Chapter 37
“Thank you for saying that.”
Saebyeok didn’t immediately take the documents after Kang Suho signed them. Instead, she pointed to certain parts and added explanations.
“I spoke with the Association President. Registering as co-representatives isn’t difficult, but if only one of you is an Awakened, they don’t recommend it.”
“I see.”
“It’s not because of regulations or anything like that. Apparently, there were some bad cases in the U.S. before.”
Today, he had heard a story from the Association President that he hadn’t known before.
“A couple, one Awakened and one not, tried to establish a guild as co-representatives. But people naturally approached and pressured the non-Awakened partner more than the Awakened one. I guess that led to problems.”
If both had been non-Awakened, maybe it would have been fine, but the imbalance caused tragedy.
“In the end, the non-Awakened partner experienced extreme stress, even had to consult a psychiatrist, and eventually transferred the official registration to the Awakened partner.”
“I see.”
“Hearing that story made me worried as well.”
“…Are you worried that I won’t be able to handle the pressure?”
“Of course, Kang Suho, you could handle it. But I thought it would upset me if something happened to you.”
“….”
“So, for now, I’ll register myself as Guild Master and you as Vice Guild Master. Once you awaken, then…”
“I prefer being Vice Guild Master.”
Before Saebyeok could suggest sharing the Guild Master position again, Kang Suho spoke.
“Even if I become a co-Guild Master, I’ll follow all of your decisions.”
He planned to run the guild strictly according to her preferences. His own opinion didn’t matter.
That night, after eating samgyeopsal, Kang Suho had fully made up his mind.
She claimed it wasn’t a favor without reason, but he didn’t believe her. It was clearly a lie meant to ease his anxiety.
And honestly, even if there were ulterior motives, he didn’t mind.
In fact, he welcomed them. If there was a hidden purpose, it meant everything was a trade with a cost and reward.
So, he decided not to question her intentions any further. Not to wonder about the purpose.
Whatever it might be…
“Even if you have a hidden agenda, I will never betray you. I swear it.”
That alone was enough reason to bet everything in his insignificant life on her.
“So, it’s actually easier business-wise to let me firmly assist you as Vice Guild Master.”
“….”
“Anything else you want to say?”
“…Don’t you want to speak more casually?”
“….”
“I’m also a year younger than you… and we’ll be leading the guild together for a long time, maybe a lifetime. Isn’t it a bit awkward to keep calling each other ‘Han Saebyeok’ for 10 or 20 years?”
“Then… should I call you Guild Master?”
“No! That makes it even more distant…!”
Saebyeok grabbed her head in embarrassment.
Kang Suho couldn’t help but laugh at how cute she looked.
Feeling the air escape through his teeth, he quickly lowered his head and lightly covered his mouth with his hand.
But Saebyeok had already seen it.
Blinking in surprise, she stared at him blankly.
Kang Suho casually smoothed the corner of his lips with his finger and spoke.
“It might take a little time. Will you wait for me?”
At his polite request, Saebyeok nodded with a slightly dazed expression.
“Anything else?”
“Ah…”
He pushed the documents a little further under her hand, and Saebyeok snapped back to focus.
“Here.”
Instead of putting the documents in her inventory, he handed her a cellphone.
“It’s a work phone from the guild, so feel free to use it.”
He added this in case she felt hesitant or burdened to refuse.
“I’ve saved my number. I also saved Saejin’s, so if you can’t reach me, try calling him.”
“…Understood. I’ll use it well.”
“And this too.”
Saebyeok looked down to see a black key with a hint of blue placed on the phone.
“Is this the key to the new house?”
“Ahaha, no. Entry to Hunter Earth is fingerprint-based. Think of this as a gift for signing the contract.”
“What kind of key is it?”
“Hmm… I’ll tell you when you awaken later. For now, just make sure you don’t lose it.”
“Understood.”
He didn’t ask further.
Those small gestures accumulated, clearly showing the trust he had toward her.
“By the way…”
Saebyeok tilted her head slightly and tapped the earring on her ear, making it transparent.
Kang Suho’s eyes widened when he saw a key identical to the one in his hand, except for a slight color difference, hanging as an earring.
Surprised, a small “ah” slipped between his lips, and he didn’t even blink.
“It’s not meant to be worn as an earring.”
Saebyeok spoke, thinking he might have misunderstood.
“Carry it however is convenient. If possible, a necklace or bracelet is better so you don’t lose it…”
As she spoke, the copy of the key in Kang Suho’s hand glowed, transformed into a long chain, and instantly became the necklace key.
At the same time, a notification popped up in front of Saebyeok.
“…What?”
!! Notification !!
<n/a> Kang Suho requests to register <Anka Key Copy 2(B)>.
※Registered Copies (1/3): <Dragon Warrior> Hwang Tae-san
Why was this showing even though Kang Suho wasn’t Awakened?
As she exited the Association building, Saebyeok activated the <Cleopatra’s Insight> skill, which had been turned off.
And she was shocked.
<Status Window>
Name: Kang Suho
Rank: >>Preparing<<
Server: Earth (S3-EH)
Affiliation: None → Dawn Guild
Title: >>Preparing<<
‘Why can I see a status window for someone who hasn’t even Awakened?!’
She hadn’t noticed because the skill was off when leaving the lab.
‘Could it be that potential Awakened can also be identified?’
If so, she was once again amazed by the skill.
She could identify someone before they even Awakened?
It was a potential way to gather all Awakened in the world into South Korea.
Saebyeok quickly turned to look at Han Saejin and Sihu.
But she saw nothing.
‘Not possible…?’
Even if Sihu didn’t know, Han Saejin in her past life had already Awakened.
It was three years later from now, but still, he had Awakened—and as an A-rank, no less.
Yet, no status window appeared beside Han Saejin.
‘Maybe it’s because there’s too much time left until he Awakened? Or is it because Kang Suho is special as S-rank…’
Kang Suho was expected to Awaken within weeks, whereas Han Saejin would only Awaken in three years.
That was the only difference she could think of.
‘Anyway, the lie I told to persuade Kang Suho has become the truth.’
Once again, she realized the <Server Administrator> title was truly remarkable.
“Why are you staring like that?”
Kang Suho looked at her with a worried expression.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I was just surprised that it suddenly transformed into a necklace.”
“Ah… I thought it would be interesting too. And a necklace was perfect…”
Kang Suho hesitated briefly, then put the chain around his neck.
It was a long, comfortable-looking chain that reached down to his chest.
The key, tinged with blue, matched the dark blue of his eyes.
“Hey, Kang Suho. Can you see anything in the empty air here?”
“…What should I see?”
He scanned the empty space she pointed to.
Because it was her question, he looked extremely serious and focused.
“Ah… never mind, it’s nothing.”
She had meant the floating status window beside him, which he apparently didn’t see.
‘I need to check if others can see it too.’
If they could, it wouldn’t be because Kang Suho was S-rank, but because he was about to Awaken.
‘If that’s the case, I could make quite a nice side income from it.’
Anyone who wasn’t Awakened would naturally be curious about whether they would Awaken or not. Wealthy or not, curiosity was universal.
So, just pretending to be a fortune teller in an alley, she could easily make money from rich clients curious about Awakenings.
While a Hunter’s main income came from hunting, extra revenue wouldn’t hurt.
And right now, she needed money for the new house and guild establishment, so any extra income was welcome.
Saebyeok thought through her plan while manipulating the system.
!! Notification !!
<Anka Key Copy 2(B)> registered to <Atlas’ Safe House>.
<n/a> Kang Suho registered as caretaker.
It happened at the very moment she registered Kang Suho, who hadn’t Awakened yet, as the caretaker of the copy.
“…So this is what you were asking if I could see?”
His finger precisely pointed at the door of <Atlas’ Safe House>.
