Chapter 6
[“B-rank Monster Wave at Nonhyeon Station Resolved with Zero Casualties.”]
[“Who Defeated the Nonhyeon Station Monster Wave? Neverending Guild Master Lee Gayun: ‘The Hunter Was Invisible,’ Shocking Statement.”]
[Korea’s No. 2 Hunter, Na Sunghyun: ‘Even I Couldn’t Do That’… Top-Ranked Hunter Remains Silent.]
[Experts Say: ‘Possibly Stronger Than World No. 1 Hunter Go Heejae.’]
[Rumors of a ‘Rank 0 Hunter’… Just an Urban Legend?]
At around 9:20 p.m. today (12th), a B-rank monster wave near Nonhyeon Station was completely neutralized without a single casualty.
This was thanks to the citizens’ quick decision to abandon their cars and evacuate immediately upon spotting the gate forming on the road, and also due to the intervention of Neverending Guild Hunters Lee Gayun and Baek Yena, who happened to be nearby and took control of the situation.
The monsters emerging from the gate were B-rank “Red Buffalo,” known for moving in herds and possessing the ability to distort human minds. Had the evacuation been delayed, it could have led to catastrophic damage.
However, despite the expected chaos, all the monsters were wiped out within one minute. By the time responding hunters arrived at the scene, all of them were already dead—skewered and lifeless.
CCTV footage showed thousands of blue spears raining down from the sky, piercing the monsters simultaneously. But the hunter who used this skill did not appear on any recording.
Hunters Lee Gayun and Baek Yena, who were present at the scene, testified: “The hunter turned invisible. We could hear footsteps and breathing, but no one could be seen. After killing the monsters, they disappeared right away.”
All 104 Red Buffalos were annihilated. Considering it takes a minimum mental strength stat of 4 to kill just one of these monsters, the unknown hunter would have had to possess at least 416 in mental strength.
All top 10-ranked hunters have confirmed they were not involved, prompting speculation about the existence of a mysterious “Rank 0 Hunter.”
If this so-called “Invisible Hunter” could really take out over 100 B-rank monsters alone, some believe they may even be capable of clearing S-rank dungeons solo.
Meanwhile, the government has released a statement saying it is actively seeking tips about the identity of this mysterious “Invisible Hunter.”
— Reporter Gi Dae-sung, Saesaesang Daily (expectstar@never.com)
[Online Comments]
tutu**:** Invisible Hunter? LOL. What is this, Invisible Dragon?
mi87**:** Maybe it’s just a hunter with high mental strength but low combat skills, so they didn’t get ranked?
└ wiko**:** Higher-ranked hunters generally have higher mental stats ^^; It’s a system-given stat, not something you build through training. Average mental strength for high-ranking hunters is about 100. But someone just showed up with over 400? That’s why people are freaking out.
└ 976e**:** What if it was a foreign hunter? Not stronger than the No. 1, obviously, but maybe someone from the world ranking visited Korea and helped out briefly?
└ yoou**:** Why would someone that strong hide their identity? LOL. Selling those monsters’ hearts alone would earn a fortune. Who hides their identity and just leaves?
└ oiye**:** (Comment deleted by the user)
6e6e**:** ROAAAAR! The strongest of all invisible hunters screamed, “Ah crap, run!” and the monsters fled.
└ ilov**:** LOL. What even is this? Invisible hunter, World Rank 0… what kind of plot is this?
0iui**:** If you told people three years ago that in 2023 hunters would fight monsters in dungeons and there’d be a Rank 0 Invisible Hunter, they’d think you were insane. lol
└ llll**:** They’d probably just call you a delusional nerd lol
“…So this so-called Rank 0 ‘Invisible Hunter’…”
The man watching the news on the internet closed the tab and stood up from his seat.
“You’re saying that’s this girl?”
He looked bewildered.
Seo-ya had just arrived at the Neverending Guild building.
It was late, so the building was mostly empty. But on the fifth floor, reserved for high-ranking hunters, one man was still present.
He had soft-looking brown hair and gentle eyes that drooped slightly at the corners, giving him a mild expression. His tall, sturdy build contrasted his calm demeanor, and dark circles under his eyes suggested exhaustion.
Looking between Lee Gayun and Baek Yena behind Seo-ya, the man asked again:
“So you’re saying this girl came from another world? That she wiped out all the monsters without lifting a finger? That she wasn’t affected by the monsters’ mental attacks? That you called her the ‘Invisible Hunter’ to hide her identity from the media? And now… you’re saying our guild is taking her in?”
“Yes. You got it,” Lee Gayun nodded without hesitation.
The man’s pupils trembled wildly, but he soon accepted the situation and extended a hand to Seo-ya.
“…I see. Nice to meet you, Miss Seo-ya. I’m Park Hae-jun, Vice Guild Master of Neverending.”
Seo-ya shook his firm, calloused hand awkwardly. This wasn’t someone who spent all his time behind a desk.
“It’s a wild story, but if I can’t trust the Guild Master, then who can I trust?”
Park Hae-jun’s expression showed he genuinely believed the unbelievable claim that Seo-ya had come from another world.
And this girl… Seo-ya… really gives off an unusual vibe.
The air around her was unplaceable, like she didn’t belong to this world. It was harder not to believe the story once you met her.
“But… was that really the best excuse?”
“What do you mean?”
“Guild Master. Baek Yena. Was ‘Invisible Hunter’ really the best cover you could come up with…?”
Lee Gayun avoided his gaze. She remembered exactly how she felt when she said the words, “That hunter… was invisible.”
“What’s wrong with it? People fall out of the sky from other worlds—why not say someone’s invisible?” Baek Yena ran her hand through her hair and brushed it off.
Who knows what logic they followed to arrive at “Invisible Hunter,” but now it had become the hottest meme among top hunters.
▶ Korean Hunter Rankings, #1–10 Chatroom
2 │ S │ Na Man-hyun: Invisib—LOL—Hunter—LOL
7 │ A │ Ji Sae-in: Yena~ I didn’t know you were into reading that kind of web novel~~
7 │ A │ Ji Sae-in: You always scolded me for reading weird stuff! 🙂
8 │ A │ So Eun-soo: Enjoyed the interview article. ^^
9 │ A │ So Eun-young: lol but seriously, how can a human even go over 400 in mental strength?
2 │ S │ Na Man-hyun: Forget teasing Yena—that’s a massive mystery.
5 │ A │ Kwak Man-soo: Can’t they use items to go over 400?
2 │ S │ Na Man-hyun: If such a broken item existed, people would’ve gone nuts. You’d need to clear an S-rank dungeon just to get it. Which… would mean you’re strong enough to solo one anyway.
9 │ A │ So Eun-young: Exactly. That’s why everyone’s in a frenzy—someone that strong could solo S-rank dungeons.
1 │ S │ Go Hee-jae: Even in the global top 10 chat, no one knows of a hunter with that level of mental strength.
2 │ S │ Na Man-hyun: Wait, for real? Yena, the world wants answers!
4 │ S │ Baek Yena: Ugh… I don’t know either, okay?! I just said they were invisible!
9 │ A │ So Eun-young: Whoa, she’s here!
2 │ S │ Na Man-hyun: Did you hear footsteps? Voice?
4 │ S │ Baek Yena: I said I don’t know—stop asking!
2 │ S │ Na Man-hyun: Then a ghost sounds more believable, sigh.
7 │ A │ Ji Sae-in: I just really… want to meet the world’s strongest… Invisible Hunter. T_T
7 │ A │ Ji Sae-in: Yena’s personally coined name, the ‘Invisible Hunter’—I must meet them! T_T
4 │ S │ Baek Yena: If you say “invisible” in front of me one more time, you’re dead.
2 │ S │ Na Man-hyun: Looks like the legendary Turing Orb~ ✨
4 │ S │ Baek Yena: Payment sent.
2 │ S │ Na Man-hyun: Thank you. I have forgotten.
7 │ A │ Ji Sae-in: Are you serious? You’re really going to stop teasing her now?
2 │ S │ Na Man-hyun: I don’t see why anyone would tease Yena. What happened?
7 │ A │ Ji Sae-in: OMG. You capitalist sellout!
7 │ A │ Ji Sae-in: Input coil. Two-way valve. Two-reading brake system.
8 │ A │ So Eun-soo: Battle of Tours–Poitiers.
9 │ A │ So Eun-young: Tutankhamun.
4 │ S │ Baek Yena: Eun-soo, Eun-young. There’s no way you two knew about those things before Googling them just to tease me.
4 │ S │ Baek Yena: Stop searching that weird stuff just to mess with me!
9 │ A │ So Eun-young: I do know Tutankhamun. He’s the quiz guy! Guards the pyramid!
8 │ A │ So Eun-soo: Eun-young… that’s the Sphinx. Tutankhamun was a mathematician.
7 │ A │ Ji Sae-in: Sis… that’s Poincaré…
4 │ S │ Baek Yena: I swear to God, you’re all dead.
Park Hae-jun glanced at the increasingly irritated Baek Yena and tactfully changed the subject.
“So, what now? You came straight to me—does that mean you need help faking her identity?”
“Yeah. She has to live in this world now.”
“She’ll be staying with you, Guild Master?”
“Yep. Seo-ya, is it okay? There’s one more shut-in at my place besides me and Yena.”
Seo-ya nodded at Lee Gayun. She was the one being taken in, after all. She was just grateful for the kindness.
“First things first, she needs a shower.”
A clear voice echoed from above Seo-ya’s head.
She looked up, and then realized the state she was in—and felt a bit embarrassed.
She had been seriously injured, and ever since they picked up her scent, all the others could smell was dried blood. Plus, she hadn’t bathed during her month of captivity.
Seo-ya nodded. A shower was very necessary.
