Quitting the Dead-End Job
Taemin finally made it back home. He wanted to check potion prices online.
After rummaging through websites for a while, he quickly found some posts about potions.
Lower Potion (Normal) - Restores 100 HP or MP on use. Price: 500,000 won each.
Mid Potion (Normal) - Restores 300 HP or MP on use. Price: 2,000,000 won each.
Upper Potion (Normal) - Restores 500 HP or MP on use. Price: 3,500,000 won each.
Can only consume 1 per minute. No effect from stacking. (Rare+ potions have shorter intervals.)
Taemin stared at the explanations and prices, his jaw dropping at the outrageous figures. Any thought of buying vanished.
"Damn, that's expensive. No way I can afford that with what I've got."
He closed the webpage and logged back into the hunter community site. There had to be a way without potions. After poking around, he found a method to recover MP and HP: sleep for at least four hours.
Confirming it, Taemin muttered as if it all made sense now.
"No wonder potions cost a fortune. You can't exactly nap during a hunt. Alright, that's settled. Anything else worth checking? Oh..."
Idly browsing, Taemin glanced at the clock. 1 p.m. Time to head to the restaurant.
"Sigh. Got that appointment tomorrow."
A deep sigh escaped his lips. The boss would never grant him time off.
It had been three months since he'd shouldered all the work alone. The boss kept making excuses not to hire more staff. Vacations? Long gone.
Suddenly, pent-up frustration boiled over.
"Yeah. I can't take it anymore. I've put up with plenty, haven't I? Even sympathy has its limits."
Like he'd made a major decision, Taemin rushed out of the house. He arrived at the restaurant—his workplace.
As he stepped inside, the boss started his usual antics, just like always.
"You're here? Hurry up and set up today's skewers. Oh, right—peel the garlic too. Peeled garlic's too pricey, so whole bulbs starting today."
The boss said this while glued to his smartphone game.
Taemin cautiously spoke up.
"Um... Boss."
"What?"
"Sorry, but I think I have to quit."
"What?"
The boss whipped his head around the moment the words landed.
"Well... it's just too much."
"Too much what?"
"We used to have three people on the floor, but now it's just me, and it's overwhelming."
"Hey, you messing around? Back in my day, I handled a 50-table Chinese place solo. And you're whining about less than 20 tables? Cut the crap and get prepping."
The boss was as tough as ever. But this time, Taemin wouldn't back down.
"It's not just the floor—I'm scrubbing griddles and doing all the prep too..."
"Argh, seriously. You protesting? Want more staff? Economy's in the shitter, and now you're stressing me out."
Economy? You live in a 50-pyeong apartment, own two cars including a sports car, and brag about it nonstop.
Taemin swallowed the retort that reached his throat and pressed on.
"Sorry. I'm quitting."
"You little shit... Fine. I'll bump your pay 500,000 won. Happy?"
"500,000 won?"
Taemin's enthusiasm plummeted at the offer. The boss had the spare cash all along but treated him like a machine until now. Infuriating.
If he hadn't spoken up today, that raise would've stayed a pipe dream forever.
"Sorry."
"You punk. You quit, and I'm screwed? I'm offering more money, and you pull this? I took in a nobody with nowhere to go, and now you stab me in the back? Unbelievable."
The boss's abuse made Taemin snap.
"Boss, that's too far. You've had me cover a three-person floor for three months. When you fired the others, you begged me to hang on a few days—said you'd hire quick. I've stuck it out three months; that's enough. And the crap I take? Full house, and it's 'bring this,' 'clear that,' 'griddle ready yet?' Rooms yelling 'why so slow?' One body, six orders minimum. Slight delay, and the abuse pours. You ever help? What do you do?"
The boss's face twisted like he'd eaten shit at Taemin's pent-up rant.
"You punk. Why would I, the boss, do grunt work?"
"Then hire properly."
"Ha. You bottom-feeders don't get it. Running a restaurant? Labor ain't cheap."
"That's why I'm out. Bottom-feeder life. Don't know your books, but floor labor dropped from 6 mil to 4 mil—that much I know. No more bad blood. I'm gone."
As Taemin stood, the boss grabbed him irritably.
"Hey! Argh, fine. 1 mil raise. Take it or leave it."
"1 mil? Ha... Sorry, cash up front maybe, but 10 mil wouldn't cut it now. 18 days to payday, 12 days' pay—hire day labor, scout staff. That's my last courtesy."
With that, Taemin walked out. Curses and yells echoed behind, but they couldn't stop his resolved steps.
Having vented everything, he returned home clutching his still-trembling chest. Today, he'd finally done what he'd dreamed of during shifts.
Pity about the 12 days' work, but his sudden quit meant eating the loss. The boss wouldn't pay anyway.
"Whew. Anyway, unemployed now. But hey, I'm a hunter. Starving? Public servant gig or whatever."
What was done was done; Taemin tried thinking positive.
The next morning, he headed out to meet the woman who'd agreed to help. Excited, he boarded the subway and got off at Myeongdong Station, exiting via Gate 2.
He'd gotten her description over the phone. Soon after he arrived, a woman in striking blue hunter gear appeared at the exit.
Her outfit screamed hunter: mantle over shoulders, silver bracelets dangling with ornaments.
Taemin recognized her instantly as yesterday's caller.
"You the one from... yesterday?"
"Ah! The guy who called?"
"Yeah. Hi, I'm Park Taemin."
"Oh, right. Yoon Ji-young. You beat me here? Wait long?"
"Nah, just arrived."
"Okay. Shall we head out then?"
"Sure."
At Taemin's reply, Yoon Ji-young stepped away from the exit and swiped her hand through the air. A brilliant blue light flared from her palm, forming a two-meter-tall blue portal in empty space.
A short-range multi-portal travel method. He'd seen it on broadcasts.
She gestured for Taemin, who stared in wonder, to enter first.
"Ah, yeah. Just step in?"
"Yep. I'll follow right after."
Taemin cautiously stepped through; Yoon Ji-young followed.
About five minutes after they vanished, the portal faded completely.
Plenty of onlookers, but no one batted an eye. Hunters in downtown? Everyday now.
Inside the portal, Taemin instinctively took a few steps into the darkness. It parted, revealing an unfamiliar mountain vista—Seoul sprawling below.
Where's this?
Emerging, Taemin scanned around, waiting for Yoon Ji-young. She appeared moments later.
"First time here?"
"Yeah. City's visible, so nearby...?"
"Namsan."
"Ah, Namsan. Got it."
Taemin nodded. Namsan had been controlled for 20 years—no civilians allowed. Restrictions eased recently, but few visited the faded landmark.
Taemin had only heard tales; this was his first.
"Beginner Dungeon's a short hike down. Got your weapon?"
"Yeah. But do I fight too?"
"Of course. You gotta solo-kill for EXP—party levels block it. Don't worry; I'll set 'em up for you."
She flashed a small smile. Utterly beautiful.
"Pull it out now?"
"Yeah, equip everything—gear too."
Taemin opened his inventory, donned the beginner top and bottoms, gripped his dagger. His shabby look embarrassed him; he grinned awkwardly.
"Low level still... haha."
"That's a sword?"
"Yeah. Too short for real combat?"
"Mm. Buy a proper one later. Attack skills?"
"Nah. Got one skill, but not attack. Buff...? Boosts movement speed anyway."
She looked surprised.
"Movement speed? By how much?"
"30 per point, I think. Good?"
Casual question, but Yoon Ji-young got excited, explaining.
"Very. My Haste maxes at 75. 30 per level? Near cheat-tier. Speed gear's rare, pricey—rich folks struggle too."
"For real? Speed's that key? Thought just for fleeing."
"Fleeing too, sure. But raids need it. Big dungeons are vast; one slacker slows the team. Mid-levels, it's a must-check."
"Ah, yeah..."
Taemin listened quietly, inwardly thrilled. Speed mattered big in hunts.
Not your average class after all. And she ain't ordinary either.
Recalling his awakening, Yoon Ji-young's voice cut in.
"I talked too much solo."
"Nah. Learned stuff I didn't know. Fine by me."
"Good. Then... chat's over—let's move?"