The Legendary Programming Mage

Vroom Vroom

"Just gonna stand there and watch me burn, but it's alright because... 🎶"

"Hey man, can you sing the saja song too?"

"Mister, take a template for our new maid café, meow~"

The streets of Pantheon buzzed with noise as Quincy and I made our way through them.

"Hey, look at those two."

Just like every other place we had passed, the two of us were the center of attention.

It seemed, just like me, Quincy was used to being stared at by people.

Well, considering I was the greatest aura farmer back on Earth, this little attention was nothing.

"We are almost there," Quincy, who was nibbling on a small donut, mumbled. "The hunter association stands at the center of the city."

Glancing at her, I asked, "So... why exactly didn't we take an Uber?"

She turned to me with wide, slightly intimidating eyes. "You have legs, don't you? Why would you waste money on a taxi?"

"What?"

She nodded to herself like she was giving me divine preaching. "See, when the gods created us, they wanted us to walk. If you don't like walking, then hustle and make money."

"Quincy, who taught you that?"

I didn't need her to tell me for me to know.

It's a grand—

Her voice rang out before my thought could finish. "It's my grandma."

'I knew it!'

It was only an old person that could have such a mentality.

But I was curious about something—something that an old person once told me.

Turning my gaze forward, I asked, "How are babies made?"

Quincy was caught off guard for a moment by my question, and the donut almost slipped from her hand.

"Babies?"

I nodded. "Yes, babies."

Darting her gaze away while gripping the snack tightly, she answered, her voice slightly trembling, "If a boy and girl kiss while holding hands."

Before I knew what was happening, I stopped in my tracks.

She too came to a halt and turned to face me. "What?" Her eyes suddenly welled up. "Do you think I'm a pervert now?"

'Pervert?'

Did she honestly say pervert?

It finally made sense why I felt like protecting her yesterday.

'This girl is freaking innocent.'

I nodded, moving a step forward. "You're right. So make sure you don't do that with any boy."

She nodded shyly. "Except Allen, right?"

"What?"

My eyes widened for a moment, but seeing her childlike expression, I didn't know when my lips parted and I answered,

"Yeah."

The moment the words left my lips, I placed my hand over my mouth. 'Shit.'

I was acting weird again.

Very weird.

"We are here."

The voice of Quincy snapped me out at just the right moment.

In front of us was a massive skyscraper.

It looked like a spiraling tower made of glass.

And at the top floors was a large "H" symbol that could be mistaken for an "A."

The building looked like something pulled out of a sci-fi superhero movie.

Oh…

It was me who got thrown into the sci-fi movie.

Either way, it was magnificent.

Looking around, I noticed the high-rising and smaller buildings in the area.

They all looked expensive.

Considering the hunter association was located here, it made sense.

Though, I for one, wasn't sure if I could live near a hunter association—at least if I was mundane.

It was a safe area, but it could also turn into the deadliest zone.

I pulled my mind away from such thoughts.

"This is where Naomi is waiting, right?"

Instead of answering, she tapped my arm. The moment I turned, she handed me the wrapper of her donut.

"Why did you give me this?"

She smirked. "Your share."

I exhaled softly. "Thank you, I guess."

Placing the small wrapper in my bag, I asked, "So, can you give me a rundown of what we'll be doing?"

She studied me for a moment before glancing away. "Seems you forgot that too."

She lifted a finger. "Just like the other cadets who registered this year, you will go through three tests."

Quincy's explanation was fairly easy to follow.

The first test was the prospect rank assessment, which measured potential.

After that came the physical strength test.

And lastly, the mental evaluation.

"If we consider the fact that you never entered a rift, then you might have a one-on-one talk with the chairman. That in itself is a blessing."

I rested a hand on my chin. 'It's exactly like in the novel.'

Just like in most plots, the MC, Jake Kim, was meant to awaken as an SSS-rank—the highest rank.

Because of that, he would be the talk of the town.

However, if I were to consider the effect of awakening without entering a rift, wouldn't that mean I would alter the plot?

And what if my unknown prospect rank turned out to be SSS-rank?

It wasn't like I could conceal either of them, since the aura of a high prospect holder was distinct from that of a lower prospect holder.

And since the association regulated rifts and knew whenever personal rifts opened, it was safe to say I had to face the outcome.

Lifting my gaze, I asked in a low voice, "Quincy, how many SSS-rank prospects awakened this year?"

She thought for a moment before replying. "One."

One?

Just one?

In the original plot, both Jake and his sister Valentina awakened as SSS-rank.

"What about the saintess?"

Quincy tilted her head. "She's the only one who awakened as SSS-rank."

Huh?

What about—

Tack Tack.

The sharp sounds of clicking heels pulled me out of my thoughts instantly.

My head immediately turned back.

It felt as though my body was moving on instinct.

Behind me was a beautiful woman.

Since I came to this world, I had seen a lot of stunning women who couldn't even be measured by Earth's beauty standards.

However, this woman was by far the most captivating.

Blonde hair falling to the side and golden eyes that almost seemed divine.

She wore a white turtleneck and a nude-colored skirt that was a little above her knee.

But there was something else about her.

Something that I felt drawn to.

Ding!

『 User has come in contact with the main character of the novel, Demon Hunter 』

'The MC?'

It didn't make sense.

The main character of the novel I read was Jake Kim.

Wasn't it?

The young lady passed both Quincy and me with two assistants by her side.

As they crossed, I was able to catch a few words.

"The chairman is waiting for you, Miss Beatrice."

My breath caught, and before I could stop myself, the only thought in my head slipped out.

"Wait… Jake Kim is a girl?"