Chapter 492
secret (1)
The current time is approximately 3:00 PM..
It was too early to have a drink like usual, so we joined each other at the cafe and chatted..
‘No, even if the time is right, you shouldn't drink now..’
It was a foolish choice to get drunk even though I couldn't improve my condition as I was immediately at the forefront of survival..
Wouldn't it be different if the person wanted to commit suicide and was completely resigned and desperate from the beginning?.
“There is still quite a bit of time left before transmission. I woke up shortly after waking up to go to work... It was roughly around 6 in the morning..”
“···Is that so?.”
Transfer to another world occurs 24 hours after awakening..
In other words, the time allowed for Kang Tae-san was until 6 a.m. the next morning..
“The reason I called you was shortly after I woke up after losing consciousness. After that, I just went to work..”
“In this situation? I went to work?”
“It can't be helped, right? Even though I'm like this, I'm still a civil servant. He is also an agent of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Ability Management Bureau. You have to report it to your superiors and talk to your colleagues in advance..”
In the process, Kang Tae-san frowned and sighed softly, saying that he had to waste several precious hours due to pointless reporting procedures..
If it had been other people, when they realized that they had awakened, they would have kicked everything, including their jobs, and not paid any attention to it..
It seems like there was nothing I could do since it was a job..
“okay? Anyway, I just said hello to all my acquaintances.?”
“okay. Well, you can just leave a simple message to people who aren't that close to you..”
“What about grandma? Does your grandmother know? That you have awakened?”
“······.”
He kept his mouth shut at my question..
The expression suddenly darkened, as if what had been a nonchalant attitude up to now was a lie..
I could tell what the answer was just by looking at the reaction..
I guess I haven't said it properly yet because I'm afraid you might be shocked..
“Hey, Taesan. You know it well, right? Basically, there is no benefit in dragging this on for a long time..”
“Phew, I know. After I finish talking with you, I will stay with my grandmother all day today. We have received a full set of necessities that awakened people need to take care of before transferring to another world from the Supernatural Abilities Management Bureau, so there is no need to prepare any more..”
Kang Tae-san tapped the large suitcase next to him..
It was a carrier filled with items much better than those distributed in the private sector, including bulletproof vests, weapons, and combat rations..
Perhaps that is also a type of employee welfare..
“···okay.”
And it was only natural.
My expression when I looked at Kang Taesan was not that good either..
It wasn't just because I felt sorry for his attitude of trying to suppress tension and maintain composure..
‘···So how should I do this??’
In the very brief silence that occurred as we quenched our thirst with the drinks we ordered..
While drinking the drink I ordered, I glanced at Kangtaesan and twitched the corner of my mouth..
‘Should I just say it first? From where to where?’
It was easy to pretend not to know this situation and ignore it..
It was just a matter of saying, "I will take good care of my grandmother, so don't worry too much and come home safely.".
‘But if you do that, there will inevitably be limits to how much help you can give him to return safely. In order to properly help, it is essential to reveal this side to some extent..’
This world was a danger zone that should never be looked upon lightly..
Isn't the most obvious example of this being the extreme probability of an average return rate of 20%?!
Of course, there must have been a significant number of people who gave up on returning and chose to settle down, but this does not change the fact that there is a risk of being killed in an instant if you let your guard down..
‘Even I almost died several times···.’
If it weren't for "Avatar," I wouldn't be alive like I am now..
I couldn't picture how Taesan could survive in a crisis similar to the one I experienced..
‘No matter how much the name of the unique skill he awakened seems to have something to do with it..’
I used the “analysis” I borrowed from Hubert to spy on Kang Taesan’s condition..
<Gangtaesan>
- Affiliated with the Criminal Investigation Department of the Republic of Korea Ability Management Bureau. He has a strong hatred for supernatural crimes and has recently been recognized for his abilities by his superiors. I am confused because I suddenly awakened my special ability. He is worried about his grandmother who will be left alone after he leaves for the other world. I am distraught because my recent date with a female employee, who was in a good mood, has been canceled due to transfer to another world..
-Possessed ability: 「Indomitable」
- Key traits: unwavering faith, persistent fighting spirit, devoted love of family, great fighting talent, extraordinary mental ability, and great physical ability.
-reliability : 94%
Is it because of his divinity that started growing in real time, or have the conditions changed because he awakened his special ability?.
I began to see things in my analysis that were previously invisible..
Perhaps what is listed in the 'possessed abilities' section is the unique skill that Kang Taesan has developed this time..
‘「“Indomitable and indomitable”... It does not shake or bend. Is it a resistance meter ability? I'm still not sure how I can use it..’
In fact, even if the awakened ability was extremely fraudulent, the immediate situation would not have changed much..
Even if the unique skills of a beginner who has just developed a special ability are great, it would be at the level of that level..
‘Yes, because I had no intention of just hiding it forever. We need to be open to some extent..’
Thanks to his divinity, he became quite distant from ordinary humans, but apart from that, the person named Kang Taesan was a very special being to him..
A symbol of the last 'normal life' left to me, and the only friend who stayed by my side until the end during the most difficult times and supported me to move forward without hesitation..
‘It is human duty to repay a favor received..’
If it weren't for him in the first place, he would have collapsed long ago when he was left alone in the world..
Maybe he made an extreme choice and has already passed away..
Compared to that debt, this was nothing..
“Hey, Taesan.”
“···uh? What is it? Why are you suddenly calling me in such a mood??”
When I made that decision, I felt like my complicated thoughts were being neatly organized..
Maybe I was so absorbed in the fact that I had to hide my identity that I was overly obsessed with it..
“There's still quite a bit of time left?”
As my mindset changed, the texture of the air flowing around my body also subtly changed..
If you have been like a vain hermit who seems to exist and not exist, now you are like a sleeping dragon who has woken up from his sleep and is about to show off to the world..
“···Well, that's true. why? What's going on??”
Kang Tae-san, who swallowed his saliva without realizing it at the sudden change in the atmosphere of Jukma Go-woo, asked back carefully..
I looked at him quietly, smiled, and held out my hand to him..
“Now that this has happened, I'll tell you a secret..”
I'm sure you'll be very surprised.
But I trust you will understand.
“Follow me.”
Because you and I are friends moving forward together through the same pain..
***
Kang Tae-san opened his mouth as if he was dumbfounded..
“What the hell is this···.”
And then I looked around and laughed..
It had to be that way..
They were in the center of Seoul just a little while ago, but now they are inside a mansion on the outskirts, well over ten kilometers away..
“This is something I only heard about... Really in the blink of an eye.”
They did not use modern means of transportation, including cars..
What was used for this fast movement is the mystery.
Among them, it was a space movement technique that required very strict conditions from the caster..
That in itself was surprising enough, but the point that surprised Kang Tae-san the most was something a little more fundamental..
That is, a close friend who he thought was an ordinary person like himself had used that mystery..
“You've already awakened? how? No, when?”
After leaving the cafe with Han Seong-hyun, the mood suddenly changed as if he had decided on something..
They headed straight into a deserted alley..
And what happened next made Kang Tae-san unable to believe his own eyes..
‘Using the villa I lived in before moving as a stopover, I quickly jumped through space and arrived here. I heard that only those with considerable ability can't even think about spatial abilities..’
However, his friend, who he thought was an ordinary person, used that difficult ability..
And that calmly, without any signs of difficulty..
Of course I had no choice but to believe it..
‘How can this be? Is this really the Han Seonghyun I know? If someone else is imitating···.’
It is common sense that the average time to return from another world is about a year, and it will take at least a few months at the earliest..
But how could I not be surprised to learn that the friend I contacted regularly was an experienced returnee who had already been to another world?.
Moreover, didn't he visit the house in person at least once every 1-2 weeks??
“···what? Who is the helper??”
And after hearing the answer to that question, Kang Taesan had no choice but to ask back with a puzzled look on his face..
That's why the words coming out of my old friend's mouth felt so empty..
“Masquerade? Masquerade? That place where a number of unidentified strongmen, including Hahoetal and Phantom, belong.?”
Masquerade, Masquerade).
The name of the dark hero organization and its dangers have long since spread to all organizations around the world..
Of course, it was a very familiar name to him as an agent of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Republic of Korea's Ability Management Bureau..
Although they have never taken any dangerous action, such as leading a terrorist attack or attempting to overthrow the state, the state had no choice but to react sensitively to their every small move..
The reason was simple.
That's because the power of each of them that has been revealed so far is so strong..
An organization that has influence greater than that of a country despite being aimed at a small number of elites..
It was a transnational elite group in the shadows called Masquerade.···.
“···But you're part of it?”
Kang Taesan looked around with a stiff face..
Although it is not flashy, it is a two-story mansion with everything you need, including a large garden, swimming pool, and training room..
I knew that I bought this house with my lucky lottery winnings..
But what if there was some kind of backroom deal?···.
“Strictly speaking, it can be said to be a collaborator-level position. we have the same goal.”
“same goal?”
Han Seong-hyun calmly nodded to him who asked with a serious expression..
‘I'm sorry, but I can't tell you the whole truth..’
This was a separate issue from whether I believed him or not..
No, rather, it was for his benefit not to provide any information that he could not handle..
Because I had information that was not appropriate for no reason, I could end up like a shrimp in a whale fight..
“Annihilation of Beoncheonhoe.”
“Beoncheonhoe···!”
Kang Taesan's eyes widened at the sound of the name quietly leaking out..
As he had also been on the tail of the Buncheonhoe in Korea, he already knew very well how cautious they were and how they were building up a large force..
“I see. Did you come into contact with them while moving towards the same enemy?.”
He nodded as if he understood, then tilted his head again as if he was puzzled..
“So what does the Masquerade have to do with your early return to Earth??”
It was a valid question..
Contact with the Masquerade was contact, but how they made the awakened people who passed on to another world return quickly was a separate problem..
Of course, there was already an excuse prepared for him..
“It's all thanks to this.”
After saying that, I threw the ticket I took out of my pocket towards him..
The ticket, which seemed to be made of blue light, fluttered across the air and soaked into Kang Tae-san's body..
“What?!”
He was embarrassed and stroked his body, but the blue light that had already disappeared into his body did not appear again..
Then he stopped, looked into space, read something, and burst out in heartfelt admiration..
“Right of return...? Oh my goodness, I've never heard of anything like this before.!”
『right of return (2,000,000)』
『『VIP Market』 products added along with 『Invitation (1,000,000)』 with the opening of 『Karma Store Ver.3』.
It was a precious item that always activated the ‘Return’ item in the Karma Store, which was activated only when one million points were collected..
Of course, information about these items has never been released anywhere in the world..
‘of course. I just wrote this for the first time. Although the price is a little expensive... Still, even if my life is in danger, I can always escape to Earth..’
Although it was twice the original million needed, it wasn't too expensive for me..
This is a level where you can go a little too far for your friend..
‘Of course it doesn't end here.’
But this was just insurance just in case..
“Hey, Taesan. Did you notice anything strange here??”
“Uh... huh...? something strange?”
At that question, Kang Taesan looked at me with a subtle expression..
As if the strangest thing here is you.
“Not like that. In this space. Is this still too much??”
“···If that's the case, the air seems a little strange. For some reason, it feels like there's a little bit of resistance..”
“oh? I have a good feeling?”
I clapped my hands at his reaction, which was more sensitive than I expected, and nodded, smiling in satisfaction..
“The time flow in the space we are in right now is about ten times that outside. In other words, ten hours here is about one hour in Earth time..”
“Wait, no matter how much indoor space was used, they also adjusted the time scale? on this earth?”
“What a reminder. I already told you who the people who worked on the equipment here are.?”
The secret base of the transnational dark hero organization Masquerade..
Kang Tae-san recalled that again and kept his mouth shut..
“Now, the most important problem of lack of time in transferring to another world has been solved, right? So what should I do next??”
“···ah.”
“Okay, we're running out of time, so let's get started quickly..”
He sensed something ominous and took a step back, but there was nowhere else to run in this space that was already completely sealed off..
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