Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: I Still Haven't Awakened
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Age 23, male, Han Jeong-hyeon.
My life went straight to hell.
My parents dying when I was ten?
Yeah, it was sad, but understandable.
Gates opening randomly, monsters pouring out.
With how many people dying to those bastards, I had no time to whine about it.
Scraping together every penny afterward, even taking on 300 million won in debt for the mana injection procedure?
No big deal.
Even if I could go back in time, I'd shell out for an even pricier procedure before giving up.
But that procedure was already two years ago.
If you're staking your life—not to mention racking up massive debt—for this, shouldn't it at least...
'Wake me the hell up!'
I shouted, slamming the butchering knife into the mountain of goblin corpses piled on the workbench.
I still hadn't awakened.
***
"Hello, uncles!"
"Yeah, yeah. Come on in."
Jeong-hyeon pushed open the workshop door, which wouldn't budge without its creepy creak from years of use.
He greeted everyone energetically.
The laborers, already clocked in and sharing their morning coffee, greeted him back warmly.
Jeong-hyeon had a good reputation in the workshop.
Handling monster corpses at such a young age wasn't easy.
It was like the old corpse cleanup or special cleaning gigs.
Once that monster stench soaked in, no amount of changing clothes or scrubbing got rid of it.
Even the most veteran laborers wrinkled their noses every time they stepped inside.
But Jeong-hyeon never did.
He'd greet everyone brightly every morning instead.
That had been going on for two years now.
The laborers had seen plenty of cocky youngsters charge in and burn out within a week.
There was no reason not to like Jeong-hyeon.
But as he passed, making eye contact with everyone scattered around, the looks on their faces turned bittersweet as they watched his back.
"Tsk tsk, that kid's life is just pitiful."
"Yeah. How much debt?"
"Started at 300 million, down to 200 now."
It was far too heavy a burden for a young man whose life hadn't even fully bloomed.
Just like the generation that bet everything on cryptocurrency back in the day, this era was defined by those pouring their souls into the mana injection procedure to become hunters.
The laborers knew bits of Jeong-hyeon's backstory—orphaned young—and yet their daily chatter was half worry, half pity.
"Still, betting on that with all that debt is basically gambling."
"30% chance? Ugh, can't even imagine."
"Hey, he'll hear you."
A fake cough as they noticed Jeong-hyeon nearby, then back to their work.
But he couldn't have missed it.
Jeong-hyeon's spotless smile froze solid.
Then relaxed again.
Even after two years of hearing it nonstop, brushing it off wasn't easy.
'Anyone can talk shit about someone else's life.'
He got it.
Everyone thought their own life was the hardest, so others' seemed incomprehensible.
Put differently, Jeong-hyeon had his reasons.
Reasons he had to take on debt beyond his means for the procedure.
After the Great Cataclysm, the world turned game-like.
Gates, monsters, hunters.
But since this was reality, it was hell, not a game.
Sure, for a tiny few, it might feel like a game.
Those raking in fortunes from monster byproducts or the hunters strong enough to treat hell like a game.
They amassed wealth beyond imagination, living large.
Most betting everything—more than they had—on the procedure dreamed of that life.
But Jeong-hyeon was a bit different.
'I needed to get strong.'
Gripping his work knife tight as he reached his station, strength surged into Jeong-hyeon's hand.
His parents had died to orcs around when gates first appeared.
In young Jeong-hyeon's eyes, the orc swinging a rusty axe casually at people was the world's worst monster.
That monster smashed his everything—his parents—heads and all.
Without a hint of hesitation.
"Kiik!"
The orc raised its axe high, even going for crying Jeong-hyeon on the spot.
But the next moment, the dead one was the orc.
"Kid, you okay?"
A hunter stood firm in front of him, looking down protectively.
He'd slain the orc that killed his parents with equal ease.
He was strong.
That was when Jeong-hyeon's vague longing for strength and hunters took root.
The year he turned 21, eligible for the procedure.
Jeong-hyeon maxed out a 300 million won loan on his fresh credit and added 50 million saved from butchering work.
Not top-grade mana, but the best shot he could take.
He believed results somewhat matched desperation and effort.
'Total bullshit.'
Two years since the procedure.
Success rate for awakening post-procedure: about 30%.
But that 30% was only within the first year.
From one week to one year post-procedure, awakenings dropped exponentially.
No cases reported after that.
Nobody awakened after year one.
What happens if you get the procedure and don't awaken?
'You stab goblin guts, that's what.'
Jeong-hyeon thrust familiarly between the goblin's gut and chest on the bench.
Blood already drained, so no spray, but the neglected entrails reeked fiercely.
No matter how many times, that stench never dulled.
Jeong-hyeon gritted his teeth.
Even with mana injected, no awakening meant civilian.
No prospects pre-procedure, just huge debt?
Monster byproduct handling—low-skill, good pay, worst conditions—was all that was left.
That was Jeong-hyeon's reality.
Grateful even for that crap job.
Stomach couldn't handle it with all that debt? He'd be paying till middle age.
Luckily, Jeong-hyeon was numb to it.
While working and waiting for awakening, people passing by would say:
"Jeong-hyeon, you're a natural at this—hunter material?"
"If you awaken, don't forget us!"
Back then, genuine cheers; he brimmed with hope.
Two years on, no one said it.
They avoided hunter talk around him, like it was rude.
Knowing this, he should've waited normally.
Jeong-hyeon regretted it.
He'd never seen anyone rush to a slaughterhouse post-procedure.
Half of post-procedure awakeners got traits within a week.
Why dive into hard labor if awakening was coming soon anyway?
But Jeong-hyeon had his calculations beyond survival.
Butchering corpses might build knowledge, even on dead monsters.
Workshops handled goblins, skeletons, maybe orcs tops.
Better than nothing—first monsters post-awakening likely those.
Three-plus years since orphanage, some gains.
'Goblin solar plexus differs subtly from humans.'
Goblin ribs abnormally long vs. humans.
Human stab hits breastbone.
Need to go a palm lower, blade up from below at angle.
'Skeletons—find the right spot to smash.'
Hunters usually pulverized them, but intact skulls came sometimes.
Heard: instant-kill by mage.
Old-timers' horror stories of fakers biting hands kept him timid at first.
'Here!'
Crack.
Now, he smashed bones flawlessly, earning awe.
"Wow, Jeong-hyeon, how do you shatter it first try? I hammer hard, no dent."
Jung-cheol, watching; newbie under three months.
Intact skeleton skull tough for rookies.
Skeletons were monsters, bones harder than human.
Jeong-hyeon smiled awkwardly.
"You get the knack. Find the grain, easy."
"Still lost."
Jung-cheol puzzled.
Nothing more to say.
Jeong-hyeon learned through wrist pain.
Sliced goblin guts more, extracted innards.
Smashed skulls, powdered hand bones.
Lost in work, how long?
Foreman's voice:
"Alright, lunch time! Jjajangmyeon with sweet-and-sour pork!"
"Whoa, special day? Sweet-and-sour?"
Rare treat, Jeong-hyeon grinned unwittingly.
Then self-mockery hit.
'Yeah, time to give up on hunter.'
Awakened, monster-slaying world-savers.
Different world now.
Just cleaning their leavings.
"Eat up, Jeong-hyeon."
"Can't resist sweet-and-sour, boss."
Foreman clapped his shoulder en route to office.
Jeong-hyeon bantered back naturally.
Yeah, time for ordinary joys like sweet-and-sour pork.
***
"Ugh, the smell's killer."
Post-shift shower, Jeong-hyeon sniffed.
Olfactory dulled first, yet this damn stench refreshed eternally.
Flopped on bed half-filling his tiny studio, glanced at desk clock.
Overtime volunteering: 11 p.m. now.
Up at 6 for work.
Eyes drifted to mirror beside clock.
Met his reflection.
Just decided to drop awakening hopes, but chest heavy.
Year one, countless quits attempted.
Each "done," hope crept back.
Less regret over no hunter, more over quitting the dream.
Staring himself down, Jeong-hyeon sighed, easing eyes.
"Ha... Can't you just pop up already? Like, bullshit fairytale style."
Common awakening: 'You have awakened.' Trait info.
Jeong-hyeon only saw in dreams.
Fireworks, flashy effects.
Reality: plain, like routine.
[You have awakened.]
[Your trait is 「Trait Shop」(EX, Lv.1).]
Holographic window pointed at his mirror self.
Jeong-hyeon blinked rapidly, poured all emotions into one word.
"What?"