The Hunter world was governed by survival of the fittest and the supremacy of strength. Its rankings ranged from F-rank to S, with “S-rank” carrying an immense weight. Especially in South Korea, the world’s leading Hunter nation, achieving S-rank held even greater significance. It was symbolized by a platinum badge that only those with exceptional talent could barely achieve through relentless effort. Young-Chul had recently earmarked a Hunter as a potential S-rank candidate. “She reached A-rank in just one year.” He sat in his office, reviewing a Hunter’s record card. The Hunter was a twenty-one-year-old woman named Cha Ye-Ji, who had skyrocketed to A-rank in an incredibly short time. This alone was enough to catch his attention, but the real reason lay elsewhere, a little detail on her Hunter card. Contract Hunter, Seoul City Hall. Assigned to: Regional Fissure Management Supervisor, Lee Do-Jun. The weight of being an S-rank Hunter was immense, but it paled in comparison to the weight carried by Do-Jun’s name. Just a glimpse at that name made Young-Chul feel a bead of sweat form on his forehead, and he quickly wiped it away with a handkerchief. Her rapid growth has to be thanks to him, he thought. That only intensified his desire to elevate Ye-Ji to S-rank. Her skills would undoubtedly meet the criteria. As records showed, she had already solo-cleared a B-rank Great Fissure. She ranked fortieth in A-rank. Typically, only the top A-rank Hunter would be considered for S-rank evaluation. However, more important than visible rankings was having a solid guarantor. Young-Chul typed out a long message and sent it to Do-Jun, who was most likely at work. He soon received a reply. Do-Jun: I’ll leave it up to her since it’s her decision to make. Once Do-Jun gave his OK, Young-Chul reached out to Ye-Ji personally. The office atmosphere on a Monday was usually subdued, but that was expected as everyone struggled to shake off the lingering comfort of the weekend while handling a mountain of tasks. However, today, something different was in the air. “I-is that true?!” Cheol-Soo suddenly jumped up, shouting. An event had occurred that shattered the usual monotony of the office: Ye-Ji was to undergo the S-rank evaluation. Though she whispered the news quietly to Do-Jun, the office was so silent that even a pin drop would have been loud, making her words impossible to miss. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on ⓝovelFire.net Cheol-Soo’s exclamation shattered the silence, drawing everyone’s attention in the office. Employees, once focused on their monitors, looked out like curious meerkats. “Chief Kang, please, shh!” Embarrassed by the sudden attention, Ye-Ji held a finger to her lips, her expression clearly troubled. Yet, the smile on Cheol-Soo’s face didn’t fade. “Let’s take this to the meeting room. We don’t want to disturb everyone’s work,” Do-Jun said as he grabbed his notebook and stood up. Though the meeting room’s partitions were transparent, providing a clear view inside, its soundproofing was excellent—perfect for a private conversation. “And so, the Bureau Chief contacted me and asked if I’d like to take the S-rank evaluation.” Ye-Ji explained the situation, describing how the sudden opportunity for an S-rank evaluation had come about. Hyuk-Soo was the first to voice his doubts. “As far as I know, you need to be ranked first in A-rank to even qualify for the S-rank evaluation...” Not long ago, Jeon Dong-Pil, now an S-rank Hunter, had also been stuck at the top of A-rank for a while. Since the ranking system for Hunters was established, all S-rank selections had followed that process. Ye-Ji’s situation, however, was an anomaly. The shocking news left Cheol-Soo slack-jawed as he leaned back in his chair, mumbling in disbelief, “S-rank...” It was, unsurprisingly, a first. When the city contracted a B-rank Hunter, it made headlines. Having an A-rank Hunter had also been a major event. And now, an S-rank Hunter among their contracted Hunters? “Am I dreaming? Someone pinch me,” Cheol-Soo half-jokingly said, and Hyuk-Soo obliged, tugging his cheek hard enough to make Cheol-Soo wince and chuckle. “Congratulations, Hunter Ye-Ji.” Do-Jun offered a warm smile. Nearly a year had passed since his return to Earth. To think that the F-rank Hunter he once oversaw was now preparing for an S-rank evaluation—it felt surreal. Her face beaming with excitement, Ye-Ji nodded vigorously and said, “Oh, and the evaluation is already scheduled for Wed—” Do-Jun finished her sentence for her. “Wednesday, right?” “Wait, how did you know, Mr. Administrator?” “Chief Jung mentioned it.” One might have been suspicious about why the Chief of the Hunter’s Bureau contacted Do-Jun regarding this matter, but she dismissed it as being because he was her supervisor. “The evaluation is an S-rank Great Fissure raid,” Do-Jun said as he pushed some printed documents to the center of the table. The team leaned in to examine the materials closely. The Fissure, located in Junggok-dong, Gwangjin-gu, had recently appeared and was under strict control. The rule for S-rank Great Fissures was to clear them immediately unless there was no boss monster present. This Fissure had no boss. “The Fissure contains three monsters identified by the Hunter’s Bureau,” Do-Jun explained. These were the Giant Ogres—classified as “named” monsters. They were sub-bosses of an S-rank Great Fissure. Fortunately, there were no bosses or ordinary monsters. Hyuk-Soo’s mouth dropped open, and he said, “Hunter Ye-Ji has to handle this alone?” Ye-Ji clarified, “No, no. On the evaluation day, S-rank Hunters will assist as both examiners and support. My performance will ultimately determine the outcome, though...” The S-rank Hunters who would join her were Kang-Hyun, ranked first; Min-Hyuk, ranked seventh; and Min-Ji, ranked tenth. Ye-Ji stayed at the office until Do-Jun finished his work for the day. With the biggest test of her twenty-one years just two days away, she had much to prepare, but wanted to talk with Do-Jun instead. She had barely slept the night before as her heart pounded at the thought of the S-rank evaluation. Yet, by simply being near Do-Jun, her nerves settled as if this was just another ordinary day. On the city hall rooftop, Do-Jun retrieved two cans of hot coffee from a vending machine, handing one to Ye-Ji. She gave a small bow before following him to the railing. As she opened the can, a faint hiss escaped, and steam rose gently. The city’s nightscape stretched out before them. As always, Ye-Ji found herself noting how broad Do-Jun’s back was. “Time sure flies,” Do-Jun said, breaking the silence. He sipped his coffee, prompting Ye-Ji to do the same. The warmth of the coffee made their breaths visible in the cool air. “Feels like just yesterday you were hunting goblins on your first Fissure exploration,” he continued. “It really does...” Ye-Ji agreed. “You’ve developed a lot.” “It’s all thanks to you, Mr. Administrator.” Do-Jun shrugged modestly. He’d only provided a little help, just enough to let her talent shine. “I’ll be rooting for your success from the office. Or, if you’d prefer, I could come along,” he suggested. “Of course. To cheer you on and ensure you pass.” “You’re saying you’d enter an S-rank Great Fissure?” “If that’s what you want.” “No way. You need to live a long and healthy life,” Ye-Ji dismissed the idea immediately. She still considered Do-Jun an ordinary person, which was a natural assumption. No sane Hunter would bring a civilian into an S-rank Fissure. But that was about to change soon enough. “Hunter Ye-Ji, do you remember when you asked if I was hiding my strength?” “Yes. I couldn’t help but wonder, considering how easily you dodged the goblins back then...” The memory of their first meeting resurfaced vividly in her mind. Do-Jun had expertly navigated the Fissure map, dodging goblin attacks as if it were instinct. She had seen flashes of that same ability when facing other monsters later on. “Why bring that up now?” Ye-Ji asked, tilting her head. “Just crossed my mind.” Ye-Ji scoffed softly, then followed Do-Jun’s gaze toward the city lights. “Sometimes, I imagine...” “That you’re actually incredibly powerful,” Ye-Ji muttered. “Go on,” Do-Jun prompted her. “And if I ever found myself in danger, you’d have no choice but to reveal your true strength to save me.” “Would you like that?” Ye-Ji smiled bashfully and replied, “It’s just wishful thinking.” “Secretly, you’re a huge tsundere, right?” Ye-Ji asked suddenly. “Well, it means someone who acts cold on the outside but is the complete opposite inside. That’s how I understand it, anyway.” Ye-Ji propped her chin on her hand, reflecting on the term. She glanced at Do-Jun, who silently sipped his coffee. She knew the scenario she had just described was nothing but a fantasy. However, by becoming recognized as an S-rank Hunter with the strength fitting that title, she could protect Do-Jun from any danger. To her, Do-Jun was someone precious—someone she wanted to keep safe. Junggok-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Fissures often appeared in remote areas, such as mountains, rivers, or seas, where human activity was minimal. However, life wasn’t always so accommodating. A tall Fissure had ripped open on the road in front of the National Center for Mental Health. The road was cordoned off, forcing vehicles to detour, and nearby buildings were completely evacuated. The Silver Wing Suit, crafted from the byproducts of a queen ant, appeared to be a simple skintight suit at first glance. In reality, it was an intricately jointed armor designed for ease of movement that allowed the wearer to experience no discomfort. It felt as comfortable as high-performance, expensive athletic wear. Despite the road being closed, a sports car sped toward the fissure from the Junggok Intersection. It raced down the road like an untamed bull, but it came to an astonishingly smooth stop right in front of Ye-Ji as though it had never been in a rush. The first to step out was Min-Hyuk, fitted in a matte gray, almost black suit. Ye-Ji’s eyes instinctively fixed on the platinum badge pinned to Min-Hyuk’s left chest. “It’s been a while, Hunter Cha,” he greeted Ye-Ji. “Ah, yes! It’s been a while.” Min-Hyuk smiled warmly and extended his hand for a handshake. He was, after all, the guild master of Icarus and ranked seventh among S-rank Hunters. Ye-Ji recalled how Min-Hyuk had once invited her to join the Icarus Guild. She had declined, preferring to stay at City Hall, and now she couldn’t help but wonder if that choice might impact her evaluation. “I’m impressed by how quickly you’ve progressed,” Min-Hyuk said. Just nine months ago, she had been a clear-cut F-rank Hunter. And now? She had risen to A-rank and was on the verge of reaching S-rank. “Th-thank you. Thank you in advance for your help later today.” Moments later, two more sports cars arrived. Ye-Ji swallowed nervously as two Hunters stepped out, clad in sharp suits. It was none other than Kang-Hyun and Min-Ji. Kang-Hyun jumped out of his car, landing precisely in front of Ye-Ji. This was her first time meeting the world’s top Hunter. The sudden realization that the S-rank evaluation was about to begin hit her. “You’re Hunter Cha Ye-Ji, correct? The Hunter everyone’s been talking about...” Kang-Hyun asked. What did he mean by everyone? Sure, her promotion to A-rank had gained her some recognition. But was that enough to catch Kang-Hyun’s attention? “The Hunter under the care of Supervisor Lee Do-Jun...” Kang-Hyun remarked. “Y-you know Mr. Administrator?” How? The question lingered in Ye-Ji’s mind. What she didn’t know was that Kang-Hyun, along with other S-rank Hunters, deeply envied her. 1. Tsundere is a Japanese term that describes a character who starts out harsh and cold, but gradually reveals a warmer, friendlier side! ☜