Free Fall and the S-Rank Ticket
"Ugh... ughh...."
"What just happened...."
The ground was a total mess. Members of the Blue Bird guild, who had lost consciousness, began coming to one by one.
"Why's it so quiet around here...?"
Byun Jae-woong, the first to manage to sit up, shook his head and scanned the area.
Mountains of golem corpses piled high. The ground cratered from lightning strikes. Proof that everything that had happened in Guro-gu wasn't a dream.
But there was something off.
"Where'd that guy go?"
That guy—meaning me, Hwang Jae-min—was nowhere in sight.
As Byun Jae-woong desperately recalled the moment just before he passed out—
Boom!
"...!"
A faint explosion echoed from somewhere. Startled, he instinctively looked up.
And in that instant.
"Ah...."
Byun Jae-woong let out a low sigh without realizing it.
Starting with him, the one with the sharpest senses befitting a team leader, the other guild members who had regained consciousness also looked up at the sky one after another.
And upon seeing the sight unfolding in the heavens, not a single one of them avoided looking overwhelmed with emotion.
"Team leader, this is...."
"Yeah."
They didn't know what that distant boom grazing their ears had been.
Nor what had happened while they were out cold.
But one thing was crystal clear.
"No matter how you look at it, this is...."
Gazing at the twilight bleeding through the parted thunderclouds, Byun Jae-woong said,
"That man's doing."
It was the moment peace returned to Guro-gu, right after our brief clash ended.
Leveling up two whole stages? Great.
Kirius's Lingering Thoughts has taken root in your body!
The reward that had made Choi Kwang-hyun invincible for a while was now mine. Awesome.
Plus Phase 2 awakening and Explosive Ether to boot.
Perfect.
Worth surviving that near-death fight.
Except for one tiny thing.
"Gaaaaah—!!"
Except for the fact that I was plummeting from the sky right now!
I flailed my arms and legs like a tantrum-throwing kid, screaming my lungs out.
"Mom! Sponsor! Flying skill—anything! Help!"
'Sung Hyun-sook' is frantically rummaging through the Hall of Fame right now!
Constellation 'Sung Hyun-sook' has found Wings of the Sky Soldier!
'Sung Hyun-sook' wails that she doesn't have enough God Coins!
"Didn't you stock up on God Coins from the Reverse Dungeon!?"
'Sung Hyun-sook' regrets spending some on an Instance Dungeon Entry Ticket in the past!
"Tell me that's a lie...!"
Falling from this height? Straight to the afterlife on the one-way express.
Damn it. No choice now.
When I get close to the ground, use another back-smashing recoil to minimize the fall energy...!
"What a cursed fate...."
I closed my eyes in sorrow.
As the distance to the ground shrank, I just surrendered to gravity and let my mind relax.... Huh?
'What's this softness?'
A mysterious sensation suddenly pressed against my back. I snapped my eyes open.
And nearly had my eyeballs pop out.
"Choi Kwang-hyun...?!"
"Oh, you recognize me?"
Who wouldn't recognize one of the five S-rank players in Korea?
But the real issue was why Choi Kwang-hyun was catching me mid free-fall from the sky.
And holding me like some knight rescuing a princess—back and legs cradled gently!
Constellation 'Sung Hyun-sook' captures a screenshot of the scene!
I wanted to yell at that wicked auntie immortalizing her son's embarrassing moment, but I held back because of Choi Kwang-hyun.
In a dazed voice, I asked,
"H-how did this happen?"
"How? You looked like you were in a pickle, so I came to save you. Doesn't seem like your body's tough enough for a dive from this altitude! Haha!"
"Haha...."
You're the only freak in the whole world with a body like that, aren't you?
The words rose to my throat, but I swallowed them again.
"Alright! Slowing down now! Brace for impact!"
"...!"
With less than 200 meters to the ground.
Boom!
Choi Kwang-hyun slammed his log-like forearm into the wall of the nearest high-rise.
Crash! Crash!
As his body swung from it, the glass wall tore away like cheap wallpaper.
A few sharp shards grazed my cheek now and then, but our fall speed dropped dramatically.
Exactly eight seconds later.
Thud!
After a safe(ish?) landing, I sprawled out flat on my back like a starfish and muttered like a soulless corpse.
"Th-this is scary in its own way...."
"Haha! If you want another ride, just say the word!"
"Politely decline...."
I'd rather fight Kirius again.... No, that's not right either.
Might as well sleep right here on the ground.
I'm exhausted.
As I calmed my still-pounding heart.
Whoosh.
Choi Kwang-hyun suddenly extended a hand to me.
"Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Choi Kwang-hyun, S-rank player with the Association. And you, brave young man—what's your name?"
"...."
For a brief moment then, a strange sentiment washed over me.
'Come to think of it... this is a first, isn't it?'
Talking to an S-rank player who wasn't my mom or dad.
And not just anyone.
'Choi Kwang-hyun himself is asking for my name.'
Unlike his boisterous personality, Choi Kwang-hyun was infamous for being harsh and stingy with praise for others.
Yet here he was, extending his hand first and asking my name.
'...Never could've imagined this back in my F-rank days.'
Constellation 'Sung Hyun-sook' watches with a pleased gaze!
Life's full of surprises.
I took his hand and said,
"I'm Hwang Jae-min."
"Hwang Jae-min.... Hmm, first time hearing that name. No way I'd overlook a powerhouse like you.... What rank are you, A-rank number what?"
"Pardon? Oh, no...."
"Huh?"
"Uh, well.... I'm still B-rank right now."
"What did you say—?!"
Something in my words must've hit him hard—veins bulged on his arm.
The problem? That veiny arm was gripping my hand.
Pain exploded from my mouth, of course.
"Gaaah—!"
"B-rank?! B-rank! A warrior who soloed an outbreak like this, and you're calling yourself B-rank when even A-rank would be an insult! The world's gone mad!"
The one going mad here is me, you lunatic.
Let go of my hand first, would you?
"Hold on a sec!"
Choi Kwang-hyun, wailing like he'd seen the apocalypse, suddenly fondled a bundle at his armor's waist.
Probably some inventory-type artifact, but more importantly, I was finally free from the pain.
"Here."
As I clutched my nearly broken arm with a heavy heart, he handed me something.
It was a business card proving his Association affiliation.
What the—? But I quickly grasped his intent.
A player handing another player a business card? Simple.
It meant join the Association.
'Crazy. Why's this guy scouting me too?'
Earlier the frustrated team leader was throwing offers, and now this? Two recruitment pitches in one day?
And from the Association? No thanks.
As I opened my mouth to refuse—
"This is a free pass."
"...Pardon?"
"I don't give it to just anyone. Can't buy it with all the money in the world. A treasure you couldn't get even if you died and came back without my guarantee."
"Wh-what do you mean.... Uh!"
I took the card reflexively.
Free pass? Ticket? What was he talking about?
Felt a bit off for scouting talk.
"If you're saying join the Association, I'm already in a guild—"
"You think I'd hand over my card in person just to say join the Association? I could've sent any staffer for that."
"Then...."
"A letter of recommendation."
At some point, he wasn't smiling anymore.
"My recommendation that you're S-rank material."
"...."
Wait.... What?
Did I hear that wrong?
Constellation 'Sung Hyun-sook' is shocked!
A recommendation acknowledging me as S-rank?
That's exactly what he said, right?
No, but I'd never heard of anyone ranking up via a player's 'recommendation'....
Stunned, I alternated glances between the card and its owner.
My reaction must've pleased him—color returned to his serious face.
"Kuhaha! Savage as a wild wolf in battle, but now you look like a dumb country mutt. Is it that shocking?"
"No, of course it's shocking.... More than that, hold on. A recommendation? What the hell is—"
"A recommendation's a recommendation. Need more explanation? It means exactly what it says."
He leaned down slightly and tapped the card in my hand.
"Take this to Association President Lee Tae-ho. I'll give him a heads-up. Oh, and no rush. Tomorrow's fine, or a year from now. No expiration on my recommendations—use it whenever."
"...."
"Anyway, after meeting the president, kick back on the sofa with the coffee his secretary brings. Wait exactly five minutes, and Lee Tae-ho will hand you a card with your face and name on it. Right next to the photo, one big letter: [S]."
With his boulder-like hands forming a cute S, he grinned and continued.
"Then buy me a drink. That's all you gotta do. Sound good? Total freebie."
Freebie didn't even cover it.
This was like rice cakes being shoved in your mouth while you sat there.
But the question was, 'Is it safe to eat...?'
I got the S-rank recommendation and boom, S-rank.
People's reactions? They'd think I ate something bad.
Even I, the guy in question, couldn't wrap my head around it.
Regardless,
"What about the evaluation?"
"Evaluation?"
"Yeah. To promote to S-rank, you need stat remeasurement, tests, all sorts of procedures...."
"Aigoo, you dense kid. Look around. Look!"
I did as he said and looked.
Golems strewn everywhere—chaos here, chaos there.
"If you were an evaluator, would you bother with tests after seeing this? Huh? That's like telling a Nobel laureate from abroad who wants into Seoul University to take the college entrance exam. Only a bullet-brained idiot would say that."
"H-but internal regulations...."
"Internal regu—! You bastard! I try to do a nice thing, and you keep pissing me off? You work for the Association or what? What bullshit internal regulations!"
'Sung Hyun-sook' grumbles that her son is frustrating despite everything!
No, but.
We gotta clarify what needs clarifying.
Better safe than sorry.
...Apparently, I was the only one who thought so.
Like he'd swallowed a sweet potato without water, Choi Kwang-hyun thumped his broad chest and bellowed.
"I'm Choi Kwang-hyun!"
"...."
"If I say you're S-rank, you're S-rank! Internal regulations? I helped the president make those regulations!"
My god.
I didn't know that.
"If you're salty, we'll add one more! Article whatever, clause whatever: 'Anyone questioning Choi Kwang-hyun's recommendation will have their pottery shattered!' Add that, and you'll accept my heartfelt sincerity, right?!"
"N-no! I'll take it now! Please let me have it!"
Don't shove your bulging eyes in my face like some ghost.
You nearly stopped my heart, you maniac.
"Should've said that sooner!"
Choi Kwang-hyun burst out laughing and slapped my back.
Petty revenge for my denseness, maybe—but it hurt. A lot.
I nearly hurled.
But it snapped me awake, making it feel real.
What felt real?
"Looking forward to working with you! Korea's eighth S-rank!"
The realization that my life was about to change for real.
"My goodness.... Young people these days are something else. Don't you think so, son?"
"Y-yeah...?"
Yoo Sung-su gave an awkward smile, glancing at Mi-young, who gaped in admiration.
His mind was a whirlwind of chaos and shock from the Guro-gu incident news.
His respected hyung (me) suddenly appearing on TV, heroically smashing monsters? Sure, impressive.
But not jaw-dropping.
'Hyung Jae-min is even more amazing than I knew. So this is par for the course....'
He recalled the day he first met me—the day he first experienced the world inside a gate.
Even as a newbie, watching me fight briefly, Yoo Sung-su had intuited it.
I was ridiculously strong.
So news of me soloing a massive outbreak was within expectations.
But?
Mi-young sighed and patted Yoo Sung-su's arm at the shocking headlines.
"What in the world. What in the world! Parents were legends, and the son's no slouch either!"
"...."
This was way outside expectations.
Hyung Jae-min was the blood of the legendary S-rank couple everyone praised?
'Hyung, you never mentioned this.'
Thump, thump, thump!
His chest filled with pounding excitement.
'That hyung... is truly incredible!'
And that incredible person had offered him a job together.
Already thrilled, learning my background flooded him with indescribable emotion.
As Yoo Sung-su clenched his fist with flushed cheeks,
Mi-young smiled slyly and said something out of the blue.
"But you still have a mom. That hyung you mentioned is the top player, right?"
"...."
"When you think about it, isn't he? Who his parents were doesn't matter. It doesn't affect our family."
"...."
"Above all, the one who let me reunite with my son is the real one to respect and thank. That's what Mom thinks."
"...."
"So, son. Ask that hyung for some time soon. Mom wants to see him quick."
"That person's... Mom."
"Huh?"
Mi-young tilted her head, not getting it.
Just then, my face appeared on the TV.
Yoo Sung-su pointed at the screen with a trembling hand.
"The guy on TV right now... that's the hyung I was talking about...."
"...What?"
In that moment.
"Gasp?!"
Lightning struck Mi-young's mind.
Come to think of it.
The name of that hyung my son had mentioned offhand before,
and
matched perfectly with the name on the news.
Realizing it now, Mi-young went speechless like she'd been electrocuted.
Right then.
"Hey, Mom."
Having sorted his thoughts, Yoo Sung-su's eyes gleamed.
"Actually, there's something I want to tell you, Mom."
If not now, the moment might never come again.
Seizing it, he scratched his head and said,
"That hyung asked me to work together with him."