Supernova (4)
"Are you proud of that?"
"What?"
"The incident's already over, and the suspect's fled. What does it matter now if you're from the 1st Army or whatever?"
Yoo Yeon's expression hardened at my words.
"Is that for real? Hey, we all have our own—"
Just as Yoo Yeon was about to snap, Lee Ju-hyeok stepped in to block her.
"She's not wrong. Yoo Yeon."
"But we had our own stuff going on...!"
Lee Ju-hyeok surveyed the situation in an emotionless tone.
"Sorry we're late. I heard there were already casualties."
"Indeed..."
From behind, Lee Sera's sobs echoed faintly. Her voice, distant and raw, was more like a primal wail than anything human.
She must've relied on her coach a lot...
The problem was that the coach was the one who'd ruined her career as a mage.
How should I break it to her...?
No, maybe she already knew. After all, Lee Sera had spent the most time with him.
As I gazed sadly at Lee Sera, collapsed and weeping in the yard, Yoo Yeon squatted down beside me.
"Surprising. With a nickname like Maou, I figured you'd be unfazed."
"Hmph. If you're the 1st Army, shouldn't you be chasing the criminal instead of standing around? Think he's just gonna wait for you?"
Yoo Yeon gave me a baffled look at my icy retort, then burst out laughing.
"Ahahaha! What's with her? New character? Totally different from Hyun. Wanna join Haneul Tower? I'll take good care of you."
"No thanks. I already belong to a tower."
I shot her a look like what am I, a sideshow? Lee Ju-hyeok answered for her.
"SEED agents are on it, so don't worry. Among us, they're the best at tracking."
At that exact moment, a distant ether explosion rippled through the air.
"Ah."
All three of our heads snapped toward it in unison.
"They lost him."
"Lost him."
"Oh dear~"
As we spoke simultaneously, Yoo Yeon stared at me in wonder.
"Whoa, what are you? You sensed that ether just now? And you're really from the 3rd Army?"
"I'm still in the prelims. Might climb to 2nd Army, though..."
"Hmph, if you face off against Kang Seo-hee, you're stuck in 3rd. But from a 1st Army perspective, you two are on the same level anyway~"
I shot back sharply at Yoo Yeon's taunt.
"So the mighty 1st Army shows up this late? The fight's been over for more than thirty minutes."
Lee Ju-hyeok glanced at Yoo Yeon. She twirled a lock of hair awkwardly.
"Sorry, kiddo, but active 1st Army mages are few, and time's limited. We can't deploy for every little thing."
"Hope you can say that to the dead coach's family."
Yoo Yeon raised an eyebrow. Her thick brows angled like 10:10 on a clock.
"You! Keep flip-flopping—liking me one sec, hating me the next? Playing hard to get, kiddo?"
"......"
Unlike Yoo Yeon, Lee Ju-hyeok just nodded.
"It took time to get out of the Abyss."
"Ah?"
They were clearing an Abyss? But no signs of battle...
Only then did I catch the faint, fishy ether scent of abyssal creatures wafting from Lee Ju-hyeok's coat. So subtle it blended with the dust.
Wearing that long coat, and not a drop of abyssal blood on him.
Sensing the danger, I nodded quietly.
"If you were clearing an Abyss, that makes sense. My mistake. Sorry."
"Thanks for understanding."
At my sudden shift, Yoo Yeon gawked, looking back and forth between us.
"You sexist? Hey, kiddo! Cold to me, but polite to him? Crushing on Lee Ju-hyeok or what? Why the sudden formal talk?"
As I opened my mouth to reply, I spotted medics leading Lee Sera away.
"Ah, Lee Sera."
"Don't worry. Just a routine check."
"Then I'll go with her."
I started to hurry, but Lee Ju-hyeok blocked me.
"It's fine. They'll handle the investigation and treatment separately."
"Why block the way...?"
I stepped back at the sudden surge of ether.
"Mage Yoo Eunha."
"......"
Lee Ju-hyeok suddenly pulled out handcuffs and slapped them on me. My small hands made them slip right off to the ground.
"......"
"......"
In the awkward silence, he sighed, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and bound my wrists instead.
"What's this mean? Punishing a junior for mouthing off...?"
He grinned.
"Arrested for unauthorized magic use outside the Abyss and illegal ether cartridge possession."
Cold sweat beaded on my forehead.
"Ah."
Monica's cartridge was unlicensed...
I recalled Monica winking: US mages don't need permits.
Damn...
As I panicked, Yoo Yeon smirked.
"What now~? Big trouble? The cop uncles are gonna lock our galaxy in a cell~"
I bit my lip at her teasing.
"Can't see Lee Sera?"
Things I need to ask... what a shame.
At my sullen tone, Yoo Yeon flailed in surprise.
"Huh? Wait, why take it seriously?"
She glanced at me, flustered, then continued.
"I mean, yeah, but you'll be out soon. Fighting a mage hunter counts as emergency self-defense. Ahem."
"Aw, could've teased her more."
Lee Ju-hyeok's calm remark boiled my blood.
"Ow, why joke about this? Just explain next time!"
"You kept banmal-ing me, so I teased back. Isn't that how it works?"
I shut my mouth like a scolded child.
Ever since last time, everyone's on my speech patterns.
Lee Ju-hyeok smiled faintly at my pout.
"See you at SEED HQ then."
They shoved me into a car and dragged me off somewhere.
*
SEED. Special Enforcement for Etheric Disorders—the department handling all ether-related crimes.
"1st Army has to do this stuff too, huh."
I grimaced at the rundown police office.
"1st Army's loaded, but this is stingy."
I pointed at the rickety chair. Lee Ju-hyeok chuckled.
"It's a preference. That chair you're pointing at? 1.2 million won."
"......"
I stared blankly at the shabby thing. A warehouse foldable plastic chair costing that much?
Rich people logic?
I peered intensely, wondering if it hid some secret.
"......"
As I kept staring, he sighed and opened a file.
"Kidding. As pure as the file says."
"......"
Heat rose to my face as I glared.
"You know a lot about Spectrum. Daddy's influence?"
"......"
I clamped my mouth shut.
"Exercising silence is smart, but passing up a chance isn't."
He gathered ether, and I swallowed.
"Right, Father's influence. I've even seen Orbis members."
I tilted my head, recalling the android from today.
"But I don't know much about Spectrum or the Adjusters. Father was just in a subgroup."
"Fine, we have an expert for that."
"Expert?"
A familiar face appeared, bound tight with rope.
"Hey~ Caught the runner red-handed~?"
"Let go, you bastard... Mayor, no, uh... This is..."
Staff-mode Jang-gil, who'd come with me, sighed.
Lee Ju-hyeok eyed me.
"Mage Yoo Eunha. Know him?"
"......"
"Gonna keep lying?"
"......"
His black eyes gleamed like iron.
"Then: illegal cartridge, unauthorized magic, talking abyssal creature, parents ex-Spectrum."
The list was brutal. I'd forgotten about Shasha being abyssal after so long together.
"......"
I thought, then spoke.
"I-I don't kn-know that g-guy? F-First time seeing a b-boy like him."
Yoo Yeon clapped.
"Stutters and goes formal when lying! Cute."
She tripped Shasha.
"Not close? Can kill him here then. Abyssal and all. No objections?"
"None."
I clicked my tongue at Lee Ju-hyeok's agreement.
Even if I spill...
No guarantee they'd side with us. Might just add baggage.
Better blast magic and run...
"Don't even think magic escape. You'd be a real traitor then."
The emphasis on real made me frown and lean back.
The president knew Spectrum targeted Korea, so they did too.
Just not the extent.
"Keep hiding Spectrum, and we'll get forceful..."
"Fine, I'll talk. But one favor?"
Lee Ju-hyeok paused at my shift.
"...What?"
I grinned at him.
"Don't flee the country after hearing it."
"Seriously..."
He swept back his bangs, a faint smile cracking his stoic face.
"Fearless eight-year-old. Love it. Spill."
*
Released after SEED questioning, I headed to Lee Sera's room with a lump-headed Shasha.
"Did you have to hit so hard, Mayor...?"
"Yeah, so no repeat mistakes."
As Shasha sulked at the cold reply, I reached Lee Sera's door.
"Looks empty. Let's go console her."
I opened it—and froze.
"......"
The room brimmed with people, eyes locking on mine. Hong Ji-yeon. Seong Ji-ho. Even Eun-byeol.
I gaped at the crowd.
"Y-You guys didn't v-visit when I was hurt...?"
My juniors panicked, shaking heads.
"N-No, it's not like that!"
"Wait!"
"I-I was called by th-this gasna Lee Sera!"
I quietly shut the door amid the excuses.
"C'mon, Shasha. Guess I'm solo this life too."
As I turned to leave, Eun-byeol dashed out and grabbed my hand.
"E-Everyone came 'cause Lee Sera called. Said she n-needs help."
I furrowed my brow.
"Help?"
"Y-Yeah. Her coach left a d-dying message."
"Huh?"
I peeked in. Lee Sera pulled a blood-soaked letter from her pocket.
"Your problem's solution... the exorcist has it..."
"My master said... the fix for my issue... the exorcist has it..."
"Exorcist...?"
Stunned by the unexpected name, I blinked.