TRPM 281

chapter 281

Most of the land near Sinsegyo was either undeveloped or half-abandoned farmland.

Even though buses ran there, it was natural that people didn’t live nearby since there were no convenience facilities.

“…The land isn’t that great.”

The land wasn’t polluted or anything, but there were more slopes than flat areas. To build a structure for herb cultivation here, the ground would first need to be leveled, and then the building constructed on top.

“The price for this land is as follows.”

The real estate agent who had contacted them showed the land prices on a tablet. Considering the incident at Sinsegyo had caused land prices to drop, the price was slightly high.

“Ah, the owners of this land don’t plan to sell immediately. However, they said if someone is willing to buy all of it at a slightly higher price than the usual land value, they would agree to sell.”

Still, the price was lower than the average market rate, so it wasn’t a bad deal.

“…It should be fine to buy this land, right?”

When my mother actually tried to make the purchase decision, she seemed a bit tense and asked both Yeon Mirae and me. We both nodded.

It would cost a little extra, but considering the land price would likely rise again, it was a reasonable purchase. Besides, buying it was essential to start the business anyway.

‘Though… it seems we bought more land than necessary.’

The previous owners didn’t want to divide and sell the land, so we had to buy more than we strictly needed.

‘There must be some way to use the extra land.’

How to handle the surplus would be my mother’s responsibility.

After purchasing the land and signing a contract with a construction company to build on it, we finally returned home.

‘The building itself can just be built like a normal factory.’

I was thinking this as I tried to lie down on the sofa…

Thud…

“Mm…”

I bumped into Sophia, who had been sitting on the sofa reading through documents even before I lay down. I got up and asked her:

“What? You’re still reading that?”

The documents she was reading were the contents of the package delivered to Sinsegyo — materials related to the organization’s technology. She had asked my mother for permission and brought all of them home.

“Oh, I’m sorry if I caused inconvenience. I’ll read them at home.”

“No, it’s fine to read them here.”

It wasn’t like we lived far away — just next door, after all.

“Is there anything special in those materials?”

“Yes.”

A direct answer.

“Do you remember what I said before? That the subcontractors of the organization probably don’t know about the incident at Sinsegyo?”

“Of course I remember.”

This was the story she had transmitted earlier. Hearing it made me realize just how incompetent the organization and its subcontractors were.

“But after going through all the materials, something felt off.”

“…Could some of the documents be fake?”

“No. I don’t have expert knowledge, so I can’t be sure, but at least I believe all of these documents are genuine.”

It was just that…

“…For a mere subcontractor to hold these materials instead of the organization’s headquarters or an outpost… their value is far too significant.”

“Hm…”

Indeed, highly valuable materials would usually be kept at the headquarters rather than handed to subcontractors. Then…

“So the package wasn’t sent by a subcontractor on Earth, but by their headquarters?”

“That’s highly possible… but they have no reason to do so, right?”

Sophia had been carefully checking the materials because this point worried her.

“……”

Then who is it? Who on Earth sent these materials to Sinsegyo?

“Wait, can you give me those documents?”

“Huh? Ah… sure…”

I took the documents from Sophia and began reading the residual magical energy within them. Psychometry. Using it, I could determine exactly where the documents had come from, as long as no one had erased the magic from them.

‘Even if the magic had been erased, I could still guess where the package came from.’

The magical energy would not have been erased during the package’s delivery. Reading it, I realized…

“…China?”

The package had “flown” from the direction of China to reach Korea. It hadn’t been delivered by a courier company; it had literally traveled on its own to arrive in front of Sinsegyo.

“Ah, geez…”

The magical traces from China seemed erased, but that alone was enough. I already had a rough idea of who might be in China.

“Oracle.”

The only person who would know technology normally kept at the organization’s headquarters and still send such materials to Sinsegyo was her. The reason for sending them was unclear, but considering the Grand Sorcerer was by her side, it was probably important magical data. Or perhaps she hoped I would use these materials to harm the organization on Mars.

‘If that’s the case, there’s no reason not to accept these materials.’

If it’s magic-related, I have to take it. Many magical techniques impose disadvantages if the recipient refuses a gift. And if Oracle’s intention is to make me damage the organization on Mars, I must accept it as well. I am hostile to Oracle, but I am also hostile to the organization on Mars — and between the two, I dislike the Mars organization more.

“Sophia.”

“Yes.”

“You said you’re going to reproduce the organization’s technology and register it in the Awakener System’s database, right?”

Sophia had answered this when I asked what kind of technology she intended to create:

[It’s not exactly creating technology. I’m reproducing it.]
[I plan to reproduce the technologies I’ve seen from the organization on the Moon and Mars.]

When asked why she was reproducing the organization’s technology:

[Only by reproducing it can the technologies, currently monopolized by the organization and Oracle who left it, be released to the world.]

She planned to upload all their technologies into the database so that anyone could access them freely by paying a usage fee.

“Alright. Can you do that with these materials?”

“…Yes. I checked with the Awakener System, and all can be registered.”

I quietly smiled upon hearing this.

“Then go ahead.”

“Yes.”

Generally, technology is not created overnight. Experts envision possibilities and work hard to realize them, which is never easy. Truly completed technologies that can be registered in the Awakener System are rare.

‘Sometimes, it takes a person’s entire life to create a technique worthy of the Awakener System.’

Thus, aside from someone like me, very few individuals have registered many technologies in the system’s database.

“…Usage fees have already started coming in.”

That was to be expected.

“Fast. Which technology’s usage fee?”

“First, the organization’s martial arts manuals. Many people seem to be accessing them. And regarding the science and technology side, it seems companies think it’s profitable.”

Less than an hour after Sophia registered the technologies, many people had accessed them.

‘…Most of the technologies I registered were created by others before my regression.’

Of course, some were my own creations, but most were high-level martial arts, which few people would bother to learn. Those capable of learning my martial arts wouldn’t need to switch to others. But Sophia’s technologies were different.

‘The organization’s martial arts manuals are literally designed as manuals, easy to learn, so many will use them. As for science and tech…’

Currently, only companies access them, but once they begin creating products from these technologies, an enormous amount of points will come in as usage fees. Even though I’ve registered more technologies in the Awakener System, Sophia will receive comparable — or even greater — points.

‘Not really a loss.’

Even the points being registered now are used inefficiently, converted to ether and injected into my body. Plus, I earn points not just from technology usage fees but as a Grand Master for my students’ influence. In the end, I will still earn more points than her.

“Jealous…”

“?”

Yeon Mirae said this quietly from behind as she watched Sophia checking the system interface.

…Ah.

‘Maybe I should have had Yeon Mirae register the materials instead of Sophia.’

Yeon Mirae is entirely my ally, whereas Sophia technically belongs to Chairman Richard’s association.

“…Still, you must have registered your own sword techniques separately.”

“Yes, but… the points only come in at about 2,000 per day…”

2,000 points…?

“That’s actually low.”

“Right?”

“…Um? If it’s 2,000 per month, I’d understand, but per day, that’s a lot.”

Sophia said that, but we ignored her. With her level, she could probably make that much, but people like Yeon Mirae and me could earn 10,000 points a day if we entered a dungeon deliberately.

“Still, it’s passive income, right? The sword techniques you registered can be used by beginners, so the value won’t depreciate.”

The sword techniques Yeon Mirae registered were simple enough for anyone to use as self-defense, even for magic users, elementalists, or psychics who didn’t know how to wield a sword. Users of her techniques wouldn’t bother learning proper swordsmanship, so usage fees would continue flowing to her.

“Hmm… still seems a little low…”

Watching Yeon Mirae, Sophia fell silent, realizing no further words would convince her.

The next day.

[Researcher A is staging a solo protest, claiming that technologies they developed were registered in the Awakener System’s database without their knowledge. Since A is not an Awakener, they could not register the technology themselves…]

[The database is fair and safe, but non-Awakeners cannot use it. This is the first time the issue of access only being restricted by being an Awakener has caused controversy.]

The news broke, and the world began to stir.