Chapter 1: The Lightning That Struck the Loser
"Boss, come on! I can't do it any better! Please, you can't fire me—I need this job!"
Jae-min's voice cracked with frustration, his hands trembling as he faced his boss.
But his boss only sighed and rubbed his temples. "I can't accept this submission, Jae-min. It's just not good enough for the company. However…" he smiled, turning toward the woman beside him, "Yoo Hye-rae is an exceptional candidate to represent us."
Yoo Hye-rae—Jae-min's ex. She smirked at him, her crimson lips curling with malicious delight.
"I'm sorry, Jae-min," she said sweetly. "But maybe you just weren't meant for this job. Or any job."
Her words cut deeper than any blade.
"I'm sorry, but you're fired," the boss added, already walking away.
---
Hours later, rain poured down on the streets of Seoul, soaking Jae-min to the bone. His once-decent suit was now clinging to him like a wet rag, his belongings stuffed into a soggy cardboard box.
He trudged aimlessly through the neon-lit streets, feeling the weight of the world crush his shoulders.
"For twenty-two years," he muttered, "no one's ever looked my way… except my little sister."
He clenched his fists.
"She's still in a coma. And I can't even afford her hospital bills."
As he passed a glowing billboard, an ad flashed across the screen — "Top Exorcists of Korea: The Heroes Who Purge the Dead!"
The sight made him pause.
"Exorcists…" he whispered.
Men and women born with Ghost Essence (G.E.), the rare ability to sense and battle ghosts. Each one governed by a system that helped them level up — a system he was never chosen by.
"To be an exorcist, you have to awaken your G.E. at eighteen. If not…"
He gave a bitter laugh.
"You're just a normal, broke loser. Like me."
---
When he reached his shabby apartment, he found the door slightly open.
Inside stood a man wearing a torn hoodie, clutching a rusty knife.
Jae-min sighed.
"Go ahead. Take what you want," he muttered, tossing his box onto the couch. "Not like there's anything valuable here anyway."
The thief blinked, completely thrown off by his apathy, before awkwardly backing out of the room.
Jae-min slumped onto his couch, grabbed a half-empty bottle of Pepsi, and stared blankly at his broken TV. Static flickered on the screen.
"Figures," he mumbled, standing up to fix the rooftop dish.
---
The wind howled as he climbed to the top of the four-story building. His hands trembled as he adjusted the loose bolts of the satellite dish.
"Just one more twist…"
A blinding flash filled the sky.
CRACK!
Lightning struck.
Jae-min's entire body convulsed as white-hot energy surged through his veins. For a moment, he saw his own blood boiling beneath his skin — like rivers of fire. Then darkness consumed everything.
His vision blurred. The wind, the rain, the world—all slipped away as he plummeted.
"I… I'm gonna die like this?" he whispered as the ground rushed up.
Tears streamed down his face.
"My… my sister… I'll never see her again."
Then, everything went black.
---
When he opened his eyes, he was lying in a hospital bed.
A sharp pain pierced his skull, but… his body was unscathed. No burns, no bruises, nothing.
"What the…?"
He looked around, dazed. The nurse beside his bed jolted awake.
"Oh! You're awake!" she gasped, rushing to his side. "Thank goodness, you're alive!"
Moments later, the doctor entered, flipping through his clipboard.
"So, you were struck by lightning… fell off a four-story building… and survived without a single scratch?" he said flatly.
He glanced up at Jae-min and shrugged. "I think you hit your head, sir. Take these pills for a week. You'll be fine."
He walked out before Jae-min could reply, leaving the nurse barely holding back laughter.
---
Later that night, Jae-min sat alone in his dimly lit apartment, staring at his trembling hands.
"What the hell happened to me…?"
Then—everything stopped.
The air froze.
Color drained from the world until it was nothing but shades of black and white.
A voice spoke behind him.
"Wow, dude. You seriously didn't have a good life. How are you this unlucky?"
Jae-min spun around—his heart nearly stopped.
Standing in his living room was a man-shaped entity wearing a black suit.
Its skin shimmered like the night sky, filled with swirling galaxies and stars. Its face was empty — no eyes, no mouth, only a void where a human visage should've been.
Jae-min staggered back.
"Wh–what are you!?"
The entity tilted its head slightly, as though studying him.
The mysterious entity stared at Jae-min—or at least, that's what he thought it was doing.
"Okay, so… you're gonna be different this time, alright? And please don't die like last time, okay?"
The words made no sense. Jae-min blinked in disbelief. "What…?"
"Oh, right, forgive me," the entity said, its voice smooth yet echoing like it came from every direction at once. "I haven't properly introduced myself. I'm the Masterpiece—the entity responsible for assigning MCs to their roles in different worlds."
Jae-min tilted his head. "Wait, MCs? You mean like main characters? In novels or movies?"
"Yeah, that's exactly what I mean. Are you always this slow, or are you just shocked?" The entity suddenly appeared behind him, its star-filled form radiating quiet power.
Jae-min jumped in surprise.
"As I was saying," the Masterpiece continued, "I create the main characters of worlds—people destined by me, chosen to walk their own heroic paths. But sometimes, I like to give them a little… push."
Jae-min raised an eyebrow. "Push?"
"I give them something—a gift that helps them fulfill their destiny. But," its tone suddenly deepened, the air growing heavy around them, "you must not die before your path is complete. Or you will regret it."
The words felt like thunder. Jae-min nodded slowly, realizing this thing wasn't joking.
"So… what do I do now? And what are you giving me?" he asked.
The Masterpiece chuckled lightly. "Don't worry about that. Just live. Live your life like someone with hope, not like a street rat."
Then, with a grin, it added, "Did you know? I once met someone in another world who used 'street rat' as an insult. Funny guy." The entity laughed, a strange cosmic sound that echoed through Jae-min's bones.
Before Jae-min could say anything else, the Masterpiece snapped its fingers.
The world lurched. Color returned. Sound flooded back in.
Jae-min blinked. He was back in his apartment—his broken couch, his flickering TV, his crappy life all waiting for him.
"What… the hell just happened?" he muttered.
Then, a ding echoed in his head.
> [System Message: Host is compatible with the System.]
[Host has now obtained the Spirit System and its abilities.]
Jae-min froze. "Wait, I… got a system?"
Another message appeared.
> [Warning! Host can only activate abilities during an event of life and death. I suggest you be prepared.]
Jae-min rubbed his temples. "So that's what he meant by 'don't die,' huh? Figures…"
He sighed and sank into his couch, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Alright then… maybe this is my only shot. I'm not wasting it."
---
The next morning, Jae-min found himself standing in front of the Korean Ghost Hunter Association (K.G.H.A.) Headquarters, the towering building gleaming under the morning sun.
"Alright," he muttered to himself. "New life. New start."
Inside, the lobby was sleek and bustling with exorcists in uniform. Holographic screens floated mid-air, showing ongoing missions and ghost rankings.
A receptionist greeted him with a bright smile. "Hello, sir. Can I help you today?"
"Uh, yeah. I'm here to register as an exorcist. I'm new," Jae-min said, scratching his neck awkwardly.
"Oh! Of course. Please place your hand on this sensor—it'll sync with your System."
He hesitated as a blue light scanned his palm.
> [Permission required for detection. Allow? Yes / No]
He mentally chose Yes. The sensor flared instantly.
"System detected!" the receptionist said cheerfully. "Alright, sir, here's your registration card and official K.G.H.A. ID. The Association app should auto-install on your phone. It'll notify you of ghost activity across the city."
She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "A bit of advice—join a guild once you level up. The big ones always get the best jobs."
Jae-min smiled faintly. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."
As he walked out, the reality hit him. He was finally an exorcist.
It wasn't just about the ghosts anymore. He could finally earn money—for his sister's treatment, for a life worth living.
That night, he sat on his worn-out couch, scrolling through the K.G.H.A. app. Most jobs were already taken by big guilds—the Han Ye-rin Group, the Silver Cross Union, the Choi Corporation.
Then one caught his eye.
> [Mission Rank: E]
[Location: Zone 6 District]
[Reward: ₩5,000,000 (approx. $3,500)]
[Warning: Mission exceeds your current rank. Fatal risk possible.]
A life-and-death situation.
Jae-min's heart thumped. "Perfect."
He clicked Accept.
---
To Be Continued…