Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Association
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Three days had already passed since I arrived in Seoul. My resolution to dive straight into the Abyss or a dungeon to grow stronger felt meaningless as I spent those three days resting comfortably, as if rewarding myself for all the hardships of my past life.
In truth, I had no choice. To enter a dungeon or the Abyss, a license issued by the Association was mandatory, and I didn't have one.
Thanks to that, I spent the three days alone in my house—so vast it was hard even to wander around—eating, sleeping, and using the bathroom on repeat while diligently sorting through every big and small event from before my regression.
"Good thing I finished organizing everything right on time."
With that, I carefully stored the ten notebooks I'd compiled into my inventory and quietly outlined my future plans.
First, ace the Hunter License Exam at the top of the class, then head straight into the Tutorial.
The license acquisition exam aligned perfectly with the monthly Abyss Tutorial entry period for newbies.
Newly awakened Hunters could only enter the Abyss at that exact time.
And that day was today.
Of course! I had no intention of foolishly entering the Tutorial-11 Zone where I'd gone before regression, chasing after that Tower of Gold hidden stage again.
There was no way two spaces existed that not only offered hidden stages with insane authorities but also granted regression.
One crucial point here!
I must enter the Tutorial-7 Zone.
The Abyss housed numerous Tutorials. As if designed to help frail humans adapt, there were a total of fifteen, each with different monsters and difficulty levels.
The Tutorial-11 Zone—forest terrain—I'd entered before regression was mid-to-low difficulty.
The Tutorial-7 Zone—desert terrain—I planned to enter this time was blatantly the highest difficulty Tutorial.
Zone 7 was practically abandoned. Scorching sun, heat so intense there wasn't even water to drink, fewer monsters than other zones, and tricky ones to boot—it was avoided by all.
But I knew one fact no one in the world did.
In a year and a half, a promising rookie discovers a massive hidden stage in Zone 7.
This lunatic, who seemed to have a screw loose and enjoyed pain, went berserk under Zone 7's sun, vowing to hunt every monster under the desert sands, and stumbled upon the hidden stage.
Named [The Ruins Where the Most Radiant Sun Slumbers], it was a site where a relic of a God-King level constellation was found.
And I'll claim it.
True to hidden stage form, it allowed only one entry ever, so I'd need full preparation—but I wasn't too worried.
I didn't think I'd be weaker than that promising rookie, who must've received tons of guild support.
Worst case, use Equivalent Exchange.
I could pour money into boosting my stats if needed.
With that thought, I stood, showered, slipped into the tracksuit I'd bought at the department store, and left the house.
It was early dawn, the sun just rising. I visited the hospital to say goodbye to my sister, whom I wouldn't see for a while, entrusted her care to the head nurse, and headed to the Association.
Roar of voices!
As it was the Hunter License Exam held only once a month for a single day, the area in front of the Association buzzed with aspiring Hunters, their families, reporters, YouTubers, and throngs of people.
"Sigh... How am I supposed to push through that?"
The mere sight of the suffocating entrance halted my steps. I took a deep breath and charged through!
"Agh! Who's the jerk?!"
"Hey! You bastard! Don't shove! I said don't shove!"
"Which damn punk is it?! You wanna get wrecked?!"
Ignoring the curses flying from all sides, I pressed on silently, aiming for the least crowded paths.
Yeah, that was the plan. Slip in unnoticed, drawing no attention.
But luck wasn't on my side this time either.
The message popped up, and instantly, my foot slipped on some dropped ice cream, throwing my balance off.
With my mythic-grade stats as a Hunter, I hurriedly tried to steady myself, but it was too late.
It happened in a flash. Half-falling amid the onrushing crowd, I got sandwiched like a sandwich topping, and as if waiting, someone appeared.
"Kyaa! It's Lee Ji-hyeong!"
"Oppa!!! I love you!"
"Fla...me...De...mon...Lee...Ji-hyeong."
"Hey! Snap pics, quick!"
"There, Lee Ji-hyeong over there. Come here!"
I was helplessly swept away by the raging waves of the crowd.
"Uh...!"
No matter that I was an Awakened with mythic physical stats—I couldn't fight the flow of hundreds. No, exerting force might get me sued for assault!
Hitting them with my strength would mean serious injuries at least!
Damn it!
I twisted and dodged cleverly, but my body was already out of my control, carried along.
Finally, flung free from the crowd, my body soared through the air toward someone.
Thud!
A crisp, dull sound rang out as my body smacked into someone and hit the ground.
"Gasp!"
"What do we do!"
"Is he crazy?"
Amid the crowd's shocked voices, my Misfortune burst into laughter.
"Which bastard?!"
As I struggled to rise from my ignoble fall, a harsh curse erupted from the man I'd crashed into behind me.
He shoved me back down as I tried to stand, then sprang up himself.
"Are you insane? No, you guys are paid to keep scum like this away—what the hell are you doing?!"
In my sight appeared a handsome thug—no, celebrity—yelling at burly men in suits.
"Flame Demon, Lee... Ji-hyeong?"
The moment I saw that damnably good-looking face, a forgotten piece of info flashed through my mind.
Lee Ji-hyeong, the A-rank sorcerer later called the Flame Demon. With anger issues and a fiery temper, he constantly caused scandals, earning public ire as a plague. Ultimately, he abandoned his humanity, committed crimes, and became a fiend trash.
A famous idol and actor who succeeded there yet dove into hunting without hesitation due to his immense talent. Before regression, he was someone at a height I, scraping the bottom, couldn't even dream of glancing at.
"Flame Demon my ass—you psycho? Think you can squeeze something out of me by hurling your body like that? These sasaeng fans are the problem."
His fury-laced curses poured out, but I just stared blankly.
Not because he was the Flame Demon—something more shocking hit me.
Finally, my dazed reaction pushed Lee Ji-hyeong's rage to the limit. True to his temper, he discarded any patience and swung his foot to kick me while I was down.
But he couldn't land the hit as intended.
Seeing his foot flying at my face, I urgently moved to rise—but my hand slipped smoothly again, striking his opposite leg, his only foothold.
"Huh...?"
The recoil toppled him helplessly. Lacking a sorcerer's balance, he toppled straight toward me and met the very foot he'd raised to stand—
"Gahk!"
With a weird yelp, he went limp and passed out.
What the fuck?
What just happened?! I just wanted to breeze through the exam and snag the hidden piece in the Tutorial fast—but it all went to shit from the start.
All because of that damn Misfortune! A unique ability with a self like an authority? Suspicious from the start.
"Goddamn it."
Imagining Misfortune laughing at this mess ground my teeth and spiked my irritation.
"Argh! It's all your fault everything's ruined."
I tossed the unconscious Lee Ji-hyeong to his bewildered bodyguards and quickly stood.
But it was too late. Reporters who'd witnessed it all bombarded me with questions, shoving cameras in my face. Fans treating Lee Ji-hyeong like a god spewed curses too vile to repeat.
Worse, from afar, guild staff who'd watched amused until their golden boy fainted from me came rushing with piercing glares.
I'm screwed, totally screwed.
What rotten luck. Sighing, I pondered how to salvage this and slip away quietly.
But no answers would come from brooding. Just as I was on the verge of going mad surrounded—
Screech!!
A luxury car pulled up right behind the crowd as if on cue, and one person stepped out.
"Ah...!"
My gasp joined as all eyes on me shifted instantly to her.
"That... woman, is she...?"
"The rumor was true?"
"Whoa! Our chaebol princess has it all, everything!"
"Jackpot! Lee Ji-hyeong, Seo Mi-na—this batch is insane!"
Beauty that outshone celebs who lived off looks, poised and refined strides, golden eyes seeming indifferent to the world.
Truth be told, seeing Lee Ji-hyeong first, the initial thought wasn't his info—sorry, but something else.
Seo Mi-na, same-batch license passer as Lee Ji-hyeong, but hundreds of times more famous Hunter.
It's her!
The woman who later became the Thunder Emperor, Korea's second SS-rank Hunter.
If perfection existed, it'd describe her. Seo Mi-na had it all.
Beauty surpassing most idols, talent for Korea's top spot, granddaughter of Seo Hwa Group's chairman—the nation's premier conglomerate.
Money, talent, power, influence—she possessed everything.
The polar opposite of my life.
I glanced at her briefly, then realized eyes had fully left me and bolted into the Association.
Fleeing her like that, I clenched my fist tight.
But this time's different.
I'll surpass her—the future SS-rank—and claim top spot, announcing my prowess.
With that resolve, I registered my info and entered the exam hall.
Roar of voices!
The exam hall interior, barely entered, was no different from outside. With the exam yet to start, assigned-seat aspirants chatted idly.
"Hey~ Taking it again this month? Money to burn or what? Your fifth retry already?"
"Ha! Talk about the pot calling the kettle—aren't you on seven? Keep this up, you won't pass even next year!"
Unwelcome reunions with past exam acquaintances kicked off.
"Hello! Let's both pass!"
"Fighting!"
Heartwarming mutual encouragement to ease tension here and there.
"Fancy meeting you here. Seo Mi-na. Nice to meet you. I'm Lee Ji-hyeong. You know, the entertainer. Haha!"
"......"
And trash who got humiliatingly KO'd by me, woke up, and now hit on women.
I sat out of Lee Ji-hyeong's sight, silently observing.
If that guy flares up again, more hassle.
I'd suffered enough of Misfortune's pranks. Fortune's lack of help was a shame, but what can you do? Can't rely on it every time.
Find who cursed me with this bullshit, and I'll pay back every bit.
Whoever bore such grudge to inflict this vicious curse—thinking alone ground my teeth.
Then, the guy next to me offered a piece of chocolate.
"For your pass. Relax!"
Probably mistook my scowl for nerves.
I bowed thanks, popped the chocolate, and shelved Misfortune thoughts.
With my expression easing, he opened up, chatting away.
"Anyway, more aspirants like us than I thought! How many'll pass?"
"Just a few."
Of nearly 300 aspirants, passers would be under 10% for sure.
Obviously. Written tests could be grinded eventually, but practicals needed Awakening.
"Over 80% here aren't Awakened. They'll flunk the practical."
They took the exam not to hunt monsters in Abyss or dungeons with a license, but to porter for those who did—handling the grunt work.
Whether porter or Hunter, license was required for Abyss or dungeon entry.
Those bragging about more attempts? Same type.
Portering paid better than day labor, so endless retries.
"I see."
"You look Awakened. Don't chicken out—you'll pass."
"Thanks!"
What the Hunter License Exam really tested: could you kill monsters without fear?
Soon after chat ended, the examiner entered. Grimacing at the noisy hall, he bellowed at aspirants.
"Quiet!"
Mana-laced shout instantly silenced the room.
"Written exam starts now. Sit properly. Two hours, 100 questions. Post-exam: lunch provided, then straight to practical. Practical ends: results announced immediately. Passers get Association gear, then enter Tutorial under my orders! Questions?"
Neat schedule left all silent.
"Written exam begins."
The written test—essential Hunter info—started. I finished all perfectly in 30 minutes flat and relaxed.