Cheonji Academy was founded a thousand years ago, in the aftermath of the last great war between hunters and the creatures of darkness—vampires, demons, and werewolves. It stood as a symbol of power and prestige, accepting only the most gifted individuals. Its mission was clear: to prepare the next generation of hunters, the ones destined to protect humanity.

The key to becoming a hunter lay in a rare and sacred ability known as Holy Power—the power to control mana. Only those who possessed this gift could stand against the creatures of darkness. Without it, no human could hope to survive such battles.

Hunters were not merely fighters; they were the nobility of humanity, elevated above ordinary people by the very nature of their power. Holy Power flowed through their veins, passed down through bloodlines. It was the source of their strength and their status—making them the rightful nobles of humanity.

For those without a hunter’s lineage, life followed a different path. They were Commoners, lacking Holy Power and unable to protect themselves. Bound to serve the nobles, they relied on their mercy and protection from the darkness.

The only way a Commoner could rise and enter the academy was to be born with Holy Power—a rare event. As a result, invitations almost always went to noble families. Over time, it became an unspoken rule: the academy was for the nobility, and nobility came through blood. This belief solidified, deepening the divide between Hunters and Commoners.

Yet, even in a world ruled by bloodlines, fate was unpredictable, and sometimes, a mere commoner could be born with Holy Power.

Today was the day the academy accepted new students. In front of its grand gates, nobles invited for the entrance exam waited for it to begin. Around them, fans had gathered in a large, tightly packed crowd. People struggled to move through the excitement, whispering as they tried to catch a glimpse of their admired nobles. In the middle of this chaos, a boy in shabby clothes with a frail body pushed through the crowd, trying to reach the front.

“Watch where you're going! I almost fell because of you!” a girl exclaimed.

“I’m sorry, I have to get to the exam,” Park Jiho apologized.

Some people laughed when they heard him. Seeing his old clothes and weak frame, they assumed he was just a fan trying to sneak closer.

“Your clothes are too shabby for a noble,” a girl snapped, glaring at him.

Jiho apologized again, but another boy smirked and said, “I thought Cheonji Academy was an elite school for nobles, not a charity for the poor.”

A few people chuckled, but Jiho didn’t react. He had learned to ignore comments like these long ago. Without a word, he pressed forward, moving past them and leaving their mocking laughter behind as he pushed through the crowd, getting closer to the front. 

“I’m almost there,” Jiho thought, his determination growing as he edged closer. He was so close to the front now. Just as he was about to slip past the final group, the crowd suddenly reacted. Murmurs of excitement spread quickly, followed by a wave of movement. Jiho felt it before he could see the source—something had caught everyone’s attention.

“Look! It’s her!” someone whispered,  his voice trembling with excitement. “It’s Jin Aeri!”

Jiho followed the boy’s gaze and spotted her immediately. Jin Aeri moved through the crowd with effortless grace, her long black hair flowing like silk behind her. Her piercing eyes looked straight ahead, unfazed by the murmurs and stares around her. She walked as if the world revolved around her—and judging by the way people reacted, perhaps it did.

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

The boy’s friend, wide-eyed and practically glowing with admiration, pointed to the two figures following her. “And that’s Kim Hyunsoo and Choi Minho, right? I heard Hyunsoo and Aeri are dating.”

“Don’t be stupid,” the first boy scoffed. “They’ve been friends since they were kids. Even Kim Hyunsoo isn’t good enough for Aeri. Look at her—she’s way out of his league.”

Jiho wasn’t interested in their gossip, but he couldn’t help but notice the trio as they passed. Aeri was the picture of perfection, her cold and composed demeanor making her seem untouchable. Behind her, Kim Hyunsoo followed closely, his sharp features and hard gaze radiating quiet strength. Choi Minho, in contrast, had a softer, more relaxed air, though his eyes were just as sharp, missing nothing around him.

The crowd parted like waves for Aeri, giving her and her companions a wide berth. Jiho stood frozen for a moment, watching with a mix of awe and disbelief. He had heard the rumors, seen her name on the rankings, and even come across her fan pages online. But seeing her in person was different. She stood apart—even among nobles.

Jiho shook his head, snapping himself out of it.

“Focus. You’re not here to admire people; you’re here to take the exam.”

Taking a deep breath, he used the distraction to slip past the others, edging closer to the examination grounds. He followed Aeri’s group toward the entrance gate, now walking more freely since only exam candidates were allowed beyond this point.

Each step brought him closer to the exam door, and his excitement grew.

Becoming a hunter was Jiho’s biggest dream. The walls of his room were covered with posters of legendary hunters. He had read their stories so many times, he knew them by heart. As he walked, he imagined himself as one of those heroes, saving people and making a name for himself.

While he was walking, lost in thought and happily dreaming about his future as a hunter, a tall, cold-faced nobleman suddenly blocked his path.

“Where do you think you’re going? This area is for test participants only,” the boy sneered.

He was from the Lee family—not a particularly prestigious noble house, but still noble nonetheless. He had a habit of bullying weaker nobles and commoners to hide his insecurities. Seeing Jiho’s cheap clothes and frail appearance, he assumed Jiho would be easy to intimidate.

Jiho’s expression turned cold. He tried to walk past without saying a word. “This idiot isn’t worth my time,” he thought.

But Lee wasn’t done. He grabbed Jiho’s shoulder roughly. “I told you to stop, you little punk!”

The nobles nearby watched with interest.

“This Lee kid’s from a small family,” one of them muttered. “But a commoner still has to show respect to a noble, or he’ll be in trouble.”

Jiho took a deep breath, calming his anger. He looked Lee straight in the eye.

“You said this area is for test participants, right? I’m here for the exam too. Now take your filthy hands off me. You’re making me sick.”

Lee’s grip tightened, his eyes flashing with anger. “You must have a death wish,” he growled. He couldn’t let someone like him talk back to him like that.

Before the situation could escalate, an academy official approached.

“What’s going on here? Who’s causing trouble on test day?”

Lee smirked but let go of Jiho’s shoulder. “This kid says he’s here for the entrance exam,” he said mockingly.

The official turned to Jiho and examined him closely. It was obvious Jiho wasn’t a noble, but the official remembered hearing that a commoner had been invited this year. Still, Jiho’s modest appearance surprised him.

“May I see your invitation?” the official asked politely.

Jiho softened his expression and handed over the invitation. After checking it carefully, the official returned it with respect.

“The exam will begin shortly. Please find a place and wait,” the official instructed.

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

“Did I hear that right?” someone murmured. “The academy must have made a mistake.”

“A commoner? —what a joke,” another voice sneered.

“Poor thing, really think he can be a hunter?” a girl giggled, shaking her head in disbelief.

Jiho could hear many people mocking him, but he ignored them all again. Life had never been fair, but he’d never bow to the nobles, no matter how much they looked down on him. He was poor, yes, and weak for now, but that wouldn’t be his future. No one would ever make him feel small again—not without a fight.

For Jiho, there was no turning back. In the world of hunters, he would either rise to the top—or die trying.