The process of registering as a Hunter in the novel went like this:
[…Kang Si-hoo walked steadily into the Association. Others holding the same numbered tickets stood in a line, and at the very front was a rank-measuring device made from a Mana Stone. No one spoke, and amidst the silent space, the woman operating the device announced,
“E-rank. Please proceed to the assistant on your left for registration.”
That simple statement split the crowd’s emotions. The man who received the E-rank wore a look of despair, while the man directly behind him let out a breath of relief. It was obvious he was thinking he’d get a better evaluation than the guy before him.
But in truth, there were very few Hunters ranked C or above, and even finding an A-rank was rare. As for S-ranks—the highest level—there were only a handful in the entire country. To believe one could reach that level was pure wishful thinking. In fact, if one had that kind of power, they would’ve sensed it instinctively already. That they were exceptional…
…With a tense face, Kang Si-hoo slowly placed his hand on the Mana Stone. It was undoubtedly the largest one in the country, and the moment his hand made contact, a low whisper rang in his ear.
— Welcome, O fate that cannot be observed.
It was unmistakably a human voice.]
The rank-measuring device was a specialized apparatus created by imbuing artificial intelligence into a Mana Stone. To activate it, the creator or someone proficient in the related skills had to be nearby. There had been rumors of attempts to steal it due to its astronomical value, but the device included anti-theft measures that rendered such efforts futile.
This was the first “measurement device” developed in Korea, and the system of assigning ranks using it had also been introduced for the first time in the world. Impressive, wasn’t it? A country that excelled at building systems to categorize and assign grades.
But the moment I stepped into the Association, something felt off.
‘What is this?’
Piercing gazes. As if watching an animal in a zoo, their stares were so intense even I could feel them. When I turned toward where I felt the eyes, they would quickly look away or pretend to be doing something else. Some didn’t even bother hiding and just stared openly.
Wondering if there was something odd about my outfit, I glanced down at myself, but nothing seemed wrong. At that moment, Baek Tae-beom leaned toward me and whispered.
“It’s because of me.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Probably because I’m a high-ranking Hunter? There are only a few S-ranks in Korea right now.”
I nodded in understanding at Baek Tae-beom’s words. True, in today’s world, even a B-rank Hunter was on par with a celebrity. So an S-rank like Baek Tae-beom would naturally draw attention. The fact that an unknown man stood beside him only made people more curious.
“Are you nervous, hyung?”
“Nah, not really. You’re here with me, aren’t you?”
I answered calmly as I approached the registration desk. Baek Tae-beom followed a step behind.
“Excuse me….”
“Ah, ah. Uh, yes!”
The receptionist greeted me with a flustered tone. Her eyes kept darting past me to someone behind—making it all the more clear just how famous Baek Tae-beom really was.
“I’m here for a rank evaluation.”
“Oh, did you awaken recently?”
“Yes.”
“We usually do rank evaluations only on Wednesdays… but…”
The receptionist’s words trailed off awkwardly as she glanced back and forth between me and Baek Tae-beom. Something felt off. I turned my head, and Baek Tae-beom was smiling at me.
“What is it?”
“Oh, nothing… So, it’s not possible today?”
“Ah… It’s not that it’s impossible, it’s just…”
She responded ambiguously, wiping the sweat from her forehead. She seemed oddly nervous.
“Since you’ve already come this far… I can at least… do one person. Yes…”
Someone might think I was threatening her or something.
Feeling oddly uncomfortable, I took a step back—only for the receptionist to suddenly shout in panic.
“No! Please, get your rank evaluated! Please, go ahead!”
“Huh? Oh, uh, okay…”
“Please head through the door on the right! Don’t touch anything once inside… and wait just a moment.”
I didn’t know what her problem was, but I had a pretty good guess.
She was begging that much—there was no turning back now. With a half-hearted nod, I stepped through the right door. Inside was a spacious auditorium, and at the very front, a massive Mana Stone awaited me.
Baek Tae-beom smiled and spoke.
“Coming back here again feels a bit nostalgic.”
“Really?”
“The receptionist is really kind. Even on her day off, she agreed to do the test.”
I wasn’t so sure that was the only reason. I shot an incredulous look at Baek Tae-beom, who was feigning innocence.
‘Anyone can see you pressured her into it.’
I couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of expression Baek Tae-beom was making behind me. Letting out a sigh, I sat down on the chair near the Mana Stone. So even on a day off, he’d shamelessly insisted on coming to get ranked—was it because he had something to rely on? At this point, it really did feel like I’d raised a tiger cub.
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: You really did raise a tiger.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: No, wait—not a tiger. You know what I mean?]
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: Tyranno**.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Okay, that’s a little too much.]
[The Constellation, ‘One More Dazzling Than the Sun’, chuckles gleefully.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: So, what’s your plan?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Escape Destruction: Plan for what?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: I think you should hide all skills related to your Constellation.]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Escape Destruction: But if I do that, I’ll show up as an F-rank. No unique skills.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Exactly. That’s the idea.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: If the guy tagging along with that tiger turns out to be absurdly strong, that’s gonna raise red flags too, isn’t it?]
Now that I thought about it, it did make some sense.
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: I. Disagree.]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Escape Destruction: And what are you issuing a statement for?]
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: If you seem too weak. Humans will look down on you.]
You’re the one who seems to be doing the looking down.
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: You need to appear. Moderately strong.]
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: Otherwise. The greedy. And selfish humans. Cannot be tolerated.]
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: Mark my words. If your rank is low. They will disparage you. No matter what. No matter what kind of star you belong to.]
In other words, if people thought I looked weak, they’d treat me poorly. Anubis had a point too. No—this one sounded more right. If I was going to be at Baek Tae-beom’s side, it was better to look at least somewhat competent. Otherwise, I’d only be a burden.
While I was waiting, a man and woman entered. The woman’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Baek Tae-beom—like a scientist spotting a prime specimen.
Was she the one who created this measuring device?
Just like in the novel, she looked unusual. Her voluminous, twin-braided hair was striking enough, but what really stood out was her outfit—a long robe straight out of a fantasy story.
‘Info.’
[Displaying target’s information.]
[Lee Yoon-joo, Master of Assembly]
[Title: Master of Assembly, Lifespan’s Edge
Rank: A
Status: Cannot be determined.
Contracted Constellation: The Three Old Women
Coins: Cannot be determined.
Skills: [Intuition] [Creation] [Linking the Unlinkable]]
Avoid making an enemy of this Awakened One’s Constellation.
My knowledge of Lee Yoon-joo’s Constellation wasn’t clear from the novel, but with the added explanation, I understood immediately. The Three Old Women—they represented the goddesses of fate.
“Here to get ranked, are you…? Name?”
Our eyes met. I swallowed the tension building in my throat and bit my lower lip. Lee Yoon-joo blinked nonchalantly, like none of this fazed her.
“Choi Ga-hyeon.”
“Yes, Mr. Choi Ga-hyeon. Please come this way.”
I slowly stepped up to the rank-measuring device. As I approached, the Mana Stone let out a deep hum and began to spin, looking vaguely ominous.
“Please keep your hand on the device until the measurement is complete.”
“Understood.”
I kept my voice even and placed my hand on the device. That’s when I heard a low voice inside my head.
— Welcome, Observer of Fate.
It felt like something was gently stirring inside my mind. Blue lines crawled up from the back of my hand, winding up my arm and spreading across my body.
Then came a question I hadn’t expected.
— Why have you come to a place like this?
‘I’m here to get my rank measured.’
— I cannot measure your rank.
The soft whisper made no sense.
‘Why not?’
— As a fragment of a star, the rank of a star cannot be measured.
— You are an unclassifiable existence.
I furrowed my brow, startled. My fingers, still pressed against the stone, trembled. I tightened my wrist. This kind of variable…
‘Wait, does this mean I can’t be measured at all?’
— Cannot process through system. Unclassifiable entity.
— You are a Constellation of this world.
— Rank cannot be determined.
A sharp crackle burst from the stone, sparks twisting wildly. I let out the breath I’d been holding and took a step back. Silence filled the auditorium.
The woman conducting the check stood frozen, mouth slightly open as she stared at me.
“…Rank indeterminable. Please proceed to the assistant on the left for registration…”
A Hunter whose rank couldn’t be determined.
I caught the eyes peeking through the cracked door and realized something had gone wrong.
Forget being underestimated—they were going to think I was even worse than Baek Tae-beom.
**Tyranno: slang abbreviation for Tyrannosaurus Rex, commonly used in Korean internet culture to describe someone overwhelmingly strong, aggressive, or dominant.
