Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 170: Hunter Assembly And (1)

The familiar sound of softly flipping pages resonated in the air.

Han-Yeol had a deep passion for gadgets, amassing various consoles in his collection. However, when it came to books, he preferred the tactile experience of reading paperbacks over ebooks. Although he did read ebooks for fictional webs, as it was convenient to purchase them online chapter by chapter, he still cherished the tradition of visiting bookstores and having a multitude of books delivered to his home for his daily reading.

Despite having a spacious seventy-two-inch all-in-one smart TV capable of displaying ebooks, Han-Yeol stubbornly clung to the satisfaction of physically turning pages. It seemed that certain habits persisted even after amassing great wealth.

‘Hmm… Should I build my own library here? I mean, I still have a lot of space left…’?he thought while reading his book.

Chirp! Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!?

The outskirts of Seoul were surrounded by trees and mountains, allowing the melodious chirping of birds to be frequently heard.

The appearance of mana stones brought about significant changes, including a cleaner environment. Scientists hailed mana stones for their positive impact, as countries shifted away from polluting fossil fuels and embraced this miraculous and environmentally friendly energy source. With mana stones as the primary fuel, emissions were reduced to less than 0.01mg.

Thanks to mana stones, the Earth had undergone a transformation and major cities now enjoyed clear skies after years of healing. Han-Yeol turned the pages faster, finding that increased focus improved his task performance. Currently, he was reading the final chapter of the book 'Virtues of a CEO'.

[A CEO's ability to comprehend the underlying messages and read between the lines is crucial. Failure to do so could result in falling into traps set by others, ultimately harming the company's well-being.]

He was busy reading the final chapter when a message suddenly popped up in front of his eyes.

Ding!

[The rank of ‘Telepathy’ has risen from (A) to (M).]

[‘Telepathy’ has reached Master Rank.]

[There is a possibility of the skill evolving if certain conditions are met.]

[You have successfully fulfilled the requirements to evolve the skill ‘Telepathy’.]

[The skill has started to evolve.]

[Telepathy (M) has evolved.]

[A new skill has been created: Telepathy II (F).]

"Huh?" Han-Yeol tilted his head in confusion upon reading the messages.

Although he had acquired numerous skills through various means, the evolution of Telepathy this time felt different from the others. Most skills either disappeared, generated new skills, or developed sub-skills. However, Telepathy evolved in a unique way, retaining its skill name while adding a Roman numeral beside it. Naturally, its rank dropped to F after evolving.

‘What’s going on?’?he wondered as he checked the skill’s description.

[Telepathy II (F)]

[Type: Active/Passive]

[Description: An evolved form of Telepathy, originally used to communicate with demons, now reveals its true potential in its second stage (Telepathy II). This skill enables the user not only to communicate with demons but also to transmit their thoughts to another person through it. Additionally, it grants the user the ability to read the minds of targeted humans.]

‘Hold on… Isn’t this one of Mariam’s skills? Is it possible for me to learn such skills too…?’?Han-Yeol was taken aback by the whole turn of events.

He acquired skills through his actions, and reading books was considered an 'action' in most cases, enabling him to gain skills from them. However, he never imagined in his wildest dreams that he would be able to acquire 'mental' skills like Telepathy II simply by reading a book.

Han-Yeol felt a mix of surprise and joy upon obtaining a new skill when he least expected it. He thought to himself, ‘While Telepathy II might not be directly useful in combat, possessing such a skill automatically elevates my status to that of a C Rank Hunter. This is awesome!’?

Describing it as "awesome" would be an understatement. Unlike most Hunters with telepathic abilities who often had weaknesses in combat, Han-Yeol was an exception due to his exceptional abilities. Being a cheat character, he didn't face the same limitations and had the advantage of excelling in both telepathic skills and combat prowess.

‘Wait a minute... If it's II, that means there should also be III and IV, right? Does that mean my telepathic ability will become stronger as the number increases? Wow... I feel like I'm really cheating...’?

It was undeniable that Han-Yeol's ability provided him with an unfair advantage over others. In fact, he couldn't help but question whether his ability could still be considered game-like, as acquiring skills in such a manner was beyond the scope of even the most advanced computer games. In most games, such an ability would either result in a ban or simply not be obtainable, as game developers placed great importance on maintaining balance.

Yet, the game-like ability Han-Yeol possessed seemed to disregard balance entirely, relentlessly driving him toward becoming stronger. While other Hunters might view his overwhelming power as unfair, Han-Yeol couldn't help but perceive it as a divine blessing.

‘As long as I benefit from it, why should I care what others think?’?

Indeed, Han-Yeol had a self-centered nature that persisted despite any criticism he received. While some may perceive him as selfish, his mindset remained steadfast and impervious to the opinions of others.

Then, he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps.

Thud… Thud… Thud… Thud…?

‘Hmm?’

Han-Yeol, situated in his study room on the second floor, caught sight of his Egyptian attendant, Amir, strolling about on the ground below. He placed his finger on his forehead and decided to give his new skill a try, ‘Telepathy.’

Wooong!

He felt a slight vibration in his head after he used the skill, and then…

[Haa… Tina, my love. When will I be able to see you again…?]

‘Oh?’?Han-Yeol’s interest was piqued.

Tina, one of the Egyptian maids employed by Han-Yeol, possessed remarkable beauty. Han-Yeol had developed a close relationship with her and engaged in frequent conversations. Through their interactions, he learned about Tina's popularity, and the presence of an infatuated colleague served as evidence of her charm.

‘It looks like things will be fun from now on,’?Han-Yeol thought with a smirk.

Reading someone else's thoughts without their consent was not only an invasion of privacy but also a clear violation of the law. However...

‘I just don’t have to get caught, right?’?Han-Yeol came to the realization that, in his perspective, only God was the witness to his actions, so he saw no reason to subject himself to the judgments of mortal laws.

Moreover, he found the act of reading other people's minds to be rather entertaining, and he could now understand why Mariam often engaged in such behavior—except when it came to Tayarana and himself.

‘That sly girl. She was having all this fun while keeping a poker face?’?Han-Yeol snickered while thinking of Mariam.

The way Mariam maintained a poker face gave the impression that she read other people's minds out of necessity rather than for fun, leading Han-Yeol to wonder if it was obligatory for her to constantly delve into everyone's thoughts.

However, he soon realized that she probably did it because it was incredibly entertaining to be inside someone else's mind.

Amir let out a sigh and departed, and ironically, Tina appeared just as he left.

“Hum~ Hum~ Hum~”?Tina hummed the tune of a K-Pop song that she had been listening to lately while studying Korean.

‘Oh~ Here’s another target,’?Han-Yeol thought as he pressed his finger against his forehead and used his skill.

[Ah... Han-Yeol-nim is too much... I was getting close to Secretary Kim recently, but he suddenly sent him away for work. Well, I suppose it can't be helped since he is quite reliable, but... Kyah! He's so handsome and cool! But...he's Korean and I'm Egyptian... There's no way things could work out between us... Ah... It's so sad, this is the first time I find myself resenting my nationality...]

“Pfft!”?Han-Yeol almost burst into laughter after reading Tina’s mind.

"Huh?" Tina looked around her surroundings, startled by the sudden sound.

Though she was a normal person now, she had previously served as a member of the Egyptian army's special forces, and her training had instilled in her a constant awareness of her surroundings. Assigned as a top-class bodyguard for the mansion, she remained vigilant for any potential intruders.

Upon seeing Han-Yeol standing there, her initial tension dissipated, and she greeted him with a respectful bow.

However, she was wondering inside, [It’s a relief there’s no intruder, but why did he make that sound just now? Was he laughing at my humming?]

Tina walked away, her various thoughts veiled behind a composed expression.

On the other hand, Han-Yeol was close to bursting into laughter, ‘Kekeke! What the hell is this? Amir likes Tina, but Tina likes Secretary Kim?’

Still, Han-Yeol found it quite unexpected that Tina had developed feelings for Secretary Kim. It seemed like a love triangle straight out of a drama or online was unfolding right before his eyes.

‘I know Secretary Kim is quite handsome…?But is he handsome in the eyes of foreigners too?’?Han-Yeol wondered.

He remembered contemplating whether to hire Secretary Kim or not, partly because of his handsome looks. However, in the end, Han-Yeol decided to hire him based on his exceptional talent and skills, realizing that his abilities were too valuable to overlook.

‘Hmm… I heard that K-Pop is quite famous in Egypt too, so I guess they got used to seeing Korean features…’

One of the industries that benefited from the cooperation between Egypt and South Korea was the entertainment industry. South Korea, renowned as a global leader in entertainment content, seized the opportunity presented by the recent alliance to establish its presence in Egypt.

Unsurprisingly, Korean media content enjoyed immense popularity in Egypt.

‘I knew it… Handsome people will always make it in life no matter what happens,’?Han-Yeol thought.

Han-Yeol wasn't unattractive by any means, but he couldn't help feeling a pang of jealousy when he compared his appearance to Secretary Kim's. He knew that he would look like s a squid next to Secretary Kim's stunning looks.

‘Wow… This ability is so fun.’?Han-Yeol's face lit up with a childlike excitement, resembling a kid who had just received a new toy.

He resumed reading his book near the window, occasionally employing Telepathy II whenever someone walked by. Initially, he experienced a twinge of guilt for invading others' thoughts, but gradually, he became desensitized to it. In fact, it was more apt to describe his growing addiction to delving into the minds of others.

“Kyu…”

On the other hand, Mavros let out a sigh and shook his head while looking at Han-Yeol with a severely disappointed look.

***

In less than a day, Han-Yeol's newfound hobby of using his Telepathy II skill had propelled its rank from F to E. He indulged in utilizing the skill whenever he spotted someone passing by, continuing until the sun dipped below the horizon.

With a new day dawning, it also marked the commencement of the Hunter Assembly. Naturally, Han-Yeol's first stop was the department store after a long break from shopping. Due to his newfound fame, he could no longer freely stroll into the mall as he once did. Instead, he had to inform them in advance of his visit, granting him exclusive access during that designated period.

It went without saying that Han-Yeol generously compensated the mall for their accommodating arrangement.

Seuk… Seuk… Seuk… Seuk…?

"Are you going somewhere special, Hunter-nim?" the luxury suit designer inquired as he took Han-Yeol's measurements.

The luxury suit designer stood tall with a neatly trimmed beard, round glasses, and slicked-back hair. Naturally, he donned a flawlessly tailored suit that exuded a classic gentlemanly aura.

He represented the renowned luxury Italian brand 'ZEMLYA' and had been dispatched directly from their headquarters to cater to the South Korean market, known for its appetite for luxury goods.

"Yes, I have an important occasion to attend. I originally purchased this suit for its design, but it seems fate had it completed just in time," Han-Yeol replied.

"How marvelous! It appears that you are truly destined for greatness, Han-Yeol-nim! Haha!"

"Is that so?"

"Absolutely! I'm not just saying this out of courtesy. Han-Yeol-nim truly stands out among the other Hunters who visit us."

"It's gratifying to hear, even if it's just a courteous remark. Haha!"

It was quite uncommon for a luxury brand to send one of its designers overseas. Usually, they hired local designers and provided them with one to three years of training before managing their shops. This was especially true for Asian countries, where consumers preferred a touch of Asian influence in the designs rather than purely European styles.

However, ZEMLYA Korea took a different approach to the market. They brought in a designer from their Italian headquarters, who spent time learning the Korean language and immersing themselves in Korean culture. This allowed them to provide a "made to measure" service.

Typically, ZEMLYA branches in other countries would measure clients, send the details to Italy, have an Italian designer work on the garments, the factory in Italy would tailor-make the suits, and then they would be sent back to the clients. This entire process would take around five weeks, and any alterations would require an additional week or two.

However, thanks to Alberto, the designer already present in Korea, the time required for a "made to measure" order at ZEMLYA Korea was only two to three weeks.

Seuk! Seuk! Seuk! Seuk!?

Alberto worked on tidying up the suit and putting the final touches on it. Then, he asked, “Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere, Han-Yeol-nim?”

“No, I love it. It’s really comfortable, and I love the design.”

“Haha! That is truly a relief!”

It was impossible for Han-Yeol not to appreciate the suit's design from the beginning, as he had already tried it on before through the use of advanced 3D hologram technologies.