HLSEBT - 49

49. Exploration 3

“H Building is equipped with a special security system. There’s no need to worry about the suspect escaping.” 

“I’ve heard as much. Since there’s no risk of escape, headquarters has prioritized investigating the broker.” 

The fact that the other side had deliberately concealed their existence meant Kwon Min-gi was likely a crucial witness. 

If that was the case, Kwon Min-gi needed to stay alive—whether trapped in an unlisted underground section of H Building or hidden somewhere on the vast school grounds. 

He needed to remain within sight of Yoon Taeha and Cheon Geonyoung—not buried in some unknown space where the sellers could kill and dispose of him at will. 

“Now that we’ve identified the broker, it’s time to hear his story.” 

Thus, Cheon Geonyoung decided to summon him. 

“I’d like to enter H Building tomorrow morning to speak with the student. Will you grant me access?” 

If he was alive, he would appear by tomorrow morning; if dead, someone would grow extremely anxious. 

---

It felt like someone had shoved a strong air freshener under her nose—dizzying. 

Yoon Taeha endured the overpowering scents of various plants as she walked from H Building back to the dormitory. And then there was the mysterious odor wafting from the cafeteria preparing dinner. 

She covered her nose with the thin cardigan she’d brought along out of concern for air conditioning sickness. 

This body—sometimes it couldn’t smell anything, and other times it smelled too much. 

Walking sluggishly against the backdrop of the darkening navy sky, she looked like a child who’d been scolded or received a terrible report card. 

For once, she didn’t feel like eating anything. Pale-faced, she ignored the kiosk and headed toward the hill where the dormitory stood. 

Trudging uphill like a man condemned to roll a ball endlessly, she was interrupted. 

“Jeon Sung-ha?” 

Woo Joo Han, descending the hill, recognized her and greeted her. Yoon Taeha quickly rearranged her expression. 

“You look upset.” 

Her attempt at concealment had failed. 

While she could mask her emotions, the sensation of myriad scents invading her nostrils and reaching her brain was harder to hide. 

“Ah, I see. So you went to H Building?” 

Fortunately, Woo Joo Han made a very plausible misunderstanding. 

“Over 70 demerit points.” 

“Wow. They say you’re quite the destroyer, huh?” 

“Destroyer?” 

“You break everything you touch. Make sure to earn lots of money later and donate generously to the Ark.” 

Isn’t this dormitory already being paid for by the money I’ve brought in? 

Certain she’d earn far more at a private company than she currently did, she offered a weak smile. 

“Going to eat?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Then hurry up. Cold bad food tastes even worse.” 

Yoon Taeha wanted nothing more than to dive into her dorm bed. 

But Woo Joo Han didn’t head to the cafeteria. 

Instead, he stood silently beside her, looking contemplative before asking: 

“Did you happen to see Kwon Min-gi in H Building?” 

Yoon Taeha, who had planned to brush him off and leave, revised her approach. “What?” she countered. Woo Joo Han glanced around cautiously. Acting as though he were under surveillance, he gently grabbed the edge of her cardigan and pulled her somewhere discreet. 

Once they reached a suitable blind spot, he lowered his voice and asked: 

“Did you see him inside the building?” 

“Why are you asking? If he’s in the volunteer unit, he should be there.” 

Frustrated by her vague answer, he ran his hand through his hair, revealing the scar he’d supposedly gotten from an Esper. 

“Did you see him or not?” 

Why was Woo Joo Han concerned about Kwon Min-gi? 

He had warned Cheon Geonyoung about Hwang Sungbin, after all. Why ask about Kwon Min-gi? They weren’t particularly close, were they? 

As Yoon Taeha stared at Woo Joo Han’s face, a hypothesis flashed through her mind. 

Could it be that this guy knows something too? 

“If you didn’t see him, maybe you overheard something others said about Kwon Min-gi while you were there…?” 

“Is there a problem with Kwon Min-gi?” 

At her counter-question, his expression shifted immediately. It wasn’t the existence of a problem that surprised him—it was the fact that she, a transfer student, had pointed it out, which visibly unsettled him. 

Woo Joo Han spoke in a slightly choked voice: 

“What kind of problem?” 

“He hasn’t been seen in H Building for three days now. Another Esper told me.” 

“…Not seen?” 

His face turned grave. 

Woo Joo Han had lived in Shelter since he was very young. 

Though it might be full of enemies he clashed with, this place was still his home. 

No matter how much he complained, Espers each had a special memory tied to their Shelter—and Guides were no exception. 

Moreover, Woo Joo Han had lost one parent at a young age, and the other was hospitalized. 

He must constantly think, If not here, where else can I go? Just as she once had. 

With conviction, Yoon Taeha spoke: 

“Woo Joo Han.” 

“…” 

“You don’t care about Kwon Min-gi personally, do you?” 

She leaned closer to him. 

He looked momentarily confused but wilted when the transfer student twitched an eyebrow. 

She felt like a trainer harshly disciplining a large but still young dog—but Yoon Taeha didn’t relent. 

“He might be dead.” 

“…” 

“The principal might have done it.” 

Woo Joo Han, having made such a shocking statement, checked the transfer student’s expression and fell into despair again. 

Of course, such talk would sound crazy, wouldn’t it? 

It was a question she’d pondered for a year—a conclusion drawn after much thought. And here she was, telling someone who’d only transferred in less than six months ago. 

Yoon Taeha crossed her arms, deep in thought. 

“It’s nonsense. Forget I said it!” 

“Why are you trembling while saying nonsense?” 

“What? When did I tremble?” 

Yoon Taeha pointed to his leg. 

“Your left foot.” 

The unconscious tapping of his slipper. Soon, Woo Joo Han bowed his head. Yoon Taeha could sense his immense fear of speaking the truth. 

If he spoke, it might harm his family—and this wasn’t even a house where he lived alone. He had every reason to hesitate. 

Woo Joo Han said: 

“…Forget it. I guess I’ve been watching too many movies lately.” 

He saw things that seemed wrong but had nowhere to report them. Even if he could speak, the people around him would block his way. 

“If you notice anything strange, tell me. Thinking together might lead to better conclusions.” 

“A kid who entered the volunteer unit right after transferring? Let’s just do what we’re supposed to. You’re too weak for this.” 

“Would it solve anything if I weren’t weak?” 

“What… are you talking about?” 

“How can you say the Shelter principal might have killed a student without giving a reason? Do you live so context-free?” 

“…That was a slip of the tongue.” 

So he was scared too. 

She paused briefly. By now, the sky had grown dark. 

Had Cheon Geonyoung met well with the principal? Her phone remained silent. In the distance, she heard students heading to eat. 

The two were behind a secluded warehouse where food delivery trucks parked. Tap-tap. Footsteps approached their location. 

Making a decision, Yoon Taeha spoke: 

“Take off your slippers and hold them.” 

“…What?” 

“Hurry. What if it’s a bad adult?” 

Though it was an absurdly flimsy excuse, Woo Joo Han quickly removed his slippers and held them. There must be plenty of bad guys in this school. Sighing deeply, Yoon Taeha grabbed his wrist as he sat gripping her cardigan. 

“Yeow!” 

With a small cry, the two vanished from behind the truck. 

---

After Cheon Geonyoung left, the principal’s office took on the atmosphere of a funeral parlor. 

Shin Jae-il’s eyes darted around like bees searching for honey. If eyeballs made noise, the room would have been unbearably loud. 

The principal stared into empty space in the exact same posture he’d maintained after Cheon Geonyoung left. Unable to endure the silence, Shin Jae-il finally blurted out the thorn stuck in his throat. 

“…It’s all over.” 

“Agent, what exactly are you saying?” 

“They know everything. From Yeouido, and that agent too…” 

BANG! The principal slammed the armrest of the sofa, breaking it. Shin Jae-il fell silent. 

Leaping to his feet, the principal meticulously scanned the space he’d occupied before approaching the desk. 

He pressed a button known only to past principals, opening a secret compartment. A wall that appeared ordinary slid open slowly. 

Grabbing Shin Jae-il by the scruff of his neck, the principal tossed the agent into a vault-like space and followed him inside. 

Clang. 

The isolated space carried a faint metallic smell. Shin Jae-il began hyperventilating as he stared at its source. 

“Don’t panic.” 

“Hwang Sungbin’s already been exposed. Finding the manufacturing site is only a matter of time. These new agents are different from the first batch—they gather evidence, evidence like…” 

“Shut up!” 

A piercing shout accompanied Shin Jae-il’s thin frame collapsing backward. His unfocused, pale eyes met those of another, sending him into shock. 

“Hiii!” 

Bound to the heavy, immovable legs of a desk designed to restrain movement was a man. 

He groaned like a sick animal, clearly unaware of his situation or location. 

“Kwon Min-gi’s here—what do we do? Cheon Geonyoung says he’ll visit tomorrow…” 

“Our Sungbin isn’t easily shaken. Seems Yeouido sent someone sharp. Unlike certain others.” 

“We should’ve left him in H Building. Bringing him out was a mistake.” 

The principal’s burning gaze turned to Shin Jae-il. 

“So you’d leave a hallucinating student, unable to distinguish right from wrong, in a place where not all staff are on our side?” 

“T-that’s…” 

Shin Jae-il’s voice trembled pitifully. 

Initially, he had come with the same purpose as Cheon Geonyoung. But somehow, he’d been swayed by the principal. 

It was a moment for shame, but Shin Jae-il seemed more consumed by fear of the future. 

“I trusted your words! Didn’t you promise to clear my debt if I kept quiet about this?” 

“A bastard who stole 3,000… Shut up.” 

Under the principal’s roar, Shin Jae-il shrank back, curling into himself. Disdainfully bypassing him, the principal stopped in front of Kwon Min-gi. 

“This mess started because a fool who can’t follow simple instructions about splitting pills decided he wanted to be number one.” 

He crouched down.