Academy's Silver Gatekeeper-Chapter 105

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TN: Irina's secretary PoV

"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

...I knew he'd react like that. This is driving me crazy, really. I let out a heavy sigh while looking at the pitiful soul.

The laundry shop owner screaming while looking at the literally demolished building. They say the building owner is above even the creator, but that building isn't some grand structure.

Just the first floor is a laundry shop, the second floor is the room I stay in, and one room used as storage. Finally, there's the third floor that was rented out but the tenant won't leave. He scraped together even his retirement funds to buy this building, and now it's in this state.

'He even said he sleeps either in the laundry shop or in his car.'

For the owner, this building was his only hope and nest. And our Lady Irina demolished half of it with just three punches.

"Ughhhhh!!"

*

Swoosh—

Meanwhile, Irina suddenly extends something toward the owner.

"What are you doing? Take it quickly."

"What is this..."

"Ah, really. Hey! Secretary! Secretary!!"

Secretary! Irina's booming call echoes out. At that, the assistant secretary who had been talking with the police nearby comes running frantically. Watching that pitiful sight reminds me of a slave, or perhaps a graduate student.

"Huff, huff! D-did you call me, Irina!"

"Handle this for me."

"Ah, yes. Um, how much should..."

"You know, so why are you asking?"

"Yes. Understood. I'll handle it so no complaints arise!"

Saying this, the secretary carefully takes the phone from Irina's hand. Anyone watching would think some king was handing down command authority. ...Ah, giving someone your phone could be seen that way if you really think about it.

Meanwhile, the secretary approached the owner with a business smile on her lips.

"Hello. I deeply sympathize with how overwhelmed you must be by this sudden incident and how heartbroken you are by the damages incurred. So we'd like to provide some damage compensation, if you could first give us your account number that you currently use..."

So she's trying to solve it with money since money is what she has in abundance. Well, in a capitalist world, what can't be solved with money? Still, the owner is deeply wounded emotionally, so will it really work?

"Um... first, due to transfer limits, I've immediately provided 100 million won as advance payment. Within the next few days, using every possible method, we'll provide a total of 2 billion won in compensation. If you want the building repaired, we'll do that, or if not, we can handle it in other ways."

2 billion won. Wow, as expected of an S-rank, she's generous. For Irina's standards, that amount must really be nothing at all. But if you subtract this and that, losses will occur and the compensation amount will decrease...

"Ah, and the 2 billion is pure cash compensation, and afterward we'll transfer some stocks from companies that Irina owns, plus we're preparing various other compensations. Adding all that together, it'll be about 5 billion won. And until all compensation is complete, luxury vehicles will be provided, and until accommodation is arranged, we'll cover unlimited stays at 5-star hotels."

The moment the secretary finishes speaking, the owner's face brightens up. ...Wait, Mr. Owner? Where did all that pitiful crying from before go?

Just moments ago, he seemed like someone on death's door.

Watching that sight, a certain phrase comes to mind:

There's nothing in this world that money can't solve. If there's something that can't be solved, it's just that the amount isn't enough.

Irina's money-throwing continued after that. Startled by the loud noise? 1,000. Car got scratched? 2,000. Just how much money does she have on hand? She kept pulling it out like tissues.

Even the police and firefighters who responded were forced into an impromptu gathering. Even when they said this wasn't appropriate, Irina used her secretary to force it through. Telling them to eat quietly since she'd make sure no complaints came from above.

'I guess this means 'don't go around saying weird things after taking this money.''

I thought she didn't care about public opinion at all. I figured she'd just ignore any damage she caused with an "So what?" attitude. Seeing her trying to clean things up in her own way, she's not complete trash.

Well, if she were really such trash, she would have become a villain. Or else it would have gone toward a structure where the protagonist shows hostility and they oppose each other.

In that regard, Irina doesn't belong to either side. She's crazy, that's for sure. She absolutely can't be called normal. How should I put it... I don't know if this comparison is right, but.

'Our kid may be a bit eccentric, but she's not a bad person!'

Afterward, people came rushing out from the Ability User Association. From their behavior, it seems they've determined there's something significant about an Elder targeting me again.

'More precisely, she probably didn't come to target me but to make a proposal.'

Those who did things that humans should never do. As a result, the existence called Baek Seojin appeared in this world. With nothing, just to be used and have his soul completely drained.

Honestly, it makes me angry. It's absurd and outrageous. No matter how much it's a thing of the past, instead of proper punishment, weren't they just eager to cover it up?

I fully understand why Hyeon Sujin turned her back. Rather, it's amazing she didn't become an even crazier bastard like Kwak Hyeok. Someone like her probably has exceptional self-control.

Even I feel anger slowly rising just thinking about those words. A sticky sensation that's heavy and disgusting, yet impossible to shake off. The current me doesn't even have memories, yet I feel this much, so Hyeon Sujin must feel even more.

'That woman said all evidence was perfectly erased.'

There's no way to prove her innocence or the ugly things that happened in the past. Even if this body, the current me, is the sole survivor of that experiment, in a situation where it's been made into something that never happened, it could easily be dismissed as nonsense.

"...Fuck."

What then? Am I going to die soon too? They said the survival probability is extremely slim, almost converging to 0. There were no exceptions. Whether they died before or recently, everyone eventually died.

I was just starting to blend into this world, really living as Baek Seojin. Learning about the past this way makes all that motivation disappear.

'At least it's fortunate that I have the Third Eye.'

I've checked multiple times. But my traits as seen through the Third Eye haven't changed. If it were a terminal life, some kind of change would have occurred. There's no way the Third Eye, which tells me about all penalties, would miss that.

It seems I've gotten caught up in something very complex and dirty. If it were just a coincidental entanglement, I could forget it all, dust off my hands, and pretend not to know. But this is too directly related for me to do that.

Right. Now I finally feel like all the mysteries are roughly being solved.

The ridiculous combat abilities, the sudden awakening of supernatural powers. Even the monster-like physical abilities reminiscent of actual monsters.

Plus being a completely orphaned soul with no parents or even relatives...

"Seojin oppa!!"

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Suddenly I hear a ringing in my ears. I thought someone had fired a machine gun repeatedly next to me.

Can this decibel level come from a human?

"...Are you trying to make me deaf on purpose?"

"I called you several times but you didn't answer!"

"Then you could have just shaken my shoulder or something."

I looked at Irina, who was tapping her ear with a sulky expression. She seems still upset about me calling her "crazy woman" earlier.

...Thinking about it, I'm honestly a bit wronged. It's not like I'm the only one who says it. Villains, other ordinary people, even Ma Hakjun and Han Jiyoon. Everyone calls Irina "crazy woman," so why does she only get hurt by my words!

'It's not like she has selective damage or something.'

As expected, she's not in her right mind. This is an unchanging truth.

"So why did you call me?"

"Wow... really.... You're probably the only one who asks me for a rerun, Seojin oppa. You know?"

I don't know jack shit. I don't know, and I don't want to know.

"Do you have somewhere to stay tonight?"

"Would I have anywhere? Someone thoroughly demolished it."

"Geez! That was because of the Elder! Why do you keep blaming me!"

That's because Hyeon Sujin didn't break down the front door and came in quietly. Plus, that woman only got beaten by you from start to finish? If she had resisted and broken something, I might understand, but she couldn't even do that.

In the end, the only one who used force was Irina. That means Irina is the prime suspect who sent my room to be with the Lord.

"...So. The conclusion is you have nowhere to stay tonight?"

"Right. Ah, are you going to arrange a hotel like you did for the owner?"

At my question, Irina, who had hesitated for just a moment, nods her head.

"Yes. Hotel, hotel it is. A 5-star hotel at that. No, maybe even better than that? Anyway, let's go. I'll come with you. Secretary! Secretary!! Hand over the car keys!!"

"Yes, yes! We're going! Irina!!"

Aren't slaves, graduate students, and Irina's secretary all the same thing? I should ask sometime when I have a chance. Whether she's getting paid properly. If she's not getting proper wages, I'll have to report this to the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

'...'

But why does that woman keep grinning? Why. What's so good that she's smiling? Can't I know too?

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