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“Why?”
“Pardon?”
Jungwon echoed the question, though they weren’t entirely surprised by it. They knew it would have been better to dismiss it as nothing, rather than openly showing such intense dislike for the Teft CEO. Why had they done it?
“Now that I think about it, this might be the first time Jungwon has spoken so clearly about their likes and dislikes,” Seokjoo mused. “Especially when it comes to people.”
Jungwon had never discussed such topics with anyone, not even Seokjoo. When they remained silent, Seokjoo leaned closer and whispered, his voice still calm.
“So, I’m curious about your reasons,” he continued. “Does this also relate to how diligently you’re working on this particular matter?”
‘Was there any reason to reveal this to him?’ Jungwon wondered. It was an excessively private matter, something that should never be disclosed to others. However, offering a vague, generalized explanation might be possible. The real problem was that they didn’t even want to say that much to anyone.
Yet, it would be problematic if he pressured them, insisting it was necessary for trust. After a moment of deliberation, Jungwon finally spoke.
“Is it something I absolutely have to talk about?”
“Not necessarily,” Seokjoo immediately denied.
“It’s not like anything catastrophic would happen if I didn’t know,” he added. “I was simply curious about your personal thoughts, Jungwon.”
Had he pressed them aggressively, Jungwon would have felt more resistant, but his calm demeanor allowed them to respond composedly.
“They say talking about people you dislike is a good way to become closer,” Jungwon offered.
It was said half in jest, a sudden memory of Seokjoo once remarking, ‘They say this helps you get closer, don’t they?’ Perhaps recalling his own words, Seokjoo regarded Jungwon with a peculiar gaze. Feeling a touch embarrassed, Jungwon continued.
“But that’s not the only way, is it?”
‘My reluctance to reveal this isn’t because I don’t want to become closer to you,’ was the sentiment behind their words. Whether Seokjoo interpreted it exactly as intended was uncertain. At the very least, he seemed pleased by the comment, straightening up with a smile, which Jungwon considered a small relief.
Engaging in such a personal conversation within another company’s briefing hall felt oddly awkward. Clearing their throat, Jungwon also straightened their posture.
****
The briefing offered no special insights until its conclusion, yet the constant mentions of the CEO continued to grate on Jungwon’s nerves.
Once all the lectures concluded, Espers, Guides, and Unawakened individuals were finally separated into different rooms. This was reportedly due to distinct entrance exam formats. While it seemed a better arrangement than having them confined together, risking a repeat of earlier tensions, Jungwon still felt a peculiar sense of unease.
Seokjoo and Jungwon, still posing as Unawakened, were assigned to the waiting room designated for them. The room held approximately 40 to 50 people. During the lecture, they had heard that about half of today’s attendees were Unawakened, suggesting a total attendance of around one hundred.
The waiting room was decorated to resemble a party venue. Soft music drifted through the space. People in suits and masks gathered, chatting awkwardly, creating a scene that was subtly amusing yet distinctly unfamiliar.
Finger foods were laid out, seemingly available for anyone to take, but Jungwon didn’t touch them. Seokjoo, likewise, refrained from eating, though he appeared quite amused by the scene. After observing his surroundings with interest, he excused himself to fetch some drinks.
Just then, someone approached Jungwon and struck up a conversation.
[Oh! Aren’t you the person I saw earlier?]
It was the person in the yellow mask, whom Jungwon had left behind during an altercation with an Esper. It seemed they had already split from the group of non-ability users they had shared the elevator with earlier.
[You suddenly disappeared earlier, and I was quite flustered~]
‘Were they subtly scolding me for disappearing alone?’ Jungwon mused. They were hardly close enough for such a comment, having only just met today. Still, it was true Jungwon had ignored them and walked past, so they decided to offer a suitable response.
Honestly, Jungwon wished to avoid the conversation, but the person seemed to be silently urging them to ask, so Jungwon reluctantly posed a question.
[Was that matter resolved successfully earlier?]
[Oh, don’t even get me started! That guy was a complete lunatic, I tell you. He said we should be grateful to them for even being alive. Is that how all Espers think, by any chance?]
[Indeed.]
The yellow mask continued to vent, clearly still agitated by the Esper’s earlier remarks. As a Guide, Jungwon wasn’t an Unawakened, but they knew many Espers who treated Guides with similar disdain, so they understood the sentiment perfectly.
[Honestly, if he were *really* such an amazing Esper, would he even be at a briefing like this? He’d already be working for Teft or some other renowned institution.]
[That’s very true.]
Despite agreeing, Jungwon had no desire to engage enthusiastically. It was astonishing that the person continued to chat, even with such cursory replies.
[I just wish everyone would take a page from the Teft CEO’s book.]
Jungwon, who had been replying half-heartedly, subtly furrowed their brow. They had hoped to escape the endless praise for the CEO once the briefing ended, yet here they were, hearing it again.
[Honestly, if it were any other company, I wouldn’t even have considered applying. But Teft is famous for treating Unawakened individuals well, and I personally find the CEO quite appealing, so I decided to give it a shot. I never actually thought I’d get this far, though.]
[……]
[But even if the top is clear, if the bottom is like that~ Surely that guy won’t pass, right? That would be really annoying.]
The yellow mask clicked their tongue in disapproval.
Jungwon could have simply replied, ‘Indeed,’ and let it pass again. However, they had been growing increasingly annoyed by the continued discussion of ‘him.’ It was likely this irritation that prompted them to add a comment.
[Well, I don’t see how that person would be any different.]
[Even so, listening to him speak at the briefing today, he seemed like a pretty decent person, didn’t he? If he were the same type as that earlier guy, he wouldn’t have even bothered to recruit Unawakened individuals in the first place.]
Despite merely announcing recruitment without actually hiring a single Unawakened person yet, his reputation was surprisingly generous.
[He might be an excellent businessman, but we can’t truly know what he’s like as a person.]
[Hmm, well. That’s true, I suppose.]
Jungwon offered a vague response. The yellow mask nodded dismissively, then added.
[Besides, that person doesn’t even appear at official events, does he? Rumor has it he’s holed up somewhere, training. Is that common for Espers? It sounds like something out of a novel; quite fascinating.]
[Is that so?]
By now, anyone might have found Jungwon’s replies terribly unenthusiastic, yet the yellow mask remained undeterred. A few more words were exchanged about employment—or rather, the yellow mask continued to monologue unilaterally.
Just as Jungwon was beginning to gauge the right moment to exit the conversation…
[But… is it just my imagination?]
The talkative yellow mask suddenly spoke again, their voice now serious.
[For a while now, I’ve felt… like the floor is shaking a bit.]
[……]
Jungwon remained silent, unable to utter a reply like ‘What do you mean?’ or ‘I don’t know.’
It wasn’t their imagination. Jungwon, too, had been feeling the tremor.
*CRASH!
Before they could even fully process the situation, a deafening roar erupted, as if shaking the entire building.
For a moment, Jungwon’s mind went blank. They grimaced, clutching their throbbing head, and quickly scanned their surroundings.
At the epicenter of the explosion, the building began to shake violently, as if struck by an earthquake. Jungwon felt the chaotic movements of people panicking around them. Surveying the scene, they shouted.
“Kang Seok… David!”
Yet, even shouting at the top of their lungs, their voice would hardly carry through such pandemonium. Jungwon’s face tightened in frustration, and they bit their lip.
“Yes, Jungwon.”
At that moment, Seokjoo’s reply reached them. Jungwon, startled as if by the initial explosion, whirled towards the sound of his voice. He stood right beside them, having approached unnoticed, and was calmly observing their surroundings.
“Hmm… quite a commotion, isn’t it?”
To think such a monotonous assessment was his only reaction to this chaos. Nevertheless, simply having him nearby brought a significant measure of calm to Jungwon. For all his quirks, he was undeniably a helpful presence in a crisis.
[〘Attention, please. The building is currently under attack. This is believed to be the work of a terrorist organization. Further impacts are expected, so all participants are advised to prepare and evacuate according to instructions. I repeat: the building is currently under attack…〙]
Jungwon listened intently to the sudden emergency broadcast, then sharply turned their head towards Seokjoo.
“They’re calling it a terrorist organization. Do you think that’s true…?”
Seokjoo brought a finger to his lips, gesturing for silence. Perplexed, Jungwon closed their mouth and then followed the direction he indicated with his other hand.
Seokjoo gestured across the room at the other occupants.
“Don’t you think everyone looks strange?”
Jungwon’s eyes, which had been darting around in confusion, suddenly widened.
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Read : I Want To Bite You
