[The party led by S-rank Hunter and Guardian, Mr. Son Si-woo, has successfully cleared the S-rank dungeon in Vietnam….]
Son Si-woo.
That's my name.
One of only five S-rank Hunters in all of South Korea.
The greatest Hunter, bestowed with the title of Guardian, an honor given to heroes who have saved the nation from crisis.
Voted the number one role model for Hunters seven years in a row.
Ranked number one on Korea's brand reputation index for seven years in a row.
And I, the object of everyone's envy…
"Hey, Jae-sik. How about a drink tonight… Ah, you're going out with your family…."
"Byeong-gyu, let's grab dinner, it's been a while. Ah… you're overseas."
"Sang-cheol, I'm begging you! Just one drink with me tonight! Hello? Hello? Hey, you bastard!"
…absolutely hate going home.
"Haaah…."
I called the few friends I had left in my contacts, but got shot down by every single one.
And after all the meals and drinks I've bought them.
Hell, if you took all the stories I've listened to whenever they complained about their problems and made them into movies, you'd have a twelve-part series.
"Sigh."
With no other choice, I dragged my heavy feet home.
As I approached the main gate, the AI recognized my face and opened it.
[Welcome home, Mr. Son Si-woo.]
Listening to the stiff, mechanical voice, I stepped into the palace-like mansion.
The first thing I saw upon opening the front door was the darkened living room.
It was chillingly cold.
"..."
I made my way to my wife's study on the second floor.
Knock, knock!
-Come in.
When I opened the door, a woman with fiery red hair sat at her desk, buried in a mountain of paperwork.
My wife.
"Honey, I'm home."
"…You worked hard. Go wash up and rest."
She glanced at me as she spoke, then immediately went back to reading the document she had paused on.
"..."
Let me be clear: I just got back from clearing an S-rank dungeon in Vietnam.
It's a deathtrap where even an S-rank Hunter can lose their life with a single misstep.
Her husband just went through hell and back to help a neighboring country!
"Is there something else you wanted to say?"
"No… I was just wondering if you were busy today, too."
She pushed up the glasses perched on her nose and pointed a long, elegant finger at the stacks of paper.
"Yes, I'm busy."
Right. Okay.
You're busy.
If you're busy, you're busy.
Work comes before family, of course. Right.
"Keep up the good work."
Forcing the corners of my mouth, which had drooped as if they'd never rise again, into a smile, I left the room.
"Hoo."
A bitter taste filled my mouth.
But it was too soon to be disappointed.
I have a daughter who is just as precious as my wife—no, who has recently become more precious than my wife.
A daughter I've doted on since she was little, the apple of my eye.
I rushed to her room on the third floor and grabbed the doorknob.
"Ah, wait."
Right, she said she'd never speak to me again if I opened her door without knocking.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Sweetie~ Daddy's home!"
"..."
No answer.
I sharpened my senses and scanned the room. I could feel a presence.
She's definitely in there.
"Sweetie~ Are you sleeping?"
Still no answer.
It was unlikely, but what if she'd had a hypoglycemic shock, or collapsed from a nosebleed while studying too hard?
"Sweetie~ Daddy's coming in for a second."
Just as I was about to turn the doorknob…
Click!
The door flew open and my daughter popped out.
"I'm trying to focus on my studies, why do you keep calling me?"
"Well… Daddy's home after a long time, you should at least say hello…."
"…You worked hard."
With those words, my daughter slammed the door shut and disappeared back inside.
"It's cold."
Maybe they don't run the heater much.
Rubbing my arms, which were covered in goosebumps, I went down the stairs and out into the yard.
A large doghouse came into view.
"Poppy!"
We got him because my daughter begged for a dog when she was little.
He's nearly eighty in human years, but he's like a son to me.
The dog was lying on the lawn, half his body sticking out of the house. I started stroking his back and head.
The little guy must have missed my touch.
"My Poppy, did you miss Daddy? Aww, who's a good boy!"
Poppy's gaze slowly turned toward me.
"Woof."
And then his head turned away again.
"..."
Now even the dog I'm raising ignores me.
Life is so bitter.