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“…Health has been mostly recovered with the help of the Center, and I am currently devoting all my strength to special ability rehabilitation. After completing rehabilitation, I will dedicate myself to combat training and do my best to return to the field as soon as possible.”

He read through the script like he was reciting a textbook, with a face that didn’t look like it intended to do its best at all and didn’t seem to be devoting any strength, but the attendees of the return ceremony all had impressed faces and gave him a standing ovation.

Watching that, I felt a bit strange as the person who ghostwrote the script. In fact, I was the one devoting all my strength to Kang Juha’s rehabilitation, and I was the one who had to make it so he could return to the field quickly.

This is, well, no different from listing the things I have to do using Kang Juha’s mouth.

“Sip… Come to think of it, it seems the same as usual.”

If you think about it, I wondered if there was ever a time I had stepped forward to speak.

For Kang Juha, grabbing the microphone as a representative at a place like this would be a common occurrence. Up until now, the microphone had never come to me once. Because we were the shadows and the darkness of the Center.

Well, that didn’t mean I was envious of that spot. I thought maybe if I carried a suit as well as Kang Juha did, I might have wanted to stand there.

Truly… looking only at his appearance, it was a sight one couldn’t help but admire. A handsome, fit, high-performing S-class combat-type Esper. Standing under the bright lights, Kang Juha was gallant and reliable. To the point where one could entrust a whole nation to someone like that even without a guarantee.

Of course, if you actually did that, he would ruin the country in three days… no, in a day at the earliest.

“…Is it actually a good thing?”

Kang Juha appeared to be staring blankly somewhere in the seminar room, but strangely, I could read what he was thinking right now.

He was definitely gauging the timing of when he should step down from the podium. Because his face, with his brow twitching slightly, looked like he wanted to go home right this instant.

To be able to read him so clearly even without using special abilities.

In an instant, my eyes met with Kang Juha’s as he turned his gaze. I pointed toward the stairs of the podium with my chin, and only then did Kang Juha bow his head in greeting and head down the stairs.

The head of the Field Operations Department, to which he belonged, took over the microphone and began talking about the newly established plan regarding the return.

Kang Juha sat in the very front row, in the center. A back held straight and squared shoulders. I knew that was his original appearance, but it looked only foreign to my eyes. Even though to other people, the current appearance of Kang Juha would be much more familiar.

Indeed, even I had guessed that he would be a cold-blooded combat-type Esper without blood or tears just by seeing that side of Kang Juha.

Who would have thought he was a kid who peers into fairy tale books and snacks on chocolate all day?

“But why are we sitting in the corner again? This project is almost main-level, so shouldn’t we be allowed to sit in the front?”

Juyoung seemed displeased once again that the National Security Bureau had been assigned the back seats.

Kang Juha also had many complaints regarding the seating arrangement. Asking why only he had to sit at the very front, saying he also wanted to sit with the National Security Bureau.

Where is there such an absurd statement? When he belongs to the Field Operations Department.

“Superficially, it’s because you belong to the Field Operations Department.”

“Even so, does it make sense that the Department Head guy, who hasn’t done a thing and hasn’t even shown his face, is holding the microphone and blustering, while the Team Leader is sitting here listening like it’s someone else’s story?”

“Because it wouldn’t be good if rumors spread that Kang Juha is coming in and out of the National Security Bureau. If he goes back and forth when he doesn’t even belong here, what would people think?”

“…That there’s something suspicious?”

“Exactly. The reputation and reliability of Esper Kang Juha would fall. The fact that nothing has been revealed about the gap of the past half-year might also become a source of fear for people.”

“Then you mean people will think Esper Kang Juha committed betrayal or something?”

Juyoung’s voice began to get louder, and I hurriedly brought a finger to my mouth. Why are you causing a scene and drawing attention?

“Lower your voice. I’m being careful not to leave even the slightest possibility of that. You know everything related to this project is a classified matter.”

There was only one thing to be announced at today’s return ceremony. The Esper who was swept into a Gate in Sonora half a year ago and went missing has returned alive and well.

There was no additional information other than the fact that Kang Juha’s physical condition was currently almost recovered.

“Be careful with your words wherever you go.”

“…”

“Esper Kang Juha is only coming to give situational testimony to our side for the purpose of mopping up the anti-coalition forces. As our collaborator and informant. Understand?”

“Haaa… I’m not a fan of lying…”

He grumbled like that, but Juyoung wouldn’t be the type to go around talking carelessly about this matter. To begin with, if he were that kind of person, he wouldn’t have been able to even come to my side.

The reason Juyoung grumbles for no reason is probably a sort of sorrow about always having to be hidden in the shade.

The return ceremony ended without a single word about the Medical Bureau incident caused by Kang Juha. It wasn’t actually that people were hushing it up; it was an incident large enough to turn the Center upside down, but it was closer to the fact that no one dared to comment because the subject who did it was Kang Juha.

Since Kang Juha wasn’t originally the type to go around causing trouble or showing off his strength, more people guessed that something must have happened to trigger it.

Well, while it’s true the other side provided the cause, a violent incident is not good regardless.

Whether it’s a relief or not, they said Kim Kunwoo’s body was almost fully recovered. Naturally, he threw a fit, saying he would report Kang Juha and throw him into the Center stockade, but what actually flew in front of him was a request to attend the Disciplinary Committee.

The Center is not a fair place. The Center is calculating. If you recognize this, you become able to understand the irrational things that happen inside.

Of course, there is a big difference between understanding and accepting. Because if you start thinking deeply about such things, it becomes hard to even endure a single day here, so it was easier to just stop thinking.

“How about galbi-tang for dinner tonight?”

“Suddenly?”

“Yeah.”

“Sounds delicious.”

“Right?”

“I’ll order it right after this is over. Four should be enough, right? No, but the Field Operations Department Head, once he grabs the microphone, it’s always at least 30 minutes.”

As soon as the topic turned to the dinner menu, Juyoung’s interest shifted to the time. Looking at him like this, I thought being simple was a virtue.

“Wow, I was really waiting with my neck craned for the Team Leader to come.”

As soon as I opened the door to the guiding room, Yu Seonjae stood up from the chair as if he were about to spring out.

It was a visit to the guiding room after a very long time because of processing the pouring work, and to think he would give such a passionate welcome.

“I don’t like someone waiting for me.”

“As expected, a bad boy. You have charm.”

Yu Seonjae said he knew it would be like that as he narrowed his eyes and shook his head side to side.

“So, why did you play innocent and feign ignorance when I brought up Esper Kang Juha before? I heard that Team Leader Seong already knew!”

“Where did you hear that story again?”

“It’s a mess everywhere right now. Everyone is talking about Esper Kang Juha, so I don’t even remember where I heard it.”

They say all sorts of rumors circulate in the Center. Eventually, it seemed the fact that Esper Kang Juha was associated with the National Security Bureau could not be hidden.

“All sorts of talk is going around. For guys working in a national institution to have such loose lips.”

“It’s the biggest issue that has broken out in the past year—no, three years—so how can anyone hold it in?”

“Three years? What happened three years ago?”

“A love-hate scandal. An affair, at that.”

Wow, I’m truly not curious at all.

Whether he misread my expression when I lost my words, Yu Seonjae asked meaningfully.

“Want me to tell you?”

“I’m not curious.”

“It’s really interesting, what a shame. Anyway, everyone was curious why Kang Juha met the Information Team Leader of all people, and not some other team.”

While saying that, he subtly gauged my reaction, and the intention behind bringing that up was read clearly.

“Why. I suppose the seniors told you to ask that this time?”

“Yes.”

Yu Seonjae was the type who didn’t lie in front of me if possible. It’s probably because it’s obvious he’d be caught even if he tried. For me, it was a bit of an unfair part. It’s not like I’m some lie detector, and there’s no way I’d waste my special abilities on such useless things.

But those parts were useful at times.

“It was merely contact for the purpose of information gathering related to the disappearance. A follow-up investigation into the circumstances is mandatory after a case ends. It has to be kept as a record, too.”

“I knew it would be like that. As expected, it’s nothing much.”

Whether he lost interest at the mechanical answer, Yu Seonjae shrugged his shoulders and let out a long yawn.

“Anyway, because of that, the Guiding Bureau is in a mess right now. I wanted to see the return ceremony in person too, but they were mean and only let team leader levels go…”

“Is a return ceremony some kind of festival? To have people flocking in crowds to watch.”

“It is a festival. The precious S-class combat-type Esper has returned.”

“I didn’t know the guides thought of the Center’s assets that way.”

“Yes. Actually, that’s a lie. I just wanted to see Esper Kang Juha in the flesh once. He’s a bit like a legendary animal. When you see him being briefed on the in-house broadcast, he’s clearly a real person, but I’ve never once bumped into him by chance within the Center grounds… People who say they’ve met him because they went out on an Alpha Team mission together all say nothing but that he’s crazy.”

When he said it like that, it felt as if Kang Juha had become some kind of ghost. Well, they said in the past he mostly lived a simple life just going back and forth between the training center and the dormitory.

“…Is he an AI, perhaps?”

“Your imagination is excessive.”

“Oh, that’s actually plausible. Isn’t he a virtual human created by the Center to raise the average appearance of Espers?”

Listening to it, it was an absurd imagination that brought out a hollow laugh. Exactly where would they use such a thing after raising it?

“He is handsome, indeed. But he’s a human too.”

Even so, I acknowledged what needed to be acknowledged. At my words, the eyes of Yu Seonjae, who was talking excitedly by himself, flashed for a moment.

“Ah! Right. You must have seen him in person. Wow… how is he?”

How is he? Hmm, it’s hard to explain.

“First off, he’s tall. His body is big, too.”

“Oh.”

“It’s less like a person and more like a door frame…”

At the word door frame, Yu Seonjae’s gaze turned toward the door of the guiding room behind me. He tilted his head as if he couldn’t quite gauge it, but truly, there was no more accurate metaphor than that.

“Does he resemble a dog… no, I think he’s a bit closer to a wolf.”

“Why an animal and not a person?”

I was at a loss for words at the piercing question. I couldn’t exactly say here that his actual actions were also closer to an animal than a person.

“His atmosphere is like that.”

I glossed over it.

“I want to see him just once. Then I could join the ‘Meeting Kang Juha in the Flesh’ gathering too.”

“…There’s a gathering like that? You’re lying again, aren’t you. Just to tease me.”

No matter how much I thought about it, this really sounded like a lie. A “Meeting Kang Juha in the Flesh” gathering. What on earth is that.

But for some reason, Yu Seonjae’s expression was resolute.

“Why do you think there wouldn’t be one? There’s even a ‘Kang Juha’s Ex-Girlfriends’ gathering.”

“…What? W—what gathering? He has things like that?”

He was that much of a Casanova?

“Yes. A gathering of people who want to become Kang Juha’s ex-girlfriend.”

“…”

What do you want to become? It was so absurd I couldn’t even speak. Not that they want to date Kang Juha, but they want to become his ex-girlfriend? Why?

“They have unique tastes. I think so too. But they say they want to be the ex-girlfriend, not the current girlfriend or the future girlfriend. They say his looks give off exactly that vibe. They want to try acting clingy and pathetic for no reason, they want to send a ‘You up?’ text at night. They want to try hanging on while crying their eyes out, saying we were so good back then. And then an ending where they get dumped incredibly coldly.”

Throughout the story, my upper lip twitched in bewilderment. Why on earth would anyone want to try that? Are they masochists?

“Ah, and there’s a separate gathering for the Team Leader.”

“Don’t say it.”

“The ‘Ex-Wives’ gathering.”

“I told you not to say it.”

“They say they want to have the Team Leader as a spouse rather than a lover. But one they’ve divorced.”

Isn’t that an insult? To say you want to divorce someone who hasn’t even married.

“Because the Team Leader is such a total workaholic, it feels like the marriage would fall apart quickly, but then the Team Leader seems to be doing fine alone, so they’d resent you pathetically…”

“No, why does every ending have to become pathetic?”

I can’t understand it.

“Who knows. It could be a preference. Since you both have faces that look like you wouldn’t be able to have a smooth relationship or marriage, after all.”

“…”

It’s an insult. It’s 100% an insult.

“How does it feel to have gained three thousand ex-wives?”

“How do you think it feels?”

“Must be nice being so popular.”

Exactly how can one take the statement “I want to make you my ex-husband” and receive it by substituting it with “popular”? Just what has my image become? No, and what is Kang Juha’s image?

“…I should leave the Center soon.”

“Ayy, just a joke.”