A Date with Jeong Uiseok
"Wow. What a mess." Irua remarked as she looked around. Suwon Station. It was the very place where the Pegasus had fallen.
"The damage radius is quite large, so the whole area is locked down. If anything, isn't it nice that it's quiet because there's no one around?"
"Yeah. I like it too."
Irua had snuck into the former battlefield with Jeong Uiseok. She, too, felt uncomfortable in crowded places, so she liked it here. Although the scars of battle remained, the sky above was incredibly clear. If it weren't for the freezing weather that made their breath visible, the sunlight was so bright and pleasant that she would have wanted to soak it in with her whole body.
"Still, looking at the traces, the combatant villains seem to have a decent level of skill. It wouldn't be a level that Vengeance members could handle easily. Later, during the screening process... hmm?"
Irua lightly punched Jeong Uiseok in the chest as he muttered to himself.
"Today is a day off, isn't it?"
"That's right."
"I've never seen Zeo take a day off. How many days has it been?"
"Hmm. Even though the Dragon King Squadron took breaks occasionally, I've been going out to suppress villains even on holidays since that day... It's been about five months since the latter half of the Dark Kingdom war."
"Ugh, you're such a fool. Today, don't think about anything else, just think about playing. Got it? Until we go back and fall asleep."
"Hmm."
"Promise."
"Alright."
When Jeong Uiseok nodded reluctantly, Irua let out a small laugh.
"Then, will you guide me? I don't know what these places do even when I look at the signs."
"Sure. First, let's look around the shopping center. I think someone your age would like it."
Jeong Uiseok walked ahead. Irua followed behind him. Her arms swayed in time with his stride. At the ends of her sleeves, her fingers, peeking out slightly, looked pitiful. Without realizing it, she reached out toward his rough fingers. She opened her hand a few times, but eventually lowered it again.
The two entered the department store. The electricity was cut, but because it was a dome-shaped structure, the inside was bright.
"How is it? Isn't it pretty?"
All sorts of clothes, bags, perfumes, and accessories were displayed in the showcases. These were things she had briefly seen with Emma as well. Irua tilted her head and asked back.
"Is it pretty?"
"I don't really know either."
"If you don't know, why did you bring me here?"
"Usually, women like this kind of thing."
"Really? I don't really know."
"Hmm."
"Still, it's fun to take a walk with Zeo."
The sound of their footsteps echoed through the large space. Finally, there was something Irua approached with interest. It was a claw machine.
"There's a mountain of dolls. It must be heaven."
When Jeong Uiseok explained how to use it, Irua's eyes sparkled as she exchanged coins. However, when the claw sliced through the air on her first attempt, Irua's expression soured. After two, three, and over ten tries, Irua eventually broke the machine's glass window with her fist and grabbed a handful of dolls.
"You can't do that. That's cheating."
"It wouldn't catch them otherwise. The person who made this cheated. Now I've won."
Irua let out a soft laugh.
"You're more competitive than I thought. Shall we go play games then?"
"Good. Zeo, compete with me."
The first place Jeong Uiseok took Irua was a pool hall.
"Ah, this is also at the hideout. I've seen my subordinates play it."
"Since it's your first time, I'll give you a generous handicap. I'll give you 500 points."
Jeong Uiseok picked up a cue stick. *Clack!* The white ball traced a beautiful trajectory, hitting the red balls in succession. As the game progressed, Irua, who was cornered, even rolled up her sleeves, but she couldn't stop Jeong Uiseok, who was steadily closing in, and eventually—
*Clack!* *Hummm—* *Clatter!* He used dark matter to move the yellow ball and hit them all.
"That's cheating."
"Why?"
"You used your ability."
"My ability is also my skill. If hand-eye coordination, depth perception, and calculation are skills, shouldn't my ability be included too?"
"...It's still cheating."
Irua pouted her lips. Next, the two went to a bowling alley.
*Whirrr—* *Crash!*
"Is this a strike?"
"Dark matter. That's cheating."
They even went to a mahjong parlor.
"Four-of-a-kind, all-same-suit, concealed-triplets, double-yakuman."
"You just shaved the surface of the tiles with dark matter. That's cheating."
The final score ended with Irua's 7 cheating wins and 0 losses. After the games, the two went up to the rooftop to have a meal. It was a lunch box Emma had packed for them. Irua stuffed sandwiches and fried food into her mouth.
"Delicious."
"Emma's cooking is accurate to the second. She must have even calculated the time we would eat."
"What game are we playing after we eat?"
"Lua, you never get tired, do you?"
"It's fun because I win."
"Hmm... I'm fine with it being fun, but when you're with your subordinates, follow the rules. If you pull out a Shooting Blazer Dragon without a synchro summon, there will be a coup d'état even if it's you."
"Alright."
Irua slurped up the fish cake broth. Her heart felt warm.
"Hey, Zeo."
"Hmm."
"When is your birthday?"
"I don't really know. I think it's around summer."
"Why don't you know?"
"Because it doesn't have much meaning."
"But then people around you can't give you gifts."
"I certainly did receive one last summer, though..."
Jeong Uiseok trailed off. Irua didn't like it. She wanted to give him another gift quickly, but summer was too far away.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because I want to give you a gift."
"Again?"
"Yeah. Giving gifts is fun."
It was more of a sense of happiness that couldn't be expressed in words than just 'fun,' but Irua didn't express it that way because she felt shy.
"It's shameless to only receive. Next time, I'll give you one."
"Really? I've never received a gift before."
"...I see."
Irua's heart was pounding. She now knew the joy of giving a gift. She wanted to know the feeling of receiving one as soon as possible. She liked that the other person was Jeong Uiseok. No, it had to be Jeong Uiseok.
"Lua, when is your birthday?"
"I don't have one."
"Then shall we decide on one?"
"Can I?"
"There's no reason why not."
"Is your way of speaking originally like that, Zeo?"
"...That's right."
"Ah, you lied."
"It might be the influence of aiming to be the leader of evil. It feels more natural this way now. It feels like I left a lot behind in the ruins of the Dark Kingdom along with my previous body."
"What kind of person were you originally?"
"There is no such thing as an 'original self' for anyone. Every self is the self. Enduring, whining, bearing, giving up. It just depends on the time and place."
"Does that mean there are times when Zeo is weak too?"
"That's right."
"And times when you whine?"
"Yes."
Seeing Jeong Uiseok admit it so readily, Irua hesitated a little. Could she ask? Emma had said that trust of a different form was needed for a long time. It was certain that such trust was still lacking, but she had an anxiety. An anxiety that she might die at any time, anywhere. An anxiety that this time might end in an instant. It was an inevitable mindset because her whole life had been like that. And above all, the anxiety coming from the secret she was hiding. Irua didn't want to miss this moment.
"...That side of you, can't you show it to me?"
Jeong Uiseok turned to look at Irua, let out a small laugh, and roughly ruffled her hair.
"What is it?"
"You're still young. Worrying about others comes later. First, make your own legs strong."
Irua didn't like that attitude of Jeong Uiseok's.
"I heard there was someone you showed it to."
"There was."
"Did you love her?"
"Yes."
Jeong Uiseok admitted it readily. It was a short answer, but Irua felt as if the blood vessels in her entire body were tightening.
"What kind of person was she?"
"Someone I, of all people, shouldn't have met."
Jeong Uiseok didn't continue. Irua didn't ask either. A silence followed for a while. After tidying up the empty lunch box, Irua opened her mouth.
"I'll make it January 1st."
"What?"
"My birthday."
Jeong Uiseok was puzzled.
"There are only 6 days left. Didn't you want to receive a gift quickly? Tomorrow or the day after would be fine, too."
"Yeah. I can wait a little."
"Understood."
"I'll look forward to it."
Irua dusted off her bottom and stood up from her seat.
"Hey. My ears must be failing me, so answer me properly again."
The Association President felt that the situation was truly serious after seeing Ji Sehwa's expression. When Ji Sehwa was angry, she would frown and start with curses. Seeing her press him with a calm voice while expressionless, he couldn't help but be scared.
A Level 0 security conference room. It was a place completely cut off from the outside. The only ones here were the four members of the Dragon King Squadron and himself. There was no one to help. The Association President tried to smooth over the situation with the brightest tone possible.
"Everyone, calm down. Jeong Uiseok's survival was unexpected. I really didn't know either. First, I've distributed materials that deny that doctor's words. They don't have an official statement, so it's advantageous. Look at this. Over 80 percent of public opinion still trusts the Dragon King Squadron. It's just a handful, just a handful."
That was how public opinion actually was. The truth wasn't advantageous. Public opinion sided with the side that had been exposed to time and money. It was natural, as it was someone else's business, so they weren't that interested.
"To put it the other way around, it means over 10 percent support Red Dragon."
Shin Yukyung pointed out sharply. Although it was a short broadcast transmission, the appearance of Red Dragon and Dr. Hyun had that much impact.
"Hey. Did I ask you that right now?"
Ji Sehwa's voice touched the Association President's neck like a blade.
"I asked if you lied about Jeong Uiseok becoming an SSS-level villain."
The Association President gulped.
"Now, calm down. You know Jeong Uiseok's personality best, right? It's true that there was a risk, and even if I exaggerated a little..."
*Beep.* Kang Yerin pressed the play button on a portable recorder.
『That bastard Jeong Uiseok went too far! His performance was so strong that the Washington Association was trying to promote him to SS-level! From SS-level, even my authority can't control him! Then whose would this association become! It's obvious it would fall into his hands!』
*Crash!* Ji Sehwa stood up from her seat immediately, climbed onto the table, and rushed at the Association President. Ji Sehwa threw her body and kicked him in the face.
"Argh! Aaaargh!"
Ji Sehwa started beating the Association President like a madwoman. She didn't say a single word.
"Stop it. He's a civilian. He'll die soon."
Shin Yukyung grabbed Ji Sehwa. The Association President was wheezing as if his lungs had holes in them.
"Kang Yerin. You knew, why didn't you say anything?"
"It wouldn't have changed anything even if I told you. You were cursing Uiseok-ssi like that, and now you're doing this."
Ji Sehwa couldn't refute it.
"Nothing will change for us anyway. Jeong Uiseok won't even meet us, and he's lost his power, so he won't be of any help. I think we need to speed up the equipment adjustment and switch development. Yerin, do you agree?"
Shin Yukyung's opinion. Kang Yerin was agonizing.
"The older sisters are having a hard time."
Choi Minseo stood up from her seat. The three pairs of eyes focused on her.
"What?"
"I can meet him. Uiseok-oppa."
Choi Minseo let out a soft laugh. Ji Sehwa approached her.
"Do you want to die? Aren't you part of the Dragon King Squadron?"
"Even if I train with you sisters for a hundred days, you can't even beat one executive. I'll go out together when we sortie. But usually being here is... it feels like a waste of time."
Choi Minseo smiled brightly.
"Then, excuse me first? Uiseok-oppa is... only Uiseok-oppa is the one who recognizes me..."
Choi Minseo left the conference room with her eyes unfocused. The door closed, and only silence remained.