2:40 PM the next day. Cha Eui-jae was making the most of the broth-boiling time to clean the store, with a sign that read "Ingredient Preparation Time" hanging up.
A man in a suit approached the store and knocked on the iron door. Despite the sign indicating that ingredients were being prepared, he knocked anyway. Cha Eui-jae tightened his grip on the broom he was holding, but a voice suddenly flashed through his mind.
"I'll send someone over to you tomorrow."
Cha Eui-jae slightly loosened his grip on the broom and opened the door. The man in sunglasses bowed slightly upon seeing Cha Eui-jae.
"Hello, nice to meet you. Are you Cha Eui-jae-ssi?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Hello, I am 'A Small Miracle' Seo Min-gi. Guild Leader Lee Sa-young sent me."
'A Small Miracle' Seo Min-gi. It was such a long and strange name that, although I had only briefly seen it on the 1st Hunter Channel, it remained clearly in my memory. However, it wasn't polite to mention someone's unusual name upon first meeting, so Cha Eui-jae also bowed slightly.
"Hello."
"Yes, please accept my business card first."
Seo Min-gi politely handed over his business card with both hands. Cha Eui-jae, who had placed the broom under his arm, also politely received the small rectangular piece of paper. Pado Guild Combat Support Team 1, 'A Small Miracle' Seo Min-gi.
"Today, I will assist you with the ability measurement and registration process. Just a moment."
Seo Min-gi took out a tablet from his inventory and showed the screen.
[Operation Get a Low Rating!]
The explosive background image and the title written in red Gothic font immediately caught Cha Eui-jae's attention. Cha Eui-jae's expression became odd upon seeing the bizarre design template, but Seo Min-gi had a very serious face.
"The goal is to get a low rating without standing out, correct?"
"…"
"Oh, you don't have to answer verbally. Just answer this survey with sincerity."
As Seo Min-gi flipped the screen, a survey appeared. Cha Eui-jae began answering the survey with the tablet pen that Seo Min-gi had handed over.
[1. What rating would you like to receive upon Awakened registration? Please specify between S and F.]
He needed to receive a low and common rating. This was the condition Cha Eui-jae had proposed when accepting Lee Sa-young's offer, so he tapped the pen on his lips, contemplating for a moment.
Receiving an F-grade would be too unrealistic given his true S-grade abilities, and he thought it would bring about too many explanations, just like when he was hiding as a non-awakened person. It's not as if an F-grade could kill monsters with bare hands by sheer luck.
With a serious face, he wrote down;
E, D
[2. What is your system rank? If you don't want to reveal it, please choose one of the following options. (F~C: Weak. B~S: Strong.)]
The question showed consideration and detail. It perfectly grasped what the customer wanted to achieve through the rank manipulation. On the other hand, it was so on point that it made him wonder if they had done this kind of deal with others before.
Strong
Without much hesitation, Cha Eui-jae wrote the answer as per the example and looked down to check the final question.
[3. Do you agree to use drugs and curses to manipulate your rank?]
Wait. Something seemed off about this question. After filling in the previous questions diligently, Cha Eui-jae raised his hand to call Seo Min-gi.
"Excuse me, 'A Small Miracle' Seo Min-gi."
"Yes, sir."
"The third question seems a bit strange."
"Excuse me? Just a moment."
Seo Min-gi craned his neck to check the screen and tilted his head.
"The third question is standard. Is there an issue with it?"
"It mentions using drugs and curses. Is that correct?"
"Yes. In order to hide your abilities, you'll need to go that far."
Is this guy a fraud? Cha Eui-jae was ready to smack Seo Min-gi's head with the tablet if necessary. Sensing Cha Eui-jae's hostility, Seo Min-gi took a step back.
"Sir, do you know how the ability measurement process works for Awakened registration?"
Cha Eui-jae knew the method from eight years ago, but he wasn't aware of the latest methods. Just like the price of magic stones had risen, the measuring methods must have changed. Having had a bad experience before, he shook his head instead of pretending to know. Seo Min-gi seemed to have been waiting for this and began explaining.
"First, you fill out a form by hand. Then, you measure your abilities with a device developed by the Management Bureau. The grade assignment process includes a demonstration of a representative skill."
"…"
"Handwriting can include a few lies, which we recommend. For the representative skill, you just show one skill. Neither is that important. The most important thing is the measuring device."
"The measuring device?"
"Yes. It's quite accurate, so hiding your grade from the officials is more challenging than deceiving the machine. However!"
Seo Min-gi confidently raised his index finger.
"The measuring device uses magic stones as its energy source. It doesn't react to ordinary people, only to awakened ones. In other words, it operates according to the system's rules, separate from our scientific knowledge."
"…"
"So we follow the system's rules to trick the device. We use substances or curses from dungeons that lower an awakened person's grade."
Seo Min-gi looked satisfied, as if asking what he thought of his argument.
'Why does that sound convincing?'
Upon hearing it, Cha Eui-jae also thought it made sense. Anyway, most drugs or curses wouldn't significantly harm his body, so it seemed like something he could endure with a bit of resolve. With only his sturdy body to rely on, he needed to make the most of it.
Cha Eui-jae, as if mesmerized, properly gripped the pen and wrote his answer to the last question.
[3. Do you agree to use drugs and curses to manipulate your rank?]
Yes
Seo Min-gi, satisfied, took back the tablet and spoke.
"Alright then… Oh, did you bring your ID card?"
Luckily, he had reissued his ID card after emerging from the rift. Cha Eui-jae pointed inside the store.
"It's in my wallet."
"Please grab it and join me in the car. Let's get going quickly."
He pointed to a blue cargo truck. Its appearance matched the alley so well that Cha Eui-jae couldn't imagine that was the vehicle they had brought. Cha Eui-jae alternated glances between Seo Min-gi in his neat suit and the dusty cargo truck.
'Does the Pado Guild not have money?'
"You're not mistakenly thinking our guild is poor, are you?"
Does this guy have mind-reading abilities? Cha Eui-jae quickly averted his gaze and shook his head.
"No, I didn't think that."
"Haha, I believe you didn't, but just for reference, this is a guild vehicle used for undercover operations."
"Oh, really?"
"Why do you sound so unenthusiastic?"
After fetching his wallet from the counter, Cha Eui-jae went into the kitchen to check the boiling broth. He needed to skim off the foam a bit later, but if he left it on low heat, it should be fine as long as he returned in time. Cha Eui-jae skimmed off the foam, reduced the heat, and hung up his apron.
Cha Eui-jae, who had grabbed his wallet, climbed into the passenger seat, and Seo Min-gi mimed fastening the seatbelt. After confirming the seatbelt was fastened, Seo Min-gi started the engine.
"We won't go to the official registration center at the Awakened Management Bureau, but to a temporary registration center in Gwangjin-gu. It's faster, less conspicuous, and doesn't have strong awakeners."
"Wouldn't a newly opened place be more vigilant?"
"That was true right after it opened, but the Gwangjin-gu center has been open for three months now, so it's a bit more relaxed. They're even more lenient now since the main building is almost complete."
Seo Min-gi glanced at Cha Eui-jae and gestured toward a black box next to him.
"Do you see that black box next to you?"
"Oh, yes."
"There should be a pair of bracelets inside. Could you put them on?"
Inside the box were two silver bracelets in the shape of a snake biting its own tail. As Cha Eui-jae took out the bracelets, item information appeared.
[Shackles of Ouroboros (A)]
[When one person wears a pair, it casts a weakening curse on the wearer.]
Is this why they mentioned drugs and curses in the survey? Holding the suddenly presented cursed item, Cha Eui-jae spoke reluctantly.
"It's a weakening curse… item."
Seo Min-gi nodded sincerely.
"Yes. To lower your rank, using a weakening curse item is the quickest and easiest method."
"Can this curse be lifted?"
"Of course. We have the curse removal scroll ready, so don't worry. We'll remove it right after the measurement."
It was tough to lie systematically. Cha Eui-jae put both bracelets on his left wrist. His whole body felt heavier, like he was wearing a sandbag centered around his left arm.
"How does it feel?"
"I do feel a bit heavier. But…"
Cha Eui-jae touched the rattling bracelet on his wrist.
"Won't they notice if I use something like this to fake my grade? It seems like they could easily catch it."
Seo Min-gi shrugged his shoulders.
"Ah, it's fine. They do inspect worn items, but that's only for hunters who are being re-evaluated."
"…"
"When a newly awakened person is being assessed, they don't check items. They don't even think to do it. How could someone who hasn't even registered as a hunter get their hands on items? Unregistered individuals can't use the hunter market, after all. Besides,"
Seo Min-gi said this as he leisurely made a left turn.
"Everyone wants to receive a higher grade, not a lower one."
"…"
"Ah, I'm not trying to single you out, sir."
Why bother saying that? Cha Eui-jae glanced at his profile briefly, feeling a bit uncomfortable, but he quickly accepted it since it wasn't wrong. The bracelets on his wrist clinked and rattled as they shook.