Secret (1)
The current time was roughly three in the afternoon.
Far too early for the usual drink, so we had met at a café to talk.
'No, even if the time were right, I shouldn’t be drinking now.'
Given that I was about to be dropped onto the front lines of a survival battle, it would be foolish to be intoxicated when I couldn’t even guarantee peak condition.
Unless, of course, I were someone who had given up from the very start—a suicidal wretch utterly resigned to his fate.
“There’s still quite a bit of time left before the transfer. I Awakened not long after getting up to go to work… It was roughly around six in the morning.”
“…Is that so.”
Transfer to the other world occurred twenty-four hours after Awakening.
In other words, the time remaining for Gang Taesan was until six the following morning.
“I called you shortly after Awakening, after I passed out and then came to. After that… I just went to work.”
“You went to work in this situation?”
“What choice did I have? I’m a public servant, you know. An agent of the Superhuman Management Bureau’s Crime Investigation Division. I have to report to my superiors and let my colleagues know in advance.”
He wrinkled his nose, lamenting that he had wasted several precious hours on unnecessary reporting procedures, and let out a small sigh.
If it were anyone else, they would have quit their job without a second thought the moment they realized they had Awakened, not caring in the slightest.
But his job being what it was, it seemed he’d had no choice.
“I see? Anyway, does that mean you’ve roughly said your goodbyes to everyone around you?”
“Yeah. Well, I can just leave simple messages for those I’m not that close to.”
“What about your grandmother? Does she know? That you’ve Awakened?”
“……”
At my question, he pressed his lips tightly shut.
The carefree demeanor he had maintained all this time darkened in an instant, as if it had all been a lie.
Just from that reaction, I could tell what the answer was.
He probably hadn’t been able to tell her yet, worried she might be shocked.
“Hey, Taesan. You know it too. There’s nothing to gain from dragging these things out.”
“Hoo, I know. After I finish talking with you, I’m going to spend the whole day with my grandmother today. I’ve also received a full set of essential items the Superhuman Management Bureau provides for Awakened individuals before otherworld transfer, so there’s nothing else to prepare.”
Gang Taesan tapped the large carrier beside him.
It was a carrier filled with items far superior to anything available on the civilian market—bulletproof and blade-resistant armor, weapons, combat rations, and more.
That too seemed to be a kind of employee benefit.
“…I see.”
And though it went without saying.
My expression as I looked at Gang Taesan wasn’t particularly good either.
It wasn’t simply because his attempt to forcibly suppress his tension and maintain composure was pitiful.
‘…Then what’s the best way to go about this?’
In the brief silence that fell as we wet our throats with our ordered drinks.
I took a sip, glanced at Gang Taesan, and twitched my lips.
‘Should I just tell him first? How much?’
Pretending not to know about this situation would have been simple.
It would have ended with just a word: I’ll look after your grandmother, so don’t worry too much and come back safely.
‘But if I do that, there will inevitably be limits to how much I can help him return safely. To properly help him, I’ll need to reveal myself to some degree.’
The other world was an absolutely dangerous zone that must never be underestimated.
Wasn’t the most obvious proof of that the atrocious twenty percent average return rate!
Of course, a considerable number of those likely consisted of people who gave up on returning and chose to settle down, but the fact remained that if you let your guard down, your head could fly off in an instant.
‘I’ve nearly died several times myself…’
If it weren’t for “Avatar,” I wouldn’t even be alive right now.
I couldn’t picture any scenario where that guy Taesan could survive when faced with a similar crisis to what I had experienced.
‘No matter how impressive the name of his Awakened unique skill might be.’
I used “Analysis,” borrowed from Hubert, to steal a glance at Gang Taesan’s status.
-Affiliated with the Republic of Korea Superhuman Management Bureau, Crime Investigation Division. Harbors a strong hatred toward superhuman crime and has recently earned recognition from his superiors for his competence. Confused by his sudden Awakening. Worried about his grandmother, who will be left alone after he departs for the other world. Frustrated that a recent date plan with a female colleague—things had been going well—has fallen through due to the otherworld transfer.
-Possessed Ability: 「Indomitable」
-Key Traits: Unyielding conviction, tenacious fighting spirit, devoted familial love, excellent combat aptitude, extraordinary mental ability, excellent physical ability
-Trust: 94%
Was it thanks to my Divinity, which had begun growing in real time? Or had something changed because he had Awakened to his ability?
In my Analysis, I began to see things that hadn’t been visible before.
That “Possessed Ability” entry was most likely the unique skill Gang Taesan had Awakened this time.
‘「Indomitable」… Unyielding and unbending. Is it a resistance-type ability? I can’t quite grasp how it could be utilized yet.’
Truthfully, even if his Awakened ability was incredibly overpowered, it wouldn’t change the immediate situation much.
The unique skill of someone who had just Awakened would only be so impressive.
‘Right, I never planned to hide it forever anyway. I’ll need to open up to some degree.’
Though my Divinity had distanced me considerably from ordinary humans, that was a separate matter—Gang Taesan was an existence uniquely special to me.
The symbol of my last remaining “ordinary daily life,” and my only friend who had stayed by my side through the hardest times, supporting me so I could keep moving forward without collapsing.
‘It’s only human to repay a debt of gratitude.’
If it hadn’t been for him, I would have crumbled long ago when left alone in this world.
Perhaps I might have already left this world by making an extreme choice.
Compared to that debt, this was nothing.
“Hey, Taesan.”
“…Huh? What is it? Why are you calling me so solemnly all of a sudden?”
Once I made up my mind, the complicated thoughts actually felt cleanly organized.
Perhaps I had been too immersed in the fact that I had to hide my identity and had become excessively fixated on it.
“We still have plenty of time left, right?”
When my mindset changed, the very texture of the air flowing around my body also shifted subtly.
If until now I had been like a faint, elusive hermit, now I was like a slumbering dragon preparing to soar into the world.
“…Well, I suppose so. But why? What’s going on?”
Gang Taesan swallowed hard unconsciously at his old friend’s suddenly changed demeanor and cautiously asked back.
I quietly looked at him, smirked, and extended my hand.
“Since it’s come to this, I’ll let you in on a secret.”
He would surely be surprised.
But I believed he would understand.
“Follow me.”
Because you and I are friends who share the same pain and walk forward together.
***
Gang Taesan gaped incredulously.
“What the hell is this…”
He looked around repeatedly and let out hollow laughs.
He couldn’t help it.
They had been in the heart of Seoul just moments ago, yet now they were inside a mansion on the outskirts, well over ten kilometers away.
“I had only heard of this in stories… To think it really happens in the blink of an eye.”
He hadn’t used modern transportation like a car.
What enabled this swift movement was none other than the mystical arts.
Specifically, a spatial movement technique known to demand extremely苛刻 conditions from its caster.
That alone was surprising enough, but the point that shocked Gang Taesan most was something more fundamental.
The fact that his closest friend, whom he had believed to be an ordinary person, had used that mystical art.
“You’ve already Awakened? How? No, when?”
After following Han Seonghyeon—who had suddenly shifted atmospheres as if he had made some resolution—out of the café.
They immediately headed into a deserted alley.
And in the events that followed, Gang Taesan couldn’t help but doubt his own eyes.
‘We used the villa I lived in before moving as a waypoint, leaping across space in an instant to arrive here. I heard spatial abilities are something only the most exceptional high-ranking Awakened could even attempt.’
Yet the friend he had thought was an ordinary person had used that difficult ability.
And so nonchalantly, without any sign of struggle.
Naturally, he couldn’t believe it.
‘How is this possible? Is this really the Han Seonghyeon I know? Could someone else be impersonating him…’
It was common knowledge that returning from the other world took roughly a year on average, and at the earliest, several months.
Yet his friend, whom he had contacted regularly, was a seasoned Returnee who had already been to the other world and come back—how could he not be shocked?
Moreover, hadn’t he personally visited his house every one to two weeks?
“…What? Who’s the helper?”
Upon hearing the answer to that question, Gang Taesan could only repeat it back with a dumbfounded expression.
That was how absurd the words coming from his longtime friend’s mouth had felt.
“Masquerade? Did you say Masquerade? That one? The one with the Hahoe Mask and Phantom, where numerous unidentified powerful individuals belong?”
The Masquerade.
The name of that dark hero organization and the danger it posed had already long since spread to every agency across the world.
Of course, it was a very familiar name to him as well, an agent of the Republic of Korea Superhuman Management Bureau’s Crime Investigation Division.
They had never taken dangerous actions such as leading terror attacks or attempting to overthrow a nation, yet the state couldn’t help but react sensitively to their every small movement.
The reason was simple.
Because each of the members identified so far possessed overwhelming power.
An organization pursuing an elite few, yet possessing influence rivaling or exceeding that of ordinary nations.
That was the supranational elite collective lurking in the shadows known as Masquerade, and yet…
“…And you’re saying you’re a member of that place?”
Gang Taesan looked around with a stiffened face.
A two-story mansion, nothing extravagant but equipped with a spacious garden, swimming pool, training room, and everything one could need.
He had believed his friend had bought this house with lottery winnings he had luckily hit.
But if it had actually been obtained through some backroom deal…
“Strictly speaking, you could say I’m in more of a cooperative position. We share the same goal.”
“The same goal?”
Han Seonghyeon nodded calmly at his question, asked with a serious expression.
‘I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you the entire truth.’
This was a separate issue from whether or not he trusted him.
No, rather, not giving him information he couldn’t handle was for his own good.
There was always the risk that he would be caught in the crossfire of battling whales if he held information beyond his station.
“The annihilation of the Beoncheon Society.”
“Beoncheon…!”
Gang Taesan’s eyes widened at that name that slipped out low.
He too had once caught a glimpse of the Beoncheon Society’s tail domestically, so he already knew full well how cunning they were and how vast an organization they had built.
“I see. So you came into contact with them while moving to target a common enemy.”
He nodded as if in understanding, then tilted his head in puzzlement once more.
“So what does that have to do with you being able to return to Earth early with that Masquerade?”
It was a valid question.
Contacting Masquerade was one thing; how they enabled an Awakened who crossed to another world to return quickly was an entirely separate matter.
Of course, a solid cover story for that was already prepared.
“It’s all thanks to this.”
Saying so, I took out a ticket from my breast pocket and flicked it toward him.
The ticket, seemingly woven from blue light, fluttered across the air before sinking directly into Gang Taesan’s body.
“Uwagh?!”
Panicked, he patted himself down, but the blue light that had disappeared into his body did not reveal itself again.
Then, after a brief pause, he looked up at the empty air as if reading something before letting out an exclamation of genuine awe.
“A Return Ticket…? Good heavens, I’ve never even heard information about something like this existing!”
『Return Ticket (2,000,000)』
A product of the 『VIP Market』, added alongside the 『Invitation (1,000,000)』 when 『Karma Shop Ver.3』 opened.
It was a miracle item that permanently activated the “Return” category of the Karma Shop, which normally required accumulating one million points to access.
Of course, information about such an item had never been released anywhere in the world.
‘Of course not. I just used it for the first time. The price is a bit steep… but with this, even if your life is in danger, you can flee back to Earth at any time.’
It was double the normally required million, but to me, it wasn’t a burdensome price.
At this level, it was an amount I could stretch slightly for a friend.
‘Of course, this isn’t the end.’
But this was merely insurance for the worst-case scenario.
“Hey, Taesan. Haven’t you noticed something strange here?”
“Uh… uh…? Something strange?”
At that question, Gang Taesan stared at him with a peculiar expression.
As if to say the strangest thing here was me.
“Not that. This space. So this is still too much for you?”
“…If you mean that, the air does feel a bit strange. It feels like there’s somewhat strong resistance for some reason.”
“Oh? You’ve got good senses.”
Pleased by his unexpectedly sharp reaction, I clapped my hands together and nodded in satisfaction.
“The flow of time in the space we’re currently in is roughly ten times that of the outside. Meaning, ten hours here equals about one hour in normal Earth time.”
“Wait, even if you utilized an interior space, you controlled the time ratio too? On Earth?”
“Why so surprised? I already told you who personally lent their strength to this place’s facilities, didn’t I?”
The secret base of Masquerade, the supranational dark hero organization.
Recalling that once more, Gang Taesan pressed his lips firmly together.
“Now then, with the most crucial time shortage problem solved for the otherworld transfer, what should we do next?”
“…Ah.”
“Well then, since we don’t have time, let’s start quickly.”
Sensing something ominous, he took a step back, but in this perfectly sealed space, there was nowhere left to run.