Chapter 11: Registration Test (3)

Crackle!

Han Jun-Man's right arm had deflected the spear, but blue lightning clung to his arm and sent a sharp jolt through him. His forearm refused to move properly now.

This doesn’t make sense.

His eyes trembled slightly. Just moments ago, he had confirmed that Kwon Oh-Jin's Stigma only had two strokes on it. How could a mere two-star Awakener like that leave his arm immobilized with a single impact?

What the hell...?

Before he could fully grasp the situation, another sharp spear thrust flew toward him.

“Huff!”

Clank!

With a heavy step forward, Kwon Oh-Jin threw his shoulder into the attack, but his spear was deflected. In one fluid motion, Han Jun-Man’s gloved fist punched straight at Kwon Oh-Jin's exposed chest.

Smack!

“Agh!”

The punch landed dead center on Kwon Oh-Jin’s chest, sending him flying backward like a baseball struck by a bat. He tumbled helplessly across the floor before crashing into a wall.

“Cough, cough!”

He struggled to breathe after being struck by what felt less like a human punch and more like a speeding car at full force.

What the hell? What is this crazy ass strength?

A shiver ran down his spine.

“A-Are you alright?”

“... Yes.”

Ignoring the concerned look on Han Jun-Man’s face, Kwon Oh-Jin slowly stood up. His legs trembled, and his arm, still gripping the spear, shook slightly.

... But I can keep going.

He could still move, he could still fight.

Wooong!

The Stigma on his chest glowed once more, and the heavy pressure in his torso lightened ever so slightly.

Thrusting alone won’t do it.

A straightforward attack wasn’t going to pierce those solid arms. Kwon Oh-Jin lowered his center of gravity.

If that's the case...

Whoosh!

He swept his crackling spear close to the ground, targeting Han Jun-Man's ankles.

“Ha!”

Han Jun-Man responded by kicking toward the incoming spear as if he were facing a soccer ball.

Kwon Oh-Jin smirked.

Just as I thought, he's not going to dodge it.

Just before Han Jun-Man’s foot made contact with the spear, Kwon Oh-Jin let go of it.

Clank!

The spear spun in midair after being kicked away. Kwon Oh-Jin then quickly grabbed it out of the air.

“Ahhhh!”

He brought the spear down toward Han Jun-Man’s shoulder with all his might.

“Ugh!”

Han Jun-Man grunted and staggered backward, but Kwon Oh-Jin continued to chase after him.

“Huff, huff!”

A rush of exhilaration filled Kwon Oh-Jin. His head felt hot, as if it were on fire, and a smile crept onto his lips.

Just a little more...!

He wanted to savor the feeling of being on fire and enjoy the chill running down his spine.

Woong!

The Stigma on his chest flared up.

Crackle!

Blue lightning erupted just like when he first received Vega’s blessing.

[Thunderbolt has reached Lv2.]

He ignored the message window and took a deep breath that filled his nose with the smell of sweat, air, dust, and iron. His senses sharpened even without using the Stigma of Canes Venatici.

Just a little more.

He swung his spear again, thrusting it more persistently, viciously, and ruthlessly.

Clang! Clang!

“Ughhh!”

Han Jun-Man crossed his arms to protect his face as he blocked strike after strike.

What's going on?

His confusion grew well beyond the initial surprise, now an overwhelming sense of disbelief.

Seriously, what the hell is going on?

Clang! Clang!

It wasn’t the ferocious blue lightning or the powerful swing of the spear that astonished him.

How does he keep getting even stronger?!

An ominous feeling washed over him like a drop of black ink in clear water.

Woong!

The Stigma on Han Jun-Man’s chest started to glow. It was absurd for a six-star Awakener to resort to their Stigma against a two-star, but this wasn’t the time to worry about that.

“Haaaaaaah!”

Boom!

“Arrrgh!”

Han Jun-Man’s glove shredded as his massive fist struck forward, barely able to contain the power surging from his Stigma of Taurus. An overwhelming wave of energy tore through the air, exploding with terrifying force.

Crash! Boom!

Kwon Oh-Jin was swept away like a pebble caught in the blast, tumbling across the ground.

“O-Oh-Jin!”

Han Jun-Man urgently ran over to him, panicked.

“Medic! Get me a medic now!”

“Agh...”

An Awakener who had been on standby outside rushed in.

“I’ll stop the bleeding first!”

The Stigma on the Awakener’s chest began to glow, and blue energy flowed down from his arms and into Kwon Oh-Jin.

“Huff, huff.”

Kwon Oh-Jin’s breathing began to stabilize.

“Fortunately, it’s not a serious injury,” the other Awakener remarked.

Han Jun-Man sighed in relief, patting his chest with his hand.

“Phew.

Get him a potion too, the best one you have.”

“Yes, sir.”

The Awakener rushed outside and returned with a potion bottle, made from finely ground Starstones with the essence of an Awakener of Aquarius infused into it.

“Please drink this.”

Han Jun-Man handed the potion to Kwon Oh-Jin.

“Gulp, gulp.”

The sharp pains quickly faded as he consumed the potion, and before long, he felt completely normal again.

Damn, how much does this thing cost?

He stared at the empty bottle, feeling a little bit of regret. A potion crafted by an Awakener of Aquarius easily cost over ten million won per bottle.

The team leader bowed at a full ninety degrees.

“I sincerely apologize!”

“No, it’s alright.” Kwon Oh-Jin said with a chuckle, shaking his head.

Though he hadn’t won, he was satisfied. Pushing a six-star Awakener to the point of using his Stigma was more than enough for him.

“Anyway, is the assessment over now?”

“... Of course.”

Han Jun-Man nodded sorely. The apostle of Vega the Weaver was far more formidable than he had imagined.

“I know I’m in no position to ask this after my blunder, but...” Han Jun-Man hesitated before cautiously asking, “Could I have a moment of your time?”

“You want to talk to me?”

“Yes. I have an offer I’d like to make.”

An offer, huh? I might as well hear him out.

Kwon Oh-Jin nodded and got up.

***

“Would you like coffee or tea?”

“Arisu.”

“Sorry?”

“

Oh

, coffee, please.”

He had blurted out the wrong answer as he was so used to drinking only water all the time.

After a moment's wait, Han Jun-Man returned with two steaming cups of coffee.

“So, what is it you wanted to talk about?”

“To start off, is there any particular guild you’re planning to join?"

Kwon Oh-Jin shook his head firmly.

“No, there isn’t.”

He had undergone the registration test, but his goal wasn't to join a guild.

“Then, what are you going to...?”

“I plan to work as a mercenary.”

“Ah.”

A brief exclamation escaped Han Jun-Man’s lips.

Mercenaries were Awakeners who took on tasks too difficult for guild members to handle on their own. It was a high-risk profession since they weren’t tied to any one organization, but it was also highly profitable for those with the right skills. So much so that even senior members of large guilds could look like they were making nothing in comparison.

It’s essentially the difference between an employee and a freelancer.

With high marks on the registration test and the title of "apostle of the North Star," it was easy for him to command a premium.“... Have you considered joining the association?"

As expected, Han Jun-Man was here to place a recruitment offer.

“I find it burdensome to be tied down to any one place.”

If Kwon Oh-Jin became part of any organization, his actions would inevitably be restricted. Right now, he couldn’t afford to have any limitations on what he could do.

Who knows what it'll take to keep up this Regressor act?

Kwon Oh-Jin placed the empty coffee cup on the table and stood up.

“Then, I’ll be—”

“You’ll be affiliated with the association, but you won’t need to come into work as a formal employee.

Oh

, and even if you don’t show up, you’ll still be paid, although it won’t be as much as the big guilds provide.

Wait, what? I don’t need to clock in, and they’ll still pay me?

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just as I’ve said. You’ll be listed as part of the association, but you're free to take on mercenary work. If you’d like, we can even help you find suitable work through our connections.”

It was a tempting offer for Kwon Oh-Jin. If he accepted requests through the association, he wouldn’t have to worry about getting stiffed on payment.

It’s a pretty good deal, but I can't just rise to the bait.

He frowned, pretending he was thinking about it.

“Are there any specific conditions you’d like?”

“Could you keep my information hidden for two months... No, just one month?”

He wasn’t planning to hide his strength forever, but he wasn’t ready to reveal himself as an apostle of the North Star just yet. Using that title recklessly would be foolish on his part.

It's a powerful tool, but power comes with responsibility. I need time.

He needed to build strength and pile up achievements worthy of the name.

“I understand. We’ll do our best to keep your information from leaking out.”

Good. That should be enough to keep my name from blowing up too fast. So, to summarize, if I’m affiliated with the association, they’ll protect my identity for a month and find me good jobs?

On top of that, he didn’t even have to come in to work and they would still pay him.

Holy shit.

The terms were so insane they made his balls tremble.

On paper, it seemed like a completely one-sided agreement akin to an absurdly unfair historical treaty. But from the association's perspective, it made sense.

They’re getting a chance to claim the apostle of Vega as one of their own.

With the pressure from the major guilds already causing the association's authority to crumble by the day, this was an opportunity they couldn’t afford to miss.

“...What do you think?” Han Jun-Man asked nervously.

Kwon Oh-Jin casually leaned back against the sofa, crossing his legs. He had already made up his mind, but...

I need to come off as really fucking charismatic.

If he came off too eager like a dog chasing a bone, he’d become nothing more than their corporate slave.

I can’t become a dog. Not anymore.

For the past eight years—no, his entire life, he had lived like one.

He had no intention of living like that any longer. He wasn’t going to bow down and submit.

From today onwards,

I’ll

become the master.

“I’m not sure. I think I’ll need more time to...”

“We’ll also exempt all your taxes.”

“I’ll become the association’s dog starting today.”

“Sorry?”

“Woof! Woof! Arf! Arf!”

“...”