Except during the early stages of awakening, when the evolved organs remain highly unstable as they adapt to new substances, a Hunter's innate mana does not fluctuate.
[15.97]
Then what exactly was happening with this F-rank Hunter's body?
Its maximum mana capacity was continuing to rise, little by little.
12, then 14, and now 15.
The increases were so minuscule that even the sorcerer inhabiting the body had failed to notice them.
But anyway.
I've gotten all the proof I need now, so...
"No problem at all. You've done well."
After the examination was complete, I offered a brief farewell to the Association staff and left.
***
A few hours later.
As always, I was holed up in Kim Giryeo's studio apartment.
But today, the atmosphere inside felt completely different from usual.
Recently, Kim Giryeo had been obsessively absorbed in his research, scattering papers everywhere whenever he had a spare moment as he desperately pursued the art of body exchange.
Now, however, he was sprawled across the bed beneath a worn blanket, doing absolutely nothing.
"Hmm..."
The corpse explosion incident.
The contractor's testimony.
And the information I'd obtained from the Hunter Association.
All of it pointed toward a single conclusion.
This body's magic power had not yet fully matured.
That was why Kang Changho had shown such an insane level of interest the moment he saw me.
In other words, an unprecedented case had suddenly appeared on Earth—an awakened person whose growth showed no clear upper limit and whose power continued increasing without end.
On Earth, innate magic that remained continuously active without needing to be consciously triggered was referred to as a Passive Skill.
And Passive Skills fell well within the range of abilities that could be seized through [Improvement].
Whether Kim Giryeo's unusual trait originated from some primitive form of sorcery or was simply a physical talent rooted in genetic information had yet to be determined.
But if there was even a 1% chance of obtaining an ability this extraordinary, it would be worth the gamble.
'If I had to guess, [Improvement] probably doesn't steal magic outright. It's more likely some kind of copying technique....'
Now I finally understood Kang Changho's behavior.
A potentially ultra-rare skill holder—someone capable of overcoming the innate limitations of a caster—had suddenly appeared before him.
How could any wizard possibly resist something like that?
'So it wasn't my failure after all.'
The corpse I had dismissed as garbage had turned out to be something far beyond a mere C-rank Hunter.
It was an exceptionally high-quality specimen.
Of course, it was impossible for there to be no limit whatsoever. Eventually, like any primitive species, this reincarnated body would inevitably reach a wall.
Even so, there was no denying that Kim Giryeo possessed extraordinary potential.
Assuming there was no flaw in the premise behind the reincarnation spell—that it would settle into the corpse possessing the greatest magical power on Earth—it wouldn't be surprising if this blond young man's final point of growth turned out to be somewhere around the level of an S-rank Hunter.
'That's good news.'
But there was one problem.
It was wonderful to discover that this body possessed such an extraordinary trait, but how in the world was I supposed to draw out its potential?
'Hmm.'
Until now, I had used the magical knowledge accumulated over my previous life to overcome countless difficulties.
But this time, I genuinely couldn't think of a solution.
I had no idea what further modifications this body might require.
Because of the overwhelming disparity between the weight of our souls, exchanging bodies was no longer an option unless I somehow happened to obtain the corpse of a top-tier awakened person.
My lung capacity had already been restored to a normal level, yet the magic power in this body was still crawling along at F-rank levels.
In other words, there was no realistic way for me to escape this pathetic shell.
At least the data showed a gradual upward trend over time.
'An increase of approximately 2.025Aw per unit.'
The growth rate was absurdly slow.
Even with a rough calculation in my head, it seemed more likely that the turn of the century would arrive before Kim Giryeo ever reached C-rank.
Was I seriously supposed to sit around and wait that long?
'Huh.'
And on top of that, I was already bound by contract to become a living sacrifice in nine years?
'Y, yeah.'
No matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn't come up with a single method for fully unlocking the potential of this reincarnated body.
Moreover, from this point onward, effort itself might be meaningless.
As I had explained before, there was a fundamental and enormous difference between the souls of Earthlings and Alphaurins, whose civilization had developed around magic.
An inadequate vessel could never be used to its full potential.
I doubted it, but perhaps even the body of an S-rank Hunter wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure of my soul properly.
Dragon's lungs.
The corpse of a suitable Awakened person.
Until now, I had believed that obtaining those things would allow me to regain my strength, and I had worked relentlessly with that expectation in mind.
But after all that effort...
'Wait a second—does this mean I'm going to be stuck in this body forever, with no hope of ever getting better?'
A sudden sense of helplessness washed over me.
The conclusion that the reincarnation spell might not have failed was a terrifying double-edged sword.
I might have to spend my entire life trapped in this vessel, whose magic power increased by only 2 points a year.
As that realization sank in, an unfamiliar emotion slowly began rising in my chest.
'Huh? So I was reborn in another world, and I'm really going to stay an F-rank from now on?'
Summer.
Ordinarily, the increased sunlight of the season produced beneficial effects, such as improving one's energy.
Yet for the first time since reincarnating, I found myself overwhelmed by a gloom I couldn't control.
Acute depression had set in.
***
Me.
An F-rank.
Even if I could now use basic magic, the thought of spending the rest of my life with this pathetic level of firepower...
It was unbearable.
Sob.
The alien barely managed to hold back the physical evidence of sorrow threatening to spill from his tear glands and forced himself to focus on his meal.
For the record, today's menu was hot pot rice.
'And I'm nothing but trash...'
I had come to this expensive restaurant thinking that perhaps putting my body into a healthier state might improve my mood as well.
But even while eating such fine food, I hadn't expected to feel this powerless and frustrated.
I had spent so long charging forward, clinging to the belief that things would eventually improve.
And in the end, it had all come to nothing.
No wonder I felt like I was sinking.
'Damn it. Now that I think about it, this really isn't funny. There were more than one or two things I did specifically because I thought I could change bodies.'
Ugh.
If I had simply worked some modest part-time job and diligently earned money instead of strutting around pretending to be some great powerhouse, things never would have ended up like this.
'This is bad.'
Because I had been branded an S-rank Hunter, I could no longer withdraw so easily.
My face was known all over the world now.
There was nowhere I could simply disappear to.
Permanently altering my appearance by adding flesh...
Of course, that trick was still available to me.
But the problem was the rare trait this body possessed—the fluctuation of its magic power.
There was simply no way to conceal that twenty-four hours a day.
'Controlling mana leakage is like holding your breath. If an F-rank Hunter tries to keep doing it for too long, they'll simply die.'
No matter how many decoys I created, the moment this trait was discovered by [Dragon's Eye], everything would be over anyway.
It was a complete disaster.
'With this much magic power, even if I gather every support tool I can find, an S-rank will still beat me to a pulp.'
Oh, god.
No matter how many times I considered the situation, I couldn't see any future for myself.
Maybe it really would have been cleaner if I'd simply gone out with a bang early on...
Without realizing it, Giryeo lowered his gaze toward the [Pyromancer's Necklace] hanging around his neck.
But then—
A young man's voice suddenly came from across the table.
"Brother."
Perhaps because he hadn't been smoking for very long, his voice was noticeably clearer than Kim Giryeo's.
The speaker was Ahn Yoonseung.
"Mhm."
This restaurant had so few tables that it generally avoided serving customers who came alone.
That was why the alien had brought this particular Earthling along merely so he could place an order.
"Th, the rice here is really delicious. Hmm, of course, it tastes even better because you're treating me..."
"Yeah. Eat as much as you want."
"By the way, if you don't mind me asking... did something bad happen recently?"
In the middle of eating, Ahn Yoonseung suddenly set down his spoon and asked the question.
I had deliberately tried to keep my expression neutral, thinking that would make it easier to conceal my emotions.
But because my face remained completely blank, without even the slightest change, Yoonseung had apparently found that even more unsettling.
Something bad?
But how could an alien possibly reveal the truth here?
"Not really."
In truth, the S-rank Hunter sitting in front of you is an illegitimate registrant who falsified his awakening score, and the only thing he's actually good at is relying on equipment—nothing more than a speck of dust....
But that was hardly something I could confess right here at the table.
Giryeo offered a vague lie and reached for one of the side dishes.
'That's strange. Still, something... something is definitely different from usual....'
But the enormous psychological shock had caused his already deteriorating physical condition to worsen even further.
The weak movement of his chopsticks only deepened Yoonseung's growing suspicions.
'Hmm.'
Having witnessed Kim Giryeo's sudden decline firsthand, Yoonseung quietly sank into thought.
The Hunter sitting before him possessed extraordinary mental fortitude.
At least, Yoonseung believed that calling him 'superhuman' would hardly be an exaggeration.
After all, this man had witnessed the Aquarium Incident from beginning to end.
And because Yoonseung himself had been directly involved, he had received considerable information about the case from the police.
'They said those foreigners were awakened people with incredibly powerful mental abilities...'
Kim Giryeo was a monster who had not merely endured the status effects inflicted by the foreign assassins.
He had turned the tables on them and crushed his enemies instead.
The memory of Alai trembling in such abject terror that it almost inspired sympathy still remained vivid in Yoonseung's mind.
Even someone who wasn't particularly perceptive would have understood after witnessing that overwhelming battle.
That blond Hunter stood frighteningly close to mental perfection.
And, as expected of an S-rank Hunter, his ability to exert physical force left nothing to criticize either.
But even that iron man, who seemed practically born for hunting, was still fundamentally human.
He had blood.
He had emotions.
Surely even someone like him could sometimes be affected by fatigue or stress.
'Ughhh, don't tell me... that video ended up reaching him too...!'
As though some terrible fate had been written into Giryeo's life, one disaster after another seemed to follow him.
One moment, he was suddenly encountering foreign assassins inside an aquarium.
And then there was the internet.
YouTube could be a useful platform for sharing entertainment and information when used properly.
But there were always people so blinded by their hunger for views that they manufactured conflict and willingly turned themselves into a nuisance.
(From Orphanage Child in Crisis → Rebirth as an S-Rank Hunter)
Just remembering that thumbnail was enough to make Yoonseung's blood boil.
It had originated from an exposé on the Hunter's private life, maliciously written by a certain reporter from Jeongseong Daily.
Thankfully, someone must have intervened appropriately, because the original article had been taken down shortly afterward.
(The Atrocities of a Hunter Division Reporter (Kim Giryeo's Family Matters) 'Is This Something a Human Should Do?')
But gossipmongers with sharp ears had quickly captured the article during the brief period it remained online and had recently turned it into a new video.
As a result, Kim Giryeo's personal background had once again become a hot topic on the internet.
The mere fact that he was an orphan had drawn an endless flood of pity, contempt, ridicule, rejection, and unwanted attention.
If even an unrelated third party felt this disgusted and furious about it, then how must the person whose private life had actually been exposed feel?
'Those attention-crazed bastards.'
It was heartbreaking.
– As I said over the phone, I've never been to a place like this in my life.
And when Yoonseung finally understood why that S-rank Hunter had said those words at the aquarium, a deep ache had risen in his chest.
How could someone so strong, compassionate, and kindhearted be forced to endure such humiliation?
'Heaven is so indifferent.'
Tak.
Ahn Yoonseung stopped for a moment and thought.
'Is there anything I can do for him?'
First of all, it was obvious that something was wrong with Korea's fourth S-rank Hunter.
The blond Hunter was still listlessly picking at his pot rice, completely drained of energy.
However, since Giryeo himself had already said that nothing was wrong, continuing to pry into the reason behind his condition would probably only make things worse.
'If I keep asking about his mood or start acting overly considerate, he might realize that I know about that video circulating online...'
Then what should he do?
Yoonseung sincerely wanted to help the person he respected so deeply.
If he could ease even a little of the burden carried by the man who had saved his life, what did money or wealth matter?
Unfortunately, that Hunter was a stoic who seemed to have little interest in material possessions.
Money probably wouldn't help much.
And so Yoonseung began seriously considering what he could possibly do for Kim Giryeo.
"You ate every last mushroom. Should I order another bowl for you?"
"N, no! It's fine. I'm completely full after this one! Really!"
"Really? Then shall we get going?"
"Yes!"
And exactly 37 hours later, something happened in Seoul that made Ahn Yoonseung exclaim in awe.