Gwak Chunsik
Abroad, he's called the Aura Master, a man ranked among the world's elite in wielding aura-related abilities. After retiring as a hero and killing villains as an ordinary Awakener, he was sentenced to three years in Niflheim. But considering his past record and his bad blood with most of the inmates there, he was currently serving out that sentence at the Awakener convalescent facility in Gangwon Province, Hero Silver Town.
Rumors had spread that he'd fallen ill with age-related ailments...
'A rumor he started himself.'
And it wasn't hard to guess why. It kept annoying flies away and gradually faded his presence from the public eye. For a hero, presence was a symbol of honor—but it also meant making plenty of enemies.
"Well, that'll all be for nothing soon enough."
Inside the helicopter heading to Gangwon Province, I murmured to myself as I gazed down at the vast forests spreading out below.
Before setting off, I'd stopped by the academy to pick up Ji Suhyun's letter of recommendation, submitted a mentor training application, and borrowed a family chopper to head straight to Hero Silver Town.
All to prepare for the event coming up.
"It should be today, right?"
By now, word would be spreading that those guys had escaped from Niflheim.
I pulled out my phone and checked the news channels.
The event signaling the true start of City of Seoul. The main story was still tied up in academy club requests for now, but soon massive incidents would erupt one after another, plunging the world into chaos.
And to survive in a world like that...
"I need to get stronger."
Stronger than anyone else.
To that end, the mentor I'd chosen was none other than Gwak Chunsik.
Hero Silver Town landing complete.
The pilot's voice came through the headset as we touched down at Hero Silver Town.
"Good work. I'll call when it's time to head back."
I took off the headset and stepped out. A bespectacled man was already waiting, flashing a bright smile and bowing at the waist.
"We heard from the academy. You're Han Yujin, right? I'm Yoo Seok-hun, a convalescent caregiver here at Hero Silver Town."
I was here as an 'academy cadet,' so I returned his greeting with a businesslike smile and a polite nod, careful not to lose face.
"Yes, that's me. Han Yujin, first-year at Seoul Hero Academy. Is Mr. Gwak Chunsik... inside?"
"Ah, yes. He seemed quite intrigued when we mentioned a cadet was coming from the academy. Normally, external visits aren't allowed for those with confirmed sentences, but... as an academy representative, you got approval. He's in the visiting room now—right this way."
He led me to the visiting room, chattering enthusiastically about the facility's features and perks. It felt like reciting game lore I'd seen a few times, so I half-listened, nodding along appropriately.
Before I knew it, we were at a building.
"Haha! We need more people like you who care about retired heroes. Ah, here we are. This is the visiting room."
We'd arrived. He opened the door, reminiscent of an upscale café, and inside sat an old man.
Even as he sipped his ssanghwatang, his frail hands trembled violently around the cup. His shoulders sagged, his hair stark white. This was the mentor I sought: Gwak Chunsik.
"Pleased to meet you, sir. I'm Han Yujin."
I glanced back to confirm Yoo Seok-hun had left, then sat across from Gwak Chunsik. The room was empty—thanks to Yoo Seok-hun's thoughtful consideration.
"An academy cadet, eh."
He slowly set down his ssanghwatang cup and fixed his gaze on me. Despite his frail frame, his eyes held immense depth and power.
He spoke deliberately. "So, you're the one who wanted to see me?"
"Yes, sir."
I pulled Ji Suhyun's recommendation letter from my inner pocket and slid it carefully toward him.
"It's a letter from Instructor Ji Suhyun, recommending me as your mentee."
He glanced at the purple envelope before him and let out a scoffing laugh. "Ji Suhyun... That girl wrote a recommendation? She must be quite the character."
I just smiled without replying.
He turned back, pulled out the letter, and read it. Soon, a booming laugh echoed: "Kehahaha!"
"Classic her, alright."
He set the letter before me. Inside, it read:
Gramps, you'll regret it if you don't take him. Talented kid—teach him like it's your last hurrah.
...That crazy bitch.
Who writes a recommendation like that?
"So, if that's true, you came all the way to this remote Gangwon Province to make me your mentor?"
"Yes."
I nodded at his direct question, but he waved me off dismissively.
"Asking a retired old man to be your mentor? I'm grateful you came, but... I can barely take care of myself. How could I handle a disciple too? I have no intention of taking one on, so head back."
Just as expected. I met his eyes steadily and spoke.
"If I leave now, your family will all die."
"...What?"
The air around us froze solid.
"Kid, are you threatening me right now?"
Blue flames flickered in his eyes.
To unleash this much pressure the moment family was mentioned—yet he thought the 'illness' rumor would stick?
"Not a threat—I'm here to help. Didn't you see the news today?"
"Of course! Two of the bastards I locked up escaped Niflheim. And you're saying that's connected to what you just mentioned?"
"Yes. They're coming here soon—to this place where you are. Leading with that 'Miner'."
BAM! The table before us shattered.
Gwak Chunsik had slammed it.
"Alright, kid. Let's say you're right. But how do you know that? They escaped less than a day ago. How does a mere academy cadet know their target and objective?"
He was suspicious, naturally. The info was too heavy for a cadet, and it had come from my mouth mere hours after the escape.
"Because I'm that good."
"What? You wanna play word games with—huh."
His words cut off. He'd seen the red aura coiling faintly around my hand.
"...A destructively vicious red aura. I've seen that kind once before."
His gaze shifted slowly from my arm to my face.
"...Who the hell are you?"
As expected—he'd recognize it instantly.
"—Vito Calione."
His eyes twitched.
"Head of the Calione Family and boss. The man called Don—Don Vito Calione. That's my father."
"...So it is."
I bowed toward him and reintroduced myself properly.
"Allow me to introduce myself again. Han Yujin, first-year at Seoul Hero Academy—and heir to the Calione Family, Eugene Han Calione. I sincerely apologize for not giving my full name at first."
About five seconds passed. Then, with a grinding sound, something slid toward me.
I looked up to see Gwak Chunsik aura-wrapping a table from the corner and dragging it over.
Monster-level control.
"...You've earned a listen."
The aura enveloping the table seeped back into his body and vanished. He crossed his legs, settling back in.
"So, that intel came from the Calione info network?"
It was from the game, but I nodded anyway. The Caliones would know something like this regardless.
"Yes. But it wasn't info I brought for a deal."
"...If not for a deal, why tell me?"
"This... is a gift. A show of goodwill. Isn't this what you value most, sir?"
I ignited a faint red aura in my hand, just like before.
"Don't you want to raise me?"
I was certain—he couldn't ignore talent that sparked his greed.
In the game, raising affinity with him unlocked stories.
"No Korean kids these days awaken aura. Such a shame..."
Hearing that, I'd made a new aura-user character and returned. He'd say:
"Want to learn Aura Style from me?"
Yes—he was a hidden class quest NPC. And that wasn't all. True to his rep as the top hero, mastering Aura Style with him triggered another hidden event...
"The greatest prodigy I ever saw was 'Calione.' Oh? Yeah, that Vito Calione from the Calione Family."
An event revealing Vito Calione's secrets.
"That kid had no master. When I first saw him, his aura had already evolved on its own. If we'd met sooner, he might've reached even higher... What a pity."
"Huh? How'd Calione rise so far without it? Haha! Isn't it obvious? Even without aura, he's strong as Don Vito Calione. Who knows—maybe when his son grows up and comes to me... he could surpass his father."
Most used that to tackle Vito Calione. But I was a Calione.
My path was set.
Aura was like water—shaped by how you channeled it from childhood. And this old man before me was the world's top authority on it.
"I want to learn Aura Style."
A fresh, green newbie appearing before him. One with the very ability that once stunned him, begging to learn his techniques.
If he was truly a legend of the hero world, could he really let me walk away?