CHAPTER 2
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Seeing his expression change instantly reminded me of a lion leading its pride, lounging on a vast rock in the grasslands but ready to unleash its predatory instincts when its family faced danger. The person before me concealed a violent, untamed nature. I had no clue when they might bare their fangs, so I wished they wouldn't act so seriously around me. My heart felt like it was about to stop.
"It'd be a big deal if you do that; you might end up like that guy over there."
Seriously! Did you intentionally show me that?!
Suppressing the urge to confront him, I put on the most pitiful and submissive smile I could muster. I knew it. I couldn't stand being like this either.
"Please, can you spare me?"
"Of course, I have to spare you. You're a guest I brought here with great effort. That man is still alive, too."
Technically, he was 'alive.' The issue was that he was barely 'alive.' Could someone who was merely breathing really be considered alive? I instinctively scowled at his words since I hated pain more than anything else, but I quickly bowed my head again. My current goal was to suppress my anger, be as adaptable as the tongue in my mouth, and get released without being hit even once.
"Yeon Seonwoo."
"Yeah?"
I deliberately drew out my words and let out a slightly choked sound, hoping that if I put on a pitiful act, pretending to cry, he might show me some mercy. Then, the hand below my chin abruptly grabbed me and raised my head.
The sudden contact startled me, and I gazed at the man with a flustered expression. As our eyes met, he slowly examined my face and gave me a soft smile. It should have been heart-fluttering to see such a handsome person smile like that, but instead, it sent shivers down my spine.
"I don't really like it when people pretend to cry, you know?"
"I-I'm not pretending! I'm really crying...."
If anyone could hold back tears in this situation, they deserved a medal! I tried to squeeze out the tears by scrunching my eyes, but the man looked down at me strangely.
"Don't let your words slip."
Damn it. He's so rude, speaking informally to me like that. Feeling scared and angry, I glanced at the man and accidentally met his gaze. I quickly pretended not to care, lowered my eyes, and nodded obediently. Finally, he seemed satisfied and released my chin. Crying meant losing, and by that logic, I had already lost. I really wanted to cry.
"Alright then. Shall we get to answering my question? You know who I am, right, Yeon Seonwoo?"
Who wouldn't recognize that face that appeared whenever the TV switched on? I prided myself on knowing even more intimate details about the man. So, I cautiously nodded, and the man's cold gaze softened slightly. However, the icy glint in his eyes didn't wholly vanish.
"Who am I?"
Who are you? Who the hell are you? I wanted to shout in frustration at that question, 'The protagonist of this damn game world!'
"You're Hunter Lee Jehee…"
Hiding my genuine emotions, I answered politely. Jehee smiled brightly, the same smile I had seen hundreds of times on TV. Yet, his face still felt unfamiliar, and I dropped my gaze to avoid it. Shit, I'm so scared I think I'm going crazy.
A month before being captured by Jehee, I had a rather peculiar awakening one morning. As I tumbled out of bed, I was immediately struck by the unfamiliar surroundings of the house.
It wasn't my cozy, cherished one-room apartment. It felt as though I had been transported to an entirely different place while I slept.
"Wh-what's happening? Where am I?" I stammered in confusion, jumping up and sprinting into the living room.
I scanned the entire house, but to my bewilderment, I was the sole occupant of the space.
Had I perhaps gotten inebriated and accidentally wandered into someone else's house? But I hadn't consumed a drop of alcohol the previous night. Instead, I had wrapped up work early, returned home, and gone to bed contentedly after completing the final level of the game I'd been engrossed in for a week. So, why had I awakened in this unfamiliar place?
"This is insane..."
Feeling utterly perplexed, I continued to explore the house. The place where I had awoken resembled a typical family home, a standard 20-pyeong villa with a conventional layout. Standing frozen in the living room and surveying my surroundings, I decided I should depart before someone mistook me for a burglar. I worried that the owner might suddenly appear and shout, "Thief!" So, I frantically checked for my phone and wallet, desperately searching for cab or bus fare. To my relief, I found someone's wallet.
As I attempted to retrieve some money from the wallet, an intense and uncomfortable sensation washed over me.
Hunter License
Name: Yeon Seonwoo (YEON SEON WOO)
Hunter License Number: SP9002-B7853MH5801
Nationality: Korean (Korea)
Address: XX-X, Sadang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul
This person is a registered hunter of KHU.
Korea Hunter Union
"...What on earth is this?"
The mysterious object labeled 'Hunter License' displayed a photograph of me. My familiar name, which I had used for 29 years, was written next to it, but the rest of the contents were a confusing jumble of words and numbers. Hunter? Was this something out of a novel like 'I Fell into Another World and Became a Hunter'? The absurdity of the situation was beyond belief, prompting me to emit a dry chuckle as I slumped onto the sofa.
Just then, it seemed I accidentally pressed the remote control beneath me, and the wall-mounted TV came to life, displaying the news.