Chereads / Serious? I'm not a hero! / Chapter 5 - Shadows in the Middle of the Night

Chapter 5 - Shadows in the Middle of the Night

Lee Hye-Rin stood at the rooftop, the night breeze blowing gently, carrying a biting chill. Her sharp eyes observed the figure that had just defeated the rogue awakener in such a flashy manner. Who was that person? How could they be so strong, yet unregistered in the association's database?

That thought spun around in her mind, increasing her curiosity. "The rank evaluation system couldn't possibly miss someone that powerful," she muttered softly.

She activated a small holo-pad on her wrist, scanning the battleground area. The names of awakeners registered with the association immediately appeared on the screen, but none matched the mysterious figure.

"Impossible," she hissed. "There's no trace of who he is."

Hye-Rin lowered the holo-pad, her gaze still fixed on the shadow walking away from the battle scene. She had to learn more. As the vice leader of the Crimson Lotus guild, she couldn't let someone that powerful roam freely without oversight.

At the Crimson Lotus headquarters, the atmosphere was bustling. This guild was one of the most influential in Korea, known for its incredible strength and resources. Lee Hye-Rin walked past other awakeners in training. All eyes turned to her, not because of her position, but because of the cold aura she always carried.

"Back already, Hye-Rin?" A muscular man, Kim Do-Hyun, the guild leader of Crimson Lotus, greeted her with a deep voice. He was a tough man but always respected Hye-Rin, who was known as a sharp tactician and a relentless fighter.

"Yes, but something strange happened." Hye-Rin cut straight to the point. She tossed the holo-pad onto the large table in the center of the meeting room, showing the recording of the battle she had just witnessed. "He's not a normal awakener. There's no data on him in the association."

Do-Hyun narrowed his eyes, watching the footage intently. "Someone this strong... without any record?" he muttered, clearly shocked. "Are you sure he's not using some kind of disguise?"

Hye-Rin shook her head. "I tracked every trace I could find, but there's nothing. It's as if he's a shadow that just appeared out of nowhere."

Do-Hyun turned his body and walked toward the large window overlooking the city. "Then we need to be more cautious. Whoever he is, he could be a threat or a valuable ally. But we can't let someone that strong roam unchecked."

Hye-Rin nodded. "I'll investigate further. If necessary, I'll meet him directly."

Do-Hyun looked at her seriously. "Be careful, Hye-Rin. Someone like that... could be more dangerous than they seem."

After leaving the headquarters, Hye-Rin returned to her apartment. Thoughts of the mysterious figure continued to haunt her. She sat at her desk, contemplating all the possibilities.

"Who are you really?" she thought.

But in the midst of her thoughts, she suddenly remembered something. "A disguise ring," she muttered. Something about the way he moved, how he seemed indifferent to his identity, made her certain that this man was hiding something much bigger.

Hye-Rin took a deep breath. She couldn't act recklessly, but her instincts as a fighter and vice leader of the guild told her that this mysterious man might hold the key to a major shift in the awakener world.

"Tomorrow, I'll dig deeper," she resolved silently, before closing the holo-pad screen in her hand.

That morning, the Seoul sky was covered in a thin mist. The dim sunlight gave a gloomy impression, mirroring Lee Hye-Rin's mood, which was clouded by questions. The mysterious figure she saw last night disturbed her sleep. No information made sense to explain who or what she was dealing with.

While staring out the window of her 20th-floor apartment, she felt a small vibration from the holo-pad on her wrist. A message came through. It was from Kim Do-Hyun.

"There's been a development regarding the person you saw last night. I need you to come to headquarters. We need to talk."

Hye-Rin's face hardened. Do-Hyun wouldn't summon her early in the morning if there wasn't something urgent. She quickly got up, put on her all-black combat uniform, and dashed out of the apartment at full speed. Crimson Lotus couldn't afford to fall behind in handling this potential threat.

"So, what did you find?" Hye-Rin asked as soon as she entered the meeting room. Inside, only Do-Hyun and another senior awakener, Park Ji-Hoon, who was in charge of intelligence, were present.

Do-Hyun looked at her seriously, not wasting any time. "He showed up again. This time in the western district. Just like before took down a rogue awakener effortlessly, but left no trace."

Park Ji-Hoon added, "He's like a ghost. No one knows who he is, and there's no record of him in the system. If he's not part of the association, it means he's operating under the radar."

Hye-Rin pondered for a moment. This man was clearly no ordinary awakener. His power couldn't be underestimated. "Could he be using a disguise ring or some other item to hide his status?" she asked, trying to make sense of the pile of inexplicable information.

"If so, it's not a typical disguise. Disguise rings are usually temporary and can't fully conceal such overwhelming power. I think we're dealing with someone who has more than just high-tier items," Ji-Hoon replied with a serious expression.

Do-Hyun then pulled out a holo-pad recording and showed the battle from last night. Hye-Rin watched carefully. The man's fighting style was so efficient, like a veteran who had fought many battles. But what stunned her was the sheer power he wielded. It was as if his strength was far too high for someone who had just appeared.

"Could this be—" Hye-Rin murmured, but she stopped herself. The thought was too absurd to voice out.

After the brief meeting with Do-Hyun and Ji-Hoon, Hye-Rin decided to dig deeper. She returned to last night's battle site in the western district. The area had calmed down, but the remnants of the fight were still clearly visible.

"Why are you hiding, hmm?" Hye-Rin asked herself as she surveyed the area.

Suddenly, she felt something—a residual energy still lingering in the air. "He was just here..." Hye-Rin thought. Without hesitation, she followed the trace. Her instincts told her the mysterious man might still be nearby.

As she tracked the energy, her mind swirled with speculations. Was this man a threat or an ally? How could someone wield such immense power yet remain undetected?

In the midst of her swirling thoughts, someone suddenly touched her shoulder.

"Excuse me, miss. Are you looking for someone?" The voice was low but calm. Hye-Rin quickly turned, and standing before her was a tall man with a faint smile on his face. Clearly, not an ordinary person.

"Who are you?" Hye-Rin asked, immediately on guard.

The man merely smiled, then vanished in the blink of an eye, as if he were a shadow. But before Hye-Rin could react, the man's voice echoed from behind her.

"I... am just someone passing by," he answered teasingly.

Hye-Rin whirled around, but the man had already disappeared again, leaving her in a state of confusion and frustration.