Chapter 322: Heart (3)
Level 292.
That was Kang-hoo’s level when he finally defeated the main boss monster, Karon.
Having gained over ten levels just in this dungeon, the whole experience felt somewhat surreal.
Of course, it was also because they had cleared a dungeon that hadn’t been conquered for a long time, which meant the experience gain was stacked.
Since the experience was calculated based on the average level of the four participants, it was only natural that Kang-hoo found the reward generous.
In other words, Takashi, Emilia, and Yu Cheonghwa didn’t gain much in terms of experience.
Though that only applied to experience—each of them was checking the special rewards that had been activated for them.
There was no need for disputes or exhausting negotiations over distribution, as the rewards were bound individually.
And those rewards were buffs.
Four energies flowed from Karon’s dead body, seeping into each of them as if seeking out their rightful owners.Takashi shouted in delight.
“I told you during the briefing, didn’t I? This dungeon’s ecosystem felt like it would grant buffs!”
Buffs were rare to begin with, and having predicted the reward correctly only made Takashi more cheerful.
However, no one asked what buffs the others had received.
This aligned with what was written in the original work.
It was an unspoken rule not to ask or covet each other’s rewards.
Jang Si-hwan had applied this unspoken rule to all of The Thirteen Stars, and since no one objected, it became a shared culture.
【Buff – Repentance】
【One-time use. Removes all harmful effects on the user and restores HP to 99%.】
Kang-hoo already possessed the buff “Repentance,” which he had acquired in the past.
He had debated using it but ultimately hadn’t, so he still had it with him.
And now, he was about to gain another buff.
Since buffs were rarer and harder to acquire than skills, any buff felt valuable.
Then—
【Buff – Contemplation】
【One-time use. Allows the user to spiritually observe a target they have seen before for one minute.
The observation occurs from a top-down perspective, as if looking from above. The target is unaware.】
‘Can this really be called a buff? This transcends space and time—far more than a simple enhancement.’
Kang-hoo’s expression hardened.
Not from disappointment or frustration, but because of the nature of the Contemplation buff.
With this ability, he could secretly watch even someone like Jang Si-hwan for one minute.
Sure, there was a 99% chance that nothing meaningful would happen during that minute, but he could still peek into someone’s life—even if they were in their most secret, private location.
Since the buff’s value could shift dramatically depending on how it was used, he had to be careful.
‘The Contemplation buff…’
If he had to choose one person whose life he wanted to peek into, it would undoubtedly be Jang Si-hwan.
When would be the best moment to spy on him for meaningful information? It was time to dig through the original story’s memories.
Meanwhile—
After checking the buffs, Kang-hoo reviewed the skill he had stolen from Karon.
There were several stealable skills, but one in particular had caught Kang-hoo’s interest.
【Mana Beast】
【Skill Mastery: Lv. Max】
【Absorbs mana through wounds on the skin or muscles.
The amount of mana absorbed is capped at 50% of the target’s maximum mana.】
‘It’s like the mana version of vampirism.’
That was his first thought upon seeing the skill.
Take the concept of sucking blood and replace “blood” with “mana,” and you get the Mana Beast skill.
Kang-hoo didn’t view it as a mana recovery skill, but rather as an offensive skill to use against hunters or monsters.
The reason was simple.
Except in special cases like himself, mana recovery had a hard cap on its maximum regeneration rate.
You couldn’t just pour mana into an empty bottle like water. Even potions worked within limits.
So if he could drain his opponent’s mana, he could drastically limit their ability to use skills.
No matter how good a skill someone had, it would be useless if they couldn’t activate it—thus, he saw it as a kind of “sealing” offensive skill.
‘Yeah, this is it. The grotesque hybrid.’
Kang-hoo was certain that no label suited him better than “grotesque hybrid.”
An assassin who not only drains blood but also mana!
Even assassins skilled with daggers are considered top-tier, and Kang-hoo had already surpassed that tier by far.
After clearing the dungeon, the four of them gathered briefly before parting ways to share their overall impressions of the battle.
Normally, this would’ve been skipped, but it happened naturally since Kang-hoo was their new partner.
“All three of you—if anything, the reputations I heard fell short rather than being exaggerated. I learned and felt a lot today.”
Kang-hoo offered his honest assessment first.
It wasn’t flattery, but a sincere expression of what he felt.
All three hunters were so strong that he couldn’t even begin to imagine how to face them in a one-on-one fight.
It also reaffirmed that the portrayal of The Thirteen Stars in the original story had not been in vain.
If he had felt they were beatable or unimpressive… that would have been the strange part.
The three quietly nodded to Kang-hoo’s words, then each shared their impressions of him.
Yu Cheonghwa spoke first.
“My schedule’s packed, so we’ll have to part ways here today, but I’ve definitely found plenty of reason to meet you again, Shin Kang-hoo. Let’s meet again!”
By making it sound like she had the choice of meeting again, she was asserting control over their relationship.
It was a very her-like thing to say. And Kang-hoo understood—it was her way of expressing considerable interest.
Then came Emilia’s response, which was even more forward than Yu Cheonghwa’s. She took it a step further than expected.
“If you come to France, I’ll introduce you to a few interesting dungeons. Or better yet, why don’t we set a date now?”
“Right here on the spot?”
“Let’s confirm it. Otherwise, we’ll just throw around empty promises again, and you might not come like last time.”
It was an expression of intense interest.
There was a strong determination to officially create an excuse to meet again, no matter what.
‘Yu Cheonghwa still feels cautious and calculating. It’s very much her style. She’ll probably need more time. On the other hand, Emilia—this is the perfect time to move things forward.’
Since Emilia had already shown interest, backing out now would be meaningless.
With high-pride hunters, push-and-pull tactics don’t work. You row the boat when the tide’s high.
“All right. Then how about within two weeks? After my current schedule is done, I’ll be free within that window.”
“Really?”
“Want me to write it in blood?”
“A blood oath… I love it.”
“Good, then.”
“Hey, hey, Shin Kang-hoo! Jokes should stay jokes—what are you doing actually trying to cut your finger?”
When Kang-hoo began to carry out the “blood oath” that anyone would have taken as a joke, Takashi freaked out and grabbed him.
But both Kang-hoo and Emilia remained serious. They had both meant it.
“…I give up. Is this what it means when people say their wavelengths match?”
Takashi let out a dry laugh.
If blood was needed to prove a promise and trust, then so be it.
And so, a literal blood oath was made between Kang-hoo and Emilia. Watching this, Yu Cheonghwa let out a long sigh.
It felt like Emilia had finally found someone who’d reciprocate her overly dramatic energy.
She was already getting a headache, thinking the two might become an unhinged duo.
Afterward—
Having parted ways with Emilia and Yu Cheonghwa, Kang-hoo headed to the next destination with Takashi.
It was a previously arranged trip for Kang-hoo to conquer a dungeon.
The dungeon belonged to “Takashi Corporation,” which Takashi had founded to manage dungeon ownership and operations more efficiently.
Takashi was tagging along as part of the arrangement.
However, Takashi never once asked why Kang-hoo was interested in that dungeon or what he planned to obtain inside.
He adhered strictly to their unspoken rule—don’t pry unless the other person volunteers the information.
Instead, perhaps still impressed by their last dungeon run, he began reviewing it aloud again.
“Kang-hoo.”
“Yeah?”
“Here’s what I felt watching you during that last raid. You really seemed like the architect.”
“The architect?”
“Exactly! If someone had designed the dungeon, they’d know the best way to clear it, right? That’s the vibe you gave me.”
“I see.”
“Sounds like crap when I say it out loud, doesn’t it?”
“Can I be honest?”
“Nah, it’s crap. Hahaha.”
Takashi chuckled and shook his head, realizing even as he said it that it sounded absurd.
But in truth, he wasn’t wrong. He just wasn’t going to hear that truth from Kang-hoo.
When Kang-hoo didn’t respond for longer than expected, Takashi quickly changed the subject.
“Whether it was a lucky guess or not, I liked your imagination. You saw three steps ahead of me.”
“I think I was just lucky. It all happened to go smoothly. Normally, it might’ve gone completely sideways.”
“Luck is a skill! Besides, Yu Cheonghwa and Emilia liked you even more than I did. They found you interesting.”
“Really?”
“Totally! Do you know how picky they are? There are tons of hunters who want to team up with them but never get the chance!”
“Thanks for setting this up.”
“Hey! I’m not trying to take credit here—I’m saying they’re stingy with praise, and they liked you!”
Seeing how much more thrilled Takashi was than Kang-hoo himself, Kang-hoo couldn’t help but laugh.
He wondered how it could make him so happy—but it did, and he was grateful for it.
It felt all the more genuine knowing that Takashi truly meant it. Kang-hoo also realized his heart had opened up more than before.
“Kang-hoo.”
“Yeah?”
“Let me ask you just one thing. Why did you want to meet me? What was it about me that made you interested?”
This question didn’t feel awkward.
It was the same one Takashi had once asked the protagonist Jang Si-hwan in the original story.
That exchange had become the turning point that brought them closer after growing apart.
After hearing Jang Si-hwan’s heartfelt answer, Takashi began to sincerely invest himself in The Thirteen Stars.
Kang-hoo, remembering that moment in the original story, decided to listen to his own heart instead of quoting lines.
He felt speaking from his true feelings would convey more sincerity than mimicking the original dialogue.
“Takashi. You’re pure. You’re someone who can find happiness and satisfaction in the little things—a truly blessed person.”
“Oh?”
As Kang-hoo’s expression turned serious, so did Takashi’s. It was the kind of thing he wanted to hear slowly and thoroughly.
Even now, Takashi still found it surreal and amazing that he had become friends with Shin Kang-hoo.
Though they hadn’t had much time to build trust, they had become closer faster than anyone else.
“I’ve always been envious of that side of you. I’ve looked up to it. I thought that if I could become your friend… maybe I could become a little purer too. I wanted your purity to rub off on me. Maybe that’s selfish, but that’s how I felt.”
“……”
Hearing Kang-hoo’s added words, Takashi went silent for a moment, tightly closing his lips.
Because he could feel that Kang-hoo’s words and expression weren’t empty flattery or decoration.
They were genuine.
A sincerity he hadn’t felt from anyone in a long time.
In this damned world ruled by lies, hypocrisy, scams, and betrayal—it was a feeling that just didn’t belong.