Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Taewoon is a Hunter apprentice.
He was one when he first became an adult, and he is still one now.
It meant that for over five long years, he had wasted his days worthlessly without becoming an Official Hunter.
“Hey. Look over there, he’s here again today.”
“Sigh, I feel bad for him, but he should know when to give up by now. What’s the point of clinging to something that just isn’t working?”
“Hehe, you idiot. It’s not that easy. He probably knows it deep down. Just ignore him and get back to your equipment.”
Before he knew it, Taewoon had become quite a famous figure here at Hongsim Hall.
Of course, not in a good way, but in a bad one. Listening to the whispers every time he trained, it was obvious to anyone who saw him.
‘….’
How did it end up like this? Taewoon was once a promising rookie who was quite well-known in the area.
No, perhaps he was even more than that. Various Guilds and Hunter Training Institutes had offered him contracts with outstanding terms.
Even here at Hongsim Hall, they had signed a contract with Taewoon by offering unprecedented conditions that were unimaginable for a rookie at the time.
‘But that…’
He never imagined it would be the starting point of a long, long downward spiral.
For five years, Taewoon had to linger at the bottom without obtaining Official Hunter qualifications, and before he knew it, he had become a parasite living off Hongsim Hall, drawing the glares of those around him.
Since he couldn’t even be active yet continued to steadily collect the Support Fund specified in the contract, perhaps such treatment was only natural.
‘Trait, that damn Trait…’
The reason Taewoon had been called a prospect was because of the single Trait recorded in his Status Window even at this moment.
▶【Theater of All Things】
Every human of the current generation naturally becomes able to summon a Status Window at the moment of Awakening. And among them, only those who have Bloom their Unique Trait can obtain Official Hunter qualifications and act as Hunters.
‘The fact that the Trait is clearly displayed means the qualification has already been granted.’
Furthermore, since the name was something he had never heard of before, the Scouters who checked Taewoon’s record at the time went absolutely wild.
They called him a prospect worth gambling on, or a top-tier rookie that had to be secured at all costs.
But what was the result now?
Taewoon still did not know how to use his Trait, the Theater of All Things.
In the early stages of training, Hongsim Hall assigned several experts to provide intensive care, but the result remained the same.
‘In the end, everyone grew tired and gave up, dropping out saying there was no hope.’
Promising rookies are bound to pour out year after year anyway. The burning interest in Taewoon soon turned into cold stares, and eventually faded away.
That was already about three years ago; thinking back, a great deal of time had passed.
“…….”
Taewoon came from an orphanage. And at a time when he should have been preparing for his future, he jumped headfirst into the life of a Hunter after being told he had talent.
If such a Taewoon gave up being a Hunter, what on earth would he do to make a living?
Right now, he was surviving by clinging to the Support Fund obtained through the contract, but the moment he let everything go, only a bleak future remained.
After swinging his spear at a training wooden dummy for an hour, Taewoon turned his sweat-drenched head toward a presence he had begun to feel.
There, as expected, were men with familiar faces.
“Geez, look at him acting up again. There isn’t a single brat as disgusting as this guy. Right?”
“…….”
“Hey, the boss is asking you. Don’t ignore him and answer.”
A muscular man a head taller than the others, followed by his subordinates.
They were ruffians from former active Hunter backgrounds who had been following Taewoon for several months, giving him dirty looks and persecuting him.
“Hey, you piece of trash. Even if it’s a contract, shouldn’t a person have some shame? Do you have any idea how many people are stressed out because of you, just sitting there sucking up money without any tact?”
Most of what he said was reasonable, but looking at the ridicule mixed in, the real purpose was clear.
Their intention was to provoke Taewoon, who was clinging to the benefits given to him despite having no potential, to somehow make him voluntarily terminate the contract.
‘…Seriously, how did things get to this point.’
Hongsim Hall had written the contract as favorably as possible to hook Taewoon, who was then a big catch.
Unless Taewoon caused trouble or terminated the contract himself, overturning it was by no means an easy task.
Even though he was facing a nest of malice, he didn’t particularly feel a surge of anger.
That was because, even in Taewoon’s own mind, their behavior was understandable.
He couldn’t believe it was honorable to cling miserably to a dojo, taking money without ever blooming his talent.
‘I don’t have any damn pride left at this point.’
How could they know the feeling of the gaze of those who praised him for his great talent slowly changing into that of someone looking at a bug?
Taewoon’s heart had long since been crushed and worn down to shreds.
There was no reason to feel offended by being ignored, nor was there any reason to be hurt by low-life behavior.
However, despite that, for some reason, the man’s obvious words felt slightly peculiar today.
It was probably because Taewoon himself was gradually changing his mind as the remaining stubbornness and lingering attachment wore away.
‘Should I… really stop now?’
Honestly, even though he knew he was wrong, he couldn’t stop. He circled the same path, unable to let go of his lingering attachment, shouting “just one more year” or “just three more months.”
Because the time he had put in until now was a waste.
Because it was the only goal he had ever seriously wanted to achieve.
Because even if he stopped this, he didn’t know what he should do moving forward.
But now, perhaps the time had come to truly give up everything and close his heart.
“…Sigh.”
Taewoon’s challenge had ended long ago. There were no possibilities left.
Taewoon himself felt that fact more deeply than anyone else, literally to the core of his chest.
‘…It was long.’
Since he had come this far, he could have tried to deny it one more time, but for some reason, he didn’t feel like it.
Taewoon’s lips, filled with hesitation and regret, twitched a few times, and finally, a single phrase tinged with sorrow flowed from his lips and scattered into the air.
“…I will quit.”
“What?”
“Like you said, I should quit now. I can’t live like this for the rest of my life anyway.”
“Wha—what. Did this brat eat something wrong? Hey, did you get a proper recording? Hurry up and go report this to Brother Sangcheol.”
The man was flustered, but soon, wearing an expression of joy at having accomplished something, he led his gang and disappeared from the training ground.
And Taewoon, amidst bitter emotions, began to move and pack up all the belongings he had used.
‘Will I regret it?’
What was the point of asking; of course, he would regret it many times.
However… that too was inevitable.
What doesn’t work, doesn’t work. While there are people who achieve everything without giving up until the end, there are people who fail in the end even if they invest the same effort.
This time, it was simply a story where Taewoon was the latter.
[Authenticated.]
Having finished packing, Taewoon entered his membership card into the system to exit the door.
At that moment, a woman passing by slightly turned her head and spoke to Taewoon.
“…Are you finished for today already?”
“Ah, yes. Well. I think I’m quitting now.”
At Taewoon’s words, which were full of complexity, the woman continued with shaking eyes, appearing quite unsettled.
“Are you… quitting?”
“I have to. I’ve done as much as I could, and I feel like staying any longer will only increase my lingering attachments.”
Seoyoon.
Called the hottest new Divinity in South Korea at the moment, and recently recognized as a Level 5 Hunter, she too had once been an apprentice at Hongsim Hall.
He remembered giving her various pieces of advice when she first entered, thinking of the younger children at the orphanage.
At that time, Taewoon’s reputation wasn’t that bad, so he probably played the role of a senior reasonably well for a while.
Well, now it was all pointless talk.
“You don’t need to worry too much. It’s just that the first act of my life has ended. I should start fresh with a new feeling.”
“Ah…”
Seoyoon let out a bitter groan for a while, and finally, with a faint smile, she bid Taewoon farewell.
“…Things will work out for you. No matter where you are or what you do.”
In a way, it was a phrase close to a mere formality, but Taewoon felt an inexplicable warmth from those words.
But at the same time, he felt despair and inferiority toward her, who received everyone’s praise, and himself, who had lost everything despite trying until he nearly died.
Taewoon forced himself to be comforted, bowed his head once, and walked straight through the exit door to the outside.
He felt the cold wind, and soon, the sound of metal and cars zooming past welcomed him.
“…Sigh.”
He thought about having a cigarette, but instead, he walked and hailed a taxi.
“Where to?”
“To the front of Rodem ENC, please.”
The taxi, stepping on the accelerator, zoomed through the city and entered an alley at high speed, soon arriving in front of Taewoon’s house.
“That’ll be 9,870 won.”
“…Here it is.”
The hand hesitatingly handing over the card felt needlessly resentful. His situation hadn’t changed, yet the cost of living only grew more expensive by the day.
The scene unfolding before him was too shabby to be called a decent house.
A small studio apartment of about 6 pyeong, yet it had cost quite a bit of money just to make this his nest.
Since the Support Fund would be cut off anyway, he would have to clear this place out soon.
‘Yes, it’s the right choice. Honestly, it was something I should have quit long ago.’
Nevertheless, there was no way to stop the bitter emotion aching in his chest.
“…Haa.”
For the first time in a very long while, Taewoon shed a few hot tears, leaned his arm against the wall, and rested his head against the mirror in front of him as if collapsing.
If only he had a little more talent as a Hunter.
If only he could have Bloom that Trait, the Theater of All Things, which he didn’t even know what it was.
It was a desperate wish, but now a hope that could not be fulfilled.
It was at that exact moment that an unexpected change came to Taewoon.
【You possess 1 Basic-grade Ticket.】
【Would you like to consume the Basic-grade Ticket to enter the Theater?】
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