Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Lee Ji-ah (1)
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[Abyss Dungeon Raid Failure!]
The rankers have failed to clear the Abyss Dungeon.
It's reported that the raid team included Lee Ji-ah, known as Korea's top hunter.
Lee Ji-ah's fingers froze over the keyboard.
She flinched.
The sharp jab from the comments sapped her will to reply any further.
No matter what she said, they wouldn't accept it.
"What the hell..."
Hate comments. Hate comments. Hate comments.
The feed was flooded with them.
What had she done to deserve the entire nation gleefully tearing into her like this?
The dungeon raid failure was a defeat for humanity itself, yet online it felt like a victory celebration, with people competing to mock her career.
Lee Ji-ah gnawed at her nails, hammering the F5 key relentlessly.
Tak-tak-tak-tak-tak!
The comments kept piling up. The internet brimmed with ridicule.
Hunters, more famous than celebrities, drew massive public interest in their private lives—and naturally, hate comments were inevitable.
'Hate comments? Ignore them. It's just backtalk. If it doesn't reach my ears, why bother?'
Her teammates had tried advising her, but Lee Ji-ah, unusually sensitive to others' gazes, couldn't just scroll past.
She doggedly read every single one. Sweat dripped from her chin to the floor.
Drring!
Her phone rang. The caller: Hunter Association President. With trembling hands, Lee Ji-ah answered.
"Ji-ah."
"...What is it?"
"I have something to tell you, so I called."
"We're not the type to call without reason."
The president hesitated. Ji-ah swallowed hard. A call from him after a failed raid? Nothing good.
"Due to this raid failure, your rank is being downgraded..."
Crack!
The phone shattered. She'd gripped it too hard without realizing. Staring blankly at the screen, she scrolled through the news.
Endless hate comments poured in. If one failure sparked this, a rank downgrade?
"Ha, haha..."
She let out a hollow laugh. It'd be incomparable to now.
And she was right. The next day, the article about her rank downgrade exploded with comments.
Lee Ji-ah halted all public activities, holing up at home.
All she did was scour articles and check comments.
Ignoring worried calls from teammates, she kept reading the hate.
A month later, she stepped outside with hollow eyes.
This is the age of superpowered beings. A select few humans awakened to magic-like abilities. And I was one of those chosen ones.
"Hyun-woo, we need to place an order. Go check the coffee bean stock in the warehouse."
"Got it, hyung."
Right, order day. I finished washing dishes and headed to the warehouse. Opening the door unleashed a wave of coffee aroma.
"One, two, three, four..."
Crouched down counting sacks—what a life. I sighed without thinking.
A year ago, when I awakened by chance, I felt like I owned the world.
Hunter recruitment ads were everywhere on subway screens. Hunters: humanity's frontline shield against monsters.
Admiration, honor, and the money that followed.
What boy didn't dream of being a hunter? I had too, until reality hit—only awakeners could.
But then I awakened. My chance to become a hunter had come.
That joy lasted only a moment. The Association appraised my ability: trash tier and below.
Called 'Peace of Mind.'
It calms people around me.
'Huh? That's really it?'
'Yes, Mr. Kim Hyun-woo. Your ability solely soothes the mind and body!'
Still ridiculous thinking back. What the hell do you use this for?
But I hadn't given up on my dream.
Perseverance!
I was licking coffee beans instead of gall, preparing for the future at this cafe.
"..."
A presence behind me. Park Ji-young, the part-timer. She looked troubled.
"Oppa, you done with stock check?"
"Yeah, just finished and taking a break. Why?"
"Boss is looking for you urgently."
"What's up?"
"A complaint."
"Ah."
I got the gist and hurried to the shop.
The cafe was quiet. Soft pop from the speakers. Shattering it: a woman's shrill voice.
"Sorry fixes everything!? How are you gonna compensate me!?"
In the corner, the boss and customer argued. The boss was taking all the heat, as usual in service jobs.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. Must've been a mix-up with the order. We'll refund you right away."
"You think I'm some beggar!?"
Still bitching after a refund.
What's the deal? I whispered to Ji-young.
"Why's she like that?"
"She ordered a latte, and boss definitely heard hot, so he made it hot."
"And?"
"She chugged it immediately and now says her palate's burned. Claims she ordered iced..."
Oh boy.
Most common cafe complaint.
Usually, you remake what they want, but with a burned palate, she wanted more compensation.
"@#$%@#$%!!"
As she screamed, our eyes met. Boss gestured wildly at her.
Desperate face. Help me signal. I shook my head no. His expression darkened.
"What right do you have to scowl!?"
Customer shouting, boss managing his face. He wiggled fingers behind his back.
Ding!
Text from boss.
[Chang-sik Hyung: Please help me out!]
Come to think, I've slacked on training lately.
Wanna schedule PT tomorrow?
[Me: Can you cover for me tomorrow?]
[Chang-sik Hyung: I'll do it! Hurry!]
Perfect.
I strode over. Boss's face lit up. Guess the customer didn't like that. During a complaint, that look might seem mocking.
I cleared my throat.
"Ma'am."
"And who the hell are you...!"
Her words trailed off. Her angry face softened bit by bit. A bit dazed. Familiar now.
"What seems to be the problem?"
"Well... I ordered iced latte... but it was hot..."
"We'll remake it right away."
"...Okay. Be careful next time."
"Yes, very sorry."
Leaving the bewildered customer, I quickly cleared the cup. Boss followed frantically.
"Hyun-woo, thanks man!"
"Cover my shift tomorrow."
"Obviously. I'll handle it. Rest up tomorrow."
Jackpot.
Whistling happily, I brewed the coffee. Boss scratched his chin, staring.
"But seriously, it's weird no matter how I look at it."
"What?"
"Any complaint, and whenever you show up, customers turn into lambs."
Thanks to my 'Peace of Mind' ability. Useless for hunting, but S-rank for service jobs.
I smiled awkwardly.
"W-Well, maybe my face looks calming?"
Boss eyed my face, tilting his head.
"Really? You don't look that calming."
"Hyung, she'll get mad again. Hurry with the iced latte."
"R-Right. Thanks, Hyun-woo."
Boss left with the coffee. I sighed in relief.
I kept my awakening secret.
Endless prying: what ability, why this job after awakening.
Nothing special anyway—always more cons than pros revealing it.
Shop quieted after she calmed. Nothing to do, I zoned out on TV.
—This is the mansion of former ranker Lee Ji-ah. She's currently unreachable and missing...
News showed what looked like her place. Reporter interviewed neighbors. Reputation fine.
"Jeez, an S-rank hunter ghosting? World's first, right?"
Boss, now beside me, chimed in. Everyone puzzled by her sudden vanishing. Global issue, not just Korea.
As boss said, first time a top-tier ranker dipped without a word.
Hunting's honorable. Full of duty and mission. An S-rank leading the pack ghosts after one failed raid?
Internet was chaos.
Lee Ji-ah had tons of antis, but also fans for looks and skill.
Usually fans vs. antis balanced, but the vanishing tipped it to antis.
"Anyway. Hyun-woo, I'm heading out first."
Boss untied apron. Clock: 5:30 PM.
Still early?
"Already, hyung?"
"Thanks to you, I'm working tomorrow too."
"Fair trade."
"Sure. But I'm the boss, so I do what I want. Punching out at 5:30 today."
Boss left. Shop still quiet. Ji-young untied apron, approached.
"Oppa, I'm going too."
"Okay. See you the day after."
"Not tomorrow?"
"Traded complaint handling for tomorrow off with boss."
"Ah."
"Get home safe."
"Yeah. See you then."
Glanced at clock. 9:30 PM. No customers. Closing time. Stood to flip the sign.
Whirr.
Auto-door opened. Customer: woman in deep hat. Sunglasses at night? Odd vibe.
"Welcome."
Greeting reluctantly, I froze. She marched to a table, thrust out her card.
"Cappuccino. Grande. Cake for dessert. For here. No discount."
Dada-da.
She rapid-fired, sat by window. I rushed the order. Quitting time speed: double normal.
"Here you go."
She nodded curtly. Her thanks, I guess. Back at counter, I stared at her face, praying.
Please.
Leave soon.
She sipped coffee, glued to phone. Sunglasses hid eyes. Nervously bit nail, muttered.
"Ha, what the hell did I do wrong..."
"Why won't you leave me alone..."
"I vanished 'cause I hated seeing you. I did what you wanted, so why look for me?"
Hmm...
Crazy lady?
Only her in shop, mutters drilled in. Privacy invasion, but unavoidable. Can't exactly say I heard.
But the mutters escalated.
"I'm gonna die..."
"If I die, you'll all regret it, right?"
"Every one who hated me so far..."
"...This is what you wanted, huh?"
What the fuck is she saying?
Gonna have a funeral in the shop tonight.