From F-Class to Aegis Candidate
I boldly spat the words, my mood soaring from the rush.
The instant I excitedly took a step forward, the world began to spin.
A horrific pain erupted from the mana circuit near my heart and surged backward through every vein in my body.
It was an unfamiliar yet brutally vivid sensation. So vivid it felt like my mana circuits themselves were screaming.
…Ah, fuck. I’m screwed.
My legs gave out and I rolled across the mud.
I’d gotten so carried away that I forgot I was still F-class and pushed my body to its absolute limit. It simply couldn’t endure anymore.
My vision flickered on and off. Right as consciousness started to fade, I heard urgent footsteps rushing toward me from beyond the debris.
“Survivor confirmed here! Impact target… confir—”
“Quick evac… half the team…! Thoroughly secure the perimeter—”
Their voices came in broken fragments.
I caught a glimpse of Hunter Association agents in black tactical gear bursting onto the scene and taking control.
That was the last thing I remembered from that rainy place.
My eyes felt heavy. My eyelids were so heavy they truly felt like lumps of lead.
With tremendous effort, I forced them open.
An unfamiliar white ceiling greeted me. This definitely wasn’t my cramped studio apartment—the wallpaper alone proved that.
Clean white tiles and a faint antiseptic smell that tickled my nose told me exactly where I was.
A hospital.
“You’re awake.”
A calm voice reached me. I turned my head.
A woman sat with her legs crossed in the guardian chair. Neat black suit, sharp eyes. A golden badge symbolizing the Hunter Association rested on her chest.
…An Association employee?
“Where am I…”
“This is a VIP room in the Association-designated Central Hospital. I am Lee Chaeyeon, an agent with the Hunter Association’s Special Suppression Team.”
She introduced herself and rose smoothly, offering a crisp, precise bow.
A VIP room? I didn’t have money for regular hospital bills, let alone this.
Well, the Association will probably foot the bill.
I kept my expression carefully neutral.
“Why am I here?”
“We discovered you collapsed at the scene and brought you here.”
“Ah.”
“The site has been secured, but we’ve been waiting for you to regain consciousness. We have a few questions.”
An interrogation? Not quite. More like…
“The survivors’ testimonies were all identical. They said blue lightning moved like a living person and eliminated the orcs. Afterward, it transformed back into a human and collapsed.”
Lee Chaeyeon stared straight at me. Her gaze said she already knew everything. Don’t even think about lying—we’ve heard it all.
“No matter how thoroughly we searched the Association database, we found zero records of an awakener with lightning abilities.”
“…”
“First, I must apologize. While you were unconscious, we collected your fingerprints and ran an identity check. Under normal circumstances this would be illegal, but we classified the situation as an emergency and exercised discretionary judgment. I hope you understand.”
In other words, we took your prints while you were out cold, so please don’t sue us.
I glared at her, utterly dumbfounded.
“Pardon me, but you are Baek Woobin, correct?”
“…Is there a problem?”
“Not at all. It’s just that our records list you as F-class. Yet the witness statements describe abilities consistent with a natural-element user. The discrepancy is… surprising.”
Of course it was. An F-class with natural lightning abilities sounded ridiculous.
“May I ask which guild you belong to?”
“I don’t have one.”
“Excuse me? But…”
“I really am F-class. No guild affiliation.”
Lee Chaeyeon’s face stiffened. I watched bewilderment and confusion war across her features.
“You’re truly F-class?”
“Yes. You already ran my identity, didn’t you?”
“Then… you awakened three years ago and have remained F-class this entire time? Really?”
She muttered to herself, unable to process it. After a moment she looked at me again.
“Have you experienced a reawakening recently, by any chance?”
Ah. So that’s where her mind went.
Reawakening—the miracle where an already awakened hunter experiences another awakening under special conditions. Or something close to it.
From her perspective, it was the only logical explanation.
Telling the truth was impossible. The story was too absurd: wanting a girlfriend on New Year’s Day, getting struck by lightning thanks to some divine prank, then suddenly seeing a gallery full of vengeful spirits from a ruined first playthrough. No way she’d believe it.
Hell, even I wouldn’t believe it.
Let’s just gloss over it. Close enough anyway.
“Something like that, maybe. I nearly died, and when I opened my eyes I had powers.”
I shrugged lightly, keeping my tone casual.
Lee Chaeyeon stroked her chin, eyes calculating. After a long pause she spoke gravely.
“Mr. Baek Woobin.”
“Yes?”
“The Hunter Association would like to make you an offer.”
“An offer?”
“Just to be sure—have you heard of Aegis?”
How could I not? Every awakener in Korea dreamed of joining.
The sole autonomous hunter organization under the South Korean government. Their only duty was clearing the Tower. Beyond that, no interference, no drafts, no obligations. That was Aegis.
“Yes, I know it.”
“There was an individual scheduled to receive Aegis this year.”
Scheduled?
Aegis was reserved for the absolute elite. It came with special privileges. Those who held it, those slated to receive it, and everyone else. Being a candidate meant your abilities had already been recognized at the highest level. Guilds threw ridiculous offers at anyone even mentioned as a prospect. It was basically a golden ticket.
The qualifications were so strict that an F-class like me wishing for it was pure delusion.
“Aegis? What does that have to do with—”
“Unfortunately, that candidate died yesterday after failing to clear the Seoul Station Tower.”
Ah. So that’s why.
Whether they overreached or simply weren’t strong enough, they died. A tragic death.
But that tragedy had conveniently created one open slot.
“Therefore, the Association would like to recommend you for that vacancy.”
Lee Chaeyeon—rather, the entire Association—was offering it to me.
“You haven’t undergone re-measurement yet, but we assess your ability at A-class or higher. You more than qualify for the infrastructure and systematic support provided to Aegis candidates.”
“…”
“Frankly, the Association believes talents like you must be nurtured.”
It was wrapped in elegant packaging, but the real offer was protection, support, and observation. They wanted me inside an organization they controlled so they could measure my value and, if necessary, raise me to be friendly toward them.
That was her true intention.
Honestly, I had no reason to refuse. Still, I put on a troubled expression.
“It’s such a sudden offer that I’m not sure how to respond. Taking a dead man’s spot feels… uncomfortable.”
I deliberately showed reluctance and dragged it out. Since they knew I was a natural awakener, they were the ones who couldn’t afford to lose me.
Lee Chaeyeon, as if she’d anticipated this, pulled out a business card and set it on the table.
“I completely understand. We won’t pressure you. Take a few days to think. When you reach a decision, contact me at this number anytime.”
She gave a polite bow and left the room.
I leaned back against the bed and muttered at the ceiling.
“Hey. You heard all that, right?”
I waited for a semi-transparent window to appear and chat messages to roll in.
Nothing. Not even a single line.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen the gallery since I woke up.
Does the connection cut off when I faint or fall asleep? Like a phone screen timing out?
“Guess I’ll test it.”
It couldn’t have disappeared, so I started checking one by one. I whispered “Gallery,” but nothing happened. “Chat,” “hologram,” “live chat”—still nothing.
What the hell?
Frustration was just starting to build when—
Ding—
A semi-transparent blue window floated up.
So I just have to want to see it?
I dragged the screen. Dozens of new posts had piled up while I was unconscious.
But that wasn’t important right now. I needed advice.
I tapped the “New Post” button.
…And immediately ran into a problem.
“How the hell do you write in this thing?”
Pressing the button was easy. Actually typing was impossible. No keyboard, no input field, nothing.
Maybe…
Just like when the gallery first appeared, I focused on the words I wanted to write.
Letters began forming in the air.
Okay, I think I get it now.
I started composing the post.
The comments flooded in, every single one some variation of “What are you waiting for, idiot? Accept it already!” In seconds the count shot past fifty, as if they’d all been waiting for me to post exactly this.
I tilted my head skeptically.
“But what’s so great about Aegis?”
I added a comment of my own.
Ah.
So in the end, if I wanted to meet Kim Soyeon and the Archmage, I had to accept. Just the chance to form connections with those two monsters at the pinnacle was worth it.
“Yeah. I’ll do it.”
I picked up Lee Chaeyeon’s business card from the table.
“But first, I’m gonna enjoy a few more days of freedom.”
I flopped back onto the bed and started humming cheerfully.