Is This NPC That NPC?
[I'm sorry we won't be working together this time. We wish you success in finding a better position.]
"Haa..."
No other words were needed. A deep sigh was all that came naturally.
He should have been used to it by now, but the rejection text stabbed at his chest once more.
"At least I got to do the interview this time. That's something, right?"
He tried to console himself, but the bitterness in his gut wouldn't fade easily.
"Damn it! If you're just gonna reject me, why give me any hope at all? Why ask all those questions? Fucking hell!"
This time, it had really felt good. Unlike usual, the questions had focused on him, and he'd answered them perfectly—at least, that's how it seemed to him. The interviewers had seemed satisfied too, ending the session in a warm, friendly atmosphere.
But the result was still rejection.
If they hadn't said a word, he wouldn't have gotten his hopes up. But after building all that expectation, the fall hurt twice as much.
"Haa, guess getting a job this year is off the table too?"
With another deep sigh, he drifted off to sleep.
That night, he dreamed he had become the CEO of the world's biggest company. Everyone he'd ever applied to work for was now submitting resumes to his company, and he personally interviewed them, mercilessly rejecting them one by one for vicarious satisfaction.
It was a strange dream where he vaguely knew he was dreaming, but each rejection sent a thrilling jolt of pleasure through him, making him hope it would never end.
When he finally woke from that rare, blissful dream, he couldn't believe his eyes.
Something other than his bedroom ceiling filled his vision.
"Wha—what... what... I, I awakened. Wait, NPC?"
The realization that he'd awakened as a hunter—even half-asleep—jolted him awake like a bucket of ice water. Tears welled up at the thought that spring had finally arrived for him.
He threw on a cap to hide his bedhead, soothed his pounding heart, and headed straight to the Hunter Management Bureau.
"Welcome. How can I help you?"
Even the desk attendant's casual question made his heart race so wildly that he stammered.
"I-I'm here to register as a hunter."
"Yes, head to the Hunter Registration Center on the second floor."
She gave him a light smile and directions. He bolted up to the second floor.
The registration process was simpler than expected. He placed his hand on a transparent crystal orb to confirm his awakening, and it glowed red.
"Confirmed. Now enter your info here."
He filled in his basic personal details on the provided pad, went through a few pages, signed his name, and that was it.
"All done. Go to the license issuance counter on the first floor and wait about ten minutes for your hunter license."
It felt oddly anticlimactic. Everyone knew the lotto-winning tips even if they never won; same with hunters. Even without awakening, he knew exactly what came next. So he knew grabbing the license and walking out was the end of it.
But finishing so quickly left a hollow feeling. Or maybe reality hadn't fully sunk in yet.
He went down to the first floor and waited a bit until his name was called.
"Hunter Kim Suho."
He yelled back without thinking. "Yes!"
People nearby stared at his booming response, and his face flushed red. The attendant chuckled softly before handing over the license.
"Here's your hunter license."
All embarrassment vanished the moment he held it. He felt like dancing right there—figuratively, of course.
Joy and euphoria crashed over him. Outwardly, it was just a card like an ID or driver's license. Nothing special. But holding it made it real: he was a hunter now.
I did it! I'm really a hunter!
He was no longer the eternal job-seeker Kim Suho. Now he was Hunter Kim Suho, proud and true.
He believed a flowery path lay ahead, bathed in glorious light.
What now? Right, the dungeon! Let's hit a dungeon.
Dungeons were the ultimate hunter privilege. Places teeming with monsters and hidden treasures. They were why hunters shone.
Hold on—check this NPC class and Status Check skill first.
Seeing his class and skill upon awakening had raised questions. But the sheer thrill of awakening as a hunter had shoved them aside. Now, with registration done, the doubts resurfaced.
It was definitely not a common class.
Hunters were more popular than celebrities in this era. The world went wild for their dungeon clears, their treasures, showering them with fiery love. In return, plenty of info got leaked to the public—including classes.
Rare classes drew special cheers, and many hunters revealed theirs in gratitude. Not all, but enough that his NPC class wasn't among the known ones.
That alone meant it was exceptionally rare.
The skill was the same.
Status Check: Check the status of other players.
He wasn't sure exactly what "status" meant, but it didn't look ordinary.
He pulled up the hunter-exclusive site first and searched. Nothing on the class or skill.
What the hell is it?
Curiosity mounting, he posted on a secret board.
Replies started trickling in soon after.
Pfft. No way it's that NPC. That's from games—I'm talking about a hunter class.
Useless replies piled up until a solid one appeared.
Suddenly, the comments exploded.
As he scrolled, his mind was already deep in battle: monsters clashing fiercely.
Formation C. Buff the support tank. Healer squad one, prep recovery magic. Squad two, ready status cleanse. Once tank grabs aggro, DPS dives in.
Hunters focused under his commands, locked in brutal combat. Afflicted hunters got hit; he spotted it with Status Check and called for cleanses.
No deaths thanks to him. As fights dragged and toughened, his orders shone brighter. They cleared the boss unscathed, conquering the dungeon.
Hunters cheered his name. He deflected humbly: You followed my orders perfectly. Your teamwork made my commands work.
In his imagination, he was already the ultimate battle commander. Anyone reading his mind might cringe and curse, but who cared? He was on cloud nine.
He grabbed his license and headed to the weapon depot, where new hunters got one free basic gear set.
Commander needs a longsword and shield.
He claimed a longsword, shield, and basic leather armor made from low-grade monster hides.
Geared up, he headed to the tutorial dungeon—the lowest level.
Heart pounding with excitement, he approached the gate.
But instead of entering, he passed right through.
"Huh? Wh-what?"
Panicking, he tried again. Passed through again.
"Wh-what the hell!"
He took a deep breath, slowly extended his arm. It went straight through, like any civilian.
"Sh-shit! What the fuck? Why can't I enter the dungeon?!"
He'd thought a miracle had struck. Escaping eternal job-hunting for a hunter's new life. Even landing an awesome commander class.
But it was all a spring dream.
He never imagined NPC meant Non-Player Character from games. Or that it barred dungeon entry.
Sure, classes were wild, but none blocked dungeons. Hunters had to enter. Combat classes, production ones—all went in. Even unrelated special classes could.
Yet he couldn't. He alone, among all hunters, was locked out.
Not entering was bullshit enough, but Status Check screwed him too.
Testing it on queued hunters at the entrance: nothing. Skill wouldn't even activate. Tried dozens—no dice.
Fuck! What kind of hunter is this? Can't enter dungeons? Awakening to this dogshit class? And Status Check does jack shit. What the hell kind of hunter power is this?
To be continued in the next chapter...