Chapter 26: Why is this here? (2)
‘Was suggesting we go to the festival together really that great?’
Hyeon-yul paused his stroll down the hallway, lost in thought, and looked around.
The people who had been glancing or side-eyeing him had completely vanished.
They probably couldn't see his face properly since they weren't from the same team, but they could definitely see he was from Team 3.
Instead, it felt like they were avoiding him.
‘This is perfect.’
This kind of atmosphere made working here enjoyable.
No one paid attention to what he did anymore, allowing him to move more freely.
Hyeon-yul stopped abruptly on his way to the training room.
There was an unusual number of people.
‘Is something going on?’
Including himself, there were only 3 people in the training room.
“Hey, it’s not like that.”
The voice, full of laughter, sounded strangely familiar.
Hyeon-yul thought, no way, took a step forward, and then froze.
Na-yoon was standing in front of the training room.
Hyeon-yul’s gaze wavered significantly.
‘……Why, why is she here?’
Hyeon-yul felt quite tense.
Who was Na-yoon?
She was the most, the very most talkative person.
No joke, she was someone who could keep talking even if you spent the whole day with her.
He could already imagine the draining conclusion.
Just as Hyeon-yul was about to step back, he met Na-yoon’s eyes.
She was smiling brightly.
He didn’t know why she wore such a confident smile.
“Woooow!”
With exaggerated gestures, Na-yoon approached Hyeon-yul without hesitation.
Hyeon-yul flinched as gazes immediately focused on him from all directions.
The ripple effect was immense.
“They say you caught the Poison King alone, by yourself, is that true?”
Na-yoon deliberately raised her voice, pouring her soul into every single word.
The Poison King.
The infamous Poison King.
Hyeon-yul caught him.
As soon as she heard this news from Ji-hwan, she cheered.
It was satisfying to spitefully show up the people whispering childishly behind her back, but hadn't he proven how strong he was?
Such a sturdy and strong team member.
However, Ji-hwan, who delivered the news, seemed somewhat bitter.
—Hyeon-yul hyung……. Ha, never mind.
What was he trying to say?
Right now, this moment was more important.
Na-yoon looked at Hyeon-yul confidently.
This fact needed to be clearly announced.
So they wouldn't dare mess with him again.
“…….”
But Hyeon-yul couldn’t even open his lips.
Everything, from one to ten, was bewildering.
He was the one who caught the Poison King, so why was Na-yoon so happy and acting like this?
“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Na-yoon asked as she got closer, and Hyeon-yul stepped back.
“……Yes, I’m fine.”
“What? You fought the Poison King! And you weren’t hurt even a tiny bit? Is that possible?”
“I never said that…….”
Bang.
Na-yoon suddenly slammed her hand against the wall.
Hyeon-yul blinked rapidly.
He couldn't predict what she was doing at all.
“He caught the Poison King, and in the process, wasn’t hurt even a tiny bit. What should we call the act of criticizing our team member? Just asking to be killed, right?”
Na-yoon turned her head and looked behind her.
Although she was smiling faintly, Na-yoon’s aura was intense.
He could feel she was angry.
“Isn’t that right?”
Various unfounded rumors had been circulating about Hyeon-yul.
The most scathing rumor gaining traction was that villains had voluntarily let themselves be caught to boost the credibility of Hyeon-yul, who had become a Black Eagle.
In other words, it meant Hyeon-yul was colluding with the villains.
She couldn't stand that nonsense anymore and came here herself.
Na-yoon surveyed the surroundings.
Only when she saw that everyone present had taken it as a clear warning did Na-yoon’s expression finally relax.
She felt relieved.
They should have understood sooner.
“Mr. Hyeon-yul.”
“…Yes.”
As bewilderment tinged his voice, Na-yoon broke into a cold sweat, wondering if she had gone too far.
She felt like shouting that she wasn't a bad person right then and there.
“Well, you see. …Could you spare a moment after the training?”
Na-yoon asked cautiously, lowering her voice.
“…….”
Hyeon-yul didn’t answer immediately.
Various thoughts just came to him.
“Just a moment.”
Na-yoon gestured and briefly stepped away.
She stopped in a place with no people and got straight to the point with Hyeon-yul, who had hesitantly followed her.
“During a mission, a villain fled with key data and entered a place full of poison, committing suicide.”
‘…Ah.’
As the topic shifted to work, Hyeon-yul listened with a relaxed expression.
“We tried repeatedly to enter, but even the protective gear melted. We think it might be a new poison.”
‘A new poison?’
Hyeon-yul felt annoyed by that fact.
It seemed the villains had developed another weapon.
“We need your help right now, Mr. Hyeon-yul. Of course, I got permission from the Team Leader too.”
“Was an antidote made?”
“…We collected samples, but it’s a mix of various poisons, and there might be even more types, so they said an antidote is impossible.”
Hae-ryeon said it was impossible.
That was close to the fact that it was truly impossible.
Na-yoon bit her lip.
“I’ll do it.”
Hyeon-yul agreed without the slightest hesitation.
According to ‘101 Ways for a Smooth Company Life,’ maintaining amicable relationships with colleagues was recommended.
The best way was to help a colleague in trouble.
“Really?”
Na-yoon asked, her face showing relief as if she’d been saved.
“It won’t go past my usual quitting time anyway, so it’s fine.”
“Thank you so much. Really, really, I won’t forget this favor. No, wait, I’ll buy you dinner after work. What do you like? Tell me anything.”
‘……Dinner?’
Hyeon-yul clamped his mouth shut at the sudden intense gaze and words.
He was suddenly placed in a difficult situation.
Isn't dinner supposed to be eaten leisurely, alone?
Dinner with Na-yoon.
“It won’t be just me. There will be other people too, how about that?”
Na-yoon was being considerate of Hyeon-yul.
Eating with just the two of them might be awkward, so perhaps it would be much better if everyone was together.
He could get closer to people, and since they were cheerful people, wouldn't it be a fun evening?
However, Hyeon-yul’s expression darkened even more.
‘There will be people I don’t know too…? Is it a company dinner?’
How many people’s glasses did he have to fill when called by Shin Dae-ho to a company dinner?
Try singing a song.
Try dancing too.
They even hurled remarks laced with harassment.
It was the worst.
Just imagining it was horrifying.
“…I’ll think about that. I have class, so if you’ll excuse me.”
Hyeon-yul evaded as politely as possible.
He couldn't just kill someone for asking him to eat with strangers, could he?
Watching him hurriedly enter the room, Na-yoon fiddled with the corner of her mouth.
‘…Did I, did I make a mistake?’
Na-yoon, surprised, quickly typed into the team chatroom she hadn't invited Hyeon-yul to yet.
[Mr. Hyeon-yul agreed to help, so I said thanks and asked him to dinner……. Did I, did I make a mistake?]
[Team Leader Hae-ryeon : Dinner…?]
[Team Leader Hae-ryeon : With Mr. Hyeon-yul…?]
[Team Leader Hae-ryeon : Oof…….]
A surprised squirrel emoticon followed.
[Baek Shin-woo (Psycho) : Hey. Are you crazy?]
[Baek Shin-woo (Psycho) : Don’t tell me you said other people would join too?]
[I did?]
[Why is that?]
[It might be awkward if it’s just us eating together.]
At Na-yoon’s reply, Shin-woo sent a horrified ghost emoticon.
[No, why?]
Hae-ryeon sent another surprised squirrel emoticon.
[No, no, eating together is fun! It’s like that for you too, Team Leader, and you too, Shin-woo!]
[I’m not the only one who thinks this! Eating together, getting closer, isn’t that process fun? It’s happy!]
[Team Leader Hae-ryeon : It is fun! It’s super fun!]
[Team Leader Hae-ryeon : But not for Mr. Hyeon-yul. Definitely not.]
[Baek Shin-woo (Psycho) : If it were Hyeon-yul, he’d run away!]
[Baek Shin-woo (Psycho) : Would he just run away?]
[Baek Shin-woo (Psycho) : You’re on his block list now lololol]
[Baek Shin-woo (Psycho) : GG]
[Noooooo…….]
Na-yoon squeezed her eyes shut at those words.
Usually, after exchanging about three sentences, she became friends with everyone, but Hyeon-yul was an exception.
It felt like the distance between them was growing.
If they didn't become friends while they were alive, it was all useless.
[Then how can I become friends with Mr. Hyeon-yul?]
[Team Leader Hae-ryeon : I’m also… diligently searching for that method.]
[Team Leader Hae-ryeon : Hehehehe…….]
An emoticon of a sheepish squirrel came along.
[Baek Shin-woo (Psycho) : I think I’m kinda close. He calls me Hyungnim!]
A smug ghost emoticon followed.
[Baek Shin-woo (Psycho) : Na-yoon, jealous?]
[Baek Shin-woo (Psycho) : K]
[Our Ji-hwan : Hyeong]
[Our Ji-hwan : Hyung! Hyung! What’s the secret?!!]
[Our Ji-hwan : Tell me!]
[Baek Shin-woo (Psycho) : Why?]
[Our Ji-hwan : I really need to know too!!]
Ji-hwan sent an emoticon of a fox shedding tears.
Na-yoon narrowed her eyes looking at all the replies.
‘……Damn it.’
Na-yoon’s gaze was fixed on the message Shin-woo sent.
Getting jealous meant losing, but today, she had definitely lost.
‘……Why does he only call that psycho Hyungnim! Call me that too! Me too!’
***
The place they moved to via the Eagle was far from the city center.
The place where the problem occurred was on the mountain side, and since barely any cars came by, they were walking side-by-side on the road.
On both sides of the road, paths led towards the mountain.
‘…To think she became friends with the doctor so quickly. It took me years.’
Hyeon-yul glanced sideways at Na-yoon.
‘Is this also a skill?’
After finishing the theoretical training, Hyeon-yul looked for Na-yoon, but coincidentally, she had also received a small additional mission, so he went straight to find Jeong-min.
While he was getting an IV drip, Na-yoon came by, and from then on, she became friends with Jeong-min.
Her friendliness was almost scary enough to appear in dreams.
He felt that if Na-yoon had talked just a little more, Jeong-min might have really revealed even his bank account password.
Na-yoon suddenly looked back, and Hyeon-yul flinched in surprise.
“……Mr. Hyeon-yul.”
“…Yes.”
“Earlier… um, you don’t have to think too deeply about what I said about having dinner earlier.”
Could it be true?
Hyeon-yul’s expression brightened.
Seeing his expression change completely, Na-yoon felt somewhat vexed.
‘He looks really happy, right?’
Na-yoon couldn't help but continue pondering.
Was there a way to get closer without eating together?
“…Ah! Doctor Jeong-min was really kind. I heard he’s someone you’ve been with for a long time?”
Na-yoon changed the subject.
Hyeon-yul, next to Jeong-min, looked more comfortable than anywhere else.
“Yes. I’ve known him for a long time. I was lucky since he’s one of the few doctors who handle test subjects.”
It was clearly noticeable that Hyeon-yul’s expression had softened.
Just as she thought.
Na-yoon somehow felt like smiling.
As Hyeon-yul looked at her, Na-yoon briefly closed her mouth and rolled her eyes.
“He seems like a good person.”
“Yes. He is a good person.”
Na-yoon was surprised by Hyeon-yul's unusual reaction and pointed ahead with her finger.
“Ha, if we walk for about 3 more minutes, a building will suddenly appear.”
“Is that so?”
“It’s quite deserted, right? Maybe it’s fortunate that it’s not in the city.”
“What was the mission?”
“Ah, there have been many disappearances around here, so the police requested assistance. The managers investigated and found a base.”
“You mean a secret base?”
Hyeon-yul asked with interest as well.
A secret base was something he wanted to see at least once.
“That’s right. When we arrived, they were already clearing out, so we caught a few guys and chased a few others, but one of them grabbed some documents and just ran off. Then, should I call it a bomb, he threw something strange, and poison came out of it.”
“Is it the first time you’ve seen it?”
“Yes. It was the first time I saw that form.”
Na-yoon narrowed her eyes and spread her hands wide, bringing them inwards towards each other.
“Like two… rice bowls combined at the eating side?”
Na-yoon’s eyesight was extremely good.
He thought she must have seen it accurately.
“Do you happen to know what this is?”
“I haven’t seen it before. I wasn’t in charge of weapons or civilians.”
“Then what were you in charge of?”
“Not much different from now, I was in charge of villains.”
“…Villains, in charge of them?”
“To expand their influence, they need to kill similar factions or villains in the same area.”
“Even if they’re on the same side?”
“There’s no such thing as sides. If they need something, they take it, and if they want something, they stop at nothing. That’s their way.”
Na-yoon idly fiddled with her hair.
It felt quite unfamiliar.
“You don’t have to understand. Understanding it would be strange.”
“I suppose so, right? Ah! There it is.”
Na-yoon pointed to the location that was now slowly coming into view.
From afar, a barrier with attached talismans was visible.
‘Looks like they use talismans as their power source.’
Among the various powers, there was a designation called Talisman user.
Hyeon-yul put on his helmet and approached closer.
Should it be called a dome made of poison?
Due to the power of those talismans, the poison couldn't escape and floated around like clouds of various colors.
“I brought our team member. He’s a newbie. Please take care of him.”
Na-yoon introduced Hyeon-yul to the other two members assigned to this task with her.
A newbie in Team 3.
Even if they didn't know his name, there was no way they wouldn't know the most talked-about person these days.
“Yes, nice to meet you.”
Both men smiled, but it was hard to stop their bodies from stiffening.
A former villain.
That fact itself evoked caution.
‘Team 6.’
Hyeon-yul bowed his head to Team 6 instead of speaking.
This was the cleanest way.
“Can I go inside now?”
Hyeon-yul pointed at the dome.
“Will you be alright?”
The Black Eagle, who appeared to be the Talisman user, asked hesitantly.
“I’m fine.”
“Then, please wait a moment.”
The Talisman user no longer hesitated and stood before the barrier.
As he spread his clenched fist like fanning cards, five talismans popped out in mid-air.
Extending his index and middle fingers straight, the talismans stuck to the barrier.
Suddenly, they flared up.
“You can go in now.”
At the Talisman user's words, Hyeon-yul entered without hesitation.
After walking a few steps, Hyeon-yul stopped.
Various poisons seeped into his nose.
‘It will definitely be very difficult to make an antidote.’
Various poisons were mixed, and different poisons were detected with each step.
The number of types increased towards the center; whatever weapon this was, it wasn't good.
‘They made something useless again. How annoying.’
How many more would they try to kill with that?
Hyeon-yul lowered his gaze.
A woman lay dead there, and documents were scattered beside her.
Traces of her scratching her own neck were clearly visible, as if she had struggled in agony.
Hyeon-yul picked up the documents one by one without even glancing at the villain.
‘Is this that important?’
He stared blankly for a moment, then tilted his head.
It was incredibly familiar.
‘Isn’t this similar to the contents of the expulsion list I received from the Team Leader this morning?’
Hyeon-yul took out the list he had stored in his shadow, comparing the two.
No matter how many times he checked, the names on the list overlapped.
Hyeon-yul thought for a moment, then let out a chuckle.