Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Last Choice of the Driven-Out One (3)
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5 a.m. The city was still shrouded in the quiet hush of slumber.
In the emergency stairwell of the building housing Miracle Management, ragged breaths mingled with metallic echoes, reverberating through the space.
“Huff, huff…! Urgh…!”
Choi Min-seok was drenched in sweat, his shirt clinging to his back like a second skin as he crawled his way up the stairs.
His thighs screamed as if they might burst, and his heart pounded furiously, threatening to shatter his ribs.
A searing pain tore through his lungs like they were being ripped apart, but he didn’t stop.
No, he couldn’t stop.
I have to do this. This much is nothing.
Min-seok gritted his teeth.
Not only was he F-rank, but he was also in his late thirties, well past his prime.
In this world teeming with young, talented hunters, he had only one weapon to survive.
Diligence. And sheer grit.
CEO Han Siwoo had given him a miraculous opportunity.
He’d paid off his debts, saved his daughter, and above all, treated him like a human being.
There was only one way to repay that kindness: not be a burden.
He’d been promised security work, but what could an F-rank like him protect?
He had to be at least stronger than a regular person.
No, he needed a body forged like steel, capable of subduing even non-awakened folks.
“Nine hundred… ninety… eight…!”
With his final step, he flung open the rooftop door.
The cold dawn air stabbed sharply into his overheated lungs.
“Hoo, hoo….”
As he lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath, a long shadow fell over him.
“You’re out early, Mr. Choi Min-seok.”
Min-seok jolted upright in shock.
The backlight obscured the face, but that calm, dry voice told him exactly who it was.
“C-CEO! You’re already here?”
“Well, I am the CEO.”
Siwoo replied matter-of-factly, looking down at Min-seok sprawled on the floor.
Sweat from his dawn workout pooled on the ground—a medal proving his effort.
A faint smile tugged at Siwoo’s lips.
My judgment was spot on.
Training himself to hell without anyone ordering it.
With that kind of drive and diligence, he was more than ready to accept S-rank power.
No, he was shaping up to be an excellent vessel.
“Bodyweight exercises aren’t efficient. Time is money—use it more effectively.”
“S-Sorry. I don’t have any gear….”
“That’s why I brought some.”
Siwoo set down the large box he’d been carrying at Min-seok’s feet.
Thud. A heavy sound echoed across the rooftop.
“What’s this?”
“Open it and see.”
Min-seok carefully pried open the box. Inside was a rugged black vest and a set of functional training clothes.
He tried to lift the vest, then froze at its unexpected weight.
“Urgh…! Th-This is…?”
“A custom-made weighted vest. Base weight 10kg. Mana-treated for comfort, but the heft is real.”
Siwoo said it casually, like recommending a light t-shirt.
“Security basics are stamina and endurance, right? Wear that from now on. It’ll help a lot.”
“This expensive thing… for me….”
“Think of it as employee welfare. Oh, of course, only off-hours?”
Siwoo added with a joking tone, and Min-seok’s eyes reddened.
He hadn’t proven himself yet, but instead of blaming his shortcomings, the CEO had thoughtfully provided gear. It moved him deeply.
He clutched the vest to his chest and bowed deeply.
“Thank you! Truly, thank you! I’ll work hard!”
“Don’t overdo it. Hospital bills would cost more.”
Siwoo waved and headed down the stairs first.
Watching his back, Min-seok renewed his resolve.
As Min-seok slipped on the vest, its weight pressed down on his shoulders.
It was suffocatingly heavy, but to him, it felt reassuring—like Siwoo’s expectations.
More. I can do more.
He started running down the stairs again.
Meanwhile, behind the rooftop door.
As the door closed and Siwoo’s footsteps faded, a pale hand shot out from the shadows, grabbing the handle.
It was Lee Jia.
Her gaze locked onto the black weighted vest Min-seok was wearing.
“...A vest.”
She pouted.
“To me, it’s always ‘rest,’ ‘don’t push yourself’ nagging.”
He’d given that old man gear himself and even smiled.
A side of the CEO she didn’t know—gentle and caring.
It made her happy, but twisted her gut in a strange way.
“Tch. I want one too.”
Lee Jia gripped the railing tightly.
The metal groaned as if it might crumple.
“I need to get better. Grow faster…. So that….”
Her eyes blazed fiercely.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 9 a.m.
Miracle Management’s workday began.
At the lively office entrance, by the automatic doors, Choi Min-seok stood rigidly at attention in a sharp black suit.
An earpiece in his ear and sharp eyes scanning entrants—he looked every bit the veteran bodyguard.
“Mr. Choi! You look even sharper today!”
Park Hye-yeon, the PR team deputy manager who’d joined from Jenia Management, greeted brightly as she arrived.
“Oh, Ms. Park. You flatter me.”
Min-seok smiled shyly and bowed politely.
Employees who’d once been awkward around the older F-rank hunter now called him “Mr. Choi” warmly.
Thanks to his diligence and willingness to handle any grunt work.
From office cleaning and water cooler refills to package pickups and blocking peddlers.
Min-seok took on all of Miracle’s odd jobs without complaint.
On top of that, handing out cold drinks while sweating buckets made the staff rely on him like a colleague.
Siwoo watched it all from his office, peeking through the blinds.
Insight Eye.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 👤 Name: Choi Min-seok 🏷️ Rank: F ⭐ Potential: S-Rank Re-awakening / D-20 ⚠️ Special Notes: Re-awakening triggered by trauma from specific incident. High risk of rampage (82%). Current life expectancy: 20 days. The red warning about rampage risk wasn’t dropping fast, but it was steadily decreasing.
Excruciatingly slow, but miraculous for a late-thirties F-rank.
His body’s ready. What’s left is….
Siwoo’s gaze shifted to the calendar.
D-20. The deadline loomed.
If the body was the vessel, what filled it was mental fortitude.
It was time for the strongest mental care.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ That evening, the door to a private room at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital creaked open slowly.
“Huh? Who’s this uncle?”
The girl on the bed, Choi Ji-yu, reading a book, blinked her big eyes.
Her face was pale with an IV in her arm, but her eyes sparkled like a clear lake.
“Hi, Ji-yu. I’m Han Siwoo.”
Siwoo entered first, greeting her.
Behind him, Lee Jia awkwardly followed, struggling with a bear plushie as big as herself.
“This is Lee Jia, my coworker.”
“Oh! Daddy’s boss? And the A-rank hunter sister?”
Ji-yu’s face lit up instantly.
She’d heard those names from her dad until her ears hurt.
“Hello! Dad talks about you a lot! You got him a job and paid my bills….”
The girl struggled to sit up and bow.
Siwoo rushed over, helping her settle, then sat in the bedside chair at eye level.
“No need to get up. You’re not well.”
“Hehe, it’s okay. I’ve felt better since coming here. The food’s yummy too.”
The girl beamed innocently.
At Siwoo’s nod, Lee Jia handed her the bear plushie.
“A gift. Hope you like it.”
“Wow, so cute! Thank you!”
Ji-yu rubbed her face against the bear happily.
Lee Jia, watching from behind, pouted slightly.
...Tch. Won’t buy me one. So sweet to kids.
She knew it was childish to envy a sick child, but she didn’t like Siwoo’s gentle gaze elsewhere.
Siwoo smiled warmly at Ji-yu, then asked softly,
“Ji-yu, do you know what your dad does at the company?”
“Um… He carries stuff. Like he used to….”
Ji-yu’s voice trailed off.
She remembered dodging friends’ questions about her dad’s job at school.
Not ashamed of him, but scared of their looks.
But Siwoo shook his head firmly.
“No. Your father is more amazing than anyone.”
“Really?”
“Of course. He’s the strongest, most reliable guy at our company. I sleep soundly because of him. He’s the pillar of Miracle. Protecting you like that, he protects our company too. Right, Ms. Jia?”
Siwoo suddenly sought agreement, and dazed Lee Jia nodded in surprise.
“Y-Yes! Right! Mr. Choi Min-seok… super reliable. Strong too….”
Lee Jia chimed in awkwardly.
Couldn’t contradict the CEO like that.
Ji-yu’s eyes widened in shock at Siwoo’s words.
“Everyone respects and follows him. He’s strong and kind. You must be so proud, Ji-yu.”
“Dad’s… respected?”
Tears welled in Ji-yu’s eyes.
She’d only seen him bowing, ignored, covered in dirt.
But now, praised by this cool CEO and pretty sister.
“Yes! My dad’s awesome! He works so hard to save me….”
“Yeah. He’s a hero. So get better soon and cook him tasty food, okay?”
“Yes! I will!”
Ji-yu hugged the bear tightly, moved, then looked up at Siwoo with sparkling eyes and grinned.
“When I grow up, I wanna marry you, CEO!”
“……No!!!”
A piercing shout shook the room.
Siwoo and Ji-yu whipped around in surprise.
Lee Jia’s face was beet red, fists clenched, fuming.
“J-Jia?”
Siwoo asked, flustered. Lee Jia realized what she’d done and flailed her hands.
“N-No! I mean! You can’t, Ji-yu! The CEO… he’s…!”
She couldn’t finish, lips flapping.
Mine rose to her throat, but she couldn’t say it.
“The CEO’s… busy! Yeah, too busy for marriage! Right, CEO?!”
Lee Jia pleaded with her eyes. Siwoo nodded blankly.
“Uh… yeah, work’s hectic now.”
“See? He’s busy! Don’t say that so lightly!”
Lee Jia sweated explaining to a child.
She wouldn’t yield the CEO’s side—not to anyone, not even a kid.
Then, footsteps outside the door.
Siwoo didn’t bother looking.
As expected, Min-seok stood outside, hand on the knob, unable to enter.
CEO….
He’d overheard, overcome with emotion, heart aching sweetly.
He’d endured scorn as an F-rank.
Not even proud before his daughter.
But his boss praised him as a hero. Years of resentment melted away.
Siwoo chatted with Ji-yu a while longer before leaving. Only then did Min-seok enter.
Ji-yu’s face beamed brighter at her late-arriving dad.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Time flew, marking the 30th day.
Choi Min-seok stood guard at the entrance as usual, but utterly transformed from a month ago.
No more cowering—his eyes burned with unshakeable resolve.
Still F-rank, but his aura overwhelmed average C-ranks.
The gaze of a man with purpose.
Siwoo lounged on the office sofa, savoring coffee.
Like calm before the storm.
Woooong-!
The office air grew heavy.
The building vibrated faintly like an earthquake; windows rattled.
A bizarre distortion warped space itself, buzzing in his ears.
Siwoo’s vision flashed with a frenzied red system alert.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Warning: Massive Mana Wave Detected!] Siwoo’s pupils contracted.
Massive mana wave? What the hell?
He set down his cup and approached the window.
“Wait… no way.”
He burst out of the office and spotted Min-seok.
Min-seok stared blankly out the window, face ashen, sensing something.
His gaze fixed on one spot.
“Th-There… CEO. That direction… St. Mary’s Hospital?”
Min-seok’s voice trembled with fear and anxiety.
Now Siwoo understood the “specific incident” in his notes.
Re-awakening from trauma. Massive mana wave.
“Mass gate outbreak.”
“P-Pardon?”
Siwoo’s face hardened coldly.
“Mr. Min-seok! Run! Your daughter’s in danger!!”
The words barely left his mouth before Gangnam’s sky bled red.
Kuuuung-!
A massive rift tore the heavens, gaping wide.