Chapter 23: Park Siwoo
Shadow.
An assassination group operating in the darkness, dreaming of the revival of a great being.
Its members were extremely diverse, and many operated in the light.
With a sort of dual identity, that is.
The leader of that group, Han Baekgil, gazed at the pitch-black stone in his hand.
The Stone of Life.
A gift from the great being.
Its effect was simple.
It lost its color when the designated target died. Just like the stone of Lee Seoyoon in his hand now.
‘She’s dead.’
Han Baekgil clicked his tongue inwardly.
Lee Seoyoon had been a promising talent with ability since awakening.
She was also an awakener who harbored a cruel disposition deep inside.
Crazy recognizes crazy.
Han Baekgil had seen it at a glance. That was why he had approached her in advance and recruited her into the Shadows.
‘I was planning to give her a key position later.’
She was a sure bet to grow into S-rank. There weren’t many with such talent even within the Shadows.
And yet, that kind of talent had dropped dead overnight.
“…Tch.”
Clicking his tongue, he gathered the members.
Members entered wearing masks.
From Number One to Number Seven. They were the core talents, each assigned a number.
Seeing them, Han Baekgil spoke.
Han Baekgil said.
“Lee Seoyoon is dead.”
“That psycho bitch is dead? How?”
“Obvious, isn’t it? She finished the job we gave her this time, right? Probably went hunting to blow off steam and got done in instead.”
At those words, the members nodded inwardly. Lee Seoyoon’s eccentricities were fairly well-known even within the Shadows.
Whenever she was assigned a job, she’d always go hunting people afterward.
“But it’s kinda weird, right? She was crazy, but not an idiot. She wouldn’t have gone after someone she couldn’t handle…”
Valid point.
Lee Seoyoon enjoyed hunting, but she wasn’t the type to risk her life in a serious fight.
“Didn’t she usually target guys who moved alone?”
“Yeah. She said party types were boring, so probably the same this time. And she got caught…”
Han Baekgil raised his hand and spoke.
“There are two possibilities. First. A high-rank awakener sneaked in hiding their identity into a low-level gate. Or…”
“A new face showed up and beat Lee Seoyoon one-on-one?”
“Yeah.”
Han Baekgil nodded.
If an A- or S-rank awakener had entered hiding their identity, it wouldn’t be strange for Lee Seoyoon to get hunted.
But the possibility itself was extremely low. The gates Lee Seoyoon frequented were mostly D- to E-rank.
Would some famous big shot enter there just for snacks?
Sure, there could be some hidden piece like that, but the odds weren’t high.
High-level hidden pieces usually started in upper zones anyway.
“If it’s a new face, who could it be?”
The intriguing topic made the members’ eyes sparkle.
People often thought high achievements would be broadcast everywhere, but that wasn’t always the case.
Many awakeners hid their achievement ranks to some degree.
A-rank as B-rank.
B-rank as C-rank.
They accepted slightly worse treatment in exchange for less attention.
Quite a few operated that way.
Flaunting high achievements didn’t always bring only advantages.
“That bitch’s achievement rank was A. Level 300 too. Whoever took her down isn’t ordinary…”
“Yeah. That’s why I called you all. If a real new face appeared, it’s a variable.”
The members nodded.
Of course, even if it was a new face, it wouldn’t be a total newbie.
Likely someone who’d rolled around in the awakener world for a while.
No way a lowbie took down Lee Seoyoon.
“Got it. So, boss, what’ll we do if we find the guy? Kill him?”
“Not necessarily. Recruitment is on the table too. Of course, if that fails…”
Han Baekgil’s eyes grew cold.
No need to finish the sentence—everyone got it.
“Alright. I’ll track the movements of A-rank and above awakeners. There’s bound to be someone entering gates regularly.”
“I’ll check the entry logs for low-level gates. Focusing on solo entrants.”
The Shadows began to move.
To find out who killed Lee Seoyoon.
* * *
After exiting the gate, Kim Minwoo returned home and summoned his bodyguards.
“Look into this person for me. Oh, and dispose of this ID.”
“Understood.”
Park Siwoo.
Hanbit Orphanage.
He handed over the paper with the simple info and Park Cheolwoong’s ID.
He figured the Shadows might sniff him out, so better to discard it early.
Less than ten minutes later, he received a file with the info.
As expected, Park Siwoo was currently at the orphanage.
He checked the listed special notes.
[Skilled with swords since childhood. Several guilds approached coveting his talent, but he never awakened.]
‘Budding talent indeed.’
Contacting him sooner was better. Park Siwoo’s awakening had a time limit past which it would loop back.
‘I’ll meet him first.’
Leveling up?
He could do that anytime.
Hunt outer gods within seven years.
Honestly, a few months would get him to 200 easy.
After that, growth would stall hard.
This was a chance to break through that.
Reason enough to move now.
“Prepare the car. We’re heading here.”
Hanbit Orphanage.
He’d meet Park Siwoo there first.
* * *
Hanbit Orphanage.
Kids ran around the Gyeonggi Province orphanage as usual today.
Park Siwoo stared blankly at the scene when his same-age friend plopped down beside him.
“What’re you doing?”
“Just… not much time left here anymore. So I was watching.”
“Lucky bastard? Got time to space out even.”
“Lucky my ass. It’s hell already.”
“True. You’ve got a little sister too…”
His friend nodded in understanding. Just as he said, his little sister was at the orphanage with him.
He had to leave once he hit age limit. Even with settlement aid, that pittance would barely cover a goshiwon room.
The frustration hit hard, but after a moment’s worry, Park Siwoo spoke.
“…What’ll you do for a living once you’re out?”
“Me? Told you. Learn a trade or something. You?”
“Dunno. Lately I’m thinking I really should. If only I’d awakened…”
His friend snickered.
“Awakened? If you haven’t by our age, it’s over. What’re you dreaming about?”
“…Yeah, guess so.”
Park Siwoo nodded quietly.
Bittersweet inside.
Since childhood, his dream had been to become an awakener.
The reason was simple.
He’d been saved by one. Thirteen years ago, an A-rank gate burst suddenly in Yongin, Gyeonggi.
Out with family, he lost his parents. If awakeners hadn’t come, he might’ve lost his only sister too.
From then, his dream was to be an awakener. To save others like he and his sister had been saved.
Not that it had to be an awakener specifically…
No job got as much recognition. That’s why most kids at the orphanage dreamed of being awakeners.
Sadly, only a tiny few made it.
Then.
Vehicles lined up in front of the orphanage. An array of cars that screamed money widened their eyes.
“What’s this? Some big shot coming today?”
“Dunno. Director didn’t say anything special.”
Then an astonishing sight unfolded.
People stepping out of the cars.
And among them, a very familiar face.
Kim Minwoo!
Sunglasses or not, impossible to miss.
He was Korea’s hottest awakener right now! Plus, the presumed bodyguards carried gifts too heavy for one person.
‘Why the hell is he here…’
Then.
“Hey! You there, kid!”
“Me?”
“Yeah, you. Park Siwoo, right?”
“Yes. That’s me… Do you know me?”
“Of course. Know you well. Real well. Wanna chat with big bro somewhere quiet?”
Kim Minwoo took off his sunglasses and grinned.
* * *
Inside a small cafe.
Kim Minwoo and Park Siwoo sat facing each other.
“Order whatever you want.”
“No thanks. Ate already. What did you want to talk about…”
Park Siwoo seemed eager for the point.
Straight to it then.
“Siwoo. You’re worried a lot lately, huh?”
“…Pardon?”
“Gotta leave the orphanage soon, no clear path to make a living. Right?”
“W-Well… yeah?”
“And with a little sister, you need to secure a spot first.”
Park Siwoo nodded.
“Big bro’s got an eye for people. And you? You’re the real deal.”
“Real deal meaning…”
“You’ve got awakener talent.”
“…Pardon?”
“Didn’t hear me?”
“No, I heard. But I haven’t awakened yet?”
“Kid. I awakened way later than your age. And now?”
“Super… rookie, right?”
“Yeah. Find the right trigger, awaken, and you can be like me.”
“Sorry, but… I don’t know my trigger…”
“Normal! Who knows their awakening conditions? I tried everything and lucked out.”
Not luck—he knew it. But no need to say that.
“I’m scouting talent lately, and you caught my eye. Orphanage records say you’re good with swords?”
“Ah…”
Park Siwoo nodded, convinced.
Awakeners were top-tier jobs.
And awakening conditions were like lottery tickets often.
So orphanages pushed for awakeners.
Producing a good one meant fat sponsorships from guilds or groups.
Part of that effort was training. Hand practice weapons to kids and drill them.
Helped find aptitudes, and sometimes triggered awakenings.
Even without, it spotted usable talents.
Park Siwoo had been one such prospect once.
Sword skills off the charts.
But no awakening yet.
Maybe this lottery’s mine to scratch?
Guilds thought that, built ties, offered support.
Helped test various awakening attempts.
But after much time.
Park Siwoo was chewed gum now. Prospects awakened by fifteen at latest, but this guy wouldn’t no matter what.
Sword genius? Useless without awakening.
They tried plenty.
Eventually, guilds eyeing him dropped off one by one.
Why he worried about life after orphanage.
Studied less.
Trained less.
Chased that awakening jackpot, and it failed.
“You haven’t given up yet, right?”
“…”
Park Siwoo nodded quietly.
Kim Minwoo grinned seeing it.
“I’ll help. Until you awaken. Whatever you imagine, I’ll give more support than that.”
“…Th…”
“Call me casually. Bro’s fine.”
“…Yes. Bro. I get why you called me. But why go this far? Other guilds all gave up…”
He snickered.
Why this far?
The world didn’t know this genius’s worth yet.
The Sword Sage had praised true genius—not him, but Park Siwoo.
‘This guy’s the real genius.’
Trait: Sword genius.
The game start screen had nailed it.
This one’s a monster.
No loss building ties.
And most important.
‘Super high chance for achievement points.’
Worth beyond money.
Achievement points boosted his potential directly.
To hunt outer gods, higher level better.
Only way past the dreaded 200.
Pass on this?
“No way.”
“Pardon?”
“Bro can’t pass on this.”
What fate awaited Park Siwoo normally? Hard to say exactly, but predictable.
Long ago.
Even when top player knew conditions and piloted himself, achievement capped at S.
Let alone now, when Park Siwoo didn’t even know his.
Tough conditions meant C- or B-rank awakening at best, usually.
Sword genius might climb high.
‘Famous Korean awakener. That level.’
Probably end there.
First skillbook was crucial.
If he hit S+ achievement from this doomed fate?
Twist the protagonist’s destiny this much—story wouldn’t stay straight.
Success meant achievement points pouring in.
Surefire lottery.
Gotta scratch it.
“S-rank? Nah, you’ll be beyond that for sure. Let’s do it. Bro’s got your back.”
Write a legend in Korea’s awakener world.
That’s why he came for Park Siwoo.