HLSEBT - 94

94. Each One’s Circumstances (3)

All the dispatched personnel from Yeouido and the two undercover agents who had already infiltrated the school had gathered in one place. It was late at night, after all the students had returned to their dormitories.

An esper and a guide were keeping watch around the lecture hall. They were prepared to attack immediately if an unauthorized person approached.

When Yoon Tae-ha and Cheon Gun-young appeared, the two respectfully opened the door for them.

Shortly after the two took their seats, the head of the dispatched team stepped onto the podium. The man spoke in a husky voice.

“I’m Min Cha-hoon. Thank you for coming despite your busy schedules.”

Dressed in a neat gray suit, he had a lean build. His expression and voice were extremely businesslike. As Min Cha-hoon took his place on the podium, the backs of the personnel from Building A straightened in unison. Even Go Seung-won was no exception.

“Considering the equipment found in the basement of the cafeteria and the materials used for the amplifiers, we suspect Orca is behind this.”

Those bastards again.

Unpleasant expressions flickered across the faces of those present.

Espers and the pharmaceutical industry were inseparable. They needed each other—various ability-enhancing drugs, painkillers, and the most sensitive of all, frenzy suppressants. It was a market that even those in the light fiercely competed over, so it was no surprise that those in the shadows were equally interested.

Min Cha-hoon spent a long time explaining the results of the component analysis of the so-called “sample candy” before shifting the topic.

“The estimated time of death for the missing agent, Shin Jae-il, and student Lee Kyung-tae has yet to be determined.”

As the topic changed, a few agents sitting nearby glanced subtly at Yoon Tae-ha.

For most of them, this was their first time seeing a real, undisclosed S-class esper in person—aside from those who had attended the same school or worked with her on missions before.

That kind of woman was sent on an infiltration mission?

They exchanged meaningful looks before turning their heads away again.

“However, in Agent Shin Jae-il’s case, we believe he died after being dispatched to the West. Records confirm he underwent a normal health check at the center just before his dispatch.”

Min Cha-hoon adjusted his glasses slightly as he spoke.

“This is the first time we’ve encountered such an ability. Therefore, we cannot rule out the possibility that a being from another world has crossed over through the rift.”

Unpleasant sighs erupted from various corners at the unwelcome conclusion. Very few agents welcomed the idea of non-human, bipedal creatures.

“Personally, I too hope it’s simply the emergence of a new esper.”

As Min Cha-hoon stepped down, field agents from Buildings A and R took turns summarizing the current situation at the school and outlining future tasks. Information about newly assigned personnel was also disclosed to everyone present.

The meeting didn’t conclude until deep into the night.

The agents rose from their seats, each mentally reviewing their assigned tasks.

Most of their lodgings had been set up in the large gymnasium and nearby annexes. Yoon Tae-ha, too, had long since moved her belongings there with Cheon Gun-young. It was decided that non-students had no business staying in the student dormitories.

Cheon Gun-young seemed eager to discuss what they had just heard with her.

“Yoon Tae-ha?”

But Min Cha-hoon called her to stay behind. He looked like he had something to say.

“Go ahead first. I’ll talk to you later.”

Cheon Gun-young nodded and turned away.

For a moment, she watched the guide’s back as he walked alone down the dark path. Then she turned toward Min Cha-hoon.

His expression was much softer now than when he had been on the podium. Two espers assigned to guard him stood nearby.

As Yoon Tae-ha approached, their bodies instinctively tensed. Min Cha-hoon waved them off.

“If Agent Yoon Tae-ha decided to kill me, she could do so at any moment. Even if hundreds of you were here, it wouldn’t make a difference.”

He dismissed the guards. Though visibly uncomfortable at being unable to perform their duty, they soon complied with the order.

“Do you like walks?” Yoon Tae-ha asked first.

Min Cha-hoon smiled faintly, as if grateful for the question.

“Shall I give you a tour of the school?”

“Sure.”

He began walking slowly behind her.

________________________________________

After taking a deep breath of the crisp night air, Min Cha-hoon spoke.

“It’s a shame such things happened in such a fine environment. Personally, I regret it.”

Yoon Tae-ha replied flatly,

“The students suffered the most.”

“I agree. What was meant to prepare them for danger ended up exposing them to it instead.”

“How is the government reacting?”

“Exactly as you’d expect. They’re condemning our organization as reclusive and irredeemably evil.”

“They’ll probably say they’ll increase oversight personnel.”

“It’s something we’ll have to deal with. To be honest, I can’t say I don’t understand their position.”

Min Cha-hoon’s gaze lingered on the distant lights of the student dormitories before he turned away. His tone grew serious.

“Strictly speaking, Arc is living on borrowed land.”

“For something like that, it’s quite large.”

“Which is why everyone’s scrambling to cut it down, no? They’ve all forgotten the days when they begged for our help with their backs against the wall.”

Yoon Tae-ha didn’t respond and simply kept walking.

As the silence stretched, Min Cha-hoon glanced at the esper beside him. Carefully gauging her mood, he ventured,

“Because of this incident, the Ark may be in danger.”

“The people who boarded it started this dangerous game in the first place.”

Internal assessments noted Yoon Tae-ha’s strong sense of belonging and her deep bonds with fellow espers. It was known that she had nearly died several times in service to the organization.

Min Cha-hoon, seemingly unprepared for this response, cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Orca was involved. Even the weeds on the roadside know they want to dismantle our organization.”

She stopped abruptly. They were on a road where the streetlights were sparse. Min Cha-hoon squinted to read her expression.

“We were the ones who acted. Isn’t that why you’re here? To clean up the mess we made?”

Her voice was polite but carried not an ounce of yielding. Yoon Tae-ha resumed walking. The light illuminated her face—she didn’t look angry. Unfazed, Min Cha-hoon smoothly recovered.

“I must have misspoken in a way that caused misunderstanding.”

But Yoon Tae-ha cut him off with a direct question.

“Were you instructed to sound me out from above?”

“……”

“It seems like you want to conclude that this was the work of infiltrating anti-government forces rather than an insider.”

From his lack of response, Yoon Tae-ha seemed to have found her answer.

“Blaming everything on sea creatures is something only people in the past would do.”

Min Cha-hoon had met countless espers. Sometimes he coaxed them, sometimes he threatened them. In his experience, they were easier to read than ordinary people—their desires were clear, making them easy to manipulate. But Yoon Tae-ha was different.

As someone once said, she might know too much.

Outmaneuvered, Min Cha-hoon had no choice but to remain silent.

They continued walking without slowing. Before long, the large gymnasium—their lodgings—came into view. Many of the building’s lights were still on.

The silence stretched thin and taut between them. Yoon Tae-ha finally broke it with a sigh.

“I know how the headquarters people are. They’re obsessive about cleanliness.”

Min Cha-hoon’s face darkened, as if personally insulted.

“No scholar disputes that humanity would have gone extinct if we had failed. The Ark has always done its best.”

“Do you think I’d forget that? Without the drugs this company makes, I wouldn’t even be able to sleep peacefully. I’ve been diligently repaying the debt of my life since I was a child. And I plan to keep doing so.”

Yoon Tae-ha was wrapping up the conversation. It was Min Cha-hoon who seemed reluctant to end it. With a hint of urgency, as if chased by something, he brought up his main point.

“Would it be too much to ask for even a hint that the principal intended to join Orca?”

Yoon Tae-ha tilted her head slightly. Her hair cascaded over her shoulder. She was smiling, but there was no joy in it.

“You waited until we arrived to bring up the real topic.”

“That man betrayed the organization.”

“In a way, yes.”

“No one pays attention to the words of a traitor.”

“So you’re asking me to testify to something I’ve never heard?”

His lips stiffened.

“It’s a natural conclusion. Everyone already knows the enemy is external. All we need is your testimony to give the government something to work with.”

“Is this proposal from Director Lee Hae-kyung, or from headquarters in Hawaii?”

“……”

“I asked assuming it was from headquarters.”

The last traces of warmth vanished from Min Cha-hoon’s face. Yoon Tae-ha didn’t seem to care.

“Director Lee Hae-kyung will be sad. She seemed determined to wrap this up perfectly.”

Min Cha-hoon replied defensively,

“All national offices follow headquarters’ orders. Even if it’s the office’s own director, there are no exceptions.”

As they neared the building, a few employees taking a break outside came into view. Noticing the audience, Min Cha-hoon reverted to his usual businesslike expression.

“Headquarters will contact you again.”

He left with words that sounded like a warning. His straight back seemed like it would never bend.

After Min Cha-hoon left, Yoon Tae-ha pressed a hand to her forehead, checking for fever. A headache was threatening to return. She tilted her stiff neck toward the sky.

So dark.

Not a single star was visible in the vast, distant sky tonight.