With my awakening complete and nothing left to hold me back, I expedited my plans and was dispatched to Brazil just two days later by the Center Director, who had received an overseas work request.
“Nice to meet you, I’m So Yujin.”
The Esper that Do Wonjin knew turned out to be a young woman who appeared to be in her late twenties. Unlike her slender and innocent appearance, her ability was body enhancement, making her a typical combat-type Esper.
“The work request listed it as an S-class dungeon, but the subjugation has already been completed, and only A to B-grade plant-type Masu remain. There’s nothing in particular for you to do, Mr. Woo Jeongjae.”
She handed me the documents she was holding. It was a certificate with the International Esper Union Organization’s seal, confirming the completion of the mission.
“So. From now on, you can do what you came to do.”
I couldn’t tell how much Do Wonjin had explained to her, but she was truly only focused on her assigned role. She showed no curiosity about what we were doing, nor did she require my abilities.
“If it’s plant-type Masu, they’re weak against fire, so I could help while I’m here.”
“That’s alright. We have our own fire-type Espers.”
So Yujin politely declined and said to me:
“Your mother must be waiting. Please go quickly.”
Only then did I realize what Do Wonjin must have told her when asking for this favor. It was also the reason I couldn’t sleep the night before leaving for Brazil.
“Thank you for your consideration. I’ll be going now.”
I bowed my head to thank her and stood up. Do Wonjin, who had been sitting beside me with an indifferent face and saying nothing, also rose.
“Wonjin, wait a moment.”
She grabbed Do Wonjin’s arm. Do Wonjin glanced at her hand on his arm, then immediately shook it off and casually rotated his wrist. So Yujin’s eyebrow raised crookedly, but Do Wonjin didn’t bat an eye.
“What is it, Noona?”
So Yujin didn’t speak right away and looked toward me. Sensing I should give them privacy, I said I would wait outside and turned to leave, but Do Wonjin caught me.
“Just stay here. Noona, what did you want to say?”
“You’ve really found the one, haven’t you?”
So Yujin laughed resignedly, and Do Wonjin shamelessly smiled, saying thanks for the compliment. Shaking her head, she took something out from her jacket and threw it to Do Wonjin.
“This is what you asked for. You remember what I explained about how to use it, right?”
“Wow, is this it? Thank you!”
For the first time, a bright smile appeared on his previously indifferent face. I was curious what he received that made him so happy like a child, but it felt awkward to intrude between them, so I quietly observed the situation.
“It was hard to get. Use it only when absolutely necessary.”
“I understand. I’ll send the money as soon as I get back to Korea.”
“Don’t worry about it. Consider it a wedding gift. Live well.”
Do Wonjin smiled with an uncharacteristic shyness, while I blushed alone.
We moved to the port with So Yujin seeing us off. There, we boarded a cruise ship that Yang Garam and Jeong Seyeon had already arranged.
“I didn’t divide the rooms and just rented a six-person suite.”
The cabin Yang Garam had rented was the most expensive suite on the cruise ship. The 50-pyeong duplex six-person suite had three two-person bedrooms, each with four bathrooms attached. I guessed we rented a six-person suite for just four people because Peter would be joining us from Quardo Island. He had gone to the United States when we left for Brazil and said he would report on his activities in Korea before crossing the gate directly to Quardo Island.
I fiddled with the band on my wrist. The band, which I was required to wear when dispatched on missions, was transmitting my location data and biometric information to Korea in real-time. Although I was hiding my enhanced power after the third awakening, by now Song Songi might have noticed my change and reported it to the Center Director.
“But is there a reason you chose such a luxurious cruise ship?”
Do Wonjin, who had briefly looked around the interior that rivaled a five-star hotel, asked as he sank into a buffalo leather sofa.
“When I checked earlier, there were ships going to Quardo Island, but they were all suddenly canceled for various reasons today. Even here, only this one room was left.”
“Well, that’s quite a coincidental timing.”
“That’s also true. They weren’t originally scheduled to dock here, but the itinerary changed, so they’re only staying for three hours.”
Yang Garam sat on the sofa, sharing what he had heard while securing the ship. Still holding Yang Garam’s hand, I sat down next to him.
“Well, fortunate for us in the end.”
Do Wonjin nodded and spoke, but I had doubts.
‘Is it really fortunate?’
Without asking Yang Garam how much it cost to rent for a day, I could guess it was a price that ordinary people couldn’t afford. There must have been others who absolutely needed to board a ship today, but they probably couldn’t buy tickets because they couldn’t afford this amount.
The suddenly canceled ships, the unscheduled ship that arrived just as we reached the port, the high price we had to pay to board it.
‘Why do I feel like someone artificially created a situation where we had no choice but to board this ship?’
Very few people knew our plan, and realistically, it would be difficult for someone to know our plan and interfere now that we had come all the way to Brazil. Logically, it must be a coincidence, but somehow I felt a chill down my spine. Yang Garam took my hand, perhaps noticing my unease.
“Hyung, we haven’t departed yet. If you’re uncomfortable, should we rest for a day and leave tomorrow?”
If we had more time, I would have followed Yang Garam’s suggestion, but I didn’t have much time to spend in Brazil. Three days was the maximum I could stretch it. That was the time the Center Director had allowed me, having been dispatched according to the work request. Not knowing what variables might arise later, spending a day just boarding a ship would be extravagant.
“No, it’s fine. We won’t be staying long anyway.”
It would take about six hours from here to Quardo Island, and then about another hour to reach the island that was the terrorist organization’s base. However, our destination was neither Quardo Island nor the terrorist organization’s base, but Os Island, a tourist destination located nearby. Os Island was geographically closer to the terrorist organization’s base, only 30 minutes away.
However, there were many reefs between Quardo Island and Os Island, so we had to give up the shortest route and go around, which doubled our travel time. But even taking that into account, going to Os Island was less risky for us.
‘Motion sickness is my enemy.’
I couldn’t afford to be staggering around with seasickness when I needed to use my powers.
“Since we’re here, think of it as a cruise vacation and enjoy it.”
Do Wonjin, who was lying back on the sofa, said while tilting his head back. He was already thoroughly enjoying the situation.
“Then how should we divide the rooms, Hyung?”
The ship hadn’t even departed yet, but my head started spinning at Yang Garam’s words. Yang Garam’s eyes sparkled innocently as he gave me a look suggesting we should share a room like we did when we went to Quardo Island, but the gazes of Do Wonjin and Jeong Seyeon watching him were as sharp as frost.
“Haha, should we draw lots?”
I suggested the most peaceful method with an awkward laugh.
“Here, pick one.”
Do Wonjin somehow produced the lots, and I chose one of the three papers handed to me.
“This one.”
“Aren’t you going to open it?”
“I think I should sleep before the ship departs to reduce seasickness. I’ll go to bed first.”
I passed the lot to Yang Garam beside me without opening it and turned away. Sleep was just an excuse; the tense emotions flowing from the Guides were already making my stomach churn.
‘I don’t really care who it is.’
As I lay on the bed and closed my eyes, the faces of the three men appeared one by one. Each time I thought of one of them, my heart fluttered and became noisy.
‘Can’t we all just sleep in one bed? Ah, that would probably make the Guides uncomfortable.’
I briefly considered trying the enormous bed in the guiding room specially set up at home before quickly dismissing the idea. The atmosphere there was too austere and wouldn’t be comfortable for sleeping.
‘But it’s surprisingly quiet?’
I expected a commotion when they checked the lots, but the wavelengths of the Guides beyond the door were calm. Feeling some inexplicable disappointment, I closed my eyes.
Since returning from the Masu world, I’ve increasingly longed for human warmth. I don’t have nightmares or trouble sleeping, but when someone is beside me, I can fall into a very deep sleep. Even without receiving guiding.
Hugging the cloud-like fluffy blanket, I tossed and turned, and just as I was about to fall asleep, the door opened and someone entered.
“……”
Through my hazy consciousness, I clearly felt the warm gaze. I could easily have identified who it was by reading their wavelength, but strangely, I didn’t want to do that. A large hand brushed back my disheveled hair and straightened my crumpled blanket. His fingertips lightly touched my closed eyes, cheeks, and lips before withdrawing. His emotions poured out in a tangle of caution, afraid of waking me, yet desire to touch me.
Then a soft sensation settled on my lips.
“Sleep well.”
Listening to that infinitely gentle voice, I drifted off to sleep.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
