Chapter 2

Chapter 2
Chapter: 002

Chapter Title: The World is Falling Apart

—

The planet is fracturing. Even though the television broadcasts had displayed the carnage clearly, the reality of it refused to sink in.

It began thirteen years ago when enigmatic anomalies called Erosion Cores manifested across the globe.

The raw power radiating from these Erosion Cores tainted the surrounding geography. This phenomenon birthed what are now known as Erosion Zones.

Within these Erosion Zones, nightmares take physical form—creatures birthed from the darkest corners of human thought, or horrors so alien they defy imagination, materialize without warning.

Survival in these regions isn’t technically impossible, but anyone dwelling within a territory claimed by an Erosion Zone must live in a state of constant combat readiness.

“No way. This is garbage. What a complete load of crap.”

Despite the chaos, humanity hasn’t been snuffed out quite yet. Individuals possessing supernatural traits emerged, capable of slaying these beasts and shattering the troublesome Erosion Cores—they are the Hunters.

For over a decade, a relentless conflict to eradicate the Erosion Cores has defined human existence.

“It doesn’t look like we’re winning.”

The digital landscape was saturated with bleak predictions, a perfect reflection of the heavy atmosphere of hopelessness gripping the population.

Whenever progress seems reachable, people instinctively divide into cliques and start bickering. They label it politics.

Ultimately, that petty drive sabotaged the species once more. While I remained buried in these grim reflections, the dark hours slipped away and the sun began to rise.

*As of this moment, per the current government mandate, all electricity, gas, and water services will be deactivated until dusk.*

“What kind of absurdity is this for someone my age to deal with?”

Rationing basic utilities? Is this truly South Korea, or did I wake up in North Korea? I made a clicking sound of annoyance at the public address system’s mechanical voice.

History suggests South Korea was among the pioneers in producing Hunters, and the national mobilization was remarkably efficient.

Because of that proactive stance, the Erosion Cores that surfaced on this peninsula were neutralized in their infancy. While several nations managed to keep their monsters and anomalies somewhat contained through their own Hunter programs…

Nowhere on the map is as secure as Korea.

Indeed, even with the state occasionally severing the utility lines… a brief scroll through my mobile device confirmed that Korea remains unparalleled.

Erosion Zones: zero. Every Erosion Core that attempts to take root on our soil is liquidated by Korean Hunters before it can mature, meaning that outside of minor incidents, monster sightings are a rarity.

To put it in perspective, the President of the United States actually faced removal from office because he tried to secure Korean citizenship for his daughter.

“Trying to buy a drink from the elderly lady next door is going to be a chore now.”

However, you can’t stay cheerful just because your walls are standing while the rest of the neighborhood is engulfed in flames. The blaze is always one gust away from jumping the fence.

This year, the economic growth of South Korea sits at 0%. If the trend continues, even this sanctuary could crumble at any moment.

I tossed the device aside and shut my eyes, the glow of the screen still burned into my retinas.

“…I absolutely loathe this.”

I have zero desire to participate. After enduring thirty-five years of literal torment, I finally managed to return to this world, arriving twenty-five years before my departure. It’s like finishing a grueling military enlistment only to be dragged back to the recruitment center immediately. What’s the point?

The world isn’t lacking for talent; there are plenty of gifted people who aren’t me. I navigated a thousand near-death encounters to finally make it back to a land of relative peace and plenty. Honestly, I just want a vacation that lasts forever.

The following day, I reported to the position held by the man whose body I now inhabited.

I was serving as an entry-level intern at a shipping and logistics firm.

Admittedly, I was a bit uncoordinated at the tasks, but in all fairness, the original soul probably wasn’t any more competent than I was.

Every single day was a delight.

Even when my immediate supervisor acted like a complete jerk, I didn’t mind. He was nothing compared to the aristocrats who treated commoners like dirt.

It didn’t bother me when the manager stared at me with murderous intent. Kings didn’t just stare—they actually followed through with the execution.

Working late? I had no complaints. It wasn’t like marching through a polar vortex so biting that your breath froze in your nose, unable to close your eyes for days on end.

Every professional hurdle or social friction at this firm was trivial when viewed through the lens of the life I had previously endured.

So, I was doing quite well. I harbored a firm conviction that I could continue to adjust and prosper in this era.

That belief held steady for exactly three months after my return.

“Defunct?”

The world—well, specifically the company—had collapsed.

I stood in the center of the vacated workspace, staring at nothing. The firm hadn’t been a fraud. If anything, the organization had simply been crushed by the brutal state of the world.

If you had to categorize it, it was a failure sparked by external volatility—a “force majeure” of sorts. A fresh Erosion Core had manifested right on the company’s primary assets, and during the skirmish where the Hunters neutralized it, the business was caught in the crossfire and utterly ruined.

Technically, the legal bankruptcy wasn’t finalized, but for all intents and purposes, it was over.

“Unbelievable.”

What kind of cosmic joke is this? Someone is definitely messing with me.

The business is gone. Or it’s about to be. How am I supposed to pay for my life now? Start the job hunt all over again?

Over the following weeks, I sent out a dozen applications and, quite hilariously, was turned down by every single one.

*’This year, South Korea’s economic expansion hits “zero”. Is the final fortress collapsing?’*

The headline I had read earlier echoed in my mind. In this climate, finding a new job was a mathematical impossibility.

“I’m completely broke.”

My resources were tapped out. As a man with no safety net and no employment, my cash reserves had vanished. I had to find a way to stay alive.

“…The universe is playing with me. It’s a setup!”

There is a path to income, obviously.

“You’re forcing my hand.”

It isn’t about preference anymore. If I don’t take action this second, I’ll starve, and I don’t see any other way to generate revenue.

“Hunter.”

In the end, it always comes back to this. I felt dazed and frustrated. After all the effort to return to Earth, I’m right back in the middle of the same nightmare.

Once I step onto this path, there’s no turning back. I understood that reality perfectly. My mind wanted to reject the profession, but my physical form, conditioned by thirty-five years of violence, felt otherwise.

“…”

Even when I was tucked into a soft bed, I would wake up abruptly to find myself lying on the cold, hard floor without any climate control. I always kept a club or a kitchen blade hidden within arm’s reach, just in case.

When strolling down a public path, my muscles would lock up if I sensed a shadow behind me. That was the result of three decades of survival. It was the only choice left when all other doors were slammed shut.

“…Fine. I’ll play this game one more time.”

I didn’t survive thirty-five years of hell just to go down with this sinking ship of a world.

The choice was finalized. I knew the steps. All that remained was the execution.

“Since it had to be this way…”

A feeling of entitlement began to bubble up. I was perfectly willing to be a corporate drone, surviving on a modest check. I actually liked it. That was the dream I’d chased for half a lifetime.

But if I’m being dragged back into the fire after fighting so hard to get out? Fine. Then I’m going to demand a price that makes the sacrifice worth it.

I had no desire to be some mediocre Hunter just scraping by.

“Hunters are at the top of the social ladder these days, regardless.”

I would climb to the peak, claim every luxury, and live a life so extravagant that it would make everyone else sick with jealousy.

The recruitment trials, which occurred every three months, were only thirty days away.

I submitted my candidacy for the upcoming Hunter selection and began organizing the necessary gear.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Every quarter, the various Hunter firms operating within the country dispatch representatives to the Association headquarters in Seoul.

The goal is to identify and recruit the most capable prospects during the seasonal Hunter selections. Additionally, it serves as a period of rest for the veterans of those firms who have earned a reprieve.

The combatants stationed permanently at the front lines of the Erosion Zones couldn’t simply abandon their posts for a holiday right now.

With the rhythmic tapping of heels on the floor, a woman dressed in a sharp business suit entered the Alliance facility. She held a tobacco pipe in one hand and was flanked by a small entourage.

“We are privileged to host you, Miss Lee Se-eun.”

The woman, Lee Se-eun, threw a brief look at the person greeting her and offered a polite curve of her lips.

“I appreciate the reception. I’d like to review the roster of candidates.”

“This contains the names of everyone who cleared the initial screening.”

“Much obliged. Here, have a sweet.”

With that, she fished a small piece of hard candy from her blazer and presented it to the staffer who had handed over the documents.

These individuals were the ones who had been confirmed to have at least a baseline sensitivity to mana.

Every one of them would eventually be licensed as a Hunter. In this era, as long as you can perceive mana, you are granted the title regardless of other flaws.

That is how desperate the global situation has become.

“Two hundred and fifty-one people.”

“The bracketed combat trials will be held over the course of the coming week.”

The woman used a match to light her pipe, released a thick cloud of smoke, and began flipping through the dossiers.

“Is it truly acceptable for me to be away for seven days? What is the Director thinking?”

The conditions at the northern armistice line were deteriorating. The media was in a frenzy, pumping out articles that stoked fears of the northern Erosion Zones spilling over into the southern territories.

“Apparently, there’s a specific talent they’re very interested in. Someone with the highest marks from the Academy.”

“They’re all just children.”

The Academy, established during a more hopeful time to standardize the training of Hunters, was now regularly churning out graduates of a certain caliber.

It was true that following Korea’s success, other nations were setting up similar schools… but to a woman like her, who had spent years on the bloody edge of the Erosion Zones, they were nothing but unproven novices.

“If they are molded correctly, they will certainly be assets.”

“Perhaps. Or perhaps not.”

One of her assistants gave a nod of agreement.

“Even those who shine at the Academy frequently crumble when the real killing starts.”

“That is exactly my point. Here, have a sweet.”

Lee Se-eun searched her pockets again, produced another candy, and handed it to the assistant holding the files.

“Are you finished reviewing the list?”

“I’ve seen enough. Paper statistics provided by others don’t carry much weight to me.”

She cleared the spent ash from her pipe and rubbed at the fatigue in her eyes.

“Regardless of what the Director expects, if they don’t meet my standards in person, they’re useless.”

“The 1st Team Leader is going to defer to your judgment anyway.”

It was no hyperbole to state that Lee Se-eun was practically the sole force preventing the expansion of the erosion at the Cheorwon boundary. Neither the Alliance nor her employer, Zanabi LLC, could afford to dismiss her perspective.

“I’m trying to appreciate the time off, but my thoughts are still in Cheorwon.”

“A week should be manageable. Besides, these trials represent the future guardians of our society.”

As they spoke, representatives from competing guilds began to occupy the surrounding seats.

“The other organizations sent their heavy hitters too. It looks like everyone is circling the prospect the 1st Team Leader has his eye on.”

“You mean the girl, Han Sang-ah?”

A graduate of the Academy. High mana proficiency, with an affinity for lightning.

A rookie, certainly, but with the right guidance, she would be a versatile tool. Lee Se-eun tapped the screen of her phone.

“Maybe she can give my phone a quick charge, then?”

“She’s a Hunter candidate, ma’am, not a power bank.”

“Right. Well, it seems we’re getting started.”

The schedule had arrived at the starting point. From this moment on, the qualified hopefuls would begin eliminating one another in the tournament.

“Let’s see if any of them can prove they’re worth the investment.”

Lee Se-eun’s gaze sharpened as she refilled her pipe with fresh tobacco.