Filial Dinner and Porter's End
Choi Hyun-seong and Choi Hyun-ji made it home safely before their mother finished work. And with today's earnings, they'd bought something special.
"Mom's home."
"Welcome back."
Hyun-seong, fresh from a shower and lounging on the sofa in comfy clothes, greeted her. Despite her exhaustion, she headed straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner for her kids. That's when she spotted it.
"What's this beef?"
Her mom called it beef, but it wasn't exactly. 'It's Donkau meat.'
Donkau was a monster from D-rank dungeons—technically monster meat. The word "monster" might put some people off, but it was utterly familiar to Hyun-seong. He was just surprised Earth had discovered its flavor too.
'Monster meat is so damn tasty.'
Hyun-seong had eaten practically every monster out there in that other world. Some ingredients even had effects that strengthened the body or sharpened the mind, so he'd hunted them down on purpose.
'That was when I decided to pick up the Chef class...'
Anyway, monster ingredients had some miraculous quality no ordinary food could match. Which meant the price wasn't cheap.
'20,000 won per jin.'
They'd bought two jin to eat their fill—400,000 won spent. But considering what they'd earned and what was coming, it was a happy splurge.
"Hyun-ji got a bonus at work," he said, as pre-arranged.
"Hohoho, really? That's great news. Can Mom mooch off it too?"
"Let's eat together. We were waiting for you."
"Sounds good. I'll wash up quick."
Just like that, Mom didn't need to cook. They grilled the meat, threw together some side dishes, and had dinner.
'Is this what filial piety feels like?'
After thousands of years, Hyun-seong finally understood the heart behind honoring one's parents. It left him feeling bittersweet. Thanks to that, the family enjoyed a delicious dinner of Donkau meat.
"Here it is."
He'd have loved to book a dungeon at dawn and rake in cash, but Hyun-ji's request meant morning errands first. Top of the list: stopping by the porter office they'd been using.
Not to clock in, but to quit formally. They hadn't signed a contract or anything official, but Hyun-ji insisted it was the proper way. So Hyun-seong tagged along.
Hyun-ji pushed open the door to Hwarang Porter Office first, and Hyun-seong followed.
"Hello, boss."
"Hey~! Hyun-ji, you're late today? I thought you weren't coming."
Baek Seong-cheol welcomed her with a friendly smile, but she looked apologetic.
"Not here to work. I'm quitting as of today."
"Huh? Why? Because of that job the other day? My bad, I said."
"No. I want to try being a hunter. I've been awakened a while, and portering showed me I can't keep going like this."
"Ah... I see."
Seong-cheol's disappointment was obvious. But he composed himself.
"Yeah, figured you'd go pro someday, strapped for cash and all. I'll cheer you on from afar."
She nodded at his mix of casual and polite speech, and he smiled back.
"Come on in. Guess I gotta call you Hunter Hyun-ji from now on. Heh heh heh."
Hyun-seong watched, waiting for the mask to slip, but nothing yet. He stayed wary.
"Who's the guy behind you?"
"My brother. He awakened too and just registered as a hunter."
"Oh ho, your bro from the hospital?"
"Discharged recently."
"Nice. Fighting, bro!"
"Yeah, whatever."
Hyun-seong brushed it off dismissively.
'Guess he's not the type. Just a greedy regular.'
With his assessment done, Hyun-ji spoke up.
"We'll head out then, boss."
"Sure, sure. Hit me up if you need porters. You have my number—cheap rates. Heh heh."
She bowed politely and left. Just then, a man in a black suit brushed past, entering as they exited.
"Let's go, bro."
"Hold up."
Hyun-seong sensed something off.
'That insignia.'
It matched the one the party leader had flashed in the dungeon two days ago.
Inside the office at that moment.
"Baek Seong-cheol, right?"
"Yeah, who're you?"
"Looks like you recommended a hunter named Eun Seong-jin or something to our guild."
"Th-that means you're..."
"From White Magnolia Guild."
The suited man handed over a business card.
"Wh-what do you want?"
Cold sweat beaded on Seong-cheol's brow. His reaction screamed guilt.
"Hunter Eun Seong-jin committed a crime in the dungeon."
"Ahem, no idea."
"Don't play dumb. You put him up to it."
The man's tone sharpened, as if he knew everything.
Seong-cheol denied it.
"What? Wrong guy! I cut ties with that punk ages ago!"
"Ha! Cut ties? Then why send porters to his raid party?"
It all fit perfectly.
"How're you gonna take responsibility? That bastard tarnished White Magnolia's rep... Fucking prick."
A heavy pressure emanated from him. Muscular build, buzzed head, black sunglasses hiding red eyes. Seong-cheol froze like a mouse before a cat.
"Wait, is that story for real?"
It was Hyun-seong. He'd come back sensing something fishy—and nailed it.
"Who the hell are you?"
"The guy who caught White Magnolia's criminal hunter in the dungeon and beat his ass—just short of killing him."
"What?"
"He touched my little sister, so I gave him what he deserved."
Seong-cheol's face twisted. Something had gone very, very wrong.
"Well, well? It's true, huh."
Hyun-seong caught it instantly. No more holding back. He'd beat a confession out of Seong-cheol too—enough to survive—and hand him to the Hunter Association.
Hyun-seong closed in slowly.
Snap! The suit blocked his path.
"So you're the one who did that to our guild hunter?"
His eyes were bloodshot. Hyun-seong couldn't make sense of it.
Then it clicked—bits from Hyun-ji's excited rants.
-Joining a guild is priority one for hunters, but choose wisely. Some have dirty backsides.
That was it.
'This is the dirty one.'
What guild covers for a criminal hunter?
"Move your arm. Or you're dead."
The suit smirked mockingly.
"Beat one D-rank and you're cocky, huh?"
Riiip! His muscles swelled, straining the suit—but it held, stretchy fabric.
'Martial artist class.'
Hyun-seong gauged him.
"I'm B-rank."
Thud! Hyun-seong grabbed and crushed his collarbone.
"Gahhh!!"
"Told you to move."
Crack! The bone snapped. The man swung wildly.
Whoosh—Hyun-seong dodged easily.
'Tough bastard.'
Fighting through broken-bone pain meant he wasn't green.
"For tarnishing White Magnolia's honor—you pay too!"
"What's so great about that White Magnolia crap?"
Thwack! Fist to the ribs, then a heel drop to the Achilles.
Boom! He slammed into the floor.
'B-rank's no big deal.'
Hyun-seong straightened his clothes and approached the terrified Seong-cheol.
"What to do with you."
"I-I'll turn myself in! Please!"
"Fuck off."
No mercy for him.
Sub-Class Selection
'Sub-class select.'
'Slot 3: Healer.'
Of course he'd pick Healer.
"You won't die even if you want to."
Seong-cheol was a civilian—easy to kill without control—but a flick would do, with healing.
Flick! Sizzle! Flick! Sizzle!
One hit to near-death, heal, repeat. Seong-cheol tasted hell.
After the incident at Hwarang Porter Office, they healed the pair just enough and tied them up before reporting to the Hunter Association. Association folks arrived fast, hauling them off—with a little help from a friend.
"You damn gorilla! Calling me not even a day later? Need muscle? Am I your errand boy!?")
"Come on, what's a friend for? It's tied to that case you took. No biggie, right?"
"If it wasn't, you'd be dead already. Don't call like this anytime soon.")
"Ice Witch lives up to the name—frigid. Ptooey. Too gross anyway."
"Hey! Choi Hyun-seong!")
Call Ended
Hyun-seong hung up and approached Hyun-ji, still reeling.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, just shocked. Can't believe the boss—no, that bastard—tried to kill me."
"Stuff like this happens. Good it hit you now—won't be weird whenever."
She nodded, rubbing her arms to calm the goosebumps.
"Better now? Let's go. No need lingering where bad memories are."
"Yeah. But where?"
"Gear shopping. Cheap and quick, then back to dungeons."
She shot him a side-eye glare.
"What? Planning to slack because of this? Young folks can't start lazy. Slack off, and Mom works extra days."
"Ugh, you boomer. But to quit her job, no choice."
Off they went to Hunter Market again.
At Hunter Market, they browsed gear on the hunter equipment floor. Problem: prices.
Hyun-seong checked a tag and gaped.
'Cheapest is 2 million won.'
A longsword no better than a kitchen knife.
"Bro, let's bail. Fists for today."
But Hyun-seong thought different.
"A knight needs a sword."
"Huh? What!"
She stared like he'd seen a ghost.
"You peeked at my status?"
"Wish I could."
"Damn! How'd you know?"
"Guessed."
He'd omitted "Wandering" from Wandering Knight. She huffed indignantly, then spilled.
"Fine, yeah. My class is Wandering Knight, level 12 now."
"Finally telling me."
"Whatever, you know—let's go. Earn more, buy later."
Instead, Hyun-seong grabbed the 2-million-won longsword and headed to the counter.
"This one."
"Yes, hunter. Price is... 2 million, but D-rank first buy gets 10% off—1.8 million."
He swiped his card. Over 4 million left—no issue.
Beep! Paid, receipt and card back. He handed the sword to Hyun-ji.
She took it blankly, then bowed, overcome.
"...Bro, thank you."
"Thanks my ass. Lead the way. Earn its keep."
Sentiment? Hyun-seong's head was full of cash.