Lost in a Slumber

"Hey, Su-an, isn't that Dongwon Guild's loyal dog?" a woman in a black sweater queried her companion, her eyes glowing with a golden hue as they rolled sarcastically towards the front.

They stood in the compound of a fenced building teeming with people.

The other woman sipped her coffee before nodding disappointedly in the same direction. "Tsk, tsk. It's painful to see someone as shameless as him. Does he really think Hunters would take his card after Dongwon Guild disclosed his fraud a year ago?"

A short distance away, Mr. Choi persistently handed cards to Hunters exiting the building. Though they continued to disregard him. Not only the women were glaring at him, but almost everyone in the vicinity.

"He pilfered thirty billion won six years ago and absconded with it. Aish, the guild shouldn't have gone easy on him at all. What a reprehensible jerk!" the woman holding the cup of coffee groaned, her glare intensifying.

"Well, he's bound to work as the guild's manager for years without earning a penny," the second woman scoffed. "Suits him well."

Mr. Choi had anticipated the gossip before arriving here. He was prepared for the worst, so the mean comments barely affected him.

One year ago, the Dongwon Guild falsely accused him of having embezzled their funds when he used to work for them, though in fact, he had taken a loan. Although he met their repayment deadline, he refused their request to rejoin the guild. In retaliation, they accused him publicly through all news media and even in court.

As an average citizen, he had no chance of winning the case. Since then, he had been working hard as their manager, but as the women gossiped, he was paid nothing.

Just then, he saw a Hunter emerging from the building. With a grin, he approached him with his card. "Hello there. I am Manager Choi Minho from Dongwon Guild-"

The man cut him off with a sarcastic smirk. "And?"

Mr. Choi continued, still smiling, "Oh, I apologize if I approached you the wrong way. Our Guild is enlisting promising Hunters like you, so I would like you to..."

Suddenly, Su-an interrupted, handing her card to the man with a constant smile. "Good afternoon, sir. May I invite you to our guild if you think it's unnecessary for me to introduce myself?"

The man received her card instantly. Mr. Choi walked away, refocusing on the entrance and waiting for others to appear.

'No need to dwell on it. This is the treatment society has given me since the accusation,' he thought.

Meanwhile, Su-an asked the man several questions, one being about his newly awakened ability.

"I reawakened Time Manipulation," the man responded. "And now, I have that along with my initial ice magic."

[A year ago]

Despite extensive efforts, the government was unable to recover the lost alien tech. Recognizing the significant threat this posed, the general assembly of the World Hunter Association convened to devise a solution.

They concluded that they needed more advanced technology from the alien world, Blue Planet.

In exchange for creating 'Net R1009-12,' the aliens demanded resources like cobalt and diamond. For the past year, the government mandated that Awakened civilians attend a reawakening program.

This program allowed participants to triple their original strengths, gain formidable new abilities, or level up faster. Technologists reported that 'Net R1009-12' was their best creation, capable of endowing everyone with immense power.

Many units were produced, and each country received one. The next step was to integrate this technology into machines at Reawakening companies.

At a minimum, an Awakened would double their original strength. For instance, an A-rank Hunter who reawakens could effortlessly eliminate an A-rank monster. Ultimately, this approach appeared to be the best way to keep the monsters at bay.

----

Seeing the situation, Mr. Choi returned to his car, ready to go home. However, he paused before starting the vehicle, picked up his phone, and dialed a number.

'It's been a while since I visited the hospital. I should at least inquire about him.'

Ding...ding...

"Hey, Jiwon. How are you today?"

He paused before asking, "What about Mr. Lee? Has he woken up?"

"No. If he had, I would have informed you immediately," came the reply.

"Okay, bye."

***

Mr. Song and his granddaughter arrived at the hospital, carrying a bouquet of flowers. Riding the elevator to the third floor, they made their way into ward 301.

Beep...beep...beep...

On the sickbed near the life-support machine lay Lee Seung, a nasal cannula attached to his nose as he lay unconscious.

Jiwon placed the flower bouquet near the bed, joining many others already wilting. They had been bringing flowers ever since Seung fell into a vegetative state, hoping for his recovery.

Mr. Song said, his voice masked with panic, "Aigoo, my dear Lee Seung. It breaks my heart to see him like this for a year. Roaming aimlessly in his imagination must be very lonely."

"Just believe that he will wake up," Jiwon said. "Besides, I know he isn't someone to give up on anything, let alone his life."

She recalled the day near the abandoned factory when Seung desperately fought off the gangsters, despite their initial advantage.

Most teenagers would have fled, but he wasn't like that. It was clear he wanted to survive and protect her—and he did.

Jiwon didn't believe in the common notion that heaven decides life and death. Instead, she believed an individual's persistence influences their existence, hence her faith that Seung would wake up by his own will.

"Shall we go home now, Grandpa?" she asked, glancing at him with a childlike smile.

"Ok-okay," Mr. Song nodded, worry still evident on his face. He couldn't take his eyes off Seung, his heart aching.

As they walked towards the door, the life-support machine started beeping rapidly. They froze in their tracks.

Mr. Song turned back, his eyes widening.

A weak, faint voice emerged. "Anyone there? Please...come take away the flowers. I've begun to lose my sense of smell from breathing in the fragrance for too long. Don't let me die twice, please."