TRPM 284

chapter 284

That evening.

After school ended, I asked Kim Eun-yeon for understanding when she suggested club activities, then immediately prepared to head to the Iron Blood Guild.

“… I was hoping you could take a look at the new potion….”
“Sorry, it was really urgent.”

However, when Kim Eun-yeon looked as if she was about to cry at my words, the other kids in our class gave me that “you’re trash” look, but after I briefly explained the situation, she nodded in understanding.

‘By the way… she already made a new potion?’

Last week, she had made a sample of a diet potion, and now another new potion this week…
Of course, the one from last week was just a sample, so it’s hard to call this a new potion per se. But no matter how talented an alchemist is, making a new potion at this pace shouldn’t be easy.

But Kim Eun-yeon was different.

‘I knew this, but the difference really is whether you have the Philosopher’s Stone, the Magnum Opus, as your target.’

Even before my regression, Kim Eun-yeon enjoyed developing potions through alchemy, but she could never produce new potions at this speed. Even when she was more skilled than she is now.

‘Wait a minute… doesn’t this new law also affect producers like Eun-yeon?’

The proposed law imposes taxes on products created from the database of the Awakener system.
In other words, taxes would also be applied to alchemists’ registered potion recipes.

Not all potions in the world are made by alchemists. Most of the potions on the market are mass-produced by companies, not individually crafted by alchemists. Only a very few are personally created by alchemists.

This means that if this law is enacted, almost every potion would be taxed.

‘And not just potions…’

Weapons mass-produced by companies, not blacksmiths.
Disposable scrolls made by companies, not by mages.
Mass-produced protective talismans made by companies, not by shamans.

‘Everything would be taxed.’

And who bears the burden of these taxes? Companies? Partly yes, but mostly consumers. Companies would raise prices to offset the taxes.

Ah, but now is not the time for these thoughts.

“I’ll look at it in detail tomorrow, so…!”

I fled the classroom and headed straight to the Iron Blood Guild.
If I kept looking at Kim Eun-yeon’s tearful eyes, I would’ve softened my resolve.

‘A high schooler using the “tears attack”…’

She’s usually timid enough to stutter, so it’s not entirely unreasonable.

Anyway. It didn’t take long to reach the Iron Blood Guild.

“Ah, Artist! The Guild Master is waiting for you in the Guild Master’s office.”

As soon as I entered, the receptionist right in front of the guild’s entrance said this to me.
I nodded and leapt to the floor where the Guild Master’s office was located.

… I didn’t take the stairs or elevator; I just jumped there. I didn’t want to wait or climb slowly.

‘Actually, everyone else would do the same if they were in a hurry.’

For an Awakener confident in their physical abilities, jumping a few floors isn’t difficult.
Of course, miscalculating could land someone on the wrong floor or crash into a railing, but that doesn’t apply to me.

Bang…!
“Ugh?!”
“Hey! If you’re going to jump, do it properly!”
“Ugh… I thought it would be easy…”

It seems another Awakener tried the same stunt but misjudged something. I didn’t bother looking back.

‘The Guild Master’s office should be here… oh, found it.’

I knocked on the door.

Knock knock.
“Come in.”

Hearing the familiar voice, I entered the office.

“Welcome, Artist.”
“How’s the situation?”
“It’s not as good as we hoped.”

Hmm?

“People understand that if the Copyright Law passes, it won’t be good for anyone—Awakeners or non-Awakeners—but the companies that would be hit hardest seem unconcerned.”
“Why?”
“It seems they plan to compensate for their losses in another way.”

And…

“It also seems people in our country just aren’t very interested in laws… so there won’t be many opposing it.”

Well… to ordinary people, this law would just slightly raise prices. People are used to prices going up, so they barely react.

“And the Awakeners?”
“There’s no official announcement yet, but there won’t be much reaction. Very few have registered techniques that can be used in real life like you, Artist.”

Originally…

“Even if companies use your techniques, you’re not really getting paid, right?”
“That’s true.”
“So Awakeners generally won’t be directly affected by taxes on such techniques and will remain indifferent.”

I see.

To summarize, for Awakeners who registered techniques, this law doesn’t cause direct losses.
Companies developing products can just raise prices to offset the taxes, and they’ve promised to compensate for any losses.
Consumers will face higher prices, but prices were rising anyway, so it won’t matter much.
Given these circumstances, there’s a real chance this law could pass.

‘Hmm…’

That’s troubling.
Even if it doesn’t directly harm me, rising prices are undesirable.
Especially for technologies in the database like…

‘Low-frequency generators and organizational technologies that are beneficial to humanity…’

Devices that prevent dungeons from forming in the area of effect.
Various technologies developed by organizations.

Taxing these technologies means higher prices for products using them, which means fewer people benefit from these technologies.

‘Fewer people benefiting could mean deaths.’

Of course, this is an extreme example.

“Anyway, there’s nothing we can do legally to stop the law from being enacted, right?”
“Correct… Although it could be rejected during parliamentary or cabinet review.”

But using the word “legally” implies…

“… You’re not thinking of taking on lawmakers, are you?”
“I am.”
“… Artist, this isn’t the time for us to hide our faces and storm someone’s home to handle it ourselves.”

Ji Hyung-man showed a slightly negative reaction.
Ah, back in the day, not just I, but the Iron Blood Guild including him used to raid the homes of high-ranking officials.

“More importantly, your identity is known now, Artist. If you attacked a lawmaker, people around you could get hurt…”
“I’m prepared. And there’s not much lawmakers can actually do to me or my people anyway.”

Ji Hyung-man fell silent for a moment. After some thought, he said:

“Could you give me some time? I’ll try to resolve this.”
“Hm?”
“Please, don’t make a big deal out of it…”
“……”

Ji Hyung-man sincerely begged me.
The once daring guild leader who led raids to punish criminals no longer wants to escalate things as he ages.

“… How do you plan to solve it?”

Giving him time is fine.
Even if the law is proposed, it will take a long time before it’s enacted.
But I won’t blindly wait without a plan. So I asked him for specifics.

“I plan to mobilize the Association.”
“The Association? Ah…”

Many people mistakenly think the Association is a government body, but it isn’t.
Technically…

‘The Awakener Association is closer to a UN-affiliated organization.’

The UN was established to maintain international peace.
Issues involving powerful Awakeners can threaten global peace.
Thus, the UN created the World Awakener Association, which established Awakener Associations in all member countries. That’s the Association we have now.

‘… The Association’s duty is to protect Awakeners’ rights without harming non-Awakeners.’

Furthermore, the UN can give input on South Korea’s policies.
While the UN can’t force policies, it can warn if a policy might harm Awakeners or threaten international peace.
South Korea’s parliament could ignore it, but they probably won’t.

“Mobilizing the Association seems like a pretty good approach.”

Considering that senior positions in the Korean Association are mostly guild-friendly, the chances of success are significant.

“Yes. I’ll do my best to mobilize the Association. Artist, please just wait.”
“……”

It’s hard not to comply when someone pleads like that.
Ji Hyung-man, though much older than me, bowed while asking this.
Of course, mentally I’m older than him since my regression, but I chose to ignore that.

“Alright.”

I turned and left the Guild Master’s office, saying as I opened the door:

“Don’t feel too burdened. I won’t be angry about having to wait.”

I felt Ji Hyung-man flinch.
I left him behind and closed the door.

‘What does Ji Hyung-man even think of me?’

A terrifying person when angry?
Someone who acts without thinking of consequences?
Someone who kills all enemies if necessary?

‘… Maybe all three…’

Considering what I’ve done in front of him, that fits.
Still, it was for the sake of the Iron Blood Guild…

“Ah, Master!”

As I walked down the guild corridor lost in thought, I saw Yeon Mi-rae.
Behind her, Sophia and Alex followed like aides.
Judging by their direction, they were heading toward the Guild Master’s office…

“I heard you came, Master, so we were heading to the office. Have you finished talking with the Guild Master?”

Ah, they came to meet me.

“Yes. To summarize: Ji Hyung-man told me to do nothing and just wait. He’ll try to solve it by mobilizing the Association.”
“……”
“……”
“……”

Their expressions hardened.

“Master… you’re not planning to destroy everything, right?”
“… Please, don’t do anything and just wait. I’ll contact Chairman Richard of the Association and help Ji Hyung-man myself.”
“If you need Fafnir… I can lend it. But can you wait until Ji Hyung-man finishes?”
“……”

What do you guys even think of me?