Chapter 200: Resumed Invasion Activities (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 200: Resumed Invasion Activities (4)
A heavy silence settled over the room where the three of us—Luche, Esmeralda, and I—stood after Luche’s sudden outburst.
Esmeralda, who had entered the room late, had no way of knowing the atmosphere between Luche and me when we were alone. She had simply been about to state her business, thinking the timing wasn't bad.
Luche, on the other hand, had been interrupted mid-sentence. When Esmeralda started talking about her own business, Luche had impulsively cut her off.
I didn't quite understand why she had to be so desperate about it, but it seemed she had something very important to say.
Even I, who was in the room, found the situation confusing. Esmeralda, who was completely in the dark, looked back and forth between Luche and me. Luche was staring intensely at Esmeralda, her eyes sharp.
"What's going on?" Esmeralda asked.
"You're going to the hospital with A tomorrow?" Luche countered.
"Yes. I don't think we'll have time once we start preparing for the duel. Is that okay with you, A?"
"Yes. I'm fine with it."
"I told you to wait a second!" Luche shouted.
It wasn't as if she was jealous because she was being left out of the conversation.
"Luche. If you have something to say, say it clearly. We can't have a conversation if you just throw a tantrum without stating your business," Esmeralda chided.
"I was going to ask A to go eat something delicious with me tomorrow!"
I had told Luche we should go eat something good to soothe her after she got upset. Since the topic had come up, Luche intended to go the very next day. She was just about to say that when Esmeralda walked in and brought up the hospital visit.
"Is that what this was about?"
Esmeralda seemed to grasp Luche's current mood after hearing that. I also finally understood why Luche had been so frantic, but Esmeralda looked at both of us again, seemingly deep in thought.
"I understand what you want to say. But visiting the hospital during the week is difficult. Could you let me have tomorrow?"
Esmeralda’s words sounded like a request on the surface, but her tone was closer to a declaration.
As she said, visiting someone in the hospital during the week was tough. It didn't matter much for me, but as a Team Leader—and the one who played the central role among the four—it was hard for Esmeralda to find time during weekday working hours.
Since Kruger was unconscious, the actual visitation wouldn't take long, but considering travel time, we needed a proper window. I thought going right before the duel—before the real work began—was the most appropriate time.
"I'll be busy once the week starts, too," Esmeralda added.
However, Luche didn't want to be beaten to the punch. No matter how logical Esmeralda’s words were, she had no intention of listening.
I didn't find Luche's behavior entirely incomprehensible. It had been ten years since I found out she was A.T., and she finally wanted to spend some quality time alone with me.
I had vivid memories of when I was in charge of her lifestyle education; we used to lounge around the room all day watching TV. I also felt like just sitting around and spacing out with her for the first time in a long while.
But in the current situation, if I had to pick who was right, I thought it was Esmeralda. The problem was that even if I thought so, I couldn't easily take her side.
Luche was already in a bad mood because she’d found out I moved into Su-ah’s place without telling her. If I said, "Esmeralda has a point, so I'll go to the hospital with her tomorrow," she would definitely sulk for at least a month.
To make matters worse, Esmeralda had technically asked first, which made it even more awkward.
I felt like running out of the room right then and there, but I couldn't exactly excuse myself while the two of them were discussing a matter that revolved around me.
"A, what do you want to do?"
Luche snapped her head toward me and asked. I had hoped she wouldn't put me on the spot, but as is often the case, things weren't going my way.
"Me?"
Esmeralda stood there silently, while Luche sent me a blatant look that practically screamed for me to choose her. I wanted to sigh, but the atmosphere was so suffocating I could barely breathe. Cold sweat trickled down my back.
"I..."
I trailed off, looking between Luche and Esmeralda to buy as much time as possible, but I couldn't think of a suitable answer on such short notice.
In times like this, one can only hope for a third party. If the people here couldn't resolve the situation, I had to hope for someone else to show up.
With a desperate heart, I slowly turned my gaze toward the door.
And perhaps my desperation triggered a miracle? I heard a knock.
"Luche."
Seira walked in.
Of all people, why did it have to be Seira at this exact moment?
"I told you I didn't say you could come in yet!"
Following Esmeralda, Seira had also entered immediately after knocking. Luche raised her voice again.
"I know. I just wanted to talk about a few changes to the specifications..."
Seira, who had been focused on Luche while being mindful of Esmeralda next to her, hadn't noticed me yet. When our eyes finally met, she stopped mid-sentence.
"What's this?"
Only then did Seira sense the unusual atmosphere. She narrowed her eyes and looked at everyone in the room.
I was grateful to be out of the hot seat, but I wasn't at all grateful for the fact that she had made the situation several times more complicated. This was why miracles weren't to be trusted.
In particular, Luche’s expression darkened further upon realizing that Seira now knew about my situation as well.
"Can we talk about that later? We're a bit busy right now," Luche said.
"Sure. Let's talk later."
Even though her reason for visiting Luche had been postponed, Seira showed no intention of leaving. She just stood there.
"I said let's talk later!"
"I heard you. Just keep talking about whatever you were talking about."
Esmeralda, seemingly frustrated by the situation, finally spoke up to calm Luche and Seira, who were starting to heat up.
"First of all, I think you two are misunderstanding something."
"A is going to be with me tomorrow!" Luche declared.
"What?!"
Thinking she would lose her ground if she backed down now, Luche refused to budge an inch. Seira, who had just been watching without knowing the context, was shocked by Luche's statement.
However, her shocked gaze wasn't directed at Luche, but at Esmeralda.
"Lady Esmeralda, don't tell me..."
"It's not like that."
I had no idea what they were implying, but Esmeralda, breaking into a cold sweat, tried to calm Seira, who was staring at her intensely.
"You act like you're not involved, but..."
"!!!"
Because of Luche's remark, Seira's misunderstanding—whatever it was—only grew deeper. Seeing no sign of the situation improving, Esmeralda pressed a hand to her forehead and let out a deep sigh.
"Everyone, just calm down for a moment."
I felt I couldn't just stay quiet anymore and opened my mouth, but the pressure of three pairs of eyes landing on me simultaneously made me snap it shut again.
It felt exactly like being glared at by all my girlfriends at once.
I just hoped the situation wouldn't get any more chaotic.
And at that moment, there was another knock, and the door opened immediately after.
"Esmeralda. I heard you were here."
Captain Angelica opened the door and walked in. Sensing the heavy atmosphere the moment she entered, she stood still by the open door, blinking.
"Why does not a single one of you wait for an answer?!"
Exploding after Esmeralda, Seira, and now Angelica had all entered without waiting for permission, Luche shouted at the top of her lungs. But Angelica didn't seem to care about Luche's anger; she was just staring at me.
Please help me.
I sent her a desperate look, hoping she would do something about this atmosphere that I couldn't handle on my own.
"What's going on?"
At Angelica's simple question, the three frustrated women shouted at the same time.
"Esmeralda is trying to take A away!"
"Luche won't listen to a word I say!"
"The two of them are fighting over A!"
Their voices overlapped, making it hard to distinguish, but Angelica, having understood exactly what they were saying, nodded slowly and began to close the door.
"Captain Angelica! Please help me!"
Seeing that the situation was far more complicated than she’d thought, Angelica tried to flee the room. But I, caught in the middle and unable to move, didn't want to let go of the only person who could resolve this. I grabbed the door she was trying to close and begged for help.
In the end, Angelica entered Luche's room as well. Luche remained in her seat, while Seira, Esmeralda, Angelica, and I sat on the sofa.
"How did it end up like this?"
Esmeralda, who wanted to visit Kruger with me.
Luche, who wanted to have a meal with me. And Seira, who was misunderstanding the situation for some unknown reason.
Realizing that the atmosphere had turned heavy over something quite trivial, Angelica looked at the three of them—excluding me—with a look of genuine disbelief rather than reproach.
"It's because those two won't listen," Esmeralda said, letting out a sigh of relief now that someone reasonable was here.
"First of all, wouldn't it be better to go to the hospital with Esmeralda? Kruger used to be under Esmeralda, and he's an important subordinate to Luche now, isn't he?"
"Well, that's true..."
Having regained her composure thanks to Angelica's mediation, Luche dropped her desperate stance and answered calmly.
"Everyone here has a connection to Kruger. Regardless of the schedule, I think it's better to check on him one more time while he's lying lonely in that hospital room."
"Fine. But you have to go eat something delicious with me later, okay?"
Angelica's presence alone made it much easier to breathe. Luche, realizing she had been throwing a bit of a tantrum, told me to make sure I kept our promise next time.
"Of course."
There was no reason for me to refuse now that the situation had improved.
"I was disappointed I only got to see A briefly last time. Shall we all have a meal together soon?"
Angelica suggested with a gentle smile.
I had met Angelica when I came to the Headquarters before, but it was only a brief encounter. I thought it would be nice to have a proper meal after so long.
"Yes. Anytime."
The moment I answered with a bright voice, my gaze shifted to Seira, who was sitting silently with a stiff expression.
I didn't know what to say to her because of what happened a week ago, but I couldn't just let this awkwardness continue.
"Seira?"
"W-what?"
When I called her name softly, Seira looked startled, her eyes widening.
"...Are you free for a while?"
"Do whatever you want."
It wasn't exactly a friendly answer, but translating it through Seira's personality, it meant I should just set the schedule for a day that worked for me.
"Got it."
Since I didn't know what the schedule would look like because of the duel, I just gave a simple confirmation for now.
"Then we're good, right? Esmeralda, I need to check some documents to submit to the higher-ups."
"Okay."
Once the situation was settled, Angelica and Esmeralda left the room to get back to work.
"Seira. What was it you wanted to check earlier?"
"Ah. Let's go to my room first."
Then Seira and Luche also left the room to work.
In an instant, the people cleared out, leaving me alone in Luche's noisy office.
As the tension bled away, fatigue suddenly washed over me.
"...Let's go home."
Muttering to myself, I stood up from the sofa. I left Luche's room, grabbed my smartphone and wallet from my desk, and walked out of the Headquarters without looking back.
Everything should be fine once I get home.
Today, Eunha and Hayoung were coming over for dinner. My shoulders relaxed at the thought of having a peaceful, leisurely meal.
I wondered what kind of delicious food Hayoung would make today. Eunha had seemed a bit anxious ever since I moved into Su-ah's place; I wondered if she was okay. Su-ah would probably be swearing up a storm next to me about how she can't play games.
Thinking about my girlfriends' usual antics, I stepped out of the elevator with a light heart and punched in the door lock code.
"I'm home."
I announced my arrival loudly as I walked through the hallway into the living room. Eunha, Hayoung, Su-ah, and Yura—who wasn't supposed to be there—were all in the living room.
And the atmosphere was anything but normal.
The moment I entered and sensed something was wrong, Su-ah and Yura looked at me simultaneously.
"A! Yellow is—!"
"Hey! Pink is—!"
"..."
A sigh escaped me automatically at the sight of the two of them raising their voices.
No peace and quiet at work, and no peace and quiet at home...
With that thought, I walked right into the middle of the storm.