Chapter 27 — Ice and Tea
The air outside the Union felt lighter. Not clean, not fresh, just… lighter. Like someone had turned the pressure down a few degrees.
Aken stepped down the front stairs with his hands in his pockets, shoulders loose, gaze drifting across the street like he had absolutely nothing to worry about.
Which, objectively, was a lie.
"…That went well," he muttered.
Miokuo didn't respond immediately. It almost felt like the blade was thinking about it.
Then, "Your definition of 'well' is highly questionable."
Aken smirked. "They didn't arrest me at list. Isn't that a high bar."
"…A low bar for me master."
"…It's still an effective one."
He stepped onto the sidewalk. Cars rolled past. People moved like they always did—talking, laughing, complaining, living. No one looked at him twice, no one noticed anything... Unusual.
Aken exhaled slowly. "…Feels like I just came back from another world."
"You often do," Miokuo replied.
"…Yeah, your right."
Buzz Buzz Buzz Buzz
His phone buzzed in his jacket pocket. He picked it up.
[Unknown number]
Aken stared at it for a second like it was about personally offend him.
"…Let me guess," he muttered, answering. "More problems?"
A calm voice responded. Cold, steady and familiar.
"Hello, this is Soo-ah."
Aken closed his eyes briefly. "…Of course it is."
"I need to speak with you."
"We already did that."
"Not over there."
A four second pause.
"…Then where."
"A café spot, you might probably know the place. Five minutes from your location."
Aken didn't answer right away. He looked up at the sky like he was reconsidering every decision that had led him here.
"…No I can't."
Silence, or a dramatic one to state.
Then, calm as ever—"That wasn't a request."
Aken sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "…I'm busy."
"No, you're not."
"…How do you know?"
"You're not."
Aken stopped walking.
"…Why me?"
"Because I want answers about a lot of things."
"You won't get them. But if still need it, why don't you ask grammarly or chatgpt ."
"Then I'll keep asking."
Aken stared ahead for a second.
Then huffed quietly. "…You're really annoying for a girl, you know that. I wonder what guys go through dating girls like you."
"I've been told worse."
"…Yeah, I believe that."
No one spoke for a while. Then—
"…Fine, I'll be there."
He hung up.
Miokuo spoke. "You accepted."
"…I got tired of saying no."
He started walking again.
"…Jae-Min can wait."
"…Assuming he survives?"
Aken snorted. "…If he dies, that's on him."
"Understood."
Aken stopped mid-step. "…That was a joke."
"…Partially understood."
"…You really need to work on your sense of humour."
"I am a weapon."
"…Yeah, we'll fix that."
Five minutes. Aken didn't bother walking the whole way.
"…Sprint."
The world snapped. Space folded in on itself— and then settled. He stood in front of a small café. Quiet, simple and completely normal. This was the same café he went to a few hours ago.
Aken stared at it. "…Why is it always a café?"
"Neutral ground master," Miokuo replied.
"…More like interrogation ground."
He pushed the door open, warm air hit him instantly. The smell of coffee filled the space—rich, familiar, almost comforting in a way that felt suspicious considering his day. A few Players sat scattered around. Low conversations, no tension, no danger.
Normal, completely normal. Aken's eyes scanned once—then landed.
Corner table, and who was waiting, non other than Soo-ah Ming. She looked… different.
No armor, no cold aura spilling into the room. Just a sweater, dark pants, hair slightly loose around her shoulders. For a moment—just a moment—she looked like any other girl waiting at a café for her boyfriend, just that Aken wasn't her boyfriend.
Then he remembered who she was.
"…Yeah, no way," he muttered under his breath.
He walked over and dropped into the chair across from her like he'd been invited.
"…You called for me."
Soo-ah didn't answer immediately, she just watched him. Not the same look as before, not measuring strength, not analyzing threat. Something else.
"…You actually came," she said.
Aken leaned back slightly, resting his arm on the chair. "Yeah as the saying goes, 'curiosity kills the cat'. For me, terrible habit."
"You don't seem like the curious type."
"I'm not. I just make bad decisions sometimes."
That almost got a reaction, almost. A waiter passed by. Aken raised a hand. "Tea please."
Soo-ah frowned slightly. "…Tea?"
He glanced at her. "You want me jittering on coffee while you question my existence?"
"I'm not questioning your existence."
"You called me to a quiet café and opened with 'I need answers.' That's not exactly small talk."
The tea arrived. Aken picked it up, blowing lightly on it. Soo-ah stayed quiet for a moment.
Then—
"You're not Level 1."
Aken took a sip. Paused. "…I am."
"No, you're not."
He lowered the cup slightly, giving her a look. "…You're really confident for someone asking questions."
"I saw the footage."
"Congratulations, should I give you a lottery."
"You fought something that killed higher-level Players."
"Yeah. Rough day."
"And you walked out alive."
Aken shrugged. "Even better day."
Her eyes sharpened. "…You're lying."
Aken didn't even hesitate. "Of course I am."
That threw her off. Just a little.
"…And you don't care?"
"Should I?"
She leaned forward slightly now, resting her arms on the table. "People died that day. Why don't care?"
The words sat between them. Heavier this time. Aken didn't respond immediately. He looked down at his tea.
"…Yeah," he said after a second. "They did."
No excuse, no explanation, just that. Soo-ah studied him more carefully now.
"…You don't react like other Players."
Aken let out a quiet breath. "…Other Players wait too much."
"For what?"
"The system. Confirmation. Permission."
"And you don't?"
He shook his head slightly. "If you wait, you're already behind."
That answer landed. Soo-ah didn't miss it.
"You move first."
"I move when it matters."
"You predict."
"I pay attention."
"You adapt faster than most."
Aken smirked faintly. "I like living."
Silence again. But this time, it wasn't tense.
Then—
"…Teach me," she said.
Aken blinked. "…What?"
"I want you to teach me."
He stared at her. Actually stared this time.
Then leaned back slowly, like he needed distance just to process that sentence.
"…You're Level 90."
"Yes."
"I'm Level 1."
"Yes."
"And you think this makes sense?"
"Yes at some point."
Aken let out a short laugh. Not mocking—just disbelief.
"…You're serious."
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."
He rubbed the back of his neck. "…You hear yourself, right?"
"Yes."
"And you still said it."
"Mhm."
"…You're super exhausting."
"I've been told that too."
Aken looked up at the ceiling for a second. Then back at her.
"…Why did you pick me?"
This time, she didn't answer immediately.
"…Because when you fight," she said slowly, "it looks like you've already decided the outcome."
Aken didn't interrupt.
"…Like everything else is just catching up."
That one hit. He didn't smile this time.
"…That's not something you get from leveling up," she added.
Silence. Then—
"I'll pay you."
Aken blinked. "…There it is."
She said the number. "One million won"
Aken froze.
"…Wait what."
"…Yes?"
"…Say that again."
She repeated it. "I'll million won"
Aken stared at her. Then slowly looked down at his tea.
"…Miokuo."
"Yes."
"…We might be broke."
"That is correct master."
"…We might need the money."
"Also correct master."
Aken nodded slowly. Then looked back up, face completely serious.
"…No."
Soo-ah's eyebrow twitched. "…You just—"
"I don't like responsibility on girls."
"This is training."
"That's worse."
"…How?"
"Students ask to many questions."
"…So?"
"I don't like answering them."
Soo-ah stared at him.
Then—unexpectedly—she exhaled. Almost a laugh.
"…You're ridiculous."
"I try not too be."
Another pause.
"…Fine," she said.
Aken blinked. "…That was easy."
"I'll just follow you."
"…oh no."
"Yes I will."
"…No."
"Yes."
Aken stared at her. "…You're serious."
"Very serious."
He leaned back again, staring at the ceiling. "…Yeah. This is my life now."
"…Good to hear."
Aken stood up, grabbing his tea and finishing it in one go.
"…You're paying next time."
"There wont be a next time."
"…That's what I'm afraid of."
He turned and walked out, hands in his pockets. Same calm expression, same steady pace. But something had changed. Because now— It wasn't just about surviving, it wasn't just about getting stronger. Now someone at the top… was watching him, trying to learn from him.
Miokuo spoke quietly. "Master."
"…Yeah."
"This situation is escalating."
Aken smirked.
"…Yeah I know."
He stepped into the street.
"…But I was getting kind of bored anyway."
And for once— that wasn't a joke.
END OF CHAPTER 27