"So, Baek Seo-jun, your goals are revenge and protecting the world. Is that right?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"You’ve been operating under the alias Kim Ho-jun while revealing yourself to the world. That means you’re hiding your true identity to take revenge on the Baekho Guild—or more precisely, Guild Master Baek Hyung-won and his family."

"That’s true as well."

Choi Kang-in nodded at my words, then spoke in a solemn tone.

"First, let me offer my apologies to you."

I didn’t respond to his statement, simply watching as he rose from his seat, bowed his head deeply, and issued an earnest apology.

"I sincerely apologize for the torment you suffered after being sold to a villain by those who should never be called parents."

This wasn’t just Choi Kang-in apologizing as an individual. It was the leader of the Kangin Guild, the de facto ruler of South Korea’s supernatural community, making a formal gesture.

To outsiders, it might appear that he was apologizing because he recognized my value and wanted to secure my goodwill. But knowing Choi Kang-in’s principles, he would have offered this apology regardless of my status.

Even if I had been powerless and of no strategic importance, had he learned of my plight, he would have extended the same apology.

"But that’s all it would have been."

Choi Kang-in would offer his apology and perhaps some personal support. But he wouldn’t go beyond that.

From his perspective, the world didn’t need individuals who were weak or consumed by personal vendettas. What mattered to him was the Baekho Guild—or rather, its utility in combating the looming apocalypse.

His ultimate goal was to prevent the world’s destruction, and he was willing to pass on everything he had built, even to someone unrelated by blood, if it furthered that purpose.

For him, aiding an avenger with no role in saving the world would have been a side note—something he might acknowledge but wouldn’t prioritize.

I didn’t fault him for that.

No one should be expected to endure losses to help a stranger.

As such, his apology held no value for me.

"Your apology is meaningless to me," I stated flatly.

His expression hardened slightly at my response, but I quickly clarified.

"Just take care of the favor I asked. I’ll handle everything else myself."

I had no expectations of Choi Kang-in beyond the request I’d made.

If there was anything further, it was ensuring he didn’t choose Baek Seo-jin as his successor. But I was confident that after hearing about my vendetta against the Baek family, he would rethink that decision.

Should he still decide to name Baek Seo-jin as his heir? Then he would bear witness to Seo-jin’s inevitable and utter downfall.

And along with that, he would watch as the Kangin Guild, his carefully crafted force to save the world, met its demise.

***

The Monster

Choi Kang-in could only describe the boy before him as a monster.

"I never expected this."

Since the chaotic era when mana-awakened individuals first began appearing, Choi Kang-in had understood that a calamity capable of ending the world was inevitable.

He had founded the Kangin Guild to protect the world and seized power in South Korea to fulfill that purpose.

Yet, unbeknownst to him, a significant threat had already emerged in Somalia. And it was this boy who had stopped it.

Furthermore, at just 15 years old, the boy possessed strength that far surpassed Choi Kang-in’s own.

The power classifications set by this world—SSS-rank and beyond—were meaningless when applied to Baek Seo-jun.

"Baek Seo-jun. His origins seem credible."

Further investigation was necessary, but the boy’s identity appeared legitimate.

The claim that Baek Hyung-won and Kim Yoo-jung had sold him to the villain So Gang-seok was likely true.

Not only was there video evidence, but Choi Kang-in had also heard rumors of Baek Hyung-won issuing orders to his guild members to remain silent about Baek Seo-jun.

Baek Hyung-won had threatened retaliation against anyone who defied his orders while publicly garnering sympathy through interviews where he lamented the "loss" of his son.

"How disgraceful."

The Baekho Guild, though nominally one of the top 10 guilds, had never held Choi Kang-in’s interest.

In reality, the guild barely qualified for its ranking. Its leader, Baek Hyung-won, lacked the abilities of an SSS-rank hunter, making the guild’s inclusion in the top 10 tenuous at best.

But Baek Hyung-won, intoxicated by his own power, had crossed the line.

If such disgraceful behavior had persisted, Choi Kang-in might have acted against him sooner.

Even as "Kim Ho-jun," Baek Seo-jun’s assumed identity, the boy had already proven far more valuable than Baek Hyung-won as an SSS-rank mana user.

"Baek Seo-jun, I will act on your request immediately. May I contact you in the future if needed?"

"I plan to stay and observe how you handle this."

"Haha, that’s not what I meant. I was asking if we could stay in touch for future cooperation."

At this, Baek Seo-jun openly displayed reluctance.

"I have a lovely young lady waiting for me at home. Will there really be any reason to contact me after today?"

Though Seo-jun appeared uninterested, Choi Kang-in understood he was intentionally maintaining distance.

This was likely his way of asserting that he held no obligations and had nothing to lose.

In contrast, the one who stood to lose was Choi Kang-in.

He recognized Seo-jun’s extraordinary strength but remained unsure of its extent. He also couldn’t yet fully trust the boy or understand how he had acquired such power within the rift.

Nonetheless, one thing was clear: Baek Seo-jun was far beyond what Choi Kang-in had dared hope for.

"If this boy is the real deal, he might truly save the world."

Of course, what would happen after the world was saved could pose its own set of problems. By then, the boy might become an omnipotent being capable of bending the world to his will, potentially even a tyrant.

But such concerns were for after the world was secure.

For now, Choi Kang-in reminded himself that the world’s safety took precedence.

"Who knows when another situation like this might arise? In times like that, the power I hold could prove useful to you as well," Choi Kang-in said with a hint of persuasion.

Seo-jun tilted his head slightly.

"That’s possible. But you won’t pester me unnecessarily, will you?"

"Of course not. I’ll only reach out when it’s absolutely necessary."

It wasn’t a lie. Choi Kang-in truly intended to limit his interactions with Seo-jun to essential matters.

His primary goal was to determine if this boy could indeed save the world.

"Fine. As long as you handle things properly today, I’ll consider giving you some of my time if urgent matters arise."

"That’s enough for me."

Choi Kang-in silently resolved to elevate the priority of Seo Mun-yejin, the young lady now entwined with Seo-jun, to the highest level of importance.

"Let’s begin."

***

The Baekho Guild’s headquarters was thrown into chaos.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Shortly after dinner, members of the Kangin Guild stormed into the guild’s premises.

"The Guild Master has issued orders. He expressed grave disappointment over the Baekho Guild’s actions against Seo Mun-yejin."

A man wearing sunglasses and exuding an imposing aura delivered the statement in a cold, mechanical tone.

Baek Hyung-won could only swallow nervously, too intimidated to protest.

The man before him was none other than Pyo Jin-seong, the deputy guild master of the Kangin Guild.

Pyo Jin-seong was one of South Korea’s SSS-rank hunters and Choi Kang-in’s right-hand man.

While Choi Kang-in himself surpassed even other SSS-rank hunters, he also commanded a cadre of these elite individuals, among whom Pyo Jin-seong was particularly exceptional.

Even among other top 10 guilds led by SSS-rank hunters, Pyo Jin-seong’s name was spoken with reverence. For Baek Hyung-won, merely an SS-rank hunter, there was nothing to do but cower.

"Don’t even think about trying anything foolish. If you remain quiet, the Guild Master might not hold the Baekho Guild fully accountable."

"Y-yes, of course…"

Arrogant toward the weak but utterly submissive before the strong, Baek Hyung-won could only mutter his compliance in a trembling voice.

Despite wielding his power to crush a young girl’s spirit and exploit her for his family’s gain, he was reduced to nothing more than a coward in the face of true authority.

Meanwhile, Baek Seo-jin looked on, bewildered.

"What on earth is happening?"

He had just finished a cheerful family dinner and was preparing for evening training with his parents when the Kangin Guild had burst in.

Now, the guild his family led was under siege, with even his father’s personal belongings being seized.

Watching as Pyo Jin-seong, an SSS-rank hunter he had only seen on TV and the internet, treated his father like a criminal, Seo-jin was left in utter confusion.