I was Mistaken for a Noble Hunter

“Are you okay? You were unconscious for two whole days!”

 

The person who entered the hospital room was none other than Assistant Professor Im. He looked at Sooho’s complexion as he sat on the bed, and when their eyes met… “I’m sorry! I’m really sorry for running away on my own!” he apologized abruptly.

 

In fact, there wasn’t much that an E-rank Hunter could do alone in a situation like that. E-rank Hunters didn’t have significantly different physical abilities compared to regular people, so they couldn’t fight at full strength even in dungeons.

 

The first caution that Assistant Im learned when he awakened as an E-rank was “run away with all your strength when you see a magic beast.”

 

But Sooho was just an ordinary person then and was exceptionally heroic.

 

‘Saving people until he fainted in that dangerous place!’

 

Thanks to Sooho’s remarkable achievements, Assistant Im felt humiliated and frustrated for the first time.

 

However, Sooho, who received his apology, remained resolute. “Well, it’s okay. You don’t have to apologize to me.”

 

“No, really, I have nothing to say even if I had ten mouths.” Assistant Im, who was repeatedly apologizing, took out a hot porridge from the shopping bag and prepared it in front of Sooho. “Come on, are you hungry? Since you’re on an empty stomach, eat the porridge first. Here’s a spoon.”

 

“Oh, what a thoughtful gesture.”

 

Gurgle!

As soon as he saw the delicious beef porridge with a good texture and flavor with the aroma of sesame oil, Sooho’s stomach made a sound.

 

Without hesitation, he grabbed the spoon and started eating the porridge eagerly. It tasted like honey after not eating for two days.

 

“When you’re done, should I peel the apple for you?”

 

Come to think of it, there were apples in the refrigerator. It turned out that Assistant Im had been visiting Sooho in the hospital yesterday and today while he was unconscious.

 

‘I’m receiving all the care from the assistant professor even though I don’t feel any pain after leveling up.’

 

Sooho was thinking of checking out of the hospital today when Assistant Im handed him an apple and asked, “The people who left the hospital room earlier than that were the association staff, right? What did they say?”

 

“They were measuring my mana before leaving.”

 

“Oh? Did they measure it? Did you really awaken?” Assistant Professor Im’s eyes widened. “How was it? I heard that this dungeon is a D-rank, but since you survived there…”

 

“It’s E-rank.”

 

“Huh? Really?” Assistant Professor Im’s eyes widened even more.

 

Sooho unfolded the mana measurement result that the association staff had left behind.

 

“Huh? It really is E-rank? A mana value of 46 is low even among E-ranks.”

 

“Why are you disappointed, Assistant Professor? What did you expect? Wow, did you perhaps think of bowing down to me had I awakened as a great Hunter? No wonder you’ve been treating me well.”

 

“No, you brat! If you were such an amazing Hunter, would you have fainted in such a dangerous place? I thought you were at least D-rank.”

 

“See? I knew you were thinking that way.”

 

Assistant Professor Im jumped up, feeling unjust. Then he patted Sooho’s back and comforted him as he put down the result sheet, “Well, it’s actually better this way. E-rank is also good, you know. E-rank is much more stable than mediocre D-rank, don’t you think?”

 

“I wouldn’t know.”

 

“Hehe, of course you wouldn’t. You’ve just awakened.” Assistant Im patted Sooho on the shoulder with a smile. “From now on, just trust and follow me. As an E-rank veteran, I’ll lead you into the world of E-rank Hunters.”

 

***

 

Dungeon raids are carried out through a strict division of labor. The attack team that clears the dungeon first, the retrieval team that follows to collect the remains of monsters, and the mining team that mines resources from the rear of the dungeon. Among these roles, E-rank Hunters were practically assigned to all except the attack team.

 

“Which means, E-rank jobs are the most abundant.”

 

Assistant Im’s statement that E-rank is much more stable than the mediocre D-rank was indeed true. D-rank Hunters were the weakest among those who could join the attack team. In a way, they were exposed to the most danger. On the other hand, E-rank Hunters were excluded from combat forces altogether, so they could earn a daily wage by working hard in a safe place, which was quite nice.

 

“Of course, there are some E-rank Hunters who volunteer for the attack force despite the risks because they need urgent money, but they are not common. It’s even more expensive if you end up in the hospital. Unless you have a close healer, that is.”

 

The day after being discharged from the hospital, Sooho arrived at the Korea University Museum of Art, listening to Assistant Professor Im’s explanation.

 

‘… I can’t believe I ended up coming here again because of Beru.’

 

Sooho looked up at the museum, which had been destroyed miserably due to Beru, and reminisced.

 

The purpose of coming here today was nothing other than to become a miner. Except for the Shadow Dungeon, this was his first real dungeon, so he had decided to accept Assistant Im’s offer to help him without any resistance.

 

“Oh, by the way, all classes at school have been switched to online until the dungeon is completely conquered. Since you’ve become a Hunter, you’re obviously taking a leave of absence, right?”

 

“That’s right. Anyway, the exhibition should be over, and this semester is almost over, too.”

 

“Okay. I’ll stop by the office separately to apply for your Hunter leave of absence. Shall we start then?” Assistant Professor Im looked at Sooho with a motivated look and sparkling eyes. Sooho could feel the seniority of an experienced Hunter in his gaze. “Hehe. Today, I will teach you all about the wise life of an E-rank Hunter! Let’s start with a miner!”

 

[You’re showing off something so lousy.]

 

“Huh!?”

 

Suddenly, Beru jumped out of Sooho’s shadow.

 

Assistant Im was startled and stumbled back.

 

“M-magic beast!?”

 

Beru looked down at Assistant Im with a contemptuous gaze and muttered.

 

[Tsk. You’re so timid. My little king, I know much better about what a Hunter is. You should learn from me instead.]

 

Then Beru flew toward Sooho and spread his short arms wide, shouting grandly.

 

[A Hunter is a natural-born predator! They subdue and dominate their enemies and consume them! That is the essence of a Hunter. So, kill and kill again to obtain all that power… Kuheuk?]

 

Sooho’s hand grabbed Beru, who was glowing, like a baseball.

 

“Why did you suddenly appear?”

 

[Cough. I sensed the energy of a dungeon nearby. As the little king is currently weak, like a helpless caterpillar, I must stick close to protect you for peace of mind.]

 

Krrrrrt-!

 

Beru quickly escaped from Sooho’s hands, which were extending his body like a springy rubber band. Then, with a fierce glare in his eyes, mini Beru hopped onto Sooho’s shoulder and began scanning the surroundings, on guard.

 

But Sooho was not deceived anymore.

 

‘He’ll just hang around and do nothing again when it’s time to fight.’

 

Just then, Assistant Im, who had regained his senses late, cautiously pointed at Beru and asked, “Sooho, is this your summoned beast?”

 

[No.]

 

Instead of Sooho, Beru answered firmly. Strictly speaking, Beru was not Sooho’s summoned beast but rather his father’s.

 

“If he’s not a summoned beast, then what…?”

 

Assistant Im involuntarily switched to polite speech, feeling a bit overwhelmed after losing the initial momentum of the fight.

 

Beru’s eyes flashed brightly.

 

[I am a babysitter.]

 

“… A babysitter?” Assistant Im tilted his head.

 

[Yeah, something like…a kind of uncle from the perspective of humans?]

 

“…?”

 

[Fufu, well, there were times like that.]

 

What is it saying?

 

Beru looked at Sooho with a faint gaze, muttering incomprehensible words.

 

Assistant Professor Im ignored Beru and asked Sooho, “Did you awaken as a Summoner Hunter?”

 

“Yes, well, it seems so.”

 

“Hmm. Interesting. You’re the first E-rank Summoner I’ve seen,” he muttered.

 

There was no need to mention how unpopular Summoner Hunters were. Moreover, with a combination of E-rank Hunter and summoning skill.

 

‘Seems like a minor of the minors.’

 

Assistant Professor Im looked at Beru, who was standing on Sooho’s shoulder. He was surprised when he suddenly appeared earlier, but now that he saw Beru’s adorable appearance up close…

 

‘It must be of no use whatsoever?’

 

[You’re disrespecting me with that look. Should I pluck your eyes out?]

 

“…”

 

Assistant Im narrowed his eyes slightly. Seeing how quickly it was to catch on, he realized it might be useful after all. And it could even communicate, so it might be unexpectedly helpful?

 

“Ahem. Still, among E-rank Hunters, there are many who don’t have any skills, so you’re lucky. By the way, I have a running skill.”

 

“I see. That’s why you ran away so well.”

 

“…” Sooho’s innocent words hurt Assistant Im. It hurt even more because it was true.

 

***

 

So, Sooho became a miner on the recommendation of Assistant Professor Im.

 

“Alright! Let’s work hard again today!”

 

The mining team, composed of E-rank Hunters, was essentially a construction site labor atmosphere.

 

“Hey, newbie! Come and take the pickaxe.”

 

Thunk.

 

And so, the dungeon pickaxe was handed to Sooho.

 

The old man distributing the pickaxes smiled kindly at Sooho and said, “If you happen to break it while working, come back to me to get a new one. But be careful, because the cost of the pickaxe will be deducted from your daily wage. Still, you’re quite impressive for a young friend. Are you a student at this school?”

 

“Oh, are you that guy?”

 

Surprisingly, most of the miners recognized Sooho and approached him warmly.

 

‘Probably because of the news.’

 

Sooho smiled bitterly as he recalled the news that was posted on the internet yesterday and today. The title was ‘The Hero of Korea University Becoming an E-Rank Hunter?’ It was news that could be interpreted as praise or insult.

 

If he had become a hero of the art museum as an ordinary person, he would have received a brave citizen award or something similar. But because he awakened as a Hunter in the middle, he ended up just being a Hunter doing Hunter’s work.

 

However, even in such a situation, it seemed to work in favor of these old men.

 

“Haha. It’s a pity indeed. It would have been a different story if you had awakened with a higher rank.”

 

“Still, don’t be too upset about the low rank~ We also live well and eat well, you know?”

 

“That’s right, that’s right. It’s a little hard on the body, but it’s great because you just need to be good at swinging a pickaxe without any special skills, right?”

 

They were all eager to give Sooho advice, feeling sorry for the rare newcomer who had joined them.

 

And Beru did not like this kind of warm atmosphere.

 

[Little King, it’s a waste of time to chat with these ignorant fools. It’s better to go for leveling up or something. Time is precious.]

 

“Oh! Is this a summoned beast?”

 

“Woah. I’ve never seen such a creature before.”

 

“It would be cute to carry around on the side.”

 

“But it’s too small and useless for mining, isn’t it?”

 

The miners gathered around in awe of Beru, who appeared suddenly. In response, Beru glared at them fiercely and emitted an aura of hostility.

 

[Hey! Don’t come near, you rude bastards! My little king is weak and could die with just a flick! Little King, don’t worry. I will protect you!]

 

“…?” Sooho looked at Beru silently.

 

Is this overprotection, or is it being overlooked?

 

“Hahaha. Your summoned beast is reliable.”

 

“Well, then let’s go do some work too.”

 

The miners scattered in groups of threes carrying pickaxes while laughing at Beru’s charm (?).

 

As Sooho watched this scene, he suddenly had a good idea.

 

“Beru.”

 

[Yes, my little king. Just give me an order, and I will cut the throats of those disrespectful bastards.]

 

“… No, don’t do that.”

 

[Then what command do you have for me?]

 

“Bring out some goblin corpses from the Shadow Dungeon.”

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