Chapter 7: ECHOES OF EVALUATION
Noah waited quietly in line as it moved forward one person at a time. Most people in front of him were teenagers, sixteen or seventeen years old. They were with their parents or instructors from the academy.
They talked about things like powers tests to get into the academy and offers from groups to help them become famous Hunters. Some showed their cards to friends comparing them like they were prizes.
One person was right ahead of Noah. The young boy with golden hair went up to the counter. He looked confident. He put his card on the counter.
"Morning" the receptionist said with a smile. "Why are you here today? Mock Evaluation or License Exam?"
"I want to apply for a Hunter License " the boy answered.
"Okay " she replied and started typing on a keyboard.
"Please put your card on the scanner " she said.
The boy did as she asked.
There was a beep, from the desk.
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Name: Leon Hart
Age: 16
Rank: B-Rank
Talent: Storm Spear
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The receptionist’s smile widened slightly.
"A B-Rank talent. Congratulations."
Several people nearby turned toward the boy with expressions of admiration.
"A B-Rank?"
"So young..."
"He’s definitely getting recruited."
One man wearing a guild badge immediately walked toward the teenager before handing him a business card.
"If you’re interested in joining the Azure Lion Guild after obtaining your license, give us a call."
Another recruiter wasn’t willing to lose the opportunity.
"Our guild offers better benefits."
Leon smiled proudly while accepting both cards.
Noah watched silently.
So this... is how talent changes everything.
Within a single minute, opportunities appeared before someone because of one letter.
One rank.
Soon, Leon finished his registration and walked away surrounded by smiling recruiters. The receptionist looked up again.
"Next, please."
Noah stepped forward.
The warm smile on the receptionist’s face remained unchanged.
"Good morning, sir. Purpose of your visit?"
"I’d like to apply for the Preliminary Hunter License."
"Certainly. Please place your Awakening Card on the scanner."
Noah slid his card across the counter.
The scanner glowed.
DING.
A holographic panel appeared.
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Name: Noah Kurtz
Age: 22
Rank: F-Rank
Skill: Memory Cabinet
Status: Unlicensed Awakened
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The receptionist blinked and stopped smiling. Then her professional smile returned, although Noah noticed it had become noticeably stiffer and fake.
"I... see."
She quickly composed herself and continued typing.
"I’ll just verify your records."
Silence followed. Behind Noah, a few applicants glanced toward the floating panel. One of them whispered,
"Twenty-two?"
Another quietly laughed.
"He awakened at twenty-two?"
"And it’s F-Rank..."
A third applicant shook his head.
"I didn’t even know people could awaken that late."
"This Dude is basically a dinosaur at this point. Seriously, walk away Grandpa."
The whispers weren’t loud. But they weren’t exactly quiet either. Every word reached Noah’s ears clearly. His fingers tightened slightly.
He had heard these same comments countless times over the past two weeks. Normally, they would have hurt but today, they merely sounded ignorant.
Laugh all you want.
None of you have seen what’s inside my soul.
The receptionist finally looked back up.
"Mr. Noah Kurtz."
"Yes."
"You are eligible to apply for the Preliminary Hunter License."
A small wave of relief washed over Noah.
"But..."
She continued before he could celebrate.
"...all applicants under E-Rank must first pass the Preliminary Combat Evaluation."
"I expected that."
She nodded.
"The examination consists of three sections."
"Physical Assessment."
"Combat Aptitude."
"And Survival Judgment."
Noah listened carefully.
"If you successfully complete the evaluation, you will immediately receive your Preliminary Hunter Identification Card, allowing you to enter designated Hunter Zones, monster training fields, and low-level extermination missions."
"So I only need to pass? There are no bonuses?"
"Correct."
"When is the examination?"
The receptionist checked another holographic screen.
"...In approximately twenty-five minutes."
Noah blinked.
"Today?"
She smiled politely.
"We conduct examinations every day."
His heartbeat accelerated. That was much sooner than expected.
"Please proceed to Evaluation Hall Three."
She printed a small electronic pass before handing it to him.
"This badge will grant you temporary access."
Noah accepted it.
"Thank you."
Just as he turned around—
a loud voice echoed from nearby.
"Hold on."
Everyone instinctively looked toward the speaker.
A tall young man wearing expensive combat gear walked over with several companions behind him. His confident smile immediately suggested someone accustomed to admiration.
He looked directly at Noah. Then at the floating holographic profile. Finally, he laughed.
"So they really let F-Ranks take the Hunter Exam now?"
Several people nearby chuckled. One of his friends folded his arms.
"I thought the Association filtered out hopeless cases."
The tall youth stepped closer.
"No offense."
His tone clearly suggested the opposite.
"But aren’t you wasting everyone’s time?"
"You awakened at twenty-two."
"Your skill is F-Rank."
"What exactly are you planning to accomplish?"
Silence spread across the reception hall. Several applicants watched with curiosity. Others simply enjoyed the spectacle.
Noah met the young man’s eyes calmly. For a few seconds... neither spoke. Then Noah simply answered.
"I came to get my license."
The response surprised everyone. There was no anger. Just a simple statement.
The arrogant youth frowned slightly.
"...That’s it?"
Noah nodded once.
"That’s it."
Of course, that’s it. What else? A date with your mother?
Without waiting for another reply, he walked past the group toward the elevators leading deeper into the Hunter Association. The young man clicked his tongue.
"What a boring guy."
One of his companions laughed.
"Don’t worry."
"He’ll fail before lunch."
The group walked away. Meanwhile, Noah stepped inside the elevator alone. The doors slowly closed. Only then did he release the breath he had been unconsciously holding. His reflection stared back at him through the polished steel doors.
Black hair.
Gray eyes.
An ordinary face.
An ordinary F-Rank.
At least...
that’s what everyone believed.
Noah slowly slipped a hand into his pocket. Inside, his fingers brushed against the temporary examination badge. Then, almost instinctively another thought crossed his mind.
If they knew my Memory Cabinet is secretly classified as S-Rank...
A faint smile appeared.
...they probably wouldn’t be laughing.
The elevator chimed softly.
Evaluation Hall Three.
The metal doors slid open. Beyond them stretched a massive corridor leading toward an enormous pair of reinforced steel gates. Dozens of young awakened applicants waited outside nervously while Association staff prepared equipment inside.
Some were stretching while some were meditating. Others confidently discussed combat strategies. Noah quietly joined the crowd.
At the far end of the corridor, the giant steel gates slowly began opening. A deep mechanical voice echoed throughout the hall.
"Preliminary Hunter Examination will begin shortly."
Noah looked forward.
His first step toward becoming a real Hunter... was about to begin.