Taking the Hunter Rank Evaluation!
A-rank hunter directly under the Hunter Management Agency, I received the necessary documents from the staff member and arrived at the special training hall with little Mijeong. … I was worried she might get lost, so we walked hand in hand, and that hand was so soft and squishy.
The special training hall is a sturdy facility where even full-powered attacks from ordinary awakeners couldn't leave a single scratch on the walls. Weapons ranging from swords to staves are prepared in variety. High-grade potions for emergencies and healers on constant standby. The best place for hunter rank evaluations.
I told her to pick one of the pre-prepared weapons, but she said she already had her Partner and pulled something wrapped in newspaper from her eco-bag. It turned out to be a hand axe. … The same weapon that man used.
Anyway, with preparations complete, we entered the training hall interior. Obstacles can be added for various scenarios, or hologram monsters generated, but right now it's just a vast, pure white room without a single obstacle.
And at its center, little Mijeong and I faced each other, about 5 meters apart. … From here on, I shouldn't call her a child. After all, this is official business.
"May I call you Mijeong-ssi?"
"… Wha? 'Ssi' is for people older than you, right?!"
"It's not only for older people. It's just a polite honorific."
"Hmm… Okay then, Yumina-yang!"
"Very well. Then, Kim Mijeong-ssi. We will now begin your hunter rank evaluation."
I explained the evaluation process to the little lamb in front of me. There's no separate rank for hunters in your status window. Hunter ranks are determined by the nation. In Korea, all awakeners are registered as F-rank hunters upon completing awakener registration.
This law was made 30 years ago, right after the gate incidents began, to throw all awakeners into gate operations regardless of age, gender, or job. All awakeners are hunters, and in emergencies, hunters can be forcibly mobilized for gate clearances by national order. In simple terms, it's like becoming a reservist. That's why the Hunter Management Agency falls under the Ministry of National Defense.
Of course, that's irrelevant these days. An F-rank hunter is basically just a civilian awakener in name only. Not everyone who awakens wants to risk their life diving into gates. And there's no need anymore. Unless granted special permission for academic reasons or the like, F-rank hunters can't even enter dangerous gates with monsters.
Thus, professional hunters start from E-rank. Anyone who's completed registration can receive an evaluation from an Agency-affiliated hunter, ranging from minimum E-rank to maximum C-rank. Higher ranks require proven track records, personality assessments, and more rigorous skill tests.
Of course, most first-time evaluations end at E-rank… Even the talented ones get D-rank at best. C-rank is theoretically possible, but it's too high for me to assign on my own judgment. … And if combat ability seems nonexistent, I can fail them.
"I won't attack you, Mijeong-ssi. So don't worry about getting hurt—just give it your all and come at me with the intent to take me down. I'll evaluate and assign an appropriate rank."
"Okay! Mijeong will do her best-yang!!"
And yet, I plan to fail this child. The world isn't like it used to be. It's not a place where a child this young has to fight monsters in gates just to survive. Of course, she must have her reasons for wanting to become a hunter at such an age and enter gates. So I'll fail her first, figure out those circumstances, resolve them, and let her live a proper childhood.
Even without trying, how impressive could an 8-year-old's combat prowess be?
The child bends her knees. Her already small stature shrinks further in the low stance. She grips the axe in her right hand tightly and stares at me. Her pupils contract. Her muscles tense.
And then.
"Meeeh."
The beast let out a low cry.
Ping—!!
"!"
The little lamb shoots toward me like a bullet. Her recorded physical rank was E-rank, for sure. F-rank is average adult level, E-rank is Olympic medalist territory. D-rank and above enters superhuman realm. This speed is clearly D-rank or higher.
Of course, it's not fast enough to catch me off guard. I sidestepped slightly.
The little lamb flies past me straight toward the opposite wall. A classic mistake for new awakeners—they think their body is the same as before. Awakening drastically boosts physical performance. Pushing full throttle makes you move far faster and stronger than you expect. And with her beast transformation trait, her athleticism should be even sharper…
She'll probably smash her head into the wall like this. I shouldn't have told her not to worry about pain.
I could chase and catch her right now, but even if I've predetermined the outcome, this is a test. I can't help her from the start. Her stamina's D-rank too, so even a bump on the head won't be life-threatening. I'll ask the healers to treat it so no scar remains.
… The image of that adorable child crying from pain flashed in my mind, but I pushed it aside.
Screeech—!!
But the child stopped. On her own power. Mid-charge, she twisted her body, using her legs and the gripped axe to brake.
… No way is she just a day or two post-awakening? Unless she illegally sneaked into gates somewhere and fought…
"Wha? Too fast-yang…."
… Nah, doesn't seem like it. Her expression shows even she didn't expect that speed.
So she pulled that off purely on innate sense? A total beginner? No, wait—if even that expression is fake…? Get a grip, Yumina. An 8-year-old couldn't possibly.
"Gonna go again-yang!"
"As many times as you like."
The little lamb takes the same stance again. … Honestly, that speed alone, plus the athletic control to manage it? That's more than enough for E-rank. But no. I can't let such a young lamb take on dangerous work.
This time, I'll block instead of dodge. To hunt monsters, you need real power. If an E-rank physical lets her hit that speed with one kick, other aspects must be below rank. Probably abysmal strength or stiff body. She's gripping the axe tight with those squishy hands, but can she swing it with real force? Or before that—
The moment I block, the recoil might make her drop it. … In real combat against a monster, that's instant death.
Once more, Mijeong-ssi charges in low stance. Aiming for my ankle, probably. To block, I lifted my foot and lightly flicked the axe blade upward with my toes.
"Meeeeng~!!"
The impact sends the little lamb—and her axe—flying upward. She didn't let go, though. Pass… No, I can't.
Our eyes met as she floated. Those eyes staring at me weren't a child's.
But now, what will you do?
My unspoken question was answered by the little lamb.
Whoosh~ Swish—!!
In midair, she spins her body, swinging the axe at my neck. The rotation will generate real power. Trajectory and aim locked dead on my throat.
Ahh. This won't do. The evaluation's my call, but I'm not the only one watching. The standby healer's seeing it, and others might be peeking too—it's not forbidden. Even if not, it'll be recorded.
I can't fail someone who can pull this off.
The axe still hurtles toward my neck. Normally, I'd dodge. But it's no proper artifact—just a cheap mass-produced hand axe for low-rank hunters… Instead of dodging, I raised my hand to guard my neck.
Since I'm passing her anyway, there's one more thing I want to check.
… Normal people can't swing a weapon in earnest at another person. Even if it's a "monster." You lived in a world forbidding violence until yesterday—awakening doesn't make you a killer overnight.
If I neither dodge nor block properly, what will she do?
The result:
Thwack—!!
"…Wha… I-It's okay-yang…?"
The little lamb stares at me, axe buried in the back of my hand, dangling from it like a swing.
… Blood flows from my hand. It stings a bit, but that's not the point now.
Even with me standing still, no hesitation. No pause in the swing. She's worried now, sure, but not shocked by the unexpected outcome.
She knew this could happen and did it anyway. Her movements so far weren't uncontrolled. I told her to come at me full force to take me down, so of course? She knows I'm a far superior A-rank hunter. Most would hold back knowing that—or go all out only because they assume I won't get hurt.
… The resolve to swing to the end, no matter who the opponent or the situation. Pass.
I set the still-dangling child down and pulled the axe from my hand. Blood gushes out. Ah, showing a kid this isn't great for her education. I hurriedly hid my hand behind my back, but the waterfall of blood made her eyes widen in real shock this time.
But strictly speaking, you made this happen, little Mijeong. You tried to kill me—but didn't really want me dead. Or something like that?
"Whaaa… I-I'll call the healer-yang!!"
"I'm fine."
"B-But still…."
Her sparkling eyes, brimming with worry and on the verge of tears, are utterly adorable. Without thinking, I petted her head with my good hand and said,
"Kim Mijeong-ssi. You pass. From today, you're an officially recognized D-rank hunter."
"Stop the bleeding first… Wha? Pass??… For real-yang?"
"Of course. You injured an A-rank hunter—how could that be a fail?"
"Th-Then… can I go into gates now-yang?"
"Yes, it's fine. But… you should head home today."
"Whiii… But then… food…."
"…How about this, then."
…
On the way back to the Agency lobby. Walking the corridor were me and little Mijeong. And.
"Hahaha! Becoming a D-rank hunter at 8 years old—truly impressive!"
"Yeah!! Mijeong is awesome-yang!!"
"Right! From now on, as a proper hunter, you'll work for our Hwaseong City, got it?"
"Of course-yang!! My Home is in Hwaseong too-yang!!"
"Hahaha! Good English too!"
Hwaseong City Hunter Management Agency Chief Park Hyeok, who'd watched our spar. He wasn't there on purpose—just dropped by out of boredom and caught it by chance.
… Hunters have been fleeing to other regions lately, but what kind of talk is that for an 8-year-old? A bit sleazy. Still, thanks to the chief, little Mijeong wasn't bored. I'm no good with words.
She kept smiling all the way to the lobby.
A moment later.
"Yumina-yang!! Yumina-yang!!"
I watched from afar with the chief as the ecstatic little Mijeong bounced around with her new D-rank hunter license. But glancing aside, the chief's cheerful expression from moments ago was gone. Replaced by the face of a seasoned hunter.
He looked at me.
"Miss Yumina."
"Yes, Chief."
"That was a bit harsh against a child. Did you really have to show blood in front of her?"
"It's just a scratch."
"You could've dodged easily. You did it on purpose, right? To see how far she'd go."
"… Hunters ultimately kill things. If she panics at an unexpected situation in real combat—"
"You're really dragging out your worry for the kid, huh."
"……."
Chief Park Hyeok chuckled at me and said,
"One thing bothers me, though."
"What is it?"
"You're not the type to blindly worry about kids. You started hunting at 10, crossed death's door countless times."
… He's right. Hunters grow. To grow, repeat job actions for new skills and higher stats. Archers shoot arrows and track prey. Warriors block with shields, slash with cold weapons, slay monsters.
That's why black magician jobs are dangerous. They require evil acts to grow.
I awakened early too, hunted monsters in gates with adults from childhood. I know how harsh and risky it is for a kid to fight in gates.
… But that's why I reached A-rank at just 20. If a child's will is firm and skills sufficient, I wouldn't force a fail. Just last week, I gave an E-rank license to a 10-year-old without even checking mindset…
So why was I so worried about her? Enough to plan a deliberate fail…
… No way?
I gazed at the excitedly bouncing little lamb and channeled mana into my eyes.
Golden Eye (S)
… Identical to the Heavenly Mirror Jade records. No discrepancies.
"… She was just so cute, I got carried away without realizing."
"Hahaha! Yeah, she's adorable enough to be a model instead of a hunter."
"That's her choice. Besides, top awakeners dominate that industry now anyway."
"Hm… True enough."
Yumina, you've lost it. Suspecting mental interference skills? Golden Eye (S) pierces all secrets—the pinnacle in its field. Only three worldwide possess it, short of EX-rank. Even then, I'd glimpse something.
… A kid desperate to be a hunter wouldn't block herself via mind control anyway.
But. Ten years as a hunter taught me one thing: never doubt your own instincts.
… Even beyond that, an 8-year-old showing up alone without a guardian to become a hunter is suspicious.
For now, I'll watch a bit more. We're entering a gate together tomorrow anyway.
…
Come to think of it, he's still nowhere to be seen today. That black magician hunter who used the same hand axe.