Chapter 10

I Am Not a Reincarnator Chapter 10

Registration Review (2)

"Here, I've packed everything!"

The boxes placed on the table.

To prevent the cakes from being squished, Park Jung-woo had brought several boxes instead of envelopes and carefully packaged each cake like a professional patissier.

"You've worked hard."

Looking down at the lined-up boxes, Oh Jin smiled contentedly.

"By the way, are you here for the registration review?"

"Y-Yes! I'm here to get good results and make Pandinus known!"

Park Jung-woo answered in a sharp, soldier-like posture, as if he had just completed a training camp.

"Hmm. I see."

Oh Jin chuckled and nodded.

It was time to wrap things up as the association staff would be returning soon.

"I need to see for myself how much potential the promising member of the Pandinus guild has."

"…What?"

Park Jung-woo's eyes widened in shock.

To think that an Awakened person, who seemed to be higher up than the guild leader, would be observing his registration review.

It was no different from a division commander visiting a unit to check the usual training results.

"U-Uh, that's a bit…."

"Ha! These are the kids Chan-hyuk picked, so they must be amazing! Divine! Yes! They must be the future of Korea!"

Park Jung-woo's legs trembled violently.

'Oh no.'

He bit his lip anxiously.

In fact, he had already arranged to take the test with an association staff member who had been bribed.

Even if he took the test casually, a high score was guaranteed.

However,

'What should I do?'

If the test was conducted with someone else observing, such tricks would be impossible.

"Hmm? Why do you look so dead?"

"No, no. It's… It's nothing."

Gripping his trembling hands into fists,

Park Jung-woo's mind went blank.

He thought he would have a smooth life after joining a large guild, but now it felt like he was facing a massive cliff.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

"Oh…"

Oh Jin continued with a worried expression.

"Shouldn't you avoid taking the registration review today? You might tarnish the guild's name if you take it in poor condition."

He asked in a subtle tone.

'He'll say yes, right?'

There's no way a guild member would want an Awakened person, who is much higher up than their guild leader, to observe their review.

'Unless they are confident in their abilities.'

To be honest, Park Jung-woo's attitude and aura were far from those of an Awakened person of the Scorpion constellation, one of the 12 signs of the zodiac.

It was doubtful whether he even intended to take the review seriously.

'After all, some people get high scores by bribing.'

Whether Park Jung-woo actually tried such tricks or not, it didn't matter.

The fact that he made a face like he needed to go to the bathroom when he heard that Oh Jin would observe the review was enough to confirm his reluctance.

"…!"

Park Jung-woo's eyes sparkled as if he had found an oasis in a desert.

"Ah, I understand! I wasn't feeling well today anyway."

"Of course, I thought so."

Oh Jin's lips curled up.

Is it that good?

"Come here for a moment."

"What? Why…."

Startled, Park Jung-woo spoke in a barely audible voice.

"You said you weren't feeling well, right? I'll check you out."

"No, no! There's no need…!"

"Being sick isn't a crime, why are you acting like this?"

Oh Jin grabbed Park Jung-woo's wrist.

"Ugh, ugh."

Park Jung-woo's eyes squeezed shut, his face as stiff as a high school student caught smoking.

'Cute kid.'

Chuckling inwardly, Oh Jin examined Park Jung-woo's body, then grabbed his wrist to check his pulse.

"Hmm… Your mana is definitely unstable. Your breathing is also irregular."

He nodded, making it sound serious.

"It seems you're just tired. You're not sick, so don't worry."

"Thank you!"

"But fatigue is the root of all diseases. Let's postpone the registration review and rest today."

"Ha ha. Yes, I understand. I can't tarnish the guild's name by overexerting myself."

"Right, right. That's true. Health is the most important, isn't it?"

Park Jung-woo, who had jumped up from his seat, bowed deeply.

"Thank you for your kind words! I apologize again for my rudeness earlier!"

"Ha. It's nothing. Just go inside and rest."

"Yes!!"

"Please convey my regards to Chan-hyuk."

"Understood!"

Bowing repeatedly, Park Jung-woo opened the waiting room door and rushed out.

Oh Jin waved from his seat on the sofa.

With this, the annoying obstacle was gone.

Of course,

There was a risk of trouble later, but—

'He probably won't report it.'

After all, it's rare for a low-ranking member of a large guild to meet the guild leader.

There's no real benefit, so he won't seek a private meeting with the guild leader just to convey his regards.

'Even if he does,'

He'll probably just get scolded or worse.

It doesn't matter if he comes back for revenge or does something else.

'I'll deal with it when it happens.'

Even if he is a promising member of a large guild, Oh Jin is the Apostle of the North Star.

Considering how easily he was dragged when Oh Jin grabbed his wrist, it's unlikely he would win in a real fight.

"Clean."

The obstacle was removed, and the cakes for Haeun were beautifully packaged.

And most importantly,

"Let's see how much it cost."

He chuckled and pulled out a fancy leather wallet.

Earlier,

When he pretended to examine Park Jung-woo's body, he had secretly taken it from his pocket.

"Wow, kid. You're carrying a lot of cash."

He grinned, collecting the bills in the wallet.

They say the salary of a large guild member is huge, and it seems to be true.

"Hmm? What's this?"

A black gem about the size of a 500 won coin caught his eye.

'This… is a Variant's Holy Stone?'

It was about the same size as the Holy Stone he had collected from the Ant Horn.

'Why does he have this?'

Since Variants appear with extremely low probability, their Holy Stones are not easily obtainable.

Why would it suddenly appear in Park Jung-woo's wallet?

"…I need to look into this."

It felt too suspicious to just take it.

*Whoosh.*

After tossing the wallet into the trash can and waiting for about 10 minutes, he heard footsteps in the hallway.

Thud, thud.

Heavy footsteps that could be felt even outside the door.

Click.

The door opened, and a man entered.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting."

He looked to be in his late 30s.

A tall man, nearly 190 cm, with bulging muscles and a tanned complexion.

"…"

The oppressive presence made Oh Jin momentarily speechless.

"Are you Awakened Oh Jin… the one with the Lyra constellation's mark?"

"Yes, that's me."

"I should have introduced myself earlier. I'm Team Leader Han Jun-man of the Special Disaster Security Management Association's Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters."

The towering man extended his hand.

When Oh Jin shook it, he felt a powerful force.

'Wow.'

He was incomparably stronger than someone like Park Jung-woo.

"By any chance, are you…."

"I'm a 6-star Awakened of the Taurus constellation."

Taurus, like Scorpio, is one of the 12 signs of the zodiac.

Reaching 6 stars, he naturally exuded an overwhelming presence.

"I heard the association's Awakened were all useless, but I guess that was a lie."

"Ha ha. Well… it's not entirely a lie."

Han Jun-man chuckled and nodded.

"By the way, do you really have the Lyra constellation's mark?"

He asked, looking incredulous.

After all,

There are only twelve Awakened in the world who have received the mark from the current 'North Star' constellation.

Moreover, all twelve received their marks from Deneb.

The Awakened who received marks from Deneb, known as the Apostles of the North Star, are all renowned for their incredible abilities.

Their amazing powers naturally drew attention to the other two North Star constellations.

However, Vega and Polaris have only been known to exist and have never produced an Awakened.

Thus, Oh Jin is the world's first Awakened to receive the mark from Vega.

It would be strange if he didn't have doubts.

"Let me show you."

Showing it directly would be faster than explaining.

He unbuttoned his shirt to reveal the mark on his left chest.

"Hmm…."

Han Jun-man examined the mark with a serious expression.

He still seemed uncertain.

"You came here for the registration review, right?"

"Yes."

"Would it be okay if I personally conduct the review?"

"Personally, you?"

What kind of registration review involves a 6-star Awakened?

'This could mess up my plans…'

But as he was about to refuse,

'Maybe it's not all bad?'

He thought this might be better than his original plan.

"Yes, I understand."

"Thank you. Let's head to the examination room."

He nodded and followed Han Jun-man.

"…Alright."

After walking through the complex corridors for about 5 minutes, they reached a large examination room inside the association.

The special training ground, designed for Awakened, was surrounded by reinforced glass mixed with Holy Stones.

'The spectators must have been cleared out.'

Although there were no strict rules against spectators, he heard that a few people often watched the registration reviews. It seemed Han Jun-man had taken care of it.

'He has a good sense.'

Despite his appearance, which suggested he could chew through metal.

"Since you're a warrior, the review will be a simple sparring match."

Han Jun-man, wearing protective gloves, took a stance.

"Can I use this instead of a real weapon?"

Oh Jin tapped the spear he had stored in the locker before entering the building.

"Ha ha. Of course."

"…Alright then."

Since the other side said it was fine, it shouldn't be a problem.

'6-star Awakened.'

No matter how amazing the Lyra constellation's mark is, can it make up for the 4-star difference?

Especially against an Awakened with a mark from one of the 12 signs of the zodiac?

'Guess we'll see.'

That's why he accepted the review.

"Whoosh."

He took a deep breath and assumed a stance.

His breathing was low and long.

Following the 'Compass Constellation Spear Technique' etched in his mind, he moved his body.

'And.'

Woosh!!

The mark on his left chest glowed blue.

Crack, crackle!!!

Blue lightning crackled fiercely.

"Haah!!"

Thud!

He dashed forward, thrusting the lightning-infused spear with full force.

Clang!!

The spear blade bounced off Han Jun-man's arm.

It felt like he had stabbed a solid piece of iron, not a human arm.

"…Hmm?"

Han Jun-man's expression hardened as he easily blocked the spear.

"What is this…."

His mouth gaped open.