Hunter Registration 1
Two nights ago and last night, I tormented Han Areum and the real U Mi-young. Now, even Han Areum starts dripping from her pussy at the mere sight of the 'White Masked Demon King'. Her training was almost complete. Today was the day to register as a hunter under the name Park Woojin.
"The Hunter Association... fuck, what a pain in the ass."
I muttered while sinking into the soft leather seat of my Bentley. I'd even bought one here to drive around in. It had been several days since returning to T-12—the real world. The world had changed beyond recognition. The streets overflowed with half-baked Awakened, and the news was abuzz every day with reports of 'Gates' and 'Curse Towers'. That bastard Baal had set the stage perfectly. He was definitely a web novel reader.
Teacher, you have to be active as a hunter to enter gates and Curse Towers. They say you need at least C-rank.
"I know, Jejeop. Shut up and go to sleep."
I brushed off Jejeop's nagging echoing in my head. As the little guy said, to properly dive into this game board, I needed the ID called 'hunter'. O Nangryun had asked me for a favor too—kidnap a weird demon from inside a Gate as a sample. He didn't say it straight up that he wanted to fuck a new monster, but used the excuse of upgrading his 'Girl Bear'.
I stepped out of the car in a plain business suit. I'd stowed the 'Breathe Freely' mask and the mystery white dildo in the belly of the black teddy. In T-12, I had to hide the identity of the 'White Mask' as much as possible. You don't flash a demon king's card carelessly. I planned to move as an ordinary(?) Awakened, Park Woojin—not a demon hunter.
The association lobby was already packed to the gills. Rookies who'd eaten Awakening Fruits and gained powers waited excitedly for their turns, shoulders puffed up like they were already S-rank hunters.
Fucking idiots. Clueless puppets dancing to Baal's schemes.
I shot them a pitying glance and headed to the reception desk. No clichéd punk thugs A or B showed up to pick a fight. I was itching to beat the shit out of some assholes if they did.
When my turn came, I handed over the documents, acting like the most average office drone possible.
"Here for Awakened registration."
A somewhat prickly staffer looked up at me with a weary expression. She scanned me up and down, then quickly checked the papers right there.
"Are you currently addicted?"
"Pardon?"
"Are you a drug addict?"
"Oh? No, I'm not."
The staffer gave a weird look and slammed a blue stamp onto my papers with a thud. Everyone else got red stamps.
Ah... right. Baal's fruit spread among drug addicts.
That explained why so many hunters were criminals. Most hunters had no choice but to be drug addicts.
How widespread are drugs in this world, anyway?
The media and TV hid any links between drugs and hunters. Drug crimes weren't even investigated. Drugs traded via mail, spreading even among middle and high schoolers, in this shithole country.
Hmm... should I have said I was on drugs?
There were hunters who didn't do drugs, and lying wouldn't hold up to tests anyway. Plus, Ji Won-young, an S-rank hunter, didn't touch them. The association probably knew that too.
Looking around again, everyone there for registration reeked of addiction. That explained the dopey grins.
Sigh... Gu Mirae... you really picked the wrong husband.
Gu Mirae was probably addicted too. Doctors had easy legal access. Her becoming a hunter was likely Ra Seung-gun's pressure.
Suddenly, rage boiled up.
"Hah... Ra Seung-gun, turning Gu Mirae into a junkie? How should I fuck that bastard up?"
Moments later, my name was called.
"Park Woojin, please enter measurement room 3."
The measurement room was dome-shaped, with a black crystal orb in the center. A researcher explained in a flat voice.
"Place your hand on the crystal orb and inject mana. One step closer. One more step."
The female researcher had messy hair and a haggard, makeup-free face. No wonder she was sick of mana measurements.
I silently placed my hand on the orb. Then, I carefully—very carefully—leaked just a sliver of my power, the demon hunter's strength.
Target: B-rank. Not too flashy, not too weak—just right. To crush Ra Seung-gun, best to let him see me as a peer. Imagining his panic against a fellow B-rank made me grin.
Vrrr—
The orb glowed blue and vibrated. The mana gauge on the panel shot up: D-rank, C-rank, B-rank... it kept climbing.
Shit, control slip-up.
My minimum output was stronger than expected. Just before the needle hit A-rank, I cut off the mana flow.
Beep!
The completion signal sounded, and the researcher's eyes widened lazily, then fully—revealing a pretty face. Her pupils shook violently. She'd probably never seen the gauge flirt with A-rank then drop back to B.
"Park Woojin. B-rank. Congratulations. You're a B-rank hunter. What are your main abilities?"
She tapped notes into her tablet.
"Fire manipulation."
I conjured a red flame on my fingertip. No need for 'Holy Flames'.
"Magic-type hunter... B-rank... lives in Gangnam..."
Muttering as she typed, she glanced up. Her cheeks were slightly flushed.
"You're that Park Chef from TV, right?"
"Ah... haha, yeah."
"Loved Please Mind the Convenience Store, season 1."
People still remembered me from that old variety show.
"...Haha, thanks for remembering."
"...Culinary talent manifested as fire skills..."
Don't make shit up.
Her response was purely professional, no fangirl vibes. But I felt her stealing glances with wide whites of her eyes. She wanted something from me.
"That it?"
"Ah!!"
She startled, face reddening, lips parting.
"Pamphlets by the door. Join any guild you like. Good work."
"Thanks, you too."
I stepped out. Embarrassingly, a huge 'B' was posted above the door—real-time rank display for flexing, apparently. Even B-rank drew envious looks. Most were C-rank, and that alone got government cash—enough to live easy. Cameras from resident reporters meant A-rank would've made instant headlines.
Perfect. Strong enough without standing out.
Then, the door burst open. A suited man dashed out—straight at me. His glasses hid a familiar face. I never forget faces. The lenses were fake—camouflage.
The guy from Nam Seohee's drug orgy. Odd outfit: suit, beanie, glasses. His badge read 'Scout Team Leader Gu Gang-cheol' with a phoenix emblem.
Oh ho, government scout leader?
High-ranking official, as expected. Team leader—what grade civil servant?
He eyed me with excitement and wariness, like a scholar spotting a rare specimen.
"First time meeting, Park Woojin. I'm Gu Gang-cheol, Scout Team Leader under the Hunter Association."
"Park Woojin."
I replied politely.
He grabbed my hand firmly.
"B-rank certification! Impressive! Ever thought of joining our 'Love Korea Guild'? Government-backed for national service. Best terms guaranteed!"
"Aren't B-ranks common?"
No guild scouts B-ranks. They donated to big guilds to join, never got headhunted like this. I eyed Gu Gang-cheol suspiciously. His palm was sweaty.
"Sane B-ranks aren't."
He held my papers—with the blue stamp. Scouting for no addiction? Unconvincing, since most hunters were junkies. I caught the flicker of doubt deep in his eyes.
Gu Gang-cheol suspected me. But of what? Hiding power?
This guy's onto my power suppression.
He was shocked at B-rank but convinced it wasn't my all.
No way...
As I hesitated, he pressed confidently.
"Join Love Korea Guild: 100 million signing bonus, 100 million annual salary."
B-ranks got 50 million salary, no bonus. Super offer.
But I had plenty of cash.
"Eh... I just wanna raid Gates quietly."
"Perfect fit. All Korean Gates are state-managed—we issue bids to big guilds. We'll give you priority on any Gate you want."
Gate priority... tempting.
"Why offer this to a B-rank?"
"I'll keep it secret. We know you deliberately tanked to B-rank."
"What do you—"
"Mana detector caught an A-rank spike. Proof you held back. I erased it."
I scratched my chin at his meaningful smirk. Sharp-eyed bastard.
"Blackmail?"
"Hahaha, no way. I'm also an active detective—blackmail's career suicide."
Detective meant little. He'd partied hard at Nam Seohee's drug bash with prosecutors and chiefs.
In this country, only scammers were uncorrupted.
"Big fan of Park Chef. Watched Please Mind the Convenience Store. No—I believe in your potential. Call it a future investment."
Fear mixed in his expression. He tried boldness but avoided my gaze.
"I hate beating around the bush. What do you want from me?"
He scratched his itchy head under the beanie—odd material, foil-lined inside. Blocked something?
"Fine. 1 billion signing, 2 billion annual, 5-year term. Just shy of S-rank, but best I can swing upstairs."
"......"
Ignoring my skepticism, he continued.
"One day a week helping Love Korea Guild. Gate priority, free raiding."
"Overkill for B-rank?"
"I... predict you'll hit S-rank in half a year. 5-year deal benefits us."
"Penalty for breach?"
His throat bobbed. He sensed I was hooked.
"Full signing bonus repay, half salary. But! We'll drop the salary clause."
Detective instinct? Desperation to recruit me. But vague reasons—suspicious beyond power hiding.
"Need time to think?"
I did—money wasn't urgent.
"Sure."
I nodded lightly and turned.
Then—
"Wait! Park Woojin hunter. It's about Shin Serin and Nam Seohee."