If the Body Is Strong, the Mind Does Not Suffer.

Since Cha Eui-jae started preparing for the Hunter qualification exam, the hunters took care of him in return for the hangover soup. 

They often dropped by to give him chocolates and caffeinated drinks to help him with his studies. Cha Eui-jae didn't refuse these small gifts. The regulars at the hangover soup restaurant, who usually acted like they were gluttons for the soup, turned out to be quite helpful at times like this.

Moreover, the 30-hour offline hunter basic training could now be taken online by submitting paperwork to the administration office. Another civil servant hunter, Yang Hye-jin, who was affiliated with the Rift Management Bureau, diligently helped with the paperwork.

As soon as she heard about the situation, Yang Hye-jin took out a laptop with the Rift Management Bureau's logo sticker on the lid from her inventory. Then, she started typing up Cha Eui-jae's paperwork with the skill of a professional who writes official documents every day. She muttered to herself while tapping away at the keyboard at an incredible speed, with a toothpick in her mouth.

"We all know the part-timer works at the hangover soup restaurant all day. How can someone like that find time to attend 30-hour classes in person?"

"Right, right."

"Honestly, the training hours need to be reduced."

"These days, hunters are well-trained and disciplined from what they see and hear. There's no need for such rigorous training hours… but they never listen when we suggest reducing them."

The concern for Cha Eui-jae gradually turned into complaints about the higher-ups. It seemed Yang Hye-jin, who held a high position at the Rift Management Bureau, had her share of frustrations too. After all, powerful people have their own burdens. Soon, she forcefully hit the enter key and stepped back from the laptop.

"Done! By the way, do you have a laptop?"

"No, I don't."

"Then I'll send it to the relevant department's email right away. This one document will allow you to take all 60 hours of classes online. Just turn it on and mute it, and you're good to go. Good luck!"

"Thank you."

After displaying the prowess of a professional civil servant, Yang Hye-jin left the hangover soup restaurant in style. Was this the bond that grows from a sense of camaraderie? It felt warm inside.

Once the training issue was resolved, Bae Won-woo showed up and plopped down boxes containing a new laptop and smartphone on the counter. Although the trend of giving awakening celebration gifts had already swept through the hangover soup restaurant once, the rule prohibiting gifts was still in effect.

Cha Eui-jae's gaze landed on the A4 paper with the gift prohibition notice.

"This isn't a gift from me, part-timer."

"Then who is it from?"

"It's a gift from our Guild Leader, who is very close to you."

Cha Eui-jae's expression soured. Ever since the unexpected encounter in the elevator, Bae Won-woo mistakenly believed that Lee Sa-young and Cha Eui-jae were in a very close relationship. There were too many things to clarify, and he felt exhausted even before he could start explaining.

Bae Won-woo solemnly pressed on.

"I got it at an employee discount, so it's cheap. Just take it."

A broken phone screen from Incheon Port was one thing, but what was the laptop for? Cha Eui-jae looked at Bae Won-woo with an incredulous expression, but Bae Won-woo was unfazed. As a heavy hangover soup fan, he couldn't afford to lose his second job and emphasized his innocence.

"By the way, I'm just a delivery man. Space shuttle delivery. Something like that."

"…"

"So, if you're going to ban someone, it should be Lee Sa-young, not me."

He was basically asking to be left out of the ban. Honeybee and the other hunters, who were watching, jeered and booed.

"How pathetic, Shield Guy."

"Don't call me by my hunter name!"

While watching Honeybee and Bae Won-woo bicker, Cha Eui-jae pushed the boxes away.

"I'm sorry, but the price is too high. I can't accept it. I'll just take your sentiment."

"Then use it while preparing for the exam and sell it on Tomato Market later as a nearly new secondhand item."

"…"

Cha Eui-jae's shoulder twitched at the mention of Tomato Market, which held terrible memories. Bae Won-woo smugly wiped his nose.

"Sa-young recommended that. That guy is really smart."

Wasn't he just adding that to get on Cha Eui-jae's nerves? Clueless Bae Won-woo likely filtered out the sarcasm. Honeybee, twirling her hair, suddenly asked.

"By the way, what is Sa-young up to these days? Haven't seen him around."

Cha Eui-jae was starting to get curious too. Ever since that day in the elevator, shoulder to shoulder, Lee Sa-young hadn't visited the hangover soup shop. Cha Eui-jae figured he must be busy dealing with the drugs and the drug dealers he brought him. 

He did kind of miss his face, just a little. Unconsciously, Cha Eui-jae listened intently to Bae Won-woo's next words.

"I don't know, he's really busy these days. Caught a lot of weird guys. I haven't seen him either."

"Isn't catching weirdos the Administration's job? Why is Sa-young doing it?"

"Exactly."

"That guy…"

In the end, Cha Eui-jae accepted the laptop and phone on the condition that he would return them later. While running the shop, he muted the basic lectures and studied previous exam questions.

***

With the full support of the regulars, Cha Eui-jae memorized three volumes of previous exam questions. Trying to study for an exam so diligently made time feel both slow and fast.

Finally, the day of the Hunter qualification exam arrived.

Cha Eui-jae entered the middle school designated as his exam venue and took his seat. The classroom was much better equipped than the ones he vaguely remembered from his school days.

Since the test-takers were awakened individuals, there were fewer people per classroom. The exam supervisor was a hunter from the Awakened Management Bureau. When the exam papers were distributed, Cha Eui-jae took a deep breath.

Ring— The bell signaling the start of the exam rang. The supervisor checked his watch and muttered.

"Yes, you may begin the exam."

The moment Cha Eui-jae turned over the cover of the exam paper, his eyes shook violently. He could hear the soundless cries of the awakened individuals around him, making desperate noises. It was understandable.

'The questions are completely different from the practice tests!'

The practice test questions were mostly about memorizing provisions of the Awakened Special Law. It felt almost like brainwashing to ensure they followed the law strictly. It was as if the test writer was a ghost obsessed with the Special Law.

But now, the exam had entirely different types of questions from the very first one! Judging by the desperate sounds around him, Cha Eui-jae wasn't the only one shocked.

The test committee must have flipped the exam format like a pancake this month. Cha Eui-jae gritted his teeth.

'Damn, I memorized the Special Law cases too.'

Cha Eui-jae's hard work was in vain. But since he was there to take the exam, he had to solve the questions. Cha Eui-jae half-heartedly started reading the questions.

And then…

'Why… is this easy?'

He was taken aback by how easily the questions flowed.

Other test-takers were struggling, randomly marking the multiple-choice questions, while Cha Eui-jae's hand was flying over the exam paper.

This exam's questions were mostly about the characteristics and behavioral patterns of various monsters. In other words, it was Cha Eui-jae's area of expertise as a former field expert! Former J, now Cha Eui-jae, was a master of field knowledge that those who studied only theory and memorization couldn't match. Smiling, he finished and reviewed his answers before marking the OMR card.

'The person who made these questions is quite a character…'

When he checked the clock, there were still 30 minutes left until the exam ended. Cha Eui-jae decided to relax and enjoy some rare free time by lying down.

***

Not long after, the usually crowded hangover soup restaurant was even busier. After all, it was the day the results of the part-timer's qualification exam were released. The regulars glanced at the part-timer, who was rapidly chopping garlic, and whispered.

"I heard this Hunter exam was the toughest ever. Did he pass?"

"Hey, our guild's new recruit came back crying. Not a single question from the practice tests was on the exam. It was full of questions about unfamiliar monsters."

"What the heck? How can someone who's never been in a dungeon know about monsters?"

"Exactly. Our guy was well-versed in the Special Law, could even handle trials… poor thing."

Someone mimicked wiping their eyes with their sleeve, and another asked quietly.

"Who was the question maker this time?"

"Rank 5. Gyu-gyu."

"Wow. That weirdo. When did he make the questions when he doesn't even stay in Korea?"

"I don't know. Anyway, we should prepare to console the part-timer."

The regulars were more sullen than Cha Eui-jae, who took the exam.

At that moment, Cha Eui-jae's phone vibrated. The sharp-eared hunters instantly pinpointed the source of the vibration. It was in Cha Eui-jae's apron pocket. It seemed the exam results had arrived! Cha Eui-jae, who was deep in concentration chopping garlic, put down the knife and took out his phone.

Gulp. The hunters pretended not to notice but watched him closely.

"…"

A soft, gentle smile subtly appeared on Cha Eui-jae's neat face. Could it be that he passed the hellish, unprecedentedly difficult Hunter exam in one go? The hunters exchanged glances. The impatient Honeybee urgently asked.

"Well, Cha Eui-jae. Did you pass?"

Cha Eui-jae scratched his cheek and nodded.

"Yes, I passed."

"You passed? In one try?"

The murmuring grew louder.

"Wow… our part-timer is truly a talent who shouldn't just be working at a hangover soup restaurant."

"Congratulations!"

"Congratulations! Our proud hangover soup restaurant part-timer!"

At someone's shout, Cha Eui-jae's gentle smile cracked slightly.

'That bastard decided the banner wording.'

The hunters gathered around to congratulate him on his passing. He passed the exam and also identified the one who took charge of the banner. Cha Eui-jae smiled contentedly and politely nodded at each congratulatory remark.

Then, his phone buzzed again. Cha Eui-jae checked the message.

Sa-young: Congratulations

It was the first contact in a long time.