Now I get it how he lost control...
Negative emotions.
That had to be it. The trigger for his second awakening. Dungeons are filled to the brim with negative energy. Especially an S-Class dungeon—for someone who only just learned to contain this energy, it was like throwing a newborn baby in the ocean expecting him to swim his way out when the outcome was obvious from the start. He would drown.
Cheon Areum must've known about this. Did he take the risk for the money then? Going from an F-Class healer to an S-Class didn't change his status from poor to rich overnight. He had to still clear a gate to earn the money, and the highest paying gate was an emergency S-Class gate.
S-Class gates....
All gates from F-Class to S-Class are considered government property. When a gate opens, the government assigns it to an officially registered guild within minutes. Once a guild is registered, it cannot refuse the gates it is assigned. The guild is then responsible for clearing the gate within three days—the critical window before a gate breaks and unleashes catastrophic damage on the area or city.
The government pays the guild for gate clearance. If the guild lacks the manpower or ability to handle a gate—especially in the case of higher-class gates—they can use that payment to hire freelance awakeners or collaborate with other guilds. In extreme cases, such as an unexpected S-Class gate, the guild can request government assistance. In those situations, the government can dispatch any high-class awakener to help stabilize or clear the gate.
Cheon Areum had yet to join a guild. As an unadopted awakener, he couldn't decline formally. He could still just say no straight up to them. The government would have succumbed to an S-Class anyway, like they did with Yoon Seoyul—but he didn't. He took it as his chance to clear the gate and make dough.
The sudden outbreak of S-Class gates hadn't happened yet. Cheon Areum had his second awakening on the second day of the revolt. The timing wasn't right. When Yoon Seoyul had his awakening, the notification had popped up as:
[The system has awakened you.]
All S-Class awakeners received the same notification according to the book. S-Classes—the only class personally chosen by the system. Cheon Areum's notification should look similar to it.
"Yoon Seoyul, let's meet again tomorrow."
***
"You want to apply as a hunter? This is the Brutavernum Guild."
"Yes, how can I mistake it for another guild? It's such a memorable name."
Cheon Areum's hand held his chin as he nodded deliberately. The one holding his hunter ID was an omega who had 'Another psycho' plastered on his face as he looked at him unbelievably up and down.
"I'm sorry, but we only accept C to S-class hunters' applications for joining the guild. You can't apply—as if it isn't obvious enough."
The cute omega smiled, but a vein popped on his forehead, betraying the kind expression. Cheon Areum had expected this reaction.
Oh well, it was worth a try.
"Can you give me Yoon Seoyul's number or, better yet, call him for me? He owes me some money, you see."
Cheon Areum's lips, tugging upright, twitched. The omega sitting on the opposite side of the office table had completely stopped smiling.
"This isn't the first time. I've seen just about everything now. Someone claiming to be his pregnant wife, his illegitimate child, his unknown distant relative, and even someone threatening him with his sperm."
In clear words: he couldn't call Yoon Seoyul for him.
"Tsk. Every time I try to be polite, it ends this way. I'm hopeless."
Cheon Areum talked to himself before glaring at the omega, who became rigid, wearily looking at him.
"You're an F-Class too."
"I am, but I am not a hunter. I am an ordinary office worker. If you want to apply for another job, please wait for an opening."
"If I hold you hostage and rough you up a bit, would that be enough for Yoon Seoyul to come?"
"That's... I can signal the security to detain you."
The omega muttered and shivered as he held his chin up with a finger, half-reclined on the hard table. Cheon Areum was inches close to the boy.
"Who do you think will be faster—the security running in here or me holding a knife against your throat? Even I can't predict the result. Can you?"
Cheon Areum grinned naturally, eye to eye. The omega's face darkened visibly he calculated in his mind.
"Don't worry—as you saw, I'm a healer. If I accidentally cut your throat, I can heal you."
"Bu-But you can't use your abilities outside of the gate...."
"Exactly. Hahaha."
"....."
The omega was too adorable—he couldn't possibly harm such a cookie. Cheon Areum caressed his cheek gently and tilted his head, waiting for his response.
"Ba-back awa-y a bit...."
The omega docilely pushed him away, reaching for the telephone on the table. Cheon Areum backed away and waited with his arms on the table and his face propped on his hand. The omega nervously pressed the digits, and the call connected immediately.
"....help me."
".....?!"
The omega mumbled out only that and started crying. Tears dripped incessantly from his large eyes, leaving Cheon Areum aghast. It seemed like he could learn a thing or two from this cutie. It didn't seem like he had called the security—someone he was overly familiar with.
His friend? Family member? Or a significant other?
When he mulled over it, the door behind him abruptly pushed open. Cheon Areum turned to the sound, marveled upon seeing an acquainted face.
"What's the matter, Haeun?"
"Ryu...."
Haeun, the meek omega, sniffled and cried more profoundly as Kim Ryung came running to his side. It was like Cheon Areum was nonexistent—he sat there watching the soap opera tranquilly.
"This works too. Thank you, Haeun."
Having watched a tolerable amount of drama, Cheon Areum got to his feet. Kim Ryung rotated his head, eyeing him astoundingly.
"Cheon Areum."
"Yes, it is I. Glad you recognize me—I was starting to wonder if you're a goldfish in disguise. Can you take me to Yoon Seoyul now?"
"The guild master?"
"Ryu, you know him?"
Haeun dragged him down with his clothes. Kim Ryung scratched his head and nodded in agreement. Haeun opened his mouth—"Oh,"—and reluctantly released him.
"What business do you have with the guild master? If it's about the payment, I can help with that."
"It's something personal... can you call him for me?"
Kim Ryung hesitated before walking around the table. He grabbed the telephone, sticking the receiver to his ear.
"Is master in his office? Can you tell him Cheon Areum is here to see him."
Cheon Areum waited patiently. He wasn't really sure if Yoon Seoyul would agree to meet with him after last night, but from the way he kept clinging to him, telling him not to leave—maybe he would like to meet up. Yoon Seoyul was cold and aloof from the outside, but his heart was just as moldable. The guilt of him leaving the gate and hospital in that state must be eating him away from a corner of his mind.
"Alright, thank you."
Kim Ryung put the receiver down.
"The guild master would like to meet you."