Chapter 11
“For your convenience, Miss Yoo Seol-a, since this is your first time here, I’ll give you a brief overview.”
Section Chief Nam Gi-seok of the Hunter Registration Division.
He had joined the Association at the same time as Kang Hyeon-seok, Section Chief of the Hunter Management Division, and was one of those who helped make the Association what it was as it grew increasingly corrupt.
He was also the mastermind behind several episodes that caused major problems, repeatedly putting Kim Hye-seong, the female protagonist, Yoo Seol-a, and others in mortal danger.
Most revolting of all, during tests, he would target promising candidates and summon simulated monsters they couldn’t handle yet, thoroughly breaking them in.
“…That’s all for the briefing. You understand, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then, before entering the testing area, put on the safety gear first. …Assistant Manager Yoo, help her get suited up.”
“Understood, sir.”
After receiving a brief explanation of how the test would proceed, I put on the safety gear before entering the testing area.
Although the test was nonlethal, there was still a risk of injury, so wearing safety gear was mandatory.
There was even a story in the novel about a test-taker who’d foolishly refused to wear safety gear and ended up with injuries that took ten weeks to heal.
“Miss, don’t overdo it. All right?”
Yura came over while I was putting on the safety gear and reminded me again.
Since she was only saying it out of concern, I nodded.
Once I’d put on all the safety gear for my head, torso, arms, and legs, I stepped into the testing area.
Stretch. Stretch.
Before the test began, I loosened up with some light stretches.
‘What kind of trick will Section Chief Nam Gi-seok try to pull during the test?’
Since Section Chief Nam Gi-seok might have something up his sleeve, I needed to be ready to move quickly at any moment.
More than anything, he must have heard about me, so he was sure to try something unusual.
Even though Yura, an A-rank Hunter, was nearby.
“Then we’ll begin the test. The monsters that appear will be F-, E-, and D-rank, and you may not leave the testing area while the test is underway.”
“If you wish to stop the test, be sure to signal us. We won’t be able to hear your voice in there, so you’ll need to press the red button on your chest protector.”
“If you understand, please nod.”
I gave a slight nod at Nam Gi-seok’s explanation.
“Good. This test is meant to assess your courage and combat ability against monsters, so please do your best.”
“If you can’t get past the F-rank stage, you’ll fail. Please retake it after you’ve trained enough. Then, we’ll begin the test.”
Click.
I heard the microphone switch off, and at the same time, the testing area gradually transformed into something alien.
The system had activated, and monster generation had begun.
【F-Rank Test: Defeat 10 Goblins.】
The first test prompt appeared in the air above the testing area.
‘As expected, it starts with goblins.’
When you entered a Gate, you could encounter all kinds of monsters, but goblins were among the higher-ranked F-rank monsters.
They had intelligence and hunted their prey in groups, making them formidable opponents for newly minted Hunters.
Goblins were quite difficult and terrifying monsters, enough to make some people give up right here.
‘Well, compared to a regular Lizardman, they’re nothing.’
Snap.
I snapped my fingers and activated my ability.
‘Dokkaebi Fire.’
When I cast the sorcery ‘Dokkaebi Fire,’ blue flames appeared above the heads of the ten goblins some distance away.
And thenㅡ.
Fwoosh!!
One by one, the goblins were swallowed by the blue flames.
““Kieeek!?!!””
The goblins let out shrieks of agony.
Then another message appeared where the test prompt had been.
【F-Rank Test Complete】
【Time Taken: Unmeasurable】
It was a message announcing the end of the test.
【The E-Rank test will begin shortly.】
◈
‘What in the world….’
Nam Gi-seok, Section Chief of the Hunter Registration Division, couldn’t hide his astonishment at what had just happened.
‘Unmeasurable? That only appears when a monster is killed instantly by an ability, before even one second has passed…. Is the Dokkaebi ability that incredible? Powerful enough to overcome a monster’s incredible resilience?’
No matter how low-ranked the monster, an ability couldn’t kill it instantly as soon as the test began.
There was the time it took to activate an ability, and monsters were incredibly tough.
‘Until now, the only one to achieve that record was the Sword Emperor. All the monsters’ heads were sliced off the instant the test began….’
‘Could the Sword Emperor family have produced a Hunter who rivals the Sword Emperor? …This is bad. The balance of power had already been tipping in our favor ever since the Sword Emperor passed away….’
Since the Sword Emperor had been the only one to set such a record, Nam Gi-seok felt threatened.
That was why his eyes turned toward a certain button.
‘…I have to break Yoo Seol-a in. If I can’t tame her while she’s still a sapling, South Korea will once again be overflowing with people praising the Sword Emperor family.’
‘We barely managed to bury the troublesome Sword Emperor and the Sword Emperor family’s elite Black Dragon Unit in the Red Gate, alongside the Association’s strongest forces and a few guilds that shared our aims….’
Nam Gi-seok kept stroking that button.
‘…If I press this A-rank monster generation button, I can break her in. The only problem is the woman who came with Yoo Seol-a: Jeong Yura, a former member of the Black Dragon Unit and a current A-rank Hunter.’
He wanted to press the button right away, but with Yura there, it was impossible.
She would move as soon as she sensed anything was wrong.
‘How can I get that woman out of here? If only she weren’t here….’
Brrring.
Just as Nam Gi-seok was racking his brain, a phone began to ring.
“I’ll step away for a moment to take this call.”
“Ah, yes. Go ahead and take your time.”
The phone belonged to none other than Yura.
She took it out, checked who was calling, and said she’d be stepping away for a moment. A faint smile touched Nam Gi-seok’s lips.
‘Heavens are on my side!’
ㅡWith Yura gone, he could carry out his plan.
Beep.
As soon as Yura stepped away, Nam Gi-seok pressed the button without hesitation.
The button that generated an A-rank monster.
‘Now, thenㅡ. I’ll break you in, granddaughter of the Sword Emperor.’
Eee-ow!
An alarm sounded inside the Hunter Registration Division.
The employees with Nam Gi-seok began to panic.
“Huh? What?! C-Chief! This is bad! The testing equipment suddenly isn’t responding!”
“An A-rank monster is about to appear!”
“What’s going on!?”
They had no idea what was happening.
The testing equipment almost never malfunctioned, and it was always inspected before tests, so this sort of thing shouldn’t have happened.
In the first place, only Nam Gi-seok knew the button even existed.
“This is bad! Hurry up and deal with it! Even if she has S-rank mana, she’s only an aspiring Hunter! If we delay, Miss Yoo Seol-a could be seriously hurt!!”
At the employees’ frantic cries, Nam Gi-seok, the culprit, put on an award-worthy performance as he hurried them along.
Unaware of the truth, the employees struggled to get the equipment working again.
Nam Gi-seok, who had only been watching the scene, turned his gaze toward the testing area.
‘What!?’
What he saw was unbelievable.
◈
Eee-ow!
While I was waiting for the next test, an alarm rang out.
‘So Nam Gi-seok made his move.’
I knew that alarm very well.
It was the method Nam Gi-seok used in the story against Hunters he wanted to break in.
Apparently, he’d made his move because he intended to break me in.
‘He must’ve done it while Yura was away.’
The fact that Nam Gi-seok had made his move meant Yura had stepped away for some reason.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had the nerve to pull something like this with an A-rank Hunter watching.
ㅡHe sure was lucky.
【A-Rank Monster ‘Savage Minotaur’ is being generated.】
But that luck was about to run out.
‘Come forth, Dokkaebi Club.’
Poof!
At my call, the Dokkaebi Club appeared in midair.
The Dokkaebi Club appeared in the form best suited to its user, and I—Yoo Seol-a—had trained with swords.
In other words, the Dokkaebi Club was supposed to appear in the shape of a sword for Yoo Seol-a.
When I grabbed it, it fit perfectly in my hand.
ㅡLike a beloved sword I’d wielded for a long time.
“Kwoooo!!”
Thud, thud, thud!
The newly spawned ‘Savage Minotaur’ spotted me and charged with a mighty roar.
An ordinary aspiring Hunter would’ve frozen in place and pissed themselves.
And they would’ve screamed for their life.
That was how aspiring Hunters behaved when they hadn’t truly experienced the terror of monsters yet.
ㅡBut I was different. Yoo Seol-a was different.
I stayed calm, gauged the distance between me and the monster, and prepared to deliver a powerful strike.
My resolve had been different from the start.
Yoo Seol-a had become a Hunter to carry on her grandfather, the Sword Emperor’s, legacy.
That was why she fearlessly entered Gates, never knowing what dangers might lurk within, and managed to conquer them in the end.
Knowing that, I embraced Yoo Seol-a’s convictions and stood firm.
To defeat that bull-headed monster charging toward meㅡ.
“Hooㅡ. Hup!!”
Whoosh!!
I swung the Dokkaebi Club with all my strength.
Slice!!
With a slicing sound, the charging Minotaur’s body split in two.
As if an invisible blade had pierced straight through its body.
‘Nam Gi-seok, you must be surprised, huh?’