Skill Verification
'Why isn't she saying anything?'
Starting something new always came with tension. Sung-tae had politely addressed the receptionist, but he couldn't understand why she was staring at him with her mouth agape.
"A beginner adventurer...?"
The receptionist asked again. And in their hearts, the adventurers including her shouted,
'Where do you see beginner in him!'
The black armor looked impossibly heavy for anyone with ordinary strength. It was caked in dark red grime everywhere, and the sharp-eyed adventurers knew that was someone's blood.
A beginner adventurer who'd already stirred up some trouble, huh. It wasn't wrong—after massacring bandits, their blood had splattered on him.
"We're back! Kim Sung-tae! Here's your bounty!"
At that moment, adventurers who'd just collected their bounties entered the guild, shouting. The thick stacks of bills they carried drew everyone's eyes.
"As expected of the boss leading Ignis's spawn—his bounty is massive!"
'He killed that guy!?'
Ignis's spawn? That massive bandit gang numbering over a hundred strong? They never left the forest, so fighting them meant invading their home turf. Their strategies born of numbers and skills honed from years of banditry made them even more dangerous. Above all, their boss was said to rival an A-rank adventurer in swordsmanship and quick thinking.
"Still processing. Leave the money with Garba."
"Yes, my lord. I'll take care of it."
'My lord? A wolf beastkin calling him lord?'
Adventurers familiar with beastkin were shocked once more. Beastkin were inherently combative. Stronger than humans even without special training. And they had strong pride. Wolf beastkin especially never bowed to the weak—it was a racial trait, regardless of gender.
For such a wolf beastkin to call him lord. So the beginner adventurer bit was a joke after all?
'Maybe he's some guild bigwig?'
'Here to give thanks? That'd explain it.'
The adventurers whispered guesses about his identity. But one veteran adventurer figured it out.
'He's definitely a beginner adventurer.'
Truly a veteran. His insight was leagues beyond ordinary adventurers.
'A beginner adventurer with the qualities of a hero!'
...Truly a veteran. His guess missed the mark, but his thinking was perfectly reasonable. Heroes could appear out of nowhere, anytime. Chosen by the heavens, they might be a random housewife, a C-rank adventurer, or even a neighborhood kid. Suddenly gaining immense power, they differed in gender, age, and occupation, but all shared one goal upon awakening: becoming heroes.
'That's why he's here. The place closest to the only demon king with territory!'
Defeating the demon king. Heroes seemed to loathe demon kings—upon awakening, they sought them out instinctively, like ants to sugar. They only stopped after slaying one or more. That was why Ignis had held his domain so far. No new heroes had appeared. No new heroes who hadn't defeated a demon king yet.
"Then we'll process your adventurer registration."
"Thanks, Garba. Why don't you register too?"
"If it's my lord's command."
The two went through the procedures step by step. Once done, they received small tokens and followed the receptionist's lead to the guild's backyard. Other adventurers trailed behind like ducklings following their mother.
"What's this place for?"
"It's basically an entry test to select skilled people. It's simple, so no need to worry."
"I see."
The backyard was a wide open lot. In the center loomed a massive ore, ugly and jagged. Spotting the black-shining crude metal, Sung-tae thought it resembled his armor. Noticing his gaze, the receptionist explained.
"It's Black Oriharcon."
"Black Oriharcon..."
"Many blacksmiths once tried to smelt it, but no one succeeded. Even dwarves, who live for smithing, couldn't. Now no one even attempts it."
'Ignis, that guy. Should've been a blacksmith instead of a demon king.'
"It's impossible to smelt, but it absorbs magic like a sponge, so the guild uses it like this."
The receptionist approached the Black Oriharcon and nudged it with her foot. A '5' floated above it.
5
"It's enchanted with measurement magic that shows your attack power as a number. Even for beginners, we use this to gauge strength and assign starting ranks for quick advancement of talent."
"That simple? High attack power doesn't make a good adventurer."
"Of course, great strength is needed for high ranks, but as you said, it's not everything. Adventuring requires sharp instincts and quick wits too."
"Then shouldn't you rank differently?"
"Don't worry."
The receptionist smiled brightly.
"High ranks or not, cocky adventurers get themselves killed running wild."
"..."
She said the horrific words with a cheerful laugh. What was a human life worth in this world? Chilled by her words, Sung-tae glanced at Garba.
"You first?"
"If it's my lord's command."
Garba stepped forward under the adventurers' gazes. It was a playful test, but her demeanor was deadly serious. Hadn't Black Oriharcon been the main reason she couldn't harm Ignis back then? This was a perfect chance to check her growth.
"Um, weapons...?"
"My claws suffice."
"Pardon?"
Black mana gathered on her claws. She swung at the Black Oriharcon—her form so beautiful that Sung-tae and the adventurers were captivated.
Bam!
"Urk!"
"D-Dust!"
The black trajectory sliced the air, sending shockwaves and thick dust everywhere. Without its magic absorption, the area would've been devastated. As the dust cleared, adventurers gaped in shock while Garba scowled in frustration.
"T-Ten thousand!"
"Still not enough, huh."
10,340
Everyone except Sung-tae and Garba reeled at the '10,340' etched on the Black Oriharcon. They'd all taken the test—most scored under 1,000.
"Ten thousand points... where does that start?"
"P-Per regulations, 10,000 qualifies for S-rank start, but..."
Strictly, 5,000+ started at S-rank. But that was technical. No beginner had ever hit this score.
"My turn then."
Excited by the game-like test, Sung-tae stepped up. The adventurers, stunned by Garba and fixated on her, had forgotten he was there.
"Um, excuse me..."
"Yeah?"
"I-I'm here to become an adventurer..."
A boy in the corner spoke up. Silver-haired and skinny, he carried a sword as big as himself. His unique look piqued Sung-tae's curiosity, halting his steps.
"How do I become an adventurer?"
'I'm not the receptionist.'
Should he take the kid to her? But she was fawning over Garba: 'S-rank from the start! If you become special-rank later, please remember my name!'
"Hm."
A kid this young wanting to adventure? Intrigued, Sung-tae explained kindly.
"See that rock? Hit it, a number pops up. High number, you're in."
A white lie, but close enough.
"R-Really?"
"Yep. It's my turn, but I'll let you go first."
"Th-Thank you..."
Super shy kid? His face flushed red as his eyes. Standing before the Black Oriharcon, he set down his sword, then drew it with effort. Sung-tae watched amused—until his expression shifted.
"Hoo. Here goes..."
Gripping the sword, the boy's aura grew heavy, like a seasoned master. Some adventurers noticed, turning eyes.
"Beginning!"
His shout like a battle cry. Wings sprouted from his back. Sung-tae muttered blankly.
"Flying... in the sky..."
No illusion. The boy soared like an angel, radiating brilliant light that drew all gazes.
"Hah!"
He swung. Light trailed the blade toward the Black Oriharcon. Air tore with a deafening screech.
"..."
When the light faded, they saw it: the Black Oriharcon sliced.
"Black Oriharcon..."
"Sliced?"
Impossible to smelt, yet sliced—even just a knuckle-deep gash was miraculous.
125,001
"..."
Vast beyond Garba's score. As silence fell, only Sung-tae spoke to the landing boy.
"Kid, who are you?"
"Hah... hah... Uh... P-Pardon? M-Me... who...?"
Flushed and teary from attention, he whispered.
"I-I'm... a h-hero..."
＊＊＊
Hero. General term for heaven-chosen legends who slay demon kings. Mostly ordinary folk awakening dramatically: a bald neighbor uncle flying, a novice mage surpassing grand mages, a kid stick-fighting becoming a tale's protagonist. Unpredictable, no one knew when or where.
"A h-hero!"
"A hero appeared!"
No one doubted the boy. Heroes could slice Black Oriharcon. Miracles required miraculous beings.
"Eek..."
Adventurers swarmed the silver-haired boy, who bowed shyly. Only Sung-tae and Garba watched from afar.
'Sliced Black Oriharcon.'
Garba eyed him with fighting spirit—warrior's itch and worry he'd attack Sung-tae.
'He won't mistake me for Ignis, right?'
Sung-tae fretted. His armor's illusion fooled most, but not mages, demon kings, or heroes. Demon kings hadn't pierced his disguise fully, though.
'Wonder how the hero'll react.'
His initial response suggested ignorance of Ignis—or indifference to his humanity. No drama so far, thankfully.
"Hero! Handshake please!"
"Hero! Kiss my cheek!"
"Hero! Selling your clothes?"
"Uwaa..."
The kid seemed ready to burst from shyness. Realizing he'd skipped his test, Sung-tae mused.
"Wonder what score I'll get?"
Hero's was ~125k. Heroes were strongest here, so he wanted more. Cursed armor and debuff handicapped him—he'd go all-out.
'Seems it absorbs power. Full force punch?'
Perfect to test sealed strength. He clenched his fist. Crowds ignored him, eyes on the hero.
'My lord.'
'...'
Only Garba and the hero boy watched.
"Here I go!"
Sung-tae punched the Black Oriharcon. Power just shy of shattering the armor's runes—his max now.
Thud!
It shook with a heavy boom, quaking like an earthquake. Adventurers turned.
How high would he score? Amid expectations, the number appeared.
0
"Z-Zero!?"
Sung-tae blinked in confusion. But it stayed 0.
The number didn't matter.
"B-Black Oriharcon..."
Adventurers who'd yelled 'Hero!' now muttered in disbelief. It was fading—disintegrating into atomic dust.
"Disappearing..."
Black Oriharcon absorbed magic and physical force. Its limit deemed infinite. Too heavy, unforgeable, hard to enchant—mostly useless.
But nothing was truly infinite. Limits existed.
Sung-tae exceeded it—the first on the continent, in history.
"Turned to dust."
"..."
Silence at the absurdity. Sensing awkwardness, Sung-tae blurted to lighten the mood.
"Dust... should fly away..."
"..."
'Damn! In novels, they'd cheer a Korean song!'
Novels were novels. Reality struck again. Pointing at the dust, he asked the receptionist.
"Do I pay for this?"