F-Rank Secretly Becomes Stronger - Chapter 7

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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7

[F-Rank Hunter License]

[Jung Juhyeok]

“It’s finally here.”

The F-Rank Hunter License that had finally arrived.

Having the plastic license made of similar material to a Resident Registration Card right before his eyes felt quite refreshing.

‘Should I go out right away?’

Right on schedule for the arrival date, he immediately searched online and headed to the Gate closest to his home.

[…Don’t get hurt, okay?]

He left home with his mother’s worried farewell.

The path to the Gate wasn’t that far.

There were about 50 F-rank Gates in total within the Metropolitan Area.

After taking the bus for about 30 minutes, he would get close to the Gate classified as a Military Zone.

Since public transportation couldn’t enter within a 2km radius of the Gate, Jung Juhyeok got off at an appropriate spot and started walking.

After walking for about 10 minutes, he arrived at the Gate Entrance.

Ahead, only a few people who appeared to be soldiers were visible.

‘I really chose the right Gate.’

It was worth deliberately choosing a place with high difficulty but low rewards among the F-rank Gates in the Metropolitan Area.

To obtain Magic Stones, a Gate with many rewards would have been better, but if he went to a crowded place, there might be situations where he’d receive unwanted attention, so he chose the safe method.

“Please wait a moment.”

As he looked around and approached the entrance, a soldier stepped forward first.

Since it was a place without many people and an F-rank Gate, he didn’t feel much tension.

“To pass through, please show your Hunter License or Gate Area Entry Permit.”

“Here it is.”

The brand new Hunter License he took out from his wallet, received by delivery today.

The soldier glanced back and forth between the Hunter License and Jung Juhyeok, then carefully asked.

“Looking at the ID issuance date, you graduated from the Academy this year?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The soldier nodded at the answer and looked around cautiously before asking again.

“Don’t you have any companions?”

“Not yet.”

“You know that solo entry to Gates is prohibited, right?”

“Yes, I’m planning to find party members separately at the Gate Entrance.”

Continuing questions from someone who seemed concerned about a rookie hunter who just graduated from the Academy.

Somewhat relieved by the display of basic knowledge, he returned the license.

“There aren’t many people today, so I’m not sure if you’ll be able to find anyone.”

“Are there really that few people?”

“Well. Even if there are, it’s quite difficult for rookie hunters to find parties.”

No matter how thoroughly one prepares, Gates are places where life hangs in the balance with a single moment’s judgment.

What Awakened person would prefer someone with insufficient experience in such a place?

Moreover, Jung Juhyeok wasn’t just lacking in experience but was also an F-rank Hunter whose abilities weren’t proven.

A bomb that no one would prefer.

“Well… that’s probably why you came all the way to such an unpopular Gate.”

“That’s right.”

The reason for coming to an unpopular Gate was partly about avoiding people’s attention, but that wasn’t the only reason.

At popular Gates, there were already more than enough people looking for parties.

Most of them were hunters with more experience than Jung Juhyeok and proven skills.

With such people around, who would choose Jung Juhyeok?

However, at unpopular Gates, the story was different.

‘Since they must fill four party members, they’d probably let one extra person tag along.’

Calling himself the extra person was quite damaging to his pride.

But objectively speaking, an F-rank Hunter with no Gate experience was hard to regard as anything more than an extra.

“You’re lucky. Three people just went in for the first time.”

Welcome news while listening.

The soldier, perhaps feeling sorry for the F-rank Hunter who had come all the way to an unpopular Gate to join a party, kindly pointed in the direction with his finger as he spoke.

“They all seem to be veterans. If you try to get along with them well, they might let you join.”

“Thank you.”

“I wish you good luck.”

Following the kind soldier’s guidance, I entered the Gate entrance.

Walking in the direction the soldier had pointed with his finger, I found three people who looked like Hunters gathered together waiting at a table, just as he had said.

‘Let’s go right away.’

There weren’t many people around anyway.

Since it was an unpopular Gate and still quite early, it would probably be hard to find another person easily.

If they were veterans as the soldier said, they might let one extra person tag along for an F-rank Gate.

My steps moved with a heart full of hope.

As I gradually approached their table, I made eye contact with the Hunter sitting in the middle of the group.

A woman with brown hair and a bow strapped to her back.

She looked me up and down, then immediately stood up from her seat.

“He’s here.”

“Really?”

At her words, the other Hunters turned their heads toward me as well.

My steps stopped as all eyes focused on me.

A bad feeling washed over me at their strange reaction.

That ominous intuition, which was rarely wrong, struck my brain hard.

“Hello. You’re Hunter Jung Juhyeok, right?”

And it proved once again that it wasn’t wrong this time either.

“…Who are you?”

My name being called by someone I had never seen before.

Normally I would have felt bewildered first, but as someone with an Artifact dwelling in my body, I felt wariness and rejection even more strongly.

Perhaps noticing my reaction, she smiled awkwardly and pulled out a business card from her pocket to hand to me.

“I’m An Yena, a Hunter Scout from Mir Guild.”

“…I see.”

Taking the business card, I could clearly see Mir Guild’s mark along with her position written on it.

Mir was a guild I knew to be at least mid-tier, if not major.

A scout from such a guild wouldn’t need to look for talent at an unpopular Gate.

The situation I had been worried about was happening on my very first day as a Hunter, and my face almost crumpled, but I maintained my poker face as much as possible.

“It’s surprising that a scout from Mir Guild knows my name.”

“Oh come on, Hunter Jung Juhyeok is so hot right now.”

Her lips curved up in a bright, friendly smile.

She laughed cheerfully, her bob cut swaying as she did.

She seemed like the type who would be nice to everyone during school days and probably received many confessions here and there.

“An overwhelming victory against the Salutatorian in the 3rd year tournament with grades that couldn’t even make it into the top 200! I was there at the scene too, and I was really shocked, you know?”

“Is that so.”

“I’m so lucky to meet you today by chance. I’m really glad to see you.”

Lucky, she said.

A lie told without even blinking, while wearing an innocent face.

Even as I was too dumbfounded to even laugh, she continued the conversation nonchalantly.

“I was going to contact you through your instructor, but I heard you’re not thinking about joining a guild yet. Is that right?”

“Yes. I’m not.”

“Why? Are you perhaps waiting for an offer from a major guild?”

“No. Even if a major guild comes, I won’t join any guild.”

“…Hmm.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly at my answer given without a moment’s hesitation.

She must have been surprised that I showed absolutely no positive reaction toward guilds so decisively.

Normally, Academy graduates would look for a decent guild along with their Hunter License as standard procedure.

But Jung Juhyeok was completely excluding the existence of guilds altogether, so it was natural for her to show such an unfamiliar reaction.

She let out a brief contemplative sound, then asked again.

“…Did you also come here to clear the Tree Stump Gate, Hunter Jung Juhyeok?”

“Yes, as you know, this is the only place an F-rank Hunter with no experience can go.”

“Haha~ That’s certainly true.”

I put slight emphasis on the words ‘as you know’ while giving her a meaningful look.

How on earth did she figure out that he would come to this particular unpopular Gate among so many others…

He didn’t know the method, but setting that aside, being followed didn’t feel particularly pleasant.

He showed just a slight hint of this displeasure, enough for her to notice.

“Certainly, Hunter Jung Juhyeok would have trouble finding a party unless it’s an unpopular Gate. You’ve used your head quite well.”

Whether it was because this human named Yena was like this, or if all scouts were like this.

She had firmly placed iron plates on her face, not changing her expression one bit.

“But, do you perhaps already have a party you’ve found?”

She was asking for confirmation even though she already knew.

Since he knew it was a question thrown while already knowing everything, he answered obediently.

“No. I just arrived, so I haven’t found a party yet.”

“Is that so?”

The corners of her mouth rising on both sides.

Within that expression, her true intentions that had been faintly hidden were revealed.

She looked around at the hunters on both sides of her once before speaking.

“We happen to be three people, so we’re short on members. How about going together?”

“Three people…”

Jung Juhyeok examined the personnel beside her.

‘Including me, that’s two frontliners, one archer, and one supporter.’

A standard 4-person Gate clearing combination.

Moreover, if it was Mir Guild, they were no different from experts when it came to Gates.

‘I really don’t want to get involved with a guild if I can help it.’

Anyway, there wasn’t time to go to another Gate now, and it wouldn’t be easy to find a party either.

For an inexperienced F-rank hunter, there was no sweeter proposal than this.

‘Still, if we go in together, they’ll probably be more bothersome.’

This was someone who had tracked him down and entered the Gate first on the very day his Hunter License came out.

If he formed a connection like this in such a situation, there was a high possibility they’d be lurking around in the future too.

As someone who didn’t want to get involved with guilds, this was an unwelcome development.

Just as he was deeply contemplating what to do, Yena didn’t miss this timing.

“We’ll give all the loot that comes out of the Gate to Hunter Jung Juhyeok.”

She would give him all the Gate loot.

Magic Stones, weapons, even the parts that come from monsters.

Even though it was an F-rank Gate, if he took it all for himself, it would certainly be a large amount for a rookie hunter.

Above all, for Jung Juhyeok who needed Magic Stones, this was an offer he couldn’t pass up.

He answered in a low voice to Yena, who was looking at him with a kind smile.

“…That’s too good a condition. Good enough to make my suspicions grow.”

“Don’t think too hard about it. It’s goodwill extended to a promising junior hunter.”

Goodwill.

Guilds were organizations that ran on money.

Would such an organization really show meaningless goodwill?

“This might improve the perception of our guild, you know?”

It would all be an investment.

‘…This much should be fine.’

It wasn’t like he was signing a contract anyway, and they had approached him under the pretext of investment.

Receiving help just once shouldn’t cause any big problems.

‘I’ve covered the mark on my arm thoroughly, so there’s no chance of being caught.’

Jung Juhyeok went through each element that might potentially cause problems.

Soon finishing all his deliberations, he extended his hand to Yena.

“I’ll gratefully accept your goodwill.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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