There were fewer than ten hunters in our country who were 'S-rank’.

And half of them belonged to the Glory Guild.

That’s probably why they were in charge of protecting key areas, including Seoul.

Moreover, though they were called 'S' rank, two members of the Glory Guild were referred to as beyond 'S' and 'unclassified' rank.

It means they were beyond human measurement.

Today, I came face to face with those two unclassified hunters.

Although I had no personal acquaintance with them, there was no way I wouldn’t know their names.

They were people you see almost daily through online articles, broadcasts, and YouTube.

The same went for the Vice Chairman of the Hunter Association standing beside them.

The Vice Chairman handled all kinds of briefings on behalf of the Association Chairman.

And there was a person who appeared to be a secretary, making a total of four people.

Right now, they were all giving me rather uncomfortable looks.

Especially the S-rank Knight, Gu Gyeon, who was glaring at me sharply, just like his spiky hair.

This is what it feels like to face a mountain.

Gu Gyeon's presence was no joke.

I knew he was large, but seeing him standing in front of me felt not like a hunter, but like a gigantic monster reaching the sky.

“What do you think you’re doing at the Hunter Association headquarters? You want to end up in jail?”

Ugh.

Just like when he roared earlier, it seemed there was some kind of aura in Gu Gyeon's voice.

If I just stood still, I would end up intimidated by that guy without even realizing it.

‘Damn it. Why me?’

I activated the Black Aether inside me to its fullest.

As much as I felt the overwhelming gap between me and Gu Gyeon, I wasn’t about to be crushed by someone's voice, that was not even a technique.

"Ah….."

But when I activated the Black Aether, Maria's expression turned strange.

I wondered if she also has the ability to sense the Aether.

Dragging this out any longer wouldn’t do me any good.

I turned my gaze toward Gu Gyeon.

"The security guard here was trying to restrain a civilian with force, so I stopped him. He claimed to be a member of the Hunter Association."

I deliberately emphasized that he was affiliated with the Hunter Association.

A scuffle between the Hunter Association and civilians.

If this causes a public commotion, they would be the ones who would have a headache.

"...Is that true?"

"If you don't believe me, check the CCTV footage."

Since he kept speaking informally, my speech naturally became informal too.

However, unlike the guy before, Gu Gyeon didn't even flinch at my light provocation.

"Vice Chairman. Sob, sob. This is so unjust."

The woman, recognizing the Vice Chairman, burst into tears and approached him.

A man who appeared to be his secretary stepped in to block her, but the Vice Chairman stopped him.

“It’s alright. Ma’am, please come with me over there.”

The Vice Chairman looked to be just over sixty.

A neatly trimmed beard covered his sharp lower jaw, and behind his round glasses were fine wrinkles etched deep into his skin. The kind-looking man gave a nod of acknowledgment to Gu Gyeon and Maria, then moved to a private room with the woman.

The man whose wrist I had twisted also left the scene with someone who seemed to be the Vice Chairman’s secretary.

Thank goodness at least the Vice Chairman was a decent human being.

If even he had cast the woman aside, I might have felt disgusted with the very profession of being a Hunter.

"Did you say you are a hunter candidate?"

Gu Gyeon gave the Vice Chairman a brief nod, then turned his head and asked me a question.

Shiver.

Hah.

How can someone exert this much pressure over my entire body with just their voice?

Good thing I activated the Black Aether.

If this had been before my Awakening, I might’ve passed out just from the conversation.

“…So?”

“You are dripping with immaturity. No manners whatsoever. Well, you're at that fiery age. But there have been plenty of Hunters like you who died young, relying solely on their youthful bravado. I hope you won't act so recklessly from now on.”

Gu Gyeon looked down at me and offered me words of advice.

The top of the Glory Guild, an S-rank hunter.

It’s obvious how someone like him would see a mere applicant like me.

A sudden surge of irritation welled up inside me.

His expression looked like he understood all the truths of the world, like he was indulging a foolish child just this once.

Bastard.

If you were going to show mercy, you should’ve done it from the start.

“Shouldn’t you have gone in with the Vice Chairman too?”

"...What are you talking about?"

"That lady. She's a resident of Gaebong Neighborhood."

"!!!!"

"Isn't that under your jurisdiction?"

To be exact, I meant the area you abandoned.

The tiniest shred of reason barely stopped me from saying that last part.

Gu Gyeon looked down at me once again.

Yeah.

That look in his eyes.

That gaze, that mix of contempt and pity, has been throwing me off since earlier.

Those eyes made me want to snap.

“Looks like we’re going to need a little chat.”

Gu Gyeon parted his thick lips and gave a solid, reassuring smile.

On the other hand, I almost took a step back.

An unyielding, endless surge of Ather was spreading from his entire body.

As expected.

Gaebang Neighborhood was definitely a sore spot for him.

"Chairman Gu."

Just as I was hesitating whether to use Poison Steps and escape, a silky, gentle voice spoke up.

Maria, standing beside Gu Gyeon, held him back.

“You’re trying to advise him, right? And maybe cheer on a candidate who’s just about to become a Hunter.”

Her voice was gentle, but beneath it, I felt a chilling coldness that sent shivers down my spine.

There was something strangely familiar about it.

It was exactly the same feeling I got when my older sister scolded me with a smile on her face.

The effect was undeniable.

The Aether that had been seeping from Gu Gyeon vanished as if washed away.

“Right. That was the plan.”

Maria smiled brightly and looked my way.

“You should stop now. If this commotion escalates and you end up on the Association’s blacklist, your candidacy could be revoked.”

"I know."

I knew it well.

I knew my abilities were still insignificant compared to theirs.

I knew I had to keep my head down until I passed the Hunter test.

I knew I couldn't hold the Glory Guild accountable for anything right now.

I wasn't an idiot, so I knew it well enough.

“I’m also a resident of Gaebang Neighborhood.”

"......!!"

A crease formed between Gu Gyeon's brows, and Maria's pupils trembled.

“How can we just stand by when a neighborhood resident loses their child and is unjustly driven out? I’m also someone who almost died a miserable death beneath the gate myself.”

“What happened in the Gaebang Neighborhood… we also feel deeply sorry about it…..”

Maria’s voice trembled lightly.

Not just her expression, but even her pale lips were shaking.

Anyone watching might think the greatest saint of our time was being persecuted.

“.....Enough.”

I had no intention of accepting their hollow apology.

Unless there was genuine remorse, which judging by Gu Gyeon’s expression, wouldn’t happen in this lifetime.

They didn't even try to protect Gaebang Neighborhood.

Now they were pretending to feel sorry.

It was enough to dilute the image of the saint I had left in my mind.

“Um...!”

I started to turn and walk away, but Maria called out to stop me.

"You said you were taking the test. What type are you?"

What good would it do to know?

Ah, now that I think about it, I did activate Black Aether in front of her.

It’d be pointless to lie now, so I blurted out curtly and went on my way.

“Healer.”

* * *

Even after quite some time had passed, the heavy feeling refused to budge.

Especially Maria’s pupils trembling like a pendulum, that image was etched deeply in my mind.

Was it because, being a guy, I was awestruck by a pretty woman?

Not at all.

In terms of looks, my sister and Maria aren’t much different.

But since my Awakening, my heightened senses have been dragging my mood straight down to the floor.

What the hell is this?

What am I missing from those Glory Guild guys?

“Enough with the worrying.”

I couldn't waste my energy uselessly now that I’ve come this far.

After an hour and a half on the terminal bus.

I stood in front of Gyeongho Station subway in Daejeon.

This was the largest black market in the country, as Kiril and Dr. Jin had told me.

Rustle.

I pulled a plastic bag from my coat pocket, and Brie let out a delighted ‘Kkuwang!’ sound.

Inside the bag was Eternal Cuprum Bloom, the rare herb this little guy sniffed every single day.

“You little... I'm about to sell this, so sniff it all you want while you still can.”

— Kkrrr...

It was truly a remarkable plant.

I hadn’t given it water or nutrients, yet its radiant glow hadn’t faded in two days.

According to Dr. Jin, it wouldn’t lose its glow until the healing compounds inside were fully extracted.

Sure enough, the Eternal Cuprum Bloom was glowing brilliantly even inside the black plastic bag.

“Huuup.”

I took a deep breath and stepped into Exit 1 of Gyeongho Station.

If it weren’t for the people moving in and out, the inside was so pitch-dark that you wouldn’t even know a passage existed.

The entrance here was protected by a unique barrier, unless you had a certain level of Ether in your body, you couldn’t even step inside.

In other words, if you weren’t a Hunter or an unregistered Awakened, you couldn’t even catch a glimpse of the place.

Ziiing.

Passing through the entrance made me feel almost like I was being stripped bare, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle.

And the moment I stepped into the black market, I felt like I became a country boy exploring Seoul for the first time.

"Wow…..."

Who could possibly call this place a black market?

Unlike the narrow, dim entrance, a brightly lit, expansive space stretched out before me.

I had expected long, cramped shops lined along subway tracks, but reality couldn’t have been more different.

— Kkuwang.

Brie, now turned invisible, hit me with a sharp jab.

As if scolding me for looking like a clueless rookie.

Ahem.

Right, I couldn't be walking around the black market looking like an easy target.

The item in my hand was no ordinary thing, after all.

It may be my first time making a deal, but I would have to get at least several times the first price they offer.

“Wow…..”

Is this really an illegally run market?

No, at this scale, it’s more accurate to say the government was turning a blind eye to it.

All around me, rare items and even monsters (!) were on display.

Some were taxidermied, while others, small species, were caged and growling from behind bars.

I couldn't help but wonder why anyone would spend money on creatures like these.

I understand human psychology, but it was hard to fathom.

As I moved closer to the center of the black market, I started seeing shops specializing in Hunter-grade devices.

Driven by curiosity, I stepped into one of the device stores.

The shop owner glanced at me briefly, adjusted his glasses, then quickly turned away.

He must have noticed my blotches, adjusted his glasses, saw my shabby (….) attire, and lost interest.

Whether he cared or not, I slowly browsed the devices displayed in the store.

Knuckles, daggers, shields, firearms, even heavy weaponry.

There was an overwhelming variety, but one thing was clear:

Compared to the device Dr. Jin gave me, the quality here was subpar.

Especially to the V1, which attached itself directly to the cornea and displayed information, these goggle-type devices looked incredibly crude.

I wondered where Dr. Jin moved his base to.

Was he still killing intruders indiscriminately with poison gas over there?

I also wondered if the canned goods selection had improved.

After circling the store once, I gave the shop owner a slight nod, but he didn’t even glance at me this time.

“Wow…..”

For a while, I was completely absorbed in exploring the black market.

Surprisingly, this place was safe enough you could walk around without much worry.

Why?

Because the abilities of Awakened ones can’t be judged by appearance alone.

A ‘C-rank’ Knight wearing size 44 can be a hundred times stronger than an ‘E-rank’ Knight knight weighing over 100kg.

Because you can’t gauge the opponent’s abilities, no one moves recklessly.

And that uncertainty worked to my great advantage.

On the surface, I looked scrawny and weak, wandering alone without any companions, which somehow gave off an impression of being someone extraordinary.

Just being inside here meant I was an Awakened at least.

Plus, I had that terrifying (……) birthmark covering half my face.

Just as I didn’t know the black market well, neither did they know me.

Exploiting the gaps created by mutual lack of information, I strolled through the black market with ease.

Of course, I didn’t come up with this whole strategy on my own.

It was possible because Dr. Jin had shared with me the moves Kiril had made.

“Huh…”

The problem was what came next.

There wasn’t a single shop selling rare herbs in this entire black market.

There were places selling herbs and food for humans here and there, but not a single sign of anyone selling Aurum Bloom, let alone the lesser Cuprum Bloom I had.

Should I venture further inside and ask around?

But if a novice like me suddenly said, "I'm here to sell Eternal Cuprum Bloom," it would be like sticking my head into a shark’s mouth.

If I at least knew the market price, I might try to haggle.

Three hours after entering and wandering through the black market.

I came to the conclusion that there was no ordinary way to sell my goods here.

As I reached the far end in one direction, the lights dimmed, and I could hardly see anyone passing by.

Should I try the other end too?

“Ugh…”

— Grrrr…

As if responding to my groan, Brie let out a cry.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling as lost as I am?”

— Grrrr.

"?"

No.

Sometimes it did feel like it understood my thoughts, but this time was different.

It was growling at ‘something’.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, it broke its invisibility.

“What’s wrong? Why are you acting like that?”

Brie's eyes quickly scanned left and right, then it suddenly leapt up.

— Kyaong.

“Hey, stay still….”

“Kyaaah!”

‘Kyaaah’?!

There was no one else here.

Did Brie finally learn to speak human?

“G-go away!”

Nope.

I thought this alley was completely empty, but there was someone here after all.

Brie leapt up because an unwelcome visitor was approaching us using stealth, just like it.

Crack!

“Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch!”

Brie was biting someone’s nape.

A girl with red hair and a long scar near her lips.

I once told Brie to bite anyone suspicious without hesitation.

But I never thought it would actually do that.