The blinding flash of hundreds of cameras, the deafening cheers of excited fans, and the absolute chaos of his arrival—Min-jun sighed inwardly as he stepped out of the van. He knew this was the unavoidable price of fame and wealth.
I really need to buy a major broadcasting network once the money starts rolling in, he calculated silently.
If he wanted to live a comfortable, perfectly controlled life, owning the media was the easiest way to keep them from causing him unnecessary PR headaches.
Regardless of the screaming crowds, Min-jun's mind was focused on the grim reality of this world. Yes, becoming an S-Rank Hunter meant he was now sitting at the absolute top of the human hierarchy. But compared to the apocalyptic threats looming in the near future—the Jeju Island disaster, the Monarchs, the Rulers—he was still incredibly weak.
In this world, 99.99% of Hunters hit a hard level cap the moment they Awakened. They could train their combat skills, but their raw magical power would never, ever increase.
The only exception was Sung Jin-woo.
Jin-woo possessed the "System," a unique magical program that allowed him to level up infinitely. Min-jun didn't have that. So, naturally, his stats were permanently locked, right?
If anyone else knew the plot of this world, they would probably assume Min-jun's first move should be to hunt down the Double Dungeon and steal the System before Jin-woo could get it.
Honestly? Min-jun didn't want it.
Sure, unlimited power sounded great, but the System forced you to work like a slave. Imagine being forced to run ten kilometers every single day under the threat of a lethal penalty. What if a mandatory survival quest suddenly popped up while he was taking a university exam? Or worse, while he was on a date?
Furthermore, stealing the System meant he would eventually become the vessel for the Shadow Monarch. It was an incredibly high-risk gamble. He wasn't the main character; would the Shadow Monarch just completely erase his soul and take over his body?
What do you think, Manager?
[Error. There is no mathematical guarantee the user's consciousness would survive the integration.]
"..." Min-jun mentally nodded. Exactly.
However, the Shadow Monarch didn't actually build the System. It was created by the Architect—a magical moderator named Kandiaru. Unfortunately for Kandiaru, he eventually got betrayed and killed.
That meant the System was essentially a rogue program without an active Admin.
While the Shadow Monarch possessed immense power, it didn't have absolute technical control over the System's code. So, instead of stealing the System the traditional way and risking his soul, what if Min-jun just... hacked it? What if he siphoned all the advantages without taking any of the risks?
Is that possible, Manager?
[Report. There is a statistical probability of success, but the user must actively analyze the System's mana signature once the target (Sung Jin-woo) unlocks it.]
"...."
Perfect.
He had to make this work. The S-Rank Hunters standing in the courtyard right now thought they were the apex predators of the pyramid. They had no idea they were just fragile ants compared to the Rulers and the Monarchs—god-like beings created by the Absolute Being, locked in an eternal, apocalyptic war.
In the original timeline, Jin-woo was forced to become a tragic martyr. He used the Cup of Reincarnation to rewind time, fighting a brutal, agonizing war in the shadows for decades to save a world that never even knew his name.
Min-jun refused to take that exhausting, painful path.
There had to be a third option. A smarter, cleaner way to end the pointless war between the Rulers and Monarchs without constantly rewinding the timeline and sacrificing his own happiness.
As Min-jun formulated his grand strategy, a sudden, suffocating pressure slammed down on the courtyard.
It felt like a mountain had just been dropped on their shoulders. The paparazzi gasped for air, and even the surrounding Hunters tensed up. But Min-jun remained perfectly calm, his posture completely relaxed as he looked at the elderly man walking out of the Association doors.
"You're Kim Min-jun, correct?" the elderly man asked, his voice booming with authority.
"Chairman Go," Min-jun replied, offering a polite, respectful bow.
"Oh? You recognize me, young man?"
"You are the hero of South Korea, after all," Min-jun said honestly.
It wasn't empty flattery. Go Gun-Hee truly was a hero. He had spent his entire life fighting on the front lines, battling horrific monsters to keep the citizens of South Korea safe.
But looking at the Chairman, Min-jun's internal resolve only hardened. This was exactly why he would never officially join the government.
He didn't hate Chairman Go, but he absolutely pitied him. The man was incredibly powerful and should have been able to live a long, comfortable life. Instead, he was slowly dying, his body failing because the government worked him like a dog with zero rest and a mediocre salary. It was a highly respectable, honorable life... but Min-jun had zero interest in dying for ungrateful politicians.
"Are you ready for your official measurement test, then?" Chairman Go asked, a warm smile breaking through his intense aura.
"I am, Chairman."
"Excellent. Follow me. I will personally act as your guide for today's evaluations."
"Thank you."
As they turned to walk inside, Chairman Go glanced over his shoulder. "By the way, young man... what is your Hunter Class?"
"My class?" Min-jun adjusted his glasses. "If my self-assessment is correct, I Awakened as an Archer."
"An Archer?!"
While the crowd and the media erupted in excited cheers, Lim Tae-Gyu—previously known as the one and only S-Rank Archer in South Korea—stared blankly at the ground, his soul practically leaving his body in sheer, utter despair.