….
The next morning broke quietly over the Yoo estate, sunlight bleeding in through sheer curtains.
Jin-Ho was already half-awake, lying on his back, fingers absently tracing the barely visible mark on his palm.
It hadn't faded.
If anything, it felt more present, tingling faintly like it was waiting.
BuZZ! - a soft chime came from the panel by the door, followed by a polite knock.
"Youngest Master Jin-Ho." - the butler's voice called, a bit more ….careful than yesterday. He added. "You have been scheduled to visit the Hunter Association today to get your Hunter Licence."
Jin-Ho, who hadn't slept the whole night, flew his body still sitting in a cross legged position.
"Right. I will be down in ten." He responded.
And once out of the bed, he hovered down touching his feet to the floor.
◤-----------------------◥
「Skills:」
-> [Telekinesis] Level 0(Proficiency 23%)
◣-----------------------◢
….
[Outside – Front Driveway]
….
The driveway of the Yoo mansion was its own small courtyard, stone-tiled and framed by hedges trimmed to military perfection.
A black luxury sedan waited at the base of the steps, gleaming under the morning sun - the same butler stood by the rear door, posture straight, expression unreadable.
Jin-Ho walked down slightly feeling sleepy, dressed in a clean black hoodie over a white shirt and dark jeans.
"Association's expecting me?" He verified, sliding into the car.
"Yes, Youngest Master Jin-Ho. Master called ahead, they are preparing a private evaluation chamber."
Jin-Ho didn't bother to respond. He just stared out the window as the gates of the estate rolled open.
So this was it.
Evaluation day.
He knew how it worked, at least in theory.
You go in, they scan you with a bit of magic tech, and assign your rank.
Most people landed at E or D.
Occasionally C.
B rankers were already rare.
A? - Practically royalty.
And S-rank…
Well, they didn't assign that. S-rankers made themselves known.
….
[Hunter Association – Seoul Branch]
….
The building was a monolith of glass and steel, towering in the heart of Gangnam.
Even this early, the place was alive with movement, hunters in gear, staff in uniforms, government suits flashing ID cards.
Jin-Ho stepped out of the car, ignoring the curious looks.
….
The Hunter Association building was busier like usual.
Elevators dinged, clerks shuffled paperwork, and a buzz of tension hovered in the air, not unusual when someone was being evaluated.
Especially when there was a chance, however slim, that a new high-ranker might be born.
Jin-Ho stepped through the lobby, flanked by one of his family's guards and a stone-faced Association staffer who looked both surprised and stressed.
"Mister Yoo." The staffer said, tapping frantically at his screen as he matched Jin-Ho's pace. "You… arrived earlier than scheduled."
Jin-Ho tilted his head slightly. "That's… a problem?"
"N-no, of course not!" the man said quickly, shaking his head.
"Good. Then don't sound like it is."
He didn't sound angry - just detached, as if he wasn't sure how to talk without it coming off sharper than he meant.
The staffer nodded, glancing toward a corridor branching off from the lobby. "It's just… someone else is about to begin their evaluation."
Jin-Ho followed his gaze.
At the far end of the corridor, just outside the heavy doors of the testing chamber, stood a lone figure.
A young man.
Black hair slightly unkempt, shoulders drawn tight, eyes sharp in their quiet watchfulness. He wore a thin windbreaker, plain jeans, and sneakers that had clearly seen better days.
With no entourage or the air of arrogance - just a stillness that was almost too ordinary.
Too ordinary… and yet—
!?Jin-Ho's heart jolted like someone had struck a bell inside his chest.
Sung Jin-Woo.
The future Shadow Monarch Successor, and the protagonist of this world - Solo Leveling.
Right now, though, he was just a nameless kid waiting for his test.
The staffer approached Jin-Woo, bowing slightly. "Mr. Sung, I am sorry, but there has been a small schedule change. If you don't mind waiting—"
The words were courteous enough.
But the meaning underneath was plain as glass:
Step aside. Make room for the rich boy.
Jin-Woo blinked once, slow.
His gaze drifted past the man to the figure standing further down the corridor, Jin-Ho, with a suited guard looming silently at his back. The guard was all clean lines and sharp edges: crisp tailored suit, polished shoes, discreet earpiece glinting faintly.
Jin-Woo's eyes shifted to Jin-Ho himself.
Casual clothes, yes, but they still carried a faint sheen of wealth. And then there was how the staffer spoke to him - careful, deferential.
Jin-Woo had spent enough hours in hospitals, government offices, and dull waiting rooms to recognize that tone.
Money.
Power.
Influence.
He suppressed a sigh.
There wasn't really a choice here, not for someone like him.
Still, he inclined his head politely. "Understood."
He started to step aside—
—but Jin-Ho raised his hand.
"No need to change anything. He was here first. Let him go."
The words landed like a pin dropped in a silent room.
Everyone stilled.
Even Jin-Woo's expression flickered with brief surprise.
The staffer froze mid-breath. "Ah—but Mister Yoo, your schedule—"
"I will wait." Jin-Ho's tone was flat and firm. "It's fine."
The staffer stammered again. "B-but—"
"I said it's fine, dammit." Jin-Ho sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not like I have got anywhere else to be."
The staffer blinked, uncertain whether to apologize or thank him. "R-right. I… I will make sure everything goes smoothly."
"Yeah, yeah. Just do your job." Jin-Ho muttered. Then, after a beat, his tone softened almost imperceptibly. "And don't stress so much, you will wrinkle before thirty."
The man let out a startled, awkward laugh.
"Anyway." He mumbled, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Let's just get this over with before I change my mind about being nice."
The corridor settled again.
Jin-Woo, however, studied him again, this time more carefully.
It was true, this version of him wasn't yet on the path to becoming the Shadow Monarch.
But that didn't mean his instincts were dull.
Those very instincts, the ability to read danger, to weigh people quickly, to survive, were what would one day carry him through a world of monsters.
And those instincts whispered something strange:
This Jin-Ho wasn't the typical spoiled heir. There was weight behind his eyes, a strange, grounded calm that didn't belong to privilege.
"…Thanks." Jin-Woo said finally, voice quiet but sincere.
Jin-Ho's head turned slightly. He met the other boy's gaze, then nodded once.
"Don't mention it." He said - and after a pause, almost gruffly, added. "Just don't make me look bad in there."
With that, Jin-Woo stepped into the chamber, the heavy doors hissing shut behind him.
Jin-Ho shifted back against the wall, crossing his arms. He didn't bother acknowledging the staffer's anxious glances or the guard's quiet vigilance. His gaze stayed on the sealed doors.
He already knew how this would play out.
Jin-Woo wouldn't awaken as anything spectacular today.
The Association would slap an E-rank on him and send him home.
But Jin-Ho knew better.
He was looking at a moment that would one day be written in history books, except no one here could see it yet.
A sleeping giant taking his first stumble.
God, he thought, this world's insane.
And somehow, he fit right in.
The faint sigil of the Rooster Talisman shimmered on the back of his hand, almost like it could feel his anticipation.
His time was coming.
But first, he would stand here, calm and silent, and watch the future Monarch of Shadows take his very first… failed step.
….
Five minutes passed.
Outside the chamber, Jin-Ho stood silently, arms folded as a few more officials began murmuring behind their clipboards.
And then, with a soft hiss, the doors opened.
That was fast, He thought as gazed at Sung Jin-Woo stepping out slowly, his expression black from disappointment.
One of the staffers was speaking to him in low tones, clipboard in hand, but Jin-Woo wasn't really listening.
He just nodded once, accepted a slip of paper, his results, and started walking down the hallway, eyes forward.
Jin-Ho caught the murmurs of mocking as he was handed his license.
E-Rank.
The irony almost made him smile.
Just as Jin-Woo was about to exit, their eyes met for a brief moment, just long enough to acknowledge each other.
A flicker of understanding.
Not quite respect, not yet, but maybe curiosity.
And then he was gone, back into the crowd.
"Mister Yoo."
The voice cut through the quiet like a bell, snapping him out of his thoughts–
"We are ready for you."
"...it's about time I get this over with."
He stepped forward, the guard staying behind as the heavy door slid shut behind him.
….
.
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
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