Dinner Among the Leaders
With the innocent question of where exactly the team leaders' dinner gathering was held, I followed along only to find myself heading straight toward an ordinary street in the city. I had imagined something like a members-only high-end Korean restaurant that only VVIPs could enter, like in the movies.
"..."
The quiet evening street scene... Of course there were quite a few people around, and a bustling street could never be truly silent, but with my abilities restricted by the team leader, the unfamiliar street view somehow lifted my mood. It was surprisingly comfortable not hearing the inner voices of others. The people passing by weren't badmouthing each other; instead, they were chatting amicably and laughing as they went. It was the first time I'd found watching people so entertaining.
"Ung-ssi, aren't you coming?"
"Ah... ah, I'm coming now."
Of course, the team leader's clown mask drew some stares from passersby, but most city folk aren't particularly interested in strangers. They glanced over briefly before going on their way.
As we turned into a dimly lit alley off the main street, a cat statue with one paw raised greeted us with a slightly creepy... or rather, peculiar expression. That was probably some kind of lucky cat? Not that it mattered much. It seemed we'd arrived.
"An unexpectedly ordinary izakaya."
"The food here is quite good. Will you be all right with the block still active?"
"Yes, thanks to you, it's quite comfortable."
Even if it was a normal restaurant with people coming and going, my abilities usually made everything around me noisy with voices, so I didn't go out of my way to visit places like this. Especially a bar, where I'd hear drunken complaints and grumbling... In any case, all sorts of stories I didn't want to know would pour directly into my head. But right now, thanks to the team leader, I couldn't hear any of it, so the atmosphere felt pleasant... I thought this dinner might actually turn out all right. That is, until we entered the private room in the back.
"Ahaha, am I the last one here? I wonder if you've already ordered."
Whoosh—! Thud!
"...!"
The moment I opened the door, a glass cup flew straight at me as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I caught it like we were playing catch. Clack. The team leader casually walked in without a care, placed the miraculously unbroken glass on the table, and gestured for me to come inside as I stood frozen in the doorway, flustered by the sudden incident.
"Why'd you bring that guy along?"
But soon the one who had thrown the glass voiced their displeasure at the unwelcome presence.
"...Well, I thought it would be fun?"
Of course. The Field Team Leader was here too, as expected.
"She's always so willful. President, are you just going to let her be like that?"
"It'll probably be fine. I think it'll be fun too."
"Haah... both of them are the same."
With a deep sigh, she pressed a hand to her forehead and lowered her head. Just the way her black hair flowed down made it look like a scene from a photoshoot. So that was possible under izakaya lighting. Impressive. The Field Team Leader already had sharp eyes normally, but with that slight frown added, she gave off the kind of aura that would make a certain demographic prostrate themselves in gratitude while waiting for the whip. In any case, even among these beauties, the Field Team Leader had an especially selfish yet captivating face and figure... In my case, my body reacted first, which was rather troublesome. ...No, I mean, the places where she'd kicked and beaten me were throbbing for no reason.
"You followed me all the way here without knowing where this is... Come on, sit next to me."
".. Ah."
So there was no rule saying I had to die. Response Team Leader... thank you. No, thank you. Thank you so much... Even though her image as a team leader still made her a bit intimidating, I resolved to sincerely try my best from now on. Fortunately, she was the only one I could really communicate with, and she called me over to sit beside her. But it seemed I had relaxed too soon.
"No, no, Woong should naturally sit next to me, the President. Come here and pour me a drink. How about it, can you hold your liquor?"
I heard a line that sounded like something a department head would say while harassing a new female employee. But hearing it in the President's characteristically husky voice, it didn't feel quite so unpleasant... Still, if I obediently followed that request, I had no idea what would happen to me by the end of the dinner.
"Come now, Ung-ssi, sit here. There's an empty seat right there, no need to make things awkward."
"Huh...?"
Pulled by the hand on my shoulder, I ended up sitting across from the Response Team Leader instead of beside her.
"..."
Which naturally meant the Field Team Leader was now seated right next to me.
"What are you staring at?"
".. I'm sorry."
It's nothing... Whatever it is, I'm sorry. The moment those golden vertically slit pupils turned toward me, my mouth automatically spat out an apology.
"Ugh..."
I shot a resentful glare at the team leader, who had irresponsibly abandoned me and was now humming across the table, but she paid no attention. Well, of course. The President sat at the head, with the Field Team Leader and Response Team Leader facing each other on either side, and the team leader and I filled the remaining seats.
"I can't sit there, can I?"
At the team leader's words, I nodded weakly, glanced at the Field Team Leader, then let out a sigh in my heart. I was actually relieved I hadn't been made to sit the team leader next to the Field Team Leader. Though I doubted a single table between them would prevent any clashes.
"By the way, President, you did tell El Dorado you were coming, right?"
"Huh? Uh, uh...! Of course!"
El Dorado... That was definitely the name of the President's girlfriend, wasn't it? My abilities were currently neutralized by the team leader, but somehow her reaction made it feel like I could hear her inner voice. This was a unique experience.
"You didn't have to attend in person. We would have relayed the meeting contents anyway..."
"I can't do that. As the President, I should... ahem, cough."
As she spoke, she kept glancing furtively at the team leader... Why? I followed her gaze without thinking, but all I saw was a burly man in a suit wearing an ill-fitting clown mask... Wait a second.
"...!"
She couldn't eat with that mask on, could she? Then surely...
"Ah, for the record, I'll only be drinking a little."
Tap. When the team leader pulled a long straw from her suit pocket and stuck it into her glass, the President made no effort to hide her disappointment.
".. Can I just go home?"
"As President, and didn't you have something you wanted to say?"
"Tch."
It seemed like nothing had properly started yet, but at the team leader's single remark, the President already looked completely drained of motivation. She slumped over and fiddled with her mane-like, spiky gray hair... Our eyes met.
"Hehe..."
"?"
I reflexively turned my head away with a start, but I didn't need to look to know. The tingling on the side of my face told me exactly where the President's interest had shifted.
"Anyway, if any of the team leaders have something they'd like to share specifically, please speak up, starting with Joker or Nine Tail."
"Then I'll go first."
".. Hmph."
The Field Team Leader turned her head sharply as if to say "do whatever you want." Her hair swayed again, and that sweet scent slowly drifted toward me. I'd better stay sharp, or things could get dangerous.
"Ung-ssi's abilities have newly awakened."
Me? No, me? Why bring up my story here of all places...
"The first sign appeared during the outing with Harpy last time, and the second during counseling with the Risk Level 4 containment subject currently undergoing counseling."
"I received the report. The Field Team Leader helped, right? Have you two made up now?"
.. Whoosh! The team leader and Field Team Leader turned their heads almost simultaneously, their gazes piercing straight into the President.
"Ah... haha, I guess not yet. Yeah, sorry for saying something unnecessary... Please continue."
The President seemed to have lost some of her spirit.
"The method was somewhat crude, but... it suited the situation, so I have nothing to say about it."
"What?"
"Hehe, I meant it suited someone who's an expert in that field."
The target had now shifted from the President to the team leader, sparks flying from the Field Team Leader's sharp eyes. Just watching made me nervous for no reason.
"In any case, with the Field Team Leader's help, we've confirmed that in addition to simple mind-reading, he possesses an ability to connect mentally with others and share their five senses and emotions... and we're currently proceeding with a new project using this ability."
The team leader continued the briefing without showing the slightest concern for that piercing gaze. She really was impressive.
"Depending on the results of this project, we believe it's worth attempting counseling with other containment subjects that have been difficult to handle."
"Right. Don't push yourself too hard. If you need anything for our goals, I'll support you with whatever you want."
She mentioned containment subjects that had been difficult to handle... The President also told me not to overdo it, so I hoped I wouldn't get involved with anything dangerous.
"Other than being out in the field a lot lately, I don't have much to say on this end. Those guys haven't even seen a shadow in a long time, and next month the President said she'd go over and check things out herself."
"There's something that's been bothering me, so I want to look it over once more. While I'm at it, I'll check how those kids are doing too."
Those guys? Those kids...? Maybe it was because I was here, or maybe she was being careful of other ears, but either way, I personally hoped I wouldn't have to know the details. And now it was the Response Team Leader's turn to brief.
"I thoroughly checked the expected escape routes within a 5km radius of the area we cleaned up six months ago, along with newly identified hideouts, but there wasn't a single trace left. The one who escaped with serious injuries... in other words, the Fire Chicken seems to have hidden with their help."
Again with all these dangerous-sounding stories. Why on earth did the team leader bring me to this gathering?
"She's been quiet for quite a while. Given her personality, I thought she'd come charging out again soon... What do you think, Response Team Leader? Do you think she's withdrawn from here?"
"She was dealt with quite harshly by the Field Team Leader. But the fact that she's been this quiet makes me uneasy instead."
".. Can't be helped. In the end, they'll have to make the first move before we can act. Still, it's a shame we couldn't finish her off there."
Dealt with harshly by the Field Team Leader...? Finish her off? The conversation between the Response Team Leader and President ended, leaving only unresolved discomfort and regret. Where is this place, and who am I... I want to go home. Such thoughts drifted through my dazed mind.
"All right, let's stop with the heavy talk. Woong's expression is starting to look pitiful too."
"I'm sorry..."
"It was a joke. We don't like this kind of talk much either. Since I'm buying, order whatever you want to eat."
Looking at the President, who smiled and gave me a bit of breathing room, I thought that even though her sexual harassment was still burdensome, she was a good person who cared even for a lowly employee like me.
"So... hehe, does that mean I can order whatever I want to eat too?"
I take back what I just said.