Flaws in the Ranking System
It hit the upper limit! The Awakener Ranking System. There are a few loopholes in it. Since no scale or standard in the world is perfect, it's unavoidable if unavoidable.
The ranking system, established based on mana—the biggest criterion dividing Awakeners from non-Awakeners—is also judged through mana measurement. It's reasonably reliable. Having a lot of mana means you've fought fiercely in Gates countless times, and that experience makes you strong, plain and simple.
But there are those like America's youngest S-rank, who awaken with an innate massive mana pool from the start. And conversely, some compensate for low mana with other skills. Lee Seoyul was closer to the latter right now.
As a regressor who'd crossed through hellish battlefields endlessly, she had experience on her side. Her skills had reached the pinnacle, and in terms of combat technique alone, no one could beat her—no exaggeration.
But this was just a few years after regression. She knew the path ahead, so her growth was explosive, but her absolute mana quantity was still lacking. That's why she ranked B in the evaluation. Like the discord between realm and body in wuxia novels. Time would fix it, and once it did, she'd rocket straight to S-rank potential.
Even so, she was factually B-rank now. But just as not all B-ranks are equal, she was beyond B—practically A-rank. If she dueled a real A-rank with real swords, she'd win. So the situation wasn't all that strange.
"A B-rank Hunter taking down a pack of Desert Naga solo...? That's impossible."
The Desert Naga had sensed the group's movement and ambushed them. Against them, Lee Seoyul fought a near-divine battle while protecting nearly twenty people. A guild office worker watching couldn't hide his awe.
They say you see as much as you know. To the clueless, it was just impressive. But to someone who'd worked at a guild and seen other Hunters, it looked different.
"Hiding her rank for some reason? Yeah, that must be it."
No way someone that strong was really B-rank! He shook his head firmly.
Eri, carrying her grandmother on her back beside the locals, showed interest.
"How strong do you think this Hunter really is?"
"Hmm... Not S, obviously. Conservatively, maybe A-?"
It was subjective, based on feel rather than evidence, but he said it with conviction.
"Definitely no ordinary skill... Why's someone like that here?"
Lee Seoyul had said she was on vacation, heard about the Break, and came to check it out. But no one bought it at face value. What country would let a promising talent like that get tangled in danger abroad during leave? Normally, she'd get a recall order. Eri fell silent at the local's puzzled words.
How could she explain this absurdity was all to bring her to Korea? They'd just call her delusional. So Eri kept quiet, thinking to herself.
Does someone like her see that much value in me—value even I don't know?">
Rather than flattered, Asakura Eri felt troubled. What if it turned out she had no such value, just a misunderstanding?
To her, another local offered kindness, wanting to repay the favor.
"Asakura, you okay? Want me to carry Grandmother instead?"
Eri snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head.
"No, I'm fine."
"But... from the apartment to here, without a break, carrying her the whole way."
The city had become the desert itself. Hot, dry, sand making every step a chore. Trekking through that with someone on your back, and acting unfazed? The local insisted, but Eri truly was fine. Her throat wasn't even dry—she felt energized.
'Huh?'
She realized it late.
'Was I always this fit? What's going on...? No way?'
It was the moment Asakura Eri became aware of the change in herself.
"Whoa?!"
"Kyaaah!"
"Uwaaaah...."
The ground shook like an earthquake, sand surging like the sea. A massive shadow began crawling up from within.
Seeing it, Eri gasped amid the dust.
"Eek, s-spiked scorpion?!"
Someone who knew monsters shouted.
"No way! What spiked scorpion is that big...?"
Spiked Scorpion. True to its name, a scorpion armored in spines head to tail, like it had stolen a hedgehog's outfit. Normally around two meters. But this one? Unbelievably huge.
Ten meters. Eyeballing it, at least that big, though its full body wasn't visible for precise measure. Probably the boss. As if confirming, the Desert Naga fighting Lee Seoyul bowed worshipfully to it.
Seoyul retreated toward Eri's group in the gap.
"Um, over there...!"
Eri swallowed hard and said to her.
"I... I think I've awakened."
The spiked scorpion's emergence turned her "what if" into reality. Lightning struck her mind. Then her soul and spirit touched a distant realm, and like breathing or moving limbs, she instinctively knew how to wield her new power.
Classic awakening.
'Now I can fight too...!'
Rebounding from past helplessness, flooded with omnipotence from her fresh awakening, Asakura Eri burned with fighting spirit toward the spiked scorpion.
"Is that true? What ability?"
"H-Hard to explain. Utility type. Ever read comics? It's like a contract..."
Done. Hearing that, Lee Seoyul clenched her fist unconsciously and nodded.
Seeing it, Eri spoke with newfound confidence.
"I'll help!"
Awakened or not, she couldn't charge a monster like that head-on. Even drunk on omnipotence, she wasn't that senseless. She'd support Seoyul's fight with her ability.
Seoyul nodded at her.
"Let's run."
"Yes! ...Yes?"
What? Wasn't this the part where they boldly stand and fight?
As Eri reeled in confusion, Seoyul said calmly.
"Do you know why Hunters are called Hunters?"
Early Awakeners—like the Sword Saint or Kang Sora before S-rank, grinding on the frontlines like dogs—were once called Hire-ons or Guardians. But those faded fast, replaced by "Hunter."
Simple reason. Titles like protector or hero intoxicated some into fighting needless battles—pure hero syndrome. "Hunt monsters, don't duel them," so Hunter stuck.
Smart, considering how names shape perception. If still "Guardians," you'd see reckless fools losing winnable fights or dying pointlessly.
Lee Seoyul, hating wasted resources most, could win but saw no need to fight the boss scorpion. She chose escape without hesitation.
"I'll draw its attention. Safe zone's close—signal when ready, lead them out."
Eri felt a pang of disappointment but refocused on her grandmother's weight.
'New Awakeners get aggressive from mana, huh? True.'
She'd heard mana acts like hormones, making even mild people aggressive early on. Experiencing it, she got it.
"Hoo."
Seoyul sheathed her dagger, drew another weapon from her waist. Mana surged—blade extended from the hilt into a bastard sword.
The scorpion lumbered toward the group, thud thud. She quietly aimed her blade's tip.
Then, Tae-san Ap-jeong.
A slow strike, heavy as splitting a mountain, smashed down on the spiked scorpion. Fluids sprayed, monster screamed.
"Now!"
At the signal, Eri bolted, herding people out of the Break zone, thinking.
'She could win just fighting it?!'
What was that woman? Strength that sparked such questions naturally.
Others felt the same.
"If Japan had Hunters like that..."
"Not just strong, but smart ones who act like that..."
"Korea, with Hunters like her... jealous."
Japan had plenty of strong Hunters—11 S-ranks, absolute power surpassing Korea's. But so what? The one saving them, baiting in crisis for escape time, was Korea's—not Japan's.
Maybe that's why. Eri reflexively asked her grandmother on her back.
"Grandma, wanna go live in Korea?"
Clear enough mid-run, despite the risk of biting her tongue.
"Sure, if my granddaughter wants."
Her grandmother chimed in. With the contract anyway, but this made emigration feel light.
And meanwhile, in Korea—drawing envy from the Asakura family and survivors just from one Hunter's presence—
"N-No, Seo Dami Hunter? I'm grateful, but... asking for spoilers on stories I haven't even written yet...?"
"Please! I'm such a huge fan, I can't stand not knowing!"
"If you're a fan, shouldn't you avoid spoilers and follow live serialization...?"
The actual S-rank Hunter was doing this.