First Day at the Hunter Practical Academy
I've arrived at the Hunter Academy! "Unnie, you're the best!"
"Hehe, right?"
I flashed a double thumbs-up at Se-eun unnie for taking my side. She shrugged proudly, grinning from ear to ear.
Who would've thought Se-eun unnie was homeschooled too? If I'd known sooner, I could've nagged Grandpa even more. What a shame.
Oh well, at least I don't have to go to regular school!
Even a detour gets you to Seoul if that's your destination. Without unnie's help, it would've been impossible, but hey, I'm a nine-year-old kid, so it's fine. This is prime age for borrowing hands and living off others, after all.
—Kyaak!
Absolmi shot me a look like, Why do you only act nine when it suits you, Master? How dare a summon prick my conscience with just a glance. When unnie wasn't looking, I poked his head—boop!
Absolmi looked utterly wronged, like he'd been hit out of nowhere, but I'm the master, got it?
"So, Shiro, why do you wanna be a hunter anyway?"
"Huh?"
Come to think of it, I'd only thrown a tantrum at Grandpa about wanting to hunt; I never explained why. I really did act just like a kid. Now I feel a little bad for him.
But he never asked, so I won't feel too guilty.
"Uh, just 'cause it's cool!"
"Hmm, really? About that age, I guess?"
Truth is, there was a real reason. But it's too complicated for a kid to spill everything.
Deep down, I didn't just want to be a hunter—I wanted to be famous. Hunters were the surest path to fame.
'Cause I thought my parents who abandoned me might come looking if I did.'
You know, like in those dramas. The orphaned kid succeeds, and then the birth parents show up for the money. Sure, they're the villains there, but...
I just wanted to meet mine at least once, any way I could. I wanted to ask why they threw me away.
'That feeling's faded a bit now; all that's left is the desire to be a hunter.'
Still, if the chance comes, I'd like to see them. Once I'm a super-famous hunter, maybe I can track them down?
"What're you thinking so hard about, Shiro?"
"Hehe, oh, nothing!"
"Hmm~ Wanna wash up with unnie tonight, then?"
"No way!!"
Not even with Se-eun unnie—baths are off-limits. This is all to protect her.
"Whoa, she's really just a kid?"
"Yeah? Isn't she too young?"
"Heh~ She's super cute, though!"
And just like that, I joined the Hunter Association's academy—specifically, the A-Team Prep Group at the Hunter Practical Academy, which focuses on hands-on training. I met them right away.
The issue? Everyone else was at least nineteen... except me.
The Association's academies came in two main types: the elite-track official Hunter Academy, often called the "elite course," and the vocational one nicknamed the "trade school"—the Hunter Practical Academy.
I'd joined A-Team's field prep group at the Practical Academy. Sure, there were minors, but adults dominated. Most kids went for the elite academy anyway—better facilities, better guilds later on.
The Practical Academy was for folks needing to hit the field and earn cash ASAP.
"Aigoo~ What raid's a little kid like her gonna do?"
"As long as she doesn't get hurt~"
Another issue: academies limited ages to 17-19. I was way too young, so Practical Academy it was for any action.
If my skills weren't top-tier, Grandpa, ajusshi, unnie—they'd all have said no. Good thing the test blew them away.
"Alright, everyone. Good morning as always~"
The room felt like a driving school. A teacher-looking person entered through the front, and the chatter died down. Most of it was about me anyway, so it was embarrassing as heck.
Everyone staring and whispering—felt like I'd die of pressure. Even Absolmi in my arms seemed to wilt under the gazes. Was he sharing my stress...?
"We've got a young friend here, right? I don't know the details, but they've got some amazing skills, so no ignoring them, okay~?"
The teacher was a middle-aged woman with a neat ponytail and red glasses. She looked like the type who'd give killer lectures. But did she have to re-introduce me? The stares intensified—ugh, too much!
"You know we've got practice groups today, right? Gangdong-gu's got a bunch of 1-grade gates nearby, so we snagged plenty for training. Check the group chat for assignments and team up."
1-grade gates? Low-rank hunters could clear 'em easy. Near-zero accident risk.
I whipped out my phone from my pocket—the latest model Grandpa bought! Rich folks just swipe for the newest one, cash. Awesome.
Problem: kid filters and daily limits. Tried hacking around 'em, but security was tight. My limited know-how wasn't enough...
"Shiro? Shiro-ssi?"
"Uh, m-me...?"
I hadn't even checked groups yet when someone called me. A plain-style woman with permed black mid-length hair and brown eyes. Black horn-rimmed glasses hid her face, but she'd be popular—super cute. Black hoodie hid any tan.
"Ah, Shiro, right."
"Speak casually, unnie."
"O-okay? I'm Han Su-yeon."
"Hehe, got it."
As we exchanged names, others approached. A chubby, friendly-looking ajusshi... and a blonde delinquent high-schooler type? Straight out of a comic kids shouldn't read. Those ear piercings were killer.
"Oh, Su-yeon noona and Yong-hun ajusshi? Jackpot."
"Yeah, nice. We'll wrap up quick today."
Figures—everyone knew each other except me. I clutched Absolmi tight, mouth flapping silently, when the blonde high-schooler spoke first.
"What's the kiddo's name? I'm Park Do-hun, your oppa."
"N-not a kiddo. Shiro."
"Hate 'kiddo' that much?"
"No, my name's Shiro. Two syllables: Shi-ro."
"Ah~ Yeah?"
Just like with Jong-woo ajusshi before—misunderstanding brewing. Su-yeon unnie cleared it up neatly.
Calling Absolmi 'kiddo' I could take, but me? No way. Now or ever. I'm watching you, high-schooler.
"Aigoo~ Do-hun, you can't just call her kiddo outta nowhere."
"Why not!"
"Ajusshi here's Seong Yong-hun. Call me 'samchon' casually."
"Hehe, got it, Yong-hun samchon!"
"You're making me the bad guy again?"
Yong-hun samchon had that plump, big-bellied build giving off total stability vibes. Kind face. Super narrow, small eyes—like perpetual slits. Made him seem even kinder. Cozy.
"So... share positions first? We know each other, but..."
"Yeah. Or nah? Just tell the kiddo hers?"
"Sigh~ We should introduce too."
Park Do-hun. You're on my watchlist. Stacking dislike points—if no epic twist makes you cool later, I will hate you.
"Unnie's a Vanguard... C-rank hunter. Main weapon: giant hammer."
Vanguard—like Yong-su grandpa. Game terms: tank. Frontline aggro-puller. Didn't peg her introverted vibe and small frame for it... and C-rank's solid mid-tier. Surprising.
"Samchon's Backcode, bracelet weapon. Oh, D-rank."
Backcode: rearmost— healers, buffers/debuffers, commanders. Samchon looked most Vanguard-y...
"This oppa's a whopping B-rank Seeker, got it? Main: knuckles!"
Seeker: rogue/thief. Finds weak spots, sets traps, scouts mazes. Yeah, you look the part. Delinquent vibe—ack! But B-rank? Shocker. Cocky types like that usually rank low.
"And Shiro?"
"Uh, me... B-rank Wild Card... no main weapon yet."
"What?"
Shy intro done, Park Do-hun gaped like it was impossible.
What's the big deal?
"This tiny kid's B-rank? And Wild Card?"
Wild Card: rare special position. Fewest assigned by Association—under 30% of Backcode numbers. Role: whatever. For high-versatility powerhouses. Official nod to do what fits.
And I'm that future S-rank Wild Card. Jong-woo ajusshi saw my raw power and summon growth potential.
"Lying, right?"
"Nooo...!"
I pulled my Awakener cert from the mini-bag Se-eun unnie got me. Park Do-hun shook his head in disbelief.
"No way..."
"Your reaction's over the top~ Wild Card in the team rocks~"
"Yeah... Do-hun, time to bus out. Move."
Guess Do-hun's freakouts were old news. Everyone brushed it off casually.
"C'mon, Shiro. No personal ride? Academy folks take the group bus."
"Ah, yup!"
Su-yeon unnie offered her hand. I grabbed it with a smile. She beamed back—must like me.
Love it.
"Everyone board~ Departing soon~"
Alright, my first official raid. Heart pounding—here we go!