I stepped out of the Hunter Association with my pockets full of cash from the Rank B gate. "Well, who would've thought? Turns out that hard work slaughtering monsters can be quite profitable!" I smiled, feeling proud as my pockets were almost bursting with money. But behind all that, one thing was clear: I needed a bigger place to live. My current apartment felt smaller than pants that are too tight after an all-you-can-eat buffet.
After thinking for a moment, I decided to stop by the nearest bar. Not to socialize, but to unwind a little with a cold beer. "Dante's Dive," a favorite spot for hunters who aren't into small talk. The perfect place to drink, scroll through websites, and look for a new apartment without being interrupted by absurd conversations.
I walked in, accompanied by the creak of a wooden door. The air inside was thick with the smell of alcohol and sweat. "Hmm, the 'success' scent of hunters after finishing a gate," I muttered sarcastically. I headed to the bar, bumping into a few chairs without apologizing. Not because I was rude, but more because, well, I didn't care.
"Cold beer, no ice cream or little umbrella on top," I said to the bartender, Sang-jin, a big guy who looked lazier than a fat cat that just finished eating. He nodded, as if I had just asked him to save the world. Yep, this is why I like it here: no one bothers with fake niceties.
While waiting for the beer, I pulled out my phone and started scrolling through property websites. My eyes quickly landed on a listing for a pretty luxurious apartment. "Luxury Apartment with City Sky Views in an Elite Area." I frowned, thinking, "Seriously? Do I need a view? Like a view will make slaying monsters in a gate any easier."
When the beer arrived, I raised it and took a calm sip. "Ahh, cold beer really is the best medicine for an anti-hero like me," I muttered. The phone screen still showed that ridiculously expensive apartment. There was a private pool, a rooftop garden, and... what? Automatic sliding doors? "Wow, if I move there, I might look like a villain in a Marvel movie."
Thinking hard, I started considering more reasonable options. I probably needed a place that wasn't too flashy but big enough for all the weapons, items, and rare collectibles from the gates. I've set foot in too many gates, and I needed a place to plant my feet in the real world too.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed. A message came in from a real estate agent. "We have a few apartments that might suit you. They're located in Gangnam, very strategic."
"Gangnam, huh? Hmm… I have to admit, living there would make me look cool. But do I need a place that fancy?" I thought, frowning. My thoughts drifted, as if the beer in my hand had opened a door for all the deeper life questions: "Why do monsters like to show up in gates? Why wasn't I given the ability to sleep soundly without weird dreams? And... why does Sang-jin never smile?"
I finished my beer, placed the glass down with a bit of dramatics, and stood up from the barstool. "Well, Sang-jin, as usual. The beer, the service, and the atmosphere here are wonderfully boring. Just perfect for me," I said with a sly smile. As usual, he didn't respond. Perfect.
Stepping out of the bar, the night breeze immediately greeted my face. "Okay, tomorrow I'll check out that apartment in Gangnam," I muttered. After all, it was time to upgrade my lifestyle. I didn't want anyone to suspect that I was an awakened being with insane powers hiding behind the appearance of a regular office worker.
As I walked home, thoughts about this double life kept swirling in my mind. On one hand, I had to stay humble. But on the other, it was hard not to itch to show off my power.
I smirked a little, imagining how chaotic it would be if everyone knew I was an awakened being who could slay monsters without breaking a sweat. "I prefer being a regular guy who can complain without being asked why," I thought, remembering how stressful it was to hold back every time I went into a gate.
"Tomorrow's a big day... Hopefully, the apartment is good enough for me to sleep like a normal human," I said, stretching my back.
Meanwhile, at the Hunter Association headquarters, the atmosphere was heating up. In the main meeting room, the leaders of the major guilds in Korea had gathered. Crimson Lotus, Golden Lion, Iron Fist, and Azure Serpent. All sat with serious expressions. The Black Crescent Cult could no longer be ignored.
Lee Hye-Rin, the leader of Crimson Lotus, opened the meeting with a serious tone, "Reports about Black Crescent Cult activity have increased in recent weeks. The most suspicious thing is the appearance of artificial gates, gates that they're forcing open. This isn't a natural phenomenon; it's something they're controlling."
Kim Do-Jin, the leader of Golden Lion, crossed his arms and looked coldly, "Artificial gates? Are you serious? We're used to naturally appearing gates, but you're saying they can create them?"
"Correct," Hye-Rin answered firmly. "According to our intel, there's an anomaly of energy around the areas they control. That energy triggers the forced creation of gates, and this isn't something we can ignore."
Kang Min-Seok, leader of Iron Fist, interrupted, "So they're not just hiding in the shadows but actively creating new threats. What's their goal? To create chaos across the country?"
Hye-Rin nodded. "Most likely, they're exploiting beginner awakeners who get lost inside these artificial gates. The latest reports show many beginners not returning after entering those gates. They may be testing something."
The debate grew more heated when Park Ji-Hoon, leader of Azure Serpent, spoke up, "These artificial gates are more dangerous than natural ones. They can control when and where the gates open. And if my guess is right, they might already have a way to manipulate the contents of those gates using certain monsters or even something more dangerous."
Kim Do-Jin seemed unconvinced. "Then, what proof do we have that they're really involved? Missing gates are strange, sure, but concrete evidence that they're creating them is still lacking."
Kang Min-Seok added, "The issue isn't just who's creating the gates, but the disappearance of beginner awakeners entering them. Our team reports some very odd signs inside those gates. If they're not found soon, this could become a crisis."
Hye-Rin took a deep breath before continuing, "We can't keep waiting. If we don't act now, more awakeners will disappear, and that could weaken our forces. The Black Crescent Cult must be stopped."
Kim Do-Jin finally spoke, slightly skeptical, "You want us to attack them now? Start a war with a cult whose full power we don't even know yet?"
"No, that's not what I mean," Hye-Rin replied. "I just want us to be more vigilant and start taking concrete steps to monitor them. If they can really create artificial gates, we need to investigate further before too many people disappear."
Ji-Hoon agreed, "Besides, we need to find a way to stop these artificial gates. If left unchecked, not only will beginner awakeners get trapped, but this could become a national threat. We need to send more trained investigation teams and follow up on the reports of missing awakeners inside those gates."
Do-Jin scoffed but couldn't ignore the importance of the situation. "Alright, we'll send an investigation team. But if this turns out to be a coincidence or a wrong assumption, don't expect me to waste my guild's resources on this political game."
Min-Seok looked at Hye-Rin and Ji-Hoon seriously. "We agree to investigate further. The main focus is to confirm whether these artificial gates are really being created by the Black Crescent Cult and to find out what's happening to the missing beginner awakeners."
The tension in the meeting room grew as the discussion continued. Every guild leader had their own perspective on how to handle the Black Crescent Cult, but one thing was certain: the threat posed by this cult was not something to be taken lightly.
After a heated debate, it was finally decided that an investigation team would be sent to look deeper into the matter. However, no one knew just how deeply this cult had infiltrated the world of awakeners. The Black Crescent Cult seemed to be more than just a small group of fanatics—they might be the greatest threat Korea had ever faced.
The next day, I woke up with a slight headache. Not from a hangover, but more from the laziness that felt like it had fused with my spine. Ah, who cares? Today I had an important appointment—finding a more decent place to live. I needed a spacious place to lie down and contemplate the absurdity of life.
"Yeah, if not for sleeping, then at least to store all the overpowered loot from yesterday's gate." I muttered to myself as I glanced at the mirror. Not because I'm vain, but it makes me feel like a sane person talking to myself.
I got out of bed, took a lightning-fast shower like a soldier ready for battle, and prepared to head to the real estate agent. With 5 billion won sitting in my bank account, I felt confident enough not to haggle. But hey, who knows? Maybe they'll offer a discount. Discounts aren't illegal, after all.
When I arrived at the real estate office, I was immediately greeted by a woman with a smile so wide it looked like she was ready to sell me anything as long as my bank account was fat enough.
"Good morning, Mr... Taemin, right?" she greeted.
I nodded. "Morning. Let's skip the small talk. I'm not big on chit-chat. Where's the apartment?"
Her smile wavered slightly, but she remained professional. She quickly led me to the apartment I'd seen online the night before. We entered the luxury building's elevator, heading to the 23rd floor.
"The view is great," she said, attempting to start a conversation. "This apartment is one of the most sought-after by our clients because—"
I raised a hand to cut her off. "I don't care about the view or your other clients. All that matters is if this place is big enough for me to game and... do other unimportant things."
"Ah, of course," she replied a bit stiffly. The elevator doors opened, and we stepped into an apartment that, if I'm being honest, felt way too luxurious for someone whose job is slaying monsters and scrolling through websites at night.
"This is the living room," she said. "Spacious and perfect for hosting guests or events."
"Yeah, unless the guests are guilds suspicious of how overpowered I am. I need a good place to hide. This balcony looks decent for escaping," I muttered, loud enough for her to hear.
"Excuse me?" she asked.
"Nothing, nothing. Continue."
She led me to the master bedroom, with a large window offering a direct view of the city. Okay, if a giant monster ever shows up, I can watch the fight from here while sipping coffee. That could be fun.
"Do you have a brochure or something?" I asked, trying to wrap this tour up quickly. "I want to check the details."
She handed me a brochure promptly. I scanned through the price, amenities, and all the unnecessary bling.
"Alright, I'll take it. Cash."
Her eyes widened. "Seriously?"
I nodded with a smile. "Do I look like I'm joking?"