1. Awakening
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One day, a strange phenomenon occurred all over the world. Mysterious Gates sprung up everywhere, and, alongside the Gates, humanity evolved. People began to unlock systems and special skills to either fight or support.
It has been 30 years since the first Gates had appeared. Society has now adjusted to this phenomena.
Currently, Hunter's Association worker Mo Harin was having a horrible day. Harin worked as a mediator; as the name suggested, Harin had to mediate situations between hunters and the Association.
However, because Harin was an unawakened normal civilian, unlike hunters and higher up members of the Association, she frequently had to just sit in between the two parties as they yelled over her.
Mo Harin would often close her eyes and repeat "I am a tree…just a tree…" to herself while the other two would end up destroying the office room.
When the hunter and Association worker would eventually get tired of yelling, fighting, trashing the room, and whatever else they would do, Harin's job was to get them to sign a document stating that they have settled their dispute and would not argue again.
Although, more often than not Harin would find herself having to have a meeting with the same people again. Hunters and Association workers were paid so much that the fine for breaking the document didn't faze them much.
On most days the pay was enough for Harin to just take a deep breathe and continue on. But today? Today she was absolutely ready to turn in her resignation letter and move into the woods where no one could ever bother her.
Saturday's were Harin's day off. She would hit the gym, watch a movie, shop, go to a fancy restaurant, just spoil herself for the day. Unfortunately she made the grave mistake of not leaving her phone at home.
Just as Harin finished stepped into the theater (to watch the hottest new horror movie) her phone rang — it was the Hunter Association president.
"How much trouble will I really be in if I ignore this…?" Harin gripped her phone, giving the innocent phone, who was only doing its job, a scalding glare.
Harin sighed. Today was yet another win for capitalism. The current score count being, capitalism: 219 — Mo Harin: 0.
"Good afternoon President Nam. Is there anything I can do to help you?" Harin said in the most business like voice possible.
"Ms. Mo, you'll need to come in today." Blunt as ever, the president hung up.
Harin paused. The look on her face scared away nearby people. "Son of a—!"
— — — — — — — — — — — —
Harin was immediately escorted to the president's office by the secretary team. Judging from the looks on their faces, weary eyes and gaunt cheeks, she knew exactly who would be in the room.
Gently knocking on the door, she waited for a response before entering. "Enter."
She opened the door, and to no surprise at all, the president and the #1 hunter in South Korea both sat.
"About time you've arrived here Ms. Mo. I can't discuss anything with the fool without a meditator to watch." President Nam stated, glaring at the hunter.
The hunter glared back with equal ferocity. "Like I want to be here? We wouldn't have to be here if you didn't call me in y'know. And did you even thank little miss Harin for coming in on her day off, hmm~?"
'Little miss Harin?' She thought to herself.
"I'm older than you, you punk!"
… Is what she would've said if she was prepared to get fired on the spot.
"It's Ms. Mo's duty to come here. Even on their days off, Association workers are on standby since hunters like you are so unpredictable."
"Well I—"
Harin drowned out their voices at the all too familiar scene unfolding in front of her.
On one side was the president of the Hunter's Association and S-class, Nam Sejin (34). Key point: married to Harin's best friend.
And on the other side was the number one hunter and S-class, Nam Sehyuk (26). Key point: the Association's greatest problem.
From their names you could easily guess their relationship, brothers who could not get along in the slightest.
Nam Sejin was an uptight stickler for the rules. Nam Sehyuk was an annoying little turd (according to Mo Harin).
Sejin had succeeded the role of president from his father, another S-class hunter named Nam Chul. He got married in his early twenties and opted for the desk job because he's skills revolved around support and organization.
Sehyuk was not as straight laced as his older brother. He constantly caused mischief before and after awakening. His awakening was a big deal. Even amongst the other S-class hunters, Sehyuk stood alone as the strongest person in Korea. It was often argued on internet forums that the Hunter's Association should add an SS-class just for Sehyuk.
Harin just stared at the brothers arguing in front of her. Her eyes narrowed as she heavily judged them in her mind.
'Damn nepotism…' She thought to herself.
"—Ms Mo. Are you listening?" President Nam snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Yes, sir. Hunter Nam Sehyuk has raided a Gate that had already been reserved by the Serpentess Guild. The guild leader, Hunter Kim Yoomin, has requested that Hunter Nam Sehyuk be disciplined and to also give the Serpentess Guild all of the Gate rewards and mob drops." Harin stated flawlessly.
Seven years of working at the Hunter's Association had given her the skills to listen without actually listening.
President Nam sighed into his hands as she stated the issue. "Seriously, Sehyuk! Do you even think before you act?!"
'Ah… even the composed president loses his cool in front of his little brother…'
"I did think! The Gate was bound to break if I didn't step in!"
Gate Breaks; the event in which a Gate has spent too long undefeated so the system between the Gate and real world weakens, allowing the monsters to enter the real world and wreck havoc.
Harin could vividly remember the last time there was a Gate Break in Korea. In fact, it was the reason why she ended up joining the Association—
"There hasn't been a Gate Break in seven years. The Association has a protocol in place for a reason. It hasn't even been two days since the Gate appeared. There's still eight whole days before a it could've broken. The Gate was the rightful property on the Serpentess Guild. An A-class Gate has items worth millions of won, so your only options are to hand them over the the guild or get sued for taking their property."
"Hah~! Property? Don't you agree that this Gate owning bullshit is so stupid?!"
"You can't break the law just because you think it's stupid. The world would be in chaos if everyone would run around acting as inane as you."
Sehyuk's brow furrowed. "Inane huh? Well then big brother, and my dear Harin please write this down for the records, I'll give the Serpentess Guild all the rewards and drops from the Gate."
'This has got to be a trap…' Harin mentally groaned.
"If they admit that they'd never, ever, be able to close the Gate without my help, because I am the all time best hunter." Sehyuk smugly stated.
'There it is…'
President Nam was uncharacteristically quiet. After a moment of silence he spoke:
"Words never work on you, huh?"
And just like that, Nam Sejin's (Harin never referred to him as President Nam in these moments) fist struck Nam Sehyuk's cheek.
Of course, the younger immediately swung back.
Harin sighed at the, once again, all too familiar scene.
"Stop…stop fighting…" Harin weakly said, knowing that they wouldn't ever listen.
She internally cried at the realization that she wouldn't be going home anytime soon.
— — — — — — — — — — — —
Two hours later, the brothers finally stopped fighting. They looked like they were in relatively good states, as S-classes they naturally had better endurance.
Sadly, the president's office did not have that S-class endurance. It was in complete tatters. Papers everywhere, broken wood, broken glass, and even fluff ripped out of the sofa. The only untouched area was the corner of the couch which Harin was sleeping on.
"Harin~ Rinnie~" Sehyuk called, attempting to wake the mediator up. "Sweethea—"
"Ms. Mo." President Nam interrupted.
Harin immediately shot up, looking professional and as if she wasn't just sleeping.
"Looks like you wake up just fine to him…" Sehyuk pouted, annoyed.
'Duh!' Harin wanted to shout. 'I hear his voice in my nightmares making me do overtime before of your shenanigans!!'
"Of course! I respect President Nam so much!" Harin said instead.
Sehyuk's pout jutted out even further, but Harin paid no mind to it.
"Then, are matters here settled then? Should I get the document prepared and contact Hunter Kim Yoomin?"
"No. Hunter Nam Sehyuk has refused to follow their demands therefore we will be having a disciplinary committee tomorrow morning at 9 sharp. Ms. Mo, I expect you to be there as a key witness."
'But… Sunday is also my day off?!' Harin was ready to cry.
Harin steeled her nerves.
'That's it!'
'After years of dealing with this craziness I will finally resign!'
"President Nam, I qu—"
"Of course, you'll be amply compensated for the extra work and will be getting a large bonus for this quarter."
"I'll be here exactly at 8:45 sir."
Capitalism: 220 — Mo Harin: 0.