episode_0048

“Haa…damn it.”

Stretched out on the training room floor, I gasped for breath. Every muscle in my body screamed, and every joint, which Nix had relentlessly targeted just moments ago, throbbed as if burned.

Since I had accidentally grabbed her chest, Nix hadn’t said a single word. With a cold, expressionless face, as if all emotions had evaporated, she had continuously unleashed techniques on me without pause.

It was no longer a sparring session meant to teach techniques. It was clearly a one-sided subjugation, closer to an emotionally charged retaliation.

“Ugh…I’m going to bill you for the hospital, just you wait…”

As I barely managed to groan it out, Nix swept her emerald-blue hair, damp with sweat, back once and spoke coldly. “Do as you please. Let’s stop here for today. Good work.”

She turned away without looking back at me and headed towards the shower room located in one corner of the training room. The door slammed shut with a particularly loud bang.

‘Crazy woman…she’s really relentless. It was an accident, I just touched her, but she’s taking it out on me like this!’

Struggling to sit up, I finally gave up due to the pain spreading throughout my body and lay back down on the floor. I stared blankly at the ceiling, extending my hand.

‘Soft.’

The sensation was still vivid in my hand. It was a different, indescribable feeling compared to when Yuna’s chest had pressed tightly against my body.

Since I had unconsciously gripped it tightly in my struggle to survive, it felt as if that intense sensation was imprinted on every joint of my fingers.

“Hey, Kang Jin-woo. Are you okay?”

Dutch, who had approached at some point, squatted beside me, quickly glanced around, and then whispered slyly in a low voice. “I’m not okay…I feel like I’m about to die.”

“Heheheh, our senior’s touch is quite electrifying, isn’t it? But you know, there’s something I’m even more curious about…” His eyes glittered with a sly light.

“That thing earlier…about our senior’s chest. How was it? Huh? What did it feel like?! Was it soft and squishy? Or was it firm muscle, more than it looked? And what about the size?! Well, it obviously looks damn big, but the sensation of actually touching it must be different, right?!”

Was this bastard sane right now? I was so dumbfounded that I was momentarily speechless. “I have no intention of indulging your vulgar curiosity, so get lost right now.”

At my cold reply, Dutch flinched and stepped back, but still looked at me with eyes full of lingering regret. “Aw, don’t be like that. As fellow men, just tell me once for information sharing purposes, okay? You have no idea how curious I’ve been every time I learned techniques from our senior. Wouldn’t that easily be beyond a D-cup, don’t you think?”

“You disgusting bastard. Is that why you follow Nix around?”

“Bastard, you’re being really uptight.”

Dutch clicked his tongue. This guy, I hadn’t liked him since I first saw him.

With his massive build and unkempt beard, I had instinctively known from his behavior that he was a low-class pervert who was quite fond of women.

“If you open that filthy mouth of yours carelessly in front of me one more time, I will really kill you then, understand? I can’t fathom why Nix bothers to keep someone like you around.”

“No, why are you like this? Between men?”

“That’s the last warning. I won’t say it again.”

At my murderous glare, Dutch clicked his tongue and slowly slinked out of the training room. I worried that the perverted bastard might try to peep into Nix’s shower room, but fortunately, he lay down on a lobby sofa and didn’t move.

How much time had passed like that?

Receiving a message that Kaien had returned to her office, I dragged my throbbing body and immediately went to find her.

“I heard you were looking for me?”

Inside the office, Kaien greeted me with her usual refreshing smile. “Are you feeling a bit better? You looked absolutely awful earlier.”

“As you can see, not so good.” I replied with an awkward laugh.

“Hmm, it looks like you’ve gotten more injuries since I last saw you. Did you get into another fight with someone?” She narrowed her eyes, scrutinized me, and then hummed.

“Ah, well…Nix said that fighting techniques were the only thing she could offer in return, so she offered to teach me some. I’m on my way back after learning.”

“Oh, really? Nix’s skill is quite excellent, so it’s good to learn properly while you have the chance. No matter how outstanding a pilot is, they should certainly be able to protect themselves.”

“Right. Anyway, I came to formally express my gratitude for your support last time.”

Kaien waved her hand dismissively, as if it were nothing. “It was nothing. Scarlet made such a fuss that I just paid a little attention. And most importantly, it was possible because of your skill.”

Kaien rubbed her chin for a moment and continued. “Actually, I just came from a rather tiresome discussion with the higher-ups because of your recent incident.”

“Higher-ups…are you referring to something like the Terminus Operations Committee?”

“Well, something similar.”

She immediately got to the point. “First of all, there’s nothing major to worry about. All the forces I mobilized were processed as having moved under my commander’s authority, and the engagement with the Neisis guys was cleanly reported as self-defense and cooperation for Terminus Station security.”

“I don’t think…that’s the end of it.” It was more suspicious that such a major incident was resolved so smoothly. Even if Terminus Station was known as a haven for freelance mercenaries, there was no way a military clash with a giant corporation would be glossed over so simply.

“Yes, you’re right. Of course, that’s not the end of it.” Kaien chuckled and nodded as if my prediction was correct.

“How should I put it…this time, you really had divine luck, I suppose.” She turned on the holographic screen on her desk.

“All data within the combat zone where the engagement took place was completely lost. The records of our support craft as well.” She said with a deep sigh.

“Thanks to that, I was even suspected of deliberately trying to conceal the incident, which made me sweat a bit, but as a result, I managed to get an acquittal due to insufficient evidence.”

‘Data Ghost…the skill’s performance is certainly reliable.’

“Jinwoo, try not to cause too much direct friction with corporations in the future. Honestly, the higher-ups don’t view you too favorably.”

“…So you’re saying I should avoid engaging with corporations entirely?”

“There’s no need to unnecessarily stir up a hornet’s nest first. They’re just one of many branches of the Neisis Corporation. No matter how excellent your skills are, it would be wise to avoid an all-out war with a corporation.”

“I will take your advice to heart.”

“Hmm.” Kaien lightly ruffled her hair.

“Also, look up and familiarize yourself with engagement protocols. When you encounter corporate vessels or crafts, if you open a specific public communication channel and clearly state that you have no intention of engaging, you can avoid most unnecessary friction.”

“Eh? There was such a method?”

“Hmm, it seems you really had no idea.” She shook her head slightly, as if troubled.

“It’s truly amazing how you’ve managed to be a mercenary without even knowing such basic things.”

As if a good idea had struck her, she snapped her fingers cheerfully. “Ah! Speaking of which, I have just the right person to train you!”

A moment later, a polite knock sounded at the office door. “It’s Nix. I received your summons, Kaien-nim. May I enter?”

Even her voice from outside the door was disciplined.

“Yes, come in, Nix.” Kaien, who had replied softly, chuckled as she looked at me. “I don’t know how many times I’ve told her to relax. She’s a military veteran through and through; that stiff habit of hers is still there. Funny, isn’t it?”

“Haha, well…it doesn’t feel like someone else’s problem.”

“Are you a military veteran too?” Meanwhile, the door opened and Nix entered. After a brief sidelong glance at me, she immediately fixed her gaze on Kaien and stood at attention.

“Did you summon me, Kaien-nim?”

“Nix, how many times have I told you? Just relax a bit.”

“It’s fine. I’m comfortable like this.”

“No, I’m uncomfortable, I am!” As if exasperated, Kaien patted her chest.

“So, may I ask why you summoned me?”

“Hmm, I hear you’re the one who got Jinwoo into this state?”

Nix’s gaze lingered on me for a moment before quickly returning to Kaien. She bit her lower lip, wondering if she had caused some major trouble.

“Since you’re military-trained, you must be familiar with all the basic engagement protocols, right?”

“Of course.”

“Alright, then, here’s a pop quiz! What are the publicly available emergency communication frequencies for the Neisis Corporation?”

“Public channel NC-7700, emergency channel is NC-0000.”

“Correct! As expected of Nix. Excellent.” Kaien gave a satisfied thumbs up.

“I don’t think you called me just to ask such questions.”

“You were asking for a mission, weren’t you? So I’m going to assign you a perfect one.” Nix’s expression subtly hardened.

“…I desperately hope it’s not what I’m currently thinking.”

“You’re quick to catch on. It seems perfect, actually? While you’re training his body, you can also give him some basic theoretical education.”

“Haa…” Nix bowed her head and let out a deep sigh, then shot me a resentful look before replying with resignation. “…Understood.”

“Good! Then you two can work out the detailed schedule amongst yourselves. You may leave now.”

I followed Nix out of Kaien’s office.

“For now…let’s start tomorrow.” She said stiffly, walking down the corridor without turning her head.

“Starting tomorrow?”

“Yes, there are various things to prepare for training. You…will be available anytime, right?”

“Of course. I’m free.”

“We need to be able to contact each other, so here.” Nix stopped for a moment, pulled a crumpled piece of paper and a small pen from her back pocket, scribbled something down, and handed it to me. “It’s my personal number.”

I entered the number written on the paper into my device and immediately sent a test message. A short vibration hummed from Nix’s device.

“What is this? This emoticon.” She frowned after checking my message.

“A muscle emoticon.” I sent the arm-shaped emoticon, which showed a biceps pose, once more.

“As soon as the schedule is set…I’ll contact you.” Nix said briefly and stood in front of her personal room door.

“How far do you plan to follow me?”

“Nix, about…what happened in the training room earlier, I know you’re still angry about it, but it was really an accident, okay? More importantly, you should be careful of Dutch, that bastard. His eyes looked really strange earlier.”

“I know. That it was an accident.”

“If you know…can’t you lighten up a bit? Honestly, you’ve been too scary since earlier.”

Her consistently expressionless face and stiff way of speaking to me continued to bother me.

“I’m not angry. You can go now.”

‘Not angry, my foot…it’s written all over her face.’

As if my words were no longer worth listening to, she scanned her ID card on the device and swiftly entered the room.

“Hmph…I should really start looking for a place to sleep now.”

If I were to impose on Scarlet again, and a difficult situation like last time were to recur, I truly wouldn’t be able to face her. More than anything, her style was to blast rock music that pierced through earplugs, playing it all night and concentrating for dozens of hours once she started working, which made it hard for me to endure.

As I left Kaien’s office and walked down the street, an urgent notification suddenly rang on my device. The sender was Yuna.

[Help me.]

The moment I saw the short but desperate message, the blood in my entire body felt like it turned cold. She was the one who had left, saying something urgent had come up. She must have encountered an unexpected and dangerous situation during her mission. I immediately called her.