The plan to damage my image by making arrogant remarks and revealing the mana fuel rod had failed for three reasons.

First, I’d done such a good job building up my reputation. With the positive image I’d established, people were inclined to overlook a few cocky comments.

Second, this was America. In Korea, people would have berated me endlessly for wasting money on a mana fuel rod, saying things like “Do you know what you could buy with that?” But here, they saw expensive gear as a mark of skill. No one criticized me for using something high-end—especially since it wasn’t American money.

And as Kong pointed out, the third reason was…

"Americans love macho stuff. They go nuts for that 'badass' vibe."
"Oh."

American tastes were different from those in Korea, which, thanks to the headmaster, upheld modesty as a virtue. Here, modesty wasn’t well-regarded; they found direct, macho talk far more attractive.

"This place is the complete opposite of home. They constantly pester me about my identity, treating me like I’m gay. If it wasn’t for the money…."
"……."
'No wonder he knows so much; this sounds like a story borne from bitter experience.'

Hearing it from a current sufferer really drove it home.

I had to admit my plan was doomed from the start. Instead of lowering my likability, I’d accidentally boosted it.

"So, you might as well take my spot at S-rank, apprentice!"
"How can an apprentice…."
"Indigo dye is deeper than indigo. I hold no grudge, so keep moving forward!"

Completely oblivious to my struggle, my master was all smiles, innocently congratulating me on my accomplishments. Adorable as always. Best master in the world. Love you.

-*Mumbling.*

"A man stronger than me… ideal husband material…."
"Raising him to devour him? Before that deviant can make a move, I’d better…."

Apparently, Master and Alice were muttering something off to the side.

-*Snicker.*

"You tried, Yoojin."
"Ha…."

Meanwhile, Shia scoffed in amusement, and Kong shook his head in disbelief.

"……."

-*Ding.*
-[Upper skill '???' chuckles as if expecting this.]
-[Skill 'Complete Hypnosis' sighs deeply, resigning itself to more work soon.]

Next to Kong, the Saintess wore a gentle smile. Probably unrelated to anything I was doing, but still.

* * *

The next while passed peacefully.

"You returned with a monster from inside the gate? An unidentified one at that? This is problematic, Mr. Kong. There’s no telling what it might do…."

-*Trembling.*

"Did you just call the Saintess a monster, as a mere assistant secretary?"
"Um, no, that’s not what I meant…."
"So, this is the stance of the Secretary of Defense? Of the Morrison administration, that our church’s Saintess is a ‘monster’? Please, clarify."
"That’s not what I…."

The issue with the Saintess was soon resolved by High Priest Ellington, who scolded the officials into submission.

-*Cling, petting.*

"……."
'Why does she keep sticking to me?'

As a result, the Saintess was back on top of my head. Not by choice, of course—she just insisted on clinging to me.

I really wanted to pry her off, but…

"Um… would you mind… getting down…?"

-*Ding.*
-[Upper skill '???'….]

"Saint Yoojin? You wouldn’t dare harbor resentment toward the Saintess, would you?"
"Yikes."

The high priest, who had been berating the officials moments before, gave me a sharp look, eyes glowing with fanatical reverence, as if to say, "Surely you’re not displeased with our Saintess?"

So I kept my complaints to myself, even during the banquet held in the East Room of the White House in honor of the assault team.

I couldn’t even tell whether food was going into my mouth or up my nose.

"Should I call you Saintess? Here, you can have some. Say, 'ah.'"
"……."

-[Upper skill '???' smiles, finding this endearing.]
-[Generously declines, saying it’s full just watching you eat.]

'Definitely not human, just like the monsters in the gate.'

The realization that the thing on my head wasn’t human was… unsettling. Just what is she?

"High Priest Ellington, just what is the Saintess… supposed to be?"
"The Saintess is the Saintess. She is blessed with the love of the Lord God, a truly wondrous being."
"What does that even…."
"Of course, it cannot compare to the love bestowed upon you, Saint Yoojin!"

My probing yielded little. 

It was the same as I’d heard back in Korea: the Saintess was a being blessed by the Lord God, so revered by devout believers that they would shed tears upon seeing her. But compared to me, apparently, she paled.

"It’s a bit sacrilegious to say, but… she feels like an empty shell at times."
"An empty shell?"
"Yes. Comparing her to you, Saint Yoojin, it becomes quite clear."

As expected of a high priest, he did offer something new. According to him, the Saintess felt like an empty shell—a bottle without its wine, while I was full to the brim.

‘Still just vague talk, though.’

-*Slide.*

"Thank you for the explanation. I’ll be right back."
"Huh? Yoojin, where are you going?"
"Just to the restroom. Saintess, you should come down for a bit."
"……."

-*Hop.*

"Good girl. Be right back~."

Feeling quite full, I decided to take a breather in the restroom to gather my thoughts.

My wives wouldn’t be joining me, since they don’t go to the restroom with guys, and Kong was the type to go alone. The Saintess didn’t seem interested in following me to the bathroom either, hopping off without hesitation.

For the first time in ages, I was alone.

"Excuse me? I want to go to the toilet…."
"Understood. Follow me."

Of course, not *truly* alone.

It wasn’t like I could wander the White House unescorted. An employee had to accompany me.

It was no big deal, really. A regular staff member guiding me was hardly a burden…

-*Step, step.*

"—Mr. Yoojin Seo. President Morrison has requested a private audience with you."
"…What?"

It was fine until I heard those words.

Suddenly, it felt overwhelming.

"You’re speaking Korean… wait, that’s beside the point. The president?"
"Yes. As he cannot officially request a meeting, we’ve had to arrange it secretly. I apologize for any offense."
"……."

So that was why this muscular “staff member” had been lingering nearby. They’d been looking for a moment to approach me.

I couldn’t help but chuckle in disbelief.

"I’m not offended, but… a private meeting? Just the two of us?"

The reason for my disbelief was simple: the president wanted to meet me.

My ability, *Complete Hypnosis*, allowed me to control non-awakeners with no resistance. And he knew that. Yet he wanted to meet me privately?

Ridiculous. Even Korean politicians wouldn’t take that risk, but the U.S. president?

"Are you serious? Knowing my powers, why would he…."

-*Ding.*
-[Skill 'Complete Hypnosis'….]

"It’s true. I can put you in touch with him immediately if you wish."
"…Hmm."

The problem was, it likely was true. The American president was genuinely trying to reach out to me. Secretly. Just the two of us.

"It’s not some cliché proposal to defect to America, is it?"
"I’ve received no information suggesting that. If it were, the president would hardly make this much effort."
"…Fine. I’ll meet him."

After a brief consideration, I nodded.

Unlike him, I had nothing to lose. I was curious about what he wanted to say.

And so, following the security guard, I made my way across the White House.

"Thank you. This way, please…."

-*Step, step. Flash.*

‘…How many layers of illusion spells are there?’

Passing through layers of magic circles that must have cost a fortune to maintain daily…

-*Hum.*

"A gate?"
"It’s a D-rank gate currently used as a bunker. There are no monsters within, so rest assured."

I followed until we reached a small gate in the basement of the White House.

I hadn’t known such a place existed, even before my regression. Were they really going to show me this?

‘Judging by the scale, it must be something important.’

The only thing I was certain of was that the president had gone to great lengths to meet me, even revealing this top-secret shelter to me.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, and the scene before me shifted in an instant.

-*Flash.*

"…They really went all out decorating this place."
"It’s the president’s private quarters."

Despite being a gate, the interior resembled a luxury hotel, complete with special forces soldiers prepared to handle any threats.

The carpet stretched in a straight line, leading toward the only place free of monster spawns: the boss room.

After a sigh, I headed toward it.

-*Stop.*

"I’ll go no further. I’m not authorized to enter the boss room."
"What’s in there, exactly?"
"I couldn’t tell you. Only the chief of staff, the president, and a few high-ranking officials would know."

The guard who had

 escorted me thus far stopped, watching me from the entrance.

So, I was left alone in front of the teleportation magic circle. In front of the secret office of the world’s most powerful leader.

Taking another step forward, I entered the boss room.

-*Step… flare.*

"…?!!"
"Welcome, Sir Yoojin Seo."

There, waiting for me, was the American president, whom I’d only seen on TV a few times. Though his Korean was a bit awkward, it was clear.

But I couldn’t even register my surprise.

Because what I saw next shocked me far more than his Korean.

-*Struggle, struggle.*

"———!!!"

A woman bound in restraints, papers piled before her, hands convulsing as she scrawled frantically.

And lastly… an overwhelming surge of mana, at a level that could only be described as S-rank.

"Where is all that mana coming from…?"
"Her codename is 'Sibyl.' She is an S-rank awakener held by the United States."

The U.S., famous for not having any S-rank awakeners, had just unveiled their hidden weapon to me.