episode_0112

“What should I do?”

“……Team leader. Even if you say that endlessly, you still don’t understand?”

Late at night. Banharin’s home.

Ban Harin and ‘Mouse’ were sitting across from each other at the living room table and talking.

The living room was dark.

This is because Ban Harin put down the toad nest.

Dense darkness decorates the dreary living room with no interior decoration. It’s so dark that I feel like there’s a weight on my shoulders.

An atmosphere as low as smoke passes by, caressing the ‘mouse’s’ thin tail.

Bye…

The only thing shining in the darkness was a pure white candle on the living room table.

The bright red candlelight, which flutters helplessly even with people’s breath, illuminates the faces of Ban Harin and the ‘mouse’.

“Why do you always do this at regular meetings?”

“This is to eliminate the possibility of wiretapping. Turning off the circuit breaker makes it easier to ‘observe’ electronic devices installed nearby.”

“…I always say this, but do you see that?”

“It’s that kind of skill.”

Pajijikㅡ.

Ban Harin’s golden eyes observe the ‘mouse’…

The pupil, which was vertically slit like a reptile, flashed bright yellow lightning, and the ‘mouse’ trembled at the sensation of someone looking at its naked body.

[Rare Hunter Protection – Kill Section] Team 1 member… A short-haired woman who prefers to be called ‘Mouse’ rather than her real name.

The ‘mouse’s’ thin tail taps the soft carpet in the living room.

… … .

It is now the regular meeting time for Team 1 of the [Rare Hunter Protection-Kill Department].

Even though it is a meeting, it is not something grand. All we can do is share our opinions on whether there are any special issues with the ‘protected person’ and whether there are any additional suggestions.

Even he is an F-class hunter with a weak protection target, and he is a quiet person who only works at a cafe in peace, so watching him every day is boring.

‘Mouse’ reminded me of two teams whose groans never ceased.

In that case, the subject of protection brags about his ‘rare skills’ on the Internet, and to make matters worse, he even uploads a video… Did you say that they are fighting against foreign agents who approach to take the subject of protection to their country or assassinate them? .

When you think about that, the first team you belong to is peace itself.

Because the target of protection is a weak F-class hunter and has a gentle personality, it doesn’t cause any accidents.

… … ‘Mouse’ thought so until May.

“What should I do?”

“…What is it, team leader?”

“The frequency of losing track of protected objects is increasing.”

Team leader Ban Harin is sitting in an upright position without making a sound.

A ‘mouse’ team member just looks at the candlelight with an uncomfortable feeling.

And, the rest of the team members who were absent ‘this time too’…

The mouse felt his mouth go dry as he received Ban Harin’s cold gaze.

She hated regular meetings.

This is because you have to come face to face with Team Leader Ban Harin, who is closer to a machine than a person.

Although they always use polite language, they are not considerate in their conversations and do not show any emotions.

Even though we meet regularly and talk like today… I have never once seen Team Leader Ban Harin joking or playing around.

A person you can trust but cannot become friends with.

The ‘mouse’ quietly avoided Ban Harin’s gaze.

“…How can you find something that suddenly disappears…?”

“I don’t blame the mouse. It’s because I also miss the ‘Target’s’ whereabouts. This is what happens every time the ‘Target’ passes by the convenience store near Saetbyul Apartments and the entrance to [Euncheon Park].”

There is something.

But we cannot ‘recognize’ what it is.

Something that is neither a skill nor an artifact, with no mana detected.

Ban Harin took out several photos from the briefcase he had left next to him.

This is a photo of Eunha working at a cafe from morning to 5 p.m.

“The photos in question were supplied by the female owner of the cafe where ‘Target’ works.”

“Wow… it looks really pretty when seen in bright light.”

‘Mouse’, who was looking at each of the pictures of Eunha spread out on the table, let out a heartfelt exclamation.

It’s been a really long time since I’ve been able to check on Eunha properly, as I always follow Eunha as she leaves work in the late afternoon.

To tell the truth, the ‘mice’ in charge of [night watch] always wakes up around 4-5 PM.

So, I have never been to a ‘Target’ cafe.

Team leader Ban Harin doesn’t know how to work.

Perhaps they will just watch from afar like you did.

What would a person like that like a machine do?

​

‘If you think about it, it was the first time we talked at a department store…’

The ‘mouse’ looked down at his hands without realizing it.

For some reason, I can’t erase the feeling I had when I held ‘Target’ in my arms as it fell from the rooftop of [Cheongryong Department Store] not long ago.

Very soft and warm.

A feeling that warms the soul.

I looked down at the photo again.

The galaxy in the photo was much more beautiful than before… and it had become very full.

Can you see your feet?

‘Mouse’ swallowed quietly and continued flipping through the photos.

… … Dark living room, one candle.

A situation where two grown adults put their heads together and check out someone else’s voyeur photos.

Is it an illusion if it looks like a crime scene?

The ‘mouse’ was pricked by his conscience and just skimmed through Eunha’s photo.

No matter how many pages I took, it doesn’t decrease.

“How is it.”

“Okay… no, that’s not it… why are you giving me this picture…?”

“From now on, the mouse should approach the ‘target’ and build a friendship with it.”

“What??”

And Ban Harin’s subsequent command came as an unexpected shock to the ‘mouse’.

The candle flickers precariously under the harsh breath.

Ban Harin, rubbing his face with one hand out of habit, looked at the ‘mouse’, and the ‘mouse’, who hastily calmed down, slowly took a breath.

The candle that was shaking uneasily regains stability.

“Why are you doing that?”

“No, team leader! What do you mean, building friendships?”

“A new approach is needed to keep the ‘targets’ safe.”

Ban Harin received a photo of Eunha back from the ‘mouse’.

He then puts the photo in his pocket, not his briefcase.

She continued speaking without changing her expression.

“If you don’t know why the ‘target’ is missing, the only thing left is to ask the ‘target’ himself… or watch from a closer distance.”

“I understand that, but… can’t the team leader do it?”

“Two are better than one.”

“……I broke my leg at [Cheongryong Department Store] the other day, and I just finished rehabilitation this week?”

“I know.”

“Do you know how long it takes for your thigh and leg bones to come back together if they are torn apart? Even if you use potions, it’s difficult.”

“As a result of my observation of the ‘mouse’ skeleton, there is no hindrance to mission activities.”

Can not be done.

Words don’t make sense.

‘Mouse’ frowned as he looked at Team Leader Ban Harin’s cold face.

The thin rat’s tail thumps against the living room carpet, showing its dissatisfaction.

“Is it true that an A-level hunter should be bothered by a single fracture? If it hurt that much, you should have bought a [Galaxy Potion] and drank it.”

“How can I buy that precious thing? Those crazy guys at the potion dispensary, they once advertised that anyone could buy it at a low price…”

“Anyway, I hope you become friends with ‘Target’ from now on. Let’s stop by the cafe sometimes and talk.”

Being friendly with someone you protect… are you sane?

It’s true that a new method is needed because we keep missing the ‘target’, but is it really necessary to use this method?

I do not know the reason.

The ‘mouse’, with its round, mouse-like ears pricked, looks at Ban Harin.

This time, without avoiding eye contact, straight ahead.

A cold, blunt face as always.

A face that says it will never reveal its true feelings.

… … I don’t know.

‘Mouse’ was unknown.

Just an order from the team leader,

I have no choice but to follow.

“……You know that, right? Team leader? Is that really too much to say?”

“I know.”

“I can’t believe we’re friends… Anyway, if we order from above, we’ll have to kill each other with our own hands…”

‘Mouse’ looked down at the photo he was holding in his hand.

When I returned the photo to Ban Harin earlier,

For some reason, I had this one piece left in my hand.

“…….”

The mouse took a picture of the ‘target’…

No, a picture of a galaxy,

I put it in the inside pocket of my suit.

“As long as the target is not leaked abroad, there will be no kill order.”

“I know it’s not true.”

“We will make it so.”

Tuk…

At that time, Ban Harin took something out of his briefcase.

Something keeps coming up.

Is that bag an artifact?

The half-melted candle wax lights up the living room,

A book appears from a briefcase and is placed in front of her as if hoping for the ‘mouse’s’ attention.

A book given by Ban Harin.

The ‘mouse’, who was quietly looking at the title [The ABCs of Popular People], tilts his head.

“……What is this? Team leader?”

“It will take a lot of effort to win the favor of a ‘target’ with a beautiful appearance. This means that mouse ears and a tail are not enough to be rare.”

“Huh, likeability? What? Scarcity?”

“How about adding ‘nya~’ to the end of the word? Don’t you think it would be quite interesting to see a rat yelling ‘nya~’?”

I don’t know what you want.

There’s no way that machine-like person would make a joke.

‘Mouse’ had a headache.

… … .

… … .

… … .

“…I will keep my promise to Eunha, no matter what it is. Absolutely.”

After a while.

Alone in the living room, Ban Harin looked down at the melted candle wax.

The breaker is still off, leaving the living room dark.

In a place where not even a candle existed, Ban Harin stood up.

(Oh, okay, how about ‘Mouse’?)

(…Why do you look for ‘mouse’?)

(He’s a benefactor. Ban Harin is a co-worker with ‘Mouse’, so I think he knows something. Are you okay?)

(Tsk……. I’m doing well and not being admitted to the hospital. I’ll tell you to stop by the cafe later.)

A conversation I had with Eunha one day.

‘Mouse’ will be fine as he has completed rehabilitation.

From what I heard, they said that because they poured a potion on a broken bone, the bone became strangely attached.

This is an unavoidable emergency measure, but please be careful next time.

Sarah… Sarah…

Ban Harin headed to the bedroom without a single sound of footfall.

She walked to the window and opened the pitch black curtains.

The light from the street lamp coming from below illuminates the bedroom.

Ban Harin looked out the window with an expressionless face.

Far away… 2-3 subway stops away, you can see the Saetbyul Apartment where Eunha lives.

Distance doesn’t matter.

It just looks like it.

A house with a direct view of the ‘Saetstar Apartment’.

So I live in this house.

Banharin observed the ‘9th floor’ apartment visible in the distance.

“…….”

9 p.m.

The light is still on [Room 904].

and,

Even though it’s too early to go to sleep,

All the houses except Eunha’s house are turning off the lights.

As if no one lives.

“…….”

Ban Harin, who was observing the apartment, turned around without a sound.

clear.

Can’t find anything strange.

No strange parts recognized.

clear.

Ban Harin took off his black suit and changed into pajamas.

The light coming through the window illuminates the dark bedroom.

Unlike the dreary interior of the living room, her bedroom was overflowing with all kinds of decorations.

There were many gifted dolls, cosmetics… especially game consoles.

Ban Harin wiped his face as he observed the numerous game consoles crammed into the cabinet.

From fighting games to shooting games…

More than a dozen game cartridges.

They had something in common.

The point is that it is a game that can be enjoyed by two or three people.

“……If you think about it, Nari Kang, you should also buy some 4-player games.”

The corners of Ban Harin’s mouth rose subtly.

It was late at night.

… … .

… … .

… … .

[Rare Hunter Protection-Kill Department].

Team leader Ban Harin.

Team member ‘Mouse’.

Other team members.

This time too,

The remaining team members who did not attend regular meetings.

“clear.”

Ban Harin and ‘Mouse’,

Starting in May,

A regular meeting with just the two of us.