The thoughts from the school incident refused to leave Jae-min's mind.
No matter how many nights passed, that haunting image of the looping classroom—and his comatose sister—kept returning.
> "What's the connection between that school and her?"
"Could... could that be why she's still asleep?"
He clenched his fists. No matter what it takes, I'll find out.
---
Weeks passed in restless determination.
Jae-min trained every single day—strength, speed, endurance—his body now far more conditioned than when he first started this path.
His stats had improved across the board.
Level 14. Not bad for someone who started as an F-rank rookie.
Today, he wasn't heading to another job.
He was heading straight for the towering skyscraper of the Korean Ghost Hunters Association (K.G.H.A.), the beating heart of every licensed exorcist in Seoul.
---
He walked up to the same receptionist who had registered him before.
"Uh, sorry, it's me again," he said with a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head.
"I'd like to register for a guild this time."
The receptionist smiled brightly.
"Oh! Welcome back, Mr. Jae-min. I'll check for available guilds right now—"
Before she could finish, a man nearby overheard the conversation and approached with a friendly grin.
He looked like he was in his thirties, a bit rough around the edges, but approachable.
"Hey, sorry for barging in," the man said. "I heard you're looking for a guild. Ours is recruiting—lost a few members recently due to retirements. Name's Han Zin."
> [Analyzing target…]
[Name: Han Zin]
[Age: 36]
[Rank: D]
[Level: 55]
---
Before Jae-min could respond, another man stepped in.
Taller. Bulkier. Eyes full of disdain.
His voice carried an authority that filled the room.
"Hey, kid," the man growled. "If you want to join our guild, you'll have to pass a test. Everyone knows that."
> [Analyzing target…]
[Name: Min Yi]
[Age: 43]
[Rank: C]
[Level: 64]
[Status: Looks like trouble 😮💨]
---
"A test?" Jae-min asked calmly.
"What kind of test?"
Min Yi grinned.
"Simple. A ghost chamber run."
The room went silent.
Ghost chambers weren't ordinary hauntings—they were dens.
Places where multiple spirits gathered, ruled by a Ghost Boss.
Usually, only D-rank exorcists or higher were allowed to enter.
Han Zin immediately protested.
"Captain, that's too dangerous for an F-rank—!"
But Jae-min just smirked.
"Fine by me. But if I take down the boss myself, any loot I find is mine. Deal?"
Min Yi's grin twisted into something darker.
"Deal. Let's see how long you last, rookie."
---
As they prepared to leave, commotion filled the lobby.
Gasps echoed through the room.
"They're here!"
"The Blue Ravens Guild!"
The crowd parted as one of the top five guilds in South Korea entered the hall—clad in sleek uniforms and overwhelming presence.
Among them walked Park Ji-hoon, their captain—sharp suit, ash-gray hair, piercing green eyes.
An A+ ranker nearing S-rank.
Even Min Yi went silent.
But Jae-min noticed someone else—the hooded girl from the dagger shop.
She stopped, sensing something from him. Her aura flared for just a second.
"…Wait," she said softly. "I know you from somewhere."
> "Crap. Why now?" Jae-min thought, forcing a smile.
"I think you're mistaken," he said casually.
She hesitated, eyes narrowing slightly. "Right… maybe I am."
The crowd murmured in disbelief.
"Did he just talk to Beak Eun-ji like it was nothing?!"
Jae-min ignored the whispers. He was just glad she dropped it.
---
The Ghost Chamber
Hours later, deep underground beneath Seoul's outskirts, the Black Bull Guild and Jae-min stood before the mouth of a dark, misty cavern.
The air was thick.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
Even the veteran members looked uneasy.
"Alright, stay close," Han Zin ordered. "We move together."
They lit torches and stepped inside—only to be greeted by a wave of screeching wails.
Dozens of ghosts erupted from the darkness.
Without hesitation, Jae-min's eyes flared a bright, spectral blue.
His Spirit Enhancement activated instantly—hair tips glowing as his dagger sliced through the shadows like lightning.
Slash after slash, ghost after ghost, he moved like a phantom among phantoms.
The others could barely keep up.
"Is he seriously an F-rank?" Min Yi muttered, watching in disbelief.
---
When the last ghost fell, the captain finally snapped out of his daze.
"Don't ever do that again, rookie," he barked. "We work as a team!"
"Got it," Jae-min said with a harmless smile.
(He definitely didn't mean it.)
---
Deeper inside, the air turned heavy.
The walls were lined with old royal banners—faded, torn.
A broken throne sat in the center, and upon it, a towering figure with a shattered crown.
The Forgotten King.
He rose slowly, his hollow eyes locking onto the intruders.
A ghastly grin spread across his pale face.
> "You have entered my domain… and none of you will leave alive."
> [Analyzing target…]
[Ghost: Forgotten King]
[Rank: D+ → C]
[Chances of survival: 30%]
[System Note: Remember the role of an MC… Don't die.]
Jae-min exhaled deeply. Alright then… let's dance.
---
Min Yi charged first, swinging his greatsword in a burst of flames.
The explosion rocked the chamber—but when the dust settled, the Forgotten King stood unharmed.
"Pathetic," it hissed.
Before anyone could blink, the ghost grabbed Min Yi and smashed him into the walls repeatedly before tossing him like trash.
The captain lay unconscious, bleeding heavily.
Now, all eyes turned to Jae-min.
---
He activated his Spirit Enhancement, eyes glowing blue once again.
The two clashed—Jae-min's strikes were fast, sharp, precise, but the King barely flinched.
Each blow sent shockwaves through the chamber, but the ghost moved like it was toying with him.
One swing from the King sent Jae-min crashing against the rocks.
"Dammit," he groaned, staggering up. His system blared warnings in his vision.
> [G.E. Critical]
[System Suggestion: Draw a random card? Possible emergency skill acquisition.]
"Now you tell me?!" he barked, but selected "YES" anyway.
A glowing card materialized before him.
He drew it.
> [Skill Acquired: Stunner]
[Effect: Freezes opponent for 3 seconds.]
[Cost: High G.E. Consumption.]
---
"That's all I need."
He lunged forward—his E.P.S.T. (Echo Pain Step Tracker) activating as spectral afterimages flickered across the battlefield.
The Forgotten King raised his sword to strike—
—and Jae-min stabbed him through the chest.
> [Skill: STUNNER – Activated]
The King froze mid-motion.
"Three seconds," Jae-min whispered, gathering every ounce of strength left in his body.
He slashed—once, twice, three times—finally delivering a clean strike across the King's throat.
The world fell silent.
The ghost's head hit the ground with a dull thud before dissolving into mist.
> [Ghost Eliminated!]
[Boss Chamber Cleared!]
[Reward: +EXP, +Skill Fusion Chance, +Attribute Points]
---
Outside the chamber, sunlight greeted them as the dungeon began to collapse behind.
The guild members were speechless.
"Did… did that kid just kill the boss?"
"By himself?!"
Even the captain, now awake and bandaged, stared at Jae-min from afar—his face pale.
"Who… what the hell is that kid?"
Jae-min simply stretched his sore arm, smiling faintly.
> "I'm just getting started."
The chamber had already begun to collapse behind them—its black mist dissolving into faint blue sparks as if the dungeon itself had decided to vanish from existence.
The group stumbled out of the exit, breathing heavily, covered in dirt and sweat. The cool evening air of Seoul brushed against their faces like a silent reward for surviving.
Min Yi, the guild captain, finally walked up to Jae-min. His expression, for once, wasn't arrogant. It carried a quiet respect.
He extended his hand.
"You really deserve it," he said sincerely. "You took down that thing all by yourself. I'll admit it—I underestimated you."
Jae-min hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand.
"Thanks," he said simply.
The captain nodded, smiling faintly. "You also earned the right to claim any hidden loot you found in there. It's your reward."
Jae-min chuckled softly. "Ah, right... about that…"
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I kinda forgot to check before the chamber dematerialized."
Min Yi blinked, staring at him as if he'd just confessed to burning a treasure map.
"…You forgot to check?"
"Yeah," Jae-min replied casually. "Got caught up in the whole 'not dying' thing."
The captain stared at him for a few seconds longer, then sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're either the most careless or the most honest guy I've ever met."
---
K.G.H.A Headquarters – Later That Evening
The return trip was quieter.
Everyone was still processing what they'd just witnessed.
An F-rank rookie had not only cleared a Ghost Chamber, but soloed its Boss.
Even the building's automated system beeped twice during registration, as if questioning the validity of the report.
> [Mission Completed: Ghost Chamber – Eastern Seoul]
[Completion Rank: B]
[Party Reward: ₩23,000,000]
[USD Equivalent: ≈ $16,500]
As the holographic display confirmed the completion, Jae-min collected his share—₩23,000,000 in crisp digital transfer.
The others were still glancing at him, unsure whether to be impressed or afraid.
Before leaving, he turned to the team and said quietly,
"Let's keep what happened in there between us. The less people know, the better."
Han Zin frowned slightly. "You sure? This could make you famous overnight."
"That's exactly what I don't want," Jae-min said flatly. "Fame draws eyes. And I've got enough watching me already."
They exchanged glances, a little uneasy, but nodded in agreement.
"Understood, rookie," Min Yi said finally. "Your secret's safe with us."
---
As Jae-min exited the K.G.H.A. building, the city lights reflected in his eyes.
Night had fully settled over Seoul, and the air buzzed with the faint hum of passing hover-trams.
He was halfway across the plaza when a familiar voice stopped him.
"Leaving already, Jae-min?"
He turned—and there she was.
Beak Eun-ji, standing beneath a flickering streetlight like she'd been waiting there for hours.
The moonlight glinted off her silver hair as her hood rested against her back.
Her presence carried the calm confidence of someone who always knew more than she said.
"Beak Eun-ji?" he asked, a little surprised. "Were you waiting for me?"
She folded her arms, smiling slightly. "Let's just say I planned to run into you."
Her tone was casual, but her gaze was sharp—evaluating him like a puzzle she wanted to solve.
"I have an offer for you," she said finally.
Jae-min tilted his head. "An offer?"
"Yes." She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Join the Blue Ravens Guild. We could use someone like you."
The air grew still.
For the first time since leaving the dungeon, Jae-min looked genuinely surprised.
The Blue Ravens—one of the top five guilds in the entire country—were inviting him?
He met her gaze silently for a few seconds, his mind already calculating what this could mean.
A chance for power.
Resources.
Information.
But also—exposure. Attention. The very things he had just sworn to avoid.
Finally, he smiled faintly.
"I'll listen," he said. "Let's hear this offer of yours."
Eun-ji's smile deepened, eyes glinting with something unreadable.
"Good. I was hoping you'd say that."
---