G312-A Trainee Kim Yeoul
An order came down to wait at the entrance of the hall for a moment. Yeoul clenched his fists tightly as cold sweat dampened them.
The feel of the dress uniform he was wearing was still unfamiliar. Even though he’d requested the smallest size for the service cap, it was still a bit large and covered his forehead.
‘Ugh… I’m so nervous I could die.’
His eyes had snapped open at 6 AM this morning. After putting on the dress uniform he’d checked over several times the night before and eating the hearty breakfast his parents had prepared, he’d made his first commute to the Ability Security Bureau together with Kang Hyeseong, who naturally volunteered to be his driver.
‘Do well at the welcoming ceremony today.’
‘Mm-hmm. Fighting!’
Before getting out of the car, Yeoul had clenched both fists with a determined expression and shaken them. Seeing Kang Hyeseong’s face as he laughed softly gave him strength naturally.
He’d dropped Yeoul off at the training building and then left in a hurry. After that, Yeoul had assembled at the designated location and met the Guide Team 1 Captain and the probationary guide trainees.
The roughly ten trainees had all just awakened in the first half of this year, like Yeoul. They decided to do proper introductions after the welcoming ceremony and immediately headed to the Grand Hall in the main building, where the event would be held.
It was tradition for all ability users to participate in and celebrate the assembly day and probationary trainee welcoming ceremony. Seeing the Espers and senior Guides sitting and filling the hall, Yeoul unconsciously swallowed dryly.
Maybe… Kang Hyeseong is in there too. At that thought, his heart pounded for no reason.
“Ha… I’m really nervous.”
Fortunately, it seemed he wasn’t the only one who was tense. The bob-cut trainee standing next to him whispered in a very small voice. Yeoul smiled awkwardly and nodded, saying “I know, right.”
“Probationary trainees, enter.”
The Guide Captain who had been waiting with them while leading them gave the order.
Yeoul deliberately straightened his back as he entered the hall. In a little while, he’d be receiving his certificate of appointment and rank insignia in front of all these people… Even though he’d run the simulation in his head several times, the tension wouldn’t fade. Then, “Woah!” a cheer erupted from the audience.
“They look great!”
“These trainees are the best!”
The seniors sitting in the hall started clapping and welcoming the trainees. Yeoul glanced at the audience with a flushed face. Thankfully, it seemed like the tension was easing somewhat, but even looking carefully everywhere, he couldn’t see Kang Hyeseong’s face.
Right… the Guide Captain had told them earlier that people on missions find it difficult to attend events like this, so the seniors sitting here don’t even make up 60% of the total personnel. So how much more so for Kang Hyeseong, who’s rumored to be the busiest in the Security Bureau. Yeoul thought that and tried to console his disappointment.
“Probationary trainees, please take your seats. Then, we will now begin the 38th commissioning ceremony and welcoming reception of the Ability Management Security Bureau.”
With the host’s opening declaration, the Esper trainees and Guide trainees separated and sat in their respective seats. The bustling atmosphere in the hall became solemn in an instant, as if it had never been noisy.
The event began in a serious atmosphere. After the national ceremony and singing of the national anthem, the Director came out and gave a welcoming speech. Yeoul listened to the welcoming speech with a concentrated expression, his brow furrowed with effort. It felt both bewildering and fascinating to actually face the Director, whom he’d only seen on the news.
“…Therefore, lastly, I urge our proud trainees. You are now soldiers who will protect the Republic of Korea and safeguard the safety of citizens. Please approach your training robustly and sincerely. From now on, please always remember that the weight of countless lives rests on your shoulders.”
The Director’s welcoming speech ended amid the sound of applause filling the hall. The next order of business was the appointment ceremony. Following the host’s instructions, the Esper trainees first lined up and climbed onto the stage.
‘Ten people over there too…’
Among them were people who looked over twenty like Yeoul, but most appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen. The trainees who received their certificates of appointment from the Director with solemn expressions all turned around in unison and saluted toward all the attendees in the hall.
Next were the Guide trainees. Yeoul stood in position with his heart pounding nervously. After saluting the Director, he received his certificate of appointment. And it was the moment he turned around toward the audience.
He saw Kang Hyeseong sitting in the very front. Yeoul’s eyes widened.
‘He definitely wasn’t there earlier…! When did he arrive?’
In his delight, a smile almost unconsciously appeared on his face. If he hadn’t quickly composed himself and managed his expression, he would have grinned foolishly like someone with a screw loose in front of all these people.
‘Kang Hyeseong in dress uniform… Ugh… This is really unfair.’
Just this morning, he’d definitely been wearing the combat uniform he usually wore to work. For a brief moment, Yeoul forgot the situation and gazed at him in his dress uniform with an enchanted heart.
Under the service cap worn perfectly straight without a hint of disorder, his shadowed eyes and pale, neat face were visible. On his broadly set shoulders were pinned two stars signifying the rank of Major General, and below them hung white tasseled decorations.
Unlike the white Guide dress uniform, the Esper dress uniform was navy blue. The gold buttons embroidered in the center shone dazzlingly. Even though it was an outfit that overall displayed dignity and restraint, his physique—sleek like a model’s yet built with lean muscle—was magnificently evident.
Really… is military uniform Kang Hyeseong’s personal color? He forgot the situation for a moment and even had that thought. He’d never seen anyone in his life who suited dress uniform so well.
“Next is a tradition of our welcoming ceremony. It’s the rank insignia presentation ceremony. As a sign that the seniors welcome our trainees, each Guide Captain and Esper Captain will come forward and personally pin on the rank insignia. The reason for presenting rank insignia by crossing teams is to embody the meaning of harmony and balance between Espers and Guides, and mutual respect.”
Following the host’s guidance, the Guide and Esper team Captains sitting in the front stood up. Captain Lee Haejin, who had led the new Guides earlier, and Kang Hyeseong climbed onto the stage side by side. The moment Kang Hyeseong’s face was revealed, the audience began to stir.
“Wow, shit. To actually meet Esper Kang Hyeseong, who I’ve only seen on the news…! This is really insane.”
“He looked handsome in photos and videos, but he’s even more so in person.”
“I’m really a fan… I think my heart’s going to burst.”
The trainee Guides waiting backstage for a moment also whispered excitedly to each other like that. Yeoul stared at the stage with a heart that felt like it would burst.
‘What the… Kang Hyeseong, really. Coming like this without any warning…’
There was definitely no mention of this until this morning… Then did he deliberately not say anything to surprise me?
His heart tickled. His toes wriggled in his military boots of their own accord. He was already so happy just that Kang Hyeseong came to the welcoming ceremony, but to even receive rank insignia from him. Is this a dream or reality? With the successive overlapping strokes of luck, reality was hard to believe.
First, the congratulatory speech of Captain Lee Haejin, who stood in front of the platform, began.
“I welcome the Esper trainees. I am Lieutenant Colonel Lee Haejin of Ability Security Bureau 1 Support1 Team. I look forward to the performance you will show from now on. Our Guide team will do everything in our power to help the Esper team, and thus the Esper team and Guide team will harmoniously move toward one goal…”
A clear and intelligent voice continued. The trainees listened to the congratulatory speech with extreme tension, and Captain Lee Haejin personally pinned rank insignia on them. After all the Espers went down, it was now the Guide trainees’ turn.
Yeoul stood in his assigned position, trying hard to suppress his thunderously pounding heart. It was the last position to receive rank insignia. Kang Hyeseong, standing in front of the platform, opened his mouth.
“Peace. I am Major General Kang Hyeseong, Captain of Ability Security Bureau 1 Rescue1 Team.”
Yeoul’s eyes shook wildly at the dignified voice. He heard the sound of the bob-cut Guide standing next to him drawing in a small breath, “Hup.”
To receive a salute from Kang Hyeseong as a proper soldier. If it weren’t for the welcoming reception, which was an official event, there would never be another occasion in the future for him to receive a salute first from him, a Major General.
“I welcome the Guide trainees. We have answered our country’s call and become soldiers. We will devote our abilities and youth for the nation, and if there are citizens in danger, even if it’s just one person, we will stake everything we have to save them.”
In the calm, even-toned voice was naturally imbued a charisma that held people in thrall. He continued speaking while gazing at the trainees standing before him with an upright gaze.
“Therefore, I urge the trainees. This urging applies equally to the Esper trainees. Only swift situational judgment and action can protect the lives of yourselves, your comrades, and citizens. What is required to freely handle abilities and correct rampaging wavelengths is only one thing—sincere and diligent training.”
It was a moment that revealed the truth of the rumor that he was so-called a ‘cold-blooded Captain,’ with neither blood nor tears when it came to work. It was a welcoming speech of a distinctly different character from those of the Director and Captain Lee Haejin, who had warmly welcomed the trainees.
“…Now, there will be Major General Kang Hyeseong’s rank presentation ceremony. Guide trainees, please stand in front of the platform one at a time.”
After the welcoming speech ended, the Guide trainees stood before him with tense faces. Kang Hyeseong greeted them with congratulations, calling each trainee’s name. Then with extremely skilled hands, he pinned rank insignia on the trainees’ shoulders. One person, then another…
Finally, it was Yeoul’s turn, and he stood before him with a stiff face. Strength unconsciously entered his tightly clenched fists.
“……”
Their eyes met. An unfamiliar current flowed. The moment the gaze hidden under the service cap looked at Yeoul, his body trembled slightly. His heart soared upward into the sky like a rocket shot with full force.
“Trainee Kim Yeoul.”
The soft voice settled near his chest like a butterfly that had stopped flapping its wings and landed. However, the power of that resonance was like the crash of a boulder to Yeoul. Thump, thump… His heart beat painfully with a roar.
“…Congratulations on your commissioning.”
Everywhere Hyeseong’s touch landed on his shoulders, it felt like electricity sparked. Yeoul received his touch without even breathing properly.
The rank insignia personally presented by Kang Hyeseong was firmly fixed on his shoulders. Thump-thump, thump-thump… All the blood in his body flowed quickly and hotly with his heartbeat.
