Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Outcast's Final Choice (2)
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Choi Min-seok sat there on his rear, dazed as he lifted his head. A man whose face was deeply shadowed by the backlight was gazing down at him.
"Wh-who are you...?"
Min-seok's voice trembled with fear.
Sunken eyes, gaunt cheeks as if he hadn't eaten in days, and unkempt stubble.
The misery of someone pushed to the brink of life emanated from his entire being.
Siwoo sensed the deep fear and despair in Min-seok's eyes, let out a small sigh, and crouched down to meet his gaze at eye level.
Then he pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket and offered it.
"I'm not a debt collector. Let's just say I'm Passerby Number One."
"......"
"You know how they say the river draws in souls?"
Siwoo stared at the dark, rippling river water below the railing and continued flatly.
"I've been there myself. Sold everything I had, put my house up as collateral, and even took out illegal loans until I was backed into a corner. It felt just like me a few days ago, so I couldn't walk past."
There was a strange resonance in Siwoo's voice.
Not a lie, but the bitter empathy and comfort only someone who had truly hit rock bottom could offer.
That sincerity cracked open Min-seok's tightly shut heart, just a little.
"Why... did you stop me? I have no other options left..."
Min-seok dropped his head and sobbed.
"Why wouldn't you? As long as you're alive, opportunities will come. They always do."
"Opportunities? Ha ha..."
Min-seok let out a self-deprecating laugh.
"What kind of opportunities does an F-rank porter get? There are plenty of young, fit guys out there. No one's hiring some old guy with no skills. If I weren't awakened, I could've at least done day labor..."
Under hunter law, awakened individuals couldn't take regular manual labor jobs.
The reason was they couldn't control their strength and might cause accidents.
Even F-rank porters, who only had slightly better physical abilities than normals, were restricted by this law and had nowhere to go outside the hunter industry.
It was a truly cursed shackle.
"Then come work for our company."
At Siwoo's sudden proposal, Min-seok blinked his tear-streaked eyes wide and stared at him.
"Our... company?"
"Yeah. Our management agency's short on manpower right now. As you can see, we're a startup..."
Siwoo pulled out his business card and handed it to Min-seok.
"Management agency...?"
"Truth is, we've had some unpleasant incidents lately. Threats from competitors, concerns about employee safety. We urgently need security to guard the office."
Siwoo put on a troubled expression as he continued.
"But as you know, we're just getting started, so funds are tight. Hiring a professional security firm is too expensive, and regular people make me uneasy."
He stared straight at Min-seok.
"That's why a hunter like you is perfect. Even F-rank is way stronger than a normal person, right? And the ones threatening us aren't monsters—just suit-wearing office workers at worst. You could handle them no problem."
It was a convincing argument.
Min-seok sat there blankly for a moment before asking in a trembling voice.
"Really... even someone like me? I'm F-rank... and old..."
"What does age matter? Your experience makes you more reliable. You've done porter work, so your stamina should be solid."
Siwoo grinned and stood up.
"Don't stay here. Come with me and have a warm cup of coffee. Warm yourself up."
When Siwoo extended his hand, Min-seok stared at it blankly.
The fact that no one had ever reached out to him like this made his eyes well up with heat.
He grasped Siwoo's hand as if entranced.
Warm, firm heat transferred over.
"Thank you... thank you so much..."
Min-seok clung tightly to Siwoo's hand without letting go.
He had thought the whole world had abandoned him, but knowing there was still a place that needed him made him feel like he could breathe again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The place they arrived at in Siwoo's car was the Miracle Management office.
Min-seok gaped at the sign over the entrance.
'M-Miracle?'
Only then did he pull out the business card Siwoo had given him and check it again.
Any Korean who watched the news would know Miracle Management right now.
The place making headlines daily over the Lee Jia incident.
To think this was where he'd be working.
Min-seok straightened his clothes nervously, suddenly feeling his shabby suit even more pathetic.
"Come on in."
As they entered the office, he saw neatly organized desks and busy employees moving about.
The dozen or so staff all looked like elites, full of energy.
Min-seok kept shrinking, wondering if a grubby porter like him even belonged here.
"Let's head to the CEO's office."
Siwoo led Min-seok into the representative's office.
He sat Min-seok on the sofa and poured him a cup of hot tea.
Min-seok's hands shook even as he held the cup.
Tap, tap. The dry keyboard sounds heightened the tension.
A moment later, Siwoo's brow furrowed as he looked at the monitor.
"Hm... 420 million..."
Min-seok's shoulders flinched.
The amount Siwoo had muttered was his debt total.
Had he run a credit check?
He hung his head and slumped his shoulders powerlessly.
'No way they'll hire me.'
No one would employ someone hounded by debt collectors.
But Min-seok couldn't give up. He lifted his head and began explaining his situation.
"R-Representative. Let me explain. I can explain. It wasn't gambling or partying that got me in debt. My daughter... my Ji-yu has a rare disease called 'mana reflux syndrome.' The hospital bills aren't covered by insurance, so..."
He trembled, gauging Siwoo's reaction.
"But it won't affect my work! Wage garnishment is fine. Just let me work..."
Siwoo rested his chin on his hand and stared at Min-seok.
His gaze was cold and sharp.
"420 million. An F-rank porter couldn't pay that off in a lifetime, even with interest eating him alive."
"......"
"Let me be straight. Say I hire you. But debt collectors keep coming, daughter's bills keep piling up. What's to stop you from thinking of suicide again when life gets too hard?"
Siwoo's question stabbed like a dagger.
Min-seok bit his lip.
"Never! I swear I won't!"
He cried out desperately.
"I was going to die because... no one would hire me anymore, no hope left. I was going to sell my life for my daughter's bills. But if you give me this chance... I'll live with everything I've got. I won't leave my girl behind. I swear on my life."
His eyes burned with a father's desperate venom.
The sole drive of his life: saving his daughter.
Siwoo noted that gaze and subtly lifted the corner of his mouth.
'Good. He has a reason to endure.'
That level of desperation and attachment to life was foundation enough for withstanding re-awakening overload.
Siwoo mentally upgraded his assessment of Min-seok.
"Alright. I'll take your oath at face value."
Siwoo pulled a smartphone from his drawer and hit record.
He placed it on the desk.
"This conversation will be recorded as contract proof. Do you consent?"
"Pardon? Oh, yes. I consent."
Min-seok nodded, confused.
Siwoo slid a document over to him.
"Choi Min-seok. I have no intention of hiring you as a mere security guard."
"What do you...?"
"Official hunter under Miracle Management. That's the position I'm offering."
Min-seok's eyes went wide.
"H-hunter? But I'm an F-rank porter. No combat skills..."
"For now, sure. But prove your worth with steady work. Terms are as follows."
Siwoo picked up a pen and wrote numbers on the paper.
"Signing bonus: 500 million."
"......!!"
Min-seok felt his breath stop.
500 million. Enough to clear his debts and cover his daughter's bills comfortably for a while.
"Use it to pay off your debts first. Then move your daughter to a private room. Hire a caregiver too."
"R-Representative..."
"In exchange, conditions apply. First, revenue split 9:1. You get 9."
"9??"
Min-seok doubted his ears.
Usually, debt payoff came with 5:5 or worse, 3:7 slave contracts—that was the street norm.
9 for him?
"But company security or odd jobs are excluded from the split. Paid as separate salary. And..."
Siwoo paused the pen and met Min-seok's eyes directly.
"Special clause: Party B, Choi Min-seok, cannot switch jobs without Party A Han Siwoo's permission. Unauthorized departure or contact with other guilds during the term incurs a penalty of 100 times the signing bonus."
This was a chain.
Siwoo's ironclad will to keep Min-seok bound.
But to Min-seok, it felt like a lifelong safety belt.
Why would he ever leave a place offering terms this good?
Min-seok shot up from his seat and dropped to his knees.
"Representative... thank you... I'll never forget this grace."
"Get up. You're making me uncomfortable."
"Um... Representative. This is shameless, but one request?"
Min-seok asked without lifting his head, voice shaking.
"Go ahead."
"Could you... make the contract term longer?"
"The term?"
Most hunters preferred short terms to chase rising value.
But not Min-seok.
He needed stability to protect his sick daughter, not a jackpot.
To stay long-term at this miraculous workplace without getting kicked out.
That was his only wish.
"5 years... no, 10 if possible. Or 5 years with company option to extend another 5... please, I beg you. I can work till my bones break. Cleaning, driving, porter—anything. Please..."
He pleaded, tears streaming.
Siwoo stroked his chin, pretending to mull it over.
'F-rank hunter, 5+5 years.'
Industry folks would call him insane.
But to Siwoo, it was the perfect slave... no, lifetime employment deal.
Lock down an S-rank post-re-awakening for 10 years?
Siwoo suppressed a grin and nodded benevolently.
"Tough ask. Long-term with an F-rank is risky."
"......"
"But I'll trust your paternal love and diligence. Special exception. Though extension after 5 depends on your performance."
"Th-thank you! Thank you, Representative!"
"Sign here."
Siwoo handed over the contract. Min-seok grabbed the pen with shaking hands.
And without hesitation, scrawled Choi Min-seok.
Tears blotted the signature.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Contract established.] [Contract Target: Choi Min-seok] [Passive Skill 'Growth Synchronization' applied.] [You share 3% of the target's acquired experience.] Siwoo tucked away the contract and smiled warmly.
"You're family now. Congratulations, Hunter Choi Min-seok."
"Hic... huuuh..."
Min-seok bawled like a child.
Salvation met at life's edge.
To the man who treated him like a human and opened the path to save his daughter, Min-seok swore.
As long as he breathed, he'd live for this man.
"Save the tears for later. Head to the hospital first. Your daughter's waiting. Signing bonus transferred now."
At Siwoo's words, Min-seok hurriedly checked his phone.
[Deposit: 500,000,000 KRW]
Confirming the number, he bowed 90 degrees to Siwoo again.
"I'll be back! Representative! I'll come in at dawn tomorrow!"
"Take your time."
Min-seok wiped his tears and rushed out.
The back of the father rushing to his daughter wasn't the slumped shoulders from before.
A solid back bearing hope.
Siwoo watched the door close and fixed his gaze on empty air.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 📛 Name: Choi Min-seok 🏷️ Rank: F ⭐ Potential: S-rank Re-awakening / D-30 ⚠️ Notes: Re-awakening triggered by specific traumatic event. Very high rampage risk (98%). Current life expectancy: 30 days. The red text remained unchanged. 98% rampage probability.
Money solved the debt, but the impending re-awakening shock and resulting physical collapse couldn't be bought off.
In 30 days, the ordeal awaiting him was inevitable.
'But. If I manage it like with Lee Jia, he can overcome it. It's possible.'
Siwoo's eyes narrowed.