Chapter 6

Han Tae-un, who had been sitting on pins and needles, responded to Noh Mun-yeong's sharp voice, saying, "That's true."

"They say they'll send one 2nd-grade hunter to replace you, but I looked into it, and ten 2nd-grade hunters can't beat one 1st-grade. Hmm, Tae-un, don't you find it absurd too? But you have to go, what can you do..."

Tae-un lifted his gaze from the string of the green tea bag placed in front of him.

"Since I'm a case of re-awakening, I may not be subject to such calculations. The person coming after me might have better skills."

"Yeah, that's also a problem. What if you go up to Seoul and they start picking fights with you, saying where do you get off acting like that when you were just a 3rd-grade? Ostracizing you and throwing their weight around because you came from the countryside."

"No way."

Tae-un, who answered flatly, actually looked like someone who would be difficult to bully. His height over 190cm and his extremely blunt personality made it so.

'So honestly, it would be good if he went up to Seoul...'

Jae-hyeon swallowed a sigh inwardly. Han Tae-un was the person who least fit in with this old government office building. His age of twenty-six, having just graduated from college, and the fact that he was a precious 1st-grade hunter with a solid future ahead of him made it so. It was a regrettable fact to argue that he should stay in a rural area with a population of less than 30,000.

Tae-un still had a face that was difficult to predict how he felt about the transfer to the Seoul headquarters. But it was clear that it wasn't a pleasant sight in the eyes of Mun-yeong, who was filled with anger.

"Are you happy to go to the capital? Even the kids I fed and carried on my back since they were young left one by one, and now even you, Tae-un, are leaving for good. If you go to the headquarters, that's it, right? You'll work in that 27-story building in the middle of Seoul, appear on TV, and be dragged out to eliminate huge, black rifts, huh?"

"Stop it, Chief. Since it's already decided, it's better to tell him to do well even after going up."

"Yeah, leave your hometown and live well. Live well!"

This time too, Tae-un had no answer. No, but when an elder expresses this much disappointment, shouldn't he at least say some words of comfort? Mun-yeong, feeling resentful, saw that Tae-un was even turning his head to look elsewhere.

"Han Tae-un, you don't have many days left until you leave..."

"Sir."

Tae-un pointed in the direction he had been looking at until a little while ago. It was towards the window.

"I think a guest has arrived."

"What nonsense are you suddenly... Ahhh!"

"What, what is it! That person!"

The office where the three people were was on the 3rd floor. Originally, no one should have been visible outside the window at that height. However, there was a man floating against the background of the blue sky. Upon closer look, he was standing on a paper airplane as wide as his arms.

The man, realizing that the people inside had noticed him, waved his hand. And he shouted with the shape of his mouth.

Please, open, the, door.

Then, after rubbing his hands together, he pointed to the lock with a pitiful expression. Han Tae-un got up from his seat and walked to the window.

"That, that. Riding on a paper airplane. That's him, right? The 1st-grade hunter who frequently appears on TV or something."

"Gasp, that's right! That, that, what's his name, Jin Soram!"

With a thud, Tae-un pulled the window inward. The chilly wind of mid-February rushed into the room. Tae-un's short bangs, standing in front of the window and directly facing that wind, fluttered.

Soram and Tae-un's gazes met.

"Ah, Mr. Han Tae-un?"

A faint surprise spread across Tae-un's face.

"Yes."

"For now, it's nice to meet you for the first time. Nice to meet you."

Soram's eyes, which were greeting him, momentarily narrowed as if in pain. But it was soon hidden with a smile.

"Can I come in for a bit? It's too cold outside."

Soram appealed his sincerity by rubbing his arms. Tae-un stepped aside to make room.

A window frame was not a generous size for an adult man to pass through. Soram bent his knees and waist considerably to pass through the gap. And he jumped down from the window sill and lightly landed on the floor.

Soram passed by Tae-un, who was looking at him, and headed towards the two people who still couldn't close their mouths.

"Hello. I'm Jin Soram."

1st-grade hunter of the Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters. Chief Hunter Jin Soram. The majority of the citizens of the Republic of Korea would know his face and position. If you flip through the TV channels, he appears at least once, whether on the news or in advertisements, a true superstar.

"...Ah, yes. I'm Noh Mun-yeong."

So he just said his name in a way that implies 'You know me, right?' Mun-yeong evaluated Soram's attitude with a skewed eye. Therefore, he also childishly cut off all the job title introductions and just threw out his name. Anyone could see that he was older anyway.

"Why, why did you come through the window instead of the main entrance?"

"While looking for the way here, I realized that flying was the fastest way after all. But I didn't know it would be this cold. Can I use a tissue?"

Soram pulled out a tissue and blew his nose.

"Hing, my nose hurts."

Watching Soram mumble, Mun-yeong clicked his tongue.

It was still below zero outside in the winter. If an ordinary person had flown here from Seoul in a coat, they would have arrived as a well-frozen corpse in this weather. Even as a 1st-grade, Soram's nose, cheeks, and fingertips were all red, showing that he was still human.

Han Tae-un, who had already returned to the table, increased the temperature of the old purple heater placed in the center. And he turned the direction of the heater towards the person whose chilliness had not yet dissipated. When he raised his head again, his eyes met Soram's, who had been staring at him.

"Did you do that to make me warm?"

"Yes."

"You helped me without even saying anything. Thank you."

If you're grateful, you're grateful, but why does he talk like that even while saying thank you? Mun-yeong, who was very displeased with Soram's behavior, grumbled inwardly.

"So, Chief Jin Soram."

"Yes?"

"Did you come to take Tae-un away?"

"Chief, why are you doing this again to someone who came from above? Please understand, Sir. Chief Noh has a deep attachment to this area..."

"Why, it's not like I can't even say this much. Yes, I know there are a lot of people and a lot of rifts opening up in Seoul. But it's not like you're taking away someone who has just awakened, it doesn't make sense to forcibly take someone who has worked here for two years without even asking for their opinion. A kid who was born and raised here."

"Ah, I see."

"Tae-un's family, friends, and relatives are all here. Who would want to leave this place unprotected and fight risking their life somewhere else?"

What he fired back was already something he had conveyed to the headquarters. The answer that came back was, 'Do you think there are only one or two hunters or soldiers who work like that? We are a public institution and think of the majority.'

Mun-yeong also actually knew that Tae-un had to be sent for the public good and for Tae-un's sake. There was no denying that he was being more stubborn and venting his anger because it was already decided.

Soram, who was suddenly confronted, glanced at Tae-un once and then answered.

"You're right. If you don't want to come to the headquarters, don't come."

"Yes, yes. I know it can't be helped, but when you come all the way here like this, people's feelings... What?"

"If someone really doesn't want to come, even to the point of death, you shouldn't force them to come. I saw that the headquarters sent out a personnel order like a warrant, but if you really don't like it, just resist it. What era is this? Until Mr. Han Tae-un signs it himself, the headquarters can't force him to work."

"...No..."

"If Mr. Han Tae-un moves to Seoul, he will join my team. If he wants, I'll also lie down with him and say I can't work with that person. Then the effect will be twice as good, right?"

Mun-yeong and Jae-hyeon, who had not expected this kind of reaction, just opened their mouths blankly without answering. Mun-yeong's face even showed a hint of bewilderment, as if to say, 'This is not it...' However, Tae-un had been silently staring at Soram from the beginning until now.

It was a familiar gaze that he had seen many times while repeating the regression.

The personality of Han Tae-un that Soram knew was first, taciturn, and second, blunt.

The impression he got of him at each repeated first meeting was also similar. Although he had a youthful face in his mid-20s, it seemed like there was a large, old tree inside him. Whenever Soram was saying something, he was always looking at him with that expression without taking his eyes off.

Soram looked around the first meeting place that was different from his past lives. Until now, he had met him at the headquarters after he received a new appointment. The reason he came here today was because he had a thought after hearing the story in the director's office this morning.

If he doesn't come to Seoul, he might not get involved with Han Tae-un at all in this life.

"There's no need to come by force, so if you don't want to come, don't come."

"..."

It was still difficult to read the emotions on Han Tae-un's face. So when he kept his mouth shut, it was impossible to know what he was thinking.

Tae-un lowered his gaze for a moment, then looked at Soram again and answered.

"Is it okay?"

"...What is?"

"If I don't go to the headquarters."

It could be interpreted in two ways: whether it would be okay for Tae-un's own well-being, or whether it would be okay for the Rift Management Headquarters. But Soram heard one more thing. The words, 'Will you be okay?'