# Chapter 34
“Hello. I’m here.”
I opened the office door with the same dry morning greeting as usual. My entire body felt stiff after yesterday’s physical labor. If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve gone to the orphanage on the weekend and rested properly yesterday. Who would’ve thought that resident would immediately put me to work the first time I saw them in ages?
“Good morning, Jaeo.”
Jeongmun, who was sitting at his desk looking at his laptop, nodded a greeting in my direction. I put my bag down at my seat and glanced around the office. For some reason, I could only see Jeongmun. I wondered if the other two hadn’t arrived yet, but then I spotted the Director’s and Heerim’s bags and clothes. So they had come to work. If that was the case, where had they gone?
“Is Heerim getting scolded by the Director again?”
“Pardon?”
“Oh, it’s just… neither of them are at their desks.”
At my question, Jeongmun scratched his cheek. He seemed to be considering how to respond. Was this really a question that required such deliberation?
“Hmm. They stepped out to take care of something.”
“Take care of something? What kind of business?”
“Just…”
Jeongmun smiled awkwardly, lifting the corners of his mouth. It seemed difficult for him to talk about.
Come to think of it, Jeongmun wasn’t skilled at making up stories. He didn’t seem to be good at lying either. He was truly different from how he looked. Even now, when he could have simply brushed off the question, he was clearly struggling, trailing off without finishing his sentence.
I was curious about what business the Director and Heerim had gone to attend to, but I didn’t pry further. It would only end up tormenting Jeongmun if I kept asking. It wasn’t a problem that the two of them were absent. That wasn’t the issue.
“…”
“…”
Just like last time, only awkwardness flowed between Jeongmun and me. I tried to focus on my own work without paying attention, but the screen of Jeongmun’s laptop caught my eye. He was watching some video. Looking at it carefully, I recognized a face I knew.
“Oh? That’s him, right? Director Kim Hyungjin from NECC.”
“…”
“Jeongmun?”
I casually turned my head to look at Jeongmun and was startled. His expression was terribly fierce. His naturally rugged, bear-like features already had an intimidating quality, but now they showed indescribable contempt and hatred.
Maybe he’s anti-Kim Hyungjin…
“Greetings, respected citizens. I am Kim Hyungjin, Director of the National Esper Control Center.”
The video continued playing. Jeongmun kept glaring at Kim Hyungjin on the screen without pausing the video. Judging by the lack of a timeline displayed, it seemed to be a livestream.
“As you know, our NECC has been working for the safety of all citizens.”
Kim Hyungjin, dressed in a sharp navy suit, looked into the camera with a serious expression. Despite being someone who only cared about making money and didn’t really know how society worked, even I knew quite a bit about him.
I’d heard he was quite popular due to his clean-cut, trustworthy appearance despite being in his late 40s. He had reportedly never shown his actual self anywhere, revealing his existence only in official videos produced by the NECC for safety and security reasons.
A first-generation Class A Esper, he was also the only Esper to survive a Level 7 large-scale Rift that occurred in the mountains of Gangwon Province about 20 years ago. I’d heard that achievement had allowed him to become the Director of NECC at such a young age.
But why was he broadcasting now?
Until I became Heerim’s Guide, I hadn’t cared much about Espers or people with abilities, so this was the first time I was properly watching Director Kim Hyungjin’s broadcast.
“Recently, the Rift detector developed by NECC has detected…”
Kim Hyungjin paused briefly to catch his breath. In that short moment, tension hung in the air.
“…signs of a Rift that will occur within three months. The expected level is 10.”
“What?”
An exclamation close to a scream escaped me at his unexpected words. The level indicates the size and danger of a Rift. The higher the number, the more dangerous it was, and 10 was the highest grade a Rift could have. It was also a scale that had occurred only once in world history.
“But do not worry. Our excellent Espers at NECC are working for the safety of our citizens. If you trust us, the current peace will continue to…”
SLAM—
Jeongmun closed his laptop irritably.
“Is-is what he just said true? If it’s Level 10, isn’t that enough to destroy Korea?!”
Despite the announcement of such momentous news, Jeongmun didn’t seem surprised or flustered. He just glared at the closed laptop with an extremely angry face. This was the first time I’d seen him so angry. It seemed best not to speak to him further.
Returning to my seat, I carefully took out my phone and accessed a news portal. The main page was already filled with reports about Director Kim Hyungjin’s statement.
《NECC’s Shocking Announcement: A Massive Rift Is Coming》
《National Esper Control Center Director Kim Hyungjin: “No Need to Worry If You Trust Our Espers”》
《How Severe Is a Level 10 Rift? Rift Countermeasures According to Director Kim Hyungjin》
《Looking Back at NECC Espers’ Achievements So Far》
As I carefully read the headlines, I felt a strange sense of dissonance. A Level 10 massive Rift had been predicted, but rather than discussing confusion and concern, most articles were supporting and encouraging the NECC. While it was better than fueling public anxiety, it seemed odd that people were taking such a massive Rift so lightly.
Is it really going to be okay?
Just as I was about to check the comments to see how people were reacting, a small popup appeared at the top of my screen. As I was scrolling with my thumb, I accidentally tapped the popup.
[Ha Suan: What are you doing?]
“Ah… this is bothersome.”
The popup was a message from Ha Suan. I normally found messenger chats annoying. If I hadn’t read it, I could have pretended not to see it and not replied, but now I was in a difficult position. I was going to read it and ignore it, but that didn’t seem right, so I sent three simple characters.
[Me: Working]
[Ha Suan: Ah. I wanted to buy you lunch today.]
[Ha Suan: Are you free for lunch?]
[Ha Suan: I can come to your workplace]
[Ha Suan: I’ll treat you to something expensive and delicious. I need to repay you for the cake from last time.]
I thought the offer to buy me a meal was just a polite gesture. I didn’t expect to hear from him so soon, just a day after visiting the orphanage.
[I’m busy, so let’s have lunch another…]
I was about to finish with “time” but deleted the entire sentence. Thinking about it, there was no reason to refuse an offer of an expensive meal just because I found it bothersome. Besides, I needed to expand my narrow—practically nonexistent—social circle. First, I should ask for permission to go out for lunch.
“Jeongmun, would it be okay if I stepped out briefly during lunch?”
“Yes.”
“Then what time should I be back?”
“Ah… hmm.”
Jeongmun furrowed his brow and sighed, as if he hadn’t expected me to ask about a specific time. He seemed to be considering his answer. The Earth Peace Research Institute had no set lunch hours since there wasn’t much work to do. We usually just bought lunch boxes from a nearby convenience store or ordered delivery to eat together. This was less like a company and more like a club.
“I think you can come back whenever is appropriate.”
“And what time would that be?”
When I stared at him, Jeongmun struggled before answering my question.
“After you finish your business… hmm. Just come back at a time that works for you.”
“I’ll be back by 2 PM.”
If I left around 11:30 AM, I thought 2 PM would be plenty of time. Jeongmun nodded readily, saying that would be fine.
“By the way, when will the Director and Heerim be back?”
“Now that the broadcast is over, they should be here soon.”
“Broadcast? What broadcast? Are you talking about the NECC stream just now?”
“Oh, dear.”
Jeongmun frowned, seemingly surprised by his own careless answer.
“Is their absence related to that broadcast?”
“…”
As I continued asking questions, I could see Jeongmun’s Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. After a brief silence, he spoke.
“I misspoke. Please pretend you didn’t hear that. It’s not something that concerns you, Jaeo.”
Ah. Again. Another matter that only I don’t know about, something they can’t tell me. Since last time, I’ve felt their firm, solid wall that I dare not penetrate.
“Understood.”
I deliberately spoke in a firm tone before returning to my seat. An awkward silence fell over the office again. As I fidgeted with my phone, I realized I hadn’t replied to Ha Suan.
[Me: I’ll come]
[Me: Where should I meet you?]
While sending the reply to Ha Suan, I found myself unconsciously checking Jeongmun’s reaction. He wasn’t paying any attention to me. Of course. I just happened to become Heerim’s Guide, but I was originally just an “extra” in this office.
Right. I have no desire to get entangled with them, so there’s no need to feel hurt. I’ll be quitting this place in a year anyway.
So I really,Â
absolutely,
wasn’t hurt
at all.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
