Chapter 1: The Streamer of the Constellations
“It seems it’s already too late to do anything.”
Have you ever experienced everything collapsing right before your dreams?
I am living through that experience vividly right now.
“Many Hunters face this kind of situation. After all, Gates contain a lot of toxins, and the environment itself is dangerous, so they inevitably push their bodies to the limit, right? There’s nothing more reckless than a Hunter with low Mana entering a Gate…”
The doctor spoke at length, but the conclusion was clear: I had overworked my body inside the Gate, and the harmful toxins there had accumulated, causing my illness.
It was literally a bolt from the blue.
“You’re talking about Mana Addiction Syndrome, right? It has metastasized beyond any possibility of treatment.”
“Yes. In your case, it’s a somewhat unique type… an addiction without any pain. Occasionally, we see patients like this. That’s why your internal Mana levels have risen uncontrollably.”
Normally, even the slightest onset of Mana Addiction Syndrome comes with spreading pain.
Patients should come to the hospital early for medication to suppress it, but in my unique case, I felt no pain, which made treatment impossible.
I wanted to beg for my life right then, but I knew well that doing so wouldn’t cure this disease.
All I could do now was ask how much time I had left.
“Actually, there are two ways patients with Mana Addiction Syndrome die. One is shock from unbearable pain, the other is shock from the brain bursting as the internal Mana levels rise without any pain. You, Jinwoo Kim, fall into the latter category… so you have about a year left.”
If there was any grace from the heavens, it was that I would leave this world without pain.
“… Doctor, there’s no hope, right?”
Though I already knew the answer, I still asked miserably.
“With modern medicine, drugs or surgery can only extend life slightly; there is no cure. I’m sorry.”
I accepted this reality. In fact, it was probably a natural outcome. I had chased debts by hopping through Gates as a C-rank Hunter.
I neglected my body and only chased money.
I left the hospital holding back tears.
As a C-rank Hunter, I had relentlessly cleared Gates more than anyone else. I had no talent, yet I had faced death many times.
Thinking this was my last crisis strangely brought a slight sense of calm.
… Or so I thought. But once I stepped outside the hospital, tears couldn’t help but flow.
“Damn it.”
I walked to a park a little distance from the hospital and sat down. In each hand was a bottle of soju.
“What a damn beautiful scene.”
The four seasons of the Republic of Korea are truly beautiful. Nature, sunlight, weather, and scenery change daily like living media art.
Today was spring, cherry blossoms fluttering as sunlight peeked through the clouds. Like a child playing hide-and-seek, the sun would briefly cover the street before disappearing again, while a cool breeze scattered pink and white cherry petals across the pavement.
The streets, contrasting with my gloomy reality, were lovely.
Of course, I wouldn’t live to see this scenery again.
“Ugh, thinking about that makes my chest ache again.”
I took a long sip of soju.
Bitter.
More bitter than usual. Life isn’t bitter because alcohol is sweet, apparently.
I didn’t hate the bitterness though. At least it comforted the bitterness of my life. Or maybe it was just the alcohol playing tricks on me. Either way.
“Phew… I thought I could finally wake from the dream.”
My family was desperately poor.
I have few childhood memories. My basic livelihood assistance parents ran away, leaving me alone, and I lived as an orphan from middle school onward.
As soon as I became an adult, I drifted through various part-time jobs, got scammed, fell into debt, and even after awakening as a Hunter, the debts snowballed, and I overworked my body.
My only dream was to pay off all my debts and open a small restaurant. At first, I considered continuing as a Hunter, but what could a talentless C-rank Hunter hope for?
Just pay off the debts quickly, open a small restaurant, and travel occasionally.
I wanted to live well, to show my parents who abandoned me that I could make it.
“Now even that seems impossible. When I first awakened as a Hunter, I thought happiness was just around the corner.”
“A Hunter, huh? No wonder you looked healthy.”
After finishing a bottle of soju alone, an old man sat beside me, holding two bottles of makgeolli in both hands.
“Mind if I join you?”
I nodded with a face that had given up.
I usually liked talking with people.
Besides, since I was about to die soon, why not pour my life story to an old man?
“Mind if I ask why a young man like you is crying so much?”
“Ha ha—of course.”
I spilled everything about my life.
Since I thought I would disappear from this world soon, I felt no shame. Just the act of sharing the story I’d never told anyone was a relief.
I could finally curse my parents who abandoned me and vent about my hardships.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
The old man’s comforting words felt like they lifted my spirits.
My body and mind felt at ease. As my heavy heart lightened, I started talking about trivial things.
“Sir, I had no talent as a Hunter, but I had incredible grit. I cleared Gates three times a week, even when once a week was difficult.”
“Well, your body does look like that.”
I smiled like a child and rambled on.
“I’m good at cooking, you know. Like I said, my dream was to be a restaurant owner. So every day I greeted other Hunters with a smile, and after hunting, we’d cook and eat together. That way, I earned money faster and even got more Hunters to bring me along.”
“I’d have taken you with me!”
Encouraged by his simple response, my lips stretched into a smile and I kept talking.
“Heh heh, when you have a goal, that’s how it goes. It’s fun saving money carefully. I’ve had that experience myself.”
“Exactly. I saved on food, saved on clothes… but it was fun. Just thinking about the future where I’d achieve my goal made me happy.”
Every night before sleep, picturing myself as a restaurant owner in the bustling streets of Seoul was happiness.
Because I was poor, I wanted to live comfortably, to buy a small building and open a restaurant.
That’s why I forced myself to befriend and flatter other Hunters while clearing Gates, despite being talentless.
Who would have known this would be the misstep that would steal my life?
“… Such a pitiful yet remarkable young man.”
I said nothing.
I secretly hoped the old man would comfort me a little more.
“… What a pity.”
“At least the good news is, you can still take your final trip before you die.”
Owning a restaurant was nice, but in my later years, I wanted to travel alone backpacking. I thought hiking trails, cooking meals, and camping alone would be quite enjoyable.
“I’m not rich nor old, but… I want to fulfill this last dream and go peacefully. I’ve never traveled in my life, so for my final time, I want to play happily without regrets. Heh heh.”
That smile was genuine.
I quietly watched the falling cherry blossoms.
“A year… I can still watch the leaves fall. That’s enough. Going without pain is a blessing… and I get to see an entire season.”
Of course, it stung a little that I wouldn’t see this from next year.
I’d spend spring with cherry blossoms fluttering and warm sunlight.
Swim in the mountain streams on hot summer days.
Walk the streets covered in autumn leaves and find comfort watching the leaves fall.
Yes, that would be a good life. I’d be satisfied achieving even just one life goal.
I never cared much for nature before, but now I found myself nostalgic. It felt strange.
“Phew… Thank you, sir. Talking like this really makes me feel better. Accepting reality and thinking positively brings peace.”
“You’re truly a remarkable person, rare to see in this era. To be honest, I’m also terminal. I’ve enjoyed everything and succeeded, so I have no regrets about dying.”
I looked at the old man in surprise.
What the… he listened to my long story despite being in the same situation. I’m sure he must be busy, yet he listened.
“No need for those sad and apologetic looks. I enjoyed talking with you. Honestly, I have no regrets.”
He patted my back.
“I’ll give you all my luck. My strength, my fortune, everything will be with you.”
I didn’t know what he meant by giving luck and strength, but I nodded, thinking it was just a polite phrase.
“Thank you, ha ha.”
“And be sure to record your travels. The thing I regret least in life is leaving a record behind. You should film your trips, slowly wandering and talking to yourself. Say a word to those you’re sorry to, a word to those you dislike. You know, those things.”
“… That sounds really good. Thank you.”
*****
[Constellation, God of Contemplation is about to die after exhausting all life force.]
The God of Contemplation. He was the old man Jinwoo had just spoken with.
True to his name, he could observe and move through different dimensions, had lived for thousands of years, and was now naturally approaching death.
So for one last time, he came to Earth and met Jinwoo.
“Live no matter what.”
Muttering that, he returned to his homeland to meet his end.
In his final moment, he bestowed upon Jinwoo the Blessing of the God of Contemplation, and at that instant.
[You have received the Blessing of the God of Contemplation!]
[You have awakened as an Irregular!]
[Irregular — Streamer of the Constellations.]
Jinwoo became a streamer broadcasting his travels to the Constellations.
[The broadcast will begin shortly!]
[Broadcast notification sent to a select few Constellations!]
A system message appeared before him, announcing that the broadcast was about to start, though he didn’t understand what it meant.
“Wait, hold on, what is this?!”