Celebration (1)
Celebration (1)
"Congratulations. To become a 1st Grade Solver right from the start—other Solvers would be shocked if they heard."
A few hours had passed since the duel with Mok Hong. It was now 6 PM, almost dinnertime. Kang Yuna, who had been tidying up her seat, stood and offered her congratulations with a smile.
"Thank you. But the grade evaluation came out much faster than I expected."
I had been waiting for her to get off work, and I chuckled and nodded. There was no reason to refuse a direct congratulation, was there? Above all, having someone recognize my achievements was surprisingly pleasant.
But apart from that, I was quite surprised. I had never imagined the Solver Association would process my grade evaluation this quickly.
'Besides, Western agencies are notoriously slow with administrative processing.'
Ordinarily, the task of measuring someone's ability, level, or state and assigning a grade inevitably takes quite a long time.
There are many factors to consider in a grade evaluation, and naturally it requires various complex procedures and personnel.
'It's so bad that even in Korea, getting a certification takes at least a few days after the exam to check the results.'
If I had to pick an exception, it would be the Military Manpower Administration's conscription physical, but they usually just stamp you with an active-duty grade and pass you through, so it's not really a reference point.
"We had already completed the administrative procedures on our side in advance. Besides, I heard you defeated Cheon Guseong-nim, who came as the examiner, so there was no room for quibbling."
Kang Yuna gave a clear answer to my question.
After all, the Management Bureau had already handled all the time-consuming procedures, and I had personally defeated Mok Hong, the 1st Grade Solver who attended as the examiner, hadn't I?
Unless someone was deliberately dragging their feet to pick a fight, there was no reason for the process to be drawn out.
Anyway, it was a great thing for me.
"Are you done with work now?"
"Today's work is finished. Tomorrow will have its own work, of course."
Picking up her suit jacket and draping it over her shoulders, Kang Yuna gave a self-deprecating smile as she answered. There was a subtle biting edge to her words, so I awkwardly averted my gaze.
'I feel a bit sorry for no reason.'
Because the reason she had been suffering from overwork lately was none other than me.
"You don't need to feel sorry for me. In the long run, keeping busy with work like this is much better."
After Mount Geumjeong Forked Path, I resolved the Yeongshin Elementary School case and the Monkey Dream. Not even a few days later, I finished off Marcel Lacrima and wrapped up the Youth Disappearance Case in Busan.
"Someone died. How much money is needed. From the standpoint of constantly receiving only reports like that, it's more comfortable to just be done with it and say, 'Let's just do a thorough check and move on.'"
"You seem physically tired, though."
"Well, that's, I am human after all."
Shrugging her shoulders, Kang Yuna tapped the air to manipulate the system and then swung open the Management Bureau's main gate. Just like when we went to the Solver Association, opening the Management Bureau's main gate brought us out at the entrance of a high-rise building on a bustling street.
"I've only seen it two or three times now, but it's still amazing every time."
"Most of us commute like this. We connect the main gate of the Management Bureau branch with doors at coordinates designated by the Bureau to move around."
Since the coordinates of the doors designated by the Management Bureau were evenly spread across the country, it seemed that all agents could commute near their homes.
"Still, I won't be heading straight home today either. There was a reason I asked you to wait for me to get off work in the first place."
"Do you have some schedule afterwards?"
"After-party... no, it's better to call it a commemorative ceremony. Since Kim Sihyeon-ssi has stepped into the industry as a 1st Grade Solver, the Management Bureau has decided to pay some attention and hold a celebration banquet for you."
It should be quite a good experience, so please follow me.
Saying that, she gave a slight smile and began walking ahead, and I followed her.
The Mystic Management Bureau has a lot of money. Not just a lot, but an unimaginably enormous capital power.
I myself had received 5.6 billion won in a lump sum deposit, hadn't I? It was compensation for a special reason, but normally, when an organization gives out tens of billions of won at once, problems arise.
Even though I knew in my head that famous celebrities and successful entrepreneurs earn far more than this, experiencing it firsthand makes it feel different, even if you know it intellectually.
"...It's quite large in scale, isn't it?"
"The Branch Manager-nim herself confirmed that she personally took care of it. Honestly, even I didn't expect it to be this full-scale."
I lifted my head to see the place guided by Kang Yuna. I couldn't see the top of the building unless I craned my neck back as if looking at the sky.
It was on such a scale that the resort I visited in Busan not long ago felt shabby in comparison. It seemed like the kind of place that would appear in a drama as a shop visited by politicians or upper-class businesspeople.
The cost for just one night's stay might be hundreds of thousands to over a million won. Faced with a scale that inevitably made me think such thoughts, my footsteps felt heavy for no reason.
'The atmosphere is really unfamiliar.'
Even after entering the building under Kang Yuna's guidance, I busily looked around. Contrary to saying she didn't expect it to be this full-scale, Kang Yuna seemed familiar with such places, calmly moving through the building and seeking staff assistance.
Of course, I didn't need to feel intimidated in such a place anymore. I was a 1st Grade Solver officially recognized by the Solver Association, and my immediately usable assets were 5.6 billion won, weren't they?
But each person has their own way of life built up over time. Habits and lifestyles ingrained over long years cannot be swapped out like parts overnight.
'They say it's not for nothing that people who've spent a lot of money are good at spending it.'
To put it bluntly, the only luxury I'd recently indulged in was ordering a ton of delivery food. Swallowing such thoughts, I followed after Kang Yuna.
And then, the moment I arrived in front of a huge hall's door, I twitched the corners of my mouth and smiled without realizing it.
"I'm looking forward to it."
"Huh? There is definitely a delicious smell, but..."
"No, not that. The presence I sense from inside the hall is quite intense."
In the spacious hall connected to the top-tier hotel's buffet, a delicious aroma wafted out. The interior was decorated luxuriously and splendidly with various ornaments, standing out.
But my attention was already not on such appearances at all.
The presences of four people from inside the hall. The presences of two of them completely overshadowed the scent of the abundant delicacies and the dazzling glow of the brilliant chandeliers.
"Inside the hall, three Managers in charge of each department of the Management Bureau and the Branch Manager-nim, who oversees the Korean branch of the Management Bureau, are waiting. The presences you sensed are probably the Response Division Manager-nim and the Branch Manager-nim."
The Response Division Manager and the Branch Manager. Their presences certainly live up to those titles.
"At this level—"
The Response Division Manager's presence is denser than Cheonguseong Mok Hong, whom I fought earlier today. Moreover, the Branch Manager's presence makes that of the Response Division Manager seem like a child's.
"It should be okay to play a little prank."
"Huh?"
Judging by the presences, the Response Division Manager's level is more than enough to be called a 1st Grade Solver. Naturally, the Branch Manager, who far surpasses that, would be Special Grade without a doubt.
In that case, a small prank instead of a greeting is fine. At the same time, I can gauge the gap between a Special Grade Solver and myself. As long as it doesn't go so far as to make them uncomfortable, it shouldn't be a big problem.
"They're probably curious too."
From the Management Bureau's perspective, I'm a high-value asset they spent 5.6 billion won to bring in. But except for Kang Yuna, no one has met me directly, so they might secretly harbor some curiosity about my skills.
So I plan to let them know. Let them know what level I'm at now. To reassure them that the Management Bureau didn't just throw 5.6 billion won down the drain.
'Remove the force from the Qi Wave, and project only the thoughts of my Mindscape upon the empty Qi Wave.'
Originally, a Qi Wave in itself does not carry physical impact. Only after Force and the Qi Wave combine to become a Force Wave does it gain physical power.
The moment a Qi Wave, which is nothing more than a simple wavelength, is emitted, the vibration of muscles plucked like a string instrument generates Force, granting physical power to the True Qi.
The principle of Sound Arts, which harms enemies with sound, originates here, but that part isn't really important right now, so I'll skip it.
'To move qi, you must put your mind into the qi, and to harm something with that qi, you must imbue it with Force.'
Anyway, a Qi Wave without Force has no special effect. At best, it only allows the intent carried within the qi-laden wave to project one's will onto others.
To compare it to animals, it's like the warning cry of a beast whose territory has been invaded, or the howling of a wolf revealing that there are many comrades nearby in a dangerous situation.
Nevertheless, I finally discovered a way to utilize such a Qi Wave.
'The prime example would be Sound Transmission.'
Another would be intimidation.
—Hwaaak!
But this time, the intent I'll pour into the Qi Wave is not hostility or warning. I'm just thinking of a light prank, not declaring war to start a brawl.
So I fire the Qi Wave like asking a question, filled with curiosity and wonder. I ask, 'What do you think of my skill? Moreover, I'd like to know yours, so please show me.'
"...Hm?"
But somehow, the returning presence was extremely strange. The Response Division Manager was pushed back by my Qi Wave, but the Branch Manager's side made even me tilt my head in confusion.
'What's this? Isn't the Branch Manager alone?'
The presences multiply. From the Branch Manager's single presence, to a handful, then to too many to count on one hand. Dozens of presences support each other and push back my Qi Wave in return.
Then at some point, a powerful presence suddenly clashes with my Qi Wave. Both sides' intents scatter, leaving only faint afterimages before disappearing.
'This presence is...'
It's a unique presence I'd never felt in my life. To sum it up, my jaw dropped at a presence that could be described as sacred or divine.
"Hoho, the young man's spirit is quite good."
As I closed my mouth and gulped, an elderly woman walked out from inside the hall. A faint radiance hovered around the elderly woman, who seemed as warm and affectionate as a kind grandmother from the countryside.
"...Are you the Branch Manager-nim of the Mystic Management Bureau?"
No doubt. If someone with this level of skill weren't the Branch Manager, who else could dare call themselves Branch Manager of the Mystic Management Bureau?
Though I was already convinced of her identity the moment my Qi Wave was pushed back, I still asked the question out of politeness.
"Young man's guess is correct. However, to add a word and introduce myself precisely, I am Choi Ok-chun, the Korean Branch Manager of the Mystic Management Bureau. I'm also the only Special Grade Solver in this country."
Please take care of me, young man.
Finishing the introduction, Branch Manager Choi Ok-chun smiled kindly with a hearty laugh and extended her wrinkled hand to me for a handshake.
"You have incredible skills. I look forward to working with you from now on."
"Incredible? Nonsense. Just borrowing some power for a moment made my whole body ache. I'm just an old relic."
And as I accepted the handshake with appropriate courtesy, I swallowed my admiration inwardly.
'A genuine shaman.'
For the way Choi Ok-chun pushed back my Qi Wave was none other than by receiving a spirit into her aged body.