[No title provided]

I opened my eyes to the sight of my bedroom ceiling. What the hell? Why am I lying here? I remembered drinking with Yoo Seo-ah, but...

The first thing that came to mind was her massive tits bouncing up and down with every movement of her arms. It was so goddamn intense that nothing else stuck...

"Ugh... uh... grrrgh..."

Fuck, hangover! Dealing with this broken memory reel could wait—first things first, kill this hangover. I clutched my pounding skull and dragged myself out of bed, stumbling into the living room.

Back in my hunter days, I'd just cycle some mana to shake it off. But now? Just a regular schmuck—no dice.

"Honey water..."

So, like Yuan Shu from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, I'd have to rummage the fridge for some. Except I never drank that shit—usually zero cola. No way it'd magically be in there...

Click.

"...Well, shit. There it is."

The fridge door swung open, revealing a bottle of store-bought honey water. Why the hell was this here? When did I buy it? I sure as hell didn't remember grabbing any.

A random bottle of honey water chilling in my fridge like some urban legend ghost story. I was about to freak out when I spotted the Post-it note stuck to it.

"Ah."

Yoo Seo-ah must've left it. I grabbed the honey water and scanned the table and kitchen from last night's binge. No memory of cleaning up, but everything was spotless—table, counters, even the sink.

Looked like she'd woken up first and tidied up.

"...What kind of discourtesy is this to a precious guest."

Making the guest clean up? Total fail as a host. I let out a booze-soaked sigh and chugged the honey water in one go. The subtle sweetness settled my queasy stomach.

Mmm. Hits the spot.

"And 'catch you later'? So damn naive, ex-Team Leader."

I stared at the Post-it still stuck to the empty bottle. Those words promised a next time. But I knew better than anyone how pie-in-the-sky that was.

"Our worlds are really different now."

Hunter life was a razor’s edge—one slip and you're dead. That's why you only trusted hunters on your level. They stuck to their own ranks, as a rule.

Yoo Seo-ah would do the same now. Back in the team, sure—we were founding members, so it worked. But even if my shattered mana circuit miraculously healed and I returned as a hunter, we'd never cross paths again.

She was Cheongmyeong Guild's Sword Flower now, Yoo Seo-ah. One of Korea's Big Three guilds meant she'd be slammed, rolling with her new elite squad. Real heavy-hitters from Cheongmyeong, not some D-rank washout like me who'd hit his growth cap and gone full civilian.

"She'll forget those Post-it words in no time."

Four years as teammates, and a corner of my chest felt empty. But I wasn't bitter. Not petty enough to begrudge an old comrade's success.

"Thanks for the fun times, Team Leader. Keep shining bright and living it up."

I murmured a farewell to her handwriting that she'd never hear. Saying goodbye to her out loud made it real—my hunter days were truly over. Bitter, but liberating.

Yeah. Time for my fresh start. What the hell am I gonna do to make a living?

Burying memories of Yoo Seo-ah deep, as I resolved to move on...

The system window snuck into the corner of my vision.

"...Trying to get my head straight for a new chapter, and now this."

I'd just done my cool movie-hero goodbye to Yoo Seo-ah, and it kills the vibe. This ability was such a buzzkill.

"What reward out of nowhere? Can't even register new members for a month anyway."

Grousing, I opened the system to check the reward. And saw this.

"...Huh?"

Yoo Seo-ah's name, bold as brass in the Safe House member list.

"What? Why is Yoo Seo-ah's name here... Oh."

Right as confusion hit, the blackout from last night stitched back together, memories flooding in.

Oh yeah. Drunk off my ass, I registered her. She looked so cute geeking out over the Safe House explanation. Hearing her rave about it stroked my ego big time. Buzzed as hell, no clear head, swept up in the good vibes—I impulse-registered her.

...But member registration needs a Member Registration Ticket, right?

Fuck. My gut twisted.

"H-How do I get that Member Registration Ticket?"

I steadied my racing heart and asked.

This is insane. Exactly what I feared.

To get another ticket, I needed help from my one registered member—Yoo Seo-ah. Just call her up and ask? In theory, yeah. But reality? We weren't teammates anymore. Hell, I wasn't even a hunter.

She was swamped as it was—would she even make time? Answer: probably not.

Is this why they say booze is the enemy? Blowing my one ticket like that...

I beat myself up for a sec, then shook it off. No time for pity parties. Damage done—now maximize cleanup.

Phone. Call her now!

I whipped out my cell and dialed Yoo Seo-ah.

Ring... ring... click.

She picked up after two rings. Sweet.

"Team Leader, you get home safe? Sorry I couldn't see you off."

I was begging here. Had to phrase it smooth, get her to say, "Sure, no biggie." Spill that I blew the one ticket ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on her? If she bails 'cause she's busy, I'm ultra-unlucky six-fingered loser!

I was sweating bullets, bracing for rejection, when her voice hit my ear.

Sudden guild emergency? Ominous.

"Ah... so you're super busy right now?"

Click.

"..."

I pulled the phone from my ear to the red "call ended" screen.

A gate at Gangnam Station right now? What the actual fuck.

Dungeons were hazard zones; gates were sudden disasters. Couldn't fault her for hanging up mid-ask.

"'Hit you up later'... Yeah, right. She's gonna get busier."

I sighed at her name on the screen. Again: A-rank Cheongmyeong hunter now. Not someone you meet just 'cause you're buddies. (Not that we met whenever before, but whatever.)

She was another league entirely.

"Am I really turning into an unlucky six-fingered loser?"

That'd make me half-assed like before. I awakened this unique ability—didn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wanna go back to loser life just 'cause I botched the ticket.

Before, at least I was a hunter. Now? Nada. Lose Yoo Seo-ah like this, and I'd be worse off than my D-rank days.

"Can't let that happen. No way."

She mentioned heading into the Gangnam Station Gate. Gates varied wildly in size, rank, clear ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠time. Emergency call like that? No ordinary gate. Who knows when she'd emerge.

"Leave a text so I can hit her up the second she's out."

Best play: text her number. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Kinda manipulative, but she was a soft-hearted pure one. Four years together—appeal to old times. Go emotional, not logical.

Kinda pathetic? Yeah, but it was real. My life depended on her! Without you, I'm screwed!!!

"Alright... send."

Tap.

A text so pushy she'd feel obligated by our history—no ignoring it. She'd call once, at least.

Text sent. Now? Endless wait. Nothing else to do.

"Wonder when she'll clear the gate."

Fastest? Month minimum. Emergency gate like that. Last night's me pissed me off again. Same wait either way—shoulda stuck to the plan and held off till she naturally hit VIP.

"Sigh."

Deep breath, settling in for the long haul.

※ But contrary to expectations, it didn't take long to see Yoo Seo-ah again. Just a week. That's how long until our reunion.

Should've been thrilled, but nope. No joy here.

Bang!Crash! Clatter!

"Ugh... uwaa... urgh."

The front door flew open, and Yoo Seo-ah tumbled out—looking like absolute hell.

"T-Team Leader?!"

This is fucking crazy?!