The Only Enhancer - Chapter 173

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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 173
173 – Leveling the Playing Field (5)
By nature, Won Eun-seong was what people called an extrovert—someone with plenty of friends and acquaintances.
Even before joining Reinforce Guild, there were quite a few people there who knew Won Eun-seong well. When they all shook their heads at him with pitying expressions, Won Eun-seong couldn’t help but fill his mind with question marks. What was going on?
And while Won Eun-seong stood there bewildered, he could see Yu Ji-min—whom he’d seen yesterday—also shaking her head at him with a similarly pitying look.
Why were they doing this? Unable to understand, Yu Ji-min, who could be considered the kindest among them, spoke to Won Eun-seong.
“It’s not too late even now. Just say you have something urgent to attend to.”
“Excuse me? Isn’t this a great opportunity? To reach Level 6, I need to clear Quests, and the Hunter Association is short on personnel….”
“Sigh, well, that’s true, but then shouldn’t we group up together later?”
“Oh! The youngest’s idea is good!”
“Yeah, that way we get training benefits and clear Quests too. Perfect!”
“Right! Brother, escape while you can! If you go now, you might survive.”
Why were they making such a fuss when it was just training?
Still, Won Eun-seong shook his head as if it were nothing.
“What do you all take me for? I’m Won Eun-seong, the training fanatic. I don’t know why you’re looking at me like that.”
“…We all know that, but if we’re saying this, there must be a reason, right?”
“…? Why are you doing this? You’re all going too. What makes you think I can’t? I like training and find it fun, so stop worrying.”
“…It’s fun at first.”
“…????”
At Won Eun-seong’s confused expression to these cryptic words, they all gave up.
Who could stop someone from walking into hell of their own accord? They just accepted it.
When they all said they didn’t know anymore and left, Won Eun-seong chuckled softly.
He thought about how difficult it must be for them to react that way, but honestly, having leveled up this much already, what was a little hardship?
Won Eun-seong genuinely believed this as he loosened up his body lightly.
Then he spotted Hong Myeong, whom he’d also seen yesterday like Yu Ji-min, and tried to acknowledge him.
But something seemed odd—wasn’t Hong Myeong carrying a notebook in his chest?
Finding it strange, Won Eun-seong approached Hong Myeong and asked.
“What’s that notebook? Or should I call it a notepad?”
“Huh? Yes? Ah! It’s nothing special, but the seniors said it was essential, so I brought it.”
“A notepad is essential for training?”
“Yes. I didn’t know much about it, but they said it was essential. They said there would definitely come a time when I’d need it….”
Growing even more confused, Won Eun-seong tilted his head, and at that incomprehensible sight, he simply nodded.
Wondering if he might need one too, a male hunter he already knew approached him with an encouraging expression and similarly handed him a notepad and a pen.
Tilting his head at what this was about, he accepted them since they were being given to him.
Then the man who gave him the notepad spoke.
“There will come a time when you need it. It’s essential, so make sure you carry it with you.”
“…????”
He didn’t know the reason behind those words, but he said he understood and waited for Min-jun to arrive.
Not long after, Min-jun arrived, and they all traveled through the portal he created.
Won Eun-seong was amazed by Min-jun’s tremendous power, and with an excited heart, he traveled through the portal.
So I’m finally hunting with the Reinforce Guild.
I wonder if they’ll live up to their reputation. With everyone so fearful, I’m curious just how difficult this will be, I thought with anticipation.
4.
The first monster I hunted was naturally a Disaster-tier Level 5 creature.
Though North Korea had been subjugated, Manchuria was teeming with countless Disaster-tier Level 5 monsters.
China couldn’t complain either—they were grateful that Reinforce Guild would handle it.
Besides, I’d already bought several tier-6 equipment pieces from Min-jun.
So without incident, I crossed the North Korean border and discovered a Disaster-tier Level 5 monster in Chinese territory, then initiated the raid. Needless to say, it wasn’t a normal raid.
Why? Because I needed to level up Hong Myeong, the Reinforce Guild members equipped themselves with minimal armor, charged at the Disaster-tier Level 5 monster, took the hits head-on, and returned to receive healing from Hong Myeong.
“Ahhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhh! Ughhhhhhhh!”
Hong Myeong poured out mana frantically while healing the Reinforce Guild members with a tearful expression, and even I, Won Eun-seong, found my pupils dilating wildly as I observed the situation.
One of the Reinforce male guild members, covered in wounds and spitting blood, grinned at me and spoke.
“…Cough, I told you to go, didn’t I?”
“…I’m sorry.”
All I could say in response was an apology.
I wondered if I should flee now, but I couldn’t. Min-jun had orchestrated the entire situation and given me orders too.
“Association Chairman, whenever you have an opening, please fill your Quest count, and if it looks like he’s about to die, withdraw. I’ll handle the healing and keep him alive.”
“…What? W-what did you just say…. Ah, no, I understand.”
At first, I thought I’d misheard the order, but it was real.
When I frantically stabbed the creature with my spear, Min-jun praised my damage output while healing the monster.
Watching this, I stood dazed until Min-jun’s shout snapped me back, and I charged forward again.
“Association Chairman! Go again! Full recovery achieved!”
“…Ah! Yes! Going now!”
Even as I ran now, I couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
When I frantically charged and attacked the monster, the other Reinforce Guild members smiled gently and threw themselves at it, taking hits.
They didn’t dodge the attacks—they took them all head-on, and others were there to evacuate the wounded members.
Was this the pinnacle of efficiency? Or had I witnessed something grotesque?
I thought this place was insane, but why?
I trembled as I looked at Min-jun.
I realized there was only one insane person here.
It was extremely efficient and even safe.
But why did I feel so uneasy? My heart felt heavy.
I questioned whether this was something humans should even be doing.
How much time had passed?
Eight hours after I began attacking, liquid began dripping from the monster’s eyes. It was crying.
Seeing the creature so mentally exhausted that it now desired death, I couldn’t help but feel strange emotions.
And as if telling me to finish it, the monster no longer struck the guild members. When I saw it offering its own neck to me as if begging to be killed, I closed my eyes and thrust my spear.
The spear pierced deeply into its neck.
It transformed into energy, scattering items and mana stones.
Since Min-jun wasn’t casting healing, it seemed the raid was finally over.
“Waaaaaahhhhh! Waaaaaahhhhh!”
Hong Myeong was too bewildered by the sheer number of wounded to think clearly, but Won Eun-seong’s mind was equally shaken by the sight before him.
Still, it was over. Just as I was beginning to relax, Min-jun approached and asked.
“Did you finish about thirty percent?”
“Huh? Ah! You’re exactly right.”
“Then I’ll bring the others.”
“…Yes???????”
Won Eun-seong stared blankly at Min-jun as if he’d just heard the most absurd thing in the world, and Min-jun smiled knowingly at his reaction.
“This one put up more of a fight than expected, so we’re making good time. At this pace, we’ll finish within four days. Though Hong Myeong will need to continue longer for leveling purposes.”
“…???????????”
What was I hearing? They were going to do this for three days straight?
Even though I’d heard it, I couldn’t quite believe it. When I looked blankly at the other guild members, they simply nodded with serene smiles.
Then I called out to Min-jun.
“We’ve drawn the attention of a nearby one! It should take about thirty minutes to arrive!”
“Hmm, that’s a bit long. Let’s rest for a moment before we start again.”
“””Yes, sir!”””
We’d just hunted for eight hours, and now we were getting a thirty-minute break?
Or rather, no break at all? Just as that thought crossed my mind, I received Min-jun’s wide-area healing skill, and all my physical fatigue melted away.
Of course, my mental exhaustion faded too, but the confusion remained.
At those words, I tried to ask the others around me to explain, but they were all busy with something. Looking closer, I realized they were writing something in the notebooks they’d received before coming here.
What on earth was that? When I took a closer look.
It was a journal.
[Day 1: Just finished eight hours of efficient recovery leveling work, and I’m writing this journal during a thirty-minute break. It’s more manageable than I thought. It’s not like we’re attacking—monsters crying is just a common occurrence, so it’s still bearable. Just getting hit seems surprisingly comfortable. When Cheon-jin joked that I was a masochist back then, I should probably stop that now.]
Could they have brought those notebooks to write diaries?
Or for mental health purposes?
Realizing this, I couldn’t help but shudder.
Just as Won Eun-seong was desperately trying to escape.
Min-jun approached and asked.
“Are you managing alright?”
“…Yes? Ah….”
Thinking about what to say, I forced an awkward smile and spoke.
“Y-yes, I’m managing! Since that monster can’t do anything, it’s inevitably easy! You’re truly amazing!”
Upon hearing my praise, Min-jun nodded with satisfaction.
And the other guild members shook their heads at his response.
Well, they couldn’t help but understand that sentiment.
Standing before Min-jun, none of them could say a word.
They wanted to say it was difficult, but knowing what an incredible opportunity this was, they couldn’t bring themselves to complain.
Won Eun-seong was the same.
Honestly, I could still endure it, but mentally it was truly exhausting.
In all my life, I’d never seen a monster shed tears while begging to be killed—it felt like I’d stepped into a slaughterhouse.
I could understand why people who worked in slaughterhouses were required to undergo psychological therapy.
But I had to do this for three more days?
Won Eun-seong felt his head spin at the thought.
He’d made the right call coming today, thinking he wouldn’t be able to attempt the Quest otherwise—so for now, just for now, he decided to stay and continue. He took his seat.
Then he turned to ask one of the guild members beside him.
“How am I supposed to use this?”
“Ah, it’s best to write with as much emotion as possible. On the first day, most people just write brief summaries, but honestly, as time goes on, you’ll have less and less time to write, so it’s better to write as much as you can from the start.”
Hearing this, they felt bewildered—wondering just how much these people had endured to have developed such expertise.
Watching Hong Myeong write in his journal while crying stirred a sense of pity in him.
At least when his Quest ended, he could escape; Hong Myeong had to remain trapped here for the sake of leveling.
Won Eun-seong silently offered his condolences and began writing his own journal entry.
He started by writing about the weather and the emotions he’d felt before arriving here.
Strangely, putting it into words made him feel a little better.

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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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