After the grueling test, the trio of Yuan, Emma, and Mireya finally returned to the reception table.
As they arrived, Mireya informed the two successful candidates to wait momentarily as she went to prepare their hunter licenses. "Please, wait for a few minutes. I will have your hunter licenses ready in no time," Mireya said, her tone formal and reassuring.
Yuan and Emma nodded in unison, expressing their understanding and patience. "Take all the time you need, Mireya. We're in no rush," Yuan responded, his voice calm and composed.
Emma echoed his sentiment with a soft smile, "Yes, please don't rush on our account. We appreciate all the help you've given us so far."
As Mireya went to prepare the necessary documents, Yuan and Emma made their way toward an empty table nearby.
They found an empty table and sat down, exchanging thoughts on the test they just completed.
"That was incredible," Emma said, still in disbelief at her own feat. "I can't believe I destroyed that boulder with a single strike!"
Yuan nodded in agreement, "Indeed, I must express my admiration. Your mastery of martial arts, Emma, is truly astounding. I never anticipated such rapid comprehension of the techniques, especially given that you had only just learned them yesterday."
Yuan was astounded by Emma's comprehensive grasp of the "Iron Palm Technique" given that she had acquired it only a day prior, thus indicating her impressive ability to learn martial arts.
"Please don't say anymore," Emma blushed profusely and spoke with embarrassment evident in her voice, "Your compliments are making me feel so bashful!"
Yuan couldn't resist teasing Emma as he chuckled and exclaimed, "Aww, look at you, you're just too adorable!"
Her already embarrassed expression turned even redder, making it all the more amusing.
The onlookers around them couldn't help but feel envious at the sight of their playful flirtation.
A few moments later, Mireya returned with their hunter licenses in hand. With a confident stride, she approached Yuan and Emma, who stood up from the table, eager to receive their coveted licenses.
"Congratulations, Yuan and Emma. You are now official hunters," Mireya announced, her voice brimming with pride.
She then handed them each a small, metal card that was the size of a credit card from Earth and had a beautiful, intricate design, with the Hunter Association emblem etched onto the front in shimmering gold.
Yuan and Emma gazed in awe at their new hunter licenses, inspecting every detail of the metallic card. As they turned the license over in their hands, their eyes were immediately drawn to the Hunter Rank listed on the card - "E" Rank.
'E rank? Shouldn't it be "F"?' Yuan thought.
Confused, they looked up at Mireya, their brows furrowed in puzzlement. "Mireya, why do our licenses say 'E' rank? Isn't 'F' rank the starting rank for new hunters?" Yuan asked, his tone curious yet perplexed.
Mireya paused for a moment before answering, her eyes meeting theirs with a serious gaze. "That's because you both surpassed our expectations during the test,"
"In terms of strength, you both have already surpassed the 'C' rank. However, as this branch is just a small one in this border town, we cannot simply give a new recruit a rank above 'E'."
She continued, "The low-ranked hunters here are struggling to keep up with the demand for their services, and we cannot risk putting inexperienced hunters in harm's way."
The Hunter Association of Clover Town was a small branch, devoid of the high-ranked hunters that other towns boasted of.
Nowadays, the town was in decline, with only a handful of low-ranked hunters still residing there. It was a challenging time for the association, and they struggled to maintain the standards they once held.
"We understand," Yuan replied, his tone formal yet respectful. "Thank you for explaining it to us, Mireya."
Emma nodded in agreement, her eyes still fixated on the small card in her hand. "Yes, thank you," she added, her voice filled with gratitude.
Mireya smiled warmly at the two new hunters, her formal demeanor melting away for a moment. And she said, "You both have a bright future ahead of you as hunters. I have no doubt that you will both continue to exceed expectations and rise through the ranks quickly."
Mireya looked at Yuan and Emma and said, "Let me explain about the mission ranks. They are similar to hunter ranks and range from "F" to "S" rank. A hunter can take a mission one rank above their own, unless the mission is "B" rank or above. If a "C" rank hunter wants to take a "B" rank mission, they have to form a party of 4."
She continues, "However, as I can see that both of you have the strength that surpasses the "C" rank, I can make an exception for you and allow you to take the "D" rank missions."
Both Yuan and Emma listened carefully to Mireya's explanation and thanked her for the information. Yuan then asked, "Can you give us some examples of "D" rank missions?"
Mireya smiled and said, "Sure, "D" rank missions are usually simple tasks such as delivering a package, escorting someone, or taking care of small-scale monsters. It's a good start for new hunters to gain some experience and earn some money."
Yuan turned to Mireya and asked, "Can you show us some "D" rank monster subjugation missions nearby the town that have higher rewards? We're up for a challenge and want to gain as much experience as possible."
Mireya nodded and took out a mission list from the drawer. "Here are some "D" rank monster subjugation missions that have higher rewards. Keep in mind that these missions are not easy, so make sure you're well-prepared," she said as she handed the list to Yuan.
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Wolf Pack (250 gold) - A pack of wolves has been attacking travelers in a forest of spirits. Take care of them before anyone gets hurt.
Giant Spider Nest (150 gold) - A giant spider has built a nest near the town and has been preying on livestock. Destroy the nest and kill the spider.
Goblin Hideout (500 silver) - Goblins have been raiding nearby villages and stealing food and supplies. Find their hideout and take care of them.
Bandit Camp (200 gold) - A group of bandits has set up camp near the town and has been attacking caravans. Take them out and bring justice to the victims.
Undead Invasion (120 gold) - The graveyard has been disturbed, and the dead have been rising from their graves. Put an end to the undead invasion before it's too late.
Slime Infestation (100 silver) - Slimes have been multiplying in the nearby forest and have been attacking travelers. Cleanse the forest of these slimy creatures.
Boar Menace (170 gold) - A group of wild boars has been terrorizing the farms and destroying crops. Eliminate the boars before they cause any more damage.
Cave Dweller (190 gold) - Reports of a strange creature living in a nearby cave have been circulating. Investigate and take care of the creature.
Giant Bat Nest (160 gold) - Giant bats have been swooping down on the town at night and attacking the residents. Find their nest and take care of them.
Poisonous Insects (100 gold) - The nearby swamp has been infested with poisonous insects. Clear out the swamp and protect the nearby village.
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Yuan scanned the list and pointed to one of the missions. "This one looks interesting. 'Subjugation of a pack of wolves in the Forest of Spirits' with a reward of 250 gold coins. What do you think, Emma?"
Emma looked at the mission details and nodded. "I agree. It seems like a good challenge for us."
Mireya gave them a nod of approval. "That's a good choice. The Forest of Spirits is just a few miles away from here, and it's known to be a dangerous place. But with your skills, I'm sure you can handle it."
Mireya turned to Yuan and Emma and asked them, "Are you both sure that you want to take on this mission?"
Yuan and Emma looked at each other before nodding their heads in unison. "Yes, we're sure," Yuan said confidently. "We'll take on this mission."
Mireya smiled and handed them a piece of paper with the mission details written on it. "Very well then. Here are the details of the mission. You will need to head to the forest of spirits and eliminate a group of ten wolves. The wolves have been causing trouble for the local villagers nearby the forest and the Hunter Association has been receiving complaints about them for weeks now."
Yuan and Emma took the paper and quickly read through the details. "The reward for this mission is 250 gold and a bonus of 20 gold if you can bring back proof of the wolves' defeat," Mireya added.
Yuan and Emma nodded again, their determination clear. "We'll take care of it," Emma said with a smile.
Mireya handed them their official mission documents and wished them good luck on their journey. "Remember to be careful and work together. I'll be waiting here for your return."
Yuan and Emma thanked her before making their way out of the Hunter Association and towards the nearby forest. The excitement of their first official mission as hunters filled them with a sense of purpose and determination.
After Yuan departed from the Hunter Association, Mireya assumed his position and muttered with a sigh, "I totally forgot to request Yuan to showcase his sword to me... but I'll inquire upon his return from the mission."
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