Gate Entry!
Not overloaded, not glitched. It was straight-up broken. No, broken wasn't even the half of it—it had melted completely.
Baek Seungcheol immediately dragged Haneul to the physical ability testing grounds.
"Hit this... Hit this thing as hard as you can!"
"No super impressive explanation for this one?"
"...This is a sandbag made on the advice of my contracted Constellation, the War God Who Crushed the Twelve Calamities. It's designed to measure pure physical impact strength—"
"Yah!"
The sandbag exploded.
"N-Now run this track."
"Explanation?"
"It's a track made by the Messenger Who Wears Constellation Wings. No one can ever reach the finish line, so it just measures stamina—"
"Alright!"
She crossed the finish line.
"Now lift this. It's a boulder made by the Lonely Giant Who Holds Up the Heavens. Impossible to lift, so it measures the pressure applied—"
"Hup! Hup!"
She hoisted it over her head.
And just like that, the test was over. Or rather, it had ended in defeat.
Baek Seungcheol, gasping for breath, yelled, "C-Calm down! Don't get excited! Everything's fine, just calm down, you crazy bastard!"
"You're the excited one, Uncle."
"I'm talking about you."
"Aha."
Baek Seungcheol, still heaving, scanned the testing grounds with trembling eyes. The sight of measuring devices—ones no Hunter had ever broken—shattered to pieces. But that was it. For the power she'd unleashed, the grounds were suspiciously intact.
Usually, when those so-called geniuses took the test, the place turned into a warzone. Their talent and potential were off the charts, but they couldn't control their power yet. But now? Spotless.
"You controlled your strength on purpose? So you wouldn't damage anything else?"
"Yeah, gotta show off properly so you know how awesome I am."
How was he supposed to react to that? Baek Seungcheol was dumbfounded by Haneul's utterly shameless response.
Oblivious to his turmoil, Haneul beamed nonstop, puffing out her chest.
"I'm amazing, right? Told ya, I get scary when I'm mad. So, can I get my license now? What's the starting rank? S-rank right off the bat? Can I hit a gate? I need money bad—rent and phone bill. Do they give S-ranks houses or something? In that novel I read way back, they hooked 'em up with mansions and tax breaks."
"Hah, ask one at a time, slowly."
"Hmm..."
What to ask first? After a brief ponder, Haneul picked the most important one.
"I'm amazing, right?"
For a split second, Baek Seungcheol considered speaking formally. Her absurd feats made polite speech feel natural, like she deserved respect first. But something told him she wouldn't want that, so he stuck to casual.
"Definitely... insane."
"Hehe!"
"Even the Masters... there are only ten worldwide, and they couldn't pull this off. Does this mean Korea gets a new Master...? This... this is way beyond what I can handle alone..."
"Hehehe!"
Rummaging through the debris, Baek Seungcheol asked with a pale face, "What are you, exactly...?"
"Haneul."
"I didn't mean your name..."
Haneul was already a madwoman who'd cracked once, now armed with overwhelming genius. Geniuses like that always went mad. And she'd seemed a bit off already, so this was double madness. No point expecting normal answers...
Maybe she doesn't need to give normal ones? She's this talented...
On the other hand, it might be fine... But that only worked inside the Association. If this unfinished prodigy stepped out and acted up, who knew what could happen. She could pour out power fine, but actual combat might trip her up. Plus, her common sense was so lacking, she was prime for backstabs from scum.
Sorting his thoughts, Baek Seungcheol said, "Listen up, no freaking out."
"I'm not freaked."
"The highest rank right after the Hunter exam is D."
"D-rank?"
D was what, a few steps up? Haneul tilted her head, folding fingers. Apprentice, F, E, D...?
"Aw, c'mon? That's it?"
"High for most... but yeah, peanuts for you. Still, show these results to the Korean Hunter Association Chairman, and C-rank's possible. But nothing higher."
Anyone could grind to C with effort, but B needed matching experience and fame. Haneul had neither as a newbie, so promotion was tough. Sure, there were ways—like going to America, flattening an S-rank at a disaster gate raid... But even with her display, Baek figured she couldn't top battle-hardened S-ranks. Off the table.
Another path: Constellation contracts. They vouched for you, bumped ranks, proved strength. Become an Apostle of a famous one, and ranks became irrelevant. But none applied to Haneul yet.
Baek Seungcheol planned to explain later. "It's set by World Hunter Law. Can't change it."
"So show the Chairman and snag C-rank, right?"
"Reporting all this would get you that, but it'd be a huge hassle."
"Why?"
"All of Korea would fixate on you. Maybe the world. Only two Hunters ever started at C. Get how huge this is? Be extra careful."
Haneul cocked her head, genuinely puzzled. "Careful? Why? Attention's good, right?"
Even before coming, she'd been gallery-banned for 30 days over fake upvote drama. Attention she'd schemed for, now handed free? No way she'd hate it.
If she posts a selfie... gallery meltdown. 'The upvote faker was me...'
Real-time best post material. "Gasp."
Total life achievement. No holding back now.
"Let's do it right now."
*****
"Hehehe."
Haneul grinned ear-to-ear, flipping her brand-new Hunter license every which way.
Just a D-rank for now, but next week the Chairman would bump it to C after checks. Grind C hard for B soon, contract a Constellation at B for easy A... Later stuff. For now, bask in pride.
Palm-sized card with her name and photo felt weirdly precious.
"Feels like I'm really back now."
Home, PC, phone after eons—all felt alien, no thrill. But this fresh Yoo Haneul ID? Giggles nonstop.
"Wheee!"
She chomped the edge, leaving teeth marks, then checked her buzzing phone.
From warnings to no-gos, Baek Seungcheol had lectured for two full hours. Boring and preachy. Included no gates pre-C, watch other Hunters—trouble before C-rank means no S or Master, even with criminal record vibes.
Lots more, but none stuck. Not important, forgotten.
Her "sincere" reply sent, Haneul blocked the Chief temporarily.
Then looked up at the gate on the 10th-floor apartment height.
D-rank Hunters only did D-gates. Four Ds could try C, but friendless Haneul? D only.
Team with strangers? No way... Impossible for her.
So solo here. Association-recommended, close gate. D-rank meant pro-ish Hunters, tense vibe—perfect.
"Sweet."
Chief's "avoid gates" advice? Already gone. "If possible," not "never." Even "never" wouldn't stop her.
No incidents, no fights—easy for peace-loving Haneul.
"Heart-pounding!"
Rubbing hands, she stepped to the gate entrance.
"License check, please."
"Yup."
Teeth-marked license to Association staff. Staff tilts head.
Haneul tilts head.
"I'm an adult."
"...I see."
"Yeah."
What the hell? Staff's face said it.
"This wrong?"
"...Stamp it here."
"Oopsie."
License to machine. Beep, barrier lifts.
"Ahem, good now?"
"...Yes. Safe hunting."
Staff eyed suspiciously to end, but Haneul ignored, humming off-key into the gate light.
With a tummy-tickling pull...
"Oing?"
Gate interior wildly different from outside. Right at the entrance, a faint veil unfurled.
People oblivious—so Constellation power or whatever. But not fooling Haneul's eyes.
Thus, she clearly saw the sleazy squint-eyed man behind it, carefully stripping an unconscious woman's clothes.
"Gasp."
Unbearable for peace-loving Haneul. So she didn't bear it.
"If you're gonna do it, man up and go hard! Rough and refreshing! I'll show ya!"
Screaming bloody murder, Haneul charged.