144

Chapter 144 — The Choice of the Strong

The following week was unusually quiet for the Association.

No emergency alarms interrupted training sessions, no newly discovered dungeon demanded an immediate expedition, and no major monster had appeared near a populated area. For most Awakeners, it was an opportunity to recover and prepare. For Subin, it was something he had rarely experienced since awakening: uninterrupted time to train without having to prepare for a mission immediately afterward.

He spent the first two mornings in the Association's main training hall. Instead of practicing increasingly complicated techniques, he returned to the fundamentals. His sword moved through basic cuts, thrusts, and transitions with almost effortless consistency. There was no dramatic display of power, and no attempt to break a training target with overwhelming force. Subin simply repeated movements until every unnecessary motion disappeared.

Min-seok watched him from the opposite side of the hall while resting his axe against his shoulder. "You've been doing the same thing for almost two hours."

Subin completed another horizontal cut before answering. "It's useful."

"You've fought A+ monsters, international A-rankers, evolving dungeons, and whatever else you've encountered. Why are you practicing basic cuts?"

"Because they're still basic."

Min-seok frowned.

Subin lowered the sword. "If the foundation changes every time I learn something new, then it wasn't a foundation."

Min-seok considered that for a moment before shaking his head. "Sometimes I hate talking to you."

Ara, who had been sitting nearby while reviewing her spell formations, laughed. "That's because he makes simple things sound complicated."

Subin looked at her. "I thought you understood."

"I understand you. That doesn't mean I like your explanations."

Yerin entered the training hall carrying her spear. She had heard the last part of the conversation and smiled.

"Are you three already arguing?"

"Min-seok started it," Ara said immediately.

"I asked one question."

"You questioned Subin's training."

"I was curious."

Yerin looked at Subin. "What are you practicing?"

"Basic sword movements."

She nodded as if that answer made perfect sense.

Min-seok stared at her. "You're not even going to ask why?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I already know."

Min-seok looked between them. "You're both strange."

Yerin laughed and walked toward the training floor.

The relaxed atmosphere was something Subin had gradually become accustomed to. Months ago, training had meant fighting alone until he became exhausted. Now the Association's main hall had become a place where people trained together, argued, joked, challenged each other, and learned from one another.

The difference was more significant than Subin had expected.

He had originally thought becoming stronger meant reducing everything unnecessary.

Now he was beginning to understand that some things only appeared unnecessary because he had never experienced them before.

Friendship was one of them.

So was trust.

And perhaps, although he rarely admitted it even to himself, so was affection.

Yerin stopped a few meters away and raised her spear.

"Enough talking."

Min-seok grinned.

"Finally."

He stepped onto the training floor.

Ara moved away from the practice area while Subin remained where he was.

Min-seok looked at him.

"You're not joining?"

"Not yet."

"Why?"

"I want to watch."

Min-seok rolled his shoulders.

"Fine."

The two A-rankers faced each other.

Their spar began without ceremony.

Min-seok attacked first, sweeping his axe horizontally with enough force to create a heavy pressure wave across the floor. Yerin stepped backward, allowed the attack to pass, and immediately changed her position. Her spear extended toward his shoulder, forcing Min-seok to rotate his body and redirect the axe.

The exchange continued rapidly.

Unlike their earlier fights, neither was trying to prove superiority.

They were testing decisions.

Min-seok changed his attack angle several times, while Yerin deliberately altered her distance instead of maintaining a fixed rhythm. After several exchanges, Yerin stepped inside the range of the axe and touched the blunt end of her spear against Min-seok's chest.

"Point."

Min-seok laughed.

"Again."

They continued.

Subin watched quietly.

Min-seok had changed considerably since their first encounters. He still relied heavily on physical strength, but his movements were no longer driven purely by aggression. Yerin had also changed. Her spear techniques were becoming more flexible, and she was increasingly comfortable allowing an opponent to create the opening she wanted.

Subin could see the difference.

They were no longer simply improving their techniques.

They were becoming more complete fighters.

After several rounds, Min-seok finally dropped onto the edge of the training floor.

"I need a break."

Yerin lowered her spear.

Ara approached them.

"You lasted longer this time."

"That sounds like an insult."

"It wasn't."

"It sounded like one."

Subin smiled faintly.

Min-seok noticed.

"You laughed."

"No."

"You did."

"I didn't."

Yerin looked at Subin.

"You did."

Subin decided not to argue.

Before the conversation could continue, the doors to the training hall opened.

Director Kang entered with several Association officials.

The casual atmosphere immediately became quieter.

Director Kang looked around.

"Good. Everyone is here."

Subin straightened.

"What happened?"

"Nothing urgent."

Min-seok visibly relaxed.

Director Kang smiled.

"I called you here because the Association has finished restructuring the international response system."

A large display activated.

A world map appeared.

Several regions were marked with different symbols.

"The number of high-level Awakeners has increased enough that relying on a handful of people is no longer practical. We are creating permanent regional response groups."

The map divided into several zones.

East Asia.

South Asia.

Central Asia.

Europe.

North America.

South America.

Africa.

Oceania.

And several Pacific territories.

"Each group will contain local A-rank Awakeners, support personnel, researchers, healers, and specialized combat teams. International members will be assigned when a situation exceeds local capabilities."

Jae-hyun looked at the map carefully.

"How many A-rank Awakeners are there now?"

Director Kang answered, "Globally? More than eight hundred confirmed."

The number surprised even Subin.

Eight hundred.

Not long ago, A-rank Awakeners had been rare enough that the Association could identify almost every major one.

Now there were hundreds.

The growth of humanity's strength was accelerating.

Director Kang continued.

"Three months ago, we had fewer than two hundred confirmed A-rank Awakeners."

Min-seok whistled.

"That's a huge increase."

"It is."

Ara looked at Subin.

"That means fewer missions for us."

"Hopefully."

Min-seok looked horrified.

"Don't say that."

Everyone laughed.

Director Kang continued with the briefing.

"There is another development."

The display changed.

A new classification appeared.

S-RANK AWAKENER

The room became quiet.

"We introduced S-rank as a theoretical category earlier," Director Kang said. "That classification was based on rapidly evolving monsters. We can no longer keep it theoretical."

A list appeared beneath the classification.

Combat Capability.

Mana Output.

Durability.

Ability Complexity.

Environmental Influence.

Threat Range.

"The first confirmed S-rank evaluations will begin next month."

Min-seok looked at Subin.

"You're definitely being tested."

Subin didn't respond.

Director Kang looked directly at him.

"Yes."

Yerin glanced at Subin.

He remained calm.

"Who decides the criteria?" he asked.

"An international committee of Association directors, researchers, and experienced Awakeners."

"Will it be based on level?"

"Not entirely. Level is only one measurement."

Subin nodded.

That made sense.

A creature's level did not necessarily describe the full danger it posed. The Pacific sea creature was a good example. Its level was extremely high, but it had shown no hostility toward humans. A lower-level creature with a destructive ability and aggressive behavior could potentially cause greater immediate damage.

The new system would therefore measure capability rather than relying on a single number.

Director Kang continued.

"The first evaluations will be voluntary."

Min-seok immediately pointed toward Subin.

"He'll do it."

Subin looked at him.

"You seem confident."

"Because you're curious."

Yerin smiled.

"He is."

Subin sighed.

Perhaps they knew him too well.

After the meeting, the group remained in the hall.

Jae-hyun approached Subin.

"So."

"So?"

"You'll take the evaluation."

"Probably."

Jae-hyun nodded.

"Then I'll do it too."

Min-seok turned around.

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

Jae-hyun looked at him. "Why not?"

Min-seok grinned.

"Then I'm doing it too."

Ara raised an eyebrow.

"You're all competitive."

Min-seok pointed at her.

"You should do it as well."

She shrugged.

"Maybe."

Yerin looked at Subin.

"I'll participate."

Subin smiled.

"Then it won't be boring."

The conversation shifted naturally toward training plans.

None of them knew what the S-rank threshold would actually require.

That uncertainty made the upcoming evaluation interesting.

But Subin wasn't thinking about the rank itself.

He was thinking about what it represented.

For the first time since the beginning of the Awakening, humanity was starting to build a system capable of handling its own growth.

The world was no longer dependent on isolated exceptional individuals.

That was progress.

Later that evening, Subin left the Association with Yerin.

They walked through the city without any particular destination.

The streets were crowded.

Awakeners moved among ordinary people, some wearing equipment openly while others dressed normally. Restaurants advertised dishes made from monster ingredients. New stores sold mana-enhanced training equipment. A large digital screen displayed the latest Awakener safety regulations.

Yerin looked at it.

"Everything has changed so quickly."

"Yes."

"Do you remember the first week?"

Subin nodded.

"There were monsters everywhere."

"And nobody knew what was happening."

"People were afraid."

She looked at him.

"Are you still afraid?"

Subin thought about the question.

"Sometimes."

Yerin looked surprised.

"Really?"

"Being afraid isn't always bad."

She smiled.

"That's a very different answer from what I expected."

"If something is dangerous, fear tells you to pay attention."

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Do you ever feel afraid before fighting?"

"Yes."

She looked at him for several seconds.

"I thought you didn't."

"I just don't let it decide for me."

Yerin smiled.

"That's probably the difference."

They reached a quiet café.

Yerin stopped.

"Coffee?"

"Sure."

They entered and found a table near the window.

Neither talked about dungeons for the first few minutes.

Instead, they discussed ordinary things.

Food.

Travel.

Places they wanted to visit.

Yerin wanted to see mountains without having to search for monsters.

Subin wanted to visit a large traditional sword museum.

She laughed when he said that.

"You really can't escape swords."

"I don't want to."

"I know."

After finishing their drinks, they walked outside again.

The evening air was cool.

Yerin looked toward him.

"Subin."

"Yes?"

"If you eventually become strong enough that you don't need anyone..."

She paused.

"...would you still stay?"

Subin understood what she meant.

He looked at her.

"I don't want to become someone who doesn't need anyone."

Yerin's expression softened.

"Good."

They continued walking.

There was no confession.

No dramatic promise.

Neither needed one.

Their relationship had already become something comfortable and natural.

Something that didn't require a label to exist.

The next morning, Subin returned to the Association early.

He expected another normal training session.

Instead, he found someone waiting in the training hall.

A young man stood near the sword practice area.

He looked around twenty years old.

A sword rested at his waist.

His posture was straight, but there was a nervousness in his eyes.

Subin recognized him after a moment.

"Han Seojun."

Seojun immediately bowed.

"Senior."

Subin sighed.

"Don't call me that."

Seojun straightened.

"Then what should I call you?"

"Subin."

"That feels strange."

"Get used to it."

Seojun smiled.

"I came because I wanted to ask something."

"What?"

"I've been training with the method you taught me."

"And?"

"I've started changing it."

Subin nodded.

"Good."

Seojun looked surprised.

"That's all?"

"Yes."

"I thought you would ask what I changed."

"I don't need to know."

Seojun stared at him.

Subin continued, "If you're developing your own swordsmanship, the first thing you need is the freedom to make decisions without asking whether they'll satisfy someone else."

Seojun smiled.

"Then can we spar?"

Subin looked at the young swordsman.

"Of course."

They stepped onto the training floor.

Seojun drew his sword.

This time, his stance was different from the last time they had fought.

His feet were wider.

His center of gravity was lower.

His grip was relaxed.

The technique wasn't Subin's.

That alone made Subin smile.

Seojun attacked.

The first exchange lasted only a few seconds.

Subin blocked.

Seojun changed direction.

Subin redirected.

Seojun stepped back rather than forcing the attack.

Then he attacked again.

This time, Subin noticed something different.

Seojun wasn't trying to imitate him.

He was trying to understand himself.

The spar lasted nearly ten minutes.

Eventually, Subin touched Seojun's shoulder with the flat of Simple Edge.

Seojun froze.

"I lost."

"Yes."

"But..."

He looked at his sword.

"I lasted longer."

"Much longer."

Seojun smiled.

Subin sheathed his sword.

"You still have a lot to improve."

"I know."

"But you're going in the right direction."

Seojun bowed.

"Thank you."

Subin shook his head.

"Don't thank me. You did the work."

Seojun looked up.

That sentence seemed to stay with him.

After he left, Subin remained alone in the training hall.

He looked at Simple Edge.

For a moment, the sword remained completely ordinary.

No golden light.

No notification.

Nothing.

Subin didn't force it.

He simply returned the sword to its sheath.

He had learned something important from his recent experiences.

Not every change needed to happen immediately.

Some things had to develop naturally.

The same was true for swordsmanship.

The same was true for humanity.

And perhaps the same was true for the sword in his hand.

Subin walked toward the training floor and began practicing again.

This time, he wasn't trying to reach the next stage.

He was simply refining what he already had.

Outside the training hall, another generation of Awakeners was beginning to do the same.

The world was growing stronger.

And Subin was no longer growing alone.