EFME 50

The year changed.

Muyoung was with Sunyul even at the moment the year changed. He cleanly ignored the request from his family to at least show his face, even for a moment. To Muyoung, being with Sunyul was a much more important matter.

After the holidays ended, Haemin came to see Muyoung at work. She said she had found something while investigating Sunyul’s dream.

“It’s not certain. It’s just a hypothesis.”

Her tone was defensive, unlike the usual confident way Haemin spoke. Muyoung predicted that nothing good would come of this.

“What is this hypothesis?”

“Look.”

Haemin took out her tablet PC and opened a file. On it, a chart analyzing the patterns while Sunyul slept was intricately tangled.

“When Lim Sunyul dreams, his magic and the system react together. I used that to estimate the times Lim Sunyul dreamed. This day, and this day… this day too. The time is mostly in the early morning. And… look.”

After listing the presumed times Sunyul had dreamed, Haemin brought up another file. It was a record sheet regarding dungeon occurrences.

“At these times, you see, dungeons occurred. Simultaneously, all over the world.”

Recently, the rate of dungeon occurrences had increased worldwide. Furthermore, as Haemin said, in December there was an incident where dungeons occurred simultaneously all over the world.

Whether it was a coincidence or if there was some cause had not been revealed. Researchers around the world tried to find the cause, but to no avail. And now Haemin was connecting Sunyul’s dream to the dungeons.

“Either Lim Sunyul is dreaming because he’s being affected by those dungeons, or the dungeons are occurring because they’re being affected by Lim Sunyul. Don’t you think it’s one of the two?”

“That’s a bit of a stretch.”

Muyoung frowned. It was a statement that would have someone send Sunyul to a research institute immediately if they overheard.

“I don’t think it’s the latter either, but… either way, if we research it well, we might be able to predict dungeon occurrences.”

“So, you’re suggesting we take Lim Sunyul and conduct research?”

“No, that’s not what I mean…….”

At Muyoung’s cold gaze, Haemin quickly backed down.

“This isn’t my area of expertise anyway.”

“That’s right. You’re an item crafter.”

“Yes. There’s not much more I can find out in detail. But if I continue to measure and my hypothesis is correct, please consider visiting a research institution.”

“I have no intention of doing so, so keep it a secret.”

“Of course.”

Haemin made a zipping motion over her lips. Since she had signed a contract to keep it a secret and cooperate in the first place, she couldn’t disclose it elsewhere.

Muyoung thought it was a relief that Sunyul hadn’t heard this conversation. If he had, regardless of the truth, Sunyul would have surely blamed himself.

On the other hand, he was also a little worried.

Because Sunyul was currently at the Supernatural Abilities Administration with Jaehoon.

⊹₊｡ꕤ˚₊⊹

Sunyul was extremely tense as he set foot in the Supernatural Abilities Administration. Beside him, Jaehoon patted Sunyul’s shoulder as if to reassure him.

“Don’t be too nervous. It’ll be fine.”

“……Okay.”

Today was the day for the examination requested by the Supernatural Abilities Administration. Though it was called an examination, it wasn’t anything major. Just drawing a little blood, undergoing physical and magical power tests on par with what other awoken beings do, and answering a researcher’s questions.

The Supernatural Abilities Administration had wanted him to go to the Korea Supernatural Research Institute for a professional examination. However, they had to compromise due to Muyoung’s strong opposition. If they had pushed too hard, it seemed he would have prevented even a simple examination.

Sunyul followed Jaehoon to the examination room. On the way, Sunyul found himself looking around.

It might have been his imagination, but the hallways inside the Administration felt strangely familiar. It felt as if he had seen this place sometime before. And not just once or twice, but often.

‘I think the second-to-last room at the end is the examination room…….’

Jaehoon, who had been looking around, stopped in front of the second-to-last room. It was just as Sunyul had vaguely guessed. Though he didn’t know why he knew this.

As they entered the examination room, a woman was sitting right near the door. Upon seeing her, Sunyul flinched without realizing it.

It was the person he had seen in his dream.

Shim Jaehee. Sunyul’s team leader. The person who had stood up against unjust authority and taken Sunyul’s side.

Unlike in the dream, Shim Jaehee’s gaze as she looked at Sunyul was extremely sharp.

“Why are you so surprised?”

At the rather aggressive tone, Sunyul flinched in spite of himself.

“Pardon?”

“I asked why you’re so surprised. The moment you see someone’s face.”

“The kid can be surprised, what’s with the attitude?”

“I wasn’t asking you.”

“It’s just… I felt like I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

As her suspicious gaze didn’t waver, Sunyul felt a little intimidated. He hadn’t said anything wrong, but it felt like he had to add some sort of explanation. Just then, Jaehoon stepped in to mediate again.

“Come on, don’t be like that.”

“……”

Shim Jaehee looked at Sunyul with sunken eyes before backing down. Then, a researcher who had been watching the situation from a moment ago approached them.

The researcher also had a familiar face. Perhaps it was the person who had taken care of Sunyul at the research institute. Although Sunyul hadn’t gone to the Korea Supernatural Research Institute himself, it seemed they had sent someone over.

“Welcome, I-21. As we mentioned beforehand, we will proceed with a simple examination.”

“……Yes.”

“First, please change your clothes.”

After changing clothes in earnest, Sunyul became extremely tense. He knew nothing bad would happen since Muyoung had given a firm warning and Jaehoon was watching, but the memory of the researchers who had done various things to him resurfaced, and he was afraid.

The physical examination began with measuring his height and weight.

“Height and weight… no change at all.”

“I heard he definitely consumes food, that’s strange…….”

As a peculiar trait different from humans was discovered, Sunyul’s nervousness increased. Then again, the fact that he ate but did not excrete was not normal from the start. It meant that the food disappeared from his stomach as if it had evaporated.

The scrutinizing gazes felt chilling, and Sunyul shivered.

After measuring various physical stats, blood was drawn. He had already had his blood drawn several times, so he wondered if it was necessary again, but his questions were of little significance anyway.

Sunyul’s blood was no different from a human’s. Blood type: B-positive.

Evidence of being human and evidence of not being human coexisted in Sunyul’s body.

The researchers tended to be more obsessed with the latter.

With different thoughts in their minds, the first round of examinations was completed.

“It’s lunchtime, shall we eat first?”

Jaehoon stepped forward and temporarily halted the ongoing research. Just as Muyoung had told him to. He was faithfully carrying out the instruction to take appropriate breaks, as doing it all in one go would be hard on Sunyul.

“Let’s do that.”

Although he looked a little disappointed, the researcher readily agreed. They had to take a break at some point anyway.

Jaehoon gestured with his chin to Sunyul, who was sitting down.

“What are you doing? You have to eat too.”

“……Me too?”

“Yeah. You have to eat something, are you going to starve?”

“It doesn’t matter if I starve, so…….”

“Don’t be like that, why don’t you eat? The food at the Administration is delicious.”

Shim Jaehee, who was sitting next to them, chimed in.

“I’ll buy. For both of you.”

“What’s the occasion?”

Jaehoon asked, looking somewhat suspicious. Jaehee shrugged.

“What do you mean? You came all this way, I should treat you.”

“If you’re just trying to probe, then I’ll pass.”

“Me? No way. From the reports so far, he’s no different from a human. Do you really think I’d treat him inhumanely?”

“Well… then I guess so. Jeongwol-nim is not one to make empty promises.”

Jaehoon, though a bit reluctant, readily accepted. He could trust Shim Jaehee, if no one else.

Jaehee smiled at his words.

“Right. Ah, my introduction was late. I’m Shim Jaehee, an ability user and the team leader of Combat Team 2 at the Seoul Supernatural Abilities Administration. My hunter name is Jeongwol. Call me Jeongwol.”

“Ah, yes. Jeongwol-nim…….”

Jaehee looked at Sunyul for a moment and gestured with her chin.

“And you?”

“Me?”

“If you’ve heard an introduction, you should introduce yourself too.”

“You already know everything, don’t you?”

At Jaehoon’s question, Jaehee nodded.

“I know, of course. But I’m curious what you’ll say.”

“Uh…….”

Even if she said that, he didn’t have any remarkable details to introduce. Sunyul desperately thought about how to introduce himself, something he had never done before.

“I’m Lim Sunyul. Other than that, I don’t know anything, so I have nothing more to say.”

The conclusion was meager. But it seemed his short introduction pleased Jaehee, as she grinned.

“So you think of yourself as human.”

“Hey, Jeongwol-nim. You said you wouldn’t be provocative.”

“How is this provocative? I’m just stating a fact.”

“Provocation by stating a fact… ah, whatever.”

Jaehoon grumbled, scratching the back of his head. If Sunyul were to become dejected, Muyoung’s arrow of blame might turn towards him.

But Sunyul wasn’t particularly intimidated by her words.

“That’s right. I think of myself as human.”

“Okay. Then I’ll continue to treat you as human. Since you are living like a human.”

“……Yes. Thank you.”

“For what? It’s only natural.”

Jaehee answered coolly. Sunyul felt a great sense of relief at her words. As if he had been acknowledged by someone he had known for a long time.