Chapter 1: My Girlfriend’s Awakening

Joo Hyun was the lowest E-class Hunter.

I loved her, an E-class Hunter, so much.

So I risked everything to protect her.

Then one day, Joo Hyun, who was an E-class, awakened into the top S-class Hunter.

But she didn’t awaken because she was inherently great.

Joo Hyun awakened as an S-class because she received a buff due to my unique characteristic.

My unique characteristic was the one of the best in the world

But at that time, I didn’t know what my characteristic was.

I had unconsciously activated one function of that characteristic of mine on Joo Hyun without knowing it.

That’s how Joo Hyun came to awaken as an S-class.

At that time, Joo Hyun had no idea at all that I was the one who had made her S-class.

That’s why as soon as Joo Hyun became S-class, she cheated on me with a man who was more successful than me.

And soon after, she heartlessly abandoned me.

Her true nature, which had fawned over me in every way when she was lower than me, was revealed.

Joo Hyun and her successful new boyfriend ignored me, thinking I was just a low, low C-class ex-boyfriend.

I wanted to make Joo Hyun and the man she cheated with regret it somehow.

But at that time, I didn’t know how I could make them regret it.

Just as she firmly believed I was C-class and easily abandoned me, I also thought I was C-class.

I was just subjected to it, completely unaware that I was the one who had made her S-class.

The period until I properly learned what my unique characteristic was was like a hidden camera prank for me.

I learned about my characteristic by chance.

A few days after my relationship with her completely ended in a breakup, a large monster raid occurred in the city.

During that raid, I happened to come into contact with a woman named Han Yu Ri, an S-class Hunter.

Even as an S-class Hunter, Han Yu Ri was greatly surprised by the strange power I possessed.

So she helped me figure out my characteristic.

With her full support as an S-class Hunter who held significant authority, I was able to learn what my unique characteristic was.

Thanks to that, I learned that my characteristic was The strongest characteristic.

And only then did I learn the fact that I was the one who had awakened my ex-girlfriend, Joo Hyun, into an S-class.

The power wielded by Joo Hyun’s new boyfriend was too formidable.

So even after fully obtaining my characteristic, defeating him was by no means easy.

But I had to do it.

To punish Kim Joon Hyuk, my love rival, who would stand by and watch the world’s destruction for his own gain, and to make my ex-girlfriend regret it.

After that, to live my life properly again in a peaceful world.

The more S-class Hunters I could get close to, and the deeper I could get close to them, the more help I could receive from them.

That was the path that could further increase the probability of achieving what I wanted.

Starting with Han Yu Ri, the S-class buffer, I proceeded towards my greatest goal in life, making as many S-class Hunters as possible my allies, including Kim Cho Ah, an S-class attack-type Hunter, and Yoon Kyung Ah, an S-class mage.

***

The first beginning of my story is from the time Joo Hyun and I were still dating.

In those days, I was so happy to be dating Joo Hyun.

Joo Hyun’s face was, of course, very beautiful, but the feelings she sent towards me were also very beautiful.

“Oppa. I love you. I only have you.”

Joo Hyun said to me, with a lovely expression.

“Really only me?”

‘I’m so happy.’

I asked Joo Hyun, smiling.

“Yes.”

Joo Hyun looked at me with sparkling eyes and replied.

“I’m really sorry for being a burden.”

“Burden? I told you not to say things like that. Why are you a burden? Where can one find such a beautiful burden?”

Joo Hyun said with a listless expression.

I wanted to soothe Joo Hyun’s mood.

So I said something a little cheesy.

“Heh.”

Joo Hyun laughed.

“You work so hard every day to protect me, Oppa.

If it weren’t for me, you could have earned a lot more money.”

“It’s okay. I’m doing it because I love you, you know.”

“Instead, I’ll do housework better from now on and make food better. I’ll also act cute.”

Joo Hyun made a cute expression, like someone surrendering.

Then, she put up only her index fingers on both hands and bumped them together as she spoke.

“Alright.”

I smiled and stroked Joo Hyun’s head.

“Then Joo Hyun, will you marry Oppa?”

I asked Joo Hyun, smiling playfully.

“Of course!

Rather, I’m grateful.

I’ll do it right away on the day you want to.

I’ll really do well.”

Joo Hyun said with wide eyes.

I smiled looking at her.

And we kissed.

Three years passed like that, living together in one house with Joo Hyun.

“Oppa.

I got re-examined at the BM Guild, and they said I’m S-class!”

Joo Hyun, who was an E-class Hunter, awakened as S-class.

Second awakenings among Hunters happened occasionally, but going from E to S was something I had never heard of, so I was surprised.

Especially since it was my girlfriend.

I sincerely congratulated Joo Hyun and threw an awakening party for her.

Joo Hyun was very happy.

After Joo Hyun awakened as an S-class, from a certain day, Joo Hyun started staying out more often.

She said she was playing with friends and sleeping over.

She must be sleeping at a luxury hotel with a well-equipped monster defense system.

Where is she getting the money?

Even if she awakened as S-class, she probably doesn’t have money yet since she hasn’t been employed as an S-class Hunter.

Do her friends pay for everything?

[Yes. I don’t think I can come home today either. Go to bed first.]

[Okay. Have fun and stay safe.]

Joo Hyun didn’t come home today either.

Well, I guess she must have been lonely since she couldn’t get a job at a normal company after being judged as an E-class Hunter and all her friends drifted away.

It’s good that she has friends again.

There were no major problems between us even after Joo Hyun’s awakening.

On days Joo Hyun came home, we ate together and slept together just like usual.

Except for the fact that she was staying out more and more often, Joo Hyun and I lived like usual and made love like usual.

Then, a few months after Joo Hyun’s awakening.

I was playing alone at home when I got a text message from Joo Hyun.

[I’m actually dating an S-class Hunter boyfriend. We’ve been dating for a while. Since a little over 4 months ago…

Sorry.

I wanted to tell you quickly, but it was a bit hard to say, so I kept putting it off, thinking ‘I’ll tell you tomorrow, I’ll tell you tomorrow’.

I hope you don’t look for me anymore.

Take care.]

Seeing Joo Hyun’s sudden text message, I felt like I was hit in the head.

It wasn’t a joking tone.

Then…

Was that why she had been staying out often all this time?

Too dumbfounded, I asked Joo Hyun who the person was.

Joo Hyun kept refusing to tell me.

But she answered after my persistent questioning.

[Kim Joon Hyuk, the representative of the BM Guild.]

Kim Joon Hyuk…

An S-class Hunter, and the representative of Korea’s number one Hunter guild.

I see….

It seems like there was something going on with him since she went to the BM Guild and got her S-class evaluation.

That b*stard.

He looked menacing.

There were also many rumors that he committed illegal corruption to maintain his guild’s status.

Why with a b*stard like that?

Because of money and power?

It was a celebratory thing that Joo Hyun became S-class.

Now that her rank was higher, going to another man was a sad thing for me, but I thought it was inevitable.

But this way she went about it was really not right.

Two-timing and a breakup notification via text.

This was truly not right.

As much as I wanted to, I wanted to go find that Kim Joon Hyuk guy and hit him.

But under current law, fighting between Hunters results in heavy punishment, so it was impossible.

Besides, even if I hit him, he was an opponent I couldn’t easily damage.

And no matter how much I hated her, I couldn’t hit a woman.

So I decided to demand a sincere apology from Joo Hyun.

I wanted to meet Joo Hyun, receive a proper apology, and end things cleanly.

So I asked Joo Hyun to meet.

Joo Hyun adamantly refused, saying she didn’t want to.

But I really wanted to receive an apology.

So eventually, we decided to meet at a cafe.

A few days later, inside a cafe near the BM Guild.

“Why are you being so pathetic?!”

Joo Hyun said, frowning heavily.

Joo Hyun’s voice was sharp.

“What? Pathetic?!”

Hearing those words, I retorted indignantly.

“Yes. Pathetic. What do you want to hear?”

Joo Hyun responded coldly.

“I understand perfectly that your feelings are completely gone. But at least we should break up properly. What is this?”

“Can’t you just figure it out and end it yourself?”

“What did you say?”

I made a dumbfounded expression.

And I asked back in disbelief.

“I told you via text that I got a boyfriend. Didn’t I say enough for you to understand everything? No?”

“Are you seriously…”

My words were cut off.

I made a flabbergasted expression.

“Are you seriously asking because you don’t know? It means I got another man, so stop bothering me and figure it out. Couldn’t you have just understood on your own and stopped contacting me?

It’s clear that we’re going to break up anyway now.

So why do we have to meet specifically to break up?”

“Joo Hyun. We dated for three years. Is it okay for you to just say ‘I got a boyfriend’ and end it yourself?

And you dated someone else at the same time you were dating me.

Don’t you feel sorry about that at all?”

“Uh. Sorry.”

Joo Hyun looked me straight in the eye.

And she replied casually.

“Who apologizes like that?”

“If you didn’t want to receive an apology like this, you shouldn’t have asked to meet.

Why did you specifically ask to meet then?

I hate situations like this. It’s uncomfortable.”

“Ah, because you’re just uncomfortable and hate it.

So you wished I would just get a text saying ‘I got a boyfriend’ and just disappear, and why did I specifically ask to meet, is that it?”

“Yes. I’m a little disappointed in you, Oppa.

When I told you things turned out that way with difficulty, couldn’t you have just said, ‘Okay, so that’s how it is.

Alright, live well’ and just ended it?

Do we specifically have to meet like this?”

“Ha…”

“What’s good about seeing each other like this and just getting angry? Did you ask to meet to argue about me getting a boyfriend? It’s over anyway.

What do you gain from arguing?”

“First of all, I didn’t ask to meet to argue with you.

Again, I came here to receive a proper apology, break up, and end it.

Getting into a fight like this now?

That’s because you first picked a fight with me by calling me pathetic.

You can’t blame me after you picked the fight first.”

I barely suppressed my bursting anger and continued speaking.

“And what? You’re disappointed in me? Hey, you’re the one who cheated while dating. You haven’t forgotten that, have you?

You’re not possibly failing to realize that you’re reversing the roles, are you?

How can someone who cheated say they’re disappointed in me? How can that be? I don’t understand.”

I looked at Joo Hyun with fire in my eyes and said.

“Ha, I didn’t want to say this much either.”

Joo Hyun closed her eyes tightly once and said.

“Ah, if you become S-class, you dump your lousy ex-boyfriend and meet a better man, right?

That’s how the world is.

You could have just understood on your own and ended it by saying ‘Alright.’

What are you doing now? Being pathetic.”

“Ha, how can you say that to me?

I’m the person who protected you all this time.

You who cried, saying ‘What should I do?’ after being judged as E-class, and thought your life was over.

You who were certainly destined to die from monsters that would come for you if it weren’t for me, and you who couldn’t hire a security Hunter because you had no money.

I was the one who protected someone like you, who was just waiting for the day to die, for the sole reason of loving you!”

“Yeah. Who’s arguing? Who said they aren’t thankful for that? I’m thankful for that too.

Thank you. Okay?

But I’m S-class now.

I’m a globally valuable talent.

Honestly, even this time is precious to me. I’m busy. You know, right? What kind of existence S-class Hunters are globally.

You taking up my time like this right now.

It’s a huge loss for me. Your 3 years as C-class, and my 1 hour as S-class.

Which do you think is more valuable? Ask everyone in the world! Which one they’d say is higher!”

Joo Hyun shouted and continued speaking.

“You’re just taking up the precious time of an S-class over something that could have been resolved if you had just said ‘Okay, I got it’ and ended it. I have nothing more to say. I’m leaving.”

Joo Hyun finished speaking like that.

Joo Hyun packed her bag and coat.

And then she stood up heartlessly.

“Where do you think you’re going after doing something like this and just leaving?”

I said in a strong voice.

“Ah, well. Then what do you want me to do?”

Joo Hyun replied irritably.

“Did you think I’d just meekly end it after getting stabbed in the back so hard?

Did you think I was a pushover?

I need an apology from both of you, so call your boyfriend.”

I said to Joo Hyun with a very angry expression.