The next morning, Jae-Hyun woke early, his body refreshed but his mind already focused on the tasks ahead. He completed his daily training quest with mechanical precision, the repetitive movements grounding him as he worked through his thoughts. After a quick meal, he checked his gear and headed toward the Rank A Gate staging area.
The streets near the Gate were buzzing with activity. Adventurers and guild members crowded the area, their chatter blending into a cacophony of anticipation and tension. Silver Talon’s presence was unmistakable—their crest hung prominently above their staging point, gleaming in the morning light. Jae-Hyun adjusted his hood, pulling it lower over his face as he moved through the bustling crowd near the Gate. His steps were deliberate, his posture neutral, and he kept his gaze downcast, avoiding eye contact with anyone who might notice him. The noise of clinking armor and the hum of adventurers preparing for the raid provided enough cover for him to blend in, his presence fading into the sea of activity as he searched for Mi-Rae.
He spotted her near the edge of the group, standing apart from the others. Her long dark hair framed her face, her expression calm but focused. She looked a bit different than he remembered, her demeanor exuding a quiet confidence that tugged at his heart. For a moment, Jae-Hyun hesitated. The years between them suddenly felt like a chasm, and he wondered if this was even the right thing to do. But he had come this far.
“Mi-Rae,” he called softly as he approached. His voice was low, but it carried enough weight to catch her attention.
She turned, her brow furrowing in confusion. It took only a second before her eyes widened in recognition. “Oppa?” Her voice trembled, barely above a whisper, as disbelief and raw emotion flashed across her face. She took a step forward, as if to embrace him, but Jae-Hyun raised a hand to stop her.
“Not here,” he said quickly, his tone firm but not unkind. His sharp eyes darted around, scanning for anyone who might be watching. “We can’t draw attention. Here, take this.” He slipped her his number. “Use it if you need to.”
Mi-Rae’s hands trembled slightly as she clutched the piece of paper. A rush of disbelief, memories of their childhood, and a wave of relief after years of thinking he was gone flooded her mind. Her knees almost buckled, and her breath caught for a moment. Her face lit up with a mixture of joy and disbelief. Even though he looked different, she would never forget the small details—his sharp gaze, the faint scar near his temple, the way his voice carried a calm authority. “I… I never thought…” Her words faltered as emotion threatened to overwhelm her.
Jae-Hyun gave her a small, fleeting smile. “Stay safe,” he said softly, beginning to turn away.
“Wait,” Mi-Rae started, but before she could say more, a booming voice cut through the noise.
“Mi-Rae! What are you doing?”
A tall man strode toward them, his armor adorned with the Silver Talon’s insignia. Though his frame appeared larger at first glance, he was of average build—nothing particularly imposing, though his posture exuded authority. His sharp features, angular jawline, and neatly styled black hair marked him unmistakably as Tae-Jun, Mi-Rae’s brother—and the man who had betrayed Jae-Hyun. His cold, calculating eyes swept over Jae-Hyun, narrowing in suspicion, though they lacked the physical dominance one might expect.
“Who’s this?” Tae-Jun asked, his tone sharp and demanding.
Mi-Rae hesitated, clutching the paper tightly. “It’s… someone who was lost,” she said cautiously, her voice carefully measured.
Tae-Jun’s piercing gaze studied Jae-Hyun for a long moment. His brow furrowed slightly, and his lips curled in a faint sneer, though his eyes lingered on Jae-Hyun a fraction too long, as though trying to piece together a puzzle that didn’t quite fit. The faintest flicker of doubt crossed his face, but he quickly brushed it aside with a dismissive scoff. “You look familiar,” he said slowly, stepping closer. “Almost like…” He trailed off, his eyes narrowing further before he shook his head with a scoff, followed by a laugh. “No, impossible. Silly of me to even think that. There’s no way they could change this much, let alone still be alive.”
Jae-Hyun’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. His sharp blue eyes locked onto Tae-Jun’s for a brief, tense moment before he turned his attention back to Mi-Rae. “Stay focused. Don’t draw attention to yourself,” he murmured under his breath before stepping back into the crowd. His hood shifted slightly as he adjusted it, ensuring his face remained obscured. Every movement he made was deliberate, calculated to avoid unnecessary attention.
Tae-Jun’s gaze lingered a fraction too long, a faint furrow creasing his brow as though the pieces didn’t quite fit. But then, he dismissed the thought, turning back to Mi-Rae. “We’re leaving soon. Don’t get distracted.”
Mi-Rae watched Jae-Hyun leave, her heart pounding in her chest. For all the years of doubt and despair, her brother had returned—different, yes, but undeniably him. Her grip tightened on the paper as a faint, hopeful smile spread across her face. She knew this was just the beginning.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
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The morning was still young when Jae-Hyun stepped into the bustling adventurers' market, but his thoughts were far from the lively noise around him. The encounter with Mi-Rae and Tae-Jun lingered, a storm brewing beneath his calm exterior. Seeing his sister again had stirred emotions he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in years—relief, guilt, and a burning desire to protect her. Yet the sight of Tae-Jun had brought the opposite—a cold rage that simmered dangerously close to the surface.
He clenched his fists, willing the anger to subside as he moved through the market, his hood pulled low to avoid unnecessary attention. The memory of Tae-Jun’s arrogant laugh grated at him. The man had brushed him off as if he were a ghost, a figment of impossibility. Yet, Tae-Jun’s dismissiveness didn’t erase the truth. They were on a collision course, and Jae-Hyun knew it was only a matter of time before their paths crossed again—this time without pretense.
But it wasn’t just Tae-Jun who occupied his thoughts. Mi-Rae’s participation in the Rank A gate raid weighed heavily on him. She looked strong—of that, he had no doubt—but how strong? He cursed himself for not checking her system stats when he had the chance. She had grown since he last saw her, but Rank A gates were treacherous, even for seasoned veterans. The thought of her in danger twisted something in his chest, but there was nothing he could do now. The gates were heavily guarded, and he wasn’t yet strong enough to intervene.
Still, the knowledge gnawed at him, pushing him to channel his frustration into action.
Approaching one of the older vendors, a grizzled man with a scar running across his cheek, Jae-Hyun kept his voice steady and neutral. “What can you tell me about the twentieth floor of the Tower?”
The vendor squinted at him, his weathered hands pausing over a stack of faded maps. “Twentieth floor, eh? That’s where things start to get tricky. Monsters hit harder, traps are meaner. But you’re asking about specifics, aren’t you?”
Jae-Hyun gave a subtle nod, his patience thinning as the vendor dragged the moment out.
“Well,” the man continued, tapping a finger on the table, “not much is known, but they say there’s an NPC at the entrance to the boss chamber. Gives you a key to get in. That’s all I’ve got. Hidden rooms or secret quests? Haven’t heard anything solid. You might be chasing shadows.”
The vendor’s dismissive tone grated on Jae-Hyun’s nerves, but he kept his expression unreadable. “Anything else? Rumors? Anything unusual at all?”
The man shook his head. “Just that most who climb that high tend to stick to the basics. Get in, kill the boss, and get out. Anyone looking for secrets either keeps their mouth shut or doesn’t make it back to talk.”
Jae-Hyun nodded curtly, sliding some money onto the vendor’s table before turning away. He had heard whispers about the NPC before but had dismissed it as irrelevant, just another Tower quirk. Questions churned in his mind as he considered the NPC’s purpose. Why had no one spoken of them beyond their role as a gatekeeper? Could this figure be tied to something deeper within the Tower’s mechanics, a secret that even the seasoned climbers had overlooked? Or was he simply grasping at shadows in his desperation? Either way, the NPC was his only tangible lead, and he wasn’t about to let it slip through his fingers.
The market was alive with the chaotic energy of adventurers preparing for their climbs. The clamor of haggling voices mingled with the metallic scrape of swords being sharpened. The air carried a faint mix of leather, sweat, and the acrid tang of potion ingredients. Jae-Hyun kept his hood low, weaving through the throng like a shadow. His sharp eyes flicked from vendor to vendor, but he avoided lingering too long, unwilling to draw unnecessary attention to himself.
As he moved through, ears sharp for any scraps of conversation. Most talk centered on mundane topics—trading prices, guild politics, and tales of low-tier dungeon conquests. Nothing useful. Still, Jae-Hyun couldn’t shake the feeling that the hidden item was tied to something deeper, perhaps something even the seasoned climbers had overlooked.
Eventually, he found himself at a small adventurers’ guild building. It was a modest building, more of a resting point than a proper guild hall, but it had a notice board crammed with papers. He scanned the postings, searching for anything related to Floor 20. A few bounty contracts and team advertisements caught his eye, but nothing of substance.
“Looking for something specific?” a voice interrupted. Jae-Hyun turned to see a young clerk behind the desk, her expression polite but uninterested.
“Information on the twentieth floor,” he replied. “Anything about hidden areas or unusual mechanics.”
The clerk shrugged, flipping through a ledger. “Not much documented. The Tower’s pretty good at keeping its secrets. But if you’re looking for the key to the boss chamber, the NPC near the entrance is your only lead. Beyond that, you’ll have to figure it out yourself. Sorry.”
Jae-Hyun thanked her and left, his frustration mounting. The lack of information wasn’t surprising, but it was no less irritating. The Tower’s unpredictability was part of its design, meant to weed out those who lacked the skill or determination to adapt.
Hopeless he asked the system directly, "Is the hidden item truly on the 20th floor?"
The system responded with a taunting confirmation: "Yes. Struggling?"
Jae-Hyun clenched his jaw. Now he was certain—the NPC had to hold the answer. There was nowhere else left to search.
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Back at the Tower’s base, the atmosphere buzzed with activity. Adventurers of all levels milled about, their conversations blending into a steady hum of excitement and tension. Jae-Hyun kept his hood low, slipping through the crowd like a shadow. His eyes flicked toward the massive entrance, where faint runes shimmered, signaling the active floors above.
The mention of the NPC weighed on his mind as he approached the entrance. The air near the Tower felt charged, a faint hum of magical energy radiating from the glowing runes that adorned its massive doors. Adventurers passed by in groups, their voices hushed as they exchanged last-minute strategies. Jae-Hyun took a deep breath, steadying himself as he adjusted his hood once more. The weight of the Abyssal Bond, the hidden item quest, and the confrontation with Tae-Jun swirled in his thoughts, but he pushed them aside. Focus. Every step forward demanded his complete attention now.