* * *
The original work didn’t specify the exact timing of the protagonist’s awakening, making it hard to pinpoint.
Thinking he couldn’t continue like this, he got Beom Sinje’s address from a subordinate and went straight to his house.
Before awakening, Beom Sinje’s home was devastatingly poor.
His father had caused trouble and left, and his mother, who raised him alone, had fallen seriously ill.
“Ha… Is this the place?”
And the run-down house with a collapsed slate roof looked even worse in reality than in text, making him frown instinctively.
‘Even if hardships and trials are meant to elicit empathy from readers…’
He clicked his tongue.
Just then, a voice came from behind.
“Who are you?”
Turning around, he saw a tall man with messy hair, oil-stained clothes, and soot smudged on his face.
But then—
“What’s with this wretched appearance?”
Doyoung scowled and spoke without thinking.
A gust of dust swept over the cement ground littered with weeds.
A few seconds of silence followed.
Blink, blink.
Doyoung’s eyelids twitched slightly.
He hadn’t intended to say that.
It was just that the system window had offered up lines like that when he opened his mouth.
[Choose a line from the following options ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ
- (Scowling) What’s with this wretched appearance?
-
(Looking up and down) Did you roll out of a trash can? What’s with that look?
-
(Clicking tongue) I can’t bear to look at you.
If you don’t choose within five seconds, the line will be selected automatically!]
It felt excessive for a first meeting.
‘So capricious.’
He hesitated for a moment, and his lips moved on their own to deliver option 1.
“Ah…”
And who was the man standing in front of him?
The future savior of the world, an S-rank esper, and a top-tier hunter.
According to the author, he possessed the physique of a model and the face of a sculpture.
With an aura likened to that of a lone wolf—wild yet captivating.
He hadn’t meant to blurt out what should have been an internal thought.
‘What do I do now?’
Should he apologize for the slip?
He couldn’t exactly say that the system forced him.
“Are you here to see my father?”
A voice interrupted his worry.
Only now did he realize how attractive it was. Low, resonant, and captivating.
‘He’d make a great actor.’
Lost in thought, Doyoung snapped back to reality when the gaze staring at him intensified.
“Hmph!”
Clearing his throat, he slowly scrutinized the man in front of him again.
His physique was exceptional—broad shoulders, long and straight limbs, a strong waist and thighs.
He definitely had the makings of a hunter skilled in close combat.
“Um…”
Even after not receiving a response twice, Beom Sinje spoke again, without a hint of annoyance.
“Are you Beom Sinje?”
“…How much did my father borrow?”
What a question to ask upon confirming his name.
It made Doyoung frown involuntarily.
“It’s not that.”
His deep, dark eyes filled with curiosity as they looked at him intently.
Despite his disheveled appearance, his aura and demeanor were commanding.
‘So this is what they mean by the protagonist’s spirit.’
Nodding unconsciously, he quickly snapped back to his senses.
“Have you noticed any unusual changes in your body recently?”
“Pardon?”
“Like items breaking more easily than before, or things bending when you touch them. Maybe you used to lift 20 kg, but now you can easily handle 60 kg.”
These were traits of physically awakened espers.
“Or maybe you could barely climb ten flights of stairs before, but now you can reach the 48th floor without feeling winded.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Think carefully.”
Doyoung crossed his arms and gave some time for thought.
The reason he had come all this way was singular: there was a chance that Beom Sinje might have awakened without realizing it.
When life is tough, there might not be the luxury of self-reflection.
“I’m not sure about that. But who are you?”
Beom Sinje glanced up briefly, as if contemplating something, then shook his head and redirected the question.
Doyoung hesitated for a moment.
‘Right, what should I say?’
In his eagerness to meet Beom Sinje, he hadn’t actually prepared what to tell him.
Should I say I’m a senior at the hunter training academy you’re going to attend?
Or maybe claim to be from the government’s Esper diagnostic center?
As if such far-fetched excuses would work.
In the span of barely five seconds, countless stories popped into Doyoung’s mind before one struck him like a light bulb switching on.
“I’m the cousin of your father’s fifth cousin.”
A ridiculously long-winded way of saying he was basically a stranger.
“Oh.”
For some reason, Beom Sinje nodded as if he understood.
‘What? Does he actually believe that?’
Doyoung was the one who ended up surprised.
No matter how naive someone is, this was almost too much.
“You came a long way; please sit. Maybe some tea…”
The invitation from Beom Sinje as he turned toward the house made Doyoung click his tongue internally.
Still, he didn’t pass up the opportunity.
“No, no need for tea. Just water.”
He didn’t think there’d be any tea anyway.
Doyoung scanned the peeling, splintered wooden floor with a disapproving eye before sitting down with a thump.
“Please wait a moment.”
Beom Sinje, answering obediently again, opened the nearly falling-apart door.
Doyoung rose and followed, only to be taken aback.
“This is ridiculous. What kind of state is this house in?”
The fridge, which looked at least 40 years old, stood wide open, and there was about 5 centimeters of dust piled up on the stove.
Dishes were scattered everywhere, as if there wasn’t even a sink, and the water Beom Sinje had intended to serve was in a blue, oversized container, sloshing around.
“This won’t do. Pack your things.”
Living in such conditions made no sense.
While Espers typically had strong constitutions, it was a wonder he hadn’t fallen ill.
With a determined air, Doyoung pulled Beom Sinje to an empty apartment by force.
◇◆◇◆◇
Bringing Beom Sinje alone wasn’t all Doyoung did.
He instructed people to install CCTVs throughout the apartment.
He wanted to monitor every move, ready to catch any sign of awakening.
He also arranged for Beom Sinje’s mother to be admitted to a VIP suite in a top hospital.
The place had excellent water, clean air, and state-of-the-art medical facilities, and he instructed the medical staff to provide the best possible care.
Back at the apartment, Doyoung immediately pushed Beom Sinje into the bathroom.
“Start by cleaning up that messy look.”
Beom Sinje blinked his clear eyes, then obediently stepped inside.
Afterward, Doyoung called a hair stylist and a department store personal shopper.
Once all the grime was washed away, his true appearance was revealed.
“Wow… You look amazing!”
The personal shopper’s exclamation mirrored Doyoung’s inner thoughts.
‘Just a haircut and a change of clothes, and he already looks this impressive.’
It underscored the importance of a good foundation.
Despite thinking that, Doyoung maintained his cool, detached demeanor.
‘Whatever happens, I need to keep a close eye on him from now on.’
Resolved, he tilted his chin slightly.
“From now on, you’ll live here and stop whatever you were doing.”
“I can’t do that. I have many debts to pay.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. Your father left something behind that can cover some of it.”
“My father did?”
That couldn’t be true.
Suspicion flickered in Beom Sinje’s eyes.
No wonder—anyone would doubt it after dealing with creditors and debt collectors daily.
Why else would he have asked about his father’s debts as soon as Doyoung confirmed his identity?
“To be precise, it was an inheritance left by your great-grandfather’s brother.”
It didn’t exist.
* * *
*Summary page is only available for login users. Non-users can view the chapters on the chapter list.*
Lmao he suddenly had a random family member appearing
Oxi ele simplesmente acredito nessa desculpa tão rápido??