I could feel a faint trickle of mana flowing in from my left arm.
"Ugh."
Forcing my heavy eyelids open, I saw the white curtains surrounding me and the IV drip in my arm, releasing fluid one drop at a time.
It was a special IV solution for Awakened Beings, prescribed for those suffering from mana exhaustion.
"Ah, mana exhaustion..."
I remembered getting carried away by the thrill of controlling mana at will, getting cocky, and then collapsing.
A question remained.
Who brought me here? I wondered, turning my head.
"Oh..."
The Ajumma was asleep in a chair, slumped over the corner of the bed I was lying in.
I wasn't sure how she'd come up to my room and found me collapsed, but...
This was the second time.
Waking up after collapsing twice to see the Ajumma's face... Hmm.
"It feels... strange."
So this is what it feels like to be taken care of. It was a new sensation.
"This is what I always wanted."
To care for someone, and to be cared for in return. That's all I ever wanted.
When one of us was sick, to sit by their side and hold their hand. When things were tough, to pat their shoulder. When we were happy, to hold each other and double the joy.
Was it such a great sin to want the emotional connection that a married couple, a family, should naturally share?
"Mmm..."
The Ajumma, who had been sleeping in an uncomfortable position, slowly sat up.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and let out a small yawn, and our eyes met.
"Oh my, Do-jin. Are you awake?"
"Haha... Yes. Did you bring me to the hospital, Ajumma?"
Her worried gaze fell on me.
"I did. I came up to see if you needed help with cleaning and was so shocked to find you collapsed..."
Recalling the moment, the Ajumma let out a breath and swept a hand over her chest.
Then, her expression suddenly turned sharp as she looked at me.
"By the way, Do-jin, have you Awakened?"
"Ah, well..."
The original owner of this body, Kim Do-jin, had only Awakened a few days ago.
It was only natural that she didn't know.
"Was it when you collapsed in front of me last time?"
She'd handed me the perfect excuse.
I nodded hastily.
"Ah, yes! That's right. A sharp pain suddenly spread through my body, and when I woke up, a message said I had Awakened."
"I knew it! So that's what happened."
It seemed she had already thought it over before I woke up and pieced it all together.
Well, that just makes things easier for me.
"Is that why you decided to change?"
"Yes. I can't keep living like that forever."
The reason was a little different, but it was true that I had decided to change.
The Ajumma's face lit up with joy.
"Yes, that's a wonderful decision."
She stroked my hair, looking at me as if she were proud.
Her voice was filled with genuine happiness.
Looking through my memories, I could see just how well the Ajumma had treated this body for the past three years.
To the point where I wondered if people like her even existed in this day and age.
But that black-haired beast, Kim Do-jin, had lived an ungrateful life, never appreciating her kindness.
What could I do?
I'd have to be grateful in his place.
I took the Ajumma's hand as she stroked my hair and squeezed it tightly.
"Oh, my. Do-jin."
"Thank you. Truly, thank you, Ajumma."
Her face was a mixture of surprise and joy.
It was understandable. In the three years she had constantly looked after him, he had never once thanked her with such sincerity or held her hand so warmly.
"If it weren't for you, Ajumma, I wouldn't even be alive right now."
It was true.
The lazy Kim Do-jin, who knew nothing of the world and was a stranger to diligence and sincerity.
If the Ajumma hadn't taken him in, there was a greater than 90 percent chance he would have ended up wandering the streets and dying alone.
So, the Ajumma was a benefactor not only to Kim Do-jin, but to me as well.
If that bastard had died on the streets back then, this good fortune would have never come my way.
"From now on, I'm going to change. I'll leave this small room and step out into the bright world."
"D-Do-jin."
Hearing my resolve, the Ajumma's eyes reddened.
After feeding and housing him for three years, even if that black-haired beast didn't realize it, the Ajumma must have thought of him as half a son.
It was only natural for her to be moved when her ill-mannered child finally said he would change.
"Yes. That's a good decision. You're an Awakened Being now, Do-jin, so you'll be able to live a good life."
Awakened Beings, who are granted special traits, have a much wider range of career options than ordinary people.
This is because they can do jobs that only Awakened Beings can do—jobs that ordinary people, unable to handle mana, cannot.
Although the number of Awakened Beings increases each year, the supply still falls short of the demand.
High salaries are a given, and the benefits packages put most large corporations to shame.
That's why ordinary people sometimes call the Awakening phenomenon the "Lottery Phenomenon."
Of course, I had no intention of remaining a mere Awakened office worker.
My goal, after all, was to be a Hunter.
"I'll spend the rest of my life repaying the kindness you've shown me for the past three years."
"Hoho! Oh, you. What kindness? I received rent from you every month."
She did receive rent.
An absurdly cheap amount.
The Ajumma's villa was located on the outskirts of Seoul.
While the rent was cheaper than in central Seoul, this was still undeniably Seoul.
In Seoul, the safest city in South Korea, even a rooftop room cost at least 500,000 won a month.
But the rent the Ajumma collected from me was a mere 200,000 won.
And that wasn't all.
She brought me side dishes every week, hired someone to install an awning in the summer because it was hot, and sealed every nook and cranny with insulation in the winter because it was cold.
All of this was included for 200,000 won.
The Ajumma was just a good person.
I could tell just by looking at the large breasts that hung heavily on her chest.
They were filled with nothing but kindness.
Ah.
I've discovered a serious flaw in my logic.
My wife's breasts were huge, too, but she wasn't kind at all.
Just as I was pondering where her good heart came from, the Ajumma suddenly started to laugh.
"Hoho, if you're that determined, Do-jin, then I have no choice. I'll be looking forward to it."
"Yes!"
I replied triumphantly.
I was overflowing with confidence that I could give her a life of luxury.
And if that didn't work, well, I could always repay her with my body.
"Since you've decided to change, Do-jin, I have a suggestion..."
"What is it?"
A deep smile spread across the Ajumma's lips.
Bba- bba- bbabbabba- bbabbarabbabba bbabbabba-
The blaring sound of a bugle call jolted me awake.
"Ugh."
A wave of irritation washed over me.
I desperately wanted to change the alarm sound, but I couldn't.
A few days ago, I'd set a different alarm, but this damn body of mine somehow didn't hear it at all.
"No matter how much I sleep, I'm still tired..."
The layers of fat were having all sorts of negative effects on my health.
Normally, a twenty-year-old should feel refreshed after just five hours of sleep, but this body never felt rested, no matter how long I slept.
"Sigh, I need to get up."
I forced my heavy butt off the bed and folded the blanket.
As I was changing into a pair of black shorts and a t-shirt, I heard the Ajumma's voice from outside.
"Do-jin~ Are you up?"
"Yeees, just a second..."
I wanted to answer with a strong voice, but I couldn't.
My body was still screaming at me, begging to lie back down.
After I finished changing, I put on my only pair of sneakers and opened the door.
The Ajumma was standing there.
She was wearing tight black leggings and a thin jumper.
"Ah, just a moment."
I closed the door again.
The Ajumma knocked lightly on the door and called out.
"Do-jin, is something wrong?"
"Ah, no! I just need to use the bathroom for a second..."
This is crazy.
Now that I'm in this vigorous young body, I can't control its physical reactions.
I only saw her in leggings.
"If I get hard from just that, how am I supposed to live a normal life..."
I was hard.
Rock-hard, at that.
"Hoo..."
By the time I got to the third verse of the national anthem, my erection had subsided.
I adjusted my pants and went back outside.
The Ajumma, perhaps bored of waiting, was doing some warm-up stretches off to the side.
"Ajumma, let's go now."
"Okay."
I let the Ajumma go down first and slowly followed her down the stairs.
"Isn't the morning air nice?"
"Yes, it is."
The suggestion the Ajumma had made at the hospital was simple.
That we should wake up early and exercise together every day.
Since exercise was the most urgent thing I needed to do to not die, I readily agreed. Today was the first day.
"Since it's the first day, shall we start with a slow walk?"
"Sounds good."
I started walking at a slow pace, following the Ajumma.
"There are lots of good places to exercise around here, so just follow me."
"Yep."
Her eyes were sparkling so brightly it was almost blinding.
It seemed she was determined to help me get healthy, no matter what.
After about ten minutes of slow walking, sweat started pouring from my forehead.
"Oh dear... You'll have to work hard from now on."
"I-I guess so."
We walked continuously along the well-maintained path.
Naturally, the Ajumma took the lead while I struggled to keep up behind her.
"Gasp, gasp..."
I was panting for breath and slowing down, but I didn't stop.
Everyone who exercises says the same thing.
The moment you want to quit, the moment you want to stop, is when you're actually losing weight.
"You're doing great, Do-jin!"
If only for the Ajumma, who would turn back from time to time to shout words of encouragement.
I couldn't possibly stop.
After dragging my exhausted body for another ten minutes, we arrived at a small park.
Even though it was early in the morning, elderly men and women were hitting their backs against large trees or using the various exercise equipment.
"Alright, let's rest here for a bit."
"Gasp... Okay..."
"Want some water?"
The Ajumma said, pointing to a drinking fountain on one side of the park.
Without a word, I walked over and immediately started gulping down water.
As moisture filled my parched mouth, I felt much more comfortable.
"Phew!"
After drinking my fill, I stepped back, and the Ajumma, who had been standing behind me, leaned down to drink, opening her mouth to the upward stream.
"Hmm."
Why is the sight of her drinking water so stimulating?
And why do I want to make it even more stimulating?
A fun idea suddenly popped into my head.
Using the mana in my body, I could manipulate the mana in my surroundings.
Location: the drinking fountain.
I added mana to the gently trickling stream of water to strengthen it.
Pshooo!
"Kyaa!"
The powerful jet of water soaked the Ajumma's face before drenching the jumper she was wearing.
"Geez, what was that all of a sudden?!"
The Ajumma took off her soaking wet jumper.
Underneath, she was wearing a tank top that revealed every curve of her body.
Leggings and a tank top.
"Long live magic..."
Mages will save the world!
As I was staring, mesmerized by this blissful combination...
"Ah."
I could feel it.
The gazes of all the middle-aged and elderly men in the area were fixed on the Ajumma.
"Hmm."
I'll have to make sure no one's around next time.