In Jeong-woo's memory, it was an incident from eight years ago—or two years from now, in the current timeline.
At that time, the Korean hunter world had been shaken by a massive scandal that forced a complete overhaul of its occupational structure.
It all started with a whistleblower from a public-service hunter.
[Breaking News: "Don't become a Hunter Management Bureau hunter. It's rotten to the core."]
Public-service hunters had always been plagued by issues of corruption and injustice.
The Hunter Management Bureau had existed since the very last day of 1999, when the first gates erupted and the initial hunters awakened on this land.
Back then, humanity was locked in a desperate war for survival, so it was inevitable that a rigidly hierarchical organization, akin to the military, would form. But even after the world stabilized, that group clung to its old ways, and problems inevitably arose.
It wasn't about money.
Sure, public-service hunters earned less than corporate ones, but the societal prestige of the job meant they still commanded salaries on par with major conglomerates. Even beyond that, those who joined out of a sense of duty accepted the financial trade-offs from the start.
Yet precisely because they were the type to overlook such things, there was one intolerable reality.
'It was the first-generation hunters who'd wormed their way into politics.'
Peace had arrived.
Which meant, in other words, that those who'd bulked up and built their reputations out of necessity no longer had as many chances to shine.
It was a good thing overall, but for heroes addicted to power and fame, it must have felt a bit dull.
With no further paths to amass authority, some first-gen hunters grew greedy. They dove into politics, chasing power.
That marked the beginning of the bureau's corruption.
'It stopped being a place where people came out of duty and sacrifice. It turned into a launchpad for political careers.'
Factions formed within.
Hunter-turned-politicians solidified into cartels, and factional wars erupted inside the bureau.
That's how group dynamics work, isn't it?
Once a massive current takes hold, individuals get swept along inevitably.
Rookie hunters, raised idolizing the heroes who'd shone brightest in wartime, now faced the backroom deals head-on.
Some assimilated into the culture. Others left in disillusionment. Some thrashed about trying to change it and burned out.
The whistleblower had been one of the last type.
Jeong-woo still remembered it vividly.
How relentlessly that young hunter's revelations had been attacked. How many sacrifices it took to prove them and dismantle the bureau.
What Jeong-woo faced now was the scene of that very corruption.
"I'll get straight to the point. The nation needs your power, Hunter Shin Jeong-woo. Everyone talks of an era of peace, but the truth is, gates haven't vanished from the world entirely. Incidents like today's could happen anywhere, anytime."
Kim Sin-uk, the Nowon-gu Hunter Management Bureau director who'd introduced himself, spoke with a stern expression.
"I can't promise wealth and glory. But won't you heed the call of recognition and duty—for the public good?"
A contract lay before him.
Jeong-woo studied the man's face.
It wore a resolute mask of justice and mission, but realistically, it couldn't be anything but a facade.
'That's the era we're in.'
No one climbs to director of the Seoul region's bureau with clean hands.
Every achievement links back to the muck.
It took no great effort to see this man was no different.
Jeong-woo glanced at the contract.
Everything still felt surreal; he wasn't ready to accept it.
But that didn't mean he should let the circumstances sweep him into a rash decision.
Jeong-woo gently stroked Segi's back as she began to doze off slowly.
This weight in his arms was everything he had to bear.
He accepted the regression.
He accepted the changes.
So, knowing this truth, what decision should he make?
What kind of father should he be?
His thoughts led him to an answer.
-Daddy's a hero, right? Daddy saved Segi~?
At the very least, a father chasing power through dirty deeds wasn't what Segi needed.
One regret was enough.
"Thank you for the offer."
Jeong-woo replied with a soft smile.
"But I must decline."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Nowon-gu Hunter Management Bureau Director Kim Sin-uk sensed it immediately.
This 23-year-old single dad, orphan, lucky newbie S-Rank hunter clueless about the world—none of those labels fit Shin Jeong-woo.
'What the hell is this guy?'
Up until he'd arrived here, Sin-uk had been riding high on dreams.
After all, hadn't Korea's first naturally awakened S-Rank hunter appeared in his district?
Scout him successfully. Build thick ties, set traps to lock him in. Boost his standing in the party. It was rough around the edges, but with some polish, totally achievable—a stroke of heaven-sent luck.
But as the conversation dragged on, doubts crept in.
"Couldn't you reconsider just once? The nation..."
"It doesn't feel like something to rush. I haven't even fully grasped that I'm an S-Rank hunter yet."
"Of course. But that's exactly why I want to explain how vital your power is. First..."
"This late at night, it's not a topic for snap decisions."
Jeong-woo deflected tricky subjects with gentle tones. Forced redirects met silent pressure. No ordinary guy. Too poised for someone who could be bullied by atmosphere, situation, or rank.
Sin-uk grew anxious. He hid it, lips twitching.
"Of course, you're an S-Rank—a natural-born one, no less. With that power, you could achieve anything you desire. But! Allow me to humbly suggest that there are values greater than wealth and glory in this world, and our society was forged by the heroic predecessors who sacrificed themselves for just that!"
Eloquence and facades—these were the weapons that had elevated a mere B-Rank like Sin-uk to director. He knew which topics and phrasing swayed people. He knew how to package motives to make them shine as noble and valuable.
"The entire nation—no, the world—is watching Hunter Shin Jeong-woo's choice. Depending on what that new era's icon decides, the era's very values might shift. I say this cautiously."
The times crave heroes. The masses adore heroism. In an age where everyone knew that, this young punk needed to grasp the weight of what Sin-uk held.
So Sin-uk donned his mask. Hid his true intentions behind honeyed words. He aimed to crush him under that weight, making this moment feel like everything.
And one step further.
"We ask not for selfless sacrifice. Money's hard to guarantee, but beyond that, the bureau will marshal every resource to ensure national treatment no corporation can match."
Sweet honey over duty. But he missed something.
"I decline. Sorry."
For a man who'd sacrificed his youth raising a child responsibly, Jeong-woo's perspective far outstripped his peers—too sharp for a naive kid. Before that, he wasn't the type to chase universal heroism.
"Hearing that only convinces me more that this isn't for hasty decisions here."
Jeong-woo readjusted the now soundly sleeping Segi. He gazed at his utmost treasure with utmost care.
"I want to be a good dad to her."
"Then for your daughter's sake, even more so...!"
"That's enough."
Whoosh!
Sin-uk's words halted. A chill raced up his spine. He looked at Jeong-woo with trembling eyes.
Jeong-woo's smile faded slightly. His piercing gaze held no aggression. Just an impassive pressure, aloof as can be.
"Using the child as an excuse? That's not your role, Director."
The first overt rebuff. And a warning. Sin-uk felt its implications instantly. This insolent kid. This nobody. Yet he couldn't voice it.
Worst-case scenario. This 23-year-old day-laborer single dad already knew the weight on Sin-uk's shoulders was a crown—and wielded it.
Sin-uk's lips moved. Only then did he notice his back soaked in cold sweat. He ground his teeth discreetly. Then, barely mustering regretful facade, forced a smile.
"...My apologies for the offense."
Jeong-woo smiled warmly in return.
"Thank you for understanding."
And the situation ended there.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Jeong-woo exited the bureau.
Beyond the main gate stretched a pitch-black night sky, under which crowds created artificial lights, all eyes fixed on him.
Should he be glad to see them? Among the faces, some belonged to industry titans who'd dominated his ten years as a hunter—now staring at him with far younger visages.
He readjusted Segi in his arms. His heart settled, shifting from faces to what those gazes truly sought.
His own confusion didn't matter. Through those bygone years, he'd learned the world doesn't wait for hesitation—always demanding choices and accountability.
Korea's first naturally awakened S-Rank hunter. That was how the world saw Jeong-woo. So he just had to act accordingly. Clarify what to do, how to navigate it.
Camera flashes exploded wildly. Fwoosh-fwoosh-fwoosh—!
"Hunter Shin Jeong-woo! From DBS...!"
"WBC here! Just one word...!"
"Hunter Shin Jeong-woo! A quick interview...!"
The crowd roared, shaking the neighborhood. Amid the din, Segi stirred, trying to open sleepy eyes. Jeong-woo soothed her back, whispering to the drowsy child who couldn't even open her eyes properly.
"It's okay, Segi. Go back to sleep."
"Mmm..."
Step by step, he advanced. The path cleared. Some approached eagerly; others held them back to widen the way. The former were desperate; the latter, greedy and cautious.
Jeong-woo walked silently. Just as he neared the bureau entrance.
"Did you decide to join the bureau?!!!"
A reporter's voice rang out, the most fervent of all. Jeong-woo turned. One question, but everyone craved the answer.
"Sorry, but I turned it down. Everything's still too surreal; I didn't want to decide rashly in this state."
Fwoosh-fwoosh-fwoosh! Flashes burst again, followed by another question.
"Any word on your future plans?!!!"
This answer mattered beyond them. Jeong-woo replied.
"I'll think it over carefully."
To protect Segi. To safeguard her smiling daily life. And to avert the most tragic end he knew. Walking here, he'd pondered nonstop, finally grasping one truth.
"I want to figure out the best choice for my daughter."
He couldn't live swept along. If he held the dominant position here, no need to bend and seem easy. Better to clearly mark what they could and couldn't touch.
"From the awakening moment, now, and always. Protecting this child's future is my top priority. That won't change."
With that, he cut his words short—language twists in interpreters' minds a thousand ways. To third-party viewers, it sounded humble. But to groups desperate for him, it meant something else.
At least, that's how it landed for them: If you want me, bring conditions tempting enough.
"Get home safe, everyone."
Jeong-woo bowed and fully exited the bureau. No one pursued. Only shutter clicks noisily filled the space.
It was the next morning's news.
[Breaking News: Natural S-Rank Confirmed. Hunter Shin Jeong-woo: "I'll Deliberate My Future for My Daughter's Sake."]
[Breaking News: Miracle for 23-Year-Old Single Dad. Vows No Reckless Moves...]
[Breaking News: Hunter Industry Paralyzed. Major Guild Interviews Postponed Indefinitely...]
His few short words exploded into headlines, rocking the nation overnight.
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