Declaration of Extra Strike

Instead of clicking on the lower guiding part, I raised my hand and pulled the status window down.  The screen that I thought was the end went down, revealing grey inactive skills.

“Oh!”

The two people standing outside the glass wall looked at me curiously at the sound that leaked out without my knowledge.

What unfolded before my eyes was my skill.  The real skill that ‘Kang Eui-jin’ possessed.

[Confident God of Medicine‘s Touch (S)]

[Golden Cauldron (SS)]

[Born to be Star (S)]

[Master of Tomb (S)]

[Flamel’s Issues (S)]

[Heaven’s Treasure (S)]

[Mental Defense (S)]

I was moved to tears right at the first glance, by the beautiful skills that were far different from the mass-produced types of low-level awakeners.  

The skills he had taken for granted so far were precious; he couldn’t endure it.

‘My babies, come back! Ah………….’

Unknowingly, I held down the hand I was trying to grope for and quickly scanned the status window, moving my eyes non-stop.  

In the status window that went down endlessly, deactivated skills continued.

‘This is it. These are real skills.’

Unlike Joo Ho-hyun’s poor skills, seeing my skill names shining in golden light, my anxious feeling was at least a little calmed down.

The reason for the inactivation was unknown, but fortunately the skills, including proficiency and level, remained intact.

‘Is it because of the status window limitation or something?”

However, the name floating on the status window was ‘Joo Ho-hyun’.  

I couldn’t figure out how the recognition worked. Should I be glad that at least the traces of me remain?

The moment I shook my head and raised my head in frustration, I met eyes with the inspector with an frustrated expression behind the glass wall behind the blurry text.

“….ah, right.” 

I wasn’t alone here.

I was so moved by my skills that I met again that I forgot about it for a while. Outside, Han Seo-jin and the inspector were looking at the status window together.

To think that my skills, which I had somehow hidden despite Tae Je-heon’s threats, were being exposed so absurdly.

Feeling embarrassed, I looked outside and saw Han Seo-jin looking back at the inspector and saying something. The inspector was at a loss, gesturing alternatively between me and the tablet screen.  

I couldn’t hear the conversation between the two because the microphone was not connected, but it was a strange reaction after seeing my skill.  

I tore off the patch on my body and hurried out. When the patch was removed, the status window was turned off. 

As soon as the door was opened, Han Seo-jin’s voice was heard brushing off the inspector.

“Are you sure this is working properly? Is that gap normal?”

“It-It’s not common, but……. There is no status window change alarm, and it is expected to be a brief error..”

When I heard the conversation between the two, my head turned quickly.

‘An error? Sure. If you’ve seen my skills, you can’t be that calm. Did they not see it outside because it was disabled?  Or is it because I’m not Joo Ho-hyun? Whatever that happened….. I will just pretend that I have no idea.”

After making a quick decision, I decided to stick out my flippers. As I closed the door with a much more comfortable mind, I yelped in surprise when I saw Han Seo-jin standing right in front of me.

“Woah! Fu, What the—”

“What have you been looking at inside for a long time?”

“What? I didn’t see anything? I don’t know what you’re talking about………….”

Han Seo-jin approached me without saying a word and grabbed my arm. I noticed that he was using his ability from his pale golden eyes.

‘Should I stab him in the eye………’

“Let go.”

Even knowing that Han Seo-jin couldn’t read my thoughts, I shook my arm in displeasure.

Han Seo-jin relaxed the hold with an annoyed expression. Then asked me,

“Tell me what you saw.”

“What did I see? You saw from the outside too.”

“Liar.”

“[My skill is that] You can’t read my thoughts.” Without even attempting to hide his sour mood, Han Seo-jin cocked his head and spoke.

“Is that the only skill you have? I know that hyung is lying.”

“…”

The psychic ability is one of the rarest types of awakening, so there is not much known information about it. For me, there was no way to know if Han Seo-jin’s words were true.

We stared at each other until a knock separated us.

“Who……………. No-one is here?”

The inspector, who had been panicking beside him, looked puzzled and headed for the door.  

Hearing the sound of conversation, the researcher who returned shortly after cautiously approached Han Seo-jin and said,

“There is a guest who came to Esper Han Seo-jin.”

“Do you mean me?”

“Yes….They said that the job is related to the president.”

Han Seo-jin, who hesitated at the researcher’s words, let out a short sigh and turned his back.  

As I watched Han Seo-jin go to the door, I cursed through my teeth and met the inspector’s eyes.

“Fuck…..You.”

“Yes?”

“If you managed the status window, you would have seen Han Seo-jin’s status window..”

I looked at the startled inspector and asked.

“Han Seo-jin really has the skill to tell if it’s a real lie or not?”

“That…….That’s not something I can tell you about.”

Judging by the inspector’s expression, that no comment was an affirmative answer. Shit, after all, the psychic ability is really annoying.

I left the examination room grumbling at Han Seo-jin, who was beckoning me to come to him.  

A man was standing in the hallway. Han Seo-jin pointed at him and said,

“Follow this person. He will take you to the dormitory.”

“You?”

“I have to go somewhere else for a while because something happened..”

“Oh?”

My eyes sgiend at Han Seo-jin’s words. Wait, if Han Seo-jin isn’t there, isn’t it the same as the annoying inspector disappearing?

I asked more bluntly to hide my excitement.

“You’re coming late?”

“It won’t take long.”

“Well, okay.”

Han Seo-jin hurriedly left the man in front of him to take me to the dorm and disappeared somewhere.

After confirming that Han Seo-jin’s appearance had disappeared, I said to the man.

“You go away.”

“What?”

“I suddenly remembered something to do.  I’ll deal with it and go back alone.”

“But Esper Han Seo-jin said……”

“It’s okay. I told you to go, what would Han Seo-jin even say?”

Leaving the man who’s not even giving me personal space, I moved my feet toward the elevator without hesitation. The place to go was decided.

Ding!

The awaited elevator door opened. As I was about to board, a timid voice muttered from inside.

“It’s going down though…”

“What?”

Hearing that, I raised my head and looked at the display. The arrow pointing down was shining on display.

It would have been a waste if I had run into Han Seo-jin while waiting outside. I stepped fully inside, intending to get on.

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As soon as I entered the elevator, the man who was riding first leaned back as if not wanting to stay close to me and hid in the corner, even when the inside of the elevator was spacious.

I didn’t care and pressed the button that read ‘4F Production World – Potion’.

“What?”

My fingertips could clearly feel the pressing of the button. But the button didn’t light up. The same thing happened no matter how many times I pressed it.

‘What? Is it broken?”

As I continued clicking, I heard a timid voice behind me.

“T-then it’s no use…”

“Yeah?”

Startled by my sudden turn, the man shrugged his shoulders. He was a squirrel-like guy with soft brown hair and big weeping eyes. The squirrel raised his hand and pointed at the floor button.

“You have to put the pass over there, and press the floor number.………….”

“Pass?”

“Yes……………. A regular identification card or ID card with authorized access…………….?”

There was indeed a tab with a picture of a card above the button. Unexpected obstacles are not welcomed! 

My gaze automatically turned to the object the squirrel was wearing around its neck.

“We need an authorized ID to enter……..like that one?”

The squirrel hurriedly hid his chest, but it was too late. I had taken a big step forward and held out my hand.

“Lend me.”

“Y-you can’t.”

“You just need to give it a second. It wouldn’t even wear out.”

His pupils filled with fear began to tremble as if someone had taken it by force.

“B-but it’s a rule………….”

Seeing him holding his employee ID and shaking his head, he looked like he was about to burst into tears at any moment. 

I laughed out loud at the feeling of being the bad guy who bullied the little squirrel. I shook my hand and turned my back.

“Nevermind.”

I was curious about how the center’s production world worked, but there was no reason to go right away. Well, since it doesn’t work, is there anything special in there? I should just sneak up later.

‘Is Joo Ho-hyun not allowed here? If I need a card, I should get one with permission next time…… Oh damn, it’s complicated.’

A trembling voice came from behind me who was having insignificant thoughts.

,“You seem to be a guide, but the potion production department is, for some reason…  …… Ah! If you perhaps have someone to meet but can’t reach them, I’ll contact them for you.”

“Oh, it’s not that. It’s more of a field trip.”

“Field….trip?”

“Oh, I’m curious about making potions.”

‘But I couldn’t go on that field trip because everyone was so mean to help me.’ I swallowed the grumbling behind my back.

The elevator arrived at the basement and stopped with a ding. No one moved until the elevator door slowly opened and closed again.  

Before it closed completely, I pressed the button to hold the door open again, then looked back.

“You have arrived.”

“…”

“Not getting out?”

As I signalled my head outside and spoke, the guy hesitantly opened his mouth.

“……It bothers me.”

“Nah. It’s fine if I can’t go.”

“If you really need to go…… I can show you around if it’s only for a short while.”

“Are you for real?”

“B-but wait a minute!”

I looked at the squirrel in bewilderment, who yelled at me while closing his eyes tightly as if he couldn’t hear me.

At that time, the name of the department written on the employee ID dangling from his neck, which he could not cover with his hand, caught my eye.

<Potion Development Department – Yeon Seung-yeon>

It was only then that I understood the man’s attitude from earlier. I immediately removed my hand from holding the open button.

“If you regret that much,”

“…”

“I’ll guide you.”

The elevator door was completely closed.  Yeon Seung-yeon put his employee ID to the tab and muttered in a timid voice.

“Outsiders are not allowed inside, so you can’t go too deep. It’s only my lab, so don’t expect too much…….”

The red light on the silent button came on.