The language of the Engraving Book cannot be deciphered.
A select few awakened individuals are born with engravings related to translation and interpretation.
These Hunters have even succeeded in translating the languages of the worlds beyond the gates—the realms known as the Otherworlds.
Because of this, it was assumed that the Engraving Book’s language could also be translated using the same mechanism. However, the result was the complete opposite.
The strange mana within the Engraving Book rendered even the power of engravings ineffective.
Translation, interpretation, and decryption—none were possible.
It was impossible to even determine what linguistic system the text belonged to.
<You have read the complete Chronicle of the Frost Abomination. A choice is now available to you.>
But this Engraving Book was an exception.
The original text of the Engraving Book, Glacia’s Diary, had a magic spell applied to it.
The effects of the translation spell were not erased by the book’s mana. Instead, they were amplified under its influence.
A spell that had become even stronger allowed Si-woo to read a language that should have been impossible to decipher.
<Select the engraving you wish to obtain.>
<Fragment of Samael’s Soul>
<Mark of Demon Hatred>
Si-woo stared at the final page of the Engraving Book, forced to make a decision.
The first engraving was called Fragment of Samael’s Soul.
Even without an official engraving assessment from the Association, he could easily guess its abilities.
“It would turn me into another Glacia.”
In terms of power alone, it was top-tier. Since it dealt with ice, it aligned perfectly with what Si-woo had been searching for—an engraving infused with yin energy.
An engraving that had transformed Glacia—who had never even learned magic—into such a monstrous existence.
There was also the risk of losing control of his body, but with the Foxfire of the Nine-Tailed Fox, it was a risk he could bear.
“Ha… This level of nonsense is almost impressive.”
With a self-deprecating chuckle, he erased the thoughts that had surfaced in his mind.
If his only goal was strength, then as a Hunter, the correct choice would be to take on the risk in exchange for power.
After all, growing stronger was the most certain way to increase his survival rate.
But if power was all he had been after, Si-woo wouldn’t have chosen to walk this path in the first place.
If he truly utilized the Symbol of Allure—the absurdly powerful engraving he possessed.
‘I could become incomparably stronger than I am now.’
A few months ago, he had already been able to charm B-rank Hunters.
Now, he was confident he could even captivate A-rank Hunters.
If he chose to use them, he could gain several times more power with less than half the effort he was putting in now.
Even as he was now, if Si-woo fully utilized his charm ability, he could captivate B-rank Hunters.
If he overexerted his engraving, he could even enthrall Hunters who were borderline A-rank.
There was no need to try so hard.
He could receive elixirs and Engraving Books as tributes from the Hunters he charmed.
If his only goal was to grow stronger, there was a much faster and simpler method—monopolizing the rewards that should have been shared with them.
That was the proper way to use the Symbol of Allure.
Charm them, and with enough time and effort, he could even make them completely dependent on him.
If he wanted to use such a power in the most efficient way possible, the surest method was to abandon the humanity and conscience he had fought so hard to protect.
And treat them as nothing more than slaves.
“If I were going to do that, I wouldn’t have become a Hunter in the first place.”
From the moment he decided to become a Hunter, Si-woo had set a clear standard for himself—to preserve his humanity.
When he died, whether he ended up in heaven or hell or somewhere else entirely,
He wanted to be able to say with confidence that he had lived a life without shame.
No matter what others thought, he wanted to be a person he could respect.
“If I choose Fragment of Samael’s Soul here, I’ll definitely become stronger.”
If he was lucky, he might even be able to suppress the Symbol of Allure’s power without Baek Eun-seol’s help.
With a choice that offered nothing but benefits right in front of him, Si-woo asked himself a question.
‘If I meet Glacia again, will I be able to look her in the eye?’
Impossible.
At least for the Si-woo who still had a conscience, it was absolutely impossible.
How could he stand before the woman who had lost everything to Samael?
Even if he used this power to save countless people, Could he truly say—without regret—that he did not regret choosing this power in front of Glacia?
“Yeah, enough nonsense already.”
For Glacia, who had once smiled at him.
Si-woo engraved the second choice onto his body.
Regret was something to deal with after death.
After finishing their exploration, Si-woo informed the others that he would forfeit all item rights and settlement fees from this gate.
He had lost control and recklessly read the Engraving Book.
It was an extremely rare item that could only be obtained from at least an A-rank gate under the most brutal odds—yet he had taken it for himself.
Regardless of how much he had contributed to the boss fight, consuming an Engraving Book on his own was against any reasonable code of conduct.
‘Even I have to admit, that was pretty shameless.’
Im So-yeon and Saria both said they didn’t mind, but Si-woo refused again.
In the end, they were the ones who conceded first.
The three of them compromised by splitting the settlement fee evenly, and Si-woo nodded in satisfaction.
“So, what now? Are we heading straight back to the Academy?”
“I’m going to check out my new engraving before returning. Do you two have anything else to do?”
He also planned to get his Symbol of Allure properly assessed.
He had never undergone a detailed evaluation for its ranking and finer details.
“Then So-yeon and I will handle the byproducts from the gate and head straight to the Academy.”
“Sorry for dumping the annoying stuff on you two.”
“If you’re really sorry, just treat us to a meal later.”
“Same here. If you feel that bad, don’t just say it—prove it with your actions.”
Si-woo nodded at their words and turned toward the Association.
It had been a while since he walked this road to the Hunter Association.
‘Strange… I can’t really feel people staring at me today.’
Si-woo, always sensitive to gazes, found it odd.
Even though he had suppressed his engraving’s power, nothing else about him had changed.
If anything, since he had grown stronger, the number of stares should have increased compared to before.
‘No, it’s definitely gone down.’
Even compared to a few months ago, the number of eyes on him had noticeably decreased.
There were still plenty of people showing interest in him, but many were too focused on their phones or busy moving around to even spare him a glance.
Normally, the mere fact that he was male would have made it impossible for women to look away from him.
Feeling a strange sense of unease, Si-woo stepped inside the Association and headed straight for the reception desk.
“Can I get an engraving assessment today?”
The response came back immediately—no issues at all.
Except for January, engraving assessments were almost nonexistent.
Obtaining an Engraving Book was as difficult as plucking a star from the sky, and awakenings always occurred without exception on January 1st.
With his priority pass, Si-woo arrived at the assessment room and filled out the necessary paperwork.
“Please wait a moment.”
However, the assessment process took time.
A precise evaluation required more than just one or two magic tools.
Detailed information about the engraving, its rank, and its characteristics all had to be analyzed.
On top of that, the system would attempt to identify any mythological or historical figures that might have influenced the engraving.
It wasn’t a simple test that could be completed with the press of a button.
Knowing this, Si-woo planned to pass the time at a nearby café.
He had no idea he would run into someone completely unexpected there.
“I told you several times already—I’m not interested.”
“Come on, just this once. It’s not like I’m asking a stranger—I’m the one asking you.”
“Unni. I quit being a Hunter four years ago. Even if I were still in my prime, my skills are already gone.”
Jet-black hair that gleamed like obsidian.
The same leather jacket she had worn a year ago, paired with tight-fitting jeans that accentuated her figure.
Si-woo spotted a woman in an outfit so familiar it almost bored him.
He approached her without hesitation.
“Seo-ha noona, what are you doing here?”
“…More like, why the hell are you here instead of at the Academy?”
Yoo Seo-ha, wearing an expression of disbelief at Si-woo’s sudden appearance, took a sip of her Americano.
“I figured I might as well get a proper engraving assessment while I was out.”
“At this point, I’m starting to think this isn’t just coincidence but fate.”
“Well, every time I visit the Association, I run into you.”
“Would you quit it with the ‘noona’ already? It gives me chills.”
Si-woo chuckled at her usual reaction before shifting his gaze to the woman seated across from her.
Deep blue hair and striking red eyes. A familiar sight.
Noticing his stare, Yoo Seo-ha introduced her in an indifferent tone.
“Ah, this is Kang Hong-yeon. She’s the Guild Master of Arkineth.”
Arkineth Guild Master?
Si-woo barely had time to be surprised by the unexpected appearance of such a major figure before Kang Hong-yeon, who had recognized him, stood up and leaned in close to his face.
“So, you’re that boy?”
The one who bewitched my daughter.