The alarm clock blared unexpectedly, shattering the fragile silence of the pre-dawn hour. Hyun Woo reached out instinctively, silencing the insistent voice that had broken through the depths of the night. His body jerked upright, but his head responded with a dull throb, a cruel reminder of all those sleepless nights.
He let out a heavy sigh, raised his hands to his face, and pressed his fingers to his temples, massaging them gently.
Hyun Woo (murmuring in a hoarse voice): "My head's killing me..."
He slapped his cheeks sharply—once, then again. A deep breath. And another. It was his ritual, a way to chase away the remnants of sleep and gather himself. Exhaustion pulled him back toward the bed, but he forced himself to rise, like a soldier commanded to get up and march.
The cold bathroom tiles greeted his bare feet, biting to the bone. He turned on the water, letting the stream hit his face in the shower. Hot drops trickled over his skin, washing away the remnants of his nightmares, but the thoughts still stuck like splinters. He stood there, allowing the water to flow over his shoulders, letting it carry away a part of his tension.
"Every morning starts the same," he thought. "First, you run from the past, and then it catches up to you."
When the water turned cold, he realized he'd been standing there, unmoving, for too long. He turned off the tap, grabbed a towel, and quickly wiped his face, almost erasing his own reflection from the mirror—anything to avoid looking into the eyes of the man he had become.
The kitchen was as simple as their life. Only a few items sat in the cupboard, but it was enough to make something filling. Hyun Woo chopped onions, his hands moving methodically as he sliced vegetables, adding them to a small pot. As everything began to boil, the aroma of the hot broth filled the room, gently easing the chill of the morning.
He set two bowls on the table, each holding a portion of rice and soup. He emptied his bowl quickly, barely tasting the food. His focus was on the other bowl, which he carefully covered with plastic wrap.
On a scrap of paper torn from an old notebook, he wrote a few words:
"Yuna, have breakfast before school. Good luck on your test. Love, your big brother."
He placed the note next to the bowl and nodded, as if confirming to himself that this small gesture was an order he had given and would fulfill.
Heading back to his room, Hyun Woo opened the closet and pulled out his usual outfit: black jeans, a gray hoodie, and a worn jacket that had seen more than one season. As he dressed, he checked his pockets out of habit—keys, wallet.
For a moment, he paused, looking at his Official Hunter Card, tucked into the transparent slot. The photo on the card looked foreign to him—a young man with a determined gaze, but eyes full of weariness. Above the picture was his name: Park Hyun Woo. Rank: E.
He clenched the wallet, shoving it back into his pocket, as though trying to bury the reality it represented.
By the door, he left another note that read:
"Out on a mission. Back in the evening. Don't worry."
Yuna always worried, and he knew that the note wouldn't stop her questions. But at least she would know that he was trying his best to make sure they survived.
Closing the door behind him, Hyun Woo took in a deep breath of morning air, still carrying the freshness of the night. The street was quiet, with only a few cars passing by. A light breeze cut through his thin jacket, but Hyun Woo was used to this kind of cold.
The path to the Association was familiar, almost mechanical. His feet knew the way even if his mind wandered elsewhere. As he moved through the streets, the city came alive around him: people heading to work, cars moving to and fro, life bustling onward. But he felt detached from it all.
The building of the Association loomed ahead—tall, modern, with shining glass facades, like a giant monolith swallowing up the people who entered.
"This place... my fate," he thought, taking a step inside.
Inside, the place was bustling. Hunters of all ranks, from rookies to veterans, rushed about their business. Some stood in line at the registration desk, others chatted animatedly about upcoming missions. Each was a cog in the massive machine that kept the world safe.
Hyun Woo headed to the registration area, taking his place in line. The clock showed 6:45 AM; there were only fifteen minutes until registration opened. He stood there, hands in his pockets, watching the others. It seemed like everyone else knew their place in the world—everyone but him.
"Another day. Another battle to survive," he thought.
7:00 AM. Celestial Association, Seoul.
The clock on the wall struck seven, and the glass registration windows slid aside, granting access to the counters. The line stirred, and each hunter waiting moved forward, some confidently, others with tension, but all knowing that the stakes were high—earning a living and, perhaps, survival itself.
Hyun Woo adjusted the hood of his hoodie, lifted his head, and took a deep breath. His turn approached, and he steeled himself as if preparing for a small battle. Even something as simple as registration made him feel like he was standing on the edge of a cliff. He glanced at the card in his hand before stepping up to the window when his number was called.
Behind the glass sat a young man in a neat Association uniform. The badge on his lapel glinted in the morning light. Seeing Hyun Woo, he looked up and offered a polite smile.
Clerk:
"Good morning. May I see your card, please?"
Hyun Woo handed over the card silently, watching as the clerk inserted it into a terminal connected to a computer. The screen instantly loaded his data, including his photo, name, and hunter status. The clerk's expression became slightly more serious when he saw "E-Rank," but his smile remained.
Clerk:
"Everything looks good. Where would you like to register today?"
Hyun Woo cleared his throat, trying to collect his thoughts.
Hyun Woo:
"I need a Gate. I'm ready to join any group."
The clerk nodded and switched to another tab on his screen, searching through the available missions.
Clerk (politely):
"Currently, we have Gates available for D and E ranks. Let me check what's open..."
Lines of data flashed across the clerk's screen. After a few seconds, he turned back to Hyun Woo with a friendly expression.
Clerk:
"An E-Rank Gate will be opening at 8:00 AM. It's a standard Gate for rookies. There's a maximum of fifteen participants, and so far ten spots are filled by the Riders Guild. You can join the remaining five."
Hyun Woo nodded silently, listening.
Clerk (continuing):
"There's also a D-Rank Gate opening at 9:30 AM. It requires more experienced hunters. If you choose this Gate, your group must include at least one B-rank or higher member."
The clerk looked at Hyun Woo, waiting for his decision.
Clerk:
"Which one would you like to register for?"
Hyun Woo hesitated. The E-Rank Gate was safer, but it was nearly filled by the Riders Guild, meaning he'd likely be just another face in the crowd. The D-Rank Gate was riskier, but it offered a chance to prove himself. However, the chances of being accepted into a D-Rank group were slim.
Hyun Woo took a deep breath and looked up.
Hyun Woo:
"I'll register for the E-Rank Gate."
The clerk nodded affirmatively and entered his choice into the system.
Clerk:
"Good choice. You're registered. Please be at the Association gates at least fifteen minutes before the Gate opens. The Riders Guild commander is already there, coordinating the participants."
Hyun Woo took back his card, thanked the clerk, and stepped aside to make room for the next hunter. His expression was focused, but inside, anxiety was growing. Working alongside professionals from the Riders Guild meant one thing—he would be on the sidelines, covering their backs. It wouldn't bring much income, but he had no other choice.
7:16 AM.
Hyun Woo left the Association building, feeling the chill of the morning air. He slipped his registration card into his jacket pocket and checked his phone. The screen showed 7:16. "I'm on time," he thought, and started walking quickly to the address given by the clerk. It only took fifteen minutes to get there, but every step felt endless. His thoughts kept drifting back to Yuna, wondering if today could be the start of something new... or just another day of survival.
Arriving at the location, he saw a small group of people. Their outfits stood out—leather jackets emblazoned with the bold symbol of the Riders Guild on the back. They were gathered near the portal, animatedly discussing their upcoming mission. Nearby, standing apart, were four other hunters who clearly weren't part of the guild. They were rookies like him, their tense faces betraying their inexperience.
Hyun Woo took a deep breath, ran a hand through his hair, and approached the group. He stopped a short distance away and introduced himself quietly, his voice almost lost amidst the conversations.
He caught the attention of an Association employee standing next to the group—a middle-aged man holding a tablet. He walked over to Hyun Woo, offered a polite smile, and extended his hand.
Employee:
"Your registration card, please."
Hyun Woo pulled the card from his pocket and handed it over. The employee inserted it into a slot on his tablet, quickly verified his registration, then nodded.
Employee:
"Everything's in order. You're officially registered for this Gate. Good luck."
With that, he returned the card to Hyun Woo and moved on to the other hunters.
The group leader, a man whose posture and confidence made him stand out, stepped forward. He was around thirty, with short dark hair and a steely gaze. The Riders Guild emblem adorned his jacket, and armor that had seen many battles hung over it. He looked over the gathered hunters, silently appraising them.
Group Leader:
"Listen up. Name's Kang Ryeo. The job's simple—clear the Gate, kill all the monsters, gather resources, and come out alive."
His voice was firm, but there was an edge of coldness to it. He looked at the rookies, lingering on Hyun Woo a moment longer than the others.
Group Leader Kang Ryeo:
"Now, about the rules. Each time you kill a monster, it drops a Soul Crystal. That crystal can be sold for real money. If you kill it, you take it. No arguments. If you don't kill, don't whine. Deal with it."
He swept his gaze over the group, as if checking they all understood.
Group Leader Kang Ryeo (continuing):
"And one more thing. Resource gathering. Besides the monsters, there are other crystals and materials inside the Gate. Those belong to the Association. If anyone tries to pocket them, you'll have more problems than you can handle. Understood?"
The group nodded silently. There were no questions—the rules were straightforward. Hyun Woo listened from the sidelines, his attention sharp. He had heard these speeches before, but now every detail felt crucial.
As the leader finished, a girl approached Hyun Woo. She was a bit older than him, with short chestnut hair and a warm expression. On her armor was a badge that marked her as "C-Rank," which instantly caught Hyun Woo's attention. She smiled and introduced herself.
Girl:
"Hi, I'm Choi Mi Ra. I'm a healer. If things go south, don't hesitate to ask for help. I'll patch you up if needed."
Her words were so genuine that Hyun Woo was momentarily taken aback. He wasn't used to this kind of attention, especially from hunters who usually ignored rookies like him.
Hyun Woo:
"Thanks. But... can I ask? Why are you, at your rank, doing these low-level Gates?"
Mi Ra lowered her gaze slightly, then sighed before answering.
Mi Ra:
"It's a long story. But in short... I'm scared to go to higher-level Gates. After what happened once, I just don't take the risk anymore."
Her voice softened, but before she could say more, the group leader interrupted with a loud shout.
Group Leader Kang Ryeo:
"Alright, enough chatting. It's time to move out!"
Mi Ra nodded to Hyun Woo, and he returned the gesture before falling into line with the others. The Gate shimmered before them, promising either success or death. For Hyun Woo, it was the first trial, but he was ready for anything.