Chapter 193: Ability Maker (3)
People were afraid of sudden changes.
When someone suddenly changed their behavior, significantly for the better, its natural to think, Whats going on? Is it their time to go?
Everyones gone mad.
Thus, the president of the Hero Association, Jeong Gi-jo, wanted to understand their true intentions through 1:1 consultations with the association members, led by Park Eun-jeong.
Everyones obsessed with doing good deeds.
And then he realized.
It wasnt corruption by villains but a corruption of justice, as if their minds were forcibly changed, completely reborn as new people.
Im really curious about the method. Tsk. Seol-hee. What do you think?
The Hero Association members changed overnight?
Not overnight, but during their abduction.
Thinking about it too much gives me a headache, Mr. President.
Baek Seol-hee scanned the CCTV connected to every room on the walls of the presidents office.
Its still a bit scary, though. People who used to just fool around are now developing themselves in a healthy direction.
Yeah. People who never read a book are now reading, cleaning the space theyre temporarily staying in, exercising according to their routines in their rooms. Theyre even practicing their abilities on their own without damaging the interiors. And
They agreed to 24-hour live CCTV surveillance?
Yes! The same people who couldnt stand having their pictures taken, claiming it was their personal information, are now understanding and agreeing to 24-hour surveillance?!
The president couldnt help but be terrified.
Its strange. This isnt like them. You know, they were quite the troublemakers?
Theyve been rehabilitated.
It hasnt even been a year! How can people change so suddenly in just a few days?
People can change with just a slight trigger. Theyre not machines.
I wish they were machines, that a completely new command had been inputted. Its really scary.
What is?
Im afraid they might suddenly revert to their old selves.
The president pointed to a man.
Look at Chang-sik. Hes not like that. Although his current state is desirable, in the past, he would have demanded the highest computer specs and then used it for CTA while killing people.
Are you talking about a game?
Yeah. A game. Sigh. Really, whats going on?
Dont overthink it. Theres no sign of them being beaten or tortured.
Thats what scares me more. Sigh.
The president covered his face with both hands and lamented.
Whether its towards righteousness or whatever, it feels like humans have been forcibly remodeled to one side.
.
Im not fond of philosophy, but can we consider them human if they live for society and justice, deprived of their free will?
Well, that might be something to discuss with Gwang Ik-gong.
Gwang Ik-gong Tsk.
The president shook his head.
This isnt the time to talk about that. I wish I could be like them.
Excuse me?
Sigh. No, never mind. Its because its you, Seol-hee. I have to talk to you, Seol-hee.
The president turned his head toward Baek Seol-hee with a very serious expression.
Gwang Ik-gong is.
Mr. President!!
Ah, shit. Seol-hee. Lets talk about this later.
The shout from outside made the president shut his mouth.
Old man! Let me meet those who lost their abilities!
Taejo. Is turning on the video recording with Taeguk Watch a threat to me?
No! Im here to satisfy the curiosity of many people!
Bringing a camera into a place full of secrets is a violation of the duty to maintain security.
Oops!
Taejo, who suddenly entered the presidents office, pressed his Taeguk Watch to stop the video recording.
But youll still let me meet them, right? I turned off the video!
I cant just let you meet them recklessly. If theres no valid reason for the meeting.
Im curious!
You barged in here just because youre curious?
Yes!
Taejo was confident.
The president, faced with such audacity, could only tap the table with his fingers, expressionless.
When I was young, back in my day, in front of adults, we would be polite.
If I tell you the reason for my curiosity, will you let me meet them?
Naeje? You too?
Into the room, along with Taejo, came another S-class, Naeje, standing by Taejos side.
Using Taejo as bait?
Hes the youngest. Its the youngests role to step up in situations like this, right, brother?
Even to the point of risking himself?
Three S-class individuals had come to stand before the president of the association.
Seol-hee, say something. Are these kids threatening me?
Im curious too.
Seol-hee?
What would ability users fear the most? Losing their abilities. But now, people who have regained their abilities have appeared. Of course, its only natural to be curious.
Baek Seol-hee stood calmly beside the three S-classes.
After all, youre going to officially release the investigation results based on the data collected. What happened to their abilities? Whether theyve awakened completely new abilities or acquired different ones.
.
Mr. President, isnt that more important than the agents suddenly becoming allies of justice?
A villain could suddenly change.
But its a different story for a Zenros to become an ability user again.
The whole nation, no, the entire world is watching. What abilities the Zenros, who were kidnapped and then returned, have now.
Thats. Taejo. If I put it in game terms, would you understand immediately?
Game terms?
Yeah. This isnt an official statement from the president. Just talking off the record.
The president took a deep breath.
Have you ever heard of something like a level reset reincarnation system?
[President: A Strong New Game, Ability Users Starting Again from E-Class.]
These days, newspaper articles headlines are like light novels.
After expending a bit of magic power,
I entered a pension in Ulleungdo and took a rest, absorbing the information of the world.
Its not wrong, is it? It feels like leveling up a sub-character, even though its my own body. Right?
Gunggi, dressed in Hanbok, placed green tea in front of me and gestured towards a girl she had brought along. She, too, was dressed in Hanbok. Unlike Yoon Hye, who wore it like a dress, her chest was tightly wrapped with bandages.
How do you feel now?
Im always grateful.
You dont have to be so humble. You know that, right, Do-eun?
Yes!
Yu Do-eun. Grade C. Former middle school student at the academy. Currently a Zenros. The girl Gunggi had switched out, who had been suppressing her demonic nature until she was discovered and subdued by me.
Goblin isnt such a bad person either. Look. Does this face look like that of a bad person?
He doesnt seem like a bad person, but he does seem like a bad guy.
Exactly. Girls all have the same eye for these things.
.
I didnt know when I had ever been a demon.
I just sealed everyone I encountered, trapped them in talismans, sent those talismans to Daejeon, and then unsealed them to return them to their original forms without distinguishing whether they were boys or girls.
Student Do-eun. I have one question. You can still go back to your original place now. What do you want to do?
I like it better now. My place is here, with the organization.
Yu Do-eun placed her hand on her chest and spoke with conviction.
Ill work for the organization that saved me. Even if someone completely different takes my place. Even if I can no longer use the name Yu Do-eun.
Beep.
The TV displayed Yu Do-euns image.
A girl with white hair, identical to Yu Do-eun, was seen using her abilities at the Hero Associations training ground.
-As you can see, Ms. Yu Do-eun is also wielding E-Class magic power. Although she can no longer use her Magic Bullet Shooting, her physical prowess is comparable to that of an E-Class.
It feels strange. An entity that isnt Yu Do-eun living as Yu Do-eun.
It cant be helped.
Yu Do-eun observed the girl sharing her appearance and smiled wryly.
Ive decided to become an agent for the organization.
That must be tough.
Its fine. I just need to start from the bottom and gradually regain my original abilities. As Gunggi mentioned, if I stick to the curriculum, I can make it back to C-Class in at least two years. My parents have decided to move to the US with me.
Im sorry for making them inadvertently abandon a daughter.
Its alright. Hehe.
Theres nothing too complicated about it.
The girl, Yu Do-eun, whom we replaced, wished to join the organization.
The place meant for the girl Yu Do-eun was taken by a test subject prepared by Pandemonium.
Their genetics may differ, but its simple to justify by claiming the genetics were altered during the transformation into a demon.
Even if Yu Do-eun was viewed as a special case unlike the others, it simply concluded with the acknowledgment of that fact.
My worry is whether that girl might later declare I am not Yu Do-eun!
Well keep overseeing her within the organization. Since shes transitioned from a non-ability user to an ability user, shell strive to live as Yu Do-eun, eager not to forfeit that privilege, regardless of what others might say.
Indeed.
Yu Do-eun gently lifted the upper part of her Hanbok.
Beneath the bandages, near her cleavage, was a mark glowing with the same hue as Gunggis magic power.
The mark, resembling a flame bird with its wings spread, emitted a soft glow.
-Meanwhile, concerning the mysterious marks found on the bodies of Zenros
This applied to the counterfeit Yu Do-eun as well.
The difference lies in the mark engraved near the chest of this Yu Do-eun, which adopted a more oriental form, contrasting with the marks on the counterfeit Yu Do-eun and other Zenros, which displayed a different style.
The Zenros had been reset to level 1.
The symbol representing the newly acquired abilities of these individuals signified the magic transmitted from Gunggi and Doul, awakening new powers through a contract dedicated to upholding order and justice.
It remained ambiguous whether to refer to them as the Sephiroth Alliance or the Sephiroth Knights.
However, it made sense to say they were tasked with safeguarding Earths peace.
As long as the shape of the mark is entirely different, not just in color, it bears no relation to the organization. That settles it, right?
Excuse me, Director Do. I have a question.
Gunggi nudged me in the back.
Does this really mean nothing? I detest conflicts. Surely, being the Queen of Spades doesnt hold any real significance, right?
Theres no specific order or hierarchy, except for the leader.
But why is the leader designated the King of Hearts?
Well.
Its simply because thats the theme.
The guardians of order are themed around playing cards, and naturally, the leader is the King of Hearts.
So, why isnt it the Ace of Spades but instead the King of Hearts?
Well.
Its just how it was.
Because its the King of Hearts.
Nod.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢