The next day, at 2:40 p.m., it was time for me, who had posted a sign to prepare the ingredients, to cut the time to boil the broth and clean the store.

A man in a suit approached the shop and knocked on the iron door. I can't believe he knocked when I had a sign up saying I was preparing the ingredients. I fixed the broom I was holding, but a voice suddenly went through my head.

"I'll send someone tomorrow."

I released the broom and opened the door. The man in the sunglasses bowed his head in greeting.

"Hello, nice to meet you. Are you Cha Ui-jae?"

"Yes, I am."

"Hello, I'm Very Small Miracle. I was sent to you by guild leader Lee Sa-young."

Very Small Miracle. It was such a long and strange name that I couldn't help but remember it, even though I had only seen it on Hunter Channel 1 for a moment. However, it was not polite to say that his name was strange from the beginning, so I also bowed my head.

"Hello."

"Yes, please take my business card first."

Min-ki politely held out his business card with both hands. I held a broom at my side and politely picked up a small rectangular piece of paper. Pado Guild Combat Support Team 1, Very Small Miracle.

"I will be guiding you through the skill measurement and registration process today, please excuse me."

Very Small Miracle took out a tablet from his inventory and showed the screen.

"Give me a low rank!

Along with the background image of a bomb exploding, the title written in red archery caught my eye. My expression became strange when I saw the bizarre design template, but Very Small Miracle has a very serious face.

"I was told that your goal is to be as inconspicuous as possible and get a low rating. Is that true?"

"......."

"Oh, it's okay if you don't answer verbally, you just have to fill out this survey."

When Min-ki turned the screen, a survey item appeared. I started answering the survey with a tablet pen that Min-ki gave me.
(TL/N: Very Small Miracle is the name of Seo Min-ki's hunter. In case you forgot who he is, he is the guy with shadow skills who was told by Lee Sa-young to find Ui-jae's information at the Bureau)

[1. What rank would you like to be when you register as a hunter? Please write on a scale from S to F]

It must be as low and ordinary as possible. Since it was the condition he offered when he accepted the deal with Lee Sa-young, I briefly agonized over it, tapping my mouth with the tip of a pen.

Considering the ability level of S-rank, which is his original rank, I thought that the gap was too big to receive in reality, and that there would be as much reason to explain as when I lived in hiding as a palate. It's not a coincidence that an F-ranked man can beat up a monster with his bare hands.

I paused, my face serious.

E, D

[2. What is your rank in your system? If you don't want to reveal your rank, please write it according to the following example. (F to C: weak. B to S: strong.)]

This is a thoughtful and sensitive entry. It was a question that fully grasped what the client was trying to accomplish by manipulating the ratings. On the other hand, it was also surprising to the extent that I wondered if he had ever done such a transaction with anyone else.

Strong.

Without much hesitation, I wrote down my answer according to the example and then glanced down to check the last question.

[3. Do you agree to use drugs and curses to manipulate ratings?]

Wait. I think there are some weird questions mixed in here? The next thoughtful question contained a poison clause that could be included in any physical waiver. As I dutifully filled out the form, I raised my hand and called out to Min-ki.

"Excuse me, Tiny Miracle Min-ki."

"Yes, sir."

"I think question 3 is a little strange."

"What? Wait a minute."

Min-ki stretched his head to check the screen and tilted his head.

"Question 3 is normal... Is there a problem?"

"It says you use drugs and curses, is that right?"

"Yes. You have to endure so much to hide your ability."

Is he an impostor? I prepared myself to hit Min-ki over the head with a pill. Min-ki asked while taking a step back.

"Sir, do you know how to measure your abilities when you register as a hunter?"

I knew the measuring method eight years ago, but I did not know the latest measuring method. With the increase in the price of the mana stone, the measurement method would have changed. I shook my head, not bothering to pretend to know. Min-ki began to explain as if he had been waiting.

"When you go to be measured, you first fill out the documents by hand and measure your ability with a machine developed by the Bureau. During the evaluation process, they even check your demonstration of representative skills."

"......."

"Well, for the handwriting part, you can mix in some bullshit, and it's encouraged. For the representative skill, you only have to demonstrate one skill. Neither is really important. The most important thing here is the measuring device."

"Measuring device?"

"Yes, that's right. It's pretty accurate, so it's harder to hide your rank from him than it is to deceive the official. But!"

Min-ki raised his index finger and said confidently.

"The device uses a mana stone as its power source. And it doesn't react to normal people, it only reacts to the awakened, which means that it works according to the laws of the system, apart from the scientific common sense that we know."

"......."

"Then we can also fool the machine according to the laws of the system. It uses drugs or curses from dungeons that degrade the awakened."

Min-ki looked proud as if his argument was good.

"Why... is it plausible?"

It was actually quite plausible. Most drugs or curses won't hurt my body much anyway, and it would just be a matter of closing my eyes. All I have is a strong body, so I should use it wisely.

I held the pen correctly as if possessed, and wrote the answer to the last question.

[3. Do you agree to use drugs and curses to manipulate ratings?]
Yes

Min-ki who took the tablet said with a satisfied face.

"Well then... Oh, by the way, did you bring your ID card?"

Luckily, I had my resident card, which had been reissued after I came out of the rift. I pointed to the counter inside the store.

"It's in my wallet."

"Then take it and get in the car. Let's go quickly."

What he pointed to was a dirty blue car. It looked so strange in the alley that I couldn't imagine it was the car he was driving. I alternately looked at Min-ki, dressed in a neat suit, and a car covered in dust.

The Pado Guild has no money.

"You're not under the illusion that our guild is poor, are you?"

Is mind reading one of his abilities? I avoided his gaze and shook my head.

"I hadn't thought of that."

"Haha, I'm sure you didn't think of that, but just for your information, this is a guild car that we use for undercover work."

"Oh, really?"

"Why do you sound so soulless when you answer?"

After taking my wallet off the counter, I went into the kitchen and checked the boiling broth. I need to let it boil a little longer and remove the foam... I rubbed my chin and asked Min-ki who's outside.

"How long does it take to register?"

"Well. No matter how long it takes, it won't be more than an hour."

I'll just turn the heat to low. The longer the broth cooks, the deeper the flavor, so it shouldn't be a problem as long as I get there in time. I skimmed off the foam with a knife, turned down the heat, then took off my apron and hung it on the wall.

After retrieving my wallet, I got into the passenger seat and Min-ki gestured for me to fasten my seatbelt. Once he was sure that I had fastened my seatbelt, he started the car.

"We will not go to the official registration center at the Awakening Management Bureau, but to the temporary registration center in Gwangjin-gu. It's quick, less conspicuous, and there are no strong Awakened Ones there."

"Don't they care more about the newer ones?"

"That was when it was new, and the Gwangjin-gu center has been open for three months, so it's a little more relaxed. The main building will be finished soon, so it'll be even looser."

Min-ki looked at me and pointed to the side with a slight jerk of his chin.

"Do you see the black box next to it?"

"Oh, yes."

"There's a pair of bracelets in there, would you like to try them on?"

What was in the box were two silver bracelets in the shape of a snake with its tail in a circle. When I took the bracelet out, the information about the item came to me.

[Bridle of Uroboros (A)
When a person wears a pair of these, they cast a curse of weakness on the wearer].

This was the reason for including drugs and curses in the survey items. I grabbed the curse item and calmly said.

"Weakening curse... It's an item."

Min-ki nodded dutifully.

"Yes. If you want to lower your rank, it's fastest and easiest to wear an item with a Weakening Curse."

"Can this curse be lifted?"

"Yes. Don't worry, I also brought a curse-breaking scroll, and I will break it right after the measurement."

The process of systematically lying was arduous. I wore the two bracelets on my left wrist. My whole body became heavy, as if I was wearing a sandbag around my left arm.

"How do you feel?"

"I definitely feel a little heavier. But..."

I touched the bracelet that jingled well on my wrist.

"If I cheat on my evaluation with something like this, won't I get caught? I'm pretty sure they can catch me."

Min-ki shrugged.

"Oh, that's okay. They check for worn items, but... that's just something we do for existing hunters when they get retested."

"......."

"They don't check items for newly awakened people. Where would someone who hasn't even registered as a hunter get items from? Unregistered people aren't even allowed to use the Hunter Market. Besides,"

Min-ki said, taking a leisurely left turn.

"Everyone wants to get a high rating, not a low one."

"......."

"Oh, I'm not shooting at you."

I glanced sideways at him for a moment, a little nervous, but quickly accepted that he wasn't wrong. The bracelet around my wrist clanked and jiggled.