Chapter 52. I Can't Forget About That

“Did you just say S-rank...? Are you serious?”

Kim Do-Joon was the most shocked he'd ever been. The S-rank wasn't just a step above A-rank. The rank was so rare and revered that those who achieved it were hailed as masters and celebrated.

“Then, are you saying that you’ll make me an S-rank?”

“No, not exactly. It's not something I can decide on my own,” said the association president, Son Chang-Il, shaking his head.

Unlike A-rank, which could be achieved solely through skill, the process to become an S-rank was far more complex. It required assessments not just from the association, but from three other masters in South Korea, as well as various organizations and groups that evaluated one's skill, reputation, and achievements. It wasn't something that an association president could grant on his own.

“Is that what you meant by support?” Kim Do-Joon realized.

“If you want, I can prepare equipment and arrange dungeons for you, both domestically and internationally. I have those kinds of connections,” Son Chang-Il said proudly.

Despite his current position, he used to be a freelance Hunter who traveled internationally in his younger days. His extensive career had earned him his current role.

Besides, there was also a somewhat political reason behind this. Since most of his activities were overseas, he didn’t have much connection with any domestic guilds or other groups. Therefore, his domestic base was not that large, making him a neutral figure.

Despite Son Chang-Il’s moderate disposition, his skills and achievements were undeniable, which was how he became the association president.

“To become S-rank, reputation is important. Simply put, you need to stand out to be considered for any evaluation or anything else.” Son Chang-Il said.

“That’s true,” Kim Do-Joon replied.

“Not every A-rank Hunter gets a chance to be evaluated. A-ranks are fairly common on a global scale,” Son Chang-Il explained, his perspective shaped by his international experience.

In Kim Do-Joon's understanding, even A-rank Hunters were extraordinarily powerful individuals. There were fewer than a hundred in the country. However, from a global perspective, as the association president pointed out, there were about a hundred such talents in this small country.

Kim Do-Joon could see why merely reaching A-rank wouldn’t automatically make one a candidate for evaluation.

“To build a reputation, it’s crucial to achieve noticeable results. Simply going through domestic dungeons won’t be enough. Besides, there aren’t that many A-rank or S-rank gates here, don't you think?” Son Chang-Il asked.

“So, what you’re saying is, you’ll send me to high-level gates overseas?”

“With my recommendation, I can arrange for you to be dispatched anywhere. You’re exceptionally skilled, most places will accept you.”

Kim Do-Joon fell into contemplation.

Sensing his hesitation, Son Chang-Il quickly added, “Traveling around foreign countries can be tough. But if you endure it for just a few years, you’ll reach S-rank. As a man, you should aim to sit at the top at least once.”

“...”

Kim Do-Joon pondered deeply. Son Chang-Il’s words made sense. Going abroad to gain achievements faster while being supported by the association made more sense.

But when it came to going overseas, Kim Do-Joon realized there would be countless hassles. If he had to tackle foreign dungeons alone, even the matching itself would be challenging. Moreover, there was the issue of cooperating with foreign Hunters. He wasn’t proficient in foreign languages!

While in Korea, Ms. Ji-Ah handles all the tedious administrative tasks and odd jobs for me...

Abroad, Kim Do-Joon would have to manage administrative processes with the local associations himself. Partnering with the association president could resolve those issues.

“But, it ultimately depends on my ability to become an S-rank, doesn’t it?” Kim Do-Joon asked.

“Well, yes I guess that’s true,” Son Chang-Il replied.

The association president’s support was just a side benefit. Kim Do-Joon had to be able to hold his ground. As long as he had the skills, the side benefits would follow and he could become an S-rank.

However, Kim Do-Joon declined his offer.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline.”

Although the prospect of becoming an S-rank was shocking, the offer itself was not highly attractive. Kim Do-Joon had the labyrinth.

Ultimately, it's not the association that decides who becomes S-rank, so it makes sense.

Kim Do-Joon thought that hunting in dungeons and labyrinths as he was doing now would be more beneficial for improving his skills, rather than traveling overseas. Besides, he had training sessions with Karlish, and also had to play with his daughter, Kim So-Eun.

Having a set affiliation wasn’t appealing to him, as flying around the world would take up too much of his time.

“

Hmm...

” Son Chang-Il sighed in disappointment.

He tried to persuade him once again.

“I’ve heard you’ve turned down offers from all the guilds, even the top four. It seems you’re reluctant to belong to an organization?”

“Yes, that’s correct,” Kim Do-Joon replied, though he couldn’t reveal his true reasons.

“Please consider my offer again. Of course, many Hunters operate independently. For instance, Master Irina in Russia and Yang Yang in China. But do you think they started out that way?”

Son Chang-Il shook his head.

“They were initially part of organizations, learning the industry, naturally building connections, and continuously honing their skills. Because of those experiences, they shine even more now as independent Hunters. There’s a big difference between someone who has been part of an organization and someone who hasn’t.”

Son Chang-Il’s argument was quite persuasive. The sincerity in his tone and expression was evident, and his words made sense. If Kim Do-Joon's refusal had been based solely on a dislike of organizational life, he might have been convinced.

However, Kim Do-Joon shook his head. He had a clear reason for refusing.

“I’m sorry.”

“I see... that’s unfortunate,” Son Chang-Il said, lowering his head in disappointment.

In his view, Kim Do-Joon was destined to become an S-rank Hunter one day. He prided himself on his ability to recognize talent. Actually, anyone could see Kim Do-Joon’s potential. Reaching A-rank in just a year wasn’t something achieved merely by awakening good skills.

That’s why I wanted to maintain a relationship with him...

The association was always in need of talent. Son Chang-Il thought that if he could bring Kim Do-Joon into the fold and support him fully, the latter would become a pillar of the association in a few years. He didn’t expect the man to outright refuse.

Hiding his disappointment, Son Chang-Il took a sip of his tea. Then, Kim Do-Joon extended his hand for a handshake.

“While I’m refusing to join the association, I do hope we can work together in other ways,” Kim Do-Joon said.

Hearing this, Son Chang-Il’s eyes lit up again. This way, even if they couldn’t be part of the same organization, they could still maintain a cooperative relationship.

"Of course. I’m the one who should be grateful,

hahaha

," Son Chang-Il replied.

He smiled again, shaking Kim Do-Joon’s hand firmly. The president had a wide range of expressions for his age, which made Kim Do-Joon chuckle without realizing.

The meeting ended on a warm and positive note.

***

That afternoon, Kim Do-Joon climbed the familiar mountain behind his home, where he always trained.

— Good job refusing his offer. You shouldn’t put a leash on yourself just because you’re tempted by fame.

Listening to Karlish’s words, Kim Do-Joon stepped forward. He thrusted his spear into the air to warm up before a serious training session.

“Still, there are significant advantages to being an S-rank. They aren’t called masters for no reason,” Kim Do-Joon replied.

—

Ha

, they need to be assessed and judged to become a master? That’s not a real master then!

“Sorry?” Kim Do-Joon paused his thrusts, looking at Karlish.

— A true master doesn’t rely on others' evaluations or seek their approval. A master is someone who is respected and revered just by their presence, without having to proclaim their strength. That’s what it means to be a master!

Karlish passionately explained. Had he been physically present, he might’ve spat all over the place.

—

Ha...

All this talk about assessments and evaluations... It’s obvious what level the so-called masters here are. Don’t worry and just keep training! With skill, fame will naturally follow!

“Well, you know, I’m not obsessed with fame...” Kim Do-Joon muttered, but Karlish’s words were accurate.

Kim Do-Joon had thought the same in front of the association president. Ultimately, what mattered most was his skill.

If I keep honing my abilities, I’ll reach S-rank someday. There’s no need to rush or force it.

That was the conclusion Kim Do-Joon had reached. Becoming an S-rank wouldn’t suddenly bring him rewards from the sky. Even as an A-rank, he had access to S-rank dungeons. Therefore, what he needed to do was clear: to train relentlessly without pause.

The next moment, Kim Do-Joon grasped his spear again. Threads of mana unraveled from his body. One after another, he could effortlessly control up to twenty strands.

— By the way, you were quite reckless the other day, thinking about tearing through more mana on the spot.

“I was desperate. I thought that if I didn’t kill him then, we’d all be dead,” Kim Do-Joon explained.

— Yes, that would have been truly dangerous. And you weren’t alone there.

Kim Do-Joon nodded, knowing that was what had driven him to such desperation.

With a

whoosh

, his mana-clad spear sliced through the air, the impact causing the mountain to tremble, trees to shake, and crater to form.

The difference in power between ten and twenty strands of mana was more than just double. The power was exponentially greater.

— I was quite impressed. Your progress to ten strands was not particularly fast. You just seemed to have average talent.

"Is having talent considered average?" Kim Do-Joon asked.

— Of course. To be truly extraordinary, you need to be able to wield a spear like it’s an extension of your own body from the first moment you pick it up.

Karlish’s standards were incredibly high.

— Still, you weren’t quite at that level. But in that moment, you suddenly surpassed your limits...

"I was lucky," Kim Do-Joon replied.

— There’s no need for humility. Growing in actual combat is your true talent. Now you find handling twenty strands easy, don’t you?

"Yes. It’s quite amazing, actually," Kim Do-Joon admitted.

— That’s how things work. Taking the first step is difficult, but once you’ve done it, it becomes simple, as if it were nothing.

In any field, once the individual reached a certain level, growth was no longer easy. With each step forward, a wall appeared, blocking the way. The wall seemed insurmountable at first, but once broken through, it felt like nothing.

The result of that was the current Kim Do-Joon. If he were to fight that elf again, he’d probably win with ease this time. Karlish could see that.

Kim Do-Joon swung his spear for a while. He corrected his posture and controlled his mana under Karlish’s guidance. This was his daily routine ever since he started training with Karlish.

After sweating profusely for a long time, he sat on a rock.

— You're doing great. I can't wait for the next real fight.

Hehehe

.

Kim Do-Joon chuckled at Karlish’s words. Karlish seemed to look forward to it, as if it were his own fight.

Anyways...

Kim Do-Joon’s spear skills were indeed improving. That meant he was becoming stronger. However, he never forgot the foundation of all his strength: his copy-pasting skill.

Then, he took out an item from his inventory.

I can't forget about the copy-pasting side either.

The item taken out was the elf's sword that he took after killing Eldora.