The effect of the identity card wasn't just to give the user a legitimate document, but to create traces of having once lived in this world.
Even though the capabilities of the basic identity card were limited, they were enough for Castorice to fabricate some fragments of a past that existed only in ordinary people's memories—and those fragments were sufficient.
In her fabricated backstory, she was an international student from Country Y, seen by everyone as extremely reclusive, avoiding contact and relationships with anyone, essentially a ghost outside of attending classes.
With this worry-free identity in hand, Castorice headed straight for the Hunter Association branch.
She approached the front desk, handed over the university student ID generated by the identity card, and was scheduled for a rank evaluation.
The place was crowded with people lining up every day.
Amidst the conversations around her, Castorice quickly gathered information about this world.
About a dozen years ago, gates and people possessing powers suddenly appeared in this world.
Monsters would emerge from these portals one week after they opened. The only way to prevent the monsters from breaking out was to deal with them before they could exit.
Human weaponry, even rocket launchers, couldn't harm the monsters in the slightest. To truly injure or kill them, only those with powers could fight.
And these people were called Hunters.
After the initial chaos, humanity quickly rallied and counterattacked.
They couldn't afford to wait until the portals opened to fight; they had to resolve the battle before the monsters emerged.
When humans entered the portals, they discovered magic crystals inside, sparking a Hunter craze.
Because magic crystals could not only be forged into weapons to combat the magical beasts within the portals but could also replace oil and electricity as a new, universal energy source.
People called the world behind the portals "Dungeons." A Dungeon would disappear once its master, or boss, was defeated.
So, to maximize profit, teams needed to include combat personnel as well as specialized workers to transport the magic crystals.
This ecosystem had continued for a decade.
Hunter ranks here were different from those in ordinary worlds.
In this world, a Hunter's rank was fixed upon awakening.
Once you awakened your Hunter abilities, your strength would remain at that level forever. Apart from a second awakening, you could only improve through technique and equipment.
Watching the Hunters coming and going before her eyes, Castorice's brow furrowed slightly.
This situation... it was less that they could never improve, and more that they had somehow skyrocketed to the peak the moment they awakened, as if some force had been forcibly poured into a container that could hold no more.
She was observing others, and many were observing her too.
Although Castorice had changed into casual clothes to avoid standing out too much, her striking white-purple hair and her keep-away aura still drew many sidelong glances.
Among the many gazes, one from a girl in a school uniform with a hood was especially noticeable. Castorice followed the gaze.
It was a girl who looked about sixteen or seventeen, with short hair and a direct stare that made her seem like a little lioness.
The short-haired girl had been watching Castorice for a while—ever since she entered, in fact.
A white T-shirt on top, wide-legged jeans below, plus a pair of sneakers—though they looked good on the girl with white-purple hair, the outfit seemed too plain, not something such a pretty girl would typically put together.
She looks about my age, but it's a weekday, and she's not in school uniform—probably a university student, then?
Doesn't look wealthy, and seems a bit awkward... maybe this could work.
Thinking this, Han Song-Yi felt the urge to invite her. Just as she was figuring out how to approach, she saw the other girl look back.
Since she'd been spotted, there was no point hiding. She got up from her seat and walked straight over.
"Please don't come too close."
However, when she was about five steps away, the other girl suddenly spoke.
People were passing by all around; some had gotten closer to her than Han Song-Yi had.
Yet, she'd said this specifically to her.
Han Song-Yi wasn't tactless enough to think it was personal.
Thinking it over, she realized—while many had been closer, she was the only one clearly walking toward her.
Still, even if understandable, this unwillingness to be approached felt a bit cold.
"You're here for the rating too, right?"
Han Song-Yi didn't move closer but asked instead.
"Yes."
Castorice didn't know why she was approaching.
Glancing at her school uniform, she said, "Don't thy... need to attend school?"
"Don't thy? Ah..."
Han Song-Yi was momentarily thrown by the almost unheard-of form of address, but noticing the other's clearly non-Korean appearance, she nodded in understanding.
Probably not very familiar with the language, but it's fine, as long as we can communicate.
"I skipped class," she admitted naturally, then continued, "The rating's coming up soon. Want to team up?"
"Team up?"
Castorice tilted her head.
Becoming a Hunter didn't automatically grant access to Dungeons.
Under the Hunter Association's rules, the minimum requirement to enter a dungeon was a team of seven.
Only squads of seven or more were permitted; otherwise, it was illegal.
"It's just me in the team right now... but if you join, that'll make two. It'd be much easier for us to find a full team then, right?"
Han Song-Yi felt nervous inside but kept her composure.
Castorice had previously declined to join a guild, mainly wanting to understand this world first.
Now that she had a decent grasp, she had no particular reason to agree, but also no strong reason to refuse.
After a moment's thought, Castorice said, "May I ask your Hunter rank?"
"... E-rank."
The question made Han Song-Yi's expression somewhat embarrassed. "But E-ranks can be Hunters too!"
She knew being an E-rank made it easy to get mocked or looked down upon when seeking a team.
She'd faced discrimination more than once these past few days while searching, which was why she'd approached this girl.
Pretty, doesn't look rich, seems a bit awkward—even if she ends up being E or D rank after the test, it's fine. Two people together would make finding a team easier.
If she tests higher, then approaching early isn't a loss.
What if she's a soft-hearted deity willing to take me along? If she's a student, she's probably easier to talk to than those seasoned adults, right?
"I don't currently plan to join a fixed team. If you don't mind me leaving the party at any time, we can be temporary teammates."
Castorice didn't outright refuse. A minor E-rank mingling in this crowd, planning to enter dangerous dungeons—she must have her difficulties.
If she hadn't appeared before her, it'd be one thing. But since she had, Castorice didn't mind helping her out, as long as it didn't interfere with her own plans.
She'd be entering dungeons anyway; bringing one more person wasn't hard.
Still, she needed to see a dungeon first. If she wasn't confident, it'd be better not to bring anyone else.
As soon as she finished speaking, a staff member emerged from a rating room not far away. "Number 172!"
That was her number.
Castorice nodded farewell to the hooded girl and entered the room.
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T/N: The scene with 'don't thy' is cause there's an old way to say that in korean, and i couldn't think of another way to do it in english
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T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.