Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: D-Rank Hunter (3)
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There were about 200 hunters gathered in the waiting room alone, and most of them, including me, were F-Rank.
Over 90% were applying to promote from F-Rank to E-Rank.
'That just shows how tough it is.'
Hunter society was structured like a pyramid.
F-Rankers were the most numerous, followed by E-Rank, then D-Rank...
The higher you went, the fewer there were.
That was why so many hunters were trying to climb to E-Rank.
The line between F and E was around level 20.
If your total stats hit about 25, you'd generally be treated as E-Rank without issue.
A level anyone with all their limbs intact could reach.
In that sense, the folks from Training Team 4 were straight-up disasters.
They looked like trash someone had scraped together from who-knows-where.
"Let's go, come on."
My old party members took off.
After mocking me to their hearts' content, they went off to find another spot.
Hunters kept glancing our way.
They'd been so rowdy just moments ago, so it made sense they'd stare out of curiosity.
The buzz showed no signs of dying down.
"We'll now proceed with the promotion exam."
An Association staffer stepped out and started calling names.
The waiting hunters followed him one by one.
Something like F-to-E should be automated by now, but the Association was still doing it all by hand.
'Do I just go in and kill one monster?'
The promotion exam was dead simple.
You just had to take down a monster matching your target rank.
Artificially generated ones, complete with physical strength from what I'd heard.
Injuries during the exam were commonplace.
Low-level hunters forcing a promotion and cracking their skulls weren't rare.
"Kim Soo-min and six others."
Parties could apply together and take the exam as a group.
Though the actual hunt was solo.
The exam itself didn't take long.
It'd be weird if killing one monster did.
'E-Rank's probably just an Orc Great Warrior at best?'
And not even a full-powered one—an Orc Great Warrior with one arm lopped off.
Basically nerfed to regular monster level.
Take one down solo, and you could renew your hunter license.
F and E were barely different stat-wise.
Honestly, they were all the same.
From my perspective, trying for D-Rank renewal past E, both ranks just looked pathetic.
But did E-Rankers see it that way?
Diamond tier might lump silver and gold together, but gold draws a hard line from silver.
To a sergeant, privates first class and second class are both green rookies far from discharge, but the first class thinks they've got some seniority.
E-Rankers hated being lumped in with F-Rankers.
'Those assholes applying for D too?'
Staff handling F-to-E were separate from E-to-D.
Male staffer for F-to-E, female for E-to-D.
Different test sites too, probably.
My turn might come early.
"Park Sun-woo."
Right on cue.
Kim Soo-min and her crew had barely been gone ten minutes when my name was called.
I stood and followed the Association staffer.
Click-clack.
High heels echoed down the hall.
"Wait here and enter when it's your turn."
The staffer pointed to a door labeled D-Rank Exam Room.
Creeeak.
I pushed it open to find another waiting area inside.
D-Rank hopefuls sat in chairs: Kim Soo-min and her posse, who'd gone ahead of me.
Five out of the original seven.
The other two were probably in the exam room.
All five sets of eyes locked on me.
Door creaking that loud, impossible not to notice.
I got it.
"Well, if it isn't—"
"Your turn next? Heh heh heh, loser."
Kim Soo-min and her idiots sneered at me.
Less bite than before, though.
'Bunch of morons.'
They were clearly tense with the D-Rank exam looming.
Ridiculous. Pathetic.
Stiff as boards over a mere D-Rank promotion.
I strode in confidently and claimed a seat.
Shot Kim Soo-min and her crew a glare, chuckling.
"Why so tense, everyone?"
I stared Kim Soo-min down.
No matter how you sliced it, she was a solid 4—even with makeup, that god-tier disguise skill.
Ugly.
"...You nuts, Park Sun-woo? You're gonna fail anyway, so don't drag us down too?"
Kim Soo-min snapped back.
Irritated tone like Choi Da-eun's. Grated on me.
'Better not poke the bear.'
Not scared of dealing with these idiots.
Just didn't trust myself not to explode first if I engaged.
So I backed off a step.
But my mouth ignored my brain.
"...To think I blew 20 million of my blood money on a freak like you."
"What?"
My hands shook with rage.
20 million won—priceless to an F-Rank hunter fresh to Seoul.
—Sun-woo, go to Seoul and chase your dreams. Sorry this is all Dad can give you...
500k I'd saved in the army, plus 30 million from Dad.
That was where F-Rank hunter Park Sun-woo's saga began.
And Kim Soo-min's crew had fleeced me for 20 million.
They knew it was my max and demanded exactly that.
"...If you'd been pretty, I wouldn't say shit. I'd have at least gotten laid before the gold-digger sting. But fuck, 20 million for a flounder face like you got smashed with a hammer?"
"You bastard, wanna die?"
Right in front of Kim Soo-min.
Her simps couldn't back down without losing face.
Bloodshot on proving their manhood to bag her.
Half a year later, one might've actually slept with her.
Four guys circled me.
D-Rank exam breathing down their necks, yet they muscled through the nerves to act tough.
Hats off to male lust.
"Stick around after the exam."
"Sun-woo, body itching after half a year without a beating? I'll remind you what a punk you were back then."
Ridiculous. Pathetic.
"Piss off, you stink. Losers."
Tragic. So damn tragic.
"Half the world's women, boys. How retarded do you have to be to rub your dick on trash like her?"
"Don't talk shit about Soo-min! Bastard!"
"I'd sooner lick Da-eun unnie's shit and piss from top to bottom. You guys got stomachs of steel."
"Y-You, Park Sun-woo, you fuck?!"
Kim Soo-min screeched.
No woman sits quiet while getting trashed.
Queen bee rallying her drones.
"Oppa, you gonna let that prick run his mouth?"
"Hey losers, wanna go eat some rice cakes together?"
The drones hesitated.
D-Rank exam had them spooked.
Start trouble, get DQ'd.
Then six months' wait.
Fail D-Rank, and retest was half a year out.
I showed mercy.
"I'll deal with you after. Happy?"
"...You're dead, Park Sun-woo. Dare insult Soo-min? I'll make you kneel and beg her forgiveness."
"Make me, bullshit."
Instant lawsuit threat.
Kim Soo-min and crew backed off.
D-Rank first, settle scores later.
"Next, Kim Soo-min. Come in."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[Park Sun-woo] ─ Dress pretty. I'll be waiting.
[Park Sun-woo] ─ ♥
'Is he actually insane?'
Choi Da-eun wondered as she showered and changed.
'Did he hit his head?'
They'd spent half a year together.
Short if short, long if long.
Enough to get the gist of who Park Sun-woo was.
Park Sun-woo was a moron...
No, an idiot.
Not your average fool—a top-tier one.
But she never dreamed he'd stoop this low.
"A heart? Haaaart?"
Choi Da-eun stared at her phone, scoffing.
That heart emoji at the end was beyond absurd.
"Wow, seriously."
She kept rereading, wondering if it was real.
No wonder he'd kept slithering up—turns out he'd pull crap like this.
Drying her hair took time.
Basic makeup, two minutes pondering outfits.
Hated obeying him, but no choice.
She was at his mercy.
Pastel sky-blue long skirt, white blouse.
On her fierce features, it softened everything nicely.
She changed quick and headed to the parking lot.
—Navigation starting.
Into her parked car, address punched in.
To delete the hostage vid, she channeled Schumacher—floored it, whipped the wheel like a ghost.
Arrived at the exam site in no time.
"...Haven't been here in ages."
Before taking Training Team 4's leadership at Milky Way Guild, she'd come for C-Rank promotion.
Not since.
Not B-Rank ready yet, no reason to drop by.
Choi Da-eun called Park Sun-woo.
"Where you at?"
─ There's a smoking room on the roof. Here.
"Smoking room?"
─ Hurry.
This prick smoking now?
Who knew.
Never seen him smoke.
Didn't peg him for a smoker.
Choi Da-eun entered the Association exam building and climbed to the roof.
One smoking area up there—more shack than room.
Figures inside.
Back of his head gave Park Sun-woo away instantly.
'If he doesn't delete that video... I'll kill him.'
Park Sun-woo was talking with a group.
Half-argument from the looks.
30 meters between Choi Da-eun and the room—before she could call out.
"Fuck, you moron prick!"
One from the group swung at Park Sun-woo.
He dodged and counterattacked.
They tangled into a brawl.
"Give me back my 20 million!"
"You sexually harassed her, didn't you?!"
"Bullshit, you ugly bitch!"
Park Sun-woo's fist shattered a nose.
He pummeled without regard for gender.
'What the hell, that idiot...!'
She came at his summons, and this shitshow hits?
Choi Da-eun bolted to the room, prying the groups apart.
"Huff, huff! Huff!"
Kim Soo-min and the guys sported nosebleeds standard-issue.
Park Sun-woo looked untouched, pristine.
"Park Sun-woo, how'd the D-Rank go? Pass?"
Choi Da-eun glared, asking.
Cheer for D-Rank promotion? Delete the video then?
Infuriating, but orders were orders.
Park Sun-woo smirked and bellowed.
"Kim Soo-min? I never groped trash like you! I got eyes, fuck!"
"?"
He yanked Choi Da-eun's wrist.
She couldn't process the chaos.
Reaction lagged.
"Gotta be at least this hot to be my girl! Compare you to Da-eun unnie, you flounder bitch!"
Snapped to: cradled in his arms.
Park Sun-woo wrapped her waist like lovers.