...
The host continued with the ceremony.
[By risking her life to subdue a Djinn, she demonstrated exemplary bravery and citizenship. This comndation attests to her honorable service to society, as well as her inspiring behavior. Cadet Chae Nayun.]
Yoo Sihyuk handed the certificate of comndation to Nayun, without a single acidic comnt or provocation. Just a serious, almost respectful look.
She received the docunt with honor, although a faint remnant of embarrassnt was still stamped on her face, especially after her near-exposure earlier.
"Kim Suho. The sa as above."
Suho received the certificate with a brief nod, as if sealing a conviction.
"Kim Hajin. The sa as above."
Hajin took the paper without saying a word, just an educated nod.
Then, it was Theo's turn.
"Hm..."
Yoo Sihyuk paused for a mont, analyzing Theo with narrowed eyes. As if he were considering sothing.
But before he could continue...
"I will finish the comndation."
A new voice announced, cutting through the atmosphere with both gentleness and authority.
All eyes turned.
Light, almost childlike footsteps erged from among the agents providing security for the area.
A short figure, with features too young for the weight her presence carried, appeared naturally.
"Tsk. If you were going to do this, why did you call , huh, Dwarf?"
Yoo Sihyuk grumbled in a low voice, without even turning around.
The crowd began to whisper. The murmur spread like fire through dry straw. The atmosphere, previously formal and controlled, was imdiately seized by a reverent tension.
One of the top executives of the Hero Association, Aileen, known as much for her childlike appearance as for her overwhelming power, now walked lightly toward the center of the stage.
Her white hair floated gently, as if touched by an invisible magical wind.
Her eyes, bright as the Milky Way itself, despite her youthful face, carried an authority many would kill to have.
"Aileen? What is she doing here?"
Theo felt his mind stop for an instant. Not out of fear. But because no one there expected her. Her presence indicated sothing out of the ordinary, and rarely sothing small.
The executive's steps ceased in front of him.
She nodded briefly to the others, greeting them with a simple, silent gesture, and turned her full attention to Theo, who watched her with an intrigued, yet calm expression.
"Well, we et again, kid."
She said, a slight smile at the corner of her lips, referring to the party of Nayun's brother.
Her voice was low, a bit high-pitched, but there was sothing in its timbre that made every word seem more important than it should.
"Indeed, Miss Aileen."
Theo replied, tilting his head slightly.
"A pleasure to see you again."
She narrowed her eyes, still smiling.
"Hm... you're more incredible than you look..."
She massaged her temples as she continued in an indecipherable tone.
"And also, quite troubleso."
Theo's expression did not change.
Aileen crossed her arms, sighing like soone recalling a burden carried in a hurry.
'Who would have thought this kid would make redo days of work in a single night.'
"I don't think I understand what Miss Aileen is saying..."
He bent down slightly, aligning his eyes with hers. Close enough that only the two of them could hear.
"Could you perhaps explain it to ?"
"Of course... But not here... Co with for a mont."
She said, taking a step to the side. The matter she had to discuss with him needed to be addressed before it could be disclosed.
Theo looked at the others, Nayun, Suho, Hajin, and even Yoo Sihyuk, who now watched him with crossed arms, in absolute silence.
"I'll be back in a few minutes."
He said, as if he were just going to get a glass of water.
Nayun straightened up in her seat, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Wait..."
She called out, in a worried tone.
But Theo just blinked calmly, as if to say "it's okay", and followed Aileen, who was already moving away to the side of the stage.
When they were about fifteen ters away, enough to be out of direct sight and normal hearing range, Aileen stopped.
She turned to him. Her eyes shone softly.
She whispered, but not with ordinary words.
With his normal magic eyes, Theo noticed a slight friction in the air.
She had just used her gift.
Her had sealed the space, not with visible walls, but with an absolute sound barrier. Not even a breath would escape that ter of isolation.
Aileen then relaxed her shoulders. She naturally sat down in a chair that was simply pulled from behind a wall of flowers.
Whether it had been conjured, or if it was already part of the space, Theo wasn't sure.
"There."
She said, crossing her legs and resting her hands on her lap.
"Now we can talk calmly. Sit down, too."
Theo cast a brief, skeptical glance, but followed her to the sa wall of flowers, and, as expected, there was another chair there.
'She planned this from the start, didn't she?'
Theo thought, a small smile on his lips.
He sat down calmly, crossing his arms over his chest.
"All this for a conversation... You have a dramatic flair, Miss Aileen."
She smiled back, amused.
"It's better than having reporters hanging around your neck. And, let's be honest, you're not exactly ordinary."
Theo remained silent.
"Do you want to say what I know?"
Aileen asked, with a subtle glint in her eyes.
"Or would you rather guess what you think I've discovered?"
Theo faced her. His eyes were relaxed as he listened to her questions.
"Well... I suppose it's the third option."
He replied, in a casual tone.
"To confirm or deny my participation in the elimination of the monsters at the Museum, right?"
Aileen blinked in genuine surprise. It had never crossed her mind that this cadet would figure out what she really wanted so easily.
There was a brief mont of silence, then she scratched the side of her cheek, clearly a little disconcerted.
"Ahem..."
She cleared her throat, adjusting herself in the chair.
"This really isn't for . Trying to be mysterious is sothing for those old geezers... I'm better at speaking my mind than trying to play word gas."
Theo smiled discreetly, finding her peculiarity quite cute.
"I'm relieved. I thought I'd have to reply with so parable about butterflies and inevitable changes."
Aileen smiled cheerfully.
"Hehe! Yeah, do that and we'll have an ugly fight."
She said, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, as if to say.
"Just you try it."
Theo didn't pay much mind to that look; it was easily perceptible that it was just a joke on her part. Resting an arm on the back of the chair, he surrendered.
"Understood. No cheap taphors, then."
She watched him for a few more seconds in silence. As if studying every detail, not just of his appearance, but of his posture, the way he spoke and behaved in front of her.
"Jokes aside, Theo... You really are sothing different."
"That sounds like a complint."
He comnted, still in a light but attentive tone.
"And it is."
She confird, getting straight to the point.
"You can deny it if you don't want to answer..."
She offered, but her eyes indicated she already knew the answer.
Theo smiled with curiosity, waiting for her to continue.
"The deaths of those monsters, they had to do with you, didn't they? The traces of electrical attribute found outside were the sa as what we found inside the Museum."
His appearance right after the djinn was killed gave her that certainty.
With a calm nod, Theo agreed.
"Yes. I did have sothing to do with their elimination."
Aileen kept her gaze fixed on him, but there was no surprise. Only the silent confirmation of sothing she already suspected, and perhaps even expected.
"I thought you would deny it, or at least stall a bit."
Theo shrugged, resting his elbows on his knees, his gaze calm.
"Lying to you would make no sense. I doubt you would have even co here with just a re assumption or suspicion in your head."
Pleased with the answer, she praised him.
"Smart, too. Great."
Aileen said, with a tone of approval in her voice, as she explained.
"I ca here because showing the world what you did is a bit too dangerous to be taken lightly. You single-handedly eliminated monsters that would require several experienced heroes. And you're only 17. Do you realize the weight of that?"
Of course, he understood; after all, it was as a popular expression said: "The nail that sticks out gets hamred down." So, showing his feats to the world would certainly not be well-received by so beings and organizations, who would see his rise as a threat to their own interests and positions. Fa, in this case, could be a double-edged sword.
"Hm! You're talking about the djinns and the villains, right?"
Theo asked, seeking clarity, although he already imagined the answer.
Aileen watched him for a mont before shifting her gaze to her hands, as if pondering her next words.
"Yes... You are soone who could certainly create many 'enemies' in those circles."
Aileen sighed lightly, her fingers intertwined on her lap. Her expression was calm, but there was sothing hard behind the glint in her eyes.
"Not just Djinns or villains. There are people who might see you as an enemy too. There are relics who fear that the young will take their place in the world."
Of course, it wasn''t just their place they feared losing, but also their perks and powers that were once theirs alone.
She stared at Theo intently, hoping he would understand what she was getting at.
"I appreciate the advice, Miss Aileen, but there's no need for such concern."
...
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