Chapter 6: Re-assessment

“So, you’re saying a plant enthusiast with powers even you couldn’t handle abandoned this monster at your house?”

“I never said I couldn’t handle him.”

“If your skill was neutralized, that’s the same as saying you couldn’t handle him.”

“…”

“Fine, fine. You couldn’t go all out on a kid. I don’t know what kind of shady intentions this monster-dumping kid has, though.”

“Don’t call him a monster. His name is Ppru.”

Jin Seongha poked the round monster with its long tail.

Ppruuru…!

Ppru, trembling with fear, flinched and tucked its head inside, making it concave.

“Ppru.”

As Jin Seongha called its name and stroked it, Ppru cautiously raised its head. Realizing the hand belonged to Jin Seongha, not a stranger, Ppru eagerly burrowed into his palm. Jin Seongha’s large hand enveloped the monster, and its trembling gradually subsided.

His gaze toward Ppru was soft and warm.

“You already named it? You’re not seriously planning to keep it, are you?”

“I am.”

“Hey… get a grip. No matter how popular you are as an S-rank Hunter, keeping a monster will tank your reputation.”

“I don’t care what people think. It was abandoned at my house, so I’ll take responsibility.”

“Ugh. You’re so rational until animals are involved, then your brain does a complete one-eighty.”

Choi Jungho sighed and adjusted his glasses.

Despite his imposing name, he had a gaunt face and a lanky frame. He’d known Jin Seongha since childhood.

When he opened an animal hospital in the neighborhood, Jin Seongha was his most frequent visitor. Their bond began the rainy day a ridiculously handsome young man burst in, cradling an injured cat.

“Considering they left it at your house, this plant enthusiast must know your personality well.”

“They even knew about my school days. They did their homework.”

“Then we need to do some digging on our end.”

“I’ve left it to Horizon. They’re definitely connected to that guild.”

“Fine, let’s say that’s handled. But I’m against keeping a monster.”

“…”

“Don’t glare at me like that. It could carry viruses or toxins. It might grow to the size of an elephant. We don’t know its diet. What if it needs to eat an elephant per meal? Or worse, a human? You’re not planning to keep a man-eating monster with your pets, are you?”

“I came here to find that out, so stop yapping and diagnose it.”

Jin Seongha held Ppru up to Choi Jungho’s face. Its round black eyes rolled nervously. Though scared, it seemed reassured by Jin Seongha’s protective hands and started licking his fingers again. Its squishy cheeks—or body?—felt like mochi.

“It’s honestly adorable. Alright, if Jin Seongha wants it, who am I to argue?”

Choi Jungho mimed zipping his lips and adjusted his glasses.

His eyes glowed gray.

Originally a veterinarian, he awakened last year as a B-rank support-class Tamer, gaining a skill to view monsters’ profiles.

Monster Diagnosis.

A stethoscope appeared in front of Ppru, sized appropriately for the tiny monster.

Ppruung?

When Ppru’s tail tapped one end of the stethoscope, a small blue window popped up.

[Incon, F-rank, 5 days old.

Omnivorous, reproduces asexually. No particularly threatening abilities, but as an adult, it can fly beyond the atmosphere.

Mainly eats plants and insects but can consume meat occasionally.

Adult size: body diameter 12–15 cm, tail length 20–30 cm, weight 100–150 g.]

As Choi Jungho relayed the results, Jin Seongha’s sharp gaze softened slightly.

“No need to worry about food, then.”

“Not a man-eater, thankfully. But people won’t react kindly, so keep that in mind.”

His business done, Jin Seongha ignored Choi Jungho’s advice and stood up. Choi Jungho hurried after him.

“Tell Horizon Guild soon. Let them know you’re keeping a monster.”

“What does my personal life have to do with the guild?”

“Whether you meant to or not, you’ve chosen a guild. Something this big should be reported to them. You’re not a lone wolf anymore.”

“That’s an annoying way to put it.”

Jin Seongha scowled.

Ppruu…?

“It’s not about you, Ppru. Just stay in the bag for a bit.”

Ppruung.

Ugh. Choi Jungho fake-gagged behind him.

Jin Seongha, back to his cold tone, said:

“I’m not fully with Horizon yet. I haven’t signed the final line.”

“Playing hard to get? Why?”

“None of your business.”

“I think Horizon’s great. The guildmaster’s got a good rep. Even before awakening, his small business was in the news for tackling climate issues.”

“Then why haven’t you joined?”

“I got offers, but I’m still weighing my options.”

Jin Seongha clicked his tongue and opened the door lock. A musty smell hit them. The apartment hallway was lined with strawberry crates, chestnut boxes, and pots with dead plants.

Despite being sought after by guilds for his monster-taming skills, Choi Jungho turned down all offers and still lived in a rundown apartment.

Woof woof!

As they walked toward the elevator, a dog’s bark echoed. Choi Jungho smiled.

“Lots of people keep dogs in this building. One barks, and they all join in.”

“Five-year-old Maltese, twelve-year-old Pomeranian. Must be cute.”

“You can tell their age just from the barks…?”

“Usually, yeah.”

“By whose standards…?”

The elevator arrived, and Jin Seongha stepped in. Choi Jungho waved, but Jin Seongha ignored him and hit the close button. No need to wave back to a thirty-year-old man who’s not a dog.

In the apartment parking lot, he saw a Shih Tzu walking with two humans. Feeling cheerful, he was about to get into his car when—

“Hunter Jin Seongha!”

“It’s Jin Seongha, right?”

Two kids on kick scooters zoomed toward him. Jin Seongha waited until they got close, then said sternly:

“It’s dangerous to ride scooters in a parking lot. Get off.”

“Yes… Sorry.”

“We were in a hurry. We need your autograph, a picture, and, and—”

“…”

“Some older kid told us to give this to you.”

Jin Seongha took the note the kids handed him.

[You’ll meet me eventually. Just sign it.]

“Hah.”

Playing me like a fiddle.

The neat note was crumpled mercilessly.

A few days after the breaking news of Jin Seongha joining Horizon Guild, Ion stood in the plaza in front of the Sejong Hunter Agency, looking up at the fifteen-story building. Opaque glass windows, obscuring the interior, were framed by traditional Korean patterns.

‘It’s nicer than the novel described.’

The Hunter Association built a flashy 150-story skyscraper in Gangnam, packed with skills and items.

In contrast, the government’s Hunter Agency in Sejong was a modest fifteen stories, often described as shabby in the novel.

[(Photos)

Adra, look… In order: USA, Switzerland, Australia, Indonesia, and our country’s Hunter Agency. Ours is the shortest ㅠㅠ

Does Korea not have money? Weren’t we the strongest post-cataclysm? Why only 15 floors? ㅠ]

A common post on community boards.

But considering the Hunter Association was practically a government entity, there was no need for such whining.

It was fifteen stories above ground but ten stories below, too.

‘If the government agency was lavish, they’d complain about that instead.’

Ion entered the building.

The exterior was crowded with citizens, and the interior was no different, mostly Hunters here for re-assessment.

In Korea, all awakened individuals, whether active Hunters or not, had to undergo rank assessment.

Ion, registered early, had been bombarded with re-assessment messages.

[You are subject to re-assessment.

Failure to comply by the deadline will result in loss of mercenary corps qualifications.

Link: sejong.huntercheong.co.kr]

He’d planned to delay as long as possible, but circumstances forced him to come early.

With his immediate quest shifting from ‘collecting demon realm entry materials’ to ‘conquering the Naju Moniti Dungeon,’ he had no choice.

Entering the lobby, he saw citizens peeking past barricades into restricted areas.

The Hunter Agency was only partially open to the public, housing a monster enclosure and Hunter training grounds underground.

This safety measure only fueled public curiosity. Despite the guards’ stern glares, people couldn’t hide their intrigue.

A kid, looking about elementary school age, was squeezing between a barricade and a large Kentia palm pot.

‘Oh, that’s gonna…’

The moment Ion thought the pot would tip, the Kentia palm wobbled.

“Eek! Mom!”

Just before the massive pot fell on the kid, Ion rushed over and caught it.

“Waaah!”

The startled kid crawled out. Ion carefully set the pot back in place.

“Waaah! Yul almost died! Waaah!”

The kid’s crying didn’t faze him.

‘Poor Kentia palm, you must’ve been startled. It’s tough being in such a crowded place.’

Ion gently comforted the plant and turned away.

The kid, still teary-eyed, wasn’t his concern.

He signaled a nearby guard, scanned his Hunter ID, and entered.

The kid, as if he’d never cried, shouted in awe:

“Big brother, you’re a Hunter? Yul wants to go in too!”

The kid grabbed Ion’s clothes.

Kids’ moods sure change fast. Ion swallowed a sigh.

“Big brother, pick Yul up! Take Yul inside!”

“Only awakened people can go in.”

“How do you awaken?”

“No one knows yet. Smart scientists are researching it, so just wait.”

“What if no one figures it out by the time Yul grows up?”

“Then Yul can figure it out.”

Ion answered absently while scanning the area, worried the kid might damage the Kentia palm’s leaves again.

The burly guard Ion had called approached, effortlessly picking up the kid named Yul.

“Little guy, don’t bother the Hunter.”

“I wanna go in too!”

“Hunter, I’ll take care of the kid. Go ahead.”

“Let me go! I’m going in!”

“Thanks.”

Ion left the kid with the guard and entered the restricted area.

The kid’s cries of “Big brother, big brother!” echoed behind, but he ignored them. Bystanders cooed and comforted the child.

Many non-awakened envied the awakened, but no one yet knew the exact conditions for awakening.

Only that intense, passionate emotions increased the likelihood.

Nine years from now, a monster ecologist would figure it out, but the novel didn’t explicitly reveal it to readers, leaving it to interpretation.

Come to think of it, that ecologist was Korean—the youngest scholar to make a name for himself. His name was…

‘No way.’

Ion shook off the thought and approached the reception desk.

“Hello.”

The staff member frowned suspiciously at Ion’s youthful face, likely wondering if a civilian had snuck into the restricted area.

It wasn’t the first time.

Ion quickly pulled out his Hunter ID.

“Hello. I’m here for re-assessment. Here’s my ID.”

“Ion, leader of the Ion Mercenary Corps… This is you?”

“That’s me.”

“One moment.”

The staff’s eyes darted between the screen, the ID photo, and Ion’s face.

“Confirmed. Your number is 104. Expect a wait of two to four hours. Come to the 11th-floor assessment room when you get the text.”

“Thank you.”

It was 10 a.m., and already over a hundred people were ahead.

‘Korea’s got a lot of Hunters.’

Ion considered going to a nearby park but decided on the building’s café-library instead. Places like that usually had plants.

Maybe because he’d left Sanse in the car, he was drawn to plants like a butterfly to flowers or a fish to water.

The library wasn’t as big as he’d expected. More people were chatting over coffee than reading. Hunters, officials, or both, probably.

Ion sat on a cypress bench next to a large Alocasia pot in the outdoor area. A warm spring breeze ruffled his hair and the Alocasia’s broad leaves.

“Man, the sky’s nice today.”

“Yeah. Not a cloud in sight. Perfect blue.”

People behind him chatted idly.

Ion glanced up at the sky but froze, his expression hardening.

‘Am I crazy? Looking at the sky when I’ve got no time to waste?’

Chiding himself for even a moment’s laziness, he pulled out his tablet to search for dungeons to tackle after the assessment.

To find the Demon King, he needed to collect materials to break the dungeon barriers and enter the demon realm.

For now, hitting every dungeon possible was the plan. No time to leisurely gaze at the sky.

“By the way, heard the news? Jin Seongha joined Horizon.”

“Yeah, kinda surprising. Horizon’s not bad, but it’s not on his level. Our guildmaster’s regretting not making a move.”

“Mine too. Honestly, though, it’s a relief it wasn’t D-NATE.”

“…Ahem.”

“What? Why the cough? You live for bashing D-NATE.”

“Keep it down.”

The person behind lowered their voice and glanced around.

“I heard Ason from D-NATE is coming for re-assessment today. You know their temper. Quiet down.”

…What?