S-Rank Promotion and Housewarming
"So, what'd she say?"
"She said do whatever you want."
"...Hmm, she didn't say it like she'd given up or anything, right?"
"Nope! She was super happy about it!"
From the other end of the line, Yoo Sung-su shouted in an excited voice.
"You know what Mom said? She said she trusts you enough to leave me in your hands! How could she possibly object to me working with someone as amazing as you...!"
It was a bit overly enthusiastic.
"She used to say she'd never let me become a player, even if she had to die first! We spent almost an hour just praising you. Like, Brother Jae-min is truly one of a kind in this day and age—"
"Hey, hey, hey! Stop! I get it! Why tell that to the person himself...?"
"Hehe..."
This guy's making my face burn up so much the phone's gonna overheat.
Anyway, glad things worked out.
"Oh, right. And Brother, Mom keeps asking when you're free. When works for you?"
"Time, huh..."
Click.
I stepped out of the bathroom and said,
"I'm good even today, right now."
"Wha, today...?!"
"Yeah. If it's okay with your mom."
"She'll probably be fine with it!"
"Alright? I'll let you know the details on the place and time later."
"Yes, Brother! Please do!"
With that promise to call later, I hung up.
Seemed like the right call.
Why? Because...
"Gasp! Player Hwang Jae-min...?!"
"Whoa! First time seeing you in person!"
"Um, excuse me. Could I maybe get an autograph...?"
"Just one selfie, please!"
Association headquarters, 7th floor hallway.
The staff and players who'd spotted me came swarming over.
The way they looked at me... well, not to brag, but objectively speaking, their eyes sparkled like fans meeting their favorite idol in the flesh.
...Should've stayed in the bathroom longer.
Deeply regretting it, I recalled yesterday.
The day before, after parting with Choi Kwang-hyun, I checked my phone and nearly spat blood despite having no chronic illness.
Real-time trending searches.
1. Hwang Jae-min
2. S-Rank Couple
3. Sung Hyun-sook
4. Hwang Hyun-min
Yep. The fact that I was the son of the S-rank couple had spread like wildfire across every portal site and online community!
Mom thinks this is funny? The netizens' detective skills hit me faster than light, leaving all my hairs standing on end.
Okay, sure, I did show off a bit...
But I didn't expect my personal info to get doxxed this fast.
Anyway, after that, I became the association's ultimate top star.
"Autograph jackpot! I'll treasure it as a family heirloom forever!"
"What do I do, the selfie came out perfect! Thank you!"
"As a fellow Awakened, I respect you, Player! I hope one day we can stand side by side...!"
After scribbling autographs, snapping selfies, and fielding handshake requests for about ten minutes, I finally made it.
"...What were you doing in the bathroom that made you age ten years in that time?"
"...You pretty much know, so don't ask."
To Chairman Lee Tae-ho's office.
Was this how mountaineers felt summiting Everest...?
Seeing my haggard state, he clicked his tongue in pity.
"Next time you have business here, use Stealth or something."
"Ugh... yeah, I really will. Anyway, about what I mentioned?"
"It's been ready for a while."
Then, Yoo Soo-yeon, standing beside him, approached and quietly handed me a card.
Not a card, exactly, but...
Name: Hwang Jae-min
Rank: S
A license. Traded for Choi Kwang-hyun's letter of recommendation (business card).
In all of Korea, including me, only eight people had one.
Proof that I was now one of the world's top Rankers.
"Congrats on S-rank."
"Congratulations, Mr. Hwang Jae-min."
Lee Tae-ho's expression was somehow complicated; Yoo Soo-yeon smiled softly as they congratulated me.
His next words dripped with nostalgia.
"Hyun-sook and Hyun-min must be watching from heaven, thrilled."
[Constellation 'Sung Hyun-sook' tears up with joy!]
Yeah, just like Uncle said, she's thrilled and even crying.
Too bad I couldn't see Dad's reaction.
Come to think of it, when would Dad's constellation review finally end...?
I stared blankly at the S-rank license with my face and name etched on it.
Now that it was real, it still didn't feel real.
"Can I scream here? Victory yell."
"Save it in front of an old man. Act with some dignity now that you're S-rank."
"Didn't see Choi Kwang-hyun showing any dignity."
"He's... well, he's always like that."
His face soured the moment Choi Kwang-hyun came up.
I had no idea what their deal was.
Would ask someday.
Anyway.
He smoothly changed the subject.
"Hitting S-rank less than a month after awakening? You're probably the only one on the whole planet, you monster."
"Hearing it like that, it does sound unreal."
"Don't get cocky! Arrogance will bite you."
He said it dead seriously, genuinely worried.
Hmm...
"You're the one who's changed, Uncle."
"I give you good advice, and you hit back with sass, Jae-min?"
"Nah, not sass. I figured you'd be furious about this whole incident."
"...Why?"
"Well... you wanted me to live quietly."
He played it cool, but I caught the faint tremble in his pupils.
Busted.
"Can't deny it. Sharp kid."
"Yeah. After I solved the outbreak thanks to me, you can't exactly chew me out, right?"
Just a joke, but he glared with murderous intent.
"So, you told me you'd just step out quietly, then went and fought golems to the death? Still boils my blood thinking about it!"
"......"
Am I hallucinating from exhaustion? Flames seemed to rage behind him.
Maybe figuring it'd just hurt him more, he sighed and shook his head.
"Whatever. It's your life."
The flames died as he spoke calmly.
"Noisy or quiet, that's for you to decide. Who am I to say?"
"...You sure tried hard to stop me from moving out."
"You're not someone I can handle like Hyun-sook. Learned that recently. Easier to raise three rabid dogs than control you two."
['Sung Hyun-sook' is furious: This damn baldy, why's he talking about me like that?!]
I got it, but kept quiet.
He glanced at me.
"No regrets choosing the noisy life?"
"Not aiming for noisy, exactly... but coming clean about being the S-rank couple's son feels right for peace of mind going forward."
"Yeah, better than half-hiding it."
We both chuckled.
Only once in my past life had we had a similar talk.
Not the same situation, totally opposite flow, though.
Back then, I'd said:
— I'm ashamed of people finding out I'm my parents' son.
Ashamed why? Simple. Legendary S-ranks for parents, but their only kid was worthless F-rank me.
Scared of the finger-pointing: Son didn't take after his folks.
And it happened for real.
— Where'd all that great DNA go?
— Picked him up off the street?
— Tarnishing a legendary name.
— Not embarrassed to face your dead parents?
Just because I lacked talent, everyone I knew hurled curses and scorn.
The more they revered my parents, the more they pitied me.
So I hid it. Lived quietly.
But not anymore.
I wouldn't hide being their son or live quietly.
Won't repeat that half-assed inferiority complex crap, hiding from the world this life.
Because now I had talent? High stats? Guts bubbling up from having the goods?
"And above all."
Lying if I said no.
But I just realized something.
"Mom and Dad surely want me to live boldly."
[Constellation 'Sung Hyun-sook' listens quietly.]
"So, Uncle, I'm gonna live boldly."
A trembling son scared of fingers pointed his way... even Mom would've been disappointed.
I didn't want to be a disappointing son.
After my outburst, he closed his eyes thoughtfully; Yoo Soo-yeon smiled from behind.
Finally.
"I see."
"Yes."
"You really... have zero intention of hiding your strength or anything."
"Why hide it? I'm not some fantasy novel protagonist."
"That's the last box, right?"
"Yes!"
"I'll handle the rest, so just leave it there. Thanks so much for the help. Here, have some cool sikhye."
I handed out prepped canned sikhye to the moving company staff.
They looked at me with flattered eyes as they took them.
"Heh, well now. As expected of those folks' son—such a kind soul."
['Sung Hyun-sook' beams proudly: That's my boy, so sweet!]
I'm the one praised, Mom?
I'm dying of embarrassment here.
The staffer sipped his sikhye, glanced around the place, and nodded out of nowhere.
"And so frugal..."
...I know exactly what he's thinking.
If I interpret it a bit mischievously?
S-rank legendary player's son moving into such a tiny place.
...Something like that.
If I'm being mean, anyway.
Not unreasonable, though. My new place was a 1,000 sq ft apartment.
1,000 sq ft. Compared to other S-ranks raking in astronomical cash living in 2,500+ sq ft pads...
No need to go that far.
Even B-ranks probably lived larger.
With monster bounties from my clears, byproduct sales, plus the Guro-gu incident payout...
Could buy a 3,000 sq ft place and still have plenty left.
And topping it off with Mom and Dad's inheritance?
...No comparison possible.
Why? All went to restoring the nation ravaged by Germadon.
No misunderstanding: Decided long before the fight, with my full agreement as their son.
And transparently used, too.
Turned ruined land back to normal in half a year. Plus disaster relief helped countless folks reclaim daily life.
How could people not praise my parents?
Anyway, back to now.
Whatever cash I had, I liked this place.
['Sung Hyun-sook' is satisfied: Such a cozy, nice home!]
"Good size for a guy living alone, right?"
Seeing off the movers, I smirked.
"Not like I need a big place living solo."
Imagine a guy alone in 3,000 sq ft. Instant sage mode.
Ah, of course, the association's player dorm I'd crashed at till morning wasn't bad.
But... you saw earlier, right? Endless handshake requests there.
"Plus, not even association staff, mooching off it shamelessly."
['Sung Hyun-sook' shakes her head: Realizing it so soon!]
I ignored Mom's message and flopped onto the sofa.
Sunlight so warm, wanted a nap, but...
"Gotta prep for the housewarming."
A bit later.
The 1,000 sq ft space buzzed with guests.
"Whoa... Jae-min! You more than deserve a place a hundred times bigger...!"
"Too modest compared to Brother's grandeur!"
"But it's cute and cozy!"
Heo Jin-hwan and the Black-White Brothers, rushing over after work to celebrate.
Next,
"Brother Jae-min! We're here! The place... smaller than I thought?"
Yoo Sung-su, same reason.
...Why does everyone harp on the size?
Damn, should I just buy 3,000 sq ft?
Whatever.
Last guest...
"Brother. Let me introduce you."
Yoo Sung-su presented the middle-aged woman beside him.
A face all too familiar to me.
"This is my mom."
"......"
Sung-su's mom. Huh, healthier complexion now?
Didn't notice on her sickbed, but she's a real beauty.
Why am I just thinking it? Say it out loud, be smooth.
But she spoke first.
"Tha...nk..."
Her lips trembled, voice failing.
Then finally.
"Truly.... really..."
She slowly hugged me, shoulders shaking as tears flowed.
"Thank you so much.... How can I ever repay this grace...?"
No need. Already got a huge gift from Sung-su.
But my voice might crack too.
So I just patted her back silently.
A few minutes later.
"Alright! To celebrate Hwang Jae-min's S-rank promotion—"
Heo Jin-hwan led,
"Cheers!!"
Clink!
Six beer glasses clashed in midair.
['Sung Hyun-sook' asserts her presence strongly: I just chugged a beer too!]
Got it. Make that seven glasses...