012 – The 0th World
The motorcycle sped powerfully along the highway, passing the collapsed tollgate.
Vroooooom!
The bike roared with a noise that would have surely garnered a police report in the city. Of course, outside the barrier, there were no houses, let alone people, so there was no one to file a complaint.
The speed was as intense as the noise; the tilted road signs and ruined buildings they passed were left behind in an instant.
Terrified of falling off, Jinwoo shouted at the top of his lungs while clutching Chartia’s waist tight.
"Chartia! Is it okay to drive this fast?!"
"There are no speed traps here, so what does it matter!"
"It’s not about traps, it’s about safe— Uwaaah!"
Thump!
As soon as the words left his mouth, the motorcycle jolted violently. It had hit a fragment of broken asphalt and launched into the air.
For a moment, Jinwoo experienced the dizzying sensation of flight, and he lowered his center of gravity as much as possible to brace for impact.
Thud!
"Ahahaha! That really relieves the stress, doesn't it?!"
"I’m going to meet my maker while relieving stress!"
The motorcycle raced on for quite a while longer. The road, remaining only as a trace of the past, was broken and riddled with potholes, making it far from a comfortable ride.
Yet, Chartia pulled the throttle even harder rather than slowing down.
After riding for who knows how long—just as his buttocks were starting to throb from the shock of the unfamiliar vehicle—the motorcycle finally came to a halt.
They stopped on a drawbridge that had frozen in a raised position. Below, there were only traces of a river that once flowed; no water remained.
Standing atop the bridge, Chartia stretched her waist and shoulders, enjoying the lingering excitement, while Jinwoo rubbed his tailbone and let out a sigh.
"Good work. Here, have a canned coffee."
"Thanks. Uh, do you have anything cold?"
"I don't have cold coffee, but I can give you orange juice instead."
Chartia took back the hot canned coffee she had just pulled from her inventory and handed him a slightly frozen orange juice instead.
Only after cracking the can open and downing nearly half of it in one shot did Jinwoo let out a long breath and calm down.
'Sweet, tangy, and delicious.'
Perhaps because it was a beverage from New York, the label was entirely in English. Jinwoo’s education was too short to read it all, but he could roughly make out the words "100% Fresh Fruit."
It tasted movingly distinct from the artificial juices he was used to. It was real fruit juice.
While gazing out at the ruined world outside the city, Jinwoo asked:
"Is riding motorcycles a hobby of yours?"
"It’s a hobby that serves a practical purpose. I go around looking for land that’s still intact. If I find some, I plant trees or seeds."
She explained that a vehicle with good mobility was essential for this. She apparently had not only the motorcycle but also a four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle stored in her inventory.
It seemed she really was prepared for anything, fitting for an S-class Hunter with a long and active career. She was a walking treasure trove.
"It’s a similar context to studying foreign languages."
"It’s a very important task to me."
"As expected of an S-class Hunter, your perspective is different. Someone like me only cares about eating and surviving day to day."
"I don't do it out of some grand sense of duty. It’s just... if I didn't immerse myself in something like this, it was hard to endure."
She had started planting trees as a form of escape.
It was an escape from the reality of the New York Hunter Management Bureau, which refused to acknowledge her no matter how many achievements she piled up, and the bullying within the industry that prevented her from joining any decent party.
Of course, things were much better now.
"Well, I managed to get S-class recognition somehow, and now I just do it because it feels rewarding."
"Having something to pour your passion into is a good thing. Even better if it’s a great deed like reviving the Earth."
"It’s not that grand... it’s just tending to a few trees," Chartia replied, looking a bit embarrassed.
Even though she had been bullied, it wasn't as if she had never heard a word of praise. The ones who despised her were industry insiders, conservative politicians in New York, and business people. Among the unrelated civilians, there were those who were grateful to her.
Those who inherited the trees or gardens she had planted and tended often sent her letters enclosing photographs, and reading them was one of her joys.
She hadn't lived a life that was purely painful.
'It’s a bit embarrassing to be praised for something so small...'
Still, hearing praise from Jinwoo felt a little more embarrassing than usual. Ever since she recognized that Jinwoo’s past life was likely that of an Elf and that he was in the same situation as her, she found herself caring about his every move.
Glancing sideways, she saw Jinwoo tilting his head back to finish the canned juice she had given him.
Her gaze fell upon his moving Adam's apple and thick forearms. Jinwoo’s body, honed by moving through construction sites and logistics centers as if they were his own home, was well-knit with healthy, functional muscle.
The reason Jinwoo could wield his sword like that was partly due to this solid physical foundation. If he had a frail body, there would have been limits, no matter how much mystical help he received.
"Chartia."
"Y-Yes?!"
Jinwoo looked at her quizzically as she jumped in surprise, then got straight to the point.
"About Elves. How much do you know? Or rather, do high-ranking Hunters retain all their memories and experiences from their past lives?"
"Ah, no, that varies by individual. I hardly have any memories of my past life, but I do know a fair amount of common sense and knowledge."
Entering explanation mode, Chartia moistened her throat with the canned coffee.
"Elf society is what you would commonly call a monarchy."
"You mean with a King and nobles?"
"Yes. Just like human history, they have various kingdoms and families, but all nations are matriarchal societies led by a Queen. The heads of families are also women."
"I see."
"This is because female Elves are usually born with superior mana and vitality. Conducting war and ruling the nation are almost exclusively the roles of women. Conversely, male Elves are said to be exceptionally emotional and active in fields like music and literature."
He heard many things after that. Most of it was precious information difficult to find in books; hearing it from her, someone with an Elf's past life, made it feel more vivid and concrete.
"What? Their lifespan is eight hundred to a thousand years?"
"You can think of it as roughly ten times that of a human. The standard for adulthood is around 200 years old. However, once an Elf becomes an adult, their appearance hardly changes for over 700 years. Aging begins around 800, at which point they prepare for death."
"That scale is..."
In the human world, that was a period long enough to contain the rise and fall of entire nations, yet it was merely the lifespan of a single person.
"In exchange, Elf society is said to have little change and is very laid back. You could say they are relaxed, or in a way, stagnant..."
He listened to many such things.
The history and nations of the world where Elves lived. Heroes and prestigious families renowned in history. Their religious system centered around a monotheistic existence called the World Tree.
Once he had heard roughly all the basic common knowledge, Jinwoo asked what he was truly curious about.
"Are Elves known to be whimsical?"
"Of course. They all have egos and personalities."
"Actually, I went through something strange..."
Jinwoo recounted the events of his first Gate in detail. From unknowingly catching fish by the stream on the first day and encountering an Elf, to receiving the white jeweled sword at the very end.
"I received this sword from that Elf. When I came to, it was stuck right in front of me."
"They just gave you a sword of this caliber?"
Chartia’s eyes went wide.
The previous actions were already incomprehensible, but leaving behind an item that was clearly a treasure? That was even harder to understand.
She tried to think about it in her own way, but there wasn't much she could say.
"Hmm, something similar happened during my first awakening. An Elf mistook me for kin after seeing my ability and just let me go."
"Mistook you?"
"Couldn't Jinwoo's case be similar? I’m not certain, but..."
Unfortunately, it didn't feel like a clear answer. Even she sounded doubtful as she said it.
The Elf that spared her was just someone passing by, but the Elf that stalked Jinwoo had followed him for days on end.
One might be mistaken for a moment, but it’s impossible to stay mistaken for that long. Her case and Jinwoo’s case were completely different.
"I'm sorry. I brought you here all confidently, but I couldn't give you the answer you wanted."
"No, I learned a lot. There were many interesting stories."
His curiosity wasn't fully satisfied, but he had heard plenty of other things. Stories about the race called Elves that couldn't be learned just from books in the library.
Chartia smiled, saying she was glad, and tossed her empty can into her inventory. It was easier to collect trash and dispose of it all at once.
"Shall we head back?"
As she straightened her back and prepared to leave, Jinwoo spoke up.
"Can we stop by one place?"
Nearby, a short distance away, he could sense a Black Flame with his perception.
Jinwoo held onto her waist again, crouching low on the motorcycle seat.
Heading from Seoul to the drawbridge, and from the drawbridge to the location of the Black Flame, he realized one thing: there weren't as many Black Flames as he had expected.
'I thought there would be many Cores since the outside is full of Black Earth.'
But that wasn't the case. When he asked why, he was told it was because they were near a major city.
'That makes sense. Even in the past, Hunters would have desperately tried to stop the Erosion if it appeared near Seoul.'
It wasn't just Seoul; other foreign cities were also said to be somewhat clear in their immediate vicinity. If one wanted to find a place truly full of Cores, it would have to be a secluded area far from major cities.
Places like the frontiers of China, Russia, Australia, or Africa, where the population density was low compared to the land size.
Naturally, the further one went from the city, the more dangerous and ferocious the monsters became. It was best not to even think about going alone.
"They say there are many Cores in polar regions like Antarctica, but those are remote areas difficult to even set foot in, so you'd better give up on that!"
"I see!"
He had to shout to not be drowned out by the motorcycle's exhaust, to the point where his voice was going hoarse.
Fortunately, neither Jinwoo nor Chartia had bad hearing, so they didn't miss each other's words.
Following Jinwoo's navigation, the motorcycle carrying the two arrived at a certain location. It was a large-scale flower garden where vinyl greenhouses once stood in rows, but now everything was torn apart, leaving only traces.
Under a broken tree, a placard reading 「Flower Delivery Specialist - Doori Flower Shop 1515-1234」 lay forlornly on the ground.
Bark! Bark!
There was a significant number of monsters there: dwarf-like creatures with short, stubby bodies and heads like dogs.
The pack of starving monsters, wandering around looking for prey, spotted Jinwoo and Chartia and charged.
Kyaaaaaah!
Despite having small, dwarfish bodies, the way they ran on all fours was quite threatening. Saliva dripped and splattered from their mouths, torn wide open, and a stench foul enough to rot one's nose wafted from them.
Slice—
Jinwoo cut down the one in the lead from the crown of its head to its groin.
"Wow."
Chartia let out a small exclamation of admiration. The clean and powerful swordsmanship was one thing, but Jinwoo’s decisiveness without a shred of hesitation was also eye-opening.
It is rare for a novice Hunter, awakened for less than a month, to be this calm in front of monsters. In the first place, for a one-month rookie, running away at the mere sight of a monster's hair was the normal reaction...
Two, three, four.
Jinwoo cut down the dog-headed dwarfs charging in succession. Sending out sword strikes with a rhythmic flow, Jinwoo asked:
"Do these guys fetch any money if we sell them?"
"No. Their teeth and hides are all trash, so disposal costs would probably be higher. The magic stones might sell, but with this quality and size... hmm, maybe about 300 dollars."
"300 dollars is a little under 500,000 won. That’s plenty expensive, isn't it?"
Chartia spoke of 300 dollars as if it were pocket change, but for Jinwoo, it was a significant sum.
Thinking that 500,000 won was being deposited into his bank account with every swing of his sword, his blade bounced with extra spring. He swung his sword feeling like he could hum a tune.
'200, 250, 300...'
In his mind, the numbers were climbing in increments of 50. The final number stopped at 1,650. In terms of headcount, that was thirty-three.
The surroundings were filled only with dead dog-headed dwarfs; nothing else remained.
"This must be the Core."
"That is one ominous-looking rock."
After slicing through all the monsters and tracking the Black Flame, they found a rock the size of a house.
It wasn't just a rock; it was twisted and hideous, like pyroxene dug up from hell, and inside it, he could see the Black Flame flickering.
Jinwoo raised his sword.
Shiing—!
And cut that rock in two.
"That actually worked."
"S-Surprising."
Seeing a house-sized rock split open with a single sword stroke surprised not only Chartia but Jinwoo as well.
He felt like it would work, but he didn't expect it to be cut so easily.
'At this point, it's scary.'
It felt like he had obtained some demonic power. He doubted if it was okay to become this strong this easily.
His soul wouldn't be collected later as payment, right...?
[A Fragment of a Past Life rises. The sword shall be like a hard rock.]
Once again, the message of ability awakening appeared without fail.
Seizing the opportunity, Jinwoo used the ability immediately. Fragments of rugged rock clung to the sword, and it solidified into a hard mass.
"What is this?"
"Isn't that just a club?"
Chartia’s impression was exactly the same as Jinwoo’s. Like this, he couldn't use the edge; wasn't it just a blunt weapon?
Whoosh, whoosh.
He swung it a few times and struck a rotten tree lying nearby.
Crunch!
The impact felt good. The heavy sensation of the hit felt like it cleared his chest.
"Well, there might be times when a blunt weapon is needed."
It was definitely better than nothing. When he deactivated the ability, the hardened rock fragments crumbled away, and it returned to being his original sword.
He checked to see if the edge was damaged, but fortunately, it wasn't.
"Are you done with your business?"
"Yes. Let's go back. I don't sense any more Cores, and the sun is starting to set."
"Hop on."
Chartia, having mounted the motorcycle first, tapped the rear seat. Jinwoo accepted the helmet, put it on, and sat behind her.
"Please drive safely."
"I'll do so within reason, so it's not boring."
Vroooooom!
The exhaust sound, no different from before, echoed through the abandoned flower garden.
They returned safely after the drive outside the city.
Since monster sweeps were conducted periodically near big cities, the danger factors were indeed low.
Still, the reason they could return without any trouble was likely because Chartia, an S-class Hunter, was with him.
Though rather than a companion, she was more of a chauffeur.
"Thanks for the ride."
"No problem, it was fun. See you next week then."
"Wait a moment, the magic stones..."
"Just use them for whatever you need."
He intended to discuss the distribution of the magic stones, but Chartia coolly waived her rights and left.
Truly an S-class Hunter. Her generosity was on another level.
'The corpse of that Shadow guy, two fang daggers, and the magic stones from the dog-heads come to about 16 million won...'
The earnings in a single day were substantial. Apparently, the scales from the Shadow's corpse were a high-value material, fetching a four-digit figure on their own. The Shadow's magic stone was separate on top of that.
Since it was a normal monster and not a boss, it wasn't an exorbitant amount like the Black Bear, but it was still plenty.
Making tens of millions in a single day was something the Jinwoo of the past couldn't have even imagined.
A few days passed after that.
A brief period of peaceful daily life continued.
He had no particular schedule until next week, and the next Gate was about three weeks away. Usually, Gates opened on a cycle of about one month, though there was some variance.
The time in between was for resting, handling personal affairs, or maintenance. In Jinwoo’s case, he spent most of it eating, practicing with his sword, and sleeping.
He could have gone outside the city to search for more Black Flames, but he prioritized exploring his two newly obtained abilities: the Shadow Sword and the Rock Sword.
Solidifying one's internal foundation is important in all things.
While he was spending his days in that busy-yet-relaxed manner...
[The Trial of the 0th World shall open.]
[Death is inevitable and ruin is destiny; perform destiny with those hands.]
"Huh? A Special Gate?"
A Special Gate, which opens irregularly rather than periodically, had opened.
Among them, this '0th World' that appeared was a place known to grant substantial rewards to all Hunters who cleared it, in exchange for its high difficulty.
Jinwoo immediately took out his smartphone and called his official contact.