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[System Window – Jin Hwan]
[Skills]
• Rabbit's Mark (Lv. 1)
• Aerial Drift (Lv. 2)
• Rabbit's Wind Aura (Lv. 1)
• Momentum Grace (Lv. 1 – Passive)
• Golden Crescent Kick (S-Rank)
[Quests]
– Golden Ghost Rumor (Main Quest)
➤ Investigate the spreading rumors about "The Golden Ghost"
➤ Determine the source of the rumor
➤ Clear your name or reveal your identity
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[System Mood: OMINOUS RUMORS ARE BAD FOR SKIN. LET'S SETTLE THIS BEFORE SOMEONE STARTS SELLING 'GOLDEN GHOST MERCH.']
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Jin Hwan sat on the edge of his bed, towel around his neck, fresh from a late-night shower. The walls of his small apartment echoed with silence—until the System blared.
[New Quest Update – 'Golden Ghost Rumor' has spread to other guilds.]
He sighed.
"Again with this ghost stuff…"
A nickname had started haunting the forums and guild channels.
'The Golden Ghost'—a mysterious figure in low-ranked dungeons, appearing in a blur of wind and gold, wiping out enemies solo, and vanishing before anyone could speak to him.
Even though he wore basic gear and went solo, some claimed he was a secret S-rank tester. Others said he was a dungeon spirit. A few called him a rogue from a fallen noble bloodline.
He was none of that.
He was just... Jin Hwan. F-rank hunter. Sort of. With a gold-colored system. Definitely weird.
And now?
The rumors were spreading so fast they were starting to affect other things. When he went to register for dungeon access, other hunters stared. Whispers followed him. A few even tried to tail him through city streets.
❖ [Hunter Bureau – Surveillance Room]
Baek Yerin called him in quietly.
"Look," she said, flicking a screen.
It played grainy footage from two low-ranked dungeon cameras.
In both, a white-haired figure in wind-kissed clothes blurred through enemies, left golden streaks midair, and vanished like a gust.
"You see the problem?" she asked.
"…Yeah," he muttered.
"You didn't even apply for cloaking or masking. This footage makes you look like a stealth-type S-rank with personal concealment skills."
"I didn't mean to. It's just... my footwork."
"And that golden glow?"
"...My kick."
Baek Yerin folded her arms. "People are talking. Your name's not attached, but it's only a matter of time."
He frowned.
"I didn't do anything wrong."
"I know," she said gently. "But the more mysterious you seem, the more dangerous others think you are."
A short silence passed.
Then—[System Mood: DRAMATIC SHADOWS ACTIVATED. LIGHTING FILTER: 'MYSTERIOUS LONER WHO NEVER WANTED FAME.']
Jin Hwan blinked. "Are you making this worse?"
"I think it's cool," the System whispered gleefully. "But okay okay, let's solve the rumor. No more ghost stories."
❖ [Quest Step 1: Find the Source]
Later that night, Jin Hwan activated his communicator and searched forum threads tagged with "Golden Ghost." Dozens of them popped up.
Photos. Blurry screenshots. Speculation.
Then one caught his attention.
A post by a hunter named SomaBlade, claiming he was almost killed by the Golden Ghost after entering a dungeon first.
"I swear he attacked me. I just touched the boss room gate and I felt a blast of wind. Then a golden kick hit the ground. I ran out before I died."
Jin Hwan's brows furrowed.
"That never happened."
[System Mood: SCANDAL ALERT! SOMEONE'S LYING. LET'S FIND THIS GUY AND KICK THE TRUTH OUT OF HIM… METAPHORICALLY.]
❖ [The Confrontation]
The next day, Jin Hwan found SomaBlade at a cafe near the Seoul West Hunter Tower.
The guy was wearing a leather jacket two sizes too big, acting like a bigshot with two F-rank flunkies hanging around.
Jin Hwan walked up calmly.
"You said the Golden Ghost attacked you?"
SomaBlade blinked. "Y-yeah! In the Ironvine Dungeon!"
"I was there. I solo cleared it. Alone."
"You—"
Jin Hwan sat across from him.
"I don't like liars. You're making trouble for someone just trying to stay alive."
SomaBlade opened his mouth. Closed it. Then his gaze flicked toward the dagger sheaths at Jin Hwan's hips.
"You... you're him?"
"No." Jin Hwan leaned forward. "I'm worse."
The two lackeys ran.
SomaBlade paled. "I-I didn't mean—!"
"Delete your post. All of them."
He did. Right there.
[System Mood: PEACEFUL RESOLUTION MODE ACTIVATED. AHH, SWEET JUSTICE. LIKE EATING HOT NOODLES AFTER RAIN.]
❖ [Quest Update]
That night, a soft ding rang in Jin Hwan's head.
[Quest Progress: False Claims Removed – 1/3][System Mood: THAT'S ONE DOWN. TWO TO GO. IT'S LIKE A BOSS RUSH BUT WITH ANNOYING HUMANS.]
He sat by the window, looking out over the night skyline, legs crossed, sipping ramen.
He didn't want to be famous.
He didn't want to be hunted either.
But most of all—
He didn't want people using his name for their own gain.