Chapter Text
“It has been confirmed, The Nation’s only SS class hunter, Salvation has tragically died while closing the unranked rift, possibly an SSS rank Dungeon.”
There was a heavy silence on the television as they presented the news,
“It’s such a shame losing the greatest hero of South Korea, Salvation has been protecting our lands from the havoc that dungeons have created. We are mourning at the loss, may you find your peace somewhere, Salvation.”
Then the news cut off.
It has been 7 years ever since the great SS class hunter, Salvation, died. The whole nation including those from other countries mourned for his death. It was estimated to last for a month before the world slowly rebuilt what it had lost. The government has been greatly thankful to Salvation for closing such a dangerous dungeon, if it weren’t for him South Korea would have disappeared from the map. It was that lethal.
Kim Dokja sighed, leaning back on his chair as he listened to the accomplishment of the dead SS class hunter. It is really such a shame, really! D: ( sarcasm)
He grumbled as if annoyed by his own mind,
They don’t even know Salvation’s real name. If they knew, they would have known by now that the “dead hero, Salvation” is sitting on his chair in his bookshop making fun of the national hero, everyone so loved.
Kim Dokja, now an unregistered SS class hunter. Also See: Salvation, The National Hero, the fallen God. Status: deceased. (?)
After trying to save practically the whole world, Kim Dokja just became too tired of continuously saving everyone. Don’t get him wrong, he always wanted to be like a protagonist in the stories he had read but after years and years of doing repetitive jobs and being under the control of the government, he was bound to get tired. That and other reasons he just doesn’t want to think about. So when an unawakened rift suddenly goes berserk, he goes there like planned, saves as many people as he can, and subdues it so the special force can examine it. But he never would have expected it to be a much higher rank than him, that the only thing that could prevent the thing from exploding and killing the whole country is to absorb it, quite risky but Kim Dokja has no doubt he can do it!
And before he knew it, he was already 5 years into the future and proclaimed dead by the news. They never found his body apparently. It was a great shock having been proclaimed dead and got transported 5 years into the future because of the rift! But then again everything is weird when dungeons appear so being able to move in the future is the least of his concerns.
For the first time, Kim Dokja felt lost. All his life, he was always dedicated to be the Hero the world wants. Now, he was just some guy who died trying to close a rift. At first, he wanted to go back to the awakened headquarters but then given his own freedom, why would he go back to that sad boring life? In the end, he decided to live freely.
He had built his life from scratch for 2 years. A kind couple had helped him slowly, and Kim Dokja could never forget their kindness. Because of them, he was able to finally have his bookshop like he always wanted.
“S-class hunter Yoo Joonghyuk has successfully cleared yet another unranked dungeon! Members of the Special class have begun to record and analyze the dungeon. It is presumed to be an A class one.” Kim Dokja stared at his phone watching the news.
Yoo Joonghyuk is a special one, he emerged just 6 months after his death. Everyone rejoiced because they had a new S-class hero that could save them all.
Currently, he is the rank 1 powerful hunter in the whole world. But there have been talks here and there that it was an unofficial list as rank 1 will always be Salvation.
Kinda crazy of them to still talk silly about the dead but whatever. Not that Kim Dokja cares. He is just a simple citizen of South Korea!
A bell rang, signaling a new customer.
“Hello, welcom—e” Kim Dokja’s voice cracked the moment he saw who was inside his humble bookshop.
A tall younger man, wearing an all-black outfit probably A-class protective gear. His face was as handsome as Greek sculpture gods, and Kim Dokja probably saw sparkles around it. His hair, fairly wavy, surprised him. His face however was scowling. Considering that this man is THE Yoo Joonghyuk who doesn't smile. It’s really not a surprise.
But why is he here? He asked, he was just talking about him. Kim Dokja thought. A smile still plastered on his face.
Yoo Joonghyuk clicked his tongue,
“My sister ordered a book here, I was supposed to grab it today.”
“Ah! For a moment, sir. I’ll quickly grab it at the back.” Kim Dokja quickly get out of that stifled place and grabs a stack of books, probably from his sister, rechecking it to make sure.
“For Yoo Mia, right?
Kim Dokja could see him nod slightly.
Before he could give it to Yoo Joonghyuk, he pushed him away. Just a millisecond later, a tentacle like pierced through his door and where Yoo Joonghyuk was standing.
Then screams started to ring around.
“My door!” Kim Dokja cried,
What terrible luck! Not only is he with Yoo Joonghyuk— a man who looks like is ready to kill me. My door just broke! He whined silently.
Yoo Joonghyuk on one hand, was stunned by the fast reflects of the shop owner. Even he was seconds late in realizing. He wanted to ask him how he did it. He was sure the man was unawakened, there was no looming presence on him.
“Should’ve known that a mass thing was about to burst. I should have closed my shop today. Now, my door is ruined and I’m going to be late for my dinner, Persephone’s going to be sad ugh!” Yoo Joonghyuk could hear him muttering under his breath.
He frowned, Was this man anticipating a new dungeon break out? Suspicious.
He decided to search for the man later, after subduing the dungeon that was open.
As he left, Yoo Joonghyuk cast a single glance at the thinner man who was looking at the tentacle monster who got out of the dungeon with no expression on his face. For a quick moment, Yoo Joonghyuk thought he saw his eyes turn lightning blue before it disappeared as fast as he could blink.
He left the shop with more questions about the ‘normal” bookshop owner.
By the time Yoo Joonghyuk returned to the bookshop, The store was already closed and the Owner was long gone. He frowned, it was all too simple and weird.
The man did look like he was not an awakened human, but Yoo Joonghyuk could not shake the idea that there was more than what meets the eye.
"Seolhwa,"
"Yes, Captain?"
“I want a full report on the man who owns this bookshop, stat.”
“Understood.”
⚜
As expected of his horrible dinner with Persephone and her husband, Hades. Kim Dokja loves them dearly, yes. But the adaption conversation was getting tiring. Kim Dokja is an adult. Thank you so much, Persephone. Hades is giving his “Tell us if you have a boyfriend, we don’t want you to get scammed” talk as always. Still, the food was lovely. She had always made the food excellent as always.
As he went back to his home, Kim Dokja couldn’t help but feel like tomorrow was going to be a horrible day. His head already aching at the thought of actually doing unnecessary actions.
Ugh!