Evolution Theory of the Hunter

Chapter 6

Volume 1 Chapter 6

Won Jongtak?

Oh. I thought you would have forgotten my name.

How could I?

To be honest we werent really all that close.

Well, that wasnt the reason why I didnt forget your name.

Just as he said, we werent really close enough to call each other friends. We probably said hi to each other a handful of times in school and later when we met at a dungeon entrance by chance we exchanged a brief hello. We even had alcohol together once. But that was the first time and the last time about 2 years ago.

Anyway it seems like were meeting after almost 2 years now. Did you graduate? I just left in the middle without really finishing.

Why?

The tuition seemed like a waste. I was going to be a porter anyway so I felt like there wasnt really a point in me graduating. So I just told a white lie to my parents, a little white lie and kept the tuition money. I bought some equipment with that and here I am.

As Won Jongtak spoke, he spread out his arms and legs to show me the protective gear that was covering him. It wasnt quite hunter quality so it wasnt something that would really impress anyone, but the difference between having it and not having it was still huge. I have some protective gear myself.

Due to the heavy gear I always had to carry, I found myself reducing any protective gear to the bare minimum: Waist protector, head and neck protecting headgear, mail made from synthetic resin, and arm protectors. I also had a pair of fire resistant gloves.

My gear may look humble but all of it cost me nearly 10,000 dollars. I know. Ridiculous.

Hey. It has been a while though so we should at least exchange numbers or something, dont you think?

I wanted to stop the small talk and leave but this bastard grabbed my arm. I reluctantly gave him my business card.

What is this? Pretty boy porter Jeon Sangmin? Ke ke ke. I guess nothings really changed huh?

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Is anything different with you?

I grabbed and looked at the business card he handed over my way. It had a black background with Ultimate Porter written in bold white gothic print.

Doesnt it leave quite an impression? Anyway, youre on their team right?

This guy. He put his stupid arm over my shoulder and pointed at Mr. Jung and red hair.

When I turned my head a bit, I saw Mr. red hair secretly stroking the girl porters leg. How is it that he can act exactly like you would expect him to act? Slimeball.

Yeah, I guess.

I know that guyyoull have your hands full.

Who? Red hair?

Yeh. Hes the youngest son of a rich construction company owner. He has a bit of an anger management issue. So prepare yourself to get hit a few times.

That kind of stuff is a given in this line of work. I got this.

I was about to tell him that I had just left another guy with anger management issues and almost had my head crushed in the processbut why bother?

Thats not it though. This is all rumorsbut I heard that he even raped some porter girl in a dungeon.

What the hell. What kind of a man can do something like that in a dungeon? I call bull.

Hey. Im serious here. You dont get why you got picked to do this job?

Why did I get picked. Tell me.

Because that piece of trash is always going around and doing that crap so they require another guy porter.

Yeah right. Its not as if Im the only guy porter wholl take the job. And if he was bold enough to do something like that, would he even care what another porter thinks? Who do you think those guys are?

Well, dont say I didnt want you. You be careful. If you make one wrong move. Oh yeh. Should we go get a cup of coffee too? You buy.

As if.

Come on. I gave you some good tips. You know right? That I wouldnt give any old person something juicy like this.

It didnt even seem like good intel, and why should I buy you something just because you wanted to gossip a bit?

Heyyy. Loosen up.

Ive had enough of you especially since what you pulled the last time 2 years ago, so just drop it ok?

2 years ago? What are you talking about?

Dont say you dont remember

UmI dont remember. What happened two years ago?

Damn. I hate to say it with my own mouth but last time 2 years ago when we shared a drink, you ran away without paying the bill. You dont remember?

HmNah. I dont. I do things like that quite often hehehe.

Geez you still go around pulling crap like that?

Won Jongtak turned bright red in the face and stared daggers into me at this point.

What do you want then? You want to smack me a good one?

ah shit.

Jongtak took a deep breath and said.

Sorry.

If you know youre sorry just dont do it again.

To be honest, I havent really been doing so hot lately.

What do you mean lately. Im sure it was since 2 years ago.

Aw come on.

For someone who dropped out of school to be a full time porter, are you crying about being poor now? And didnt you just come out from clearing a dungeon? Im pretty sure you have money in your pockets right now.

Id gotten paid in advance and it went to all the collection agencies. And I didnt get any tip

Collections? Where did you borrow money from?

Not long ago I got hurt pretty badly so I had to borrow money for the emergency ward.

Youve got to be shitting me. Thats the worst!

Porters, compared to other regular jobs, are paid on the pretty decent side. If he/she clears a dungeon once, they can earn from 100 to 1,000 dollars, and if theyre pretty popular they can do this work all day every day. Depending on how good you are, you have the potential to make 10,000 dollars a month.

But because it was so physically demanding, if you get hurt even once the hospital fees are ridiculous. And, adding insult to injury, youre hurt so you cant even earn any income. Because it isnt a steady job in the first place, getting a loan from the bank is not an option and you have to resort to a loan shark. Its all pretty shitty.

You think I dont know that?

You should have told your parents.

If they find out that I got hurt while being a porter, theyll probably make me quit right away.

True.

I couldnt help but relate to him on that point. Because I pretty much lied to my parents that I was employed full time while instead I have been portering the whole time. I guess I pretty much lied to myself saying it would be fine once I became a famous hunter and I gave them a lot of money to compensate.

I pretended to fall for whatever garbage he was spewing and bought him a cup of coffee before getting up. I figured there was no point in butting heads with someone who was in the same occupation and similar situation as me. I could definitely get the feeling that he played me as I watched him shaking my hand gleefully and trotting off down the hill but, well, I shouldnt be too stingy over a stupid cup of coffee.

If you look at a dungeon from the outside, it looks like an elliptical black hole. Where a dungeon appears can really vary, but they were most common in a mountain or forest. No one knows why. Well. No one even knows why the monsters appeared so of course no one would know why the dungeons appeared either. Duh. Honestly, 50 years had come to pass since they first appeared so there isnt really anyone who is curious as to the reason why, any more. To all of us, its now just a normal thing.

Dungeons vary in all sorts of ways. If I were to try and explain every single kind of dungeon, a whole book wouldnt be enough. But below are the most important points:

Ha.Ha.Ha. Scary.

Looking at the black hole ahead of me, I swallowed a small lump. Its not my first rodeo but I cant help the little butterflies I get every single time. I could see red hair didnt like that I showed some anxiety but a hunter and porters position are just so different.

To give you a general idea. Barring that the hunters didnt come here for the sole purpose of suicide, there is almost no chance of them dying. Case in point: those clothes theyre all wearing, it may look super light and flimsy but they can withstand even a sniper rifle at close range. And the robe Mr. Jung is wearing? If he just rolls himself into a little protective ball, theres nothing that can hurt him.

Well. Let us all go in now.

Mr. Jung spoke.

The inside of the dungeon was pretty bright and it was big enough where five people could stretch out and hold hands and still have room. At 10 meters, the dungeon was also pretty high so there wouldnt be any problem of space.

Let us proceed slowly. If a monster is to appear, please do not make any pre emptive attacks. It is best to follow my instructions.

And so they began.