Why Is This Here?
25: Chapter 25.
Why Is This Here?
* * * 「Dismissal List」 Haeryeon held the list out to Hyeon-yul.
“Here, take it, Hyeon-yul.” For a moment, Hyeon-yul felt as though his heart had dropped straight through his body.
Was this what people meant when they said they felt faint?
‘Dismissal…
list?’ Cold sweat nearly broke out across his skin.
“What did I…
do wrong?” “Huh?” Haeryeon blinked, then lowered her gaze to the list.
“No, no!
It’s not that!
The incident involving you grew into an internal-collusion case, remember?
This contains the results we found through the group chat you handed over to Team Leader Juhyeon.
It absolutely does not mean that!” “…Ah.
My apologies.” Only then did Hyeon-yul’s expression return to normal.
‘That was…
remarkably alarming.’ If anyone should have been grabbing someone’s pant leg and begging them not to leave, it was Hyeon-yul himself.
Haeryeon controlled her expression and gave him a short summary.
“Based on the investigation so far, we’ve caught thirty-four people, including two Black Eagles and members of the White Sparrows.
The identities we’ve fully confirmed are mostly on the White Sparrow side.” At first, she had assumed the incident began as nothing more than resentment toward Hyeon-yul because he was a former villain.
That degree of resistance had been within her expectations.
But this was not some minor incident.
‘If it weren’t for Hyeon-yul, we might never have discovered this.’ Why had they targeted Hyeon-yul in particular?
Several theories had circulated.
Perhaps Hyeon-yul knew the face of a certain villain and they wanted to silence him, or perhaps they intended to place Hyeon-yul at the center of the issue and deepen the conflict between the Black Eagles and White Sparrows.
Whatever the reason, it was unacceptable.
“What did you decide to do?” Hyeon-yul asked her to explain the final decision.
“For now, we’re going to expel them under the official reason of causing internal disorder.” “Won’t that create manpower shortages?” “It will, but we have to do it.
Every team leader agreed.” Just remembering the meeting already made Haeryeon’s head hurt.
The debate had been so fierce that she felt like using nothing but vacation days for the foreseeable future.
“Hyeon-yul.” “Yes, Team Leader.” “Do you know what part of this makes me feel faint?” “The possibility that one of the team leaders is a collaborator?” “Exactly.” Haeryeon exhaled deeply and swept her hair back.
“To remove that many people, we had no choice but to reveal that there’s a collaborator among the team leaders.
That was the price we had to pay to get everyone to accept this result, so we took damage too.” If one of the team leaders truly was a collaborator, they might now have to bury the matter without ever discovering who it was.
The person would probably stop leaving evidence from this point onward.
“I still think we should cut out what needs to be cut out.
The blade we swung this time won’t reach all the way to the roots, but the same is true for the other side.
Letting them slowly wither away like this may be acceptable.
If it takes long, I still expect the remaining one to submit a resignation within a month.” Hyeon-yul spoke while scanning the list.
Two names belonged to Black Eagles.
‘If these people become villains, they’ll be dangerous.’ He had been told he was the first person to go from villain to Black Eagle, but the reverse had happened many times.
For the sake of the Black Eagles themselves, it was better to cut off the problem before it could sprout.
“Team Leader, why is one of the Black Eagles crossed out?” “He died.” “What do you mean, he died?” “There was a murder at a club, and he was the victim.
He was one of the Black Eagles we were tracking.” ‘Ah…
so the man I killed last time was on this list too.’ Hyeon-yul nodded, then glanced sideways at Haeryeon.
Was she not going to suspect him this time either?
“Don’t worry.
What happened last time won’t happen again.
No one suspects you, Hyeon-yul.” “Then who is the other Black Eagle?” “We identified the White Sparrows relatively easily, but tracking the Black Eagle has been difficult.
I suspect it might be one of the team leaders.
Anyway, Hyeon-yul.” “Yes?” “I’m sorry.” At Haeryeon’s apology, Hyeon-yul stared at her with a stiff expression.
Anxiety immediately rose inside him.
He could not help wondering what it was this time.
“I mean I’m sorry you got dragged into something like this.
When you get swept up in rumors and controversy…
it wears down your mind and body.” Haeryeon’s gaze dropped as her fingers repeatedly clenched and opened.
Ah.
Only then did Hyeon-yul relax.
“I’ve always been surrounded by rumors, so I’m fine.
It wasn’t something I failed to anticipate either.
Whether people like me or hate me, there will always be countless things said about my existence.” He was a test subject who had survived odds so terrible they could only be called extreme.
That alone guaranteed attention.
Haeryeon’s gaze toward Hyeon-yul deepened.
He spoke as though he were discussing someone else’s affairs.
“I know I look strange.
There are many things about the way I speak and act that seem unusual.” Hyeon-yul almost changed the subject, but then he remembered the things Jeongmin had told him, along with a passage from 101 Ways to Maintain Smooth Workplace Relationships stating that misunderstandings were better resolved than ignored.
“No.
You’re not strange at all.” Haeryeon immediately shook her head from side to side.
That was clearly a lie.
There was no way Hyeon-yul could possibly be considered normal.
“Dr.
Jeongmin probably told you already, but because of the aftereffects of drugs, I suffered damage to the way I think, reason, and behave.
I’m still undergoing treatment.
I’m not very good at it yet, but I’m trying to become more natural.” Hyeon-yul looked directly at Haeryeon.
He understood that matters like this were better explained personally.
“What do you like, Hyeon-yul?” The abrupt question made Hyeon-yul hesitate.
Questions like this were terribly unfamiliar.
No villain had ever asked him anything like that.
It was the same sort of strange question Jeongmin was always asking.
“My senses are unusually sensitive, so I enjoy small, quiet activities.” “What kind of things?” Haeryeon merely smiled as she waited for his answer.
“I like knitting, and I like making accessories.
I’ve also always wanted to keep a turtle.” Even speaking about such ordinary things made Hyeon-yul look noticeably pleased.
‘They’re all…
things you do at home.’ Haeryeon immediately noticed the common thread between them.
“Yes.
My senses are quite sensitive, so home is comfortable.
That doesn’t mean I have difficulty going outside.” “I know that…
Ah, right.
Hyeon-yul, have you ever thought about moving?” “…I have, but I don’t have enough money to move.” Haeryeon pressed her lips together as though she had expected that answer.
A painfully realistic concern appeared in Hyeon-yul’s gray eyes.
“Most of my salary goes toward interest on the money I borrowed for hospital bills and medication, so things are quite tight.
I considered taking assassination jobs, but the lifestyle would have been too irregular, so I chose to go hungry instead.
I always have to protect my health.” Every time Haeryeon heard him say something like that, it shook her emotionally.
Had Hyeon-yul chosen to become a test subject?
Villains had turned him into one, so why was Hyeon-yul the person forced to bear all the consequences?
She found herself thinking it was fortunate he had retained this much sanity and that this was all the damage left in his personality.
“I’m glad you’re willing to move, at least.
I’m thinking of applying for housing assistance for you.” Hyeon-yul looked genuinely stunned.
Housing assistance.
The bridge of his nose even began to sting.
“Of course, there’s something we have to do first.” “…I’ll do it.” Strength entered Hyeon-yul’s voice.
He knew perfectly well it was bait meant to make him work harder, but there was no way he could refuse to bite.
“Hyeon-yul.” “Yes?” “We need to have your identification reissued.
Is that all right?” “Is there a problem with my identity?” “No.” Hyeon-yul’s registered identity was perfectly clear.
However, the information Shinwoo had provided, that Hyeon-yul’s registered age did not match reality and that he had never attended school, indicated the identity itself had been fabricated.
Judging by his expression, Hyeon-yul seemed completely unaware of that fact.
‘Dr.
Jeongmin must have made it for him.’ Dr.
Lee Jeongmin had been with Hyeon-yul for a very long time.
Villains preferred people with no legal identity, so there was no reason the villain side would have created one for him.
“When you become a Black Eagle, you normally go through a process like this.
You become someone special.” Haeryeon smiled gently.
It was not exactly a lie.
Black Eagles were people the Empire needed to protect, so they had to be newly registered.
“And you have a lot of blank space in your history because you were a test subject, right?” “Yes.
A great deal.” His childhood and adolescence had both been spent entirely as a test subject.
“We’re going to record that you were a test subject during those years.
That way, you can receive every benefit the Empire provides for people in your situation.
Are you okay with that?” “I’ll be officially recognized as a test subject?” “Not as a test subject.
As a victim.
That’s how you’ll be recognized.
If you don’t want it, we don’t have to do it.
There are plenty of other ways.” “…If it’s recorded…” “Yeah?” “No.
I’ll do it.” “Hyeon-yul, you’ll be able to choose a government-owned home under sixty square meters.
If you live there for around three years, you won’t have to pay it back.” “…” Hyeon-yul’s lower lip trembled visibly, and emotion rippled through his eyes.
He would not even have to repay it.
There was a reason people said that being treated too well could make you anxious.
A sudden doubt rose in Hyeon-yul’s mind.
“Why…
are you doing this much for me?” None of this had even been in his employment contract.
“You’ve saved a lot of people, Hyeon-yul.
And you’re going to save many more.” Haeryeon smiled broadly as she explained her reasoning.
By capturing the Poison King, Hyeon-yul had caused one major branch of the villain world to collapse.
It was simply unfortunate that there was no way to see with his own eyes exactly how many lives that had saved.
“To be honest, I think you might even become a noble someday.
Imagine how proud I’d be then.” The Black Eagles were practically the only route through which an ordinary person could become a noble.
Even if his legal status did not change much, becoming one would make him a symbol, and that would be something worth celebrating.
“A noble?” “Oops.
I kept you too long.” Haeryeon checked the time and jumped slightly in surprise.
“You need to stop by Dr.
Jeongmin’s office, right?” “Yes.
I have to see him before theory class.” She wanted to let him rest, but theory training was conducted together, so she could not remove it from the schedule.
“Anyway, think about it slowly and tell me later.
Oh, Team Leader Juhyeon is checking the Poison King’s phone you gave us, so I’ll tell you if anything turns up.
That’s everything.” Haeryeon signaled that their business was finished, but Hyeon-yul remained standing there.
“What is it?
Is there something you want to say?” “There’s something I failed to tell you yesterday.” “…Yesterday?” Haeryeon’s eyes widened.
Hyeon-yul held out his phone and showed her a photograph.
“The villain I made contact with yesterday is known as the Gravity Mage or the Red Witch.
Shin Daeho called her Asan.” “…?” Haeryeon stopped breathing for a moment.
The Poison King had barely left the stage, and now the Red Witch had appeared.
‘Is he seriously some kind of catnip for villains?’ She could not understand why major villains kept appearing one after another around him.
Figures at that level were not people anyone could simply encounter whenever they wished.
Shin Daeho, the Poison King, the Red Witch.
In truth, no one except Hyeon-yul could have approached that lineup so naturally.
‘How is this supposed to be coincidence?’ Haeryeon could only scream internally at the absurdity.
“After encountering her, I wounded her back.
I tried to use one of her subordinates to identify where they came from, but his loyalty was unusually high and he killed himself.” After making the report, Hyeon-yul showed clear regret.
He had wanted information connected to the test subjects, but the subordinate’s loyalty had been absurdly strong.
He had not expected to meet someone even more foolish than himself.
“Wait.
You wounded her?” Haeryeon was horrified by an entirely different part of the report.
Did this man simply have no fear?
“Yes.
I injured her as a warning.
My arm was twisted as well.
A major villain really is a different kind of existence.” Hyeon-yul spoke as though he had discovered something fascinating.
Worried his explanation might be insufficient, he added supporting reasoning.
“She appeared to be trying to absorb the forces left behind by the Poison King and Shin Daeho.
I wounded her to prevent her from growing into an even larger organization.
Is there a problem…?” “Of course there’s a problem!
You said you weren’t hurt!” “Yes.
I wasn’t hurt.
It was merely twisted.” “If it was twisted like that, it means it was broken!” Haeryeon immediately looked at Hyeon-yul’s arm.
It appeared strangely normal.
“I’m quite resistant to blunt force.
I was planning to go see the doctor now anyway…” “Go!
Right now!
Hurry!” For some reason, Haeryeon’s expression darkened.
Hyeon-yul wondered what mistake he had made as he walked away with heavy steps.
‘…This is difficult.’ Human emotions were difficult.
Hyeon-yul wanted to look back several times, but fearing he might upset her further, he did nothing and simply left.
Only after confirming that Hyeon-yul was gone did Haeryeon finally drop her head onto the desk.
Thud.
‘…He’s insane.
He’s seriously insane.’ To kill the Poison King, poison had to be completely ineffective against you.
The team leaders had joked about that among themselves before.
Hyeon-yul had actually done it, and the repercussions were enormous.
Hyeon-yul himself did not seem to realize it, but this was little short of miraculous fortune.
Poison did not affect him.
It sounded simple when said aloud, but how could something like that actually be possible?
‘And…
he wounded the Red Witch too?’ The Red Witch was a mage.
Was there anyone who did not know how troublesome mages were?
Simply being a mage was enough to earn additional consideration even among the Black Eagles.
‘…Did I set my standards too low?’ Hyeon-yul’s abilities were beyond anything she had imagined.
Because no living test subjects were known to exist, there was no data showing how powerful they could become.
‘He’s strong.
Far too strong.’ The smile slowly disappeared from Haeryeon’s lips, and she pushed both hands back through her hair.
That kind of strength was not a good thing.
A bitter feeling rose inside her for no clear reason.
—”I like knitting, and I like making accessories.
I’ve also always wanted to keep a turtle.” Every word Hyeon-yul had said then had been sincere.
‘…Villains ruined someone like that.’ If he had never become a test subject, perhaps he would simply have lived as an ordinary person.
* * * “…Doctor.” Hyeon-yul spoke while looking at Jeongmin.
Jeongmin’s voice was unusually sharp as he examined the X-ray.
“I’m listening.” “Are you angry?” “Hyeon-yul.
What have I been telling you since you were little?” Jeongmin pointed at Hyeon-yul’s arm as he asked.
“To be careful with my body.
I’ve continued following that advice even now.” “And someone who follows it joined the Black Eagles?” “Would you like me to answer that again too?” “Ah, enough.
Don’t say any more.
My ears are starting to hurt.” Jeongmin recoiled as though physically rejecting the answer.
Excellent benefits and money.
When Hyeon-yul brought those things up, what could Jeongmin possibly say?
They were exactly what Hyeon-yul needed most.
When he heard that medical expenses would be covered, he had nearly raised both hands and shouted in celebration.
“Doctor, I’m always careful.” “This is careful?” Jeongmin pointed at Hyeon-yul’s arm again.
There was only a faint bruise.
To anyone else it would have looked like the sort of injury that would heal with nothing more than a little saliva and time, but not for Hyeon-yul.
Even this needed to be taken seriously.
“My body is structured differently from other people’s.
Even after magic twisted my arm, all I got was a bruise.” He might be resistant to blunt impacts, but because his blood was difficult to stop, he was vulnerable to puncture wounds.
Even so, Jeongmin was applying medicine and wrapping the arm in an absurdly elaborate bandage that looked completely disproportionate to the bruise.
“…Wow.
You really have gotten good at talking, haven’t you?
Almost makes me wonder who taught you.” “You taught me, Doctor.” When Hyeon-yul smiled, Jeongmin, who had been speaking sarcastically, puffed up with pride for no reason.
It had already been fourteen years.
Having watched him since childhood, Hyeon-yul had long ago become more than simply a patient to Jeongmin.
“Anyway, what did you want to ask?” “Doctor, do people dislike efficiency?” Pursuing efficiency was Hyeon-yul’s way of doing things.
In other words, disliking efficiency felt the same as disliking Hyeon-yul himself.
“Who…
who says they dislike you?
Which bastard is it?” Jeongmin immediately raised his voice in angry disbelief.
“There have always been many people who dislike me.” “Then there’s something wrong with their eyes.” “Apparently most people have poor eyesight.” Jeongmin burst into laughter at Hyeon-yul’s dry sarcasm.
He could even make jokes now.
The realization made him feel ridiculously proud of Hyeon-yul.
“Please answer the question.” “Even if someone prefers efficiency, that doesn’t mean they’ll feel the same way all the time.
They might simply be in a bad mood today.” “…Ah.” Only then did Hyeon-yul finally understand what Jeongmin meant.
A fairly famous villain had appeared, so of course it would cause problems.
Haeryeon was a team leader, and she already had plenty of work of her own.
Now additional work had been piled on top of that.
Naturally, she might be irritated.
‘I gave her more work.’ Only then did the unpleasant feeling inside Hyeon-yul finally disappear.
“You should come back after training.” “Did my levels drop?” “Yeah.
You’ll need an injection today.” “Doctor.” At Hyeon-yul’s call, Jeongmin raised both eyebrows and looked at him.
Hyeon-yul hesitated for just a moment.
Jeongmin grew nervous at the uncharacteristic behavior.
What was he about to say?
Was something hurting?
“Now that I can receive medical-expense support, I’ll repay the money I owe you first.” His medical expenses had been so high that he went into debt, and when there was nowhere left to borrow from, Jeongmin had paid for his treatment instead.
Hyeon-yul had always wanted to repay that debt to Jeongmin, but only now was it becoming possible.
“…You’ve been worrying about that this whole time?” Jeongmin asked the question with open surprise on his face.
“Yes.” Hyeon-yul’s answer made Jeongmin’s chest tighten with emotion.
“Forget it.
I did it because I wanted to, so don’t worry about it.” “Doctor, I earn a much higher salary now.
There’s no danger of my wages being stolen either.” “Hyeon-yul, I earn a lot more since coming here too.
Save that money, find a new home, and get yourself a turtle.” Jeongmin gently patted Hyeon-yul on the arm as he spoke.
Everyone had said Hyeon-yul would die, but he had lived.
He had endured and fought until he became an adult.
Jeongmin decided to think of the money as the price of having been able to witness that entire process.
“But that’s my debt…” “Oh, you’re going to be late for training.
Mr.
Tardy, shouldn’t you hurry?” Jeongmin raised one hand and pointed directly at the clock.
Hyeon-yul followed his gaze and reluctantly stood up.
What was he supposed to say in a situation like this?
After thinking for a moment, Hyeon-yul smiled.
“I’ll buy you a meal.” “Good.
I’ll prepare to eat something expensive.” Jeongmin smiled, and Hyeon-yul smiled too before bowing his head and leaving the room.
Jeongmin removed his glasses and covered his face with one hand.
That tiny child from long ago, the child who had known nothing about emotion, had grown this much.
‘I don’t know whose kid he is, but damn, I’m proud of him.’ No matter how many times Jeongmin despaired, he could never stop.
Hyeon-yul was still alive.
“Ah, Doctor.
About the festival…” Hyeon-yul opened the door again, stopped when he saw Jeongmin, and spoke quietly.
“My levels must not be very good.
I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything.” It was not as though Hyeon-yul did not know that Jeongmin sometimes cried when his numbers were bad.
As usual, Hyeon-yul quietly closed the door.
“W-Wait, Hyeon-yul!
That’s not what this is!” Jeongmin jumped up to explain himself.