Infrastructure is often lacking in underdeveloped neighborhoods.
Of course, not to mention public safety. Isn’t the presence of despicable criminals like Choo Tae-shik proof enough?
That’s why Jong-sik decided to move.
“This is the last property. If you’re only using it for commercial purposes, the building you saw earlier might be better, but since some of you are also looking for residential purposes, you might prefer this one more.”
It’s a commercial residence of about 150 square meters, built with red bricks. It wasn’t a newly built building, but it seemed well-maintained.
“I’ve always wanted to live in a house like this.”
Jong-sik nodded as he surveyed the building.
“It looks nice.”
“Come inside and take a look around slowly.”
The real estate agent continued the explanation as he opened the closed door.
“Although the size is smaller than the previous buildings, it wouldn’t be bad for three people to live together.”
“It doesn’t look that small. If the first floor is like this, the ones above should be similar. It also looks good for doing business.”
“If you’re going to do some small-scale business in the neighborhood, it’s perfect. Oh, I heard the first floor will be used by your brother?”
Jong-sik nodded. The real estate agent turned his gaze to Jong-pal. The target of the sales pitch had changed. He began to calmly highlight the advantages of the building.
“You must have noticed while coming here, but it’s not a bad business district. Although the distance is a bit far from the center, there’s an academy nearby, and there are quite a few small to medium-sized guilds around here.”
“Oh, haha. Yes. It’s clean and nice.”
But Jong-pal seemed uncomfortable for some reason. He was smiling, but when he met Jong-sik’s gaze, he subtly shook his head. His demeanor was like that of a dog feeling uncomfortable after defecating.
Then, Yeona raised her crow’s feet and whispered into Jong-sik’s ear.
“Uncle. Housing prices in Seoul are incredibly expensive. It’s impossible with just your retirement pay…”
Jong-sik seemed to finally understand now. Why Jong-pal was acting like a dog feeling uncomfortable after defecating? It seems they’ll need to have a separate conversation about it.
“Mr. Agent. We’d like to take a look at the upstairs by ourselves.”
“Sure, I’ll be waiting here. Take your time and look around.”
At Jong-sik’s request, the real estate agent naturally excused himself. The three of them climbed the stairs. As the distance between them and the real estate agent increased, Jong-pal finally revealed his true feelings.
“Hyung, it’s really nice, but it’s still too much for me…”
Jong-sik interrupted Jong-pal’s words unexpectedly.
“Jong-pal.”
“Huh?”
“I want to eat pork belly today. Are you going to buy it for me?”
“Suddenly?”
“Are you going to buy it or not? Yeona, are you going to grill the pork belly?”
Yeona nodded, and Jong-pal said, “Why are you asking me? Let’s buy it on our way home.”
“Great. Then you buy the ingredients for dinner, and I’ll buy this house.”
“Hyung…”
“What is it?”
“Is that the same as this? And how come you’re buying such an expensive house if you don’t have the money?”
“It’s no different for me. I have more money than you. You’re looking down on me like a beggar. Did you miss seeing the deposit I received earlier?”
“…Isn’t that supposed to be used for equipment?”
“Oh, equipment? But aren’t you going to use that? Anyway, you’ve quit your job now.”
An A-rank hunter wearing C-rank equipment. Even passing dogs would laugh at that. Jong-pal furrowed his brow and opened his mouth. But Jong-sik was quicker.
“That’s ridiculous…”
“Dok Jong-pal. You know what I’ll do, right? I’m definitely going to sign the house contract today. If you don’t like it here, then sign the contract for the house we saw before. What are you going to do?”
“…”
“Got it. I’ll sign the contract for the building in the guild district.”
“This place is much better.”
“You should’ve said that earlier.”
“…Hyung.”
“What?”
“I’ll really pay you back.”
“Sure. Work hard and make sure to pay me back.”
Although he said that, Jong-sik’s smirk betrayed his true feelings. Was there really any chance he would accept money from Jong-pal? And Jong-pal, being the younger brother, couldn’t possibly be unaware of his brother’s sentiment.
Jong-sik took Yeona, who had been fidgeting while listening to the adults’ conversation, and climbed the stairs. Eventually, they reached the second floor. Jong-sik, the first to step foot there, turned around and said,
“Oh, there’s a backyard here. Yeona, isn’t it nice?”
A narrow backyard, a small garden, and tall persimmon trees planted there. This was going to be the future sanctuary for their family.
***
A change had come to their routine, which was usually like a hamster wheel.
Normally, Jong-sik would be lying on the floor watching YouTube, but today, he had to go to work.
“Uncle! Good luck on your first day at work!”
“Hyung, have a good day. Don’t be nervous just because it’s your first day.”
You seem to be the nervous ones. Nonetheless, Jong-sik nodded without much expression.
“Good luck!”
“Good luck!”
Then Jong-pal and Yeona made a fist-pumping gesture toward Jong-sik, wishing him luck. Behind them were several small boxes, moving boxes.
“Haha. Got it. I’ll be back. Oh, and try not to buy too many unnecessary things for the new place. Okay?”
“I got it, so hurry up. You can’t be late on your first day.”
The house contract was finalized without any major issues, and they settled on the last house they saw. With money, there’s nothing that can’t be done, and they managed to shorten the interior decoration period from the planned two weeks to just three days.
Jong-pal and Yeona were busy with the unexpected move. They didn’t hesitate to pack, and Jong-pal went to work amid such an atmosphere.
‘An interview…’
***
Shortly after, they arrived at the Healing Guild headquarters.
Jong-sik stepped into the meeting room on the 20th floor of the building.
The day before the first day at work, since the team hadn’t been formed yet, Pyeong-ari, the team leader, insisted that Jong-sik come in this direction first. Along with that, he was informed about today’s schedule.
It was none other than an interview.
Pyeong-ari, the team leader, wanted to enhance the guild’s value using the newly recruited hunter, Jong-sik. As part of this effort, they planned an interview.
The more famous the guild’s flagship hunter becomes, the higher the guild’s value rises. Ah, of course, they had to become famous for the right reasons.
It seemed like today’s protagonist had arrived.
Pyeong-ari, the team leader, stopped what she was doing and greeted Jong-sik.
“You’re here?”
“Yes. Good morning.”
“Ahaha. Good morning to you too, Jong-sik. Oh, how’s the moving preparation going?”
“Thanks to you, we’ve secured a good house and plan to move within a few days.”
“That’s great. Actually, thinking about commuting from Incheon to here, oh… it must be tough just thinking about it?”
“I came from Incheon today.”
“That’s even tougher! Take a moment to rest. I’ll finish up what I was doing.”
“Yes.”
Jong-sik sat down on an empty chair and watched Pyeong-ari, the team leader.
She adjusted the positions of several cameras set up in front of the table and quickly scanned through a few papers placed on the table.
“She’s quite diligent.”
Just as he was thinking that,
A voice came from behind.
“Hmm, huh?”
Jong-sik turned his head. A man in a navy suit with glasses. Seeing Jong-sik, he quickly wiped the water he hadn’t dried off his pants and smiled broadly.
“Are you Hunter Dok Jong-sik?”
“Yes.”
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Kim Min, the reporter who will be interviewing Hunter Dok Jong-sik today.”
Kim Min handed over his business card, saying, “I don’t have a business card yet.”
“Oh, that’s okay.”
Instead, they could shake hands.
So Jong-sik and Kim Min shook hands.
Eventually, Pyeong-ari, who had finished setting up the cameras, approached and handed a white paper to them.
“It seems like you’ve finished greeting each other. Let’s work together well and make today’s interview great.”
Nods.
It’s the first job after receiving the contract, so he’ll do his best with sincerity.
“Since it’s just an interview, there’s no need to be nervous. Here, take the interview questions. Hunter Dok Jong-sik, please memorize the model answers.”
“Can’t there be additional questions?”
The man looked at Pyeong-ari, then at Jong-sik, and asked.
“Um. You shouldn’t ask difficult questions… Jong-sik, is it okay if there are additional questions?”
“It’s fine.”
Jong-sik shrugged, indicating he was okay with additional questions.
***
Kim Min handed over his business card, saying, “I don’t have a business card yet.”
“Oh, that’s okay.”
Instead, they could shake hands.
So Jong-sik and Kim Min shook hands.
Eventually, Pyeong-ari, who had finished setting up the cameras, approached and handed a white paper to them.
“It seems like you’ve finished greeting each other. Let’s work together well and make today’s interview great.”
Nods.
It’s the first job after receiving the contract, so he’ll do his best with sincerity.
“Since it’s just an interview, there’s no need to be nervous. Here, take the interview questions. Hunter Dok Jong-sik, please memorize the model answers.”
“Can’t there be additional questions?”
The man looked at Pyeong-ari, then at Jong-sik, and asked.
“Um. You shouldn’t ask difficult questions… Jong-sik, is it okay if there are additional questions?”
“It’s fine.”
Jong-sik shrugged, indicating he was okay with additional questions.
***
It’s a scripted interview.
So there’s nothing to be nervous about.
“Hunter Dok Jong-sik, Healing Guild is known for being the first guild to recruit you. What are your impressions of joining the Healing Guild?”
“It’s great. As you know, the Healing Guild is the guild with the most healers in the country, and it has an excellent reputation known to the public. I’m grateful to be able to join such a guild.”
Starting with his impressions of joining, they discussed the direction they would take with the Healing Guild in the future, talent acquisition, short-term goals, and more.
The journalist asked the questions provided by the guild, and Jong-sik answered them smoothly.
After some time had passed,
The journalist revealed additional questions as promised.
“Hunter Dok Jong-sik. Thank you for your time. Finally, many people are curious. Can you tell us what prompted Dok Jong-sik, who was a victim of human trafficking, to awaken, and how did you manage to escape?
It could be considered a rude question.
So, Pyeong-ari team leader was about to step in, but Jong-sik raised his hand lightly to stop her. Then, he briefly recalled the past. Ten years ago, when he landed on the Eldar continent.
At the Summoning Initiation, where he knew neither martial arts nor magic.
Jong-sik, who roamed the streets, was captured by slave traders and sold to a dark wizard’s laboratory.
‘I wanted to die.’
The memories were as painful and cruel as the experiments themselves. Then, at some point, he began to see something strange.
Yes, it was mana.
Jong-sik, who could see mana, secretly trained under the magician.
Beyond seeing mana, he eventually gained the ability to manipulate it and was able to kill the wizard.
That’s how he managed to escape from there, and since then, he did all sorts of things.
From being a quack doctor, mercenary, and a peddler, he eventually joined a group dedicated to demon eradication.
‘Of course, the training continued there too.’
A hundredth member of the group.
His colleagues, who realized that Jong-sik could see mana, passed on their knowledge to him.
Thanks to that…
“Mr. Dok Jong-sik?”
A voice that shattered his reverie for a moment.
Coming back to reality, Jong-sik stopped reminiscing and provided the answer the journalist was waiting for.
“Well, there wasn’t really a catalyst. I just woke up one day and felt different. I saw my status window, and I felt courageous at that moment. So, I escaped.”
“…Really? That easily?”
“It wasn’t easy from the perspective of the person involved. But, well, for the listener, it might sound mundane.”
He didn’t tell the whole truth about receiving additional questions, so it shouldn’t be a problem.
And so, Jong-sik concluded the interview.
***
Blood Iron Guild Headquarters.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
A man responded to the knock.
On the desk where he sat, there was a nameplate.
[Head of Blood Iron Guild, Park Won]
“I have a report regarding the dungeon bidding…”
“Oh, just a moment.”
Park Won interrupted Director Kim, who was reporting, with a polite demeanor.
In the silent office, the sound of scrolling spread.
Drururur. Drurur.
[Unprecedented contract deposit. ‘Heal’ Guild with 60 billion won.]
[A-grade promotion test from F-grade, was there such an awakened?]
[Human trafficking victim ‘Dok Jong-sik’ rises as an A-grade hunter despite adversity.]
[‘Heal’ Guild embarks on a new journey with Dok Jong-sik]
[55th dungeon bidding, possibility of ‘Heal’ Guild participation increased]
Dok Jong-sik, Dok Jong-sik.
It’s all about Dok Jong-sik.
Park Won called Director Kim with an irritated voice.
“Director Kim. Did you watch the news today?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Oh? What news did you watch?”
“…I watched the news related to the Heal Guild.”
“That’s it? You only watched that?”
“Yes. It was just a coincidence that I saw that.”
“Coincidence my foot. The news is flooded with stories about Dok Jong-sik and the Heal Guild, so I couldn’t see anything else. Isn’t that right?”
“…”
“That’s why journalists get called tabloids. So much happens in a day, yet they plaster this kind of stuff everywhere…”
Park Won’s hand, scrolling down, suddenly stopped.
[Dok Jong-sik, a hunter from the Healing Guild, demanded double the contract deposit from Park Won.]
“Arrogant bastard.”
Thunk.
The mouse Park Won was gripping shattered into pieces. He asked with a grim expression,
“Director Kim, when did you say the dungeon bidding was?”
Why yeona called dong sik Dad?
And please edit this chapter