-So. What exactly do you want me to do?
The moment I heard those words, a sudden thought crossed my mind.
Was it really the right call to drag Min Chae-ryeong into this?
I still didn't know much about her. All I had were the impressions she'd given me over the past two weeks and the fragmented opinions from my coworkers at the Academy Security Force.
To be blunt, there was no guarantee she wasn't my enemy. Even if she was part of the security force, she could secretly be a villain. Or even if not, who knew if we'd end up on opposite sides later?
But I had no choice. At this point, she was the only one I could turn to for help.
"...I'll explain it simply."
I pushed down my unease as best I could. Worrying about the future now wouldn't help. Right now, I needed to focus on the quest in front of me.
I gave Min Chae-ryeong a rough rundown of the situation.
That the Dawn Corps had sent an assassin to deal with a traitor in their organization.
That the traitor was Ji Ye-won, a current Academy student.
If she'd betrayed the organization, there had to be a reason for it. Winning her over could give us insight into the enigmatic Dawn Corps.
That last part was bait to reel Min Chae-ryeong in. Just saying "We have to protect Ji Ye-won because she's a student" wouldn't add up for her on a cost-benefit basis.
-I see. That's a solid point. No one better for extracting internal info than an organization's traitor.
Fortunately, Min Chae-ryeong took my proposal positively. The tension squeezing my heart eased a bit.
-First things first, we need to locate that Ji Ye-won student and secure her. Do you know where she is?
"No. I don't."
-Then I'll look into it.
"Are you searching yourself? Or—"
-Of course I'll have my subordinates handle it. What, you worried?
"Yes."
-Don't worry. I won't mention you. And all my subordinates but one have tight lips.
That was reassuring, but my unease lingered. Ideally, as few people as possible would know about my side of things.
"Understood. Then please keep this from that one loose-lipped subordinate, if you would."
-Uh, might be too late for that.
"Pardon?"
-That loose-lipped one? She's right there next to you.
I turned to look at Chae So-yeon. She'd been fidgeting a short distance away and now met my eyes with an anxious gaze.
"Ah."
Watching her awkward reaction, my unease started creeping back up.
-I can't say "don't worry"... but I'll talk to her. She's a terrible blabbermouth, but she fears me enough to follow my orders to the letter.
"Mind if I ask one thing?"
-Go ahead.
"Why assign Chae So-yeon to watch me specifically?"
-No one can just do what they're good at forever. You have to try things you're bad at until you get the hang of them to improve. That's why I put her on it...
A deep sigh came through the phone. I could practically see her pinching the bridge of her nose and shaking her head.
-I had no idea she'd be this incompetent. I told her not to get caught.
"She was pretty blatantly bad at it."
-Let's ask while we're at it. When did you first notice the surveillance? You first complained to me last Wednesday, right? Was that when you caught on?
"No. It took a bit to bring it up with you, Team Leader, but I spotted the surveillance the very next day after we met."
-So she got made right away?
She let out a hollow laugh, utterly exasperated. I felt a pang of pity for her.
-...Anyway. I'll track down that Ji Ye-won student. Won't take long. Probably have results by lunchtime tomorrow. I'll call you then.
"Where should I contact you if I need to reach out?"
-I'll contact you. If you want my number, come work under me—
"Ah, here it is. 010-○○○○-○○○○. This number showing on my screen now—is that yours, Team Leader?"
-...
Silence.
-...J-just to check. What position are you holding the phone in right now?
"Normally, just holding my smartphone to my ear."
-Not So-yeon holding it?
"Yes. I just took the smartphone itself from her."
-She handed it over just like that?
"Yes. No hesitation."
-...Put So-yeon on.
"She's not next to me right now."
-...
Silence again.
Actually, listening closely, I could hear shallow, trembling breaths. Not from fear or cold, but from deep, seething anger.
'Come to think of it, she said she never gives out her number carelessly.'
There were plenty of ways to avoid sharing her number. As Min Chae-ryeong said, Chae So-yeon could hold the phone, or she could use speakerphone with the screen face down.
But Chae So-yeon hadn't thought that far. And Min Chae-ryeong probably never imagined she'd be that oblivious.
How much time passed like that? A muffled mutter, like she was suppressing her emotions, leaked through the phone.
-......Put So-yeon on.
"Yes."
I strode over to Chae So-yeon. As I approached, she anxiously scurried toward me.
"What'd the Team Leader say? She won't chew me out?"
"She wants to talk to you."
"Huh?"
Chae So-yeon took the phone back with a worried look.
"I switched phones, Team Lea—"
-...So-yeon?
"Y-yes!"
Min Chae-ryeong began speaking softly. Her voice was too low for me to hear, but Chae So-yeon's face drained to a pallid white in an instant, giving me a good idea of the content.
-Click.
The call ended, and Chae So-yeon collapsed to the ground like a puppet with cut strings.
"A-are you okay?"
"...You said."
"Pardon?"
"You said I wouldn't get in trouble! You said it! Sniff! But look at this! I got reamed out big time, you liar!!"
Chae So-yeon glared up at me resentfully.
Was this my fault?
I thought it over, but I hadn't done anything wrong. She got chewed out purely due to her own karma.
"Waaah—!"
Chae So-yeon burst into full sobs. Feeling sorry for her, I reached to pat her back, but she sharply slapped my hand away.
"Get lost! I don't need your pity, you jerk!"
She seemed to need some alone time. Besides, it'd be embarrassing for an adult woman to be watched crying openly.
Best to give her space, as she said.
"Sniff! Sniffle! Waaah..."
I turned and walked away immediately. As the distance grew, her sobs faded.
"I said go, hic! You really going, you jerk?!"
Her distant mutter barely reached me as I rounded the corner.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next day.
"...What is this so early in the morning?"
I'd stepped out to throw away the trash and ran into Chae So-yeon waiting at my door.
Her eyes were still red and puffy from yesterday.
She wore casual clothes—not her uniform or training wear.
Somewhat thin for winter, but as a superhuman, she probably didn't feel the cold much.
'She should've dressed like this yesterday.'
I still couldn't fathom why she'd worn that pink tracksuit.
Asking outright might hurt her feelings.
"So you've given up on covert surveillance altogether?"
"...The Team Leader called. They found Ji Ye-won."
"That was fast. Where is she?"
"Wonju."
Chae So-yeon pointed her thumb outward as she said it.
"We're leaving now. Hurry up and get ready, then come down."
A large sedan painted in vivid pink—clearly hers—was parked on the road in front of my studio building.
'She really loves pink.'
As I eyed the car with bleary eyes, Chae So-yeon asked,
"What?"
"...Do you like pink by any chance?"
"Yeah. Isn't it cute?"
"Uh..."
I started to retort but shook my head instead. It was her taste—what could I do? Tastes should be respected.
I finished getting ready and joined her in the car. Chae So-yeon behind the wheel of the spacious large sedan looked just like a middle school girl who'd snuck out with her dad's car.
Sensing my gaze, she shot me a displeased look.
"...What."
"If driving's tough for you, I could take over—"
"No thanks?!"
Chae So-yeon furrowed her brow and started the car. I tensed for a moment, but contrary to my fears, she smoothly pulled out onto the main road.
"...Ji Ye-won is holed up in a motel in Wonju right now."
Chae So-yeon said, eyes fixed ahead.
"A motel? At this hour, wouldn't she have checked out already?"
"No sign of her on nearby CCTV since she checked in last night. She's probably wary of moving in broad daylight. She is being hunted, after all."
"Wouldn't daytime, with civilians around, actually be safer?"
"If the Dawn Corps cared about civilian eyes, sure."
Fair point. An organization that openly terrorized a government building wouldn't sweat public scrutiny.
"Which room is Ji Ye-won in?"
"Room 703."
"You found that out quick."
"Hehe. Hacking a rundown motel's computer is child's play!"
Chae So-yeon shrugged smugly, talking like she'd done it herself. It irked me a little, but I let it slide.
'No point complaining—if she throws another tantrum, it'll just be a hassle for me.'
Two hours of chit-chat later, driving along the road...
We finally arrived at the motel where Ji Ye-won was staying. The stylish sign reading "Pia Motel" welcomed us.
The moment I saw it, alarm bells rang in my head.
'Won't we get reported going in together?'
Chae So-yeon in casuals looked like a high schooler at best—maybe even middle school. Meanwhile, I was a burly guy in his twenties. Perfect recipe for misunderstandings.
But Chae So-yeon seemed oblivious to her appearance. After parking, she grunted as she hauled a large trunk from the back seat.
"Grab this before we head up."
"What's this?"
"Our gear. You're totally unarmed right now."
Chae So-yeon pulled items from the trunk one by one, explaining.
"First up, Type B Defensive Coat. Then the superhuman suppression Taser Gun and Stun Blade. Tranquilizer gun loaded with superhuman sedative, and finally, the brainwave-scan bomb collar. If a criminal wearing this tries to use powers, it scans their brainwaves and—boom—the bomb inside goes off."
"Wait, hold on."
I stopped her as the items grew increasingly sinister.
"Are we heading into a warzone or something?"
"Not war, but there'll be a fight. She's a Dawn Corps traitor, but still Dawn Corps. You think she'll just come quietly if we flash badges?"
She asked like it was obvious. Our perspectives clashed right there.
I saw Ji Ye-won purely as a quest target to protect, so I'd overlooked the chance of combat.
But to Chae So-yeon, she was a criminal organization member, traitor or not. Preparing for battle made sense.
"...You're right. My mistake."
I reflected on my carelessness and equipped the gear she handed me.
'A fight, huh.'
Tension welled up. The only "fights" in my life were scrapping with a friend in elementary school parking lot—and maybe that one-sided sparring in boxing class where I got pummeled for three minutes straight.
Anxious, I glanced at Chae So-yeon. She was deftly checking her gear now, looking... not all that reliable.
"Uh, any backup coming?"
She shot back irritably.
"No. You told the Team Leader to keep it quiet."
"True, but just us two? In case you didn't know, I'm weak. So weak I got exempted from service and served like a regular civilian."
"Don't worry."
Chae So-yeon grinned at me and puffed out her flat chest confidently.
"I may not be great at everything, but fighting? I'm good. Just follow me and trust me!"
She laughed "Hee-hee" and marched into the motel.
Watching her diminutive back, yesterday's parade of embarrassments flashed through my mind.
'...You said last time was my last chance. Hic! If she finds out I got caught again, I-I might really get fired...'
'P-pleeease. I'm begging. Just overlook it this once...'
'You said I wouldn't get in trouble! You promised! Sniff! But what is this?! I got reamed so bad, you liar!!'
'Get lost! I don't need your pity, you jerk!'
'Sniff! Sniffle! Waaah...'
'I said go, hic! You really going, you jerk?!'
My anxiety deepened at the visions flickering in my sight.
Trust her? She had to earn that first.
'Damn it. Whatever.'
It was all or nothing now. With a "it'll work out somehow" mindset, I followed her into the motel.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Time remaining until incident: 1 day 8 hours 3 minutes 17 seconds.]◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Meanwhile, at that very moment.
Pia Motel Room 703—the target of Ahn Su-ho and Chae So-yeon.
In the trashed motel room, Ji Ye-won sat on the sofa with hollow eyes, having pulled an all-nighter staring wide awake.
-Rrring, rrring, rrring.
Her smartphone buzzed emptily on the table. The cold screen displayed "Connecting..." in dry text.
-Click. Unable to connect—beep, now connecting to voicemail. Charges will apply...
Ji Ye-won ended the call at the automated message. The gloom on her face thickened.
'...39 times.'
39 attempts. And failures.
By now, she should know the other side wasn't picking up, yet she stubbornly pressed the button for the 40th time, ignoring the reality.
'Min-ah. Please, please pick up.'
-Rrring, rrring.
In the dark motel room, the hollow ringtone echoed once more.