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"Oh, Byeong-gi!”

"I'm back.”

My mother greeted me with tears in her eyes.

The most significant difference from before the return was that my father was with my mother, both welcoming their son back safely.

My father patted me silently on the shoulder and hugged me tight to express his joy.

His awkward expression and warmth made me cry for the first time since I was a kid.

It was the best gift I could have ever received upon my return.

The Heavenly Demon didn't say anything at this moment, but I could sense that he was unfamiliar with my emotions.

I had a lengthy conversation with my parents, as I hadn't seen them in a while, and I recounted to them all that had happened.

My parents were curious about the current situation, time travel, and the future. I tried to explain it all to them in a composed manner, but I could tell from their expressions that they were having difficulty comprehending it.

Nevertheless, they nodded and listened attentively, as they trusted their son.

I refrained from telling them that the world would end in 15 years, as I didn't want to frighten them.

Instead, I focused on the hunter's life I would have in the future. This was strongly opposed by my mother, who was concerned for me.

My father, however, encouraged me and told me to be careful and take care of my health. After a long period of persuading her, my mother eventually consented, albeit reluctantly.

Having been reunited with my parents, I was able to sleep peacefully for the first time in a while.

***

A few restful days passed.

I helped my dad, who ran a small mold factory, and chatted with my mom while helping with the housework.

Although Heavenly Demon complained about how I had less time to practice martial arts, I still wanted to spend as much time as I could with my family.

I would be swamped in the future, so I needed to take time off.

During my break, the gates and monsters created by the Second Cataclysm were cleared up thanks to the government and guilds, and the citizens gradually resumed their daily lives.

However, an emergency martial law was put into effect.

Fortunately, the Second Cataclysm resulted in fewer casualties than the First, and the national infrastructure wasn't damaged as severely. Broadcasting, communication, water, and electricity were still available in a limited capacity.

The problem was the subsequent gates. The most significant damage would occur in three months.

At that time, a large gate would appear at Gangnam Station. I remembered that the casualties caused by this gate would exceed those caused by the Second Cataclysm up to that point.

It was known as the "Curse of Exit 7" and it was recorded that it began on an early Saturday morning in a women's bathroom in an underground shopping mall that was still under construction. The monsters spilled out after sunset.

Since there were no detectors then, no emergency alert text messages were sent, and the dispatch of hunters was delayed. The massive crowd on Saturday evening was left defenseless.

I wanted to stop it if I could, with my own strength.

I thought it would be possible to sweep away the monsters and destroy the Summoning Stone before sunset and also get the Hidden Peace and items inside.

The Hidden Piece I could get was the title ‘Two Hearts.’ Its effect was to recharge your mana when it was completely exhausted.

It would be like having two fuel tanks.

There was also 'Athena's Ring' that could be obtained by destroying the Summoning Stone with the maximum contribution.

That item was an artifact that could permanently increase mana by 10%.

The hunter who had obtained this item was later murdered, and had his ring finger cut off.

After that incident, hunters became more sensitive to what information they disclosed.

Anyway, if I didn't know about the title and the items, I would have just ignored them. But since I knew it, I would do everything to get them to become stronger.

Only in this way could I prepare for the 5th Cataclysm, which would herald the end of the world.

[How ambitious!]

"Plans are supposed to be ambitious. In fact, just think of it as if I'm trying to eat well and live a good life. If I live like this, I can only expect to live for another fifteen years. I want to live happily for longer than that."

[It's good, to be honest. What about your martial arts practice?]

"Of course, I have to do it. But I also need to sort out my memories about the gate, like where I can get items and Skill Books."

[It’s fine for items... but you still desire skills. Didn't I tell you to focus on martial arts?]

"What I want to get aren’t attack skills but crafting skills.”

[Crafting...]

"Let's talk about it later. Anyways, martial arts techniques are more effective than attack skills, as you said."

[Kukuku. I didn’t know you could say such nice things. However, what would happen if you can’t prevent the end of the world despite your best efforts? Don't tell me you will just keep coming back and repeating this over and over again.]

"It's just horrible to think about. It's a too-common trope. Don't bring up those unnecessary lines."

[We’ve been in that kind of situation since your return.]

"Well… why can't we have a normal conversation?”

[What's wrong with our conversation now?]

"Well, now that I have awakened, I'm going to the Hunter Management Bureau to register my status today.”

[You should be at a higher level than you were before your return.]

Currently, the numerical power of my basic abilities was 58. According to my past experience, that put me around A-Rank.

"If I reach A-Rank as soon as I’ve awakened, it’ll be troublesome. I hate this kind of thing...'

Although I practiced martial arts, I didn’t feel strong enough yet. In this state, I could be targeted by a large guild and restrained.

I knew it because I had experienced it and seen it many times in the Phoenix Guild.

There were many cases where talented hunters were treated as consumables and tossed aside as soon as they ran out of usefulness.

[Do you need my help?]

"Is it possible?”

[Just lend me your body for a while, then I’ll control your inner power.]

"Can't I do it myself?”

[Not yet.]

"Well then, please help.”

[Okay. However, I want to know your level compared to other hunters.]

"Although I can get a A-Rank, it can vary depending on the timing since it will be adjusted later."

[I don't understand.]

It was difficult to explain in words, so I shared my memory with him.

Before the return, until I died, it was unknown what the highest level was. Therefore, there was no clear standard for ranking hunter levels.

Thus, those with the highest level became the benchmark, and now the top ranking in the world was 80.

The levels were ranked based on that person’s magic power level. As a result, hunters were obligated to measure their mana values every year.

There were cases where their rank would drop, so hunters had to constantly improve themselves to stay ahead.

"Although my level is only 19 now, it is close to 40 according to their current data.”

[So, is it ok to think of you as mid-level?]

"If it's level 40, I could be in the top 1,000 based on the hunters registered in our country. You can consider it a pyramid structure, with the ranks thinning out as you ascend."

[Does that mean there are fewer strong people than when you died?]

"I died as an E-Rank hunter, but at that time, there were 500 people all over the world who were over level 350, which was the standard for S-Rank."

[I don’t like that. And you had the courage not to practice martial arts and rest for days? I should be more strict in the future.]

"I don't want to play all the time either because there's a lot to do. But I have to sell the mana stones today since I'll need that money going forward."

***

Yongsan War Memorial Hall.

It was called that in the past. But since almost all those buildings were destroyed during the First Cataclysm, now there was a newly built Hunter Management Bureau in its place.

Quite a few people were waiting in the lobby of the Awakened Registration Center. They had to be new hunters, Probies.

Awakening required no special conditions, nor did it take a Cataclysm to awaken.

But as was the case for the First Cataclysm, the numbers of the awakened were more during a Cataclysm than during times of peace.

Before the return, scientists said that the Cataclysm and the emergence of the awakened were closely related to mana concentration in the atmosphere, and I thought the same.

I took a number and waited for my turn.

Registration wasn’t complex; after a simple physical examination and a mana measurement with a mana tester, it’d be over.

[Is the mana tester measuring your inner power level? ]

‘It’s similar but different because hunters don't have an energy center. ’

[I see.]

‘Awakening activates the body, and mana spreads throughout the body centered on the heart. Since the properties of mana have similar components to oxygen in the body, the measuring instrument measures the oxygen concentration in our blood. It extrapolates the mana values based on that.’

[It sounds complicated. How do you understand all that?]

‘This is a frequent question on police officer exams, and I used to be an engineering student, so it's basic knowledge for me.’

As far as I recalled, gate detectors were also going to be developed based on that mana tester in the next two years. I thought I could make that happen a bit sooner.

[Are you trying to make money?]

‘I can make a lot of money with mana stones and monster parts, but it's better to sit back and profit while doing nothing.’

[Do you know how to do that?]

‘I’m going to get a patent and sell the rights to the gate detector.’

[How?]

‘I'll sign a contract with the Management Bureau. Just wait and see.’

Ding-Dong-

"Mr. Lee Byeong-gi.”

It was my turn. The inspection didn’t take long.

It took only 30 minutes from the start of the inspection to the end of the documentation and computer registration.

I should have gotten an A-Rank, but with the Heavenly Demon’s help, they put me a C.

However, the fact that a Proby received a C seemed to be a problem too. It was rare for hunters who had just awakened to rank above an F.

The Heavenly Demon said there was nothing more he could do because of the limitations of my body. What could I do if he said that?

I still attracted the attention of many recruiters due to the C-Rank I obtained.

Several so-called ‘brokers’ who lined up here sold my information to the guilds.

The administration’s office might also keep a close eye on me, although there likely wouldn’t be any direct involvement from them.

[So what are you going to do?]

"What do you mean? I can solve it once I set up my guild. Although it will cost some money, as long as I meet the conditions, I can get subsidies in the future."

[Under what conditions?]

"I just need a guild office, a training facility, and two or more hunters. However, I know that the procedure around the subsidies will be quite difficult.’

It took about a week to issue the Hunter’s Qualification Certificate, so I got a temporary certificate and left the Awakened Registration Center.

The managers of the various guilds had their business cards out at the ready for me.

I saw Lee Seong-jin and the manager of the Phoenix Guild, which I had worked for in the past, I avoided their eyes as I walked away.

Since I didn’t have enough funds to set up a guild yet, the plan was to sell mana stones to raise money at that moment and focus on practicing martial arts in the meantime.

[Didn't you say you would sell mana stones?]

We had passed by the mana stone exchange store, and the Heavenly Demon asked me, confused.

‘I have a place to go first.’

[Looks like there are black market stores here as well.]

‘So they’re called that in the Martial World too?’

State-run exchange stores levied 30% tax, and non-government-owned stores levied only 15%, including commissions. But they were also pretty dangerous places for Probies.

[Dangerous?]

"The people who run them are also the Awakened. Most of them were gangsters from pretty big organizations. If you go in there without knowing anything, you might get beaten up and have your mana stones stolen."

[But is it necessary to take that risk?]

‘Heheh.’

[What's with that laugh?]

‘The place I'm going to is one such place.’

[...You madman!]

I put on the hat and mask I had prepared beforehand as I entered the back alley of the Yongsan Electronics Shopping Center, which had been a mecca for otakus in the past. Upon arriving, I ventured into a notorious black-market shop I had heard about. Immediately, a burly man in a black suit approached me.

This place required a strange code to enter, but I knew their secrets.

"Are you here for a blind date?"

"That's right.”

"Excuse me. Am I late? My pants got dirty on my way here.”

"It doesn't matter. I arrived that way yesterday, too. This way, please. ”

[What nonsense is this?]

After the secret codes were exchanged, he led me to the back of the store.

It was very dark, and I could feel the presence of hunters everywhere around me. These guys were awaited Probies who came alone like me.

A bearded man with his long hair tied back in a ponytail sat proudly in the office I was led to.

[Not only are the codes strange… do these guys do drugs together? Their aura seems quite unstable.]

‘There's something like a stimulant that hunters use. I guess they're also taking it.’

[Stimulant?]

‘It’s called 'Angel Dust'... Anyway, there's something like that.’

I stood motionless until the man spoke first.

"You're here to make a deal?”

I silently nodded and opened the bag.

His eyes flashed with greed for an instant, then he smiled faintly.

"Are you here alone?”

That reaction was just as I expected.

"Well, I'm still single.”

[Is this also a secret code?]

"Ha! Do you know where this is?”

"Well... is it a place where innocent hunters get robbed?”

My words caused him to grimace, and several big men stepped out from the shadows.

"Just put the bag down and go away while I’m still speaking nicely to you.”

"I didn’t expect we’d settle this with words."

I took a bone out of the inventory.

"Bones? What are you going to do with that?”

"I don't need to use weapons to fight you.”

The corners of his lips went up with laughter.

"What a great hunter you are. Fellas!”

The big guys jumped forward as soon as he waved his hand.

"Come on! Hahahaha!”

[Whenever you pick up that bone, you go crazy like you’re having a Chūnibyō moment.]

But the Heavenly Demon still shared his senses with me despite saying that.

***

The thugs lay sprawled on the ground, limbs broken and skulls cracked.

I rummaged through the black-market store, taking their cash and mana stones.

[Didn't you say you don't want to be a criminal?]

"Make this an exception. These guys are all going to be arrested tonight anyway.”

That's why I'd been resting at home and waiting for today.

As the number of hunters killed by these stores increased, the administration decided to launch a large-scale crackdown, and starting with this one, the black-market stores would be pushed further into the shadows.

[Is that why you're here today?]

"Because this is the only place I know, it won't be a problem to start here first. This place is the first to go, so these guys won't be chasing me for revenge."

Anyway, there were no cameras here. Even if there were, it would be difficult to identify me as I was wearing a hat and a mask.

I headed to the exchange store with their mana stones, leaving them groaning on the ground.

They had about 200 million won in cash and much more in checks, but I decided to leave the checks behind.

I didn’t want to get myself chased due to greed.

There were already 500 mana stones and 30 intermediate mana stones here.

Each lower-level mana stone was worth about 1 million won, while each medium mana stone was worth 3 million, so after I sold them, I had 392 million won after tax.

Today's income was considerable since I also got 200 million in cash from those guys.

[You're such a gangster.]

"Yes, I am a gangster. Kukuku.”

[You know what, that laugh doesn't suit you.]