Blossoming (2)
Could Sa Hae-geon be thinking similarly to Esper Hwang Ji-hyun? Well, with so many ability users gathering from various places, there was a high possibility of trouble arising from unwanted provocations. And I, like Jong-hyeok hyung, didn’t want to tell Hae-geon to endure such situations.
Still, since Hae-geon wasn’t violent or extreme by nature, I thought he would probably handle conflicts rather docilely even if he got into a fight.
Thinking this, I glanced at Hae-geon’s face, which had improved somewhat from before but was still rigid. I couldn’t help but smile at how sensitively Hae-geon was reacting to a story I’d heard countless times.
Just then, I noticed Jong-hyeok hyung and the Field Team 2 leader exchanging glances. It seemed we would soon be entering the Ability Department headquarters. Jong-hyeok hyung checked the watch on his wrist and spoke.
“It’s almost time, so let’s head inside.”
We followed hyung toward the Ability Department headquarters. Since it was Hae-geon’s first visit to the department headquarters, he kept looking around as we walked from the parking lot to the main entrance. A tall, large gray building reminiscent of a skyscraper appeared before us, along with heavy, massive iron doors that seemed designed to conceal the building’s interior structure.
The thick iron doors would only open to those granted permission to visit from the Ability Department through ability recognition. Jong-hyeok hyung, representing the Central Center, channeled his ability in front of the scanner attached to the door.
A loading bar appeared on the scanner, and a guidance announcement played.
– Please wait a moment while we verify your ability user information and visit details.
It didn’t take long to verify hyung’s information. The scanner displayed a screen with a white circle on a green background and played another announcement.
– Thank you for waiting. Ability user information and visit details have been confirmed. Access granted.
Below the scanner screen, Jong-hyeok hyung’s information was briefly written in small letters.
[Visitor Information – Central Center Field Team 1 Leader An Jong-hyeok]
As Hae-geon watched the thick iron doors open wide, he quietly asked me,
“If this is the method, how do they handle complaints from non-ability users? They can’t be verified by the ability scanner.”
“There’s a separate annex built for civilians over there. They handle complaints and general business there. I’ll show you when we leave later.”
“Really?”
“Yes. The main building is strictly for ability users. You’ll probably be surprised when you see the training grounds in the basement. It’s state-of-the-art with all kinds of equipment.”
At my words, Hae-geon blinked as if trying to imagine the training facilities, then nodded. He looked around the interior of the headquarters with fascination after passing through the thick iron doors. Finding his behavior cute, I kept glancing at him while following Jong-hyeok hyung.
The area in front of the elevators inside the headquarters was crowded—government officials working at the Ability Department and personnel from other centers and guilds who, like us, seemed to have been dispatched for the S-rank dungeon conquest. With so many people attending the meeting, even eight elevators couldn’t accommodate everyone.
Seeing the available space in an elevator, the Field Team 2 leader asked Jong-hyeok hyung,
“Team Leader An, how about we split up and go up separately?”
“Let’s do that.”
“Okay, okay. Then we’ll go up first. See you upstairs.”
The Field Team 2 leader gathered some of his team members and headed toward an available elevator. Other Team 2 members also boarded elevators that had space for one or two more people. That left our team and two Espers and one Guide from Field Team 2.
Soon, a completely empty elevator arrived. Although it was quite large, when our entire Team 1 stepped in, a warning beep sounded, and the elevator doors wouldn’t close. Eventually, Hae-geon and I, who had boarded last, had to step out after exchanging glances with others.
“You go ahead first.”
“See you upstairs.”
The elevator carrying our team began to move. Hae-geon and I stood awkwardly with the Field Team 2 members, waiting for the next elevator. I observed the remaining Team 2 personnel: Esper Yoon Seon-hoo, a middle-aged Esper whose name I didn’t know well but who seemed very interested in his pair, and Guide Lim Ye-seon.
We checked which floor the elevator was on in an awkward atmosphere. Meanwhile, the middle-aged Esper from Field Team 2 came to my side and burst into laughter.
“Guide Do-min, I noticed earlier that you seem to be marking that rookie Esper next to you as your exclusive charge. Unlike us, he seems to waste a lot of ability, so you keep having to guide him, right? Must be quite troublesome for you, Guide Do-min.”
What on earth is he rambling about? When I turned my head with a look that asked what he was talking about, he boasted,
“Well, it’s like this. Unlike us who have plenty of experience and use our abilities with precise calculations without unnecessary leakage, rookies can’t control their power. That’s why you were holding that rookie’s hand and guiding him even on the bus, right? You should quickly find a suitable match to pair with so you don’t have to deal with troublesome situations like earlier. Otherwise, it’ll keep being difficult, you know? Remember the saying about darkness under the lamp?”
I almost burst into laughter at the absurd logic that left me speechless. Would anyone want to say such things with the person in question standing right beside them? Sure enough, Hae-geon’s face, which I checked with a sidelong glance, didn’t look good.
With an ominous feeling that a big commotion might break out in the Ability Department headquarters, I hurriedly wrapped my hand around Hae-geon’s. As I patted the back of his hand, the corners of his eyes, which had been raised in displeasure, seemed to soften a bit.
Just then, with perfect timing, the elevator arrived. Hae-geon and I boarded first, followed by the Field Team 2 members. I pressed 17 for the grand conference room and stood in the corner of the elevator, poking Hae-geon’s thigh with my index finger. I felt his shoulders jump and twitch at my touch.
Hae-geon also retaliated by gently scratching the back of my hand with his index finger. While we were playing like this, Esper Yoon Seon-hoo, standing in front of us, spoke to Guide Lim Ye-seon.
“Isn’t a newly born giraffe-like rookie Esper better than an aging, stubborn Esper?”
“Huh? Oh, yes… well. At least rookies have a certain cuteness to them, unlike old Espers who act disgracefully…”
As Guide Lim Ye-seon shook her head, Esper Yoon Seon-hoo asked with an expectant voice,
“Then, between a rookie Esper and a 20-something Esper who can handle anything smoothly and has a decent face, which would you choose?”
“Ah… that’s a bit difficult. Hmm.”
“What? I thought you wouldn’t hesitate at all. Isn’t that a question with an obvious answer?”
“Yoon Seon-hoo’s face isn’t my type. That 20-something Esper option—you’re referring to yourself, right?”
Esper Yoon Seon-hoo answered with a small, embarrassed laugh.
“It wasn’t entirely intentional, but I’m glad you thought so. It means you consider me a pretty decent Esper, right?”
His verbal skills were exactly like those of a slippery eel. Esper Yoon Seon-hoo was completely opposite to Hae-geon, who was usually straightforward.
Sure enough, Hae-geon’s gaze fixed on the back of Yoon Seon-hoo’s head was full of bewilderment and embarrassment. His look was as if he had encountered a strangely shaped monster, which made me burst into laughter involuntarily.
At that, the Field Team 2 people standing in front turned their heads to look at me. Even Hae-geon, standing next to me, was looking down at me with puzzled eyes. I hadn’t laughed that loudly, but suddenly finding myself the center of everyone’s attention was embarrassing.
Just then, as if to rescue me, the elevator stopped with a guidance announcement. The timing was perfect.
– Floor 17. Doors opening.
The elevator doors opened wide, and we could see our team members waiting for us in front of the grand conference room. As soon as Jong-hyeok hyung spotted us, he quietly gestured to us.
Hae-geon and I got off the elevator, passed through the crowded corridor, and joined our team members. The corridor was filled with ability users whose faces and names were quite well known. It seemed the Ability Department had mobilized as much manpower as possible for this S-rank dungeon that had appeared after 10 years.
Soon, Jong-hyeok hyung opened the door to the grand conference room and entered. Though it was just a glimpse, I could clearly feel that the atmosphere inside the grand conference room was heavy and serious. We followed hyung into the grand conference room.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
