It was as if a wall of people had formed in front of the house—journalists wielding cameras and microphones filled the space.
"Unbelievable."
A sudden thought of his father crossed his mind.
Before lunch, Lee Jin-ho had absentmindedly switched off all the intercoms connected to the house.
"Just in case. You never know with these journalists. They might swarm the house and ruin my meal."
At the time, he had doubted it would happen. But now, standing in front of the scene, he realized:
"Father was right."
Experience was not to be underestimated.
Lee Si-woo shook his head. Somehow, reporters had even managed to track down his home address and were now camped outside.
After all, earning a double title was a big deal. Big enough to cause a stir among both the media and the guilds.
"Phew..."
Si-woo let out a sigh and prepared to push through the crowd.
But before he could take a step—
"Lee Si-woo! How does it feel to awaken as a Hunter?"
"You worked for a Hunter-related company, didn't you? How does life as a Hunter compare to your time as a corporate employee?"
"You're the first person in history to earn a double title! What are your thoughts on that?"
A barrage of questions erupted from all directions.
For a moment, he found it amusing.
He had only awakened as a Hunter yesterday. How was he supposed to know the difference? And how could he possibly describe the feeling of becoming one?
"Ignoring them is the best option."
With that thought, he pushed forward, attempting to wade through the crowd. But then—
"Lee Si-woo! As the world's first double title holder, will you be joining a guild or starting your own? Given your personality, I'd guess you're leaning toward starting your own, right?"
A sharp, almost piercing voice called out.
A familiar voice.
"No way..."
Si-woo turned toward the sound.
"Moon Seol-hee?"
She was holding a microphone branded with the KNC broadcasting logo.
And she wasn't just anyone—she was someone he knew very well.
More than just an acquaintance.
Back in university, they had been in a relationship. Until she abandoned him in pursuit of success.
Someone he had never wanted to see again.
Yet here she was, covering his story.
"Wasn't she in the political news department? Why is she here?"
Doubt crept in.
"Hmm."
But he soon shook his head. Seol-hee was an ambitious woman. She had probably informed the station about his awakening and insisted on covering the story herself—using their past relationship to her advantage.
He found her shameless.
"She hasn't changed."
Si-woo erased all emotion from his face and looked at her.
Seol-hee smiled coyly in response.
"What does that smile mean?"
He tilted his head in confusion. Then—
A wink.
She slightly parted her lips and winked at him.
It was something she used to do when she wanted to seduce a man.
"What the hell is she doing?"
He felt a surge of bewilderment.
Glancing around, he checked if any of the other reporters had noticed. Fortunately, they were too busy firing off Hunter-related questions and snapping photos.
Annoyed but unable to shake off the journalists, Si-woo made a decision.
"It might be better to address this here and now."
He took a step back to create some distance from the crowd and spoke clearly:
"I have something to say."
Silence fell immediately.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for his words.
Si-woo glanced at the crowd.
Seol-hee was still there, winking at him.
Ignoring her, he spoke.
"The truth is, I have a phobia of monsters."
A brief moment of shock flashed across the reporters' faces. Then—
Murmurs erupted throughout the crowd.
It was only natural. After all, he had already experienced the consequences of this earlier that morning.
"What? How is this possible?"
"Is this another case like Choi Hyun-jung's?"
"What's going on in this country?"
Speculation and exclamations filled the air.
Then—
"Lee Si-woo! Is this true? Have you been medically diagnosed?"
"When did you first notice your fear of monsters? Was it since childhood?"
"If you're afraid of monsters, what does that mean for your career as a Hunter? Are you planning to quit?"
The journalists did what they did best—bombarded him with questions.
"If I don't draw a clear line now, they'll hound me forever."
He had already planned everything in advance.
Since the media had come to him, he would use this opportunity to make his condition public and step out of the limelight as quickly as possible.
Confidence was key.
Clearing his throat, he waited for silence before continuing.
"I conducted a self-diagnosis at home and tested positive for Monster Phobia. Tomorrow, I have a hospital appointment to confirm it. The reservation has already been made."
A wave of gasps followed.
"No way!"
"So it's true."
"This is shocking."
The murmurs grew louder, but he remained unfazed.
"I have no plans to seek treatment for my phobia. Dangerous work isn't for me. That's why I'll be pursuing a career as a Gathering Hunter."
More questions flooded in, but Si-woo stood firm.
He would answer them patiently.
The sooner he satisfied their curiosity, the faster they would leave him alone.
Later that day, Si-woo got off the bus.
He had traveled about 40 minutes from home. Checking the time, he saw it was just past 4 PM.
"Phew."
He sighed. It had taken longer than expected.
Journalists were relentless—like children demanding chocolate. The more answers he gave, the more questions they asked, never seeming satisfied.
But he had answered each one carefully. Not in a way that pleased them, but in a way that discouraged further interest.
Disappoint them.
Make them lose interest.
That was his goal.
And it had worked. One by one, the reporters left, their heads hung low.
"The negative press will be relentless for a while."
He had studied the Choi Hyun-jung case thoroughly and knew what to expect.
"But it won't last long."
The media would soon find another story to chase.
"I just need my family to endure it for three months."
Long enough to slip out of Kang Myung-jun's radar and prepare his revenge.
So far, everything was going according to plan.
"Good."
Strengthening his resolve, Si-woo walked toward his destination—So Byung-seop Tech.
A modest three-story building stood in front of him, its clean facade displaying a simple sign:
[So Byung-seop Tech]
A place known for producing top-tier Hunter gear.
Yet, despite its exceptional products, it remained relatively unknown—
Because of the ruthless dominance of large corporations.
"It's a tough market for small businesses."
Having worked at Kiri & Tech for the past two years, Si-woo knew this better than anyone.
And yet, he had come here for one simple reason—
So Byung-seop made the best gear available.
With that thought, he stepped inside.
And the sound of machinery filled the air.