Chapter 10
‘Detailed info on the other party?’
No matter how I looked at it, it was clearly referring to a status window.
‘Could this be some kind of reincarnator perk?’
Though I sometimes forgot because of my chaotic life, I was, after all, a reincarnator who knew the future of this world.
And in web novels, reincarnators, possessors, regressors… they often had overpowered abilities like being able to peek at other people’s status windows.
So this was just one of those common clichés, huh?
‘But why is that achievement only being unlocked now?’
Hadn’t I already met more than three S-ranks? I thought about it for a moment before realizing—oh right. I hadn’t actually introduced myself to any of them.
‘Anyway, let’s check it out.’
Torn between guilt for peeking at someone’s personal info and a sense of duty to save Kwon Seowoo, I hesitated—then pressed the “View” button.
[There are 4 people whose information you can view.]
[Available Individuals: <Kwon Seowoo>, <Shin Yeomyeong>, <Piuri>, <Woo Seokwoo>]
[Loading detailed info on <Piuri> and <Shin Yeomyeong>.]
After a short loading screen, the view changed, and their status windows popped up. In the end, there wasn’t anything to feel guilty about.
<Piuri>
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Unique Ability: Equipment Crafting
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Rank: A
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Affiliation: —
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Stats: Health C / Strength B / Agility B / Intelligence A / Luck A
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Titles: The Hermit’s Workshop, A Flower Blooming in the Shadows
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Special Trait: Crow’s Nest (3% increased chance of rare option when crafting metal-based equipment)
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Skills: <Access Denied>
<Shin Yeomyeong>
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Unique Ability: Telekinesis
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Rank: C
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Affiliation: —
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Stats: Health A / Strength B / Agility C / Intelligence B / Luck D
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Title: The Unyielding Scales
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Special Trait: Cradle of God (While active, all stats are reduced by 3%)
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Skills: <Access Denied>
‘Oh. So there’s privacy protection.’
Important details like skills or affiliations were hidden behind an <Access Denied> tag. I guess we’re not close enough yet.
“Hi! I’m Shin Yeomyeong. You probably heard earlier, but I’m a combat type. Let’s do our best till the end!”
“I’m Pi—”
“Wait, your ability is crafting equipment? Wow! I’ve never met a crafter before, so I’ve always been curious. That’s awesome!”
“Yeah, I get it, but could you tone it down a bit—”
“Don’t you think we’re gonna get along great?! I have a good feeling already!”
“…”
Meanwhile, Shin Yeomyeong was cheerfully greeting Piuri too.
Mm. She really was adorable. I should join in too. I closed the status window while watching the heartwarming scene.
[Main Quest has been registered!]
‘Huh?’
Actually, I was trying to close it.
‘Main Quest?’
The quest window popped up so abruptly that it felt out of nowhere—but something about the words “Main Quest” made it hard to ignore. I reflexively clicked the confirm button.
‘…What is this?’
The moment I saw the quest description, I froze.
Just then, Kwon Seowoo came up beside me and whispered,
“Noona, noona, why’d you change your mind all of a sudden? Not that I mind, but you didn’t want to form a team before.”
“Uh, huh?”
Startled, I quickly closed the quest window and turned to him.
“Ah, yeah. I thought that before. But after seeing the other teams, this seemed more efficient. We’re going to start gathering team members.”
“More team members? How?”
Seowoo tilted his already blank-looking face even more cluelessly.
“Wouldn’t all the teams already be formed by now? Isn’t it too late?”
“No, Seowoo. It’s very easy.”
I firmly grabbed his shoulders. His eyes started to waver anxiously.
“Noona? Why are you—”
“Go now.”
“Huh?”
“Just bring anyone you see passing by. Anyone. Got it?”
“Uh?”
“If someone stands out—grab—no, bring them. Okay?”
I had decided to test something I had been thinking about for a while now.
That terrifying force of the original work: Narrative Momentum.
If Kwon Seowoo acted in a similar way to the original plot, then the same results would follow. That was my hypothesis.
So if I just let him roam around like this… wouldn’t he still gather the original team members?
Sure enough, Seowoo came back not long after—with two very familiar faces.
“Hello. I’m Kim Bakbak. I heard you’re looking for team members?”
“I’m Choi Cheolsu.”
‘Wow.’
They really showed up.
I stood there with my mouth agape at how smoothly things were going.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Kim and Mr. Choi!”
Unable to hide my delight, I rushed over to greet them.
These two men Kwon Seowoo brought were Kim Bakbak and Choi Cheolsu—the infamous nuisance extras who caused the biggest headaches for readers during the Hunter Exam arc!
Kim Bakbak and Choi Cheolsu were C-rank and D-rank awakeners, respectively.
Not particularly strong on paper. But Kim was a buffer who could enhance allies, and Choi was a melee fighter who could transform into animals.
Some might ask, why bring such troublesome extras?
Well, even cow dung has its uses! These two had their roles to play too.
Now, our group was larger than any other team. With two damage dealers, a buffer, and equipment supplied by an A-rank crafter, we were set.
Boom!
“There, 10 points!”
‘Wow.’
Watching a D-rank monster collapse, I was reminded again—victory comes from either gear or numbers!
There was a reason classic heroes always showed up in full groups—Red, Blue, Yellow, etc. Numbers mattered.
Fully geared with Piuri’s equipment, our six-person team was crushing monsters at a pace unmatched by any other.
“I’m at 30 points now! Took longer than I thought.”
“27 points.”
“Me too, 30 points. Yeomyeong and Cheolsu said they’re at 24 each. What about you, Asol?”
“I’m at 30 too.”
[Current Points: 30/50]
After several hours of nonstop hunting, my points had increased significantly. Most of our team had already reached half the passing score. I looked up at the scoreboard.
[Remaining Monsters: 108]
B-rank (20 pts) — 2
C-rank (15 pts) — 19
D-rank (10 pts) — 43
E-rank (7 pts) — 41
F-rank (5 pts) — 3
Hmm, F-ranks are nearly extinct now. Practically wiped out.
“Looks like we should switch to hunting E-ranks and start scouting for a camping site.”
Evening was approaching. Nighttime visibility would be poor, and we needed to conserve stamina for tomorrow.
So the plan was to hunt until sundown, then rest.
“I agree! We should find shelter before 8 PM at the latest.”
At Shin Yeomyeong’s suggestion, Kwon Seowoo and Piuri nodded in agreement. Piuri’s ever-darkening eye bags tugged at my heartstrings.
To be honest, the only reason I could get 30 points without any combat skills was because of Piuri’s gear and one more thing.
“Should we head toward Hannam Bridge? I have a feeling… there might be Aqua Lizards by the water!”
‘Reincarnator perks are awesome.’
Knowing the future just made everything feel so easy. Yeomyeong nodded.
“Oh right, it’s dark and has water there. If the exam has Aqua Lizards, they’d probably be in that area.”
“Yeah, and aquatic monsters show up in every test. Makes sense.”
“Let’s go that way, noona!”
So it was decided—Hannam Bridge would be our next destination.
Just as we were packing our weapons to leave…
“But Asol, you haven’t been fighting at all?”
“Yeah. You’ve just been giving orders from the back.”
“…Excuse me?”
I froze mid-step and turned around.
“Don’t you think that’s selfish?”
‘Oh. Here we go…’
The nuisance extras were acting up again.
So far, things had been smooth thanks to the main characters. But of course, villains act like villains for a reason.
They judged people based on rank and ability, and couldn’t stand anyone they saw as weaker getting any attention.
But what was truly awful was—
“You’re being unfair. I’ve fought with weapons too, and I found most of the monsters.”
“Well, let’s be real—that was just luck, wasn’t it? It’s not like you were actually tracking them down.”
“So what would you like me to do? Any suggestions?”
“It’s not that. I just don’t like your attitude.”
‘Ugh.’
They were the type to complain loudly without ever offering solutions—classic team project nightmares. The worst type of people!
‘Breathe. You have to endure.’
They were annoying now, but they’d be useful later.
Just then, Piuri’s voice broke the tension.
“Let’s just move. The monster count keeps dropping.”
Hearing that, Kim Bakbak and Choi Cheolsu checked the scoreboard, clicked their tongues, and turned away. They realized securing points came first.
“What’s up with those guys? You okay, noona?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
Seowoo cautiously asked while watching my expression. I lowered my clenched fist and muttered,
“I’ll spare them… for now.”
“…For now?”
“It’s fine. Really…”
Even Piuri gave me a weird look, but I focused on calming the fury rising within.
Thankfully, after a few deep breaths, my mind cleared.
‘Okay.’
I clenched my fist and made a quiet vow. Just a bit more brainpower, Asol. Hang in there!
Meanwhile…
“In this batch, there are quite a few familiar faces. You must be nervous, Dorim.”
“Yes. But I believe he’ll do well.”
At the very top of the Observation Tower in Exam Site 1, in the VIP room—only top-ranking guild leaders and heads of major houses were allowed entry.
Out of 11 golden seats, only 8 were filled. A woman standing before the seat of the Cheon family muttered,
“Your sister’s got guts. Impressive.”
“How can she see wearing that eyeless mask? If you’re acting as your house’s proxy, why not just sit?”
“Shut your rude mouth.”
“Where’d you even learn to talk like that?”
The Baek family sent Baek Yeom Guild Master Han Jehyeon as their proxy, while the undefeated old master Cheon Jangsoo of the Cheon family sent his young successor, Cheon Kahyeon.
The Yu family didn’t attend at all. So the only actual head present was from the Sindorim family. Baek Gyeon, staring blankly at the screen, tapped his phone.
The test had been going for over eleven hours, but no one had stood out.
Especially not to Baek Gyeon, whose standards were practically god-tier.
‘All that effort teaching him…’
He frowned, thinking of Seowoo, who had only followed his sister around with no opinion of his own.
Boring.
He was scrolling aimlessly when suddenly—his hand stopped.
[HOT] I’m the classmate of #120 at Seoul Test Site—here’s the tea (+207)]
Among the sea of posts, one headline stood out with a bright [HOT] tag. Baek Gyeon clicked on it without hesitation.
“…Huh?”
Reading it, he let out a dry laugh. His screen filled with bold text:
I’ve got so much to spill, but let me start with this—
That girl? Totally insane.
The anonymous exposé began just like that.