Kidnapped Dragons

Kaeul had changed in the blink of an eye.

The change wasn’t limited to her expression. Her eyes facing him had a hint of shadow within and the pressure being given off by her body was calm, yet aggressive.

That too, was similar to how Yu Jitae had been in the distant past.

“…”

After gently lowering her head once, she walked past Yu Jitae and headed towards the stage. Cadets standing in the front row glared at Kaeul and voices going, “She can’t even tell when not to chime in” were heard but Kaeul did not show any reaction in response.

On the stairs leading up to the top of the stage, Gong Juhee blocked Kaeul from the front.

“Did you see that?”

“…”

“Unlike someone, I had been practising for months. How was it? Quite nice?”

Without responding, Kaeul looked up at Gong Juhee with a hazy gaze. Seeing that, Gong Juhee clicked her tongue once before moving to the side and walking down the stairs.

“Know your place.”

Letting her words go through one ear and out the other, Kaeul once again carried her slow steps over the stairs and stood on top of the stage, in front of the mic. The teaching staff, Oh Minsung, who had been looking at her profile, was the first to open his mouth.

“You applied for both the main and the supporting declarer positions, right?”

“…Yes.”

“There weren’t any records written from the first audition so I was asking to double-check.”

He then scanned Yu Kaeul with his eyes. In order to add more words, he started another sentence with, “Ehh, and…” but Ha Junsoo waved his hand to intervene.

“Ah, don’t worry about that. Please start immediately from the first declaration.”

Oh Minsung made a frown.

Kaeul closed her eyes and at an extremely slow pace, she breathed in and out.

Declaration 1. Fall of Nations.

Human race who were made to face monsters in the everchanging period of time called New Era.

Within the confusion, a certain girl had lost her parents and siblings.

A declaration of her clamor to the world, was now flowing out from Kaeul’s lips.

*

[Thirty-nine countries vanished from the map.]

It was the same in every field. After exceeding a certain threshold and reaching a certain level, one could comprehend others from the smallest of the hints.

[The origin of the human race written on papyrus, tainted with blood, was brought to an indiscernible state. A new era approached our human race, but we were yet to be prepared for an impending catastrophe arriving without warning.]

Merely two segments had left Yu Kaeul’s lips but in that moment, Ha Junsoo was certain that his own decision had not been wrong.

There was a sensation hitting him. That certain feeling which rose up from the tip of his feet passed by his waist and hung on his fingers.

While directing the stage, Ha Junsoo had always been thinking that his greed was too excessive.

He had always been wishing for a perfect stage – a performance that could enrapture the minds of the audience and have their hearts boil.

But throughout his entire career, such experiences could be counted with his fingers. Even those weren’t atmospheres formed by individuals but were natural results created with the stage itself coming to life.

Perhaps it was impossible for humans to convey emotions above a certain threshold to other humans. That was a doubt that always remained in a corner of Ha Junsoo’s head.

Until today, that had been the case.

[Moonlight to daylight; herbivores to carnivores; labourers to the rich; macroscopically speaking the entire universe and at a microscopic level, the microorganisms crawling between fingers. The weak have always been hunted by the strong leaving no traces behind, and had to depend on acquiring skills to keep their lives.]

As Yu Kaeul’s declaration continued, Ha Junsoo slowly felt his greed being fulfilled.

Yu Kaeul was expressing the sorrow of those that had lost their loved ones, in a manner so calm that it was heart-wrenching.

That was different from a weeping sorrow. It was the voice of a person who’s state of mind was so worn down after countless weathering, to the point that there were no visible fluctuations. Her voice was like a smoke that used her own life as its fuel.

How could she express emotions like that? Ha Junsoo could not understand.

Thus, he tried to analyse it at the start. Since emotions that were the closest to the answer was there right before his eyes, he wanted to learn from it.

But after some time, he came to himself in shock. Due to being absorbed by the declaration itself, he had already forgotten about analysing it.

After returning back to reality, Producer Ha Junsoo made a tight fist.

Right, that’s how it should be at the very least.

Only at this level, can someone say in front of top-level superhumans from all around the globe, facing the entire world, that they would protect humanity. This was the underlying requirement for that declaration.

It was when Producer Ha Junsoo was feeling like he was at the climax, clenching his teeth.

Yu Kaeul’s first declaration came to an end.

“…”

“…”

The reaction was completely different from Gong Ju Hee’s stage and everything was silent, including the judges to those watching from a distance.

Clap clap clap.

That was when a soft, adorable sound of applause was heard. It was from Gyeoul, who was in Bom’s arms clapping from the family seats.

Only then did a small commotion occur in the entire venue as if a magic spell had been lifted. Some gave claps while some noisily chatted with another.

Finishing the declaration, Kaeul remained standing on the spot, without a single light of nervousness or relief on her face.

She stood still, and merely watched Ha Junsoo.

Around that point in time, Yu Jitae opened his ears up.

– Wah, that was really good though?

That evaluation was from the leftmost seat, the person in charge of member selection.

– Diction; vocalisation; they were all good and the expression was… how should I say it, it wasn’t the orthodox way but was unique and good.

– It was.

– Auh, it just drove me in. See these goosebumps over here?

Yu Jitae stared at them with Eyes of Equilibrium.

Hanging on the favourability scale from the left was great favourability, to absolute favourability in the middle, and absolute hate on the right. Only the teaching staff member was showing intense hostility.

– But then again, there is still something that is a bit of a shame.

– What is it?

– Her face is attracting too much attention and feels like the actual substance is getting downplayed.

– Is that so?

– But then, intentionally wearing bad makeup is weird as well so, hmm…

Unexpectedly, Ha Junsoo who held the biggest favourability remained quiet as he listened to the opinions. That was when the teaching staff member chimed in.

– I think she’s just not up to par.

– Sorry?

Ha Junsoo raised his voice for the first time.

– What are you saying?

Wearing an expression that showed his discontent, Oh Minsung replied.

– In general, it didn’t receive a popular reaction from the masses. Did you not see the reaction from family seats? There weren’t any gasps of admiration and such.

– They are just bystanders.

– Producer Ha. Isn’t our target audience those bystanders? The most important thing is how things are perceived from the general populace, so how could you ignore that?

– No, I’m not saying we should ignore them.

Their opinions were in a disagreement.

Meanwhile, the other contestants were wearing gloomy expressions. Despite being of similar ages, their levels were different and it was safe to say that the expressible range of emotions were leagues apart. In the middle of her declaration, Kaeul appeared like a soldier who had gone through all sorts of battles for dozens of years.

Due to that, Gong Juhee’s face was already filled with malice. Sitting on the corner of the contestant seats, she glared daggers at Kaeul while biting on her fingernails, as if she wanted to kill with her glare.

Despite that, Oh Minsung remained stubborn. After having a dispute for a long time, Ha Junsoo heaved out a sigh with a stiffened expression.

– What score did you give to Cadet Kaeul.

– I gave 4.5

– Despite giving 9.8 to Cadet Gong Juhee?

– Because that instead appealed more to the populace.

– …

– Hmm. Then, what about you Mister member selector? What score did you give her?

– Yes? Ah, right. I gave 8.1. My immersion was broken once due to her face. Even then, this is the highest score I gave today.

Yu Kaeul’s total score was 21.5

8.1 / 9 / 4.5

While Gong Juhee’s score was 22.7

6.8 / 6.1 / 9.8

That was when Ha Junsoo opened his mouth to break the silence.

– Mister Oh, haa…

With a gaze filled with annoyance, he glanced at the teaching staff member.

– If I knew your opinion would differ so much from me, I would have rejected it when the education department wanted to send someone in.

– What?

– Or like, do you have something private going on with Cadet Gong Juhee?

– What? What absurd words are you…!

– …

– That is a very offensive sentence. I am a proxy from the education department. Towards me, who try my hardest to create the best face for Lair, how could you say such a ridiculous thing!

Ha Junsoo opened his mouth again with a sigh.

– Then let’s compare them directly.

– Directly?

– We will have the two of them stand together.

– That, good! Well, why not?

The freshmen declaration consisted of three acts.

Act 1. [Fall of Nations] by Supporting Declarer 1

Act 2. [History of Battles] by Supporting Declarer 2

Act 3. [Future of the Universe] by the Main Declarer

Amongst these, the one that received the most spotlight was by far the third act. With four times the quantity of Act 1 and Act 2, it contained a final message of hope while the first two acts focused on the horrible past.

After that, the declaration continued from the seventh down to the ninth cadet. They performed decently and received a few rounds of applause for the sake of it but there weren’t any points worthy of attention.

Just like that, the first, second and third ranks were all decided.

Usually, this would be enough to decide on the main declarer and the two supporting declarers.

– Cadet Gong Juhee, please come up to the stage.

In response to the words of a staff member, Gong Juhee with a relaxed expression walked up and stood next to Yu Kaeul.

But after hearing the decision of the judges that they would compare the two of them, Gong Juhee could not control her facial expression.

Although the staff Oh Minsung, who was oblivious in the field, was stubborn, she had already presumed her defeat. So as their declarations continued, Gong Juhee’s expression gradually got worse and worse.

After being compared like that, the results were made clear. In regards to the depths of the expressible emotions, Gong Juhee could not even reach a quarter of Yu Kaeul’s ability.

– It’s good, so what! I still think Cadet Gong Juhee looks better.

However, Staff Oh Minsung remained stubborn and it was now to the point that the other staff members and the audience sitting in the family seats were feeling embarrassed themselves. Ha Junsoo, who had been enduring it, dropped the profile in his hands as the paper landed on top of the table.

“I heard that the education department will be sending someone so I was curious who would be coming but, wow. To think they would send someone this illiterate.”

Ha Junsoo let out a laugh. Soon after, a bomb-like statement left his mouth.

“Mister Oh Minsung, stand up please.”

“…?”

When bafflement appeared on Oh Minsung’s expression, Ha Junsoo continued with a growl.

“Do you not understand what I’m saying? Let me tell you again. Leave. Right now–!”

A sharp-tempered yell shook the audition venue.

Glaring at him, Oh Minsung stood up from his seat. Whether he liked it or not, this was within the area of a producer and there was no way for him to immediately resist his command.

Insulted in front of others, he glared at Ha Junsoo and Yu Kaeul with a ferocious glare before walking away.

The audition venue was immediately filled with silence.

Soon, whispers like ‘what’, ‘what’s happening’, ‘are the judges fighting?’ and ‘what about the audition then?’ started spreading across like the breeze.

That was when Ha Junsoo placed his mouth next to the mic and opened his mouth.

– Ah, thanks to all the contestants that volunteered, for all your efforts. Instead of announcing it at a later date, let me announce the results right now. Cadet Yu Kaeul was chosen to be the main declarer. Please give her a round of applause.

What returned wasn’t a loud round of applause but there weren’t any doubtful gazes like before. They had realised that Yu Kaeul’s declaration was at a whole new level after a comparison with Gong Juhee, who had been the prime candidate for the position.

But then, who would be the remaining supporting declarer?

If Gong Juhee took one spot, who would be the other one?

The cadets were perking their ears up in order to hear that.

– Ah, by the way, as the overall producer of this event, I have great expectations for the main declarer this time around. For that reason, I would like to select the supporting declarer with the help of the main declarer’s own perspective.

Words that had never been heard of before started leaving Producer Ha Junsoo’s mouth.

– Cadet Yu Kaeul. Could you sit here for a while?

Contestants, guardians as well as related staff members all watched the tip of Ha Junsoo’s finger with shock. His finger was pointing at the empty seat which had belonged to Oh Minsung.

Right now.

From the position of a contestant applying for a declarer position, she became a person in charge of choosing the members.

“…”

Even the one in charge of member selection sitting next to him was baffled by the producer’s abrupt decision. Wearing a calm expression, Kaeul sat on the seat.

“I understand that you might be surprised from the sudden turn of events.”

“…”

“But you see, the atmosphere given by Cadet Kaeul during the declaration was extremely different from what we had planned. Of course, in a good way that is. So instead of choosing the supporting declarers ourselves on our own accord, I thought that it would be good to have Cadet Kaeul giving us your opinion as the main declarer yourself.”

“…Yes.”

“Don’t worry about the first, second and third ranks that were given just then and please choose freely.”

With a dull gaze, Kaeul, who had not yet escaped from the immersion, gently gave a nod and glanced across the contestant seats with a low gaze.

Only then did the contestants realise what was going on. They had all spent tremendous effort for this audition and their gazes that had been watching Kaeul changed in that instant. By either standing up from their seats or forming pitiful expressions, they urged her to pick themselves.

– You’re saying that I, need to choose someone, right.

Kaeul’s sunken voice flowed out from the mic.

– Yes. Please select a supporting declarer that would suit you. When we choose the final declaring members, we will fully take into account Cadet Kaeul’s opinion.

She, who had been blankly staring at the contestants, formed a crooked smile on her lips. Her expression was looking directly at reality, discerning the use and merits of humans and was similar to Yu Jitae from the past.

“A support that would suit me…” after murmuring as such to herself, Kaeul soon slowly opened her mouth, with a clear pronunciation.

– They’re all, disqualified.