How a legendary returner lives

“They moved outside the range of what a person can perceive.”

“…What?”

“They moved beyond the range that people can recognize. Not just anyone can do that. It’s not like a ranking system, such as the one for the college entrance exam; this is something you have to surpass that level for. To put it simply… only someone like the top graduate of the bar exam could pull off something like this.”

“The bar exam was abolished a while ago… Wait a minute. Wait, so just now, you and Jin Shi-hoo…”

“I am Jin Shi-hoo.”

“Then… are you saying that fake Jin Shi-hoo just used ‘mana’?”

“Can it even be compared to something like mana? What I used is a power only accessible to those who transcend their kind. Some people call it *Seongi*, others call it *Honggi*, but in Titan, it’s usually referred to as *Talon*. You can call it whatever you like.”

“…Oh my God.”

Jeong-bin was stunned. It didn’t make sense.

“Jin Shi-hoo… No, fake Shi-hoo is a non-awakened person. He even received a Zero rating on the awakening test. So how could he use mana…?”

“How is the awakening test measured?”

“It’s done with a mana gauge. You place your hand on a crystal ball, and it disperses mana inside the person’s body. Depending on the grade displayed on the status screen, the ‘mana pool’ differs, and that’s how the grade is determined.”

“That would be easy to fake.”

“…What?”

“You said mana is coming in, right? But a person who uses a power higher than mana? The mana from an artifact couldn’t possibly affect the body of someone using a power beyond mana. That’s impossible, even if the heavens were torn in two.”

That was intentional.

Fake Shi-hoo was, without a doubt, not a non-awakened person.

Jeong-bin swallowed hard.

His thoughts were right.

This was something he shouldn’t interfere with. No, he shouldn’t get involved.

It seemed like something ominous was about to happen. It was enough to drive someone mad.

Jin Shi-hoo spoke to him then.

“You said it’s your birthday today.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Born on Children’s Day… You must have had a good time when you were born.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

Jin Shi-hoo smiled and said,

“Then I should give you a gift.”

With that, Jin Shi-hoo extended his right index finger and lightly tapped Jeong-bin’s forehead.

At the same time, Jeong-bin felt as though an electric current was flowing through his whole body.

His right arm became stiff. Then…

Jeong-bin let out a cry of pain, and his strength drained away. His mind grew foggy, and it felt like he was going to pass out.

Before he completely lost consciousness, he heard Jin Shi-hoo’s voice in his ear.

“Use it well, and if you get the chance, I’ll see you again.”

Jeong-bin collapsed to the ground, desperately forcing his eyes open.

Jin Shi-hoo was walking away, his back facing him.

Ahead of him, a huge building stood.

A noticeable sign appeared.

*Casa Pia Restaurant.*

And that was when Jeong-bin finally lost consciousness.

—

Michelin 3-star restaurants are rare in Seoul.

As of 2034, there were only four of them.

Casa Pia Restaurant was one of those four.

Normally, such places would be bustling with people, but today, it was surprisingly empty.

It was opened only for one person.

The woman in front of him, wearing jeans and a white t-shirt with long, straight hair, was that one person.

She smiled at the man in front of her.

“How’s it going? Are you writing well?”

“It’s going well. But I’m starting to think I’m relying too much on you. I’m just a third-rate writer.”

She was Korea’s hero, and one of the seven unique awakeners in the current world—*Chilgang*, Jin Song-i.

This raises a question:

Why are there regular awakeners and unique awakeners? What’s the difference between the two?

It was simple.

Awakeners level up like game characters, and their maximum level is determined by their initial awakening grade.

For example, an F-grade awakener is level 5, an E-grade is level 10, a D-grade is level 20, a C-grade is level 40, a B-grade is level 80, and an A-grade is level 160.

From S-rank onward, the rarity increases.

What was previously multiplied by 2, changes after S-rank.

S-rank is level 300, SS-rank is level 500, and SSS-rank is level 1,000.

This is the growth limit for regular awakeners.

When referring to an awakener’s rank, if an A-rank reaches its maximum, it’s called an A+ awakener, and if they haven’t reached the limit, they’re an A- awakener.

Additionally, there has never been anyone who advanced from F to E grade in the history of the Great Change over the past 10 years. For an awakener, their level is absolute.

However, unique awakeners were different.

They had no limits.

They were the chosen ones among the chosen. That’s what makes them unique awakeners.

Jin Song-i was sharp.

She was never a fool.

“Is something wrong?”

“Why?”

“You seem a little different from usual. Did something unpleasant happen?”

Her younger brother awkwardly smiled.

“I’m just having trouble writing. What about you? I heard you’re going to clear the S-rank gate in the US, right?”

“Well, well. You never seemed to care about my news.”

“I can’t help but care when it’s on the internet and TV all the time. Also…”

“Also?”

“I didn’t show it, but how could I not care? You’re my sister.”

At those words, Jin Song-i smiled again.

When they were younger, she had learned so much from her brother.

How not to lose, how to work hard, and how to behave in front of someone stronger than you.

She learned willpower, determination, and courage.

The Jin Song-i she was today was not just made by her alone. It was thanks to her younger brother, who, even though two years younger, played the most important role.

Even though her younger brother was now a non-awakened person, and the works he wrote were often harshly criticized, she was still proud of him.

Of course, her brother made an enormous amount of money from her fame. He was humble and focused on his work without causing any trouble.

To be honest, just a few years ago, he had been a problematic kid.

He had gotten into all sorts of trouble. He had even dabbled in drugs. Drug parties, those were crazy times, but still, he was family.

Family, the one thing in the world that truly mattered.

With a playful tone, Jin Song-i asked,

“Are you secretly causing trouble behind my back?”

“Of course not. I have some sense.”

She knew. In South Korea, Jin Song-i’s influence was absolute. There was almost nothing that happened without her knowing. She had no doubt her brother had turned over a new leaf, so she was trying to introduce him to the famous genre novelist, Ron Wesley.

It was about time to meet him.

Before Ron Wesley arrived, Jin Song-i wanted to spend some time with her brother.

They were both busy, and they rarely had time to sit face-to-face. This time was precious. This time would become even more valuable when they would share a meal with the legendary genre writer he so longed to meet. So, Jin Song-i checked her watch and was about to send a message to Ron Wesley to ask when he would arrive.

But just then, a man approached and sat next to her brother.

Jin Song-i almost lost her temper.

Why was the restaurant empty?

It was empty for her.

Of course, Jin Song-i wasn’t a person without manners. Today was Casa Pia Restaurant’s official day off. Only the chef and three staff members were working.

She paid for the privilege. But who was this man?

Who was he?

“Big sis, it’s been a while.”

He was saying this?

She was about to ask who he was when she froze.

His appearance was too familiar.

He resembled her brother too much. Same build. But there was one thing different.

The atmosphere.

He gave off a very strange aura.

Was it the aura of a powerful person?

It was as if he was intentionally displaying it, a kind of deliberate feeling.

“Why the look on your face?”

“…”

“I’m disappointed.”

The man crossed his arms.

“You didn’t even know your little brother went missing, and you’re playing along with some fool like this. It’s really pathetic.”

“…Would you mind leaving? I’m asking nicely.”

At those words, the man widened his eyes.

“I thought I misheard you for a second.”

“…”

“You’ve really changed, haven’t you? The once awkward, naive sister of mine.”

It was Jin Si-Hoo, the genre novelist and the younger brother of Jin Song, who opened his mouth to try to resolve the situation.

“Wait, outside…”

“Who told you to speak?”

The man’s gaze was cold.

“Hey.”

Jin Song swallowed hard.

“Just because we’re sitting together, do you think we look like friends? Do you think you can just barge in here?”

At that moment, Jin Song couldn’t hold back her anger. But just before she could yell, he swung his hand.

*Thwack!*

*Boom!*

Though it sounded like two noises, it felt like one single sound to Jin Song.

And she realized, just then, that an attack she hadn’t even fully understood had struck her younger brother.

The man’s palm slammed into her younger brother’s face, sending him flying. He crashed into a wall and then broke through it, hitting the building across the street. The noise that followed sounded like a car crashing in a parking lot.

Insane.

Her unawakened younger brother could not possibly survive an attack like that.

A tremendous amount of energy burst out of Jin Song’s body. She shouted and reached out her hand.

“You bastard!”

* * *

Everything happened in an instant.

Jin Song’s punch was filled with enough power to crumble mountains, and anyone on the receiving end of her strike would definitely die.

It was only natural.

It wasn’t some random extra passing by, it was Jin Song.

*Thud.*

It seemed like that sound echoed.

Jin Song’s punch was caught by the man in front of her.

It wasn’t blocked or stopped; it was simply caught. Logically, her punch should have been fast. The air would have been torn by her fist, and the mana should have created shockwaves, but none of that happened.

“…What is this?”

The man spoke as Jin Song stood there, stunned.

“Calm down, sister.”

“…”

“I’m trying to understand here. I heard something from someone who claims to be a cop. So, let me ask you this: Do you think your little brother is dead right now?”

Of course, he should be.

It was obvious. Because Jin Si-Hoo, the genre novelist and Jin Song’s younger brother, was an “unawakened” individual.

He was just an ordinary person. Though he kept in good shape, he was no match for an awakened person.

That’s why it was strange to see him fly across two buildings after taking a hit like that. It was odd to even think he could be alive.

But Jin Song soon became alarmed.

Her entire body was covered in goosebumps.

Jin Si-Hoo, who had crashed into the parking lot and destroyed several cars, slowly placed his hands on the ground and raised his head.

She could see his expression.

That expression, one she had never seen before in her life.

A twisted grin.

It was no longer the face of her younger brother, who was always calm and smiling.

Slowly, the man who had released her hand turned his body. The eyes of the two men crossed in mid-air.

The real Jin Si-Hoo, the one who had called Jin Song “sister,” smiled and spoke.

“I was thinking of just waiting outside, but I couldn’t. It felt like I’d look like some bug trying to sneak around someone like you. So, I decided to come in. You can go now. The three hours I gave you earlier still counts, so go somewhere quiet and think about it.”

“…”

“I don’t have time for someone like you. So go.”

Jin Si-Hoo extended his hand with the grace of someone shooing a fly. It was a clear signal for her to leave.

And at that moment, the doppelgänger also made a decision.