Chapter 20

It was the moment when the color of the man's eyes changed.

Zang was led to the back and, behind a screen, was told to channel his magic after putting on all the rings that sealed the major spirits. As a result of Zang channeling his magic as instructed, the eyes of the Hunter Association staff, which had been looking at the mysterious new recruit brought by the captain of the "White Lance," changed to those of someone looking at a hopeless new recruit. The staff member, without hiding the mixed emotions of contempt and pity, explained to Zang in a very brief manner.

Zang had the highest affinity with the spirit of darkness. Next came ice, followed by earth, water, wind, and lightning, with fire in between, and light had the worst compatibility. The affinity with darkness was overwhelmingly high, and the affinity with light was overwhelmingly the worst.

In general, affinity does not matter much in daily life. Indeed, Zang had no problem handling fire or light. However, in specific industries that utilize spirits, such as blacksmithing, maritime transport, firefighting, agriculture, construction, and soldiers, affinity is highly valued. For blacksmiths, a higher affinity with fire allows for stronger flames; for maritime transport, a higher affinity with wind or water allows for safer and faster navigation; for firefighters, a higher affinity with water and then fire; for agriculture, a higher affinity with earth or water; for construction, a higher affinity with earth; and for soldiers, a higher affinity with fire, lightning, and light, each field values those with higher aptitude.

What about hunters? At first glance, "darkness" seems suitable for stealth, but no one goes hunting at night when the power of darkness is most effective. Night hunting is advantageous for monsters and beasts that are not troubled by darkness, and it is simply too dangerous.

Moreover, Zang had no offensive capabilities.

"Ice" is less common in lands without snow. While it is good for preserving prey, it makes one more of a porter, who is often hired by hunters and explorers, rather than a hunter.

The staff member, who naturally knew this, visibly looked down on Zang. However, Zang thought it was lucky to know his aptitude. It was difficult to become a top hunter, and his affinity with spirit magic was not suitable for hunting. In modern Japan, it is rare to clearly know one's aptitude, especially for the young. To know it at such an early stage was even considered a stroke of luck.

"Giants also don't have a high affinity with spirit magic. There's autonomous magic, life spirit magic, and weapon handling, so don't worry too much about it."

The staff member smiled wryly at Maxim, who seemed not to care about his aptitude. Indeed, the affinity of giants with spirit magic is narrow, but with their strong bodies and proficiency in life spirit magic, they are incomparable.

"Mr. Maxim, I'd like to talk to you for a moment."

Maxim nodded to the staff member, who had put away his wry smile.

"Sure. Kuro, you can look at the request forms while you wait. Well, at this time, they're probably all salted."

With that, the staff member and Maxim bent their bodies and entered the back room.

The request forms for pest control, insect extermination, monster capture, special herb collection, and mountain range escort were posted on the bulletin board right next to the reception counter. Most of the posted request forms had no set deadlines, and some had been posted six months ago. Zang, understanding that such requests were called "salted," nodded to himself.

"What did I think the captain of the 'White Lance' brought such an excellent recruit, but this is a real disappointment."

"Heh, he should just be a porter."

"If he came to be a hunter, his life is already over."

A bald, muscular man and two thugs provocatively said this from behind Zang. Without responding, Zang turned away from the bulletin board. The muscular man grabbed his shoulder forcefully to stop him.

"Hey, hey, a hunter without manners, huh?"

"Hey, this guy has the horns of a three-horned deer."

"What era of hunter is this? Selling them would make more money."

"You're not even a hunter yet, so you don't have a weapon permit. We'll keep them for you."

One of the thugs tried to take the three horns from Zang's waist. Of course, Zang would not allow such a thing and dodged reflexively. The thug's movements were not particularly fast.

However, Zang's foot lightly stepped on the muscular man's toes.

"You bastard—"

In an instant, the muscular man's fist approached Zang's abdomen. Zang saw it coming but received the blow unguarded. He was slammed into the stone wall. Zang's muscles seemed to have contracted, and his head was flushed with blood.

"Really, a real disappointment."

The thug next to him bent down to take the horns from the crouching Zang. A dog tag with a thin chain fell onto Zang from above.

"This should be enough. If you still want to take it, it's a crime."

The three men, noticing Maxim behind them, spat and left.

"…Get up. It didn't work, did it?"

Zang slowly stood up, picking up the dog tag.

"You're not moving as much as I thought."

"What? What are you saying? You even used life spirit magic to enhance yourself."

"I've never fought a person before."

Maxim looked puzzled for a moment but quickly understood.

"Well, you've been in the mountains all this time. Fighting is a matter of getting used to it."

"You seem to be good at it."

"Good or not, I'd say that about half of the kingdom's hunter fights are this guy's doing."

The staff member who registered Zang said from behind Maxim.

"Anyway, private duels between hunters are strictly prohibited. Sword drawing and magic use within the branch are also forbidden, so be careful."

"…I'm the victim here."

The staff member's cold expression did not change.

"Magic use without permission is forbidden, regardless of the reason."

"Is it okay to provoke people?"

"It's because you were seen carrying a weapon without permission."

"Is it okay to hit me?"

"It's because you resisted."

"I was hit."

"Deal with it without using magic or weapons. You're a hunter, after all."

That's what being cold is all about.

"If a fireball flies through the door, I'll pray it hits you first."

"Branch members are allowed to use magic."

That's really cold.

Zang frowned, thinking that Japan and this world are the same.

"Well, I'll let it slide this time, but there won't be a next time. This tag, even if it's a temporary ten-star, is your hunter's license. It proves your identity, weapon permit, and third-level magic use permit, so carry it with you at all times. If you lose it, there will be penalties, so be careful."

With that, the staff member returned to the reception counter.

"Anyway, calm down. It's partly because of Akari, and some of it is directed at you as a way to get back at me. Not all branches are like this, but the rules are the same everywhere."

Zang was humming but seemed to be in a bad mood. He had a look on his face that was hard to read.

"Let's take a permanent extermination request for now. I have to leave the village tomorrow."

"That's pretty sudden."

"It's a summons from above."

While saying this, they headed to the reception, and the staff member turned to them with a displeased look.

"Is there something else?"

"No, the Trabock extermination request."

"Oh, that one. Please sign here, and I'll fill out the rest."

"Just my name?"

"Yes."

"Show me the application form… I see, so this is how you write Zang."

Zang wrote his name while looking at the application form.

"Maxim, is this correct?"

"Yeah, it's readable."

"…Your hunter's license."

Zang handed over his hunter's license, and the staff member took it and worked on it behind the counter.

"Here, you have now accepted the Trabock extermination request. Be careful, the proof of Trabock's defeat is a green stone that must not be damaged."

Maxim was about to leave, but Zang did not move.

"…The copy of the acceptance form?"

"Heh, heh, heh, you know about copies? In a big city, maybe, but no one knows about them here."

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Hunters don't think about such small details."

The two arrived at the inn where Maxim was staying, cleared out Akari's room, and took a room for Zang. For the next three nights, Maxim would pay for the room.

Akari's belongings had already been seized by the Dolgan authorities, and there was no choice but for Zang to earn money.

"Come to think of it, Maxim could just buy things with his money."

"…What if I don't come back?"

Maxim said seriously.

"Oh, right."

Zang twirled his hunter's license.

"By the way, I only have one, mine."

"Yeah, yours is only from the Hunter Association."

"Are there others?"

"Yeah, I was also a member of the Mercenary Intermediary Association and the Explorer Guild. Now, I'm mostly hired by the country, so my mercenary membership is probably expired. By the way, let me explain about hunters."

Maxim then explained to Zang, albeit in a very rough manner. This thoroughness was typical of a state-employed hunter.