Shaaa...

After extending my hand to the Monster, I was overcome by an indescribable emotion.

Compassion.

That emotion was compassion. The fact that this creature was still alive was a miracle. Being captured here meant it was caught by human hands.

But its skin was covered in countless scars from wounds inflicted by other Monsters. It seems this one has lived a rather rough life. If there were a human who felt compassion for a tiger the size of a house, people would think he was a madman.

But this creature was pitiful. Not just external wounds, but terrible internal injuries as well. It was hard to find a part of it that was unharmed.

Above all, dark red spots were spread across the inside of its belly.

Poison.

The creature was even infected with Monster Poison. As someone who knew how excruciating that pain was, I could deeply understand why it had asked to be killed instead. -Did you fight a Poison-type Monster, too? -A strange question... Did you bastards not just inject it? -...?

For a moment, I could only stand there blankly. He said they just injected the poison? Was it subjected to some kind of live experiment?

But why now, of all times, right before the Hunter test? ... The intention wasn't clear, but I understood one thing. Both telling me to heal a dying Monster and hastily administering poison to a creature that needed healing.

There's something more to this test.

'Why?

Is it because of that commotion back then?' No. It didn't make sense for them to pull a stunt like this over something so trivial. There must be a reason why I'm not supposed to become a high-rank healer here.

'Yoo Ji-won.'

At present, that was the only explanation. After my Awakened Value was revealed, reporters were hell-bent on getting a picture of me, and Yoo Ji-won watched with passionate jealousy. So what would happen if I received a high rank here?

Of course, Yoo Ji-won wasn't a big enough shot to pull such a move. But his father had more than enough power to do so.

"Ha, this is..."

I scratched the back of my head and let out a sigh. This is pissing me off. My original plan was to get a decent rank, like a 'B' or 'C'.

The reporters were already making a fuss over my Awakened Value; how much worse would it be if I became a high-ranker? Anyway, as long as I get a Hunter license, I can get a permit to enter Poison Dungeons. So I was planning to get a reasonably low tier, but their despicable actions made me change my mind.

I didn't know why I was able to have Resonance with this Monster. But thanks to it, I was able to confirm a fact that no one else would tell me. That there was someone trying to stop me from becoming a high-ranker, someone who might not even want me to get a Hunter license at all.

Twitch.

As the intensity of the healing increased, the tiger's body twitched. -It's okay. Relax. -Why... are you fixing me...? -Because I have to become a Hunter. -Naive. Are you not underestimating the hatred for humans... engraved in my very bones? -What.

Are you saying you'll kill me once you're all better? -... I let out a smirk and looked into its eyes. -You can't kill me. So just quietly accept the healing.

It seemed genuine when it said it didn't know what it would do once it was healed. It had been screaming to be killed, so how could it be otherwise? Such cruel treatment had been inflicted on this creature that it was barely hanging on to life. -Don't act like you're completely healed.

At least limp a little. -...? -It'll be easier to escape that way. Honestly, I didn't need to tell it this much, but let's just consider it a little extra service. But it really was an amazing creature.

Any ordinary human or Monster would have been healed long ago, but this one wasn't fully cured even after I worked on it for over ten minutes. The poison was draining, the damaged internal organs were healing, and the wounds on its outer surface were closing.

Most of the healing energy in my body was used up on this one creature. -Hmm. It seems healing energy alone won't get rid of the scars. If I had some rare herbs, maybe. -I don't care about scars.

Do you think I have the same standards as humans? -Is that so? Well, I suppose. On a creature with your looks, these scars actually seem more attractive. -...

Why are you being so good to me? -Ah, how many times do I have to say it? I need to become a Hunter. -That's not what I mean. -? -I am of a species you call spirit beasts. That is why I know.

You are pitying me right now. As if you were treating a human. -You're right. I feel sorry for you.

That's why I'm telling you how to escape. It wasn't just because we could communicate. This creature was fundamentally different from the Monsters that massacred humans in Gaebang District.

Monsters that habitually prey on humans reek of blood from their maws. But this one didn't have that smell. -Why do you pity me? Don't humans hate Monsters? -Of course, most of them do.

I was almost killed by a Monster myself. But you know, I found that there's an existence more frightening and evil than Monsters. -What is that?

Shaaaa...

Its healing was reaching its final stage. I took my hand off the great tiger and grinned. -Humans.

"Phew, that was tough."

I dusted off my hands and returned to my original spot. As I walked back, the great tiger just sat there, watching me silently. And then, suddenly, it opened its huge mouth wide. -Kuaaaaaaaar!!

Whoa. Damn.

When it said it didn't know what it would do once it was healed, it wasn't bluffing. The sheer force in its voice alone cracked the glass wall...! I could feel a power so immense it could probably tear a Venomous Centipede apart with its front paws.

5-star?

No, maybe even 7-star. It was a shame I'd come in after taking off my V1, just in case. -Wow. You were one crazy strong bastard, weren't you? -...

Thank you, human. From now on, half of my life is yours.

Oh.

What's with this development? So, does this mean that creature will be 'on my side'? I don't know how it's going to get out of here, but good luck then. -Cheon Hae-seon.

Is that your name? -Yeah. Daebeom. -Daebeom...? -You're a big tiger, so Daebeom. That's your name from now on. -...

I gave Daebeom a nod and turned my head toward the glass wall.

"You heard the roar, right? The healing is complete."

"Ugh...!!"

Veins were popping not just on his forehead, but his eyes were bloodshot as well. From his expression, he looked like he was about to die. Of course, I'm not talking about myself.

I'm talking about the last applicant for today's healer exam.

Yoo Ji-won.

"Wait!!"

The desperate guy's voice could be heard even outside the examination site. The target he had to heal was a White Hawk, a creature with a wingspan of four meters. It was a species that had quite a reputation among bird-of-prey Monsters.

The problem was that no matter how much time passed, Yoo Ji-won's healing wasn't finishing.

"Damn it, why is this happening...!!"

Yoo Ji-won was gritting his teeth, squeezing out his Ether. And in the end, he showed the sign that his abilities as a healer were depleted.

Drip.

Dark red blood trickled from Yoo Ji-won's nose. Not just a nosebleed, but a double nosebleed. It meant that he didn't have a single drop of Ether left to squeeze out.

Even on the battlefield, if a healer got a nosebleed, they were immediately sent to the very back. Because for a certain period afterward, they would be useless to their comrades. I looked at him with a mix of pity and sympathy and muttered to myself.

"Idiot. You suck at this."

An Awakened Value of five thousand is wasted on you, you punk. According to a reporter who came over and slipped me his business card earlier, Yoo Ji-won had also received a score that could place him between A-rank and B-rank. So why was he in such a state, unable to finish the healing?

The White Hawk was indeed a formidable 3-star Monster, but it was still a bit strange. What was certain was that he was now in a huge crisis.

"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!!"

Tearing at his hair in a frenzy, Yoo Ji-won suddenly coughed up blood. He's really going to die at this rate. Unable to watch any longer, an Association staff member ran in, supported Yoo Ji-won, and led him out.

Yoo Ji-won was the only one to get a nosebleed during today's healer exam. In the first place, the Monsters were appropriately assigned according to each person's Awakened Value, so as long as one didn't make a mistake, most could pass.

Occasionally, there were applicants who requested higher-tier Monsters, but they all tucked their tails between their legs, complaining of dizziness.

"All those who passed, please come to the main conference room on the first floor of the Association headquarters building in five minutes."

In the end, all the healer applicants passed the test. In Yoo Ji-won's case, the White Hawk wasn't completely healed, but since he had shown a certain level of Healing Ability, he didn't fail the test itself. Of course, it was as clear as day that his rank wouldn't be good.

"Next, will the healer applicants please come up onto the stage."

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap. The test was conducted privately, but the license ceremony takes place where everyone can see. The reporters who had been waiting all day started snapping pictures as if to make up for the wait, and the people around applauded as they watched their proud acquaintances.

"We will now begin the license ceremony for this quarter's Healer-type Hunters."

The healers who passed the second exam stood in a line to receive their Hunter badges. The ones pinning the badges were Hunter Association administrators and renowned senior healers. 'I've become a Hunter...'

I finally became a Hunter. The face of my sister, who must be waiting at home with her hands clasped, came to mind. In truth, it was laughable to even discuss the qualifications of a Hunter with my current abilities.

But remembering my sickly past self made the moment feel new and emotional. Having gone through quite a few crises while going back and forth between Dr. Jin's house, the Poison Dungeon, and the black market in a short time, I felt proud to be in this position now. Are you watching, Kiril?

I've taken the first step. The order in which the Healer-type applicants were lined up corresponded to their Awakened Values. It seemed they were awarding the badges starting from the person with the lowest rank.

Of course, there was an exception.

"You have plenty of potential, so I hope to see you at the promotion exam soon."

The man standing at the far end, despite having an overwhelmingly high value. The man with both nostrils plugged with tissue because of his double nosebleed.

Yoo Ji-won. Grind.

Instead of responding to the Association staff member's words of comfort, the guy ground his teeth loudly enough to be heard from a distance. Why is he looking at me in the middle of all this? That crazy bastard.

Just pay up already. A glorious Hunter badge was pinned to Yoo Ji-won's flashy jacket. A glorious 'E-rank' badge, that is.

Seeing this, the taste of those Hunter Association guys is really terrible. They could have just unified it with a shield emblem symbolizing a Hunter, but they had to divide them by rank and order them. From what I heard, the head of the department that designed the badges was Vice Chairman Yoo In-won.

For his son, who scored over 5,000, to be publicly executed by wearing an 'E' badge... the world works in strange ways. What was the reason for his healing energy being so low despite getting a high score? Normally, the more Ether accumulated in the body, the more natural the control should be.

For now, no particular reason came to mind.

"Congratulations, Mr. Hae-seon."

"Ooooooooh!!"

Everyone's attention turned this way. It wasn't because of me. It was because the object of awe who represented the Republic of Korea, the healer who went by titles like 'saint' and 'goddess', was standing before me.

Maria.

At the tips of her delicate, jade-like hands was a brilliantly shining badge.

"Please save many people from now on."

Was it more so because of her name, Maria? She was far from the traditional image of a Korean beauty. Sculpted facial features on a Western face shape.

If my sister had an amiable feel, this person felt flawlessly perfect, not allowing for even an inch of error. It was a situation any healer would dream of. A license ceremony where none other than Maria herself was pinning the Hunter badge.

However, I just gave a dry reply.

"Yes."

She could have been offended, but she silently pinned the badge to my tracksuit. No. She didn't look offended, but rather quite elated. How should I put it... a deeply moved expression?

If I told anyone else, I'd probably get beaten to a pulp, but that's how I felt anyway.

"I checked on the Imperial Tiger again. You showed such an unbelievable ability..."

"Pardon?"

Who's Imperial Tiger?

Ah, Daebeom?

Was that its official name? Anyway, does that mean she checked on that terrifying-looking Monster in person? The one that's now full of vigor after being completely healed?

"Even the poison inside its body was completely healed. Moreover... it was emotionally quite stable."

"It was originally like that but just became ferocious because of humans."

"...!!!"

She blinked her eyes, staring intently at me. I hate to admit it, but her beauty was truly enchanting.

"I knew my thoughts were correct."

"Pardon?"

"There is a very gentle heart inside you, Mr. Cheon Hae-seon. A benevolent and warm heart."

I felt like I'd been hit with a hammer. This person, Maria. She's saying the exact same thing Kiril did, isn't she?

"Normally, people can't harbor such feelings for a Monster. I'm happy because I think I understand the source of your Healing Ability, Mr. Hae-seon."

Her hand, which smelled of flowers, left my collar.

Hmm.

For some reason, I feel a bit disappointed.

"Congratulations, Mr. Hae-seon. You are qualified."

Maria said that and offered a handshake.

Qualification.

The 'qualification' she spoke of was pinned to my chest.

'S'.

I glanced once at the 'S-ranker' badge, then shook hands with Maria.