TRPM 283

chapter 283

The social studies teacher continued the lecture, using me as an example since I held many copyrights, as mentioned in the handout.

“Among the technologies Geonwoo created, Resonance, which has high versatility, is theoretically a powerful technique capable of breaking through almost any defense if successfully executed—but succeeding is extremely difficult.”

There have been cases abroad where people forcibly succeeded by attaching special equipment to weapons, but…

“No one has ever succeeded in Resonance purely through individual capability without the help of the Awakener System and equipment.”

Hearing this, my face felt like it was burning.

‘It’s not even a technique I created myself…’

Even as I thought that inwardly, I didn’t block out what was being said. After all, we were still in class.

“However, the concept of Resonance has existed for a long time. Many people have researched how to utilize Resonance in combat. So, who would hold the copyright in such a case?”

“I suppose Geonwoo, who registered it in the Awakener System, would have the copyright.”

Resonance involves vibrating a weapon to strike at a frequency close to the target’s natural resonance. Anyone with a basic understanding of science wouldn’t find the concept difficult, so there were always people trying to apply it practically.

I was the first to realize it as an actual technique, but people had long been researching it in theory. And all of their work and efforts became futile the moment I registered Resonance in the Awakener database.

‘If the researcher mentioned in the news is really telling the truth and genuinely wronged, then they’re in the same situation as those who studied Resonance before me.’

People who had worked hard in research but received no credit because someone else completed and published first—that happens quite often. The Awakener System has measures to help such people, but they can’t satisfy everyone.

“Right. So, the case of the researcher that became an issue is ambiguous. It’s likely a lie, but if it’s not, the person could genuinely be wronged. And it’s not just that researcher; others might protest claiming unfairness as well.”

“So… what should we do?”

Elena asked seriously. Being of royal lineage, she took this matter more seriously than the other students.

“There’s no clear answer. Some people argue compensation is due because of yesterday’s news. In some countries, compensation is given, but then people who haven’t even conducted research demand it, seeing others receive it. It’s not a good method. Investigating whether someone actually did the research wastes manpower, and paying out compensation drains the budget, which is why even those countries are reconsidering continuing compensation.”

Realistically, there’s no way to satisfy everyone. The social studies teacher said this, and I agreed. I felt for those who diligently research, but…

“I see…”

Elena murmured quietly at the teacher’s words. Perhaps similar incidents happened frequently in Britain. That thought crossed my mind when suddenly—

Vrrrrr…

“?”

My smartphone in my pocket started vibrating. Someone was calling me. Using a phone during class is impolite, and I wasn’t keen on answering, but…

‘…Yeon Mirae?’

The fact that she called knowing full well I was in class meant it had to be urgent.

“Teacher, may I step out to take this call?”

“Sure. Seems urgent. Go to the hallway and take it.”

If it were someone else, the teacher might have questioned it, but since it was me, an Artist, the teacher assumed it must be important and agreed without hesitation. Thanks to that, I quietly stepped into the hallway and answered Yeon Mirae’s call.

“What’s the matter? I’m in class.”

[Teacher, it’s a big problem.]

“? What’s going on?”

If Yeon Mirae said it was a big problem, it probably was. Could it be a dungeon even she couldn’t handle?

[A new law related to copyright has been proposed, and I thought you should know about it.]

… A proposal means the law hasn’t been enacted yet. A law goes through proposal, review, approval, proclamation, and enforcement—so it could still be rejected during review or approval. Even if it passes, it takes time before it goes into effect.

Yet Yeon Mirae urgently contacted me, which meant the law’s contents must be serious.

“What kind of law?”

[Copyright law.]

Apparently, following yesterday’s news, there were many inquiries about copyright, prompting an urgent amendment proposal.

“What does it entail?”

[They’re saying taxes will be imposed on profits earned from technologies registered in the Awakener System database.]

“…?”

Why is that a problem?

“It means giving up profits from registered technologies at the time of registration. Unless you’re using the points to obtain artifacts, you wouldn’t earn money from it anyway.”

Making money directly from the Awakener System’s database is difficult, unless points are involved.

[The thing is… they plan to tax even the development of products using registered technologies.]

“…What?”

So… if I use the low-frequency generator I registered, or Sophia uses her organizational tech to develop products, they’ll impose taxes? Not just taxing the items themselves, but taxing the very act of using the Awakener System database to develop products?

[Yes, it seems so.]

“…”

I wasn’t even looking in a mirror, but I’m sure my face was twisted in disbelief. Simply hearing about the law, one might think, “So what?” But this is effectively saying they want to tax the act of using the Awakener System database itself.

‘As if they own the Awakener System themselves.’

Or as if they’re telling people not to use it. If the law’s proposer is motivated by greed, it could be the former, but I personally suspect the latter. A prejudiced politician against Awakeners would propose such a law. In other words, this could be the work of an Awakener supremacist.

“Who proposed this law? And how do you know about it?”

[The proposers are some members of the National Assembly I don’t know well. Before review, Awakener-friendly members informed the Four Major Guilds.]

“And the Four Major Guilds’ response?”

[Well…]

Yeon Mirae paused, then a familiar voice came from the phone.

[They propose such a crazy law? There’s no owner of the Awakener System. Even if there were, it’d be Dr. Jacob who created it, or the Artist who enhanced it, not Korea.]

[… Are they trying to make every Awakener in Korea their enemy? If so, tell me. Many Awakeners might just emigrate.]

Whoever she was speaking to sounded extremely angry.

[Other guild leaders reacted similarly.]

“Hmm…”

From what I gathered, a few National Assembly members had gone rogue and proposed a reckless law. It’s a move that could make companies using the Awakener database and Awakeners themselves enemies simultaneously. What were they thinking?

‘…If these assembly members are Awakener prejudiced, it makes sense.’

Just as Awakener supremacists can do foolish things, so can Awakener discriminators. Thinking this way, it seems the assembly members are likely prejudiced.

“Tell them to leave this matter to Jihyungman. Once my school classes are over, I’ll head to the Ironblood Guild.”

[Understood, I’ll convey that.]

Yeon Mirae ended the call.

‘… Well, it has been a while since the purge.’

I recalled when we removed corrupt officials. They were either arrested or fled abroad. Time had passed, so now there were people thinking foolishly again. Nowadays, my identity as an Artist is known, which makes things a bit more complicated…

‘I’ve never cared about that before anyway…’

It might be time to commit a little crime again.

“Anyway, it’s those Awakeners causing trouble.”

A middle-aged man muttered this at home. Once a legal professional, he had climbed the ranks to become a member of the National Assembly. A seemingly successful life, but he had a major flaw—he despised Awakeners.

His hatred wasn’t baseless. As a lawyer during the height of Awakener crime, he had witnessed their atrocities firsthand, and even though an Artist ended that era, he still hated Awakeners.

“Tch… The Awakener System is a problem too. Only fighters can create tech? Nonsense. They must have stolen a researcher’s tech and registered it.”

He didn’t trust the Awakener System. Being a non-Awakener, he didn’t understand it well, and he couldn’t imagine an Awakener—trained mainly in combat—creating marketable technology at the academy instead of a university. That’s why he, along with like-minded legislators, proposed a copyright-related law.

‘Some other legislators probably just saw it as a chance for extra perks…’

Still, most of them viewed Awakeners negatively.

‘If Awakeners’ influence grows, politicians like us lose authority.’

Honestly, if the world’s strongest Awakener, the Artist, demanded all legislators resign, no one could stop them. Even without justification, Korea couldn’t oppose an Artist.

“… So naturally, this proposed law will provoke the Artist.”

If the Artist responds… he muttered to himself.