The Tryout

Caught off guard by the unexpected call of my name, I was still flustered when the guild employee called out again.

"Is there a Hunter Lee Seong-hyun among the applicants?"

"Huh...?"

"Hunter Lee Seong-hyun, are you not here?"

"...Yes! I'm here!"

I quickly raised my hand and stood up. Every eye in the room snapped toward me at once. Confusion, jealousy, wariness—countless gazes pierced into me. If I stayed any longer, I felt like I'd suffocate under the weight of them all.

"Hmm, you...?"

"I have no idea what's going on either. I'll be back later."

"I wish you good results."

Even Hwa-ryeong, who had been sitting beside me, looked at me with a completely different expression. I hurried after the guild employee and left the waiting room. Any more hesitation and those stares would have burned holes through my back.

"So, what's this about?"

"Someone is looking for you. Please follow me for a moment."

Following the guild employee, I soon came face to face with a woman wearing a witch's hat. The gray-clad witch frowned the instant she saw me and snapped.

"You're late."

"Uh..."

Was this the person who made the scouting offer? For some reason, her face didn't feel entirely unfamiliar.

"Haah. I have no idea what she sees in such a dazed person."

"...Weren't you the one who called for me?"

"Me? No way. The mere thought of having someone like you—a completely ordinary human male—as a teammate is utterly horrifying."

Every gesture from the witch carried sharp thorns. It felt like she held some kind of grudge against me, but why?

After spitting out her barrage of harsh words, the witch led me forward without another word, as if she couldn't stand even speaking to me. When we stopped in front of a conference room, she finally glared at me sharply and spoke.

"Keep this in mind. Watch your words and don't make any mistakes. The person you're about to meet is someone you wouldn't normally even have the right to speak to. Be careful not to waste her precious time."

Her?

Just who could make her act like this?

With that thought in mind, I entered the room with the witch. Her tone instantly flipped one-eighty as she smiled brightly.

"I've brought the Hunter Lee Seong-hyun you requested, Team Leader."

"Mm. Thank you."

"Huh?"

The moment I saw the person inside the room, I froze on the spot. A female hunter with long black hair and a Japanese sword as tall as a person. A pure white coat draped over a black combat suit. That face was all too familiar to me.

"Nice to meet you. I'm the leader of the Hunter Guild's Special Task Force..."

"...Estelle."

The strongest hunter in the Hunter Guild.

Estelle.

This was insane. It was the real Estelle.

The icon of Last Shion, the protagonist of the opening cutscene. The character who held the undisputed top spot in every popularity poll. Was that giant sword actually her scythe?

I tried not to show it on the outside, but seeing a character I loved in real life made it hard to keep my composure.

"You know who I am?"

"Well, you're quite famous."

"Yes. At least within Shion, that's true."

Damn. Did knowing Estelle's name seem suspicious? From what I remembered, outside of Shion her name wasn't all that well-known. Still, it wasn't completely unheard of, so I answered confidently.

"You can't go to Shion completely unprepared, can you?"

"True. That's a fair point."

Estelle seemed to accept the answer and nodded, but the witch glared at me even more fiercely. Before she could find something to nitpick, I quickly changed the subject.

"So. Why did you call me here? Don't tell me..."

Bringing a tryout applicant at this stage could only mean one thing. Even though I already knew, I still felt nervous. Estelle finally revealed her reason in a casual tone, as if it were no big deal.

"Ah, that's right. I'd like to scout you for my team. What do you think?"

Even though I'd roughly expected it, the words still took my breath away.

Estelle wanted to scout me?

Why?

"Me? Why? I'm just a rookie 1-star hunter."

"Exactly! Team Leader, this man hasn't made any name for himself outside. He's just a guy who bounced between day-laborer jobs. He's literally a nobody! Why would you want someone like him on the team?"

The witch voiced the same question I had, shouting at Estelle that she couldn't understand. Wow, that's a bit harsh.

I was about to say something to the witch who kept grating on my nerves when—

"Elly."

"Eep. Yes, Team Leader."

"Are you saying my judgment is wrong?"

"No, that's not what I meant... I just can't understand..."

"Elly. I personally chose him. If you're saying you can't trust my choice, I think you already know what that implies without me having to spell it out, yes?"

"...Yes. I'm sorry, Team Leader."

"It's fine. No need to apologize. I know very well how much you care about the team."

Estelle silenced the witch in a single quiet sentence. Having calmed her down, Estelle immediately turned to me.

"Elly. Isn't the person you should be apologizing to standing right here?"

"Pardon?"

"You should apologize to Hunter Lee Seong-hyun."

"...Ugh."

The witch named Elly bit her lip hard. Her face clearly said she'd rather die than apologize. But after receiving Estelle's gaze, her face flushed with humiliation as she spoke to me.

"I'm... sorry. Hunter Lee Seong-hyun. I was rude due to my own misguided judgment."

"Well, anyone can make mistakes."

When I answered calmly, Elly shot me a murderous glare, thinking I was mocking her. I really meant it sincerely. Still, she didn't show any more emotion and simply stepped back.

Something felt off. It didn't seem like she hated me simply because I was a weak teammate. There was something else mixed in. Also, the name Elly sounded familiar. I subtly shifted my gaze and checked the popularity poll page on the bulletin board again. That's where I found her name.

201st place.

Considering I was dead last with zero votes, it essentially meant she was at the very bottom among valid votes. Well, with a personality like that, it made sense she wouldn't be popular. That part I could understand, but something felt strange.

"...?"

The portrait of Elly inserted into the popularity results was heavily distorted, as if burned by fire. Her face was twisted beyond recognition. No matter how I looked at it, it didn't match the current Elly's face at all. What had happened?

While I was distracted by Elly's image, Estelle seemed to think the situation had settled and spoke up.

"To answer your question—it's because you have that kind of value."

"...Me?"

"Yes. You said you're a 1-star hunter, but that's not actually true."

"What do you mean?"

"You're not 1-star. In truth, you're 5-star."

"5-star? Me?"

I wasn't a 1-star hunter, but a 5-star?

No way. Did that mean the measurement was wrong?

I blinked in confusion, unable to understand. Estelle kindly added a more detailed explanation.

"Do you know the criteria for determining Mental Image ranks?"

"The standards for 1-star, 2-star judgments?"

"Yes, that."

"Um. I know 1-star is the stage where you can move mana, but..."

Noticing I didn't know the rest, Estelle explained it to me kindly.

"2-star is where you change yourself using your Mental Image. 3-star is where you emit it externally. 4-star is where you can change the external environment. Then, what is the realm of 5-star?"

Estelle's explanation brought something to mind. In Last Shion, when 5-star characters used their ultimate skills, they completely changed the surrounding background. There was definitely a specific name for that technique.

Combining the keywords in my head, I answered Estelle.

"...The stage where you change the world?"

"Correct. The stage of manifesting your Mental Image into the world. It's called Mental Image Manifestation."

"Mental Image Manifestation?"

"It means manifesting the world within your heart into reality—hence, Mental Image Manifestation. It's an essential technique one must master to reach 5-star."

"I don't think I'm capable of something like that."

"Not yet, no. That's why you received a 1-star judgment. But your vessel is different."

"Vessel?"

"Very few people possess a Mental Image so clear that it could become an entire world rather than a mere fragment. That's why most can't cross the wall of 5-star. But you carry one inside you. A perfect, complete world."

"How do you..."

"Because a remnant was left behind. The remnant of the world you're looking at."

Remnant? Was she talking about her own ability?

I couldn't deny Estelle's words. The idea that I held a perfect world inside my heart was far too familiar.

My previous life.

A world without Shion.

The world I'd dreamed of since childhood existed perfectly within my mind. Was that my Mental Image?

"The Special Task Force needs more 5-star ability users. I'm certain you have the talent to become one. If you join the task force, I can help you grow into a 5-star. How about it? It's not a bad offer for you, is it?"

"There's no way it would be a bad offer."

At my positive response, Estelle glanced at Elly. With a gloomy expression, Elly fumbled around and pulled out a contract, offering it to me.

"Just sign here and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the contract process is complete. I'll handle the rest."

"Understood."

I nodded quietly at Estelle's words.

Then I tore the contract cleanly in half.

It was a clear refusal.

"What...!"

Everyone in the room was stunned by the unexpected outcome—even Estelle's eyes widened. Ignoring Elly's glare that looked like it could kill me, I shook my head.

"I'm sorry. I must decline this scouting offer."

"You know this isn't a wise choice, right? I'm curious why you made this decision."

At Estelle's question, I gave a bitter smile and made up a reason on the spot.

"My gut just isn't feeling it."

Of course, the real reason was different.

If I joined Estelle's team, I would die.

The reason Estelle became such a popular character in Last Shion was largely due to her incredible performance in the opening video. She cuts down countless enemies with a single stroke, fights head-on against enormous monsters and wins. The scene of her leading her team against a calamity that literally covers the entire city is depicted with beautiful direction.

And at the end of it all...

The Special Task Force, along with Estelle, is completely wiped out. All that remains is an indelible black remnant where Babel Tower once stood.

It isn't a matter of carelessness. It's a calamity that even Estelle at full power cannot defeat. Even if I used every bit of future sight I had, I had no idea how to change Estelle's fate.

In that situation, me joining the Special Task Force?

That would be no different from suicide. I had no desire to add my name to the list of missing persons that appeared in the ending credits.

Therefore, I could not accept Estelle's scout offer.

That was the conclusion I had reached.

Of course, saying "my gut just isn't feeling it" was practically the same as admitting I had no real reason. Knowing that, I quickly added something that might sound convincing to Estelle.

"I don't want to entrust my life to someone else from the start. Even if I buy citizenship with the guild's help, it wouldn't be something I bought with my own money. It would be a debt imposed by the guild."

"So you're saying..."

After hearing my answer, Estelle muttered as if she couldn't believe it.

"You're going to buy citizenship using only your own power, without any help from other guilds? With temporary citizenship, within 24 hours?"

"It's 22 hours now."

Crazy bastard.

Estelle didn't actually say the curse, but if her mouth were any fouler, I'm certain she would have.

"...Honestly, I think you've made a foolish choice. I think it's an impossible goal."

But surprisingly, the look in Estelle's eyes as she gazed at me held a strange gentleness.

"If you manage to obtain citizenship without any help from the other guilds, that would be an achievement recorded in Shion's history."

"Ah. Is it that big a deal? Nice. If I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠succeed, I'll be incredibly popular."

"If you really succeed, you'll become a legend among rookie hunters."

An achievement worthy of being recorded in history, huh?

This might actually be a better plan than I thought.

"Well. Still. I just need to earn 100 million, right?"

"...Is that confidence, or just pure recklessness?"

Estelle gave a bitter smile at my answer. But it didn't seem like she was thinking negatively of me. Rather, she seemed worried.

"Since you've rejected my offer, I should just let you go, but..."

Estelle took a case from Elly and handed it to me.

"Take it. After hearing your ambition, I'd like to give you a little help."

"What is this?"

"It's a Mental Image extractor. It also functions as an injector. I assume I don't need to explain how to use it."

Inside the case Estelle handed me was a tool similar to the syringe I'd used when injecting the awakening agent.

"I'll make good use of it. Thank you."

"Next time, I'd like to meet you at the cafe downstairs. Well then, good luck."

With that, Estelle left the room with Elly as if she had nothing more to say. After the two disappeared, I took a deep breath and returned to the waiting room.

Then—

"...He's back."

I could feel the atmosphere in the waiting room had completely changed. When I first entered, no one paid me any attention. Now, every single movement I made was being watched closely.

"...Did a human really receive a scouting offer?"

"Yeah. And not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠only that..."

All the surrounding whispers were directed at me. At that moment, Hwa-ryeong subtly approached and spoke to me.

"...Excuse me, Helper."

"What is it all of a sudden?"

"I have something I wish to ask. I was wondering if the rumor was true."

"Rumor? What rumor? Are you talking about the scouting offer?"

"Similar. Is it true that you received a direct scouting offer from the Hunter Guild?"

"...Where did you hear that?"

How did she know I'd received a scouting offer from the Hunter Guild? I asked in confusion. Hwa-ryeong cleared her throat and explained.

"Well, you see. A witch who appears to belong to the Hunter Guild apparently went around telling the guild staff all sorts of things about you."

"...A witch? Did she say anything bad about me?"

"Indeed. She complained that you said strange things to her face. Is that true?"

Listening to Hwa-ryeong, I understood the situation. It was Elly's doing. She must have tried to get revenge by tarnishing my reputation.

But it didn't seem to have gone the way Elly wanted. The Hunter Guild stood above even the four major guilds—it was the organization that controlled Shion. Simply having contact with them was an excellent credential to other guilds. That was why everyone was so focused on me.

For me, there was nothing bad about it. It was always good to have a Plan B. At this rate, as long as I didn't cause a complete mess during the test, I could probably join a decent mid-sized guild. What I needed to do here wasn't to deny the rumor, but to spread it further.

"It's true. I did say some pretty arrogant things."

"Oh? What did you say?"

"I said I hate owing debts, so I'd obtain citizenship with my own power alone."

"Hahaha! Now that's a declaration worthy of a true man!"

Hwa-ryeong laughed heartily at my words. But the reactions of the others who had been eavesdropping were different.

"...A human talking big."

"He's probably just packaging the fact that he got rejected because he was useless."

While some mocked me like this, none could deny the fact that the Hunter Guild had approached me. It was then that—

"Hey. You there, human."

"...Me?"

"Yeah. The weak-looking one. I'm talking to you."

Suddenly, an elf man who appeared to be from one of the four major guilds approached and picked a fight. His tone made it clear his intentions weren't good.

"Follow me for a bit. This isn't the place to talk."

"...Fine."

The test hadn't started yet. I decided to hear what he had in mind and followed the man who appeared to be from a magic tower.

"Your goal is Shion citizenship, right?"

"Well, yeah."

"Then I have a pretty good offer. If you do me one favor, I'll give you 100 million credits."

"100... 100 million?"

He was offering 100 million credits?

This was essentially the same as offering to buy my citizenship for me. Caught completely off guard by the unexpected proposal, I tilted my head.

"What exactly do you want me to do?"

"It's simple. All you have to do is interfere with one person."

"Interfere? With who?"

"Hmph. Isn't it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠obvious? Asha... though you might not know her by that name. The harpy with orange feathers. Just interfere with that monster."

Oh boy.

This was some messy request.