Chapter 4: The Hunters Union

So, this is the Hunters Union, huh? Also, that was quite the smooth ride to get here, these future vehicles are pretty cool.

Okay, you have to stop doing that, it’s kinda startling when you respond to my thoughts out of the blue like that.

Also, you don’t have to comment on every little technicality, it’s unnecessary.

Today’s the 30th of September, 2165, three days have passed since I reincarnated in this era.

Following my reincarnation, I spent some time going through my Sinner System and researching the current era.

While I did get plenty of info when Ai implanted all that knowledge in my head, that was all pretty general information, so I figured I should take the time to better familiarize myself with the current era before planning out my next move.

For starters, all citizens are provided with a device called an I-Watch at the age of twelve, and it’s a pretty damn convenient item.

Each person’s I-Watch is linked to their bio-signature, meaning that only the owner of the device can use it, so there’s no point in stealing someone else’s. It functions as an ID, a smartphone and even a bank account.

Well, sort of, banks aren’t really a thing anymore, the world uses a universal digital currency instead of physical money now.

Anyway, when activated, the I-Watch manifests a holographic display that you can hold and touch. You can also resize it, the display is about as big as the average smartphone from my previous era by default, but it can be expanded to about the size of an large flat-screen TV.

Internet access is provided for free through the I-Watches, and I’ve been making use of that to browse the web and social media, to get a better idea of how society in this era operates.

Technology in this era is pretty crazy, there are holograms everywhere, everything from billboards to store signs to traffic lights are holographic, really gives off that futuristic vibe.

The sole currency in this era is simply referred to as Credits, you pay for stuff by scanning your I-Watch at stores, or it deducts automatically with online purchases.

The orphanage provides a monthly allowance for the kids under their care after they turn twelve, I currently have around 5,000 Credits.

Which isn’t a lot.

For context, a loaf of bread costs 250 Credits, so with my current balance, I could buy twenty loaves of bread, and then I’d be broke.

It was currently around midday, and I was at the Hunters Union, to get assessed and qualify to attend the Hunters Academy.

The Union building was about ten kilometers from the orphanage, and it cost me 75 Credits to come here in a bus. If I’d taken a taxi, it would’ve been around 1000 Credits.

The vehicles in the current era don’t have wheels, they float about a meter above the road and hover instead. And thanks to the hovering, the drives are really smooth, you can barely even feel it moving.

Ai did explain the science behind how that works, but I didn’t really get it.

Anyway, let’s get to the matter at hand, shall we?

I approached the building and stepped in as the doors slid open, before making my way towards the front desk.

"Good afternoon, how may I help you?" A receptionist greeted me with a friendly smile.

Wow, she’s pretty hot.

But I can’t really do anything right now, considering my current age. This new body is currently only fifteen years old, so I’ve got no choice but to abstain for now.

I’m obviously not going to pursue girls ’my age’, since, contrary to my outward appearance, I’m an adult on the inside.

I was twenty-five when I died in my previous life, so I can’t see teens as anything more than kids.

And I can’t pursue adult women, because any women that’d be willing to sleep with a fifteen year old would be creeps, and I’m not about to fulfill a pedophile’s desires just to get my rocks off.

"Uh, is everything alright?" Inquired the receptionist, snapping me out of it.

"Huh? Yeah, um...I’ve just Awakened, so I’m here for an assessment," I replied politely.

"Understood. Please take a seat over there, a member of our staff will show you to the assessment room shortly," She smiled, before gesturing to a row of couches by the wall.

"Got it, thanks," I nodded, before heading over and taking a seat.

It wasn’t long before a man showed up and had me scan my I-Watch against a device, before escorting me to get assessed, leading me through the building.

He then showed me into a room that was full of a bunch of futuristic tech, I looked around in fascination as we entered the room and he shut the door behind us.

"Let’s see, your name is Kaivel Intrix. No legal guardian, currently under the care of the Young Minds Orphanage. You’re fifteen years old...hm, that’s a bit unusual, most people experience their Awakening at around twelve or thirteen, guess you’re a bit a late bloomer, huh?

Alright, let me explain the process. It’s quite simple and should only take five minutes. See that pod over there? You’ll be shut inside it for five minutes, it’ll bathe your body in specially tuned radiation waves that will stabilize your powers."

"Radiation? Uh, is that safe?" I responded warily.

"Oh, yes, it’s perfectly safe. The radiation waves have no effect on you physically, they’re programmed to only affect your Mana. This process is called Tabulization, it stabilizes and tabulates-...or organizes...-your powers so that they’re easier to use. It’ll also assess what type of Hunter you are, a Combatant or a Mage.

If it’s the former, the Tabulization process will organize your powers into Skills, and if it’s the latter, Spells. It’ll also determine your Class and, if you’re a Combatant, your Attribute. First things first, though," He remarked, before pointing a device at me, which then beeped before glowing green.

"What was that?"

"Oh, this just confirms whether you’ve Awakened or not, and...yup, you have. Alright, whenever you’re ready, climb into the pod and the Tabulization process will begin," He instructed, a slight hiss ringing out as he pressed a button and the pod slid open.

The inside was padded and looked pretty cushy, but this thing also sorta reminds me of a coffin. Alright, let’s do this...

Huh? Oh, right.

I didn’t even think of that, but it does make sense, you can’t stabilize what’s already stable. What should I do?