The world was falling apart.
It was news I had seen with my own eyes, yet I couldn't bring myself to believe it.
Thirteen years ago, something unknown called an "Erosion Core" appeared across the world.
From those Erosion Cores, a strange energy spread outward, contaminating the land. Thus, Erosion Zones were formed.
Within these Erosion Zones, monsters that once existed only in people's imaginations—or creatures no one had ever imagined at all—began to emerge without warning.
It wasn't that humans couldn't live there. But those who resided on land designated as Erosion Zones had to live with the constant readiness to encounter monsters at any moment.
"Damn it. Shit. What kind of cursed, lightning-struck nonsense is this?"
Still, it wasn't as if Earth's lifeline had been completely severed.
People with superhuman powers—capable of killing monsters and destroying the Erosion Cores at their source—appeared. They were called Hunters.
For the past thirteen years, a war to deal with the Erosion Cores had continued.
"Doesn't look like things went very well."
Even a glance at the flood of speculation spreading across the internet was enough to reflect humanity's despair, with defeat clearly looming.
Just when things seemed to be going well, people inevitably split into factions and started fighting among themselves. That's human nature—what people like to call politics.
In the end, that instinct once again dragged humanity down.
While I was lost in thought, the night passed and morning came.
[By government executive order, electricity, gas, and water supplies will be suspended until sunset.]
"…I've lived a long life, but this is a first."
Cutting off electricity, gas, and water?
Am I really in South Korea right now? This isn't North Korea, is it?
Clicking my tongue as I listened to the announcement blaring from the speakers, I shook my head.
At least South Korea had been one of the countries where the first Hunters appeared, and its response measures had been extremely swift.
Thanks to that, the Erosion Cores that appeared within Korea were dealt with early on. Many countries managed to bring Erosion Cores and monsters under partial control through their own Hunters, but…
There was no place as safe as Korea.
In practice, there were indeed times when gas, water, or electricity supplies were cut off in accordance with executive orders. Still, based on what I found through my smartphone, nowhere compared to Korea.
Zero Erosion Zones.
Any Erosion Cores that appeared within the territory were eliminated immediately—before the Hunters could grow even stronger—so aside from minor damage, it was hard to find monsters at all.
It was so safe that the President of the United States was nearly impeached after being caught desperately trying to obtain Korean citizenship for his daughter.
"Ordering makgeolli from the tavern owner doesn't really feel appropriate right now."
Every neighboring house was burning down—how could we laugh just because ours was still standing? No one knew when the flames might spread.
South Korea's GDP growth rate this year: 0%.
If time passed like this, even Korea could become dangerous at any moment.
I stared at my phone screen for a while, then tossed it aside and closed my eyes.
"…I don't want to."
I really didn't want to.
After thirty-five years of brutal hardship, I had succeeded in returning to Earth twenty-five years in the past. Being told to go back to the battlefield right after being discharged—how was that any different?
It wasn't as if I were the only capable person in the world.
After crossing countless lines of death and survival, I had finally returned to my homeland of milk and honey. Honestly, I just wanted to rest.
Starting the very next day, I went back to work at the company where the original owner of this body had been employed.
I was an intern at a logistics company.
I wasn't particularly good at the job, but to be fair, even the original owner probably wouldn't have been any better than me.
Every day was genuinely enjoyable.
Even when my supervisor acted obnoxiously, it was fine.
It wasn't nearly as infuriating as how nobles treated commoners.
Even when my boss glared at me like he wanted to kill me, it didn't matter.
A king didn't just glare—he actually tried to kill you.
Even overtime didn't bother me.
It was better than trudging for days without sleep through freezing cold so severe that ice formed inside your nose just from breathing.
Every kind of hardship and obstacle I could face at this company was, compared to the life I had lived, basically nothing.
So I was doing well.
And I had no doubt that I would continue to adapt and live a normal life.
That is, until three months after I returned to this world.
"Bankruptcy?"
The world—no… the company—had gone bankrupt.
I stared blankly at the empty office. It wasn't that the company had scammed me. Strictly speaking, it was more accurate to say that the company itself had been scammed by the harsh tides of the world.
If I had to classify it, I suppose I should call it a bankruptcy caused by external factors—an act of God, so to speak. One of the newly emerged sources of erosion had struck directly at the heart of the company, and in the process of hunters dealing with it, the company had suffered catastrophic damage.
Of course, it wasn't officially bankrupt yet. But in reality, the situation was no different from bankruptcy.
"Fuck…"
What kind of shitty situation is this? It's not like this is some kind of joke at my expense.
The company's gone under. No—about to go under. So what am I supposed to do now? How am I supposed to make a living? Do I have to get another job?
After that, I sent out applications to about twelve companies, and miraculously, I was rejected by every single one.
"'This year, even South Korea's GDP growth rate hits zero. Has the last bastion fallen?'"
That article I'd read before slammed back into my mind. In the current circumstances, reemployment was almost impossible.
"I'm out of money."
There was no way to make a living. With nowhere to rely on and unemployed, the money I had left was dwindling fast. I was at the point where I had to do something—anything—to survive.
"…Life is deceiving me. It's lying to me!"
There is a way to make a living.
"There's no other choice, is there."
This wasn't about liking it or not. If I didn't do something right now, I'd starve to death, and there was no visible way to make money.
"Hunter."
So this is how it ends up. I let out a hollow, incredulous laugh. After finally returning to Earth, I'd gone full circle only to end up doing this kind of thing again.
Once I start this, there's no going back. I know that perfectly well. My head wants to quit this kind of life, but my body—having done nothing but this for thirty-five years—doesn't.
"…"
Even when I sleep in a comfortable bed, I suddenly find myself turning off the air conditioner and lying on the bare floor. Near the bed, I always keep a baseball bat or a kitchen knife hidden, just in case.
Even when walking down the street, I tense up if someone is behind me. That's how I've lived for thirty-five years. A choice made because my livelihood was cut off.
"…Fine. I'll do this damn thing one more time."
I didn't throw away thirty-five years just to go down with this screwed-up world.
The decision was made. I knew what I had to do. All that was left was action.
"So it's come to this."
A kind of compensatory mindset kicked in. I'd been able to endure living off a modest salary while working at a company. No—I'd even enjoyed it. After all, that's what I'd wanted for thirty-five years.
But after enduring hellish suffering to escape that living hell, I'd ended up entering another hell not all that different from it. In that case, I should at least receive compensation worthy of my choice.
I have no intention of living as some run-of-the-mill hunter, scraping by day to day.
"Hunters are highly respected in this society, after all."
I'll become the best, enjoy everything there is to enjoy, and live so well that people will choke with envy just looking at me.
The selection process held once every quarter was now only a month away.
I applied for the upcoming hunter selection scheduled for the earliest possible date and began making the necessary preparations.
Every quarter, companies employing hunters active in Korea send representatives to the Association building in Seoul.
The goal is to scout promising talent from the regularly held hunter selection. At the same time, it also serves as a form of rest for hunters with notable achievements who belong to those companies.
Hunters fighting nonstop along the border with the erosion zones weren't in a position to rotate back to the rear for vacations anyway.
With the sharp click of heels, a woman in a suit entered the Union building accompanied by her aides, a smoking pipe held in one hand.
"It's an honor to host you, Miss Lee Se-eun."
The woman called Lee Se-eun glanced at the greeter and replied with a smile.
"Thank you for the warm welcome. I'd like to see the list of participants."
"This is the list of first-round passers."
"Thanks. Here, have a candy."
As she spoke, the woman took a small piece of hard candy from her pocket and pressed it into the hand of the person who handed her the list.
At the very least, these participants had been verified as capable of sensing mana.
They would all become hunters. These days, if you can sense mana, you're granted qualifications regardless of the circumstances.
That alone showed how dire the situation was.
"Two hundred and fifty-one people, huh."
"The tests will be conducted over the course of a week in a tournament format."
Taking out a match and lighting her pipe, the woman flipped through the documents as she exhaled a puff of smoke.
"Is it really okay for me to be away for an entire week? What on earth is the boss thinking?"
The situation at the armistice line wasn't good. Both news and newspapers were frothing at the mouth, stoking anxiety about the erosion zone beyond the armistice line preparing to invade South Korea.
"It seems there's quite a promising talent. Their academy record is excellent."
"So what? They'll still be half-baked."
The academy—once founded with lofty ambitions to professionally train hunters—was undeniably continuing to produce hunters above a certain standard.
Well, after achieving considerable success in Korea, similar institutions were being established in other regions too… but to her, who had been walking the line between life and death in the Corruption Zones for years now, they were still nothing more than unripe rookies.
"If nurtured well, they'll definitely become useful."
"Maybe. Or maybe not."
The attendant nodded in agreement.
"Some people stand out at the academy, but fail to achieve much in real combat."
Knowledge and training alone are not enough.
"That's exactly what I'm saying. Here—candy."
Lee Se-eun rummaged through her pocket once more, took out a hard candy, and handed it to the attendant along with the list of names.
"You're not going to look any further?"
"I skimmed it. Other people's evaluations written on paper don't mean much anyway."
Tap. After knocking the ashes out of her pipe, Lee Se-eun rubbed the corner of her eye.
"No matter how much the boss expects them, if they don't meet my standards, that's the end of it."
"The First Team Leader will also place greater weight on your opinion, Ms. Lee Se-eun."
After all, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Cheorwon border area was being held back from corruption by Lee Se-eun alone. Neither the Alliance nor Jannabi, the company she belonged to, could afford to ignore her influence.
"I'm enjoying my vacation, sure. But I'm worried about Cheorwon."
"It should manage somehow for about a week. Besides, no matter what anyone says, this is the selection of hunters who may shoulder the future."
As they spoke, individuals sent by other guilds began to take their seats one by one.
"Other guilds have sent some fairly well-known people too. It looks like the First Team Leader has a specific target in mind."
"That girl—Han Sang-ah, was it?"
An academy graduate. Her mana control was decent, and her awakened ability was lightning.
Still a rookie, but if raised well, she'd probably be useful in many ways. Lee Se-eun tapped at her phone with her finger.
"She could recharge my battery too, right?"
"She's a hunter candidate, not a generator."
"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, looks like it's finally starting."
It was time. From this point on, those qualified to become hunters would fight in a tournament format.
"Try to raise your price."
Lee Se-eun's eyes gleamed as she packed tobacco into her pipe.