Blossoming (3)
The large conference room was already filled with ability users who had arrived earlier and taken their seats. There were quite a few familiar faces I recognized from previous support missions. We headed toward our designated seats marked with a nameplate reading “Central Center Field Team 1.”
Some team members didn’t sit down right away but walked over to people they knew. Since there was still time before the meeting started, Jong-hyeok hyung didn’t say anything about it.
“Hey, Hwang Ji-hyun. I heard your team got a new Esper? The rumors are spreading.”
“Why would a rookie joining cause rumors? You’re all making a fuss. But anyway, that’s what happened.”
“What’s gotten into your center director? Ah, could it be because of the S-rank dungeon?”
“I don’t know much either. It’s probably for that reason. But everyone seems interested in our rookie? Somehow, I’ve been getting calls from all over.”
“Well… I can’t say there’s no interest.”
From where Sa Hae-geon and I were sitting, we could hear Hwang Ji-hyun’s conversation. If even I, a Guide, could hear it clearly, Sa Hae-geon could certainly hear it too. Fortunately, it wasn’t an unpleasant topic, but being talked about by strangers—whether positively or negatively—is quite uncomfortable.
I might say I’m used to it and don’t pay much attention, but Sa Hae-geon, with less experience of this sort, surely felt differently. And I was worried he might get hurt.
When I turned to check Sa Hae-geon’s face, there was no particular change in his expression. Was he okay? But just because his expression didn’t change didn’t mean his feelings were calm. Even if he was hurt, it might not show much on his face.
As I slowly stroked the back of Sa Hae-geon’s hand soothingly, he suddenly whispered in my ear.
“How can you do this with everyone around, hyung?”
“Huh? What? What did I do?”
“When I asked him this puzzling, somewhat accusatory question, Sa Hae-geon gestured downward with his eyes. Following his gaze slowly, I saw… Sa Hae-geon’s notably bulging crotch. Heat rushed to my face at this sight I never expected to encounter in a large conference room.
I almost asked him if he was the one who wanted to be in such a state with people all around, but I swallowed the question and asked instead:
“W-why is that… like that?”
“You’ve been touching me all this time. Wasn’t it intentional?”
“W-what? Why would I do that intentionally? And how can you, even in a place like this… How have you been holding back until now?”
“I thought you would find me disgusting if I didn’t hold back. When I thought about that, I could endure it. It wasn’t that difficult.”
Hearing Sa Hae-geon’s matter-of-fact response, my initial bewilderment quickly gave way to a strange feeling. I had no idea what to say to Sa Hae-geon, who seemed almost certain that I would come to despise him.
It seemed pointless to deny it—he probably wouldn’t believe me anyway. And it was odd how he could do other strange things so easily yet be cautious in this area. The more I learned about him, the more fascinating and unique he seemed.
“But it’s okay now.”
“…Really? Because you now know I’ll accept everything?”
“That’s part of it, but I just feel closer to you. So I have this groundless confidence that you’ll understand everything, even if I show you my worst sides.”
It was quite an insightful comment. Perhaps he really did know what kind of person I was.
“It’s not groundless, Hae-geon. I can definitely embrace all of your depths.”
Sa Hae-geon looked at me a bit surprised, then lowered his gaze slightly. Though he didn’t show it much, he seemed somewhat embarrassed.
Meanwhile, the conference room filled up with ability users who had arrived one by one. Once everyone had gathered, the doors closed, and the bright lighting in the room was dimmed.
Soon, the front door opened, and Deputy Minister Han Yoon-jung of the Ability Department, dressed in formal uniform, appeared. Deputy Minister Han stepped onto the podium with a solemn face. Murmurs could be heard as people recognized her.
“Huh? Isn’t that the Deputy Minister?”
“Oh, it is. That’s Esper Han Yoon-jung. Is she really in charge?”
“I was worried the Minister might come, so this is a relief.”
“Indeed.”
She was an A-rank healing Esper, but she was skilled at strategizing and, above all, had experience with the previous S-rank dungeon raid. That’s probably why she was here as the head of this operation.
Despite all their voices being clearly audible to her, Deputy Minister Han showed no reaction and began speaking.
“Thank you all for willingly responding to the S-rank dungeon raid. I know it wasn’t an easy decision. The choice you made for your country, and furthermore for your families and loved ones—the Ability User Management Bureau and the Republic of Korea will never forget it.”
The conference room instantly quieted at Deputy Minister Han’s voice, which was both gentle and firm. Everyone’s attention turned to her as she made eye contact with each person seated before finally bowing.
“I am Han Yoon-jung, appointed as the head of the newly established S-rank Dungeon Response Committee. I look forward to working with you all.”
A deep silence enveloped the conference room, so quiet that not even breathing could be heard. But soon, thunderous applause and cheers erupted. Deputy Minister Han looked surprised at the enthusiastic response, her eyes widening as she looked at us, before eventually offering a gentle smile.
Then she nodded to a staff member waiting below the podium with a laptop.
“Now, before the main meeting, I will brief you on the expected form and structure of the S-rank dungeon as anticipated by our Ability Department. If you have any questions during the briefing, please raise your hand.”
A PowerPoint presentation appeared on the conference room screen. Deputy Minister Han operated the remote, and the slide changed. Photos of a vast desert, a massive volcano, and a vast ocean appeared.
“We expect this S-rank dungeon to take the form of a desert, a volcano, and an ocean. The wavelength is also very similar to existing dungeons with such structures. Would you like to see a comparative table?”
A chart comparing the wavelengths of volcano, desert, and ocean dungeons that many centers and guilds had already conquered with the wavelength of this S-rank dungeon—depicted in different colored lines—appeared on the screen. Simultaneously, murmurs filled the conference room as people examined the chart.
“What is this?”
“What’s the point of comparing these? Most dungeons are either ocean, desert, or volcano.”
“Come on. Isn’t this just wordplay?”
Despite the growing whispers, Esper Han Yoon-jung showed no sign of discomfort as she pointed to the marked lines with a laser pointer.
“Many of you must be questioning this. Thinking, ‘Are they just listing everything hoping to get lucky?'”
The whispering Espers fell silent, seeming to agree with Deputy Minister Han’s assessment. After a pause, she carefully looked around at everyone and continued.
“Those who have participated in S-rank dungeons, whether overseas or past domestic ones, all know this. S-rank dungeons are completely different from ordinary dungeons. Not just in difficulty, but in their form as well. Uniquely, S-rank dungeons have various types of environments mixed in one space. That’s why we need to prepare for all three of these areas.”
A person sitting in front raised their hand at Deputy Minister Han’s explanation.
“Yes, please speak.”
“You mentioned that S-rank dungeons have various environments mixed together, so are you certain about these three types of environments?”
“Based on the research results from the Dungeon Research Institute, we’re about 70% certain. We can’t exclude the 30% of variables and uncertainties.”
This time, an Esper from a famous guild raised their hand.
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Then why did you hide the fact that various environments could be created within one dungeon?”
“It was kept confidential based on the judgment that it might heighten public fear. This is the same anywhere overseas. So all of you must also be careful about disclosure. If the conversations we share today were to leak outside without consultation with us…”
Deputy Minister Han paused briefly, then added with a gentle smile:
“The Ability Department will hold those responsible to the end. Of course, if you want to be treated as an international terrorist who disclosed state secrets—furthermore, stories that the world has buried—feel free to talk about what you heard today.”
The conference room fell deathly silent at this ominous warning. Glancing sideways, I saw Sa Hae-geon looking at Deputy Minister Han with considerable interest.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
