Can't a Convict Become a Hunter?
"I awakened this evening, so how am I supposed to register?"
"What?" Kim Suhyang’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit. "Is that true?"
"Yes."
"Then why were you following me?"
"That is..."
"I asked why you were following me."
The reason was his urge to rape, but he couldn't possibly say that. "I was just trying to get your number..."
"What? Then what about the way you’ve been staring at me all this time?"
"That’s for the same reason. You’re just... very beautiful."
Kim Suhyang’s face flushed red. "Ah... even so, please don't do things that lead to such misunderstandings."
"I apologize."
"And go to the Hunter Bureau first thing tomorrow to register. Unregistered awakeners are even more prone to being misunderstood."
"I will do that."
With those final words, Kim Suhyang disappeared into the alleyway. Only then did Kang Taesan let out a sigh of relief. 'Phew, I thought I was going to end up in handcuffs. To think the "Witch" was an agent for the Hunter Bureau...'
The next day, Kang Taesan headed straight for Yeouido. The Hunter Bureau headquarters stood tall among the skyscrapers. Kang Taesan entered the building to register as an awakener. Many others were already waiting for their screening at the reception desk. Kang Taesan took a number and sat in an empty seat. As he sat down, a chubby gentleman next to him struck up a conversation.
"Are you an awakener as well?"
"Yes."
"Congratulations."
The man offered a handshake, and Kang Taesan shook his hand in return. "Congratulations to you as well."
The man asked Kang Taesan casually, "I hope I get a good group assignment. I’d be happy with nothing more or less than B-Group."
"B-Group? Are you talking about B-Rank?"
"No, not the rank, the group. The rank is what you get after the screening, but the group is the 'class assignment' for the screening itself."
"Class assignment? Is there such a thing?"
"Of course. After the document screening, they divide everyone into four groups—A, B, C, and D—for the practical exam, don't they?"
"Is that so? I wasn't aware. But why do they divide them into groups for the screening?"
"You’re quite the novice, aren't you? Let me explain it so it's easy to understand. Entrance exam academies divide students into classes based on their grades, right? It’s the same for awakeners. They look at your class and stats to gauge your growth potential. They divide you into four groups based on that potential."
"Then is being assigned to A-Group the best?"
"Yes, if you get into A-Group, you’re basically guaranteed at least a B-Rank."
At that, Kang Taesan thought of his own status window.
"Then what happens if the status window is just full of question marks?"
"What? What do you mean by that?"
"My status window is just rampant with question marks."
At those words, the chubby gentleman gave him a look that suggested he had no idea what Kang Taesan was talking about.
Just then, a noisy commotion erupted from the document screening counter. Everyone’s eyes turned toward it at once.
"Damn it, are you kidding me? Why am I in D-Group!"
Hearing that, the chubby gentleman shook his head. "D-Group... I can see why he's angry."
"Is D-Group that bad?"
"It’s not just bad. It effectively means 'failure'."
"What? Why?"
"Because no one ever passes from D-Group."
Kang Taesan asked in surprise, "Then why did they even create D-Group?"
At that moment, an even more agitated voice rang out from the scene of the disturbance.
"Why am I in D-Group! Don't you see these documents? With these base stats, A-Rank is possible!"
But the female clerk didn't back down. "It’s not about the stats. Mr. Nam Gangdu, you are in D-Group because you have a history of violent crimes."
"What kind of violent crime is attempted rape? Do you even know the meaning of the word 'attempted'?"
"Attempted or committed, anyone with a sex offense record is automatically D-Group."
"What? What kind of bullshit is this!"
As the enraged man lunged at the clerk, security guards rushed in to restrain him. But when the man swung his arms, the guards were sent flying effortlessly. Still, the guards clung to him desperately, trying to stop him. Watching the scene, the chubby gentleman muttered, "The reason D-Group exists is because of people like that."
"People like what?"
"People with records of violent crimes like murder or rape. Those people aren't allowed to become hunters."
At those words, Kang Taesan’s heart sank. "What? Why?"
"Because they’re 'villains'. What do you think would happen if you gave villains a hunter license?"
Kang Taesan felt helpless. He thought to himself, 'What is this? I came all this way for the screening, only to find out I can't become a hunter.'
"Let go of me, you bastards!" The man was still causing a scene.
As desks and windows were shattered, a guard shouted, "This is impossible! Contact the Investigation Department and call an agent!"
The female clerk next to him replied, "That’ll take too long! Call Screening Division 2 and summon Officer Oh Deokja!"
"Right, she’ll be able to resolve this quickly." The guard hurriedly picked up the intercom.
As the commotion threatened to escalate, the chubby gentleman added, "That’s why they don't give hunter qualifications to awakeners with criminal records. Giving a hunter license to villains who can't control their emotions is the same as the state issuing a 'license to kill'."
The man’s words struck Kang Taesan’s heart like a dagger. Even though he had been intoxicated, he too had a history of committing a crime because he couldn't suppress his impulses.
The man’s excitement reached its peak. He began throwing chairs and desks everywhere. "You look down on people just because they have a record!"
In the chaos, one of the flying chairs landed near Kang Taesan.
"What is all this commotion!"
A beautiful woman in a suit and glasses walked in and shouted. When she appeared, the staff let out sighs of relief. "We’re saved, Officer Oh Deokja is here."
Oh Deokja asked the terrified clerk, "What is the meaning of this?"
"I told him he had to go to D-Group, and he’s been agitated ever since..."
Hearing that, the man shouted, "Don't be ridiculous! I’m not a rapist!"
"I, I was just stating the facts."
"You bitch, until the end...! I’m not a rapist, it was an 'attempt'!"
Oh Deokja sneered, "You little shit, rape or attempted rape, it’s all the same. What are you making a scene for?"
"What?"
"This is the Hunter Bureau. Do you know what happens if you cause a scene here?"
"What happens?"
"Even if I kill you, it’s considered self-defense in the line of duty. You’re innocent."
At those words, the man flinched. "So if you don't want to die, shut up and get to D-Group."
But the man didn't back down. "No, I need an apology first. Apologize for calling me a rapist!"
Oh Deokja laughed as if it were absurd. "What are you so confident about? You’re a rapist, what right do you have to demand an apology?"
"And who are you to tell me what to do?"
"Me? I am Officer Oh Deokja, a 2nd-class examiner at the Hunter Bureau."
As she rolled up her jacket sleeve, a hunter band emitting a blue light was revealed. It meant she was a C-Rank hunter. When the hunter band was revealed, the man asked with wide eyes, "You... you were a hunter?"
"That’s right, I’m a hunter. It’s not like hunters only work in the field, you know."
The man picked up a broken desk leg. "I hate bitches like you the most. Always looking down on people. You called me a rapist too, didn't you? Apologize!"
"And if I don't?"
"Then die!"
The man lunged with the wooden leg, but Oh Deokja grabbed his wrist without moving an inch.
"Let go!"
"You’re still a newbie, so you don't know how terrifying a C-Rank is, do you?"
"What?"
"Then I’ll show you now. The cold that freezes everything, [Ice Infection]!"
Ice Infection
As Oh Deokja cast her magic, cold ice began to crawl up the man’s wrist at a terrifying speed.
"Wh... what is this!"
"You’d better not move. If you move, your arm is coming off."
"What...?"
Just as Oh Deokja said, the ice encroached further onto the man’s arm. In no time, his right arm was frozen solid up to the elbow.
"My arm..."
"This is the power of the C-Rank you were ignoring."
But the freezing didn't stop, and soon the ice was climbing up to his shoulder.
"I was wrong! At this rate, I’ll be crippled!"
"I don't want to."
"What?"
"I told you before. Even if I kill you, it’s self-defense."
"Are you really going to kill me?"
"I can't say I won't."
Oh Deokja’s freezing magic spread past his shoulder and began to cover his entire body.
"No... save me, please! I have a daughter at home to take care of!"
"A guy with a daughter commits rape?"
"I didn't! It was a momentary mistake, it was just an attempt!"
"It’s all the same, you piece of shit."
The freezing magic ruthlessly continued to encase the man’s body.
"This is a human rights violation! Does being in the Hunter Bureau mean you can do anything?!"
Despite the man’s screams, the freezing magic continued to consume him. Eventually, half of his body was covered in ice. The man began to plead for help from those around him.
"Please save me! If I die, my daughter dies too! Someone stop her!"
The man begged desperately, but none of the awakeners who had come for the screening sympathized with him. Instead, they watched as if they were enjoying the show, throwing out comments as they watched him freeze.
"He’s really going to die, isn't he?"
"Serves him right. I knew it when he started causing a scene in the Hunter Bureau without fear."
"I’m a parent raising a daughter too. Just die, you rapist scum."
Not a single person among the crowd sympathized with him. The ice that had been consuming his body finally reached his legs. Then, it began to crawl up his neck and into his face. Everyone was either mocking him or looking away, but only one person, Kang Taesan, could not watch the scene with any pleasure. It was because he himself was branded with the same mark.
"Save me, please...!"
Despite the man’s final scream, Oh Deokja did not stop the ice. The chubby gentleman next to him muttered, "I think she really intends to kill him."
"Ugh, ugh...!"
Eventually, the ice swallowed the man’s mouth, and he couldn't even make a sound anymore. Just as Oh Deokja’s freezing attack was about to cover the man’s entire face, Kang Taesan couldn't take it anymore and jumped from his seat. He grabbed Oh Deokja’s wrist firmly.