Chapter 22
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Raid Qualification Exam
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‘I’ll probably get something like that too, right? Or is that pushing it a bit?’
Male heroes who could lead raids were in high demand, especially in the healer class.
Minguk didn’t underestimate his own abilities. Just thinking about it, he figured any clan would take interest. His inbox full of messages was proof enough. But there wasn’t a single invite from a famous raid team he’d heard of.
And deep down, Minguk had a hunch why. His past record was holding him back. The time he’d spent leading as a healer added up to barely a week.
In contrast, he’d spent over two years slogging away as a ranged dealer who was worse than your average hero. All those records were etched into his Hero Pad.
No clan interested in him would overlook that. So Minguk figured as long as he could join a clan and run his own raid team like in a game, the specific terms didn’t matter much.
‘Money’s whatever...’
He still had cash from selling the Revival Stone, plus proceeds from offloading quest junk. For reference, a Bronze Ticket (50-70) went for about $600 a pop.
‘Signing bonuses and the like aren’t what I need right now. Same with gear.’
Treatment would ramp up based on his performance going forward, no doubt. And Minguk had zero doubts about his own skills. With his thoughts settled, he turned to Hyun-ah.
“I’m fine with any clan, as long as I can run my own raid team. Even better if they provide support...”
“Really?”
“Money-wise, around $1,500 a month would make me happy. That’s a bit above average. Gear I can sort out through raids.”
These were terms far removed from what most heroes demanded. Newbies usually pushed for signing bonuses, weekly pay, or gear support to prove their worth. Minguk just wanted one thing: raid team command.
‘Gotta ask sis right away.’
Raid-leading team leaders were always in short supply. One with Minguk’s skills? Every clan would be tripping over themselves to recruit him.
Especially since he was that rare male hero. Plenty of clans were probably already listing him and prepping offers solely because of his gender. Hyun-ah spoke up cautiously.
“I was just about to ask my sister...”
“Your sister? Rose Shield? Didn’t they already wrap up new recruits?”
Minguk’s face clouded with puzzlement. From his casual digging, prestigious clans like Rose Shield locked in rookies early. He’d read that somewhere.
“Well... We had a great time teaming up in GGW, right? I kinda miss it, so I thought I’d recommend you to her. Hypothetically... if you could get raid operation rights, would you join Rose Shield?”
“Oh ho!”
Of course he’d welcome it. Hyun-ah was a talented tank. Teaming with her would fill one key slot in his planned raid lineup right away. Plus, no need to part ways with his fiery fling. They could swap stories like this during joint raids.
“That’d be perfect, thanks!”
“Okay. Hang on a sec.”
Hyun-ah fumbled for her phone, thrilled by Minguk’s unexpectedly enthusiastic response.
Shuffle.
Profiles of prospective new clan members flipped by rapidly. But Oh Hyun-jung’s face, as she reviewed them, was etched with irritation.
The clan she led, R’s—Rose Shield—was once Korea’s premier hero outfit. Well, that was the old days. It still boasted name recognition no one in the country lacked, but compared to its peak, Rose Shield was in clear decline.
“Out of this year’s recruits, only two are even in the top 100 ranks?”
“Lately, talent’s been heading overseas in droves.”
“Who doesn’t know that? What about ‘Hero Era’? They splashed headlines about signing rank 4 Lee Seol and rank 11 Jo Yoon-jung. Here, our highest is rank 71 Oh Hyun-ah? And you know I brought her in myself.”
The scout team leader couldn’t meet Hyun-jung’s sharp gaze as he held up the profiles. But this was just a reflection of Rose Shield’s current standing. Even leader Oh Hyun-jung knew it all too well.
‘Sigh. How did Rose Shield end up like this...’
The first clan formed in Korea, the one that conquered an 8-grade boss raid ahead of everyone—it was an undisputed legend, Korea’s finest.
But after Park Da-young, who’d helmed the first-string raid team for twenty years, retired citing age, Rose Shield plummeted like a bird without wings.
Her successors failed to deliver, quitting under pressure and jumping to other clans. The financial hits piled up.
All that baggage had snowballed, leaving R’s struggling just to cling to rank 5 in Korea’s clan standings. Rumors swirled it’d drop out of the top 10 soon.
Past glory still drew applicants, but no real prospects. That was Rose Shield’s reality.
“Hoo... Anyway, what about Yoo Seo-yeon?”
Dealer rank 29, overall 112—Yoo Seo-yeon was one Hyun-jung had her eye on. Rumors said she led raids decently. Checks confirmed solid talent. Nurtured right, she could grow into a fine team leader.
“...She’s off to the US. Scouted by Enterprise Raid Team, backed by the Enterprise Group. Weekly pay of $4,120.”
“Tch.”
Hyun-jung bit her lip at the scout’s words. She’d had a bad feeling when Yoo hemmed and hawed on their offer. Guess she’d planned to bolt stateside all along.
‘At this rate, build next year’s prospects around Hyun-ah? Sigh... But leading? No suitable profiles...’
First-string was holding with veterans. But second- and third-string couldn’t even clear A-9 dungeons with 6-grade monsters.
As Hyun-jung pondered the clan’s future, her desk phone buzzed loudly. It was her sister, Oh Hyun-ah.
- Sis, busy? Can you talk?
“Ah, yeah. Hold on.”
Hyun-jung waved the scout out. They’d covered everything; other talk could wait. Soon, the door clicked shut, leaving her alone in the leader’s office.
“What does my darling prospect want that she’s calling? You know I pulled strings for your signing terms, right?”
- It’s not that. Got a favor to ask. Can you?
“Sure? Spill first. What is it?”
As she spoke, Hyun-jung felt a twinge of curiosity. Her independent sister rarely asked for favors. She’d joined R’s on merit alone, no leg-up.
Hyun-jung had paced holes in the floor over it. Especially when she learned Hyun-ah, stuck with some weird French team leader, hadn’t met raid exam quals until a week ago. Total panic.
It worked out in the end, but the memory still made her heart race.
- Wanna recommend a new recruit for the clan. Healer.
“Recommend...?”
- Yeah. Han Minguk...
Hyun-jung knew the name. The male hero who passed this year’s raid exam. No direct interview, but media hyped him as the only guy to qualify.
Come to think of it, amid clan chaos, she’d vaguely heard he was shacking up with Hyun-ah. From what she recalled, Han Minguk was just average.
The male angle was a big draw, sure, but skill-wise, not R’s material.
“Hm. Being male is a huge plus... but no open TO for dealers right now.”
Hyun-jung gently signaled refusal.
- Wait, no. Minguk’s a healer.
“Healer?”
Hyun-jung quickly searched Han Minguk on her Hero Pad. He’d definitely been a ranged dealer...
‘What the hell?’
Just as Hyun-ah said, his recent combats logged as healer. Ten grade-3 monsters, average A+ contribution.
That was top-tier prospect territory. Even R’s third-string rarely hit A+ on grade-3s.
Contribution factored heals output, damage taken, damage dealt, overheal efficiency (precise mana heals matching ally needs, no waste), and more.
“...What kind of record is this?”
Her voice sharpened. From average C- ranged dealer to zero-prior healer, then ten straight A+ raids in a week.
Had to be faked.
- He realized his innate talent. Ranged wasn’t his fit. Looks rigged, right? But it’s not. I saw it myself.
“For real?”
Her sister knew her well enough not to lie about a recruit. Still, the record was unbelievable. But Hyun-jung’s shock didn’t end there.
- And his leading’s insane. Took down ten grade-3 bosses in a week, all under his command. Seven one-tries.
“What?! That can’t be... Kyaa!”
Startled, Hyun-jung shot up, slipped, and thudded back on her butt. Pain took a backseat to curiosity about what she’d just heard. Her fingers reflexively tapped the Hero Pad displaying Minguk’s face.
“Battle footage from his POV. Can I share?”
- Gimme a sec, asking now. ...Done. Password GGW.
Hyun-jung punched it in and played the video on her Hero Pad. Grade-3 monster ‘Dark Kalu’ battle.
Male voice—smooth, pleasant. Enough to stir her heart, retired from the frontlines for leader duties. This clip alone would go viral if shared.
Thinking about it, no records of male raid leaders ever. Not even in five-mans. Then the fight kicked off.
“Hmm. Not bad.”
The raid flowed seamlessly. Logged as first clear, but felt like old hat.
Minor tank/dealer slips suggested it was their first Dark Kalu, though. Solid skills all around. But the real marvel was the raid leader’s commands.
- Choi Yuna, Dark Ball! Ah, line too. Dodge just the ball—stay at range from me!
- Lin Sha! Intercept!
- Oh Hyun-ah! Roar incoming!!! Demresist if you can—use now!
Orders dropped with eerie precision, reading the monster like an oracle.
If she didn’t know better, even R’s leader like her would peg the voice as a grizzled vet leader. All while keeping team HP rock-solid.
Danger reared multiple times, yet on-screen Minguk saved everyone without major injuries. His record showed Gear Score – 61.3.
Hyun-jung’s eyes widened. That meant gear below standard for C-2 clears—yet as the healer bearing life-or-death responsibility, the raid stayed stable.
An awed gasp escaped her lips.