Vol 1 Ch 6

Unlike the initial plan, Yeonho had to skip lunch, let alone breakfast. The employees, who had discovered the Managing Director who had come to work after a long time, brought all sorts of pending issues that they had been putting off as if they had been waiting for him.

 

─Managing Director, do you have a moment now? I have something to discuss with you about So Minwoo.

 

─Managing Director, regarding the project you mentioned last time, can we get approval within this week? The CEO said to proceed after receiving the Managing Director’s order….

 

It would have been better if he was a Managing Director who just occupied a position without real ability. Even if working hard wasn’t his thing, Yeonho was actually a useful boss.

 

From broad business strategies to financial and budget management, and in small ways, networking with partners, personnel placement that fits the plan, and risk response. He didn’t do it, but there was nothing he couldn’t do.

 

Among them, his judgment was particularly outstanding. The dramas Yeonho picked were at least moderate hits, and the people Yeonho noticed definitely made their names known, even if it was just their names.

 

His eye for talent was better than the CEO’s. That’s why Yeonho, who was dodging and slacking off, was more annoying.

 

Anyway, for the above reasons, Yeonho, who was helplessly held back by the employees, had to hole up in the office, missing the chance to escape.

 

Several hours passed like that. Even after dealing with only the urgent matters, when he checked the time, lunchtime had long passed. In the meantime, no one even asked if he wasn’t going to eat.

 

‘Indeed… is this the karma I’ve accumulated?’

 

Yeonho, looking around the office where there were fewer people, nodded. One of the things Yeonho was good at was also understanding his place.

 

After watching the situation for a while, Yeonho finally grabbed his phone. Then, he carefully got up from his seat with a crab-like walk.

 

“Huh? Where did the Managing Director go? Has anyone seen the Managing Director?”

 

He heard someone calling for him just before crossing the hallway and getting on the elevator, but… he pretended not to hear.

 

Karma that is steadily accumulating today as well. But I have to go on a business trip on Friday, so this is enough for today, right?

 

Tadak tadak. Yeonho’s hand quickly pressed the close button.

 

Yeonho’s dark gray Audi, which had left the company parking lot, passed the barrier and entered the access road. He woke up early and hadn’t eaten a single meal yet, but he felt much better than before just by successfully escaping the workplace.

 

As expected, leaving work is better than going to work. But the joy of humming along to a song didn’t last long.

 

‘…Huh?’

 

Following Seungwon and the employees, someone unexpected blocked his path again. Yeonho, who reflexively stepped on the brake, furrowed his eyebrows.

 

One meter ahead. A cluster of gray masses huddled together right in front of the entrance, diligently pecking at the ground. It was a flock of pigeons.

 

As is usually the case with pigeons living in the city, they continued their carefree pecking even with the car approaching within close range.

 

What are these things?

 

He honked the horn briefly, but it was a completely useless attempt.

 

What the hell are they eating that they’re like that? Surely… it’s not vomit, is it?

 

With a shudder, he took his foot off the brake. But even as the distance slowly narrowed, they still didn’t leave.

 

If he was unlucky, one of the dull ones could be crushed under the wheels. Aren’t they the type who prioritize running over flying when they’re in a hurry?

 

“Anyway… that’s why you guys are called rat pigeons….”

 

He inadvertently clicked his tongue and was hit with a strong sense of reality.

 

Why is the word chicken coming out again here….

 

The expression, which had almost become a scientific name, was no exception for Yeonho.

 

In many ways, his mouth was bitter. He rubbed his chin and eventually shifted the gear to park. When he opened the car door and stepped outside, a few of the pigeons that had been happily pecking at the ground could be seen hesitating. But would those who weren’t afraid of metal be afraid of people?

 

“Hey, aren’t you guys going to get out of here?”

 

Even with the shout, even with the relentless gestures of waving them away, they scattered for a moment. Gathering in front of the car again was the same.

 

Hmph. You think you can chase us away just by doing that? Pathetic human!

 

The fact that not even one feather attached to his armpit was spreading seemed to be mocking Yeonho.

 

‘No. At this point, aren’t their wings almost atrophied?’

 

It was when he narrowed his eyes with deep suspicion.

 

Twitch! Suddenly, a few of the group stopped their nodding heads. Then, in less than a few seconds, all the others stopped moving at once.

 

It was a very different situation from when Yeonho had gotten out of the car. If earlier it had been closer to ‘What kind of disturbance is this?’ upon sensing someone’s presence, now it was….

 

The incident happened in an instant as his thoughts continued.

 

Flap! Flap flap flap!!

 

The guys who hadn’t moved no matter what they did all flapped their wings at once and soared into the sky.

 

“Ugh!”

 

He reflexively covered his head at the flapping of a dozen or so wings that barely brushed past him. Even so, his gaze naturally followed their trajectory.

 

He had ridiculed them for having atrophied wings…. The guys who scattered in an instant, so difficult to follow with his eyes, hurriedly hid somewhere in the building and eventually disappeared from sight.

 

‘What the hell? Why are those things like that?’

 

It was when Yeonho, who had become dumbfounded, blinked his eyes. Something flickered above the sky where the traces of the flock of pigeons had disappeared.

 

‘……Huh?’

 

His already wide eyes widened even more.

 

Unlike the pigeons that flapped wildly, elegant wings spread horizontally as if dominating the sky. Even so, the dignified flight, in which strong power could be felt, was not a common species.

 

‘…A bird of prey?’

 

Yeonho, who deduced the minimum classification, even gathered both hands above his forehead. The only bird of prey that can be seen relatively commonly in the city is the kestrel, but… it was too big for that.

 

Above all, unlike the fast and agile kestrel, the guy circling overhead, riding the wind, was doing a much more majestic and stable flight even when looking at it again.

 

“Could it be, a hawk family….”

 

Because of the distance, he didn’t know the exact species, whether it was a white-tailed eagle or a golden eagle, but anyway, if that was an eagle, the pigeons’ reaction was understandable.

 

A predator that suddenly appeared in the relaxed bird world….

 

Basically, their prey is not the same bird, but things are different when they are hungry. Among the eagles, there are ruthless guys who target individuals larger than themselves.

 

In short, if things go wrong, they’ll die, so how can pigeons resist? They have no choice but to run away so fast that their tail feathers fall out….

 

For Yeonho, it was an unintended help. Still, it was strange.

 

“I mean. What the hell is an eagle suddenly doing in the clear sky?”

 

If it were a migratory bird, it might have accidentally entered the migration route, but eagles are usually residential birds. It was especially rare to see them in the skies of this city.

 

And yet, it was still circling above his head. It didn’t seem to have any intention of chasing pigeons…

 

‘Could there be a bird that’s bad with directions?’

 

Yeonho chuckled at the thought. Even if they weren’t migratory birds that flew millions of kilometers each time, birds generally had excellent navigation skills.

 

Eagles, unparalleled in chasing prey, were even more so.

 

…But, you never know.

 

There are species of birds that can’t fly, so why wouldn’t there be exceptions?

 

‘Man, your life must be tiring too.’

 

Yeonho, who had been looking up at the sky for a while, shook his head and got back into the car.

 

It was then that another strange thing happened. The eagle, which had been circling in the same spot as if unable to decide where to go, suddenly changed direction.

 

Even while concentrating on driving, Yeonho’s eyes occasionally glanced out the window.

 

It might have been his imagination, but he felt like the eagle was following him.

 

‘Am I just imagining things?’

 

Yeonho frowned and looked up at the eagle flying in a similar direction to him once more. After a while, he noticed that the traffic light had turned red.

 

Oh, shoot! He quickly slammed on the brakes. His heart pounded as the car barely stopped past the stop line.

 

Even in the midst of all this, his eyes were still fixed on the sky outside the window. Then, he abruptly stopped moving.

 

‘Huh? Where did it go?’

 

The eagle had disappeared somewhere.

 

***

 

“Next is the news. Stalking crimes are still a serious social problem, and there are increasing cases that require even more attention. Here’s reporter ○○○.”

 

“On the 8th, Mr. Jeong, who lives in ○○ District, visited the police station. Mr. Jeong reported that he was being stalked by Mr. Kim, a colleague from the same company. Mr. Kim had been boldly approaching Mr. Jeong for several months, loitering around him and even entering his home. Of particular note is the fact that Mr. Kim was a so-called Morpher, with dual-sex characteristics activating genes.”

 

Yeonho, who was finishing buttoning his shirt, flinched and turned his gaze to the TV, which he had left on without paying attention, at the familiar string of words.

 

“Rarely, Mr. Kim, whose DASG traits were recently expressed, appears to have been using his anima to transform into a vole and continue stalking. Mr. Kim claims that he was only trying out his transformation ability, or Morphosis, but…”

 

The screen switched from the reporter explaining the outline of the case to the perpetrator, Mr. Kim. Yeonho picked up the remote and turned up the volume.

 

“I really didn’t intend to stalk him. I lived for decades thinking I was a normal person… After being diagnosed at the hospital, I wondered…”

 

The man, whose face was blurred and voice distorted to protect the rights of the criminal, was mumbling a pathetic excuse. Yeonho’s already crooked eyes contorted even more.

 

“Tch. That bastard is disgracing all Morphers.”

 

Morphers’ transformation abilities have led to outstanding achievements in various fields such as medicine, science, and pathology since the past, but there are always two sides to every coin.

 

There have been quite a few cases of people committing or participating in crimes using their anima, like now.

 

As such, Morphers receive thorough education on values and ethics from a young age.

 

Of course, those whose anima is expressed late, like Mr. Kim, often do not receive such education.

 

‘Tsk. The Lee Horim case wasn’t long ago either. People will be talking about Morphers again for a while. I hope he gets a heavy sentence!’

 

Yeonho, mixing human displeasure with personal feelings, glared at the screen once more before turning off the TV.

 

However, the hand that was tidying his clothes soon stopped moving again.

 

‘Stalking…’

 

Come to think of it, there was something bothering him too.

 

For the past few days, he had felt strangely different. He was sure there was no one around, but he felt like he was being watched… and he kept getting chills down his spine…

 

He had dismissed it as him not being in good condition, but after watching the news, he felt strangely uneasy.

 

Just before leaving the house with his car keys, Yeonho looked back at the keypad on the front door.

 

“I haven’t changed the password yet.”

 

Seongmin’s words came to mind. After hesitating, he finally opened the keypad cover and pressed the reset button.

 

‘Well, just in case…’

 

Only after reorganizing the six-digit number was Yeonho satisfied, and he hurried on his way again.