Chapter 19: Management Bureau - ??? 『????』(1)
Chapter 19: Management Bureau - ??? 『????』(1)
“What is this?”
“It’s a meal.”
“It looks like ramen to my eyes.”
“The definition of a ‘meal’ here doesn't refer to the specific food, but the act of eating!”
What a load of sophistry.
“Where are the side dishes?”
“There aren't any!”
Well, as long as it fills the stomach, what does it matter? A disciple might not be good at cooking. I usually get by on ramen or instant food anyway, so this isn't much different.
The reason she boiled the ramen in such a large pot must have been to cook it all at once. Surely. It had to be.
“Where’s the rice…?”
Un-ho, who seemed to have been looking forward to a proper meal for the first time in a while, stared at the ramen with a pitiful gaze.
It wasn't my fault. Who could have known she would boil ramen and call it a meal?
“Let’s feed A-bin later and eat first.”
At my signal, everyone scooped out their portion of ramen. The red broth was slick with floating oil, and the noodles snapped apart the moment they were lifted.
It felt deeply ominous, but how could anyone ruin ramen? All you have to do is add water, boil it, and throw the noodles in at the right time.
Seeing how easily the noodles broke, I realized chopsticks would be useless. I used a spoon to scoop up the noodles along with the broth and brought it to my mouth.
The first thing I tasted was blandness. Then came the irritation of undissolved ramen powder floating in the water, followed by the disgusting, mushy texture of the noodles as I chewed.
This was wrong.
I’ve eaten plenty of terrible things on the battlefield, but never anything like this. Only a dish intentionally made to screw someone over could compare to this monstrosity.
Un-ho was using magic to slurp up the noodles, but his face was contorted in a grimace that asked, What on earth is this? Only the expressionless Lin and Baek Si-hyun were eating away diligently.
Right, I suppose it’s fine since she made it herself? I contemplated for a moment how to overcome this ordeal.
Should I flip the table and demand to know what kind of meal this is?
Should I just close my eyes and force it down?
Since my body doesn't strictly need food anyway, should I just claim I have no appetite and run away?
Various thoughts swirled through my head, and Un-ho’s gaze grew increasingly pathetic.
Beep, beep, beep. Clack.
The sound of a passcode being entered was followed by the door opening.
“I’m home…”
In a dying voice, Han A-bin announced her return.
This was my chance.
A golden opportunity to get rid of the monstrosity on the table. I moved quickly and dashed to the entrance. As a master who cherished his disciple, shouldn't I warmly welcome her back from her grueling training?
“You’re back.”
She was drenched in sweat, exhausted, and collapsed in the entryway, but she hadn't dropped her transformation yet.
It seemed she really had run the full 150km, and her mana hadn't run out, allowing her to maintain the state.
Maintaining a transformation for eight hours with depleted mana.
I wasn't sure if it was due to high mana efficiency or an innate talent for mana control, but it was a talent nonetheless.
It was an act worthy of praise, but there was something more important right now, so I pushed the praise to later.
“Go wash up and eat. Si-hyun made ramen.”
“Ramen…?”
Even while panting, Han A-bin reacted to the word 'ramen,' having heard me clearly.
“I guess ramen is a bit much after a run, right? Is there anything else you want to eat?”
“No, if Si-hyun prepared it, then ramen is fi— Eek!”
Shut up and say what you want. Quickly.
I directed a faint killing intent toward her. I had a justification to dispose of that monstrosity right in front of me; I couldn't let it slip away.
That ramen tastes terrible.
I moved my lips urgently to convey the message, though I wasn't sure if it got through.
“Me…”
“Me?”
“Meat…”
“Right. You need that kind of nutritional replenishment after exercising.”
I didn't expect her to ask for meat, but anything was better than that monstrosity.
“Go wash up. I’ll grill some meat for you.”
“Yes…”
Perhaps because she’d felt the killing intent, A-bin’s legs gave way as she answered in a weak voice.
There should be meat in the fridge. I’d only taken a quick peek early this morning so I couldn't be certain, but since the Management Bureau had left a stockpile of ingredients, there had to be meat.
After tossing the collapsed A-bin into the bathroom, I returned to the dining area with a smile.
“The ramen is all bloated now.”
Baek Si-hyun spoke with a pouting expression, but honestly, I didn't care about her feelings as long as I could get rid of that monstrosity.
“A-bin said she wants meat.”
“What about my ramen?”
“Honestly, do you think someone who just finished exercising would want greasy, hot ramen?”
“Meat is also greasy and hot.”
Meat is different.
“…The ramen is too salty.”
Even I thought that was a pathetic excuse.
“What kind of exercise did A-bin do for you to be like this?”
Fortunately, that pathetic excuse seemed to work well enough, as she asked a question I could actually answer.
“A 150km run.”
“You mean 15km, right?”
“150km. One lap around Seoul.”
Si-hyun’s expression shifted slightly, seemingly taken aback by my words.
“Is that even possible?”
“It’s possible if you’re a Hero. You could probably clear it in less than an hour.”
I offered a bit of advice to the hesitating Baek Si-hyun, who looked like she was wondering if it was truly possible.
“Discard the mindset you had before becoming a Hero. You’ve already transcended ordinary humans, and you can do things that were impossible in the past.”
“Yes!”
She answered brightly, but she likely didn't truly understand. It was a reaction possible only because she hadn't yet realized the extent of the power she possessed.
Even if you run as fast as you can, no speedometer appears like it does for a car. Even if you swing your fist, no score pops up like a punch machine at an arcade.
Since running and punching are actions you could do even before becoming a Hero, it’s hard to perceive just how much stronger you’ve become.
She’ll get used to it in time.
She just needs to get used to it before she accidentally kills someone. As long as she doesn't kill anyone, it’s fine.
“Well, it must have been a bit tough for A-bin. She only has the bare minimum of physical reinforcement.”
“How long did it take?”
“Since she ran without resting, it probably took about eight hours.”
“What about food?”
“I wouldn't know, but I assume she didn't eat.”
Only then did Si-hyun realize the gravity of the situation and pushed the pot containing the monstrosity away.
“Then we have to give her a hearty meal.”
“That’s why we’re having meat.”
The stories finally aligned. If I could just throw away that monstrosity now, everything would be perfect.
“Then, it’s a shame, but the ramen can be dessert…”
“By then, it’ll be so bloated it won't even be edible.”
I didn't know why she was so obsessed with that monstrosity, but I just wanted her to throw it away.
After a brief battle of wits, the monstrosity finally ended up in my hands and was poured down the drain.
The sight of the blackened, carbonized ramen powder coating the pot and the lumps of flour stuck to the bottom must have been a trick of my eyes.
While I was pouring power into the pot to try and salvage it, a familiar scent wafted into my nose.
A scent I smelled more often than blood in field hospitals.
The smell of disinfectant.
“How was the bathroom?”
“It was fine. The hot water works well.”
The voice was slightly high-pitched.
Was A-bin’s voice always like this? Her soft voice had become a bit higher. I looked away from the ruined pot and turned my head toward the source of the voice.
Short brown hair, a somewhat tall stature. The small Magical Girl with pink hair had vanished, and a woman in her prime stood in the dining area.
“Your transformation variance is quite large too.”
“When I first transformed, I was at least similar in size…”
Though her voice had gone up, her personality seemed the same, as evidenced by her hesitant way of trailing off.
“A case where it drifted over time, then. There were many like that in the old days.”
Back then, there were many people who worked as Heroes for a long time.
“What about the meat?”
“Si-hyun is grilling it.”
“…Isn't that charcoal?”
What was she talking about?
I’d clearly given her an electric grill. Even if she’d alchemized ramen into a monstrosity, how many people could actually mess up meat?
The moment I turned my head in bewilderment, I saw an unbelievable sight.
Proteins turned to charcoal, meat fat turned black, and the smell of burning spreading everywhere. Precious meat was being incinerated.
“So, you grill it until it’s as soft as the palm of your hand…”
“The meat! The meat is Poyo!”
Baek Si-hyun was staring at her smartphone while poking the meat. Beside her, a White Fur Ball was frantically trying to turn the charcoal back into meat.
Si-hyun. What you’re looking up right now is a steak recipe. Not grilled meat. And besides, it’s already turned to charcoal; it’s never going to get soft.
Feeling an indescribable sensation, I snatched the tongs from Baek Si-hyun.
“It’s not done yet! Meat has to be cooked thoroughly.”
She was spouting some nonsense she’d overheard, but even that information was wrong. And even if it were right, that thing had gone far beyond 'thoroughly' into a realm where it no longer applied.
In the end, leaving the ruined pot aside, I grilled the meat myself. A-bin volunteered to do it, but I felt I should do it for her since she’d just finished a difficult training session.
“Meat really should be cooked thoroughly, though.”
Despite saying that, Baek Si-hyun was busy snatching up and eating any piece of well-cooked meat she saw.
And beside her was a white thing happily burying its face in a bowl of rice.
During the chaotic dinner, a silent look passed between Han A-bin and me.
As if she understood why I had been so obsessed with throwing away the ramen, Han A-bin nodded, and I nodded back.
Even if I, the master, had to do all the cooking, I would never let Baek Si-hyun cook again. I’d rather die than eat food like that every day.
* * *
I ran through the dark night.
Black Particles that absorbed Otherworldly Power spread behind me, hiding my body in the usual night.
Only the light from the phone in my hand flickered, signaling that I hadn't been swallowed by the darkness.
I need to get a disguise Mutant soon.
I’d left after confirming my disciples were asleep, but I had to return as quickly as possible to avoid being caught.
A disguise Mutant would be necessary for my future actions as well.
With that thought, I looked down at my phone screen again. Displayed on the screen was the activity report for today’s target, Kim Tae-jun.
When I first received the data, I’d looked away for a moment in disbelief, but that didn't change what was written there.
“Why is someone who is the spokesperson for the Management Bureau living in a Bureau dormitory?”
According to the information Danger Rifle had found, he was living in a dormitory inside the Management Bureau.
Maybe if he were a low-level civil servant, but a high-ranking official like a spokesperson living in a dormitory? The dormitory facilities couldn't be that good.
I knew well because I’d stayed in the dorms back when I worked for the Bureau. Though I was kicked out because of a certain incident.
I considered the possibility that the dorms had improved drastically since I left, but knowing the Bureau’s tendency to save money in strange places, that was unlikely.
Since he only stayed inside the Bureau, I thought he might be using an official residence on the grounds, but a dormitory? My plan was skewed from the start.
If I caused a scene in a narrow dormitory with terrible soundproofing, a commotion would break out instantly. I’d intended to just interrogate him about whose orders he was following, but now it seemed I’d have to pivot to kidnapping.
As I was re-establishing my plan, a towering building came into view.
A tall building in the center of Seoul.
A Black Tower formed by several interconnected buildings. The last bastions of humanity, built to monitor Otherworldly Power and prevent Otherworld Erosion.
Among them, the Korea Branch of the Management Bureau, which was responsible for all of Southeast Asia, drew near.
The Management Bureau building shone brightly even in the dark night, fulfilling its duty. To protect humanity and to promote the rights of Heroes.
The light of the Management Bureau, illuminating the night, touched my body. The light shone on me as if rebuking me.
As if saying the Management Bureau is justice, and hadn't I also worked for that cause? And yet, was I now trying to attack the Bureau for my own stubbornness?
Just by touching the light of the Management Bureau building, I felt like I could hear such voices. It was likely my own feelings toward the Bureau making me feel that way.
“I have no intention of becoming an enemy of the Management Bureau.”
The existence of the Management Bureau was necessary.
For humanity.
For the Awakened.
“I am simply setting justice right.”
To protect the ideals and justice of the Bureau that everyone built together, the twisted parts had to be cut away.
Even though no one was listening, I muttered those words to myself. The Black Particles gradually obscured the light, and I hid back into the darkness.