After storming the Spider Nest and safely rescuing the civilians, Kade stretched out at home to treat his wounds.
On top of that, the system issued a brief notification:
[Weekend relaxation mode activated. No tasks will be issued temporarily.]
Kade wasn't sure whether this "holiday" was real—or if the system had just made it up.
Either way, with no tasks from the system, he felt unusually relaxed.
He even took the chance to binge K-dramas and catch up on the news. At times, he found himself quietly humming along to the OST of the drama he was watching.
His wounds from the spider attack healed faster than expected. Within two days, he was fully recovered, and the system remained silent throughout.
The room was quiet… and truth be told, Kade felt deeply lonely.
So, he decided it was time to visit the Hero Association, following the earlier invitation.
He planned his next steps:
"Go to the Hero Association. Then, find a place to train my Instant Teleportation skill. Next, find a new home..."
Kade glanced around his room. He could even see patches of dust forming squares near the window.
The room looked like a ruin, far less luxurious than the Spider Nest's lair.
"Hmm… a new home. Definitely a priority. I need to move out quickly."
With that thought, Kade changed clothes and stepped outside.
The system remained silent, despite his several calls, as if it was truly… on vacation.
"This is really a wonderful vacation, my mechanical friend!!!!"
The Hero Association building was in the city center—an easy to- find location. It had two layers of gates.
The outer gate was guarded by six people—actually, those who had failed the hero certification exams, or trainee heroes taking shifts. If they worked hard, they could get promoted.
Kade presented his invitation letter. The gate immediately opened for him. They tilted their bodies and smiled.
"Welcome! Please come in!"
"Mr. Kade, right? Have a good day!"
"Very professional demeanor," Kade silently praised in his mind.
In his previous life, Kade had spent a considerable amount of time in a similar position.
"Could be considered an old colleague."
The next gate had no guards. It was monitored by image sensors and energy recognition.
The glass gate automatically opened as Kade stepped inside, clearly recognizing his information.
A cold air swept across his face in the main building, carrying the metallic scent of high-tech equipment and a hint of antiseptic.
A place so clean it felt cold, much like the gaze of those watching him.
All eyes—heroes, staff moving through the main hall—turned toward him.
They didn't hide anything. Curiosity. Suspicion. A hint of fear mixed with expectation. The whispers continued incessantly.
"Is that him?"
"Doesn't seem very strong."
"The one who took down a vampire alone."
"No way… he looks… too young."
"Are they exaggerating his strength?"
"Impossible. He…oh, no"
Kade heard every single word. His ears were attuned to the slightest sound—a habit from his previous life, where whispers could signal an assassination.
He took a slow, light breath.
It was fine. This was just a new place. A new role.
The past would not repeat itself. Two entirely different lifetimes.
Although… he wasn't sure if he fit the role of a "hero." But when someone doubted him, Kade found it irritating.
As he approached the reception desk, the female attendant sprang up like a spring.
"Ah—Mr. Kade, right? Um… we received notification from headquarters. Please take elevator 7 to the 47th floor. Chairman Varron is waiting for you."
Her voice carried excitement. Perhaps it was Kade's appearance—something women naturally admired. She probably didn't expect the person who defeated an A-rank vampire to be a young, charming man. Handsome face, sharp jawline.
Kade bowed his head in thanks and walked on silently.
"I should have given her an air kiss," he thought.
Elevator 7, floor 47.
When the steel doors closed, Kade finally allowed himself to relax slightly. He leaned lightly against the wall, his eyes still on the control panel.
A part of him remained alert, as though this place could become a battlefield at any moment.
Ding—Ding—Ding.
The doors opened.
A long corridor with white walls and warm yellow lighting stretched before him. Silent enough to hear his own breathing. Portraits of notable heroes lined the walls. Some alive, some deceased.
At the end of the corridor, a man stood waiting.
He wore no armor, no cloak like typical heroes. Just a black shirt and gray suit, looking more like a businessman than a warrior. But the eyes… those eyes had witnessed more than anyone here. Deep as the ocean, impossible to read.
"Kade," he spoke, his voice low, almost inaudible. "Thank you for coming."
"You are the Chairman?" Kade asked, though he already knew the man. Varron—the founder of the Hero Association—was also…
"Yes. Call me Varron."
He turned and gestured for Kade to follow. Together, they entered a large conference room with windows overlooking the city.
Today, the sky was overcast, casting a gray light like a silver veil. It gave the room a strangely somber atmosphere… perfectly matching Kade's mood.
"You did well," Varron said. "Defeating a vampire—alone… I've reviewed the data. That wasn't a lucky victory. According to the latest records, you also defeated an ancient spider."
Kade remained silent, his fingers interlaced.
"What intrigues me," Varron continued, "is that you didn't exist in the system before. No training records. No certification. No history at all. It's as if you suddenly… appeared from nothing."
The observation hit a nerve.Kade's hands clenched unconsciously.
"Actually… I skipped the opportunity to apply as a hero before."
"Oh, that's not recorded—" Varron's surprised expression was genuine.
"I think… I didn't pass the hero selection. Maybe a gatekeeper position."
"Impossible—That's not funny."
In his previous life, Kade had truly been a gatekeeper.
But that was something he could not tell anyone.
"I'm just an ordinary person," Kade replied evenly. "I fight because I must."
Varron smiled faintly, as if the answer had been expected.
"You are humble. But whatever your motives, the Association still wants to officially invite you to become a hero. We need people like you."
Varron placed a black card with silver edges on the table. Plain, no markings. On it, two intertwined snakes and a silver shield.
It represented a C-rank hero. SSS was the highest, E the lowest.
"Temporary rank," he said. "We will evaluate you through a few missions. If everything goes well, you may be promoted immediately."
Kade looked at the card. Small. Thin. Light. Powerful.
C-rank was a rank he had never reached in his previous life at the Hero Association.
He touched it lightly and asked,
"What if I refuse?"
Varron crossed his arms.
"That's fine. But I don't think you want to fight anonymously forever. Without the card, many things will be restricted: access to information, missions, equipment."
"And if I accept?"
"You will gain legal authority to act. We will have your back. The public will know who you are."
The public will know who he is.
Those words made Kade's chest tighten. They struck a deep chord within him. He longed for recognition.
In his previous life, his name had been a curse to many. Hated, insulted, despised, avoided.
A name that made children cry, adults fear, and villains cautious.
The name of a demon.
He had lived—and died—in the shadows.
The feeling passed like a cold gust. Kade breathed lightly, then said:
"I'll accept, but on one condition."
Varron raised an eyebrow. "Condition?"
"I don't want anyone monitoring me. No 24/7 supervision. No forced team assignments I don't choose."
Varron smiled. "I knew you'd say that."
He turned the screen on the table toward Kade.
"And I agree. But in return… you must accept a small test."
"A test?"
"Yes." Varron pressed a button on the table.
The conference room door opened. A young man entered.
Around 19 or 20, messy brown hair, bright eyes, slightly… goofy. He wore light A-rank hero armor.
"This is Finn," Varron introduced. "You will spar with him. No need to win—he's A-rank."
Finn waved and smiled brightly. Warm as the sun, though quickly dimming like darkness.
"Hi! I'm your fan! I want to see you fight up close!"
Kade blinked. "…My fan?"
He thought to himself, A future SS-rank hero is my fan?
In his previous life, Finn had been a renowned SS-rank hero at 21. Many expected him to be the youngest SSS-rank hero in history. Sadly, he died on a mission.
"I heard from other heroes about you defeating a vampire. It was amazing!"
Finn said excitedly. "You don't have to hit hard! We're just sparring lightly—"
After defeating the Spider Nest, Kade had gained many achievements and new skills. He was eager to test them, especially his Wind-like movement skill.
Without waiting for Finn to finish, Kade stepped to the center.
"How long?" Kade asked Varron.
"Three minutes," Varron replied calmly. "Just defend. Don't counterattack."
"Oh, an ideal test," thought Kade—perfect for his newly acquired skill.
Finn gaped. "W-What!? I thought—"
Before Finn could finish, Varron's cold, deep voice rang out:
"Begin."
He placed a timer on the table. The battle officially started.
Finn charged immediately. Fast. Passionate. Focused Energetic.
Kade tilted his head slightly; Finn's punch sliced through the air, unbalancing him. The next kick was blocked with a simple movement, as if brushing dust off a coat.
Kade did not attack. He simply moved, defending perfectly with his Wind-like movement skill.
Light as a falling leaf.
Finn grew more bewildered. Over twenty attacks and he still hadn't touched Kade once. Not even a graze.
Varron observed every motion. In his eyes was undisguised admiration. This wasn't the skill of a novice—it was the mastery of a seasoned fighter, honed through countless life-and-death battles.
And Kade… remained calm, as if taking a stroll.
Inside, he screamed with excitement. This skill was amazing. Compared to his previous life, when speed relied solely on physical strength, he now felt truly one with the wind—light and free.
Finn was still attacking nothing but Kade's afterimage.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Three minutes passed quickly.
Finn collapsed, gasping.
"I… I give up! You're too fast! Watching the surveillance footage, it's clear you're an offensive type. I didn't expect you to be so good at defense."
Kade looked at him for a moment, then spoke in a voice so soft Finn almost didn't hear:
"It's because I've only just been granted this skill. Sorry, kid."
Varron stood, clapping his hands, smiling. It made him look slightly more approachable.
"Enough. I've seen what I needed. Beyond imagination. Your defensive skill is even—above S-rank."
His gaze softened slightly.
"Kade, welcome to the Hero Association."
Finn looked up at him in admiration.
Varron extended his hand.
The hero card lay in his palm like a double-edged sword.
The card displayed rank B.
"I think you deserve a B-rank the moment you step in… No, I believe this is just the beginning."
Kade stared at it for a long time.
A new person.
A new beginning.
A path he would have to pay for with everything.
He reached out and took the card.
"I'll do my best," Kade said.
"But I don't promise to always be a hero who follows every rule."
Varron laughed. "Neither can I. And sometimes, it's those cracks that make us interesting."
—-------------------------------
"Reng…Reng…Reng."
The call notification bell rang.
Varron gestured toward the door, clearly signaling that the meeting had come to an end.
"Details about your rank, personal access code, and a preliminary mission briefing will be sent directly to your device. The standard B-rank hero allowance will be transferred today."
The mention of the allowance was a subtle reminder: Varron knew far more about Kade's current living conditions than he let on.
"Finn," Varron's tone shifted to a gentle but firm command, "Take Kade to the equipment room on the 20th floor. He'll need a communication device and combat gear installed."
Finn, still catching his breath, sprang up, barely able to contain his excitement.
"Yes, sir! Let's go, Kade! You have to see the gear here—it's amazing!"
Kade gave Varron a measured nod, then followed the young hero out.
Meanwhile, a call had just been picked up in the meeting room.
The heavy door closed behind Kade. He felt the black hero card in his palm—cool, smooth, both a key to freedom and a sharp weapon.
The elevator doors opened once more, then shut again.
This time, it carried them from the formal atmosphere of the executive floor straight into the bustling heart of the Hero Association.
Kade's old life had officially ended. A new game… had begun.