What remains vividly in my memory is the massive darkness that overwhelmed my vision.

One arm was literally crushed, and the other had its wrist twisted. Even while doing so, I drew the Cyclops's gaze toward me.

...Well, thanks to that, Hyeon Sujin was able to use her last resort, so I suppose it worked out?

The problem is, I don't remember well what happened next. I struggled to barely open my eyes that kept trying to close and tried to get up.

Surely I wouldn't be unscathed after taking that attack. If that one-eyed bastard really survived, this would be beyond serious levels.

Hyeon Sujin is also an S-rank ability user by origin. It was her final strike, unleashing everything she had. Someone who was completely unsuited for frontal combat went straight ahead. Even so, if he endured that... I don't know. No answer comes to mind even when I think about it.

"...Snap out of it!"

"Keukk!"

Suddenly, I screamed at the sensation of my arm catching fire. It seems like when it was crushed hurt less! Why is this damn woman touching the painful spot...

"You seem to be coming to your senses now. Seojin. Can you see me?"

"...Huh. Huh? By any chance, Jiyoon..."

I wasn't seeing things. The person next to me wasn't Hyeon Sujin. Rather, it was Han Jiyoon, who had been searching all over for Hyeon Sujin.

"Wait. Let me give you a painkiller injection first."

When did she start carrying this kind of thing around? Han Jiyoon gives me an injection.

"When... when did you arrive?"

"Just now! Sorry for being late. I came as fast as I could, but I was late again. You went through a lot. And congratulations. Now you're truly an S-rank ability user that no one can deny, right?"

"I... am?"

"You killed an S-rank monster, the Cyclops! That's enough!"

At those words, I barely managed to get up and look around. As Han Jiyoon said, I could see that massive body lying over there. Its head was completely gone, having taken the final blow properly.

"Ah. Jiyoon. By any chance, besides me, were there other people..."

"Other people? Who was there? When I arrived at the scene, only Seojin was there?"

For a moment I hesitated, but there was no longer any reason not to talk about it. It was true that Hyeon Sujin had acted as a villain, but it was also true that she fought the monster. For that reason, I cautiously told Han Jiyoon about what had happened earlier.

"...No, wait. Wait a minute."

Of course, for Han Jiyoon, this would be a completely incomprehensible story.

A woman who had long ago betrayed the nation and her comrades to become a villain suddenly acting like an ability user. She did something that other Elders would absolutely never do.

"That's ridiculous. Why would that traitor bitch suddenly do that? Why did she help Seojin?"

"That's..."

In a bit more detail, and including the more ugly parts. Hyeon Sujin told her past colleague, Han Jiyoon, the words she hadn't been able to say. Additionally, I added that the underground facility below was evidence of that.

Of course, Han Jiyoon still looked like she couldn't believe it. I understand. Considering Hyeon Sujin's actions after becoming an Elder, it's more than understandable. To those who lost precious people because of her, she's an even more wicked existence.

"It's the truth. I didn't simply fall for her words. I followed that woman and examined all the facilities here, and there are other reasons too. At least that part is absolutely not a lie. Jiyoon."

Using all my strength, I spoke in as serious a tone as possible. Geez. Trying to set the atmosphere with both arms wrecked is quite ridiculous.

"...First, first let's get detailed discussion after you receive treatment. We'll talk again then."

From far away, the sound of people and commotion rushes in. Are they rushing over after confirming it's safe? Come quickly and do something about my arm. At this rate, if there are aftereffects, it'll be a national loss now.

"Jiyoon. What about the other side? It didn't seem like only this gate appeared here."

"That's right. Dozens of gates appeared around the city center too. They say the damage is quite severe."

"That's terrible."

"No. It could have been terrible. For S-rank, there was Seojin and... let's talk about that traitor later. The A-rank ones that appeared in the city center were handled by reliable new juniors."

Reliable new juniors?

"Don't look like you don't know. They're all people Seojin knows well."

People I know well? If it's people I know well, then those guys would be all of them?

"Could it be, my team?"

"Why wouldn't it be? Right now those four have risen as top aces. Even in Seojin's team, dual types appeared. Two of them. Ability user Lee Hyunwoo and Chairman Kang's granddaughter, Kim Suhyeon."

The situation was settled much faster than expected.

Stability returned to the devastated city center as personnel dispatched from each region arrived. The damage could have been tremendous, but fortunately it was prevented thanks to clan members who had come out in advance. It's very welcome news that my team members performed so remarkably during all this.

However, if there's one uncomfortable thing, it's about that underground research and experiment facility.

People from the nation arrived saying they were recovering the S-rank monster's corpse. But as soon as they arrived, they put up restricted access fences around that area and didn't allow anyone to approach. Even S-rank ability user Han Jiyoon was no exception.

To those who know nothing, this would just look like normal response.

But to me, it seemed like their intention was to hide the underground facility, not the monster corpse.

"...Something's really suspicious."

"I told you. There's a secret research facility."

As if noticing the strange situation, Han Jiyoon decided to call for reinforcements.

"Yes, Association President. I think you need to come to Changwon right now. It seems like a bigger problem has arisen, not the monster issue."

As if he was planning to come to Changwon anyway, the Association President appeared in less than an hour. But he wasn't alone. Beside him was also Kang Minseong, who usually refrains from external activities.

"What on earth is going on? This is the first time I've seen Han Jiyoon act like this."

"Seojin here will tell you the detailed story."

Worried that they might erase all evidence, I quickly told the story. Why Hyeon Sujin became a traitor, why she accepted that and tried to get revenge. The fact that those unethical and terrible things exist in the underground there.

"...Examiner Baek Seojin."

"Yes, Chairman."

"What you just said, is it really true? You weren't deceived by Hyeon Sujin, that woman?"

"No. I'm certain."

"How can you be so confident?"

Kang Minseong's doubt is valid. Right now my words have nothing that could be called evidence. In this case, I have no choice but to bring out deeper things. That evidence, I'll have to do it.

"...Actually, I'm also a person related to that facility. Precisely, I was created there."

My words must have been quite shocking, as Han Jiyoon, the Association President, and even Kang Minseong. Everyone stares at me with wide eyes, unable to say anything.

"Really... is that so?"

"Though the memory is blurry, it definitely remains."

After hearing that, Kang Minseong bites his lip with a crack. Then he touches the sword at his waist while distorting his expression.

"These bastards really went crazy. Not only did they arbitrarily collect genetic material, but they were creating people? To use as weapons? Hey, Association President. Did you know about this?"

"No, senior. I'm hearing this for the first time too. This is really... shocking."

The Association President holds his forehead and lets out a dumbfounded sigh. Then he looks at Han Jiyoon standing beside him and opens his lips.

"Han Jiyoon. This is an Association President's order. Go to the incident scene right now and forcibly withdraw all personnel. I don't care whose orders they received. This is an issue that must be brought to public attention immediately."

"Yes, Association President."

Han Jiyoon quickly disappears to the scene.

There won't be anyone who can stop her, no matter who's there.

"Really, this is absurd. These crazy bastards. Didn't they know that such acts directly deny the sacrifices of all ability users who have fought until now?"

"I'm sorry, senior. I should have paid more attention."

"What could the Association President do? The trash were determined to hide it, how could you know?"

Then Kang Minseong, who let out a single sigh of 'Ah,' turns his gaze to me.

"Hyeon Sujin. Then that child, even knowing all that..."

"She was already manipulated into being a traitor by their hands."

"Why didn't she explain her grievance? She could have done so sufficiently?"

"If she remained as an S-rank ability user, she couldn't get the revenge she wanted."

What Hyeon Sujin wants isn't for the involved parties to receive legal punishment. She wants to directly inflict maximum pain with her own hands and take their lives. Wanting them to experience the same thing her fiancé went through.

How could she do that as an ability user living in society? So instead of clearing her grievance, she willingly became a traitor. To satisfy her greater anger, her greater desire for revenge.

"Hakjun will despair when he learns this fact. Hyeon Sujin, he was a friend who secretly cared for that child."

"The other S-ranks will be the same. Until now they thought of her as a traitor and were hostile, but if it turns out that wasn't actually the case, they'll receive a big psychological shock."

The Association President, who had been speaking in a somber tone, suddenly gestures to me.

"Examiner Baek Seojin. The fact that you were born in that facility, I think it should be kept secret."

"Secret, you mean?"

The Association President nods at my question and continues.

"They'll try to find any loophole. In such a situation, you're a good excuse. Look at this. An outstanding result came from that research and experimentation. Now we can make weapons that can even kill S-rank monsters. Unethical? When gates are appearing everywhere and monsters are getting stronger, do we have time to worry about that!"

"..."

"If they make such noise, there will be those who are tempted. People's fear always becomes a big shield."

It was a plausible opinion. If they make such noise, there will be those who nod.

I was also keeping that in mind. Public reaction is always very important.

"Association President. Then, how about this?"

So I decided to link those two things together.

"This S-rank gate that occurred. Say it was drawn out because of the research facility's experiments."

If they try to hide their dirty secrets somehow. On this side, we just need to clench our teeth and bring it to the surface.