TRPM 210

chapter 210

A meeting on the exchange of Awakened Techniques was taking place at the headquarters of the Korean Awakened Association.

The term “exchange of Awakened techniques” literally refers to Awakened individuals sharing their skills with one another.

Although the Awakened System’s database allows techniques to be shared digitally, it has the drawback of being unable to restrict knowledge to specific individuals.

“I’ve even seen criminals using techniques I had registered in the database in the past.”

The Awakened System is flexible with me and those around me, but it shows no such leniency toward others.

Whether they are good-hearted Awakened or murderous criminals, the system treats both the same, seeing them only as entities that must be pushed back from the Black Mist.

Given this, Awakened belonging to the Association felt the need to pass on their techniques to others without letting criminals acquire them, which led to the creation of the Awakened Technique Exchange system.

“(As everyone knows, the system of exchanging Awakened techniques was created based on this background…)”

After the meeting began, Chairman Richard said this.

He wasn’t speaking to me or the Korean Awakened Association Chairman. We already knew this background.

The issue is that we weren’t the only ones present in the meeting room.

“This meeting is being broadcast live through those cameras.”

In other words, he was speaking to the audience watching the broadcast, some of whom might not know the background.

“(Let’s proceed with the main agenda.)”
“(Yes. Then the first topic is….)”

The meeting officially began, and the Korean Awakened Association Chairman introduced the topic we were to discuss—something I hadn’t known about until the meeting started.

“(We would like to ask whether it is possible to learn techniques from Artist.)”
“(…You mean me?)”

Topics directly related to me should have at least been hinted at beforehand, right?

“(Yes. Your disciples, Yeon Mirae and Lee Ha-eun, though young, have reached the rank of Aura Master and Archmage. I understand there are even students in the same class, not formally your disciples, who receive guidance from you and have developed exceptional skills and influence.)”

…They must be referring to Lee Doo-min and Ryu A-young.

Indeed, Lee Doo-min, despite being a high school student, is stronger than most Awakened.

As for Ryu A-young… even a single poorly chosen word from her could mobilize powerful Awakened around the world, who adore her beyond mere admiration.

“(Perhaps due to such precedents, many Awakened wish to learn techniques from Artist. Some are even Aura Masters, Archmages, or those of equivalent power.)”

…Even if I ignore the others, the idea that prideful Aura Masters and Archmage-level individuals want to learn from me is remarkable.

‘Ah, right. For those skilled people who saw what I did in Japan, it makes sense.’

Thinking this, I summoned the Awakened System.

“(Teaching techniques is not a problem. However, teaching everyone is physically impossible, and I do not wish to do so.)”
“(…Then?)”
“(There will be conditions for those who come to learn techniques from me.)”

I pulled up the database listing of techniques I had registered with the Awakened System.

“(I had uploaded numerous techniques to the system in the past. I will now recite their names.)”

I began listing the techniques one by one. With the large number of techniques I had registered, it took considerable time just to recite their names.

“(…That’s all.)”
“(…All of these techniques were registered by Artist?)”
“(…Indeed… with so many widely-used techniques registered, the points earned must have been immense… and those points were used to enhance the Awakened System.)”

The Korean Chairman marveled, and Chairman Richard nodded, as if a mystery had been solved.

…Come to think of it, this was the first time I had publicly mentioned that I had registered so many techniques in the Awakened System’s database.

Since there was no reason to hide it, I nodded in confirmation. The only thing I needed to keep secret was that I am the world’s only martial-arts-capable Awakened.

“(In any case, the techniques I registered are designed to be easy to learn for beginners.)”

In other words, they were only the introductory techniques.

“(Being able to use a certain number of my registered techniques freely, without system adjustments, is the minimum requirement for learning directly from me.)”
“(…Then?)”
“(I will determine the specific standards later. If I allowed anyone to learn just by mastering a few techniques, far too many people would want to learn from me.)”

Using the techniques freely without system adjustments may sound simple, but it is a stringent condition. And this is only the minimum requirement, meaning most will not meet it.

“(…Quite a bold move.)”

Even so, the Korean Chairman considered it audacious. There are many geniuses in the world, after all.

Many would likely be capable of using most of the techniques I registered, and some might have even modified my techniques to create more advanced ones.

“(Then let’s conclude this topic by having Artist announce the standards later. The next topic is….)”
“(I’d like to discuss the Korean Awakened Academy, specifically the Seoul Awakened Academy.)”

Chairman Richard brought up the next agenda.

Seoul Awakened Academy… If this topic is being discussed, shouldn’t Chairman Shin Han-ji be present?

“(You may know that young Awakened from around the world gather at the Seoul Awakened Academy. They employ experts in various fields as professors.)”

The academy indeed hired respected figures for spellcraft, including a Japanese miko, and other notable individuals.

Even though they declined, invitations had been sent to Yeon Mirae, Arthur in England, and the Puppeteer Rachel.

Why was this being mentioned?

“(The issue is that foreign students face difficulties due to visa problems and dungeon access…)”

Hearing this, I recalled what Elena said when Jin Cheon-ha proposed dungeon exploration.

[I’ll skip too. If foreigners enter another country’s dungeon carelessly, things get complicated…]

Unlike Koreans, who can simply reserve a dungeon via an app or enter directly, foreigners require extensive paperwork to enter Korean dungeons.

Even after completing all documents, approval is not immediate.

“(I hope the Association can simplify paperwork for students or allow student ID cards to substitute for certifications.)”
“(The Association is developing a system to handle this efficiently. If a student is registered with the Academy, they can access dungeon certification and other related qualifications through the system…)”

Chairman Richard and the Korean Chairman began a serious discussion.

I couldn’t assist, so my puppet remained silent.

‘…Wait.’

I focused on the main body and noticed something unusual.

“Teacher, what is that about?”
“Foreign students… in our case, Elena and Elliot have a complex procedure to enter dungeons. They are working to simplify it as much as possible.”

I saw our classmates and teacher Son Ji-hye watching the live broadcast of the meeting on the classroom TV.

I couldn’t hide my disbelief.

“…Teacher, aren’t we having class?”
“Hmm? Ah, Geon-woo, since you are attending the meeting, we can’t hold class without you. Anyway, we’ve already covered the material for the midterms.”
“……”
“Besides, not just our class, all the other classes are watching the broadcast too.”

Ah… yes.

Indeed, all the other classes were watching the meeting on TV.

‘Of course, this is an important meeting for teachers and students alike.’

The results of the Awakened Technique Exchange will affect Academy students more than active Awakened.

And if the Academy is affected, high school students aiming for the Academy will be impacted as well.

Extremely so, the outcome of this meeting could lead to a complete restructuring of the curriculum.

“…Still, you all have midterms soon. Not studying?”
“We’ll just watch that.”

Seeing my classmates’ attention fixed on the TV, I sighed and refocused on my puppet.

Then it happened.

“Chairman! It’s an emergency!”

An Association employee burst into the meeting room.

Of course, this shouldn’t have happened. No matter how urgent, entering a live broadcast room would alarm the viewers.

Even if the message was urgent, the employee should have quietly called the chairman off-camera.

“Phew… I’ll step out briefly.”

The Korean Chairman sighed and took the problematic employee outside.

Hmm…

‘Whatever the issue is, that employee probably won’t get promoted anytime soon.’

But…

“What?! What is this?!”

Even outside, the chairman’s voice carried into the room, sounding furious.

If the chairman is this angry, whatever happened must be serious.

“(We’ll have to pause the meeting for now.)”
“(Since the meeting was scheduled for three days, let’s conclude for today.)”

Chairman Richard and I read the situation and ended the meeting.

The broadcasting station staff seemed to sense the tense atmosphere and ended the broadcast quickly.

Richard and I left the meeting room and approached the Korean Chairman, who was still furious.

“How could you manage things so poorly…!”
“What happened?”
“Ah… damn it…!”

The chairman, clearly enraged, struggled to calm down before speaking to me.

“The doppelgängers we had detained to hand over to the World Awakened Association… all self-destructed at once.”