A Strange Day
Gate Cleared.
In a moment, you will return to your original location.
My body floated weightlessly, and the construction site's clamor slammed into my eardrums.
I instinctively checked my status. No lost gear. My condition... a bunch of big and small wounds, but nothing debilitating. Not bad at all.
'Made it back alive again, huh.'
At the end, when the boss monster's gaze turned my way, I really thought I was done for. If I'd dodged even a split second slower, I'd be dead for sure.
Thank god for those morning runs.
As the tension eased, I finally took in my surroundings. Nothing special—just people chatting casually like it was any other day. All minimum D-rank hunters or pros with at least three years under their belts. To them, a D-rank gate popping up dozens of times a day in Seoul alone was no big deal.
I don't ask for much. If I could just hit that level...
"Hunter Kim Geon?"
A man in his thirties, decked out in expensive gear, snapped me out of my thoughts. He was the party leader for this gate raid.
"Ah, yeah."
"Thanks for the hard work clearing the gate today. Bit rude to say, but your contribution was kinda low, so your cut'll be smaller. And you borrowed a potion from me earlier—that's coming out too."
...It wasn't just a freebie?
That's why I hate partying without a healer, but today there were no other options. Low-rank healers are scarce anyway.
I swallowed my bitterness and nodded. Write off the potion cost, whatever.
"So, my pay for today?"
"Ah, gotta run the numbers first... I'll text you once it's settled. Let's call it here and head our separate ways."
Meaning he'd crunch the exact amount and squeeze every penny. Still, the gate dropped a decent haul of mana stones for a D-rank, so I had some hopes. Plenty of loot too...
'Wait, loot?'
I grabbed the party leader just as he was about to bolt.
"...Know."
"Pardon?"
"I said goblin balls make good alchemy ingredients and they're pricey, so let's grab 'em... remember?"
"...Ah."
"What the fuck, 80,000 won?"
On the subway home, I stared at the bank notification, eyes bulging before forcing calm. 'Goblin balls go for 10,000 won a pair. I grabbed damn near twenty... if I sell those...'
Gurgle.
Even without my contributions, this was bullshit. Stripping out loot and all, it's still low daily pay—who the hell knows how much they shorted me.
I debated reporting it but held back. An E-rank peon labeled a malicious complainer? Good luck finding parties then.
If I were just D-rank. Hell, if I had any mana, I wouldn't be stressing this.
—'Mana level... 1? Machine error, team leader?'
—'Oh, that guy? Retested—no issues. Just a freak with barely any mana.'
That was the problem.
The line between hunter and civilian? Mana capacity. That tiny difference lets you enter gates and fuel superhuman power.
Me? Barely enough to step inside. Even that might blow me up for real in an A-rank or higher—not hyperbole.
Never been fragile, but low mana tanks my stats too. And my skills? This crap.
Cognitive Protection Barrier (Lv.1)
B-rank
Grants immunity to all mental attacks, perception interference, and reality alteration skills. Slightly increases willpower.
Decent rare passive, honestly. Standalone, it's high-value—worth buying a skillbook for. B-rank ain't shabby anywhere.
But the issue...
'Low-rank gates got no mental attackers!'
That's the killer. Weak body means skill reliance, but skills need high-risk gates. Catch-22.
'Total dead end.'
I know. No hunter future.
But no time for alternatives. 24-year-old orphan breadwinner Kim Geon. Parents long gone, one college sis. Welfare only goes so far. No savings.
'Shoulda learned a trade.'
Huntering's my only play right now.
—Next stop...
Lost in thoughts, station arrived quick. Hopped off, jogged the rest. Gotta build stamina, pain or not.
Then—
Bzzz—
"...Ugh!"
Brain-rattling vibe. Mana surge. Sharp enough for me to feel? Massive output. Seoul-wide... maybe more.
Had to have felt something this strong before.
'Gate break?'
Checked my terminal. No alerts or warnings. No disaster texts. Not that.
Then what?
'Hallucinating from fatigue?'
Glanced around—normal rush-hour commute. Folks serene. Should hit civilians too, but nah.
Am I the weirdo? Probably nothing.
I rubbed my neck awkwardly...
"?"
...froze solid.
Sweat pouring off a woman stripping in the street? Panic mode.
Sweat trailed her jaw, pooled in her cleavage, slid down.
"Ugh, so hot... Why'd I bundle up like this?"
At least proper undies. Hot day, sure...
'But topless out of nowhere?'
Couldn't compute. Weirder—no one batted an eye. No stares, no shame. Like it's normal.
So.
"...? Something you need...?"
She turned, eyes meeting mine. Her huge tits swayed softly, heavy.
"You've been staring."
"Ah, uh."
How not to? Still, crowds ignored us—glanced at voices, back to phones.
What the hell. Hidden cam? Or I'm outdated?
'No way that exists.'
Not some Japanese gag show—this is Korea.
Glanced down—bra soaked on damp skin.
"...Miss, you okay?"
She leaned in, tits jiggling, sweat flying.
"No, uh... you're sweating buckets. Not hot in that?"
"Huh?"
Then it hit—why people eyed me. To them, topless chick? Normal. Me bundled in heat? Weirdo.
'Fuck this.'
Bolted like a madman. Sprinting home, scenes blurred—more stripping folks strutting.
'What... the actual fuck.'
Ignored it, focused on running—home quick.
One-room officetel. Dirt cheap, crap management, no elevator. Squeezed last stamina climbing stairs.
"Huff... huff..."
What was that? Stairs felt endless today. Everyone eyeing me like an alien—creepy as hell.
Shook it off, hit the door lock.
Beep—Drrring—
"...Kim Dayeon? Home early."
Water running—she just got in, showering.
"Huh—Oppa?"
Voice from bathroom. Family's family? Bratty, but hearing her eased my exhaustion...
"Bought body wash?"
Oh. She nagged this morning—ran out, go buy.
"...Forgot. Mart's right outside—five minutes?"
"Ah... nah, forget it."
Dayeon's voice oddly chill. Shower stopped. Good news?
Normally she'd bitch and shoo me.
—'Ugh, seriously... even with pics, you buy this old-man crap...'
Her slamming doors in a huff—fresh memory.
"...Good timing anyway."
Creeeak—bathroom door swung on rusty hinges.
Kim Dayeon emerged, towel only, water dripping.
"Pull down your pants."
What?