It was still too early for dinner when Jeong Seyeon called everyone to his room.
“Let’s discuss countermeasures.”
Though he didn’t specify what kind of countermeasures, no one present failed to understand his meaning.
“Actually, I already talked with Jeongjae this afternoon.”
Do Wonjin raised his hand as if he’d been waiting. He had already started speaking, but he still gave me a look asking if he could continue, so I waved my hand to indicate that he should finish what he was saying.
“That bastard has done more than one or two things wrong. I’ve come up with three main plans…”
Though it wasn’t even his own story, Do Wonjin enthusiastically laid out the plans we had created together with an excited face. He was just as sincere about my affairs as Yang Garam and Jeong Seyeon, who had wrapped up their school and work obligations.
“But there’s one drawback to the first plan.”
Taking over from Do Wonjin, I spoke next.
“There’s a possibility that the fire could spread to the area surrounding the Center Director’s residence.”
I didn’t know where the Center Director lived, but due to the nature of fire, variables existed. It wouldn’t be right for others to suffer damage because of my revenge.
“How about we buy up all the surrounding land?”
Yang Garam suggested a solution as if there was nothing to worry about, and Do Wonjin clicked his tongue, looking at him like a child who knew nothing of the world.
“I don’t know the Center Director’s home address, but I roughly know the neighborhood he lives in. Land there easily exceeds ten million won per pyeong. It’s impossible to purchase the entire area. It’s not just one or two pyeong. Where would we get that much funding from?”
“I think it should be fine? I’ll talk to my father about it.”
“Ah.”
Do Wonjin opened his mouth with a face that looked like he’d been hit on the back of his head.
“…I forgot you’re the youngest son of the Yang Group. If it’s the Yang Group, then it’s definitely possible.”
“So is that settled?”
Yang Garam looked at me with a face that seemed to be asking for praise, and I raised my hand to stroke his head. His happy emotions—fluffy and ticklish—poured into me. A smile unconsciously appeared on my lips as well.
“Now we just need to know the Center Director’s home address, and we can proceed right away?”
“I have the personal information on the Center Director.”
Jeong Seyeon, who had been silently listening to our conversation, held out a file folder.
“This file contains basic personal information, activity records up to recent times, and ability measurement data.”
It was hard to believe he had obtained this information so quickly when less than a full day had passed. I took the file he offered and opened it, clicking my tongue in amazement at the contents, which were organized for easy reference just as he had said. It was impressive intelligence work.
“Well, damn. Everyone’s so amazing that I’m feeling inadequate.”
Do Wonjin peered over my shoulder at the file Jeong Seyeon had provided and made a joke.
“All I have is my body, so I’ll take charge of setting the fire at the site. I’ve played with fire a lot.”
It was probably meant to be funny, but for some reason, I felt like Do Wonjin might have actually done this before, so I couldn’t laugh. Regardless, everyone was taking on tasks that suited them without being asked, treating it as their own business. Not to be outdone, I mentioned the role I had already thought about for myself.
“Then I’ll set up an appointment with the Center Director during that time. He’ll suspect me first when the fire breaks out, so I need to meet him directly to establish an alibi. And I want to see his expression when he sees his burning house from up close.”
“How will we divert the Masu?”
If I meet with the Center Director, it will be difficult for me to extract the Masu directly. But I had someone more suitable than myself in mind, so I smiled meaningfully.
“I’ve already thought about that.”
While everyone had question marks floating in their heads, I stroked Serubi’s head as he quietly approached my side. ‘A Masu should be handled by another Masu.’
This was the first thought I had when Serubi said he would help me.
Once everyone’s roles became clear, the execution date was quickly decided.
Four days from now.
The operation name: “Flower Viewing.”
We deliberately excluded the word “fire,” which was the key element.
‘My heart’s already racing.’
The old me would have been anxious, wondering what would happen if something went wrong with the plan, but now I was simply excited and elated like a child looking forward to a flower-viewing trip. It wasn’t because the plan was perfect, but because I had faith that even if problems arose, I had people by my side who would solve them together with me.
“Oh, right. There’s something important I need to discuss with you all.”
As the atmosphere was shifting toward wrapping up the meeting, I belatedly remembered Peter.
“Joo Seolhyeon’s room is empty now. How do you all feel about someone else moving in and living there?”
“Is it a guide?”
Yang Garam asked anxiously with haste, and I quickly added an explanation.
“No, an S-class Esper who came to Korea from abroad. Garam, you saw him yesterday too, in the dungeon.”
“Why would that person live with us?”
Do Wonjin openly displayed his wariness toward the stranger.
“It seems like the Center Director wants to keep that Esper and me together. I’m planning to figure out what his intentions are when I meet him tomorrow. I heard about it from that person first, before the Center Director, because I’ve been secretly helping him.”
“Helping him… Could this be the person who might know your mother’s whereabouts?”
Jeong Seyeon accurately grasped my relationship with Peter.
“Yes, that’s right.”
With my answer, Yang Garam and Do Wonjin’s attitudes softened as well.
“Then having him live with us isn’t a bad proposal from our perspective.”
Though he still seemed reluctant, Yang Garam nodded and spoke, and Do Wonjin also agreed, saying, “That’s true.”
“What does Jeongjae-ssi want to do?”
“To be honest with you all, I want to involve Peter in this plan.”
“So you’re agreeing to live together. I understand. I also approve of living together.”
When Jeong Seyeon finished speaking, Do Wonjin and Yang Garam also raised their hands in agreement.
“Is it really okay to involve Peter in the plan?”
I asked again since everyone had only mentioned the living arrangement part.
“Living together is a matter to be shared among housemates, but this plan is entirely Jeongjae-ssi’s affair. You should do as you wish.”
Jeong Seyeon was right. Even though the guides were helping as if it were their own business, the responsibility for this plan rested with me, and all the authority was in my hands.
“Thank you, everyone.”
Expressing my gratitude to those who completely trusted and followed me, I made a gesture of gripping something invisible in my empty hand. The invisible knife handle in my grip made my heart race.
The next day, when I visited the center, the Center Director instructed me to monitor Peter. He also ordered me to find out why an S-class Esper from overseas was staying in Korea for an extended period.
I answered with a businesslike face, saying I understood, and concluded my meeting with the Center Director. That very afternoon, Peter visited our residence with lightly packed belongings.
“Welcome, Peter. You can use this room over here.”
The guides, who were already waiting knowing Peter would come, were closely observing his visit, and I explained various things to Peter amidst the subtle tension.
“The guides use the first floor here, and I use the room next to yours on the second floor. Oh, we have a cat—you don’t have any allergies, do you?”
“No, I don’t. The house is really nice.”
Peter was busy looking around the house while nodding, and I pretended not to notice as I signaled to the guides who were lingering around us, telling Peter to put his luggage in his room upstairs and come back down. I wanted to introduce him to the guides as soon as possible.
Peter put his luggage away and came down to the living room, and I introduced everyone to him starting with the eldest, Jeong Seyeon, then Do Wonjin, and finally Yang Garam.
When an awkward silence persisted after the introductions, I thought it might be better for me to leave so they could converse more comfortably. As I stood up saying I would prepare tea, Jeong Seyeon also stood up.
“Hyung, please continue the conversation. I can do it alone.”
Since it would defeat the purpose of leaving if Jeong Seyeon followed me, I dissuaded him and dashed to the kitchen. Fortunately, Jeong Seyeon didn’t follow, but that in itself made me feel a little disappointed.
I could boil water in one second using my ability, but since I needed to kill time now, I deliberately used a kettle to boil the water. While preparing tea by taking tea bags out of the cupboard, it suddenly occurred to me that I had never seen Peter’s guide.
‘He used his abilities extensively at the amusement park, but how does he receive guiding?’
Out of genuine curiosity, I thought about asking him later while watching bubbles starting to rise in the kettle. When I prepared tea for everyone and went to the living room, I found them laughing and chatting more amicably than I had been, whatever had happened in my absence.
“What are you all talking about that’s so entertaining?”
As I set the tea on the table, Peter handed me a photo.
“Somehow we got to talking about my wife.”
In the photo, a woman was smiling brightly.
“She’s Korean, isn’t she?”
“Yes. I came to Korea and fell in love at first sight, so I pursued her.”
I immediately understood why Peter’s Korean was so fluent. Having learned the language through the power of love, his skills were naturally excellent.
“Is your wife alone in America now?”
“No. She’s currently at her parents’ home.”
“Her parents’ home… so your wife is in Korea too?”
I had given him a room because he said he had nowhere to go, but it turned out he had in-laws in Korea and his wife was here too—it felt a bit like I’d been deceived.
“Yes, which makes me very sad. We’re both in Korea but can’t meet. This mission has a high risk level, and it could expose my wife and her family to danger.”
I was slightly surprised by his answer, which seemed like he had read my thoughts, but I pretended to be unfazed and asked again.
“It seems your wife is a regular person.”
“No, she’s a guide.”
Another question mark appeared in my mind. A guide’s role is to accompany an Esper on missions, yet he’s reluctant about a guide being exposed to danger? Something seemed off.
“She’s currently seven months pregnant, so she’s taking a break from missions.”
Once again, without me saying anything, Peter seemed to read my expression and resolved my curiosity. I nodded in understanding, and Peter cooled the tea I had given him to a drinkable temperature, drank it in one go, and interlaced his fingers.
“By the way, Woo Jeongjae-ssi.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t you have something to tell me?”
He gazed at me with relaxed eyes, like someone who already knew what I was going to say.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
