102 - Murim Login

Episode 102 Everyone has their area of expertise. Just as I'm well-versed in formations within gates, actions during critical situations, and the weaknesses of monsters, I am equally a novice when it comes to legal matters. "You've worked hard." "You too, sir." The man with angular horn-rimmed glasses was my legal representative, handling the real estate transaction. Across the table, the homeowner and a real estate agent were exchanging greetings as they began to stand up. "Congratulations on the deal. It's impressive to see a young person succeed like this." "Ah, yes. Thank you." It was as I shook hands with the homeowner that a new realization dawned on me. 'It's truly my house now.' And it belongs to my family as well. Reclaimed after a whopping 11 years. I glanced around the cramped room. There was the old bed with sagging springs, a small wardrobe that hardly accommodated a few clothes, a desk with chipped paint, and a small TV on top. After gathering my clothes and miscellaneous items, leaving behind what I didn't need, I filled a single cardboard box. 'Only one box.' Seven years of my life contained in it. Feeling somewhat melancholic, I was aimlessly looking around the room when he spoke. "You're leaving?" I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. He was an inseparable part of my seven years. "Yeah." "And the new home?” “I’ve found one, so I’m moving out.” “Well, you don’t waste time. Have your family moved into the new place?” “No, not yet. It’s still a secret. I plan to tell them after my brother finishes his college entrance exams.” “Good timing then.” “Yes, I need to do some remodeling before that.” A brief silence followed. We were comfortable even without words, able to read each other's minds just from a glance, but now, neither of us knew what to say. "Hyung." "Hey, hey, don't get all sentimental." Jinho hyung patted my back roughly. “What are you, an elementary school kid transferring schools? Are you not planning to see me once you move?” "I'll make sure to meet you." "That's all that matters. Besides, I’m moving out today too." "Hyung, too?" "I told you last time, didn’t I? Can't you remember?" "Oh, right." I had felt uneasy, leaving Jinho hyung alone in the goshiwon after all these years together, but learning this put my mind at ease. "Where are you moving?” “I’m crashing at a friend’s place. Where's your new house again?” “Goyang City. Only 30 minutes from here, so it’s not too far.” “Goyang City?” Jinho hyung's eyes widened. "I’m near there too, man!" “Really?” I was inwardly delighted by the unexpected news. A face I would miss seeing even for a day, it’d be nice to live close so we could often meet. “Hyung, then what’s your exact address...?” Just as I was about to ask for the address, my smartphone buzzed in my pocket. Answering the call, a gruff voice echoed through the receiver. "Hey, Jin Taekyung? I'm in front of the goshiwon." "Oh, yes. Sir." It was the personal moving service driver I had arranged beforehand. A quick glance through the window confirmed a blue delivery truck waiting outside. "Do you have a lot of stuff? I can help if it’s heavy." "No, I’ll manage." I only had two items to move. A cardboard box filled with small items, and... 'The capsule.' With the logout function now active, I no longer needed the capsule to traverse between the martial world and reality. It was now just a space-consuming relic but held profound significance for me. I had called the delivery truck purely for its sake. 'Where would I be without this capsule?' I gently patted the capsule's surface. The metal cold and coarse under my touch. This old capsule had turned my life completely around. Oh, and there was someone who played a big part too. "Hyung Jinho." "Yeah?" His confused look made me chuckle. Had he not gotten drunk that day, I never would have stepped into the capsule. “Never mind.” “Stop being ridiculous. Anyway, aren’t you supposed to be heading out? The truck’s waiting.” “Oh, right. Could you help with this box? I need to carry the capsule, so my hands are full.” “Uh, sure?” “What’s with that reaction? You can’t help your brother with just one box?” “That’s not it... Ah, I just remembered I need to pack as well. Just make an extra trip. Good luck!” He slipped away like a fish. Watching Jinho hyung’s retreating figure, I finally picked up the box. The moving truck honked impatiently, bursting my eardrums. Beep! Beep! “Yes, I’m coming down now!” “Are you a Hunter?” The moving driver, who had been stealing glances at me, asked as he loaded the box and capsule into the truck, now heading to my new home following the GPS. "How did you know?" "You can just tell. I used to be a Hunter, classified F-rank." “Oh, really?” "I’m probably an older classmate than you in training. Not trying to be a boor though. Funny for a guy who quit and handed in his license in a month." The driver continued talking as if to himself. “Hunter training was bearable. Even as an F-rank, there was pride in becoming a Hunter. But the moment I joined a guild after graduating, things went bad.” An accident at a gate almost always means death. In a world where money can mend severed limbs, that’s not what we call an accident. "It was a buddy from training. Was dragged away and killed... I froze when I should have chased after and rescued him. After the funeral, I quit, figuring I shouldn’t be in raids." He tried to appear nonchalant but his voice betrayed a tremble he couldn’t hide. "Sorry for being such a downer in front of a Hunter. Not really a good story to share." "It’s alright," I assured him. I understood the moving driver's feelings completely. I've had similar experiences myself. Had it not been for the sense of responsibility towards my family, or the comforting presence of Jinho hyung, I might have retired two years ago. 'My life would have been vastly different then.' Being a Hunter is an intense job. Although media praises them as humanity’s protectors and shields, they constantly live alongside death. - Turn right in 50 meters. Paused by the navigation voice, the driver mumbled to himself. “Oh, this is a safe zone.” “That’s right, please proceed.” "Ah, okay." The delivery truck soon reached our destination. A blue-roofed, two-story house with modest stone walls and a lawn. The feeling was different from when I first saw it a few days ago. 'I guess because it's now ours.' Our house. The more I thought about it, the better it felt. Of course, the house being charming also helped. “Wow... you’ve got a nice house.” The driver, stepping out from his seat, clicked his tongue in admiration. Hearing someone else compliment it made it sound even sweeter. No matter how hard I tried to suppress it, I couldn't help but smile. “You must be a successful Hunter. I've always dreamed of living in such a place.” “Me too.” “Well, your dream’s come true. Must feel great.” Of course, it felt incredible. He continuously marveled at the stone wall and the lawn. Then he asked. “Mind if I step inside for a quick look? I need to move the capsule in anyway.” "Sure, go ahead." Unintentionally making him the first guest in the new house, I saw him climb into the truck bed to carry the capsule. "But that thing must be quite hefty.” “It’s fine. I’ve moved plenty before. Game capsules weigh about the same." "But it’s actually quite heavy." I knew, having lifted it myself. Even with three-digit strength stats, it felt suitably weighty. It’d be much heavier for him. “Sir, I’ll do it.” He grinned while hugging the capsule. “Come on. Don’t underestimate me. I used to be a Hunter, remember? This is nothing... Ugh!” “Wow.” As expected of an ex-Hunter, he did manage to lift it in one go. Though the smile had vanished from his face. “Go open the doors inside. Quick!” At his urgent tone, I hurriedly opened the gate and the front door. For some reason, I found myself getting tense too. “Really, let me carry it…” “Move it!” “Oh, alright.” With a gasp akin to a scream, he rushed into the living room. “Which room!” “The capsule’s supposed to go on the second…” “What?” “… floor, but just put it in the nearest room for now.” Thankfully, the door was open. With a thunk, he set the capsule down, panting heavily. “Why is this... so... heavy?” Didn’t I tell him it was heavy? The moment the moving driver left, I sank into the living room sofa. It's one of the pieces I got from the previous owner on the condition of a lump sum payment. ‘I’m going to be living alone for a few months.’ I told my family I’d moved back to Bucheon. I planned to eat, sleep, and commute from here until Hayun's college entrance exams were over. ‘I need to remodel the house, buy a car. Well, the guild promised to provide a vehicle, so I should first get a license.’ There was a mountain of things to do. Yet instead of being overwhelmed, I felt energized. Tasks I couldn't do before. Just a few months ago, I was struggling between gates and the gosiwon, but so much has changed since then. ‘You've grown a lot, Jin Taekyung.’ A certain person came to mind. Someone who laughed like a boy despite his age, who was the best father and friend to his family. I thought of him. ‘Dad, I bought a house. The place where we used to live is gone now, but I did well, right?’ Despite wanting to boast like a child, the person who’d praise me was long gone. All I could do was repeat words that would never reach him. How much time had passed like that? When I snapped back, it was already 8 PM. The summer sun was slowly setting. ‘So my last vacation day ends like this.’ A week-long vacation. It had its chaos, involving the Sangdong Guild, but it was the best rest I’d had since starting my Hunter career. Now it was time to return to my usual life. ‘In exactly twelve hours from now.’ I lay flat on the sofa. I considered entering the capsule, but quickly dismissed the thought. This was the first time I’d returned home in 11 years. This time, I wanted to wake up in our living room, not in the stifling capsule. ‘Login.’ The system responded to my call. Ding. - Would you like to connect to [Murim]? Y / N. Of course, my answer was Yes. Long after Jin Taekyung lost consciousness, something unexpected happened in the room beside the entrance. A soft hiss. The capsule, resembling a giant egg, slowly began to open. The first part to emerge was a pair of feet. Knee-high sports socks with red lettering. - Hope Gosiwon Soccer Club. Next, athletic pants rolled halfway up were revealed, followed by pale, skinny hands clutching a book as if it were a holy scripture. The book cover gleamed brightly in the sunset light streaming through the window. - Complete Mastery of Administrative Exams. Finally, his face emerged, drawn with exhaustion. Like a determined prince born from an egg, he seemed relieved. His parched lips parted to release a dry voice. “Is this my new nest...?” Looking around the spacious room, Seong Jinho’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.