That morning, the first snow fell. Minho woke earlier than the sun and ran around the complex, warming up his body that had been idle for too long. A daily routine he'd almost abandoned because he had planned to retire.
But the world had other plans, because he had to fill his stomach, at least to pay the rent that was almost due, or he'd have to sleep on the streets during winter.
His footprints left identical marks on the path he traveled, indicating the accuracy and precision of his movements.
"That's ten laps. Now it's time to increase the tempo," Minho said as he headed to the corner of his boarding house filled with homemade gym equipment.
Three hours passed. The floor where he trained became slippery, wet with his sweat. Beside him, dozens of water bottles lay scattered. While finishing another bottle of mineral water, he opened his phone.
"Enough for today. Next, I need to shower," he said while standing and wiping his body that was steaming with sweat.
Morning training, check. Shower, check. Dagger, bandana, sword, elbow guards—nothing was missed. Minho didn't tolerate a single mistake.
If the world judged people by diligence and discipline, his life should have been far different.
But the world never looked at effort. It was all about results. Nothing else mattered.
"Here we go again," Minho said, walking away from his most comfortable dwelling toward the cruel world he couldn't let go of.
After walking quite a distance, he arrived in front of the gate shown on his phone's map. But just before he stepped in, a guard who had just noticed that Minho was still F-rank stopped him.
"Don't be reckless, young man. Didn't you read the Association's official rules?"
Minho was irritated, his hands clenched. He wanted to punch the guard but held back.
"But sir, I didn't... I mean, I can raid an E-rank gate alone."
The guard frowned. "I understand what you want. But this is for your safety."
Minho cursed inwardly, then turned back in frustration.
It constantly repeated itself. The humiliation he had to endure just because he was once praised.
If he could choose, he'd rather have never been known at all.
In the middle of his heavy walk with mixed-up thoughts, the sound of small footsteps ran toward him.
"Mr. Minho! Please stop for a moment."
Minho turned around and saw a woman running breathlessly toward him. At a glance, it was clear the woman wore expensive equipment—her background seemed no joke.
With breath still unstable, the woman pulled out a ranker ID card. "I-I'm Hyerin. Nice to meet you."
Hyerin? Minho tried to remember if there was a D-rank healer he'd ever known.
"Weren't you trying to enter the gate?"
Minho didn't answer immediately. In his mind, maybe this woman just wanted to bully him for still being F-rank.
"No, I just happened to be passing by and..." Minho's words were cut off.
With a sullen face, the woman continued. "Do you want to be my bodyguard?"
Minho was shocked. Because he just remembered his old friend, old man Kim, who had a granddaughter named Hyerin.
"Aren't you the granddaughter of old man..."
"Don't mention that name. I hate it," Hyerin said, cutting off Minho's words.
Minho immediately flared up. "Your grandfather is a hero. He fought for the country!"
"You old people are all the same," Hyerin said irritably.
Hearing Hyerin call him an old person made Minho want to laugh. Because they were only two years apart in age.
"Always the country, society, the world. When will you think about me?" Hyerin continued angrily.
Minho immediately understood the loneliness Hyerin felt. Because Minho was no longer noticed—that attention was something he could no longer get.
"Now just tell me what you want."
"I want you to help me rank up."
"Haaahh??"
Minho scratched his head. He no longer understood how this woman's mind worked.
"There are many other rankers who can help you. Why does it have to be me?"
Once again, Hyerin frowned. "You stubborn old people, your heads are all filled with sand. I'm a healer, not a damage dealer type. How can I level up if I don't heal?" she said while opening her small bag and taking something out.
"Look at this. This is you, isn't it?"
Minho was shocked. How did this woman get the CCTV footage from when the gate break happened at the station?
With a sly smile, Hyerin continued.
"You don't want this to spread, do you?"
Minho's expression hardened. He didn't expect old man Kim's granddaughter could figure out his true identity. But Minho still denied it.
"No, that's not me."
"You think I don't recognize you? The most competent person to be the number one ranker in the country, but so unlucky. The Broken Ranker."
Minho reflexively covered Hyerin's mouth with his hand.
"You, damn you, old man Kim's granddaughter. Fine, I'll help you, but don't bring that up again."
Hyerin laughed quietly because her plan succeeded—getting the ranker with the best mechanics in the country to raid with her.
"Yay, finally, Mr. Minho will help me. As for payment, you don't need to worry, I'll handle it."
"Whatever. Let's hurry and finish this. But only for today," Minho said, rushing back toward the gate with a half-smile he was holding back, like getting two birds with one stone.
Meanwhile, at the subway station where the gate break occurred, it attracted the attention of several important people, including Hyunwoo.
"Captain, look at this!" Jinho shouted, calling out to Hyunwoo, who had arrived late.
Hyunwoo, who was still standing near the police line, rushed to meet Jinho, leaving behind several people who had just arrived with him.
With enthusiasm mixed with tension, Jinho pointed to a spot beside the destroyed pillar.
"Look at this, these marks." Jinho pointed to the cleanest floor among all that chaos.
Hyunwoo's expression hardened because he realized something that shouldn't have happened there.
Before Hyunwoo could react, Jinho continued. "Just like ten years ago when Minho hyung..."
Hyunwoo immediately reacted by cutting off Jinho's words.
"Quiet. Don't bring that up again. Didn't we already agree?"
Jinho immediately shut his mouth. He'd almost leaked the secret between them.
"I hope you can help me keep this a secret. For Minho Hyung's sake," Hyunwoo said while looking into Jinho's eyes seriously.
"O-okay, captain."
The inspection continued. Total losses, casualties, and all evidence were recorded.
Hyunwoo sat on the broken concrete while opening his phone, looking again at the photo of the five-person party that once shook the world.
"Minho hyung, I hope this time you won't refuse my invitation again."