Parisian Artisans (5)

“I’m Kang Shin-hyuk, a freshman in the Knight Department from Shinyoung. Please take good care of me.”

“Ho, this boy. Nice to meet you. Do you know Luanang? This is Seira, the head of Luanang’s PR team.”

“I’m Kang Shin-hyuk, a freshman in the Knight Department from Shinyoung. Please take good care of me.”

“Yes, you’re famous these days. Yet the Superhuman Association had already snagged you up. Indeed, Ms. Shin Eunah, you have good eyes.”

“I will leave it to you. This is Edgar Beckkins, SD Chemistry.”

“I’m Kang Shin-hyuk, a freshman from…”

Kang Shin-hyuk went around with Shin Eunah, giving various people his name and affiliation like an answering machine. Each person Shin Eunah introduced him to had a status that couldn’t be ignored, so he was nervous.

‘I see some people I should introduce to Lee Na-hee later.’ If Lee Na-hee wanted to grow as an artisan, there were quite a few people here she should know. Still, the people related to the artifact industry knew that Kang Shin-hyuk had won the grand prize at this year’s contest and made sure to ask to contact him later. Lee Na-hee and Eleanor were off eating snacks, however, relaxing for now. It seemed he couldn’t expect her to be active.

“Well, by the way, senior?”

“Huh?” Shin Eunah looked at him with a gentle smile, similar to her granddaughter mode. The people who were used to her normal demeanor flinched and retreated away.

“Well, how long will you hold my hand?”

“Continue.”

“If we keep holding hands, I wonder if it would seem strange to others…”

“Continue.”

“Like that…”

“Yes.”

-Fox.

His resistance amounted to nothing. She led him around to the various chairmen as he hoped that no love triangle between Shin Eunah, Shin Eun-hyuk, and Kang Shin-hyuk would happen. He ignored the administrator’s message all the while. Finally, it was time to start the conference.

-The 15th World Superhuman Conference will now begin.

An inorganic voice reverberated throughout the hall. Screens installed throughout the room lit up, displaying the interior of the fourteenth-floor conference hall. It was truly spectacular to witness one-hundred superhumans, each of them world-famous, sit around a giant circular table.

-There will be a greeting from the chairman.

The chairman of the conference was Charlotte Jad Macon, the president of the French Superhuman Association. She once reigned under the nickname of empress in the past, so it was no exaggeration to say she was one of the most famous superhumans. It was predicted there might be a fierce struggle for the title of empress between the French superhumans and Shin Eunah, who was brought to France.

[This is Charlotte Jad Macon, chairman of the conference. First, let’s briefly outline the information to be observed at the meeting.]

The white-haired superhuman spoke calmly. Kang Shin-hyuk couldn’t help but admire the weighty voice transmitted through the screen. Shin Eunah stood next to him, still holding her hand as she watched.

[The main agenda of this meeting is the alliance against Jormungand and dealing with the gate anomalies appearing around the world. We will also have a report from Ancient Artifact Development, and then finally, the rank update for the high-rankers.]

People began to murmur at those words, not only on the fourteenth-floor hall, but also on the thirteenth floor where Kang Shin-hyuk was. It wasn’t surprising most of them were aware of the gate anomalies and Jormungand, but they were especially interested in the updated rankings. The conference was held every three years, and it was when the rankings were renewed. Nevertheless, that agenda didn’t always come out in every meaning. The position of a high-ranked wasn’t so easily changed.

“Rank update? Who the hell…”

“Look, the Thunder Empress. I heard she’s been growing stronger.”

“There was a big wave in Korea, it would’ve been a good chance to prove her strength.” The eyes of excellent detectives were focused on her, but Shin Eunah remained calm with no change in expression.

“Hey, you also have that masked man too. Was it the Death Puppeteer?”

“Ah, Shin Eun-hyuk!” Kang Shin-hyuk flinched momentarily but caught himself and corrected his posture. If he reacted like that, he would surely be caught.

-It’s nice to see you confident, member. Take this chance to show everyone your superior abilities. Now, put on a mask.

‘I don’t like it.’

-10,000HP bonus!

‘I won’t budge for a bonus!’ Kang Shin-hyuk talked to the administrator as he heard the chatter from everyone around him.

“The association has made an official statement. His abilities are optimal for dealing with large numbers of monsters, but his magic level is low.”

“Hmm, but if he’s a superhuman who can handle that number, you have to recognize him as a high-ranker even if his magic is low. I can’t tell what the association is thinking.”

“After all, it is the absolute power required to save mankind. Standards should be strict.” Kang Shin-hyuk was very curious about the statement the association had made about Shin Eun-hyuk. Maybe it had to do with Shin Eunah. If the association’s ranking were based on magic, then he would be below. Kang Shin-hyuk didn’t have magic power, after all.

‘It must’ve been measured by an agent during the battle. Isn’t that dangerous? If they learn Shin Eun-hyuk also lacks magical power, anyone could think of the connection between us.’ Kang Shin-hyuk thought about it for a while but eventually decided to abandon his worries once he saw Shin Eunah’s expression next to him. She was the one managing him. It was probably thanks to her that his magic power wasn’t nothing, but rather just not high. He would have to trust her in the future. By the time he graduated from Shinyoung, it wouldn’t really matter either.

“Younger students, the meeting begins.” Shin Eunah squeezed his hand, showing she knew what he was feeling. He kind of wished she would let go of it, however. Wasn’t this just advertising that they were in a relationship?

“No.” Kang Shin-hyuk tried to pull away from her grip, but she muttered quietly as only to be heard by him.

“Don’t let go.”

“Senior Eunah?”

“Give up.”

“Are you acting silly again?”

“Aren’t I cute?”

-Fox!

She was saying it herself? But, well, he couldn’t argue.

[The alliance is active on the African continent, where humanity was defeated before, but recently, we have been moving against the African monster forces. A connection with the monster group has been proven. First, the report on the research on intelligence among the monsters…]

The meeting started right off with a big bomb. Everyone quieted down to look up at the screen. Only the soft sound of glasses being moved could be heard. Kang Shin-hyuk inadvertently looked down at the cup in his own hand, which had the faint aroma of alcohol despite him asking for non-alcoholic champagne.

-Juno Valentine, the thirteenth in the superhuman rankings, speak up.

[It is no longer classified, so let’s say it.]

A young blonde who looked to be about twenty spoke up. Contrary to his appearance, he was actually in his mid-thirties, but his aging had slowed down because of his immense magical power. Juno Valentine, a famous American high-ranker, had a reputation for being quick and violent in both words and actions. His skill was solid, however, and his shooting techniques were famous. He used two pistol artifacts he found in an SS-class gate.

[Three months ago, a special mission was conducted in Italian waters to enter an underwater gate. There was a battle with Jormungand. From what I confirmed at the time, the guys belonging to Jormungand weren’t really communicating or engaging with the monsters using special magic. Rather, it looked like they were working under them.]

[Are you saying there is a chance that Jormungand is being directed by monsters?]

[We’re talking about a small part of Jormungand. Perhaps the monsters have taken them over and attracted them to Jormungand.]

He was impatient to speak even with the chairman, but she let his attitude slide. The other superhumans couldn’t, however.

[This is an important event airing all over the world, Juno Valentine. Be polite.]

[This is why you don’t have a woman.]

-Please refrain from making comments that aren’t related to the meeting.

The moment Michael Sampson spoke up against Juno, the chairman’s voice resounded through the monitor again. Michael Sampson sat down first, and Juno Valentine opened his mouth with a smile. No voice came out, however.

-Please refrain from making comments that aren’t related to the meeting.

[Keh.]

“That.” Shin Eunah spoke up as she watched the screen.

“It was made by Claire.”

“It was?”

“Making machine-like artifacts with magic-based programming. It has a lot of restrictions and requires a lot of mana stones, but no one can compare to Claire in that regard. An Alchemist who specializes in software.” Kang Shin-hyuk recalled that Claire had been involved in making the security system for Shinyoung’s Royal Class.

“Hey, my noona said she wasn’t very confident in making hardware.”

“…”

“What?”

“I want you to call me noona like Claire.”

Only

“On the subject of calling me grandpa…”

“I’m not calling you that anymore.”

“But I can’t because you don’t feel like a noona.”

“It’s deadly…” What was it? Kang Shin-hyuk’s heart felt full at the expression she made. He pondered it for a while before eventually turning away from her gaze. His chest tickled. He felt sorry for Claire for no reason, trying to let go of Shin Eunah but unable to. Perhaps it was because of the affection his former life had for her.

“But I’ll be patient while you hold my hand.”

“You caught it first…” Shin Eunah continued to hold his hand tightly.

“They’ll update the rank, and we’ll go.”

Suddenly, the agenda of the meeting had already moved on.