"There's no such thing as a perfect person—what does that mean?"
"It means exactly that. There are no perfect people, and people can't be perfect."
Her endless stream of self-deprecating mutterings finally stopped.
Thankfully, she was paying attention to what I had to say.
"Why is that?"
"Because the standards people use to judge perfection come from the eyes of others."
I'd never studied philosophy or psychology.
But the key point was that there's no need to be perfect.
All I could do was convey my sincere feelings, in hopes Choi Yu-ra would reflect on what perfection really meant to her.
"People are social creatures, I think. From small groups like family all the way up to entire nations. We live our lives forming relationships with others, so when we evaluate ourselves, we inevitably rely on how they see us."
She nodded.
After all, she'd been judging herself based on the gazes of those online haters.
"But as the saying goes, every person has their own taste. Everyone judges differently. It's like how the same food might be a gourmet feast to one person's palate but utterly inedible to another."
"So the people who insulted me just had different standards..."
"But that's not always the case."
The haters.
They had no standards at all.
"Some people just spew insults because they want to."
"Huh?"
"It's malice, you could say. No matter how hard Choi Yu-ra tries, they'll find some nitpick to tear you down with."
"R-Really?"
"Hmm, want an example? Who's the person you respect most—the one closest to perfection?"
"Um... Park A-reum the hunter."
Park A-reum the hunter.
The pinnacle of the hunter world right up until sixty years ago.
The inaugural guild master of the Millennium Guild that Choi Yu-ra belonged to, a woman from the first generation of hunters.
She'd passed away now, but no one could deny the greatness of her legacy or the fact that she was the strongest hunter in history.
"Here, I looked it up. Take a peek."
Excluding the haters, that is.
Choi Yu-ra's eyes went wide as she stared at the screen I showed her.
"H-How..."
"See? Even the person you thought was perfect gets trashed like this. That's the world for you."
I took back my smartphone and glanced at the screen one more time.
[Park A-reum that bitch wouldn't even make A-rank in this generation. Agree?]
└[For real, agree lol. Old folks from back then had no proper training systems, and awakeners' mana levels were shit anyway? Ha! If I'd been born in that era, I'd have beaten her ass and taken her spot.]
[Park A-reum just bailed out and died without a care. If you're a hero, you gotta train successors properly. Just dying doesn't cut it?]
[Agree lol. Real hero would've planned for the future. Zero sense of responsibility.]
Weak? Park A-reum the hunter?
Or if she was so strong, she should've trained successors?
Who could possibly satisfy critics throwing out such contradictory judgments?
"This is what I mean—no matter how perfect you try to become, some people will hate anyway."
"Why on earth..."
"Need more specific reasons?"
She nodded vigorously.
She looked a bit like a big dog—it was kinda cute.
"It's because of their ugly desire to see heroes fall."
"Desire to see heroes fall?"
"It's called jealousy. When someone successful comes along, they want to drag them down to their level—or even lower."
Choi Yu-ra fell silent.
For someone who'd walked an elite path since childhood and lived only for her work, this dark side of society was probably unimaginable.
'Millennium Guild really must be a great place.'
If it weren't...
Her fellow guild members might have envied or politicked against her for rising so young.
She'd have built some immunity to society's ugliness by now.
As expected of Korea's top guild, full of top-notch members.
"..."
Her eyes trembled, struck dumb like she'd swallowed honey.
Now that she knew the true nature of those who'd criticized her, a storm of emotions must be raging inside.
"So... what should I do now..."
Having realized perfection was an impossible goal.
She seemed swept up in the sense of loss from having no direction.
I kept advising her to keep her from spiraling into pointless self-deprecation.
"Why did you want to become perfect in the first place, Choi Yu-ra?"
"...I wanted to be a great hunter."
"Like Park A-reum the hunter?"
"...Yes."
"That means you wanted to become a hero, right?"
"Hero..."
I spoke to her as she nodded.
"Then you've already achieved it."
"Huh?"
"I said it earlier, remember? They want heroes to fall. Flip that around..."
"!?"
You're already a hero.
I didn't say it out loud, but she got the point—her face lit up.
"Haha..."
Her dark circles were still heavy.
Her face still weary with fatigue.
But that one smile made her breathtakingly beautiful.
"And one last thing—if the hate still gets to you, just think this."
"What?"
"Loser shut-ins scratching their junk in their rooms, who are you to lecture me? If you're so pissed, come out here and try it yourself!"
Her face twisted in shock.
Yeah, she'd never expect a guy to say something like that.
"Alright, up you go."
"Ah, y-yes!"
We wrapped up our not-quite-counseling session and left the unmanned cafe.
On the way out, I told her what I'd been wanting to say.
"And if—hypothetically—even the whole world turns against you someday, I'll still believe in you."
You don't know it...
But you saved me from becoming a monster driven mad by lust.
You're my one and only benefactor.
"Even if you retire from being a hunter."
Skills or no skills, I wanted my sincerity to reach her.
"You're a hero forever in my heart."
＊＊＊
The day after sharing that not-quite-counseling session with Yoo Jun-hyuk.
"Hoo..."
Choi Yu-ra took a deep breath as she prepared to head outside.
Ever since her emotional wounds, she'd only gone out at night.
But today, the sun hung high in the midday sky.
"I can do this."
She dispelled her illusion artifact and tossed it onto the table.
She opened the door and stepped out—the long-lost sunlight stung her eyes.
'It's fine. No one's going to insult me.'
Yoo Jun-hyuk's counseling wasn't anything special.
As he himself admitted, he had no qualifications, no training in philosophy or psychology.
But it motivated her heart more than any advice, admonition, or comfort ever could.
"I'm not perfect. No, people can't be perfect."
His words had reached her sincerely through hypnosis.
She cherished every bit of their conversation, reflecting on her life through it.
She'd succeeded in accepting that she could never be perfect.
"Since perfection's impossible, satisfying everyone is too."
If she hadn't felt his words as sincere through the skill...
She never could've accepted it this quickly.
"But that doesn't make my life up till now meaningless."
Reciting his words one by one, she etched her changed mindset deep once more.
"They gnawed at me because I'm a hero? My efforts weren't wasted—I've already reached my goal."
She left her yard and walked down the main street.
"So I won't listen to them anymore. I've got my hands full living for the people who like me—too busy and tough to spare any attention for those losers."
Her breath quickened as people entered her view.
She'd steeled herself, but she wasn't fully over it yet.
A passerby stopped beside her.
"Huh? Choi Yu-ra the hunter, by any chance?"
"...Yes."
"Whoa! It really is Choi Yu-ra the hunter! I'm shocked! Oh, um, if it's okay..."
Oblivious to her inner turmoil, the passerby pulled a pen and notebook from their bag.
"Could I get an autograph? I've been a fan forever!"
"Haha, sure. Happy to."
"Awesome! Thank you!"
After getting the signature, the passerby grabbed her hand.
"Heard you've been under the weather lately and taking a break? You okay now?"
"Yes, yes. I'm good."
"I was so worried. You always work so hard and push yourself. Thought you might've burned out."
"Ah..."
Someone who recognizes my efforts.
She felt something inside her heart being filled.
"Anyway, glad you're healthy. Work's important, but take it easy from now on, okay?"
"Yes. I will."
"I'll always cheer for you! Go, Choi Yu-ra!"
The passerby left.
Another spotted her.
"Whoa! Choi Yu-ra the hunter?"
"For real? Wow, it is her!"
They were all her fans.
"Choi Yu-ra the hunter, remember that Gate Break in Gangneung a while back? I was there fishing with a buddy and nearly died, but you saved us."
Some saw her as their benefactor.
"Sorry. My daughter's a huge fan of yours. She says she wants to grow up to be just like you—she admires you so much. If it's alright, could I get an autograph? She'd love it."
Others idolized her.
'I'm such an idiot for agonizing like that all this time.'
So many people love and adore me.
Why did I keep beating myself up?
But she didn't cry.
"Thanks."
She'd cried enough already.
She wanted to smile for these people.
＊＊＊
A few days later.
Fully recovered mentally and physically, Choi Yu-ra returned to her guild.
She dove right back into work, wiping out an A-rank Gate that had appeared near Pangyo.
"Choi Yu-ra the hunter, this was your longest break yet. What's it like coming back?"
"Rest was nice, but it really drove home that being a hunter is what I'm meant to do."
The interview started the moment she returned—reporters wouldn't miss it.
They covered all sorts of topics, but midway, one tossed a cheeky question.
"By the way, that video from the famous WhiTuber Go Jin-yo during your break shocked a lot of people. What are your thoughts on it?"
Her nearby colleagues paled.
Not the kind of question to throw at someone who'd just recovered and returned.
"Hmm."
But she wasn't fazed.
If it were before, maybe—but now, some rumor-mongering video meant nothing.
'Makes me think of that guy.'
Instead, Go Jin-yo's video reminded her of the cafe employee she hadn't visited since that day.
The man who'd confessed right before they parted that she was a hero forever in his heart.
'His name was... Yoo Jun-hyuk, right? Saw it on his cafe name tag.'
Only now did she truly take in Yoo Jun-hyuk's face.
'...Cute and handsome.'
A face that stirred maternal instincts and protective urges at once.
But those eyes had a 'womanly' vibe mixed in.
A decadent beauty that sent a sharp thrill through her.
'Never really thought about romance before...'
She'd already achieved her dream of becoming a hero.
She always put in the effort, so maintaining her position was no issue.
No more letting haters get to her.
Maybe it was time to try dating?
"Choi Yu-ra the hunter?"
"Sorry. Just choosing my words."
The interviewer's prompt brought back Yoo Jun-hyuk's advice.
'Loser shut-ins scratching their junk in their rooms, who are you to lecture me? If you're so pissed, come out here and try it yourself!'
Remembering it made her chuckle.
What kind of guy drops f-bombs like that?
Minus the swearing, he'd been gentle and kind otherwise—probably pushed himself for her sake?
'Can't lose to him. What should I say?'
She'd never sworn, deeming it vulgar.
But her colleagues spewed curses constantly during tough monster hunts.
She knew plenty.
"I'd rather not bother with it."
Choi Yu-ra.
Just as Yoo Jun-hyuk predicted, she'd taken his heartfelt advice to heart.
Using it as fertilizer, she'd overcome adversity and grown stronger.
"Why waste my precious life on the pathetic jerk-off sessions of basement-dwelling losers?"
"Ch-Choi Yu-ra the hunter?"
"Keep grinding away at your dicks in your rooms, leeching off your parents till you croak alone and forgotten in some decrepit hovel in your old age. Best wishes."
She'd gotten quite a bit stronger.