Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Who Am I? S-Rank 'Owner' (3)
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"Ha. Someone in the parking lot turned on their high beams...."
Back at my officetel apartment in Seoul.
"Elaine. If you ever drive later, don't go flashing high beams while speeding through the night. Got it?"
"I'll keep that in mind, Master."
On the way into the officetel parking lot at the end, there had been someone coming in with their high beams on, but thankfully, we made it home without any real trouble.
"Elaine. Am I overreacting too much?"
"It's not so much an overreaction as it is that they haven't thought of you yet."
"Yeah, probably."
No matter how much I thought about it, I figured they'd have caught on by now, but there were no signs of any action.
Or maybe I'm under surveillance?
"Usually in console games or movies, you get ambushes from lurking spots like the boiler room...."
Bang.
Empty.
Nothing but the outdoor unit for the ceiling-mounted system air conditioner.
"Or maybe hiding in a storage room or closet."
Bang, bang.
Just the random stuff I'd been piling up since moving in here.
"Yeah, nothing."
"If there had been anyone, I would have told you, Master."
"...Not even any signs of someone sneaking in and out."
"Same thing. I would have let you know."
Even with Elaine saying that, it still felt off no matter how I sliced it.
"Maybe they really don't know I'm an awakener yet, or that I'm your master, Elaine?"
"With a million awakeners out there, it's not easy to pinpoint info from A-Rank Towers to S-Rank ones right away."
Elaine answered while scrolling through internet info on her sub-phone.
"But once the reporting deadline passes, things will change. That's when task forces will fully mobilize to track down just you, Master."
"More precisely, you, Elaine."
"Yes. Cyber sleuths are already firing up their streams heading to Mungyeong on SNS."
Elaine lowered her voice to a whisper and pulled up a screen.
From broadcast stations to Jammin TV, everyone was rushing to Mungyeong where the S-Rank Tower had vanished, desperately hunting for Elaine.
"What a circus."
"The silver lining is that thanks to your choice, Master, attention is pretty scattered."
"My choice?"
"Yes. Want to hear about it?"
Elaine selected one broadcast and turned up the volume.
[...Lady Elaine just cleared Mungyeong's S-Rank Tower, right? So what's next? Dokdo, Jeju Island, or maybe Baengnyeong Island! She's gonna take on the S-Rank Towers there! Yes, viewers! I'm out here at the airport heading to Jeju right now!]
"...People are catching on way faster than I thought?"
"They're barking up the wrong tree. Clearing an A-Rank followed by an S-Rank overnight? Everyone's thinking she'll hit another S-Rank tomorrow. Maybe even one overseas?"
"Not planning anything like that."
They'd already confirmed my full power by clearing the tower at Mungyeong Saejae.
No need to hype up more tower clears, and I had zero intention of wandering near where those frontrunners were staking out and getting spotted.
Think about it.
What if someone saw me pull out my smartphone to control Elaine while she's tackling some weird dungeon boss that hasn't updated in-game?
-Guys, doesn't this seem off?
The moment someone notices something fishy and draws attention.
-I'm a god, and I granted that guy the ability to control Elaine!
The hive mind would point fingers at me in no time.
-I'm NIS, and I checked highway CCTV—saw that guy's car from Seoul to Mungyeong!!
Whether it started as bullshit or real intel from sharp spies, if it stuck, it'd spiral into something my powers couldn't handle.
So.
"Elaine."
"Yes, Master."
"There's still a ton to scout out, but on the flip side, there's some stuff to tidy up first?"
I picked up a set of clothes hanging on the rack.
"It's late, so let's sleep, sort things out one by one starting tomorrow, and move from there. Most important: solidifying my identity clean."
So no one in the world suspects me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Monday morning.
"Good morning~"
Same as always, suited up and slipping into the office before 9 sharp.
Hang my suit jacket on the chair, boot up the computer to prep for work.
The one difference? A massive travel suitcase I had no reason to drag into the office.
"Deputy Kim!"
The moment I start, folks who'd just nodded hello before come rushing over.
Men and women alike, buzzing with gossip fever.
"Heard the news?"
"What news?"
"About the deputy team leader whose lotto you bought winning big!"
"Oh, that."
Stay calm, as cool as possible.
"I auto-bought 'em, so not sure, but second prize? Not first?"
"Pardon?"
"Second's like a car, right? First... gotta be ten billion won or so. Then couldn't I ask for a cut and score more?"
I flash a grin, circling my finger, and the gathered team members chuckle awkwardly, glancing around.
"Right, Yeo-eun?"
"Y-Yeah?"
My junior who'd sworn off coming in answers.
I'd told her last night I'd come in anyway, so no embarrassing her.
"How'd you do, Yeo-eun? I got zilch."
I pull out my crumpled, unfolded losing ticket, and folks from other teams sigh shortly.
"Me... 50,000 won."
My junior carefully shows her winning ticket.
"Whoa, Yeo-eun, really 50k?"
"Y-Yes!"
Her move felt like a suspect flashing an alibi at a crime scene—others from different teams look at her pitifully. Am I the only one seeing it that way?
"Man... auto-buy and this is what happens. Yeo-eun, you owe me a round now?"
"O-Of course! B-Beef!"
"New Year's got you speeding too hard already?"
I spot glances and nudges teasing her.
'If you got a conscience, treat us'—social life 101.
"Deputy, um, by any chance...."
"Kim!"
Bingo.
A voice booming through the office.
"What're you gonna do!!"
"Team Leader? What the...?"
"You know what the deputy team leader called me this morning over your lotto!?"
"What'd he say?"
"Said he's quitting this scene and never to contact him again!"
The team leader jabbed a finger at me, huffing.
"Why'd you buy pointless lotto tickets!!"
"......."
"Wh-What? Why the wide eyes?"
"Nine o'clock."
Work hours.
"Team Leader."
"Yeah?"
"I'm quitting this scene too."
"What? Ha, you win lotto too? Gave me jack shit while you all...!"
"What if I did win?"
"Huh?"
"Say I hit first prize, quit, and handed a billion each to my buddies here—what could you do?"
"You, you...!"
The team leader's face twists grotesquely.
Beyond the insult, you could see him swallowing hard at 'one billion'.
"R-Really first prize...? N-No way, you didn't...?"
"Team Leader."
I beam at him.
"Just wanna quit 'cause it's shit."
"...Ha!"
He laughs mockingly.
"Ha, knew it!"
"......."
"...Wait, really first? Heard the winning ticket was from a convenience store near our after-work spot...."
"Why else would I show up?"
I point to my stuff by the computer.
"Here to pack my shit."
"Y-You...!"
"Team Leader. No hard feelings, let's end nice?"
Physically, positionally, legally—he can't win.
"Process my resignation quietly. I'll put in the good word upstairs."
One thing I knew.
"Uh, yeah, that.... I got carried away. Sorry. Blame the deputy team leader—drove me nuts."
I wanted to see this.
"......You'll really hook me up with that thing from earlier?"
"What thing?"
"One bil... I mean, I tied up loose ends till the end! N-No, wasn't mad, my voice is just...!"
Ah.
"Pl-Plus, as your team leader, I treated you decent...."
"Sorry, just process the resignation quick."
"O-Okay! I'll file right... No, I'll print and hand it now!"
"......."
Might've been a bad idea watching.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After packing, wiping computer data, checking my phone nonstop, and tidying my desk.
"4885... S-Class...."
Dragging the suitcase to a dim CCTV-free spot, I open the door to the waiting black foreign sedan.
Click.
Inside: one driver and a suited foreigner right behind him.
Sunglasses on, he eyes me once, pulls out his smartphone, and types something.
Ding.
Alarm on my phone.
I show him the popup on my smartphone.
"......."
The foreigner sizes me up head to toe for a while.
"...Do you transform into a woman, or are you in drag?"
Korean, but a rude misunderstanding.
Thanks to that, I relax and climb in.
"What's your position, mister?"
"Armstrong's aide, 'Nanomachine'."
He replies with the codename we DM'd beforehand. I offer my hand to the presidential aide.
"I'm the 'Maid's' master, Master."
"......Nick."
The aide grips my hand firmly with both of his and bows his head.
"Let's get you safely to the destination. Without anyone knowing."