noveldrama
Chapter 181
Chapter 181
A short while later, I was left alone in the chairwoman’s office.
A faint smile played on my lips.
[“Well, if I fall under your hypnosis, it means I’ve lost, doesn’t it? I’d have no choice but to relinquish the title…”]
“It’s been a long road… or maybe a short one.”
When I first regressed, everything had felt overwhelming.
I was riddled with doubt and anxiety, constantly wondering:
“Is this just a dream? Will I wake up and find myself back at square one, hearing someone laugh and say, ‘This bastard’s grinning again, boss’?”
Before reuniting with my wives, every night had been a nightmare.
Even after I saw them again, some part of me remained on edge.
I couldn’t forget:
Alice’s tears as she mourned the loss of her family.
Shia’s despair before the burning Cheonha Clan.
My mentor losing an arm trying to protect me.
And me, drowning my failures in alcohol, powerless to stop any of it.
Those memories were burned into me, impossible to shake.
Even as I laughed and joked with my wives, deep down, I was anxious.
“But now… it’s different.”
I was dating both Shia and Alice.
And in just a few hours, I’d be confessing to my mentor after defeating her.
Thanks to the Celestial Spring Water, I was now a solid mid-upper-tier S-Class.
All of this before even completing a semester.
It had been a hard road, but my effort had paid off.
I’d worked tirelessly—for my wives and for myself.
Building my reputation, honing my skills, clearing gates, and cultivating connections.
What felt like an endless struggle was now bearing fruit, right before my eyes.
-Rustle.-
“If I can defeat my mentor… everything will change.”
First, the title of S-Class #1.
The symbolic weight of being the strongest in the world was incomparable to any other rank.
With that position, I could prepare far more effectively for the impending apocalypse than all the groundwork I’d done so far combined.
And it wouldn’t end there.
If my confession succeeded, I could finally be with all my wives.
Maybe then, my lingering PTSD would subside.
Everything I’d endured so far—every struggle—was for them.
As for getting their permission for a full-fledged harem? Well… that would take a little longer.
“More importantly… the final ‘???’ seal will be broken.”
The three mysterious seals that had unknowingly been placed on me were almost all gone.
Starting with my kiss with Shia, only one remained.
Every time a seal broke, my abilities leaped significantly.
When only one was left, I’d even gained the ability to touch the Saintess—a being of the same essence as the monsters pouring out of EX-Class gates.
If just breaking two seals granted me this much power, what would happen if I broke them all?
I might not just touch the Saintess; I might even be able to cut her.
And perhaps even those apocalyptic beasts.
“No… it won’t stop there.”
The previously indecipherable parts of my status window.
If I broke all the seals, I’d finally be able to read them.
The mysteries of regression, the enigmatic nature of the Saintess—
I felt certain I’d find answers there.
“But first, I need to defeat my mentor.”
-Swoosh.-
Ending my brief trip down memory lane, I reached for the katana hidden in the chairwoman’s office.
It was the katana entrusted to me by Brother Suguru—Yujindo.
My personal weapon, and a crucial tool for my upcoming duel with my mentor.
-Knock, knock.-
"Sir… I mean, ahem. Acting Chair Yujin, it’s almost time for your speech."
"Ah, I’ll be right there."
I slung the katana over my shoulder and began walking.
The Academy Festival, where so much would begin and end, was waiting.
And I was ready to open the curtain.
***
The grand auditorium for the Academy Festival's opening ceremony was unexpectedly packed with people.
Most cadets were waiting in their dorms, so the attendees here were mostly outsiders—industry figures and Awakened individuals.
In fact, nearly half of South Korea’s Awakened population had gathered here, a testament to the significance of the event.
-Whisper, whisper.-
"Surprising turnout. I thought no one would show up."
"Yeah, given what happened. I honestly thought it’d be canceled by Friday."
"Isn’t that Yu Jungchul? The head of the Cheonha Clan?"
"Looks like most of the other clan executives are here too."
It was a scene far from what people had initially expected.
After all, it had only been two days since the Seol Hayeon terror attack.
A foreign assault targeting South Korea, sparking whispers of war—some even mentioning World War III.
And yet, the festival was proceeding.
Not only that, but the Awakened had shown up in droves.
It was nothing short of astonishing.
"It must be because of him, right? Seo Yujin?"
"Probably. They need to protect him."
Industry insiders speculated that this festival was solely for Seo Yujin.
If the terror attack on Seol Hayeon had truly been aimed at destabilizing South Korea's Awakened society, then Yujin was the next likely target.
This gathering was a show of solidarity to protect him.
-Shuffle.-
[“Chairwoman, it might be dangerous here. You should step aside—”]
[“Should I abandon my family to ensure my own safety? Keep searching. If you see anyone suspicious, knock them out first and ask questions later.”]
[“…Understood!”]
Indeed, most of the Awakened had come with a similar purpose in mind.
The association’s call to action—a bait that used Yujin’s life as the lure—had been impossible to ignore.
Ignoring it would practically be unpatriotic.
"He followed Seol Hayeon so devotedly, and now… blinded by revenge."
There was another reason why Yujin had garnered so much attention.
To many, he was seen as a pitiful figure—a young man sacrificing himself for revenge.
The boy who had lost someone akin to a grandmother, now throwing his life on the line as a bargaining chip.
It was impossible not to feel sympathy for him.
For many of the Awakened present, just imagining Yujin’s anguished expression was enough to stir their hearts.
"We owe Seol Hayeon so much. It’s time to step up."
"Another mana bomb attack won’t work. My unique ability will ensure that."
"I’ll protect Yujin and capture the culprits."
Awakened individuals stiffened their spines, determination evident in their postures.
The Cheonha Clan led the charge, their resolve palpable.
To the civilians watching live broadcasts, the scene looked almost majestic.
-Vwoooom.-
[“Wow, how many Awakened are there here?!”]
[“This atmosphere is insane.”]
[“Are they trying to look good for Hypnosis King or what?”]
[“Acting Chair? Nah, dude’s basically the Chairperson now. No wonder they’re scrambling.”]
[“When the new boss calls, who wouldn’t show up?”]
In contrast, the chatroom’s tone was much lighter.
The association’s PR campaign, “Seol Hayeon is safe,” had worked wonders.
Most viewers believed it.
“Of course she’s fine. If she were actually dead, the country would already be in chaos.”
With that thought, they watched the broadcast in relative comfort.
While the industry and civilians were worlds apart in mood—
-Step, step.-
"…Here he comes!"
"The man who will inherit Seol Hayeon’s legend!"
The spotlight shifted to the center of the stage and the figure walking toward it: Seo Yujin.
Before long, the cameras captured the sight of a composed young man.
"…Good afternoon. I am Seo Yujin, the 7th-ranked S-Class Awakened and the acting Chair of the association on behalf of Seol Hayeon."
[“Hypnosis King looks amazing today.”]
[“If only he weren’t such a threat to my wallet.”]
[“It’s been a while since he showed up after taking the #7 spot. Nice to see him.”]
[“What a handsome guy.”]
The viewers erupted in praise.
Meanwhile, the Awakened present all wore somber expressions.
They could see the weight of determination in Yujin’s expression—a seriousness that resonated deeply.
"He must be struggling, too."
"Even putting Seol Hayeon aside, this could be the moment another attack happens."
"We must protect him."
-Clench.-
"And I will kiss my mentor!!"
Of course, if they knew what he was really thinking, the gravity of the moment might have dissipated.
Still, all eyes were on Yujin now.
The auditorium was packed with over a thousand industry figures and Awakened individuals.
Meanwhile, the online audience for the live broadcast had already reached two million—despite this being just the opening ceremony.
All attention was focused on Yujin.
Yet, he remained calm as he continued speaking.
"First, I’d like to thank you all for gathering here despite the troubling news."
"By troubling news, I’m referring to the reports of Seol Hayeon’s involvement in a terror attack."
"I understand the anxiety this must have caused. While I assure you she is unharmed, it’s true that an attack occurred. I’m sure many of you are wondering why we’re holding a festival in such times."
His speech flowed naturally, without a written script.
It was a bit rough, but no one seemed to mind.
After all, he had only been acting Chair for two days and was just twenty years old.
Considering that, it was remarkable he was even standing up there, speaking without faltering.
But Yujin wasn’t about to settle for "just not faltering."
"Seol Hayeon and I prepared this Academy Festival together.
I witnessed firsthand how much this event meant to her."
"Before the attack, she entrusted me with the association’s seal and told me,
‘If anything happens to me, I leave everything to you.’"
"Knowing how much this festival meant to her, canceling it was simply not an option."
[“Hmm, makes sense.”]
[“Is watching cadets fight really that important? Feels off.”]
[“I mean, we’re happy to have the entertainment, but still.”]
[“It’s a bit touching, though.”]
His voice trembled slightly, deliberately conveying emotion.
He successfully drew empathy from his audience before shifting gears entirely.
"And above all—"
-Crack.-
"—we cannot, and will not, surrender."
The atmosphere shifted dramatically as he expressed resolve and fury.
Everyone’s attention honed in on him.
"If we cancel this festival, that’s exactly what they want.
Their goal is to shake us."
"But we will not waver. They couldn’t even scratch Seol Hayeon’s skin."
"So, the Academy Festival will proceed,
and we will show the world that no one can shake us."
The Awakened stood taller, their shoulders no longer hunched.
Their hesitation from the recent terror attack melted away, replaced with determination.
The eyes of Korea’s strongest, the S-Class Awakened, burned fiercely.
"Many Awakened have gathered here today.
Korea, known as the strongest nation of Awakened, boasts exceptional individuals."
"Rest assured, there will be no further attacks.
Before they even attempt anything, we will be watching from the shadows."
"While they cower in fear, we will celebrate this festival.
We will show them we cannot be defeated."
Mana flared across the auditorium, rising from countless individuals.
The combined power of a thousand elite Awakened created an overwhelming, palpable energy.
[“Holy crap, the vibes.”]
[“Is this a performance or what?!”]
[“Thought this was emotional, but nope—it’s raw flexing.”]
[“When they do it together, it’s straight-up legendary.”]
Even the viewers watching from home couldn’t help but be impressed.
Amid the surging energy, Yujin smiled.
"One final thing: we will not surrender. Not to terror, nor to villains."
"Nothing will break us. Today, we prove that."
"With this, I declare the Pentagon Academy’s special event, the ‘Academy Festival,’ officially open."
-WAAAAAAAHHH!!!
The festival had begun amidst thunderous applause and electrifying energy.
-Chew, chew… pause.-
"…!!!!?"
"That man…?!"