Chapter 20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Raid Qualification Exam
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Having successfully conquered the Orc Dungeon, Minguk immediately dove into tackling the next one.
It was because the Raid Qualification Exam was just around the corner. He selected dungeons ranging from B-9 to C-2 in difficulty. He wanted to attempt higher ones, but dungeons starting from B-8 featured Rank 4 monsters, so he gave up on those.
'If the Raid Qualification Exam wasn't so close...'
He would have tried raiding them with his team members, but right now, updating his Hero Compendium with clears of Rank 3 monsters took priority.
Over the next five days, Minguk and his team cleared dungeons relentlessly without a single day off. Even after satisfying the Raid Qualification Exam conditions, Minguk kept going—not just for himself, but to fill Choi Yuna's achievement count too, since she'd just graduated from Hero Academy.
"Th-thank you! Seriously, thank you! I only wanted to grind some experience... I never dreamed I'd qualify for the Raid Qualification Exam this time."
She bowed deeply toward Minguk, who had confirmed the ten Rank 3 monster clears logged in her Hero Compendium. She could hardly believe they'd filled all her achievements in just a week.
"We all worked hard together, so we share the results."
"Exactly! Our leader's words are so sweet too, right? So, to celebrate meeting the qualification conditions, how about drinks tonight? Once we pass the exam, the team's disbanding anyway—might as well have a wrap party?"
Ashlyn snapped her fingers and mimed sipping from a glass. She planned to make up for her past failure at the team dinner this time.
Team GGW was just a temporary squad formed for the Raid Qualification Exam. After getting certified, Lin Sha would head to China, and Ashlyn to LA. Today was their last gathering. Ashlyn didn't want to miss her final shot at Minguk.
But contrary to her expectations, Minguk shook his head.
"Can't tonight—I have to hit the auction house. The exam's the day after tomorrow, and I still haven't met the Gear Score requirement."
"Wow..."
Ashlyn let out an awed exclamation. The other women were just as shocked. They'd rarely faced healer shortages or team crises against Rank 3 monsters, so this was unexpected.
"Your gear score's still under 80?"
"...71."
And that was after picking up some healer gear during raids. To qualify for the exam, he still needed to boost it by 9 points.
"Hah. What kind of genius is this?"
Ashlyn laughed in disbelief and shrugged. Among all the raid leaders she'd known, Minguk's command skills and prowess were unmatched. For that reason, the group headed to the auction house instead of drinks.
"...Why is everything so expensive?"
"It's gear you can only get from lucky ticket drops or high-rank monsters. Can't be helped."
The auction house prices far exceeded Minguk's expectations. In the end, to hit Gear Score 80, he had to sell a Revival Stone. He also repaid Oh Hyun-ah for the money he'd borrowed for that old ball-jointed doll.
With Gear Score 80 complete, all preparations for the Raid Qualification Exam were finally done.
The day of the Raid Qualification Exam, a Sunday.
The Hero Association in Seoul was packed like a flea market. Not just exam participants, but their families, Hero Clan reps, and media swarmed the place.
"Looks like every aspiring hero and their family in Seoul is here."
Oh Hyun-ah said from beside Minguk. Living together, they naturally came for the exam as a pair. The other team members had gone with their families; Ashlyn with her boyfriend.
"Won't your sister be here?"
Oh Hyun-ah's sister, Oh Hyun-jung, was the leader of R’s, the Rose Shield Clan in Seoul. She wouldn't miss a day like this.
"She is, but she's busy. Gotta watch over the new recruits joining the clan after the exam."
It was a lie. Hyun-ah had told her not to come so she could go with Minguk. Even without the leader's sister connection, Hyun-ah had shone as a top tank at Hero Academy, so Rose Shield was very interested in her.
"Ah, oppa! Minguk oppa!"
Suddenly, someone called Minguk from behind. Turning, they saw a familiar girl with a bow on her back: Choi Yuna. She held a fresh Raid Qualification Certificate.
"You heading in for the exam now?"
"Yeah. How'd you spot me?"
"You just stood out. You're the only guy here wearing hero gear?"
"Oh..."
Mana Awakening was exclusive to women. Male awakeners were miraculous rarities. Proof: only ten male heroes in all of Korea. Fewer still actively raiding post-exam.
Perhaps because of that, eyes were turning to Minguk. Cameras rushed in like they'd found a scoop.
"Crowd's gathering—too chaotic. Let's go in first."
Hyun-ah grabbed Minguk's hand and pulled. Using mana, his body followed involuntarily.
"Huh? Whoa...? Yeah, Yuna. See you later."
With that, Hyun-ah helped him breach the crowd into the Association. Inside was just as jammed.
"Huh? A guy. All the male heroes are here?"
"Whoa, he looks delicious..."
"A guy's taking the qual exam? Where, where?"
As expected, inside too, Minguk drew all eyes for his rarity as a male hero. Some comments bordered on sexual harassment, but only Hyun-ah scowled—Minguk didn't mind.
Pretty girls sexually harassing him was novel. Unthinkable in his old world. What if he lifted his shirt to flash chocolate abs?
'Total pandemonium, right?'
Lost in that thought, it was suddenly his turn. The receptionist was, of course, a woman.
"Please submit your Hero Pad."
Minguk handed his over.
The exam was simple: no written or practical tests. Just checking Hero Pad achievements, clear counts, and equipped Gear Score.
It was to prevent weak heroes from dying pointlessly to monsters. They passed almost everyone—humanity needed every hero against the darkness.
But conditions had to be met perfectly, and the Association checked rigorously.
The receptionist scanned and copied something. After a minute, she returned the pad.
"All clear. Please submit your gear certification docs too."
Gear docs were obtainable from the auction house for a fee—not too bad.
This fee funded much of the Association, per Hyun-ah. Heroes submitted specs to others, raid leaders, or clans daily—tens of thousands issued.
'Submitting docs... super systematic.'
In his old world, VR games had raids. GGW killed them, but he'd raided there too. Terms like 'dozger sson' for trash DPS existed.
Here, raids and clans recruited tanks, dealers, healers via docs and interviews—like job applications.
No lines of unemployed DPS from Ironforge to Modan Lake.
'But mountains of shredded resumes instead.'
Maybe crueler.
While Minguk mused, the receptionist searched, noted, verified. Soon, a pass message and raid qualification cert were his.
"That was easy?"
"If you meet quals, it's 99% pass."
"What's the 1%?"
"Quals met, but mana-corrupted heroes. Depending on corruption level, no raid permit."
"...Ah."
Irrelevant to him, but unexpected. Now he could raid.
True raids—like the ones he knew—required more time. 10-man raids started at B-1 with Rank 5 monsters. Easier ones were 5-man like now.
"So, what now...?"
Scratching his head as they exited with Hyun-ah.
Strictly, tasks piled up—but too many to grasp easily.
Still, outline clear: two paths. Join a clan or start his own raid group.
Joining meant picking clans, submitting docs, verifying fit.
Starting meant recruiting past teammates, founding a clan first. Neither quick.
'She'll probably go to Rose Shield...'
Minguk eyed Hyun-ah walking beside him. Tempting talent—clear prodigy with endless potential.
But leader's sister, exceptional talent he acknowledged. Top Hero Academy grades—Rose Shield wouldn't refuse.
This body's original owner might've clung to her for a spot, but Minguk wasn't him. He planned to lead his own raid group, not follow.
As he pondered futures,
As expected from someone watched by Lord Chaos. This Ppuu, created by Lord Chaos, congratulates Minguk on completing the quest <'Acquire the 'Raid' Qualification!'>. No need to waste a whole year needlessly.
[Goal] - Acquire the 'Raid' Qualification! - Achieved!
[Reward] - 3 Bronze Tickets!
His chest warmed like a hot pack. Startled, Minguk reached in—three glowing bronze tickets. Similar to the one-off Silver Ticket from a raid reward.
Checking the info,
【Bronze Ticket (50 - 70)】
"Hmm..."
The quest reward was crap-tier bronze trash.