The Civil Servant Who Concealed Their True Strength Turns Out to be a Master of Possession - Chapter 216

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Civil Servant Who Hides His Strength Is Exceptionally Good at Possession – Episode 216
“I looked into the awakening grades for civil servants since it’s a matter of public record. Inspector Lee Yu-ji’s grade is F-rank. Is that correct? Honestly, there’s been quite a bit of discussion about the standards for awakener grades, but Inspector Lee Yu-ji’s grade is so unbelievably… low.”
The reporter cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly at that point.
“I’m curious if you’ve ever taken a re-awakening test.”
At those words, the eyes of the investigators from the Public Investigation Division turned toward me.
Ever since I’d gotten a free pass on the re-awakening test due to the injury issue, talk of my grade had naturally died down—this was an unexpected question.
Should I say I took it? Or that I didn’t?
I was frozen in indecision.
Someone’s large hand pulled the microphone toward themselves.
It was Ik-seong’s hand.
“Inspector Lee Yu-ji has a history of serving as a national team reserve and competing as a national representative right up until awakening. In cases where someone awakens late like Inspector Lee Yu-ji, after age twenty, it’s common for their original physical abilities to be amplified regardless of their awakening grade—”
Ik-seong spoke while looking toward Won-gil.
“This is something being researched by the Hunter Management Office.”
…!
Rather than answering whether I’d taken the re-awakening test, he’d smoothly redirected the conversation entirely.
He’d framed it as: I had superior physical abilities before awakening, and those abilities were amplified.
The answer was so seamless that people would forget he hadn’t actually answered the question about the re-awakening test at all.
And on top of that, he’d deftly passed the responsibility to the Hunter Management Office.
‘Is this what civil service experience looks like…!’
It was like watching a department head naturally delegate work to another division with such ease!
‘You guys are researching this sort of thing, right?’
Won-gil opened his mouth in response to those words, looking at Ik-seong.
The Deputy Director behind us now had the look of someone whose soul had left his body.
“Yes. In fact, such cases are occasionally discovered. Late awakeners, no matter how high their grade, sometimes fail to recover from physical deficiencies, and even in cases of low grades, if their original abilities exceed those of ordinary people, they can demonstrate performance beyond that level.”
However, Won-gil was someone.
An exceptionally capable administrator.
He’d rescued the Deputy Director from crisis with a perfect answer.
‘Honestly, looking at how the Hunter Management Office turned out, it seems like they haven’t properly conducted case studies like that…’
It seemed Won-gil had just improvised on the spot.
Fortunately, the reporter seemed satisfied with that answer.
The Deputy Director, unable to endure further questions, stood up and signaled to Won-gil.
Won-gil spoke into the microphone.
“Yes. Then we’ll conclude the questioning here. Thank you, members of the press, for gracing us with your presence. Please exit.”
It was a swift dismissal.

* * *
“Why did you shout ‘Taekwon’?”
Lee Yu-gyeom, with a thoroughly rotten expression, handed me a bouquet that was clearly prepared by Kang Min-joo and asked.
“…Please don’t ask.”
Captain Hong… no, Captain Hong the Director made that board-breaking sound, so I can’t exactly say I shouted it without realizing.
And I certainly can’t say I wanted to break the board instead.
“Unnie! That was so cool! Can I post your photo on StarStar?”
I’m not sure when she saw me that I became her “unnie,” but Min-ju with her cheerful face asked me.
Fortunately, after her parents went missing, Min-ju had been living in a place arranged by the Hanseong Guild.
According to Min-ju, it was just a very small officetel, but when I checked StarStar, it was a 40-pyeong officetel in Seongsu-dong.
‘Ugh.’
I’m envious.
Whatever the case.
The daughter of the sub-guild master with all her complications and troubles.
They probably arranged it in a way that wasn’t quite proper to take her in, but also couldn’t just abandon her in plain sight of everyone.
Min-ju disliked the house because it was spacious and empty, so she spent most of her time at the workshop.
Sometimes it seems like she visits our apartment too—
Absolutely, absolutely never be alone with Min-ju. I’m thinking her marriage should be at least after she’s 22. She needs to go to the military first.
Lee Yu-gyeom
Shut up.
There shouldn’t be any particular trouble.
“Sure. You can post it. Thanks for coming.”
I have no face to see my future sister-in-law.
“Unnie. Really… really…”
It was when Kang Won-yeon was about to say something.
Kang Il-yeon tapped his shoulder and spoke to me.
“You look really cool in uniform, unnie. Let’s take a photo together.”
Despite Kang Il-yeon’s words, Kang Won-yeon ended up saying it anyway.
“Are you a robot? I thought you malfunctioned in the middle.”
I forgot that he was A-rank and hit his forearm hard.
“Please shut up. Just shut up.”
“Ow. Really? Are you really F-rank?”
Kang Won-yeon didn’t even look like it hurt as he kept babbling on.
When did he become so glib?
I stood in line with the kids thinking that.
“But who’s going to take the photo?”
“Why not ask that man over there to take it?”
Kang Min-joo sighed at that moment and pointed to a man standing at the corner of the lobby.
The man looked flustered the moment he was pointed out.
“Sir. Come over here.”
What’s this? Why do they look so close?
Min-ju whispered softly to me.
“That man has been following me around lately.”
“What?”
Seeing me clench my fist, Yu-gyeom quickly grabbed my hand.
“Apparently he’s Min-ju’s uncle’s man. Seems like Hansung Guild sent him.”
Damn. I almost hit him by mistake.
As if reading my thoughts, Yu-gyeom spoke.
“Don’t forget that you’re an Awakened One. If a trained person hits a civilian, it’s attempted murder, but if an Awakened person hits someone, it’s just murder, plain and simple.”
The way he mixed the word “sister” with “you” felt odd.
Maybe it would be better if he just stuck with “you” consistently.
Regardless.
“Still, isn’t it a problem for a security person to follow a girl around like this?”
I spoke to the man who had approached us.
He then cleared his throat and pulled out a business card from his pocket.
Gitong Security
Park Seong-gyu
“I’m not a strange person. I’m from the security company that Hansung Guild hired in case anything happens to the young lady. Ha ha…”
“But the fact that a security company employee is following a minor girl around itself is…”
“By the way, do you not remember me?”
That’s when Park Seong-gyu asked.
“Pardon?”
The moment I heard those words, Yu-gyeom quickly glanced over at Ik-seong in the distance.
‘What, what are you looking at.’
“When you were at the athletes’ village. I was also on the national judo team’s standby roster. I saw you a few times at the gym. I didn’t know you’d become this famous.”
My expression hardened at those words.
“Ah… so you were at the athletes’ village.”
I thought I’d forgotten all the memories from that place, thought I could move forward now, but someone recognizing me made that deeply buried voice suddenly echo in my ears again.
‘Do you think you’re something special? You really think you can keep playing sports after this?’
That’s when it happened.
Piercing through that sharp voice, Yu-gyeom took my hand.
“Sister, let’s take a photo.”
I quickly turned my head toward Yu-gyeom.
“Ah… yes.”
I read the anxiety clouded in Yu-gyeom’s eyes.
I promised not to show myself wavering, yet I was caught again.
For Yu-gyeom’s sake, I wouldn’t waver.
With that thought, I spoke to Min-ju and the twins.
“Come over here. Let’s take a photo together. Then Mr. Park Seong-gyu, would you take it for us?”
I unfolded the presidential commendation.
For standing at the forefront of the Republic of Korea’s security and safety, dedicating yourself with unwavering commitment, and thereby contributing to creating a safer nation for all, this commendation is hereby awarded to you.
A safer Republic of Korea.
Right. For now, I’ll focus on just that.
First, I need to start investigating those Hunter Cult bastards.

* * *
But that clue came rolling in from an unexpected place.
At Min-ju’s house, which I visited after the commendation ceremony because I was worried about her safety.
There it was, sitting right in the middle of her living room.
The symbol of the Hunter Cult.
A golden ornament with overlapping concentric circles.
“…You have this….”
“Oh, that? My uncle bought it as a souvenir from some church or temple? Something like that. He has one in every building he owns. Supposedly it brings wealth and fortune. I’ve been dragged to his parties a few times to greet people and such.”
“I see….”
“My uncle’s been contacting me lately to host those parties again, I think. I used to help him out by giving speeches or singing hymns at them. My ability draws people in, you know? My father liked having me do that sort of thing too.”
Wow.
So there are Hunter Cult parties.
And now one’s come rolling right to me!

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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