The Price of a New Beginning

The scent of biting cold snow brushed against the tip of my nose.

Interspersed within it, the faint, lingering aroma of wet, ancient wood.

I was currently standing on the 6th floor of the Tower. The lair of the Violent Snow Rabbit.

Why was I here, you ask?

I don't even need to rewind time; it happened just moments ago.

They told me I needed one final verification step to finalize the contract.

They said it would be a simple test.

But the content was anything but simple, and despite saying it was "one" test, it was definitely not just one.

As soon as I heard "from Training Room 1 to Training Room 12," I cut them off mid-sentence.

"Why is that necessary?"

It’s a fair question, isn't it?

They clearly said it was a TF team for the Special Floors.

In that case, the records for the Special Floors should be accessible.

It’s all there in plain numbers and data.

So why the verification process?

"Someone is bound to ask. They will ask, 'Why Kim Uju of all people?'"

"Because I'm ranked 3rd?"

I gave the most plausible answer.

"Actually, it’s because of the records for external audits," came the reply.

"Special Floor records get overwritten with new data after about a month. But if we have test records, we can easily deflect any questions about why it had to be you, and any procedural issues will melt away like snow."

"Exactly! It’s to ensure that the mainstream faction within the Association can't make a peep about it later!"

Right.

Besides, the system window is a special one only visible to the Awakened, so it can't even be photographed.

But still.

"Can't I just climb the Tower? I have to clear the 6th floor today. I'll take a bodycam with me. How many minutes of footage do you need for proof?"

Of course, the bodycam would "accidentally" end up in my pocket.

Since system notifications are recorded inside the Tower, recording the time display would serve as evidence.

"Yoon Jinki! There should be a spare bodycam in the third drawer!"

"Yes, sir!"

Yoon Jinki dashed out immediately.

For the record, the Association, being a "king-god" public institution, operates until 3:00 PM.

But today?

The topic of the contract had been ping-ponging back and forth, and I felt like I’d wasted at least an hour here.

For a homebody like me, not finishing my errands and going home today was unthinkable.

Absolutely not allowed!

Today, I didn't just have to meet them; I also had to meet Park Siwoo, the enchanter.

It wasn't just a matter of meeting him; I had things to ask, and I’d worked up the nerve to visit the Association with the intention of upgrading my weapon.

Therefore, time was starting to feel tight.

That’s why I quickly cleared the 6th floor.

Training rooms 1 through 12? I’d spend all my time just walking!

And honestly, I wanted to try out my new skill, Tracking, as soon as possible.

To do that, I had to be inside the Tower.

"As for the time... just clear it as fast as you can."

Team Leader Oh Wontaek grinned, as if this was for the best.

The reason my schedule was so packed was that I had to meet Park Siwoo before he clocked out.

And that meant the time for Team Leader Oh Wontaek and Yoon Jinki to clock out was also fast approaching.

Back to the 6th floor. The lair of the Violent Snow Rabbit.

I remembered vowing that I would never enter a snowy area again after I intruded on the snowy mountain Hong Jehun was clearing.

But the world rarely goes according to my plans.

"Ugh. It's freezing!"

If this had been a repeat run, I would have dressed warmly, but this was my first clear of the 6th floor.

Once inside, my vision was dyed entirely white.

For the record, what was Seoul like outside the Tower right now? Midsummer.

And me? Naturally, in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts.

My summer sneakers started soaking up the snow, threatening to freeze my feet, and I...

"I couldn't sell these, but I guess they have a use now?"

I was finally able to use the last Cold-Resistant Potion I’d been treating as dead stock because I hadn't encountered any cold areas in the Tower for a while.

"Alright! Let's go!"

.......

"That's enough, right?"

Drip. Drip.

The Cold-Resistant Potion kept my body temperature from dropping, but it didn't stop the snow from touching me.

As a result, I stood there dripping water—which used to be snow—onto the floor of the reception room, looking back and forth between the Team Leader and Yoon Jinki.

The two of them exchanged shocked glances at my question, and then...

"Confirmed."

Yoon Jinki spoke first.

And Team Leader Oh Wontaek seemed lost in thought for a moment before saying,

"Thank you for your hard work!"

He offered the customary words of appreciation first.

"Oh, it was nothing. But by any chance, do you have a blanket? I've seen some cafes or PC bangs that lend them out."

Give me one if you have it.

"I'm freezing to death."

Freezing to death.

Inside the Tower, thanks to the potion and the heat from running around, I hadn't been cold at all—I’d actually been quite warm after the start.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

But coming out? Whew.

The potion's effect vanished once I was outside the Tower, and since my body and clothes were soaked in freezing water, the air conditioning was just too much to bear.

I started shivering so violently that even I felt embarrassed.

"Ah! I see the background you entered was a cold area!"

The quick-witted Yoon Jinki hurried to bring me a blanket.

It was a blanket with a cute rabbit on a light blue background.

Is this the Association's taste...?

I had that dazed thought for a moment while wrapping myself tightly in the blanket.

Soon, my shivering subsided, and as my breathing stabilized, I suddenly felt a strange sense of unease and lifted my head.

I found myself locking eyes with the two of them, who were staring at me intently.

"Why?"

"Congratulations on the new 6th-floor record!"

Only then did Yoon Jinki offer his congratulations.

And the Team Leader, who had been clapping along, suddenly said, very naturally,

"By the way, Awakened Kim Uju. Shall we register your rank as A-grade?"

He was trying to raise my D-grade to A-grade.

But he said he would "lower" it to A-grade, as if he were doing me a favor?

"That 'high'?"

I emphasized the word "high," and the Team Leader, looking confused, called out to me.

"Awakened Kim Uju?"

"Yes?"

"Are you aware that only A-grade or higher can enter the Special Floors...?"

Ah. I’d already been caught there!

Blinded by the thought of testing my new skill, Weakness God, I had overlooked other facts.

"And today's 6th-floor record. At that time, it would be considered S-grade not just domestically, but internationally. We’re trying to lower it to A-grade by adding the excuse that you encountered a rabbit inside the Tower. It seemed like you preferred not to have your rank registered too high."

"Exactly! Honestly, we didn't think you'd clear it that fast!"

Yoon Jinki chimed in.

Then he added,

"And Awakened Uju, you won't be at a disadvantage! The higher your registered rank, the higher your tax deduction rate!"

Ah. There was something like that?

Well, I suppose. Just looking at the spending habits of some rankers—like "give me everything"—I can roughly guess how much they earn and spend.

They must pay more taxes, and naturally, they'd be more sensitive to tax rates.

It seemed like a welfare policy the Association had cooked up.

"But since I'm entering the Special Floors, won't the people who need to know already know that I'm A-grade or higher? It would be strange to register it lower than that."

It's a shame, but the conversation was over.

You have to let the train that’s ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠already left the station go.

"Then we'll register the rank as A-grade and the trait as Physical Enhancement as it is."

They said I didn't have to reveal my information properly.

They really didn't touch anything except for the parts that would look obviously strange to others. Even though they must have had many questions, they didn't ask any more.

It was comfortable and good for me, though.

And so, by mutual agreement, we finished drafting the contract.

"But then, what about my residence...?"

Finally, I asked the most important question for me right now.

Only when I have a definite date can I blow my entire fortune on weapon costs today.

"Ayy. Why worry about such things!"

"Exactly!"

The two of them laughed triumphantly.

"After we finish the cleaning, we'll send you the keys and the address within a week!"

Guided by Yoon Jinki, I took the elevator that only worked with a card scan down to the first floor.

"Brother! I'll drive you home!"

"No, why am I your brother? And I have errands to run! Thanks for the ride today!"

Leaving Yoon Jinki behind, I ran straight to the basement.

Right now? Around 2:30 PM.

Association closing time? 3:00 PM.

I have to meet Park Siwoo before I go!

Items like recovery potions used by regular people are at the Association shop on the surface.

And the special items used by the Awakened are at the shop run by enchanters in the Association ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠basement.

"Huh?"

As I hurried my steps, someone pointed at me, recognizing me first.

Red three-striped tracksuit, black three-striped slippers.

Jet-black hair tied up high, red-rimmed glasses.

It was such a defenseless look, so different from the sharp, intimidating appearance I knew, that I almost didn't recognize her for a second.

"Hello!"

I thought she was Seo Ian, but I acted indifferent.

Because she would perceive me as someone she’d met for the first time in the Special Floors.

"Kim Uju!"

"Yes!"

"Do you have time right now?"

"Yes?"

Suddenly?

I was flustered for a moment, but I soon gave her a friendly smile.

Actually, it was a good thing.

I had business with her, too.

"I don't have time right now, but I do tomorrow! Could ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I get your number?"

That’s right. Teammates.

Special Floors.

A special floor where the base stats are fixed at 1 until you pass the phase.

Because of that, to maximize efficiency, you need powerful skills that hit hard in one go or rapid-fire skills, and the ones who can pour out such skills without worry are the rankers.

And Seo Ian, who holds the position of the second-ranked ranker in the country.

Of course, I know her temperament; if I said the TF team was a team working with the Association, she would immediately reject it at the word "Association."

Not just me, but all the Awakened in South Korea would know that.

That’s why I intend to approach it as if the TF team is working with me, not the Association.

If I do that, Seo Ian, who doesn't get along with the Association.

And Hong Jehun, who is close to the Association's mainstream faction.

Wouldn't they be able to become my teammates without any burden?

Only one person can enter the Association shop at a time.

They said this rule was created because there are Awakened who want to hide their true potential and have secret conversations with enchanters.

As an aside, that’s why enchanters have a confidentiality clause, and all electronic devices are blocked inside the shop. Only the walkie-talkie held by the enchanter can be used.

Anyway.

I almost missed meeting Park Siwoo today.

A fact I only just learned.

After Jegal Cheong, the well-known top enchanter in the country, ran off to China, the enchanter lineage of South Korea was established as a two-top system, and one of them was Park Siwoo, who was right in front of me.

They said the other person’s name was Moon Hayeon, but that’s not important right now—the important fact is that I almost couldn't meet him today.

'I thought I could just give my name and meet him, but that wasn't the case at all.'

When I said I came to meet Enchanter Park Siwoo, I got rejected at the entrance. I had to make an appointment by contacting the enchanter personally, or spin the Association shop roulette from A to Z at random.

So, did I spin that roulette and luckily meet him?

As if that would happen.

Fortunately, meeting Seo Ian before entering the Association shop became my ticket.

A direct ticket to Park Siwoo’s shop.

'I have an appointment, so just come with me. There.'

'Thank you!'

She’s surprisingly nice, isn't she?

I couldn't stop the grin from spreading across my face, and she shrugged her shoulders triumphantly.

That was until we met Park Siwoo in front of the Z shop, and he pointed at me, saying, "You know only one person can enter the enchanter shop at a time, right? If you arrive at the same time, the enchanter decides the order."

"Park Siwoo, you son of a b*tch! It's almost 3 o'clock!!"

Unrestrained. A feast of profanity pouring out as naturally as breathing.

Only then did I realize.

Seo Ian is actually quite gentle when she deals with me.

"Hehehe!"

And that frivolous laughter isn't me.

It’s Enchanter Park Siwoo.

I sighed as I watched Seo Ian being dragged away by Association staff while causing a scene.

"Do you like it that much?"

"No, it's not that I like it, it's just a bit fun! Hehehe!"

What on earth is the difference between the two? Is it a subtle nuance?

Park Siwoo replied, still holding his stomach and laughing.

I narrowed my eyes slightly and stared at him.

Before long, the giggling subsided, and a short, sharp cough rang out once, and he began to speak to me again in a steady tone.

"By the way, may I ask why you've come to visit after such a long time?"

"No, but you told me to come back and see you last time. In that case, you should have given me a business card, not a bronze hammer."

Anyway, this guy isn't normal either.