“Is this that Hunter plate?”
After my fight with Dante, on my way back to the square.
I placed the bronze-colored plate on my palm, turning it over this way and that as I examined it.
It was the plate Dante had taken out from his hut and tossed to me right after the fight.
He’d spent quite a while looking for it, seemingly stashed deep in some corner.
A bronze plate about the size of my palm.
On its surface was an emblem-like pattern engraved.
“That’s right. Unfortunately, it’s only the lowest-grade plate.”
“Hmm…”
The lowest-grade plate, huh…
Having been A-rank ever since my first Awakening, receiving the lowest-ranked plate here felt novel.
A feeling of, *So this is something that can happen in life.*
- lololololol But honestly, he fought Dante to a standstill, so does the lowest plate even make sense?
- fr lol it’s a bit much
- honestly they could’ve given him the highest rank plate and nobody could say shit
- was looking forward to the new route but it’s a bit disappointing, feels like the reward is lacking
- lololol should we say the reward’s stingy?
- if the streamer hadn’t asked to fight he probably would’ve gotten something else hahaha
- bet Dante didn’t expect him to ask for a fight when he said he’d prepare a reward lolol
- agreed lolololol
- would’ve made more sense if he’d asked for Elder Dragon materials
As I silently spun the plate on my finger without a word, Reina watched my expression and carefully spoke up.
“Um… Grandpa probably wanted to give you a higher-ranked plate too. You truly deserve it. But when Grandpa retired, he gave up every authority he could for his successor… so right now, that’s just… the best he could do.”
Then Reina cautiously cleared her throat.
“And even though it’s a lowest-grade plate, it’s a good one. Quite a few people used to covet it.”
“There were people who coveted this?”
Even though it’s the lowest grade?
I looked at Reina, unable to understand her words.
“That’s right.”
- Why would they covet the lowest plate?
- maybe they were perverts who liked low ranks
- that doesn’t make sense lolol
- some new breed of perverts lol
- is there something to it?
- from what Twit #2 is saying, there seems to be something there?
“Why? Is there a reason?”
When I showed my curiosity, Reina put on a triumphant expression.
“Curious? Want me to tell you?”
- Ugh this idiot’s face is so punchable lolol
- why’s she so hyped? lolol
- can someone smack her? I’m serious
- Yes I’m curious!!
Just like the viewers said, it was strangely annoying.
I felt the urge to wipe that smug look off her face for no reason.
“No, now that I think about it, I’m not really curious.”
“Why?!”
Reina’s face filled with bewilderment.
Eyes wide, mouth agape.
*Now that’s more like it.*
My head nodded on its own.
- look at the streamer’s nasty personality lololol
- is the streamer smiling right now? lolol
- ah fucking hilarious lolol
- lololol
“You’re really not curious?”
I considered teasing her more, but seeing her glance at me cautiously, I felt I should stop here.
“No, actually I’m curious.”
“Then why’d you say you weren’t!!”
“Because I didn’t like your triumphant expression?”
“Argh!! Really!!”
She huffed and stomped her feet for a while.
Even tugging at her hair, she soon glared at me with irritation.
“So are you going to listen?”
“Yes.”
“You definitely said you’ll listen.”
“I did.”
- streamer is such a troll lol
- Twit #2’s reaction is so salty lol
Taking a small deep breath to calm herself, Reina continued composedly.
“Check the back of the plate.”
“The back?”
At her words, I flipped the plate over.
“There’s a mark there, right?”
Hidden slightly by dust, it revealed itself clearly on the metal surface as I tilted it.
A distinct star mark, as if carved with a sword.
“Yes, I see it.”
What meaning could this mark hold?
“Grandpa Dante probably intended to give you an ordinary lowest-grade plate at first. He could have passed that off as a whim rather than overstepping his authority. But after fighting you, I think he changed his mind.”
She paused briefly.
“You see, it’s a special mark only given to Hunters acknowledged by Grandpa Dante. It was the last bit of authority he had left. When he retired, he held onto that one thing until the very end. Said he’d only give it to someone he acknowledged. The words he said back then were probably…”
She fell into thought for a moment, then let out a small exclamation.
“Ah, I remember. It was definitely this. *‘I wish to give this last one to a star that will shine someday.’*”
*To a star that will shine someday…*
I guess everyone gets sentimental when they grow old.
Otherwise, they couldn’t say something like that out loud.
Still.
*Well, it’s not bad. It’s even familiar.*
I gently turned the plate I held in my hand.
The cold touch of metal could be felt.
- wow… that was the real reward
- fr that’s insane
- wait that thing existed?
- he picked a fight with Dante instead of a reward and got that?
- seems like it?
- wow…
- that’s so Haerang route of the Haerang route damn lolololol
- you need to fight Dante to a standstill to get that?
- yep
- goddamn lololol
- feels like nobody could ever get it
- but Dante asked if the streamer was holding back, so don’t you need to win to get it?
- ah right lolol
- nobody’s getting that now for real lol
- Streamer: I’m always two moves ahead
“So, do you like it?”
For some reason, Reina was triumphant again, looking pleased with herself.
Seeing her chest puffed out speaking so confidently, you’d think she was the one who gave me the plate.
- why’s she looking so proud like it’s hers lolol
- fucking hilarious lol
- so what effect does that have? is it just ‘acknowledged by Dante’ and that’s it?
- Title: One Acknowledged by Dante. The End.
- lolololol
- isn’t that just a sentimental item with no real effects?
I’d been wondering about that too.
Whether it was a mere keepsake, or if it actually carried some kind of authority.
“So does this come with any privileges?”
“Hm, well, first, you get thirty percent off all facilities within the outpost, higher quest rewards… and you get priority when crafting weapons. And what else was there? I feel like there was more… I can’t quite remember.”
After pondering briefly, she added.
“Ah, I remember. It’s a bit superstitious, but… they say the materials Grandpa Dante harvested were better quality and greater in quantity. So people who received that plate also had rumors about having some insane luck. That’s probably why many coveted it? Getting both his acknowledgment and good fortune.”
- So to sum up what Twit #2 said: facility discount, bonus rewards, weapon crafting priority, and increased harvest count, right?
- seems like it?
- yep
- damn that’s insane lololol
- first off increased harvest count <- that’s GOAT tier alone
- was already grinding cuz I was short on cash for weapon crafting and now there’s a discount too lolol
- just looking at those effects it’s basically an endgame item lol
Honestly, it hadn’t sounded that amazing to me, but judging by the viewers’ reactions, it seemed like an absurdly good set of privileges.
“Is it that good?”
- yeah it’s ridiculous
- the effects are insane
- it’s basically a broken item lolol
----
[‘Bullramyeon’ donated 1,000 won.]
It’s extremely good. The other options are nice to have, but the increased harvest count you mentioned last? That alone just eclipses everything else.
----
“Increased harvest count?”
----
[‘KingOfMungdungi’ donated 1,000 won.]
For real. I don’t know how much it increases, but with just that you could finish in two hunts what would normally take five. Saves time, reduces stress… it’s literally GOAT. And since the quality improves too, I bet you could quickly get your hands on rare materials.
----
- lololol hearing the details makes it even more broken
- right she said the quality improves too lol
- I caught fifty of the same monster just to barely get a Rarity-5 item, damn… if only I’d had that
- that’s on you tho…
- hmm…
- lol
- lol?
Having more or less organized the viewers’ opinions, I carefully tucked the plate into my chest pocket.
*Hmm, good is good.*
I need to take good care of it so I don’t lose it.
As I fiddled with the plate, Reina had approached my side before I knew it.
“So what are you going to do now?”
“About what?”
“You’ve got the plate, you’re an official Hunter now. I mean your next plan.”
“Ah, that?”
The corner of my lips rose slightly.
I did have something in mind.
Reina and I, having received the plate, headed to the Guild headquarters.
A place where gathering, subjugation, capture, and countless quests came and went, and where countless Hunters came to take them.
When we arrived in front of the headquarters, it was already bustling with people.
Those who came to post quests, those who came to report completions, even those who simply came for information.
Upon entering the headquarters, which looked to be about three stories high, a marketplace-like clamor struck my ears.
In one corner, a drinking party was underway, while in another, Hunters were shuffling through quest forms posted on the wall.
As I passed them and approached the reception desk, the surrounding gazes began to gather one by one.
Gazes that seemed to hold various emotions.
Ignoring those gazes, I arrived in front of the desk, and the receptionist sitting there looked up.
“Welcome. What brings you here?”
She had been responding with a kind voice, but soon—
“…Reina?”
Discovering Reina standing behind me, her eyes went wide.
And her face brightened.
“When did you get back to the outpost?! When did you arrive? Yesterday? Today?”
Before she even finished speaking, she jumped out from behind the counter and hugged Reina tightly.
“Whatever, I’m happy to see you!!! I missed you!!”
Reina let out an awkward smile, seemingly flustered.
“Ahaha…”
- Twit #2 was a social butterfly lol
- seems like everyone in town knows Twit #2 lolol
- gives you that strange feeling, you know
- I thought she was my comrade…
- seems like she only looked like one
- hey where do you live
- sry sry;;
“Anna, can’t breathe…”
“Oops, sorry. I was just so happy. You should’ve told me you were coming back, dropping in so suddenly like this. Really.”
The woman called Anna puffed her cheeks as she looked at Reina.
- the receptionist is so pretty
- agreed lolol
- maybe she looks even better next to Twit #2 lol
- why you gotta do our Twit #2 like that
- Twit #2 cover your ears quick!!
“Sorry, I was out of it.”
“I get it. So what brings you to the guild? Going straight to work?”
“No, it’s more like…”
As Reina glanced at me, Anna naturally shifted her gaze as well.
Soon finding me, she immediately began apologizing.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I got excited seeing Reina after so long…”
“It’s fine. I understand.”
- Noona’s pretty so it’s all good!
At my words saying it was alright, she carefully lifted her head again.
Eyes like blue coral came into view.
“I’m Anna. And you are?”
“I’m Haerang.”
“Nice to meet you. So what brings you…?”
Reina answered her question.
“He’s my successor. He became a Hunter this time.”
At Reina’s words, Anna blinked, unable to understand.
“What do you mean? Your successor became a Hunter?”
“Well, it’s a long story…”
Leaving the explanation to Reina would make it long, so I opened my mouth first.
There was also something I was aiming for.
“I passed the qualification exam given by Elder Dante.”
“You took a qualification exam from Dante?”
“Yes, here’s the plate.”
As I handed her the plate, Anna’s eyes slowly went round.
And then—
“This plate?!!”
With her shout, the already rowdy surroundings’ gazes focused even more on us.
And soon.
“This little runt received Dante’s plate?”
The event I had been aiming for had arrived.
A large man set down his drinking glass with a thunk and swaggered over.
Seeing him, I quietly smiled.
*Bingo.*
This is exactly what I wanted.
- oh boy oh boy is the cliché coming!!