First Paycheck, Family First

After selling the potions, Taemin couldn't bear the thought of just heading straight home. He made his way to the fifth floor, where the weapon shops were located.

Taking the elevator up, he stepped out onto the fifth floor and wandered the aisles before slipping into the busiest store, packed with the most customers. He'd chosen the crowded spot on purpose—it let him browse without drawing attention. Wandering into a quiet shop would just invite pushy staff, which was a hassle he didn't need.

As expected, two employees were busy explaining gear to earlier customers. Taemin kept his distance, quietly taking in the shop's interior and eyeing the various weapons on display.

In the end, though, nothing was within his budget. Even the cheapest pieces cost as much as a luxury sedan. To him, they were nothing but pie in the sky.

After circling the store once, he left and headed down to the second floor's potion shop. He needed at least the bare minimum mana for hunting.

At the potion store, Taemin bought four lower-grade MP potions for 2 million won. That should cover any unexpected emergencies.

With potions secured, he exited the Hunter Market and went straight to the bank. At the counter, he wired 1 million won, then immediately dialed a number.

The call was to his mom.

"Hello? Taemin?"

"Mom."

"Is that really you, Taemin? Why don't you ever pick up? You make me worry. Where are you staying? Are you eating properly?"

"Mom, you think I'd starve or something? I eat three square meals a day, so don't worry. Nothing going on at home? How's your health?"

"I'm always healthy. What about you?"

"Too healthy, if anything. Anyway, that's not why I called."

"What is it? Need a favor? Money?"

"No, no. I got a job. A good one. First paycheck came today, so I just sent over 1 million won. Use it for living expenses."

"A job? For real? When did you start? No, you should use it yourself—save some. Why send it to us, and a whole million?"

"Just use it, don't worry. Mom, I'm at work—gotta hang up."

"Already? Wait, Taemin. You coming home?"

"Maybe for Chuseok. Gotta go, Mom—busy."

He hung up abruptly and stared at his phone with a satisfied smile.

At 20, he'd stormed out with big talk, living fiercely for nine long years. But the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠world wasn't kind. In today's Korea, where connections and backgrounds ruled, a high school dropout like him was limited to day labor and part-time gigs.

He'd tried academies and certifications at first, but luck never came. Everything fell short. Survival took priority, and suddenly nine years had slipped by.

Meanwhile, his friends landed good jobs, got married, had kids. How much had that gnawed at his parents? Taemin's chest tightened at the thought.

Lingering there a moment, he dialed again. This time, his one and only little sister.

"Hello?"

"So-eun."

"Oppa? Taemin oppa?"

"Yeah, it's me. You doing okay? College life treating you alright?"

"Yeah, so-so. You? Eating well?"

Her worried tone drew a wry smile from Taemin. Are you eating? The words he should say to her, flipped around. But it didn't bother him—her concern was genuine. If anything, he pitied himself for making her worry.

"Hey, you think your oppa's starving? I got a job."

"Really? Where? Does Mom know?"

"Yeah, small company but good terms. Just called her."

Taemin skipped mentioning he was a hunter. No real hunts yet, and it'd only worry them. He'd tell them once he was established.

"Whoa, congrats, oppa! After all that hardship, good days ahead."

"Anyway, text me your account number. First paycheck—I'll send you some pocket money."

"Pocket money? No, keep it. I don't need any."

"Tsk. Take it when I offer. I didn't go ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to college, but I know students burn cash. I couldn’t even get you an enrollment gift—so consider this one."

"Then I won't hold back? For real?"

"Yeah. Hang up and send it—I'm at the bank."

"Okay. Thanks, oppa."

"Yeah. Get inside. Study hard."

After the call, he wired 300,000 won to So-eun's account.

"Leaves me with 1.1 million? Rent this month... after expenses, maybe 300,000 left. Eh, I'll earn more."

Whistling cheerfully, Taemin headed home, fired up his computer, and logged into the hunter site. Then it hit him.

"Right, the tutorial's left."

He opened the quest window.

"Double Snake... new weapon as reward?"

Recalling the codex image and info, Taemin shook his head instinctively.

"White Lake now? 100% death sentence. Skip it. Gotta dodge this tutorial."

Closing the window, he dove back into the internet rabbit hole. Even after becoming a hunter, buying potions, and hunting a bit, he knew next to nothing. What dungeons per level? Hunter ranks? Raid formats? Questions galore.

Skipping lunch, he devoured info till ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠evening, then boiled a wandering ramen pack from the shelf for a late lunch-dinner.

Search continued post-meal. Late into the night, drowsiness hit; he checked the clock. 1 a.m.

"Time flew. Was glued to it."

Shutting down, he flopped onto bed.

Tomorrow's the real deal. Just do what you've practiced. Exactly that.

As sleep crept in, his phone buzzed—a text from So-eun.

"Kid's overdoing it."

Gazing warmly at So-eun's texts, he drifted off with a faint smile.

Next morning, Taemin stored his dried armor from the rack into inventory, ate breakfast, and stepped out.

"Activate map and touch it, right."

Muttering to himself, he opened inventory and activated the map. A massive rectangular window popped up, unfolding the map.

It zoomed with gestures—not as detailed as real apps, but neighborhood names showed.

"Full-on navigation. Anyway, from here..."

Recalling yesterday's intel, he scrutinized it. Colorful flags dotted nearby—dungeon difficulty markers. Green easiest, then yellow, blue, red, black escalating.

Beginner Dungeon: green.

"Tap this."

Touching the nearest green flag, the window vanished as green light spread across the ground.

Invisible paths extended; per his reading, this led to his dungeon.

"Guides like this. Nice. Let's go."

Following the green glow, he hit a six-lane road. Staring at the endless path, he sighed. Third segment already.

Too far? Rechecked map—nearest was here.

"Farther than I thought."

Trudging, he hailed a taxi. At this rate, he'd be drained before hunting.

"Yes, hop in. Where to?"

"Straight down this road. I'll guide as we go."

After turns on the six-laner, the cab reached Mibong Mountain entrance. Road ended—walk from here.

"Drop me here."

"Here? You're climbing?"

"Yeah."

"This is restricted... Hunter, right?"

"Yeah, sorta."

"Be careful. Lots of accidents lately."

"Thanks."

Post-taxi, Taemin followed green up the mountain. Soon, a container-sized guard post appeared. Two ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠uniformed men smoked outside. No hunter ID—he couldn't pass.

Detour.

Descending, he found a side path and pushed through. Designated controlled five years ago, Mibong had no trails beyond mains—blaze your own.

Hacking brush and trees for an hour and a half, he reached the glowing green portal.

"This it?"

Leaning against a tree by the portal, he rested. August heat soaked his shirt like rain.

Brief break over, he stripped the wet top, pulled beginner armor from inventory, and suited up. Freshly laundered and dried, it felt crisp with softener scent, lifting his spirits.

Geared, he activated potions and gripped his dagger.

"All set. Hoo... Time to go in."