Director Kim Jeongseon contacted Haewon first. He needed to know the situation since he was inside the White Box. She glanced at me while attempting to connect.
“Would you like to do it yourself?”
I shook my head. Director Kim Jeongseon’s situational judgment was better anyway. Besides, it needed to be in a language that Emily and Gabriel could understand too. Since I wasn’t good at English, it was right for Director Kim Jeongseon to do it.
She probably just asked out of courtesy anyway. Because she knew I couldn’t speak English. I lowered my head. I had no one on my side. Everyone had no trust in me. Rather, Gabriel and Emily, whom I’d met for the first time today, listened to my opinions more objectively. Once my mood sank, it didn’t recover easily.
It was a kind of sense of helplessness. Everything I’d done because I wanted to do something was in the realm of ‘suspicion’ and ‘distrust.’ I thought it was because I’d talked about things I’d seen in the novel, but that wasn’t it. Even judgments anyone would make, when I made them, everyone suspected first. I was asked how I could be so certain. Every single time.
‘In the end, everyone still sees me as C-class guide Park Garam. Just a C-class guide who’s become slightly more useful.’
What had I been so anxious about, and why had I tried to accomplish anything? Had I unknowingly gotten drunk on the feeling that I’d become something? In an instant, I felt ridiculous.
Kim Haewon, who had unilaterally cut off the connection with me, responded immediately to Director Kim Jeongseon’s connection attempt. He conveyed the situation matter-of-factly.
{This is Kim Haewon. Esper Ryu Heegang has not regained consciousness yet. The external situation is stable. Esper Akutagawa Yu is expected to arrive in 15 minutes.}
{Pamundong’s Suo Weiqian and the executives have disappeared. It appears highly likely they’ll attempt to kidnap Esper Ryu Heegang.}
{Understood.}
{Haewon, it’s Emily. We’re also moving in that direction. Did you hear the news about the explosion at Pamundong?}
{Yes, I heard.}
Kim Haewon responded calmly to every situation. As if he’d expected it to some degree. No one asked him how he’d heard about it with that kind of reaction.
‘It seems my heart has been quite hurt without me realizing it.’
I could tell because every point looked crooked, and I kept comparing things for no reason. Actually, it didn’t make sense. How could I compare Kim Haewon and myself on the same level? It was funny that I’d fallen into such a rather arrogant delusion. My wounded stomach seemed to sting and hurt.
{Esper Kim Haewon, is there anything you need support with? We’ll do our best to request it from each country.}
{Please focus on protecting civilians near the movement route. Since Pamundong has started moving, we’ll need to widen the radius range a bit more. There’s also a possibility they’ll use civilians, so they need to be evacuated separately.}
{Yes, we’ll request it from the Chinese government right away.}
At Director Kim Jeongseon’s words, the Diplomatic Management Department staff moved swiftly. Everyone seemed to be feeling fatigue from the continued tension, yet couldn’t let their guard down knowing that everything could go wrong if they slipped up.
I kept watching the Diplomatic Management Department staff raising their voices arguing with someone or using gestures and expressions to persuade the other party to push through their demands.
In contrast, I could do nothing. Except sit quietly in my seat with my hands folded. Just then, my name came from Kim Haewon’s mouth.
{What is Guide Park Garam doing right now?}
Director Kim Jeongseon glanced at me once, then continued speaking.
{He’s actively giving opinions on the current situation and participating in discussions. He’s currently moving with us.}
{If possible, please drop off Guide Park Garam nearby. It’s a dangerous area for a guide to accompany. The Diplomatic Management Department office staff too…}
Emily snorted and cut off Haewon’s words. Then she continued with her own.
{Haewon, I understand you care about your pair guide, but we don’t have that luxury.}
{That’s not it. I just…}
Haewon tried to explain something. My heart had already sunk with a thud. I could tell without hearing his explanation. He had classified me as a dangerous person.
When I’d tapped the microphone twice at his question, he might have considered me a double agent. In any case, he’d made the judgment that it wouldn’t be good for me to come to the scene. Even someone completely oblivious could understand that.
In just a few seconds, it felt like my heart was burning up. I felt ridiculous wondering what I was doing this stupid thing for. Before Kim Haewon could continue speaking, I opened my mouth first.
“That’s right. That’s not what Esper Kim Haewon wants to say. He thinks it’s dangerous for me to come to the scene.”
“Guide Park Garam.”
“I was the one who said Esper Ryu Heegang might have turned into a monster, and I was the one who said the chains shouldn’t be released.”
Emily and Gabriel’s eyes narrowed as they looked at me. I looked back at them and said.
“I can’t reveal the source of how I knew. Knowing that, Esper Kim Haewon is classifying me as a dangerous person. That’s also why he asked to drop me off.”
{Why can’t you reveal the source?}
Emily asked. I laughed self-deprecatingly and continued.
“Because only I can see it. It’s not like I can see the very distant future, and sometimes it’s not accurate. Sometimes I can see it, sometimes I can’t.”
“What are you…”
Director Kim Jeongseon looked at me as if she didn’t understand what I was saying. I moved my mouth as if letting whatever happens happen.
“I’m a C-class guide who suddenly received an S-class judgment. Even the researchers couldn’t explain why this happened. After that, I showed symptoms of mental abnormality. It might be one of those abnormal reactions. Perhaps Esper Kim Haewon’s judgment is correct.”
“What judgment are you referring to?”
“I’m saying I might be a dangerous person. Regardless of my will or thoughts. Please make the decision at the Association. Whether to drop me off along the way or put me to sleep with sleeping pills here. I’ll follow the decision.”
I was tired of getting involved in this matter anymore. With four of those precious SS-class espers, I wondered if they couldn’t catch one Suo Weiqian. Everything would work out fine. Here, the more I moved my mouth, the more I’d just become a strange person.
‘It was better to make it like this instead.’
I also thought I’d made a fuss saying I’d come along for no reason. I laughed self-deprecatingly and sat down. Then Kim Haewon’s blade-like words flew at me.
{Let’s do emotional interpretations after returning home. Guide Park Garam, whose combat ability is significantly low, is no different from a civilian, so I’m trying to evacuate and protect him.}
Kim Haewon spoke in fluent English, then added in Korean as if warning.
—Don’t distort things carelessly.
It was a warning directed at me. I didn’t react at all. Since he got riled up, he must have been hit where it hurts, right? That was the only twisted thought in my head besides nothing else. Gabriel spoke as if summarizing the situation.
{Okay. Okay. Don’t fight anymore. Let’s just drop us off nearby and have the plane move again. Like when we dropped Haewon off at the gate.}
Director Kim Jeongseon immediately organized the situation before another dispute could arise.
{Yes, we’ll do that. Esper Kim Haewon, we’ll also arrive around the same time Esper Akutagawa arrives.}
{Understood. Let’s contact each other again if there are any changes.}
Without even listening to the other party’s response, the connection was cut off abruptly. Just like he’d done to me. Emily shrugged her shoulders and continued.
{Now I understand how you became Haewon’s first pair guide. Neither of you is ordinary.}
{It’s been a while since I’ve seen Haewon react so emotionally, hasn’t it? Something interesting is happening even in this situation.}
Gabriel also answered with a laugh. The two naturally headed toward where the parachutes were located. Director Kim Jeongseon explained the detailed location. I wanted to take out the interpreter from my ear, but I held back and closed my eyes. Whether I listened or not, they’d be busy solving things among themselves and exchanging pleasantries with each other anyway. But I couldn’t be caught off guard without knowing what was going on.
When I return, will I be investigated by the Association?
But even if that happened, there wasn’t much I could say. Because I’d already said everything. I sighed and tried to calm my swinging emotions. The stinging in my stomach didn’t seem to be simply because of the wound. Everything just felt bitter. This and that, all of it.
I missed my friends from Guide Department 17. If that wasn’t possible, I’d rather see Oh Guhyeon or Jeon Jinhyeok from Guide Department 1, whom I’d only met a few times. They might think the same thing in the end, though. Wouldn’t it be better than now, surrounded by espers and the Diplomatic Management Department?
{Lowering altitude. Espers Emily Ruler and Gabriel Arenas will drop near the White Box.}
{Confirmed. Standing by near the expected landing area. Esper Akutagawa Yu has just joined us.}
The two espers moved just as Kim Haewon had. I just sat still. The Diplomatic Management Department people were the busy ones. After the espers dropped, the plane shook wildly again as it ascended.
{Some espers appearing to be from Pamundong have been discovered. Executing them on site.}
{Suo Weiqian must be captured alive.}
{We’ll try to capture those at executive level or higher alive.}
Pamundong moved as expected. But there were too many SS-class espers, so there was nothing they could do. I was thinking that when the plane I was on shook greatly.
It felt less like it moved sharply and more like something had struck the plane. I opened my eyes wide in fear. Director Kim Jeongseon, who had been standing, barely managed to grab the wall and lean against it.
“What’s going on?”
Before anyone could answer her voice, the flight cabin in the back opened. And a man appeared and smiled. Yellowed teeth covered in black grime between his teeth. Sunken, protruding eyes and a thick cigar held in his hand.
It was Suo Weiqian, the master of Pamundong.
