Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 015
Chapter Title: Ring
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Towers exist everywhere in the world.
However, awakeners can only enter the tower belonging to their own country.
What if you want to enter a different tower?
Simple.
Just change your nationality.
This one straightforward rule upended the world order.
Awakeners equaled national power.
Countries with more powerful awakeners became the superpowers of this new era.
That gave rise to the US-China duopoly.
Both nations had a massive number of registered awakeners, but more importantly, the count of S-rank awakeners dwarfed every other country.
Above all, each possessed a single EX-rank awakener whose power surpassed even S-rank with ease.
So it was only natural that their voices carried the most weight in international society.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Korea responded to the barrage of questions from the international community with utter silence.
They truly had no idea what caused the extension of the grace period, but even if they did, they had no intention of sharing.
In the past, Korea had repeatedly requested items and awakener aid.
Those two nations had utterly ignored the pleas of what was then a weak country.
"They don't know?"
Christopher Hendricks, head of the US Federal Awakener Management Agency, scoffed upon hearing Korea's official response.
"A country with only three S-rank awakeners dares to ignore our proposal?"
But his expression soon hardened coldly.
Christopher's gaze shifted to the red "TOP SECRET" stamped file on his desk.
If this incident stemmed from the person detailed in that file...
Even the United States, with its EX-rank awakener, couldn't afford to let its guard down.
"Mutant..."
He was far too valuable a talent to be stuck in a small Eastern nation.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ S-rank awakener Kim Hoon stood stock-still in the middle of his massive mansion's living room, like a statue.
The aftermath of his failed 55th-floor raid had left his armor in tatters, and the sword in his hand was snapped clean in half.
His shoulders began to tremble violently with rage, soon spreading to his entire body.
"You fucking...!"
Clang!
He hurled the broken sword to the floor. The heavy chunk of metal cracked the premium marble tiles with a sharp crack.
"Why the hell not! Why can't I clear it?!"
Unable to contain his fury, Kim Hoon roared and slammed his fist into the antique wooden table beside him. Infused with mana, the punch pulverized it into oblivion.
"...Hoo, Hoon! What's wrong?! Calm down!"
Yoo Hyun-cheol, his guildmate and manager who had been cowering in the corner of the living room, rushed over with a terrified look and grabbed Kim Hoon's arm.
"S-stop! Enough, Hoon! This won't change anything!"
Yoo Hyun-cheol desperately tried to restrain Kim Hoon from demolishing the living room, but his strength was no match.
Kim Hoon was an S-rank awakener, Korea's strongest.
To rein him in when he'd lost his reason, you'd need at least another S-rank.
"Calm down? You want me to calm down right now?"
Kim Hoon's bloodshot eyes whipped toward Yoo Hyun-cheol.
Yoo Hyun-cheol flinched involuntarily.
Then Kim Hoon started laughing— a mad, eerie cackle that went beyond rage.
"You think I'm a fucking idiot too, don't you, hyung? Huh?! An S-rank who's failed over ten times already!"
"...Hoon, calm down. Why are you like this...?"
Yoo Hyun-cheol pleaded, but nothing got through to Kim Hoon.
Ten times.
Over ten failed raids. He found himself so pathetic and repulsive that he couldn't stand it.
Now, only one month of grace period remained.
The suffocating pressure was slowly eroding his sanity.
"The item... You said you'd get the Elixir, right? When the fuck are you bringing it?"
The legendary item that permanently boosted an awakener's stats.
Rumors even said it granted eternal health to ordinary people, making it near impossible to obtain even with money.
Yoo Hyun-cheol broke into a cold sweat as he stammered an excuse.
"I'm... working on it right now, but..."
"But?"
"As you know, stat-boosting items are incredibly hard to come by..."
With his reason snapped, Kim Hoon exploded again.
He hoisted the entire sofa and hurled it at one wall of the living room.
Boom!
Kim Hoon stomped over the wreckage toward Yoo Hyun-cheol.
"Say that again. I must've misheard. What did you just say?"
"I-I'll... do my absolute best to get it!"
"Contact the Management Agency right now. Tell them if they don't want to see the tower collapse and Seoul go up in smoke, they better deliver the Elixir pronto."
Terrified, Yoo Hyun-cheol nodded frantically.
"R-right! I'll tell them! Korea's top awakener, Kim Hoon, needs it for the climb—who'd dare hold out on us?"
At the bootlicking that bordered on desperation, Kim Hoon's ragged breathing eased just a fraction.
Perhaps that slight relaxation in tension was the mistake.
The name that should never have left Yoo Hyun-cheol's lips slipped out.
"And... for some reason, the grace period got extended. We can take it easy now. That Mutant—gah?!"
Realizing his blunder, Yoo Hyun-cheol clamped his hand over his mouth in horror.
Mutant.
The name you never uttered in front of Kim Hoon.
"...What? Mutant?"
Kim Hoon's shoulders began shuddering with rage once more.
"Ah, so even you think I'll get outdone by that bastard, huh? Right?"
Yoo Hyun-cheol's eyes filled with dread at Kim Hoon's twisted smile.
Why had he brought up that name?
No use regretting spilled milk now.
"N-no, that's not it... I just meant you should take it easy—"
"Must be nice for you, hyung. All relaxed since either me or that fucker just needs to clear the 55th, right?"
As Kim Hoon glared and stepped forward, Yoo Hyun-cheol recoiled in fear.
"No, it's not! The 55th is yours for sure—"
"Shut up! I don't need your empty words!!"
Kim Hoon shoved the still-trembling Yoo Hyun-cheol aside roughly and stormed toward the shower.
'Mutant? Bullshit. Before that punk even hits 40, I'll break through 55.'
He ground his teeth to the breaking point, vowing it to himself.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After Park Jin-ho left, Choi Jin-il came to visit Han Jeong-woo, who was now alone.
"Good to see you, Jeong-woo! Hope you've been well?"
He flashed his signature business smile, arms laden with gifts.
"Side dishes. Figured it'd be tough taking care of these on your own."
The shopping bags were packed with sealed containers full of banchan.
As he said, Han Jeong-woo hadn't seen homemade sides like these lately.
Lee Jong-su used to bring some occasionally, but since their meetings tapered off, delivery food had become the norm.
"Thank you. You didn't have to go to all this trouble."
Han Jeong-woo smiled as he accepted them and carefully stocked the fridge.
"Oh, and I got promoted this time."
Han Jeong-woo turned from closing the fridge door.
"Promoted? Congratulations!"
"Haha, thanks. It's a bit iffy calling it a promotion, though. Same title as before—Team Leader."
To Han Jeong-woo's puzzled look, Choi Jin-il quickly explained.
"The Director ordered me to handle only you from now on. Totally unprecedented."
Choi Jin-il's eyes sparkled.
"Soon, we'll have a dedicated 'VIP Team' just for you. All of the Agency's support funneled your way."
"Me? Why?"
He knew he qualified for it all as an EX-rank awakener, but it still felt burdensome.
More than that, he was curious about the reason.
Why was the Agency suddenly going all-in like this?
"But why the sudden change?"
Choi Jin-il pondered how much to reveal, then decided honesty was best.
"That gate you cleared earlier today. The Agency suspects... it spawned because of you."
Of course, just him and the Director's hunch, not the whole Agency.
Han Jeong-woo's face stiffened as he nodded slightly.
He'd vaguely suspected as much himself.
The gate that demolished his pre-awakening villa was one thing, but the ones after had all conveniently appeared where he was.
Maybe he was carrying gates around with him.
'Could that be why the Tower Climb Grace Period got extended?'
The thought crossed his mind, but he kept it to himself.
It was just speculation for now.
"Anyway, we'll need more time to confirm. If gates really are tied to you... the next one should appear nearby too."
Han Jeong-woo silently agreed.
Then Choi Jin-il cautiously broached the main topic.
"So... the reason I came today is about your new house—"
"Oh, that. I've decided."
Choi Jin-il's eyes widened slightly.
"I see. Where did you settle on?"
After much deliberation, Han Jeong-woo stated his choice.
"A countryside house in Gyeonggi Province sounds best. No people nearby."
Seoul center would be convenient, but gates were the issue.
If one opened smack in his residence, they'd have to control the area and worry about civilian casualties every time.
Choi Jin-il's face visibly brightened at the words.
He'd been hoping to steer him toward something outside the city anyway.
Han Jeong-woo taking the initiative made his job so much easier.
If he'd insisted on a Gangnam high-rise apartment, the Agency would've had no choice but to oblige.
"Understood. Tell us any interior preferences or requests, and we'll complete it as fast as possible."
Choi Jin-il bowed in gratitude, then carefully pulled something else from his inner pocket.
"And this is the item you requested last time—the one that boosts mana regeneration."
A luxurious navy blue ring box.
Opening it revealed a ring embedded with dense blue gems, emanating a soft glow.
"Drops from the 53rd floor of the tower. Grants tremendous mana regeneration on equip."
Han Jeong-woo slipped the ring onto his right index finger.
A cool energy spread through his finger, and a system message appeared before his eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Mana regeneration increases explosively.] 'Explosively, huh. Would be nicer if it showed exact numbers.'
He inwardly swallowed his disappointment at that exact moment.
A new alert popped up in his vision.
It had been a while since a sudden quest.
⚡ SUDDEN QUEST ⚡ [Smash the ring in front of Choi Jin-il.]
⏰ Time Limit: 1 minute
🎁 Success: Acquire EX-rank Skill
⚠️ Failure: Tower Climb Grace Period -15 days
'...What?'
Forgetting Choi Jin-il was sitting right there, Han Jeong-woo blankly stared at the system message.