* * *
“Today is the day the Sun Guild is reporting on ‘Sanctuary of the White Flame’. That’s probably what they’re covering.”
“Oh, so the Sun Guild is here.”
“Of all the days for it to overlap… Tsk.”
Taehwan clicked his tongue in annoyance, but I was thrilled.
The Sun Guild had collaborated with “Gray Coat”!
Just being in the same building as them felt like an honor.
And… anticipation crept in. I couldn’t resist asking Han Jihye.
“Um, then… is there a chance that ‘Gray Coat’ is here too?”
“No. There’s been no mention of their visit. In fact, only the Bureau Director has direct knowledge about ‘Gray Coat.’ The rest of us have no information on them.”
“I see…”
I’d heard they were shrouded in secrecy, but I hadn’t realized it was this extreme.
It was strange to think that the only person connected to my idol was none other than Taehwan’s uncle, someone I’d known since childhood.
‘I wanted to thank them in person…’
Sure, part of it was just wanting to see my hero.
But after what happened at the hospital, I really did want to express my gratitude.
Still, it’s fine.
I was finally out of the hospital and had Awakened—there would be opportunities to meet them someday.
Even if not, Taehwan could deliver a letter for me.
He’d probably complain about it, but still…
“Let’s go.”
After passing through a security checkpoint, we entered a separate area.
Holding the elevator button, Han Jihye gestured for us to step inside.
Inside the staff elevator, Han Jihye explained the procedures I’d need to go through.
“Before registering as an Awakener, you must complete three tests. First is the physical examination. Second, the ability assessment. Lastly, the aptitude test.”
The physical exam was standard, though it included some special health screenings exclusive to Awakeners.
The ability assessment would determine what my power was and how strong it was.
And the aptitude test measured how well I could use my abilities.
After all, even the greatest power was useless in the hands of someone who couldn’t wield it.
The final rank would be assigned after factoring in all these results, including my potential.
“We’re considering your limited mobility, so don’t worry. You don’t have to finish everything today. You can return tomorrow or the next day.”
“I don’t want to trouble you, so I’ll try to finish today!”
“It’s really no trouble. Take your time. There’s no need to push yourself.”
“Oh, uh… Thank you. I appreciate it.”
When I first met Han Jihye at the hospital, they seemed cold and distant, almost intimidating.
But spending time with them changed my impression.
Taehwan couldn’t accompany me for the tests, but Han Jihye was incredibly thorough and considerate, making sure I got through the physical exam without any issues.
Some results were shared with me immediately—like my body measurements.
‘Wait… I’m 176 cm tall?!’
I really thought I was small because Taehwan kept saying it over and over like a habit.
My weight was definitely below average, but my height wasn’t below average at all, was it?
I felt pretty proud of that.
Muscles could be built over time now that I had awakened, but height wasn’t something I could change at this age, so it had been a major concern.
Luckily, it turned out fine.
‘Then how tall is Taehwan?’
The last time I heard, he was over 180 cm. But that was a few years ago…
We’d never really stood side by side, but I remembered that when Taehwan lifted me up by placing his hands under my armpits, my feet didn’t even touch the ground, just dangling in the air.
Even last night, when I was sleeping right next to him, leaning against him, I didn’t think my feet were under his.
So… 10 cm difference?
Maybe close to 20 cm?
‘Damn, Im Taehwan. You really shot up, huh?’
I realized that the reason I felt so small was just because Taehwan had grown so much.
That made me feel a little unfairly wronged.
“Jung Jehee, we’ll move on to the next test soon. After the quantitative test, let’s grab lunch.”
“Oh, okay!”
Thanks to Han Jihye’s efficient guidance, I figured I might be able to finish everything today.
That was encouraging.
But the problem started right after the energy quantification test, which was supposed to measure my latent ability.
—Bzzzzzzzt.
“…Huh?”
The moment I stepped into the large measuring device as instructed, a loud, crackling noise burst out.
The unexpected noise startled me, and the staff looked flustered as they rushed to fix the situation.
But things didn’t seem to be going well—eventually, with a sharp click, the machine powered down completely.
Han Jihye, who had been discussing something with the other staff with a serious expression, stepped into the testing room.
“I apologize. The machine malfunctioned, so we won’t be able to proceed with the test right now. It will take some time to repair, so I recommend having lunch first. You can use your watch for all payments.”
“Oh, this?”
“Yes. As long as you stay within a reasonable distance, you can also eat outside. Just make sure to return immediately when you hear the alarm from your watch.”
“Got it. I’ll do that.”
“We’ll contact you when everything is ready.”
After exchanging goodbyes, I stepped out into the hallway, fiddling with my watch.
Hunters received these watches from the management bureau as a form of license.
Mine seemed like a temporary one since I had just received it before the test.
I thought it was only for assisting with the exam and sharing results, but apparently, it also had a payment function.
‘Whoa, 500,000 won…?’
Even though they said, “use your watch for payments,” I wanted to check if there was a spending limit.
But the cap was much higher than I expected.
Now I understood why Han Jihye hadn’t mentioned a limit.
With this much, I could eat anywhere without worrying.
Heck, I could take my whole family and Taehwan out for a feast, and there’d still be money left over.
The Hunter Management Bureau sure had good benefits.
Just as I was admiring this, a firm hand pressed down on my head.
Recognizing the familiar touch, I looked up—of course, it was Taehwan.
He grinned, flashing his neat teeth.
“Jung Jehee. Did it go well?”
“Yeah. But I guess the machine wasn’t in good condition. They told me to eat while they fix it.”
“What machine?”
“The ability quantification test machine.”
“…That thing broke?”
“Yeah.”
“…That’s unusual. I’ve only seen that happen once in my life.”
Taehwan mumbled under his breath before putting a hat over my head.
“Well, whatever. Where do you want to eat? We can step out for a bit, right?”
“They said we could, but I’d rather eat at the cafeteria. I’ve always wanted to try the Hunter Management Bureau cafeteria!”
The Hunter Management Bureau cafeteria was pretty famous.
This building was the center of all Hunter activities—forming parties, receiving missions, and handling all sorts of business.
Since so many Hunters passed through, the commercial guilds had also set up shop inside.
Because of that, the food was pricier than regular cafeterias, but it was known for its exceptional taste, large portions, and unique dishes.
They even served food with special effects that regular civilians rarely got to try.
“Alright, let’s go. There shouldn’t be too many people right now.”
Taehwan nodded without hesitation and pushed my wheelchair toward the elevator.
“Oh, right! Taehwan, I’m 176 cm tall!”
“Wow. No way. I thought you were in the 160s.”
“I’m not in the 160s! Look at this!”
I pulled up my test results on the watch and showed them to him.
He scrolled through the data, checking various stats, and soon, his perfectly sculpted forehead scrunched up.
“What’s with your weight? I’m surprised you haven’t been blown away by the wind.”
“W-what are you talking about? Why would I get blown away?! I’m not that light!”
“You totally are. Has someone been starving you? I fed you properly, but this is the result? It brings tears to my eyes.”
“I ate well! I just have a body type that doesn’t gain weight. But awakened people build muscle fast, right? Just wait, I’ll bulk up soon!”
“You? Hmm. Sure, I’ll look forward to that.”
“…Ugh.”
This guy would definitely win a “Most Annoying Way to Speak Without Swearing” competition.
His expression alone made me want to punch him.
But seriously… Looking up at Taehwan like this really made my neck ache.
For some reason, I felt nervous and swallowed hard before asking,
“How tall are you?”
“Me? 198 cm.”
“Holy—”
A sigh of pure disbelief slipped out of me.
* * *
