Chapter 14 …
EX-Class Reincarnation
Hale Irene.
Age twenty-five. An American superhuman and one of the very few SS-class individuals in the world.
“The strongest in the world.”
At present, she was considered the most powerful among all superhumans worldwide.
Her first awakening was at the age of twelve. By the time she awakened at such a young age, she was already a formidable figure.
The number of high-rank gates she had cleared with overwhelming contribution was countless.
Not only had she suppressed and handled terrorist incidents involving other countries within the U.S., but she had also defeated SS-class superhumans from other nations.
Her performance in the friendly match against the “pride of China,” the Guangjian, finishing it in less than ten minutes, was renowned worldwide.
At that time, Irene was only seventeen.
She had reached the pinnacle of superhuman power in less than five years of activity.
She was a symbol of America and its strongest superhuman.
A figure whose movements alone could make other nations tense.
And she was known to almost never leave the U.S.
“And now… Irene has come to Korea?”
I had to blink several times as I read the news.
As I stared intently,
“For this reason, the Association President asks for your understanding.”
Jeon Yuseon spoke to me.
“The Archmage has come to Korea, so the President has gone personally to welcome her.”
“Ah…”
The title “Archmage” referred to Irene’s past life.
“Then, can we postpone your conversation with Superhuman Lee Jinwoo a little?”
“Yes. That’s fine with me. I don’t have anything pressing anyway.”
“…Thank you for understanding.”
It was no wonder the President was busy; the strongest superhuman had suddenly arrived in Korea.
“But why did the Archmage come to Korea in the first place?”
“…I’m afraid I can’t disclose that.”
“Ah, I see.”
It seemed unlikely that I would get an answer.
That was fine—I hadn’t expected to hear it anyway.
“Thank you again for your understanding… are you feeling okay physically?”
“I’m fine. I could be discharged at any time.”
“That’s good.”
Jeon Yuseon smiled at my reply.
Her smile gave me an odd feeling. Something uncomfortable. I felt that from Yuseon herself.
“Well then. I will inform you as soon as the President contacts me.”
“Understood… thank you.”
After bowing, Jeon Yuseon left the room. I narrowed my eyes at her polite back as she exited.
“Hmm…”
I lay back on the bed, lost in thought.
Since the President couldn’t come, I now had free time.
Taking advantage of that, I immediately recalled the situation inside the gate.
“…Her name was Lin Xiao, right.”
Lin Xiao.
Someone who had a strange dislike for me.
Wasn’t she an S-class superhuman from China?
“If she’s S-class, she should be extremely strong.”
If SS-class was on a national defense or natural disaster level, S-class were more like human weapons.
Even tanks or fighter jets wouldn’t be enough to take down an S-class.
And yet, even facing someone like that…
“I wasn’t afraid.”
I could sense inside the gate that my power was stronger.
“What the hell…”
Was it because of the EX-class reincarnation?
“…How incredible is this.”
Power seemingly higher than SS-class. Even with a synchronization rate of only 5%, it was this strong.
“Of course, outside it’s not this extreme.”
Still, B-rank. I had pushed back an A-class superhuman using Pa Cheonmu.
So, if…
“If my synchronization rate increases further…”
Maybe I could gain the kind of power I felt inside the gate.
A sense of anticipation arose.
“The problem is…”
My past life told me not to reveal my true power.
“…They probably don’t want anyone to know I’m Mushin.”
The black mask that always appeared whenever I entered a gate.
From what my past life had conveyed directly, it was clear they didn’t want their identity exposed.
Then…
“So I’ll have to keep pretending I’m not Mushin.”
It didn’t feel easy.
I wondered if it was even necessary, but…
“Indeed—”
It seemed dangerous to show off any of this power before fully understanding it, especially now that my actions inside the gate had already attracted attention.
“…For now.”
Until I properly understand this power, I’ll hide my identity.
I made up my mind.
“Then…”
Let’s move past this. Next…
I flicked my fingers slightly.
Ding!
With the sound of an alarm, something popped up in front of me.
[■ Reward from the Surprised Hero.]
It was the reward received for clearing the gate.
“Achievement reward doesn’t seem to have arrived yet.”
The quest-related reward also hadn’t come yet. I remembered it arriving after a delay. So this would probably come later too.
Is this what I got? For now, this was all the reward the Surprised Hero had given me.
“Hmm…”
Why did they give me a reward? Was it simply because I saved them? That seemed to be the simplest reason.
[■ In a false world, you alone had no prejudice.]
That system message kept echoing in my mind. It lingered strangely. I didn’t know why.
“…Hmm.”
I scratched my cheek lightly.
[■ Do you wish to receive the reward?]
The system message floated in front of me. I carefully pressed the [Y] button.
Whoosh!
Light spread softly. No item appeared. Energy shimmered and began enveloping my body.
Vrrrrrr-!
“What is this?”
The energy was instantly absorbed into my body.
Ding!
[■ The Surprised Hero blesses you for saving the world without prejudice.]
[■ You have acquired Hero’s Instinct.]
[■ Hero’s Instinct (B)]
[■ Your senses are greatly enhanced. You can perceive things previously undetectable.]
“Oh…”
A passive skill. Being a B-rank gate, the skill reward was probably B-rank too.
I wasn’t disappointed.
“B-rank isn’t small at all.”
I had been getting ridiculous S-rank stuff, so a B-rank was still huge.
At this point, I should have been grateful…
Ding!
[■ Hero’s Instinct reacts to the illusion of Korca.]
[■ Korca’s illusion analyzes the hidden potential of Hero’s Instinct.]
[■ Analysis complete.]
[■ Hero’s Instinct (B) evolves into Super Senses.]
[■ Hero’s Super Senses (S)]
[■ All five senses surpass their limits. Nothing will be imperceptible to you.]
“…Wow.”
I stared at the system alert, dumbfounded.
The skill evolved?
“…Unbelievable.”
I had been happy with a B-rank skill, and now it suddenly evolved into S-rank. Super Senses?
“Nothing will be imperceptible…”
My five senses had surpassed their limits. I didn’t feel anything different.
What exactly counted as “super senses”? I tried to read more of the skill description, but then—
Ding!
[■ Hero’s Super Senses have activated.]
The skill activated.
At the same time…
“….”
I quietly took a breath.
With the Super Senses active, I could tell.
“…Someone is here.”
Someone invisible, standing around me.
Incheon International Airport.
Early morning. Even on a weekday morning, countless people had gathered at the airport. Most held cameras, their expressions tense, waiting for someone to arrive.
All were reporters. Silence and anticipation filled the air.
Ziiiiing.
The doors opened, and someone appeared. The reporters reacted immediately.
“They’re here…!”
Click-click-click!
The sound of cameras and flashes filled the area. The woman walking out seemed to have expected this, wearing sunglasses.
A slender woman walked calmly.
Her wavy blonde hair swayed as she wore jeans and a rider jacket. She seemed tall for a woman.
She frowned slightly, displeased with the relentless flashes.
She lifted her hand to wave lightly, and then…
“Hale Irene.”
Kuuuuuung-!!!
A powerful presence cut through the noise.
“Ugh!”
“…Huff…”
An old man appeared—Baek Hyunho, President of the Korean Superhuman Association. His presence made the air slightly heavier. The pressure caused the reporters to catch their breath.
“Thank you for coming all the way to this distant country.”
“….”
At Baek Hyunho’s appearance, Irene lowered her hand.
Then, with sparkling lips, she spoke.
“…It’s noisy…”
Her cold, almost blunt voice carried perfectly fluent Korean.
Baek Hyunho smiled, seemingly accustomed to her.
“My apologies. The schedule was so tight… if I had given even a hint, you wouldn’t have had to face this inconvenience.”
The reporters wouldn’t have gathered like this otherwise. Irene’s sudden decision to come to Korea was the cause.
“Irene…!”
“Hale Irene… please, look here just once!”
Baek Hyunho looked at them, though they had been commanded to quiet down.
Should he exert more force? He wondered briefly.
“…It was urgent.”
Irene murmured softly. Urgent?
Would “urgent” justify the use of force if permission wasn’t given?
“Haha… this could have caused international friction.”
“It’s okay…”
Irene quietly shook her head.
“America… is fine.”
“Why do you think so?”
“…Because they wouldn’t want to lose me…”
“…Confidence is impressive.”
She spoke with the certainty of someone who knew her own worth—America must have allowed it because they didn’t want to lose her.
“In any case… let’s continue discussing important matters at the Association.”
Baek Hyunho prepared to escort Irene. There was nothing more to discuss here, and she couldn’t be left unattended.
Why she had come here, he didn’t know.
“Opportunity.”
Baek Hyunho saw it as a good one. An SS-class superhuman coming to Korea in person was extraordinary.
“Perfect timing.”
Could there be a better chance? Just then…
“Irene…!”
A reporter shouted through the pressure.
“Is there a reason you came to Korea? If so, what is it…!”
“Hey.”
An Association employee stepped forward to block the reporter.
“The reason…”
Irene removed her sunglasses, revealing radiant golden eyes.
Her face was breathtaking, almost as if it emitted light.
Her eyes, however, were expressionless, cold, and she spoke calmly to the reporter.
“…I have someone I need to meet.”
There was fierce determination behind her calm gaze.
