Chapter 15
“Um, is it true that Oppa is Dan Oppa?”
“You already told him? How did you introduce him?”
“The Guild Master said that Dan Oppa is a super strong hunter. So today, he’s going to help Gru too.”
“Really? Jurim hyung said that?”
He brightened up noticeably, clearly in a good mood.
Was Dan Oppa happy that the Guild Master acknowledged him too?
“Yesss.”
Then the Guild Master added that he’s a bit of a crazy person, so stay away from him, to avoid getting caught up in unnecessary trouble.
Gru, lost in thought for a moment, zipped his lips. He shouldn’t say this out loud.
Gru looked at Gidan warmly as he enjoyed the happiness radiating from him.
Dan Oppa had teased the kindergartner, but Gru would maturely protect Dan Oppa’s feelings.
‘Is this what social life is like?’
Gru really was growing up. He wiped his nose, then patted Gidan on the shoulder in a comforting gesture.
Gidan smiled, a question mark floating above his head.
Then—
Ding!
[Prospective caregiver detected. Increase attachment points to register as a caregiver.]
Hee, Gru opened his mouth in surprise.
‘S-rank, huh…’
Looking at Gidan’s mischievous face and the status window, Gru shook his head.
‘Gru, you don’t need to be so desperate.’
The caregiver slot wouldn’t just accept anyone.
‘Hmph!’
Not even realizing that there wasn’t really a choice, Gru snorted and asked:
“But, Oppa… what was that earlier? Was it magic?”
“Earlier? Ah—”
Gidan smiled nonchalantly.
“A skill penalty. You know what that is?”
“I know! When you clap really hard, your hands hurt!”
It was common knowledge that the stronger an active skill, the more likely it was to have restrictions.
“Oh, even silly Gru knows that?” Gidan teased, and Gru turned his head with a “tch.”
“Are you sulking?”
“No.”
“Aha, you are sulking.”
Gru didn’t meet his gaze but murmured in a worried tone:
“But Dan Oppa, why did you use it then?”
Right in front of the Guild Master’s office.
“Ah!”
Gidan’s eyes twinkled as he smiled beautifully.
“I did it to try and snatch the number one ranking when hyung’s mind was wandering. But you’re normal, huh? Too bad.”
Huh?
…Was he joking or not?
But would someone go that far just as a joke? Gru recalled the red blood he saw earlier and asked with concern:
“But wouldn’t it hurt if you don’t use that skill…?”
“No.”
For some reason, Gidan’s voice was cool and calm, almost chilling.
“I have to get stronger.”
In the strange atmosphere, Gru looked up at Gidan.
“All right, we’re here.”
Gidan smiled again and opened the door.
Jurim, perched on the desk and on a call, turned his head toward the two.
“Hyung, today we decided to give up the coup because of Gru. I didn’t know you loved Dan that much.”
Jurim’s face showed clear disgust at the nonsense, but Gru had an exclamation mark floating above his head.
‘…!’
Had Gru just protected the Guild Master?
Was it because of the bribe earlier?
Even though it wasn’t intentional, he had accomplished something.
Gru stretched out his arms proudly toward Jurim, asking for praise.
Jurim ended the call and scooped Gru up.
Gru secretly hoped for a compliment, but Jurim just said flatly:
“Stop talking nonsense and let’s go.”
“…!”
Awakened Ones Management Bureau – Yeouido Branch, Awakened Registration Center
‘They say these days he’s a doting uncle.’
Lee Yujeong, a counter staff at the center, recalled how many parents obsessed over their daughters or sons had visited the Awakened Registration Center recently.
It was truly the era of the Awakened.
Not only could they earn huge money as hunters, but also sports stars and popular broadcasters had become hunters, and YouTube’s top 10 trending videos were filled with hunter strategy guides.
Moreover, changes in various industries brought by dungeon byproducts had led universities to favor Awakened candidates.
This shift in university trends influenced the education market, and highly ambitious South Korean parents would never miss out on this.
“Awaken and get a free pass to university!”
“Summer special lecture registration for prospective Awakened starts now!”
“Korean University Awakened admissions briefing for elementary students”
While companies profited from this advertising, Yujeong was a public servant. She got the same pay but did all the hard work.
In short, she had to deal with countless parents who refused to accept that their children were non-Awakened while earning barely anything.
‘Another typical day…’
Yujeong smiled faintly as she looked at Shin Nayeon, grinning in front of her. Even though she was a junior staff member, she was also part of the industry. She couldn’t ignore a top 10 ranked hunter like Nayeon.
‘She looks even prettier in person.’
If Nayeon hadn’t suddenly wanted to re-register as an Awakened… Yujeong turned her gaze to the side.
A child of about three or four smiled sweetly.
‘…Cute.’
She mustn’t be her daughter, as there was no news of marriage. At most, she might be a niece.
‘Even a ranked hunter can’t compete with a niece.’
Yujeong nervously took the paper the child handed her. It was a simple form to fill out stats and skills.
Han Gru. 4 years old. All stats 1. In the skill column, in wobbly handwriting: “Prickly-Prickly! (F)”
‘The skill is cute too.’
Yujeong smoothed her beaming lips.
Of course, you couldn’t really determine if someone was Awakened from a scrap of paper. Many people with rich imaginations submitted fantasy story-style settings on one sheet.
“Han Gru, what kind of ability is this skill? Does it make thorns come out of your body?”
“No. It just pricks a little if it hits Gru’s weapon.”
“Ah, how cute… no, would you like to try the skill here?”
Yujeong held out her hand. It’s convenient to test a skill this directly.
But Gru hesitated, looking at Yujeong’s hand.
“Well, it might hurt…”
Ah, now I understand why Nayeon became a doting aunt…
“It’s very sturdy, so it’ll be fine. We need to check the skill, so can you try it lightly here?”
“Yesss…”
Hesitant, Gru gently placed his only weapon, a duck-shaped clip, on her arm.
“Ah!”
A sharp prick. Yujeong was startled, and Gru quickly hugged the clip to himself.
Nayeon reassured him that it was okay, and Yujeong patted Gru’s head.
It really does prick. Yujeong, hiding her slight surprise, stood up holding the form.
“Shall we follow? I’ll take you to the measurement room.”
“Let’s go, Gru.”
“Yesss.”
Nayeon and Gru followed the staff as the CCTV tracked them.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
Gru, standing in front of the door labeled “Measurement Room,” swallowed nervously.
‘Here we go!’
Inside, machines would measure stats and skill potential.
Nayeon, sending something on her phone, smiled at Gru.
“You don’t need to worry, Gru. They’ll handle everything well.”
Gru nodded slightly and stepped inside.
Gidan in Stealth Mode
Gidan, wearing a headset, walked through the “Dungeon Ecological Exhibit.”
The Bureau oversaw basic dungeon education. This was to prevent Awakened hunters from recklessly entering dungeons and dying like sunfish after getting their licenses.
Since strategy videos made monsters accessible even to the public, many initially questioned whether the exhibit was a waste of taxes.
However, the Bureau claimed that beginner hunter survival rates had greatly increased, proving it wasn’t just bureaucratic.
In the exhibit, monsters were preserved alive in circular tanks with special solutions. The solution put the monsters into hibernation, but if the tank broke due to mismanagement, the monsters would run wild.
Since it was a weekday morning, there were almost no visitors.
‘The blessings of the kindergarten gods,’ Gidan hummed cheerfully while walking between the tanks.
“To summon all Bureau hunters…”
Passing by the monsters, Gidan stopped at one spot.
‘At least it should be about this strong.’
