And just like that, the happy moments of the two children came to an end.
Five Years Later
I am Lukas Jun.
No, I changed our family name five years ago. So now, I am Lucian Jun, nineteen years old. And I'm an E-rank hunter—the only one in the entire world.
Yes, an E-rank hunter who has only a little more strength than an ordinary person. And once you awaken, you can never be promoted again. Sometimes, there are rare cases where people awaken a second time, but those cases are rare.
So here I am—nothing but trash in the world's eyes.
You might wonder—why bother being a hunter at all? Why risk my life when I could just work a regular job and live quietly?
The answer is simple.
I have someone to protect.
I need enough money to send my sister to the Royal Academy. Even though we're commoners now, I refuse to let her live the kind of life I do. I'm still the son of Baron Lukas, no matter what the world says, and it's my responsibility to take care of her.
And as for revenge?
No. I can't afford to chase vengeance. Not when my sister's safety is at stake.
Five years ago, after the tragedy, we left the Lukas village together. Now we live in a small settlement called Handol Village, a quiet corner of the Keyos Kingdom.
As for everything that happened in those five years… well, you'll just have to keep reading.
Hunters Guild – Handol Village Branch
The guild was bustling.
The Hunters Guild was a national organization managed directly by the kingdom. Hunters who weren't in a private guild came here to receive permission to enter gates.
The hall was wide and noisy, its stone pillars holding up banners of past hunts. Near the counters, hunters of all shapes and sizes were gathered—some armored, some in travel-worn cloaks, all carrying weapons that smelled of steel and blood.
The air buzzed with chatter.
"Hey, Hunter Finn! Long time no see, man. I thought you quit being a hunter!"
"My wife is pregnant. So I need some money."
"Is that so? Congrats, man."
"Hehehe..."
CLACK... CLACK...
The guild doors opened.
And then he stepped in—Lucian Jun. Dressed like a commoner, his plain clothes drew no attention. But the moment he entered, murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire.
"Hey, isn't he too young to be a hunter?"
"Oh, him. Don't even bother. He's just trash. The only E-rank hunter in the world."
"Huh?! Really? There was an E-rank? I didn't even know that existed."
Lucian heard them all. But he said nothing. He couldn't. They were right.
A voice cut through the noise.
"Oh, hey Jun! How have you been?"
It was a man in his mid-thirties, waving warmly.
"Oh, Mister Finn. I'm fine, what about you?"
"First class. You'll also join us in today's raid?"
"Yeah." Jun smiled faintly as he answered.
Another familiar voice called out.
"Oh, Jun, you came today as well."
It was Mira, a hunter his age. Her gentle eyes hardened into worry.
"You need rest for at least two more days. Why don't you ever rest? You're always getting hurt. Stay with me, ok?"
Lucian scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Oh, Mira. I'm sorry."
"You're really an idiot. Don't smile all the time."
Not long after, their team gathered at the edge of a floating E-rank gate, its glowing blue surface swirling like water under moonlight.
There were nine members total.
"So we have a total of nine members," said a grizzled man in his forties. His voice was steady, commanding respect. "Jun, an E-rank. Mira, a B-rank healer. Finn, Jaren, Rurik, and Garret—D-rank hunters. Theo and Alden, newly promoted C-ranks. And lastly, I'm an old C-rank. So, any objections if I take the lead today?"
"No, Sir Martin."
"You should take the lead."
"After all, you're the most experienced among us."
"Good. Then it's decided."
With that, the party stepped through the gate.
WHOOSH—
The world twisted. Light bent, and when their vision cleared, they stood inside a dark, cavernous dungeon crawling with goblins.
The air reeked of rot. The shrill screeches of goblins echoed off stone walls.
The other hunters moved swiftly—
SLASH!STAB! Green blood sprayed as goblins fell one after another.
It was easy for them. One swing was enough to cut the creatures down.
But for Lucian...
CLANG—! His dagger struck a goblin's club, sending a painful vibration up his wrist. He gritted his teeth and lunged again.
"Raaaah!" STAB!
The goblin shrieked, collapsing as Lucian barely managed to drive his blade through its chest. He dropped to one knee, gasping for breath.
The corpse twitched and dropped a small glowing magic stone.
"Hah... only one? Just my luck..." Lucian muttered, pocketing it.
GRRRRR!
Another goblin burst from the shadows, dagger in hand.
"Shit!" Lucian's eyes widened.
The goblin leapt with a shriek, its blade slicing downward.
WHOOSH! Lucian rolled aside, the dagger grazing his sleeve. "Huff... huff... That was close."
He charged, screaming. "Ahhhhhh!"
CLANG! Their blades collided. Sparks flew.
Then—SNAP!
Lucian's dagger shattered in half.
"Shit—! Not again!" His face twisted in despair.
The goblin's follow-up slash pierced his chest.
"AGHHHH!" Blood spurted as Lucian staggered back.
"Jun!" Mira's voice cried out in panic.
SHHHK! A D-rank hunter, Jaren, cut the goblin down before it could finish Lucian off.
Mira ran, her staff glowing as she pressed her hands to his wound. SHIIING—! Warm light enveloped him.
"I told you to rest for three days! But no—you didn't even rest one! Do you love getting injured?"
Lucian's breathing steadied as the pain dulled.
She's angry... but she's just worried. If it weren't for her, he would've died countless times already. Mira was a B-rank healer—she could have joined higher-ranked raids, yet she stayed here, always saving him.
"I-I'm sorry, Mira..."
"Don't talk, you idiot."
At last, the team cleared the dungeon. Goblin corpses littered the ground.
"Today's income was the worst."
"Yeah, at this rate I'll have to come back tomorrow for another raid."
"Me too."
At least they had gathered plenty of stones, but still, their voices carried no joy.
But what about Jun?
Jun looked down at his hand. One. Just one tiny stone. His lips tightened. How pathetic.
Everyone turned to leave.
And then—
Rumble…
The ground beneath their feet trembled faintly. Dust trickled from the jagged dungeon walls. A low grinding sound echoed through the cavern.
Everyone froze.
"...What was that?"
"An earthquake?"
"No… look."
At the far end of the chamber, where only rough stone should have been, a massive door slowly revealed itself. Its surface was dark and ancient, carved with eerie glowing runes that pulsed like a heartbeat. The door hadn't been there moments ago—no one had seen it until now.
The guild hunters exchanged nervous glances.
"A… door? Inside a dungeon?" Martin muttered, his voice tight.