The Resignation I Desperately Crave
Someone looking at my life from the outside might casually remark, "That's a pretty decent life you've got there." It is an era where those who have awakened special abilities, known as Hunters, are treated like royalty. Even though I never awakened, I have made significant contributions to the Hunter Association. I’ve become an employee recognized even by the International Hunter Union, and I’ve suddenly found myself appointed as the Director of the Seoul Headquarters. Perhaps this is the highest promotion a non-awakened individual can achieve in this age. At this rate, they might even try to make me the Chairman of the Korean Hunter Association.
It’s a position others would envy, but I have no intention of leading the Korean Hunter Association from the front lines forever. Having regained the memories of my past life, I know exactly what the future holds for this country, the Republic of Korea.
"Cut all support to Korea and seal off the Korean Peninsula. Effective immediately, the International Hunter Union is abandoning the Republic of Korea."
Out-of-spec Dungeons have begun to erupt explosively, centered on the Korean Peninsula. Unable to clear these dungeons, Korea is gradually being overrun by monsters, leading the International Hunter Union to eventually seal it off and abandon it. That choice is as sudden as it is inevitable. When that day comes, all support will be cut off, and escaping the peninsula will become impossible.
Someone might say, "If you know that, why don't you just prepare in advance?" But the reason I am struggling so hard to resign right now is precisely because that is impossible.
The monsters from these out-of-spec dungeons that appear out of nowhere are impossible to handle, even if every single Hunter in Korea were to throw themselves at them. Furthermore, even with support from the various member nations of the International Hunter Union, a perfect clearance is impossible. In the end, they fail to clear the dungeons, and they cannot stop the monsters from pouring out of the Gates. Abandoning Korea is the only method left.
The International Hunter Union begins searching for ways to resolve the situation by sacrificing Korea. As time passes, the wave of monsters spreads like a plague into China, Russia, and Central Asia. A situation unfolds where even Europe must be abandoned, and eventually, all that remains is the American continent. The last country to survive will be the United States. I must get to the U.S. as soon as possible to preserve my life.
No matter what, if I stay in Korea—the starting point—it is a foregone conclusion that I will be abandoned by the International Hunter Union and become monster feed without ever even getting to board a plane. It is Korea’s fate to fight desperately and die without even knowing it until the moment it is abandoned.
If I at least had the ability to fly, I could run away on my own. But once I became affiliated with the Hunter Association, overseas travel became impossible, and resignation was barred for a set period, leaving me completely trapped.
Isn't it a bit much to give me the memories of my past life on the very first day I joined the Hunter Association? If they had at least told me before that, I wouldn't have joined in the first place!
I still can't forget that moment. The moment I realized that the place I had joined with a bright smile on my first day wasn't a major corporation with great benefits, but a black company where I would work until the brink of extinction and then die. It had been paradise when I first got the job offer. But after regaining the memories of my past life, every day I went to work felt like hell.
So, I’ve been struggling to get out of the Association somehow, but—
"...Yes, Chairman."
"Your contributions as Director have been illustrious. Please, come to the main headquarters of the Korean Hunter Association and spend the rest of your life with Korea and the Korean Hunter Association."
For some reason, I seem to be drifting further and further away from my resignation.