Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Am I an Orphan?
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I could only stare blankly at the receptionist, twitching my eyebrows.
At first, I thought she was teasing me, but seeing her friendly smile, that didn't seem right.
Especially since, when I hesitated, she smiled again and repeated that minors needed a guardian's permission for awakener registration.
I bowed my head and mumbled in a small voice.
"Um, I'm actually an adult."
"Pardon?"
"I have ID too."
As I looked down, I saw the spotless marble floor. It was so polished it gleamed, reflecting my image clearly.
Seeing that, I swallowed hard for a moment.
There was no trace of the man I knew. Instead, just like last night, there was a little girl.
Purple hair and golden eyes, soft chubby cheeks and dainty lips. And oversized short sleeves flapping around her ill-fitting body...
Only then did I realize why the receptionist had asked me to bring a guardian.
I looked like a total kid right now.
A grubby little girl, at that!
Because of it, I had no choice but to stuff my ID back into my wallet. At this point, I was lucky if she didn't suspect me of stealing it.
"Um, what if I don't have a guardian?"
"Pardon?"
The receptionist's expression shifted at my words. The smile faded, replaced by a hint of pity.
She hesitated for a moment before asking,
"Do you at least have a legal representative...?"
"Nope. I live alone."
Her face grew even more serious at my response.
She squeezed her eyes shut, deep in thought at first, then wore an apologetic look, as if imagining some tragic backstory for me.
'No tragic backstory or anything... I just aged out of the orphanage.'
Finally, she fidgeted with her fingers anxiously and glanced at another staff member nearby.
The other woman looked older, probably her senior.
"Do you need any help?"
"Well, I came to register as an awakener, but they said I need a guardian."
"I see."
"But I don't have one..."
The senior receptionist checked her computer and replied readily. Experience really counted for something.
"In cases like this, you can register with a guarantee from a guild registered with the Awakener Association."
"Ah."
I blinked for a second, then nodded.
I'd thought joining a guild came after registration, but from what she was saying, that wasn't always the case.
Thinking about it, guilds would want to scoop up talent before rivals did, so guaranteeing registration upfront made sense for them.
I bowed deeply to the receptionist.
"Thank you for letting me know."
Either way, I had no ID to prove my identity right now, and no guilds I knew, so I turned to head home.
'Whirr...'
"Pbuuu!"
As I trudged home with slumped shoulders, the black octopus greeted me.
It leaped right onto my belly, which was awkward but not unwelcome, so I let it stay.
While gazing at the octopus, a sudden thought struck me.
"Octopus, what's your name?"
"Pbuh?"
The black octopus tilted its head questioningly, tentacles wrapped around my waist.
Seemed like it didn't have one.
"We're gonna be together from now on, so I want to give you a name at least."
Honestly, I'd never had a pet, so I had no confidence in naming.
Still, I had to try, so I rattled off names popping into my head.
Pbuh pbuh, so Puyo. Octopus, so Baldy. Black, so Blackie?
Of those three, Blackie seemed the best.
I peeled the octopus off my belly, lifted it with both hands, and declared,
"From now on, you're Blackie."
"Pbuh, pbu pbuh?"
"Got it?"
"Pbuuu..."
The octopus poked my belly with its tentacles, making my slight pooch go in and out.
Well, whatever. If you don't like it, name yourself.
It seemed reluctant, but couldn't blame my naming skills.
"Anyway, Blackie. What now?"
I'd awakened powers, but registration required a guardian or guild guarantee.
I didn't know any guilds. I'd lived as a regular person until now, so that was natural.
How to get a guild guarantee in this situation? No ideas came to mind.
'But there has to be some way.'
So I pulled out my phone.
Time to borrow the wisdom of my Awakener Aspirant Gallery friends.
They seemed dumb sometimes, but they knew the awakener scene inside out and would have good advice.
I had nowhere else for info anyway.
[Guys, do I really need a guild guarantee for awakener registration???;;;;;;]
Author: Woo Jin-seong's Successor
"I went to the Awakener Association today, and they said I need a guild guarantee to register..
I'm a kid, so I don't know any guilds..ㅜㅜ
What do I do?"
Did you really awaken? Holy shit?
I said I awakened -_-
That's only if you're a minor without a legal guardian. Are you an orphan??
Yeah..ㅜ
That explains it;;
?
Loli noob?
Probably
Oppa guild master here. Wanna meet?? I'll guarantee you lololol
Holy shit pedo, how tf is this loli energy a middle schooler? GTFO
My gallery friends were useless as expected. Nothing helpful, just weird questions.
I pouted my lips, but then a potentially useful comment popped up.
Why beg them to register you? Make those association nobodies beg you to register.
The commenter was 'I Am The Strongest'.
I didn't know much about them, but they'd been active in the gallery for a month or two.
They barely posted, just commented everywhere—a classic comment goblin with surprisingly solid advice.
'Dunno why they call themselves strongest when they're not Woo Jin-seong...'
Still, this seemed helpful, so I replied.
What the hell does that mean?
Literally what I said? Make the association peons beg you to register.
No;;; That's what I'm asking how to do..;;
Prove you're worth that treatment. Like setting a record in the Tutorial Tower.
Whoa;; Does setting a record get you better treatment??
At least it worked for me.
Tutorial Tower...
I'd never been, but unlike other towers, it was the only one you could enter via a gate anywhere.
Once cleared, you couldn't re-enter, but it gave useful items to first-timers.
I had to go eventually, so why not aim for a record while clearing?
The question was if my abilities could pull it off... I glanced at Blackie.
"Blackie, think we can do it?"
"Pbuh!"
Blackie couldn't understand, but nodded confidently anyway.
Seeing that boosted my own confidence. Blackie's powers hadn't looked weak at all.
Maybe we could crack the top 10?
'1st is Woo Jin-seong the powerhouse, so impossible, but 2nd would get insane perks.'
I pondered, scratching my head.
When to go?
Bank balance: 50,000 won. Rent overdue three months—eviction imminent.
Even as an awakener, payouts took time, so sooner the better.
'Can't re-enter if I fail anyway, so bail if record looks impossible.'
Decision made. Entering now beat waiting.
Bonus: gauge Blackie's strength and get future intel.
"Alright, let's go now."
I'd looked it up before: Just call out "Tutorial Tower" in your mind to enter.
I called it desperately.
"Come on out...!"
"Pbuh pbuh!!"
Then it happened.
A faint crack split the empty air in my rundown home, and a blue portal shimmered into existence.
'Sh-should be fine to enter? Others said no issues.'
I hesitated, then squeezed my eyes shut and jumped in. Blackie clung to my calf and followed.
"Wh-what... Is this the Tutorial Tower?"
The scenery changed the instant I passed through.
No more shabby home—just perfectly finished stone brick walls at the entrance.
As I picked up Blackie and crept toward it cautiously, an unfamiliar voice echoed from somewhere.
"Pbuuuu..."
"Huh?"
It sounded human yet mechanical, feminine yet masculine—and utterly neutral...
I instinctively perked up my ears.
"Oh foolish mother of ours, have you at last opened the door after endless ages? How truly regrettable."
It was a speech pattern I'd heard somewhere before.