Those Who Do Not Work Shall Not Eat (1)

Chief Evaluator Choi Bo-mi of the Returnee Management Bureau had a lot on her plate.

Although she also held the concurrent role of ethical auditor for returnees, as she climbed the ranks, the hands-on work of conducting face-to-face ethical audits had long since been delegated to other auditors and her subordinates.

Lee Sia was the first returnee assigned directly to Choi Bo-mi in years, ever since she had promoted to her current position.

At first, when the higher-ups suddenly dropped a specific returnee on her lap, she had felt a spark of curiosity. Just how incredible is this new returnee? she had wondered.

But to her utter shock...

Not only was this returnee capable of holding her own in a proper fight against the legendary Yeon Seo, but Yeon Seo herself had personally paid a visit to declare that Lee Sia was under the protection of the Yeon family.

Though she hadn't received a detailed report of what exactly had transpired, it was only natural for Choi Bo-mi to take a keen interest in this individual named Lee Sia.

Based solely on the testimonies of Yeon Seo and her granddaughter, it was clear that Sia was no ordinary returnee. Yet, when Choi Bo-mi conducted the face-to-face ethical audit herself, she felt an unsettling sensation from Lee Sia—as if she were staring directly into the abyss.

Initially, she assumed it was because Sia was an undead saintess, a non-human anomaly, just as she had claimed in her testimony.

Because she wasn't human.

Because she was deceased.

She figured her instinctual unease stemmed from that fact.

In truth, she wasn't even sure if "unease" was the right word to describe the feeling.

However, the moment she activated her skill, Thought Share, to connect with Lee Sia's subconscious, a cold shiver ran down her spine.

Have you ever considered how a giant elephant, by merely shifting its weight, can crush an ant beneath its foot without ever realizing the ant was even there?

For a split second, Choi Bo-mi felt exactly like that ant.

A being that could bring about disaster simply by moving, even without a shred of malice.

Of course, she didn't believe Lee Sia was some absolute, ultimate evil, or a hostile entity that humanity needed to eliminate at all costs.

If anything, Sia was good.

Undead, yes, but still a "saintess."

Having lived for over sixty years, she had seemingly coexisted with humanity despite her undead nature. And even after spending such a vast amount of time in "that other world," she had somehow preserved her humanity.

Considering that those who spent over thirty years in "that other world" usually returned with severely warped moral compasses, Lee Sia was an exceptionally rare and peculiar case.

Furthermore, judging by the testimonies gathered through Thought Share, her examinations, and the occasional remarks Sia let slip, it was easy to deduce that she still deeply missed the connections she had made in the other world, including people with whom she shared profound bonds.

If we manage her properly, she could be a massive asset.

What worried Choi Bo-mi the most was Lee Sia's identity and true intentions, which remained entirely shrouded in mystery.

Her raw power was said to rival that of Yeon Seo, the strongest hunter in human history, but was her mind equally mature and experienced?

What was her goal?

What did she desire?

What did she want to do now that she was back on Earth?

Did she even want to do anything at all?

And did she have any untouchable trauma or an Achilles' heel? If so, what was it?

Looking at the logs of Lee Sia's location tracker, which showed she hadn't stepped foot outside her house for an entire month, Choi Bo-mi found herself lost in thought.

The higher-ups had likely ordered her to personally monitor Lee Sia to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.

"Whew. I should contact her tomorrow to schedule the second evaluation... and maybe pitch the idea of becoming a hunter."

The Association had already been pestering her to find someone to test their new equipment.

If the opportunity arose, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have Lee Sia run the tests.

It was still up in the air whether Lee Sia would accept the offer, but if she did become a hunter, it would be a massive stroke of luck for the country and its citizens.

The birth of a hero on par with Yeon Seo was no small matter.

If things went well, the government would likely launch a massive campaign to package Lee Sia as a newly arisen hero, showering her with support. But everything hinged on Sia's own intentions.

If she had no desire to stand in the spotlight or receive public attention, things would get a lot more complicated.

Ring, ring.

"Yes, this is Choi Bo-mi, Chief Evaluator of the Returnee Management Bureau."

[Chief, I'm sorry to bother you, but you need to come downstairs immediately.]

"What is it?"

Choi Bo-mi tilted her head at the voice of the junior ethical auditor coming through her smartwatch.

It was the employee who, until just a moment ago, had been monitoring Lee Sia's location data.

[Well... Returnee Lee Sia is here.]

"What? Right now? Out of nowhere?"

Why would Lee Sia suddenly show up at the Bureau?

"Wait, why is she here without warning? And what is the location tracker for?! If she was coming, you should have notified me in advance!"

[That's the thing... A little while ago, her tracker stopped moving near Dangsan Station for a long time. Since it was lunchtime, I stepped out for a quick bite, but during that brief window, her tracker's signal completely vanished. It just pinged again a moment ago, right in front of the Bureau.]

"..."

Location trackers weren't foolproof.

If a target went deep underground where signals couldn't reach, or boarded a high-end vehicle equipped with signal-blocking barriers, it was entirely possible for the tracker to lose connection.

Ah, this is driving me crazy.

It's almost time to clock out...

[And... Lady Yeon Seo and Miss Yeonhwa are with her. They're demanding to see whoever is in charge right now...]

"I'll be right down."

Right, if she had traveled in one of the Yeon family's luxury vehicles driven by Yeon Seo or Yeonhwa, it made sense that the signal had dropped. *Sigh.*

Ugh, seriously.

For a split second, Choi Bo-mi felt the coffee she had drank earlier rising in her throat.

But as a seasoned ethical auditor, she quickly plastered a polite, professional smile on her face and hurried downstairs.

One minute.

That was all it took for Choi Bo-mi to halt her end-of-day preparations, put on her career-woman smile, and rush down to the first-floor waiting room where Sia was waiting.

"Hello, Miss Lee Sia! Lady Yeon Seo, it is an absolute honor to meet you. And Miss Yeonhwa, congratulations on receiving your official hunter name."

"Hoho, yes. Ah, you're Chief Evaluator Choi Bo-mi, correct? Director Lee speaks very highly of you."

"Thank you. I still have much to learn, but I'm glad the Deputy Minister thinks well of me. Also, I apologize. Normally, I would have escorted you to my office and offered you some coffee..."

"Don't worry about that. Now, Sia. The person in charge is here, so go ahead and tell her."

"Hurry up, Sister."

"..."

Watching Yeon Seo and Yeonhwa urge Lee Sia forward, Choi Bo-mi felt a question mark pop up in her mind.

What is going on?

Why did these two accompany Lee Sia here?

Even if Lee Sia was under the Yeon family's protection, they hadn't met once in the past month. Choi Bo-mi couldn't begin to fathom what had brought them all here today.

"Um, excuse me..."

"Yes! Please, go ahead!"

"...Money..."

"Pardon? Money?"

Lee Sia mumbled hesitantly, her voice barely a whisper.

Actually, calling it a whisper was an understatement; it was practically a crawl.

Despite being an undead saintess who couldn't technically die, her pale skin seemed to flush red with embarrassment.

Clearly, she found the situation deeply humiliating herself.

"I, well... I spent all of my settlement money."

"Excuse me?"

Choi Bo-mi's face blanked, looking as if she had just heard the most absurd thing in her life.

"Wait, didn't we provide you with housing? The returnee shelter should have been fully furnished with appliances. And one hundred million won is not a small sum... It's a significant amount of money. Ah! If you don't know how to use the electronic currency built into your smartwatch, we can provide a manual—"

"I spent all of it... And I know how to use electronic currency."

"..."

"Seriously... I spent the entire hundred million..."

One hundred million won.

It was by no means a small amount.

On average, even for a returnee with incredibly lavish spending habits, one hundred million won was considered more than enough to live comfortably, eat well, and play for at least three months without working.

And just in case they ran out, additional support funds could be disbursed after a month, subject to various approvals and evaluations.

Yet... today was exactly one month since Lee Sia had returned to Earth.

"If you don't mind me asking... may I know what you spent it on?"

"Pfft!"

"...Pfft."

"Ugh..."

At Choi Bo-mi's question, Yeon Seo and Yeonhwa covered their faces, desperately trying to stifle their laughter. Meanwhile, Sia, the culprit, flinched noticeably.

Sia merely toyed with her bangs, wishing she could hide her face behind her snow-white hair.

"...Fo..."

"Pardon?"

"I spent it on food..."

"...A hundred million won?"

For a long moment, Choi Bo-mi was utterly speechless.

"...So, I want to get a job."

"Ah, I see..."

Those who do not work shall not eat.

Since the dawn of humanity, labor had brought about transformations far more sacred and meaningful than any religion.

Labor began with tilling the fields and tending to livestock to maintain a household. By working, a person could pull their own weight.

Through labor, food, clothing, and shelter were secured, and conversely, surplus wealth was generated.

And with the birth of surplus wealth came the division of human classes.

Labor had driven human history through jealousy and conflict, struggle and war, greed and ambition, kings and dictators, and eventually revolutions. Even now, in the age of hunters, labor remained the very definition of human existence.

In other words, labor was human history itself, and for tens of thousands of years, it had been one of the primary factors distinguishing humans from beasts.

What did that mean?

Those who did not work were no better than beasts.

You who do not work, are you a beast?

Those who do not work shall not eat.

"Bwahahaha!"

Having finished her grand lecture, Yeon Seo burst into roaring laughter the moment Choi Bo-mi stepped out of the room.

For the record, Yeon Seo had arrived in her car right after Yeonhwa paid for Sia's soup.

"I mean, soup... Pfft! Hahaha! Ahahaha, the more I think about it, the funnier it gets. Are you trying to kill this old woman with laughter...? *Gasp*... Ahaha!"

"..."

"How does a person... pfft! How do you blow an entire hundred million won solely on food in a single month? Ahaha!"

She could have understood if Sia had started a business.

Or if she had deliberately bought expensive luxury goods.

Or if she had gone on an overseas trip, staying at five-star hotels with full service and hiring private guides to live like royalty.

At the very least, she could have bought an expensive electric car, high-priced monster meat, or dined at five-star hotel buffets every single day.

"Sia, oh, my dear Sia. This grandmother... even though you're undead, I truly thought you were a noble saintess. But pfft...!"

How on earth do you blow your entire settlement fund in a month just on normal delivery food like fried chicken?

"Sia, dear. Your Engel's coefficient must be the highest recorded since the dawn of the hunter era."

"...What's an Engel's coefficient?"

"The proportion of your income spent on food, Sister. If we calculate it, your current income is zero won, and your food expenses are a hundred million... Wow, how do we even put that into numbers? It doesn't just break past the negatives; it plunges straight into the Earth's mantle."

"I didn't spend the entire hundred million on food. A-And... is it really that bad?"

"...?"

Sia attempted a weak, defensive protest, feeling slightly wronged, but it was hard to withstand the icy glare Yeonhwa was shooting her way, practically radiating frost.

"Do you honestly think you did something to be proud of?"

"No, not really... Yeah, I guess I messed up."

Because of her, Yeonhwa had to leave her own hunter naming ceremony early. Even Yeon Seo had cleared her upcoming schedule out of concern that something terrible had happened to Sia.

To say she didn't feel guilty would be a lie.

*Sigh*, I know I've let myself go since returning to my original world, but... this is a total failure as a saintess.

Even if she was undead, she had lived and worked as a saintess in "that other world" for a very long time.

She had healed the sick and restored the lives of those wounded in war, yet here she was, just a jobless, freeloading saintess.

"Haha, actually, I do understand. Returnees often try to fill their emptiness or mental depression in ways like this."

"They do...?"

"Overspending is surprisingly common among returnees. Even without an income, they obsessively buy things using the settlement funds provided by the Bureau. Toys, books, figures, furniture—you name it. The ethical auditors told me that this tendency to overspend helps fill the void and loneliness. After all, they left behind all their connections in the other world, and they have no friends or family here to comfort them. When you look at it that way, it's understandable."

Just as Yeon Seo said, returnees were people who had lived in another world before returning to modern Earth. But while they were called "returnees," the reality was that they had to completely readjust their common sense and mindset after having already adapted to the laws of another world.

Naturally, this process caused extreme confusion, leading to depression and stress. To cope, returnees sought something to immerse themselves in.

Most chose to become hunters and enter dungeons, or start a stable business and work.

Of course, some fell into gaming, manga, or movies, which was relatively harmless.

Others fell into compulsive shopping, while some even turned to drugs or gambling.

And Sia, the undead saintess, had achieved the miraculous feat of spending over ninety percent of her hundred-million-won fund purely on food.

She had successfully carved out a brand-new category in the Bureau's list of anomalous returnee cases.

"*Sigh*, I know it's not normal to spend a hundred million won on food... But for some reason, no matter how much I ate, my hunger wouldn't go away..."

"Hunger? Even after eating that much?"

"That's why I brought you here, Sister. You said eating normal food is important, but you also need to consume Evil Nature, right?"

"Evil Nature? What is that?" Yeon Seo tilted her head.

Come to think of it, Yeonhwa was the only one Sia had told about being an Evil Nature predator.

"I don't fully understand it either, but apparently, monsters and demons in dungeons possess a kind of malice or hatred that only Sia can perceive. She has to consume that to satisfy her true hunger."

"Is that so? Does that include things like bloodlust?"

"I'm not great at explaining it, but yes, basically."

"Then wouldn't it have been best to become a hunter from the very beginning? Why did you stay cooped up inside your house all this time?"

"Well... I didn't know the way..."

"What?"

"I didn't know where the dungeons or monsters were, and I didn't even know the streets outside my house. No one asked me if I wanted to be a hunter, either. Besides, isn't it illegal for civilians to enter dungeons...?"

"Ah... right. I suppose no one did ask. Yes..."

When Sia had savagely beaten the Black Minotaur to death in the dungeon, Yeonhwa had felt nothing but awe. She had even briefly wondered if her deceased sister had sent an angel to protect her.

But now, looking at the pathetic figure before her, she couldn't help but wonder what this helpless creature was.

"Sister, if you ever need my help in the future, even for the smallest things, just call me. It's fine even if you run out of money for food like today."

"...Really?"

"Of course. You saved my life. For now, if you don't mind, let's get you registered as a hunter. Once that's done, we can go to a dungeon together."

"..."

"And did you know? Once you become a hunter, as long as you report it officially, all the byproducts from the dungeon belong to you personally."

Belong to me?

Sia's mind began to race.

If she became a hunter, she would naturally gain access to information on dungeon locations and their contents.

And if she cleared and hunted in those dungeons, she could eat everything that came out of them.

Drip, drip...

Sia unconsciously wiped the drool escaping from the corner of her mouth.

This was bad.

Just the thought of it brought back the memory of the grilled Black Minotaur skirt steak.

"And since you're strong enough, even if a new type of dungeon appears, it won't be a problem ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for you. You can just claim it before anyone else... and, well, eat whatever you want, right?"

"Yeonhwa, I think I've wanted to be a hunter ever since I first arrived here."

"Ah, is that so? Right..."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Watching this play out, Yeon Seo's lips curled upward.

Well, that's a relief. Some returnees are so traumatized by combat and war that they refuse to become hunters...

In truth, Yeon Seo had wanted to suggest becoming a hunter the moment she first met Sia.

To have someone capable of fighting on par with—or perhaps even surpassing—an S-grade hunter like herself waste away in a returnee shelter was a massive loss for humanity.

Though, despite her strength, she seems to be a bit of a klutz...

Yeon Seo had intentionally refrained from pitching the idea directly.

She had planned to slowly coax her into registering with the Hunter Association by offering missions if Sia ever wanted to or needed money. But thanks to Sia's clumsy nature, things were progressing much faster than expected.

"Miss Lee Sia?"

"Ah, yes. And you are?"

Just then, Choi Bo-mi returned to the waiting room, accompanied by a few individuals in dark suits.

"These are inspectors from the Hunter Association, which works in tandem with the Bureau."

"Hello, Miss Lee Sia."

"This is a bit informal and rushed... but given Lady Yeon Seo's endorsement, we'll get straight to the point."

With those words, Choi Bo-mi tossed a metallic sphere into the air, where it floated.

What is that?

Come to think of it, she recalled seeing a similar strange device hovering around when she first met Yeon Seo and Yeonhwa in the dungeon.

"It's a support AI drone that assists hunters. It's a new model, and as of this moment, it belongs to you, Miss Lee Sia... or rather, Hunter Lee Sia."

"Seriously...?"

"It has a camera, real-time broadcasting capabilities, and various other functions. However, since this drone is a prototype not yet released to the public, you will need to record footage when you enter dungeons for future training and research purposes."

"Record?"

"Yes. When you enter a dungeon, you can start recording by pressing the button on the back of the drone. A manual is included, so please read it when you have time. The Hunter Association agreed to provide the drone free of charge only on the condition that you accept this term."

"Sia, if you want, this grandmother can just buy you one."

"It's fine, Lady Yeon Seo. Recording some footage shouldn't be too hard."

"In that case, the Hunter Association will issue you a temporary hunter license immediately. Normally, it takes at least a week for evaluations, including measuring your individual stats..."

"Why bother with such tedious things? I'm personally vouching for her, so just skip the formalities."

"Understood. The Association will accept Lady Yeon Seo's guarantee."

Choi Bo-mi took a document from the Association inspector standing beside her.

"Though it's a simplified process, as of this moment, you are a member of the Hunter Association and have been issued a temporary hunter license. Because it's temporary, it is set to B-grade, but once you complete a few simple missions, we will officially issue you your permanent license."

"Only B-grade despite my guarantee?"

"I apologize, Lady Yeon Seo. But Hunter Lee Sia has caught the attention of several VIPs. If we suddenly issue an A-grade or S-grade license, it will cause complications. Honestly, even issuing a B-grade license right off the bat is bound to cause complaints among other hunters."

"Hmph, annoying pests... If they have a problem, tell them to say it to my face."

But it couldn't be helped.

Yeon Seo was an S-grade, and her granddaughter Yeonhwa was an A-grade, making high ranks seem common. But as of 2088, there were only ten S-grade hunters in South Korea. There were around two thousand A-grades, and fewer than ten thousand B-grades in the entire country.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Even with those numbers, South Korea was considered one of the leading hunter nations in the world.

Since even a D-grade hunter could make a comfortable living, granting Sia a B-grade license immediately was an extraordinary privilege.

"Also, Hunter Lee Sia, now that you have your license, you must complete at least one designated mission per month to maintain your temporary status."

"Missions?"

"Yes. I had to do several missions when I first got my license too. I think my first one was clearing a goblin tribe."

"Normally, novice hunters are advised to form a party of at least four... but I don't think that will be necessary for you, Hunter Lee Sia."

"So, what missions do I have?"

At her question, the Association inspector handed Sia a sheet of paper.

"The mission period is one month. You just need to complete one of these within that time. Normally, these are only open to A-grade hunters... but we've requested special permission to open them to you as well."

Sia scanned the list, her eyes suddenly widening as she read the very last entry.

Destroy the Wyvern Nesting Ground...

Wyverns. A subspecies of dragons, rumored to possess venom in their tails or teeth, and generally treated as lesser dragons.

If those wyverns were the same ones she knew, and it was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a nesting ground... a nesting ground...?

Indeed, dungeons weren't static, frozen spaces.

Each dungeon had its own unique ecosystem, and some even housed entire civilizations.

Which meant... a nesting ground... wyverns breed.

They lay eggs...

And Sia recalled the conversation she had with Choi Bo-mi a month ago during her consultation—specifically, the mention of "soy-marinated dragon eggs."

Gulp.

Soy-marinated wyvern eggs... totally doable...