Awakening Amid Chaos
Kim Jun struggled to pry open his eyelids.
His vision was blurry.
As his eyes focused, strange patterns came into view. Triangles and squares shifted subtly, repeating in a design that resembled arabesques or fractals.
"You okay?"
A face suddenly loomed into view, peering down at him.
A name flashed in his mind.
Sa Yeonggyo. He remembered who she was. The Association President's granddaughter. And with that, he recalled where he was and why. As consciousness fully returned, mischief sparked within him.
"Who?"
"What?"
"Who am I?"
Kim Jun asked with a dazed expression. Startled, Sa Yeonggyo shot her hand up and yelled.
"Doctor! Hurry!"
"Heh heh."
A chuckle escaped him.
Only then did Sa Yeonggyo realize it was a joke, and her fist slammed into Kim Jun's abdomen.
"Hngh."
It hurt enough to make him gasp, but he couldn't hold back the laughter.
Sa Yeonggyo shot him a glare. As Kim Jun lifted his head to look around, he noticed the cast on his left arm and the black tapes plastered across his body.
"Magic Patch."
"What's that?"
"Something the Association's Equipment Division is developing. A patch that temporarily boosts recovery. They say it's almost done with clinical trials."
"Almost?"
"It's safe, so don't worry."
Kim Jun grinned. Moments later, a man in a doctor's coat approached, followed by a nurse carrying a first-aid kit.
"Huh? The color's changed."
The doctor frowned.
"Is there a problem?"
Sa Yeonggyo asked.
"No, not really... Magic Patches are supposed to last about ten hours before the color changes. That's normal. But the ones on this examinee are already shifting."
"Not bad, right?"
"Of course. Probably just a great match with the Magic Patch."
"Replace them."
"Ah, yes."
The doctor hesitated briefly.
Magic Patches, made from specially processed Core Medicinium, cost 500,000 won each—high-end supplies. Every usage had to be logged in reports: who, how many.
Other examinees used just two or three at most, but Kim Jun, with his extensive wounds, already had ten. Using more could be an issue. Still, knowing who Sa Yeonggyo was, the doctor signaled the nurse.
She swiftly pulled fresh Magic Patches from the kit.
Peeling off the ten from his shoulder, chest, abdomen, side, and back, and replacing them took less than five minutes.
Kim Jun was impressed.
A cool energy seeped from the patches, refreshing him utterly.
The Association made this? Hmm, they do get some work done.
With Sa Yeonggyo's help, Kim Jun sat up.
The Honor Hall had transformed into a shelter.
The wax figures and bronze busts that usually handled the interior decor had been shoved against one wall, and dozens of cots stood in neat rows in the cleared space.
In some spots, people drained of vitality lay, while medical staff bustled about, checking conditions.
The sharp smell of medicine stung his nose.
"Park Hyun-woo?"
Kim Jun asked.
"They caught him, probably."
"So you don't know."
"Don't underestimate the Dungeon Association. The guards here could take down those crazy wax dolls even if they charged like trucks. One Core Bullet, and inner energy or mana—it's all blocked."
"Water."
Kim Jun held up his broken left arm in its cast.
Sa Yeonggyo rolled her eyes lightly and handed him an opened water bottle.
Even chugging it down didn't quench his thirst. After downing two in a row, he finally felt a bit alive.
Now he could survey the room properly. His eyes caught on the people standing at the Honor Hall entrance.
"Those guys—guards, right?"
Kim Jun pointed and asked.
"Yeah."
"Why are they there?"
"Didn't hear? Villains broke into the Core Country."
"Core Country?"
Kim Jun's eyes widened.
His mind raced at terrifying speed.
A villain in the Core Country—and the incident right here in the Honor Hall. Were they connected? Both rare events; coincidence seemed less likely.
"That's why everything's in chaos. Lockdown's on—no one in or out of the building. People died too, but details are scarce."
"Villains are why the guards are here?"
"Why else?"
"Then why block the entrance, staring in like that instead of guarding the hall?"
Only then did Sa Yeonggyo notice the guards' odd stance. They gripped Core Guns, scanning the recovering examinees with sharp eyes, as if a villain lurked among them.
"You're right."
Kim Jun burst out laughing at her blunt tone. She was terrifyingly fierce swinging that whip, yet...
Lee Tae-seop approached, a bandage on his forehead.
"You're awake."
"Thanks to you."
"Don't thank me. I didn't do the CPR that saved you."
Lee Tae-seop nodded toward Sa Yeonggyo.
Unconsciously, she touched her lips with her fingers. The sensation lingered vividly. She'd felt nothing during the desperate resuscitation, but seeing Kim Jun now brought the artificial respiration back to mind.
First kiss... as mouth-to-mouth.
Kim Jun glanced between Lee Tae-seop and Sa Yeonggyo.
"CPR? Cardiopulmonary resuscitation?"
"Your heart stopped earlier."
Gong Yunju said, walking up beside Lee Tae-seop. Kang Hyeonseong continued.
"Doctor said it was perfect first aid. A little later, and it could've been dangerous."
Kim Jun looked steadily at Sa Yeonggyo.
"Pretty grateful, huh?"
She said playfully. As Kim Jun opened his mouth to reply, Gong Yunju grabbed both his hands, eyes sparkling, and whispered.
"It was like a movie scene. The heroine kissing the hero to save him... so romantic."
Sa Yeonggyo's face flushed red. Afraid her feelings would show if she stayed quiet, she snapped.
"Gong Yunju! How old are you?"
"Why bring up age?"
"You're seventeen, right? I'm twenty. Kim Jun's twenty too. Three years older—don't yap at me casually."
"S-sorry. I'll call you... unnie."
Gong Yunju was overwhelmed by her intensity.
"You're seventeen too?"
Sa Yeonggyo glared at Kang Hyeonseong next.
"Yes, noona."
He was quick on the uptake.
"I'm twenty."
Lee Tae-seop raised a hand slightly.
"What've you been doing not taking the awakening test till that age?"
Sa Yeonggyo fumed unnecessarily.
"And you?"
"I had my reasons."
She didn't want to explain her Africa trip here.
"Same here."
Lee Tae-seop shrugged.
Sa Yeonggyo glanced behind him. Following her gaze, Lee Tae-seop, Kang Hyeonseong, and Gong Yunju slowly turned.
The other examinees who'd finished treatment stood there.
All staring at Kim Jun. One shy examinee stepped forward and whispered.
"Thank you. Really."
Kim Jun just nodded lightly. No need to boast. Nor would he deny risking his life.
Some expressed gratitude in words.
Others with looks and nods.
They all knew: if Kim Jun had given up, they wouldn't have survived.
A shiny-bald man approached. Guild Management Chief Lee Wan-yeol.
"Mind a quiet word?"
Lee Wan-yeol glanced at Sa Yeonggyo, Lee Tae-seop, and the others.
Kim Jun nodded, and they stepped back—but kept eyes on him, a warning glare: no funny business.
Lee Wan-yeol fetched a chair, set it by the cot, sat with a groan.
"You okay?"
"Back's acting up. Old injury. Anyway, listen close to what I say next. I'll tell you what's coming. The Association will demand a nondisclosure agreement about this. An offer you can't refuse. If it were me, I'd dangle copies of martial arts or magic tomes from the underground library to get signatures. Once signed, no spilling about the Honor Hall. Even with the copies, if you talk, the Association retaliates organizationally. Could be good for you—can't win against them, right?"
Having laid it out, Lee Wan-yeol panted.
His body craved more oxygen; breaths came ragged. Kim Jun waited till he steadied.
"What would you do, Chief?"
Lee Wan-yeol's eyes widened slightly.
A question requiring full grasp of his sudden spiel. He'd thought data gave him Kim Jun's measure—but face-to-face proved him wrong.
"Negotiate."
His eyes gleamed.
"How?"
"They're in a position to bow. They won't want to escalate here. Means room to demand more. That's what I'd do."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"One more thing. Sounds bad, but I have to say it. Lots of people will be troubled if you pass the awakening test. I'm one. What I mean is... you'll face more danger ahead. Before, failing was the goal. Now? They might come to erase you outright."
"I'm prepared."
His calm demeanor left Lee Wan-yeol speechless for a moment.
Again, not a guy for data alone.
"Today... thanks."
With that, Lee Wan-yeol staggered back to his cot. Section Chief Park Myeong-seop lay beside it.
Sa Yeonggyo approached.
"What'd he say? Threat?"
"Nah."
Kim Jun eyed the entrance blocked by guards.
Feeling the gaze, No Il-seong chewed his gum loudly, stared at the man of the hour—then startled to find him looking back, whipped his head away.
Only after dodging did he wonder why he'd flinched. Looking again felt awkward now.
Annoying prick.
He had no real interest, but the media frenzy meant he knew plenty about Kim Jun.
Perfect-score carrier on the college entrance exam, dungeon aggro video, special permission for awakening test as a carrier—and now, passing it, the first carrier-to-raider, grabbing headlines again.
One Core Bullet ended it all.
"Isn't he amazing? Passing the test is wild enough, but breaking that magic circle and saving everyone here? That video was real."
No Il-seong glared at his subordinate's excited tone.
"Get your head in the game, Officer Son Ju-yeong."
"What?"
"Still on duty, aren't you?"
"Got it."
Son Ju-yeong sighed, eyeing her unusually stern sub-captain.
On duty? The villain fled outside, the other intruders scattered as bats. Just examinees and staff left—what duty? Sub-captain's great otherwise, but that inferiority complex... Everyone dreams of being a raider. Why's he the only one steaming?