14
-[Breaking News] Boy hero blocks path of giant wild boar!
-At approximately 00:00 on the 00th, a boy who threw himself in harm’s way to protect citizens from a suddenly appearing herd of giant wild boars in the city center is becoming a hot topic.
In the photo, the boy was forming a shield while standing in front of creatures much larger than himself. His solemn expression looked dignified.
Scenes played like a movie in Jihwan’s head: people not fully visible in the photo admiring the young boy, and Minjae praising the child.
Jihwan stopped looking at the article photo and checked his message window.
-Sunbae, I think I can do well now!
-Call me when you can do it, not when you think you can.
-So it’s okay to call when I actually can, right? haha
There was no new reply. Still angry, huh. Jihwan put his phone in his pocket with a gloomy face.
After the “Don’t Be Noticed” incident, Jihwan had sent over 30 apology texts only to get cursed out by Minjae. After receiving a reply threatening to kill him if he kept sending useless messages, Jihwan stopped apologizing.
Instead, he occasionally sent messages like this about his training. Sometimes he got replies, sometimes not, but at least he wasn’t completely ignored.
Should I consider that fortunate? Jihwan shook his sweat-soaked hair with his hand.
‘Hero.’ The title given to the boy who blocked the giant wild boars made Jihwan depressed. He had manifested late, and since joining the Center, he hadn’t accomplished anything properly. He was only hated by his mentor.
“Haaaaaah.”
Jihwan let out a long sigh. Pop. Pop. Regardless of Jihwan’s mood, Taehyun continued playing games on his phone while sitting against the wall nearby. Jihwan glanced at Taehyun, then sighed again.
“Ughhhh.”
At that sound, Taehyun stopped tapping his phone and looked up. With an obviously forced smile, Taehyun looked at Jihwan. Jihwan’s eyes sparkled at Taehyun’s attention.
“Taehyun hyung.”
“What.”
“Nothing… never mind.”
Jihwan hung his head low.
“Okay then.”
Taehyun lowered his head again and turned on his phone screen. Nothing… Jihwan continued somewhat urgently.
“I wanted to go too…”
“Where?”
“To the scene. They say a fifteen-year-old kid made quite an achievement.”
“Oh, the wild boars?”
Taehyun nodded as if it wasn’t a big deal. Jihwan pouted.
Crash! When he timidly pushed a box on the floor slightly with his foot, it made a loud noise.
“…Am I that pathetic?”
Jihwan’s shoulders drooped. His voice lowered too. Taehyun, who had been quietly watching Jihwan for a moment, clicked his tongue.
“Hey, you really have no sense.”
“…Huh?”
“…Just wait a bit. It’ll be your turn soon anyway.”
Taehyun comforted Jihwan, making a bold declaration like a prophet. Though Taehyun’s words had never been wrong before, this time Jihwan found it hard to believe him.
When will that be? Jihwan silently repeated the question he hadn’t asked.
***
-Director, you need to come to the Guiding Room.
Minjae had received Wooseok’s call since early dawn. When Wooseok referred to Minjae as “Director” unlike his usual manner, it meant the situation was somewhat serious.
Minjae, who had been forcing himself to sleep despite insomnia, hastily pulled on a cap and quickly headed to the Guiding Room.
“Don’t touch me!!!”
Even before entering the Guiding Room, an incredibly shrill voice could be heard. It was a child’s voice.
What’s going on now? Minjae flung open the Guiding Room door. Guides in white gowns were gathered around one bed, murmuring among themselves.
“What’s happening?”
Minjae asked. The guides stepped aside when they saw him.
“Oh, you’re here.”
Wooseok greeted Minjae with a haggard face.
“No!!!”
A young girl was tied to the bed with specially made restraints. The child kept repeatedly shouting things like “no” and “don’t touch me.”
She kept twisting her body and kicking, causing the skin on her restrained wrists and ankles to turn red. There were also bloodstains scattered on her clothes, possibly from wounds on her body.
“…The kid kept self-harming, so we had no choice but to tie her up.”
“…What about guiding?”
“We managed a little somehow… but she’s a Cutter.”
Espers with Cutter abilities could sharpen the wavelengths flowing through their bodies to slice their opponents.
Minjae looked around. Sure enough, he could see several guides with bandages on their hands.
“What class is she?”
“…D-class.”
Due to her low rank and young age, it was likely that the guides had gotten away with just cut hands. Minjae extended his hand to Wooseok.
“The potion.”
“Ah… yeah.”
Wooseok took out several bottles of guiding potion from the supply box and handed them to Minjae.
“You’ve all worked hard until dawn, why don’t you all go get something to eat? Visit the convenience store at least.”
Minjae said as he set up a screen around the bed.
“Yeah, go buy some coffee or something. I’ll give you my card.”
At Minjae’s cue, Wooseok tactfully sent his juniors outside. Minjae pulled over a simple chair and sat down beside the child.
When left alone with Minjae, the child seemed tense and stopped screaming, only glaring at him.
“Do you know who I am, by any chance?”
The child nodded. Minjae hesitated for a moment, having expected a negative answer.
“…Who am I then?”
“A monster.”
A rather familiar word reached his ears. Minjae thought he understood why the child was behaving this way.
“What’s your name?”
Minjae asked.
“…I don’t talk to monsters.”
“Why am I a monster?”
“They said only kids who’ve become monsters go to the Hero Center.”
“Who said that?”
“The teacher.”
“…But you’re here too.”
“……”
The child’s eyes reddened. For a moment, small sparks flew from around her shoulders. Minjae silently leaned his upper body back slightly.
Hey! Don’t provoke her! Wooseok, who was secretly eavesdropping behind the screen, rebuked Minjae in a whispered voice.
Minjae paid no attention and spoke to the child again.
“So you’re upset?”
“…It’s horrible. I’m going to die now.”
“Why? You’re not going to die.”
“The monster said he’d kill me.”
“No. I’m going to save you.”
Sniff. The child sniffled. He could see she was straining her red eyes.
Minjae reached out and grabbed the child’s bound wrist. Instantly, the side of Minjae’s hand was cut. Blood streamed from Minjae’s hand.
The child seemed startled, as if it wasn’t intentional.
“Ugh…”
“It’s okay.”
The child’s face contorted. Minjae injected healing into the child’s body while also healing his own hand. The child squinted and glanced at the light coming from Minjae’s hand.
After removing all the wounds on the child’s body, Minjae withdrew his hand.
“How does it feel? Do you feel like you’re dying?”
“…No.”
The child shook her head.
“See? That teacher was wrong, wasn’t he?”
The child kept her mouth firmly shut and just glared into space.
This time, Minjae grabbed the child’s mouth, forced it open, and poured in the guiding potion. The child spat out about half of it but unknowingly swallowed a few mouthfuls.
“Ack!”
“Tastes bad, right? If you don’t listen to the guides you hurt earlier, you’ll have to drink this every day.”
The child didn’t answer. But she was still fuming, breathing heavily.
“…I miss my mom.”
The child’s voice was mixed with tears. Her nose tip was red, probably from holding back tears for so long.
It would be better if they didn’t meet. Minjae thought. Judging from what the child said, there was a high possibility that her parents were followers of ‘The Crow.’
The child would not be able to meet her parents again. Parents who believed their child had become a monster would not want to meet them.
Minjae pondered for a moment before offering the best alternative he could.
“…Sleep a hundred nights, then you’ll meet her.”
***
“I absolutely must see the expensive Center Director’s face today.”
Wooseok slammed a heavy chart down in front of Ojun. Ojun flinched, his shoulders jumping, then looked back and forth between the chart and Wooseok. Wooseok smiled, making eye contact with Ojun.
“Have you been well, Secretary?”
“Uh… Director, your appointment…”
Ojun, with a flustered expression, made a show of turning on his tablet screen to check the schedule.
There was no way his visit would be included in the schedule. Wooseok placed his hand over Ojun’s tablet screen. Ojun’s gaze followed Wooseok’s hand upward. It was an awkward movement, as if a creaking sound could be heard.
“Why aren’t you responding to my texts?”
“Pardon?”
Wooseok turned on his phone screen and showed it to Ojun. He even helpfully pointed to the message with his finger.
-What time is the Center Director coming in today?
Ah. Ojun responded with an awkward smile.
“Did you block me?”
“No???”
You did block me. Wooseok gave a hollow laugh.
“I’m a bit hurt. Don’t you remember what I said I’d do if you blocked me?”
“…W-what did you say you’d do?”
Ojun asked with a tense face. Wooseok stared at Ojun and smiled. He could see Ojun moving his chair slightly backward.
What a gutless wonder to block me. Wooseok asked, leaning on the desk.
“The Center Director is in now, right?”
“He’s currently unavailable.”
What are you, some kind of cuckoo clock alert? Just repeating the same thing. Wooseok cracked his stiff neck to the side. Ojun’s chair moved further back.
“I saw the Center Director come in and followed him up here.”
At Wooseok’s words, Ojun pursed his lips. Wooseok glanced at Ojun and picked up the chart.
“May I go in?”
It was just as Wooseok turned his body to pass by Ojun. Ojun quickly stood up and blocked Wooseok. Ojun even put his hand on Wooseok’s shoulder. Wooseok could feel the vibration of Ojun’s trembling hand.
“The Center Director really isn’t here…”
“I’m not joking, you know.”
“Neither am I.”
Swallowing a sigh, Wooseok opened the front of the chart he was holding and showed it to Ojun.
“Secretary Yoon. Fifteen and sixteen-year-old kids are going on missions right now.”
“……”
“Do you know what state they all return in?”
Ojun maintained silence. As if he didn’t want to hear Wooseok’s words, he lowered his eyes diagonally and just stared at the floor.
Ojun’s hand on Wooseok’s shoulder clenched into a fist. His face turned deathly pale. It was a face that looked like he was enduring something terrible. Fuck. Wooseok chewed on the curse word.
“…Are you afraid of me?”
“…No.”
“Because I’m not human?”
“No, that’s…”
Wooseok slammed the chart he was holding on the floor and grabbed Ojun by the collar. Papers scattered in all directions. Ojun blinked, as if he couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.
“I’ve always wondered why they put such a stupid bastard as secretary. Now I get it.”
“…You’re misunder-“
Ojun’s body staggered from Wooseok’s grip. Ojun’s hands grabbed Wooseok’s hands that were clutching his collar. But Wooseok didn’t relent. Nor did he stop talking.
“Do you have some great sympathy for this fucking place that locks up kids who’ve developed abilities and pushes them around however they want? Ah, maybe they’re not even kids to you? Since they’re not even the same kind of human anyway?”
“Wait a moment.”
“Do you enjoy living like this? Well, I guess you must since-“
Slap!
Wooseok’s head turned to the side. Ojun had struck Wooseok’s cheek. Shocked by the blow, Wooseok stopped talking.
Ojun was breathing heavily with reddened eyes. It looked like tears would come pouring down if touched.
Why are you making that face? Wooseok gritted his teeth. The strength in his hand gripping the collar loosened. Ojun stepped back and covered his face with his hands.
After a long silence, Ojun bowed. Then he crouched down and began picking up the scattered papers.
Wooseok didn’t move until Ojun had collected all of Wooseok’s charts and placed them on the desk.
“…Please take care of it.”
Ojun’s voice was trembling uncontrollably. Wooseok silently picked up the chart from the desk and left the Center Director’s office.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
