The Hunter Association’s small counseling room.
One of the essential requirements for becoming a Hunter was undergoing the engraving test.
Kang Si-woo, a man who had just completed his test, stared at the results in disbelief.
“What kind of engraving did you say it was?”
Each person’s awakened engraving was unique and varied greatly in nature.
A person hoping for a combat-type engraving might receive a supporter-type one instead, and vice versa.
However, just having an engraving was considered a blessing.
Unlike ordinary people, those with engravings underwent bodily changes, gaining the ability to manipulate a unique energy called mana.
Depending on the engraving’s abilities, one could even become a superhuman overnight.
Si-woo had thought he wouldn’t mind even the most insignificant power.
“The name of your engraving is ‘The Symbol of Allure.’”
As long as the engraving didn’t hinder his life as a Hunter, he could accept it.
“The characteristics include becoming physiologically and biologically similar to an Incubus—a demonic species.
This means your body is charged with yang energy, granting you resistance to yin energy, such as cold.”
“S-so, does that mean it’s an engraving that charms women?”
“In summary, yes. While the grade of the engraving can’t be confirmed without a more detailed test, based on the reactions of the examiners, it’s safe to say it’s above B-rank.”
What’s the point of having a high-ranked engraving if it’s this kind of ability?
The Hunter industry was dominated by women, with over 80% of its workforce being female.
Due to this extreme gender imbalance, male Hunters faced significant challenges, starting with joining a party.
Clearing gates was a job that allowed people to quickly amass wealth and fame.
However, it was also a profession where one had to risk their life to succeed.
Given this reality, just being part of a party was an ordeal for male Hunters.
Additionally, those who awakened an engraving often became more attractive due to the mana infusion process.
This meant that handsome men and beautiful women were often tackling gate expeditions together—a situation that made it nearly impossible for personal feelings not to develop.
From a party’s perspective, this alone was problematic.
While caring for each other was good, emotional attachments could interfere with party priorities.
Once a party member placed someone else as their top priority, problems arose, and even if those issues were resolved, lingering resentment often remained.
To prevent such conflicts, many female Hunters avoided forming parties with male Hunters.
Of course, exceptions existed for those with outstanding skills or extraordinary engravings.
“An engraving that charms the opposite sex…”
Si-woo’s engraving had a nature entirely opposite to what he had hoped for.
An engraving capable of captivating even examiners at the level of at least a C-rank Hunter.
If this was enough to charm higher-level individuals, then lower-ranked Hunters would undoubtedly fall for it as well.
Knowing this, who would willingly include Si-woo in their party?
Even among other men, a non-combat engraving like his would likely lead to rejection.
“Haah, damn it.”
“Don’t be too discouraged. You might find success in gates with female-type monsters,” the counselor said, though it hardly felt like advice.
Si-woo barely managed to suppress a sigh as he left the counseling room.
Maybe it was because his head was overheating.
He sat down on a bench in the parking lot behind the association building and looked up at the clear blue sky.
“Haah…”
In contrast to his feelings, the sky was bright and serene.
Si-woo glanced at the results sheet from his engraving test again.
<Predicted Grade: B~S>
Possesses a high amount of yang energy.
Shares the physiology, traits, and natural scent of an incubus.
Predicted to be a growth-type engraving.
“This kind of engraving won’t help me conquer gates.”
Should he give up on his dream of becoming a Hunter altogether?
“If only I could at least attend the academy.”
Students enrolled in the Hunter Academy were recognized as D-rank Hunters, while graduates were promoted to C-rank.
With such credentials, he wouldn’t need to worry about finding a party and could clear E-rank gates on his own.
Even if he couldn’t graduate, he could still survive by tackling F-rank gates alone.
After all, except for exceptional cases, solo expeditions were only allowed for gates two levels lower than the Hunter’s rank.
“But with an engraving like this…”
No, even if he passed the entrance exam, he couldn’t afford the tuition.
Unless he had monstrous skills and entered at the top of his class, there was no way Si-woo’s current financial situation could cover the academy’s exorbitant fees.
Checking his bank account balance on his phone, Si-woo lowered his head in defeat.
“In the end, it all comes down to money.”
Since receiving such an engraving, entering the academy this year was out of the question.
If that was the case, Si-woo had to improve his skills by attending a swordsmanship academy or a magic association.
If the engraving itself wasn’t useful, he needed to find another way to enhance his abilities.
However, joining these academies or associations wasn’t easy either.
Even the tuition for a swordsmanship academy catering to D-rank Hunters with proper engravings could cost several million won per month.
“Can I at least afford a month’s worth of lessons?”
It didn’t seem this bad before.
Si-woo looked at his dwindling bank balance, his financial situation now painfully clear as he pursued becoming a Hunter.
He opened a job app on his phone out of desperation.
If he was determined to become a Hunter, he had to find a way to make it happen, no matter what.
“Maybe, as someone with an awakened engraving, I can charge a little extra for certain jobs.”
While scrolling through job listings, something caught his attention.
“Hm?”
Feeling someone’s gaze fixed on him, Si-woo turned his head.
A woman dressed in a sleek black leather jacket, radiating an intense charisma that seemed to make people shrink in her presence, was staring at him.
“U-uh, excuse me,” Si-woo stammered.
“Hey, kid. Do you have a moment?”
“Uh, who are you, exactly?”
Hearing his question, the woman blinked, seemingly realizing she hadn’t introduced herself.
She stood up from the bench, pulled a cigarette from her pocket, and placed it in her mouth.
“My name is Yoo Seo-ha. As for my job, well… this.”
Whoosh!
Using flame magic, Yoo Seo-ha lit her cigarette.
She handed Si-woo a business card, leaving him blinking in confusion.
“‘Fixer Host Bar…?’” Si-woo read aloud.
“Yeah, I’m the head of sales there,” she replied casually.
A host bar… with a sales department head?
More importantly, what would someone like her want with me?
“Kid, would you be interested in working at our host bar?”
“…What?”
What kind of nonsense was this now?