See You at the Top (1)
An A-rank hunter possesses abilities that far surpass the limits of ordinary humans. This is thanks to the Awakening Skills they can acquire upon reaching level 300—skills that hunters often call their ultimate techniques.
Awakening Skills are so powerful that the term “certain kill” feels inadequate. They are essentially guaranteed SS-rank skills. Some can obliterate an entire mountain in one strike, others can part the sea with raw physical force, and a few can create a body capable of enduring five seconds even if the planet itself were destroyed.
Transcendent beings beyond humanity. That was the stature of an A-rank hunter.
Yet even A-rank hunters were ultimately just human in the face of a Monarch-class monster. That said, were Named-class monsters any less terrifying?
“That was the first time I truly felt the fear of death.”
The Monarch-class boss monster that resided in South Korea—the Magical Girl Pierced a Thousand Times. Normally, she looked exactly like her name suggested: a magical girl. She wore a pink dress and wielded a heart-shaped magic wand. She even fought monsters in the image of a girl devoted to humanity.
But she was never truly on humanity’s side. If the established rules were broken, she would transform into a monster.
“In the end, she self-destructed.”
The Magical Girl had detonated herself. In exchange, Gangwon Province was wiped off the map, the economy collapsed, and a food crisis erupted… but if not for her final act of consideration, Seoul itself would have been destroyed. And if Seoul fell, Korea was finished.
“If a Monarch-class is already this dangerous, a Keter-class won’t end with mere tens of millions of casualties.”
It wouldn’t stop at the destruction of a single country. It would be a crisis for all of humanity. I almost wanted to scream at every world leader to start preparing a raid on the moon immediately.
But they would just label me a lunatic or a doomsayer. Honestly, even I would think the same if I were in their shoes.
“I could try to convince them using my knowledge of the future, but…”
That would be the real act of idiocy, and it would guarantee a far more tedious and complicated life. It was a common misconception—believing that showing the truth would be enough to persuade people.
But truth alone cannot sway others. You need personal trust-building, lobbying for majority support, evidence to prove that the future I saw was real, counter-evidence against opposing data, and behind-the-scenes countermeasures against those spreading doubt and slander…
Even if I somehow managed to convince them through all that hardship, there was no guarantee they would fully support me. Just thinking about it gave me a headache and made me irritable.
“So this is the right way.”
I would raise S-ranks through hunter management. But I had no intention of sending them to fight Keter-class threats. They might suddenly decide their lives were too precious and avoid battle, or forget the debt they owed me and outright refuse orders.
In that case, it was better for me to wield S-rank power myself. No—I needed strength that surpassed even S-rank. Only then could I confront a Keter-class monster.
Kim Yeo-ul, Lee Min-ji…
Of course, when I thought of those two, the image of betrayal never came to mind. But it had been the same in my previous life. I had never imagined that Kim Ji-woo or the other A-ranks would betray me. And this was the result of placing that trust in them.
At that moment, the monitor screen went dark. It seemed the automatic sleep mode had activated because I hadn’t touched it. My reflection in the black screen looked utterly serious.
Slap. Slap.
I smacked both cheeks hard with my palms, then smiled.
“What’s with that face? Am I some kind of criminal? It’s not like I’m planning to hurt Yeo-ul or Min-ji. Lighten up.”
The Chae family had never been good at doing things we didn’t want to do. And I wasn’t forcing myself now. I was doing this because I wanted to, because I was convinced it was right. So I smiled. It wasn’t a forced smile. It came naturally.
Living while doing what you want is a happy thing. And when you’re happy, smiles come on their own.
“So tomorrow is finally the last day.”
The next morning, after a deep sleep, the fourth and final official hunter exam began.
The first three rounds had all been tests to evaluate hunter capabilities. But the fourth was so ordinary it made me wonder if this was really allowed.
It was a group interview. Multiple applicants would be interviewed by a single examiner. The format was similar to a corporate job interview, but there was one crucial difference.
The examiner wasn’t an HR manager from the Association. It was an A-rank official hunter conducting the interview personally.
A broadcast announced that this part would be identical to last year, and the applicants breathed a sigh of relief.
“I heard last year the examiner was the leader of the Lion Boys, the Grim Reaper. Who do you think will come this year?”
Lee Min-ji asked, looking at Chae Mu-jin.
Chae Mu-jin yawned widely, clearly uninterested.
“Yawn. Don’t care.”
“At least make a guess! You seem like the type who’d get it right, ahjussi.”
“I’m a manager, not a prophet.”
“Then just say anyone for fun.”
“Yoo Do-seong. I think he’ll be the one.”
“The Unknown Sword Saint? Pfft~ You’re being way too lazy. That guy isn’t even an official hunter. He’s a solo hunter—why would he come here?”
“You told me to say anyone. And who knows? Maybe he became an official hunter.”
“Ugh, fine. Yeo-ul, who do you think will show up?”
When Min-ji changed targets, Kim Yeo-ul scratched his chin.
“Sorry. I don’t know who the A-ranks even are…”
“How can a hunter not know that? Do you at least know whether or not there are S-rank hunters in Korea?”
“Uh… there probably are, right?”
“He really doesn’t know. There are no S-rank hunters in Korea. Isn’t that weird? Japan next door has two, and even Australia has one. On the other hand, Korea has the highest number of A-rank hunters per capita in the world!”
“O-oh. That really is strange.”
Even Chae Mu-jin, who had been listening quietly, found it genuinely odd. Why didn’t S-rank hunters ever appear in Korea?
Come to think of it, while there are S-ranks of Korean descent, none have ever awakened as S-rank within Korea itself.
In his previous life he had been too busy to notice, but now that he had some breathing room, the question weighed heavily on him.
It’s pointless to worry about S-ranks when we don’t even have any A-ranks yet.
That was when the lights in the auditorium went out. Spotlights focused on the curtains of the stage. No one had to say anything—everyone knew it meant the examiner, an A-rank hunter, had arrived.
The curtains slowly parted, revealing a swordsman wearing a black gat and a traditional robe. Silence fell over the auditorium.
The applicants had no idea who he was. But a few who were particularly interested in A-rank hunters recognized the swordsman and shouted.
“It’s the Unknown Sword Saint!”
“The Unknown Sword Saint?!”
“Wasn’t he a solo hunter?”
“Maybe it’s just someone who looks like him?”
“No way. Look at the sword at his waist. He’s the only one who uses a phoenix-engraved ring-pommel greatsword!”
The applicants were so busy arguing whether it really was the Unknown Sword Saint that they ended up completely ignoring the man himself.
But the moment the Unknown Sword Saint took one step forward—
“……!”
Every applicant shut their mouth. There had been no command to be quiet, no enforcement. With nothing but his presence, the Unknown Sword Saint had silenced hundreds of hunters.
In the flowing silence, he finally spoke.
“…I am Yoo Do-seong.”
His voice was calm, and he had no microphone. Yet those three syllables etched themselves clearly into every applicant’s mind.
“Some of you may know who I am, others may not. It doesn’t matter. I am here today simply to evaluate you. To determine whether you have the qualifications to become official hunters…”
“…Do not relax just because your score is high, and do not give up just because it is low. Scores are merely one part of the evaluation…”
There was no question-and-answer period. Yoo Do-seong said only what he needed to say and exited through the side door.
But as if it had been planned, an official immediately stepped onto the stage holding a microphone.
“We will now begin the fourth exam. I will call four numbers. Those called, please proceed to the interview room through the side door. First: Number 2, Number 18, Number 112, Number 189.”
The called applicants stood and left through the side door. Only then did the remaining applicants begin to chatter again. Among them, Lee Min-ji’s voice was the loudest.
“How did you know?!”
“You’re going to burst my eardrums.”
“No, seriously! How did you know it would be the Unknown Sword Saint?!”
“I didn’t. I just picked someone when you told me to guess.”
“There are over a hundred A-rank hunters and you just happened to pick the right one out of a hundred?”
“It’s only a one-in-a-hundred chance. Statistically, it’s not that impressive.”
“Uh… I guess when you put it that way, it does sound normal?”
Of course, it hadn’t been luck. He had known. And the Unknown Sword Saint would naturally pass him. He had done so in the previous timeline as well.
Kim Yeo-ul and Lee Min-ji should be able to pass easily too.
Not because of their scores. As the Unknown Sword Saint had said, scores were just one item on the list. Official hunters valued three other factors more than pure skill: intelligence, loyalty, and potential.
In short, they preferred an obedient C-rank over a disobedient B-rank.
“Next applicants: Number 21, Number 45, Number 93, Number 149.”
The next group was called in less than three minutes, leaving the applicants anxious.
“Why is it ending so fast?”
“Maybe they’re passing everyone?”
“Yeah, that must be it, right?”
And one minute later—
“Next applicants: Number 8…”
“This time it didn’t even take a minute?”
“Is it really okay to pass people this quickly?”
Since those who finished their interviews didn’t return to the auditorium, the remaining applicants couldn’t help but feel nervous.
“Manager-nim. D-do you think I can pass? If I s-stutter, they won’t pass me, right?”
Kim Yeo-ul trembled with anxiety. In contrast, Lee Min-ji was overflowing with confidence.
“Yeo-ul, don’t worry. I’ll ask them to give you a chance. They can’t ignore a request from me, right? Right, ahjussi?”
“Sure, sure.”
“Why are you so relaxed, ahjussi? Well, I guess you’re guaranteed to pass, so there’s no reason to be nervous.”
“Pretty much.”
Since he had no intention of becoming an official hunter even if he passed, Chae Mu-jin simply hoped his turn would come quickly.
“Next applicants: Number 77…”
Finally, Chae Mu-jin’s number was called and he stood up.
“Number 266.”
Kim Yeo-ul stood as well.
“Number 245.”
Lee Min-ji stood too. The three of them exchanged glances. What a ridiculous coincidence.
As if this was a coincidence.
Chae Mu-jin was certain this was no accident. After all…
“Number 76. The four of you, please proceed to the interview room.”
Because Cheon I-hwa, who had been sitting in the row in front of them, turned around and gave them a little wave.
The path to the interview room was longer than expected. And strange. It wasn’t an Association employee guiding them—it was Cheon I-hwa.
This never happened in my previous life.
It made sense. Since his actions in this life had diverged completely from the previous one, the future had naturally changed as well.
Cheon I-hwa turned her head and spoke meaningfully.
“Since we’re special, a special person will be evaluating us.”
Kim Yeo-ul and Lee Min-ji racked their brains trying to think of someone more famous than the Unknown Sword Saint, but I already knew who it would be.
So the Association President is making an appearance.
Sure enough, the place where Cheon I-hwa stopped was a very secluded, hidden corner.
“We’re here.”
Kim Yeo-ul took a deep breath and clenched both fists. Even Lee Min-ji swallowed nervously now that the interview was right in front of her.
“Hoo… hoo…”
“D-don’t be nervous, Yeo-ul. I’ll go first and show you how it’s done.”
“Hehe, are you all ready?”
Cheon I-hwa smiled leisurely and opened the door. The room was simple. Four chairs and one table. Someone was sitting at the table, reading a newspaper.
Rustle.
The newspaper slowly lowered, revealing an old man. He looked like the kindly grandfather you might see anywhere in the neighborhood. Yet the mere revelation of his presence was enough to leave Kim Yeo-ul and Lee Min-ji unable to breathe. Their minds went completely blank under the overwhelming pressure.
In contrast, Chae Mu-jin bowed his head politely.
“It is an honor to meet you, Association President Cheon Mu-jong.”
Hunter Association President Cheon Mu-jong smiled in greeting.