Chapter 48

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 48

Chapter Title: Two-Room Exposed (2)

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A little time had passed, and now I was at the police station.

"……."

That's right. Not just any place—the genuine article, the police station plastered with that distinctive goshawk emblem.

"So, who's your guardian?"

"I don't have one……."

"Hmm, if you keep this up, there's no way for big sis to help you. Can't you just trust me a bit and come along?"

It wasn't anything out of the ordinary, really.

I knew the full story as the person involved, but from the landlord's perspective, the tenant had gone missing, and some illegal squatter had taken over the place.

In the end, the landlord, sensing something fishy, called the cops. Unable to explain my side, I'd been hauled in and was now enduring this onslaught of questions.

'Hmm…….'

So, how did I handle this unprecedented mess?

There was only one option. Play dumb and spam help requests at anyone who might actually fix this.

My first SOS went to Cha Se-ra, and the second to Kim Geun-cheong.

I assigned Cha Se-ra as the rough relay point, then contacted Kim Geun-cheong directly—he had the pull to intervene with the Association—and opened negotiations.

I was like the reincarnation of Hwanung or the Pharaoh of the 21st century, after all. Once the situation was set, I figured I could wrangle some kind of result.

'…Sigh.'

After stewing in anxiety for a while, it had come to this.

Truth be told, it was just a matter of timing. A moment like this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was bound to arrive eventually.

"……."

You can't dodge every problem forever.

Unresolved issues always resurface, and now it was my turn to make a decision.

About how to steer my upended life from here.

"Section Chief Heo, fetch Do-yeon for me."

From the upper floors of a towering building where the cars on the road below looked like toys, a middle-aged man staring intently into empty space spoke in a plain tone.

"Planning to head out? I'll accompany you."

"No need. It won't take long."

The man's eyes were fixed on what appeared to be empty air, but his vision was filled with a stream of Archive messages.

He was referring to the offer from last time: contact him if she ever needed help.

With a nod, High School Dropout Middle Schooler laid out her situation and what she wanted in no uncertain terms.

"Grown into quite the clever one."

"…Pardon?"

"Nothing. Let's head out once you're ready."

Kim Geun-cheong had long sponsored Shin Yi-rin, and before that, he'd poured himself into countless charity efforts across society.

The moment he saw photos of Yi-rin volunteering on her channel, he'd intuited it.

That High School Dropout Middle Schooler was likely a graduate from the orphanage he'd founded.

'…A place full of memories.'

Kim Geun-cheong had endured a rough childhood himself.

When he was younger, he'd hands-on cared for the kids at the orphanage, but these days, that was tougher.

Still, if a child from his orphanage asked for fair ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠help, he'd gladly provide it.

'An unregistered Awakener… Guess I need to hear her out first.'

It wasn't exactly proper, but plenty of people chose that path due to unique circumstances or mental struggles.

As long as they didn't abuse their powers or cause major societal harm, the response tended to be lenient.

"We've arrived."

"Good. Let's go in together up to the station."

With Na Do-yeon— who'd risen to head of security thanks to his support— at his side, Kim Geun-cheong entered the station with a solemn air.

"…Ah, welcome. We've prepared a room inside. Please, make yourselves comfortable."

Section Chief Lee Yong-il, visibly intimidated by Kim Geun-cheong— probably after getting some heads-up from higher-ups.

It was a bittersweet sight, but one Kim was used to by now.

Guided by Yong-il, Kim placed his hand on the door to the room where High School Dropout Middle Schooler waited.

Click.

Creeeak.

"……?"

Lustrous silver hair, striking eyes, and porcelain skin.

Had there been such a standout kid at his orphanage?

More than that, if his memory served, this girl had to be the Clam influencer blowing up on the channel.

"Nice to meet you. You're High School Dropout Middle Schooler… right?"

"……."

Facing the girl who rose slightly and bowed her head, Kim felt a rare wave of mental disarray after so long.

Kim Geun-cheong's true appearance… was that of a rugged, solidly built middle-aged man straight out of some action flick.

Nearly two meters tall, with muscles packed tight across his frame— the very picture of a big boss.

'…….'

His sheer presence momentarily cowed me, but surprisingly, Kim Geun-cheong handled me with warm gentleness and heard my prepared story.

But once we got to the main point, his expression shifted to one of pitying concern.

"So, uh… you're saying you didn't report your Awakening because you didn't want public attention?"

"Yes."

"And because your powers are so overwhelming, you didn't want to sow seeds of chaos and fear in the international community?"

"……."

No, seriously. I was just stating facts….

I'd racked my high-school-dropout brain to craft the best phrasing possible, but no matter how I spun it, I came off like the weird one.

"…I-I see. Gramps will have a little chat with them. Wait here just a sec, okay?"

Did he really get it?

Having heard me out, he gazed at my face with the pity reserved for a kid with deep-seated issues.

If this kept up, I'd end up in sessions with shrinks I never wanted. Time to pivot my plan fast.

"Grandpa. Here."

"Hm?"

"10% chance of heavy rain. Clear skies this afternoon, no clouds."

But as I channeled mana to manipulate the air currents, the sky's mood shifted, swelling into rain clouds ready to burst.

Whoooosh!

Bang!

"Chairman."

"What's wrong?"

"Are you alright? The spirits are sending intense warnings……."

A sharp-featured woman in a suit moved to shield him in an instant, eyeing my motions suspiciously.

But Kim waved her off, and she retreated outside with disciplined poise. Razor-sharp reflexes.

Pouring down.

Patter-patter-splatter.

Drop.

"…It's raining."

"……."

"Heh, never thought I'd live to see something this wondrous."

Kim Geun-cheong's gaze transformed— from that of someone eyeing a troubled child to one beholding a raw genius.

Had the grandeur of the 21st-century Pharaoh finally sunk in? His aura shifted dramatically in that instant.

"Just as you said. This power… ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it's the kind that stirs up massive greed."

One demonstration, and Kim grasped the danger and hype potential of my abilities.

And his verdict came swiftly.

"Sorting out your identity won't be hard. But going forward… you'll need to make more choices."

"……."

"We'll do as you wish. Some things can't be helped, but elsewhere, this old man will back you fully."

I stared at the ceiling in silence for a moment, fidgeting with my fingers before voicing my decision carefully.

"……."

The answer was set; no more agonizing needed.

I'd break free from the chains of my past and live my true life under an identity all my own.