-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 008
Chapter Title: Growth (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Convincing his hot-blooded niece, Sin Yeji, had been easier than Kim Gunja expected.
"Fine... I'll admit it. I still can't quite believe it, but it's true that things have improved."
She had confirmed it herself through the Demon Eye, so there wasn't much convincing needed.
Denying it would be tantamount to denying her own unique trait.
Of course,
"I'll be watching you closely! If anything seems off, training stops immediately! Got it?"
She didn't back down entirely.
Kim Gunja gladly agreed, confident nothing like that would happen.
Park Chunduk clutched the back of his neck, muttering, "That nosy brat is meddling again!"
Despite a few hiccups, Kim Gunja officially became a late-bloomer Hunter trainee at Park Chunduk Academy.
A bit excited for the real start, Kim Gunja asked,
"So, we starting training right now?"
"No."
"...?"
"Didn't you say you want to be a Hunter?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Why? Because it's the closest and fastest way for an Awakener to get stronger?"
Hunter.
Awakened individuals armed with specialized training against massive monsters, Hunting gear, monster cores for enhancement, artifacts, and more—they embodied strength itself.
In other words, every path to power for an Awakener was embedded in the Hunter profession.
"Right. And it's the only job that legally lets you enter Gates."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Gate.
A four-dimensional space teeming with monsters. Fail to conquer the boss within the time limit, and the beasts spill into reality, causing massive casualties.
With entry limited by capacity, it required professionals—hence, Hunters were born.
"And?"
"The 'and' is, to become a Hunter legally, what do you need to do?"
"...Take the exam?"
"Exactly. The Hunter License Exam. And to take that?"
"Ah, Awakener registration! Totally slipped my mind."
Park Chunduk nodded.
"Yep. You need to register as an Awakener first to even sit for the Hunter License Exam. I mentioned it earlier—the exam's in three months."
"Right."
"Sure, you could register later. But to dedicate these three months fully to training, wouldn't it be better to knock out all the annoying procedures upfront?"
It was sound advice.
Kim Gunja had been so focused on verifying his Customizing Room ability that he'd completely overlooked real-world steps, but Park Chunduk had meticulously checked everything amid the chaos.
The fastest, most efficient path for Kim Gunja to become a Hunter.
True to the director of a Hunter trainee academy, Kim Gunja thought, flashing a thumbs-up.
"Cut that out. You're giving me chills."
Park Chunduk waved him off, but couldn't hide his upturned lips.
"We'll start training once registration's done."
"Got it."
Park Chunduk checked the time.
Still 11 a.m., plenty of time.
"Got your ID? The process isn't complicated—we can wrap it up before lunch. It's in the next building. I'll prep basic training gear meanwhile."
"Roger!"
Kim Gunja dashed off with a grin, and Park Chunduk chuckled, starting prep for his training.
"Hmm. How should I work him to build a reputation..."
he muttered.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Awakener Association Bucheon Branch.
The clerk routinely checked the ID and the man before her.
"Kim Gunja-ssi. Is this you?"
"Yes."
"Could you describe the circumstances of your Awakening?"
Kim Gunja smoothly recited the story he'd rehearsed with Park Chunduk in the recovery room yesterday.
Slicing green onions for ramen when it happened.
—Unlike physical or mana levels, they can't precisely check unique traits. They infer from context. The status window's only visible to you.
"You listed your unique trait as Right Arm Swordsman. What does it do?"
"Tried it out—blades just stick perfectly to my right hand. Chopped onions, potatoes, fruit. It's an art."
"...That's it?"
"Yes."
The clerk frowned at his response.
Isn't that just being right-handed? she muttered, pondering before typing a line in the unique trait field.
[Right-Handed Swordsman]
"You entered Physical Level and Mana Level both as 2. Per international Awakener standards, that's D-rank. For verification, we need a body scan. Please sign below."
Kim Gunja signed without fuss.
"Mana level first. Enter the capsule over there, wait for the green light, then exit."
It gauged mana flow in an Awakener's circuits.
Didn't take long.
Green light on, he returned to find the clerk dazed.
"Excuse me?"
"Ah, yes!"
Why so jumpy?
"All done?"
"Uh, o-one moment. Physical level scan left. Please wait a bit?"
"Sure."
Couldn't leave with steps remaining. Kim Gunja sat relaxed; the clerk fidgeted.
The reason: an unprecedented phenomenon.
What the...?
The monitor showed his mana scan—right arm circulating at KTX speeds, everywhere else snail-slow.
The disparity's insane! Like two bodies stitched together.
Mana levels per body part varied wildly.
Right arm: 4. Everywhere else: 1.
Even with differences, it's never a 3-level gap...?
Rare—no, first she'd seen.
Report to superiors?
She checked the time and shook her head.
Lunch soon.
Extra paperwork and meetings for a report? Headache.
Just a D-rank, not even C. One of millions.
She noted [No anomalies] and proceeded to physical scan.
Similar results.
No hesitation—she noted [No anomalies] again.
"Registration complete. Awakener ID will be delivered to your address in a few days."
"Also, I'd like to register for the Hunter License Exam."
At that, the clerk eyed him curiously.
D-rank ahead. Minimum C for decent guilds or parties; otherwise, Hunting's tough.
Yet the exam?
Not her business.
Any Awakener could apply.
"Hunter License registration costs 5 million won due to its nature. That's fine?"
"Yes."
Glancing at the time again, she sighed and processed his Hunter License registration swiftly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
That night.
Korean Hunter Association office.
Exclamations erupted among staff prepping the Hunter License Exam.
"Man, this year's exam's gonna be wild."
"You saw too? Checked the applicants—full of prospects. How'd they all pile up in one year?"
A staffer marveled at highlighted profiles.
Demon Eye Sin Yeji.
Diamond Han Juyeong.
Berserker Cha Gangju.
Joker Jin Garyul.
"Traits aside, four rookies with A-rank+ abilities."
"Bumper crop. Last year? Zero."
"Scouting wars incoming."
Amid rising hype, one quietly working staff burst laughing.
"Huh? Pfft. Hey, check this."
"What? Whoa, what's with this guy? 29? Total late-bloomer."
"D-rank too. D-rank."
"Now even D-ranks want in? Hunters pay well, sure, but..."
"Trait's meh too. Right Arm Swordsman? Same as right-handed?"
"This exam's legendary. Legendary in every way."
Chatting away, they shook off overtime blues and dove back in.
Betting who'd top the scores this batch.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A week after registering as an Awakener.
Mid-shower sweat, Kim Gunja ran desperately on the treadmill.
"Huff... huff... ugh... gulp. Huff."
Park Chunduk tsked at the near-vomiting trainee.
"Seriously? Gotta run without breaks?"
"Daily... quest... ugh. Gulp. Must... clear..."
Sighing at Kim Gunja swallowing bile, Park Chunduk shook his head.
"First Awakener I've seen taking quests, and the contents are ridiculous."
At that, Kim Gunja glared murderously at the floating daily quest window.
📜 DAILY QUEST 📜
A Fulfilling Day!
Difficulty: E
📍 Description: Nothing's as rewarding as running. Don't stop—keep running! Run and run some more! Like a colt with fire on its tail!
📏 Remaining Distance: 0.923km
⏰ Time Limit: 00:12:21
🎁 Success: 10 Points
💀 Failure: Master's big toenail
Why he ran like mad.
Partly to grow stronger, but the daily quest penalties were no joke.
A toenail?
Imagining it yanked off was horrific.
Typical Customizing Room quest!
Contents varied daily, but penalties stayed consistent.
A piece of the Master's body.
Currently mild—nail clippings, eyebrows, hair—but who knew later? Chilling for the Master himself.
Good thing: quests focused on his growth.
As if urging faster progress.
Just like he wanted.
The issue?
"Cough... urp... gah...!"
It was brutally hard—right on the edge of survivable.
The quests pinpointed his limits like a ghost, grinding him perfectly.
Even Park Chunduk, geared to push him hard, looked pitying.
But if I finish today's...!
Fresh venom in his eyes.
He'd hoarded points for Customizing Room materials.
One more quest, and he'd hit the goal. Surging with anticipation, he squeezed out his last strength.
"Grr... aaagh! Huff... argh! Argh! Argh!"
Park Chunduk shook his head at the unraveling trainee.
More varied desperation in this week's training and quests than a decade prior.
And at the end of that effort,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Daily quest completed. 10 Points awarded.
Kim Gunja cleared today's daily quest unscathed.
"Guh... ugh..."
He slid off the treadmill, collapsing in a heap.
"No messier guy than you."
Park Chunduk grumbled, mop in hand.
Then silently cleaned the sweat and more.
"S... rry..."
"Go shower. I'll handle cleanup."
"Th... nks..."
"Damn. If you got energy for cringy thanks, hurry up and..."
Park Chunduk trailed off.
Snore—.
Kim Gunja had passed out.
"..."
A week of skimping sleep for training.
Mornings: Park's basic drills for strength and endurance.
Afternoons: Heaven-Shattering Sword, Heaven-Shattering Divine Art, Hunting gear.
Dusk to dawn: daily quests.
Even he felt drained giving orders; imagine the subject's fatigue.
Yet such desperation likely because,
He hasn't said it, but he knows.
Any ability—gaining it was separate from embodying and wielding it properly. Required bloody effort.
"Anyway..."
Gazing at the soundly sleeping Kim Gunja, Park Chunduk chuckled softly to himself.
Hang in there.