Jinwoo slumped against the grimy tunnel wall, heart hammering in his chest, breath fogging in the cold Seoul night air. The scent of smoke and blood clung to his clothes — but when he looked down, there was nothing. No wounds, no gore. Just a few scratches and his worn sneakers and dirt-stained jeans.
The system cleaned me up again, huh?
He let out a shaky laugh, scrubbing a hand through his sweat-damp hair.
> [ Level 9 ]
[ Stat Points Unassigned: 6 ]
"…I should probably assign those before someone kills me on the way home," Jinwoo muttered, eyes flicking nervously around the abandoned tunnel.
Outside, he could see the faint glow of the city — neon signs flickering, headlights crawling by, the hum of life rolling on, blissfully unaware that one skinny kid had just fought a monster chief underground.
His breath hitched as the memory flashed again — the savage swing of a club, the gleam of sharp goblin teeth.
Earlier, standing over the goblin's limp body, Jinwoo had clenched his fists, feeling a mix of adrenaline and disbelief. Tentatively, feeling more than a little ridiculous, he'd whispered:
"Uh… Shopkeeper's Instinct, activate."
Instantly, a bright blue window popped up.
[ Goblin Mana Stone — Market Value: 140,000 won ]
[ Extraction Point: Upper chest ]
"…Seriously?" Jinwoo had mumbled, glancing at the dead goblin. His face burned with embarrassment even though no one was around.
Then he checked the mutated boss goblin.
[ Mutated Goblin Mana Stone — Market Value: 580,000 won ]
His jaw had nearly hit the floor.
"That's insane..! I'm rich!!!" Jinwoo had practically squeaked, clutching the stone to his chest like a dragon hoarding gold.
---
Dragging himself through his apartment door, Jinwoo felt giddy and exhausted all at once. The tiny place was dark and cold, the air sharp with the smell of old instant ramen and laundry detergent. He dropped the pouch of mana stones onto the little kitchen table and leaned against the wall.
He looked down at himself — dirt, grime, sweat, and the faint memory of blood, even if the system had wiped the evidence away.
"…Ugh."
Dragging his feet to the cramped bathroom, he stripped off his clothes and flicked on the faucet. Steam quickly filled the tiny space, fogging the cracked mirror. Jinwoo stepped under the hot water, sighing as the heat hit his skin.
He scrubbed his arms, his chest, his face — as if he could wash away the tension, the fear, the image of claws lunging at him in the dark.
Why does it still feel like the smell of blood is on me…?
He closed his eyes, letting the water pour over his head. For a long moment, he just stood there, hands braced against the wall, the heat sinking deep into his sore muscles.
Finally, when his skin was pink and the tiny room felt like a sauna, he stepped out and toweled off. His futon looked like heaven. Jinwoo flopped onto it face-first, too tired to even pull the blanket over himself.
Tomorrow… I'll cash these in at the Association.
---
Next Morning
Jinwoo tugged on a fresh hoodie, carefully stuffing the mana stones into a pouch. His body ached — a faint, buzzing soreness like the aftershock of overused stamina — but he couldn't stop the small, excited grin tugging at his lips.
Stretching with a loud yawn, he pushed open his apartment door.
WHAM — sunlight slammed into his face like a slap.
"AGH!!" Jinwoo recoiled, flailing backward like a startled vampire. He squinted furiously, pulling his hoodie over his head like a shield. "Stupid… morning sun…"
Shuffling down the cracked apartment steps, he muttered curses under his breath.
The streets were already alive: traffic honking, people bustling, the savory smell of street food wafting through the air. Jinwoo weaved through the crowd, clutching the pouch tight against his chest. He caught glimpses of himself in shop windows — messy hair, dark circles under his eyes, walking like a guy who hadn't slept in a week.
"Man, I look like I crawled out of a sewer," he muttered, adjusting his hoodie.
After grabbing a convenience store coffee (which tasted suspiciously like cardboard and regret), he hopped onto the subway, tapping his foot impatiently as the stations ticked by. Every time someone brushed close, his heart pounded — What if they steal the pouch?! What if they know what's inside?!
Finally, he climbed the steps to the Hunter Association building.
There it was — sleek, gleaming glass, Association banners rippling above. Hunters came and went, their coats fluttering dramatically. Jinwoo's heart thumped faster, nerves crackling with jittery excitement.
He took a deep breath.
"Alright," he whispered. "Let's see just how much these are really worth."
Squaring his shoulders, Jinwoo pushed open the heavy glass doors and stepped inside.
---
The Association lobby buzzed with noise. People crowded the reception area — some arguing with staff, others slumped in chairs with the defeated look of gamblers who'd just lost big. A few were even openly sobbing.
Jinwoo blinked, startled.
"…Dang. Looks like someone failed their test," he muttered under his breath. Quickly smoothing his expression, he approached the reception desk, trying his best not to look suspicious.
At the counter stood a stunning receptionist — sleek black hair, sharp suit, perfect smile. But when her eyes flicked up and landed on Jinwoo, she visibly startled. Her professional mask cracked for just a second.
To be fair, Jinwoo did look like a dead hamster who'd been dragged through a ditch.
He winced inwardly as she nervously smoothed her papers and forced a polite tone.
"W-Welcome to the Hunter Association… what can I help you with today, sir?"
Jinwoo fumbled the pouch onto the counter, offering a sheepish, lopsided grin.
"Uh… I'd like to cash these in?"
The receptionist hesitated, eyeing him, then the pouch. Slowly, cautiously, she reached out and unknotted it — and froze when the glint of mana stones spilled into view.
Her eyes sharpened instantly.
"Please wait just a moment, sir," she said briskly, pressing a button under the counter.
Jinwoo swallowed hard.
Did… did I just trigger some kind of alarm?!
A tall man in a sleek suit appeared from the back, his ID badge gleaming: Association Manager.
"Sir," he said smoothly, "may I see the mana stones?"
Jinwoo hesitated but nodded.
"Sure… but, they're legit, I swear."
The man gave a slight laugh.
"They do look legit… but may I see your hunter card, please?"
Jinwoo froze. Hunter card?
"Uh… I don't have one."
The man stared at Jinwoo with a what do you mean look before quickly composing himself.
"Could you explain further, please?"
Jinwoo's mouth went dry. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Uh… well… I just… sorta… found them?"
The manager's polite smile stiffened.
"Found them?"
Jinwoo waved his hands frantically.
"Not like that! I mean, I—uh—I was inside a gate, by accident, and there was this boss, and… I-I killed it."
The receptionist let out a small gasp. The manager's eyes sharpened.
"You went into a gate without registration? Without a hunter license?"
Jinwoo winced.
"…Y-Yeah."
The man let out a slow exhale, crossing his arms. For a moment, Jinwoo thought he was about to get thrown out — or worse, arrested. But then the manager gave him a long, considering look.
"…And you're saying you killed the boss by yourself?"
Jinwoo fidgeted.
"I mean, technically, yeah. It was just one… big… ugly goblin."
The manager's lips twitched upward, just slightly.
"Sir, would you mind following me to the back for a brief check? We need to confirm a few things before we can process this."
Jinwoo's stomach knotted.
"Am I in trouble?"
The man gave a small, amused chuckle.
"No, no — nothing like that. In fact…" His eyes gleamed. "If you're telling the truth, you might've just fast-tracked yourself into the Hunter Association."
Jinwoo's eyes widened.
"W-Wait, really?!"
The receptionist gave him an encouraging smile, her earlier nervousness gone.
"Please, sir — right this way."
As Jinwoo followed them toward the elevator, heart thudding, a single thought pounded in his head:
Holy crap. Is this how it starts?!
At the same time, the manager was thinking,
Holy crap! This guy's insane. He killed an E-rank mutated boss alone?! He's got massive potential — I need to recruit him ASAP!
"So… Mr…"
"Jinwoo. Park Jinwoo."
The manager gave him a faintly amused look.
Jinwoo? Seriously? he thought. You sure it's not Sung?
"I see. Mr. Park."
"You can just call me Jinwoo."
"Sure… Mr. Jinwoo."
Soon, they reached the 38th floor of the absurdly long building. It was the "exclusive" hunter testing floor.
Jinwoo stared at the
"We have arrived. Oh, Sorry for late introduction. My name is Kang Doyun," the manager said smoothly, offering his hand. "I oversee new recruit assessments for the Seoul branch."
Jinwoo awkwardly shook it, his palm clammy with nerves.
"Uh, nice to meet you, Manager Kang…"
Doyun gave a tight smile. "Let's get you evaluated, shall we?"
They stepped into a sleek, polished room — glass walls, glowing blue rune panels, and a giant crystal embedded in the center. Jinwoo's jaw dropped.
"Whoa…"
There, stood a fish?-No, it was a man. A tall, skinny man with a dead expression more than jinwoo's.
"Hello. You must be Mr. important." The man said while scratching his head.
Jinwoo blinked.
"…Uh. Hi?"
The man let out a long sigh.
"I'm Baek Jisoo. Hunter appraiser." He lazily waved a scanner wand in his hand. "Don't get excited. This won't make you rich overnight."
Kang Doyun gave him a sharp look.
"Jisoo, behave."
Baek Jisoo shrugged.
"Fine, fine. Step over here, newbie."
Jinwoo shuffled forward nervously. His hands were clammy again — why was he sweating so much?
He stood before the crystal, heart thudding.
Baek lazily flicked the scanner wand.
"Place your hand on the crystal, just try to block the mana — and we'll see where you stand."
Jinwoo hesitated.
"…How do I block the mana?"
Baek groaned.
"First-timers… Just think about it, shitting."
Jinwoo was disgusted but closed his eyes, focusing.
He felt a faint warmth stir in his chest, entering through his fingers to his entire body.
The crystal flared. A screen appeared.
DING!
[ Awakening Complete ]
[ Class: Mage ]
[ Rank: D ]
[ Potential Rating: B? ]
Jinwoo's eyes snapped open.
"D-rank?!"
Baek Jisoo blinked, his lazy posture straightening slightly.
"…B-rank potential?"
Even Kang Doyun let out a low whistle.
"Well, well," Doyun murmured, smiling. "Did you already choose your class, Mr. Jinwoo?"
Jinwoo gawked lying with a pure heart.
"Ch-choose my class?! N-No, I didn't even know I was awakening!"
Baek gave a rare chuckle.
"Hah. Looks like the system decided for you. Mage class, huh? Not bad, rookie. With B-rank potential, you've got room to grow."
Jinwoo's head swam.
"…I'm… a mage?"
'Well Of course I am! Is my acting good enough?'
---
half hours of paperwork, photos, and basic orientation, Jinwoo staggered out of the evaluation room holding his brand-new hunter license card.
He stared at it like it was a winning lottery ticket.
[ Park Jinwoo | D-Rank Mage | Hunter ID #74392 ]
His fingers trembled slightly as he traced the embossed lettering.
I'm… really a hunter now.
Behind him, Kang Doyun was on the phone already.
"Yes, that's right — B-potential. Yes, registered as D-rank but definitely worth monitoring. No, he's not affiliated yet… no, no clan interest yet either."
Baek Jisoo gave Jinwoo a lazy salute.
"Congrats, rookie. Don't die on your first run."
Jinwoo offered a shaky smile.
"Y-Yeah… thanks…"
As he stepped out of the Hunter Association building into the blinding sunlight, the city felt somehow different — sharper, more vivid, like the whole world had tilted slightly.
He took a deep breath, feeling the card's cool plastic between his fingers.
…I am a mage, aren't I?' Jinwoo thought, still dazed.
But before his thoughts could settle, a sharp chime echoed in his ears.
DING!
> [ NEW QUEST: Special Side Route ]
"OR" Quest Available!
Option 1: Clear a D-Rank dungeon.
Reward: 2 bonus stat points, +1000 Exp.
Option 2: Track and defeat the rogue hunter Jang Hyunsoo (C-rank).
Reward: Rare Skill Upgrade Scroll, Rogue's Ring (Unique), +1 level, +10 bonus stat points, +2000 Exp.
Jinwoo's jaw dropped.
"Holy crap…" he whispered. A skill upgrade scroll? A unique ring?! Ten stat points?! That was absurd!
His heart pounded in his chest, excitement mixing with dread.
But… a C-rank rogue?
That wasn't just a step up — it was a whole flight of stairs.
Baek Jisoo, who had been following him raised an eyebrow. "You okay there, newbie? You look like you saw a ghost."
Jinwoo forced a shaky smile. "N-No, no, I'm fine! Just, uh… excited."
Inside, his thoughts were racing.
'Do I play it safe and start slow… or go for the jackpot and risk my neck right away?'
the bustling city of Seoul stretched wide — a playground of hunters, monsters, and now, rogue hunters.
"A hunter's hunter? That's kinda cool." jinwoo muttered looking at the sight of the crowd.