Party Play
"Here it is."
Yuseorin unfolded the documents handed to her by the Association staffer. Inside were the details she'd requested: name, personal information, all neatly compiled.
As her eyes scanned down the page, Yuseorin's gaze suddenly froze.
"An unawakened who... became an Awakener?"
"I was shocked when I first saw it too."
"……"
Name: Eugene
E-rank
Yuseorin stared down at the papers in silence. It was real.
The records confirmed it: after awakening from unawakened status, he'd risen from F-rank to E-rank in no time at all. Far too fast for an ordinary Awakener.
In that moment, a long-buried memory surfaced.
She'd been frail as a child, her body so weak that her parents had to take her abroad for treatment. Right up until they left Korea, there had been one boy who stayed quietly by her side.
Eugene.
That name gently stirred the echoes of the past.
Childhood Yuseorin was far from healthy. Some days she'd be fine, only for dark red blotches to suddenly spread across her skin the next.
It was a disease with no known cause. On those days, fever would spike without fail, her entire body aching so badly she could barely lift a finger. On the worst days, she'd collapse mid-step.
At first, everyone just thought she was a sickly kid. But as the inexplicable symptoms kept recurring, people's gazes began to shift.
"Look at her face... it's gross."
"Eww! She's got a virus! My mom said if you play with her, you'll catch it!"
The other kids whispered openly. It got worse on gym days or field trips, when they'd have to move around a lot. They'd casually mutter about not wanting to catch whatever she had just from getting too close.
Yuseorin pretended not to hear. She'd bow her head, hide the dark red blotches creeping over her hands under her sleeve, and just breathe quietly.
That's when Eugene would show up.
"Hey."
While the kids turned to look, Eugene walked over slowly and planted himself in front of her. No anger, no raised voice. Just a single step forward, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"If you've got nothing to do, go play somewhere else."
"What? We didn't even do anything!"
"You deaf?"
His blank expression made them flinch, and they scattered one by one. Soon, only the sound of a bouncing ball echoed across the playground again.
Eugene crouched silently beside her without a word. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and held it out.
"Here."
Yuseorin stared blankly at it for a moment. She knew why he'd given it to her—those dark red blotches on her hands—without him needing to say.
"...Thanks."
Eugene looked away instead of answering. He didn't leave. He stayed until her fever broke a little and her breathing steadied.
"So... where is he now?"
"We haven't pinned down his exact location yet. But we've secured some recent registration data and lifestyle records."
The staffer flipped to another page and slid it toward her. Yuseorin's eyes drifted down.
Personal details and recent promotion records. Residence information. And family relations.
Her gaze halted on one line.
Family: 1 younger sister
Long-term hospitalization
Yuseorin's eyes wavered.
"...Long-term hospitalization?"
The staffer nodded immediately.
"Yes. Confirmed as an illness of unknown origin. She's been hospitalized for quite a while, and the medical bills must have been substantial. Recently, the room grade and treatment conditions have improved somewhat... but it looks like things were really tough before."
Yuseorin reread the line without a word. Just a few short sentences, but her eyes lingered on them far longer than they should have.
She hadn't known. Not even that Eugene had a younger sister.
To stop the disasters pouring from the Gates. To protect humanity. And perhaps, someday, to meet Eugene again.
For the past ten years, Yuseorin had charged forward, eyes fixed ahead. It wasn't a choice—it was a duty. There were calamities only she could stop, people only she could protect.
Yet the one person she'd held dear had been crumbling away, and she hadn't even noticed.
She knew nothing of the life Eugene had endured, the burdens he'd shouldered.
Yuseorin bit her lip lightly and closed the file. An unbearable rage surged up.
"Which hospital?"
The staffer hesitated for a second before answering.
"Pardon? Oh, it's Korean Hospital in Incheon's Juwan district. She's registered as a long-term patient in the general ward."
"Her condition?"
"Still... in a coma."
She didn't need to hear the rest. Money must have been tight. That's why he'd pushed so hard to get stronger. There had to be a reason he'd clawed his way from F-rank to E-rank in such a short time.
Not to survive himself—but to save his sister.
That's what Eugene would do...
Yuseorin's gaze turned ice-cold.
"Connect me to the head of Korean Hospital."
"Pardon?"
"Right now."
"Ah, understood."
The staffer froze for a moment before hurriedly pulling out their terminal.
D-rank Gate. Collapsed Quarry.
The designated exam Gate that E-ranks had to clear to promote to D-rank.
Simply entering and exiting wasn't enough for promotion approval. You had to slay the monsters inside and meet the Association's conditions.
Awakeners gearing up for the raid checked their equipment and exchanged brief greetings nonstop. The clank of metal and murmur of voices filled the air.
One might think you'd get used to it, but Eugene still felt strangely detached every time he came to a place like this.
He checked his phone screen once more. Lately, his suspicions had spiked. After the Baeksa Guild mess, he couldn't gloss over even the smallest details anymore.
It was only natural, perhaps.
'Anyone, 1 person.'
But he couldn't back out. Designated Gate clears were mandatory, and D-rank promotion required party play records. Solo wouldn't cut it.
Rules were rules. This was his only option left.
"You're here for the recruitment post, right?"
Eugene looked up at the voice from behind. The man in front of him was in his thirties. Short-cropped hair, leather armor scarred with scratches, a longsword at his hip.
Stoic expression, but his eyes were sharp. The air of someone who'd stared death down more than once. Plenty of real combat experience, no doubt.
"Han Ji-hyeok. Party leader today."
"Nice to meet you. Eugene."
After a quick greeting, Eugene nodded lightly.
"Haa... What a relief. Thanks to you, Eugene, we can make this party work today. One guy who was supposed to come went radio silent at dawn."
Designated Gates wouldn't even let you in without the full headcount. Han Ji-hyeok's sigh was understandable.
As he spoke, the three others behind him came into view.
First to catch the eye was the burly guy with a massive shield on his back. Buzz-cut hair, fierce look.
"Park Dojin, tank."
Obvious frontliner. His eyes scanned Eugene with open wariness.
"I'm Kang Mina, handling support. Looking forward to it today!"
Next to him stood a woman with curly hair. Healer or buffer type, judging by looks. She gave Eugene an awkward smile as their eyes met.
"Lee Hyeon-su."
Last was a man in a black jacket with light protective gear over it. Crossbow instead of a bow, not a word spoken. Dry gaze. Seemed uninterested in Eugene.
Introductions wrapped up, and Han Ji-hyeok's eyes turned back to him.
"Didn't get a chance to ask in the rush. What's your class, Eugene?"
Eugene paused briefly before answering flatly. He'd anticipated the reaction, but still—how would they take it?
"Summoner."
The air shifted subtly the instant he said it.
Park Dojin reacted first, his eyebrow twitching up.
"Summoner?"
Open disappointment in his tone.
Kang Mina elbowed him right away.
"Why say it like that? Watch your tone."
"No, but come on. We grabbed someone in a hurry, sure, but a summoner of all things..."
Park Dojin trailed off, eyeing Eugene again. Not outright disdain, but the look of someone who'd shelved their expectations.
Han Ji-hyeok went quiet for a beat too. But he composed himself and asked calmly.
"Sub-type? Scout or combat?"
Eugene gave the prepared answer.
"Combat support. One main summon, specialized in close-range harassment. Can scout too."
Han Ji-hyeok's eyes gleamed faintly. Park Dojin tsked softly amid his scowl, muttering in a slightly less tense voice.
"One main... At least scouting's covered."
Park Dojin scratched his chin.
"You know this is the designated exam, right? The Collapsed Quarry's got a maze of paths, and visibility tanks the deeper you go. Scouting changes things."
Han Ji-hyeok stroked his chin once and spoke.
"That's good enough. It's what we needed. Nothing fancy for a designated exam—just do your role. Don't break formation, handle your part when it counts. That's all."
Park Dojin snorted derisively.
"Talk's cheap."
Kang Mina chimed in quick.
"He said he can scout. That's huge in the Collapsed Quarry."
She wasn't wrong. The Collapsed Quarry's collapsed tunnels and split paths made visibility plummet the farther in you went. Monsters could be right in your face before you sensed them.
A scout summon was a big plus for the party.
"Alright, quick formation check. Early sections are mostly collapsed mine shafts. Terrain's the real pain more than mobs. Dojin leads, Hyeon-su on rear and flanks. Mina holds center support. Eugene, stick by me for scouting and backup."
"Got it."
Eugene replied curtly. No plans to stand out anyway. Play along, stay low-key. That'd do.
Then, an Association staffer inside the control line raised a hand.
"Headcount confirmed. Promotion exam party, prepare to enter."
The gray vortex rippled low. Designated Gates only opened with the exact number. One short, and the day's schedule would've been scrapped.
"That was close."
Han Ji-hyeok finally relaxed his shoulders a bit.
"Just don't screw up inside."
Park Dojin slung his shield over his shoulder.
"That's why we're drilling now."
Kang Mina smiled faintly as she said it. Lee Hyeon-su silently tested his crossbow string and released.
Eugene watched them blankly for a moment. The unease lingered. Suspicions not fully dispelled.
But they looked like any ordinary party here for the promotion exam.
Han Ji-hyeok took point.
"Moving in."
With that, the five stepped one by one into the Collapsed Quarry. Gray swallowed their vision.
The next instant, collapsed tunnels stretched before them. Shattered rails, overturned mine carts, dust sifting from the ceiling.
And somewhere, an unidentified sound echoed.
Han Ji-hyeok raised a hand briefly to adjust formation.
"Dojin front. Hyeon-su rear. Mina center. Eugene, check the right tunnel first."
Eugene nodded without a word. He slowly turned his gaze to the shadow-cloaked right passage.
First, let's gauge their skills.