Chapter 163 : Chapter 163

Chapter 163

Seoul ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Special Self-Governing City of Superpowers, 4th Scholastic District.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was the hour when all students would have returned to their dormitories, and the awakened individuals employed by the academy would have left the 4th Scholastic District.

When ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the sunset made its brief appearance and vanished like this, only a sticky, clinging silence remained in the streets of the 4th Scholastic District.

That ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was because nearly all facilities were operated for the students.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍only signs of people were distributors transporting supplies, or students prowling alleys after breaking dormitory curfew.

Thus, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍unless there was a particular reason, anyone wandering about was bound to draw suspicious looks…

And yet, astonishingly, two figures no one would have expected were exchanging a secret conversation in a dark alley.

“I did not think you would come.”

“It is not somewhere I cannot go, considering I am the Director-General.”

An Hwigom and Baek Dojin.

Normally, if the Director-General moved, he would bring dozens of awakened individuals with him, but this time Baek Dojin had come alone to find An Hwigom.

His purpose was to issue An Hwigom an assignment, as the leader of Manyeong.

“When I last attended the regular meeting, I said I would withdraw from Manyeong.”

“You did. Although I did not grant permission.”

“I chose seclusion as a rightful privilege. No matter that you are the leader, you cannot violate the regulations, can you?”

“Of course, by regulation, one may enter seclusion without the leader’s permission. However, one clause caught my attention.”

Baek Dojin shifted his gaze in the direction of Hero Prep as he spoke.

“A person in seclusion must not involve himself in Manyeong’s affairs.”

“Are you saying I am involving myself?”

“Strictly speaking, it is not involvement. It is interference. Investigation cadet Ji Seokhyeon, whom you are training… Manyeong is judging that boy to become Manyeong’s greatest rival. Surely that is thanks to your excellent instruction.”

……

“Of course, I do not believe it was intentional. Manyeong has tentatively concluded that there is a misunderstanding here. Therefore, I would like you to prove it. Prove with your own hands that you have no ties whatsoever to a figure who opposes Manyeong.”

An Hwigom did not answer.

Baek Dojin continued coldly.

“Kill the boy yourself.”

……!

“I do not think you will need much time. You have spilled plenty of blood thus far. If we can confirm your innocence, we will not argue about your seclusion any further. …You know it well, do you not? That there have been only a handful who have managed complete seclusion from Manyeong.”

For a moment, the two stared at each other in silence.

From the beginning, there was no need for any other words.

An Hwigom wavered, and Baek Dojin pressed him harder.

No one knew better than An Hwigom what end awaited a person in seclusion within Manyeong.

Because handling such people had been his duty when he was active.

Even those who succeeded in complete seclusion were, for the most part, those already lingering at the edge of life.

Old age, curses, or suicide to protect their families…

Where did it all go wrong?

An Hwigom asked himself again and again.

When he had first set foot in Manyeong, it had not possessed such extreme tendencies.

Manyeong’s founding purpose had been singular: sacrifice for the safety and peace of Seoul.

In that process, they had spilled more blood than necessary, and they had earned notoriety in the underworld, but they had never once joined hands with Demonic Beings as they did now.

When did it become corrupted?

If he had to guess, it had been since Cha Jaehee, the founder of Hyeonseong Group, had died.

After all, it had been Cha Jaehee who had gathered like-minded people and established Manyeong.

After his death, and after the Gangneung incident thirteen years ago, Manyeong changed in many ways, both internally and externally.

The most defining change was Baek Dojin becoming Manyeong’s leader.

At the time, no one had been able to see through what ideology Baek Dojin truly held.

To think he was a viper with such grand ambition…

Not many years after Baek Dojin became leader, An Hwigom left Manyeong and chose seclusion.

Like a blind man, he had lived quietly, hidden away in the 4th Scholastic District.

Until today, when Baek Dojin came to find him.

So he has begun the leap of that grand plan.

Unfortunately, it was impossible for An Hwigom alone to oppose Manyeong.

Because Manyeong had Seo Junhyeop, the master of Blackcastle, the top-tier Hunter guild.

Seo Junhyeop was, by any standard, the finest Hunter.

He wielded a spear made of Platium, and unlike the first generation of awakened individuals, he belonged to the first elite generation raised with proper superpower education.

He had been a Hero Prep cadet whom An Hwigom had trained, the last one before Ji Seokhyeon.

I never should have brought that man into Manyeong…

For years, rumors had swirled that he surpassed even Kim Shinwoo, but recently those rumors had become accepted truth, to the point that people compared him to Sword Saint Kim Yuseong.

A genius of the era, beyond any comparison with An Hwigom, who was nothing more than a single hero.

And the one tasked with handling persons in seclusion—a role given to the strongest combatant in Manyeong…

An Hwigom briefly imagined fighting him, then a bitter smile rose on its own.

He surpassed me more than ten years ago.

Was there truly anyone in Seoul who could stand against Seo Junhyeop?

As though he had noticed An Hwigom’s anguish, Baek Dojin curved his lips into a subtle smile.

“Then I will await the good news.”

……

After leaving those icy words behind and turning away, Baek Dojin departed, and An Hwigom watched his retreating back for a long while.

A sense of powerlessness pressed down upon his entire body.

***

Hall of Protection, the main building of the Combat Division.

The combat cadets, having just finished the first morning lecture, all stretched in unison.

It was the first lecture of the second semester, after the long vacation had ended.

A crucial period, when following along too leisurely—as though it were a seasonal term—could result in failing to advance into the second year.

Even so, the cadets did not display competitiveness on the first day.

Instead, they began chattering to their hearts’ content about the unprecedented incident from two days earlier.

“Did you hear? They said Crystal sank.”

“Seriously, I was shocked when I saw the news. The sea level did not even rise, but it suddenly sank.”

“Honestly, it is not that strange. It was an island that suddenly rose up in the first place.”

“Damn, if I knew this would happen, I would have gone to Crystal as soon as vacation started!”

The massive news from yesterday in Pacific Crystal.

Crystal had sunk.

Because of that incident, all of Seoul was abuzz.

Some were belatedly turning it into gossip, insisting it had been inevitable, while others claimed it was related to a Rift and would soon affect the mainland as well.

They were, of course, absurd claims, but a story about an island sinking after thirteen years was more than enough to swell into countless shapes.

Like a legendary city said to have sunk into the sea long ago.

“But did you know there were Hero Prep cadets there?”

“What? Really?”

“You are blind. It is the first day of classes, and the kids who did not show up were at Crystal.”

The story that Hero Prep cadets had been at the scene.

That topic spread as far as Gong Minwu’s group.

“Minsang, did you see that bastard’s summoning?”

“Ah, Ji Seokhyeon… I saw it. But is it not strange?”

“Right? The media kept pushing him, so I wondered what was going on.”

“Hey, does it make sense that a guy who could only use a sword suddenly uses summoning? There must have been another caster nearby.”

The media had obtained footage from evacuee reports and broadcast a video of Ji Seokhyeon facing the monsters that poured out of the Rift alone.

Ji Seokhyeon’s unusual performance—already known as a probationary investigator of the Special Affairs Division—became an enormous topic, generating even more attention than Crystal sinking.

“I admit that the guy has a lot of talent for a social care beneficiary. But is it not a bit much? It feels like the media is making him stand out more than necessary.”

“Are they doing image-making?”

“It is marketing. They are exposing it to the world, saying that a social care beneficiary who just entered the academy is actually the greatest talent representing this generation. …They have to plant that much of an ideal, do they not, if they want those lowly non-awakened to bring their children to Seoul?”

“So they are planting vague hope.”

“Yeah. Without realizing that reality is something we step on. Heh.”

“True. The more those outer-district people increase, the better items sell.”

“Ji Seokhyeon probably does not even realize he is being used. My father says that no matter how well people from the outskirts do, they cannot surpass the limits of their breed.”

“Because monster hunting is not done alone?”

“Yeah. Those types are usually stubborn for no reason, and they do not know how to bow their heads. There is a famous saying, you know. In this line of work, coexistence matters more than talent.”

“Then Ji Seokhyeon should cling to the Special Affairs Division with everything he has. If he does not want to suffer as a freelance mercenary in his later years.”

“Hah. Do you really think he will become a full investigator? Why do you think the Special Affairs Division, which kept his identity hidden until now, suddenly revealed it? It means he is a card they will use and discard. When the Director-General election draws near, all sorts of things happen.”

Choi Minsang turned to Gong Minwu with a thoroughly satisfied expression.

As usual, Gong Minwu had been listening without a word, but for some reason his brow had tightened ever so slightly.

“M-Minwu? What do you think? Should we put him in his place before he gets even more full of himsel—”

Choi Minsang asked while hurriedly watching Gong Minwu’s reaction.

However, Gong Minwu responded with cold indifference.

“Choi Minsang.”

“Huh…?”

“Shut your mouth.”

***

The Pacific Ocean.

An evacuation ship, having escaped Crystal smoothly and now sailing toward Seoul.

I had come out alone onto the deck, quietly staring at the horizon.

Normally, I should have taken a plane and attended today’s first lecture, but I ended up unable to go.

Still, at this speed, would we not arrive at Incheon within a few hours?

“Haa… It is quiet. It has been so long since I have stared at the sea like this, absentmindedly.”

The incident at Crystal had come to an end, more or less.

Of course, various investigation teams would be formed later, but my role ended here.

They would soon realize that Rachel had vanished, and before long they would reach the conclusion that she had met her fate along with the island.

Yun Jeongseop and I judged that it would be better not to make this matter any larger.

Persuading him was difficult, but I barely managed to smooth things over by using an explanation about the Anti-Magic Potion as bait.

“He is lazy with his actions, yet why is he so quick-witted?”

Fortunately, Do Minyeong regained consciousness around the time she boarded the evacuation ship.

Cha Yeri, whom I met a little earlier, kept her promise and said she would not interfere in the matter of Gwon Chihun and Jeong Soyun.

There were no other casualties.

We safely Stowed the Lizardmen corpses, and I contacted Hyeonseong Express through Cha Yeri, so as soon as the ship docked, dozens of trucks would likely pack the harbor.

“But then… what is with Do Minyeong?”

Now that everything was proceeding appropriately, one thing continued to bother me: Do Minyeong’s attitude.

For some reason, her mood was entirely different from usual.

Even after being kidnapped by Rachel, she asked only about the overall situation and did not ask anything else.

Not about Rachel’s identity, not about her purpose, not even about why she herself had been abducted.

Surely… not.

One dizzying possibility came to mind.

But with Rachel already gone, there was no way to ask.

Staring at the black horizon, I swallowed several sighs.

Inheriting the Dragon Heart was, in many ways, a good thing, but…

Was it not said that God only gave trials humans could bear?

It unsettled me that the Avid Reader had given me the opportunity to obtain the Dragon Heart.

“What on earth are you trying to do?”

I, the original author, knew it best.

At this point in time, the character Ji Seokhyeon was an outlier.

A monster with a growth rate overwhelmingly faster than even Lee Eunho and Gong Minwu, who would be described in the latter half of the original work…

Had the Avid Reader known of my worry?

My smartphone suddenly vibrated, and an entirely unexpected message appeared.

“…Now what is this?”

It said that Training Instructor An Hwigom would be taking a leave of absence due to personal circumstances.