Chapter 2 (1/2)

By the time you turn 29, you tend to gain an understanding of why a woman starts a certain conversation.

“You have no drive.”

This meant we were breaking up.

“Drive?”

“Yeah, till when are you going to work part-time at a BBQ place?”

“……”

For starters, Oh Yoo-seong was not working part-time.

He was only working part-time in high school. Even before the first semester of his first year was over, Yoo-seong immediately took a gap year. He then took a full-time job at the restaurant he worked at in high school, learning the bits and ends of the job in a serious fashion.

He was interested in the restaurant business, and all previous owners could’ve vouched for his attention to detail.

“I’ve told you already, I’m going to open up a store. I’m saving up money.”

In reality, Yoo-seong’s bank account was significantly stacked from saving for the last 8 years.

“When? Way past 30? Without ever having been on a vacation to Europe? Even if you were to open then, what would happen would be pretty obvious. What significance does it have?”

“…So what about you?”

“What?”

Ji-young, his girlfriend, was a beautiful woman. She had graduated from a prestigious university, and of course, the company she worked for was even more well known.

But was difference did it have with Yoo-seong?

“I think there’s significance in understanding your strengths and what role you can fulfill with those strengths. It’s important to place meaning in that and live life diligently.”

“Who said otherwise? What I’m talking about is the future….”

“Of course, I fall short if we’re referring to the societal norm of getting a respectable job and gaining achievements. But isn’t talking about my ‘drive’ and ‘future’ pushing it?”

“……!”

Ji-Young’s face turned bright red.

Well, it had ended. Yoo-seong’s girlfriend didn’t enjoy listening to someone talking back.

“The reason I told you my future plans was because you’re an important person to me. But, using that as a point to break up with me makes me feel lousy.”

He had already predicted this farewell for a long time.

Yoo-seong had already noticed Ji-Young’s dissatisfaction with him. However, he had no intention of holding her back. If she wanted to leave, she could.

All he asked was that they didn’t speak about unreasonable things, especially now that they were at the end. They were not dating anymore, and there was no reason to listen to this.

“If it’s because we fell out of love, that things work out better with your parent’s acquaintance’s son, or you’re embarrassed to tell your friends what I’m doing….”

“You sick jerk!”

Ji-Young stood up from her seat.

“Yeah, fine, I’m embarrassed! You stopped going to your sub-par school to wait on tables and change grills! Talking big about saving your wage that isn’t even enough in the first place!”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been stingy in front of you. I worked hard enough.”

“To your standard, you did.”

Ji-Young tried to provoke, but Yoo-seong was unaffected. She was the only one that was worked up.

It was always this way.

She was a woman who thrived off of feeling superior, whether it was schooling, appearances, or family. She would console herself by looking down on others, up until the point where it disturbed her consciousness.

However, Yoo-seong was different.

He was the type that understood his flaws and was honest in walking the path that was right for him. He had no regard for things he couldn’t have.

She was attracted to this, but it didn’t seem to be enough.

“You know something? Whenever I’m with you, I feel like an impatient, good for nothing bitch. A materialistic and greedy bitch!”

“Yeah, you’re proving that to me in real-time.”

“……!”

“Sit, even if you’re going to leave me, we should at least talk about what was wrong. At least we’ll feel better.”

“I’m fine.”

Ji-Young turned around.

“Spend your entire life just changing grills. Exactly like that.”

That was her strongest insult, but Yoo-seong was still indifferent. It only embarrassed herself.

Ji-Young then left the cafe.

It was then that Yoo-seong’s face changed.

“…God-damn bitch.”

Even so, his self-control was only a bit better than hers.

“Fucking bitch! I’d kill her!”

The only person angrier than Yoo-seong was the manager at his work. There was a 6-year difference between the two, but he was a close, older brother. As soon as Yoo-seong told him, he immediately came to pour him a glass.

“So what, like she’s going to marry an heir? Or some professional? What does it matter if she studied abroad? You told me that her family isn’t that well off anyways.”

“She is well off. Both of her parents are professors, and she has a degree from a foreign university.”

“Well…. Um….”

Taking the shot he quietly prepared, Yoo-seong glanced slightly at the bar’s TV.

“And…”

The Hunter’s interview happened to be on.

“As of recent, I’ve been hearing things. Blind date requests to meet a Hunter.”

“Ah…. You said they were trying to do some research.”

Yoo-seong nodded.

In times like these, the profession of a Hunter was enough to eat the other professionals alive. That had been more than a decade ago.

Back when Yoo-seong was a child, the world was thought to be doomed. The sky was full of cracks that had poured out monsters.

However, the world managed to survive.

Even now, the dimension cracked regularly, monsters poured out.

However, humans were able to form an indefectible response method. Not one month had passed since, and scientists were able to predict future cracks.

Now no one was taken aback or afraid when the sirens went off. People were able to evacuate with leisure after reading the mandate from the Police.

And from there, the Hunters appeared.

Only those who had superior and developed bodies could take this job. They hunted these monsters, and created armor from the matter obtained in order to strengthen themselves.

This was every man’s dream.

Despite the high mortality rate, countless people pursued to be a Hunter when the occupation was first institutionalized.