March 2031.

  Over a year had passed since high school graduation, and I still stayed home like a jobless drifter.

  My father was a respected department head at a major corporation, my mother a former freelance A-rank Hunter, and my older brother, six years my senior, was hailed as Korea’s pride, an S-rank Hunter… while I was just a useless bum obsessed with anime.

  Until middle school, I’d believed I could Awaken like my mother and brother and become a Hunter.

  But even now, I still hadn’t Awakened.

  Most second-generation Awakened tended to manifest their Abilities earlier, yet by the time I finished high school, there was no sign.

  This morning, my father suggested I find a part-time job, but I had no desire to work.

  I’d dropped out of studying and refused to put in effort. I always thought I’d just become a Hunter someday after Awakening and coast through life. The result of wasting my youth on subculture obsessions was the mess I’d become.

  But in this era, the top dream for teenagers was to become a Hunter!

  Who didn’t go through their teens with a mix of adolescence and chuunibyou? And Awakened, who could actually use the superpowers from those subculture stories, were like living embodiments of those delusions.

  Especially the children of Awakened, second-gens had higher Awakening rates, so expectations were naturally higher.

  Thinking my brother Awakened so I should too, I neglected my studies, my grades tanked, and college became a distant dream.

  The outcome: no Awakening, deep into subculture, a shut-in with zero productivity.

  My self-loathing lasted all of three minutes before I picked up my phone like always, opened NovelFi, and started reading novels with a dumb grin.

  Lately, re-Awakening stories were trending.

  Tales of Hunters who Awakened again to become the strongest, save the world, win over captivating heroines, and enjoy wealth and power…

  "Ah, I’m so jealous."

  When will I ever Awaken?

  I finished the novel I was reading, found no sequel, and clicked on another. Hunter livestream themes were also popular now.

  After all, some Hunters had started doing both streaming and hunting to make a living, spawning related fiction.

  While browsing, I switched pages and entered the Awakened forum.

  The posts were all the same:

  [When will I Awaken?]

  [Big reveal: a method to Awaken anyone, heard from an Awakened!]

  [My friend Awakened and I’m so fucking jealous! Damn!]

  [I need Awakening methods!!]

  And so on. I clicked the one claiming to reveal the method.

  The content was just one line:

  "Doesn’t exist, dumbass!!"

  Of course it was a troll post. They say Awakened made up 20% of the global population.

  Meaning 80% of humanity were non-Awakened, so they outnumbered those who had awakened.

  "Damn it…!!"

  All I could think about was Awakening and becoming a Hunter.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  My phone chimed with an instant message:

  -Holy shit I Awakened

  The sender was barely my only friend.

  Our parents knew each other, so we were childhood friends.

  This guy was a weirdo, aced his exams but skipped college to become a civil servant.

  What? Awakened?? I replied in disbelief:

  = Bullshit

  -For real

  = So the status screen appeared? Seriously?

  -Yeah skipping work to register my Awakening now

  Damn!! Why him and not me!

  = So what’s the Ability

  -Physical Enhancement super basic type

  Ah… one of the well-known Abilities. It boosts all physical stats, and even if you don’t become a Hunter, the robust health makes manual work easier and keeps you from getting sick much. A popular Ability.

  "Seriously dying of jealousy. Is it a growth-type or fixed-type Ability?"

  "No clue. Just Awakened less than ten minutes ago lol."

  "??? Then why are you texting?"

  "Of course I'd notify my friend!"

  Bastard... This shitty childhood friend!!!

  "Anyway suddenly feel full of power haha"

  So envious I can't breathe. I still haven't Awakened!

  "So planning to become a Hunter?"

  Hunters... are those who go through the Gate to hunt on the other side.

  The world is at peace now. Many Awakened with mediocre Abilities or who dislike combat register but keep living normal lives.

  "Not sure. But it pays better than civil service? Heard Hunters aren't making much these days either."

  Hunter income comes from crossing the Gate to hunt Alien Beings, collecting magic stones from their bodies or selling monster byproducts.

  For stable income, they must hunt daily like office workers or take down high-level monsters.

  When Awakened were rare and Hunters even scarcer, every hunt yielded plenty of magic stones. But with more competition now, search times increased while profits dropped, making income unreliable.

  The Hunter forum section is full of such complaints, though there are also many success stories about top Hunters making big money.

  "Fuck... so jealous... if I ever Awaken I'm definitely becoming a Hunter."

  "Yeah? Well I'm off to get tested now. Bye."

  So jealous! That bastard who's already good at studies and handsome Awakened before me!!

  Driven by jealousy, I started going crazy.

  That guy must be getting his Awakened tests done for registration now?

  Ah I want to Awaken too why can't I Awaken!

  I immediately rushed to the Awakened forum and posted:

  [My friend who already has everything suddenly texts me saying he Awakened]

  The guy who became a civil servant after high school is showing off his Awakening today so disgusting

  When will I ever Awaken?

  Good looks plus physical enhancement Awakening? Fuck!!

  └ Hahaha

  └ Give up and get a job you bastard!

  └ Your friend is probably sleeping with different women every day now

  └ Physical enhancement? The one that boosts sexual performance after Awakening?

  Just reading these comments made me suddenly furious.

  While wasting time spamming trash posts on the forum, my instant messenger pinged again.

  "Awakened registration complete. Come out for drinks."

  Damn...

  "You paying?"

  "Yeah so hurry up"

  I threw on some clothes and rushed to the meeting spot.

  "Oh you're here?"

  The guy was already drinking from an open bottle.

  "Psycho, you started drinking without waiting?"

  "I've got too much on my mind."

  On his mind... Well, a civil servant suddenly Awakening would definitely cause various troubles.

  I sat across from him and poured myself a drink directly.

  "What exactly is bothering you?"

  His family isn't as well-off as mine, but they're comfortable.

  "Hunter stuff of course. You get it?"

  Being a Hunter isn't just a simple career choice for Awakened.

  While becoming a Hunter exempts you from military service, by law you can be forcibly conscripted during crises right?

  "Looks like you're trying to avoid military service!"

  "Duh! Didn't you know Awakened get bullied in the military!"

  Ah that's what it is.

  That case caused quite a social discussion - the man who Awakened but didn't become a Hunter, instead enlisting as a regular soldier and getting bullied in the army.

  Even if low-level Hunters struggle financially, Awakened still have special Abilities, making them targets for jealousy.

  However, according to the Special Act on the Awakened, using one's Ability to harm ordinary people results in enhanced penalties, causing many Awakened to hesitate even in legitimate self-defense. This has led to numerous issues.

  The victim of bullying eventually attempted suicide due to physical violence and vicious verbal abuse...

  As we grilled meat and drank, chatting away, I gradually realized this guy was genuinely troubled.

  "Never mentioned it before, but the crap civil servants have to take is just fucking ridiculous."

  I thought he had it made, but it seems he has his own struggles.

  "Then quit and become a Hunter."

  "Haven't you heard? Forming teams is a problem now. Those with connections form cliques and screw over newcomers. I even dealt with Hunters who came to complain about it when I was a civil servant."

  Huh... really?

  "Shit, but the registration office said it's best to team up with someone you know, build up experience as a duo, then switch teams later?"

  Seems the rumors about Hunters having it tough these days are true.

  "If only I'd Awakened, we could've teamed up."

  "Sigh... yeah, partnering with you would've been easy, plus I could've mooched off big bro's influence."

  Big bro. If I'd Awakened and become a Hunter, I could've ridden the coattails of my S-rank brother.

  "What's the point of talking about this~ I haven't Awakened yet, have I!"

  We kept drowning our sorrows in alcohol, and before I knew it, I blacked out.