Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Sister's Acceptance
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If she knew from the start that he'd been swept up in such a massive incident, even Su-a might step up in opposition.
Of course, it was also a chance to prove his abilities, but for now, he needed to consider the negative angles carefully.
'Oh right, the bracelet.'
Belatedly recalling the License Bracelet he'd been issued, Su-hyeok grabbed his left wrist.
"What're you doing?"
He turned to find his eyes meeting Su-a's.
Su-hyeok, covering his left wrist with his right hand, let out a strange groan.
Su-a narrowed her eyes suspiciously, tilting her head.
Her next action came immediately.
The seated Su-a lunged at Su-hyeok with a flying tackle, reaching out for his arm.
Of course, if Su-hyeok really wanted to, he could've dodged it effortlessly without even moving.
But in that instant, a dilemma surfaced in Su-hyeok's mind.
'I was planning to tell her anyway...
> Do I really need to hide it?'
In that brief hesitation, Su-a's hand snatched Su-hyeok's left arm and yanked it up.
Horror flickered in her eyes as she spotted the gleaming silver bracelet.
"Oh my god. I suspected, but... it's real?"
"It just kinda happened."
Su-hyeok's nonchalant tone made Su-a's eyebrows shoot up sharply.
"Oppa, do you even realize you were a patient just a little while ago?"
Her words cut like a knife.
She just couldn't stomach the idea of him doing something dangerous.
"I know. That's exactly why I started."
"What does that even..."
Words failed her, and Su-a stared at the ceiling with an incredulous expression. Then she looked down at the floor and let out a sigh.
"Huuu..."
Finally, she ruffled her hair roughly and headed into the kitchen, yanking open the fridge door.
She pulled out a jug of ice-cold water, filled a glass to the brim, and downed it in one go. Her face was flushed red.
Her ragged breathing was heavy enough for Su-hyeok to feel it from a distance.
"Ever gotten hurt?"
Su-hyeok shook his head at her first question.
"Not once."
"No dangerous stuff... What am I even saying."
She gulped down another glass, then walked calmly back over to Su-hyeok.
"I really wish you wouldn't do dangerous things, Oppa."
Su-hyeok stroked his chin at her firm words.
There was only one worry swirling in his head.
'How do I convince her?'
If he couldn't sway Su-a, convincing their parents would be out of the question.
Su-hyeok didn't notice, but Su-a's eyes trembled violently as she watched his expression deepen with concern.
"How'd you even become an Awakener?"
Su-hyeok gave her the answer he'd prepared in advance.
"The moment I first opened my eyes, stuff just... started appearing."
"An Awakener's status window?"
"Yeah, exactly."
"Oh my god. So from the very beginning..."
Images flashed through Su-a's mind: Su-hyeok's quick discharge from the hospital, his aggressive rehab sessions.
She'd chalked it up to him just focusing on his health, but that had been a mistake.
Come to think of it, he'd gotten healthier than ever before in no time flat.
And the changes in his body were obvious now.
He was past his growth spurt, yet somehow he'd gotten a bit taller.
Every part of his body seemed packed with fine, dense muscles—not the kind you get from just hitting the gym hard.
Su-a had been suspicious of his changes all along.
Maybe that's why.
She processed and accepted it faster than expected.
"You wouldn't listen even if I told you to stop, would you?"
Stubborn as a bull—an old saying that fit Su-hyeok to a T.
From childhood, if he set his mind to something, he never backed down.
He'd taken losses because of it, but he'd gained plenty too.
"Ugh..."
"Can't stop you, really."
Su-a chewed on her lower lip.
Then she glanced at his left arm.
"Silver rank already? You only just became an Awakener."
"Might hit gold soon."
"No way."
"For real. Turns out I've got some real talent."
Su-hyeok spoke with full confidence.
Su-a shot him a sidelong glance and crossed her arms.
"As if. You think sweet-talking me will make this go away?"
"It's true. Think about it—it's been less than two months since I woke up."
"Yeah."
And the minimum training period for Awakeners was one month.
Such a short time.
Realization dawned, and a short murmur escaped Su-a's lips.
"Uh..."
Su-a was sharp.
And she'd paid close attention to Awakeners.
She wasn't alone—everyone on Earth was obsessed with them.
Fundamentally, they were the soldiers protecting nations and the world. Ever since the Dimensional Alliance formed and portal raids plus monster resource harvesting got easier, they'd become one of the few jobs in capitalist society that could completely flip your status.
Su-a herself had dreamed of becoming one to lift her struggling family.
So she couldn't help but be stunned.
Something she'd accepted so naturally now hit her like a thunderbolt.
"Silver rank means at least 6th grade..."
"Heard Baek Mu-hak was only 4th grade when he first awakened."
"I wrapped up trainee training yesterday."
"You're lying."
"What's my motive to lie?"
"Fair point."
Su-a nodded as calmly as she could manage.
Any less, and her legs would've given out right there.
Universal 8.
A talent surpassing the potential of Baek Mu-hak—one of the world's top Awakeners—had appeared in Korea.
And that person was her brother.
It felt strange.
She worried about the danger, but could she really demand he stop, with talent like that and his iron will?
Su-a was slowly coming to terms with Su-hyeok's new reality.
📰 Breaking News The portal crash near Sinchon Bus Terminal was dramatically resolved by a mysterious new Awakener from Korea who wishes to remain anonymous for now. The Association says they can't reveal him yet, but whispers suggest he could be the next Universal 8 to represent Korea after Baek Mu-hak... Su-a, catching the breaking news blaring from the still-on TV, turned to Su-hyeok.
"That incident... just checking, but was that you, Oppa?"
It was beyond ridiculous—it was absurd.
A brand-new official Awakener jumping into a portal alone?
The news said it was a whopping 5th-grade portal.
"Hold on, so what grade are you exactly?"
📰 Breaking News Vice Chairman Oh Shin-woo's Interview:
> He is Korea's—no, the world's—first official Awakener to receive 8th grade on day one. He's the hope of the future. But it's not just his outstanding abilities and potential. He has a sense of justice. The courage to throw himself into the jobs everyone avoids. The Association will do everything to support him going forward...
"8th grade?"
Lots of words flew by, but the one that stuck in Su-a's ears was Oh Shin-woo's opening line.
And Su-hyeok just nodded without denying it.
Thud.
She collapsed in place, a hollow laugh bubbling from her lips.
"Haha... hahaha..."
No more thoughts of trying to stop Su-hyeok.
It was already too late to turn back.
His grade shocked Su-a the most, but the public latched onto something else.
💬 Survivor Testimonies — Eyewitness "Every time he swung his sword, monsters got swept away like weeds. So cool... and thank you." — Another Survivor "Reminded me of mowing grass in the army. Haha, kidding. He was seriously cool. If not for him, I'd be dead." — Grateful Victim "So, so thankful. I thought death was all that was left..." ⭐ Viral Interview — Park Tae-jun (Father of One) "All I could think was that I wanted to live. I missed my daughter, worried about my wife, tears were coming... then he appeared. What can I say? After age 12, I thought heroes were a joke. Now I believe. Heroes exist in this world." The word "hero" sounds cool, but it feels awfully childish.
Life teaches you there's no one willing to make those sacrifices.
Reality is always cold and cruel.
Yet Su-hyeok jumping in alone to save people embodied the courage that word demands.
Vice Chairman Oh Shin-woo's interview burned that fact even deeper into the public's minds.
Hero. Nameless hero.
For Su-hyeok, now dubbed "No-Name," it was downright embarrassing.
'I'm not some amazing person like that.'
Su-hyeok had just done what was obvious.
He got pissed when the gathered Awakeners ignored it.
So he jumped in alone.
He had confidence too.
He was certain he wouldn't die in there.
If he hadn't been boiling mad, or if he'd thought his power lacking, even he would've hesitated.
Might've turned away like Kim Yu-min. Su-hyeok figured humans were selfish creatures like that.
But the world was hyping it up as some sacred heroic deed.
And it wasn't just Korean news.
Foreign outlets blared about the divine newcomer's heroic exploits too.
Praising him to the skies.
Su-hyeok felt his face heat up every time he saw it on TV.
Logging onto the computer for the net was no different.
Portal site homepages were plastered with the new hero "No-Name."
Real-time trends dominated by No-Name stuff.
Article comments were endless.
💬 Online Reactions — Netizen1 Still worth living in this world. — Netizen2 Korea forever! We're the top Awakener nation now. — Netizen3 If No-Name grows, we can clean up North Korea land too, right? ⭐ Top Comment — PatriotFan Hope he grows strong. Got mocked forever for no talent besides Baek Mu-hak. — RageQuit Abilities matter? Personality is S-tier. Fuck, heading off to start a No-Name fan cafe right now. Reading the comments full of praise, awe, and expectations made Su-hyeok want to chuck his phone and dive under the covers.
He was so embarrassed he even called Oh Shin-woo to chew him out.
[We didn't reveal your name as requested. Victims promised secrecy too.]
"Still..."
[Enjoy it. You did the deed, whatever it gets spun as. FYI, I'm a No-Name fan too. If I weren't in this position, I'd have made the first fan cafe.]
"Just checking... you're not one of those commenters running around, right, Vice Chairman?"
[...I'm a man who supports the mysterious vibe.]
"Vice Chairman?"
The call cut off.