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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Prologue. The Necromancer with a Camera
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Excuse me for asking this right off the bat on our first meeting, but I've got one question.
'Has anyone here ever been fired from their company in their twenties?'
Surprisingly, I have.
To be precise, it was the day before yesterday.
Well, calling it 'fired' might not be quite accurate.
After all, I was the one who marched into work whistling with my resignation letter in hand.
"…Ah, I should've just thrown my resignation in the team leader's face."
I muttered to myself as I stared at my bank account with the severance pay deposited.
Lazing around in the lobby, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret.
Of course, I had no real regrets.
I didn't quit without thinking it through.
'Besides, I'd been thinking it was about time to start my own business anyway.'
That said, it wasn't like I had zero problems.
'Even so, I've got way too little money on hand.'
If the director and that asshole team leader hadn't been such pricks, I could've coasted for a few more years.
My name is Jeong Do-jin. Age 25.
True to my name—which sounds like someone who'd die from a knife wound—I've lived my twenties dancing on the edge of a blade, only to cap it off by retiring at the midpoint.
'Didn't work long enough for much severance.'
Fuck, how is my severance barely enough for a beat-up used car?
I didn't go to college, so I've worked longer than most my age, but compared to those seasoned retirees, it's just a few years' difference.
At this point, isn't this basically severance theft?
'I was planning to retire soon anyway, but my nest egg is still too small.'
Everyone has some grand plan.
Until they check their bank balance, that is.
Am I scared? Nah, not at all.
Truth is, this is my second time handing in a resignation.
'Before this job, I was a reporter.'
Compared to those hellish days, what's there to fear? Exactly.
"Ugh…."
Anyway, after pondering my future for a few minutes,
I closed the banking app and opened another one.
"Yeah, fuck it. The answer's stocks, as always."
Don't let my looks fool you—I'm damn good at predicting the market.
-Ding.
The moment I opened the app, a dazzling profit rate greeted me.
I couldn't help but feel proud of the screen welcoming me back.
And people, well, when you keep succeeding, confidence builds up, right? I started dreaming big while hunting for bolder investments.
'I've pretty much learned everything worth learning here.'
In that sense, it's not like I have no capital at all.
Intangible assets—sounds a bit pompous, huh?
Then again, patting myself on the back before results roll in is basically delusion. Stock gurus bragging about performance are usually scammers.
'Start with basic capital for now. Once I show results, I can attract investors…'
"TV! Dad, the TV's broken!"
Just as I was crafting a plan even Sherlock would standing-ovation,
a shrill kid's scream pierced the air.
What now? A girl who looked under ten was sniffling in front of the lobby TV, with a man who seemed like her guardian causing a fuss.
Neatly dressed.
They looked so alike, 100% father and daughter.
"Ha-eun! Don't make a scene with people around!"
"B-but, Dad, you always tell me to watch the seniors' work…"
"You think a grown-up who makes people frown gets respect anywhere? Even if a fool gets famous, it just brings more criticism. Apologize to everyone."
"…Yes. Sorry for yelling."
-Bow. The girl bowed here and there.
From the conversation, they seemed like decent folks.
The staff even cracked small smiles.
'What got her yelling?'
Curious, I checked the TV and got it.
'Oh, Natu Guild's raid live stream.'
One of the only three S-Rank Hunter guilds in Korea.
It was a broadcast of Natu Guild tackling a gate.
'Ah, so the girl's an awakener trainee too.'
Young awakeners train at national facilities or guilds.
The reason's simple.
'Even preschoolers awaken powers.'
But preschoolers accidentally shatter their parents' collarbones while trying to give shoulder massages.
Regular families can't handle that training.
A gorilla swinging a power ranger sword can snap bones. They need systematic control training.
Naturally, the state runs free academies.
'Still, if they've got talent, paying a private guild for proper training is way better.'
It's best for the kid's future.
Could even lead to early contracts like pro athletes.
Private vs. public education—you get it.
Money gaps aren't just for school.
The Hunter Management Bureau's budget is notoriously tiny—even kids know. Their salaries probably rival mine.
Right, I have no salary now. Fuck.
[Whoa! Kim Jun-yeol Hunter's skill lands perfectly!] [Straight into the rear guard's DPS follow-up! Perfect!]
The gate raid footage of hunters battling fiercely was airing on network TV.
Problem was, the feed kept cutting out.
'Those sales department idiots.'
Always cutting costs, can't even maintain the TV properly. Even local kimbap joints keep theirs running, assholes.
'Or is it a conspiracy to trash our guild's image?'
Someone else as pissed at this guild as me?
Of course, I didn't care about my ex-employer's rep anymore.
'But whether job hunting or starting a business, they need to keep that shiny nameplate intact till I settle down.'
No college degree and a shitty last job? No one's hiring.
Sighing, I approached the father-daughter duo out of obligation.
"Sorry to bother, mind if I take a look?"
"Ah! S-sorry for the noise!"
"No worries. Mind if big bro fixes that TV?"
I flashed a grin, and the girl gaped.
"Huh? Uh? B-big bro, are you a TV repair guy?"
"Nah, hunter."
"A h-hunter?"
"Yup."
The girl's eyes went wide.
Yeah. Big bro here's got a hunter license too.
"Precisely, a Necromancer."
Swoosh. I brushed past the amazed girl.
Then reached toward the TV screen.
'Time to work, kids.'
Shooo. Souls bloomed from my palm.
The soul mass gathered, taking form.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡SUMMON GHOST OBSERVER
Ghost-type summon of the Necromancer
-Kwee?
The ghosts, looking like bedsheets flipped over tables, tilted their heads at me as if asking why they were summoned.
'This TV's busted. Check it out.'
-Kwee!
At my command, they dove into the screen.
Remember those old horror flicks? The ghost lady from the well in the video tape crawling out through the TV.
Ghost Observer's skill was similar.
'Difference is, they can go in too, not just out.'
Bzzzzt!
Noise flickered on screen, then a ghost poked its head out.
-Kwee!
'Rooftop antenna issue? TV itself's fine?'
-Kwee!
Easy fix then.
Lucky. If it was the line, I'd look like an idiot backing off after stepping up.
'Just adjust the antenna angle. Sales can call a pro for the rest.'
-Kwee.
The ghosts obeyed.
But breaking it would suck. Getting nervous, I linked vision with the rooftop ghosts.
-Kwee~.
-Kwee~.
Like drone cam footage, their view appeared before me.
Hologram-style. I watched my summons tweak the antenna, fixing reception, then cut the link.
[Static… crackle! Heading straight into the boss room?] [Even their second-stringers are elite in an S-Rank guild.]
Oh, fixed.
Still got those PC repair skills from home.
"How the…?"
The ghost exiting the screen was invisible, but the father gawked.
"It's the 21st century—no digging graves as a Necromancer. Gotta adapt quick to eat."
Funny, since Necromancer jobs only popped up in the 20th century.
Pre-gate Earth had magic and summons as fantasy.
Hard to grasp for a young 20-something like me.
'I grew up watching hunter gate raids live too.'
I shrugged and watched the TV.
[Gate cleared, straight to boss hunt without rest! Incredible skill!] [Pace management at its finest—Natu Guild's strength shines.] [Can't wait for their first-string tackling a 10th-rank gate at year-end!]
Brown-nosing much? Bribed? Praise every second?
'Whatever, it's fixed.'
Who pities their ex-company? I'm trembling for the future they cast out a loyalist like me.
Loyalist ousted by villains—modern-day exile in white robes?
Objectively, my skills are Admiral Yi Sun-sin's toenail level, but office politics? Pathetic. That Won Gyun bastard.
What a shit life. Exiled in the real world.
"I-it's fixed! Thanks, big bro!"
"No biggie. Simple glitch."
A bit clumsy thanks from a kid better suited to multiplication tables than manners.
Her honesty was kinda refreshing.
'Hmm… Gate live stream. Not bad.'
Half-listening to the broadcast, an idea sparked.
What idea? Money-making, obviously.
'Hunter Association stocks are prime indeed.'
Hunter Association—invincible, their stock's divine.
Hunter Association.
Born from early catastrophe hunters saving lives, it's a federation of guilds.
Basically a mega-corp/environmental org with branches worldwide.
Corporate side means stocks and investments.
Bluntly, profit-driven.
Gate clears and monster byproducts pay big.
'Top-tier safe stock, never really crashed.'
I stroked my chin at the live feed.
Of course, no stock's truly 'safe.'
'But buy before drop, sell quick—everything's safe.'
Plus, Natu Guild's tackling an S-Rank gate achievement.
My nose sniffed mooning stocks.
Checked market fluctuations closely.
Safety margin first before investing.
'Even if Natu botches, no sweat.'
Time the exit pre-raid.
Key is industry boom.
Stock rise holds awhile.
'At least till month-end raid start, Korea Hunter Association won't dip.'
Even with surprises or backlash, no crash too big.
Experience-based verdict.
Like ants swarming sugar scent, investors piling in.
Perfect for padding funds.
'In and out in a month. Lower returns fine.'
Fiddling my phone, I rolled my eyes.
'…Pull some loans too?'
Long-term investment? No way.
That'd push my guild launch past 40.
'Worst case, mid-30s for my guild.'
That's my quit goal.
'Too late, and growing the business is pointless.'
Balding age, slaving away, retire before honey—hell no.
'I'll be 'President' by 30s for sure.'
As I fantasized about 'President'—no, 'Guild Master' chants,
"Big bro a Ilryun Guild hunter too?!"
Admiring glances at industry senior.
Our young awakener's stare's intense.
Dad? Pull her back?
"I-if you don't mind, some advice…"
Nope.
His eyes intense too, fuck.
'Fair enough.'
This building's Ilryun Guild's guild house.
Ilryun Guild.
One of Korea's big three, like Natu.
To them, I'm an awakener met in Ilryun's lobby.
'Looks like guild hunter for sure.'
But I could only give an awkward smile.
"Necromancer? Yes. Hunter? Yes. Worked here till yesterday getting paid? Yes… but not an Ilryun Guild hunter."
"Huh?"
What bullshit face.
Kid's already onto job discrimination.
Free market evil.
Sighing, I watched hunters gang up on the boss—or rather, the few PDs filming them.
"Big bro's job is cameraman."
A hunter filming other hunters' gate raids.
That was my job till yesterday.
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