Chapter 13
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: I Became the Last of the Giant Clan
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"Back then, things were so urgent that I couldn't make a proper judgment. But after coming back and getting checked out, they told me I'd 'awakened'."
An utterly unexpected story.
Lee Yeon-hee's mouth fell open in shock.
"R-Really, Kang Hyuk?"
"Yes. The doctors here have already examined my changed body and diagnosed me as an 'arbitrary awakener'."
Kang Hyuk answered with a calm expression.
Seeing that, Lee Yeon-hee swallowed dryly and recalled something.
'There are two triggers for awakening.'
The forced awakening that comes from realization in a life-or-death crisis.
And the natural awakening where one faces gates and monsters and discovers their powers.
Kang Hyuk fit both cases perfectly.
'He climbed Bongrae Mountain, confronted the situation, and went through it all...'
In theory, what he was saying made perfect sense.
'Is that why he seemed like a different person?'
As Lee Yeon-hee murmured to herself and looked back at Kang Hyuk,
his eyes gleamed as he spoke up.
"That's why, Senior Lee Yeon-hee, I have a favor to ask."
"...A favor?"
"Yes. The national hunter certification exam."
Lee Yeon-hee's eyes widened at that.
"I'd like to apply for an awakener ability assessment."
The news quickly reached the [Gangnam District Office Hunter Management Office].
"Oh man! This is huge, huge! Our little maknae! He's been off lately, and now he hits the jackpot!"
Led by the excited Section Chief Kim Shin-nam, all the senior colleagues and juniors congratulated Kang Hyuk on becoming an awakener.
As Kang Hyuk accepted the cheers with a faint smile,
someone tossed out a question.
"So, Kang Hyuk, what ability did you awaken?"
"No way it's like that hot 'Million Summoner' stuff, controlling shadow soldiers en masse, right?"
"Or maybe like that one! Korea's number one ranker, 'All-Master Baesu-ji' Yang, who handles every weapon like a genius!"
"Hey, hey! You think abilities like that are easy to get? A healer type would be more realistic! Noble healer, noble healer! They're rare, but guilds fight over anyone with even similar skills!"
The Gangnam District Office Hunter Management Office heated up in an instant.
As people in the industry, they knew that becoming an awakener mattered less than what ability you'd gained.
Of course, not all hunters received preferential treatment.
Treatment varied wildly based on strength, rank, and especially the type of ability wielded.
In that sense, if Kang Hyuk's still-unrevealed ability was on par with the ones just mentioned—ones dubbed "jackpots"—his status would skyrocket.
'Even a C-rank ability starts at 3 billion won a year, right?'
'Among F-rank abilities, a decent one gets you 100 million basic salary.'
'That's better than winning the lottery.'
As everyone's eyes focused on Kang Hyuk, Lee Yeon-hee wore an ambiguous smile.
She was the only one who knew what his ability was.
Then Kang Hyuk revealed it casually.
"It's a strength-related ability. Probably physical enhancement type."
The excited atmosphere in the office deflated instantly.
Section Chief Kim Shin-nam asked with a somewhat subdued expression.
"Strength? Nothing else?"
"Yes, doesn't seem like it."
"Hmm... Alright. Whatever! The point is, you're an awakener now!"
He followed up with an awkward smile and patted Kang Hyuk's shoulder.
Meanwhile, the other colleagues and juniors hurried back to their seats, thinking,
'Strength type... Isn't that one of the most common abilities?'
'No physical changes either... Yeah, F-rank for sure.'
In this era of awakeners,
the most common ability was undoubtedly "physical enhancement."
Among those, strength-related ones were dismissed as barely stronger than a normal body—nothing special.
Kang Hyuk's rank would almost certainly be F-grade unless a miracle happened.
An F-grade with little growth potential, at that.
In other words, no guild would pay big to recruit him.
The once-lively office grew awkward, and Lee Yeon-hee shook her head as she approached.
"Kang Hyuk, thanks to Section Chief Kim Shin-nam pulling strings, you can take the awakener ability assessment in June."
Kang Hyuk's eyes lit up.
"You're number 17 in line. Thought about putting you earlier, but figured the middle spot would be less pressure."
She glanced out the window toward the Hunter Association next to the district office.
Memories flooded Kang Hyuk's mind as he smirked and murmured,
'Now it begins.'
A week passed.
The day of the awakener ability assessment finally arrived.
Kang Hyuk reflected,
'Three years ruined by Team Leader Lee Yong's scheme, body and mind broken, spent recovering. Then in my first real battle after, I realize my ability's true value and use it. Soon after, it's re-evaluated as S-rank. And then...'
Overtures and temptations poured in.
Even calls from foreign nations eager to naturalize him.
Of countless hunters worldwide, only 35 had received S-rank ability certification.
36 now? Inevitable.
'Torn between possibilities, I encounter an assassin sent to kill me.'
The Shadow of Swiftness.
A hitman operating in the ongoing Middle East war.
'That assassin puts me in peril again. I wielded the giant's power, but immaturely—with zero combat experience back then.'
That's why he hadn't revealed his ability from the start.
Announce it day one, and that hitman might return.
'No, he definitely would. An S-rank ability is worth that much.'
So he hid it.
Until he could survive facing the assassin.
'Max three years. Half the six years it took to reach D-rank hunter. That's what I aimed for. But.'
He could wield 4% of the giant's power now, plus new Partial Giantization unlike his old future.
'Not just that—the healing ring and Black Wyvern.'
Factoring it all in, he'd have the edge against the Shadow of Swiftness.
No reason to delay revealing then.
'Official hunters versus non-official awakeners face huge activity restrictions. For real growth, better to be official. And with the Seoul Station incident in six months...'
Kang Hyuk finished his thoughts and looked up.
The so-called "test site" for ability assessments loomed ahead.
'Why I became a hunter. Why I became national-level. My parents' dying words and the legends of those I admire.'
He strode toward the test site with firm steps.
'To follow that legacy, today I must become an S-rank ability user again. No.'
A massive barrier blocked his path.
Kang Hyuk's eyes gleamed.
'I must become S-rank.'
The "Control Tower," heart of the Korea Hunter Association headquarters.
In one of its key spots—the awakener ability test site—a man yawned.
"Sigh. Weekends and I'm stuck processing work."
Park Chan, from Arena Guild's 3rd Gate Response Team—one of Korea's top five guilds.
"Arena's big enough that rookies should cover their own screw-ups. Why do we have to?"
Team Leader Yoon Hee-na, his 3rd Gate Team superior, shook her head.
"It's a good thing. Lets us scout promising rookies ourselves."
"Sure, but check this out, Team Leader."
Park Chan handed over some documents.
Yoon Hee-na skimmed them.
"Abilities of today's awakener assessment participants. We have to see them in action, but most are nothing special."
She fell silent at his explanation.
As Park Chan said, the listed abilities were all mundane.
"Sure, 'monsters' who transcend that pop up sometimes, but today? Once a year is a miracle."
"..."
"Better to poach from other guilds. Veterans beat green rookies."
Yoon Hee-na turned and smacked his head.
"...Why'd you hit me?!"
"Stop whining."
"But we're one of Korea's top five guilds—surely we don't have to..."
"Because we're top five. They won't send rookies if we can't recruit here. Shut it."
Park Chan pouted at Yoon Hee-na's words.
His uptight boss seemed fine with the unfair treatment.
No arguing further.
'Can't be helped. As long as I'm under Team Leader Yoon Hee-na, this'll keep happening.'
Normally, Arena—a top-five guild—filled spots by team leaders recruiting, not getting hand-me-downs.
But Yoon Hee-na was different.
She was the daughter of Arena Guild Master Eternal Frost.
'Incomprehensible. Neglects his daughter over training excuses.'
Unbelievable at first, but true.
Yoon Hee-na got almost no guild support.
Proof: Park Chan and the current team were all personally recruited by her.
Meanwhile, people gathered at the test site, and the announcer appeared.
"Isn't that Team Leader Yoon Hee-na?"
"Daughter of Eternal Frost, Arena's Master?"
"Why's a big shot like her here personally...?"
People whispered upon recognizing her.
Park Chan shrugged as the first awakener took the stage.
"Hah!"
Electricity crackled from the first awakener's hand with his shout.
Crackle!
The bolt stretched into a long arc,
shooting toward the massive barrier at the front.
Boom!
The high-tech gym trembled slightly from the explosion.
The first awakener's score was announced.
"...Reading: 30. D-rank ability, E-rank hunter certification!"
Awakeners in the site buzzed in surprise.
His sharp attack had only gotten D-rank, and the barrier hadn't budged.
"That thing looks too tough."
"We have to break that?"
"Heard a national-level hunter made the barrier..."
Park Chan recalled the past amid the murmurs.
Awakener tests used to be complicated, but this barrier simplified everything.
One of only 20 national-level hunters worldwide, Archmage Highenz developed precise, astonishing magic.
It revolutionized awakener assessments.
'Physical, mana, magic—anything goes. Impact on the barrier determines ability rank and initial hunter rank.'
Hunter tests became simpler, more efficient.
Some abilities evaded detection, but high-rank hunters observed for that.
Variables here? Zero.
"Reading: 15! F-rank ability and hunter certification!"
"What!? Both F? That's wrong!"
"It's accurate. Leave, or the whole test is canceled!"
Assessments flew by quickly,
complaints erupting.
"That's gotta be wrong!"
"Me, F-rank?!"
After the first decent result, a string of dreaded F-ranks followed, drawing groans.
Park Chan snickered.
'Idiots. It's right. Real deals crack that barrier.'
And one real deal sat beside him.
Arena's 3rd Team Leader Yoon Hee-na.
Her initial ability assessment: B-rank.
She cracked the barrier, earning one of Korea's rarest top certifications—only 1,000 existed.
'Not just that. Hunter rank: unprecedented D-grade initial. Policy requires achievements post-D, or maybe B-rank.'
Park Chan yawned.
As expected, just average awakeners.
'If big shots were coming, all five guilds would be here. Foreign nations too.'
As the pointless time dragged,
a uniquely dressed man in a suit stepped forward.
"Participant 17 ready?"
The man nodded, shed his jacket, and approached the barrier.
The oddly captivating figure hushed the noisy venue momentarily.
"What?"
Ice Princess.
Yoon Hee-na's shout.
An explosion rocked the air.
BOOM!!!
Heaven and earth flipped.
"...Kyaa!"
"W-What's that!?"
"What happened?!"
Chaos erupted.
Onlooker high-rank hunters gaped; Yoon Hee-na shot up, eyes wide.
"T-Team Leader?"
Park Chan panicked, calling her, as someone yelled,
"The barrier!!!"
His gaze whipped around.
And he saw it.
"...What."
Archmage.
First S-rank wizard certification.
"..."
A massive hole punched through her barrier.
No.
"Huh?"
Not just the barrier—everything beyond was pulverized to dust.
As he rubbed his eyes, denying reality,
someone murmured,
"My rank."
All eyes turned there.
There stood
"What is my rank?"
something in human form.