episode_0080

*****

“Sister, here. Please line up well.”

“Don’t worry, I tried it once or twice.”

“Director Lim, please include this.”

“Ah, yes.”

Shakak shagak. The snacks, stir-fried by Sia’s hand, were brought out one after another on the plate. Director Lim moved it and watched the beer cans being stretched by Jeong So-yeon’s hands.

“You must not touch these things. First of all, it cannot be opened without magical power, but we may leave it open, so please be careful.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Sister too. Don’t worry too much, Director Lim. Even if it takes you to the threshold of hell, I have the confidence to bring you back.”

“Ha, haha… .”

It looked like a beer can, but it was actually a synthetic alchemy-enhanced alcohol for high-ranking awakeners, commonly known as Hero Drink. The sight of rows upon rows of poisonous drugs that would render an ordinary person unconscious even if a single drop touches their tongue looked like a terrorist plot.

Of course, if the two people in front of me were to commit suicide and commit terrorism, such drugs would be nothing.

“Well, as expected… .”

“Yes? Why are you doing that?”

“… It’s nothing.”

There was no deep thought in Director Lim accepting Sia’s recommendation. Since we would see each other often and had a close relationship with each other, we thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to deepen our friendship.

When I heard that ‘Soyeon,’ who was coming with me, was the personal secretary of the head of the information department of the association, I was a little scared, but whatever. Director Lim himself was not the kind of person who would kneel down just because of his position.

There would be benefits to being close to current S-class heroes and powerful figures in the intelligence department. Director Lim suppressed his unwillingness to go with that excuse.

The limit to my tinkering came when I heard the curious voice of the elderly research director.

‘Huh, you’re going to have a drink with the hero? ‘They wouldn’t get drunk for anything, would they?’

‘Wouldn’t you like to drink a hero drink? They are not difficult to find.’

‘I see, I see. Then, go ahead and write a will.’

I thought it was a strange joke for the head of the research department, but after listening to other center employees, it wasn’t necessarily so.

Think about it. Among the awakened, there are those who can destroy buildings with a single punch. What would happen if such a person got drunk and lost control of his strength for a moment? In addition, Chief Lim and Masil were among the heroes who were strong enough to be counted from the top.

However, unfortunately for Director Lim, she was an indecisive person. What if my relationship breaks up because I refuse something like this? But I don’t want to die, but as I worry about such things, I’ve reached the point where I’m helping set the table.

‘At least I should have written a will.’

Regardless of Director Lim’s inner feelings, the drinking party proceeded amicably. I wonder if it should really be said that he belongs to the Ministry of Intelligence. As we exchanged a few words with Jeong So-yeon, Director Lim, who was stiff from nervousness, began to speak softly.

“As expected, are there many parts that refer to the underlying organisms?”

“Until recently, that theory was the mainstream, but recently an interesting theory has emerged from the United States. It is a theory that the form taken by things that come across dimensions is not a reference to life on Earth, but to the life that humans think of.──”

“Ah! I know that example. Are you talking about the kraken that appeared on the west coast last time?”

Jeong So-yeon’s rich knowledge and Sia’s rich experience were at a level that could be discussed to some extent with Director Lim, who can be said to be an expert among experts. Director Lim, who has limited topics, was very grateful for the two people’s consideration.

And at that point, I felt sorry for continuing to be afraid of those two people. However, it is not easy to deal with fear that has already become entrenched through will alone.

By that time, everyone was quite drunk. And when alcohol is involved, a person’s guard goes down. In the end, I noticed Director Lim’s reaction.

“Director, aren’t you feeling a bit withdrawn?”

“Ah, that’s… .”

I wondered if it would be okay to talk, but Director Lim quickly composed himself. After all, these were veterans, so there would be no point in hiding them.

I didn’t know that we would both burst into laughter as soon as we heard the story.

“Well, what is it? I thought about it very seriously.”

“Puhuh, sorry. It’s so surprising, stop, puff.”

“Sia, you smile so much. Hehe, hehe. We actually feel sorry. I thought Director Lim would have quite a bit of experience drinking with other awakened people.”

“This is my first time drinking in private like this… .”

Sia was still holding back her laughter. I wonder if Director Lim found it that funny, but there is no use asking a drunk person to explain something.

Click. Soyeon Jeong began to explain as she opened another can of drink.

“First of all, let me start with the premise: it is really dangerous to drink like this with a half-awakened person. In fact, quite a few accidental accidents occur due to drunken people.”

“There is no way we can’t control our own strength. Could it be that we asked Director Lim to risk his life and drink alcohol?”

“Well, then what the center people said… .”

“The researchers may have said this because they don’t know us, but I think the head of the research department was just joking.”

Director Lim, who realized the truth, repeatedly lowered his head, saying that it was shameful and rude. Of course, the two people didn’t really care about that.

“Why did you come to drink even though you knew it was dangerous?”

“Really. In the past, if we went to a bar, we would get kicked out. I don’t usually get drunk anyway.”

“Speak brightly, speak brightly!”

The old story of the two awakened people who survived the great chaos was very bitter to the listener. Looking at Director Lim desperately waving his hands, Jeong So-yeon had a teasing smile on her lips.

“Then Director Lim, do you know this?”

“Yes?”

“An awakened person who drinks alcohol can cause trouble. So what about the awakened person who is having sexual intercourse?”

“… !?”

Sia chased after Director Lim, whose face turned bright red at the sudden topic.

“I saw that! You’re talking about what happened right before the defense war, right?”

“What on earth happened? .”

“There were quite a few people who risked their lives during the defense war. So, there were quite a few people who spent their last moments with their loved ones.”

Magic power requires conscious control, but potential is activated naturally. In cases where the conditions are too easy, such as reinforcement potential, it can sometimes be activated without being conscious of it.

“Usually, even if it’s activated, it’s released right away, but as you know, when you do that, it’s a little… , you’re out of your mind, right?”

“The sight of a man with his lower body covered in blood running through the camp in search of recovery magic! All the awakened people who participated in the war at that time must have seen it at least once. I don’t know what I’m doing now.”

“I did some research and found out that they broke up after that incident.”

“Oh my gosh, that’s too bad.”

“Ugh… .”

For Director Lim, who sometimes goes to the host bar to complain, the topic was stimulating in a different way. Although they had never actually proven it, Jeong So-yeon and Sia felt a strange sense of superiority upon seeing Director Lim look embarrassed.

In the end, as a result of everyone excitedly throwing additional blows with stories they knew, Director Lim’s face turned red and he sank.

“Oops, I guess it was too harsh.”

Jeong So-yeon pours down her drink with a bitter smile. Sia still didn’t let go of her sly smile and took the next target.

“How is your sister these days? Is everything going well?”

“Huh? Well, okay? Except for the daily protests from the North.”

When Director Lim, who was in the middle of talking, became quiet, the topic changed again. In Jeong So-yeon’s mind, the things that are okay for Director Lim to hear and the things that are not okay are quickly sorted out. Of course, I stopped right away when I saw Sia smirking along the way.

“No, not that one. Director, or if I put it this way, it overlaps with Director Lim. How is things going well with Changhyuk?”

“That’s what you mean.”

Suddenly, Soyeon Jeong opened the can of the newly brought drink. Sia also picked up a handful of dried snacks and looked forward to the story that would come out. In terms of mood, it’s like scooping up popcorn in a movie theater with your heart pounding.

Of course, the content of the movie can be extremely disappointing at times. Jeong So-yeon did not open her mouth until all the snacks in Sia’s hands disappeared, and Sia’s expression became more and more rotten in proportion.

“… What, you don’t have any? Really?”

“Our Changhyuk was truly impregnable.”

Suddenly, another can was opened. The pace is such that even Shia feels a little fast. It would be safe to say that Jeong So-yeon, who has a weaker tolerance than Sia, is a hot drinker.

Starting with the collision of two people’s cans, instead of a heart-pounding love story, traces of regretful failure came out one after another.

“I also know that there is nothing we can do about it. We should be a little busy.”

Securing the latest technology and preventing leaks, understanding the world situation, collecting information on villain organizations such as Genesis, etc. The intelligence department’s work was piled up like a mountain. There was no way that its leader, Changhyuk, had any free time.

Although it cannot be said in words, the Ministry of Intelligence was also waging a war of nerves behind the scenes with the National Intelligence Service. Although they are still helping each other outwardly, the increasing number of arbitrary actions by the government, such as the Samhwan Pharmaceutical incident, was also a problem for the Ministry of Information.

“Still, how can Top not have time even on the weekend? . The number of purchased and canceled tickets reached double digits?”

“Wow… .”

It has been about two months since Jeong So-yeon returned from her duties as orphanage director. Sia shed a sigh of relief at the number on the table that showed the efforts of Jeong So-yeon and the gloominess of reality.

“How many flirty bitches are around there? Fortunately, Changhyuk doesn’t seem to be very interested in that either, so it’s a shame.”

“Then it’s not something to worry about. Anyway, you’re the one I spent the most time with, right?”

“Oh my. That’s not how the calculation works. Are you saying that being like family for a long time doesn’t help anything?”

I flinch. Sia’s smirk deepens slightly. Anyway, Jeong So-yeon didn’t seem to care at all and struck the dagger several more times.

“Precious being. That sounds good. But if you are satisfied with that, you are in trouble. How many times do you get snatched away by a bitch who suddenly jumps out next to you?”

“Well, then what should we do with those sudden bitches?”

“Do you understand that it is me? Part of me wants to keep everyone from coming near me. After all, it’s just a bunch of bitches… .”

At Jeong So-yeon’s sighing words, Sia’s head nodded and moved strongly. Jeong So-yeon burst out laughing at the sight of him showing intense sympathy, even in his eyes.

“Looking at that, do you think things are not going well for you either?”

“Me? Well, it’s always the same.”

“Ah, say it without leaving anything out. People in similar situations. Honestly, aren’t you anxious too? Because there will be a lot of young and pretty kids at Cheonmyeong High School.”

When society is unstable, the marriage age goes down. Of course, it is not uncommon for awakened people to get married late as they age slowly, but awakened people are a minority in society. It was difficult to lead the social atmosphere.

There is a difference between exceeding and not exceeding, but it was impossible for two people in their 30s to not care about their age.

“And in your case, there are twice as many things to worry about.”

Ami is a beautiful girl on the outside, so she’s probably not the only one targeting women. Of course, considering that it is Kim Ha-min, there will be no connection with the man. For Jeong So-yeon, it was something she said lightly as a joke.

But that joke got the biggest reaction from Sia today. Jeong So-yeon’s expression was colored with puzzlement as she saw Sia’s eyes moving back and forth.

“What, what really happened with that guy?”

“No no no, that’s not it! There was nothing that stood out that much. just… .”

Sia stammered and talked about the recent changes in ARMY. Like wearing a skirt or styling your hair. This is something that any ARMY from not long ago would most likely not have done. At the very least, it wouldn’t have been something to be done lightly, like a bet with a classmate.

I might have felt safer if Ami had shown herself to be conscious of the girls in her class. However, listening to Raon and Bobbin’s stories, it seemed like Ami didn’t really care about touching girls.

“That doesn’t mean I’m conscious of touching boys or anything like that.”

“Then you’re just getting used to it, aren’t you?”

“Maybe so. So, as I said, right? There really is nothing special.”

Sia consciously smiled as she looked at Jeong So-yeon chewing her snack with a disappointed expression.

Ami paying attention to negative rumors at school. Sia treated the consultation at that time as a joke. Actually, you’ve been worried about it for a long time.

It was nonsense. Sia knew better than anyone else, perhaps better than herself, that seven years ago, Kwon Seong truly did not care about bad reviews. Because it was Sia herself who had seen all of his actions up close.

Then why did you lie like that? On the surface, it was because he did not want ARMY to be buried in his changing self. My body changed and my soul twisted. Hoping that your mind will not be affected would be more foolish than hopeful.

So, he who says that things haven’t changed since long ago and wants things to not change is obviously a fool.

Sia thought so.

“My situation is different from your sister.”

“What is different?”

“Senior, you have a female body. I can’t launch a hand-to-hand attack like my sister.”

“I’ve never carried out anything like a hand-to-hand attack! I said it last time, it’s not something that can be done easily?”

“If you get the chance, you will do it, right?”

“… … .”

Quick. Jeong So-yeon’s laughter cracked. It’s not wrong, but there must be a way to express it as if words are different and different.

In fact, Sia was calmly turning her head and taking a sip of her drink. Since we both drank a lot, we are both drunk, and if we are drunk, making comments that slightly cross the line is within the acceptable range between close friends.

So Soyeon Jeong decided to try her hand at it a little.

“Then what are you going to do? Honestly, I don’t see any hope of Ami coming back as a man right now. What if Ami never comes back as a man like this? Are you going to move on by talking about same-sex relationships then too?”

“… … .”

” Well, the gender barrier is a big one. Because the one you love is not the woman Kim A-mi, but the man Kim Ha-min.”

oh. said. I committed it. In a corner of her head that was dazed from alcohol, Jeong So-yeon had such a thought. It must be a serious problem for the person involved.

Should I get angry or cry? No matter how Sia reacted, Jeong So-yeon decided to immediately apologize and repeatedly reflected on herself.

“… I see.”

However, Sia’s reaction was neither of those. There was a calmness, an aura peculiar to a person who gave a certain kind of answer, that hovered over Sia.

Jeong So-yeon, who read the mood, held the can forward. Although I said it out of anger, it was also because I was always worried. Since we have known each other for a long time, I wanted to know at least what kind of answer he gave.

Tick. When cans collide with each other, they make a dry sound. Immediately after toasting and drinking, Sia slowly opened her mouth.

“Actually, I don’t even know what I’m thinking.”

Emotions like sadness or hatred are sometimes so strong that you feel as if you will carry them with you for the rest of your life. It took five years for Sia to realize that it was just an illusion.

When Shia began to feel more emptiness than hatred, he quit external operations and entered Cheonmyeong High School. To regain something that will make up for the lost meaning of life.

And Sia has, in a sense, found the best replacement.

‘It’s a surprise. It was Sia. Well, I just laughed ominously at that old man.’

“I was dazed. A cute girl I had never seen before was talking like a senior. If I hadn’t been told in advance that he was a real senior, I might have slapped him in the face.”

The contradiction of someone you have never seen even in a dream showing you a scene you have seen countless times in your dreams. What Sia chose was a hold like the association. For that, I needed to go back to my old self.

How did you laugh 7 years ago? It wasn’t difficult to remember again. Because the attitude of the girl in front of me kept reminding me of old memories.

‘Ahaha, senior, you still haven’t gotten over that habit?’

‘you you! ‘I’m sorry I ate the macaron back then, so I told you not to do something like this again!’

So, Sia had a family again.

“I really had to admit it. You haven’t seen me in 7 years, right? It’s enough time for even one person to change. But to believe it without even doubting it is so thoughtless.”

From small tastes to ways of thinking. Everything pointed to the two being the same person.

No, there was no need to even look for such a basis in the first place. Because at some point, Sia’s acting stopped being acting.

Now, the same smile as before comes to mind naturally without me being conscious of it. The most important person to Sia has returned.

“Senior, yes. He was a senior all along. Hero idiot senior. Hehehe.”

However, everything cannot be the same as before. Gender, size, strength. Some of them were things that even Shia could not easily overcome.

So, Sia was thinking about the possibility that what Jeong So-yeon mentioned would actually happen.

“I am not a priestess, so I don’t know what will happen in the future. Like you said, you may fall in love with someone other than me. The other person’s gender is, well, second to none.”

Instead of looking for a lifelong partner, he focuses on hero activities. Sia was able to easily picture the image of ARMY like that.

The shape doesn’t matter. The reason doesn’t matter either. just,

“It’s okay as long as the senior is happy. I am satisfied with that. I will make it like that. … No matter what I do.”

Sia declared that it was her happiness.

“… Yes.”

Jeong So-yeon was one of the people who knew best about the hero Titania’s actions after Kwon Seong’s death. Jeong So-yeon could not guess the extent of the determination contained in Sia’s words.

Still, Sia is smiling eerily with dead eyes, and Sia in front of me is smiling a smile dedicated to love. There is no need to say which of the two looks happy.

Soyeon Jeong once again raised the can with congratulations and wishes──

“Ha, it’s funny.”

──I tried to leave, but I was stopped by an extremely gloomy voice.

Sigh. Sigh. Sia’s eyes widened. Immediately, Jeong So-yeon shook her head and explained that she did not say what she said.

Of course, there was only one suspect left at the scene.

“Hey, Director Lim… ?”

“When I heard it, it was very… .”

Director Lim did not respond to Jeong So-yeon’s call, but bit down on the squid. The red-faced face and twisted tongue clearly showed that Director Lim was drunk.

Reflexively, Sia and Jeong So-yeon checked the hero drinks around them, but didn’t see anything particularly strange. Well, if I had drank the hero drink, I would have been taken to the emergency room without even having time to get drunk.

Only then did I see a feast of beer cans filling the floor. Some of them also contained high-alcohol ales. Only then did the two of them realize that they had neglected Director Lim for too long because they were absorbed in the conversation.

“Director Lim? I’m sorry for not paying attention to you, but you should stop drinking now──”

“What, you don’t know your own mind! How can someone who doesn’t know their own mind talk like that!?”

Pop. The two people’s movements to stop Director Lim froze for a moment. Not wanting to miss that opportunity, Director Lim let out the anger he had been suppressing for so long.

“Hey~, Director Lim? There’s no need to bring that up now… .”

“No! I have to say! Every time I go through an inspection, the two of us stay together and it’s just like that!”

“Nothing happened!?”

“The last time you were brought in with an injury, you snuggled into Ami’s bed!”

snuggle into bed At that blatant expression, Jeong So-yeon’s eyes quickly turned to Sia. Sia’s eyes roll again.

“Wow, it seems like it was real. what? Who attacks whom with hand-to-hand combat? You’re harsher than I thought.”

“Bal!? Aren’t what you said too harsh!? I went in and didn’t do anything!”

“So how is it in reality, Director Lim?”

“I went in and just loved it. It clings to my arm like a cicada, cackling with the apple I cut. You two were even going to kiss?”

“Key, I didn’t kiss you!”

“You close your eyes very tightly.”

Sia’s face, up to her ears, turned bright red after being suddenly exposed. Of course, whether that was the case or not, the chase did not stop.

So-yeon Jeong picked up a peanut and brought it to Director Lim while saying ‘Ah~’ and Director Lim also said ‘Ah’ and ate it. There was nothing that could not be done if one was sober, but was impossible if one borrowed the power of intoxication.

Of course, it wasn’t a situation where Sia’s protest would work.

“It’s okay, Siaya. I understand everything. What does gender have to do with love?”

“There are reports that the number of female homosexuals has increased globally these days as the number of men has decreased. Social opinion will gradually improve in the future, so you don’t have to worry too much.”

“That’s not it! No, it’s not like that… !”

Sia looked back and forth between Jeong So-yeon and Director Lim and eventually gave up thinking. Gulp, gulp. The hero drink, which would be difficult for most heroes to empty even a single can, goes down Sia’s throat in one go.

“”Oh.””

“Phew… . You won’t make me drink it alone, will you?”

Sia’s eyes, half filled with resentment, contained intense pressure. Soyeon Jeong and Director Lim looked at each other and poured the contents of each can into their mouths.

Once a war of revelations begins, no one can stop it. The short night passed with the three women revealing each other’s dark history.

***

“Seunbaae~.”

“Yes, yes, I am a senior.”

When the phone rang and I went to answer it, there was a hell of royalties unfolding there. I’m not old enough to fantasize about women, but maybe that’s a bit harsh.

The drunkard who was handed over from hell is now excitedly rubbing his cheek against mine. I’m excited, I’m very excited. As I smell the alcohol wafting from right next to me, I miss the old Sia, who was a bit strict but straightforward.

“Uhuhu, huhu~.”

“Hey, don’t move too much. It’s hard to keep the center of gravity.”

It was fortunate that Soyeon’s house was just around the corner. If it had been a little further away, I would have just left him there to sleep like the Doctor.

After sighing, I felt a sense of déjà vu. Wasn’t there something like this in the past?

Raise your head and look at the sky. There were hardly any stars in the sky, obscured by the city lights, but I remember that there were quite a few stars at the time.

Not only did that little child grow up and come to be his partner, but now he had become smaller than that child. You really can’t know how life will turn out.

Still, maybe it’s because I’m older that I think it’s good to have a family.

“Senior~.”

“Yes, I am a senior.”

“… I’m inside, wow.”

“Huh? hey! Wait a minute, just wait!”

“Run, the more you run, the more it rings… .”

… Still, it would be nice if you drank a little less! Maybe this too is karma.

Realizing another truth about life, I ran toward home at a fast, unwavering pace, even using walking techniques.

*****