Chapter 34 : A Trick of Fate. (4)
Chapter 34: A Trick of Fate. (4)
The owner of a conglomerate monopolized wealth and honor.
At a glance, it seemed like quite an enviable life.
But then again, what about it from the perspective of freedom?
A trivial slip of the tongue,
or getting into trouble after drinking,
and it would be splashed across headlines in huge letters and endlessly chewed over by the public.
On top of that, a conglomerate owner couldn’t decide everything alone and had to watch the shareholders’ reactions.
On the other hand, what about the head of a small or medium-sized company?
It could be compared to the chief of a small tribe.
It might be a village no bigger than a rat’s tail, but it meant firmly holding real power.
Just looking at the former president made that obvious.
He went in and out of bars day after day, and there were hardly any times he actually worked properly after coming in.
Whether he went to a golf course or to a department store with a madam,
no one stopped him.
The shares were practically almost 100% his anyway, so there was neither reason nor intention to go public.
To define it in one sentence—
“Being the president of a small or medium-sized company is freaking sweet.”
I stretched under the warm sunlight and walked through the city.
I was openly slacking off during work hours, but I didn’t feel even a shred of guilt.
I had no intention of going to a department store with a madam,
because I was going to build my own kingdom to be even more solid and grand.
I stopped and lifted my head.
A sign for a government office near Gwanghwamun caught my eye.
<< Korea Hunter Association Bureau >>
In principle, Awakeners had to complete registration with the Hunter Association.
Those who could handle mana were classified as valuable manpower, so it was managed at the national level.
However, in reality, unless you were a C-rank hunter or higher, there weren’t any particularly special benefits.
Those with D-rank or lower abilities were no different from trained civilians,
and if a battle with monsters broke out, they were no more than baggage.
I possessed a special talent, but
if judged purely by stats, I might not even be able to take down a single goblin, let alone Big Lava.
That was why people in an ambiguous position like mine didn’t register with the Hunter Association in the first place.
It was simply because dealing with all kinds of government interference was a hassle.
“Hey. Don’t block the way. Move.”
An irritated voice came from behind me.
When I turned around, a large man was glaring at me.
On either side of him stood a long-haired man and another with yellow-dyed hair.
“Ah, come on. Why are you trying to scare me like that.”
“Excuse me, but could you clear the way a bit?”
I wasn’t as good at detection as Lee Yu-seol, but I could vaguely feel it.
‘They’re Awakeners.’
Faint mana was seeping out from their bodies.
Without saying a word, I stared quietly at the big guy.
“What are you staring at? You tiny little shit.”
“Hold it, hyung.”
“Please try to rein in that temper.”
The big man leaned in as if he was about to pounce on me, while the other two hurried to restrain him.
Suddenly, Go Ju-hoon, whom I had fought in a decisive battle on the rooftop, came to mind.
‘His mana had surged explosively the entire time we fought. Like a volcano erupting.’
Thinking of Go Ju-hoon made the guys in front of me look like chicks.
I let out a snort and curled the corner of my mouth.
“You laughing? You bastard. Follow me.”
“Hey! Hyung!”
“Let’s just go already!”
The two of them dragged the big man, who was yelling at the top of his lungs, into the Hunter Association Bureau.
The reason I came here.
It was to officially register as a hunter.
“Hey. You slit-eyed bastard. I’ve got your face memorized. Watch yourself.”
The big man threatened me as he went inside.
‘What a joke.’
I was about to follow them when my phone rang.
When I checked the caller, my heart warmed.
“Grandma. How are you feeling?”
You son of a bitch. How do you think I’m feeling? I’m suffocating to death!
A rough voice came through the receiver.
“You’ve worked hard, Grandma. You’re getting discharged this afternoon, right? I’ll come pick you up.”
Pick me up, my ass! Who do you think I am, some senile old woman? Forget it! I can go by myself!
“I’ll just wrap up my business quickly and head over. Let’s eat something good.”
The reason I had stepped out, leaving the factory work behind.
Registering as a hunter was part of it, but today was also my grandmother’s discharge day.
Aren’t you busy with work?
“I’m super free.”
Free, my ass! Did you get fired?
“Well. Someone did get fired.”
Not me—the president.
My grandmother still didn’t know that I had taken over the factory.
What kind of nonsense are you babbling about?
“I’ll tell you when we meet later.”
Tsk. Fine. Then come if you want.
She told me not to come, but it was obvious she was actually waiting anxiously.
‘I miss her too.’
I ended the call and slipped my phone into my pocket.
“Let’s get this done quick.”
I headed into the massive gray concrete building.
“Choi Yong-gi. Your registration is complete.”
A Hunter Association Bureau official handed me a document envelope with an expressionless face.
As soon as I received the envelope, I checked inside.
There was a document with an ID photo attached on A4 paper.
<Hunter Registration Card(Hunter License)>
Name : Choi Yong-gi
Residence : Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul…….
Resident Registration Number : xx0915-xxxx
The very bottom part was still blank.
Expected Rank : ( )
The Hunter Association Bureau had a machine that could measure a subject’s growth potential.
It wasn’t 100% accurate,
but based on several criteria, it predicted up to what rank someone could potentially reach.
I had gone into debt with the bank while taking over the factory.
I could have covered it sufficiently with the cash I had,
but I planned to consider loans as assets and repay them gradually.
If you became a high-rank hunter, you could enjoy not only a high salary but also various benefits.
“Please go up to the second floor and receive your expected rank assessment.”
The official pointed toward the stairs.
The expected rank measuring device didn’t simply show future growth potential.
No matter where you went in the world, there were always despicable people who aimed for loopholes in the law.
Occasionally, there were those who disguised themselves as Awakeners to become hunters.
The measuring device also had the function of filtering out such fake Awakeners.
If, during the expected rank assessment, no mana was detected at all, the hunter license would be automatically canceled.
If you passed the test, the expected rank would be confirmed immediately.
I went up the stairs following the arrow.
As I followed the signs, I arrived in front of an iron door with letters written on it.
Spiritual Power Resonance Imaging Room.
This was the place where the machine that examined supernatural power was located.
Also known as SRI(Supernatural Resonace Imaging).
After knocking a couple of times, I opened the door and stepped inside.
All kinds of computers and multiple monitors came into view.
Beyond the glass wall, I could see a massive cylindrical testing device.
“Please wait here.”
Following the guidance, I sat down on a chair.
Just then, I saw the trio I had run into at the entrance.
Among them, the big man stepped into the SRI.
The others pressed themselves against the glass wall and raised their voices.
“Hyung! Fighting!”
“Let’s give it everything!”
The big man stood inside the machine, smiled broadly, and drew a V with his fingers.
After finishing the setup, the official spoke into the microphone.
“Please place your feet shoulder-width apart. In that position, spread your arms.”
My occupational habit kicked in, and I imagined the machine’s operating principles in my head.
‘Is it a method that utilizes the protons of hydrogen atoms that make up the water molecules inside the body? Then by exposing them to a strong magnetic field…….’
The official spoke.
“We’ll begin. Please release your mana.”
The big man suddenly tore off the shirt he was wearing.
His bare, muscular upper body was revealed.
He let out a battle cry.
“Hngh! Hraaah!”
His body trembled violently, and veins bulged on his forehead.
The graph displayed on the monitor twitched upward slightly.
Outside, people clapped and made a huge commotion.
“Oh! As expected of you, hyung!”
“Just a little more, please!”
Right before his face looked like it was about to burst, the official ended the test.
“It’s over. You may come out.”
The big man came out, panting heavily.
He had exerted himself so much that his entire body was drenched in sweat.
“So? How high did I score?”
“Yeah! I’m really curious too!”
“Hey! Hurry up and tell us!”
As if this sort of thing happened all the time, the official lifted the stamp with an expressionless face.
“Expected rank B+.”
Bang!
A blue stamp was slammed down into the empty rank slot.
The big man and his two lackeys shouted in triumph.
“Wow! As expected of you, hyung!”
“What did I tell you! I said hyung would definitely make it to high rank!”
“Heh heh. You little punks. Making such a fuss.”
The official continued.
“Your talent is listed as a mix of detection type and Change-type, [SWWS(Strong Weak Weak Strong)].”
SRI not only quantified an Awakener’s stats into alphabet grades, but could also roughly identify their talent.
‘SWWS?’
With my lack of information about hunters, it was hard to understand at a glance.
The big man boasted loudly.
“That’s right! I analyze my opponent and change my strategy accordingly! The machine’s pretty accurate! Hahaha.”
The official shook his head.
“No. Rather than strategy, it appears you can instinctively gauge an opponent’s strength. You display intimidation toward those weaker than yourself, but conversely, you become intimidated by stronger opponents and fail to properly demonstrate your abilities—.”
“Aren’t you busy? Hurry it up. Next person!”
The big man smoothly cut off the official mid-sentence.
Strong against the weak.
Weak against the strong.
‘So it’s strong-weak-weak-strong.’
The long-haired man and the dyed-hair man who followed entered the SRI.
“Hngh!”
“Hyraaah!”
After giving it everything they had, they each received their report cards in turn.
The long-haired man’s expected rank was E-.
: [Partial Transparency]
The dyed-hair man’s expected rank was D+.
: [Sharp Nose]
All of them had low ranks and unremarkable talents.
The official spoke in a soulless voice.
“You both did well. Please submit performance reports once a year. You will also need to renew your aptitude test once every three years.”
“Ugh. I didn’t expect much, but E? What the hell. Partial transparency? Not even full?”
“Tsk! All I can do is smell well. If I knew it’d be like this, I wouldn’t have registered.”
The big man, apparently in a good mood, patted his subordinates on the shoulders.
“Hahaha! You guys getting this discouraged already. Straighten up!”
Finally, it was my turn.
“Choi Yong-gi. You may enter.”
The big man, who had been boasting endlessly, finally noticed me and sneered.
“Oh? You’re that slit-eyed guy from earlier! You were an Awakener too?”
Ignoring him, I stepped into the SRI.
“That bastard, seriously…….”
The pure white machine had a high ceiling and was large enough to fit a single person.
Uniquely, it was structured so that the monitors were visible even from inside.
There was no way I should feel radiation or magnetic fields, but maybe it was just my imagination—my chest felt tight.
“Please release your mana.”
The official’s voice echoed through the speakers from the other side.
“Hoo.”
I inhaled and closed my eyes.
As an Awakener, my vessel was still small.
No doubt a paltry result would come out.
‘For now, I’ll just do my best.’
I clenched my fist and forcefully released the energy throughout my entire body.
Amazingly.
The graph displayed on the monitor didn’t budge at all.
“…….”
Beyond the glass wall, I could see the big man’s group bursting into laughter.
“Hahaha! Just like I thought, no twist at all!”
“He sure put on a big show, but he was nothing special.”
“Think he’ll even make D-rank?”
There was no need to become a high-level hunter officially certified by the state.
After all, my goal was to be a hero.
If possible.
Punish bad guys.
And save people from monsters.
I wouldn’t lose to any evil.
‘I wanted to become the strongest hero.’
Therefore, a nominal badge wasn’t all that important.
“Sir, just tell him to come out. There’s nothing more to see.”
The official brought the microphone to his mouth with an emotionless face.
“Yes. You may stop now.”
I furrowed my brow.
‘……This is a bit annoying.’
If I followed my feelings, I wanted to smash the SRI machine to pieces with <Judgment of the Superhuman>.
‘But I can’t do that.’
Watching them burst into laughter did make me angry,
but I couldn’t waste my ability for emotional reasons.
Moreover, if something went wrong, the identity of Purple Devil might be exposed, and there was no need to draw unnecessary attention.
I had to thoroughly hide my true strength.
But then…….
‘I am a little curious.’
By common standards, just how high would a hero’s stats be?
I loosened the strength in my tightly clenched fist.
I slightly raised a single pinky finger.
In that state, I lightly jabbed the empty air.
Ding!
<Judgment of the Superhuman> has been activated.
The balance wasn’t deducted.
Because it wasn’t an effective hit.
“Choi Yong-gi? Please stop and come out…….”
Instead.
The graph turned red and shot up sharply.
It looked as if lava were erupting from an active volcano.
“Huh?”
The official’s pupils widened.
The group of big men who had been snickering went completely silent, like mutes who had swallowed honey.
“Wh, what was that just now?”
“Didn’t the numbers spike all of a sudden?”
At that point, I stepped out of the machine as if nothing had happened.
The official looked back and forth between me and the printed test sheet in confusion, then lifted the stamp.
Bang!
Expected Rank : ( F- )
As soon as the result was finalized, a sigh of relief came from the big man’s side.
“I knew it.”
“Sir, that guy is definitely F-rank, right?”
“……Yes. There’s nothing wrong with the rank. It seems there was a brief error earlier.”
The official tilted his head.
“It’s certain that you possess a unique talent.”
As I calmly put on my jacket, the big man grabbed my shoulder.
“Hey. What’s your talent?”
Asking an Awakener directly about their talent was an unspoken rule.
Not only because of privacy, but also because it had a significant impact in combat.
“Hey?”
I looked straight at the big man and spoke.
“Wanna die?”
I had no intention of actually fighting.
I was just trying to give him a little scare.
However, the guy flinched and hastily activated his ability.
‘So his specialty really is strong-weak-weak-strong.’
The toadies beside him egged the big man on.
“You little punk, what kind of mouth are you running in front of our hyung!”
“You’re just an F-rank, and you dare mouth off to a B-rank?”
In that instant, the big man’s eyes widened and he fell flat on his back.
“H-hiiik!”
He looked up at me as if he had seen a ghost, trembling all over.
“H-hyung?”
“What’s wrong with you?”
The big man barely got to his feet on shaking legs.
“Is the floor slippery?”
“Hyung, let’s give that bastard a proper lesson.”
“D-don’t.”
“Pardon?”
“I said don’t.”
The big man shook his head with a voice that crawled out of his throat.
The way he was utterly terrified looked rather cute.
The oblivious subordinates failed to grasp the big man’s intent.
“Do you know who our hyung is!”
“Hyung, I’ll handle this myself. You, come here.”
The closer the subordinates got to me, the more the big man backed away.
I was curious.
Just how strong did I appear through the strong-weak-weak-strong ability?
“Hey. How high are my stats…….”
“P-please! I’m sorry! Spare me!”
The big man took off running for his life.
Only silence lingered in the room.
The subordinates who had lost their hyung quickly became polite.
“We sincerely apologize.”
“Goodbye.”
After they withdrew,
the official looked at me and swallowed hard.
“Choi Yong-gi, your talent is Special-type. It’s also an unregistered talent. Just what exactly…….”
I nodded in place of a greeting.
“Good work.”
Clutching the documents, I exited the building.
“Phew. I almost ended up S-rank.”