Chapter 75: I Know the Meaning

“What do you think you’re doing. Get off.”

But Jaeyul’s reaction was somewhat different from his.

He didn’t even pay attention to the person hanging on his neck as if pleased.

“Hey! If you see an Academy classmate, shouldn’t you at least pretend to be happy?!”

“How can I pretend to be happy when I’m not. And we saw each other last month, didn’t we?”

Ah.

So he was an Academy classmate.

He looked to be around Jaeyul’s age, so I guess he’s a friend.

The man who had just appeared pouted and pounded Jaeyul’s chest.

Still, it seemed true that they were really close, as Jaeyul didn’t stop him.

Though… he did look a little annoyed.

“Sigh, I don’t know why I came running all the way here for such a cold guy.”

“What brings you here. Didn’t you say you were going to America for an exchange training program?”

Exchange training….

He must be quite skilled.

Most young espers in their early twenties were sent to America for combat training, and it was difficult to be selected unless you were exceptionally talented.

“They’re recruiting members for a new team, aren’t they! Then of course, I have to join your team.”

But this man, he looks strangely familiar.

He doesn’t have a very memorable face, but it was a face that remained in my memory as if I had seen it somewhere.

My eyes met Jaeyul’s for a moment.

I sent a message with my gaze.

Who on earth is this kid?

“Ah, this is Ri. He’s an Academy classmate. This is Agent Jin Sehyeon, who just received an SS-rank. He’s a member of the special team.”

What kind of introduction is that?

He’s an Academy classmate, but I’m Agent Jin Sehyeon.

Well… it’s not good to reveal personal relationships too much at the Center, but I feel a little disappointed.

Couldn’t he have just said, ‘This is my hyung’?

“Hello, I’m Jin Sehyeon….”

“Hey! It’s not Ri, it’s Ri-hyun!”

Hmm.

It seems I’m invisible to that man named Ri-hyun.

He doesn’t even spare me a glance as I greet him and only looks at Jaeyul.

Seriously.

It might be just my feeling, but I get a strong sense that he’s intentionally ignoring me.

Though, since I’ve seen so many guys like that in the past, the damage is zero.

“Anyway, you want to join our team? You…?”

Wait a minute.

Ri-hyun, Ri-hyun.

The name is on the tip of my tongue.

It’s definitely a name I’ve heard in the past.

“Did Agency Head Han Dongil tell you to? That joining this team would help with your promotion?”

As soon as Jaeyul’s words came out, Ri-hyun’s face flushed red.

It was obvious at a glance that he had hit the nail on the head.

“…Seon Jaeyul! It has nothing to do with my maternal uncle?! H-how could you only see me as that kind of person…!”

Ri-hyun ran out of the office, angry as if he had heard something offensive.

But as he ran out, I felt his gaze linger on me for a moment.

A gaze that seemed to hold some kind of ill feeling.

Only then did I remember.

Agency Head Han Dongil’s wife’s nephew, Ri-hyun.

I remember him as someone who had steadily established himself thanks to a decent face and moderate skills.

But at some point, he disappeared, and I was too busy making a living to know what happened.

“What. Did I make a mistake, hyung?”

“Uh… well…. Maybe he ran away because he was embarrassed that you hit a nerve…?”

There must have been some influence from Agency Head Han Dongil.

As Jaeyul said, it was clear that joining this special team would be very helpful for building one’s personal career.

Of course, that wouldn’t be all.

Ri-hyun didn’t say it explicitly… but I got the impression that he very much wanted to join this team.

For a purpose other than his career.

“What’s that friend’s attribute?”

“A-rank wind. I heard he can use some support-type abilities too. Like buffs.”

“Wind is actually quite helpful in combat. It would be the icing on the cake if he can use something like a buff to make the body lighter.

And his attack power is also quite decent…. I think it would be fine to have one in the team? Besides, if you’ve known each other since the Academy, it’ll be easier to coordinate.”

Regardless of his social background, in terms of skill alone, he would be a help to the team.

…There is something that bothers me a little, but since that’s just my personal problem, I don’t think I need to mention it.

“I’ll meet with Ri later and talk to him again. If you’re okay with it, hyung, then I’m okay with it too.”

The way he calls him by a nickname.

Although Jaeyul didn’t seem to show much interest, they were probably closer than they appeared.

“So, hyung… should we call it a day?”

“What? We still have a long way to go to narrow down the team members.”

“I’m so tired from coming to work after a long time…. Let’s take it home and do it, okay?”

That kid Jaeyul rolls his chair over, wraps his arms around my waist, and clings to me, whining.

It’s a very… different side from when he was dealing with Ri-hyun just now.

When Jaeyul shows this side of himself, my answer is as good as decided.

“…Okay…. Then we have to look at it together after dinner, okay?”

“Yeah. Let’s hurry up and go to my place, hyung.”

How could I ever win against you?

***

“Looking at these young people who carry the future of our country, I don’t know how reassured I feel!”

I’m so dumbfounded I can’t even speak.

For two full days, we painstakingly selected the agents for the special team.

I was confident that I had created the best team list that would be of mutual help.

I had even added two or three reserve members in case of unforeseen circumstances.

One day after I submitted the list.

Agency Head Han Dongil personally visited, leading the confirmed team members.

The Agency Head, who spoke as if he was very pleased, and next to him, the Branch Director of the Seoul 2nd Center, who had a somewhat grim expression.

“Branch Director-nim, this is not what we talked about. This isn’t me forming a team, what’s the difference from just being told to join a pre-made team?

If you were going to decide everything on your own like this, why did you have us choose the team members in the first place?”

“What’s the matter, Team Leader Seon. They’re all friends you’re familiar with anyway. Academy classmates, colleagues you worked with on your previous team. Isn’t this the best combination?”

In conclusion, the people Jaeyul and I chose were not accepted at all.

The team members were all chosen by the Agency Head, but he had cleverly selected people who had a connection with Jaeyul, making it difficult to express any major complaints.

He even balanced the attributes, leaving even less room for argument.

“This team is just starting out, so I hope you all get along well and protect the country and its people! Hahaha.”

Han Dongil continued his unsolicited congratulatory speech.

At that moment, someone came up close to me and whispered in a low voice.

“You’re the one who said you didn’t like me, right? Funny. Did you think I wouldn’t be able to join this team because of that?”

“What are you talking about?”

It was Ri-hyun.

I don’t know what misunderstanding he had, but his attitude towards me was completely different from how he treated Jaeyul, and he was being hostile.

That’s right.

Ri-hyun was excluded from the final list.

There was a more experienced A-rank wind-based esper among the applicants than Ri-hyun, so there was no reason to choose him.

I wasn’t the one who chose, it was Jaeyul’s decision.

Of course, I also thought that choice was the right one.

“Look at you, playing innocent. You’re shameless on top of that. Whatever, just be careful from now on. I don’t care if you’re SS-rank or whatever. I’m warning you, don’t cross the line.”

So… I died at 32, went back to 17, and lived for 9 years, so now… I’m basically 41 years old.

But do I have to listen to such a young punk speak to me so informally…?

It seems like he’s doing this because of some misunderstanding, but it’s not worth arguing with him on the same level.

It seems I’ll have to have a talk with Jaeyul about this later.

Honestly… I have a pretty good idea of why Ri-hyun is being hostile towards me.

“Hey… no, Team Leader-nim! I knew this would happen since our Academy days! Honestly, I thought it was ridiculous that you were a C-rank.”

“That’s right. This bastard was probably tricking us all.”

“But do you guys remember? Back when we were on the same team as Seon Jaeyul….”

Youth really is a good thing.

Seeing the guys of similar age gathered together and chattering away, a smile naturally forms on my face.

It wasn’t the team combination I wanted, but if they’re such good friends, they should be able to coordinate to some extent.

But for some reason, it feels like the center of their group isn’t Jaeyul, but Ri-hyun.

“Hyung… no, Agent Jin Sehyeon. Please come here, you need to be introduced to the team members.”

I was watching them from a few steps away, and I approached at Jaeyul’s call.

“This is… the SS-rank Guide, Agent Jin Sehyeon…?”

“He just joined, but his rank and age are the highest on our team, so I would appreciate it if you would show him some basic courtesy.”

“Of course. We have to show basic courtesy. But it’s not very good to show off your personal connections like this, is it, Team Leader Seon Jaeyul-nim?”

Ri-hyun approaches.

He grabbed Jaeyul’s wrist, which was resting lightly on my shoulder, and removed it.

It’s true, but I don’t think I was being particularly obvious about it, yet he’s overreacting.

“What… do you two know each other?”

“I was wondering why a guide would join a raid team, even if he is SS-rank. Don’t tell me he got in because of his connections…?”

Gazes and voices full of distrust.

They seem convinced that I joined this team because of my connection with Jaeyul.

This is quite a predicament.

It’s ridiculous to make a long-winded rebuttal unnecessarily, but I don’t want the misunderstanding to grow either.

In that case, there’s only one way.

“No. The reason I’m on the raid team is not for such a trivial reason.”

I took the hands of the two espers standing in front of me, one by one.

They looked at me with a gaze that said, ‘what are you doing?’

“I’m here because there’s no guide more skilled than me.”

I immediately started guiding both espers at the same time.

My gaze was directed at Ri-hyun.

Right, I knew.

The reason why Ri-hyun has been hostile towards me since our first meeting.

How could I not know the meaning of his gaze when he looks at Jaeyul?

But that feeling shouldn’t be a reason to be hostile towards me.

I have no intention of just taking it like a fool.

“Espers can be replaced, but I can’t.”