Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: D-Rank Hunter Lee Seong-han
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"Welcome. What can I help you with today?"
A beautiful woman in a neat suit smiled and greeted me as I approached the lobby desk. Out of curiosity, I naturally used Scan.
'She's a hunter too.'
I couldn't see her rank, but the presence of Magic Power in her stats confirmed it. When I scanned normal people, there wasn't even a Magic Power stat at all.
"I'm here to get my hunter license issued."
"Ah, so you've awakened?"
"Yes."
"Could you fill out this simple form? Once that's done, I'll assist you with the measurement right away."
Skimming the contents, it felt similar to the patient card you fill out at your first hospital visit. Though there seemed to be at least twice as much to write.
"Do I have to fill out everything here?"
"The parts marked with the highlighter are mandatory. You can fill in the rest after the measurement. Most first-timers complete it during the consultation afterward."
Fine, skip for now then. I filled in only the essentials and handed the form back.
"See that big black door over there? Take this ticket and head right in."
It really felt like going to the hospital for a checkup. I'd thought getting a hunter license would be some grand affair, but it wasn't anything special.
'They judge suitability based on stats. Skill disclosure is up to me.'
Basic stats have to be public no matter what. Yu-ra Noona told me ranks are determined by the total stat sum.
Ranks are classified by the sum of Strength, Agility, and Intelligence. Up to 50 is F-Rank, 51 to 100 is E-Rank, and so on. The gaps widen as ranks go up.
Skill disclosure is optional, but if you plan to join parties, it's best to reveal one or two. That way, you get positioned according to your skills.
"Hello. I'm here for rank measurement."
"Hand me the ticket, change into the clothes in the changing room over there, and come out."
I changed into loose pants and a gown, then they started with basic physical measurements. Height 178 cm, weight 68 kg. Looking at it like this, I'm pretty average.
"Why don't you take a seat in that chair?"
I sat in what looked like some sci-fi movie machine chair, they attached a few electrode-like things to my hands, and a large ring scanned me from head to toe a couple times. That was it.
"Congratulations. You've definitely awakened. Change back and come out—we'll handle the license issuance with a quick consultation."
......Is it always this fast? Total time was under 20 minutes. Subtract the changing room trips, and maybe 15.
Following the staff's guidance, I entered a small room off to the side of the measurement area. A neatly dressed man was waiting.
"Hunter Lee Seong-han, congratulations on your awakening. I'm Kim Hyuk-gyu from the Seoul Branch New Hunter Management Team."
"Hello."
He gave a polite greeting and handed me his business card. No idea why, but I slipped it into my phone case.
"Your measurement results: Strength 30, Agility 33, Intelligence 53. Total 116. You're judged D-Rank."
It was my original stats plus Yu-ra Noona's copied ones. I'd deliberately converted undistributed points to general and made this permanent.
'Doesn't look suspicious. Good.'
In my status window, the added stats show in brackets separately, but it apparently reads as a combined total during measurement.
Starting at D-Rank wasn't unusual. About one in three awakenings, probability-wise.
He explained various other things, but I'd already heard most from Yu-ra Noona, so nothing exciting. The key parts were skill disclosure, basic affinity setting, and desired party position.
"How would you like to handle skill disclosure? It's your choice, but I recommend revealing one or two signature skills."
Makes sense. Who's going to party with someone based on stats alone? Of course, if one stat is sky-high like mine, they can guess your type.
What would give off "useful but not flashy"? After a moment's thought, I picked two.
"I can use detection and storage skills."
"Oh, nice choices. Main position as supporter, sub as ranged dealer—that fits perfectly."
"Are there a lot of hunters with similar skills?"
"Essential for high-rank dungeon clears. High-level supporters can even read monster and boss patterns. Storage is great for smooth supply lines. How proficient are you, Hunter Lee Seong-han?"
"Hm......"
Truth is, Scan is leagues beyond basic detection. No mana cost, shows other hunters' status windows, and with Marking, it links to location tracking for real-time status changes.
'Reveal all that, and it'd cause a storm.'
Better to lay low early. My top priority is joining decent parties to copy strong hunters' stats.
"For now, I can grasp basic info on visually identified targets. Storage-wise, maybe up to three large backpacks."
From tests, it's whatever weight my Strength can handle. With Yu-ra Noona's stats added, about a piece of furniture? As long as it floats in the air, whether I lift it by hand or strap it on.
Up to 10 items possible, but I'd reveal only that much. I could be careful when using it.
"Storage is solid, but detection's a bit vague. Levels make a big difference."
Kim Hyuk-gyu gave examples. Same liquid—distinguishing poison or not varies, and identifying poison type varies further.
"In that case...... I can identify main components."
"That's plenty useful. Your high Intelligence gives solid bonuses too. Shall we finalize?"
Final judgment: D-Rank. Intelligence-focused stats, main skills detection and storage. Main position supporter, sub ranged dealer.
Not too standout, not dead weight—exactly the sweet spot I aimed for.
After registering traits on the tablet, Kim Hyuk-gyu wrapped up with a light handshake.
"Come back when your total exceeds 200 for re-measurement and C-Rank. Congratulations again on awakening."
"Thank you."
"Grab the guide booklet on your way out. It'll help with future activities."
Including consultation, total time barely hit one hour. In my hand as I left the Association was a sleek card.
The bold "D" and clear photo on the front. I was finally an official hunter recognized by the Association.
"Phew."
A sigh slipped out as tension eased.
Anyway, my orphan life scraping by on part-time gigs ended today. No guarantees of smooth sailing ahead, but it'd sure beat now.
'If I reach S-Rank......'
Could I stand there someday too?
My gaze caught the pitch-black tower piercing the distant sky.
Becoming an official hunter didn't change my daily routine. No immediate dungeon runs, so I'd keep the library part-time for a while.
Just cut the hours. Used to be 9 to 6, often running past 8. Now till 3 p.m.
Plus, Yu-ra Noona knew work piled on me alone and planned to fix it. Thanks to her, I got paid hourly for some overtime—not extra pay, but something.
'No more of that shitty basement copy room.'
One deputy awkwardly apologized, so it looked like Noona flipped the script hard. Three printers down there, and me alone? Suspicious from the start.
'......Come to think, Noona's kinda scary.'
Separate from being sweet to me—she watched for weeks till she had leverage? When she was moaning on my dick, she was just a heavenly slut. Turns out social Yu-ra Noona's different.
Time passed, Saturday arrived. Day to escape the damn rooftop room.
"Take care of your health, Seong-han boy. You're so diligent—you'll succeed anywhere."
"......Thank you. Stay healthy too, Granny."
The landlady teared up celebrating my move. From the orphanage, over three years without rent hikes, various favors—she was a kind soul.
Tiny room, no real luggage. Packed clothes and computer in a big box into inventory, ditched the old desk and chair for new ones.
"All done?"
"Yeah."
Yu-ra Noona showed up with a huge MPV after hearing about the move. Rear seats removed for trunk space— for dungeon exploration or research gear, she said.
"Hop in. We'll unpack quick and grab something tasty."
"Is that 'tasty' food or me?"
"Hehe, both?"
Aphrodisiac worn off, but her gaze brimmed with affection. Made my chest tickle, feel oddly guilty.
"Let's roll."
"......Um, Noona?"
"Yeah?"
"That's not the gearshift you're holding."
"Oops, similar size—my mistake?"
......At this point, did we even need the aphrodisiac? Her expression grew a bit scary as she groped the bulge over my pants a couple times.
The new place was a villa with one room, kitchen-living room combo, and balcony.
My room on the top floor, 7th. Lucky urgent sale monthly rental—signed right away. 3 mil deposit, 700k monthly—not bad around here. Washer, fridge, AC standard.
"Elevator's a relief at least."
"Wouldn't have signed without."
Hunter now, who cares—but no elevator in a building over 5 floors is ridiculous anyway.
Key: worlds apart from climbing narrow stairs to the rooftop. Balcony connected to living room, south-facing wide open—felt refreshing just looking.
"What's up?"
"Nothing, just."
Sitting mid-living room, blankly watching the view, it finally sank in. Escaped that hellish rooftop for a fresh start.
"No unpacking?"
"I'll do it slow alone later."
"Then out for food, then IKEA. Better one-shot it."
"Why there?"
"Why? Bed shopping. Think I dragged this big car for nothing?"
"......Huh?"