I Became the Academy’s Kibitz Villain

Chapter 279: Where There Is Light, There Is Darkness (3)

The training session at the grand training ground lasted for about an hour, and it ended safely without anyone getting hurt.

Baek Seol-hee created two clones, and the duel against the three S-classes became a 3-on-3 battle.

The result was Baek Seol-hee’s overwhelming victory.

Even with three S-classes teaming up against her, Baek Seol-hee secured the win.

Afterwards, in the briefing room.

“Ahh.”

Holding the microphone, Baek Seol-hee, accompanied by her clone dressed in the same uniform, cleared her voice.

“The new ability I have developed is called ‘Clone’.”

Clone.

Many characters in various media used cloning techniques, but very few “ability users” could actually create clones.

“Snow White, did you really create a clone….”

“Questions.”

When the bald minister spoke, Baek Seol-hee interrupted him with a firm voice.

“I will take questions intermittently after the presentation is over.”

“Mm…!”

Although the minister, who was less than half her age, was openly rebuked, no one defended him.

“Minister Kim.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

“Let Miss Baek Seol-hee ask for questions if she needs any. Just wait patiently.”

“……I’m sorry.”

Although the minister could be dismissed with a mere gesture from the president present at the meeting, Baek Seol-hee, who had subdued three S-classes with her skill and power, was irreplaceable.

“Now, let’s continue with the explanation. My clones and I are connected by mana, and if the distance exceeds a certain limit, the clone becomes an ice statue, like a sculpture.”

Snap.

As soon as Baek Seol-hee snapped her fingers, the clone turned into an ice statue.

“The closer the distance, the more mana I can infuse into the clone, allowing it to use more magic power. This data has been confirmed through experiments, but it varies greatly depending on the condition. For detailed data, please refer to the handouts.”

“Uh, I have a question, senior.”

Despite being rebuked once, there was one who raised their hand persistently.

“What is it, Taejo?”

“Is it possible to connect with the clone even if you are on the other side of the Earth? Like a network?”

“…It’s not that far. The maximum detectable range is up to 10 km. Beyond that, the clone just becomes an ice sculpture.”

“Then if you place clones every 10 km, could you control them from Busan to Seoul?”

“…….”

Baek Seol-hee tilted her head slightly at Taejo’s question.

Was it possible?

She had never tried it before.

“Wait a moment.”

Baek Seol-hee immediately sent a message.

“Uh, Miss Baek Seol-hee? Who are you contacting?”

“A personal ability consultant. I met them online.”

After quickly writing and sending a rather long message, Baek Seol-hee grabbed the microphone again.

“Armored Taejo, your suggestion seems better than I thought.”

“Oh, really? Haha, actually, one of my abilities is….”

“Ah, I’ve got a reply.”

Cutting off Armored Taejo, who seemed excited to speak, Baek Seol-hee checked the message.

“…Theoretically possible. However, it would require infrastructure to be set up in advance and continuous maintenance to prevent mana depletion. It would be inefficient without hubs to recharge or send mana to the clones while traveling around the country.”

“Huh….”

“That’s quite a thought process. Rather than just whether it’s possible or not, considering if it’s practically effective.”

Everyone in the conference room marveled and clicked their tongues in admiration.

“Humph. Then, back to the topic of clones.”

Baek Seol-hee, feeling somewhat proud, cleared her throat and grabbed the microphone again.

“The most important role of the clone is to present my complete self externally when I cannot show myself publicly. The first reason I mentioned to you all. That is….”

Bang bang.

“Pregnancy.”

At the sight of the word displayed on the screen, everyone in the conference room felt awkwardly embarrassed.

“I’m approaching my mid-twenties this year. While some here are well past fifty, from an ability user’s perspective, I can be considered an ‘aunt.’”

“Uh, saying 25 years old is an ‘aunt’…”

“Oh. Didn’t you say at a drinking party before that women who give birth after their 30s have high-risk pregnancies?”

“Mm! When did I ever say that…!”

Although the minister’s face turned red, he did not actively deny Baek Seol-hee’s words.

“…Well, yes! I did say that! It’s my personal belief, so I’m not ashamed at all!”

“You can speak directly into the microphone.”

“Really?”

“Yes. The next content aligns with your belief.”

Baek Seol-hee calmly moved to the next slide.

“In 2020, according to the statistics you submitted during your time as a congressman, the chances of high-risk pregnancies and birth defects increase after the age of 30. You actually submitted and spoke about this, right?”

“Ugh.”

Clicking his tongue briefly, the minister nodded heavily with an embarrassed face.

“…Yes, I said that.”

“Yes. While there are differing views between ordinary people and ability users, there’s not much difference. After all, even an ability user is still a woman. It’s healthier to have a child while you’re younger rather than later.”

Several men, including the minister, nodded unconsciously.

Even President Tae Chae-jin just sat silently, his eyes fixed on the graph showing birth rates in the 20-24 age range.

“It benefits both the country and the world for ability users to have children early. Sure, there are debates about whether ability users are being treated like breeding stock, violating personal freedom, or the issue of power gaps if an S-class gets pregnant.”

Gradually, the expressions of the president and the ministers began to harden.

Was it because Baek Seol-hee was talking about real issues?

Were they worried that people would say such things if Baek Seol-hee got pregnant?

No.

“I have a question, senior.”

“Go ahead, Tushin.”

“Weren’t you originally of the opinion that heroes should have the right to choose to become pregnant?”

“That’s right.”

They couldn’t understand why Baek Seol-hee was saying this.

“People say so on the internet.”

When Baek Seol-hee moved to the next slide, posts and comments from various communities appeared.

The ministers frowned and bowed their heads, but soon the screen zoomed in, making the posts and comments visible to everyone.

“They call me the leader of the Hero Gold Misses. There are many ability users in other countries who haven’t had children by 25, but I don’t know why they call me their leader.”

“Isn’t it because you’re the strongest, senior?”

“I think so too. Since the oldest and strongest woman hasn’t had children, they see me as the leader of the Gold Misses. Truly.”

Tap tap.

Baek Seol-hee tapped the screen with her hand and shook her head.

“I want to tell these people they’re gravely mistaken. It’s not that I don’t want to get pregnant or that I hate men. It’s just that as an S-class ability user, I’ve chosen to protect this country, fulfilling my duty for national defense.”

“But now it’s different.”

Baek Seol-hee’s clone stepped forward and continued her words.

“Now, even if I’m pregnant and behind the scenes, the clone can take on the role of Baek Seol-hee.”

“Moreover, I can hide the pregnancy, and even if it’s known, it won’t appear as if the pregnant woman is fighting.”

“No matter how important fighting villains is, it’s not ideal for the world to see a pregnant woman in combat.”

“That’s true.”

Everyone agreed.

Even if the world was on the brink of collapse, it’s inhumane to ask a pregnant woman or a child to fight villains unless it’s a last resort, like dropping a nuclear bomb on a city without evacuating civilians first.

“In other words, now that I’ve mastered clone control, the various issues that arise from pregnancy can be mitigated. That’s the introduction.”

“…How long is the main point?”

“It’s not that long. Shall I summarize the conclusion briefly before we proceed?”

Baek Seol-hee took a deep breath, placing her hand on the clone’s shoulder, and continued.

“If pregnancy isn’t a big problem, I’d like to choose the man I want to have a child with.”

“……Excuse me?”

For a moment.

The ministers, who were nodding, tilted their heads as if a fishbone got stuck in their throats.

“Pregnancy…?”

Something seemed missing.

“Wait. Miss Baek Seol-hee. You don’t mean….”

“Even if there’s a minor legal issue, right?”

“…That’s the main point.”

President Tae Chae-jin adjusted his posture and looked at Baek Seol-hee with a serious expression.

“Are you asking us to use the National Assembly to make something currently illegal, legal? Like a special Baek Seol-hee law?”

“As expected, Mr. President.”

“Okay. So what exactly is the special law you want?”

“What I want is.”

Baek Seol-hee glanced around the conference room.

“Legal protection for the man I choose and the child to be born. First,”

She boldly opened her mouth, with a confident expression.

“If I want the genes of a married man, is adultery the first priority, or is ‘patriotism’ the first?”

“……As a former jurist, let me ask you one thing.”

Tae Chae-jin asked without changing his expression.

“Is the man a foreigner?”

“A Korean born in Korea.”

“Ah, then it’s settled.”

Tae Chae-jin stood up from his seat, placing his right hand on his left chest, and answered.

“Patriotism is always right.”