After asking Winterer to deliver the letter, I imdiately called Kkong. This was for the second phase of the Paimon search plan.
“Kkong, can you bring a necromancer to Korea?”
[What?]
“I’d like to use their abilities, so I’ll need the key to release the restrictions too.”
Like a real man, I got straight to the point. “Hey, I’m borrowing the necromancer.”
[Why all of a sudden?]
“It’s a long story. Want to hear it?”
[No. I’m not able to take that kind of request in the first place. Don’t try to charm .]
“Co on, please? This is for a special mission approved by the chairman. I’m counting on you.”
[Ugh… Do you know what will happen if I bring that girl to Korea?]
I could hear Kkong sighing on the other end of the speaker. His exasperated breath sounded cute enough to make a little annoyed. It was clear that the disadvantage was on my side, so I wouldn’t point that out.
“I understand that you’re sensitive about the necromancer topic…”
I continued explaining earnestly.
I understood why he wouldn’t want to bring the necromancer. She was the villain who turned the genre in Vietnam into a zombie apocalypse for years. Kkong had been tornted by her continuously, and my words must sound insane to him.
“Plus, it would cause a stir if it gets discovered. ‘That Pochikong is trying to unleash zombies in Korea!’”
[I know. It would be better to shoot a missile than this.]
It was natural for him to be hesitant about bringing her to Korea. The diplomatic burdens would be imnse.
Nevertheless, why was I making this request?
“It’s okay. We just need to not get caught.”
[What? Hey, are you kidding ?]
“I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t you~ I know you can pull it off. I trust you.”
All the aftershocks would be a problem only if we got caught. If we could sneak her in without detection, there wouldn’t be an issue.
[What are you…]
“I know you brought our master into the country before. From a Korean perspective, that’s scarier, right?”
[….]
“You can get her here without getting caught. That’s why I’m asking you.”
Since he already had a track record, I was more confident.
Silence lingered on the other end of the speaker for a mont. I could picture Kkong’s troubled expression clearly.
[Fine. I can bring her. I was just being paranoid.]
“Listen, so I’m counting on you.”
[If the hero of Vietnam, Seo Yu-jin, requests it, then sure. When do you need her?]
“Not imdiately, maybe in about a week?”
[Okay. I’ll contact you once I’m ready.]
But it didn’t last long. Kkong surprisingly agreed to my request without questioning it at all.
“Don’t you want to know why I need her?”
[I’m curious, but I can find out myself. Bring so soup while you’re at it. Including the boiled at.]
“…You little rascal. I’ll treat you to the whole course.”
I felt a bit touched. This was the mont I realized what a true friend is.
“I know a good jjimjilbang. Let’s go scrub each other’s backs and sweat it out before grabbing a bowl of soup.”
[What? No, that’s not necessary.]
“I’ll let you know when I decide when I need it! Bye!”
[Hey, that’s—.]
- Click.
Thus, I had crossed a line. Kkong had always been shy, even before the regression. He’d go to the bathroom alone and whatnot.
But there’s no such formality among true friends. I declared I’d bathe with Kkong and hung up right away. I had to forcefully pull him in, or else we’d keep being awkward. I had to do it by any ans.
‘He seems to like it too, anyway.’
- Thump. Creak.
Having finished the call with Kkong, I finally stood up and headed out. I had to report the progress to my master, who was probably waiting for .
“Master? I just spoke with Kkong, and he said he’d bring the necromancer in about a week.”
“A week? So what about the special mission during that ti?”
“I probably won’t be able to go out for a while. The chairman will take a few days to approve the docunts anyway. We can start once the special mission is approved.”
“……I was looking forward to starting right away.”
Hearing that it would take about a week, she looked really gloomy. What’s going on? Did she really want to try a cooperative mission that badly?
* * *
After the Monday morning that was a big deal in many ways, life at the academy flowed peacefully.
“Shia, Alice. Good morning!”
“G-Good morning, Yu-jin!”
“Good morning, darling.”
“…!!!? Shi, Shia?”
“Just kidding, just kidding~ More importantly, Yu-jin, about Ninomiya…”
Attending classes at the academy, Alice and Shia exchanged glances while keeping tabs on Aika.
“Haru. Are you really okay with your sister marrying Dad?”
“Sister, are you going to marry Dad? Do you love him too!?”
“W-Well, that’s not it. Dad said deep kisses should be with the person you’re going to marry. Since we already did it…”
“I completely support it! Sister and I can be Daddy’s wives! I’ll even feed the baby for you!”
“……What does that even an?”
The two sisters enthusiastically discussed their future with Dad.
- Scratch.
“For the defense of Korea, I hereby accept the special mission application of the S-Class 7th ranked, Seo Yu-jin… phew.”
‘Will Ninomiya truly gather the courage? If she only wants to approach , she’ll remain in place forever.’
The chairman diligently dealt with the business related to his successor. It was evident how much Yu-jin’s influence affected everyone.
- Grin.
“Though it’s been postponed for a week… my disciple and a hotel♡ I need to buy underwear and prepare all sorts of things♡”
…There was one person, a king of the unemployed, doing nothing and lounging around in the dorms, but let’s set that aside for now.
The ripple effect caused by Yu-jin continued even outside the academy.
The core processing thods he had freely released began to be used in actual power plants. The cooperative research overseen by Sibilla and Yoo Jung-cheol officially kicked off…
- Crunch.
‘Seo Yu-jin is looking for Colonel Seo’s grave?’
Inside the Joint Chiefs of Staff building in the Defense Ministry. A letter reached the head of the intelligence departnt, General Kang.
The letter was handed over to him by another general, who wore a bitter expression.
[This is Seo Yu-jin. I would appreciate it if you could let know the location of Colonel Seo’s grave.]
‘The only publicly known culprit is Lee Won-ho, right? Why is she trying to find it?’
The request conveyed through the letter was simple. It could be summarized in one line: she was asking for the location of Colonel Seo’s grave.
…It was a request that could easily seem inconsequential. Since it was a special mission approved by the Awakener Association, and it wasn’t particularly confidential either, it could be considered that sharing the information wouldn’t be a problem.
However, despite that, the reason the general passed the letter to the other general was…
He was a junior of Colonel Seo’s in the military. He had received a tip about the Awakener breeding plan and had been running around trying to disclose that plan.
‘Why the grave of Colonel Seo?’
He was still regretting it.
If only he had acted more efficiently. If he had been able to contact those who hadn’t rotted away and conveyed this information.
There wouldn’t have been a terrorist attack at the research facility, and Colonel Seo wouldn’t have died either—he thought.
Of course, the military in the 1990s was an era of rampant corruption. No matter how hard he tried back then, it would have been impossible if luck didn’t follow.
That was the reason for the general’s displeasure when he received the letter.
‘Did she find out? That Colonel Seo was the key to that experint?’
‘But why the grave of the colonel…?’
‘Wait. I heard that Seo Yu-jin really cherishes Winterer. I heard she cares for her like a daughter.’
‘Is it revenge? To let the world know about Colonel Seo, even if it’s too late?’
Because of that, he interpreted the aning of the letter this way.
“Hey, there’s probably another scumbag besides Lee Won-ho.”
“Why are you keeping the scum who tortured him safe?”
He thought he should make it clear imdiately. “Tell where the grave is. I will expose that bastard’s ugly deeds and let the world know the truth.”
‘There’s no longer any evidence to prove Colonel Seo’s innocence, but…’
- Crunch.
“I can’t do that. I have to protect the colonel’s honor. He was a soldier above all else.”
After a mont of thought, the general left a ssage at the number written on the letter. He would personally deliver it.
Considering how Seo Yu-jin’s abilities
could be fatal to non-awakeners, it was a crazy act.
Colonel Seo was a person who had been his idol. Even though he had been caught up in a strange experint due to taking the wrong line.
A soldier who had acted despite giving up his promised promotion.
He could not allow the honor of such a person to fall into the ground.
- Thud. Thud.
“Nice to et you, Awakener Seo Yu-jin.”
“Thank you for calling that, General Kang.”
On Wednesday night, at a Japanese omakase restaurant near Pentagon Academy, Yu-jin and he t in secret.
‘Is there no sign that he’s trying to control with hypnosis…? Thank goodness.’
- Slide.
“First, let’s eat. I have a lot to say, so it’ll take a while.”
“Yes. I’ll enjoy this~.”
After that, he began a light al with Yu-jin, continuing their conversation in between.
“Colonel Seo was my senior at the military academy. He was a respected person.”
“Yes. I know. He was truly an amazing person.”
“…But how did his na reach you, Seo Yu-jin?”
- Tense.
“I saw mories. Of Winterer.”
“…….”
‘Did I hear that wrong?’
His expression grew increasingly troubled as the realization set in.
The person who had led the initial Awakener breeding plan was none other than Colonel Seo himself. It was impossible for Winterer to have fond mories of him.
Indeed, as soon as the topic ca up, Yu-jin’s face twisted in dismay.
He had to consider what to do. He was a soldier, so he had no choice. Orders were absolute. This wasn’t a level of excuse he could simply brush off.
- Swallow.
‘What should I do? This can’t end well.’
In the end, as their al neared its end, he slowly turned to Yu-jin.
The anger was radiating from the young man, who chewed angrily on sushi. He was a man who had seen the torture scene of soone he cherished.
- Cough.
“Could you forgive him? Colonel Seo?”
“……What?”
“Could I take responsibility and retire? Please, just preserve the honor of that man who was inevitably sacrificed.”
And then he bent over at a 90-degree angle to make the request.
It was a shocking sight that made even the sushi chef, who had been preparing the fish, drop what he was holding.
“I understand your desire for revenge, but please…”
- Tilt.
“Why would I do that? If it’s revenge, it should be Winterer, not , who should apologize to him.”
“……I must have misheard?”
“Yes. If you’re that close, would you like to go together on Sunday? I’ll call the necromancer from Vietnam and briefly bring him back.”
“What are you saying!!!!?”
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