It's 7:30 in morning, Yu Jin who just ate his breakfast hastily walking down stairway. He was greeted by Stuart at ground floor.
" Seem you got late today."Stuart comment on Yu Jin who is now reach the floor and checking his keys. "Ya, totally forgot about today's early shift and don't worry I remember about your medicine. I will stop by pharmacy." Yu Jin replied to Stuart who pleased by it.
It's over two months now Yu Jin transmigrated into this world. Over this period Yu Jin's daily life remains quite normal and consistent. His day mainly start with light exercise and gun practice. Followed by some mediation and breathing practices. Then rest of day with his part time jobs with weekend doing some good paying odd errands and regular visits to uptown for memorizing streets, shops and making connections with useful NPCs.
While it's monotonous and boring but it is important for Yu Jin's survival. His current life may similar to his previous life but it's better than working as unprepared,novice hunter or scapler and dying hideous death at hand of some monster in gate. Yu Jin with his current experiences does not fear of death as much before but given he is well aware of how cruel and inhumane death one can get at unknown, dangerous places like Arcane anomalies and lawless underworld which still send shiver to his spine.
His final piece of current plan was becoming a genuine hunter with high clearing rate. But only possible when completing his checklist of three important NPCs with first being Stuart for safe and cheap home. His second target was a middle age bookshop owner in uptown. And lastly one which gives Yu Jin most headache and most difficult to deal with, former hunter and crazy drunkard lived at city slumps.
While there are other NPCs Yu Jin trying make connection with but those three directly will influence his survival rate for his future hunter profession.While there are many other professions and jobs in this world which are better than being hunter not just for survival but also by quality of life. Still being hunter was his firm choice.
When Yu Jin first realise he was in The Odyssey's world his natural choice was becoming hunter because that's what he played and all knowledge he had was also from perspective of being hunter.
But over this two months he was starting become curious about not just world also those Arcane gates their detailed history, origin, higher level information about them he unware of and much more. While all those reasons behind his burning curiosity and extreme urge for exploration but his true flame was all his knowledge and familiarity of this world was through 2d pixelated game through screen now turned into reality which give him unusual feeling of being lost, being ingnorant towards very reality present front him.
With each day this unusual feeling keep rising in his heart. Making him anxious and sometimes sleepless at nights. An example of it was, in game Stuart regularly goes outside with no explanation whatsoever but over this time Yu Jin found Stuart needed sleeping pills for his severe insomnia and his regular outing related it.
In game no matter how much you interract with Stuart, his replies were fix and repeatative but now if he wants he can talk to hours not just Stuart but all NPCs he remember. Also this type second chance is not something Yu Jin expecting or hoping for but still he was rewarded with second life.
Something one always dream of, this is why Yu Jin decided live this life to it's fullest with completing all his past ambition and dreams.
With being successful hunter giving all money, glory, fame he can live like some rich aristocrat or date some baddie or milf he always dream of.
It's now around 3 pm in afternoon at uptown. It's Henry Street famous for many bookstore and libraries. This street more of tourist spot for wide range bookstores and giftshops. Pedestrian become less compared to rush morning, there goes a young man in british black suit. It's a decent suit made of good quality fabric.
Young man seem to in little hurry from his steps. He was carrying briefcase in his one hand with other one carrying an elegant wooden cane. His looks was above average but his one hazy brown and other crystal blue eyes give him an unique, distinctive look. And with matching black hat Yu Jin more or less look like some mysterious character from some old detective drama. He get sneaky and curious gazes of people for classy outfit compared to their more modern and trending clothes but Yu Jin now used to it.
Yu Jin's day filled full of bad luck with him forgetting his early shift and getting overwork out all days. And finally forgetting due date for books he borrowed last week.
He now regain his composure and stop his hurry steps. And enter a bookstore with unique european architecture compare it's surrounding more modern building and shops. Compare to building's glorious design it's nameplate quite humble one with just simple font and size. It's name is 'Ottoman's bookstore '.
Yu Jin now enter the shop and it's quite empty because of afternoon. He goes to reception counter and ring the bell while taking out books he borrowed. A middle age man in navy blue suit come out of room behind counter.
He had broad, well structured body with almost six feet height. From one glance one can notice his unique, custom tailored suit
made of high quality expensive fabric. He have some gray hairs but it's well kept hairstyle make them part of his charm. His face full radiance not showing any signs of aging.
Yu Jin takeout his hat and bow respectful towards man. " Good afternoon Sir Michael. You must have tea break now. Sorry for inconvenience."
" You don't need to apologise for it. I already have it twenty minutes ago Scout. No my mistake, Lawrence Medici right. I almost forgot it." Michael bow to Yu Jin respectful and genuinely apologise to him." You don't need to do it Sir Michael but I am really touch you remember my pipe dream. Here are books I borrowed and I wants some suggestions for new ones."
Michael now take books from Yu Jin and mark their return in register." Young man don't think too lightly of your dreams. With your curious and consistent approach towards knowledge, you will definitely find opportunities for getting an official name." Michael try to boost Yu Jin moral with quote of some historical figures.
"You needed new recommendation same genre then what about History of Arcane anomalies, Roots of Hunters and Historical changes of Atlantis. People usually skip them because their overall coverage of timeline and historical data rather than current modern data. That's why they are best for you."
" I liked to borrow them for month and like you mention now of modern data, can you give me some brief outline about them." Yu Jin asked Michael."Well given curious nature I expect it. Let's go to break room and discuss it over some tea." The whole bookstore divided into three floors with ground floor and first floor containing all books and reception hall. Second floor being Michael's personal library and break room for inviting important guests and third floor being his study room, antique collections.
Now both of them sit comfortably in break room and continue their conversation." How is Sir Stuart doing these days. Did he take his medicine on time?" "Well he was doing fine. Today his medicine finished and I get them in morning. I had pretty bad luck today, I almost forgot all important things of my schedule." Yu Jin now explain his day to Michael who genuinely curious about it. Both of them talk to each other daily activities like some old friends.
It was all start with Yu Jin decide visit Michael for making connection as customer before applying for assistant manager job at him. Michael Ottoman came from distinguish family of historians and archaeologist who were pioneer when early Arcane gates in Atlantis found. They practically studied and recorded all gates till now present in city.
Michael himself was former hunter who cleared many anomalies at his youth for archaeological studies of them. Michael like to describe himself not extreme strict but rather extreme discipline person with first love towards cultural history and knowledge.
He had habit or more precise attitude of analyzing and making his fist impression on people them on basis of their mannerisms, etiquette, qualities of true gentleman and more. This reason why despite his great prestige and fame, his bookstore not full customers or guests compare to other stores and bookshop on same street.
His approach not was not merely remember or respect all those cultural history but also try integrate one's life through clothing, daily greetings, dietary habits, etc. Which something people hardly chose in current modern world.
This was first time someone show a true genuine interest it same as Michael's own when was first introduced it his late grandfather when he was young boy.
When Yu Jin first show up his impression on Michael was average like his other customers and guests but over the period it changed drastically with their every conversation Michael starts to feels like he find his some long lost friend.
Their discussion topics not limited to daily life or books and starting goes above and beyond of their political ideologies, thoughts on current governor, current socio-economic condition of Atlantis and much more. Yu Jin becomes a young mind who not just same share thoughts and ideologies as him but also add modern, different approache to his ideas.
" I am observing you over for almost two months now. You're body movements became more free and flexible. Also their is noticeable improvement in body posture and breathing pattern. You mention exercise and and mediation last time but is there any other things you're trying" Michael question Yu Jin with curiosity.
"Not much, just practice for gun handling and shooting at weekends." Yu Jin replied. "Can you show me your gun?" Michael asked politely. Yu Jin pass him his gun after checking safety lock.
" I am expecting some cheap quality one but this one quite good. Do it's maintenance regularly because you gonna use it for long time." Michael compliment on Yu Jin's gun and continue their conversation.
"From your diligent efforts I rest assured of you being hunter. But listen carefully now, even though I explore and study gates more than clearing them still I was a hunter. And what think most important for hunter was not extreme bulky body full of muscles rather high stamina and endurance for surviving almost no food or water over long time. I see most dignified and stubborn woman selling here body over handful of bread. I saw siblings betraying eachother over monster corpse. What I experience over 15 years being hunter was people who clearing those gates and anomalies are no different from monster and creatures who overrule them. I am trying say not just learn merely learn about gates and monsters but try be more manipulative, learn to judge people through their actions and minor details, be more aware of surrounding, try to learn to tracking and navigation skills and lastly learn about wilderness cooking, water filtration techniques. They may not sound much grand but those basic skills always comes handy."
Yu Jin who was relax till now starting to note down all things on his notepad attentively.
Yu Jin fully focused on Michael's guidance because it's first time he was hearing such detailed information for hunters and gates. Yu Jin may possess information about all early Arcane anomalies present in Atlantis and closing methods of some. But all those in game information doesn't cover real-life factors and different scenarios Michael mentioning and most important aspect was at how in depth, detailed was it compare to all Yu Jin's play through.
Yu Jin starts feeling like first year college student first time introduced to his subjects. He getting more absorb in Michael's lecture with his notepad filling non-stop. Over two hours pass to their conversation and Yu Jin standup to leave to bookstore. He still had second part time job to attend.