124

Chapter 124 — Returning to a Changed World

The journey back to Korea was quieter than the trip to Kazakhstan. Most of the team had spent the first few hours discussing the mission, comparing their observations, and arguing about which part of the anomaly had been the most important, but eventually the conversation faded as exhaustion caught up with them. Min-seok slept with his arms folded across his chest, Ara was reading through the reports she had collected during the mission, Hae-rin was looking through photographs of the crystal network, and Tae-won was having a technical discussion with one of the Association officers.

Subin sat beside the window.

Yerin was next to him.

Neither of them had spoken much during the last hour.

The landscape below gradually changed from the vast frozen terrain of Kazakhstan to populated regions, roads, cities, and finally the familiar surroundings of Korea. Subin had spent much of his life in cities, yet the sight of ordinary buildings felt strangely different now. Before the Awakening, he had never thought twice about them. Now every city carried the possibility of dungeons, monsters, mana surges, and awakened humans.

The world looked familiar.

It wasn't the same world.

"We're almost there," Yerin said.

Subin nodded.

"I know."

"You've been staring outside for a long time."

"I was thinking."

"About what?"

"The world."

Yerin smiled.

"That's a very broad answer."

"It is."

She looked through the window.

"I was thinking something similar."

"What?"

"Before the Awakening, I thought my future would be relatively ordinary. Work, family, maybe traveling occasionally, things like that. Then monsters appeared, and suddenly everyone had to learn how to survive."

She paused before continuing.

"I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing."

Subin looked at her.

"You don't have to decide."

Yerin smiled.

"You're getting better at this."

"At what?"

"Talking."

Subin looked genuinely confused.

"I always talked."

"You answered questions."

"Isn't that talking?"

She laughed softly.

"Forget it."

The transport eventually landed at the Association's private terminal.

The moment the doors opened, the atmosphere changed.

Reporters were waiting behind the security barriers.

Several cameras immediately focused on Subin.

"Subin Vans!"

"Can you comment on the Kazakhstan anomaly?"

"Are you planning to participate in the next international expedition?"

"Will you accept foreign guild offers?"

"Is it true that you defeated several A+ monsters during the investigation?"

The questions came from all directions.

Subin stopped for only a moment.

Director Kang stepped forward.

"There will be an official briefing later. Please allow the team to leave first."

The security personnel created a path through the crowd.

Subin followed Yerin toward the waiting vehicles.

Min-seok leaned toward him as they walked.

"Congratulations."

"For what?"

"You're famous."

"I don't want to be."

"That doesn't matter."

Ara joined them.

"He's right."

Subin looked at her.

"You seem to enjoy this."

"I enjoy watching you try to avoid attention."

"I don't try."

"Exactly."

Yerin laughed beside them.

The group separated at the parking area. Tae-won and Hae-rin were returning to their respective Association facilities, while Jae-hyun had a guild vehicle waiting for him.

Before leaving, Jae-hyun approached Subin.

"Training tomorrow?"

Subin nodded.

"Sure."

"Good."

Jae-hyun looked toward Yerin.

"And don't let her make you lazy."

Yerin immediately frowned.

"Why am I involved?"

"Because you're the only person who can convince him to do something besides train."

Min-seok called from behind them.

"That's true."

Yerin turned toward him.

"Nobody asked you."

Jae-hyun smiled and left.

Subin watched his vehicle disappear.

"He has changed."

Yerin nodded.

"Yes."

"That's good."

"You're pleased."

"I am."

Yerin smiled.

The next morning, Subin returned to the Association training complex.

He expected the place to be quiet after their international mission, but the opposite was true.

The number of Awakeners training in the facility had increased significantly.

B-rank and A-rank Awakeners were everywhere, and several younger Awakeners were watching combat videos on their devices. The National A-rank Evaluation had apparently increased interest in high-level combat, and Subin's appearance in the facility immediately attracted attention.

A young B-rank Awakener approached cautiously.

"Excuse me."

Subin turned.

"Yes?"

The young man looked nervous.

"I'm a sword user."

Subin waited.

"I watched your match against Lee Jae-hyun."

"Okay."

"Could I ask you something?"

"Sure."

The young Awakener swallowed.

"How do you decide when to attack?"

Subin considered the question.

"I don't have a fixed answer."

The young man looked disappointed.

Subin continued before he could leave.

"You should first understand what your opponent wants you to see."

The Awakener listened carefully.

"Then?"

"After that, decide whether what you're seeing is useful."

The young man nodded slowly.

"Thank you."

He bowed and left.

Subin watched him return to his training group.

Yerin had been standing nearby.

"You didn't give him a technique."

"He didn't ask for one."

"He asked about attacking."

"That's why."

She smiled.

"You're becoming a teacher."

Subin looked at her.

"I don't think so."

"You just taught someone."

"I answered a question."

"That's what teachers do."

Before Subin could respond, Min-seok entered the hall carrying his axe.

"There you are."

Yerin sighed.

"Here we go again."

Min-seok pointed toward the training field.

"I've been thinking about our last fight."

"So have I."

"Then fight me."

Subin walked toward the field.

"Fine."

This time, the spar was different from their previous battles.

Min-seok didn't try to defeat Subin through raw power. He used his axe as an extension of his body, alternating between heavy strikes and shorter movements. His biggest improvement wasn't physical. He had stopped trying to imitate Subin's way of thinking.

He had returned to his own style.

Subin noticed it immediately.

The fight lasted several minutes.

Min-seok managed to force Subin backward twice and even landed a glancing strike against his shoulder.

The watching Awakeners became increasingly excited.

Subin eventually found an opening, but instead of immediately finishing the match, he waited.

Min-seok recognized the hesitation.

"You found something."

"Yes."

"Then why aren't you attacking?"

"Because you expect me to."

Min-seok laughed.

"Good."

He changed direction.

Subin followed.

Their weapons collided, and the force pushed both of them apart.

Min-seok attacked again, but Subin stepped inside the axe's range and stopped his sword just before Min-seok's chest.

The match ended.

Min-seok lowered his weapon.

"I almost had you."

"You did."

"That's the first time you've admitted it."

"It was true."

Min-seok smiled.

"Then next time I win."

"Maybe."

Yerin raised an eyebrow.

"That was generous."

"He improved."

"I heard that!"

Ara walked into the training hall.

"Director Kang is looking for all of you."

Min-seok immediately groaned.

"We just got back."

"He said it was important."

The group followed Ara to the conference room.

Director Kang was waiting with several senior Association officials.

A large map was already displayed.

"This isn't another mission," he said before anyone could ask.

Min-seok visibly relaxed.

"We've received requests from several countries for joint training and information exchange."

Subin looked at the map.

"Because of Kazakhstan?"

"Partly."

Director Kang changed the screen.

Images of several Awakeners appeared.

"Other countries have also begun producing more high-level Awakeners. The gap between regions is changing."

Yerin studied the information.

"How quickly?"

"Very quickly."

Director Kang explained that the first generation of Awakeners had initially been concentrated in a few countries, but as mana density increased globally, awakenings were occurring at a much faster rate. More importantly, some newly awakened individuals were showing unusually high growth potential.

"The Association wants to create an international A-rank training exchange," Director Kang said.

Min-seok smiled.

"That sounds interesting."

"It could also become competitive."

Jae-hyun, who had joined the meeting, immediately understood.

"National rankings won't matter as much once international Awakeners start comparing themselves."

"Correct."

Ara looked toward Subin.

"You're probably going to attract a lot of challenges."

Subin didn't seem bothered.

"That's fine."

Director Kang smiled.

"I thought you'd say that."

He changed the screen again.

A list of countries appeared, along with several high-level Awakeners who had agreed to participate in the exchange.

"We're not sending anyone immediately. The program will begin next month. Until then, everyone will continue normal Association activities."

Subin nodded.

That suited him.

After the meeting, the group walked toward the cafeteria.

Min-seok was already talking about which foreign Awakeners he wanted to fight.

Jae-hyun argued that they should first study their abilities.

Ara wanted to meet foreign elemental users.

Yerin simply listened.

Subin looked at the group.

"You're all planning fights before the program even starts."

Min-seok grinned.

"Of course."

Yerin shook her head.

"Don't encourage him."

Subin smiled slightly.

"I didn't."

That evening, Subin met Yerin outside the Association.

She had kept her promise from Kazakhstan.

They were going somewhere without a mission, without a briefing, and without other teammates.

They walked through a quiet part of the city where restaurants and shops remained open despite the evening crowd.

Yerin looked at him.

"So, where do you want to go?"

"You chose last time."

"That's why I'm asking you now."

Subin thought for a moment.

"Somewhere quiet."

Yerin smiled.

"I expected that."

They eventually found a small restaurant away from the crowded streets.

During dinner, they talked about the international training exchange, future missions, and what they wanted to do when they weren't fighting.

At one point, Yerin asked, "If you weren't an Awakener, what do you think you'd be doing now?"

"Looking for a job."

She laughed.

"You really haven't changed."

"I probably wouldn't be here."

"Maybe."

She looked down at her food.

"Would you want to go back?"

Subin was quiet.

Then he shook his head.

"No."

"Why?"

He looked at her.

"Because I like where I am now."

Yerin smiled.

"Even with monsters?"

"Not the monsters."

She understood.

"People?"

"Some people."

Her smile widened.

"Some?"

"Yes."

"How many?"

Subin thought for a moment.

"Not many."

Yerin laughed.

"You're impossible."

But she didn't look disappointed.

Outside, the city continued moving around them.

Cars passed along the roads, people walked between shops, and Awakeners occasionally moved through the streets wearing equipment that would have looked strange before the Awakening.

The world had changed, but ordinary life had adapted with it.

Subin understood that more clearly than ever.

His journey had begun with a sword and a desire to become stronger.

Now his world contained rivals, teammates, friends, people he cared about, and places far beyond anything he had imagined before the Awakening.

And somewhere ahead, the international Awakener exchange would bring him into contact with people who had developed their own paths of strength.

That would be another opportunity to learn.

Another opportunity to fight.

And another step forward.