Level 1 Superhuman — Part 4
“…Oh my god.”
Thud.
The employee dropped the water bottle.
Water spilled across the floor, but she made no move to clean it up. She was too shocked to even think about it.
What she had just witnessed was beyond shocking.
I clenched my fist quietly.
All the mana I was generating through [Mana Absorption], [Deep Breathing], [Mana Recovery], and [Mana Core] was being absorbed into the [Mana Shield].
A delicate balance between mana and holy power.
The collision of these two opposing forces was making my head spin, but the pain… the pain was completely gone.
“Huuuuu.”
As I exhaled slowly, the employee snapped out of her daze.
“A-are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Oh my god… oh my god…”
She muttered repeatedly, unsure if it was a gasp of admiration or disbelief.
I stumbled for a second but quickly straightened my back.
Around , gasps of amazent filled the air.
“What the hell! What just happened?”
“Did he… overco Divine Fever?”
“Impossible!”
“No, look. He’s just using the shield to push it back. The holy flas are still there, can’t you see?”
“Tsk, tsk. He’s setting himself up for misery. There’s no way he can keep a shield up 24/7.”
“But still, that’s impressive. He didn’t have that shield before, did he?”
“Co to think of it…”
“Wait, hold on. Did he awaken the [Mana Shield] just now because of the Divine Fever? Right here on the spot?”
Little by little, the way they looked at
changed.
A man in a suit pulled out a small mirror and adjusted his tie.
A superhuman far off in the distance took out their smartphone and made a phone call.
I took a quick glance at them, then fixed my gaze straight ahead.
The Mana Circuit asurent Device.
The beam of light the Saintess had cut in line to enter.
Despite the remaining weakness in my legs, I began walking toward it.
The first step was the hardest. Once I got going, the remnants of pain vanished entirely, and my once-trembling body moved entirely under my control.
Finally, I made contact.
Zap! Zap!
As the magic circle reacted to my mana, sparks flew.
It was nothing compared to when the Saintess got certified. The whole tower had trembled back then, and magic cannons had fired salutes in her honor. But now? All that happened were a few sparks flickering around .
The sparks morphed into letters, transforming into floating text in the air, forming a small status window in front of .
At the sa mont that I reached the center, the text finished assembling.
[Warrior Kim]
[Male]
[22 years old]
[Warrior Class]
[Level 1]
[Sixfold Circuit]
Damn it, what a ss.
Originally, I just wanted to get certified as an average, decently strong level 1 warrior.
But a sixfold circuit?
The sa as the Saintess.
It seems like the number of circuits corresponds to the number of traits.
This is way too much, and I’m standing out far too much. As the saying goes, “The nail that sticks out gets hamred down.” All I wanted was to get my superhuman certification, do so mining, earn so money, and gather traits along the way…
‘Well, it can’t be helped.’
I ssed up the first step.
Everything went sideways when the Saintess recognized
and tried to baptize .
What else can I do?
Mistakes have been made, but I’ll just have to correct my course, adapt, and keep moving forward.
“Wow, superhuman!”
The employee who had guided
earlier approached with a wide smile.
“Congratulations! I’ve been working here for two years, and I’ve never seen anyone start with a sixfold circuit! They usually say you need to be at least level 3 to have that many circuits. You’re truly amazing! No wonder you rejected the baptism—you must be from a prestigious martial clan. Are you already signed up with the Western or Eastern Army?”
“Haha, well… who knows?”
“A sixfold circuit… You’re definitely going to beco famous, and I’ll probably need to get your autograph soon! Congratulations again. We just need to issue your superhuman certification and ID. Could you wait for a mont in the lounge?”
“Of course.”
“Alright, please give
just a mont.”
She pulled out a small tablet and tapped on it.
Vrooooooom.
A portion of the mana stream that supported the tower split off and began flowing toward .
Blue particles gathered in the air, forming a half-circle ramp leading sowhere on the second floor of the tower.
The employee glanced at the second floor in awe before bowing respectfully to .
“Superhuman, if you follow the mana road to the second floor, an employee there will be waiting to assist you.”
“Why don’t you stay with ?”
“…?”
“Is that a problem? It doesn’t break any rules, does it?”
The employee gave
a radiant smile.
It seed she had been waiting for
to say this.
After exchanging so words over her radio, she stood by the mana road and gestured elegantly.
“If it’s your wish, of course. Shall we go?”
“Let’s.”
I stepped onto the shimring blue path.
It was a strange experience.
The surface felt soft yet tough, like walking on tightly woven nylon threads.
The mana road gently carried
upward.
It felt like being on a magical escalator.
Although the second floor was quite high, at least several dozen ters up, we reached it in an instant.
The speed was fast, yet the ride was smooth, without a single bump.
Just before we reached the second-floor railing, the employee leaned toward
and whispered.
“This is my first ti coming up to the second floor.”
“How long have you been working here?”
“Two years… Ah, superhuman, please, you don’t need to speak formally to . I shouldn’t be spoken to so politely by soone like you.”
“I’m fine with it.”
“Please, I’m begging you. If my supervisor or team leader sees, I’ll be in big trouble.”
She looked like she was about to cry.
I couldn’t bring myself to insist on speaking the way I wanted.
From what I know, the workplace culture in Arcane Seoul is far more hierarchical and authoritarian than in the original world.
It’s said that the infamous “burnout” culture in hospitals is nothing compared to the power dynamics in this world’s companies.
“Alright. Fine.”
“Thank you!”
Her smile was dazzling as her teeth showed brightly.
I had felt it from the start—she looked oddly familiar.
‘Was she a character in Arcane Seoul?’
If she was, it’s strange she isn’t a superhuman herself.
While we chatted, we reached the second-floor railing.
In front of us was a tallic walkway.
Employees in gray suits stood waiting there, and when they saw , they all bowed in unison.
“Congratulations on your certification, superhuman!”
It was like they were reciting a chant.
I had never received such treatnt in my life.
It felt awkward, like I was wearing clothes that didn’t fit.
“Uh, thanks.”
I gave a clumsy bow in return, and the woman standing at the front of the group shot a sharp glance at the employee who had been guiding .
“Superhuman, you seem uncomfortable. Should we replace your current attendant? She’s still inexperienced and may not be able to serve you properly. If you wish, I, as the second-floor supervisor, will personally attend to you.”
“T-Team leader…”
The employee’s voice trembled as she looked at her superior, her expression desperate.
What is this, so kind of custor poaching?
I’ve seen this happen a few tis in the original world.
Before they could continue speaking, I shook my head firmly.
“No need.”
Even to my ears, my voice sounded decisive.
The team leader flinched and bowed her head.
“Understood, superhuman. We will keep your current attendant. However, please do not hesitate to call upon
if you need anything.”
Her posture was polite, and she bowed gracefully.
But I could see sothing unusual in her eyes.
The look of a predator.
I could tell that she had noticed the black flas surrounding .
‘What a vulture.’
She was trying to bypass the subordinate to serve
herself, thinking it would boost her career.
Do I look like a fool?
There’s no way I’m giving up the loyal employee who helped
when I was in danger for a hyena like her.
“Superhuman, is there a specific drink you’d like?”
“I’ll take an iced Aricano.”
“Please wait just a mont.”
The employee quickly got to work.
She brewed the coffee at the lounge’s bar and neatly arranged a variety of desserts.
Even though other employees, including the second-floor supervisor, hovered nearby, her hands moved so fast that my coffee was ready before anyone could approach to make conversation.
“Good job.”
“Thank you, superhuman. Please wait a little longer, and I’ll bring your superhuman certification and ID.”
How had she prepared everything so quickly?
I thought there would be a bit of a wait, but no—she had handled everything remotely while we rode the mana road.
After disappearing into a corner of the lounge for a mont, she returned with my completed superhuman certification and ID.
The team leader and other employees looked visibly shaken.
They exchanged silent glares of bla, their mouths twitching as they tried not to speak.
With my senses heightened by the mana surge, I could hear everything. It took all my willpower not to smirk.
The employee seed to notice too.
She stifled her laughter, doing her best to maintain a serious expression.
“Superhuman, congratulations once again on your official certification. As you may already know, superhumans are granted five privileges and countless benefits. At level 1, you will have access to two of these privileges.”
“Tax exemptions and weapons privileges, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct. While the exemption isn’t large, you will receive a certain percentage reduction on all direct taxes, including inco tax, property tax, real estate tax, gift tax, and inheritance tax. As your level increases, so will your exemptions.”
The tax exemption for level 1 superhumans wasn’t much to write ho about.
What was terrifying was how those rates scaled.
At level 7, the tax burden drops to almost nothing.
At level 8?
You’re completely tax-exempt. And that applies not just to the individual, but also to any organization they’re part of.
“And now that you’re officially a superhuman, there are no restrictions on owning or carrying weapons. However, for public safety reasons, we advise keeping your weapons concealed. From level 3 onwards, you’ll be allowed to carry them openly, but until then, the city of Seoul will issue fines for exposed weapons.”
This was the main perk.
I could carry anything from rifles to rocket launchers without restriction.
I’d just need to keep them in a bag to avoid fines.
“And just to note, once you reach level 3, you’ll also receive the punitive privileges, and at level 5, the immunity and non-arrest privileges.”
Punitive privileges.
That’s just a fancy term for “private enforcent.”
At level 3, superhumans are given the right to punish criminals, as long as it doesn’t violate societal norms or the laws of Korea.
And then there’s immunity and non-arrest privileges.
Everyone’s heard of those, right?
In the original world, those privileges are usually reserved for mbers of parliant.
In other words, a level 5 superhuman in this world has the sa privileges as a politician in the original world.
‘Basically, they’re nobility.’
When you think about it, it’s no surprise.
Power cos from the barrel of a gun. A level 5 superhuman has the equivalent combat power of a fighter jet. No matter how many regular soldiers you throw at them, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
What else can you do?
You have to treat them like royalty.
“Additionally, with your superhuman ID, you’ll receive benefits such as free public transportation, free standard-class seats on KTX trains, guaranteed economy-class airline seats and fare support, toll-free access on highways, free use of national superhuman facilities, free hospital services, and more…”
The list of benefits was extensive.
It varied slightly by level. At level 1, you get free standard KTX seats, but at level 3, that extends to first-class seats, and at level 5, it includes business-class airline seats.
I pocketed my superhuman certification and ID.
With that, the surrounding employees began to disperse.
They were busy tapping away on their smartphones or scribbling sothing in the air.
‘Damn it.’
I knew exactly why they were doing that.
I was pri prey.
For reporters, headhunters, and even bored superhumans.
If I left now, I’d get mobbed on the first-floor plaza for hours.
Sensing my irritation, the employee leaned in and whispered quietly.
“Shall I help you?”
“How?”
“There’s a way.”
“Alright, I’m counting on you.”
The employee winked playfully.
Then she looped her arm around mine, pulling
up.
“Team Leader! Miss Kim! Team Leader Kim Mi-hyun!”
“Huh? Oh, what is it?”
“I’m taking the rest of the day off!”
She cheerfully called out.
The team leader reflexively started to object, but then froze, her pupils quivering as she looked back and forth between , now standing up, and the employee practically leaning against .
“Uh… sure. Okay. Take tomorrow off too, just make sure he gets ho safely.”
The mont those words were out of her mouth, countless eyes turned toward us.
Jealous, envious gazes.
And gossip.
“You know what they say, the quiet ones always make the first move.”
“Knew she was trouble.”
“Such a cunning woman.”
“I knew she’d pull sothing like this.”
Wait a minute.
What’s going on here?
Before I could even react, the employee tugged
along.
“Team Leader! I’m stopping by the supply room first!”
“Do whatever you want.”
The team leader looked completely defeated.
Leaving her behind, the employee led
to a small room in the corner of the lounge.
Even inside the room, she stayed close, quickly rummaging through the cabinets.
“Superhuman, put this on.”
What she handed
was a staff uniform and a long, billowing cloak.
I eyed the cloak with curiosity.
I had seen this item many tis on my smartphone screen.
It was a Cloak of Concealnt.
While it didn’t provide full invisibility like a true invisibility cloak, it significantly reduced your presence. You could even pass through a monster’s detection range without being noticed.
And if I wore this now?
It would definitely dull the black flas surrounding . Unless soone had high-level detection traits, no one would even notice anything strange about .
I changed into the uniform and threw the cloak over my shoulders.
The fabric seed to lt into my skin, and the black flas around
vanished.
Of course, they weren’t really gone.
They were still burning my shield. It’s just that they were no longer visible from the outside.
We left the supply room.
Following a hidden staff passage, we snuck along the walls, avoiding the scavengers waiting outside.
We passed through a long underground tunnel, eventually arriving at the Superhuman Tower station on Subway Line 2.
In the original world, this would have been Jamsil Station.
“Thank you.”
I returned the cloak and uniform.
But the black flas didn’t resurface.
Thanks to a new trait I had acquired.
[Stealth]
By using the hidden passage and the Cloak of Concealnt, I had t the conditions to acquire it.
The employee looked at
with a curious expression.
“Superhuman… You’re different from the others.”
“How so?”
“I don’t know… It’s just… It’s like you’re not really from this world. You’re the first superhuman I’ve t who’s this kind.”
She must have gone through so pretty rough treatnt while working at the Superhuman Tower.
I smiled instead of answering.
She giggled and pulled a business card from her pocket, handing it to .
A plain, rectangular card.
I almost let out a scream when I read it.
[Baek Sorin]
Because of those three letters.
Baek Sorin. Baek Sorin!
One of the three top-tier warrior-class characters.
She might not be on the level of the Heavenly Demon, but she could crush any other SSR character with ease.
“Superhuman! See you next ti!”
Baek Sorin waved cheerfully and walked away.
Her thin glasses, long flowing hair, and bright expression…
That’s why I hadn’t recognized her.
In the ga, Baek Sorin always wore a twisted grin and had fierce eyes full of malice.
“Baek Sorin…”
A card I had never managed to pull in the ga.
But in this world?
I swallowed hard.
–TL Notes–
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support
or give
feedback, you can do it at /InsanityTheGa
Join my Discord! .gg/BWaP3AHHpt
Reviews
All reviews (0)