Hunter Collab
The era has changed dramatically.
Acts of ripping monsters apart and mercilessly eliminating superpowered criminals—hunters who once proudly boasted about such violence as their specialty have become a rare sight.
The new era of peace doesn't want that kind of brutality anymore.
Bragging about your rough edges has become a liability in a society structured to make survival tough without them.
With monster appearances hitting rock bottom—jokes even circulating that gates are just urban legends— the hunter profession has drifted endlessly toward entertainer or influencer territory.
The reason powerful hunters no longer flaunt overwhelming force over the masses is simple.
They're experiencing it firsthand alongside the march toward peace.
The fact that their superpowers are steadily degenerating as gate occurrences dwindle to near zero. The reality of their hardened bodies reverting to ordinary human frailty.
So hunters adapted voluntarily, humbling their sky-high egos.
To maintain their fame and value, they started appearing on variety shows, shooting photoshoots, hawking autobiographies, and launching channels to upload videos.
It's an era where even the notoriously sedentary Hunter Association chairman moonlights as a trot singer.
And amid all that, I...
Like them, I'd been in the hunter line of work, and I was purely impressed by their moves.
No reason to point fingers or criticize their shamelessness.
My first thought was how admirable their courage was—quickly accepting reality and boldly diving into new fields.
In this current time, with the monster threat vanishing and superpowers scattering...
Only those who swiftly grasped the plummeting value and fate of hunters could hold onto the wealth they'd amassed.
Hunters who shed their pride and charged into fresh territory were simply the first to realize it.
But.
I, Lee Rohan, was the type who sensed the future coming but didn't reach out to grab the shifting currents.
Just another hunter pitching in with public safety, same as always.
Ding!
"Hm?"
Like a call to hurl myself into the swirling world.
A message popped up as I sat at my computer after getting off work.
A familiar company name and friendly nickname.
I shot up from my chair and grabbed my smartphone.
'Sunday Games!?'
A company anyone who's dabbled in subculture games would know.
The one that fills my leisure time while emptying my wallet.
I rubbed my eyes at this out-of-nowhere message from them, double- and triple-checking the official account mark.
Realizing it was legit, a hollow laugh escaped me.
Emotions I couldn't easily show mixed in—a thrill rising, heat flushing.
"No way..."
True to Korean form, "no way" slipped out first as I sorted the unbelievable info.
Long story short, my SNS post about enjoying Sunday Games' Abyss City was the trigger.
They wanted to model a new character after me—a sweet offer.
'Me, as a game character?'
Given the company's clout, they know collabing with a real person is a high-risk event in gacha games.
They had to be aware.
But why? Why me? If anything, shouldn't they call an idol?
'Plenty of pretty and handsome hunters out there—why pick me?'
Speculation and assumptions bubbled up like foam in my head.
Who was the madman deciding to model an unknown male hunter?
Plus, with more male than female players, I could already picture the backlash: "Who's this guy? Another male pickup?"
'Still!'
Even so!
What gamer could turn down a chance to become a character in their favorite game?
No matter their motives, it was a dizzying temptation worth sticking my head into.
"Alright!"
I fired back a "Looking forward to working with you."
...
...
How much time passed since starting the collab with the game company?
Up to today, I'd followed their staff's instructions to the letter.
Last week, I spent all day swinging a sword in some weird outfit.
Today's making-of footage and interview for the official broadcast.
'We really made it this far.'
I wet my parched throat—nerves drying it out—with coffee.
Fiddling with my smartphone through the straw, a voice called out.
"Hunter! Shooting prep's done!"
"Coming!"
I squeezed between cameras and sat in the empty chair.
Next to me sat the female MC from Sunday Games' official streams—my fan heart fluttered.
"It's not a big-deal interview or anything. Just chat casually, answer comfortably."
"Got it. Please take care of me."
To me, who never missed an update stream, this scene felt surreal.
More than facing a big-shot hunter.
The MC straightened up, flipped through her cue cards with a tap-tap, cleared her throat.
Spotting the signal from the camera side, she whispered we'd start, then flashed a bright smile and boomed cheerfully.
"With tension maxed out in Academy City right now! Lots of cadets looking forward to what's next! The fresh winds and conflicts blowing into Academy City..."
Her voice carried excitement and drama, rolling on.
She nailed the script flawlessly, no slips.
I nodded vaguely beside her, fiddling awkwardly with the mic.
"First, gotta introduce our special guest next to me? Some of you might've guessed already..."
After over a minute of intro and monologue,
she turned to me, telegraphing the question clearly.
"A personal question for Hunter Lee Rohan! Rumor has it your dynamic vision lets you parry any boss perfectly—is that true?"
"Hunters do have an edge there, yeah. I play with all assists off."
"Whoa! So you've cleared all the combat achievements?"
"Nah, not quite. I only raise and play characters I get attached to, so plenty of blanks."
Trading a few lines loosened me up.
Felt like her smooth consideration.
After some chit-chat,
the cue card flipped, new question incoming.
"In your view, what's Abyss City's unique charm?"
I'd prepped this one from yesterday's script.
My mouth flowed freely.
"I got into hunting young, so I never finished school properly. It'd be a lie to say I don't fantasize about school life. For me, the biggest draw is the vicarious thrill it gives."
"Aah! Abyss City nails not just action, but cozy everyday life too!"
A divisive point among gamers.
I preferred part-time jobs and daily stuff over combat.
"Yeah. If there was a school just for hunters, it'd be like this... I always think that. Plus, I love open worlds, so just exploring the map is fun."
"Then...!"
Light Q&A followed—wondering if it'd even make the edit.
She glanced at the camera, then—contrary to my worries—gave a satisfied nod for the finale.
"Rohan's pickup, modeled after Hunter Lee Rohan, runs from June 2nd for a month! Plus new story and quests updating—stay tuned!"
"Looking forward to it!"
We stood, bowed, clapped to wrap.
Cameras swung to the ceiling; I exchanged greetings with the MC.
"Hunter Lee Rohan, great job!"
"You too."
"Gotta pull for the character when it drops, right?"
"Gonna max breakthroughs, performance be damned. This gig's pay'll be gone quick."
She giggled, like she'd do the same.
Short talk ended with a loose "see you next time."
I headed to grab my bag from the corner.
'Voice recording next, right?'
What skills and story would my character have?
Replaying the time and chat, it hit me again.
Me, launching as a character in my favorite game.
Hell, I wouldn't have minded paying them. I wanted to pay.
'What kinda luck is this?'
My epic mad movie for the funeral slideshow? Locked in.
'Home, gotta farm growth mats first.'
Lost in happy thoughts, I picked up my bag from the floor and straightened.
A female staffer with an ID badge approached, eyes sparkling.
"Hunter! Hunter!"
"Yes."
"Before moving, could you take this?"
"What's this?"
A sleek box, nothing labeled on the outside.
About the size of a smartphone box.
"The CEO's a huge fan of yours and wanted to gift it."
Mind-blowing words.
I blinked and asked back.
"Sunday Games CEO...?"
"Yes! He really wanted to come today but was swamped, so I'm delivering it. He was super bummed!"
Lip service? Hard to react easily.
'CEO's Japanese, right?'
My face froze in confusion.
She perked up, explaining lightly.
"Don't know details, but he said you saved him once from a monster. Somewhere... Apgujeong department store?"
"!"
Fog cleared from my mind in a flash.
Lee Rohan slipped into the past.
'Apgujeong.'
A massive gate opened there once, hell on earth.
I'd gone to evacuate and rescue civilians.
Clear memory of slashing through waves of mobs to enter the department store.
'That's why they gave me this gig...?'
Happened sometimes.
Times I'd rushed around too frantically to remember faces became someone's sole lifeline.
I'd gotten thank-you letters from "life saviors" before, but never a gift this huge.
"Whew."
A refreshing acceptance settled in; I exhaled long.
Looked at her.
"Can I open it?"
"Of course."
Click! Inside, a square card greeted me.
Familiar format to any Abyss City player.
I couldn't stop my grin.
'Is this my photo? Looks too young.'
Not a photo—the name confirmed it.
Rohan
Orion Academy Student
Special Goods (Collab Edition)
Merch: the academy student ID for Rohan, modeled after me.
The ultimate gift.
Time to thank them again.
Lifting my head from the ID with that thought...
"...?"
The staffer with the dangling ID was gone.
I wasn't even in the studio anymore.
"Huh?"
A new world unfolded before my eyes.