LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 1 - Hunter Collaboration
✦ Chapter 1 – Hunter Collaboration ✦
「Translator – Creator」
𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝
Times had changed.
Hunters, once renowned for their ruthless efficiency in slaying monsters and eliminating superpowered criminals, were a rare sight now.
The new era of peace had no need for such brutality.
Those who flaunted their strength and ferocity found themselves struggling to adapt to this gentler society.
With monster appearances dwindling to almost nothing, “gates” had become the stuff of urban legends.
The hunter profession had transformed, becoming more akin to that of celebrities or influencers.
The reason these powerful hunters refrained from asserting their dominance was simple — they, too, were experiencing the effects of this peaceful transition.
As gate occurrences neared extinction, their superhuman abilities began to wane. Their formidable physique… reverting back to that of ordinary humans.
Thus, hunters voluntarily changed their ways, shedding their arrogance.
To maintain their reputation and fame, they appeared on variety shows, posed for photoshoots, published autobiographies, and launched channels to share their stories.
It was a time when even the notoriously stubborn President of the Hunter Association dabbled in trot singing.
And me?
I, Lee Rohan, a fellow hunter, could only marvel at their transformation.
There was no reason to criticize or mock them for their audacity. Instead, I admired their courage in embracing reality and venturing into uncharted territories.
In this present where the threat of monsters had vanished and superhuman abilities were dissipating… only those who swiftly accepted the plummeting value of their profession could preserve their accumulated wealth.
Those hunters who shed their pride and fearlessly embraced new opportunities… they were the ones who’d recognized this truth first.
However…
I, ‘Lee Rohan,’ despite foreseeing the future, did not reach out to the changing tides.
I was one of the hunters who continued contributing to maintaining public order as always…until…
*Ding!*
“Hmm?”
A message appeared on my computer screen, beckoning me to plunge into this turbulent world. I’d just gotten home from work and was browsing the internet.
[Greetings, Hunter Lee Rohan. This is Solomon, Director at Sunday Games.]
A familiar company name and a well-known alias.
I bolted upright in my chair, gripping my smartphone.
‘Sunday Games!?’
A company known to anyone who had dabbled in subculture games.
The company responsible for both my leisure time and the draining of my wallet.
I blinked repeatedly, verifying the official account mark again and again, incredulous at the unexpected message.
[Every time you mention our game, all the staff at Sunday Games listen intently. I’ve been amazed by the posts you’ve written on our official site…]
I rolled my eyes over the lengthy message, ensuring I read each word carefully.
[To briefly explain our project ‘Salvation’ that we wish to pursue with you, Hunter Lee Rohan…]
It was real. At the same time, a chuckle escaped my lips.
A mix of emotions, too complex to express, bubbled within me.
“No way… is this…?”
Like a true Korean, I blurted out “No way”, before attempting to process this unbelievable information.
Apparently, it all started with my social media posts about enjoying Sunday Games’ Abyss City.
And now… they were offering me a sweet deal— to create a new character based on me.
‘Me? A game character?’
Considering Sunday Games’ experience, they must’ve known that collaborating with a real person for a gacha game was a risky move.
They had to be aware of the potential backlash.
So why? Why me? Wouldn’t it make more sense to feature an idol?
‘Besides, there’s no shortage of good-looking hunters. Why choose me?’
Various speculations and assumptions bubbled up like foam in my mind.
Who in their right mind would make such a crazy decision— to model a character after an unknown male hunter?
Besides, Abyss City had a predominantly male player base, didn’t it? I could vividly imagine the gamers’ outrage— “Who is this guy ? Another male character pickup?!”
‘But still!’
Despite all that…!
What gamer could refuse the opportunity to become a character in their favorite game?
Regardless of their intentions… this was an irresistibly tempting offer.
“Yes!”
I immediately replied, eagerly accepting their proposition.
·
·
How much time had passed since I started collaborating with the game company?
Until today, I had obediently followed the instructions of the game company staff.
Last week, I spent the entire day repeating sword-swinging motions while wearing a bizarre outfit.
And today, I was told I’d be filming a making-of video and an interview for their official broadcast.
‘I can’t believe I’m actually doing this.’
I moistened my dry throat, tense with nerves, with coffee.
I was fidgeting with my smartphone, absently sipping through the straw, when I heard a voice.
“Hunter-nim! We’re ready for the shoot!”
“Ah, coming!”
Navigating through the cameras, I took a seat in the empty chair.
The female host, whom I’d only ever seen on Sunday Games’ official broadcasts, was sitting next to me. My inner fanboy was thrilled.
“It’s just an interview, nothing grand. Think of it as a casual chat and just relax.”
“Got it. Thank you for having me.”
As a devoted viewer of their update broadcasts, this whole situation felt surreal.
Even more so than meeting a high-ranking hunter.
The host straightened her posture and flipped through the cue cards with a crisp motion, then cleared her throat.
Seeing the signal from the camera crew, she whispered that we’d be starting, then put on a bright smile and an enthusiastic voice.
“With tensions at an all-time high in the academy city, many students are eagerly looking forward to what’s to come! The new winds and conflicts that will soon sweep through the academy city…”
Her resonant voice continued without a single slip-up, flawlessly reciting the script.
I nodded along awkwardly, fidgeting with the microphone as she eloquently introduced our special guest.
“First, I’d like to introduce the special guest sitting next to me. Some of you may have already guessed…”
After finishing her monologue, the host turned her attention to me, signaling that a question was coming my way.
“I’d like to ask Hunter Lee Rohan a personal question! It’s rumored that a hunter’s reflexes are so sharp that they never miss a parry against any boss. Is this true?”
“In that regard, I’d say hunters do have an advantage. When I play games, I usually turn off all the assist features.”
“Wow! Then, have you cleared all the combat achievements?”
“Not quite. I tend to grow and play only the characters I’m attached to, so there are a lot of blanks in my achievements.”
After exchanging a few more questions and answers, my nerves started to settle.
I was grateful for the host’s considerate and easygoing approach.
After some casual small talk, she flipped to the next cue card and fired off a new question.
“What do you think is the unique charm of our game, ‘Abyss City’?”
I had received this question in the script the day before and had already thought through my answer.
As a result, the words flowed effortlessly.
“I became a hunter at a young age, so I didn’t have a proper school life. To say I don’t have any fantasies about school life would be a lie. For me, the biggest charm of ‘Abyss City’ is how it allows me to live out those fantasies.”
“Ah! Yes, ‘Abyss City’ isn’t just about action; it really nails the coziness of everyday life too!”
Among gamers, the opinions on this were quite divided. I personally enjoyed the slice-of-life parts, like part-time jobs, more than the combat.
“Yes. I often think about how it would be if there was a school solely for hunters… I think it’d be something like this. Moreover, since I very much enjoy open-world games, just exploring the map is fun for me.”
“In that case…!”
More light-hearted questions followed, ones that didn’t seem like they’d make the final cut for the video.
The host exchanged quick glances with the cameras, and to my relief, she signaled that we were wrapping up with a satisfied expression.
“The pickup for ‘Rohan’, the character modeled after Hunter Lee Rohan, will be available for a month, starting from June 2nd! We’re also adding a new story and various quests, so please stay tuned!”
“I look forward to it!”
We stood up, bowed, and clapped our hands to conclude the interview.
After seeing the cameras point upwards, I exchanged farewells with the host.
“Hunter Lee Rohan, thank you for your hard work!”
“You too, great job.”
“You’ll definitely want to pull for your character, right?”
“I’m going to max him out, regardless of his stats. I’ll probably be returning the money I received for this job in no time.”
She laughed brightly, saying she would’ve done the same.
After promising to catch up next time, I headed to grab my bag from the corner.
‘Next is the voice recording, right?’
I wondered what skills and storylines my character would have.
Reflecting on the time and conversations we just had, it hit me again.
Being released as a character in my favorite game—what luck is this?
Honestly, I didn’t even want to be paid for this—I felt like I should be paying them.
‘What kind of incredible luck is this?’
At least my funeral will have a kick-ass tribute video, that’s for sure.
‘Time to gather all the upgrade materials when I get home.’
With those happy thoughts, I picked up my bag and straightened up, only to be approached by a female staff member with a badge around her neck and sparkling eyes.
“Hunter! Hunter!”
“Yes?”
“Before you leave, could you accept this?”
“What is it?”
She handed me a clean, unmarked box. It looked about the same size as the box you’d get with a new smartphone.
“The Director is a huge fan of Hunter Lee Rohan and wanted to give you a gift.”
Her words were almost unbelievable.
I blinked, confused, and asked again.
“The Director of… Sunday Games…?”
“Yes! He really wanted to come today too, but he was too busy, so he sent me instead. He was very disappointed he couldn’t make it!”
Was this some kind of lip service?
For some reason, it was difficult to react quickly.
‘Isn’t the Director … Japanese?’
Seeing my puzzled expression, she continued the explanation in a light-hearted tone as if something had occurred to her.
“I don’t know the details, but the Director said he was once being chased by a monster and someone helped him. Where was it again? Some department store in Apgujeong?”
“!”
In that moment, it felt as though the fog clouding my memory cleared.
For a moment, I was transported back to the past…
‘Apgujeong.’
It was there that a massive gate had opened, ushering in literal hell.
I had once been deployed there to evacuate and rescue civilians.
I vividly remembered charging into the department store, cutting down countless low-level monsters.
‘So… that’s why they gave me this job…?’
This had happened a few times before.
I’d been so focused on the task at hand, I couldn’t even remember who I’d helped. But for those people… those few moments had been their lifeline, their salvation.
I’d received my fair share of thank-you letters from people who considered me their savior… but this… this was the first time I’d received such a grand gesture.
“Whew.”
I let out a long breath, a sense of understanding and relief washing over me.
“May I open it?”
“Of course.”
*Click!*
I opened the box, and inside… lay a rectangular card.
Something familiar to any ‘Abyss City’ players.
I couldn’t suppress the smile creeping onto my face.
‘Is that my photo? I look rather young in it.’
But then I saw the name… and I knew.
It was my model character ‘Rohan’s’ Academy City student ID card—a true collector’s item.
This was the best gift I could have asked for.
I definitely needed to thank him properly.
With such thoughts swirling in my mind, I tore my eyes away from the student ID and looked up.
“…..…?”
The woman with the company badge was no longer in front of me.
In fact, I realized I was no longer in the studio.
“Huh?”
A new world… was unfolding before my eyes.
─── ∙ ↤ END OF CHAPTER ↦ ∙ ──
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