After renewing my Hunter license to C-Rank at the Association, I entered a D-Rank Gate as soon as my Origin Power recovered. Fortunately, upon hunting the monsters in the D-Rank Gate, I confirmed that the experience gain had returned to 0.2%.
'Thanks to that, leveling up has accelerated again... but of all things, the safety training period overlaps.'
All Hunters have a mandatory obligation to receive safety training once a year. Last year, I went on my day off, but this time I had completely forgotten about it.
"You've been assigned to Safety Training Group 4." "Then, where should I go?" "Starting from Group 4, it's in the annex... so please go to Okchun Hall." "Okchun... Understood."
I was curious why the annex was named Okchun Hall, but it was more important to know how many people there would recognize me.
'Most of the people who know me are former employers.'
Most of those employers had treated me like a porter or an errand boy, casually swearing at me without a second thought.
"What the. Isn't that Glass Cannon?" "Eh? I heard rumors were bad this time, didn't he quit being a Hunter?" "I heard that too... Ah! Did he forget to return his license?" "Pfft... That r*tard is definitely capable of that."
From the moment I started entering E-Rank Gates, many people looked at me strangely. However, since I had officially renewed my license, no one had blatantly ignored me like that recently.
"Hey! Glass Cannon! If you're here, come and greet your hyung-nim!" "No, why call him for nothing?" "Ah, come on. Just stay put. I'll show you something interesting."
Unfortunately, one of them was the worst employer I had ever met in the past. He was someone who had even used violence against me.
"What is it?" "This bastard...? Why are you so stiff? Don't want to go to a Gate?" "I have no intention of entering a Gate with you." "…What?"
Not only him, but the Hunters gathered with him wore dumbfounded expressions. I maintained an indifferent expression and stared at him.
"Is, is this guy crazy?! If not me, who would call for you?!"
Other Hunters who had entered Okchun Hall were looking this way with intrigued expressions. Some of them probably knew that my rank had risen.
"I'll say it again. I have no intention of entering a Gate with you." "…Ha. This bastard. He's out of his mind." "I think you are the one out of your mind." "What is he sayin—?" "It's my Hunter license. Would you like to look at the skill section?"
He seemed to look at my license with a flustered expression, then suddenly his face contorted in shock.
"Be prepared. For this incident..." "Lies! It's a lie!" "What are you talking about?" "F*ck! You expect me to believe that a Glass Cannon got a Status Effect Removal skill?!"
I looked at him with an expression that said 'what are you going to do if you don't believe it?', and he frowned and made a call somewhere.
"Is this the Association Investigation Division?! I found a guy who forged a Hunter license!" "You'll regret this." "I'm telling you it's real?! Yes! This is the Hunter Association Okchun Hall! The place for safety training! Yes! Please come quickly!"
He hung up the phone, sighed, and looked around. Confirming that most people wore expressions of disbelief, he smiled meanly and spoke.
"You're f*cked now." "We'll see about that." "What are you all doing? Catch this criminal bastard!"
Hearing his words, the other Hunters just glanced around with serious expressions, not moving. It seemed they were wary because the power of my skill was extraordinary.
"I have no intention of running away, though?" "Not that you don't intend to, you can't run away!" "Well, think whatever is comfortable for you... but you. What do you plan to do if that license is real?" "…."
Forgery of a Hunter license is a felony, punishable by at least 10 years in prison if caught. Since imprisoning a Hunter is nearly impossible, they are punished by being deployed to Gates under Association surveillance and worked hard.
"It's not just a false report, it's a false report against a Hunter." "False my ass! Even if it's real, it's a mistaken report, you r*tard!" "Idiot. Did you forget that the mistaken report system doesn't apply to Hunter licenses?" "Uh...?"
With a cold expression, I pointed to my license he was holding. On the back of the Hunter license, there was a Hunter Association certification mark, meticulously crafted by a Production-class Hunter belonging to the Association.
"Reporting despite knowing the meaning of that certification mark is considered an insult to the Association, even if it is a mistaken report. You must have learned that too?" "…F*ck off! There's no way this is real!" "You'll find out soon enough."
As soon as I finished speaking, the doors of Okchun Hall opened, and 10 heavily armed Hunters appeared. They ran quickly and surrounded us without asking questions.
"Which one is the reporter?" "It's me! Look at this! This bastard forged a Hunter license!" "…We will verify it first." "Yes! Here!"
He had a triumphant expression, but less than 30 seconds later, he froze stiff at the sound he heard.
—Beep. [Registration Number K.D.F-19-3724-72 Han Seo-jun. Judged Rank: C-Rank. Innate Ability: Unknown. Owned Skills: Magic Missile, Status Effect Removal.]
"…It is normal?" "That, that can't be! The machine made an err—!" "Hey! Who do you think made this machine to be doubting it!" "So check it again! That's really a forged license!" "Haa... You are considered to have insulted the Hunter Association, an international organization. We are arresting you immediately as a flagrant offender."
He looked at me with a pale face, then was dragged away by the Investigation Division staff. The employee who had verified the authenticity of my Hunter license approached me and handed it back.
"How do you wish to proceed with the punishment?" "Is it okay for me to decide?" "We are asking for your opinion first, but the severity of punishment varies depending on the victim's wishes." "Just give him the maximum. Since he dared to insult the Hunter Association." "…We will convey that."
Saying that, the Investigation Division staff disappeared, and silence fell inside Okchun Hall. But a moment later. A few people approached me with expressions of great surprise.
"Why didn't you announce it?" "You mean that I obtained the Status Effect Removal skill?" "Yes. If you just verified the skill, you could have received our protection." "I'm already receiving sufficient protection."
Saying that, I held out the emblem I had received a few days ago by intentionally visiting the Daemyung Guild.
"Ah~ You joined the Daemyung Guild? Then you certainly didn't need to contact us." "…It wasn't that I ignored the Purification Technology Alliance." "Yes. I understand. It seems you renewed your license recently, did you join the guild as soon as you confirmed the skill?" "Yes. I joined on the day of certification."
He nodded with a regrettable expression and handed me his business card.
"If you ever leave the Daemyung Guild, please contact us. Our Alliance's doors are always open." "Yes. Understood." "Ah. And. For those close to that person just now, our Alliance will refuse the use of skills." "Isn't that too light a matter for the Alliance to move on...?" "It's an incident involving a Status Effect Removal skill holder. We have to make an example."
One of the reasons I rented the Status Effect Removal skill lay precisely with this Purification Technology Alliance. Commonly known as the Purifiers, they are a group that uses skills strictly for their own benefit.
'But even if you don't join the Alliance, they try to protect Status Effect Removal skill holders thoroughly.'
So if the Purifiers declare a boycott, Status Effect Removal skill holders residing in the country also join in. Even powerful people who aren't free from the danger of disease tend to overlook the Purifiers' boycott declarations.
"…I appreciate the Alliance's consideration." "Yes. That's enough. Let's meet again later if the opportunity arises." "Yes. See you again."
He and the other Status Effect Removal skill holders all smiled, greeted me, and left. Those who had blatantly ignored me were looking at me with terrified expressions.
"Do you have something to say?" "N-no?! No... uh, nothing!" "You should have something to say... specifically, an apology or something." "Ah...!"
Originally, I didn't intend to receive an apology, but I brought it up because the people from the Purifiers were watching. If they didn't apologize here, they would also get swept up in the Purifiers' boycott declaration.
'Not because I want to let them off, but because I hate the idea of innocent people connected to them being unable to receive treatment.'
They hesitated for a moment, but soon knelt before me with gloomy expressions.
"I, I am sorry. I was wrong." "I will never do it again! Please forgive me!" "…Next time we meet, let's greet each other with a smile." "Yes! Yes, yes! I'll definitely greet you!" "Have you heard of the 90-degree bow?! I am absolutely amazing at bowin—!"
They chattered loudly for a while so that other people could hear, an action clearly conscious of the Purifiers' gaze.
"Training will start soon. Find a suitable place to sit and listen." "Yes! Understood!" "Thank you!"
They disappeared, extremely grateful that I gave them a hint so they wouldn't be late.
'...Training. I hope it ends quickly.'