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IHVIGO 04

IHVIGO

Chapter 4

Even though it had only been an hour since I awakened, I still knew about the status window.

“A window that awakened individuals can see, showing stats like their physical abilities and skills in numerical form!”

There were plenty of anecdotes online from awakened people, and I’d seen it often in my previous life through Underworld, so I was generally familiar with how it looked.

But something about this was… weird.

“Why are there so many things marked ‘Unavailable’?”

Was it a bug or something? In desperation, I clicked on the [More Info] button next to my second skill, “Beast Summoning.” Another window popped up:


[Beast Summoning] – Summons a personal beast within a gate. (Proficiency 0%)

Summonable Beasts:

[Caster’s affinity has not been assessed. Summoning unavailable.]

[Caster’s affinity has not been assessed. Summoning unavailable.]

[Caster’s affinity has not been assessed. Summoning unavailable.]


But the skill description was even more frustrating than the previous screen.

“Is this thing broken?”

Affinity? I’m in a crisis, and you’re talking about affinity?

Never in my life have I heard of a skill that requires affinity assessment to activate.

“Wait… does that mean…?”

I can’t use any of my skills right now?

“This is exactly why having a gate-type ability user in this situation is so unsettling! We should lock her up or send her off to some island!”

“Didn’t you see the department store collapse? Thankfully there were no casualties today, but who knows what Najin will do next? Realistically, this is the only option we have!”

“Everyone, let’s calm down… It’s true that we can’t just leave her be, so how about we assign someone to monitor Najin so she can’t approach? Then we can assess the situation from there.”

Meanwhile, the discussion was flowing further and further toward erasing my privacy entirely.

Of course. Trying to solve this with my skill was the problem in the first place. Damn it.

“What if we just assign her a highly secured house and restrict her movement to within the property…?”

“Excuse me!”

I quickly closed my status window and shouted.

If I stalled any longer, they really were going to lock me up in some luxury mansion!

“I…!”

“I object!”

But someone else spoke before I could finish.

“Shouldn’t we hear from her first? She must be shocked after going through all this, and now you’re talking about surveillance and confinement? That’s hardly reassuring, don’t you think?”

‘Who…?’

The man who defended me in that tense atmosphere was sitting at the end of the table.

A sturdy frame, and a scar running from his brow across his forehead. Suddenly, I realized why his face looked familiar.

He was Team Leader Woo Seok-woo, the one who mentored both major and supporting characters in the original story.

“You’ve been mentoring all those young recruits lately, and now you’re treating every younger person like they’re your student? Pull yourself together. You’ve been through this before….”

“I’ll take responsibility if anything goes wrong. These kids have a bright future ahead of them. You’re treating them like criminals just because they have gate-type powers? At the very least, they deserve a chance!”

‘Wow.’

Did I say that out loud?

Seeing this man calmly state everything I was thinking eased my nerves a little.

Honestly, up until a moment ago, I thought I had no allies in this room. But I’ll take that back.

“Team Leader Woo Seok-woo!”

“Someone has to explain this situation to those kids. And they’ll need someone to guide them in their responsibilities as awakened individuals. Right, Dorim?”

“I agree with you, Teacher—no, Team Leader.”

Even the quiet Shin Dorim voiced his support. As an S-rank healer, his words slightly softened the atmosphere in the room.

“Alright, then what exactly do you propose? If you’re going to object, you need a concrete plan.”

“Here’s my proposal. I’ll act as their guardian…”

Team Leader Woo turned to look at me.

“I’ll get her to pass the Hunter Exam in two weeks and have her officially registered with the Association. Isn’t that good enough?”

He slammed the table, eyes blazing with conviction. And at that moment, something clicked in me.

“This is it.”

I might’ve found a way to survive!


In the world of Underworld, all awakened individuals fall into one of two categories:


[(Comment)] Got rated A-class combat-type at age 12, been jobless for 14 years just lazing at home, still living off my parents.

—You’re A-class combat-type and unemployed??? Did you take the Hunter Exam and fail?

⤷ Nah, never applied. Too scared of getting hurt and hate going outside. Total homebody.

—Isn’t the Association pressuring you to take the exam? How did you even keep your citizen status?

⤷ 2222 You could be raking in so much money wtf;;; don’t even stream or do anything? Just a normie???

⤷ The Association came once but said my ability wasn’t too dangerous, so it was fine to live as a civilian.

⤷ Also, my family’s rich so I’m good on money lol.

⤷ Mind your business


Some live normal lives with just their names registered in the Association database, while others pass the Hunter Exam (held twice a year) and become licensed Hunters.

Both types are overseen by the Association, a government agency. But becoming a Hunter means risking your life in exchange for money and fame.

Those who give up on becoming Hunters and live as ordinary citizens are called “Non-Certified Awakened”—or slang, “Awak-normies.”

While some of them become influencers or streamers, public opinion overwhelmingly favored licensed Hunters.

Because in this world, Hunters were still celebrities, public figures, heroes.

Which made one thing very clear to me:

“This isn’t going to work.”

Maybe it was because I’d gone through so much since childhood, but I had a sharp instinct when it came to survival.

The Association, having been burned badly by Najin before, clearly had no intention of letting me roam free. I was already registered in the system—powers and identity both.

“I need to play along for now.”

In this deadlock, my instincts screamed at me.

If I want to survive, I have to become a Hunter.

“I’ll do it. I’ll take the Hunter Exam!”

I had to become a Hunter!

“Noona, wait, wh—mmph!”

“Quiet.”

I covered Kwon Seowoo’s mouth and started thinking.

If I say I’m willingly joining the Association, then no one can accuse me of needing confinement anymore.

More importantly—

“I need to save him.”

I have to save Kwon Seowoo.

Do you know what kind of webtoon Underworld is? It came out during the era when the trope “The protagonist always survives” was being overturned. This was the webtoon that broke that rule like a comet.

Main characters, side characters—it didn’t matter. Anyone could get brutally killed. So I couldn’t assume the crazy author had let Kwon Seowoo survive till the end.

“I didn’t see the ending, but at least I can help him avoid major dangers in the mid-to-late game.”

To save Seowoo, I need to become a Hunter too. As I steeled myself, one of the officials clicked his tongue.

“How can we trust you? What if you cause trouble during the exam…?”

“If you’re that worried, I’ll use my ability here and now!”

“No, don’t! Stop! We get it—just don’t use it!”

They seemed convinced by my confident attitude, waving their hands frantically.

Thanks to Team Leader Woo’s full-on defense and Shin Dorim’s support, the intense meeting finally ended.

“…Awakened Kwon Asol, you will participate in the upcoming Hunter Exam. This is not a suggestion—it’s an order.”

And with that, I earned a two-week grace period.


“Noona, are you okay?”

“Why?”

“Well… you always said you didn’t want to be a Hunter.”

As we were heading down to the lobby after that draining meeting, I noticed something strange.

Kwon Seowoo should’ve been bouncing with excitement by now, but his face looked uncharacteristically gloomy.

What’s up with this guy? Everything worked out—why does he look so miserable?

“I said I’m fine. If anything goes wrong, you promised you’d use your ability to protect me.”

Yesterday, we’d learned Seowoo’s ability: Nullification. One rank below me—B-rank.

“They’re out!”

“Camera! Hurry!”

As we stepped out the front door, flash after flash popped from every direction.

Ah, this part happens in the original too. I shielded my face and pushed Seowoo’s head down.

“How does it feel to have awakened late in life?”

“You’re the first late-awakened individual to appear in Korea in two years! What are your future plans?”

“Uh… what?”

“Seowoo, head down.”

Ugh, look at all these people. I’m going to puke.

“Can you tell us your grade and ability?”

“Just look over here for a moment!”

Judging by their questions, it seemed they didn’t know his ability yet.

His face would be revealed during the Hunter Exam anyway, but I didn’t want any more annoying exposure for now.

Under security escort, I got into the car and made it back home.

“Good. My face is still protected.”

I thought this endless day had finally come to an end—but the moment I turned on my phone, a flood of alerts came crashing in.


<Asol, were you at the mall today?>

<Asol, aren’t you coming to work today? You didn’t even call. I hired you because you seemed reliable, but don’t bother coming in tomorrow.>

<Asol, is that you on TV right now??>

<Did you become a Hunter?>


“….”

I swore I covered my face. Why is this happening?

Turns out 21st-century video tech is more advanced than I thought. I sighed and turned off my phone.

“And yet… I’m sleepy.”

No matter how old or tiny it was, home was home. The moment I laid under the blanket, my tension eased, and exhaustion hit me.

I could already hear Seowoo snoring in his room.

“They said training would start soon… but not today, right?”

Right. It’s already evening, so I’ll rest today and start training properly tomorrow.

Just like that, I fell into a deep sleep.

And when I opened my eyes again—it was the middle of the night.

What time is it? Half-asleep, I rubbed my eyes and suddenly realized… it was freezing.

“…Huh?”

I thought I heard an owl hooting. A dream?

As I sat up, I felt something beneath my hand.

I looked down—and froze.

It was dirt.

“Oh, you’re awake!”

A voice called out as someone approached from the darkness.

“Team Leader Woo Seok-woo?”

“Why are you calling me Team Leader? We’ll be seeing each other a lot—just call me Teacher!”

Is this a dream? A hidden camera prank?

“Huh? Why am I here?”

“Well, it’s a bit far from Seoul, so I opened a portal. You wouldn’t wake up no matter how much I shook you.”

“…Where is ‘here’?”

It was the dead of night, the sky still dark. All around us were trees, rocks, and grass. I couldn’t see a thing clearly.

That’s when I noticed something.

『…CAUTION』

Even in the darkness, the sign’s letters were clearly visible.

Team Leader Woo crossed his arms and cheerfully exclaimed:

“Welcome to Jirisan Mountain!”

『CAUTION: BEARS IN AREA』

What the actual f***.

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I’m not a Hidden Villainous, I am a Gate’s Owner

I’m not a Hidden Villainous, I am a Gate’s Owner

I’m not a Hidden Villain, I am a Gate’s Owner, I’m not the Hidden Villain, I am a Gate’s Owner, I’m not the Hidden Villain, I am the Gate’s Owner, 흑막은 아니고요, 게이트 주인입니다
Score 9.9
Status: Ongoing Type: Author: Artist: , Native Language: Korean
I was reincarnated into a shounen hunter comic—infamous for killing off both main and supporting characters without mercy. The problem? I’m a civilian with zero combat power. Living a normal life and bouncing from one part-time job to another, I was just trying to get by—until I got caught up in a Gate incident. By the time I came to my senses… [Welcome, Awakener !] [Your Unique Ability has been successfully identified!] “…What?” All I got after nearly dying was the same ability as the original villain of the story— And the shocking truth was that my younger brother is the actual protagonist of this world. With that in mind, I have only one goal: “In this completely chaotic shounen comic, I need to keep my airheaded brother alive!” But then… [Your Personal Gate has been created!] [Your exclusive beast has been summoned!] From the fully opened Gate, hundreds of teddy bears came pouring out. …So my power is to summon stuff like this and fight with it? – Wait, am I the only one who thinks the teddy bears are cute? – What is that pudding-looking thing??? ↳ Shockingly, it’s the new beast Kwon Asol summoned. – Why do all the beasts Kwon Asol summons have those faces LOL And now, my journey begins—accompanied by people whose sense of aesthetics has been completely shattered.

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