Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: I Awaken. Off to Another World.
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Twenty years had passed since gates opened and the era of great hunters began.
They said even five-year-olds were awakening these days.
But not me.
While all my academy classmates awakened, I was the only one who couldn't.
"This can't be happening. I've got five years of experience—five years. I'm a veteran in this field."
"We know that. It's right there in your paperwork."
I let out a sigh as I stared at the bored desk clerk.
And now, here I was, seething at the world's injustices.
"But suddenly there's no spot for me?"
"What can we do? That's reality."
I sighed deeply and scratched my head roughly.
The Hunter Association clerk across from me tsked with the face of someone who'd shouldered the world's annoyances. She was clearly a woman, but her expression made her look like she'd been locked in a room doing overtime for a decade.
There was one reason I was this pissed.
My porter gig was done as of today.
"There were always like ten open spots."
"Sure, but starting today, they're all rookies."
"Who the hell are they?"
"You haven't heard? The government's new relief policy. The Great Reformation Policy."
The clerk pointed to the side.
Right on cue, the wall-mounted TV showed the president declaring in a crisp suit.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
"Starting this month, under the Great Reformation Policy, we'll guarantee minimum quotas for anyone with an awakener record—criminals included, regardless of field. Hate the sin, not the sinner, folks."
It was utterly ridiculous.
What did that even mean?
In the hunter industry, it meant any ex-con with an F-rank awakener history got hired as a porter, no questions asked.
Me, a non-awakener? Pushed out.
'Fucking hell.'
My teeth ground together.
How much had I suffered to get this far?
'What a joke. Now they're shoving criminals ahead?'
My mind reeled.
I pleaded desperately.
"Does this make any sense? I've got five years under my belt. I studied monsters inside out—tons of knowledge. I take care of myself, never been hurt once. Even B-rank hunters respect me."
"What can we do? Society values ability over morality. If you're pissed, awaken."
Words failed me.
I just watched her back as she turned away dismissively.
I hung my head.
All the things I'd done to hold onto this spot flashed through my mind.
'Total bullshit.'
Mornings and days: grueling day labor part-time.
After that: backbreaking porter shifts—two rounds, sometimes three.
Compared to twenty years ago, prices had skyrocketed. Even a rundown studio apartment's rent had tripled.
If I didn't hustle like this, I couldn't survive a single day.
Any money I scraped together went to hunter academy fees or wining and dining industry contacts.
'Korea's all about connections.'
That was the spot I'd barely clung to through sheer grit.
And today, it was dead.
Fuck, if I had tens of billions in my account, I wouldn't complain.
But in this country where income stayed flat and expenses ballooned, what the hell was I supposed to do?
"Haa, fuck."
Some of those ex-cons had beaten people to death.
But one F-rank record flipped the script on me.
I turned my head.
Two guys with irezumi tattoos, shirts off, chatting nearby.
"Bro, fancy seeing you here?"
"Oh, Potato? When'd you get out? Thought you were running a barber shop."
"Been a bit. Business is booming."
"Let's kill it! Country's got our backs now."
"We just cash in—thank you very much! Toss a vote their way come election time."
"Those goody-two-shoes must be stressing hard, kekeke. Room salon after?"
"Call!"
A thousand Buddhas burned inside me.
I ground my teeth and stormed out of the association.
Headed home.
Fists clenched so tight my nails dug into flesh.
'Doesn't even hurt. Too fucking pissed. Is not awakening a crime?'
But this wasn't the only injustice.
As a kid, my hunter dad died in a gate break.
Mom fell ill from the shock.
I went to school to make a good life anyway, but she got robbed and killed by villains.
Even in the orphanage, I held onto one dream.
'Become a badass hunter. Live proud, with romance in my heart.'
Now that dream was dust, without a shot at revival.
Because society was handing chances to ex-cons.
Under the flimsy guise of reformation.
'Has reforming ever actually worked in this country? They're lucky if they don't cut their ankle monitors and cause chaos.'
Sighs escaped my lips; my head filled with curses.
Time passed. I looked up.
There was my studio building.
The sign read "Awakening Building."
"Ah, what a shithole."
I climbed up and entered my room.
This nest of mine.
Felt like I'd lose it soon too.
Then a text came in.
[Hunter Association Notification]
[Hello, Seong Cheon-je, Porter. Due to internal circumstances, you have been removed from the 'Promoting This Person' program effective today. We hope for your continued activity!]
A hollow laugh escaped me.
"Promoting This Person."
It was a welfare push from the government to encourage porters.
Notified Korean companies and hunter managers: here's a solid talent.
'But I'm excluded? Me, the veteran?'
I checked my usual hunter community, Hunter Flex.
Guy with less experience than me.
Guy with fewer gigs a month than me.
Posts bragging they'd survived the promo cut.
Why? They awakened. Fuck.
'Busted my ass, and nothing left. Rent's been late since last month, right?'
I laughed emptily.
A 80g cup ramen costs over 6,000 won now.
If that's the case, don't even ask about the rest.
'I'm the idiot.'
Even eating two meals a day left nothing.
I sat on the floor.
Turned on the outdated TV I'd scavenged from the marketplace app.
Top-tier hunters—rich, handsome—on a variety show.
"Hahaha, so Habo Sword Hunter, ever dated?"
"Nope. I'm ugly and can't make money."
"Oh my! The number one ranker's so humble!"
These guys raked in billions just breathing.
Now dominating variety too.
That was their position now.
"Lucky bastards. Wish I could be a hunter. Fight cool, live proud."
Couldn't anymore.
Everyone and their dog awakens. Not me.
No, my whole life felt hopeless from the start.
I turned off the TV.
"Huuu."
How to live now? Homelessness was the obvious next step.
Wanna die, haa.
Thud thud thud!
Someone knocked.
I got up listlessly and opened the door.
Shocked at the visitor.
'Whoa, the landlord's wife?!'
A woman with pale skin and ink-black hair in a ponytail.
Red eyes gleaming as she looked at me.
Her voluptuous figure overwhelmed my vision, impossible to ignore.
The landlord's wife, Hyun-a.
She smiled faintly and stepped inside.
Her huge breasts jiggled.
Boing boing♡
"Hey, kiddo. Doing okay?"
"Yeah. What brings you?"
"Rent's late since last month."
"Ah, that. Quit the academy last month—fees piled up. Sorry."
"Oh, I see. You couldn't awaken?"
"Yeah."
Hyun-a, whom I'd admired for her beauty and youthful looks.
But I shrank before her.
Hated showing this side.
Still, Hyun-a smiled brightly.
"It's fine. Youth is for suffering. But take care of your health."
"Ah, I just look rundown naturally."
"Hehe, funny guy. I'll wait till next month. My hubby's not patient."
"Thanks. Uh, good luck on raids."
"Thanks for the cheer! Hehe."
Hyun-a left, smiling.
Her hips swayed side to side as she went.
Jiggle jiggle♡
Hyun-a, active C-rank hunter.
Sometimes I dreamed.
Of raiding by her side, as a fellow hunter.
"Reality's a cesspit. Wanna confess boldly to a woman like that."
I shook my head.
Me now, unawakened?
I'd be a laughingstock the second I tried.
I flopped onto the floor in a big X.
"Huuu."
Only the yellowing ceiling wallpaper in view.
I smiled bitterly. Was my face that pale?
"Ah, wanna fuck. Hell, even date."
So much I want.
Body's fine.
But can't do shit.
What a life.
"Wanna bang every MILF in the world."
I looked average.
Didn't know how to groom, made it worse.
Like I told Hyun-a, kinda gaunt-faced.
I reached for the ceiling.
Muttered gloomily.
"Fuck this world, let it burn."
Sighed it out.
That instant.
✨ AWAKENING! ✨
[You have Awakened.]
"Huh?"
Thought I misread.
Sat up, stared at the air.
The alert hung there clearly.
Deep golden text.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[You have become the owner of the 'MILF Collection App.']
[Would you like to see the list of worlds you can trip to?]
I swallowed dryly.
I'd really awakened.
Like a dream.
Couldn't believe it.
"Wha—what? I awakened! Me! Awakened! Ooooh! Fuck yeah!"
I shot up.
Yelled.
Bounced in the air and shouted.
"Meeeooowwww!"
Thrills raced through my body.
Like scoring the World Cup final goal.
I thrust up a finger.
"Status Window!"
It popped up.
I gawked.
⚔ STATUS ⚔
⚡ Strength:15
💨 Agility:15
✨ Magic Power:15
💪 Stamina:15
🍀 Luck:10
🛡️ Endurance:-
Unique Ability: [MILF Collection App]
Other Skills: -
'Stats are average. F-rankers are around here.'
Brief disappointment, then a grin.
Grow from there, right?
I'd awakened—impossible before.
Yeah, I can do anything!
But MILF Collection App?
I like MILFs, sure.
What the hell is this?
I pulled out my phone, launched the app.
Tapped the description.
[MILF Collection App]
Category: One of a Kind in Human History
Description: Pay mileage to search for MILFs matching your criteria and trip to their world.
'Whoa, what? This kind of power?'
And there were other functions.
All grayed out.
Tapped to check conditions.
[○ Clear First Trip]
A bit puzzled.
Never heard of world-tripping powers.
Not even at the academy.
And not combat-oriented.
'Non-combat skill, huh.'
Couldn't raid right away.
Couldn't make waves without water.
Still, grinning at the alerts.
'These say I can go to another world? Let's go now!'
What worlds?
What MILFs?
The list scrolled up.
Jaw dropped.
📜 WORLD LIST 📜
[Solo Leveling with Rural Fist]
[Heroines Are My Killers]
[MILF Collecting with App Powers!]
[Apocalypse's Sole Hypnotist]
[Reality GTA with Common Sense Semen]
[Shut-In Hero Saves the Nation]
[Cyberpunk National Power Tailor]
[Shouting Love in Academy City]
[EX Hunter in a Gender-Segregated World]
"Whoaaa."
All of them.
Except one, all dimmed, inactive.
Tapped the lit one—no change.
Tapped the glowing one.
World info popped.
And its MILF.
[Solo Leveling with Rural Fist]
- Rank: ★1
- Rental & Reward: Origin Absorption [Unique Ability]
#Fantasy #DarkFantasy #Growth #NTL
💖 MILF INFO 💖
○ Name: Daniela Kostas
○ Ability: Kostas-style Elegant Swordsmanship
○ Alignment: Lawful-Good
○ Origin: Manaheim Continent
○ Sexual Preferences: Mom-son / Facesitting / Bathroom
- Relationship Status: Stranger
'Whoa, it shows like this. Wonder what she looks like?'
Guess I'd find out by going.
Alert popped.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Trips normally require MILF mileage!]
Moment of anxiety.
Does that mean no for me?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[This is a 'Free Trial'—no cost!]
"Yes! Fuck yeah!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Trip to the world containing Daniela Kostas?]
"Go! Even if I can't eat it, go!"
Resolved, hands up high.
Instantly, the room filled with blinding white light.
Startled, looked around.
Consciousness faded naturally.
Felt weightless, floating—then snapped awake.
"Huh?"
Changed atmosphere.
Unfamiliar office interior.
A chubby middle-aged man ahead, sighing.
An alert floated, pointing at him naturally.
[Your current identity: 'A Promising New Adventurer'. Remember this.]
Even hands out an identity naturally.
Trip's wild.
The middle-aged man asked.
"Are you the famous adventurer?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes. Seong Cheon-je."
"Indeed, an Easterner. Haa. I'll assign missions one by one. Succeed, get paid."
I swallowed.
Some lord?
High status.
Noble by attire.
"We'll treat you as a guest. Stay comfortably in this manor."
"Th-thank you."
"Rest first. Daniela, my wife. Guide the adventurer. This kind of chore's your thing, right?"
Daniela—that woman from before?
I turned.
Gawked.
'Holy shit, she's gorgeous!'
My heart pounded like it would shatter bones.
