The Beginning
Start.
"And here's what I did next!"
A woman regaled me with her heroic exploits, all sweeping gestures and flourish. It was exactly like men in the army swapping war stories — which made sense, since Hunter was a profession only women could take up.
I nodded along with a pleasant smile.
"Is that so?"
"I split the thing's skull right down the middle!"
Truthfully, listening to Hunters' tales was pretty entertaining. Though I couldn't say how I'd feel if I had to keep hearing the same ones on repeat.
Riiing—!
Just then, my phone alarm went off. At the sound, the woman's bravado evaporated into thin air, replaced by a fidgety, sheepish expression as she looked at me.
"C-could we maybe extend the session a little...?"
Time was money. And listening to the same old Hunter war stories day after day was only fun when I was getting paid for it — unpaid, the charm wore off fast.
I put on my best smile and answered.
"Time's up, noona. Let's get up."
Apparently she didn't have the money for an extension, because she rose from her seat with a wistful look on her face. She knew perfectly well that throwing even the smallest tantrum would mean never getting to see me again.
The bill, naturally, would be settled by the woman. I stepped outside the shop, and she emerged a moment later, having finished paying.
"See you next time..."
She pressed 200,000 won into my hand and walked away. Savoring the crisp feel of cold cash between my fingers, I headed back to the agency.
"Easy money."
A job where you get paid to go on dates with beautiful women? One like that probably doesn't exist anywhere in the world.
And yet, I'd gone and landed in the one world where it did.