needed to see your abilities.”
“Just for that?”
“It’s important to me. I need to know how you move, how much you can handle, and how far we can work together.”
“But you left me alone in a swarm of monsters?”
“If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t have done it.”
Honestly, it felt good to be vouched for by someone capable.
‘Besides, I didn’t get hurt, and I leveled up twice.’
I asked with barely concealed anticipation.
“So, what’s your verdict?”
“Hmm.”
Choi Team Leader, who had been studying me with that peculiar gleam in his eyes, finally spoke.
“I still don’t know.”
“What?”
“So here’s the thing.”
Choi Team Leader tossed something to me—an elongated cylinder with an opaque interior. When I shook it, liquid sloshed inside.
“What is this, a potion?”
“There’s a button on the bottom. Try pressing it.”
A press-to-open mechanism?
I tilted my head curiously and pressed the button. With a click, the front of the cylinder swung wide open.
The problem was….
Whoooosh—
Boom!
Whatever was inside shot up like a firework and exploded in midair. The pink liquid that burst overhead spread out in a wide mist.
“Huh?”
What the hell was that?
As I stood there dumbfounded, Choi Team Leader’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“It’s pheromone.”
“Pheromone? Perfume?”
“Something like that.”
“…?”
“Harvested from female Lizardmen.”
The moment he finished speaking, I felt a tremor from somewhere.
The ground. The earth itself was trembling. Choi Team Leader helpfully added:
The ground. The ground was resonating. Choi Team Leader added kindly.
“The effect is extremely potent.”
You bastard….
* * *
“Team Leader 3.”
The first words the gray-haired middle-aged man had spoken in an hour. Kim Sang-sik, who had been waiting patiently while he chain-smoked, responded.
“Yes, Guild Master.”
“Curious, aren’t you? Wondering what nonsense I’m up to calling you in at this hour?”
“No, not at all.”
The Sopoong Guild Master chuckled good-naturedly.
“Right.”
“Sir?”
“Nonsense. That’s exactly why I called you.”
“….”
“Do you know where I’ve been today?”
The Guild Master exhaled cigarette smoke as he spoke.
“Guild Alliance breakfast meeting.”
Mid-sized guilds are enterprises too. Regional alliances hold gatherings where guild masters meet for camaraderie, and today was one of those occasions.
“I’d barely taken a bite on an empty stomach when that bastard, the Sangdong Guild Master, told me something amusing. Apparently, a C-rank who Awakened recently was part of our guild just days ago.”
“…Guild Master, that’s——”
The Guild Master raised his hand, cutting off Kim Sang-sik’s response.
“I thought it was nonsense at first. But the Sangdong Guild Master is a crude bastard, sure enough—yet he’s not the type to fabricate lies out of thin air. Especially not at a Guild Alliance meeting.”
“I’ll, I’ll look into it again!”
“You? No, there’s no need.”
The Guild Master crumpled a stack of papers and hurled it across the desk.
“I’ve already investigated separately.”
Kim Sang-sik recognized the crumpled papers for what they were—someone’s personal background report. His name was on it too.
“Jin Tae-kyung. You know that name, don’t you?”
‘Damn it.’
The Guild Master flicked ash from his cigarette, watching Kim Sang-sik squeeze his eyes shut.
“I understand where you’re coming from, Team Leader. You’re a founding member of the Guild, and you could’ve fired some low-rank Hunter you didn’t like. Filled the vacancy with your beloved son instead. Right?”
“Yes, yes.”
“But that F-rank loach you dismissed and cast out has returned as a dragon? The Guild Master himself urged you to recruit him, and if you told the truth, it’d cause a scene. People would think you can’t judge talent worth a damn. So you filed a false report instead? That’s it, isn’t it?”
Sizzle.
The Guild Master stubbed out his cigarette. The embers scattered, and with them, his final patience vanished.
“Team Leader. No—Sang-sik. Has it been about twenty years?”
Kim Sang-sik answered in an uneasy voice.
“Twenty-one years, Guild Master.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“…Yes, Elder Brother.”
“There we go. Sounds better. Keep calling me that from now on.”
“I’m sorry?”
“You’ve done enough to have carried me along for twenty-one years. I’ll tell the Team 3 members separately. As of today, you’re fired.”
“W-wait, Elder Brother!”
“Stay quiet, get out, and I won’t block your path forward. Do whatever you want after you leave.”
The Guild Master’s voice was thick with suppressed rage.
Kim Sang-sik realized he had no choice left.
‘Leave? The Guild?’
A workplace he’d devoted over twenty years to. And he was being cast out over something like this. Without hesitation.
‘This fucking…’
Clenching his teeth, he turned to leave the Office. One final blow struck him from behind.
“Hey, HR Manager. Process two resignations today. Kim Sang-sik and Kim Sang-ho.”
In the days that followed, the Sopoong Guild buzzed with the rare spectacle of a father and son resigning simultaneously.
Along with it came the hot topic circulating through the Guild—the recent whereabouts of that lowest-rank Hunter who’d quit.
“C-rank, apparently. An Awakening.”
“My goodness, you mean Tae-kyung? The Tae-kyung I know?”
“That’s what they’re saying. He hit the lottery jackpot. Kim Sang-sik didn’t even know who he was when he went to recruit him—got completely played.”
“He nitpicked everything and fired him, then reaped what he sowed. I heard Team Leader Kim’s been going around cursing the Guild Master, calling it wrongful termination.”
“He’s lost his mind. Anyway, I’m jealous. When will I ever get a life like that?”
“Honestly, Tae-kyung deserved it. He lived so diligently—fortune found him because of that.”
“Deserved? Then are we all just living recklessly? It’s all luck, pure luck.”
Such conversations, half envious and half jealous, always ended with the same question.

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