Chapter 1 – Prologue

The world had changed.

-A D-rank gate has opened in Pangyo, Seongnam, and the area will be… from 04:00 to 08:00….

Gates opened, and monsters appeared.

-With Seol Ji-hoon becoming South Korea’s third S-rank hunter, guilds are in a fierce scouting competition….

As if it were only natural, awakened hunters emerged, and heroes appeared.

-Today, “Protect My Boyfriend,” released by the hunter-turned-idol-group Four-Girls, topped the charts….

To some, hunters were idols.

-Is this really okay? The smiling hero, Lucky Boy, with a blood alcohol level of 0.2%, crashed into a private residence while flying, resulting in a family….

To others, they were objects of resentment.

Many people hoped to become hunters. It was the fastest path to wealth and fame.

Just like how “streamer” was once the number one dream job for elementary school students.

And I, too, hoped to become a hunter.

“Mr. Kim Chang-yeol, you graduated from S University and completed your service with the 707th Special Mission Group. Your grades were excellent. And wow, you even have internship experience at the Myeongga Guild? I heard you had the score to become a full-time employee, so why didn’t you join them?”

“I believed the Tushin Guild was a better fit for my disposition and a better investment in my future than Myeongga.”

“Yes, yes, very good. And Ms. Go Ha-sol next to you, you’re fluent in five languages, and you’ve even won an amateur competition?”

The interviewer seemed to be in a good mood.

He nodded in satisfaction, then his face crumpled as he turned the page of the resume.

“Mr. Lee Hyunbin.”

He called my name. His unpleasant expression gave me a bad feeling.

“Yes!”

The look on the interviewer’s face said, *Is there really someone applying with a resume like this? I called his name just in case, and he’s actually here?*

It was that kind of look.

Ah, I’m screwed.

“Highest level of education, high school dropout?”

“…”

“Never held a job until the age of thirty, no instance dungeon experience, no hunter training. You’re a completely clean slate, aren’t you?”

At the interviewer’s words, I could see the other candidates struggling to hold back their laughter.

“And under special notes, it says you’re a ‘former Hero who returned to the modern world from another world’?”

*Pfft.* Someone’s desperate attempt to hold it in became contagious, and a wave of simmering chuckles spread through the room.

I felt my face flush red. I wanted to speak confidently, but I found myself stammering as I opened my mouth.

“Yes, I fell into another world when I was in high school, so I couldn’t graduate.”

“Primary weapon, Holy Sword Laevatein?”

The interviewer intentionally raised his voice. I was sure of it. He’d been speaking quietly until now.

I trembled with shame, but the other candidates looked like they were going through hell. Their shoulders shook as they bowed their heads, stifling their laughter.

“Ah, yes…”

“Take it out.”

“Pardon?”

“That, uh, holy sword of yours.”

The interviewer asked again, his eyes looking at me as if I were a lunatic.

“In the modern world, there’s a communication error with Laevatein, so…”

As I explained, sweating nervously, someone burst out laughing.

The interviewer shot a cold glance in that direction, and the laughing candidate quickly clamped a hand over their mouth, their expression stiffening.

The interviewer looked at my reddened face and nonchalantly announced the end of the interview.

“I hope you find your holy sword soon.”

***

-Hello. This is the hiring manager from the Tushin Guild. Thank you sincerely for applying for our new hunter position.

Despite your outstanding capabilities and potential, we regret to inform you that due to the limited number of openings, we are unable to offer you a position at this time…….

“Fuck.”

I cursed as I read the text message that arrived at light speed, not even an hour after the interview.

I shouldn’t have written about the Hero and the Holy Sword.

I only wrote it out of desperation after being instantly rejected from countless interviews.

A bitter taste filled my mouth.

“What a rotten world. Why do you need a TOEIC score to be a hunter?”

The job posting said the only requirement was passion, but in reality, it’s a world that judges you on your academic background, grades, TOEIC score, and certifications.

I couldn’t understand why any of that was necessary for a job that involved hunting.

Thirty years old.

To some, that might still be young, but it was a late age to be starting out as a fresh face in the workforce.

Having spent my entire youth in another world, adapting to modern society was incredibly difficult.

I had no friends, no peers. It was impossible for me to have any acquaintances.

I felt drained. I spent money I didn’t have on a suit, only to be rejected at the speed of light.

“Haaah.”

I sighed, making my way up a steep hill back to my single-room rental.

*Creeak.*

When I got home, someone inside dropped their instant noodles.

“Oh, uh?”

A woman with long black hair blinked. She picked up the fallen noodles and gave me an awkward smile.

“I only ate one pack of ramen.”

I let out a deep sigh.

Did she mistake my sigh for an interrogation? She started making excuses again.

“I really only ate one. For real.”

Looking at the ramen packages hidden behind her, it looked like she had eaten no less than three.

She glanced around furtively, then, as if deciding it was no use, she put her hands on her hips and spoke boldly.

“Hey, you think I ate it because I wanted to? I have to eat well for my magic to return, you know. Right? So I can go back to my original world. That’ll make things easier for you too, Ajeossi.”

“Yeah, yeah. Eat all you want. Go ahead.”

It was too much trouble to bicker with a grown woman over a pack of ramen. I carelessly loosened my tie and leaned against the wall.

“Really? You won’t regret it?”

She excitedly tore open a ramen package and started boiling water.

To think that a lord who once ruled a territory in another world would come to this one and end up drowning in instant food.

The same person who had tasted all sorts of delicacies back there had succumbed to the taste of artificial seasoning.

The reason a resident of another dimension is living with me is simple.

It’s thanks to her that I returned to the world I came from.

But a problem arose.

-Research teams and expeditions continue to investigate the mysterious island, but the cause has yet to be identified.

-The government has requested assistance from Japan and China, and in accordance with international agreements, active….

*Slurp.*

She watched the news intently while eating the now-cooked ramen.

*Crunch.*

She didn’t forget the pickled radish, either.

“Ajeossi. The news is boring. Put on a comedy channel.”

“…”

“News is no fun.”

“What do you mean, ‘no fun’? That’s about your territory. Pay some attention!”

I let out another sigh.