34

I can tell that I was quite a good chef. Using just a common recipe from the internet, I could cook something amazing. It was undeniable that food prepared with one’s warm heart could taste better than anything else, and So-Eun was proof of that.

What I had cooked for her was had a lot more ingredients like ham, sausage, noodles, and others. However, the most important thing I added was the message that there was still someone who cared for her. That was why she was sobbing, and I just let her cry.

I had had a similar experience before. I only cried twice during my whole stay in Valhalla, and one of those times was when I ate this stew. The chef who had cooked that dish for me did not say anything as well.

While eating nostalgic food, you could actually feel like you were meeting the one you desired for so long. There was no need for added comfort. The food itself was already comforting to the person. Besides, it was not right to interrupt one’s emotions.

That was how I learned to cook.

As she was sobbing, Lee Ho entered the house. His face was filled with mixed emotions upon seeing the scene before him, and that was why I asked him to grab a seat and join us.

Simultaneously, So-Eun stopped what she was doing.

I stood up and turned to Lee Ho.

“What’s with that face? Was Gi-Hoon complaining to you?”

“You mean Mr. Jung? Why would he?”

“You sent him to ROKHA with me. I thought he was Mr. Hong’s successor, but now he has to follow me around. Isn’t that the reason for your expression?”

At that, Lee Ho laughed out loud.

“No. It was actually Gi-Hoon who volunteered himself. I think he likes you a lot.”

Oh, I suppose I was wrong. “Then what’s with that face?”

I noticed that I could smell blood on him. What did he do while he was out? Lee Ho turned his head to look at So-Eun dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.

I had mentioned it briefly, but Lee Ho’s company was big and wide. His business also had an entertainment department. He owned CMH, one of the largest entertainment management companies in this country.

Ironically, Lee Ho was much more popular than the artists he was training. His popularity was even higher than that of celebrities like musicians or actors, but So-Eun seemed like she was not interested in him at all.

Never mind. I observed her and noticed that she was just trying to hide her interest. In fact, her eyes and hands were shaking. She was like Yoo Ee-Na in the beginning. I really hope this young girl was nothing like Ee-Na.

Lee Ho greeted So-Eun pleasantly. It was a meeting between two unique skill holders.

“Hello.”

“Hello… sir.”

“Do you need more tissues?”

So-Eun waved her hand to refuse the offer. Although, because she had been crying for a while now, her face was still a mess.

“I—I’m fine, sir. In fact, you can speak comfortably to me.”

“It’s the first time we’re meeting. I don’t want to behave rudely.”

“No. Please, sir. If you speak formally, that makes me awkward as well.”

I bet Lee Ho was not expecting that answer. I could see the surprise on his face before he smiled smoothly.

“Then I shall do as you like. How is your meal?”

“Thanks… I like it. Also…”

“Also?”

“It’s mysterious. I feel like I just used a time machine.”

Lee Ho was smiling softly while So-Eun looked nervous, which was natural. After all, Ho was known as the hero of this country. For a high school student, this was quite a rare incident.

Lee Ho then stared at me, and we shared a knowing glance. His eyes were telling me that he wanted to talk.

“Shall we talk for a while?”

He nodded. We headed to his room and he closed the door behind him, making sure that the room was soundproof.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s strange…”

“What’s strange?”

“How unique skill holders appear so often.”

I couldn’t hold back my laughter.

“What was that?”

“Nothing. It was just funny.”

I knew that this was the right time to tell him about the idea I was pondering.

“What’s your opinion on the current system?”

“…It’s a double-edged sword.”

That was an accurate description, but it was not what I was trying to imply.

“You know that the system is not natural.”

“……….”

“I can tell from your face; I bet we are thinking the same thing.”

“I’m not sure about it. All I know is that it’s intentional. The gates and the system appeared simultaneously.”

While I was observing him without saying anything, he continued speaking.

“I don’t know if they wanted us to have the chance to fight back. They might have wanted to use us as lab rats to test something out. Recently, I’ve been thinking about something.”

“What is it?”

“I was wondering what this system wants from us. Why would they awaken people in the first place?”

That was hard to answer.

“As soon as you returned to Earth, two unique skill holders appeared, just in this country. Korea is smaller than countries like the US or China, but two unique skill holders appeared here. I don’t think that it’s a coincidence. Everything must have…”

“A reason behind it. Is that what you wanted to say?”

Lee Ho nodded. His dream was to eliminate the gates. He was serious, and he meant it.

“This is the current state of the world.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. But even after all that has happened, we still don’t know the origin of it. We don’t know the reason behind the unique skill holders appearing suddenly. We can only guess.”

Lee Ho sighed and said that the situation was certainly dreadful.

I didn’t know how he grew up. We were still trying to get to know each other again, and now I sort of got how he survived. He was the type of person who would seek an answer until he found it. His circumstances had gotten better, so he could look over the doubt he had had for a long time. That was what I thought.

It was my turn to speak my thoughts about it.

“Before a storm comes, there are always a few precursors.”

“…That’s true.”

“I don’t know much about the gates. I’ve never seen them, so this is just my instinct. It’s telling me that…”

“That a storm will come soon?”

“Yes. An event that could cause a lot of casualties.”

Ho got serious. He was already serious, but this time, he became even more serious than ever. He looked at me intently and asked.

“You think that it will come soon?”

“Yes.”

I was serious as well. What I said was not a joke.

With this, Lee Ho sighed.

“It makes sense… The appearance of multiple unique skill holders… A storm coming soon… Things are getting much more complicated.”

There was a silence, but I noticed that Ho was missing something. That was why I spoke up immediately.

“Appearance of multiple unique skill holders? That’s understandable, but what I want to know is this. Is this happening only in Korea?”

“What do you mean?”

“This is a small country. I know that consecutive appearances like this are very rare, but I think there is a possibility that other countries are also having a similar incident.”

“…I received news that Russia and Israel have had a similar experience.”

That was an update.

“But are you sure that they are the only ones?”

I know that unique skill holders were rare. I mean, for the longest time, there had been only ten in this world. However, if this was the current situation, there was a good chance that similar things would be happening on the other side of the world.

“Have you checked the other regions of Korea?”

“Other regions?”

“We’ve only checked Seoul. There’s a chance that there are other unique skill holders in different regions. I know that the chances are really rare, but things are getting different.”

I guess Lee Ho never thought of that. It’s quite understandable since the appearance of one unique skill holder was already very uncommon. The current news was already a shock to everyone, and that was why it was hard to imagine there might be more of them.

“Oh…”

“Also, don’t forget that there are some who are hiding their ability. That’s why there’s a law about it.”

I guess that was how bad the situation was getting. Ho is usually a clever guy who classifies everything by order. As the situation got bigger and bigger, he didn’t even have time to rest.

“How shocked were you? Geez, you are the type of person who records everything. After seeing your gate files on the computer, I thought you would certainly not miss the point I mentioned.”

Lee Ho, who was about to laugh, froze.

“Files? You opened my computer?”

“Yes.”

“There was a password. How did you open it?”

“I just tried out 0412, the date when I quit school.”

“…What about the laptop I bought for you?”

“It was difficult to use. Anyway, why don’t you go out and meet some girls? Are you not interested in marriage? I noticed that you didn’t have any hidden porn files on your computer.”

Lee Ho made a weird expression.

“The usage of hidden files is quite different now.”

“Hm?”

“Nevermind.”

With this, he quickly tried to change the topic of conversation, but it was very easy to figure out what he was doing. He was planning to look through Korea’s awakeners, every single one of them, including those who have hidden their abilities.

He was ready to do something. Meanwhile, I handed him a document.

“Take a look at this.”

“What is this for?”

He scanned the document and widened his eyes in surprise.

“Kim So-Eun has to stay in ROKHA for at least a year before she can transfer to Cheon-Myeong? What is this?”

“It’s a promise.”

Lee Ho put the document down. Then he turned to me and asked, “What do you think about it?”

“About what?”

“Her ability, regeneration. Do you think it is a positive ability?”

I didn’t get what he was talking about. “What are you trying to say?”

He then looked around and covered the room with another layer of aura. He wanted to make sure that the soundproofing was impenetrable.

When he was satisfied, he spoke.

“How would you use the ability of regeneration?”

“Well, tell me what’s on your mind first.”

He answered without any hesitation.

“Bullet Sponge.”

“Um…”

“The person who stands at the front line and absorbs the attacks from the enemy. Do you think this girl could stand that?”

Without saying anything, I stared at him.

“She is just a child, not even an adult. Even if she is a unique skill holder, the path awaiting her is harsh. If she could use that ability to heal someone, then I won’t be saying anything. But, as far as I know, this ability works only for her.”

“………..”

“Lee Hwan.”

“Go ahead.”

“My dream is to make a better world, but not like Utopia. What I want is…”

“What?”

“A world where children can grow up safely. That’s what I want. I want them to smile and be happy, but this girl here is…”

“She can’t do this? That’s what you’re thinking?”

He nodded and added, “You and I worked hard from the bottom. The world from the top and the bottom is very different. At the bottom, there’s only a harsh environment. I’ve researched a lot about her.”

“You did?”

“I saw her reports. She is kind. Even if her circumstances are bad, she will willingly help others. In a harsh world like this, it will be hard for her to survive.”

I had to nod. What he was saying was correct.

“As I mentioned before, I don’t think she is suitable. But…”

“But…?”

He smiled and signed the document.

I was surprised by his gesture, but his explanation was understandable.

“It’s your recommendation. I bet she will have a better chance.”