Oresik's Grand Assembly
"No, don't you have to at least tell me where you're going?"
An elder had burst into our class first thing in the morning. His footsteps were so hurried that I hadn't even gotten a proper explanation before chasing after him.
"I forgot, you punk! I forgot I was supposed to play with my granddaughter yesterday!"
"So what exactly did you forget?"
"I forgot there's the Oresik general assembly today!"
"......Pardon?"
Oresik general assembly. As far as I remembered, it was a gathering of the Oresik headquarters, its branches, and all the top aura practitioners from across the country.
But...
"What does that have to do with me?"
"You punk! You're my disciple, so of course you have to come with me!"
"Ah."
Come to think of it, I was an Oresik practitioner too. And as the disciple of Gwak Chunsik—the near-absolute leader of Oresik—it would be absurd for me to be absent.
"But you're the boss anyway, so isn't it fine to be a little late?"
I couldn't understand why someone in such a top position was taking tardiness so seriously.
"Of course it is—if I don't announce the start, everyone has to wait! You punk, true authority comes from respect."
No, does it work that way...?
More than that, I'd never realized until now that this guy, who always acted like such a boomer, actually had a solid philosophy behind it.
Anyway, the conclusion was: we couldn't be late.
"That's pretty risky."
"That's why I'm in such a hurry!"
For a guy who never showed fear, seeing him break a sweat meant he was dead serious.
From my memory, the event was at the Oresik Dojo in Seoul. At this hour, overlapping with rush hour, we might be late even by car.
"Sir, we'll definitely hit traffic if we drive."
"You think I don't know that? But we can't exactly run there."
"But we can fly."
"Huh?"
How about I save the old man's face for once?
* * *
"Seriously, I even forgot who my own disciple is."
"At your age, Elder, that's not unusual. Don't take it too hard."
"I'm not kidding, you punk!"
Inside a helicopter cruising leisurely through Seoul's skies, Gwak Chunsik and I—both wearing headsets—gazed out the window as we chatted.
"Young master! Shall I land in the central dojo courtyard?!"
The pilot's voice crackled through the headset.
"That's the plan. What do you think, sir?"
"Do it. There won't be any issues!"
"COPY THAT."
The chopper banked sharply sideways. In the distance, the vast grounds of the Oresik Dojo came into view. Even smack in the middle of Seoul, from above it looked like a full-fledged park—anyone would be awestruck by its scale.
"Heh heh heh. They'd never dream I'd show up by helicopter. Just imagining their faces is delightful."
"Good thing we had a spare chopper. Otherwise, you'd have leaped onto the roof for real."
"Kuhahaha! Of course I trusted my disciple! Who else but him?"
A grandpa strutting across the rooftop with a suited man in tow? Anyone spotting us would've pegged it as Seoul's newest urban legend.
"Landing now. Esteemed guests, please check your seatbelts once more and grip the handles tightly."
The chopper descended slowly onto the massive open courtyard. A fierce wind whipped up around us. Sensing something amiss, people began pouring out of the enormous wooden building, staring at the helicopter settling in the center.
Finally, we touched down.
"Who the hell lands a helicopter here without knowing wha— Gr-Grand Master?!"
With a clunk, the door slid open. Gwak Chunsik and I unbuckled and stepped out together, and the crowd's eyes widened in shock.
They jolted at Gwak Chunsik's sudden appearance, bowing their heads in a frenzy.
"Yeah, it's been a while, everyone. This old man's not late, right?"
Gwak Chunsik waved with a grin, clearly savoring the moment. The man at the front bowed deeply and shouted.
"No, sir! The opening is still ten minutes away!"
"Mm~ Plenty of time. Plenty. Alright, let's head in."
"Yes, Grand Master!"
Was this really the same guy who'd been pacing anxiously just minutes ago? The scene evoked a king and his subjects—I couldn't help but click my tongue in amazement.
A buff, muscular old man surrounded by dozens, hundreds of strapping men bowing at ninety degrees. Who'd call the Caliones gangsters? These were the real deal.
"But Grand Master, who's the kid behind you...?"
"......?"
Turning at the comment about me, the speaker flinched and trembled.
Human Totem
'Huh? Why's this activating?'
The thought was fleeting.
"Can't you tell? It's my disciple."
"The Grand Master's disciple... No wonder he stands so flawlessly poised. I figured he wasn't ordinary... Please, come inside."
......What just happened? I hadn't done a thing.
Seemed related to my new trait. I'd figure it out step by step.
"Eugene, what're you doing? Let's go."
"Yes, sir."
I followed his back as he strode into the dojo with the others, my own steps measured.
A building any Korean aura practitioner or martial artist would boast of entering. The Oresik Dojo took the form of a massive hanok. Inside, the vast courtyard brimmed with people.
"““We greet the Grand Master—!!!””"
The thunderous salute shook the air at Gwak Chunsik's entrance. He waved it off wearily and headed to a spot reminiscent of a king's throne hall—three wooden chairs elevated above the rest, prepared for just a few.
Gwak Chunsik claimed the largest center chair, crossing his legs.
"Looks like plenty of young ones eager to learn aura this year too. Good, very good."
He beamed at the packed courtyard. Then, a familiar face appeared from the side—a sturdy middle-aged man with jet-black hair, grinning as he took the seat to Gwak Chunsik's right.
What Gwak Chunsik might've looked like in his youth? Unlike the gray-haired elder, this was Gwak Chunsam, unflashy name aside: board member of the Korea Hero Association and current head of the Oresik Dojo. He'd pinned a gold taegeuk badge proving his status to his black suit, fresh from association business.
"Said you'd be late, but you arrived right on time, Father."
"Heh, starting from Gangwon means no travel hassle. Should've just said I was an academy instructor and stayed in Seoul ages ago."
"Hahaha! True enough. Really fortunate. But who's the young man in the academy uniform over there?"
Glancing my way mid-chat with Gwak Chunsik, he broached the topic.
"Ah, right. This is my disciple Eugene I've always mentioned. Eugene, as an academy student, you've probably seen him around? This punk's my son, Chunsam."
Gwak Chunsik patted Chunsam's shoulder with a grin. I bowed politely in greeting.
"I'm always in your debt to the elder. Han Eugene."
Lifting my head to gauge his expression, I sensed an odd vibe. Wariness? Welcome? Something in between.
But he smiled warmly and extended a hand.
"I've heard plenty from Father. Han... Eugene, right?"
"Yes."
His face suggested he knew of me. Not surprising for a Hero Association board member.
"Come on, the event's about to start—why stand? Looks like Father prepared a seat for you too."
"Pardon?"
My seat? Glancing at the elder, he tapped the armrest of the chair to his left.
"What do you think? Added one for you."
"......Ah."
This was my seat? Looking back, countless eyes bored into me from the crowd.
......Did I really have to sit here? In front of all these people? This wasn't a public execution, was it?
Thanks to the mansion training and my Hitman trait, I didn't show panic, but I was flustered.
"Eugene?"
Gwak Chunsik tilted his head, puzzled.
......Sigh. No choice. I sat to his left.
Being elevated made it feel like hundreds in doboks were staring solely at us. I'd never sat like this even as Calione heir—didn't expect it here first.
Human Totem
Why was the trait firing again now? What the hell was Human Totem anyway? I'd never seen it in the game despite collecting every trait—my info was limited.
Nothing bad seemed to happen, so it wasn't dangerous or harmful... but it still unnerved me.
Propping my chin, I stared blankly below.
────Gongggg.
"Attention!"
A gong rang out like thunder across heaven and earth. Gwak Chunsam rose from the elder's right, bellowing with aura-infused volume.
"We now commence the 30th Oresik General Assembly!"
The crowd bowed ninety degrees toward us in unison—flawless Oresik etiquette, a rare sight.
'No wonder they say show your crown while showing respect.'
This scene alone made power crystal clear.
And with that—
────Gongggg.
Another gong, and they straightened. Curious, I glanced at Gwak Chunsik beside me.
"Sir."
"Hm?"
"So, what do we do today?"
"What else? Branches and disciples demo martial arts, report training progress, that sort of thing."
"......Then what am I doing?"
"You?"
He paused, then pondered deeply.
"Hm... First time bringing a disciple to the assembly, so I'm not sure... Probably just sit there."
"Pardon?"
"Just sit and watch. Skip academy for it."
True, but 'just watch'...?
"Oh, right. Might have something to do after all."
He grinned slyly at me.
"Someone might challenge you since they can't accept you're my disciple."
"......Pardon?"
"When that happens, go easy on 'em."
"Pardon?"
Wait, was this the gorilla's throne? More like a sandbag setup at this point.