‘If I purify for him, even that Jung Siyoung will have no choice but to bow and treat me with respect.’
But seeing Lee Hyunmook directly stirred up another kind of desire. He wasn’t just any high-tier Awakener—he was a reawakened high-tier Awakener. Online, rumors kept circulating that Hyunmook was now the strongest Awakener in the entire world.
Although his contract bound him to cooperate with Sunrise Guild, the truth was obvious: the top guild at this moment was Taeyang Guild. Go Jaewon was nothing more than a mid-tier, which meant nothing. Jung Siyoung and Lee Hyunmook... imagining the protection of every high-tier Awakener made Park Seungmin’s spirits soar.
“Hey, I can purify for you, too, if you’d like.”
Park Seungmin, used to people nearly tearing themselves apart to hand him wads of cash for purification, tested the waters. Go Jaewon’s face showed displeasure at Seungmin breaking their contract’s clause—purification only for Sunrise Guild members—but he clenched his jaw. Seungmin was the superior here.
He expected Hyunmook and Seo Yakrin to welcome his offer warmly, maybe even ask politely. Instead, they only stood and stared, their eyes fixed on him. Cold. The kind of look that came only from those who already knew exactly who he was. Not simply ignoring his words, but regarding him with a gaze devoid of any friendliness. Flustered, Seungmin’s face reddened. He flicked his eyes toward Yohan standing behind them.
‘He must have badmouthed me.’
He had long suspected Yohan might not have lost his memory after all, but even so, Seungmin straightened his shoulders. What could a low-tier do against a high-tier Purifier? His pride wounded, he couldn’t bring himself to speak again to Hyunmook, so he turned on Yohan instead.
“Yohan, how about you? Out of old friendship, I can do at least this much for you...”
He strode forward quickly, hand reaching out to Yohan. But smack—his hand was sharply slapped aside. Seungmin’s eyes widened. Hyunmook had stepped in front.
“I’d prefer you not touch my guild member without permission.”
“...You make it sound like I was going to hurt my friend.”
Seungmin snapped, insulted, but Hyunmook only stared at him. No reply—only that merciless, chilling gaze. Without realizing it, Seungmin shrank back. Beside him, Seo Yakrin gave a ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) dry laugh.
“Birds of a feather, indeed.”
She looked at him as though he were a bug. Go Jaewon shot her a murderous glare, but she ignored him, striding ahead to be inspected first. For Seungmin, who had never been treated this way since Awakening, the contempt left him dazed. When he turned to Go Jaewon, the man only pretended not to have heard a thing, craven to the core.
“Yohan, you should get inspected, too.”
“Yes.”
Hyunmook’s voice toward Yohan was full of warmth.
Seungmin’s face burned. To any observer, it looked as though their ranks had been reversed. How could a mere low-tier, just because he spent some time in the Abyss, receive such treatment? Rage surged, but he could not lash out at Hyunmook, only bite his lip. When Big Sheep members followed curiously behind Hyunmook, Seungmin’s chest burned with impulsive spite.
“Strutting around like you own the place just because you parachuted into Taeyang Guild.”
He said it loud enough for all to hear, eyes fixed on Yohan. The Big Sheep rookies gasped. Hyunmook stopped in his tracks and turned his head, staring back at Seungmin. That gaze was heavier, darker than expected, and Seungmin scrambled back toward Go Jaewon.
‘...Parachute?’
Yohan said nothing, unwilling to provoke Hyunmook or Seo Yakrin. But among the Big Sheep rookies, glances darted quickly. The rumor that Taeyang Guild had accepted a returnee from the Abyss was still hot, and Yohan was among the most suspected. Now suspicion edged closer to certainty.
* * *
“Good morning, Yohan!”
The next day, Yohan came to work bracing for rejection after Seungmin’s “parachute” insult. Instead, the Big Sheep rookies greeted him more warmly than ever.
“Didn’t you guys get sick? I was so nervous I thought I’d die.”
“I’m heading for morning coffee—anyone want something? Yohan oppa, you?”
“Ah... I’m fine.”
As conversations flowed as usual, Yohan relaxed. They must have heard Seungmin’s words, yet treated him no differently.
What he didn’t know was that after he went home, the rookies had whispered among themselves:
‘Wow, so Yang Yohan really is a returnee from the Abyss?’
‘Looks like Team Leader Hyunmook personally brought him in. He didn’t even deny it back there.’
But the talk wasn’t especially negative. One rookie, sipping a free guild drink, tilted their head.
‘But is it really parachuting?’
‘Yeah... is that even the right word?’
‘Isn’t he more like a true experienced hire?’
If not for yesterday’s expedition, they might have been jealous. But after facing monsters, it was crystal clear: monsters were terrifying, and rifts were horrifying. Then how much worse must the Abyss have been, where even Hyunmook nearly lost his life dozens of times? If anything, they respected Yohan just as much.
‘No wonder he dodged and fought so well.’
‘Honestly, he doesn’t feel like a low-tier.’
‘Even if he is, he’ll probably hit mid-tier soon. Didn’t Sunrise Guild have low-tiers who outgrew their rank, too?’
Among Taeyang’s members, respect for Hyunmook and the ex-Sunrise was universal—except for the notorious betrayer Go Jaewon. And Taeyang Guild’s reputation also came from its policy: they did not discriminate against low-tiers. Unlike other top guilds that recruited mostly mid-tiers, Taeyang chose based on potential and character. Even mid-tiers with bad reputations could be rejected, while promising low-tiers were welcomed.
Because of that, many who joined as low-tiers grew into mid-tier and beyond. Even those who stayed low-tier often excelled above their peers. It was proof of Hyunmook’s keen judgment.
The rookies whispered again:
‘Yohan was like a total veteran out there.’
‘I couldn’t even swallow water, but he ate and rested like he was used to it.’
‘He helped me out, too. I’m grateful.’
‘Anyway, what’s the point of holding a grudge? The guild leader picked him himself. And I’m low-tier, too.’
Their conclusion: even if he was a parachute, it didn’t matter. If anything, having someone with that kind of backing might bring more support for the whole team. Satisfied, they sipped their drinks. Then one shrugged.
‘At least he’s definitely not buddies with Park Seungmin.’
Yohan, oblivious, only thought his teammates were kind people and smiled happily.
“Yesterday was exploration, so today must be training, right?”
“They really teach you everything here. My friend’s guild didn’t train at all—he nearly died in a rift and got mild contamination after just a month. Had to buy his own uniform, even pay a membership fee.”
“What’s with those fees, anyway? A guild is basically a company. Imagine a company charging an entrance fee—you’d laugh.”
“And then they skim off brutal commissions.”
With the world so harsh, corporate ethics were often tossed aside. Yohan, raised gently, was shocked hearing about guilds behaving like gangsters. Just then—
“Big Sheep team, gather up!”
A cheerful voice clapped hands. Yoon Seungryong and Joo Hoyoung were waving. The rookies jumped up and bowed.
“Hello, seniors!”
“Yes, yes, good morning. Did you all have breakfast? We’re here to tell you today’s schedule.”
Their voices were gentle, almost like speaking to children. Most of the rookies hadn’t been treated that way since high school. Their eyes darted.
‘Wasn’t it ten years they spent in the Abyss?’
The Abyss was terrifying enough—but if time moved faster there, it was worse. Maybe that’s why the Taeyang veterans always treated rookies like kids. Better than being harsh, but still awkward. Joo Hoyoung spoke brightly:
“Today we’re heading to Hyunsan Hospital’s research lab to appraise the monster materials from yesterday’s hunt!”
In truth, the grade-5 monster had been handled almost entirely by Hyunmook and Seo Yakrin. Still, in honor of the rookies’ first expedition, the proceeds were given to them without any deductions. Their hearts swelled with excitement. Even Yohan, who until now had only seen monster remains used as food in temporary shelters, looked forward to it.
