* * *

There was already one person at the table, but they seemed utterly uninterested in anyone joining, absorbed in their meal and the TV.

“Quick, take a seat.”

The owner urged him, and Doyoung found himself awkwardly sitting down.

Soon, a bubbling stone pot of soup was placed before him.

“Here you go, your soup. A young man like you, looking so weak… Eat up, and if it’s not enough, let me know. I’ll give you more.”

The owner clicked his tongue, giving the thin young man a once-over from head to toe.

Embarrassed, Doyoung rubbed his cheek with the back of his hand and picked up his spoon.

After seasoning the soup with just the right amount of salted shrimp, he took a spoonful.

Warmth spread from his mouth down to his belly.

• In other news, the Cheonho Guild remains one of the most influential forces in our society today.

Hearing the familiar name, Doyoung’s gaze naturally shifted to the TV, where footage of a well-known figure appeared behind the upright anchor.

• The guild master, Hunter Beom Sinje, awakened at twenty and immediately entered the Hunter Training Academy. After graduating, he began his career as a government-affiliated Hunter. A year later, the so-called Antithesis Coup took place, leading him to establish the first private guild.

The screen showed Beom Sinje, a greatsword strapped to his back, speaking with someone.

‘Even from behind, he exudes charisma.’

Feeling pleased, Doyoung paid closer attention to the news.

• The Cheonho Guild is leading the charge in this effort, not only dealing with the remnants of the terrorist organization but also working tirelessly to restore the damage caused.

Doyoung was hoping for more about Beom Sinje, but the news moved on to the guild’s activities, glossing over the man himself.

‘Well, it sounds like things are wrapping up nicely.’

Contrary to feeling disappointed about the complete collapse of the organization he had painstakingly built, Doyoung felt strangely relieved.

“Come back next time. I’ll serve you even more,” the owner said gruffly as he paid for his meal. Doyoung forced a sheepish smile, his stomach already painfully full. The owner shooed him away with a click of the tongue.

“Thank you for the meal.”

Bowing his head, Doyoung stepped out of the restaurant.

He moved at a tortoise-like pace again until he noticed a grimy sign for an internet café.

“Maybe I’ll drop by for a bit.”

His hesitant footsteps shifted direction.

◇◆◇◆◇

Doyoung’s childhood dreams had changed multiple times.

Superman, Batman, Spider-Man… yet the core always remained the same: a hero saving the world.

Flying around ended with him splitting his forehead open, and mimicking Spider-Man left him with a broken leg.

Eventually, he realized the sad truth: he had no superpowers.

So, as an adult, Doyoung chose to become a pharmaceutical researcher.

‘It seemed a bit random, I know.’

But it was a decision made after deep contemplation.

If he couldn’t fly or sling webs to save people, he figured he could at least improve the world through medicine.

“Who would’ve thought I’d become a superpowered being, a notorious villain stirring up the world, only to retire with a ton of money?”

He had expected to retire from his pharmaceutical job at around fifty.

Doyoung chuckled, scrolling his mouse wheel.

After filling his stomach with a hearty bowl of sundae soup at the local market, he impulsively bought a new laptop at an appliance store on his way back from the internet café.

Now, he had something to spice up his otherwise mundane routine.

“Damn. Still got that radiant face. So annoyingly good-looking.”

While surfing around the web, Doyoung’s go-to site was ‘Hunters Dot Com.’

It kept tabs on Hunter rankings and activity, but it was also a lively hub for stories and gossip about favorite Hunters.

For Doyoung, who was always curious about Beom Sinje’s whereabouts, it was a goldmine.

Just like in the old days, he was a regular visitor, eagerly checking in.

[What’s up with Beom Sinje lately? 😭 Doesn’t he seem… different?]

The moment he refreshed the page, an annoying post popped up.

“What the heck? Who’s picking a fight now?”

Even before reading, Doyoung’s brows furrowed.

There were always haters alongside fans praising Beom Sinje, and every time, he reacted the same way.

[He was badass when he crushed the Antithesis Coup, remember? 😭

└True!!!! Why isn’t he active lately, though? Feels like he’s disappeared. 😭

└Right?! I’m not the only one who thinks so, right? 😭

└He has no worthy opponents ~~~~ Duh! 😂

└Exactly!!! As a Hunter, he should be handling dungeons. Isn’t this neglect of duty?

└Seriously, what if a dungeon collapse happens? Smh.]

Sure, Beom Sinje had led the takedown of a crime syndicate.

Doyoung knew that much.

But even he noticed that Beom Sinje hadn’t been seen much since then.

“Who’s calling this dereliction of duty, huh?”

There was no way he could just sit back and let them slander his favorite.

His fingers immediately flew across the keyboard.

[I’m sure the guild’s top members have it all under control. It’s not for you to say what he should or shouldn’t do.

└So it’s okay for a top-tier Hunter to slack off? He’s supposed to protect the country!!!?!]

Barely a second after Doyoung posted his comment, another one popped up right below.

“Hunters can’t take a break? What nonsense!”

As a retired Hunter and former villain, living a leisurely life now, he found that kind of talk outrageous.

Thanks to Doyoung’s fervent defense, the post quickly gathered a slew of comments supporting Beom Sinje.

[Doesn’t matter. Sword Saint is hot and super skilled, so he’s forgiven.

└Agreed! 😂😂😂😂😂

└No one can argue with that, right? 😂 People even complain about him not doing ads like other guilds.

└Right! He should dominate TV, posters, billboards, everything. As a public service, please!]

“Exactly. Beom Sinje is ridiculously good-looking.”

Typing furiously, Doyoung felt content as the conversation shifted to support his favorite Hunter.

Clearly, those kinds of posts needed swift rebuttals.

Satisfied, he was about to leave the site when a different thread caught his eye.

[By the way, what happened to Antithesis? Is Zero still at large? Last I heard, Cheonho Guild wiped out their base, but did Zero escape?

└Yep, still at large. They need to put up a bounty, but no one knows his face…

└Oh, right… 😭😭 Because of the mask…

└Actually, didn’t someone see a guy fall from the 78th floor? They said it was Zero, so maybe he’s dead.

└No body found, huh? Then it’s not confirmed.]

Doyoung unconsciously rubbed his cheek.

“Smart decision.”

Sticking to his mask had paid off. No bounty, and people thought he was dead.

The debate over whether he was alive or not felt unsettling, but Beom Sinje’s silence on the matter convinced him that people believed he was gone.

Feeling lighter, Doyoung closed his laptop and stretched.

“I’m getting hungry again…”

The moment the words left his mouth, his mind conjured up an image of a steaming, milky broth simmering in a pot, with slices of traditional blood sausage floating lazily on top.

Having visited often enough lately, the rich, savory flavor of the soup practically returned to his mouth on its own.

“Let’s go.”

Warm soup is unbeatable on a cold day.

Making up his mind, Doyoung rubbed his flat stomach and picked up the puffy jacket lying on the floor, pulling it on.

March had already arrived, but his attire still hadn’t shaken off the grip of midwinter.

“Sigh…”

The moment he laced up his sneakers and stepped outside, a sigh escaped his lips.

Why did the cold seem to bite even more sharply with each passing day?

“Ugh.”

Shivering, he boarded the elevator.

* * *