Chapter 19….
Picked an EX-Rank Past Life
Yoojin.
A superhuman of the Republic of Korea, the youngest knight ever, and the nation’s very first SS-rank superhuman.
One of only three national-level ability users in the world.
His alias was Korea’s Hope.
Yes. Exactly that—Korea’s Hope. Yoojin was called hope itself.
Except for special cases like Russia, the number of superhumans that emerged tended to be proportional to population, and a country’s strength was largely determined by the ranks of its superhumans.
From that perspective, Korea had long been at a disadvantage.
There were a decent number of S-ranks, sure—but that was only above average. Compared to neighboring countries like Japan and China, it was nothing more than a drop in the bucket. A small nation with few superhumans—it had been treated as a weak country just ten years ago.
“…But now.”
Korea’s current standing was completely different.
It was now unquestionably counted among the great powers, with some even saying it ranked within the top five worldwide.
Could there have been a greater rise than this?
In just a few short years, Korea had climbed to an almost absurd position.
And all of it—
‘…Is thanks to this guy.’
The statue-like young man standing in front of me.
It was thanks to Yoojin.
“It’s been a while, Jinwoo.”
“…Yeah. It’s been a while.”
We shook hands. Even though my hand extended awkwardly, Yoojin wore his trademark bright smile.
“I didn’t expect we’d meet like this. Why didn’t you answer my calls—!”
“…Haha.”
Unlike my stiff laugh, the reaction around us was explosive.
“What? Why is Yoojin—?”
“…What relationship does he have with Superhuman Lee Jinwoo?”
The best in Korea openly greeting me immediately caught the reporters’ attention.
Then—
Yoojin casually placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Oh, we went to the same school.”
“Schoolmates?”
“The two of them?”
“If it’s Yoojin’s school… wasn’t that a superhuman training academy?”
Flashes went off like crazy. Damn, my eyes hurt.
As I covered my eyes briefly, Yoojin addressed the reporters.
“I heard my dear friend was being congratulated today for accomplishing something incredible, so I came by. He’s truly amazing. Please support him a lot.”
Friend.
That word sharpened the reporters’ focus.
‘…Friend.’
The hand resting on my shoulder felt unusually heavy.
✦ ✦ ✦
If I were to describe Yoojin, there would be many things to say—but if I had to sum him up in one word:
Genius.
That single word said it all. Yoojin was a genius.
Even before remembering his past life, he had always been that kid—the one good at everything.
Academics, athletics, anything he touched—he stood out in all of it.
It was the same back when we attended the superhuman training academy.
To begin with, he awakened early.
At just seventeen, Yoojin had already awakened his past life and was active as a knight, bearing the title of Korea’s first SS-rank superhuman.
Everyone’s idol.
A superhuman the school invested in, the world watched.
That was Yoojin.
“You met Yoojin, didn’t you?”
I had just gotten home after a long time when a familiar face and voice greeted me, making me frown.
“…Why are you here?”
It was Kyungbeom.
He was sprawled across my mattress, staring at me like he’d been invited.
“How do you know my password?”
“How wouldn’t I, you lunatic? I told you not to use your birthday, and you still went with 0000—what kind of idiot does that?”
“……”
“So simple-minded.”
Kyungbeom jumped up and looked at me.
“I was gonna ask if things went well, but judging by your face, I can tell.”
He chuckled as he spoke. I really wanted to grab that smug grin and stretch it off his face.
“Nothing happened.”
“Like hell. I saw the article—your face was already rotting. You could’ve at least smiled.”
He showed me a photo on his phone—me, forcibly smiling with Yoojin’s arm around my shoulders.
Even I had to admit it looked forced.
“‘New Knight Lee Jinwoo. Close friend of Korea’s Hope, Yoojin.’ What a boring headline, right?”
“…Are you just here to mess with me?”
“What else would I be doing? The whole world’s talking about you right now. Well—about Irene and Yoojin, technically.”
[Korea’s strongest, Yoojin, welcomes America’s Irene.]
[Formation of a new knight order—Yoojin voices his support.]
[The new knight order’s commander is none other than Hale Irene. What is America’s response?]
Yoojin’s appearance and the announcement that Irene would lead the knight order—
Those headlines had Korea buzzing.
Thanks to that, it felt like my story had been buried.
“Well, there are a few.”
He scrolled down.
[Yeouido’s young hero, Lee Jinwoo, joins Hale Irene’s knight order. Is this really okay?]
[Will the world accept a superhuman who doesn’t meet the qualifications…]
Blatant nepotism accusations.
“Does it bother you?”
“Not this.”
I didn’t really care. I’d expected it. Seeing my calm reaction, Kyungbeom snorted.
“When you say ‘this,’ it means something else does bother you.”
“……”
Sharp bastard.
He caught the slip instantly.
Seeing my uncomfortable expression, Kyungbeom stared at me.
“Still uncomfortable?”
I let out an awkward smile.
“What would I be uncomfortable about? I’m fine.”
A lie that felt like the truth.
I had to be fine.
—
Jinwoo.
—
That voice still echoed in my head.
—
…You don’t have talent. Quit.
—
A damp, miserable emotion—like the weather that day—crawled up my skin.
I had to erase it.
“Damn loser.”
“…If you’re done talking, leave.”
“I was gonna anyway. I came to check on you ‘cause I was worried, but judging by your state, you’ll survive. Though—are you really okay?”
“With what?”
“With being a knight. Can you really do it?”
“…Why wouldn’t I?”
“Well, yeah.”
“I have to. Besides—”
“Because you’re assigned to anti-terror operations?”
“……”
“You’re persistent as hell. That stubborn streak of yours isn’t going anywhere. I won’t stop you anymore.”
I laughed without realizing it.
“What’s this? You acted like you’d stop me forever.”
“What’s the point now? You’re the guy who jumped into a fire pit to save people. Just live your life.”
“Haha.”
“That wasn’t a joke. Don’t laugh. Tch.”
Clicking his tongue, Kyungbeom walked past me.
“Anyway, do whatever you want. Just watch out for that Association Chairman. Calling Yoojin in already shows what kind of game he’s playing.”
I gave a bitter smile.
“So it was deliberate.”
“Obviously.”
Yoojin appearing there had definitely been orchestrated by the chairman—to make things more dramatic.
“If not, why would they drag someone making foreign currency overseas back here? Everything’s calculated.”
“…Yeah.”
“But it was worth the attention. I was shocked too. Hale Irene, seriously.”
Kyungbeom shuddered.
“I never thought they’d bring that monster from America… She’s terrifying just to look at.”
“What do you mean, terrifying? You’ve never even seen her in person.”
“Ah… right.”
He stiffened slightly, nodding.
“She just looks like that. Pretty, sure—but with that rude face. Weird personality too.”
“…That’s prejudice.”
I couldn’t exactly deny it. Her personality was strange.
But Kyungbeom reacted oddly to my response.
“What, already defending your commander? Is she that pretty?”
I frowned at the question.
Pretty?
I thought about it.
“She definitely was.”
Pale skin, golden eyes—so different she felt like someone from another world.
She really was beautiful.
“…Ah. I see. She’s pretty.”
Kyungbeom said sarcastically.
“You asked first.”
“Whatever. I’m going home.”
He stormed out irritably. Seriously—what was his problem?
Then I remembered something I’d forgotten.
“Oh, right.”
He stopped.
“How’s your sister doing?”
“……”
He flinched.
I scratched my cheek.
“…I was just wondering.”
“She’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
His tone was cold.
I knew better than to push.
“Got it.”
“I’m leaving.”
Kyungbeom waved and left.
Click.
Silence returned.
“Whew.”
I slumped into the chair.
My head hurt.
“…Ah.”
I collapsed onto the bed.
“So much happened.”
Everything moved so fast.
I became a knight. Irene became commander.
‘…And I met Yoojin.’
And—
‘The Martial God.’
My hopeless past life suddenly started pouring into reality.
It felt unreal.
‘Is this a dream…?’
No matter how many times I slept and woke up, it didn’t feel real.
“….”
I covered my eyes with my arm. Darkness settled in, calming me slightly.
‘Tomorrow…’
What was I supposed to do?
Right—the Association headquarters.
They said a car would come in the morning.
Go there—
‘…Redo the rank evaluation properly.’
And receive a full explanation about the knight order.
‘Am I really a knight now?’
It all felt unreal.
“….”
I opened my eyes slightly, exhaustion blurring my vision as I twitched my fingers.
Ding.
[■ Connecting to Past Life Network.]
[■ Please be mindful of the time limit.]
Without realizing it, I activated the network.
Messages were already flooding in.
[Paris Romance: So… this “new knight order,” is it really just two people?]
They were talking about today.
[Chorongiboringi: Can you even run a knight order with two people? Is that normal in Korea?]
[TotemIsGood: Who cares? If one of them is Irene, isn’t that enough?]
[Paris Romance: True. If she’s moving, what more needs to be said?]
[TotemIsGood: I still don’t get why she went to Korea. America begged her to be a knight and she rejected them. Now she joins another country? The US must be losing its mind.]
[Euclian: The US president is literally about to collapse from high blood pressure. Saw it myself.]
[Paris Romance: If it’s Euclian enjoying this, instant upvote.]
Thumbs-up emojis popped up.
[Euclian: This is life…!!]
[TotemIsGood: LMAOOOO]
[Paris Romance: LMAOOOOOO]
[Euclian: Serves him right. He worked me like hell. Hope he collapses and I get a vacation.]
[Paris Romance: Can you even say that? Isn’t the White House watching this place?]
[Euclian: Who cares. Let them come. Anyone here who can take me on besides Irene?]
[Paris Romance: Damn, American vice-commander energy;; guts like Russia.]
[Aurora Princess: Why is Russia being mentioned here? Wanna die?]
[Paris Romance: Oops.]
“….”
The network was full of talk about Irene joining Korea.
Talk about the Martial God had quieted down.
‘No one’s talking about me.’
There was nothing about Lee Jinwoo.
Which made sense—from their perspective, I was just “Yeouido’s hero.”
I was about to feel relieved when—
Ding!
“…Huh?”
A notification popped up.
[■ A gate has appeared.]
“What?”
My eyes widened. Suddenly?
[Paris Romance: What? Another gate already?]
[Euclian: Are you kidding me? The president’s gonna flip again.]
[TotemIsGood: Didn’t we just clear one not long ago?!]
The network exploded.
‘It’s too early…’
This wasn’t the timing. There should’ve been days left.
Unless—
[■ Variant gate detected.]
“…Holy shit.”
I shot upright.
A gate—suddenly?
“And it’s not even night yet?”
Daytime gate opening.
Then—
“…Huh?”
Something even more shocking appeared….
