Chapter 65 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Hidden Power Protagonist Novel Maniac
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My name is Gu U-gyeong.
I'm an employee managing the general store at the Sky Bridge Rest Area, a Dungeon Association-operated Dungeon Rest Area, and a 9th Grade Awakener.
My skill is Detection, an F-grade detection skill.
It can detect the location of 'one person' within a 500-meter radius—a completely useless skill.
Having long since given up on dungeon exploration or monster raids, I applied to work at a Dungeon Association rest area.
If you weren't going to live as a porter or gatherer, it was one of the better jobs available to a 9th Grade Awakener.
But even this job had its drawbacks. A huge one that overshadowed all the perks...
"...Boring."
I stared blankly out the window at the sky from behind the general store counter.
Any shop was probably the same, but the work at this Awakener rest area was monotonously dull.
Managing inventory in the warehouse, ringing up customers mechanically, and bowing when they left—that was it.
Why even hire staff? Might as well install high-performance nanobots... The thought crossed my mind every day.
"Time to read some novels."
Online novels were the only breath of fresh air in my suffocating routine.
My favorite genre was what they called "Hidden Power Protagonist" stories—slice-of-life tales about protagonists hiding their strength.
Reading about those protagonists desperately concealing their power and trying to live quietly somehow eased the tedium of my repetitive days.
My boring routine was the ordinary life those protagonists dreamed of.
"Ahh, I've already finished this one."
I smacked my lips in disappointment as I reached the final chapters.
KABOOM!
Suddenly, an explosion rocked the distant sky, shaking the entire rest area like an earthquake.
"What's going on?"
A powerful shield called an energy field enveloped the rest area exterior. Even if a dungeon destabilized and monsters broke out, the interior remained safe.
"Huh?"
Stepping outside, I let out a sharp gasp.
The energy field that should have surrounded the rest area was riddled with gaping holes, and an enormous, unheard-of monster hovered in the air with wings spread wide.
"Three-Legged Crow King?"
A Hidden Monster from the last pages of the monster manual. Staring at the Three-Legged Crow King, I trembled with excitement.
To see a real Hidden Monster! Even my dull life had events like this!
"But why's it doing that?"
The Three-Legged Crow King circled the rest area, smashing through the energy field indiscriminately.
Chunks of the outer walls crumbled, and fires broke out near the restaurants.
"Put out the fire!"
"That monster's targeting this place! Someone report it to the Association!"
In an instant, the rest area turned into chaos. The Awakeners there unleashed skills or contacted the Association.
"Something's off."
Observing the Three-Legged Crow King closely, I sensed something strange.
"It's not trying to destroy the rest area... It's hunting something."
The monster repeatedly glided and dove, shattering the energy field—like it kept missing an escaping prey.
"What the hell is it after?"
Gazing up at the Three-Legged Crow King, I slowly closed my eyes.
Then I activated my utterly useless Detection skill to find whatever it was targeting.
'What's that?'
I sensed a vague form circling the rest area vicinity.
But it moved too fast to make out clearly.
'Monster? No. That's...'
Following the movement outside, I spotted a faint shape zipping by at high speed. Looking up, our eyes met by chance.
'A person?'
A fleeting shadow. It was someone with their hair tied up.
I couldn't see the face clearly, but the shape and form lingered in my mind as an afterimage.
Huge build, and even in the blur, red eyes stood out vividly.
KABOOM!
Meanwhile, the rest area was falling apart even more.
The Three-Legged Crow King, frustrated, swung its legs and wings wildly but kept hitting the rest area itself.
As Awakeners gathered to attack the Three-Legged Crow King, the shadow zipped over 500 meters away and vanished.
'Did that Awakener fight the Hidden Monster?'
My imagination ran wild.
The Awakener must have encountered the suddenly appearing Three-Legged Crow King and fought hard. Unable to win, they fled all the way here.
'Hold on. They could've just kept running. Why circle the rest area before disappearing?'
I enjoyed browsing the monster manual but had never fought in a dungeon.
Pondering deeply, I shook my head and turned back. I needed to repair the ruined rest area quickly.
In the end, the Sky Bridge Rest Area was shut down.
I was reassigned to manage the general store at the Cloud Bridge Rest Area, about five kilometers away.
The Cloud Bridge Rest Area was much larger than the old Sky Bridge one, but my quiet, boring routine remained unchanged.
"Who'd shop at a Dungeon Rest Area store anyway?"
How prepared were these Awakeners?
For long dungeon raids, they hired porters in advance to haul massive amounts of food and Awakener tents.
The only time Awakeners visited Dungeon Rest Area stores was when they ran out of butane gas.
"Anyone with a healing skill?!"
Then, commotion erupted from afar.
'Something happen?'
Sensing something off, I stepped out to see numerous Awakeners being carried in on stretchers.
'Failed a dungeon raid? But why's everyone gathering?'
Blinking in confusion, I couldn't resist and approached the crowd.
"Ughhh."
The Awakeners lying there had eyes rolled back or foam at their mouths. They seemed in agony.
Yet despite their pained expressions, no wounds were visible anywhere.
'No injuries.'
One of the gathered Awakeners—a man with long hair tied back—clicked his tongue.
"Damn... It's that again."
As eyes turned to him, he continued.
"You know that sketchy clinic from the news? Some lunatic handing out weird drugs, driving Awakeners crazy. Rumors say the maniac's back. 'Treating' people by torturing them half to death."
The crowd murmured in realization.
"Heard it's a woman."
"Man or woman, who cares? They're killing people."
I'd heard about a madman wandering dungeons, distributing what they called recovery potions that actually turned Awakeners violent.
Many incidents followed, even making the news.
A female Awakener injecting Healing Factor into the sufferers shouted.
"Where is that person?"
"Near the Drum Can Dungeon..."
At those words, she bolted out of the rest area at full speed. Probably to catch the lunatic.
'Plain clothes... Association Awakener?'
Watching her receding figure, I heard a familiar voice behind me.
"U-gyeong."
Turning, I saw Manager Gong Sang-wook, the Cloud Bridge convenience store manager.
"Wrap up and head home quick."
"Home already?"
"Association orders. Something's up again."
"Got it."
Incidents in dungeons meant Hidden Monster appearances. I bowed and closed the store. Then a strange thought hit me.
'Wait. A Hidden Monster... That Awakener from before?'
I suddenly recalled the Three-Legged Crow King at Cloud Bridge.
The thrill of seeing a massive Hidden Monster up close was unforgettable.
'And that Awakener...'
Plus the one dodging the Three-Legged Crow King at super speed.
Was this incident related too?
"U-gyeong, bus is here."
Kim Sung-hee, one of the rest area managers, called out.
As an Association-run spot, Cloud Bridge treated staff well—including shuttle buses to dungeon entrances.
"Nah, I'll head out later."
I'd already decided to check the Drum Can Dungeon.
Surrounded by abandoned buildings, it was perfect for hiding nearby and watching.
'When else would I see Hidden Monsters or Awakener battles live?'
Suppressing my pounding heart, I headed toward the Drum Can Dungeon.
BOOM!
From an abandoned building overlooking the Drum Can Dungeon.
Peeking out, an explosion shook the earth again. The building quaked like an earthquake—definitely a Hidden Monster.
RUMBLE!
At the eerie roar, I peeked out.
"Called it."
My instincts were spot on. A Hidden Monster straight from the manual loomed tall.
"Gigant Pep!"
A centipede-like beast with a threat level over 10,000.
Known for devastating surroundings upon appearance, it was one the Association feared most.
"Huh?"
Something faint flickered ahead of the Gigant Pep's path.
Weaving through the abandoned buildings like lightning, I recognized the shadow instantly.
'Definitely that Awakener!'
Activating Detection, I felt the massive form moving at extreme speed.
'No way they're taking on Gigant Pep solo. Impossible.'
Gigant Pep's exoskeleton was tougher than titanium alloys.
Plus its agile massive body made it impossible for even a 1st Grade Awakener alone.
'They're really gonna fight?'
Absurd. How could anyone solo a monster that could level a city?
But the man stopped moving, standing tall on a rooftop, ready to fight Gigant Pep.
'A mask? Why wear that creepy thing?'
Unlike before, he wore a chilling mask.
RUMBLE!
Gigant Pep lunged with its body and front legs the moment he stopped—like black lightning striking from the sky.
"Heavenly Demon Supreme Ability!"
With a bizarre shout, the man's body erupted in flames.
"Fist Demon Seven Forms, Thousand Hands Skybreaker!"
A thunderous crack echoed, followed by a massive explosion.
In that instant, I witnessed the unbelievable.
His strike pulverized Gigant Pep's head—like fireworks exploding.
Splatter.
Black fluids rained down, and with a thud, the body collapsed.
"What was that? Explosion skill?"
Impossible. Exploding Gigant Pep's head would require three or four SS-grade explosion Awakeners.
Top 1st Grade Awakeners with that power chased fame on TV nonstop.
Yet this guy wore a mask.
"That's a Hidden Power Protagonist."
Someone that strong should be famous. But hunting Hidden Monsters solo in secret?
"Doesn't even take the relic."
Glancing indifferently at Gigant Pep, he turned away as if uninterested, crouching to leave.
"Whoa."
Watching, I yelped and fell on my butt.
He'd whipped around, staring right at me.
"Busted."
Our eyes locked—he definitely knew I was watching.
'Gonna kill me? Witness?'
If his power stayed hidden this long, it wasn't impossible.
'Running's pointless. I'd die anyway.'
Just 100 meters away.
Given his speed against Gigant Pep, it was face-to-face range.
'Ugh.'
Holding my breath, I ducked. The phrase "curiosity killed the cat" echoed in my head.
"..."
Trembling in place for ages, no sound came. Peeking out, he was gone.
He'd just quietly slain the Hidden Monster and left.
"It exists! They really exist!"
I couldn't contain my cheer.
"A real Hidden Power Protagonist!"
I'd always hoped such heroes from novels were real.
If they were, my yawn-inducing, dull life wouldn't be worthless.
I was living the quiet life they craved.
"Alright. I've decided."
A long-held dream surged up.
"I'm gonna do it."
And I vowed to achieve it.
* * *
'I Became a Hidden Power Awakener in the Dungeon.'
The title of the novel I wrote after six months of struggle. It's about a Hidden Power hero quietly roaming dungeons, slaying monsters—not Awakeners—protecting people.
It hit top 10 on the platform charts, earning enough to quit the rest area job.
"U-gyeong, what're you grinning about?"
As I beamed, Manager Gong Sang-wook passed by and approached.
"Tired? What're you scribbling that's got you chuckling?"
"Oh, nothing much."
Putting down my pen and synopsis paper for tomorrow, he smirked.
"Yeah, gotta do something when you're bored. Guarding a fly-blown store all day."
His words held mockery, not concern.
To a successful Awakener like him, a rest area clerk like me must look like a loser.
"True."
But I smiled calmly.
Even as a famous web novel author hiding my identity while running a Dungeon Rest Area store...
I was a real Hidden Power Protagonist!
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