Chapter 1: Hunter Collaboration

The times had changed drastically.

Once boasting of their prowess to tear apart monsters and eradicating supernatural criminals without a shred of mercy, Hunters were now a rare sight.

The new era of peace didn’t yearn for such brutality.

And openly flaunting a rough demeanor made it a struggle to survive in this society.

With the frequency of monster appearances now plummeting to a point where Gates were considered urban legends, the profession of a Hunter has become similar to that of a celebrity or influencer.

The reason why powerful Hunters no longer brandish their overwhelming force upon the populace is simple.

They, too, embraced the prevailing peace wholeheartedly.

They could feel the gradual regression of their Supernatural Abilities as the frequency of Gate occurrences neared extinction, forcing them to accept the reality that their hardened bodies were reverting to ordinary forms.

Thus, Hunters willingly changed, shedding their arrogance.

To maintain their standing and fame, they appeared on variety shows, posed for pictorials, sold autobiographies, and even launched channels to upload videos.

The current era was such that even the notoriously stoic Hunter Association President moonlighted as a trot singer.

Meanwhile, I…

As a fellow Hunter, I was genuinely impressed by their actions.

There was no need to point fingers or criticize their perceived shamelessness.

I honestly admired their courage in swiftly accepting reality and readily challenging themselves in new fields.

In the present, where the threat of Monsters had vanished and Supernatural Abilities were gradually dissipating, only those who were quick to embrace the plummeting value and status of Hunters could retain their accumulated wealth.

The Hunters who discarded their pride and fearlessly ventured into new territories were simply the first to recognize this truth.

However…

I, ‘Lee Rohan,’ was one who foresaw the future but refrained from reaching out to the rapidly changing tide.

I was just one of the Hunters consistently contributing to maintaining peace.

Ding!

“Hmm?”

As if urging me to plunge myself back into this swirling world, a message arrived as I sat at my computer after work.

A familiar company name and a familiar nickname.

Clutching my Smartphone, I bolted upright from my chair.

Sunday Games!?

A company familiar to anyone who dabbled in subculture games.

The very company responsible for enriching my leisure time and emptying my wallet.

This unexpected message from them prompted me to rub my eyes and repeatedly double-check the official account marker.

I scanned and read each character of the lengthy message meticulously.

Reality set in. A chuckle escaped my lips.

A mix of inexpressible emotions surged within me, causing a feverish excitement.

“No way, is this…?”

Like any true Korean, I blurted out “No” before attempting to process the unbelievable information.

In essence, my SNS posts about enjoying Sunday Games’ ‘Abyss City’ had triggered this.

They extended a sweet offer, proposing to create a new character based on me.

Me, as a game character?

Considering the company’s experience, I knew that collaborations with real individuals were high-risk events for gacha games.

They must be aware of this.

So why? Wouldn’t it make more sense to collaborate with an idol?

Besides, with so many attractive Hunters out there, why me?

Various speculations and assumptions bubbled up in my mind.

Who on earth made this insane decision to model a character after an unknown male Hunter?

And wasn’t this a game with a predominantly male player base compared to females? I could vividly picture the gamers showering them with complaints, questioning who the hell was this guy and lamenting another male character pickup.

But still!

Regardless!

Which gamer could refuse an offer to become a character in their favorite game?

No matter their intentions, it was a tempting proposition worth exploring.

“Hmm!”

I replied immediately, expressing my eagerness to cooperate.

…

…

How long had it been since I began collaborating with the game company?

Until today, I’d obediently followed the instructions of the game company staff.

Last week, I spent the entire day repeating the motions of wielding a sword while wearing a strange outfit.

And today, I was told they would be filming a making-of film, followed by an interview for the official broadcast.

I actually made it this far.

I moistened my dry throat with coffee.

As I fiddled with my Smartphone while sipping through the straw, a voice called out to me.

“Hunter-nim! We’re ready to film!”

“Ah, I’m coming!”

I squeezed past the cameras and sat in the empty chair.

The female host, whom I’d only seen on the Sunday Games’ official broadcasts, sat next to me, making my fanboy heart flutter.

“This isn’t a formal interview, so you can just think of it as a casual conversation and answer comfortably.”

“Understood. I look forward to it.”

As someone who never missed an update broadcast, the current situation itself felt surreal.

Even more so than facing a prominent Hunter.

The host straightened her posture, flipped through her cue cards, and cleared her throat with a hmm.

After receiving a signal from the camera crew, she whispered to me that they were about to start, then put on a bright smile and spoke in a cheerful voice.

“With tensions reaching a peak in Academy City, many cadets are anticipating how the story will progress! The new winds and conflicts that will sweep through Academy City are…!”

Her resonant voice, filled with a mix of emotions, continued.

The host read the script without a single mistake.

I awkwardly fiddled with the microphone, nodding along beside her.

“First, let’s introduce the special guest sitting next to me. As some of you may have already guessed…”

After finishing her introduction of me and a monologue lasting over a minute, the host…

Turned her gaze towards me, clearly signaling her intention to ask a question.

“Hunter Lee Rohan-nim, I have a personal question! There’s a rumor that a Hunter’s Dynamic Visual Acuity allows them to never miss a parry against any boss. Is that true?”

“Hunters definitely have an advantage in that regard. In fact, I actually play with all assists turned off.”

“Wow! So you’ve cleared all the combat Achievements?”

“Not quite. I tend to focus on only raising and playing the characters I’m attached to, so there are quite a few missing.”

After exchanging a few words, my nervousness gradually began to subside.

I felt it was thanks to the host’s gentle consideration.

After some small talk…

As the cue card flipped, a new question came.

“Hunter-nim, what is the unique charm of Abyss City from your perspective?”

Having prepared for this question the day before after receiving the script, I was able to answer without hesitation.

“I became a Hunter at a young age, as such I didn’t have a proper school life. It would be a lie to say I don’t have any fantasies about those days. Fulfilling that aspect is the biggest charm for me.”

“Ah! Abyss City definitely emphasizes the coziness of everyday life, not just action!”

This was a point of contention among gamers.

I preferred the daily life parts, like part-time jobs, over combat.

“Yes. I always imagined that a school made exclusively for Hunters would be similar to this… Plus, I’m a big fan of open worlds, so I enjoy just exploring the map.”

“In that case…!”

The lighthearted Q&A continued, though I doubted its usability in the final video.

The host quickly exchanged glances with the camera crew and, contrary to my worries, gave a satisfied look and signaled the end.

“The pickup for ‘Rohan,’ modeled after Hunter Lee Rohan, will run for a month starting June 2nd! Additionally, we’ll be updating with a new story and various Quests, so please look forward to it!”

“I’ll be looking forward to it!”

We stood up together, bowed, and clapped to conclude.

Seeing the cameras all point towards the ceiling, I exchanged farewells with the host.

“Hunter Lee Rohan-nim, thank you for your time!”

“Thank you as well.”

“You’ll definitely pull for your character, right?”

“I’ll have to max him out regardless of his stats. I believe I’ll be returning the money I received for this pretty quickly.”

She giggled, saying she would have done the same.

After a brief conversation and a vague promise to see each other again…

I headed towards the corner where I’d left my bag.

‘Next is voice recording, right?’

I wondered what Skills and story my character would have.

Reflecting on the time and conversations we’d had, it hit me once more.

I was being released as a character in my favorite game.

Frankly, I didn’t even want the money. I was in a position where I wanted to pay them.

What kind of stroke of luck is this?

It was now guaranteed that a highlight reel of my awesome gameplay during my lifetime would be played at my funeral.

I should stock up on upgrade materials as soon as I get home.

Lost in happy thoughts, I picked up my bag from the floor and straightened up. Then…

A female staff member with a lanyard around her neck approached me, her eyes sparkling.

“Hunter-nim! Hunter-nim!”

“Yes?”

“Before you go, would you please accept this?”

“What is this?”

She handed me a plain, unmarked box.

It was about the same size as the box my Smartphone came in.

“The CEO is a huge fan of Hunter Lee Rohan and wanted to give you a gift.”

Her words made me question my hearing.

I blinked and asked, “The CEO of Sunday Games…?”

“Yes! He really wanted to come today, but he was too busy, so he asked me to deliver it instead. He was really disappointed!”

Was this some kind of lip service?

I found it hard to react.

Isn’t the CEO Japanese?

Seeing my bewildered expression, she continued her explanation in a lighter tone, as if she had just remembered something.

“I don’t know the details, but the CEO mentioned he was once chased by Monsters and received help. Where was it again? He said it was a department store somewhere in Apgujeong.”

“!”

The fog in my mind suddenly cleared.

Lee Rohan was briefly lost in the past.

Apgujeong.

The time when a massive Gate opened there, turning the place into literal hell.

I remembered being dispatched to evacuate and rescue civilians.

I also vividly recalled entering the department store while slashing through hordes of lesser Monsters.

Is that why they gave me this job…?

This happened occasionally.

A time I’d spent running around frantically, barely remembering who was there, had been a lifeline and salvation for someone else.

I’d received numerous thank-you letters from people who considered me their lifesaver, but this was the first time I’d received such a grand gift.

“Huu.”

With understanding came a sense of relief, and I exhaled deeply.

Looking at her, I asked, “Can I open it?”

“Of course.”

Click! I opened the box to find a rectangular card inside.

An object familiar to any Abyss City player.

I couldn’t stop the corners of my mouth from turning upwards.

Is this my picture? I look so young.

Looking at the name confirmed it.

An Academy City student ID card merchandise for ‘Rohan,’ the character modeled after me.

It was the best gift.

I should express my gratitude again.

With that thought, I looked up from the student ID card, and…

“…?”

The woman with the lanyard was gone.

I wasn’t even in the studio anymore.

“Huh?”

A new world unfolded before my eyes.