Obtained End-Game Gear for a Bowl of Ramen - Chapter 32

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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 32. The Heavenly Twins

Roger tore the morning newspaper into shreds and hurled it across the hotel room.
“Ronald! You repay kindness with betrayal?! What in God’s name are you thinking?”
Fire erupted in Roger’s chest. His original plan had been to leverage Ronald’s Scorched Earth ability to blackmail Korea. With such dense population centers and packed buildings, every deployment of Scorched Earth would cause catastrophic damage.
He’d blast away with Scorched Earth under the guise of Gate raids, let Korean citizens tear into the Hunter Management Bureau’s incompetence, and once the Bureau capitulated and admitted its failures, America would take control of Korea.
The civilian casualties and mysterious EX-rank incidents caused by Ronald’s Scorched Earth would serve as ammunition to accelerate the enactment of hunter management legislation.
It had been a beautiful plan. On top of everything else, Roger had been prepared to pocket a substantial cut for himself.
Buzz—
Roger’s smartphone rang. The moment he answered, he heard a voice taut with displeasure.
-Ahem. Director Roger. Didn’t you promise back then to use Ronald to scorched-earth those redevelopment zones?
Veins bulged across Roger’s forehead.
“Shut up. Just because I let you play along doesn’t mean you’ve become something important.”
-W-what did you just say? Roger! How dare you speak so disrespectfully to—!
“I recorded every word of that meeting. If I release it, sure, I’m finished—but you all go down too. Twenty-plus Korean financial and political figures happily holding hands on the way out. Just say the word if you’d prefer to die.”
-Y-you cunning little….
“Got nothing else to say? Then shut your mouth. I’ve got enough noise in my head already!”
Roger hung up and nearly hurled his smartphone before hesitating and instead hurling it onto the bed.
‘America’s pride, my golden goose Ronald, and of all places—!’
Since the Tower of Trials and Gates emerged, the world had entered a new era of Cold War.
Ronald, the world’s number one hunter, was a source of American pride. Yet now he stood on the verge of being lost to Korea. What would become of America without him?
The nation unified under Ronald’s name would fracture, and rival powers like China and the European nations—who had been competing to climb the Tower of Trials—would begin to dismiss America altogether.
‘Above all else, Ronald is my cash cow. My cash cow! A dog loyal only to me, and now he’s been stolen by that EX-rank bastard!’
Roger’s face flushed tomato-red with agitation. Heat surged through him until he tore off his shirt.
‘Okay. Breathe. Think. There’s still a way to salvage this. Ronald’s weakness is his mental fortitude. If I exploit that personality of his—that guilt-ridden need to avoid burdening others—then….’
Trade sanctions against Korea. It was a decent strategy. Since he’d acquired Ronald, Korea should pay the price—what complaint could they lodge?
‘Besides, Ronald won’t hold out. He despises the thought of others suffering because of him. Why else would he have brainwashed himself into believing he was nothing but a gun?’
Roger retrieved the smartphone he’d thrown and made an international call. It was early morning in Korea, but evening in America.
“This is Roger. Immediately halt all exports of hunter equipment to Korea.”
-What? Director? Where is this coming from? The volume we export to Korea is tens of tons—if we do this, the losses will be—
“Do it! Haven’t you been watching the news?! Korea broke the Korean-American alliance first! They stole Ronald from us, took him to South Korea!”
The truth was that Ronald had left of his own free will. Roger knew this. But he couldn’t afford to admit it aloud.
“Full embargo. Do you understand? Until Korea tucks its tail and comes crawling, until Ronald comes to his senses and boards a flight back to America—total lockdown.”
-But sir, Director. Isn’t that the same approach China’s Li Wei tried and failed with? Controlling hunter equipment exports to Korea won’t—
“You know one thing and miss two. Li Wei failed because he tried to control Magic Stones. We’re different.”
Magic Stones had become the rice of a new industry since the Tower and Gates emerged. Oil, iron ore, uranium—they paled beside this core material that surpassed all existing resources.
“Raw material means nothing without processing technology.”
Thanks to Ronald, the world’s number one hunter, America had secured relatively superior grades of Magic Stone quickly and led the world in Magic Stone refining technology.
The primary hunter equipment America exported was Equipment Items—absolutely essential, life-or-death gear for hunters venturing into Towers and Gates.
“No matter how much that EX-rank mines Magic Stones, Korea’s processing tech is third-rate at best. Without Equipment Items, hunters will die in high-tier Gates or deep Tower floors.”
-But Korea has High Potions—
“Potions? Ha! Potions always come too late. What good is a potion after you’ve already taken a killing blow? The real deciding factor is Equipment Items. Wearing good gear mitigates incoming damage before it lands.”
A brief silence hung over the receiver.
-Director, I understand, but… what about the Heuk-gwangseok Set circulating in Korea?
Roger let out a snort of derision. He’d already run the numbers on all of that.
“How many hunters are there? 0.01% of the general population. Out of fifty million Koreans, there are five thousand hunters total. Meanwhile, that EX-rank produces roughly ten Heuk-gwangseok Sets per day.”
To manufacture sets for five thousand hunters would take a minimum of five hundred days. Five hundred days—over a year and a half. By then the embargo would have achieved decisive results, and Ronald would return to America. His presence alone was a burden to Korea.
Moreover, Heuk-gwangseok Set production was in sharp decline. On a stock graph, it was a market crash. There was nothing suggesting recovery in the near term.
“China failed, but America is different. If this operation succeeds, even that arrogant Li Wei will have his nose cut down to size. Now do it immediately!”
-Yes, sir!
Roger hung up and opened an app on his smartphone. The cargo ships bound for Korea slowly turned their bows around.
‘Done. That fucking EX-rank, daring to make a fool of me? Let’s see how long they manage without hunter equipment while the Welcomers run wild.’
* * *

A bolt from the blue struck the South Korea Hunter Management Bureau. Bureau Director Cho Yucheon quietly called only Deputy Director Oh Seungwoo into his office.
“Deputy Director Oh. You understand why I’ve called you, I’m sure.”
“Are you considering a contract killing?”
“If necessary. Our operatives planted in America gathered intelligence. This embargo—it’s Director Roger’s unilateral decision.”
If it was Roger’s unilateral choice, then Roger’s death would end it. Yet Deputy Director Oh had doubts.
“Regardless of how much authority the Hunter Management Bureau wields, this cannot be a decision made by a single director.”
“Probably with the American president’s permission. More than anything, America lost its world’s strongest S-rank hunter, Ronald, to us.”
If they killed Roger, a second Roger or third Roger would simply emerge. Yucheon smiled bitterly.
“What a mess they’re making. Ronald comes of his own accord, so why is this our problem? Seungwoo. You tailed Ronald, didn’t you? Find anything?”
Oh Seungwoo shared what he’d personally observed and heard. Ronald went to Lake Park. He used Scorched Earth there. Yet there was no collateral damage.
“So he encountered an EX-rank there? Perfect timing. Seungwoo! Pull up a list of everyone who was at Lake Park during that time. Finally, we’re going to figure out who the EX is!”
“That’s impossible, sir. It was a Gate the Detection Class hunters hadn’t anticipated, and we failed to establish proper scene control. The information was too severely compromised.”
Detection Class hunters can foresee Gates opening in nearby locations within a certain timeframe. Depending on their ability, prior identification is possible.
Through this, they secure the site in advance, evacuate citizens, and control the situation to prevent monsters from escaping. But there are exceptions.
“The Welcomers interfered. They have some means of opening Gates that weren’t scheduled.”
Cho Yucheon rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hand.
“Phew. Those bastards again. If scene control failed, an EX-rank could’ve slipped in and out without a trace. There’s no way we’d find them. Was there anything suspicious at all?”
Cho Yucheon glanced sidelong at Oh Seungwoo. His eyes held a hint of quiet anticipation.
“Nothing, sir. If I had to point to something, one powerful skill was used after the Gate was cleared.”
“A powerful skill?”
“Most likely Ronald’s Scorched Earth. The magical pressure that wafted over was tremendous. Probably someone got starstruck seeing the world’s number one and begged to see a skill demonstration.”
“Seems like he’s got nothing better to do. Alright. Either way, according to your account, Ronald’s naturalization in South Korea was Ronald’s own decision, right?”
An hour later. South Korea released an official statement.
<Breaking: Ronald’s Naturalization in South Korea Was Ronald’s Own Will!>
<Does America Have the Authority to Stop a Hunter Who Chose Naturalization of His Own Volition?>
South Korea landed a two-punch counterattack against America. Refusing to lose, America struck back again thirty minutes later.
<Breaking: America Formally Expresses Regret Toward South Korea.>
<Ronald’s Transfer to South Korea Is Clearly Unnatural. American Government Decides on Official Investigation Into Suspicious Talent Drain.>
<Hunter Equipment Export to South Korea Suspended Until the Situation Is Clarified.>
The heated exchange set Hunter On ablaze.
└Here we go again! First China. Now America. They really don’t think much of Korea.
└Do you have to be obnoxious to be a superpower? Why’s everyone like this?
└They just want Ronald back, plain and simple. But the more I think about it, the more pissed I get. Ronald wants to come, so why are they the problem?
└Imagine if our EX suddenly decided to go to America. Korea would react exactly the same way, right?
└But our EX didn’t go to America.
└And we’re Korean. We’re allowed to be mad.
└Fair point. But cutting off equipment imports? That stings.
└American-made hunter equipment is exactly what mid-tier hunters wear. D-to-C-ranked hunters hustle, buy American gear, then get promoted to B-rank.
└There’s the Heuk-gwangseok Set. Who cares?
└Does the Heuk-gwangseok Set magically reproduce itself? What, is an EX-rank going to dig it out of the ground? Even if an EX-rank is incredibly strong, they’re still just one person.
Ho watched Hunter On and scratched his head.
‘But it does reproduce endlessly……?’
Ho suddenly stood and looked around the room. Checking if there were surveillance cameras or anything.
‘Whenever you browse Hunter On, there’s always this one person with unnaturally sharp instincts. Well, if America’s acting like that……’
Ho opened his inventory. Puff! About a hundred Heuk-gwangseok Sets were sleeping in his inventory.
‘These are the extras that came out while I was customizing the Heuk-gwangseok Set I made for myself……. Since there’s a shortage of equipment, why not sell them?’
The master blacksmith of the volcanic forge had given him blueprints far richer and more varied than expected. He tried this way according to the designs. He modified it that way.
In the process, about a hundred Heuk-gwangseok Sets remained. But that’s not the end of it. Once he got the hang of following blueprints and crafting, making one set took less than a minute.
‘While I’m at it, why don’t I outfit all of South Korea’s hunters with standardized equipment? How many hunters does Korea have anyway?’
Ho accessed the South Korea Hunter Management Bureau website and found a remarkable post.
-I am Ronald. I do not wish for South Korea to suffer harm because of me. Therefore, I am returning to America. Though our time together was brief, EX. Thank you.
A post on the free bulletin board of the South Korea Hunter Management Bureau, not Hunter On. Probably Ronald posted it there so non-hunters could see it too.
Ronald’s message was short and concise, yet somehow melancholic. Ho recalled Ronald’s demeanor at Lake Park.
‘He was so happy to see me. Will Ronald really be happy going back to America like that?’
The answer was no. For once, Ho decided to do something decent. He warmed up lightly and drank a glass of water to soothe his throat.
“Earth Manipulation.”
[Skill Activated: Earth Manipulation Original]
[You manipulate earth, stone, and minerals.]
[Heroic Strength Stage 4 resonates!]
[Distraction Technique activates!]
[Skill Copied: Earth Manipulation Original]
Crack-crunch-crackle!
Multiple Heuk-gwangseok items materialized in the air as if printed by a 3D printer. With blueprints in hand and now familiar with the skill, Ho could make one complete set at a time.
“Earth Manipulation. Earth Manipulation. Earth Manipulation.”
Crack-crunch-crackle!!
As soon as Ho finished crafting each Heuk-gwangseok Set, he listed them one by one on the Hunter On auction site. The price was roughly a million won per set.
‘I’ll just give it away for free. Ronald’s going to feel sorry again anyway.’
This Heuk-gwangseok Set was both for Koreans and for Ronald, who would soon naturalize as a Korean citizen.
‘Honestly, whether Ronald naturalizes in Korea or moves to the United States—that’s not my concern. But he has the right to follow his own heart, doesn’t he?’
Jung Ho had even negotiated with ramen noodles in front of the great shadow Dae Young. What becomes of Ronald, who’s pushed around by the United States, so much weaker than Dae Young? Does he come back out of guilt because of Jung Ho, because Korea got hit with trade sanctions?
‘How is that a free country? That’s not right. Earth Manipulation.’
Crunch-crunch-crunch!!!
Buried halfway under the sound of the Heuk-gwangseok Set being crafted, an auction notification from Hunter On also arrived.
[Auction Sale Notification!]
[Item: Heuk-gwangseok Set 1 unit]
[Winning Bid: 1,000,000 won]
[Auction Sale Notification!]
[Item: Heuk-gwangseok Set 1 unit]
[Winning Bid: 1,000,000 won]
…….
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Sale notifications popping up relentlessly. Crunch-crunch-crunch! The sound of Heuk-gwangseok Sets being made. Before Jung Ho knew it, he’d sold them all…….
[Account Balance: 5,000,000,000 won (5 billion won)]
Jung Ho had sold five thousand Heuk-gwangseok Sets.
* * *
Roger switched off his smartphone after ordering the trade sanctions. He plugged in the charger, showered, ordered room service, got a massage, sat in the massage chair, and admired the view from the terrace.
He deliberately cut himself off from news of the outside world. Why? To pressure South Korea.
‘By now, those Korean bastards must be in a panic.’
While Korea focused on the energy of Magic Stones, the United States concentrated on weaponizing them. Korea couldn’t catch up to American Hunter equipment even if it tried for a thousand years.
Of course, there were variables like EX-rank or the Heuk-gwangseok Set, but ultimately there were limits to what a single person could do.
‘No matter how well an EX-rank performs, they can’t single-handedly sustain South Korea. China’s number one, Li Wei, failed at it, and the world’s number one, Ronald, can’t do it either!’
That’s why Roger deliberately indulged himself in ease. But the hotel atmosphere felt strangely peaceful. It didn’t feel like a nation in decline.
Hunter equipment exports were controlled—so why were they laughing? What were these Koreans so pleased about, cackling away? Finally unable to contain his curiosity, the moment Ronald turned on his smartphone.
<Breaking News!! Heuk-gwangseok Sets Distributed to All South Korean Hunters!!>
<South Korea’s Hunter Management Bureau Bulk-Purchases Heuk-gwangseok Sets. Will Rent to Hunters at Low Cost!>
“What?!?!! What the fuck!!!”
A gravelly American curse suddenly rang out from the terrace. The Koreans who’d been enjoying the peace were startled.
“Fuck!! What the hell is this……what……this makes no sense……!”
Before Roger’s eyes, images flickered like a mirage. A cargo ship turning its bow. The world’s number one, Ronald, stamping naturalization papers. An EX-rank laughing from somewhere. And…….
Bzzzzzzzz―
A call from a restricted number. Roger answered with trembling hands. A long silence hung over the line.
-Roger. You’ve failed. I’m disappointed. Since you caused this, it’s your responsibility to clean it up. If you can’t, we’ve decided to cut you loose.
It was the President of the United States.
Continued in the next episode ▶
Got an endgame item for one bowl of ramen
Author
Hayan Gotgam
Publisher
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Publishing House
Gerae Publishing
Inquiry Email
[email protected]
Publication Date
August 24, 2026
UCI
G720:N+A327-20260423069
※ This e-book is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized reproduction and copying are prohibited. Violation may result in criminal and civil liability.
※ Pentagram awaits your precious manuscript.

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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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