chapter 44
Although I hadn’t mentioned it separately, I had continued my activities as the “Artist.”
Of course, there hadn’t been any major incidents like the Yeouido case, but I often worked together with the Iron-Blood Guild to track and eliminate criminals—those called villains.
Because of that, the name “Artist” was never completely erased from people’s minds, and I decided to make use of that name.
The problem is, even if I say I strengthened the Awakener System, not many people will actually believe me.
It’s true that Artist was well-known, but in the end, he was still relatively new, having only appeared a few years ago.
Not many would believe that such an Artist had enough points to actually enhance the Awakener System. Even if I held a press conference, no one would buy it.
Not to mention, as someone officially wanted with a bounty on his head, it was impossible for me to even hold such a press conference in the first place.
And besides, the name Artist is only famous in Korea. People overseas hardly know about me at all.
Some might have heard of me, but most wouldn’t.
That’s why it wouldn’t mean much for me to claim I had strengthened the Awakener System.
If I say it myself, that is…
But what if someone else were to say it?
Someone absolutely fair, someone undeniable…
What if the Awakener System itself announced that it had been strengthened by Artist?
“Which is why I’m asking you, System… can you send a notice to every Awakener?”
【Reviewing request from user Han Gunwoo.】
The Awakener System responded to my words with that message.
Was it calculating the potential outcomes if it really did broadcast a notice to all Awakeners?
“If the identity of the one who strengthened the Awakener System isn’t revealed, more people will become victims. You know that, don’t you?”
After a pause—as if considering my words—the System sent me another message.
【Prediction.】
【Increase in users seeking to uncover Artist’s true identity.】
【Increase in threats against user Han Gunwoo.】
The System’s reply was… unexpected.
It was almost as if—
“… You’re worried about me?”
It wasn’t wrong.
If it was revealed that Artist had strengthened the Awakener System, countless people would start targeting him.
This wasn’t just about hunting criminals or bounties anymore—foreign nations themselves could get involved.
They’d mobilize satellites, spies, hacking—all means at their disposal—to track down Artist.
Maybe even the so-called strongest beings in the world would come directly to Korea to capture him.
And since Korea’s authorities already disliked Artist, they wouldn’t bother to stop them.
【Assessed that assisting user Han Gunwoo is most effective for humanity’s survival and well-being.】
【User Han Gunwoo’s safety set as top priority.】
【Determined that user Han Gunwoo’s request threatens user Han Gunwoo’s safety.】
【Reviewing request from user Han Gunwoo.】
【Request from user Han Gunwoo is postponed.】
The System was refusing my request in order to protect me.
… To think I’d see the day when even the Awakener System worried about me.
“… But that doesn’t guarantee innocent people won’t get dragged into this.”
There’s no guarantee future powerful allies won’t be among those innocents.
No guarantee people who might one day help me won’t be among them.
… No guarantee my own close ones won’t be among them.
After hearing me out, the System made me a proposal.
【Proposal to user Han Gunwoo.】
【Cease all activities as Artist.】
【If above condition is met, request will be reconsidered.】
… So basically, it wanted me to stop acting as Artist, so I wouldn’t be put in danger?
“… No. Artist is an identity too useful to discard.”
And System—you’re overlooking something.
“Artist is nothing more than one of my puppets. Not me. Just because Artist is targeted doesn’t mean I personally am at risk.”
A puppet can be discarded anytime.
The materials might be a waste, but the System can always provide replacements.
So even if Artist became a target, that didn’t mean I was.
At that, the System fell silent.
I patiently waited.
【User Han Gunwoo’s reasoning accepted.】
【Reevaluating user Han Gunwoo’s request.】
【User Han Gunwoo’s request accepted.】
Moments later, every Awakener in the world received this message:
【Artist’s request accepted.】
【The individual who strengthened the Awakener System operates under the alias “Artist.”】
【This message is delivered to all Awakeners worldwide.】
The information the Awakener System shared was simple, but it sent shockwaves everywhere.
That Artist had strengthened the Awakener System was already huge news, but…
“So you’re saying Artist himself told the System to announce that he strengthened it…?”
“And the System accepted it.”
Awakeners already knew they could send messages to acquaintances after the System’s upgrade.
But sending a simultaneous broadcast to every Awakener in the world—that was something only Artist had managed.
That meant he had higher authority than anyone else.
Once people realized that, they split into two groups.
“Then… doesn’t that mean he could also revoke an Awakener’s abilities?”
“Considering how the System sometimes deducts aura or mana as a fee for using another’s technique from the database… it might be possible.”
Those who thought that way began to fear Artist and decided not to provoke him.
Meanwhile—
“If that were true, he would’ve stripped powers from criminals first, wouldn’t he?”
“I’m more curious about how he got so many points. Now that the System’s functions have expanded, I want to stockpile as many points as possible.”
There were also those who, as Gunwoo and the System had worried, began trying to uncover Artist’s true identity.
Their first target was, of course, the Iron-Blood Guild, which they believed was connected to him.
But with its powerful Awakeners, the guild wasn’t easily threatened.
“Annoying bastards…”
“Grrr…”
“Hey, hey. You’ve got werewolf genes, but you’re not an actual werewolf. Why are you growling?”
“Ah, sorry… it slipped out.”
In fact, those who had once been kidnapped and forcefully injected with monster DNA—the ones Artist had saved—had now joined the Iron-Blood Guild.
Thanks to them, the guild’s combat strength ranked among the top ten in Korea.
They were still considered lower-tier since they lacked an absolute powerhouse like an Aura Master or Archmage, but…
“That’ll be resolved once Yeon Mirae joins.”
The youngest-ever Aura Master, Yeon Mirae, was already set to join the guild.
And with many Awakeners—especially those saved by Artist or those who hated criminals—applying to join, their strength only grew.
Of course, with more recruits also came spies.
“The Guildmaster seems to be in regular contact with Artist… but it’s not confirmed.”
[Keep monitoring.]
“Yes.”
Meanwhile, I, Yeon Mirae, and Lee Haeun visited the Iron-Blood Guild’s headquarters.
Not as Artist and his companions, but as Mirae and her disciples, set to join the guild.
Mirae had requested a tour from Guildmaster Ji Hyungman, and he readily agreed.
Of course, it wasn’t just a tour.
We had another purpose.
Ji Hyungman did mention recently that he’s been struggling with too many spies inside the guild.
I’d overheard him mumbling about it the last time we met during a criminal subjugation.
He hadn’t meant to tell me directly—I’d just happened to catch his complaint.
Still, he’s been managing the guild well all this time. The least I can do is give him a little support.
Today, I intended to hand him a list of spies—complete with evidence.
By the way…
So there are even some foreigners here.
Inside the guild headquarters, I noticed several foreigners who seemed to be gathering information on Artist.
But since even most guild members didn’t know much about Artist—and those who did kept their mouths shut about my occasional help—the spies weren’t getting much.
“Gunwoo, look over there.”
At Haeun’s words, I glanced where she pointed.
There were people with strangely mutated bodies—those who had been kidnapped by that mad doctor’s subordinates and injected with monster DNA.
Now they were known as the Mutant Team.
I was worried Haeun might be frightened by their appearance…
But she wasn’t.
Instead, she watched them with curiosity, and when they noticed, they waved at her while sipping coffee on break.
“Come on, kids. We need to greet the Guildmaster first.”
“Okay~.”
“Yes.”
Following Mirae’s lead, Haeun and I responded.
Whatever our real goal, officially we were here accompanying Mirae on her tour.
So we followed her into the Guildmaster’s office.
“… Hm? Oh, Cadet Mirae. Was the tour today?”
Guildmaster Ji Hyungman muttered when he saw us.
After exchanging brief greetings with Mirae, he was about to call someone to guide us—
But I stopped him.
“Wait. Listen to me first, Ji Hyungman.”
“!”
I deliberately changed my voice—
Not the eleven-year-old Han Gunwoo’s voice, but the older me’s voice.
The voice of Artist.
Anyone else wouldn’t have noticed, but Ji Hyungman—who had helped me for years and kept his silence—deserved to know my true identity.
“I hear you’ve been troubled by spies lately?”
“… Haha… that’s true. But I didn’t expect you to appear in the form of a child.”
… This is my real form, though.
Apparently, he thought I’d disguised myself as a kid.
Anyway—
“Is this safe? There could be bugs in my office.”
“Oh, those?”
I casually went to a corner, removed a socket cover, and pulled out a bug.
Then I opened up the air conditioner and pulled out another bug and a hidden camera.
Then I slashed open his desk with a dagger and yanked out yet another bug…
“W-wait…! Are you planning to wreck all the furniture in here?! And why are there so many?!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll restore everything I broke.”
Anyway—
“From the moment I entered, I disabled every bug and camera in here. Whoever installed them will assume Cadet Mirae detected them and neutralized them. She is an Aura Master, after all.”
“… But is it wise to reveal yourself in front of Cadet Mirae… and that child?”
“They already know about me.”
In fact, Mirae had occasionally appeared by my side before.
Hearing that, Ji Hyungman nodded in understanding.
“Ah, so that explains why Cadet Mirae insisted on joining our guild…”
It seemed the mystery behind her decision was finally solved for him.
“As for the spies—bring all guild members here under the pretense of introducing them to Mirae. I’ll identify the infiltrators, then later give you the list with evidence.”
“… I don’t know how you plan to do that, but… understood.”
With a grave expression, Ji Hyungman nodded.
