Except for the early stages of awakening when the evolved organs are highly unstable due to adapting to new substances, the Hunter's innate mana never fluctuates.

[15.97]

But what's going on with this F-rank hunter's body? The mana's maximum capacity keeps rising, little by little. 12, 14, and then 15. So minuscule that even the sorcerer inhabiting the body couldn't notice the increase.

But anyway. I've gotten all the proof I needed with this, so...

“No problem at all. You've done well.”

The examiner, having finished the measurement, left a greeting with the Association staff and went on their way.

***

A few hours later. As always, I'm holed up in Kim Giryeo's studio apartment.

But today, the atmosphere in the house felt completely different from usual. Recently, Kim Giryeo had been obsessively focused on research, spreading papers everywhere whenever there was a moment, determined to master the art of body exchange. Now, however, he was lying on the bed with frayed blankets, doing absolutely nothing.

"Hmm..."

The corpse explosion incident, the contractor's testimony, and the information obtained from the Hunter Association all point to this conclusion.

This body's magic power has not yet matured.

That's why Kang Changho showed such an insane level of interest the moment he saw me. In other words, this was essentially an unprecedented case on Earth—an awakened one with no clear limits, continuously growing, suddenly appearing out of nowhere.

On Earth, innate magic that remains constantly active without needing to be triggered is referred to as a Passive Skill. Additionally, these Passive Skills were well within the range of what could be seized through [Improvement].

Whether Kim Giryeo's traits stem from a form of primitive sorcery or are more of a physical talent based on genetic information has yet to be determined.

If there's even a 1% chance of gaining such an incredible ability, it's worth taking a gamble.

'If I had to guess, [Improvement] probably isn't about stealing magic outright, but more of a technique that copies it....'

Now I finally understand Kang Changho's behavior. A potentially ultra-rare skill holder—someone who can break through the innate limitations of a caster—suddenly shows up. How could any wizard possibly resist that?

'So it wasn't my failure after all.'

The corpse I had despised as garbage turned out to be something far beyond a mere C-rank Hunter, a high-quality specimen. Even so, it's impossible for there to be no limit at all. Eventually, like any primitive species, this reincarnated being would inevitably hit a wall at some point. Still, there's no denying that Kim Giryeo possesses exceptional potential.

Assuming there's no issue with the premise of the reincarnation magic, which states that it would settle in the corpse with the highest magical power on Earth, it wouldn't be surprising at all if this blond young man's final growth point turned out to be around the S-rank Hunter level.

'That's good news.'

But there's one problem. It's great that I've realized there's a singularity, but how on earth am I supposed to unlock the potential of this body?

'Hmm.'

I've used the magical knowledge I accumulated in my previous life to overcome many trials. But this time, I truly can't think of any solution.

I have no idea what other modifications this body might need. Because of the overwhelming weight difference between souls, body-switching is out of the question unless I just so happen to get my hands on the corpse of a top-tier awakened one. My lung capacity has already been restored to a normal level, but the magic power in this body is still crawling around at F-rank levels—so in other words, there's no realistic way of breaking out of this pathetic shell.

At least according to the data, there was a trend of improvement over time.

'An increase of approximately 2.025Aw per unit.'

The growth rate is way too slow. Even with rough mental math, it seems like the turn of the century would come faster

'An increase of approximately 2.025Aw per unit.'

The growth rate is way too slow. Even with rough mental math, it seems like the turn of the century would come faster than Kim Giryeo reaching C-rank—am I really supposed to just sit around and wait for that?

'Huh.'

And on top of that, I'm already bound by a contract to be used as a living sacrifice in nine years?

'Y, yeah.'

No matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn't come up with a single idea on how to fully draw out the potential of this reincarnated body.

Moreover, from now on, effort would be meaningless. As I mentioned before, the souls of Earthlings and Alphaurins, who have developed in terms of magic, fundamentally carry a vast gap. An ambiguous vessel cannot be used to its full potential. I doubt it, but even the body of an S-rank Hunter might not withstand my pressure properly.

Dragon's lungs. The corpse of a suitable Awakened person.

Until now, I had hoped that once I obtained those things, I would regain my strength, and I worked hard with that expectation. But after all the effort...

'Wait a second—does that mean from now on, I'm just stuck living in this body with no hope of getting better?'

A sudden sense of helplessness washed over me. The conclusion that the reincarnation spell might not have failed was a terrifying double-edged sword. I might have to live my whole life trapped in this vessel, where magic power increases by only 2 a year. As that thought settled in, an unfamiliar feeling slowly began to rise within my chest.

'Huh? So I was reborn in another world, and from now on I'm really just an F-rank?'

Summer. Normally, it's a season where the increased sunlight brings about beneficial effects like a boost in energy. But for the first time since reincarnating, I was overwhelmed by an uncontrollable sense of gloom. Acute depression had set in.

***

Me, an F-rank. Even if I can now use basic magic, the thought of spending my entire life with this pathetic firepower... it's unbearable.

Sob.

An alien creature barely held back the physical evidence of sorrow threatening to spill from its tear glands and focused on the meal. For the record, today's menu was hot pot rice.

'And I'm just trash...'

I came to this expensive restaurant thinking that maybe getting my body into a healthier state would help my mind too. But even while enjoying fine food, I didn't expect to feel this powerless and frustrated. I had been running forward for so long, holding onto the hope that things would get better—only for everything to come to nothing in the end.

No wonder I feel like I'm sinking.

'Damn it. When I think about it, this is really not funny. Come to think of it, there were more than one or two things I did with the intention of changing my body.'

Ugh.

If I had worked a humble part-time job and diligently earned money instead of putting on airs like I was some powerhouse, things wouldn't have ended up like this.

'This is bad.'

use, things wouldn't have ended up like this.

'This is bad.'

Because I was branded as an S-rank Hunter, I could no longer easily withdraw. My face was now well-known worldwide, making it difficult to hide anywhere.

Modifying my appearance permanently by adding flesh... Of course, there's still this trick left, but the problem lies in the rare trait this body possesses—the fluctuation of magic power. In fact, there's no way to hide that 24/7.

'Controlling mana leakage is like holding your breath—if an F-class hunter tries to do it for long, they'll just die.'

Even if I pile up countless dummies, the day this trait gets caught by [Dragon's Eye], it's all over anyway. It's a complete disaster.

'With this level of magic power, even if I gather a bunch of support tools, I'll still get beaten to a pulp against an S-rank.'

Oh, god. No matter how many times I think about it, there's just no future. Maybe it really would've been cleaner to just go out with a bang early on...Without realizing it, Giryeo glanced down at the [Pyromancer's Necklace] hanging around his neck.

But then—All of a sudden, a young man's voice came from across the table.

d his neck.

But then—All of a sudden, a young man’s voice came from across the table. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

“Hyung-nim.”

Perhaps because his smoking history was very short, his voice had a rather clear tone compared to Kim Giryeo’s. The speaker was Ahn Yoonseung.

“Mhm.”

This restaurant had so few tables that it tended to avoid serving solo customers, which was why the alien had brought that Earthling along just to place an order.

“Th, the rice pot here is really delicious. Hmm, of course, it tastes even better because you’re treating me, Hyung-nim...”

“Yeah. Eat a lot.”

“By the way, if you don’t mind me asking... did something bad happen recently?”

While eating, Ahn Yoonseung suddenly put down his spoon and asked the question. I had been trying to keep my expression neutral, thinking that would help me hide my feelings. But since I stayed too expressionless without even a hint

By the way, if you don't mind me asking... did something bad happen recently?

While eating, Ahn Yoonseung suddenly put down his spoon and asked the question. I had been trying to keep my expression neutral, thinking that would help me hide my feelings. But since I stayed too expressionless without even a hint of change, Yoonseung ended up feeling an odd sense of discomfort instead.

Something bad?

However, how could the alien reveal the truth here?

Not really.

In truth, the S-rank Hunter sitting in front of you is an illegitimate registrant who faked their awakening score, and the only thing they're good at is relying on tools—nothing more than a speck of dust....But that's hardly something I can just confess right here at the table.

Giryeo made up a vague lie and picked up a side dish nearby.

'That's strange. Still, something... something's definitely different from usual....'

But due to the massive shock, the already deteriorating physical abilities deteriorated even further. The subsequent weak chopsticks movement only served to deepen the growing suspicion.

'Hmm.'

Having witnessed Kim Giryeo's sudden drop in condition, Yoonseung quietly contemplated.

The hunter in front of him was someone with strong mental fortitude. At least, he would say that the word 'superhuman' wouldn't be too much of an exaggeration. After all, this person had been a witness to the Aquarium Incident from start to finish. Being an involved party, he had received a lot of information from the police.

'Those foreigners were said to be awakened beings with incredibly strong mental skills...'

A monster who didn't just endure the status effects inflicted by foreign hitmen, but turned the tables and crushed his enemies instead. The tremors of Alai, shaking with such fear that it almost stirred sympathy, still haven't faded from memory. So even without being particularly perceptive, anyone who'd witnessed that overwhelming battle would have no choice but to realize it.

A certain blond hunter stood in a position that was close to mental perfection. Moreover, Yoonseung thought, as expected of an S-rank hunter, there was nothing to criticize when it came to his ability to exert physical force.

But, even that iron man, who seemed to have been born for hunting, is still fundamentally a human with blood and emotions. There are times when he might even be affected by things like fatigue or stress.

cted of an S-Rank Hunter, there was nothing to criticize when it came to his ability to exert physical force.

But, even that iron man, who seemed to have been born for hunting, is still fundamentally a human with blood and emotions. There are times when he might even be affected by things like fatigue or stress.

‘Ughhh, don’t tell me… that video ended up in Hyung-nim’s eyes too…!’

On top of that, it was as if some ill fate was written in the stars for Giryeo—his life had been nothing but one storm after another. One moment, he’s suddenly running into overseas hitmen inside an aquarium. This guy’s YouTube could be a useful platform for sharing fun and information if used correctly, but some people, blinded by the desire for views, always create new conflicts and voluntarily become troublesome.

(From Orphanage Child in Crisis → Rebirth as an S-Rank Hunter)

Just thinking about that thumbnail still makes his blood boil. That exposé on the hunter’s private life, written out of spite by a certain reporter from Jeongseong Daily. Thankfully, someone must have taken appropriate action, because the article itself was taken down not long after.

(The Atrocities of a Hunter Division Reporter (Kim Giryeo’s Family Matters) ‘Is This Something a Human Should Do?’)

Gossipers with quick ears had hastily captured that article, which had only been briefly exposed, and recently made a new video about it. As a result, Kim Giryeo’s background had once again become a hot topic on the internet.

Just the single fact that he was an orphan brought a flood of pity, scorn, ridicule, rejection, and unwanted attention. If even a third party feels this disgusted and angry, how must the person whose private information was exposed feel?

new video about it. As a result, Kim Giryeo's background had once again become a hot topic on the internet.

Just the single fact that he was an orphan brought a flood of pity, scorn, ridicule, rejection, and unwanted attention. If even a third party feels this disgusted and angry, how must the person whose private information was exposed feel?

'Those who are crazy about attention.'

It's heartbreaking.

– As I said over the phone, I've never been to a place like this in my life.

And by the time he understood why that S-class hunter had said those words at the aquarium, a deep pain welled up in his chest. How could someone so strong, compassionate, and good-hearted have to endure such humiliation?

'Heaven is so indifferent.'

Tak.

Ahn Yoonseung paused for a moment to think.

'Is there anything I can do for you?'

First of all, it was clear that something was wrong with Korea's fourth S-rank Hunter. The blond hunter was still picking at his pot rice, looking drained of energy. However, since he had said himself that he was fine, prying into the cause of his condition would likely only make things worse.

'If I keep asking about his mood or being too considerate, it might make it obvious that I know about that article video circulating online...'

What should he do then? Yoonseung sincerely wanted to help someone he deeply respected.

If he could ease the worries of the person who was his lifesaver, would he care about gold or riches? However, that hunter was a stoic who showed little interest in material things—money wouldn't be much help. Yoonseung began to seriously think about how he could be of assistance to Kim Giryeo.

“You finished everything without leaving a single mushroom. Should I order another bowl for you?”

“N, no! It's fine. I'm completely full with just this! Really!”

“Really? Then, shall we start heading out?”

“Yes!”

And exactly 37 hours later, something that made Ahn Yoonseung exclaim in awe happened in Seoul.

Author's Thoughts

Hi, from now on, I will update this novel 3 chapters/week. Thank you for all your support so far:)