A few minutes after Jae-Min left, Joo-Hee finally stepped up for her turn to book the dungeon.
As Joo-Hee approached the front desk, she noticed that several employees nearby kept sneaking glances at her, their eyes full of curiosity and even some respect.
It was as if they were trying to figure out how someone who appeared so delicate managed to have the guts to go against Jae-Hoon, a hunter notorious for his arrogance.
The woman at the desk greeted Joo-Hee with a polite smile, her gaze sharp and observant. "Good morning, miss. How can I help you today?" Her voice was professional, though there was an unmistakable glint of curiosity in her eyes.
Clearing her throat to compose herself under the scrutiny of nearby hunters, Joo-Hee replied, "I'd like to rent a dungeon for a two-day dive."
The woman nodded, tapping at her computer. "Of course. Please wait a moment while I check available dungeons," she said smoothly. "Could I have your Hunter ID?"
Joo-Hee handed over her ID card, identifying her as Joo-Hee, a B-rank healer.
"Could I also get the ID number of your team?" she asked, clearly assuming that, as a healer, she'd have combat support.
Joo-Hee offered a measured smile, preparing herself for what was likely coming next. "Actually..." she said slowly, "I'd like to go alone this time to practice and train."
Her eyebrows shot up, and she looked at Joo-hee with slight disbelief. "Excuse me? You… want to go alone? But—" she leaned in slightly as if making sure she hadn't misheard. "You're a healer. I'm sorry, but we can't authorize a solo dive for a healer without a combatant."
Of course, Joo-Hee had expected this and took a small breath before responding. "That's the thing," she replied calmly, keeping her voice steady. "I'm actually planning to change my classification to dual-specialist. I've been training with a sword, so I'd like to update my class to 'Swordsman/Healer.'"
The woman's eyes widened in surprise, her gaze flickering over Joo-Hee as she seemed to reassess the possibility.
She opened her mouth, hesitated, then finally said, "One moment, Miss Lee… I'll need to consult a higher-up about this. Please wait here."
She quickly walked off toward an office at the back, leaving Joo-Hee under the watchful eyes of the association staff. Around her, she could hear the faint murmurs—hunters and staff whispering about the "gutsy healer".
As Joo-Hee waited, she could only think, Do you really think I'd be doing this if it weren't for that restrictive quest? She gritted her teeth, choosing to stay silent despite the quiet chuckles and whispers around her.
...
After a short wait, the woman returned, holding a form. She offered a polite yet slightly hesitant nod and said, "Miss Lee, please fill out this form and proceed to the Hunter Assessment Area. If you pass the class-change verification test, you'll be authorized to enter practice dungeons. ONLY. Beyond that, you'll need to have a team."
Joo-Hee accepted the form with a quick "Thank you," then turned and cast a frosty glare at the hunters nearby who had been snickering. The intensity in her eyes sent a chill down their spines, silencing their quiet laughter and murmur.
She made her way to the Hunter Assessment Area after she finished filling out the form, where she was greeted by a familiar face.
It was Chae Na-Yun, the healer she met at a special event before.
Her warm smile eased the tension and scrutiny that Joo-Hee faced earlier, and she returned her greeting with a small nod.
Chatting with each other for a while. Na-Yun was surprised to hear Joo-Hee was attempting a class change to dual-specialist. Very few dared to walk the challenging path of two professions.
Though she looked a bit worried, she gave Joo-Hee an encouraging pat on the shoulder. "I'm sure you'll do well, Miss Lee." Her voice was warm, though a hint of doubt slipped through.
As Joo-Hee walked away, she murmured softly, almost to herself, "…I guess."
...
It was Joo-Hee's turn. Her name and information lit up on the large screen, and the murmurs began almost instantly. Whispers filled the area as other hunters watched, shocked.
"Wait, is she serious? A healer trying to go combat?"
"Isn't that the girl from earlier who talked back to Jae-Hoon?"
"Is that healer for real? I doubt those slender arms could even swing a sword."
"How wasteful for a B-rank..."
A few looked enviously at her rank, while others just stared, unsure if this was boldness or recklessness.
As Joo-Hee stepped inside the assessment area, the onlookers crowded around the observation glass, eager to see how a healer planned to prove herself.
Inside the assessment room, Joo-Hee was handed a wooden sword by the male hunter employee. His gaze lingered on her for a moment, skeptical of the healer standing before him.
"Miss Lee, please move forward and strike the Strength Assessment Device," he explained, barely concealing his doubt. "If you can hit a score of 400, you'll be approved for class change. But since you're requesting a class integration, it should be more of a formality."
He paused briefly, eyeing her once more, his thoughts running wild. Can this girl even hit 400? Even E-plus ranks and D-ranks struggle with this test. Why I am even wasting my time testing a healer?
Joo-Hee, however, stood composed, her expression unreadable. Just like I anticipated, they would give a wooden sword for this test. Her lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. Then, I should easily pass this, hehe.
Her thoughts already calculating the best approach for this test. "I can use any skills, right?" she asked, her tone polite yet filled with intent.
The male employee blinked, surprised by her calmness, but quickly responded, "Yes, you can use any skills. Just remember, you only get one chance, so don't break the sword befo—."
Before he could finish his warning, Joo-Hee's eyes narrowed in concentration. In a low, almost inaudible whisper, she muttered, "Verdant Growth."
The wooden sword immediately shimmered as pure nature mana flowed from her, coating the blade. The edges sharpened, growing more resilient and far stronger than the sword's simple craftsmanship.
It was no longer a mere wooden weapon; it was now an extension of Joo-Hee's will, infused with her energy.
Without wasting another moment, she swung the sword with precision, her motion fluid and practiced. As she did, she uttered another low command: "Basic Swordsmanship."
The mana coursing through the blade intensified as her combat skills activated, augmenting the strike with finesse.
The wooden sword cut through the surface of the device, leaving behind a small dent—something unheard of for anyone below B-plus rank.
As it collided with the Strength Assessment Device, the impact vibrated through the room. The device immediately registered the overwhelming force behind her blow.
For a brief moment, the room fell into silence. The male employee stood frozen, his mouth slightly agape as he stared at the score flashing above the device. His eyes shifted to the small noticeable dent left behind, and his mind raced, struggling to comprehend.
This wasn't supposed to happen—only C-plus ranked fighter-type awakened could scratch the device. How could a healer—a support-type awakened, of all things—possibly dent it?
His face contorted in disbelief, utterly dumbfounded. He opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find any words.
After hitting the device, Joo-Hee whispered again, "Verdant Growth".
Mana swirled around the shattered remnants of the wooden sword, seamlessly absorbing every trace of nature mana that had been infused into it. With precise control, Joo-Hee erased all evidence of the foreign energy, ensuring not a single trace of nature mana remained.
She then released a gentle wave of healing mana, carefully masking the earlier fluctuations of energy. This subtle manipulation ensured that no one would suspect she possessed any other abilities, leaving only the faint pulse of healing mana in the room, reinforcing the illusion of her being just a healer.
Joo-Hee looked up at the screen displaying her score: 762. Her eyes widened in surprise as she registered the number.
This was rather unexpected, she thought, marveling at her own power.
Even with a strength stat of only 20, the combination of Verdant Growth and Basic Swordsmanship elevated my score to a whole new level. Her mind raced as she quickly considered the implications. This is indeed useful but it's only suitable if my weapon is made of wood.
But before she could revel in her discovery, she caught a glimpse of the male employee's face, frozen in sheer disbelief. His eyes darted between her and the device, struggling to process what had just happened.
The silence in the room felt almost heavy, and her stomach sank as she realized she might have overdone it. She gulped, feeling a cold bead of sweat trickle down her neck. I… may have really messed up this time.