Chapter 78

After the meeting ended, people poured out of the conference hall.

From the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the ruling party’s President.

For some reason, everyone looked rushed.

But the person the reporters were most interested in was from the Association.

“Mr. Seong Yo-han. You’re out early. Could you tell us what the result was?”

“If the contract with Oracle is signed, it’s being hailed as the greatest diplomatic achievement since the ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty. How are you feeling?”

The reporters bombarded him with questions.

But something was strange.

Seong Yo-han, who had been so confident before going in, had a peculiar expression for some reason.

“Well…”

Seeing Seong Yo-han’s expression, the reporters guessed.

It fell through.

Just as they were waiting for an answer with a bitter feeling.

A bombshell dropped from one side.

“Hey! Find Choi Gi-woong!”

“What?”

“I said find Choi Gi-woong! We have to find him first!”

The quick-footed reporters suddenly left the scene.

The atmosphere instantly descended into chaos.

“They’re saying Choi Gi-woong joined hands with Oracle!”

“Where is Oracle now?”

“At the airport. They’re about to depart.”

“Is it a live broadcast?”

“Yes. It’s still on.”

The PVS News Bureau conference room.

The intern, sensing the mood, turned on the monitor hanging in the corner.

-In a moment, Oracle, who made a surprise visit to Korea, is scheduled to depart. This is Incheon International Airport…

The excited announcer’s voice burst through the screen.

Amidst it all, the camera focused on one person.

It was Choi Gi-woong.

“Wow. If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve gone straight to Choi Gi-woong.”

No Yoon-jung, a reporter specializing in covering Awakeners, voiced her sense of futility.

“I suffered for a week chasing only Seong Yo-han, and for what? Suddenly he’s doing something with Choi Gi-woong?”

“Did you see the contract details that were released?”

At the Bureau Director’s question, she nodded.

“I saw them. It’s practically a slave contract.”

Party B shall not refuse a request from Party A, as long as it does not violate international law.

Party A here was Choi Gi-woong, and Party B was the entirety of Oracle.

Party A can claim the right to 30% of the profits obtained by Party B.

Party A to Party B…

No Yoon-jung turned her head.

Reading any more would just make her sick. She felt like she could die from the wasted time she spent trailing after Seong Yo-han.

“Somehow, it sounds like if Choi Gi-woong wants it, the S-Rank Awakeners in Oracle will drop everything and come running, doesn’t it?”

“That’s right, that’s what it is.”

“How on earth did he do it? What did he do to make those damn monks fall for him? Huh?”

“If I knew that, I’d have already released an exclusive report.”

No Yoon-jung clicked her tongue and turned on her phone.

“Wasn’t there a sarcastic article asking where Choi Gi-woong was? What happened to that?”

“Morning Effect. The person who wrote that article resigned.”

“Already?”

“You have to lie flat on your face if you don’t want to get killed. Messing with Choi Gi-woong right now is…”

She glanced at the article on the portal’s main page.

[Contract Failed, But Contract Succeeded?]

[Choi Gi-woong, How on Earth Did He Charm Oracle?]

[A-Rank Choi Gi-woong, 5 Years Left Until S-Rank?]

“This one went a little too far. How long has it been since he became A-Rank? You have to give it at least 10 years.”

“They say it was a month.”

“What was?”

“They say he became A-Rank just a month after becoming B-Rank.”

The Bureau Director said casually, looking at Choi Gi-woong on the TV.

“Maybe that guy. He might not have much time left until S-Rank.”

“Holy crap!”

The PR Team leader let out something close to a scream.

It was the first time I’d seen her this excited.

One of the employees held out an article.

It was a photo of me at the airport, shaking hands with the Oracle Master and seeing him off.

“At this rate, we won’t even need to hype it up. The reaction is so hot.”

“The comment reactions are insane too.”

-??? What’s going on? What did Choi Gi-woong do?

-Let me summarize. Oracle snubbed the Blue House, snubbed the Association, but signed a personal contract with Choi Gi-woong.

-And that contract is overwhelmingly favorable to Choi Gi-woong?

-Yup ;; That’s why the government is apparently in an uproar trying to schedule a meeting with Choi Gi-woong.

-But Oracle is a bit much too. It’s kinda… to be talking fine with Seong Yo-han and then suddenly switch sides…

-From our perspective, who cares? As long as he does his job well.

-Sorry to interrupt, but our Gi-woong is definitely world-class.

What was certain was that my status was now approaching Seong Yo-han’s.

No, even Seong Yo-han couldn’t move eight S-Ranks at once.

So, as of now, I was…

“I still can’t believe it. What the hell did you do? Did you really have a sex tape or something?”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong looked at me with a disgusted face.

When I just smiled and gave a vague answer, he wrapped an arm around my neck.

“But is it for real? Is it true that eight members of Oracle will come running at your word?”

When I just smiled without answering, Head of department Kim Yoon-joong backed away, calling me a troublemaker.

Amidst the chuckling atmosphere, this time the HR Team leader cautiously chimed in.

“I heard you’re going to Jeju Island. You’re still going to judge the practical exam for the open recruitment before you go, right?”

“I have to. It’s what I agreed to do. But what difference will it make if I’m the one watching?”

“It’s different. Completely different.”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong chimed in as well.

“What you see with a Status Window is just the Status Window. You don’t know how they fight against people. If a kid with natural combat sense like you is interviewing, you won’t miss anyone.”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong added more oil to the fire.

True, even with the same Status Window, there are those who are born combat geniuses.

“Besides, the line of kids wanting to join your team would probably circle the Training Arena twice. Won’t they try even harder?”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong’s gaze, who had been cackling, landed on my hand.

He tilted his head and asked.

“By the way, what’s that ring you’ve been fiddling with?”

“Is it an Item?”

“Come to think of it, I’ve never seen you wear an Item, Gi-woong.”

Interested gazes stuck to me.

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong’s face looked particularly intrigued.

“Weren’t you not particularly greedy for Items?”

For me, who cannot receive the System’s help, there is only one way to fully handle an S-Rank Item.

To acquire an Otherworldly Artifact, something the System has not assigned a Rank to.

Something like the ring in my hand, for instance.

In the private Training Arena, which I checked several times to make sure was empty, I layered locking magic on top of it, just in case.

I also made sure to soundproof it thoroughly so no sound would leak out.

Clank, clank-

There. Now, not even Im Han-na or Hong Gyeong-pyo, who are eagerly waiting for me, will be able to find me.

And so, I took off the ring I had been wearing.

No. This isn’t a ring.

“Hey.”

I shook Durandal, which was pretending to be a ring.

I never dreamed I would find it here.

“Answer me.”

Look at this thing.

The ring didn’t budge.

Even though it was definitely awake right now.

Even hiding its power completely.

It seems I’ll have to re-educate it.

The method of education is the same as before.

I injected Mana. The ring trembled as if it would break.

-You possess quite a useful power. How did you know I was asleep?

This guy’s lines are the same old repertoire.

-Wait. I shall lend you my power.

-W-Wait.

The process is the same.

Therefore, the result is also the same.

Woooooong-!

Fwoosh-!

What was a ring submitted and changed its form.

A pure white Sword God revealed its form.

Ian used Durandal as a staff.

But I am different.

To be precise, it’s a matter of circumstance.

Woooooong-

Simultaneously, the energy it held within it surged throughout the entire Training Arena. S-Rank. Definitely S-Rank.

In other words, an S-Rank Item that I can use.

“You don’t remember?”

-That is correct.

“That can’t be.”

When I acted like I was about to inject Mana, Durandal’s sword body trembled.

-Threats are useless. It is true that my memories have disappeared.

I had asked it one thing.

What happened to Ian.

But it was being quite firm.

Seeing as it didn’t spit out an answer after all this, it didn’t seem to be lying.

Does that mean I can’t use any tricks?

Well, it doesn’t matter. For now, I plan to be active as a Warrior, not a Mage.

“Shall we run a test?”

I closed my eyes.

[Mental World]

In an instant, a single Advanced Magic was completed.

Immediately after, I felt a sensation of being sucked down beneath my feet.

I opened my eyes again. Nothing had changed.

-This place… is not reality.

It’s not a Holy Relic for nothing.

That’s right. This is inside my world of consciousness.

A world that imitates reality as closely as possible.

I looked straight ahead. The next moment, a virtual enemy was formed as if mud was clumping together.

The being looked at me and revealed its hostility.

Its level was between A-Rank and S-Rank.

For a Mage, it was skilled in martial arts and used an unusually high level of Multi-Casting.

Its name was Choi Gi-woong.

The virtual Choi Gi-woong looked around.

Soon, having grasped the situation, it looked at me and spoke.

“You are me.”

“That’s right.”

“If I kill you, can I become the real one?”

“That won’t happen.”

Even if it kills me, it will only mean the collapse of one Mental World.

“The main body is, to the last, me.”

It frowned.

“We’ll have to see about that.”

The next moment, a red haze rose up around its body.

I, too, exploded the Mana within my body.

In the way of a Knight.

Beating it doesn’t mean I’ve become S-Rank.

What can be confirmed here is whether Choi Gi-woong as a Warrior has surpassed the Mage.

Fwhoong-!

Time slowed. The fake’s fist, using Absolute Sense, was right in front of me.

I raised Durandal to block it. No, I thought I had blocked it.

My vision spun and then stabilized.

My body was slammed into the wall.

The power of thunder, which must have been Odin’s Blessing, still lingered in my body.

Is this what it felt like for the enemies who fought me?

I shook myself off.

Instantly shaking off the lingering thunder power, I charged at it again.

Kuuuung-

Mana spread throughout my body.

An energy so immense it couldn’t be compared to the seething power of a Warrior enveloped my body.

The exclusive property of Knights. Aura Blade.

Its eyes widened to the size of saucers.

After rotating my body, I swung down from above as if to split it in two.

Dddk- Ddddk-

The fake’s Cast of Ares’ Shield was ground away.

One layer, two layers… five layers.

The last was the Crimson Flame Aura the fake had raised.

Kagagagagagang-

The edge of its hand and the tip of my sword met.

Light blinded my vision.

The virtual Training Arena exploded.

Within it, its eyes and mine met.

It was me, and I was it.

We realized we had thought the same thing.

“The next attack is the last.”

“The next attack is the last.”

The moment I raised all my Mana to the point my heart felt empty, I twisted my body.

With a slicing sound, my left arm was torn off completely.

It was painful.

In my head, I constantly thought of magic to numb the pain, of healing magic.

But this wasn’t a real battle.

It would only be meaningful if I achieved it with the sword alone.

It was a relief.

As expected, that was the last resistance it could muster.

Its face contorted.

“How…”

If the day comes when I die, would I have that expression?

With that thought, I swung the sword.

Slice-*

The fake’s head flew off.

At this level, I can definitely be called a Warrior.