NOVEL WEB Chapter 19
After the ethical inspection at the Returnee Management Bureau wrapped up, I headed to a meat restaurant near Hapjeong Station with Yeonseo and Yeonhwa.
When I asked if there was a meat restaurant open at this hour, Yeonhwa mentioned the Yeon Family’s name and handled a few calls with the owner, leading to a swift resolution.
So our innocent little bingu… turned out to be from quite the prominent family…
Sizzle, sizzle.
Puff, puff, Who the heck cooks meat from 11 AM?!
Yes, that’s me, Mangja Seongnyeo Shia.
Did I finish off a whole Black Minotaur and I’m not even full?
Eh? What do you mean? I didn’t eat the Black Minotaur alone, mind you.
Yeonhwa definitely shared some!
Oh right… I probably polished off a few hundred kilograms of meat, and Yeonhwa’s share wouldn’t even weigh a kilogram, but hey, I didn’t eat it all myself.
Sizzle, sizzle…
At first, I thought it was nonsensical for a meat restaurant to open this early in the morning.
But the moment I stepped in, the luxurious decor dazzled my eyes as if it was some sort of illusion magic.
This place didn’t seem like a typical meat restaurant, but what surprised me even more was the insane price of 10,000 won for a soda.
Of course, it made sense considering the restaurant’s reputation, service, and whatever other premium features it had, but even having been in another world and returning after 64 years, seeing a soda priced at 10,000 won made my throat itch with curses.
Why on earth is this business running like this?
Could it be that due to the economic inflation while I was away, prices soared and the value of money dropped?
Yeah, it’s 2088, so all the price tags I knew must have changed, right?
However, the various price tags I saw on my way here didn’t seem to differ too much from what I remembered in 2024.
Just to be sure, I even asked Yeonseo…
“The prices haven’t changed much from 2024.”
She said.
I honestly couldn’t imagine how that was possible.
According to Yeonhwa, during the first Great Rift, humanity was on the brink of extinction.
Although it seems peaceful and developed now, it’s a civilization of humanity that narrowly escaped the brink of destruction, meaning that prices in 2088 haven’t strayed much from when I vanished.
What the heck? Why is that?
I hadn’t dealt with economics for decades, so I was struggling to understand it.
If it were Menelapie, she could’ve understood in one go…
“Don’t worry about the prices. Eat as much as you want. This grandma feels sorry for Shia and grateful, so I’d love for you to eat until you’re satisfied.”
“Um… grandma, I can eat quite a lot…”
“Do you think I was joking? I genuinely hope you eat a lot. No matter how much you eat, just order away…”
“Then, um… let’s start with 10 servings of ribeye…”
“Oh dear, is that enough?”
“…..”
Well, so what if a soda costs 10,000 won?
It’s not my money, and she’s treating me…
“Hey there, kid. First, bring 20 servings of ribeye. For rice and drinks, just bring whatever’s reasonable.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Since I didn’t know what to order, Yeonseo quickly ordered 20 servings of meat from the waiter.
I guess she must’ve been clued in by Yeonhwa that I tend to eat a lot.
“Hehe, shouldn’t this grandma eat too? I’ve been busting my chops since dawn, and my belly’s rumbling.”
“Oh, speaking of which, grandma, you joined as a rescue hunter, right?”
At Yeonhwa’s remark, Yeonseo nodded.
“That’s right. Even in retirement, too many people seek me out, which leaves me too little time to see my granddaughter, and that makes me mad.”
“…It’s all good.”
As an awkward vibe lingered between Yeonseo and Yeonhwa, just in time, the waiter brought our meat.
“Would you like me to cook the meat in advance?”
“Yes, both these kids and I are starving, so cook whatever you have ready.”
“Understood.”
At those words, the waiter left a bit of meat on our table and began grilling at another table.
After all, there’s only so much you can grill at once, and if we’re eating quickly, they’d have to grill elsewhere too.
“Hunters usually eat a lot. Food energy is key.”
“I agree, grandma.”
“Haha… I’m fine. Thanks to the Black Minotaur meat I had earlier with my sister, I’m still not hungry…”
“I could dive in without waiting…”
“No, it’s fascinating to watch you eat so I can’t take my eyes off you. How does so much meat fit into that little mouth…?”
“Hehe, I do enjoy my food. Sorry about that.”
“Ah, nothing to apologize for. Eating well is very good.”
I couldn’t help but admire the skilled waitstaff grilling the meat with such precision.
Even with us renting the whole restaurant for the day, without even saying so, they proactively filled our drinks and quickly replaced the grill plate when it got charred.
Even though it was early morning and they had to be tired, they smiled broadly when attending to our table.
At the Royal Palace, it’s expected to have the emperor and a host of attendants serving him loyally and devoutly, but isn’t this Korea?
Yet, the service here rivals that of the palace…
“Hehe, it’s all the power of money.”
Swallow, swallow, Grandma… indeed, gulp, I… gulp…
“Take your time chewing. Wow, look at you eat. I wish our Yeonhwa could eat like Shia!”
“…Huh? You want me to eat 30 servings of ribeye by myself?
I felt that it was certainly true what they said about the Yeon Family not forgetting their grace.
Having devoured 30 servings of ribeye, 10 servings of tenderloin, 10 bowls of rice, and 4 cold noodles, Shia finally reclined back in her chair, looking satisfied.
“…Ah, I think I ate too hastily… I feel like I actually ate less than usual.”
“…..?”
Is that what you call eating less?
Yeonhwa’s eyes wobbled as she stared at Shia.
Let it be noted that Shia had just single-handedly gobbled up a whole Black Minotaur, weighing hundreds of kilograms, before coming to this fancy meat restaurant for a second round.
While Yeonhwa probably only managed a kilogram at most with the Black Minotaur while sampling a couple of bites, did that Mangja Seongnyeo lady have a black hole in her stomach?
However, unlike the flustered Yeonhwa, Yeonseo wore a proud expression.
“Hehe, you eat well. Oh, by the way, Shia.”
“Yes?”
“You were 21 when you disappeared in 2024, right?”
“Yes, yes, that’s correct?”
“Then it’s been 64 years since you returned to the present. Plus, how many years did you spend in the other world?”
“Probably similar since time flowed the same in both our worlds. So yes, 64 years sounds about right.”
“Well then, Shia, you’re 85 now.”
“Guess that’s how the math works…?”
Yeonseo’s face lit up mischievously.
“Call me older sister.”
“Eh?”
“Call me sister.”
What on earth does that mean?
Yeonhwa looked at her grandma, who suddenly started spouting nonsense.
“This grandma… I mean, this sister is 86 years old.”
“Oh…”
“But you’re 85. That nearly makes us friends, doesn’t it?”
“…..Really?”
“No, why the hesitation!?”
“Sister.”
“……!!”
With that, a satisfied smile broke across Yeonseo’s face.
It had been ages since someone had called her by such a youthful title!
No matter how youthful she looked, people knew Yeonseo was a living legend at 86.
Back in her heyday when her face wasn’t so recognized, men would hunt for her in nightlife or busy areas, but the thrill of that faded once she became regarded as a living legend.
“Ah, yes, this is it…”
“Ugh, Grandma, you’re being silly…”
“Is silly what you call me? If I were to be jealous of you making friends, what would you think, Yeonhwa?”
“Then should our bingu start calling me… Shia Grandma?”
“No…”
Her hair’s white and all, so calling her grandma wouldn’t be weird…
But Yeonhwa’s expression hardened, not wanting that.
“Um, Grandma…”
“What is it?”
“You are definitely 86 years old. But Shia sister was said to have a mental age of 21 during the ethical inspection…!”
“…..What?”
“Oh, right?”
At that, Yeonhwa pulled out a crumpled paper from her pocket.
It confirmed it was there.
[According to the records, the age of returnee Isia is ’85 years’, but it is presumed that her mental age has not changed from the ’21 years’ at the time of disappearance, and her external appearance has also been confirmed to resemble that of a woman in her twenties.]
“…..”
Upon seeing the document stamped with Director Lee’s seal, Yeonseo’s gaze turned toward Shia.
The look in her eyes was full of woe like that of a betrayed main character.
“……….”
“Shia sister, just call me Grandma like I do.”
“Sure…”
“………How could this happen.”
No matter how much I enhance my appearance to look younger, I’m still 86… Why on earth are you 21? How is that even possible?
“Thanks for buying the meat, Grandma.”
“….Yeah…”
Yeonseo felt a strange sense of exhaustion wash over her.
—
“Then, is it alright to check the abilities of the returnee Isia?”
“Since Yeonseo has already spoken, it’s established that it’s a battle if she fought against her. If they exchanged blows, then returning this Isia can be considered at the level of S-grade. After all, you’ll be scrutinizing her in the second ethics inspection, won’t you?”
“That’s true. The first ethical inspection is mainly to determine ‘is that person sane or not?’.”
The information that Director Choi Bomi, the psychological officer, brought made Director Lee’s head throb.
Yeonseo and a battle battleground?
Though Yeonseo sometimes jokes around when she’s relaxed, she’s not the type to lie.
“While it’s rare to find a returnee at the S-grade level, if they’ve managed to battle with Yeonseo, we should consider registering that returnee as a hunter within the Hunter Association.”
“Um…I wouldn’t recommend that. No, as a returnee ethical consultant, I’m against it.”
“You have your reasons?”
“First, just look. I’ll modify my reports when I submit them later, but this is what I found out from today’s ethical inspection.”
—
– Name: Isia
– Disappearance Point: Disappeared during the Great Rift occurring near Hapjeong, Seoul at around 6:32 PM on December 5, 2024
– Return Time: October 21, 2088. Based on testimonials from A-grade hunter Yeonhwa and S-grade hunter Yeonseo, it’s estimated to be around 1 AM.
– Family Status: None (confirmed dead during the first Great Rift)
– Species: Mangja (Human)
– Class: Seongnyeo (Presumed)
– Belongings Upon Return
– A mace inscribed in an unknown language – made of rare dungeon metal, acrylithenium –
– A white holy robe – automatic recovery feature, automatically adjusts size to fit the wearer, confirms resistance to all types of environmental changes, high durability –
– A blue orb – the returnee refused inspection for this item –
– Hair tie – confirmed as an ordinary hair tie –
– Cloak – confirmed as a set made from the same material as the holy robe; functions similarly to it –
—
– Attributes: S-grade [This section is based on testimonials from S-grade hunter Yeonseo, A-grade hunter Yeonhwa, and CCTV materials from customer service waiting rooms]
The returnee introduced herself as the Mangja Seongnyeo.
She is presumed to possess extraordinary bodily traits, distinguishing her from humans and classifying her as a ‘Mangja’.
Apart from having pale skin, she appears almost human.
It’s presumed she has a significant obsession with food and eating.
Based on A-grade hunter Yeonhwa’s statements, she exclusively hunted the S-grade dungeon boss ‘Black Minotaur.’
Furthermore, given the establishment of a battle with S-grade hunter Yeonseo, the overall capabilities of returnee Isia are deemed equivalent to those of an S-grade hunter.
The currently confirmed special abilities – which the returnee refers to as ‘miracles’ – include healing, purification, intangible shockwaves, physical mutations – tentacles -, physical augmentation, and it’s presumed that additional yet undisclosed abilities exist.
Moreover, it has been determined that the returnee wields powers above the mana known as ‘Seongnyeok’.
Further tests regarding the returnee’s abilities will be conducted during the second returnee ethical inspection.
– Mental State: Monitoring Recommended
The previous world of returnee Isia is presumed not to have been peaceful.
From her statements, it can be inferred that human species existed, coexisting with opposing monsters, demons, the demon race, and hostile entities.
Furthermore, the returnee mentioned having a close relationship with a being referred to as an emperor and implied holding a high-ranking position. This leads to the conjecture that the previous world had a royal family, with the returnee responsible for a high-ranking role within that family while having a strong bond with the entity called ‘Emperor.’
Currently, it’s assumed that the returnee had an unanticipated return.
Due to the characteristics of Seongnyeo, it can be inferred that she possesses a pious nature or the demeanor of a sage, but her motives are yet unclear.
Fundamentally, she exhibits human ethics, rationality, and morality, and based on what has been confirmed so far, she’s presumed to have a gentle disposition.
The confusion regarding her reversed gender identity seems to have been resolved.
Records state that the returnee Isia is ’85 years’ old, yet her mental age is presumed to remain unchanged at ’21’ from the time of her disappearance, with her appearance confirmed to resemble that of a woman in her twenties.
Having lived more as a woman than as a man, her mental gender leans closer to female.
—
– National Affiliation Status: Unlikely
Her motivations and principles remain unclear.
No psychological contamination found; however, she is confirmed to require stability.
All of her family has been confirmed dead during the first Great Rift.
As of now, there are no biological connections to provide mental care for the returnee, and it’s believed that her only human relationships are with the S-grade hunter Yeonseo and A-grade hunter Yeonhwa, the ones who discovered her first.
What currently consumes her thoughts appears to be food and eating.
The overall desire levels are confirmed to be lower than average, yet she exhibits an obsessive level of fixation when it concerns ‘food.’
—
– Postscript: According to A-grade hunter Yeonhwa, it took her about 3 hours to finish off the S-grade dungeon boss ‘Black Minotaur’ in various ways.
—
– Ethical Rating: Good, Benevolent
However, given her mental instability, continuous monitoring and care will be necessary.
—
“In conclusion, despite possessing S-grade level power, her mental state appears to be quite unstable. She seems fine on the surface, but is she perhaps suffering from PTSD?”
“From what I’ve gathered, that’s already behind her.”
“Behind her?”
Director Lee tilted his head, signaling he should elaborate.
“Yes, as of now, she seems fine, but returnee Isia seems to have already experienced warfare or conflicts at a level equivalent to war in this world. Regarding the PTSD from that previous war, it’s likely healed over time, leaving only faint traces today.”
“After having spent 64 years in another world, she must have gone through a lot. However, Director Choi Bomi, why is it that you considered it impossible for her to hold any national affiliation?”
“Exactly. That’s typically unusual.”
Director Choi Bomi realized the moment he glimpsed the cliff painting; returnee Isia had clearly been shaken to her core.
“Whether it’s loss or pain, this returnee Isia will undoubtedly refuse to be affiliated with any nation. Even offering her money or various rewards wouldn’t sway her. She has no purpose or sense of direction, and as of now, she has no apparent weaknesses, so no one can coerce her.”
Despite having power, she lacks ambition… Many returnees were driven by greed, for better or worse, gain, be it personal honor, money, or riches.
“And returnee Isia does not seem to have 100% complete memory either.”
“Memory? Did someone use magic to tamper with her brain or something?”
“The brain isn’t that conveniently structured. Like a computer, it isn’t easy to delete specific information. Since the returnee Isia referred to herself as the Mangja Seongnyeo, it’s likely a personal issue. I haven’t pieced it all together yet. It could be either short-term amnesia or her herself denying the recall of those memories… Since the first ethical inspection just ended, we can’t make any firm conclusions. Stimulating the returnee unnecessarily beyond this point could lead to issues.”
“Indeed, among returnees, there are quite the number of hysterical lunatics…”
About thirty years ago, an incident occurred during an ethical inspection where a returnee lashed out uncontrollably due to excessive scrutiny. Since then, returnee ethical inspections have typically been divided into three phases.
The first ethical inspection aims to establish a fundamental question: ‘Is this person likely to kill someone on a whim?’; the main purpose is this. The second and third phases delve into comprehensive details about the returnee’s abilities and, if there are mental disorders, determine their causes, solutions, and methods of management to achieve the original goal of the returnee report.
If further examinations are deemed essential, they can be conducted again, but typically, most cases wrap up within three phases. After establishing a lawful and systematic manual for returnee ethical inspections, cases of mental episodes among returnees have been substantially reduced. Presently, many returnees receive care from the management bureau as well as senior returnees while adapting to modern life.
“Hmm, the predicament seems to stem from the returnee Isia possessing an estimated power level equivalent to Yeonseo.”
“Have you reported to the higher-ups?”
“There’s a returnee wielding Yeonseo’s power. It’s been said that the VIP has been informed.”
A being with power levels comparable to Yeonseo isn’t just rare; on a positive note, it could signify a chance for a new era on the national front.
Being the first S-grade awakened and championing humanity against monsters, Yeonseo was credited with crafting the initial image of hunters. The numerous systems, management methods, and awakening ability management she established are recognized globally.
Because of Yeonseo’s existence, Korea has been able to claim rights and ownership over a few S-grade dungeons, allowing this small piece of land to rise into the ranks of great powers worldwide.
All of it was possible solely because of the individual known as ‘Yeonseo’.
Now, with a returnee potentially on her level appearing, it’s only natural that there’s a stir up top.
“This is a headache. At this point, the higher-ups may want to register returnee Isia as a hunter and exploit her for their needs.”
“I reiterate, as an ethical consultant, I’m against this. We need continuous monitoring while observing the situation closely. Unless the returnee willingly expresses a desire to get involved, I wouldn’t recommend any form of coercion. Didn’t you say Isia is a very high-ranking figure? She might be knowledgeable about this world.”
“Regarding the Empire… perhaps she was a minister or something? Or, being a Seongnyeo itself could indicate a high-ranking position too.”
“Typically, during returnee career aptitude evaluations and suggestions for independence, it’s common to recommend hunters for cases carrying considerable power. If we make suitable suggestions and persuade her, she might agree to it. Ultimately, returnee Isia is fundamentally a benevolent being.”
“Sigh, I’m relieved to hear that. If you ever said the word ‘evil’ in reference to her, my heart would truly be startled. This morning alone, I got kicked by Yeonseo a dozen times and was scolded endlessly…”
Director Lee adjusted his glasses and filed away the report containing information about Isia.
“Then let’s watch her closely. I’ll approve matters regarding her housing, relief funds, and delegate that task to ethical consultant Choi Bomi. If anything unusual arises, inform me.”
“Understood.”
“…Oh, and. Yeonseo wanted me to relay something.”
“Yes? Yeonseo?”
“‘That child is under the protection of the Yeon Family.'”
“…….So she’s basically saying ‘don’t mess with her.'”
The ongoing connection among Yeonseo, the Hunter Association, and the Returnee Management Bureau remained intertwined even since her retirement.
While after the first Great Rift, Yeonseo’s lengthy commitment to protecting humanity was wrapped in tales of unconditioned good deeds, darkness lurks where there’s light.
She was someone who was well aware of how dense the shadows could be.
“Well, Director Choi Bomi isn’t someone who prances about aimlessly. Hence why they dragged you over to manage that returnee from this morning.”
“Sigh… Note to self, please call me in the afternoon next time. Do you know how hard it is to muster up enthusiasm in the morning?”
“Try harder.”