A crumpled receipt scrap fell onto the table with a thud.
Chae-ho drank the lukewarm canned coffee and casually looked down at the paper covered in numbers.
Equipment repair costs, low-grade weapon sharpening materials, and the rental fee for borrowing a private training facility for several days.
Although he had sold all the goblin mana stones and byproducts he earned by relentlessly grinding through E Grade dungeons on the outskirts of Seoul over the past week, all he had left in his hands was a few coins.
The words the purchasing center employee had just spoken in a mechanical tone lingered in his ears.
'Goblin mana stones are at rock-bottom prices these days, so we can't give you much for them. Next time, bring us something bigger.'
It was true.
An E Grade dungeon had been the perfect training ground for erasing his survival steps and refining his skill control down to 0.1-second intervals.
Thanks to that, he had shaved away unnecessary movements and achieved the result of increasing his skill usage time to 11 seconds.
But reality was not as simple as the results screen in a training room.
Becoming stronger did not immediately make his wallet thicker.
With the previous settlement money, he had sent his father's truck repair costs and his mother's herniated disc examination fees first.
But when he considered the living expenses and medical bills that would continue to pile up in the future, he could not survive on this spare change.
Leaving aside his own problem of making a living, he could not just watch his parents' daily lives become more difficult.
He could not keep endlessly running on a treadmill, cutting down goblin necks in narrow caves that were not even worth the effort.
"Haa."
Chae-ho roughly crumpled the receipt on the table, threw it into the trash can, and picked up his smartphone.
With familiar movements, he accessed the Hunter-exclusive party recruitment board app.
Countless recruitment posts filled the screen as they were uploaded in real time.
If it had been the old Chae-ho, he would have unconsciously searched only for texts like "Porter Recruitment" or "Grade C Party Rear Support and Luggage Transport."
That had been the only way for someone like him, carrying a Grade D ranking, to safely earn money.
But things were different now.
His eyes casually ignored porter-related postings and quickly moved downward while scanning the requirements and payment.
[Temporary Grade C Dungeon Raid Party - Seeking Grade D Close-Combat Fighter]
Position: Frontline Support and Flank Defense
Requirements: Solid fundamentals and mentality required. Not looking for a porter. Only apply if you intend to fight.
Chae-ho's finger stopped on the screen.
The payment was far higher than running through an E Grade dungeon ten times.
More importantly, this was a position as a full combatant, not someone who simply guarded luggage from the back.
There was no reason to hesitate.
Now that he possessed a reliable weapon capable of controlling moments, there was no need to run away anymore.
Chae-ho lightly pressed the application button in the bottom right corner of the screen.
***
The area near the Association branch, where they had agreed to meet, was as crowded with Hunters as a marketplace.
Chae-ho walked through the busy streets with his equipment bag firmly held in one hand.
'I should keep the skill hidden for now.'
As he walked, he once again clearly drew the boundary he had set for himself in his mind.
Time Deceleration, the EX Grade skill that had emerged from the old random skill book Oh Sang-min had given him.
This strange phenomenon that stretched the flow of the world and allowed him to control moments was an abnormal ability beyond normal standards, one that was difficult to explain even with current system theories.
What would happen if the secret of these 11 seconds were exposed to the world?
Not only the Association, but also major guilds whose names everyone knew would surely place him under relentless surveillance and pressure.
Having people wave piles of money and offer huge exclusive contracts would be the mild outcome.
In the worst case, he could become a tool for political maneuvering and internal conflicts, destroying his entire daily life.
For Chae-ho, whose goal was to freely choose dungeons, quietly earn money, and live peacefully with his parents, such a troublesome situation was unacceptable.
'So, I'm just a Grade D Hunter with unusually sharp instincts and reaction speed.'
A Hunter with good senses who could read the flow of battle half a beat faster than others and pinpoint attack timings perfectly.
That level of disguise would be enough.
During his days as a porter, he had watched the hunting methods of higher-ranked Hunters from behind and memorized monster habits until they were engraved in his mind.
It was an excellent excuse to explain his abilities.
However, he had one exception he had firmly decided on.
He had no intention of hiding his hand so stubbornly that he stood by and watched a companion get torn apart by monster claws right in front of him.
He was not the kind of person who would recklessly throw his life away by charging forward.
But he also would not commit the foolish act of saving his skill even in a situation where he could reach out and save someone.
"I'll just have to use it carefully in the right places without getting caught."
Chae-ho muttered quietly, crossed the crosswalk, and entered the large cafe across from the Association.
Inside, Hunters waiting for party members before hunts and Hunters who had finished Association business were gathered in small groups.
He scanned the window seats near the entrance.
The appearance he had confirmed through the message.
A man with short-cropped sports hair wearing a black tactical jacket.
Chae-ho's gaze stopped at a table in the corner.
Without hesitation, he approached and stood in front of the table.
"Are you Hunter Choi Min-seok?"
"Huh? Oh. Yes, that's me."
The man who had been staring seriously at his smartphone screen raised his head.
He was Choi Min-seok, a Grade C Hunter and the leader of this temporary party.
He looked Chae-ho up and down and slightly frowned.
"You're Hunter Lee Chae-ho, right?"
"Yes. I came after confirming my application."
"Please sit down first."
There was a strange mixture of caution and dissatisfaction in Choi Min-seok's voice.
As soon as Chae-ho pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down, Min-seok tapped the tablet screen placed on the table.
"I looked over your resume more carefully just now. Hmm, it's a little ambiguous."
"Which part concerns you?"
"To be honest, I'm not the type who beats around the bush. Can I speak directly?"
"Of course."
When Chae-ho answered calmly, Choi Min-seok cleared his throat and pointed at the screen.
"I don't care that you're a Grade D Hunter, but until recently you mainly worked as a porter and handled cleanup tasks in parties. There are almost no records of you fighting as a frontline close-combat member. Isn't the gap too long?"
"That's correct. Until a few days ago, I mainly worked as a porter."
It was nothing worth hiding.
Because Chae-ho admitted it so calmly and without the slightest embarrassment, Choi Min-seok seemed more surprised instead.
"You're pretty confident, aren't you? Did you actually read our posting properly? This is a Grade C dungeon. Monsters are going to greet you with their teeth bared the moment we enter. Do you really think someone who only carried luggage from the back can properly hold a sword and block them? I don't have the room to lead a party while carrying a trembling burden on my back."
Sharp words spilled out, but Chae-ho did not change his expression.
From the perspective of a Grade C party leader, it was a natural concern.
If anything, seeing him question things this carefully gave Chae-ho confidence that this was not someone who would recklessly sacrifice party members' lives because he was blinded by achievements or rewards.
"I have no intention of becoming a burden. And I won't tremble in front of monsters."
"That's easy to say. Fighting training dummies in a facility and actual combat are completely different."
"I know. I spent the past few days alone in E Grade dungeons improving my senses before coming here. I can definitely handle support and flank defense. I won't leave any openings."
Choi Min-seok stared at Chae-ho with his arms crossed.
His words were not filled with the forced bravado or exaggeration typical of a beginner.
There was a strangely calm confidence beneath his indifferent voice.
Choi Min-seok's sharp gaze moved from Chae-ho's eyes down to the equipment bag beside the table.
The sword handle is visible through the half-open gap of the bag.
It was not an expensive legendary blade, but it was perfectly maintained without a single scratch.
The old leather strap wrapped around the handle had molded perfectly to its owner's grip, and the armor slightly visible beneath his clothes was tightly secured without any gaps.
'His equipment maintenance is incredible.'
Choi Min-seok muttered internally.
There was a common stupid mistake among former porters switching positions into close-combat fighters.
Trying to look impressive by hanging unnecessary equipment all over themselves, or becoming so tense that they put useless force into their shoulders and neck.
But Lee Chae-ho in front of him was different.
His shoulders looked relaxed, almost as if they were hanging loosely, yet his center of gravity while sitting remained firm and stable.
It was the unique steadiness only those who had rolled around on harsh ground for a long time and learned through their bodies possessed.
It was not for appearance.
It was a posture engraved into his body for survival.
'The resume is unimpressive, but his fundamentals are pretty solid.'
A slight change appeared in the eyes of the strict Choi Min-seok.
In reality, because this was a temporary party leaving immediately today, finding a combatant with perfect qualifications matching every condition was nearly impossible.
If he had to choose one person among Grade D Hunters anyway, someone who clearly understood his own limits and knew how to focus on defense was far better than someone who danced around with a sword and ruined the formation.
Above all, someone with eyes as calm as those would probably not panic, run away, and cause the formation to collapse.
Choi Min-seok unfolded his crossed arms and lightly tapped the table.
"Alright. It's just a temporary party filling a spot for one day, so sitting here interrogating you endlessly is a little ridiculous. We can see your actual ability once we go into the dungeon and exchange blows."
"Thank you."
"Save the thanks until you come back alive. But if you leave the area I assign you or leave formation on your own after entering, your payment will be reduced immediately and you'll be removed. Understand?"
"I'll keep that in mind. I'll focus on doing my own role."
Chae-ho's attitude remained dry and straightforward until the end.
Only then did a small curve appear at the corner of Choi Min-seok's previously stiff mouth.
He stood up and extended his right hand.
"Then let's not waste time. The other party members are waiting at the entrance."
Chae-ho also stood without unnecessary words and grabbed the firm hand.
A rough, sturdy handshake passed briefly between them.
"Please take care of me."
With that, preparations for the new dungeon were complete.
No more long conversations or meaningless introductions were necessary.
Chae-ho put his bag over his shoulder and followed behind Choi Min-seok, who walked ahead with long strides, leaving the cafe.
As the cold outside air touched his face, the senses that had been quietly waiting inside his mind began to awaken sharply once again.
***
The two left the cafe, crossed the crosswalk, and headed toward the equipment storage facility located behind the Association branch.
Even while walking, Choi Min-seok occasionally glanced at Chae-ho's footsteps.
Despite carrying a heavy equipment bag over his shoulder, Chae-ho's steps had a strange rhythm.
His stride was consistent, and his footsteps were almost completely buried beneath the surrounding noise.
Seeing this, Choi Min-seok clicked his tongue internally.
'Maybe saying he only worked as a porter is half a lie. Those are the footsteps of someone who has spent at least half a year fighting on the front line.'
No matter what misunderstanding he had, Chae-ho had no intention of correcting him.
In truth, these movements were the result of the past several days in the training room, where he repeatedly used his skill in 0.1-second intervals and shaved away unnecessary paths.
If it had been the old Chae-ho, even a slightly loud noise would have made him shrink his shoulders and look around.
But now, the unconscious confidence that he could respond to any external stimulus with minimal movement had settled into his entire body.
"There are our party members."
Choi Min-seok pointed with his chin.
A van was parked there, and five equipped Hunters stood around it.
One shield warrior, two spearmen, one mage, and one healer.
Chae-ho's expression remained calm as he approached them.
The Grade C dungeon he would enter today.
A place where monsters with speed and strength on a completely different level from the crude goblins he had fought until now were waiting.
But he was not afraid.
The 11 seconds of moments engraved into his body.
He had already simulated countless ways in his mind to divide and twist those seconds into variables he could create.
Chae-ho lightly gripped and released his sword handle once, then quietly exhaled.
'I'll only show exactly what is necessary.'
His footsteps stopped in front of the van.
He was completely prepared to enter a new battlefield.