The next day, Ji-hoon woke up with a different kind of exhaustion. It wasn't just physical, but mental. His dreams last night had been filled with fragmented, chaotic memories—Min-jae's father's voice rambling about dimensional formulas, flashing images of laboratories, and occasionally, glimpses of his old life as a normal editor in Seoul. Two worlds, two identities, continued to wrestle in his sleep.
However, there was one thing he realized after last night's meditation and sensing practice: he was slightly more in control. When he focused, he could hold back the sudden waves of foreign memories. It was like having a valve inside his mind.
[Soul Fusion: 93%. Memory leakage can be mitigated with focus control. Continue training.]
The system message was brief, but it gave him confidence.
Today's schedule had a longer theory class. Teacher Choi discussed the social structure of the Hunter world and the major guilds. Ji-hoon took notes diligently. This was vital information for understanding the power map of his new world.
"Guilds are not just groups of Hunters," Teacher Choi said. "They are corporations, political institutions, and sometimes, states within states. The three largest guilds in Korea—Chrono Vanguard, Crimson Dragon, and Frost Lotus—control nearly 60% of high-ranking Gates and the Mana crystal trade."
Ji-hoon noted those names. Chrono Vanguard was the guild where his uncle, Dae-hyun, worked. From Min-jae's memories, the guild was led by a highly respected figure, Guild Master Yoon.
"You might ask, what does this have to do with you in the Remedial class?" Teacher Choi looked at his students, who were beginning to look bored. "The connection is simple: your choice of guild will determine your life path. Large guilds offer security and resources, but with high expectations and complex internal politics. Small guilds offer more freedom, but with greater risks and limited facilities. Understand where you stand."
Their position, currently, was at the bottom. But Ji-hoon didn't feel despair. As an editor, he knew every character had their own story arc. A protagonist didn't always have to join the strongest guild right away.
During the break, Ji-woo approached him with an excited face. "Min-jae, did you hear about the first practical mission?"
"Practical mission? Isn't that for regular students?" Ji-hoon asked.
"Word is, the Remedial class gets a chance too. But only for those judged 'sufficiently developed' by the teacher," Ji-woo explained. "It's a mission to an F-rank Gate near campus. Just clearing Goblins and collecting plant samples. But it's the first step!"
Ji-hoon could feel Ji-woo's enthusiasm. For students like them, even the smallest opportunity was a big deal. "When is the selection?"
"Next week. Teacher Choi will choose based on progress in physical training and theory." Ji-woo clenched his fist. "I have to be chosen. I need the merit points for the stipend."
"We'll both work hard," Ji-hoon said, smiling. He wanted to test his abilities in a relatively safe environment. An F-rank Gate, according to theory, was only inhabited by the weakest monsters. It was the perfect place for a first trial.
Seo-yeon also joined the conversation. "I want to go too. As a healer, even if my abilities are limited, I can be useful." Her eyes showed the same strong resolve.
It seemed that among the resigned-looking Remedial students, there was a small group that still held the fire of struggle. Ji-hoon felt glad to be near them.
However, during class, a message arrived on his phone. It was from Uncle Dae-hyun: "Come straight home. There is an important guest tonight. Wear something neat."
Ji-hoon frowned. An important guest? In the usually quiet Kang household?
Curiosity and a hint of anxiety stayed with him for the rest of the day at the academy. Even during physical training, his mind drifted to his home and the mysterious guest.
In the evening, Ji-hoon went home by bus. He changed from his academy uniform into a simple white shirt and black trousers, as requested. When he went down to the living room, the atmosphere had already changed.
The usually dim living room lights were now bright. There was the aroma of coffee and snacks prepared on the table. Uncle Dae-hyun was already sitting on the sofa, his face more tense than usual. Opposite him sat two strangers.
The first was a middle-aged man with neatly combed hair, wearing an expensive gray business suit. His face was friendly, but his eyes were like cameras, constantly observing every detail. Ji-hoon immediately felt uncomfortable.
The second was a younger woman, perhaps in her late twenties, still wearing a white lab coat. She held a tablet and occasionally typed, appearing to be an assistant.
"Ah, Min-jae. Come here," Uncle Dae-hyun greeted him in a voice trying to sound relaxed. "This is Director Oh from the Ouroboros Research Division, and his assistant, Dr. Lee. They wanted to meet you."
Ouroboros. The name was like a thunderclap in Ji-hoon's ears. Vague memories of labs, accidents, and his father immediately surfaced. He could feel his heart rate increasing.
[Warning: High emotional stimulation detected. Memories related to 'Ouroboros' accessed. Control your response.]
Ji-hoon took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm. He nodded politely. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Director Oh smiled, showing very white teeth. "A pleasure to meet you too, Min-jae-ssi. We at Ouroboros have followed your news closely since the accident. It is a great relief to see you recovering so well."
"Thank you," Ji-hoon replied shortly. He sat beside his uncle, feeling protected by Dae-hyun's presence.
"We came today for two reasons," Director Oh continued, hands folded over his knees. "First, to offer our deepest condolences for the loss of your father, Dr. Kang Min-soo. He was a brilliant colleague, and his loss is a great blow to the research world."
Ji-hoon just nodded, saying nothing. He sensed a hollow sadness behind Director Oh's words.
"Second," Director Oh continued, "we want to offer support. As the son of one of our best researchers, you are entitled to assistance. We heard you are now at Hunter Academy. Ouroboros has scholarship and internship programs for talented students, especially those with a certain… scientific heritage."
His eyes fixed on Ji-hoon with intensity. "We believe your father's interests and talents might flow through you. We want to give you the chance to learn directly at our facilities, understand your father's work, and who knows, perhaps continue it."
The offer sounded noble. But alarms blared in Ji-hoon's head. From the leaked memories, from Min-jae's father's warning not to trust Ouroboros, from his instinct as an editor used to plot twists—everything screamed that this was a trap.
Uncle Dae-hyun, who had been silent, finally spoke. "Director Oh, I appreciate the offer. But Min-jae is still in recovery and has just started the academy. It might be too early to burden him with such responsibility."
"Oh, of course," Director Oh responded immediately, still smiling. "This is just an initial offer. We are in no hurry. What matters is that Min-jae-ssi knows Ouroboros is here to support him." He turned to Ji-hoon. "How is your academy life? Have there been any interesting developments in your abilities? Sometimes, children of researchers like your father show a specific aptitude for… dimensional phenomena."
The question was too specific. Ji-hoon was on guard. "I'm still adjusting. My abilities are ordinary, according to the academy tests."
"I'm sure you're being too modest," Director Oh teased. "Your father was like that too. Yet, he was a genius who revolutionized our understanding of Gates."
The conversation continued politely but was filled with hidden tension. Director Oh kept trying to dig for information: whether Ji-hoon had experienced strange symptoms after the accident, whether he remembered anything about his father's research, whether he had felt anything 'unusual' lately.
Ji-hoon answered with safe, vague responses. He felt cold sweat on his back.
Director Oh's assistant, Dr. Lee, kept staring at him with a flat expression, as if collecting data.
After about half an hour, Director Oh finally stood up. "Well, we don't want to intrude any longer. Thank you for your time." He handed a business card to Ji-hoon. "If you need anything, or want to know more about your father's work, don't hesitate to reach out."
Ji-hoon took the card. It felt cold in his hand.
After they left, the atmosphere in the living room shifted instantly. Uncle Dae-hyun let out a long sigh, his face weary.
"I don't like that," he muttered. "They usually don't care about the families of 'missing' researchers. Unless there is something they want."
"What do they want, Uncle?" Ji-hoon asked.
Dae-hyun looked at him seriously. "I don't know for sure. But your father's research was highly confidential and valuable. There are rumors that before the accident, he was close to a major breakthrough in stabilizing Gates. Many parties want that data,
including Ouroboros itself, which supposedly lost all records in the incident." He looked down, his voice low. "Min-jae, listen carefully. Ouroboros isn't an evil organization, but they are pragmatic. If they are approaching you, it means they see value in you. Either as a key to your father's data, or… because you might have inherited something."
Ji-hoon felt a chill. "Inherited something?"
"Special abilities related to dimensions. It's rare, but it exists. And your father researched exactly that." Dae-hyun placed a hand on Ji-hoon's shoulder. "You must be careful. Focus on the academy first. Build your strength. The stronger you are, the harder it is for people to use you."
The advice made sense. Ji-hoon nodded. "I understand, Uncle."
That night, Ji-hoon found it hard to sleep. The meeting with Director Oh reminded him that he wasn't just dealing with monsters and lessons, but also with human conspiracies that might be far more dangerous.
He took out Director Oh's business card. The name was printed clearly: Oh Jin-tae, Director of Dimensional Research, Ouroboros Division. On the back was the logo of the serpent eating its own tail.
Without thinking, Ji-hoon tried something. He held the card and focused his sensing ability. He didn't just want to 'feel' the card; he tried to catch any remaining 'impressions' from its previous holder.
This was a breakthrough. Usually, his sensing was only on inanimate objects. But this time, he tried to go deeper.
A vague image appeared: a dark room with blue monitors, the hum of machines, and a feeling of… cold greed. It wasn't a clear picture, more like a lingering emotion.
Then, a single word echoed in his mind: "Anchor."
Ji-hoon gasped, dropping the card as if it had shocked him. That word wasn't from his own thoughts. It was like an echo of someone else's memory left on the card.
[Basic psychometric analysis detected. Ability developed: Psionic Resonance Sensing.]
[Warning: Accessing the residual consciousness of others can cause psychic contamination. Limit use.]
Psychometry. The ability to read traces from objects. It was still at a very basic level, but he had just obtained a vital piece of information.
Anchor. What did it mean? Was it a term from his father's research? Or a code for something?
Ji-hoon stored the card in a locked drawer. He would investigate later, with more caution.
The next morning at the academy, Ji-hoon carried the worries from the previous night. However, as he entered the classroom, an announcement from Teacher Choi caught his attention.
"Alright, next week there will be a selection test for the practical mission to the F-rank Gate 'Greenwood Cave'," Teacher Choi said. "The test is simple: a self-defense simulation against a single Goblin in a virtual environment. Those who survive the longest or show the most effective strategy will be chosen. Only three slots for the Remedial class."
Three slots. Ji-hoon looked around. There were about fifteen students in the class. The competition would be fierce.
"I will grade based on physical endurance, use of abilities (if any), and most importantly—survival cunning. Strength isn't everything," Teacher Choi added. "Prepare yourselves. The test will be held this Friday."
A competitive spirit immediately filled the air. Ji-woo nodded with determination. Seo-yeon looked nervous but excited. Other students began discussing with friends.
Ji-hoon knew this was his chance to take the first step. But he also realized he couldn't rely on his weak telekinesis in a direct fight. He needed a strategy.
During a break, he approached Teacher Choi.
"Teacher, may I ask something about the strategy for facing Goblins?"
Teacher Choi looked at him and nodded. "Of course. What do you want to know?"
"From the textbook, Goblins have poor eyesight in the dark, but their hearing and smell are sharp. In the simulation, will the environment be dark?"
Teacher Choi smiled, appearing pleased with the specific question. "The environment will mimic the conditions of Greenwood Cave—low light, lots of rocks and moss. Why? Do you have an idea?"
"I thought, rather than facing them directly, it's better to use the environment. Dropping rocks from above, for example, or creating noise to mislead them."
"That's good thinking for someone with limited strength," Teacher Choi praised. "But remember, in the simulation, the Goblin will be programmed to constantly chase the nearest 'threat.' Creating noise might distract it briefly, but not for long."
That conversation gave Ji-hoon food for thought. Perhaps his weak telekinesis could be used for small things: rolling a small pebble in the opposite direction or vibrating a stalactite to create sound.
After school, he didn't go straight home. He went to the small library in the academy complex and searched for books on survival tactics in low-level Gates. He read greedily, absorbing knowledge like a sponge.
As he was engrossed in his reading, someone sat across from him. Ji-hoon looked up.
It was Song Min-hyuk, with his ever-present smile.
"Very diligent, Min-jae. Looking for a way to pass the selection test?" he asked, his tone friendly but sounding sarcastic.
"Just reading," Ji-hoon replied briefly.
"I heard you had a visit from Ouroboros yesterday. Wow, impressive. The Kang family is always surrounded by important people." Min-hyuk leaned back in his chair.
"But be careful. Hanging out with organizations like that can be… dangerous. Especially for someone in the Remedial class. You might get crushed."
"I can take care of myself," Ji-hoon replied again, trying to focus back on his book.
"Sure, sure." Min-hyuk stood up. "By the way, good luck on the test. I'll be watching from the regular class. I hope you don't embarrass yourself too much."
After Min-hyuk left, Ji-hoon sighed. A rival like that was exhausting. But he didn't have the energy to engage. He had more important goals.
That night in his room, Ji-hoon practiced. He didn't try to lift heavy objects. He focused on precision and sensing.
He placed ten marbles on the desk. His task: move only one marble without touching the others. It was hard at first. His telekinesis was still like a hammer blow—crude and inaccurate. But after concentrating deeply, he began to 'feel' each marble individually. He chose one and gave it a very subtle nudge.
The marble moved, rolling slowly. The others remained still.
[Basic psychic control: 2.1%. Precision increased.]
A small improvement, but real. Ji-hoon smiled. This was like honing a writing skill. It required practice, persistence, and patience.
He also tried a wider sensing. With his eyes closed, he tried to feel the entire room: the furniture positions, the air flow, even the electrical vibrations from the wires inside the walls. Slowly, a mental map of the room formed in his mind. He could 'see' without seeing.
The exercise was mentally draining. After half an hour, his head started to ache. He stopped and drank some water.
As he lay in bed, his phone rang. Not a call, but a message from an unknown number.
"Min-jae-ssi, this is Dr. Lee, Director Oh's assistant. We wanted to remind you of our internship offer. Also, if you experience any unusual symptoms—strange dreams, sudden memories, or sensations of foreign energy—please contact us immediately. It could be important for your health. – Ouroboros Medical Division."
The message appeared to be medical concern, but Ji-hoon could read the hidden intent. They were monitoring him. They wanted to know if the 'symptoms' of transmigration or his power awakening were appearing.
Ji-hoon didn't reply. He deleted the message. He had to be increasingly careful.
Friday was approaching. The selection test, the first mission, pressure from Ouroboros, the academy rival, and the mystery of Min-jae's father—it was all piling up.
But beneath it all, Ji-hoon felt something new growing inside him: resolve. The resolve to not just survive, but to master his new destiny.
He might have come to this world as a victim of circumstance. But he would not remain a victim.
He would be the author of his own story.