Chapter 9
“Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division.”
At those words, Do-Jun turned his head to find Min-Hyuk speaking without taking his eyes off the stage.
“That’s where Hunter Cha Ye-Ji is contracted. And the responsible civil servant is Lee Do-Jun, twenty-six years old.”
“You seem to know us quite well,” Do-Jun commented.
“And that doesn’t seem to surprise you much.”
Do-Jun smirked in response. The corner of the waiting room he was standing in wasn’t the best spot to view the stage. He had been curious why Min-Hyuk, an S-rank Hunter, approached him, but now he had a rough idea from the conversation.
“Well, I’ll get straight to the point,” Min-Hyuk said.
Do-Jun decided to listen quietly.
“We want to recruit Ye-Ji to our guild.”
A few hours ago, Min-Hyuk coincidentally witnessed Ye-Ji’s stat measurement results. While her Strength, Agility, and Stamina stats were unimpressive, the Mana stat was off the charts compared to the other three.
“She underwent physical enhancement only once when she was just level 1, and that too with an F-rank mana stone given to anyone obtaining their first Hunter license.”
Min-Hyuk turned toward Do-Jun with gleaming eyes.
“Having 10 points of Mana injected with just a single F-rank mana stone enhancement, and no further enhancements afterward, is an absurdly monstrous talent.”
Do-Jun realized that Min-Hyuk was mistakenly assuming that Ye-Ji’s Mana stat of 10 was due to a single physical enhancement.
“The Icarus Guild will give her wings. If she joins our guild, we’ll provide her with an A-rank suit, pass down all the tips and tricks of our senior Hunters, and let her participate in high-rank Fissure raids to cultivate practical experience.”
Do-Jun continued to listen in silence.
“But what can the Fissure Management Division offer her? A raise?”
He turned to the stage and continued, “And challenging a C-rank Fissure for a Hunter who’s only a year in and has no experience with anything above D-rank—what are you people thinking? Do you think it’s even remotely possible?
“Hunters can only be trained by other Hunters. If you truly care for her and want her to survive in the dog-eat-dog world of Hunters, it would be best to hand her over to us.”
Do-Jun finally spoke up. “First of all, she is not an object. Please know that it’s not up to me whether to hand her over or not…”
[A C-rank Fissure is being activated.]
[Hunters participating in the trial, please eliminate the Orc Warriors within the time limit.]
As the automated message released the instruction, the barrier that had contained the Orc Warriors started lowering.
“Why don’t we make a bet?” Do-Jun suggested with a bright smile.
***
“Phew.” Ye-Ji took a deep breath as she watched the descending barrier.
Including herself, five Hunters were challenging the C-rank, with most being either D-rank or C-rank Hunters.
“Stay sharp, Hunter Ye-Ji.” Na Han-Jung sneered as he readied himself for battle, handling a one-handed axe that appeared to weigh at least ten kilograms.
Screech.
Three Orc Warriors charged with their distinctive cries.
Na Han-Jung shrunk back slightly as the three hulking figures standing over two meters tall rushed forward with ferocious expressions.
Fuck. Should I not have challenged the C-rank?
Thump, thump.
One of the Orc Warriors charged at Na Han-Jung, swinging its massive trademark club studded with nails toward his abdomen.
Na Han-Jung hurriedly raised his axe to block the club.
Bang!
“Keugh!”
Although he managed to block the blow, the overwhelming force from the Orc Warrior’s swing caused him to lose his grip on the axe. It spun several times in the air before flying nearly ten meters and embedding in the ground, leaving Na Han-Jung weaponless and pale.
He quickly turned his head to look at the other Hunters, only to find each of them too busy dealing with an Orc Warrior to help. Then, he spotted Ye-Ji running toward him.
Whoosh!
The Orc Warrior quickly changed its target, swinging its club at Ye-Ji.
I see it, Ye-Ji thought.
The path of the orc’s attack was incredibly clear to her.
As she watched the club descending in a clean arc, it felt as if the trajectory was clearly marked in the air, visible only to herself.
Whoosh!
She dodged the attack with ease by lowering her stance.
Then, Sword Path, the first form of Scholar’s Swordsmanship, took shape in her mind. She was sure that if she swung her sword along that path, the orc would surely die.
The sequence of events appeared in her mind as if she were watching a slow-motion video.
The sword was drawn, but Ye-Ji did not swing immediately as she recalled something Do-Jun had said.
“It would be a lot cleaner if you could fix that habit.”
After reaching the third stage of Scholar’s Swordsmanship, Ye-Ji noticed a new inscription in the manual that read: Scholar’s Swordsmanship, first form. She remembered what Do-Jun had told her while she blindly followed the description in the manual.
“A habit…?”
“Yes. It seems you don’t realize it yourself... Instead of swinging your sword like that, don’t you think it should be like this?”
With that hint, Ye-Ji’s Sword Path, the first form of Scholar’s Swordsmanship, was corrected.
As if possessed, Ye-Ji moved.
My stomach feels hot.
The qi inside her surged as if it would explode, enveloping her entire body, then soon seeped into the Skeleton Soldier’s Sword she held in her hands.
Slaaaash!
Ye-Ji’s sword deflected the orc’s club and simultaneously slashed diagonally across its abdomen.
It was Heaven, the first form of Scholar’s Swordsmanship that was based on the Tri-Element Swordsmanship.
Thud.
The orc’s corpse collapsed to the ground.
***
[The test has been completed.]
Na Han-Jung’s eyes twitched.
Was what he had just witnessed truly real?
And he could not believe the numbers he saw displayed on the scoreboard.
[Cha Ye-Ji: 8]
[Yang Seung-Ho: 4]
[Kim Hee-Soo: 3]
[Park Chan-Il: 2]
[Na Han-Jung: 0]
The other Hunters felt no different.
Even among other C-rank monsters, Orc Warriors were known to be quite difficult to deal with. However, Ye-Ji had single-handedly defeated eight of them, one at a time.
“Is she really an F-rank Hunter...?”
“There’s simply no way, right? If anything, that guy looked more like an F-rank.” One Hunter glanced at Na Han-Jung as he spoke, and the latter’s face turned beet red at the comment.
You’re telling me that bitch is really Ye-Ji?
Even after undergoing physical enhancement, her Mana level was 0, and during the Hunter test, she couldn’t showcase any skills.
To him, she was just a simpleton who seemed destined to remain a perennial F-rank.
What the hell did she do?
[Hunters remaining on stage, please return to the waiting room.]
***
Min-Hyuk shivered.
The methods by which Hunters could manipulate mana were classified into three categories.
The first was Infusion, where mana was imbued into a weapon.
The second was Release, where mana was expelled.
The third was Transmutation, where mana was converted into another attribute.
“She handled Infusion so perfectly…” Min-Hyuk trailed off in disbelief.
Imbuing mana into a weapon wasn’t difficult, but keeping control over the infused mana was a whole different story.
Among Hunters, the act of handling Infusion was likened to pouring water into a plate because balancing the limited amount of mana for combat was similar to adjusting the water level in a plate to prevent it from overflowing or being insufficient.
Ye-Ji had defeated eight Orc Warriors with her 10-point Mana.
Such control over mana was only possible with perfect mastery.
Buzz.
As the automatic door to the waiting room opened, Ye-Ji entered. Spotting Do-Jun, she immediately ran over to him.
“You did well,” Do-Jun praised her.
“I-I really did it!”
“Yes, you did. And it’s all thanks to your hard training.”
Ye-Ji shook her head vigorously.
She knew that her growth was entirely thanks to Do-Jun. Despite holding a Hunter license, she had remained an F-rank Hunter for over a year, yet she had grown this much in less than ten days after meeting Do-Jun.
“Huh…? Gasp!”
Ye-Ji was startled as soon as she saw the man standing beside Do-Jun—Kang Min-Hyuk, an S-rank Hunter ranked seventh among all Hunters.
Gazing at Ye-Ji, Min-Hyuk finally spoke. “That was an excellent battle.”
“N-no! It must be nothing to an S-ranker…” Ye-Ji said humbly.
“You handled Infusion perfectly. Do you have a mentor?” Min-Hyuk assumed that someone was mentoring Ye-Ji, but he never thought it could be Do-Jun.
According to the information he obtained, Do-Jun was just an ordinary civil servant, nothing more, nothing less.
Could it be Lee Kang-Hyun?
The first ever Hunter, the Sword Emperor, Lee Kang-Hyun.
The very man who established the three current methods of mana control—Infusion, Release, and Transmutation—and was ranked first among Hunters.
“Actually…” Ye-Ji began to say.
“Ye-Ji trained herself,” Do-Jun interrupted her.
“Huh…? Sorry?” Ye-Ji looked up at Do-Jun, confused, and Min-Hyuk turned to her in surprise.
“Is that true?” Min-Hyuk asked in disbelief.
“Uh, aha, maybe?” Ye-Ji said cautiously.
“Hunter Ye-Ji,” Min-Hyuk said.
“Y-yes!”
“I’ll keep it short and simple. We, the Icarus Guild, would like you to join us.”
Ye-Ji’s eyes widened.
The Icarus Guild was one of the top guilds in the country that housed three S-rank Hunters.
“If you join us, you will have our full support. If there’s anything you want, I’ll do everything within my power to provide it. And—”
“I’m truly, truly grateful for the offer... but I will not be joining you,” Ye-Ji said before Min-Hyuk could even finish.
“Pardon?”
Min-Hyuk couldn't believe his ears. It was every Hunter’s dream to join a top guild, so why on earth would she refuse?
“Isn’t that so, Mr. Administrator?” Ye-Ji looked up at Do-Jun with a wide smile.
Unable to comprehend the sudden development, Min-Hyuk shouted, “Please, reconsider! Such opportunities do not come often, and you’ll receive far better treatment and opportunities for growth than remaining as a contract Hunter with Seoul City Hall!”
Min-Hyuk felt a surge of irritation. Why did he have to beg like this? Never before had he acted like this!
If this is what it takes for me to recruit her...! Min-Hyuk thought to himself as he frowned.
Seeing this, Ye-Ji stepped back slightly and hid behind Do-Jun, who simply smirked and said, “Be sure you stay in touch, Hunter Min-Hyuk.”
With those last words, he and Ye-Ji left the waiting room. Min-Hyuk couldn’t help but laugh helplessly as he watched the two walk out the door.
He knew exactly what Do-Jun meant: the bet.
Min-Hyuk recalled what Do-Jun had said.
“I will bet that Ye-Ji defeats more than five Orc Warriors. If I lose, I’ll personally recommend that she join the Icarus Guild.”
Min-Hyuk had agreed without hesitation, thinking that it was impossible.
“But if I win, give us an A-rank suit.”
Min-Hyuk took out his smartphone and made a call.
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