The Artist Who Paints Dungeon

“The main factors that determine a hunter's rank are three things.”

Coming into a small, enclosed Chinese restaurant, Yoo Sung-woon explained to Gio.

“Profession, aptitude skill, and level.”

“The hunter's rank I've been talking over and over again is assigned by comprehensively evaluating these three factors.”

“Is rank evaluated by people, like an administrative exam?”

“No, it's assessed by the 'system' that's presumed to have the help of the origin. That's why, there are cases where an Awakener that seems incompetent to humans can manifest as A-rank.”

Yoo Sung-woon laughed softly.

“There was a time when people tampered with their ranks, back when there wasn't a system in place and people lacked basic knowledge about hunters. But since ranks aren't something that can be assigned by humans, those who tampered with them were quickly found out…”

“It didn't end with just criticism. Back then, Hunters were seen as powerful figures you couldn't mess with lightly. In a time when brute strength was closer than the law, people with supernatural abilities who could take down monsters were highly respected.”

These were people who deceived their rank to receive respect on their own, even in tough times.

“There was no way their ending would have been good.”

Yoo Sung-woon returned to the main point.

“Ranks are usually indicated by letters.”

“Is there a particular reason?”

“Maybe because it would have been cumbersome to unify each country. One would think numbers would be far more consistent globally, but separate from that, it was confirmed that the first Awakener appeared in the United States.…”

“So it was adjusted to suit American’s point of view.”

“That doesn't mean the whole system is in English, though. Anyway, the lowest rank is F, then it goes up to D, C, B, A, with the highest rank being S.”

As he said that, Yoo Sung-woon rolled his eyes for a moment.

“…Mm, but scholars currently believe this isn't everything. In the case of F-rank, they're just a bit tougher than the average person, so what's the point of going lower? But it’s only been 31 years since the Great Catastrophe happened.”

“So it's too early to make a conclusion?”

“Exactly, there's even a rumour that Korea’s association president is hiding a higher rank.”

Even Yoo Sung-woon, who had been the association's research team leader, didn't know the full truth.

“It's surprisingly not that rare for a Hunter to be S-rank. That might be why there are rumours of a hidden higher rank. Anyone can see that this S-rank is vastly superior to that S-rank, yet they're categorized the same.”

These ranks also influence public perception.

“For instance, there's a law that S-rank hunters must be publicly recognized.”

“Publicly recognized… does that mean revealing personal information?”

“Not all details, but mainly showing their face or appearing on TV programs, so you could say they're a type of celebrity. Being S-rank means they could devastate a whole country if they wanted to, so certain restrictions are in place.”

“That must be uncomfortable.”

“Many of them actually enjoy that kind of popularity.”

However, as Gio said, there are indeed many hunters who also find it uncomfortable.

“That's enough about ranks. Now, should I explain about professions, which you asked about earlier?”

“So the priest and trainer the student mentioned earlier are classified as those kinds of professions.”

“That's right.”

Yoo Sung-woon nodded.

“These professions don’t necessarily manifest for everyone.”

“So there are people who gain professions and those who don't?”

“That’s right. It's not something everyone can have, but since it also affects rank, a culture has developed that values Hunters with professions when possible.”

“It’s amazing.”

“An awakened person with a profession gains influence over the world's rules. From the perspective of mere humans, it's incredibly attractive.”

Even if it wasn’t a problem with rank, a 'profession' also has a significant image attached to it.

“There are a total of ten professions.”

“That's fewer than I expected.”

“I actually think that's a lot…  Any more, and it would've been hard to distinguish them.”

Doctor, Priest, Knight, Teacher, Spy, Architect, Artist, Magician, Chef, Trainer.

“Doesn’t it seem a lot after listening to it?”

“If we're considering real-world professions, not really…”

“That's true, but these are very different from those professions.”

“That’s right.”

“The priest and trainer you heard earlier are a relatively uncommon profession.”

Priests wield divine power to influence reality, and trainers exert influence over intelligent beings. Both of them are considered difficult professions because they require the help of their contract subject to be fully functional.

“The more they succeed, the greater the praise they receive.”

Especially for priests, this tendency is strong.

“A trainer can tame as many as they want, but a priest can't. A priest has to endure and wait until the god they serve takes notice and bestows grace. The initiative doesn't lie with them.”

“But didn’t you say that a priest who doesn’t serve God can’t fully function?”

“That's the inconvenient aspect of the profession. But since they're wielding the power of an extraterrestrial deity on Earth, I think it’s actually a blessing for humanity to have this inconvenient aspect. Otherwise, it could turn into a catastrophe.”

Of course, those who awakened as priests would likely be frustrated.

“Still, once awakened as a priest, they gain a high level of affinity for the divine. While they can't wield the power of the deity directly, they can use divine energy as a follower of the god.”

“Divine energy is it.”

“The fish-shaped bun young man earlier mistook you for a 'devout trainer,' didn't he? The only profession that can openly roam with monsters is trainer, but anyone devout enough can use divine energy, not just priests. That's why he was mistaken.”

“So it's not necessarily just about the profession.”

“Correct, it's not the only way to evaluate a Hunter. In the first place, while professions can be innately manifested upon awakening, as it can also be acquired through effort later, it's flexible.”

The other professions also had their own unique rules.

“Just with a profession, the Awakener can exert influence over the rules of the world. Simply put, a priest gains high divine affinity, and a trainer gains affinity with non-human entities.”

“Is it all about affinity?”

“That's because, unlike skills, awakening a profession doesn't suddenly grant you abilities you didn't have before. Instead, you gain a level of potential ability impossible for an ordinary person. Wouldn't it be more appropriate to call this affinity?”

Yoo Sung-woon moved on to the next topic.

“But that’s not the case with aptitude skills.”

“In what way is it not?”

“This is a basic element acquired upon awakening, and it doesn't increase even with additional individual effort. Of course, the more you use and understand it, the more your proficiency will naturally increase….”

But there are no awakeners without an aptitude skill, nor are there any with more than one.

“At least until now? We don't know what exceptions may appear in the future, but even with possible exceptions, this regularity is fairly universal among awakeners.”

An aptitude skill was somewhat like a doljabi. Although the awakener had no choice in the matter, it often provided a rough outline of what kind of life they might lead.

“With just that skill, you can roughly tell the Awakener’s disposition and abilities.”

“Can it tell the future as well?”

“Wouldn't it be roughly similar? Once an aptitude skill manifests, they'll have to live with it for life. Naturally, it's bound to affect the Awakener’s life.”

Most newly awakened individuals first study this aptitude skill. Professions are something one may be lucky enough to have, but aptitude skills become an inseparable part of their destiny.