Ch.191Chapter 8. Ability User Maker (1)

If the greatest difference between humans and beasts were to be named, it would undoubtedly be “intelligence” and “will.”

Humans possess intelligence.

Through knowledge, they can realize what is needed to fulfill their desires.

Humans possess will.

In pursuing any goal, they act with powerful determination to achieve it without fail.

However, having intelligence and will doesn’t mean one can awaken supernatural abilities.

If mere thinking could awaken supernatural powers, everyone over 25 would have already awakened them.

Someone would have awakened powers to protect children from harm.

But that’s absurd.

That’s why nobody believed it.

It was considered impossible for Zenros, those who had become demons and returned to being human, to regain their supernatural abilities.

If asked why it’s impossible, the answer would be simple: not a single Zenros had ever succeeded.

The same applied to those confined on Sejong Island, and even Ermina Sternfeld, believed to be the first Zenros discovered in Korea, never regained her powers.

Was it really because their will was too weak?

Or was it simply impossible?

There probably wasn’t any way to regain supernatural abilities after becoming a demon. If sheer willpower were enough, everyone would do whatever it took to strengthen their resolve.

And.

If.

Willpower alone could restore supernatural abilities.

Couldn’t non-powered individuals also gain abilities?

With these thoughts, everyone awaited May 3rd.

Mount Halla.

Baengnokdam.

Around the fairly wide lake at its center, many people had formed a circular formation, waiting for the appointed time.

“Yes, this is reporter Ju reporting from the scene. I’m currently at Baengnokdam on Mount Halla, where the Sephirot Knights promised to appear. The breeze is cool, and no flying objects approaching Mount Halla have been detected.”

The formally dressed reporter was enthusiastically speaking into a microphone in front of the camera.

“Currently, four S-class heroes are on standby here: Battle God, Thunder Empress, Armored Taejo, and Princess Bari. Including all available S-class ability users and A-class and below heroes, a total of twenty heroes are guarding the site.”

Standing in the safe zone where filming was permitted, she pointed to where the heroes had taken their positions.

“Though they missed them last time, all eyes are on whether they’ll capture a member of the Sephirot Knights—the self-proclaimed ‘Dark Charisma’—as the time approaches 11:58, just two minutes before the promised noon appointment.”

Soon.

The time when Dark Charisma promised to send someone to Baengnokdam was approaching.

“Yes. If the abducted individuals don’t return, the Korean government and Hero Association will designate Dark Charisma as an S-class villain and the Sephirot Knights as a villain organization, initiating more aggressive search operations through international cooperation… Ah!”

The reporter suddenly turned her head.

“As I speak, something is beginning to shine in the middle of Baengnokdam Lake!”

A circular formation with three colors began to glow at the center of Baengnokdam Lake. Red, green, and gold colors divided the circle into three equal parts, spinning around, and soon something emerged from within.

“Those are… people! Those people…?! They’re the abducted Hero Association personnel!!”

People jumped out one by one from the portal that opened in midair. They were all dressed in black formal suits rather than uniforms, looking as if they had just attended a wedding.

“These individuals in black suits… Yes! According to our information, the first man to emerge is Hong Chang-sik, a missing agent of the Hero Association… They’re all here! Every single one of them has returned!”

Splash.

The agents stepped onto the surface of Baengnokdam Lake. From E-class to B-class, every one of them floated on the water, emitting a subtle flow of magical energy beneath their feet—a sight that astonished all onlookers.

“Ah…! Is that water walking?! That’s a very special ability, but how can all of them walk on water like this?!”

The reporter unconsciously directed her question to the viewers beyond the camera.

But it was a question everyone watching would share. Water walking was impossible for ordinary ability users, and even if possible, having everyone use it like a ‘basic skill’ was clearly unusual.

“Could the Sephirot Knights have taught them… Ah! As I speak, someone else is coming out!”

Whirr.

Beyond the circular dimensional gate, a woman gently extended her foot forward. The white-haired woman looked like a Zenros, but she had a black bridge protruding from the side of her head.

“A Zenros, an ability-lost person! I don’t understand why she’s wearing a dress… Ah?!”

Rustle.

The woman didn’t sink into the water but gently stepped onto the water’s surface in her shoes.

Unless her shoes were specially made, floating on water clearly meant she was using her own ability, her magical power.

“H-how is such a miracle…!”

While others had lost their abilities, how could she use powers? After becoming a demon and returning to human form, how could she use mana when others couldn’t?

“More ability-lost individuals are appearing one after another…! The notable feature is that they all have black or red bridges on their heads…! It seems all the abducted Zenros have returned! And they all seem to have… regained their abilities!”

Not just one, not just several, but everyone who had disappeared had regained their abilities.

“My goodness. What kind of magic did Dark Charisma use—”

[Hahahahaha!!]

A familiar laugh erupted.

The S-class heroes were about to move, but the laughter came from somewhere else entirely.

[You’ve worked hard, hero comrades.]

“A hologram…?!”

[That’s right.]

Whirr.

As the abducted Hero Association agents raised something like orbs toward the sky, a giant of light, dozens of meters tall, appeared above Baengnokdam.

[As expected of the strong-willed Koreans. You all followed along better than I thought. Hmph. Well, I wouldn’t have bothered with the weak-willed ones in the first place.]

“W-who exactly are you…!”

[Behold, everyone! See how they rise again, despite losing their abilities, despite becoming demons and losing everything!]

Flutter.

[Without a single dropout, all have been rehabilitated! Hahahahaha!!]

Dark Charisma spread both arms wide.

[Crush weak thoughts! Self-destruct in the face of trials! And thereby, grasp success and rise! By reviving dead abilities, I have called ability users back to this land!!]

Everyone realized that the hologram-like shimmer was a form created by magical power, but since the Association agents were holding the orbs creating it, no one knew what to say.

[Supernatural ability is alive!!]

BANG!

Something like fireworks exploded.

Just as when Dark Charisma had disappeared before, rainbow colors sparkled, and the heroes immediately moved toward the lake.

“Damn it, swim! Those who can run on water, come right now!”

[It’s useless. My body isn’t there. As promised, I have corrected weak and rotten minds. Ability users! Farewell! Hahahahaha!!!]

The hologram vanished like mist.

The heroes were furious as it disappeared without a trace, as if having said everything it needed to say.

Flash!

The circle disappeared.

Dark Charisma had literally dropped off the people he had taken and vanished.

“W-what is this….”

“Hello, everyone. I am Park Eun-jung, a B-class agent of the Hero Association.”

Park Eun-jung, the most senior among the abducted, stepped forward.

Her voice, resonating across Baengnokdam, carried deep persuasiveness and was infused with magical power.

“With the help of the Sephirot Knights, we were able to awaken to a higher level. We could kill our rotten and weak minds and be reborn as new humans.”

The others behind Park Eun-jung all nodded with composed faces at her words.

“W-what exactly happened?”

“…….”

Park Eun-jung’s expression suddenly hardened.

As if she hated even remembering it, she trembled slightly before swallowing and answering.

“We received mental education.”

“Pardon?”

“We came to understand what justice is, what goodness is, and what truth is.”

“Huh….”

Everyone could only offer hollow laughter.

“I report that Park Eun-jung and the Hero Association agents have each had their abilities intensified, and the ability-lost individuals, although at E-class level and with different abilities than before, can now use magical power. I report this.”

“……!!”

“We have returned. Stronger than before.”

“How on earth…?”

“How. That’s not important. What’s more important is.”

Park Eun-jung simply uttered one statement.

“We have clearly realized what actions we must take for justice. Suppressing all demons, guiding them, and turning them into heroes. That is our destiny and mission.”

“Y-you seem to have become very serious….”

“Because we learned justice. From the ally of justice, Dark Charisma.”

Flash!

“Justice!!”

“””Justice!!”””

Park Eun-jung and the agents struck an odd pose.

As if gripping cards, they pressed their index and middle fingers together and swept them over their opposite shoulders, all performing the exact same motion.

“””Hmph.”””

It was.

Perhaps a scene of mass brainwashing.

Anyway.

All the abducted had returned.

‘All.’

* * *

“Justice, huh.”

“The teacher’s speech looks pretty realistic for a recorded video. Is it because he’s just rambling on his own?”

“Speeches are originally not conversations with others, but me talking to myself.”

I watched the video of those rescued from Baengnokdam with Ymir on TV.

“Zenros must be envious. Being Zenros but having their abilities revived.”

“…It’s fascinating. How can someone bestow abilities on others?”

“That’s the power of the Syndicate.”

The Zenros’ abilities weren’t revived.

“People will think they awakened new abilities, not that someone put them there.”

They merely received new abilities along with a tiny bit of magical power.

“The executives of the Syndicate, Yimemangryang, can awaken ordinary people as ability users. If you steal abilities from demons, our Syndicate can ‘bestow’ abilities on others. Of course, there are limitations. They don’t belong to the executives.”

A divine power unique to Yimemangryang, impossible for anyone else.

A godlike power that only one person in Yimemangryang can wield.

The executives were merely given a portion of that power; all power originated from one person.

“It could be called a divine blessing.”

The age of supernatural abilities.

If there exists a being who can give humanity abilities instead of bread and wine, that being would surely be a god.

“The boss is a god.”

That god called himself “the boss.”