A Global Youth. (1)
A Global Youth. (1)
While Yujin was caught up in that commotion,
an icy atmosphere filled the previously peaceful chairwoman's office.
The fourth-ranked S-rank and chairwoman of Pentagon Academy, Seol Hayeon,
was facing off against the seventh-ranked S-rank, Công.
"Công. What is this?"
"What else? An ordinary photo with a friend."
A single photo filled the phone screen Công held up.
It was the awkward picture he had taken with Yujin moments earlier.
The photo itself looked harmless, but the chairwoman stared at it with a deep frown.
A photograph alone might have been tolerable, but...
the app displaying it was Outstar, a social platform famous among awakeners.
Công was about to upload the picture to his personal account.
"You intend to post that online?"
"Yes. Properly, with hashtags and everything."
"...You attended this academy. You know that is forbidden."
The chairwoman's eyes turned cold.
Why had Yujin, a prospective S-rank under the entire world's scrutiny, managed to live quietly until now?
Because Pentagon Academy regulations strictly prohibited cadets from all outside activity, including personal social-media accounts.
Naturally, faculty and other affiliates were also forbidden from leaking related information.
Without that rule, other cadets would already have spread thousands of photographs of Yujin.
Young people instinctively wanted to announce that a celebrity was nearby.
They'd have been fortunate if it ended there.
The media, starved for prey, would spin the material into every kind of sensational story.
Even Aika, the world's top-ranked S-rank, had allowed the horrific Aika Challenge to become popular by neglecting her privacy.
Her example made it obvious that social-media exposure would not necessarily benefit cadets such as Yujin.
Praise could inflate their egos and make them neglect their growth.
Criticism could hardly be healthy for cadets still in their early twenties.
That was why the academy banned cadets from social media and restricted their outside activities, yet...
"Knowing that, you still want to post it? You intend to pour oil onto public attention we barely calmed through silence and information control?"
Công knew all that and still intended to upload the photo.
Though ranked last among the S-ranks, he was as famous as any of them and knew exactly how much influence he carried.
How could the chairwoman remain calm after hearing that?
Công merely smiled.
"Yes. I also intend to encourage Yujin to maintain a public presence online."
"You know that violates academy regulations."
"That is precisely why I am here."
'What age did she think this was, trying to control social media?'
Công saw the matter differently from the chairwoman.
Unlike the older chairwoman, who viewed social media as entirely harmful, he understood
its benefits and the value awakeners could gain by making themselves known to the public.
He'd believed this since his cadet days but had stayed silent to avoid antagonizing the chairwoman. Now his long-held convictions poured out.
"Let me say first that I respect you. In the early days of the Gate crisis, your overwhelming charisma and ability..."
"You have satisfied appearances. Get to the point."
"Haha. Of course. The rules you created, Ms. Hayeon, now do little but suppress the cadets' potential."
Such restrictions made sense when the media called awakeners monsters and spread panic.
Today, however, awakeners were idols—real-life superheroes.
The problems the chairwoman feared were no longer common.
They had not vanished entirely, but...
"They'll encounter fraudulent messages and malicious comments, certainly. But would those not hurt graduates more after four years isolated from the outside world?"
"......."
"And what could they gain? Corporate sponsorships. Connections with famous clans and experienced awakeners. Much more besides."
There was little to lose and much to gain.
"Besides... the academy is too small for Yujin, just as it was for Aika Ninomiya."
"Oh? I did not expect you to rate him so highly."
"If Aika ranks first in physical ability, Yujin already surpasses that through intellect alone."
"...Is he truly that exceptional?"
"Exceptional enough to become my friend already. Consider the matter carefully for the sake of Korea's future S-rank."
It would also benefit Yujin directly.
The mention of Yujin made the chairwoman serious.
'...Had the world changed?'
She remembered what she had lived through.
The media had called awakeners monsters and feared them. People had cursed them even as they defended the country.
That was why she allowed only private contact with acquaintances and prohibited all public communication, including social media.
Her experience had told her that policy was unquestionably correct.
But...
'My antiquated thinking had failed to keep pace with the changing world.'
After hearing Công, she could see that such rules might be unnecessary in the present era of peace.
The chairwoman considered the issue, then nodded.
She trusted the Sixth Sense that had never betrayed her.
"Haa. How very kind of you to say such flattering things about Korea."
"Does that mean...?"
"I will permit it provisionally for six months. The cadets'... S-N-S? Outstar? Whatever it is."
"......."
'They said age only made people more stubborn, yet she accepted it immediately. She truly was an admirable grandmother.'
Công was privately impressed.
She looked young only because she was an awakener; inside, she was already elderly.
To her, social media belonged to another world.
Yet she had accepted his criticism without resistance.
It was an unexpectedly positive response.
Công's manner toward her became slightly more respectful.
"Thank you for listening to someone younger, Seol Hayeon—the fourth-ranked S-rank."
"Pfft. You really have become Korean."
"I have lived here for four years."
"Indeed."
The anger in the chairwoman's expression softened.
She had been suppressing a furious 'You insolent brat' from deep within her core.
"I granted your request. May I ask a small favor in return?"
"Hm? A favor from me?"
"Yes. The truth is, an attack will soon..."
The chairwoman subtly tried to recruit Công.
She expected the Grade 1 villain Winterer to attack soon.
She felt uneasy handling it alone and asked him to remain nearby.
She offered to pay him.
For the first time, Công's smile became strained.
"A-ahaha... I could help, but you probably no longer need to worry about a mere Grade 1 villain."
"Hm?"
Công laughed with a hint of guilt.
He reconsidered the future he had seen moments earlier.
He had looked ahead to confirm whether Yujin's strategy truly worked.
He remembered the messages he had seen in that future.
[It really worked! Damn, that was insane.]
[Yujin: I'm relieved, but sorry. I'll send the video I promised another time.]
[Oh, that? No rush. But why?]
[Yujin: My master has stayed beside me since yesterday, so I haven't had a chance to film it.]
[...Good luck.]
[Yujin : ?]
'That gorilla really was raising him to claim him later... Yujin, I'm sorry!'
"You'll understand soon. Then, I should be going!"
-Whoosh.
"......?"
'What was wrong with him? He looked exactly like a child fleeing before a scolding.'
Công's skill at escaping before chaos erupted was worthy of the seventh-ranked S-rank.
* * *
A short while later,
the chairwoman's face twisted as though she'd swallowed bile.
The cause was Aika Ninomiya, the shameless spectacle before her.
"From now on, I'll live with my disciple. Keep that in mind."
"......."
'Công...!'
The chairwoman now understood why Công had said a 'mere' Grade 1 villain was no concern.
If Aika stayed with Yujin, Winterer posed no threat.
The problem was that this was like burning down a house to kill a flea.
"...Do you not understand what it means for you to remain stationed in Korea?"
"That's why I need you to handle the consequences. If I'm willing to raise a disciple, you can at least manage that much."
"Forget your disciple! If this becomes public, it could start a war!"
What position did an S-rank awakener hold?
They stood apart even among awakeners and were considered essential for clearing S-rank Gates.
They were, quite literally, figures with power on the level of nations.
Aika was the strongest of them all, capable of closing S-rank Gates alone.
Even outside a Gate, she possessed enough firepower to reduce Seoul to ruins overnight.
And now that living Japanese Strategic Nuke intended to station herself in Korea?
To Japan, it resembled the theft of a nuclear weapon. To Korea, it was as though a nuke had suddenly landed inside its borders.
Given the relationship between the two countries, war could break out immediately.
Aika appeared unconcerned.
"I can handle Japan. If they complain, I'll threaten to immigrate to Korea. That'll end the discussion."
"...Are you serious?"
"It is only a threat. They've grown insolent because I've cooperated quietly for so long. It's time to remind them of their place."
Japan?
What could they do when Aika had decided to raise a disciple?
Did they want her to demonstrate what immigration looked like?
They would be wise to conduct themselves properly.
"I've also gathered evidence of misconduct by the Japanese government, including embezzlement. Don't worry about Japan."
"E-even so..."
"As for Korea, if I train my disciple to your level within a month, no one will be able to object."
Korea?
What could they do when the strongest offered to train their greatest talent?
If I behaved and did nothing but train my disciple, what could they do besides be grateful?
The chairwoman was speechless.
"International politics isn't resolved so easily..."
"Politics has always been conducted through power."
"......."
'This gorilla...'
It was the reasoning of an absolute powerhouse—difficult for Seol Hayeon, whose personal strength lagged behind her influence, even to imagine.
But this was Aika Ninomiya. Perhaps she truly could make it work.
After deliberating, the chairwoman once again entrusted the decision to her Sixth Sense.
"Haa... Fine. But conceal your identity for now."
"Huh?"
"I have my reasons."
'Since this was happening anyway, I might as well use her to intercept Winterer.'
Aika would ignore any order to return, so the chairwoman decided to exploit her presence fully.
That was the chairwoman's conclusion when confronted with a natural disaster in human form.
* * *
That night.
The world had finally quieted after the uproar over the surprise Korean visit by Võ Chí Công, the seventh-ranked S-rank.
The media sheepishly stopped shouting about EX-rank Gates.
The public officials who had remained on edge finally went home...
"Winterer? They say the seventh-ranked S-rank came to Korea..."
"Don't worry! They say he already went back. As long as he isn't here on the day we act, everything will be fine~ Ahaha."
'Would an S-rank really come here twice?'
The girl looked even more bedraggled than usual and laughed weakly.
Under cover of night, the commotion that had gripped the world gradually subsided.
-Ding!
[Pentagon Academy — Educational Institution for Awakeners in South Korea]
(Notice)
Effective today, the restrictions on cadet social-media and outside activities will be suspended for six months.
Respectfully, Seol Hayeon, Chairwoman of Pentagon Academy.
[Võ Chí Công - Official]
(Photo of Yujin and Công together)
I made a wonderful connection in Korea today!
Cadet Seo Yujin provided critical information for subjugating the Necromancer.
No—my friend Yujin!
When everything is over, let us share a bowl of rice soup and some soju!
#Pentagon #S_RANK? #Youjin #Hypnosisboy...
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Until Yujin's single thoughtless comment threw a spark onto the dying embers.