The KAMC Audit Team has tremendous notoriety among Awakened. Everyone who has experienced the Audit Team says....
—Those guys are all devils.... —It was f*cking scary. I didn't even do anything wrong, just went for a reference investigation... Ugh, I really hate it. Hate it just thinking about it....
Everyone reacted by trembling. The authority of the Audit Team sometimes transcended the law. Because they are an Audit Team auditing superhumans. So their authority itself is different from audit teams of other organizations or groups. They even perform audits on guilds. This is the reason why KAMC doesn't lose in power games with guilds. An Audit Team with extra-legal authority supported by the state. And I was facing them.
"You didn't hide it from when you joined the company, right?" "No, I did not." "It says the skill you awakened before re-awakening was [Agility], is that correct?" "Yes, that is correct." "You testified that you re-awakened during battle... can you explain that process in detail?"
The reason they are sensitive about re-awakening? What if I hid my ability from the moment I joined and lied that I re-awakened? KAMC's greatest power is the extra-legal audit authority in front of me, and that it is the only institution that verifies Awakened. But what if I hid my ability from the start and lied about re-awakening? KAMC's great power loses credibility. But since I really re-awakened, I have nothing to fear.
'Of course, the timing of re-awakening wasn't when I was in battle though.'
Half truth and half lie. But the focus is ultimately whether I re-awakened or not. Isn't that it?
'Then the fact that I re-awakened is more important.'
I confessed honestly that I re-awakened. The Audit Team can't say anything to me. Thinking just that, I composed myself.
"Hmm..." "There doesn't seem to be anything strange, right?" "Yes, the battle records too... fit the [Long-range Weapon Specialization] Unique Ability you said you re-awakened."
I made up a Unique Ability called [Long-range Weapon Specialization]. It's not a lie, right? Since handling guns and bows well looks like that. Awakened verification isn't anything special either. They can't see abilities in detail. It's just 'detecting' that this kid awakened. Therefore, even if re-awakened, only detection is possible; the re-awakened skills, abilities, etc., cannot be known unless the person reveals them.
'Of course, 99% of cases reveal it honestly themselves.'
Doing battle or living daily life... since the outline of the ability is roughly shown, lying is prone to being caught. So 99%, no 99.9% of Awakened honestly reveal their awakened abilities. And I came to belong to the 0.1% who don't.
"Being specialized in long-range weapons means being specialized in handling long-range weapons... so it makes sense that you beat Orcs to death with bayonet skills at the last moment." "Yes."
There is no need for me to give additional explanations to convince them. The only thing that convinces the Audit Team is 'evidence'. Objective evidence. And 'testimony' of oneself and surrounding people is not needed for that objective evidence. Only material evidence. They judge solely by that.
'And it's hard to find material evidence for the Yeouido battle.'
As erosion proceeded, the many CCTVs in Yeouido Park were judged unrecoverable. Including data. So what remains are videos from body cams worn by some combatants or other guild members but....
'Since my position is Supporter-Assassin, I am a person who acts in places invisible to others.'
So my figure was only partially captured towards the end of the battle. And there was nothing suspicious in that video. Me shooting a gun, pounding an Orc head with a buttstock like pounding mortar, or hacking with the bayonet attached to the muzzle. Only scenes like these were captured.
"It's not that there aren't suspicious corners but...." "Your usual work record is good, and you were receiving decent evaluations in personnel reviews so... there is nothing for the Audit Team to say." "Aha, is that so?"
'Pretend to be as naive as possible... pretend to be relieved... let's act.'
"Yes, and congratulations on re-awakening. We should have started with this, we were a bit rude, right?" "Ah, no. Thank you. Haha…." "We hope you will continue to... display that talent at KAMC in the future. In my opinion, Mr. Lee Si-woo seems to be a good talent."
Ah, I decline that.
"Ah, yes."
Like that, the confrontation with the Audit Team ended simply, and I was officially recognized as an Awakened who re-awakened in the Yeouido battle. Then what remains now? Preparation for establishing a guild. Sorry to the Audit Team, but I have to leave KAMC. I have to stop the destruction of the world.
After work, I talked with Seo Ha-yeon at a cafe.
"Phew... that... alliance you mentioned last time." "Ah, you remembered." "Yes, alliance. It starts once Mr. Si-woo leaves KAMC and creates an independent guild, right?" "That is correct. Of course, we won't start right away... it would only be possible when I rise to the level of strong individuals like you Ms. Seo Ha-yeon, Ms. Baek Seo-yeon, Mr. Cheon Tae-jin...." "That... is true." "And since no one will believe if I say we have to prepare for destruction, I think it would be good to start as a gathering to promote friendship."
I hate being branded as a conspiracy theorist. Wouldn't it be good to just do it as promoting friendship in the beginning?
"First of all, I have the intention to join from the start."
Naturally welcome.
"Thank you."
As expected, Light Mana is good. Even when I said destruction is approaching, she accepted it as truth, not a lie. From her perspective, she must have felt a strong light of truth from me.
'So I thought she would join the alliance first. Just as predicted.'
"By the way, how is mana... are you handling it well? Constant practice is needed." "In the last Yeouido battle, I attacked the Orc Overlord's weakness by shooting an arrow imbued with mana. After that battle, mana-related skills grew rapidly at once." "That's a relief! If it goes like that..."
If it goes like that, I am gradually becoming a monster. An Awakened who can handle all weapons, whose skills are growing, and who awakened pure 'Null Attribute' mana that no one else has awakened.
"I have no intention of becoming a villain."
I said that just in case she becomes wary of me.
"I know. My eyes are special unlike others. Because... no aura of such a villain is seen from Mr. Si-woo."
Ah, right. That's it, right? Since she is a Light Mana Awakened.
"Then we have to make a plan to meet the first target." "Who is that?"
Who else could it be. It's Baek Seo-yeon.
"Cheongpung Guild, Ms. Baek Seo-yeon. Just in time... I decided to learn spearmanship this weekend." "Ah... I see." "I should probe her subtly while learning spearmanship."
I'm good at talking, you know.
"We meet again like this, Ms. Baek Seo-yeon." "Ah, yes. Nice to meet you. You came to learn spearmanship today too, right?" "Yes, that's right."
It is true I came to learn spearmanship. The system said skill levels rise faster if I learn from an excellent tutor than practicing alone. To be precise, leveling efficiency is good in the order of Real Combat > Tutoring > Individual Training. And while at it....
'Have to lay the groundwork.'
"Now, let's start then."
Like that, after training for two or three hours ended, I brought up the main topic.
"I plan to leave KAMC." "...! Have you finally decided?" "Yes, I decided to set up a guild myself." "Eh―? Yes?"
She must be flustered. Since there were tons of offers from large-scale guilds guaranteeing success, and I declared I would go a difficult path refusing all of them.
"It turned out that way. I know you put effort into recruiting me but... there is something I intend to do." "Phew, what on earth is that...."
She probably won't understand. What on earth is he trying to do that he kicked away all proposals guaranteeing his future?
'Must be curious.'
"I cannot tell you exactly yet. But it is a very critical matter. I didn't come out of KAMC for no reason." "If you didn't come out of KAMC for no reason...?" "This is internal information so I cannot tell you. But if I say one thing..."
KAMC, internal information, critical matter. Along with these three pieces of information,
"You will have to be careful in the future. The world will change."
Plant anxiety.
"!!!"
One of KAMC's authorities is regarding Gate research. KAMC monopolizes the authority to research Gates. Then what I said can be interpreted like this.
—As a result of KAMC internal research, a strange airflow is flowing.
Something enough to shake the world. Or else why would he say 'be careful' even to her, who is counted as a next-generation powerhouse.
'She will think like this.'
"...Then does it mean you can solve that if you set up a guild alone?" "No. The establishment of an independent guild is the start."
She will wonder what kind of nonsense this is but....
"It is difficult to inform you beyond this. I will tell you later if there is an opportunity." "Ah, ah, ah, wait...! What are you doing making a person curious like that and leaving alone!" "We aren't close enough to share such secrets yet, are we?" "!!!"
At my words, Baek Seo-yeon, whose face trembled blue, turned around whish and said.
"T-today's training is up to here so please leave now!" "Understood. Since it's a bit awkward to come learn spearmanship again next time... I will see you if there is an opportunity." "...Go safely." "Yes."
'Done. Since I planted curiosity, she will figure it out herself.'
With Cheongpung Guild's intelligence power, they will know who is the person I meet most frequently.
"Not close enough to share such secrets??? Ugh, so annoying...!"
Baek Seo-yeon was cooling her anger in the training ground Lee Si-woo left.
"Phew... by the way, Lee Si-woo, the person that man meets most frequently was Seo Ha-yeon, right?"
She wasn't very close with her. Rather, she was closer to the side of being a bit jealous of Seo Ha-yeon. Because Seo Ha-yeon was considered a stronger person a notch above her.
"Phew, should I ask Tae-jin to meet her."
Cheon Tae-jin had many close people thanks to his unique easygoing personality. A personality exactly opposite to hers, which is a bit sharp. Like that, she contacted Cheon Tae-jin. And a few days later,
"Ahem, ah, hello. Seo Ha-yeon." "...Yeah, it's been a while since seeing you at the event last time." "Why is everyone so awkward? Now, let's eat first."
A very awkward 3-party meeting took place.
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