By Zephyria Bad Timing.
The next day, 2:40 PM. Eui-jae had hung up the “Preparing Ingredients” sign and was efficiently using the broth-simmering time to clean the store.
A man in a suit approached the store and knocked on the metal door. Even though the “Preparing Ingredients” sign was up, he was still knocking. Eui-jae tightened his grip on the broom he was holding, but a voice suddenly flashed through his mind.
“I’ll send someone over by tomorrow.”
Eui-jae slightly loosened his grip on the broom and opened the door. The man in sunglasses found Eui-jae and bowed his head in greeting.
“Hello, nice to meet you. Are you by any chance Cha Eui-jae?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Hello, I am Very Small Miracle Mingi Seo. Lee Sa-young Guild Master sent me.”
Very Small Miracle Mingi Seo. His name was so long and strange that it remained clearly in Eui-jae’s memory, even though he had only seen it fleetingly on the Number 1 Hunter Channel. However, it wasn’t polite to comment on his strange name upon first meeting, so Eui-jae also bowed his head.
“Hello.”
“Yes, please accept my business card.”
Very Small Miracle Mingi Seo politely offered his business card with both hands. Eui-jae, in turn, tucked the broom under his arm and politely accepted the small rectangular piece of paper. Wave Guild Combat Support Team 1, Very Small Miracle Mingi Seo.
“Today, I will be assisting you with the ability measurement and registration process. Just a moment.”
Very Small Miracle Mingi Seo took out a tablet from his Inventory and showed the screen.
‘Operation: Get a Low Rank!’
The title, written in red cursive with a background image of an exploding bomb, immediately grabbed his attention. Eui-jae’s expression became strange at the bizarre design template, but Very Small Miracle Mingi Seo’s face was very serious.
“I heard that your goal is to receive the lowest rank possible, without being too noticeable. Is that correct?”
“……”
“Ah, you don’t have to answer verbally. Just answer this questionnaire to the best of your ability.”
Min-gi Seo turned the screen, revealing the questionnaire items. Eui-jae began answering the questionnaire with the tablet pen that Min-gi Seo handed him.
[1. What rank do you want to receive when registering as a Hunter? Please write a rank between S and F.]
He had to get the most mediocre and common rank possible. That was the condition he had presented when accepting the deal with Lee Sa-young, so Eui-jae tapped his lips with the end of the pen and pondered for a moment.
Considering his original rank of S, the gap with F was too large to be realistic, and he felt that there would be just as much explaining to do as when he was hiding as an Unawakened Person. Because an F-rank taking down a Monster with his bare hands wouldn’t be a matter of luck.
He scribbled with a serious face.
E, D
[2. What is your System rank? If you do not wish to reveal your rank, please write according to the following examples. (F~C: Weak. B~S: Strong.)]
This item showed consideration and attention to detail. It was a question that perfectly grasped what the client wanted to achieve through rank manipulation. On the other hand, it was also a question that caught him off guard, making him wonder if they had made such a deal with others before.
Strong
Eui-jae, who had written the answer as in the example without much hesitation, looked down to check the last item.
[3. Do you agree to the use of drugs and curses to manipulate your rank?]
Wait a minute. It seemed like there was a strange question mixed in? After the considerate item, there was a toxic clause that seemed like it belonged in a waiver for giving up one’s body. Eui-jae, who had been diligently filling out the items, raised his hand and called out to Min-gi Seo.
“Excuse me, Mr. Very Small Miracle Mingi Seo.”
“Yes, customer.”
“Question 3 seems a bit strange.”
“Yes? Just a moment.”
Min-gi Seo stretched his neck to check the screen and then tilted his head.
“Question 3 is normal… Is there any problem?”
“It says to use drugs and curses. Is that right?”
“Yes. You have to be willing to endure that much to hide your ability.”
Was this guy a scammer? Eui-jae prepared to smash Min-gi Seo’s crown with the tablet if necessary. Sensing the murderous intent, Min-gi Seo cautiously took a step back and asked.
“Customer, do you happen to know how ability measurement is done when registering as a Hunter?”
Eui-jae knew the measurement method from eight years ago, but he didn’t know the latest method. Just as the price of Mana Stones had risen, the measurement method must have changed as well. Having been burned once before, he didn’t pretend to know and shook his head. Min-gi Seo began to explain as if he had been waiting for this.
“First, when you go for measurement, you will first fill out the documents manually, and then measure your ability with a machine developed by the Management Bureau. The rank assignment process also confirms the demonstration of your representative skills.”
“……”
“Well, you can mix in some lies when filling out the documents, and we even recommend that. You just need to show one skill for the representative skill. Both are not very important. The most important thing here is the measuring device.”
“Measuring device?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s quite accurate, so hiding your rank from it is more difficult than deceiving a civil servant. But!”
Min-gi Seo confidently raised his index finger and said.
“The measuring device uses Mana Stones as an energy source. And it only reacts to Awakened, not to ordinary people. In other words, it moves according to the laws of the System, regardless of the scientific knowledge we know.”
“……”
“Then we can also deceive the machine according to the laws of the System. By using drugs or curses that lower the rank of Awakened, which come from Dungeons.”
Min-gi Seo looked proud, as if asking how his argument was.
‘Why… does it sound plausible?’
After listening, Eui-jae also thought it made quite a bit of sense. Anyway, most drugs or curses wouldn’t greatly impact his body, so it seemed like something he could just close his eyes and do. He only had a strong body, so he should use it frugally.
Eui-jae, as if possessed, properly held the pen and wrote the answer to the last question.
[3. Do you agree to the use of drugs and curses to manipulate your rank?]
Yes
Min-gi Seo, who received the tablet, said with a satisfied face.
“Well, then… Ah, did you bring your resident registration card?”
Fortunately, he had a resident registration card that he had reissued after coming out of the Rift. Eui-jae pointed to the counter inside the store.
“It’s in my wallet.”
“Then take it and get in the car. Let’s leave quickly.”
What he pointed to was a blue truck. It matched the alley so well that he couldn’t imagine that the car he had brought was that one. Eui-jae looked back and forth between Min-gi Seo, who was dressed in a neat suit, and the dusty truck.
‘Is Wave Guild poor?’
“You’re not mistaken that our Guild is poor, are you?”
Did this crazy brat have mind-reading as one of his abilities? Eui-jae slightly avoided his gaze and shook his head.
“I didn’t think that.”
“Haha, I believe that you wouldn’t think that either, but for reference, this is a Guild vehicle that we use for undercover work.”
“Oh, really?”
“Why does your answer seem so soulless?”
Eui-jae took his wallet from the counter, went into the kitchen, and checked the simmering broth. He needed to let it sit a little longer and skim off the foam… Eui-jae rubbed his chin and asked Min-gi Seo, who was standing outside.
“How long will the registration take?”
“Hmm. It won’t take more than an hour, no matter how long it takes.”
He could turn the heat to low and come back. After all, the longer the broth simmered, the deeper the flavor would become, so there would be no problem if he came back in time. Eui-jae skimmed off the foam with a ladle, turned down the heat, and took off his apron, hanging it on the wall.
Eui-jae, who had taken his wallet, got into the passenger seat, and Min-gi Seo gestured for him to fasten his seatbelt. After confirming that he had fastened his seatbelt, Min-gi Seo started the engine.
“We’re not going to the official registration center in the Awakened Management Bureau, but to a temporary registration center in Gwangjin-gu. It’s faster, attracts less attention, and there are no strong Awakened there.”
“Wouldn’t they pay more attention if it’s a newly established place?”
“That was only the case right after it was established, and the Gwangjin-gu Center has been open for three months, so it’s a bit more relaxed. The main building is scheduled to be completed soon, so it will be even more lax.”
Min-gi Seo glanced at Eui-jae and pointed to the side with a light chin gesture.
“Do you see the black box next to you?”
“Ah, yes.”
“There should be a pair of bracelets inside. Would you like to try them on?”
Inside the box were two silver bracelets shaped like a snake biting its tail in a circle. When Eui-jae took out the bracelets, the item information appeared.
[Ouroboros’s Shackles (A)
When one person wears a pair, it inflicts a Weakening Curse on the wearer.]
Was this why they specifically mentioned drugs and curses in the questionnaire? Eui-jae, who suddenly had a cursed item in his hand, said awkwardly.
“Weakening Curse… item.”
Min-gi Seo nodded diligently.
“Yes. Wearing an item with a Weakening Curse is the fastest and easiest way to lower your rank.”Can this curse be lifted?””
“Of course. I brought a curse removal scroll, so don’t worry. I’ll release it right after the measurement is done.”
The process was difficult because he was trying to lie systematically. Eui-jae wore both bracelets on his left wrist. His whole body felt heavy, as if he had sandbags on his left arm.
“How is it?”
“I definitely feel a bit heavier. But…”
Eui-jae tapped the bracelets jingling on his wrist.
“Won’t they notice if you deceive them with something like this? I think they could catch it easily.”
Min-gi Seo shrugged his shoulders.
“Ah. It’s okay. They do inspect the worn items… but that’s a procedure they only do when existing Hunters are re-examined.”
“……”
“They don’t inspect items when newly Awakened Hunters are measured. It’s more like they don’t even think about it. Where would someone who hasn’t even registered as a Hunter get an item? Unregistered Persons can’t even use the Hunter Market. Besides,”
Min-gi Seo continued while making a leisurely left turn.
“Everyone wants to receive a high rank, not a low rank.”
“……”
“Ah, I’m not targeting you, customer.”
He should have just kept his mouth shut. Eui-jae looked at his profile for a moment with a slightly awkward expression, but he soon agreed because what he said wasn’t wrong. The bracelets jingling on his wrist shook.