Gauging Potential
Once an ordinary person awakens, they undergo an awakening exam. That's when they truly feel their dramatically enhanced physical abilities. And around that time... they start imagining it.
'What if... I could be a hunter?'
Somehow, offers start pouring in from all directions. Encouraging them to chase their hunter dreams. Telling them it's not too late. Urging them to believe in their potential.
And sure enough, plenty of hunters are born that way.
But here's the funny part—the ironic truth. Those with truly special, high-growth potential are actually the least likely to become hunters.
'Just like this kid who came looking for me...'
Even after awakening, while intuitive stat boosts like strength are easy to sense, skills are a whole different story. Figuring out what they do, how to use them—it's damn near impossible.
That's why there are all sorts of testing facilities... but the skills they easily detect are usually simple, low-level ones.
In that context, starting your awakening with basically no apparent ability—like this kid? That's way harder than having something common like C+ Strength Enhancement when it comes to becoming a hunter.
'Of course, once they grow, they'd outclass those hunters by miles...'
So if I really wanted this kid to become a hunter, what I needed to do was simple. If possible, help him turn his ability into something usable—a bare minimum skill he could wield.
If not, at least convince him there was potential worth pursuing, give him a reason to keep grinding.
Lost in those thoughts, I'd arrived at the second-floor practice room with the little guy before I knew it.
"Whoa... this is PER's practice room...! The facilities are insanely top-notch! Way better than Hunter Academy's...!"
"Yeah, well, it's brand new."
"Ooooh...! So what are you gonna show me? Personal skills like yours, Mr. Lee Chang-hyun? Or how to handle mana gear? Or maybe superpowers...!"
The kid's dreams were sky-high. Freshly awakened and already fantasizing about flashy techniques? Still a long way off.
But...
'Might as well do some fan service.'
Who knew? He might watch closely, get inspired, and accidentally generate a skill. Either way, I needed time to check his ability, so having him try a bunch of stuff was the plan.
"Wanna hop in?"
I offered the kid my hand. The practice room was already set up as planned—the map forming right on cue. A standard urban district map, one he'd see plenty in 3rd Division League.
Once the map switched over, I spoke up again. Not to the kid, but the other way.
"I know you're watching. Wanna be his practice partner?"
"...!"
It was Yi Yeon-ju, who'd been practicing solo off in the distance, sneaking glances. Maybe because she'd come here over Jeong Hye-yeon's thing last time? She still seemed awkward around me, avoiding eye contact.
Whatever. I wasn't bothered, but for her, it was probably her first time acting out like that—must've hit hard.
Anyway, she was perfect for sparring with this kid right now.
'A battle of the weak.'
She was pulling solid supporter work without relying much on her ability these days.
"...Got it."
Thankfully, no refusal from Yi Yeon-ju.
But hilariously, the kid was the one unimpressed.
"I thought you were gonna spar with me, Mr. Lee Chang-hyun? She's just... always running away... Tch."
He trailed off, but the grumble said it all. Kids sure were blunt—good or bad.
Yi Yeon-ju's face didn't look like she'd go easy just 'cause he was a kid, though.
'Fair enough. Even I'd struggle to hold back against some 3rd Division rookie talking smack before debut.'
Besides, this Yi Yeon-ju was a whole different person from her past self now.
"Give it a shot. Beat her once, and I'll spar you myself."
"Alright...! Deal!"
The kid marched toward Yi Yeon-ju with swagger.
***
As the match was about to start, word must've spread—some PER teammates started trickling into the practice room. Probably to watch Yi Yeon-ju vs. the little squirt.
"Who you got winning?"
"Come on... even as a supporter, you saying our teammate's a joke?"
"Ooh, team spirit~"
The spectator seats turned rowdy in seconds.
"I'm betting on the kid. Fifty thousand won, all in."
Kim Do-jun kicked it off.
"What? Even Yi Yeon-ju's got experience... I'll gladly take that fifty thou~."
Yoon Han-gyeol shot back in disbelief, eyeing Kim Do-jun, but the guy was rock-solid. Like he knew something.
"You think Lee Chang-hyun drags in some random nobody?"
"...!"
'Oh... guy's got a solid read on me now...'
Not entirely accurate, but after all this team time, his instincts were sharp.
Chit-chat paused. Soon enough, the prepared Yi Yeon-ju and kid kicked off.
'Rules are 1v1 rank match... nothing special.'
Pure basics, head-to-head.
Match starts—Yi Yeon-ju bolts. Probably using Position Tracking to pinpoint the kid, Lee Jeong-hun.
'Actively hunting his position... going for first strike, huh.'
Smart play, leveraging her edge. First move usually wins, especially in the ability user world.
"Ugh...! Sneaky Yi Yeon-ju. Hitting a newbie first strike? Lame!"
First strike could mean ending it before the opponent even activates.
Kim Do-jun knew that. And so did I.
'And Yi Yeon-ju won't stop there. She'll aim to one-shot.'
Spot on. She used her position intel to lob a Mana Bomber from his blind spot.
'Blind spot toss? No Mana Shield block, direct hit. Game over. But...'
Can't have a pro vs. a clueless kid with no handicap—that's no fun, no help for Yi Yeon-ju either.
Mutual benefit meant brutal, drawn-out fights against equals. That's where growth happens.
"Jeong-hun. Mana Bomber right to your noggin."
"Chang-hyun, no way... you're..."
Yoon Han-gyeol gawked as I whispered into my earpiece.
"Telling the kid everything?"
Who told Kim Do-jun to bet fifty thou? Never said no handicaps.
Yoon Han-gyeol pouted, but whatever—not important.
Unlike the chill stands, the arena was tense.
Lee Jeong-hun, hearing me, didn't even glance back—dove sideways, barely escaping the blast radius.
'Timed it razor-close on purpose.'
Perfect dodge. Turning to check? Too late.
"Phew... yeah. No Mana Bomber changes nothing. Real fight starts now. Yeon-ju's shown crazy grit against us before."
"Hmph. Told ya, Han-gyeol—Chang-hyun wouldn't drag some kid without reason. Whatever, laser from the crotch or not, she'll crush with ability."
Kim Do-jun crowed as Lee Jeong-hun rolled clear, even cockier.
"Nah... he's just a fan who showed up. Couldn't send him packing. No real ability."
At least not yet.
Yi Yeon-ju's kill shot? Dodged clean, but standoff stayed even.
Both gripped swords—hunter basics—but neither looked skilled.
'Yeon-ju's no frontline fighter...'
Combat tech takes time. Same for the kid.
'But one's clearly ahead right now.'
Lee Jeong-hun charges sword-first, full aggression. Yi Yeon-ju doesn't engage—just chucks a mana dust bomb like in promo matches.
"Cough... cough..."
Too late for Air Anchor or Air Beat. Mana dust blinded him, scattered his mana.
Prime finish time.
'Mana gear proficiency gap.'
Lee Jeong-hun probably barely touched gear, let alone practiced. Gap showed.
As he staggered coughing, Yi Yeon-ju nailed him with Binding, locking his body.
"Ngh..."
Stab a pinned foe? Easy for her.
Pshk.
Clean, efficient thrust. Binding released; he spun away. Match over, she figured.
'Against a near-abilityless opponent, that was clean.'
From strategy to contingencies—polished.
Still, wished the kid hung tougher there. Growth skills often unlock at limits, pushing one step further.
But you can't force that—can't shove someone to breakthrough.
Nothing for it.
'Even this shows pro vs. normie gap. Rare lesson.'
So I thought—
"Grrgh..."
Lee Jeong-hun, who shouldn't have stirred, dragged himself up.
Yi Yeon-ju's shaky swordplay? Nah—she always finished with Mana Bombers, wouldn't know.
'That won't kill...'
Hunters are awakeners. Tougher than civilians. Vital hit? Dead. Hers? Amateur hour.
"She didn't finish him?!"
Yoon Han-gyeol groaned, thinking victory sealed.
'Getting up can't be easy, though...'
Tough kid. Still, win seemed impossible.
Yet in that near-certain loss...
Something changed.
[Activation reflected]