Gangwondo Wonju.

“It was my first time there… So this place had a hunting ground or something?” I excitedly ran around, flashing my camera with what I considered adequate professionalism. I planned to only need short clips to introduce Gangwondo Wonju, but it wouldn’t hurt to take more pictures and videos than necessary. Who knew? I might find a use for them later.

Plus, I came prepared. I had extra memory cards, a power bank, and even my brand-new laptop, which I could use for editing our videos. I was ready to make magic happen!

“Is it really necessary for you to come?” Hajin asked doubtfully, eyeing me like I was about to pull some crazy stunt.

“Dude, this is your first feature video! Your concept as the ‘luckiest man alive’ is selling well, but we’ll need a different and fresher concept soon. People get tired if they keep seeing the same things again and again!” I explained, waving my arms dramatically.

It’s for your SP, man. Stop complaining.

“Fine, fine…” Hajin finally relented. “Just… don’t cause trouble.”

Trouble? Me? I loved the thought of telling him that to his face, but I figured it was best to stay quiet for now. So, we strolled around Wonju, and I noticed there were quite a lot of foreigners.

Wonju was a global city according to the novel’s setting. Its buildings were limited in height due to monsters, but sturdy modern structures filled the city. Foreigners of every skin color walked around with weapons, while their agents busily tapped away on tablets. It was like a scene from an action movie!

I caught Hajin smirking, and I zoomed in on him with the camera. Maybe I could use that shot to highlight his handsome side when he smiled.

In this world, Korea was a national superpower, and its influence reached far and wide. It was evident how the Korean language had become one of the preeminent languages globally, alongside English.

I idly observed the conversations between foreigners and agents. Just by standing there, I learned a lot. Korea’s rise as a powerhouse stemmed from its monopoly on fantasy resources. I couldn't even fathom the profits from taxes alone, especially from foreigners trying to make a living off the Towers, Dungeons, and Hunting Grounds across the country.

There was a reason why Korea produced the most heroes: it had the highest number of monster resources. Sure, China and America had their share of dungeons too, but nothing compared to Korea.

The credit for Korea’s success lay with the founding heroes who adapted to the Change. The Heroes since Outcall and the transition that followed had helped Korea become the powerhouse it was today.

As we wandered through the vibrant streets of this world Hajin created, I felt like I was on a thrilling amusement park ride. The city was full of interesting things: blacksmiths, potion shops, bars, and more. Shops that looked like they belonged in the Middle Ages operated in modern buildings. It felt like a game world.

Suddenly, the crowd thickened as we approached the field entrance.

“E-excuse me?” A tall, average man with slouched shoulders and circular glasses struck up a conversation just as we were about to enter the hunting field. Judging by his little tics, formal suit, and the way he stood waiting for a client, he was likely a rookie agent trying to find his first client.

Hajin didn’t seem to recognize him, but I did. Familiarity from the manhwa is a lifesaver, I thought, smiling at the guy.

“Hello! I am Hyon Hyung… Kim Hajin’s Image Manager. Here is my business card…” I casually handed him my card, relishing the chance to make a good impression. Honestly, I didn’t even need to act; I could just be myself, the self-proclaimed crazy person. Yeah, that’s a totally logical approach, I chided myself inwardly. Hehe... Where’s the fun in being normal anyway?

Being crazy served as a good camouflage for my most unreasonable actions. That didn’t mean I was always off the rails, though.

Hajin nodded at my initiative, seemingly satisfied with my work. Nice! It looked like he was finally starting to see me as his manager. Not bad at all. “So, may I know who you are?” he asked. Uh-oh… I realized how odd it must sound for me to give a business card to someone Hajin didn’t even know. I was indeed a crazy bastard, alright.

I couldn’t help it! I just wanted to flash my business card!

The nameless agent finally introduced himself. “Ah, yes. Here is my business card.”

He handed over a card that read [SH Agency Head Manager, Park Soohyuk].

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Immediately, Hajin’s expression changed as he realized who he was speaking to.

Park Soohyuk was the most famous agent in the novel. SH Agency would later become Korea’s greatest agency, and he would also become Kim Suho’s future agent in The Returnee Hero. In The Novel’s Extra, though, he would become Hajin’s agent.

“Haha, you might not have heard of me. I started this work not too long ago,” Park Soohyuk said, awkwardly scratching the back of his head, trying to downplay his status.

“SH Agency? I don’t think I’ve heard of it before,” Hajin said offhandedly, keeping things casual. I stayed silent, letting the scenario unfold as it should.

“It feels like a trustworthy name,” Hajin added.

“Ha, haha, thank you.”

“Ah, by the way…”

As they exchanged a few more dialogues, Hajin suddenly began staring at empty air. I assumed he was using his laptop for its more complicated functions. I heard him audibly sighing with relief.

“My main weapon is a gun. Is that okay?” Hajin asked, testing the waters to see if Park Soohyuk would be on board.

Soohyuk seemed receptive to the idea, explaining just how much he was in a bind. “I don’t see why that will be a problem. Gun or sword, mercenary or hunter, it doesn’t matter to me! New customers are always welcome!”

With a bright smile, Park Soohyuk stretched out his hand. Hajin accepted the gesture, shaking hands with his new agent.

Just another day in the life of the “luckiest man alive,” I thought, chuckling to myself as I readied my camera for the next shot.

***

Hajin loaded eight bullets into his gun.

Each bullet cost about 150,000 won, and with low-rank monsters fetching prices between 300,000 to 400,000 won, he couldn’t afford to waste even one shot. He would have to make every bullet count, especially considering the agent fee he would have to pay afterward.

With his strategy firmly in mind, he stepped into the hunting field.

Park Soohyuk followed closely behind. Hajin noted the desperation in the agent’s demeanor; agents without vehicles usually waited outside the fields, yet here he was, tagging along like a puppy in need of a leash. Hajin decided to keep a watchful eye on Park Soohyuk. The last thing he wanted was for a monster to suddenly pounce and nab the poor agent.

Meanwhile, Hyon Hyung was doing his own thing. He expertly set up a tripod and his classy camera at a suitable angle. The way his hands moved was adroit, almost like he was conducting an orchestra with invisible instruments. Hajin chuckled to himself; Hyon was an artist in his own right, capturing the chaos of their adventures with finesse.

He recalled that Hyon’s preferred method of weaponry was dual-wielding a pair of daggers. They really complemented his flashy style, Hajin thought, glancing over at his friend. Hyon had a knack for making even the mundane look exciting.

Or most often ‘crazy’.

Strangely, Kim Hajin found a ‘friend’ in Hyon Hyung.

“Ah, there’s one there,” Hajin announced, aiming his gun in a steady firing position.

After about thirty minutes of wandering, they finally encountered a monster: a low-rank, grade 9 beast known as an iron hog. Its large body was covered in thick skin, and protruding teeth glinted in the dim light. The iron in its name didn’t mean it was made of iron; it was a warning of just how tough its skin was.

“I think we should ignore—” Park Soohyuk began, offering what he thought was wise advice, but someone cut him off.

“Shuush, quiet!” Hajin snapped, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the creature. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins. This was what he lived for—the thrill of the hunt.

The iron hog grunted, its beady eyes locking onto them, and Hajin could almost hear the monster's thoughts. What kind of foolish hunters have wandered into my territory? He steadied his breath, finger hovering over the trigger.

“Don’t move,” Hajin instructed, his voice low. “I’m going to take the shot.”

Hyon Hyung, still busy with his camera, nodded enthusiastically.

Hajin took a moment to aim, aligning the sight with the hog's massive head. The creature was oblivious to its imminent danger, snuffling through the underbrush as it searched for its next meal.

One shot, one kill, he reminded himself. It was time to make this count.

***

Bang!

The bullet tore through the iron hog’s tough skin and pierced its brain. The beast collapsed like a sack of potatoes, utterly oblivious to its sudden demise. Park Soohyuk stood frozen, unable to make a fuss as the spectacle left him speechless. I mean, who wouldn’t be? It was a sight to behold.

I managed to capture the entire act, the crispy gunshot reverberating through my bones, sending thrilling waves of excitement coursing through me. This was just dope. With my camera enchanted with a few effects, I could slow-mo the video clip while maintaining its high definition. Chef’s kiss!

“How is that?” Hajin asked, turning to me with a grin plastered across his face.

“Perfect,” I replied briefly, my eyes glued to the camera screen as I replayed the footage, scanning for any blemishes.

After a thorough inspection, I was satisfied. This would be the major spice in Hajin’s video feature, and I was ready to showcase it.

But then, I turned my attention to Park Soohyuk, giving him a serious look. “Man, when someone is shooting something, make sure to be quiet. If you want to say something, alert Hajin first in a whisper! What will you do if your voice gets caught on the camera? It has an audio enchantment, so it might have picked up your voice! If that happens, what will you do? Will you reimburse us?”

“Uuuhmmm…” he muttered, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

Hajin jumped in, defending Soohyuk like a knight in a slightly crumpled armor. “Don’t bully him, Hyon… Stop being a bastard. I’ll shoot you instead. Mr. Park Soohyuk, I apologize for my friend; he is a crazy bastard…”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. I hated to be the manipulative bastard in the room, but it seemed that being a natural bad guy helped in the most unexpected ways. Surely, Park Soohyuk would have a better impression of Hajin now, right?

Bah! What use was social engineering when the guy was naturally good? I hated myself sometimes for being an ass. But hey, at least I was trying not to be an ass.

“Hey, Hyon… make sure you capture all of it! This will be a blast!” Hajin exclaimed, unloading his magazine and inserting a different kind of bullet into the clip, perhaps something flashier.

I smiled at him, feeling the rush of excitement. “Challenge accepted! Fire away!”

With a grin that could light up a room, Hajin aimed his gun, and I readied my camera for round two. The iron hog may have fallen in one shot, but I had a feeling this was just the beginning of our wild adventure. Let’s see what you’ve got, Hajin!