Chapter 26.2 ?

“…Uh…”

Yoo Sung-woon let out a deep sigh.

“I don’t know how to explain this, but it’s just the way people live. It’s embarrassing to admit, but we classify each other by ranks.”

“What kind of ranking?”

“For example, someone like me who lives in the city and works as both a hunter and a curator is first-class. As far as I know, hunters above B-rank are practically first-class, as long as they’re not criminal red hunters.”

Yoo Sung-woon pulled out his ID card and showed him the words ‘first-class’ next to his name, then pointed it out over the window of the overground train.

“People with modest incomes and jobs but still live in the city are second-class.”

“……”

“As for countryside people I mentioned earlier, they’re usually classified as third-class. And some of the poor people living between the city and the countryside, those who don’t even have ID cards, are implicitly considered fourth-class.”

“…Is there a fifth-class?”

“That’s where the criminals come in. Unlike the fourth-class citizens who don’t even have their names recorded, these people are officially listed in records, but they’re not treated as humans. It’s practically set up so you can kill them on sight.”

How could life be this miserable?

The sensitive Gio felt like he was about to cry over the unbelievable development of his homeland.

‘…I always thought a caste system would come back someday as long as the Earth’s lifespan outlasted humanity’s, but I never expected to experience it in my lifetime.’

Looking at the still-open door, Gio asked again.

“Is there a reason for such distinctions?”

“Well, one reason is probably the huge difference in infrastructure between urban and rural areas.”

Yoo Sung-woon, perhaps determined to play his role as a guide, answered kindly.

“I’m talking about various facilities and benefits within the area, though there’s a significant cultural and administrative gap between cities and the countryside. People in the countryside tend to make a living by farming while city residents purchase the food delivered from there…”

“……”

“You could say the gap is almost a century wide. If you go to the countryside, it’s hard to even find a two-story building, let alone an overground train. Hardly anyone owns a car. There’s usually at least one village train running …. but that might be the reason why they don’t bother buying cars.”

Since there’s already a means of transportation, there’s no need to spend money on a private car. Yoo Sung-woon muttered quietly and continued.

“Well…  the biggest difference is the defence line.”

“What does the defence line mean?”

“In reality, the city outskirts are protected by a large wall like a fortress wall. Secondly, there are specialized public officials responsible for managing the city’s internal security, and most importantly, there are already many hunters in the city … so even if an incident occurs, it will be dealt with quickly.”

Yoo Sung-woon scratched the back of his neck.

“In short, it’s a survival benefit. Most fourth-class citizens would rather live as poor people than risk their lives outside the city. Many people want to enter the city for the same reason, but… not everyone can live here. After all, resources and space are limited, right?”

“So that’s why they divide people into classes?”

“Only second-class citizens and above can live in the city. Third-class citizens can visit or find jobs in the city, but if they try to live here without permission, they’re treated harshly.”

“In what way does it get harsh?”

“How should I put this? Well, first of all, their ID is revoked, so they can’t find jobs… It’s not as bad as fifth-class, but they’re treated less than humans. People who blindly settle in the city, not wanting to die in the countryside to monsters, become fourth-class citizens—the poor.”

In summary, is this a dystopia?

‘Listening to something that sounds like it came out of a movie makes it feel even less real.’

It was a world hard for Gio, who loved friendship, love, and peace, to accept. It felt like everything had gotten twisted compared to 31 years ago when human affection could still be felt.

Though Gio tried to maintain a poker face despite shrinking internally, Yoo Sung-woon, who wanted Gio to fully understand human society, continued his explanation.

“In the first place, dungeons can pop up anywhere, and even if it’s not necessary from the dungeons, many monsters have already settled on Earth. In cities, these monsters are managed well, but in the countryside, there’s a lack of manpower and equipment, so if you’re not careful, you can end up dead.”

“That sounds scary.”

“That’s why people living in countryside villages are told not to go outside after 5 PM. Or, in many cases, the village is run by hunters below C-rank. No matter how weak they are, Awakeners are much more reliable than ordinary people.”

Around that time, the overground train doors finally closed.

“……”

“It’s finally moving.”

“No one else got on.”

“Well, it’s not lunchtime yet….”

“It is morning, though.”

“What kind of office worker has time for breakfast?”

It was a tone of voice that implied that eating breakfast wasn’t normal. It seemed that the phrase ‘three meals a day’ had long disappeared from the current world.

‘Yet here we are, running around to eat three meals right now.’

As he listened to the horrific realities of modern society with one ear and let it out the other, Gio slowly appreciated the overground train that resembled the structure of the subway he knew. The most impressive thing was the transparent walls and ceiling.

“Are these walls and ceilings also made using intangible crystals?”

“Probably. Its durability and transparency are incomparable to Earth’s traditional materials, so it can withstand monster attacks to some extent.”

“I see.”

“Apparently, in the past, they used to make windows like this out of glass and plastic… It’s surprising they used such weak materials.”

“……”

Just like that, Gio suddenly fell to the status of an ancestor. From being the young blood of the education world to becoming an ancestor in an instant—the exponential fall made him dizzy.

“Is glass or plastic not used anymore?”

“We still use them, but glass… is mostly used for decorations, right? It’s much easier to shape than intangible crystals, and you can mix colours too. Even though it can be made artificially, it’s still considered a type of gem, so it’s a bit expensive.”

“What about plastic?”

“Plastic? It’s hardly used anymore? It can’t be recycled and doesn’t decompose well.”

Caring for the Earth? It seems Earthlings have made some progress over the last 31 years. Gio had thought they were busy evolving into a dystopia, but it wasn’t all bad.

‘The Earth’s lifespan might have increased a bit.’

Gio turned his gaze back to the overground train.

The backrest of the seats was covered in soft fabric and leather, almost like a sofa, but the windows and ceiling above the shoulders were so clean they seemed nonexistent.

The shining walls of the buildings beyond and the clear blue sky gave him a strange thrill.

‘A gentlemanly roller coaster…’

There was no sense of speed or bumps, but this ridiculously high-altitude train stimulated Gio’s romanticism. It felt like a scene straight out of a sci-fi movie.

“Ah, Gio. We’re getting off soon.”

“Is that so?”

“The reserved restaurant and hotel are near this stop.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“You can look forward to it, I’ve reserved all the good places.”

As he listened to Yoo Sung-woon’s words with interest, Gio suddenly had a faint realization.

‘Earth is no longer a place where harmless beings like me can live.’

For the weak Gio, who didn’t even have the Taekwondo white belt that everyone else had, he didn’t have the strength to overcome this terrifying world. He would have to stay inside the portrait for life, ensuring his personal safety

If Yoo Sung-woon had heard this, he probably would’ve trembled in disbelief.