Chapter 49 – Resolution

8:00 AM – Telling His Family

Over breakfast, Kyung-min announces his decision.
His father immediately sets down his fork, eyes sharpening.
His mother's expression darkens.
His sister nearly drops her spoon.
"You're serious?" she says, voice uncertain.
"I'm going," Kyung-min replies simply.
His mother is the first to speak. "Absolutely not—"
But his father interrupts her.
"Why?"
His father isn't the type to react emotionally. He measures everything. Weighs the
cost.
Kyung-min meets his gaze.
"You've seen me training for over a month. I'm not weak. And you know it."
His father doesn't deny it.
His mother, however, doesn't care about logic. "That doesn't mean you should throw
yourself into danger!"
His sister clenches her fists. "You just came back. You were gone for a year. And
now you want to run straight back into—"
She can't even finish the sentence.
Kyung-min exhales.
"You all know the truth. If you tell me no, I'll just go anyway."
Silence.
They know he's right.
His father studies him carefully before sighing.
"Then at least take the right precautions."
His mother still looks furious. His sister looks like she's barely holding back
from yelling at him again.
But they can't stop him.
So instead—
His father offers assistance.
8:30 AM – The Need for Equipment
His father leans back in his chair. "You'll need proper gear."
Kyung-min shakes his head. "I can get it myself."
His father exhales through his nose. "At least let me provide some funding—"
"One thing," Kyung-min interrupts.
They pause.
"If you have connections, I need something that will hide my identity."
His sister frowns. "Like what?"
"A mask. A concealment item. Anything."
His father narrows his eyes. "That's an odd request."
"I don't want unnecessary attention."
Silence.
Then, his father picks up his phone and makes a call.
After a moment—
"There's one item up for auction tomorrow. A unique artifact with cloaking
properties.** It's the only one available right now.**"
He hands Kyung-min a black card.
"This should cover it. And more. Buy the equipment you need."
Kyung-min hesitates.
His father gives him a knowing look.
"I know you don't like taking from us. But you're not an idiot. Don't fight with
nothing."
Kyung-min slowly takes the card.
"Fine."
His sister crosses her arms, watching him carefully.
"You're really serious about this."
Kyung-min just nods.
She exhales sharply. Then—
"Then I'll help."
He raises an eyebrow.
She pulls out her phone. "If you're going to an auction, you need to know how to
bid properly. And where to look for good gear."
Kyung-min smirks slightly. "You've been going to auctions?"
She huffs. "Unlike you, I actually keep up with the world."
For the first time, the tension eases slightly.
But the reality remains.
Tomorrow—
He would take his first step forward.
10:00 AM – The Auction Plans
Kyung-min heads to the training gym after breakfast, but his thoughts remain on
tomorrow's auction.
He'll need more than just a mask.
Gear, weapons—anything to make sure he isn't walking in as a defenseless E-rank.
His butler knocks on the gym door.
"Young Master, I will accompany you to the auction tomorrow. Your father has
already arranged the entry clearance."
Kyung-min nods.
Tomorrow—he wouldn't just be buying equipment.
He'd be securing the next step in his path.
And no one would recognize him when he did.
1:00 PM – Preparation Begins
The rest of the day passed in quiet anticipation.
Kyung-min spent most of it in the training gym, going through his usual regimen.
Strength drills, stamina conditioning, and mana control exercises—all things that
would normally take weeks to show results.
For him, it was a necessity.
If he wanted to survive in the dungeons, he had to push himself beyond the limits
of a typical E-rank.
Even now, he could feel the restrictions on his body—like invisible shackles, a
cage forcing him to start from the bottom again.
But the foundation was still there.
No system could take that from him.
3:00 PM – The Quiet Before the Storm
After another round of training, he stepped into the shower, letting the scalding
water wash away the exhaustion.
His body had changed over the past month and a half. Even if he was nowhere near
his past strength, he was sharper, faster, and more controlled than when he first
returned.
But it still wasn't enough.
Not yet.
He dried off, dressed in casual attire, and left his room.
Dinner wasn't for another few hours, and he had nothing else to do.
So instead—
He found himself standing on the rooftop balcony again.
The sky was overcast, the city skyline stretching into the distance.
It was peaceful.
Yet it didn't feel real.
After living in a dungeon where death was constant, immediate, and absolute, this
world was… muted. Slower.
He should've felt relief.
But all he felt was a lingering sense of detachment.
6:30 PM – The Final Meal Before the Auction
Dinner was quiet, much like the night before.
His mother didn't bring up the dungeon. His father didn't push the issue. His
sister only watched him.
It wasn't until the plates were cleared that his father spoke.
"Everything is arranged for tomorrow. Your butler will escort you to the auction."
Kyung-min nodded.
"Buy what you need. Don't be reckless."
"Understood."
His mother's lips pressed into a thin line. "You're already going into dungeons. At
least don't waste money."
His sister sighed, rolling her eyes. "Mom, the stuff at the Awakener auctions isn't
cheap."
"It doesn't mean he needs to spend absurd amounts."
Kyung-min smirked slightly. "I'll be responsible."
His mother didn't look convinced.
But she let it go.
10:30 PM – The Final Training Session
That night, Kyung-min didn't sleep.
Instead, he trained.
Summoning skeletons, letting them decay, summoning them again.
Pushing his mana to its limits and beyond.
His breath was steady, his movements controlled.
Abyss Step flickered between shadows, growing more precise with each use.
By the time he stopped, it was past midnight.
His mana was drained. His body ached.
But he was ready.
Tomorrow—
He would finally take his first step forward.
6:00 AM – The Morning of the Auction
Kyung-min woke before dawn, dressed in a fitted black suit—not overly formal, but
appropriate for the venue.
By the time he stepped outside, his butler was already waiting by the car.
The old man bowed slightly.
"Young Master, we should leave soon to avoid traffic."
Kyung-min nodded and got in.
The engine hummed to life, and the car pulled away from the estate.
As the city skyline blurred past the windows, Kyung-min's fingers tapped against
his knee in thought.
This wasn't just about gear.
This was his first real interaction with the world of awakeners.
And he had no intention of standing out.
But—
A small smirk played at his lips.
If someone got in his way, he wouldn't mind making an example out of them.
7:30 AM – Arrival at the Auction Hall
The venue was nothing short of extravagant.
A towering building reserved exclusively for high-profile awakeners, guild
representatives, and private buyers.
Kyung-min stepped out of the car, adjusting his sleeves as his butler followed
behind.
The entrance was guarded by security, and attendees were already beginning to
arrive—some in expensive suits, others in combat gear.
Everyone here was someone.
And today—
He was no one.
Perfect.
As he walked inside, his gaze sharpened.
It was time to get what he came for.