Five Days' Settlement: Return to Routine

By the time I reached the city, the sky had already turned a deep crimson. Streetlights flickered on one by one, casting their glow across the road, while droplets clinging to the car window caught the sunset and sparkled. I couldn't tell if my body felt light or heavy. All I knew was that the day had been long.

When I pulled up to the rental car office, the employee's eyes widened. His gaze swept over the vehicle from top to bottom.

"Sir, where exactly did you go?"

"Just a walk."

The employee hesitated. "A walk?"

"Toward the dungeon."

He fell silent for a moment, then flipped through the condition report while inspecting the car. Scratches on the bumper, dents along the side, debris caught underneath. The sound of his pen checking boxes continued quietly.

I pulled cash from my wallet instead of my ID. "I'll add three hundred thousand won, including the wash fee. Today's rental fee goes straight to the car wash."

"This looks like a field vehicle now."

"The road was a bit rough."

"Still, the car held up."

"Better than I did."

I chuckled and signed the paperwork. As I handed back the keys, the employee glanced at the marks on my wrist. He said nothing, simply sliding the receipt across the counter. He looked like someone who saw injuries like this every day—calm, almost indifferent.

Stepping outside, the evening air brushed against my face. The sky had darkened, and city lights slowly spread outward. The wind was cold, but that chill felt oddly welcome.

Standing in front of my building, the doorknob caught the light and gleamed. It was nothing special—just my front door. I hadn't expected it to feel this comforting. The world was more complicated than any dungeon, but this place was still my safe zone.

The moment I stepped into the elevator, my legs gave out.

Ah… so this is what fatigue feels like.

My ankles and knees, which had held up inside the dungeon, finally surrendered. I unlocked the door, kicked off my shoes, and headed straight for the bathroom. I stripped and tossed my clothes into the tub, then sat under the shower. Blood and grime washed away in a rush, staining the floor red.

"Even after seeing this much of my own blood, I still get nauseous."

A short laugh escaped me. For once, I needed to eat well and rest. Just this once, I deserved a reward.

I opened the fridge. A tub of kimchi, two eggs, and a bottle of water. The sight snapped me awake.

Right. Meat. Tonight, it's meat.

I headed to the butcher instead of the convenience store. The Hanwoo++ sirloin in the display case gleamed under the lights. 11,800 won per 100 grams. I pulled out my calculator and roughly tallied today's earnings against the car repair costs and bomb expenses. In the end, almost nothing remained. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Yet the sirloin's shine seemed to stare me down.

"Fine. You win today. My bank account loses, but you win."

I picked up a cut of meat. "A man's pride is measured in fat content, after all."

Back home, I heated the pan and laid the meat on it. A sharp sizzle filled the air, and for a moment, time seemed to pause. The smell of grilling meat slowly filled the room. That scent alone felt like it was restoring my strength. After breathing in blood and metal all day, this was the most human smell I could ask for.

I took a bite. Juices spread across my tongue.

"Ha… this is real recovery potion."

I leaned against the fridge door and steadied my breathing. Wrapping meat in ssamjang, dipping another piece in salt, chewing kimchi—my mother's face flashed through my mind. If I'd been even a little later, I might never have seen her again. My chest tightened.

My hand reached for my phone without thinking. The line rang twice before my mother picked up.

"Oh, Jihoon."

"Yeah. Are you home, Mom?"

"Yeah, your dad and I are about to have dinner. Are you eating properly?"

"Yeah. I'm grilling meat right now."

"Really? Meat today? Don't just eat cup ramen all the time… make sure you get some vegetables and rice too."

"Yeah. Got it."

Then I heard my father's voice in the background. "Who is it?"

The phone changed hands.

"Jihoon."

"Yes, Father."

"I saw the news. Things are rough out there right now. Make sure you check your gear properly. Replace anything that looks off."

"Yes. I had it serviced yesterday."

"Good. Avoid unnecessary risks. Don't push yourself. Your body comes first."

"I know."

"Alright. Eat and get some rest."

The conversation faded, and the call ended quietly. I kept chewing the meat long after hanging up. I couldn't tell if I was chewing the meat or the day itself. It had been a tough day, but I'd managed to swallow it. That was something.

After cleaning up dinner, I turned on my laptop. The white glow lit the room. I recorded today's events and tallied the earnings from the past three days.

I opened the calculator app and punched in the numbers. A sigh and a laugh tangled together as they left my mouth.

"Alright, let's see the three-day earnings."

60 F-grade mana stones × 40,000 = 2,400,000

21 E-grade common × 90,000 = 1,890,000

1 E-grade top-grade × 320,000 = 320,000

Total: 4,610,000.

"Now the expenses."

New weapons and armor = 8,690,000

Consumables (bombs, patches, cleaning agents) = 4,650,000

Rental car wash = 300,000

Total: 13,650,000.

Net profit: -9,030,000.

I covered my face with both hands, then a laugh slipped out.

"Risking my life for a 9.03 million won deficit. That's actually kind of impressive."

The laugh quickly turned into a sigh.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"No wonder everyone avoids low-grade dungeons. There's no money in it."

I set the calculator down and scratched my head.

"Still… if I only look at the gross revenue over three days, I'm technically in the black. The expenses are just equipment replacement costs."

The self-consolation didn't change the numbers.

"Ha… since the gear is completely gone, I have to replace everything."

I tapped the calculator again.

"First, get the weapon appraised, then buy new armor. My psychokinesis has gotten stronger, and my body's in decent shape. I should be able to cover it by running low-grade dungeons."

Even as I said it, my heart felt heavy.

"This expense is just replacement cost anyway… it'll be fine. Right?"

I ran a hand through my hair and gave a short laugh.

"Seriously, why does money leak out so easily? My bank account has more holes than a dungeon."

I tapped the desk. My bankbook fell to the floor.

"Damn it, why does it always fall like that? Feels like a bad omen."

I picked up the fallen bankbook and chuckled.

"Whatever. I'll head to the Hunter Department Store tomorrow and get an appraisal. The hammer and mana sword I got from the Warlord should sell. If not… I'll just use them myself."

The moment I collapsed onto the bed, my eyes closed. I fell into a deep sleep almost instantly.

When I opened my eyes, it was Saturday morning. My body felt like lead, yet my joints moved smoothly. My muscles were heavy but full, and my mana flowed steadily.

"Ha… my abilities keep improving, but my bank account's still F-grade. What kind of balance is that?"

A short laugh escaped me. Even so, that laugh was proof I'd survived another day.

The next dawn, I headed to the hill behind the lodging. The air was cool, and mist lay low over the ground. The scent of earth and grass mingled in the morning air. It was the perfect time to test my body.

I stood in the middle of the clearing. Just yesterday, lifting an arm had been difficult. Today, my body felt different.

"Alright! Let's give it a shot."

I focused my mind, drawing up my psychokinesis, and raised my hand. Two boulders the size of a person's torso sat a few meters ahead—roughly 200 kilograms each.

I gathered strength at my fingertips. The air hummed low, and one boulder slowly lifted. The second followed. Both hovered side by side in the air. Sunlight grazed their surfaces, making them sparkle. My arms trembled slightly, but my control held steady.

When I lowered them, a heavy thud echoed through the clearing. The impact traveled up my legs. My heart raced, but my hands remained steady. I felt the corner of my mouth lift.

"This… this is just the beginning."

C-class psychokinesis hunters flashed through my mind—their control and speed. Now I had the sense that I could match them. The Association would need to re-evaluate my rank, but one thing was certain: my body had entered a new stage.

I sat down on the spot, catching my breath with a smile.

"Hey… this is basically military service exemption level."

I stood up again and stretched lightly. My joints felt smooth, and my leg muscles responded with elasticity. When I pushed off the ground, the rebound came instantly. The pressure traveled from my calves to my thighs in one smooth motion, propelling me forward. I jumped, soaring straight to the height of a tree trunk. My posture stayed stable even during the ascent. On landing, my knees absorbed the impact cleanly, and my senses remained steady.

"This… this is my body."

"Military exemption… though it's really just exemption from my own limits."

"Alright. Lunch, then the Hunter Department Store."

I looked up at the sky and took a short breath. Sunlight settled gently over everything. It really felt like I could accomplish anything this morning.

Afternoon. Uijeongbu Hunter Department Store.

When I pushed through the glass doors, the familiar mix of hunter body heat and equipment oil smell washed over me. Hunters lined up in front of the elevators, each carrying bags of mana stones or damaged gear. I headed straight for the first-floor purchase counter.

Transparent barriers stood at each counter. Employees in gloves weighed mana stones one by one. The electronic board beside them slowly rotated, displaying purchase prices.

F-grade: 40,000 / E-grade: 90,000 / E-grade top-grade: 320,000.

The numbers on the board kept turning. I placed my bag on the counter.

"Sixty F-grade common, twenty-one E-grade common, one E-grade top-grade."

The employee accepted the bag and weighed each stone.

"Confirmed. Total: 4,610,000 won. After 15% tax deduction, you'll receive 3,910,000 won."

When the transfer notification appeared, my hand stiffened for a moment. It felt like only the space where blood and mana had been remained.

"That's cheap for blood and sweat."

"At least you brought them back alive. That's the most expensive part."

"True. If you're dead, you don't get paid."

I folded the bag and put it away. Combined with my existing balance, my account now held roughly 5 million won. Just enough to catch my breath once.

I took the elevator to the second-floor appraisal office. Under bright white lights, appraisers moved busily. Swords, armor, and mana stones covered every desk. I placed the bag containing the Warlord's spoils on the counter.

"Recovered from a Goblin Warlord's corpse."

The appraiser nodded and opened the bag. First, he pulled out the Warlord's hammer. He weighed it, examined the surface cracks with a light, then nodded again.

"Condition is good. The mana lines are stable too."

"Will you sell it?"

"Yes."

He entered the amount into his terminal.

"Market price confirmed at 2,800,000 won. After 3% commission, you'll receive 2,714,000 won. I'll process the transfer now."

The hammer was set aside. The appraiser picked up the sword next. When he raised the blade, a faint red line flashed across it.

"This is a mana sword. The internal pattern is slightly warped."

He channeled mana through his fingertips, and the center of the blade vibrated faintly.

"It'll need realignment. Repair costs should be around 500,000 won."

"Please process the repair request."

"Yes. Please proceed to the maintenance building next to the main hall."

A short beep came from the card terminal. A deposit notification appeared on my phone.

[Deposit: 2,714,000 won / Hunter Department Store Appraisal Office]

"Confirmed. Thank you."

The appraiser bowed his head. "Please receive your repair well, and come again."

I folded the report and tucked it into my bag. A faint vibration still lingered at the tip of the blade—not the Warlord's residual heat, but something closer to the energy of survival.

When I stepped off the elevator, the air in the equipment section felt different. Oil, steel, and a subtle mana vibration. Various weapons and armor lined the glass display cases.

"What kind of equipment are you looking for, sir?"

A clerk approached.

"I'm here for armor. My last set was completely destroyed in the dungeon."

"Reinforced armor set: 3,600,000 won. Reinforced boots: 1,280,000 won. Mana stabilization gloves: 970,000 won. Shall I get all of them?"

"Yes. And two C-grade mana stone bombs at 650,000 won each."

When the payment amount appeared on my phone screen, the corner of my mouth lifted first.

"My account balance is hanging by a thread. More money going out than coming in."

The clerk smiled. "That's how everyone starts. There are definitely hunters who make money."

"Right. So why am I so far from that 'definitely'?"

"Still maintaining distance, I see."

"Haha, yeah. Keeping a safe distance. If my account blows up, I'll be out of commission immediately."

The clerk chuckled. "As long as you can still laugh, you're doing alright."

"Of course. I'm fine until the balance goes negative. Take care."

Stepping out of the main building, evening light had already settled on the ground. Across the street stood a steel building with a bold sign: Hyunmu Guild Second Affiliated Maintenance Building.

I pushed open the door, and hot air rushed in. Sparks flew, and the sound of metal rang out repeatedly.

"Welcome. What equipment needs repair?"

"A Warlord-grade mana sword. The internal pattern is warped, apparently."

The technician hunter lifted the sword and nodded.

"Not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠common. Realignment and balancing will be 550,000 won. It'll be ready tomorrow afternoon."

"Please take care of it."

"Name?"

"Byun Jihoon."

"Good. Come back tomorrow."

Leaving the maintenance building, I checked my account balance. The number read exactly 10,000 won.

"I survived, but my bank account didn't."

The clerk chuckled at my words. "That's what being a hunter is, isn't it?"

"Yeah. As long as you don't die, there's another dungeon tomorrow."

"You need to reach B-grade or higher soon."

"Even so, everyone climbs up in fifteen years."

"That's only possible if you don't die and keep running F-grade dungeons consistently. It varies by rank."

"Ah… I see. By the way, what's your rank—"

"Haha, that's a secret."

"Oh, right."

"Good luck out there."

"Thanks. You too."

Stepping outside, the sky had turned crimson again. My bag now held bombs and receipts for new armor. The weight was heavy, but my breathing felt strangely light.

"Earned 6.62 million, spent 7.7 million. I tried to avoid using cards as much as possible, but there was no other way. I can already picture missing this month's rent."

"Short-term investments really are risky."

"For now, I'll focus on weekends and run E-grade dungeons in secret."

Back home, after showering, I opened ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the fridge and pulled out the leftover beef. When I placed it in the pan, oil sizzled. The smell of meat and oil filled the room.

"This is the poor hunter's feast."

I wrapped a piece in ssam and put it in my mouth. Salty, greasy, and a brief satisfaction that lingered. Several receipts lay scattered across the table—mana stone purchases, appraisals, equipment, potions, bombs. I scanned them and muttered.

"Still… I'm alive. If I survive tomorrow, that's enough."

I turned off the lights and lay down on the bed. My eyelids slowly closed. Tonight, I felt like I could sleep deeply.