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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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Chapter 44
The gear used by the monsters had never been distributed before.
Distributing such equipment was like dropping a nuclear bomb on the market.
"Have you thought about how we’ll promote it?"
"How about uploading a video of someone actually using the gear on our YouTube channel?"
"Oh, that’s a good idea. A video like that would grab attention fast, perfect for going viral."
Ha Jinwoo nodded in agreement with the marketing team lead.
They began discussing the details of what kind of gear to showcase, and at which Gate the filming would take place.
As the meeting moved along smoothly, Jinwoo brought up the most important point.
"The model... we’re going with Hayoon?"
"Team Leader Hayoon would be a great choice, but not this time. Since we’re promoting this properly, we need to go big."
Then the marketing lead mentioned someone else.
"It’d be great if we could get them, but do you think they’ll agree to it?"
"What if we offer the gear for free? That might convince them."
"Ah! That’s clever. If you’re confident, go ahead and make it happen."
"Understood."
With that, the guild members of Dawn Constellation sprang into action to launch the most ambitious gear promotion ever.
***
At that moment, South Korea was buzzing over one major headline:
[Napoleon’s Descendant Arrives in Korea!]
[Which Hunter is the French Princess Looking For!?]
[Rachel Bonaparte Says She Loves Korea…]
└ Wow, can’t believe the princess is actually visiting Korea.
└ Lucky Hunter, whoever helped her…
└ Think she really meant it when she said she liked Korea?
Rachel Bonaparte.
A direct descendant of Napoleon and head of the Bonaparte family.
Known worldwide as the Princess of France, she had just landed in Korea.
Her reason? To personally thank the Hunter who once helped her.
Some skeptics doubted that an S-Rank Hunter would visit just to say thank you.
They tried to uncover her true motives but in Rachel’s case, there truly were none.
She had come to Korea simply to meet her ancestor.
Ignoring even the French government's warning that it was too dangerous to travel abroad.
Naturally, her arrival sparked massive international attention.
After all, she wasn’t just any Hunter, she was the matriarch of the once-imperial Bonaparte family, and one of France’s most iconic S-Rank Hunters.
Korean guilds and high-ranking figures in politics and business all rushed to connect with her.
But Rachel rejected every approach.
Her goal was to find Choi Seojun, and express her gratitude.
‘Where could my ancestor be hiding?’
Rachel thought of Seojun.
He had worn a mask that covered the lower half of his face so the only thing she could remember clearly were his clear, sincere eyes.
Still, she remembered the striking impression left by the blonde girl who was always with him.
So Rachel decided to search for the girl first.
In truth, a small part of her had hoped that Seojun would come to her first after hearing news of her arrival.
That was why she had made her purpose for visiting so public in the first place.
But unfortunately, he never appeared.
Not that it mattered.
This wasn’t her only chance.
She was prepared to return to Korea again and again—
—until the day she could meet her ancestor.
"Are you absolutely certain that he’s Napoleon’s reincarnation?"
"I personally confirmed that the rifle he uses is the very same one Napoleon carried."
"...If that’s true, then it really is astonishing."
Even with Rachel’s firm conviction, the elderly butler who served her remained doubtful.
It was around that time that Dawn Constellation reached out to her.
— My Lady, someone from Dawn Constellation is here to see you.
"Tell them I’m not interested in a meeting."
Rachel had no intention of meeting with Dawn Constellation.
It would’ve been convenient if they could help her find Choi Seojun, but if possible, she didn’t want to risk leaking any information.
She had recently discovered the truth that Seojun was operating under the alias ‘Connector’.
But then her attendant said something that made her reconsider.
— They’re asking for your help in distributing Cursed Gear.
"...Cursed Gear?"
Rachel’s eyes widened.
***
She was skeptical, to say the least.
Cursed Gear wasn’t something humans could safely use.
If it were, the world wouldn’t be suffering from a shortage of usable relics.
Each piece of Cursed Gear held power on par with legendary artifacts.
There was a reason why global organizations had once tried to purify and neutralize them.
Though in the end, every attempt had failed.
That should’ve been the end of it...
"Are you seriously telling me that Cursed Gear can be distributed?"
"Yes. In small quantities, but steadily and reliably."
Ha Jinwoo, who introduced himself as Team 1’s Leader of Dawn Constellation, was difficult to believe at first.
Rachel even wondered if something had been lost in translation.
But then he revealed more than twenty pieces of genuine Cursed Gear and there was no way to deny what she was seeing.
"So, you want me to promote these?"
"Yes. In return, we’ll gift you a full set of rare-rank Cursed Gear. Additionally, we’ll grant you priority purchasing rights for future distributions."
"Hmm..."
Jinwoo proposed that Rachel become their official Cursed Gear Ambassador.
Truthfully, Rachel had no need for such items.
The Bonaparte family already owned relics far more powerful.
But the offer of exclusive purchasing rights... that piqued her interest.
She didn’t need the gear—
But her loyal retainers could certainly benefit from it.
"Very well."
For the sake of her household, Rachel signed a three-year ambassador contract with Dawn Constellation.
And then—
[The French Princess! S-Rank Hunter Rachel Goes Live with a Real-Time Gate Raid!]
Clad in Cursed Gear and a body-cam, Rachel stepped into the Gate that Dawn Constellation had specially prepared.
Ha Jinwoo made sure the livestream was broadcast across all major channels.
The reaction was explosive.
└ What?! Rachel!?
└ Is this legit???
└ Holy hell, it’s really her!
└ Rachel noona!!
The stream, titled ‘Rachel’s Live Gate Raid]’, pulled in not just Hunters, but an overwhelming number of general viewers.
The concurrent viewership quickly soared past 100,000.
120,000… 150,000… 170,000…
The viewership count just kept climbing.
‘This is it.’
Ha Jinwoo clenched his fist.
Without hesitation, he called Choi Seojun.
“Mr. Seojun! You need to check YouTube right now! Hunter Rachel just started the raid while wearing the Cursed Gear!”
***
From 100,000, the viewer count had surged now nearing 300,000.
In front of hundreds of thousands of spectators, Rachel entered the Gate equipped with full Cursed Gear.
— Kyaa, kyaa...
A dense forest.
There stood a monster with the upper body of a woman and lower body of a serpent.
A shrieking creature that could freeze its prey with a single scream: a Lamia.
— KyaaAAAHH...
The Lamia screamed upon spotting Rachel.
But then—
[Lamia’s Necklace weakens Lamia’s hostility.]
The creature suddenly paused.
Tilting its head, the Lamia stared at Rachel then stopped screaming altogether.
"Hoh."
Did it mistake her for one of its own?
She’d heard some Cursed Gear could have such effects,
but experiencing it firsthand it was far more potent than expected.
Slice—
Before the confused Lamia could react, Rachel’s sword cleaved through its neck.
└Wait, what did she just do?
└Why didn’t the Lamia attack?
└Did it just get scared of her?
└Nah, that looked more like… confusion?
Viewers watching the stream were baffled.
None of them had ever seen a Lamia not scream.
It might’ve seemed like a fluke.
But the same thing happened again and again.
[Orc Warlord’s Longsword weakens the orc’s hostility.]
[Cursed Doll reduces the Banshee’s aggression.]
[Dark Specter’s Orb disrupts the specter’s perception…]
In every Gate she entered, the Cursed Gear Rachel wore activated effects that dulled the monsters’ instincts.
And she took them down with ease.
└How is this even happening??
└Is this really how an S-rank Hunter raids?
└Unnie, you’re progressing way too fast.
The bizarre phenomena were written off by most viewers as part of Rachel’s abilities.
S-rank Hunters often had unique powers the public knew nothing about.
But not everything could be dismissed so easily.
└Guys, don’t those relics she’s wearing look... familiar?
└Wait, you’re right. I swear I’ve seen them somewhere before…
Viewers were finally starting to question Rachel’s gear.
Still, while some thought the items looked familiar, none imagined they could be Cursed Gear.
After all, Cursed Gear wasn’t supposed to be usable by humans.
‘Guess it’s my turn to help.’
Sitting with Jeanne and Vanessa, watching the stream on my laptop, I began typing.
—Hey, isn’t that the Orc Warlord’s Longsword Rachel’s using? Looks like it to me.
As if I’d just stumbled on it by chance.
The responses came instantly.
└ Nah, I know that sword. That’s not it ^^
└ Uh, Cursed Gear can’t be used by people?? Do your research lol
└ Haha, pretending to be a Hunter and just exposed yourself!
“……”
“Don’t let it get to you, Seojun.”
“I wonder where those people live. I’d love to pay a visit.”
Guess I’ll just watch in peace for now.
But over time, more viewers started realizing something was off.
└ Wait, that really does look like Cursed Gear. How is she even wearing it?
└ No way, that stuff’s contaminated. It’s probably just a relic that looks like it.
└ Dude, I’m telling you\what's the Lamia’s Necklace. That’s Cursed Gear!
The chat devolved into chaos.
Two camps emerged, those convinced Rachel was wearing actual Cursed Gear, and those insisting it was impossible.
And then, near the end of the livestream, all their questions were answered.
[Purified Cursed Gear: Official Launch!]
[Hunters can now wear Cursed Gear?!]
[Join the Cursed Gear Festival with Princess Rachel Bonaparte!]
[Tuesday, March 2nd — 1PM (KST)]
[Only at Dawn Constellation Co.!]
└ ?!?!
└ Wait… it’s real?!
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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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