"Ho-jun, you can register here," Seomun Ye-jin said with a cheerful smile.

The department store had a facility where anyone could easily register as a mana awakener.

Usually, S-rank or higher awakeners would go to facilities operated by the Kangin Guild in Seoul to register and gain media attention.

But Baek Seo-jun had no interest in media exposure or fame.

After all, the mana measurement facilities were essentially the same everywhere.

"Alright, let’s go in."

As Baek Seo-jun entered, the staff greeted him with professional smiles.

"Welcome. How can we assist you today?"

"I’m here to register as a mana awakener and complete my identity registration."

For mana awakeners, identity verification was a mandatory step due to the immense power they wielded.

Awakeners could be more dangerous than people carrying weapons, as evidenced by numerous villains. Because of this, individuals without verified identities had to go through meticulous checks before registering as mana awakeners.

Had Seo-jun come alone, the process would have been tedious, involving multiple checks and long delays.

However, there was a simpler way to expedite the registration process.

"I’m here as his guarantor," Seomun Ye-jin interjected.

Having a guarantor was the quickest way for unverified mana awakeners to complete their identity registration.

But being a guarantor was no small task.

The guarantor needed to have a verified identity, be a mana awakener themselves, and even undergo a light mental integrity test to ensure they weren’t under any kind of mind control.

Moreover, if the mana awakener they vouched for committed a crime, the guarantor would be held equally responsible, treated as an accomplice.

If Baek Seo-jun were to cause any trouble using his new identity, Seomun Ye-jin would face legal repercussions.

Although unlikely, should Seo-jun be branded as a villain, Seomun Ye-jin would also be arrested as a villain’s accomplice due to her guarantee.

"Understood. We’ll start with a simple verification process. Guarantor, could you please step forward?"

"Yes!" Seomun Ye-jin answered confidently.

The staff, slightly taken aback by her striking beauty, quickly composed themselves and proceeded with their duties.

Since everything related to mana awakeners in South Korea was managed by the Kangin Guild, this facility was essentially a branch of the guild.

The staff had undergone rigorous training to ensure professionalism.

[All clear.]

The mental integrity scanner confirmed that Seomun Ye-jin had not been subjected to any kind of mind control or tampering.

With her cleared, the staff turned their attention to Baek Seo-jun, beginning with a series of basic questions.

"What is your name and age?"

"My name is Kim Ho-jun, and I’m fifteen years old," Seo-jun replied without hesitation, using his alias.

While using a fake name could cause problems later, he had a valid justification prepared.

He could claim that he abandoned the name Baek Seo-jun after being sold to villains by his biological parents at the age of ten. It was a precaution to avoid being silenced by his parents who might attempt to kill him to cover up their actions.

No one could fault him for using a pseudonym under such circumstances.

"What have you been doing until now?"

"Five or six years ago, my parents abandoned me. I’ve been learning from an unnamed female master in the mountains since then."

The staff continued their inquiries, but Seo-jun’s young age—just fifteen—worked in his favor.

Had he been an adult or even in his late teens, the questioning would have been much more rigorous.

"I can vouch for him. I know exactly how Ho-jun has been living since he was six," Seomun Ye-jin added, stepping in to support him.

"Ho-jun’s parents abandoned him when he was very young. He’s been training in the mountains and only recently decided to leave after coming to terms with his past."

With Seomun Ye-jin’s heartfelt explanation, the staff’s expressions softened with sympathy.

At fifteen years old, Seo-jun would have been just nine or ten when he was abandoned. It was easy to imagine the emotional scars such an experience would leave.

"Do you know anything about this master? Could you tell us where she is now?"

"She passed away last year."

For the record, the “master” Seo-jun referred to was actually Ramisa. At that moment, Ramisa, in her small black serpent form, was lounging on the sofa in Seomun Ye-jin’s house, watching TV.

"I see. My condolences. Let’s proceed with the mana measurement," the staff member said politely, though their expression remained professional.

In a world rampant with villain activity, it wasn’t uncommon for people to lose family or loved ones.

Following the staff’s instructions, Seo-jun placed his hand on the mana measurement device and casually released a portion of his mana.

[Measurement: SSS]

Another official SSS-rank hunter had emerged from the remote outskirts of former North Korea.

Unbeknownst to the staff, this was a deliberately suppressed reading. Seo-jun had intentionally reduced the output of his mana to avoid raising unnecessary alarm.

***

With his new identity card issued, Seo-jun immediately set up a phone line.

Normally, it would take time to process a new identity card. However, being revealed as an SSS-rank mana awakener fast-tracked the process. His information had likely already been forwarded to the Kangin Guild as a top-priority case.

"Now you have both an identity and a phone," Seomun Ye-jin said with a smile.

"Yes, thanks to you. I appreciate it," Seo-jun replied sincerely.

Seomun Ye-jin beamed with joy at his gratitude.

"May I see your phone for a moment?"

"Sure," Seo-jun handed it to her.

She quickly added her contact information before activating the camera app.

"Smile!" she said, standing beside him.

Click!

She snapped a picture of the two of them together.

"Not bad, right?" Seomun Ye-jin said, admiring the photo. Her bright smile stood out, and Seo-jun couldn’t help but agree that she looked beautiful.

"Sure. I might just crop out your face and use it as my wallpaper."

"Not the whole picture with both of us?" she teased.

"What’s the point of seeing my face? I look at it every day in the mirror. Yours is better suited for a wallpaper."

Seomun Ye-jin seemed momentarily speechless, not out of frustration but because his words had sparked unexpected thoughts.

Seo-jun casually placed his phone into his subspace. While it would mean he couldn’t receive calls, he had no one to contact anyway—except for Seomun Ye-jin, whose number was now the only one saved in his phone.

"By the way, I have a question for you. Can you answer honestly?" Seo-jun asked.

"Of course."

"Necklace, ring, or bracelet—which do you prefer?"

"Um… a necklace?" she replied, slightly confused by the sudden question.

"Got it."

Seo-jun retrieved a valuable necklace from his subspace. It was a luxurious item looted from villains, enhanced by his own mana.

Though it was just a piece of jewelry, the mana imbued within transformed it into a powerful artifact.

"Hold still for a moment."

Seo-jun stepped closer and gently placed the necklace around her neck. Her face flushed bright red, but Seo-jun remained composed as he adjusted it and smiled.

"It suits you. Take a look," he said, creating a mirror with his mana.

Seomun Ye-jin gazed at her reflection, admiring the elegant necklace with its dazzling blue gem.

"It’s beautiful," she murmured, her lips curving into a smile.

"Do you like it?"

"Yes! I love it!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with delight.

"Good. Try to wear it as often as you can. This necklace isn’t just a pretty trinket—it’s a one-of-a-kind artifact that will protect you from harm."

With the necklace, Seo-jun could ensure her safety and monitor her well-being in real time.

‘This should keep her safe,’ he thought.

As if sensing his intentions, Seomun Ye-jin placed a hand over the necklace and whispered, "I’ll treasure it."

***

He had let his guard down.

Despite his experiences five years ago, he had forgotten that the worst always surpassed his imagination.