IDSTD 04

Chapter 4…

S-Rank Hunter (1)

They say we are living in the golden age of Hunters.

Setting aside how engineering powered by magic stones and monster materials has become the backbone of modern industry, it’s only been thirty years since the Gates first erupted and plunged the world into chaos. Humanity watched these individuals stand as the ultimate shield against otherworldly invaders, bearing noble sacrifices to protect civilization. Naturally, people treat them like real-life superheroes.

Because of that, anything concerning Hunters or Gates instantly becomes the hottest topic in town. The media goes so far as to snap a picture of a random Hunter eating a burger alone while staring at his phone and turn it into front-page news.

In an era like this, even the slightest leak about today’s incident was bound to trigger an absolute avalanche of coverage.

The initial source was a video posted by a channel with around 150,000 subscribers. The creator usually covered Hunter-related content, mostly posting street interviews with Hunters in bustling downtown spots. But this time, he uploaded a video with a wildly clickbaity title:

[A NEW S-RANK HUNTER IS BORN!!! FIRST EVER LEAK!?!?!?]

The video captured Jungwoo holding Segi tightly in his arms, facing down an A-Rank Champion. The moment the beast unhinged its jaw—shaped ominously like a goat’s skull—Jungwoo spun around to shelter Segi. Immediately after, a cloud of fluffy smoke erupted, and his skill went off.

A video showing a newly awakened Hunter instantly slaughtering an A-Rank Champion? It was guaranteed to set the entire country on fire. Of course, when the clip first dropped, the general consensus was that it was totally fake.

[A skill that turns a monster into a plushie? Come on, man, cut the crap, LOL] └ Fr, at least put some effort into the edit, LOL [Hey, my friend was actually there. He said it’s real.] └ Here comes another fake eyewitness, LOL [I don’t think this video is edited? I work in the field and I don’t see any traces of manipulation.] └ And another armchair expert drops in~ └ “As an expert in the video editing industry~” sure buddy, whatever you say~

It was a completely natural reaction. The post claimed the emergence of a natural-born S-Rank, after all.

There were only five S-Rank Hunters in all of South Korea. More to the point, Korea didn’t have a single natural-born S-Rank to its name. How could anyone easily buy that a figure like that had suddenly popped out of nowhere?

However, the public mood flipped in an instant as a wave of breaking news reports hit the airwaves.

[We are currently reporting live from the Nowon-gu Hunter Administration Bureau…!] [The atmosphere on the ground is electric! Directors from Korea’s top guilds, Red Moon and Chunhwa, have been spotted! Right behind them, the Guild Master of Athena is personally…!]

Reputable news outlets—media you couldn’t just dismiss as fake—were broadcasting famous Hunters gathering outside the Bureau building, instantly granting the rumor immense credibility. Online opinion flipped upside down.

[Wait, an actual S-Rank? And a natural-born one at that?] └ Holy crap, isn’t this a first for Korea?! [Is this for real? Why is this actually legit? He really has a power that turns monsters into dinosaur plushies?] └ And then he summons a teddy bear to one-shot it, LOL. Against an A-Rank Champion, no less… └ 1. Firing a super-powered energy beam > Generic, easily forgotten, easily countered. 2. Turning a monster into a plushie and beating it to death > Unforgettable, hilarious, looks overpowered as hell. Option 2 wins by a mile, LOL.

Despite the late hour, the news spread across the nation like wildfire. Naturally, human nature kicked in, and a few internet trolls tried to dismiss or belittle the event, but their voices were quickly buried.

[Isn’t everyone making a huge fuss over nothing? It’s not even officially confirmed as S-Rank yet, LOL.] └ Said the shut-in who’s spent years leeching off his parents while waiting to awaken~ └ Sure, buddy~ Keep telling yourself that~ LOL. └ You think one-shotting an A-Rank Champion is a joke? Even if he isn’t a natural-born S-Rank, launching straight to peak A-Rank at the moment of awakening guarantees an S-Rank evaluation anyway, LOL.

The atmosphere was practically festive. In an era where a powerful Hunter equates to national strength and prestige, an S-Rank is essentially a walking strategic weapon. Expectations were sky-high. If there was one potential risk, it was whether the newly awakened Hunter’s personality might cause controversy—but the video footage put those worries to rest.

[Did he awaken just to protect his little sister? That’s so romantic, LOL.] └ Bro… └ Found the weirdo.

People love heroes. More specifically, they love heroism—the act of using power for a noble purpose. That value shined brighter now than ever. An awakening triggered by the desperate desire to save someone carried a dramatic, deeply touching emotional resonance.

With the public hooked, major broadcast networks preempted their regular scheduling to run live coverage from the scene. Viewership ratings for the news broke records set by hit dramas.

[The Director of the Nowon-gu Hunter Administration Bureau has just entered the building, and the official rank evaluation appears to be underway! Key figures from prominent guilds continue to gather outside…] [Ah! The Guild Master of Chunhwa has just arrived on the scene…!] [Breaking news! Reports indicate that a director from Universe—the massive guild based in the U.S.—has just boarded a private jet…!]

The story breached national borders, drawing intense international interest. Online discourse reached a fever pitch.

[Wow, if foreign powerhouses are moving, it’s gotta be a natural-born S-Rank, right? Those guys don’t move for just anyone.] └ If domestic guilds lose him to an overseas agency, they should be genuinely embarrassed, LOL. └ An S-Rank leaving the country is a national security issue. The government will block it, right? Please tell me they will…

The movement of major foreign guilds served as an absolute stamp of authenticity. The fact that global players were rushing in basically confirmed the new hero’s status as a natural-born S-Rank. Public curiosity quickly evolved from mere amazement at his arrival to intense speculation over where he would land.

With all eyes pinned squarely on the Nowon-gu Administration Bureau…

Jungwoo, the man at the very center of the storm…

“Segi, sweetie… aren’t you sleepy?” “Nope!”

…was having a rough time dealing with Segi, who was wide awake, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Before he could even process what was happening, Jungwoo had ended up inside the Hunter Administration Bureau. His heart was still pounding as he tried to piece everything together.

What on earth…

His eyes drifted to the glowing interface floating in the air.

『【Shin Jungwoo ― The Perfect Caretaker (L)】

【Active Skills】

▶【All-Ages Filter (L)】 ▶【Children Need a Hero! (L)】 ― Slot 1: Hero Teddy (S)

【Quest】 ▶【[Wonderful Caretaker] A true caretaker always puts their child first! Parenting never ends! Keep collecting praise stickers! (0/10)】』

Though his peak in his past life was only C-Rank, Jungwoo had spent a decade as a Hunter. Reading a status window was second nature to him.

The moment he encountered that monster, he must have fulfilled the quest conditions, collecting the necessary stickers to unlock these skills. Two abilities, each carrying an unprecedented (L) rank of unknown detail. One was a reality-warping skill that mutated enemies, and the other appeared to be a summoning ability.

What caught Jungwoo’s attention was the rank of the summon itself.

The summon is S-Rank…

It felt surreal. Unlocking skills usually yielded rewards proportional to quest difficulty, but from Jungwoo’s perspective, this reward was wildly excessive compared to what he had actually done.

What’s more, it wasn’t a one-time emergency quest. The fact that a fresh version refreshed immediately upon completion meant it was a repeatable, permanent quest—the core growth engine for his class.

Is the L-Rank behind this?

He couldn’t be sure. He had zero familiarity with this aptitude, and his memory held no data to help decipher it.

As if his internal confusion wasn’t enough, the situation outside was moving at a breakneck pace.

The Hunters dispatched to the scene had immediately contacted the Bureau. The agents—looking disheveled, as if pulled straight out of off-duty hours—rushed over, escorted Jungwoo here, and promptly initiated a barrage of Hunter evaluation tests.

Now, he was waiting for the results in a temporary suite. It was a private room used by the Bureau to host high-profile guests during emergencies, essentially a luxury hotel suite brought indoors. The irony wasn’t lost on him: compared to the cramped studio apartment he currently lived in, this place was absurdly nice.

Jungwoo let out a dry, self-deprecating chuckle, then turned his gaze back to Segi.

Sparkle!

Even though it was past 11 PM, Segi showed no signs of tiredness. She had been nodding off back at the restaurant, but after the chaotic series of events, she was buzzing with energy.

“Daddy.” “Yeah?” “Are you a hero~? Did you save Segi~?”

It was the tenth time she had asked the exact same question. Jungwoo gave an embarrassed smile and nodded.

“Yeah, I guess I am.”

Now came the real reason Segi kept asking.

“Then Segi is a princess, right!?!?” “Yup, our Segi is definitely a princess.” “Heehee…!”

A princess saved by a hero—Segi was totally hooked on the idea. Watching her stomp her feet with delight warmed Jungwoo’s heart, but it also brought a pang of guilt. Before his regression, he hadn’t even known his daughter harbored such innocent, ordinary dreams of being a princess.

Just seeing her this happy made answering the repeated question completely worth it. Though, that wasn’t the only outcome.

Ding!

【“Children need dreams!” The child is dreaming a wonderful dream! [Wonderful Caretaker (1/10)] Collect stickers to unlock skills!】

Did it take asking ten times for the idea to finally sink in? The moment Segi truly believed she had become a princess, the quest counter ticked up. Jungwoo stared at the notification in mild bewilderment.

What happens now?

What would his official rank test reveal? What kind of chaos would follow?

The emotion swelling in his chest wasn’t anticipation—it was deep anxiety.

And how could it not be? S-Rank or L-Rank aside, less than twenty-four hours had passed since he rewound time and returned to the past. Above all else, his thoughts were consumed by Segi’s safety, Segi’s smile, and Segi’s future. He couldn’t help but wonder if all this publicity would actually be good for her.

Right on cue—

Knock, knock!

A polite knock sounded at the door. Jungwoo stood up.

“Ah, yes. Come in.”

The door clicked open to reveal a well-dressed, middle-aged man followed by four suits who looked like his personal aides. The middle-aged man offered a warm, genial smile and extended a hand for a handshake.

“Nice to meet you, Hunter Shin Jungwoo. I am Kim Shinwook, Director of the Nowon-gu Hunter Administration Bureau.”

Just as Jungwoo hesitantly reached out his hand—

“It is an absolute honor to be the first to meet South Korea’s proud sixth S-Rank Hunter. Congratulations.”

Unbelievable words echoed in his ears once more.

Then, the Director spoke again.

“May we have a quick chat?”

In an instant, the pieces clicked into place for Jungwoo.

…Ah.

The title of S-Rank. The direct approach from local Bureau leadership. Access to the high-profile guest suite reserved only for special circumstances. Being kept isolated in this room until now.

All the clues aligned. A memory buried deep in his mind drifted to the surface.

This isn’t just a polite congratulatory visit.

It was a setup for a recruitment pitch. And not a healthy one, either—this was the infamous ‘Bureau Recruitment Drive’ that would trigger a massive scandal a few years down the line.

Jungwoo’s mind instantly went ice-cold. Reality snapped back into sharp focus.

Segi was right beside him, her feet fluttering in excitement as she watched an important-looking man treat her father with such deep respect.

The moment he realized what was happening, a single thought echoed in his mind:

Now is not the time to be spacing out.

If he didn’t stay sharp, he wouldn’t be able to protect Segi. With that resolve carved into his mind, Jungwoo flashed a smooth, practiced smile and took the Director’s hand.

“Thank you, Director Kim. I’m Shin Jungwoo. So… yeah, I guess I really am an S-Rank Hunter now.”

It was the very same smile he used to wear back when he was obsessed with Hunter work, grinding his life away for guilds in a desperate bid to reach a higher place.