Chapter 6 – A Fake Better Than the Real Thing (３)

*

The two arrived at a restaurant near the guild building.

After ordering light food, Jiyun waited a beat before opening her mouth.

“Oppa¹, did you practice magic more in the meantime?”

Curiosity brimmed on Jiyun’s face.

“No matter how I look at it, the effect seems way too powerful for a 1st-Circle spell.”

Gijun hesitated for a moment but kept talking without fluster.

“Ah, yeah. Something like that.”

Gijun brushed it off vaguely.

Can’t say it’s because of the game.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Jiyun — but he didn’t want to bring up things he didn’t need to hide.

Even if he told her the truth, she’d never believe it anyway.

“Really, Oppa, you’re amazing.”

Jiyun’s admiration was genuine.

Her surprise wasn’t strange, either.

The limits of a Circle were absolute, after all.

In reality, how much could you really amplify a spell’s power within the same Circle? A strictly limited amount, that’s what.

But to pull off such efficiency despite that — Gijun’s feat naturally looked incredible to her.

“Let’s talk about something else. Haha…”

He felt a little guilty, and honestly, it wasn’t something to be that smug about yet.

Unaware of what was running through Gijun’s mind, Jiyun’s eyes were filled with respect and reverence.

“See? I told you why I like you, Oppa.”

“Huh?”

“That drive — the way you push through no matter what. That’s what I love.”

He felt happy.

Really, genuinely happy.

But that very happiness made the regret sting all the sharper.

I want to go into a dungeon again.

Hunting in a dungeon.

He wanted to feel that thrilling rush again — that jolt he’d tasted in that moment.

He was even starting to think about knocking on his old guild’s door again.

Just once.

If he could grab just one chance, no matter how — he felt like he could soar.

That was when it happened.

Ziiiiing!

Gijun’s smartphone rang.

He glanced at it.

An unknown number was on the screen.

Who’s this?

He tilted his head for a second, then asked Jiyun for a moment.

“Gotta take this.”

“Sure, sure! Go ahead.”

Gijun answered the call.

“Hello?”

A familiar voice came from the other end.

[Mr. Baek. I’m getting back to you. This is Team Leader Park Yunseok.]

“……!”

Team Leader Park Yunseok.

Why was he calling?

In that instant, Gijun’s heart started pounding again.

“…Ah… ah, yes! This is Baek Gijun.”

[I’m reaching out because I have a proposal for you.]

“A… proposal?”

“…!!!”

Gijun’s eyes went wide.

[I’d like to discuss the details in person tomorrow. Would you have some time?]

No reason to hesitate.

It wasn’t just any guild — this was Hwarang.

Of course, Gijun knew.

This proposal wouldn’t be the same kind they’d offer other Superhumans at Hwarang.

Probably… they’re going to put me on grunt work.

That was what Gijun figured.

He wouldn’t join proper raids alongside other Superhumans.

But that was fine.

One more chance—exactly what he’d wished for during the raid—was more than enough.

This was an opportunity.

A chance Hwarang was giving him.

And he was confident.

‘I’ve changed.’

Gijun had faith in himself now.

He could truly grow stronger now. He could finally join official raids like other Superhumans. Of that, he was certain.

He just needed time.

Gijun answered.

“Yes. Of course.”

[Understood. I apologize for troubling you so late.]

“No, not at all. Really.”

Gijun let out a breath of relief and hung up.

The excitement wouldn’t fade.

The hope he’d barely dared to hold had just become reality.

How could he not be thrilled?

“Oppa, who was that got you so worked up?”

“…Team Leader Park Yunseok.”

“What? Why? Did something go wrong?”

“No, it’s not that… He said he wants to recruit me…”

“Huh?”

“…”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Wooaaaah!”

Jiyun was even happier than Gijun.

“It worked out, Oppa! Congrats on the job!”

“…Thanks. It’s because of you, Jiyun. Really.”

“What are you talking about! You got it because you did well! I’m so hyped!”

Jiyun bounced around like a little kid.

*

Around that time.

After finishing his call with Gijun, Team Leader Park Yunseok arrived at the Seoul Southern Branch Manager’s office and took a seat.

The Branch Manager seemed slightly unsettled by the sheer conviction in Park Yunseok’s voice.

“Given it’s Team Leader Park Yunseok’s judgment, I’m inclined to trust it, but…”

It was Cha Miyeong speaking—the Branch Manager of Hwarang’s Seoul Southern branch.

A natural reaction.

Park Yunseok was reliable, but that Superhuman, Baek Gijun? There was nothing reliable about him.

“I didn’t see it with my own eyes, so I remain skeptical.”

In her hand was a file containing information on Gijun.

His academy graduation grades were impeccable—but his career since then was a wreck.

No Superhuman with that kind of career could join Hwarang.

Absolutely none.

And on top of that…

“Mana Circle Formation Disorder… A condition with no known cause or cure.”

Mana Circle Formation Disorder.

And in a mage, of all things.

Worldwide, documented cases could be counted on one hand.

Gijun was the only mage ever found with it.

Naturally, there were no cases of recovery, and no research existed.

Yet Park Yunseok was certain.

He believed that Superhuman, Baek Gijun, had potential.

Should she believe it or not…

Even Cha Miyeong was wavering under Park Yunseok’s fierce conviction.

“I’m certain. The spell he used was clearly a 1st Circle Blow, but its power could hardly be called 1st Circle.”

“So, should I understand that this Baek Gijun has found a way to overcome Mana Circle Formation Disorder?”

“It’s possible. I don’t know how, but… since so little is known about this condition, we can’t rule out the possibility that he’s overcome it.”

Cha Miyeong nodded.

“Of course, we’ll need to observe him a while longer… but if he truly has overcome the disorder, with talent like this…”

“He’ll be a tremendous asset to our guild.”

At Park Yunseok’s confident words, Cha Miyeong nodded again.

She supposed so.

That much was certain.

If the Superhuman named Baek Gijun really had overcome Mana Circle Formation Disorder.

‘Because when it comes to talent, it’s the real deal.’

She also knew about Baek Gijun.

A guild the size of Hwarang couldn’t possibly be unaware of what happened at the Academy.

From the moment he enrolled, Baek Gijun’s talent had spread throughout the entire industry.

Naturally, he’d been the top recruitment priority for Hwarang as well.

Until his condition was discovered, that is.

So then.

If he truly had overcome that disorder…

The value of that was incalculable.

His talent had been proven time and again.

“Very well. Proceed as you see fit, Team Leader Park Yunseok.”

*

‘I’m shaking.’

Gijun had stayed up all night.

From the thrill.

But he wasn’t the least bit tired.

‘It’s really changed.’

Gijun’s body had changed.

He could feel it now, for sure.

It was like he’d been given a new body.

Something that defied all common sense had happened to Gijun.

The trigger was a game called Spirit World — that was all he knew.

Of course, he had no idea why or how.

The only thing certain was that an absurd, impossible change had overtaken him.

‘I can’t tell anyone. I have to keep this to myself.’

Who knew what the future would bring.

But for now, right now, he couldn’t let this information out.

He’d be lucky if people didn’t just write him off as crazy.

‘Besides, almost nothing is known about Mana Circle Formation Disorder anyway.’

He could just stick with ‘I don’t know either’ and that would be that.

Who in the world could say anything to that?

Even if they dragged him to a hospital for tests, he had nothing to fear.

It wasn’t like he’d done anything wrong.

‘Stay confident.’

That thought in mind, Gijun turned his gaze.

Just then, a man appeared from the other side.

Park Yunseok, Team Leader of Hwarang Guild’s Southern Branch Raid Team.

The man who had arranged to meet Gijun.

The moment he stepped in, the café’s atmosphere shifted.

Several women’s eyes went wide at the sight of him, and they began whispering among themselves.

Gijun raised his hand to signal his presence.

The man came over, greeted him, took a seat, and slid a business card across the table.

“It’s good to see you again. I’m Park Yunseok.”

“I’m Baek Gijun.”

Park Yunseok and Gijun.

In his suit, Park Yunseok was a strikingly gentle, soft-featured handsome man.

Of course, Gijun was no slouch in the looks department either, but there was something different about Yunseok’s Aura.

Gijun couldn’t help but think there was a reason this man held a Team Leader position at a megaguild.

“I imagine it caught you off guard, springing that contact on you so suddenly like that.”

“Yeah, it did surprise me a bit. I never expected you’d reach out to me first.”

Park Yunseok gave a nod.

“Let me get straight to the point. What we’re offering you, Mr. Gijun, is a mage position dedicated to marking dungeons between Levels 1 and 3.”

“I see.”

Just as Gijun had guessed.

In plain terms, they wanted him to handle the grunt work.

But he felt no disappointment, not even a flicker.

This was, after all, exactly what he’d already had in mind.

“If anything, his heart raced at the thought of using this chance as a springboard to climb far higher.”

“As you know, guilds have monthly dungeon quotas based on their scale. Clear them once a month, or the dungeons go into meltdown.”

“That’s right.”

He’d heard this before.

“Our condition is that you handle subjugation of the seven dungeons near your residence. Of course, you won’t be doing it alone.”

Seven dungeons a month.

That came out to two per week.

Not a particularly tough workload.

Especially when they were only Level 1 to Level 3 dungeons—no contest.

Gijun, as he was now, had no reason he couldn’t manage it.

Honestly, he’d even take on more if they’d let him.

Dungeon raids.

That was what every Superhuman yearned for.

And Gijun was no different.

“Here’s… the contract. Please review it.”

Gijun scanned the document.

No clause stood out as a major problem.

If anything, the terms felt almost too generous.

Reading through it, Gijun let out a silent gasp.

‘No way!’

The conditions were outright absurd.

‘A six-month contract. Base pay of 40 million won for those six months, plus supplementary pay… 5% of byproduct sales.’

A staggering offer.

And on top of that, they were throwing in extra allowances.

“We’ll start with a half-year contract…”

Gijun answered Park Yunseok’s opening.

“Would it be alright if I modified the contract terms a little?”

“Excuse me?”

“About the half-year duration.”

“Ah, actually, I wanted at least a yearly commitment myself, but the Branch Manager insisted we watch your performance before deciding.”

That made sense.

It meant they still didn’t fully trust Gijun.

Park Yunseok’s tone held a hint of apology.

But Gijun shook his head.

His response went far beyond what Yunseok had anticipated.

“No, I meant what if we switched to a freelance contract instead?”

He wasn’t asking to extend the term.

On the contrary, he was volunteering to operate on a per-job basis.

Startled, Park Yunseok looked up and met Gijun’s eyes.

1. Oppa — an affectionate term a younger woman uses for an older man she is close to; literally “older brother.”