“Out of nowhere, but… Shia. If you don’t like the Returnee Shelter… well, if you’re okay with it, how about coming to our family house?”
“…Huh?”
After finishing the meal at the meat restaurant, I was slightly taken aback by Yeonseo’s sudden suggestion.
Even though I owed her a favor, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy about just letting someone into my home.
“Whatever the case, I really wanted to kill you. If you were a bit weaker or if a truly terrible misfortune had struck, something irreversible could have happened.”
“Are you serious?”
“Of course I’m serious. If you don’t want to come to our family house, I could buy you a separate house.”
That’s quite a bold suggestion.
But I’m not that greedy.
Having just stuffed myself at the restaurant, it would clearly be a burden for Yeonhwa and Yeonseo if I suddenly accepted a house offer.
More than anything, there’s the Returnee Shelter.
I don’t need a glamorous penthouse with a stunning chandelier for myself.
Just a decent place to rest is all I need.
“I’m okay.”
“Are you really okay? Shia, this isn’t just a simple joke. For my peace of mind, shouldn’t I at least do this? Don’t worry about money. Even if it looks like this, this old lady is one of the richest people in the country.”
“I really mean it, I’m fine.”
Yeonseo stopped walking and looked at me.
“You’ve had meals with a living legend and an S-grade Hunter, right? That’s enough for me. And there’s the shelter the Management Bureau provided. As long as it’s not some horrible room where people can’t live, it’s all good.”
“What’s a horrible room?”
“Um… doesn’t Yeonhwa know? It’s a tiny, cheap room that’s less than a Pyong. Do they not have those anymore?”
I later found out that many buildings collapsed during the first Great Rift, and afterward, a new national reconstruction plan was laid out, leading to large residential areas popping up all over the cities.
For that reason, by 2088, finding something like a goshiwon became nearly impossible.
“However… I see. You eat the meat so well and… I didn’t think you’d refuse to get something even better for free. Then, at least take this.”
“…What is it?”
Yeonseo placed a black something that resembled a bracelet on my wrist.
What is this? Handcuffs?
“Is this… a cellphone?”
Now that I look at it, everyone I see on the street seems to have something of a wrist-worn design, though each looks different.
At first, I thought it was odd, but realizing this would function as a phone, it’s something nearly everyone should be carrying.
“In 2024, smartphones were carried around in hand form, right? Don’t worry; it’s probably flashier than back then, but the functionality is still similar. This is the latest model, so it should perform well.”
A wristwatch smartphone?
Ah, so that’s how it works.
When I touched it with my other hand, a holographic screen appeared before my eyes.
As Yeonseo said, I could see all the screens in holographic form. While there were a multitude of functions, the basic operational method hadn’t drastically changed from a smartphone.
If I knew how to use a smartphone, then getting accustomed to this method shouldn’t be too difficult.
“Also, I’ve stored my number, Yeonhwa’s number, and the number of a girl named Yeonju who works with the Yeon Family. If there’s an urgent matter, contact either Yeonhwa or me, and if you can’t reach either of us, you can call Yeonju. Mention my name, and she’ll probably help you with anything that seriously needs assistance.”
Surely, my biggest luck wasn’t the fact that I devoured the ‘Black Minotaur’ upon returning to this world.
Having the favorable encounter with Yeonhwa and Yeonseo has undoubtedly been my greatest stroke of luck.
“Thank you, Grandma. Truly.”
“If you’re thankful, don’t call me Grandma in the future. At least call me Yeonseo or Miss Yeonseo. Just don’t call me Grandma.”
“Should I call you Unnie?”
“That’s a pretty good idea…!”
“Shia Unnie, please stop that…”
“Why does our granddaughter meddle with this old lady’s feelings…?”
At my granddaughter’s word, Yeonseo looked slightly deflated with a pout.
That made me involuntarily smile.
Indeed, I’m really lucky.
Some people return only to meet terrible folks and end up in blood-soaked battles, or worse, horrifying scenarios where people die. Compared to that, I couldn’t complain about my luck.
“Yeonseo, I’m saying this again, but thank you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Ahem. But it looks like I have to stop by the Hunter Association for a bit. I’ve been asked to hold a press conference at 6 PM, so I should be headed there.”
“What about the car?”
“I can manage to get there on my own, so don’t worry. Yeonhwa, you should take Shia home. And make sure to drop by the house sometime. I’ve been growing cabbage just for you.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Oh, the sadness of having a non-approachable granddaughter. Why not just agree when I ask? Well then, Shia, I’ll see you next time!”
“The meat was delicious, Yeonseo! Let’s eat together again!”
“Hehehe, sure. And Shia.”
With that, Yeonseo came closer and whispered into my ear.
“Even if you refuse today, if you ever need my help or the Yeon Family’s help in the future, just say the word. The Yeon Family never forgets a favor.”
Pop!
And just like that, Yeonseo used her ability to teleport somewhere.
She said she had retired, but with the title of a living legend, it looks like she leads a pretty busy life.
“Your grandmother wasn’t this busy originally. I think it’s because of the Dungeon Overbreak this time.”
“Looks like the ‘Break’ phenomenon isn’t that common, huh?”
“It happened after a decade with no warning. Usually, there are precursors signaling it, but this time, there weren’t even any. Thankfully, there were no casualties. Ah… I almost got into big trouble myself, but thanks to Shia, I’m still here.”
Actually, I was the one who received help.
If it hadn’t been for Yeonhwa or Yeonseo, I might have been in serious trouble.
I might still be stuck at the Management Bureau unable to file my returnee report.
Or perhaps I could have been hunted by Hunters or the police for eating innocent humans.
“Ha, but your grandmother really… she likes to joke at that age… Especially in front of me, she seems to enjoy joking around a lot.”
“But Yeonhwa.”
“What?”
“Are you not on good terms with your grandmother?”
My sudden question made Yeonhwa pause.
“…Did it really look like that?”
Well, I could definitely feel it from the side.
To be precise, it wasn’t that their relationship was bad, but more like a subtle distance was apparent between Yeonhwa and Yeonseo.
Of course, there’s no way Yeonseo, who was fighting tooth and nail to protect Yeonhwa in the dungeon before, dislikes her.
But still, it felt as if Yeonhwa subconsciously disliked depending on or leaning towards Yeonseo.
Perhaps on Yeonseo’s side, given the desire to receive even a tiny bit of Yeonhwa’s affection, she toyed with Yeonhwa lightly despite treating me well.
While I enjoy eating, after living as a Seongnyeo for over 60 years, it’s instinct and intuition for me to pick up on others’ physical or emotional pains.
“The truth is… it’s not that our relationship is bad or anything. It’s just that I’m… the problem.”
“That can’t be true. Even if you have problems, Yeonseo would be happy just because you’re around, even if you just show up.”
“Not exactly… Ha, it’s hard to say.”
I shouldn’t involve myself in family matters since I’m an outsider, but after living as a Seongnyeo for so long, a natural interest is unavoidable.
There are various reasons, I suppose.
But there doesn’t seem to be any significant problems at hand, so as long as time is given, the subtle gap between Yeonseo and Yeonhwa will likely close quickly.
“It’s okay. I know it’s unreasonable to spill everything after only meeting. If you don’t want to talk, you don’t have to.”
“Thank you, Unnie. So, do you know how to get to your house?”
“…My house?”
“You just got assigned a shelter at the Management Bureau.”
“How did you know before I did?”
“Well, I became a proxy to guarantee your identity, after all. Even with this appearance, I’m an A-grade Hunter, and I have my credentials.”
“Isn’t it a bit much to guarantee the identity of someone you just met? What if I’m not who I appear to be?”
“If you saved my life, it’s worth it. And you’re a returnee, right? You’d be busy adjusting to the world.”
“…Hmm, that’s a well-put analysis.”
Yeonhwa tapped on the wrist smartphone and a moment later, a sleek black luxurious car appeared out of nowhere.
I didn’t know what kind of car it was, but given that it made no noise while moving, it seemed to be a hydrogen or electric car.
“Is this… your car?”
“It’s not my personal car. It’s a family car. Get in.”
Carefully boarding the car that opened towards the sky, I noticed there was no one in the driver’s seat.
Wow, it really can drive itself!
After Yeonhwa entered the address on the car’s main screen, it started driving by itself.
As surprising as it is, I finally realized that the Yeon Family was far wealthier than I had previously thought.
I remember being something of a figure with quite a reputation in my previous world…
But now that I’m back on Earth, it doesn’t hold much significance.
Long ago, I used to see cars emitting exhaust and loud noise so often, but…
Well, I guess it hasn’t developed into something like flying cars, after all.
“Flying cars? They do exist.”
“They do?!”
“There’s no real need to fly around the city. Getting a flying permit is complicated, so unless it’s urgent, nobody bothers. Shia Unnie, do you like that sort of thing?”
“…Wow… how amazing!”
“I’ve ridden in them a few times, but they’re not as fun as you’d imagine.”
No, that’s not what I mean! Flying cars can be a dream in itself.
Just the very existence of flying cars is a fantasy dream come true, dealing with spectacular views while driving through the skyline of buildings was something I thought only existed in sci-fi movies.
How could I not be excited over that being a reality?
If the opportunity arises, I will absolutely ride in one!
“Oh, we’ve arrived quickly. Here we are, Unnie.”
The shelter assigned by the Management Bureau was located near Dangsan Station in the Tower Palace village, somewhat away from downtown Seoul.
Is it because I returned after 64 years?
Rather than feeling familiar, being near Dangsan Station felt more like the first visit to a foreign city.
I looked around in hopes that my favorite movie theater, the regular restaurant, and convenience store still remained…
But the landscapes I had recognized were entirely transformed. Besides Dangsan Station, all the other areas had morphed into mega residential zones.
It wasn’t just a few apartments scattered about, nor a form that formed complexes.
It looked like dozens of buildings had merged into one large residential area. The paths connecting the buildings appeared to be constructed high above the ground.
At this rate, one might not even need to touch the ground to meet anyone or handle simple errands.
“During the Great Rift, the area near Dangsan Station was sucked into a gate and was completely wiped out. During the reconstruction, many new buildings were erected, so today, Seoul has entirely separated residential zones from corporate buildings. I was born after all these things happened, so I don’t know what the previous residential areas looked like.”
“Then, is there really only a residential area here?”
“Yes, Unnie. There are only essentials like restaurants, convenience stores, and supermarkets. The rest have turned into large residential complexes.”
The place where the car stopped looked like a mixed-use complex.
There were convenience stores and restaurants below, while towering above was a massive residential area that cast a shadow over the surroundings. It seemed that thousands could comfortably reside in this building alone.
It felt like another building housed inside the main structure.
“And here is where you’ll be staying, Shia Unnie… Ah, it’s here. 105-503 at Seonyu-ro 43.”
I could feel faint traces of mana from others sometimes, signaling there were other returnees in this building as well.
It wasn’t exactly bothersome, just a faint sense of, “Oh, that person must be here today.”
According to what I heard later from Yeonhwa, only those returnees who passed the Management Bureau’s ‘Ethics Review’ can stay here.
If a returnee had severe mental disqualifications that didn’t meet the review standards, they wouldn’t come here but rather be sent to some training center or comprehensive therapy center for rehabilitation.
“Quite spacious.”
It’s all white.
The new home provided by the Management Bureau was a fresh 70 square meters room that felt bright and clean.
Given the all-white interior offers few preferences and considering returnees have unique tastes, I thought they bulk-ordered this design to avoid mismatched decor for each individual.
Thankfully, that holographic TV I saw at the Management Bureau was also here.
In addition, there was a computer and bed, alongside a bookshelf stocked with classic literature like Shakespeare and Anna Karenina.
“…It’s smaller than my room…”
“Is it? I actually think it’s just fine.”
“Are you really okay, Unnie? Should I just call Grandma to have her set you a new room right now?”
“No, really, I’m okay.”
Honestly, having 70 square meters to myself is pretty spacious.
There’s even a balcony.
Perhaps that’s why something like this, which is decent for me, felt quite cramped in Yeonhwa’s eyes since she’s from a wealthy family.
“To be honest, I really do like it. This place is going to be my home…”
“It’s not exactly a home. The Management Bureau only rents this shelter to returnees for three years as part of their supportive measures.”
“Do I have to leave after three years?”
“No, that’s not necessarily the case. Starting from the end of the three years, as long as you can pay the rent yourself, you can keep living here. If not, you can extend your contract by fulfilling certain missions or conditions assigned by the Management Bureau.”
“Missions?”
“For someone like you, who’s strong, those might include dungeon explorations or hunting specific monsters… your work as a Hunter might be your mission. Do you have any interest in becoming a Hunter? If you register as one, this shelter will permanently belong to you as a returnee.”
“Not sure…”
My past activities revolved around defeating the Demon King and consuming malicious entities.
However, I’m not that diligent a person, and I’m not confident in doing Hunter work seriously.
“I can’t really give you an answer today. Besides, I’ve only been back for a day, right?”
“That’s true. But if Shia Unnie becomes a Hunter, a lot of people will probably come to like you.”
“Many people?”
“Mostly the higher-ups from the Management Bureau and Hunter Association. It’s highly rare to find a Hunter that could contend with my grandma.”
“Really?”
Becoming a Hunter didn’t sound half bad.
But being a Hunter means essentially being affiliated with the state, and I’d have to respond if called upon, regardless of where a new, strange dungeon might have opened…
Given my experiences from my previous life, I could manage if needed, but for the time being, I just wanted to relax.
“First, just take it easy, Unnie. Though it feels a bit like a housewarming gift, a simple snack or drink is on its way soon.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. I’ll be off now. If anything happens, contact me. Just like grandma said, the Yeon Family never forgets a favor, so if you ever need me, don’t hesitate to reach out.”
With those words, Yeonhwa closed the door and left.
Not only did I receive help regarding my returnee registration, but I also got to eat delicious meat and now a housewarming gift too.
“Ha…”
As I sank into the soft bed, a fatigue that I hadn’t felt with this body suddenly washed over me.
It’s a strange thing.
Even after returning, I oddly feel like I don’t belong.
Is it that I still feel more at home in the ‘previous world’ where Menelapie and Teresa were?
I’m not sure.
Long ago, I had watched a movie called “The Shawshank Redemption.” In it, a model inmate who had spent his entire life in prison was released, yet found the outside world so frighteningly different that he ended up taking his own life.
Perhaps my circumstances are not so unlike that model inmate.
The world has changed too much, and my family is gone.
And strangely enough, I don’t feel much longing for my family.
Even when I learned that they had died, I truly felt nothing.
Well, they must be gone. That’s just how it is…
Perhaps it’s because so much time has passed?
Or maybe it’s due to living as the returnee Shia for so long; my mindset has changed, and I can’t be certain of myself.
Yet, the fact that I have someone to rely on like Yeonhwa and Yeonseo is likely the difference between the film’s model inmate and me.
However, Yeonhwa and Yeonseo are ultimately not family that I can trust wholeheartedly.
They are still outsiders and even the help I request from them may someday feel like a burden to them.
‘As much as possible, I should try to be independent quickly.’
That’s right; after all, the world is a place where one must survive on their own.
I’m not a child.
I will live, independently, without imposing on Yeonhwa any further, off my own strength.
●●●●
And that determination completely evaporated in just three days.
No, not only did my determination fade, but here I am, exactly a month since my return, and I…
I haven’t done anything.
Seriously, I’ve done nothing at all.
I haven’t even stepped outside, lazing in bed just binging on delivery food and watching TV, finding happiness in just that.
But… what can I do…
“…Hehe, this is fun. Hunter Broadcast… Ah, that’s not how you do it… Why on earth are you gripping the mace like that? What? You didn’t notice there’s a monster lurking behind you? What are you doing? Ah… the streamer is a complete noob…”
Today again, I had the holographic TV turned up loud, sprawled on the bed with chicken in my mouth.
Even in this era, chicken still tastes great.
They say due to the new avian flu, they’re cultivating cultured meat instead of real chickens, but it is of such high quality that it tastes just like the regular chickens I remember.
“Yum yum… Oh, I’m out.”
That was the thirteenth chicken I just finished.
Ha, cleaning this up will be a hassle…
Miracle – Purification
“I’ll just clean off the oil and stench… I’ll throw away the bones and boxes later…”
Can a Seongnyeo really act so lazily?
No, genuinely, I have no choice.
Having fallen into this new age, I’m constantly being pulled into a sea of content by new technologies and subcultures that have emerged while I was gone, how could I possibly resist?!
“….Whoa, this is really over… What? It’s not done yet? Is the author still alive?!”
Reading completed mangas or novels is enjoyable.
Especially the content from the internet or TV is so vast that I’d spend nights fully engrossed in them.
Though catching up on the comics I had missed is fine, the absolute highlight has been indulging in chicken while watching Hunter broadcasts.
While watching, I realized that in this era, streamers—those who host personal broadcasts—can gain fame and wealth comparable to regular shows, given they have the skills.
I saw channels featuring certain big-name streamers, and it appears the standing of streamers had risen significantly compared to when I lived.
By sheer coincidence, I stumbled upon a Hunter Broadcast that had nearly 200,000 viewers—quite a number for just a stream—and after checking, I found out the streamer was a returnee and S-grade Hunter named Yujin.
Anyway, after that, I just laid back, ordered takeout, and spent my time watching comics on my smartphone in one hand while using the TV for Hunter broadcasts and streams, simply squandering my life away.
“Wasting life is the greatest satisfaction and thrill that someone once mentioned…”
With the chicken all gone… what should I do now?
Still feeling a bit hungry…
For reference, I was using money transferred from the Returnee Management Bureau via the smartwatch on my wrist.
In this era, cash is rarely used, and electronic currency for payments is standard.
I think I had about 100 million won.
Some returnees even said they used this money to start their business… as if I’d do something as ridiculous as that…
My mood feels oddly… melancholic and dull… maybe it’s because I’m not shoving more chicken into myself? Well then… how about another tasty tidbit?
This time, instead of chicken…
“Oh, no! I can’t continue down this path!”
No, I’m still a Seongnyeo.
Even if I’ve returned to this world, my life as a Seongnyeo of over 60 years has not disappeared!
So why am I living like this, all slumped?
If I keep this up, I’ll end up just being a useless bum!
Yet when I tell myself I want to do something, a wave of lethargy hits me again intensely.
But I’m alone; Menelapie and Teresa are gone…
What should I do all by myself…
“…I’m going to become a lucid mushroom…”
If this continues, I’ll be a mushroom growing on the wall…
Feeling restless… bored and… dreary…
When I checked the time, it was 4 PM.
‘Oh, it’s 4 PM… right? Since the sun is up, it must be 4 PM…?’
I, who stayed up watching Hunter broadcasts and comics till dawn, only woke up around lunchtime today without even washing my face, and I’ve just been lazing around all this time in bed…
Oh, no. I can’t do this. I really can’t.
I can’t live like this!
“Let’s go out.”
First, let’s wash up.
Then let’s go out and do something. Whether it’s having a meal or taking a walk!
I feel bored too. I should just do something.
For a month, all I saw was the flickering lights of the TV and the white walls of my Returnee Shelter.
I should clear my mind by taking a walk…
