Tiger Hunt — Part 1
“Did you say you’re going to drink Nectar?”
“Yes. It’s time to advance to Level 4.”
Manager Choi stared at me, dumbfounded.
“Uh, Superhuman… Didn’t you just reach Level 3 not too long ago?”
“It’s been about a month.”
“And now you’re planning to reach Level 4?”
“There’s no reason to delay, is there?”
“Oh my god.”
His jaw dropped open.
Then, his expression shifted to one of concern.
“Isn’t that too fast? I’ve heard that leveling up too quickly can lead to side effects.”
“It doesn’t necessarily have to. If you take the right measures and manage things properly, it should be fine. Didn’t Woojin awaken straight to Level 5?”
“Well, yes, but isn’t Director Seo a bit… different? I heard that he even had another round of reinforcement training and berserk resistance treatment after drinking Nectar last time.”
“I’m only planning to go up by one level.”
In the game, side effects weren’t a major issue.
Drinking Nectar consecutively would rapidly fill the experience bar, with only a mana addiction debuff as a trade-off.
Even that would eventually wear off if I just stayed in the mana bath and forgot about it for a while.
But this world is different.
This isn’t just a game—it’s another reality.
In fact, I had a bit of a hard time last time because my mana wasn’t stable.
“I’m not just charging forward recklessly. I learned a lesson from the trouble I had last time with the Nectar.”
“Ugh… I feel bad that you went through that because of me…”
“It’s fine. It was my choice. Anyway, this time, I plan to do it by the book.”
By the book.
That is, drinking Nectar after processing it properly.
There were several ways to go about it.
You could brew it with certain special ingredients, drink it after vaporizing it through a special process, or even refine it with magic and inject it directly.
These are commonly called attribute elixirs.
“I already have everything prepared for that, actually.”
Manager Choi opened a cupboard.
Inside were a magic cauldron, catalysts, firestones, and various special ingredients, all neatly arranged.
“If you’d given me a heads-up, I would’ve prepared the main ingredients in advance as well. It’s a pity.”
Ingredients like the Everlasting Ginseng King, Dragon Heart, and Angel Wing.
These kinds of materials contained unique properties that could enhance the effects of the attribute elixir.
“There’s no need for all that.”
“I only mention it because it’s a bit of a shame. With the right ingredients, the Nectar’s effects would improve, side effects would disappear entirely, and you might even awaken a new ability.”
“Really?”
Hearing that piqued my interest a little.
Manager Choi noticed my reaction and added another suggestion.
“If we start processing it now, it’ll take a few days to complete. It needs time to brew. In the meantime, why don’t you try to acquire the main ingredient?”
“Hmm… sounds good. Let’s go ahead and gather the main ingredient, then.”
Manager Choi turned his monitor toward me.
Four types of elixirs were displayed on the screen.
[Heart of the Horned Tiger]
[Spinal Fluid of the Monster Gorilla]
[Fruit of the World Tree]
[Core of the Iron Imoogi]
“I’ve compiled a list. These four ingredients are the most popular among warrior-class superhumans.”
“That’s right.”
I’d seen these many times in the game.
Not just seen them—Warrior Kim had consumed a lot of them, too.
“Let’s go with the Heart of the Horned Tiger.”
Each one grants a different trait.
The Horned Tiger grants [Valor].
The Monster Gorilla grants [Mighty Strength].
The World Tree grants [Regeneration].
The Iron Imoogi grants [Iron Skin].
All four traits are incredibly useful for a warrior.
In my case, I already have all but one.
I have Mighty Strength and Regeneration, and I’m working on increasing my proficiency with Iron Skin, which is imbued in my shield.
As for Valor?
I’d already decided from the start.
‘Valor is the final piece.’
The ultimate component for Giant’s Strength.
In other words, the Heart of the Horned Tiger was the best choice.
“Um…”
Manager Choi made a troubled face.
“Superhuman, does it have to be the Horned Tiger?”
“Why?”
“The Horned Tiger is a critically endangered species. There’s almost no supply of it, and even when there is, it’s mostly snapped up by buyers in China. I could probably manage to secure any of the other ingredients, but the Horned Tiger is very difficult to obtain.”
“Aren’t there plenty of them around the Demilitarized Zone?”
“They’re there, yes, but you’d need to get a hunting permit from the Eastern Army.”
So, I’d have to catch it myself.
It’s true that in the game, the Heart of the Horned Tiger was unusually expensive.
It would only appear occasionally in the Shinwon Market.
“Then just get me the permit. I’ll go catch it myself.”
“I’m sorry for the trouble. I should be the one providing it…”
“It’s going into my own mouth, so don’t worry about it. Ah, do you need any funds for the permit?”
A hunting permit.
In this twisted world, there’s no way they’d just hand it out for free.
Of course, I’d have to grease a few palms.
Hearing my suggestion, Manager Choi waved his hands in protest.
“Oh, no, please! Superhuman! I make plenty of money, too. Let me cover the permit fees!”
“I feel bad about it.”
“Bad? Superhuman, I can’t even tell you how much I owe you! You bought this entire building for me! And not just the building—you saved my life, too! I’m doing this because I want to, so please, don’t feel burdened.”
“Haha. Alright, then.”
“I’ll be a bit busy arranging things to make sure the permit is ready before the elixir is. I’ll have it done by the day after tomorrow at the latest, so please be prepared. Oh, by the way, you don’t have a car, do you?”
Manager Choi was indeed efficient.
He handled everything at lightning speed.
In just two days.
Not only did he secure the hunting permit from the Eastern Army, but he also brought over a brand-new car, gleaming under the sunlight.
Looking a bit embarrassed, Manager Choi scratched his head.
“I would’ve driven you myself, but as I mentioned before, my work has been piling up…”
“No worries. The more your business prospers, the easier my life becomes.”
“Would you like me to assign a driver for you? I held off because warrior-class superhumans usually prefer to drive themselves.”
“No, I’ll drive myself. I heard it’s better to drive on your own when going to hunting grounds.”
A superhuman’s reflexes and dynamic vision are second to none.
And since I’ll be heading to the Cheorwon plains, where the Horned Tiger roams, there’s a chance I’ll end up in a firefight while driving.
There was even a shooting mini-game in the game, where I’d have to whip the steering wheel around and shift gears like crazy. Bringing along a driver would be a bad idea.
“Be careful. I’ve heard there’s been a surge in poachers around the Cheorwon plains recently.”
“That’s a treasure trove out there.”
“Tsk. With the northerners staying quiet, the poachers are running wild. And quite a few of them are Level 3 superhumans. I’m sure you can handle them, but still, don’t let your guard down.”
“Of course.”
Without any defensive traits, a sniper’s bullet could still kill me.
Considering that many beast hunters—especially poachers—are Level 3 or 4 superhumans, there’s no room for complacency.
Vroom!
I climbed into the car and started the engine.
It was an SUV with a bold, boxy design.
It reminded me of the G-Wagon by Mercedes from the old world.
Since it ran on gasoline, the engine revved with a sharp, powerful roar.
“I wanted to get you a magi-tech vehicle, but… they’re just too expensive. Still, this one has bulletproof glass and special tires. It’ll withstand rifle fire.”
Manager Choi looked a bit sheepish.
I waved my hand dismissively.
“No need. I can’t complain about a free ride. I’ll buy myself a magi-tech vehicle once I’ve made enough money.”
“Oh, no, please. I’ll get one for you.”
“Well, I won’t turn it down if you do.”
Magi-tech vehicles are outrageously expensive.
To be precise, the engine is absurdly costly.
Once you replace gasoline or diesel with a mana core, the car’s price jumps tenfold.
Even if Level 1 or Level 2 mana cores are cheap, I’d rather stick to an internal combustion engine than pay that much.
Or go all out and get a luxury flying car instead.
“Well then, I’ll see you in a few days.”
“Yes, Superhuman. Take care, and watch out for poachers.”
Vroom!
I pressed down on the accelerator.
The SUV surged forward with surprising speed for its bulk, the engine roaring with a powerful growl.
This was the kind of luxury SUV you don’t see often around Sinlim-dong.
I could feel pedestrians glancing at me as I passed, their eyes lingering on the vehicle.
But only for a moment.
Once I left Sinlim-dong and merged onto Superhuman Avenue—the road that replaced the Olympic Highway in the original world—the car quickly blended in with the traffic.
Vroooom!
A supercar thundered past, leaving a trail of sound in its wake.
Luxury sedans cruised by in heavy silence, and flying cars glided above, as free as birds in the sky.
“So many rich people.”
As the population grows, so does the number of cars.
And the wealth gap is starkly visible in the gap between these cars.
Supercars overtook beat-up compact cars as if threatening to crush them, while above, flying cars floated leisurely like celestial beings.
I felt a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth.
Ugh, don’t get distracted.
I increased my speed, driving down Superhuman Avenue.
My destination was Cheorwon City, the territory of the Eastern Army.
Even by highway, it would take a solid two hours to get there.
Two hours later.
In Cheorwon City’s government building, within the Eastern Army’s jurisdiction, I got my hunting permit verified.
“You’re here to hunt a Horned Tiger?”
“Yes.”
“Your stay is limited to one week, and you’re only allowed to hunt one. If you hunt more than one, there’ll be a fine. The Horned Tiger is a Class 1 protected species, so you’ll get penalized even for self-defense unless absolutely necessary. You brought your vehicle, right?”
“Of course.”
“Attach this black box to your helmet, and another to your car. Keep your permit on you at all times.”
“Strict regulations, huh?”
“Didn’t you know? The laws of the Republic of Korea don’t apply here.”
The civil servant responded with a curt attitude.
And he was right.
Cheorwon City-State. Paju City-State.
These are personal territories controlled by the Eastern and Western Army divisions, who defend the border zone with North Korea.
The heads of these two divisions played a huge role in the founding of the Republic of Korea, which is why they were granted these lands as personal fiefs.
They’re practically 21st-century Margraves.
It speaks to the immense power wielded by these two divisions.
Without a word, I attached the small black boxes to my helmet and to the SUV.
After leaving the Cheorwon City government building, I drove for another hour before finally arriving.
“Phew!”
The Cheorwon plains.
In the original world, most of this land was taken by North Korea, but here, it firmly belongs to the South.
However, given its proximity to the northern border, the Eastern Army hasn’t actively developed the area.
They’ve put up access restrictions, leaving it as untamed wilderness.
That decision turned out to be a stroke of genius.
Now, the plains are a hunting ground teeming with rare and magical creatures, a goldmine for hunters looking to strike it rich.
Of course, this also created conflict.
If you venture just a bit further east into the Baekdudaegan mountain range, you reach Monster Village, where natural mutants live in isolation.
Under Korean law, mutants are classified as humans.
But social perception hasn’t quite caught up to the law, and there are occasional incidents where they’re mistakenly hunted as monsters.
“I guess I’ll have to check out Monster Village someday, too.”
That’s for later.
For now, I drove the SUV into a nearby grassy area.
Flap!
A flock of birds hidden in the grass took to the sky.
A flock of ducks with silvery wings and tail feathers that shimmered in the sunlight.
[Silverlight Ducks]
I’ve heard their meat is quite delicious.
Leap!
Then, a herd of deer bounded away.
These deer had two pairs of antlers, with a faint rainbow-colored mana glow radiating from their backs.
[Rainbow Deer]
Their hides fetch a decent price on the market.
They can’t match the productivity of synthetic leather, but there’s still demand for handmade luxury goods.
I reached into my golf bag to pull out a hunting shotgun, then stopped myself.
My permit only allowed for a single Horned Tiger.
If I hunt any other protected species, I’d be fined immediately.
“Tch.”
Should I join the Hunters’ Association?
I’ve heard that just by joining, you’re allowed to hunt up to Class 2 protected species.
Eh, forget it.
I barely have enough time to collect traits and combine them for higher attributes as it is.
I parked the car in a suitable spot.
Then, I climbed onto the roof and settled down to switch traits.
[Treasure Hunter], [Bright Eyes], [Sensitivity]
[Insight], [Focus], [Track]
It’s been a while since I used the Treasure Hunter trait.
“Hah!”
Bright spots sparkled everywhere.
From the sky, from the bushes, from the ground, between the trees, and under rocks—blue lights shimmered like a river of stars.
This place is a treasure trove.
With the addition of the [Detection] trait from my helmet goggles, no treasure—or magical creature—could escape my sight.
The problem is, I still need to find a Horned Tiger here.
Treasure Hunter doesn’t have a filter function.
It’s great that I can see the locations of all these magical creatures, but to actually find a Horned Tiger, I’ll need to take a different approach.
‘Good thing I came prepared.’
I opened the golf bag.
First, I took out a pair of wireless earbuds, connected them to my smartphone, and played some music.
Loud rock music.
First, I turned the volume up to the max, then back down to the minimum.
I repeated this dozens of times.
My ears felt numb, and then suddenly, they cleared.
Acquired the trait: [Keen Ears].
The second item I took out was a can of preserved food.
My face wrinkled up just looking at it.
“I really don’t want to do this.”
But what choice did I have?
You have to suffer a little if you want to gain traits.
Clenching my eyes shut, I opened the can.
“Ugh!”
The stench assaulted my nostrils, stabbing directly into my brain.
I felt the urge to gag.
I wanted to cover my nose immediately, but I equipped the [Endurance] trait and took a deep breath.
“Ugh!”
Even with a big inhale, it wasn’t enough.
Fighting tears, I equipped the [Deep Breath] trait as well.
Taking a long, slow breath, I felt the stench fill my lungs, reach my heart, and even seep into my intestines.
My stomach churned so violently it felt like it was flipping over.
Just as I was about to throw up, it happened.
[Keen Nose]
The trait appeared.
“Uwaaagh!”
I couldn’t hold it back.
I immediately tossed the can aside and jumped out of the car, retching onto the ground.
Isn’t this just too much?
Why did the condition for acquiring the trait have to be smelling this canned filth?
Honestly, the smell of fermented skate would’ve been better.
This is practically surströmming! (TL Note: Look it up on YouTube)
–TL Notes–
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