I’m the Villain’s Constellation but I’m Broke

Chapter 57. Association (1)

…Kang Si-hoo walked into the association. Just like him, there was a line of people who’d received a number tag, and at the very front, was where a rating meter made of mana stone stood. The woman who was measuring the grades in the silent room, said.

“Class E. Please register with the receptionist to the left.”

The words were divided between joy and sorrow. The man who was measured as E-Class had a look of despair, and the man right behind him looked relieved. He must be thinking that he will be evaluated better than that man.

However, there were only a few hunters with C-Class and higher in the world, and it was even more difficult to find an A-Class. There have only been a few S-classes in Korea with the highest grade, so it would be foolish to expect that such an accomplishment can be achieved. In the first place, if you had that level of ability, you would have noticed it instinctively. That your own strength was superior….

…Kang Si-hoo placed his hand on the mana stone slowly with a tense face. The mana stone, which was probably the largest in Korea, whispered in his ear as soon as his hand touched it.

– Welcome, unobservable fate.

It was a clear human-like voice.]

A Grading Tool is a special device created by adding artificial intelligence to mana stones. In order to activate the rating meter, the creator, or someone who has the relevant skills had to be next to it. There have also been attempts to steal it by the rumors that what it’s worth was astronomical, but it was impossible due to its theft prevention function.

This was the very first ‘Grading Tool’ developed in Korea, and later on, the world’s first Grading system was introduced using this Grading Tool. Isn’t that amazing? That from a country that has a surprisingly good water supply system as well.

However, as soon as I entered the association, I felt puzzled.

‘What?’

Piercing eyes. As if looking at an animal in the zoo, bystanders gave me a stinging gaze that I could easily notice. When I looked at the place where I could feel their gaze, most turned their heads and pretended they weren’t staring, but there were some that didn’t even try to hide their gazes.

I looked down at my body to see if there was something wrong with my outfit, but there was nothing wrong. Baek Tae-beom lowered his head toward me and whispered.

“It’s because of me.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Maybe it’s because I’m a high-ranking hunter? Right now, there are only a few S-Classes in Korea.”

I was convinced by Baek Tae-beom’s words. In the current era, Class-B hunters or higher can be seen as celebrities, and even more so if you were an S-Class like Baek Tae-beom, it should be expected to receive this kind of attention. Moreover, it was natural to wonder about the man standing next to him they’d just seen for the first time.

“Are you nervous, Hyung?”

“No, not really. You’re right by my side, after all.”

I said boldly and walked towards the reception desk. Baek Tae-beom followed mew a beat later.

“Excuse me….”

“A-ah, yes!”

The receptionist greeted me with an awkward tone. Still feeling eyes furtively staring from behind me, I suddenly realized that Baek Tae-beom really was a celebrity.

“I’m here to measure my class.”

“Oh, have you recently awakened?”

“Yes.”

“We only do gradings on Wednesdays… but….”

The receptionist awkwardly mumbled out the end of his words and looked at Baek Tae-beom and me alternately. When I turned my head, wondering if he saw something strange, Baek Tae-beom looked at me with a smile on his face.

“What?”

“Nothing… Anyway, we can’t do it today?”

“Ah… It’s not, it’s not that you… can’t….”

The receptionist spoke vaguely and quietly wiped the sweat from his forehead. He looked strangely tense.

“Since you came all the way here… Ah, but… we can only do one of you… or so. Yes…”

Anyone who was watching would have thought we were about to eat the man.

Feeling uneasy, I was about to take a step back until the receptionist shouted urgently.

“No! Please do the Class Grading! Y-you can!”

“Huh? Ah, alright….”

“You can go through that door on the right! Once you go in, please don’t touch anything, and… Please be careful.”

I wondered why he was like that, but I could only guess that part.

I couldn’t just go back after saying things like that, so I nodded half-heartedly and entered the door to the right. What welcomed me was a huge auditorium and a massive mana stone placed at the very front. Baek Tae-beom said with a smile.

“It feels refreshing to be here again.”

“Yeah?”

“I think the receptionist is really nice. Even on days off, they do gradings like this.”

Well, I don’t think it’s just because of that. I looked dumbfoundedly at Baek Tae-beom, who was pretending to be innocent.

‘It’s obvious that you pressured him.’

I had no idea what kind of expression he was making behind my back. I sighed and sat down on a chair near the mana stone. The reason why I shamelessly went to take a class grading even on their days off was because I was just easily trusting in anyone. At this point, I felt like I was raising a real tiger cub.

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun: This guy has raised a tiger entirely.]

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun: Actually, not a tiger. What was it called?]

[CH.Personal/One Who Guides The Dead: Tyrannosaurus]

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun: That’s a little too much]

[The Constellation, ‘One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun’ giggles and laughs.]

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun: So, what are you going to do?]

[CH.Personal/One Who Seeks To Avoid The Fall: What do you mean?]

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun: I think it would be better to hide all constellation-related skills.]

[CH.Personal/One Who Seeks To Avoid The Fall: But then, since I do not have my own skills, my class will be F.]

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun: That’s why you should do it.]

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun: Wouldn’t it be a problem if the one that the tiger cub carries is insanely strong?]

I guess that makes sense.