The administrative officer, who soon recovered from the shock, proceeded with the rest of the tests, leaving the wreckage of the ruined metal pillar as it was.
In the case of defense, the method was for Han Yu-jin to cast the Jade Skin Spell, and then the officer would check the mana concentration with a machine that looked like a laser thermometer.
"It's too early to jump to conclusions because there are too many differences for each person's defensive ability, but this should be enough to protect your body well in a real battle. How does it feel?"
"It feels like I've wrapped myself in a metal plate."
"Excellent. It's at least C-rank, and maybe even B-rank… It's a shame that a rough test is impossible because it's a type that activates right on the skin. The more we can grasp, the safer it will be in a real battle."
The administrative officer, who then asked and confirmed things like the sense of weight and mana consumption, moved on to the next test.
The movement ability test was also simple; it was to run hard on a long, 'U'-shaped track on one side of the training room. The measurement would then be completed, just like measuring a vehicle's speed.
Han Yu-jin, who cast the Wind Cloud Spell, did not bother to show off his flight ability and quickly ran through the track.
It was a little embarrassing that the administrative officer, who was standing in front of the computer device and checking the record, clapped enthusiastically.
"It's no less than a B-rank acceleration ability! Let's test it one more time!"
The administrative officer's excitement, as if it were his own business, considerably diluted the 'arrogant elite' feeling that had been his first impression.
The telekinesis test that followed took a little longer; it was to lift, move, and throw various types of objects of each weight.
It wasn't just throwing them randomly, but towards targets that appeared at random positions about twenty meters away.
BAM! KABANG—!
An object in the shape of a steel rod flew through the air and accurately struck the target.
It made a creaking sound as if it were about to break and fell over, so Han Yu-jin glanced at the administrative officer without realizing it.
"Power, speed, precision, all are B-rank or higher. There's a separate dedicated training room for A-rank and above, so let's check again there later."
They were just getting the basic certificate now, so he wondered if there was a need to go that far, but Han Yu-jin was also curious whether his Object Control Art could really get an A-rank evaluation, so he just let it pass.
The Shadow Hiding Art was tested in a machine that looked similar to a mana scanner but where the tester could stand, and the result that came out surprised even Han Yu-jin himself.
"It's… S-rank. Your concealment ability is amazing."
"S-rank?"
"It's already at a level close to air, so there's no room for improvement. It will become much more perfect if you add equipment like an invisibility cloak. You could be a scout, you know?"
A scout was a role that was the first to enter a rift to grasp the internal environment and check for risk factors.
It was a role that someone had to do, but since those with suitable talents were rare, they were considered a very precious resource, and naturally, their value was just as high.
To the point where the condition of being able to be completely absent from the subsequent battle was considered normal.
'The Shadow Hiding Art was a better Dharma spell than I thought.'
Or it meant that the ability to conceal mana here on Earth was that shoddy.
If the ability was shoddy, the standard for judging it would naturally be shoddy as well.
What was left was the Spirit Eye Spell and the Healing Spell, but there was no suitable way to test either of them here.
"Han Yu-jin-ssi."
The administrative officer, who had decided to conclude the tests for now, said as an addition.
"Just with the test results that have come out now, you can fully become an A-rank Hunter."
"A-rank…"
"Of course, for your own sake, you must receive pre-training. You'll also have to experience a few real battles, but I'll connect you directly with a Hunter specialized school for that."
"If you mean the school, are you talking about the teachers there?"
"An active-duty Hunter safety officer will also be attached. It will be in the format of joining in when the students are doing their practical training. In cases of late awakening like yours, Han Yu-jin-ssi, this is how it's usually done. Originally, you'd have to apply yourself, though."
"Ah, I see."
"And…"
He trailed off for a moment and then asked, with as polite and kind a feeling as possible.
"If your awakened ability is knowledge, would you perhaps be willing to share that knowledge?"
"If I were, how would things proceed?"
At Han Yu-jin's positive nuance that came out right away, he explained with a very welcoming attitude.
To summarize briefly, it was a method of getting a patent, signing a license agreement with a desired party, and then receiving royalties.
If he were to contract directly with the government agency, the Ability Management Bureau, they would help him with the process from beginning to end.
"This type of license royalty is usually set at around ten percent. If you want more, I will do my best. If you still feel the conditions are not good, you could also try negotiating with a specific corporation, but…"
He trailed off at the end, but Han Yu-jin could fully anticipate the rest of the story.
How cumbersome and time-consuming it would be for an individual to register glyph-related knowledge as a patent without the help of a government agency.
The subsequent contracting process would also require a similar amount of time and energy.
"I know this is too important a story to decide right away. So, I was thinking of assigning a dedicated officer to you for now, how about it?"
"A dedicated officer?"
It wasn't even an entertainment agency management, so to be assigned a dedicated person, Han Yu-jin momentarily wondered if the Ability Management Bureau was that free, but he soon understood.
As soon as he awakened, he had proven the talent of an A-rank Hunter.
Most importantly, that talent could also be shared with others in the form of knowledge.
The saying that knowledge is power was a statement that applied even at the national level.
This was even more so for a country that always felt a shortage of Hunter power because its population was small compared to its national wealth, and even more so if the Great Rift that had destroyed the former North Korea beyond the armistice line still existed.
The Great Rift in the former North Korean region was a demonic realm evaluated as the third most dangerous in the world.
It was a threat not only to South Korea but also to China and Japan, and had even forced close cooperation between the three countries.
If Hunter power could be strengthened through Han Yu-jin's knowledge, the South Korean government would have no choice but to covet it greatly.
'Looking at it that way, this kind of treatment seems natural…'
Thinking about it simply, he asked something else.
"An officer is fine with me too. But, there's something else I want."
"Something else? What are you talking about?"
"Money is good, but I would like my knowledge to spread as widely as possible. Not just throughout the country, but overseas as well."
"Ah~ So that's what it was about."
The administrative officer smiled and nodded as if he understood well.
He had probably judged that Han Yu-jin was pursuing fame along with money.
"In that case, it would be even better for you to contract with us, the Ability Management Bureau. After all, if you contract with a corporation, they tend to focus on extracting profits while monopolizing the technology as much as possible."
Han Yu-jin nodded his head and took a positive attitude at the reasonable story.
Of course, he also considered other aspects while doing so.
As far as he knew, South Korea's corruption perception index was quite good.
According to his memory, it was probably at a level that was in the top ten in the world, with a score of 84 out of 100.
Perhaps because the country had had many tribulations, or perhaps because the supernatural event of rift occurrences and the appearance of ability awakeners due to the dimensional collision had been added on top of that, those who were all talk were eliminated early on, and that trend had been well maintained until now.
Of course, no matter how much better it was than other countries, due to the nature of politics, things that made one frown often happened, but it was still not to the point of being blindly distrusted.
In short, it meant that there was little fear of him being greatly backstabbed by contracting with the Ability Management Bureau.
'And, the Ability Management Bureau is a bit special among government agencies.'
He had heard that its importance and independence were very great for a mere bureau.
To the point where its promotion to an Ability Management Ministry, beyond an Ability Management Agency, had once been discussed.
He didn't know the exact reason, but it seemed that it was in this strange state now due to various international agreements on ability users, and due to the various political logic and concerns that the existence of abilities itself could not help but stir up.
"Well then, shall we move to a different location and continue the tests?"
It was about the observation ability and healing ability, and the telekinesis, for which there was a separate dedicated training room for A-rank and above.
The thought that he had already more than earned the basic certificate was cleanly erased by the administrative officer's following words.
It was that he would have to go through all the processes anyway if he were to be a Hunter later on.
In that case, it was better to get it over with when a public official was helping him directly.
Thus, he obediently followed the administrative officer.
<><><>
The telekinesis could be fully tested in a dedicated training room in the same center building.
The result was A-rank in power and speed, B-rank in precision, and a comprehensive A-rank.
Next, they headed to a nearby hospital by car to test his healing ability, and on the way, the administrative officer seemed to be busy making phone calls and handling some kind of administrative work.
In the meantime, Han Yu-jin discreetly searched on his smartphone what grade of public official an administrative officer was.
It turned out he was a whopping grade 5.
He also saw a story that in the military, that was equivalent to a lieutenant colonel, so he wondered if a lieutenant colonel-level official was always stationed at the center.
In any case, the special treatment of having an elite public official help him personally gave him a very satisfying feeling.
And so, perhaps due to the power of the grade 5 public official or something, the healing ability test also proceeded smoothly and he was able to receive a high C-rank evaluation.
Next, they moved to an outdoor training field, and using the environment where the sun was just beginning to set, he also received a B-rank observation ability evaluation.
After finishing all the testing procedures, the administrative officer kindly drove him home.
"You said you're a university student, are you going to continue attending?"
"I think I'll take a leave of absence for now and think about it."
"If you have a leave of absence left, postponing it is also an option. But if you don't have a particular interest in academics, it might be good to just drop out."
It seemed to be a chat where he was expressing his personal opinion, not what he was saying as an administrative officer.
Han Yu-jin also inwardly agreed, so he obediently nodded his head.
"It's not like you're quitting on bad terms, you're going to be an A-rank Hunter. The kind that's even called a walking conglomerate."
"Hey, isn't 'conglomerate' too much of an exaggeration?"
"But you're special, Han Yu-jin-ssi. I don't know who you'll end up contracting with, but you'll also be receiving license royalties…"
The way he smiled as he spoke now felt like he had a very cheerful personality.
The 'arrogant elite' atmosphere from his first impression was nowhere to be found.
"Is your home inside here?"
"You can just drop me off now. It's close from here."
He was speaking after hearing the navigation's guidance.
It was when Han Yu-jin, who had repeatedly refused his offer to drive him even that short distance, was about to get out of the car.
"Ah, right. I almost forgot."
He searched the inner pocket of his suit, took out a business card from his wallet, and handed it over.
It was with a very polite attitude with both hands, and Han Yu-jin had no choice but to act the same way back.
"I'm not just saying this out of courtesy, but if you run into any troublesome issues, please feel free to contact me. The dedicated officer will also contact you within two days."
"Yes, thank you."
"Then I'll be going. You must have had a hard day today, so please get a good rest."
"Yes, you too, Administrative Officer-nim, please get home safely. Thank you for helping me so much today."
"Don't mention it, it was my job."
After saying goodbye with a smile, watching the back of his car as it drove away, Han Yu-jin suddenly felt that his circumstances had truly changed dramatically.
The surroundings were a landscape that hadn't changed at all from usual, but as the situation changed, the feeling he got from that same landscape seemed to have changed as well.
Just by breathing quietly, a sense of fulfillment welled up. At the same time, he also felt a little dazed.
'Right… in the end, this place has to be my home base.'
Love it or hate it, it was his undeniable home.
Even if he could freely adventure through various diverse and interesting worlds with his awakened ability, even if he had very precious and mysterious experiences there.
In the end, he had no choice but to wake up in the reality of this Earth.
As he headed towards his ordinary, old, and cramped one-room apartment, he was suddenly reminded.
'How on earth did that Earth After the Apocalypse end up being destroyed…?'
Was that place really the future of this Earth world?
Or was it, like in some movie, just one of the branches of possibility, a parallel world that was the same but not the same?
'I should check it out today.'
It was the thought that he had to at least find out what he had died from in that jewelry store.
And just in case.
If that place was really the future of this Earth, he would have to find a way to deal with that apocalypse somehow.
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