TSOT#1 Chapter 22
by RenSeo Joo-ah, lying on the floor and staring at the floating letters in the air, suddenly sat up straight.
“My level went up?!”
Her hands quickly tapped on the system window.
Name: Seo Joo-ah
Level: D-rank
Ranking: Korea: 998th / International: Out of ranking
Attribute: Light
Ultimate Skill: Angel’s Blessing
Special Notes: Primarily uses healing-type abilities and demonstrates hidden potential in critical moments.
It wasn’t just her level that had increased.
For the first time, her name appeared on the Local ranking list, previously considered insignificant among the countless Hunters in Korea. Seo Joo-ah was finally emerging into the spotlight.
When she pressed the “Ultimate Skill” section, a detailed skill list appeared.
Skills:
Purification: Cleanses dark and impure energy.
Recovery: Increases health or mana.
Reinforcement: Enhances attack, defense, or agility.
Predation: Absorbs an opponent’s stats and makes them her own.
Joo-ah’s eyes lingered on the name of the newly added skill.
It was the only offensive magic in her otherwise purely light-based abilities. The technique allowed her to absorb an opponent’s stats and claim them as her own.
“Now, this is finally getting interesting,” she said with a bright smile.
Her other stats had also risen thanks to the level increase.
[The Anonymous Constellation has sponsored a “Celebratory Cake” coupon, saying they’re looking forward to your brilliant achievements.]
Joo-ah glanced through her item inventory while staring at the status window.
[Item Inventory]
“Energy Drink for the Hardworking You” coupons ×50
“Celebratory Cake” coupon
Low-grade Magic Recovery Potion ×8
Soon, the two “Half-Finished B-Grade Mana Stones” from the monster she had just defeated would be added to this list.
Joo-ah clicked her tongue in frustration and muttered, “This still isn’t enough for a mid-grade taser gun.”
At that moment, a blue notification window appeared in front of her.
[The Anonymous Constellation expresses disappointment, saying there’s no point wasting resources on weapons you’ll replace once your level rises.]
It wasn’t wrong.
When she was an E-rank, climbing to C-rank had seemed like a distant goal. But now that she was a D-rank, it felt much closer. Spending a fortune on a weapon she’d soon replace would indeed be a waste.
Joo-ah dusted off her clothes and stood up, then retrieved the mana stone from the fallen monster.
Half-Finished B-Grade Mana Stone: Increases mana by 8.
“Better to sell this to a merchant,” she muttered, shoving the mana stone into her inventory before examining the other coupons.
“Energy Drink for the Hardworking You” coupon: Increases health by 2.
“Celebratory Cake” coupon: Increases skill success rate by 20%.
“Not bad,” she said, tapping the sponsor coupon.
[Use the “Energy Drink for the Hardworking You” coupon?]
[Yes/No]
Without hesitation, Joo-ah selected [Yes].
[You used the “Energy Drink for the Hardworking You” coupon.]
[Health increased by 2.]
Joo-ah repeated this action several times.
[Health increased by 2.]
[Health increased by 2.]
[Health increased by 2.]
Individually, the coupons weren’t particularly valuable. But with 50 of them, the impact was significant.
Health: 413 / 413 (+100)
Mana: 293 / 293
With her level-up and the added bonus from the coupons, her health now matched that of a standard C-rank Hunter. She also used the “Celebratory Cake” coupon to boost her skill success rate.
Feeling elated from her newly enhanced stats, Joo-ah hummed a tune as she prepared to leave the alley. But her steps halted when she noticed someone leaning against the wall.
Her expression hardened.
“…Chairman Yoo Tae-jun.”
Tae-jun was leaning against the wall with a subtle expression. Joo-ah, caught off guard, stammered, “Wh-when did you get here?”
Tae-jun pushed off the wall slowly and replied, “Let’s see… Perhaps since you confidently headed off to hunt monsters?”
He had seen everything from the start.
“Surprisingly, I was impressed,” Tae-jun said, walking closer with his hands in his pockets. “For an E-rank Hunter, your combat skills seem quite seasoned.”
Feigning nonchalance, Joo-ah replied, “Me? I wouldn’t say seasoned… Before I got my new skill, I almost died, you know.”
Suddenly, her expression darkened as she glanced at him.
“Wait, so you saw me in danger and didn’t offer any help?”
“A single rescue should be enough,” he replied, referencing the time he had saved her in the alley.
Suppressing her irritation, Joo-ah forced a smile.
“You’re right. Thanks to your lack of assistance, I managed to acquire a new skill. If you intended that, I truly appreciate it.”
Her sarcastic tone made Tae-jun’s brow twitch.
After a pause, he muttered, “Acquiring a hidden skill within a month of entering the training center… Are you sure this ability is truly yours?”
Her smile froze.
Tae-jun was still suspicious that she was contracted with a Constellation.
“Skills are just skills,” she shrugged, trying to appear casual. “It’s not like I’ve jumped ranks. I barely reached D-rank.”
Tae-jun chuckled and glanced at his watch.
“Your team’s B Group has issued a summons. Why haven’t you responded?”
Joo-ah sighed. “Because my rank is too low to climb higher towers.”
“Summons are mandatory,” Tae-jun warned. “Ignoring them could result in disciplinary action.”
Though annoyed, Joo-ah had no retort. With that, Tae-jun smirked and turned to leave.
“I’ll look forward to your performance in the next summons,” he said before vanishing from sight.
Left fuming, Joo-ah muttered under her breath, “What a jerk.”
Later that morning, Joo-ah entered the special ward to find Shin Jae-rim asleep on the couch.
Walking over, she placed a warm hand on his furrowed brow.
“Get some proper rest now,” she murmured softly.
The tension in his face eased as her soothing magic took effect.
At that moment, Yoo Chan-hee entered.
“You’re early, E-rank.”
Startled, Joo-ah quickly removed her hand. Chan-hee smirked, his expression mischievous.
“What were you doing to Jae-rim? Alone, no less.”
Ignoring his teasing, Joo-ah glared at him.
Chan-hee handed her a plain envelope.
“What’s this?”
“Sleeping pills. Give them to him when he wakes up,” he said, nodding toward Jae-rim before striding off with a wave.