Job-Hunting Dad (2)
This was the 21st century. With smartphones and such devices advancing rapidly, all sorts of online communities had flourished.
Among them, the biggest anonymous one was none other than the Hunter Gallery.
To civilians, hunters were a kind of heroes. Sure, F-rank hunters were common enough around town, but S-ranks? Not so much. When gates collapsed or disasters struck, only hunters stood between them and annihilation. It was only natural to view them through hero-tinted glasses.
And then...
A single post that went up on the Hunter Gallery. It would've been just another shitpost to scroll past under normal circumstances... but the embedded Nutube link sparked a massive storm.
The content was utterly mundane. A short-form Nutube video asking for Itaewon date course recommendations via street interviews. Cute guys popped up occasionally, and clips like that got posted now and then.
However.
Most were just compliments on his looks. There wasn't a cuter guy in the video than him. The hunter background just added massive charm points.
That was the moment. Gallery users who watched the video to the end started going feral one by one.
It was pandemonium. The mods, called "paddeoks," posted about banning the bait, but the overwhelming firepower dug up even old fake hunter verification posts, getting them booted from moderation.
The ripple from the biggest community spread everywhere.
(A meme of a frog looking glum.)
….
(A photo of a man with purple hair.)
"Ah, n-no...! H-how could an ajusshi like me...!"
…!!!!
(A meme of a frog's eyes popping out past its glasses.)
Crash!!!
That's a 40s guy?
No matter hunter or not, shouldn't we know about someone like that already?
(Frog thumbs-up meme.)
(5-second video clip.)
"I-it's not virgins teasing an ajusshi...!"
(Frog with brain-melting expression meme.)
Meanwhile, the real world was startlingly quiet compared to the rowdy internet.
"Wh-what do I do, what do I do!!"
"Dad, calm down...."
"Wh-what if they recognize me? I-I-I..."
...Correction. Lee Ji-ah shook her head at her fidgeting father, though she couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at her lips.
There were two big reasons.
One was that he was just too cute. Straight up. His face was all over the internet now, and the reactions were scorching hot. Like those "news pretty boy" or "subway tardy girl" memes that lingered forever.
She got why he was worried. But wasn't he a hunter? Faces got sold by default in that line of work. Hunter registration alone plastered your mug all over search results. ...Though hardly anyone bothered looking.
Anyway. Ji-ah sighed in relief, reminded of the other reason.
She regretted snapping that out in anger. She wanted him to change. That was true.
But...
'He's too precious.'
Now? As she grew more honest with her desires, Ji-ah was changing bit by bit, almost without realizing it.
She just wished he'd never work. She'd handle the jobs, the money, the social life.
Like always. Waking her in the mornings, setting out delicious breakfasts, smiling as he told her to take care.
She wanted that routine to stretch on forever.
The old Yoo-seong. The future Yoo-seong. If asked which was closer to her ideal, it was the one up till now.
What an ironic feeling. She wanted her dad to improve... while also staying chained to her, gazing only at her for life.
"Dad, it'll be fine, I promise."
"Uwaaa...."
Maybe because her cute dad was so adorable. Ji-ah's smile deepened as she watched him.
Mir Academy's principal office. Korea's hunter academy, one of the world's elite. But unlike the grand exterior, the office was humbly modest—mostly magic tomes, research parchment, and materials.
In that space, an employee's apology echoed.
"I'm sorry, Principal Ryu Ga-young."
"Enrollment ceremony's in a few weeks. You know that, right?"
"Yes, b-but..."
She already knew. Why the apology, what happened.
"The professor ran off?"
"...No excuse."
Haa. China again?
The academy principal—snow-white hair, witch-like hat. S-rank hunter, grand mage Ryu Ga-young. She rubbed her throbbing temples.
"No talent there? Why do they always poach with big money?"
"......"
Like meat stuck between teeth, with no floss. Frustrating, plain and simple.
Ryu Ga-young took a slow breath. Think, think. Like casting a spell, she listed the issues step by step.
"New department.... New department...."
Monster Response Studies. A fresh addition to the academy this year. She'd pushed for it upon becoming principal. But the world wasn't helping.
"No people. No people."
Professor bolted. Ceremony weeks away.
She could just scrap the department. It wasn't established yet. But pride, right?
Yeah. No point agonizing alone.
"Call a professor meeting."
Raiding gates was easier. Her headache said this wouldn't resolve smoothly.
Moments later, she gathered about ten people. One S-rank hunter among them, mostly A-ranks.
Hunter academy. Trained hunters, plain and simple.
So maybe that's why they fixated on "training" hunters. Always had, still did.
Made sense. Boosting hunter power meant higher raid success rates.
"That guy's gone?"
"Knew he'd bolt."
"Non-hunter teaching kids? With what power?"
"......"
Ryu Ga-young reined in her temper. Endure, endure.
Monster Response Studies. Focused on monster intel and strategy creation.
50 years since the world changed. Academy 40 years old. No department on monsters themselves? Ridiculous.
Finally, fed up, she'd become principal to launch it.
However.
"Shut up."
"......"
"......"
Whoosh. Mana rippled. An S-rank's presence oozed lethal intent.
She was pissed! Ryu Ga-young seriously wondered if all hunters were thick-headed.
"I've explained Monster Response Studies' importance already?"
"...Can't experience handle it?"
Crack.
Screw it. Time to flip tables.
That instant.
-Triiing ring ring.
"...?"
A smartphone in her pocket. Nothing like her usual one.
Hotline. Direct line. Bypassing all steps straight to the principal.
And.
A presence she couldn't even imagine was waiting for her to pick up.
"Sh-shut up."
"Yes, Principal."
Crack! An ice chunk materialized midair, smashing the head of a sword-bearing middle-aged woman.
Nothing happened. Except the crater and her knockout.
"...Hello?"
[G-Ga-young senior... long time.]
"Yoo-seong junior, that you...?"
[Y-yes....]
20 years? Last saw him at Lee Seol-ah's funeral.
A call from a guy out of touch for ages. The content? Simple, straightforward.
[U-um... any jobs open... by chance?]
Job hunting. At the absurd topic, Ryu Ga-young burst out laughing.