Chapter 2

“H-Hey, my leg! Shit!”

The stalker kid grabbed his shin and screamed loudly.

I reached out and grabbed his face.

“Urk! Urk!”

Now he’s finally quieting down.

“Little brother, I’ll use the bathroom.”

“Huh… huh?”

While dragging the stalker, I entered the bathroom.

His resistance is feeble at best.

A mid-level hunter ranked C-tier is this weak? Strange…

Maybe there’s an exponential difference between ranks.

“Hey.”

I lifted the stalker’s head to meet my gaze.

Simultaneously, I unleashed mana to cast a barrier around us.

No sound will escape the bathroom now.

“Let’s start with a punch.”

“Urk…! Urk!”

He seems to be trying to say something – easily ignored.

I pulled my hand back…

And slammed it into the wall with full force.

BAM!

An attack imbued with reinforced strength through holy power.

Even with controlled strength, a large crack formed in the wall and blood splattered from the man’s head.

I’ll restore the bathroom with magic later.

First, let’s make him repent…

* * *

Si-yoon looked worriedly at the bathroom door.

Since her older brother dragged the stalker in…

Strangely, no sounds have come from inside.

She claimed to have defeated the Demon King herself…

Yet to Si-yoon, her brother looks smaller and weaker than her.

Didn’t she claim to be a Holy Maiden?

The image in her mind was of someone praying safely from the backlines.

The man is a despicable stalker but still a hunter – C-rank no less.

Mid-level hunters and above usually get unofficial passes from the government unless it’s a major incident.

That’s why we couldn’t even file a police report – there hadn’t been any direct contact yet, just intimidation like today.

Just as Si-yoon was anxiously pacing…

The bathroom door creaked open and the male emerged looking deathly pale.

Spotting Si-yoon, he approached and bowed deeply, forehead hitting the floor.

“I apologize for my past actions!”

“…”

“Wow, your sister is an incredible hunter! A melee specialist? Amazing…”

Perfect submission.

Si-yoon stared wide-eyed at the bathroom entrance.

Her sister leaned against the wall outside, expression cold as ice.

“Hey, stalker.”

“Ye-Yes!”

“What should you say right now?”

“…Si-yoon! I sincerely apologize for everything that’s happened!”

“…Is that all?”

“I’ll never come near this house or this neighborhood again!”

My goodness…

Si-yoon alternated her trembling gaze between her sister and the stalker.

Could our sister really be this strong…?

Looking at that terrifying expression…

Frankly, even she felt a creeping fear rising.

“Si-yoon, should I educate him more?”

“Eh, eh… This should be enough, right?”

“Okay?”

With that, Si-hyun grabbed the stalker by the collar, dragged him out like when she brought him in, and tossed him outside.

A loud thud echoed.

Si-hyun glanced outside briefly before closing the door.

“Sorry, I’ll clean the bathroom quickly since it’s dirty now.”

“Uh-huh…”

Si-yoon broke out in cold sweat.

Though the stalker’s face was clean…

She could smell blood coming from the bathroom direction.

However, shortly after…

The bathroom she checked worriedly was spotlessly clean to excess.

It smelled fresh, like a brand new bathroom.

“How… how’s this?”

“Gwah, it’s fine…?”

“Hehe.”

“Ahaha.”

Answering absentmindedly, Si-yoon looked at her sister.

The previously expressionless face bloomed into a radiant smile upon seeing her.

At that moment, Si-yoon realized something.

Though she’s changed greatly, it’s definitely our older brother.

On that beautiful face, she saw the kind older brother who raised her in place of their parents when they were young.

* * *

After a fierce competition over who would sleep in the bed and who on the couch the next day…

I spent time shopping and going out with Si-yoon.

Not having an identity yet, we opened a smartphone account under my younger sister’s name…

Picked up ready-to-wear clothes and underwear as recommended…

Bought various daily necessities and finally returned home.

“Si-yoon, how do you go back on this?”

“Back? You do it like this.”

Though it’s been a while since using a phone, I got used to it pretty quickly. Maybe…

“Did we spend a lot of money today? Sorry. Once I get my ID, I’ll look for work right away.”

“But I said yesterday, it’s really fine! You’re the hero who defeated the Demon King, right? Don’t you need some rest and relaxation?”

“…”

“Don’t worry about me!”

Even saying not to worry…

I saw her eyes waver when swiping the card.

I won’t bring this up explicitly though…

“Ah! Speaking of which, sister. Can you really perform miracles as a Holy Maiden?”

“Miracles?”

“Yeah. Like in novels or games, can you resurrect people?”

“Tch, resurrection is impossible.”

Though I can save those on the brink of death…

“Then, can you regenerate missing arms or legs?”

“That’s also difficult.”

But if it’s reattaching something that fell off nearby…

“Are you really a melee fighter like the stalker said? As a Holy Maiden?”

“Frontline combat? I’ve done that many times.”

Because I often scolded party members for only giving buffs instead of doing actual work…

“…”

“So maybe you’re not a Holy Maiden but a warrior, or rather a Paladin?”

“Hmm, maybe…”

The hero emphasized to me every day:

Your buffs making us stronger isn’t because you’re strong, it’s because we are.

So if you want to fight the Demon King together…

Prove your worth to us.

So I kept pushing myself.

Using the memories of my original body from possession to further hone my magical skills…

Focusing especially on buffs and debuffs that suited me best…

Becoming proficient enough in divine power to concurrently serve as both priest and paladin.

Since healers are always targeted first in battles…

Rolling and dodging repeatedly made me capable of almost anything.

Well, despite all that…

[So can you tank like me?]

[Your attack magic is way weaker than mine!]

All I got in return was criticism of insufficiency.

Though it’s frustrating, they were right…

Gradually, I started shrinking back.

Moreover, the hero showed obsession bordering on madness toward me.

Preventing me from leaving the lodging except during battles…

Which intensified the jealousy and hostility from female party members…

If it weren’t for Bag Guy helping out with various things, I might not have been able to endure it.

“Ah! It’s already this late. Sister, I’ll go to work.”

“Working at this hour?”

“Uh, well… I’m a freelancer! Sometimes it can get noisy in the room, but don’t worry too much?”

“Understood.”

Si-yoon waved her hand and went into the next room.

Watching her for a moment, I fiddled with the smartphone.

Trying to understand how the world works these days…

News:

[Korea facing shortage of support-type hunters. Overabundance of damage dealers serious issue.]

[Experts predict ‘calm before the storm’ based on increasing number of gates.]

[Hunters’ individualism and distorted collectivism. Causes and solutions?]

Community boards:

[Recently arrived foreign hunter seen? Female specifically.]

[Know anyone in production-type hunter network? Introductions wanted.]

[Casual talk] This streamer I’ve been watching lately…

Information ocean… There’s just so much.

Finally, I checked Ttube where videos mostly get uploaded, but it wasn’t very helpful.

Videos of A-rank or S-rank hunters?

Old game footage edited into mad movies for ads…

Besides that, concept streams or VTubers with character avatars mainly.

The world has changed a lot, that much I get, but that’s all.

There’s not a single piece of information about divine power.

Is it because we’re on Earth?

Anyway…

“The Hunter Management Agency is probably the best place to ask.”

Government employees would likely give the most accurate answers, right?

They seem like the type who’d answer properly if asked…

Since the Hunter Management Agency promised to contact soon regarding consultation for returnees and awakening tests…

I’ll visit keeping a few things firmly in mind.

I’ve had enough of restrictions, so I’ll avoid responsibilities and duties appropriately…

Since support-type hunters are lacking, I’ll keep that hidden too.

For now, I just want to earn enough money to lighten my younger sister’s burden while resting.

Once I understand the current world better, I can do something proper…

Maybe find a teaching position using my major.

…Come to think of it, I didn’t graduate university because of the Great Change.

* * *

“Hmph…”

A seemingly ordinary young man lifts his eyes from his smartphone.

Loosening his shoulder muscles slightly, he looks around.

The subway station. People moving to board their trains can be seen.

Suddenly, one person catches his eye.

A woman walking while looking around unfamiliarly.

Thin black shirt, red A-line skirt reaching just above the knees.

Nothing particularly fancy, yet his gaze gets stuck.

Long limbs move gracefully, her snow-white hair flowing softly with each step.

Combined with her impressively prominent bust, creating an overwhelming presence.

Could she be a foreign celebrity on vacation?

One of those beauties one usually only sees in videos.

‘Hesitating…’

The woman looks left and right repeatedly.

Tilts her head, then observes the nearby map.

Holds her phone, looking up and down comparing it.

Seeing her slightly furrowed brow makes him inexplicably want to help,

But he doesn’t approach rashly.

Partly due to her otherworldly appearance intimidating him,

Mainly because his English isn’t good.

So he just watches her exotic beauty longingly.

That’s when…

Their eyes meet unexpectedly.

After hesitating for a moment, she approaches with a determined expression.

The young man swallows hard nervously.

Should I install a translation app on my phone now?

No, web translation works well these days, right?

Wait, can I even understand what she says?

Numerous thoughts flash through his mind in an instant.

“Excuse me…”

“Yes, yes sir!”

The young man answers instinctively, mouth opening wide in surprise.

More than her sweet voice,

What shocks him most is…

Her clear Korean pronunciation.

We can communicate!

“What, what is it?”

“…I’m not familiar with the subway. Could you possibly help me?”

“O-of course I should help! Where are you going?”

Instead of answering, the woman extends her phone.

The young man briefly admires her long, slender fingers before looking at the phone.

“You’re going to the Hunter Management Agency?”

“Yes.”

“Then you should go this way…”

The young man tries to remain calm to prevent his voice from shaking.

Being so close, he can smell her pleasant fragrance.

“Ahh!”

“Do you understand?”

“Yes, thank you. You explain really well.”

“Huh, phew… I-I’m glad I could help.”

The woman bows deeply before slowly walking away.

The young man watches her retreating back with lingering affection.

She’s a goddess. A goddess. Repeats endlessly in his heart.

At that moment…

The woman suddenly turns around and runs back to him.

Confused, he watches as she approaches with a gentle smile.

“I hope your kindness is rewarded.”

“Ah, ah… Yes.”

The woman departs again.

The young man feels an unprecedented energy surging through his body.

Vitality wells up!

Feeling invigorated after seeing the beauty’s smile.

People really should live kindly.

The young man strides forward energetically.

Somehow, he feels today’s hunter job will go smoothly.