Chapter 192: Ability Maker (2)
Abilities were something one was born with.
But among those with abilities, could there exist such a user?
An entity that knew all abilities.
An entity that could use all abilities.
And an entity that could bestow such abilities upon others.
An entity capable of bestowing abilities even on those born before the 2000s who were not ability users.
If such an entity existed, it would be sought after by people all over the world.
Those without abilities would want to become ability users.
Those who were ability users would want to become stronger.
Those in power would want to monopolize these abilities.
The girl realized
How her own ability was perceived by others.
Others saw her as just an ordinary E-class ability user and overlooked her, but the girl quickly became independent from the world using her known abilities.
And she founded the association, Yi Maengmangnyang.
Despite being only 7 years old, she absorbed an entire group and through modest but expansive moves, she eventually took over Americas business world.
Her goal was world domination.
The primary goal was to unify the world under one banner, making everyone an ability user.
Social chaos?
Theyd delve into that in detail later.
The Chief is the one who bestows abilities. I am the one who erases abilities. And you are the one who steals abilities.
The final boss.
The true final boss (year-round crisis).
The protagonist.
Probably, besides me, you, and the Chief, no one else in the world can interfere with abilities themselves.
Thats incredible. Then why hasnt the association been able to identify me until now?
They couldnt find you. They were searching, but they never suspected it would be you.
America was considered the Chiefs main stage, but mobilizing the associations manpower based on uncertain information was a challenging task.
If I didnt exist, they would have continued their search for you. If theres a giver, there must be a taker.
Ah, so because of your existence, there was no need to specifically look for me?
Right.
Stealing abilities.
Erasing abilities.
In the end, the result is the same: making ability users into non-ability users. It was decided there was no need to bother stealing abilities just to recycle them.
Because the ability is already tainted?
New is always better than a tainted used one, isnt it?
I reviewed the recorded video on the tablet again with Yumir.
Name.
Its Park Eun-jung.
Interrogation room.
Park Eun-jung, who had been hit in the head with a Goblin bat, sat in a chair, her posture straight out of a textbook.
Age.
21 years old.
How many people have you killed so far?
As an information agent of the Hero Association, I have killed three.
Boyfriend?
None.
Like someone under a soul-snatching spell in a martial arts novel, or like a job applicant in front of a corporate interviewer, she answered every question straightforwardly.
After awakening your ability, what did you think?
I thought ability users were superior.
And those who did not awaken their abilities?
Whether before or after the Cataclysm, I thought all those who did not awaken their abilities should be weeded out.
An advocate for ability superiority.
Whether in Korea or anywhere else, there are more than a few people with that ideology.
Where should abilities be used?
I thought they should be used to eliminate anything that hinders me.
Why did you collude with Pandemonium and the rebels?
Because it made me stronger. I would even use the devils power if necessary.
Park Eun-jung effortlessly spilled everything about herself in response to my questions.
Before losing her memory, perhaps before her personality was erased, Park Eun-jung was a typical advocate for ability superiority, a self-centered being who wanted to use her given ability for personal advancement.
But now?
The Chief, you see, is thinking this way.
I pulled up the last video of Park Eun-jung after her intensive mental training was completed.
Not all ability users need to become heroes. But if you are born with an ability, at least have the mindset to work for society as much as a public servant does.
It suddenly feels weird to hear public servant, doesnt it?
Well, lets correct it then.
Not all ability users could become superheroes.
However.
Hope that all ability users live with the mindset of firefighters or thoracic surgeons.
I hoped to live a life contributing to society and helping non-ability users with the abilities I have, wherever I was needed.
Its a kind of re-socialization.
Manipulating peoples memories, forcibly changing them Thats going to raise ethical concerns.
I know. Thats why were considered a villain organization.
Were aware that, although its for the sake of implementing social justice, the process was harsh and unfair.
But, look at this.
I pointed to the end of the last video.
Park Eun-jung. Whats your life goal from now on?
I will
May 2nd.
Before standing in front of others, the newly reborn Neo Park Eun-jung answered with a mechanical posture.
To contribute to the nation and humanity, and to realize universal social justice. That is the mindset Ive reawakened as an agent of the Hero Association.
The Hero Association President, Jeong Gi-jo, saw the person in front of him, Park Eun-jung, as a completely different person.
Ms. Eun-jung.
Yes, Mr. President.
Youve changed a lot. Even just before being deployed to Sejong Island, you were quite laid-back.
I am reflecting on my past behavior.
This was not a woman who would give such an answer.
She used to be a woman who would sit with her legs crossed on the table, grumbling and getting annoyed.
Did you undergo some kind of torture?
Nothing of the sort. Ive just come to realize again the mindset a hero should have.
Did you go through some kind of green camp?
Green camp I dont know about the military, but maybe its similar, if not more certain.
Park Eun-jungs words were unabashed.
If she had been forcibly administered drugs, she might have spoken awkwardly.
But there was no sign of that in Park Eun-jung.
Rather, she was so calm it made you wonder if it was okay for her to be like this.
Ms. Eun-jung, Im sorry to say this after your return, but youll be sent to a research facility in Masan for about a month. Theyre going to check how they turned you and other agents into such good people.
You may do as you please. If that can prove our conversion.
Conversion.
Transforming into a completely new person?
What, was the evil inside forcibly purified?
It might be similar. If theres a chance for rehabilitation, one should reflect and live a life of remorse, but if thats insufficient, salvation is necessary.
Are you admitting that you were brainwashed into forcibly becoming a righteous person?
Its not brainwashing. Its just enlightenment.
Park Eun-jung placed her hand on her chest with a gentle face.
Like meeting a great being and awakening to spirituality, Ive met someone who awakened me to what justice is.
The Dark Charisma?
Though he calls himself by that name, to us, he is truly an Ally of Justice.
The President covered his face with his hands for a moment.
Alright. What is the justice they speak of? Villains must be killed without question?
Act according to the universally valid logic and concepts of society, and according to ones own beliefs.
Ms. Eun-jung, your original belief, I hate to say this, but wasnt it ability superiority?
It was. Im ashamed.
Park Eun-jung blushed, bowing her head in shame.
Fidgeting with her fingers and even clasping her legs together, she seemed embarrassed and ashamed as if she was being pointed out for her dark history.
I admit it. I was like that. But Ive come to realize that being born with an ability means I should use that power not just for myself but for others.
Were you brainwashed into thinking that?
If thats what you call brainwashing, then yes, I was brainwashed. The Park Eun-jung filled with evil is gone, and Ive become Park Eun-jung, who wants to be a true agent and hero of the Hero Association.
Sigh.
The President of the Association couldnt help but sigh.
In my life, Ive seen heroes fall to villainy, but how should I describe this? Justice corruption? Re-socialization? Forced brainwashing? Did they ingest some magical fairy dust? Or maybe
Suddenly, the President recalled a special effects cartoon he had seen as a child.
Maybe they were hit with something like a Fixer Beam?
Excuse me? What is that?
Or suffered a Mind Crash?
Excuse me?? Mr. President. Is that, by any chance, a newly discovered ability?
Too old, I guess.
The President took a moment to sip his coffee, feeling a bit bitter.
Am I that outdated
It was black coffee, but it somehow tasted sweet.
Alright, Ms. Eun-jung. Whether youre an ally of justice or whatever, congratulations on returning to the path of a hero. But.
The President displayed a photo.
Can we not do this?
Its unavoidable.
In the photo.
Agents of the Hero Association, including Park Eun-jung, were all striking a similar pose.
Its not like youre trying to duel, whats this all about.
Duelwhat?
Sigh. You wouldnt know, but theres such a thing
The President was overwhelmed by an indescribable emotion.
Even if others called him old-fashioned, he felt nostalgic for the past but had no desire to see people in reality acting the same.
Anyway, thats it. So, there was absolutely no torture, right? Thats how you understand it?
Yes. Well, if there was something.
What?
The President perked up his ears.
What was the torture?
Not having Korean meals for all three meals a day, but mixing in Western meals for at least one.
.
Lunch included bread and soup, steak, roasted broccoli, etc. It wasnt exclusively Korean meals for all three, but a mix with Western meals.
Without kimchi?
They served kimchi and pickles together.
Then its fine.
Jeong Gi-jo (40 years old, President of the Hero Association) decided to stop overthinking.
Its not like Im a washing machine, sigh.
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