Exposure (8)

Time slipped away before I even noticed it. As my body recovered, I naturally began worrying about what lay ahead. The promise I had made—that I would never leave her side no matter what difficulties arose—was utterly sincere, without a single lie. Yet that sincerity did nothing to magically dissolve the harsh reality staring us in the face.

For the past several days, our situation had been no different from that of rats driven into a corner. The spy crows dispatched by journalists were shot down by the air defense network dozens of times a day. The intruder detection magic rang its alarms without cease, day and night alike. It was an unavoidable burden on the mansion’s owners, and I felt truly sorry for the inconvenience, but they showed no trace of displeasure. Instead, they only comforted us.

And at last, it arrived. A formal summons to attend a hearing, issued under the name of the Supreme Council, reached the Black Lotus mansion.

“Hair… neat… tie… good…”

Yeon Minha’s hair fluttered in front of my eyes as she moved about busily. She then brought over a small, transparent glass bottle and sprayed its contents twice—once on the back of my neck and once on my wrists.

“Huu…”

After that, she buried her face deep into my chest, lingered for a moment, then pulled away and gave a small nod.

“The scent suits you perfectly… good…”

“Perfume? We’re not going out for fun.”

“If you don’t know, then be quiet. Occasions like this have their own formalities that must be observed. It’s far better to be thorough than to be looked down upon.”

Yeon Minha answered instantly, as if the matter were beneath discussion. Once again, she was personally adjusting my appearance. After repeating the same routine several times, I had simply learned to let her do it. Still, I wondered if she truly found me that unreliable. No matter how you looked at it, there was no need for her to untie the necktie I had already knotted myself and redo it. I had thought today’s result was perfect.

“It’s already time. Let’s go.”

Yeon Minha glanced at the clock on the wall. We left the annex together and soon reached the central corridor of the mansion’s main building. When the presence of the Black Lotus family head and his wife became noticeable, she bowed her head with graceful composure. The elegance and dignity of the gesture were those of a refined young lady through and through.

“Please take good care of him.”

“You need not worry at all about the child of the Red Fire family. Simply wait with an easy mind.”

“Indeed, indeed. There’s no need to come out like this. Go back inside, dear. Have some tea in the garden. I already instructed the staff to prepare refreshments.”

“Yes, yes…”

They gently dissuaded her. The wife even reached out and turned Yeon Minha around herself. Though Yeon Minha still seemed awkward with their warmth, her expression showed she was not at all displeased.

Only three of us would attend today’s hearing at the Supreme Council: myself, the head of Black Lotus, and his wife. Yeon Minha had wanted to come forward as well, but for safety reasons she was left behind in the mansion. Public sentiment toward the Red Fire family was simply too hostile. It also showed just how shocking Yeon Jeong-mun’s crimes had been.

In a way, it was only natural. The head of a prestigious family that led the nation had secretly colluded with the enemy, kidnapping his own citizens and using them as materials for forbidden magic experiments and black magic rituals. As his blood relative and the sole surviving member of the Red Fire family, Yeon Minha could not escape the storm of criticism. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The fact that she had prevented the South’s total collapse and received the Golden Star Martial Achievement Medal was already forgotten.

The threat of demons in the North, the massive repercussions from the failed eastern pioneering, the uprising in the South, and the endless political strife occurring alongside them. The resulting decline in security and administrative power, food shortages and power shortages showing no signs of improvement, black mages and mutants running rampant on all sides, and now even pseudo-religious cults. With public sentiment hitting rock bottom, the power holders—led by the Supreme Council—had found the perfect scapegoat on which to vent their dissatisfaction.

Even today, every newspaper was running multiple special features on the Red Fire family’s corruption. I had discarded them all in case Yeon Minha might see them, but the tone was so vicious that even I could tell they were deliberately inciting public opinion.

Today’s hearing was the first step toward shielding Yeon Minha from that barrage. Until public sentiment at least began to shift, the Black Lotus family’s opinion was that she should not leave the mansion. I agreed completely. In the end, Yeon Minha remained behind, though she made her displeasure clear.

“Have a safe trip.”

After being gently ushered away by the wife, Yeon Minha stood before me one last time. She tossed the words in her usual curt, insolent tone, but now I found it reassuring. It was a hundred times better than seeing her eyes empty and lifeless. How strange. When I first saw this woman upon entering the cradle, only displeasure had risen in me. Yet now I naturally accepted that arrogance of hers…

“I’ll be back.”

“…Yeah.”

Even after we exchanged farewells, Yeon Minha kept her hands neatly clasped and continued staring at me. Together with the head of Black Lotus and his wife, I headed for the mansion’s main gate. A long luxury vehicle similar to the one we had taken ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠when leaving the cradle for the Red Fire family’s estate waited there. Seeing it a second time, the impression was somewhat less intense.

A woman who appeared to be an attendant stood in front of it, waiting for us. Her long hair was tied back neatly, and she looked slightly older than me. She wore a crisp, high-end suit and gleaming shoes. Her face seemed strangely familiar, so I widened my eyes. She recognized me as well and bowed deeply.

“It has been a long time, young ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠master.”

“Team Leader Myo Sang-ah?”

The scenery outside the window rushed past. The gradual replacement of green with the dull gray of the city made it clear we were heading toward the capital’s heart. During the ride, I continued to feel an uncomfortable gaze from the front seat. Its owner was, without question, Myo Sang-ah. The way she kept glancing back made her seem like someone with a guilty conscience.

I wondered why, but there was indeed a reason. Before heading south for the external request, I had met her. As the VIP team leader for S&C, the Black Lotus family’s defense contractor, she had been the one I asked to procure various supplies. The particle suit and blade had been fine, but when I requested ultra-high-capacity awakening agents and accelerators, she had practically jumped in protest. In the end, however, she couldn’t overcome my stubbornness and obtained the drugs.

In truth, I owed my survival to her as well. Without top-tier equipment and full doping on a battlefield that felt like walking a tightrope, I might have died by the slimmest of margins. To her, though, the matter likely looked different. After all, she had secretly supplied the drugs at my request. There was no need to confess that I had taken every last one. Judging by her current reaction, it would only add unnecessary burden…

“Team Leader Myo. Your complexion looks especially dark today. Is something troubling you?”

“Y-yes?”

Her habit of biting her tongue was still the same. Sweating profusely, she shook her head vigorously at Sa Dae-ryong’s question.

“A-ahaha! It’s nothing, sir. I’ve just been a little low on stamina lately…”

“Tsk, how can someone so young already… Let’s smoke a cigarette together. It should help you feel better.”

Whether it was concern or a mild rebuke, the family head rummaged in his pocket after speaking. He pulled out something resembling a long paper stick and placed it between his lips. Myo Sang-ah quickly brought her finger close, and a blue flame flickered at its tip.

Before long, colorful, fragrant smoke filled the vehicle’s interior, carrying a sweet scent that flooded my nose.

“Team Leader. You’re a mage?”

“Ah, yes. That’s correct. Come to think of it, this must be the first time you’ve seen me use magic.”

She turned her head, puffing on the stick, and continued.

“Then… are you from the cradle as well…?”

“Ah, I graduated from Yukhwa Academy. The circumstances weren’t right for me to enter the cradle, so I chose it as my second option.”

Myo Sang-ah shook her head.

“If not for these esteemed sir and madam, I would never have joined a major company like S&C. Graduates from other academies tend to be overshadowed by those from the cradle…”

The wife, sitting demurely beside me, added to the conversation.

“Sang-ah is an exceptionally talented individual. She recently rose to first-class particle operation technician, didn’t she? It’s remarkable for someone so young. I’m truly glad she came to our Black Lotus instead of anywhere else.”

“Oh, madam, you always praise me too highly, hehe…”

“Too highly? It’s an accurate assessment. I heard you helped our Hyun with various matters before he left for the South. Please continue looking after him.”

“Eh? Y-yes, haha… Please don’t worry…”

For a brief moment, anxiety flickered across her confident face. The glance she sent my way almost looked like a plea for help. As expected, it seemed best to take the fact that she had obtained drugs with harmful side effects to my grave.

Still, first-class particle operation technician was the highest rank. She was far more skilled than I had realized.

“R-rather than someone like me, the young master is far more impressive…! He excels in both literary and martial arts, and he overwhelmingly took first place even within the cradle…”

“…”

Hearing her flattery made me suddenly want to crawl into a hole. It felt as if my face beneath the mask had turned bright red. Literary and martial excellence? I had barely achieved knight second class while in the military, let alone any technician rank. Even that had only been possible because I overcame abysmal written scores with overwhelming practical results. Only after entering the cradle had I truly realized how different physical ability and theoretical study were. Just thinking about the upcoming midterms and finals made my mind go blank. I was barely holding on to first place for now, but if I ruined the written exams and my grades plummeted, it would be a complete nuisance to the leader and the couple…

“Hehe, it’s alright, dear.”

As if she had read my inner thoughts, the wife suddenly placed her palm over the back of my hand. The warmth was far more noticeable than any discomfort.

“We only wish for your health. There’s no need to worry about anything else. Isn’t that right, dear?”

“Of course. A man simply needs to take care of himself.”

The family head, still burning the paper stick, nodded in agreement.

My mind remained full of unanswered questions. Why did these people treat me—a complete outsider—with such utmost care? Despite possessing such immense power that they wouldn’t flinch at external pressure, why did they exert no influence in the political world? And what exactly had happened between them and the leader?

Yet every time I considered asking, the memory of the wife’s sorrowful eyes whenever the leader’s name came up made me hesitate. Perhaps I could subtly ask Myo Sang-ah later…?

“…I wonder how the other children are doing. It must be incredibly difficult for them…”

The wife suddenly sighed and gazed out the window. From the nuance, the “other children” she mentioned were likely the older sisters who accompanied the leader.

One question rose in my mind at her words. Deciding it should be fine to ask, I spoke carefully.

“Um… may I ask what your relationship is with Sister Jin…?”

The woman answered as though it were nothing significant.

“Jin is my niece. She’s the daughter of my younger sister. Is that child doing alright? She has such a unique personality…”

“Yes? Yes. The last time I saw her, she seemed fine. She didn’t appear to be ill or anything…”

The woman nodded with a small smile, looking somewhat relieved. My own thoughts, however, grew more complicated. I had asked because they shared the same surname. If she was her younger sister’s daughter, then Sister Jin and the leader were cousins. Yet from what I had observed, Sister Jin clearly felt… No, never mind. I decided to stop thinking about it. I had already realized there were far too many kinds of love in this world ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that I didn’t understand. Worrying about other people’s affairs would only be a waste of effort. I should focus on my own tasks…

“Sir, madam, young master. We will be arriving shortly. Please prepare…”

At Myo Sang-ah’s words, I looked outside. In the distance, a massive hemispherical bronze dome had come into view.