Episode 64. Virtual Reality Training System Room. A training facility simply called the Training Room.
“Huu….”
Steam rose from the shoulders of the man sitting against the wall. With a sweep, he pushed back his black hair, sending sweat droplets falling.
His breath came rough and ragged, as if he had just fought a fierce battle.
Gi Taeyeon, Director of the Crisis Management Division of the Awakeners Management Bureau. *It’s quite useful even for training.*
Those Development Division bastards had made something decent. After confirming the monster’s remains had vanished, he raised his head.
Fifteen meters above. He faintly sensed a familiar aura in the system control room.
*So it was Han Chasu.*
An aura similar to his own, yet different. It meant the remnants left by blood still remained.
Even after extracting so much, there was still quite a lot left. Gi Taeyeon furrowed his brow. It had been so long since he’d had a vassal that he couldn’t remember if it had always been like this.
*I don’t even know if I felt a vassal’s aura this strongly before….*
Every being that had become his vassal had died off one by one, so there wasn’t much worth remembering.
“Still, it’s a bit of a shame.”
It was the first time a being who had shared his energy had survived this long. Perhaps that was why he felt strange at the thought that it would soon disappear. Thanks to that, the man had been able to smash the security office to pieces several times over, which had its endearing side.
Still, it was right to let Han Chasu go for his own sake. *His frame isn’t on the slender side, so he should endure the training well.*
Gi Taeyeon opened and closed his hand. The day he’d unintentionally stolen Han Chasu’s bed. Seen up close, Han Chasu’s body had been quite good for a patient’s.
He knew Han Chasu had been hospitalized for quite a long time, yet he hadn’t lost much muscle and was decent enough to look at.
So, where, how, and how much should he touch him up?
Recalling the pressure points on a human body, Gi Taeyeon spoke into his terminal.
“Has Hunter Han Chasu arrived?”
A short communication tone rang out, and soon an affirmative answer arrived.
“Tell him I’ll be there, so have him wait.”
—Understood!
The communication cut off with a spirited reply. Gi Taeyeon gathered up the clothes strewn in one corner of the floor.
Fzzt.
—The empty training room. The vanishing remains suddenly shook.
***
As soon as they heard Han Chasu had arrived, the entire Development Division came out to greet him.
“W-Welcome!”
“Welcome, Hunter Han Chasu! This way, please make yourself comfortable!”
A welcome so fervent it bordered on wailing. Had the shock of losing half the budget been that great? The faces of those welcoming Han Chasu were so haggard they were more like walking corpses.
“Last time, we really did something absurd. Honestly, we didn’t mean to….”
“This is a newly developed drink. Please have it while we talk.”
“Not that, give him this!”
No. These weren’t walking corpses; they were madmen. Their gleaming eyes looked as though they would devour Han Chasu. Every eye shining with its own color was steeped in fervor. Han Chasu flinched instinctively.
*What’s wrong with these guys?*
Had they eaten something wrong? Naturally, Han Chasu pushed the drink they offered far away. It was a beverage with a sticker that said “Caramel Grape Flavor.”
Just then, a scoffing sound came from behind him. It was the Medical Center staff.
“Do you think the money that flew away will come back if you show off now? Ridiculous, really.”
“Exactly. Our Hunter Han Chasu still hasn’t recovered his health from that day.”
“Those are harsh words, Yu Sujin.”
“Ah, you heard that? Sorry. I thought your ears were only for development and money too, since that’s all you have in your head.”
“Hah…!”
Sizzle. A spark-flying war of glares ensued. Stuck between the Development Division and Medical Center staff, Han Chasu let out a sigh. It seemed the Development Division still hadn’t given up on trying to get on his good side to escape their predicament.
“Everyone, move aside.”
A languid voice ended the fight in an instant. The crowd split apart as if cut by a knife.
“Must I really tell people with words.”
Tch, tch. The man clicking his tongue turned his head sharply. A blue-eyed man radiating an openly chilling aura.
Gi Taeyeon smiled, raising the corners of his lips.
“You dressed with care, Hunter Han Chasu.”
Han Chasu flinched for a moment at the gaze that raked him up and down.
*What?*
His heart thumped violently near his chest for a brief instant. But it vanished like a fleeting phantom pain.
In that time, Gi Taeyeon approached and stroked his head, as if to say he had dressed well.
While Han Chasu made a strange expression, Gi Taeyeon plopped down across from him. The sofa groaned and creaked loudly.
“Then, as planned, today we’ll tour the training system to see how it works, run a preliminary test, and then set a date for the real thing. Medical staff will be on standby at all times in case of unexpected situations….”
Eyes as cold as ice skimmed over the medical staff. Han Chasu felt the bespectacled man right behind him tremble.
“The Development Division will, of course, do their jobs diligently unless they want to die. Mr. Han Chasu, you just need to come with a relaxed mind.”
“I have one thing I’d like to ask.”
“Hmm?”
“Where is the Development Director?”
Han Chasu had prepared an apology in his own way. No matter how out of his mind he’d been, he had grabbed the man by the hair.
*I can’t leave behind future trouble.*
The training system was the Development Division’s domain. He would have to face them for several days and didn’t want to leave any awkwardness.
But no matter where he looked in the room, the Development Director’s face was nowhere to be seen.
“Ahh.”
Gi Taeyeon let out an exclamation, his expression utterly indifferent. Massaging his shoulder, he spoke in an annoyed voice.
“He was kicked out.”
“Pardon?”
Unlike the surprised Han Chasu, he looked completely unfazed.
“Let’s see, by now he should be arriving at the 3rd Branch.”
Checking the time briefly, he continued.
“Development Director Im Cheongmun was accused of using the Bureau’s assets for personal gain and attempting to harm a subordinate. He received a pay cut and is banned from entering the 1st Branch for one month. And does that mean he’ll be given a month off? Our Bureau Director would never allow that.”
Gi Taeyeon smiled, raising the corners of his lips. It was the face of a man who looked overjoyed at another’s misfortune.
“For the next month, he has to visit every Development Lab in the remaining twelve branches and write reports on their progress. A very rewarding trip—working and touring the country.”
“…….”
“This is all thanks to you, Mr. Han Chasu.”
The man’s voice was cheerful as he swept back his hair, eyes gleaming. He wore an expression full of liberation, like someone who had removed a tiresome tumor.
Han Chasu said nothing.
*It was already an area beyond my hands.*
He once again realized why the Development Division staff had been so favorable to him. Their leader had been beheaded, so they were desperate to grab even at straws. It was truly a pitiful sight.
*There’s not much I can do for them, though.*
Besides, even if he tried to do something.
“Good for him.”
“Director Im needed some sense knocked into his head. I hope he takes a nice, long trip this time.”
The Medical Center staff positioned behind him couldn’t let that sight go unanswered. Ever since the Development Division tried to occupy the center’s rooftop and stage a hostage crisis, they had been desperate to tear into them.
*I can’t provoke them further here.*
Feeling the air gradually boil over, Han Chasu deliberately let out a small cough. The medical staff jumped in surprise and flustered about.
“Are you alright? Please look this way for a moment. Hmm, no fever. As expected, is it because the air conditioner is too cold?”
“It’s because the air is dirty. Look at that, dust is fluttering around in the corner like that—how could he not cough?”
“Don’t worry, Team Leader. I brought an air purifier.”
“Really, no matter how much I see it, I can’t get used to it.”
Gi Taeyeon whispered from across as if finding it peculiar. Han Chasu quelled the commotion with a hollow cough. It was a bit embarrassing, but it couldn’t be helped.
Because this was the best way to focus the medical staff’s attention.
“Ahem…. Director, then may I ask you to show me around?”
Han Chasu spoke, having barely soothed the nerves between the Development Division and the medical staff. Gi Taeyeon snickered and flicked his fingers.
“Let’s do that. You there, Deputy Director, adjust the settings.”
“This isn’t the Crisis Management Division, Director Gi Taeyeon.”
“And you’re a deputy director, not the division head. Are you talking back to me right now?”
Ting!
A metallic sound rang out. It came from Gi Taeyeon’s hand.
He, who had flicked a Gatling gun bullet aside with his hand, lowered his eyes and spoke.
“Stop making a fuss and do as you’re told. Before your child commits an act of impiety.”
At his remark—that they should get to work before he lodged the bullet in their bodies—the Development Division staff turned away in unison.
Gi Taeyeon smiled in satisfaction and swept back his hair. Han Chasu marveled anew at his temper.
“While they prepare, let’s chat.”
Gi Taeyeon spoke, rummaging through a drawer haphazardly. Snacks hidden by the Development Division staff piled up on the table.
“Eat, Hunter Han Chasu. You have to eat a lot to exercise hard.”
“…Thank you.”
Warmth settled in Han Chasu’s eyes as he looked at Gi Taeyeon. He didn’t refuse and grabbed the entire bag of snacks.
“Eat the chocolate-coated ones. They have more calories.”
Gi Taeyeon, who had sat beside him at some point, recommended a snack to him. Han Chasu didn’t refuse his kindness.
Tch. It seemed he heard someone clicking their tongue from behind him.
※ The rights to this work belong to the copyright holder. Copying, reproducing, modifying, or distributing this work may result in criminal penalties and civil liability. (64) ============================================================