Chapter 2: The World’s Strongest Adaptation Period(2)

Sihyun and Sohyun are my irreplaceable blood, my family. There’s no reason to hide my past from them.

I told them everything, from the moment the cataclysm first struck, to being transported to another world, and what I went through until I returned. By the time I finished, Sohyun was in tears, and Sihyun sat in silence.

“Fighting stars… that’s no joke…”
“Oppa… you lived through a place harsher than we could imagine…”

Harsh doesn’t even begin to describe it. The desperate battles against the stars, fought alongside comrades in the vast, footing-less void of space, were nothing short of hell.

I never want to go through that again.

“So, the ‘star’ you mentioned… you can’t see her again?”
“Probably not…”

Sihyun seemed most affected by her story from my past. I couldn’t blame him—humanity owed her countless debts during the war against the stars.

She met her end, but her sacrifice is why I’m here with my siblings now.

Leminas, I hope we meet again someday.

“Man… you lived one hell of a life, hyung.”

Sihyun broke the silence first. He flipped through the returnee records he’d brought, handing me the ones he’d vetted.

“It might not mean much to you, but I brought these in case they help. Just take a look.”
“Thanks.”

Scanning the records, I found no returnees quite like me. The closest similarity was that they, too, had endured brutal hardships in other worlds.

[Hero Party Porter]

Returnee Number: No. 13

Name: Hong Suyeon

Rank: D-rank

Ability: Load Carrying

Note: According to the returnee, she was part of a group called the Hero Party. It was a highly influential organization in her world, and she claims to have returned after defeating a demon called the ‘Demon King.’

Reading Hong Suyeon’s profile, I couldn’t help but feel pity.

Load Carrying as an ability? She probably spent her life hauling luggage before returning. Still, achieving a goal with comrades in a decent world doesn’t sound too bleak.

[Heavenly Demon]

Returnee Number: No. 5

Name: Jin Seyeon

Rank: S-rank

Ability: Heavenly Demon Technique

Note: A returnee from a martial world. Her speech and mannerisms carry the distinct flavor of that world, and she possesses significant combat prowess. Analysis of her words and actions suggests she destroyed her own world. Requires special caution.

Moving past the porter, I noticed another returnee who seemed formidable.

“Oh, that’s Seyeon unnie.”

As I studied the Heavenly Demon’s profile, Sohyun’s voice came from behind. An S-rank combatant, and she knows my sister?

“You know her?”
“Of course. I went to an international top-tier hunter summit with Sihyun oppa ages ago, and we exchanged numbers.”
“International top-tier hunter summit?”

I glanced at Sihyun, puzzled, and he grinned confidently. Come to think of it, Yuri did say Sihyun was famous in Korea…

“Sihyun, are you…?”
“Yup, I represented Korea.”
“…What?”

He explained that he’s currently the only A-rank hunter in Korea close to S-rank, and he’s also the master of the Red Knight Guild.

That little elementary school kid became this big shot?

“All the other S-ranks were busy, so I went. Yuri noona told me to get some experience, so I did…”

Sihyun’s sheepish look was kind of cute. As his hyung, I felt a pang of regret for not witnessing his journey to this point.

But something in his words struck me as odd.

“Wait, if you represented Korea, how did you meet Jin Seyeon, the Heavenly Demon? Isn’t she Korean?”
“Oh… Seyeon noona was representing China.”
“A Korean representing China…?”

A Korean siding with China. If the public here knew, they’d probably hurl insults at her. If it was for money, I could understand, but she must’ve taken a lot of heat.

When I checked with Sihyun and Sohyun, that wasn’t the case.

“Of course, people weren’t thrilled about a Korean going to China. But not many bash Seyeon noona.”
“Why not…?”
“Hunters don’t get great treatment here. So, people just shrug when they hear she went to China.”

It made sense, but it was also a bit sad. Why isn’t the government holding onto talent like her?

This country’s going downhill.

We talked a bit more about Jin Seyeon and other returnees before Sihyun suddenly stood up.

“What, you heading out?”
“Yeah, and you’re coming too, hyung. We need to get you registered as an awakened.”
“Awakened registration…?”

*

Awakened registration.

If someone shows signs of awakening or symptoms appear, they must promptly contact the association for a rank assessment and registration. This applies to returnees too.

“There’s no option to skip it, is there?”
“Oppa, if you don’t do it, you go to jail.”
“Jail… that’s a problem…”

Honestly, it sounds like a hassle. I considered hiding my powers and pretending not to be awakened, but Yuri and my siblings already know I’m a returnee.

No way out.

“What’s the highest rank?”
“S-rank. At that level, you get scouted by multiple countries, and in Korea, the president might personally visit.”

S-rank, huh. Sihyun mentioned they use a strange machine with a magic stone for rank assessment. If, by some chance, I test as S-rank, it could be risky.

Countries would covet my power. Even to the untrained eye, the power of the stars is mesmerizing and invaluable. Small issues like that could spiral into bigger problems.

It might even put Sihyun and Sohyun in danger.

Seeing me wrestle with my thoughts, Sihyun smirked slightly.

“Don’t worry, hyung. You’re a returnee, so you won’t be F-rank.”
“Oh…? That’s a relief, but…”
“Returnees are usually at least A-rank, so don’t stress too much.”

Sihyun seems to think I’m worried about getting a low rank. Meanwhile, the porter from the records crossed my mind.

‘At least A-rank… poor guy.’

Feeling sorry for someone I’ve never met, the car we were in honked and stopped.

“Let’s go.”

Following Sihyun’s lead, Sohyun and I got out, and a large man in a suspicious suit stood waiting. Unlike my wariness, Sohyun greeted him warmly.

“Manager Park!”

Her friendly attitude eased my guard. Manager Park must be the one who provided the returnee records.

As Sihyun approached, Park, who’d been chatting with Sohyun, bowed automatically.

“Guild Master, you’re here.”
“Thanks for waiting. Oh, how’s the gate situation?”
“We deemed it delayed, so the Vice Guild Master went in and cleared it.”
“Good job. Let’s have a team dinner for this. Tell Junyoung thanks.”

I watched Sihyun hand Park a shiny corporate card. Unlike the poor elementary school kid I knew, he now seemed like a chaebol heir.

Park took the card and led us into the awakened registration center.

As we passed through the glass automatic doors, all eyes turned toward us.

Or rather, toward Sihyun.

“Look, it’s Kim Sihyun.”
“Why’s he here? Scouting a new talent?”
“Who’s the girl next to Kim Sohyun? She’s freaking pretty…”

Some glances at Sohyun and me carried unease, but we ignored the minor discomforts and moved forward. As we entered the center, a desk clerk rushed out upon seeing Sihyun.

“Hunter Kim Sihyun, what brings you here…?”
“Here to register an awakened.”

Sihyun gestured toward me, signaling my intent to register. The clerk, fidgeting with his glasses, nodded and handed me a list and pen.

“Write your name there, and we’ll call you soon.”

I scribbled my name on the list and handed it back. The clerk, looking satisfied, bowed and hurried off somewhere.

“Manager Park, with Sohyun and me here, we’ll draw too much attention. Can you stay with Suhyun hyung for the test?”
“Understood.”
“We’ll wait outside.”

‘Wait, what? I’m supposed to stay with this guy?’

Sihyun and Sohyun were already walking away, with Sohyun waving from a distance.

“Hey, hold on… what about my say…”
“Oppa, good luck with the test!”

With that, my siblings left, and an awkwardness I’d buried started creeping up.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Manager Park Mutae.”
“Uh, yeah…”

Shaking his hand, I felt cold sweat forming.

God, I just want to get this test over with.