Chapter 36

I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling.

The dark bedroom gradually brightened as the morning sun rose.

The second fragment contained a very important memory. In some ways, even more so than the first, which held the moment of my death.

It wasn’t the moment of my awakening.

Ye Shinwoo. We weren’t related by blood, but he was no different from a real brother to me.

I couldn’t believe I had completely forgotten about him.

“Shinwoo, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t remember you.”

After awakening as a Hunter, I gave up on competing in the Olympics.

The world was in such an uproar that the Olympics were canceled altogether.

The orphanage ceased operations when the director died.

In reality, it was no different from being shut down.

The problem was that there were no other facilities to take the children.

This was because of the flood of children who had lost their parents in the Constellations’ ordeals.

So many children were about to be thrown out onto the streets, yet no one helped.

It was spring at the time, thank goodness. Had it been winter, we all might have frozen to death.

“It was understandable, I suppose.”

Showing support and concern for orphans with no connections is something only possible in a peaceful world.

The only one left to take responsibility for the orphanage was me, the old-timer.

Just then, the second gate opened, and that was when levels and rankings were established.

I was classified as an SSS-rank Multi-type and simultaneously took the number one rank.

But nothing changed. Making a living was just as hard.

Everything was chaotic back then.

Not only was the value of monsters unknown, but people also failed to understand the need for Hunters.

After all, humanity had powerful military response systems, including advanced weaponry.

So, it was only natural that Hunter classes and rankings received little attention.

In that environment, I was the only one collecting monster corpses, bringing them to research labs, and getting paid for my trouble.

While other Hunters were awakening to their mission of saving humanity, I was using my abilities as a means of survival.

I was the only Hunter like that in the entire world.

I was scorned by both ordinary people and other Hunters, but honestly, I didn’t even hear it.

It was a situation where if I didn’t earn money today, we would all starve tomorrow.

For me, who had to provide for dozens of children, noble causes and missions were a luxury.

“Was it around then?”

The third gate opened.

It was the first battle where professional technology and military forces were deployed on a massive scale.

The result was disastrous.

Despite unleashing all sorts of advanced weaponry, including missiles, not a single monster was killed.

Only then did people realize.

That the only ones who could eliminate monsters were Hunters.

The once-doubted necessity of Hunters was finally proven.

Naturally, Hunter classes became a major topic of interest, and the perception of top rankers changed.

And around that time, the greatest stroke of luck in my life occurred.

I discovered a magic formula in the Shop for creating barriers out of cores.

I immediately patented the formula and signed a contract with the Hunter Guild.

The terms were that in exchange for lending them the formula, they would pay me one percent of the revenue generated by the barriers, in points.

Just like the proposal I made to Kaiel.

Before long, people began seeking out cores. The fact that they could be used to create barriers had started to spread.

Suddenly, the value of monsters skyrocketed. People were clamoring to acquire cores, even willing to pay a premium.

I sold off my stash of cores right when interest in them peaked.

From then on, our financial situation began to improve rapidly.

This was thanks to me having stockpiled cores ever since I found and acquired the barrier formula.

There was no longer any reason to struggle with hauling heavy monster corpses all the way to the research lab.

The need to grovel just to earn an extra penny was gone.

Even the Hunters who had criticized me for using humanity’s crisis to make money eventually started following my lead.

It took about four years for being a Hunter to become established as a high-income profession.

The reason I could endure those difficult times was because of Shinwoo.

Back when I was making money off monster corpses, even earning the nickname ‘corpse peddler.’ Even the other kids at the orphanage were ashamed of me, but he was different.

‘He was always on my side, no matter what…’

Completely on my side. My little brother.

Shinwoo never once criticized me or gave me an uncomfortable look.

He was also the one who would hug me tightly without any hesitation when I came back exhausted from delivering monsters to the lab.

“I’m sorry, sis…”

“What are you always so sorry about?”

“You’re struggling so hard all by yourself, and I can’t do anything to help. So…”

“I’m not struggling at all. You know how crazy I am about money. I’m doing this because I like it.”

“You think I don’t know? You think I don’t realize you’re doing this to feed us all? I’m not an idiot!”

“Shinwoo…”

“I wish I were a Hunter, too. Then I could have helped you. Why am I not a Hunter?”

“A Hunter? With your weak body? Don’t think about such useless things and just focus on not getting sick. That’s how you can help me.”

After that, Shinwoo tried his best to get healthier.

He ate his meals diligently even when he had no appetite and built up his stamina with light exercises that wouldn’t strain his body.

But he couldn’t change the constitution he was born with.

Shinwoo weakened rapidly, and eventually, he couldn’t even leave his bed for more than an hour or two a day.

‘Then what happened?’

My memory cut off again at the most important part.

‘But I’m not the only one who knows Shinwoo, am I?’

I checked the viewer count.

<Viewers: 127>

“Hey Constellations, what’s going on? Why has the viewer count increased so much?”

— Anonymous Constellation: Aha!

— Anonymous Constellation: Aha!!!

— Anonymous Constellation: Because word got out that this is the #1 ranker’s channel, lolololol

— Anonymous Constellation: The community forums are flooded with clips.

— Anonymous Constellation: SSS!!! SSS!!! SSS!!! SSS!!! SSS!!! SSS!!! SSS!!! SSS!!! SSS!!!

[System: Anonymous Constellations have sponsored 250,000 points.]

“My goodness, a 250,000-point sponsorship first thing in the morning! Thank you! *Wink, wink!* Here, catch my bullet of love!”

As I winked and shot a finger gun into the air, the chat window exploded.

Honestly, I wasn’t that impressed by my level. I’d already experienced it in my past life.

What surprised me more was the fact that there were so many Constellations.

Just how many Constellations are there? Are they truly as countless as the stars?

“Since there are a lot of new people, I’ll post the rules again. In my channel, swearing—no, severe swearing, personal attacks, and excessive backseat gaming are forbidden. Spamming will also get you banned. Please be careful so you don’t regret it after getting kicked.”

— Anonymous Constellation: Unbelievable lololol I came here cuz ppl said she was good but she’s so full of herself lololol It’s always the ones like her who die first lolololol

— Anonymous Constellation: Yep, enjoy your ban ㅗ

— Anonymous Constellation: Alright, who’s next in line for a ban?

— Anonymous Constellation: Astell, let’s do a big purge to celebrate you being #1.

Having more viewers wasn’t a bad thing.

It meant more sponsorships, which in turn meant more points.

‘Still, I’m not taking your crap. Get lost.’

I kicked the Constellation who had sneered that someone so full of herself would die quickly.

[System: An Anonymous Constellation has been forcibly removed.]

[Time until re-entry: 72:00:00]

The chat was moving so fast it was dizzying.

While I waited for the new Constellations to settle in, I entered the Shop.

“Here we go again…”

It was about time for the other Hunters to start adapting.

That meant Hunters like Kaiel, who carefully examined items in the Shop, might start appearing.

In other words, I had to find and claim any important items before another Hunter could.

“Let’s do this!”

I squeezed my eyes shut, then snapped them open.

I don’t know how much time passed.

Just as I was writhing from the pain that felt like my eyeballs would burst, I finally managed to find the items I was looking for.

[System: <Beginner Ultimate Skill — Fire (火)> can be exchanged for 50,000 points.]

[Exchange] / [Decline]

[System: <Beginner Ultimate Skill — Fusion (融)> can be exchanged for 500,000 points.]

[Exchange] / [Decline]

‘Damn, I can only buy two.’

I bought the two ultimate skills and closed the Shop. My stomach churned as if I was about to throw up.

I chugged the water on my bedside table, which finally settled my stomach a little.

I rubbed my solar plexus and glanced at the chat window.

The chat window had already calmed down, as if the earlier commotion had never happened.

“By any chance, does anyone remember Shinwoo? The boy who was always with me.”

— Anonymous Constellation: The really pretty kid from the Memory Fragment?

— Anonymous Constellation: yessss, of course! How could we not know him?

— Anonymous Constellation: You ■■ ■■ him.

— Anonymous Constellation: It was insane back then. He suddenly became ■■■■ and ■■ with a ■■.

— Anonymous Constellation: We couldn’t ■■■■ either. That’s why ■■ ■■ ■■■■.

— Anonymous Constellation: Did you ■■■ ■■■ that ■■ would become ■■■?

— Anonymous Constellation: ■■? Why is it ■■■■■???

— Anonymous Constellation: ??????

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— Administrator: A critical error has occurred.

— Administrator: Some functions, including the chat window, will be temporarily suspended.