I Ascend Alone-Chapter 115: Ahn Mirae

Leon chuckled softly at my stunned expression, sipping his coffee like this was the most normal conversation in the world.

"Yeah. Mirae's been stationed in Korea the past couple years—mostly research work, plus some high-tier dungeon clearances with their guild system. But it's been nonstop over there. She said she needed a breather, a change of scenery."

I sat back on the edge of the bed, still processing it all. "So she's moving back in?"

Leon nodded. "At least for a while. Probably permanently, unless something major pulls her back out. She's been missing home. Said the air here feels lighter—even with the chaos lately."

I raised an eyebrow. "And you two have just been... managing long-distance this whole time?"

He gave a quiet hum. "Yeah. It wasn't easy, but we made it work. Calls, portals when possible... you'd be surprised how resourceful a married pair of S-Ranks can get."

I huffed a half-laugh. "I guess I would."

Leon's lips quirked into something close to a smirk, then he added, "You'll like her. She's intense, but fair. Sharp mind, sharper tongue. And don't let her looks fool you—she's the kind of person who'll dissect an Abyssal core while lecturing a researcher and throwing a spear at a mana beast all in the same breath."

"A spear?" I asked, curious now.

Leon nodded, his tone tinged with pride. "Custom-forged alloy. She channels her spells through it—arcane magic, precision-based. Uses inscriptions layered over the shaft to weave attacks into her strikes. When she's serious, it's like watching a storm move on foot."

"That... actually sounds terrifying," I muttered.

He chuckled. "Only if you're on the wrong end of it."

I let out a long breath. "Man. I feel like I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact you're married, and now I've got this mental image of your wife spearing monsters while doing science."

"Welcome to my life," Leon said, pushing off from the dresser. "We'll leave around ten, like I said. You can meet her at the terminal. She's flying in solo, no entourage."

I gave him a small nod. "Yeah... I think I'd like that."

Leon paused at the door, glancing over his shoulder. "Oh, and Ryzen?"

"Yeah?"

He grinned. "Don't say anything dumb when she gets here. She'll know."

I smirked. "No promises."

He left the room with a quiet chuckle, the door clicking shut behind him. I exhaled slowly, letting myself fall back onto the bed with a soft thump.

Ahn Mirae. Second strongest S-Rank in the country. Spear-wielding researcher. Married to Leon.

This day was only just beginning, and it already felt like a raid in the making.

-

The morning passed quickly after that.

I cleaned up, threw on a fresh set of clothes—dark jacket, boots, something comfortable but easy to move in just in case—and met Leon by the entrance. He had his keys in one hand, sipping the last of his coffee in the other, and gave me a simple nod as we stepped out into the crisp city air.

The roads weren't too busy this early in the day. City-A was still waking up, and the sky above was painted in soft tones of amber and blue. Leon drove a sleek black SUV—nothing flashy, but it purred like it had been tuned by a hunter-tech mechanic.

I glanced over at him as we cruised down the highway. "You nervous?"

He gave a short laugh. "Nah. She's the one who usually makes people nervous."

I leaned back against the seat, smirking. "You're surprisingly chill about this."

Leon shrugged. "She's my wife, not a storm deity. You get used to her."

I wasn't so sure about that.

The drive to the airport took maybe thirty minutes. Terminal 2 was where the high-clearance flights came in—mostly for Hunters, Guild Leaders, or VIPs. The kind of terminal where you didn't wait around in lines—you got scanned, cleared, and stepped right out. I could already see two armed personnel standing near the entrance, scanning for mana signatures.

We parked near the side lot and made our way to the arrivals zone.

A few moments later, the automatic doors slid open... and I felt it.

The presence that walked out wasn't just strong—it was refined. Like a blade that had been sharpened to the molecular level and still gleamed under moonlight.

Mana danced subtly around her, woven into the long, black coat she wore over a pale silver turtleneck and charcoal combat slacks.

Her high boots clicked with precise rhythm, and the curved shape of a collapsible spear handle was magnetically clipped to her back.

She had long, dark auburn hair tied back in a sleek braid, a few strands falling loose around a face that was both beautiful and severe—like someone who didn't smile often unless she meant it.

That was Ahn Mirae.

Top-tier S-Rank. Researcher. Spell-spear expert. And, apparently, Leon's wife.

Leon stepped forward like it was just another Tuesday.

"Mirae."

Her eyes flicked to him, and her expression instantly softened. Not by much, but it was there.

"Leon."

She walked straight into his arms and hugged him tightly—brief but real. Then she pulled back slightly, her gaze sliding past him to me.

"And you must be Ryzen."

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Her voice was smooth, but carried weight behind it.

I blinked. "I—uh, yeah. That's me."

Mirae tilted her head, studying me for a heartbeat longer than was comfortable, then nodded once. "You've got the look of someone standing at the edge of something deeper than he realizes. Good. That'll keep you alive."

Leon gave me a sidelong glance, smirking. "Told you she'd know."

I exhaled, then gave a wry smile. "You weren't kidding."

She turned back to Leon. "Any issues while I was gone?"

"None I couldn't handle," he replied simply. "How was the handoff in Seoul?"

"Clean. The node destabilized but didn't breach containment. Korea's Guild Union's more stable now." She reached back, tapping her spear lightly. "Still wanted to come home, though. Time to work on something more... meaningful."

I blinked. "Good things, I hope?"

A ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "We'll see."

Leon chuckled beside her and lifted her travel case into the back of the SUV.

As we loaded up and got into the vehicle, Mirae glanced around the cityscape through the window.

"Still feels the same," she murmured.

"Not for long," Leon said simply, settling behind the wheel.

I looked between them, the sense of momentum in the air hard to ignore.

It wasn't a battlefield or a dungeon this time.

But somehow... it still felt like the start of something important.

Something that might change everything.