"Your stats are C-rank, but they're close to B. If you train a little, they'll get to B-rank."Kim Minee scratched the back of his head at my words."
No, I want to live comfortably, actually."
"...Then why did you decide by flipping a coin? It would be less bothersome to stay a B-rank."
"You don't have to study if you're an S-rank, you know. Guild Leader-nim also said he got a score of 4.0 without even going to a single class."
A score of 4.0? what did he mean?
Even if a perfect score wasn't out of 100, but out of 10, 4 wasn't even half of that."If you don't take classes, you'll get 4?""Sorry? Ah, out of a 4.5 GPA."
"Excuse me?"
A perfect GPA isn't even 5, but 4.5?
What's wrong with the scoring.
Anyway, you could skip class by raiding dungeons, but you'd have to do the homework and take tests.
Kim Minee, a student whose career was paid for since he wasn't expelled, but who was getting poor grades, clenched his fists, saying that he'd gradually raise his GPA as an S-rank.
"If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have fretted over it for a long time and would've just stayed rank B."
"Ah, yes. If you're S-rank, you won't be able to go around dungeons and receive money daily."
"Huh, really?"
In addition, it'll destroy part of your life.
IAnyway, if I applied the keyword and raised him, he'd go up to stat B. It'd be nice if I could raise him to A-rank, but it'd be hard. After Noah, I said I wouldn't use the keyword, but he didn't seem to have any risk factors.
Kim Minee's skills ranged from A-rank to C-rank. The A-rank skill was a defense buff with an extremely strong effect, so he'd even have been able to join an A-rank team if only his stats had followed suit. However, he was a support protected only by C-rank stats, so A-rank dungeons were the limit.
"If we just set the stats to S-rank, we'll be able to get you recognized as an S-rank Hunter. Then, swallow this and sleep comfortably."
Kim Minee looked about to cry at the sight of the pills.
"Again?"
"You'll see each other often in the future, so get friendly."
We couldn't just abandon an S-rank identity that could be faked and could move around. I'll try not to commit any crime.
I decided to contact the Hunter Association to get Kim Minee's Hunter ranking re-evaluated. Of course, the sleeping Kim Minee wouldn't be the one getting measured. Instead, it was Noah who would go to the Association.
"I'm sorry to ask this of you suddenly."
"Not at all. It's no problem."
Noah smiled with glasses on. They looked good on him. I didn't think they'd look as good on me. He looked like an overseas model filming with a college student concept.
Once the glasses were used to turn into Kim Minee, getting an S-rank certification would be easy. However, it was likely that any S-rank Hunter's stats would cause trouble after being measured. In particular, Stamina and Strength were stats that were noticeable in everyday life. As a fake S-rank, even a light handshake with a higher-ranked Hunter would have gotten him caught out.
Therefore, we decided to have his measurements taken while his Stamina and Strength stats were lowered.
"Here's the contract with the stat-decreasing penalty."
I held out the S-rank contract and the pen I'd prepared to Noah. For an S-rank, Noah had low Stamina and Strength stats. If you looked at the two stats, they were closer to A-rank, so it was possible to lower the stats by breaking a contract, then drop it below A-rank with the help of a debuff skill from a Haeyeon Hunter. At that rate, if I got Kim Minee to B-rank stats and adjusted his items appropriately, there would be no doubt about his ranking.
Of course, if his stats were lowered, they'd fall short of the S-rank average. So.
"Noah oppa, long time no see~"
Yerim-ie came into the room, waving her hands. Yerim-ie's Mana stat was uniquely high. With Noah's Stat Rental skill, if he borrowed half of Yerim-ie's Mana stat and used the buff from Shadowless Day, he'd be able to reach the S-rank stat average with the inflated Mana stat.
And the Mana stat usually didn't show at all, whether if was F-rank or S-rank.
"Stat Rental and the buffs don't last very long, so you have to use them after we arrive at the Association."
Yerim-ie's Shadowless Day buff disappeared after only a little time. So we had to get to the Association, use it, and finish the measurements as soon as possible.
"Noah-ssi, here's a mask. Since the shapes your lips make are obvious."
When he used a translation item, it was hard to notice, since he sounded exactly like a native Korean speaker, but they had different mouth movements. I gave Noah the mask and we went outside. After receiving the Stamina debuff from the waiting Hunter, we headed to the parking lot. Yerim-ie and I didn't have a license yet, so Noah was in the driver's seat.
"I have to get a driver's license. Ahjussi, you getting kidnapped isn't on the schedule for this weekend, is it?"
"It's not, but I might have to go to Japan."
"Really? Can I come too?"
"If you study hard for all the classes you're falling behind in."
With a lot of grumbling, she agreed. In the meantime, the car started and Noah's hands skillfully turned the steering wheel. I was a little worried when he said he'd be behind the wheel, but he was good.
Even though he was old enough to be a guild leader, I kept worrying about him.There were already several reporters near the Association building.
I didn't want him to get caught on camera, so I told him to use a blurring item, but we didn't give up.Before getting out of the car, Noah and Yerim-ie used their skills.
"I'm going to the Hunter Mall, do you need anything?"
"Get me about three or four S-rank contracts and some mana potions. Here's the card."
I handed over the Seseong Guild Leader's card and told her to pay with it. Yerim-ie, who took the card without protesting, laughed.
"Can I really use it?"
"Of course. And while you're at it, find out what the limit is."
"Yeeep! I'll be back!"
She got out of the car excitedly. S-rank items were only available through auction, so it wouldn't be enough to get rid of Seseong Guild. If I spent 1 million won, would he call me to return the credit card?
"Then, Noah-ssi—I mean, Hunter Kim Minee. Shall we go?"
"Yes."
Noah nodded and wore the mask. When we got out of the car, reporters approached us, but we ignored everything and walked inside. We needed to be sure to take the measurements before the buff and debuff effects dropped.
"Come this way, please."
The waiting Association staff showed us to the measurement room. On the way, we heard a loud noise. Someone was yelling.
"Is something the matter?"
"Ah, some MKC Hunters have come. They're complaining about the seizure of S-ranked dungeons and items, since their guild leader is still missing."
The Association staff said with a sigh.
"We're all A-rank Hunters, so it's hard to handle, but since the vice chairman told us not to call Chief Song-nim, the scuffle is running longer."
"The interim vice chairman?"
"It's not confirmed yet, but Director Choi Eunyeong will be in charge."
I'd heard she was returning as one of the board members of the Association, but to think she was vice chairman. I agreed with her that they shouldn't call Song Taewon. Despite their close cooperation, their affiliations were different. It wasn't a good idea to rely too strongly on Song Taewon; they should handle it with the Association's own power unless it's an emergency.
'Things definitely improve when you change out the upper ranks.
'I hoped I wouldn't have to worry about it any more.
"I'll re-evaluate just the stats, as requested."
The stats were soon measured. His Stamina and Strength were low enough to be a mid-ranking Hunter's, but his Mana was the highest not only among domestic Hunters, but also international ones. The unusual stats made the Association staff give him curious looks, but the average stats were nonetheless calculated as S-rank.
The Association staff whispered about the measurement results and made a phone call to an upper line. After a moment, the employee opened his mouth with a slightly perplexed expression.
"Skill rank A with S-rank stats. To begin with, he's an S-rank support Hunter... Our opinions are divided on the possibility of Hunter Kim Minee raiding S-rank dungeons."
"Hunter Kim Minee won't take part in dungeon raids due to his nature."
"What? He won't raid dungeons?"
"Correct. You've heard about Hunter Kim Minee's performance over the last few days. Unlike the measured stats, it is thanks to a newly acquired skill that he's able to show the ability of an S-rank combat Hunter. It's a skill that converts the Mana stat to other stats."
Of course, he had no such skill in reality. The Association staff looked surprised at my words.
"Ah, so that's why... Certainly, if you have Hunter Kim Minee's Mana stat level, you'll be able to act as a combat Hunter when you convert it to other stats. But why will he not be raiding dungeons?"
"It's because the skill has a time limit and a cooldown period. It's a skill that's not suitable for long-term dungeon raids. So he'll be entering dungeons from time to time as a support, and will mainly protect Haeyeon Guild and the monster rearing facility."
In other words, he was a semi-S-rank Hunter who couldn't raid dungeons. However, his value in that other S-rank Hunters would be able to securely take over the vacated spot while 'entering' a dungeon was more than enough.I reached out and smiled, putting my hand on Noah's—Kim Minee's—shoulder.
"In particular, he'll be paying a lot of attention to the rearing facility. We've been through a lot here and there, so he's reassuring."
Noah looked at me and gave me a smile.
"I see. He must be very reliable. I've heard that you two have a good relationship."
"Yes. He's like a beloved little brother. I've received his help in many ways."
Even now, he was acting as Kim Minee. I didn't do much for him, but I was only sorry I received so much.
There was some more discussion about how he couldn't properly raid S-rank dungeons, but the basic conditions were satisfied, so Kim Minee's Hunter ranking was safely raised up to S-rank.
However, they said it'd be difficult for him to be treated as an S-rank in practice. Would he actually be around A-rank?
It was as we were waiting for the reissued Hunter certificate after finishing the ranking correction procedure.
Kwang!
"You can't do this here!"
The door opened roughly and several Hunters came in, shrugging off Association staff members. One of the men glared at Noah and shouted.
"Kim Minee! What the hell did you do to Guild Leader-nim?"
Holy shit. It was the MKC guild members. He seemed to know that Kim Minee—Yoohyun-ie—and Choi Sukwon were supposed to meet. In other words, he was a close aide to Choi Sukwon.
I quickly hugged Noah and whispered.
"Has the curse lifted? I think the debuff still has a few minutes before it lifts."
"It's gone. There's six... five minutes left."
Noah was a support, and right now he couldn't even partially transform, so he was at a disadvantage against the A-rank Hunters until the debuff was completely lifted.
Using Eunhye, I turned and stood as if to protect Noah.
"Without their owner, the sons of bitches are running wild with their leashes undone."
I muttered as if talking to myself, but it reached the A-rank Hunters' ears perfectly. Their faces twisted instantly.
"What is this bastard saying now...!"
"You heard that? Sorry. But it wasn't wrong. If I'd been Choi Sukwon, I wouldn't have let my dogs bark and lose face."
He couldn't crack down on his guild, he got me kidnapped, and he might even have been the mastermind of the kidnapping. He threw corruption into his incompetence, too.
"Why don't you apologize on your incompetent guild leader's behalf while we're facing each other? If you keep your head down and tail me, I can find you a new owner. Haeyeon, Seseong, Breaker, anyone."
When I asked if they knew about the connections I had, two men involuntarily looked tempted. Choi Sukwon's close aide, who noticed them, flushed all the way down to his neck.
"You bastards!"
Peook, one of the Hunters who was attracted by my words was hit in the face by a wildly swinging fist and sent staggering. Choi Sukwon's aide also kicked the other one, then stormed towards me.
"I'm sure you know something, you bastard!"
"Of course. I saw it myself. Should I describe in detail how Choi Sukwon ran away with his tail between his legs? How he was whining about not wanting to die—"
A big hand reached out to seize me by the collar. But before it could reach, Noah moved. Noah's hand grabbed his wrist and crushed it at a speed so fast I couldn't track it.
"Please step back."
With a gentle voice, Noah, who stood in front of me, folded a long leg and slammed it into the man's stomach.
"Keok!"
Then, the folded-over body was lifted up and thrown away with ease. Another scream rang out before, kwadangtang, the crash between the body and the furniture had ended. Before I could even follow it with my eyes, the Hunter had passed out and slid across the floor.
"He's really an S-rank fighter!"
The Association staff admired the collapsed MKC Hunters. Our Noah's stats were a bit on the low side, but he isn't an ordinary support. After a moment, the situation was cleared up in an instant.
"What's with these sons of bitches!"
Yerim-ie bounced in with glaring eyes. Wrapped in cold mist, she looked around and made a regretful noise, asking if it was already over.
"You did your shopping?"
"Yeah! I spent over 5 million, but it didn't go over the limit."
"Well used. Good job."
Our Yerim-ie, you spend a lot of money. I looked at my phone, but there was no contact from Skill-ssi. It was a bit disappointing.
Taking the card and mana potions from Yerim-ie, I looked back at the Association staff.