Chapter 09…
The young superhuman, Jinwoo Lee, had just thwarted a terrorist attack.
In an instant, articles flooded in, drawing the public’s attention. Amid simultaneous terrorist incidents, with superhuman rescue squads and knights slow to respond, citizens’ anxiety was escalating.
Then came the news that a newly awakened superhuman had stepped forward and saved people. The public went wild.
There’s still hope in this world.
Could this be the birth of a new hero?
It had been just a day since the first wave of follow-up articles and reactions began.
And in that single day…
[Who is Musin?]
…Due to other incidents, articles about Jinwoo Lee had completely fallen off the news.
[First Gate contribution: 100% achieved.]
[The new superhuman who ended a mutant gate in a single blow. Musin. Who is he?]
[A superhuman cloaked in black. What is his rank?]
[A new-colored superhuman who stirred the reincarnator community.]
[According to videos obtained by C-rank informants…]
[The Black Night Witch reportedly had trouble with Musin. She refused an interview…]
The internet was filled entirely with discussions about Musin.
Watching this, I—Jinwoo Lee—felt a strange mix of emotions.
“…Should I say I lost or that I won?”
How should I even describe it? That’s me there, and that’s me here. I wasn’t sure how to feel.
I swallowed my hesitation and clicked on one of the uploaded videos. The image was slightly blurry and unremarkable, yet someone appeared in it.
The video showed many people rushing forward all at once. Somewhere in the familiar plains, beyond the static, came the sound of beasts crying.
I recognized the location—it was the mutant gate I had personally entered.
And then, among the throngs, a lone figure wearing a black mask appeared.
That was me.
At the moment the video showed me taking stance and swinging my fist…
KRAAAAAAAASH!!!
Light exploded, engulfing the video.
The clip ended soon after, announcing that the gate was closed. It was a simple video, yet…
“Seriously, how many views does this have?”
The video had already easily surpassed ten million views. Ten million? Crazy.
…That’s absurdly many.
Some might wonder how footage from inside a gate could make it into the real world.
…Informants are amazing.
There were people capable of recording the status and conditions of gates. Usually, these were reincarnators with a mage-type background, referred to as “informants.” They would use skills to record what happened and upload the footage online, allowing others to see what occurred inside the gate.
High-ranked superhumans often moved with such informants. It was also a chance to promote themselves.
“Hmm…”
Seeing myself appear so prominently in the video, how was I supposed to feel?
I cautiously scrolled through the comments:
“What the… he destroyed everything in one hit?”
“Wow ㅋㅋㅋㅋ isn’t this insane?”
“Look at the Black Night Witch’s face. So satisfying.”
“What rank would he even be at this point?”
“At least A-rank, I guess.”
“A-rank? Don’t be ridiculous. Remember last year in China when Taeryongchang almost died fighting a mutant gate alone? This is at least S-rank.”
“S-rank ㅋㅋㅋㅋ That’s nonsense. If a new S-rank appeared, wouldn’t the association have announced it?”
“Then what would it be if not S-rank? B-rank?”
“He must’ve used a Noble Phantasm.”
“Noble Phantasm my foot. Do you really think he could do that with just one NP? You’re not even a superhuman, are you?”
“Are you a superhuman writing comments here? Cosplaying as one hard.”
Hundreds of comments agreed: this was a phenomenon never before seen. Most speculated his rank was likely higher than A, and real superhumans’ comments reinforced that opinion.
“When Musin appeared, the community temporarily shut down.”
“I’ve never seen that dark name tag before… I have no idea what rank he is.”
These were people online who had witnessed the earlier phenomenon.
“Rank, huh…”
I scratched my cheek. Definitely not A-rank.
EX, huh.
A rank I had never seen. Unexpected power.
The gate’s danger level had risen, and my strength had multiplied fiftyfold.
Had that happened before? Not as far as I knew.
“Also… that mask.”
The mask I put on as soon as I entered the gate. Strange in itself.
“He must not want to be recognized.”
“Isn’t he a terrorist too? They all wear masks.”
“Seeing black, it seems like a Noble Phantasm.”
Even the comments noted it.
…It’s a setting when entering a gate.
I could choose whether to conceal my identity with that mask. Most didn’t hide themselves. Some, however, would wear masks if they wanted discretion. This created a certain stigma against masked superhumans, especially during a terrorist-active period.
Moreover…
“This superhuman is definitely Korean, right?”
“Uh-oh.”
Comments speculated about my identity, even suggesting my nationality. The reason was simple:
“Only Koreans were invited to this mutant gate.”
Mutant gates appear worldwide, and only certain superhumans are randomly invited. This time, only Koreans were called—unprecedented.
“Now they’re even questioning if Musin is Korean…”
I pondered.
What should I do?
The world’s attention was on the emergence of a new high-rank superhuman, Musin.
If I reveal that I am Musin…
Would it help? I propped my chin on my hand and thought.
Probably not.
I shook my head immediately. Why?
Attention is fine, but…
This power itself seemed to resist it. That’s why it had hidden my identity entering the gate.
Even when facing the chairman.
When I confronted Baek Hyunho:
[■ Illusion of Korka activates.]
[■ Opponent’s perception blocked.]
[■ Cannot surpass the Four Gods. Your essence is concealed.]
An alert had appeared.
…He tried something on me.
The chairman attempted something, but an SS-rank Noble Phantasm blocked it, concealing my identity. That too…
…was chosen by that old man.
The previous life that granted me power, the one the old man picked from Pandora’s box.
How is that even possible?
Everything happening to me was beyond comprehension.
“Something’s off.”
Off by far. But thinking about it differently after experiencing this alien power:
“…I might be able to do it.”
Finding and eliminating those guys. For my goals, this power would be more than helpful. For that…
…I can comply.
If I wanted to hide my identity, I could.
“Phew… then, let’s cautiously get started.”
I moved my fingers carefully.
[■ Entering Reincarnator Network.]
The same large interface appeared that I had seen before. Posts were everywhere, no different from the outside.
[Princess Aurora: So Musin is SS-rank?]
Again, about Musin. The network was filled with such discussions.
Princess Aurora?
I paused. If it was Princess Aurora…
She’s an S-rank superhuman from Russia.
[Quack Doctor: Could be SS-rank. Or maybe higher.]
[Princess Aurora: Higher? Do you mean SSS-rank? That’s absurd.]
[Flash Ninja: Yeah, nonsense. Plus, if an SSS appeared, the nation wouldn’t ignore it.]
[Quack Doctor: With that power and influence, he should already be S-rank. Yet no nation announced it. Clearly, Musin is hiding his identity.]
[Princess Aurora: How? He tricked the registration?]
[Quack Doctor: He probably didn’t register. Likely an unregistered superhuman.]
[Princess Aurora: Dangerous human, then.]
[Quack Doctor: Exactly.]
Superhumans concluded Musin was unregistered.
[Princess Aurora: What if he were registered, though?]
A Russian superhuman asked.
[Princess Aurora: Musin appeared on the network only a few days ago. That means he recently awakened. Accessing the network right after awakening is natural.]
[Flash Ninja: So he produced that power within just a few days?]
[Princess Aurora: Exactly, it doesn’t make sense. And from Korea? From that tiny Asian country? Ridiculous.]
At that moment, someone jumped in:
[Black Night Witch: Why mention Korea here?]
“Ah.”
It was the Black Night Witch from the gate.
[Princess Aurora: Who is this? Isn’t this our black figure stuck in surprise?]
[Black Night Witch: Stop questioning, why mention Korea, you brat?]
[Princess Aurora: What? Did I say something wrong? It’s tiny, right?]
[Black Night Witch: Ah, so your country failed miserably and has no SS-rank reincarnators? Fantastic.]
She criticized Russia’s collapse and lack of SS-rank superhumans. Aurora flared:
[Princess Aurora: You little… if I see you, you’re dead.]
[Black Night Witch: Come if you dare. You’re banned anyway.]
[Flash Ninja: Stop fighting… this isn’t the point.]
[Princess Aurora: You stay out.]
[Black Night Witch: Don’t interfere. You did the same, trashing us in an interview. I know.]
[Flash Ninja: …That wasn’t my intention.]
I felt sorry for Flash Ninja, who seemed timid.
…Flash Ninja… could it be?
An S-rank Japanese superhuman, judging by the color tag. Meanwhile, Black Night Witch was surprisingly patriotic.
“…All the other posts are about Musin too.”
The black tag. Musin’s existence. His nationality and rank. The intent to discern them was obvious.
“Hmm.”
A sense of pressure rose. What would happen if my identity as Musin was exposed?
…Well.
I couldn’t predict, but it was right to stay cautious.
A notification sounded.
Hmm?
A bell icon. Messages already filled with 999 notifications—the max. Even more might exist.
“What’s all this?”
I clicked.
A flood of messages poured in:
“Who are you?”
“Which country are you from?”
“Really Korean?”
“Rank…?”
I couldn’t read them all. Just as I was about to close it…
Hmm?
One stood out—a glowing golden name tag, the same color as before.
[Dragon Magician: I’ll come look for you.]
“Come look for me? What kind of terrifying message is that?”
Who would be looking for me and why? I closed the message.
Another notification:
[Time limit reached.]
“Ah.”
The network shut off automatically. Like last time, a time limit applied.
“…Insane.”
Why did only I have a limit? No chance to investigate.
“I didn’t think there’d be anything anyway…”
Still, that was too fast.
“Ugh.”
Network or no network, I wondered what to do next.
A knock sounded.
“Here?”
It was my friend, Jin Kyungbeom.
“What?”
Kyungbeom, holding chicken, was surprised by my words.
“…The chairman told you to become a knight?”
“Yeah.”
“The chairman?”
“Yeah.”
“…Wow.”
Kyungbeom froze, drumstick in hand.
“A knight proposal? That’s insane! Are you going to do it? Of course, right?”
I had always said I wanted to become a knight, so Kyungbeom assumed I would accept.
“…Not sure.”
“What? Why?”
“The intention is odd.”
The chairman’s attempt to probe me…
…Something’s off.
The timing to make me a knight felt suspicious.
Something.
It felt like they wanted to use me as a cover for the public eye. Even though they didn’t know my rank. D-rank, what would they do? Still accept me?
Impossible.
No one below B-rank had passed before. The pass rate was extremely low. Becoming a knight now?
No way.
I approached the chairman cautiously, smiling benignly but alert.
“So… you’re not going to?”
“…I said I’m not sure. Still thinking.”
Still, the thought lingered. I wanted to be a knight.
“Hmm. Whatever it is, I hope you try it.”
Kyungbeom squinted at me.
“What’s with the change? You told me not to before.”
“That was before awakening. Now it’s different.”
He took a bite of chicken.
“You wanted it. Just try it.”
“….”
“Whatever the intention, no regrets.”
I stared at him.
“…Did you secretly give me a pill or something?”
“Nonsense. Looks like you’ve recovered. I’m leaving.”
“What? You’re leaving after just bringing chicken?”
“I just came to see your face. Must go see my father.”
“…Ah.”
“Leaving.”
Kyungbeom left without hesitation. I recalled his words:
Whatever happens, have no regrets.
“….”
Obtaining the Musin reincarnation, the past life that wanted to hide it, the chairman’s intention… weighing it all:
So…
No reason not to become a knight.
Parachute drop?
So what.
“…It would be good if they let me.”
I nodded and took out my phone. The contact the chairman had given me for when I decided was there. I sent a message immediately:
[I would like to accept the offer you gave me.]
Then I lay back on my bed.
“Ah…”
I couldn’t fully grasp how things were unfolding.
It would go well, right?
No.
I had to make it go well.
Fingers brushing through my face, I focused my eyes. Conclusion always the same. Once I centered myself,
Ding!
“Hmm?”
A notification rang.
[■ EX-rank Achievement: Reincarnator Network accessed 3 times. Achievement reward has arrived.]
“…Huh?”
An unexpectedly random reward.
Click.
Jin Kyungbeom left the ward, glanced at the other rooms, and moved toward a secluded area. He took out his phone and called.
Ring-ring…
Only a few seconds before someone picked up.
“-Yes. Speaking.”
“It’s me.”
“-Go ahead.”
“What happened with the investigation I asked about last time?”
Kyungbeom’s previously comical expression vanished, replaced with cold determination.
“-The escaped terrorists haven’t been found. The association is blocking access, so it’s difficult.”
“…I see.”
He clicked his tongue. The association was clearly interfering.
“Then what about that lamp? You said it was destroyed.”
“-Yes. It appears destroyed, but there’s no evidence of tampering…”
“B-rank Noble Phantasm. Jinwoo destroyed it? Makes no sense.”
The lamp Kyungbeom gifted me was a protective Noble Phantasm of considerable value.
“If a Noble Phantasm was destroyed, then the barrier didn’t function properly.”
“-…”
“Was it sold by GAA?”
“-Yes.”
“Remove it. No need to trade with sellers of defective goods.”
“-…Miss… GAA has significant ties to our company…”
Kyungbeom’s voice sharpened.
“Use proper titles.”
“-…Ah, sorry, Master Kyungbeom.”
“Nothing worse than trading with untrustworthy sellers. Remove it.”
“-Understood.”
The man relented.
“Also, contact the chairman tonight. I need to see him.”
“-Tonight?”
“Yes. Tell him I have something regarding the association.”
“-Understood… the chairman will be pleased.”
“Good. Bye.”
Click. Kyungbeom hung up, his cold gaze scanning the empty air.
“The association…”
Annoyance coursed through him.
“All my planning, wasted.”
He had recruited my teacher, set up interviews, tried to make me live normally.
“Dare they…”
My lips curved.
“Let’s see what happens.”
It was time to show the consequences of meddling with what was mine.
