Chapter 21

“We still have something to settle, don’t we?”

The executive director, sitting in the empty conference room, laid out the items first.

Ever since their Seals were broken, the ring and the necklace had been steadily emitting a dense Mana.

“Pick one.”

There didn’t seem to be a shred of lingering attachment in the executive director’s voice.

Is that the kind of caliber you need to become an executive director at a massive conglomerate like Ilseong?

I handed him his coffee and spoke.

“Which one would you rather have, sir?”

“I’m not a magic-user. I’ll just take what’s left.”

He answered so coolly that I was at a loss for words.

If he was going to put it like that, there was no reason to refuse.

I looked at the two items. Which one should I choose?

In truth, it was a meaningless question.

As if they’d been balanced on a scale, both contained the exact same amount of Mana.

It meant that it didn’t matter which one I picked.

“May I take a look at them before I decide?”

“Be my guest.”

Still, I had another reason for wanting to touch the items myself.

I was hoping I could unravel the ticklish clue to the realization I’d had when breaking the Seal earlier.

Honestly, I was a little anxious.

Anxious that what happened before was just a coincidence. That such an enlightenment was permitted only to Ian, not to me.

And so, half nervous and half expectant, I picked up both items at the same time.

Swoooosh-

Ah!

I almost cried out.

Out of joy. A reaction came the moment I touched them.

A ticklish stirring of Mana crawled up into my mind.

The next moment.

Boom!

It felt like a whole new universe of stars was pouring down.

There was no visible change. My Mana Capacity hadn’t increased, nor had its density thickened.

But something had definitely changed.

It was a phenomenon that occurred as the knowledge, which had been jumbled in my head like a tangled thread, smoothly unraveled.

If I had to put it into words, yes. My magic Comprehension Level had gone up by a ton.

If I had a Status Window, wouldn’t a message like this have popped up?

-Skill Comprehension Level increases dramatically!

-Mana efficiency for all Skills increases dramatically!

-Cooldown for all Skills is reduced by 30%!

One more thing.

I don’t know if I can call this a bonus, but…

I found a way to cure the Mana Disease without pain.

Abraxas’s Absolute Ring: An item in which the Mana of the dignified Lizard Abraxas has materialized.

Rank: S

Equipment Restriction: B

Effect: Cannot be confirmed.

Effect 2: Cannot be confirmed.

Effect 3: Cannot be confirmed.

As expected, both items had an Equipment Restriction.

It meant you had to be at least B-Rank to even wear them.

“I’ll take the ring.”

They were the same anyway. I chose the smaller one.

“Did you check the item information?”

“Yes.”

“I suppose it’s not quite something you can use, is it?”

“It has an Equipment Restriction.”

“My, my, I don’t think there’s anyone else who feels sorry for giving away an S-Rank Item.”

The executive director scratched his cheek with a troubled look.

“I’m grateful enough that you’re keeping your promise.”

“How are you planning to handle it? It won’t be easy to sell, either.”

“Would you be willing to buy it, sir?”

“I’d be happy to, but I don’t think the owner is willing to sell.”

This guy is sharp.

I admitted it readily.

I never thought I’d be able to wear it myself in the first place.

Nor did I need to.

I hadn’t paid much attention to the physiology of Awakeners before, so I didn’t know.

But once I started looking into it seriously, I could see it.

Things like Skills or traits were nothing but imitations of the real magic and swordsmanship in Ian’s world.

It goes without saying that the same applied to the items that assisted them.

“If you’re not going to sell it, and you can’t use it… this makes me even more curious. Can you tell me what you’re going to do with it?”

I’m going to melt it down completely.

Into my body. As I said, the Lizard’s Mana is like a top-grade Elixir to me.

If I can just do that…

I gave a vague explanation, and the executive director nodded.

“So, you’re saying you have a use for the item?”

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

What is this? Did he think I was going to say I didn’t need it?

I cautiously put my guard up and listened to his next words.

“I’m going to make you two proposals.”

“?”

“First. If you just promise to join Ilseong, the necklace in my hand will also be yours. Right now, if you want.”

What?

He said it so nonchalantly that I thought I’d misheard.

But his next words confirmed that I had heard correctly.

“The reward for the second proposal is the same. The necklace.”

“What do you want from me?”

I thought my voice would tremble from the sudden shock, but it was surprisingly calm.

“I’m thinking of entrusting you with a job. All you have to do is succeed.”

“Are you sure it’s alright for you to just give it away based on your own judgment, sir?”

“Have we already become close enough to worry about each other? I like it.”

To be precise, I was worried about myself. No matter how favorable Ilseong was toward me as a whole, taking two S-Rank items was a completely different story.

“The first proposal, about going to Ilseong… do I have to decide now?”

“Of course not.”

So I could take my time to think.

Just what on earth did this man see in me to say something like this?

At this point, I was starting to wonder if there was some conspiracy I didn’t know about.

“The job you mentioned for the second proposal is…”

“I can’t tell you yet. The time isn’t right.”

As I thought.

It wouldn’t be an ordinary job. It was an S-Rank item, after all. Risking my life would be the bare minimum, I was sure.

As I was thinking, the executive director threw out a comment.

“You, you weren’t a black agent, were you.”

“……!”

“Others might not have known, but Head of department Kim Yoon-joong, at the very least, should have. From what I can see, even he doesn’t know your true worth.”

“……”

“You break an S-Rank Seal like it’s a piece of cake, but you’re an F-Rank Awakener. And yet, you have information about Mana Patterns that even most high-ranking Hunters don’t know. Isn’t that a little strange?”

The executive director’s eyes glinted sharply. Gulp. I swallowed.

“Could there be something amazing about you that I don’t know? That’s what I started to think. So I’m taking a gamble.”

“Is that all?”

“Life is all about probability. If it succeeds, it’s a jackpot. If not, well… I’ll just have to think I lost a piece of junk I couldn’t use anyway.”

This…

His nerve was way too big. It’s not often I get like this, but… I’ll be honest. I think I got a little swept up in the executive director’s pace.

“Well, take your time to think about it. I think I’ve shown you where my heart is. May I ask you one question?”

“Of course.”

I was willing to answer not just one, but ten questions. The goodwill the executive director had shown me was that great.

“When do you plan on revealing your hidden claws?”

The answer to that had been decided long ago.

When I could use Intermediate Magic about ten times without strain.

When I was clearing the D-Rank Dungeon with Team leader Kim Jeong-su, twice was my limit.

Until yesterday, it was four times.

After absorbing the residual Mana from breaking the Lizard’s Seal earlier, it became five.

And if I melted the ring, it would be nine.

The last one…

I didn’t know it would be this soon either. I looked the executive director straight in the eye and said,

“It will probably be tomorrow.”

For some reason, the executive director showed immense satisfaction at the word “tomorrow.”

-It doesn’t matter which one you choose, so think it over.

With a “see you next time,” the executive director returned to Ilseong. He had to start by ousting the general manager, so he probably had a mountain of work to deal with.

The same went for me.

As soon as I left the conference room, the next person was waiting for me.

“What did that bastard say?”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong looked at me with a crooked expression.

“Did he say he’d give you the ring or the necklace if you moved to Ilseong?”

I had hidden the ring well, wrapping it in several layers of protective shields so its sticky Mana wouldn’t leak out.

“Or did he offer you the general manager position? Damn it. That bastard looked pretty smitten with you earlier.”

When I just smiled awkwardly without answering, Head of department Kim Yoon-joong’s face grew more serious.

“It’s not my place to say, since I’m the one who threw you into that hellhole Ilseong. But are you thinking of going?”

“Are you going to try and stop me?”

“A guy who breaks an S-Rank Seal out of the blue? Of course I have to stop him. You think I’d just let you go?”

I couldn’t tell if he was complimenting me or just annoyed.

I didn’t bother to answer.

Let him stew a little.

In truth, I had already decided to stay here. It wasn’t just because of Han Seung-hoon. This incident made me realize it quite keenly. In the end, even a super-conglomerate like Ilseong was under the power of the state.

I was convinced by the agents’ nonchalant reactions even when the general manager was coming to the Association.

I was also curious to see how far I could climb within the Association.

“We can talk more about that later. About you breaking the Seal earlier.”

I tensed up again after having relaxed for a moment.

I didn’t know what he was going to ask, but I figured I’d just say Head of department Han Seung-hoon did everything. As I was putting the puzzle pieces together in my head…

“That… has been processed as your achievement.”

An unexpected statement came out.

“Not Head of department Han Seung-hoon’s?”

“It gets complicated if Han Seung-hoon is involved. Let’s just say you did it all. That’s what we decided.”

“Then Head of department Han Seung-hoon’s reinstatement…”

“Will be difficult. Separate from the general manager being a son of a bitch, it’s true that Han Seung-hoon pushed Im Seong-joon to go to the S-Rank Dungeon.”

So that’s how it turned out.

“If you really want to get him reinstated, you can use that favor you have with me.”

“It’s not that important.”

It would be a waste to use it on this. The deadline was still far off, anyway.

“Damn, I’m scared to owe you a favor. What kind of incredible thing are you planning to ask for?”

“I’ll have to think about it carefully.”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong snickered when I said it like a joke.

“Besides me, you should look forward to the Association President’s gift too. He’ll probably call for you as soon as he gets back.”

Come to think of it, there was that too.

The reward for taking down the colossal giant that was Ilseong was greater than I had thought.

While I was lost in pleasant daydreams, Head of department Kim Yoon-joong gestured toward me with his chin.

“So, what did you want to say?”

“What I wanted to say?”

“You’re wearing a face that says you have a ton to say, so what’s with the act? Spit it out. I need to go home.”

Something to say.

Right. There was something I’d wanted to say for a while now.

I was just mulling it over, not knowing how to start. Since it’s come to this, let’s just go for it.

“Wi Jeong-rak. I’m going to save him.”

Calling me crazy, or asking what nonsense I was spouting all of a sudden.

I expected an immediate reaction like that, but there was none.

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong stared at me intently. It felt like he had a lot he wanted to ask but was holding back.

He let out a shallow sigh and said,

“Are you confident?”

“Yes.”

At my answer, he looked me up and down. But his expression was… somewhat strange.

“Alright. If it’s you, I should at least believe you once, even if you say you can make soybean paste from red beans.”

What is this? Is he actually giving me permission?

“Fine. If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility this time. If those JW bastards touch you, I’ll crush them myself, so don’t worry and go stir things up.”

I thought I’d have to persuade him for a long time, so getting his permission in one go felt strangely anticlimactic.

But this was no time for other thoughts.

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong asked in a serious posture.

“What support do you need?”

After a moment of thought, I looked out the window.

I could see a child squatting near the Association entrance. The kid was shivering in the cold, but was staring endlessly toward the lobby as if waiting for someone.

I unwrapped and popped the candy I had been saving into my mouth.

“I’m all I need.”

Inside a dark iron cell. The general manager was in handcuffs.

A man staring at the general manager from outside the bars clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk. How did you end up here?”

“I know, right? It’s all my fault for managing my subordinates poorly. How is the Chairman? Is your daughter’s health alright?”

“I don’t think we’re on terms to ask such things.”

When the man called Chairman showed his discomfort, the general manager changed his expression and said,

“I’ll get straight to the point. Please help me just this once.”

“When making a deal, aren’t you supposed to show your hand first? I believe that’s how it was when I supplied Elixirs to Ilseong.”

“What do you want?”

“You’re wrong. I’m leaving.”

“I’ll give you an item. An S-Rank. It has the name Abraxas on it.”

The man who had turned his back paused.

Stroking his chin, he said casually,

“Even I can’t get you out of here.”

“I’m not asking for that much. Just… take care of one person for me.”