“We meet again, Guide Park Garam.”
When I boarded the private jet, Director Kim Jeongseon of Diplomatic Management Department 1 was already on board as if it were natural. She greeted me mechanically, as if my appearance wasn’t surprising at all. I answered with an awkward smile.
“Yes, we meet again. Have you been well?”
“Thanks to you. I almost had trouble because Esper Kim Haewon said he wouldn’t bring his pair guide again, so thank you for volunteering.”
“Ah, yes. Of course I should go.”
I spoke with an awkward smile. It seemed Kim Haewon had made another decision on his own. Director Kim Jeongseon guided me and Kim Haewon to our seats.
“Well then, please sit. We’ll start the briefing once the plane takes off.”
“Yes, thank you.”
I sat down first and Kim Haewon sat next to me. I poked him and continued speaking.
“You decided on your own without permission from above? See? Now only I’m in a difficult position.”
“The Diplomatic Management Bureau is not a superior organization to the Esper Bureau. It’s fine to refuse something like this.”
Kim Haewon spoke as if it were no big deal. From my perspective of being kidnapped while sleeping last time, it wasn’t very convincing. I murmured quietly.
“Director Kim is scary.”
“If you did even half of what you do to me, it would be refused.”
“What are you talking about? I’m so good to Esper Kim Haewon.”
“Are you serious? I told you joking is prohibited.”
“Of course I’m serious!”
Kim Haewon frowned slightly and looked at me. Then he turned his body back to proper posture and continued speaking.
“Did you know Guide Park Garam has an unexpectedly shameless side?”
“No. This is the first time I’ve heard that in my life.”
“Oh, stop it.”
Kim Haewon ended the conversation as if it were a meaningless argument. I didn’t try to talk to him further either. The plane took off shortly after, and once it entered stable orbit, Director Kim Jeongseon explained the situation.
“The gate where Esper Liu Xiqiang disappeared is currently being explored by Esper Emily Ruler who arrived first. No monsters are visible, but since the gate hasn’t disappeared, we expect them to be hiding inside. The US has agreed to handle this case.”
On the large screen, Emily Ruler could be seen exploring. It seemed she had entered with a very small drone camera.
“Are there no life form reactions inside the gate?”
“There are none. Esper Emily Ruler’s report was the same.”
Director Kim Jeongseon stated flatly. Kim Haewon continued the conversation while reviewing Emily Ruler’s real-time report.
“What about entry into Pamundong?”
“We’re negotiating with the Chinese government over security issues.”
“Please explain in detail.”
“It’s exactly as I said. The Chinese government is refusing to confirm the location of and allow entry into Pamundong, citing protection of its citizens and national security.”
“Even though it’s become an international issue and Esper Liu Xiqiang has gone missing?”
At my question, Director Kim Jeongseon nodded and continued.
“I suspect there was some kind of deal between high-ranking party officials and Chairman Suo Weiqian.”
It didn’t make sense. No matter how large China’s territory was, if Liu Xiqiang went berserk, half the country would disappear in an instant. I couldn’t understand why they would join hands with Pamundong in such a major crisis.
Kim Haewon looked over the points identified as Pamundong’s location and the Chinese government’s statement, then continued speaking.
“It seems certain that Pamundong is holding Esper Liu Xiqiang. The deal was probably made on the condition that as long as they don’t enter Pamundong’s territory, they won’t let Liu Xiqiang’s rampage occur within Chinese territory.”
“So as long as it’s not China, it’s fine? Isn’t that a violation of international law?”
It was absurd. When I said that couldn’t be possible, Director Kim Jeongseon also shook her head.
“I, and diplomatic management bureaus from other countries, share the same opinion. As long as it’s not revealed, there’s no way to know whether it’s a violation or not. The Chinese government hasn’t clarified its exact position.”
“How can they run a country like child’s play? If Pamundong doesn’t keep their promise, isn’t that just the end?”
“International affairs often proceed illogically. And it’s actually effective sometimes.”
Director Kim Jeongseon seemed to understand the Chinese government’s decision. Kim Haewon checked various things on his tablet PC. He rapidly cycled through programs as if he had several hands.
From what I could see, I couldn’t even figure out how many languages were going back and forth, but Kim Haewon quickly skimmed through documents and continued speaking.
“They probably shared materials that emphasize the sense of crisis, such as videos or audio related to Esper Liu Xiqiang’s current condition. Is there no information released regarding this?”
“Hackers cooperating with the International Esper Association are attempting to access related content.”
“How long do you estimate it will take?”
“We should be able to confirm within 30 minutes.”
Within 30 minutes would coincide with when we arrived in China. The private jet was very fast, and since the time was much shorter than a regular plane, we could get there quickly. Kim Haewon calculated the time and then requested an adjustment to the arrival location.
“Are you requesting adjustment to the gate vicinity rather than the Pamundong vicinity?”
Director Kim Jeongseon repeated Kim Haewon’s words once more.
“If Esper Liu Xiqiang’s condition is poor and there’s a risk of rampage, there’s no way they’d keep him inside Pamundong. Something else must be happening inside Pamundong. Esper Liu Xiqiang is probably inside the gate.”
“Then I’ll coordinate with the government to share the decision. When should it be shared?”
“Please adjust it to right after the successful hacking. Regardless of what content that video contains, I won’t reverse the decision to go to the gate vicinity.”
“Yes, understood.”
The conversation between Director Kim Jeongseon and Kim Haewon was very fast. It felt like an operation plan was being formed in an instant. I was busy trying to grasp the situation while looking back and forth between the two.
Director Kim Jeongseon returned to her seat. The management bureau and flight cabin were divided, so she couldn’t be seen. Only Kim Haewon and I were in this cabin.
“How can you be so certain?”
“It’s not certainty, I chose. Since our government’s diplomatic relations with the US side are more important anyway, moving toward the gate is the priority. Since it’s the Chinese side that refused Pamundong access due to security issues, the responsibility falls on the Chinese government.”
“What if a rampage happens in China?”
“We’ll approach that location as quickly as possible to minimize damage.”
“But that would be too late.”
“Then what do you think would be the fastest choice?”
I had nothing to say. Kim Haewon was right. There was no fastest choice. You assess the situation as objectively as possible and choose the side with the greater possibility. While doing so, you have to make political judgments too. And an individual SS-class esper has to take full responsibility for the decision made.
Kim Haewon seemed not to expect my answer in the first place, as he was looking over documents on his tablet PC again. I tried to review the past novel in detail. I wanted to give Kim Haewon any information that might help, but it was all just speculation.
“Whichever way it goes, once Esper Liu Xiqiang’s location is revealed, move in the opposite direction with Director Kim. Tell them to go as far away as possible. I’ll contact you then if I need help.”
“What about Esper Kim Haewon?”
“I’ll be traveling on the American Association’s private jet. Because that side is faster. The American management bureau officials and guides will probably board this private jet.”
Kim Haewon continued speaking as if it were obvious. He would head to the most dangerous place, and the rest would leave. It was the same during the Chicago gate, and the same during the Four Directions gate. Kim Haewon seemed to have become almost numb to such dangers. I looked at Kim Haewon’s profile, from which no emotion could be read, and asked.
“Esper Kim Haewon.”
“Yes.”
“Have you never been scared?”
Kim Haewon stopped scrolling on his tablet. He quietly turned his head to look at me. Our gazes met for several seconds. I had the illusion that Kim Haewon’s eyes were wavering, but he quickly turned his head away again.
“I have been.”
“When?”
“I forgot.”
“……”
I looked at him for a moment at Kim Haewon’s words. There was a time when he too had fear, dread, and hesitation. But he forgot. Perhaps he had to forget in order to live. Not knowing what to say next, I only moved my lips. It was Kim Haewon who broke the silence.
“Being afraid is a waste of time.”
He briefly added those words and closed his mouth. I turned my gaze to look at the screen in front of me. Emily Ruler was still exploring inside the gate. The interior of the gate was a desert as bright as midday. Occasionally the light reflection on the camera was so severe that the screen appeared white.
“There must be a separate sun inside the gate. It’s incredibly bright.”
“That’s not the case.”
“There isn’t one?”
“It could be affected by the outside. But the weather inside gates is mostly influenced by the internal monsters. The Chicago gate was lightless underwater because most of the monsters were deep-sea fish monsters, and the west gate had lots of dust and no sunlight because most of the monsters were undead monsters.”
Kim Haewon continued speaking dryly. His gaze was directed at some document with lengthy English explanations. I looked at the camera showing Emily Ruler. An ability like a blazing sun. Hot and shining.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen and continued speaking.
“Esper Kim Haewon, this is hypothetical.”
“Hypothetical?”
“What if the representative monster in that gate is Esper Liu Xiqiang?”
“What do you mean……”
“The inside of the gate would be that bright, wouldn’t it?”
At my words, Kim Haewon was briefly at a loss for words. Because Liu Xiqiang was an electric-type esper. When I looked at Kim Haewon, his gaze turned toward the monitor. Toward the screen showing Emily Miller with light pouring down and the burning desert.
