Chapter 54: The Unlikely Vacationer

“You can compensate me with something else instead of a vacation, if you prefer.”

“What, money? That’s not within my authority.”

“Not that.”

Sa-yoon idly tapped the terror-related documents in his hand.

“The system that extracted this information—let me use it just once. After all, I’m a person, and my pride won’t allow me to simply move as a system predicts. I want to verify its accuracy for myself.”

The bureau chief’s face contorted, his jaw dropping in disbelief. He stared at Sa-yoon with wide, incredulous eyes before quickly shaking his head.

“Are you insane? I just told you this system is top secret. Meet an administrator? What you’ve already said is grounds for disciplinary action. Just tell me outright that you want to throw me in the brig. And what do you even need to verify?”

“There’s plenty to ask. Since I can’t be compensated with money, I plan on asking for lottery numbers to make a fortune.”

“‘…I’ll consider a salary increase instead.’”

It seemed things wouldn’t proceed so easily. Sa-yoon altered his plan to access the system.

“Then, instead of the system, just introduce me to one of the prophecy Espers. I’d like to meet some of them.”

“What would you do asking for lottery numbers from someone with only 70% accuracy?”

“Oh, that was a joke. To be honest, I just feel like I’m living in too narrow a world. Everyone around me is an Esper whose brains are all muscle. I thought this might be a good opportunity to broaden my horizons.”

Prophecy Espers were not part of Sa-yoon’s combat Esper team. Since they belonged to the administrative department, which comprised intelligence-type Espers, there was naturally no way for him to meet them.

With this somewhat reasonable explanation, the usually fierce bureau chief slowly calmed down. He pondered for a moment, finding the request acceptable, then nodded.

“Alright, I can do that much. I’ll vouch for it, so pull yourself together and manage the Daejeon situation properly. This isn’t a trivial matter. Don’t get too overconfident just because you stopped one terror attack.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll do my best and return.”

Having achieved his goal, Sa-yoon stood up, feeling light. It was a pity he couldn’t examine the system, but he had at least secured a prophecy Esper.

Given the current circumstances, they wouldn’t leave a valuable prophecy Esper idle, so the person he met would undoubtedly be deeply connected to the system. If he was lucky, he might even meet someone who knew Myeong-ah.

It had taken months for Myeong-ah’s death notice to arrive after he was forcibly enlisted under the guise of protection. Even the smallest piece of information would be valuable. He prayed he could uncover even a faint thread of information related to Myeong-ah.

“Then I suppose I’ll have to put the kids through training starting tomorrow. We’ll be monopolizing the training room for a while.”

“Do as you please. The dispatched teams need to rest for a while anyway, so you should be able to use it freely.”

‘Now’s a good time to get the team members, who’ve gotten lax from a long break, warmed up again.’ Sa-yoon left, contemplating thoughts that would surely make his team members wail.

A preparation period, short yet long, had passed. For what felt like ages, Sa-yoon had put his team through the paces on the parade ground and in the virtual reality system.

It was a time he fondly remembered, watching his members gagging from exhaustion.

‘Perhaps they’ve finally gotten some discipline now.’

Upon arriving in Daejeon, Sa-yoon scanned his team members, who were lined up before him. His team, consisting solely of specialized Espers, was smaller than others.

There were five in total. Including the auxiliary Espers assigned to each, the number just exceeded ten. Compared to other teams, which had nearly twenty members, his was modest, yet each individual possessed exceptional abilities.

With their unique powers, they were resources capable of fighting a hundred opponents depending on how they were utilized. He had pushed them hard to warm them up; now, it was Sa-yoon’s job to utilize them effectively.

Standing sternly with his hands clasped behind his back before his team, Sa-yoon declared loudly, “Hundreds of thousands of lives hinge on this mission. As this is a solo mission for Esper Team 3, I expect you to approach it with an extraordinary sense of responsibility.”

Speaking like a true team leader for the first time in a while, Sa-yoon adopted a grave demeanor. The expressions of the solemnly arrayed team members were serious. It was a moment where they solidified their resolve, feeling the weight of lives resting on their shoulders.

The atmosphere was good. The weather was also good. Now, if they could just properly scout and annihilate the Airain’s entry points…

“Hm?”

Amidst the highly disciplined individuals, one person, in particular, couldn’t focus, glancing around restlessly. Sa-yoon fixed his gaze on the team member who caused the most trouble in his team.

“Kang Ah-jun.”

“Yes, Team Leader!”

“Won’t you pay attention?”

No matter how eccentric the guy was, being unable to focus even at a moment like this was a serious problem. When Sa-yoon called out strictly, Kang Ah-jun’s eyes drooped, his expression wronged.

He whimpered like a suffering puppy, trying to hold back what he wanted to say. “What exactly is the problem? Just tell me straightforwardly. Don’t cause trouble later.”

“But, Team Leader, didn’t you say this was our team’s solo mission?”

Kang Ah-jun now overtly turned his head to look to the side. He pointed a finger at a person casually sitting next to where the members were lined up.

“Why is Team Leader Han Do-hoon here?”

Han Do-hoon, sitting leisurely with his long legs crossed, waved his hand. “Don’t mind me. I’m on vacation.”

“……”

Sa-yoon began to understand a little why the bureau chief always sighed whenever he saw him. With such a difficult individual doing something so absurd, he felt his wrinkles deepening.

‘Yes. Even if it’s a near-top-secret mission, Han Do-hoon would probably know. Thanks to his powerful backing, he was privy to all sorts of information, and the bureau chief always made exceptions for him. Given Han Do-hoon’s personality, he wouldn’t have come down here unilaterally without reporting.’

It was good that Han Do-hoon was participating in the terror mission. He was reliable and capable, making him a welcome addition from Sa-yoon’s perspective. But the reason he was loitering around Sa-yoon in Daejeon was, of all things, a vacation.

This was an excuse no one would believe, no matter where he told it.

“You don’t need to mind him. We should focus only on our work.”

“‘…Yes.’”

The team members’ voices held a subtle lack of enthusiasm. It was understandable, considering they had come to dedicate their lives to the country, only to hear someone talk about vacation beside them. Sa-yoon empathized with his team members but tried his best to ignore it.

Han Do-hoon was a valuable asset. Even if the team members felt awkward now, once they engaged in the mission and realized Han Do-hoon’s practicality, they would understand Sa-yoon’s decision.

‘This is why those who can see further than others are often lonely.’

“I trust that my team members will successfully complete this mission as well. Remember, the moment we step out here, we represent the entire unit. Be mindful of your conduct. And Kim Chae-jun will lead Team A, while Kang Ah-jun will lead Team B.”

Sa-yoon distributed the pre-prepared roster.

“Team A will investigate from Yuseong-gu, and Team B from Dong-gu. What we need to find are the Airain’s entry points. Report immediately if you find anything suspicious.”

“Yes, sir. Understood.”

Sa-yoon nodded with satisfaction at their booming replies. At his gesture, the team members swiftly formed their teams and moved towards their designated locations.

Kim Chae-jun and Kang Ah-jun.

The large open space quickly fell silent. Sa-yoon awkwardly checked his attire. Since they had to carry out the mission among civilians, everyone was wearing casual clothes today. It felt odd to wear gloves with casual attire, so he self-consciously fiddled with the ring exposed on his hand. Just in case, he also wore it doubly around his neck as a necklace.

After finishing his attire check, Sa-yoon, standing alone in the wide area, walked towards Han Do-hoon.

“I’m thinking of moving soon. What about you, Mr. Han Do-hoon? Are you going to keep resting here?”

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Ah, right.”

Come to think of it, this was the first time he had seen Han Do-hoon since his severe illness. He had messaged him that he would be busy with training for a while and then rushed down to Daejeon. He had told him they’d meet once he felt better but hadn’t found the time to see him.

‘I should have at least mentioned that I was feeling better.’ Sa-yoon scratched his cheek, feeling embarrassed by his thoughtless actions.

“I’m fine now. Thank you for your concern.”

“That’s a relief. It seems coming down here was worth it, just to see your face.”

Han Do-hoon, seated on an old wooden bench, smiled brightly. The sight of a handsome young man comfortably sitting in an empty lot filled with only old amusement rides seemed incongruous yet strangely fitting. Han Do-hoon’s behavior, like a teenager smitten with their first love, made Sa-yoon’s chest tingle with a similar sensation.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you in casual clothes, Mr. Sa-yoon.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen you in casual clothes too. You look different.”

Han Do-hoon, who usually buttoned his shirt all the way up, was also wearing a comfortable T-shirt and cotton pants today, like Sa-yoon. His bangs, seemingly roughly dried, fell over his forehead. With such an uncharacteristically relaxed hairstyle, his usual vibe was different.

“Because it’s vacation.”

“How long are you going to keep using that ridiculous excuse? Who in the world takes a vacation to a predicted terror zone?”

Sa-yoon burst into laughter, utterly dumbfounded. To spend a precious vacation, earned after so much hardship, in a battleground where a terror attack might soon erupt—if true, it was a truly peculiar taste. Since Han Do-hoon insisted it was a vacation, Sa-yoon decided to play along and asked,