[Active Bonus Quest: Don't Die Like a Fool]
[Progress: Survive one high-risk encounter or 5 high-speed combat simulations.]
[Progress: 1/5 Simulations Completed]
[Active Relationship Flag Quests: Ryu Hae-Rin (★), Joo-Yeon (★), Cho Hana (★)]
[System Mood: Pleased… for now.]
❖ Early Morning – Hunter's Dormitory, Guild Complex
Jin Hwan groaned awake, stretching under the soft cotton of his sheets. His rabbit ears flopped to the side lazily, then stood alert as soon as his system interface popped up like an overenthusiastic roommate.
[System Alert: Morning Checklist]
☐ Breakfast
☐ Basic Agility Drills
☐ Don't Embarrass Yourself
[System Side Note: You're on a hot streak. Let's not trip over air today.]
He sighed and stood. Still shirtless, the golden glow of his system reflected slightly on his toned abs. For someone supposedly weak, he looked… unfairly attractive.
He pulled on a black training uniform. It hugged his frame and subtly emphasized his tall stature and chiseled form. The golden system hovered nearby, like a halo only he could see.
❖ Training Grounds – Whispering Arena, 2nd Session
Today's session was meant to be a solo trial run. But…
There was a crowd.
Over two dozen hunters, most of them D to C-rank, filled the viewing deck. Some whispered. Some smirked. Others… pointed.
"There's the rabbit boy."
"Golden system? Tch, probably fake."
"He only dodges. What a joke."
Jin Hwan rubbed the back of his neck.
[System Mood: Resisting urge to smite people.]
[System Message: Prove them wrong. Or make them trip over air. Either works.]
Inside the arena, the next simulation activated. A group fight scenario—low-intelligence D-rank monsters. Goblin variants armed with rusted blades. Fast, dirty, tricky.
[Simulation Start – D+ Threat Level]
[System Buff Activated: Rabbit's Wind Aura Lv. 1]
The goblins charged.
Jin Hwan danced between their attacks, slipping through slashes and thrusts like a breeze. He marked two with Rabbit's Mark, then bounced between them mid-air using Aerial Drift. His movements were almost too fast to follow.
He didn't deal overwhelming damage… but none of them could touch him.
He let their blades clash with each other, redirected with simple palm strikes and strategic movement. One goblin tripped into another.
Another lunged—and missed entirely—slamming face-first into a wall.
By the end of five minutes, all goblins were piled in a heap of tangled limbs and groaning pain. Not a scratch on Jin Hwan.
He landed softly. Dusting off his hands.
[Simulation Cleared]
[Quest Progress: 2/5 Simulations Completed]
[Reward for Style Bonus: 5 Bonus XP, 1 Stat Point (Agility)]
[New Passive Skill Gained: Momentum Grace Lv. 1 – Gain agility bonuses when chaining dodges without stopping.]
The crowd was silent.
Then—slow clapping from the back.
A man in dark gray stood in the shadowed entry. He looked around 30, lean, with a sharp jawline and calculating gaze.
Name: Kang Jae-Won
Rank: S-Rank Hunter
Title: Phantom of the North
Guild: Nightshade Raven
"You've got style, bunny boy," Jae-Won said. "But that was just performance. Can you kill when it counts?"
The words echoed in the silence.
Jin Hwan blinked, nervous. "I, uh… I haven't really had to…"
"Come find me when you're ready to learn how to make them stay down. Clean dodging won't always save you."
He turned and walked away.
Ryu Hae-Rin, watching from a hidden panel, narrowed her eyes. "…That man doesn't visit often."
❖ Later – Cafeteria, Guild Tower
Jin Hwan sat alone, sipping carrot juice (he'd learned to stop asking questions). Joo-Yeon slid into the seat across from him, glaring.
"You didn't call me last night."
"Was I supposed to?"
She slammed a rice bun in front of him. "Eat. Fuel for more dodging."
Cho Hana dropped a stealth note on his tray: "If you talk to other women again, I will shave your ears while you sleep."
He looked around, alarmed. No sign of her.
Ryu Hae-Rin plopped into the seat beside him with a soft "Hey~."
"Uh—"
"Relax. I'm just here to talk. You're rising fast. I'm impressed."
"I'm not strong…"
"You're smart. That's rarer."
[System Mood: Harem Chaos Brewing]
[New Quest Received – Golden Ghost Rumor]
Description: Rumors are spreading of a mysterious golden system user who cannot be hit and wears rabbit ears. Investigate the origin of these rumors and who started them.
Reward: Hidden Skill or Equipment
Failure Consequence: Fame meter increases uncontrollably.
People may assume things.
[System Mood: This one's gonna be spicy.]
❖ Late Night – Jin Hwan's Room
He stared at the ceiling, ears drooping slightly.
"They're starting to notice me… but not for what I really am."
He turned his head toward the golden screen floating beside him.
"System, am I just lucky?"
[System Response: You're the luckiest, dumbest, hottest rabbit this side of the planet.]
[System Note: But luck alone doesn't dodge blades. You're doing more than you know.]
He smiled faintly.
"…Thanks."
The screen dimmed. But in the corner, a flashing symbol appeared:
[Hidden Dungeon – ★Low-Level Gate Detected★]
Location: Abandoned Subway Tunnels, Sector 3-B
Threat Level: C → ???
[Suggested Participants: 2-4]
[Time Until Breach: 72 Hours]
Jin Hwan sat up.
"A dungeon…?"