078 - Nakwol Workshop (1)
The Hunter Association's A-rank qualification review was fundamentally conducted without the subject's knowledge up until the mid-stage.
While it was inevitable that the subject might notice certain parts, the process was carried out without prior notice to observe their reactions in sudden situations for basic testing.
"Good grief, what a mess. With the Association investigating so rigorously, they'll uncover who's behind it soon enough."
Han Su-ah clicked her tongue as she watched Han Ji-seok and Park Eun-hyuk being escorted away by Association hunters.
Of course, only a tiny handful of insiders knew the truth—Han Su-ah and the Mugung Guild hunters present had no clue.
"……."
Only Mugung Guild's leader, Han Kang-seok, was in on it.
He watched the departing hunters before turning to Kim Sun-woo.
"Glad you're unharmed."
"They weren't even worth warming up for."
Kim Sun-woo shrugged.
Though they were elite raiders on par with or above Mugung's top hunters, they were still far below him.
He probably could've taken both even if they'd attacked together without much trouble.
After the commotion died down, Kim Sun-woo wrapped up his training.
The mood was too unsettled, and the interruptions had killed his motivation to continue.
With plans later, he decided to head out early.
"You have an appointment this afternoon, right?"
"Yeah. I'm stopping by my senior's workshop."
Yi Seong-jin, the A-rank hunter from Nakwol Guild.
Their dungeon chat hadn't been empty talk—he'd actually invited Kim Sun-woo to his workshop.
If you're curious about your martial arts talent or that eerily sharp intuition, come find me.
The origin of his innate talent was something even Kim Sun-woo had long wondered about.
It wasn't some ability or power awakened later; it was a strength he'd been born with, amplified from some starting point until it became this.
Were there others experiencing something similar?
If he could pinpoint the reason, maybe he could refine it or push it further.
Leaving Essential Armory, Kim Sun-woo hailed a taxi straight to Nakwol Guild.
Nakwol was located in Jongno, not far from the Association.
True to its shaman-heavy focus over typical hunters, the guild building was attached to a massive shaman supply store.
Impressive.
Being daytime, the crowds milling about were enormous.
They said it was one of the top five in Seoul for shaman goods.
It felt like half of Jongno's population was swarming the place.
Dressed like Taoist priests to fit the theme, the staff courteously assisted customers.
As Kim Sun-woo watched from afar, one of Nakwol's employees glided over and bowed.
"Hello. You're Hunter Kim Sun-woo, correct?"
"Ah, yeah. You recognized me right away?"
"It'd be weirder if we didn't."
The employee gave a small smile as he regarded Kim Sun-woo.
Shamans identified people by their unique energy and disposition.
It wasn't something you could hide.
No shaman would miss it.
Not that vividly radiant life force, sharp enough to make his eyes sting amid the chaotic crowds.
"This way, please. The Law Protector is waiting inside."
Kim Sun-woo followed the employee deeper into the store.
Within Nakwol, Yi Seong-jin's title seemed to be Law Protector.
Passing shelves of exotic shaman tools he'd never seen before, they entered the guild building proper.
Whoosh.
A strange sensation swept over his body from the entrance—a barrier, no doubt.
Noticing his reaction, the employee explained calmly.
"It's a protective barrier around the inner sanctum. It detects anyone with hostile intent."
"Made with shamanism?"
"Yes. Since it's not standard magic or martial arts, it's hard to break. It's our gatekeeper and symbol."
Pride for the guild colored his voice.
"Right this way. Head straight down, and you'll reach the Law Protector's workshop. Have a good time."
"Thanks."
Up on the fifth floor, Kim Sun-woo bowed lightly to his guide and proceeded down the hall.
"……?"
But no matter how far he walked, the door right ahead never got closer.
It was clearly there, yet the corridor stretched on endlessly.
Testing him, huh?
Kim Sun-woo let a faint smile play on his lips and sharpened his senses.
A light burst of internal energy would shatter such a simple illusion.
But humoring the host was the magnanimity of the strong.
Swish.
Focusing his senses, he perceived the swirling flows of mana.
Circular and looping—that's why it kept him from reaching the end.
Closing his eyes, Kim Sun-woo relied purely on sensation and stepped forward.
The visual dead end gave way as his body naturally passed through.
And there was the door at the hall's true end.
Click.
The workshop door swung open on its own, revealing two men welcoming him.
"See? I told you his energy sense was exceptional. That's not a common level."
"Hmph."
One was Yi Seong-jin; the other, a new face.
Kim Sun-woo nodded casually in greeting. Yi Seong-jin waved him over with a grin.
"Tough trip over?"
"Fun way to welcome guests. An illusion to disrupt the senses."
"Precisely, it's called 'Ringban-de-rung.' Looks simple, but not easy to crack. Sorry for testing you right off the bat. This guy's picky about who he opens up to."
"And this is...?"
"Nakwol's Left Law Protector, Yi Ho-jin. We handle left and right together."
"Yi Ho-jin."
Nakwol's Left Law Protector introduced himself with a slightly sullen expression.
He clearly wasn't thrilled with the situation, whatever the reason.
"Kim Sun-woo from Mugung."
"...Heard a lot about you. Stuck at F-rank for ten years, then found your knack for martial arts?"
"That's right."
Kim Sun-woo gave a wry smile.
His past had spread too far—same story everywhere he went.
"Hmph."
Yi Ho-jin crossed his arms, scrutinizing him intently.
A gray shimmer in his eyes suggested some analytical spell.
It could've felt offensive, but Yi Seong-jin stepped in to smooth things over.
"Sorry about that. He's got a crooked personality. Doesn't do public stuff at all. What's that modern term—hikky... hikikomori?"
"Hikikomori?"
"Yeah, that! Holed up in his room fiddling with shamanism and weird crap all day, twisted his head. Cut him some slack. Mentally younger than he looks."
Kim Sun-woo stifled a chuckle inwardly.
Talking like that right in front of him?
Yi Ho-jin frowned as if it were pointless chatter but spoke without much fuss.
"Definitely not normal. Life force incomparable to average folk. Even with martial arts or magic, it's abnormally vast."
"Right? Thought my eyes were playing tricks at first."
"Always like this? Or did it change at some point?"
"No idea."
Kim Sun-woo shrugged.
That was why he'd come here, after all.
Yi Seong-jin nodded and rolled up his sleeve, pulling out a talisman.
"Plenty of time—let's take it slow. No other plans after this?"
"Cleared my schedule for the next two days."
He hadn't known how long it'd take, so no bookings.
He'd return to the guild after vacation ended in three days anyway.
Yi Seong-jin nodded approvingly and handed over a talisman.
"Hold it and channel your internal energy. Basic test for your disposition."
"Like this?"
Kim Sun-woo gripped the ordinary-looking slip and infused it lightly with White Flow Divine Art energy.
It stiffened instantly, then tore clean in half without lasting a second.
Sizzle.
It happened before he could react.
Looking up in surprise, he saw Yi Ho-jin and Yi Seong-jin with I figured expressions.
"Higher grade."
"Ghost-class talisman. Try this one too."
"...Sure."
The new one felt entirely different—inky black, scrawled in blood-like script, dripping ominous dark mana.
It looked cursed. Kim Sun-woo gripped it cautiously and infused energy again.
Rip!
It held a tad longer but split the same way.
"Mm."
"Hrm."
Both men grunted in unison.
Yi Seong-jin eyed him briefly, then fetched a small sealed box from the workshop depths.
Sizzle.
Unsealing it, he withdrew a fresh talisman wafting clear fragrance.
"Try this."
"...What even is this test?"
"Last one. I'll explain after."
"Hmph."
Kim Sun-woo glanced between them before taking it.
Whoosh!
This time, no tear—instead, a brilliant azure glow erupted.
Yi Ho-jin shot to his feet, eyes wide at the emerald radiance.
"Azure Clarity disposition?!"
"Told you my eyes don't lie! Talent's common enough, but this rare?"
"Care to explain now?"
Kim Sun-woo lowered the glowing talisman, narrowing his eyes.
He'd come to collaborate, not be a lab rat.
His patience was wearing thin.
Yi Seong-jin waved apologetically and pointed at the still-shining slip.
"That's a divine relic for gauging shamanic talent. Color reveals aptitude and purity."
"So this blue means...?"
"Same Daoist line as me. You'd have excelled as a shaman. And rare Azure Clarity, no less."
Yi Seong-jin stroked his chin thoughtfully before looking up slyly.
"Any famous shamans or mudang in your ancestry?"
"Not that I know of."
Business family—natural ties to rituals, but no direct shaman links he knew.
No such relatives turned up when contacting elders after his parents' passing.
"Then it manifested naturally in this generation...?"
"What's Azure Clarity mean?"
"Azure Clarity,"
Yi Ho-jin interjected gravely.
"means you've got the vessel to ascend from mortal to immortal."