Chapter 146

Chapter 146

Chapter 146 – Job Change Quest (2)

The power possessed by Shin Dong-hoon was an A-grade technique designated as “Instant Acceleration.”

It granted him the capacity to traverse distances at an astonishing velocity so long as he suspended his breathing, though I had yet to witness this talent with my own eyes.

‘His companions are certainly no amateurs, either.’

His squad consisted of three B-rank and six C-rank combatants.

It was an exceptionally well-rounded elite squad.

These awakened individuals had been assembled by Commander Lee Hak-gi, and their extensive background in slaying beasts was undoubtedly the reason they had so rapidly cleared the Orc Dungeon.

‘Additionally, Shin Dong-hoon has already reached level 37.’

Attaining level 37 placed him in the highest echelon of citizens, setting aside the vassals.

Regular citizens benefited from experience boosts.

I had individually elevated the experience gain rates of the most promising individuals, meaning their progression speed was actually three to four times greater than that of ordinary citizens.

Yet, the fact that he had reached such an advanced level regardless of this discrepancy pointed to a single conclusion.

‘He has undoubtedly been slaying high-tier beasts.’

Indeed, his accomplishments had been nothing short of exemplary since he was granted citizenship.

‘His squad members hold him in high regard, and he possesses a solid character.’

Under these circumstances, he was a prime prospect for advancement.

‘I ought to propose making him a vassal.’

I also contemplated presenting this identical opportunity to Lee Junho, Park Seong-jun, and Kim Gi-tae, each of whom possessed B-rank traits.

Thanks to my recent advancement of the Dignity Maintenance skill, my capacity had expanded, allowing me to bring in up to one hundred more vassals.

‘Furthermore, his current class is hunter.’

Transitioning into a hunter was far less complicated than one might assume.

The process merely required assigning the corresponding class advancement quest, which demanded the elimination of thirty beasts.

Once they accepted the task, executing thirty goblins would successfully complete their class transition.

Because I had the ability to supply them with armaments, completing the hunter trial was incredibly straightforward.

‘I could grant it if they truly desired it, however…’

Since I retained the authority to strip away their class at any moment, it posed no real concern.

‘A warrior would prove far more advantageous than a hunter.’

The primary utility of the hunter class lay in retrieving remains from slain targets.

To put it plainly, it prevented the physical remains of hunted beasts from vanishing, which did not offer a massive advantage.

If a slain beast possessed significant worth, its remains would merely be logged into the shop anyway.

Thus, the hunter class on its own lacked substantial appeal.

‘The sole scenario where it truly shines is during maritime hunts.’

The most notable example of this would be the Sky Blue Swordfish.

Their natural habitat was along the shorelines, though they had previously migrated inland when the White Dragon emerged.

These aquatic creatures were renowned for their incredibly tender, delicate meat, prompting certain citizens to focus entirely on capturing them.

Because the appetite for them was immense, I made them available in the shop; however, due to their premium market value, citizens preferred trading them directly in the open marketplace rather than through the system shop.

This venture generated substantial profits.

‘Conversely, the warrior class yields immediate combat advantages.’

As a profession made accessible once the job research facility reached level two, its perks far surpassed those of a hunter.

It bestowed a fifty percent increase to melee offensive power and granted a momentary one hundred percent surge to one’s physical capabilities.

‘The advancement trial for the warrior class… Wait.’

The requirements for transitioning into a warrior were somewhat peculiar.

‘It indicates that the candidate must overcome the Warrior’s Room?’

It appeared that upgrading the job research facility to level two had unlocked dedicated chambers for class transitions.

‘Absolute Dweller’s Eye.’

Sure enough, an inspection of the facility revealed the addition of two distinct chambers.

‘These must be the ones.’

One designated space was the Warrior’s Room, while the second appeared tied to the Archer profession, which remained locked.

‘I should initiate the Archer research immediately.’

[Would you like to initiate research on the ‘Archer’ class?]

[Yes / No]

‘Begin.’

Ding!

[Archer]

…Research initiated…

Remaining Duration: 11 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds

Having set the Archer development in motion, I instantly relocated myself to the coordinates of Shin Dong-hoon and his companions.

Whoosh—

“Leader, aren’t we moving a bit too quickly on this?”

“What makes you say that?”

“We have no assurance that these beasts can even be found inside the protected area. If finding them were so simple, the early adopters of the hunter class would have already claimed them all. They might even be wiped out by this point. Wouldn’t it make more sense to scout the territory before committing?”

Releasing a soft sigh, Shin Dong-hoon responded.

“Gi-tae, as I mentioned before, you can abandon the hunter role whenever you want. If it proves unproductive, you simply resign.”

Kim Gi-tae, who was naturally analytical and risk-averse, found it difficult to go along with his leader’s rapid choice.

“In that case, wouldn’t it be wiser if only a couple of us transitioned first?”

Shin Dong-hoon paused to reflect before speaking.

“What would be the purpose of limiting it like that?”

“The existence of a hunter class suggests that other professions must exist as well, doesn’t it? Furthermore, there is a thirty-day waiting period if we decide to swap classes later. There is likely a far superior role waiting to be discovered.”

“And?”

“Which means we ought to proceed with caution. If we make this transition now, we are locked in for an entire month before we can make another adjustment.”

“I see.”

Had Shin Dong-hoon been an obstinate superior who ignored all outside counsel, Kim Gi-tae would not have pushed the matter.

He would have remained silent, knowing that debating a stubborn leader would lead nowhere but irritation.

Fortunately, Shin Dong-hoon was a commander who valued his team’s input, willing to pivot if presented with a logical argument.

‘Ultimately, my primary objective is to make contact with Kim Jae-hyun, not to simply adopt a hunter class.’

Just as he was preparing to agree that the entire squad did not need to transition simultaneously, an unexpected voice cut through their conversation.

“I share that sentiment. Instead of taking up the hunter path, why not test your mettle as a warrior?”

Instantly, every eye in the room darted toward the unfamiliar speaker.

“?”

An unrecognized individual was seated right beside them.

He sat there with such ease and familiarity that it felt as though he had been part of their gathering all along, catching everyone off guard.

‘…It is him.’

Yet, in stark contrast to his casual posture, the aura radiating from his figure was staggering.

He looked like an ordinary human, sporting relaxed attire and immaculate skin, yet his mere presence exerted an inexplicable, crushing pressure.

While the group stood paralyzed, he broke the silence.

“It is a pleasure to meet everyone. I am Kim Jae-hyun.”

“!!!”

The group stepped back involuntarily, shock written across their features.

“It—it is an honor to meet you.”

“I am Lee Jun-ho, sir!”

“Ah…”

These veterans, who faced death daily on the battlefield, suddenly looked like nervous novices in his presence.

Shin Dong-hoon was the sole individual who managed to keep his composure intact.

Addressing the newcomer, Shin Dong-hoon spoke.

“It is a privilege to cross paths with you, Jae-hyun. My name is Shin Dong-hoon.”

“Likewise.”

“The pleasure is mine.”

As Shin Dong-hoon clasped Kim Jae-hyun’s offered hand, his exterior remained steady, but inside, his mind was reeling with astonishment.

‘How can this be…’

It was unbelievable.

‘For such a monumental gulf in power to exist…’

Shin Dong-hoon had always harbored immense pride in his personal strength.

His capabilities were outstanding, far exceeding those of the average awakened warrior.

While he had initially relied on firearms to dispatch beasts like everyone else in the beginning, he was now capable of slaughtering a dozen orcs with nothing more than a simple kitchen knife in mere moments.

He had even managed to slay the massive beast responsible for his awakening—the dread ‘Cyclops.’

Although he relied on the backing and coordination of his allies, the killing blow had been his own.

The memory of throwing a cluster of explosives directly into its gaping maw and shattering its skull remained vivid in his mind.

Having conquered his terror of the Cyclops, he had assumed he could hold his head high when meeting ‘Kim Jae-hyun,’ the master of this domain.

In truth, he had secretly hoped they might interact on somewhat equal footing.

‘How utterly foolish of me.’

Right now, he was engulfed by a torrent of sensations that dwarfed any apprehension he had felt during the giant hunt.

Ever since his awakening, as his own power developed, he had gained an intuitive sense for measuring the strength of those around him.

He could easily gauge that Lee Jun-ho, Park Seong-jun, and Kim Gi-tae possessed superior strength compared to the rest of the unit, and he could even map out the exact gaps between them.

However…

‘The disparity here is incomparable.’

The individual standing before him seemed entirely devoid of boundaries.

No matter how much he tried to measure him, it was like gazing up at a colossal, infinite barrier.

Because Shin Dong-hoon possessed superior power himself, he was uniquely capable of recognizing just how supreme this man was.

The feeling washing over him resembled dread, yet its core was entirely distinct.

‘To even attempt a comparison is absurd.’

It was pure reverence.

An overwhelming mixture of awe and profound respect, triggered only by encountering an absolute existence, rattled his very consciousness.

Breaking his train of thought, Kim Jae-hyun spoke once more.

“I would highly recommend that you pursue the warrior path, Dong-hoon. How does that sound?”

Without a single moment of doubt, he replied.

“I accept.”

A subtle nod and a warm smile appeared on Kim Jae-hyun’s face.

“Excellent.”

At that exact moment, a glowing holographic interface materialized before his eyes.

《Class Change Quest》

Objective: Overcome the challenges of the Warrior’s Room.

Push-ups: (0/100)

Time Limit: 23 hours 59 minutes 57 seconds

Completion Reward: Transition to ‘Warrior’ class.

Failure Consequence: Inability to change classes.

Then…

“May fortune favor you.”

The moment Kim Jae-hyun finished speaking, the reality around him warped, accompanied by a brief wave of vertigo.

“Ugh.”

Once his vision cleared, he realized he was standing directly in front of an array of diverse weaponry resting inside a cabinet.

‘What is this place…?’

[Kindly choose a weapon.]

The armaments before him were constructed entirely out of timber, looking very much like mock implements used for sparring.

There were wooden swords, halberds, spears, maces, and short blades.

They were clearly meant for safe practice.

Shin Dong-hoon reached out and retrieved a wooden blade measuring roughly half a meter.

Just then…

Click.

A sliding panel to his right parted, displaying a moderately sized arena.

‘Is this my cue to go in?’

The space was brightly illuminated, giving him a clear view of its layout.

Aside from its ample dimensions, there was nothing remarkably distinct about the chamber.

The solitary odd detail was the presence of a second exit directly opposite the threshold he was crossing.

‘I think I understand the goal.’

His gut told him exactly what was expected.

“Huff… whew.”

Drawing a deep breath to steady his nerves, he crossed over the threshold.

As soon as his feet cleared the frame, the entrance sealed shut behind him.

Click.

The far door began to swing open.

Then…

Creeeak— creak—

A mechanical figure constructed entirely of wood emerged.

At a glance, the contraption seemed remarkably fragile.

It was, after all, merely a jointed wooden doll.

However…

‘…This opponent is highly dangerous.’

His instincts warned him that this dummy possessed a threat level comparable to his living companion and closest junior, Lee Jun-ho.

It was a terrifying realization to get from a simple wooden construct.

Right then…

Thud—

In a flash of motion, the wooden mechanical dummy shut the gap between them, thrusting forward with a wooden spear.

Kaaa-kak!

“!”

The impact was incredibly heavy.

Clashing his blade against the wooden weapon, Shin Dong-hoon felt himself driven backward by the sheer kinetic force.

‘Still…!’

Whoooom—

A surge of searing energy burst from his chest cavity, diffusing rapidly through his limbs.

Concurrently, the surrounding noise seemed to vanish entirely into silence.

Then…

Kaa—ka—kaak—!

The path of the wooden puppet’s incoming spear seemed to drag through water, decelerating dramatically.

In contrast, Shin Dong-hoon’s own speed multiplied.

Crash!

Within a fraction of a second, Shin Dong-hoon’s blade carved through the wooden construct, splintering its neck entirely.