Ch.107A Cozy Stranger’s Home – 2

“We’re here. Our home.”

“Not our home, Rina Lee’s home.”

“Why do you keep correcting me?”

Is she asking because she doesn’t know, or is there another meaning behind her question?

If she says “our home,” anyone would interpret it differently.

With this thought in mind, I looked at Rina. Did she sense my gaze?

“No! It’s a Korean characteristic! Saying ‘our’! Our mom! Our dad! Our country! And our home! Everyone says it like this, so why do you keep asking for corrections?”

That’s a somewhat logical rebuttal. Yes, it’s logical, but…

If I accept this now, who knows what this crazy woman might do next.

In situations like this, it’s better for my well-being to not give in.

“Anyway, that’s Rina Lee’s home over there.”

When Rina said we’d arrived, I immediately looked out the window.

But…

‘Wait. Is that… is that the Special Residential Zone?’

I was expecting something extraordinary, but honestly, it was below my expectations.

No matter how I looked at it, from every angle, even rolling down the window to get a better view.

It just looked like a housing complex, or an apartment complex.

‘Well, to be precise, it should have the modifier “super high-premium that cost an astronomical amount of money.”‘

Anyway, I was expecting something amazing from this “Special Residential” whatever.

What I saw was just like the wealthy neighborhoods you’d see in dramas or movies.

“Why are you looking around like that? Even opening the window.”

“I had expectations, but this place is different from what I imagined.”

Hearing my answer, Rina looked around with a puzzled expression.

Then she muttered, “Isn’t this good enough?”

“Did you expect something like a palace?”

“Not a palace, but I imagined a residential facility with cutting-edge technology.”

“What’s that supposed to be? This isn’t some sci-fi movie.”

As she spoke, Rina held something out the window.

It seemed to be an access card for entering this place.

The man who took it placed the card against a device he was holding.

After a moment, when the words “S-Grade, Rina” appeared on the device, the reaction was…

“Ah, hello! Miss Rina!”

…He greeted her with a tense voice, and why did he look so pitiful?

Barely acknowledging the man’s greeting, Rina drove the car further inside.

“That person standing there just now, he looked like a B-Grade.”

“Hmm. Probably right.”

“Someone of that level should be in the field, not in a place like this, right?”

It’s like having a detective who should be catching criminals directing traffic instead.

Feeling slightly dumbfounded, I asked, and Rina just shrugged her shoulders.

“B-Grades are still very common now. They use them because there are extras.”

That’s true. Before the Great Cataclysm, there’s an abundance of power users.

“And that, they’re all doing it because they want to. They were even screened and selected. The pay is good too, of course.”

They want to stand there managing entry at this late hour?

Not D-Grade power users, but B-Grades who would receive above-average treatment wherever they go?

“Why are you looking so bewildered? Do you know where this is? It’s the Special Residential Zone.”

“I know.”

“No. I don’t think Seojin knows at all. The people who can stay here are, at minimum, capable A-Grade power users and above. Then S-Grades. And finally, their families.”

“So?”

“Not ‘so?’ You should realize it. If you don’t get it even now, I’ll be disappointed.”

I thought about Rina’s words for a brief moment.

And the answer to her question came faster than expected.

“…It’s a kind of networking.”

At my answer, Rina smiled and said “correct.”

Despite being able to increase their value by working in the field…

If they’re doing jobs like this in a place like this, and voluntarily at that…

There must be benefits equal to or greater than field work.

And in this Special Residential Zone are South Korea’s most important forces.

Meeting them, somehow making their faces known and exchanging greetings.

They probably think they might benefit from it someday by chance.

As if my guess was right, Rina smiled as she turned the car.

“You’re quick-witted. As expected of Seojin. I like that.”

It’s bitter. To think that B-Grade power users are doing this.

Of course, from the government’s perspective, deploying people of that level provides security.

And since they’re doing it voluntarily, there’s not much to say.

But doing this, they’ll unknowingly lose sight of the path they should be taking.

“Are you disappointed that B-Grades are guarding the place?”

Rina seems to have misunderstood my thoughts.

The fact that she suddenly asked if I was disappointed was proof of that.

“No need to be. Those people are just for show. Or maybe to protect family members? They might stop minor villains, but if someone like the Elder comes… no, even if just an A-Grade villain comes, they’d be easily overwhelmed, right?”

“Wouldn’t that make it the most dangerous post? Since important forces are here, there could be surprise attacks or terrorism from villains. And people volunteer for this position?”

It’s a bit questionable. A-Grade villains might not be common, but they’re not extremely rare either.

They would also plan and execute attacks on the Special Residential Zone.

B-Grade power users volunteering for such a dangerous place doesn’t make sense.

Did she notice my doubt? Rina clicked her tongue.

“Seojin. Know this for sure. Even villains who easily disregard others’ lives value their own lives very much.”

I wondered what she meant by that suddenly.

But soon, thanks to Rina who giggled and pointed at herself, I realized.

‘Ah.’

Who are the residents here? They’re strong individuals, at least A-Grade and above.

Among them are even S-Grades, referred to as “demigods.”

Not just Rina, but other S-Grades too. Who would dare to touch such a place?

The probability of villains, who value their own lives above all else, doing so is extremely low.

Only a few truly insane ones might try, but most would be stopped at the A-Grade level.

In summary, who would dare to attack a place where the residents are more powerful than the guards?

Instead, they commit various crimes against relatively weaker B-Grade or below power users.

Or against civilians with no powers at all.

“Intoxicated by their own abilities, wanting to wield them somehow. They only bully the weak while never appearing before power users stronger than themselves. That’s what villains are.”

Rina, who finished parking somewhat roughly, turned off the engine and continued.

“That’s why I… ahem… capture villains a bit roughly. If they were to go crazy and attack me, I could at least say ‘Oh! Great!’ and praise them. But that’s not the case, right? Every time, the victims are people with no power or connection. Or relatively weak power users.”

“…”

I never thought I wouldn’t be able to counter Rina’s logic.

I thought she was just a pure madwoman, but she has her own reasons and sense of justice.

“But, Rina, you also cause a lot of damage to others when fighting villains.”

At my sharp remark, Rina cleared her throat with a loud “ahem!”

Right. Where would you go, our Rina! It would be a problem if you were sane!

*

I followed Rina into the Special Residential Zone.

On one side was an apartment complex, and on the other were houses.

Among them, where Rina and her parents lived was in the apartment section.

Is it because I’m used to media? I naturally thought they’d live in a house.

In movies and dramas, all wealthy people live in houses, don’t they?

Unable to contain my curiosity, I casually asked why.

“Oh, that?”

The answer I received was truly pitiful.

“Mom said I’m careless and would always make loud noises, break things, and cause trouble. She said that at least in an apartment, with her on the floor below, I might be a bit more careful, and it would also be easier for her to monitor if anything was happening.”

“…”

Oh, mother. You’ve really had a hard time.

I wonder how troublesome she must be for her mother to say such things.

I thought she only became extreme when dealing with villains, but it seems that’s not the case.

“But the soundproofing here is so good that no matter how much noise I make, it doesn’t reach the floor below.”

Rina grumbled, not understanding the reason.

Someday, someone will want to marry this girl.

I’m already worried. Who could possibly live with her?

“By the way, you need to be quiet when we go inside.”

“Because your parents shouldn’t know?”

“More precisely, if my mom finds out, I’m in big trouble! I could literally be beaten to death!”

I can’t imagine you, of all people, dying.

A woman who grabs the Elder by the collar and beats him up says she could be beaten to death?

Isn’t that like saying a shark could drown?

“…But there’s no reason to be noisy once we’re inside, right? We’re just going to shower and sleep.”

“Hmm. That might be true, but you know how things are, you have to wait and see.”

“What are you talking about? What do we need to wait and see?”

“There are things like that.”

…This is ominous, very ominous. What exactly do we need to wait and see?

As we entered the elevator, I found myself unconsciously backing into a corner.

I’ve come this far thanks to Rina’s goodwill, but…

The danger detector that was forcibly awakened through my civil service life is activating.

If I let my guard down, I might get caught up in something extremely dangerous.

“There are two shower rooms, so we don’t need to decide who goes first.”

That’s good news amidst the misfortune. Yet, this ominous feeling won’t subside.

Ding!

With the sound indicating we’ve reached our floor, the elevator doors open.

I wonder what the interior of the Special Residential Zone apartment looks like…

“Ah! You startled me! What are you doing here?!”

Is this woman crazy? Wasn’t she worried about her parents finding out?

If she shouts like this, her parents on the floor below will immediately…

“Examiner.”

What? Wait. Why are you coming out from there?

“…Soohyun?”

“Yes. It’s me.”

The person slowly approaching was definitely Soohyun.

With a slightly different, faint smile than usual.