Chapter 03
[Riri: Yea, look at this! Someone has finally recognized Yea’s true worth!]
“But what if this person interviews me and then faints—and never recovers? Or worse, what if they discover my secret and try to kill me…?”
[Riri: Don’t worry! Since Yea has never once cleared a Gate, the blessing buff of Balder is still active. That means you’ll be protected from any attempt on your life. Even if this turns out to be some kind of scam—]
[Riri: —the worst that could happen is things stay the same as before! Nothing worse!]
Clearly, Riri didn’t understand that for me, “things staying the same” was the most nightmarish fate of all.
Just then, a notification popped up on my application.
[Hello, ‘Yeom Yea’! Congratulations on passing the second interview!]
[The guild Once Upon a Time requests a final interview with you. The schedule is four days from today, at Hunter Railway Line 2, Sawol Station, Exit 3, the fourth teleport machine.]
[The teleport entry code can be viewed starting now. It is bound by a privacy-protection buff and a curse against sharing, so be sure to check it alone before moving.]
[This code remains valid until 30 minutes after the interview time. After that, the teleport will not activate. If a problem occurs, HunterHunting bears no responsibility—please contact the guild directly.]
[We wish you success in your new beginning, ‘Yeom Yea’.]
I took my old suit to the dry cleaner, got everything ready, and four days later, boarded the Hunter Railway.
Because Gates tended to erupt without warning wherever Hunters gathered, a special subway line had been built just for them. Even if one wasn’t an active Hunter, only Awakeners could ride.
I could’ve used it since my Awakening, but after seeing how flashy the people inside looked, I had always avoided it.
—This stop is Sawol. Sawol Station. Passengers heading to the Myungjin Guild headquarters, the Hunter Association, or transferring to Line 1, please disembark. This station has a high probability of Gate rifts opening between platform and train. Please use caution.
Hunters slouched in their seats like exhausted office workers groaned and stood up.
Most were probably Association bureaucrats. Unlike other Hunters weighed down with ornate gear, they wore nothing but plain, comfortable office wear—clothes meant for a desk job.
“Excuse me, let me through.”
“Ah.”
Transfers were always messy. Just as many people got off as got on. Shoved around by the crowd, I barely managed to push my foot forward.
My stats had risen astronomically after Awakening, even without training. But unless I continued to hone them by raiding Gates, they wouldn’t grow further. So inside this subway packed with elite Hunters, I was helplessly shoved about.
If they’re making that much money, why not just buy a car instead of crushing small fry like me in the subway?
[Riri: Probably because Seoul’s traffic is horrendous. And since teleporters are strictly regulated by the Association, traffic laws even apply to them now…]
I know, I know. Just let me complain once in a while.
Perhaps because I was trembling with nerves, Riri promised to accompany me through the whole trip.
Was this like Balder’s “new member service”? If they offered this kind of support for a whole year, it was almost absurdly kind.
The moment I stepped off the train to breathe—
Flash!
The world flared, and I caught the pained grimaces on several passengers’ faces.
“Damn, I can’t afford this right now…”
“Anyone here an Awakener but not a registered Hunter? Please step this way!”
“Hello? A Gate just opened. If Ji-young comes in, tell her I’m on field duty.”
Their words jolted memories of special lectures I’d half-listened to in high school.
When a Gate erupted in a crowded place, there was always a flash of light. Then the lowest-stat people got sucked in first.
I had worked in Hunter convenience stores for years, but by sheer luck I had never been dragged into a Gate. At most, I had just wandered near the aftermath.
“Wait, I’m not a Hunter!”
I thrust my hand up, signaling for rescue. A woman in Association uniform caught sight of me and sprinted over. In a few steps, her body lifted, almost flying, and closed the distance in an instant.
Even as my body was sucked into the Gate, the woman stayed calm, holding out a business card before my eyes.
[Kim A-jin, Deputy, Hunter Association]
“I’m with the Association. This looks like a stationary Gate that frequently appears here. The internal level isn’t high. If you wait with the others, Association staff and nearby Hunters will clear it and help you out.”
“Ah, thank you… How long will it take?”
“Typically, around four hours. Time flows the same inside and outside. Do you have any pressing appointments?”
Since communication was blocked here, if I had plans, they were as good as ruined.
Her words couldn’t be helped, but my head still went blank.
[Riri: Yea… what do we do…?]
Even if I had left early, four hours would push me far past the interview time. And this wasn’t just an interview—half the contract was already in place. To be late on day one…
Would they forgive me if I explained I’d been trapped in a Gate? No way. The entry code would expire. And the guild building itself was hidden somewhere—you couldn’t just walk in.
My chest tightened. My heart hammered. I almost burst into tears.
“Excuse me, I… I have an interview today. With a guild. If there’s anyone related, maybe I could just send word…?”
Clutching her sleeve, I pleaded. Her face immediately softened with pity. She glanced at her useless phone, then leaned closer to whisper.
“Which guild? There are a lot of guild members here. If we’re lucky, someone might connect you. But don’t get your hopes too high.”
“I—I was supposed to interview with Once Upon a Time. In about an hour. My name is Yeom Yea. If anyone related is here…”
The moment that guild name left my lips, her eyes widened slightly. Then came the look of even deeper sympathy.
After all, I was about to lose a chance at joining one of Korea’s top guilds.
Normally, she might not have lifted a finger. But fortunately, Kim A-jin was the kind type.
She pulled a small pen from her pocket, twirled it in her fingers, and it glowed blue, lengthening into something larger. Then she began scrawling glowing letters in the air.
[Upon confirming guild affiliations of Hunters inside this Gate, forward file immediately to Deputy Kim A-jin—]
“That won’t be necessary.”
A low voice interrupted before she could finish.
We both turned.
A man in a face-obscuring coat stood behind us, perfectly calm.
“Eh?”
“I’ve heard the situation.”
His presence pressed down on me like unseen weight. Instinctively, I stepped back.
Then his voice continued.
“I’m with Once Upon a Time.”
