Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant novel Chapter 74

“You’re here?”

Suho had arrived at the *baekban* restaurant early, choosing a quiet corner table and even pouring water in advance, setting everything up.

Seeing this, Jeong Cheol-min chuckled lightly. “You’re early.”

“Well, I had free time after finishing my test. I’ve already placed the order, so the food should be out soon.”

Sure enough, the timing was perfect. The food began arriving, and the two enjoyed a hot and fresh meal together.

As they ate, Jeong asked, “But why did you suddenly ask me to lunch?”

“No particular reason.”

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t know anyone here, and eating alone felt dull. You’re the only person I know well here.”

“Hah, if Director Pi hears that, he might feel hurt.”

“Haha, let him. Eating comfortably is more important to me.”

“Comfortably, huh?” Jeong couldn’t help but smile at the remark.

“You’re right, a meal’s best enjoyed when you’re at ease. In that case, let me cover this first meal of yours on your first day at work.”

“Oh, then I’ll get the coffee.”

“Haha, sounds good. I know just the place. Let’s head there after this.”

“Perfect.”

The two finished their meal in a relaxed atmosphere, and Jeong led Suho to what he called his “go-to café,” located behind the Daehyeonhyup building.

When Suho saw the familiar spot, old memories surfaced, and he couldn’t help but smile to himself.

*“Of course.”*

The place was nicknamed “Backyard.”

Not its real name, but the term Suho and Jeong had used to refer to it. It had been their regular hangout.

*“Well, technically, Jeong introduced me to it first.”*

Although they sometimes visited actual cafes, the two had always preferred the quiet seclusion of the Backyard. Its remote location meant few people ever ventured there.

Feigning ignorance, Suho asked, “Is this the café you mentioned?”

“Haha, yeah. A bit embarrassing, but this is the one. They don’t have iced americanos or cakes, but it’s a quiet spot to escape prying eyes. So, what will you have?”

“Black coffee for me.”

“Alright, I’ll get barley tea.”

“You like barley tea?”

“Yeah, whenever I come here, it’s always barley tea for me.”

*That’s right.*

Jeong had always claimed he drank enough coffee at work, so he exclusively chose barley tea here.

Taking the paper cup Jeong handed him, Suho casually sat on the edge of the flowerbed. Jeong joined him with his own cup, sitting nearby.

“Congratulations,” Jeong said suddenly.

“Pardon?”

“The theory test you took this morning—you got a perfect score.”

“You already graded it?”

“Yes. Officer Eom brought it over, so I checked it before lunch. How is that even possible?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re young, you’re skilled in combat, you got a special recruitment into a Grade-5 position, and now you have a brain like this? People call this a cheat character, you know?”

“Haha, no, not really. The questions were straightforward, and the condensed manual made it easier. It’s all thanks to the help I’ve received from others.”

“Come on, don’t be too modest. When talented people are overly humble, it just makes them look even more annoying, you know?”

“Haha, is that so? Then I’ll admit it—I’m just great.”

“Ugh, but the way you accept it so easily makes you even more annoying!”

Jeong’s playful jab made Suho laugh.

*Ah...*

*How long has it been since I’ve laughed this freely?*

While Suho hadn’t felt particularly rushed since his regression, it always seemed like his life was a series of tasks to complete, rather than truly living it.

But now, sitting with an old friend at a spot filled with nostalgia, sipping coffee, it felt like a return to those simpler times.

*“Back when I was poisoned and thought I’d never return to the Backyard...”*

This moment solidified Suho’s resolve.

*This time, I won’t let history repeat itself.*

*I’ll defeat every calamity and reclaim the peace of ordinary life.*

Suho broke the silence.

“By the way, I’ll need to choose between working in the Awakening Resources or Non-Awakening Resources section. Any tips you can share?”

“That’s why you invited me here, huh?”

“Come on, it’s not like that. I’m just asking.”

“Haha, I was just kidding. Hmm, tips, you say...”

Jeong leaned back, genuinely pondering the question.

Not that Suho needed advice—he already knew what to expect from the departments and their evaluations.

But this small talk was a pleasant way to rebuild their camaraderie.

After a moment, Jeong spoke.

“Well, since you bought coffee, I’ll give you a special tip. You know what the Awakening Division does, right?”

“Yes, they manage both Awakened and non-Awakened personnel.”

“Exactly. But there’s not much direct management involved. What the division prioritizes most is keeping information up to date.”

“Updating information?”

“You know that Awakened status windows can’t be checked externally, right?”

“Yes, I’m aware.”

“That’s why Awakened individuals need to manually register their data. If they don’t update it within the designated timeframes, they face warnings, fines, or even jail time. That’s the core of what the Awakening Resources section handles.”

It was as straightforward as that.

Awakened individuals, by their very nature, were not ordinary humans but superhumans wielding extraordinary powers.

If such people chose to hide their abilities while living among the general populace, there was no telling how their powers might eventually harm humanity.

“There are Awakened at Level 50 who are impervious to bullets and others who can erase their very existence from records.”

“As expected, it’s going just as I thought.”