# Chapter 26
I stared at the conference room door that I’d somehow reached. The door that had been broken during training was now completely restored.
How much longer would I be crossing this threshold? I peeled away the clump of emotions that had stuck to me and opened the door. The familiar doorknob felt strange somehow.
As the door that had been blocking my view opened, the interior of the conference room came into sight. Inside, everyone except Boss was present. Zenon, who made eye contact with me as soon as I entered, rushed toward me. His silver hair fluttered in the air as he fired off words rapidly.
“Kay, I was so worried! You didn’t reply to my texts or answer my calls! I thought I’d set up the barrier wrong and couldn’t sleep at all! What on earth happened?”
Seeing Zenon brought back memories I’d forgotten. Come to think of it, the surveillance camera issue still wasn’t resolved. I’d completely forgotten about it in the chaos. I’d need to talk with him about it later.
“It was nothing special.”
I said casually as I brushed past Zenon. It wasn’t something that would endanger the organization. It was just a matter that was significant to me alone.
“If it was nothing, there’s no way Kay would abandon his mission.”
“It’s fine now.”
“…But I’m still worried.”
At my resolute response, Zenon fidgeted with his hands, lowered his eyes, and then looked up at me with a pitiful gaze. Was that concern even real?
Even though I tried not to doubt him, suspicion arose naturally. Despite wanting to trust Zenon, his behavior back then bothered me. I shifted my gaze from watching him.
“Really, it’s fine.”
“Come on, if he says he’s fine, why are you interrogating him like that?”
Fenil, who had approached at some point, playfully ruffled my hair as I sat.
“You’ll be fine, so relax your expression a bit.”
I thought I’d hidden it as best I could, but apparently, I couldn’t escape her eyes. Looking at Fenil, who had raised the corner of her mouth into a smirk, I asked carefully.
“Did I look that bad?”
At my question, her green eyes sank slightly. After contemplating briefly, Fenil nodded lightly.
“Yeah, you looked like you could drop dead any moment and it wouldn’t be strange.”
Though she seemed to have considered her response, she spoke readily, but I couldn’t take her words lightly. Without realizing it, tension filled my entire body. She probably said it without knowing anything, but I couldn’t just let it slide.
“…”
Seeing me stiffen instantly, Alex reprimanded Fenil.
“Why are you saying such harsh things to the kid?”
“Harsh? There’s no one who cares for Kay more than I do.”
Though her words were sharp, Fenil brushed it off nonchalantly. Alex shook his head at her as she responded with a bright smile.
“That’s debatable. Just look around, there seem to be plenty of people.”
His gaze swept around before finally fixing on Fenil. It was clearly aimed at her.
“That’s only because they don’t know my kind heart yet.”
Fenil casually countered Alex’s words. Watching their exchange, I spoke to the slyly smiling Fenil.
“I know that Fenil cares about me.”
Though it wasn’t obvious due to her rough personality, I was aware of it. Every time there was a mission, she would create more than five plans. Each plan consistently included contingencies for if something happened to me.
She was the one who investigated the backgrounds of my subordinates, and she was the one who eliminated any unfortunate rumors.
At first, I thought this was normal. But after learning that she didn’t do this for others except Melia and me, I realized this was Fenil’s consideration.
“As expected, I knew Kay would understand. Anyway, those bastards who don’t know anything just have big mouths.”
She lifted one corner of her mouth and mocked Alex. Alex’s brow furrowed uncontrollably with anger. He had completely fallen for Fenil’s pace.
“…Stay calm, stay calm. No need to kill anyone.”
Alex ran his hand through his hair, muttering ominously as he tried to suppress his rising anger.
It seemed like the situation would end there, but Fenil apparently had more to say and continued to pour oil on the fire.
“No matter how much you try to take me on, you can’t win. If you want to get shot in the head and die, go ahead and try.”
Compared to Alex, who had telekinetic abilities, Fenil was from the intelligence division. The difference in abilities couldn’t be ignored, but she maintained her confident smile.
And I agreed with Fenil’s words. It wasn’t that Alex was weak, but I didn’t think he could defeat her.
“Can’t win…”
It seemed Melia felt the same way, as she nodded slightly from the side.
“Even though I’m technically S-class…”
Alex let out a defeated laugh at Melia, who was certain she would lose. Fenil clicked her tongue at him.
“Even among S-class, there are differences in power.”
Her gaze, which had been on Alex, moved subtly. Her slowly shifting eyes landed on me.
“Just like Kay is the strongest among the executives.”
At that, I immediately shook my head.
“I’m not the strongest.”
Fenil had a tendency to overestimate me.
“You’re plenty strong. If you wanted, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for you to take Boss’s position.”
What exactly did she see in me to think that? And to even say I could take Boss’s position.
The executives might be used to Fenil’s words and behavior, but if someone else heard this, it would be suspicious enough.
“Isn’t Boss’s ability higher?”
Zenon, who had been thinking deeply, tilted his head. I agreed with that point. Unless gravity’s range was narrow, Boss could destroy ‘Alice’ in an instant if he wanted to.
I didn’t think I could surpass Boss, who was capable of such precise control.
But Fenil smiled enigmatically, as if she knew something I didn’t. Her lips curved, but I couldn’t guess the meaning.
Fenil gave me a gentle smile before turning her gaze behind her.
“Kay has something that transcends ability. Isn’t that right, Boss?”
The closed door opened at Fenil’s words. Boss, who had apparently been listening all along, entered and answered the sudden question casually.
“I wonder.”
He fixed his gaze on me briefly before speaking. It was such a light remark that one might think it meaningless.
“It’s not an important conversation anyway. After all, Kay would never betray me.”
Boss’s words were filled with strong conviction. The conviction that I would never betray him no matter what.
Certainly, Boss was right. How could I ever betray him? He is someone I wouldn’t hesitate to give everything for. Rather than betraying such a Boss, I would choose death.
But it also felt strange to hear Boss assert it so definitely. Why did he think I would never betray him?
Even yesterday’s incident had undermined his trust. I thought he would have every right to be suspicious.
Like a warm droplet falling into cold water, a gentle heat spread from one corner of my chest.
Just as I trusted Boss, he also trusted me. That fact seemed to understand my heart a little, making my heartbeat quicken slightly.
However, Fenil’s following words immediately dampened that heartbeat.
“There’s a saying about getting your foot chopped by the ax you trust for a reason.”
She smiled meaningfully and looked directly at Boss. At her words, which sounded almost prophetic, his eyes narrowed.
“Are you suggesting Kay might betray me?”
A tense atmosphere, like walking on thin ice, flowed between them. In this explosive situation, I hastily spoke up.
“That would never happen.”
I don’t know why Fenil would say such a thing, but it would absolutely never happen.
After I denied Fenil’s words without leaving even a sliver of possibility, she smiled mischievously as usual and opened her mouth to reassure us.
“Of course, I don’t think so either. But human affairs sometimes unfold regardless of one’s own will.”
But even with those words, I couldn’t feel at ease. I always had trouble reading her thoughts, but today was especially difficult.
We were clearly having a conversation, but Fenil’s words weren’t reaching me. It was as if she was looking at a distant future rather than at me.
Words I couldn’t grasp remained trapped in my mouth. She wasn’t wrong. Especially with my limited remaining lifespan, the probability of variables occurring wasn’t small.
But I couldn’t agree with her either. Doing so would open up the possibility of me betraying Boss.
As if to prove time was passing, the ticking of the clock was heard in the space where I kept my mouth shut. The ticking sound felt uncomfortable, as if it was binding my entire body.
I frantically tried to think of a way to break through this situation, but no suitable method came to mind. I should have denied it from the beginning. Now I’d missed the timing, and it had become awkward to correct it.
I moved my lips belatedly to try to wrap things up. Somehow, I could get past this if I changed the subject. But someone spoke before I could.
“…Let’s stop this useless talk and start the meeting.”
Boss, who had created this atmosphere, opened his mouth, which had seemed like it would never open. He displayed a hologram containing Peace’s blueprints, focusing everyone’s attention.
The thin ice broke, and the atmosphere changed in an instant. A solemn air enveloped the space that had been precarious.
I hadn’t expected Boss to speak first. As someone who had been on pins and needles, it was fortunate for me. Only then could I finally release the tension.
