The hunter license is granted only after passing both the first written test and the second practical test. This system was introduced in the third year of the Great Change when various social issues caused by indiscriminate business activities of awakened individuals began to attract media attention.

Unlike awakened registration, obtaining a license was optional, not mandatory. The test is conducted once a month under the supervision of the Awakened Management Bureau, and online and offline applications are possible up until the day of the test.

From Hell Guild succeeds in recruiting S-class healer!

Uprising of a new guild! FromHell Guild stock prices soar!

Column: Our country advancing as a hunter powerhouse, what’s the current status?

FromHell’s prospective guild master Choi Gang-hu, awakening grade blinded…

The day after signing the affiliation contract, Ryu Seo-ha took the written test together with Choi Gang-hu. If their return had been delayed by just one more day, they would have missed the timing. It was fortunate they weren’t late.

S-class healer Ryu Seo-ha scores perfect on 82nd Hunter Ability Qualification Test written exam!

Director Hwang Moon-seok of the Awakened Management Bureau, “This test’s difficulty was very high”

Ryu Seo-ha known to be applying for combat field in practical test…

Non-combat VS Combat, what’s the classification difference in the second practical test?

He passed the written test without difficulty, and now only the practical test remained. The date was today. While a normal test-taker would be checking their condition and running final simulations,

“This dish is a beef roll made by wrapping thinly sliced shiitake mushrooms sautéed with garlic slices and onions in sirloin seasoned with a gochujang base.”

Ryu Seo-ha was visiting a high-end restaurant run by a famous chef.

“You can experience a deeper flavor by eating it with the vegetables roasted in butter.”

The chef in a white uniform explained the dish with a kind smile. He was coming out personally to explain the main ingredients and how to eat each dish as they were served, from the appetizers onward. It was treatment he had never experienced before.

“Is the food to your liking?”

Just after the chef left, as he was quietly marveling after tasting a bite of the beef roll, Choi Gang-hu asked with a smiling face.

“Yes. Thanks to you, Guild Master, I get to try something like this.”

Ryu Seo-ha nodded without hesitation. He thought it was good he came. When he first heard the invitation to have lunch together, he hesitated a bit, worried he might get indigestion. After all, Choi Gang-hu was now his direct superior.

But there was no need to worry at all. Once they started eating, he became so amazed by the taste of the food that he didn’t even notice any awkwardness. Even though they were left alone in a private space.

“I wanted you to experience the feeling of savoring a course meal slowly.”

At Choi Gang-hu’s calm words, a faint embarrassment crossed Ryu Seo-ha’s expression. He wondered how hurriedly he must have been eating until now. Indeed, habits are easy to form but hard to break.

“I don’t mean that it was unpleasant to watch you eat quickly.”

As if noticing that subtle emotion, he gently added a word. Well, Choi Gang-hu was also quite fast at eating. He was also a tremendous big eater.

“Thank you. It’s a fresh experience.”

Honestly, he thought course meals wouldn’t suit his constitution. He was the type to inhale as much food as possible, without leaving anything, as quickly as possible. But that wasn’t the case.

A private space, food clearly portioned for him right in front, the certainty that the next dish would soon come out. As all those elements secured a sense of leisure, his eating speed naturally slowed down. It was surprisingly comfortable.

“After the A course is served, the B course will come out in succession.”

The quantity was also thoughtfully sufficient. It was a truly satisfying meal. Enough to make him resolve to visit again with his older sister. Having received the signing bonus, this level of flex should be okay, right?

Though he’d have to put down an advance payment on the S-class healer’s treatment list first. And clear his debts. First, he needed to find the whereabouts of the debt certificate… His thoughts were starting to get complicated again. Ryu Seo-ha shook his head as if to shake off his worries.

Buzz.

Seo-ha, have you eaten lunch?

Just as the A course was finishing and the main dishes of the B course were starting to come out, his phone vibrated. It was a text from Mrs. Im Myung-hee of Geumsutang bathhouse.

I’m eating now. How about you, auntie?

I ate early and I’m on my way back from the real estate agency.

He could guess why she had contacted him by text rather than calling.

What did the broker say? It’s hard to get the right price because it’s a quick sale, right? ㅜㅜ

Luckily, someone who wanted to buy appeared right away, so I signed immediately.

That’s great. Now you can prepare for moving without any burden.

I’m really sorry to you. Who would have known Minji would suddenly get a job at a big company…

She seemed to feel guilty. Because she had to quickly sell off the bathhouse building. It was due to Im Myung-hee’s daughter, Park Minji, suddenly succeeding in getting a job. As if by miracle, overcoming the Chinatown penalty.

Moreover, it was a major corporation that ranked in the top 10 conglomerates. The workplace happened to be on Jeju Island, so they had to move no matter what. So they decided to aim for the welfare benefit of providing company housing limited to those without homes. This was the reason for urgently selling the bathhouse building, which was left as an inheritance in Park Minji’s name by Im Myung-hee’s father. It must have been a decision they could make because immediate family members of employees could also move into the company housing.

You don’t need to say things like that. I’ve been able to live well thanks to you.

It’s so sudden… what will you do…

I was planning to look for a new place anyway.

It wasn’t just empty words. He couldn’t let his older sister sleep on the bathhouse floor. And they couldn’t go from one jjimjilbang to another like before she collapsed.

But he also felt uneasy about letting her stay only in hotels like now. After comforting the apologetic Im Myung-hee well, he put down his heated phone and swallowed a sigh.

“Who was it?”

“The bathhouse auntie. She seems to keep worrying about the housing issue.”

“Ah. She said she had to leave due to circumstances. Are you okay?”

“Yes, of course. She’s leaving for a good reason, so what’s the problem?”

“Still, you must have grown quite attached.”

The word ‘attachment’ felt somewhat awkward coming from Choi Gang-hu’s mouth.

“It is sad to part. There was a certain charm to bathing alone in the early morning…”

“Come to think of it, have you found a place to live?”

“There are fewer properties available than I expected.”

He had been looking continuously since the kidnapping incident, but everywhere he went, he was told there were no rooms left. It wasn’t like he was being picky about conditions either. Even contacting places he had checked online in advance yielded the same result.

“As I said before, you’re welcome to come live in my house.”

“…Thank you for the offer.”

Ryu Seo-ha quietly watched Choi Gang-hu elegantly cutting his steak with a knife and shook his head. Unnecessary suspicions kept arising. He wondered if the man before him had pulled some strings behind the scenes.

Otherwise, how could it be so difficult to find even a small house? The news of Park Minji’s sudden employment at a major corporation also seemed somewhat suspicious. With so many unusual coincidences repeating, he couldn’t help but have such thoughts.

“It means you can come in comfortably anytime if you change your mind.”

Choi Gang-hu smiled lightly as if it were an insignificant topic while moving the neatly sliced steak plate in front of Ryu Seo-ha. It was a harmless and kind smile that seemed to have not a hint of ulterior motive.

Beep beep. Beep beep.

As he hesitated whether to ask a question, a sharp siren sound rang out.

Dungeon Break Alert! An A-rank dungeon break near Apgujeong-rodeo Station is scheduled to be processed in 30 minutes. Monsters may appear, so those staying in the Sinsa-dong, Nonhyeon-dong, and Cheongdam-dong areas are advised to refrain from going out.

It was a safety guidance text sent en masse by the Disaster Management Agency. Perhaps thanks to the soundproof walls, there was no sense of commotion in the restaurant at all. Well, it wasn’t a very rare occurrence.

People could peacefully go about their daily lives even when monsters popped out from beyond gates that failed to be conquered within a certain period.

“Shouldn’t we leave before traffic control starts?”

This was because the state was managing risks well through joint operations of the military, police, and hunters. Almost all monsters are killed by hunters around the gates, and the rest are dealt with by heavily armed soldiers.

Even if the military makes a mistake and the first line of defense is breached, the police form a second line of defense, so the probability of civilians actually encountering monsters was practically zero. Evacuation orders are also issued in central areas.

“Let’s finish our meal and go.”

“It could take time to clear the mobs though.”

There was about 2 and a half hours left until the practical test. Originally, there would have been plenty of time even if they leisurely ate dessert before leaving, but it was different if traffic was controlled. They could end up unable to go anywhere.

“We can use a helicopter.”

Contrary to such worries, Choi Gang-hu provided a clear solution. Indeed, money is supreme in a capitalist society. He was newly impressed. Thanks to his extraordinary wealth, they were able to enjoy dessert comfortably.

❖ ❖ ❖

Unlike the written test where the same questions are given to all applicants nationwide for each round, the practical test is conducted differently by each branch. It is divided into party type and raid type depending on the number of applicants, and dungeon types also vary.

“Applicant number E-10.”

“Yes.”

As he stepped forward at the call of the national hunter in charge of guidance, the glancing gazes of other applicants followed. He fixed the action cam handed over by the hunter to the harness he was already wearing.

“The video recorded on the action cam will be used as evaluation material, so please be careful not to destroy or lose it.”

The Hunter Ability Qualification Test is in P/F (Pass or Fail) format. If you fall below the standard score during evaluation or if there’s a problem with the action cam, you have to retake the test. In fact, protecting the action cam could be considered part of the test.

“Not only combat ability, but also cooperation, contribution to conquest, and situational response ability will be comprehensively evaluated.”

This was possible because the place they were entering wasn’t a real dungeon. Electronic devices can be brought into artificial dungeons created through the cooperation of awakened individuals from various fields, led by the creation type.

“The given time is a maximum of 5 days. You will be disqualified if you fail to conquer within the time limit.”

Actual dungeon conquests can take over 2 weeks at the longest. In the case of artificial dungeons, the difficulty and scope are adjusted so the average conquest time is shorter. There’s no worry about dying or getting hurt since the monsters and damage are just illusions.

“We will start entering in 5 minutes.”

In the final personal preparation time given, Ryu Seo-ha carefully checked his newly fitted equipment. These were basic weapons and consumables he had purchased from the hunter mall to celebrate receiving the signing bonus.

Even though he was a healer and support role, since he applied as combat type, he needed to be able to protect himself. Unlike healers who applied as non-combat type, once licensed, he would be entering real dungeons.

“Now, turn on your action cams.”

The number of applicants releasing tension in their own ways totaled 12, including him and Choi Gang-hu. They all pressed the power buttons on the action cams fixed to their shoulders.

The artificial gate, implemented to mimic a real gate, scattered dreamlike light. The color was the legally mandated light green. It was a color that seemed to claim 100% safety, full of the scent of spring.

“The 82nd Eastern Branch practical test begins as of now.”

The moment he entered beyond the artificial gate following the set order. Ryu Seo-ha could smell the humid scent of a jungle densely sprouted with thorny trees. He felt Choi Gang-hu approaching from the side.

But his gaze was fixed solely on one person, a man wearing glasses. Because he knew through the original work. The fact that he was a doppelganger, a monster of the highest alert level.