My Alt Account Became the World's No. 1 Hunter
Chapter 30: Date? (1)

Chapter 30: Date? (1)

As soon as the next day, Lanz was already on his way to the biggest mall Velmordop can offer.

He leaned his forehead against the rattling train window, watching Velmordop’s crowded blocks slip past like a glitchy flipbook of everything he wasn’t quite good enough to buy into.

The skyline kept shifting from cracked concrete to polished glass in the blink of an eye, but the reflection looking back at him stayed the same, tired f*cking eyes, hair that needed a real trim months ago, and a grin that kept twitching at the edges every time he remembered what he’d stuffed in his hoodie pocket.

He patted that inside pocket again just to feel the stiff edge of the payout chit press against his stomach, like it might magically melt away if he didn’t keep checking it was real. He’d actually considered stashing it in his sock, a stupid move, he’d admit, but there were lines even he wouldn’t cross for paranoia’s sake.

His nose bumped the glass when the train hit a bend and his reflection squished into a warped, lopsided smirk that made him chuckle under his breath.

In his head, the new and improved ’Zero Drip 2.0’ list.

A helmet, black of course, but without the giant crack that made him look like he’d survived a bicycle crash instead of a dungeon raid.

Gloves, definitely black, no crusty holes this time.

Boots, black too, solid enough that he wouldn’t squeak every time he tried to sneak.

Clothes? All black, obviously. And hell, even boxers should match — he figured if you’re gonna go for drip, you might as well make it consistent top to bottom, because one accidental rip mid-dungeon is all it takes to turn an urban legend into an urban joke.

He caught himself almost adding a cape to the mental cart, then immediately shook his head with a soft snort that fogged the glass. "Nah, you ain’t catching me doing a superhero ass cosplay," he muttered to his own reflection. "I already look dumb enough playing zero-to-hero. So a cape is out of the team."

It didn’t even matter how many rooftop memes he’d scrolled through of high-rank hunters with fancy cloaks fluttering behind them — he knew he’d look like a broom handle wrapped in old laundry.

The train jerked again as it pulled into the final inner line stop, jolting him back upright. He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled when the doors finally hissed open.

The inner district smelled rich — like fresh-baked bread from cafés that wouldn’t even let him sit down unless he ordered more than just a black coffee, and that sickly floral perfume that seemed to stick to every glass tower lobby. And is probably more expensive than their apartment.

He stepped off the platform, shoulders squared under his hoodie, feeling that stupid grin inching back up like he couldn’t help it. This was it, operation "Don’t Look Like a Discount Ninja next time."

If people were gonna chant "Zero Drip" behind his back, they’d better be ready to choke on it when he showed up in gear that screamed consistency, practicality, and just the right amount of smug.

One last laugh slipped out as he joined the steady flow of well-dressed strangers, payout chit pressed firm.

***

Lanz tugged his hood down a little lower as he crossed the wide plaza.

As he crossed the plaza, he thought to himself that last month ago, he lived a whole other life before he started putting on cracked helmets and shredding up Gate records like it was just something to do on a Saturday night. He shoved that thought down.

It wasn’t a big deal anymore, this was normal now, just another kid on another errand, hoodie up, minding his own business.

The inner district was always too shiny for him. Glass walls polished so clean they made your reflection look richer than you were. Those weird perfectly shaped trees lining the street that never seemed to drop leaves.

He could see his own reflection in the sliding doors up ahead, hunched, awkward, hood hiding half his eyes. He looked like someone that’s about to rob a bank. Good job, hero.

He muttered to himself, "In and out, Lanz. In and out. Buy the helmet, get the gloves, boxers, boots, all black." He almost felt better saying it out loud.

But of course, the universe decided that this moment was when it would slap him in the face with comedic timing. Because there, leaning against the black iron fence right outside the big mall doors, was Talia.

She wasn’t posing — she just made standing there look like a photoshoot. Hoodie half-zipped, hair tucked behind one ear but the wind kept tugging pieces loose, her phone in hand, thumb scrolling, bag slung off one shoulder like she didn’t care if it slipped.

His feet stuttered, and for a dumb second, he actually considered spinning on his heel, bolting right back toward the train station like he’d forgotten his entire wallet. Maybe if he moved fast she wouldn’t look up. Just sneak out of this like a coward, which was a solid plan for him.

But it was already too late, she lifted her eyes, those sharp eyes that could pick him out of a hundred-person crowd, probably because he was the only idiot frozen in the middle of the sidewalk like a busted NPC.

She straightened, a tiny curious frown cutting through her usual calm. And then the corner of her mouth curved, that small half-smile she always threw him when she caught him doing something dumb. It made his chest do an annoying little squeeze. ’W—What the hell was that?’

But before he could dwindle more on that thought, she asked, "Lanz?" Her voice was warm but there was that note... that question mark that said ’Are you about to make this weird? Because you probably are.’

"Hey, Talia," he croaked out. He raised his hand in a wave, which immediately felt like the dumbest thing he could’ve done. He scraped his nails against the back of his neck, the hoodie seam rough on his skin and a bead of sweat fell to his cheek.

She kept watching him, that eyebrow still tilted up, phone half-lowered, waiting for him to actually say something that made sense. The plaza’s clamor slowly fading behind them, the big glass doors hissed open and shut for someone else, but they might as well have been underwater.

"Fancy seeing you... uh... near... stores...?"

It fell out of his mouth like a brick. He felt every neuron in his brain fire off at once, all screaming ’Why did you say that? Stores? That’s the best you’ve got? Are you actually dumb? Oh wait, we know that already.’

Talia’s eyebrow twitched higher. Then that half-smirk widened by a fraction, and it was a subtle, perfect little ’You absolute moron’ smile that was somehow still too pretty for his brain to process.

He stood there, arm half-raised, his hoodie rumpled, payout chit burning a hole in his pocket, and the entire plan for ’In and Out, No Distractions’ already in flames. And all he could think as his ears went hot was, ’Smooth, idiot.’

Talia tilted her head just a bit, her eyes flicking from his too-tight hood to the nervous way he kept shifting his weight from foot to foot like he was about to bolt into traffic.

A small smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth, the kind that made him wish the ground would open up and swallow him whole.

"You stalking me now?" she asked, the tease in her voice softened by that light laugh that slipped out after, like she knew she’d caught him off guard and was kind enough not to roast him too hard for it.

"Nah, nah, I swear." Lanz cleared his throat, rubbing his knuckles against the strap of his old backpack. "I, uh... was gonna visit a relative. Just...normal stuff. For... you know... family sh*t." He felt his face heating up so fast it probably glowed through the damn hoodie.

And then the words just tumbled out, awkward and too quick, like his brain decided to panic-drop the whole sentence before he could stuff it back in his mouth. "Actually, do you wanna come with? I mean, you don’t have to, but I kinda owe you, right? For the rooftop thing, you know, when you thought I was, uh... hiding something shady."

His brain screamed, ’Stop. Talking. Right. F*cking. Now.’

"So, yeah. Let me treat you? Coffee? Or lunch? Or... whatever. Your call."

Talia blinked, clearly not expecting that, but then the moment passed and she just let out a quiet laugh, the sound chasing some of the panic out of his chest. She glanced back toward the mall entrance, then back at him, that sly half-smile softening into something genuinely warm.

"Sure," she said, shrugging like it was the most obvious answer in the world. "You look like you’d get lost in the soap aisle anyway. Try not to embarrass yourself too much, yeah?"

Lanz could only huff out a breath, trying to hide the grin that slipped through anyway. "No promises."

End of Chapter 30.

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ALT SYSTEM — USER PROFILE: ZERO

Level: 11

EXP: 82 / 110

Next Reward: 10 Available Stat Points

Global System Tracking: DISABLED

World Rank Association: UNLINKED

Stats:

STR: 8 | AGI: 8 (Affinity) | VIT: 3 | DEX: 1 | INT: 7 | WIS: 0

[Available Stat Points: 3]

[Derived Stat — MANA: 35 / 35]

Skills:

[Crimson Slash Lv. 1]

[Phantom Stride Lv.1]

[Blade Control Lv.1]

[Parry Timing Lv.1]

[Reflex Sync Lv.1] (Passive Skill)

[Combat Awareness Lv.2] (Passive Skill)

[Skill Fusion Menu: Active]

[Dev Tree: Tier 0 Access Granted]

[Developer Node – Fusion Core Anchor: Active]

[Skill Slot Available — Unassigned]

Equipment:

Aged Blade Fragment (??? Rarity) (Bound)

Goblin Dagger

Spiked Boar Tusk Shard

Lightweight Chest Padding

Boots of Basic Mobility

Fingerless Gloves (Basic)

Starter Cloak: Faded Black

Training Ring (+1 VIT)