The moment I stepped out of the warehouse, the violet shimmer of the Gate collapsed behind me, vanishing into the bricks as if it had never existed. My body felt like it was made of lead, and the heavy thud of the Orc's blow was still radiating through my ribs like a slow-burning fire. I leaned against a rusted dumpster, gasping for air, and checked my phone.
[Gate Cleared. Reward: ¥15,000] [Current Balance: ¥15,000]
Fifteen thousand yen. After all that—nearly getting my spine snapped by a battleaxe and losing my entire swarm—I had just enough to cover a few days of cheap food. But the reality was much worse. I dragged myself back to my apartment, the stairs feeling like a mountain climb. I didn't even wash the Orc blood off my face before I collapsed onto my thin mattress.
The next morning, the sun was blindingly bright against the peeling wallpaper. I woke up to a barrage of pings from my phone that made my stomach turn.
[Notification: Weekly Loan Payment Due - ¥9,000]
[Notification: Rent Overdue - ¥8,000]
[Notification: Utility Bill - ¥5,000]
My total bills were ¥22,000. I only had ¥15,000. I was ¥7,000 short just to keep the lights on and the debt collectors off my back. If I didn't find a way to get cash in the next few hours, I was going to be homeless.
I threw on a fresh hoodie and headed to a small, 24-hour diner. I needed calories to think. I was staring at a coffee I couldn't really afford when a shadow fell over my table.
"Oliver? Is that actually you, man?"
I looked up to see Kaito. He looked incredible—healthy, broad-shouldered, and wearing a high-end tactical jacket. We'd been close back in school, both of us at the bottom of the pile, but life had clearly taken us in different directions.
"Kaito," I croaked. "Long time no see."
He slid into the booth, his eyes scanning the bruises on my face. "Yeah, it sure has. You look like you got into a fight with a trash compactor and lost."
"Something like that," I leaned back. "So, what brings a guy like you to this part of town?"
"Just passing through on a lead," he shrugged. "So, what have you been up to? Still working that retail job?"
"Actually, I became a Hunter," I said, a flicker of pride cutting through my exhaustion.
Kaito laughed softly. "Yeah, I figured. You always used to talk about it. But K-Rank is rough, Oliver. You're basically working for scraps."
"You're telling me," I sighed. I told him about the debt, the loan interest, and the fact that my rent was due in hours.
Kaito's expression turned solemn. "I became a Hunter about three years ago. I'm currently Y-Ranked."
My jaw almost hit the table. "Y-Rank? But your brother..."
"Money was tight. I had no choice." Kaito checked his watch and pulled out a small, translucent pebble that glowed with an amber light. "Here. Take this. It's an O4-grade Skill Stone. I got it as a minor drop from a Y-Level Gate I cleared earlier today. I don't need it, and since you're drowning in debt, consider it a gift."
I stared at it. "Kaito, no way. That's at least fourteen thousand yen."
"Take it," he insisted. "Things are getting weird. I heard a Rasiko-level Gate just spawned in the middle of Tokyo. A C17-ranked hunter was there and said the energy didn't match the patterns. The dungeon system is changing, Oliver. Get stronger."
He stood up as his phone rang. "That's my lead. Nice talking to you. Sell that stone at the Association—don't go to a pawn shop, they'll rip you off. Don't get yourself killed!"
"Yea… I'll try not to."