Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 039
Chapter Title: Partner
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Kang Ha-neul.
A minor villain role who tried to pounce on Han Gyeo-ul, the heroine of the original story, only to get beaten, then turned dark and attempted to harass her again, only to be dealt with by the protagonist Ryu Tae-hyun... a total scrub unworthy of even that description.
The fact that a character like that was suddenly dropping out was bizarre enough, but what puzzled me even more was why Min Chae-ryeong was trying to stop him.
Curious about that, I asked her directly, but all I got was silence.
She must have her own reasons, enough to even mention making up for my previous screw-up while assigning me this task, but not knowing them left me deeply uneasy. It felt like I was just her puppet dancing on strings.
...It looks like I need to investigate Kang Ha-neul on my own.
With that thought, I headed home while devising some countermeasures of my own.
And so, the next day.
Before heading off to meet Professor Do So-young, my assigned instructor, to hear about Kang Ha-neul, the bombshell news waiting for me at the Special Countermeasures Division came from Lee Tae-ho.
"............Pardon?"
Yeah. It was news as shocking as a bolt from the blue.
"Did I hear that right? You're telling me to team up with Chae So-yeon in a two-man cell?"
"That's right."
I couldn't hide my bewilderment at Lee Tae-ho's calm nod.
Two-man cell. Basically, pairs of two.
The Academy Security Force operates on the principle of two-man cells for all missions, whether in the Special Countermeasures Division or the General Division. In my case, I'd been pairing temporarily with Jo Yuri or Lee Tae-ho.
I'd assumed that once it became official, it'd be with Lee Tae-ho. Chae So-yeon was originally his partner, and I'd basically filled in for her while she was on safehouse duty.
So what the hell did teaming up with Chae So-yeon mean?
"Isn't Chae So-yeon out on an external dispatch for a mission the team leader assigned her personally?"
"That dispatch ended yesterday. She's supposed to start officially coming in today."
"But she hasn't shown up yet, has she?"
"...She's just a little late. There's still ten minutes till clock-in time."
Setting aside when Chae So-yeon might actually show up, the very idea of her returning officially was news to me. Wasn't she supposed to be watching and protecting Ji Ye-won? If she was coming back to the Special Countermeasures Division today, who was guarding the safehouse?
Min Chae-ryeong wasn't the type to overlook something like that, so she'd probably assigned someone else or taken some other measure, but that wasn't the point.
"Um, Senior? Isn't Chae So-yeon originally your partner? So why am I getting stuck with her... no, why am I suddenly her new partner?"
"Good question. There are two reasons. First off, as the team leader's aide, I don't form official two-man cells with other members. My regular duties are assisting the team leader and managing the team members under her."
"Ah."
That cleared up one mystery, only for a new one to pop up.
"...But then, doesn't that mean you should be managing me too, since I just transferred into the Special Countermeasures Division? Even if Chae So-yeon joined half a year earlier, she's still my peer."
"And that's the second reason."
"Pardon?"
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
"You said you've interacted with Chae So-yeon even before joining the Special Countermeasures Division, so you should know what kind of person she is."
"A bundle of tactlessness and ignorance."
"I don't like badmouthing others, but that's a pretty spot-on summary."
Lee Tae-ho glanced at me cautiously before continuing.
"Pairing with Chae So-yeon means enduring significant mental strain, both on and off duty. I pride myself on having strong mental fortitude to handle that stress, but even I found it hard to bear our half-year two-man cell."
"Uh-huh...."
"Imagine how the rest of Team 2 feels. As you know, Team 2 was handpicked by Team Leader Min Chae-ryeong based solely on personality and skill, so it's a bit unstable organizationally. Take my peer Jo Yuri—she's top-tier in combat even within the Special Countermeasures Division, but she has male phobia, which hinders everyday social duties."
And it wasn't just Jo Yuri. The others had their own personality quirks—what you'd call "issues." Lee Tae-ho added that before fixing me with a serious gaze.
"Pairing her with any other team member would be a big risk operationally. That's why I figured I could trust you, Ahn Su-ho."
"...Pardon?"
"You've got a mild personality and polite demeanor. You have basic social common sense and are good at getting by. I thought someone like you could handle a two-man cell with Chae So-yeon."
"............Pardon?"
"Plus, you two are peers. There's something there that seniors and juniors lack. Yeah, as fellow recruits, you could look after her, polish each other up—"
"Senior."
A chill slipped into my voice, making Lee Tae-ho flinch.
"If I may be so bold. You're basically saying I'm the lowest on the totem pole, so I'm the one who gets stuck with Chae So-yeon, right?"
"...'If I may be so bold.' Even when calling out unfair treatment, you maintain basic courtesy. That's exactly why I chose you as her partner—"
"What if I say no?"
"I'm sorry, Ahn Su-ho! Truly sorry! Please forgive this incompetent senior just this once!"
Lee Tae-ho even bowed his head as he pleaded.
"Now that her return is decided, someone has to pair with her! But the only ones in the team with the personality to endure that annoying brat are me and you! As embarrassing as it is to say it myself, excluding Chae So-yeon, most of Team 2's members have their own issues!"
"Then why don't you just take her back yourself, Senior?"
"I—!"
Lee Tae-ho looked up at me, his eyes filled with pathos.
"I'm... exhausted...!"
I had no choice but to nod at that raw, soul-deep cry.
Here was a man who'd suffered under a hellish lizard bitch for half a year.
Here was a man finally freed from her after half a year, savoring his liberty.
And that man had no intention of letting go of the freedom he'd tasted.
"...I'll help you with the operational side. I'll keep your regular workload at the minimum. I'll even give you leeway on off-hours stuff like night patrols. This isn't just me—the team leader agrees too."
"I see...."
At that point, it was basically settled. Even if it wasn't official, seeing him react like this to Chae So-yeon made it hard to refuse out of pity.
How much hell had she put him through to get this reaction?
Suddenly, I recalled the faint smile that had lingered on his face over the past week. I'd thought he was just the smiling type, but it was actually the joy of liberation.
"Then no choice. Got it. I'll form a two-man cell with Chae So-yeon."
"...Thanks."
"Should we start acting as a two-man cell right away today? I have that personal task from the team leader."
"Yeah. I'd appreciate that. It's more comfortable for me if she's not in the office."
I forced a smile at Lee Tae-ho, who openly admitted he'd prefer her absence. I tried to think positively.
The Special Countermeasures Division grouped recruits by year based on the public recruitment in April. Chae So-yeon was the only other Team 2 member at my level. It'd probably be more comfortable working with a peer than a senior.
Half brainwashing myself, I repeated it inwardly.
Otherwise, I'd probably make a disgusted face right in front of Lee Tae-ho.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
...However, right now.
On my way to Professor Do So-young's lab after making an appointment, I was sighing nonstop.
My future looked bleak. Even in broad daylight, it felt pitch black.
I stared blankly up at the sky. The early spring sky after winter's end was crystal clear, a soothing sight that eased the chest, but it did nothing for this shitty mood.
"Bam→bam→ppa~bam↗! Bam→bam→ppa↘bam↗! Bam→bam→ppa~bam↗! Bam→bam→ppa↘bam↗!"
Chae So-yeon was skipping ahead, humming the OST from Mission Impossible through her lips. Harmless on its own, but somehow grating.
"Ppara ba~~~~am. Ppara ba~~~~~am. Ppara ba~~~~~~~am. Ppabam!"
What had her so excited? She kept humming away.
Students passing by gave her weird looks. Humming alone at home was one thing, but belting it out on the main street in daylight? No wonder they stared.
Too embarrassed to walk with her, I slowed down, and she whipped around like she'd sensed it.
"What? Why're you walking so slow?"
"'Cause it's embarrassing, that's why. Can't you just shut up and walk? What's got you so hyped?"
"Obviously I'm hyped!"
Chae So-yeon grinned wide, her soft cheeks puffing out.
"The team leader assigned this mission personally, right? That means it's super important! Nail this, and I can make up for that screw-up last time!"
"That screw-up?"
For a second I wondered if she'd messed up like me, then nodded belatedly. Probably referring to getting caught tailing me.
I'd figured she didn't care about that, but surprisingly she did.
"Yeah. Do your best. And this time, don't just blindly fire the taser without thinking."
"I'll handle it just fine!"
"Sure you will."
At my jab, Chae So-yeon puffed her cheeks like a pufferfish. Who knew people actually did that in real life when mad?
No, wait—this was a novel world.
"Hey. Ahn Su-ho. You've been kinda rude since earlier. Who do you think you're talking to, your senior like that!"
"Senior? We're same-year recruits, so peers."
"Who cares about that! First in is senior, late is junior! And even if we're officially peers, you gotta show basic respect!"
"You said it yourself last time. No need to be so nitpicky between same-agers."
"Huh?"
It was what she'd said the day I first met Ji Ye-won. A question mark popped over Chae So-yeon's head. She seemed to recall, mumbling and stomping her feet.
"Oh yeah, you also said that day if I transferred to Special Countermeasures, I'd be too low-rank to even meet your eyes. But oh well, not only are we meeting eyes—we're paired as peers in a two-man cell."
"Wha—?!"
"Anyway, let's do our best, peer. Ask me if you don't know something."
"Hey!!!"
Unable to take my teasing anymore, Chae So-yeon lunged. Her cute little fist arced toward my chest.
However.
-Grab!
Her attack fizzled out easily. Surprised that her earnest swing was blocked so lightly, her eyes went wide.
Originally, our physical specs were about even. Her superpower was top-notch, but it left her baseline superhuman stats only a bit better than my past self's subpar level.
Boosted by Yeo In-hyuk's muscle alignment, my specs were now far superior.
Looking down at Chae So-yeon, who was now dangling from my grip on her swinging arm, I said,
"I told you. If you want senior treatment, act like one. What kind of senior swings first at a junior over a few words?"
"What?!"
Chae So-yeon yanked her arm free and shrieked.
"Seniors can smack juniors sometimes—what's the big deal? Seniors are supposed to hit juniors anyway! Nothing wakes up a disobedient punk like a good fist!"
"Wow."
Totally old-school mindset. Even the military these days doesn't openly let seniors beat juniors. Or did this world still have rampant hazing in the army or workplaces?
"...If you really think that, go say it to Senior Tae-ho. He'd love it."
No matter how much Lee Tae-ho disliked it, if she said it was okay for her to get hit, he'd gleefully do it. All that pent-up frustration.
"??? Senior Tae-ho likes me? Why?"
But Chae So-yeon didn't get it at all. Not the words, but that she was the source of his stress.
Fools live happily, they say. Seeing her carefree face, envy mixed with my sigh.
"...Must be nice living like you."
"Is that a compliment?"
"Yeah. A compliment."
"Really?"
Even though it was sarcasm, calling it a compliment lit her up with a beaming smile. Not a worry in the world. Meanwhile, I had Min Chae-ryeong, Dawn Corps, Blissful Heavenly Demon, original plot events—endless anxieties.
"Envious of my life? Make me your role model and copy me! Learning from the guy right next to you is free!"
Puffing her flat chest proudly, she shouted. An old saying from my original world came to mind.
Yeah. Fools live happily. Perfect for Chae So-yeon. Her life probably looked like a pink flower field.
A moment ago, I'd felt a twinge of envy, but now? Not really.