Awakened Management Bureau.

 

An agency under the Disaster Management Office, it typically handles awakened registration, administers hunter exams, and issues and renews licenses. Oddly enough, it was more frequently referred to as the “Association.”

 

This was likely due to the influence of web novels. It was in the same context as how terms most widely used in light novels – hunter, guild, dungeon, monster – were easily adopted. Apparently, there were ongoing discussions about officially changing the agency’s name because of this.

 

“Welcome. You can get a waiting number on the right.”

 

The place they visited was the Seoul Eastern Branch of the Association. As soon as they entered, a uniformed employee gestured to show the location of the ticket machine. It felt like visiting a bank.

 

The interior design and layout also reminded one of a community center or post office. The sight of civil servants sitting at desks in a row, attending to awakened ones, added to this impression.

 

“Why so little? This is an A-grade magic stone!”

 

“Due to the recent increase in fees…”

 

“But still…!”

 

Many of the visitors seemed to be experienced hunters. Freelance hunters not affiliated with the state or guilds often use the state’s brokerage service when disposing of dungeon by-products.

 

“This way.”

 

Ryu Seo-ha followed Choi Gang-hu towards the VIP-only passage. The glances seemed to have increased several times more than usual. Perhaps because a face seen on TV had appeared.

 

“Oh my! You came earlier than expected.”

 

A man in his 50s came running out of the passage, panting, and greeted Choi Gang-hu. His name tag indicated he was the branch director.

 

“We should have gone out to greet you. Please, come inside.”

 

Beads of sweat formed on the branch director’s wide forehead as he kept bowing. His attitude was consistently subservient, almost pitifully so.

 

“But who is this…?”

 

Only after moving to the VIP waiting room did the branch director cautiously express his curiosity about Ryu Seo-ha. And that too, to Choi Gang-hu rather than to Seo-ha himself.

 

“He’ll be getting his grade measured with me.”

 

“Ah, I see. Let’s start with filling out the application form.”

 

At the branch director’s nod, a waiting employee quickly spread out application forms on the table. Name, resident registration number, family relations, place of origin and school… Below the common fields, there was a section for filling in awakened abilities.

 

Type:___

Trait:___

Skill:___

 

Below the blanks, a long series of multiple-choice questions related to the content followed. For traits that don’t overlap with anyone else’s, there was a series of blank spaces.

 

“As you know, you don’t need to fill in the details about your abilities.”

 

The branch director added a friendly explanation with a smiling face. Of course, this only applied to VIPs. Ordinary awakened ones are subtly pressured to fill in as much detail as possible.

 

This was why they were made to fill out forms at the counter, taking more time, instead of preparing documents in advance. The plush sofa suddenly felt uncomfortable. As did the welcome drink placed in front.

 

“Could you show me your ID, please?”

 

The employee asked with a very friendly smile. The ID that Seo-ha handed over without protest was inserted into a portable device that looked like a card reader. He could immediately anticipate the next scene.

 

Beep beep, a short warning sound, and a red light lit up on the machine the employee was holding. The atmosphere in the room changed instantly. The employee’s expression hardened, and he looked back at the branch director with bewildered eyes.

 

“Uh, um… a Chinatown survivor?”

 

The branch director muttered, looking back and forth between Ryu Seo-ha and Choi Gang-hu. Faced with an unexpected situation, he wiped his forehead several times with a handkerchief, as if his sweat glands had exploded.

 

Choi Gang-hu tilted his head askew, as if asking what the problem was, exerting silent pressure. The employee could be seen discreetly taking out his phone and sending a message somewhere.

 

“Um, this person will need to be measured separately.”

 

“Why.”

 

The branch director, who had finally spoken up, showed a very troubled expression at Choi Gang-hu’s brief retort.

 

“As you well know, Chinatown survivors need separate management… There are many additional tests we need to conduct.”

 

“Even though he’s with me?”

 

“I’m sorry, but that’s how the law is set… I’m sorry.”

 

The branch director apologized several times, sweating profusely. Of course, to Choi Gang-hu, not to Ryu Seo-ha. It seemed that no matter how much he needed to consider the chaebol, as a civil servant, he couldn’t directly violate the law.

 

“I’ll guide you to the precision measurement room.”

 

The employee approached Ryu Seo-ha with a tense expression and announced in a stiff tone. He seemed ready to call the guards outside if Seo-ha didn’t comply immediately. This treatment was so familiar that Seo-ha felt nothing in particular. As he nodded and was about to stand up,

 

“Then I’ll go together.”

 

Choi Gang-hu, who had stood up before him, stepped diagonally. As if trying to block the employee’s impure gaze on Seo-ha’s behalf.

 

“Uh, we have a separate VIP measurement room prepared for the guild leader…”

 

The branch director, who was trying to dissuade him while waving his hands, closed his mouth with a “hap” after receiving an icy cold gaze. It was due to Gang-hu’s unique intimidating presence that made one’s nape shiver without even needing to crudely exude magical power.

 

“Ah, I’ll guide you.”

 

In the end, the branch director hastily backed down. As they left the VIP waiting room and moved through the staff passage,

 

“Was it often like this?”

 

Choi Gang-hu, who had been walking silently following the guiding employee, suddenly asked. The startled employee looked back, but Gang-hu’s gaze was focused solely on Ryu Seo-ha.

 

“You seem used to this kind of treatment.”

 

Ryu Seo-ha, walking beside him, answered with a faint smile instead. It had always been like this when using public institutions. Even in other situations where identity verification was needed, he always had to go through similar experiences.

 

Chinatown survivor.

 

It was a term referring to those who survived until the end inside the barrier that sealed off several neighborhoods in Jung-gu, Incheon for 5 years. A kind of derogatory term coined because it included many Chinese or ethnic Chinese individuals.

 

Public perception wasn’t good, as several awakened ones had committed illegal acts or joined criminal organizations while unregistered after the seal was lifted. The state had also classified them as persons of interest.

 

“If you want, I’ll look into it. A way for you not to receive additional measurements.”

 

Choi Gang-hu whispered softly. His black eyes held a light resembling the depths of winter. As if he would overturn the situation right away if Ryu Seo-ha just nodded.

 

“It’s okay.”

 

Ryu Seo-ha immediately shook his head. He knew better than anyone that that method would not be peaceful at all. He had no desire to ignite something he couldn’t handle himself.

 

Just revealing that he was a healing-type awakened one would change their treatment as quickly as flipping a hand. Yet, the reason he silently intended to receive the precise measurement was simple. He wondered if he could obtain any potentially helpful information. There was also an intention to create a sense of indebtedness from the state agency. So that they couldn’t make unnecessary demands even if his healing abilities were revealed.

 

“We’ll start with a belongings check.”

 

Upon arriving at the precision measurement room, Ryu Seo-ha was only allowed inside after a strict body search. Choi Gang-hu stood by, watching quietly with his arms folded and a completely expressionless face.

 

He underwent a series of physical examinations, blood tests, and brain wave tests. Amidst suffocating silence and unspoken urging. And then he was pushed to stand in front of the mana measuring device.

 

It was a machine that determined the quality of one’s mana. While all awakened ones start at the same level and stats, having the same type or similar traits or skills doesn’t mean they produce the same output.

 

The intensity varies greatly depending on the quality of mana. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that one’s social status as a hunter, from F-rank to S-rank, is determined by this measurement result.

 

“Place your hand on it.”

 

As he placed his hand on the transparent mana measuring device that looked like a witch’s crystal ball from a fairy tale, he felt something like a thin snake brushing through his body and then leaving. His brows furrowed involuntarily at the unfamiliar and unpleasant sensation.

 

The color of the orb began to change, centered where his white hand touched. The color that rose quickly, as if filled with smoke, was a lustrous purple. A very clear and pure amethyst color.

 

“…S-rank!”

 

Someone among the watching officials exclaimed with a voice that seemed drawn from the pit of their stomach. Then, with a “huck” sound, they seemed to be hurriedly contacting somewhere. Wary gazes pierced from all directions.

 

The murmuring noise also stabbed at his ears. Shouldn’t we detain him for now? By what right? It’s too dangerous. Well, we don’t know what he might have done there and come back. All sorts of voices could be heard.

 

“You said you’re twenty years old now, right?”

 

Ignoring the whispering voices, as soon as Seo-ha sat in the designated chair, a man in a white gown asked while fixing his gaze on the monitor.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then you were just ten years old during the great upheaval. How on earth did you survive?”

 

A pressuring gaze pierced his face, as if demanding he confess all the criminal acts he had committed so far. Ryu Seo-ha glanced at the embroidery on the other’s white gown that read ‘Psychiatry’ and let out a small sigh.

 

“You need to answer sincerely for your own sake.”

 

The blatant stares of people in white gowns who had gathered from somewhere, looking at him as if observing a monkey in a zoo, were palpable. A conflict arose, wondering if he should reveal his type now.

 

“I’m good at learning.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I mean I learned skills by watching others and volunteered for roles needed by the group.”

 

The most threatening existence in the sealed area centered around Chinatown wasn’t the S-rank monster that caused the closure. That creature remained deeply asleep until hunters entered to hunt it five years later.

 

The monsters that poured out immediately after the great upheaval were manageable enough. Thanks to his surprisingly improved memory. The monster encyclopedia he had read in his previous life contained detailed illustrations, characteristics, and weaknesses.

 

The scariest were people. Those who formed groups around their meager powers, monopolizing all sorts of goods and trying to arbitrarily control others. The sealed area where they ran rampant was a complete lawless zone dominated by violence.

 

“Roles like hitting people and stealing things?”

 

“Roles like butchering monster carcasses and voluntarily taking on tasks others were reluctant to do.”

 

The doctor with furrowed brows scribbled something on paper.

 

“Have you ever killed someone?”

 

“No.”

 

“Everyone denies it like that. Have you felt any urge to kill recently?”

 

“No.”

 

“Be honest. Really none?”

 

“Yes.”

 

It was almost like an interrogation. Aren’t psychiatrists usually supposed to make the other person comfortable while drawing out answers?

 

“From now on, tell me every detail of your status window without omission…”

 

“That’s enough.”

 

Unable to stand by any longer, Choi Gang-hu stepped in and expressed his discomfort. His mana, like angry waves, began to subtly pressure the surroundings. The moment his spreading mana touched the transparent mana measuring device.

 

Wooong─!

 

The quietly placed mana measuring device shook violently.

 

“Contain your ma─”

 

It happened before anyone could stop it. The sound of onlookers being flustered at the unprecedented phenomenon could be heard. In contrast, Choi Gang-hu watched the situation with a strange light in his eyes.

 

Keeeng─!

 

In an instant, cracks appeared on the glass orb with a sharp noise. Cha-cha-chang─! The fragments of the mana measuring device, which exploded from the inside, shot in all directions.

 

“Aagh!”

 

The doctor who was directly hit by the fragments screamed, clutching his bloodied face. Ryu Seo-ha’s eyes widened. He had seen the fragments flying towards him stop in mid-air and then fall straight down.

 

As he turned his head, he saw Choi Gang-hu’s handsome face with one corner of his mouth curled up. Before he could react, something like a black fabric began to stretch out from where the mana measuring device had exploded. At an incredible speed.

 

“Kyaak!”

 

“W-what is this!”

 

After that thing, which covered the surroundings like a blanket, passed by, the scene before his eyes had completely changed. From an indoor space resembling a hospital examination room to a gloomy ruin with a forest of rusted buildings.