Even Today, the Ranker Dreams of Retirement

“Jaljal, you used my cash to buy web novels again, didn’t you?”

[N-No, I didn’t.]

“I’ll give you one last chance to tell the truth. I’m about to check my transaction history…”

[No, no, no! I didn’t buy any this time!]

“Oh?”

Habin’s eyes flashed.

This time?

Did he just say ‘this time’?

“…Caught you red-handed, Kim Jaljal.”

Habin, who was playing a video on her Apple computer, stretched out her leg and firmly stepped on the sword beside her.

Thump!

“Hey, so you used it before? You used my precious cash without saying anything? The money my beloved! Oppa! gave me that I’ve been using so carefully.”

[I-I’m sorry… From now on, I’ll ask for permission every time before reading. But since when did you start calling Hyun Siwoo so affectionately?]

“……”

The class reunion was a lunch appointment.

Habin happily accepted the Yeomdan pork cutlet Chae Jiseok brought, calling it her breakfast, brunch, and appetizer(?) all in one.

Of course, she paid for it meticulously. Chae Jiseok, who somehow ended up eating pork cutlet across from Habin, was dazed by the conversation between Habin and Ahezar.

‘A constellation reading web novels…?’

He wasn’t surprised out of bewilderment. Chae Jiseok grasped the true meaning behind those words and fell into heavy silence.

‘This is really an incredible fact.’

Directly spending cash and reading web novels. It means that ‘Ahezar’ can exert actual ‘physical force’ in this world.

Of course, there are constellations that can accomplish this. Moving objects like a ‘poltergeist’, or speaking in conversational language like ‘Ahezar’.

However, such constellations are all not of high rank. Lower spirits or ghosts can move objects or communicate conversationally because they are small beings that remain ‘here’ rather than ‘there’, but their rank itself is low, so they are weak. They’re beings too insignificant to even be classified as constellations.

Truly strong constellations exist on an entirely different dimension.

Because of this, the higher the rank of a constellation, the more restrictions it has.

Even conversation is limited to indirect messages.

[The constellation ‘Nearest Light’ expresses frustration.]

Just like this.

For ‘Nearest Light’, one of the strongest constellations, indirect messages are all it can do. No, there are constellations that can’t even send messages like this.

But the level of Ahezar that Chae Jiseok confirmed even using his precognition ability was… a tremendous rank that resulted in unclassifiable and skill failure.

A constellation of incredibly high rank, yet capable of both direct physical force and conversation?

“Such a thing is… really unprecedented.”

There was a brief suspicion that ‘Neaiba’ of ‘Fides’, the world’s #1 ranked, might be of this kind, but it remained just a suspicion.

‘But this one is real.’

Chae Jiseok glanced seriously at Ahezar. Scolded for using cash, Ahezar was dejectedly flipping through a book borrowed from the training institute library.

The sight of pages turning by themselves in front of the sword without any interaction.

‘This… if this became known to the world, the repercussions would be no joke.’

Of course, every aspect of Habin was like that to begin with.

Chae Jiseok kept his mouth shut for now, thinking he should keep the secret as promised.

[Oh, this is a very interesting book. How did the humans here know all this in advance?]

While Chae Jiseok was surprised, Ahezar was once again admiring the book he was reading.

The book borrowed from the training institute was a paperback of a Hunter web novel. He had begged and pleaded with Habin to borrow these.

Strangely, Ahezar didn’t properly share Habin’s memories. So it took him particularly long to grasp this world’s customs and environment.

To bridge this gap, Ahezar was diligently watching videos with Habin and borrowing books to read.

[Everything was interesting, but…]

Among them, the most surprising was definitely…

Hunter stories!

Gates opening, Hunters appearing to fight, stories exactly the same as the current situation. However, they were clearly creative works published before the Gate incident occurred.

[How on earth did so many people accurately predict this situation?]

Ahezar muttered sincerely. Hearing this, Chae Jiseok answered on his behalf.

“Indeed. When the Gate incident first occurred, everyone was in an uproar saying that Hunter genre works had come to life.”

Jiseok turned his head as if recalling the past.

After the Gate incident, Hunter stories literally became hot bestsellers. Experts from every country came forward and proclaimed:

‘We must learn from Hunter stories! This is… almost like a prophecy of our situation!’

The world rushed to translate and import Korean Hunter web novels. Thanks to this, web novel platforms like KakaoPage experienced a truly global boom.

The best-selling Korean Hunter story even went on to break the Guinness World Record for most-sold e-book worldwide.

-[Exclusive] Korea’s Books of Prophecy! How Far Did They Foresee?

-[Today’s International News] International Conference Agrees to Establish Hunter Association Based on Hunter Stories…

The Korean economy, which had been reeling from the Gate incident, ironically half-revived thanks to Hunter story exports.

-[Interview] President’s Luncheon Remarks ‘Hunter Stories Save the Country’… Netizen Reactions, ‘Is This Real?’

Even now, Hunter stories were considered essential reading worldwide. To the extent that Hunter web novels were stocked in training institute libraries as major textbooks.

[Yes. It was very informative.]

“Yeah, yeah, I can understand Jaljal reading Hunter stories. It’s a global essential textbook after all. So.”

Habin, who had been checking the cash payment history, interjected in a warm voice.

“But…”

“But?”

“Why did you read romance fantasy?”

[……]

“……”

Silence.

A following chilly silence.

Habin continued in her still gentle voice.

“I… could understand if it was modern fantasy or contemporary romance. I’d accept that Jaljal was curious about modern social life or human relationships. Right?”

Habin nodded with a benevolent face.

“But… romance fantasy?”

[……]

“Romance fantasy isn’t even for understanding our world, huh? These are even authentic romance fantasies! ‘I Quit Taming the Emperor. Subtitle: This Is Not Something Humans Should Do.’ What is this? Why did you read this work so many times…?”

[W-Well, ahem.]

Clearing his throat as if caught, Ahezar hesitantly confessed truthfully.

[…The background reminded me of where I used to live in the past…]

It was an incredibly sad and pitiful voice. He must be recalling memories of Aurayden.

‘Past?’

Chae Jiseok flinched.

And Habin beside him widened her eyes slightly as if taken aback.

“Jaljal, don’t tell me you…”

[……]

“Are you a baby?”

[……]

“Hey, why would you… Hey, I’m sorry… If that’s the reason, read all the romance fantasy you want… I can spend a few ten thousand won a month for you.”

Habin’s attitude softened at this unexpected situation. As if she sincerely wanted to apologize, Habin removed her foot that had been stepping on the sword and patted it.

Pat pat.

[……]

“Um… I don’t know the circumstances well, but… cheer up. If you’re really desperate, I’ll even lend you my account.”

Chae Jiseok, who was nearby, also joined in comforting Ahezar. Pat pat.

A warm atmosphere of consolation spread through the small room.

[S-Still, I’ll make sure to ask permission before reading from now on.]

Ahezar promised in a tearful voice.

◆◇◆◇◆

Year 1 Class 7 Reunion.

It’s already the fifth year of gathering, but the meeting place was always the same.

A barbecue restaurant near the school. It was a favored spot because it had a self-serve refill bar with fried eggs, ramen, and kimchi pancakes.

No matter that five years had passed, they were still just college students in their early 20s at best.

Living on allowances from parents or part-time job wages, they had no choice but to consider cost-effectiveness.

While many attendees including Habin hadn’t arrived yet, those who came early exchanged greetings.

The class president opened her mouth.

“How have you all been doing?”

“Been doing well.”

“You went to engineering school, right? Do you see a path to employment?”

“Employment? Ha… Engineering jobs have died down a lot since the Gates appeared.”

“I’m in pharmacy school but thinking of dropping out.”

A guy sitting in the corner sighed. He had reluctantly entered pharmacy school at his parents’ urging, but these days, with the era of potions, the status of pharmacy schools had greatly diminished.

A friend beside him patted his shoulder.

“Hey, you think you’re the only one? I worked my bones off to get into medical school, but now Healers are taking our jobs.”

Laughter erupted from here and there.

“My goodness. To think the day would come when medical and pharmacy students worry about employment.”

“What about liberal arts? Are liberal arts okay?”

“We’re doomed. I’m researching how to fry chicken. Even if it becomes a world of Hunters, people will still order chicken.”

“The Chicken God is eternal.”

A liberal arts student with a calm expression smiled.

“I’ll fry chicken with my philosophy infused!”

“Is that why you double majored in philosophy…”

“I’ll make tteokbokki infused with psychology. Let’s start a business together.”

A boisterous drinking party. Soju glasses clinked with a cheers. Only the architecture student among them wore a contented smile.

“Haha, our job prospects are rock solid! They say a lot of new buildings are being built these days.”

“That’s because monsters are destroying them all! You shouldn’t be happy about that!”

“Have you ever seen such a selfish bastard?”

Some of the others playfully slapped the architecture student’s back.

“But still…”

Amidst the chatter, someone threw out a comment.

“Still, Hunters earn the most these days.”

“……”

A brief silence fell. Everyone looked at the person who spoke with a hint of envy in their eyes.

Park Minsu.

The only Hunter in Year 1 Class 7 besides Kang Taeseo.

Minsu, who awakened not long after the Gate incident, was still going strong these days. He attended every class reunion without fail to show off his wealth and success.

The classmates’ reactions to him were,

‘Did he just brag with his own mouth that Hunters are doing the best?’

‘He’s nothing compared to Kang Taeseo.’

‘It’s true that Hunters are doing the best, but… Ugh, this guy’s only C-rank. It’s more irritating because he’s actually doing well.’

“That’s right, Minsu, how are you living these days?”

Treasurer An Sewon asked. Minsu excitedly spoke as if he had been waiting for this question.

“Oh, I applied for an experienced position at Solaris this time…”

“Solaris!”

“Gasp, really Solaris?”

“The one we’ve only heard about…”

The table was full of shock and commotion.

Solaris, the divine workplace everyone dreams of. Even for non-awakened, it was an aspired company where getting an office job was a dream. Another student quickly asked.

“Hey, so did you get in?”

“Well, the results aren’t out yet, but…”

Minsu trailed off. He wasn’t confident about passing, but he was just showing off needlessly. He even carefully laid the groundwork in case he didn’t make it.

“I’m thinking I might not go even if I pass. Well, you know.”

“I see. Good for you.”

“Yeah, man, that’s great.”

Minsu basked in the envious gazes around him. Perhaps excited, he threw out a comment he wouldn’t normally make.

“…Ah, come on guys. Don’t worry too much even if you can’t get a job. You know, these days, countless people have dropped out or couldn’t even go to college because of the Gates.”

The moment those words came out, his classmates naturally thought of one person.

The only one who reportedly didn’t even graduate high school, except for Kang Taeseo.

“…Was it Habin? How’s she living these days?”

“Is she still doing part-time jobs?”

“I don’t know, we can’t get in touch with her.”

“Wasn’t she studying a bit before the Gates? I thought she’d do well later.”

Murmurs mixed with subtle pity and regret. There were some who genuinely worried, but also some who felt a slight sense of superiority.

Hearing this, An Sewon raised her head as if remembering something.

“Hey, but this time…”

Habin said she was coming too.

Just as she thought this, a cheerful voice was heard from the table near the entrance.

“Hello?”

“……”

Sewon turned her head in that direction. Casually dried, messy straight hair and a neatly worn casual hoodie.

It was a face unchanged despite not having seen it for a long time.

It was Hyun Habin.

Habin, still standing there, raised one hand.

“Long time no see.”

“Hyun Habin!”

“Habin?”

“Is that Habin?”

“……”

Habin acknowledged the countless surprised gazes with a wave of her hand, then smoothly sat down in a corner seat. Then she asked the friend next to her with a rather serious face.

“Is there any meat left?”

“…Oh, we ordered one more round.”

“Nice timing.”