Prologue: The Beautiful Freeloader
Click-clack, click-clack.
A woman in a sharp suit and high heels walked slowly down the hallway of an officetel. Her stride was confident, brisk, and beautifully disciplined. Yet, in stark contrast to her energetic steps, her expression was grim. Her face was a picture of sheer exhaustion.
"Whew, that was another brutal one."
It couldn't be helped, given the times they lived in. Hunters were respected as the protectors of the world, but the work was grueling and the compensation rarely matched the risk. On top of that, as a freelancer, if she didn't actively hunt, she didn't make a dime.
But the real reason for her dark mood lay elsewhere. She stopped in front of her door. An uninvited guest was currently living in her officetel. She gritted her teeth slightly, but there was nothing she could do. She had already received a massive favor from her.
She punched in the passcode and pushed the door open. Instantly, the messy living room came into view. Empty snack bags littered the floor, clothes were tossed around carelessly, and greasy cardboard boxes and plastic containers from delivery food piled up on the table. And on the sofa...
...sat a woman so breathtakingly beautiful that even another woman couldn't help but admire her. It was the kind of overwhelming beauty that would leave anyone speechless, but her behavior instantly killed any sense of awe. Even though she was used to it by now, the woman's looks still shook her every time she saw her. And her figure? Her voluptuous breasts practically threatened to burst through her plain white T-shirt, and her hourglass hips were incredibly prominent even in casual shorts. It was, quite frankly, a criminally perfect body.
An appearance and physique that would draw unwanted attention the moment she stepped outside. Still...
"Unni! What is the absolute state of this house?!"
"Oh, huh? You're back?"
Even while being scolded, she remained completely unfazed, lying lazily on the sofa and watching TV. They had been living together for several months now. How on earth did she find any joy in life without ever leaving the house? Of course, she knew the reason. She knew that because of those looks and that body, she drew unwanted attention and kept getting dragged into trouble, making a normal life outside nearly impossible. She understood that. But still...
"You have all this talent, and you're just going to rot inside? How long are you planning to live off me?!"
She finally snapped and let it all out. There was a reason she had taken this woman in. At first, she understood that she had unavoidable circumstances and was sympathetic. But it had already been over three months. For someone freeloading... she didn't bring in a single cent, yet she constantly trashed the place. And when asked to clean up, she did a terrible job. In the end, she was the one bearing the burden of everything from cleaning to providing food, clothing, and shelter. That was why she couldn't hold back anymore. This wasn't just simple anger. It was worry. She genuinely worried about her, wanting her unni to become a proper, functioning member of society.
"I-I'll be careful... Just please don't kick me out."
She pulled a piece of paper she had prepared from her handbag.
"Take this. You're going to go here and get trained, got it?"
Printed on the pamphlet she handed over was a bold, eye-catching title:
Short-term Intensive Hunter Academy