The Hunter Association is always busy.
When towers rose across the world, reaching the point where they were directly tied to the end of humanity—
The role of the Hunter Association, which managed hunters to prevent such disasters, had suddenly surged to become the most vital element of human civilization.
The world needed hunters.
Of course, if someone lacked talent, they might be assigned a different resource regeneration role instead of becoming a hunter.
Still, hunters—who had the most direct impact on tower raids—were everyone's main focus.
And recently, South Korea's 21st awakener had appeared.
Name: Kim Do-yoon, male. Age: 26.
We wouldn't know what would hatch from the egg until it did, but South Korea was currently in a talent shortage.
The association's talent scouting team hoped he possessed the skills to shine for South Korea.
'...Please have hunter aptitude!'
And today.
The man receiving this immense attention without even knowing it finally pushed open the association's door and stepped inside.
#
💬 Boss Mob Gallery— My PostTitle: Phew... I'm nervous -(Hunter Association main entrance photo) Never imagined I'd come here in my life... I've been preparing hard, so it should be fine somehow;— AnonymousKyaah! Association entry post lol— AnonymousWhoa, so that's what the association looks like— AnonymousSo that's where they churn out those monster-like hunters, right?— My PostNah nah; it's not just there—associations are everywhere worldwide— AnonymousLooks just like a factory lol— AnonymousBut inside the tower, there aren't many Earthlings anyway?— AnonymousEarth hunter numbers are low to begin with
Before taking the official awakener exam, Kim Do-yoon summoned the Boss Mob Gallery with a trembling heart, seeking courage.
Drawing strength from the same old words of encouragement (?) as always, he steadied his resolve.
— Paper Enthusiast*What prep have you done?— My PostRan hard every morning, watched your memes for two hours a day— AnonymousLmao...— AnonymousShown to a newbie...— AnonymousTeacher...— AnonymousOh please— Paper Enthusiast*Good job. Just keep doing what you're doing, and you should pass smoothly?
— My PostTitle: Not sure if this is right I wonder if just looking at your memes a few times will even work...— AnonymousNot even a veteran hunter to begin with, so it definitely works lol— AnonymousObvious no hunter experience lol— AnonymousJust spam lololol— AnonymousBetter than throwing him straight into stages from the start; way more efficient;— Paper Enthusiast*Hmm. Trolling?— AnonymousGasp— AnonymousActually provoking to dig up more Wine Lord pics?— AnonymousOh, a retard?— AnonymousYep lol
— My PostTitle: The facts are... The difference between having seen tower floor bosses with your own eyes or not is like heaven and earth... And whether with the naked eye or through these refined filters. That's different too lol;— My PostHonestly, I don't feel much difference, but gotta try anyway— AnonymousPost a review when back— AnonymousNo review = shit your pants— AnonymousWhy shit ffs— AnonymousKya, it'll be a blast— AnonymousKRAAAAAGH!!
He didn't know about anything else, but looking at Wine Lord's photos made his heart race—that much he could feel.
'This must be Wine Lord's blessing too.'
Is this love?
He had never seen anyone—or rather, any being—as beautiful as her in his life, and the thrill from back then still made his heart pound.
"Phew..."
On cue with the time, he rose from his seat and headed to the association's main entrance.
-Whirr...
Passing through the glass doors that smoothly parted left and right, he strode confidently to the counter where the guide was stationed.
"Um... today for the awakening—"
"Yes~ Kim Do-yoon, Awakener. Confirmed."
"...Wait. My ID—"
"Yes! All verification complete. Please wait in your seat, and we'll call you shortly."
...?
Kim Do-yoon was flustered.
'This easy?'
This was a national top institution, after all. Did things really get processed this smoothly?
Sitting in the provided seat with a dazed expression, people who seemed to be there for him soon approached.
One in a sharp suit fit.
The other in a shabby hoodie facing Kim Do-yoon.
Their gazes carried unknown emotions, starting to feel burdensome.
Just then, the suited man smiled softly and greeted first.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Kim Do-yoon. We've been waiting."
"Ah... yes."
"Another awakener from South Korea—what a blessing... Ah! My name is Choi Geon-woo."
"Hello."
"My position is Awakener Handler at the Gangnam branch here... And this is."
Choi Geon-woo's gaze shifted to the person beside him.
The woman in the shabby hoodie from earlier.
But her striking beauty turned even that casual outfit into fashion.
"Jo Ha-rin. Hunter."
"Hunter, ah..."
"Heard a new awakener showed up after so long, got curious and came to see. Don't feel too pressured."
Jo Ha-rin stepped forward and offered a handshake first.
Kim Do-yoon took her hand and exchanged simple greetings.
"Then, let me guide you."
The suited man, Choi Geon-woo, led the way with a friendly smile.
Do-yoon couldn't quite grasp the association's warm reception.
Maybe because until just a few months ago, he'd been working in places where everyone cursed each other out.
People treating him kindly felt strangely awkward.
-Step. Step.
Jo Ha-rin walked beside Do-yoon, blankly staring at her phone.
After a short walk, a massive lecture hall welcomed him.
"We'll give you a basic orientation here."
"Yes."
Choi Geon-woo headed to the large screen at the front, while Jo Ha-rin casually took a seat in the corner.
Do-yoon perceptively sat in the front row.
-Whirr...
The screen lit up with a soft hum, boldly displaying the words 'Hunt Business'.
"Do-yoon, do you know much about hunters?"
"Uh... people who gear up and raid towers."
"Correct."
Choi Geon-woo smiled and operated the remote.
-Ding.
The next screen showed hunters in gear raiding the tower.
Some with shields, others with spears—
photos of them facing monsters several times their size.
"These are South Korea's future! Hunters fighting for justice and peace inside the tower."
Choi Geon-woo continued.
Towers, national disaster-level structures, had risen in the world. Fail to clear them in time, and they collapse.
Spawning a hell called 'Gate Break' in reality.
Hunters were humanity's heroes, at the forefront preventing such catastrophes.
-Thump. Thump.
Listening, Do-yoon felt his heart race unwittingly.
A strange anxiety.
If a Gate Break happened, would the gallery users pop out?
They seemed like crazy meme-spammers on the surface, but their positions hit home again.
"Awakener Kim Do-yoon, you've earned the chance to become one of those heroes."
"...Yes."
-Ding.
Next screen.
A massive simulation room photo popped up.
Sterile, like a lab.
"What's that?"
"Before entering the tower, it's a simulation room to measure how well you can endure the environment inside the floors."
"So..."
"Ordinary humans entering the tower face a kind of 'load' from then on. To operate there, we check your mana resistance level via this room."
"Mana resistance?"
Memories from past days flashed in Kim Do-yoon's mind.
Building mental fortitude by viewing all sorts of gallery boss memes, aka cringe pics.
'I'm confident.'
Floor mana load?
What was that compared to anything.
He'd checked out the mugshots of the top monster bosses there.
'Wine Lord is my breather.'
Forgiving the sole healing pic's owner, Kim Do-yoon secretly built his confidence.
"No need to worry too much. The test is always conducted safely for the awakener."
Misreading Do-yoon's firm expression, Choi Geon-woo reassured him with a relaxed face.
"Yep."
"Don't chicken out. It doesn't hurt."
Jo Ha-rin added encouragement from the back.
"If you're really sensitive, you might pass out, but that's rare."
"Ah."
Actually, he got a bit anxious.
#
-Whirr...
The firmly shut simulation room door opened.
Around it, researcher-looking folks in white coats tapped away at clipboards.
It's fine, it's fine, he told himself.
But the atmosphere grew colder and stiffer the closer he got.
"Hoo..."
Right before entering the room, he slipped into the bathroom and logged into 'Boss Mob Gallery'.
— My PostTitle: Newbie heading to the test now... -Super nervous lol— Paper Enthusiast*What's the test?— AnonymousArmband freak reacting lol— AnonymousAlways-on standby obsession armband;— My PostSomething about mana resistance test?— AnonymousMana resistance?— AnonymousAh, the 'load' thing— My PostYeah that's it— AnonymousWhat is that, weeb?— AnonymousThis guy's so clueless about load he doesn't even know boss mob lol— War God*Squeak squeak pop?— AnonymousTranslation: Load means being affected by the tower lord's mana inside the tower— AnonymousOh how'd you translate?— AnonymousJust said whatever I wanted?— AnonymousAha!
— Aged Wine is...*Hawawa...! Then no need to worry at all~!— Paper Enthusiast*Ah, then you'll pass easy— My PostThis actually works, right?;— Aged Wine is...*Hoe~...! An Earth load test can't be stronger than my photos...!— AnonymousFor real lol— AnonymousHow could some machine beat Tower Lord's pressure lol— AnonymousRight? I just need one photo too...
The gallery's reaction was positive.
Do-yoon wasn't sure if he fully got it, but since he'd pre-adapted by viewing photos of the so-called 'Tower Lord' Wine Lord.
A mere resistance test recreating part of the site would be a breeze.
'...Is this right?'
Doubtful, but these were the specialists, so it should be fine.
Gathering his own brand of confidence, Do-yoon committed to the full test.
"Ready?"
To Choi Geon-woo's kind question, Do-yoon nodded heavily and entered the room.
"Looks innocent."
Only after he left did Jo Ha-rin speak.
She'd experienced this room too.
Not a great experience.
A vague something invading her mind.
Normal people without experience would naturally reject it; the simulation existed to acclimate to that reaction.
"He'll do well."
"..."
Handler Choi Geon-woo always kept that optimistic attitude.
Even with awakeners who couldn't hack tower life and fled to production jobs.
Always the same response.
In talent-starved South Korea, it might not help much.
This Kim Do-yoon guy too.
A gentle, kind nature wouldn't help in real combat.
Inside that hell called the 'tower', demons from various worlds targeted hunters' lives in real time.
To not die, you had to kill.
Could someone with normal thinking survive?
"Oh. What, already started?"
As they quietly awaited the simulation room's activation, voices recognizing them came from afar.
Jo Ha-rin turned and spotted three figures.
Hunters.
They too operated inside the tower.
"Hey."
Jo Ha-rin nodded curtly.
Cha Yun-ha, Han Ji-hyeok, Jeong A-hyeon.
South Korea's awakeners and hunters.
"Ugh... Simulation room. Still wake up in cold sweats thinking about it."
Han Ji-hyeok laughed bitterly, opening the talk.
"Me too."
Jeong A-hyeon agreed.
That first mana experience was grosser and dirtier than anyone expected.
Many fainted, some foamed and convulsed.
Embarrassing in front of others, but essential to become a proper hunter.
"What do you think?"
Cha Yun-ha approached and asked.
"Of what?"
"To you, does he seem like he'll do well?"
"Hmm..."
Jo Ha-rin pondered briefly, answering on gut.
"No."
"Total normie anyway. That says it all."
Hoping it wouldn't leave a painful trauma, the four hunters watched the industry newbie.
But moments later.
⚔ TEST RESULT ⚔
No rejection response!
Test perfectly passed...!
"S-Rank! Hi, historic potential value...!"
"...Huh?"
To the bewildered murmur no one knew who uttered, the hunters' gazes blankly turned beyond the simulation room.