Chapter 28: Hunter Quest

"Easy, Noah. Easy."

Kael sat on the sofa with his son resting against his chest. The little boy had been awake for almost an hour, and judging by the way he kept moving his tiny arms, he had no intention of going back to sleep. Kael adjusted the blanket around him and tried to settle him down.

"Your mother says you get this stubbornness from me," Kael told Noah. "I think she’s trying to blame me for everything."

Noah answered with a small noise.

"Exactly. You understand," Kael said with a nod.

From the kitchen, Sera laughed. "Don’t teach him to argue before he can even talk."

"I’m teaching him an important life skill," Kael replied.

"Which is?" Sera asked.

"Knowing when your mother is wrong," Kael answered.

Sera appeared at the doorway and gave him a look that made him reconsider his answer.

"An important life skill," Kael corrected, "is knowing when to keep quiet."

"Much better," Sera said.

She took Noah from him so Kael could prepare for the day. After checking the baby’s diaper and making sure he was comfortable, she settled into the sofa with him while Kael went to the bedroom to change.

He put on a clean shirt, dark trousers, and a black jacket. He had decided to dress properly before leaving the apartment. He wasn’t going to the Hunter Association to pick up groceries. He was going there to take the first step toward becoming a hunter.

Last night, he and Sera had talked through their disagreement. Kael had promised not to overload himself with training, and Sera had agreed to give him room to pursue his goal without assuming every change would end badly. He intended to keep that promise, but he also wanted to find out exactly where he stood.

When Kael returned to the living room, Sera was rocking Noah gently.

"You’re dressed up," Sera remarked.

"I have a few things to take care of," Kael replied.

"At work?" Sera asked.

"Not exactly. I need to sort something out first," Kael answered.

It wasn’t a complete lie. He did have something to sort out. He simply wasn’t ready to tell her what it was.

Sera studied him for a moment before nodding. "All right. Don’t forget to eat something before you leave."

"I won’t," Kael assured her.

He leaned down and kissed her. Sera returned the kiss and held his jacket briefly before letting him go.

"Come back in one piece," Sera said.

Kael smiled. "I’m only going out for a while."

"That doesn’t mean you should forget to be careful," Sera reminded him.

"I’ll be careful," Kael promised.

He kissed Noah’s forehead before heading toward the door.

The moment he stepped into the hallway, a system notification appeared before his eyes.

[Family Bond Progress Processed.]

[Previous Household Disagreement: Resolved.]

[Family Bond: Level 3.]

[New Achievement Quest Unlocked!]

[Hunter’s Path: Become a Hunter]

[First Objective: Register with the Hunter Association.]

[Additional Objective: Complete the initial registration process.]

[Primary Reward: $1,000.]

[Additional Reward: Hunter’s Path +1.]

Kael stopped beside the elevator and read the notification again.

"Finally," he muttered.

Another notification appeared.

[Optional Challenge Unlocked!]

[Challenge: Prove Your Worth.]

[Objective: Complete your first official Hunter Association evaluation.]

[Reward: $10,000.]

Kael stared at the amount. Ten thousand dollars was more than enough to make a noticeable difference in the family savings account he had opened. He could add it to their emergency fund, cover Noah’s future expenses, and still have money left over.

Of course, the system wasn’t promising him free money for doing nothing. He would have to complete the challenge first, and he had no idea how difficult the evaluation would be.

Kael dismissed the notifications and entered the elevator. He was going to register, but he wasn’t going to rush into a dungeon or pretend he was ready to fight monsters. He needed an honest assessment of his abilities, and the Hunter Association was the right place to start.

When the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, Kael stepped outside, adjusted his jacket, and headed toward the main road.

–

The Hunter Association building stood in the central business district, surrounded by tall office towers, hotels, and commercial buildings. It was difficult to miss because the structure rose nearly thirty floors above the surrounding streets. Its broad glass front reflected the morning sun, while a large silver emblem hung above the main entrance. The emblem showed a sword crossing a shield, the official mark of the organization responsible for registering hunters and managing their activities.

Several large screens displayed public announcements about dungeon clearances, missing hunters, monster sightings, and recently completed missions. One screen showed a group of hunters posing beside the remains of a massive monster, while another displayed a warning about an unstable dungeon near the eastern road.

Kael slowed down to read the warning. The incident Daniel had mentioned wasn’t the only problem in the area.

Armed security officers stood near the entrance. Beyond the glass doors, people moved through a wide lobby filled with registration counters, waiting areas, and information screens. Some wore ordinary clothes, while others wore reinforced jackets, combat boots, or equipment belts. A few carried weapons in secured cases.

The difference between the two groups was easy to notice. Ordinary visitors walked around looking for directions, while the hunters moved as if they already knew where everything was.

Kael glanced down at his own clothes. His black jacket, clean trousers, and plain shoes made him look more like an office worker attending a meeting than someone planning to become a hunter. He entered anyway.

The lobby was larger than he had expected. A reception desk occupied the center, with several counters arranged along the right wall. A row of seats stood beneath a display showing the Association’s registration procedures, while a group of hunters gathered near the far side of the room to talk about their latest assignments.

One of them glanced at Kael before nudging his companion. The man had a thick neck and a scar running across his cheek.