NOVEL NEXT Chapter 192
Chapter 192: The Beginning of a New Era
“Tap.”
Lee Si-hyun saluted with more precision than ever before.
On his uniform shoulders, there were four hibiscus flowers pinned—an emblem signifying his rank as a level 4 clerk.
Only a handful of correctional officers ever earned such a distinction before retirement.
“Well, I suppose I should thank you from today onward.”
The warden greeted him with a smile.
It was a side of him rarely shown to his subordinates.
With a subordinate as exemplary as Si-hyun, it was only natural for him to display such warmth.
“I too, from now on, will be counting on you!”
Si-hyun replied in a booming voice.
“Why’re you acting like a rookie fresh out of training? Just relax.”
“I’m not trying to be stiff; I’m simply expressing my determination to return to my original intentions.”
“Ha ha, what does the God of Rehabilitation have to say about that?”
“…Cough.”
Si-hyun coughed slightly at the warden’s playful joke.
That darned God of Rehabilitation…
Ever since some reporter published the ridiculous headline, ‘Lee Si-hyun, call me the God of Rehabilitation,’ he couldn’t escape hearing it over and over again.
If he could, he would have wanted to give that reporter a piece of his mind, but he restrained himself for the sake of maintaining the image of a heroic correctional officer.
Now he understood why celebrities can’t act however they want.
One can’t help but feel the gaze of the public.
“I’m not joking; you really are the superhero of our correctional organization.”
“Cough, cough.”
Si-hyun felt his face heat up from embarrassment as he coughed quietly.
No matter how many times he heard such flattery, he never grew accustomed to it.
Still, he figured he had to build some tolerance somehow.
Seeing Si-hyun’s embarrassed expression, the warden continued with a kind smile.
“But don’t feel too pressured; just run the Security Department according to your own ideas. I’ll completely entrust that department to you, so don’t mind my opinions at all.”
The Security Department was the pride of the correctional organization.
Despite being a difficult and often avoided department, its importance cannot be denied.
It was the department with the most personnel and the most critical responsibilities.
That the warden had declared hands-off on such a department was a testament to his complete trust in Si-hyun.
“Understood!”
Si-hyun saluted energetically.
◈ ◈ ◈
“Attention, everyone!”
As Si-hyun opened the door to the Security Department Office, the Security Chief stood up as if waiting and shouted orders.
The other staff members quickly rose and faced Si-hyun, adopting a stance of attention.
Confirming that, the Security Chief continued.
“Salute to our newly appointed Director!”
“Greetings!”
A hearty chorus of greetings echoed from the staff.
Though Si-hyun had accumulated ample experience as a correctional officer, it was his first time receiving a salute from so many people.
Feeling a strange sensation for the first time, Si-hyun raised his hand to return the salute, albeit a bit late.
“Let’s do our best going forward.”
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
At Si-hyun’s words, the staff erupted into cheers and applause.
“God of Rehabilitation!”
“Superhero!”
“Nothing but justified arrogance!”
“Okay, okay, let’s get back to work.”
Si-hyun made a gesture to calm them down, heading towards the Security Chief’s Office, though the staff continued to shout cheerfully.
“We’re counting on you, Director!”
◈ ◈ ◈
“People are something else.”
Si-hyun chuckled as he stepped into the Chief’s Office.
The Ganghwa Island Special Detention Center, especially the Security Department, was a place where personnel changes seldom occurred.
This was the only place in the country where Awakened Being correctional officers worked.
Because of this, one worked alongside the same colleagues for a long time, inevitably forming bonds.
Thus, it was easy to joke around like that.
Of course, now that he was the overall head of the Security Department and had become their superior, it would be more difficult to behave casually like before, and for the sake of organizational discipline, he should restrain himself.
Still, he understood that it was an act to lighten the mood on his first day, so he accepted it with a smile.
“Well, anyway, finally….”
Si-hyun gazed around the office, feeling a swell of emotion.
When he passed the level 9 civil servant exam, he had never imagined he would sit in such a position.
Honestly, he still felt a bit dazed.
It was as if he were missing some of the reality.
Si-hyun slowly walked toward the luxurious chair in the office.
It looked a world apart from the cheap chair he had in the Duty Room.
“This chair will be mine starting today.”
Si-hyun muttered happily as he sank into the chair.
“The cushioning is great.”
It was at that moment.
He suddenly felt his body drop toward the floor.
‘…What’s this feeling?’
He felt a strange familiarity that made his consciousness swirl.
◈ ◈ ◈
Si-hyun blinked several times, his eyes wide. The interior, once unfamiliar, now struck a chord within him.
A chill ran through his body.
“So it’s here….”
Si-hyun spoke softly as he looked at someone across from him—a huge man with the face of a gruesome demon.
“Welcome.”
Po-ahim opened his mouth.
“…Yes.”
So they’re summoning me even during working hours….
Si-hyun chuckled inwardly as he spoke.
“What brings you here?”
“The time has come.”
Po-ahim said curtly.
There was a sense of determination in his gaze.
Feeling this, Si-hyun corrected his posture.
“The time?”
“Indeed, you have splendidly passed my trial.”
“Does that mean….”
“It means you are worthy of inheriting my power.”
“Ah.”
Si-hyun nodded, understanding what he meant. He felt both joy and a bittersweet sensation.
Why must an Awakened Being gain power through a trial?
Memories of hardships he had endured flashed through his mind.
“I understand your feelings well.”
As though reading Si-hyun’s thoughts, Po-ahim continued.
“However, you know that you are fundamentally different from other S-Class Awakened Beings.”
“Fundamentally?”
“Other S-Class Awakened Beings merge their very personas. Regardless of the balance of the two united personas, they are one person. So, the Awakened Being of Hyris is Hyris, and the Awakened Being of Rachel is Rachel. But you, are not the Guard Po-ahim. You are Correctional Officer Lee Si-hyun.”
“….”
He had indeed felt something strange about that aspect.
So perhaps, he thought he might not be an S-Class Awakened Being after all.
Si-hyun gazed encouragingly at Po-ahim, demanding more explanation.
Po-ahim raised a thick finger to point at himself.
“I am me.”
This time, he pointed at Si-hyun.
“You are you.”
“….”
“Thus, there is no absolute reason for me to unconditionally grant you my power. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“But our bodies seem somewhat connected….”
There was a time when Si-hyun had saved his own life by eating well while Po-ahim suffered from hunger.
Conversely, there was a time when Po-ahim had eaten the Tear of the World Tree to free himself from addiction.
Recalling that, Si-hyun responded.
“The body is just the body. What matters is the mind.”
Po-ahim replied firmly.
“Yes….”
When someone like Po-ahim speaks with such strength, it’s hard to find the will to refute.
“In any case, I’ve been watching you closely. My power is exceptionally strong, and if it falls into the hands of someone who cannot handle it, it could bring about undesirable outcomes for the world.”
So incredibly strong?
Hope glimmered in Si-hyun’s eyes.
The power he had experienced from Po-ahim was indeed extraordinary. He had defeated powerful foes with that unique strength on several occasions.
So then, what must the true power be?
He couldn’t help but feel excited.
Po-ahim continued speaking.
“However, you have proven yourself to be a commendable correctional officer. You upheld your duty without wavering in the face of any temptation. You handled the prisoners with discipline and led the charge to protect not just the staff but also the prisoners when an external threat arose. That was exactly the image of a correctional officer I longed for.”
“….”
Si-hyun scratched his cheek in embarrassment at Po-ahim’s praise.
“Furthermore, even when the Emperor’s faction ambushed, you resolutely completed your duties as a correctional officer. You showed exceptional wit, bravery, and quick judgment in dire situations.”
“….”
“In the end, I was convinced. I believe you are capable of handling my power well, both personally and in terms of ability.”
“Thank you for your trust.”
Si-hyun smiled and bowed his head slightly. It had indeed been a long wait.
Yet he thought, being late is better than never; receiving Po-ahim’s power now was still a great opportunity.
“Come closer.”
“Yes.”
At Po-ahim’s words, Si-hyun stepped closer to him.
As Si-hyun did, Po-ahim extended one of his enormous hands. In it lay an object resembling a dark guard baton.
“First, take this.”
Si-hyun accepted the black guard baton.
He clasped the handle tightly.
From the very first grip, it felt worlds apart from any guard batons he’d used before.
It fit perfectly in his hand without slipping at all. It looked extraordinarily sturdy at first glance.
It was undoubtedly a piece of premium craftsmanship.
“This is my last guard baton.”
Po-ahim stated.
“Is that so?”
“And taking this means you are formally inheriting my position.”
“Position?”
Si-hyun asked.
“The Lord of the Prison Castle.”
‘Ah.’
Si-hyun’s eyes shifted as he understood.
The Death Bow Miriam had called Po-ahim “Lord.”
He had mentioned the Prison Castle before, hence he had been piecing things together.
“From this moment on, you are the fifth lord of the Prison Castle.”
It seemed the history wasn’t particularly long.
“Understood.”
Si-hyun nodded.
“This guard baton is not like any other. It is not an artifact created in my era. It is a treasure passed down through generations to the lord.”
“Is that so?”
“In other words, it is essentially a symbol of a true lord. Within the confines of the Prison Castle, no one would dare challenge the authority of this symbol.”
“Yes….”
“Remember this. I have never passed this to anyone else. Thus, you alone are the true lord of the Prison Castle.”
Po-ahim spoke solemnly.
No… even with such a proclamation, the Prison Castle no longer exists in this world….
While the title exists, the actual place does not.
Still, it was evident that Po-ahim considered it a significant and precious object, going to such lengths to explain it.
Si-hyun thought he needed to handle it with care.
“Did you remember?”
“Yes.”
After confirming once again, Po-ahim nodded and continued.
“Good. Now, let me tell you about my true power.”
‘Finally….’
Si-hyun’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.