The bronze hunter badge felt strangely unfamiliar in Emil's hand.
It was simple.
A small piece of metal with the emblem of the Hunter Association engraved upon it.
To most people, it represented the lowest rank.
An E-rank hunter.
A beginner.
Someone who had just stepped into the world of monster hunting.
But to Emil...
It represented freedom.
---
For years, his life had been decided by others.
The village decided he was an abomination.
The villagers decided he had no future.
The forest decided whether he lived or died.
But now...
He had chosen his own path.
Hunter.
---
Emil returned to the Hunter Association the following morning.
He needed information.
A hunter's strength was important, but knowledge was equally valuable.
The Association provided something the Forbidden Forest never could.
A connection to the world.
---
The mission board was enormous.
Hundreds of requests covered the wall.
Each one had different requirements.
Different rewards.
Different dangers.
---
E-Rank Missions
- Gathering common herbs
- Eliminating weak monsters
- Escorting small caravans
- Searching nearby forests
- Delivering materials
D-Rank Missions
- Stronger monster extermination
- Dangerous area exploration
- Protecting merchants
C-Rank and Above
- Dungeon exploration
- Regional monster threats
- High-risk missions
---
Emil studied the board silently.
The rewards were interesting.
Money was useful.
But more importantly...
Missions provided information.
Every mission could teach him about Galant.
---
The receptionist noticed him standing there.
"First mission?"
Emil nodded.
"Yes."
She smiled.
"Most new hunters choose something simple."
She pointed toward a few requests.
"Herb gathering."
"Slime extermination."
"Low-level goblin removal."
---
Emil looked over the options.
Goblins.
Even before entering the forest, he had heard about them.
A common monster.
Weak individually.
Dangerous in groups.
---
"I'll take this."
He removed the goblin extermination request.
The receptionist looked surprised.
"Are you sure?"
"It's E-rank, but goblins can be troublesome for beginners."
Emil nodded.
"I understand."
---
The receptionist registered the mission.
"Completed missions increase your contribution points and reputation."
"After gaining enough experience, you can request a rank evaluation."
---
Emil understood.
The Hunter Association had its own progression system.
Not based only on strength.
A hunter needed achievements.
---
Before leaving, he purchased basic supplies.
A map.
A small storage bag.
Simple medicine.
Food.
Nothing expensive.
---
As he walked through the city gates, he noticed something.
People treated him differently.
Not with respect.
Not with fear.
Just...
Recognition.
The badge meant he belonged somewhere.
---
The goblin nest was located several kilometers outside the city.
A small forest area.
Nothing dangerous.
At least, according to the mission report.
---
Emil entered the forest.
Immediately, his expression changed.
The moment he crossed the trees...
He was no longer a citizen walking through a city.
He was a hunter.
---
His senses expanded.
The forest spoke to him.
A broken branch.
A disturbed patch of grass.
A faint smell.
Footprints hidden beneath leaves.
Everything revealed information.
---
"Six."
Emil stopped.
Six goblins nearby.
But then he frowned.
"No..."
"Eight."
Two were hiding.
---
He moved silently.
The goblins never noticed him.
To them, he was only a blind child wandering into their territory.
A mistake.
---
The first goblin appeared behind him.
Its rusty blade moved toward his back.
Emil sighed.
Too slow.
---
His sword moved.
Not a technique.
Not even spiritual energy.
Just a simple strike.
The goblin collapsed instantly.
---
The others reacted.
They screamed and charged.
Emil stepped forward.
His movements were calm.
Precise.
Efficient.
---
A goblin attacked from the left.
Blocked.
Counterattack.
Another attacked from behind.
Footwork.
Slash.
A third tried escaping.
Emil threw a small blade from his storage bag.
The goblin fell.
---
The entire battle lasted less than a minute.
---
Ding!
Goblins defeated.
Experience gained.
---
Emil looked at the defeated monsters.
Weak.
Compared to the creatures of the Forbidden Forest, they were nothing.
But he reminded himself:
This was not training.
This was his new life.
A hunter needed to understand the world's standards.
---
He searched the area.
Then stopped.
The goblin nest was larger than expected.
There were traces of a stronger monster.
A goblin chief.
---
The mission only required ordinary goblins.
Leaving would complete the request.
But Emil studied the tracks.
The chief had recently moved.
It was nearby.
---
A few minutes later...
A larger goblin emerged.
Almost twice the size of the others.
It carried a heavy weapon.
---
The goblin chief roared.
Emil simply raised his sword.
---
The chief was stronger.
Faster.
Smarter.
But compared to the monsters Emil had fought...
It was still far too weak.
---
The goblin swung.
Emil avoided.
A single step.
A single slash.
The battle ended.
---
Ding!
Goblin Chief defeated.
Additional reward granted.
---
Emil collected the required materials and returned to Galant.
---
When he entered the Hunter Association, several people noticed.
"Already back?"
"That was fast."
"He was alone?"
---
The receptionist checked his report.
Her expression changed.
"You eliminated the entire nest?"
Emil nodded.
"There was a chief."
---
The receptionist looked at him carefully.
Most E-rank hunters would struggle with this.
Yet this blind boy returned without injuries.
---
But she didn't question him.
Everyone had secrets.
---
Mission Complete.
Rewards:
- Hunter Contribution Points gained
- Payment received
- Experience gained
---
Emil left the counter.
He had achieved what he wanted.
A starting point.
Information.
Resources.
A legitimate identity.
---
That night, he sat on the roof of his rented room.
The city lights shone below.
People laughed.
Carriages moved.
Life continued.
---
The system appeared.
Ding!
Hunter Profession Progress: Beginner
Available Functions Unlocked:
- Hunter Missions
- Association Records
- Monster Information Database
---
Emil looked at the new options.
The Hunter Association was more useful than he expected.
It wasn't just a place to earn money.
It was a doorway to the entire world.
---
He looked toward the distant horizon.
Beyond Galant were countless kingdoms.
Ancient ruins.
Powerful sects.
Unknown enemies.
The world was vast.
And Emil was only at the beginning.
---
The blind E-rank hunter had completed his first mission.
But somewhere inside the Hunter Association...
A few experienced hunters had begun wondering about him.
A thirteen-year-old blind boy.
An E-rank badge.
And movements that belonged to someone far more experienced.
The question had begun.
Who exactly was Emil Myers?