The Civil Servant Who Concealed Their True Strength Turns Out to be a Master of Possession - Chapter 256
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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 256
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One hour later.
It was Gu Jae-yong, covered in dust, who announced the clearing of the unprecedented S-rank Dungeon that had appeared at the National Assembly.
Gu Jae-yong gave a brief briefing on the situation before the gathered reporters.
“I announce the clearing of the S-rank Dungeon Break in front of the National Assembly Building.”
At his words, the rapid and intense sound of reporters typing echoed through the temporary tent.
It was breaking news, after all.
“Who is the S-rank Hunter who cleared it?”
At the natural question, Gu Jae-yong cleared his throat.
Not because the answer was difficult, but because he’d inhaled so much dust that his airways were blocked.
“It’s Hunter Choi Woo-jin.”
At those words, the rapid typing sound came again.
“Did he dispatch from the Daeyang Guild?”
“No. The first to dispatch was….”
Gu Jae-yong looked at Pee So-won sitting in a corner of the tent.
That bastard who didn’t even listen to the Special Forces and independently identified the Dungeon Break location before entering alone.
That bastard, the newly arrived Vice Director.
He feared the existence of this Heonsu Bureau Vice Director who destroyed every system in the bureaucracy.
At least Captain Hong could be controlled.
“…It was the Heonsu Bureau investigators.”
There was no reason to lie about information that would leak anyway because of the rescued civilians.
“The Heonsu Bureau entered an S-rank Dungeon before the Special Forces?”
The reporters poured out questions as if astonished.
“Yes. It seems they… took the lead for civilian rescue.”
Gu Jae-yong clearly saw Pee So-won, sitting far away, make an expression that said “bullshit.”
At least she didn’t curse out loud, thankfully.
“After that, the Special Forces joined forces and worked on civilian rescue.”
Regardless, Gu Jae-yong began saying what needed to be said.
This was the most important part, after all.
“We estimate approximately ten casualties.”
People had died.
Even he, who had thought the President’s life came first, knew well what the government needed to do now.
The government exists for its people.
No government official would be unaware that regardless of what the government considers serving the people, the government must fulfill its responsibility in matters of national safety.
Including the special civil servant, Baek Hee-ryeong.
‘Please do your best to handle the casualties.’
Gu Jae-yong recalled his superior’s words and continued speaking.
“The government is making every effort to secure a list of casualties as quickly as possible. Considering the pain of the bereaved families, please refrain from speculative articles, and please adhere to the disaster damage reporting guidelines. Furthermore—”
“Is President Baek included in the casualty count?”
Gu Jae-yong furrowed his brow as he listened to the reporters’ questions from a tent beside the makeshift command center that hardly qualified as a press briefing room.
These journalist bastards never listen to anything all the way through.
He maintained as much of a poker face as possible while thinking that.
In this unprecedented crisis, his expression could not appear irritated, anxious, or angry.
He briefly recalled the President’s fractured finger and the perfectly healed leg visible beneath the torn trousers.
How much should he reveal?
The President’s finger would likely be treated immediately—
“The President has sustained minor injuries and is currently receiving treatment.”
It would be more advantageous to frame it as him enduring his injuries with fighting spirit.
It was at that moment Gu Jae-yong thought this.
Another reporter spoke like a hyena waiting for prey.
“But why hasn’t he made an appearance yet? Are the injuries more serious than reported?”
At those words, a tendon became visible at Gu Jae-yong’s temple.
That was the thing.
At this critical moment, what the President was doing instead of holding a press briefing wasn’t treatment—
“I’d like to have a conversation with Investigator Lee Yu-ji in the car. Just the two of us. There will be security vehicles front and back, so don’t worry about anything else.”
A drive with a mere Heonsu Bureau investigator.
Gu Jae-yong couldn’t even fathom how important the information Lee Yu-ji possessed must be.
That wasn’t all.
Apparently Lee Yu-ji was the first to alert the President to his location—
‘So F-rank is completely a lie after all.’
He spoke while maintaining maximum composure.
“The President is currently encouraging one of the injured investigators. After transporting that person in thirty minutes, we will hold a press conference in the briefing room….”
Before his words even finished, the reporters instantly pulled out their phones and called their respective news directors or the press office.
“Hey! Baek Hee-ryeong is heading to the Blue House!”
“Pull everyone out!”
“Did you send the cameras?”
These bastards really…
Gu Jae-yong clenched his teeth.
…don’t listen to a word anyone says.
Regardless.
As Gu Jae-yong left the tent-made press briefing area, he quickly scanned the headlines of the breaking news that had risen.
S-rank Dungeon Clear Hero, Choi Woo-jin? Will he become the hero of a new era?
President Baek sustains only minor injuries… currently encouraging Heonsu Bureau investigators
Heonsu Bureau investigators including Taekwondo Girl Lee Yu-ji were the first to enter the S-rank Dungeon—
This incident will keep things noisy for a while longer.
Gu Jae-yong thought this as he looked at the Blue House spokesperson.
With an expression that said, hang in there.
* * *
“….”
“….”
An awkward silence hung between President Baek and me.
The moment President Baek entered the Blue House, she summoned me to her office.
And then she had me touch the haetae-shaped paperweight sitting on her desk—
‘We’ve entered here.’
A sprawling traditional Korean mansion with a gentle breeze drifting through it.
In a place reminiscent of Sangchunjae, President Baek and I sat facing each other.
She was pouring me a healing tea.
On her finger that I had bitten, only a hastily applied healing bandage was stuck.
‘Shouldn’t we address that first?’
I had no idea.
Anyway—
‘This is a subspace.’
I recognized the nature of this space and furrowed my brow.
As if reading my thoughts, President Baek spoke.
“There are many eyes and ears in the Blue House. And above all—”
President Baek looked at me quietly.
“A spider could crawl in here.”
“…!”
Was she talking about Choi Woo-jin?
If so, this means it’s at least an S-rank item that nullifies Choi Woo-jin’s abilities….
‘…setting that aside.’
“You know about Choi Woo-jin’s abilities.”
President Baek answered my statement calmly.
“Yes. I do.”
“And the reason is….”
President Baek’s hand, which had been pouring me tea, stopped abruptly.
“Because the President is a possessor.”
No matter how I thought about it, the fact that President Baek knew I was someone who remembered my past life, that she knew about Choi Woo-jin’s abilities, and above all—
I looked at the artifact in my hand.
Traces of Twisted Causality (2)
The fact that she recognized this.
All these circumstances pointed to one conclusion.
“You’re also a component of this world’s twisted causality, President Baek.”
At my words, President Baek resumed pouring, her hand moving again as she filled the teacup completely.
Then she pushed the cup toward me and spoke.
“…That’s right. I was the first to discover the traces of twisted causality. I transferred the protagonist’s position, and through that, the protagonist’s role changed. And whenever that protagonist greatly altered this world, I learned that twisted causality left its traces.”
Transferring the protagonist’s position.
The moment I heard those words, I couldn’t help but ask.
“Then… does that mean the President was originally the protagonist of this world?”
Baek Hee-ryeong regarded me quietly for a moment, then gently pushed a songpyeon from the center of the table toward me.
The songpyeon filled with white bean paste that I loved.
“…Yes.”
Baek Hee-ryeong answered matter-of-factly.
“I switched the protagonist’s role because I wanted to save my daughter, and no matter what I tried, I couldn’t save her… or rather, you. So I used an artifact. I hoped you would gain an ability called Awakening.”
Awakening.
And that Awakening came to me as the ability of ‘Possession’.
From no one else…
I stared down at the songpyeon, my teeth clenched.
Because of Mother.
“How are you alive?”
I spilled out the question I’d wanted to ask most.
“Really… in front of me…
I looked up at my mother.
“Are you really alive?”
Seeing my desperate gaze, Baek Hee-ryeong’s eyes turned bloodshot.
As if someone had mixed red dye into water.
“…Yes.”
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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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