The Weak Awakener's Dilemma and the Onahole's Arrival
The Ability Certificate was designed to mimic the Status Window skill as closely as possible—the one you get upon first entering the Tower after earning entry permission. For Awakeners who hadn't yet qualified to access the Tower and thus couldn't view their Status Window, it served as a kind of portfolio, issued through information-type Awakeners.
Forgery was impossible. The Awakeners authorized to issue them imprinted an encrypted mana pattern onto the certificate using the information security skill granted by the national administrative system. Any government terminal could verify the pattern's authenticity, making fakes undetectable.
Overseas, it wasn't implemented due to personal information laws, human rights concerns, and the like. But in the New Daehan Republic, at least, it was an efficient system.
"Still, like you said, sis, I can probably make it to 8th-grade Hunter somehow."
With no immediate plans decided, he'd probably have to work as a Hunter for a while once he stepped into society. Gotta eat to live, right?
"The future's what's worrying, though. I'm not planning to stay an 8th-grade Hunter forever. You know my dream, right, sis?"
"Yeah, I do. Carrying on your parents' legacy."
"My parents were proud to be Hunters. They said it was a job devoted to humanity. Even when I failed to awaken mana, they told me there were plenty of paths even if I didn't become one."
That was what his parents had told him on the day they vanished. Those words had burned into his heart like a brand, fueling his drive to keep pushing forward.
"So I won't give up either. I want to become someone like them. It feels like the only way I can show the filial piety I couldn't before. But... the road ahead looks so daunting."
Effort and reality were two different things, though. What could he even do?
Deadly flaws for an Awakener. Could he really catch up to his 4th-grade parents in this state? And there were practical issues too. To survive, he'd have to keep Hunter work until he found another path.
For now, young and healthy, he could scrape by in dungeons despite low mana and no Unique Ability. But in five years? It'd be tough. Hunters had short careers—fighting monsters in dungeons made survival uncertain.
That's why parties were the basis of dungeon clears. Reliable comrades were the surest way to stay alive.
Consequently, Hunters scrutinized party members carefully. No fixed party for him without a Unique Ability—who'd want a Hunter with no growth potential? Temporary parties were tough too; mismatched teams still preferred strong individuals.
His combat power matched 8th-grade, but in practice, he'd be lucky for 9th-grade slots. Maybe parties of fresh 10th-graders whose physical stats (minus mana) hadn't hit average 5.
Later, if even that failed, solo 10th-grade runs would be his limit. And at that level, it wasn't worth it—10th-grade dungeons barely paid day-labor wages for a four-man party.
Not that there were no options. Beyond Unique Abilities, skills from dungeons and the Tower could rival them if used well. Tower skills were unknown, but dungeon drops were well-documented.
The famous Heavy Strike scaled impact with mana used—simple and powerful. It alone could make you party-worthy. But it dropped rarely from 6th-grade dungeons minimum. Most skills were low-probability from higher-grade ones, rarer for better ones.
Yeah, nothing for him. Without pouring endless cash for "jackpots," no skills for him.
All this led to one conclusion: max five years as a Hunter. Utterly bleak.
Noticing his grim face, Ji-yoon unnie said worriedly,
"Don't get too down. Like I said at the training camp, it might be such an insane ability that it's taking this long to awaken. Even without a Unique Ability, like your parents said, there are many paths. Take your time, and you'll find yours. Yeoul's a hard worker—you'll make it."
Future anxieties choked him, but having someone care warmed his heart.
"Thanks even if it's just lip service, sis."
"It's not. Normal effort doesn't build that physical prowess with mana at 1. Your body's proof of your grind."
Average 9th-grade Hunter physical stats (minus mana): 4-5. His: 6. Numbers don't lie. He'd worked hard. Insanely so. Just 1 mana, but three years of nonstop training. It was that or break after his parents vanished.
Ji-yoon unnie recognizing it made his chest ache sweetly. Acknowledgment alone gave strength to live. Since his parents, only her.
A real angel. Seeing his touched face, she finally relaxed, smiling as she stood.
"Rest up then. I'm swamped—gotta go."
As she headed for the door, she paused, pulled something from her pocket, pressed it into his hand, and added,
"If job hunting flops and things get tough, call me. You worked hard. Congrats on discharge."
She was gone before he could reply. Alone, he checked her gift: a business card with her number. Back read: Congrats on your discharge.
Kang Ji-yoon
Phone: [Number]
Congrats on your discharge.
"Seriously, an angel."
He'd treasure it as treasure #1.
**
Following her advice, he checked out a week later. First real rest in military life—energy surged. Mostly... embarrassingly... downstairs. Healthy 20s guy? Expected. But his case had extra reasons.
All his military woes tied to Jeon So-young. This too. For 2 years 9 months, he'd lived in barracks. Problem: same building as that bitch Jeon So-young.
Team leader her decided teams must dorm together for instant deployment. Logical, but from her? No.
Healthy 20s libido needed jerking off. But superhuman nose like hers in the building? No fapping, even bathroom trips to other buildings. Wet dreams? She'd scowl at semen smell, glaring.
Leaves? Team-synced, but she'd tail him "for accidents/surveillance," ruining fun—wholesome returns only.
Ask why? "Think I like sticking to trash 365 days? Deadweight, you're a person-of-interest. I'm surveillance. Grateful I waste time on trash like you in my position...~~~"
Blur after. Shock at "person-of-interest," but enlistment wasn't normal—made sense. After, he accepted his fate.
Enough. Dwelling just pissed him off. Point: three years, zero faps. But discharged now, no Jeon So-young. Nothing blocking his relief.
And at his door: the tool for it. Onahole! Lit: jerk hole. Vagina-mimic for lust relief—perfect for him now.
Some say brothels. Bull. Prostitution's illegal. ...Also, virgin scared of pros, awkward losing it there... Anyway, lust relief ≠ needing pussy. Just cum.
Thick gray packaging at door. Grabbed quick, inside, unwrapped.