AECS 77

Chapter 77

Hwang Ji‑woo (4)

The next day.

A café in Seodaemun District.

Hwang Ji‑woo, having removed her mask, had dressed up nicely for the first time in a while.

“Birds of a feather, huh.”

She glanced at Baek Ah‑jin, who looked impressive. Despite her family situation and not belonging to any notable guild… she wanted to look suitable beside Ah‑jin. Even if it was just her appearance.

“What on earth could this be about?”

Swallowing nervously, she sat quietly in a café room, waiting. It was a tense moment.

In fact, she had already tested her parents a little last night.

“Dad, what if I have to stay out of the house for more than three months?”

She had never stayed out overnight in her life. Even as an adult, she hadn’t. Before agreeing to Ah‑jin’s request, she had a huge hurdle to overcome.

“Why? Did you get a boyfriend or something? If so, I’d never allow it!”

Just asking caused a household uproar. From Hwang Ji‑woo’s perspective, it was her overprotective parents…

“Huh.”

She understood. The world had been dangerous recently. Even though Baek Jin‑woo’s actions had cleared out the gangs, her parents were still worried.

“How should I persuade them?”

Just as Hwang Ji‑woo shook her head, Baek Ah‑jin arrived.

“Oh, Ji‑woo!”

“Already here?”

It was 9:50 a.m.—ten minutes before their 10 a.m. appointment. Hwang Ji‑woo had already been waiting for an hour, anxious. She was about to be offered a 1‑billion‑won (≈$800,000) part‑time job. Friend or not, she had a compulsion to be punctual.

“It’s been a while. Last time, I couldn’t even greet you properly… your face looks even prettier now.”

“What are you talking about? You’re prettier, Ah‑jin.”

After ordering drinks, they made small talk to ease the tension.

A while later…

“…So, what’s this about?”

“Well… hmm… I don’t know how to say it, but… Ji‑woo… you saw our brother, right?”

“B‑Baek Jin‑woo?”

“Why ‘Mr. Baek Jin‑woo’? He’s our brother.”

“Yes, I saw him.”

She had tried to take a photo, but was too stiff to do it properly.

“Since you’re a friend, there’s no information disclosure contract or anything like that… but you must not tell anyone about this, okay?”

Ah‑jin paused, and Hwang Ji‑woo fidgeted. What could it be?

“You have nowhere to talk about it anyway. You know your friends are just us.”

Ah‑jin cleared her throat again.

Damn.

Where should she start explaining? Perhaps the big picture first.

“To get straight to it… you just need to spend 100 days at Yubaek with our brother. Just stay with him 24 hours a day…”

The shocking proposal sank into Hwang Ji‑woo’s brain.

Pfft!

She spit out her iced Americano in surprise.

“W‑what…?!”

Her face flushed red. What did this mean? Was she really supposed to stay overnight—or even live—with the very Baek Jin‑woo she admired?

Startled, she jumped to her feet, only to notice a coffee stain on Ah‑jin’s face.

“S‑sorry!”

“It’s okay. You’d be shocked, of course.”

Ah‑jin casually wiped her face with a napkin.

“Listen to the full explanation. You’ll get an apartment in Yubaek City. You’ll live there and just stay next to our brother’s summon, the Phoenix Dragon Sorcerer. You can step out briefly, but must return within an hour. If the contract is reset, it’s void. Even if you fail, you get 100 million won (≈$80,000). If you succeed, 1 billion won (≈$800,000). How’s that?”

The 100 million won is personally covered by Ah‑jin. As a director of Yubaek, Ah‑jin had immense assets, comparable to a second‑generation conglomerate heir. Helping a friend like this was nothing for her. Especially since her friend was the rare Fire‑Body (Hwa‑yeon‑ji‑che)!

“So I just stay next to him? No other tasks?”

“Yep.”

Hwang Ji‑woo closed her eyes. No reason to refuse. She would get to see Baek Jin‑woo again, and earn a huge sum of money.

“But why me?”

“Huh?”

“Is there a special reason I have to be the one next to him?”

Ah‑jin smiled. A smart question. Of course she would ask.

“I’ll tell you if you sign the contract.”

Ah‑jin was being a shrewd negotiator—raising the stakes if she knew the truth about Hwang Ji‑woo’s special abilities.

“Got it.”

“Good. Shall we sign?”

“Not yet.”

Hwang Ji‑woo shook her head. She had one more hurdle: persuading her parents. For a young woman in her early 20s, staying out overnight was a major issue.

“Dad.”

“No.”

Ah‑jin’s father could tell immediately.

“You’re going to ask about staying out again, huh? I don’t mind you playing or joining a guild. Even dungeons are fine if safe. But staying out? Absolutely not.”

“It’s a great part‑time opportunity!”

“What kind of job needs you away for three months? 100 days, and you get… 1 billion won?”

His eyes widened, then hardened.

“You silly girl! I’ve told you a thousand times—nothing in this world is free! You’re not going out!”

“Dad!”

“Before I die—no! Even if I do, I won’t allow it!”

“It’s Yubaek!”

Hwang Ji‑woo argued.

“Huh?”

Her father frowned. Yubaek? The management of national team captain Baek Jin‑woo?

“Yubaek’s Baek Jin‑woo? The brother of my friend Ah‑jin?”

“…Of course I know him.”

Her father’s ears perked. Even though Baek Jin‑woo wasn’t famous for long, anyone in Korea knew him.

“And he personally recruited you for this job?”

“Yes! Ah‑jin came with the contract. It doesn’t seem shady… I think it’ll help Baek Jin‑woo. Look, here’s the contract!”

He quickly read it, trembling.

Could this really be real?

Trusting was hard, but there was no choice.

“Hmph.”

Her father nodded repeatedly. Then he looked at Hwang Ji‑woo.

“Ji‑woo.”

“Yes?”

“You still want to go?”

“…”

“Forget what I said before. Opportunity is meant to be seized.”

Go! Endure the 100 days no matter what! Don’t think of coming back!

Outside Yubaek City’s main gate.

Click!

The car door closed.

Vroom!

Hwang Ji‑woo was left alone, carrying a large suitcase. After showing her father the contract, everything moved swiftly.

Her father even gave a military-style pep talk, urging her to endure the 100 days no matter what.

“But…”

Opening the contract, Hwang Ji‑woo’s expression hardened with determination.

“1 billion won… maybe I should ask for training instead of money.”

She didn’t know why Baek Jin‑woo had called her or what value she held. That’s why asking for something other than money might not work—but she had to try.

“Even 10 minutes… or an hour… if I could get training from him, I’d take it over money.”

Judging from the reaction of other rankers, she knew Baek Jin‑woo’s time was priceless.

“Even if he refuses, I have to ask.”

She had already regretted not speaking up once. Time to act.

“To the training grounds, straight away.”

To negotiate the contract, she needed to speak to Baek Jin‑woo directly—especially to request training.

Hwang Ji‑woo nodded and confidently walked into the main gate.

“Huff, huff!”

“Arghhh!”

The training grounds were heated again. It was Monday, and four students had returned.

All summons were entrusted to the trainer, while the students focused on physical training.

“Hoo…”

Baek Jin‑woo didn’t slack off either. His muscles were now under perfect control. Strength alone wasn’t enough—he needed to master flexibility and fine control.

Balancing on his fingertips, he slowly lifted each finger one by one: pinky, ring, middle, index. Finally, he stood on his thumb alone, letting out a kiai as he powered through.

Swish!

He spun and landed squarely, circulating the Gunsong Heart Technique even mid-movement.

The students nearby shook their heads in disbelief.

“A monster.”

“Scary senior.”

“…Amazing teacher.”

Respectful eyes on him, yet Hong Ah‑ri looked on with envy.

Students whispered among themselves: “F‑rank summon vs. Baek Jin‑woo—who would win?” Normally, humans can’t beat summons. But Baek Jin‑woo? Maybe against an F‑rank if runes were removed…

At that moment…

“Excuse me…”

The training ground door opened.

A new face.

Hwang Ji‑woo entered cautiously, holding the contract. Shocked, she saw familiar faces:

“Hong Ah‑ri? Oh Sun‑young, Gi Jae‑hyuk, Kang Ji‑ho?”

Finally, she realized: she had stepped into the holy ground every Korean player dreamed of.