Chapter 46
A dreamy space filled with beautiful blooming flowers. Several pussies floated through it, softly glimmering.
Then, before I knew it, Seol-hee suddenly appeared. Revealing her figure, she slowly took off her clothes, then turned around and thrust out her buttocks. The plump pink pussy visible between her firm buttocks was wet.
Next came Jang Seo-yeong. Revealing her ample breasts, she approached on all fours and spread her pussy open. Her pussy was already drenched in arousal fluid.
Jin So-hee appeared as well. Her formerly virgin pussy was now ready to receive a cock. She spread her legs wide, exposing her pink inner flesh.
As they surrounded me, Im Hwa-yeon descended from the sky, her red hair streaming like flames. She wasn't wearing a thing.
Im Hwa-yeon rubbed her pussy over my face. The heat from her body reached me. As befitted an A-rank ability user, her pussy was as hot as a flame.
I was tasting each of the women around me and enjoying myself when...
The sky split open, and something enormous fell from above.
"Twinkle Diva-rakkyung!"
A huge gay man in a pink dress landed in front of me.
"Aaaaaah!"
I opened my eyes, drenched in a cold sweat. My heart was pounding violently.
'Fuck.... Why did that gay bastard show up at the very end....'
I panted and looked around. The nightmare's lingering effects still hadn't faded.
"You're awake?"
I heard a voice. When I looked toward the window, Im Hwa-yeon was standing with the sunlight behind her. Her red hair glittered in the light.
"How long was I...."
"Three days."
She answered before I could finish, her voice oddly sharp.
When I tried to move, I felt something cold around my wrist. Looking down, I saw that I was wearing handcuffs.
“What's this…?”
"They're special handcuffs developed by the Association. They restrict abilities.“
At Im Hwa-yeon's words, I looked down at the handcuffs.
I moved the internal energy in my dantian, and fortunately, it moved normally.
‘Is it because it's a different kind of energy?’
I pretended not to know anything and said to Im Hwa-yeon,
”Why am I wearing handcuffs?“
Im Hwa-yeon spoke with a troubled expression.
"Don't you know that better than anyone? What is your identity?”
At her question, my face stiffened.
'What? Am I still dreaming?'
My thoughts grew tangled as I tried to figure out what Im Hwa-yeon meant.
‘Could she have realized I'm not Kim Woo-jin? Or is there something else?’
A complicated mix of emotions briefly crossed Im Hwa-yeon's face.
"So, aren't you going to answer?“
"Miss Hwa-yeon, that's enough. I'll handle the rest."
The hospital room door opened, and a sturdy old man entered. He was wearing a hanbok, and an imposing air emanated from him.
Im Hwa-yeon got to her feet.
"Association President…."
'The Association President?'
The head of the Ability Users Association had come in person. The situation seemed more serious than I'd expected.
The Association President slowly walked toward the bed.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Han Mu-gang, the Association President.“
”I'm Kim Woo-jin….“
”Kim Woo-jin…. You aren't Kim Woo-jin, are you?“
My heart dropped at his words. I figured I should deny it for now.
”I think there's been some misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding…."
Han Mu-gang gave a small laugh. But there wasn't the slightest trace of amusement in his eyes.
"Do you know this? The government and the Association keep records of every non-awakened person's DNA, blood, and fingerprints. Because such cases are so unusual, they're also used for research. And…."
The Association President slowly continued.
"Not a single one of them matched you.“
I tensed at the Association President's words. Something was strange.
'What...? I only changed my appearance, but this is Kim Woo-jin's body.'
My thoughts grew tangled over this incomprehensible situation. Just as I was wondering whether to break free of the handcuffs and flee,
the Association President opened his mouth again.
"Hahaha, don't be so tense. I have no plans to do anything to you yet."
After deliberately creating such a heavy atmosphere, the Association President laughed heartily as he spoke.
Seeing my tense expression, he took a seat with a laugh. The sudden change in atmosphere only left me more confused.
The oppressive air from moments earlier had vanished, and a relaxed laugh echoed through the hospital room.
'What the hell is this....'
I couldn't let my guard down in response to Han Mu-gang's sudden change in attitude.
"Young man, you're awfully tense. Heh heh, it's been a while since I put on a serious act like that, so I enjoyed it. Isn't that right, Miss Hwa-yeon?"
Han Mu-gang laughed like a mischievous old man.
"Hmph…."
Im Hwa-yeon dropped her cold expression and looked at me with a pout.
"Oh dear, looks like your girlfriend's quite upset. Ho ho."
"Mr. President, he's not my boyfriend!"
Im Hwa-yeon flared up.
"Heh heh, youth is wonderful. Ah, to be young."
At the Association President's playful words, Im Hwa-yeon's face grew even redder as she turned her head away. The heavy atmosphere from moments before had changed in an instant.
‘Has age finally damaged his brain? I can't predict him at all.‘
I mentally cursed the old man, then asked him with an awkward expression,
"Haha…. Then what will happen to me?"
"Once a few investigations show that you're not dangerous, you'll be released.“
"May I ask what kind of investigations?“
In response to my question, the Association President turned toward Im Hwa-yeon.
"Miss Hwa-yeon, could you step outside for a moment? What follows is top secret."
Im Hwa-yeon seemed to hesitate for a moment at the Association President's words. But she soon nodded and got to her feet.
"Understood."
Once Im Hwa-yeon closed the hospital room door and left, the Association President's expression grew serious again.
"Now then, my first question. Where are you from?"
I tensed at once. I wondered whether the Association President's question meant what I thought it did.
”I don't understand what you mean by that question.“
”To put it simply, I'm asking which world's Earth you came from.“
He already knew that I had come from another world. I debated whether to answer his question or lie.
Han Mu-gang watched me with a sharp gaze, as if studying my reaction.
While I considered my answer, the hospital room sank into heavy silence. Han Mu-gang waited for my response without showing any sign of impatience.
"Before I answer, I'd like to ask one thing. Have there been other people from other worlds besides me?"
"That's right. According to the World Association, there have been seven otherworlders in total. With you, that makes eight now."
I wasn't particularly surprised by the Association President's answer. It was something I had expected to a certain degree.
"Each came from a different world. I hear one came from a world whose history is completely different from ours, while another came from what we'd commonly call a fantasy world."
The Association President slowly continued.
"So where are you from?"
I thought for a moment. He had already pinned down my identity. I wondered how much I should tell him.
As I sorted through my complicated thoughts, a sudden idea occurred to me.
If there was an ability user who could distinguish truth from lies, there was a chance my lie would be exposed.
’Could it be that he came alone because no such ability user exists?‘
Or perhaps the Association President himself possessed such an ability, or owned an artifact that did.
I had to make what I said sound as truthful as possible.
’And I absolutely mustn't mention my app ability.‘
I knew how overpowered this ability was. I didn't even want to imagine how I would be treated if I revealed it.
"I…. I'm from a martial-arts world.“
Since I had recently visited the Yin-Yang Manual, I decided to put it that way. As I spoke, I watched the Association President's reaction.
The Association President nodded. He seemed to believe my answer.
"I knew it!"
The Association President's eyes lit up with interest.
"According to the reports, the swordsmanship you displayed and the energy in your dantian…. They were completely different in nature from the ether in our world. I suspected it, but a martial-arts world…!"
His response made it seem as though the Association President had already examined my entire body.
”There's something I'm curious about.“
The Association President, who had been making such a fuss, looked at me with a serious expression and spoke.
”What is it?“
”You…. Were you quite a big shot in the martial-arts world?“
”...Pardon?“
His serious question was different from what I had expected, so I stared at the Association President with a blank expression.
"Was that too difficult? What level have you reached? Surely you're not merely at the Second-Rate or First-Rate level?"
"I'm at the Peak Realm…. Why?“
The Association President looked slightly disappointed.
"Aw, what a shame. I wanted to fight someone who had reached the Transcendence Realm from the novels in real life. Ah! And how do the ability users here compare to the people in your world?"
The Association President asked with his eyes shining like those of a curious child.
"I don't know exactly. I haven't been here long since crossing over…."
"Oh, I see. How long has it been since you crossed over?"
"Less than a month."
"Hmm… Is that so? It hasn't been as long as I thought."
The Association President rubbed his chin and fell into thought. Then he suddenly clapped his hands.
"Ah, now that I think of it, there's one more thing I'm curious about. Would you be willing to teach the martial arts you've learned to someone else?"
"That…."
Seeing my hesitation, a smile spread across the Association President's lips.
"It would be difficult, I suppose? Is it a martial art passed down to a single successor, or perhaps a family's secret technique?"
Han Mu-gang's eyes glinted with curiosity.
’This old man…. Is he a martial-arts otaku?'
”I've never seen an otherworlder in my life, and now I'm seeing a martial artist who actually uses real martial arts. The world's worth living in after all. Isn't it?"
”...Yes. Are you finished with your questions?“
"Hahaha. I've only heard about otherworlders in stories, so I got carried away after seeing one in person. Let's move on to the next question."
"Yes."
"Do you intend to conquer or destroy this world?"
"Not at all. I just want to live an ordinary life.“
"Do you have any unusual beliefs? For instance... that women are superior to men, that you're the savior of the world, or anything along those lines."
”No…. Nothing like that.“
"Do you have the ability to control or destroy other people's minds?"
”No.“
At my answer, the Association President nodded.
"That concludes my questions."
A brief silence followed. The questions had been somewhat—or rather, very—different from what I had expected.
"What about Kim Woo-jin's case…. Is there no punishment?“
"Was that why you've looked so gloomy? I don't particularly care whether one non-awakened person lives or dies. If anything, gaining a talented ability user is a benefit, isn't it? As long as you don't pose a threat to the world, that is."
The Association President's words revealed his disdainful attitude toward non-awakened people. His tone made it sound as if he regarded them as expendable tools.
'It seems non-awakened people are treated even worse than I thought.‘
"Heh heh, judging by your expression, I take it you don't approve of how non-awakened people are treated."
”...Yes.“
My face had stiffened for another reason, but the Association President seemed to have misunderstood. I honestly didn't care that much, but I answered yes for the sake of my image.
"Well, if you'd been a person from our world, you'd naturally have been punished. But as an otherworlder, you're exempt."
”Why?“
”If an otherworlder and someone from our world have a child, a powerful ability user will be born.
I frowned at the Association President's words.
“I'm sorry, but I have no intention of having sex with just any woman.”
“Now, now, don't misunderstand. I have absolutely no intention of forcing you.”
“Then that's settled. Is there anything else?”
"Fill this out."
The Association President held out a single sheet of white paper to me.
"What's this?"
"It's a form to register your identity. Or do you intend to keep living as Kim Woo-jin?"
Looking closely at the paper, I saw that it was an identity registration application. There were spaces for my name, age, ability classification, and other details.
'Can I use my own name?'
It was an unexpected offer. Rather than living under Kim Woo-jin's identity, I would obviously prefer to use my original name.
I looked over the form he handed me and slowly filled it out one section at a time.
I paused for a moment. I had to write down my age…. Since things had turned out this way, I figured I might as well make myself a little younger than thirty.
After completing the form, I handed it to the Association President.
"Let's see. The name is Jin Seo-yoon, what a girlish name. Age twenty? You're much younger than I expected. Cheolwon Qigong, huh... It sounds like a rather shabby name for a martial art, but judging by how you fought that gay man, it must be no pushover."
The Association President spoke as he read the form.
"For the time being, you're a member of our Association. Of course, you'll also be under surveillance."
The Association President added with a meaningful smile,
"Ah, as a side note…. If you commit a crime while under surveillance, you'll be sent to the stud farm."
"...That won't happen."
"Now that's everything. An Association employee will come by in a few days; just follow his instructions."
The Association President got to his feet. He stood by the door, then looked back at me one last time.
"And good job not running away without taking off the handcuffs. Well then, I'll be going. Miss Hwa-yeon will remove the handcuffs for you."
Once the Association President left, all the tension drained from me. That old man was impossible to read.
'Ha.... I'm tired.'
At that moment, the door opened, and Im Hwa-yeon entered.