Chapter 15 …
EX-Class Reincarnation
Seochō, Seoul.
At its center stood a massive building.
The Seoul branch—and headquarters—of the Korean Superhuman Association.
Inside that building was the space called the President’s Office.
After a long time, the lights were on, and Baek Hyun-ho naturally walked in and sat down.
“What would you like to drink?” he asked as he took his seat.
The woman already seated—Hail Irene—responded calmly.
“Coffee… coffee is fine.”
“Sugar?”
“Lots…”
Not long after, coffee appeared on the desk.
Irene took a sip as if she had been waiting for it.
“…….”
“Does it suit your taste?”
“……It’s good.”
“I’m glad it’s approved,” Baek Hyun-ho said, smiling. Seeing his smile, Irene removed her sunglasses, folded them, and tucked them into her lap.
Baek Hyun-ho noticed and asked,
“Irene.”
“…….”
Irene stared at him silently.
“What brings you to Korea in such a hurry?”
Cutting straight to the point, without any small talk. Baek Hyun-ho thought that would suit Irene best.
“……I’m looking for someone.”
Irene answered lightly, as if confirming his expectation.
“Someone you’re looking for…”
Baek Hyun-ho’s eyes widened. Someone Irene was looking for… Ah, could it be?
“You mean Eugene…”
“……?”
Irene tilted her head in curiosity. Seeing her reaction, Baek Hyun-ho smiled wryly.
“A Korean superhuman I met when I visited the U.S. previously.”
“……Previously… Ah.”
Hearing the explanation, Irene nodded as if she recalled.
“……Oh, there was someone like that.”
“…….”
Someone like that.
Eugene. Full name: Kim Eugene. He was a pride of Korea, considered a representative figure of the country.
He was also an SS-class superhuman, like Hail Irene right in front of Baek Hyun-ho.
‘A few years ago.’
When twenty-year-old Kim Eugene had just awakened, he had sought out Irene in the U.S.
The U.S. side had contacted her after hearing that an SS-class superhuman had appeared in Korea.
Kim Eugene, newly awakened, had fought Irene unofficially.
‘…The result.’
It had been an overwhelming defeat for Kim Eugene.
Even though they were both SS-class, he hadn’t expected such a gap in power.
‘That’s probably why…’
He guessed the U.S. had wanted to see how Kim Eugene would fare against Irene. Of course, Korea knew as well.
They were simply curious. Could Kim Eugene even reach Irene in any way?
As mentioned, the results were a crushing disparity.
The title of America’s strongest superhuman was far too high, even for another SS-class.
Time had passed, and Kim Eugene had become a symbol and representative superhuman of Korea.
‘Even if they fought again now…’
Would the result be different? Baek Hyun-ho wasn’t sure. No—he firmly believed it would not be.
‘You can only know by seeing it firsthand.’
Several years ago, an S-class gate appeared after more than a decade—a mission to hunt a mountain-sized skeletal dragon.
The dragon was so terrifying that even participating S-class superhumans were intimidated. Everyone hesitated, fearful to step forward.
…Move aside.
Irene stepped forward. The fragile, pale woman moved with a calm expression, swinging her staff.
With a flash of light, the dragon vanished like dust.
Baek Hyun-ho still remembered that vividly. That alone was enough proof of why she was called the world’s strongest.
“If it’s not Eugene… then who did you come to see, all the way to this small, distant country?”
Baek Hyun-ho asked. Just Irene coming from the U.S. caused a lot of commotion.
Urgent communication with the U.S. was required, and the Korean government had mobilized frantically.
Moreover, this was an unannounced visit—sudden and accompanied by rather forceful warnings.
Was there really a reason Irene had to come to Korea like this? Baek Hyun-ho asked, curious.
“……Yes. A small country,” Irene nodded.
“It’s a place I wouldn’t normally bother with… wouldn’t pay attention to.”
Her tone was calm and honest. And she was correct. Even if there was an SS-class superhuman in Korea, Irene wouldn’t normally care.
She was that kind of person—a true “my way or the highway” type, indifferent to anyone but herself.
“Then why…?”
“Couldn’t be helped…”
Irene’s gleaming eyes pierced through Baek Hyun-ho. He flinched.
Then she said:
“Mushin.”
“……!”
Baek Hyun-ho’s eyes widened at the name. Mushin? Why would that word come from her lips?
“He’s here…”
Her purpose in coming to Korea was Mushin? Baek Hyun-ho frowned.
“You mean you came to find him?”
“Yes…….”
A low hum of vibration briefly swept through the President’s Office.
“I must find him… by any means….”
“…….”
It was a simple threat. She would do whatever it took. Coming to Korea regardless of procedure, intending to break anything if necessary—her intensity and emotion were sincere.
Baek Hyun-ho understood why Irene was acting this way.
“Ha.”
After a short exhale, he asked her,
“So… you’re asking permission to operate in Korea?”
She nodded.
As an American operative, if Irene wanted to act freely in Korea, permission had to come from the Korean Superhuman Association, which held more authority over superhumans than the government.
“……Miss Irene.”
“……Yes.”
“Do you know what kind of presence you are to the U.S., and even the world?”
“……I know.”
Irene spoke plainly:
“A human disaster. A walking nuclear bomb…”
The words were unnervingly clear for someone speaking so calmly.
“…….”
Not the usual boast of being the strongest superhuman or a symbol of the U.S.; she was objective in her own terrifying way.
Right.
A walking nuclear bomb—this was the most accurate description.
‘All S-class and above superhumans are essentially living weapons.’
Those above S-class, the SS-class, could be described as “national-level.” They could erase a country if they wished.
“……I won’t deny it. Then you also understand what it means for someone like you to act freely in Korea.”
Allowing a dangerous American operative to operate in Korea would be unacceptable for both the government and the Association.
The U.S. wouldn’t like it either.
“……So. I came looking for you……”
Irene, sipping her coffee, said:
“……Please help me.”
“……Haha. Me?”
“Yes.”
Her confident stance left Baek Hyun-ho momentarily speechless.
“Do you think someone like me, an old man, has such power?”
Irene shook her head. She looked over him lightly with her eyes.
“……It’s different……”
“Well, well… thank you for thinking well of me, but……”
Granting independent action was difficult, especially if it involved finding Mushin.
‘Unfortunately.’
Baek Hyun-ho considered using Irene for his purposes, but if her goal was that, it was uncontrollable.
Just as he was about to refuse,
“I heard.”
Irene interjected.
“Heard what……?”
“The matter with the one in China……”
Baek Hyun-ho froze. She said “matter,” but it was a person—and he knew who she meant.
“I’ll handle that.”
“……Irene? You know what it is.”
“It doesn’t matter……”
Her gaze shone with determination.
“……I can do it.”
Her confidence was immense. And if it was Irene, she could truly handle it.
As she spoke, her blue eyes turned golden.
“……The U.S. will handle itself……”
Baek Hyun-ho’s expression changed drastically.
“……Why go to such lengths?”
“……To find someone.”
Mushin. She repeated it. Just for that one reason, Irene was acting like this?
“…….”
“……If you refuse. I’ll do it the usual way……”
“The usual way…?”
“Violence… explosion… suppression…?”
“…….”
Baek Hyun-ho didn’t ask further. The words were ominous enough.
She waited for his response. He thought carefully. He already had plans regarding the terrorism issue.
‘If Irene helps…’
The benefits of allowing her to act were clear. The calculation was simple.
It was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
“Very well. I’ll accept your proposal.”
“Then—”
“……But.”
Despite all the benefits, Baek Hyun-ho had one condition to impose.
“There’s one more condition.”
“……?”
Hearing that, the beautiful human disaster narrowed her eyes sharply.
Meanwhile…
‘……Who is it?’
Cold sweat ran from my neck down my back. I couldn’t even turn my head.
[Heroic Super-Sense (S)]
A newly acquired skill. It evolved from the B-rank skill Hero’s Instinct.
The moment it activated, I could perceive everything around me.
So… this time the professor…
Hmm, Irene said…
Hey, did you hear that?
Voices from outside the door reached me. Normally they wouldn’t be audible, but now, with my heightened senses, I could detect everything.
So I realized.
‘Someone’s next to me.’
‘Since when…’
I could sense someone beside me, not as a shadow but as a semi-transparent presence.
Someone leaning against the window, watching me.
‘What…’
What was it? If it wasn’t an illusion, there was definitely someone there. I didn’t know who—only that they were nearby.
Cold sweat crept up. To think someone could be this close without me noticing…
‘……Probably a superhuman.’
Naturally, it had to be.
‘Is this some kind of stealth skill?’
Even among superhumans, some specialize in infiltration.
‘I saw this at school too.’
At the Superhuman Training School, we learned about skills like this. Those with stealth skills either…
‘Legally join the military…’
Or illegally work as mercenaries or assassins.
‘……So.’
There was a 50% chance they were on the bad side. Entering my room silently made that likely.
‘What do I do?’
I couldn’t see them directly. Any sudden movement could reveal that I knew.
I tried to move as naturally as possible.
‘Even Jeon Yu-seon couldn’t detect it before.’
Even an A-class Association superhuman couldn’t notice such stealth.
Or maybe…
‘They saw and let it pass.’
I considered every possibility.
‘First, I need to get out of the room.’
I had to leave the enclosed space. Presence of other people was crucial.
But…
‘Why can’t I hear anything?’
Voices and other sounds I had sensed just now stopped abruptly.
Did the skill turn off? If it had, I shouldn’t feel the person, yet I still could. Strange.
Still, I approached the door.
Swish—!
The person leaning against the window moved as well. I felt them approaching.
Could it be…
‘Did they notice I know?’
I grabbed the door hastily and opened it.
“……Huh!?”
Someone was there. I involuntarily gasped and stepped back.
It was a woman—blonde, tall, wearing sunglasses.
“W-who…….”
Flustered, I stammered.
Click. The woman lifted her sunglasses, revealing shining golden eyes. My first thought: she was beautiful.
“Uh?”
Then a sense of familiarity struck.
Wait…
“……Uh? Uh?”
Recalling her identity, I reacted awkwardly. Could it be? It couldn’t be. If it was, she definitely shouldn’t be here.
“……Irene…?”
The face belonged to the American SS-class superhuman I had seen earlier as a knight: Hail Irene.
Irene’s eyebrows furrowed as I spoke. Did she mind that I recognized her? She moved her pink lips and said:
“Hello…….”
‘Korean?’
Her Korean was fluent. She then looked past me and suddenly reached out.
“Something strange.”
Irene moved her finger slightly.
Then…
“Gah!?”
A scream came from behind. I turned quickly.
“Ugh… Ugh!!”
The person who had been hiding appeared, lying face down, bound with golden rings.
What is happening? My eyes darted around.
“Then……”
Irene calmly entered the room.
She sat down, using the prone person almost like a chair.
“Lee Jin-woo.”
“Y-yes……?”
“……We need to talk.”
“……?”
Though she invited conversation, it somehow felt like a threat. A very terrifying one.
