The civilians cheered at Arayuki, falling to the ground, after killing the four demons, then evaporating into the sky. Natsuya, Akira, and Haruka ran at Arayuki, checking for his injuries and talking about how he fought.
Natsuya: "This was brilliant! I wish I fought like that!"
Akira: "Good job! I never doubted you."
Haruka: "You're my hero! If it wasn't for you, we would be obliterated!"
Arayuki blushed, flattered by Haruka's comment.
Arayuki: "T-T-Thanks... you would also be one someday," he said, rubbing his shoulders.
Haruka: "You were like Sang-min when you broke out of the demon's hand! You truly demonstrated your strategic skills!"
Arayuki: "Ehhh.... yeah! It was peak!"
Haruka: "Why the nervousness?"
Arayuki: "N-N-Nothing. It's just... the crowd cheering on me."
*hiding his thoughts about Haruka's comment while people are cheering.
Haruka: "Well... don't worry about it."
* * *
4:50 PM. 10 Minutes before approval.
When the four of them walked around the city, going to Starbucks, then buying sodas from the vending machine, Arayuki did his job, telling almost everything about the corporation, also saying it is a secret organization. Every day, the average number of how many people who sign the form to join the corporation is 64. Only 8 out of 64 are eligible to get in. The criteria of acceptance follow Skill, Experience, Endurance, Adaptability, Strategy, and, importantly, Confidence. This is viewed by the recruiter who observes people as they write their application, and then the corporation views the application carefully.
Natsuya: "*Checking his watch* We have 10 Minutes until approval! Let's run to the recruiter to see who's accepted!"
Haruka: "Well... I did not sign up to be a hunter; I still like my job making mints.
Akira: "Making violence is better than making money."
Arayuki: "Then, make dumb habits! It's the same as making violence!"
Akira: "Nobody asked you!"
Arayuki: "Says you! You bang your head on the wall for no reason!"
Akira: "Yeah, at least I have more durability, unlike you!"
Arayuki: "Arguing with the man who survived a near-fatal grip from a giant? You can't survive that!"
Akira: "Oh yeah? How about you survive this?"
*Akira attempts to punch Arayuki*
This argument started to get intense, as they started fighting with punches and kicks, causing a full-blown fight scene.
Haruka: "There they go again, just as always, they always fight."
Natsuya: "I know, right?"
Arayuki: "*Kicking* Stupid tendencies!"
Akira: "*Punching* Paranoid!"
Arayuki kicks Akira in the body, which he endured without being knocked back, somehow, while Akira punches Arayuki, before blocking his fist targeting his face. This fight kept going on until Haruka pinched Akira and Arayuki by their ears, completely stopping the fight.
Haruka: "I guess you guys should think before taking action!"
Arayuki: "Y-yes, Haruka!"
Akira: "Fair point, we should be going."
Arayuki: "You're lucky I didn't use my powers against you."
4:55 PM. 5 Minutes have passed while we were walking downtown to the corporation. There was a stage set up, recruiters and administrators standing on top of it. They were readying their speech, ready to announce the new hunters of this corporation.
Haruka: "It's time! They're about to say the names!"
Natsuya: "*Nervous* I have never been this excited in my life."
Akira: "Please, I have to be in this program!"
Arayuki: "Calm down, guys, it may not be guaranteed for you two to get accepted, unless you have luck."
Natsuya: "Wait, it's not about ambition? Entirely from RNG?"
Arayuki: "Sort of. Well, they choose the ones who seem confident about being in this corporation, writing names down on small papers, and shuffling them randomly."
Natsuya: "How do you know all about this?"
Arayuki: "I've been in here for a while. I once saw them doing that."
Akira: "*Running around and chanting* Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease...."
Natsuya: "*Praying* Accept me as your hero..."
Akira: "*Stops running and chanting* Wait, if you become a hunter and if you get injured, will the corporation be responsible for the damage? Or what happens?"
Arayuki: "The Corporation is connected to the government; if anyone gets injured or possibly dies, they will notify the hunter's family about the details. If the hunter gets injured, depending on the damage, they may take a rest for a select number of times. It could be at least 3 weeks due to the guaranteed regeneration happening within that time. If they rest longer than that time, then they will be kicked out of the corporation unless they sign the application again."
Natsuya: "I swear, you talk a lot. You're giving every detail front and back clearly that I start to understand the full background of the corporation. It is like you can answer every question that seems to be impossible to answer, and yet you don't hesitate to answer the questions."
Arayuki: "I don't want to confuse you guys all of the time. I want to give sympathy to you guys, so you don't need to be nervous if selected. I'm glad I can use you guys as companions."
Akira: "If it wasn't for you, we would be totally confused or fail as a hunter. Survival is the key to being one."
Arayuki: "Yeah... You're right! Don't feel self-conscious! Also, I think you guys have to pay attention right now, they're announcing the names!"
A crowd of potential hunters gathered. The 4 walked in front of the stage, anticipating the eight new hunters.
Administrator: "Good Afternoon, my name is Cho-Seok Lee, the Administrator of the Cosmic Power Restoration Corporation, and I am very excited to announce the new hunters in this program. I know and recognize the selected people."
Arayuki: "*Silently* Here it comes!"
Lee: "Before we announce the selected people, quick reminder that if your name didn't get called, that's okay, but the next time filling out the application would take a while. Until June 2026, applications are available to keep a good balance and to prevent instability. We used to hand out applications every day until today, but they are available every few months. This is due to the rapid increase in hunters, and we had to find a way to reduce every hunters who are getting into the program."
Akira: "If I don't get accepted, I'm going to keep trying until I get in, no matter how long it takes."
Natsuya: "*Thinking* Please... I need me, and Akira accepted into the program!"
Lee: "I would like to take a moment of silence to honor the heroes of the Siege of Suwon. Many hunters died in the battle until The Lord of The World, TJ, won the war, leading to the hunters' victory, and earning his title. If it weren't for his victory, then the corporation would've never existed. Back then were hunters with weapons without using extraordinary powers with the grading system. Thanks to this corporation for exterminating curses relentlessly, just like the Demon incident that happened today, choosing the wise hunters to fight in decisive battles."
Arayuki: "The moment of truth, guys."
Lee: "LET'S GET READY FOR THE NEW HUNTERS!!!"