Midnight Duty Shift and the Senior Slayer's Dawn Resolve
Although my face was set with determination as if I were about to act at any moment, upon closer inspection, the shift schedule was merely for next month.
Before that, as long as Kim Heejin had regained her spirits, there would be nothing much to worry about. Of course, if things did not go well, I would find out the details eventually.
In any case, there was still quite a bit of time until next month.
── Ah, the role distribution change notice has been posted in front of the Situation Room. Everyone, please sign accordingly. That is all.
The broadcast screen flickered and announced that today was Monday.
Rest duty was over. The time had finally come to take on new responsibilities.
The word “sign” was closely tied to “junior.” After all, a junior had to step in and sign on behalf of the senior.
Although I was her direct superior, Jeong Seung-ah from the junior layer and I headed over to the area beside the Situation Room together.
“It’s so quiet today.”
“Indeed. It seemed like the seniors were here last time as well.”
“They probably came because they were curious since it was the first time being tried. Now their interest will have faded.”
“How can your interest dry up so quickly?”
“Uhhuhu, right? Since we’re only dividing the tasks anyway, it’s all the same in the end.”
True enough. There were no particularly new duties to begin with.
Since it was simply splitting up the usual routine, it was only natural that there was no excitement.
I first checked. The word “duty” was written under the 1st Barracks.
“It looks like it’s a duty shift.”
“Indeed. The Guard Duty Manual is posted right next to it.”
Upon Jeong Seung-ah’s words, I checked the Guard Duty Manual attached beside it. The time-slot table listed each person’s name.
“I’m on shift with Hero-nim Han Jihye. Harang?”
“I’m working with Superhuman Kim Heejin.”
The current number of living quarter residents was seven. Naturally, one had to be absent.
But emergency deployment existed precisely to handle such situations. It seemed they were bringing in one senior from another living quarter to fill the duty roster.
Thinking that my actions might have affected another living quarter made me feel not just a little, but quite guilty.
“Ah, hey. I’m on duty.”
A senior who had been summoned to help with the emergency deployment said that.
Perfect timing!
“Over here, Superhuman Seo Yeonwoo?”
“Huh? Harang? Ah, why do you know I’m on duty? All the other girls were off enjoying themselves while I got stuck with this. Hah, how annoying.”
Despite the displeased expression, she backed off. It was wiser to retreat than to make a fuss.
“Did you hear about Ji Yun-ah?”
“Nng? What? Was she in the same class as you? No, wait, that’s not right. Now that I think about it, she hasn’t been seen around lately. Where did she go?”
“She left the Awakener unit.”
“Oh, really?”
She did not seem particularly surprised.
That was only natural. Quite a few people had left after deciding to quit.
But the reason behind it would change everything if it involved me.
After I explained the full story, the listening Seo Yeonwoo nodded.
“Well, you did a good job. I didn’t like you covering for me, but…”
“No matter the outcome, I caused you trouble right now, didn’t I? So later, perhaps arrange for someone else to cover for me when I’m on shift with Superhuman Seo Yeonwoo…”
“You’ll cover for me later?”
Seo Yeonwoo, hearing my proposal, rested her chin on her hand as if pondering deeply and let out a few groans.
After considering something quite long—something she was fighting with—she gently shook her head.
“I-I’m fine. I’m not the only one who’s been slackin’ around. Look.”
“…”
“Tomorrow, will another senior be on shift?”
“The Guard Duty Manual hasn’t come out yet, but it seems like our living quarter’s members will be rotating one at a time. If that’s the case, what will you do? Try to arrange one shift each for everyone on our side? Especially since it’s uncertain when rest or emergency deployment will come up?”
“Ah.”
“So, forget it. It’s not just once or twice that something doesn’t work out.”
Huh? What was this? This kind and gentle response? It was nothing like the usual Han Jihye.
Feeling my nose tingle, I checked the time slots.
It was a rather grueling duty—six-hour shifts to fill twenty-four hours.
Of course, since everyone was an Awakener, physical issues would not arise, but…
“Superhuman Jeong Seung-ah.”
“Yes?”
“Are you all right?”
“With what? Being on shift with Hero-nim Han Jihye for six hours?”
“Yes.”
“I’m fine. Rather, Harang, I’m more worried about you. You’ve been looking uncomfortable lately.”
Ah, right? Kim Heejin had been in a very bad mood lately, and I was the one who caused the problem by suggesting the shift.
“Still, we’re not being locked in the same space, right?”
“Locked in the same space? Six hours at the guard post on the weapons depot.”
After signing the Guard Duty Manual, Seo Yeonwoo passed by and said that.
Oh no! Oh no! Six hours locked in a small room with grumpy Kim Heejin! And Kim Heejin’s personality, which loved a fight, meant that if anything went wrong, she would come charging like a mad dog and bite—obviously!
Although she seemed to have no energy now, the moment I saw that sense of exhaustion, it would be erased from my mind.
“Shall I talk to her? Can I switch time slots with you? It’s better for Harang to be with me anyway, right?”
Jeong Seung-ah, who had noticed my dilemma, proposed that.
It was only natural. Having Jeong Seung-ah around would be comfortable.
“No. I’ll try it once.”
But I had decided to walk this thorny path.
Not because I didn’t want to burden Jeong Seung-ah with the request? No. If that were the case, I would have asked her directly.
Then, was I actually thinking of making Kim Heejin feel better? No, that was not it either. We had gone to the gym a few times together, but the fact that she was an uncomfortable senior had not changed.
“Really? You don’t feel uncomfortable?”
“I do feel uncomfortable. But honestly, looking at Kim Heejin’s current state is even more uncomfortable.”
“…”
“Then why not switch even more? You seem like you wouldn’t feel uncomfortable seeing Hero-nim Han Jihye like that.”
“It’s because I have a slightly larger sense of obligation.”
After giving my reason, I finished signing. It was also to sign for the other residents.
While muttering the time slots so as not to forget them, I returned to the living quarter. Confirming that everyone had gathered, I quickly recited the slots one by one.
“…”
“It’s early morning? Me and you?”
Kim Heejin looked at me when I heard my words.
“Yes. From 00:00 to 06:00.”
“Ah, got it. Thanks for your hard work.”
Although it was a time slot, I expected her to grumble, but she passed it over without any reaction.
She was saying thanks for your hard work, but it seemed she was not really paying attention.
That was the part that made me most uncomfortable.
It was not some annoying jealousy like ‘Why is she thinking about someone else while I’m here?’
It was simply that the person I had just managed to bond with had suddenly become distant in an instant.
“Superhuman Kim Heejin.”
“Ah? What?”
“Can I go up for a moment?”
“Up here? W-well… sure.”
Since the approval came easily without any fuss, I quickly headed to the seat and sat beside Kim Heejin.
“What are you doing?”
“You don’t want to work together with me?”
“What sudden nonsense is this? Disgusting.”
“You’re too much!”
“No, it’s disgusting.”
Kim Heejin shifted her seat slightly. The distance increased a little.
“So, what’s the sudden matter? What wind blew you over here to talk?”
“It’s because of your recent mood swings, Superhuman Kim Heejin. We had promised to go to the gym together, but you’ve been skipping every time.”
“Ah, that? That’s… what? It’s mine.”
“Still, it seemed like you were always going to do it together, but suddenly disappearing makes me lonely. I wanted to get stronger with you while doing the gym.”
Kim Heejin looked at me strangely, as if I was not acting the same way I usually did.
Continuing my momentum, I added one more line,
“By the way, about that older sister—Kim Huijeong—”
“Shut your mouth!”
“Understood!”
I became all huddled up.
Kim Heejin’s lukewarm attitude just moments ago instantly turned freezing, reaching permanent winter.
Like she was chased away, she scurried off to her own seat. Unfortunately, I could not continue the conversation further.
It’s fine! After all, there will be plenty of opportunities!
Moreover, the upcoming opportunities would be of the proper kind. The environment would allow for private conversation in the quiet early-morning atmosphere.
I wanted to find out at least vaguely. I wanted to hear from her mouth exactly what had happened.
Good. Let’s target the duty schedule.
…
“Hey, Harang. Wake up.”
“Ugh… Understood. I’m awake.”
I rose from the bed with a stretch and looked around. The statement “look around” was meaningless, for the entire surroundings appeared pitch black.
After rubbing my sleepy head in the dimly lit living quarter and rushing outside, I opened my phone. The time was 23:40 at night. Twenty minutes before the shift started. Perfect timing to visit the Situation Room and then head to the guard post.
Just as I stood still for a moment, the door to the living quarter opened. It was Kim Heejin with the same sleepy expression.
“…You’re up? Let’s go.”
Her attitude was still somehow awkward and stiff. The previous friction only made the atmosphere more uncomfortable.
Still, I had come this far, so I could not back down. Of course, if Kim Heejin truly hated it, I would stop, but…
I recalled the reaction I had seen from Kim Heejin earlier.
Don’t touch me, I’m irritated. Although she had taken that stance, it did not seem like she was completely pushing me away in my opinion.
Of course, it could be a personal feeling and wrong, but if so… well, I would have to endure it.
“Understood.”
I followed Kim Heejin without much thought.
…
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Early morning duty is really annoying. Still, it’s good that they gave us time to sleep.”
“…”
“Did your pillow leave a mark?”
“Sss! I didn’t sleep!”
“Who said that?”
The two seniors who had started their duty first exchanged glances. It seemed they had not expected Kim Heejin to come out like this.
“In any case, duty is nothing special. After all, Superhuman Kim Heejin knows, right?”
“Yeah. Watching for intruders and getting signatures in the visitor log when people come.”
“That’s right. But honestly, who would even come here? So just lying down to sleep is enough. We have to turn in our phones, though.”
“I brought mine—”
“Whoa, really… What? Did you use your phone while I was sleeping? Or did you show it in front of Superhuman Kim Heejin?”
“Hah?!”
They exchanged glances again. But this time, Kim Heejin did not point anything out.
“Uh, okay. Thanks for your hard work. Go ahead.”
“…”
“Superhuman Kim Heejin?”
“What.”
“Even though it’s funny for me to say this, you don’t scold at all?”
“Scold? I’ll scold you? …Hah, I don’t have the energy. Just go.”
A senior who seemed to be the direct superior poked the waist of the junior who seemed to be the subordinate.
“It was that day, wasn’t it?”
“That day? The magic day?”
“Ah, don’t you know? Superhuman Kim Heejin has a bad mood sometimes! Her older sister… Hah! Sorry!”
The guard post was so narrow that even a whisper carried. The senior who noticed Kim Heejin’s gaze quickly dragged the junior outside the post.
Kim Heejin simply sighed after sending them off without stopping them.
“…”
“Hey, Seo Harang.”
“Superhuman Seo Harang.”
“Sorry about earlier. For telling you to shut your mouth.”
Kim Heejin, with her empty morning aura, apologized first. It was not unusual.
“It’s all right.”
But she did not need to apologize in the first place.
“I was going to ask again anyway.”
“What?”
“The unfinished conversation from earlier, I decided to finish it here.”
Since we were going to bump into each other again.