Chapter 17 - Rank Assessment (1)
“...So they offered you the position of team leader for the Main Assault Team?”
It was a bright afternoon.
Park Gwan-sik, who had been enjoying some vacation time after the raid, had come to visit Kim Sun-woo upon hearing he'd woken up.
They were now sitting together at a gukbap restaurant in front of the hospital, spoons in hand.
“Man, you're climbing higher than me already. Makes sense, though—you soloed an elite monster from a C-rank dungeon. And you even scouted a promising rookie hunter for the guild. Looks like Jin-cheol hyung is dead set on snagging you.”
“You two close?”
“He used to be my team leader. I'll casually ask around next time we're drinking. You're taking it, right?”
“Hm.”
Kim Sun-woo picked up a piece of boiled pork and ate it, holding back his response.
Truth be told, he hadn't decided yet.
Honestly, he just wanted to hole up and diligently practice his martial arts for a while instead of jumping into anything.
Seeing Kim Sun-woo's expression, Park Gwan-sik narrowed his eyes.
“You didn't get scouted by another guild or something, did you?”
“Yeah, a few reached out after hearing the rumors. But I have no plans to go.”
Kim Sun-woo shrugged.
They must've caught wind of the story, because requests for meetings poured in, each with various offers attached.
Of course, most were just feelers—none matched Mugung Guild's generous terms.
“That could be good leverage in negotiations. You can use those offers as bargaining chips.”
“That'd just complicate things. What they've offered is plenty good already. And it's not like I'm hurting for money.”
“Right, you got compensated from the dungeon haul.”
“That's why I'm buying lunch.”
The treasures alone had netted him nearly 2 billion won.
Adding in the guild and Hunter Association rewards, it probably pushed just over that mark.
“Yeah, sticking with one guild is easier. Builds your career too. When's your rank assessment?”
“Right after discharge.”
“Jumping straight to C-rank might be a stretch, though? Even D-rank... whew. Maybe I should learn some martial arts too? Where'd you say you learned it?”
“Online lectures. Free ones, so look 'em up.”
Kim Sun-woo sent over links to the lectures he'd bookmarked.
Of course, he left out Baek Ryuk Geom's.
His growth to this point was thanks to his own talent, after all.
He probably would've seen similar results with other arts.
Still, the White Flow Divine Art wasn't ordinary, so he saw no need to mention it.
Even if he did, it wouldn't be easy for others to pick up.
Starting from the basics as a normal person? Just getting past the entry stage would take over a year.
'And who knows—maybe even C-rank hunter is within reach.'
He'd been mildly surprised when he met Kim Jin-cheol again and sensed the change.
At first, the man had felt like an impenetrable wall. Now, a flicker of competitive spirit bubbled up from deep in his chest—maybe I can take him.
Kim Jin-cheol himself had admitted soloing the elite monster Black Knight would've been tough for him.
That meant, at least in raw power, Kim Sun-woo was on par with a C-rank hunter.
“Anyway, rest up good while you can. Won't be on the same team anymore, but don't forget about us.”
“Come under me. First thing I'll do as team leader is scout you.”
“You punk—how's an old guy like me supposed to keep up with the Main Assault Team? I'll stick to Defense Team 3, painting the walls with shit 'til the end, living long and thin.”
Kim Sun-woo chuckled at Park Gwan-sik's words.
Truthfully, that was the standard path.
Reach too far beyond your means, and you'd burn out fast.
That's why Kim Sun-woo had stuck to F-rank for a decade, never challenging higher ranks.
A few days of rest later, Kim Sun-woo was cleared for discharge.
Stepping out of the hospital he'd burdened for a while, dazzling sunlight greeted his much lighter body.
His internal energy had fully recovered during rehab, leaving him brimming with power.
“Well then...”
He had plans right from day one.
As he pulled out his phone to call a taxi, a bright red sports car screeched to a halt in front of him.
Looking up in surprise, the window rolled down to reveal a familiar face calling his name.
“Oppa!”
“Su-ah?”
It was Han Su-ah, trapped with him in the dungeon.
After all they'd been through, he felt genuinely glad to see her.
“I heard you were discharging today, so I timed it to pick you up. I got out a couple days ago.”
“Glad you look okay.”
Kim Sun-woo had been at a public hospital tied to the guild.
Han Su-ah, meanwhile, had been moved to a private hospital's VIP ward.
She looked far better for it.
“Hop in. I'll give you a ride.”
“Thanks.”
He didn't refuse.
Slipping through the open door, the seat hugged his body perfectly.
Glancing around the interior with a hint of excitement, Kim Sun-woo let out a low whistle as the engine purred to life.
“This the X model? The new one this year. Design says limited edition.”
“Yeah, Dad got it for me to celebrate becoming a hunter. You like cars?”
“Drove the generation before last back in the day. It was my dream car. Studied my ass off in college prep 'cause he promised to buy me one.”
The design had evolved over generations, but traces remained.
Kim Sun-woo caressed the surface nostalgically, a wistful look on his face.
'Ah.'
Han Su-ah recalled what she'd heard about him from hospital staff.
His family had run a big business once.
But a dungeon break claimed his parents, forcing him to fold it and enter the hunter world.
For ten years, he'd toiled doggedly to pay off the debts. How hard must that have been?
When she'd first heard, her nose had stung with tears.
'But he endured to the end and made it here.'
Debts paid, now practicing martial arts to make a hunter comeback.
For an F-rank to grow this much—what agonies had he suffered?
“Anyway, thanks.”
“Huh? For what?”
“Heard from the guild. You yielded the rewards.”
“...That was yours, oppa. We escaped alive thanks to you. And I got my staff? That's plenty.”
Han Su-ah flicked her earring.
She'd stored the staff in it via magic, summonable when needed.
Kim Sun-woo knew it cost billions—a sign she really loved the staff.
“Plus, I gained valuable experience.”
Squeeze.
Her grip tightened on the wheel.
Fighting hordes of monsters and surviving wasn't commonplace.
A half-hearted mindset would've gotten her killed quick.
Her resolve as a hunter? Learned from Kim Sun-woo.
...Though cussing out crowds still embarrassed her.
She still kicked off the covers at night thinking about it.
“By the way, they offered you team leader? Picked your team yet?”
“Nah, put it on hold. Not sure yet.”
“...You're not going to another guild, right?”
Han Su-ah's face grew serious.
If Kim Sun-woo left for another guild...
What was the contract penalty again?
But he just smiled faintly and shook his head.
“No plans to switch guilds right now. No offers that good anyway.”
“Phew, good. If you take team leader, pick me for sure. I'll work hard.”
“I'll think about it.”
Kim Sun-woo nodded agreeably.
But it wouldn't be his call.
Han Su-ah was guild-managed growth potential.
They'd probably nurture her carefully in an elite squad.
“Where to, anyway? Should've asked first.”
“Hunter Association. Applied for rank assessment.”
“Today?”
Han Su-ah's eyes widened.
“Feeling good. Gotta do it now. Vacation left? Martial arts practice.”
That's why he'd timed discharge with the assessment.
Without guild pull, it'd be weeks out.
He was grateful for that much.
“Mind if I watch?”
“No plans today?”
“On vacation too. Back next week.”
Made sense after that ordeal.
Kim Sun-woo nodded indifferently.
“Same guild, so you can spectate. Sparring's open anyway.”
“I'll cheer loud from the seats!”
Han Su-ah beamed and nodded eagerly.
Rank assessment began with measuring abilities: superpowers, mana, physical stats, and more.
F-rank just confirmed mana awakening.
From E-rank up, sparring decided the rank.
That's why higher ranks took forever to schedule.
C-rank had notoriously strict, picky standards—hard to promote. He was tense.
Screech.
After parking in the association's underground lot and heading for the elevator, his phone rang—Kim Jin-cheol.
“Yes, Team Leader.”
-Heard you have assessment today. Where are you?
“Just arrived at the association. Heading up with Hunter Han Su-ah.”
-Han Su-ah? Come to the lobby first.
“At the association?”
-Reporting the incident, and watching your assessment. Guild pulled some strings.
Smelled deliberate.
Keeping him from other guilds?
They hit the lobby and linked up with Kim Jin-cheol.
“Hm, looking good. No issues up to D-rank.”
Kim Jin-cheol clapped Kim Sun-woo's shoulder with a grin.
But his eyes laughed: settling for D-rank?
“Mugung's dedicated staffer is here. He'll handle today. Ah, there he is.”
A suited man emerged from the lobby with a clipboard.
Kim Jin-cheol waved; the man bowed lightly, greeting Kim Sun-woo and Han Su-ah too.
“Hunter Association Section Chief Park In-su. You know we don't usually rush like this? Hunter Kim Jin-cheol kept pushing and pressuring...”
“When did I?”
Kim Jin-cheol looked away innocently.
Kim Sun-woo inwardly admired.
Association staff intimidated regular hunters.
But a bigwig from Mugung could build friendly ties like this.
“Alright, let's move. Measurements first.”
“Yes.”
Kim Sun-woo followed Section Chief Park In-su.
On the 7th floor measurement room, he stripped to shorts, sensors attached everywhere, and testing began.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
As Kim Sun-woo ran on the treadmill beyond the glass, Han Su-ah cautiously asked Kim Jin-cheol.
“Can I really watch?”
“Stats go to guild data anyway. He's fine with it.”
A- or B-rank stats were top secret, even national assets.
Kim Sun-woo had talent, but not that level—public measurement was fine.
“Whoa.”
Section Chief Park In-su gaped at the system logs.
“How is it?”
“F-rank until recently? Wouldn't believe it without records. Every stat's multiplied. Top D-rank, even low C-rank range. Some parts...”
Park In-su glanced at Kim Jin-cheol.
“...surpass you, Hunter. This growth in so short a time? Huge potential.”
“Hm.”
Kim Jin-cheol nodded, arms crossed.
He saw himself as peaked—refining what he had, narrowing focus, honing details.
A young gun overtaking him? He could accept it calmly.
Kim Sun-woo's talent exciting him? A bit.
“Especially mana—internal energy for martial artists? By our scale, about 30 years' worth. Wuxia terms: one banhwapja. Insane purity. What art?”
“...”
The monitoring room chatter reached Kim Sun-woo too.
Regulating breath on the treadmill, he turned.
“White Flow Divine Art.”
“White Flow Divine Art? Not in our database—worth checking. If it's true supreme art...”
He had no intent to hide it.
Someone might recognize it.
Kim Sun-woo's interest? The banhwapja internal energy amount.
'So that's a banhwapja.'
Devouring elixirs from the treasure vault had boosted it massively, but this much?
Baek Ryuk Geom said White Flow Sword Technique lectures started from banhwapja-level energy, up to sword aura.
Time to train sword aura at home?
“Measurements done. Rank hinges on sparring.”
Kim Sun-woo stopped running at Park In-su's words.
How he fared there would decide C or D.
He wasn't settling for D.
“C-rank supervisor ready?”
“Yes. Waiting. We can head down.”
Kim Jin-cheol nodded eagerly, eyes expectant on Kim Sun-woo.
“Make it worth the hype? The guy who soloed the Black Knight.”