“Brother, brother, brother, brother, brother, brother, brother!!!”
“... Why are you making such a fuss? You have no dignity.”
The older brother frowned as he watched his younger sibling rush over. He had warned him so many times to act with class now that he was the vice representative. The second-ranked Hunter Guild in the Republic of Korea, based in Busan.
Ga Yeol-chan, the representative of the Bishop Guild, threw a light jab at his younger brother, Ga Han-chan.
“Every little thing you do becomes fodder for articles. Haven’t you seen how those Glory Guild bastards act in front of the cameras?”
“Th-this isn’t about cameras right now.”
“...?”
His younger brother, Ga Han-chan, moved his large jaw nonstop.
“I heard from a reporter inside that they used a Gold Core in the first exam.”
“What?”
Forgetting his own lecture on dignity, Ga Yeol-chan also let out a cry of surprise. That was how significant the term ‘Gold Core’ was.
“A Gold Core? Are you sure?”
“That’s what I heard. And his score was a hundred thousand points?”
“Oh, shit...!!”
For the first time in a while, Ga Yeol-chan’s smooth, bald head heated up. When he got extremely excited, all the heat rushed to his head, which was why he had lost all his hair at a young age. Ga Yeol-chan of the Fire-type, Ga Han-chan of the Ice-type.
The brothers, who served as the one-two punch of the Bishop Guild, were both Esper-types, contrary to their appearances.
“It’s been a while since such a formidable one has appeared...”
“And brother. A hundred thousand points means...!!”
“I know.”
Ga Yeol-chan slowly stroked his beard with his index finger.
“That’s another way of saying ‘unmeasurable’.”
A high-quality Core is essential in the process of testing an Awakened Value. This is because the value reflects the sensitivity of the reaction between the Core and the Ether. As it is an extremely delicate and sensitive process, the Core can be damaged during the reaction if the value exceeds a certain threshold.
This concern was no exception for a Gold Core. A hundred thousand points. The Association had the system automatically shut down if the Gold Core’s reaction exceeded a hundred thousand points.
They couldn’t risk destroying a treasure like a Gold Core for an Awakened Value. In other words...
“I don’t know who this guy is, but no one knows what his actual value is.”
There were a few Awakened who had to use a Gold Core during the testing process. Ga Yeol-chan, too, had been immeasurable with a normal Core and had to be retested, scoring over fifty thousand. You had to be at least that level to be the head of the second-ranked guild.
However, even after being tested with a Gold Core, Maria’s ‘true score’ could not be confirmed. All they knew was that she had surpassed the measurable limit.
And today.
Someone who took the test today went through the exact same process.
“The same healer, the same process... What’s his name?”
“They say it’s Cheon Hae-seon. Brother. If he’s really on the same level as Maria, shouldn’t we get him no matter how much money it costs?”
“Hey. Maria is a genius that comes around once every hundred years. Are there just one or two guys who are useless in actual combat despite having a high Awakened Value?”
“That’s true, but...”
However, hot steam was still rising from the top of Ga Yeol-chan’s head. Though he chided his brother, he couldn’t deny the possibility. Healers were a rare type, where it was difficult to find even an A-rank, let alone an S-rank.
If that guy really had S-rank potential, and they could go into battle with his healing at their backs... This was a gamble worth taking. Ga Yeol-chan, having made up his mind, instructed his brother.
“Contact the finance team and check how much we can spend on recruitment funds this year.”
“This year? Not this quarter?”
“Yes. This year.”
Not for three months, but they had to use the entire year’s budget to get this Cheon Hae-seon. They had lost all the promising prospects to the Glory Guild in recent years, so their funds were quite flush. This time, they would secure him, no matter what it took.
‘But first, he needs to receive a rank worthy of his Awakened Value.’
Ga Yeol-chan hurried his steps toward the results announcement hall.
Glory Guild’s Representative Gu Geon-yi and the Hunter Association’s Vice Chairman Yoo In-won were in the same room. Since he had received a lot of help in preparing for the test, it was practically a done deal that Yoo In-won’s son, Yoo Ji-won, would sign with the Glory Guild.
“You must be pleased to have such a fine son.”
“Hahaha. Representative Gu. Isn’t this all thanks to you?”
The pleasant conversation continued in an incredibly warm atmosphere. For Representative Gu, Yoo Ji-won was a means to maintain a close relationship with the Association. The Vice Chairman also knew that there was no better place than the Glory Guild to raise his child into a promising Hunter.
It was a perfect situation to satisfy each other's needs. Before Yoo Ji-won took the test, Gu Geon-yi took a risk and sent him to the Glory Guild research labs. For Yoo Ji-won, whose Ether level was weaker than expected, they had injected him with high-purity Cores stored at the labs.
Although things got complicated when Maria noticed, the price was paid back in full by the expansion of the Glory Hunter Guild’s jurisdiction. In this day and age, jurisdiction was power and money. Ignoring public criticism of excessive favoritism towards a specific corporation, the Glory Guild used various illicit methods to expand their influence.
In this case, it went beyond illicit to the realm of illegal.
“A score of five thousand is superior to most B-rank Hunters. He might even get an A-rank if he does well.”
“Haha. Wouldn’t that be wonderful if it happened?”
The already good atmosphere became even brighter with Yoo Ji-won’s Awakened Value. Even becoming a B-rank Hunter meant a signing bonus in the hundreds of millions, and an A-rank was several times that. Just by signing the contract, they would be sitting on a pile of money.
“It will soon be time for the second exam. Would you like to observe?”
“No. There are prying eyes around...”
Yoo In-won waved his hands dismissively, looking troubled. It seemed he was burdened by the idea of himself, the Vice Chairman, observing his applicant son.
‘He’s already planted as many reporters as he could, so what is he talking about...’
Gu Geon-yi scoffed at Yoo In-won behind his dependable smile. He knew that reporters from various media outlets had been allowed into the main hall where the first exam was held. The atmosphere was undeniably warm, but their true intentions were in different places.
“Then I’ll go alone. Since Maria is among the examiners, you can expect good results.”
“Is there any doubt?”
Gu Geon-yi and Maria were in the same boat. Vice Chairman Yoo In-won knew very well that she wouldn’t give Yoo Ji-won a harsh evaluation.
Knock, knock.
A female secretary in a neat attire entered the reception room they were in.
“Ah. Good timing. I was just about to ask you to escort Representative Gu.”
“Ah, yes. There’s that, and also...”
“...?”
The secretary glanced around before cautiously continuing.
“A short while ago, the first exam Supervisor approved the use of a Gold Core.”
“A Gold Core?”
Not just Yoo In-won, but even Gu Geon-yi beside him looked surprised.
“Was it Ji-won? No... Ji-won’s test should have been over by now...”
Yoo In-won muttered with a dazed expression, and the impatient Gu Geon-yi asked instead.
“What is the participant’s name?”
“It is Cheon Hae-seon.”
“Cheon Hae-seon...?”
A horizontal wrinkle formed on Gu Geon-yi’s large forehead.
Cheon Hae-seon.
The name sounded familiar. He turned on his phone and checked a list he had received a while ago. It was a list of exam applicants who were either family members of existing Hunters or showed great potential.
This information was confidential, unofficially provided by the Hunter Association. The provider of the information was, of course, Yoo In-won, who was right in front of him. The reason the Glory Guild could recruit promising talents a step ahead of other guilds wasn’t just because of its fame.
Effective recruitment was possible because they could work behind the scenes even before the exam. If other guilds were to find out about this, a torrent of criticism would pour down on the Hunter Association and the Glory Guild.
“He’s not here...”
Gu Geon-yi quickly scanned the list, mindful of Yoo In-won, but the name Cheon Hae-seon was not on it. But he had definitely heard the name before. Gu Geon-yi looked at Yoo In-won, but he also seemed to know nothing.
Who is he. Where have I heard that name. Seeing the two men frowning in thought, the secretary reluctantly added.
“His type is said to be a healer.”
A healer?
At that moment, a lightning bolt struck Gu Geon-yi’s mind.
‘A healer.’
Gu Geon-yi recalled the voice of the spot-covered young man he had met at the Hunter Association headquarters.
Yes.
The name the Association employee had mentioned that day was definitely...
“It’s him? Cheon Hae-seon?”
“Do you know him?”
Gu Geon-yi nodded at Yoo In-won’s question.
“Yes. You’ve seen him too, Vice Chairman. He was the one who was arguing with the staff, saying he was from Gaebang District. Don’t you remember?”
“... Ah!”
Yoo In-won’s reaction was exactly twofold.
First, surprise. Then, bewilderment.
Considering his position as the Association’s Vice Chairman, he should have felt joy instead of bewilderment, but Yoo In-won couldn’t. Because this quarter’s biggest star had to be his son, Yoo Ji-won.
‘Damn it. Of all times, I had to plant reporters, and now this is going to blow up.’
Yoo In-won suddenly felt a sense of urgency. There were only fifteen minutes left until the second exam began. Yoo In-won left in a hurry, barely managing a goodbye.
“I have some urgent business to attend to.”
“Of course.”
He had been so formal just a moment ago, but now he was scrambling. Gu Geon-yi scoffed inwardly. He had a feeling he knew what ‘urgent business’ meant.
‘This is actually better.’
The more the Association played games, the easier it was for his side to work. If the Vice Chairman really did something suspicious, recruitment would become much easier. In this world, there are no eternal allies or eternal enemies.
He was an utterly unpleasant brat, but if he had that much potential, he would be a fine member of the Glory Guild. He belatedly remembered Maria’s interest in the boy, but Gu Geon-yi forced himself to ignore the memory.
If the first exam was a measure of potential, the second exam was a practical test. Knight-type applicants went up to the rooftop for mock battles, while Healer-types showcased their actual healing skills on the tenth basement floor. The reason for demonstrating healing abilities deep underground was simple.
You couldn’t intentionally harm a human to test healing abilities. The subjects being healed at the examination site were not ‘humans’ but other ‘Monsters’. -Sharr... -Kyang! Having made it to the second exam, most applicants used their healing skills quite well.
A woman who had received a relatively low score came out and flawlessly healed a small-type monster. The key was how cleanly one could heal a wounded and sick Monster. In reality, it was just a matter of rank; almost no one failed at this stage.
That being said. Were these Monsters deliberately beaten up like this? For the purpose of the test? -Kill me... ...
Hmm?
A sorrowful voice came from somewhere. It didn't seem like I misheard. Even Ppori, perched on my shoulder, flinched.
But there was no particular reaction from the others. Could they not hear this voice full of despair? -It’s painful... -Anyone will do, please just kill me quickly... I thought only the voice was strange, but the content was just as intense.
It was a voice that couldn't possibly be human. The voice, which sounded like telepathy, was filled with a raw feeling. Frowning, I looked around and ended up making eye contact with Yoo Ji-won.
Thinking I was nervous, he started posturing again.
“You little punk. Scared, are you? Don’t forget that the final rank is more important than the score.”
I don’t have time to play with you, kid. I dismissed him with a simple question.
“Did you make the deposit?”
“...!!”
“Don’t talk to me until you do.”
Meanwhile, the cries begging for death continued to ring in my ears. I could understand if they were shouting to be saved, but why were they begging to be killed?
<Applicant number 117. Mr. Cheon Hae-seon. Please enter the examination hall.>
This isn't the time for this. I need to focus for now. I subtly lifted my shoulder to signal Ppori, and it immediately sucked up all the poison in my body. -Buurp.
This little guy. I warned him so many times not to burp. I guess he can't help his bodily functions(?).
I glanced around cautiously and entered the examination hall. The hall was bigger than I expected, with a line of examiners positioned behind a glass wall. I feel like a monkey in a zoo.
Whatever comes out, I should just fix it up and get out of here quickly. The moment I thought that, I heard its(?) voice again. -Kill me... This is driving me crazy.
Since it wasn't an actual sound, covering my ears would be useless. As I was thinking that, a lock on one of the walls clicked open. And only then did I realize the identity of the one who had been crying so sorrowfully.
“Grrrrr...”
It was a tiger. A massive, gray tiger, large enough to fill the space up to the ceiling. It was growling, baring fangs the size of baseball bats.
Well, I'll be.
So.
While others are healing little hopping small-types, they brought this huge one for me? It was so absurd I had to laugh. Even the examiners visible beyond the glass barrier seemed quite agitated.
Stop it.
You're making a fuss, which makes the situation seem even more serious. -Is it you? The one who will kill me. It seems the creature recognized me.
Despite its dangerous appearance, it had already lost all will to fight. -It has been long since I abandoned any lingering attachment to life. -Grant me eternal rest. It seemed we were communicating through some sort of mental link rather than voices, but even through that link, I could feel excruciating pain.
More than anything, despite its words, I could feel a desperate emotion that did not want to end its life. If I can hear its voice, maybe I can talk back. Maintaining my silence outwardly, I spoke to it.
Hey.
I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll fix you. -No. You will be fully healed. -What do you mean...? -It would be a problem if you died here. I slowly approached it. -For my sake, you’ll have to live a little longer.