NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2
“What the hell kind of dream was that…”
I woke up as sunlight pierced through my eyelids.
Perhaps because of the unsettling dream, my chest felt heavy. My breath was shallow, and I could feel how much I had sweated—the sheets were damp.
I sat up in bed, and at the same time, I felt a sharp muscle ache spread throughout my body.
I must have slept quite deeply for the first time in a while.
With a long yawn, I shook off the lingering drowsiness.
As I turned my head and scanned the room, the sight of my surroundings came into focus.
“…What is this?”
I couldn’t hide my confusion.
It was a one-room apartment.
To add a bit more detail, it was a tiny 8-pyeong (around 28 square meters) one-room that was probably better suited for pigs than humans.
Of course, this wasn’t my house.
At this size, it wouldn’t even be as big as my bathroom at home.
And this couldn’t be the room of the department head either…
Even if the world were to end, there was no way that woman would let me into her home.
“So then… where am I?”
As I stood up and planted my feet on the floor, my legs wobbled.
I almost collapsed, but I managed to steady myself by grabbing the edge of the desk. Suddenly, the content of the dream I had last night flashed in my mind.
[Your death has been confirmed.]
[Due to your death, the hidden skill acquisition condition has been fulfilled.]
[Hidden Skill: Karma]
The voice I had heard in the dream still echoed clearly in my mind.
‘Your death has been confirmed?’
What the hell, this isn’t some movie.
A laugh escaped my lips naturally.
I rolled my eyes and scanned the unfamiliar room once again.
A creeping sense of unease slowly began to rise.
In a panic, I started looking for the bathroom, pushing through the small apartment.
Until I opened the bathroom door, I still wanted to believe it was just a bad dream.
I could’ve just brushed it off as a crazy dream.
I probably drank until I was completely wasted last night, then passed out at someone’s house, one of my team members’.
That must be it.
No, it had to be.
But when I opened the bathroom door and saw my reflection in the mirror…
I was faced with the unforgiving reality.
“What the…?”
The person in the mirror was undeniably me, but from 10 years ago.
Kim Junwoo, 28 years old.
“System, open.”
Half-dazed, I opened the special system that could only be accessed by those with ‘unique skills’—those who had activated their powers.
A skill appeared in front of my eyes.
[Hidden Skill: Karma]
[View skill effect]
I placed my hand over the system window and pulled up the description.
[Skill acquisition condition: Death]
[Due to this skill’s effect, you have returned to 10 years ago.]
[This skill cannot be deactivated at will.]
“Haha…”
In an instant, my legs gave way again, and I collapsed onto the cold tile floor with a dull thud.
It wasn’t a dream.
I had truly died.
[Due to the effect of this skill, your occupation has been reassigned.]
In disbelief, I shook my head, but my gaze shifted to the window that had appeared below.
‘Damn…’
I couldn’t help but curse under my breath.
At 18, I had become a Hunter, and by the time I turned 28, I had been promoted to rank A.
At that time, my ranking was 22nd in the country and 525th in the world.
So if I had truly returned to 10 years ago, I should still be a Hunter.
A super promising Hunter, one who was the center of media attention.
But…
[Dungeon Janitor]
What the hell is this?
Janitor?
Kim Junwoo, the great Kim Junwoo, a janitor of a dungeon?
[Karma – Unlock Condition]
[Reach the position of Secretary-General of the International Ability Association within 5 years.]
[Upon achieving the goal, the skill will automatically unlock and you will return to just before your death.]
[If you fail, ‘Hunter Kim Junwoo’ will completely vanish.]
[Time Limit: 4 years, 11 months, 29 days, 20 hours, 32 minutes, 48 seconds]
[Close skill effect]
If I succeed, I return to just before my death, and if I fail, I’ll be stuck doing janitorial work and rot away.
That’s the summary of the skill.
“Bullshit.”
This makes no sense.
The International Ability Association.
An international organization that oversees all ability-related associations worldwide.
The Secretary-General of that organization holds more power than the President of the United States.
In short, it’s the highest position of power in the world.
They are elected every five years through an internal vote, but even I, who achieved the world’s first SSS rank, was never even considered as a candidate.
And now, it wants me to rise to that position?
As the world’s number one ranked Hunter?
And in just five years?
“…”
Sorry, but that’s not happening.
Not to mention, it’s impossible.
I don’t even see a reason to follow such absurd conditions.
Fine—
Let’s ignore it.
What do I care about karma or whatever?
If I become the Secretary-General, I can come back to life, right? So, living like a Hunter again seems far more beneficial.
Of course, it won’t be easy as a Hunter, but it’s still a much better option than being a janitor…
[Unique Skill: Demon King – Locked]
[Acquired Skill: Omnipotence – Locked]
[Acquired Skill: Limit Breakthrough – Locked]
[Acquired Skill: Fallen Angel – Locked]
[Acquired Skill: Rolling Paper – Locked]
…
[Acquired Skill: Low Shield – Locked]
“Son of a bitch…”
As I checked the skill window, my hands clenched tightly.
[To unlock existing skills, each condition must be met – View details]
There was nothing more to see.
I closed the skill window and rubbed my face.
A Hunter without abilities?
It’d be more believable if a random dog started speaking human language.
‘Does it mean I’m not allowed to try any tricks…?’
What the hell is going on right now?
What the hell is this damned karma?
[Congratulations! You have acquired a new skill.]
At that moment, the system window in front of me flashed.
At this point, there’s no way this hopeless situation will turn around just because I’ve gained a new skill. Even if it’s an Epic skill.
Still, I couldn’t help but hold on to a sliver of hope.
With a feeling like clinging to a straw at the edge of a cliff, I checked the skill.
[Acquired Passive: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder]
[Effect: Clean, you damn idiot.]
Cling-clang—
My sanity flew out the window, along with the bathroom mirror.
***
The bed in the pigsty.
On top of the bed, my body was thrown carelessly.
I lay there motionless, blinking my eyes like a dead rat.
I died and woke up ten years ago.
In the blink of an eye, I went from being an SSS-rank Hunter to a dungeon janitor, and all my skills from my Hunter days were locked.
My entire life’s achievements, everything I had, were completely erased.
So now, what should I do?
Am I really supposed to do janitorial work?
I still have my pride as an SSS-rank, so I’d rather die than do such a pathetic job.
‘But I can’t live like this forever. I’ll have to go back eventually.’
I muttered to myself, feeling the heat rise in my head.
Why the hell am I even thinking about this?
What the hell is going on?
Is this all because of that damn Hidden Skill, that karma or whatever?
“No, wait.”
Forget the Hidden Skill; the main reason I ended up like this is undoubtedly the people who killed me.
I don’t know who they are, but they’re definitely no ordinary people.
A private guild?
Or maybe some members of the association?
Or perhaps…
Ding-ding-ding—
Ding-ding-ding—
Suddenly, the sound of a ringing bell.
But I couldn’t see the phone, only the sound.
Normally, I’d be annoyed, but right now, I was oddly relieved.
Could it be the team leader?
Or maybe a team member?
Maybe the association president?
It was an absurd hope, but without thinking, I started frantically searching the pigsty for the phone.
During that time, the bell kept ringing, cutting off and ringing again.
When I finally found the phone buried under the mattress, the fourth ring had just started.
An old model, one I almost didn’t use even ten years ago.
The small screen displayed an unsaved number.
“…Hello?”
I cautiously pressed the call button and spoke in a trembling voice.
“Ah, you picked up? Junwoo! It’s me, Park Team Leader!”
“…?”
A boisterous male voice.
Since he knew me, he must have been someone I knew.
I desperately racked my brain, trying to recall team leaders named Park from ten years ago. But no one came to mind.
“Well, the thing is, I was wondering if you’d have trouble coming to work today.”
“…What?”
“It’s already been an hour past the start time. Oh, are you feeling unwell? The last dungeon was a bit tough, wasn’t it?”
“Dungeon…?”
At those words, I let out a brief “Ah.”
It was a word that immediately made it clear where the call was coming from.
The job assigned by Karma was a dungeon janitor.
So, the person calling about work was obviously from the cleaning team.
“Actually, the last dungeon was a bit tough. Today’s not as bad… though, of course, I’m not saying you should force yourself to come.”
“Ah, really! Team Leader! That bastard just left because he was tired, okay?”
At that moment, voices of other people came through the phone.
“This isn’t the first time this’s happened. Just let it go, why do you have to call?”
“Damn, if he couldn’t come, at least let us know! How many people are waiting because of him?”
“Stop and hang up. It’s enough with just us.”
Without realizing it, I let out a hollow laugh.
Even though I looked like this, I was getting chewed out by the dungeon janitor team.
Looks like I really am dead.
“Everyone, quiet down. There might be a reason for this.”
I heard Park Team Leader’s voice scolding his team from the phone.
Interestingly, at his one calm sentence, all the bickering voices fell silent, like magic.
“Anyway, Junwoo, if you’re feeling tired, just rest. Next time, it’d be good if you sent a text beforehand.”
“Ah, I… understand.”
What the hell, who’s comforting who here?
In a situation that made me laugh out loud, I was about to hang up the phone when I heard one last thing.
“Oh, you can text me at this number. Save it under Park Geuntae Team Leader…”
Wait.
What…?
“Name… What did you say?”
“Hm? Ah, you must have forgotten. It’s a hard name to remember. Park Geuntae. Park, Geun, Tae.”
The sound of each syllable being carefully pronounced made my head spin.
In the midst of it all, Team Leader Park kept talking.
“Anyway, take the day off today. If you can come in next time…”
“I’ll go today.”
“…Hm?”
“I’m going to work now.”
Without waiting for a response, I hung up the phone.