Chapter 12
"... But you didn't object?"
"Actually, Mom and Dad and I had a lot of discussions and thought about it a lot."
There was no way they wouldn't be worried about their only son, who had been missing for years, doing dangerous work fighting monsters.
If they could have their way, they would have liked to advise him to do something other than being a hunter.
"But it's the path you chose yourself, oppa. We decided to accept and respect whatever choice you make."
A smile flowed on Lee Sung-jun's lips as he looked at Lee Seo-yoon, who was smiling awkwardly.
"Thank you for understanding."
"If you're grateful, do well. It was really hard convincing Mom and Dad. They might be acting calm in front of you now, but I'm sure they're both still really worried inside."
Lee Sung-jun turned his head and his gaze moved towards Lee Soo-hyuk and Kim Ji-young.
Indeed, although Lee Soo-hyuk and Kim Ji-young were trying their best to maintain a calm expression, they couldn't completely hide the worry in their eyes.
"Mom and Dad just want to ask one thing."
"You're not forcing yourself to do hunter work because of us, are you? We hope it's not because you're worried about money or anything like that..."
To Kim Ji-young's worried words, Lee Sung-jun answered in a calm voice.
"It's true that I decided to do hunter work after seeing our family's situation."
"Ah..."
"Hmm..."
Regretful sighs flowed simultaneously from Lee Soo-hyuk and Kim Ji-young's mouths.
But they couldn't continue speaking any further.
They just blushed and hung their heads low.
It was because they themselves knew well that they, as parents, couldn't change the current situation that Lee Sung-jun was worried about.
So they felt sorry and grateful.
Although it could be a somewhat heartbreaking scene, Lee Sung-jun felt his heart becoming stronger as he watched it.
In the world where he had spent decades, everyone was just people trying to use Lee Sung-jun's abilities in any way they could.
'Even those immortal bastards were the same.'
But his family was the only one who felt sorry and grateful for using Lee Sung-jun's abilities.
'This alone is enough.'
Lee Sung-jun was already a man who had reached the peak in one world and had everything.
He thinks it won't be different on Earth.
Money, honor, whatever he wants beyond that, he can get it all.
But people's hearts are different.
Especially the hearts of family who are unconditionally on your side might not be buyable with anything.
That's why he could say:
"But I'm not doing this job forcibly. It's what I want to do."
"Sung-jun..."
Lee Soo-hyuk's eyes reddened as he looked at Lee Sung-jun.
No, that wasn't all.
Even Lee Seo-yoon, who usually treated her brother somewhat like a friend, was looking at him with a bewildered expression.
Lee Sung-jun felt grateful for that gaze, but also embarrassed, and continued speaking in an even more calm voice without any fluctuation.
"You know I'm a returnee, right? In the world I was in, I was called a martial artist."
The story that followed was about Lee Sung-jun's admiration for martial arts and his heart for it.
That was the truth.
Even if there wasn't a hunter profession on Earth, Lee Sung-jun would have learned martial arts and trained himself.
It was because he loved the thrill of his martial arts growing step by step as he honed them.
And today, through this thing called a system, he saw a new path to surpass his past self and reach a higher realm.
As a martial artist, there was no way he wouldn't want to reach that new path, that higher realm.
Lee Sung-jun, who had spoken all the stories in his heart, slowly nodded and opened his mouth.
"So... being a hunter is the most ideal job for me, and it's also the path to finding my happiness. Don't worry too much."
After confirming Lee Sung-jun's unwavering eyes throughout the entire story, Lee Soo-hyuk and Kim Ji-young slowly nodded.
Their eyes were filled with pride for their son who had become so dependable that they could guess how he had lived in another world for the past time.
"... This dad didn't see it, but you've really become an adult."
"That's right. Actually, we thought we didn't have the right to stop you, but we didn't know you were going with this much certainty. Are you really our son?"
"Yes. I'm your son, Dad and Mom."
When Lee Sung-jun said this with a smile, only then did all the family members break into bright smiles.
"I'll always support you, my son."
"Mom and Dad will think of ways to help you, even if just a little."
"... I'm grateful just for your feelings."
It wasn't just lip service.
Without any compensation or scheme, they truly respect my thoughts.
This was exactly what he had wished for, longed for, in returning to this world.
The warmth that felt sincere.
Every word his family uttered made his heart swell.
And that emotion gave Lee Sung-jun certainty.
'Indeed, I made the right choice in returning.'
No matter how much money or honor there was, nothing was more valuable than this.
Naturally, a bright smile flowed on Lee Sung-jun's lips.
"Thank you, and I really love you."
"Mom loves you too, son."
"... Dad loves you too."
As smiles were drawn on the lips of Lee Sung-jun, Lee Soo-hyuk, and Kim Ji-young, Lee Seo-yoon hurriedly interrupted.
"I really, really love our family too, but it's not polite to do this in front of meat. Let's eat first and then continue talking."
"Right, our son must be hungry without having eaten a single bite, let's eat quickly."
Lee Seo-yoon immediately picked up her chopsticks, and Kim Ji-young picked up the grilled meat and put it in Lee Sung-jun's mouth.
Lee Sung-jun nodded with a satisfied expression at the flavor of the beef in his mouth.
And so, Lee Sung-jun, starting a happy dinner, spent a joyful time inwardly praising his own choice to give up everything and return to Earth.
* * *
Last night, he officially received permission from his family to do hunter work.
It meant there was nothing more to be hesitant about.
Therefore, Lee Sung-jun, who had finished light exercise from early dawn, was immediately heading towards a nearby gate.
'Hunt as many monsters as possible to become stronger and earn a lot of money.'
It was when Lee Sung-jun was reminding himself once again of today's simple but difficult goal while walking.
A man in his late 30s wearing a black suit approached with a smiling face and handed over a business card.
"Hello, Returnee Lee Sung-jun. I'm Jo Kang-hyun, team leader of the Returnee Management Headquarters at the Association Headquarters."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Lee Sung-jun."
Despite the sudden visit, there was no sign of surprise on Lee Sung-jun's face.
Rather, a faint but definite smile was flowing on Lee Sung-jun's lips.
'As expected.'
The reason he didn't refuse Kim Sung-hoon's accompaniment was to quickly prove his abilities and draw attention.
And as he succeeded in proving his abilities by hunting the boss monster that appeared just in time, he was expecting that the association headquarters would take some action.
Of course, he wasn't expecting all situations.
'They moved earlier than I thought.'
They made direct contact in just one day.
Moreover, this person named Jo Kang-hyun who moved couldn't be seen as an ordinary person.
Of course, he wasn't evaluating him highly just because of his position as a team leader.
'... This level would put him among the top of first-class masters.'
While Lee Sung-jun was assessing Jo Kang-hyun with sidelong glances.
Similarly, Jo Kang-hyun was also quickly assessing Lee Sung-jun with sidelong glances.
'He looks ordinary on the outside.'
His excellent posture and the sharp aura emanating from him were quite impressive, but that was about it.
There was no apparent reason for Kim Sung-hoon, the ace of the management team who had encountered many returnees, to praise him exceptionally.
In the end, unable to find an answer, Jo Kang-hyun shifted his gaze to stare into Lee Sung-jun's eyes.
Jo Kang-hyun's brow furrowed slightly at the eyes that showed not even a hint of wavering.
'I really can't figure him out.'
Having dealt with countless returnees, Jo Kang-hyun prided himself on being able to gauge their psychological state to some extent just by their behavior and expressions.
However, he couldn't fathom the intentions of this returnee named Lee Sung-jun, who had been back for less than a week.
'Well, whatever he's thinking doesn't matter.'
He might have been able to deceive Sung-hoon, but he wouldn't be able to deceive himself, who had dealt with returnees for decades and gone through thick and thin.
Jo Kang-hyun's expression, which had been watching Lee Sung-jun with narrowed eyes, changed to a bright smile as if it had never been otherwise.
"The reason I came to see you in person is that I have a request for Returnee Lee Sung-jun."
"A request?"
"I'll get straight to the point. We would like Returnee Lee Sung-jun to clear an E-grade gate located nearby. We'll give you a generous deadline of one week."
At Jo Kang-hyun's words, Lee Sung-jun hardened his expression and said,
"I refuse."
And then he passed by the dumbfounded Jo Kang-hyun without hesitation.
To tell the truth, as he had expected the visit, he had also thought that there might be such a proposal from the association to test him.
But Lee Sung-jun knew how to raise his own value.
He shouldn't give in easily here.
There were several reasons, but the first and most obvious one was clear.
'His attitude is quite impure.'
Lee Sung-jun was not yet affiliated with the association.
Nevertheless, Jo Kang-hyun, without any additional explanation, assigned work as if ordering his subordinate and even set a deadline.
It's one of two things.
Either he really thinks I'm a pushover, or this is also a test.
Either way, he shouldn't give in easily.
'... Damn, I made a complete mistake. That innocence isn't because he's naive! There's something there!'
Jo Kang-hyun quickly acknowledged his mistake.
Unlike his ordinary first impression, this man clearly has a lot to hide.
To check that unknowable inner thoughts, he needs to catch up to him right now.
With an urgent heart, Jo Kang-hyun quickly ran to stand in front of Lee Sung-jun and bowed his head deeply.
"I'm sorry. I made a mistake because I still lack the eye to see people. Could you give me one more chance? If you listen to what I have to say, I'm sure you'll like it, Returnee Lee Sung-jun."
Lee Sung-jun, who had been standing still for a moment looking at Jo Kang-hyun, slowly parted his lips.
"... There won't be a second chance."
If he had continued to show a disrespectful attitude, it would be different, but as he was regretting his mistake and apologizing politely, there was no need to continue being forceful.
'What's important now is...'
The subsequent response.
While Lee Sung-jun was contemplating what kind of compensation he should receive, Jo Kang-hyun carefully moved his lips.