Ch.19Hunter Registration Is Dangerous (1)

The events that followed weren’t particularly long.

One by one, trainees who recognized the open portal found their way and gathered in front of the boss room. After the situation was sorted out, everyone exited the dungeon together.

Thankfully, there were no casualties, but quite a few people were injured, and most of them had to be hospitalized.

Various praises and flowery words were showered upon us for clearing the dungeon, but I was already exhausted and let them go in one ear and out the other.

I wasn’t concerned about that to begin with.

At that time, I had something far more important on my mind.

‘…Who would have thought I’d awaken at that exact moment.’

And so, a day after the dungeon field trip, I was lying on a comfortable bed, reflecting on the achievements of that day.

“Status window.”

Ding!

【Baek Eunha】

▶Title:

▶Level: 1

It was clearly engraved there. A level.

And I could tell. That single number had changed so many things.

‘I can definitely feel it.’

Swoosh.

As I concentrated, a small amount of death energy flowed from the tip of my extended index finger.

That’s right.

I had finally gained the ability to control the power within me.

Of course, only a very small portion of it.

“It’s just a tiny bit…”

My assumption that awakening would be the key to regaining my power was correct.

Now that I had clearly awakened, I could feel and manipulate my power that I couldn’t detect at all before.

However, compared to my original power, it was truly insignificant in size, just as I said.

‘…Does this mean I need to level up?’

I didn’t need to think hard about the solution. Probably as I level up from now on, my tightly bound power will gradually regain its true form.

In the end, it meant I had to continuously conquer dungeons and fight monsters.

‘What a hassle…’

But it was significant that I could draw upon my own death energy, not someone else’s.

If Song Hayeon’s death energy or the death energy gathered from the neighborhood hill was like cheap liquor, mine was like premium whiskey worth the price of a house.

The necromancy I perform now would likely yield completely different results from before, regardless of the target.

‘And…’

There was one more noticeable change.

Even at level 1, an awakened person is still awakened. Accordingly, my physical abilities had improved dramatically beyond those of ordinary people.

From simple strength to overall body elasticity, flexibility, eyesight, and more.

For me, who had been constantly frustrated by my weakened body since coming to Earth, it felt like shedding a restricting shell.

And, most importantly:

‘Perhaps now…’

It would definitely be possible, with room to spare.

[Welcome to the Battlefield of Heroes!]

“…Fourth promotion match.”

Overcoming all the hardships so far, to rise to a higher level.

[Death to the enemies!]

BOOM!

【Victory!】

In truth, until now, I had somewhat lacked physical capabilities compared to my nearly perfect mental skills.

Because of this, I couldn’t flawlessly execute the plays I had envisioned in my mind.

Click.

Click click!

[The era calls for me.]

BOOM!

【Victory!】

Now that this limitation had been resolved, nothing could stop me on this battlefield.

Forgetting even to breathe, I became completely immersed in my own play, and after several hours, I finally achieved the goal I had long desired.

【You have successfully been promoted!】

【Grand Master】

“…”

It truly was a long journey. It felt like completing an endless adventure. I almost felt tears welling up at the sight I had longed for.

“At this pace, surely…”

I could aim even higher.

That place I had only imagined—Challenger.

No more frustrating promotion matches. From here on, it was a stage of real competition to see who could build the most impressive record.

Click.

[Starting matchmaking.]

The time for battle had come.

Now was the time to enter the true battlefield of men, not some pathetic D-rank dungeon.

[Hail the hero!]

And so, two weeks passed.

Click.

Creeak.

As I was practically living in my room, barely eating proper meals, Seoha, who couldn’t stand it anymore, chided me.

“Um, brother…”

“Yeah?”

“Aren’t you going to register for your hunter qualification?”

“J-just a few more days.”

The wall to Challenger was, honestly, much higher than I had thought.

#

After the aftermath of the chaotic incident had somewhat subsided, one obstacle remained for me who wanted to become a true hunter.

“So, they’re coming today, right?”

“…I’m not lying. It’s about time you believed me.”

Making three friends—the condition for getting Seoha’s permission—and proving it.

“Th-they all said they would come.”

For that purpose, I invited Kim Seungmin, Han Soeun, and Choi Eunsol, whom I had become closest with, to our home.

It was entirely at Seoha’s request.

“Honestly, is it necessary to invite them all the way to our home? Couldn’t we just call them…”

“No. This is important. These are the first friends you’ve made since coming back. You need to build relationships properly. What if things fizzle out?”

“Since it’s just for proof, it doesn’t really matter…”

After saying that thoughtlessly, I had to endure a barrage of nagging. She said friends weren’t like game achievements or collectible items.

It was such a social butterfly way of thinking, but honestly, she was right, so I couldn’t argue.

Ding.

Ding.

When Kim Seungmin and his group arrived, the intercom rang, signaling they were at the apartment entrance.

I skillfully pressed the button to let them in.

“Aren’t you going to greet them?”

“…We’ll see them when they come up anyway.”

Soon, the group made their way through the corridor and rang the doorbell. I pulled down the hood of the sweatshirt I had put on earlier, and Seoha, with a resigned look, went to open the door herself.

Click.

“Nice to meet you. Hello.”

And then, silence fell.

“Uh…”

Kim Seungmin’s group kept tilting their heads as if they were seeing an illusion, and seeing their reaction, Seoha turned to me and asked.

“…Did you not tell them?”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, my younger sister was a celebrity.

Naturally, what followed was quite a commotion.

“Ah… So that’s why you were so quiet during the training.”

“Yes. I was really worried.”

The awkward atmosphere lasted only briefly. Though it hadn’t even been 30 minutes since they met, Seoha and the two female visitors were chatting away happily as if they were at a parents’ meeting.

“What? Not your younger sister but your older sister?”

“Yes. Because of the awakening, she looks like that. I’m the younger one.”

Somehow, strange settings were being added. Having nothing particular to say, I approached Kim Seungmin, who seemed the least intimidating, and spoke to him.

“Hey. Um…”

“…”

“W-would you like to play a game?”

“…Sure.”

And there, I had to face a shocking truth.

【Victory!】

Kim Seungmin was a Challenger. And in the top ten, at that.

The side profile of the one who had been a meat shield debuff totem suddenly began to look like a hidden master.

“Um, excuse me.”

“Yes. What is it?”

“Could I add you as a friend…”

It was the first time since returning to Earth that I acknowledged someone else’s skill.

#

All obstacles had disappeared.

Realizing that I had diligently made acquaintances, Seoha no longer opposed me becoming a hunter, and now I could walk the path of a proper hunter.

The first step in that process was the Hunter Qualification Certification Test.

A necessary hurdle to overcome in order to participate in dungeon raids in the current era.

It was both simple and difficult.

‘I’ve heard all the explanations, but…’

They measure physical abilities and mana, and conduct a small test to determine if one is ready to enter dungeons.

If you exceed the standard, you pass; if not, you fail.

And now, I was finally at the Awakened Registration Center to take that test.

All alone.

Murmur, murmur.

[I’m nervous as hell.]

[My cousin who took the test last week was rated D-rank right from the start.]

[Just let me be in the top 50%, nothing more, nothing less!]

‘So many debuff totems…’

It couldn’t be helped.

Seoha was busy, and even if she had come along, her fame might have created unnecessary gossip.

I wanted to avoid such troublesome things.

I trudged toward the reception desk with weak steps. Since I had already applied online, the reception process would be completed with just a simple verification.

“Um, well…”

“Are you here for the test registration?”

“Yes. Um…”

“What is your name?”

“…B-Baek Eunha.”

“Yes. I’ll check for you.”

The receptionist was kind, but somehow her gentle smile felt burdensome. I deliberately looked at the floor, ceiling, or documents on the counter, and successfully completed the registration.

“Please wait at the designated area.”

I took a kind of number ticket and sat in a corner of the waiting area.

Certification tests are mostly held on a weekly basis, and due to this flexible schedule, there were quite a few people waiting.

In addition, scouts from guilds looking to recruit talented newcomers had gathered, creating a bustling scene throughout the spacious center.

“Yes. Yes. Team leader. I understand. Should we prioritize that side?”

“Healing types? There are no confirmed individuals… I’ll look into it.”

“Yes. I heard there’s a rookie who performed well in the recent training dungeon incident. A proven resource, essentially.”

Among them, I heard something slightly concerning and reflexively pulled down my hood and hunched over.

Surely they’re not talking about me?

However, from the murmurs that followed shortly after, I realized it was just my imagination.

Thud.

Thud.

Dozens of sharp gazes were directed at someone who had entered the center and was approaching the counter.