Chapter 25

The sword in Tae-un's hands dug into the metal inch by inch. As the impact was transmitted to the interior, the outer surface of the metal began to crack little by little. Only 20 seconds had passed so far.

"... Director nim, do you happen to know what type of special ability Han Tae-un ssi has?"

"The research lab is already scratching their heads trying to figure out what kind of ability that is. Even though I'm seeing it right in front of my eyes, I can't quite understand it."

Special abilities are greatly influenced by one's life before awakening. Above all, the most important thing is the earnest wish held at the time of awakening. Therefore, special abilities can sometimes result in unique abilities that cannot be defined.

A prime example of this was Ayoung.

On the surface, Ayoung appears to be a tamer who handles a huge beast. However, that beast actually weighs only 3kg and is a Pomeranian that usually begs for snacks from Ayoung's mother in the living room of Ayoung's family home. Summoning such a dog at thousands of times its size and fighting together? Summoner, tamer. No matter what name was given, it seemed strange.

So, in most cases, special abilities were accepted as they were, in their own unique domain.

Tae-un furrowed his brow and stopped his attack, as if the tip of his sword had caught on something. Then, he removed one hand from the sword. A faint white powder-like substance pooled in his hand. His hand gripped the sword tightly again. At that moment...

Kwang!!!

As if stepped on by a huge foot, the concrete around the target sank about half a foot. The target object that Tae-un was attacking also became flattened in volume.

"... Whoa."

Soram narrowed his eyes. The cracks that spread from the sunken concrete reached even here, quite far away. A researcher who was sitting on the floor and diligently writing something on a pad made a "hic" sound.

"Director nim, I think we should stop now. Losing two 1st-grade measuring devices is quite painful for the research lab."

"Yes. Let's do that."

"Chief Han Tae-un, please stop the attack. We have obtained sufficient data necessary for measurement, so we will conclude."

If Tae-un had continued his attack, he would have received the same "measurement impossible" signal as Soram.

However, even with the same result, there was a clear difference. While Soram increased his attack power using the weight of the aircraft and the resulting acceleration, Tae-un pressed down the sword with his own ability alone, without any external factors.

"Han Tae-un. What a cheat-like..."

"I know, right? He's the first hunter since Ga-eul to have this much strength in a single body."

"Han Tae-un ssi has that physique, that strength, and he can even fly. Isn't he really a cheat?"

It had only been three months since Tae-un awakened as a 1st-grade. Any awakener is bound to be flustered when first facing their ability. Even if it's a rare re-awakening.

But Han Tae-un's growth in proficiency was really steep, not to mention the power he was given. Moreover, the inexperience he had shown in the previous 4th-grade dungeon had disappeared without a trace.

Soram had also become strong unusually quickly in the eyes of others. However, he at least had a reason that he himself could understand. Because during the four regressions, his experience and ability utilization had accumulated. On the other hand, there was no expression that could be used for Tae-un other than saying he was born with it.

"It would have been a big deal if we had missed him. Soram, you brought him well."

Not only the researchers but also the director who had watched the process looked surprised and happy.

Over the past 8 years, even when new 1st-grades came, no one surpassed the two pillars of the headquarters, Kim Ga-eul and Jin Soram. But this time, he thought that Tae-un might become a great new face no less than those two. The head of the research lab seemed to have a similar opinion, conveying, "It's been a while since a remarkable young hunter has come."

While they were having that conversation, Soram was looking at the spot where Tae-un had been with a strange expression. Director Park Jae-seon saw that face and said,

"It's naturally a good thing. Don't be unnecessarily spiteful, Chief Han doesn't seem to be a particularly difficult person, so get along well with him."

Then, a click sound was heard. Director Park Jae-seon took a drag on his cigarette and stepped back. Soram followed him.

"I gave you space, so why are you following me?"

"Can I smoke with you? I'm feeling troubled."

"... Do it, do it."

Soram at least turned his head and had the courtesy to light the cigarette.

"You've tasted the bitterness of life and grown up so quickly. What's troubling you again?"

"Just... various things."

"It's not like you, but you're not upset that you might lose your 1st place, are you?"

"No. I'm not a kid either. ... Ah, don't do that."

When Director Park Jae-seon tried to pat his head, Soram shrank his neck. Only then did he relax the serious expression he had been making and shook his head from side to side. Wrinkles formed at the corners of the director's eyes as he smiled brightly.

"What does it matter? I've seen you since you were crying and fighting mutants in a collapsing building."

"That was really a long time ago. I don't remember it at all."

Soram avoided the topic and averted his gaze at the same time. Director Park Jae-seon seemed to perceive it as embarrassment.

"How could I forget the sight of kids in school uniforms suddenly appearing and running around covered in wounds everywhere? So many agents who saw that made up their minds to give up."

Since Soram was in Seoul, he had encountered the director more often. The director at that time also had a younger face than now, and Soram, who was in his growth period, was much younger. Above all, the atmosphere was completely different from now.

"When I first saw you, I thought you were a young kid starved for recognition. Your family situation was like that too. But after the kid went to the hospital and was discharged, he became an old man who had lived through the world and a heavenly slacker. What recognition? He doesn't care about others' gazes at all."

"Haha..."

The director's initial feeling was accurate. Before hospitalization, he was the youngest in a family of a National Assembly member who had just awakened and was ignored, and after hospitalization, the memories of repeating the same life three times were put in.

In the first life, the only person who didn't give up on Soram until the end, when he had become almost a public enemy at the headquarters, was Director Park Jae-seon. While others thought it was karma when Soram collapsed, he was the only one who comforted Soram. ... If we had to add one more person, it would be Han Tae-un, who saved such Soram and died.

Phew, the director sighed and patted Soram's back with a bang!

"Okay. Cause trouble to your heart's content until I can cover for you here. You won't be able to do it once you're in this position anyway."

"What, all of a sudden? Why are you saying that? You're not going to continue being the director?"

"Where in the world is there such a thing as forever? I'll have to give up my position and step down when the time comes."

"... Even if that happens, I shouldn't take that position. Give it to Chief Kim."

"Of course, I'll give the actual power and the center of operations to Ga-eul. You'll have to be a figurehead next to her."

"I can't even be a team leader in name only, so how can I be a figurehead? If that's the case, it's better to just give everything to Ga-eul."

"No. Ga-eul is great, but that kid is too hard on herself. If that kid is in this position, she'll wither away and die in a few years. The person at the very front who takes the arrows needs to know how to act on their own without minding others."

"No, then what about me?"

"I don't know about other things, but you're shameless, don't mind others, and cherish Ga-eul. Ah, if I add one more thing, your pride won’t hurt even if you hand over the practical work to others."

"..."

"Perfect."

Director Park Jae-seon cherished all the hunters. However, even among them, he gave considerable affection to Kim Ga-eul and Jin Soram, who would become the symbols of the headquarters following him, to the extent that anyone could feel it. Seeing him trying to leave the best direction for his successors while suffering from a heavy workload himself...

"Soram, it has to be you. Don't worry. I'll hand it over after at least 10 years anyway."

10 years later. It was a number that was close yet far. However, Soram couldn't fathom a future more than 2 years from now. It was as if a wall was built there, and his imagination couldn't reach beyond it. At some point, he couldn't even make assumptions like "if we solve all the Great Rifts."

"Do I have to accept it when the time comes?"

Had it been about breaking a promise or lying, he might have hesitated. But as it concerned a future that seemingly would never arrive, he readily answered.

"Alright."

If nothing happens to me until then. When Soram added that, the director scolded him briefly, telling him to stop talking nonsense.

The measurement of Team 7, which had a small number of members, was completed quickly. Ayoung, who was measured first, had already returned to the office, and now the remaining personnel also began to wrap up.

"I should get going too. See you at the headquarters."

"Director nim."

Soram smiled faintly.

"I'll also try to live as long as possible, even if it's just a little, so you live long too."

"What strange things are you saying, kid? Okay. Take good care of your team members and go in."

"Yes."

After waving his hand, Soram clenched his tingling fingertips inward.

* * *

As Soram entered the office while cracking his neck, Ayoung, who had come early to study, turned her head. Ayoung, who had officially started preparing for the midterm exams, couldn't put down her mechanical pencil for a single moment.

"Are you done with the measurement?"

"Yeah. I think I'll be demoted from 1st-grade."

"If you get demoted, I'll get demoted too. Good for me."

"It can't be helped. Starting tomorrow, I'll have to hand over the team leader position to Han Tae-un ssi and go with the Han Tae-un and two wings system. Do you want the right? Or the left?"

"Hmm... I'll take the left. I feel like the right will have more work."

It was a conversation that would make someone who wasn't here tilt their head and make a puzzled expression, wondering, "What are you two talking about...?" Unfortunately, that person had received a call right after changing out of the dust-covered clothes in the dormitory. There was a sense of will from the research lab. Since they couldn't reveal any of his special abilities, they would try to see his active appearance one more time today.

"I guess Tae-un oppa did really well. How good was he?"

"The destructive power he produced with a single sword was the same as when I rammed an airplane."

"Really? ... That's amazing. See? You'll really get in big trouble if you mess with him. Be nice to Tae-un oppa."

"Just because he's strong doesn't mean I'll lose to him, you know? There's a difference in experience and skills."

"Yeah, yeah."

Judging by the halfhearted response, she didn't seem to believe it.