I Don’t Want This Reincarnation

The measurement centre was 10 minutes away from the guild management headquarters.

As we entered the measurement centre under the guidance of Woo Seo-hyuk, a woman in a neat suit recognized us and approached us.

“Welcome, Requiem Guild. My name is Park Ji-won (박지원), the Head of the Research Team at the centre.”

Park Ji-won, who smiled brightly, shook my hand and asked, “I heard the story from Master Cheon Sa-yeon. Who will be the one to be measured today?”

“This one,” Woo Seo-hyuk said as he pushed Kim Woo-jin forward, who was standing behind me. Kim Woo-jin, looking gloomy, wrinkled his brow.

“Kim Woo-jin-nim, right? Follow me. I will guide you to the measurement room.”

Whether or not Kim Woo-jin was dissatisfied, Park Ji-won took the lead and led us without losing her smile.

“When I heard the news that someone went from C to A rank, I put all the ability users on standby. I will do my best as Master Cheon Sa-yeon directly commissioned me.”

The measurement centre was larger than expected. It was lively, filled with people who came to receive measurements after awakening, or those who wanted to check an item’s rank and performance.

“If you have read the brochure we sent you, you should know that we’re the largest scale measuring site in Korea. As we have a more experienced measurement research team and state-of-the-art devices, you can receive more accurate and safer measurements.”

Park Ji-won’s voice, introducing the facility as she walked through the hallway, overflowed with confidence. As we took the elevator and arrived at the basic measuring room on the third floor, she looked at us and said, “Only those who will be measured can enter—as for everyone else, we ask you to wait. It takes about 2 hours to complete the entire course, from basic measurement to in-depth measurement and ability analysis. If you go to the centre, there is a cafe you can wait at.”

At those words, Kim Woo-jin became sullen. He didn’t want to go into the examination alone. However, we couldn’t follow along, so we coolly handed Kim Woo-jin over to Park Ji-won and the researchers.

“Good luck.”

When I briefly bid Kim Woo-jin farewell, who was looking at me with sparkling eyes as if hoping for something, he turned his back with a disappointed expression.

We saw off Kim Woo-jin, who entered the measurement room, and since there was nothing to do, we went to the cafe that Park Ji-won mentioned. Seeing the cheesecake at the showcase, Min Ah-rin pulled my arm, excited.

“Cake! Let’s order some cake!”

“Cake is good. Woo Seo-hyuk-ssi, what would you like to drink?”

“I’ll just have an Americano.”

“If we’re getting something, shall we also get chocolate cake?”

“Yes, yes.”

I nodded my head as I pulled out my card with the intention of buying something for Min Ah-rin, who had suffered to this point. Min Ah-rin, who loved sweets as much as I did, ordered desserts and drinks as if she was running out of breath, and Woo Seo-hyuk took a step back and watched. I could feel his will to never join us.

“Will I be able to finish them all?”

After placing the order, Min Ah-rin looked somewhat regretful as she returned. After finishing the payment, I put my card into my wallet and comforted her.

“It doesn’t matter. Just eat and leave the rest if you’re full.”

“Yi-gyeol-ssi… That’s so touching.”

As if she liked my answer, Min Ah-rin smiled, satisfied, and handed the tray full of desserts and drinks to Woo Seo-hyuk. Woo Seo-hyuk, who suddenly had a tray in his hands, followed us with a puzzled expression.

* * *

“Without me…”

“You’re done?”

The measurement ended earlier than planned—Kim Woo-jin returned in less than two hours. Finding us chatting with desserts and drinks piled up on the table, Kim Woo-jin pouted.

“You’ve worked hard.”

I thought he would get sulky, so I sat Kim Woo-jin down into a seat and pushed a dessert to him. Kim Woo-jin, who glanced at me, relaxed and started eating the cake quietly.

“Did the results come out?”

“Kind of. The details will be sent through paper by tomorrow.”

Kim Woo-jin, who quickly ate the cake because he was hungry, said, “I was confirmed as an A-rank clone mage (분신술사). If I practice consistently, I can create up to two clones, and if I use my abilities, my body will be strengthened.”

“You say strengthened—is it an additional ability?”

At Min Ah-rin’s question, Kim Woo-jin shook his head.

“It’s not to that extent.”

It was said that a B-rank attack would inflict wounds. If so, it meant that Kim Woo-jin and his clone could not be injured with an attack below C-rank.

“Even though your body is strengthened, you need to have combat skills because you share your senses with your clone.”

“That’s for sure.”

Woo Seo-hyuk, who was quietly listening to the conversation, took out his cell phone and got up from his seat.

“Now that we’re done, we should prepare to return to the guild. I will report to the Master, so please go down first.”

“All right.”

After clearing the table and leaving Woo Seo-hyuk behind, I came down to the first floor and stopped walking. Dozens of reporters, who we’ve not seen that morning, were encamped at the centre’s entrance.

“Hold it. Wait a moment.”

I quickly grabbed Kim Woo-jin, who was about to leave without thinking, and looked around. It seemed there were even cameras from broadcasting stations.

Min Ah-rin, who understood the situation just like me, looked worried.

“Oh my, I think the news has already spread.”

“Han Yi-gyeol-ssi.”

Woo Seo-hyuk, who followed us down to the first floor, hurriedly approached us.

“It seems that information about Attendant Kim Woo-jin’s rank has been posted on the internet. Master said he’s sending security personnel right now, so we’ll have to leave a little later.”

Woo Seo-hyuk opened the portal site on his cell phone and showed it to me. Kim Woo-jin’s name was in the search list.

「Rising search ranking

1 A-rank

2 Requiem Kim Woo-jin

3 Rank up

4 C-rank Kim Woo-jin

5 Kim Woo-jin」

Even though his name was in the search list, Kim Woo-jin’s expression did not change much. Kim Woo-jin just seemed annoyed and bothered by all of this.

“I expected it to get a lot of attention, but I didn’t know it was going to be so soon.”

“In the meantime, more reporters came. The centre is blocking them to some extent, but…”

At Min Ah-rin’s words, Woo Seo-hyuk looked outside and made a troubled expression. No matter how quickly the security personnel moved, it would take at least 30 minutes.

I sighed and said, “It can’t be helped. Woo Seo-hyuk-ssi, please cancel the security personnel. Let’s just fly.”

“Will that be okay?”

“Four people are fine. If we stay here, it will be a nuisance to the centre as well.”

“…I understand.” After thinking about it for a while, Woo Seo-hyuk finally nodded his head.

“We’d better leave in front of the reporters. Then those people will no longer gather here.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Kim Woo-jin, what do you think?”

“I don’t care.”

After discussing, we walked out of the building without delay. When we appeared, the waiting reporters quickly started filming.

“Ability user Kim Woo-jin!”

“Please give a short interview!”

“Please say something about your rank up*!”

Kim Woo-jin frowned at the flood of white flashes. The number of reporters I saw out here was much higher than when I saw them from inside the centre. I made sure that all three grabbed my arms before using my ability to leave swiftly.

“Oh, oh?”

“Please wait! Ability user Kim Woo-jin!”

“It’s the flight ability user!”

As we rose up, the reporters shouted Kim Woo-jin’s name in bewildered voices. I started moving in the direction of the guild, rising to the point where my feet could barely be seen.

“Everyone, be careful not to let go.”

“Wow, how amazing. I’m finally experiencing Yi-gyeol-ssi’s ability.”

“Isn’t it better than you think? It’s very high—aren’t you scared?”

“I’m having fun. I’m not afraid of heights. Are you two okay?”

“Yes.”

Woo Seo-hyuk calmly answered Min Ah-rin’s question, and Kim Woo-jin nodded his head but tightly grabbed my arm. Come to think of it, Kim Woo-jin was nervous the last time we went to see Cha Soo-yeon. You pretend not to, but aren’t you afraid of heights? I slightly lowered our altitude.

We arrived safely at the Requiem Guild and landed. Fortunately, in front of the guild, there were no reporters in sight, perhaps because Cheon Sa-yeon had taken action.

“Let’s go to the representative office. The Master is waiting for you,” Woo Seo-hyuk said to Kim Woo-jin and me after exchanging a few words with the attendant at the front of the guild.

“I will return to the Healer Team now. See you later.”

Leaving behind Min Ah-rin, who originally had a schedule, I went up to the representative office located on the top floor.

As if waiting for us, Cheon Sa-yeon closed the document he was looking at and said, “You came sooner than I expected.”

“I just used my ability. Information about Kim Woo-jin—who leaked it?”

“I'm guessing it was a measurement centre employee, but it doesn’t mean much to me now. Anyway, as soon as the A-rank was confirmed through measurement, I was prepared for the information to be leaked.”

“I thought it’d be taken as an unconfirmed rumour**. It hasn’t been officially announced yet, but it’s already this much of a headache.”

“After the official announcement, it will be even more chaotic. At that time, foreign media will also flock in.”

Kim Woo-jin was not particularly interested in this kind of thing and even seemed bothered by it, so I was very worried. Perhaps noticing my concerns, Cheon Sa-yeon said slowly, “Unlike you, Han Yi-gyeol, Kim Woo-jin is a member of a guild. You don't have to worry too much because he can be managed and protected by the guild.”

“Then… that’s a relief,” I said reluctantly, looking at Kim Woo-jin.

“The Master is right. Don’t worry too much.” Kim Woo-jin nodded his head proudly at my gaze. I didn’t know if I could trust him though.

“Kim Woo-jin. I’ll give you training room no.17 for a while. I’ve also pre-selected S-rank guild members to teach you, so starting tomorrow, start practising your skills and train for six hours each time.”

“Yessir. Thank you.”

Even though six hours would be burdensome, Kim Woo-jin nodded his head without any complaints. Yes, I think he needed some practice too, but six hours was too long.

“The official announcement is set to be four days from now. Until then, let’s have some control over your clones.”

“Yessir.”

“And Han Yi-gyeol.”

What. I tensed up as Cheon Sa-yeon looked at me. What are you calling me for?

“I’ll send a present to your room next week or so. It’s an important item, so make sure you get it.”

“A… present?”

Why a present suddenly? I tilted my head as I had no idea what it was, but instead of giving a proper answer, Cheon Sa-yeon raised the corner of his mouth slightly and laughed playfully.

“If there is something you’re unsure about after receiving it, please come to me anytime.”

“…uuh, yessir.”

I felt uncomfortable, but I nodded my head. I didn’t know what it was, but there was no need to refuse.