###
The media is in chaos.
Articles are pouring in one after another.
<Notification: ‘Solo’ Badge Removed for Perfect Clear.>
<Who is the companion? Suspected attempt to make contact with another country.>
└Why another country? It could be our own.
└If that were the case, the government would have heavily promoted it as a major achievement and caused a frenzy.
└Isn’t it possible that they are still in the contact phase?
└Logically, would our country be competent, or would agents from advanced countries like the US or China be more capable? It’s obvious which side would make the first move.
└Ah, I understand.
└What? Why is Japan involved and acting up?
Even before this, Korea was only hearing about the brain drain scandal.
Everyone was just feeling uneasy.
└What is the government doing! The top 10 guilds!
└Are we going to lose them again?
└This is really not good. After the superconductors turned out to be fake, now those two are truly Korea’s only hope.
└If we lose even one of the S-rank Word Mages or Perfect Clears, I’ll seriously go to the Management Bureau with a knife.
It wasn’t a solo situation, though.
Progress was increasing at the same rate.
<Progress Status>
Korea (22 days remaining): 92.94001%
The government tried to calm the public by promoting this figure.
However, the more they did, the greater the longing and sense of crisis for Perfect Clear Awakened individuals became.
It actually had the opposite effect.
The citizens of the Republic of Korea were becoming increasingly sensitive.
Continuous brain drain.
Due to the decline in progress growth rate caused by this.
Progress has a significant impact on people’s livelihoods.
It is the most fundamental indicator related to the lives of the citizens.
If the progress is not fully achieved, everyone will die.
It’s not just about future risks.
Feelings of anxiety and security based on progress.
Foreign investment, economic fluctuations.
Even the birth rate.
All sorts of indicators move accordingly.
Progress is not just a problem if it’s not fully achieved within six months.
Depending on the speed of the progress, the current life is directly affected.
Therefore, Yoo Chae-young, the Support Team Leader of Seonghwa, Korea’s 3rd Ranked Guild, and her team members’ expressions became deeply troubled.
“…We can’t afford to lose them like this.”
“But the government is controlling the information.”
“I know. There are limits to what we can do on our own.”
This is not the time to show pride.
Yoo Chae-young’s glasses shone calmly.
She found Chief Choi’s number in her contacts.
“We just need to make sure they aren’t taken by another country.”
“Yes?”
“Even if we subjugate them as government Awakened individuals first, we can plan to scout them later.”
It was a difficult decision.
‘He’s too high-energy and burdensome….’
Yoo Chae-young, who preferred calm people like herself.
But in the end, this was the true path for Seonghwa.
“Hah… From now on, we will fully cooperate with Chief Choi.”
The two most capable headhunters in Korea.
If Yoo Chae-young and Choi Young-ho team up, finding Perfect Clear Awakened individuals was only a matter of time.
###
Late evening, at the academy.
Kang Hyun, oblivious to the chaos caused by himself, focused solely on the box in front of him.
[Do you want to open the ‘Random Box (+2)’?]
“Shall we open it now?”
“I always look forward to this moment the most!”
Opening a random box always makes the heart race.
After all, it’s a special reward for Perfect Clear. Everything that comes out is on a different level compared to regular rewards.
“The system is really great.”
This sensation of growing explosively.
It’s a thrill he never felt in his past life.
Kyle’s strength was forged through blood and sweat, wasn’t it?
“Let’s see what’s inside this time!”
“Go, Gacha!”
[Opening ‘Random Box (+2)’.]
Lights and sound effects explode.
Paaaat!
[You have received ‘Dried Sacred Water Elixir’].
Aden clenched her fist.
“Another one popped up!”
An elixir appeared in front of Kang Hyun.
He quickly took it with his mouth.
Nom.
Mumble mumble.
[‘Mana’ has increased. (F+ → E-)]
“Ugh. Okay, E- rank achieved!”
“Congratulations!”
“Your mana must be full now. Let’s go to another dungeon right away!”
“Go, Gacha!”
Whether the country was in chaos or not, the two headed to the next dungeon.
###
Chief Choi looked pale.
‘You found it before us?’
Normally sitting with a straight back at a right angle, Chief Choi was trembling with anxiety this time.
Dududududu—
“Uh? Chief, your desk is shaking! Is it an earthquake?”
“No, it’s the chief.”
“Huh?”
Losing the Perfect Clear?
A dark cloud would loom over the country’s future.
His heart raced with anxiety.
He must find them today, no matter what.
However, the subordinates’ working hours must be respected.
That’s the regulation.
“Ev-e-ryone, please leave for today…. I, I’m staying behind….”
“Uh oh! The earthquake is getting worse!”
“Chief! We’re staying too, so stop it!”
Fortunately, thanks to the team members’ patriotism, Chief Choi’s trembling stopped.
Thus, outside grew darker.
Now, he really had to send all the employees home.
Only Chief Choi remained in the office.
‘We must not lose them. For this country!’
A subordinate handed over coffee, fueled by patriotism.
One shot!
Even so, his hands didn’t stop flipping through the documents.
Whirr!
Thus, while flipping through the Awakened individuals’ profiles, he found a familiar face.
‘Ah, that’s him.’
Kang Hyun.
The man who came with A-rank Awakened Aden the other day.
But the information was strange.
‘Hmm? F-rank?’
Even the registration date was recent.
What’s this?
It can’t be.
He definitely felt the presence of a high-rank individual.
He trusted his instincts.
‘No, wait. He was the master of an A-rank.’
He searched through the contacts.
Found a magic practitioner friend with wide industry connections.
He made a call.
The result.
[Ah, that scammer?]
“Sc-scammer?”
[Those who know know. He was once a topic for teaching Word Magic, but do you know what happened?]
He heard a hollow laugh.
[Well, they say he rejected Oh Hyuk-jun because he had no talent.]
“Oh Hyuk-jun? You mean B-rank Oh Hyuk-jun, the current strong A-rank candidate?”
As he listened to the whole story, a feeling of emptiness washed over him.
‘Was he a scammer…?’
No way.
He definitely felt he was a prominent figure.
He trusted his instincts.
‘No, wait. He was the master of an A-rank.’
If he’s a scammer, why would Aden remain as his disciple?
Does that mean even Aden fell for his scam?
It’s unsettling.
‘Could he really be a scammer?’
It seems like I could get a lead with just a little more investigation.
Determined, Chief Choi made the call to Kang Hyun.
Ring~ Ring~
‘Ah, he’s inside the dungeon.’
The typical signal interference unique to dungeons.
When someone is inside a dungeon, the signals can’t reach properly, so only strange noises come back.
But after a moment, A call comes through again.
“Yes, Kang Hyun-nim.”
<There was a missed call.>
“That’s right, I’m calling you. Are you busy?”
<No. I just finished work.>
“Yes. The reason I’m calling is to ask about Miss Aden’s new identity registration….”
At that moment, A sound of someone running down the hallway.
Thud Thud Thud.
Crash!
“Chief, Chief!”
A subordinate who was leaving for the day hurried back.
Refusing to leave work.
What’s going on?
He quickly blocked the microphone.
“Please hold on a moment. I’m on a call right now—”
“It’s Perfect Clear! It just appeared!”
Perfect Clear.
Now.
And, Kang Hyun who just came out of the dungeon.
“…!”
In an instant, a shiver ran through his entire body.
“Please, please leave first! We’ll talk later!”
“Huh? Ah, yes. Understood.”
Why is he stuttering like that?
Was he talking to a higher-up?
The subordinate left, and the door closed.
Chief Choi stood up, ready to topple the chair.
He frantically searched through the scattered documents.
‘Dungeon Clear Records. Reporter Kang Hyun, Kang Hyun, Kang Hyun….’
<Hello?>
Trembling hands.
And then.
‘This is it!’
Awakened Kang Hyun.
Yesterday’s self-reported dungeon clear records.
‘F-, F, F+. And one F+ today afternoon.’
It matches.
His heart was racing so much that his stomach was churning.
‘Found him.’
The only one on Earth.
A 6-time consecutive Perfect Clear Awakened.
<Hello? It seems like the call quality is bad.>
Chief Choi snapped back to reality.
“Yes, yes! Can you hear me?”
<Ah, now I can hear you.>
“I’d like to discuss something related to Miss Aden….”
First, set up the meeting.
“Yes, yes! Whatever date is convenient… Ah, yes. Then I will visit you on that day, Kang Hyun-nim.”
He nervously took notes of the meeting place with trembling hands.
###
“Master, the electricity bill has come.”
“Ah, leave it there.”
Kang Hyun replied casually.
He focused on his work.
Magic stones scattered on the floor.
“What are you doing?”
“Counting magic stones. Time to start exchanging them.”
“Oh, is this all money?”
Although he had only cleared dungeons six times for money.
He had always gone solo without a team.
So he hoarded the magic stones without distribution.
He had a lot.
The amount is equivalent to what a typical F-rank Awakened would have after 30 clears.
“How much will it be?”
“When you get the money, first fix the academy’s broken toilet.”
“Isn’t that quite useful?”
“That’s true, but… seeing the broken toilet makes me feel sad for myself.”
“…Yeah.”
Actually, Kang Hyun felt the same.
‘But I’m a former hero, so I have to live while maintaining some semblance of normalcy.’
Now, it’s not like she’s out of money.
“While you’re fixing it, how about getting a bidet?”
“Don’t have a bidet at home?”
“I live in a goshiwon. It’s a 2-pyeong room.”
“Wow… How do you live in 2 pyeong?”
“That’s why I don’t get one. I only sleep at home and live here.”
Somehow, she only learned magic at the academy all day.
‘She’s lived a pretty harsh life too.’
As an undocumented resident, there probably wasn’t much opportunity to make money.
“Alright, let’s indulge a little! Buy more snacks, get a bidet too! We can pay off the debt slowly.”
“Huh? Do I have to pay back a debt?”
“Eh? Oh, come to think of it.”
They sent people to kill the debtors.
Is it right to pay this back?
‘We killed those guys, so now they’ve completely cut ties.’
Even if he pays, they’ll surely send someone else.
‘Since it’s Korea, I can’t invade and kill everyone. I also can’t keep getting beaten up.’
This, I need to meet with the boss and settle it.
And by the way, erase the debt.
“That was a very excellent point, Disciple. Sharp.”
“Hehe. Is that so?”
It seems like he needs to negotiate with the loan sharks.
The hero way.