“Finally made it…”
I looked up at the huge building in front of me.
It felt new, even though it was my second visit to the Hunter Management Agency.
I confidently told my little sibling, “I can go alone,” but I got lost right from the subway.
Being originally from the countryside, and having rolled around in this world for about five years, I felt like I had fallen into a maze of a dungeon.
Fortunately, people were kind enough to help when I asked them.
It was a close call, I almost wandered for a long time.
Letting out a light sigh, I stepped inside the building.
‘…Hmm?’
I spotted a familiar face right next to the reception desk.
It looked like the employee I met on my first day.
Perhaps he noticed me too, as he approached.
“You’ve come.”
“Hello.”
“I’ll be in charge of you again today. Shall we go?”
“Yes.”
I followed the employee down the hallway.
He seemed very friendly and naturally struck up a conversation.
“You’re not in your academy uniform anymore. You look good in those clothes.”
“…Yes.”
“Oh, please let me know if anything’s uncomfortable. I’m a bit confused about how to address you in terms of gender.”
“You don’t have to worry about it.”
“Understood. Last time, I was so flustered, I didn’t properly introduce myself, did I?”
The employee handed me a business card.
Hunter Management Head Jang Han-soo.
…What level of position was that again?
My memory had improved since I started living in this body, but since I never had a job in my past life, I had no clue.
I think I’ll just stay quiet.
“Considering you’ve been in another world for five years, your Korean pronunciation is surprisingly good.”
“……I cursed at the hero party in Korean.”
“Ah-ha.”
Of course, it was when I was alone, gossiping behind their backs.
If I cursed in front of them, they’d pick up on it through my tone, even if they didn’t understand the words.
Besides that, I used to jot down any important information or memories I wanted to keep in Korean.
“Were things not good between you?”
“Yes.”
“…….”
Did I respond too bluntly?
The head’s mouth closed.
He hesitated for a moment with a contemplative look before changing the topic.
“How was your reunion with your younger sister?”
“It was nice.”
“That’s a relief. It’s good for family to be close.”
My precious little sister.
She’s grown into an adult while I was gone, but her sweet and cute face still remained.
Thinking of my sister made me smile unconsciously.
“Hmm…”
“……?”
I felt his gaze on me and turned my head. The head was looking at me with a strange expression.
But he simply returned his gaze to the front.
Before long, we arrived at the consultation room.
“First, would you like to read this? It’s a guidebook we give to newly awakened hunters.”
“Yes.”
I sat down and took the paper he handed me.
I quickly skimmed through the contents.
“If you prove your awakening in today’s test, a provisional hunter license will be issued right away.”
“Yes.”
“Formal hunters start from D-rank, but you can accumulate achievements in E-rank dungeons or complete the academy course.”
“The academy?”
“Yes, think of it as a university. I’d recommend this route. The tuition is a bit high, but statistically, the survival rate of hunters from here is significantly higher.”
A bit expensive but higher survival rates…
That’s a gray area.
“Um, and I apologize.”
“……?”
“I’m afraid there are no subsidies or anything due to the lack of a system for returnees. However, I received a lot of discretion regarding Si-hyun from my team leader. I’ll do my best to take care of you.”
“…You said there’s no law? How would that work?”
At my question, the head’s eyes sharpened.
He clasped his hands together and spoke in a soft tone.
“The first returnee besides Si-hyun is currently associated with the US. He’s a B-rank hunter and an exceptional talent.”
“I see.”
“He claimed to have defeated the Demon King. What are your abilities? What is your class? You need to let me know for your hunter license.”
Ah….
I wasn’t sure if there really was a law or not, but he was certainly just trying to gauge me.
“Considering what you wore yesterday, are you a priest? A nun, maybe? That should allow you to earn quite a bit.”
The excitement he couldn’t hide showed on his face.
That reminded me of a news article I saw before.
[South Korea, shortage of support-type hunters. Severe oversupply of damage dealers.]
I had already been pushed around by the church and royalty in another world.
I was sick of being constrained.
It was time to pull out my prepared answer.
From today on, I will be…
“I…”
“I…?”
Pausing for a moment, the head looked at me intently.
I returned the serious expression and answered.
“I’m a penis-worshiper. No, I mean a vagina-worshiper.”
“…….”
The head’s expression tightened at my reply.
Was he that disappointed that I wasn’t a support-type hunter?
Even if I’m not S or A-rank, I feel like B-rank is possible…
From what I’ve seen on the internet, they say a B-rank is considered a superior hunter.
This won’t do; let’s emphasize the greatness of being a paladin one more time.
“Paladin is king.”
“……Huff.”
The head let out a deep sigh while staring at me blankly.
He shook his head and began writing something down on a document.
“You’re a paladin. Paladins are kings and melee-type, right?”
“Yes, I’m tough.”
Since coming to Earth, I haven’t been able to gather as much divine power as before, but I still have strength. My body is plenty sturdy.
“…So you’re a tank type? That’s not bad.”
The head, who seemed to have developed darker circles under his eyes, added to the document.
Then he handed me a crystal ball.
“This is a magic power measuring device. Please put some strength into it.”
“Okay.”
I took the measuring device and immediately channeled a bit of divine power into it.
…Ah, since it’s a magic power measuring device, should I put mana into it instead?
I infused it with mana again.
A faint light began to emanate from the crystal ball.
“Hmm? The light is normal, but the color is strange.”
“…Does that mean I can’t be a hunter?”
“No, that’s not it. Ordinary people can’t emit light at all.”
The head continued working on the document.
Moments later, he nodded and spoke to me.
“Your provisional hunter license will be ready for you at the reception when you leave. You should update your ID, and I’ll help with the photo and other things.”
“Ah. Thank you, sir.”
He was actually lending a hand and looking out for me.
This seems just about right.
“I have a feeling we’ll see each other often. Feel free to call me casually.”
“Yes, sir.”
“…….”
We’re not that close, though.
*
After Si-hyun exited the management agency building, Jang Han-soo let out a deep sigh and called his team leader.
“Team leader, I’ve just finished consulting with a returnee.”
– How did it go? What’s their class? Do you think they can make B-rank?
“There were some peculiar aspects. They started from a melee class, and their rank is a plain E. I’ll send you the detailed information in the paperwork.”
– Hmm, get to know them better. The first returnee in the US is a B-rank, but they’ve also invented various groundbreaking hunter-related tools. You shouldn’t judge just based on combat rank.
“Yes, understood.”
– If they’re truly talented, we cannot let them go to another country, so keep an eye on the situation and control the information.
“Of course.”
After wrapping up a few more conversations with the team leader, he ended the call.
The head recalled his earlier conversation with Si-hyun.
The cold, icy expression while cursing the hero party, and the pure smile when talking about their younger sister.
The stark contrast in their faces was unforgettable.
He resolved how to proceed moving forward.
As if things weren’t busy enough, now he had even more work to deal with.
*
After leaving the management agency building, I sat on a bench in a nearby park.
I recalled the pamphlet I received during the consultation.
An E-rank provisional hunter has no responsibilities but also no benefits.
From D-rank and above, various benefits are provided, but it comes with obligations to handle gates and dungeons.
It seems that most of the hunter-related tasks are processed through an app, so I should start by installing that.
Basically, if low-ranked dungeons aren’t cleared within a month, monsters will overflow out of them.
Except for high-ranked or large-scale dungeons, lower-ranked dungeons are managed by hunters voluntarily.
If two weeks pass and they aren’t cleared, the management agency intervenes.
The hunter app is used to identify locations and when someone stakes their claim to clear the dungeon.
I don’t need to know about high-ranked dungeons right now, so I completed my hunter registration on the app and casually scrolled through the E-rank dungeons.
“……”
There are more than I expected?
This might be why the head had dark circles under his eyes.
Now, what to do…
I can’t apply alone for a D-rank dungeon in the first place.
An E-rank dungeon is easy enough to tackle solo, but I admit I don’t know enough about the dungeons and gates yet.
To gather information naturally, a party would clearly be the best route.
Should I join an impromptu party?
Unless they’re aiming for extremes, dungeons are typically cleared with about 3-4 members.
Definitely, having a party would be more stable.
Of course, it’s a problem if personalities clash and things become twice as difficult.
Should I go alone? Or join a party?
I’m sure being alone is more convenient.
But still, I want to see how other hunters operate at least once.
What would be the best approach…
…….
Ugh, for real.
This is all because of the hero party!
I’m definitely someone who thrives with a party, regardless of being a paladin or not.
I keep hesitating because of those bad memories surfacing.
They aren’t here anymore.
It’s time to step out of the shadows, Si-hyun!
Let’s do what I want.
Following my heart’s lead.
Time to check out the hunters’ levels with a party!
– Ding!
I made a reservation at the nearest E-rank dungeon that was recruiting parties.
*
With a makeshift 4-person party, we entered the E-rank dungeon.
Naturally, I frowned.
“Are you really a melee-type hunter? You look like a stiff breeze would knock you down.”
“……I showed you my hunter license. Paladin.”
There was a confrontational girl, but compared to the catfights I had gone through so far, this was nothing.
After all, I won’t be seeing them after today, so I ignored her.
“Hi, nice to meet you!”
“Hehe, same here.”
The kind person I met in the subway earlier was pleasantly surprising.
You could really feel their pure spirit.
“……Hmm.”
“…….”
A hunter shooting me a nasty look like I was a hero.
My fist may be throbbing, but honestly, I’m used to it at this point.
But, why…
“Kieeek!”
The dungeon’s appearance.
The monsters appearing.
Looks eerily familiar. Am I imagining things…?
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