Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Volume 2 Chapter 1
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Kim In-gyu’s astonishment as he gazed at Su-hyeok was a sentiment shared by many of the people gathered there.
However, there was certainly someone who harbored different feelings from his.
Kim Yu-min.
He was grinding his teeth fiercely, his eyes bloodshot.
‘Closed the portal all by himself? Came back a hero?’
He didn’t want to believe it. But the scene unfolding before his eyes certified every bit of reality. Everyone was looking at Su-hyeok with eyes full of envy, respect, or admiration.. Kim Yu-min hated that fact.
“What he did right is right, but breaking the law is breaking the law, so he should be punished.”
A somewhat snide voice slipped from his lips, likely because of that.
The gaze that turned toward such a Kim Yu-min wasn’t from Su-hyeok.
Han Tae-min, a fellow rookie, stared at him with a look of disbelief.
“What law did Su-hyeok break?”
“He entered the portal alone. I clearly tried to stop him.”
Of course, that was true.
But right after, Han Tae-min and two others had entered the portal as well.
“That’s sophistry. Don’t try to tear him down with twisted logic. In the end, he didn’t enter alone.”
And...
Han Tae-min’s gaze shifted to the 21 survivors huddled around the bus stop where the portal had vanished, still trembling.
There had been one sacrifice, but in the end, he had saved many lives.
It would have been impossible without Su-hyeok.
That alone made Su-hyeok’s actions worthy of praise.
There was no reason to tear him down.
Kim Yu-min rationally recognized these facts as well.
But his emotions and sentiments ravaged that rationality without mercy.
Su-hyeok’s mocking expression and back as he slipped into the portal right up to the end tormented him endlessly.
“Don’t you spout sophistry!
That bastard never intended to follow the law in the first place! You guys just got lucky and tagged along, that’s all!”
“It wasn’t luck.”
Han Tae-min spoke coldly at that moment.
Su-hyeok, who had been watching the situation silently, stepped forward.
“Kim Yu-min.”
“We’re not close enough for you to call me by name.”
Kim Yu-min’s eyes were red as he breathed heavily.
He looked like he had already thrown reason far away.
So naive it bordered on pathetic.
Because of that, Su-hyeok couldn’t even find a reason to provoke him further.
“Hoo...”
Instead of words, a deep sigh escaped.
At Su-hyeok shaking his head, even thicker veins stood out in Kim Yu-min’s eyes.
“A sigh? Am I funny to you? Huh? Am I a joke?”
“Hey, Kim Yu-min.”
Han Tae-min quickly tried to stop him.
“Shut your fucking mouth, you bastard!”
Then Kim Yu-min whipped his head around and bellowed harshly.
Naturally, gazes from around them poured in.
With the aggressive aura, curses, and shouting, it was impossible to ignore.
“That bastard tried to enter the portal alone! I stopped him, but he ignored me!
If he’s gonna act so recklessly on his own, why do we even need laws? Fuck, does he think the country and association are a joke? You fucking dog!”
Kim Yu-min’s attitude grew even more aggressive as he spewed curses at Su-hyeok.
He figured with all the eyes on them, Su-hyeok wouldn’t dare harm him.
Of course, no one looked kindly on such a Kim Yu-min.
‘What’s wrong with that crazy bastard?’
‘He can’t even say thanks.’
‘Who the hell is that guy? An association employee?’
That was the general thought among the onlookers.
Kim Yu-min felt the discomfort of those gazes too.
And in that sense of isolation, he erupted in even greater fury.
“Grab that bastard first! We need to show him how shitty it gets for illegal Awakeners!”
Of course, no one moved.
Instead, Kim Yu-min strode forward, breathing raggedly, and grabbed Su-hyeok’s collar amid stares of disbelief.
Naturally, Su-hyeok and the surrounding people’s expressions hardened.
“What? Hit me? Adding one more crime since you’re already a criminal? Huh?
If you’ve got the balls, go ahead. Hit me, you fucking piece of shit!”
Su-hyeok said nothing.
A twisted smirk tugged at Kim Yu-min’s lips as he trembled slightly and spoke.
“You coward, you won’t do shit in the end. Why don’t you pull out your phone too? Call your mommy...”
Before he could finish.
The silver bracelet on his left arm gleamed as it sliced through the air.
And embedded into Kim Yu-min’s abdomen.
“Urk...!”
Kim Yu-min’s face twisted in agony as he let out a pained scream.
“Wahk—!”
He released Su-hyeok’s collar and writhed in pain, dry-heaving violently.
“Crazy bastard.”
The one breathing heavily in front of such a Kim Yu-min was none other than Kim In-gyu.
The KR Guild president and Rank-7 Awakener.
The silver bracelet that had flashed in the air belonged to Kim In-gyu, not Su-hyeok.
He couldn’t tolerate Kim Yu-min’s reckless behavior and had finally lunged.
His face was contorted like a wrathful demon.
“He saves people and closes the portal, and instead of thanks, you call him a criminal? You fucking bastard. What the hell do you think an Awakener is?
Huh?!”
Kim In-gyu’s roar stabbed toward Kim Yu-min.
He swept back his disheveled hair and glanced sideways at the survivors near the bus stop.
“Fuck, embarrassing. Really.”
“You... who the hell are...”
Kim Yu-min, recovering slightly from the pain, asked with teary eyes.
“What? KR Guild president. And the violent criminal who just assaulted a fellow Awakener. You punk. Hah!”
As Kim In-gyu raised his hand again, Kim Yu-min flinched hard.
Once hit, his senses were starting to return a bit.
“Jeez, whew.”
Kim In-gyu let out a deep breath and reached into his pocket for a cigarette, about to light it.
“Pew!”
A light voice came from somewhere, and a flame sparked at the tip of Kim In-gyu’s cigarette.
In his startled gaze appeared a man strolling casually with four association staff behind him.
Dark sunglasses, a roguish demeanor—but no Awakener present could ignore him.
Everyone knew who he was.
“Vice Chairman Oh Sin-woo.”
Kim In-gyu, face stiff, watched Oh Sin-woo approach with a goofy grin.
He lightly patted Kim In-gyu’s shoulder.
“That was badass, bro. Right? Spot on. It’s embarrassing to be an Awakener who saves civilians and get treated like that.”
“Uh, uh...”
Though Oh Sin-woo called him bro, they weren’t personally acquainted.
They’d only crossed paths at official events, never privately.
His behavior was utterly bewildering.
“Heard the gist from afar.”
Oh Sin-woo subtly showed his phone mid-call to the cautious Kim In-gyu, his eyes flicking to the Rank-2 female Awakener who had leaped into the portal world with Su-hyeok.
She gave an awkward smile, looking troubled.
“I’m always nice to the lady staff. One sec.”
With a smirk, Oh Sin-woo headed next to the survivors.
They looked pale.
But no visible injuries.
The doctor examining them stood, wiping cold sweat.
“Externally, they seem fine for now...”
Otherworldly illnesses could manifest anytime, in any form.
Thus, cases of ordinary people who entered otherworlds via portals succumbing to vicious diseases weren’t rare—especially without an Awakener’s strong immunity.
Oh Sin-woo nodded in understanding.
Then he removed his sunglasses.
His unexpectedly gentle eyes soon bowed deeply.
“Hello. I’m Awakener Association Vice Chairman Oh Sin-woo. First, I apologize for our slow response to this unforeseen situation.
We’ll take extra precautions to prevent this in the future. And if any of you feel unwell, visit any university hospital registered under the association. We’ll cover all treatment costs, including hospital bills.”
Uncharacteristically solemn words and demeanor from Oh Sin-woo.
But his sincerity rang deep.
The survivors nodded unconsciously.
And spoke as one.
“We’re fine. We made it out alive, that’s what matters.”
A young man raised his hand and shouted.
“We’d have been in big trouble without that Awakener over there. Sir, please don’t punish him.”
A grandmother who seemed over 70 spoke loudly.
“Honestly, we’d all be dead without him.”
A young woman in her early twenties didn’t want Su-hyeok punished either.
“I thought I’d die without ever giving my daughter a proper gift... Please. He doesn’t deserve punishment.”
Park Tae-jun, clutching a poster tube like a doll, tearfully added.
Their gazes toward Su-hyeok brimmed with genuine gratitude.
The grace of lifesaving.
How could it be taken lightly?
Oh Sin-woo felt it deeply too.
So he could smile and say,
“Don’t worry. He has no reason to be punished from the start.”
Rewards for good, punishment for bad.
Essential rules for any nation, company, or organization.
Even good deeds must face flaws, creating clear distinctions.
Oh Sin-woo knew this well.
He practically ran the not-insubstantial Awakener Association himself.
“Mr. Yang Su-hyeok, may I see your license?”
Su-hyeok, who had watched Oh Sin-woo’s sudden arrival and handling silently, tapped his silver bracelet twice.
A translucent license window activated.
It looked utterly ordinary at first glance, but the text in the wide special notes section at the bottom was unique.
Solo Player.
Surprised, Su-hyeok looked at Oh Sin-woo.
Before coming here, he had specifically requested this from Oh Sin-woo at the association.
The authority held by only one Hunter in Korea, due to the risks involved.
But for Su-hyeok, it was the most necessary for his own growth.
That authority was now registered on his license.
Just now? Or even earlier?
No way to know when.
What mattered was that, in this visible situation, Su-hyeok now had the right to enter portals alone as a Solo Player.
“A Solo Player entering a portal alone isn’t wrong. And as an Awakener, saving people so admirably deserves praise. Oh dear, looks like all that’s left is to give a reward.”
Oh Sin-woo smirked and slung an arm around Yang Su-hyeok’s shoulders.
As Su-hyeok awkwardly yielded space and gave a bemused laugh,
“Now, applause for today’s hero, Yang Su-hyeok.”
Cheers and applause erupted from everyone.
No one could blame Su-hyeok anymore.