Cute Stats Instead
Instead, I'll give you some cute stats. #034 <Integrated Aptitude Test Results>
Thank you sincerely for participating in the Integrated Aptitude Test hosted by Nartika Corporation. This test utilized an 'adult model' and measured physical abilities, magical abilities, esper abilities, and more…
"Damn, this is messed up."
0.2? What the hell is 0.2? Even without knowing the baseline values, it was obvious my abilities were a complete disaster. As expected, I had zero talent for anything hunter-related…
"See? I told you you had talent."
"This?"
Even I, who knew next to nothing about hunters, could tell these numbers were low across the board. No, they were so low they looked like something you'd see on an F-rank hunter.
"Doesn't look like much talent to me with a 0.2."
"Sian, don't just look at the trees—look at the forest. Your total mana is 0.2, but everything else is decent, right?"
"Is that so?"
"Of course it is. Think about it—you're only a first-year middle schooler. These numbers are huge for your age."
"……?"
"A middle schooler's stamina and vitality at 4, agility at 6? If I still worked in HR, I'd scout you on the spot."
I couldn't understand it. When Lim Hana had shown me her measurement results ages ago, the minimum value had been 100. Yet here she was, acting like single-digit numbers were something to celebrate.
"Ah, the low numbers are probably because they used an adult model instead of a middle schooler model."
"Wait, they measured against adult standards?"
"That's what the researchers said. If they'd used a middle school model, you'd probably have scored in the hundreds easily."
Now that she mentioned it, I vaguely remembered hearing something about models earlier. So that was what it meant. Even if the results still felt lacking, knowing they were low only because of the adult standard was oddly reassuring.
"Well, that's a relief… So does this mean I'm on par with an F-rank hunter by adult standards?"
"F-rank? At worst E-rank, maybe even D-rank."
"Doesn't feel like it."
"Look at your mana efficiency. You're hitting 100 all by yourself."
Mana efficiency was a composite value reflecting both magical power and mana consumption rate. If it was skyrocketing like this, it meant only one thing: any magic I used would be extremely potent. I couldn't be certain since I'd never properly cast spells due to mana shortage, but…
"……Maybe that's why that metal table got sliced so easily earlier."
"Exactly! Even I only score around 5 to 10 on adult standards. Getting 100 like you is just insane!"
My mana was pitifully low. But once I actually used it, the output was guaranteed to be strong.
"So I'm a glass cannon, huh."
"Not quite. Glass cannons are when your attack power is high but your body is weak."
"Right, true."
"Considering what happened in the ruins, you can take a beating and keep going. You're more like 'a cannon with very few shells' than a glass cannon."
A cannon with very few shells. That analogy felt spot-on.
"Of course, having few shells is unfortunate, but having something that stands out this much is still a huge stroke of luck."
Better to be exceptional in one area than mediocre across the board. It was something I'd heard plenty of times in interviews with high-ranking hunters.
"Well, that's a relief…"
I wasn't completely talentless after all. Since I had something that clearly stood out, I'd be able to make a living. The fact that it wouldn't require extreme effort was enough to calm the despair that had been gnawing at me.
Feeling somewhat lighter, I flipped to the next page.
Esper Ability Measurement Results
Type: Time Manipulation
Power (E-rank) / Duration (D-rank)
Versatility (F-rank) / Growth Potential (A-rank)
※ Due to the extreme rarity of this esper ability, there may be measurement errors from insufficient data!
The very thing I'd desperately tried to deny. How ironic that denying it had led to results like this.
"So it really was a time esper ability."
"Do you believe you have talent now?"
Even though the ranks were a mix of F, E, and D, when compared to adult standards, they were still quite high. Especially the A-rank growth potential. With enough effort, there was room to raise the other values too.
"Yeah. Doesn't seem like I can't do hunter work at all."
I clutched the paper tightly. The more detailed results compared to the school test had lifted most of my worries about the future. Even if I fought Lim Hana and her friends, I could probably end it without too much trouble. At least that much was certain now. In fact, maybe even in an extremely disadvantageous situation, I could—
"So you're going to Palaestra Academy, right?"
Fighting drug addicts was fine too. But right now, I needed to focus on a more immediate goal. When I nodded, Cheon Mari grinned and wrapped her arm around my neck like always.
A friend who gave me far more than I could ever give in return. So I wrapped my arm around her neck in return.
"Ooh—"
"What's with the 'ooh'?"
I flipped to the final page of the documents with one hand. It wasn't test results this time, but a contract.
A contract to receive combat training using Nartika facilities for the next three years. It also outlined various agreed-upon terms regarding the training, insurance coverage in case of injury, that there would be no cost claims whatsoever, that Nartika logos must be displayed during any external hunter-related activities, and that photos must be taken upon company request if demanded.
Since Nartika was a corporation and not a charity, it was only natural they'd demand something in return. I'd expected it to be monetary, but hadn't anticipated it would be this non-monetary.
"Attach Nartika logos to equipment and take photos?"
"We've been doing it and we'll keep doing it. We can't just take losses forever when you think about how much money we're pouring into you."
That wasn't the issue. The conditions were far too generous. They called them requirements, but in reality, it was just them offering sponsorship.
"Are the conditions too strict?"
"No, they're not strict at all. If anything, you're not taking enough from us."
"Not enough? We're taking plenty."
Plenty? They thought this was plenty?
"If we treat you this well, we can eventually sweet-talk you into joining Nartika, can't we?"
"Ah."
So that was the bigger picture. While I was marveling at this long-term investment, Cheon Mari leaned in close.
"Of course, once you join, I'll suck you dry 300 days a year, so look forward to it."
She whispered right into my ear. It sounded less like a job offer and more like a resignation notice.
There was only one possible response.
"I had no idea you were drawing up such grand plans. Guess I should join a competitor instead."
"Ohoho, then I'll sneak into your house, kidnap you, and force you to sign a blank promissory note?"
"Obviously I'd run away from home before that happens, have a huge fight with you, then flee overseas."
"Suddenly? Well, if we fought, I'd win for sure."
"Maybe now, but will you still win once I've grown up?"
"Of course I will. Who do you think I am? Cheon. Ma. Ri. The future greatest under the heavens~ That's what I'm saying."
"Delusional much? The truly strong don't need to say stuff like that."
"If there's not a single truly strong person, then I'll just become the first strongest, won't I?"
Our back-and-forth spiraled with no sign of backing down, growing increasingly extreme. By the time she started talking about slaughtering all the heroes of Shareltea and their companions, burning the wicked World Tree, enslaving swordmasters, and establishing a corporate state, I noticed the examination room door was open and the researchers were staring at us.
"Tch."
"Tch."
"This is why kids are so cute. Look at them talking to each other."
"Hehe, compared to middle schoolers these days, they're really pure."
"You're right. I wonder if my daughter will bring friends home and act like that someday?"
"Maybe she will—oh, kids, no no~ Keep talking~"
Something about those wide, sparkling eyes made me extremely self-conscious. We fled to the training grounds. And without hesitation, we began proper combat training. Until the end of vacation, I would master the basics of combat no matter what.
* * *
Rain dripped through the small window frame. Mixed with the winter wind, the winter rain was harsh, almost dark. There had been a time when the weather was bright. When I was much younger, I used to enjoy the rain. But I couldn't do that anymore.
For Lim Hana, the world growing dark meant endless terror. It was the time when unimaginable violence became visible. The time when scenes she couldn't even put into words came flooding back. She didn't need to dig deep to remember. Even just what had happened recently in the darkness had been horrifying enough.
She'd beaten her academy friends under some 'just' pretext. Though the reason had vanished from her memory, the horrific result remained vivid. Her friends had been pummeled. She'd resisted desperately. She'd barely managed to push him away with her legs and warned him multiple times. But the villain hadn't listened to her words.
In the end, the heavens had judged him. The floor had collapsed artificially, and he'd fallen underground while cursing her to the very last moment.
Thud, thud, thud.
Maybe that was why. For the past few weeks, her condition had been so bad she'd been scratching her arms until they bled. It felt like something precious had shattered. Like she'd lost something she was never meant to lose. It must have been because he'd cursed her as he fell. There was no other explanation.
"Traitor, traitor, traitor, traitor, traitor."
A vile, hateful traitor. Shameless beyond belief, cursed and terrifying. Even more terrifying was the fact that he hadn't actually died. Her friends said the stalker who deserved to die had returned from the abyss. How could a human be so tenacious? Surviving after casting a curse—there could be no greater misfortune for Lim Hana.
"How on earth…!"
Alternatively, the fact that he'd survived might itself be a kind of divine protection. An intervention close to inevitability that could even bring back the dead.
"Maybe……"
The symbol of fascism and empire mentioned in textbooks as something to be burned to death. Perhaps the World Tree of Shareltea had watched over and protected him. If it had intervened, it would certainly be possible. Besides, Kang Sian was a villain, so it made perfect sense that an evil existence would sponsor him.
She was scared. So, so scared, terrified, and still terrified…
"Hic, sob……"
Yet the closer she got to the truth, the more tears flowed. It felt like everything was whispering that this was all her fault.
"I didn't do anything wrong. Everything will be fine. It'll all be okay……"
Like rain pouring from ashen skies, staining the asphalt black with curses. A blue darkness that should have knocked her unconscious was slowly devouring her. Lim Hana huddled in the corner of her room, trembling as she chewed on grass blades over and over.