Each One's Role (1)
Each One's Role (1)
"Alright, I'm off~"
"We're heading out!!"
"I'll bring them back before dinner."
Starting with Baek Ha-na, the kids said their goodbyes one by one and left the estate, faces bright with excitement. After they'd all gone.
"...I truly believe it would be best if I accompanied them."
"That's overprotective."
"O-overprotective... I disagree."
Claire, following me toward the study, pursed her lips slightly and voiced a small protest.
"The Barrier has been restored, but the period of absence was so long that the situation both inside and out is still unsettled."
"We spoke about this yesterday."
"...Yes. We did speak about this yesterday."
She quickened her pace a little to draw up beside me.
"Now that even the upperclassmen have all been sent out, those children suddenly leaving the academy will attract attention whether we like it or not. And each of them has such a pronounced personality......"
Swish—
My left sleeve was tugged.
I looked down and saw her fingers pinching the fabric.
"If, if I am not permitted to go, perhaps we could at least place the High Priest or a few Holy Knights discreetly behind them...?"
"From what Lee Ye-sol told me, everyone is currently on leave."
"...My orders take priority."
"What a terrible boss."
"If you, Mister Woo-jin, would only allow it...... ah...."
I'd simply moved the hand she'd grabbed to brush her cheek. Her shoulders flinched, and she immediately widened the distance between us. I watched her retreat several steps in an instant, then turned back toward the study. As she hesitated, I spoke.
"A cup of coffee, if you would."
"......Yes."
After sending Claire off to the kitchen, I returned to the study alone and settled into the chair at my desk.
- This is for an assignment, but is it okay if I go out on the weekend?
That's what Baek Ha-na had come and asked me on Friday afternoon, after training had ended.
- I have to hunt and dissect a low-stage Monster. Ha-na's gotta film it. Can I go?
Standing stiffly in front of my desk, maintaining a careful distance, she'd asked for permission. It wasn't anything I'd planned for, but I gave her approval to leave the academy.
A problem of that sort could easily have been solved by using the Crystal shoved away in the bedroom, but I chose not to. The kid is trying hard to create some distance from me, and I'm not about to get in the way of that.
Besides, it's about time I started tidying things up.
'Eight years is more than enough.'
I've already received more than I ever deserved.
Anything beyond that would just be greed, or self-satisfaction.
Slip.
The study door opened smoothly and Claire entered. Like Baek Ha-na had done the day before, she used the desk as a shield and placed the teacup before me.
She's clearly unhappy that I stopped her from following the kids.
"You'll attend the faculty meeting with me at ten."
"Me as well, you mean?"
I set down the half-empty teacup and nodded.
At the gesture, the dissatisfaction lingering in Claire's eyes settled into a calm, measured stillness.
"Do you have a separate task for me?"
"No."
"......?"
Claire, who'd been bracing herself for a mission, blinked slowly, her eyes widening.
"...Then?"
"Does a professor need a reason to bring his deputy professor along?"
"No, I suppose... not...?"
Every time she makes a face like that, I understand why Lee Ye-sol gets so much entertainment out of teasing her commanding officer.
"Then... what about the child?"
Claire's gaze flicked toward the bedroom for a moment.
Unlike the kids who'd finished getting ready early in the morning and left the estate, the Fairy was still sprawled out fast asleep in the bedroom as usual.
"I've already called Lee Ye-sol."
"...I am her commanding officer."
Since when did that matter between them.
I looked at her without a word, and Claire was the first to avert her eyes.
Now that the distance has narrowed, her expressions aimed at me are slowly becoming more varied.
I placed the now-empty teacup down.
"And you belong to me."
"......."
Her face reddened steadily.
"I-I'll go change my clothes...."
Ultimately, she gave up on the protest and fled to the bedroom just as she always does.
Left alone, I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes.
The faculty members setting foot inside Arena Academy for the staff meeting soon.
'Seven, then.'
The number of those whose physical energy waves don't match the waves imprinted on their ID cards. The question is whether any of that trash is carrying the information I need.
All I can hope is that they prove to be worth the access I've granted them.
Or that a bigger fish swallows the bait I've thrown outside.
'I'd prefer to handle it entirely on my own, but that's probably unrealistic.'
Seeing that they're already scheming to infiltrate the academy, a few of them have likely already tailed the kids who left its grounds a short while ago.
Those bastards have eyes and ears of their own, so the only target worth going after would be Lee Na-young, at most. The rest would obviously be more trouble to swallow than they're worth.
But even then, they won't make a move until the presence of Claire and myself is unaccounted for. That's precisely why I'm bringing Claire to this meeting.
To let them know exactly where we are.
Slip.
I opened my eyes at the small sound of the door.
Turning my head slightly, I saw Claire dressed in a black suit I hadn't seen in a while.
"...Perhaps this is a bit much for a faculty meeting?"
"No."
The meeting itself will begin and end with the Chairman's long-winded, empty talk, so wearing such a formal outfit isn't actually necessary. But I saw no reason to inform Claire of that fact.
Poor thing. Showing her off to those bastards feels like such a waste.
**
[Seoul - Restricted Zone Levels 1-3]
"Take care on your way back~"
"You girls stay safe too."
Maria stepped out of the taxi with a gentle smile.
"Maybe we should've eaten breakfast before leaving...?"
"I'm a little hungry too."
Idni and Baek Ha-na stood in front of the checkpoint, rubbing their stomachs.
Maria watched the two of them and chuckled softly.
"I know a good restaurant around here, so let's finish this quickly and go."
"Well, obviously we're gonna do that whether you say it or not... Hey, Lee Na-young. You got anything edible on you?"
"I-I've got potion, eek?!"
Lee Na-young, who'd been rummaging through the small bag at her waist, suddenly jumped. Baek Ha-na, who was hugging her from behind, had given her cheek a little nip.
"Baek Ha-naaaaa......."
"Ah, uh, I, Ha-na, kyaa?!"
The flustered Lee Na-young jumped a second time.
Idni, who'd been standing next to Maria, had somehow already crept over and bitten her other cheek.
-Hahaha, that's a great sight.
-Coming out early was worth it.
-Which school are those kids from?
The Awakened waiting in line at the checkpoint laughed softly and snuck photos with their phones, and even the guard who was supposed to be keeping a sharp energy sense looming over the barrier glanced over and stifled a grin.
It made sense. During vacation season, the low-stage Rifts turn into stomping grounds for Awakened of truly middling ability, which meant the place was usually filled with nothing but gloomy men trudging in and out day after day.
So when a group of girls whose mere presence made the whole area feel brighter appeared, it was impossible for eyes not to follow them.
Smack—!!
"......?!"
Idni jumped at the crisp sound, and the Awakened who'd been chuckling flinched involuntarily.
"Stop bothering Na-young and go get in line. You're making a nuisance for everyone else."
Most of the Awakened wanted to shout that they weren't a nuisance at all, but none of them had the courage to actually voice it.
"Tch... why am I the only one getting smacked? Baek Ha-na started it!"
Slap-
Maria lightly tapped Baek Ha-na's pale forearm.
"Happy now?"
"Argh, argh!!"
Idni beat a fist against her own chest, let out a long sigh, and joined the back of the line.
"Ha-na, you stop too."
"Nngh...."
Only after Maria poked her in the side did Baek Ha-na release Lee Na-young's soft, squishy cheek from between her teeth.
"Alright, let's get in line. The people behind us can't even queue up properly because of you lot."
"Fine...."
Baek Ha-na rested her chin on top of Lee Na-young's head, and together they shuffled behind Idni.
"Seo-hee?"
"......Yeah."
Nam Seo-hee, who'd been peering backward with narrowed eyes, nodded and stepped up beside Baek Ha-na.
·
·
·
"Ah, you're students of Arena Academy. Are you here for an assignment?"
"Yes, that's right. We'll be out in thirty minutes at most."
"Confirmed. If you need any assistance, please feel free to ask the Watchers at any time. There are many personnel currently on standby."
"We will."
Maria smiled softly, collected her student ID, and passed through the gate.
"Let's head to the closest one."
"Yeah... let's just go. Just the taxi ride back and forth is over an hour, so we gotta wrap this up fast...."
Baek Ha-na took the lead, and Idni shuffled along behind her with a slouched posture.
"What's been going on with you since earlier?"
"...I think I feel someone watching us."
"Wouldn't it be stranger if you didn't feel people watching us?"
The guards up on the barrier, the Awakened who'd passed through the gate just moments ago, the Watchers sitting in front of the Rifts.
They were all stealing glances at them.
"It's not that kind of attention...."
Nam Seo-hee started to speak, then closed her mouth.
"...I've been away for so long. Maybe I'm just a little on edge."
The reason Nam Seo-hee reached that conclusion was simple.
Baek Ha-na, who was several times more sensitive than herself, hadn't shown any reaction at all.
"Yeah. Seo-hee, you must be hungry too."
"That's not—."
Growl—!!
A sound as loud and dramatic as an overexcited Idni erupted from Nam Seo-hee's stomach.
"...Let's go faster."
"Wh-wha? S-Seo-hee?!"
Nam Seo-hee fled, chasing after Baek Ha-na and Idni, who'd long since scooped up Lee Na-young and vanished ahead.
"......."
Left alone for a moment, Maria quietly followed after her friends and pulled out her smartphone. She appeared to dial a call to somewhere, then quietly slipped it into her front pocket. With the front-facing camera positioned for a very clear view.