After a brief rest, the second examination began.
Unlike the first test, which focused on gauging energy levels, the second centered entirely on skills.
Cha Seohu’s skills to be tested were threefold: buff, healing, and purification.
With a single Hunter undergoing evaluation for three different abilities, the research team gathered in numbers, peeking in curiously.
Standing at the center of attention, Cha Seohu spoke up.
“If it’s alright, may I get some help from Team Leader Minhyuk? I’m sure the staff here is very capable, but I’m a little nervous...”
“Huh? Team Leader Park Minhyuk? Oh—are you two close?”
Startled, Kim Yeongeun asked, and Cha Seohu gave a dazzling smile, his expression laced with just the right amount of shyness.
“Yes. He really took good care of me in the Great Dungeon.”
“I see.”
Kim Yeongeun glanced toward Park Minhyuk, who stood at the back with his hands behind his back.
Researchers watching through the glass whispered amongst themselves.
This damn bastard...
Park Minhyuk, who knew Cha Seohu’s real personality, was disgusted inside—but having promised to cooperate, he couldn’t back out now.
He gave a reluctant nod, heavy with resignation.
“Having someone familiar help you definitely makes things easier. Then I’ll register Team Leader Park as the assisting Hunter.”
The moment she got his consent, Kim Yeongeun quickly entered Park Minhyuk’s name into the support role.
With how overpowered Cha Seohu’s specs were, she had been feeling subtle pressure, so Park’s involvement was actually a relief.
If it’s Team Leader Park Minhyuk, I can trust him to handle this properly.
He’d worked at the Association for years and understood all the procedures well. He was the by-the-book type who didn’t do anything unnecessary.
Plus, as a rare S-rank, he’d be a good reference point for observing how effective an SS-rank skill could be.
In many ways, he was the perfect assistant for this kind of evaluation.
Kim Yeongeun smiled warmly at the two of them.
“We’ll begin the test as soon as everything’s ready.”
Once all the devices were attached to his body—just like during the first test—Kim Yeongeun led Park Minhyuk out of the room.
About five minutes later, Park Minhyuk returned alone, his shirt sleeve rolled up and a bandage wrapped around his forearm.
– “Hunter Cha Seohu, we’ll now begin the second test. Please relax.”
Kim Yeongeun’s voice echoed from the speaker above.
– “We’ll begin with the healing skill, then purification, and finish with the buff. Please apply the skill to the injured area of your assistant.”
Still seated in the chair, with devices attached to his neck, chest, and both arms, Cha Seohu turned his gaze toward Park Minhyuk as he approached.
As Minhyuk unwrapped the bandage, a fresh wound appeared—one that hadn’t been there earlier.
It was about the size of a palm and looked as if it had been slashed by a sharp blade. The bleeding had been somewhat managed, but crimson drops still beaded at the surface.
Cha Seohu frowned as he stared at it.
It was obvious he didn’t like that such an injury had been deliberately inflicted just for testing.
Of course. Typical...
And yet, at moments like this, Cha Seohu gave off the strange impression of being gentle.
If he’d been an arrogant bastard who treated a wound like this as trivial, Park Minhyuk would’ve found it easier to deal with him.
But if that were the case, Seohu wouldn’t have stepped up to save everyone in the Great Dungeon in the first place.
That was why Park Minhyuk had agreed to his request. In the end, he owed Seohu his life.
But I’m not letting this slide a second time.
If this concealed side effect were ever exposed in the future... there would be nothing he could do to help him, even if he wanted to.
Letting out a silent sigh, Park Minhyuk looked at Seohu, who was still glaring at the wound.
“You can begin.”
His voice was stiff, as if deliberately ignoring the emotions flickering inside him.
Thanks to Park Minhyuk’s cooperation, the second exam concluded smoothly without a hitch.
The results were just as overwhelming as the first.
Healing skill: S-rank.
Purification skill: S-rank.
Buff skill: SS-rank.
“The buff skill has the limitation of requiring physical contact, but the effects scale based on the level of contact. Combined with the high stats from the first test, it was classified as SS-rank.”
“I see.”
If he’d had only one skill like most people, he would’ve been certified as an SS-rank Hunter outright.
However, because Cha Seohu had three—healing and purification being less influential than buffing and more draining in terms of energy—they were rated one step lower.
Even so, his base stats and all three skills exceeded the average S-rank Hunter by far.
From now on, no matter where he went, Cha Seohu would be introduced as an SS-rank Hunter.
“Honestly, as a researcher, I really want to see what happens with more intense contact than a hug...”
Kim Yeongeun looked back and forth between Seohu and Minhyuk, her gaze lingering with regret.
“But that would be a bit much, right? There’s the issue of your privacy. And the side effect wasn’t all that severe either. Just ten minutes of symptoms similar to a mild fever. Even if duration scales with contact level, compared to the strength of the buff, it’s practically nothing!”
While she praised the buff skill with excitement, Park Minhyuk dropped his gaze with a mix of guilt and embarrassment.
After using the healing skill to close his wound and purifying the prepared demon-type monster fluids, only the buff remained.
To monitor the changes in body and energy after receiving the buff, Park Minhyuk had the same devices attached as Seohu.
The buff transmission began. First, a handshake. Then, a light hug.
As agreed with Cha Seohu, they had told Kim Yeongeun it caused “symptoms similar to a mild fever,” but the truth was far from that.
Park Minhyuk was enduring the real side effect—an overwhelming pleasure spreading through his body.
He was desperately trying to suppress the sensation consuming him from head to toe.
“That concludes today’s schedule. Great work, Hunter Cha Seohu.”
“Thank you.”
“Team Leader Park... should I get you something? Maybe a fever reducer?”
Face flushed red, Park Minhyuk covered his mouth with his hand, struggling to catch his breath.
“I’m fine. Instead, I’d like to borrow the break room until the side effect subsides.”
“Sure, sure. Use it however you like. You too, Hunter Cha Seohu—get some rest before heading out. We keep some expensive snacks in the lounge, help yourself. Sometimes people feel dizzy after testing.”
“I will, thank you.”
Smiling politely, Cha Seohu responded like a sweet younger brother, and Kim Yeongeun returned the smile as she left the exam room with the research team.
Judging by her springy footsteps, she was already thrilled at the idea of reporting these results to her superiors.
Now that everyone had cleared out and only Cha Seohu remained with him, Park Minhyuk felt slightly more at ease.
“Let’s head to the break room... What the hell are you looking at?”
“Oh.”
Caught blatantly staring between Minhyuk’s legs, Cha Seohu shamelessly shrugged.
“I was just checking if it was showing through your pants.”
“...That’s not necessary!”
You absolute lunatic! Truly insane!
Park Minhyuk ground his teeth.
Once the side effects had mostly worn off, Park Minhyuk led Cha Seohu to the elevator to escort him back to his room.
It was still a bit early for dinner, but after all the testing, it seemed like a good idea to get him some dessert or snacks.
Hadn’t he said he was hungry last night? Despite his lean frame, he might actually have a big appetite.
But Park Minhyuk’s plan collapsed the moment he got a call.
“Yes. I’ll bring him up now.”
It was the Association President summoning them.
Park Minhyuk wasn’t surprised—he’d been informed yesterday—but for Seohu, who hadn’t /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ been warned, it could be unsettling.
Still, he couldn’t refuse the request.
Finishing the call, Park Minhyuk looked at Seohu apologetically.
“The Association President has requested a meeting. Would that be alright?”
He’d expected some hesitation or discomfort—but Seohu simply nodded, completely calm.
“Sure.”
It was so casual it felt like a comment about the weather.
“...Did you hear me properly?”
“Hmm? Oh, yeah.”
With a quiet chuckle, Cha Seohu stepped past him into the elevator that had just arrived.
“I figured I’d end up meeting him at some point, coming to the Association and all.”
Ah.
Park Minhyuk understood easily.
Of course—Seohu was the one who understood his own power best.
A meeting request from the President wouldn’t come as a shock.
Though the President seems to underestimate Hunter Cha Seohu quite a bit...
Still.
That unearned confidence made Park Minhyuk uneasy.
Having watched Cha Seohu even briefly, he couldn’t help but worry. The guy was far from easy to deal with—and his attitude was beyond problematic.
Sigh...
Caught between an ambitious Association President and an unpredictable Cha Seohu, Park Minhyuk’s fate was looking more exhausting by the second.
The road ahead would be rough—and there was no escaping it.
He swallowed yet another sigh, one of dozens today.
Thunk!
A limp body was hurled violently across the floor.
Having taken down the last of the guards, Kwon Seoyul shoved the unconscious men into a corner.
Just then, the outer door creaked open again, and another man entered.
“We’re in.”
The man spoke briefly into his phone and removed the cap pulled low over his head.
Messy black hair. A face etched with fatigue.
“Move.”
Hyun Dowoon pushed Seoyul out of the way and sat down in front of the wall of monitors. Looking up at the dozens of CCTV feeds, he pulled a small USB stick from his pocket.
Inserting it into the computer tower, he placed his phone—still connected to the call—on the desk and began typing.
Clack clack clack, the sound of his keystrokes echoed in the room, and Kwon Seoyul began humming lightly behind him.
Red warning pop-ups flickered on the screen, but within five minutes, Hyun Dowoon spoke.
“Found it.”
– Where is it?
“Building 2, 12th floor, Room 7. Five staff members are stationed in the hallway—ranked between C and B.”
– Send the floor plan.
“Got it.”
The call disconnected.
The phone screen briefly displayed the name Mook Jeongho before going dark.
Hyun Dowoon finally rubbed his tired eyes.
From his spot leaning against the wall, Kwon Seoyul chuckled.
“This makes what, the third day straight? You really do have the weakest stamina.”
“Shut the hell up and get lost.”
Even as Dowoon snapped, unusually cranky from sleep deprivation, Seoyul only grinned wider.
Just thinking about what they were about to do—and who they were about to meet—put him in a great mood.
He yanked the USB back out, and as Hyun Dowoon exited the security room, Kwon Seoyul strolled lazily after him.
“You’re really not coming to my violin recital later? Not even to hear one song?”
“Like hell I’d go to that crap.”
With his cap pulled low once again, and Seoyul spinning his motorcycle helmet around his finger, the two made their way toward Building 1.

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