Chapter 17: Bingo

“Is this the Hunter Pass?”

On the way back to the plaza after the fight with Dante.

I was observing the bronze-colored pass, turning it over and over in my hand.

It was the pass Dante had taken out from his hut and thrown to me right after our fight ended.

He had searched for quite a while, as if it had been stashed away in some corner.

A bronze-colored pass, about the size of my palm.

“That’s right, though unfortunately, it’s the lowest-grade pass.”

“Hmm…”

A lowest-grade pass…

It felt strange for me, who had been an A-class since my initial awakening, to receive the lowest-grade pass here.

A feeling of, ‘So, things like this happen in life.’

-Hahahahahaha But honestly, does it make sense for her to get the lowest-grade pass after holding her own against Dante?

-FR haha, that’s a bit much.

-Actually, no one would complain if she got the highest-grade pass.

-I was expecting something from the new route, but this is a bit disappointing. The reward feels stingy.

-Hahahaha Should we call the reward stingy?

-If the streamer hadn’t asked for a fight, she probably would have gotten something else hahaha

-Dante probably didn’t expect her to ask for a fight when he offered a reward either lololol

-IKR hahahahaha

-It would have been more understandable if she’d asked for Ancient Dragon materials.

As I silently twirled the pass with my fingers, Reina cautiously spoke up, noticing my expression.

“Well… Grandpa Dante probably wanted to give you a higher-grade pass. You actually qualify. But when he retired, he gave up almost all his authority for his successor… So right now… that was the best he could do.”

Then Reina cleared her throat carefully.

“And even though it’s the lowest-grade pass, it’s good. Quite a few people used to aim for it back in the day.”

“People aimed for this?”

A lowest-grade pass?

I looked at Reina, unable to understand her words.

“That’s right.”

-Why would anyone aim for the lowest-grade pass?

-Maybe they were perverts who liked low grades.

-Does that even make sense? lololol

-A new breed of perverts hahaha

-Is there something to it?

-Judging by what Ppatppat-i 2 is saying, there seems to be something?

“Why? Is there a reason?”

When I expressed my curiosity, Reina put on a triumphant expression.

“Curious? Should I tell you?”

-Ah, Ppat-hyung’s expression is so damn annoying hahaha

-Why is she so excited? lololol

-Can I hit her? I’m serious.

-Yes, I’m curious!!

As the viewers said, it was strangely annoying.

I felt an urge to wipe that smug look off her face.

“No, on second thought, I’m not really curious.”

“Why?!”

Reina’s face filled with bewilderment.

Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open.

‘Now that’s more like it.’

I nodded to myself.

-Look at the streamer’s nasty personality hahahahaha

-Is the streamer smiling right now? hahaha

-Ah, that’s hilarious hahahahaha

-Hahahaha

“Are you really not curious?”

I considered teasing her more, but seeing her glance at me furtively, I thought I should stop here.

“No, actually, I am curious.”

“Then why did you say you weren’t curious!!”

“Because I didn’t like your smug look?”

“Argh!! Really!!”

She stomped her feet, fuming for a while.

After tearing at her hair, she finally looked at me with an annoyed gaze.

“So, are you going to listen?”

“Yes.”

“You definitely said you’d listen.”

“I did.”

-The streamer is a real piece of work hahaha

-Ppatppat-i 2’s reactions are priceless too hahaha

Reina took a small, deep breath as if to calm herself, then continued speaking calmly.

“Could you check the back of the pass?”

“The back?”

At her words, I flipped the pass over.

“There’s a mark there, right?”

Slightly obscured by dust, it became clearly visible on the metal surface when I tilted it slightly.

A distinct star mark, as if etched by a sword.

“Yes, I see it.”

What meaning did this mark hold?

“Grandpa Dante probably intended to give you an ordinary lowest-grade pass at first. That much could have been passed off as a fluke, not an abuse of authority. But it seems his thoughts changed after fighting you.”

She paused for a moment.

“That mark, it’s a special insignia given only to Hunters acknowledged by Grandpa Dante. It was the last piece of authority he kept. When he retired, he held onto that one thing until the end. Saying he would only give it to someone he acknowledged. What Grandpa said back then was probably…”

She seemed lost in thought for a moment, then let out a small exclamation.

“Ah, I remember. It was definitely this. ‘This last one, I want to give it to a star that will one day shine brightly.’”

‘To a star that will one day shine brightly, huh…’

Do all old people get sentimental like this?

Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to utter such sentences.

However.

‘Well, it’s not bad. It’s familiar, too.’

I gently turned the pass in my hand.

The cold touch of metal.

-Wow… so that was the real reward.

-FR, that’s f**ing insane.

-Wait, there was something like that?

-So she got that by fighting Dante instead of choosing a reward?

-That seems to be the case?

-Wow…

-This is the Haerang route within the Haerang route, sht hahahahaha

-Does that mean you have to draw with Dante to get it?

-Yep.

-Damn it hahahaha

-Feels like no one will be able to get it.

-But if Dante asked the streamer if she went easy on him, doesn’t that mean you have to win to get it?

-Ah, true hahahaha

-Now it’s really impossible to get hahahaha

-Streamer: I’m always two steps ahead.

“How is it, you like it, right?”

Reina, somehow looking smug and puffed up again.

Seeing her stand with her chest out, speaking so confidently, anyone would think she was the one who gave me this pass.

-Why is she acting all smug? lololol

-So funny hahaha

-So what effect does it have? Is it just acknowledgment and that’s it?

-Title: Acknowledged by Dante. The end.

-Hahahahahaha

-Isn’t it just a sentimental item with no real effect?

I was curious about that too.

Whether it was a mere ornament, or if it actually held some kind of authority.

“So, does this grant any kind of authority?”

“Hmm, well, for starters, you get a 30% discount on all facilities within the outpost, and you receive slightly more for mission rewards… You also get priority when crafting weapons. And what else was there? I think there was more… I can’t quite remember.”

After pondering for a moment, she added.

“Ah, I remember. This is a bit like a superstition, but… they say materials gathered by Grandpa Dante were of better quality and greater quantity. So there were rumors that people who received that pass would also get some kind of good fortune. That’s why many probably aimed for it. To gain recognition and good luck.”

-So, to summarize Ppatppat-i 2’s words, facility discounts, additional rewards, weapon crafting priority, and an increase in gathering attempts, right?

-Seems like it?

-Yep.

-Sh*t, that’s f**ing insane hahahaha

-Just the increase in gathering attempts alone <- this makes it GOAT.

-I was already grinding because I was short on money for weapon crafting, and this gives a discount too hahaha

-Just looking at those effects, it’s basically an end-game item lololol

Honestly, when I heard it, I didn’t think it was that good, but judging by the viewers’ comments, it seemed to be an unbelievably good authority.

“Is it that good?”

-Yeah, it’s insane.

-The effects are unbelievable.

-It’s just a completely broken item hahaha

[Bulramyeon donated 1,000 won.]

[It’s incredibly good.
The other options are nice to have, but the last one mentioned, the increase in gathering attempts.
That one thing alone completely trumps everything else.]

“The increase in gathering attempts?”

[King of Clubs donated 1,000 won.]
[It’s true.
I don’t know how much it increases, but with just that, you might be able to finish off a monster you’d normally have to hunt five times in just two attempts.
Saves time, reduces stress… It’s just the GOAT itself.
And since she said the quality improves too, you’ll probably be able to get rare materials quickly.]

-Hahahahaha Hearing that makes it sound even more broken.

-Right, she said the quality improves too haha

-I hunted the same monster 50 times just to get a rarity 5 item, f*ck… If only I had that.

-That’s because you…

-Hmm…

-Haha

-Cheering you on?

After summarizing the viewers’ opinions to some extent, I carefully tucked the pass into my pocket.

‘Hmph, well, good is good.’

I should keep it safe so I don’t lose it.

As I was fiddling with the pass, Reina had approached me.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

“About what?”

“You’ve received the pass, and now you’re an official Hunter. I mean your next plan.”

“Ah, that?”

The corners of my lips curved up slightly.

I did have something in mind.

---

The place Reina and I headed to after I received the pass was the Guild Headquarters.

A place where countless quests for gathering, subjugation, and capture were posted and accepted by numerous Hunters.

Upon arriving in front of the headquarters, the area was already bustling with people.

Those who came to apply for quests, those who came to report completions, and even those who simply came to gather information.

As we entered the headquarters, which appeared to be about three stories high, the clamor of a marketplace struck my ears.

In one corner, a drinking party was underway, while in another, Hunters were rummaging through quest notices posted on the wall.

As we passed them and approached the reception desk, gazes began to gather on us one by one.

Gazes filled with various emotions.

Ignoring such stares, we reached the front of the reception desk, and the receptionist sitting there looked up.

“Welcome. How may I help you?”

She responded with a kind voice, but then—

“…Reina?”

Her eyes widened upon spotting Reina standing behind me.

And her face brightened.

“When did you get back to the outpost?! When did you arrive? Yesterday? Today?”

Before she could finish her words, the woman darted out from behind the reception desk and embraced Reina tightly.

“Whatever it is, I’m so glad to see you!!! I missed you!!”

Reina just gave an awkward laugh, looking flustered.

“Ahaha…”

-Ppatppat-i 2 was an insider, huh haha

-It seems like everyone in the village knows Ppatppat-i 2 lololol

-It’s a strange feeling.

-I thought she was one of us…

-Looks like only her face was one of us.

-Hey, where do you live?

-Sry sry;;

“Anna, I can’t breathe…”

“Oops, sorry. I was just so happy to see you. You should have told me you were coming back, instead of just showing up so suddenly. Really.”

The woman called Anna looked at Reina with puffed-up cheeks.

-The receptionist unni is so pretty.

-IKR hahaha

-Maybe it’s because Ppatppat-i 2 is next to her lol

-Why are you guys being mean to our Ppatppat-i 2?

-Ppatppat-i 2, cover your ears quickly!!

“Sorry, I was out of it.”

“It happens. So, what brings you to the guild? Are you here to work right away?”

“No, rather than that…”

As Reina glanced at me, Anna’s gaze naturally shifted as well.

Soon, she noticed me and began to apologize profusely.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I got so excited seeing Reina after such a long time…”

“It’s alright. It happens.”

-It’s okay because you’re pretty, unni!

At my words that it was okay, she cautiously bowed her head, then slowly raised her face again.

Eyes like blue coral reefs met mine.

“My name is Anna. And you are?”

“I am Haerang.”

“Nice to meet you. So, what brings you here…?”

Reina answered her question.

“She’s my successor, and she just became a Hunter.”

At Reina’s words, Anna blinked as if she couldn’t understand.

“What do you mean? Your successor became a Hunter?”

“Well, it’s a long story…”

It seemed like it would take a while if I left the explanation to Reina, so I spoke up first.

I had something I was aiming for, too.

“I passed the qualification test given by old man Dante.”

“You received a qualification test from Dante-nim?”

“Yes, here’s the pass.”

As I handed her the pass, Anna’s eyes slowly widened.

And then-

“This pass is?!!”

With her shout, the already noisy surroundings focused their attention even more on us.

And soon.

“This little runt received Dante-nim’s pass?”

The event I was aiming for had arrived.

A large man, who had slammed down his drinking cup, swaggered towards us.

Seeing him, I gave him a slight smile.

‘Bingo.’

This is what I wanted.

-Oh oh oh, is the cliché coming!!