ML Chapter 47

The Hunter Association.

A name that emerged some thirty years ago, coinciding with the end of the Great Cataclysm.

First-generation Hunters who survived the blood-soaked Cataclysm raised their banner, and over time, the Hunter Association grew into an organization of tremendous prestige.

Gulp.

I swallowed as I stared at the towering Association building. Its size and height stood out even among this dense forest of skyscrapers.

Even on an ordinary weekday, countless people streamed in and out.

How many years has it been?

All Awakened Ones undergo grade assessment under the Association’s supervision.

I was no exception. Thinking about twenty-year-old Jin Tae-kyung who came here with such excitement makes me smirk… yeah right.

Now that I’m actually here, I’m nervous as hell.

I walked into the lobby with stiff steps. The gymnasium-sized space was crawling with people. Following the electronic displays installed throughout, I found what I was looking for.

[Assessment Waiting Room]

I filled out the paperwork as directed by the counter staff and went in. Dozens of people were already waiting for their assessment.

Thud. As the door closed, gazes shot toward me like arrows.

Can’t breathe, seriously can’t breathe.

The very air here is different. A crushing tension weighed down the entire waiting room.

Makes sense, since one assessment determines your entire career as a Hunter.

I was the same way. I even farted in front of the supervisor because I was so nervous—that says it all.

While lost in these thoughts and waiting for my turn…

“Jin Tae-kyung?”

A familiar voice from behind.

I slowly turned my head, and there he was.

“I thought it might be you, and it really is.”

A middle-aged man with a pug nose and potbelly. An unforgettable face.

…Team Leader Kim?

Kim Sangsik. A founding member and team leader of the Picnic Guild where I worked for several years, he could be described in one word:

Former boss.

“Wow, didn’t expect to see you here. Good to see you.”

Team Leader Kim extended his hand with an easygoing laugh. After a moment’s hesitation, I shook it.

“Yeah. Long time no see.”

“What do you mean long time? It’s only been a few days.”

“Those few days felt pretty long to me.”

I was thinking of the murim world, but Team Leader Kim would take it differently. No wonder, since he’s the one who fired me just days ago.

“Must be because it’s summer. Days feel longer to me too lately.”

“Is that so?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at how smoothly he deflected.

He’s an interesting character, in more ways than one.

“So what brings you here?”

“Just some business. What about you, Team Leader?”

“Here for scouting. Heard there’s some promising talent today.”

Laying off people due to restructuring but still scouting, huh.

“I see.”

That’s all I could say.

Everyone knows this tired story. No point dwelling on a finished tale.

“What about you? Don’t tell me you’re here for reassessment?”

“Yes.”

Team Leader Kim said with a smiling face:

“Well, ambition is good and all, but isn’t this a waste of money? Reassessment isn’t cheap. Must be tough for an F-rank Hunter.”

“Still worth trying. You never know.”

“You should save money while you’re young. Nothing changes by chasing impossible dreams.”

“We’ll see. This time feels different.”

That’s not such an easy thing to…

“Team Leader.”

“What?”

I smiled gently.

“Let’s tone it down, shall we?”

For a moment, cracks appeared in Team Leader Kim’s smile.

“What?”

“I said tone it down. I’m not in the guild anymore, so stop concerning yourself with me.”

“What do you mean?”

What do I mean?

“You know exactly what I mean.”

“I had no choice. You should be glad you’re alive. Let’s forget it all and start fresh.”

“Acting concerned while stabbing me in the back, weren’t you?”

“You…”

“Weren’t you the first one to suggest firing me to the Guild Master?

Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

Team Leader Kim is, in a word, a mediocre little man.

Lacking in both character and ability.

Even in Gates, he was so busy saving his own skin that his reputation within the guild hit rock bottom.

“Who did you put in my position after firing me? How much did they pay you to get them in?”

“Hey, Jin Tae-kyung.”

Team Leader Kim growled, pressing down on my shoulder. Despite his appearance, he’s a D-rank Hunter—one of only three in the Picnic Guild.

With this much strength, he could toy with an F-rank Hunter with one hand.

However…

“Remove your hand.”

I didn’t even blink.

The system isn’t the only thing that synchronized. Martial arts and abilities? Including my steel-like physical foundation.

“I’ll count to three. Remove your hand.”

“You little shit, getting cocky…”

I opened my mouth without hesitation.

“One, two.”

Three. The moment I grabbed Team Leader Kim’s wrist—

Clank.

“Next group, please enter. Numbers 21 through 30!”

We separated instantly at the appearance of the Association supervisor with his clipboard. Getting marked by the Association wouldn’t do either of us any good.

“Consider yourself lucky.”

“Who? Me? Or you?”

Team Leader Kim’s reddened face was quite comical. Even more so when I checked his level window with my perception.

[Lv.24 Kim Sangsik]

“Meeting you ruined my mood. Let’s never see each other again.”

I got up without regret.

My waiting number was 30. My steps toward the supervisor were no longer stiff.

***

“Number 21. Please step forward.”

An Awakened One with a tense face stood before the measurement device. The grade assessment device, made with A-rank magic stone, scanned his entire body, converting the mana within to numerical values.

Whirrr—

The supervisor checked the readings and spoke:

“Internal mana distribution, F-rank.”

The Awakened One’s face turned ashen. But it was too early for despair.

There was still a second chance.

“Now move your mana. Focus as much as you can and try to shoot it toward the measurement device.”

Testing mana control. Realizing this wasn’t over yet, the Awakened One gritted his teeth and drew up his power.

With everything he had!

Pssshhhhhh—

The supervisor spoke with a nauseated expression:

“Control ability, F-rank.”

“Just once! Let me try once more!”

“Not allowed. Next.”

The order moved quickly.

All E-ranks, F-ranks, and even one non-Awakened.

“This is fraud, fraud! That device must be made in China! Hey, you bastards!”

“Remove him.”

At the supervisor’s words, waiting security Hunters dragged the fraud away. Even if he miraculously awakened later, he’d be registered on the Association’s blacklist.

“Next, number 30.”

Here we go.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward. The supervisor glanced at his clipboard and said:

“A reassessment, I see?”

“Yes.”

“Mr. Jin Tae-kyung, obtained F-rank seven years ago… you’re aware there’s a separate fee for reassessment, right?”

From what I gathered, he’s basically saying don’t waste money and go home while you have the chance. The typical view of F-rank Hunters.

Who are you calling broke?

Being used to something doesn’t make it less offensive. When I glared at him, the supervisor smirked.

“Just in case you didn’t know, the fee is 2 million won.”

“…Did the price go up?”

“It’s been years.”

Shit, didn’t know that.

How much is in my account right now…?

“Then let’s begin the assessment.”

I closed my eyes with trembling anticipation. And the next moment.

Whirrr.

The magical wave from the measurement device swept across my entire body.

Fifteen years of internal energy responded, trembling slightly.

What rank will it be?

C-rank? No, even D-rank would be fine.

But after waiting over ten seconds, the supervisor’s mouth remained shut.

“Uh, why is this…”

“What’s wrong?”

Looking between the device and me with a bewildered expression, he cleared his throat.

“There seems to be some error… Let’s move on to the next step for now.”

I’m not sure exactly what’s happening, but somehow it doesn’t feel ominous.

This feels good.

I drew up my internal energy, feeling my heart pounding.

Whoosh.

Fifteen years of internal energy, responding to the True Self Cultivation Arts’s call, shot toward the measurement device.

At the lobby entrance.

“Well done.”

Kim Sangsik patted the young man’s shoulder. A promising youth newly certified as a D-rank Awakened One today.

He would soon join the Picnic Guild, assigned to Kim Sangsik’s team. Thinking of that approaching day, Kim Sangsik smiled contentedly.

“Father and son forming a team. As expected of my son.”

“It’s nothing, I’m not even an official Hunter yet. Still have to enter training…”

“Don’t worry. Your father’s already taken care of everything.”

“Really? Didn’t you say there were no positions in the guild?”

“There’s always a way.”

He didn’t mention that he’d removed a bothersome low-rank Hunter in the process.

“Anyway, rest up this week, and next week we’ll start working together…”

Suddenly Kim Sangsik’s expression twisted.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing. Wait in the car first.”

Alone after his son left, he rolled up his shirt sleeve.

His teeth ground together as he examined his wrist, now swollen and dark blue.

“Jin Tae-kyung, that son of a bitch.”

He’d disliked that bastard from the start. An F-rank Hunter as deputy team leader, how he was like brothers with the former team leader who was now dead.

That fucker should’ve died back then too.

The unfortunate accident two years ago was a stroke of luck for Kim Sangsik.

He’d made a golden return as team leader after being pushed out due to various sexual harassment scandals, and a few days ago, he’d even managed to get rid of Jin Tae-kyung.

But is this bastard really re-awakened?

Kim Sangsik looked down at his throbbing wrist.

Though it was just a moment, the strength he felt then was tremendous. E-rank, maybe even D-rank re-awakening wouldn’t be surprising.

“No way, re-awakening isn’t child’s play.”

Maybe I’m just weaker because I haven’t been working out lately. As Kim Sangsik muttered with complicated feelings—

“Breaking news from the assessment room!”

“Any good ones?”

“They say we’ve got a jackpot. C-rank.”

“C-rank? Not bad, but hardly jackpot material.”

“But they say their mana control is A-rank.”

“What? A-rank! Quick, get them signed!”

“Yes. This is Min-sup from Peace Guild. About that…”

A stir spread among the scouts lurking like hyenas at the lobby entrance.

Though most were from small and medium guilds, some from major guilds were already moving quickly.

C-rank alone is considerable, and naturally gifted in mana control too?

This is huge.

Kim Sangsik snapped to attention. Throwing thoughts of Jin Tae-kyung far away, he pulled out his phone.

“Oh, Team Leader Kim. How did it go?”

The deep voice on the other end belonged to the Picnic Guild Master.

Kim Sangsik spoke urgently:

“Guild Master. It’s chaos here. We’ve got a C-rank. And their mana control is said to be top Hunter level!”

“What? Where did such a person come from?”

“That’s just it. The major guild guys usually snatch them up, but they seem to be a step behind this time.”

“Good, that’s good…”

Huff huff.

His breathing was rough with excitement. Even his way of addressing Kim Sangsik changed.

“Sangsik. You have to catch this one. Tell them we’ll match whatever conditions they want.”

“How much can we offer?”

“Don’t worry about that—just add plenty on top of whatever the others are offering.

The major guild guys will back off if the numbers don’t work out.

They’ve got nothing to lose, right?”

“Yes, yes.”

“I’m heading there now. Make sure you keep them there. If this works out… you know?”

After hanging up, Kim Sangsik clenched his fist.

Got it!

He was well-worn in this field.

Securing a newly Awakened rookie would be child’s play.

Money makes the world go round, doesn’t it?

Double whatever the others offer. Double it.

Just then, the commotion grew louder. The elevator that had stopped at the third floor where the assessment room was located was coming down to the lobby.

“They’re coming!”

“Hey, stop pushing!”

About twenty scouts clustered like ants at the entrance.

Kim Sangsik, who had aggressively secured a front position, prepared to hand over his business card.

Ding.

And finally, the elevator doors opened.

Kim Sangsik bowed deeply and began his prepared speech.

“Hello. I’m Team Leader Kim Sangsik from the Picnic Guild.

We are a prestigious guild in Bucheon with a long tradition…”

“First time I’ve heard anyone call Picnic Guild prestigious.”

“…Pardon?”

A familiar voice. Kim Sangsik slowly raised his head.

Their gazes met.

His buttonhole-like eyes bulged at the same moment.

“Y-you…”

Jin Tae-kyung grinned.

“We meet again, Mr. Kim Sangsik.”