The moment I received the results sheet, the first thing that caught my eye was the letter “A.” I’d known I would get A-rank, so what I really wanted to see were the individual numbers.

[Yoon Minjun / A / Swordsman

Strength: 54(+4)

Stamina: 50(+4)

Agility: 50(+4)

Mana: 58(+4)

Average: 53(+4)

Special Skill: [EX]??? (+4)

Skill Description:

1) ##: When activated, the user’s ### completely ## # ##. However, ## ## ## ### #### ### ### ## # ##.

However, the skill can be deactivated before it ends. (Duration ###, cooldown ###)

2) ???: (Unlocks upon achieving ???)]

Final Average: 57]

Looking at my stats first, they were higher across the board than I’d expected. Hunters with an average stat of at least 50 but below 60 were generally considered A-rank. An average of 57 meant I was on the stronger side even among A-rank hunters.

‘I was B-rank just a little while ago.’

The leap in my stats over such a short time was astonishing, but that wasn’t the only surprise. For one thing, there were the extra stats marked “+4.” At my last reassessment, the bonus had been 3, and I had no idea what had made it go up. Maybe it had something to do with the mysterious EX-rank skill that still wasn’t fully unlocked. If unlocking part of the skill had affected my stats, that would make sense. But it was only a guess. I didn’t know the real reason.

And on a related note, the results didn’t display my Concealment skill properly. When I encountered what I believed was Bellium’s remnant of consciousness, I had definitely seen both the name “Concealment” and its description. I’d even used the skill myself right after returning to Earth, slipping away from the Hunter Association staff and hunters who had crowded around me with more questions than I could handle. But now, most of the skill information on the results sheet was blurred out, making it hard to read.

“Phew.”

Why hadn’t the test detected Concealment properly? What were those bonus stats, and why had they gone up again? Instead of finding answers, I felt as though I was collecting more mysteries by the day.

After looking over the whole sheet, I glanced at the woman in charge. Sure enough, a jumble of emotions showed on her face. My last reassessment had been full of oddities, and this one, barely two weeks later, had produced equally absurd results. Of course she couldn’t make sense of it.

‘In a way, she’s in the same boat as me.’

If I couldn’t understand it, how could she? With so much about the results that made no sense, I thought I should consult Rokan first.

I had the results sheet in hand and was about to leave the examination room when she called out urgently, “Hunter, wait a moment.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“A prototype of a new rank simulator recently came out. Would you be interested in taking part in the beta test?”

The mention of a new rank-assessment simulator suddenly piqued my curiosity. “Could you tell me a little more?”

“Of course. As you know, the current rank-assessment system isn’t perfect.”

For years, hunters and industry professionals around the world had called for improvements to the ranking system. There were plenty of reasons, but the biggest was that the current equipment couldn’t accurately measure a hunter’s combat ability. Two hunters might have the same stats, yet differences in combat instincts, skills, and other factors would inevitably show in a real fight.

“So a few years ago, we began working with other countries, including the United States and France, on a simulator that could assess hunters’ combat ability more precisely.”

According to her, the simulator was nearly complete and had entered the testing phase.

‘I follow all that.’

But why me?

“May I ask why you’re offering me a place?” I would have thought they could find volunteers easily enough without me. Why approach me in particular?

She answered my question right away.

“Unlike most hunters, your rate of growth is astonishingly fast, Hunter Minjun. And some of your stats don’t appear on the results sheet. You’re a perfect match for the criteria we’re looking for.”

My guess was that they were recruiting hunters who stood to benefit once the new rank simulator was officially released.

‘Works for me.’

There was my EX-rank skill, whose true nature neither Sia nor Rokan had managed to uncover since my awakening, and those unexplained “+4” bonus stats. I didn’t think this test would be a magic key to every mystery surrounding my power, of course. Still, perhaps I’d learn something, however small.

“I’ll participate. How do I sign up?”

Her face lit up for the first time that day. She must have had trouble finding participants who met the criteria.

“I’ll get you an application form. You’ll receive a small participation fee as well.”

I filled it out and handed it in on the spot. She put the form away, then gave me her business card.

“That’s everything. I’ll contact you about the test within about three days.”

“Okay.”

I thanked her and left the examination room. As soon as I was outside, I clenched my fist.

“Yes!”

Once I submitted this results sheet, I would officially be recognized as an A-rank hunter. How could I have imagined, only a few months ago, that a miracle like this would happen to me? I headed down to the lobby with a spring in my step.

‘I can’t wait to tell them.’

Sia and my parents were the first people who came to mind. Sia had probably expected these results, but my parents didn’t even know I’d visited another world, much less how strong I’d become. Although I’d spent days in Pangaea, only about an hour had passed on Earth. After I was pulled into the gate, Sia had been about to tell my parents I was missing, but I returned to Earth just in time, so there was no longer any reason to tell them. I’d decided to keep it secret, thinking the story would only worry them.

That meant they’d probably be even more surprised. They had no idea what had happened to me in the meantime.

* * *

After getting my A-rank hunter certificate, I immediately shared the good news with Sia and my parents. Sia, who already knew the results, congratulated me cheerfully. My parents, who probably hadn’t dreamed this would happen, were far more excited.

[“Oh my goodness, Minjun! Is that true? I didn’t mishear you, did I?”]

[“That’s strange. April Fools’ Day is still a long way off...”]

[“You really got A-rank? This calls for a celebration!”]

They were so loud I nearly lost my hearing during the call.

Once I’d contacted everyone, I went straight to Rokan’s lair. I wanted to share my happiness with him, but I also needed to talk to him about my rank reassessment results.

“Welcome.”

Rokan greeted me warmly when I arrived. He was watering some plants, apparently having taken up a new hobby.

“I haven’t seen these plants before.”

“I brought a few in recently. I thought it might be nice to try a new hobby.”

When he finished watering them, he set down the watering can and asked a question.

“Shasha tells me you went for a rank reassessment today.”

“Yes. That’s actually why I came.”

I sat in the chair Rokan offered and gave him a brief account of what had happened. When I finished, he fell silent in thought. After a moment, he spoke.

“... Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s much I can tell you right now.”

“What... do you mean?”

His answer caught me off guard.

“I’ve told you what I know about that skill and the bonus stats before. As for why the test isn’t detecting this Concealment skill properly... unfortunately, I don’t know anything more about that either. I can’t give you the answers you want.”

I’d secretly hoped that seeing Rokan might yield even the smallest clue, so it was disappointing to hear he knew nothing about this. Still, even Rokan couldn’t know everything about how the world worked.

“Since you’re here, why don’t you get some training in for a change? I’ll work with you.”

“I was about to ask you the same thing.”

I’d been taking some time to unwind lately and hadn’t trained properly.

Come to think of it, though, I didn’t know what condition the Garden of the Dragon Sword was in. We used it as our training ground, and whether it was available made a big difference to how much I could get out of training or sparring.

“By the way, Rokan, I’m sorry to rush you, but could you tell me how the dungeon repairs are going?”

“Things went smoothly, and the repairs are finished. All that’s left is a final inspection. We should be able to use it by this evening.”

Oh. I’d worried it might take a long time, but the repairs had finished faster than I’d expected.

And that wasn’t the only good news.

“Speaking of things going smoothly, it looks as though the guild will be approved within a week.”

“The guild too?”

Once the guild was established, I wouldn’t have to stress over hunting down gates anymore.

“Yes. We’ve submitted all the necessary paperwork, so approval should come soon.”

At last, I was going to join a guild. It would be my first since becoming a hunter, and I was glad I’d belong to the same one as Sia, even if she would hardly ever work as a hunter herself. It still felt good. Before that incident, Sia and I had often talked about how nice it would be to join the same guild. In a way, that old dream was finally coming true.

“So keep that in mind. Once the guild is established, you and I should clear a gate together sometime soon.”

“With you, Rokan?”

“What, don’t you want to?”

“Of course I do! It would be an honor.”

I’d cleared a gate with Sia once before, but I’d never imagined going with Rokan.

“You’ll get bored if all we ever do together is spar and train. Once the guild gets final approval, let’s go clear gates together now and then.”

“Yes!”

The thought of showing Rokan what I could do made me a little nervous, but I was quietly looking forward to it too. What would it be like to clear a gate alongside a former Dragon Lord? My growth would probably be the main point, so I doubted Rokan would take an active role in the fighting. Still, surely he’d show me what he could do now and then as a demonstration. My heart was already racing at the thought of seeing that incredible power up close. It might even help motivate me.

“For today, though, let’s get some training done.”

* * *

In the days following my rank reassessment, I worked up a sweat catching up on the training I’d missed. A sense of duty was part of it, but with how quickly I was growing, training felt more exciting and less exhausting. I kept up with grueling sessions that would once have left me collapsed. Strangely enough, I could feel myself improving with every passing day.

Then, before I knew it, a message arrived.

<Oppa, you’re going in for your test today, right? Hope you get good results :)>

The day of the simulation test had come.