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[Returnee: A term referring to an individual who had once traveled to another world or dimension and has now returned to modern society.]
Episode 1 This work is unrelated to the author’s personal ideology.
"The 358th returning resident of South Korea, let’s begin the interview."
Kim Minjun, a 7th-grade public servant working at the Disaster Countermeasure Safety Headquarters, pressed the button on the recorder.
Only after his superior, seated beside him, nodded did he shift his gaze to the woman sitting across from him.
The woman was stunningly beautiful—no, calling her a 'beauty' seemed insufficient. She possessed an aura that made it impossible to look away.
With gently slanted eyes, long eyelashes, and flawless, makeup-free skin, her overall appearance exuded an innocent and pure impression.
If her looks were to be categorized between 'puppy-like' and 'cat-like,' she leaned toward the former.
But somehow...
‘Something feels... off.’
Just looking at her caused an inexplicable heat to rise throughout his body.
It was as though something deep within was being stimulated...
"Mr. Kim Minjun."
"Ah, yes. Let’s start the interview."
Startled by his superior’s voice, Kim Minjun hurriedly refocused on his task.
Regardless, this woman was a returning resident—one likely capable of overpowering and killing him effortlessly. There was no room for complacency.
One day, monsters and hunters appeared in the world.
Then, at some point, people claiming to have been pulled into another world and returned began to emerge.
These 'returning residents,' after coming back to modern society, awakened as hunters with a 100% probability. Utilizing the powers they had cultivated in another world, most became formidable hunters.
Of course, not all of them were exceptionally strong.
For example, a returning resident interviewed a few weeks ago claimed she had entered the world of 'Japanese animation' and spent her time as a 'school idol' (an amateur idol group formed in a school).
She neither possessed extraordinary strength nor anything useful—just a collection of trivial, unremarkable skills.
Thus, while not all returning residents were impressive, they were never to be underestimated.
Returning residents often concealed their powers before eventually revealing them. For the sake of world peace, it was necessary to uncover the full extent of the returning resident's abilities sitting in front of him.
“What is your name?”
“Ah...”
The woman hesitated, her face blank, before finally responding in a trembling voice,
“Min Hyemi.”
“Miss Min Hyemi, how old are you? That is, do you remember your age when you last left this world?”
“I was twenty-one. Yes, twenty-one.”
“Could you please state your resident registration number?”
The resident registration number provided by Min Hyemi matched the records.
Though her voice carried a sorrowful and fragile tone that could tug at one’s heartstrings, Kim Minjun tried his best to ignore it.
“Miss Min Hyemi, there’s no need to be afraid. We fully understand that you went through hardships in the other world, and we will do everything we can to help you adjust to this one.”
Many returning residents reported trauma after their experiences in the other world. There, they were often called outsiders, shunned, subjected to human experiments, or suffered even more horrific fates.
“Yes...”
“Miss Min Hyemi, do you understand your current situation?”
“So... I’ve returned?”
“Yes, Miss Min Hyemi, you’ve returned to your original world.”
“And I won’t have to go back there again?”
“No such cases have been reported to date.”
At this, Min Hyemi looked around with trembling eyes, her face filled with the unease of someone being pursued.
It was Kim Minjun’s superior who spoke up to reassure her.
“Miss Min Hyemi, you are safe here. Government-affiliated hunters are guarding this place, and nothing can breach its defenses.”
“Finally, finally...”
Min Hyemi lowered her head and murmured something inaudible.
“I’ve escaped from those bastards...”
“Pardon?”
It was clear that Min Hyemi had endured significant hardships in the other world.
Sympathy flashed in Kim Minjun’s eyes as he looked at her.
“Miss Min Hyemi, to assist you, I’ll need to ask a few more questions. How many years were you in that world?”
“Probably... about three years.”
Considering there were returning residents who claimed to have lived for thousands of years, three years wasn’t a particularly long time.
Nodding, Kim Minjun tapped away at his laptop.
“And what was your status in that world, Miss Min Hyemi?”
“A maid... I was a maid.”
The mention of being a maid implied the presence of a caste system in that world. For a woman who had fallen into such a system...
Recalling the worlds where women were most commonly sent, Kim Minjun asked her another question.
“Are you familiar with ‘romance fantasy’? Was the world you were in similar to that genre?”
“Yes, that’s right...”
“If you’re familiar with romance fantasy, were there any unique aspects compared to other romance fantasy worlds?”
“No. There were sword masters and wizards, but those are pretty common tropes…”
“Indeed, they are.”
From this, Kim Minjun started to get a sense of what kind of person Min Hyemi was.
“Did you experience love there? Were you, by any chance, the protagonist of a romance fantasy novel?”
“If I was the protagonist, then I guess I was. But I didn’t fall in love. I never loved those bastards.”
“Ah, I see.”
It wasn’t unusual for someone to fail to form emotional attachments to the people of an unfamiliar world.
With a composed expression, Kim Minjun continued typing her words into his notes.
“Did you acquire any powers there?”
“Powers?”
“Yes, such as swordsmanship, magic, or anything similar.”
“No, not at all. I’m the same as I was before I left this world.”
“But you must have awakened as a hunter. Didn’t you see a system window upon returning?”
“Ah…”
At that, Min Hyemi’s pupils wavered.
Kim Minjun’s superior leaned closer and whispered, “She’s hiding something.”
Ah, could she be one of those who conceal their powers? It wasn’t uncommon for returning residents to try to hide their abilities.
A hint of annoyance crossed Kim Minjun’s face.
“Can you tell us about any skills you possess?”
“They’re really nothing special…”
When Kim Minjun stared at her expectantly, urging her to answer, she hesitated before slowly listing her skills.
“There are things like <sensitive presence>, <unlock Handcuffs>, and <drug tolerance>...”
Those weren’t particularly remarkable skills. If her claims were true, Min Hyemi didn’t seem to be a dangerous type.
Some returning residents, however, possessed powers so immense that they posed a threat to the world.
For instance, there were those who had been the Heavenly Demon in martial arts worlds or Demon Lords in fantasy adventures.
Many returning residents had been the strongest in their respective worlds.
“Miss Min Hyemi, I need honest answers. Please provide a more detailed description of the world you were in.”
“It was really ordinary. Just your typical romance fantasy…”
“What kind of experiences did you have there?”
At this, Min Hyemi fell silent, pressing her lips tightly together. She clearly didn’t want to discuss something.
Although it could be seen as an invasion of privacy, returning residents were obligated to undergo questioning for the safety of the nation.
Kim Minjun spoke firmly, looking directly at Min Hyemi.
“Miss Min Hyemi, what exactly happened in that world?”
“I was… a maid. I never had the agency to do anything on my own.”
“In that case, did you meet what’s commonly referred to as a ‘male protagonist’? It’s quite common for male protagonists in romance fantasy worlds to approach returning residents.”
“If those bastards could be called male protagonists, then yes, I guess they were…”
“What happened between you and them?”
“….......”
Min Hyemi fell silent once again.
Perhaps frustrated by her lack of response, Kim Minjun’s superior, who had been observing quietly until now, finally spoke up.
“Come now, a more detailed explanation about the world you were in…”
Just as he said that, Min Hyemi abruptly raised her head.
For a moment, Kim Minjun thought he saw anger flash across her face.
And then, as if unable to hold back any longer, Min Hyemi shouted:
“You want to know what kind of world I was in?!”
“Mi-Miss Min Hyemi?”
“A Rated-19 hardcore reverse harem with obsession, kidnapping, confinement, and utter devastation!”
“….....”
“This work does not reflect the author’s personal views—ahhhh!”
“….....”
“.....…”
“…We’re sorry.”
“We’re sorry.”
They both clammed up. At that moment, they fully understood what kind of world Min Hyemi had come from.
That was it. Min Hyemi was a returning resident from a Rated-19 world.
Feels bad man.
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