Chapter 11: Crossroads
“Hunter Kim Han-ul, I’ve received the ssage. I’ll guide you right away.”
Awakened Managent Headquarters Basent, Energy asurent Room.
It just so happened that today was the quarterly energy asurent day for Awakened individuals.
The space was large enough to be called a ‘Field’ and was already packed since morning.
‘This place hasn’t changed at all, then or now.’
I thought as I looked at the people lined up on the smooth marble floor.
‘Everyone’s eyes are sparkling.’
The eyes of those standing at a crossroads in life shone clearly.
This place is the first gateway for ordinary people to step into the extraordinary—or into the world they longed for.
Here, Awakened individuals prove they have stepped beyond the category of ordinary humans.
After that, it is a choice.
Whether to simply register as an Awakened and continue a normal life.
Or to enter Hunter’s Den and challenge a completely different, non-ordinary life.
A dry female voice echoed through the hall.
At that voice, so snickered.
Others lowered their heads with uncertain expressions.
There were few who mocked.
After all, it would be strange for an Awakened who had received no training to be rated A or B-Class.
Those who mocked E-Class were either rookies trained by Guilds after delaying their rank evaluation,
Or frogs in a well who mistakenly believed they stood on equal ground with such rookies.
“This way, please.”
And among super rookies, frogs in a well, and ordinary people,
I walked forward, cutting through the crowd like splitting waves, toward the center of the asurent room.
Naturally, people’s gazes gathered on .
“Who is that guy? Ignoring the order and walking so confidently?”
“I heard he’s a Hunter going through rank reassessnt.”
“Why is a Hunter being tested here? Shouldn’t it be at Hunter’s Den?”
“Listen to the announcents. He only has one expedition experience at an E-Class Gate. That’s basically the sa as an Awakened.”
But the glances filled with dissatisfaction and mild curiosity soon began to shine with far more varied emotions.
“Hey, w-wait… that!”
“Hold on, that’s Yun Su-hyeok and Yun Su-a behind him!”
“You’re right—why is an S-Class Hunter here?”
“Yun Su-a? Is this real life? She looks even prettier in person. This is insane.”
The two Hunters walking behind .
“Man, this place really hasn’t changed at all. Su-a, rember? When I did my rank test, you were waving a placard and making a scene.”
Yun Su-hyeok, the pride and Vice Guild Leader of the Pungbaek Guild.
“I don’t rember, so just walk quietly. You’re already causing a disturbance.”
Yun Su-a, who possessed overwhelming recognition and ability comparable to most Guild Leaders.
Such figures had suddenly appeared in a gathering of newly Awakened individuals who could barely be called newbies.
Naturally, the place fell into chaos.
“Manager Lee! We need more personnel! Yes, Sector 17-2—just 4 more, please!”
The asurent team leader guiding urgently grabbed his radio while pushing through the tightening crowd.
He probably never expected this situation.
Eventually, Yun Su-a, whose expression had been slightly stiff the whole ti, lowered her head.
“I’m sorry, Team Leader. I was going to wait upstairs because I thought this might happen…”
“Ah, co on. You wanted to see this the most, didn’t you? Let’s enjoy the spotlight. It proves how well our Pungbaek Guild is doing!”
“Shut up, Oppa.”
“….”
At her words, Yun Su-hyeok fell silent like soone who had swallowed honey.
She was right.
It was Yun Su-hyeok who insisted on observing my reassessnt.
And he was the one who dragged Yun Su-a along despite her refusal.
And I let them be.
‘No need to fear others’ gazes.’
Honestly, I’m not the type to avoid attention.
If I were, I wouldn’t have even dread of streaming gas.
7 years ago, even after tasting the bitterness of being E-Class here, I wouldn’t have clung to the dream of becoming a Hunter.
For , they were an opportunity.
A small chance to deeply imprint who I am.
“But who is that guy next to them?”
People are naturally more curious about the unfamiliar than the familiar.
The sa applies here.
The astonishnt directed at the Vice Guild Leader of one of Korea’s top 3 Guilds and his sister
“Never seen him before. Is he really a Hunter?”
“He only has one E-Class Gate expedition. Maybe he’s a hidden prospect Pungbaek has been raising?”
Naturally shifted toward as I moved through the crowd as if under their protection.
“Yeah, those two wouldn’t stick together unless it’s soone important.”
“But he looks a bit old for a prospect.”
“Wow, seeing them in person… but we can’t even take pictures. Why did they take all our phones…?”
It felt strange.
7 years ago, I was stuck in the farthest corner of this vast room.
Even after receiving my rank.
Holding the notice of being E-Class, I watched countless people until nightfall.
Confident super rookies, disappointed ordinary n, and lanting weaklings passed by .
It was the sa now.
Except now, I was the one passing by them.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
At last, I arrived.
The very center of the asurent room, where the energy asuring device was installed.
“Let’s see… no equipped items. No physical enhancent potions… good. You may proceed.”
I bowed to the team leader after finishing the doping inspection.
“You’ve worked hard, Team Leader. Thank you.”
“As you know, the result will be notified within 5 to 20 seconds. Once it cos out, we’ll report it and proceed with promotion.”
I nodded and looked at the asurent room.
An oval space about 2 ters in diater, enclosed in reinforced glass.
Inside, a diamond-shaped transparent crystal floated.
This was the true ‘asurent Room,’ and that floating crystal was the asuring device.
“Just place your hand on the device. The Floating Stone will asure your energy and determine your rank.”
I know.
Energy is a type of power source only possessed by Awakened who have awakened their status window.
This crystal asures that energy, quantifying physical ability and growth potential into a rank.
And usually, this initial rank continues into the Hunter rank.
I stepped inside.
Hummmm.
As soon as the glass door closed, the interior began to resonate.
Yun Su-hyeok watching with arms crossed.
Yun Su-a with a slightly nervous expression.
And countless others filled with doubt and curiosity.
I placed my hand on the crystal.
A cold sensation climbed from my fingertips.
Ssssss.
The colorless crystal began to turn sky blue, like dye dropped into water.
The resonance grew louder.
7 years ago, it didn’t even take 5 seconds for the resonance to stop.
And exactly 10 seconds later, I heard the voice announcing E-Class.
But now—
-----!
Like instrunts joining an orchestra,
The resonance grew stronger and richer over ti.
5 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds.
After 30 seconds, I stopped counting.
My body trembled.
No—it wasn’t .
The entire chamber was vibrating.
The faintly glowing crystal now shone bright blue.
“……!”
“……-!”
Through the light, I saw Yun Su-hyeok’s face.
His mouth hung open.
Yun Su-a looked equally stunned.
For mbers of Pungbaek, they looked quite foolish.
But not as much as the team leader and others.
“--!”
The team leader shouted sothing like a goldfish.
I couldn’t hear it.
Even if there was no soundproofing, I wouldn’t have understood.
The crystal’s scream was too loud.
Kiiiiiiing!
A grinding sound pierced my ears.
Then—flash!
The blue light filled everything.
Thud.
Everything disappeared.
The vibrations, the blinding blue light—gone.
Only silence remained.
And once again, that dry voice spoke.
***
[Checking Final Reward]
The reward obtained after stopping the 701st wave.
[You have learned a new skill, “Monarch’s Afterimage Lv.1”.]
[Whether it was a dream within a dream for one night or an eternal reality, the important fact is that you saved the world again. You have earned the right to continue this dream.]
[You may add the stats of the strongest monster from the previous wave to your own for 30 minutes.]
This reward was worthy of the 60-hour battle.
I looked at the status window.
Na: Kim Han-ul
Age: 28
Gender: Male
The pitiful stats of an ordinary human were gone.
In their place were numbers far surpassing super rookies.
Normally, an average stat exceeding 60 qualifies as A-Class.
Even top Hunters rarely exceed 70 without items.
Thus, this was absurd.
Therefore—S-Class.
Only 3 people in 30 years have achieved this at initial asurent.
“…….”
There were no cheers.
When excitent fades, only shock remains.
“C-Cough… not bad.”
The first to break the silence was Yun Su-hyeok.
Trying hard to keep a poker face.
But he was also the first to notice sothing was off.
“Still worse than though. I was S-Class from the start back in my day…”
“Hunter Kim Han-ul.”
Yun Su-hyeok vanished mid-sentence.
Yun Su-a stepped forward.
Her deer-like eyes t mine.
After hesitation, she bowed slightly.
“Good work.”
“Thank you.”
She clearly had many questions.
But she chose restraint.
Very much like her.
And honestly, I didn’t want to linger.
“Team Leader, I’ll be going now. I’ll wait for the promotion call.”
“Ah—yes!”
He stamred in confusion.
“Yes, of course. We’ll contact you by tomorrow.”
“Thank you.”
I turned to the siblings.
“Thank you both as well.”
“It was nothing!”
Yun Su-a waved her hands.
“I have sothing to do, so I’ll take my leave.”
“Ah… okay.”
As I turned, Yun Su-hyeok spoke.
“Let’s grab coffee soti.”
“Coffee?”
“This is an offer as Vice Guild Leader of Pungbaek.”
It was a public scouting offer.
I smiled.
“For Guild matters, I’ll contact your sister personally.”
“?”
“W-What?”
Yun Su-a’s eyes widened.
Yun Su-hyeok was speechless again.
***
That evening, search rankings were flooded:
“E-Class Hunter Invades asurent Room,”
“Third S-Class Energy Rating,”
“Pungbaek’s Hidden Super Rookie.”
Ding.
A ssage appeared.
[Based on today’s asurent, your Hunter License has been promoted from E-Class to B-Class (3-tier promotion).]
[You may now participate in all Gates and Dungeons below S-Class.]
All restrictions were lifted.
Then there was only one thing left to do.
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