Burden of Awakening
9 PM, New Seoul Hero Association Headquarters.
"......."
Seung-hyung collapsed onto the bed, his exhausted body sinking in. The top-of-the-line mattress in his quarters at headquarters cradled him like a cradle.
"This is driving me insane. For real."
He had no idea why the day felt so endlessly long. And why did so many people keep asking if he was joining the Seoul reclamation operation?
Seon Ui-cheol....
To him now, Seon Ui-cheol was nothing more than blood-related stranger. Yet the man tried to manipulate him like a puppet using that family tie as a chain.
At the smartwatch alarm, Seung-hyung summoned the screen. A woman in a suit stood at the news desk before his eyes.
- Good evening. This is JBS 9 PM News.
Even in his busy schedule, catching the news was one of his small hobbies. A way to stay even slightly informed about the world.
"Ah. Damn it."
The moment the first headline flashed as subtitles, Seung-hyung's face twisted in disgust.
"So that's how they're playing it?"
Seung-hyung sat up. His participation had already been treated as a foregone conclusion by the media.
- ...Jijeonggwan Yoo Yeong-ho, heading to Busan today, posted on SNS: "Hero participation is entirely up to the individual hero's will."
We'll discuss this with our hero expert, Professor Do.
The screen filled with a bespectacled professor whose chin glistened with grease.
- Nice to meet you, Professor Do. Do you believe the Seoul reclamation operation is justified?
- Of course. What is Seoul? Until eight years ago, it was the capital of South Korea. We've painfully lost our capital many times in history, but we've always reclaimed it—and the nation. Now the enemy is just monsters instead of another country. I see reclaiming Seoul as the mission of us heroes, and indeed of South Korea. It restores our status as a hero powerhouse.
- And what about the controversial SNS post from Jijeonggwan?
- It can be interpreted two ways. One: encouraging heroes to join the operation. Two: a veiled expression of dissatisfaction with some hidden agenda we don't know about. I lean toward the latter.
- ...The latter meaning?
- That Hero Lee Seung-hyung is inwardly reluctant to join the Seoul reclamation.
The small comment window at the bottom of the live feed was in chaos. Curses at the opinions, curses at the professor's looks. Seung-hyung closed the comments and focused on the professor's voice.
- It's only been a week since Fire Fist awakened. I believe he had deep feelings for actress—the late Cheon Ga-eul. Enough to take over her lead role. What Agent Lee Seung-hyung needs now isn't the will to join the operation, but time to grieve the loss of his loved one....
Knock knock knock.
"Yes!"
At the knock from beyond the door, Seung-hyung shut off the news and straightened his clothes. Tapping his watch, the door slid into the wall.
"Did I interrupt?"
"N-No, Senior!"
Seeing the middle-aged man blocking the doorway, Seung-hyung jumped from the bed and stood at attention.
The suited man held a plastic bag in his right hand.
"Let's have a drink tonight."
"S-Senior, alcohol inside headquarters is..."
As Seung-hyung fidgeted, citing regulations, the man chuckled and pointed at the CCTV in the ceiling corner. Vmmm— A cloud of sparkling white light formed before the camera lens. No mana could be felt from the phenomenon; Seung-hyung stuck out his tongue in admiration.
"As expected, Senior's mana control is incredible. Now I see it—the distant glimpse of that precision. Truly respectable."
"Guys like me, short on mana, obsess over efficiency. What's the point for you, overflowing with it? I'm certain: among S-ranks, you have the most mana."
"Senior, that's..."
Seung-hyung didn't know where to put himself. The man entered the room like it was his own, perching on the table edge.
"Your quarters are so barren. No decorations at all. Save up quick and escape this place. This isn't for living—it's a camp."
Pulling out side dishes from the bag, he crunched on dried squid legs.
Seung-hyung knelt politely opposite him.
"Sit comfortably. What are you doing?"
"How could I dare before a senior like you..."
"Sit easy right now, or I'll recite that exact line in front of Ha-rang."
Seung-hyung's posture relaxed like lightning. The man laughed heartily and handed over a canned beer.
"Drink. You'll need it."
Seung-hyung gripped the can, cold as if fresh from the freezer, and bowed his head. A faint mana lingered in the chill.
"...You saw right through my hiding, huh."
"You sense us; we sense you. That's the hassle of S-rank. Human bonds grow through time, but mana signatures let us instinctively read thoughts and feelings whether we like it or not."
Seung-hyung reined in his mana. It was too late anyway, and the traces he'd emitted carried deep sorrow.
Clink.
With a crisp pop, the tab opened. The man slid his own can toward Seung-hyung with a grin.
"To this poor young man who gained power and lost love."
"...Coming from you, Senior, that sounds a bit off, doesn't it?"
The man shrugged.
"Only those who've been through it know this grief. When the whole world feels hateful, and if God existed, you'd grab his collar and smash him into the mud. When you hate yourself for gaining this power. Is it meddling?"
"...No. It's similar."
Seung-hyung clinked cans.
"When I awakened, someone appeared. Said they'd give me power if I fought for world peace."
"Whoever it was, sound advice. But do you know?"
The man pointed at Seung-hyung's heart, smiling.
"Awakenings vary by person, but the essence is the same. Your unconscious self manifests objectively. Like metacognition of your ability. Unaware normally, it surfaces at awakening."
"How did you awaken, Senior?"
The man's face soured at the question. Seung-hyung bowed hastily.
"Sorry. I misspoke..."
"Love."
"Pardon?"
Bitterness and longing etched the man's face.
"I loved. A brief love I'll never forget in my lifetime."
"...First love?"
The man nodded. To Seung-hyung, he looked like a sage detached from worldly ties.
"So you've stayed single for twenty years because—"
"You're getting cheeky. I married that woman. Ten months of love that set the world ablaze."
"I thought there was no marriage registration."
"The district office got smashed by monsters. How to register? Heh."
The man bit hard into the squid leg; mana-infused toughness snapped it instantly.
"...With her still in my heart, how could I embrace another? It'd be rude to them, to her, to me."
Seung-hyung caught his breath at the man's earnest words. Mana kept him from intoxication, but the man's poignant aura was intoxicating.
"How did you overcome it, Senior?"
"...Overcome? No such thing. You carry it like baggage your whole life."
The man's voice turned cold.
"Cherish it in your heart forever. So when you meet in the afterlife, you can face them shamelessly. If they're even there."
"...I see."
As Seung-hyung pondered, the man scratched his head and added,
"You're young; it'll be fine. Maybe someone even greater comes along, or like me, someone unforgettable for life. Filter out this old man's nagging if you want."
"...No. I'll take it to heart. But..."
Could anyone worthy of such burning love appear again? Seung-hyung inwardly knew no.
"Senior."
"Yeah."
"I heard from Snow Flower Princess. She says you, her, and I must go to Seoul—the three of us."
The man's hand froze.
"Why is that? You're not here just to console me today."
"...Already syncing mana? Fast. Why do all you flame mages have such overflowing talent?"
Grumbling, the man met Seung-hyung's eyes.
"Right. Here to convince you—and go to Seoul myself. Yeong-ho already told me you don't want to go."
"I haven't heard from Brother Yeong-ho..."
"Obviously. I didn't tell him. You're second after you. If Ha-rang hadn't met that thing at the bureau, it'd be fine. Tch."
The man clicked his tongue, muttering about Snow Flower Princess: improper girl, too flashy, no decorum.
Seung-hyung cut in.
"Ha-rang wants to finish the City Hall monster. But why are you joining the reclamation, Senior?"
No matter Seon Ui-cheol, he wouldn't let this man leave New Seoul. The man knew that. Yet insisting on Seoul meant some reason overriding the vacuum it'd create.
"Curious?"
The man's eyes gleamed. Flames flickered in Seung-hyung's pupils. He felt immense pressure from the smaller man—like light blades poised to slit his throat, squeezing his body.
Grrrrr—
The flames in Seung-hyung's eyes died. The man released the pressure.
"Hah, hah!"
"...As expected. Can't tell you yet."
The man clicked his tongue and stood.
Seung-hyung panicked at the sudden chill.
"S-Senior?"
"Even the president and Ha-rang don't know this truth. You're too weak to bear it."
"...I'm not weak. Even if I am, I can help. I can beat the Flame Demon Dragon if it returns."
Seung-hyung burned with resolve. The man sneered and opened the door. The light cloud vanished at his gesture.
Before it closed, he left one expressionless word.
"Do you really think this world's true crisis is dimension gates or demonkin?"
Same time, Cheonghwa-dan Guro hideout rooftop.
"Mr. Jo Deok-bae. Did I say something too shocking?"
"Obviously. President Seon Ui-cheol's got a rep for good character despite his looks. You shattered that illusion and exposed the reality."
Phoenix sat on the rooftop bench, swinging her legs back and forth.
"Physiognomy's scary. Even with media image-making, the essence shines through intuitively."
"That future knowledge from Cheon Ga-eul?"
Phoenix giggled and nodded.
"Something like that. Anyway, Seon Ui-cheol won't breach Yeouido even in five years. He'll lose all of Seoul instead. So I tipped them off early. Too good for that bastard anyway."
"He must be pissed. But..."
Deok-bae pointed at the cube Phoenix fiddled with.
"You said last time this can awaken ability users too?"
"Yes."
"Then why not awaken Cheon Ga-eul right now?"
Phoenix froze.
"It does almost everything. A guy who revives the dead as kaijin with a magic lamp-like treasure—why torment her to awaken herself?"
"Magic lamp? Old-school taste, Mr. Jo Deok-bae. Short answer: possible. But..."
Phoenix's voice hardened.
"Cheon Ga-eul must awaken on her own. Cube awakenings cap growth too low. Turns civilians into C-rank max, but conversely caps A-rank talents at C too."
"Wasting her talent? That's it?"
Deok-bae snorted.
"What do you want from her exactly? Just enough to protect herself? C-rank gets national pampering. Does she need A or higher?"
"Obviously. Think about what happens to cube-awakened users later..."
Phoenix trailed off. Deok-bae found her reluctance to explain—her, who loved talking—odd.
"Just... using it feels risky. What if something goes wrong with Cheon Ga-eul?"
"Fine. Don't wanna say, don't. You'll blab excitedly when the time comes."
"...Won't."
"Sure. Anyway..."
Deok-bae turned away.
"If you've got worries, spill a little. Don't suffer alone and cause a mess you can't handle. You know, two heads are better than one."
"Too many cooks spoil the broth?"
"You won't hand over the wheel. Right?"
Phoenix's eyes widened. Deok-bae glanced awkwardly at his watch and turned.
"Anyway! Time's up. Rested enough? Come down and plan the op. No solo stunts."
"......Tch."
Phoenix snorted and looked away. Deok-bae clicked his tongue, imagining she'd have buzzed to S Hospital like a moth if he hadn't called her out.
Will she be okay?
Cheonghwa-dan had accelerators but no brakes or navigator. Cheon Ga-eul was the brake, but after she's gone?
Not my problem.
She'd died once. Revived but unable to die, living on—whatever happened to the world, Deok-bae didn't care much.