The Sweet Harvest of Skill Copy

An apartment complex in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, lay in ruins, ravaged by monsters.

Four or five burly men hastily loaded various household appliances, both large and small, that they had retrieved from the abandoned apartments onto their respective trucks.

“Damn it! This place is pretty much picked clean now, Hyungnim. What are we going to do? All the decent spots around here have already been claimed by other teams, leaving us nowhere to work. This place will be tapped out in two weeks, at most.”

Park Gicheol responded with a bitter expression, acknowledging the man’s concerns.

“How should I know? If things get desperate, we might have to venture deeper inside.”

“What? Deeper inside? Good grief. It seems it’s time to quit this Hyena business. We’re already risking our lives enough as it is. If we go any deeper…”

These individuals, commonly known as ‘Hyenas,’ were those who scavenged abandoned homes for appliances and other valuables, then transported them to safe zones to sell.

Safe zones referred to major cities fortified with defensive barriers, while all other regions were classified as dangerous areas where monsters could appear at any moment.

Consequently, people flocked to the nearest safe zones, turning many regions into abandoned cities.

This exodus created another problem: a severe disruption in the supply of daily necessities and agricultural products.

Naturally, prices soared, and the lives of ordinary citizens became increasingly difficult.

In response, a few fearless individuals began venturing into these dangerous areas, retrieving usable items from abandoned apartments and houses to sell. This marked the beginning of those known as Hyenas.

Currently, a considerable number of people had embraced this perilous profession, throwing themselves into danger as Hyenas.

“If you quit this, do you have anything else to do?”

“Even so, going deeper… it’s too dangerous.”

This particular area was relatively safe from monster threats, thanks to the numerous Hunters active within it.

However, venturing further inside meant encountering stronger monsters. While the Hunters who hunted there might be more skilled, their numbers were significantly fewer.

Hyenas operated by striking quickly and retreating during the Hunters’ hunts.

Naturally, they preferred to avoid areas where the number of hunting Hunters was scarce.

“I know. I just said it out of frustration. Sigh, it’s getting harder and harder to make a living. Enough with the pointless talk, let’s start getting ready to head back. It’s already starting to get dark.”

“Damn it. Alright, Hyungnim. I’m in a foul mood; I’ll have a drink when we get back. Ugh.”

At Gicheol’s words, the men began heading to their trucks one by one.

Yet, as Choi Junhyuk made no move, Gicheol looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“Junhyuk, why are you just standing there? Aren’t you coming?”

“You go on ahead, Hyungnim. I’ll do one more round before I leave.”

Gicheol was startled by Junhyuk’s declaration that he would do one more round.

“What? One more round? Hey! Can’t you see it’s already starting to get dark?”

While Gicheol appeared concerned for Junhyuk, his true thoughts were quite different.

‘Damn it! I was planning to stay and work alone today… This is infuriating. Why is he suddenly doing this?’

As Gicheol wore an exasperated expression, Junhyuk smiled nonchalantly and spoke.

“I’m just going to hit a few more spots lightly, so it won’t take long. Don’t worry; just head back first.”

“Huh! Look at this kid. You idiot! At this hour, even the Hunters are starting to wrap up their hunts and withdraw! As you know, our iron rule as Hyenas is to strike fast and get out while the Hunters are still active. If you linger any longer and all the nearby Hunters withdraw, things could get really difficult. Don’t do that; just pull out now.”

Returning to a safe zone before all the active Hunters withdrew was an ironclad rule for Hyenas.

The only reason ordinary, unawakened people could venture into these dangerous areas was because Hunters were hunting monsters nearby, providing a minimum, though not perfect, level of safety.

But what would happen if all the Hunters withdrew?

There was no telling when or where one might encounter a monster.

Of course, Gicheol’s true intention was to send Junhyuk and the others ahead so he could stay behind and work alone.

At Gicheol’s suggestion that it might be dangerous and they should return together, Junhyuk subtly glanced at the truck’s cargo bed before speaking with a bitter expression.

“Hyungnim. I haven’t even paid this month’s rent yet. What we have here isn’t even enough for this week’s living expenses, let alone the rent.”

The haul was meager, and what little they had consisted mostly of small-time goods.

What was currently loaded onto the truck would barely cover a few days’ living expenses.

Gicheol looked puzzled at the mention of unpaid rent.

“What? What do you mean? Although we ran out of good spots earlier than expected, we still made a decent profit here for nearly a month. How can you say you haven’t paid the rent?”

“Sigh, Euncheol started elementary school this time, didn’t he? And Eunjung moved up to third grade. I bought them some clothes and school supplies. Then, after paying the overdue rent and buying some groceries, the money just vanished.”

Gicheol, having roughly understood the situation, nodded resignedly.

“Euncheol is already in elementary school? Huh! Time certainly flies.”

“It really does. Time passes so quickly.”

“Still, you’re quite remarkable. They’re not even related by blood, yet you’re so devoted to them, treating them like your own siblings.”

At Gicheol’s words, Junhyuk’s eyes instantly sharpened.

“Hyungnim!”

Gicheol, realizing his mistake, quickly waved his hands.

“Oh? Ah! Haha. My apologies. My apologies. I made a mistake. You always react so sensitively when your siblings are mentioned.”

“Anyway, I’ll do one more round before heading back, so don’t worry and go on ahead.”

What could he do? Given the circumstances, he couldn’t force Junhyuk to leave.

‘Ugh, there’s no helping it. Since tomorrow is a non-working day, I’ll just have to come out early and get some work done then.’

Though Junhyuk’s sudden decision to stay had disrupted his plans, Gicheol calmly accepted the situation, knowing that today wasn’t the only day to work.

“Alright, then I’ll head back first. Be careful, and don’t be too late.”

“Yes. You go on.”

After speaking, Gicheol drove his truck out of the apartment complex, with the other trucks following behind him.

Vroooom!

…………

Junhyuk, who had waved goodbye with a warm smile to those leaving, became expressionless the moment they were all gone and he was left alone.

****

How much time had passed?

Despite the darkness that had already fallen, Junhyuk remained in the ruined apartment complex.

More accurately, he had been waiting for night to fall.

“Today is finally the day.”

A subtle sense of anticipation flickered in Junhyuk’s expression as he stood by the apartment window, gazing outside.

The first task Junhyuk had to accomplish after his regression.

It was to acquire the ability that Park Gicheol was originally destined to obtain.

In the original timeline, Gicheol should have been in this very spot today, and the ability known as ‘Copy Master’ should have been his.

However, due to Junhyuk’s desire to possess the Copy Master ability, it was ultimately Junhyuk, not Gicheol, who stood there.

‘A copy ability… I’m looking forward to it. Hyungnim. If this ability is as incredible as I think, I’ll treat you to a lavish meal later.’

Copy Master.

It was an ability that allowed one to copy and use another Awakener’s skills.

Though its potential was limitless depending on how it was utilized, Gicheol not only failed to properly harness it but ultimately met his demise because of it.

The reason was simple.

He had revealed that his ability was a copy ability when registering as an Awakener.

An ability to copy an opponent’s skill through mere physical contact.

Who would tolerate someone effortlessly duplicating the skills they had painstakingly developed?

After the Copy ability became known, Gicheol was thoroughly ostracized by other Awakeners.

No Awakener would approach him, and naturally, he couldn’t join any party.

Unable to go on hunts, he couldn’t grow stronger, and thus, Gicheol was left behind.

Eventually, his body was discovered in a secluded, abandoned building.

It was likely the work of someone who feared having their skills copied.

As Junhyuk briefly reminisced about the past,

Kwoooh-oh-oh-oh!

A monster’s roar assaulted Junhyuk’s ears.

“Hoh, is it finally starting?”

Junhyuk looked out the window with an intrigued expression at the sudden monster’s roar.

Based on the timing, it certainly wasn’t when monsters were expected to appear.

Typically, new monsters only filled the void about two hours after most Hunters had withdrawn.

However, a monster’s roar now echoed just over an hour later, indicating that the situation was far from normal.

As Junhyuk gazed out the window, his eyes caught sight of monsters moving towards a specific point.

Kwoooh-oh-oh-oh!

Grrr-grrr-grrr!

The fact that over a dozen massive monsters were gathered was not the most crucial detail.

The truly significant aspect was that these were not common lower-tier species, but rather higher-tier species, each one a disaster in its own right.

‘Over a dozen higher-tier monsters, C-grade or above… Gicheol Hyungnim was certainly right. That means there’s an A-grade nearby, too.’

After the full-scale war ended and hostilities entered a lull, monsters rarely gathered in large groups.

Given their solitary nature, it was uncommon to see more than three gathered together, except perhaps when their paths accidentally converged.

Moreover, the monsters currently gathered were not common lower-tier species, but C-grade or higher, each an individual catastrophe.

Yet, not just one, but over a dozen of these higher-tier monsters were amassed.

Undeniably, only one thing could create such a situation: the emergence of an A-grade monster, known as a ruler of its domain.

Despite the situation—over a dozen higher-tier monsters and the potential presence of a domain ruler—Junhyuk’s expression remained calm and collected.

As he observed the unfolding events, another unusual phenomenon occurred beyond the window.

Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-wooong!

A white cluster of light began to gather directly in front of where the monsters were amassed, soon forming an oval shape.

‘Hmm? That is…’

It was a phenomenon he had never witnessed before. Nevertheless, Junhyuk instinctively knew what the oval cluster of light was.

“That must be the sudden gate. So, this is where things truly begin… He said a person would emerge from inside, right?”

It was the exact same shape as the gates that appeared once every two months.

Moments later, a person burst out of the sudden gate.

The man who emerged from the gate raised both arms high, about to shout with joy.

“Uh-haha! I’m finally back… Huh?”

However, he couldn’t fully savor his joy.

The instant he let out his triumphant cry, the monsters gathered before him attacked in unison.

“Kwoooh-oh-oh-oh!”

“Kwooaah-ah-ah-ah!”

Boom! Boom! Crash!

The colossal monsters unleashed a relentless, indiscriminate barrage of attacks upon the man who had emerged from the gate.

Crash! Boom-crash! Splat!

The monstrous assault continued for a time, shaking the apartment building itself, and it seemed impossible for even the most formidable Hunter to survive it.