Chapter 153 : Chapter 153

Chapter 153

Seoul’s ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Outskirts District 26, where transportation was well developed.

A ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍street-side drinking stall in an entertainment district, a little removed from the central area.

Amid ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the din of Seoul’s power-brokers, including freelance mercenaries, a middle-aged man spat out a stream of curses.

“Damn ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it all! What is Seoul even going to become? It is frustrating enough to choke on—what in the world is the Bureau doing?”

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍sat across a plastic table from a man wearing round, wire-rimmed glasses. At a glance, they did not seem to be companions.

Not ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that it mattered in a street stall where the power-brokers gathered to lament their lot. But an awakened who wore glasses at all was, in itself, incongruous.

In short, he had the prim, bookish air of someone who did not belong in a place like this.

“Well, the Bureau must be busy in its own way, must it not?”

“Of course they are busy. Not for the likes of us down here, though. They are busy lining the pockets of those inner-city bastards.”

“I suppose it is as the saying goes—birds of a feather flock together. Those with power gather to chase more power.”

“That is exactly my point! The ones who have it keep eating it up, so people like us have no choice but to whine every day!”

Even with the noise all around, the middle-aged man raised his voice without restraint.

The bespectacled man wore a smile of unclear meaning and continued to echo him.

“How unfair. Some are born in the inner city, raised being called young masters, while others live beneath an ashen sky, unable to lift their heads…”

“Hmph. I thought you were just some gentleman who rolled in from the inner districts, but I did not expect you to speak my language.”

“I understand this field’s political landscape rather well. In times like these, when monsters are scarce, it is truly misery.”

“The ones strutting around in District 5 ought to have at least as much conscience as you do. Tch!”

“I am sorry, but expecting anything from them is foolish.”

“Hm?”

“When there was never common ground in the first place, what could possibly change? They do not know what life is like on the outskirts, how wretched it is. And conversely, you do not know what it feels like to be born in District 5, educated in the 4th Scholastic District, hired by a prestigious Hunter guild, and make a name for yourself.”

“…Y-yes, that is true. Damn it! Listening to you, I suppose this reality is truly goddamned.”

“Goddamned… That is precisely it. A world so goddamned that even after evolving through awakening, one is still cast aside. In that case, it is better to start over fairly.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I mean giving everyone in the world an equal opportunity.”

The middle-aged man tilted his head.

“Wait. I do not know where you are going with this, but that ‘opportunity’ you mean is awakening, is it not?”

“In the end, yes.”

“I awakened because I was born in South Korea and managed to set foot in Seoul, but… is it not all just luck? Even out here, the ones who never awakened are everywhere.”

“There is no need to worry about those who failed to awaken even beneath Seoul’s sky. They are merely the remnants of an era that obstruct the evolution of a great civilization.”

“…What?”

In the boisterous atmosphere, silence fell over only the plastic table where the two men faced each other.

The middle-aged man’s eyes widened in bewilderment.

The bespectacled man continued, as though the other’s reaction were the strange one.

“This world needs a new leap forward. For eighty years since the Great Rift, we have wasted far too much time. If you think about it, even your lament stems from that. You suffer on the outskirts because of the remnants that were not filtered out by the tide of the times.”

“H-hey, what are you saying right now?”

“If you shift your perspective just slightly, you will realize that this era is groaning amid civilization’s upheaval.”

“……”

“It is the natural order of things. …A world where only awakened survive. Is that not fascinating?”

The middle-aged man shoved back his seat and stood.

“L-let us pretend I did not hear that. And you should watch your mouth wherever you go. If the Bureau hears you, you will be in serious trouble.”

He slapped a banknote onto the table and hurried away from the stall.

The surroundings remained rowdy.

No one realizing what conversation had taken place.

As though, from the beginning, no one had been able to overhear it.

“Quite a vile hobby, is it not?”

At some point, another figure approached the table.

Im Seonjae, the Superpowered Detective, carried himself with the air of someone who had been watching all along.

As he sat in the seat the middle-aged man had left, he spoke.

“Director-General Baek Dojin.”

“You are late.”

“Yes. Circumstances arose. Still, it is the first time I have seen you meet a client in a place this conspicuous.”

Baek Dojin, Director-General of the Bureau, looked around at the clamorous surroundings and replied.

“A place like this is precisely where one can hear the people’s voices up close.”

“I did not know the words of the drunk were considered so valuable.”

“There is no cheaper item than alcohol when it comes to drawing out what lies within.”

“……”

Baek Dojin casually indicated the bottle and asked,

“Will you have a drink?”

“No. I am busy enough that even if I had two bodies, I would still be pressed. …Ah, I am not posturing before you.”

“I know well that a Superpowered Detective has no time to breathe. And the absence of flowery words is, as a detective, an excellent quality.”

In the instant he finished speaking, the presence of others vanished.

A dense darkness fell, so thick one could not see even a meter ahead, and the chaotic noise around them was cleanly erased.

It felt as though they sat alone under the light of a sealed interrogation room.

As if accustomed to such changes, Baek Dojin removed his glasses with unhurried ease.

At once, his face returned to its original appearance.

Im Seonjae studied the glasses on the table with interest and spoke.

“You gave me two requests. To speak plainly, both were failures.”

“Failures in what sense?”

“Beyond my ability.”

“To think there is information even the finest Superpowered Detective in the investigative world cannot obtain… Very well. Let me hear it.”

“Then I will begin with Hong Eunseok, master of the shuttered guild Poisonous. …As expected, it is true that the Special Affairs Division moved him and his family elsewhere. By the circumstances, and by the testimony of the person said to be your spy, it is reasonable to assume they are alive. With high probability, the place he is staying is Suwon.”

“So the administrative branch is involved?”

“I do not know. Suwon is a city where ability backfires. But…”

“But?”

“I heard something interesting from someone I contacted with considerable difficulty. From time to time, delivery vehicles from the White Bottle café reportedly cross Suwon’s border without inspection.”

“……”

“A city that shudders at the mere mention of ability does not inspect delivery vehicles returning from Seoul… In that case, it is an act of concealment—an effort to leave no inspection record at all.”

“Then one could also conclude that items were brought from Seoul into Suwon.”

Im Seonjae nodded emphatically, as though that were exactly right.

“Yes. And quite coincidentally, the timing aligns with Poisonous’s closure—when Hong Eunseok disappeared. As an alchemist, it is certain he is conducting some sort of experiment… but what it is remains beyond my ability.”

“Not even a prediction?”

“Not in the slightest.”

Baek Dojin fell silent in thought.

Perhaps five minutes passed. Then he nodded to himself, as if he had arrived at an answer he found satisfactory.

Watching him, Im Seonjae narrowed his eyes subtly.

‘Baek Dojin, the elder brother of Baek Dojun, the man called a genius… I met him because of this commission, but he certainly carries a different, unpleasant air from his brother.’

Because Baek Dojun possessed an exceptional mind, Baek Dojin had been compared to him since childhood. Yet it was only that he lagged behind his brother—Baek Dojin’s intellect still surpassed that of most.

In particular, unlike his brother, who had certain issues in interpersonal relationships, Baek Dojin displayed political aptitude.

The very fact that he had risen to the position of Director-General meant the citizens of Seoul acknowledged his capability.

In Im Seonjae’s judgment, Baek Dojin was an intriguer skilled in stratagem and manipulation.

Even he, a detective renowned for his ability, had agonized before accepting the commission.

‘If I could pry open one mind between the brothers, it would be Director-General Baek Dojin’s.’

After all, discerning Baek Dojin’s intentions would be more beneficial to survival.

“Now tell me about the second request. The Hero Prep cadet and probationary investigator of the Special Affairs Division—Ji Seokhyeon.”

“Ah, that was an awkward subject. But as I said, there is no new information. If anything, I suspect you would know more than I do, given that the Special Affairs Division answers under you.”

“His childhood, then. Is there nothing related to that period?”

“No. Strangely so. To exaggerate, it is as if a god erased it with a literal eraser.”

“An interesting expression. In truth, I did not expect much from that request. A few days ago, I obtained an intriguing source regarding him.”

“What…?”

“I cannot trust it completely yet, but the man claimed that Ji Seokhyeon might be a survivor of the Gangneung incident thirteen years ago.”

“……”

“Not merely a survivor, but a criminal who inherited the blood of the Hyun Clan, the prominent family of Gangneung.”

“So that Demonic Eye is a trace of Hyun Yuyeol.”

“According to the source.”

“With no related clues whatsoever, and then suddenly Gangneung…”

Im Seonjae spoke at length, slowly.

“Who did you obtain that source from?”

***

After the banquet at the Hyeonseong household—a thing I found far from welcome—the campus holiday Friday arrived.

Since there had been no notice about an extracurricular gathering from Yun Jeongseop, my advisory instructor, I had let my guard down, thinking I could enjoy a relatively calm morning…

Bzzzzzt-.

As though it had been waiting for that exact moment, a message from Cha Yeri arrived on my smart wearable device.

It was urgent—telling me to run to the Mystery Club’s Investigation Club room in the annex immediately.

After the sudden “progress” she and I had made on the night of the banquet—and the unpleasant misunderstanding that followed—I had assumed she would not contact me for some time. Yet here it was, so soon.

“Did she realize that I kissed Do Minyeong?”

No, that could not be.

Do Minyeong had a precedent, but that had been solely because she and Aileen had formed a bond deeper than family.

Considering how clumsy she was in relationships, it was understandable.

“Then why is she calling me?”

If she wanted to see me alone, she would have summoned me to the unmanned convenience store as usual.

So it had to be related to club activities.

As I set my annoyance aside and was about to leave the dormitory, another message arrived.

-Investigation Division Gwon Chihun: Hey, where are you! Get to the annex right now…

This time it was Gwon Chihun pressing me.

He had recently joined the Mystery Club.

“It was Cha Yeri’s intention—trying to entangle him with Jeong Soyun.”

Still, I had a very bad feeling about this…

I left the dormitory and headed for the annex.

As I neared the club room, I saw around twenty cadets gathered there.

“Did a fight break out or something?”

With my mind half resigned, I stepped into the room—and for some reason every gaze fell upon me, and the noisy atmosphere quieted in an instant.

An ambiguous mood I could not easily define.

Cha Yeri greeted me with a relieved expression, while Gwon Chihun avoided my eyes as if he had committed a crime.

“……”

Only after seeing their sharply contrasting reactions did I understand.

I had stepped into mud I had no need to enter.

Perhaps sensing my mood, Cha Yeri quickly stated the situation with blunt clarity.

“It looks like we have to conduct member interviews starting now, President.”