Chapter 16: E-Rank Hunter
"It's E-rank."
I felt a pang of disappointment at the staff member's response. Well, what did I expect? Was I hoping it'd suddenly jump to A-rank or something? Spending time with Kim Seol-bi must've dulled my sense of reality. For someone like me—a regular awakener—it was already a miracle to skyrocket overnight into a hunter.
The staff member seemed genuinely shocked too, in a good way. "Wow, this actually happens!" she said, still buzzing with excitement. She probably hadn't seen this coming either. She'd been playing nice and polite after hearing about the other employee who got fired for mouthing off. But now, staring at the results, her jaw dropped in awe.
"And that's not all!" She peered at the monitor and turned to me. "Your growth is still ongoing right now. I've never seen mana this active before. At this rate, hitting D-rank isn't a pipe dream!"
D-rank, huh... Before I met Kim Seol-bi, that would've had me jumping for joy. But even as a D-rank hunter, it wouldn't change the fact that I couldn't sleep with her. Sure, I could enter dungeons, but don't expect a massive income boost. I knew the harsh reality all too well—how low-rank hunters below D were treated in parties. They were total grunts, stuck with the grunt work.
At the bottom of the hunter pyramid, but with that elevated social status, they strutted around proud—except when mingling with other hunters. For many, it was life-changing. Still, I felt a twinge of regret.
"Congratulations, Hunter!" It wasn't just because I came with Kim Seol-bi—the staff member seemed to genuinely respect me now. Yeah, this was the gap between a regular awakener and a hunter. If I'd started as one, that arrogant prick from earlier wouldn't have talked down to me.
I decided to call it good for today. According to her, my mana was highly active. Recalling yesterday's massive surge, who knew if another wouldn't hit soon? She said D-rank was possible, but nothing said I couldn't go beyond.
"Thank you." I gathered my thoughts, flashed a smile, and bowed politely.
"How'd it go?"
"E-rank."
"Oh..."
Kim Seol-bi couldn't hide her disappointment. Being S-rank from the start, her perspective was worlds apart from a regular person's. Technically, a regular awakener jumping straight to E-rank was world news material. Cases like this were rare as hell. I could become a beacon of hope for all regular awakeners, proving growth potential never truly closes off—maybe even shift public perception.
Not that I'd go around advertising it.
My ability was too weird. Unreasonable Favor. I'd never heard or seen anything like it. How do you explain explosive growth to others without specifics? "After ten years, some vague skill activated, and I lucked into an S-rank hunter's obsession"? Yeah, right.
Kim Seol-bi shook off her brief dismay and brightened. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks. The staff said my mana's in an active state. Plenty of room to grow from here."
"Of course there is!" She beamed, clearly reassured. "Wanna go shopping?"
"For sheets?"
"No, silly. You're a proper hunter now—you need gear."
"Gear?"
"Yeah. It'll speed up your growth once you're in a dungeon."
"A dungeon?"
I'd worked at the Dungeon Management Office for a month and never set foot inside one. Dungeons were insanely dangerous. Even staff only entered under extreme circumstances—and rookies like me? No way.
Her words left me dumbfounded. Me? In a dungeon?
What could an E-rank with zero combat skills even do? Shouldn't I join a party and grind from the bottom like everyone else?
"Hohoho." Kim Seol-bi laughed like she could read my mind. "Don't worry. You've got me. I've got tons of dungeon experience. I'll keep you safer than safe—no harm comes to a single hair on your head."
Ah... talk about reassuring. An E-rank partying with an S-rank for a dungeon raid? Unheard of. But whatever—who cared?
I accepted her kindness without hesitation. "Then I'm not worried."
"Exactly. Let's shop." She hooked her arm in mine.
Ten minutes later, I got my hunter license stamped with my name and rank. I tried paying the measurement and registration fees, but the staff waved me off. "The director said no charge."
"Oh... okay."
Kim Seol-bi and I wrapped up at the Hunter Management Office and stepped outside. "Safe travels, Hunters!" The director—who'd been avoiding her gaze—scurried out, bowing deeply. Kim Seol-bi, still fuming, ignored him completely.
Kim Seol-bi hopped in the car, fiddled with the navigation, and hummed a tune. Hunter gear shopping clearly put her in high spirits.
"Where to?" My savings weren't deep. Hunter gear was pricey—hoping it fit my budget.
"DH Department Store first? I went there with my cousin for her gear. Tons of good stuff."
"A department store? Wouldn't the underground market be better? I'm brand new, no real hunting skills yet. Buying fancy gear just to break it..."
Hunter gear shops were everywhere, but the "department store" she meant was Seoul's one-and-only luxury spot for hunter equipment only. Famous for top brands, it stocked new releases first—favored by hunters with deep pockets. Definitely not for E-ranks.
Low-ranks like D and below couldn't splurge on gear with their income. Most grabbed decent used stuff from the underground market, upgraded later as they grew or earned more. That's why repair experts clustered there.
I had no greed for premium gear right off the bat. No combat skills? I'd just wreck it. And my savings were thin. New gear from DH? Total waste unless I was a chaebol heir.
"Underground market? They have shops there?"
She didn't even know it existed. Makes sense—S-rank gear was custom from master artisans. They'd tip off S-ranks first about prime materials. She'd probably never hit the department store without her cousin.
Her innocent reply left me speechless. An S-rank browsing secondhand? Weird image.
"DH it is. We gear up and hit a dungeon today? I'm thrilled just thinking about raiding with you."
She said it like a casual outing, zero pressure. My first dungeon ever—and just hearing about monsters made my skin crawl. "Hunting" sounded cool, but I didn't feel superhuman yet.
While I fumbled for words, she punched in DH's address and resumed humming.
Being with her? Constant culture shock. Whatever happens, happens. All I could do was go with the flow.
We pulled up to the dazzling DH Department Store, and a sharply uniformed staff member approached with precise movements. Spotting Kim Seol-bi, he froze.
"An honor to serve you, Hunter."
He bowed smoothly. "One moment, please."
He phoned someone. "Yes, VIP has arrived. Understood."
He escorted us to the elevator, hit the regular floors' buttons plus a separate top-floor one, then stepped out. "Enjoy your shopping."
"Thanks." Kim Seol-bi handed him the car keys; he accepted with both hands, deferential.
S-rank shopping is another level.
As the doors closed, she linked arms with me. "Hehehe."
She looked thrilled—like a girl out shopping with her boyfriend.