Chapter 5: Um, would you like to eat a Parfait?

"I registered as a Hunter, but I am not an Awakened."

Originally, Awakened beings, starting with Hunters, gain physical abilities different from ordinary people.

It’s not always intuitive things like becoming stronger or faster. Awakening often changes the body in unseen ways, like heightened senses or enhanced recovery.

The higher the rank, the more drastic these changes are.

Naturally, as someone rated S-Class, I shouldn't have had symptoms like skin irritation or redness.

That would be the common sense of this world.

"What? What does that mean..."

I nodded at Kang Tae-woo’s dumbfounded question. I couldn't blame him for being surprised. In his memory, I probably remained as an incredibly strong person.

"No, if you aren't an Awakened, how..."

"Back then, the relevant laws were incomplete, and they needed to manage me because my ability was too strong."

I quietly recited the memories of when I registered as a Hunter. Come to think of it, my registration was somewhat related to this guy, too.

'There was a girl... who blocked the demonic beasts all by herself.'

It wasn't exactly his fault.

However, the Association must have been puzzled. It wasn't a situation where a B-Class Hunter, who had lost almost all his guild members in a dangerous situation right before a Gate Break, could survive alone.

"Wait, you said you have no mana. Then how did you survive inside the dungeon..."

"Let's stop there, shall we? Anyway, two dungeons in a day is impossible for her. So, I'm taking her home."

While I was briefly recalling the past, Kang Tae-woo seemed to have recovered slightly from the shock of my "no mana" statement and started asking questions.

But Jin-wook cut in between us and dragged me away from the Gate.

Still holding my hand.

"Can't you let go of my hand now?"

"..."

"Or do you just like me that much?"

"Hearing you spout nonsense, you must be back to your senses."

When I cracked a joke, Jin-wook sighed and finally let go of my hand.

I briefly considered going back to the dungeon.

But the dungeon I cleared earlier was a high-tier dungeon, practically B-Class despite being labeled C-Class. Furthermore, I hadn't cleared it by using the ambient mana like other parties; I smashed it purely with my own strength. Clearing a second Gate might actually be a bit tough.

"You came back even giving up on your lecture because you were worried about me, right?"

"The lecture was suspended due to the evacuation order anyway."

"Still. I might have high physical resistance (via telekinesis), but you don't. Don't come to dangerous places like this next time. If you're really worried, just call."

Jin-wook probably did it because he was worried I’d end up bedridden again.

Ideally, my ability is strong, but my fundamental existence is different from what people call "Hunters."

"Got it."

"Hehe, as expected, I only have my Jin-wook."

"Don't cling to me. It's annoying."

Fortunately, that dungeon turned out to be the type that low-ranking Hunters could gather to handle.

Thanks to that, the evacuation order issued to the school was lifted, and people quickly returned to their daily lives. And I was able to continue enjoying my NEET life at home without having to step up.

"Yaaawn."

After coming home unintentionally early...

I played some games, slept like a log, and woke up refreshingly the next morning. After washing up and coming out, I saw Jin-wook walking out of his room.

"Oh, morning Jin-wook. Slept well?"

"Uh... yeah... huh?"

I was drinking a glass of water. Feeling a cold drip near my mouth, I looked down to wipe it... and saw my naked body, wearing nothing but panties.

"I told you to dress properly even at home."

"Hehe, sorry."

"Seriously, having no caution like that... what are we going to do with you?"

I scratched the back of my head at Jin-wook's grumbling.

It’s not like he’s seen it only once or twice; why does he nag every time?

I finished the water, hurriedly went into my room, threw on a random t-shirt hanging there, and came back out.

"By the way, no classes today?"

"Yeah."

"Not skipping on your own?"

"Nope. Unlike someone, my Thursdays are empty."

"Yeah, keep that up and you'll be shitting blood during senior year."

Even though he talks like that, Jin-wook is probably super jealous inside. After all, the person in front of him is planning to skip school and play all day today.

"Well. Does it matter if I don't graduate?"

"Damn it."

"Envious? I know you're envious."

Saying that, I straightened the folded collar at the back of Jin-wook's shirt.

Jin-wook sighed quietly and said, "To think the day would come when I get my outfit fixed by this idiot," as he adjusted his collar.

"Anyway, I'm going to school."

"Have a good trip."

After waving Jin-wook off, I went into my room and sat in front of the computer.

Just as I was about to start gaming...

"Hmm?"

While answering monotonously to Choco (game friend) who was asking me various things... just as I was getting bored and resting my chin on my hand, the doorbell rang.

If it were Jin-wook, he would have just punched in the code. Wondering who it was, I checked the intercom and saw an unexpected figure.

"Hello."

[ Ah, Hunter-nim. Thankfully, you're home! ]

Through the screen, I saw relief in Yu Ha-young's eyes.

Usually, she solves most things over the phone. What brings her all the way to my house today?

"Hunter-nim, it's me!"

I sighed softly, threw on the sweatpants I had tossed aside earlier, and opened the door as her voice rang out again.

Ha-young greeted me with a strangely welcoming expression. "Hello, Hunter-nim!"

"Ah, yes, hello."

"Then, excuse me for coming in!"

Not exactly a welcome guest.

But a guest nonetheless. I couldn't serve her nothing, so not knowing if she preferred coffee or juice, I brought out a cup of each.

"Thank you."

"But what brings you all the way to my house?"

"Um, I felt like I should see your face after a long time, and I thought you'd be home, so I came straight here."

"You should have contacted me beforehand."

"Then you wouldn't have met me."

It seemed her taste was sweet coffee.

When she took a sip of the black Americano I usually drink, her expression twisted subtly for a moment. But we only have black coffee at home.

"Do you need syrup?"

"Yes."

"I expected you to say no out of courtesy, but you have firm tastes, Manager-nim."

"We've seen all sides of each other, why pretend?"

She watched in fascination as the cupboard in the empty kitchen opened on its own, and a bottle of café syrup floated through the air toward her.

"Wow, it's amazing every time I see you use telekinesis, Hunter-nim."

"Why?"

"Other telekinetics can't control it that delicately."

Well, that's because my foundation is different from theirs. Unlike those who implement abilities similar to telekinesis through mana, my foundation is pure telekinesis itself.

"You know why."

"Ehehe."

"So, you didn't come all this way just to chat. What's going on?"

I tilted my head and asked.

When Yu Ha-young comes to find me directly like this, it means something happened. Most solvable things usually get solved, yet there's still something left that requires a visit?

"A civil complaint was filed."

"A complaint?"

"Asking how someone who isn't even an Awakened got registered as a Hunter."

I let out a small sigh, feeling like I knew who filed that complaint.

The only people who knew that fact were Jin-wook, and as of yesterday, Kang Tae-woo.

"Under current law, the definition of a Hunter is 'an Awakened who possesses the qualifications to clear a Gate,' right?"

"That is correct."

"But when I registered, the criteria were different. It was 'a person who can enter a Gate and clear the dungeon inside.'"

The flow of time. And the gap in standards that occurred within it.

The complaint Ha-young was agonizing over poked exactly at my existence—someone who couldn't be registered as a Hunter if applied today.

Of course, that doesn't mean my Hunter license will be revoked. Laws have a principle of non-retroactivity, and I registered before the revision.

"The criteria changed because people dreaming of getting rich quick barely met the minimum requirements, entered Gates, and had their bodies oxidized by mana, right?"

"Probably?"

"Then that doesn't apply to me. I'm someone who entered an S-Class Gate and survived."

Although I did lie down for almost a week to recover after clearing that S-Class Gate once.

If atmospheric mana exceeds a certain concentration, it acts like a radioactive poison to a normal human body without mana resistance, literally melting them down.

Of course, Awakened who gain mana sensitivity can exist comfortably regardless of concentration once they awaken.

The problem is, I am not an Awakened.

Therefore, I am vulnerable to the mana inside dungeon Gates. However, the power of telekinesis resides in every corner of my body, drastically reinforcing my durability. I'm basically enduring it with that.

"Even so, it's not like there's zero damage to your body, Hunter-nim."

"Well, it couldn't be helped. Back then, they were short on Hunters enough to need even my help."

"Anyway, what should we do about the complaint? We absolutely have to provide an answer..."

"Should I just quit being a Hunter?"

I used telekinesis to bring my wallet from the room. I pulled out my S-Class Hunter License and held it out in front of her.

Ha-young waved her hands frantically and pushed it back toward me. "Please, put that away for now."

"Every time I see it, I want to snap it in half."

"Even if you did, it would just get automatically reissued anyway."

"Ha, I want to quit, but since I'm S-Class... The benefits are useless crap, I don't know why I registered for this nonsense."

S-Class Hunters are considered strategic national assets. Unless I plan to betray the country, retirement requires state permission.

Of course, that restriction includes me, the number one delinquent Hunter in Korea.

"Ahaha."

Watching my wallet, card, and the empty cup floating around, Ha-young mumbled, "Anyway, it's fascinating," and sighed.

She could find grounds in the pre-revision laws from the time of registration, so answering the complaint wouldn't be an issue legally. But the existence of a non-Awakened Hunter was something the government couldn't just ignore.

"It's going to get annoying soon."

Seeing the refrigerator door open and the drink bottle fly out to pour itself into the floating cup—a rare sight not easily seen elsewhere—Ha-young nodded.

"Since it's come to this, shall we strike first?"

"Yes?"

"So no one can say anything."

Even scholars couldn't figure it out. The true nature of my telekinesis, which violates all laws of physics without the aid of mana.

But one thing is certain: my telekinesis is effective enough against the beasts inside the Gates.

"I never took the S-Class Promotion Test. I'll take it this time."

"What?"

"And we'll film it. Watching that video should be enough for them to judge whether my Hunter qualifications are proven or not. The Association can also use it as evidence that I passed the test sufficiently."

Also, I have something to say to someone while showing it.

In fact, I wasn't a case promoted through the S-Class Hunter Qualification Exam.

At the time, the country was desperate, and seeing my ability to smash dungeons at a glance, they just threw the S-Class title at me.

"I didn't become S-Class by taking the test, right? They just shoved me up the ranks forcefully because it was urgent, regardless of Gate ratings."

I mentally poured a bucket of curses on the jerk who filed the complaint and stood up, stretching.

As I stretched, Ha-young's gaze momentarily drifted to a specific part of my body, and she muttered to herself in a dissatisfied tone, "Bigger than mine..."

"Aren't we going?"

"Huh? Now?"

"What's the point of delaying?"

"T-True."

"But, you can't release it to the public or anything. Unless you need to use it for an audit later."

"Don't worry about that. The fact that we possess the test data is what's important."

I went into my room, threw on a roughly matching black outfit, and followed Ha-young, who went out first.

While looking out the window for a moment, Ha-young suddenly said something nonsense.

"U-Um, you aren't planning to run to the Association, are you?"

"What?"

"Among the S-Class, there is one person who comes running if they're in a hurry..."

"Why would I run when there's a comfortable car?"

When we got down to the parking lot, Ha-young's cute small car beeped and welcomed her.

Thinking briefly about whether the Association paid low wages, I got into the open car. Beside me, Ha-young made a suddenly tense face and said, "T-Then, shall we go?"

"Why are you asking me that?"

"Ah. U-Um, never mind."

"...?"

When I looked at her puzzled, she brushed it off saying it was nothing.

She started the car, fiddled with something, and then suddenly slammed on the accelerator, causing the car to launch forward abruptly.

"Kyaa!"

I involuntarily let out a feminine scream and hurriedly grabbed the handle above the door.

Ha-young, sweating bullets beside me, laughed awkwardly, "Ahaha, my mistake," and started exiting the parking lot.

"Excuse me, Ha-young-ssi. Can I ask you one thing?"

"Yes? Yes. Go ahead."

"How long has it been since you got your license?"

Silence.

The silence that coldly circulated inside the car felt like a dagger flying in to pierce my chest.

Ah, this bitch is a total beginner driver. As if to prove my thought, Ha-young really started driving roughly, radiating 'beginner' energy.

To the point where I thought, 'Next time, let's just carry the car.'

"Huff, huff, I thought I was gonna die."

Ha-young's driving skills were fierce enough to make me wonder how she got her license, beginner or not.

I learned for the first time today that no matter how S-Class a Hunter is, or how strong their body durability is, they feel the same fear when they can't control their own body.

"A-Are you okay?"

"Would you like to try a ride?"

"What? Kyaaaack!"

I will get revenge.

I will definitely get revenge.

With that determination, I lifted Ha-young with my telekinesis.

I ran to the Association while listening to Ha-young scream, "Kyaaaaa! Hunter-nim, please save me!" and only put her down gently after entering the building.

"Hunter-nim, that was too much... It's not like I drove like that on purpose..."

It wasn't even one-tenth of what I suffered, but Ha-young must have been terrified even in that short moment; she teared up a little.

Panicked by the tears, I tried to soothe her, "H-Ha-young-ssi?" but her tears showed no sign of stopping.

Being weak to this kind of thing, my brain felt like it froze for a moment. I stammered, and the result of my desperate thinking finally slipped out of my mouth.

"U-Um, would you like to go eat a Parfait?"