Arsonist's Bane

*Knock, Knock*

"Come in."

The door creaks open

"I was told by the receptionist to come here."

"Indeed, Mr. Cyrus. Please, take a seat."

Cyrus entered the room and walked up to the chair facing the man's desk. As he sat down, he tried to maintain a confident posture to convey his sense of maturity. To his surprise, the man looked at him with a curious expression rather than one of disapproval. Feeling a bit uncomfortable under the stranger's penetrating gaze, Cyrus spoke up to break the tension in the room.

Cyrus turned to the man and politely asked, "Excuse me, but would it be possible for me to have something to wear?"

The man stumbled over his words before quickly responding, "O-Oh! Of course, let me get you a towel for now. I've already asked the receptionist to bring a pair of shorts for you to wear."

"Thank you."

"I apologize if my question sounds insensitive, but did your awakened ability cause such severe damage to your body?"

"My apologies for my insensitivity earlier, but may I inquire as to what caused the extensive damage to your physical appearance prior to your awakening?"

"No, my awakened ability had nothing to do with this. It happened years before I even gained my powers."

"I understand. Thank you for clarifying." The man jotted down the information on his electronic tablet. "May I ask what event led to this unfortunate circumstance?"

"..."

"It appears that I may have crossed a line, and for that, I offer my sincerest apologies. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Hinks, Dr. Hinks to be precise, and I hold the esteemed position of leading the Scientific Data Analysis Division at the Hunter's Association. Essentially, it is within my purview to approve or deny a hunter's license application."

"..."

"Now, you must be wondering why I've called you to my office. You see, in order to provide a hunter's license, certain requirements must be met. One of them is being part of a team of hunters during expeditions outside the country. Here's the issue: your ability poses a danger to those who associate with you."

The director leaned back in his chair, eyeing the young hunter sitting across from him with a serious expression. "Your power is highly volatile and can cause unintended harm to those around you. It's simply too risky to allow you to work with a team."

"According to the receptionist, I was told that I will be provided with a special license if that's the case," Cyrus said.

"Indeed, you are correct. However, it's important to note that this special license comes with specific conditions and restrictions," the official explained. "For the time being, you won't be able to join any hunting team during gate dives or expeditions until we can reassess your capabilities as your ranking increases. Despite being excluded from team ventures, you will still be required to enter gates outside of the country on your own. I would strongly advise against being a hunter, considering the high likelihood of death. You seem quite young, and I'm certain your family would be concerned about your safety."

"I understand the conditions, and I accept them," said the man, his voice heavy with sadness. "My family has already passed away, so I have no objections."

"Please accept my condolences, as I'm sorry for your loss. If you're willing to agree to those terms, then I'm happy to say, welcome aboard."

"... Thank you."

"You may enter now."

The receptionist entered the room as soon as he finished speaking, carrying an average-sized box which she placed on the table that separated Cyrus and Dr. Hinks. The doctor reached out and removed the lid from the box, revealing its contents. He took out the items one by one and arranged them neatly in front of Cyrus. The first item he placed on the table was a set of sports clothes, followed by ten bottles of liquid and finally a pair of brown shorts.

"These are gifts for you," Dr.Hinks said.

"Gifts?" the Cyrus questioned.

"Yes, indeed. As you have surpassed all expectations and set a new unmatched record during the virtual assessment, it is only fitting that we follow our rules and reward you for your incredible achievement. The first two items on the table are my personal gifts to aid you on your journey, while the third is the official reward for breaking the previous record."

He was offered a set of clothing as compensation for his burnt clothes, so he wouldn't have to wander around in public half-naked. The ten bottles, on the other hand, looked familiar to him. In fact, he had recently used one of them during his expedition to the ant's nest gate. The other five were similar but had a different color tinge, representing sets of health potions (red) and mana potions (blue).

"Excuse me, is it possible to trade these five mana potions for health potions instead?" Cyrus asked.

Dr. Hinks raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Really? That's quite unexpected. Mana potions are usually more expensive and in higher demand among hunters, as their abilities heavily rely on mana."

Dr. Hinks was taken aback by the revelation. Mana potions were typically more sought-after and expensive than health potions, as hunters needed mana to use their abilities. However, Cyrus was the exception to the rule. His ability relied on his health rather than mana, which meant that health potions would be more beneficial for him.

Cyrus's gaze fixed on the final item, a pair of brown shorts with an exquisite texture that seemed to be tailored by a master craftsman. He reached out and ran his fingers over the fabric, feeling the softness and quality of the material. As he did so, the familiar holographic screen appeared in front of him, providing him with real-time information about the item.

[Name: Arsonist's Bane

Item Type: Pants (Crafted)

Rank: C

Description: These shorts are the result of the skilled craftsmanship of a renowned tailor who has managed to combine the unique features of two creatures living in the treacherous "Magma Lake" Gate. The scales of a salamander and the fur of a rodent have been intricately woven together to create a garment that is not only resilient but also remarkably stylish. Although this item does not enhance the wearer's stats in any way, it offers unparalleled protection against fire and other sources of heat. In fact, it is completely impervious to flames and has the uncanny ability to regenerate any damage it incurs back to its original form. However, it is important to note that while the shorts themselves cannot be burned, the wearer is not immune to fire damage and must still exercise caution in hazardous environments.

*Item is Immune to fire.

*Item slowly regenerate any damage it takes.

*Item does not provide Immunity to the wearer.

*Item does not provide regeneration to the wearer's body.]

Cyrus stared at the item's information in disbelief. Enchanted items were a rarity, accessible only to awakeners and completely out of reach for regular civilians. He was astonished to learn that such a magnificent item was crafted by someone rather than just salvaged from a gate. The thought of what kind of effects items found inside the gates could potentially provide left him in awe.

"A-Amazing... Thank you so much."

"I'm glad you appreciate it," The receptionist chuckled. "It seems that every time you use your ability, your clothes burn with it. It's not exactly becoming of a hunter to present themselves in such a way. After all, it must have been quite a hassle for you, even though it doesn't leave you completely exposed. At least your private parts are kept hidden from view, right?"

"Before we wrap up, let me give you your special license and hunter's manual," Dr. Hinks said as he extended both hands. In his right hand, he held a small white rectangular card that displayed the hunter's name, age, gender, rank, and photo. In his left hand, he held a weighty book titled "Basic Hunter's Guide for Ranks F to D."

"Before you proceed to another gate, I highly recommend you take some time to read through the Hunter's Manual. It will give you a solid understanding of how things work and provide valuable information about Gates ranked F to D. Additionally, it offers insights on the items you may discover within."

After bidding his last goodbyes, Cyrus made his way out of the Hunter Association and headed back home to review the book that was given to him before his first real gate venture.