[14th Everdusk, 2103], CGA Branch, Dyna Crest Country, DC-23 City.
I stepped out of the taxi after paying the fare, my gaze settling on the large metal doors of the CGA building—the main hub for hunters in this city.
It wasn't just a headquarters. The CGA boasted a vast network that catered to nearly every hunter's need: Dungeons, a bustling Market, and even cross-city Portals for long-distance travel. Everything a hunter could ask for.
"…No point checking out the market," I muttered to myself. "Didn't loot anything worth selling yet. Maybe after clearing a dungeon."
With that, I turned my attention to the main building.
The front gate shimmered faintly with mana—it automatically opened upon sensing a registered hunter's mana signature. A clever piece of tech designed by a genius trap master, apparently after some kind of incident. I didn't care enough to know the full story.
Walking in, I ignored the buzz of conversation and the shuffle of gear-laden hunters. My destination was clear: the dungeon check-in counter.
But what I saw brought me to a halt.
Long lines. Every reception desk was swamped. And to make things worse, I recognized a few familiar faces—some from my own class.
Tch.
I sighed and chose one of the shorter lines. I'd learned to assess efficiency over length. Some receptionists were faster than others, and every minute counted.
I did a rough mental calculation. If each hunter took about three to five minutes to process, my turn would come soon enough.
It was a good decision. While others who joined the line with me were still stuck midway, I found myself third in line. Progress.
Half an hour later, it was finally my turn. Only one guy ahead of me now—though he was in a heated argument with the receptionist. Took six minutes before he finally stormed off, mumbling something about unfair rules.
"Next," the attendant called with a strained smile.
Fake. I'd seen that expression dozens of times before.
"Yes, I'm here to raid a dungeon. I'd like to see the available options," I said.
He nodded and began typing, professional as ever.
"Alright, I'll need your ID. Also, your Class, Level, and the number of people you'll be raiding with."
I handed over my hunter ID. "Necromancer. Level 14. I'll be raiding solo."
That's when it happened.
He froze. Eyes narrowing, he stared at the bottom-right corner of my ID. Then he looked at me. Then, back at the ID. Again.
"Sir…" he said slowly. "Is this some joke? Because if it is, I'm not in the mood."
"Huh? Did I say something wrong?" I asked, confused.
Before I could explain, he cut me off.
"No, listen carefully, kid. You can't raid a dungeon solo—not right now. You're not eligible."
"…What?"
He sighed loudly. "Ugh… Why do I always get stuck with these clueless newbies? Alright, listen up. You might think solo hunting is cool. Leveling faster, growing stronger, all that. But this isn't some fantasy story. This is real life. And here, we don't just let people waltz into dungeons alone."
His tone was firm. A bit too blunt for my taste.
"You need to pass an eligibility test for solo raids. Until then, you'll need to team up. And even if you wanted to take the test, you'd have to wait at least eight days. The Branch Manager are swamped with major tasks right now."
…What the hell?
In my past life, solo hunting was the norm. I never needed any damn permission. But then I remembered—this isn't the same country. The rules here might've changed before I transmigrated.
While I was lost in thought, the guy grabbed my hand and started pulling me away from the counter.
"I don't have time to waste on you. Either come back with a team or don't come at all," he said, returning to his station without another glance.
Frustrated, I stood there. I could join a party… but that meant revealing my talents. Letting strangers see my abilities. And if there's one truth I've learned—
Humans are the greediest monsters of them all.
Still, I turned toward the bulletin to check out open party requests.
But then—
"Hey, kid!"
I turned around. The same receptionist, now looking oddly flustered, was jogging toward me.
"I was told to speak with you," he said. "Mind listening for a sec?"
I was about to leave after being rejected by yet another team, but I stopped and nodded.
"Sure."
Without explaining, he grabbed my arm and pulled me toward a side room where another man—his senior—was already waiting.
They locked the door behind them. The atmosphere shifted. Serious expressions. Tier 1 presence. I instinctively tensed.
"Uh… Sirs? I'm just doing what you told me—looking for a party. I didn't mean to cause trouble," I said, just in case.
The older one chuckled. "Relax, kid. We're not here to hurt you. I overheard your case and… well, we might have a workaround."
"…Really?" I asked. "Just to confirm—is it free? Or do I need to pay or trade something?"
He laughed again. "Smart kid. But no, this isn't some back-alley deal. And we already know you're broke by how you dress. So quit worrying."
I nodded cautiously.
"Alright then," I said. "What's this workaround you're talking about?"
The man leaned forward, voice lowering slightly.
"So listen carefully, kid… The thing is—"
To be continued.
Author's Note:
Hey everyone! Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Fun fact—I was originally going to call this one Solo Leveling Verification 😂
Guess that still kind of fits, huh?