Chapter 120 - Don't Abandon Me (2)

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「*Incident Background

―The kindergarten in question is an extremely important facility that gathers and educates children with powers who have lost their parents.

*Progress of the Incident

―Evidence previously emerged that the Poison King had abducted children to turn them into test subjects.

―The children in question were rescued, but there are also children who could not be saved.

―Given the strong possibility that the location had been exposed, regular protection was deemed necessary until the kindergarten could be relocated.

―While providing protection, police discovered suspicious behavior by the teachers.

―Material prepared ostensibly for managing the children was uploaded to a particular online community.

―The community is suspected to be associated with former Black Eagles who have since disappeared.

*Points to Keep in Mind

―Do not forget that the people to be protected are children.

―Do not forget that the children have strong emotional bonds with their teachers.

―Properly distinguish the teachers involved in this incident from those who are not.

―The teachers must not discover this mission.」

Hyeonyul narrowed his eyes as soon as he read the mission.

“What... is this?” he asked, looking at Nayun.

Haeryeon had said today's mission would be relatively easy, but something seemed off.

“Simply put, it's an investigation. Our job ends with investigating and identifying who's involved.”

“We have to do this sort of thing too?”

At his question, Nayun briefly glanced elsewhere. The kindergarten was in a forest. She surveyed their surroundings before lowering her voice to answer.

“You read the briefing, right?”

“I did.”

“If these were ordinary criminals, we wouldn't have to handle it. But this isn't an ordinary case, is it? The Poison King's forces got involved with this kindergarten. We started patrolling more frequently than before, and then this problem turned up.”

“So we're handling it because villains are believed to be involved?”

“That's about right. It would be nice if the investigation turned up nothing wrong, but if it does, we'll have to dig deeper. We absolutely have to protect the children.”

As Nayun spoke emphatically, Hyeonyul considered it for a moment.

The online community where the material had been uploaded was said to be associated with former Black Eagles. He suspected the person who had discovered that was Ye Juhyeon, Team Seven's Team Leader.

'Yujong said he sold information because someone posted on a website offering to buy information about the Black Eagles.'

He had said the website was gone when he visited it again. He did have screenshots he'd taken in case that happened.

“Apparently, the Poison King's involvement made this place seem special somehow, on top of the villains' fantasies.”

“I think so too. There's really nothing here. Just children. I don't know why they're so obsessed with little kids, but it's disgusting. Seriously.”

“Yes. I agree. If what the police saw really is true, they've abandoned even the most basic professional responsibility a teacher should have.”

They lacked even the basics. Once you took a job, the least you should do was have a sense of professional responsibility. He, too, was doing his best to fit in with the Black Eagles.

'... We've had the welcome party, so I expect there'll be a team dinner soon.'

He was bracing himself for it. To prepare, he'd been rereading his book and steadily reading books on communication as well. The only time he hadn't managed to do so was when he'd had to work over the weekend.

“If a villain has infiltrated the place, we need to find out how they did it, too.”

Nayun's tone remained serious. If they failed to uncover it now, the same method might be used at other kindergartens. They had to examine everything carefully.

“But, sis Chu Nayun, to begin with, I find it difficult to... interrogate civilians. I know I have to treat them differently from villains, so adjusting my approach is difficult.”

“Leave that to me. That's why the Team Leader sent me. There are things you're better at than me, too, Hyeonyul.”

“Do you mean researching information?”

“Exactly. That's what you can do. Honestly, hacking is hard. It's not something just anyone can do.”

Hyeonyul shook his head at her words.

“I find conversation harder. I simply cannot understand it.”

Perhaps because everyone around him except Jeongmin had been out of their minds, conversation had amounted to nothing more than a warning and the words exchanged before killing someone.

“Then we make a pretty good pair, don't we? We can make up for each other's weaknesses.”

“I think so too.”

Pleased with his answer, Nayun smiled broadly at him. Wasn't this what being a team meant?

He was much less guarded than when he'd first arrived. He really had changed a great deal. She even wondered whether she'd be sad when his probationary period ended.

“Oh! Can I break the security cameras? Just open a window for me, and I can break them discreetly. I've even got special bullets for it. You know, the ones that make people say something about an internal malfunction, blah blah blah?”

“No. I'll handle them. I only need to pause them briefly.”

“Then, Hyeonyul.”

“Yes?”

“I'll draw all the attention. Just act the way you normally do.”

Nayun sounded confident, but one thing bothered him.

“What if the children crowd around me?”

“That's true. They might. ... No, wait. What do you look like right now?”

“As far as I know, a man in his late thirties.”

“Handsome?”

“I was told it's not a face that stands out.”

“Then there's nothing to worry about.”

Nayun nodded and patted his shoulder a couple of times. Not knowing why there was nothing to worry about, Hyeonyul frowned slightly.

“Listen carefully, Hyeonyul.”

“Yes.”

“Children like fun people and pretty or handsome people. When they call someone nice, that falls under pretty or handsome, too.”

“I understand.”

“Don't ever turn off your disguise magic in front of the children.”

“Understood.”

For now, Hyeonyul nodded.

“Let's check the surroundings before we go in.”

“Yes, understood.”

After walking a few steps, Nayun raised her thumb.

“You know, Hyeonyul, you were incredible yesterday.”

What he had shown yesterday was desperation and an earnest need. It had also made her reconsider what the Black Eagles stood for.

What did his background matter? None of those who so proudly proclaimed themselves Black Eagles had ever achieved as much as he had.

Yesterday, though he should not have done it, Hyeonyul had had no choice. And it was none other than the Black Eagles who had put him in that position.

“Still, I'd rather you didn't do that next time.”

Nayun spoke without being able to look at him, wondering whether she had overstepped.

“I'll try. But if it's necessary, I'll do it.”

“Then I'll do it with you.”

“Yes.”

Only at his matter-of-fact reply did Nayun turn around. Hyeonyul was just as he always was. A bright smile blossomed across her lips.

* * *

Serin's eyes sparkled. Today was the day the Black Eagles were coming. She'd eaten all her breakfast without leaving a bite and brushed her teeth very carefully.

'What about mister? Did mister come?'

Everyone was waiting outside, so she rose onto her tiptoes and peered over the other children's heads, even though it did no good. She couldn't see him.

Serin wiggled her chubby fingers.

'Serin doesn't just breathe fire everywhere anymore. Only a little, but I can tell the fire, Don't do that. Now mister just has to come and praise Serin!'

She knew he couldn't come often. Even so, she always hoped he would. The fireworks she'd seen that day had been the prettiest in the whole world.

“Teacher! Teacher!”

Serin stood on tiptoe and raised both hands to call her teacher. At the sound of her voice, the teacher stopped glancing to the side and approached with a smile.

“What is it, Serin?”

“When are the Black Eagles coming? Serin wants to know.”

“They'll be here soon. Do you really want to see them?”

“Yeees!”

Serin nodded over and over. There was one mister she wanted to see most of all, but she didn't say so. That was a secret between him and her.

The teacher smiled.

“You really miss that mister, don't you, Serin?”

Startled by the teacher's words, Serin covered her mouth. She glanced at the teacher and nodded.

“... Yes. Was it that obvious?”

“Yes. You've had the brightest smile of anyone here today.”

“Was Serin all sparkly?”

“Of course.”

“Will mister see that Serin's all sparkly, too?”

“Of course he will. You've been getting along well with your friends lately, too.”

“Yeees!”

Still covering her mouth, Serin pattered her feet excitedly.

“They're heeere!”

At another child's shout, she whipped her head around and moved forward. The Black Eagles were approaching. Her eyes glittered.

'Did mister come? Is it mister?'

Her mouth open wide, she watched the two approaching figures. Her eyes darted back and forth.

'Mister?'

Her cheeks flushed red with excitement. Raised as high as she could go onto her tiptoes, she trembled.

But the closer they came, the farther the corners of her mouth fell. She pressed her lips together and fought back the tears welling in her eyes.

No matter how many times she looked, neither was mister. He wasn't here today, either.

Just as Serin lowered her face, one of the Black Eagles approached. He was big. Casting a deep shadow over her, he stared at her.

As his unfamiliar eyes began to frighten her, he lowered himself onto one knee and held out his little finger. Serin's eyes widened.

“I kept my promise.”

“... Mister?”

Serin's eyes sparkled. That voice really was mister's.

“Yes.”

“Your face is different. Serin's smart, so she knows.”

“I'll explain later.”

With that, Hyeonyul returned to Nayun and stood beside her. Nayun smiled silently. A moment ago, the instant she'd said Serin looked ready to cry, he had moved.

'Everyone should have seen that.'

Regretful, she held back the words rising within her. For now, she had to focus on the mission.

Someone here had an ulterior motive. They had to discover who it was to stop this scumbag villain's plan.

There were so many things to protect, so many battles to fight. She felt ready to sigh, but it was work that had to be done nonetheless.

'Get a grip, Chu Nayun.'

Nayun drew a breath.

* * *

“... Mister.”

As soon as the introductions ended, Serin approached Hyeonyul and held out her hand. He started to step back, but stopped when he saw her outstretched hand and cautiously offered his own.

Serin squeezed it tightly and led him off somewhere. When Hyeonyul looked at Nayun, she smiled reassuringly, so he simply let himself be led away.

* * *

Serin stopped near the bushes where they had first met. She hid herself in them.

“You hide too, mister.”

“Are you hiding?”

“Yeees.”

Only her bottom had barely made it into the bushes. How was that hiding? By definition, hiding meant concealing everything from head to toe.

Hyeonyul was about to say so, but held himself back. After the festival, Jeongmin had once scolded him, asking how he could say something like that to a child. He had learned that even simply stating the facts could sometimes hurt.

Wondering what to do, he crouched down for the moment.

“Mister.”

“Yes?”

“Can you change your face? Just like that?”

Serin busily waved both hands across her face.

“My face has changed. But I didn't change it myself.”

“... Wooow. Do it for Serin, too!”

“I told you I wasn't the one who changed it.”

“Do it anyway!”

“It's only possible if you become a Black Eagle.”

“Then Serin's going to be a Black Eagle when she grows up!”

She clenched her fists and looked at him with expectant eyes.

'I shouldn't tell her the truth, should I?'

Hyeonyul considered it briefly.

Did she enjoy killing villains? That seemed to go a little too far.

Did she enjoy slicing things up? He thought “slicing” might be a little harsh.

Was she ready to beat someone up? That didn't capture the feel of the Black Eagles.

He wondered what they did most apart from killing, and the answer came to him immediately.

“Do you like pain?”

“Serin doesn't like pain!”

“Then can you endure it?”

“... Serin's... good at... enduring it.”

Her voice grew quieter and quieter, and her gaze wandered elsewhere.

“Then you can't become a Black Eagle.”

Hyeonyul shook his head.

Injuries were a large part of the job. You had to work while getting hurt, so unless you ingrained it in yourself to the point of enjoying it, it was impossible.

“... Serin can't?”

Her lower lip pushed up into a pout.

“No. You can't.”

Hyeonyul spoke firmly. What wasn't possible simply wasn't possible.