Chapter 203

A ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍year has passed since then.

A ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍period both long and short.

After ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the reopening of the Great Rift was stopped, most Demonic Beings vanished.

As ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍for those who remained, they either fled to Gangwon-do or managed to cross beyond the Rift.

“As ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍long as the Rift has not been completely removed, it would not be strange for them to return at any time.”

Well, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I am not leisurely enough to worry about future events.

The tasks given to the city of Seoul were piled up like a mountain.

First, after I saved Do Minyeong, Baek Dojun's forces, who were called the rebels, occupied the Bureau.

Bureau Chief Baek Dojin, who joined hands with Demonic Beings, paid the price for his sins according to procedure, and the numerous awakened beings who supported him also paid a shameful price from which they could not stand up again.

Their families, their workplaces, their honor…….

In fact, because those who formed the main axis of the awakened society disappeared in large numbers, the invisible class structure of Seoul collapsed.

The Hero Preparatory School, which was evaluated as the best academy, gained the dishonor of producing the most traitors of humanity who joined hands with Demonic Beings, so that says it all.

As a side note, for the first time, there was a shortage of applicants in the last new cadet recruitment.

Well, moving on from that.

An Hwigom, who faced Seo Junhyeop, returned to his instructor position perfectly.

He received a fatal wound, but he was a person who had gone through all sorts of hardships, so he shook off the injury and stood up quickly.

Kim Shinwoo, who was hovering between life and death due to the battle with the Demonic Being Gen, also fortunately returned to his daily life normally.

Of course, he ended up relying on the Anti-Magic Potion made by Hong Eunseok.

Surprisingly, that potion had the effect of temporarily suppressing Kim Shinwoo's curse.

“Just how much is the Avid Reader's intention.”

Even more surprising news was that the status of the Sword Emperor Kim Shinwoo, who was framed by the Bureau, became even more firm.

He was even elected as the new Bureau Chief from the principal of Hero Prep in one go.

Of course, his status was immense before, but being elected with over 90% support was a historical event.

“Naturally, the position of principal went to Vice Principal Park Cheolyeong.”

It bothers me that Park Cheolyeong became the principal, but since the revenge for his son has finished, wouldn't he stop doing useless things now?

The leader of the rebels, Special Affairs Division Chief Baek Dojun, returned to his position as Special Affairs Division Chief.

Originally, Baek Dojun was mentioned a lot for the empty position of Bureau Chief.

But should I call it guilt by association?

Because of the sin of his brother Baek Dojin, he could not become the Bureau Chief.

“In the future……. No, as long as the era of awakened beings continues, it will be impossible.”

The Special Affairs Division investigators who betrayed paid the price for their sins following Baek Dojin.

Since they were those who played such significant roles, no citizens had an antipathy toward their punishment.

Because of that, the manpower of the Special Affairs Division significantly decreased.

Of course, the original work also decreased as the Demonic Beings vanished, but ironically, the awakened society, including the Special Affairs Division, faced a new phase.

“The spread of the Great Rift.”

Was it because Do Minyeong's power stimulated Seoul's Great Rift?

A few weeks after the incident, an unusual phenomenon like the Great Rift occurred in several regions around the world.

Monsters did not pour out as in Seoul, but gray clouds covering the city's sky spread.

Furthermore, awakened beings began to appear simultaneously in the cities.

Because of that, the Bureau decided to dispatch manpower to places where the response to superpowered incidents was insufficient.

The main force was the Special Affairs Division.

The Bureau reorganized the Special Affairs Division.

They recruited many hunters of B-rank or higher, and several teams were organized around existing investigators.

I, who was a probationary investigator, became a formal investigator and was assigned overseas.

The assigned region for the special affairs team I am leading is New York.

Here, I am in charge of security like Seoul's Dispel.

Naturally, until the awakened beings of New York form a proper force.

Ah, originally, I was an exception to this dispatch.

Not only had I not graduated from Hero Prep yet, but I gained an abnormal level of power due to that incident.

It was not simple fame.

The hero Ji Seokhyeon, who saved humanity from the reopening of the Great Rift…….

It was a status level that would surpass the popularity of the Sword Saint I had expressed in the original work.

For example, a crowd gathered like clouds around Yun Jeongseop's apartment, where I was staying temporarily, for several days, so I could not even go outside.

On my birthday, fanatics wore the Phantom Thief's clothes and spray-painted black paint on streets and buildings all over Seoul to express the shadow ability.

And people snuck into the dormitory where I was staying by climbing over the walls of Hero Prep.

People visited Ironflame, with whom I had a gear sponsorship contract, and bothered Jang Incheol to make the same gear.

The value of the loot from the Basilisk I had hunted jumped dozens of times…….

Other various incidents occurred, but the most staggering thing was that relatives I didn't even have appeared.

“SIGH…….”

The goal of those scoundrels was naturally money.

Well, since Bureau Chief Kim Shinwoo punished them severely immediately, it was finished without a big issue, but I judged that I could not stay in Seoul any longer.

Because of that, I volunteered and escaped overseas.

Naturally, I wear a human skin mask by force here as well.

But how did they know I was dispatched to New York? When people found a member of the Special Affairs Division on duty, they approached in a rush and checked the identity.

The situation improved since New York City announced that Special Affairs Division investigator Ji Seokhyeon does not do field work.

“Thanks to that, I'm staying comfortably without doing physical work.”

“What a boast.”

I looked back at Yun Jeongseop.

Where we were right now was the shoulder of the Statue of Liberty.

We were sitting there and getting some fresh air.

Yun Jeongseop became a new member of the Special Affairs Division and followed me here.

His position was a low-ranking investigator of the Special Affairs Division.

I was worried if he, who was powerless, would be able to adapt well, but surprisingly, he showed an incredible adaptability to the point of knowing every corner of the bars in New York.

“Are you off duty today?”

“Yeah.”

“Why does it always look like you're idling to my eyes?”

“Originally, when you become a superior, you don't like your subordinate's actions.”

“I guess so. If you were idling, you wouldn't have come all the way here.”

I stretched out significantly.

“So, what's your business?”

“None.”

“Ha, for your information, I'm a bit of a busy body?”

“I know.”

“And?”

Yun Jeongseop stared at the sunset for a moment.

Although it was New York where the gray clouds took over the sky like Seoul, the sunset and sunrise shining through the clouds were indeed spectacular.

“You're going back next week. So I'm trying to be together as much as possible.”

“You stayed together until you were sick of it for a year, and now?”

“We stayed together for a year, but we don't know when we'll meet again.”

Well, he's not wrong.

“I bet the other colleagues think so too, deep down.”

“Is that so.”

“So go ahead and give them some words of encouragement. The fellows will be proud of working with you too.”

“That's a bit cringey.”

“Is it?”

We watched the sunset without saying anything.

Is this what you call the friendship of men.

Well, anyway, I decided to finish the dispatch and return to Seoul next week.

Considering the fanatics, it was premature to return, but I could not stay overseas forever.

I had to continue my interrupted studies, and fame wouldn't disappear just because I kept avoiding it.

Furthermore, many opportunities I haven't recovered in the original work remained…….

More than anything, there were people I wanted to see.

“If you have leisure, it would be good to send regards to him too.”

“Ah, that man?”

The person Yun Jeongseop was talking about was none other than Bruno of the Psychic Mafia Catalina.

In Seoul, the mafia was pulled up by the roots.

Camellia was the main culprit of the incident, and Catalina was already in a state of destruction.

But after the spread of the Great Rift occurred, Bruno took the remaining mafia and headed for New York, where he created a new mafia and was exerting a quite troublesome influence.

If I set my mind to it, I could have dealt with it before the influence grew larger, but actually, I was a bit lazy.

Shouldn't things that happened in New York be handled by New York themselves?

“If I have leisure. I'll give at least a minimum warning before I go.”

***

A few days later, I returned to the Republic of Korea.

To be precise, to Gangwon-do, not Incheon.

That was because I thought troublesome things would happen if I used the airport.

I had to stop by Gangwon-do anyway.

Since I had to meet Park Chaeshin, who would be staying here.

“Don't you look older since I last saw you?”

“Is that something to say to a senior you haven't seen in a year?”

He looked relatively healthy.

In other words, mentally.

“What about Hyeon Jinseok?”

“At the outpost. He's in the middle of a very busy time.”

“Ah, you mean the outpost expansion?”

One of the changes in a year was that the existence of the dolls was revealed by Park Chaeshin.

The Bureau decided to recognize them as another race and requested active cooperation in businesses related to Gangwon-do.

Just as Park Chaeshin found a new goal, the dolls who escaped from the false brainwashing were finding a new meaning of life.

“If it goes according to plan, a road connecting the outpost and Gangneung will be laid within 10 years. We'll also make several cities in between and finally decided to restore Gangneung.”

“That's good. But what about the monsters?”

“Actually, I have something to say about that. It's a fact I found out through recent research, but the monsters began to not perceive those children from some point.”

“They don't perceive them?”

“Yes, it's likely the influence of the Broom of Gluttony. In other words, they perceive them as objects formed by the broom's mana, like trees or rocks.”

The mana moving the dolls was from the broom.

Since the power of the broom created the environment of Gangwon-do, it meant that the monsters thought of the dolls as part of the environment.

A quite surprising fact that was not in the original work.

“If that's really the case, the construction will proceed smoothly.”

Of course, it is smoother if I use the Cone Hat of Pride sleeping in my inventory, but the Bureau's official announcement was that the power of the cone hat vanished when I saved Do Minyeong.

Because there would be no humans who would welcome the absurd power of controlling monsters.

More than anything, it was a choice for the Witch Do Minyeong.

If I didn't lie that I had sealed her magic tool using the power of the cone hat, she would have no choice but to be the target of someone forever.

“Actually, more important than that is something else.”

“What is it?”

Park Chaeshin held out a stone the size of a fist.

The memory came to me as soon as I took it.

This stone was a Transcendence Stone.

In other words, the stone that the Dwarf I had met after hunting the Basilisk before used to cross the Rift.

Park Chaeshin said while watching my reaction.

“As expected, you know, don't you? Recently, stones of this appearance are being found in several regions of Gangwon-do. Its use is to temporarily distort space using environmental mana. In other words, you could say it opens a small rift.”

“……Have you reported it to the Bureau?”

“No, I thought showing it to you was the priority.”

“What do you want to do, senior?”

“From the position of the human Park Chaeshin who grew up under the Great Rift, I want to bury it as it is, but the Alchemist Park Chaeshin is……”

Does it mean he's feeling curiosity?

“Do as you want, senior.”

“Really? Why? You know it'll be a dangerous research.”

“That's true, but as long as Demonic Beings remain, they will surely try to use this. If it's research to prepare for that, it'll be needed as much as possible.”

“I guess so……”

“Ah, senior, here.”

I took out a gift for him from my inventory.

Various kinds of alcohol I directly procured from New York.

Yun Jeongseop picked them himself, thinking Park Chaeshin would like them.

“I-insane!”

Sure enough, he welcomed them with open arms.

“Nothing is more precious than alcohol here! As expected, you're the only one who knows me. Since it's come to this, let's go to the lab! We're drinking all night for the first time in a while!”

“No, I'm busy.”

“Huh? Doesn't Hero Prep start the day after tomorrow?”

“That's true, but……. I'm planning to go meet him before that, anyway.”

“……Surely.”

I nodded casually.

“Yes, Lee Eunho.”

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