Chapter 8. Rating Review (2)

Inside the Hunter Management Bureau.

A giant wolf dominates the view.

Not only that.

The items I wore were so mixed between magic and warrior types that they exuded a strange presence.

Silver armor and giant silver wolves.

In addition, a high-ranking vampire staff.

The staff, made of steel, had a fist-sized, dazzling ruby embedded at the tip, which I thought would be at least a Rare grade.

Perhaps because of that overwhelming presence.

The counter staff looked at me with a very perplexed expression.

"Wh-What can I help you with?"

"Yes. I'm a recently awakened magic user and I want to take a rating review and get a Hunter's license."

"You mean you just awakened? Did I hear that right?"

"Yes, to be precise, I awakened yesterday."

"......"

The counter staff looked as if they couldn't believe it.

Well, I would be surprised too.

To suddenly bring in three giant silver wolves that could tear a human to shreds and be covered in items that don't seem ordinary, yet claim to have awakened yesterday.

In any case, there was not a single lie in what I said.

"Personal details... " "My name is Kang Hanseong, and I'm... how old am I? Ahem. 25 years old."

After traveling back 20 years, even my age was confusing.

I guess I need to get used to it.

"Mr. Kang Hanseong. I've confirmed your details. You were active as a Monster Disassembler (D) until recently, correct?"

"Yes."

"A non-magic user becoming a magic user... That's a rare occurrence. Congratulations."

The staff's attitude was extremely polite.

Even in this era, it was already known that non-magic users had superior physical abilities.

In other words, while they couldn't compare to magic users, they had various advantages.

It was proven that when a non-magic user awakened to magic, they would develop at an incredible speed.

The gazes focused on me were mixed with envy.

"I'll guide you shortly. However, you need to dismiss your summons."

"That's not a problem. Cancel."

The summoned creatures disappeared.

The staff's expression finally softened.

Until just now, it was a mix of fear and awe, but now they had regained their composure.

The place I was guided to was the rating review area, where a few people were waiting.

For some reason, I didn't have to wait and was given a high-pass, moving to a different area from the regular review room.

A place heavily infused with the scent of magic.

A large cylindrical machine was placed, and a man in a white gown extended his hand to me.

"Welcome. I'm Special Reviewer Yoo Hanchul."

"Special Reviewer?"

"This is where intermediate and above Hunters take their reviews. I've been informed. You awakened as a Summoner, right?"

"It just happened that way."

"Wow, a Summoner. That's a very rare class. There are only a few Summoners in the entire world, and they all have at least a Rare grade or higher."

Occupation grade.

This was a very important factor that determined one's status in the Hunter society.

It was divided into Common, Magic, Rare, Unique, Legendary, and Mythical, with higher grades indicating greater potential for a Hunter's development.

In short, the occupation grade can be seen as potential.

How quickly and how high a Hunter can reach.

If you obtain a Mythical grade skill, it's like being born with a diamond in your mouth.

'But it's not a rule that you can only have one Mythical grade skill.'

Swallowing those words, I prepared for the inspection.

I took off my items and put them all in my inventory.

Yoo Hanchul explained the rating measurement method.

"The cylindrical machine measures your potential grade and current rank. Please don't resist the magic."

"Sure."

I lay down in the cylindrical machine in light clothing.

Like an MRI machine, it pulled my body into the machine, and a massive amount of magic began to be emitted.

The magic thoroughly searched my body.

Since Yoo Hanchul had advised me not to resist the magic, I followed his advice.

In a world where the number and grade of Hunters affect a country's credit rating, the government wouldn't harm a Hunter being measured unless they lost their minds.

The magic began to be absorbed rapidly.

Whirr!

- Determining potential grade.

Snap!

- Confirmed to be Magic grade or higher. Injecting more magic.

Whirr!

Crackle!

The machine made an uneasy sound, and magic continued to flow out.

- Confirmed to be Rare grade or higher. Injecting more magic.

Whirr!

Crackle!

The magic felt like it was flowing excessively.

But my body was still craving magic.

A feeling of not being able to fill something fundamentally inside.

Lightning flowed from the cylindrical machine, and blue flashes danced.

- Confirmed to be Unique grade or higher. Injecting more magic.

Whirr!

Rumble!

Now, the magic was even colliding.

An enormous amount of mana surged, and it felt like my soul was being filled with mana.

And finally.

- Your potential grade has been determined. Your potential grade is Mythical.

"Wow!"

Cheers erupted from outside.

Potential Mythical grade.

Hunter rank B.

The Hunter rank is expected to rise quickly.

A B rank doesn't suit someone with a Mythical skill. This is a phenomenon that occurred because I had only recently awakened.

Clap, clap, clap, clap!

As I came out of the cylindrical machine, the staff burst into applause.

Yoo Hanchul exclaimed with great joy.

"Congratulations on being the second person in Korea to receive a Mythical grade!"

"Second?"

"Yes! I believe you're among the top ten in the world. If you achieved a B rank just a day after awakening... ."

People were cheering, but my mind was quite complex.

The system message clearly stated that I was the third person in Korea to acquire a Mythical skill.

But they knew me as the second.

There were two possibilities.

Another regressed person existed, and that person had monopolized two lucky events.

The other is that a regressed person acquired a Mythical skill but didn't take a rating review.

I also wanted to move quietly, but I needed a Hunter's license and planned to establish a guild, so I had to take the rating review.

If I had belonged to a guild or had a Hunter's license, I wouldn't have taken the review so openly.

'At least one of the Hunters in Korea, besides Sword Saint, is a regressed person.'

I concluded.

Since Mythical grade skills were not common, I needed to secure them as soon as possible.

Other items of relic grade.

These were matters that could determine the future, so I felt a sense of urgency.

"Phew."

"Why is that?"

"No, I was just thinking for a moment."

"Oh, I see. Can you wait a moment? It will take about 30 minutes to issue your Hunter's license."

"30 minutes? I heard it usually takes over a week."

"Hahaha! How can we make a Mythical grade Hunter wait? We need to put everything on hold to create the Hunter's license."

"In that case, I won't refuse."

Indeed, having power made things convenient.

I managed to get a lazy civil servant to move.

Seoul Branch Office of the Hunter Management Bureau, Director's Office.

The importance of Hunters was being highlighted worldwide.

Not only could they stably supply new energy, but they also made significant contributions to public safety by killing monsters that escaped from dungeons.

Moreover, since firearms were ineffective against those with magic, Hunters became a national power.

Each country provided various benefits to prevent Hunters from leaving the country and tried to make them civil servants or soldiers by any means.

First, magic users are managed by the state.

What if a Mythical grade Hunter appeared?

The government would try to establish a connection in any way possible.

"Did you say he received a Mythical grade in the potential review?"

"Y-Yes."

"An incredible event. We can finally put the Japanese in their place! The second in Korea, right?"

"Yes. I heard that the guild leader of Crown Guild, Sword Emperor, acquired a Mythical skill."

"The competition will be fierce."

"Everyone is already on high alert. By now, the information has likely spread."

This is the information age.

With just a smartphone, information can spread in seconds.

Moreover, the collusion between the Hunter Management Bureau, companies, and media was significant. If a Mythical skill user appeared in Korea, the information would have been sold immediately.

The information spread at an incredible speed.

In other words, the newly appeared Mythical potential Hunter would inevitably become a target for everyone.

Naturally, the state had to get involved.

"What is he doing now?"

The director didn't even ask what form the Hunter had awakened in.

As long as it was a combat type, a Mythical potential Hunter could become a hero. They needed to use all means to bring him in.

If that happened?

Immediate promotion.

"I've tied him up by issuing a Hunter's license. We only have 30 minutes, though."

"That's enough!"

The director patted Yoo Hanchul's shoulder.

If things went well, Yoo Hanchul could jump from a permanent 7th grade to a 5th grade.

VIP Room of the Hunter Management Bureau.

Having lived in this field for 20 years, I had heard that the Hunter Management Bureau had a VIP room.

The state provided special benefits to Hunters of Rare grade or higher, such as free weapon maintenance, loan benefits, mission discounts, VIP room access, and tax benefits.

It was like a hotel room, with a comfortable bed, shower, and various foods and drinks.

You could use everything freely while you were here.

I sank into a luxurious sofa.

"Is this what it feels like?"

The state treated Hunters with great respect.

They added a noble status to the profession of Hunter and treated them as national strategic weapons.

In an era where Hunters were the national power.

Everything around seemed to exist for high-grade Hunters.

Such treatment would naturally make high-grade Hunters arrogant. As far as I knew, there weren't many Hunters at the hero level who were sane.

Even if Hunters were treated like nobles, if a national-level crisis occurred?

The entire human race would have to rely on Hunters, so no matter what they did, the state would have to cover it up.

The society hadn't reached that point yet, but it would soon.

'Before that happens, I must build my power.'

Knock, knock.

People rushed in when I heard a knock.

The visitor badges around their necks showed they were from the Hunter Management Bureau.

A middle-aged man with a bald head and bright eyes greeted me with a smile.

"Oh, Hunter. I can't express how grateful I am that you visited such a humble place. It's an honor to meet you. I'm Han Juseok, the director of the Seoul branch of the Hunter Management Bureau."

"Ah, yes. I'm Kang Hanseong."

I suppressed the urge to become arrogant and responded humbly.

Han Juseok, in a very low posture, proposed as politely as possible.

"You have the qualities of a hero. You deserve the treatment befitting your status. The true nobility of this era is the Hunter. If you join the state, I can promise you unimaginable treatment. Hunter, would you consider my proposal?"

"Ah, what should I do? That might be a bit difficult."