When he opened his eyes again, he was in a hospital.

 

K-Hunter survives even in the notorious popup dungeon!

 

What happened to those who escaped the popup dungeon for the first time in the world? Exclusive interview revealed!

 

Currently tallied popup dungeon victims: 1,314, with only 26 deaths… A record low!

 

8 hours of breathtaking survival struggle! What were the strategic points of the survivors who led the dungeon conquest?

 

A full day had already passed, and public attention was focused on the survivors. It was an unprecedented situation where not only were there survivors from a popup dungeon for the first time, but the casualties were also remarkably few. Naturally, the media’s interest poured in.

 

South Korea becomes a country with an S-rank healer!

 

Who are the only two S-rank healers in the world?

 

The 7th S-rank hunter born in Korea! Enters top 20 in OECD S-rank possession ranking.

 

S-rank healer Ryu Seo-ha, from Chinatown survivor to popup dungeon survivor.

 

Becomes a hero right after awakener registration! Ryu Seo-ha fan cafe also established…

 

Taepyeong Elementary School principal: “Ryu Seo-ha was an exemplary honor student”

 

Ryu Seo-ha, living and working from age 15 while staying at public bathhouses?

 

In the process of investigating the cause, Ryu Seo-ha’s personal information was revealed and his achievements were widely known. Even his past, uncovered without consent, was being treated as gossip in all kinds of news.

 

Name: Ryu Seo-ha

Level: 3

Status: Remaining lifespan 27 days 19 hours 13 minutes / Waiting to receive rewards

Trait: Sanctification

Stats: Strength 1 / Agility 1 / Vitality 1 / Sense 1 / Mana 215

Skill: Light of Healing Lv1

Points: 2

 

However, Ryu Seo-ha, who had become the focus of media spotlight, had no capacity to pay attention to the commotion outside. Sitting on the hospital bed, he stared intently at his status window. Like someone facing an unprecedented mystery.

 

Thanks to solo hunting an A-rank monster, his level rose two steps at once, along with acquired points and unreceived rewards. Except for the abnormally high mana stat and remaining lifespan part, it looked like an ordinary status window.

 

Error! Cannot use points on mana stat.

 

The problem was the system message that popped up when he tried to invest points in mana. Not being able to use stat points to raise stats? Does that make any sense? It was a completely unheard-of situation.

 

Error! Cannot use points on mana stat.

 

It was the same no matter how many times he tried. He felt deflated. What was the initial reason for trying to conquer the dungeon? Though the focus had shifted towards the elixir now, he hadn’t completely given up on increasing mana through leveling up.

 

“Don’t worry, we’re strictly controlling journalists’ access.”

 

As he was about to try once more, unable to let go of any possible chance, a man in his 50s with neatly combed thin hair suddenly spoke. It was Hwang Munseok, the first director of the Awakened Management Bureau of the Disaster Management Agency.

 

“Ah.”

 

“We’ve also blocked contact from foreign agencies for now.”

 

The man, much older than him, continued speaking with a respectfully polite attitude that could be burdensome. Ryu Seo-ha had no choice but to put aside his troubled feelings for a moment. It wasn’t a good habit to be lost in thought with someone in front of him.

 

The VIP hospital room was so spacious and luxurious that it was hard to tell if it was a hospital or a hotel. In this place that naturally made one worry about hospital bills, there were visitors whom he couldn’t have dared to meet until just a few days ago.

 

“If possible, I request that you work as a state-affiliated…”

 

“That won’t be possible.”

 

Not only Director Hwang Munseok, but also the man in his 30s who unhesitatingly cut off his words, Choi Junwan, was such a person. An executive director of the Gangseong Group, which boasts the top ranking in Korea’s business world.

 

“Isn’t there too big a salary gap between state-affiliated hunters and guild members? What does Ryu Seo-ha lack?”

 

Furthermore, he was the major shareholder and guild master of one of the most powerful guilds in the hunter industry, and also one of only six S-rank hunters in Korea.

 

“There’s no reason to join a new guild starting from scratch either.”

 

Choi Junwan glanced at Choi Gang-hu, who was leaning against the sofa holding a coffee cup like a CF model, and smiled kindly. Choi Gang-hu, whose eyes met Ryu Seo-ha’s, tilted his head slightly with an unreadable expression.

 

“There’s no reason to listen to demands to dedicate oneself to the country, mentioning outdated loyalty.”

 

Ryu Seo-ha quietly looked up at Choi Junwan, who was advising with an expression that seemed to genuinely care for the other. A face with hardly any resemblance to Choi Gang-hu.

 

Even for half-brothers, could they look this different? Maybe it was harder to find similarities because Choi Junwan had a gentle impression, in contrast to Choi Gang-hu’s frighteningly cold one.

 

“Don’t forget that you’re now in the superior position, and choose carefully.”

 

During the past 10 years when Choi Gang-hu, born as the legitimate first son of the Gangseong Group, was missing, Choi Junwan, who awakened as an S-rank hunter, had thrown off the penalty of being born as an illegitimate son and solidly established his position as the successor.

 

Even though monsters appeared and the world changed, South Korea was still a chaebol republic. The only difference from the past was that the industrial structure had been reorganized around large guilds under major corporations.

 

This was also why being a hunter became a popular job that rivaled celebrities in attention. Because it came with enormous high income and fame. With the risk of dungeon conquests gradually decreasing, hunters inevitably became objects of envy.

 

“Ahem. If it’s about money, the country can do more. State-affiliated hunters can unilaterally settle debt relationships from before awakening under special laws, and can also receive tax reduction benefits.”

 

Director Hwang Munseok rebutted, giving a slight eye signal as if he knew about Ryu Seo-ha’s situation tied to YH Capital. He seemed intent on bringing the S-rank healer under state affiliation by any means.

 

“I’m sorry, but I’ve already agreed to contract with the From Hell guild.”

 

Ryu Seo-ha concluded the situation in a polite but firm tone. It was because if left alone, the two men seemed likely to continue their subtle nerve war. His head was already aching enough.

 

“Hmm, isn’t that decision too hasty?”

 

“That’s right. There’s no rush. Think it over slowly.”

 

Choi Junwan and Hwang Munseok, who had been busy keeping each other in check, urged reconsideration in unison. With an unfamiliarly favorable attitude. Choi Gang-hu’s intense gaze was felt.

 

“I’ll send you a summary of the benefits state-affiliated hunters can enjoy, so please think it over slowly and contact me. Here’s my card.”

 

Hwang Munseok spat out words quickly and thrust out his business card. As Ryu Seo-ha politely accepted it out of courtesy, he noticed a subtle change in the status window he hadn’t closed yet.

 

Status: Remaining lifespan 27 days 18 hours 58 minutes / Waiting to receive rewards

 

The remaining lifespan had decreased by a few minutes. Wondering if he had seen wrong, he blinked his eyes and tried to gauge the flow of time.

 

“Feel free to contact me anytime, even if it’s not about the contract. I can help with anything.”

 

Choi Junwan also handed over his business card with a kind smile. Trying not to show his confused feelings, Ryu Seo-ha carefully accepted the card.

 

Status: Remaining lifespan 27 days 18 hours 49 minutes / Waiting to receive rewards

 

Indeed. He hadn’t seen wrong. The moment his fingertips touched Choi Junwan, the remaining lifespan decreased. He needed a more certain verification. Without hesitation, he reached out and grabbed Choi Junwan’s hand.

 

Status: Remaining lifespan 27 days 18 hours 38 minutes / Waiting to receive rewards

 

The numbers decreased as soon as bare skin touched. 9 minutes earlier, 11 minutes this time. He couldn’t know the exact criteria. Contact area? Contact time? Maybe it differed depending on the person.

 

But since when? Was this phenomenon appearing for the first time now? Or consistently since awakening? Or perhaps since birth? Who does it apply to? Does lifespan shorten whenever touching anyone? Then what about when touching Choi Gang-hu?

 

His head felt like it would explode from the incomprehensible situation. He got goosebumps remembering the moments he had touched others in ignorance. Mana increase or lifespan reduction from physical contact, and the mana point distribution error.

 

He felt like all those abnormal phenomena were somehow related, but no matter how much he thought, he couldn’t grasp the core of the problem. It felt like standing on tiptoe at the edge of a steep cliff.

 

“Ryu Seo-ha?”

 

“…Ah. I’m sorry.”

 

Snapping back to his senses at Choi Junwan calling his name with a subtle expression, he hurriedly let go of the hand he had been holding.

 

“Haha, turns out you were my fan?”

 

As Ryu Seo-ha couldn’t hide his expression and showed his bewilderment, Choi Junwan joked cheerfully. When Ryu Seo-ha awkwardly smiled without affirming or denying, Choi Junwan shrugged.

 

“Actually, I joined Ryu Seo-ha’s fan club too. They call this a ‘successful fan’, right?”

 

He seemed to be joking to make Ryu Seo-ha feel less embarrassed. Though he knew it was because Ryu Seo-ha had become an important recruitment target for the guild, he felt grateful inside. As he was about to bow and apologize again,

 

“Mr. Ryu Seo-ha.”

 

He couldn’t help but pause at Choi Gang-hu’s chilly voice suddenly falling near his ear, not knowing when he had come close. Raising his gaze, he could meet eyes as cold as the voice.

 

“Do you usually grab just anyone’s hand like that?”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

It was clear that Choi Gang-hu was displeased, but the cause was unclear. Should he interpret “grabbing hands” in a figurative sense? In the original work, Choi Junwan was a villain who constantly interfered with the protagonist.

 

He could feel the temperature of the gaze looking down at his white hand getting lower and lower. Thinking that Choi Gang-hu might cut off his wrist right away saying it bothered him, Ryu Seo-ha unconsciously hid his arm behind his back.

 

“Why are you making a fuss over nothing?”

 

A sharp voice cut in with good timing. Choi Gang-hu’s gaze, which had been fixed on Ryu Seo-ha, shifted to his half-brother of the same age.

 

“You’ve never cared about others your whole life.”

 

Choi Junwan’s expression, which had consistently worn a gentle smile, suddenly took on a completely different feeling. It was a careful and ominous gaze, like a hunter waiting for the moment to strike.

 

“I wondered what you’d been doing for 10 years, don’t tell me you were going around doing useless things? Did you develop a taste for men?”

 

The emotions that revealed intense inferiority and even anger were instantly contained. Choi Junwan, wearing his usual kind smile, sharpened his tongue to mock his competitor.

 

Choi Gang-hu looked down at his half-brother impassively. Ryu Seo-ha frowned at the provocation whose context he couldn’t understand at all. In the original work, although Choi Junwan was a villain who opposed the protagonist in everything, he survived intact until the middle to late parts of the novel. This was possible because Choi Gang-hu had no sense of competition towards his half-brother, only thinking ‘I’m just reclaiming what’s naturally mine’.

 

But it was also because although Choi Junwan plotted in the background, he didn’t openly sneer or attack in front. If he acts recklessly like now, his neck might be cut off at any time.

 

“That seems like a rude remark to me as well.”

 

Ryu Seo-ha pointed out the rudeness of the statement in a quiet voice. Because judging from the atmosphere, if left alone, it seemed 100% certain that blood would be shed. Although Choi Gang-hu appeared to have been resocialized at a glance, in reality he was an unpredictable man.

 

“Ah, if you were offended, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you, Ryu Seo-ha.”

 

Whether he knew that Ryu Seo-ha had saved his life or not, Choi Junwan furrowed his brows and apologized with a regretful expression. Ryu Seo-ha answered with a faint smile and then pulled out the IV line in his arm.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

Choi Gang-hu asked, tilting his head sideways. It was a question that felt familiar. Though thinking ‘Is where I’m going so important?’, Ryu Seo-ha answered obediently.

 

“To the person I wanted to heal first in the world.”

 

Now that he had far surpassed even the 150 level standard for healers focused on mana investment. It was time to fulfill a long-cherished wish in his heart.