A sharp sting jolted Jihoon awake, his cheek smarting as he flailed, tumbling off the cot with a thud. "Ow, damn it!" he yelped, sprawled on the polished floor of the hunter medical center, his side aching from the bandages. He glared up, rubbing his face, and found Seoyoon standing over him, her arms crossed, a grin splitting her face. Her short black hair was messy from the morning, and her cracked tablet dangled from one hand. The room was bright, sunlight streaming through the window, city towers glinting beyond the glass.
"What the hell, Seoyoon?" Jihoon groaned, scrambling to his knees. "Why'd you hit me?"
She laughed, a bright, unapologetic sound. "I was calling your name for, like, five minutes, sleepyhead. You were out cold, snoring like a street dog. It's almost noon, you know." She leaned down, offering a hand, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Jihoon sighed, grabbing her hand and pulling himself up, his face warm. "I always sleep in late," he muttered, brushing off his hospital gown. "Didn't have to slap me, though." Despite the sting, he couldn't help but smile. Seeing her there, all smirks and energy, made the sterile room feel less foreign. His mother was safe, his wounds were healing, and Seoyoon was still by his side. That was enough to start the day right.
"Chill, Ghost," Seoyoon said, tossing a plastic bag onto the cot. "Got you something to wear that's not, you know, shredded and bloody. Can't have you looking like a slum rat today." She nodded at the bag, her tone playful but proud.
Jihoon's eyes widened, and he grabbed the bag, peering inside. A sturdy gray jacket, a black shirt, and dark jeans, all clean and new, nothing like the threadbare stuff he was used to. "You got these for me?" he asked, voice soft, a grin tugging at his lips. "Seoyoon, this is… thanks."
She waved it off, but her cheeks pinked slightly. "Don't get sappy. Just change already. Kwangsoo's waiting outside, ready to drag us to his old guild. You want to be a hunter, right? Time to move."
His heart skipped at the mention of Kwangsoo and the guild. A real step toward being a hunter, not just a fake B-Rank on Seoyoon's hacked tablet. "Yeah, I'm ready," he said, clutching the bag. "Give me a second."
Seoyoon rolled her eyes, turning toward the door. "Don't take forever. I'm not your babysitter." She stepped out, leaving him to change.
Jihoon slipped behind a curtain, peeling off the hospital gown. The new clothes fit better than he expected, the jacket snug but comfortable, the jeans tough enough for the streets. He caught his reflection in the window—scrawny still, with messy hair and a bandage peeking out, but he looked… different. Like someone who could be more than a slum kid. He smoothed the jacket, a flicker of excitement in his chest, and stepped out.
Seoyoon was in the hall, tapping her tablet, but she glanced up and whistled. "Not bad, Jihoon. Almost look like a hunter now." Her grin was infectious, and he laughed, falling into step beside her.
She led him to the front desk, where a nurse—Minji from yesterday—handed her a clipboard. Seoyoon scribbled a signature, signing Jihoon out with a flourish, chatting with Minji about the weather like it was nothing. Jihoon marveled at her ease, the way she moved through the world like she owned it. The lobby was busy, nurses rushing, monitors beeping, but the air felt lighter now, the city's hum calling them outside.
Choi Kwangsoo waited by the entrance, his broad frame slouched against a wall, his scarred face set in its usual scowl. His torn jacket was patched, and a faint bruise lingered on his jaw, but his eyes were sharp, scanning them as they approached. His limp was noticeable as he straightened, but he carried himself with a quiet strength. "Took you long enough," he grunted, nodding at Jihoon. "Nice threads, kid. Ready to see the real world?"
Jihoon nodded, his stomach fluttering. "Yeah, let's do this." He glanced at Seoyoon, who smirked, and the three of them stepped into the city.
The streets were a shock after the slums' grime. Polished pavement gleamed under towering buildings, their glass facades reflecting the noon sun. Sleek cars zipped by, and vendors hawked glowing relics and energy drinks branded with hunter logos. Posters of S-Rank heroes loomed on walls, their poses fierce, their gear glinting. Jihoon felt small, his new jacket suddenly less impressive, but Kwangsoo's steady pace and Seoyoon's chatter kept him grounded. The city buzzed with life, a world of wealth and power, but the slums' shadow lingered in his mind—cracked streets, scared kids, his mother's coughs.
Kwangsoo led them through a crowded plaza, his voice cutting through the noise. "Iron Fang Guild's a few blocks up. Mid-tier, not one of those flashy S-Rank outfits, but they're solid. I ran jobs with 'em before this leg gave out." He tapped his thigh, wincing slightly. "They'll tell you what you need to start as a hunter."
Seoyoon nudged Jihoon, her tablet glowing faintly. "Better listen, Ghost. This is your big shot." Her tone was light, but her eyes were serious, a reminder of her hack that put him here.
The Iron Fang Guild's building stood out, a sleek five-story structure with a steel fang logo above the entrance. The lobby was all polished stone and glass, with displays of battered swords and cracked beast cores lining the walls, trophies of past hunts. A faint hum of energy filled the air, like the relics were still alive. A receptionist, a woman in her thirties with a crisp uniform, looked up from her desk, her eyes lighting up at Kwangsoo. "Choi! Been a while. You back to cause trouble?"
Kwangsoo snorted, leaning on the desk. "Not today, Hyejin. Brought a kid who wants to be a hunter. Needs to know the ropes."
Hyejin's gaze shifted to Jihoon, appraising him. He stood straighter, his new jacket feeling like armor. "Name's Park Jihoon," he said, voice steadier than he felt. "I want to… you know, try for the exams."
She nodded, pulling up a screen on her desk. "Alright, Jihoon. The hunter process isn't a walk in the park. First, you need a written recommendation from active hunters—two, minimum. That gets you to the government facility for the exams: a written test on dungeon lore, physical fitness trials, and a combat test against D-Rank beasts. Pass those, you get a license. Then guilds like us might scout you." She paused, her tone firm. "Exams are tough, kid. Half the applicants fail the combat part. You sure you're ready?"
Jihoon's throat tightened, but he thought of the slums, his mother's frail hands, the kids dodging beasts. "I'm sure," he said, his voice clear. "I have to try."
Seoyoon leaned against the desk, smirking. "He's got a knack for dodging, trust me. I call him Ghost for a reason." Jihoon's face warmed, but he didn't mind the nickname, not from her.
Hyejin raised an eyebrow, glancing at Kwangsoo. "This kid's with you, so I'll take your word for his character. What's his deal?"
Kwangsoo crossed his arms, his scowl softening. "Jihoon's got a power called Hitbox Control. Lets him focus and not get hit. Saved a kid and this one," he nodded at Seoyoon, "during the dungeon break. He's green, but he's got guts."
Hyejin's eyes flicked to Jihoon, a spark of interest there. "Hitbox Control? Never heard of it, but evasion's rare. If you can hone that, you might survive a dungeon." She tapped her screen, then looked at Kwangsoo. "You sure you want us to vouch for him on your behalf?"
"Yeah," Kwangsoo said, pulling a folded paper from his jacket. "Who else but people I used to work with." The guy sighed then got a paper and wrote up his recommendation then handed it to Jihoon, the paper crisp and official, with a pretty cool signature and the Iron Fang seal.
Jihoon's hands shook as he took it, the weight of it sinking in. A real chance. Not just Seoyoon's hack, but a path to prove himself. "Thank you," he said, looking at Kwangsoo, his voice thick. "This means… everything."
Kwangsoo grunted, waving it off. "Don't thank me yet. Exams'll chew you up if you're not ready. You'll need to train, push that power of yours. Dodging's good, but dungeons don't play fair." His eyes softened, just for a moment. "Prove the slums can make hunters, kid. Don't waste this."
Seoyoon clapped Jihoon's shoulder, her grin wide. "Told you, Jihoon. You're on your way to being a legend." Her voice was light, but her grip was firm, a quiet promise she'd stick by him.
Hyejin stood, handing Jihoon a card with the government facility's address. "Take that recommendation to the Hunter Bureau. Exams run weekly, so don't dawdle. Good luck, kid." She nodded at Kwangsoo. "And you, Choi, don't be a stranger."
They left the guild, stepping back into the city's hum. The sun was high now, casting long shadows across the polished streets. Jihoon clutched the recommendation, his heart pounding. The Hunter Bureau loomed in the distance, a gray, stern building that felt like a challenge. Seoyoon walked beside him, her tablet tucked away, her teasing quieter now. "You nervous?" she asked, her voice soft.
"A little," Jihoon admitted, glancing at her. "But I can't back out. Not now."
Kwangsoo limped ahead, turning back. "You'll do fine, kid. Just don't sleep through the exams." His scowl twitched, almost a smile, and Jihoon laughed, the tension easing.
The city buzzed around them, but Jihoon's eyes were on the Bureau, the paper in his hand a ticket to something bigger. The slums waited back home, with his mother, the kids, the broken streets he wanted to fix. A faint siren wailed, a reminder of the dangers still out there, but for now, he had a goal.