Chapter 56 – The Value of Power | The Weight of Responsibility

The Worth of Gold

Kyung-min sat in the back of the sleek black sedan, the city passing by in a blur. His fingers idly tapped against the window as he turned to his butler, who was seated in the front.

"How much is gold worth these days?" he asked casually.

His butler, a seasoned man who had served the Han family for decades, glanced at him through the rearview mirror before answering.

"The current market price fluctuates, but for awakeners, the conversion rate is roughly 100 gold per 1 million won when exchanged at the Awakener Association."

Kyung-min nodded, mentally calculating. His estimated 1,200 gold haul from the dungeon would net him 1.2 billion won if liquidated.

Not bad.

"Would you like me to arrange for the Association to process your earnings, Young Master?" his butler asked smoothly.

Kyung-min considered it. Selling his loot now would provide a fortune, but—

"No. Not yet," he decided. "I'll hold onto it for now."

The butler simply nodded. "Very well."

Gold wasn't just money. In this world, it was power.

A Sister's Concern

The moment Kyung-min stepped inside his home, his younger sister rushed toward him, her expression caught between frustration and relief.

"Oppa!" she clung onto his arm. "How did it go?"

Her voice was worried but also carried a hint of expectation.

Kyung-min raised a brow at the sudden attention. Then—his sharp gaze flickered past her toward his parents, who were watching from the living room.

His father sat comfortably, arms crossed, giving his daughter a discreet thumbs-up. His mother, ever composed, pretended to sip tea, hiding a small smile.

Kyung-min nearly sighed.

They sent her to ask instead of doing it themselves.

He looked down at his sister. Her grip on his sleeve was firm. She wanted a real answer.

He exhaled.

"It went well," he said sincerely.

Her hold tightened slightly. "And?"

He softened his tone. "I came back safe, didn't I?"

She studied him for a second before nodding, satisfied with his sincerity.

Their father gave her another approving nod.

The Search for a Training Ground

After some light conversation, Kyung-min turned to his father.

"Do we have a place I can train?"

His mother frowned immediately. "You just got back. You should rest first."

His father tilted his head. "Isn't the private gym you've been using for the past month enough?"

Kyung-min shook his head. "I need something... disposable. Somewhere I won't have to hold back."

His father hummed in thought. "The backyard, then?"

His mother stiffened slightly. "Wait, what do you mean by 'won't have to hold back'?"

Kyung-min shrugged. "Just open space."

His father waved a hand. "Go ahead. But if you break anything, you're fixing it."

Kyung-min smirked. "Noted."

A Curious Observer

Kyung-min stepped into the expansive backyard, the wind cool against his skin.

It was large, well-maintained, and lined with reinforced barriers—built to keep wild beasts and even stray monsters away.

Perfect.

He stretched his fingers, mana surging at his call.

[Summon Skeletons – Level 5]

The ground shuddered.

Rattle. Crack.

Fifteen skeletal figures rose, their weapons clutched in bony fingers.

His younger sister, who had been secretly watching from behind the door, gasped.

A second later, she bolted toward him.

"OPPA!"

Kyung-min barely turned before she rushed past him—straight to the skeletons.

Before he could stop her, she reached out and poked one.

"...They're real!" she beamed, eyes sparkling. "I've always loved necromancers in novels, but I never thought I'd see one in real life!"

Kyung-min narrowed his eyes. "...You knew?"

She grinned. "I overheard the Association staff at the hospital. They were gossiping about it!"

She turned to the skeletons again, absolutely fascinated.

"So what else can you do?" she asked eagerly.

Kyung-min hesitated.

His sister had no idea what he had endured to get this class.

She only saw the cool fantasy aspect—not the suffering, the resets, the pain.

His mind flashed back to the abyss.

To dying. Over and over again.

To struggling for power in a place where he wasn't even meant to survive.

To the moment he had finally become a Revenant Necromancer.

And even now—he was weak.

"Oppa?"

His sister's voice pulled him back.

She was watching him carefully, concern creeping into her expression.

He sighed, messing up her hair.

"This isn't a novel," he said quietly. "This world isn't a game where words mean nothing. Everything carries weight."

She froze at his words.

Something about them unsettled her.

But before she could respond—

Kyung-min turned toward his skeletons.

"Step back."

She obeyed, though curiosity burned in her gaze.

The First Corpse Explosion

Kyung-min extended his hand toward one of his summoned skeletons.

[Corpse Explosion]

A dull hum of mana gathered at his fingertips.

A single thought—and the skeleton glowed red.

BOOM!

The ground shook as the skeletal warrior detonated, sending a shockwave through the backyard.

His sister gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.

The sheer impact of the blast left a scorched crater in the grass.

Kyung-min grinned.

The spell worked even better than expected.

But before he could analyze further—

"WHAT WAS THAT?!"

The household staff, the butler, and—most dangerously—their parents, rushed toward the backyard.

His sister's eyes widened.

"Oppa, what do we do?"

Kyung-min smirked.

"Hold on."

He grabbed his sister's arm.

[Abyss Step]

Darkness enveloped them.

A moment later—

They reappeared on the rooftop.

His sister barely had time to process before she burst into laughter.

Their parents and staff scrambled below, searching for them.

Kyung-min simply leaned back against the rooftop railing, his own chuckle slipping past his lips.

His sister wiped a tear from her eye.

"...That was amazing."

Kyung-min watched the backyard below.

His first real test of power in the outside world.

And it was only the beginning.

A Moment of Reflection

Kyung-min leaned against the rooftop railing, his sharp eyes tracing the clear blue sky above. His sister's laughter still echoed in his ears, but his mind had already drifted elsewhere.

Memories surfaced—soft, warm, untarnished by the harshness of reality.

His childhood with his sister.

The way she used to chase after him, stubbornly clinging to his sleeve whenever he went outside. The way she'd pout whenever he ignored her, only to brighten up the moment he paid attention.

The family trips where their parents had always been kind, patient—never the type to force their children into a mold. His mother's gentle but firm guidance. His father's quiet yet steady presence.

And their butler—the man who had always been there. Watching over them with silent understanding, never overstepping, but always ensuring the Han household ran smoothly.

This family...

They were his true treasures.

And that realization came with a heavy weight.

His fists clenched.

What if the dungeons, the Gates, the apocalypse itself ever reached them?

What if the horrors he had faced followed him home?

What if—one day, he wasn't strong enough to protect them?

A slow, controlled breath left his lips.

No.

That wouldn't happen.

He wouldn't allow it.

The fire inside him, once a quiet ember, now roared.

He had to grow stronger.

Now wasn't the time to celebrate victories.

It was time to prepare for war.

A Mature Decision

A soft pattering of footsteps pulled him back to reality.

His sister rushed to the backyard, slipping back into the house just as their parents and the household staff were still searching for them.

Feigning ignorance.

Clever girl.

Kyung-min exhaled before stepping down from the rooftop.

Enough playing around.

It was time to take responsibility.

He moved toward the house, his expression unreadable.

When he reached the living room, his voice was steady, controlled.

"Mom. Dad. Can we talk?"

His parents immediately turned to him.

His father raised an eyebrow. His mother set down her tea.

"Of course, son," his father said.

Kyung-min motioned toward the couches.

They followed.

Once seated, he bowed his head slightly.

"I want to sincerely apologize for what happened in the backyard," he said, his voice calm but firm. "It was reckless of me to test my abilities without warning you first."

His parents exchanged glances.

His mother looked slightly surprised. His father, however, seemed amused.

"It's just a backyard, son," his father said with a small chuckle. "We can fix it."

Kyung-min lifted his gaze.

"Even so," he said, his tone serious. "I should have handled it better."

Then—he pulled out his father's black card and placed it on the table.

His father's eyes narrowed.

Kyung-min didn't stop there.

A moment later, he reached into his storage ring—and with a flick of mana, a stack of gold coins clattered onto the table.

His mother's eyes widened.

His father's expression finally shifted, showing genuine surprise.

His sister, who had just peeked in from the hallway, froze.

His butler, ever composed, finally raised an eyebrow.

"That's… a lot of gold," his father finally said, his voice carefully neutral.

His mother, on the other hand, sighed deeply.

"You went in alone, didn't you?"

Before Kyung-min could respond, his butler spoke up.

"This happened because he went in solo."

Silence.

His father leaned forward, hands clasped.

"You cleared an entire dungeon alone?"

Kyung-min met his gaze evenly.

"Yes."

His mother exhaled slowly, rubbing her temples.

His father studied him carefully.

Then—he reached for the black card and slid it back toward his son.

"Keep it."

Kyung-min frowned. "I don't need it."

"It's not about needing it," his father said, voice steady. "You're an awakener now. Money isn't just money anymore—it's a tool. A resource. And from what I see, you're already proving that you know how to use it."

Kyung-min hesitated.

His father's expression hardened slightly.

"You risked your life for that gold," he continued. "It's yours. Keep it."

Kyung-min exhaled.

"...Fine."

He pocketed the black card again.

But then—he took out a portion of the gold and slid it toward his sister.

She blinked. "Oppa?"

Kyung-min glanced at the butler.

"Could you convert this into cash and give it to her?"

His butler nodded immediately. "Of course, Young Master."

His sister stared at the gold.

"But… why?"

Kyung-min leaned back.

"Because you're my sister," he said simply.

Her grip tightened slightly.

"...Thank you," she whispered.

A Family's Trust

His father leaned back in his seat, watching his son carefully.

"You're growing up," he murmured.

Kyung-min glanced at him.

"I never had a choice."

His father hummed.

"Even so. You handled this well."

His mother finally spoke.

"Just promise me one thing, Kyung-min."

He looked at her.

She met his gaze, her warmth carrying the weight of her concern.

"Stay safe."

A beat of silence.

Then—

"I will," he said.

His father exhaled through his nose.

"As for the backyard," he said. "Don't worry about it. Just don't get yourself killed."

Kyung-min smirked.

"I don't plan to."

His sister, still clutching the gold in her hands, watched him closely.

And for the first time since he had returned home—

She realized.

Her brother wasn't the same.

He had changed.

And he wasn't done changing yet.