Chapter 10

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 10

Chapter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Title: Hunters Need Social Lives Too

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The chairman had told me there was no need to be so nervous, but my heart was pounding so hard it made my stomach churn.

The news of the world's first SS-Rank Hunter—and the number one in DF rankings—appearing in Korea had drawn an absurd swarm of reporters camping outside the Hunter Association headquarters.

'My heart's gonna jump right out of my chest.'

"Sorry I'm late. Oh, the reporters are already here."

'And just like that, he's my boss.'

The moment I joined the Hunter Association, Kim Kang-hee Chairman naturally became my superior. Yeah, this was actually more comfortable than any special treatment.

A simple press conference in front of the association headquarters was standard procedure for any S-Rank Hunter or above. I hadn't seen others do it, but I'd watched Se-bin-i's live on broadcast.

The image of her in her school uniform, standing stiffly beside the chairman and calmly answering the reporters' questions, was still fresh in my mind—and that was already four years ago.

"You'll get all kinds of questions. You don't have to answer every single one."

"Got it."

Kim Kang-hee Chairman... no, Chairman Kim patted my shoulder.

"Uh, looks like I'm the last one to arrive."

Mi-rae-ssi showed up fashionably late, right as the appointed time hit. It was just a casual press conference, but she still appeared in a stretched-out T-shirt under a lab coat.

"At least pull up that T-shirt. Your tattoos are showing too much."

"Oh, right, yeah."

Mi-rae-ssi yanked her T-shirt up behind her neck and adjusted her coat.

She looked about one gram more put-together than before.

"Alright, let's head out."

Charararak.

The moment we stepped outside, a torrent of flashes assaulted us.

I carefully relaxed my furrowed brow and slowly opened my eyes, finally adjusting to the insane barrage. Dozens of cameras were aimed right at me, and reporters' questions burst through the shutter clicks.

"Shin Ji-ui Hunter! Are you really SS-Rank?"

"How did the awakening happen?!"

"Is it true your unique skill is healing-based?"

Man, questions of every ridiculous stripe. Where'd they even get the healing thing from?

Weeeeng.

'Even drone cameras...'

Dozens of drone cameras buzzed around, scrambling my brain.

"You can't come any closer."

The security team pushed the reporters back a step before retreating to the side. Mi-rae-ssi glanced between them and the guards before speaking first.

"Um, yes, Shin Ji-ui Hunter's rank came out as SS-Rank light attribute, just as registered with WHDB. DF is S5—the highest recorded value worldwide."

"What about the chance of a machine error?!"

"Hey, do I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠look like a sucker? If it was an error, it wouldn't spit out specific numbers like that—it just wouldn't output at all, you thick-headed bas... ."

"Next question."

The chairman swiftly moved on.

"Is it a healing skill?"

"Did Ha Mi-jun Hunter make your weapon?"

"It's attack-based, and yes, Ha Mi-jun Hunter made ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the weapon."

I answered in a rush, then touched my ear.

Paaah.

Ego gleamed, emitting light in all directions before returning to its original form in my hand.

Chachachachachacha.

Whoa, it's like a monsoon out here.

The shutter sounds exploded rapidly, and reporters let out gasps of admiration. I returned Ego to my ear and faced the cameras.

"Was your previous job as a student?!"

"I worked at a clothing store."

"What's the inscription on your weapon?"

"No comment on that one."

Yeah, no need to spill everything.

Kiiik.

Right on cue, the prepared car pulled up to the entrance, and the reporters, sensing time running out, unleashed a barrage of questions.

"What are your plans for hunter activities going forward?!"

"Word is the American Bullet Guild is sending a love call—what do you think?"

"How did you awaken?!"

Not a single question worth answering.

As I dazedly stared into the flash storm, Mi-rae-ssi poked my side.

"Just say something about your aspirations and wrap it up..."

"Wh-what were your first thoughts upon awakening?!"

Then a woman's voice cut through from between the cameras. I turned toward it—a petite reporter scribbling furiously, her glasses half-off her face.

'Yeah, screw aspirations. Time for a warning.'

Not just for me, but for everyone—a warning to prepare for the coming apocalypse.

I stared straight into the largest camera lens in front. The reporter peering through the viewfinder flinched.

"I thought there must be a reason I awakened right now, in this situation."

For an instant, everything went quiet. The relentless shutters paused, Mi-rae-ssi quit grumbling about the chaos, and it felt like the whole breathing world held its breath to hear me.

"...I'll do my best."

Chachachachachacha.

"Wh-what did you just say?!"

"Please elaborate, Shin Ji-ui Hunter!"

The reporters surged forward with mics like a screen hitting play.

"Like a pack of dogs."

"Good work, Shin Ji-ui Hunter. Head inside now."

"Yes, sir."

As Mi-rae-ssi grimaced in disgust, the chairman patted my back and nudged me toward the limo.

"Shin Ji-ui Hunter! Shin Ji-ui Hunter!"

I climbed into the car, leaving the calling reporters behind.

"Perfect."

Thank goodness—the reaction I wanted. The world was flipping out over my existence and starting to move, bit by bit, to prepare for the changes to come.

Tadak.

"Ah."

Trying to exit an internet news site, my finger slipped and hit something else, filling the screen with an anonymous board.

All kinds of crap, as expected. A few scrolls down, and the board was plastered with posts about me.

"Ugh, so embarrassing..."

Facing my rowdy past like this was mortifying.

♪♩♬♪

Then my phone rang out of nowhere.

Mom

"Hey, Mom. All moved in?"

—Yeah, just finished unpacking. Eaten yet?

"Not yet."

—There's Dad's seolleongtang in the fridge. Eat that at least.

"Will do."

I parted the curtains slightly while talking.

'Those creeps are still hanging around.'

A pack of camera-wielding reporters or paparazzi lurked around the rundown neighborhood. Knowing this would happen, I'd requested protection from the association—they'd quickly moved Mom and Dad to a new place. They'd deduct it from my next paycheck, but hey, a roof over their heads was something.

—Once you get paid, move out too. That place is too rundown anyway...

"Nah, I like it here."

—Stubborn as ever... Anyway, eat up and rest. Come visit often.

"Sure."

—Ji-ui.

"Yeah?"

A brief silence crossed the line.

—Take care of yourself.

"...Got it. You and Dad too."

Click.

After hanging up, the emptiness of the house hit hard. It was quiet when Ji-yu left, making us three, but alone? Definitely lonely.

Gurgle.

"...Guess I'm just hungry."

I pulled Dad's seolleongtang from the fridge and set it on the stove.

Should've learned to cook if I knew semi-forced independence was coming. Hope I don't end up living on delivery forever.

♪♩♬♪

Who now? I dragged the phone across the table.

Se-bin

"Hello?"

—Can you talk now?

"Yeah. What's up?"

—Ding. Turn right in a moment.

A navigation voice came through the phone.

In the car?

—Dropping by your place with something. Can you come down when I call?

"Just come up. House is empty except for me now."

—Oh, you moved. Got it, heading over.

"You know where it is?"

—Of course. Be there in about five.

"Cool. Oh, watch out—cameras everywhere!"

—Mhm.

The call ended with her cute affirmation.

Our sweet Se-bin-i... what if she gets scammed by some softie act?

Clatter, clatter.

The seolleongtang was just starting to boil—sorry, soup, but Se-bin-i comes first.

Wonder what she's bringing? Got my weapon already, and for armor, she said apply skill before dungeons. Feels like I've got everything.

Ding-dong.

Spot on five minutes.

I opened the door, and a whiff of soap hit before I even saw Se-bin-i.

"You showered?"

"Yeah, came from training."

"Come on in."

Now that I looked, her outfit was different. No shirt and tie—just a plain hoodie and jeans. Her usual 5:5 part half-up hair was down, slightly damp.

"Been forever since I visited. Last time was middle school, I think."

"That long?"

We'd invite her every holiday like clockwork, but after her awakening, even that stopped.

Wow, middle school really was the last time.

Se-bin-i looked around the house like she was visiting her hometown before plopping on the sofa.

"So, what's the gift?"

"This."

She pulled something from her bag.

"...A phone?"

It was a plain-looking smartphone. I turned it on—background was the Hunter Association logo, with just one app.

Hunter Intranet

"App for hunters only. Used for contacting other hunters, viewing basic profiles, community boards, clan applications, etc."

"Neat."

Tap the app, and white text on black: Shin Ji-ui Hunter Authentication Complete

Screen flipped white, buttons galore: Hunter Contacts, Dungeon Guide, Training Room Booking, Training Menus, Dispatch Requests...

Hunter Contacts brought up profiles sorted by rank.

Lemme check Se-bin-i's.

[Kang Se-bin / S-Rank / Darkness / Training Director]

[Send Message]

[Call]

Direct contact, no personal numbers needed. Handy feature.

"This phone's made from dungeon byproducts, so you can store it in inventory and call from inside dungeons."

"Oh, cool."

I stashed the work phone in and out of inventory, marveling at modern tech.

Now with a network, just one thing left.

Recruit them all as comrades with 'Word Seeds.'