Awakening
It's been over 20 years since gates opened in this world and awakeners first appeared.
In an era where being a hunter symbolizes ultimate wealth and power, that was just some far-off tale from TV dramas.
At least for me, anyway.
Age 22, jobless, male. Name: Yujin.
Oh, and for the record, it's a single-syllable name—Yujin, with the family name Yu and given name Jin.
Those two characters were the only inheritance I got from my parents.
Because when I was very young, a gate break claimed both of them.
By some miracle, I was rescued and shuttled straight into an orphanage, where I spent my childhood and teenage years.
Damn gates and monsters turned orphans into a nationwide production line, so facilities were underfunded. The moment I hit 18, they forced me out to fend for myself.
Luckily, I'd gotten into games at the orphanage and scraped by as a so-called "rice gamer"—one of those dark gamers grinding for cash.
But now, with game popularity tanking, my income had dried up completely.
So these days, I was grinding job applications hard.
But come on—orphan, non-awakener? Landing a decent gig is no joke. Big corps were a pipe dream; even small companies were tough.
Today's interview? The interviewers' dead-fish stares screamed epic rejection.
Sigh. If only I'd awakened to even a D-rank class...
Awakenings happen by rare chance.
Usually in early teens, latest mid-to-late twenties, so I still had a shot—but slim to none.
A D-rank hunter could coast through life worry-free, though.
I pulled up my phone to scroll the community.
Hunter Gallery. Aka HunGal. Korea's biggest, hottest hunter hub.
Swiping the popular posts board, one caught my eye.
I lurked on the post for a good while, then tapped out a reply.
Anon: Hamster wheel.
Shoved my phone away. Mood tanked.
...Honestly? I couldn't claim I'd given it my all. Never bet my life or burned my soul on effort.
Still. I'd hustled pretty hard, right? Lived way tougher than most.
So why was my life still pitch-black? Why no luck for me? I just want an easy ride sometimes. Not every day a grind. Not blinding light, but a sliver of sun in my rat hole—that's fair, yeah?
Too greedy? I let out a bitter chuckle.
Craved booze.
Grabbed a 10k four-pack of value beer from the convenience store, parked on a bench, and drained 'em all.
Normally one can floors me—booze weakling—but tonight it hit different.
"Haa..."
Buzzed solid, I staggered home.
Cold night air on my face, looked up at the sky.
Black as pitch tonight—no stars.
"Heh. Ain't easy."
Next morning.
Ugh... my head...
Clutched my pounding skull and cracked my eyes.
Overdid it last night.
Idiot. One flop interview and a salty HunGal post breaks me into this dumb shit?
One-can lightweight downs four? Hangover apocalypse inevitable.
Throat on fire. Mouth cotton-dry.
Water... need water...
Muttered that, trying to sit up—
"Haa—. This cursed thirst knows no end."
...?
Haughty, drowsy little-girl voice. Nearly screamed.
Because... that voice came from my mouth.
And my body felt off.
Hand slipping from the covers: unnaturally white, tiny, soft. Clothes felt baggy oversized.
Reached for my head—lush silver hair cascaded through my fingers.
And crucially—
Squish. Squish.
This unfamiliar, petite lump on my chest...?
Gi-girl?!
One conclusion.
Woke up a girl.
A really young one, too.
Crazy!
Bolted from bed to the bathroom mirror.
But flipping the light and facing the mirror—second shock stole my breath.
...!?
Nothing in the mirror.
Well, precisely: no me. Just my baggy sleep tee and shorts floating midair.
Invisible man?
Or boozed myself to death and ghosted?
Brain spinning chaos, one possibility flashed.
Only one word explains this nonsense in our world.
No way... awakening?
Swallowed hard, croaked out the word in a shaky voice. "Sta... status window?"
Name: Yujin
Level: 1
Class:Blood Lord (EX)
Crazy, real awakening.
Semi-transparent blue window floating in air.
Staring dazed—what jumped out.
EX-rank?
The grade after the class.
Hunter classes were like RPG jobs, assigned on awakening.
Grades from D to A, ultra-rare S.
EX? Never heard.
Surely above S... right?!
Heart hammered wild.
Class name Blood Lord, huh.
Badass ring to it.
But class alone didn't clue the powers.
Check class skills, they said.
Non-awakener gamer days taught me via forums.
Unique skills.
Class-exclusive uniques dictating power direction.
Glanced down.
Noble Bearing, Familiar Summon, Bloodsuck, Embrace
Unique skills. These bad boys. EX-class Blood Lord's kit.
But scanning the names— instant association.
Noble, familiars, bloodsucking?
Vampire, duh?
Oh yeah...!
Trivia nugget: vampires don't reflect in mirrors.
So... I'm a vampire now?
Makes sense. Girl body? Vampire fits.
But hold up.
No mirror reflection? Phone camera should work—different principles, right?
Dashed to room, snatched smartphone.
First, gotta see this face.
Tap-tap screen awake, stared like usual.
[Lock icon shakes]
[Face does not match. Please try again.]
...Right.
Body changed, face too.
Damn phone can't even recognize its owner.
Punched in PIN, unlocked, fired up camera app, flipped to selfie.
There she was.
Long silvery-white hair cascading, crimson eyes, slight fang peek—peak alluring noble loli.
Huh?
This... me? Squish. Poked soft pale cheek. Ah—opened mouth. Prodded sharp fangs. Screen mimicked perfect. Real deal.
Propped phone, stepped back for full view.
Height? Early 140cm tops.
Build... total chonklet.
What the.
Me like this?
"Unbelievable."
Tried muttering—
"Haa, what manner of absurd calamity is this?"
Out came sageuk drama archaism.
Hunted the weird speech filter—summoned status again.
Noble Bearing (Unique)
Noble beings do not debase themselves.
Perfect immunity to all mental attacks.
Your speech and actions are forcibly refined to suit a noble existence.
Yup, this skill.
Forced speech penalty, but mental immunity? OP as hell.
Seemed solid.
Anyway, next: Familiar Summon.
Familiar Summon (Unique)
Shape familiars from your great blood.
- Cooldown: 30 days
- Blood Power cost: 50
Sparse description.
Minion summoner vibe. 30-day cooldown notable.
Blood Power tho?
Corner of status: red gauge.
Blood Power:0/100 → 1/100
Watched: ticked to '1' slow.
Aha. Blood Power = mana bar.
Fill it to use summons etc. Got it.
Anyway.
Eat something, might regen faster. Grumble... Kinda hungry too. Rubbed tiny soft belly.
Checked fridge.
Jackpot: gleaming 1++ Hanwoo pack.
Never splurge normally, but last night boozy impulse-buy on 50% off sticker.
Drunk me still snagged discount meat. Good boy.
Gotta devour this premium before it spoils.
Fired up pan, slapped on beef.
Sizzle—
Ecstatic aroma wafted.
Korean staple: garlic mandatory.
Piled peeled cloves, grilled golden.
Nabbed perfect slice + garlic, dunked in ssamjang.
Hehe. Been ages since Hanwoo. Yum.
Saliva flooded. Popped it in, chewed bliss—
"...Urk?!!"
Chills shot up, gag reflex hit.
Tasted like garbage!
"Ptui ptui!! Wh-what foulness is this...!"
Spit chunk in sink, horrified. Tears welled.
"Ugh..."
Rinsed frantic with water gargle.
Calmed—late realization smacked.
Right. Vampires weak to garlic.
Status silent on it, overlooked.
Lucky just nasty taste, not poison.
Whew, stay sharp. Slipped up.
Self-scold, reached for forehead—
"Hmph! 'Tis not this body's fault. All blame lies with these barbaric ingredients!"
Arms auto-crossed, snippy excuse blurted.
...
Noble Bearing speech tweak.
This "noble" crap?
Least it's cute loli voice, not gravelly dude.
Wince at original voice version.
Embarrassed, grabbed chopsticks for rest anyway.
Wait.
Chopsticks froze midair.
No garlic?
...Korean food's garlic-loaded?
Stews, stir-fries, noodles. Even delivery bases.
Oh.
Beloved dishes flashed by.
Blood Lord Yujin.
Kimchi stew, seasoned chicken, pork stir-fry, gukbap, sundae stir-fry, tteokbokki, garlic pork wraps, etc.
...Lifetime ban!
"Th-this cannot be—!!"
The noble's indignant wail echoed through the tiny studio.