Chapter 15
Crevice (1)
“Nam Se-hyun, are you there?”
At the familiar voice from outside the workshop, Se-hyun casually waved his hand.
“Sung-chul hyung.”
“What did you call me here for?”
Se-hyun couldn’t help but sigh.
At first, he worried that Sung-chul might’ve gotten gloomy because of his younger sister.
But the overly solemn demeanor that was so different from the Sung-chul he once knew—it was hard to get used to.
Even though he knew well enough that the Sung-chul he knew no longer existed.
“Ah well, guess I’ll have to get used to it slowly.”
“Hm? Get used to what?”
“Nothing. Anyway…”
Se-hyun pointed to the heavy metal watch strapped around Sung-chul’s right arm.
“How’s the artifact? Since you’re here, I thought I’d check it.”
“That doesn’t matter. But…”
Sung-chul’s gaze slid past him toward In-ha, who stood behind.
“Is it alright with someone listening in?”
“Oh, she’s actually the reason I called you. No, wait, I should introduce you… In-ha!”
“Mm?”
In-ha hesitantly stepped forward and greeted him.
“Hello, I’m Chae In-ha, Se-hyun’s friend.”
Her refined and elegant appearance was obvious at a glance.
And the dignified aura she carried was just as beautiful.
Sung-chul gave a small, awkward cough.
“Hmm… I’m Choi Sung-chul. Nice to meet you.”
“No need to be formal, since you know Se-hyun. I’ll just call you oppa then.”
“…”
…Why the hell is this guy blushing?
Sung-chul awkwardly reached out his hand to her.
“Then, I’ll be in your care…!!”
But the moment they shook hands, his brow twitched.
In-ha might not have noticed, but Sung-chul, more experienced, immediately sensed the oddity.
“Could it be that this child…”
“Yes. She awakened not too long ago.”
“That’s why you called me.”
“Yeah. I’ve got a few questions for you, but before that—”
Se-hyun handed In-ha a blue-red blade and spoke to Sung-chul.
“I’d like you to test her abilities.”
And so, a little later…
Se-hyun had them facing each other in the open space in front of the workshop.
Keeping a wide distance, In-ha and Sung-chul squared off.
In-ha drew her sword nervously, while Sung-chul scratched his head with a troubled expression.
“Are you sure about this?”
“It’s fine. I trust you, hyung.”
“It’s not a matter of trust or not, it’s—”
But Se-hyun brushed aside Sung-chul’s concern and urged them on.
“Oh, and hyung, bring out your artifact too.”
“What? It’s just a test, no need to go that far—”
“I want to check how well you’re using it too. Besides, if you don’t, it’ll be a big prob—”
“Hm? What did you just say…?”
“Never mind, let’s just start!”
As Se-hyun hastily glossed it over, Sung-chul reluctantly raised his right arm.
Clank—
The metal watch on his wrist glowed navy blue.
Steel plates clattered out from the watch, spreading to cover his entire forearm.
When the sound ceased, a gauntlet fully encased his arm.
Hiss—!
As Sung-chul channeled his stellar power, steam burst from the artifact [Furnace].
Lava, refined to its purest state, circulated along the engravings of the gauntlet.
Through the white steam, Sung-chul glimpsed In-ha’s stance and sighed.
Clutching her sword nervously—she looked like nothing more than a complete novice.
‘…What are you thinking, Se-hyun?’
He couldn’t understand it.
She looked so frail. What kind of ability was he supposed to be testing?
But while he puzzled over it, In-ha raised her sword and pointed it at him.
“Well then, I’ll be in your care.”
“…Alright.”
Fwoosh—
As Sung-chul steadied his breath—
Swish—!!
The blade flashed before his eyes, sharp light following in In-ha’s gaze.
“What?!”
Clang!
Her sword scraped across his gauntlet and slid past, seizing his rear flank.
Then another strike came, even faster.
Clang—!
Barely managing to catch the blade with his gauntlet, Sung-chul groaned at the pressure biting into his grip.
‘This is…!’
Sensing danger, his instincts unleashed his power.
Kwoooom—!!
The ground beneath In-ha cracked open as magma erupted skyward.
‘Damn it.’
A clear mistake.
Anyone touched by magma wouldn’t suffer mere burns.
Flustered, Sung-chul hurriedly tried to pull back his power—
Shrrk—
“…!!!”
The blue-red sword cut through the magma pillar, glowing with azure light.
“What in the world…”
Beyond the split magma, In-ha’s form left him speechless.
Because her movements were so graceful—utterly elegant.
Flash!
Bang!
In that instant, her sword again targeted him.
Boom—!!!!!
A violent blast thundered, hurling the two of them far apart.
Shaken, Sung-chul glanced at Se-hyun.
But Se-hyun only smiled faintly, as though he’d expected this.
‘That brat. This isn’t just a test…’
It was practically a demonstration of her combat ability.
And her ability wasn’t something Sung-chul could easily measure.
“I’m coming again!”
“W-wait—!”
Though he tried to stop her, In-ha, already in battle mode, didn’t hear.
So until the so-called “test” ended, Sung-chul had no choice but to repeatedly brush against the edge of life and death.
“Pant… pant… Nam Se-hyun… you bastard.”
Gasping, utterly exhausted, Sung-chul staggered over to him.
“You held out well.”
“Haah… So this is what you meant by ‘trust’…”
At his exasperated tone, Se-hyun just grinned.
Of course, the conditions were stacked against Sung-chul.
A test is about evaluating the opponent’s abilities.
Which meant he had to face her without crushing her, while also not allowing himself to be defeated.
But Sung-chul’s ability specialized in overwhelming and exhausting opponents with relentless offense.
So naturally, restrictions piled up on him here.
Still, he endured.
And thanks to that, In-ha was able to unleash her powers fully.
“Anyway… Nam Se-hyun.”
Sung-chul’s gaze shifted toward her sword.
“That blade…”
“Yes. I borrowed your sister’s strength.”
“I knew it.”
Sung-chul smiled faintly, bittersweet.
‘As expected, he recognized it right away.’
It was natural—after all, it was an artifact made from his sister’s soul stone.
That was exactly why Se-hyun had entrusted In-ha’s test to Sung-chul.
“I’m glad it’s in good hands.”
His expression softened warmly as he looked at In-ha.
Knowing his sister wasn’t gone, but alive within that blade.
“So? How does it feel to be struck by your sister?”
“You really… Haa. Well, her ability’s solid. Both the girl and the weapon.”
“That’s a relief.”
He’d worried since it wasn’t tailor-made for her, but it seemed to fit well enough.
A little fine-tuning and In-ha would handle it even more smoothly.
Se-hyun patted Sung-chul’s back, then walked to In-ha.
“How was it? Showing your power for real?”
“When you only explained it, it was hard to believe… but now, I can really feel it.”
In-ha swung the sword lightly.
Bang, bang—small explosions burst with each motion.
It must’ve been her first time wielding it seriously, yet she adapted fast.
“I’ve used a lot of weapons before, but this one feels totally different.”
“Of course. It’s real. It’s your imagination made manifest.”
“My… imagination?”
“All those times we brainstormed together, remember?”
The countless props they had crafted for cosplay, each carrying a backstory.
Artifacts and Original Myths were just an extension of that.
In-ha smiled in wonder as she traced the sword.
“So it’s possible after all. Then this should be useful for you too, right? Seems I fight pretty well.”
With a silly grin, she clenched her fist proudly.
‘Useful? That’s an understatement.’
No one, not even in his previous life, had ever handled an artifact as well as In-ha.
Se-hyun rested a hand on her head.
“Yeah. You’ll be an enormous help. So brace yourself—I’ll be working you hard.”
“Leave it to me. Hehe.”
…She actually likes being told she’ll be worked to the bone?
“What’s with that weird face?”
“Ahem… nothing.”
When Se-hyun glanced back, Sung-chul was grinning creepily.
“Come on, let’s go. I’ve got a lot to ask.”
“Heh. Very well.”
But Sung-chul didn’t stop smiling like that for a while.
“Pla…yer?”
In-ha blinked her wide eyes at the unfamiliar word.
Meanwhile, Se-hyun kept silent.
‘No point in pretending to know.’
That Awakeners called “Players” lived hidden among society.
And that they formed their own “communities.”
Up to that point, Se-hyun already knew.
The important part was what came after.
‘With such unique abilities, what were Players actually doing in this peaceful world?’
The information Se-hyun had was all from after the Apocalypse.
He’d heard bits and pieces about the era before, but wanted confirmation.
Sung-chul continued his explanation.
“Simply put, Players are people who close crevices.”
“Close… crevices?”
Crevices.
They were rifts—otherworldly spaces where monsters emerged.
Only Players could perceive them. Inside were entirely different environments and lifeforms.
Players had to hunt the beasts there and completely seal off the space.
That was their duty, their role.
‘Though honestly, I’d call it more of a privilege than a duty.’
Because the soul stones obtained from those beasts fetched high prices.
Even the lowly ones sold for millions.
And those from satellite-class monsters could reach billions.
So a few expeditions alone could make a Player wealthier than any ordinary person.
‘Tell me that’s not a privilege.’
Of course, no one could deny how dangerous entering a crevice was.
After all, the very monsters that later flooded the world during the Apocalypse lurked inside them.
“At first, it’ll scare you. But you’ll get used to it. And with companions at your side, you won’t need to worry. And…”
Sung-chul’s tone, calm and steady from experience, carried a certain gravity.
Even if his words soothed, his atmosphere conveyed the truth—it was dangerous.
‘This wasn’t what I wanted for her.’
Honestly, Se-hyun didn’t want In-ha becoming a Player.
It was dangerous, and the things he would soon be doing weren’t things she should see.
‘But… there’s no avoiding it anymore.’
Since the Foundation had already noticed her, they couldn’t just run.
‘If we’re going to get caught up anyway…’
It’d be safer to be at the very eye of the storm.
“So, hyung.”
As Sung-chul wrapped up, Se-hyun spoke, drawing both their gazes.
“Could In-ha enter a crevice today?”
“What? She just awakened. There are procedures—we can’t just—”
“I have no intention of handing In-ha over to the Foundation.”
If they went by procedure, every step would fall under Foundation control.
And Se-hyun had no intention of exposing himself—or her.
‘No need to show them our cards.’
Her ability was already clear from the earlier test.
Her adaptation to artifacts was extraordinary.
He didn’t know the full extent yet, but it was beyond simple familiarity.
From a craftsman’s perspective, she wasn’t just another Player wielding a tool.
‘She reads the artifact’s very role and maximizes it.’
Maybe all those cosplay sessions, immersing herself in roles beyond normal levels, had shaped her talent.
Either way, what In-ha needed now was real combat experience.
“Just tell me if she’s fit to enter a crevice or not.”
“…Judging by ability alone, she’s more than capable. Her combat style suits it too. But…”
Sung-chul turned to her.
“What about you, Chae In-ha?”
“I’m fine.”
She answered without hesitation, then looked at Se-hyun.
“I promised I’d be of help. If Se-hyun thinks it’s okay… I want to try.”
“…Alright then. I’ll help.”
Sighing deeply, Sung-chul reluctantly pulled out his phone.
