NOVEL NEXT Chapter 200
Chapter 200: Briefing Frenzy
The briefing room on the third floor of the Hunter Association was buzzing with reporters.
It seemed like almost every media outlet was there.
The reporters were all on edge, anxiously waiting for the significant announcement from the Hunter Association.
They already knew that another abnormal gate incident had occurred at the Ganghwa Island Special Detention Center.
However, the scene was under strict control, so the reporters couldn’t access it.
Of course, they had gathered substantial info through their sources.
A massive number of monsters had emerged from the abnormal gate.
A select few had managed to take down all those monsters.
So, there had been no casualties at all.
Although the Hunter Association hadn’t made an official announcement yet, this information was considered solid amongst the reporters.
“Who did it?”
“Must be an S-rank. With that rank, they could’ve taken out so many monsters.”
“Well, being S-rank is obvious, but which S-rank are we talking about? Was it Ryu Geon-woo?”
“I heard President Ryu was involved in the battle.”
“Then it must be someone else.”
Whispers among the familiar reporters filled the room.
They believed that one of the five S-Class Awakened Beings in Korea had thwarted the incident.
All circumstances pointed towards that fact.
“We will begin the announcement in one minute,” said an association staff member.
The reporters straightened up in their seats, ready for the announcement. They waited for the presenter to arrive.
Soon, someone entered through the door.
“Huh?”
“What’s going on?”
“…Who’s that?”
The reporters buzzed with excitement, recognizing the figure.
It was Hunter Association President Ryu Geon-woo.
The president was personally making the announcement?
That was a rare occurrence.
Unless it was a critical event like an S-Class gate or the Ganghwa Island Disaster, the president hardly spoke before the media.
Could it be…?
Suddenly, a sense of tension filled the room.
If Ryu Geon-woo was stepping up, it meant something serious had happened.
Even if it was said there were zero casualties, that information could be wrong.
Or perhaps something had happened to the S-Class who had tackled all those monsters.
In any case, it felt serious.
With everyone’s attention on him, Ryu Geon-woo stepped up to the podium.
Camera flashes started popping off like fireworks.
Everyone awaited the moment he would speak.
Ryu Geon-woo bowed his head slightly in greeting.
Then he began to speak.
“Let’s get started.”
After his opening line, he continued.
“I’m here to discuss the abnormal gate incident that occurred around the Ganghwa Island Special Detention Center today, May 2nd, at approximately 11:30 AM…”
Ryu Geon-woo calmly explained the specific details regarding the abnormal gate incident at Ganghwa.
The basic chronology of the event matched what the reporters already knew.
They sighed in relief at the report of no casualties and nodded when hearing that two S-Class were involved and had tackled it perfectly.
But they felt puzzled.
If the announcement wrapped up like this, there was no need for Ryu Geon-woo to take the stage himself.
It was then that Ryu Geon-woo picked up a water bottle beside him, took a sip, then suddenly changed his expression.
“Now, I’d like to introduce the heroes who managed to safely prevent what could have likely escalated into a catastrophic incident.”
This was the part everyone wanted to hear.
The reporters were all eyes and ears, determined not to miss a single word.
“First, one is a foreign S-Class Awakened Being who happened to be nearby. They wished to remain anonymous, so that’s all I can say.”
A foreign S-Class?
Wants to remain anonymous?
That felt like digging for juicy gossip.
The reporters’ eyes sparkled with intrigue.
But it wasn’t the time for questions, so they withheld their excitement.
Meanwhile, Ryu Geon-woo continued speaking.
“The other is a South Korean. Moreover… they are a newly awakened S-Class Awakened Being.”
Suddenly, silence fell over the briefing room.
The rhythmic sound of camera shutters ceased, as if the air had been sucked out.
The reporters looked at each other, questioning whether they had misheard.
What Ryu Geon-woo had just said was shocking.
“What? What did you say? I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”
A middle-aged reporter in the front raised his hand, his face a mixture of shock and disbelief.
Every reporter in the room shared that sentiment.
They wanted to confirm what Ryu Geon-woo had just stated.
With a reassuring tone, Ryu Geon-woo responded clearly.
“The other Awakened Being who thwarted this incident is a newly awakened S-Class Awakened Being from Korea.”
It was clear they hadn’t heard incorrectly.
The reporters widened their eyes in disbelief and began to bombarde him with questions.
It wasn’t even the Q&A session yet, but they couldn’t hold back their excitement.
“A new S-Class Awakened Being, you say?”
“Is that for real?”
“Who is it?”
“Where are they right now?”
Ryu Geon-woo smiled silently at the questions pouring in. Then he raised a hand for calm.
“Please, let’s settle down for a moment.”
“Please tell us!”
“Just reveal who it is!”
The reporters raised their voices, oblivious to Ryu Geon-woo’s attempts to pacify them.
This was big news.
Ryu Geon-woo couldn’t help but smile wryly at the frenzy. It seemed there was no stopping it.
“I was just about to formally introduce this person. Come in, please.”
He turned to the door as he spoke.
All eyes snapped to that direction.
Then eventually…
A man stepped inside.
The reporters’ reaction was one of utter shock, like they had just been hit in the back of the head.
The person who entered was none other than the Hero Correctional Officer Lee Si-hyun.
“What the…?”
“What’s he doing here?”
“Stop dragging this out and just introduce the new S-Class already!”
The reporters had never considered Si-hyun to be the new S-Class Awakened Being.
Which was completely understandable.
Si-hyun had already been certified as a D-rank Awakened Being.
And according to common knowledge about Awakened Beings, it was impossible to be re-awakened from D-rank to S-rank.
Si-hyun had also anticipated such a reaction.
With a calm smile, he stepped up to the podium next to Ryu Geon-woo.
The reporters looked at Si-hyun, dumbfounded.
Ryu Geon-woo opened his mouth with a bright expression.
“Everyone, please meet Officer Lee Si-hyun, Korea’s new sixth S-Class Awakened Being!”
“….”
An uncanny silence enveloped the room.
Then, moments later, the previously stunned reporters exploded with questions.
“What? What do you mean?”
“What are you saying?”
“What’s going on? Wasn’t he a D-rank?”
“I’ll address that,” Ryu Geon-woo replied.
The reporters quickly quieted down.
But their eyes were ablaze with curiosity.
“Officer Si-hyun is an extremely rare case of an incomplete Awakened Being. There are very few of them. This means he was originally an S-Class incomplete Awakened Being. So, before his abilities fully awakened, he could only display D-rank strength. But today, he has finally achieved full awakening. It’s a fortunate occurrence. Otherwise, many citizens might have lost their lives during this abnormal gate incident.”
“An incomplete Awakened Being?”
“I’ve never heard of that before!”
The reporters were baffled by this unfamiliar term.
Ryu Geon-woo continued to explain calmly.
“It’s something that only occurs in an exceedingly small number of cases, so we hadn’t made an official announcement. But it’s a definite reality. The International Hunter Association doesn’t deny the existence of incomplete Awakened Beings.”
“Such….”
“Are you saying that Officer Si-hyun is one of those cases?”
“I’m confident. I have verified it myself. Plus, he effectively halted the monsters from the abnormal gate, right?”
Ryu Geon-woo’s words carried weight as he represented the Hunter Association and the S-Class Awakened Beings of Korea.
If Ryu Geon-woo had personally verified it, it was practically official.
Moreover, as it was a public platform, it wasn’t an unbelievable statement.
Faced with such shocking information about Si-hyun being a new S-Class, the reporters couldn’t deny the truth any longer.
Convinced that no further explanation was necessary, Ryu Geon-woo stepped back.
Si-hyun slowly approached the podium.
All cameras were now focused on him.
In his neatly pressed correctional officer uniform, Si-hyun wore a smile.
“Hello, I’m Correctional Officer Lee Si-hyun. It’s a bit nerve-wracking to introduce myself as the new S-Class Awakened Being. I feel a heavy responsibility on my shoulders.”
Si-hyun continued speaking.
“As you all know, I’m a correctional officer. I’ve always taken pride in my role as an officer. Moving forward, I’m committed to diligently fulfilling my duties. However, I am also an S-Class Awakened Being from Korea. If an incident arises that poses a major threat to public safety, such as an S-Class gate or an abnormal gate, I’m prepared to leap into action and serve.”
“Does that mean you’ll continue being a correctional officer?”
A reporter with glasses raised a hand, asking.
There’s no hierarchy in jobs as per moral teachings, but everyone knew the reality was entirely different.
So, they asked.
Who would want to spend their days in a detention center dealing with inmates when they could be an S-Class?
Not a single soul.
“Of course.”
Except for one.
Right in front.
◈ ◈ ◈
– Birth of Korea’s sixth S-Class Awakened Being!
– Who is Korea’s new S-Class Awakened Being, Lee Si-hyun?
– From a young man dreaming of becoming a correctional officer in Noryangjin to becoming a hero…
– Korea jumps 21 steps in the ranking of S-Class Awakened Beings!
– Is Si-hyun the strongest in Korea? Testimony from an anonymous Hunter Association official.
– Si-hyun’s father: That kid was different from the start. He had a strong sense of justice from a young age.
– He chose to be a correctional officer over astronomical wealth. No hidden contracts either.
– Si-hyun: Life isn’t just about money. A message he conveys to the youth of this era.
– Colleagues say: Lee Si-hyun is a true correctional officer.
“…This is no joke,” Si-hyun murmured.
The news sections of various portal sites were nearly flooded with stories about him.
Every trivial detail about his life was being blasted in articles.
Even the TV continuously aired news about him.
Experiencing the world news being dominated by oneself was a bizarre feeling he never wanted to go through again.
But that wasn’t all.
Outside his home, numerous reporters were stationed for interviews.
So, worried about any strange rumors spreading, he had sent To-ya off to the guild.
His phone was buzzing so much it felt like it might explode.
Family, relatives, friends, and even acquaintances he barely remembered kept calling.
He was so worn out from answering that he started to contemplate just turning off his phone.
Just as he reached out to power off his phone…
It rang.
Si-hyun picked it up and checked the screen.
It was an unknown number.
But it felt oddly familiar.
It was a number he had once considered blocking due to its persistent calls.
This number…
Si-hyun chuckled softly and answered.
“Hello?”
– Hello? Is this Si-hyun oppa? It’s me, Su-jin.
As anticipated, the familiar voice of Kim Su-jin came through.
“Oh, hey.”
– Um, can we talk for a second?
Si-hyun noticed a change in Su-jin’s tone.
When they parted, and even when they met again, she had always spoken condescendingly.
However, her voice was now soft.
He realized.
I’ve made it.
I’ve risen to a position where she can’t simply look down on me.
“I don’t have anything to say to you. I almost forgot I hadn’t blocked you yet. But since it’s the last time, I’ll say this—stay well.”
– Wait, oppa.
“I’m hanging up.”
– Oppa, can we just talk for a moment?
Click.
Si-hyun hung up the phone.
Then he turned it off.
He felt relieved.
Though he’d forgotten about it, memories of that time occasionally resurfaced.
Not out of attachment, but because they were painful memories.
Yet now, it didn’t seem like that would happen again.
“Hey, sir.”
“Yeah?”
Suddenly hearing a voice, Si-hyun turned around.
To-ya was standing there, having arrived who knows when.
She must have used her teleportation magic to get here while he was on the call.
“Let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“There’s something good happening, so let’s celebrate properly!”
“What?”
Si-hyun laughed in disbelief at the response.
Where on earth did she learn to say something like that?
It was clear that she could only have picked that up from someone in the guild.
“Let’s go! Everyone’s waiting!”
“Really?”
“Yeah, we’re having beef!”
“Oh my…you people never hold back when we’re around kids!”
Si-hyun chuckled incredulously.
“Let’s go, Uncle.”
To-ya reached out her small hand.
Si-hyun took her hand firmly and smiled back.
“Alright. Let’s go. I’ll treat!”