“When did you get here?!”
“Not long ago.”
Lee Hyunmook laughed as he caught Yohan running at him. Even though Yohan, a high-ranked Awakener, slammed into him with a thud, Hyunmook didn’t budge an inch. Knowing all too well that the man before him was far stronger, Yohan clung to him without hesitation, grinning. Hyunmook smiled as he asked:
“I heard you hunted a grade-3 on the way?”
“Yes! But compared to the monsters in the Abyss, it was really nothing.”
“Well, this place is peaceful after all.”
No one in this world would ever describe it as peaceful. But to those who «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» had lived inside the Abyss, it seemed endlessly peaceful—so much so that it felt like paradise. Food didn’t need to be purified before eating, and simply breathing didn’t raise contamination levels. While Yohan was quietly marveling, Hyunmook’s voice turned gentle.
“Everyone’s waiting, so should we head to the guild first? Did you eat?”
“I had breakfast at home, but I’m a little hungry. Still, I want to see the guild first.”
Like most Awakeners who had used their powers, after purifying Yosep and the car, Yohan felt a bit hungry. But the guild he would belong to from now on interested him far more.
The guild building was less than a three-minute walk from their headquarters. Rumor of the Taeyang Guild moving here had made real estate prices skyrocket. It showed just how valuable Hyunmook and his teammates’ names were, and Yohan felt a little pressure.
Even during that short walk, eyes followed them everywhere. Most people looked at Hyunmook, but some peeked curiously at Yohan. A few even shouted congratulations or encouragement to Hyunmook on his return. He smiled back at them before stopping in front of a building.
Before Yohan could marvel at its size, his eyes went to something else first: the guild’s logo above the entrance, a sheep with a halo. Flushing, Yohan muttered:
“It’s... a sheep.”
“Yeah, our little sheep.”
Hyunmook teased him. Yohan quickly looked away from the logo and followed him inside, quietly awestruck.
Until now, the only guild he had visited was Yosep’s, Neon. Neon had poured plenty of money into appearances, but compared to this, it was nothing.
It wasn’t just about the interior design. The receptionists, the guards, the staff bustling about—all moved with strict, disciplined precision. They greeted Hyunmook with calm nods, not the noisy commotion of starstruck fans. As they entered a security elevator, Yohan asked curiously:
“Did you already hire so many people this fast?”
“Most of them, we poached from Sunrise.”
“Wow.”
No wonder the staff treated Hyunmook with such familiarity. It made sense—working with those they already trusted was easier. Their skill was proven.
“Actually, even before we posted job listings, we got flooded with inquiries from Sunrise members. A lot quit after we went missing, and many wanted to switch guilds. For us, it was perfect—no reason to refuse.”
“But that’s pretty bad for Sunrise, isn’t it?”
Yohan spoke smartly, and Hyunmook looked at him with fond approval, almost doting.
“Exactly. They’re probably struggling to recruit right now.”
Not for a second did he pity Go Jaewon. Thinking of what Hyunmook and the others had endured in the Abyss, Yohan almost wished Go Jaewon could be thrown there himself. Still, like Yohan, the others—Lee Chanha and the rest—seemed to want to savor their revenge slowly.
The elevator stopped at the 15th floor. The doors opened with a bang! Confetti popped. Lee Chanha, Seo Yakrin, Yoon Seungryong, and Joo Hoyoung cheered.
“Welcome to the Taeyang Guild, Yohan!”
Amid cheers and heartfelt greetings, Yohan smiled brightly. After a year of surviving in the Abyss together, these people already felt like family—seeing them instantly calmed and warmed him.
“Did you all spend the week well?”
He asked as he instinctively cast Purification. Even though contamination no longer rose just from existing, Lee Chanha, who always seemed nervous, visibly relaxed. Others edged closer as well.
“I heard you already saw Yohan’s house and even had dinner with him, huh? Keeping it all to yourself, captain...”
Seo Yakrin muttered, shooting a mock glare at Hyunmook. But unlike in the Abyss, there was no sudden outburst of anger, only playful complaint. Yohan found even that touching.
The number of times someone drowned in Bumram seemed to match how severe their twisted traits became. The mildest was Joo Hoyoung, who had never drowned—he had anxiety and a fixation on video games, but nothing more. Next was Seo Yakrin, prone to snapping in anger. Then Yoon Seungryong, who constantly collapsed to avoid work or devoured food endlessly. The worst was Lee Chanha, who still suffered extreme obsessive cleanliness and anxiety even after leaving the Abyss.
‘Honestly, though, the worst should be Hyunmook hyung.’
Paradoxically, Hyunmook looked the most normal.
But Yohan remembered. That time he was swallowed by Hyunmook—inside him was nothing but emptiness, darkness, a hollow void. Like the Abyss itself. Maybe he just hid it well, pretending it wasn’t there, while the others deliberately looked away. Sometimes Yohan wondered.
“Come here, Yohan. I’ve got something for you.”
Curious, Yohan followed Yoon Seungryong. Past several doors, they opened the largest one—inside was a long table for at least twenty and a white screen. Clearly a conference room. Yoon Seungryong brought over a gift box and set it before Yohan. Inside, neatly folded clothes waited.
“Ta-da! Our guild rift-conquest team uniform!”
“Wow!”
Yohan lit up as he pulled them out. Like other Awakeners’ gear, the clothes were bright, near-white to easily spot contamination. Pockets and belts covered them for easy access to tools. The style resembled techwear—functional, survival-driven. And on the back was, of course, the sheep logo. Even reflective so it glittered in the light.
“This logo...”
“Should we make it even bigger, Yohan?”
“No! It’s perfect like this!”
He blurted out quickly, embarrassed, but deep down he was thrilled. To be among such incredible people—and to be treated as important, as needed—filled him with joy. He hurried to change and checked the mirror. His lips curled upward without him realizing.
“Looks great! Our Yohan is the best!”
Seo Yakrin praised without restraint, and Yohan’s chin lifted. Joo Hoyoung cheered noisily too. They coddled the youngest member until he was floating on air, then all took their seats. Lee Chanha handed out prepared documents.
“Today we’ll discuss the founding of the Association.”
The Awakener Association—one of Korea’s hottest issues recently. Public opinion wasn’t warm. Both the government and ordinary citizens feared Awakeners consolidating their power. Superhumans were not comforting to live alongside.
“But regardless, it was bound to happen. Considering when rifts first appeared, it’s actually late compared to other countries.”
Lee Chanha explained carefully for Yohan’s sake. This wasn’t just a meeting; it was also education, helping the newcomer adapt. In short, regardless of opposition, it wasn’t illegal, so they had gone ahead with founding it, planning to push forward with Hyunmook’s favorable image. Yohan listened politely, then raised his hand.
“Why did they make the Association in the first place?”
“Good question, Yohan. Because we needed an organization beyond the Rift Management Agency to regulate and unify Awakeners.”
The Rift Management Agency only suppressed and restrained Awakeners, breeding resentment, never truly uniting them. There had been attempts to form associations before, but all failed. Back then, Hyunmook had no will for it. But now—things were different.
