The Hunter Gallery

The day after her meeting with Yeonwoo at the Association.

President Han Serin was riding in her private limousine, heading toward the Seongwoon Group Headquarters.

"Ah, yes. Hayun. Did your surgery go well?"

"Yes, President Han."

"Good, that's a relief."

The girl sitting next to her, looking incredibly tense, was none other than Seol Hayun—a celebrity who had become famous as the world's youngest A-class hunter.

"I heard they found a mana circuit donor with a compatibility rate of over ninety percent?"

"Yes, I think I was very lucky."

"Since your chronic magic output issue has been resolved, it should be smooth sailing from here on out, right?"

Having recently undergone surgery thanks to a miraculously compatible mana circuit donation, she had overturned the public's perception of her as a useless white elephant. Now, she was slated to be promoted to S-class.

Of course, that was precisely why President Han Serin had reached out to sponsor her in the first place.

"I will debut as the next youngest S-class hunter and make sure to repay your kindness, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠President Han."

After enduring a long period of humiliation, she was finally receiving the treatment her abilities deserved. Naturally, she had no choice but to pledge her absolute loyalty to Han Serin.

"Oh, well... That might be a bit difficult."

"Pardon?"

"They've already found one. The world's youngest S-class."

But the moment of hope was brief. Shocking news slipped from Han Serin's lips.

"...Are they younger than me?"

"Apparently so. Surprisingly enough."

Seol Hayun's face instantly stiffened. Han Serin answered nonchalantly.

"But don't worry. I've already marked my territory."

Ding!

"Let's see... It should be about time, right?"

At the sound of the notification, she looked down at her smartphone. Soon, her face filled with anticipation as she began to scroll.

"I wonder what our Yeonwoo bought..."

When hunters received a Seongwoon Group VIP card for the first time, their actions usually followed a predictable pattern.

Extravagant luxury, hedonistic pleasure, or investing in their own strength.

If it was the former, they could map out the hunter's private life in detail. If it was the latter, they could analyze their training patterns and strategies. Either way, it was highly valuable information for the Seongwoon Group.

Therefore, no matter how much of a child Yeonwoo was, he could never escape the wicked trap Han Serin had laid out.

"Huh?"

Yet, the further Han Serin scrolled, the more bewildered her expression became.

"Hey, Secretary Seong."

"Yes, ma'am."

She called out to her secretary, who was working in the front passenger seat, her face still painted with confusion.

"Contact the Association. Ask them if Yeonwoo's card was stolen."

After a brief, hurried check, the secretary delivered a rather absurd reply.

"They say he is doing his absolute best to use it."

"I-Is that so?"

"However, he is apparently feeling quite down because his payments suddenly stopped going through..."

The reason was laid bare in the transaction history sent to Han Serin.

"Oh, Yeonwoo..."

Han Serin stared blankly at the trivial transaction history for a moment, then let out a deep sigh and began giving instructions to her secretary.

"Contact the credit card company. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Tell them it's not stolen, it's a legitimate transaction, so just let it go through..."

Beside her, Seol Hayun kept her head lowered. She clenched her fists in frustration, quietly grinding her teeth.

"...Just who on earth is this?"

The morning after receiving the unlimited credit card from the president of the Seongwoon Group.

"Well then, I'm off!"

"..."

"Hehe!"

Having been granted permission to step outside the Association and into the city for the first time, I said goodbye to the noonhas in the lounge with pure excitement. Then, I headed out with my bodyguard, Yu Chaerin-noonha.

"Kiddo. What are you going to buy with that?"

"Hehe, don't be shocked."

Of course, even though my destination was restricted to the designated safe zone—which meant I was practically still within the Association's territory—I couldn't help but feel thrilled.

"Because I'm going to indulge in the greatest luxury of my life."

It was time to fulfill the dreams I had only ever fantasized about.

"Please ring this up!"

The very first thing I bought was a drink that cost a whopping 300 won more than the buy-one-get-one-free item sitting right next to it.

The even more wicked truth was that this drink was actually on a buy-two-get-one-free promotion.

Buying just one under those circumstances... It was the first time in my entire life I had ever indulged in such extravagance.

"Why don't you just buy one of the buy-one-get-one items instead?"

"What? That's a waste!"

"No... Uh, never mind."

Of course, the "luxury" Yu Chaerin-noonha suggested from behind seemed like far too much of a waste, so I rejected it.

In a world like this, even if you suddenly strike it rich, you shouldn't live like a brainless nouveau riche. You have to spend your money smartly.

"Hehehe... I bought a burger combo instead of just the sandwich."

"This time, I bought five whole packs of Rocketmon cards!"

"I even bought a piece of candy that costs 500 won!"

As my unstoppable spending spree continued, Yu Chaerin-noonha seemed completely overwhelmed.

"...Impressive."

I could tell by the way she kept silently patting my head.

"T-This time, I'm really going big."

Even she would be shocked by this next purchase.

"A whopping thirty-thousand-won game gift card...!"

To be honest, I could count on one hand the number of times I had spent this much money at once in my entire life.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Of course, it was a customizable gift card with a limit of up to 150,000 won, but since I had never spent that much on a game before, I just chose a modest amount.

"I'm sorry, but we cannot accept credit cards for gift card purchases."

"...Oh, no."

"Do you happen to have any cash on you?"

Alas, my historic splurge was blocked by the financial regulations of South Korea.

"Oh, wait... This is a Seongwoon Group VVIP card..."

"...?"

"W-With this card, you can get up to one million won worth of Seongwoon Group affiliate gift cards for free..."

Fortunately, after the clerk's slightly panicked explanation, the thirty-thousand-won gift card safely ended up in my hands.

"...Dat was a good purchase."

How much time had passed?

"Is that it?"

"Yes!"

"...O-Okay."

My extravagant shopping spree concluded with the purchase of a buy-one-get-one-free premium chocolate gift set.

"Huh?"

Anyway, carrying an armful of gifts (though Yu Chaerin-noonha carried ninety percent of them), we were heading back to the Association when it happened.

"Who's that kid?"

"Isn't he a trainee like us?"

"I've never seen him before."

A group of young hunter trainees, who looked just slightly older than me, began whispering as they watched me walk by.

"I-I'm a hunter."

"What? A squirt like you?"

"Ahaha... You mean a trainee, not a hunter."

Feeling self-conscious, I spoke up, but they ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠only responded with disbelieving laughter.

"How could a kid like you be a hunter?"

"We haven't even shed our trainee tags yet."

"That's hilarious. Haha."

As the kids gathered around me and threw out their remarks, I lowered my gaze and mumbled.

"It's true..."

Honestly, I wanted to lecture them like an adult.

But having spent almost my entire life in a hospital room, I didn't really know how an adult was supposed to act.

"Then prove it."

"Do you have a hunter license?"

"What's your identification code?"

"Where's your Association pass?"

Since I couldn't say anything, the kids surrounding me pressed on, their eyes gleaming.

"I... I don't have one."

Of course, having only just been evaluated as an S-class hunter, I didn't have any of those things yet.

"Lying makes you a bad boy."

"Hey, what are you doing? Let's go."

"Oh, look at the time..."

When I answered dejectedly, they quickly lost interest in teasing me and ran off.

"Yeah, kids are always rude like that."

"..."

"Let's go. Just ignore them."

Yu Chaerin-noonha, who had been radiating a chilly aura behind me, took my hand to lead me away. But then...

"Hmm..."

"Ah."

I almost bumped foreheads with a girl who hadn't run away with the others. She was the only one left, watching me closely.

At that exact moment, a blood-red message flashed before my eyes.

Did I see that wrong?

Unlike before, the message flickered briefly and vanished. As I rubbed my eyes in confusion, she spoke.

"Hey, I believe you."

"Huh?"

The cute girl, who was still staring at me with her hands clasped behind her back, curled the corners of her lips upward and whispered in my ear.

"You look strong."

Leaving those words behind, she gave me a smile that sent a strange shiver down my spine, then strolled past me with her hands still behind her back.

"...?"

She looked like a cute girl my age, so what was that chilling sensation I felt for a split second?

Just as I was scratching my head, a new quest popped up on the status window.

It seemed to be a side quest unrelated to the main tutorial, but looking at the details, there was no reason not to do it.

"...Do Seong-a-noonha. I have a favor to ask."

So, as soon as we returned to the Association, I casually brought up my request to Do Seong-a-noonha.

"Yeonwoo, the hunter license issuance process is quite complicated, so it will take some time."

"..."

"Especially for an S-class hunter, there are various approvals required..."

Perhaps she had already heard about what happened from Yu Chaerin-noonha, because Do Seong-a-noonha answered with a gentle, apologetic expression.

"But the identification code comes out right away, doesn't it?"

"Huh?"

"Please ask the Association President grandpa to issue it for me."

However, what I wanted right now wasn't the physical license.

The personal identification code that is generated as soon as you register as a hunter. With just that, I could put my plan into action immediately.

"That's not hard, but why do you need the identification code?"

"I just found something I want to do."

"...Really?"

As I smiled at the thought, the status window chimed in, agreeing that it was a great idea.

That evening. The female hunters' lounge.

"Hey, we have a huge problem!"

"Huh?"

"L-Look at this!"

Do Seong-a, who was lying on the bed in comfortable clothes eating the chocolates Yeonwoo had shared with everyone, frowned as Yu Chaerin suddenly burst through the door and shoved a smartphone screen in her face.

"Isn't that the Hunter Gallery?"

"I mean, yes, but..."

"Do you actually browse that place?"

"J-Just look at this!"

But her annoyance was short-lived. As Do Seong-a read the contents of the screen Yu Chaerin was holding out, her jaw slowly dropped.

The Hunter Gallery—an anonymous community that only hunters with verified identification codes could join.

For some reason, a post had been uploaded there featuring a photo of Yeonwoo flashing a peace sign with a shy smile, along with a greeting.

And at this very moment, the number of comments and recommendations was skyrocketing by the second.