Chapter 12: The Fallout of a “Failure”

The day after his first raid, Se-hyeon officially filed a formal complaint with the Association, following the advice of the Awakened Management Department. His grievances were twofold:

1. He had been officially classified as “Incapable of Awakening,” yet he had awakened.
2. He had emerged as a D-rank upon his first awakening. Had he been properly diagnosed, he could have entered the Academy and received extensive institutional support. Instead, he had lived in hardship without a single cent of aid.

Meanwhile, in the office of the President of the Korea Awakened Association.

President Choi Ji-hoon was holding a private meeting with Min Jeong-su, the head of the Talent Development Department.

“So,” the President began, “how is that prospect you’ve been keeping an eye on from this year’s graduating class?”

Min Jeong-su smiled confidently. “Her name is Jang Se-hee. Among the current B-rank students, she has the highest statistical probability of reaching S-rank. Furthermore, her class is a Tanker.”

President Choi’s eyes sharpened. “A Tanker? As far as I know, South Korea doesn’t have a single S-rank Tanker. If she hits S-rank during her third-stage growth, she’ll be the first in the nation.”

In the world of hunters, Japan held two S-rank Tankers, and China boasted eight. South Korea had none. A Tanker was the iron wall that allowed other classes to attack without fear; if the wall crumbled, the entire raid party perished. Being the only power among the “Big Three” in Asia without an S-rank Tanker was a constant blow to South Korea’s national pride.

“Yes,” Min continued. “Her stamina stats are exceptionally high even compared to other B-ranks. My department plans to take her under ‘Special Management’ to ensure she has everything she needs to reach S-rank after graduation.”

President Choi tilted his head. “Special Management? Isn’t that usually handled by the Awakened Management Department once they become active adults?”

“Haha, normally yes. But I’ve heard the Management Department is currently overwhelmed by the sheer number of hunters. There are rumors that even their ‘Special’ targets are dissatisfied with the lack of attention.”

Min Jeong-su was subtly undermining the other department to consolidate his own power. By holding onto Se-hee, he was holding onto the future of the nation’s defense.

“Is that so? Dissatisfaction among the elite?” Choi frowned. “I might have to call Manager Kim for a talk. Why is he making things so complicated?”

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

“President, it’s Kim Seong-ho from the Management Department. May I come in?”

Manager Kim entered the room, looking composed.

“Ah, Manager Kim,” the President said. “We were just discussing you. I hear there are complaints among your special management targets?”

Kim Seong-ho looked genuinely puzzled. “Complaints? That’s impossible. Every single one of our targets has expressed high satisfaction.”

Min Jeong-su scoffed. “Manager Kim, you can’t cover the sky with your palm. Rumors are already leaking out. Do you think denying it makes the problem disappear?”

Kim Seong-ho finally realized what was happening. Min was whispering poison into the President’s ear. He smirked.

“Look at you, Manager Min. You should focus on your own job. You’ve caused a massive blunder and yet you’re here wagging your tongue?”

“A blunder? My department is doing perfectly fine, unlike yours,” Min shot back.

“Is that so?” Kim Seong-ho handed a file to the President. “President, please look at this.”

Choi Ji-hoon took the file curiously. “What is this?”

“A record of a citizen who registered yesterday through the ‘General Awakened’ path.”

The President’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as he scanned the data. “General registration? Wait… what is this?!”

“Correct. He achieved D-rank on his very first awakening. His core stat, Mana, is 180—nearly the theoretical maximum for a first-timer.”

“D-rank on the first awakening? That implies an S-rank potential! Why did a man like this register as a ‘General’ instead of through the Academy?”

Kim Seong-ho sighed heavily. “We wondered the same thing. It turns out… he was given an ‘Incapable of Awakening’ verdict during his potential evaluation.”

Min Jeong-su practically snatched the file from the President’s hands. “What? That’s impossible!”

Kim Seong-ho’s smile turned predatory. “Impossible? I’ve double-checked the records. You gave a man with S-rank potential a ‘Failure’ grade and sent him home. And you claim your department is doing a ‘good job’? Even a passing dog would laugh at that.”

Min’s hands began to tremble as he read the report. Kim continued, addressing the President.

“Hunter Jang Se-hyeon has filed a formal complaint. He should have been at the Academy with full support. Instead, he lived in poverty, struggling to survive because of your department’s error.”

The President’s expression darkened. This wasn’t just a mistake; it was a crisis. Recently, Japan had lost an “Irregular” hunter to the United States because they neglected their general registrants. Choi had explicitly ordered his departments to prevent a similar incident in Korea.

“Now, wait!” Min shouted, desperate to pivot. “D-rank is a great start, sure, but the odds of him actually reaching S-rank in the third stage are minuscule! What country would risk a diplomatic rift with Korea to scout a mere Mage? This isn’t like the Japanese case at all!”

“I thought you’d say that,” Kim Seong-ho said, opening a tablet. “Watch his test video.”

He placed the tablet on the table. The President and Min watched as a black orb curved mid-air, chasing a target with sentient precision.

“It… it changed direction? He’s controlling the spell manually?”

“It’s a spell called Shadow Orb,” Kim explained. “It’s significantly stronger than standard magic. It one-shots Kobolds and Goblins, and it deals over 90% damage to an Orc in a single hit. Combined with that level of control, he isn’t just a ‘mere’ Mage.”

“B-but still!” Min stammered. “He’s just a dealer! There’s no reason to think he’d leave the country!”

Kim Seong-ho reached for his final card. “Actually, while his own ability is enough to tempt any nation, the real issue is who he’ll take with him if he leaves.”

“Who?” the President asked.

“The B-rank Tanker you were just praising, Manager Min. Jang Se-hee. She is Jang Se-hyeon’s younger sister. They are incredibly close. If the brother feels betrayed by his country and leaves, the sister—the future of our national defense—will go with him as a package deal.”

Min Jeong-su went pale. “The… Se-hee is his sister?”

He knew Se-hee was an orphan who worshipped her older brother. He just never imagined that the “normal” brother she mentioned was a high-potential Awakened.

While the room sat in stunned silence, another knock came. It was Assistant Manager Choi from the Management Department, looking breathless. He whispered something into Kim Seong-ho’s ear.

Kim’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. “What? Is that true?!”

“What now?” the President asked, his nerves frayed.

“Jang Se-hyeon… he entered an F-rank dungeon, the Kobold Nest, yesterday morning.”

“So? That’s normal for a new hunter,” the President muttered.

“Sir… an Elite Kobold appeared, triggering a dungeon wave. And Hunter Jang Se-hyeon… he crushed the wave single-handedly.”

The room went cold. Stopping a wave alone was considered impossible for a lone D-rank, even in an F-rank dungeon.

“That’s preposterous!” Min yelled.

Kim Seong-ho quickly tapped his tablet. “Video of the incident is already trending on social media. Look at this.”