Chapter 28: Too Strong to Hold Back

“Mr. Joo Ji-chan, have you been waiting long?”

“Huh? Why are you so late? I’m not going to sign it anyway.”

“…”

To be rejected the moment they met, it felt like the sound of hope shattering echoed in his ears.

“Why the sudden refusal? At least give me a reason.”

Joo Ji-chan replied curtly.

“I hate Awakeners. The thought of having to move around with them is disgusting.”

“Why? If we’re to destroy dungeons and save humanity, alliances between Awakeners are inevitable, aren’t they?”

“That’s exactly why it’s fucked!”

“Then are you planning to contract with a Constellation?”

Joo Ji-chan’s brows twisted sharply.

“f*ck, I hate Constellations even more.”

Then what was he supposed to do?

At least explain the reason properly before refusing, this stubbornness was suffocating.

Still, Seong Ju-an had to endure it.

If he pushed too hard, Joo Ji-chan might bolt.

‘Endure it.’

Seong Ju-an stared at Joo Ji-chan without saying a word.

When their eyes met, Joo Ji-chan’s black pupils wavered restlessly.

“I understand why you hate Constellations. But why Awakeners? From what I’ve heard, maybe not as often as you, but Mo Jun-young, Gong Se-yoon, and even Baek Eun-hoo have all helped people before. Doesn’t that align with your goal?”

Joo Ji-chan scoffed.

“Doesn’t matter. Awakeners are selfish.”

“So that’s why you hate them?”

“No. The reason I hate Awakeners is…”

Joo Ji-chan let out a deep sigh.

Seeing the weight on his face, Seong Ju-an wondered if there was some old wound that made him hate Awakeners.

But what came next was completely unexpected.

“They’re too strong.”

“…Pardon? Because you’re afraid?”

“Yeah. Terrified.”

What was he saying?

Joo Ji-chan, afraid?

He’d never once seen him tremble before monsters, or even in front of Baek Eun-hoo.

His shoulders sagged, as if he truly was frightened.

No, Joo Ji-chan.

That can’t be right.

Seong Ju-an had given him every overpowered skill imaginable when he created him.

Was this how parents felt, watching a child come home after losing a fight?

“What’s there to be afraid of? You’re insanely strong, Mr. Joo! You blow things up left and right- boom, bang– !”

Trying to lift his spirits, Seong Ju-an praised him.

Joo Ji-chan’s lips twitched upward for a moment, but soon his expression hardened again.

“It’s not because I’m weak. It’s the opposite.”

“…If you’re strong, shouldn’t you be fearless?”

The conversation felt like it kept skirting around the point.

Joo Ji-chan wasn’t supposed to be this complicated.

“When strong people clash, the end is always death. With weak people, I can hold back. I can control my strength. But with Awakeners…”

Seong Ju-an doubted his ears.

If he understood correctly, Joo Ji-chan was afraid of hurting other Awakeners.

“They’re too strong for me to hold back. That’s why I’m scared. I might injure them, or kill them. I really hate killing.”

“…Ah.”

Joo Ji-chan, no, Joo Ji-chan hyung.

Seong Ju-an had created him, but his character was beyond admirable.

Seong Ju-an looked at him with genuine awe.

He needed to persuade him to sign the contract, yet right now, all he wanted was to fully understand Joo Ji-chan’s heart.

Yes.

The world always needed people like this.

Characters like Joo Ji-chan were born from the wish that, even if reality lacked them, at least fantasy could have one.

Without realizing it, Seong Ju-an stepped closer.

Joo Ji-chan recoiled, stammering.

“W-What? Why are you coming over here all of a sudden?”

“Hyung Joo Ji-chan…”

“What do you mean ‘hyung’ all of a sudden? That’s embarrassing. Back off, will you?”

Seong Ju-an politely clasped Joo Ji-chan’s hand and said,

“If you’re cool, you’re a hyung. I’m seriously, genuinely moved. You’re an amazing person.”

“Y-You’ve lost your mind.”

Despite his words, Joo Ji-chan didn’t pull his hand away.

His face flushed bright red, and his hand grew warm.

“If that’s your concern, you don’t need to worry. As long as you don’t attack first, they won’t either.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Seong Ju-an smiled confidently and handed him the contract.

He tapped the newly added clause with his finger.

“There’s a non-aggression pact right here. It means we promise not to attack each other. You know the penalties for breaking a contract between hunters aren’t trivial, right?”

At best, a skill downgrade.

At worst, even a rank drop.

This wasn’t Seong Ju-an’s setting, he’d heard it from Mo Jun-young.

“Well… that does make it easier.”

This was his chance.
Seong Ju-an seized Joo Ji-chan’s hand and pressed the pen into it.

“Now, please sign. Do you have any idea what happens if anarchists or foreign hunters kidnap me? They could force my power into the hands of evil people. Have you thought about how many would get hurt then?”

“…That can’t happen.”

It was the perfect threat for Joo Ji-chan, who had already experienced the triple buff effect.

As expected, he scowled deeply and signed.

Fearing a last-second change of heart, Seong Ju-an quickly retrieved the contract and added the final signature.

He carefully checked for missing details, then smiled in satisfaction.

The contract bearing the signatures of five S-Rank Awakeners was complete.

****

With the contract finished, Seong Ju-an had intended to head straight for dungeon clearing, only to realize he hadn’t even prepared potions.

First, he needed to move into the facility.

Then buy potions.

The to-do list was endless.

On top of that, he had to live constantly alongside one of the four as “protection.”

His head already hurt.

When he went with Gong Se-yoon to the exclusive shop to buy potions, Gong Se-yoon snatched his wallet and snapped,

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“What now?”

“Why are you paying? I told you I’d buy everything.”

“Yes, yes. Thank you.”

There was no point arguing, he wouldn’t listen anyway.

As soon as Seong Ju-an thanked him, Gong Se-yoon excitedly began rattling off orders to the clerk.

“First, give me 1,000 life potions.”

“What- why would we need that many? I’m just buffing in dungeons anyway-”

Gong Se-yoon shot him a glare sharp enough to freeze him solid.

Seong Ju-an promptly shut his mouth.

‘Fine. Do whatever you want. It’s your money, not mine.’

Gong Se-yoon proceeded to order 1,000 of nearly every potion on the market, skill potions, healing potions, everything.

Since inventory space depended on types rather than quantity, it technically didn’t matter, but still…

Soon, the clerk returned with the goods.

Gong Se-yoon beamed and casually paid tens of billions.

“Make sure you put everything in your inventory. You know how to use potions, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go home. Oh, right! We should buy groceries too.”

Gong Se-yoon sounded like a kid tagging along to the market with his mom.

Seong Ju-an worried about the spending, but seeing how genuinely happy Gong Se-yoon was, he decided to go along with it.

After buying dinner ingredients, they arrived at the residential facility in Gong Se-yoon’s car.

A staff member waiting there greeted them warmly.

“Hello. I’m Lee Min-jae, chief administrator of the Awakeners’ residential facility. As a special protection target, Buffer Seong Ju-an will be staying in a special residence rather than the general facility. Please follow me.”

They walked down a long hallway to a clearly luxurious elevator.

Inside, the staff pressed the button for the very top floor.

This seems fancier than expected…

How much is the rent?

Probably insane.

At least thanks to Gong Se-yoon, potion and gear costs wouldn’t be an issue for a while, but living expenses still mattered.

“If you don’t wish to relocate, you may live here permanently. All essential living supplies will be provided as well.”

“…What?”

Seong Ju-an’s eyes widened.

“They subsidize that too?”

“Of course. An S-Rank Buffer is invaluable. The director instructed us to support anything you need and to minimize your outings.”

Seong Ju-an tilted his head.

Back in his original world, monthly rent had been suffocating, he should’ve been cheering.

Yet somehow, it felt like being locked in a gilded cage.

‘It’s just my imagination. Probably.’

That unease vanished the moment he saw the top floor residence, which looked like a penthouse.

“This will be your residence, Mr. Seong Ju-an. It won’t be cramped even with the S-Rank Awakener assigned as your guard.”

Beyond the entrance stretched a long corridor.

Following the staff, Seong Ju-an took in the interior.

The duplex was so spacious it couldn’t be grasped at a glance.

Marble floors and walls, soaring ceilings, and furniture that radiated luxury.

…Maybe this world wasn’t so bad after all.