There’s a Demon King Inside the Hero

Chapter 11: Temporary Hunter License (2)

I hadn’t even taken the Hunter license exam, and yet, they were issuing me this?

When I looked at the man with a face that clearly demanded an explanation, the agent wore a knowing expression, as if expecting this reaction.

“Let’s just say it’s on orders from the Union.”

The Union—a global organization that manages Hunters and combines the capital and economic power of various nations.

Apparently, the Union had issued instructions regarding my future.

“So, the Union’s just giving me a Hunter license straight out?”

“It’s understandable to feel bewildered. Receiving a license out of the blue can be surprising.”

In response to my question, asked with a hint of disbelief, the agent nodded as if anticipating this.

“They have a good reason for coming to see you personally.”

“And that reason is?”

“I heard from Hunter Seo Yura that you defeated an E+ grade monster using a skill.”

The man carefully explained why he had come to see me.

Originally, Hunter licenses are only issued to students who have completed the Hunter curriculum.

Typically, one must awaken their mana by the age of fifteen, at the latest.

Past that age, it’s generally impossible to awaken mana, but the fact remained that Kim Suhyeon had awakened his mana at age 24 and defeated an E-grade monster.

“So, that’s why we’re issuing you a Hunter license. Normally, it requires completing the curriculum, but your case is unique even among awakened individuals.”

Of course.

“Although it’s a temporary license.”

“Temporary, you say?”

“The Union decided that, despite you defeating an E+ grade monster, they still need to test whether you truly have the qualities to be a Hunter.”

That was fair enough.

“Thus, the Union will assign you a ‘mandatory mission.'”

Mandatory mission…

I thought back, trying to recall what a mandatory mission entailed.

Gulp.

I swallowed hard.

“A mandatory mission… Does that mean the one specified in the Hunter Treaty?”

“Correct.”

The Hunter Treaty is an international treaty designated for Hunters authorized to face monsters and dungeons.

Under this treaty, Hunters must be affiliated with the Union.

Generally, the Union doesn’t meddle too much with Hunters.

However, in emergency situations like the recent surprise summoning I experienced, the Union imposes mandatory missions on Hunters.

A mandatory mission is, as the name suggests, a task the Union requires a Hunter to complete without exception.

Normally, Hunters are free to choose missions by checking dungeon grades and accepting those that suit their preferences, but mandatory missions are slightly different.

This mission was one that the Hunter absolutely had to complete.

Given that Hunters can often rival heavy combat weapons, this law was enacted as a measure to control those who might wield their abilities recklessly.

In short, the term “mandatory mission” wasn’t exactly a pleasant one for Hunters.

“There’s no need to be so tense. If your abilities are genuine, there’s nothing to be afraid of. And, since you’re not yet a Hunter, you’re free to decline this mission.”

“…If I decline, I won’t become a Hunter, right?”

“Quick on the uptake, aren’t you?”

In other words, I had no choice if I wanted to be a Hunter.

“So, what exactly is the mission I need to complete?”

The Union’s assigned task for me was as follows:

Clear twenty F-grade dungeons within a week.

“Hm…”

It wasn’t a bad proposal at all.

I had, after all, planned to visit the Union branch with the intention of becoming a Hunter.

…However.

[Isn’t this proceeding a little too smoothly?]

The Demon King’s low voice echoed my own inner thoughts.

“Is something the matter? Is there a part of the proposal that you’re not satisfied with?”

“No, I like the proposal. I actually like it quite a lot, but…”

Still, they were willing to grant me a Hunter license this easily?

There were plenty of people who wanted to become Hunters.

Fighting monsters could earn significant money through their magic stones, and Hunters, who fought monsters that threatened humanity, were widely respected. But, the risk of dying at the hands of monsters in dungeons was high.

For this reason, only those who completed the curriculum and passed the Hunter exam could be issued a Hunter license.

Getting a temporary license just like that left me a bit stunned, but in any case, I had planned to visit the Union to become a Hunter.

The fact that I had defeated an E+ grade monster likely made the Union think they had discovered a talented Hunter.

…Might as well see the positives.

Maybe I’d become overly suspicious after spending 105 years as a Hero.

“It’s nothing. I’ll go ahead and accept this mission.”

—

After leaving the hospital, I followed the agent’s guidance to collect the Hunter supplies provided by the Union.

“Oh, and by the way, Hunter Seo Yura, the one you saved, wanted to thank you personally. She even left her contact information. Would you like to get in touch?”

“A thank-you, huh?”

I had no particular desire to receive thanks.

It was something I did on a whim, after all.

We weren’t on such close terms that I’d reach out just to hear her say thank you.

Still, just in case.

“Yes, I’ll take the contact information for now.”

After returning home, I looked through the supplies sent by the Union one by one, nodding as I checked each item.

Things had gone pretty smoothly.

The mandatory mission assigned to me by the Union: clearing twenty F-grade dungeons.

For someone like me, who needed real combat practice, it was actually a good opportunity.

[By the way, you’re quite amusing.]

“What are you talking about?”

[Why did you throw yourself into that dungeon?]

“Is that strange?”

[Strange doesn’t even cover it.]

No matter how much the Demon King combed through Suhyeon’s memories, he couldn’t grasp the logic behind his actions.

However, Suhyeon’s answer to that question was simple.

“Does a good deed need a reason?”

[What?]

Suhyeon examined the standard-issue sword he’d chosen from the Union’s supply cache, turning it over in his hand. His face reflected on the well-polished blade.

“I don’t want to die either. Who in their right mind would?”

But that didn’t mean he wanted to ignore someone facing death right before his eyes.

Suhyeon had crossed fields of corpses in Altera, fighting and witnessing countless people die, all in his mission to defeat the Demon King.

For the dead, that was the end.

But for those left behind, the absence of that person would live on as a painful scar.

Time might help, but in the end, it would only become a scar.

Suhyeon had seen such scenes too many times.

He became a hero because he didn’t want to witness that sorrow again.

[But what if you die?]

‘I’ll just have to train hard enough not to die. Besides, what I really want is to eliminate spellcasters like you who create these dungeons in the first place.’

[You certainly talk about a good game.]

‘Also… about the problem of my low mana reserve—there might be a way to alleviate it a bit.’

[What? And what is that method?]

‘You saw the plants growing in the dungeon, didn’t you?’

[Those plants? What about them…]

The Demon King stopped mid-sentence.

The plants growing in the dungeon were of otherworldly origin, infused with mana.

And they closely resembled the plants found in Altera.

Although the Demon King had never been to the Demon Realm, he could see the resemblance between these plants and the flora of Altera.

[Wait… then that means…]

‘Right. I can make potions from those plants.’

…It was possible.

The Demon King, processing Suhyeon’s memory, was impressed.

In this world, Hunters also used something called potions.

[Impressive. Can potions really be manufactured in a world like this?]

‘As long as I have the ingredients, there’s no reason I can’t make them.’

In Altera, there were many alchemists and mages who brewed potions, and in just two decades, the people of this world had managed to create potions using materials dropped in dungeons.

The people here hadn’t just sat around when dungeons appeared.

They had studied the phenomenon, collecting loot and gathering plants from the dungeon ecosystem to manufacture potions.

Essentially, the process of potion-making comes down to how ingredients are boiled or dried. Once you know the recipe, there’s no reason it couldn’t be replicated in this world.

The power of science, as they call it.

‘If I have mana potions, I should be able to offset my low mana reserves.’

[I’m looking forward to seeing this world’s potions myself. Where can we get some?]

‘Hunter Valley should have them…’

Hunter Valley, known as the Hunter marketplace or Hunter street.

It was a bustling area filled with stores run by guilds and companies that produced goods for Hunters.

The Union assigned missions and managed the Hunters, but they ran into a major issue.

Supporting Hunters’ equipment, consumables, and weapons.

Even the Union couldn’t act as a charity.

While they could offer supplies like those given to Suhyeon once or twice as a free provision, it was nearly impossible to continually manufacture and provide weapons and equipment to Hunters worldwide.

Therefore, the Union established Hunter Valley for Hunters.

Hunter Valleys were scattered globally, and there was one in the metropolitan area where Suhyeon lived.

The problem was, he only knew about it on the surface.

Kim Suhyeon didn’t have any specific knowledge about Hunter Valley.

After all, it was a place exclusively for Hunters.

Only merchants selling Hunter-related goods could enter Hunter Valley, with strict entry restrictions for ordinary civilians.

But, I’d still have to go check it out at some point.

‘Ha…’

This was exactly what one would expect from someone who had spent 105 years as a hero.

Thinking so deeply and working hard to improve his magic abilities like this.

I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of excitement, wondering what kind of magic you’d cast next.

There was no time to linger on the dullness of common spells and formulas.

It was too late now, but the Demon King had a passing thought.

If someone like this had come under my tutelage in Altera, perhaps I might never have become the Demon King.

[I have always provided flawless instruction. The real question is if you’re capable enough to master it.]

‘Who was it that left me fumbling, unable to properly memorize the spells?’

[That was because you’re an oddball! Without me, you wouldn’t have even unlocked your mana.]

‘Really? We’ll never know, will we?’

[Let’s see… oh, I remember what you did when you got drunk at your university outing…]

“I’m sorry…”