Chapter 15
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Should I Just Quit?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘Should I just quit?’
‘Anyway, I can see my Status Window too. Doesn’t that mean I contributed to killing that Hobgoblin somehow?’
At first, he couldn’t wrap his head around it. He killed a Hobgoblin? Who? Me? Kim Cheol-min was about to blurt out that he hadn’t done any such thing. But the moment the guild leader mentioned wanting to recruit him as a guild member later on, those words got stuck in his throat.
He could become the kind of Hunter he’d always admired. And not just any Hunter, but a promising prospect backed directly by the guild leader.
Kim Cheol-min didn’t want to let that opportunity slip away. If he thought about it, he hadn’t exactly lied outright. They’d jumped to conclusions on their own.
Whatever the reason, luckily no one had come forward in the past three days claiming they’d killed the Hobgoblin.
Now there was just one last hurdle. Once he cleared it, he could start his Hunter career with the full support of All-Kill Guild.
‘The only issue is my level’s a bit low… Eh, I’ll figure out some excuse.’
Kim Cheol-min changed into clothes that looked like hospital gowns and stepped into the measurement room.
Measuring equipment lined the walls. They were supposed to detect mana resonance or something, but honestly, he had no clue.
He stood in the center and waited about a minute before hearing that it was done. When he went back out, Lee Chun-bae was there with a puzzled look on his face. His heart sank.
“W-Why? What’s wrong?”
“No, your level came out kinda low. Isn’t there something wrong with the equipment?”
Lee Chun-bae asked the staff member over and over if everything was okay, but the answer was always that there were no issues. Kim Cheol-min glanced around nervously before asking,
“What’s wrong? What level did it show?”
“Weird. It’s 3. This doesn’t make sense. What does your Status Window say?”
“Mine… shows 3 too. Actually…”
Kim Cheol-min figured it was over and was about to come clean. But Lee Chun-bae muttered first.
“Then it must be that, huh?”
“Huh? That what?”
“Yeah. There was one thing that bugged me.”
“W-What… was it?”
“The way you killed the Hobgoblin was different from others. You didn’t attack it directly like everyone else—you dropped it off the rooftop. Maybe that’s why you didn’t absorb as much mana?”
In reality, just that slight resistance when the Hobgoblin sliced off his arm had counted as participating in the battle, instantly awakening him and pushing him to level 3. But no one knew that.
“Could that be it?”
“Probably. You can’t help absorbing less than if you kill it directly. The body was far away, so some mana must’ve dissipated. Anyway, what a shame. You took down a Hobgoblin, and your level’s only 3.”
“N-No, it’s fine. I can get more later.”
“Yeah. Don’t be too disappointed. What matters is that you’ve got the guts and skill to take down a Hobgoblin. And level 3 isn’t that low. Most people start at 1. Sure, someone might say a 2-level difference isn’t a big deal, but they’d be dead wrong. Ten stat points is huge.”
“…I see.”
Kim Cheol-min was so relieved his lie hadn’t been exposed that he missed the person eavesdropping from a corner.
He had no idea it was Cha In-hyeok, the guy he’d always looked down on.
* * *
‘They can’t see anything besides level, huh. Good. Now I can relax.’
Kim Cheol-min becoming an Awakener was annoying news, but at least his biggest worry was gone.
Plus, he’d picked up some valuable side info.
‘So normal people get 5 stat points per level?’
When he first saw the message [Due to Half-Human Half-Demon penalty, you only receive 8 points per level up.], he’d felt a bit cheated.
‘Half-Human Half-Demon is bad enough, but a penalty on top? This is discrimination!’
But apparently, others only got 5 stat points.
‘So the penalty came from my human half.’
Awakeners get 5 points, but as Half-Human Half-Demon, he got 8. Full Demon King types like his mom probably got over 10.
He was actually at an advantage over others. Gaining 3 extra stats per level.
Of course, that didn’t mean he could dump points recklessly.
‘Gotta raise stats carefully. Haven’t settled on a main weapon yet.’
He’d learned this while gathering Hunter info over the past three days: Hunters chose main weapons based on their stats and fighting style.
High strength users went for heavy weapons like axes or hammers, high agility for nimble ones like daggers or sabers.
Toughness-focused tanks dragged fights out with thick armor and shields, while intelligence-heavy mages kept gear light to minimize stamina drain.
‘What type am I?’
Hard to pin down yet. Illusion made him lean intelligence, but Stealth-shattering the Hobgoblin’s knee screamed agility.
On the flip side, he’d been overpowered in strength and got injured, then raised vitality to heal. Tough to drop any.
‘Whew. No rush. I’ll figure it out. Heading to Hunter Academy means weapon training anyway. I’ll find what suits me then.’
As he sorted his thoughts, Kim Cheol-min and his thug buddies left the measurement room.
He confirmed no one was inside and entered. With nothing to do during the measurement, he checked his Status Window.
[Cha In-hyeok. Lv 7. (96.8%)] [Mana 1/7]
[Strength 20, Agility 20, Vitality 23, Intelligence 20]
The staff might freak. A first-time measure at level 7? He didn’t want attention, but levels weren’t controllable, so he’d deal.
He stepped out thinking that. Surprisingly, the staff handed over the results sheet with zero reaction.
“You’re an Awakener, confirmed. Here’s your certificate. You’ll register, so check if any personal info’s wrong.”
“Uh… but it says level 1?”
“Yes. Level 1 Awakener. Congrats. Please verify your personal details.”
“Huh? Okay.”
He tilted his head at the level 1 on the sheet. What? Is this right? Status Window clearly said 7—why 1 here?
Then it hit him. He’d spent 4 mana on Moemoe Kyun, Gobling, Marbling, and Ppurirng Ppurirng, plus Illusion and Stealth for a total of 6 in use.
‘So active mana isn’t measured?’
The device only seemed to detect remaining mana. Nothing else explained it.
Level 1… Dodged the spotlight, but felt oddly underrated.
‘Nah. Could be a good thing. This is that pattern I’ve only heard about, right?’
That pattern. Hiding weakness in peacetime, then BAM—reveal true power in crisis.
The ‘hidden strength nerd’ pattern. No, ‘hidden strength protagonist’ pattern.
‘Awesome! I’m in that pattern now. Guys underestimate me, I play dumb, then hit ’em with “You’re already dead!” and turn the tables? Ugh, just imagining it’s thrilling.’
He checked his pants weren’t damp and headed to the waiting room. Min-ah, waiting, checked his sheet.
“Huh? Level 1?”
She tilted her head after seeing it.
“What? Something off?”
“No. Honestly, I thought you might’ve been the one who killed the Hobgoblin. You saved me back then, and went to rescue the guy on the roof…”
“H-Haha. Sorry to disappoint. Truth is, I didn’t kill the Goblin—I barely escaped. The roof… I headed there but bailed when I realized the Hobgoblin was midway.”
No real explanation, so he bullshitted. Disappointing her sucked, but he couldn’t spill his secrets.
“Ah!”
“Sorry for letting you down.”
“D-Don’t say that! Who cares about levels? Courage to step up and save people—that’s what matters.”
“Huh? Ahaha. Really?”
“Of course! To me, you’re a hero. You risked your life to save me. That’s a real hero.”
“Uh, yeah. Thanks. Haha.”
Ironically, this one line hit harder than all the reasons he needed to become a Hunter.
Hearing it finally solidified his resolve.
* * *
Resolve didn’t solve everything. One final hurdle remained.
He kept saying ‘final,’ but this was truly the last of the last. Convincing… Dad.
He bought soju for it. Serious talks needed booze. He poured, served, and drank like he’d learned.
Dad seemed to sense the mood, waiting for him to speak. He barely pried his lips open.
“Dad, I wanna be a Hunter. The Gate opened, and I Awakened…”
“Go for it.”
“Huh?”
Wait, instant yes?
“Y-You’re not stopping me?”
“Why would I? You struggled to say it, so I know you thought it through. Gotta respect that.”
Dad’s steady gaze felt like pure trust. His chest tightened.
“Ah… Thanks, Dad.”
“Don’t need anything else. Just stay healthy. Love you, son.”
“Love you, Dad.”
Touching. Dad believed in him this much.
“Oh, you apply to Hunter Academy?”
“Yeah. Start mid-March.”
“Time to prep then. You know there’s a fitness test on entry?”
“Yeah.”
Hunter Academy ranked you via fitness test on day one.
Top ranks got better perks, so everyone went all-out.
“Build base fitness before going. Not a vacation, right?”
“Y-Yeah. Not playtime.”
“So, no games for a while.”
“Huh? Why’d it go there?”
His voice rose at ‘no games.’ Dad’s glare sharpened.
“What? Gonna slack off and game while prepping? That your half-assed resolve?”
“No… I mean, yeah. Got it. No games.”
“Cut back on anime too… Wait, no—starting workouts today. Right now.”
“Huh? Now?”
Booze turning to workout… Lightning bolt? He eyed Dad, but Dad pointed firmly at the door.
“Obviously. How much time left? You think fitness builds overnight? Start now to barely make it by March.”
“But today…”
“Son. Dreams don’t run. You run from yourself. You chasing your dream?”
“Urgh. Fine. I’ll jog.”
No countering Dad’s Crayon Shin-chan quote. He caved.
He changed into training clothes and jogged the park for an hour. Bit tired, needed water.
But the sounds from home were off.
Bang-! Bang, bangbang!!
Like spraying gunfire. Flashing TV lights.
Dad gripping the controller, tense-faced.
“Dad?”
Dad, deep in the video game, spotted him late and froze like stone.
“O-Oh, back? Why so soon? Workout?”
Ha… Should I just quit?