Chapter 7
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Proving His Worth
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Na Seong-sil handled things quickly.
That very evening, a call came straight from his boss.
However, contrary to Yeon Sung-hun's expectations, Na Seong-sil's superior wanted verification first rather than immediate approval.
He needed to confirm whether Yeon Sung-hun was truly capable of making such an offer.
No matter how much it was just low-rank rifts, Yeon Sung-hun's rank was only D-Rank, so jumping straight to acceptance was out of the question.
Given the Hunter Association's manpower shortages, Sung-hun had thought they'd accept readily, but apparently not.
Or perhaps Na Seong-sil's boss was just a highly responsible type.
'Doesn't really matter either way.'
Verification wasn't anything grandiose—just proving he could clear rifts without issues.
And so, Yeon Sung-hun found himself back in Gangwon Province after just one day.
"Hunter, you're here?"
"Only a day later, huh, Agent Na."
"Yes. Was the trip here uncomfortable...?"
"Is that him?"
A man approached the two exchanging brief greetings.
A middle-aged guy who looked prickly at first glance.
Gye Cheong-san, Na Seong-sil's team leader and boss.
His broad forehead gleamed especially under the sunlight.
"Ahem!"
Gye Cheong-san cleared his throat uncomfortably as Yeon Sung-hun's gaze inadvertently drifted upward.
Realizing his blunder, Sung-hun quickly looked away.
He didn't apologize separately.
Pretending it didn't happen would be better for the man than drawing attention to it.
"...Pleased to meet you. I'm Gye Cheong-san."
"Yeon Sung-hun."
After a brief handshake, they got straight to business.
"No need to beat around the bush. We want to see what you're capable of."
Was it because of Sung-hun's slip-up? Or his natural personality?
Gye Cheong-san's blunt tone was quite sharp.
Na Seong-sil watching from the side looked downright anxious.
"Makes sense if we're going to work together. Sure."
Despite Gye Cheong-san's attitude and Na Seong-sil's worry, Yeon Sung-hun just smiled nonchalantly.
He'd messed up first, after all, and he was the one who needed verifying.
That said, if Gye Cheong-san kept up this attitude even after seeing his skills, Sung-hun wouldn't stay polite.
Thus, the verification began in a somewhat awkward atmosphere.
The first was an F-Rank rift.
"F-Rank, huh?"
"Yes. Agent Na mentioned you wanted to handle low-rank rifts... Is that a problem?"
Yeon Sung-hun chuckled dryly at Gye Cheong-san's seemingly casual probe.
Working a backwater post like this—he must've been demoted like Na Seong-sil...
'What a blockhead.'
More likely his personality got him shipped off to this remote Gangwon mountain than any lack of skill.
A reasonable guess, and Sung-hun smirked.
"No issue."
"...Really? If it's too much..."
"Let's head in."
With a calm declaration, Yeon Sung-hun stepped into the rift, leaving Gye Cheong-san's stoic face and Na Seong-sil's tense one behind.
The rift's interior was a dense forest.
F-Rank meant low-level monsters, but this type was notoriously spacious compared to same-rank rifts.
Gye Cheong-san's malice was clear from the rift selection.
A faint smirk tugged at Yeon Sung-hun's lips.
He'd planned to take it easy, but this changed things.
He quietly pulled a potion from his bag.
A special brew mixing recycled trash from before with materials gathered during yesterday's rift dive.
He hadn't intended to go this far.
"If you want to see, I'll show you for sure."
And he'd make them pay the price.
Mutual cooperation would've sufficed before, but not anymore.
His potions were worth a fortune.
Gulp, gulp—
The pale blue liquid vanished in an instant.
Burp—
After a small belch, Yeon Sung-hun launched forward.
His speed was several times his normal limit.
The moment Yeon Sung-hun entered the rift, Na Seong-sil, who'd been watching anxiously, rushed to Gye Cheong-san.
"Team Leader, are you insane?!"
It was overly rude for a workplace superior, but Gye Cheong-san just shrugged indifferently.
"What?"
"What the hell is that attitude toward the hunter? He's offering to help!"
"Hmph. Help my ass. He's got ulterior motives. You think I haven't been around the Association long enough? Watch—these types always cause trouble later."
A D-Rank hunter taking responsibility for the dozens of low-rank rifts popping up daily?
Ridiculous.
Rift clearance was just an excuse; something else was afoot.
Gye Cheong-san sneered cynically.
Na Seong-sil had no choice but to soften at that reaction.
He didn't fully buy Sung-hun's pure goodwill either.
He suspected some other agenda, whatever it was.
"...Even so, wasn't that too much?"
"He's a D-Rank hunter, so an F-Rank rift should be fine."
"No backup, though. Feels too risky..."
"Hunters treasure their own hides more than anyone. Don't worry. Pre-scans showed no issues, and if something's off, he'll bolt."
Gye Cheong-san spat cynically, then glanced over.
The rift entrance rippled once.
A quiet sigh escaped Na Seong-sil, while a smug sneer spread across Gye Cheong-san's face.
"See?"
"...Still, fix your attitude. Being that prickly will cause problems later."
"Hmph. My business."
Gye Cheong-san glanced curtly at Yeon Sung-hun emerging from the rift.
A lopsided smirk formed naturally.
"Out quick, huh?"
What excuse would he spin?
Gye Cheong-san, ready to chew him out depending on the response, was left dumbfounded by what came next.
"The rift was a bit spacious, so it took some time. Didn't map it, but all monsters are cleared."
"...Pardon?"
"Rift cleared."
Gye Cheong-san, stunned by the casual reply, soon twisted his face in anger.
"So you're saying you've conquered the rift?"
"No mapping, but monsters all dead."
Mapping wasn't a big deal.
Monsters were priority one—and two—in rift clears.
"...Don't lie to a civil servant."
With a stiff expression, Gye Cheong-san glared at Yeon Sung-hun.
His eyes held distrust, contempt, anger... and a flicker of unease.
Yeon Sung-hun smirked.
"Don't believe me? See for yourself."
He nodded toward the rift behind him.
With all monsters and threats gone, rifts showed a telltale sign before vanishing.
Slightly different by rank and type, but the change was obvious.
Gye Cheong-san's jaw dropped at the clearly altered entrance.
"Wh-what...? No way, really...?"
His dazed, flustered voice trailed off.
Na Seong-sil, staring alongside, let out an involuntary gasp.
"It's real. Clear completion status, no doubt."
This speed rivaled high-rank hunters.
Yeon Sung-hun shrugged lightly under Na Seong-sil's admiring gaze.
His relaxed, smiling eyes turned to Gye Cheong-san.
"Believe me now?"
"...Verification isn't over. We need to see if you can handle consecutive clears."
"Team Leader!"
Gye Cheong-san ignored Na Seong-sil's shocked cry.
He just stared at Yeon Sung-hun with a rigid face.
Sung-hun shrugged once more.
"Fine by me."
Without complaint, he agreed, and they moved to the next rift.
It should've been a G-Rank, but Gye Cheong-san picked another F-Rank.
Ignoring Na Seong-sil's anxious look, Yeon Sung-hun entered.
Another flawless clear.
Gye Cheong-san pushed a third without yielding.
Yeon Sung-hun accepted readily.
Third was F-Rank again.
Cleared effortlessly.
Time was comparable to the first two.
It was just past noon, lunchtime.
Yeon Sung-hun had already conquered three rifts.
Impossible for a D-Rank; only featured high-rankers made headlines.
Unlike Na Seong-sil's nonstop awe, Gye Cheong-san's face remained stony.
"A few more?"
His voice was bright, contrasting Gye Cheong-san's gloom.
Finally, Gye Cheong-san had to concede.
"...I yield."
Sung-hun feigned confusion at the defeated slump.
"Huh? Were we competing? Wasn't this just verification?"
"...No more tests needed. Your skills are proven."
"Hmm. Then..."
"...But I still don't get it."
Sung-hun tilted his head at the even tone.
"What?"
"Why you insist on working with us."
Gye Cheong-san's gaze sharpened, clear as ever.
"Your level could go anywhere. Big guilds, corporations, even Association hunters—plenty of paths without us. So why us?"
Sung-hun paused with a soft "hmm" under the direct stare.
Truth be told, before Na Seong-sil, he'd had no plans to collaborate.
It was a spur-of-the-moment idea after meeting him.
Just for smooth material supply and skipping red tape.
No such scheme in his original plan.
He didn't need partners; if any, not necessarily them.
As Gye Cheong-san said, options abounded.
Show one potion, and suitors would swarm.
"No grand reason. No hidden agenda. Just convenience."
"'Convenience'?"
"Yeah. I need someone to cut bureaucracy; you need someone for unhandled rifts."
"......"
Gye Cheong-san fell silent.
Just stared, as before.
Suspicious of hidden motives?
Sung-hun stood unfazed under the scrutiny.
He wasn't easy to read.
No real ulterior motives anyway.
"...Fine. I understand."
"Good. So?"
"First, my apologies. Sorry for the rudeness. Looking forward to working together."
With a deep bow from Gye Cheong-san, their partnership was sealed.
With Association staff help, Yeon Sung-hun could raid rifts comfortably.
Material gathering slowed him below verification pace, but he still cleared four or five daily.
His speed left no rifts for others to claim—even excluding his own.
Na Seong-sil begged him to ease up before he stopped the spree.
Raids paused, but with materials stockpiled for a while, it was no issue for Sung-hun.
He'd planned to brew potions with his haul, but a sudden call derailed that.
From Park Kwang-yeol, raid leader of Park's Raid Team.