Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: SSS-Rank Trainee
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Training day had arrived.
To protect my precious salary and benefits card, I grabbed my suitcase and hopped into the car.
My destination was Yangpyeong in Gyeonggi Province—the Third Hunter Training Center.
"Take care!"
"Yes. Rest easy while I'm gone, Manager Park."
"Hoho. Do I look like I have free time?"
After stepping out of Manager Park's car, I made a firm resolution.
'I absolutely must not stand out.'
My goal was simple.
To become a transparent human.
I'd hidden it well so far. No way could I let my identity slip in a place like this.
These days, whether it was reserve army duty or hunter training, nobody showed up without their phone.
If I accidentally gave away that I was Blue Vest, my handsome face would be plastered across the nation in no time.
'All so young.'
The auditorium was already packed with hundreds of trainees.
Most had awakened back in middle or high school and gotten their summons the moment they turned adult.
There were even groups of apprentices from major guilds, all decked out in matching white uniforms.
"Hey, check them out. White Tiger Guild."
"Whoa, that tiger emblem. Total badass."
"Badass? Aren't they embarrassed wearing that stuff?"
True to my late arrival, I headed to the farthest corner and stood there.
'Don't get tangled with anyone. I'm just a strong, dumb local guy.'
As I repeated that self-suggestion, an instructor climbed onto the auditorium stage.
He was a tough-looking, muscle-bound middle-aged man.
"Halt!! Cut the chatter and line up!!"
His booming shout instantly silenced the room.
He introduced himself as Instructor Cho—a classic early-2000s drill sergeant type.
This wasn't the army, and we were just here for a short stint, yet he was dead serious.
"You might've strutted around school as A-Rank this or B-Rank that, but here you're all the same trainees! Disobey me for these 2 nights and 3 days, and forget about certificates or any of that!"
"Yeeess~"
Since it was only kids who wielded dangerous power gathered here, they managed us even stricter than the military.
"Answer properly! Again!"
"Yes!!"
Everyone replied with soulless expressions.
I just hoped he'd wrap up the explanation quick and assign rooms already. I wanted to crash.
But suddenly, Instructor Cho fiddled with his earpiece, and his face hardened.
"...Ah. They've arrived? Understood."
The instructor suddenly turned meek as a lamb, all smiles, then addressed the trainees.
"Ahem. Attention. Today, we've specially invited S-Rank Hunters from the Hunter Association to serve as instructors. Everyone, learn diligently."
S-Rank instructors?
Murmurs rippled through the auditorium here and there.
I lifted my head and glanced toward the entrance.
The moment the doors opened, a red alert flashed in my transparent human plan.
Screeech!
From one side stepped a sleek woman in a red leather jacket and skinny jeans; from the other, a pure beauty in a white blouse and skirt.
"No way...! I'm a Yoo Na-yeon Hunter fan!"
"Why's the Saintess here?!"
In an instant, the auditorium erupted in cheers.
They were all students, bursting with energy.
I was the only one turning pale, yanking my hat down low.
'Of all people, why those two?'
Whether they sensed my dread or not, the two women smiled brightly as they ascended the stage.
Han Yoo-jung grabbed the mic first.
"Hello~! Your eternal Saintess, Han Yoo-jung here."
The Saintess Han Yoo-jung, who looked to be in her mid-twenties, said.
"I heard this intake is full of talented folks, so I rushed over to guide you personally!"
Kya aaaah!
The trainees screamed like idol fanclub members.
Still, she was the first in Korea to hold the Saintess title unscathed for over seven years, so her popularity made sense.
Han Yoo-jung waved cheerfully, casually scanning the trainees. In that brief moment our eyes met, she shot me a slight wink.
Kya aaaaah!!
The awakeners around me—guys and girls alike—screamed like the auditorium would collapse.
'What? Was that for me?'
I deliberately looked away, turning my head slightly left. But there stood someone even more awkward, staring right at me.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm S-Rank Hunter Yoo Na-yeon, in charge of combat training for this session."
Yoo Na-yeon removed her sunglasses and dominated the room with her charismatic voice.
"My classes won't be easy. If you're not up for it, pack your bags and head home now... Hm. Good. Looks like everyone's ready to work hard."
"We'll work hard!!"
The same words got way more cheers than from the muscle-bound guy.
I rubbed my dry face and muttered.
"...Reserve army sounds easier."
"You there in the hat! Who said you could chat!? Front and center, now!"
With Yoo Na-yeon's shout, silence fell over the auditorium.
I could feel hundreds of gazes stabbing into my face.
So this was what piercing stares felt like.
I debated pretending not to hear for a second, but quickly realized it was the world's most inefficient choice.
That tomboy knew who I was—she'd haul me up there over her shoulder if she had to.
Thud. Thud.
I trudged forward slowly, like a cow to the slaughterhouse.
And I sent a tiny signal visible only to Yoo Na-yeon.
'I just want to lay low.'
As I approached right in front of her, I caught her winking through her sunglasses.
Yoo Na-yeon deliberately cranked up the mic volume and barked.
"What's with that trainee attitude? Who wears a hat during training?!"
Oh. Good.
She's playing along like she doesn't know me.
I swiftly tossed my hat to the floor and shouted.
"I'll correct it!"
"Voice too quiet! Skip breakfast?"
"I ate!"
"Still too quiet! Outside—lap the parade ground! Execute!"
Wow. She'd seen some stuff—ordering the weirdest things.
I jogged off the stage without complaint.
Pulling off the normal guy cosplay was no joke.
Forcing myself to slowly cover a distance I could've done in under a second was frustrating enough to kill me.
The White Tiger Guild apprentices burst into snickers at my spectacle.
"That uncle's total trash-tier."
"Kinda cute though. Isn't that bro handsome?"
"Shut it. We'll end up running laps too."
Perfect. Plan going smooth.
I'd successfully locked in the dim-witted uncle role.
No way they'd ever suspect I was Blue Vest.
"...Huh?"
As I reached for the auditorium door to leave, some pure white chains had locked the handle tight—impossible to open.
From the stage, the Saintess spoke sweetly into the mic.
"Hehe. Yoo Na-yeon was just joking. You can go back to your seat. Our trainees are all precious talents—no crushing their spirits on day one."
Han Yoo-jung ignored the glare from behind Yoo Na-yeon's sunglasses and hopped lightly down to the floor.
As she raised her hand, a blessing spell began enveloping every single one of the hundreds of trainees in the auditorium.
"Kyaaak! Saintess's blessing!"
"On everyone? Her mana must be insane..."
"Her face is straight-up divine..."
Han Yoo-jung approached me—standing there in a daze—and patted my shoulder with a gentle touch.
A particularly potent-looking buff settled over me.
"Sang-hyuk oppa. Fighting for these 2 nights and 3 days!"
I didn't respond to her whisper.
Please just go away, miss.
I'm in the middle of stock manipulation here!
I'm on pins and needles worrying you'll skyrocket my value.
The chaotic orientation finally wrapped up, and dorm assignments began.
Everyone here was flying high as A-Rank or B-Rank hunters, so the facilities were all top-notch and comfortable.
[Dormitory Room 205]
I'd been assigned a four-man room.
When I opened the door, three young men already settling in glanced my way.
They were all wearing white padded jackets.
The tiger emblem on their backs and shoulders marked their affiliation.
Domestic No. 2 guild. White Tiger.
Just being a trainee there guaranteed a flashy future.
Of course, plenty got crushed mid-bloom.
Which was exactly why I hated dungeons.
"What the hell? Why's some other guy in our room?"
A sharp-featured guy lounging on the bottom bunk openly showed his displeasure.
His name tag read Kim Min-jun.
"Association system glitch? We told them it'd just be us."
The glasses-wearing guy next to him chimed in, pushing up his frames with his middle finger. His name was Han Se-mo.
"C'mon, bros. Let it slide. Probably stuck him in cuz numbers didn't match."
What was this?
A fresh experience.
Watching these kids throw their weight around like they owned the place was... kinda cute. Amusing, maybe?
After hanging with heavyweights like Yoo Na-yeon and Han Yoo-jung lately, dealing with these punks felt refreshing, like a breath of fresh air.
"Nice to meet you."
I stashed my luggage in a corner locker and replied indifferently.
"Let's get along for these 2 nights and 3 days."
"Hey, uncle. Keep it formal. Age and rank are separate, got it?"
"Rank?"
Unlike the relatively tame two, Kim Min-jun looked outright nasty.
He crunched on some potato chips as he stood in front of me.
"I'm an A-Rank awakener. I don't mingle with B-Rank or below."
Oh lord.
Exactly what I wanted.
Stay dead quiet and head home meekly.
"Just to check— what's your rank, uncle?"
Geez, calling me uncle nonstop. I'm barely five years older than you punks?
"Something like yours. SSS-Rank, maybe?"
My light joke hung in the air, met with silence.
My humor only landed with folks who got it.
A beat later.
The three clutched their stomachs and burst into laughter.
These guys had taste?
"Puhahaha! Hear that? SSS-Rank!"
"Oh nooo, scary. Why's a big shot like you not scouted by White Tiger or Sanctuary—instead running laps here?"
Kim Min-jun chuckled as he patted my shoulder.
"Heard rankings are getting sloppy these days—handing B-Rank to trash like this. Anyway, uncle, don't drag us down in training. We're gunning for early discharge."
Early discharge with that grim face? Anyone'd think they were tackling S-Rank screening.
"Got it. Won't hold you back."
I breezily brushed off the White Tiger trio's taunts.
Tigers don't bother roaring back at barking dogs.
[Ah. Ah.]
Just as our greeting? wrapped up, the announcement blared.
[All trainees, assemble at the parade ground immediately.]
It was Yoo Na-yeon's voice.