Chapter 2: Chapter 2

“My leg! Damn it!”

The stalker clutched his shins and yelled loudly.

I reached out and grabbed his face.

“Ugh! Mmm!”

Now he was a bit quieter.

“Hey, sis, I’m going to use the bathroom.”

“Uh, uh…?”

Dragging the stalker along, I entered the bathroom.

He was resisting fiercely, but it was nothing to worry about.

For a C-rank hunter, a mid-level hunter, this was quite strange.

Perhaps the gap between ranks increases exponentially.

“Hey.”

I lifted the stalker’s head to match my eye level.

At the same time, I released my mana and created a barrier around us.@@novelbin@@

No noise would reach outside the bathroom now.

“Let’s get started.”

“Ugh…! Mmm!”

It seemed like he wanted to say something, but I ignored it.

I pulled my hand back.

Then, I slammed his head into the wall with all my strength.

Bang!

The impact of my enhanced body with divine power was tremendous.

Despite adjusting my strength, a large dent appeared in the wall, and blood splattered from the man's head.

I could always restore the bathroom later with magic.

For now, I just needed to make him repent.

---

Si-yoon stared worriedly at the bathroom door.

Since her oppa, who had become her unni, had dragged the stalker in, she hadn’t heard any sounds from inside.

Though he claimed to have defeated the Demon King, in Si-yoon’s eyes, her oppa looked smaller and more fragile than herself.

Didn’t he say he was a saint?

The image that popped into her head was that of someone praying safely from the back.

The man was a notorious stalker, but he was still a hunter.

A C-rank hunter, no less.

It was well-known that once someone reached mid-level hunter status, the government often turned a blind eye unless something major occurred.

Because of this, she couldn’t even report it to the police.

So far, the stalker hadn’t made any direct moves, only applying pressure like today.

Just as Si-yoon was fidgeting anxiously, the bathroom door creaked open.

A pale-faced man emerged like a corpse.

Spotting Si-yoon, he approached and buried his head on the floor.

“I’m so sorry for everything!”

“...”

“Oh, your unni must be an incredible hunter! Are you a melee type? Wow, that’s amazing.”

He was completely submissive.

Si-yoon’s eyes widened as she stared at the bathroom entrance.

Soon, her unni emerged, leaning against the wall with a cold expression like ice.

“Hey, stalker.”

“Yes!”

“What do you need to say now?”

“...Si-yoon! I sincerely apologize for everything!”

“...Is that it?”

“I swear I won’t even come near this house or anywhere close to it again!”

Goodness.

Si-yoon exchanged trembling glances between her unni and the stalker.

Could it be that her unni was really strong…?

Looking at that fierce expression, she felt a creeping fear rising within her.

“Si-yoon, what do you think? Should I give him more education?”

“Uh, um… I think this is enough, right?”

“Really?”

Upon her sister's answer, Si-hyun grabbed the stalker by the scruff of his neck.

Dragging him out like before, she threw him outside the house.

A loud sound echoed.

Si-hyun looked outside for a moment before closing the door.

“I’m sorry; the bathroom got dirty, so I’ll clean it up for a bit.”

“Uh-huh…”

Si-yoon broke into a cold sweat.

Though the stalker’s face was clean, she could smell blood wafting from the bathroom.

However, a moment later, when she checked the bathroom with worry, it was surprisingly spotless.

It was cleaner and more fragrant than a brand-new bathroom.

“How is it?”

“Uh, it’s good…?”

“Fufu.”

“Haha.”

Responding absentmindedly, Si-yoon glanced at her unni.

Her previously expressionless face bloomed into a radiant smile upon seeing her.

In that moment, Si-yoon realized something.

Though she had changed a lot, her oppa was still her oppa.

Over her beautiful face, she could see the kind expression of the oppa who had raised her in place of their parents.

---

*Ding Dong!*

“Shall we eat some chicken?”

“Sure!”

Si-yoon smiled brightly.

---

The next day, after a fierce competition over who would sleep on the bed and who on the sofa.

I went out shopping with Si-yoon.

Since I didn’t have an ID yet, we set up a smartphone in her name first.

We quickly grabbed clothes, including undergarments, and picked up daily necessities before finally returning home.

“Si-yoon, how do I go back?”

“To go back? Just do this.”

Having not used a phone in a long time, I was a bit flustered.

But I soon got the hang of it. Probably.

“You spent a lot today, huh? I’m sorry. Once my ID comes, I’ll start looking for work right away.”

“I told you yesterday, but it’s really okay! You’re the hero who defeated the Demon King, right? Don’t you need to take some time to rest?”

“...That’s true.”

“Don’t worry about me!”

Even if she said that.

I saw her eyes wavering when I swiped the card, but I wouldn’t bring it up.

“Oh! By the way, unni. If you’re a saint, can’t you perform miracles or something?”

“Miracles?”

“Yeah. Like in novels or games, bringing the dead back to life and all.”

“Ah, bringing the dead back to life is impossible.”

I could save someone who was on the brink of death.

“What about regenerating someone who lost an arm or a leg?”

“That’s also beyond my abilities.”

If they were lying nearby, I could reattach them.

“Are you really a melee type, like the stalker said? And a saint?”

“Does that mean I fought at the front? I’ve done that a lot.”

The party members often chided me to do some work instead of just giving buffs.

“...Aren’t you a warrior, or rather, a paladin?”

“Hmm, maybe?”

The hero party emphasized to me every day.

That they were strong because they received my buffs, not because I was strong.

So, if they wanted to join me to catch the Demon King.

They had to prove my worth to them.

That’s why I worked tirelessly.

Using the memories mixed with my original body while possessing this one, I trained my magical abilities.

Among them, I mastered buffs and debuffs that suited me the best to the extreme.

I even became proficient enough to combine the roles of both priest and paladin.

Whenever a battle broke out, I was always targeted first since I was the healer.

I rolled and rolled, so I couldn’t help but become skilled at everything.

Well, even so.

[Can you withstand the front lines as sturdily as I can?]

[Your attack magic is significantly weaker!]

All I received in return were words about how inadequate I was.

It was frustrating, but their words were true.

Naturally, I started to shrink back.

Moreover, the hero exhibited a madness that surpassed obsession towards me.

Aside from battles, she wouldn’t let me step outside our lodging.

As a result, the jealousy and envy of the female party members intensified.

Thanks to our porters, who gathered supplies separately, I barely managed to endure.

“Oh! It’s already this time. Unni, I’m going to work now.”

“Are you working at this hour?”

“Uh, well… I’m a freelancer! I might be a bit noisy in my room sometimes, but don’t worry too much, okay?”

“Got it.”

Si-yoon waved goodbye and entered the next room.

After watching her for a moment, I fiddled with my smartphone.

I wanted to get a grasp of how the world was functioning nowadays.

Cataclysms, hunters, and more.

I started searching for various curiosities, reading articles that caught my eye.

---

First, the news.

[South Korea faces a shortage of support-type hunters. Serious oversupply of dealers.]

[(Expert Interview) The recent number of gates is expected to be a ‘calm before the storm’.]

[Individualism and distorted collectivism among hunters. Causes and alternatives?]

Next, the community.

[Is there a foreign hunter who recently came to Korea? Among the women.]

[Anyone connected with production hunters? Please introduce me.]

[(Chat) This is a Vtuber I’ve been watching lately.]

---

A sea of information... there’s just so much.

Finally, I checked out a video platform, but it wasn’t particularly helpful.

Videos of A-rank or S-rank hunters?

They were just advertisement videos edited into mad movies like the games I played in the past.

Aside from that, there were concept streams or what they called Vtubers? Just peculiar broadcasts featuring characters.

I realized the world had changed significantly, but that was all.

There wasn’t a single piece of information regarding divine power.

Is it because this is Earth?

Anyway.

“I think asking the Hunter Management Bureau would be the best bet.”

After all, civil servants should be the most accurate, right? I had the image they would answer well.

The Hunter Management Bureau had promised to contact me soon for consultations

and awakening measurements regarding returnees.

I was planning to keep a few things in mind before heading there.

I was sick of being bound, so I wanted to avoid obligations and responsibilities as much as possible.

Since they said there was a shortage of support-type hunters, I should hide this part too.

For now, I wanted to earn just enough money to lessen my sister’s burden while taking a break.

Once I understood the modern world a bit more, I could do something properly then.

Perhaps I could find a teaching position related to my major.

…Speaking of which, I never got to graduate because of the cataclysm.

---

“Phew…”

A plain-looking young man looked away from his smartphone.

He lightly loosened the muscles in his shoulders and glanced around.

It was the subway station. He saw people searching for the train they would take.

Then suddenly, his gaze was caught by someone.

A woman walking around, looking lost.

She wore a thin black shirt and a red A-line skirt that fell just above her knees.

Despite not having much else to embellish herself with, once his gaze was caught, it remained fixed.

Her long, slender limbs moved gracefully, and her white hair swayed softly with each movement.

Moreover, she had a bust that stood out with overwhelming presence.

Could she be a celebrity traveling from abroad?

She looked like a beauty one could only see in videos.

‘She looks lost.’

The woman repeatedly glanced left and right.

Tilting her head, she observed a map nearby.

Holding her phone, she bobbed her head up and down, comparing it.

Seeing her slightly scrunched expression made him want to help.

However, the young man hesitated to step forward.

It was true he felt intimidated by her unreal beauty.

But more than that, he wasn’t good at English.

He simply gazed at the exotic beauty with a regretful expression.

At that moment.

“...!”

By chance, their eyes met.

She hesitated for a moment but then seemed to make a decision, approaching him with a serious expression.

The young man swallowed hard and felt nervous.

Should he install a translation app on his phone right now?

No, can’t you translate well with the web these days?

But would I even be able to understand what she says?

In a short time, numerous thoughts crossed his mind.

“Um...”

“Yes, yes!”

He unconsciously replied, his mouth agape without realizing it.

Her lovely voice was sweet, but above all.

Her clean Korean pronunciation was impressive.

We can have a conversation!

“What, what can I help you with?”

“I’m not familiar with the subway. Can you help me?”

“Of course! Where are you trying to go?”

Instead of answering, the woman held out her phone.

The young man’s gaze briefly wandered to her long, slender fingers, but he looked back at the phone.

“Are you trying to go to the Hunter Management Bureau?”

“Yes.”

“Then go this way——”

The young man tried to maintain his composure, hoping his voice wouldn’t tremble.

Standing close and explaining, he could smell a pleasant scent wafting from the woman.

“Ah...!”

“Did you understand?”

“Yes, thank you. You explained it really well.”

“Phew… I’m glad I could help.”

The woman bowed slightly, expressing her gratitude as she slowly walked away.

The young man gazed after her with lingering feelings of regret.

That was unripe grapes. Unripe grapes. He endlessly repeated it in his mind.

At that moment.

Suddenly, the woman turned around and hurried back to him.

As he stared in confusion, she approached him with a friendly smile.

“I hope your kindness is rewarded.”

“A-ah… yes.”

The woman left again.

The young man felt a surge of energy welling up inside him like never before.

He felt invigorated!

Seeing the beauty’s smile made him feel full of life.

Indeed, one should live kindly.

The young man strode forward energetically.

He had a feeling that today, work as a hunter would go smoothly.