Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 55

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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 (55)

A Slightly Different Attempt

One week until the seminar begins.

Lee Si-hyeok, who had joined Professor Hong Yong-jin’s team, would be staying at Eterion Magical Engineering Academy for the time being.

Since he would have to stay at the Annex Dormitory here during the seminar period anyway, he judged it would be less wasteful to move his belongings early and prepare various things in advance.

‘It’s more manageable than I thought.’

At first, he had worried that the week might be quite difficult due to Professor Hong Yong-jin’s intimidating manner.

But most of the tasks assigned to him were things he could handle easily. Even those would have been completed faster if the professor, shocked by Si-hyeok’s speed, hadn’t stopped him.

“Y-you crazy bastard.”

“Excuse me?”

“Do you… even sleep? You bastard, this is already the second day of all-nighters from what I can remember.”

“Has it only been that long?”

“This really crazy bastard… No, huu. Fine. Do as you please.”

Actually, the assigned work did decrease significantly right after this conversation, but Si-hyeok still found work to do on his own. Things like conducting small-scale experiments or writing research reports.

There wasn’t any big reason for it.

He was simply enjoying the current situation immensely.

‘Of course I would.’

Professor Hong Yong-jin was like a role model to Si-hyeok. 1,427 documents. To think he could meet in person someone he could only encounter in those densely packed books.

And even working together with him. Of course, the work done over a week wasn’t particularly complex, but even this was considerable enjoyment.

So he didn’t really feel tired. That was all there was to it.

‘Besides, when I get tired, I can just recharge mana from Blackie.’

Contrary to Professor Hong Yong-jin’s concerns, he actually had quite a bit of leeway.

“Hm? Where are you going?”

“I’m going to take a short walk.”

However, he couldn’t just stay cooped up in the research lab like this.

Si-hyeok stretched his stiff body and walked outside after leaving the Deep Research Building.

‘I’m starting to get familiar with the paths now.’

He had gotten terribly lost when he first came. But after staying for a few days, he could read the routes to some extent.

“The air is nice.”

Before he knew it, the sun had set and he was slowly walking along the street where the streetlights had turned on. It felt refreshing every time. He was gradually achieving things he wouldn’t have dared even look at before. Places, people, dreams.

The moon floating in the sky sparkled particularly brightly.

Rustle…

As he was walking quietly like this, he suddenly sensed a presence nearby.

He looked around but couldn’t see anyone.

However, Si-hyeok smiled as if he had been waiting for this. Then a voice small enough for only him to hear echoed in his ear.

“Boss.”

“You came, Isaac.”

It was Isaac, who had been hiding his body with a Stealth Skill.

“As you requested, I’ve been exploring the entire academy grounds for places where incidents might have occurred in the past.”

“How was it? Any results?”

“I found two places worth checking out.”

Isaac lowered his voice.

“The first is the ‘Central Records Hall’. It’s a building in the center of the Eterion grounds, where access is restricted not only for visitors but even for students.”

“Then who can enter?”

“Probably key figures of Eterion. Like faculty members, the dean, vice-dean, and such.”

In other words, it was an area restricted to authorized personnel only.

According to the additional explanation, various documents from Eterion Magical Engineering Academy were stored there. There was a high probability that records of past incidents were also kept together.

“The second is ‘Special Experiment Building No. 2’.”

“Special Experiment Building?”

“Right. I don’t know exactly what’s in there either. But there were quite a few suspicious things about it.”

“Like what.”

“There are a total of 6 Special Experiment Buildings. But among them, only Special Experiment Building No. 2 was closed off.”

A closed area. At those words, Si-hyeok’s eyes grew serious.

“That’s definitely suspicious. Even if defects were discovered inside the building, an academy like Eterion wouldn’t lack the funds to repair it.”

“Boss is right.”

“Then what about the rest? You said there were quite a few suspicious things.”

“It must have been around 3 AM. During the time when everyone was asleep, I discovered several people secretly going in and out of that building.”

“…”

At that dark hour?

If it had been any other normal building, one might think there was some urgent matter, but this case was very different. To think they were secretly going in and out of an already closed building.

“Did you check who they were?”

“No. Boss told me not to dig too deep.”

“Hmm, I did say that.”

It was a precaution for any unforeseen circumstances. He was worried that if they dug too deep, he might become endangered while Isaac was away.

Still, this was quite a significant harvest.

“We can narrow it down focusing on those two buildings.”

Although Professor Hong Yong-jin had held a professorship here for a long time, this wasn’t something Si-hyeok could ask him about directly.

After all, the case Si-hyeok was investigating was discovered in internal classified records that outsiders could never know about.

So he had to solve everything on his own, but with Isaac bringing information like this, the work became much easier.

“Thanks, you rascal.”

“…”

Feeling pleased, he patted where Isaac’s shoulder would be. But today, the guy’s reaction was a bit different. It felt like he had a lot on his mind.

“What’s wrong?”

“Boss.”

Whoosh… Isaac temporarily released his Stealth Skill.

“Actually, I received contact from the family clan recently.”

The guy was standing in a place without streetlights. Shadows fell across his face.

“It would have been around the time I crossed back from Orbes to Earth. There was a message from my father waiting for me then.”

“…”

“It was content ordering me to return to the family clan as soon as possible.”

By family clan, he must mean the Reynolds Family.

Come to think of it, Isaac had come to Si-hyeok without getting separate permission from his family clan. One might wonder why an adult would need permission, but it certainly wasn’t an ordinary family clan.

Si-hyeok furrowed his brow and asked.

“So, you have to return to the family clan?”

“That’s…”

But Isaac couldn’t answer properly.

Looking at him, Si-hyeok recalled what Isaac had said when they first met.

―Our family clan doesn’t hesitate to kill. That’s also why the Reynolds Family stands at the pinnacle.

―I simply became disillusioned with that. That trash family clan. I wanted to escape long ago, but this time I found an opportunity when I saw the recruitment notice you posted.

―I harbor hatred toward the family clan.

Hatred. That terrible emotion seemed unchanged even now.

But even if he didn’t want to return, he probably couldn’t carelessly disobey the family clan’s return order.

Since they apparently killed each other even within the family clan, Isaac might become that target if he wasn’t careful.

After a long yet short silence, Isaac spoke.

“But I don’t have to return right away.”

“Then?”

“At least I have time until this seminar ends. Nothing will happen before then.”

“In the end, you’re saying you have to return when the seminar ends.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Well, it can’t be helped.

Lee Si-hyeok had been keeping that point in mind ever since he hired Isaac. But since there had been no reaction until now, he had temporarily forgotten about it and was living peacefully, when it suddenly erupted.

Lee Si-hyeok’s active performance at the Expo, which made his name known, probably also played a part in drawing attention.

“Sigh. What can we do? It’s not just anywhere else, but your family clan asking, so there’s no choice.”

Still, at least there was time until the seminar. Fortunately, it wouldn’t interfere with the plans he had set up.

“Before you go back, I’ll need to find a hunter to take over temporary security. You’re not going to stay there forever, right? You’ll come back, won’t you?”

“…”

“Or not?”

“…I’ll try my best.”

Isaac smiled bitterly in the darkness. It was a self-deprecating smile, but even such a smile was the first Lee Si-hyeok had ever seen from Isaac.

“If you’re too late, I can just go find you myself. Anyway, please endure a bit more hardship until you leave.”

Watching Isaac nod his head, Lee Si-hyeok chuckled.

Though he was flustered by the news that came without warning, he wasn’t greatly shaken. This was like a kind of natural disaster, so there was no need to feel wronged or angry about it.

Since he couldn’t even predict what would happen yet, there was no reason to worry prematurely either.

‘Let’s just focus on immediate matters.’

The Global Artifact Seminar and the past incident at Eterion.

To prepare for both, every day was busy.

Lee Si-hyeok looked around the two buildings Isaac had told him about and returned to the Research Lab.

 

* * *

 

Time passed and before long, the seminar start date approached.

News began appearing one by one about participants from other countries entering the country, and Eterion, which had been quiet during vacation, gradually became crowded with people.

Then came the opening day.

Lee Si-hyeok, who had entered the Grand Auditorium of Central Engineering Hall, gulped as he looked around the interior.

‘Whoa…’

The lineup was incredible.

Participants were packed tightly into an enormous number of seats, and every single one of them was a figure that could only be described as a big shot. As expected of people who came representing their respective countries.

From the news, from TV, from papers. Names and faces too familiar to Lee Si-hyeok were visible everywhere, making it impossible to calm his pounding heart.

“Hey, tsk. Sit still for a bit.”

Professor Hong Yong-jin, who was sitting right next to him, turned around sharply.

“Ahem.”

He must have been looking around too obviously without realizing it. While Lee Si-hyeok hid his embarrassment, he continued observing his surroundings, only moving his eyes.

In the midst of this, he spotted a familiar figure from far away.

That figure quickly approached this way and spoke to Professor Hong Yong-jin.

“Oh my, Professor! How long has it been!”

A voice that seemed full of nasal sounds, with the tone raised to the maximum. Professor Hong Yong-jin turned his head to look at her.

“Oh ho. Isn’t this Yoon Seo-jin?”

“Yes, that’s right. Seo-jin! It really feels like it’s been so long since I’ve seen you.”

“The last time was when we met at the Association a few years ago. Have you been well?”

“I’ve been doing well. How’s your health, Professor? Come to think of it, it seems like you’ve lost more hair.”

“…What?”

“Hehe. Just kidding, just kidding.”

Director Yoon Seo-jin, who had been grinning broadly, turned her gaze toward Lee Si-hyeok sitting beside him.

“But who is this person?”

“Ah, this is a new team member I recently brought in. For this seminar, just this guy and I decided to participate together.”

“What?”

Confusion briefly crossed Yoon Seo-jin’s expression.

“Then… what about your existing team members? No, more than that, you’re participating with just two people?”

That must be difficult, she added in a small voice.

However, Professor Hong Yong-jin just chuckled.

“You’ll see when you watch. This guy isn’t ordinary.”

“…?”

Director Yoon Seo-jin tilted her head in puzzlement. Then she stared intently at Lee Si-hyeok before soon smiling with her eyes.

“I’m Yoon Seo-jin.”

“…I’m Choi Hyeok.”

“Anyway Professor, please take good care of us this time. I have to go take care of my team members, so I’ll be going now!”

And with that, Yoon Seo-jin left. Watching her retreating figure, Lee Si-hyeok inwardly let out a sigh of relief.

‘That was a surprise.’

Of course he had thought he would encounter her someday, but he didn’t expect to meet her so immediately. This was the second time hiding his identity after the Expo, but he still couldn’t get used to the feeling.

By the way, the relationship between Director Yoon Seo-jin and Professor Hong Yong-jin seemed deeper than expected.

He asked Professor Hong Yong-jin about it.

“Seo-jin? She was a student I taught when I worked as a professor here. She was so bright and had such good humor that she was quite endearing. I helped her with various things from that time.”

So there was such a connection. Who would have thought that Professor Hong Yong-jin’s period there would overlap with Director Yoon Seo-jin’s student years.

‘Wait a minute. Then doesn’t that mean he also taught Pyo Jae-hwan?’

According to the classified records he had seen before, Pyo Jae-hwan and Yoon Seo-jin had been classmates.

Sure enough, Professor Hong Yong-jin’s gaze turned toward the opposite side of the auditorium.

There, Pyo Jae-hwan and Chronos Industry’s research team were sitting in a row. The sight of them sitting expressionlessly in identical suits felt eerily chilling for some reason.

Professor Hong Yong-jin, who had been staring for a while, clicked his tongue.

“Not even coming to say hello.”

Besides that, not far from Lee Si-hyeok’s seat were members of ‘Ether Society.’

Among them, his eyes met with the mysterious student named Ryu Se-eun, who had asked for directions a few days ago.

She also seemed to recognize Lee Si-hyeok and waved her hand. The other members weren’t clearly visible due to the angle, so he couldn’t confirm their faces.

A moment later.

“It seems like it’s starting now.”

“Finally beginning.”

The Korea Awakener Association, which was hosting this seminar, opened with a brief speech.

The Global Artifact Seminar finally announced its beginning.

Soon, as the host stepped onto the stage, all the lights in the auditorium went out simultaneously. The murmuring noise quieted momentarily, then light entered the huge screen and a presentation screen appeared.

The host spoke.

“Good day, everyone. First, before we begin in earnest, I would like to express our deep gratitude to all the researchers from various countries who have joined us despite your busy schedules.”

No applause was heard.

“The Global Artifact Seminar has now reached its 4th iteration this year. Four times. It might be long if you consider it long, short if you consider it short. It would vary depending on how each of you perceives the passage of time. However, our Association, which is hosting this event, has judged it to be ‘long.'”

He began moving slowly across the stage.

“For a long time, the seminar has been operated in the same way. It has stubbornly maintained traditional methods without changing even once. However, the times are changing far too rapidly. Those of you here would feel this even more acutely. The times have changed too much to stick to tradition.”

He stopped firmly in place.

“So this year’s seminar has prepared a slightly different approach. Until now, we mainly just presented and shared individual research results, stopping at that level. But this time, we want to take one step further.”

Commotion began to arise among the people. Everyone seemed confused by the story that was different from their expectations.

“Not just a place to share results, but to enable direct collaboration and building together. Not just exchanging words, but experiencing together. We want to create such a venue for true exchange.”

Click, the host pressed the remote control.

The screen display switched.

“A seminar where each other’s knowledge and ideas meet to create even greater possibilities!”

He spread his hand toward the screen.

“The first step of that is exactly this.”

On the huge screen.

Black letters written on a pure white background.

 

[Session 1: Mimicry]

 

There, a word all too familiar to Lee Si-hyeok was written.

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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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