Chapter 35

<Chapter 35: Rapid Rise (3)>

That night.

I was having a conversation with Jia in my room.

“Isn’t it too much to add shape change to attribute strong energy?”

Jia whined for some reason.

“You already have a lot of attention. I was barely holding it back…”

She sighed deeply.

“Well, I expected you to show some of your power since you said you had to be in the regional war team.”

“…”

“But I was okay with you using attribute strong energy in the ruins… Really, shape change was too much…”

I couldn’t argue with that.

“Couldn’t you have shown more of your ability or something? Why did you have to…”

“Well, well.”

It’s understandable from Jia’s point of view.

If I really had some hidden power, I would have done that.

I just did this because I had no other way.

I can’t keep such a rare skill hidden.

It’s my only skill that makes money in this situation.

Of course, I couldn’t tell her all this.

“Well, I didn’t know that attribute strong energy or shape change was such a rare skill.”

I had to put a steel plate on my face again.

The so-called ‘I don’t know much about the human world because I’m an elf-’ strategy.

“That’s easy for the elf race who received the blessing of mana, but… Ugh. You really lack common sense in strange places.”

Thankfully, the strategy seemed to work well.

“Please consult me before you act next time.”

“Okay.”

Jia looked at me and smiled faintly as if she had no choice.

“By the way, what did your clan say?”

“…Huh? Clan?”

Come to think of it, I mentioned it briefly last time. Something about a secret society of elves or something.

“Yes. The organization that manipulates your ancestor’s past and backs you up. I don’t know the name of it…”

“Oh, oh! That organization!”

“Yes. That organization.”

…What organization is that?

I don’t know, but let’s just go along with it.

“They just told me to do whatever I want. As long as I don’t reveal that I’m an elf and participate in the regional war.”

“Wow. That’s a lot of confidence.”

“Huh?”

What confidence?

“That means they can cover up whatever you do, right?”

“Oh, yeah. That’s right.”

…Does that work?

“Anyway, ancestor. You might get a little annoyed, but that’s all your own doing, so deal with it yourself. I don’t know. You’ve already crossed the line that I can stop.”

“…Hey. How annoying can it be.”

* * *

The next day.

I realized right away that Jia’s warning was not an exaggeration.

“Seo-yul, have you decided on your career path after graduation?”

“Do you have time today? Do you want to have lunch together?”

“Seo-yul, let’s train together in the evening!”

While eating breakfast in the dorm lobby.

I was surrounded by a crowd of people who suddenly rushed in and couldn’t do anything.

“Are you interested in the Talisman Guild? My brother…”

“Talisman is nothing. Come to our Revolution Guild. The guild leader will give you the best treatment…”

“Yeah, black companies, get out of here.”

“Yeah, next tax evasion caught third-rate company.”

It was a huge change in one day.

I’m sure yesterday they looked at me like a pebble stuck next to a gold nugget.

…Was that too much?

Well, after I opened my fire attribute magic, there were a lot of people who approached me.

But never this much.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in that…”

“Why don’t you just meet me once? If I bring you to the guild leader, I’ll get a bonus… Ahem.”

They all just talk about themselves and I didn’t even know what they were saying.

My head is spinning.

I know exactly what it feels like to be drunk in a crowd.

In the midst of that, I met Jia’s eyes through the crowd.

She seemed to be saying with her eyes, ‘See? I told you it would be annoying.’

I desperately conveyed my will.

‘Help me.’

Jia smiled as if she had no choice and got up from her seat.

“I’m sorry, but Seo-yul is planning to join the Shinwa Group after graduation.”

The classroom went silent for a moment.

“So can you please stop bothering him?”

There is no company or guild that can offer better conditions than the Shinwa Group in this place.

“…Damn.”

“Kim Pak Sae.”

“I told you. He knew from the start and approached him.”

“Well. I thought there was no way Shin Jia would be interested in men.”

Everyone clicked their tongues and went back to their seats.

Shinwa Group.

The name value is amazing.

Everyone disappeared, and I lay down on the table as it was.

I’m tired.

Jia came up to me and whispered in my ear.

-You know, I can help you at school, but when the big shots show up, there’s nothing I can do. You should know that.

“Mm-hmm.”

I was filled with regret for doing something stupid.

Lunch that day.

I have a lunch date with Yu Hwa today.

I quietly left the school grounds and headed for Okhwadang nearby.

“Welcome.”

As soon as I entered the room, Yu Hwa greeted me leisurely as before.

“…Hello.”

I walked over and flopped down on the opposite side of Yu Hwa.

Yu Hwa smiled faintly.

“You look very tired.”

“I’m dying.”

How annoying are people?

I’m out of my mind.

What’s so attractive about an F-rank superhuman?

“But what’s the reason for attracting people’s attention?”

“?”

What kind of nonsense is this?

I looked at Yu Hwa with dead fish eyes.

“No? You showed your strength in a very unusual way, so I thought your goal was to create a buzz.”

…Oh.

Right. From Yu Hwa’s point of view, it makes sense to think that way.

“It’s a secret.”

I was too lazy to make up a story, so I just brushed it off.

“So you’re going to participate in the regional war, right? Is it like a bait?”

“Yeah, yeah. Something like that.”

It was a soulless answer.

It suddenly got quiet.

I lifted my head that was bowed down and looked at Yu Hwa.

“I see.”

She had a thoughtful expression on her face.

What is she thinking about so hard?

“Ah. Sorry. I was spacing out.”

She seemed to have snapped out of her trance when she felt my gaze.

“I ordered something different from last time. Is that okay?”

My eyes lit up.

No, should I say madness?

“Of course. I don’t have any preferences.”

Okhwadang is that good.

* * *

Who said it?

Happiness is not something that is far away.

I agree.

Happiness was very close.

To be exact, it was a restaurant called Okhwadang in Seoul, Korea.

In other words, here.

“…If there were Okhwadangs all over the world, world peace would come.”

Yu Hwa laughed at my murmur.

“That’s a good idea. I think it would actually work.”

“Right?”

A warm atmosphere filled the air.

We enjoyed the silence with a pleasant feeling of fullness.

The smell of grass unique to the hanok made me feel calm.

How much time had passed?

“Ah, right. This is just a question in case, but…”

Yu Hwa opened his mouth first.

“Do you still have the Tiger’s Gauntlet?”

“…I didn’t sell it. I told you I have it.”

Goldie is using it as a toy. The last time I saw him, he was biting and sucking on it and making a mess.

“So you really didn’t have money as your goal.”

Yu Hwa smiled meaningfully.

“Do you need an ancient relic or something?”

“Hmm.”

I do need it.

But I can’t say for sure that I need it.

Ancient relics are antiques.

It’s hard to answer if they ask me what I’m going to use them for.

“Well, I don’t know. I might need it or I might not.”

I mumbled vaguely.

“Aha. Is that how you’re going to play?”

Yu Hwa smiled playfully.

Something is uneasy.

“What is it?”

“Never mind. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Yu Hwa turned her head slightly.

She glanced at me with a playful look.

I don’t need to hear him say it. I know very well.

‘You don’t want to hear it? You’ll regret it for sure.’ It’s written on his face.

“…Fine. I’ll tell you the truth. I need it.”

“Why don’t you be honest from the start? It would be nice.”

Yu Hwa smiled brightly at my words.

“So what were you going to say?”

“Oh, nothing. It’s just that the Bihon Guild has a deal with ‘Collector’ this time.”

My eyes widened like lanterns.

“…The Collector you know?”

Collector (Collector).

“Yes. A quirky collector who likes to collect all kinds of rare things in the world.”

Among his collection list are [Ancient relics].

If only I could get a few of his relic collections…

My eyes sparkled.

“How about it? If you need it, I’ll try to make a seat for you.”

Yu Hwa smiled meaningfully.

* * *

After parting with Yu Hwa, I was sitting in a quiet park nearby and spent time leisurely.

-I can’t give you a 100% answer. As you know, he’s such a weirdo. But I’ll try my best.

That’s what Yu Hwa said at the end.

Knowing Yu Hwa’s personality, she wouldn’t tell me something impossible.

Maybe I have a 50/50 chance of meeting the Collector.

Actually, it’s a problem even if I meet him.

How can I get an ancient relic from that freak?

I’ll have to think about that too.

Woong-

My phone vibrated then. It was a message from an unknown number.

“What is this?”

[Are you free tonight?]

That was all.

There was no indication of who sent it or what the content was about.

But I knew right away who sent that message.

“Anyone can see it’s Choi Ji-hoon.”

Well, I don’t have any plans for today anyway.

It would be better to meet him.

I was the one who suggested talking first.

[Where do you want to meet?]

I replied dryly as well.

[My house.]

He suddenly told me to come to his house?

[How do I know where your house is?]

[I’ll send you a car if you tell me where you are.]

‘He’s surprisingly nice.’

He seemed unusually kind for Choi Ji-hoon.

Did he have something good happen to him?

[I’m at Skyberry Park right now.]

* * *

Choi Ji-hoon’s house was as grand as the name of a chaebol house.

It took five minutes to get in by limousine after passing the gate, and I couldn’t see the building.

“…It seems 10 times bigger than Jia’s house.”

Jia’s house was big too, but this was just a different dimension.

The company was supposed to be of similar size, so it was just a matter of the owner’s mindset?

Well, the Shinwa Group pursued frugality.

After moving for a total of 10 minutes, a huge mansion came into view.

“Wow.”

That was a very luxurious building. It was majestic enough to be in a movie.

“We’ve arrived.”

The driver opened the door and bowed his head.

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

As soon as I got out of the car, someone who looked like a secretary came up to me and bowed slightly.

“I’ll guide you. This way.”

I quietly followed the secretary. The inside of the mansion was also dazzling.

There was no better word than another world.

After walking for a while.

“The young master is waiting for you in here.”

The secretary pointed to a door and said. Then he knocked carefully.

“Young master. Kang Seo-yul is here.”

“Tell him to come in.”

“Yes.”

The secretary opened the door.

“…Huh?”

I expected a flashy room, but it was more ordinary than I thought.

“I’m sorry for making you come all this way.”

It was a very peaceful and calm response.

For a moment, I thought, ‘Who are you?’

He had been beaten by me yesterday.

I thought he would be consumed by anger, but he was too calm.

“Secretary Jang. Can you leave us alone so we can talk?”

“Yes. I understand.”

The secretary bowed again at the door.

“If you need anything, please call me anytime.”

With that, only Choi Ji-hoon and I were left in the room.

An awkward silence flowed.

“Sit down.”

Choi Ji-hoon pointed to a chair opposite him with his hand.

I sat down quietly.

“…”

The silence continued.

A cold dagger of awkwardness flew into my chest.

I don’t know what topic to talk about with him.

Anyway, I came here to clear up the misunderstanding that Choi Ji-hoon had, so I guess I should start talking first.

“Well, first of all…”

That’s when it happened.

“I’m sorry.”

Choi Ji-hoon suddenly said something strange.

“…What?”

I doubted my ears for a moment.

I think I heard him say sorry.

“I misunderstood you. I’m sorry.”

It wasn’t an auditory hallucination.

What is this?

Is this the famous honey jam prank?

My pupils trembled in confusion.

“Who would have thought you had such a past…”

“What?”

My confusion turned into horror.

Did he just say my past?

My pupils vibrated violently.

My past.

That means the past of the original protagonist Kang Seo-yul.

No way.

No way he found out about it at this point?

How?

“I’m sorry for digging into your past without your permission.”

Choi Ji-hoon smiled bitterly and took out some documents from his bag.

And handed them to me.

The documents said this:

[Report on the human experimentation case at Sunlight Orphanage]

I touched my forehead.

No way became reality.

Why now…

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