After getting a copy of my student record from the teachers' office, I was now on the subway heading to Yeouido with Yong Sang-jae.
The reason this guy had come to school wasn't complicated.
"I came to school to practice my skills."
"Practice? You've got a training hall at home."
Right—Sang-jae was rich enough to have his own private skill training hall in his house.
He didn't need to come all the way to school just to practice.
"It's too stifling at home. Hard to train there."
"…Really?"
Well, he must have his own reasons.
No point digging further.
Right now, I had something more important to worry about.
"So why are you following me, anyway?"
"Is there a reason I shouldn't?"
"No, it's not that, but…"
There wasn't much of a reason for him to tag along.
More than that, being seen with Yong Sang-jae drew everyone's eyes.
In 2067, there were barely ten S-class ability users in all of Korea. Even if he hated the media, every Seoulite knew his face.
"Don't worry. Today just happens to be my regular check-up day."
"…Regular check-up?"
"Yeah. They're checking my stats."
Oh, right.
Back in the early days, the government conducted routine check-ups on S-class ability users.
Of course, Sang-jae wasn't exempt.
That made sense.
"Wait, why are you sulking?"
"I'm not sulking."
"You are."
"I said I'm not."
Crap. His way of speaking really grated on me.
So this was exactly the same personality he'd grow up with later, huh?
When I'd seen him on TV in the past, over 184cm tall and looking sharp, it hadn't felt so out of place.
He was even good-looking, so his clipped tone had basically become his "thing."
But that's in the future.
As a student, though? It was honestly annoying.
Should I try fixing that tone of his now while I had the chance?
"Baek Kang-hyun. Why didn't you tell me your talent awakened?"
"…Oh, that. It happened just this morning."
Wait—so that's why he's sulking?
Because I didn't tell him?
Come to think of it, there's no other reason he'd be upset.
Ugh, damn that 'Lord of Frost.'
Sang-jae's skill, Lord of Frost, let him sense anyone with ice-related talents nearby.
Which meant he'd instantly realized I'd awakened.
And since I'd just stolen his "Frost Shaping" yesterday, of course he'd caught the ice mana on me the moment we met.
That's how we ended up in this mess.
Actually, maybe this is good.
It was a chance to figure something out—whether my "Opportunity" skill worked by stealing or by copying.
But if I check the status window…
Sang-jae was sharp—twice as perceptive as most people.
If I so much as tried sneaking a look at my status window, he'd catch on that I had an "Observe" skill.
So that option was out.
The only choice was to draw out his Frost Shaping and see what happened.
Easy enough. No one knows him better than I do.
"Hey, Sang-jae."
"What is it?"
"When did you first start making those ice constructs?"
"…Ice constructs? Ah, you mean Frost Shaping."
"Yeah. My awakened skill seems kinda similar to yours."
"…Similar to this?"
Cold energy gathered in his palm, and soon a small ice rose bloomed there.
Smooth, practiced—just what I expected from a long-time user.
But that wasn't the point.
The flower was clearly made with Frost Shaping.
Which meant—
Opportunity doesn't steal skills.
Until now, I hadn't been sure if my "Opportunity" skill took others' abilities away or just replicated them.
But seeing Sang-jae use his as normal proved it. Mine was copy, not theft.
"Kang-hyun, then what's your skill?"
Of course he'd ask that.
"Cold Weapon Shaping."
"…Cold Weapon Shaping?"
"Yeah. Like you, I use ice. But I can't do stuff like flowers—just weapons, basically."
That was the cover I'd prepared.
Whether it was copying or stealing, the moment anyone found out I could take others' skills, I'd be in serious trouble.
So my decision was to hide it, always.
Truth be told, there was an even better way—but I couldn't use it yet.
And with so few skills for now, just hiding them was enough.
Besides, I don't have any synergy yet.
For most ability users, their skills were designed to chain together.
Take Sang-jae, for example:
1. Lord of Frost enhanced ice attributes.
2. Frostbite added extra effects to ice attacks.
Each skill complemented the others.
But me? Nothing.
The system had told me directly:
My "Opportunity" could only copy one skill per person.
So I had to build my own synergy, piece by piece.
Just then—
Next stop, Yeouido. Yeouido Station.
The subway had arrived. Time to head for the ability check-up center.
Finding the Yeouido Ability Testing Center wasn't hard.
Later on, they'd expand the building, but it was still in the same spot I remembered from my reporter days.
I'd gone there more times than I could count.
No, the building itself wasn't the issue.
"Kang-hyun, hurry up and go in."
The issue was Sang-jae.
"No, seriously, just do your own thing."
"I can't."
"What do you mean you can't?! You're an S-class ability user! You don't need to be here!"
"The fact that you're here is reason enough."
"…Unbelievable."
I rubbed my aching forehead.
What the hell was wrong with this guy?
Sure, he'd always looked out for me before—but never this much.
This isn't what I wanted…
Glancing around, I noticed people whispering as they watched us bicker outside the center.
Exactly what I didn't want.
My goal was to get my ability certificate, file the paperwork, and submit my Polygon Academy application through the fastest route.
Getting tangled up with Sang-jae would only waste precious time.
And everyone already knows his face.
Even just showing up with him would be enough to draw attention.
"I'm not a kid. I can handle this myself. It's not like this is my first time here!"
"It's different now."
He had a point.
Before, I'd only come for aptitude tests.
Now, it was for a full talent evaluation.
"Ugh, when I'm with you, everyone stares."
"And what's the problem with that?"
"You might not mind, but I do! And didn't you say you had a check-up, too? Can someone like you just skip out on an appointment?"
"Being S-class means I can. It'd be my first time skipping, so it counts as a first offense."
"…You're impossible."
Damn it, maybe he really could get away with that.
Wait… but why was he willing to blow off an official check-up just for me?
"If it's because of you, I don't mind…"
"Sang-jae."
I cut him off.
If I let him keep going, this pointless back-and-forth would never end.
Didn't he realize?
Time was money.
Even once inside, I'd still have to take a number and wait forever.
His concern was appreciated—but this was getting ridiculous.
"You made an appointment, right?"
"…Yes."
"That's a promise, isn't it?"
He nodded silently.
Good. He was listening, at least.
"Then you know, don't you?"
"…Know what?"
"That I hate people who break promises."
"…Do you?"
"I do."
Maybe it was more of a future-me thing, hating promise-breakers.
But I wasn't about to back down.
"If you break a promise because of me, I'll feel responsible!"
"…Responsible?"
"Yeah. If you skip out, it'll be because of me. Got it?"
He hesitated.
I put a hand on his shoulder and shook my head firmly.
"Even if you're fine with it, I'd feel guilty. That's just who I am."
And that was the truth.
If Sang-jae broke his promise because of me, I'd become the scapegoat.
And if word got out that an S-class skipped check-up because of me, I'd end up in the rumor mill.
His expression grew complicated.
"Kang-hyun… you'd do that for me…"
Weird reaction, but whatever. At least he looked persuaded.
"Sang-jae. Whatever else, don't do it because of me. The last thing I want is to hold you back."
Finally, he stepped back.
Yes—progress.
"…Then I'll finish my check-up first. That's fine, right?"
"Yeah, sure. Go ahead."
S-class check-ups took forever in these days. Half a day, at least.
That's why appointments were necessary.
"…Then I'll be back later."
"Yeah, go. I'll see you after."
"…I'll be quick."
"Yeah, yeah, just go already."
He lingered, staring at me like he couldn't let go.
I just turned away and pushed through the center doors.
Cool air washed over me the moment I stepped inside.
Ahh, nice.
The heat that had built up arguing with Sang-jae melted away in the air conditioning.
This was a government facility, after all. They didn't skimp on AC.
But wow, it's packed.
The place was full, as usual.
Some people here for aptitude tests like I once was. Others, like me, for full talent assessments.
I went to the machine and drew a ticket.
…Number 089. Great.
Glancing at the board—
They were only at 43.
Yeah, I'd be waiting an hour, minimum.
But waiting was nothing new here.
Then, from behind me—
"Oh, Kang-hyun? You're back again?"
"…Yun-sung hyung?"
"Why do you sound unsure?"
Kim Yun-sung.
An older friend I'd been close with as a student, but we'd lost touch once I got busy reporting.
Seeing him smile and walk over made me feel a little guilty. Hadn't he asked me out for drinks not long ago?
"Didn't you just come by a couple days ago? Pretty quick turnaround."
"Ah, well, yeah."
He was right. It would've looked like I'd been here just two days ago.
Back then, I'd visited weekly, desperate to ease my anxiety by taking test after test.
At least here, I'd always been "S-class."
"Lot of people today, though. You'll be waiting a while."
"This isn't my first time waiting, hyung."
"Fair point. Ugh, but still… I hate this job sometimes."
He sighed, eyeing the endless line behind me.
Poor guy. He'd be stuck here for the next decade.
Before my regression, he'd never left this place.
So yeah, people had a point when they called government jobs iron rice bowls.
"By the way, any high ranks show up today?"
"High ranks? Oh, yeah. Think there was an A-class earlier."
"An A-class?"
"Yep. First in a month, I think? Said they'd awakened recently. Probably on the news later."
An A-class at this time? My memory struggled.
"And wasn't Polygon your target academy? That kid said they were registering for Polygon today, too."
"Really? What's their talent?"
"Blessing-type. Already confirmed."
"Whoa, a blessing type? Do you remember their name?"
Blessing types were rare. Only one name came to mind.
Silver Wings, Yoon Si-ae.
Now A-class, but destined to awaken as S-class later.
The future hope of Korea's blessing-type users.
"Something with 'Yoon Si…' Can't quite recall."
"Eh, it'll be on the news anyway. Blessing-type A-class? That's huge."
"Right. You always did have an eye on ability users."
"Yeah. If only I could awaken too… then I'd quit this job in a heartbeat."
His voice trailed off. He couldn't say that out loud here.
But I knew what he meant. He'd said it to me enough times before.
"Even if you awaken, you'll probably still work here, hyung."
"Don't be ridiculous. Why would someone with powers stay here?"
It hurt to hear.
In a year, he would awaken—but only as a D-class.
And his talent? Perfect for government work.
Anger Control, if I remembered right.
Wait. If Yun-sung hyung awakens later, does that mean…?
I focused on him, trying to bring up his status window.
…Nothing.
So, people who hadn't awakened yet were invisible to me.
Still, that was useful info.
"…Why are you staring at me like that?"
"Hm. I was using my secret technique to check if you had talent."
"And?"
His eyes lit up playfully.
He always humored my nonsense like this.
"You do."
"Oh? What kind?"
"The kind that'll keep you working here forever."
"…You little brat. What kind of curse is that?"
"Not a curse, really…"
Isn't lifelong job security a compliment?
"Get lost, kid. I've got work."
"I wasn't holding you here."
"Yeah, yeah. Just come by later to pick up your form."
He waved me off and walked back to his post.
Watching him go, I couldn't help but feel bad.
But hey—at least his job was secure.
Glancing up at the board, the number had jumped to 61.
Weird—today the line was moving faster than usual.
Or maybe I was just nervous.
Each tick forward made my heart pound harder.
And then, at last—
Number 089.
Finally, it was my turn to find out my ability grade.
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