EX-Rank Awakening Candidate (3)

"I've come to serve you, Candidate."

What was she talking about?

A first-class secretary of the Foundation outranked a cabinet minister of any nation. And someone like that had come to attend me?

I knew how precious an EX-rank Awakened was as a resource, but receiving this kind of treatment out of nowhere still didn't feel real.

It's like I'm dreaming.

The whole situation was unreal.

"Until the specialist examiner arrives, I will remain at Candidate Lee Jinwoo's side to assist him."

Rebecca explained. She seemed to be trying to speak gently so I wouldn't feel anxious, yet her expressionless face still came across as strangely cold.

Still, I never thought I'd end up being called 'Candidate.'

It was a novel feeling—almost like I'd become a presidential candidate or something.

"Baek Soyeon is safe, right?"

I asked in a calm voice. Right after regaining consciousness, the Health Center Director had told me about Baek Soyeon's condition, but I wanted to confirm it again.

Better to be sure.

Whenever you wake up under an unfamiliar ceiling, cross-checking every new piece of information is essential.

"As you've already been informed, Ms. Baek Soyeon is safe. All thanks to Candidate Lee Jinwoo."

Rebecca answered.

"If Candidate Lee Jinwoo had not been present, Baek Soyeon would have corrupted into a Calamity."

Rebecca delivered that terrifying statement without so much as batting an eye, her face still blank.

"I see. Understood."

"Do you have any other questions?"

"If I ask, will you answer?"

"Of course. I am your secretary, after all."

"Then I won't hold back. Where are we?"

First, get a fix on the location.

"This is Atlantis."

"Atlantis?"

When I asked back with a startled look, Rebecca replied with a faint smile at the corners of her mouth.

"Yes. This is the medical bay inside Atlantis, one of the SS-rank Mysteries owned by the Foundation—a mobile undersea base."

Rebecca's explanation left me looking shocked. Besides Awakened, the Foundation possessed and operated a great many Mysteries for the sake of humanity, and Atlantis was one of them.

Atlantis was a Mystery for which the Foundation had released some information publicly, so even a bottom-tier healer like me knew of its existence. Of course, I only knew it existed. I had never actually seen it.

"Good lord... I never thought I'd open my eyes inside Atlantis."

I felt like I'd turned into Aquaman.

"I... want to go home. That's not possible, is it?"

In all my life I don't think anyone had ever called me dense. Probably. Judging by how things were going, they were never going to send me home, but I still asked with the faintest of hopes. I wanted to go home.

I'd love to tour this ridiculously cool undersea base called Atlantis, but right now I just want to go home and rest.

Whether it was the backlash from purifying Baek Soyeon's mental pollution or something else, my whole body felt drained. I desperately wanted to rest properly in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a private space with no one else interfering.

"Unfortunately, that will be difficult."

"I... can't go home?"

"No."

"Hah..."

I'd expected it, but it was still disconcerting.

"I'm not stuck living here for the rest of my life, am I?"

I asked just in case. The Foundation was also infamous as an organization that would stop at nothing for the survival of humanity. Working S-rank hunters on the brink of corruption like Baek Soyeon as slave labor for subjugation teams was standard practice, and they didn't hesitate to kidnap people under the name of "isolation" while waving the banner of humanity's survival.

I haven't been kidnapped, have I?

There was no guarantee that being EX-rank would spare me from isolation. In the worst case, the Foundation might lock me away for life under the pretext of protecting me.

I could end up as a purification machine they only take out when needed.

A chill ran down my spine.

Nowhere to run, damn it...

Rebecca was blocking the entrance, and neither the Gangwon Lord nor the Health Center Director could be considered allies.

"Don't tell me you're..."

"There seems to be a misunderstanding. We have not kidnapped Candidate Lee Jinwoo, nor do we intend to isolate you for life and treat you like a purification robot we take out whenever necessary."

As if she had read my mind, Rebecca raised both hands and explained.

"Please calm down."

"I think I need a more detailed explanation."

"Of course. Allow me to briefly explain why you must remain here for the time being."

Rebecca then began recounting the events that had occurred while I was unconscious.

"Are you familiar with the Hell Witch, Ju Minjeong?"

"I think I've heard the name."

I answered Rebecca's question. The Hell Witch, Ju Minjeong. A name I had heard before.

"I tend to keep up with the news."

I gave an awkward smile and shrugged.

"Are you also aware of Ju Minjeong's condition?"

"I saw on the nine o'clock news that she had stepped back from the front lines and transferred to the National Mobile Force. That's as far as I know."

"Then this conversation will go quickly."

Specific details about an S-rank hunter's mental pollution were generally classified, but when someone withdrew from the front lines or announced retirement, nine times out of ten the reason was mental pollution—and ordinary citizens knew that.

"The Hell Witch Ju Minjeong is targeting you, Candidate."

"The Hell Witch is after me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

She was a National Mobile Force hunter. And she was after me?

"Ju Minjeong's mental pollution levels are quite high. Not high enough to corrupt immediately, but if she continues deploying as a member of the National Mobile Force a few more times, she will be unable to avoid corruption. She is well aware of the situation she is in."

"So that's why she's after me?"

"Yes. Exactly. Although the Mystery you possess has not yet been properly identified, the fact that you prevented Baek Soyeon's corruption is clear."

Rebecca continued.

"After you lost consciousness, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ju Minjeong attempted to kidnap you. Fortunately our reinforcements arrived in time, so the attempt failed."

I hadn't known that.

"Ju Minjeong used the power of her Mystery to turn her teammates into thralls. If our reinforcements had been late, you would most likely have woken up bound somewhere other than Atlantis."

Thanks to her calm explanation, I was gradually piecing together the situation I was in.

"For reference, Ju Minjeong is famous for having a filthy personality. If you had been kidnapped by her side, you would not have been treated well."

"I-I see."

"And it's not over yet."

As I smiled awkwardly, Rebecca suddenly closed the distance. In an instant she was right in front of me, and a sweet scent washed over me.

"After the standoff ended, Ju Minjeong did not return to National Mobile Force headquarters."

"She went rogue?"

"Yes. Exactly. In all likelihood she will throw in with one of the major Villain organizations operating throughout East Asia."

Villains. The term for Awakened who rejected the cause of standing against Calamities for humanity's sake and hid in the shadows. Because the Alliance and the Foundation classified Villains as the same evil as Calamities and hunted them, Villains usually formed organizations and moved in groups.

There were more than a few Villain groups powerful enough to rival entire nations, so even the Alliance could not casually launch subjugation campaigns against them.

"If Ju Minjeong joins a Villain group, there is a high probability that information about you will be passed along as well. What do you think happens then?"

"That Villain group will come after me too... for any number of reasons."

"Exactly."

Villains were Awakened as well. Plenty of Calamities hunted Awakened. Why? From a Calamity's perspective, Awakened made for quite the delicacy. So even if you tried to avoid them, there were limits. Sooner or later you would run into Calamities and have to fight them.

Mental pollution would accumulate, and eventually you would march toward the inevitable end that was corruption. Even if you abandoned the cause, corruption still waited at the end. In effect it was no different from living on borrowed time, so if a cure ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠existed they would stop at nothing to seize it.

If I throw a fit about going home, I might just get myself kidnapped.

I doubted the Villains would treat me like gentlemen.

"Okay. Situation understood. I'll just stay here for a while."

Even if the Foundation had a bad reputation, they were still better than Villains.

"A ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wise decision."

A smile spread across Rebecca's lips.

"Even if it's inconvenient, please cooperate with us for the time being. Once the investigation is complete and you are officially designated EX-rank, you will be assigned a dedicated security team and regain freedom of movement."

"When is this specialist examiner supposed to arrive?"

"Within seventy-two hours—"

Before Rebecca could finish speaking—

BOOM!

Atlantis heaved violently.

"W-what..."

As I floundered, the Gangwon Lord, the Health Center Director, and Rebecca all rushed over to stand beside me.

"Is it a Villain attack?"

At my question Rebecca shook her head. She pulled out a tablet, tapped the screen a few times, and opened her mouth.

"According to the report, there's a problem in the intensive care unit. Baek Soyeon is causing a disturbance."

I was stunned.

Baek Soyeon was causing a disturbance?