HLSEBT - 50

50. Bad Adults 1

The principal’s right hand, capable of physical transformation, turned pitch black. Shin Jae-il scrambled to put as much distance between himself and the principal as possible. Meanwhile, the principal struck Kwon Min-gi’s head, which was already clouded with confusion. 

A sound like a watermelon cracking echoed as Kwon Min-gi collapsed sideways in an instant. 

“What about Cheon Geonyoung’s background investigation?” 

“I asked around with my colleagues, but they said he’s new, so even they don’t know much…” 

“The level of your friends is obvious, isn’t it? Barely meeting security clearance standards—talentless pebbles rolling around.” 

“Do you think the center suspects me too? Is that why they sent Cheon Geonyoung?” 

“Why ask the obvious? Hanging around kids seems to have regressed your standards.” 

“Ugh…” 

The principal perched himself on the desk where Kwon Min-gi was tied up. Glancing briefly at his blackened right hand, he exhaled deeply. 

“How much do you think he’ll cost? He seems like the type to present an extraordinary bill.” 

“Are you going to bribe him?” 

“Depending on the situation, if we judge that he’s come too close to exposing us, then yes. Until then, leave him be. Either way, this is something we’ll need to clean up eventually.” 

“You’re working with so many people—how far are you planning to extend the list?” 

“The production supervisor and the broker. That should satisfy them enough to back off.” 

The principal hoped Hwang Sungbin would continue acting as usual. That’s why he distributed sample enhancers—it would make the new agent’s investigation smoother, wouldn’t it? 

After all, disposable brokers like Hwang Sungbin could easily be replaced. Students enrolled every year. Though he seemed somewhat resourceful, such things weren’t worth cherishing. 

His judgment was clear: hoping to get through without any repercussions while the center still held suspicions was pure greed. 

The list of those to be sacrificed had already been drawn up. Most on the list likely didn’t even know their names were included. 

“What about the factory? Are you giving up on that too?” 

For the first time, the principal showed a hint of regret as he calculated how many tails to cut. After some deliberation, he made his decision. 

“We’ll have to hand that over as well.” 

Shin Jae-il nodded along, agreeing with the sacred verdict. 

“It might be wise to send Kwon Min-gi back to H Building beforehand.” 

“You’re letting him meet them? Shouldn’t we silence him? Killing him now—” 

Annoyed at having to explain such minute details, the principal interrupted. 

“I’ll instruct the teacher there to administer a disorienting injection. Just show him through protective glass that he can’t approach. He doesn’t seem like the type to interview irrational Espers.” 

“Ah…” 

“If Kwon Min-gi dies right now, who do you think will come under suspicion?” 

“……Us.” 

“So return him to H Building tonight.” 

Shin Jae-il, who had been hanging his head in resignation, suddenly snapped it up. 

“Alone?” 

“Agent Shin Jae-il.” 

The principal’s arm, black and solid like hardened lava, moved closer to Shin Jae-il. It looked as robust and seamless as a cast-iron mold. 

“I’m entering a video conference with the Center Director shortly. I need to stay here, so it makes sense for you to move. Plus, we need time for the drug to take effect.” 

“Ah…” 

“Use your ability.” 

The black hand lightly tapped Shin Jae-il’s neck—a weak, trivial force. But Shin Jae-il immediately nodded so hard his bangs fluttered. 

“That’s right, that’s right. I’ll take care of it.” 

With the necessary conversation concluded, the principal and Shin Jae-il soon left the room. 

Just before the heavy iron door closed, the long fluorescent light above flickered briefly over Kwon Min-gi’s face as he barely opened his eyes, then disappeared. 

---

Teleportation wasn’t easy. 

Woo Joo Han screamed because it was his first time jumping to such a high place in one leap. 

As a result, Yoon Taeha couldn’t reach her intended destination and stopped on the roof of a supply warehouse, far from the dormitory and ignored by students. 

Woo Joo Han clutched her cardigan defensively, even more tightly than before. Though she wanted to take it back because the weather was getting colder, she decided to endure a little longer since he looked ready to cry if she tried to snatch it away. 

“You’re insane!” 

“Our homeroom teacher doesn’t have abilities like mine? Keep your voice down.” 

“How do you ‘keep your voice down’ when shouting?!” 

“Do you want to go higher? How about the treetop over there?” 

Hmph. His brown hair stood on end like feathers, fluttering wildly. He seemed too busy maintaining his composure to care whether his meticulously styled part was ruined. 

“I thought you couldn’t teleport… that you could only jump…” 

“That was a lie.” 

“What about being bad at badminton?” 

Why did that matter now? 

She narrowed her eyes. 

Still clutching the cardigan, Woo Joo Han plopped down heavily on the dirty rooftop and pressed her for an answer. 

“That’s unlikely.” 

“That doesn’t make sense.” 

“Believe what you want to believe.” 

Yoon Taeha walked across the rooftop, checking for anyone nearby who might see them. 

Aside from a crow perched atop a tree opposite the building, there seemed to be no other witnesses on the same level. 

When she tilted her head slightly to the side, the crow tilted its head too. When she tilted it the other way, the bird followed suit. 

What was this? 

She subtly shook the branch beneath the crow using telekinesis. Finally, the black bird flapped its wings and flew off to another location. 

After chasing away all potential witnesses except bugs and microorganisms, she returned to Woo Joo Han’s side. 

He glared at her resentfully, his hair still a mess. 

“If you’re going to keep getting motion sickness, I’ll give you more time.” 

“What are you?” 

“What do you mean, ‘what’?” 

She lazily wiggled her fingers to mimic a shimmering gesture. 

Woo Joo Han shouted angrily. 

“Hey!” 

“How should I explain it?” 

Yoon Taeha muttered, adjusting her gaze to meet his eye level. Déjà vu struck her. A child and me. Though stacking multiple Song Joon-taes vertically might be needed to match Woo Joo Han’s height. 

Ending her absurd imagination, she decided to be honest. At this point, verifying a few collaborators wouldn’t hurt. 

Woo Joo Han asked first. 

“You’re not the police, right?” 

“Why do you assume that?” 

“You know why I’m asking! This place hates outside interference the most.” 

Internal matters of the ship must not cross the waves and touch land. 

It seemed this value system was still used to teach children. Lost in thought for a moment, Yoon Taeha turned her head. Woo Joo Han visibly swallowed when their eyes met. 

“I was sent by the company.” 

“Our company, Ark?” 

“It’s already ‘our company.’ The Ark, correct.” 

Woo Joo Han looked confused. Arriving at a fundamental question, he cautiously asked, 

“So… are you an adult?” 

“You’re legally an adult too… Don’t act surprised. Are there twenty-year-olds wearing uniforms anywhere else besides here? Except on April Fool’s Day.” 

“Are you older than me?” 

“By three years.” 

His mouth dropped open, and he made a dumbfounded expression. 

Since she was sent by the company, she must be a Shelter graduate. She’s a graduate, and I’m a current student. So it’s only natural that the transfer student is older than me. 

Like water flowing downhill or hair fluttering in the wind. 

Suddenly, Woo Joo Han’s face turned solemn, as if he’d just awakened to the world’s deepest secret. 

“Crazy…” 

“I know.” 

“So you hid your ability to teleport when you came in?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Even advanced teleportation can’t do that! You jumped over several buildings of varying heights without cooldowns…” 

“Looks can be deceiving—I’m quite the Esper.” 

“What about your terrible telekinesis?” 

He stared at her skeptically, still doubting her abilities. Suddenly scrutinized for performance, she glanced around. 

Was there anything she could demonstrate? Something visible to others wouldn’t work. As she pondered, her eyes landed on the tree where the crow had been perched earlier. 

She lifted a fallen leaf from beneath the tree and transported it to the rooftop, making it appear as if the wind had carried it naturally. 

Woo Joo Han reached out hypnotically toward the green leaf now floating before him. Before his fingers could touch it, the leaves split into dozens of pieces. 

“Wow…” 

The tiny green fragments moved in perfect unison, like soldiers following a magician’s command, forming letters in the air. Yoon Taeha remained with her arms crossed. It was the first greeting from an Esper who entered hiding her name and origins. 

〈Hello〉 

“Control… this kind of thing is possible? Not just throwing heavy objects around mindlessly?” 

“With practice.” 

He gazed at her with pure admiration. 

He seemed to view her abilities very positively. 

There’s no stomping on innocence. She gladly decided to become the fairy godmother. 

Here comes the omnipotent Esper to solve all your problems. 

Calmly, yet thoroughly concealing parts unnecessary for the student to know, she explained why she had entered this place. 

Upon hearing about the enhancers and Hwang Sungbin, Woo Joo Han shot up from his seat. Yoon Taeha rose alongside him. The student couldn’t hide his excitement, saying he’d expected as much. 

“Now tell me. Why do you think the principal killed Kwon Min-gi?” 

“It’s all just my thoughts. I don’t know the truth, nor do I want to.” 

“…” 

“It’s just… Kwon Min-gi… seemed to believe that.” 

“That the principal would harm him?” 

Woo Joo Han’s face turned serious. 

“Yeah. We were in the same group during last year’s Cracks Breakthrough. In the mock dungeon where he had to break through hallucinations to reach the final destination.” 

Yoon Taeha nodded to show she understood. 

“Anyway, at that time… I don’t know what hallucination he saw, but he started whispering for help. Too softly for headquarters to hear. The mic was out then too.” 

“He begged the principal?” 

“The pronunciation was muffled, but it was either the principal or the vice-principal. And he also muttered something about a right hand.” 

“The vice-principal here is a Guide.” 

“So I assumed it was the principal. His arm is black, after all.” 

“Has Kwon Min-gi mentioned the principal before? Outside of the Cracks Breakthrough?” 

He cut in sharply. 

“He and I aren’t close.”