Episode 9
“Our little Ayoon said that?”
Teacher Euna couldn’t hide her confusion. I blinked my round eyes quietly, snuggled up in her arms.
It was my signature tactic — the “I don’t know anything” operation.
“That can’t be right. Ayoon wouldn’t… She probably doesn’t even understand what’s happening right now…”
“Hmm.”
Seeing Euna’s troubled expression, Uncle Shinjae seemed to silently agree.
I tilted my head innocently.
‘I don’t know anything.’
“Kiddo.”
But Hwan, who had heard the words directly from me, didn’t waver.
“Ha-ni tam-tun.”
“You remember, right?”
Hwan’s eyes were calm — but filled with certainty.
“You clearly said, ‘Beware of the red-eyed monster.’”
I groaned inwardly.
‘How do I get out of this one?’
After a moment’s thought, I flashed a big, bright smile.
“Ung, Ayoonie said that!”
“!”
“!”
Uncle Shinjae and Teacher Euna both widened their eyes.
I giggled deliberately and burrowed deeper into Euna’s arms.
“Ayoon, did you really say that? To watch out for the red-eyed monster?”
“Mm-hmm! When Ayoonie was sweeping at night, the monstew came out! Samchun got huwt!”
“Oh, my…”
Euna hugged me tight, speaking quickly as if to defend me.
“She must have had a bad dream. It’s probably just a coincidence…”
“I’m not so sure.”
Uncle Shinjae shrugged slightly.
“For an ordinary child, maybe. But Ayoon is an awakened.”
“Ah…”
“My guess is that she might have seen the future in her dream.”
“The future?”
Shinjae patted my head and nodded.
“She could have awakened some kind of precognitive ability.”
That’s not it.
But pretending not to understand, I just played with my little socked toes. Hwan was watching me with a strange expression, but I only gave him a big, silly grin.
Then Hwan’s hand suddenly reached toward me. Instinctively, I flinched.
“?”
He frowned, puzzled. I scrambled to come up with an excuse.
“Hwa-ni Samchun’s hand shmells funny!”
“……!”
“Ahem.”
For a brief moment, Hwan’s eyes wavered.
Uncle Shinjae clicked his tongue softly.
“Well, serves you right.”
“…Alpha.”
Ignoring him, Uncle Shinjae looked down at me.
“Our little princess, Uncle’s hands are clean, right?”
I nodded vigorously.
“Samchun’s hands don’t shmell!”
“Aigoo, so smart! My clever little Ayoon.”
He ruffled my hair proudly. I couldn’t help but burst into giggles.
“Director.”
But Euna still looked uneasy.
“If Ayoon truly awakened a precognitive ability… will she be okay?”
“Hmm.”
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Shinjae’s face.
“Well, we can’t be sure yet. It’s only a possibility. Let’s just observe for now.”
Listening to the adults talk over my head, I fidgeted with my hands.
Of course I hadn’t awakened any precognitive powers — but there was no need to deny it now.
I had knowledge from books that I’d have to use carefully in this world.
There was so much to do — I had to prevent the male lead who would destroy the world from falling into darkness, and fulfill my contract to find the lost king.
So, for now…
‘Letting them think I have prophetic powers might not be a bad thing.’
As that thought crossed my mind, I smirked mischievously.
[system] Your Contractor, the Administrator of World Law, praises your clever strategy.
[system] “How crafty! Well done!” they exclaim.
Just then, Uncle Shinjae spoke again.
“For now, let’s get both of you officially registered as Awakened.”
“Ah…”
Outside the car window, a banner fluttered in the wind.
<March: Voluntary Registration Month for Long-Term Unregistered Awakened>
Below it, the notice read: “Those who voluntarily register within this period will be exempt from penalties.”
Beside what was clearly a government building stood an enormous tower, its peak lost among the clouds.
‘Wow…’
“Fascinated, Ayoon?”
“Yesh!”
We were on our way to the Awakener Management Bureau.
“Let’s go.”
It had been five years since monsters began appearing worldwide.
The Korean government had established the Awakener Management Bureau under the Ministry of Public Safety to oversee Awakeners, dungeons, and monsters.
Holding Teacher Euna’s hand, I followed behind Uncle Shinjae. A man came out to greet us warmly.
“Director Kim! It’s been a while.”
“Indeed, Director Yoo. I didn’t expect you to come in person.”
“I heard you brought two new Awakened from Changcheon — how could I miss that?”
Shinjae smiled and introduced him to us.
“This is Director Yoo Seongjae of the Awakener Management Bureau.”
“Hello.”
I followed Euna’s polite bow with a shy little one of my own.
Director Yoo frowned.
“I heard there were two Awakened?”
“Well…”
I peeked out from behind Euna’s legs.
“One of them is this child.”
“Hewwo…”
“What? This tiny kid?”
Director Yoo looked utterly baffled. He muttered something about there being no precedent, but Shinjae insisted firmly that “a test will settle it.”
Reluctantly, the director agreed.
“Fine. Follow me.”
The testing room was quite a walk away, and I eventually had to be carried in Shinjae’s arms.
One of the staff explained as we went.
“Before registration, all Awakened must undergo measurement. This determines both their awakening type and rank.”
“I see.”
“This way, please.”
The measuring device stood about chest height for an adult, with a glowing green panel where you placed your hand.
Euna went first, pressing her palm to the panel.
[Measurement begins.]
A moment later, a chime sounded and the results appeared on a large screen.
Name: Choi Euna
Awakened: Y
Type: Specialized
[Choi Euna’s specialized ability is ‘Healing.’]
[Calculating rank…]
A short silence, then—
[Computation complete. Choi Euna’s rank: ‘AAA’.]
“A Triple-A healer?!”
Director Yoo shouted in surprise.
“Incredible! That’s the same rank as Miguel Ángel, the Saint of Asturias — what was his world rank again? 20th?”
“21st, sir.”
“Right, right.”
Excited, Director Yoo couldn’t hide his admiration. Though polite in front of Shinjae, his eyes gleamed with greed.
“Alright, Ayoon.”
Shinjae’s gentle tone cut cleanly through the tension.
“Shall we have you try next?”
“…”
I hesitated.
‘It shows the exact ability type too…’
If it revealed I had no prophetic powers, I’d be in big trouble.
Sensing my unease, Shinjae reassured me.
“It’s not scary, okay?”
“Not scawy…”
“Good! Want to give it a try?”
I whispered in my head.
‘Administrator, what do I do?’
Without a measurement, I couldn’t register, and without registration, I’d be considered an illegal unregistered Awakener — a big problem.
[system] Your Contractor scoffs, saying this outdated device is no challenge for them and waves off your concern.
“A-amaaaazing…”
“Hmm?”
The word slipped out before I could stop it. I quickly shook my head and nodded with determination.
“Ahyoon can do it!”
“Such a brave girl! Here, Uncle will help.”
“Yesh!”
Nestled in his arms, I pressed my little hand against the glowing panel.
[Measurement begins.]
A strange current of mana swept through my body.
Then came the familiar chime.
Name: Lee Ayoon
Awakened: Y
Director Yoo’s eyes widened.
“She’s really awakened?”
“I told you so.”
Type: Specialized
[Lee Ayoon’s specialized ability is ‘—-’.]
“Huh?”
The crucial part was blank. I quietly exhaled in relief.
Director Yoo frowned.
“Is the machine malfunctioning?”
But the device continued as if nothing were wrong.
[Calculating rank…]
Unlike Euna’s quick result, mine was taking a long time.
“Chief Choi, maybe check the device—”
Just as he said that—
[Calculation failed. Lee Ayoon’s rank: ‘UNMEASURABLE’.]
‘Eh?! What the heck?!’
