Chapter 0 : It was a Hunter Wrecker…

In this world, there exists something called a “Tower.”

A tower often depicted in webtoons or web novels.

A tower where monsters emerge, and bosses exist.

A building where, if you give up climbing for a certain period, the monsters inside go, “Damn it! It’s so cramped in here!” and burst out.

Naturally, these monsters can’t be defeated with ordinary firearms or weapons.

So who deals with these monsters?

Awakened ones — beings commonly known as Hunters.

Hunters who climb the Tower.

To some, they’re saviors; to others, they’re heroes.

And to some, they’re tools.

They’re also often the targets of envy and jealousy.

Ever since the Tower appeared, becoming a Hunter has become the most popular dream job for children.

In modern society, Hunters are practically no different from influencers.

The reason lies in their income structure.

Hunters can earn money by selling items obtained from the Tower.

But that’s not their main source of income.

The real source is…”Kyaaa!”

“You can do it!”

“Chanseok!!!”

[Alright, from now on, the Myth Guild standing at the front line will begin the raid on the top floor of the Hwarang Tower!]

A live broadcast streamed through the status window.

And so, Hunters began to enjoy popularity on par with celebrities.

Cool, beautiful, and strong people turning on their broadcasts, showing themselves protecting their country in real-time.

What could possibly be more captivating than that?

Guilds had long since transformed into something like entertainment management companies.

People, having forgotten the threat of the Tower, now spend their days as fans, obsessed with Hunters.

But when celebrities or famous influencers emerge, there are always those who inevitably follow in their wake.

And those are “Rekka”.

People who spread sensational news about them, looking only to profit.

Whether the news they spread is real or fake doesn’t matter — as long as it’s provocative, they’ll share it.

And most of the so-called “Rekka” of the Hunters were other Hunters themselves.

Usually the E-rank and F-rank ones.

In simple terms, the dregs lost in their own delusions.

They were barely qualified to enter the Tower — practically ordinary people — and had no proper way of making a living.

Most of them awakened, got caught up in their fantasies, and tried to become Hunters.

And for most of them, the ending was miserable.

Because I was one of them.

23 years old, middle school dropout, F-rank.

I was evaluated as an Awakened in my second year of high school, got exempted from military service, and worked hard to become a Hunter.

Even as an F-rank, I heard you could make decent money if you did well enough.

There was a time when I really tried my best.

That day, I was streaming to almost no viewers while hunting in the F-rank Goblin Tower — the first floor, the lowest difficulty — managing the goblin population.

Thud!!!!

“…Huh?”

The sound of punching echoed from a distance.

When I went to check it out, I happened — purely by chance — to catch a famous Hunter violently assaulting and hurling abuse at another Hunter.

I quickly recorded the scene on video.

Hiding my presence, I ran all the way home and uploaded the video.

“…What the hell.”

The video went absolutely viral.

Like hitting the jackpot, Tower Coins started pouring into my inventory.

“…If I just get myself some good gear and keep making videos like this…”

While I was having those thoughts, the news reported that the Hunter in my video had ended up facing trial due to the controversy.

“…Wait, am I really someone who can have this much influence?”

Blinded by the taste of money and power, from that day on, I became a Hunter “Rekka” — a Hunter who hunts other Hunters.

Sounds pretty cool, right?

It sure did… back then.

But I never should have done it.

***

“Kuh…!”

“You… you bastard…!”

“P-Please… spare me…”

“It’s you, isn’t it, you son of a bitch?”

The phone the man held up showed my Hunter Rekka channel.

“Gah…?!”

“You ruined my life, you piece of shit!!!”

The man standing in front of me… was once the #3-ranked Hunter.

The very first Hunter I ever took down.

He had once shone so brightly — and now, here he was, completely fallen.

I don’t know how he found my home address.

Last I heard, after his conviction, he’d gone on the run, escaping punishment.

I never thought he’d show up in front of me three years later.

“Give me my life back, you bastard!!!”

“Guh…!”

I couldn’t breathe.

The man in front of me tightened his grip on my throat, his arm wrapped in mana.

As an F-rank, I couldn’t resist.

But strangely… I didn’t feel bad.

Even as I was being choked, I felt a twisted satisfaction.

This man — who had once shone so brightly, like a star — now stood before me, wearing nothing but filthy rags.

And the fact that I, a bundle of inferiority and resentment, had dragged this brilliant star down to this miserable state… it thrilled me.

No matter how high he flew, I knew his true nature was just as rotten as mine.

No — worse.

He was even more of a monster than I ever was.

“You bastard!!! Do you even know how much I lost because of you?!!!”

“…Like I… give a shit…!!”

“Heh… Beg for your life. Just like those people you ruined, you piece of trash!!!”

“Screw you.”

With the last of my strength, I raised my trembling right hand… and flipped him off.

“You… little… SHIT!!!”

CRACK.

The sound of my neck snapping.

That was the last thing I heard in my previous life.

Or so I thought.

Swish, swish!

Boing!

[In your past life, you fought against the corruption of this world and did a noble deed!]

[In recognition of your professionalism, you have been appointed as the Boss of the Benevolent Gumiho Tower!]

[Please continue your broadcasts for the Hunters… and for humanity!]

The system clearly misunderstood something.

But that’s not the important part right now.

“What the… WHERE THE HELL IS MY JOHNSON?!!!”