Soul system:Return Of The SSS-Ranked Troublemaker-Chapter 37: Jeju Island (13) A Memories That Has Surface.
On a Mountain Peak
Jin stood at the edge of the mountain, letting the icy wind wash over him. His breath came out in misty wisps as he stared into the vast, quiet expanse.
"It’s so peaceful... it’s almost unsettling," he muttered to himself, his voice carrying a chilling edge.
Suddenly, his phone rang, breaking the silence. He reached into his pocket and pulled it out. The name on the screen made his brow furrow.
"Uncle."
"Uncle...?" Jin mumbled before answering.
"JINNN!!!" A raspy, old voice exploded from the speaker, nearly making him pull the phone away from his ear.
"Ugh, what the hell?! Don’t yell!" Jin snapped.
"I need you in Seoul. The Original Guild Center," his uncle said, his tone urgent.
Jin frowned. "Why?"
"Just get here, dammit!"
"I’m not going unless it’s important," Jin said, his voice firm.
His uncle sighed heavily before lowering his voice. "It’s about you... and a certain clan."
Jin’s eyes narrowed. "You mean that clan?"
"Yes. And your departure to Germany is coming up soon," his uncle added.
Before Jin could respond, the call ended. He groaned, pressing his fingers against his temple. "Tch, that old man just hung up on me..."
Exhaling sharply, he reached into his coat and pulled out a set of sleek, black-metal cards. Whispering an incantation in an ancient language, he activated them.
With a burst of dark energy, a massive creature emerged from thin air a towering, bird-like beast with metallic feathers sharp enough to slice through steel. Its onyx-black body gleamed under the faint light, and its crimson eyes glowed like molten blood. A thick, cloth-like covering shielded its back from the deadly edges of its wings.
Jin climbed onto the creature’s back, gripping the reins as it spread its bladed wings.
"Let’s go."
With a powerful flap, they soared into the sky, leaving the frozen mountaintop behind.
Back in the Forest
Zion, Sera, Masha, and the four other half-beasts stood in stunned silence.
"Shit..." Calvin thought, his breath still unsteady.
"W-What the hell just happened...?" Zion muttered, his mouth slightly open in disbelief.
Students passing by paused, watching the scene unfold, their murmurs growing louder.
"Yo, should we call a pro hero?"
"Are they seriously fighting to the death over a piece of cloth?"
"Back in Hitler’s era, people killed each other for a piece of bread."
"No shit, that was war. This is just a training exercise."
Calvin slowly sat up, his voice shaky. "S-Sorry... Did I scare you, Zion?" He clenched his fists, his disappointment evident. "My goggles... they help control my ability. I let loose... I didn’t mean to."
Zion studied him for a moment before offering a hand. "It’s fine," he said with a small smile, pulling Calvin to his feet.
As Zion dusted himself off, his gaze landed on Masha. She sat calmly on the ground, watching everything unfold, her expression unreadable. Her round eyes and slightly puffed cheeks made her look like a cute bear cub though Zion wasn’t fooled.
His brow twitched. "What’s with you?"
Before he could react, Masha suddenly launched at him, knocking him flat on his back. Zion gasped as she straddled his stomach, pressing her hands firmly against his chest to keep him down.
"What the hell—?!" Zion’s voice rose in frustration.
Masha leaned in close, her face only inches from his. Her golden eyes were practically sparkling with excitement.
"YOU’RE ZION?!" she yelled.
Zion blinked. "Uh... yeah? What’s it to you?"
Masha didn’t respond. Instead, she opened her mouth then her long tongue flicked out and licked his cheek.
Zion froze.
What the—?!
Masha grinned. "YOU’RE REALLY ZION ASYPHRE!!" she shouted. "Same taste as back then!"
Zion lay motionless, completely unable to process what just happened.
Then, like a floodgate bursting open, memories rushed into Masha’s mind.
Years ago, a much younger Masha had stood face-to-face with a quiet boy holding his mother’s hand. Without hesitation, she had licked his face.
Zion, even then, had barely reacted. "Why?" he had asked, his tone neutral.
Masha had beamed. "You’re my friend now!" she declared.
"Okay," Zion had replied without hesitation.
Turning to his parents, she had asked excitedly, "Auntie Zera, Uncle Zuki, can I borrow him?"
Zion’s mother, Zera, had chuckled. "Sure, just be safe!"
With that, Masha had grabbed Zion’s hand and dragged him away—sealing their bond in the weirdest way possible.
Back in the present, Zion’s brain was still catching up. He groaned, his face twisted in exasperation.
"...Masha," he muttered. "Get. Off."
Masha got off Zion’s stomach, stretching her arms.
"You’re that little girl from back then?" Zion asked, brushing the dust off his clothes.
"YES, I AM!" Masha grinned, practically bouncing with excitement.
Zion let out a deep sigh. "I see..." His gaze shifted to the four other half-beast women standing nearby.
His eyes landed on the smallest one. "Then that must be... Selka."
Selka, a petite half-beast girl, wore the same uniform as Masha. Her short black hair was neatly cut, framing her face. She gave a small nod in response.
Next, Zion’s gaze moved to a girl with a high ponytail. "Ivara."
Ivara smirked, flicking her dark hair over her shoulder. Her sharp, confident eyes gave off an air of mischief.
Then, he looked at the red-haired woman with spiky, untamed locks. "Rinara."
Rinara crossed her arms, huffing. "Took you long enough," she muttered.
Finally, his eyes rested on the tallest of the group. "Zaira."
Zaira stood with her arms behind her head, her bandana tied neatly around her forehead. Unlike the others, she wore jogging pants under her skirt, giving her a more relaxed, athletic look.
With introductions done, Zion and his team joined forces with Masha and her sisters. They spent the rest of the day gathering materials, exchanging supplies, and even helping Zion’s group get to the medical room to heal their wounds.
Meanwhile, outside the infirmary, Calvin sat on the ground, looking utterly defeated. Tears streamed down his face.
"Dammit... Zion gets to enjoy being surrounded by five half-beast women... while I suffer in loneliness," he sniffled dramatically.
Yin raised a brow, visibly confused. "What’s wrong with him?"
Seoul, South Korea
Seoul Guild Tower
Jin arrived in Seoul, stepping down from his massive, metallic bird before sealing it back into his card. As expected, a public appearance from a figure like him was rare, and the moment he landed, cameras flashed, and murmurs filled the air.
Without paying much attention, Jin strode into the guild tower, heading straight for the elevator. He pressed the button for the 20th floor, but as the doors slid open, he clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Tsk... it’s full." he thought.
Despite that, he stepped inside, forcing the employees to shuffle uncomfortably. The enclosed space buzzed with hushed whispers as people exchanged glances.
"Isn’t that the Hero of Trades?"
"The Card Master?"
"He looks even more badass in person..."
"Maybe I should try seducing him?"
Jin sighed, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "I should’ve worn my wedding ring..." he mused, indifferent to the murmuring around him.
The moment the elevator reached the 20th floor, the doors slid open, and as he stepped out, the atmosphere changed. A sudden, heavy pressure filled the air, unlike anything he had felt before.
Jin narrowed his eyes. Something’s different.
Jin stepped forward, his gaze locking onto his uncle, who sat at his desk, leaning forward with both hands clasped together. Two familiar figures sat on the couch nearby, but Jin’s attention was drawn to an unfamiliar young boy.
The boy’s eyes were... strange. Reversed.
The sclera was pitch black, while the pupils were stark white. His black shirt and pants were stained with fresh blood, but Jin barely reacted to the sight. Without hesitation, he strode past the others, his focus solely on his uncle.
"Uncle, what is it?" Jin’s voice was sharp, serious.
His uncle sighed. "Well, that boy—"
"Never mind." Jin cut him off and turned to face the child.
"Hey. Tell me what happened." His tone was firm, demanding answers.
His uncle groaned. "He doesn’t speak Korean, idiot."
Jin barely flinched. "Then speak in English."
A loud smack landed on the back of his head.
"Dumbass! He doesn’t know Korean OR English!" his uncle yelled.
Jin blinked. "Oh. My bad."
The air shifted as his uncle’s voice turned somber. "The Gyakumei Clan has been annihilated..."
Silence.
Jin froze. His eyes widened then locked in place, unblinking. Something deep inside him shattered.
Tears welled up in Jin’s eyes, but none of them fell. He covered his mouth and nose with his hand, trying to steady his breathing.
"I see... Is he the only survivor?" His voice was quieter now, almost strained.
His uncle sighed. "According to the boy’s story, he was saved by... Shiroi."
Jin’s eyes flickered. "Shiroi..." he muttered.
A name that carried weight. A name that pulled him back into the past.
Memories began to resurface faint, distant, but unmistakably real.
On a bright, sunny day, atop the rooftop of their high school, Shiroi stood with his messy hair swaying in the breeze.
"Hey, Jin! Let’s become the strongest heroes in our nations!" he declared with a grin. "I’ll be the SSS-ranked hero of Japan, and you " he pointed at Jin "you’ll be Korea’s SSS-ranked hero!"
Jin, sitting nearby with a book in hand, adjusted his glasses and sighed. "That’s a waste. You know we don’t have abilities and You’re already lucky to have the Reverse Eyes."
Shiroi blinked, then shrugged. "So what?"
He turned his gaze to the sky, his expression resolute. "I’ll surpass my father and bring justice to my mother. No matter what." He clenched his fist and raised it toward the sky, as if reaching for something beyond his grasp.
Jin looked at him for a long moment before closing his book. A small smirk formed on his lips.
"What an ambition."
