Ch.155Episode 32. Ability Amplification Potion (End)

“You want me to provide samples so you can research eX potion?”

“Yes.”

A look of bewilderment appears on the Association President’s face as he faces me.

I could see him trying to discern my intentions from my eyes. It seemed like he was interrogating me, wondering what kind of trouble I was planning to cause this time.

It seemed I wasn’t trusted because of my tendency to complicate matters. Still, the results were always good, so couldn’t he just let it slide?

“…We’re researching it with all our resources. Do you find our efforts lacking?”

“Not at all. It’s not about lacking trust, but rather that if Bin-yoon here joins the research, we might see significant progress. That’s why I’m making this proposal.”

I gently patted Bin-yoon’s shoulder as she sat beside me drinking hot chocolate. The Association President’s gaze shifted to her.

“…So this is the student who developed the status ailment recovery potion?”

“Ah! Y-yes! Thank you for resolving the copyright issues, Mr. President.”

Bin-yoon hastily put down her cup and bowed her head in gratitude.

“Not at all. I was half-threatened anyway. Who knows what this person would have done if I hadn’t complied.”

His gaze toward me was quite fierce. I gave a bitter smile as I sipped my warm americano. When I turned away, my cheeks felt a bit hot.

“I was impressed by the results showing that consistently drinking the status ailment recovery potion can even help overcome drug addiction.”

That was Kim So-yang’s story.

“Is that so?”

“Oh my~ Even if you praise me like that, it doesn’t… ehehe…”

Bin-yoon fiddled with her hair and laughed awkwardly.

“Certainly, a talent who developed such a potion would be welcome anytime… but are you sure this is appropriate?”

It seemed he was reluctant to give something as dangerous as the eX potion to a student. He probably considered it risky to hand over such a dangerous item to a student, especially to Bin-yoon from the special class.

“I believe Bin-yoon has already demonstrated her skills and cooperative attitude during the development of the status ailment recovery potion. She can be serious when the situation calls for it.”

I don’t know why I’m sitting here trying to persuade him.

If I had maintained a good image from the beginning without causing trouble, this wouldn’t be happening.

“Indeed… you’re not wrong.”

After a moment’s consideration, he nodded.

“However, the eX potion is extremely dangerous. For a student to handle it…”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll make sure nothing goes wrong.”

If she were to develop other intentions and use the eX potion for purposes other than research, I would intervene.

I can’t choose to kill her at this point.

“If any problems arise, this child and I will take responsibility.”

“…I see.”

He rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought for a while.

“Very well. Within a week, I’ll have some samples delivered to the Academy. But I insist that you, Eugene, be present whenever the eX potion is being researched. You don’t have lectures during the vacation, right?”

“Understood.”

I couldn’t be with her 24/7, but I planned to keep a constant eye on her. I was also concerned about this matter.

“Good. Is that all you wanted to discuss, Eugene?”

“Yes.”

“Then I have a request of my own.”

“…Pardon?”

“Since I’ve granted your request, you’ll grant mine, won’t you?”

The Association President said with a sly smile. This fox-like old man…

“As you know, I prefer not to concern myself with matters unrelated to Akcheon or the special class.”

“Don’t worry. This is related to the special class.”

“The special class…?”

I slightly furrowed my brow.

What could the Association President possibly propose regarding the special class?

Just as I was quickly trying to think of possibilities, the Association President spoke.

“You’re aware that Yeon Mu-hee and Yu A-ri, who will be advancing to their third year, will be obtaining their hero licenses and going on hero internships, correct?”

“…Yes.”

Even as I answered, I couldn’t hide my uneasiness.

“I’d like you to supervise their internships.”

“…What?”

Although I knew how internships were conducted from the original work, I had no intention of going that far.

I had planned to guide the special class students to become heroes and help them adapt easily to the hero industry, but then step back.

“No, why should I…”

“Ah, I forgot to mention. This would only be if they don’t follow the instructions of their senior heroes.”

That was an issue I had been considering as well.

After all, the special class was created because of those two.

It was undeniable that if trouble were to occur, it would more likely come from the second-years rather than the first-years.

“While I highly regard their abilities, their cooperation is another matter entirely.”

“Is that so?”

I sipped my americano again, contemplating.

“I’ve heard they’ve become much more cooperative since you became their instructor, but one never knows. Consider it a form of insurance.”

“…Sigh. Fine. I’ll do it.”

I’ll need to give them a stern warning before they go on their internships.

“By the way, regarding Akcheon… has there been no movement yet?”

“Nothing significant, but based on the testimonies of captured Akcheon members, we’ve issued an order to Forest, currently ranked fourth.”

Forest…?

Ah, that S-class hero who wasn’t even mentioned in the original story.

Since I know this world is a novel, I had overlooked it, but thinking about it now, why was this person never mentioned when other S-class heroes were?

The setting for S-class means they’re among the strongest in this world.

It’s strange that such a person wasn’t mentioned at all.

Why didn’t they appear?

Was there no specific reason to include them?

No, that’s not it. It doesn’t make sense that South Korea wouldn’t use their remaining S-class hero when facing the threat of being devoured by Akcheon.

Or were they a plot twist character?

No, that’s also rejected.

If they were a plot twist character, they would have at least appeared and been mentioned a few times.

Then… were they a dead character?

That doesn’t make sense either.

If they had died, it would have caused all sorts of issues. The impact of an S-class hero’s death wouldn’t be something to gloss over. It would have been mentioned at least once.

After considering various possibilities, I thought of the “worst” case scenario.

Could it be… that the author created them and then forgot about them?

…Surely not? Even for a lazy author…

Or perhaps they were a new character meant to appear later, but that was meaningless at the point of my possession.

To resolve this question, I needed to meet this person called Forest.

I needed to know why this person became a “character not even mentioned.” This could potentially become a variable.

“What does this hero… I mean, Hero Forest do?”

“As you can see, he’s South Korea’s fourth S-class hero. He has the ability to utilize the power of the earth.”

“…Is it possible to know about this person’s personal information?”

“I cannot disclose any personal information. The Association strictly maintains confidentiality on such matters.”

“I see.”

Nothing comes easy, really.

Can’t be helped. If the Association is protecting his identity, I’ll have to find out on my own.

“Then what was this order you mentioned?”

“That… is something I’m reluctant to discuss here.”

His gaze shifted to Bin-yoon.

It meant he couldn’t disclose operations to non-related personnel.

“Fine. Let’s discuss that over a call later.”

“Is there some issue with Hero Forest?”

“…Issue, you might call it. I’ve developed an interest in this person.”

How could I not be interested in knowing why this person never appeared?

If they turn out to be an obstacle, I’ll deal with them mercilessly.

“Gasp! But Hero Forest is a man!”

Bin-yoon urgently pulled her lips away from her hot chocolate cup, alarmed. She doesn’t think I’m gay, does she?

“…That’s not what I meant.”

Can’t she just keep quiet and drink her hot chocolate?

* @ *

“It’s been a while.”

Starlight, with his rainbow-colored hair, said this to each executive as they entered through the secret door. Arriving at different times, they looked around the interior with curiosity.

“Man… It was tough getting here. Without the disguise artist, we had to wear wigs and change our body shapes unnecessarily.”

Soleta grumbled, leaning against one side of the cave wall.

The ability to change body shape was one of the skills he had stolen from a woman he had raped before.

Flo nodded in agreement with Soleta’s words.

“The sensation of having fuller hair is quite nice.”

“Pfft. Baldy.”

“What did you say?”

As the two growled at each other, Cloud spoke up.

“It seems even the Association couldn’t imagine using a tourist site as a hideout.”

“Indeed.”

Currently, they were holding a secret meeting in a hidden space after blending in with tourists at a cave attraction in Gangwon Province.

Starlight, Soleta, Flo, Cloud.

The four remaining executives of Akcheon had gathered.

“We can’t talk here for long, so I’ll get straight to the point. I’m going to use the eX potion in a few days.”

“!”

The three executives flinched.

“Have you finally overcome the side effects?”

“No. There hasn’t been significant progress in the eX potion that Paris refined as much as possible. But I’m going to use it anyway.”

“Will that be okay?”

“I didn’t want to use it either, but… those Association bastards destroyed our economic infrastructure, so I have no choice but to act.”

“But isn’t it difficult to control people who have taken the eX potion currently?”

“I saw a video of Henry controlling those who took the eX potion. Giving orders is quite possible.”

“But if side effects remain, they won’t last long before dying, right? We’ve already lost many members to captures, can we afford to waste them like this?”

In response to Cloud’s point, Starlight grinned as if he had anticipated it.

“There are suitable people. There’s a closed-off group that won’t know what’s happening no matter what.”

“What group is that?”

“‘Anrak Church.'”

Anrak Church.

It was the cult managed by Wolgwang.

“Wasn’t Anrak Church managed by Wolgwang?”

“Don’t worry. I have authority over it now.”

“…”

Cloud felt displeased by Starlight’s words.

Not only did he dislike the attitude of trying to act like a king in Wolgwang’s absence, but he was also unhappy about Starlight trying to use Wolgwang’s resources as if they were his own.

‘This is quite annoying…’

“I’m going to use those religious fanatics that Wolgwang was managing.”