Chapter 14: Hina's Family Past 3.
Hunters Card: It's a card every hunter has; it can be used as both a credit card and an ATM card. You can only get it if you pass the unofficial hunter exams.
If you become someone who has experience as an official hunter or a Mandal hunter, you can customize its color and add different types of flags to represent your achievements or associations.
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Year 907 in the Sun Calendar
(In central forest of Givnu Island — Samuh Kingdom)
All four of them were sitting inside the coach — Mira and Hina on one side, reading a book together, while Hira and Rema sat opposite them, quietly talking. But as Rema's questions began to grow a little too difficult for Hira to answer, he quickly decided to change the topic.
"What are you two reading about, Hina?" Hira asked, quickly changing the topic.
"What are you two reading about, Hina?" Hira asked, quickly changing the topic.
"We're reading about hunters, Papa. I want to know about the Hunter's Card, the types of hunters, and where mira can become one. But this book doesn't have any information about them," Hina said with a disappointed face, looking down at the pages.
"Oh, it's about hunters and cards? That's not a big deal — I can tell you," Hira said in a proud tone, puffing out his chest a little.
"Really? You know about them, Papa?" Mira asked, her eyes bright with excitement.
"Yes, I know about them. I can even tell you where you need to go to pass the exam and how to get the card," Hira said proudly.
"Really! You can tell us where we can become a hunter, Papa?" Hina and Mira asked together, their voices rising with excitement.
"Yes, I can," Hira said again, smiling proudly.
Rema laughed softly as she listened. Then she said, "Yes, your father is telling the truth. He tried to become a hunter once — but he failed."
"Hey! You didn't need to tell them that!" Hira protested, frowning slightly.
"I had to tell them. They should know how tough the exam is, or they might think it's easy," Rema said, laughing again under her breath.
"Yeah, yeah, okay, I know what you're trying to do," Hira sighed. "I don't know everything about hunters or every single detail, but I do know there are three kinds of exams: first the unofficial hunter exam and the official hunter exam. I wanted to become a hunter once, so I tried — but I failed the final exam for the unofficial rank." His tone dropped slightly at the end.
"The final exam? Isn't there supposed to be only one exam for unofficial hunters?" Hina asked, tilting her head.
"Yes, you're right," Hira said, "but there are actually two tests you need to pass first, before you can take the final exam."
"So, do we need to pass all three to become a hunter?" Mira asked in her small, curious voice.
"Yes," Hira said, nodding seriously. "You need to pass two tests and one exam to become an unofficial hunter. You can take those tests in any Association office. If you fail, you can try again as many times as you want.
But if you want to become an official hunter, it's different. You need to pass another two tests and another exam — and you'll only have ten attempts. If you fail all ten times, your card will be blocked for a month, and you'll be suspended from taking exams for a month.
After that month, you'll have to pass the unofficial hunter exams again to unlock your card and earn the right to take the official ones."
He said this last part in a serious voice, and both girls listened carefully.
"And that card," Hira continued, "is like an ID for hunters. Unofficial hunters need it for everything — getting jobs, receiving payments, even accessing certain restricted areas. In places where hunter currency can't be used, they can use the Hunter Card to pay.
For lower-ranked hunters, the Hunter Card is everything. When it gets blocked, they can't get jobs or missions from the Association — it's like losing their identity as a hunter."
"But why would they block the card just because someone failed?" Hina asked angrily. "That's not fair! What if someone just isn't lucky or keeps failing? They'll be stuck as unofficial hunters forever!"
Hira smiled faintly. "No, it's not unfair, Hina. Sometimes hunters fail because they're too tired, or they've been pushing too hard. The one-month suspension is meant to give them rest — it's like a penalty, but also a break.
And it's not a big deal for someone who's already passed once. The exams don't change, so if you passed before, you can pass again easily. Once you do, you'll get another ten chances to become an official hunter."
"So they don't block the cards forever?" Mira asked softly, her small fingers playing with the edge of the book.
"No, they don't," Hira said, shaking his head. "Only those who break the rules — like cheating, stealing missions, or misusing the hunter title — get their cards permanently blocked. And they're punished harshly for it."
"Are there only two types of hunters, Papa?" Mira asked again, her tone gentle.
"No, there are more types of hunters — more than you can count right now," Hira said. "I don't know all of them, but I do know about hunters who fight outside our planet. They're called Mandal Hunters.
Oh, and one more thing — every hunter, whether unofficial, official, or Mandal, has a different-looking card. They also get an additional accessory from the Hunter Association — but only if they pass a special exam. If they fail that exam, they don't get either."
"So, Papa, do you know what we get when we become official or unofficial hunters?" Hina asked eagerly.
"Yes," Hira said. "You get a Hunter Card when you become an unofficial hunter, and a badge when you become an official one. I'm not sure about all the details, but Mandal hunters even get a house — and its size, style, and type depend on how difficult the test you passed was."
"But why a house, Papa?" Hina asked, confused.
"That's because hunters need a base if they want to become Mandal hunters," Hira explained. "If you don't have one, you can buy one from another hunter or from the Association — or you can earn one by passing a special test.
But only 10% percent of hunters ever get a house, and only about 0.05% get the best ones — those that are perfect for a base. So, if you want your base to be powerful, pass the exams with the best marks, okay?"
He smiled warmly as he looked at Mira and Hina.
"Yes, Papa! I'll pass the exams, become a hunter, and get the best house! Then I'll take you, Mama, and Sis to my base!" Mira said proudly, her eyes sparkling.
"Yep, I know my sweet little darling will become a hunter one day," Rema said happily.
"Yes, and if you want that to happen, you'll need to start practicing," Hira added, chuckling. "It won't be easy."
"You don't need to worry, Papa," Hina said confidently. "I'll train her to become a strong hunter — strong enough to pass the exams and buy a base where I can rest for the rest of my life!"
"Hey, you lazy honey, you also need to work hard if you want to become a master chef!" Hira teased. "And if you fail, we'll just send you to become a hunter with Mira!"
"Hu! No way! I don't want to work like hunters! I want to make new dishes and eat all day and night. I don't want to do anything serious," Hina said in a dramatic voice.
"Hahaha!" Everyone laughed together, the warm, playful sound filling the small coach.
"Oh! I forgot to tell you that after you become Mandal hunters, you can become—"
Before Hira could finish, a loud bell began to ring — sharp and continuous — echoing through the entire coach. The coaches shook slightly, and all the coaches suddenly stopped.
Because everyone was sitting properly and wearing seat belts, no one got hurt. But the sudden jolt startled everyone. Mira gasped, her small hands gripping the seat, her eyes wide. She was about to cry, but Hina quickly covered her mouth and whispered softly, calming her down.
On the other side, Rema and Hira moved instantly. They pulled a small chain, and thick black cloth rolled down over the windows, covering the coach completely. The lamps and candles were extinguished in seconds.
"What happened, Mama?" Hina whispered in a low, trembling voice. "Why did all the coaches stop suddenly?"
"Shhh," Rema said sharply. She silently drew a sword from the rack beside her seat, the metal glinting faintly in the dying light. "When we go out, lock the door immediately. Don't open it for any reason. No matter what happens — don't look outside, and cover your ears."
Before the girls could even respond, Hira pulled out his steel sword and opened the door. Both parents slipped out swiftly, moving like shadows.
The moment they left, Hina turned the lock firmly, her hands trembling slightly. She didn't dare look outside. She and Mira quickly tied pieces of cloth over their ears and pressed their hands against them tightly, just like their mother had said.
"Sis, what happened? Why did Mama and Papa run outside?" Mira whispered, her voice shaking. "The sun's already set… I'm scared."
"Nothing will happen," Hina said in as calm a voice as she could manage. "Come here, cover your ears, and sit on my lap. I'll cover you with my blanket, okay? You won't feel scared."
Mira nodded and crawled into Hina's lap, her small body trembling. Hina wrapped the blanket around both of them and hugged her tightly. She could feel Mira's heart beating fast against her chest.
The coach was completely dark now — only the faint creak of metal and the sound of wind filled the silence.
Then, suddenly, from outside — a scream.
"Help! Help!"
"Monsters! Monsters!"
"Save me! Someone save me!"
The girls froze, their hearts pounding.
Hina shut her eyes tightly and whispered under her breath, "Papa… Mama… please be safe."
The sound of chaos outside grew louder — shouting, metal clashing, and something else — a deep, guttural growl that didn't sound human. The ground trembled slightly beneath their feet.
But Hina didn't move. She held Mira even tighter, shielding her ears and whispering softly, "It's okay… it's okay… they'll come back soon."
And then after half an hour, as the last echo of screams faded, the world outside fell eerily silent.
—_—END—_—