Chapter 75

No matter how I looked at it, it was the same.

The Past Life Lucid Dream Skill had changed 180 degrees.

The EX, a Rank I’d never seen before, was one thing.

But another word caught my eye.

Cooldown: X

Until now, this had been the biggest drawback of Past Life Lucid Dream.

The fact that I never knew when I would have Ian’s Dream, that it was random.

But that was resolved in one fell swoop.

Now I could use it whenever I wanted.

Haha.

I don’t know whether I should laugh or not.

If I didn’t know anything, I would have been dancing with joy.

I might have even bought some sleeping pills to try and fall asleep again right away.

No, I’m 100% sure I would have.

The very next scene is about learning magic from a Dragon; I’d be an idiot to wait.

But just as the Skill had changed, so had my situation.

If I kept having Ian’s Dream, I’d end up with a terminal illness too.

This is where the problem arises.

How many more times do I have left?

How many more times do I have to witness Ian’s life before I become terminally ill?

Not knowing is driving me crazy.

It feels like dropping water one drop at a time into a cup that’s about to overflow.

Maybe.

Maybe I’ll still be fine even after learning all the S-Rank magic.

Maybe Ian figured out a way to escape his terminal illness.

And yet, I can’t bring myself to reach for it.

No matter how amazing Ian is, betting my fate on him is a bit…

I shook my head.

Let’s not overthink it.

It won’t be too late to think about it again after I’ve found all of Ian’s Traces left here.

As I was thinking, the scene Saint Ajadun had shown me came to mind.

So many Monsters and Demons that it was meaningless to count them.

The scene of them marching forward was worse than any horror movie.

A thought suddenly occurred to me.

What if they poured into reality?

“……”

That day would probably be humanity’s last.

Since I had been in that other world for a long time, I needed some time to adjust.

What was the last thing that happened?

But there was no need to retrace my memories.

Because the whole world was abuzz because of me.

[The Association has confirmed that Agent Choi Gi-woong can indeed raise an Awakener’s Potential Rank. Accordingly, the application rate for this year’s public recruitment at the Association has been confirmed to have increased by 350% compared to last year…]

[Choi Gi-woong-related stocks, these are the ones.]

[The possibility of Potential Rank growth, an economic effect similar to the discovery of superconductors.]

Themed stocks unrelated to me were soaring, and it wasn’t hard to find YouTubers who were excessively praising me with my face plastered all over their thumbnails.

The communities that loved to rank everything were also in an uproar.

-The Association made it official. Choi Gi-woong can really raise Potential Ranksㄷㄷ;

-But that’s not all of Choi Gi-woong’s abilities, right? Isn’t his Potential Rank S-Rank?

-That’s right. Does that mean our country is getting its eleventh S-Rank?

-How many does Japan have right now?

-They have ten too.

-Whoa, damn. If Choi Gi-woong becomes an S-Rank, does that mean we beat Japan?

-Gi-woong hyung! Raise me up too! I’m a perpetual D-Rank!

-Wait your turn.

The atmosphere was much better than I had expected.

[We’re filtering out the weird rumors and trying to build your image in the best possible way.]

Over the phone, the PR Team leader, who had been speaking in a cheerful voice, changed his tone.

[So, here’s the thing. This is a turning point for you, Mr. Choi Gi-woong.]

“A turning point?

[Right now, you’re famous because of the Potential Rank thing, not because of your activities as an agent.]

A sharp point.

[It wouldn’t matter if you were just going to shoot commercials and fool around, but it seems that’s not your goal, Mr. Choi Gi-woong.]

He was right.

The reason I tried to build my reputation wasn’t to become a superstar.

It was for power, the kind that could move the public with a single word, just like Seong Yo-han.

In that respect, I was definitely lagging behind Seong Yo-han.

After all, Seong Yo-han’s image was that of a hero.

[So, I was hoping your next mission would be a little more high-profile. Do you, by any chance, have anything in mind?]

Something in mind.

I do have something.

“I’m thinking of going to Jeju Island.”

When I answered without hesitation, the PR Team leader was taken aback.

[…Excuse me? Where?]

“Jeju Island.”

[…Jeju Island?]

“Is that a bad idea?”

[…From a marketing perspective, it’s the best. In a world where Awakeners are criticized for only shooting commercials instead of hunting Monsters, you volunteering to go to Jeju Island would do wonders for your image.]

Before I could even answer, the PR Team leader quickly added.

[But… I’m not an Awakener so I don’t know for sure, but I heard that place, Jeju Island, is extremely dangerous.]

“I have to take that much of a risk.”

[…Why don’t you reconsider? No matter how important building your image is.]

The PR Team leader gulped.

[That place. You have to risk your life to go there and back.]

As soon as I arrived at the Association, I was going to find Head of department Kim Yoon-joong first.

To get permission to go to Jeju Island.

But something else came up.

First, because of Im Han-na.

“Do you know how long I’ve waited?”

“Waited?”

“Follow me. Hurry.”

Im Han-na dragged my arm with a sullen face.

The place we arrived at was the Training Arena.

“Squad Leader Choi. Could I also have just one training session…”

“By any chance, do you need someone to do the dishes?”

As soon as we entered the Training Arena, people whipped their heads around.

The agents approached like starving beasts.

“Get lost. Aren’t you going to scram?”

The starving beasts disappeared at the roar of Im Han-na, who looked like she was on the verge of starvation herself.

“Honestly, they think their Potential Rank will go up just by sparring with Choi Gi-woong. Such ignorant fools.”

Having said that, Im Han-na began to warm up.

“What are you doing? Get up here.”

When I glanced at her, her face was colored with indignation.

“I am perfectly qualified. Don’t you remember last time?”

Last time.

I remember.

I had offered Im Han-na up as a sacrificial lamb to fight Seong Yo-han.

In return, I had promised to have a proper match with her.

Right. A promise is a promise.

No, there was a more fundamental reason than that.

“I understand.”

I nodded and stepped up onto the Training Arena.

Im Han-na grinned and gripped her Dagger.

“I can go all out, right?”

“Of course.”

“Just a few weeks ago, we were about evenly matched. It hurts my pride a little.”

Things were very different now compared to back then.

Now, I could probably handle five A-Rank masters of Im Han-na’s caliber coming at me at once.

As I thought this, I picked up a wooden sword.

The moment I did, Im Han-na tilted her head in confusion.

“…Why the sword all of a sudden?”

“I’ve always been decent at hand-to-hand combat.”

“But you weren’t serious about it. And your hand-to-hand combat felt more like a jumble of things you put together rather than a Skill.”

A sharp observation.

A War Mage’s hand-to-hand combat is less systematic and more like a hodgepodge developed from rolling around on the battlefield.

“I recently acquired a swordsmanship Skill.”

On the other hand, the swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat the Northern Grand Duke taught me are systematic and logical.

In terms of the System’s Rank, it’s a whopping S-Rank.

And the magic the Dragon will teach Ian is also S-Rank.

This is important.

If the Grand Duke’s Swordsmanship is satisfactory, then I don’t need magic for the time being.

Of course, to reach the next level, EX-Rank by the System’s standards, I’ll have no choice but to have Ian’s Dream.

But that’s just for now.

Finishing my thought, I swung the wooden sword around.

Whoosh- Whoosh-

It’s strange. The sword feels like an old friend.

My body’s movements are also incredibly smooth.

Im Han-na, who had been grumbling until just a moment ago, had a peculiar expression on her face.

“Looks like you got a good Skill.”

“Shall I go first?”

“No. I’ll come to you.”

The next moment, Im Han-na charged forward with all her might.

Pulling her left hand far back, she thrust her Dagger.

I resisted the urge to use magic.

For now, I’m only using the sword. Only the sword.

Instead, I pumped my Mana Heart.

Mana seeped into every cell of my body.

This is the method used by the Knights of that other world.

The only difference is that they do this not from a Mana Heart, but from a place called the lower Dantian.

The Mana filling my cells strengthens my body.

Whoosh-!

As if I had used [Absolute Sense], the world slowed down.

The Dagger Im Han-na thrust at me became infinitely slow.

I ducked down and then charged forward.

I pumped my heart once more.

This time, I infused Mana into the tip of my sword.

Just like the Knights.

And then, I swung.

Thwack!

Im Han-na, struck in the side, her eyes shot wide open.

Letting out a gasp, she crumpled to the floor.

It probably felt like her insides had been turned to mush.

But my body was just as sore.

Having moved my body recklessly without Buff Magic, my muscles began to scream in protest.

In the meantime, my brain reported the results of the recent experiment.

My movements are S-Rank, my internal energy is A-Rank.

In other words.

“All I need is enough Mana.”

Crack-

At the same time, the wooden sword broke.

One more thing.

I’ll need a good Item, too.

Actually, Mana isn’t a big problem. I can procure it somehow.

But the weapon is the problem.

As I was lost in thought, Im Han-na shrieked from the side.

“You shouldn’t go all out!”

“Jeju Island? You’re going there?”

“Yes.”

“Do you really have to go?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong tapped on the table.

He had a look of deep thought.

“Is it not allowed?”

“It’s not that it’s not allowed. The treasure of South Korea, Choi Gi-woong, wants to go.”

“……”

“Did that sound sarcastic?”

“Wasn’t it?”

“You’ve been promoted so quickly that you might not realize it, but you’re no longer at a level where you need my permission to act.”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong smirked.

“Well, to be honest, my heart wants to pack you a lunch and stop you from entering that hell. But what can I do if you want to go? Then you have to go.”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong let out a deep sigh.

“You’ll go even if I try to stop you, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then go. Dammit. A department head’s authority is in the gutter.”

He added, as if grumbling.

“You don’t know yet, but that place is hell. A hell where all sorts of Monsters and Demons live.”

I wonder.

In my opinion, Jeju Island seems better than the Demon Realm Forest.

And with the survival methods the Grand Duke taught me and the Saintess’s Divinity, it won’t be difficult to take care of myself.

“But you.”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong asked with a look of concern.

“You’re not feeling some kind of pressure, are you?”

“Pressure?”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong leaned forward.

“Like you absolutely have to achieve something special, that kind of thing.”

“No. Not particularly.”

Even though I answered, his expression was still doubtful.

“You know people are comparing you and Seong Yo-han these days, right?”

Why is he suddenly bringing this up?

“Seong Yo-han is also going to Jeju Island this time.”

Ah.

No wonder.

Now I understand why Head of department Kim Yoon-joong has been acting like this.

He’s worried that I might be overdoing it so I don’t fall behind Seong Yo-han.

I was about to smile and say that wasn’t it, but a phone vibrated.

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong’s phone.

After checking his phone, Head of department Kim Yoon-joong’s face crumpled.

“What the. Why is this guy all of a sudden…”

What’s going on?

The next moment, Head of department Kim Yoon-joong turned on the TV in his office.

On the screen, the words “BREAKING NEWS” were displayed in huge letters.

[Oracle Master, one of the Three Sovereigns, Ingrid Bergman, arrives in Korea. What could be happening?]

Suddenly, a memory surfaced.

-The Master said… that he would come here to find you. That’s what he said.

“This is crazy. What’s with that guy showing up all of a sudden without any notice?”

Awakeners of S-Rank or higher must contact and receive permission from a country before entering it from abroad.

Because they are no different from living nuclear weapons.

Furthermore, the movements of the Three Sovereigns, who are considered the S-Ranks of S-Ranks, are each extremely sensitive.

That’s why Head of department Kim Yoon-joong’s face had turned deathly pale.

I was surprised too.

I knew he was coming.

But he was coming without any notice?

“Hey. Let’s talk about the rest later. I’m leaving first.”

In the meantime, Head of department Kim Yoon-joong grabbed his jacket and quickly left the office.

I quickly got up and followed him.