Hunter Studies
Today was one of the two days a week I had to go to the Academy.
“Ugh, I’m exhausted...”
Did I drink too much last night? My sister and I had ended up talking about this and that over a few drinks. I had had a few drinks since returning to Earth, but last night was the first time I had drunk myself into a stupor.
In my case, my alcohol tolerance was incredibly, incredibly high, so I had never really gotten truly drunk. Besides, in the Other World, there was never any time to relax and enjoy a drink. Even when we did have a moment of peace... I tended to avoid getting drunk.
Balder and Eina loved their alcohol, practically drowning themselves in beer whenever we had a rest day... but the Hero and that barbarian guy were surprisingly well-behaved.
Thinking back on those days makes me a little nostalgic. Those two, drinking themselves silly the night before a battle and suffering for it...
An archer with the epithet 'Divine Archer' who couldn't hit a single target, and a dwarf great warrior stumbling around with a hangover, unable to even hold his weapon straight—it had been a hilarious sight. I had laughed in their faces for ages before finally curing their hangovers with my Divine Magic...
Reminiscing about the past put me in a good mood. With my spirits lifted, my mind cleared up, and I quickly dispelled the lingering hangover with a flick of my Divine Magic.
“Ugh... but it's still such a drag.”
My time at the Academy was almost over. At first, it was quite fun because I was actually learning new things, but lately, the lessons had been incredibly dull. My biggest complaint was that there was absolutely no practical training—it was entirely theory-based...
For someone like me, learning about the emergence, history, and utilization of Gates was worthwhile, and the classes on Gate types and skills were highly informative and helpful.
But when it came to Hunter positions... honestly, it wasn't of much use to someone like me who had been forged in actual combat. It might have been useful to ordinary people, but not to me. On top of that, I felt like I had already learned everything worth learning.
I wondered what they would teach us during the remaining time.
The Academy was the same as always when I arrived. I gave a casual nod to the few people I recognized, took a seat in the corner, and waited for the class to start.
The instructor walked in and immediately began calling attendance, just like any other day.
“Everyone, I know the material we've covered so far has been boring. Most of it was probably stuff you already knew. That's why I didn't say anything even when you weren't paying attention. However, I'd like you to focus on today's lesson.”
What on earth could it be for him to sound so serious? Was the lesson really that important? I felt a spark of anticipation.
“Today, we will be covering information on Gates and monsters.”
Information on the various Gates currently maintained for South Korea's industries, and the monsters that emerge from them... This was indeed highly crucial information.
“Some of you might think you can just skip this and look it up on the internet later, but instead of wasting your time doing that, just pay attention here.”
With that, the instructor began the lecture.
Just as promised, he taught us valuable information. He explained how many Gates currently existed in South Korea and how they were being managed. Today, he focused specifically on Dungeon-type Gates, which we would be dealing with the most.
“In the case of Dungeon-type Gates, there is no limit on the number of people who can enter, and they yield a steady supply of Mana Stones, making them highly sought after.”
This was what allowed the Hunter profession to provide a stable income. These Gates were widely distributed, and many studio apartments and officetels had sprung up around them. Some Hunters even lived in those areas permanently, entering the Gates on a regular basis.
As Hunters established these residential zones, convenience facilities and commercial districts developed to cater to them, leading to a mutually beneficial cycle of regional growth.
In any case, thanks to these Dungeon-type Gates, a steady supply of Mana Stones could be secured and seamlessly utilized as a clean energy source.
“These Dungeon-type Gates are usually classified as D-class or C-class.”
Gate ranks, much like Hunter ranks, were determined by their level of danger. Generally, if D-class monsters appeared, it was designated as a D-class Gate, and if C-class monsters appeared, it was a C-class Gate. However, the rank could be adjusted higher if the environment was extreme or riddled with traps.
“As some of you may know, monsters below B-class are relatively manageable. A Hunter of the same rank can defeat them in a one-on-one fight, and monsters of C-class or lower can even be taken down with firearms. But starting from A-class, it's a completely different story.”
Once a monster was classified as A-class, even an A-class Hunter could not guarantee victory in a one-on-one duel; it usually required an S-class Hunter to handle them safely.
An S-class monster? Those were true calamities. Over the past ten years, only three monsters worldwide had been classified as S-class.
Two of them were eventually defeated at the cost of many Hunters' lives... and the remaining one, which had emerged in a desert, was dealt with by dropping multiple nuclear missiles on it once a Dungeon Break occurred.
Although radiation contamination became an issue, the area was uninhabited, so it was left alone. Fortunately, an Erosion Gate had opened in that exact location, and the resulting erosion was actually purifying the environment.
“Even once you start active duty, you will rarely encounter an A-class monster. However, it is still best to memorize their information.”
The reason was simple: so that if we ever did cross paths with one, we would know to retreat instead of foolishly picking a fight.
Learning the locations of various Gates and the details of the monsters inside them finally made me feel like I was receiving proper Hunter training.
It was definitely useful information, but perhaps because it could easily be found online, many students weren't paying attention.
Of course, I wasn't much different. The information on these monsters perfectly matched what I had learned and experienced in the Other World. They were so identical that it made me wonder why, but I didn't care enough to dig deeper.
After today's class, the few female students in our batch ended up going to a cafe together. Honestly, I wanted to decline and ignore them, but since I couldn't really do that, I tagged along for now.
The topic of conversation today was their future plans. There were only a few classes left. Once we completed the Academy, we would be issued an E-class Hunter license, the basic rank. They were discussing what they would do once they received it.
“Haeun, didn't you say you already have a spot reserved at a guild?”
“U-uh, yeah...”
Haeun answered, looking slightly self-conscious. Apparently, the guild she was joining was quite solid with a decent track record, making her the object of everyone's envy.
“I'm having such a hard time because I can't even find a party.”
The one whining was Lee Jihye, and frankly, she disgusted me. She had received several offers to join parties but had rejected every single one of them. And yet, here she was, complaining about not being able to find one...
Maybe she felt the conditions weren't up to her standards. Still, I didn't particularly like her attitude. Of course, I didn't let it show on my face. That was just how social life worked.
“I'm so jealous of you, Nix. You don't have to worry about finding a job.”
Before I knew it, the spotlight had shifted to me. Ever since it became known that my ability was healing, they had a habit of subtly targeting me. I was an object of envy and jealousy, and my outstanding looks probably only fueled their resentment.
“Well... I'd actually prefer to work in the field if possible.”
At first, I had attended the Academy without much thought, but as I learned more, I realized active duty as a Hunter wouldn't be so bad. At the very least, it would put an end to my lazy, sluggish lifestyle.
“Oh? Why is that?”
If they asked me why...
“Just... because I want to help people?”
Perhaps because I had lived as a Saintess for so long, that thought naturally came to mind. In an instant, the expressions of several girls contorted. They probably thought I was playing the saint. I smiled faintly... and spoke with mock sincerity.
“They say good deeds bring good fortune, right? Maybe I received this ability because I lived a good life. So, I'm just giving back.”
Lee Jihye looked as if she wanted to scream 'hypocrite' right then and there. But unable to say it out loud, she could only offer an awkward laugh. The others fell silent as well.
“That makes sense... Perhaps the being who bestowed the Status Window granted you that power with your kind heart in mind.”
Ah, that... I had seen it mentioned on TV quite often. The Status Window Church... It was a new religious cult that worshipped the omnipotent being who bestowed power upon the Awakened as a god, believing the Status Window was a direct link to a divine entity.
Like any cult, it had various sects. Some treated the Awakened as apostles, while others worshipped the Status Window itself. It was a highly problematic cult in many ways, but apparently, it was incredibly difficult to shut down.
In any case, it seemed Ah-young was a believer of the Status Window Church. She had done a good job hiding it until now...
Come to think of it, out of the six of us gathered here, she was the only one who took being a Hunter seriously. Excluding myself, of course, the attitudes of the others were... pathetic.
Especially Jihye. That woman saw being a Hunter merely as a tool—specifically, a tool to seduce a rich, high-ranking male Hunter.
Well, she didn't say it out loud, but I was sure everyone had already figured it out.
After sipping our coffee, making polite small talk, and nodding along, we finally parted ways. Honestly, I was completely drained.
“Sigh... they really can talk forever.”
And it wasn't as if their chatter held any real value. Not that idle gossip was inherently bad... but the subtle psychological warfare woven into their conversation was exhausting and incredibly annoying.
To be frank, I didn't have the best personality, so I had to hold myself back several times from just flipping the table. I did a good job keeping my temper in check...
The moment I got home, I collapsed onto my bed from sheer exhaustion. Fighting monsters would have been infinitely easier on my mind.
The proper lectures had been reasonably interesting, and gradually, our time at the Academy was drawing to a close.
Winter was finally ending, and spring was on its way. This meant it had almost been a year since I returned to Earth...
Has it really been a year already...? I felt like I hadn't done much of anything, yet time was flying by so quickly.
Anyway, there were only about two classes left. I felt like I had already learned everything there was to know, so what could they possibly teach us now...? With low expectations, I made my way to the Academy.
When I arrived and entered the classroom, I saw the usual familiar faces. Seeing them so often had made me grow accustomed to them. Not long after, the instructor walked in...
“Today's class will be held outdoors.”
Muttering complaints under our breath about what kind of class required us to go outside, we headed to the vacant lot behind the building.
Waiting for us in the spacious empty lot was a man clad in armor.
“Welcome, prospective Hunters.”
It wasn't a heavy, sturdy set of full plate armor... but rather, armor with a modern design. It looked like tactical gear that special forces might use, but shaped in the style of Western armor.
The only thing that felt out of place was the massive shield he held. A solid shield that looked as if it were forged from iron. It wasn't pristine, either; the dents, scratches, and battle scars covering its surface suggested it was a well-used piece of equipment.
“This is Mr. Suho, a B-class Hunter from the Daehyeon Guild, who has graciously agreed to be your guest instructor today.”
Instantly, a loud buzz broke out among the students.
“Daehyeon? Isn't Daehyeon ranked second in the country?”
“A Hunter from the second-ranked guild...”
“A B-class from Daehyeon? He must be incredible.”
“Look at his gear. That's Daehyeon for you.”
Was he really that amazing? I didn't feel anything particularly overwhelming from him. B-class... while not a low rank, it was still far from A-class or S-class. Perhaps that was why his magical energy didn't feel very strong to me. He had an air of experience, but he didn't feel like a true powerhouse.
“What I will be teaching you today is real combat!”
Wait, did he mean he was going to fight us directly? How exactly was he planning to teach us real combat? A seed of doubt planted itself in my mind. Well, I suppose I'd find out soon enough...