NOVEL NEXT Episode 4
The man gazed ahead calmly, his voice carrying a subtle distortion, as if modified.
Sensing my suspicion, he pulled out his wallet and displayed a guild membership card.
“Since we have an Association employee here, you can verify it with a scan.”
“Yes. We need to proceed with dungeon clearing soon, so I’ll skip formalities for a quick check.”
Ah-jin, who had been as wary as me, wrote on the card with her air-writing pen—apparently both a tool for awakened abilities and Association business.
After reading something invisible to me, she withdrew her pen.
“This person is indeed from Guild Hanttae. Nothing more I can do here—I’ll leave you with them.”
Ah-jin whispered “Good luck!” before hurrying away.
Even with the sudden gate causing stress, she’d helped someone not yet employed. I hoped good things would find her—winning an accidentally bought lottery ticket, having stressful situations mysteriously resolve themselves, or at least always finding perfect parking spots…
“Let’s move somewhere more secluded.”
The low voice of the Hanttae member cut through my thoughts.
I glanced around nervously. Purple mist filled the surroundings—even one step seemed dangerous, as if breathing it would spell disaster.
Moving away from these huddled, worried people felt unwise.
“Um, why? About the interview… Even if I’m late getting out, I’ll make it if you could reschedule…”
“This isn’t about failing you. Too many ears here for guild matters.”
Only then did I notice the surrounding gazes.
Despite their anxiety about being pulled into a dungeon, people were stealing glances at our private conversation with the Association employee.
“Ah, this area…”
“Yes, this zone is for protecting awakened non-hunters and new hunters. I shouldn’t be here.”
“Can I leave this area?”
“If accompanied by a hunter of higher rank than the dungeon’s grade.”
His calmness suggested experience—natural for a Hanttae member.
His words also implied he outranked this dungeon’s grade.
Though terrified to move with him, given my zero experience, what choice did I have? You’re supposed to show only dedication and brightness before employment.
While this was my first gate, I was somewhat veteran-like, having handled countless drunk customers at night convenience stores. I nodded vigorously.
He glanced at my response before taking the first step. His unwavering stance despite my obvious tension suggested truly sensitive matters ahead.
“When you say somewhere secluded, how deep are we going?”
“This isn’t one-time—internal maps and clearing strategies are all shared. Walk a bit, we’ll see the exit.”
His curtness suggested unwillingness to explain further as he turned away.
I hurried after him, not wanting to fall behind. Sometimes my right arm and leg moved in sync from nervousness, but I kept it somewhat natural.
“So when you heal, people who hear it faint?”
He spoke only when the others were barely visible. Though Association staff checked IDs periodically, they waved us through after seeing his hunter card.
They seemed too busy verifying passing hunters and catching mist-hidden monsters to mind our conversation.
“Everyone who’s heard it so far has…”
“Any curse effects in your status window?”
[Lily: If Ye-ah had that, it would be on the resume! She can’t lie that skillfully!]
‘You’re still watching?’
[Lily: Of course! This is monumental—what if something happens? This person is too suspicious, thinking Ye-ah would hide a curse.]
She had a point.
Since childhood, people said I “lacked flexibility.” They wanted me to learn to cleverly omit unfavorable things, but I remained bluntly honest.
Pushing aside Lily’s chat window, I displayed my status.
“Average common stats are C. High for no experience. Special stats?”
“One marked with a question mark, Creative Technique, and Singing.”
“Grades?”
The mandatory resume stats—Strength, Speed, and Magic Power—serve as minimum criteria for rankers.
Beyond these, awakened ones have varying special stats, often over ten. The lowest awakened standard is F, sometimes below ordinary people.
“Currently unmeasurable, F, and F-…”
“…F-?”
A suffocating silence followed. He stopped, genuinely pondering whether an F- stat could exist.
Regular people lack status windows, but if they had them, mine might prove sub-average.
While I watched his reaction, Lily messaged again.
[Lily: Since Ye-ah entered a dungeon without joining a guild, perfect chance to solve our earlier problem!]
‘I’m thinking that too, but I can’t just use my skill here.’
“Well then, let’s hear it. This F- level ability.”
As if reading my thoughts, he suggested hearing my song. When I blinked questioningly, he faced me fully, arms crossed, waiting.
Crossed arms—never a good interview sign. I bit my lip.
“But if you faint here…”
“I won’t. Try it.”
Where did this confidence come from? If I made even him faint inside a dungeon, I might face false accusations and lawsuits.
I weighed my options. Which would destroy my life more thoroughly? Finally, I chose potential lawsuit. At least prison would provide meals.
“Ah ah, my spiteful woman. My wave-like woman…”
I began the verse that felled the previous interviewer. The skill activation window appeared.
Skill activation conditions met. First entry into Ragnarok’s domain confirmed. Outputting correct skill wave.
Searching for skill matching current singing wave.
Mermaid of Sleep! Activating. May Baldur’s divinity be with you!
Like before, music staff and notes materialized, flying around. The crooked, chaotic symbols rushed fiercely toward him.
They swirled around his form, undulating as if searching.
Yet he stood firmly before me. Completely unaffected.