The first light of dawn filtered through the hospital curtains, casting a soft golden hue across the floor. It was just past 7:00 AM. Nurse Yoora, already dressed in her crisp uniform, stood outside room 301 clutching a clipboard, her heart a tangled mess of nerves and anticipation.
"Alright, calm down. Just hand him the discharge forms and get it over with. It's just another patient. A very shirtless, very muscly, very dangerously charming patient… crap."
She shook her head violently "No, today I'm professional. Calm. Cold. Clinical."
Steeling her nerves, she pushed open the door and walked in. The room was quiet except for the steady hum of the ceiling fan and the soft sound of someone breathing. There he was — Jinwoo. Fast asleep. Shirtless.
Yoora paused mid-step.
Her professional resolve shattered like glass.
He lay sprawled across the bed like something out of a romance novel cover, the sheets half-tangled around his waist, abs glistening faintly in the morning light like sculpted marble. Her eyes traced the defined lines of his torso involuntarily.
No, don't do it. Don't you dare, her mind screamed.
But her hand had a will of its own. Just a quick touch. Just one graze of those inhumanly perfect abs. She reached out slowly, trembling. Her fingertips brushed his stomach, tracing the hard ridges with featherlight reverence.
"Good morning, nurse Yoora ," Jinwoo's voice came out smooth and playful.
Yoora jumped back like a startled cat, face instantly crimson. She fumbled with the clipboard, barely holding onto it as her mouth flapped uselessly.
"I-I-I'm here for the discharge—y-your discharge! Paper! Sign! You need sign!" she blurted, holding out the forms like a lifeline.
Jinwoo grinned lazily, eyes still half-lidded with sleep but sparkling with mischief. "You could've just said good morning, you know. Though I must admit, that was a very… hands-on wake-up call."
Her brain short-circuited.
"I-I'm going now!" she practically shouted, bowing repeatedly as she backed out of the room and shut the door with a loud click.
Jinwoo stared at the closed door, a crooked smile on his face.
"She's cute," he muttered, stretching languidly. "Very bold too. I like that."
["You're enjoying this way too much,"] the System chimed in, voice sardonic as always.
"Oh please, you saw how she reacted. I'm just being polite."
["You were asleep until her fingers graced your washboard stomach. How exactly is that 'polite'?"]
Jinwoo chuckled. "Jealous, are we?"
["Disgusted, actually. Anyway, you're up now, so here's your Daily Workout Quest. Let's not waste the day flirting."]
[Daily Quest]
Daily Quest:Become Stronger!
Time Remaining : 11.58
Objectives:
Complete 000/100 push-ups
Complete 000/100 sit-ups
Complete 000/100 squats
Run 00/10 kilometers
Rewards:
+1 to All Stats
1x Normal Loot Box
100 System Coins
Penalty for Failure:Immediate teleportation to the [Penalty Zone].
Jinwoo rolled his neck, cracking the stiffness out. "Twelve hours, huh? That gives me until 7 PM. Perfect."
["Careful. Finish even a second late and you'll find yourself in the Penalty Zone again. But of course, you want that, don't you?"]
"Oh absolutely. I've got a date with some sandworms."
["You have two Gacha Tickets and one loot box sitting in your inventory. Priorities?"]
"I've got time. Let's warm up first."
He got to work immediately, flowing through the sit-ups and pushups with mechanical precision. His body moved like it had been doing this for years — which, technically, it hadn't. But thanks to Garp's template and his previous penalty zone trainings, his muscles reacted like they belonged to a lifelong marine veteran.
Around 8:00 AM, Jinwoo completed the majority of the quest. 99% exactly. Just enough to avoid the penalty, but not enough to claim the rewards yet.
["Stalling again?"]
"I want to see if I can farm the Penalty Zone later. Got twelve hours to spare, might as well get my shopping done."
With the workout mostly complete and sweat glistening on his skin, Jinwoo walked over to the small counter where he'd stashed his belongings. He sat cross-legged, brought up his inventory, and grinned.
"Let's see what kind of goodies we've got today."
[Inventory]
2x Gacha Tickets
1x Normal Loot Box
"Loot box first," he said.
["Prepare to be disappointed."]
He tapped on the loot box icon. The familiar shimmer of light burst from the screen and materialized into a physical object in his hand.
It was…
"…An umbrella?"
He unfolded it.
"An umbrella that doesn't get wet?"
[Item Acquired: Ever-Dry Umbrella]
This umbrella never gets wet, no matter the weather. Perfect for dramatic walks in the rain.
"…Are you kidding me."
["I warned you."]
"Is this for real? I could've used a sword. Armor. Maybe a scroll. But no, I get an umbrella that's afraid of moisture."
["Hey, at least now you'll look mysterious in the rain. Very anime protagonist of you."]
"I hate how much I want to try that now."
With a sigh, he tucked the umbrella back into his inventory and turned to the gacha tickets.
"Alright, RNG gods. Don't fail me now."
Spinning Gacha :
The system wheel spun, sparks flying across his vision in rapid flashes of color and icons. It finally landed with a satisfying ding!
[Reward Acquired: Advanced Technological Knowledge]
Jinwoo blinked. "That's... actually kind of amazing."
["Congratulations. You now possess an intuitive understanding of all modern and most futuristic technologies — engineering, coding, digital systems, and more."]
"Can I build a mech?"
["Eventually. You still need materials and tools, but yes — the knowledge is there."]
He whistled low. "I'm going to make Tony Stark look like a caveman."
Spinning Gacha :
The wheel spun again, this time slower. A tense second passed before the icon stopped.
[Reward Acquired: AI-Powered Smart Bike – 'Stormchaser']
A flash of blue light formed a high-tech motorcycle beside him. Matte black finish, glowing trim lines, curved frame with an aerodynamic build that screamed speed demon. The cockpit panel lit up with an AI face resembling a neon fox.
"Greetings, Operator," it purred in a sultry synthetic voice. "Stormchaser online."
Jinwoo's jaw dropped. "Now that… is sexy."
["You're flirting with a bike now?"]
"Don't judge me. She has curves in all the right places."
["You're hopeless."]
Jinwoo stood up and stretched again, admiring his new ride as he sent it to inventory. With this level of mobility, he'd never have to worry about missing a gate or being late to an emergency.
"Alright," he said. "Inventory gains are lit. Workout Is nearly done. Time to shower, look sharp, and get the hell out of here."
["Don't forget your umbrella."]
"…Shut up."
He grinned as he headed for the bathroom. Morning chaos, accidental flirting, and now high-tech loot — it had been one hell of a way to start the day.
And the real fun was just beginning.
---
The morning sun crept over the horizon, painting the hospital in golden hues. Room 301 basked in the soft light as Jinwoo stretched lazily on the bed, now wide awake after his early flirtations. He stood by the window for a moment, the gleam of morning light brushing against his still-bare chest. The view of the city was peaceful—but his mind was already at war.
Because now came the true final boss.
Not a dungeon. Not a gate.
Clothes.
More specifically—the complete and utter lack of any that actually fit.
He eyed the remnants of the clothes he had worn during his near-death trip to the Cartenon Temple. Torn, bloodstained, and singed in places. Definitely not hospital discharge-friendly.
With a groan, Jinwoo turned to the chair where Jinah had thoughtfully left a spare change of clothes. They looked nice, neatly folded and everything. The problem?
They were a size and a half too small.
The shirt clung to his biceps like shrink wrap. The pants refused to climb past his thighs.
He sighed dramatically.
["Congratulations, host. You've survived the temple, cheated death, flirted with a nurse, and now meet your greatest adversary yet—skinny jeans."]
Jinwoo deadpanned. "It's worse than the temple."
["Absolutely. I mean, hell has a dress code, but this? This is a fashion crime. You're violating both style and fabric integrity."]
With a chuckle, he decided it was time to call for reinforcements. He stepped out into the hallway and spotted Nurse Yoora near the nurses' station, scribbling something onto a clipboard. She looked up and immediately flushed.
It didn't help that he was still shirtless. Again.
"Nurse Yoora," he called casually, waving her over.
"Y-Yes?" she squeaked, her eyes desperately trying to look anywhere but at his torso.
"Could I borrow your phone?"
Her cheeks puffed out like a kettle ready to burst. "I—I don't usually give my number to patients—"
Jinwoo blinked before a grin tugged at his lips. "Ah, no—I meant I need a phone to shop for clothes. I don't have anything that fits. Unless you're offering your number? In that case, I won't complain."
Her embarrassment transformed into an eye-roll as she handed him her phone. "Here. Just—just don't buy anything weird."
"I make no promises," he winked.
With Yoora retreating in a flustered huff, Jinwoo got to work. Clothes. He needed a full set—something casual, sleek, and easy to move in. Not some shirt-and-blazer corporate mess. He wanted something that screamed 'I look this good without even trying.'
There was just one problem.
Money.
He stared at the price tags of the outfits he liked and grimaced.
["I would offer to help, but I'm just a digital entity with sass and no credit line."]
"I'll handle it," Jinwoo muttered.
Within moments, his fingers danced over the screen. He hacked into a shady crypto-trading website, rerouted digital funds, and siphoned exactly 100,000 won into a ghost account. Anonymous. Untraceable.
["Wow. Look at you. Mr. Cyberpunk now. Is this part of your Hunter skill set or are you just morally flexible?"]
"I'm flexible. Period."
["I bet Nurse Yoora would agree."]
"Enough out of you."
He confirmed the order.
Half an hour later, a delivery drone zipped up to the hospital window—because why go out the front door when you can be extra? Jinwoo grabbed the package, now holding a sleek, obsidian-black outfit with custom stitching, breathable fiber fabric, and the comfort of a second skin.
He slipped into the clothes like a man slipping into destiny. The fit was perfect. The look? Iconic.
Now came the getaway.
He left through a blind spot in the surveillance cameras near the rear fire escape and entered a narrow alley behind the hospital. No eyes. No attention.
"Alright," he murmured, voice low and cool. "Let's ride."
From his inventory, he summoned the Stormchaser.
In a flash of light, the air shimmered. A sleek, matte-black motorcycle materialized like a beast from the future. Its body was curved with aerodynamic precision, its core humming with energy. The AI embedded in the core flickered to life.
[AI : "Stormchaser online. Welcome back, Rider."]
He grinned. "I need you to look cooler. Can I handle that?"
[AI : "I'm already a walking thirst trap, but sure. Let's do a glow-up."]
Thanks to the Advanced Technological Knowledge he'd gained from the Gacha system, Jinwoo could now perceive the core schematics of the bike. Blueprints unfolded in his mind like a designer's canvas. With a few mental commands, he reshaped and upgraded the chassis. Enhanced acceleration, nano-regenerative armor plating, stealth mode toggle. Even the exhaust got a stylistic overhaul.
[AI : "You turned me into the Batcycle."]
"Damn right I did."
With his nanotech helmet forming seamlessly over his head, Jinwoo climbed onto the bike.
[AI : "Destination?"]
"Hunters Association."
[AI : "Activating Hyperlane. ETA: two minutes."]
The bike roared—silent yet thunderous—and shot down the alley like a streak of midnight lightning. Buildings blurred. Traffic parted.
Jinwoo leaned into the wind, the thrill of speed pairing perfectly with his unbothered aura.
Two minutes later, the Stormchaser rolled to a stop outside the towering structure of the Hunters Association.
Clad in black, radiating confidence, and sporting the coolest ride in the city, Jinwoo cracked his neck and smirked.
"Let's see what today has in store."
["Hopefully not another fashion emergency. I don't think I can take another one."]
"[Okay, Mr. Swagger, how about you not scare the civilians with your aura today?]"
Jinwoo smirked as he strolled out from the Hunter Association's parking zone, flipping his hood up. His breath fogged faintly in the chilly morning air. "System, think you can help me mask my mana and bloodlust? I'd rather not cause a panic."
"[Oh, so now you're considerate? Who are you and what have you done with Mr. Devil?]"
"Please. I'm a gentleman now."
"[You're a disaster with abs.]"
Jinwoo rolled his eyes and grinned. The subtle weight of his aura lightened as the system dimmed it down.
[There. Now you don't feel like an existential threat to everything within a five-block radius.]
His thoughts shifted gears. He needed money, fast—but legally. Getting caught hacking too deep, especially in a world with mana detection and surveillance magic, was a long-term headache. Thankfully, he had a better idea.
Mana stones.
Plenty of them.
He had gathered over fifty C-rank mana stones during his time in the Penalty Zone. But Jinwoo wasn't a moron. Selling all of them at once would raise alarms. Who the hell just walks in with that many stones without being part of a raid team? Not to mention, the density of the mana inside each was slightly... unnatural.
"Selling twenty should be safe," he muttered to himself.
"[Right, because dropping enough raw magical energy to power a building is your idea of subtle.]"
"Hush."
He slid off the Stormchaser, locking it in stealth mode, and adjusted his hoodie and high-end joggers. With his sleek all-black outfit and an aura masked by the system, he looked less like the weakest hunter alive and more like the heir to a megacorp who moonlighted as a K-drama lead.
The automatic doors of the Hunter Association's trade center whooshed open as he stepped inside. The girl at the counter looked up from her screen.
"Welcome to the Trade Office. Are you here to buy or sell mana stones?"
"Sell."
She blinked. Her eyes dropped to the ID card he offered. Her lips twitched.
"...Sung Jinwoo? As in... the Sung Jinwoo?"
He nodded. "You say that like I'm a ghost."
Whispers rustled from nearby desks.
"Isn't that the E-rank hunter who almost died in Killer Statues Temple Raid ?"
"He looks... different."
"Too different."
The girl tried not to laugh. He saw it. But he didn't care. Let them whisper.
"I'd like to sell some mana stones," he repeated. "But also, can I open a hunter's account? I'd rather not pay a 10% tax."
She giggled behind her hand. "Sir, to open a hunter's account, you need to have a balance of 10 million won."
He smiled politely and casually slid two shimmering mana stones onto the counter.
The sparkle in her eyes died. The entire room fell silent.
"Pardon?" she said, voice stiff.
"Please evaluate those."
She picked one up with robotic hands, gently slotting it into the Association's grading scanner. The screen beeped, and color bloomed.
"Wha—? B-rank?!"
Her shriek practically echoed. "T-That's a B-rank mana stone!"
A nearby trade officer nearly tripped over his chair.
"Run that again," she said breathlessly. The machine repeated the results.
"[Heh. Guess the Penalty Zone's got perks after all.]" the system chimed. [Told you it wasn't just cardio with monsters.]
Jinwoo raised an eyebrow. "I was expecting C-rank peak, but this is... better."
"Sir, how many of these do you wish to sell?" she asked, still staring.
"Ten."
She choked.
"Ten B-rank mana stones... at current market rates... that's a billion won..."
"Is there a problem?"
"N-No! Of course not! Just... please wait while we process your transaction."
Within minutes, the transfer was done. Jinwoo opened his new hunter account with ease. As he walked toward the exit, the previously snickering counter girl scrambled after him.
"Wait, Mr. Sung—about your future mana stone sales—we'd be happy to set up a priority account. Or if you ever want coffee—"
"Maybe next time," Jinwoo said with a charming wink. "But for now, I've got a billion reasons to take a walk."
He strolled out, leaving whispers and dropped jaws in his wake.
"[Okay, not gonna lie, that was cool. 8.5 out of 10. Lost points for the wink, though.]"
"What, you jealous?"
"[Please. I have taste. Unlike some people who flirt with hospital staff and now trade counter girls like it's a dating sim.]"
"Haters gonna hate."
Outside the Hunter Association, Jinwoo tucked the sleek new black bank card into his wallet, adjusted his hoodie again, and breathed in the morning air.
Inside the building, chaos brewed. Staff were murmuring, staring at the scanner results. Something wasn't adding up.
Just then, a black sedan rolled up to the front of the Association. The door opened, and Go Gunhee, the Chairman of the Korean Hunter Association, stepped out.
"What's with all the noise?" he asked.
One of the staff nervously approached. "Sir... we just processed a mana stone transaction. The density of the stones... it was beyond standard B-rank."
Go Gunhee narrowed his eyes. "Whose stones?"
The trade girl swallowed. "Sung Jinwoo."
Go Gunhee's eyes widened. He turned slowly, gazing through the glass doors toward the direction the young man had vanished.
"The weakest hunter... just dropped B-rank mana stones?"
She nodded. "He looked... different. this mana... I've never felt something that heavy and clean."
Gunhee stared out in silence.
Out on the street, Jinwoo slid on his nanotech helmet, climbed Stormchaser with a subtle motion , and rode off into the Seoul morning like a phantom in a luxury hoodie.
"[So what's the next stop, biker boy?]"
"Wherever I want. I've got a billion reasons and no leash."
"[Ugh, stop. That's going on your cringe compilation.]"
He laughed, revved the engine, and vanished into the blur of city lights and infinite possibilities.
---
Author's Note:
Hey readers!
I just wanted to take a moment to say a massive THANK YOU for sticking with me! Your support means the absolute world, and knowing you're out there reading and enjoying this story is what keeps me going. Seriously, you guys are the best!
Now that we've reached this point, I'd absolutely love to hear your thoughts! What did you think of the story so far? Any favorite moments? Characters you're rooting for (or maybe even against 😉)? Drop your comments and reviews – I read every single one and they truly help me grow as a writer.
And hey, if you're feeling extra generous and want to show some love, those Power Stones are always highly appreciated! They help the story reach more readers, and it's always a thrill to see your support. ✨
Think of it as your way of cheering me on from the sidelines! Your interaction makes this whole writing process so much more fun and rewarding.
So, what are you waiting for? Let me know what you think! I'm excited to hear from you all and see what you thought of this part of the adventure.
Thanks again for being such incredible readers! Stay awesome! 😊