Chapter 49

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 49

Chapter Title: Ji-an Choi (1)

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Birthdate the same, name the same—but the hanja characters spelling it out? Those I'd agonized over and chosen myself.

Who knew you could whip up a whole new identity just like that?

I couldn't help but marvel at Kim Geun-cheong's abilities.

!

Cha Se-ra had taken on the role of relaying messages to Kim Geun-cheong as the streamer, but after that, she'd just waited quietly for things to wrap up as instructed.

Of course, Kim Geun-cheong taking the matter seriously from the start probably had something to do with Cha Se-ra being an active B-rank Hunter, so she wasn't entirely without merit.

!

In changing my identity, all my previous digital records had been completely overhauled, and the issue with the landlord had been neatly resolved too.

But that led to one new problem: I needed to find a new place to live.

"Meowww."

"Yeah, see you."

Kim Geun-cheong had personally promised during negotiations to secure Association support for housing, so until then, I'd decided to keep crashing at Cha Se-ra's place like before.

Truth be told, I had more than enough from my earnings to buy a place outright, but turning down a free offer from them would've been rude.

In the end, at the ripe age of twenty, I'd scored my own home—a perfect triumph of the human spirit.

!

An achievement even Joo-on Ha, the orphanage's sole Seoul National University admittee, couldn't touch.

Me, an orphan high school dropout, climbing this far—what else could you call it but a dragon from the gutters?

'Hm.'

My identity had changed, but nothing seismic stirred inside me.

Still, some things had definitely shifted.

My gender, for one. And everything from here on out.

"So? How'd it go...?"

"I've registered. Heading in for the exam in two days."

Any old ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠drifter might get a pass, but secretly grooming a genius Weathermancer like me? That could spark international incidents.

So the Association rep suggested registering me as an Awakener first, running an off-the-books exam, then deciding next steps.

Securing the bare minimum legitimacy, in other words.

"You gonna be a Hunter?"

"Dunno."

"Guild's Forest. Forest Guild only."

"..."

Ignoring Cha Se-ra's not-so-subtle recruitment attempts, I headed out in light clothes on the appointed day to meet Kim Geun-cheong.

And there, I met none other than Im Seong-su, the top dog of the Korean Hunter Association.

"Hahaha! Nice to meet you. You must be Ji-an? I'm Im Seong-su, the Association President."

"..."

Association President? No one had breathed a word of this...?

"Eh? Did I forget to mention?"

Of course you did. Kim Geun-cheong had said he went way back with President Im, and they did seem thick as thieves.

"Man, this guy was sharp as a tack with me. But seeing you up close, I get why."

Im Seong-su gave my head a quick pat with his bear-paw hand, then led us to the exam room.

'Hm.'

Daring to tousle the great Pharaoh's mane? But I was a magnanimous ruler, and as a Korean Awakener, I'd show respect to the nation's Association head.

So for now, I'd graciously let it slide.

"The folks helping today are tight-lipped aides, so no worries. Here, try channeling some mana into this."

A magic stone pulsing dark as it devoured light—the kind I'd seen meme'd all over Archive.

I didn't even approach, just flicked my hand and scattered mana. The stone exploded in a puff of glittering dust.

Crack!

Thud thud thud.

"Hoo."

"Mana levels... off the charts, huh?"

Measurement impossible.

There'd been overseas cases, but a first for Korea, they said.

Mana totals didn't strictly dictate strength, but more was always better—a legit big deal.

"Alright... let's keep going."

I demoed a few abilities briefly, answered questions at an appropriate level.

Even with the Association shrinking my range to province-level for the test, President Im was so hyped I felt secondhand embarrassment.

"No question, S-rank. To wield this power with zero training or experience..."

Im Seong-su beamed at me like national treasure incarnate, and the long exam wrapped up.

But the real meat came next.

"Impressive power aside... we can't ignore the uniqueness. Other countries will take notice."

Freely commanding the weather for free? Superpowers would lose their minds.

As Im Seong-su opened his mouth again, Kim Geun-cheong cut in, reining him back. Then he turned to me gravely.

"Strictly speaking, it's your call. Korea's not the only option."

"Sheesh, this guy..."

Im Seong-su shook his head like he couldn't be helped, but signaled to let him speak.

"Mark my words—no country won't covet your power. You have the right to negotiate with them legally. And this old man can help."

"..."

Not wrong, but my answer was set.

As I'd said before, foreign countries were a hard no—instinctively repulsive after everything.

"Yeah, I'll Hunter for Korea."

"Ahem! Good, good choice. We'll meet any terms. Tell me what you need."

Im Seong-su feigned nonchalance but grinned ear-to-ear; Kim Geun-cheong respected my pick.

Korea, the blessed nation.

Though personally, birthing a great one like me was Korea's own prowess and luck.

We were all worthy to bask in this golden era's glory.

"...All done?"

A woman sidled up, handing the two middle-aged men coffee before passing me a warm hot chocolate.

Na Do-yeon, Kim Geun-cheong's aide, right?

But she kept her distance from me like I spooked her, tilting my head curiously.

"...The spirits fear you greatly, Lady Ji-an. Even now, they're urging me not to provoke the sky's incarnation."

Nature's mana-wielders, sensing my greatness on instinct, it seemed.

But I wasn't that picky or scary.

I summoned a gentle breeze, shaped it into a slide. Do-yeon's face lit up; she said the spirits were thrilled.

Whoooosh.

Swoooosh.

Are they there right now? Something's been tugging at me since earlier.

Having diligently practiced mana-based body enhancement, I applied the principle to boost my vision.

Suddenly, like tuning a radio, the spirits' hazy forms sharpened. Following the sensation, I saw them clearly.

"Oh..."

Unlocking new powers on the fly—what were the limits of my genius?

Gawking at the cuter-than-expected, pint-sized spirits, they noticed my gaze and peeked back curiously.

'Hm.'

Mischief struck; I threw my arms up in a lesser panda threat pose. They scattered in panic.

Guess I'm no threat to humans, but tiny spirits feel it?

Lost in such trivial thoughts, I caught Na Do-yeon staring at me like I was the cutest critter ever.

"..."

What? What's the big deal?

I turned away, cheeks faintly flushed, and soon rode back to Cha Se-ra's in Do-yeon's car.

Wonder if lesser pandas feel this way when gawked at.