A Temporary Alliance
“This is a temporary alliance, just for this once.”
Did the Awakened Association really have business at my house? As I opened the front door and stepped out, two women in suits were standing there. The moment our eyes met, they bowed politely.
“We apologize for the sudden visit. We tried to contact you, but since we couldn't reach you, we had no choice but to come to your residence.”
“Ah… I had some circumstances.”
I couldn't bring myself to say I had just come back from the Tower, but they nodded as if they understood.
“Lee Suhyun-nim, if you don’t have any urgent plans, would you mind accompanying us to the Awakened Association?”
“May I ask why?”
“Director Lee Naeun of the Awakened Association wishes to meet with you personally.”
Then, a message appeared.
[The Guardian of All Things suggests that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go.]
I had never once lost out by listening to them, so I nodded.
“Yes, let’s go.”
“Thank you.”
Following them outside the villa, I saw an expensive-looking foreign car parked there. Was I really going to ride in that?
“Please, get in.”
“Yes.”
It was for real? They kindly opened the back door for me, and as I sat down naturally, it was a whole new world for someone like me who had only ever ridden buses or taxis.
Why is it so plush…?
“There are drinks in the mini-fridge, so please feel free to help yourself.”
“Thank you.”
My goodness… a car with a mini-fridge? This was the kind of thing you only see in movies.
[The Vessel of the Twelve Stars looks around curiously, asking if this is truly your world.]
Ah, right. The Vessel of the Twelve Stars was here too. Since I couldn't talk to myself in the car with others listening, I just nodded and listened to their chatter until we arrived at the Awakened Association.
The car stopped in front of the entrance, and after being guided into the elevator and heading up, my eyes were drawn to a stylish nameplate that read ‘Director’s Office’.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
At the sound of a beautiful voice from inside, the female employee opened the door and told me to go in. I stepped into the office, where a beautiful woman who looked to be in her late 20s or early 30s greeted me with a bright smile.
Was she about 170cm tall?
The moment I met the eyes of the woman with sharp features and black hair cascading down to her back, she beamed, and the atmosphere in the room shifted instantly, feeling suddenly radiant.
“Nice to meet you, I am Director Lee Naeun of the Awakened Association.”
“Hello, I’m Lee Suhyun.”
She offered me a seat on the sofa and served tea, but I was inwardly puzzled. Why did she call me here?
When I was tested at the Awakened Association, I was just a 1Lv ‘Ability-less’ person with no powers at all.
“I don’t like beating around the bush, so I’ll be direct. You’re the one who set a new record up to the 5th floor… no, the 6th floor, and registered it as private, right, Lee Suhyun-nim?”
When I looked at her with a startled expression, she clenched her fist and shouted, “Yes! My intuition was right.”
No, how did she know?
“May I ask one thing?”
“I’m in a good mood, so you may ask two.”
“How did you know?”
She answered with a grin.
“It’s my unique ability.”
“…That’s nice.”
“Oh my, it’s nothing compared to you, Lee Suhyun-nim, who is climbing while setting new records up to the 6th floor. Then, I’ll ask you one thing as well. What kind of ability do you have?”
I smiled brightly and answered.
“It’s a secret.”
“…….”
[The Vessel of the Twelve Stars looks at you with proud eyes, saying there is no benefit in showing your hand.]
[The Guardian of All Things boasts that you are the child they raised.]
…Are they overprotective parents or something?
“Ahem, well, that’s fine. Let’s move on to the next topic. Our South Korean Awakened Association plans to provide full support so that you won’t have any inconveniences while climbing.”
“What’s the price?”
“There is none for now.”
None for now, huh… The conditions were almost too good. In most cases like this, it’s a scam.
“Ah, there is one thing. Could you please not naturalize to another country?”
“Hmm.”
“Is that a difficult thing to consider?”
She looked at me with an embarrassed expression.
If she had asked me to sacrifice myself for South Korea or to volunteer, I would have jumped up and left immediately, but this wasn’t bad at all.
“Specifically, what kind of support can you provide?”
“Everything from the items you need for climbing to food, clothing, and shelter is possible.”
I pretended to deliberate, but honestly, the terms were too good. If I had a stamp in my pocket, I would have signed it right then and there.
“Any additional support you need can be provided on a case-by-case basis.”
“I don’t have a stamp on me right now.”
“You can just sign.”
She handed me a contract as if she had been waiting for me to say that. I spent about 30 minutes carefully scanning from the first page to the last, and there were no tricks. What should I do? “For your reference, this is the signing bonus.” She handed me a calculator with a smile, and as soon as I saw the amount, I finished signing.
“Congratulations on getting on board, Lee Suhyun-nim.”
“I look forward to working with you.”
“Our beautiful staff will kindly escort you back to your home.”
“Thank you…?”
After finishing the greetings, Director Lee Naeun, who had been watching him leave the office with a bright smile, saw her expression harden the moment the door closed completely.
“How was it?”
At that moment, an entity appeared in the mirror. A woman with snow-white hair and blue eyes walked out of the mirror naturally and tucked her side hair behind her ear.
“Hmm…”
The undisputed No. 1 in South Korea and the first Awakened in the world to clear the 51st floor. Han Yerin.
“I’m not sure.”
“…Hunter Han Yerin, you don’t know?”
“Yes, it cannot be seen even with my ‘Odin’s Eye’.”
Director Lee Naeun couldn’t help but be shocked at her words.
‘An SS-rank unique ability doesn’t work…?’
[Odin’s Eye]
Grade: SS-rank
Effect: Can discern the true essence and abilities of the target. There are no secrets in the world.
“I’ll have to watch him for the time being.”
“I see… more than that, is your body okay?”
“I can handle daily life, but climbing is out of the question.”
Her expression was blank, but I could tell by intuition. She was filled with complex emotions.
“Don’t worry, I’ve found a new hope.”
“I hope so.”
“More than that, Awakened Kim Haneul is…”
“Let’s not talk about that woman.”
Awakened Kim Haneul, who had once held the undisputed No. 2 spot in South Korea. The atmosphere turned chilly at the mention of her. “After failing on the 50th floor, she gave up on everything. Even her own family.”
This fact was still classified, but it wouldn’t be long before everyone knew.
“I know she was your high school classmate, Hunter Han Yerin, so maybe try persuading her one more time…”
At Director Lee Naeun’s words, she shook her head firmly.
“I’ve tried persuading her, but it was useless.”
“…I see.”
“I’ll be going now.”
The sight of her entering the mirror looked slightly bizarre, but she was one of the heroes protecting South Korea. After bowing 90 degrees politely to see her off, I sat in my desk chair and scanned the documents related to Lee Suhyun again.
“An existence that cannot be seen even with an SS-rank unique ability… what kind of ability could he possibly possess?”
“The signing bonus will be deposited within 3 days. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Thank you.”
After thanking the staff who dropped me off at my house, I walked inside, the corners of my mouth twitching.
[The Guardian of All Things looks at you with expectant eyes, asking if you can now have one chicken a day.]
[The Vessel of the Twelve Stars asks what chicken is.]
[The Guardian of All Things grins, telling them to look forward to it since they’ll be able to see it every day.]
No, what on earth are the two of them talking about? And wait, they could talk to each other?
Before that, there was one thing I needed to correct.
“Excuse me… I don’t do ‘one chicken a day’.”
[The Guardian of All Things looks at you with a shocked expression, asking what on earth that means.]
“I’m getting older, so fried food doesn’t digest well.”
[The Vessel of the Twelve Stars looks at you with a disappointed expression, asking if they won’t be able to see this ‘chicken’ thing.]
“No, why are you expecting things on your own and getting disappointed on your own?”
[The Guardian of All Things argues, asking how such a law could exist.]
“You’re the ones who live without laws, so why are you looking for laws now?”
[The Vessel of the Twelve Stars says that keeping faith is the most noble action of all.]
Why are they like this all of a sudden? I tried to explain, but it was useless. It wasn’t even a one-way street; they wouldn’t even listen to me, so how could I explain?
[The Guardian of All Things says this is only a ‘temporary alliance’.]
[The Vessel of the Twelve Stars nods.]
I feel like I’m going to lose my mind…