Chapter 50
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Awakener Arrives
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—To think you'd come here with a human.
—He is the master I serve. A new remnant, and another possibility. Since you've already lent me your strength, I hope you'll lend him yours as well.
"Gravekeeper, long time no see. I was just thinking of dropping by, and Keres here insisted on tagging along. Hope you haven't been too bored?"
—Still as cheeky as ever.
The Gravekeeper replied in a low voice, slamming his staff down hard against the floor.
Transforming into the imposing knight he'd shown before, the Gravekeeper instantly turned the empty plaza where the three of them stood into a vast cemetery.
Keres walked up to one of the graves.
Ru-ri cautiously followed, peering at the tombstone.
—The resting place of my lingering soul.
"Huh? Your lingering soul is in this grave?"
—My old friend must have told you. This is where the souls of the Twelve Lords slumber. I am the twelfth vassal, one of the Twelve Lords, so my soul slumbers deeply here as well.
"Uh... If your soul is slumbering, how can you move around like that?"
—A lingering soul is the root of my most essential power. This shell I'm moving in is incomplete. So, gather mana stones.
"Mana stones?"
—Mana stones obtained from the magic beasts humans call nameless. Gather them to awaken the souls of the Twelve Lords. That shall be the first task for my little master, the new remnant and possibility.
"I've got a question. If I just keep using mana stones to boost the abilities of the named ones I've contracted with, does that make their souls disappear?"
—As the contractors' abilities draw closer to the root of essential power through mana stones, the strength to awaken the souls emerges.
"Aha, got it. So basically, more endless grinding without a clear end in sight."
—I gave you the Remnant, so it shouldn't be too hard.
"True. The Remnant listens to my requests so well, totally unlike someone else."
—You do know the Remnant is part of me as well, right?
—My Lord, won't lingering too long cause issues?
—Indeed. Farewell for now, my friend.
—Rest well.
Keres vanished in an instant, leaving only Ru-ri and the Gravekeeper before his grave.
—You've shaped up nicely in the meantime.
"Is that a compliment?"
—Why don't we test how much you've grown with a blade?
"Oh, music to my ears. Come at me."
Ru-ri swiftly gathered her black mana and hurled it at the Gravekeeper.
The Gravekeeper tried to parry it with his sword but was pushed back forcefully.
—This thrill... It's been ages. The one who came with you still looks half-dead, I take it.
The Gravekeeper asked about Seung-woo while launching another agile attack.
"Seung-woo too."
Shing.
Whoosh.
"Not as easy as last time!"
Thud!
Clang!
They exchanged fierce blows as if staking their lives on it.
Eventually, the Gravekeeper pulled back first, sheathing his sword.
—I'm looking forward to our next encounter.
"Seems like he's gone somewhere now. I'll swing by again when he returns."
—Understood.
"Gotta finish the homework Keres gave me. See you later."
Ru-ri waved goodbye to the Gravekeeper and stepped out the door, instantly arriving in the Hidden Gate waiting room.
"Directly connected, huh."
She opened her status window to check the coins she'd been saving.
"Whoa, almost there. Just 20 million more coins, and I can snag that S-rank random box. Since I'm here, maybe I should use up some training gate slots before heading out?"
She summoned the Remnant.
"Let's fill up our training gate slots."
—Understood.
With the materials she'd stockpiled, she could craft five gate entry keys.
"Fill three for now, and try for contracts tomorrow. Remnant, just three times for now!"
—Understood.
The two ramped up the difficulty and focused on clearing training gates.
Before they knew it, they'd filled the three slots.
"That's enough for today—they'll be worried. You can head back."
—Understood.
After sending the Remnant away, she left the Hidden Gate waiting room, and a gate clear emergency alert blared.
She hurried out of the gate to sign the clear confirmation when a message arrived.
[New Message]
[Yang Jeong-hyun (B): Let's all grab dinner! Assemble at the lab first!]
The lab was always bustling, but Yang Jeong-hyun calling everyone together like this was a first. Clutching her swelling excitement, Ru-ri headed to the lab.
'But where did Han Seung-woo go?'
Lost in thought during the taxi ride, curiosity struck, and she messaged Han Seung-woo.
[New Message]
[Han Seung-woo (S): On my way to New York. Won't be back until re-exam. If you go on reckless raids without me and get hurt, I won't let it slide quietly.]
[RE]
[Lee Ru-ri (C): Got it, don't worry! See you when you return from New York!]
'New York? Did something happen with the gates there?'
She considered asking more but succumbed to the crashing wave of fatigue and fell asleep.
"Hunter, we're here."
The driver's voice jolted her awake. Yang Jeong-hyun's lab building loomed ahead.
"Thank you!"
She rushed out of the taxi toward the lab.
"Ru-ri, no injuries?"
"Nope!"
"Impressive? Clearing a B-rank in 20 minutes?"
"Huh? 20 minutes?"
Choi Si-jin's eyes doubled in size at Ham Dae-hee's words.
"Just got lucky with easy beasts!"
"Hmph, still be careful. If Ru-ri gets hurt, it won't end with Si-jin. Seung-woo will kill me, and now Dae-hee too."
"Got it, no worries. But what's the occasion? Sudden group dinner invite."
"Ah, because of Dae-hee. A guest he was expecting tomorrow or the next day arrived tonight instead. Wants to introduce him to us."
"Yeah. My hyung who's been training gates with me got to leave early. Said he wants to join Light after re-exam and rank adjustment. Talked it over with Seung-woo and agreed."
"Ah! Must be super close to Teacher Ham!"
"Like brothers. But his personality's... quirky? Just roll with it."
"Quirky how...?"
"You'll see when you meet him. Not a bad guy. Just messaged—heading straight to the reserved restaurant."
"Alright, let's go."
Ru-ri's group chattered noisily as they headed to the restaurant Choi Si-jin had booked.
Kwon Dong-nyeon, looking exhausted, was already there.
"Teacher Kwon!"
"Ru-ri, feels like ages."
"You look worn out."
"Sang-chun's recovery's slow—been stressful."
"Heard he regained consciousness. Just needs wounds to heal properly?"
"Yeah. Placed one worry aside. Threw a fit to join today, so stuffed him full and put him to sleep to escape."
Everyone laughed at Kwon Dong-nyeon's words.
The rest of Light's core—Kim Heung-min and Jang Ji-eon—arrived.
Kwon Dong-nyeon, Kim Heung-min, Jang Ji-eon, Yang Jeong-hyun, Ham Dae-hee, Choi Si-jin, and Lee Ru-ri.
Thus, seven core members gathered, excluding Han Seung-woo, Han Eun-woo, and the hospitalized Lee Sang-chun.
"With re-exams approaching, one core member joining us has just arrived in Seoul. So we're meeting like this for introductions."
Everyone focused on Ham Dae-hee.
"Haven't properly greeted amid all the incidents. Apologies for the delay. I'm Position Taster Ham Dae-hee."
Clap clap clap clap clap.
Ham Dae-hee bowed deeply, and sincere applause followed.
"Already started without me!"
A stranger with a bushy beard entered, stroking it.
His beaming smile gave a kind impression.
"Hyung, say hi. Light's core members."
"Aigoo, nice to meet you. Kim Tae-woong."
"Nice to meet you."
"Hello."
"Stuck in the countryside sticks, Seoul's a whole other world. Haha! Ah, first time hearing Dae-hee say his position name aloud. Must be that kinda gathering."
"That's why we're here. Go ahead, hyung."
"Right? Simply put, A-rank assassin. But properly, S-rank Position Awakener. That ring a bell?"
Yang Jeong-hyun's eyes widened.
"A-Awakener?"
Kwon Dong-nyeon was shocked too.
"Isn't Chairman Han the only one?"
"No way... Thought Chairman Han was the sole hunter who re-awakened as a tank to make money after being an Awakener."
The others just blinked at the unfamiliar position name.
Ru-ri asked cautiously.
"Sorry to interrupt... But what's an Awakener exactly...?"
"Ah, Ru-ri wouldn't know. Heung-min or Ji-eon hearing it first too?"
"Yes!"
All awaited Yang Jeong-hyun's explanation.
"An Awakener awakens hunters directly without mana stones. A rare special position, but unspoken since Chairman Han was the only one."
"I-Is that possible?"
"Wanna see, Ham?"
Kim Tae-woong grabbed Ru-ri's hand.
A powerful gust erupted from their clasped hands, rattling the restaurant windows violently.
"Whoa, hold up. What? Can I even say this?"
"Yeah, it's fine. In a place like this, I should share too."
Yang Jeong-hyun gently gripped Ru-ri's resolute shoulder.
"Teacher Kwon, everyone. With an Awakener joining hands with us, time to reveal Ru-ri's special position. Go on, Ru-ri."
"My position name is Conqueror."
"Conqueror? Isn't that a One-Member Army position?"
"Teacher Kwon! You knew?"
"Figured as much... We'll talk later. Not for today. Anyway, with so many special positions in Light, surpassing Han feels imminent. Can't wait."
"Missing Seung-woo brother is the biggest flaw."
"Set up another after Director Han returns and re-exams. Sang-chun can join then."
As Kwon Dong-nyeon finished, the pre-ordered dishes arrived in a row.
Everyone buzzed with excitement, downing drinks and food while chattering wildly.
In the lively chaos, Kim Tae-woong quietly sidled up to Ru-ri.
"Name?"
"Ah! Lee Ru-ri!"
"Right right, Ru-ri. Earlier grip—my awakening didn't take. Re-awakened sometime?"
"Re-awakened?"
"Yep. Normal hunters awaken crudely with mana stones, then train their position solid. But cool me? I skip training, re-awaken perfectly in one shot. Impressive, huh? Haha! Wait, Ru-ri resists it, so you've re-awakened too?"
"No such memory... Ah, probably first awakened as Healer, got Conqueror on re-exam. Related?"
"Nah, definitely not. But Conqueror casting spells, how'd you become Healer?"
"Dunno... Know anything about my position?"
"I'm an awakener, remember? No position I don't know. None, absolutely."
"Really?"
Ham Dae-hee chimed in.
"Yep, Ru-ri. That's why I had to bring hyung to Light no matter what. Lucky he agreed. Ah! And Teacher Jin will bring the rest soon."