Chapter 32: Awakened Ones Association②

“Haha, everyone, relax.”

Kang Ma-jin chuckled softly and waved his hand dismissively.

“Your expressions are too stiff. You’ll make our guest uncomfortable.”

Those who had been standing bowed to Kang Ma-jin and sat down again.

‘As expected, they don’t seem hostile.’

—Though wary.

It didn’t matter to me.

If a being of Sephie’s caliber attacked, it would be slightly troublesome, but even looking at Kang Ma-jin, the strongest presence in the room, I remained unfazed.

‘It’s strange how many strong people there are among the elderly.’

The thought came to me suddenly.

At a glance, Kang Ma-jin appeared to be a frail old man with wrinkled skin and a hunched back, requiring assistance to even stand properly.

But judging by his aura, he was clearly more than just an old man.

‘He must be qualified to lead the Awakened.’

That made him a suitable representative for this meeting. The door opened again, and the employee who had been sent for coffee placed the cups in front of Sephie and me before leaving.

“You said you wanted to offer your assistance?”

I asked, echoing Jang Baek-do’s earlier words.

Perhaps startled by my sudden question, Kang Ma-jin maintained his faint smile while the others looked at me in surprise.

‘…This feels strange.’

Their gazes held a mixture of fear
And an indescribable awe. It felt like they were looking at a talking animal, and I felt a twinge of displeasure.

Just then,

“Do not look at Yujin-nim that way. Consider this a warning.”

Sephie slammed her hand on the table. A surge of power emanated from her.

The gazes that had been fixed on me slowly shifted to the floor.

I patted Sephie’s shoulder twice, a gesture of thanks and a subtle warning to restrain herself.

Kang Ma-jin, who had been looking at me, seemed unfazed by the surge of power. He nodded and spoke,

“I didn’t intend to create this kind of atmosphere.”

“I don’t particularly care.”

I leaned back against the sofa, crossed my arms, and exhaled deeply.

“Do you have any questions?”

“Will you answer them?”

“Except for sensitive matters.”

Kang Ma-jin paused, seemingly gathering his thoughts, and Jang Baek-do handed him the black file.

The secretary took it
And placed it on the table, slowly turning the pages for Kang Ma-jin to read.

Then,

“May I… ask my questions?”

“Go ahead.”

Kang Ma-jin nodded.

A few people around us glared, seemingly displeased with my casual response, but they quickly subsided under the watchful eyes of Sephie and the others.

My gaze shifted to the right.

Baek Ji-a and Shin Hak-cheol, sensing my gaze, looked at me. Baek Ji-a smiled faintly. Shin Hak-cheol nodded solemnly.

Yoo Ha-neul, however… kept her head down, avoiding my gaze. I wondered if I’d offended her somehow when Kang Ma-jin’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

“First, is So Yu-jin your real name?”

I nodded.

It was my name, both before being summoned to the other world and after returning.

“Then… why were you inside the gate?”

At Kang Ma-jin’s question, the secretary took out a small device and pressed a button. The what I’d thought was a curtain behind them lit up, and a video began to play.

The shaky footage showed
A majestic and divine temple, an angel slowly ascending into the sky.

And finally, me, floating in mid-air, eyes closed. The video paused there.

“According to our records, you both have citizenship. But looking at that footage, any reasonable person would question it.”

Kang Ma-jin’s tone remained gentle.

He seemed to be saying he wasn’t trying to pressure me.

I considered how to respond. Honestly, I didn’t know the details myself.

I opened my eyes, and I was there.

That was the unvarnished truth. The important thing was why.

‘…Should I just tell them?’

Everything I’d experienced.

What the Goddess had told me.

The secrets of the other world, and this one.

Should I reveal everything to them?

It was a difficult decision.

If they learned that the gates, considered disasters in this world, were appearing because of me…

After a brief deliberation, I shook my head.

“I don’t know.”

“…You don’t know?”

I nodded, confirming that I’d heard him correctly. Revealing too much sensitive information would only lead to trouble.

‘It happened in the other world.’

After I’d defeated dozens of Demon Kings, the continent became relatively peaceful. Those who had been preoccupied with survival finally had the time to look around, and I became the target of their attention.

‘They were relentless.’

The so-called nobles, using all sorts of methods to investigate me, were ridiculous. Their ancestors would have been ashamed.

“I opened my eyes, and I was there.”

“Hmm, in that case…”

Since I held the reins of the conversation, Kang Ma-jin, without a hint of annoyance, tried to continue.

The President of the Awakened Association, the organization responsible for managing Awakened beings in South Korea,

Adopting such a humble attitude meant he was swallowing his pride.

He didn’t even object to my casual speech.

Was Kang Ma-jin a capable leader?

The others kept their gazes fixed on the table, seemingly unwilling to witness their president’s subservient behavior.

I glanced at them, sighed, and interrupted Kang Ma-jin.

“Excuse me, but.”

Despite the interruption, Kang Ma-jin showed no displeasure. He simply asked,

“…Yes?”

“Even if you ask about Sephie’s and my identities, I won’t answer.”

I didn’t know how my words sounded.

But judging by the slight furrow in Kang Ma-jin’s brow, it seemed I’d startled him.

It seemed like a misunderstanding.

Baek Ji-a and Shin Hak-cheol stared at Kang Ma-jin with stiff expressions. The others looked at Sephie, who had closed her eyes.

‘Hmm.’

I considered my words carefully before speaking,

“I don’t know how that sounded, but neither of us wants any trouble.”

“Meaning…?”

“We don’t need any special treatment. We just want to be left alone.”

Kang Ma-jin still maintained his smile, though it now held a hint of helplessness.

Even I found my words amusing.

I’d told them to ask questions, but then declared I wouldn’t answer. Where did that even come from?

‘Honestly, I don’t think they’d believe me anyway.’

Just as I thought this, Kang Ma-jin said bluntly,

“You don’t know why you were in the gate, and you won’t reveal your identities? And after emerging from the gate, you disappeared without a word.”

He summarized my words and actions.

Hearing it like that, I realized how unreasonable I’d been. But what could I do?

“Frankly, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I let this go.”

“Hmm.”

“However…”

Kang Ma-jin sighed, relaxed against the backrest, and the sound of a creaking chair echoed, as if a weight had been lifted.

“From the moment the S-rank gate appeared until now, there hasn’t been a single incident caused by either of you.”

“Because we had no reason or intention to.”

“That’s why I’m being so accommodating. There’s no need to stir up trouble. Do you understand what we’re worried about?”

I nodded.

They were worried about what Sephie, who had single-handedly subdued Baek Ji-a, Shin Hak-cheol, and their numerous subordinates, and I, whom Sephie claimed to serve, were capable of. A pointless worry, since I had no intention of causing any trouble.

“And because we share that concern, we can’t simply ignore this.”

He looked at me with a wry smile.

His words meant,

—How can we trust you?

‘Do you need proof? Well, I do understand his position.’

I squeezed Sephie’s hand. She was glaring, ready to pounce.

I tried to calm her down and chose my words carefully. But there wasn’t much to say. I had no way to prove my intentions other than making a promise.

Kang Ma-jin, seemingly aware of this, chuckled wryly.

“It seems we’re at an impasse. Our conversation is going nowhere. Even two S-ranks couldn’t handle you, so there’s nothing this old man can do.”

Baek Ji-a and Shin Hak-cheol lowered their heads slightly. It wasn’t that they were weak, but that Sephie was simply overwhelmingly powerful.

“What do you want us to do?”

As if waiting for those words,

“First…”

I listened to Kang Ma-jin’s proposal and considered my options.

And after a few exchanges, in the end…

‘So this is how it’s going to be.’

I stood in a gray room, arms crossed. Sephie, Kang Ma-jin, and the Association employees stood at a distance, observing.

I turned my gaze forward.

Shin Hak-cheol was warming up.

Baek Ji-a was holding her head in her hands, sighing repeatedly.

And lastly—,

“Pleased to meet you?”

A dark-skinned woman with flowing purple hair and violet eyes stared intently at me.