NOVEL NEXT Chapter 105
Chapter 105
Kim Cheol-hyung tilted his head.
“Is that so?”
“Studied abroad, huh? I saw ‘Princeton’ written there… It’s a pretty prestigious university, isn’t it?”
“Indeed, it is prestigious.”
“What was your major?”
“I studied in a department related to Awakening.”
“Hmm, I see.”
The Gate incident from over a decade ago brought a huge shock to the world.
It also led to considerable social transformations.
Naturally, several departments related to Awakening and Gates emerged in universities.
Especially in the U.S., it was known as the leading country in such studies worldwide.
Si-hyun clasped his hands and adjusted his posture.
“You’re an A-Class Awakened Being and studied properly in the U.S., so you must know quite a bit about that field.”
“Well… how should I put it? The more I learn, the more complicated it seems… No, ‘mysterious’ is probably the right term.”
“Mysterious?”
“Yes, it’s a field completely detached from the scientific principles we’ve known and believed in so far. Can magic or divine power be explained scientifically? Certainly not. Some professors say it’s like trying to find your way in a dark maze without any light.”
Cheol-hyung smiled slightly bitterly and then turned the question around.
“What do you think is the cause of the Gates, Section Chief?”
“The cause of the Gates… Hmm, I’ve thought it might be related to beings like gods.”
Si-hyun recalled the conversation he had about the cause of the Gates with Han I-seol.
Hearing that, Cheol-hyung lit up with interest.
“Is that so? It seems you and I share some common ground. I also think some supernatural being is related to the cause of the Gates.”
“…I see. But…”
Si-hyun had the feeling that the conversation could drag on endlessly in this direction, and he tried to change the subject.
However, Cheol-hyung showed no intention of letting the topic go.
He appeared delighted to find someone to talk to about such an interesting subject after a long time.
Ignoring Si-hyun’s trailing remark, he continued speaking.
“Actually, the way to find out the cause might be unexpectedly simple.”
“…What do you mean?”
Si-hyun decided to overlook Cheol-hyung’s interruption.
Anyway, it didn’t feel like there was any malicious intent behind it.
“Let’s think simply. Why not try communicating with a supernatural being?”
“Communicate? Is that even possible…?”
As Si-hyun was about to question its plausibility, a name popped into his head.
The Saintess of Baek Eun.
The woman whom Knight William referred to as the one who knows the will of the Lord.
Interpreting that, it would mean that communication with the divine is indeed possible.
Perhaps the reason Po-ahim asked him to find the Saintess was for the same purpose.
“You know the Church of Illyria, right, Section Chief?”
Coincidentally, Cheol-hyung brought up the Church of Illyria as well.
“I do know it.”
“Are you a believer?”
“No, I’m not. How about you, Kim Cheol-hyung?”
“I’m not either.”
Cheol-hyung smiled and continued.
“Anyway, there’s a rumor that someone in that place can communicate with the deity Illyria. They say there’s a Saintess.”
“A rumor is just a rumor, isn’t it?”
Si-hyun feigned ignorance deliberately as he said that.
“Of course, it could be. But I believe there’s a significant degree of reliability to it.”
“If you think so, shouldn’t we hurry to find her?”
“Haha, given my current situation, where would I go to look for her?”
Cheol-hyung laughed, pointing to the prison uniform with several numbers on it.
“Even if that wasn’t the case, they say the Church of Illyria can’t find her either, so what capabilities do I have to find her?”
That was something he heard from William.
No one knew the whereabouts of the Saintess yet.
Si-hyun simply nodded silently.
Seeing Si-hyun’s demeanor, Cheol-hyung wore a peculiar smile.
“This is just a hunch of mine, but…”
“What is it?”
“I think you’re not an ordinary person, Section Chief.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You already knew everything I’ve just said, didn’t you?”
He was indeed a sharp man.
Si-hyun chose to remain silent, neither confirming nor denying it.
Cheol-hyung continued.
“I’ve heard many times since I was young that I have good instincts. When you first came to introduce yourself, my instincts told me you weren’t an ordinary correctional officer.”
“That’s quite a compliment I’ve never heard before.”
Si-hyun was neither notably large nor had a strong impression.
So, without judging by appearance, the inmates had never bowed before him.
He had never heard anyone say that they felt he was not an ordinary correctional officer at first sight.
“I thought back then, ah, the atmosphere in the ward would change significantly.”
“….”
The more they spoke, the stronger his impression of Cheol-hyung as a strange man grew.
Si-hyun decided to get to the point.
“Kim Cheol-hyung.”
“Yes, Section Chief.”
“Shall I talk about your truly peculiar history?”
“Feel free to.”
“It’s certain you’re an A-Class Awakened Being. You even obtained a Hunter license.”
“Correct.”
“But it’s really odd.”
Si-hyun threw a perplexed glance as he continued speaking.
“You have no record of participating as a Hunter in any guild? An A-rank Hunter? I know someone who is an A-rank Hunter, and I know roughly how much they earn. Their annual salary exceeds 10 billion. How should I interpret this?”
The fact that he had given up a life as an A-Class Hunter, which most people could only dream of earning such immense sums, could not simply be accepted as anything other than he was not an ordinary person.
There must be some very, very important reason for someone to give up that life.
“I really hate seeing blood.”
Cheol-hyung replied with a face that seemed completely unfazed.
“Hate seeing blood?”
“Yes.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Why doesn’t it make sense?”
“Why… Kim Cheol-hyung, it’s because you’re an ‘Avenger of Blood,’ right?”
Si-hyun said sharply, as though he could see through him.
He likely struck a nerve in an unexpected situation.
No matter how that man tried to hide it, he would have to reveal his true nature now.
“….”
Cheol-hyung fell silent with an unreadable expression, staring into the empty space behind Si-hyun.
It seemed he was either deep in thought or, in shock, just frozen and blank.
Si-hyun too stayed silent, looking at Cheol-hyung.
Amidst the silence, only the ticking of the wall clock could be heard.
How much time had passed?
Cheol-hyung’s gaze shifted back to meet Si-hyun’s eyes.
His voice was unusually calm, as if he had composed himself during that interval.
“How did you know? No, I suppose there’s no need to ask… You must be a Sage.”
Si-hyun did not deny it.
It felt easier to let him think what he wanted.
After all, what he said indicated that a Sage’s abilities likely include reading the status windows of others.
But the cute little girl sage he met last time, why couldn’t she read his status window to figure out his identity?
He speculated that perhaps abilities did not work against someone of a higher rank.
“So, there are Sages in Korea too. I never expected the Korean government to be this clever, hiding them as correctional officers.”
Hearing that he was disguised as a correctional officer gave Si-hyun an odd feeling.
This time, he chose not to deny it.
He thought it might be fine to pretend to be someone from the government now that he was misunderstood.
“What does the government want from me?”
Cheol-hyung asked.
“I need to confirm a few things with you, Kim Cheol-hyung.”
Si-hyun spoke calmly, pretending to be someone from the government.
“What is it?”
“Kim Cheol-hyung, you are a notorious figure.”
“I’m notorious?”
Cheol-hyung looked utterly confused.
“Ah, to be precise, it would be correct to say that the original owner of the power you possess is notorious.”
“….”
“The government classifies individuals like you, whose original owners are notorious, as persons of interest and observes with caution.”
“Is that so? That’s entirely news to me.”
“Considering human rights issues, it obviously shouldn’t be made known to the outside world, right?”
“….”
“You might be curious as to why someone notorious is classified as a person of interest. However, thus far, it has been revealed that individuals who committed anti-social and inhumane crimes in that world have a very high probability of doing the same in this world.”
Si-hyun explained from experience.
“….Is that how it is.”
Cheol-hyung muttered as if sighing.
“Indeed.”
“Then, you’ve asked such questions while already knowing everything, haven’t you?”
“What questions?”
“Why I haven’t participated in Hunter activities.”
“Why haven’t you?”
“To remain as I am.”
Cheol-hyung gazed directly into Si-hyun’s eyes.
Si-hyun did not shy away and met his gaze.
“What do you mean?”
“You know, a person like me has to make an enormous effort to avoid committing crimes like murder.”
“….”
“It’s not that I dislike seeing blood, but you could say I was afraid that it would awaken the impulse to kill inside me.”
“Ah.”
Now Si-hyun vaguely understood the situation.
If his words were true, he must have been aware of that danger and attempted to conduct himself with utmost caution.
He was indeed a peculiar man.
“My heart finds it more comfortable to be in the cell. Or rather, my body is comfortable as well.”
Cheol-hyung forced a smile.
“Then do you wish to remain in the cell forever?”
“Yes.”
“Wasting that ability and willpower confined in a cell seems like a waste.”
“Don’t try to use me. I will refuse any proposal. The only way you can help me is to leave me alone in detention.”
“Hmm.”
Si-hyun began to ponder.
Cheol-hyung’s personality was too different from those notorious figures he had encountered before, making him suspect whether this could be some carefully orchestrated lie.
Yet, it felt closer to the truth.
There were no issues with his incarceration.
He had not committed murder.
Those two points made him think that way.
Well, what does it matter?
Using the Iron-Blooded Guard, he could uncover the truth.
Using the Iron-Blooded Guard on an inmate living a normal life without any issues wasn’t something he felt inclined to do, but this time the situation was different.
If his words were all true, it helped him find a way to aid him.
“Kim Cheol-hyung.”
“What is it?”
“I actually have a way to help you.”
“Yes?”
Cheol-hyung looked puzzled.
“There’s a method.”
“Really?”
“To forcibly suppress those impulses with a stronger power.”
“Is that even possible?”
“It is. Would you like to give it a try?”
“….”
Cheol-hyung scrutinized Si-hyun’s expression.
He didn’t seem to be talking nonsense.
“If there’s a way, I would like to make a request from this side.”
“Alright.”
Si-hyun nodded.
Then he channeled the energy of the Iron-Blooded Guard strongly.