Chapter 41 : Where and What to Become

“Welcome, Supernatural Ability Countermeasures Team.”

Inside the huge iron wall were ministerial-level personnel and aides from across the country after the state of emergency was declared, as well as Yang Seokmin, the 17th President of the Republic of Korea.

Oh Sanghyuk growled as he spoke, as if something was boiling up again at the greeting of the man who had raised his approval ratings by selling the name of the Supernatural Ability Countermeasures Team, which he had hastily created in his third year in office, when all presidents are said to face difficulties.

“…Did you have to go this far?”

“It would have been fine if it was just me, but many ministers said we should be cautious given the gravity of the matter, so it couldn’t be helped.”

“Then couldn’t you have just called me alone?”

“Team Leader Oh Sanghyuk.”

Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Cheoljin, who had been quietly listening beside him, quietly restrained Team Leader Oh Sanghyuk.

While it might be understandable within the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, where the Supernatural Ability Countermeasures Team was located, if he showed personal emotions even in this place, his future life as a civil servant would become difficult.

As President Yang Seokmin, who had been watching the situation for a moment, gave a nod, one of the aides from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began briefing the situation.

“Early this morning, an agreement was reached with the leadership of the United States and China through the hotline.”

“…”

“Externally, the U.S. announced that they would only identify the personal information of supernatural ability users in Northeast Asia, but aircraft to transport the remaining supernatural ability users from Korea and China are already at U.S. military bases in Korea.”

“…What?”

“This is top secret information conducted only through face-to-face letters and calls by a very small number of personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

The aide showed Team Leader Oh Sanghyuk a paper with the plan for this emergency evacuation operation printed on it. That paper was a document with hurried notes on China’s top-secret deployment map of supernatural ability users.

“Currently, half of China’s state-recognized supernatural ability users who were dispersed in Sichuan and Shanghai have died or lost their abilities due to a single supernatural ability user, and the remaining half, 120 girls in Beijing, are passing through the West Sea aboard naval vessels.”

“…They couldn’t stop them even after firing all those missiles?”

“That’s correct. So the Chinese government has classified this situation as a supernatural ability terrorist attack targeting human resources and passed an emergency evacuation operation to isolate the 120 remaining supernatural ability users from the terrorists.”

The aide turned to the next page, which contained instructions from the U.S. military.

It stated that they would intervene urgently, defining the current situation where most of the recognized supernatural ability users in Europe and North Africa have died or lost their abilities as a wartime situation threatening national strategic assets.

“…And according to what the Ministry of National Defense has confirmed, large explosions caused by supernatural abilities and tumultuous internal movements that were seen in Europe have now been confirmed in Pyongyang as well.”

“Pyongyang… North Korea?!”

“The number of supernatural ability terrorists in the Eurasian continent identified through U.S. military satellites and put on international wanted lists is 4 in total, and they are presumed to be targeting state-recognized supernatural ability users in Europe, Asia, and North Africa.”

“Are you saying we can’t stop them with the military, so rather than having everything stolen before our eyes, we should send them to America?”

“…At least if we can send them to the American continent, we can buy time.”

After confirming that the Foreign Ministry aide’s explanation was over, President Yang Seokmin looked at Team Leader Oh Sanghyuk and spoke.

“The supernatural ability users that the Republic of Korea has agreed to send to the United States are 72 members of the White Wing unit, including Captain Park Saebyeok, and 15 members of the Supernatural Ability Countermeasures Team.”

“…So you’re telling us to stay here and not interfere all this time.”

“Please understand it as a temporary protective measure.”

“…If the Republic of Korea could enter [Beginning]’s domain, we could evacuate supernatural ability users before they are threatened.”

“Team Leader Oh Sanghyuk.”

Silence

President Yang, who had been speaking in a gentle tone, said in a cold voice for the first time.

“Don’t cross the line. The supernatural ability users of the Republic of Korea are citizens of the Republic of Korea before being supernatural ability users.”

Kang Dorim, who had been silent for a long time listening to the conversation between Oh Sanghyuk and President Yang Seokmin, finally opened her mouth.

“…I see, so you want to maintain the framework of ‘belonging to the state’ no matter what.”

At that remark, the bodyguards on both sides tightened their arms to prepare to subdue Dorim in case of any situation.

“Miss Kang Eunseol, this is an emergency situation involving national strategic assets.”

“If they’re such important assets, why are you hurriedly sending them away across the sea?”

“It’s because an agreement was reached due to aligned interests between countries.”

“For example, was it agreed that those who can use the power of magical girls evacuated to the U.S. can be sent under the control of the members of parliament, ministers, and the president who agreed to this operation?”

“That’s an interesting imagination.”

“The power of magical girls is made up of precious dreams obtained from where they live.”

President Yang Seokmin turned around with an expression that there was nothing more to hear.

“The magical girl of [Beginning] said she would guarantee the rights and safety of magical girls within the domain, apart from the logic of the state.”

Bang

“Damn it, did you submit a proposal to sell out the country just to spout such groundless statements!”

Minister of National Defense Jang Iksu, who had been looking at Kang Dorim with displeasure from behind, couldn’t hold back his anger and slammed the desk as he spoke. It was too rough an action to be shown in a public place, but President Yang Seokmin did not restrain him.

“In the first place, it’s not enough to naturalize or persuade that girl to Korea, but you’re going to offer up supernatural ability users with eyes wide open?”

“It seems you’re saying that you use unknown power given by an unknown being well when it’s useful, but when it comes time to protect it, you only deal with it according to the logic you know, and incidentally regain lost authority.”

Jang Iksu, who had used Kang Dorim’s ability to track down the scammer who had deceived his son, and had used the healing abilities of White Wing unit members to cure minor illnesses of his mother-in-law and other relatives, hurriedly blurred the point.

“Isn’t that different from offering everything to someone whose name we don’t even know!”

“You’ve been saying everything you shouldn’t in front of the ministers.”

“What are the bodyguards doing! Confine her immediately!”

The bodyguards completely surrounded Kang Dorim and began to drag her toward the solitary cell inside.

Oh Sanghyuk was watching this with his eyes tightly shut.

President Yang Seokmin had no intention of changing his mind through this interview.

He was just confirming the intention to decide the future course of the Supernatural Ability Countermeasures Team.

‘Although Kang Eunseol’s ability is regrettable, power that cannot be controlled must be discarded at this opportunity.’

This is the only chance to grasp the whereabouts of supernatural ability users who can escape through radio waves.

If control over the use of supernatural abilities returns to the Korean government according to the conditions set by the U.S. government, the activities of the Supernatural Ability Countermeasures Team would no longer be necessary.

“Team Leader Oh Sanghyuk is also under a state of emergency…”

Snap

[Deception] Magical Girl’s Unique Skill

Dream World

Perception Acceleration

All people whose perception abilities were extremely extended maintained only their breathing while stopping, and Dorim slipped out of the bodyguards’ encirclement by slightly twisting her body.

Sanghyuk narrowed his eyes to check the situation and then stood beside Dorim(?).

Snap

“In the situation… ugh?!”

“What?! Who are you?!”

“[Beginning]…?! That bastard Oh Sanghyuk!”

“This is a national secret facility! Do you both know you’re punishable by death!!”

“Bodyguard!!! Bodyguard!!!”

Bodyguards tried to run out to call the support team due to the lack of electronic devices. Bodyguards rushed to grab Oh Sanghyuk and his group, and ministers shouted in unison, giving in to anger and shock.

The scene inside the bunker was chaos itself.

[Deception] Magical Girl’s Unique Skill

Dream World

Perception Change

* * *

In front of my eyes, those who were just about to get angry and shout were gradually falling into confusion.

They were calming down, feeling as if they were lying on a cozy bed wearing sleeping socks and luxurious pajamas, stroking a cat, and the bodyguards were standing blankly with expressions like ‘Why are they telling me to catch my friend?’

I had discovered how to use it to change others’ perceptions beyond mental imagery through consistent combat training with Ichika since before the debutante, but I still felt guilty about using it on humans.

‘But resolutely, now the lives of everyone and the Supernatural Ability Countermeasures Team are riding on my back.’

Only Yang Seokmin and Oh Sanghyuk were accurately aware of the current situation.

President Yang Seokmin realized the current situation and broke out in a cold sweat.

“…Team Leader Oh Sanghyuk, this is treason against the state.”

“You shouldn’t have done that to Dorim and our kids.”

“Are you putting personal emotions into state affairs?”

“…You’ll understand if you work in the Supernatural Ability Countermeasures Team.”

“What? What are you trying to say!! What do you want to do even while selling out the country!!”

“This power cannot be controlled by things like the state or law.”

“…What?”

“…I’m saying they were just staying still because the kids are kind, Mr. President.”

Bang!

“Mr. President! Urgent information from the Joint Chiefs of Staff…?!”

The security officer who came running through the corridor to deliver the news shouted while being confused by the situation inside the bunker, and President Yang Seokmin, who had been confronting Oh Sanghyuk with a glare, shouted:

“Just say it! What’s the situation!”

“The supernatural ability terrorists presumed to have struck Europe and Pyongyang are advancing toward Seoul on a giant flying vehicle!!”

The security officer continued with an unbelievable expression.

“They are advancing by breaking through all anti-air systems! They will approach Seoul in about an hour!”

* * *

“I thought it might be the case, but you really were going to abandon us.”

“…That’s how it turned out.”

“It’s okay, unnie. More importantly, is the mister okay? Is he not hurt?”

“Yeah, he’s still beside me.”

“I told Park Saebyeok not to follow and to hold out in Jongno.”

“If it’s [Bombing], she’ll try to rampage in the most flashy way.”

“Your other avatars are where Park Saebyeok is, right?”

“Yeah, I’ll use all the power allowed to me to cover northern China and the entire Korean Peninsula with a domain declaration.”

“How long?”

“This time I couldn’t prepare, so it’ll take a while… about 1 hour? I probably can’t use much power during that time.”

“I’ll tell the kids to escape to the Garden as soon as the domain appears.”

“Yeah, let’s protect them.”

“Under the third light, I, the magical girl of [Beginning], declare.”

[Under the third light, I, the magical girl of [Deception], declare.]