Chapter 36 - Festival

* * *

"... Hyeonyul."

Jeongmin called his name, and Hyeonyul raised his head.

"Yes?"

"Could I... grill it instead?"

Jeongmin gazed pitifully at the meat burning on the grill.

"I'm treating you as a token of my gratitude. Naturally, I should do the grilling."

"I know. I understand how you feel, but the meat hasn't done anything wrong, has it?"

Jeongmin held out his hand.

Hyeonyul was more stubborn than he looked. At times like this, gentle coaxing was the best approach.

Hyeonyul narrowed his eyes.

"I'm clearly grilling it properly. Why isn't it working?"

"I'd like to know that myself. You're so good with your hands, too."

"Doctor, this seems to be another aftereffect."

Jeongmin was both dumbfounded and touched by Hyeonyul's shamelessness.

As Jeongmin's gaze grew intent, Hyeonyul handed over the tongs. He was clearly about to say something.

"You should have done that from the start."

Only then could Jeongmin grill the meat to his heart's content. The beautifully marbled cuts were developing a glossy sear.

"Hyeonyul, how's your current job compared with what you used to do?"

"It's not difficult."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"I asked if you meant that."

When Jeongmin asked again, Hyeonyul let out a short breath. How could he not recognize the worry behind those words? After all their years together, it was easy to guess what Jeongmin would say.

"Honestly, I thought you'd be pleased."

Jeongmin was the reason he hadn't killed anyone other than villains, even after entering a company run by one. Back then, he had learned for the first time that a fully grown adult could cry.

["... Revenge—I know I can't stop you. I know, but you can't do this. Hyeonyul, you... You, of all people, mustn't become like them."]

He had even gone down on his knees, begging him not to become a monster.

So Hyeonyul had promised not to become one, for Jeongmin's sake and his own. Jeongmin hadn't tried any further to stop him from becoming a villain to pay his medical bills.

"I am pleased. Really, I am. But it looks just as dangerous."

Jeongmin was always worried about Hyeonyul. He simply wanted him to live an ordinary life.

"This is a good place. I got off work today, and here I am having dinner with you. That would have been impossible there."

"That's true. It is, but you didn't do anything dangerous today, did you?"

"Pardon...?"

Hyeonyul reacted as though he had no idea what Jeongmin meant.

"You stepped back as soon as you saw me. Remember?"

Jeongmin's gaze sharpened.

'I did, but...'

Hyeonyul hesitated.

He had stepped back because he was concerned about the poison released by the new weapons he had detonated several times on the mountain earlier. He had removed it, but who could say whether any of it might affect Jeongmin?

Had that fleeting action really warranted notice?

Hyeonyul said nothing.

"What were you doing before you came here?"

Under Jeongmin's questioning, Hyeonyul took an unnecessary sip of water. He might lie to other people, but he couldn't bring himself to do it in front of Jeongmin.

"I don't know what you're going around doing on your own, but don't ever do anything dangerous."

"I don't."

The poison inside the new weapons had no effect on him whatsoever. It had been no different from playing with a toy. No matter how many times he considered it, it hadn't been dangerous.

"I'm on your side. Whatever you tell me, I have no intention of telling anyone else."

"In that case, Doctor."

"There! See that?"

As Hyeonyul finally began to confess, Jeongmin pointed at him with his chopsticks. He was just like he had been as a child—hiding every dangerous thing he did, then blurting it out the moment he thought he would be forgiven.

"How should I hand over some new weapons I happened to pick up?"

"..."

"Please tell me."

"... Hyeonyul."

"Yes?"

"Just what have you been going around doing?"

Jeongmin raised his voice, but Hyeonyul remained unruffled.

"I merely examined them."

At that, Jeongmin abruptly clutched the back of his neck. Why was he doing that himself? He claimed he wanted to live a long life, yet his words and actions were completely at odds.

"Doctor, you should eat."

Whether or not he realized how distressed Jeongmin was, Hyeonyul smiled and offered him some meat. Ever since discovering that Jeongmin was easily won over by his smile, he still smiled whenever he felt he was at a disadvantage.

But what could Jeongmin do? This was the child he had taken in.

"... All right."

Jeongmin put the meat in his mouth.

Whoever had bought it, it was incredible.

* * *

"... Team Leader, are the sample results back?"

Jihwan looked at Haeryeon as he asked.

"They are."

"What do they say?"

"They match the residue from the new weapons."

At Haeryeon's answer, Jihwan's expression stiffened, while Nayun pondered it.

"Jihwan, you said you found this residue on a mountain, right?"

"... Yes. I was on patrol."

Jihwan bit his lip.

The mountain was far too close to the city. What would have happened if one of the new weapons had gone off there? Jihwan had heard they still couldn't neutralize the poison because it contained so many different kinds.

"Was there anything nearby?"

Jihwan shook his head at Nayun's question.

"Nothing, Nayun."

"That's strange... This is different from last time."

Nayun rubbed the corner of her mouth.

They could assume the villain last time had used a new weapon to prevent the documents from being taken, but that location had been in the mountains, far from the city. This time, it was a mountain right beside the city.

If they had intended to use it in the first place, they would have tested it somewhere crowded. This was a departure from the villains' usual methods.

"What... could they be trying to do?"

Nayun looked at Haeryeon.

"My guess is that they used a new weapon to keep nearby villains in check."

According to Hyeonyul, competition among villains was much more common than they realized.

["You don't need to worry about villains joining forces. Unless they're all on the verge of ruin, that will never happen."]

"So they're dragging us into their business? Hoping we'll keep their rivals in check for them?"

Sinu, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

Haeryeon agreed.

"That's only what I think. It's not certain, so let's not make any definitive claims."

"All right."

Sinu nodded.

"Anyway, Jihwan."

Jihwan had been staring blankly and only belatedly looked at Haeryeon when she called.

"No one was hurt. Don't worry."

"... Team Leader, it's the lack of traces that worries me. It wasn't magic. It wasn't a psychic ability, either."

Jihwan spoke hesitantly. With nothing else to do at the time, Jihwan had flown out as soon as the assignment came in. Flying there on the eagle had taken only two or three minutes.

How could someone erase every trace in that time?

"They said they can't locate the drone, either."

"It's not a good sign, but it's not something to worry so much about."

Haeryeon reassured Jihwan. Nothing had happened yet. They couldn't act rashly, and it wasn't something to bring up at a meeting.

"I agree with the Team Leader."

Nayun also gave Jihwan a broad smile.

"Team Leader. Nayun..."

Jihwan looked between Haeryeon and Nayun, then nodded. Sinu slapped Jihwan on the back and chuckled.

"You worry too much."

"It's... close to the city."

"When hasn't it been?"

"Something was different this time."

Jihwan clenched both fists. This wasn't an ordinary villain. That had been clear at first sight.

"Sure, sure."

Sinu resisted the urge to tease Jihwan and looked at the empty seat.

"Oh, right. Where's Hyeonyul?"

"He's taken today off."

"Bro, is he sick?"

Jihwan asked in alarm.

"No. Today's the last day of the festival, remember?"

Haeryeon grinned. She had been waiting for this day herself. As soon as she had realized Hyeonyul liked festivals, she had thought of giving him time off. She had released him on the final day, when there would be fireworks.

"Then, Team Leader, can I take today off and go, too?"

Nayun was incredulous at Sinu's brazen request.

"Where do you think you're going? If anyone gets to go, it should be me. I've used less leave."

"Wow... So that's how you're going to play it?"

"Bro. Nayun. In that case, shouldn't I be the one to take a break?"

Jihwan flashed a bright smile. Being a mage meant getting called all over the place. Besides dealing with villains, there were searches, rescues, and support duties.

"Right?"

Smiling, Jihwan rested a chin on interlaced hands.

"Sorry, everyone. I can't spare anyone today."

Haeryeon looked around, then brought over energy tonics and set one down for each of them. By her rough estimate, they might be incredibly busy.

"So let's all work hard today."

Everyone's expression froze. The energy tonics were a warning that assignments might pile up right until they clocked out.

They all sighed at once.

* * *

"... Mister!"

Serin approached Hyeonyul, waving.

"Serin! You'll hurt yourself if you run!"

A teacher ran after Serin, apparently having brought the child here.

"It's okay. If I get hurt, I can put on a bandage. Right?"

Hugging Hyeonyul's leg tightly, Serin looked up with a grin.

"Yes. If you get hurt, it can be treated."

Despite his flat words and gaze, Serin's smile only grew brighter.

"Mister."

"Yes?"

"Guess how much I missed you!"

"I don't know."

"I missed you a whole lot!"

"... Did you?"

Hyeonyul answered a few seconds late.

"That's when you're supposed to say you missed her, too."

Jeongmin clapped Hyeonyul on the back, then approached Serin and crouched down.

["Would you... go to the festival with me?"]

He couldn't say how much he had cried that day at Hyeonyul's invitation.

'So you made a promise, then brought me along because you didn't know what to do. You little rascal.'

Jeongmin was so exasperated that he regretted all the tears he had shed that day. Still, this was something. Hyeonyul was now able to make plans with someone else, extend an invitation, and come along with them.

"Hello, Serin."

Jeongmin greeted the child.

"... How did you know my name?"

"You've been saying it the whole time."

At Hyeonyul's observation, Serin gasped and covered her mouth.

"What a pretty name."

At Jeongmin's compliment, Serin lowered her hands, approached him, and bowed with her hands over her belly.

"I'm Lee Serin."

"I'm Lee Jeongmin. We have the same last name, don't we?"

"Are you my dad, mister?"

"Are you?"

When Hyeonyul added his question to Serin's, Jeongmin recoiled in horror.

"No, no! I haven't even gotten married yet!"

The teacher, who had caught up, barely suppressed a laugh.

"Then are you Mister Hyeonyul's dad, Mister Jeongmin?"

'Mister Hyeonyul...?'

Jeongmin burst out laughing.

Granted, his appearance, altered by the smartwatch, looked considerably older and more worn than his real face. But still.

"... Hyeonyul. Why is she calling you 'mister'?"

Jeongmin teased him despite knowing perfectly well why. He couldn't stop laughing.

"I don't mind."

"Really?"

"Yes. It's not as though there isn't an age gap between us."

After answering, Hyeonyul looked at Serin. She was looking back and forth between him and Jeongmin, as though urging them to answer her question.

Hyeonyul glanced at Jeongmin before speaking.

"He isn't my actual father."

"He isn't?"

"No. But I think of him that way."

It had been fourteen whole years. After spending that much time together, couldn't he think of him that way?

"Then I like him, too!"

Serin ran over and clung to Jeongmin.

"..."

Jeongmin stared at Hyeonyul, frozen in place.

Really?

Truly?

Seeing all those questions in his eyes, Hyeonyul nodded, then approached the teacher.

"I'll look after the child until the festival is over. I will make sure she doesn't get hurt."

His voice was weighty and cool.

The teacher looked at Hyeonyul. Though he wasn't in uniform, the teacher knew the man standing there was a Black Eagle. This was also an order from the Black Eagles.

"You can go home now."

"... Pardon?"

"I'll take the child back to the kindergarten. You can finish work and go home."

By all appearances, Serin was keeping the teacher from leaving work. Since Hyeonyul was partly responsible for her coming to the festival, it was only right to let the teacher go home.

"... You don't have to do that."

"It's fine."

Hyeonyul knew perfectly well that the objection wasn't sincere. Who would want to delay leaving work?

"Then, have a safe trip home."

He bowed politely and turned away.

"Could I... have your name?"

"Oh, I'm Seo Hyeonyul. If any problems arise later, you can give them my name."

During his classroom training, he had been told to avoid mentioning his name outside whenever possible. But today was different.

"... Thank you."

The teacher thanked Hyeonyul. It felt strange. The Black Eagles had visited the kindergarten several times, but they still seemed so far removed.

To think he would be so considerate.

"Is the child doing well?"

Hyeonyul was about to walk away again when a question occurred to him, and he looked at the teacher.

"Serin?"

"Yes. Last time, the kindergarten hadn't even realized she was missing."

It sounded like a warning. No, perhaps it was a warning.

The teacher could hear their own heart pounding.

"Serin can't control her power very well, so... we separated her from the others for a while... I'm sorry. It was my fault."

"She's a clever child. She'll learn well."

Hyeonyul bowed again and turned away.

Serin's fire power had always been strong enough for villains to covet. She had to be taught well so that she would never become a villain, and that was the teacher's responsibility.

Hyeonyul walked back to Jeongmin and Serin. Jeongmin's eyes were wet. He really did cry a great deal.

"... Did you know food is the highlight of a festival?"

At Jeongmin's words, Hyeonyul nodded.

"I read that in a book."

"Try it for yourself and see."

"I'll..."

"Do you think I can't even buy this for you when you're like a son to me?"

Jeongmin was a stubborn man. Once he wore that look that said he wouldn't yield, it was hard to dissuade him.

"No. Thank you for the food."

Hyeonyul smiled faintly. Seeing his smile, Serin beamed.

"Mister."

She reached out to him. After a moment's hesitation, Hyeonyul offered his hand.

Hers was small and warm.

"Your dad, too."

Serin looked at Jeongmin. With her eyes shining so brightly, he couldn't refuse.

Holding Hyeonyul's and Jeongmin's hands, Serin walked forward, humming.

It was a festival.

A festival.

'We must seem unfamiliar, but she's such a friendly little thing.'

Jeongmin chuckled as he followed Serin. Whatever happened, there couldn't be a better day than this. It felt exactly as though he had brought his son and granddaughter along.

'I never got married, but this isn't bad.'

Jeongmin glanced at Hyeonyul. His face had changed, but Jeongmin could read the joy showing through his impassive expression.

'Yes, this really isn't bad.'

The festival.

And this situation.

Following Serin's lead, Jeongmin swung his arms a few times as they naturally joined the crowd heading toward the food stalls.

* * *

「Countless people come to enjoy the festival.」

The book Hyeonyul had read did contain a passage like that, but this was beyond anything he had imagined.

There were far too many people. Wherever he looked, there were people.

Feeling as though countless eyes were upon him, Hyeonyul lowered his gaze slightly. As always, it felt unpleasant.

"Hyeonyul."

"... Yes?"

"You're not all right, are you?"

"I can bear it."

"Mister, are you sick?"

Startled by their exchange, Serin looked at Hyeonyul.

"No. I simply don't like being looked at."

"Then close your eyes tight. I'll lead you!"

At Serin's suggestion, Hyeonyul considered actually closing his eyes.

"Don't even think about actually closing them. It's dangerous."

At Jeongmin's firm admonition, Hyeonyul nodded.

"I brought something because I thought this might happen."

As Jeongmin rummaged through his pocket, the corners of Hyeonyul's eyes lifted.

'... The smell of blood.'