Lee Seong-jun's growth was terrifyingly fast. On the Thousand Continents, it had taken him ten long years of blood, sweat, and survival to climb to the peak of martial mastery. Yet on Earth, less than a month had passed since his return, and already he could see himself reaching that same pinnacle within six months. His experience and knowledge gave him a foundation, but even so, the ease of growth felt unreal. Every level gained, every bonus point invested, brought immediate change. His body adapted, strengthened, and evolved almost daily.
The life of a Hunter proved far better than he had expected. Not only was it a path of power, it was a profession drenched in wealth. Seong-jun's recent gate clearings, core sales, and monster byproducts had accumulated to staggering amounts. After taxes, over four billion won rested in his account. That number was not just money—it was liberation. It meant his family, who had lived day by day under the weight of poverty, would no longer suffer for tomorrow's bread.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of familiar footsteps at the door. His sharpened senses told him exactly who was arriving—his parents and his sister, Seo-yoon. The timing was unusual, but it was not a surprise. He had asked them to come early, urging them to use a rare half-day leave. They never had time to gather like this, but today, he had something to share.
When they entered, confusion filled their eyes. They were not used to coming together without reason. But Seong-jun, steady and calm, guided them to sit. He had already prepared himself for this moment.
The words came simply: from this day forward, his family no longer needed to live shackled by hardship. To prove it, he placed a bankbook into his father's hands. The numbers inside were beyond imagination. Billions. Enough to overturn their lives in an instant.
Shock spread across the table. His sister Seo-yoon, trembling, even voiced the fear that such wealth might have been earned through illegitimate means. Seong-jun silenced the thought with firm denial. This was not crime, but reward—the natural result of the Hunter's path.
Still, the weight of his words pressed heavily on them. Hunters were known to earn fortunes, but usually only after years, sometimes decades, of risking life and limb. For someone barely a month into the profession to amass such sums was unheard of.
His father, Lee Soo-hyuk, felt both pride and unease. He understood that power and wealth never came without price. What suffering must his son have endured on the Thousand Continents to achieve this strength? What hidden pain lay behind that bright smile?
Though Seong-jun reassured them, his mother's eyes betrayed her worry. She knew the dangers of success—that envy and greed followed those who rose too quickly. Yet her son's resolve was unshakable. He told them he wanted only one thing: for them to live freely, to do what they wanted without being forced into endless toil.
But the silence in the room was heavy. Family love carried its own burdens. They had always struggled together, supporting each other in hardship. Now, for one person to shoulder everything alone felt almost unnatural.
His father finally spoke, voicing hesitation. How could he accept money earned through his son's peril? But Seong-jun would not allow such guilt. He reminded his father of the truth: a man who had sacrificed his entire life for his family deserved to live without regret. What he offered was not a burden, but compensation for that lifetime of devotion.
These words were not easy for him to say. In his past life, he had taken such sacrifices for granted. But the Thousand Continents had changed him. There, he had seen cruelty, betrayal, and selfishness even among kin. He had learned that true familial love was rare, and nothing in this world was owed or guaranteed. His father's sacrifices had been genuine, rooted in love, and that was worth more than anything.
So he declared it firmly: this was his will, his greed if one must call it that. He wanted his family not just to survive, but to live happily.
His father sighed deeply, conflict warring within him. Yet beneath the lines of worry on his brow, a gentler expression emerged. In the end, he could not deny his son's determination. Though hesitant, he accepted, with the quiet words that he truly could not stop him.
In that moment, the heavy burden of generations began to shift. For the first time, their family's future no longer seemed bound by struggle.