The world was falling apart. I saw it with my own eyes through the news, but I still couldn’t believe it.
13 years ago, something unknown called ‘Erosion cores’ appeared across the globe.
The energy radiated from these zones and contaminated the lands. Thus, formed the Erosion Zones.
From these zones, monsters that only existed in human imagination or beyond it, appeared.
But that didn’t mean people couldn’t live there. But those within these regions had to be ready to face monsters at any moment.
“Like, are you kidding me? Damn it. Smite me already goddamn it.”
Still, Earth hadn’t completely choked on its last breath. Humans with superhuman abilities capable of killing and destroying these monsters and Erosion Zones appeared, known as the “Hunters”.
For the past 13 years, humanity has waged war against these Erosion Zones.
“Looks like things didn’t go well though.”
I was able to tell what was briefly happening just by browsing the internet that reflected humanity’s despair.
Just when things seem to go well, people split into factions and start fighting among themselves. It’s human nature after all, and what they call politics.
In the end, that nature once again shackled humanity. While I was lost in thought, time passed and the sun rose.
[As of this moment, government order, electricity, gas, and water supply will be suspended until sunset.]
[Seriously, what the hell is going on?”
They are taking away my electricity, gas, and water? I’m in South Korea, right? Not North Korea? I clicked my tongue as I listened to the announcement over the speaker.
At least South Korea had one of the first appearances of a Hunter. It was also said they were quick to act.
Thanks to that, the Erosion Zones in South Korea were quickly dealt with. Many countries managed to somewhat control their own Erosion Zones and monsters using their Hunters, but…
Nowhere was as safe as South Korea.
Sure, the government cut off gas, water, and electricity supplies during certain periods… but nowhere else was better off, according to what I looked up on my smartphone.
Any Erosion Zones that emerged in new regions were quickly taken care of by the Hunters of South Korea before they grew too big, so it was actually hard to find monsters in this country.
Even the U.S. president was caught trying to get Korean citizenship for his daughter and got impeached for it.
“But it’s a bit hard for me to have a celebratory drink.”
All of the neighbors’ houses were burning down, so I couldn’t laugh just because my house was fine. It was always possible to spread at any moment.
South Korea’s GDP growth rate was 0% this year. At this rate, even Korea will be at risk.
After staring at the screen for a bit longer, I tossed the phone aside and closed my eyes.
“...I hate this.”
I didn’t want to do it. I worked 35 years of hell and succeeded in returning to Earth 25 years into the future. But this was no different to being discharged from the military and immediately being drafted again.
Surely, I wasn’t the only capable person in this world. I crossed countless battlefields to finally return to my sweet homeland. I honestly just wanted to rest.
Starting the next day, I went to work at the job the original owner of this body had.
I was an intern at a logistics company.
I was clumsy at work, but even the original guy probably wasn’t better than me.
Every day was so joyful.
It was fine even when my mentor acted like a jerk. It wasn’t as bad as how those nobles treated commoners in the last world.
I didn’t care if my boss glared at me like he wanted to kill me. The king didn’t just glare at me, but he actually tried to kill me.
I had no complaints about working overtime. At least I wasn’t marching for days without sleep in a bone-freezing cold that cracks your sinuses just by breathing.
Compared to the life I had before, the hardships in this company were nothing.
I was living well. I believed that I could continue to live like this, adjusting just fine.
Until exactly three months after I returned to this world.
“Bankrupt?”
The Earth, no… the company went bankrupt.
I stood there, staring blankly at the empty office. It wasn’t like the company scammed me. In truth, the company got scammed by the chaos of the world if I had to be honest.
To be precise, it was bankruptcy due to a natural disaster. One of the newly emerged Erosion Zones directly struck the company’s core, and the Hunters caused massive collateral damage during cleanup.
Of course, it hadn’t gone completely bankrupt yet. But realistically, it was over for them.
“Son of a…”
What kind of nonsense is this? Is the world playing with me?
This company is toast. No, it will be. But then how am I supposed to eat and live? Do I have to find another job?
After that, I applied to 12 companies and got rejected by all of them.
‘South Korea’s GDP hits zero this year. ‘Final stronghold collapsing?’’
I was reminded of the article I read last time. Getting a new job was nearly impossible in the current situation.
“I’m almost out of money.”
I had no way to make a living. With nowhere to depend on, I only had a bit of money left. I needed to do something, anything to continue living.
“...The world really knows how to get on my nerves huh!”
However, there was a way to live.
“Now I have no other choice.”
It didn't matter if I liked it or not. I was about to die of starvation at this rate, but I had no way of making money other than this.
“Hunter.”
So it’s come to this huh. I was left speechless. After finally returning to Earth, I’m forced back into the same kind of work I thought I left behind.
There was no going back if I started this, and I knew that. My mind was telling me not to, but the 35 years of experience engraved into my body was telling me otherwise.
“...”
I purposely stopped using my comfy bed and slept on the floor with the AC off. By my bed, I always kept a baseball bat or kitchen knife just in case.
I tensed up whenever someone was behind me when walking down the street. That’s how I’ve lived for 35 years. This was the only option given to me.
“...Fine, I’ll do this shit one more time.”
I didn’t waste 35 years just to die along with this world.
I already made up my mind. I knew what to do, and now I just had to act.
“I can’t believe things turned out like this.”
I started thinking that I deserved compensation. I was able to handle low wages and daily grind in the company I worked in. No, I actually enjoyed it because that’s what I’d wanted for 35 years.
But after finally escaping hell, I was only shoved into another. I must be compensated for this.
I had no plan of living as a Hunter who earns a living day by day.
“They are highly respected in this society after all.”
I will become the best, buy anything I want, and live in luxury that everyone will be so jealous they can’t breathe.
The next Hunter selection was a month away.
I applied for the upcoming Hunter selection which was scheduled to take place soon, and began making the necessary preparations.
* * *
Each quarter, Hunter companies in Korea send representatives to the Association building Seoul.
They come to scout promising talent at the Hunter selection and to let veteran Hunters rest.
Frontline Hunters battling at the border couldn’t easily take time off.
With a click of heels, a woman in a suit entered the Association building, holding a cigarette pipe.
“It’s an honor to have you, Lee Se-eun.”
The woman named Lee Se-eun glanced at the person who greeted her and responded with a smile.
“Thank you for the welcome. I’d like to see the participant list.”
“This is the list of first-round qualifiers.”
“Thank you. Here, a candy.”
She pulled a candy from her pocket and handed it to the person speaking to her.
These candidates could at least sense mana. These days, anyone who could do that was granted qualification.
It showed just how desperate the situation was.
“251 people huh.”
“The tests will be conducted in tournament format over a week.”
After lighting her cigarette pipe, she flipped through the documents quickly.
“Am I really allowed a week off? What is the boss thinking?”
The border situation wasn’t good. News and papers were full of panic about the Erosion Zones breaching the ceasefire line.
“Apparently there’s a particularly promising candidate. They have excellent academy scores.”
“I bet they are still green.”
The academy was established to train Hunters. Though it produced solid results, they were still just young brats to Se-eun who had faced life threatening situations in Erosion Zones for years.
“With proper training, they’ll be useful.”
“Perhaps, or maybe not.”
Her assistant spoke with a nod.
“Even with top scores, there are students who fail in real combat.”
Knowledge alone wasn’t enough.
“That’s what I’m saying. Here, candy.”
Lee Se-eun searched through her pocket again and gave another candy to her assistant.
“Are you not going to look through the rest?”
“I skimmed through it. Paper evaluations don’t mean much anyway.”
She tapped out her pipe and rubbed her eyes as she spoke.
“Even if the boss has high hopes, it’s over if they don’t pass my test.”
“I’m sure the Team Leader of team 1 values your judgment as well, Miss Lee.”
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Lee Se-eun was single-handedly holding back the Erosion Zones at the border region of Cheorwon. Neither the union nor her company, Jannabi, could ignore her influence.
“I’m glad to get a vacation, but I’m worried about Cheorwon.”
“We’ll manage for about a week. And no matter what anyone says, this Hunter selection could decide the future.”
As the two talked, representatives from other guilds began to take their seats one by one.
“That girl’s name, Han Sang-ah was it?”
She was a graduate of the academy, but with proper training, she’d likely be quite useful. Lee Se-eun tapped her phone and spoke.
“You think she could charge my phone too?”
“She’s a Hunter candidate, not a battery.”
“Yeah, well it looks like it’s about to start.”
It was time. Starting now, those who had qualified to become Hunters would fight in a tournament format.
“Let’s see them raise their market value.”
Lee Se-eun packed her pipe with tobacco and watched with a gleam in her eyes.