* * *
Had we arrived at the destination?
Han Jihye let go of the handle and came forward, placing her hands on the restraints binding both my wrists.
“Ah, yes. Got it.”
“Then once I leave and give you the signal, you can begin. Please wait just a moment.”
As soon as she finished speaking, I heard a click, and the restraints were released.
Aside from the first day, I’d barely even noticed them, so I didn’t think much of it—but now that they were off, it really did feel different.
Like stepping into a cool, air-conditioned room after walking through scorching summer heat without a single patch of shade.
Fresh and crisp.
Curious, I turned my body this way and that, and then—clack—I heard the door close.
—Mr. Jung Jehee, can you hear me?
Han Jihye’s voice came through the speaker right after.
“Yes! I can hear you.”
—Good. Please hold for a moment. We are making preparations to assist you so that you can use your abilities smoothly.
“Okay!”
After signaling that I understood, I took a deep breath.
I’d had a great time with the old man and had come in here feeling pretty pleased with myself, but now that I was actually standing here, nerves had taken over, and I was trembling slightly.
All eyes were on me.
Eyes filled with anticipation, curiosity, and maybe even a little fear.
People I’d never seen before, all different in gender, age, and social status, were looking at me.
I tried to breathe steadily, but it wasn’t easy.
My body kept stiffening up. I don’t think I’ve ever been the center of attention like this before.
Especially not alone.
Every time something big happened to me, Taehwan was always there with me.
“Hoo….”
But I didn’t want to look intimidated.
I exhaled slowly and tried to straighten my back.
Because Taehwan was probably watching.
He worries way too much—if I looked frozen stiff, he might just barge into this training room without warning.
‘Wait… huh? Where is he?’
If he looked worried, I wanted to send him a signal that everything was fine—but I couldn’t see him anywhere.
He’s got a pretty noticeable face, body, and height, so there’s no way I should’ve missed him.
But still, I had to scan through all the gathered guests just to find him.
Taehwan was standing in an unexpected spot, all the way in a corner.
I thought he’d be as close to the glass wall as possible, in the most visible spot to support me actively—but he wasn’t.
He was leaning against the opposite wall with his arms crossed.
If I didn’t have the heightened sight typical of awakened individuals, I might not have spotted him at all.
‘Why is he standing there?’
I stared at him for a moment, and finally, Taehwan, who’d been looking away, took a step closer to me.
Our eyes met.
But the look in his eyes was strange.
There was a sorrow in them so deep that my chest ached just meeting his gaze.
His tightly closed lips looked tense, almost anxious.
Like someone being forced to face something that absolutely shouldn’t be happening.
I couldn’t understand it.
This was the moment I’d awaken, maybe even reveal S-class potential—why would he look at me like that?
—Ding.
—Preparations complete. You may begin.
“Ah, yes!”
Before I could figure out what was hidden in Taehwan’s eyes, Han Jihye’s voice snapped me back to reality.
‘Let’s focus on what’s in front of me first.’
I decided to concentrate on completing the demonstration successfully.
“……”
But… there was a problem. A big one.
After a brief pause, I looked around and carefully brought my lips close to the watch.
“Um… I’m sorry, but…”
—Yes, go ahead.
“How… exactly do I use the ability?”
—……
I couldn’t see the lines.
Not even one.
My vision was completely clear, not a speck in sight.
I’d already heard the explanation for what this “preparation” entailed.
Normally, the demonstration and aptitude tests are done by removing the restraints and filling the space with energy extracted from a core.
The idea is that the suppressed energy inside the body bursts forth, while the high concentration of external energy seeps in, making it easier to use one’s abilities.
But somehow… the moment I entered this space and now, after being told preparations were done—it felt no different.
It didn’t feel like energy was building up.
My body felt a little lighter, sure, but nothing was boiling over.
It didn’t feel like I could use my power at all.
Not even a little.
—You said you saw lines before and used your ability through them, correct? Are you unable to see them now?
“Yes…”
—Not even a single one?
“None at all…”
—Not even a faint one…?
“Nope, not even faintly…”
—……
A heavy silence fell.
Seeing the important guests start murmuring at the ominous exchange, I became certain.
‘Ah, I messed up again.’
This test was a failure too.
Sad premonitions rarely miss their mark.
In the end, I failed the demonstration.
We tried all sorts of things, thinking maybe I’d just been wearing the restraints too long and needed some time to recover.
We waited for my condition to bounce back, pumped more energy into the room, even had me hold the core directly.
But none of it worked.
‘You may go for today. We’ll try another method.’
‘You’ve worked hard for a long time. Please rest well.’
Eventually, one by one, the guests grew tired of waiting and left.
Around the time my stomach started growling, we had no choice but to call it a day.
Han Jihye treated me as kindly as always, but I couldn’t bring myself to lift my head.
What’s the point of having potential S-class power if you can’t use it when it matters…?
“Pfft.”
“Don’t laugh.”
Taehwan, on the other hand, was absolutely thrilled.
He’d been sulking all day with a perpetually annoyed expression and even looked strangely sorrowful when I was preparing for the demonstration—but the moment I failed the aptitude test, he completely changed.
He kept snickering like something was hilarious.
It was infuriating.
Did he really find my embarrassment that funny?
“I said stop laughing!”
“Ah, I’m—ha—trying, I really am… Aha-ha.”
“Ughhh.”
I was so mad.
When was the last time Im Taehwan laughed like that, sounding all carefree?
It made me want to smack him.
I hadn’t found him this annoying in forever.
I was boiling inside, but since I was with the old man, I couldn’t lash out and just kept stewing in silence.
Even though we’d gone to a famous Chinese restaurant and ordered seafood jjajangmyeon, tangsuyuk, palbochae, and lemon cream shrimp, I didn’t have much of an appetite.
I only took a few bites.
Everything was fresh, the ingredients were luxurious, and each dish was honestly amazing… I probably wouldn’t get to eat like this often while staying at the hospital, so I wanted to eat more… but nothing tasted good.
That just made me feel even more bitter and depressed.
“Jehee, you don’t need to take it so hard. You’ve only just awakened. This is your first awakening, your first time trying to use your ability in front of others. It’s only natural for it to be difficult. What’s truly amazing is succeeding on the first try—so don’t beat yourself up too much, alright?”
“Sir……”
The chest that had been torn apart because of his son—he gently soothes it with his warm touch.
Just like in the past, he still speaks in that calm and admirable tone.
He really is nothing like Taehwan.
But I couldn’t just relax and take comfort.
I didn’t have the face to face him.
I’d seen the expressions on the VIPs’ faces as they left one by one.
Though the man in front of me smiled till the very end and encouraged me…
“I’m sorry. You must be busy, and I wasted your time…”
“That’s not something you need to worry about. But you did come without any notice, which was a bit inconsiderate, don’t you think?”
“Exactly. It’s not like you’re a monkey in a zoo or anything—being gawked at. Who the hell do they think they are? They can all go to hell.”
“Hey. Im Taehwan, watch your language!”
This guy seriously doesn’t know how to hold his tongue, even in front of his father.
And his dad’s someone pretty high up who came just to see me, too.
I pinched his thigh hard under the table, but the brat showed no sign of remorse.
He just jutted out his lips like, “So what?”
Then he looked at me and grinned like something was hilarious again…
“You! I said stop laughing!”
“What? Is it a crime to smile?”
“It’s not a crime, it’s just annoying! You’re happy I failed my demonstration today, aren’t you?”
“No, I… I mean, yeah, I guess! Hahaha.”
“……”
Taehwan is my precious friend.
Truly one of a kind.
Maybe even closer than family.
And yet when he acts like this, it hurts all the more—it feels like betrayal.
Just when the lump of emotions that had been building up was about to boil over, his father stepped in between us.
With his characteristically gentle voice, he soothed me again.
“Jehee, I actually think this is a good sign. The fact that today’s demonstration didn’t work means that our usual methods of helping awakeners don’t apply to you. In other words, you’re someone with a power unlike any we’ve ever seen in the Bureau.”
* * *
