Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 016
Chapter Title: Intermission
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The safehouse owned by Hanseong Group might have been called a safehouse, but it was practically a luxury mansion.
The interior screamed high-end elegance at first glance, furnished with designer pieces that cost thousands.
Everything in sight was top-of-the-line, right down to the toilet paper in the bathroom that carried a faint, sweet fragrance.
And there I was, in the kitchen of this lavish detached house, heating up instant porridge from the convenience store. It felt strangely surreal.
'Couldn't hire any staff, so no choice.'
Normally, safehouses came with assigned personnel, but they'd all been evacuated now. We couldn't risk exposing Ji Ye-won—a criminal on the run—to civilians who didn't know the full story.
Which meant all the housework—cleaning this massive place, laundry, cooking—fell squarely on my shoulders.
No helping it. Min Chae-ryeong was swamped with team leader duties, and Chae So-yeon was utterly hopeless at anything domestic.
For the record, on the Academy Security Force's end, we'd been temporarily reassigned at Min Chae-ryeong's request and dispatched to another site.
The fact that she could pull staff from other departments on a whim spoke volumes about her authority.
"What're you doing?"
I turned to see Chae So-yeon entering the kitchen in her work uniform.
"You're back? Just warming up some porridge."
"Porridge? Oh, looks like she's finally awake."
Chae So-yeon was about 10 cm shorter than usual now. She used to come up to my chest, but her head barely reached my solar plexus.
It was a side effect of her Dragon Humanization ability. Her power came with penalties as severe as its strength.
To use it, she had to stockpile energy in advance. That's why her frame was so petite for a superhuman, and her baseline physical stats were on the weaker side—to minimize wasted energy.
Even then, once activated, it only lasted about 10 minutes.
After the time limit, the ability forcibly deactivates, leaving her physically debilitated.
This time, she'd only used it for around a minute, so she just shrank a bit. But if she went the full duration, she'd revert to a childlike body, with strength comparable to an elementary school girl.
A high-risk, high-reward ability designed for one decisive moment, one battle.
The original story's Dragon Humanization users had penalties too, but hers were especially brutal.
'...I wonder if her low IQ is a side effect too.'
I couldn't exactly ask her outright. Maybe I'd fish for info from Min Chae-ryeong later.
Anyway, now even smaller than her usual tiny self, Chae So-yeon looked every bit the neighborhood kid. Her uniform, tailored to her normal size, hung loose on her like she'd borrowed her big sister's clothes.
She toddled over and looked up at me.
"Smells good. What kind of porridge is this?"
"Don't even think about stealing any."
"Who said anything about that? Come on, even I wouldn't take food from a patient!?"
Hearing her say "even I" suggested she was at least self-aware of her own stubborn streak.
"How's Ji Ye-won doing?"
"She's fine. Just a bit groggy, aside from that. The shoulder wound's almost completely healed, no other visible injuries."
"Still, she was out for three whole days. Even with a potion, that's a long time—means the damage was pretty bad—"
Chae So-yeon clapped a hand over her mouth with an "Ah!" Her eyes darted up at me anxiously.
Silence stretched between us.
As I stared down at her wordlessly, she started fidgeting uncomfortably.
"S-Sorry."
I softened my expression and nodded at her apology.
"It's fine. No one's around to hear."
"Still sorry. Should've watched my mouth... it's a sensitive topic."
For someone who seemed to think with her gut rather than her brain, it was a surprisingly serious attitude from Chae So-yeon.
"Really, it's okay. Water under the bridge."
I gave her a faint, weary smile—as if forcing it out. She bowed her head like she'd committed some grave sin.
Why had she gone from grilling me about not using a potion on her to this complete turnaround?
To understand that, I needed to rewind a bit.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Three days earlier. Rooftop of the abandoned building.
As I used the quest reward potion on Ji Ye-won, Chae So-yeon—now out of her powered-up state—approached me.
Her face was etched with clear displeasure. Probably had a lot to say about the potion.
Before she could speak, I beat her to it.
"Sorry. Thought you were dead."
"...What?"
"Hole right through your chest, blood gushing like a fountain. Figured you were gone. And it'd been a while too."
"You could've used the potion right after I went down."
"No time in the moment. Didn't know the sniper's position, and that guy came up immediately—fight started right away. By the time I beat him, I thought it was too late."
"...If you'd treated me even late, Ji Ye-won wouldn't have gotten hurt."
"In hindsight, yeah. But you were the one hiding your ability, calling it classified and all. If I'd known, I'd have saved you first, no question."
Was she just sulking and withholding it, or did she not trust me?
Either way, you kept your power secret yourself.
Chae So-yeon averted her gaze, at a loss for words. It was a hastily patched excuse, but it held up under the circumstances.
'Time to concede a point.'
True as my words were, pushing too hard would just make her sulk again.
"...Still, from your perspective, that must've felt unfair. Leaving a teammate to save a criminal first. Sorry about that. My bad—I wasn't thinking."
Her eyes widened at my apology. Her drooping lips twitched upward.
"Yeah! It hurt a ton! But whatever, now you know. I forgive you—special exception! Hehe."
'Simple girl.'
"So, where'd you get that pricey potion? Intermediate ones go for 300 million each, right?"
"That’s..."
Here it comes. I schooled my expression.
Luckily, I'd prepared an excuse for this.
I wore a troubled look, biting my lip while gazing wistfully into the distance—like recalling a painful memory.
"Huh? Where'd it come from?"
The straightforward Chae So-yeon didn't pick up on my act, just prodded for an answer. Perfect.
"Did the team leader send it or—"
"It was my grandfather's keepsake."
"Huh?"
Chae So-yeon's giggling smile froze solid.
"Keepsake...?"
"Yeah. From my late grandfather. He gave it to me on my 20th birthday, saying one day his superhuman grandson might face danger. Spent his life's savings on it."
She was speechless, lips trembling.
"He always insisted I carry it. It annoyed me back then, but now... I can't bear to part with it. Thanks to that, I could use it when it mattered."
All lies, of course. I had no idea what Ahn Su-ho's grandfather was like—my knowledge was bare minimum.
So that story was pure fabrication.
A flimsy lie that'd crumble under real scrutiny.
"Oh..."
But this simple woman wouldn't suspect a thing.
"You used something that precious? On some guy you barely know?"
"Couldn't just watch someone die in front of me."
"But...!"
Chae So-yeon's face clouded with empathy. Simple souls dove right into emotions. She'd bought the quick tale hook, line, and sinker, staring at me in shared pain.
"Grandpa always told me, 'Know justice, uphold duty.' Saving Ji Ye-won right there—that had to be it. Bet he's proud of me from heaven."
Too much? I wondered for a moment, then shook the thought away. For her, a little corniness worked better. Sure enough, tears welled in her eyes, moved by the sentiment.
"...Can I ask one favor?"
Supporting Ji Ye-won's body, I looked up at her pleadingly, pouring on the pathos.
"This potion's my last memory of Grandpa. Don't want it getting around. So... can we keep what happened here just between us?"
"...Got it. My lips are sealed. Promise."
Firm resolve.
Satisfied, I flashed a grin. She hesitated, then said,
"I-I think I misjudged you. Saw you as a bad guy before. You're actually pretty decent, huh?"
"...Ahem."
Her earnest words had me ducking my head. Couldn't meet her eyes—might burst out laughing.
My shoulders shook with suppressed mirth. Thinking I was crying, she quietly stepped away.
I watched her retreating back and thought,
'...Simple girl.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
That's why "potion" had become our own personal Voldemort—utterly taboo between Chae So-yeon and me.
Proof? Even after I said it was fine, she sat at a distance, sneaking glances my way.
Worked for me. Her guilt meant she'd never blab to anyone.
"So, what brings you here today?"
I asked while ladling the steaming porridge into a bowl.
"Team leader wanted a status update. She doesn't know how bad Ji Ye-won was hurt, so three days unconscious probably has her worried."
Probably less worry, more suspicion. Wondering if she was faking it.
"Should I tell the team leader she's awake?"
"Yeah. Do that for me."
Bowl on a tray, I left the kitchen.
Once Min Chae-ryeong heard about Ji Ye-won's condition, interrogation would start tomorrow at latest.
I already knew the Dawn Corps' rough movements and members from the original story. Still, couldn't ignore what she knew.
'That Talisman was key to their plan, right?'
The plan centered on the Talisman with the protagonist's Mana Absorption ability.
I knew zilch about it. Even in the original, the Talisman foreshadowing hadn't been resolved yet.
Tied to the protagonist's power, it couldn't be trivial. Blissful Heavenly Demon wouldn't waste such a major hook.
'...Story's gonna change big time.'
Ji Ye-won survived—involved in the plan. That alone would alter the Dawn Corps' path drastically. No clue how it'd ripple into the main plot.
Not that it was unchanged already, with me snatching the protagonist's opportunity.
"Haa."
A sigh escaped at the uncertain future.
What could I do? Saving Ji Ye-won and taking the Talisman were necessities.
Hoping for time to prepare for whatever came next, I headed to Ji Ye-won's room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Meanwhile, at that very hour.
In the basement of a rundown commercial building in Wonju, Gangwon Province.
Three figures—a man and two women—gathered there.
An elderly man with snow-white hair: Yu Hyun-ho.
A hulking brute covered in muscle: Kim Sung-hak.
And a woman with a seductive eye smile: Park Ji-hyun.
The three sat around a small table. Kim Sung-hak spoke first.
"So, old man. Why'd you call us? I'm swamped as it is."
He grumbled, face twisting. Park Ji-hyun picked up.
"Right? Stuff on my end won't run without me. Spill it already."
The silent elder, Yu Hyun-ho, finally spoke.
"Kim Sung-hak, Park Ji-hyun. As of now, your missions are on hold."
"What?"
"Hey, old man. What the hell?"
"Branch leader's orders. We've got an emergency assignment—all three of us."
"Emergency?"
"You know about the traitor from the Seoul branch a few days back?"
They nodded. The incident was hushed up, but as executives, they'd gotten the basics.
"One fighter took out the whole team solo and bolted. Heard another stole something too."
"HQ clammed up, called it classified. What’s that got to do with us?"
"The two HQ assassins tracking the traitor went dark. Probably dead."
Their faces hardened. One sentence, and they grasped it.
"No way HQ's making us clean up their mess! Dream on!"
"No, Sung-hak. It's the branch leader's command. Gotta obey."
"I'm just sayin'! Why us? Traitor flee to Gangwon or what?"
"Yeah. Last sighted in Sokcho."
"Damn it all!"
"Wait, Sokcho?"
Park Ji-hyun tilted her head.
"Sokcho's right by Green House. Not connected, is it?"
"It is. Traitor's cover was a Green House student."
Kim Sung-hak switched from rage to grins—"Sounds fun!"—while Park Ji-hyun clutched her head and groaned.
"Not tangled with the Academy, right? That'd be a headache."
"Won't be. We anonymously sent her identity and Dawn Corps proof to Green House."
"So even if she runs to the Academy, cops nab her pronto?"
"Yep. And once police grab her, our moles'll tip us off."
"Tch. Was hoping to kick down some Academy doors. Useless now."
"Not entirely."
Kim Sung-hak leaned in eagerly at the elder's words, eyes alight.
"Assassin sniper reported via radio: traitor had two unidentified allies. Their gear was unusual."
"Unusual how?"
"Superhuman taser gun, stun blade. Plus commercial defensive coat. Who else uses that combo?"
Gear for humans, not monsters.
In an era where most superhumans were hunters chasing beasts, few bothered with anti-personnel kit.
"Cops? Traitor teamed with police?"
"Can't rule it out. Judicial deals happen."
"If allies are cops, just ask our moles."
"Sung-hak, think. Cops colluding with criminals? They'd keep it secret."
"Park Ji-hyun's right. And not necessarily cops. Sokcho's the spot."
Mostly police used anti-riot gear, but not exclusively.
"Academy Security Force uses police gear too. Maybe them?"
"Aha! Got it! Smash cops and Academy! Blood's pumping!"
"Cool it. Even you’d get caught rampaging."
"Catch me? Need an S-Rank hunter for that!"
"I know your skills. But that's not our mission."
Park Ji-hyun stretched with a knowing nod.
"Called this lineup? Obvious. You and Grandpa Hyun-ho from intel. We're investigating."
"Eh? Me then?"
"Figure out traitor's location, you smash?"
"Ooh, I like it!"
Park Ji-hyun shook her head at the grinning musclehead. Guy's brain was all fights.
"Got the gist? Time for mission details. Branch leader ordered it, but higher-up pulled strings."
"Higher-up meaning—"
"Branch leader at least. Maybe more."
Park Ji-hyun let out a low whistle.
Above branch leader in Dawn Corps? Only the top dog.
"Now you see how critical this is? Listen up, don't miss a word."
In that dingy basement office, the Dawn Corps executives huddled in secret council.