The article portrayed me as if I were nobly sacrificing myself.
'That's understandable.'
I'd torn myself up fighting goblins everywhere.
It vividly depicted an E-grade Hunter's desperate solo struggle in an overwhelmingly outnumbered situation.
'As they say, a true wordsmith.'
They had every right to be proud.
But it left a slightly sour taste in my mouth.
I was the one who'd reaped massive gains yesterday.
Yet the reporter painted me as an awakener brimming with a strong sense of justice.
Of course, since I'd struggled against those goblins, they didn't slap on any flowery nicknames like "White-Horse Hunter" or "Supernova."
"You know that reporter or something?"
I shook my head at my brother's question.
"First time I saw her was at the bridge yesterday."
"Huh. Out of all those articles, she zeros in on you, and during cleanup yesterday... Well, if you don't know her, that's good."
"...What happened while I was passed out?"
"Nothing like that, but when they loaded you into the ambulance, she kept staring at you and me like we were ghosts. Thought you two might be connected."
That makes sense.
Same last name. A brief exchange that screamed close brothers. I could picture the wild fantasies spinning in that reporter's head without even seeing it.
'So this was flattery journalism after all.'
Schmoozing to get in good with someone close to Seo Boseok.
It was so blatant it made my skin crawl.
Is this really how real reporters operate?
'...Maybe that's why it could be a win-win.'
I tossed my phone aside.
Motion sickness was kicking in.
The text swam like flies buzzing around.
"What's wrong? Wanna head back to the hospital?"
"Nah."
I feigned nonchalance.
"Guess it's the aftereffects of the second awakening, like you said."
Not entirely wrong.
"What kind of awakening aftereffects cause anemia? Hmm, still better than some."
"There are hunters who cough up blood every time they use their abilities."
"Compared to that, anemia's... Still, if it gets weird, straight to the hospital."
"Aigoo, got it. No need to worry. And you know I hate hospitals anyway."
"Ah."
He winced in realization.
"...Right. Sorry about the ER thing."
"What're you sorry for? I'm the one who brought up the awkward stuff."
I'd whined without thinking.
'It hurts because it hurts.'
As I'd said, I'd gotten into Korea University Medical School thanks to my brother's full support. An orphanage kid rising like a dragon from the gutters.
That's what I thought, anyway.
Who could've predicted a healer-type awakener would debut right before my national exam, upending everything?
'Guess my Luck being minus 44 really did a number.'
At first, the doctors flat-out rebelled.
But the tide of the times was unstoppable.
Fast, simple healing with minimal side effects—professors eventually lost ground to it. Med students didn't stand a chance.
I was the poster child for that shift. My brother had busted his ass—literally breaking bones—to get me through school, only for me and my cohort to lose our footing in year five.
"...Uh, yeah."
Hyung scratched his eyebrow awkwardly.
"Anemia's not something healers can fix, though. Might need occasional blood transfusions at the hospital?"
"If I'm gonna start hunter life, yeah. Good thing I donated a ton during college, so my blood donor card's..."
....
Blood donor card? Transfusion?
"Wonseok, wait."
"Hyung."
"Yeah?"
"...To get a transfusion from hunter blood, don't I have to be a hunter?"
"Yep."
"Ha."
My energy drained away.
'The condition for Eternal Blessing is sharing blood.'
Blood donation and transfusion.
The only sanctioned blood exchange in modern society.
'Who knew all those mandatory college blood drives would set up Eternal Blessing's prerequisites.'
To fulfill the condition.
'I need a transfusion.'
Ideally from a hunter.
-Sharing blood.
Easier said than done.
Monsters that live off human flesh might not care, but between humans? You get one or two chances in a lifetime, if that.
Eternal Blessing shines brightest when contracted with hunters over monsters.
'Theoretically, I could level up just from my subordinates' shared EXP.'
But on the flip side, Eternal Blessing doesn't seem content letting its owner sit idle.
The red thread linking me to Han Biyeol vanished once he was out of range.
'Guess it needs to be within distance.'
Proof of this ad-hoc theory was right in front of me.
The red thread connecting me to hyung.
Conclusion: To gain EXP, I have to jump into the fray or stay nearby. No auto-farming from my room.
'Having tons of subordinates nearby isn't all upside.'
More red threads mean more blood drain, worsening my anemia. One slip, and I'm fainting like yesterday.
'Anemia's my chronic condition now.'
One way to overcome it.
Level up fast.
Paradoxically, to speedrun levels and get closer to my revenge.
I need to scout subordinates.
Siphon their EXP from nearby.
That way, growth and goals align.
Seeing my serious face, hyung prodded.
"What? Spill it. Let me in on it."
Shock could wait.
"Think I gotta head to the Hunter Association today."
"Suddenly?"
"Yeah. Get my hunter license issued."
"Hmm. Legally, you're supposed to report within 24 hours of awakening."
One eyebrow twitched.
"But it has to be today, huh?"
"Following the law."
There was more.
'In my past life, today's the day hyung gets set up.'
The forces gunning for him must've had their plans thrown by yesterday's Hangju Bridge mess.
Even knowing that, I couldn't just leave him hanging.
"Alright, then."
Hyung accepted my decision without fuss.
"A B-grade Abyss Gate scheduled for tonight just got canceled—got the call. Schedule's free. Perfect timing."
"Head out right after?"
"Let's eat first. Hungover from that soju yesterday—need some hangover stew. The three of us at the bean sprout soup spot on the first floor with Naeuni."
"...."
Life's trajectory had shifted.
"Sure."
I believed this was the right path.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Bean sprout soup joint.
Shabby exterior, but that meant long-standing tradition.
My brother and I hunched over, inhaling kimchi bean sprout porridge.
'Being with hyung means more red threads—head's spinning even sitting still.'
Fuu.
Food's helping. Felt alive again.
Unlike earlier when lifting the spoon was a chore, my hands moved briskly now.
"Still hits the spot here."
"At 3,000 won a bowl. Told auntie to raise prices, but she says she'd lose all her regulars and just get yelled at."
Over there, Naeuni poked at her kids' donkaseu set, intently picking out the broccoli.
"Naeuni, no picky eating."
Hyung scolded.
Naeuni pouted her lips.
"Bwoccoli tastes bad!"
"The worse it tastes, the better for your body."
"If it tastes bad, it makes me sad!"
"...."
Hyung was speechless.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Another win against Hunter Seo."
"Hey, you... Nah, you try. She only sees her uncle once a year, but she listens to you."
"Your words got thorns, bro."
I smirked and picked up a broccoli floret with chopsticks.
"If Naeuni won't eat it, uncle will take it all."
"...Ung?"
"Hmm. Not bad."
"...Ung."
Naeuni glanced between me and the plate. Clear hesitation, then she squeezed her eyes shut and stabbed it with her fork.
"Nom!"
She chewed, nose pinched, cheeks puffed like a chipmunk. Hyung let out an exasperated laugh.
"Feels like I'm losing my touch. Did med school teach parenting too?"
"This ain't parenting."
"Then what?"
"It's sense. Pure sense."
"Pfft."
Mundane chatter.
Warmth bloomed in my chest. I chalked it up to the porridge. Too soon to relax.
I set down my spoon. My reflection rippled in the bowl's remnants.
'Can't pinpoint all the culprits yet.'
In my past life, Han Biyeol was directly involved in hyung's death.
Naturally, R&Y Guild's entanglement was highly suspect.
I eyed the hunter dabbing sweat with a handkerchief.
Seemed unpretentious at a glance.
'But awakening to Eternal Blessing lets me kinda see it.'
Seo Boseok was on another level from any hunter I'd met in my past or present lives. You see as you know, they say.
How monstrous did he look in Han Biyeol's eyes—a guy already making waves?
Yesterday proved it.
Shivering like he'd bumped into a tiger at midnight.
'Doesn't seem bold enough to off hyung solo.'
His organization's involvement was basically confirmed.
Mouth dry and bitter, I lobbed a curveball at hyung.
"What do you think of R&Y Guild?"
"What's to think? Korea's number one guild."
Cool and straightforward as the porridge....
"...That's it?"
"Member count's a tad below average. But their hunters are top-tier. Highest concentration of Korea's elite."
"Ties to politics?"
"Far as I know, moderate. No need for heavy lobbying. Just cordial."
"Hmm."
Politics in bed with R&Y lock, stock, and barrel?
Unlikely speculation.
Too many factions there.
About five years from now, they'd even ally with rival guilds for outright turf wars.
'Focus on R&Y for now.'
I gathered my thoughts.
Hyung stared right at me.
"Wanna join R&Y?"
"Not like you can waltz in just 'cause you want to."
"Who knows. Say it's a second awakening, they might fast-track you."
I shook my head with a smile.
"No interest in a guild that doesn't have Seo Boseok."
"Pfft!"
"Eww, Daddy! Gross! I even ate my bwoccoli!"
He coughed, hacking.
"No, ha..."
This freelance hunter, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief to "cut the trash talk," was currently unaffiliated.
Korea's strongest, a free agent.
'People think he'll hit S-grade first, then cash in big overseas.'
Nope.
He'd explained it to me once.
-Guilds hog the high-end contracts. Mana stones vary wildly by tier. But low-tier gates snag the most civilians.
A model answer for a hunter.
And Seo Boseok Hunter had backed it up with actions all these years—no hypocrisy.
"...Anyway, if it's really a second awakening, ditching R&Y dreams ain't just hot air."
"Kimchi bean sprout porridge? Fine. Kimchi soup? Pass."
"You little..."
"Kidding, kidding."
Fun.
I'd braced for a life of nonstop revenge.
Yet every moment felt precious.
Made my resolve thicker.
'I want to protect this daily life.'
Let this harmony be the lighthouse guiding my stained past.
To do that, I needed to identify my enemies precisely.
I spoke up.
"Hyung, I'm keeping the second awakening secret."
"...? Huge merit for guild recruitment. You're passing that up?"
"Told you, no guild plans."
"Why? Trying to go rootless like me?!"
I answered with a silent smile.
'Got plans.'
I'd prove it with actions, like him.
"More kimchi here, auntie!"
"Ordering extra kimchi with 3,000-won bean sprout porridge! Some of us gotta dig for a living!"
"We're the kimchi-in-kimchi-stew nation!"
"Use that mouth for eating, not talking back!"
"Yesss."
Auntie grumbled but piled up a fresh plate of kimchi. I picked up my spoon again.
Crunch crunch.
I mulled over future plans, one by one, with the bean sprouts.