Chapter 19
Han Ji-an trembled as he left the Tower, still shaken by the sight of Nika’s unusually terrifying demeanor.
“Is Lillian okay? She hasn’t said a word since earlier.”
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“…”
He initially thought she was zoning out, but Lillian was still unconscious. Carrying the fainted Lillian into the room, he gently placed her on the bed. When he returned to the living room, he saw Nika gleefully flying around, exclaiming how much fun today had been.
As long as Nika was happy, wasn’t that enough?
【Let’s turn more things into dust next time!】
He immediately took back that thought.
“Turning things into dust is fine, but only when I give you permission, okay?”
【Got it!】
Her cheerful response seemed sincere. But could he trust her? Well, his Nika would never lie to him.
Spreading his arms, he welcomed Nika as she flew into his embrace. Together, they sat on the sofa as he checked the rewards from today’s run.
However, the usual 【Growth Stone】 and 【Magic Stone】 no longer excited him. His standards had risen too high.
He searched his inventory again, hoping for something more valuable, but found nothing.
“The rewards are underwhelming.”
As he handed a Growth Stone to Nika, a new system message appeared.
【Cooldown has ended.】
The Tower rewards may have disappointed him, but today, he hoped the next draw would bring something worthwhile.
“Random Summon.”
【Congratulations! You’ve acquired ‘Nourishment for the Picky Eater’s Soul.’】
A book materialized in his inventory, but the title was odd. Was this some kind of targeted jab at him? No way… right?
***
After clearing the 11th floor, it was time to address something he’d postponed for too long.
It was time to leave behind his low-profile lifestyle.
Now that he was strong enough to protect not just himself but also his sister, it was time to reveal his identity.
Granted, the strength wasn’t his alone—Nika was the real powerhouse—but wasn’t that the same thing? After all, a summoner and their summon were one and the same.
“Nika, today we’re heading to the Awakener Association for re-registration. I’ll need you to demonstrate your power there. Is that okay?”
【If that’s what you want, then of course!】
Why was Nika so perfect? Hugging her tightly, he couldn’t help but express his affection until a soft cough from the side snapped him out of it.
“Ahem, shall we get going?” he asked.
“Yes!”
He prepared meticulously for today. Not only did he need to handle his reawakening, but he also had to resolve Lillian’s identity issue.
This time, she wore a baseball cap, sunglasses, and a mask.
While she might look like a model, this outfit ensured she wouldn’t attract as much attention as before.
“Ji-an… I mean, sir, is this place where your world manages Awakeners?” Lillian asked.
“Yes, that’s right. I’ll handle your identity issue along with my re-registration.”
“You’re doing all this for me…” Lillian mumbled.
With her mask on, he couldn’t make out her expression or hear her clearly. It was probably nothing important.
As they entered the first-floor lobby of the Awakener Association, a grand reception area stretched out before them. Approaching the information desk, he inquired about reawakening.
“Reawakening costs 100,000 won. Please pay in advance and proceed to Basement Level 1,” the receptionist explained, handing him some forms.
Unlike initial registrations conducted on the third floor, reawakening happened underground.
After making the payment and receiving a keycard, he descended to the basement, where the sight of a bustling crowd greeted him.
Were there really this many reawakeners?
“Number 25! Please proceed inside!” a staff member called out.
Squeezed among the mass of people, he waited for his turn. Before he knew it, an hour had passed.
He’d thought it would be quick, but it was taking far longer than anticipated. At this rate, would he even make it through today?
After waiting four long hours, his number—169—was finally called. Entering the designated room, he was greeted by a machine he hadn’t seen in three years, not since his first awakening.
“Are you Han Ji-an? Please place your hand on this crystal,” the staff member instructed.
As he pressed his palm against the crystal, it glowed brightly before fading. His status window appeared on a monitor.
[[ Name: Han Ji-an
Age: 23
Gender: Male
【Unique Abilities】
- Random Summon (E-Grade)
- Infinite Love (E—Grade)
- ■■■■ (Locked, Grade: ■■)
- ■■■■ (Locked, Grade: ■■)
To unlock abilities, you must fulfill the preconditions.]]
The skill grade for Infinite Love is clearly EX-grade, but the monitor displays it as E···.
What’s going on? Is the text cut off or something?!
The staff member checked the monitor and stamped the document before handing it to him.
“Unfortunately, Han Ji-an, your Awakener grade is D.”
“What…? No, no! That skill isn’t E-grade, it’s EX-grade!”
“EX-grade?” The staff member looked at him with an expression that said, ‘Such a grade doesn’t exist.’
When Ji-an insisted on having his grade re-evaluated through combat, the staff member sighed and gestured dismissively.
“Apologies, but combat evaluations are only available for C-grade or higher. D-grades aren’t eligible.”
“What? Where does it say that?!”
“It’s the policy.”
The staff member pointed him to the exit on the left and called the next number, leaving Ji-an no room to argue due to the sheer number of Awakeners waiting behind him.
As he left the building, he pondered how to explain the situation to Lillian. Before he could figure it out, she grabbed his hand and led him outside.
Once they were outside, she removed her sunglasses and mask, smiling warmly.
“It’s okay. Those narrow-minded… people just don’t recognize your worth, Ji-an.”
Her heartfelt words moved him.
【Should I get rid of them?】
Nika’s eerie voice whispered from within his embrace.
“Thanks for worrying about me,” Ji-an said with a forced smile, trying to diffuse the tension.
Both Lillian and Nika seemed to relax slightly at his response.
“I’m sorry, though. Sorting out your identity issue might take a bit more time.”
“That’s fine. It’s not that important to me.”
Lillian looped her arm through his, smiling sweetly as she said, “As long as I can stay by your side, I’m happy.”
The attention they drew made Ji-an hastily suggest moving elsewhere.
As they walked, he glanced back at the Awakener Association building.
This grudge… I’ll definitely repay it someday.
***
Could the Awakener Association have ever felt more like a funeral home than today? The air was thick with tension.
A staff member, sweating bullets, reported to the director.
“We’ve conducted a thorough investigation into all Hunters who awakened in the last three years, but none match the profile of an S-grade individual.”
The director’s face darkened in irritation.
“You still haven’t found them? Does that even make sense?”
“We’ve reviewed all registered Awakeners from the last three years. Some came for reawakening tests, but none fit the criteria.”
“Do whatever it takes to find them.”
“Yes, understood!”
The staff member hurried out of the director’s office, leaving the man alone. Opening a hidden compartment in his desk drawer, he retrieved a secondary phone and pressed a speed-dial key.
A ringtone played an old nostalgic tune before a deep voice answered.
“Have you found the 13th candidate?”
“My apologies, Chairman. We haven’t found them yet.”
A tense silence followed.
The quiet was so unnerving that the director almost wished for shouting or physical punishment instead.
Finally, a voice filled with disappointment came through the line.
“Did I overestimate you, my dear director? If the position is too much for you, just say so.”
“No, sir! I’ll find them, no matter what!”
“You have three days to report back.”
The call ended abruptly, leaving the director at a loss for words. He still had more to say—what was he supposed to do now?
He flung the phone against the wall, swept everything off his desk, and only calmed down after venting his frustration.
“How much I’ve sacrificed to climb to this position… You think I’ll lose it all over one S-grade?”
The thought was absurd.
Thinking about the S-grade who lost their abilities after defying orders to save a child, and now this elusive 13th candidate, he cursed under his breath. Awakeners, as powerful as they were, seemed utterly unreliable.
Regaining his composure, he pulled out another phone and dialed a new number. This time, a grating voice answered.
“Well, well, what brings the esteemed director of the Awakener Association to contact someone like me?”
“Enough sarcasm. I need someone found. A suspected 13th S-grade candidate, but I can’t track them.”
“Heh, so you need a professional, huh? But you know, our services don’t come cheap.”
“Find them, and I’ll pay whatever it takes. You have three days.”
The call ended, leaving the director to wait. Though uneasy, he trusted the capabilities of his hired specialists.
They would get the job done.
—
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