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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with One Step
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"Hello! Let me know if there's a size you're looking for~"
Shin Ji-ui folded the endless pile of messy clothes by hand while mechanically reciting her lines. In a massive clothing store right in the heart of Myeongdong, even a moment's breather was a luxury. Sure, dungeon byproducts had made all sorts of cutting-edge tech commonplace, but some things still needed a human touch.
"Do you have any Min Ji-ho Hunter collab T-shirts in stock?"
"I'm sorry, ma'am. The collab tees that came in today sold out completely, and we don't have a restock date yet."
That was the line Ji-ui had repeated more than any other today. Hunter collab merch—the bane of every part-timer's existence—had tormented her all day long.
In an era where hunters rivaled celebrities in popularity, fans lined up from dawn to snatch up products.
Is this Min Ji-ho girl really that famous?
Ji-ui glanced up at the collab poster on the store wall. It showed a woman with her blue hair tied up high in a ponytail, beaming in one of the T-shirts.
Of course, some celebrities had even become hunters. Ji-ui's gaze drifted across the street to a huge billboard outside the movie theater. Next to a photo of a handsome blond guy smiling was bold calligraphy:
S-Rank Idol Han Jin-woo's Birthday: Cheering You On Every Day.
S-Rank healer hunter Han Jin-woo. He'd been the main vocalist in an unpopular boy band, but he was the one and only case of awakening as an S-Rank during the Yeouido Gate explosion. S-Ranks were so rare worldwide that they could be counted on one hand, so the Korean Hunter Association had scooped him up like royalty before any overseas guilds could snag him.
Ji-ui tore her eyes away from Han Jin-woo and straightened the clothes on the mannequin. Hunters this, hunters that—none of it had anything to do with her anyway.
"What do you want for lunch?"
The manager, who'd been ringing up customers at the counter, popped up beside her.
"I'm good with anything…"
"Tteokbokki it is, then. Saw a mukbang last night and it's been killing me."
"Sounds good!"
While the manager pulled up a delivery app on her phone, Ji-ui hung the last pair of pants on its rack.
It had been a year since Ji-ui started working at this store. She'd been a promising local track star, but her little sister's hospital bills had buried the family in debt, forcing her to drop out. Right after high school graduation, she'd jumped into the job market. This Myeongdong department store clothing shop was where she'd landed.
"Medium spice level okay?"
Ji-ui gave the manager a thumbs-up and headed back toward the fitting rooms.
No regrets now. Borrowing money everywhere for her sister's bills was water under the bridge. Even if she could go back, her parents would've made the same choice. It was her burden to bear alone.
"Man, that was brutal. Nearly made me hurl."
It had taken a full hour to sort out the fitting rooms after a group of foreign tourists swept through. By the time she finished, it was quitting time.
How the hell do you even wear clothes to make this kind of mess?
Ji-ui grumbled inwardly as she put scattered hangers and tags back in place. She changed out of her uniform, gave a quick bow to the manager at the counter, and shuffled out.
"Good work. Get home safe~"
The sweet popcorn scent wafting from the movie theater across the street tickled her nose.
What side dishes are at home…
"Do you even know who I am?!"
Trivial thoughts shattered as a shout rang out just before she stepped onto the escalator. A plain-looking guy in a scowl was jabbing a finger at a movie theater uniform-clad woman.
Spilled cola. His soaked pants.
Pretty obvious what happened.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'll pay for dry cleaning right now…"
"Fuck that. Dry cleaning? Do you know what pants these are?"
The classic pattern unfolded. Onlookers paused to gawk, but no one stepped in to help the employee.
The man's one-sided tirade drilled into Ji-ui's ears as the worker's face crumpled more by the second.
Her feet, planted at the escalator, felt glued to the floor. She knew all too well she couldn't just walk past someone in need.
"Goddamn it… This personality of mine never changes."
In the end, Ji-ui wedged herself into the scene. The man flinched at the sudden intruder and took a step back.
"And who the hell are you?"
"I don't know what pants you're wearing, but that's no excuse to talk to her like that."
Ji-ui pulled the employee behind her.
"Ha, unbelievable."
The man ran a hand through his thinning hair and snorted.
"Hey."
Suddenly polite, he crossed his arms and looked down at Ji-ui.
"You might not know, but I'm a hunter. Hunter? Yoo Ha-in ring a bell?"
"What does that have to do with—"
"These pants? Not just any pants. They're loaded with enchantments. Get it?"
Guy named 'Servant' acting like a king.
Ji-ui narrowed her eyes, glancing between the man and his pants. For something supposedly enchanted to the gills, they sure weren't waterproof. She looked up again.
"Then calm down and just tell us how much they cost. We'll handle insurance or whatever."
"Ha! The gall. You get to laugh and shop here because hunters risk their lives. You know that, right?!"
Startled by his bellow, Ji-ui flinched involuntarily. Her half-lidded, fatigue-heavy eyes snapped open, finally noticing the faint sparks crackling from his hand.
"You people just sell shit here and don't even appreciate it."
"…"
"Forget the money. Hey, employee. Kneel, and I'll let it slide."
Is he for real?
Ji-ui's rational thoughts short-circuited. Her fist clenched on instinct, but she reined it in. No winning against a hunter, and even if she landed a few hits, she couldn't afford the compensation.
"I'm sorry. Just… just go. I'll do it…"
The employee whispered desperately, her eyes red and brimming with tears.
The one who should apologize is someone else.
Ji-ui bit her lower lip hard and gripped the woman's hand tight.
Thud.
Her foot caught on the fallen cola cup, ice still piled inside.
"...Fine. I'll kneel for you."
"What?"
The employee and the man gaped in unison at Ji-ui's sudden declaration.
"You? Outta nowhere? What a joke."
"…"
"Whatever. Go ahead."
Ji-ui slowly lowered herself. As anticipation lit up the man's face—
Splash!
"Gah?!"
Clink.
The cola cup hit the man square on the head. Ice chunks slid down inside his stretched T-shirt. He thrashed pathetically, scrambling to fish them out.
"Whew."
Ji-ui shook out her hand and exhaled. The man blinked dumbly, still processing.
"Name's 'Servant,' but you act like a lord."
Laughter erupted from the crowd. The man's face flushed crimson. Ji-ui stared him down and spoke again.
"Don't strut around picking on the weak."
"Urk!"
Crackle.
"Eek!"
Screams rang out as sparks shot from the man's hand straight for Ji-ui's throat.
Thwack.
"Ugh?!"
His punch was skill-wrapped, but Ji-ui perfectly parried his wrist, sending the attack whistling into empty air.
What the— this bitch is a hunter?!
Reeling back in shock, the man clutched his stinging wrist and stared at Ji-ui.
Thud.
Her wide eyes and emerald irises bored into him like judgment.
Whoa, what did I just do?
But Ji-ui herself was stunned by her own reflexes. Too precise for mere athletic instinct—too many unexplainable bits.
Pure instinct. Her body moved before her brain could catch up.
"Wha—this…"
His fist flew at her face again. Ji-ui tilted her head to dodge, then swept his leg, toppling him.
"Agh! My knee!"
As he clutched his knee and wailed, security guards in uniforms finally rushed over. One hauled the man up; the other approached Ji-ui and the employee.
"Hunter, right? Thanks for subduing him."
"Huh? No, I'm unawakened."
"Unawakened?"
The guard's eyes widened in disbelief. Ji-ui felt the same.
She quietly replayed the confrontation.
It felt familiar. His punch like slow motion. She could predict every follow-up.
"Hey, let go! You're just building security…"
"Police are on their way. Hang tight."
The guard gave Ji-ui and the employee a curt nod before dragging the man off.
"Haaah…"
Only after things settled did Ji-ui let out a long sigh, pushing up from her knees. She hadn't shown it, but the tension had left her hands shaking.
"Thank you so much for helping. I… I didn't know what to do…"
The employee bowed, tears streaming like chick tears. Ji-ui forced a smile, straightening up.
Better bounce before this gets messy.
"Um, wait—!"
Ignoring the call, Ji-ui melted into the crowd.
D-Rank my ass, strutting around like that.
Ji-ui cursed the rowdy jerk under her breath the whole train ride home. She closed the Association homepage, shoved her phone deep into her windbreaker pocket.
Even if he were S-Rank, that's no way to treat civilians.
Wielding power over the weak—that was what Ji-ui despised most.
Mom and Dad would've fainted if they saw that.
Ever since her sister Ji-yu passed, Ji-ui couldn't ignore anyone vulnerable. They all blurred into Ji-yu, for that shallow reason.
Having lost their youngest to illness, seeing their eldest come home battered from helping strangers meant constant nagging from her parents.
No living to 300 at this rate.
Lost in spiraling thoughts, she arrived home.
Rumble.
"Huh?"
The ground shook. Ji-ui looked down—marble tiles at her feet cracked open, yawning downward.
"Wha—aaah?!"
She plummeted in an instant, swallowed by fathomless darkness.
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