TRPM 462

chapter 462

The gathered Awakened Ones seemed preoccupied with whether the space shuttle was actually safe and whether it made sense to board a shuttle that looked like that.

It even seemed more serious than the fact that the Grand Sorcerer and Cheonma were riding together.

The reason was simple.

“(Will my image be okay…?)”
“(That thing is a space shuttle… Isn’t this a bit much, even if Chairman Richard is leading it?)”

Image.

For Awakened Ones who have surpassed the Wall, their pride reaches sky-high levels, and they hate it when their image is ruined. Some even enjoy the attention they get from others for being beyond the Wall.

If such people ride a stylish space shuttle, their image would improve… but if they board a cylindrical structure like that to go into space, there’s no way their image could improve.

‘By the time they go to the Moon and Mars and come back, a meme will probably be made, dominating the internet.’

I don’t care much about image myself, but even I would feel upset if people insulted me.

If that’s me, then how would Awakened Ones, who care deeply about their image, feel? It’s already fortunate that no one is raising their voice to protest to Chairman Richard.

There’s no way Chairman Richard doesn’t know this…

‘Is he about to give some information to calm the Awakened Ones down?’

Thinking that, I looked at Chairman Richard. Others did the same. Even so, since it was Richard, they believed he must have some plan.

“(When the real battle begins, everyone will probably act individually anyway, but we should at least formally form a team.)”

However, Chairman Richard betrayed their expectations.

“(Wait a minute!)”
“(Was that it for the space shuttle discussion?!)”

The Awakened Ones who cared about their image stood up in protest. Those who didn’t stand still shared the same atmosphere, glaring at Chairman Richard as if to ask, What are you doing?

“(I understand your worries. But what can I do? That shape is more energy-efficient, safer, and easier for calculations.)”

Everyone was speechless at Richard’s words. By his logic, the reasoning was on his side.

The shuttle’s design sacrifices a little bit of personal image for greater safety in space. If the design were altered to cater to their popularity, the safety would decrease.

To argue against Richard here would mean prioritizing popularity over life itself.

“Hmm…?”
“(Hmm….)”

However, some Awakened Ones were staring at the cylindrical shuttle photos, contemplating something. Notably, Chairman Shin Hanji.

With unparalleled magical knowledge, Chairman Shin Hanji must have sensed something strange about the cylindrical shuttle.

‘… I also noticed something unusual.’

I watched him, thinking that.

“……”

Perhaps sensing my gaze, Chairman Shin looked at me. He lightly waved and brought a finger to his lips, signaling me to be quiet.

‘He wants me to stay out of it. I wish he’d explain why.’

But now, I couldn’t use transmission or messaging magic—there are skilled individuals here who could eavesdrop. For now, it seemed best to follow Shin Hanji’s signal and remain quiet.

I had felt an instinctive warning when I thought about speaking to Richard. If you don’t want to become the leader, stay quiet.

According to my intuition, if I acted now, it would confirm me as the leader of this gathering.

‘Are they planning to appoint me as their leader because I voiced their concerns?’

Although it was a future that hadn’t occurred, a shiver ran through me, and I quietly observed the situation.

“(It seems too many people dislike the shuttle design. Since the atmosphere isn’t right for further operation explanations, we’ll end today’s meeting here. The rest will continue tomorrow. Everyone, enjoy yourselves at the banquet and refresh your minds.)”

Chairman Richard said this and left the meeting room.

Angry Awakened Ones also left, and those indifferent did the same.

“Um… Geonwoo, shouldn’t we leave too?”

Chloe, sitting next to me, asked. I shook my head and pointed around.

Chairman Shin, Sir Sergei, Cheonma, the Grand Sorcerer… and all the perceptive Awakened Ones stayed put.

To be precise… only about a tenth of the Awakened Ones had left. Most had stayed.

“Do you really think Chairman Richard will seriously put us on that cylindrical shuttle?”
“… I’m not well-versed in magic except for mind magic… but isn’t that more efficient?”
“Yes. The simpler the surface, the easier it is to draw the magical circles.”

From that perspective, the cylindrical shuttle is efficient.

“Only if it relies solely on magic, though.”
“Huh…?”

Chloe looked surprised at my words, just as the meeting room door opened again.

“(I didn’t expect a tenth to leave.)”

Richard had returned.

“(You didn’t really think I’d send you on that cylinder, did you?)”
“(Maybe… Not all Awakened Ones are that smart.)”

Chairman Shin said this, causing Chloe to blush—she must have believed the cylinder story too.

“(Why that ridiculous act in the first place? Even with magic, a conventional shuttle assisted by magic would be the most efficient.)”

Sir Sergei asked Richard. The reply didn’t come from Richard directly, but from the Grand Sorcerer.

“(Heh… It was filtering….)”

All eyes turned to the Grand Sorcerer.

“(The fame-hungry ones who left will spread everything that happened here outside. If they reveal the real plan prematurely, it would greatly affect the operation.)”

Words from an Awakened One beyond the Wall would be a huge topic, reaching even organizations on the Moon and Mars. Richard used this fake briefing to select those with loose lips in advance to ensure operational success.

“(Have we filtered out all the talkative ones? Some may still remain….)”
“(I’ve pre-identified the talkative ones, except the influential ones. I called them here knowing they’d talk anyway. One common trait is that they like banquets, which is why I mentioned one deliberately.)”

Ah. The banquet itself was bait to filter out those with loose lips.

“(Moreover, false information was needed to deceive the organization.)”

If the organization learned the shuttle was cylindrical, they’d assume it relied solely on magic and prepare accordingly. Richard deliberately gave false information to manipulate that.

“(Now, let’s start the real operation briefing.)”

This time, Richard displayed the correct shuttle photos.

The briefing mostly covered the shuttle’s internal facilities. The actual operation was years away, and by then, they would likely forget the overview. Richard never expected these prideful, beyond-the-Wall Awakened Ones to function as a team.

‘Cooperation would be difficult.’

It wasn’t just pride. Awakened Ones from Korea with me had no issues, but rivalries among Awakened Ones were common. Even within the same country, conflicts existed. So in real operations, everyone would act individually. Our planning was merely to form teams if needed.

“(Good work, everyone. Tomorrow… you can stay at the hotel and rest or play.)”

Richard prepared to leave the meeting room, then added:

“(All the food and drinks at the banquet are top-tier, so enjoy yourselves.)”

…So everyone’s being invited to the banquet. I, however, planned to return to the hotel as previously decided. I moved in the opposite direction from the others heading to the banquet.

“Master…?”
“I’m underage, so I can’t drink. You guys enjoy yourselves.”
“Ah….”

Yeon Mirae looked hesitant, probably wondering if she should attend without me.

“I’ll go back to the hotel with Geonwoo. I don’t like alcohol much.”

Chloe, on the other hand, followed me without hesitation.

“Then I’ll…!”
“No… if you’re hesitating, just go enjoy yourselves.”
“Ugh… okay…”

I said this to Yeon Mirae, who had been holding back tears. She joined the group heading to the banquet with Shin Hanji.

‘That should eliminate any chance of me becoming the leader, right?’

Probably. Richard wouldn’t make someone absent the leader—it would provoke too much backlash.

“Then…”

I looked at Chloe.

“Chloe, shall we go on a date?”
“…Huh? A date?! Really?!”

Surprised, Chloe’s eyes widened.

“There’s nothing to do at the hotel… so let’s just stroll around a bit.”
“Yeah! Sounds great!”

Her mood immediately lifted. In retrospect, Yeon Mirae’s indecision about attending the banquet may have been for this reason.