The following morning, Lee Seong-jun began his family's long-awaited move.
In truth, there was little for him to prepare. Go Tae-hyun of the Hunter Association had handled everything—from contracts to cleaning, from reserving movers to filling the new home with furniture and appliances. All was set, as if the house had been waiting for them.
Thus, the relocation unfolded swiftly. Within a single day of receiving the deed, Seong-jun and his family stepped across the threshold of their new dwelling. At first, confusion filled their faces, the suddenness of this change leaving them disoriented. But soon, that hesitation melted into wonder and smiles.
His younger sister, Seo-yoon, was the most expressive of all. Her eyes sparkled as she darted through the wide, polished rooms, unable to contain her joy. She had grown up surrounded by narrow alleys, littered streets, and the suffocating weight of their old villa. Now, instead of shadows and filth, there stretched green paths, sunlit trees, and the freshness of grass beneath the open sky. The difference alone lightened every heart.
And the home was not merely beautiful. It was secure. Trained guards stood watch at the gates, ensuring safety even in a world where monstrous threats still loomed. For a family who once lived on the fragile edge of a safe zone—where land could be devoured by beasts overnight—this place was nothing short of a fortress.
Watching Seo-yoon's delight, Seong-jun allowed himself a proud smile. Perhaps, he thought, the Hunter Association was far more capable than he had first judged. Though their mishandling of the Frenzy Gate remained a scar, the precision of their support, their ability to provide exactly what was needed, spoke volumes. What began as a temporary alliance for his own protection now seemed to hold promise for the future.
Yet not everyone was entirely at ease. His parents, Lee Soo-hyuk and Kim Ji-young, carried both pride and unease in their gazes. Housing was scarce, nearly impossible to obtain in Seoul even for the wealthy. Decades of battle with monsters had fractured the land, shrinking the safe zones. Families longed to settle near the capital's heart, yet space was limited. And still, within a single day, their son had acquired what others waited years for.
Soo-hyuk's smile brimmed with paternal pride, but Ji-young's narrowed eyes revealed deeper worry. She wondered if her son had been forced into some hidden contract, if the Association demanded sacrifice in exchange for this gift. But when she met Seong-jun's steady gaze and heard his unwavering assurance that he acted by his own will, her doubts eased. Her smile turned soft, her words filled with only hope—that he live not for obligation, but for his own happiness.
It was in such moments that Seong-jun remembered why he longed to return to Earth. No matter the strength he gained or the riches he gathered, only family could fill the void in his heart. Their warmth, their care, was a treasure beyond measure.
For eight days, one longer than planned, he basked in that peace. The move completed, laughter echoing in their new home, he felt lighter than ever as he set out toward the Gate for his next hunt.
But his steps faltered.
A stranger awaited him.
A man in a suit, his expression polite yet purposeful, introduced himself as Lim Jae-hoon of the Hwanseong Guild—one of the five great guilds that stood at the peak of Korea's hunter world. Few could resist the weight of such a name. Most bent easily, humbled in its presence.
Yet Seong-jun did not. His eyes sharpened, his voice chilled, demanding how this man had discovered his home address so soon after the move. For a heartbeat, tension crackled in the air, as if a blade hovered between them.
Lim Jae-hoon bowed his head, quick to apologize. He explained his haste, his eagerness to recruit a rising star before others could. His words were careful, respectful, for he understood that true power often hid behind calm defiance.
And then, the offer came.
A contract that mirrored the treatment of S-rank hunters—one hundred billion won as a signing bonus, ten billion annually, and artifacts lent freely for his growth. Terms that would shatter the resolve of almost any B-rank hunter.
But Lee Seong-jun did not hesitate.
His answer was simple. Firm. Final.
He refused.
The guild agent stared at him in disbelief, unable to comprehend how anyone could turn away from wealth and prestige that most hunters would beg for. Yet for Seong-jun, neither gold nor titles could outweigh the path he had chosen.
And so, beneath the rising sun, the shadow of the great guild Hwanseong fell upon him—uninvited, but not unexpected.
The world was beginning to take notice of the Demon God's return.