"Wow… that was amazing. He didn't even grab the wall. He just jumped clean over it," one muttered.
"I actually don't know where he went," Haruya admitted, still looking toward the wall Raito had leapt over.
"But do you also do the monster while coming out? He didn't just save us, he also defeated a white wolf," Daichi said.
"Yeah," Haruya nodded quickly. "I saw it too. When I ran to the guards for help, I looked back and saw them. Seven white wolves. All of them."
"Wait, what are you two talking about?" one of the dungeon guards asked, narrowing his eyes.
"There were Rank D monsters inside," Haruya explained. "White wolves and even red wolves. We were attacked. He saved us."
"What?" the guard's eyes widened. "Seven white wolves, and he defeated them alone?"
"Yes. He did," Daichi confirmed. "And not just that. He also took down five red wolves."
The guards exchanged glances.
"Unbelievable. To do that alone, he must be a high-ranking hunter. Maybe Rank A or even B," one guard muttered.
"So, you're sure the beasts are dead?" another asked.
"Yes," Daichi said firmly.
"Alright," the guard nodded. "I'll call some hunters who usually guard this place. They'll check the dungeon. If it's true, you two can also follow them to recover the cores."
"Wait, the cores?" Daichi frowned. "But we weren't the ones who killed them."
"Well, if you think it's a waste to just leave them behind, then don't take them," the guard said with a shrug. "But since he didn't say a word when he left, maybe he doesn't care."
Haruya exchanged a look with Daichi. "I think we should," Haruya said.
"Yeah," Daichi agreed after a pause. "If we sell the cores, maybe one day, if we find him again, we can repay him with the money. It's the least we can do after he saved us."
"That's actually pretty smart," Haruya admitted with a faint smile.
The guard assembled five more hunters and led the way back into the dungeon. Soon, they reached the battlefield. Just as Daichi and Haruya had said, the ground was littered with the corpses of the wolves, both white and red.
Daichi knelt beside the bodies, pulling the glowing monster cores free with practiced hands. Haruya joined him, the two of them carefully collecting every last core while the guards watched.
Meanwhile, Raito was jogging back toward town. People stared as he passed by. His jacket and trousers were stained with the blood of wolves, and the sight drew uneasy looks from everyone on the street.
After a few minutes of steady jogging, he finally reached his apartment. He pushed the door open and let out a long breath, throwing himself onto the bed.
"Today was actually fun… and scary at the same time," he muttered to himself. For the first time, someone had looked at him with genuine gratitude. That simple moment made him feel strangely happy.
As he lay there, a sudden thought struck him. He sat up and glanced down at his clothes. "Ah, I still have blood on me. I need to change."
He stripped off his stained jacket and shirt, tossing them aside, then pulled on a clean T-shirt and trousers. Standing in the quiet of his room, he whispered to himself, almost in disbelief.
"Wow… I can't believe it. My power has finally manifested."
The memory of the battle burned fresh in his mind. That overwhelming surge of strength, the speed, the glow of mana around him—it had all felt incredible. For once, he didn't feel remorse that no one noticed his effort. Instead, he felt stronger, alive, and certain that this was just the beginning.
"When my power manifested, it was the greatest thing that's ever happened to me," he thought. "The kind of strength I felt… the mana inside me… it was immense. Once I reach level 50, I'll be as strong as that—no, even stronger."
But then doubt crept in. His brow furrowed.
"Wait. Did my level increase after defeating the red wolf?"
"Status. Open."
At his words, a glowing blue panel appeared before him, filled with numbers and lines of text. He scanned it quickly.
"…Level 3?" His voice dropped. "Still? I'm still at level 3? Why haven't I leveled up to 4?"