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The installation is complete.

Thank you very much![1]

Finally, the pen for Peace was finished. I looked at Peaces new house with a pointlessly proud heart.

It had clean glass walls, air purification facilities and hot and cold rooms, and even a hardwood shelter, so rather than a beast pen, it seemed like a high-class smoking room. Thanks to taking up about half of the living room, it was incredibly large. If it was that much, it wouldnt be stifling even when he was alone.

Besides the pen, the inner door of the entrance was changed to a sturdier one. The whole glass in the living room was originally specially made glass so they said it would be okay.

As soon as the preparation was complete, I went straight to Yoohyuns greenhouse and brought Peace over. When I lowered him onto the living room, he was only awkward about the unfamiliar surroundings for a short moment, and soon started to explore, twitching the end of his nose.

You cant bite the wires.

Though the wiring was very tidy, so there were barely any exposed parts.

Later, an ahjussi is coming so dont bite him.

Yoo Myeongwoo had gone to his house to bring over his things. He was about the size of a cat, but Peace was at the level of a stat C-Rank and Myeongwoo was F-Rank so if the two fought, Yoo Myeongwoo would be KOd[2] right away. I should be careful to make sure the two werent alone together in one place.

-Geureureung!

Peace, who had continued on from the living room to inspect the kitchen, came over to my feet as if pleased and sprawled out on his back. As soon as I picked up that purring[3] thing, he clung on immediately as if he was just waiting to.

Our Peace, how are you so cute.

How would I be able to starve him? Still, I couldnt not promote his growth. Should I teach him Korean?

Carrying Peace, I went to sit on the sofa and turned on the TV. Light came on from the fairly large television hanging on the wall and a special broadcast came on. The backdrop was none other than the Hunter Association.

The reporter was loudly chattering about how a new Korean S-Rank Awakened Person would soon appear.

Yerim must have gone to register as an Awakened Person.

It was only just noon, she went early. Soon after, the camera zoomed into a car coming into the Association parking lot. The car stopped and Haeyeon Guild A-Rank Hunter Kim Jiyeon came out of the drivers seat. Then, Yerim also appeared on the camera.

She was sullen that I wouldnt be coming with but she looks fine.

Or was it because they did something for the screen? It was really great to see the expression overflowing with confidence.

All the way to the Association building and to the high rank measuring room, the camera persistently followed her from behind. Yerims attitude while doing an interview before being measured was extremely natural to the point that it seemed like she was skilled at it. She was doing well.

Peace, look at that. Its Yerim noona[4]. Youll see that noona often from now on.

I said, grabbing Peaces two front legs and waving them. The noona you have to be friendly with wait, was noona right?

What was Peaces sex again?

I didnt check if he was female or male. I didnt hear anything from Yoohyun either. When I looked down at Peaces face, two round golden eyes looked back at me. Cute.

I couldnt tell from his appearance.

Hm Should I check really quick?

Id probably know if I turn him upside down.

Peace, be good~. Lets lie down for a bit.

I lowered him to the sofa and lightly rolled him over. Peace, maybe thinking that we were playing, didnt really protest and wagged his tail. Lets see, this is the anus and um uh

Its not there.

He had neither. What. Was it stored away? Did mammals also have stored forms? Of course, he was a monster so you couldnt expect normal common sense.

Well, whatever.

Whether he was female or male, as long as he grew up strong and well, that was all that mattered. The small front paws grabbed my hand and chewed[5] painlessly. In response, I scratched the soft mane at his nape and stood up from my seat.

Now, I should slowly prepare to arrange my life funds.

-Keeahng

As soon as I moved to the room, Peace whined and quickly followed. I had no choice but to hold that guy, and turned on the computer.

I had dropped by the bank in the morning, and had completely organized my bankbook and even opened a new account for stocks. It should be okay if I left about 10 million won to use for the time being and invested the rest. I was thinking of first buying the pharmaceutical stocks that would be wildly successful in two months, and then placing the increased money here and there in places that would definitely be a hit.

There was no way that the future would be 100% the same so it would be better to divide up.

The hair loss remedy would be developed properly, right?

It was after just two months so it probably wouldnt change.

After putting out the money, I browsed the portal site. There was a commotion everywhere from the appearance of a new S-Rank. Amongst that, there were also trash journalists who were writing novels about Yerims deceased parents. These crazy bastards. I quickly made a PDF and reported it to the Haeyeon Guild public relations team.

-Keureueu

Since I was working at the computer[6] for a long time, Peace started to complain. As soon as I took my hand off the mouse in appeasement, scarily,

Pajik!

The small front paws smashed the mouse flat as if catching a cockroach. Our Peace, you mustve been bored.

Even if you are bored, you cant break things like this. Dad[7] is going to be poor for a while.

Zero living expenses and 300[8] monthly wasnt a small sum of money, but just in case, I had to be thrifty. Since it was a sum that would be half gone if I went into a dungeon. And I could only go into a low ranking dungeon at that. Other than that, situations where I needed money could occur any time.

A mouse wouldnt be much, but the computer and cell phone are prohibited. Its expensive to buy new things that are usable.

-Gyareureung

At the words said in an accusatory tone, Peace quick-wittedly acted cute. He licked my hand and playfully swished his tail. Watching this, I wondered if he would quickly understand even words like I love you. It would be great if I could successfully apply the keyword without starving the poor kid.

I went to the kitchen, and fed Peace and also ate my own lunch. Even though Yoo Myeongwoo hadnt cooked before, he made pretty decent side dishes[9]. Was it thanks to his basic hand skills? After one to two months or so, he might unexpectedly become first rate.

[Bak Yerim-yangs initial skills are three in total, and among those, one is as much as SS-Rank.]

The small television in the kitchen continued showing the broadcast on Yerim. During that time, the rank measuring must have finished, because there was Birth of the 8th S-Rank Combat Hunter in large captions. It was enthusiastically explained that because of this, we would catch up with China and become world best relative to per area and the citizens safety blah blah.

China around now had nine S-Ranks and Japan had five. But China didnt do registration and had many S-Ranks who hid their identity. Who would want their families to be taken hostage and want to be tied to the government?

In the end, S-Rank were obvious, and even A-Rank and lower Hunters escaped to foreign countries one by one, and so after 4 years, China lost the ability to manage high ranking dungeons.

Wait, theyre people whore going to leave China anyways, so should I steal some Hunters away?

Within a half year, Awakening Centers would appear so I didnt even need to Awaken them one by one. If they were combat Hunters, even if I didnt use the Seed-Leaf skill and they Awakened at the Center, it would be close to optimization more or less. If I brought the futures A~S-Rank combat Hunters and their families into the country, then my job would be done.

If its a half year later, my pockets would have gotten fuller as I stole away several people, and if I just Awaken A-Ranks and higher, the country or guild would probably figure out the other procedures on their own.

There was definitely one A-Rank healer. It would be perfect if I put them in Haeyeon. The government and guilds could discuss and divide up the rest.

Eh[10], since its the same thing as helping people who would suffer instead of using my skills.

I didnt even have to directly put myself forward, and only had to hire some brokers. Other countries also took away Chinese Hunters in that way. Later, as the surveillance got worse, it became bloody, not figuratively but for real.

It was definitely a brutal neighborhood.

In the first place, it was normal that you went into dungeons risking your life, so it was definitely a matter of course. Still, for a full-blown war to start, there was still about three years left. The number of dungeons increased, and monsters that were impossible to deal with like Lauchtas burst out, and there werent enough high-ranking Hunters, so as S-Rank dungeons began to burst open, it became really brutal.

At that, Korea was on the peaceful side compared to foreign countries.

However, if I searched the entire world diligently and regularly discovered one S-Rank per month, and took in and raised A~B-Ranks that didnt Awake optimally.

If I did that, the future might change into a considerably more positive direction, but.

Ehh, is there any need to worry about other countries as well? Lets just end with adding several to Korea.

Doing what with my condition. Amazing and high up people would probably do well on their own. Even 5 years later, it was just a bit tough to live; it wasnt to the point of being wretched.

I draped Peace on my shoulders and cleared the dining table. I didnt have anything to do right now; it felt like the weekend even though it was Monday. It would be great if it was always like this from now on.

Just then, I heard a text alert from my cell phone. It was Kim Sunghan.

[Since the novice Hunter training starts tomorrow, I will buy alcohol today if it is alright with you.]

Well, the first day would be theory class but starting from the second day, it would double up with practice so it wouldnt do to drink alcohol the day before that. Though I was someone with over 4 years of field experience, I couldnt reveal that.

Should I say the keyword or not?

Lets decide after getting a little drunk. If it seemed doable, then I would spit it out, and if not, then I wouldnt.

[Yes. Please contact me in the evening. It would be great if it was shop with an easygoing atmosphere.]

There would be people who recognize him sometimes so it would be annoying for Kim Sunghan, but I didnt want to go somewhere where you had to wear a tie because it would be stuffy. And it wouldnt be an atmosphere for saying the keyword.

If it was a boisterous place where you passed around drinks, nonsense like I love you would quickly get covered up.

[I understand.]

Shortly, the reply came. Speaking of, was HunTalk[11] not created yet? The actual name had been H-Talk but everyone had called it HunTalk and it was a messenger exclusively for Hunters. Lower ranking Hunters without fixed parties had used it to gather a party to go into a dungeon. Though I wouldnt need to use it now.

I should buy stocks for HunTalk too. Where was it created again?

Yoo Myeongwoo came back and there was a short fuss, but our smart Peace quickly distinguished between things he could eat and things he couldnt eat. He didnt leave a single bite mark on Yoo Myeongwoo.

Actually there was exactly one left. Still, there wasnt blood and left only a slight imprint, so just that much was commendable.

My[12] kid must be a genius.

Then, there was a little trouble too with Yerim, who had returned late in the afternoon. The cat is so cute! rang out about thrity times and Peace threw a fit and scratched my shoulder. Our poor Peace.

I kicked out and sent Yerim back to her house and arranged a soft place to sleep for stressed-out Peace, and then Kim Sunghan contacted me.

Im going out, so dont open Peaces pen, and stop Yerim from coming over.

At my words, Yoo Myeongwoos complexion turned pale.

M-me?

Shes also a person you can get through to with words. Dont be so afraid.

Youll have to deal with a lot of S-Ranks from now on, so you should get used to it while youre at it. Not to mention, youre going to be the boss[13], punk. Dont get scared.

I thumped Yoo Myeongwoos drooping shoulders, and went down to the parking lot where Kim Sunghan would be waiting.

The place where we arrived was a bustling street not that far from Haeyeon Guild.

Here?

Slightly flustered, I stared at the pub, the sparkling sign that Kim Sunghan guided us to. This was too, that is too young kids in their 20s, and early to mid at that, werent they the target? Kids that seemed like college students were going in and out. Just what did you think of me

But thinking of it, I was actually in my mid 20s. My age kept on slipping my mind.

But even when I was in my early 20s, I ate pork belly and soju with factory ahjussis. It was my first at such a light, lively, fresh place. It was colorful. And what was the hunting[14] written on the banner? Was it a club? The music spilling out gave that kind of feel too

No matter what, this didnt seem right. This atmosphere wasnt right.

I didnt know places like this so I received a recommendation from a different Hunter.

Kim Sunghan said. Recommendation a recommendation it did look popular.

Whose recommendation was it?

It was Kim Minee, a B-Rank Hunter. He is a college student who is three years younger than Han Yoojin-ssi. He said this place is a fairly popular[15] and easygoing place around here.

No, I didnt mean easygoing as in a students standard of easygoing

Student Minee doing Hunter work on top of studying must make him busy, but it seems like hes familiar with recent popular places.

If he wasnt a Hunter, he would have been expelled.

Kim Minee-gun[16] must have played a lot. If he was a guild-affiliated B-Rank Hunter, they would have considered him as someone who found a job already and tolerated a lot, but that he was on the verge of expulsion did he not go to school at all?

And speaking of, I remembered that Yoohyun also was specially admitted into a school and had an attendance rate of zero. Yerim didnt have a reason to go to school anymore, too.

C-Rank and higher minors were moved to an Awakened Person special school for safety or were homeschooled. Since it was dangerous in various ways if you placed super youth at a tough age, who teachers couldnt block with their strength, with their weak peers.

Lets go inside.

Kim Sunghan said, as if there was nothing wrong. I at least had a face that was in its 20s but you were in your 30s? Not to mention, with a stiff frown and a serious appearance adding five to six years at face value werent you uncomfortable? No matter how you looked at it, he didnt look like a customer, and seemed like an uncle who came to find his indecent nephew.

And he had on sunglasses that didnt fit the time, to cover his face, so he also looked like a thug that came to collect money Look there, the kids passing by are glancing over nervously.

Youre not coming in?

He asked, turning to look at me, who was mumbling. Ahjussi. I mean, I didnt actually have a problem. It was just a little awkward, but I was in my twenties. If I had gone to college normally, I would have gone to places like this.

Im going.

I swallowed dryly and moved. I guess trying out one of these places would be good. And enjoy my youth since Ive regressed

[1] this is that youve worked hard polite phrase thats come up prev times. In this case, it makes more sense in eng to tl to thank you.

[2] the raws literally said KO in eng

[3] lit. going gareung which might not exactly be purring, idk, but it seemed close

[4] noona is like hyung but its what boys call their older sisters or close female friends who are older.

[5] means bite (like) ahng ahng where ahng is an onomotopeia word that is used when playfully biting. Since the word is repeated, its likely implying that Peace is biting several times, hence chewing

[6] lit. do mouse-action as in computer mouse

[7] hes refering to himself, in case that wasnt obvious

[8] probably 3 mil won (as in 300 ten-thousand since krn counts in 4 digits)

[9] usually, a meal consists of rice, soup, and various banchan (what I tld as side dishes)

[10] actually its lit. [main sentence], what but this conveys the meaning better in eng

[11] kakaotalk (abbreviated to katalk) is a chatting/messaging app in korea, so thats probably whats being referenced.

[12] actually our but idk using our kid sounded more off than our Peace (which I left as is) so I switched it to my

[13] the word used here is one that is used when talking about people/groups, in the way someone might say person A, person B, etc. in eng, where in this case, this word is the equiv to A. Since it comes first, theres a connotation of being better/more powerful, having higher priority. So its also a way of saying someone that has a lot of power.

[14] this is the eng word transliterated into krn, again as konglish slang, meaning pick up/hit on

[15] lit. be hot w hot being the eng word transliterated, meaning a metaphorical meaning of hot. I thought popular sounded more colloquial in eng since no one really uses hot except to describe an attractive person

[16] pronounced goon from the chn/hanja . Equiv. to mister/mr. for young men, corresponding to yang