Chapter 173

Preparations ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍for heading to Gangwon-do proceeded smoothly.

I ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍no longer stayed in the dormitory and waited for the right time while hiding my identity on the outskirts of Seoul.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍cadets of Hero Prep contacted me almost every day, but I intentionally did not answer.

Considering ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the personalities of Do Minyeong or Cha Yeri, it was a fairly brave decision, but well, what could I do.

Anyway, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍four days passed just like that.

Before ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I knew it, the day to leave with Cha Myeonghan dawned, and Park Chaeshin and I stopped by the White Bottle in District 2 before heading to the airport.

The reason was to meet Baek Dojun one last time before leaving.

"You were already here, Chief."

"I am quite diligent when it comes to escaping from piles of documents."

Actually, meeting him did not mean much.

I had already checked the travel routes several times with Baek Dojun's help.

Even if he seemed lighthearted at times, he was a person with the best reasoning skills in this world's setting, so there was no reason to change the plan.

Therefore, it was a mystery why he had called me here suddenly, but as soon as I saw his expression, my curiosity was resolved.

"To think you quit your studies and decided to join Hyeonseong. I suppose one never knows what will happen in life."

Currently, only Baek Dojun, Park Chaeshin, and I are in this lounge.

Yet, the fact that he was speaking using publicly known facts meant…….

That someone was listening outside this place.

Park Chaeshin also noticed this and held his tongue.

I opened my mouth with a seemingly regrettable face.

"I suppose I have a calling. Thank you for taking care of me all this time."

"Even so, taking on a new challenge while attending Hero Prep is no easy task. I support you. Although your connection with the Special Affairs Division ends here."

"Ends? I'm just leaving my position for a while because I was hired for work."

"If you had the will, you wouldn't have taken a leave of absence, would you? People already know that you are switching to being a detective. Even a detective needs an investigator's license, but your career in the Special Affairs Division will be more than enough to meet the conditions."

"Well, it's something like that. Personally, my goal is to become Hyeonseong's exclusive investigator. By the way, the news travels quite fast."

I had not officially announced my decision.

Nevertheless, the story had been inflated and colored with different hues.

Something about how I was trying to cling to Hyeonseong based on my career in the Special Affairs Division. It did not matter how I was referred to, but I suppose one could say the public perception was a bit frightening.

"More importantly, what is the reason you called me like this?"

"Ah, that."

Baek Dojun handed me a business card.

A business card of a certain superpowered detective active in New York.

I did not know if he was a real person, but he was certainly not a character from the original work.

However, if this conversation in this place was meant to deceive someone, he was clearly very likely to be a real person.

As a side note, New York was a place where superpowered industries were being actively carried out under the leadership of the United States.

While there had been no Great Rift, the distribution of awakened beings was quite high in that region.

"He is a friend I know well. He is as brilliant as you. If you find New York to your liking, go visit him. He has a slightly eccentric side, but he will take a liking to you."

"I'm going to return to Seoul in three weeks, though."

"Broadening your horizons can allow you to see things that were once invisible."

"That is true. I understand."

"Then, I shall take my leave now. I hope to see you again soon."

"Me too."

Baek Dojun left the lounge without looking back.

I opened my mouth when I judged that he was far enough away from the building.

"Did you notice, Senior?"

"Yeah, that situation just now was……."

"There was a bug in his inner coat pocket."

I spotted it using the Demonic Eye.

A bug that operated on batteries, not mana.

"Who would be wiretapping? And the Special Affairs Division Chief, no less."

"It's obvious."

"Obvious?"

I was about to say the answer immediately, but I hesitated.

That was because I remembered that Kim Seyeon had been quite close with Park Chaeshin.

"It's because… the Special Affairs Division has so many enemies, doesn't it? The Chief will take care of it. After all, worrying about the Special Affairs Division is the most useless thing in the world."

"That is true. More importantly, will you really be okay?"

"With what?"

"Is it okay not to stop by Hero Prep."

"It's fine. ……I'm sure it'll be fine?"

"Sigh……. Do as you wish."

***

The Bureau of Superpowers in Seoul's District 2.

The office of the Director-General, the most authoritative place even within this pinnacle of superpowered authority.

In that place, Kim Seyeon was facing the Director-General, Baek Dojin.

"Are those words certain?"

"Yes, there is no mistake."

Baek Dojin's aides had all already left work.

Special Affairs Division Chief Baek Dojun had also finished all his daily routines and left the Bureau.

"So Ji Seokhyeon has completely severed ties with the Special Affairs Division……."

"We will have to monitor the progress a bit more, but no other unusual points were seen."

"Is there a possibility that a bug was caught on the Special Affairs Division Chief?"

"I am fully aware of the Chief's patterns of behavior."

"You say that only because you do not know Baek Dojun. That boy behaves in ways that even I cannot fathom."

"The Chief is strangely obsessed with the incidents around him, yet he reacts dully to things happening to himself."

"Hmm, is that so……."

Baek Dojin organized his thoughts for a moment and then continued his words.

"I shall take it as such. Continue to watch. If there are any variables, report them immediately."

"Yes."

Baek Dojin lowered his head to the documents as if his business was over.

However, Kim Seyeon did not leave her spot and was staring at Baek Dojin.

"……U-Um, Director-General."

"What is it?"

"About what you said last time……."

A small tremor occurred in the voice of Kim Seyeon, who was always business-like and cold.

Baek Dojin replied as if it were nothing.

"Ah, that. Do not worry. Everything will go according to your wishes."

"……I understand."

It was not a satisfactory answer, but she managed her expression and left the office.

Baek Dojin clicked his tongue as he watched the closed door.

'Incompetent. To give such a report. She is no longer a woman I can trust.'

The report regarding Baek Dojun and Ji Seokhyeon was completely wrong.

While there were no other circumstances other than what she had reported, at the very least, his younger brother would not have made such a choice.

'It means he is being suspected, after all.'

It was regrettable to have to discard Kim Seyeon, who had been faithfully performing her work for several years, but there were plenty of personnel to replace her.

Most of the investigators in the Special Affairs Division followed him.

"Just what are you up to, Dojun……."

However, no matter what his younger brother was plotting, the tide had already turned.

Before long, Seoul would be overturned by Manyeong and Camellia, and the utopia he dreamed of would surely arrive.

'There is a proper time for struggling.'

***

After leaving the Director-General's office, Kim Seyeon immediately left the Bureau.

She did not head to her home in the inner city, but toward the outskirts of Seoul.

That is to say, toward somewhere in Gyeonggi-do, not far from the outskirts.

Before long, the place she arrived at was a small hospital.

A general hospital for non-awakened people, not for awakened ones.

As a person whose name was known as a member of the Special Affairs Division, many people recognized her even in Gyeonggi-do.

As a result, she moved while wearing a human skin mask or hiding her identity with her outer clothing, but the hospital nurse recognized her at once and naturally offered a greeting.

"You've come to see Sangyun, haven't you? He happened to be awake until just a moment ago. Maybe for about ten minutes? It seems he's kept his eyes open for a very long time lately."

"Really?"

"Hurry and go to his room. Even if he can't meet your gaze, he's always waiting for you, Seyeon."

In the hospital room she headed to, a male of a similar age was lying in a hospital bed.

A thin body that had not had a normal meal for a long time.

Pale skin that looked as if it had not received any sunlight.

And facial features that resembled Kim Seyeon.

"Kim Sangyun……."

It was her younger brother, Kim Sangyun.

Kim Seyeon sat beside him and carefully brushed his hair back.

A sorrowful face.

After looking down at her brother for a long while, she murmured softly.

"Please wait just a little longer. The Director-General said he would definitely prepare an awakening potion for you."

Not a forced awakening potion used by the low-level mafia of Camellia, but a real awakening potion.

"If you can just drink that potion, an incurable disease like this will be cured in no time, and you'll be able to stand up."

Ten years ago, a time when Kim Sangyun was filled with expectation that he might awaken like his family members.

Unfortunately, what came to find him was not a superpower, but an incurable disease.

The eternal enemy of the non-awakened, regardless of superpower status.

He had lain down helplessly in a hospital bed like that, and Kim Seyeon had struggled all her life for her brother, who had become a vegetable.

Then, she had set foot in the Bureau, one of the powers of the superpowered society, and luckily met Baek Dojin.

As if he knew everything, he approached her using her circumstances as a pretext and made a promise to restore her brother while proposing a simple condition.

That condition was to be assigned to the Special Affairs Division and periodically report the actions of the Special Affairs Division Chief.

It was an unsettling thing for an employee of the Bureau, which supposedly served humanity, to conduct an unnecessary internal investigation, but she was in no position to refuse.

After all, what would she not do if it meant her brother could stand up.

Thus began her uncomfortable daily life in the Special Affairs Division.

While she had many doubts about the awakening potion Baek Dojin promised, the forced awakening incidents occurring multiple times gave her hope.

'Forced awakening is merely a process for the real awakening potion. In the end, it will surely be manufactured as a complete potion and realize the ideal of humanity!'

A misguided belief.

However, her eyes had already gone blind to the truth.

Even if real awakening was impossible, would not the side effects of forced awakening also avoid her brother?

"Please wait just a little longer. Your sister will definitely……! I will, by all means!"

***

Seoul's 4th Scholastic District.

The outdoor training ground of Hero Preparatory School.

Today's last lecture ended, and the cadets were returning to the dormitory to take showers.

The unchanging daily life of combat cadets striving to become heroes.

However, Do Minyeong and Cha Yeri were unable to melt into that daily life.

Because their minds were entirely colored by Ji Seokhyeon.

"He's leaving today, right?"

"That's what I heard."

Before they knew it, only the two of them remained at the training ground.

It was not intentional, but they wanted to express their frustrated hearts to someone.

"Um, Cadet Cha Yeri."

"Yes?"

"What do you like so much about Seokhyeon?"

"Why are you asking?"

"I'm curious about the thoughts of another person looking at the same thing. Haven't you ever thought about that, Cadet Cha Yeri?"

"Well, I can't deny it. But what should I do? If I start talking about that, a whole day won't be enough."

"Are you going to act like that in this situation?"

The voices of the two grew louder.

"Act like that? I was merely telling the truth."

"Good for you. Let's hear it then. Do you really think you have as many memories with Seokhyeon as I do, Cadet Cha Yeri?"

"What did you say?"

At that moment, a cadet who had left their outer clothing at the training ground returned.

An awkward flow.

The cadet quickly took their coat and left the training ground while glancing at the two of them.

Surely, a rumor such as ‘Do Minyeong and Cha Yeri were having a verbal fight while remaining at the training ground’ would circulate.

Since there would be no topic more interesting in the Academy than exaggerated rumors about relationships.

"……."

"……."

After a moment of silence, Do Minyeong opened her mouth.

"If you're okay with it, would you like to have dinner together? I know a quiet place."

"Well, fine. It feels like I'll only get a headache if I go to Grand Pistachio like this."