Infinite System Inheritor Return From The Abyss - Chapter 269

Chapter 269: Chapter 268: Just now
The Next Day…

The sun was bright, and the morning breeze carried the fresh scent of soil and flowers. In Seojun’s yard, laughter and movement filled the space.

Ji-hye ran across the grass, her small feet kicking up little puffs of dust as she chased after Huno and played along, sometimes dodging her or letting her catch up.

Not far from them, Seoyang was busy planting. Silla moved with precision, digging small holes in the soil with his tail. Once the holes were ready he gently covered them after Seoyang placed the seeds inside. With a flick of his tail, Seoyang then watered the newly planted seeds.

Near the yard table, Elshienne sat with Nymira in her arms, the little dragon resting comfortably. Nathan was also seated there looking at his phone.

Behind the house, Seojun walked toward a special place—the spot where he had planted the World Tree seed. It had already grown to shoulder height, its leaves vibrant and pulsing with life.

Kneeling beside it, Seojun placed his hand on the trunk, sending a steady flow of mana into the sapling. The tree absorbed the energy greedily, its leaves glowing faintly in response.

[Thanks to the World Tree, your house was safe from the wave, Host,] the system spoke.

Seojun sighed. “Yeah… Luckily, no one noticed it. The World Tree put up a barrier and absorbed the monsters that touched it. And now, it’s growing fast.”

He stood up, watching the tree sway gently in the wind.

As Seojun finished giving mana to the World Tree, he heard a voice calling from the house.

“Seojun! Come here for a moment,” his father’s voice echoed.

Curious, Seojun walked back to the front yard. When he stepped inside, he saw his family gathered in front of the television.

“Noona and Hyung look so tired,” Nathan muttered, pointing at the screen.

On the TV, a live broadcast showed the outside of the Awakeners Association building. A massive crowd of reporters, cameras flashing, surrounded the entrance. In the middle of it all, Alex and Alexa stood, looking visibly exhausted.

The reporters bombarded them with questions.

“Vice president Alex, why is the Association hiding this person? Is he a secret weapon?”

“Is he affiliated with any guild? Does he belong to Korea or another country?”

“Many top rankers have confirmed that the mana signature from the wave’s final battle was beyond S-rank! Are you protecting someone stronger than Korea’s current strongest hunter, Sani?”

Alexa sighed, rubbing her forehead. “We have no comment at this time.”

“Is it someone from the Association? Is it an elite we don’t know about?” another reporter insisted.

Alex forced a smile. “Please understand, we cannot reveal personal information about awakeners without their consent.”

“Then is it true that this awakener is refusing to register? Doesn’t that make him a potential danger?”

Nathan frowned. “They won’t stop, huh?”

Elshienne, munching on a snack, muttered, “It’s only the second day, and the higher-ups already forced them to face the media to calm them down. Tsk, so early in the morning.”

Seoyang, watching the screen, turned to Seojun with a worried expression. “Seojun, son…” She wanted Seojun to help the twins. But doing so meant exposing himself.

Seojun remained silent, eyes locked on the television.

On the screen, It was a mess. Reporters shoved microphones forward, shouting over each other.

“Vice President Alex! How long do you plan to keep lying to the public?!”

“Are you covering up for a criminal? There are rumors that this unknown S-rank is dangerous!”

“Is the Association planning to use him as a secret weapon?!”

“Or is he already under government control?! Is that why you won’t reveal him?!”

“How much did the Association pay to keep this hidden?! Are you protecting someone important?!”

“You expect us to believe you don’t know who he is?! How stupid do you think we are?!”

The noise was overwhelming, but then someone else stepped forward.

“I think the real question is, why are they hiding him? If this guy was truly the hero who saved us, shouldn’t he be proud to step forward? Or is it because he’s not what you claim?” His words carried weight, making the reporters stir.

Another added, “Maybe he’s hiding because he knows he can’t keep up with the expectations. A one-time lucky shot doesn’t make someone an S-rank.”

The reporters jumped on it immediately.

“So you’re saying this S-rank is a fraud?!”

“The Association is covering for a fake hero?!”

Alexa’s patience snapped and glared at the crowd. “You’re all asking the wrong questions. Did you forget the reason you’re safe right now? If this S-rank didn’t exist, you wouldn’t even be standing here today.”

Alex crossed his arms, voice sharp. “Since when did saving lives become a crime? The Association does not exist to entertain your curiosity.”

But the reporters didn’t back down.

“Then why not just tell us who he is?!”

“Are you afraid the truth will disappoint everyone?!”

“If he’s not a fraud, prove it!”

Alex took a deep breath and stepped forward, his expression calm despite the pressure from the crowd. He raised a hand, signaling for silence, and after a few moments, the reporters quieted down.

“We are standing here today because we understand the public’s concerns,” Alex began, “The Association is not hiding anything dangerous, nor are we covering up a fraud. However, certain matters require careful handling. Rushing into decisions without proper preparation could lead to unnecessary problems.”

The reporters immediately fired back.

“Then how long do we have to wait?!”

“If there’s nothing to hide, why not reveal him now?!”

Alex didn’t flinch. “We are handling this responsibly. The person in question has his own reasons for staying hidden. But that doesn’t change the fact that he is the one who saved us all. Instead of doubting him, maybe you should be grateful.”

The reporters still looked unsatisfied, but before they could push further, Alexa’s eyes flickered to her hologram screen as she received a message. Her lips curled into a smirk.

Stepping forward, she confidently spoke “Since you all want answers so badly, fine. A press conference will be held soon.”

The reporters immediately buzzed with excitement.

“A press conference?!”

“Does that mean the mysterious S-rank will finally reveal himself?!”

Alexa nodded, her smirk growing. “Yes. The one you’ve been waiting for will step forward himself. So instead of making baseless accusations, I suggest you wait for the truth.”

The crowd erupted in noise, the questions turning from demanding to curious and eager. Alex turned his head slightly toward Alexa, raising an eyebrow.

“When did this happen?” he whispered.

Alexa simply grinned. “Just now.”

Seoyang, Elshienne, Nathan, Ji-hye, Huno, and Silla all turned their heads toward Seojun, who had been standing behind them just moments ago.

But he was gone.

“…Huh?” Seoyang blinked, looking around in confusion.

“Yay! Brother will be on TV!” Ji-hye cheered, clapping her hands excitedly.

Nathan sighed, shaking his head. “So much for staying low-key.”