Director Han only straightened his bent body after checking if the lines were well connected.
“Is there any discomfort?”
“None.”
“Then let’s begin. After the machine sounds three times, you must raise your ability very subtly.”
“Yes.”
When Gi Junghyuk closed his eyes, Director Han operated the machine.
Soon after, the machine turned on and began to make a whirring sound.
Exactly one minute later, it was the moment the beeping sound rang out three times.
When Gi Junghyuk subtly drew up his ability, a blue light hovered along the connected lines of the machine.
On the screen of the machine, unknown characters and alphabets repeatedly appeared and disappeared frantically.
Director Han, who was staring at the screen, suddenly tilted his head.
It was because he had discovered something strange.
Wondering if he had misseen it, Director Han re-printed the screen and let out a bewildered voice.
“Director Ki, the numerical value is a bit… no, it’s coming out too strangely. Could you stop your ability for a moment?”
When Gi Junghyuk paused letting his ability flow, the sound of the machine subsided.
“There’s no way the machine is broken…”
Director Han muttered to himself while adjusting the machine here and there, then called the nurse next to him.
“Did we happen to do a program update today?”
“No. Is there a problem, Director?”
“Hmm, that is…”
Instead of finishing his answer, Director Han looked at Gi Junghyuk.
Meeting eyes with Gi Junghyuk, who had opened his eyes before anyone noticed, Director Han spoke.
“Director Ki. By any chance, have there been any changes in your body during this time?”
“Is there a problem?”
“It’s because the numerical value is coming out too strangely. Since there has never been a problem with the machine before, this is truly…”
Unlike the doctor who had a face that still couldn’t understand, Gi Junghyuk was calm.
He showed no agitation whatsoever, as if he had already anticipated this kind of situation.
“Just in case, could you try using your ability once more?”
“Let’s do that.”
Closing his eyes again, Gi Junghyuk subtly released his ability.
However, the numerical value displayed on the machine screen still showed no change.
Frowning, Director Han stood up from his seat.
“Director Ki. It seems we need to check your brainwave levels. Please come over here for a moment.”
Gi Junghyuk, who nodded his head, headed toward the machine placed in the corner.
When he sat on the chair, Director Han put an examination tool on his head.
The tool, connected by hundreds of hemispherical panels, completely adhered to Gi Junghyuk’s head.
Director Han pressed the operation button after confirming that the machine was well fitted.
A long, whirring vibration sound continued, and then a pure white light leaked out from the machine attached to Gi Junghyuk’s head.
After a moment, the light turned off, and Director Han, who was checking the screen, frowned as if it were strange this time too.
“The brainwave levels, which were unstable even when we performed the test before, are coming out normal. And completely horizontal at that.”
“Did something go wrong?”
“No. It’s not that…”
Director Han, running his hand over his chin and muttering a few times about how strange it was, showed Gi Junghyuk the chart brought by the nurse.
Moving past dozens of items, Director Han pointed his finger at the final result written at the very bottom.
「Measured Level: 5%」
“As you can see, the value has come out unbelievably low.”
It was exactly as he said. For quite a long time, Gi Junghyuk’s instability level had never dropped below 70%.
No matter what he did, it remained the same.
Having run out of options, he had barely been holding on at the razor-thin edge of the threshold.
As his primary care physician, Director Han could not possibly be unaware of that fact.
“I see.”
Gi Junghyuk remained completely impassive.
At his composed response, Director Han’s eyes flashed for an instant.
“Just like earlier, you don’t seem surprised. It appears there really has been a change in your body.”
Gi Junghyuk did not answer.
However, the corners of his mouth relaxed ever so slightly before returning to normal.
Catching this glimpse, Director Han wore a look of disbelief.
Though he had seen Gi Junghyuk countless times, he had never once seen him make such an expression.
For a man who was always sharply on edge and prickly to look so relaxed—it was surprising enough to make one wonder if the world was coming to an end.
“Is the chronic headache gone now?”
“Yes.”
“What about the suffocating sensation in your chest?”
“It’s gone.”
“Are the auditory hallucinations and tinnitus quiet as well?”
Gi Junghyuk’s answers continued to be ‘no’ and ‘gone.’
Director Han could not hide his astonishment even as he pressed on with his questions.
The same went for the nurse who was recording the test results by his side.
But the person most shocked in that room was none other than Secretary Oh, who was standing in the corner watching everything unfold.
Confirming that there was virtually nothing wrong with his boss’s physical condition, a certain thought popped into Secretary Oh’s mind.
It was about the headquarters of ‘Exalted’ where Gi Junghyuk had just been.
He knew the service usually lasted about two hours, yet his boss had come out in less than an hour.
And with his clothing slightly disheveled at that.
‘…Could it be?’
Had the Leader really performed a miracle?
If the Leader of ‘Exalted’—which the world dismissed as a mere cult—had actually performed a miracle, and if the Leader truly was a god…
While Secretary Oh’s mind grew complicated, Director Han’s persistent questioning finally came to an end.
“I don’t know what on earth is going on, but Director Ki’s current state is close to a miracle. It’s almost as if God took pity on you and granted salvation.”
At Director Han’s words, Gi Junghyuk let out a small smirk.
Seeing this side of Gi Junghyuk, Secretary Oh’s eyes widened.
He could hardly believe that his boss, who had never laughed, was making such a smile.
“Maybe that’s what it is.”
“Ha, my goodness. I keep seeing surprising sights today. I didn’t know Director Ki enjoyed this kind of joke.”
Instead of answering, Gi Junghyuk gave a light shrug.
After checking Gi Junghyuk’s physical condition one more time, Director Han removed the mechanical devices.
“For now, it’s a relief, but we don’t know how the numbers might shift again. Until the cause of this recovery is identified, you must refrain from using your abilities.”
“Understood.”
“Then we will wrap up today’s examination here. The regular checkup will proceed next month as scheduled, so I will see you then.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Don’t mention it. I will take my leave now.”
Giving a gentle smile, Director Han left the examination room, and Gi Junghyuk stood up from his seat.
Once he went inside, changed into his clothes, and came out, Secretary Oh approached him as if he had been waiting.
“Director. Are you truly not hurting anywhere?”
“You already heard. I’m fine.”
“Wow, unbelievable…”
Secretary Oh gasped, utterly flabbergasted.
“Then, Director… by any chance, when you attended the service earlier, did you receive a consecration from the Leader…?”
Secretary Oh’s words cut off.
It was because Gi Junghyuk’s glare turned fierce in a split second.
The nurse had not left yet and was still packing up the equipment in the corner.
Receiving a warning glance to shut his mouth, Secretary Oh went completely silent.
Giving the silenced Secretary Oh a brief look, Gi Junghyuk checked his attire and left the examination room.
The silence that began there was maintained until they completely left the hospital and got into the car.
Letting out his held breath, Secretary Oh glanced at Gi Junghyuk in the backseat.
Despite the warning he had issued earlier, he didn’t seem to be in a particularly bad mood right now.
Thinking that he was truly an enigmatic person, Secretary Oh started the car.
The vehicle carrying Gi Junghyuk instantly left the parking lot and quietly disappeared.
