32
Wooseok leaned back on the sofa in his office. As soon as he closed his eyes, he heard a knock.
“Are you in?”
“Come in.”
Wooseok straightened up his posture. Seoyeon opened the door and entered.
“You called for me.”
“Yeah. Coffee? Green tea?”
“Green tea, please.”
Wooseok was walking toward the coffee pot but changed direction after hearing Seoyeon’s answer. He put a green tea bag in a mug, filled it with warm water from the water purifier, and handed it to Seoyeon.
“You won’t find a boss like me anywhere else, right?”
Seoyeon just smiled brightly at Wooseok’s words. She never responded well to this kind of joking.
“How does it feel being back at the Center? Have you recovered from your travel fatigue?”
“Yes, thanks to you. Thank you.”
Seoyeon answered politely. Wooseok got himself some water and sat down. Seoyeon blew on her tea before taking a sip.
“How’s Eunjeong doing?”
At Wooseok’s question, Seoyeon silently looked at him for a moment. Her expression was unreadable, making it difficult to discern her emotions.
Is she angry about something? While Wooseok was wondering, Seoyeon smiled faintly again.
“Aren’t you close with Eunjeong?”
It seemed like she was indirectly saying he should just ask Eunjeong himself. Wooseok cleared his throat softly.
“Sure, we’re friends, but you’re closer to her. I haven’t seen her around lately. She must be enjoying hanging out with you.”
“Are you upset with Eunjeong, Director?”
Director, seriously. Seoyeon wrinkled her nose bridge and smiled. Enough, enough. Wooseok pushed a report toward Seoyeon.
“You wrote a good report.”
“Thank you. But did you call me here just to tell me that?”
There was no malice in Seoyeon’s wide-open eyes. She genuinely looked curious.
“…No.”
Still, Wooseok felt slightly offended.
“You definitely have some similarities with Yeo Eunjeong, being friends and all.”
Subtly impolite. Wooseok thought.
“Oh my, are you really upset with Eunjeong?”
Seoyeon flashed a confident smile like a victor. She even added, “I’ll tell her to come see you.” Wooseok decided to get straight to the point.
“The esper who refused guiding that you mentioned in the report. What exactly was their reaction?”
“…They were afraid that receiving guiding would kill them. We had to inject a sedative first and then perform guiding. As you probably noticed, they seemed like one of the Crow’s children.”
Sharp as always. Wooseok looked at Seoyeon, who was speaking as if she had already figured things out. Her intelligence was almost intimidating.
“You’re asking because of the news about the manifestation possibility test, right?”
“That’s right. Did you notice any unusual increase in such cases during your recent trip?”
Hmm. Seoyeon seemed to be thinking for a moment. Eventually, she continued.
“I don’t think so. When an unusual case appears in one area, it’s typically shared with neighboring regions, but there weren’t notably more cases in the surrounding areas either.”
Are they focusing their activities around the capital? Wooseok’s expression darkened. It became difficult to estimate the size of the Crow’s influence.
“Do you have any hunches about this?”
Seoyeon asked cautiously. Wooseok wondered how much she knew about the Crow. And if she did know, how much she would be willing to share with him.
Eunjeong might trust Seoyeon, but Wooseok didn’t. Wooseok didn’t trust anyone except Minjae. That was a separate issue from giving affection or help.
For a moment, Wooseok thought of Ojun. And felt bitter.
“Unfortunately, not yet. I can’t seem to figure it out.”
Wooseok shook his head.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help.”
Seoyeon apologized. What do you have to be sorry about? Wooseok swallowed a bitter smile as he saw Seoyeon out.
***
Jihwan was running away from a pterodactyl charging at him inside the training room.
After successfully executing his “Operation Meet Senior Minjae Multiple Times” today, Jihwan was contemplating as he entered the training room. He was trying to decide how to evaluate his flying skills.
It hurt his pride to consider himself a beginner, but for intermediate… there were some difficulties.
Jihwan hesitated before pressing the intermediate button. Then he encountered a pterodactyl that shot beams.
Wasn’t this supposed to be a realistic simulation? Jihwan was beginning to deeply regret his choice.
The speed of the approaching pterodactyl was frightening enough, but what was more terrifying was that he had to keep watching the pterodactyl to avoid its beams. The pterodactyl’s eyes were completely black, as if without pupils, making it hard to tell where it was looking, which made it even scarier.
Whenever he barely managed to avoid a beam, flames would erupt in that spot, further limiting his movement. Jihwan kept changing direction while screaming. Aaack! Ack!
As he turned his head to look ahead, Jihwan collided with something. He grabbed his nose and rolled, as something quickly brushed past him.
When he turned his head, he saw a figure that appeared to be twisting the pterodactyl’s neck amidst the flames. He could see black liquid flowing down the figure’s hand.
Moments later, with a click, the simulator turned off.
“…Are you okay?”
It was Hoyoung, wearing workout clothes. He looked surprised. Jihwan quickly removed his hand from his nose.
“I-I’m fine!”
“…Jihwan, your nose is bleeding.”
Chuckling slightly, Hoyoung walked to the corner of the training room and brought some tissues. Are you okay? Hoyoung kindly asked once more as he held out the tissues.
After thanking him, Jihwan wiped around his nose with the tissue. Red blood stained it.
Jihwan recalled the black liquid that had been flowing down Hoyoung’s hand just moments ago. But now there was no liquid on Hoyoung’s hands.
“Sorry, I was trying to relieve some stress and had set the mode differently. I didn’t know you’d come in first and turn it on.”
Hoyoung apologized with an embarrassed expression.
So that pterodactyl mode is for stress relief? Sunbae is really amazing… Jihwan somehow found it difficult to look directly into Hoyoung’s eyes.
“I guess starting with intermediate wasn’t a good idea.”
Jihwan said, looking slightly toward the ground. He couldn’t help but sigh.
“…You should stick with beginner for now. We don’t want you getting hurt.”
After a moment of silence, Hoyoung advised in a low voice. He seemed to have hesitated a bit before speaking.
Until when will I be at the beginner level? Jihwan felt a little sad. But he nodded obediently.
Jihwan suddenly felt embarrassed at the thought that Hoyoung had been watching him running around like a fool.
“Ah, haha. I should go eat something. See you next time, Sunbae.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, see you later.”
After a brief moment of silence, Jihwan hastily said goodbye as if he had just remembered an urgent matter. Then he left the training room, almost like he was escaping.
Jihwan ran into Taehyun in the corridor. He successfully managed to drag the reluctant Taehyun to the cafeteria.
“I told you I already ate!”
“Hyung, you can eat again.”
“I’m not a pig.”
Jihwan brushed off Taehyun’s complaints lightly.
Even though we sometimes argue, it’s still comfortable with Taehyun. Is it because Hoyoung is my senior? Jihwan wondered how he could eliminate the strangely awkward atmosphere he felt with the kind Hoyoung.
“Hyung, you know what? I just met Sunbae Hoyoung in the training room.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“And it was awkward with him.”
“He probably just doesn’t like you.”
“You think so?”
When Jihwan genuinely became gloomy at what was meant to be a joke, Taehyun became flustered.
“Hey, then what does that make me! What’s going on!”
Jihwan opened up about his argument with Hoyoung. As the story continued, Taehyun’s expression became strange.
By the time the story ended, Taehyun clicked his tongue softly.
“That’s not normal.”
“…Why?”
Jihwan asked timidly.
“Did you know that Joo Hoyoung wasn’t originally an A-class esper?”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. As soon as he reached A-class, he became part of Team 1, bypassing other espers of the same rank. Do you know what that means?”
“Um… wow, that’s impressive?”
Wow, Sunbae Hoyoung is more amazing than I thought. Jihwan thought.
“Wow, are you stupid?”
Taehyun sighed at Jihwan and shook his head.
“You’re just a rolling stone that happened to land in his way, so for now, avoid provoking him. Don’t approach him with burdensome conversation just because you can’t stand the awkwardness.”
Taehyun advised with a serious face. Yeah, I got it. Feeling somewhat struck at his core, Jihwan nodded.
***
Minjae discovered Jihwan following him again.
Recently caught spying on him in the guiding room, Jihwan had been trying his hardest to prove he wasn’t a ghost.
After being too generous and pretending to believe his coincidence act, Jihwan hadn’t stopped following him.
Whether he was trying to look pitiful or thought he couldn’t be seen, Jihwan kept his shoulders narrow which actually made him more noticeable.
And when they did face each other, all he said was a simple, “Hello.”
What’s the point of all this? Minjae tried to figure it out but could only conclude that he didn’t understand what was going on in kids’ heads these days.
Since he was on his way to the guiding room to discuss something with Wooseok, Minjae needed to shake off Jihwan now. Though he didn’t think his stupid pair had any ulterior motives, today’s conversation with Wooseok was strictly confidential.
Minjae went to the crowded lobby and waited for Jihwan to follow. As soon as Jihwan appeared, he quickly changed direction, weaving through the espers and guides.
Then he deliberately turned toward the dorms before doubling back toward the guiding room. When he checked midway, Jihwan was still in the lobby, looking around.
During that time, Minjae quickly headed to Wooseok’s office.
Wooseok was staring intently at his phone.
“What are you doing?”
As Minjae entered and asked, Wooseok froze for a moment.
“Are you actually breathing?”
Minjae asked.
“Knock. KNOCK! You bastard.”
Wooseok snapped at him. Minjae trudged over and flopped down on Wooseok’s sofa.
“Dating someone?”
Minjae asked nonchalantly.
“No.”
Wooseok answered firmly. So there is a romance issue. Minjae was certain.
When Wooseok had work communication problems, he didn’t just stare at his phone like that. He preferred to track people down and confront them.
Whoever it is, they’re really giving him a hard time. Minjae found it a bit amusing but decided not to provoke his friend rashly.
“I heard something interesting recently.”
“…Tell me.”
Wooseok was focused on Minjae now. Minjae pretended to stroke a non-existent beard.
“I’m thinking of doing some undercover work.”
Wooseok’s face immediately crumpled.
“Denied.”
“Hey, you! Who do you think you’re talking to?”
“Well, I said it’s denied, didn’t I!”
Minjae and Wooseok shouted uselessly at each other. Wooseok urged him to hurry up and get to the point.
“That kid who came in recently told me that they’re luring parents by promising to prevent their children from living as espers.”
“…The Crow?”
“That’s what I heard. I’m planning to infiltrate them soon.”
“…Will you be alright?”
Wooseok’s face tensed up. He was clearly piling up worries. Minjae smiled and pointed at his own face.
“Do you think anyone would believe me if I said I had a daughter? I don’t think anyone would believe it.”
If I’m infiltrating, I should probably play the role of a father whose daughter is showing abnormal symptoms and suffering. Minjae muttered.
After thinking with a serious expression for a moment, Wooseok nodded.
“They would believe it. They’d believe you even if you said you had three daughters.”
This bastard?
“…Have you still not heard from that person?”
Annoyed by Wooseok’s response, Minjae naturally attempted an attack disguised as a casual inquiry. Wooseok reflexively pressed his phone to check the screen.
“Yeah, I haven’t hear- Hey!”
Wooseok glared fiercely at Minjae. So there is someone. Minjae was now convinced.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
