NOVEL NEXT WORLD Episode 3
[Lily: Ye-ah, look at this! Finally, someone has recognized your true worth!]
“But what if they faint during my interview and never recover? Or try to kill me for learning Hanttae’s secrets…?”
[Lily: Don’t worry! Since you haven’t cleared any gates yet, Baldur’s protection buff is still active. Even if it’s a scam, you’ll be safe from death threats—]
[Lily: Nothing worse than maintaining the status quo will happen!]
Lily clearly didn’t understand that maintaining the status quo was my greatest fear.
Just then, the application pinged with a notification.
[Hello, ‘Yeom Ye-ah’! Congratulations on passing your second interview!]
[‘Hanttae’ Guild requests a final interview with ‘Yeom Ye-ah’. Appointment: ‘4 days’ from today at Hunter Railway Line 2, Sawol Station, Exit 3, fourth teleport machine.]
[The teleport entry code is now available for viewing. An anti-sharing curse and privacy protection buff have been applied—please travel alone.]
[This code expires 30 minutes after the interview time. HunterHunting bears no responsibility for issues; please direct concerns to the guild.]
[We wish ‘Yeom Ye-ah’ success in this new beginning.]
Four days later, wearing my freshly dry-cleaned suit, I boarded the Hunter Railway.
They built these lines parallel to the subway after gates started appearing frequently around hunter gatherings. Only awakened ones can board, even if they’re not active hunters.
While I’d been able to ride since awakening, one glimpse of the flashy crowd inside had kept me away until now.
―This is Sawol, Sawol Station. Passengers for Myeongjin Guild headquarters, the Hunter Association, or transfers to Hunter Railway Line 1, please exit here. Warning: High probability of gate emergence between platform and train gap. Exercise caution.
The seaweed-like figures who’d been sprawled in their seats, miserable about commuting despite being hunters, rose to their feet.
Probably Association government workers among the hunters. Unlike other hunters with their naturally flashy equipment, these wore clothes purely for desk comfort.
“Excuse me, coming through. Sorry.”
“Ah.”
The curse of transfer stations—as many boarding as departing. I barely managed to squeeze through the flood of people.
Since awakening, my body’s stats had increased astronomically without special maintenance. But these could only improve through gate training, leaving me helplessly jostled in this subway packed with hunters.
‘If they earn so much, why take the subway instead of driving? Just making life harder for ordinary citizens like me.’
[Lily: Seoul’s traffic congestion is severe. Even teleportation is under Association control, and with recent traffic laws…]
‘I know. I’m just venting.’
Sensing my nerves, Lily had offered to accompany me.
Must be part of Baldur’s new member service. Providing support for a whole year—surprisingly generous.
Just as I caught my breath after exiting the train, a flash lit up my vision. Several others who’d disembarked winced.
“I need to get in right away today…”
“Any non-registered awakened ones here? This way, quickly!”
“Hello? Gate just opened. Tell Ji-yeong to mark me as working outside when she arrives.”
The voices mixed with memories of high school special lectures.
When a gate opens in crowded areas, there’s a flash, and those with lower stats get pulled in first.
Despite years at a hunter convenience store, I’d somehow never been pulled into a gate. I’d only ever witnessed the aftermath.
“Um, I’m not a hunter!”
I raised my hand high. A woman in Association attire spotted my signal and rushed over, her movements almost floating.
Even as the gate pulled at our surroundings, she remained remarkably composed, presenting her business card.
[Hunter Association Deputy Kim Ah-jin]
“I’m with the Association. This is likely a resident gate—it appears here frequently. The level inside isn’t high. Wait with the others while Association staff and hunters handle it.”
“How long will it take?”
“Usually four hours, but time flows normally. Any appointments?”
The implication was clear—with outside communications blocked, I might be late.
Obviously beyond her control, but my mind went blank.
[Lily: Ye-ah, what should we do…]
Even having left early, four hours would put me well past interview time. While the position seemed secure, being late on day one…
Would they accept being trapped in a gate as an excuse? No chance. The entry code would expire, and I’d heard the building itself was hidden.
My heart raced at the thought of losing this chance before it began. Tears threatened.
“Please, I have an interview today—I’m joining a guild. Even if I can’t call, if anyone here is connected…”
As I clutched her arm desperately, pity flashed across Ah-jin’s face. Glancing at her dead phone, she leaned in close.
“Which guild? Many guild members are here—might be able to connect. Don’t get your hopes too high, though.”
“Hanttae Guild, in an hour. I’m Yeom Ye-ah. If there’s anyone related…”
Surprise flickered across her face, followed by deeper sympathy.
No wonder—I was about to miss a chance at one of the country’s top guilds.
While she might ignore ordinary cases, Kim Ah-jin seemed genuinely kind.
She drew a small pen from her chest pocket and twirled it. It grew larger with blue light as she began writing in air.
[Upon identifying guild affiliations of hunters currently in gate, immediately send file to Deputy Kim Ah-j]
“That won’t be necessary.”
A low voice interrupted from behind. Ah-jin and I turned to find a man in a face-recognition blocking coat standing calmly.
“Pardon?”
“I heard the situation.”
As I stepped back from his inexplicable pressure, he continued.
“I’m from Hanttae.”