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Episode 25
To start with the conclusion—Saebyeok managed to persuade Han Sae-jin.
Through a series of excuses—saying it was just for a short while, only temporary; pointing out there was a child involved and they couldn’t kick her out; and promising they’d move soon since she had earned good money from hunting—she finally convinced him.
“When someone has a lot to hide, their story tends to get long.”
But then, when it was discovered that Kang Suho was unawakened, Han Sae-jin became suspicious.
“Why are you starting a guild with a man who isn’t even awakened?”
She couldn’t give a convincing answer and endured his doubts for quite some time.
Still, she was accepted.
But once the first hurdle was cleared, another problem appeared.
“P–Park Woo-jun?!”
An unexpected guest had arrived.
“Why are you suddenly here? Han Sae-jin, did you call him?”
“Why do you always suspect me first? You’re the one who caused trouble this time!”
“Woo-jun hyung! My sister caused a mess!”
“When has Han Saebyeok not caused trouble?”
Woo-jun shrugged it off and stepped inside, holding up a bag.
“I felt bad about canceling our barbecue plans. And I had some time to spare. You haven’t had dinner yet, right?”
But then he noticed a small child peeking out from behind Saebyeok and froze.
“Who’s that? I’ve never seen them before.”
He knew better than anyone that Saebyeok had no niece or young cousin. Still, his natural kindness showed.
“Hey there, kiddo. How old are you?”
The child quickly hid behind her again.
Then Woo-jun saw Suho. His expression stiffened. Suho’s face hardened as well.
“And this person… who might they be?”
“The Association’s Assault Unit Captain…?”
Saebyeok pressed her forehead with a sigh.
“Ha…”
Her head was starting to ache.
Over Dinner
“What?! Awakening?!”
Woo-jun jumped up when he heard the news.
Saebyeok calmly removed the hairpin from her head and cast <Lightning>. Sparks flashed at the tip before fading.
“Wow! Combat type! Magic class!”
He couldn’t hide his excitement.
“Han Saebyeok, you remember our promise, right? If you awakened, you’d join the Association!”
“What are you talking about? I never promised that.”
“You did! Two years ago—we bet a triangle kimbap on it!”
But Saebyeok knew she couldn’t join the Association now. The restrictions were too great, and the situation had changed.
Woo-jun slammed the table.
“You going to another guild would be a betrayal!”
“Hey, this table can’t handle an awakened’s strength!”
“I’ll buy a new one—just join the Association!”
“Don’t you want to know my rank first?”
“Who cares about rank! What matters is that we can work together!”
But the reality was simple. Large guilds would line up to recruit anyone with a B-rank or higher, offering massive signing bonuses, seven-figure salaries, and countless benefits.
Awakening could truly change one’s life.
Only someone like Park Woo-jun would throw away the chance to have everything—
to choose poor pay and endless work at the Association.He had never cared much for money or fame since childhood;
he was more interested in helping people.
Before awakening, his dream was to become a firefighter.Because of that nature, he could commit to the harsh conditions of the Association without complaint.
‘In my previous life, I was like that too…’
Before her parents passed away, Saebyeok once dreamed of becoming a police officer.
Even after giving up on that dream, she couldn’t completely let it go.
A few months ago, she had quit all her part-time jobs and was preparing for the police exam—
determined to give it one last shot.But then, she awakened—
and in her past life, that pushed her toward the Association instead.
“If you become a police officer, that’ll be fun too.
The Association and the police work together a lot.”“Yeah, but most of the authority lies with you Hunters.
Haah… I wish I could awaken too.”“Hey, Han Saebyeok.
If you ever awaken, don’t become a cop—come to the Association.”“You complain every day about how much work you have,
and now you’re trying to drag someone else into that hell of overwork?”“It’s tiring, sure, but it’s rewarding.
Honestly, being a cop isn’t an easy job either.
You do it out of duty.”“That’s true.”
“It’s still a job where you help people.
Is there any other profession that saves citizens
on the front lines like the Association’s Assault Unit does?”“Good point.”
“So promise me.
When you awaken, come to our Association.
Let’s burn our feet together protecting people.”“You still talk a good game. Hah… Fine.
Instead of firefighter and cop,
let’s try being Hunter partners—if I awaken.”“Deal! Now, we seal it with this triangle kimbap!”
They once made that promise over cup noodles and kimbap at a convenience store,
unaware of the grim future awaiting them.
It was only two years ago,
yet it already felt like a distant memory—
though it remained painfully vivid.Left alone in the world, she had replayed those small moments countless times,
finding solace in them through her loneliness and grief.Because of that, Saebyeok knew more than anyone
how much the Association would restrict her now.‘There are too many limitations if I get tied to the Association.’
She felt sorry,
but she knew she couldn’t keep that promise in this life.
“It’s an S-rank title.”
Saebyeok finally revealed a truth
that would shut his mouth for good.“What? Did I hear that right?
Did you just say… S-rank?”Park Woo-jun made a strange face,
while Han Sae-jin—grilling pork belly beside them—jumped in.“You don’t believe it either, right?
I can’t.
S-rank isn’t like the name of a neighbor’s dog!”“What’s the name of the title?”
Unlike Sae-jin, who kept scoffing,
Woo-jun asked the right question—
a sign of his veteran instincts,
built over three years of experience and long service at the Association.“Dawn’s Spear Knight.”
“Never heard of it before.”
There were hundreds, even thousands of titles in the world—
and no one could know them all.
But the fact that he hadn’t recognized it instantly
only confirmed that it was a high-grade one.
Especially for A- and S-rank titles—
they were often completely unique.
“Then I guess I can’t really pull out that triangle kimbap promise
and hold you to it…”Woo-jun rubbed his forehead awkwardly.
This time, Sae-jin made a bizarre expression.“Wait… you actually believe her?”
“Believe what?”
“That she’s S-rank! There are only four in Korea!
Does this make any sense?!”“Who says there can’t be a fifth named Han Saebyeok?”
“No, no—do you even know what S-rank means?
They get calls from governments worldwide!
Even a simple overseas trip becomes a matter of foreign diplomacy!
S-rank is literal national power!”Sae-jin couldn’t comprehend
how easily Woo-jun believed her.But Woo-jun calmly asked,
“Sae-jin, have you ever seen your sister joke about something serious?”
“Uh…?”
He met Saebyeok’s gaze—
without a shred of doubt.“If Han Saebyeok says she’s S-rank,
then she’s S-rank.”It was unwavering sincerity.
