Chapter 07
High School Hunter༺High School Hunter༻
"Everyone, starting today, we have a new member joining us, Mr. Kang Ha-chan."
“My name is Kang Ha-chan.”
Upon joining Rodria, I was welcomed more warmly than I had anticipated.
It seemed like everyone already knew that I would be joining, as they greeted me with enthusiasm from the beginning.
'The team consists of 12 members, including me. Since it's a newly established company, the department is still relatively small.'
Well, with this number of members, each of us will likely have a lot on our plate. As the workload increases, being welcomed is inevitable.
I heard that the team leader here has a good relationship with the professor who spoke highly of me. It seems they even discussed my research paper on dimensional teleportation back in my second year.
"Hachan, your desk is right here. Initially, we handle about three individuals per team for the recent hunters we've been nurturing. Typically, each person manages one team. Since it's your first day, how about starting with just one person? Fortunately, we have a new recruit among the hunters."
"Is that okay? I haven't even completed my career or graduated from college. Going straight into a team without a mentor is a bit daunting."
"Ideally, we would assign a mentor, but the company is relatively new, and we're a bit tight on resources. Once you go through the materials, you'll understand why."
I nodded without complaint.
I felt their consideration quite clearly.
Even though I attended a university known for producing the best hunters in South Korea, I hadn't even managed to graduate. The theoretical classes were far from practical, and I knew I fell short compared to active hunters.
'They must have assigned me a newcomer with that consideration in mind.'
It sounds like the idea is for us to grow together.
'Maybe the initial hunter ranking for this person isn't that high.'
It was quite plausible.
Pairing someone with a moderate hunter ranking with me, and together, we could grow and become valuable assets to the company.
It seemed like the most reasonable scenario.
"I'll display the information here for you."
The team leader promptly pulled up the data of the new hunter on my screen.
The hunter's name was Yoon Ji-eun.
At the age of 19 this year, she was still not officially issued a hunter license.
"Isn't she Young?"
"Yes, but her potential is Class A. Currently, she holds a Class B ranking."
Even though she is still a minor, isn't it too much to assign it to a newbie?
I expected, at best, a C ranking.
'No, considering her age, shouldn't they assign someone more experienced with a solid background?'
Although I hesitated with a perplexed expression, I decided to go along with it.
As the team leader mentioned earlier, the primary reason was likely the shortage of manpower.
As the team leader mentioned earlier, the main reason is likely the shortage of manpower.
Even if she has the ability, being a minor means she hasn't been officially issued a license, so there might not be tasks related to dimensional portals.
Assigning a newcomer who is a minor suggests that they want her to familiarize herself with the procedures or gain some experience beforehand.
Gradually, if she becomes an adult, they might officially assign a mentor or consider replacing me. With these thoughts in mind, I organized my thinking.
"Shall we go meet her right away? It happens to be the school's founding anniversary, so she's here for that."
"Yes, let's do that."
Since I came here to work, I decided to comply without any objections.
The hunter training facility occupied the entire underground third floor.
Seeing the meticulous measures in place, such as noise reduction and high-strength walls to prevent training accidents, I couldn't help but question the notion of this being a newly established company. It seemed too well-equipped to be just that.
It felt like a company with some backing, considering the thorough preparations.
With a creaking sound, the underground door opened, revealing hunters engaged in training or taking a break.
"Ms. Ji-eun is over there."
As I observed them, I noticed a girl sitting in a distant corner.
Wearing casual clothes with her hair dyed a light yellow, she had AirPods in her pierced ears and was engrossed in her phone.
Wow, a high school student.
And on top of that, she seemed like a tough one.
It was challenging to approach high school students confidently once you reached the age of 26.
"Ji-eun, Ji-eun."
Since I hesitated to approach her, the team leader took the initiative and called out to her instead.
The high school student addressed as Ji-eun glanced in our direction, then took out one AirPod and flashed a bright smile.
"Hello, Team Leader!"
"Yes, Ji-eun, it's impressive that you came right away, even on the school's founding anniversary."
"I'm eager to become a hunter as soon as possible."
Even with noticeable freckles around her eyes, she had applied light makeup today, probably due to hunter training. Nonetheless, her beauty stood out quite remarkably.
"I haven't seen a girl this pretty among those I've encountered in years, especially if you exclude Ayu and Baek Seol-hyang recently."
Meanwhile, the team leader introduced me to her.
"Let me introduce you. This is Kang Ha-chan, who will be in charge of mentoring you starting today."
"I'm Kang Hachan. Nice to meet you."
When I bowed my head first, she followed me with a polite nod.
She is more polite than she looks.
Well, she came here willingly, so it might be natural for her to show politeness.
"Alright, why don't you two get to know each other while chatting? Ji-eun, you'll have your training schedule soon, right? From now on, Kang Hachan will be in charge of that, so keep that in mind."
"Yes, Team Leader."
With a friendly smile, the team leader left us alone.
She, the boyish girl named Ji-eun stared at me awkwardly.
Their gaze was quite uncomfortable, and I felt a bit lost.
What on earth should I talk about with a high school student?
'No, I'm here for work. Let's erase the thought that she's a high school student from my mind.'
I felt the need to establish a friendly connection with her.
"I heard you mentioned earlier that you want to become a hunter quickly. May I ask what the reason behind that is?"
The profession of a hunter has gained a celebrity-like status in recent times, with appearances on TV and YouTube.
It has become one of the dream jobs for many youngsters.
However, dreams are often different from reality.
Being a hunter is a risky job.
The reason the government provides substantial support and funds is that they have to risk their lives fighting dimensional creatures.
Although the mortality rate among hunters has been slowly decreasing, it still holds the highest mortality rate among all professions.
If someone wants to be involved in hunter-related work, it's more practical to engage in a supporting role, like what I do, rather than directly becoming a hunter.
'There have been reports that when abilities are awakened, the brain significantly alleviates the fear associated with combat.'
Even with that, if it weren't for that effect, there would likely be very few individuals among the awakened who aspire to become hunters.
"Since you're young, are you going into this with a light heart?"
"Huh? No. On the contrary, I find it quite impressive."
After hearing my response, Ji-eun widened her eyes in surprise.
Knowing the risks involved, the profession of a hunter entails diving into dangerous situations. Even at a young age, aspiring to become a hunter is commendable.
"I also dreamed of becoming a hunter when I was young, but my awakening rate was too low."
Looking at Ji-eun's expression, it seemed like she had heard something around her.
Perhaps people around her made comments like, "She's just wasting time trying to awaken at such a young age, especially aiming to become a hunter."
In reality, especially at a young age without much social experience, there are cases where individuals enter the hunter profession but end up quitting.
"People around you probably say things like it's a waste of time or that if you don't succeed, you'll ruin your body and struggle in your old age. They might think you're too young to understand the ways of the world."
For some reason, adults tend to belittle and discourage the dreams children have, perhaps because those dreams are ones they haven't achieved themselves. They often try to bring children back to reality, emphasizing the harshness of the real world.
This attitude, especially towards kids who may seem rebellious, is even more pronounced.
"But those who say you don't understand the ways of the world are the ones who don't understand."
I carefully explained to her the other realities known to adults.
"Being a hunter is a high-risk job, but it's considered the top priority profession for maintaining the world. The country provides extensive support, and the compensation system related to accidents is one of the most comprehensive in Korean law. There are also numerous industries that support hunter growth. If you look into it carefully, even facing dimensional portals four or five times a year can make your life comfortable."
With high-risk professions come countless benefits.
Every year, laws related to hunters continue to be improved, and their treatment is akin to that of national heroes.
"And our role as hunter support is to ensure that all these various benefits and supporting industries are taken care of. It's to allow individuals like you, Ji-eun, to fully concentrate on being a hunter. So, you don't need to pay much attention to those negative comments. If you want to become a hunter, we'll make sure you become one."
After hearing my words, Ji-eun fell into silence for a moment.
It was uncertain whether she fully understood, but I hoped at least some of her burden had been lifted.
"I've never had someone explain things like this to me before."
"Not a problem. So, Ji-eun, why do you want to become a hunter now?"
Ji-eun avoided my gaze subtly.
"...Well, I want to earn a lot of money. I also want to try doing YouTube as a hunter."
That was a lighter reason than I expected. Ji-eun blushed slightly under my gaze and gave a shy smile.
Maybe I didn't need to take the conversation too seriously.
"My dream was really to have a hunter YouTube channel! I mean, even saying it out loud, I look okay, right? Ha-chan Oppa thinks so too, right?"
When did she start calling me 'Oppa'?
Watching Ji-eun confidently narrowing the gap between us, I couldn't help but smile awkwardly.
I didn't want to get caught up in a mistake.
"It's okay. I came to work because I can't afford the rent. Money is important."
Money is the most important thing in the world, right?
When I mentioned the practicality of paying rent, Ji-eun's eyes seemed to sparkle even more, for some reason.
I don't know why she's reacting like that.
"Ji-eun, it's your turn. Come over."
"Oh, it's training time, so I'll go! See you later!"
Having heard my response, Ji-eun bowed her head as training was about to begin, heading towards the training instructor.
Despite her carefree demeanor, it was evident from observing her training that she was sincere about being a hunter.
"But still."
Money, huh.
While earning money as a hunter is not particularly difficult, she's still a minor.
While earning money as a hunter is not particularly difficult, she's still a minor. Perhaps the company is providing her with some advance payment to keep her around.
'I guess there's a reason for trying to make money.'
This aspect might need further discussion, but talking with a high school student seemed to subtly drain my mental energy. The lively and energetic nature typical of teenagers can be overwhelming for adults who have tasted the bitterness of life.
'Come to think of it.'
As I thought about high school students, one person came to mind.
Don’t I know one too?
Just a few months ago, she was an active high school student.
3
[So, you called me for this?]
"Well, I couldn't think of anyone else to ask."
The one I called was none other than Ayu.
Until last year, she was a high school student.
I thought maybe I could get some good advice or discuss topics that interest high school students.
"Oppa, but you do remember I'm a returnee, right? In a way, I'm a used item."
Even though she attends high school as per her registered age on her ID, it seems her experiences in the martial world have left their mark.
Ayu doesn't purely claim to be just a high school student.
"Still, you attended school last year. The people around you must have thought you were a high school student."
[I won't deny that... I, um, walked a bit alone at school.]
"I'm sorry."
[No, there's no need to apologize.]
"I'm sorry. I'll apologize."
[You don't need to apologize! I told you last time that I got into a little trouble at school, so I ended up walking alone.]
"I'm really sorry."
[Hey, where are you?]
If I tease her more, She might come find you.
I decided to stop here.
"So, the conclusion is that it seems difficult for you to help?"
[Well, not really. It's for YouTube. Who was that person that a lot of kids used to watch?]
I do watch Hunter-related YouTube videos, but I shouldn't assume that the content I watch overlaps with what a teenage high school girl would be interested in.
If she wants to do Hunter-related YouTube content, I should support her in that direction.
After a quick check, it seemed that the Rodri Company had various support programs for promoting hunters as entertainers. It appeared to be quite feasible.
'From the company's perspective, hunters are also a form of advertising.'
Regardless of how things go, if she becomes popular, it's definitely a profit for the company.
Especially in the case of someone like Ji-eun, who is still a minor and cannot work as a hunter, the company would likely be even more welcoming.
"How about Black Star Yua?"
[Yua is undoubtedly the most esteemed and universally popular figure, but YouTube is just a hobby for her. Originally, Yua gained popularity first, and then YouTube followed. It might not be a suitable reference.]
Even as a hobby, her YouTube channel surpasses 10 million subscribers. Global idols are truly formidable.
"Starting as an idol might be a strategy then."
[Don't underestimate idols. The entertainment world is tough here. New talents emerge and fade away every day.]
The dedication of idol enthusiasts can be quite intimidating.
[By the way, considering we're talking about idols, she must be quite pretty, huh?[
"Well, she might not be as pretty as you, but close enough."
Being honest, Ayu suddenly fell silent.
"Well, yeah, I guess she has to be less than me. But if she's pretty, it's easier to succeed in this field."
She added a sniffle to her words, sounding pleased with herself.
It seems like the flattery worked well.
[ Ah, right. This person is quite popular. How about checking out someone from the same gender? ]
In that moment, Ayu sent the name of a person through KakaoTalk.
The YouTube channel was named "Skull Girl."
It seemed that the person was in the necromancer profession related to the Hunter occupation.
The content mainly featured creating a horror house using their abilities and capturing hidden camera footage, which was quite innovative.
The YouTube channel was close to reaching 1 million subscribers, and the view count consistently exceeded 1 million, indicating that it would likely continue growing in the future.
[ Who watches specialized content about Hunter YouTube? People probably watch it for content like this since it's covered in the news every day. Even if you don't know the person's profession, it's good to create content that utilizes the profession like this. ]
"Oh, thanks."
I felt grateful to Ayu for actively sharing her opinions. Friend recommendations are indeed valuable.
[ So, oppa, did you enjoy chatting with a pretty high school girl at your first job? ]
Her voice felt strangely chilly.
Well, did I enjoy it? Sure.
"I'm tired."
Things were getting a bit too close for comfort.
[Why do guys go crazy over high school girls?]
"No, it's not like going crazy over a kid. It's just awkward to talk about."
"You're always going on about high school girls. Like, ones who've completed military service."
Where does she pick up these things?
"That's just internet talk."
[Hmm, so you're not really interested?]
"Why does the conversation keep going in that direction?"
"Oppa, it's fun to tease you."
"I'm not going to play 《Lord of the Academy》 with you today."
[I've decided to officially register as a Hunter today, and besides, I got a call from the Returnee Association. Maybe it's related to what happened yesterday.]
Seems like threats don't work.
[Anyway, if you have any issues, call me again. Among your acquaintances, I'm the most helpful, right? Isn't our Ayu the best?]
She knew my limited social circle well.
[You can call me when you're bored.]
After saying that, she ended the call with a mischievous laugh. Well, she'll probably continue chatting in the game chat anyway. An unpredictable character.