Chapter 158 : Chapter 158

Chapter 158

It ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍was the time when free time had ended and all the students should have returned to the hotel.

I ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wandered through the hotel in search of a vending machine.

After ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍all, it was obvious there would be no carbonated coffee at dinner.

I ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍finally found a vending machine tucked away in a corner of the hotel, but for some reason, two cadets were waiting for me there.

One ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was Do Minyeong, wearing an expression that suggested she was already sick of everything…

“A ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍cat cannot possibly walk past a fish shop.”

The other was Cha Yeri, nodding repeatedly in fervent agreement.

“We were waiting, Cadet Ji Seokhyeon. I thought you would certainly stop by before dinner began.”

I had expected the two of them to come looking for me.

How far could two people with no romantic experience get, even if they put their heads together?

They had clearly come to ask me for help.

According to what Gwon Chihun had said in the suite earlier, they had been pestering him so relentlessly that he had been avoiding them. So they were likely here to ask me to take full responsibility for dragging Gwon Chihun around.

Ah, this banal youth.

I did not speak until I had stepped up to the vending machine.

“Since when have the two of you been attached at the hip…?”

“Do not pretend you do not know. Are you seriously saying that the illustrious investigator of the Special Affairs Division did not notice that Cadet Cha Yeri and I were together all day?”

“I meant how you ended up together.”

“Mm-hm. That is what happened. There is a reason for it.”

“Oh, is there? Then step aside so I can get a drink…”

Just as I was about to tap the vending machine with my smart wearable device, Cha Yeri blocked me.

“More importantly, Cadet Ji Seokhyeon, what does your schedule look like tomorrow?”

“I am busy.”

“Ha. I only asked what your schedule looks like, and you claim you are busy?”

“It is the same schedule as everyone else. If you do not do anything foolish, we go on an expedition in the morning, have lunch, and then do the unity competition in the afternoon… Do you have some business with me?”

“Yes, I do. Very important business. If you do not mind, would you make some time this evening?”

“Why? It seems things are not going well.”

“What did Cadet Gwon Chihun say in the suite?”

“Yes.”

Do Minyeong cut in.

“What did he say?”

“Do you want to know? In my opinion, it would be better not to hear it. Now, move aside…”

My finger drifted aimlessly in the air.

Cha Yeri had no intention of moving. She held her ground, her back to the carbonated coffee button as she blocked it outright.

Did she think I would be unable to drink it simply because she stood there?

I tapped the machine first, then deliberately extended my index finger and pushed Cha Yeri’s forehead.

“…!”

A button was pressed by the back of her head.

THUD. CLUNK.

A can of carbonated coffee burst from the machine with an obnoxious rattle.

“W-what discourtesy is this?”

“Indeed. And what discourtesy is it to block the button when I am trying to wet my throat?”

“Y-you…”

She nearly spat out a curse.

If Do Minyeong had not been there, something so vulgar I could not have imagined would have flown out of her mouth.

I calmly took the drink and turned to Do Minyeong.

“So, what do you want me to do?”

“Bring Gwon Chihun to the meeting place on time.”

“Can you not just call him by using my name?”

“He might notice and refuse to come. And according to the forecast, there will not be a day with better weather than tomorrow.”

“What, exactly, is all this for?”

“Hm? Do you not know the legend of Crystal’s fireflies?”

A firefly legend?

This was an island only thirteen years old, and it already had a legend?

Still, I had heard that Crystal had an unusually large number of fireflies.

“Hmph. The stiff investigator does not know, does he? You have no interest in things like that.”

Cha Yeri cut in with a sneer.

In retaliation, I pushed her forehead once more.

THUD. THUD!

And once again, the curse that almost escaped died midway.

“Die…!”

That had very clearly been “Do you want to die?”

Ignoring Cha Yeri’s gaze that looked ready to erupt, I asked Do Minyeong,

“So what is that firefly legend?”

“On a clear night, if you wander through a forest somewhere on Crystal, you may encounter a swarm of fireflies. And if a man and a woman, alone together, come face-to-face with that swarm, they fall in love. It is a legend. Is it not romantic?”

“Ah… I see.”

Do Minyeong aside, I could not believe Cha Yeri, who worshiped science, would care about something like that.

Holding back a sigh, I continued.

“But how are you going to find the place?”

“That will not be a problem.”

Cha Yeri spoke while subtly stepping away from the vending machine.

“For some reason, there is a report that those fireflies are connected to mana. In that area—well, not to the level of Cadet Ji Seokhyeon, but I am quite capable of tracking mana myself.”

“So I am to wander around with Gwon Chihun until you find the swarm, and then send him over at the right moment?”

“Exactly. You already know he came reluctantly, so cooperate quietly.”

From the beginning, I had no real choice.

I could only play along to an appropriate extent.

“Fine. But promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Yes, what?”

“If there is no progress between Ms. Jeong Soyun and Gwon Chihun this time either, you will give up cleanly. There are limits to meddling in other people’s affairs. If you involve yourselves any further, it will become a nuisance even to Ms. Jeong Soyun. I do not know what the two of you are thinking…”

I trailed off.

Their expressions were a sight to behold.

They looked utterly incredulous, as though they were about to click their tongues and shake their heads.

“Do you know? You were annoying just now.”

“Seriously, why do you think we are doing this?”

Why, indeed?

As if the matter was settled, the two of them walked past, each giving my shoulder a sharp bump in turn.

A so-called shoulder check.

True to being awakened individuals, they were absurdly strong.

I almost dropped the drink in my hand.

But since when had the two of them become so close?

“Well, this works out.”

On an island like this, sticking together as much as possible would be beneficial.

***

The next morning.

A large indoor banquet hall prepared in the hotel.

Rachel was giving a brief expedition lecture from the podium.

“Thus far, the Bureau has provided support multiple times in order to explore the interior of the lava…”

Yesterday, she had said we would proceed at a leisurely pace.

And yet instead of going out to the field, she was holding a lecture indoors with nothing but a map spread out.

At this point, was it not that she simply found it bothersome to go to the expedition site herself?

The lecture had not even lasted twenty minutes, yet it already looked close to ending.

“Lastly, shall we have a question-and-answer session? If you have any questions about today’s topic, raise your hand without hesitation.”

As if to answer her, no one raised a hand.

It seemed the students had had no interest in the expedition from the start.

“It appears there is no one. Then I will ask a question.”

Murmurs rose.

In the midst of the murmuring students, Rachel pointed directly at me and continued.

“Cadet Ji Seokhyeon from Hero Preparatory School?”

Reluctantly, I rose from my seat.

“Yes?”

“I said that the number of people who have gone missing in the volcanic zone from thirteen years ago until now was…?”

“You said it was 456.”

“Hm. You seemed lost in thought, yet you were listening well.”

“……”

“Then let me ask a slightly different question. If the 457th missing person were someone precious to you, what would you do?”

A sudden question.

“What sort of hypothetical is that? You said there were two outcomes for missing persons. Either they return as idiots, or all news of them is cut off.”

“Let us assume the worst.”

I narrowed my eyes to read her intent, but there was nothing I could glean from her expression.

“If that person occupied a large part of my life, I would have to go looking for them.”

“Oh?”

“It is an island that is not even half the size of Jeju Island. If we searched everything from underground to the top of the mountain, would we not eventually find the missing person?”

“That is an optimistic answer.”

“It is a realistic one. Rather, I would like to ask you. For thirteen years, hundreds of people have gone missing, and yet you have not uncovered the truth. Is that not the responsibility of the local investigation team and its leader, Team Leader Rachel?”

In an instant, the room stirred.

Some might consider it an impertinent reply, but from the standpoint of the Special Affairs Division, it was a natural question.

For thirteen years, every year, thirty or forty people had steadily vanished or returned as idiots, and they still could not identify the cause?

Everyone seemed to be overlooking it, but this was not something that should end as a mere resort ghost story.

“An interesting opinion. Should I call it the arrogance of a genius?”

“If that was an offensive remark, then I apologize.”

“It is fine. It is not entirely wrong. It is true that we have struggled. However…”

Rachel’s gaze subtly changed.

A change only I, facing her directly, could perceive.

Then, in a low voice, she continued.

“I look forward to seeing whether you can truly do that when the time comes.”

“……”

***

After Rachel’s lecture ended, the students headed to where the unity event would be held.

Since it had ended earlier than scheduled, the plan was to complete a brief set of unity activities and then have lunch.

I watched the students leave the banquet hall, then, reading the room, approached the podium where Rachel had been.

I carefully scanned the area, and soon found a single long strand of her hair.

I briefly opened the Demonic Eye and checked the mana residue on it. It was, without question, a hair that had fallen from her.

“I did not know you had such a hobby.”

Yun Jeongseop had approached while I was behaving suspiciously and now asked the question.

I turned calmly and replied.

“Why, shall I find one for you?”

“Are you serious?”

“It has a fragrance you might like, Instructor.”

“…I will pass.”

After confirming that the entire expedition team had left the hall, Yun Jeongseop continued.

“More importantly, what is it this time?”

“What do you mean?”

“Whenever you do something strange, I cannot help but pay attention.”

“Anyone listening would think incidents happen wherever I go.”

“I cannot exactly deny it. Especially when you act this irrationally. Be honest with me when we are alone. You are investigating that woman named Rachel, are you not?”

While pretending to put the hair into my pocket, I moved it into my inventory.

“I cannot tell you anything definite yet, but do you not find it strange, Instructor? This island that rose from the sea thirteen years ago.”

“That is why she is leading the investigative team. …Do not tell me she is connected to that event?”

“Of course not. There is no way a mere human could create an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. …Though it is foolish to speak of impossibility in a superpowered society.”

“……”

“More importantly, let us go. I heard we are doing beach volleyball today.”

***

In the afternoon.

More precisely, just after lunch, when we were about to resume the unity schedule.

Contrary to the forecast that promised clear skies, Crystal’s sky became covered in dark clouds.

Just like Seoul’s sky.

“Why is it suddenly raining?”

“We will have to cancel the afternoon schedule, will we not?”

“We should. We do not know when it will stop. For now, let us send everyone back to the hotel.”

“Yes. …All expedition members, return to the hotel! Oh—and it is not free time, so do not wander off elsewhere!”

Leaving the drizzling beach behind, we returned to the hotel.

For me, who had not wanted to move around sweating, it was welcome news…

“But it must have disrupted Do Minyeong and Cha Yeri.”

In weather like this, if they went looking for fireflies, they would only end up stepping on earthworms.

Still, was it really possible for a weather forecast to be this wrong?

I did not expect something as near-perfect as Seoul’s forecasts, but if it was going to rain, it should at least have predicted cloudy weather.

“And the news had stated, with certainty, that it would be clear.”

The situation reeked of suspicion.

The moment we returned to the hotel, instead of going to my suite, I went looking for Do Minyeong and Cha Yeri.

After about five minutes of searching through the hotel…

I spotted Cha Yeri standing near the emergency staircase on the first floor.

She stared out the corridor window as if lost in thought.

Just as I approached and lightly tapped her shoulder…

“…!”

The environmental mana around us suddenly rippled.

At the same time, my Demonic Eye opened on its own.

What, exactly, was this change?

If the Demonic Eye had opened, it meant I had resisted some form of status abnormality…

My deduction did not take long.

Cha Yeri turned around and asked an unfamiliar question.

“Excuse me, but who are you?”