The Offer
He's an A-rank hunter, alright.
The moment I activated Black Dragon, he reacted instantly, drawing his sword.
Jeong Chan-woo, sword in hand, immediately channeled mana throughout his body.
A deep navy mana, sparkling like the night sky, rose from him.
Like he was flaunting his A-rank status, he compressed the overflowing mana into his blade in one go.
At that instant, the sword began to gleam with a bright yellow light.
Celestial Body - Seven Stars
Slash—
A hollow cutting sound echoed through the air.
Jeong Chan-woo swung at empty space.
There was nothing coming at me visually.
He'd just sliced the air.
But on reflex, I raised my right arm.
A faint pain seeping through the scales told me that had been the right move.
He's an A-rank hunter, alright.
If I hadn't reacted, that attack would've ended me right there.
Gives me chills for real.
Seeing me block it, Jeong Chan-woo immediately raised his sword again.
But.
"Block this."
"……!"
I'd already yanked my blocking arm back with all my strength.
Smoke - Mist Shadow
Black mist began rising from my arm.
The vicious mana lurking within made every hair on my body stand on end.
My instincts screamed.
Block it.
Jeong Chan-woo pulled back his swinging sword and laid it sideways to block the fist coming at his face.
"Hup!"
Krunch!
A storm of inky black mist exploded from my fist.
The swirling black fog surged toward Jeong Chan-woo with ferocious momentum.
Just that alone started cratering the floor.
The training ground floor that only got wrecked when S-rank hunters trained there.
This attack couldn't be blocked.
Judging that, Jeong Chan-woo tilted his sword at an angle.
"Nngh……!"
Crunch!
His legs, braced firmly against the ground, slid back.
His arms went numb, trembling like they might snap.
Biting down hard, Jeong Chan-woo glanced behind him.
The black mist he'd barely deflected was still gouging the floor as it raged on.
This wasn't someone he could take lightly.
So Jeong Chan-woo poured even more mana into his sword.
It's getting brighter.
The light pouring from the sword grew stronger by the second.
I couldn't let that light intensify any further.
Grinding my teeth, I slammed my fist into the ground with all my might.
"Ugh!?"
Jeong Chan-woo staggered from the close-range quake.
As he stumbled, the building light flickered for a split second.
I didn't miss the opening, stepping forward and thrusting my fist out.
Smoke - Mist Shadow
Black mist shot toward Jeong Chan-woo again.
He'd get pushed back this time too.
Then I'd follow up in the gap.
Thinking that, I charged forward with the mist.
But.
"This time."
The shooting black mist.
"It'll be different."
Was cleaved in half by the now-radiant sword of Jeong Chan-woo.
The Smoke split and scattered instantly.
The protective barrier that had shielded me evaporated in a flash.
In the spot where the black mist that had even blocked my vision cleared—
There stood Jeong Chan-woo, sword raised high overhead like he'd been waiting.
"This time, I'll say it."
Block this.
Celestial Body - New Moon
Jeong Chan-woo's sword came straight down.
In that moment, all the light gathered in the blade shot out in the shape of a new moon, hurtling toward me.
Fast.
Strong.
The instant it met that slash, every hair on my body stood on end.
Even blocking with my right arm, I was sure my body would shatter.
So I thrust my right hand forward, spreading the Smoke out wide in all directions.
Black mist enveloped me in a hemispherical dome.
Soon after, Jeong Chan-woo's slash collided with the mist.
"Ngh……."
The mist kept trying to scatter.
The bright celestial light was pushing through the black fog.
Eyes wide, I reinforced the faltering mist, holding it firm.
Synchronization Rate 1.6%
Once the new moon slash failed to pierce the black mist barrier, it began losing its light.
The moment its glow halved—
I clenched my right fist hard, detonating the black mist barrier.
A muffled boom, and the black mist scattered in all directions.
It swallowed the new moon slash whole, vaporizing it.
Right after the blast, I dropped my right hand low and charged forward.
Jeong Chan-woo gathered light into his sword again, lowering it as well.
Sword versus fist.
First to connect wins.
Teeth gritted, I thrust my fist out; Jeong Chan-woo swung his half-charged sword horizontally.
I'll hit first!
The moment I braced for the pain—
"Whoa. Why're you two fighting like you wanna kill each other?"
A voice came from overhead, and at the same time—
"Guh?"
"Gahk!"
A massive pressure slammed down on me and Jeong Chan-woo.
Our charging bodies crashed to the floor mid-motion.
Faceplanted, I struggled to lift my head and look ahead.
Jeong Chan-woo was smashed down in the exact same pose.
What the hell?
It felt like gravity had spiked just in our space.
I wanted to get up, but I couldn't.
Then, a pair of white heels landed lightly beside me.
The owner strolled over casually, then crouched down.
"Nice to meet you, Black Dragon. Or should I say Han Mir?"
"……Wh-who are you?"
"You don't know me? It's me. Seong Yu-mi, one of the eleven S-rank hunters in the country. Ring any bells if I say Magic King?"
The white-haired beauty with red eyes smiled down at my immobilized form.
"Wanna chat somewhere else for a bit?"
* * *
Cheon Yuna stared ahead in confusion.
Jeong Chan-woo had called number 738, Han Mir entered the training ground.
His right hand transformed into that black beast-like thing again.
This time I'll get a good look at the fight.
That thought was interrupted when the training ground walls went dark, like the power cut out.
The walls turned pitch black, dyeing everything in shadow.
She couldn't see inside anymore.
"What the heck."
"Is it broken?"
"Damn it, my turn's forever away!"
Several minutes passed.
The blackened walls stayed dark.
And the firmly shut door wouldn't budge for anyone trying to enter.
As complaints peaked—
The walls cleared like power restored, revealing a disheveled Jeong Chan-woo, breathing heavily as he bowed in apology.
"Sorry. There was a device malfunction; I fixed it."
An apology from an A-rank hunter.
From one of the top prospects, no less.
No one there was hot-headed enough to chew him out, no matter how pissed.
Except one.
"Um, excuse me…… where'd examinee 738 go……?"
Everyone but Cheon Yuna.
Trembling slightly, she raised her hand quietly.
Jeong Chan-woo eyed her briefly, then turned away and spoke.
"Examinee 739, come in."
* * *
I set down the towel I'd used to wipe my face and quietly scanned the room.
Where the hell is this?
I closed my eyes, recalling what just happened.
Teleport…… felt just like moving between floors in the tower.
In that situation, all I could say was "got it."
The moment I did, Seong Yu-mi grinned, saying it was a smart choice, then snapped her fingers—activating her teleport skill effortlessly.
A floating sensation like ascending tower floors.
My vision blinked once, and suddenly I was in this room.
She handed me the towel, apologized for the rough handling, then vanished.
So I'd been sitting here waiting……
"How long's this gonna take?"
It's dragging on.
What the hell's keeping her?
Right then, a cluster of bright light gathered in one corner.
"Whew…… you really trashed the place."
Seong Yu-mi, rubbing one shoulder tiredly.
She trudged over to where I sat and plopped down opposite me.
"Hmm…… where to start."
Tap, tap.
Arms crossed, she drummed her fingers on her chin and spoke.
"First off, Black Dragon. Sorry, but mind if I ask a quick question?"
"Shoot."
"When'd you clear the Tutorial Tower?"
"Last Thursday, I think?"
"……Yeah, figured."
She let out a small sigh, like she'd expected it.
"Awakening registration last Friday. That testimony online was Friday too. Gate was near Gangnam, so you hit it right after registering."
"Yup."
Even an S-rank like Seong Yu-mi knew all that.
Now I kinda got why Cheon Yuna apologized like that.
"Tutorial time was 4444.4 hours…… matches the missing period exactly, but what the hell. Planned it?"
"……."
I didn't plan shit.
Some crazy-ass Black Dragon did.
I kept my mouth shut, dodging the question.
Seong Yu-mi stared at me like I was nuts for a second, then cleared her throat and continued.
"Not the time to get into missing reports or tower records, but I looked you up quick, Black Dragon. Guessed most of it?"
Snap.
With a casual finger flick, she summoned a stack of documents and a few canned drinks.
Rolling juice cans.
Papers scattered on the table below—clearly all about me, even without reading.
"You're no villain, Black Dragon. Just a fresh newbie who busted out of the Tutorial Tower."
I stared at her silently.
Seong Yu-mi chuckled softly at my demeanor and uncrossed her arms.
"So, the main point. Black Dragon, you got nowhere to go, right?"
"Why ask?"
"If not, how about joining the Association as an affiliated hunter……."
"Nah."
"……Huh?"
My instant no, without a second's hesitation.
Caught off guard by the speed, a dumb sound slipped from Seong Yu-mi's lips.
"W-wait. This is a sweet deal? Affiliated hunters get steady paychecks, tax breaks, you know?"
"Lemme ask you something then. How many days can an affiliated hunter vanish for?"
"Well…… no, you can't."
"Exactly. Can't do it."
Affiliated hunter with the Association?
I knew they raked in cash.
They're like civil servants, but special cases.
Full salary plus selling gate byproducts like regular hunters.
Double income.
Everyone knows it's a money job.
Perfect for my Han River-view apartment dream.
But.
Problem is, I've got the tower to hit.
Black Dragon's deal I already accepted, plus whatever unique skill clearing it unlocks.
One reason's plenty; I've got two.
How could I say yes?
It's an offer I want to accept but can't.
I looked away from Seong Yu-mi's still-dazed face and grabbed a rolling juice can.
Pssht—