Chapter 41: Until the Blue Sky Comes (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 41: Until the Blue Sky Comes (1)
"Yes. Will you be alright on your own?"
A few days had passed since the incident with Green. The monsoon season had arrived, and with the rain pouring down outside every day, there was rarely a reason to go out unless it was an emergency.
Our meetings in the park were temporarily put on hold. With her father in a holding cell, Green had found a moment of safety and was able to rest at home.
However, it seemed her habit of spending time in the park hadn't completely vanished. Even on the days I didn't go, she apparently sat on the park bench a few times, staring blankly at the rainy sky.
Today, I was sitting in the headquarters office, logged into the archive using Seira’s account to search for data. It was a hassle to go to her every time, and Seira, seemingly finding it equally tedious to log me in whenever I showed up, had just given me her credentials.
Of course, there was still no significant progress. It felt like I’d hit a wall with what I could find in the general archives. While there were historical records, they didn't keep classified documents there, making it clear that I needed access to higher-level materials.
But since I lacked the connections and the ability to get them, I had to do everything within my current power.
Today was the day Green had to appear at the police station. "Appearing" made it sound like she’d committed a crime, but it was literally just an appearance. The police had called her in for the investigation, and she was simply going there to fulfill that requirement.
At first, I wondered if I should go with her, but—
"If I really need help, I’ll be sure to call you then."
At Green’s words, I decided to wait until she could stand on her own two feet.
It sounded as if I were nursing her, but seeing Green break free from her grueling circumstances to find her own path brought me a genuine sense of pride.
"Alright. Then call me when you're finished."
I hung up and set my smartphone down on the desk. It was an absurd situation—calling Green of Team Hunter Killer from the Spacetro Seoul Headquarters—but considering how all of this would eventually become a great source of strength, I didn't find it strange at all.
"Researching again today?"
Luche approached me as I scrolled down the monitor.
Perhaps she had visited a salon; her grey hair looked a bit more neatly trimmed than usual.
"Yes. Did you go to a shop?"
"Yeah. I felt like my hair was getting too messy."
Engaging in casual conversation, Luche pulled up a chair and sat beside me, staring blankly at the monitor.
"Are you bored?"
"A little."
It seemed Luche had run out of things to do for the day.
Since I had been staying at the headquarters lately, Luche would seek me out whenever she got bored, and I had to entertain her each time.
It wasn't particularly annoying. I’m a fairly simple person, but Luche is just as simple as I am, so she could stave off her boredom just by having a light conversation.
"Do you happen to know anyone in the investigation team?"
"Where? At the main headquarters?"
"Yes."
"As if."
I managed to get along with Luche well enough, but to someone who didn't know her, she had a rather prickly personality. Of course, that was only the perspective of a stranger; once you got to know her, she was just someone with deep emotions.
Regardless, because she seemed difficult to outsiders, her social circle was as narrow as mine. Well, maybe not as narrow, but for someone holding the rank of Team Leader, her connections weren't exactly broad.
"I saw all the Team Leaders at the headquarters today. Is something going on?"
"There was a monthly meeting. We were settling last month's accounts."
I hadn't met them all personally or even seen their faces today, but according to the staff working at the headquarters, it was rare for all the Team Leaders to be present at once. It made me curious.
Meetings happened every week and every month, but since I didn't know the exact schedule, I just nodded at Luche's answer.
There wasn't much to feel about it. I was just curious why they were all here, and now that curiosity was satisfied.
"Why don't you go say hello to the 1st Team Leader?"
At the mention of the 1st Team Leader, I immediately frowned and looked at her.
"Are you trying to see someone piss themselves?"
"I don't want to see it, but I think it would be pretty funny if I did."
Seeing her look at me with wide eyes and a deadpan expression, it was clear she was at least partially serious.
"You know a lot of people in Team 1 anyway."
"That's because they're people I used to be in the same unit with."
"Why didn't you go to Team 1?"
"You're the one who scouted me for Team 3, Luche."
"That's true."
Before coming to the Seoul Branch, I had been serving on the mothership anchored in the Pacific. My transfer to the Seoul Branch happened because Luche, who had become a Team Leader there at the time, had specifically requested me. Honestly, I doubt Luche's request alone would have been enough to get me reassigned from the Pacific to Seoul, but...
Anyway, that was the story I knew, so I gave Luche an incredulous look.
"Do you hate the 1st Team Leader that much?"
"It's not that I hate her; I'm terrified of her."
I really didn't hate her. If someone asked me what the scariest thing in the world was, the third would be Luche when she's crying uncontrollably. The second would be an angry Yubin.
And the first would be the 1st Team Leader.
"You might not know, Luche, but back when I was under the 1st Team Leader..."
"I know."
"How do you know? We were in different units back then."
"...You don't need to know."
I had been with Spacetro for quite a while and had moved through several units. My superior back on the homeworld was Angelica, the current 2nd Team Leader. After the homeworld was invaded and we headed into space, my superior while serving on the ship was the 1st Team Leader.
Back then, I barely knew Luche existed. I’d only heard rumors of her being a brilliant ace from another unit. The first time I actually saw her was after arriving on Earth. Had she heard about it from another Team Leader?
I didn't even have to think twice about who would go around spreading stories from the old days.
"Did the 4th Team Leader tell you?"
Seira, who had been in the same unit as me from the training center all the way to the ship, knew my past better than anyone.
"Forget it. Just look at the monitor."
Watching Luche refuse to answer, I mentally concluded that Seira was the one who had talked.
"Hey!"
Speak of the devil. At the sharp voice coming from behind me, I turned my chair. I saw Seira, her long black hair tied back, walking toward me.
"Yes?"
"Are you using my account?"
"Yes."
As Seira approached, she noticed Luche sitting next to me and glanced at the monitor I had been looking at.
"If I'm here, shouldn't you come to my office to use it? Whose account do you think that is?"
Seira was right, so I sat there quietly, carefully reading the room.
As she said, the account I was using wasn't mine. Using it alone while she was actually in the building was definitely not something I could justify.
"I'm sorry. I thought you'd be busy."
Since Luche was there and we were in the office, I used formal speech with Seira. But since we usually only talked when we were alone, using formal language felt incredibly awkward.
Seira didn't seem used to me actually apologizing either, as she didn't press the matter further.
We’d known each other for a long time, but I couldn't remember the last time I’d given her a proper apology.
After a brief silence, Seira turned her gaze toward Luche.
"Why do you look so grumpy?"
"None of your business."
"Why, you—!"
Displeased by Luche's blunt response, Seira reached out and pinched Luche's cheek. Luche complained that it hurt and slapped the back of Seira's hand.
"A might be lower rank than you, but I'm a fellow Team Leader!"
Luche had become a Team Leader because her skills as a high-profile ace were recognized, but Seira had also been promoted quickly for her own recognized abilities.
Furthermore, Seira wasn't the type to let things slide like I was. If Luche treated Seira the way she treated me, Seira was never going to just take it.
And right now, she wasn't taking it.
"Team 3 is as lively as ever today."
Another voice drifted from nearby. I turned my head, and the moment I did, I felt my body stiffen. I stood up from my chair and immediately saluted.
The silver-haired Angelica was walking toward us with a smile.
The problem wasn't Angelica. It was the woman beside her, dressed in a black suit with long platinum-blonde hair. The moment I saw her, I felt the tension lock into my shoulders.
"Good day, Esmeralda."
I knew all the Team Leaders were at the headquarters, but having them swarm me like this was troublesome. The reason... well, there didn't even need to be a reason. There isn't a person in the entire universe who would be happy to have their bosses crowding around them.
"Right. It's been a while, A."
"I've been busy with various things and haven't been able to greet you lately."
Seeing the two approach, Seira let go of Luche's cheek. Angelica glanced at the monitor I had been using.
"Still investigating today?"
"Yes. But I'm not finding any useful information."
I answered Angelica's question while breaking into a cold sweat, sensing the atmosphere between the Team Leaders. I wished they would all just go somewhere else.
"But what brings you two here?"
Since they weren't moving on, it seemed their goal was me, but I had no idea why they’d come.
"Kirk is looking for you."
"Kirk?"
I tilted my head at Esmeralda's words. Among the colleagues I had stayed in touch with before my surveillance mission—despite not really talking to my own teammates—was Kirk from Team 1.
I had a deep history with Kirk, as we were in the same unit back when I served under Esmeralda. But the important thing wasn't that Kirk was looking for me.
They came to tell me that?
It was the fact that two Team Leaders had come to find me just to deliver such a trivial message.
"We wanted to pass that along, and also see your face since it's been a while."
Esmeralda seemed to read my mind. Angelica and Esmeralda had both been my superiors at different points in the past.
"Anyway, Kirk said he has a favor to ask. He's in the breakroom."
"A favor?"
"Yeah. Something about his daughter."
Kirk had a young daughter. If it involved her, it was likely something personal.
"I'll go see him right away."
"Good. We have things to discuss, so we'll be going."
The Team Leaders finally began to disperse. I let out a long sigh of relief as I watched them walk away. Dealing with them all at once was more exhausting than a full day of combat training.
I headed toward the breakroom. As expected, Kirk was sitting there, looking uncharacteristically nervous.
"Kirk? I heard you were looking for me."
"Oh, A! You're here."
Kirk jumped up from his seat, looking relieved to see me.
"What's the favor? The Team Leaders said it was about your daughter."
Kirk scratched the back of his head, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Well... it's my wedding anniversary today. I wanted to take my wife out for a nice dinner, but the babysitter canceled at the last minute because of the rain."
I blinked, already sensing where this was going.
"So... you want me to watch her?"
"Just for a few hours! I know it's a lot to ask, but you're the only one I can trust with this. Everyone else is either busy or... well, you know how our colleagues are."
I looked out the window at the pouring rain. It wasn't like I had much else to do, and Kirk had helped me out plenty of times in the past.
"Alright. I'll do it."
Kirk's face lit up. "Really? Thanks, A! You're a lifesaver. I'll make it up to you, I promise!"
As Kirk rushed off to make arrangements, I leaned back against the wall. From investigating ancient records to babysitting—my life as an extra in an evil organization was certainly never predictable.
But as I thought about the "Blue Sky" Green was waiting for, I figured a little rain wouldn't hurt.