Chapter 186

  Mi-Yung didn't detest progressive principles and didn't think of birth like a typical woman. Sure, it was necessary to think of children as a future since no end was in sight, but what of that lost focus or further points? What about her surname or position?

  Her heart was someone else’s, and she wouldn't cut it in half, let alone watch it turn into pieces. Talent. Effort. Position. It was her greed—a point offered by her surprisingly shitty circumstances but also quite potent status.

  William was way out there as a young Walker to care about these things, but he did learn of it recently, and it wasn't a lie. Acting as an important piece of a puzzle, Mi-Yung wanted to know and understand him better. Considering his age and history, there were multiple right assumptions about where to start.

  Most of those in her position knew what to give. Her base Rank 6 was credible to teach any Walkers below Rank 5.

  In fact, a preference for duels or combat partners was appropriate and recommended at pretty much any Rank. Mi-Yung was pretty good at that sort of thing. It was just the youths who were a problematic topic, so she wasn’t good with them.

  Still, because of her age and the general hierarchy, and her sheer freaking position as the youngest Pillar of Assembly, she could do a lot of things even if they weren't reasonable.

  Then, there was her personality and determination. Already at Rank 6 for a while, and well-adjusted as a great task manager and deal-breaker, she was thirty-three years old, which made her one of the best Walkers of her generation.

  She was even better than the first generation that underwent Forced Awakening, so she wasn't old, and her opportunity for further Rank-ups wasn't too much to ask for.

  Rank 7 was more than likely for her to explore. Rank 8 was... still difficult, but many believed it might be possible for her if her Rank 7 showed no sign of slowing down.

  She had decades ahead to become a respectable Pillar, who would never disappear into obscurity. Then, over time, perhaps a mass production of Rank 7s would finally lead this society to a new tomorrow, and she would be their pillar of hope.

  After all, the deaths of Rank 8 Walkers had very rare conditions, if not rumors alone. The world didn't know much of them, and there was a distinct belief that every large land in the world had such associates for limited trump cards. History depicted their potential as behemoths who were difficult to perish, and their ages were usually at the highest end.

  They were hard people, but Darks were as hard, if not much wilder to crush. And there were fewer of them, which was the main issue of this endless cleansing and struggle that had been going on since 2014.

  Regardless, fighting was prudent, and Mi-Yung could afford to be wild, proud, and a little bit arrogant if she liked it. It was not only because of her family name but because of her results. She was extremely efficient and great at her job, so few Walkers of a similar category could refute her.

  Even someone like Fain had to acknowledge her work, whilst she was still at Rank 6. It was a distinct ceiling that limited her activities. Power was why, since reputation didn't put out every shackle in this world.

  Like most Songs, she was making her ancestry proud. With her late father being a major pillar of South Korea, she had to be worthy.

  Alas, to her efficiency or intimacy, some people might not like any of that as long as the bits were wrong. Her choices often end unlikably and lack further thought. She was like Dreadus if he were more clever, fiercer, and not lacking ambitions.

  Now, William's significant growth period was up to her eyes and feelings, so it was about time to give him much-deserved attention, even if others had already done it instead of her.

  That infuriated her a little, and she could not possibly let herself down. Even though she used to be one such young Walker herself, her upbringing was in South Korea, while the rest was in the Federation, and under many tough eyes.

  Understanding what Wiliam was going through was already different. A lot of different. She had more trouble adjusting to an unfamiliar Western world. And with her family indebted to the Federation, the future looked grim until she set her own world aside from them.

  William kind of felt it. Mi-Yung was not bad, even when her home was no more. He heard plenty of destruction through rumors, stories, or legends. The Dawn was crazy enough to crash hundreds of nations and wipe out countless cultures for good.

  It was no wonder Mi-Yung never felt at home here. It was no prison either. It was just a place to sit in, call it a home, or pretend it was good. For her, Luke made up her home and her job kept her home better.

  Viktor rescued her when she was a couple of years younger than the current William, so she knew about growth and how to approach this land. Like him, she became a Walker via Forced Awakening at its first expert phases. By now, this method was stable and worth trying on as many Walkers as physically possible.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  For power. For stability. It had to perform well.

  Which was why the Examination was a big deal, as that was where many foreign organizations came into place. The Federation and Academy were the most prominent, as they were the ones behind this whole process. Not outsiders, though those were also coming under multiple agreements and business-like endeavors.

  William heard about them from Ellie, but couldn't think of it much since it was still a long way ahead.

  But it was not for others. It was an urgent matter for Mi-Yung, who knew more about it than anyone. By the time Mi-Yung grew in her Ranks, the Federation was already quite hefty and powerful, and she saw its rise and plenty of generations.

  Watching his reluctance to follow, Mi-Yung did not waver. “What about the library? I am familiar with it quite a bit, including... that cursed Kaufman! Not Heidi, but even then... uh. You know.” She tried a different strategy, and the bait almost worked.

  “Well, I can't really stop you, could I? The thing is, the same person who showed me around the Federation is guiding me in the library. Having two guides is too much for me, I think.” William excused himself and Ellie with an apologetic tone. However, he had a feeling this wouldn't stop her anyway.

  After the strange last night’s talk, maybe spending time with her wouldn't hurt, and maybe she won't try to pull off the same shit as Kaufman did.

  “Hmmm. Someone is moving their hands quite quicky. Alright. What has that mysterious person shown you? I am quite curious about that.” She asked, confident she would do better.

  Frankly, she would, as far as the upper floors were concerned, but she wouldn't even be half as good as Ellie on the rest of the floors. Which shouldn’t be a liability at the moment because William didn’t plan to visit them that many times.

  “The library is big, so a lot, I guess. I will spend rest of the weeks doing my basics. As for the training... I don't know. Maybe after the Awakening? Nobody told me what to expect or do afterward, so I dunno what you want. I have enough to learn as is.” William told his truth and hid facts that he had goals and general ideas about the Forced Awakening.

  He thought he did not need to trouble her. It seemed excuses might give him more worries or give her ammo to latch onto him.

  William had yet to get familiar with her, unlike Luke, who was honest and quite a simple person when he thought about it. He let him be because of his missions.

  On the other hand, Mi-Yung was more distinct, even though there was one Rank of difference between them.

  William wondered how this point worked in this Walker hierarchy or the Federation, and what sort of backstory this pair had. One was simple, and the other so haughty if he had to describe her with a single word. It was also not excessive, or it could be because he was the son of Viktor.

  Her words, passion, tones, body, and so on. Mi-Yung was way outside of his theories, yet also close to how most Walkers he had met were. They had this particular aura, personality, and they didn't care about a lot of little or minor things.

  And Mi-Yung was like that and even bigger. It went without a surprise since William must have met relatively tame Walkers out there in comparison. No Pillars were running wild in his Outside for sure.

  Whenever someone like Mi-Yung went on a mission, it was nothing simple, so she was the same. Not just everyone would understand what it took.

  William could not put his finger on the reason, but he looked at odd Walkers from miles away, and this one was much closer. At Rank 6, he could not imagine what she was bearing with.

  William confirmed this thanks to his experience with Kaufman, who was beyond great and mysterious. He had this bizarre approach, yet also a casual air around him that could shift in a flash. Mi-Yung had a one-of-a-kind spirit, and it was also quite physically demanding.

  Maybe he was thinking about something else.

  “You basically said nothing.” She argued.

  “Is it wrong? I got a few days in there, so I am lacking compared to others. Will six weeks even do anything? Maybe I should chill out and learn and then do whatever is needed of me. What you think is barely a thought in my head because even a little can get big for me.”

  “Are you calling yourself stupid?”

  “What if I do? You think it is false?”

  Mi-Yung made a difficult face and thought twice before speaking. “Perhaps. You are also naughty enough to go to the upper floor just like this, get to know secrets, and spend time with someone afterward.”

  “Sounds fine to me. You would do the same, I think.”

  Mi-Yung blinked and found this hilarious. “Who taught you this?!”

  “You said to speak frankly, so I do. Or do you expect a deep reverence from me? Sorry, you kind of kidnapped me.” At some level, the amount of wit he was getting out of his head surprised even William. It seemed Ellie rubbed on him in ways he hadn’t assumed were there.

  “Yes. I shouldn’t be shocked. But! Silly boy, I will accompany you today since I have no work. I've done enough and will take care of you.” Mi-Yung said and cheered. There was no room for negotiations.

  However, unlike her expectations, William refused. “I can manage it myself.”

  “What?! Don't you want a mentor who could show you the upper floor’s meaningful gimmicks? I can take you there for free, make physical and great stories, and put clarity where it is way better. I am also rich, if I say so myself. Credits are no issue.” She offered and had no idea what William had experienced in the past few days.

  She had yet to know about that full-pass card either. Luke cleverly glossed over that fact, and Mi-Yung was thinking about something more meaningful all the freaking time.

  “I have been on the upper floor with Kaufman,” William told yet another truth, and still kept Ellie out of the picture.

  Since he already mentioned Kaufman several times, and Mi-Yung had a vehement reaction to him, he tossed his name like bait. His hesitation and fear about what she would say next were less than evident.

  Mi-Yung's eyes shifted again, an extra noise came from the chair and table alike, and her face contorted in vicious delight. Perhaps even the floor squeezed in her terror.

  “Kaufman... Kaufman... Once more, he let himself in? Is Hidi blind? They wouldn't lead you there all by yourself, so Kaufman let you read through anything what you wanted, huh?”

  “Not really.” William said with difficulty and grasped his card over his trousers. He was close to running away, toss this card as bait, and watch her turn into a demoness.