Chapter 63

<Chapter 63: Connections Are Power (1)>

The incident was quickly resolved.

There were no casualties, and the injuries were minor, so it did not escalate into a big deal.

No, it almost escalated into a big deal, but the government did its best to clean up the mess.

Maiden wanted to make some foreign currency with the educational labyrinth, but she could not afford to leave an issue after she made such a big mistake in the first demonstration.

Anyway, at the end of the government’s cleanup, the [Poseidon Runaway Incident] was treated as a kind of terror.

One of the villains who had a grudge against Maiden had rigged a special device on the labyrinth materials, and it was activated. Something like that.

Most of the cadets who faced Poseidon at the time of the incident seemed to believe the government’s claim.

“The government is really sloppy with information manipulation.”

Except for Jia.

“Maiden Critines couldn’t have missed the special device on the materials. Maybe they ran out of time and there was a loophole in safety management, and it was destroyed by the influence of Si-yeon and Seo-yul’s ice and fire attribute magic. Something like that.”

“…”

“If this spreads, it will cause problems for the future labyrinth business, so they will lie.”

“…Well, that’s true.”

The final blow was my [Spirit’s Flame], but except for that, it was a plausible hypothesis.

Jia was really amazing with her brain power when it came to things that had nothing to do with me.

Honestly, it was scary.

“By the way, Seo-yul. Are you okay to move your body now?”

“Hmm.”

I moved my hands back and forth to see if there was any discomfort.

“I think I’m fine.”

“That’s good.”

After using Divine Punishment yesterday.

I collapsed from magic exhaustion.

I had used [Spirit’s Flame] before, so I was low on magic itself.

And I used [Relic] to amplify the effect of Divine Punishment, which put a strain on my body.

If I hadn’t used [Mana’s Grace] to activate the [Magic Response] trait, I would have suffered more severe aftereffects.

“But Seo-yul. I understand that it was burdensome to unseal in front of everyone. But did you have to use lightning attribute magic as well?”

Jia asked with a worried expression.

“No matter what, dual attribute seems too conspicuous… What if you get suspected by the enemies…”

Enemies.

It meant the axis of evil that would destroy the world in the war that would come someday.

Jia knew that I was sealing my power to avoid their eyes, so she was naturally worried.

“It’s okay. As long as I don’t release ‘Gyeok’, they won’t detect me.”

So I decided to lie again today.

“Gyeok… what do you mean?”

Jia tilted her head slightly.

“You know. The strange energy I felt when I closed the Great Rift. Remember? The tingling pressure. What should I call it? Radiance or something.”

It wasn’t exactly what she felt from me, but from the ‘Anti-Vaccine’ that Shin hyung made.

I felt it too.

“Oh. That feeling. That’s Gyeok…”

Jia seemed convinced.

“So as long as I don’t release Gyeok, it doesn’t matter how much attention I get from the media, right? As long as they don’t detect me.”

“That’s right.”

“Aha.”

Jia nodded as if she understood.

Whew.

Good.

My lie was perfect today too.

“By the way, speaking of media. That…”

I asked hesitantly.

“Is there a lot of interest?”

“Yes.”

“…How much?”

“Hmm…”

Jia pursed her lips and thought for a moment.

“Think of the most popular top star in your mind.”

Suddenly, many top stars came to mind.

“Did you think?”

“…Yeah.”

I felt a vague anxiety.

Surely I’m not that level?

“Roughly three times that much.”

“…Huh?”

Did I hear wrong?

“What?”

“I said three times as much as the top stars you just thought of.”

“…Wow.”

It seemed like I didn’t hear wrong.

“Is it really that much?”

“Yes. Dual attribute is that special of a constitution. It may not be so special for elves or celestials though.”

Jia folded her fingers one by one and continued.

“Plus, your magic manipulation skills have been proven to be excellent. You always get perfect scores on written tests, and you’ve received rare reviews for your command skills since recent test videos were released.”

“…”

“And recently, your physical abilities have risen uniformly to E rank, and your growth expectations have skyrocketed. Finally, with a perfect lightning strike that sent Poseidon, an Elite guardian, in one hit, and a heroic story that you prevented the villain’s terror with the government’s information manipulation.”

Jia smiled faintly.

“How can you not be popular in this situation?”

“…That’s true.”

I had no choice but to use them at the time, but when I put them together like this, it became a tremendous combination.

“But, well, this kind of interest is momentary. It will fade away soon like last time, right?”

Interest is fleeting.

If I think about the last time I had a fire attribute strong period, this popularity would be temporary too.

“Well…”

Jia trailed off with a strange expresSi-yeon.

“Seo-yul.”

And then she smiled brightly.

“Cheer up!”

“…”

This was the first time I heard such an anxious cheer.

* * *

Jia was right.

This interest was different from the last time I had a fire attribute period.

“Kang cadet Seo-yul! If you come to our Zereon Guild…”

“We’re from KBC Broadcasting! Can we do an interview?”

“I heard that The One Guild also sent you a call! Is that true?”

“What’s the secret of your good looks?”

As soon as I stepped out of the hospital, I was surrounded by a crowd.

I wanted to go back to my room.

“When did you find out that you have a dual attribute?”

“Your ability growth trend is quite steep! Do you have any secrets?”

“Do you have any tips for magic manipulation?”

There were more reporters than scouts.

When I got attention for having a fire attribute strong period last time, there were only a handful of reporters.

“The only superhuman in the world with a dual attribute has emerged in Korea, and the expectations of the Korean people are huge. Do you have anything to say?”

“With this momentum, it’s possible to be the first Korean to rank first in the world superhuman ranking! What do you think about that?”

I understood the meaning of this popularity right away.

This is a kind of ‘national pride’.

Somehow, when a Korean person stands out in the world, they feel proud and stuff.

I also used to feel proud when I saw articles about Son Heung-min, Kim Yuna, and BTS doing well in the world when I was in the world.

“There’s a rumor that you’re going to join Shinwa Group. Is that true?”

“Is there a special relationship with Shin Jia?”

“There’s also a rumor that you have a special relationship with Ha Si-yeon…”

By the way, the reporters’ enthusiasm was really beyond imagination.

If I say something wrong here, I think it will really go wrong.

But I can’t stay like this forever.

What should I do…

That’s when I was lost in thought.

“Come on. Can you all make way please?”

Suddenly appeared next to me, Yoo Hwa smiled as usual and said.

“Yoo Hwa!”

“There’s a rumor that you meet frequently with Bihon Guild Leader! Is that true?”

“According to the rumor, you have three legs…”

“Really, even as a reporter, I’m jealous of you as a man…”

The reporters were more excited by Yoo Hwa’s appearance.

Looking at those reporters, Yoo Hwa smiled coldly.

“I understand that you are all interested in Korea’s top-notch prospect. But Kang Seo-yul cadet still has some aftereffects from his injury.”

With Yoo Hwa’s words, the hot air cooled down.

“If there is any problem later because of those aftereffects… Will you take responsibility for it, reporters here?”

“…That’s…”

The reporters were quiet.

Wow. She really stabbed them like that.

It was a godly move.

“If you all understand, please make way.”

With that, the reporters started to make way little by little.

But their faces were full of complaints.

“Thank you. I’ll try to make a place for an interview with cadet Kang Seo-yul later, so don’t think too badly. The health of our top-notch prospect is the priority, right? Are you okay? Cadet Kang Seo-yul .”

“Oh. Yes. I’m fine.”

At that moment, most of the reporters’ expressions softened.

“Do you also give priority to interviews?”

“Of course. The reporters here deserve it.”

“…Then…”

With that, all the complaints disappeared.

The scouts were pushed aside by Yoo Hwa and couldn’t even open their mouths.

“Oh.”

Using the charisma of an S-rank superhuman and the attention of the world to shut up the reporters.

And using carrots such as interview priority to get rid of the reporters’ complaints.

This is experience.

“Let’s go.”

“Ah, yes.”

I followed Yoo Hwa.

“Get in.”

I got into the limousine that Yoo Hwa had prepared.

Then Yoo Hwa got in next to me.

“Driver. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

That’s how we left the reporters and scouts behind.

“Phew. I’m exhausted.”

It seemed like I had been tormented for about 10 minutes, and I was drained.

Yoo Hwa pressed a button, and a wall was created in the front seat.

It seemed like a device to have a secret conversation in the back seat.

“Reporters are much more extreme, right?”

“Yes.”

It was different from the polite response of the scouts.

If the scouts were coffee, the reporters would be T.O.P.

“Why did you use lightning attribute magic there?”

…Why?

I did it because it was the only way to survive.

“What are you trying to do by gathering so much attention?”

Yoo Hwa looked at me with a strange expression.

“Is it to be a bait to lure the Saviors of Truth?”

National competition trip goal.

Attention gathering.

Information specialized for the Saviors of Truth.

When I put these things together, it wasn’t so strange that Yoo Hwa came to that conclusion.

“Yes. That’s right.”

I affirmed.

“…You’re not denying it for once?”

“You must have been 99% sure after the Vagabond incident. What my purpose is.”

Yoo Hwa paused for a moment and said.

“To erase the Saviors of Truth from this world completely. Right?”

That confident look.

See. She already had a conclusion in her mind.

“Yes. That’s right.”

“…I see.”

Yoo Hwa nodded a few times.

She looked a bit complicated.

I expected her to have a relieved expression after hearing my answer.

What is she thinking?

“Where are we going by the way?”

It’s not the way to school.

“Oh. Look at me. I forgot something important.”

Yoo Hwa snapped out of his thoughts.

“We’re going to Okhwadang.”

“…Suddenly?”

It’s 5:40 p.m. now.

School classes are almost over. And it’s time for dinner too.

I’m fine with that, but

“Why?”

Yoo Hwa wouldn’t take someone who just got out of the hospital anywhere.

Unless there’s a special reason.

“You said you wanted to have a meal with me and my sister.”

“…Oh.”

World ranking 32nd superhuman.

Dungeon creator.

Maiden Critines.

I did say I wanted to have a meal with me later after dealing with Poseidon.

I thought it would be nice to make friends with Maiden on this occasion.

Life is ‘connections’.

…And I have something I want to propose too.

“But isn’t Maiden busy right now? Because of the situation cleanup.”

“That’s true. But my sister can’t stand it if she has something curious.”

“Oh.”

That means she’s very interested in me.

“She’s curious about something, but she also seems to have hurt her pride in many ways. You did such a clean job of conquering her.”

“Haha.”

“And she also wanted to talk about some compensation for helping her clean up the Poseidon incident. My sister is very thorough when it comes to gratitude and resentment.”

“Yes. I know that.”

Payback five times for gratitude.

Payback 500 times for resentment.

Maiden Critines’ motto.

“Anyway, you can expect some rewards.”

“Yes. I’m looking forward to it.”

And she has a very big grudge against the Saviors of Truth.

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