The One Who Knows the Past
The Awakening Association building was massive enough to have a 42nd floor.
Only one person in the world could enter the top floor, and without his permission, even setting foot there was impossible.
That was why it had never been revealed to anyone—a space shrouded in mystery, the president's office.
I stepped inside and gave it a straightforward assessment.
'It's empty.'
The strongest man in Korea.
A being who had never fallen out of the world's top ten in the Hunter Association's global rankings.
It was hard to believe this humble room was where such a man handled his work.
I quickly scanned the office, rolling my eyes around.
A sofa and desk for entertaining guests. Otherwise, it was just a barren space lined entirely with bookshelves.
Kang Yong-chan pointed to the sofa with his hand.
"Sit wherever you're comfortable."
I nodded and plopped down in an empty spot.
He stepped out briefly, then returned with drinks filled with ice from somewhere.
He handed one to me as I hesitated, saying,
"Don't be so tense. I just wanted to have a chat with you, that's all."
That was all he said, flashing a smile.
I swallowed dryly, staring at him.
'He says to relax...'
How the hell was I supposed to relax?
It felt like being suddenly called to the principal's office back in school.
No matter how much I wanted to chill, this wasn't the place for it.
Ten minutes passed. Twenty. An hour went by, until the ice in my drink had completely melted—and Kang Yong-chan hadn't said a word.
I wished he'd say something, but after telling me to relax, he stayed silent.
What the hell did he want?
He told me not to be nervous, then went radio silent for an hour—what was the point?
Now, sitting here felt like needles under my ass.
Was the president of the Association the type to discriminate against contract hunters like this?
If so, why not say it sooner? Why call me on the last day?
'Maybe I need to speak first?'
I chewed my lip, steeling myself to open my mouth.
Or at least, I tried to.
"You."
If Kang Yong-chan hadn't beaten me to it.
After an hour of silence, his voice finally broke through.
I snapped my head up and looked at his face.
"You said you lived in an orphanage as a kid, right?"
"Yes. That's correct."
"The name of that orphanage was Kangchan Orphanage?"
"...!"
A name I hadn't heard in nearly ten years. My eyes went wide.
How did he know?
The question flashed through my mind, but it vanished just as quickly.
This was the Awakening Association.
Personal info like that would be easy for them to dig up. Maybe it wasn't so surprising.
"Yes, that's right. It's been ages since I've heard that name."
"I see."
"But why do you ask?"
"...Because I used to sponsor that orphanage in the past."
"Ah..."
A sponsor, huh.
So I'd been eating and sleeping on this guy's dime.
Thinking about it made that hour of silence make a bit more sense.
The orphanage he'd supported went bankrupt overnight due to debt, and now one of the kids from there was sitting in front of him as an adult.
I'd probably struggle to find the right words too.
'Feels a bit more comfortable now.'
Maybe because he was a sponsor of my old orphanage.
Just moments ago, I felt suffocated, but now it was lighter.
Kang Yong-chan bowed his head to me with a deeply bitter expression.
"I'm sorry, in many ways. Because of me..."
"That's not something you need to apologize for, President."
If anything, in that chaotic world, the fact that he'd sponsored an orphanage at all was something I should be grateful for.
His expression grew even more bitter at my response. He stood from his seat.
"Keeping you here for an hour just to say this—I'm truly ashamed."
"Well... I get it, more or less. It's fine."
"Thank you. Then, may I call on you again later?"
"Uh... today's my last day, though."
Call me again? Could I even come?
I tilted my head, and Kang Yong-chan gave a small smile.
"You're a full-time employee now."
"...What!?"
No way.
I yelped in shock, and he cut in firmly.
"Don't worry. Nothing changes even if you're full-time."
"You mean..."
"Just keep contracting with Yu-mi as before. Take as much time off as you want, come in whenever—it's all the same."
I clamped my mouth shut and stared at him.
Why was he being so good to me?
To my unspoken question, he gave a short answer.
"I'm certain of it—you'll become an S-rank hunter in no time."
"Me?"
"Yes. You know Kim Taesung from Seolhwa Guild is the fastest in the world to reach S-rank?"
I nodded quietly.
That bastard had beaten the world record for fastest S-rank by a single week, which pissed me off to no end.
Every time my face popped up on the 9 o'clock news, his did too.
I'd always switch it off in rage.
"You'll reach S-rank even faster than that Kim Taesung kid."
"..."
"So this is an investment. In a new S-rank hunter."
Was that explanation enough?
Kang Yong-chan gave a wry smile as he looked at me.
Enough?
"Of course."
I preferred it this way.
Being straightforward about his intentions beat all the beating around the bush.
He cleared his throat and asked once more.
"In return, one favor. If I call you later, will you come?"
"Sure."
Truth be told, he was at the top of Korea's hunters.
Even as a non-Association hunter, if he called, I'd have to show up.
S-rank this, S-rank that—my current rank was C.
I wasn't in a position to refuse. If he said jump, I'd jump.
"You can head down now."
"Have a great day."
"You too. Oh, one more thing."
I'd turned to the door, hand on the knob, and looked back at his words.
"Don't get hurt."
"Yeah, sure."
Thanks to Ultra Regeneration Blessing, I couldn't get hurt even if I tried now.
I nodded casually and slipped out of the president's office.
Kang Yong-chan stared fixedly at the closed door.
He kept his eyes on it until the sound of my footsteps faded away with the elevator.
Only after a long while did he pull a single photo from his desk drawer.
"..."
A faded old picture.
There he was, in his younger days, smiling with the kids in front of a sign reading 'Kangchan Orphanage'.
Beside him stood a gaunt man in a crisp white coat, with wild, unkempt hair.
Kang Yong-chan gazed at the man with unreadable eyes and murmured softly.
"Why did you do it, brother...?"
Regret, pain, lamentation.
His mutter carried a tangle of emotions. Then his eyes shifted to the corner of the photo.
There was a familiar face—a mischievous-looking boy.
The boy grinned innocently, as if the world's darkness didn't exist, playfully teasing a girl his age beside him.
"..."
Kang Yong-chan stared at the boy's pure face for a long time before tucking the photo back in the drawer.
He locked it with a key from his pocket and murmured again.
"What a cruel thing."
This world, that is.
He shifted his gaze out the window and picked up his phone.
From the 42nd floor, Gangnam's scenery spun below like a cheap toy winding down.
After the meeting, I came down to find Seong Yu-mi and Jeong Chan-woo already there.
I sighed, looking at Jeong Chan-woo already working and Seong Yu-mi lounging in her chair.
"Ah. I was the first one here today."
"Huh? Really? No one was here when we arrived."
Seong Yu-mi straightened up at my complaint.
I sighed at her reaction and sat in an empty chair.
"I got here before 8."
"Where were you, then?"
"President's office. He wanted to see me."
"Uh..."
Seong Yu-mi froze, caught off guard.
Jeong Chan-woo stiffened too, staring at me.
"Here?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Just to say hi, apparently."
"That's a relief."
Whew...
They both let out long sighs of relief.
I ignored them, sat down, and took off my jacket.
"Kkung..."
"Oh, right."
Cheori crawled out from my jacket.
Come to think of it, I'd neglected it because of the president's summons.
I scratched its drooping forehead and asked,
"You don't wanna eat anything?"
"Kkung..."
Cheori replied limply, as if it was fine.
This guy skipping meals? That's new.
Was it sick somewhere?
"Kkung."
Not sick, then.
It answered immediately when I asked.
And it even lightly tapped my shoulder with its tail, like no need to worry—so yeah, just not hungry, I guess.
I set it on the desk and leaned back in my chair.
"..."
Tap-tap-tap.
Keyboard sounds echoed through the office.
I felt like I should do something, but there was nothing for me.
I hadn't learned any office work.
Unless a Villain showed up, I had nothing to do.
"Hm."
The day before yesterday, I'd bolted out without even a sip of water. Today felt downright peaceful.
No sirens blaring from the president's office or anything.
"I'll go on patrol."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Need the radio?"
"Obviously."
I grabbed the radio from the drawer, put my jacket back on, picked up Cheori, and headed down to the first floor.
"Kkung kkung?"
"Why'd I come out?"
Cheori tilted its head from my shoulder.
"Just 'cause."
No real reason.
Sitting still was boring, that's all.
"...It's complicated."
I never expected someone who knew my past from over ten years ago to still be around.
Dredging up those buried memories felt weird.
"Tch."
I smacked my lips and scratched my head vigorously.
"Let's just wander around aimlessly and kill time before heading back."
"Kkung kkung."
Even a hundred patrols wouldn't beat waiting for a single report.
How was I supposed to patrol this huge area alone?
And so I wandered the streets without direction.
Gangnam at this hour was packed with people.
If anything, the crowds meant no one recognized me.
I could stroll in peace.
"..."
Thud.
I stopped dead in my tracks.
People rushed past on either side.
Standing still amid the flow, I narrowed my eyes and scanned around.
'Someone was staring.'
Staring hard. Relentlessly.
Hard enough that I couldn't just ignore it.
Who the hell was watching me like that?
As I looked around, my eyes met someone else's.
"...Ah?"
Brown bobbed hair.
Droopy eyes.
A single mole by her mouth.
I froze the instant I locked eyes with that familiar face.
"Wai—."
Whoosh!
The woman spun and bolted into the crowd.
I gritted my teeth and shoved through after her.
No—
"Sister-in-law! Su-ah sis! Wait, hold on!"
I reached out toward my sister-in-law, who had vanished with my brother.