Chapter 4: Qualification Test
The Hunter Association’s training facility buzzes with nervous energy. Leon arrives at dawn, to find dozens of newly awakened hunters clustered around assignment boards. Their fresh classification badges gleams in the morning light—bronze for C-Rank, copper for D-Rank, iron for E-Rank.
His ash-gray F-Rank badge feels like a target on his chest.
"F-Ranks to Station Seven," barks a scarred official. Her voice bears the authority of someone who has survived real dungeons. "Move."
Leon joins the shortest line. Only five other F-Ranks have shown up for qualification. The rest either can’t afford the registration fee or have already given up.
A pale girl with nervous hands stands behind him. Her badge reads "F-Rank Healer." She looks maybe sixteen, too young for this kind of pressure.
"First time?" she whispers.
Leon nods. "You?"
"Fourth." Her laugh holds no humor. "They keep assigning me to teams that abandon me. I’m Elise."
"Leon." He studies her face. Dark circles under her green eyes suggests too many sleepless nights. "Fourth time? That’s rough."
"F-Rank healers are too slow for most hunters. They want instant fixes, not gradual recovery." Elise shrugged. "What’s your class?"
"Necromancer."