Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 156
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Even Hastily Made Ones Keep Stacking Up as EX-Rank (156)
I’m Sorry
The Snow Flame Empress looks at me with an expression of disbelief.
I explained in more detail to her.
“The date this proposal was written is one year ago. It was written long before the Eterion incident. That means Professor Bae Young-min was planning what is now circulating as a ‘conspiracy theory’ even before I established the dimensional gate.”
Arbitrarily causing gates in the city to go berserk.
When the mana density rises exponentially like that, a forced gate break occurs.
Afterwards, by controlling the mana that bursts out, Bae Young-min would gain power surpassing S-rank hunters.
“That must have been the future Professor Bae Young-min envisioned.”
“Is that… really possible?”
“Theoretically, it’s perfect. Originally, when a gate break occurs, an enormous amount of mana bursts out, and if you can properly control it, it would have enough power to devour most hunters.”
However, Bae Young-min was still at the final stage.
He hadn’t yet prepared a ‘method to control mana.’
“In such a situation, he must have become impatient. I suddenly appeared and installed a dimensional gate, and it must have looked too similar to what he was trying to do.”
“Huh. It’s an unbelievable story.”
At first, I thought it was only because of excessive ambition for success.
According to Song Chae-ah, who worked with him briefly, he often showed signs of being full of inferiority complex.
Especially when stories about Yoon Seo-jin and Pyo Jae-hwan, fellow Eterion graduates who were selected as researchers among the 11 while he wasn’t, came up, he would excitedly badmouth them.
‘But there was a more hidden reason.’
Lee Si-hyeok examined the other documents more closely.
Soon, Lee Si-hyeok’s eyes widened slightly as he quickly flipped through the pages.
“Hunter Im Jae-hwi?”
That was unexpected information.
That Hunter Im Jae-hwi, an inspector from the Association’s Special Inspection Department, was secretly cooperating with Professor Bae Young-min.
It was a document that printed out the correspondence between the two, left behind by Bae Young-min’s usually obsessively meticulous personality.
“How on earth did you obtain this?”
Lee Si-hyeok asked as he closed the case.
It shouldn’t have been easy to obtain such classified documents, right?
However, the answer that came back from Bae Jun-wan was very clean.
“I took it from a personal safe. It wasn’t difficult.”
“No, I mean how…”
“Thanks to my awakening ability. Do I need to explain further?”
“…”
Very businesslike.
I knew he was originally stiff and procedural, but he was particularly so.
‘Is he sensitive about his awakening ability…?’
Well, that makes sense.
It’s not just any ability, but an ‘infiltration’ type ability.
Given the nature of having to deceive and infiltrate someone, revealing one’s ability would be tantamount to risk.
He had been infiltrating as the dean’s chief secretary for several years, so his skills were indeed trustworthy.
“Phew.”
Lee Si-hyeok sighed and organized his thoughts.
It was a tremendous achievement for now.
He had obtained a weapon that could take down Bae Young-min and even Hunter Im Jae-hwi, who was keeping Lee Si-hyeok in check, all at once.
If he went to the Association with these documents right now, everything would be resolved smoothly.
Although there were ‘enemies’ like Hunter Im Jae-hwi at the Association that Lee Si-hyeok didn’t know about, there were reliable allies supporting Lee Si-hyeok.
Like Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon and Team Leader Choi In-hwan.
They would immediately launch an investigation after confirming the documents.
Additionally, with Chairman Lee Young-hoon, Eterion’s biggest sponsor, joining forces, it would be only a matter of time before Bae Young-min’s scheme was thwarted.
Then should he go to the Association right away?
‘No.’
After pondering for a moment, Lee Si-hyeok shook his head.
Lee Si-hyeok had a plan in place.
A plan to directly reverse people’s suspicious gazes.
He was preparing for that, so he couldn’t get entangled like this.
And considering the ‘guests’ who would come around the end of the lecture, he absolutely couldn’t give up the lecture.
“Thank you, Snow Flame Empress. Thanks to you, I received a good gift.”
Lee Si-hyeok bowed his head.
Then the Snow Flame Empress asked curiously.
“Are you not going to report it immediately?”
“Yes. There’s a better way.”
“…?”
After that, when he also bowed his head to Bae Jun-wan in gratitude, he pretended not to see and put on his sunglasses.
…He’s really cool.
“Hmm. A good way, you say. I’m curious. If I ask, won’t you answer?”
“No.”
“I thought so. Then I shall take my leave. I heard there’s still time before the gate to my homeland opens. I’ve been wanting to tour this place called the Magical Engineering Academy anyway.”
“Do you need a guide?”
“It’s fine. Bae Jun-wan will serve as my guide.”
“…”
Lee Si-hyeok didn’t miss Bae Jun-wan’s expression souring for a moment.
Lee Si-hyeok gave him a sympathetic smile, then watched as they departed.
* * *
Creak.
Thud.
“Oh. You’re here, you bastard.”
“Si-hyeok!”
“Ooooh…”
As soon as I entered Professor Hong Yong-jin’s private office, three voices burst out simultaneously.
Hong Yong-jin, Yoon Seo-jin, Song Chae-ah.
They had been chatting quietly and looked at Lee Si-hyeok warmly.
“I’m a bit late. I’m sorry.”
Lee Si-hyeok smiled faintly at them and sat on the empty sofa.
Then Song Chae-ah quickly got up and brought down a cup of coffee.
‘She’s the youngest among the teaching assistants, so discipline has been properly established.’
She didn’t used to be like this.
Although I haven’t met her privately often, she seems to have developed a lot during this time, making me feel proud for no reason.
As I was sipping my coffee, Department Manager Yoon Seo-jin came close and asked.
“Si-hyeok, Si-hyeok. What did you talk about with that person? Did he ask you to turn a blind eye to his wrongdoings? Or did he ask you to put in a good word since you’re close with the Association?”
“Department Manager. That would be corruption.”
“Well, it could happen. If someone who came as Si-hyeok’s guest caused such a scene in front of others, it would only damage Si-hyeok’s reputation. Of course, it was satisfying to see him get hit instead of that bastard Bae Young-min.”
“I don’t really care about that kind of reputation. And I’m not close with the Association.”
“What? Doesn’t the Association really like Si-hyeok?”
“I thought so too, but it’s not necessarily the case.”
When Lee Si-hyeok smiled bitterly, Department Manager Yoon Seo-jin tilted her head as if she didn’t understand.
This time it was Professor Hong Yong-jin who spoke up.
“I heard the whole story from Chae-ah. You’re having unnecessary trouble because of ridiculous rumors?”
“Well, it’s not really trouble.”
“Kuhh. That’s just like you to say that. I figured as much. Anyway, that aside….”
Professor Hong Yong-jin seemed to hesitate for a moment, then continued his words haltingly.
“I’m sorry.”
“…What?”
Suddenly?
However, Professor Hong Yong-jin, who I looked at with surprised eyes, had quite a serious expression. The shadows cast on his face felt deep.
“I had no idea such things were happening within the same Engineering Academy. As a mentor… I didn’t even notice that a fellow professor was pulling such stunts on his student.”
“Well, I don’t really think of him as a mentor….”
“Senior!”
Song Chae-ah kept poking my side, so I shut my mouth.
“Chae-ah, I’m sorry to you too. All I know how to do is scold you all the time, and I sent you on a dispatch to the wrong team. I heard from the other teaching assistants. They said whenever you came back from participating in Professor Bae Young-min’s research, your complexion looked absolutely terrible. It must have been very distressing.”
“….”
“That’s how research works. When there’s one person in charge, you have no choice but to follow that person’s words. Even when you know it’s wrong, you have to maintain your position, and even when you know it’s an unreasonable method, you have no choice but to turn a blind eye. Yes, even though I knew this better than anyone, I just sent you on that dispatch. Even though I should be the most well-informed about what happens within the Engineering Academy.”
“I, I’m fine, Professor. In the end, I was the one who accepted the offer….”
“You don’t have to say that. It’s something I did wrong.”
Lee Si-hyeok listened to Professor Hong Yong-jin’s words with subdued eyes.
His words were filled with self-reproach.
“I apologize to both of you. To you… no, to you Si-hyeok, for being so focused on my own research that I couldn’t prevent the incident beforehand. And to you Chae-ah, for making you directly assist in such matters. I’m sorry once again.”
Professor Hong Yong-jin bowed his waist.
“Pro, Professor! Please don’t do this!”
Song Chae-ah didn’t know what to do and tried to help straighten the professor’s back.
Lee Si-hyeok watched this scene for a moment, then chuckled and said.
“Just call me what you used to call me.”
“…What?”
“It’s cringeworthy. You always called me ‘you punk,’ and now suddenly ‘Si-hyeok.’ Ugh, it gives me goosebumps all over.”
Then he shuddered exaggeratedly, and Professor Hong Yong-jin looked at him with a dumbfounded expression before finally bursting into laughter.
“Hah, good grief. This kid?”
Neither Song Chae-ah nor Yoon Seo-jin could contain the laughter that escaped them.
They looked at each other trying to hold back their laughter, but eventually burst out giggling.
‘It wasn’t that funny of a comment though.’
That’s just how atmosphere works.
Even when it’s heavily tense, if someone casually tosses out a comment as if it’s nothing, that atmosphere dissolves and unconscious silly laughter leaks out.
And that laughter gradually spreads to each other.
Like that, Professor Hong Yong-jin was also soon chuckling and leaning back against the sofa.
“Oh my, our professor. How sensitive you are. Go get some fresh air for a bit. We’ll have a chat among ourselves.”
“Ahem. Sh, should I?”
“Yes, yes.”
A little later, in the calmed atmosphere, when Department Manager Yoon Seo-jin massaged Professor Hong Yong-jin’s shoulders and joked around, Professor Hong Yong-jin cleared his throat and left the professor’s office.
Taking advantage of that gap, Song Chae-ah came back with coffee refills.
“The professor has that kind of side to him too.”
“That’s what I’m saying. When I first met him, I thought he was someone without blood or tears.”
Professor Hong Yong-jin’s feelings were quite understandable too.
He clearly thought of Lee Si-hyeok as his ‘student.’
‘Of course, I don’t feel particularly moved by it.’
Anyway, in that situation, ridiculous rumors about his student had spread.
Moreover, one of his fellow professors had led such actions.
Just learning about this news from Song Chae-ah must have been shocking, and on top of that, Professor Hong Yong-jin himself had been the one to dispatch her to Bae Young-min’s team.
He couldn’t have been more disturbed.
“By the way, Si-hyeok, didn’t you say earlier that you had something to ask the professor?”
“Ah, that’s right. I have something I’d like to ask not only the professor but also you, Department Manager.”
“Me too?”
“Yes. And if possible, you too, Chae-ah.”
“Oh. Wh, what is it.”
A little later, Professor Hong Yong-jin, who had gone out, returned.
The moment he sat across from them and returned to his usual mischievous frowning expression.
Lee Si-hyeok began to bring up the story he had been thinking about.
“In the lecture that’s about to begin….”
What topic he would present in his lecture.
And what the identity of the ‘guests’ who would appear near the end of the lecture would be, and what kind of world would unfold beyond that dimensional gate.
Lee Si-hyeok briefly summarized and explained what he had experienced in Eterion.
“….”
Throughout that story, the three people remained quiet as if they had lost their words.
As if they couldn’t believe it, yet as if they had no choice but to believe.
They focused on Lee Si-hyeok with trembling pupils.
His words had the power to captivate people.
When he told the story of the alchemists who became vegetative, goosebumps rose all over their bodies, and when they heard that he had ultimately created a new world together with the Snow Flame Empress, they exclaimed in admiration.
The question of ‘how’ wasn’t necessary.
Because even if they knew, they couldn’t follow suit.
Because even if they heard it, they wouldn’t understand.
Lee Si-hyeok’s level had already far surpassed theirs.
It was something they already knew, but this story made it even more certain.
As the story was coming to an end.
Lee Si-hyeok looked at them with their bewildered expressions and smiled quietly.
“Please help the people who came over from Orbes.”
And he made his request.
“For them to adapt, they need all of you.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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