Level 1 - Am I the Only One Uncomfortable? (1)
"Urk!" Thud! A shock slammed into my gut, forcing the air from my lungs. My head spun as oxygen cut off in an instant.
This crazy bitch is actually hitting a normal guy.
"I just don't get it. What makes you so damn confident? I can't understand men at all."
I don't get you either, listening to your friend's bullshit and flipping out like this. If you weren't my charges, I'd have gone public with this.
"Hoo, Ayoung-ssi. I get that you hate me, it's not like this is the first day. But Yurim-ssi is bullying the juniors..."
"So?"
"Pardon?"
"So why are you the one complaining? Think you're somebody special?"
Because they're my responsibility, that's why. You think they'd go complain themselves? If they did, they'd be the ones getting grilled, not me.
"I'm just saying it's wrong—Urk!"
This time it was a kick, not a punch. Anyone watching would think she awakened a combat trait.
"I won't bother sending you to the hospital and dealing with the hassle, so this is it."
"......."
"We'll handle our business ourselves, so stay out of it like a man should and just shut up."
The woman ranting bullshit in front of me was Min Ayoung, the B-rank hunter I managed. From the way she'd just beaten me up, you'd think she was physical enhancement, but surprisingly, she wielded the elemental fire trait.
How does this bitch get even more brazen over time?
She hadn't changed a bit since I got assigned to her last year. Did she just see men as something subhuman?
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, don't worry about it and head in. Don't let that jerk mark you too."
"Hah, but..."
It was Myo Seola, the new C-rank rookie hunter assigned to me. I'd just been thrilled to finally have a normal hunter under me, and irony of ironies, this shit happened right away.
And even now, the real culprit's just watching the show.
One girl had been smirking at us from the sidelines, acting like she had nothing to do with it. Yeo Yurim, the B-rank hunter who'd been caught bullying the new C-rank rookies. That's why I'd raised the issue...
I was the idiot. Should've never trusted Yoo Chaerin.
Yoo Chaerin, the S-rank hunter hailed as Korea's top representative. Since low-rank hunters don't listen well, I'd reported it to her. What I didn't know then was that she couldn't care less about stuff like this.
Actually, not just indifferent...
Min Ayoung looked at me like a bug, and Chaerin looked down on us the same way. The difference? Ayoung only hated men, while Chaerin despised non-awakeners and low-rank hunters alike. Unlike the consistently trashy Ayoung, she cared about her image, making her even worse. I'd fallen for that image too.
"Manager Park, you okay?"
"Eh, if she's that pissy, I might need a day off tomorrow."
"You're not switching managers after all?"
"What's the point of throwing shit at someone else? Last time she even bullied you, calling you an 'honorary man'."
"But I'm worried you'll get seriously hurt. Why not hand us off to another awakener?"
"Hah, like they'd give an awakener manager to B-ranks."
Come to think of it, Min Ayoung wasn't much different from Chaerin. She bullied non-awakened civilian women too, dubbing them 'honorary men'. Hunters' personalities really brightened Korea's future.
"Ugh, guess I'll take half a day off today."
"Okay, get some rest."
Chaerin had acted all nice when I reported it, then stood me and Yurim up while spilling that I'd snitched, smirking the whole time. If I hadn't seen that smirk, I'd have let it slide without suspecting. That was the creepiest part.
"Oh, aren't you coming to work today?"
"I did. Some shit went down, so I bailed."
Hope Orphanage. I'd been sponsoring it for a while now, healing by playing with the kids when I had time.
"Eunhyuk hyung!"
"Hey, Taewoong. Careful, you'll fall."
Watching the tiny guy run over warmed my heart. Soon the other kids piled on too.
"Whoa, it's oppa Eunhyuk."
"Hey, long time no see. Feeling better, Eunseo?"
"Yeah!"
If it weren't for these kids, I'd quit the job in a heartbeat. Speaking of, had they eaten? If not, I'd order something.
"Kids eat yet?"
"They did."
"Too bad. Can I get some light snacks then? Skipped breakfast."
"Sure."
While I played with the kids, the director brought cookies and coffee.
"Thanks."
"No problem. We'd have closed without you, Eunhyuk-ssi."
"Ahaha..."
I was an orphanage kid too. But when I went back after getting a job, mine had shut down. Found the director too late—she'd passed.
Then I stumbled on this place by chance?
That sparked donations, ramping up as it struggled. Once I bonded with the kids, I couldn't let it fail.
"Hehe, I wanna be a hunter manager like Eunhyuk hyung too! Helping take down those monster-bullying jerks, right?"
"...Kid, hunter managers are just grunts. Find something you like instead of this crap."
"Hmm, but I wanna protect everyone from monsters."
"......."
Most kids here lost parents to monster incidents, so they dreamed big like that.
"Hunter's one thing, but manager lacks cool factor."
"But men can't be hunters."
True fact. Men can't awaken traits—only women do.
"Nah, men can be hunters too."
Sometimes they were—normies wielding mana weapons against monsters. But those cost a fortune, so it wasn't worth it. Pure revenge fuel.
"Really?"
"Yeah, but you gotta make bank. So find a high-paying gig, Taewoong."
"Okay!"
At least they got respect for fighting as civilians. I didn't want these kids scorned like me.
"What about you, Eunseo? What do you wanna be?"
"Hunter! Then Eunhyuk oppa manages me, right?"
"You bet. World would be great if all hunters were sweet like our Eunseo."
Hunter manager. Gender-neutral gig, like civil servants backing hunters. They focus on growth and raids, so we fill intel gaps. Officially, anyway.
Shitty job, but pays well.
High specs needed, constant shortages.
"What? Hunter sisters bully you again?"
"Can't help it when the big shots get cranky."
We prep neat intel packs; they clear monsters and dungeons. But as the bottom caste to elite hunters, we eat scraps and emotional dumps.
"New hunter sister seems nice, though."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Myo Seola and Bae Jeonga, C-rank academy grads. Victims of Yurim's bullying.
"Not sure about one, but the other's sweet."
Bae Jeonga was a mystery, but Seola checked on me despite knowing it'd worsen. Grateful—I'll polish her raid reports more.
"Cute kids."
I ruffled their hair and stood. Time to head home, tackle backlog. Clock out or not, managers finish work.
"See you next time. Kids are plumping up—good job, Director."
"Donations up lately, so we feed 'em full."
"Great. Bye, kids~"
Some pouted, but most waved fine—I'd been visiting often.
These cuties.
"Ah, starving. Gotta eat."
Home, hunger hit. Pot on, ramen out. While boiling, TV on.
"A-rank doing manager work? Weird one."
Guess A-rank's needed to handle S-rank Yoo Chaerin. She ignores underperformers.
Makes sense now.
Wondered why an A-rank managed before. Essential for utilizing Chaerin.
Knowledge changes views.
Hyeun briefed the raid, explained success factors. Long-winded, but boiled down to Chaerin being a freak outlier.
"Damn spectacle."
Chaerin's feats replayed. Shitty personality, but dumping firepower from back wings? Stunning. No wonder 'Angel' worship.
"Even I see the angel vibe."
Light purple hair flying, pure white wings flapping. Instant firepower via wings? World #1. Korean pride swelled.
"Tch, fuck."
Would've kept thinking that without today's crap. Just pissed me off now.
"Wish I'd awakened too."
No chance as a guy, but I shoveled ramen, dreaming impossibles. If hunter, first punch Min Ayoung and Yeo Yurim. Smashing those bitches? Lifelong wish.
"Nah, dream big."
Hit S-rank, bitch at Chaerin? Perfect. Cocky fucks need humbling.
Your voice reaches the star of the abyss.
"Huh?"
Something flashed? Hallucination? Yeah, skimped health lately. Time for vitamins...
Awakened!
Women(Female)'s Happiness(Felicity) by You(Feminist)! Your trait is Feminist.
"What?"
I dropped my chopsticks mid-bite.