Chapter 14
Chapter 14
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Nothing Is Perfect (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Artificial Island Control Room.
The screens captured the scene of the situation finally being wrapped up by the safety personnel.
Only then did someone speak up.
"It's beyond absurd—it's downright shocking."
A woman with short hair and a cold expression leaned back from her forward-leaning posture, voicing her thoughts.
Hong Sua, the head scout for the Infinite Guild, ranked second among domestic guilds.
She sank into her chair but still couldn't tear her eyes away from the man on monitor 17—Kim Gunja.
The single strike he had unleashed was that impactful.
Even the way he was being supported by his comrades looked dignified, like a triumphant general.
"I agree. Is he really D-rank?"
The other scouts tossed the association-provided files onto their desks in agreement.
"Even accounting for it being a one-shot deal that leaves him exhausted and immobile, the destructive power is ridiculous."
"Cha Gangju showed combat endurance surpassing A-rank, but that was still within expected parameters. This examinee, though? He's blown way past D-rank standards."
"And mana exhaustion? D-ranks don't even get that in the first place."
As the scouts raised a clamor, Lee Youngsik, the overall supervisor of the Hunter License Exam, broke into a cold sweat.
No matter the department, climbing to a leadership position required political savvy, which usually came hand-in-hand with keen perception.
That's why Lee Youngsik could sum up their strong doubts in one sentence.
What they really wanted to say was:
—You damn association bastards! Are you not gonna do your jobs right? How the hell is that guy D-rank? Ex-plain!
'...Something like that. Damn it all.'
Normally, he could brush it off with some vague excuse, but this incident went beyond that.
It didn't make any sense even to him.
Public servants were already under fire for botching their jobs lately, and he had no desire to become the bullet sponge with his name dragged through the mud over this.
'Which idiot screwed this up...!'
Probably a clerical error.
That's what Lee Youngsik thought.
But whether it was a misrecording or an omission, he was the one who had to explain it.
He represented the association here.
So, gritting his teeth inwardly, he had already instructed someone to pull additional files on the examinee Kim Gunja.
He had sensed the arrows would turn his way the moment things blew up.
"Team leader."
Right on cue, a subordinate slipped him some files from the side.
Lee Youngsik took the binder, skimmed it quickly, and his expression brightened.
"Ahem!"
The room quieted a bit at his fake cough.
"First off, we're regretful that sufficient data on the examinee wasn't provided. But please understand that the association followed the established manual to the letter. So why did this happen? I believe you'll understand once you see these files."
The scouts furrowed their brows.
In other words, Lee Youngsik was saying:
—We're the aggrieved party here!
Still, they had to hear him out to verify if it was true, so everyone watched silently.
"Look here."
Next to the footage from monitor 17, Kim Gunja's level measurement data from registration was attached.
Murmurs erupted throughout the control room.
"My God..."
"That's really unusual."
"Is that even possible? First time I've seen a case like this. His right arm's level is so different from the rest..."
"So that's what Right Arm Swordsman means—it must be related."
As the scouts' murmurs grew, Lee Youngsik's demeanor relaxed.
With the flow like this, he was confident he could convince them.
And while the scouts focused on the levels,
'That's not all.'
That alone couldn't explain what examinee Kim Gunja had done.
He was about to add a comment when—
"His mana stream looks pretty unique. Can we get a closer look?"
Hong Sua spoke up with evident interest.
Lee Youngsik nodded.
She was a veteran who'd been around the block, no doubt.
"Impressive as expected. Spotting the mana stream at a glance."
Some scouts from major guilds lit up at that.
But most still looked confused about what she meant.
"Mana stream? What's unique about it?"
"Yeah, it looks subpar, if anything."
Indeed, Kim Gunja's mana stream, displayed in 3D overlay, was highly irregular.
Like waves in a typhoon, it surged and slowed unpredictably, with no consistent pattern.
Considering higher magic power levels meant more stable streams, this wasn't a good sign.
Lee Youngsik nodded in agreement.
"Not wrong. But take a look at this."
A section of Kim Gunja's mana circuits zoomed in.
And there,
within the mana stream was another mana stream.
A thin crimson one swimming slowly amid the turbulent waves.
The scouts knew what that meant.
So they were shocked.
"D-Dual Stream?!"
"No way!"
"This is insane! How can a D-rank...!"
The commotion swelled again.
Lee Youngsik affirmed it.
"Correct. Hard to believe, but this examinee has systematized his mana stream into his own Dual Stream."
Completing a Dual Stream meant far more efficient and effective mana use than other Awakeners, plus the ability to imbue mana with various effects, attributes, or qualities.
"This one's Dual Stream is crimson-based, focused on destructive power, as you saw."
Silence fell over the control room for a moment.
The effects were tremendous, but independently building a Dual Stream was incredibly difficult.
Even among A-rank+ Awakeners, those with Dual Streams were rare—talent even major guilds struggled to acquire.
"A D-rank with Dual Stream... Unreal."
"This guy's identity is a total mystery."
To scouts unaware of Kim Gunja's fateful acquisition of the Heaven-Shattering Divine Art, it was just endless astonishment.
Even seeing it firsthand was hard to believe.
"Impressive, for sure. But... that makes it all the more regrettable."
The others shot Hong Sua puzzled looks.
"I was shocked at first too. But after checking the additional data, I just feel disappointed."
"Same here."
"Shame. If the rest of his body matched his right arm's level, he'd be a real rookie to watch..."
Some major guild scouts voiced similar sentiments.
Hong Sua addressed those still clueless.
"His body can't handle the output. You saw how he collapsed after one attack? Mana exhaustion and convulsions. He's burning his life force to show that power. How long do you think he can last like that?"
A defective product that could break down anytime.
"Ah..."
"True..."
"Yeah..."
Sighs filled the room, and Hong Sua delivered her verdict.
"Even as a Hunter, he'll last a year at best before retiring. A total wreck."
The scouts nodded.
"Can't argue with that. Performance-wise, it was great, though."
"From a teammate's perspective, he's a liability. Always worrying if he'll drop."
"As a Hunter, his position's ambiguous too. Comparing might be unfair, but he's the total opposite of Han Juyeong's near-perfect stability."
Diamond Han Juyeong.
True to his interview about showing what a prepared Hunter looked like, his hunts were like watching a scripted play—planned and stable.
Flawless, without a single seam.
"As a comrade, definitely Han Juyeong. His unique trait optimizes him for defender role."
"Plus, trained to the point no further education needed. Ready for immediate deployment."
Finished product versus defective.
The scouts concluded with that analogy.
Hong Sua smirked inwardly at them.
'Idiots...'
Even defectives had their uses.
And this one had achieved Dual Stream, no less.
'Probably... more than meets the eye.'
She could learn more through contact later.
The major guild scouts who had joined her in shifting the mood also swallowed smirks.
They'd eliminated a bunch of rivals with just a few words.
Lee Youngsik sighed in relief watching their bloodless war.
'This industry... Wolves in sheep's clothing. Scary stuff. Not my problem, though.'
As long as the guns weren't aimed at him, he didn't care what poison they slung.
A sudden thought made him tilt his head.
'That guy with mana exhaustion... Won't make the second exam, huh?'
Mana Exhaustion.
When mana circuits fully deplete, straining muscles and nerves too.
Unless one had regeneration or recovery traits, even Awakeners needed at least half a day to recover.
With the second exam starting in under an hour, the guy's elimination was certain.
'Not my concern anyway.'
Pity, given his first-exam performance, but he was just another examinee.
Lee Youngsik was satisfied just diverting the scouts' attention.
Artificial Island Temporary Recovery Room.
"Kim Gunja! What the hell happened?! Are you really D-rank?!"
Already dying from mana exhaustion, Han Jihan's fussing made his head throb.
"Volume down a bit..."
"S-Sorry. But...!"
Rumors spread fast.
Given the commotion of his hunt, it was expected.
On the way here, other examinees' stares had stung.
Like a freshman busted pretending to be a transfer student.
But the ordeal was worth it.
Become a Thorn in the Pocket!
Difficulty: C
Content: Make your presence known against new powerhouses! (2/3)
Restrictions: Hunter License Exam Day
Success: 1000 Points
Failure: Master's Squishy Tongue
Kim Gunja's pale lips curled up slightly.
Either way, he'd succeeded in leaving a strong impression on Cha Gangju.
Sin Yeji, watching him grin from the side, pinched his side.
"Ow! Yeji, I'm the patient...!"
"What's so funny? Do you even have a plan, seriously?!"
Her nagging continued: why use it when she told him not to, how would he take the second exam in this state, and so on.
And then,
"Kim Gunja. Be honest. Did you hide your abilities on purpose for the exam? Got some other agenda besides the license? You're not... a Slayer, are you?"
Han Jihan's conspiracy theories piled on.
His ears burned, but it felt good.
First objective achievement was right around the corner.
'Customizing Room's first upgrade costs 1000 points.'
Upgrading the Customizing Room.
It meant access to higher-grade materials and more point sources—straight to accelerated growth.
One problem, though.
His wrecked body.
Aftereffects from clashing with Jin Garyul hadn't even faded, and pushing too hard again had him feeling like death.
No way he could do the second exam like this—straight elimination.
Kim Gunja staggered to his feet.
Time for his last resort.
"Where you going?"
He flashed a playful grin at the worried Sin Yeji trotting after him.
"Bathroom. Why? Gonna follow me all the way like last time...?"
Before he finished, she spun on her heel and bolted.
"Have a safe trip!"
Her ears red, she waved as she fled.
Kim Gunja chuckled and entered an empty stall.
Then activated his unique trait.
Austin greeted him elegantly upon entry.
"Welcome, Master. You look quite fatigued."
"Yeah. Feels like death. Prep right away."
"As you command."
No need for details—Austin handled it smoothly.
He was used to it by now.
Over the past three months of intense training, he'd visited in this state often, and the routine was set.
Slipping on the gloves Austin handed him, Kim Gunja viewed the holographic body scan and placed his order.
The customization he'd done countless times.
"Peak condition."
Usually 1-2 points for recovery, so this was hefty—but worth it.
"Yes."
Black spots to erase and blue lines to fill glowed helpfully on the body scan.
A smile crept onto Kim Gunja's face as he flexed his hands.
Mana Exhaustion?
Physical damage?
None of it mattered.
Before Customizing, all were equal.