Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: External Mission (2)
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A mountain range stretching long across Boeun-gun and Goesan-gun in Chungbuk Province, and parts of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.
I had arrived at Songnisan National Park just yesterday, spent the night at a nearby lodging, and set out the moment dawn broke the next morning.
Not that it needs saying, but it's common knowledge: even among awakeners, keeping to a schedule is crucial.
Sure, there are exceptions everywhere, but with all the eccentric types out there, it was better to be cautious just in case.
Take the awakener I'd teamed up with last summer to clear a gate—a guy in his forties.
He'd spoken casually since I was a student, but his respect for me as a fellow awakener had left a deep impression that still stuck with me.
'Wonder what that guy's up to these days.'
He was A-rank, not S, and not part of some famous guild, so I never saw his face in the news.
We'd exchanged contacts, but I never really had a reason to use it...
His messenger app profile pic changed now and then, so at least it didn't look like he'd quietly vanished into some gate like so many awakeners do.
I briefly pictured his latest photo—him grinning ear-to-ear with what looked like his two kids—then chuckled and pulled out my smartphone.
[11:58]
...The meeting time was almost here, but I'd arrived a bit early anyway. A few minutes late wouldn't be a big deal.
That said, with all the creepy stories—or not-so-stories?—I'd heard from academy seniors...
'Hope she's a decent person.'
I finished my quick prayer and stretched out long. The fog-shrouded mountain base was pretty chilly, but...
That had nothing to do with me.
I was loosening up, hoping she'd dressed warmly against the mountain cold, when...
"Excuse me, are you Lee Hyun-jin, the student...?"
A clear voice rang out with a sudden tap on my shoulder. A chill shot through me, and I leaped away on instinct.
Half of it was pure reflex—I realized a beat too late that I'd overreacted.
"...Oops."
The one who touched me was clearly more flustered. I looked up to see a woman in her late twenties standing there, frozen awkwardly.
An awkward vibe hung in the air. I scratched my cheek and bowed my head first.
"That's me, Lee Hyun-jin. Sorry for the rude reaction."
"Oh, no, my fault for sneaking up from behind."
She waved her hands frantically, at a loss.
Her profile pic name was probably...
"You're Kim Ji-woo, right?"
"...Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm Kim Ji-woo, the one you're meeting today."
She nodded quickly at my words, so flustered that she started spilling unasked details.
"Renewed my A-rank three months ago, twenty-seven years old, currently with Blue Butterfly Guild. Three sizes top to bottom: 89, 66, 80. V-vision's 2.0 in both eyes!"
"...Uh, okay..."
Her face was all urgency, like she thought I'd pegged her as suspicious for sneaking up stealthily.
But why the three sizes? Not like I could verify them anyway.
She snapped out of it quick enough, fumbling "Oops" and pulling a document from her pocket to hand over.
It matched what I had, confirming she was indeed the academy-partnered guild awakener assigned to me today.
I nodded and handed it back. As I thought she seemed a bit scatterbrained, she fidgeted with her hands and apologized again.
"S-sorry? My role's what it is, so stealth is second nature. Normal folks don't sense presence anyway, so I figured it'd be fine..."
She trailed off, gave up on excuses, and sighed deeply.
Then she glanced up at me with a sheepish "Hehe."
"S-so, Hyun-jin, you've got great presence detection, huh."
I stayed quiet and noncommittal, and her face fell even more as she clenched and unclenched her fingers.
She laughed alone, then deflated—her reactions were kinda fun to watch.
"Most people without confidence in their senses wouldn't jump like that. A-amazing for a mage..."
I wondered how deep her hole of embarrassment would go if I left her be. Probably more hilarious sights ahead.
"...No, it was my overreaction, so don't worry about it."
But teasing a stranger like that would be rude.
I gave her a harmless smile to show it was water under the bridge.
"Presence detection's a spell my master taught me separately. 'Always watch your back as an awakener,' he said... Learned it young and keep it on constantly now."
"..."
I scratched my cheek, but this time she didn't reply.
Blinking at her, her face looked kinda blank.
"Kim Ji-woo?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
I called her name awkwardly, and focus returned to her eyes.
Her expressions changed so much—super bouncy personality.
Kim Ji-woo covered her mouth slightly and muttered softly.
"...Bet Hyun-jin charms all the girls at the academy."
"?"
Sudden compliment?
Or was it?
I blinked in confusion, but she just fanned herself and spun around without elaborating.
"A-anyway, shall we? It's a two-day job, no rush, but better to knock it out early."
"Ah, yep."
"Uh, and you can speak casually..."
"Ah, sure."
Our awkward first steps began in this mutual embarrassment. Hope this goes okay, I thought, calmly checking my mana as we entered Songnisan.
Like the countless mountains scattered across Korea, Songnisan had been half-overrun by monsters since the early gate breaks. Basically a habitat.
Civilians were barred, of course, but awakeners were exempt.
Not like high-risk spots such as Jirisan or Seoraksan swarming with top-tier beasts, so no real danger.
An A-rank and one academy student could waltz in without much prep—the difficulty spoke for itself.
The mobs? Variant slimes, goblins, orcs at worst. Occasional tentacle spider or bloodsucking mantis sightings, sure.
But all well within A-rank cleanup range—no need to fear.
My only concern was the new A-rank, Kim Ji-woo, who seemed a tad sloppy.
She hadn't earned her rank in a card game, so she had to have the skills at minimum.
If push comes to shove, I'll jump in more actively to minimize risks. Not bragging, but I'm a capable mage.
Shwick!!!
...I'd love to say I'd once harbored such arrogant thoughts myself.
One single slash.
Blood sprayed.
A dagger, no less—short blade, limited reach.
Blink, and dozens of monsters ahead were shredded.
Gulp.
I swallowed dryly. Had to admit it: being hailed as a prodigy mage had made me cocky.
Couldn't track her moves. Before I even saw the dagger swing, Kim Ji-woo was already far ahead.
Then slash slash. Heads flew clean off, and she didn't get a drop of their filthy fluids on her.
Once in a blue moon, a blind splatter hit...
"Gross."
Even wiping it off with her sleeve oozed wild allure.
I stared blankly as she flicked her dagger clean, then snapped to and let out a hollow laugh.
At this rate, I'd have nothing to do.
"Wanna take a breather?"
Kim Ji-woo turned back with a bright smile right then.
I chuckled awkwardly in reply.
"...Yeah, sounds good."
She beamed even wider at my answer and tugged me aside.