I thought I'd live a life with no connection to Hunters.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Awakener Kim Do-yoon, we sincerely congratulate you on awakening your mana. Your identity has been automatically classified by the Association as 'C- Rank' potential grade, and you have been designated as a registration candidate for the [Seoul Gangnam Hunter Association Branch] based on your current location.
"...Ah."
It had finally come.
Awakener registration.
Anyone who awakens mana and gains skills must automatically take the Association's registration exam.
It was a huge waste of two whole years, and on top of that, I'd have to get drafted somewhere and work?
But fortunately, the treatment was much better than the military.
In simple terms, the pay was on another level entirely.
Soldiers were the nation's dogs, but Awakeners were diligent workers.
At least it meant your efforts and achievements were guaranteed.
But the problem was...
Boss Mob Gallery
...this vile skill floating right in front of my eyes.
One day, it just popped up in mid-air.
At first, I jumped for joy, thinking my life was finally turning around, but then I saw the skill name and my brain froze.
Gallery. But with Boss Mob attached.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Welcome to the Boss Mob Gallery. This is a place where the lords of each tower stage floor can freely exchange opinions. You, 'Kim Do-yoon', can interact with gallery users here and use various privileges.
"What?"
💬 Posts[How far has the current raid team gotten?][Current list of most popular Hunters][Anyone got some Hunter memes?][For fuck's sake, raid it this time][So which of you is the strongest?]
Just looking at the posts made my head spin.
Since it manifested through a skill, it was obviously different from the galleries I knew.
Still, the disconnect from reality kept nagging at me.
I decided to dive in, driven by a familiar sensation.
(My Post)Title: What is this place?-Newbie here, what is this place? What the hell is it doing popping up in my skill window?
Frustrated, I hammered out the post, and soon comments started trickling in, one by one.
— AnonymousOh yeah, a newbie's here?— AnonymousNewbie's... talking casually?— AnonymousSees "skill" right away, this guy's not normal either lol— AnonymousLike there's any normal guy in this gallery lol— Aged Wine is...Hueee...! A newbie has arrived...!— AnonymousMod entered the gallery lol
After a bit more back-and-forth, the mod jumped in to sort things out.
Title: Newbies, read this.— Paper Enthusiast-Newbies are usually supposed to shut up and listen, that's the rule. But it's been a while since we had one, and I'm in a good mood, so I'll explain briefly. This is a gathering of guys like you who rule their tower floors, sharing tips and advice to avoid getting ejected from the tower. Now get lost once you're done reading.— Anonymous...What did we even read?— AnonymousLOL— AnonymousDamn, what a straightforward explanation— Aged Wine is...Hueeet, it's sinking in so clearly...!— AnonymousYou already know everything;— Aged Wine is...Aww, Wine-jjang knows nothing at all
Tower floors? Ejection?
Words that seemed totally unrelated to my life made me feel like I was lost in a maze.
(My Post)Title: Newbie question #2.-So you're all the monster bosses stuck in the tower? Enough with the ejection this, floor that, insider weeb talk only you guys get. So what can you do for me?— AnonymousThis guy's so bold wtf— AnonymousDon't call us monsters, it hurts our feelings— AnonymousUh... what are we supposed to do...?— Paper EnthusiastWhat a cheeky bastard after so long. Want a taste of the mod punch?— AnonymousGasp— Anonymouslol— Aged Wine is...Huee...! The arrogant newbie-jjang must bow his head and offer words of apology at once...!
"...No."
Since it came from a skill, there had to be some benefit for me, right?
The messages were already urging me to take the Awakener exam, but I had to go bare-handed like this?
(My Post)Title: Hear me out.-You guys don't seem to get what I'm saying. If you don't help, I'm in deep shit? I have to take the Awakener exam next week—should I just show them this gallery? Wanna see a newbie get wrecked for being a total noob? So please, show me something useful.— AnonymousGetting boring;— AnonymousWhat the hell's this guy on about? Awakener exam?— AnonymousIsn't that what outsiders take?— AnonymousWine-level roleplay lol— Aged Wine is...Comparing that trash roleplay to me is an insult— AnonymousAgreed;— War God*beep boop*— AnonymousMod's gonna go nuclear today lolTitle: You really want the spicy treatment, huh— Paper Enthusiast-If that's what you want, I can't say no to a block. But this is your last chance. Prove your bullshit posts right now. Chicken? Account nuke incoming?— AnonymousLOL can he even prove it lol— AnonymousActive Hunter here, upvoted lol— AnonymousNot human...— AnonymousTbh this level of aggro is a success— AnonymousSuccess my ass lol— AnonymousFr, kinda jealous of the talent; pulling this much aggro on first post;
"I'm losing my mind."
The board was instantly flooded with talk about me.
Newbie what the hell, no manners, loser becomes the bitch... what was that last one.
It felt just like any other gallery, but this was still happening inside my skill window.
The topic was singular.
Proof of my existence.
[Newbie, you hiding?][Total nofun][No hiding from us lol bye~][Not going far~][But if he's really human, then what?][As if lol][Hueet...! I-if real, I'll drain and store all his blood...!][Gasp]
If I got blocked like this, I'd end up as a powerless normie.
Since I'd become an Awakener anyway, shouldn't I at least make a splash once?
'Can't get blocked.'
With that thought, I grabbed my phone and snapped a photo of my hand.
A plain guy's hand with the middle finger extended.
I didn't forget to write 'Boss Mob Gallery' on the back of my hand.
"...How do I even send this?"
The photo saved to my phone, but there was no way to upload it to the skill's gallery.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Condition unlocked! You can now upload saved photos to the 'Gallery'.
As if it was waiting, the message popped up, and I immediately posted the photo to deliver some harsh lessons.
(My Post)Title: All you bastards who talked shit earlier, come here-(My middle finger photo) Especially that Paper Enthusiast fucker, get ready to delete your account lol This proof enough? Now for fuck's sake help me already
The stagnant views started climbing one by one, then exploded.
— Anonymous?— Anonymous???— AnonymousWait, for real???— AnonymousWhy is this real? Real human?— Paper EnthusiastWhoa, a hand— AnonymousLololol mod lost it— AnonymousGot chills just now; photoshop?— AnonymousWild how a human got in here— AnonymousDumbasses, obviously fake— Short-Eared GoblinHrng... not fake~ My mana sense detects nothing unusual— AnonymousGoblin Queen appears lol
The gallery was on fire.
It wasn't the bait I intended, but it ignited instantly, with posts respawning nonstop.
Half doubt, half curiosity.
Honestly, whether they believed me or not didn't matter.
All I cared about was getting some help for next week's Awakener exam.
[Newbie I'll help you lol][Wtf is going on in the gallery rn?][Hueet, newbie-jjang, I'll support you...!][Account nuke... gotta do it?][Where'd that mod who was picking fights go? Lololol][Got bodied instantly? Couldn't do shit? Lol]['Real' human in Boss Gallery...? Possible.][Don't care if human or not. New bait's fun, upvote lol I'll go first]
For now, I clicked on a random post that seemed urgent.
Title: What can I help you with?— Anonymous-(Grinning goblin photo) I'll serve you loyally, so come on over?— AnonymousFuck off;— AnonymousNewbie's gonna run lololol— AnonymousFace is straight-up menacing— AnonymousNever gets old— PosterFuck off roms— AnonymousGot salty lolololol— AnonymousI'll help better than this guy lol— AnonymousFr lol help from this guy = dark wizard job change confirmed lol;— AnonymousLololololololol
"Ugh, fuck."
Okay, monsters, got it—but how the hell were they gonna help?
— AnonymousGot nothing lol(My reply)— Me....?— AnonymousRealistically how tf we gonna help lol just cheer from inside the tower with pom-poms— AnonymousLol cheering? Lol— AnonymousOr come here and we'll host you right away— AnonymousFull tower course on arrival lol— AnonymousObvious he's fresh Awakener, no way he can enter— AnonymousYeah lol— Aged Wine is...Hueeng ㅠㅠ I wanna meet newbie-jjang in person too ㅠㅠ— AnonymousSis wanna meet me?— Aged Wine is...Ei, mod punch!— AnonymousInstant block lol
So they couldn't actually help in reality?
Unless I got a super-fast tower entry pass, there was nothing for the Awakener exam.
Truly despairing news.
Title: I know~— Short-Eared Goblin-We can just use our own images, right? Hunters want to beat us anyway, to keep world peace~— AnonymousOnly I don't get it?— AnonymousExplain for dummies pls(My reply)— MeYou can help?— AnonymousLol look at him pop out right after no reactionTitle: So basically this, right?— Paper Enthusiast-Awakeners including newbie's goal is tower clear, right? Normies can't even enter obviously So we'll pre-adapt him so he can enter the tower~ That's it— AnonymousAha— AnonymousSo what? TL;DR pls— AnonymousIf you can't get even this...(My reply)— MeSo wtf you saying;— AnonymousHe doesn't get it either lololol— AnonymousSomething about mana adaptation?— Paper EnthusiastBingo lol;— AnonymousAh yeah that'll work— AnonymousYou're a genius?— AnonymousGoblin came up with the idea lol— Aged Wine is...Huee...! I understood completely...!
"Huh...?"
They were chatting among themselves again, leaving me behind.
What kind of help was this?
Mana? Adaptation?
Any help would do—as long as I didn't embarrass myself at next week's exam.
Then, the post I'd been waiting for appeared.
Title: Newbie-jjang, newbie-jjang, please read my post!— Aged Wine is...-(Photo of a woman with long white hair smiling sweetly) To adapt inside the stage, best to imprint the stage lord's image, me~! That'll reduce mental strain, make adaptation easier, and help with the Awakener exam!— AnonymousOoh yeah...— AnonymousMy eyes aaaah dyingggg— AnonymousHow long's it been since we saw Wine-jjang pic— AnonymousFr;; newbie hard-carrying— AnonymousThis the tower lord pic you see once a century?— AnonymousYup~— Paper EnthusiastYeah. Newbie can send pics, so we can too.— Paper EnthusiastAwakener exam etc. is just to check if you can operate in the tower, right?— AnonymousChecking aptitude lol— AnonymousSay it right lol— Short-Eared GoblinYeah~— AnonymousSo what's that got to do with seeing goblin and wine pics?— Paper EnthusiastObviously important— AnonymousEye candy good for me lol— AnonymousGet out— AnonymousSome kinda exploit? Not seeing in person, just pics = indirect mana resistance boost;— AnonymousHmm... maybe?— AnonymousHmm if you don't know stfu lol
"Ah."
I snapped out of staring at Wine Lord's photo like I was entranced.
This was a boss mob photo.
For a lord of a terrifying place, she exuded breathtaking, seductive beauty.
'That's it?'
Just one photo click?
Disappointment welled up from deep inside, but better than nothing.
(My Post)Title: Alright, taking your word for it—starting the grind?-No idea what it is but just stare holes through the pic? Lol? No effect = nuke the gallery, get going— Aged Wine is...Not free—pay me back later...!(My reply)— MeOK— AnonymousWhat can fresh newbie give lol— AnonymousLots to give...— Anonymous??— Paper EnthusiastAwakener exam review pls— AnonymousFr— AnonymousDitching would suck lol
What else to prep for the exam?
All I could do now was save the photo and stare, plus basic stamina training.
"Hmm."
Title: But this pisses me off?— Anonymous-Why only Wine Lord sends her pic? I'll send mine too, hmph (Tentacle-filled boss monster photo)
"What the fuck."
I flinched.
No matter how chummy we were chatting, shouldn't you warn before dropping gross pics like this?
As if echoing my sentiment, victims started popping up everywhere.
ㄴ Ah fuck my eyesㄴ Fuck!!!!!!!ㄴ Sir please use turn signals next timeㄴ Mod, delete this post right now!!!ㄴ Paper Enthusiast*) Newbie, don't be picky—look at every pic that comes up here at least onceㄴ My post) Do I really have to…?ㄴ Paper Enthusiast*) You don't have to… no, just lookㄴ My post) ;;ㄴ Forced image injection ㄷㄷㄴ But from the newbie's perspective, each of these boss mob pics is basically medicine yeah
After that, I had to keep looking at the many horrific boss mob photos uploaded to the gallery.
After seeing so many, after a certain amount of time, no matter how novel the appearance was, I could just let it slide.
..
…
"Warning! Mental contamination has reached a critical level!"
"Resisting…"
"Resistance complete!"
"Skill acquired: 'Mana Resistance (C)'."