107

Chapter 107 — Two Weeks of Pressure

The announcement of the national A-rank evaluation changed the atmosphere around Subin almost immediately.

He had expected more attention.

He hadn't expected this much.

By the following morning, his name was everywhere in Awakener circles. News channels discussed his rapid rise, guild representatives debated his ranking, and training halls were filled with people speculating about how he would perform against established A-rankers.

Some considered him the strongest newcomer in the country.

Others thought he had simply benefited from unusual dungeon circumstances.

A few openly claimed that the Association had promoted him too quickly.

Subin didn't bother reading any of it.

He had more important things to do.

At seven in the morning, he entered the Association's private training facility.

Han Yerin was already there.

She was practicing spear techniques against a moving combat projection. Her movements were smooth and economical, with none of the unnecessary flourishes common among inexperienced spear users.

Subin watched for several minutes before she noticed him.

“You're early.”

“So are you.”

“I've been here for an hour.”

Subin looked at the clock.

“Why?”

“Because I have an evaluation coming.”

“So do I.”

Yerin smiled.

“That means we have two weeks to become stronger.”

Subin drew Simple Edge.

“Then let's train.”

They began together.

There was no formal sparring at first.

Yerin practiced spear forms while Subin worked on Foundation.

Their styles were completely different.

Her spear controlled distance.

His sword controlled transitions.

After nearly an hour, Yerin lowered her weapon.

“You've changed.”

Subin stopped.

“How?”

“You're not trying to improve your techniques.”

“I'm refining them.”

“That's different.”

Subin thought about it.

Perhaps she was right.

His swordsmanship had reached a stage where simply learning another technique no longer produced meaningful growth.

The seven principles had become deeply integrated into his fighting.

What he lacked wasn't more techniques.

It was understanding.

Yerin rested her spear against her shoulder.

“You're going to face six A-rankers.”

“Seven.”

She looked at him.

“Seven?”

“Director Kang said the final list may include one more.”

“Who?”

“I don't know.”

Yerin frowned.

“Then you really aren't worried.”

“No.”

She laughed softly.

“Sometimes I think your confidence is going to cause me more stress than your enemies.”

Subin smiled.

“Sorry.”

“Don't apologize.”

She looked at him for a moment.

“I like that you're confident.”

The words came naturally.

But once she realized what she had said, she looked away.

Subin noticed.

He didn't tease her.

Instead, he returned to his training.

That small decision seemed to make Yerin more comfortable.

The next few days followed a similar pattern.

Subin trained in the mornings.

He sparred with different A-rankers in the afternoons.

And in the evenings, he occasionally met Yerin, Min-seok, or Ara for meals.

The change was subtle but important.

Subin was no longer spending every free hour inside a dungeon.

He was becoming part of the Association's wider community.

He learned which Awakeners were constantly arguing over training-room schedules.

He discovered that Min-seok was terrible at cooking.

He learned that Ara drank far too much coffee.

He learned that Yerin preferred quiet restaurants rather than crowded ones.

And the others learned more about him.

They discovered that despite his reputation, Subin wasn't particularly arrogant.

He simply didn't talk unnecessarily.

One evening, Min-seok dropped into the chair opposite him in the Association cafeteria.

“You're becoming popular.”

Subin looked up from his food.

“Why?”

“Because three guilds asked me about you.”

“What did you tell them?”

“That you're difficult.”

Subin nodded.

“That's accurate.”

Min-seok laughed.

“I also told them you're cheap.”

Subin frowned.

“I'm not cheap.”

“You don't spend money.”

“I don't need much.”

“Exactly. That's unusual for an A-rank.”

Ara joined them carrying a cup of coffee.

“You're both wrong.”

Min-seok looked at her.

“How?”

“Subin isn't cheap.”

She sat down.

“He's simply terrible at spending money.”

Subin looked between them.

“I spend money when I need something.”

Ara nodded seriously.

“Exactly. You bought one pair of shoes last year.”

“They still work.”

Min-seok started laughing.

Yerin arrived a few moments later and sat beside Ara.

“What are you talking about?”

“Subin's financial habits.”

Yerin looked at him.

“You really should spend more.”

“Why?”

“You've earned enough.”

Subin considered it.

“I'll think about it.”

Min-seok groaned.

“That means he won't.”

The conversation continued for nearly an hour.

It was ordinary.

And Subin found himself enjoying it.

He had spent so much time chasing strength that he had rarely considered what life looked like outside combat.

He didn't dislike it.

In fact, he was beginning to understand why people fought so hard to protect ordinary life.

The next morning, however, the atmosphere changed.

A major announcement appeared across every Association terminal.

NATIONAL A-RANK EVALUATION — OFFICIAL PARTICIPANTS

1. Han Yerin

2. Lee Jae-hyun

3. Kang Min-seok

4. Park Jae-hyun

5. Choi Ara

6. Subin Vans

7. Seo Hyun-woo

Subin recognized the final name.

Seo Hyun-woo was a famous A-rank tank.

Unlike most high-ranking Awakeners, he had rarely participated in dungeon expeditions.

He specialized almost entirely in defensive combat.

Min-seok read the list.

“Seo Hyun-woo?”

Ara nodded.

“Top defensive Awakener in the country.”

Yerin looked at Subin.

“Your sword might have trouble against him.”

“Why?”

“Because his defense is ridiculous.”

Subin smiled.

“Good.”

Yerin sighed.

“You always say that.”

The evaluation rules were announced shortly afterward.

Each participant would fight three matches in the first round.

The strongest performers would advance.

Weapons were unrestricted within safety regulations.

Lethal attacks were prohibited, but the arena's emergency barrier could intervene if necessary.

No guild members could interfere.

No external buffs were allowed.

The event would be broadcast nationally.

Subin read the rules once.

Then he closed the notification.

That afternoon, something unexpected happened.

Subin received a message from Seo Jin-ho.

Come to Training Hall 4.

Subin arrived twenty minutes later.

The older swordsman was waiting alone.

“You're entering the evaluation.”

“Yes.”

Jin-ho nodded.

“I expected that.”

He drew his sword.

Subin looked at him.

“Are we fighting?”

“Not today.”

Jin-ho smiled.

“I want to give you some advice.”

Subin waited.

“You've surpassed the stage where I can teach you techniques.”

“I know.”

“But there's something you still haven't learned.”

Subin became attentive.

Jin-ho continued.

“You've spent a long time fighting monsters.”

“Yes.”

“Monsters are simple.”

Subin didn't disagree.

“They may be powerful, intelligent, or adaptable,” Jin-ho said, “but ultimately, they fight according to instinct and ability. Humans are different.”

Subin listened carefully.

“An experienced swordsman can intentionally show you an opening.”

Jin-ho demonstrated.

He moved his sword slightly away from his body.

Subin immediately recognized the apparent weakness.

Then Jin-ho reversed the motion.

The opening had never been real.

“It isn't enough to see a transition,” Jin-ho said. “You need to understand why someone wants you to see it.”

Subin's expression became serious.

“Intent behind intent.”

Jin-ho smiled.

“Exactly.”

That evening, Subin practiced differently.

He deliberately created openings.

Then he analyzed how another swordsman might interpret them.

He wasn't learning a new technique.

He was learning how humans could manipulate information during combat.

His Sword Intent didn't increase.

Neither did his Personal Sword Path.

But his understanding became deeper.

Two days later, Subin sparred with Min-seok again.

This time, Min-seok attacked with deliberate irregularity.

Subin didn't immediately respond.

He waited.

Min-seok's axe swung toward his shoulder.

Subin didn't move.

At the last moment, Min-seok changed direction.

Subin stepped inside the attack and placed Simple Edge against his chest.

Min-seok froze.

“You didn't react.”

“No.”

“You knew?”

“I suspected.”

Min-seok lowered his axe.

“How?”

“You wanted me to react.”

Min-seok stared.

Then he laughed.

“Damn it.”

From the side, Yerin smiled.

“He's learning.”

Ara nodded.

“Fast.”

Jae-hyun happened to enter the training hall at that moment.

He watched the three of them for several seconds.

Then he walked toward Subin.

“You're improving.”

Subin looked at him.

“So are you.”

Jae-hyun's expression remained serious.

“Don't misunderstand. I'm not complimenting you.”

“I know.”

“I've studied your previous matches.”

Subin waited.

“You rely heavily on reading transitions.”

“Yes.”

“That won't work against me.”

“Maybe.”

Jae-hyun's eyes narrowed.

“You're confident.”

“No.”

Subin sheathed Simple Edge.

“I'm curious.”

Jae-hyun stared at him.

“About what?”

“How you'll fight when I already know what you're going to try.”

For the first time, Jae-hyun smiled.

“Then you'll find out in the arena.”

He turned and left.

Min-seok looked at Subin.

“You two are definitely going to fight.”

“Yes.”

Yerin watched Jae-hyun disappear through the doorway.

“I don't think he'll hold back.”

“Neither will I.”

She looked at him.

“Just remember it's a competition.”

Subin nodded.

“I know.”

The remaining days passed quickly.

The Association constructed a special arena capable of surviving clashes between A-rank Awakeners.

The event received sponsorship offers.

News channels began releasing predictions.

Some analysts ranked Yerin first.

Others favored Jae-hyun.

Min-seok gained attention for his aggressive fighting style.

Ara was considered a dangerous wildcard.

Subin remained difficult to predict.

Some experts ranked him sixth.

Others ranked him first.

A few claimed he had been overrated.

Subin ignored all of them.

On the evening before the evaluation, he sat alone on the roof of the Association headquarters.

The city stretched below him.

Yerin eventually found him.

She stood beside the railing.

“Can't sleep?”

“I can.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Thinking.”

“About tomorrow?”

“About everyone.”

Yerin looked at him.

“Everyone?”

“The people I'll fight.”

She smiled.

“You've changed.”

“How?”

“You used to talk about strength as if only your own mattered.”

Subin was quiet.

“Maybe I was wrong.”

Yerin looked toward the city.

“Maybe.”

For a while, neither spoke.

Then Yerin said quietly, “Whatever happens tomorrow, don't change yourself because of the ranking.”

Subin turned toward her.

“I won't.”

She smiled.

“Good.”

She began walking away.

After several steps, she stopped.

“Subin.”

“Yes?”

“Try not to defeat me too quickly.”

He looked at her.

“I'll try.”

Yerin laughed.

“That's not reassuring.”

She left.

Subin remained on the rooftop.

He drew Simple Edge.

The blade reflected the city lights.

Sword Intent: 98.0%

Personal Sword Path: 99.9%

Simple Edge Synchronization: 99.99%

Nothing had changed.

Yet Subin felt ready.

Tomorrow wasn't another dungeon.

There would be no monster waiting in darkness.

No environmental system to study.

No ancient trial.

Only humans.

Seven A-rank Awakeners.

Seven different paths.

Seven different reasons for fighting.

Subin looked at the sword in his hand.

For the first time, he wondered not whether his sword was strong enough.

But whether he understood people well enough to fight them.

The answer would come tomorrow.