Unfortunately (1)
I had a hunch as to why.
'As I thought… [Skills] and 『Magic』 are different.'
When I manifested Ignition, something had felt off.
Though the acquisition process was different, Ignition was still a skill.
Which meant that once it was manifested, it should have appeared in my skill list.
But my skill list remained barebones.
"Skill"
Predator-Prey Relationship
Silver Mastery
Shooting Mastery
Simultaneous Shooting
Exorcism Ritual
It was the same when I manifested other spells.
Those experiences and today's...
From them, I reached a conclusion.
[Skills] and 『Magic』 are completely different concepts.
Understanding that they belonged on separate levels made things click.
'Just how much time and effort did it take to manifest a single ignition spell?'
I couldn't say exactly…
But one thing was clear—it didn't fit the setting.
You know, that whole "I can manifest magic just by seeing it" nonsense.
The kind of cringy setting Granfell had.
I muttered aloud:
"No wonder. It's understandable now."
This time, it wasn't just a mental defense mechanism.
[Skills] and 『Magic』 were entirely different entities.
Trying to understand a skill through the lens of magic meant unnecessary struggle.
I'd been banging my head against a wall trying to do something impossible!
'…But I did manage to manifest a skill by interpreting it as magic, didn't I?'
In that sense, it seemed the "most gifted prodigy in Cloudy family history" setting still applied.
I turned toward the portal.
It was different from when I had just watched a skill video on NetTube.
I didn't even need a pen and paper.
The process of 『Search』 and 『Interference』 played clearly in my mind.
A high-tier spell that made Ignition look like child's play—『Portal』.
I felt like I could really manifest that elite-level spell.
Of course, it required an immense amount of mana.
I couldn't even attempt it right now.
But just understanding that fact was enough.
I turned my gaze to the Mage Tower's surroundings.
Looks like I'd be coming here a lot, huh?
Honestly, I wanted to stop one of the passing mage NPCs and ask:
"Can you show me some spells? Start with beginner ones, please."
But of course, the arrogant residents of the Mage Tower would never oblige.
Besides, I knew this wasn't the time.
─ Hunt the Vampire. (In Progress) ▲
● Notify that the hunt has begun. (In Progress)
"I have no need for instruction."
...Besides, this noble pride of mine wouldn't allow something as lowly as asking for help.
Maybe commanding, but asking? Never.
Seriously, what a difficult personality.
I walked into the portal—
Click, click—
With the most arrogant stride imaginable.
Whoooosh—
...Goddamn, it's cold.
I should've packed hand warmers instead of just grabbing the green tea bags!
It was the kind of cold that made you want to cross your arms and stomp your feet.
But alas, I don't even ask for help.
There's no way I'd stoop to such undignified behavior.
My legs were ready to tremble, yet I walked on.
As the scenery shifted, I entered a dense forest.
There, a large crowd had already gathered.
"Yes! I'm now reporting live from the newly discovered rift in Russia!"
Journalists.
"Alright bros, let's head into the rift! Which number are we going with?"
NetTube streamers.
"How's it look? Everything okay? The stream's smooth, right?"
Guilds that had set up external camps.
This was the clear picture of the massive attention the Ascura Count Rift was receiving.
For now, they were all competition.
After all, my quest was to hunt vampires.
I was competing against top-tier guilds and players.
To be honest, beating Count Ascura before they did? Not a chance.
They had more people, and their levels were way beyond mine.
But I was still brimming with confidence.
Please let this be well-founded confidence…
With that thought, I headed toward the nearest rift.
"Whoa, hold on."
"?"
"Hey! Let's have some common courtesy, huh?"
The one who blocked me was a man with a round face.
He was holding a tripod with a camera attached—clearly a NetTuber.
He scanned me up and down.
"No way I'd forget a pace like that… You're new, right? The concept's kinda fresh though. Like, a salaryman who raids rifts or something? Anyway. I'm reviewing this rift, so pick another one. Shoo, shoo."
A newbie NetTuber with a salaryman concept, huh?
...Hard to argue, really.
I did look the part, admittedly.
Definitely didn't look like someone here to raid a rift.
But look closer, buddy.
Do I have a camera in my hand like you?
Even so, I couldn't bring myself to say anything that direct.
"Move."
"Wh-what did you say?!"
"I don't have the patience for this right now."
My voice, colder than the icy Russian winds, conveyed just one thing:
"I'm too damn cold to deal with you."
And that was as polite as I could manage.
"Y-you guys saw that, right?! These new players, they've got zero manners! Huh? Just by looking at his face I'm the one in the wrong?! Wait, sis! Don't side with him too!"
Leaving the flustered guy behind, I stood before the rift.
[Territory Outskirts]
[Recommended Level: Lv. 240–270]
[Collapse Progress: 9.7%]
My current level: 67.
That's almost 200 levels below the recommendation.
And yet, I had only one thought as I stood there:
Maybe I can escape this cold inside the rift…
Guild Rank #32 – Berserker.
The guild master, Leonie Bellucci, furrowed her pale brow.
"F*, what the hell is this?"**
Leonie was level 348.
A top 100 ranked player.
She had the experience to match her rank.
But this rift was unlike anything she'd faced before.
It was hell.
Leonie swung her twin swords.
Swack—!
She clearly slashed its legs—
But the blood-red-eyed wolf didn't even flinch.
"You mutt!"
Shing-shing—!
A nonstop barrage of slashes from her twin blades!
Finally, the wolf collapsed.
Of course it did.
[Blood-Drenched Wolf – Lv. 230]
A full 100 levels lower than her.
No way a mere 230-level monster could withstand her attacks.
Leonie checked the system message.
They were definitely defeated, and I definitely got the experience points.
But what's with this uneasy feeling?
"...Guys. Is it just me?"
Leonie asked with a serious expression.
But even her serious face didn't quite match the current setting.
A cute face that could even pull off that choppy, self-cut, crimson bob.
A delicate frame.
Who would ever guess just by looking at her appearance?
That she's the master of the Berserker Guild.
"What now?"
"Unni's acting all sharp again?"
"Not scary at all, seriously."
So her guild members just smiled warmly.
Part of it was thanks to her cute looks.
But mostly, it was because Leonie's instincts had never really been that sharp despite her posturing.
Of course, this warm atmosphere never lasted long.
"No, seriously. This shit feels really wrong, okay?!"
The way she ruined the mood the moment she opened her mouth — was there anyone else like her?
No joke — even seeing it daily was still a shock.
Her guild members sighed.
"...Yep. That's our unni alright."
"So what's making you uneasy? Was the dungeon too easy or something?"
"My shit instincts kicked in."
Leonie raised her fist.
"I mean, of course it was easy, you idiots! Do you even know what level we are?!"
"Unni. Even if you can't control your words, at least control your fists, please."
"Shut up. But seriously, have you ever seen mobs like this before?!"
Thud—
Leonie kicked one of the wolves lying on the ground.
"These guys didn't even show a hint of pain while dying."
"Well, maybe it's just 'cause they're demons?"
"Are you kidding me? It's not like it's our first time fighting demons! You ever heard how Imps scream?"
…Wait. Now that she mentioned it, it was kind of odd.
Leonie and the Berserker Guild's top 30 elites had entered the [Outskirts of the Territory] rift and had been hunting for about three hours.
They must've defeated dozens of [Blood-soaked Beasts] and [Blood-soaked Bandits] by now…
"...Did any of you hear them scream or whimper?"
Looking back… they really hadn't.
When no one responded, Leonie shrugged.
"This is fishy. There's something up with these bastards."
"So what is it?"
"How the hell should I know, damn it?!"
"Unni, now that you say it, it is kind of weird... But still, it's probably nothing, right? I mean, we got the XP fair and square."
"That's true. But I'm telling you, I have a feeling!"
There was a reason their guild ranking always hovered around 30th place.
It was because their master's reputation was practically nonexistent.
"What do you even take me for…"
Just as Leonie was about to launch into a useless rant—
From the distant forest—
Yip, yip-yelp!
A sound rang out.
"...!"
It was faint, but it definitely sounded like an animal whining.
All eyes turned to Leonie.
"...Hey, what's with those 'we knew it' looks?!"
There were plenty of players in the rift.
It could be the sound of them, right...?
Aaaooowww!
But the pitiful howl that followed nailed it in.
This time, it wasn't just looks — someone said it aloud.
"Knew it."
"That's the unni we know."
"Damn it. So what the hell went wrong this time?"
Why were they whimpering and howling?
Half of her was annoyed. The other half was curious.
Leonie led the guild toward the direction of the noise.
"Might as well meet up. I mean, we're technically on the same team tackling this rift."
Honestly, [Outskirts of the Territory] was just a warm-up rift.
Even if demon-type monsters showed up, any of the guilds here today could clear it easily.
The real competition wouldn't begin until they finished all the outer rifts.
From the [Count's Domain] rift onward, things would get serious.
"...Who the hell did that?"
Who could've terrified those usually-silent types into howling like that?
Leonie began narrowing down the suspects.
'First off, cross out Shining and Gaon. We avoided them.'
Rank 1 and 5 respectively.
Going up against them would be like shrimp getting smashed by a whale's tail.
That's why the Berserker Guild had deliberately chosen a rift far away from them.
So that didn't leave many options.
"It's gotta be either Second Sun or Bohemian. One of those two."
But like she said…
Leonie's instincts weren't all that great.
"…?"
When they arrived at the source of the howling, there wasn't a guild in sight.
There was just one man.
But even he didn't match the background at all — not just in a suit, but polished dress shoes too.
Yet the most bizarre part?
He was holding a teacup.
Steam gently rose from it—
Just looking at it, you could tell it was piping hot.
And oddly enough—
He didn't look the slightest bit out of place.
He didn't fit the environment, sure…
But the man exuded a calm and composed aura.
He looked like he was simply enjoying a peaceful teatime.
Gulp—
"…What the hell is that psycho doing?"
Leonie swallowed dryly at the surreal sight.
Then the man spoke to her.
"I'm afraid—"
In the firmest voice imaginable.
"—there's no tea for you."
Warm…
Finally, the chill was fading away.
Now that I understood the value of teatime,
I couldn't help but treasure the green tea bags in my inner pocket.
So…
Gulp—
Pretending you're thirsty won't get you anything from me.
─Hunt the Vampire. (In Progress) ▲● Announce the hunt has begun. (Success)● Make them feel the fear of being hunted. (In Progress)