-An Awakened one...? - Kim Ji-Deon whispered to himself, clenching his fist.
A strange sensation stirred in his chest. It wasn't pain or excitement — more like a quiet vibration from within, as if some unknown energy was trying to break free.
He focused, staring intently at his hand. For a moment, nothing happened… and then—his vision suddenly shifted. The world around him grew slightly hazy, then seemed to be overlaid with a strange, translucent film.
His eyes moved to a potted plant in the corner of the kitchen.
And at that instant, a holographic panel flared to life above it—shimmering, delicate, as if woven from pure light:
[OBJECT ANALYSIS]Object: Potted PlantRank: EName: Aglaonema
-This power... - Ji-Deon's lips curled into an involuntary smile. It was crude — but it worked.
He concentrated harder, turning his gaze inward as if peering into himself. The panel flickered, and new lines appeared:
[ENTITY INFORMATION]Name: Kim Ji-Deon / Kim HyeolAge: 18Abilities:・Kim Hyeol — [Assessment / E-Rank]・Kim Ji-Deon — [Spirit Link / E-Rank]Element: None
He blinked.
-I... have two abilities? - he whispered, hardly believing it.
-Spirit Link...? What does that mean? Can I just see them? Or...?
-Damn... You really do have two abilities?! - a voice exclaimed behind him.
Ji-Deon spun around.
Floating in the air was a ghostly figure — faintly flickering, like film caught in the wind. It was... Kim Hyeol.
His eyes widened, cold goosebumps crept across his back, and his fingers curled into fists on instinct.
-What the... are you... a ghost?- The spirit glanced down at his own body—or rather, its semi-transparent copy—and suddenly screamed:
-A-A-AHH!! I'M A GHOST?! Did I... what... die?!-
-Of course you're dead, - Ji-Deon replied coldly. - I took your body, after all. And seriously... who in their right mind downs a handful of pills in front of their parents?
-How do you know that?!- Kim Hyeol's eyes widened in shock.
-I saw it all. Everything that happened to you.- Ji-Deon stepped closer, his voice slicing like a blade through nerves. -You killed yourself while your parents were home. That's not just weakness. That's... cruelty.
-Shut up! - Hyeol shrieked. -You have no idea what I went through! They broke me! Like an animal! You'll never understand... you had everything!
-Oh, please, just shut the hell up, - Ji-Deon cut him off with a sneer. -Don't start that pathetic monologue — 'who had it worse.' I'm not about to get lectured on suffering by a ghost in his pajamas.
He turned his back and started to walk away.
But Hyeol snapped.
-You bastard! I saw your memories! You had a decent home, food, classmates who didn't beat you! You could stand up for yourself! But you threw it all away! Because you wanted to please everyone, help everyone! If I had a life like that — I would've
He stopped mid-sentence.
Ji-Deon spun around and, without thinking, lunged forward and grabbed the ghost by the throat.
Hyeol's eyes went wide with terror—he hadn't expected Ji-Deon to touch him, let alone choke him. The ghost trembled like a kite caught in a storm. Ji-Deon's fingers, somehow, gripped his phantom neck—half-formed, but real enough to hurt.
But when Ji-Deon saw real tears streaming down Kim Hyeol's face, he recoiled. Let go. For a moment, he was frightened—frightened by the reflection of himself he saw in the other.
Hyeol, gasping and coughing, wiped his tears and muttered:
Y-Your... dad told you to stay home. Where are you going?
Ji-Deon said nothing.
Silently, he slipped on his worn-out sneakers and stepped out the door without looking back.
The stairwell was peeling, the walls scrawled with graffiti. He quickly made his way down to the first floor and pushed open the front entrance of the apartment building.
What he saw made him freeze in the doorway.
Gangnam-gu, Year 2035.Ji-Deon stood frozen, taking in the breathtaking view.
Once merely a futuristic district of Seoul, Gangnam-gu now looked like it had been ripped straight out of a cyberpunk dream—entwined in glowing holographic ribbons, shimmering in shades of neon blue and pink. The air vibrated with the low hum of anti-gravity engines, and the sidewalk beneath his feet glowed softly, reacting to the footsteps of passersby.
-Gods... I live in Gangnam-gu, yeah, but in the slums meant for people like me... and even those streets look like this? Then what the hell do the rich streets look like?-
But the most incredible part was in the details.
Storefront signs flickered, shifting fonts with every blink, while holographic projections floated lazily in display windows instead of actual merchandise. The breeze carried the warm scent of Hotteok—sweet fried buns—blended with the metallic tang of ozone trailing from flying cars. Somewhere around the corner, faint music played in the distance.
Ji-Deon took a deep breath and started walking.
His feet led him instinctively toward a small shop, nestled between the prestigious Hanul Academy and a narrow alley cluttered with food stalls. The school looked like it belonged to another era—its brick walls stood in stark contrast to the hyper-modern surroundings, as if someone had deliberately preserved this fragment of the past.
The shop was tiny, with a hand-painted sign that read: Yujin-a Market. The door creaked as he stepped inside.
And that's when he saw her.
The girl sat behind the counter, head bowed. Her long black hair, usually pristine, now hung limp and dull. She didn't look up—not even when the door closed behind Ji-Deon.
But the most terrifying thing was in her eyes.
They were empty.As if all hope, all fear had been drained from them, leaving behind only a quiet resignation. A tired wait for the end.
Near the shelves, three boys in Hanul Academy uniforms loitered, muttering to each other and casting mocking glances at her. One of them deliberately knocked over a can, which clattered loudly as it hit the floor and burst.
-Hey, Yujin,- the tallest one grinned with false sweetness.
-You're looking extra pale today. Maybe it's about time... you disappeared?
The girl— Yujin-a —didn't even flinch. She just clenched her fists slightly on her lap.
Ji-Deon didn't react to the taunts or the sleazy jokes. He kept wandering between the shelves, pretending to browse for a drink. His fingers ran along the edges of the bottles — testing their weight, thickness, and grip... just like he used to do back then, when he was searching for the perfect tool for a ritual.
He didn't even realize he was doing it again—checking if the neck would bend, if it could be shattered easily, if it could strangle without leaving a trace...
A crinkle of plastic. Footsteps.
The three boys swaggered up to the counter, arms loaded with snacks and cheap alcohol. One of them—the tall, skinny one with the smug smirk—leaned over toward the girl behind the register. His voice oozed arrogance:
-You know us, right? So I'm guessing, like always... you'll just ring it up as zero. Yeah, sweetheart?
He winked at her. Her face twisted in fear. She lowered her gaze and gave the slightest nod. Her fingers trembled as they gripped the scanner.
And then—almost inaudibly, more like someone else's voice escaping his lips—Ji-Deon whispered:
-...Assessment.Name: Hayato TakeshiAge: 18Abilities: [Flame Fist — D-Rank]Element: FireHidden Weakness: Insects
Ji-Deon tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing.
-A D-rank ability. So, physically, he's not exactly weak. But… afraid of insects? Amusing.
The boys left the shop laughing, dragging their bags of beer and snacks behind them. One of them slapped the girl on the shoulder hard enough to nearly knock her into the counter.
The silence that followed felt unnatural. Even the distant city noise—the hum of ads, the drones, the floating displays — seemed muted here, as if sound itself was being dampened by reality.
Ji-Deon stood still, thoughtfully watching the shadows between the shelves.
-Why do I feel like this... - he murmured. -Why is there this pressure in my chest? I... I don't even know her...
-You don't,- came a quiet voice beside him. - But I do. She was my childhood friend.
From the empty air, Kim Hyeol appeared — pale, translucent. His eyes were heavy with sorrow, and his form trembled faintly, like a soul barely clinging to this world.
-Shit, you scared the hell out of me, - Ji-Deon snapped, clenching his fist. His heart thundered—but after the adrenaline spike... came silence. Dangerous. Familiar.
He instinctively stepped back behind the far shelves and leaned against the wall. His hand brushed his pocket, and he realized he was clenching it so tightly it felt like he was trying to crush the cash inside.
-How long has she been dealing with this? - he asked hoarsely.
-Since middle school, maybe... - Hyeol answered quietly, his eyes fixed on the girl.
His lips trembled. And in that moment, Ji-Deon felt so much rage, he could've killed Hyeol with his bare hands. Childhood friend? And you did nothing? He loathed people like him with every fiber of his being.
He reached into his coat, pulled out a mask, turned it over in his hands, then slipped it over his face. It pressed slightly against his temples — but felt... right.
He took out 7,000 won from his pocket, stepped up to the counter, and placed the mask in front of the girl.
- I'll take this.
She lifted her gaze. Her eyes were... hollow. Like someone who had already left this world from the inside out.
-That'll be 6,500 won... - she whispered faintly.
He leaned in closer and whispered again:
Assessment.Name: Choi Yujin-aAge: 18Ability: [Invisibility — E-Rank]Element: NoneWeakness: Fear of Hayato Takeshi
She rang up the purchase without once meeting his eyes. He slipped the mask into the bag and stepped out into the street.
The midday Gangnam-gu greeted him with noise and color. He paused.
Roughly 300 meters ahead, he spotted the trio of boys turning into a dark alley. Their steps were uneven, their laughter loud and careless.
Kim Hyeol hovered beside him, his form flickering.
-Hey... hey, what are you planning to do? - he asked, sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere.
-You know where that guy lives, don't you?- Ji-Deon asked, his voice flat.
-Yeah, but why do you need to know anything about him?-
Ji-Deon turned his head slightly.-Tell me—does your childhood friend matter to you at all?--If the answer is yes, then tell me everything you know about him.Because tonight… we might pay him a visit.