Chapter 24

The regular press conference, which continued with the hunters from the Reconnaissance Bureau, ended late in the afternoon. It was time for Ayoung to have returned to the office after school.

As the reporters left, those who had come to Seoul from various places for the regular press conference also prepared to disperse back to their original branches. Soram, along with Ga-eul and Tae-un, saw Min-ki off.

"See you in two weeks."

"Okay."

Anyway, spring was a time when there were plenty of events to attend. In the meantime, there were two or three more schedules for Min-ki to come back up to Seoul.

Two other people from the Busan Branch approached Min-ki. These two decided to return using Seo Min-ki's special ability instead of transportation, combining it with training.

"Ah, right. Min-ki."

"What?"

"How long does it take you to move from Busan to Seoul now? With about two or three people."

"I have to split it into three times and rest a bit each time I stop. Then it takes about 10 minutes."

10 minutes. Considering the distance of over 400km, it was remarkable. It was almost on par with the speed of a fighter jet. However, Soram thought of something for a moment and patted his shoulder.

"Let's try to cut it down to under 5 minutes."

"You crazy bastard."

Even the well-applied regional patch (accent) was about to disappear.

"No. You can do it. You can definitely do it."

One of the things that couldn't be changed no matter what Soram did was that the 3rd Great Rift would occur in Busan. And Seo Min-ki showed the miracle of running to Seoul, leading Park Jae-seon, Jin Soram, Han Tae-un, and Kim Ga-eul, the 1st-grades in Seoul, and returning to Busan in 4 minutes. After that, he lost consciousness and couldn't wake up.

It seemed doubtful whether this kind of advice would be of much use, but it would still make him feel a little more at ease than keeping his mouth shut.

"But why?"

"So that I can visit more often. I'll call you when I want to see the ocean."

"..."

Even if it was a life that had already been distorted in many ways, it would be okay to try to squirm a little more and live here. Even if the size of that hope wasn't particularly large.

Min-ki made a puzzled expression. However, he would probably practice diligently.

"Chief Han Tae-un nim, I'm sorry, but please take good care of this kid."

"I understand."

Min-ki stood close to the people who came with him and disappeared in an instant. Ga-eul gestured with her chin toward the building, signaling to go inside. The three people who finished seeing them off turned their bodies toward the lobby.

"Han Tae-un ssi, what are you looking at?"

"The flowers have bloomed."

"Ah."

The date was already at the end of March. Even the mountains, which had been dark with all their leaves shed throughout the winter, were slowly regaining color, and flower buds had formed on the trees planted near the main entrance of the Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters. A few impatient ones had already opened their petals.

"Seeing the flowers..."

Once again, the spring of twenty-six. It was the beginning of a new season, and to Soram, it sounded like a signal of some end slowly approaching.

"I'm sleepy. I think I'm allergic to that pollen."

"Ah, yes."

"Let's go to sleep. I overdid it too much today."

"If you have a conscience, you should donate more than half of your salary, you brat."

Whether Ga-eul criticized him or not, Soram stretched out his arms and yawned for real. While doing so, he thought that he wished spring would last a little longer.

* * *

Spring is the busiest time for the Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters.

As external events increase, the invisible work that comes with them naturally increases as well. Hunters had to deal with rifts that erupted without regard for the busy period, while being called here and there. Other employees had to manage and prepare for broadcasting various events according to the schedule and respond to various contacts and inquiries coming to the headquarters.

This included scouting hunters as advertising models.

The Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters allowed hunters' external activities and additional income to the extent that it did not interfere with their main job. However, they censored and blocked in advance advertisements that could harm the image of hunters, such as those with alcohol or revealing concepts.

And when today's training video spreads, the three hunters of Team 7, also known as the Flight Team, will have an even busier time.

Those in charge of recording and measuring the training of Team 7 today were out in the open air with a vast blue sky spread over a wide field.

Some of the 1st-grade hunters cannot have their special abilities confirmed inside a building. It was because they required a very large space or there was a risk of collapsing the building. In the case of the Field Operations Bureau's Team 7, the Flight Team, it was the former.

Soram, who had been flying around in the sky, landed with a thud in a position that would be well visible on camera. And he waved his hand, meaning if it was okay to do it here.

"It would be great if you could move a little to the side! Yes, there!"

Among the researchers, Director Park Jae-seon stood in case of any unforeseen safety accidents during the measurement. The director observed the ability measurements of not only Team 7 but all the Field Operations Bureau hunters.

"Jin Soram. Age 25, rank Chief, grade 1st. Starting the recording. Freely attack the target for 1 minute."

The number on the panel decreased to 00:59. Upon hearing the signal, Soram stretched out both hands forward. In front of him was an old aircraft scheduled for disposal. Although it was smaller in size than a passenger plane, it was by no means a light weight.

Soon, the aircraft was enveloped in a bluish mist.

As Soram raised his hands like that, the aircraft floated upward. Soram leaped up from the ground toward the plane that had risen up and down as if pulled from the sky. He flew into the sky and sat on top of the plane's head. The plane, with its cockpit empty and engines turned off, flew higher and made a full circle around the area.

The target mentioned in the announcement was a cube-shaped metal lump about 1m in width, length, and height. It was a device that measured the destructive power of an attack by the degree of impact applied to the metal.

The measurements of 1st-grade hunters were usually the last. The metal had been used for testing purposes by lower-grade hunters beforehand, and there were several scratch marks on the surface, but no major damage.

Soram's hair fluttered here and there as he rode on top of the plane and flew through the sky. The aircraft, after making its final circle, changed direction and charged toward the attack target.

Boom! With a roar that shook the ground, a gust of wind rose from the crash site, drawing a waveform. The researcher who grabbed the flipped record sheet sighed after seeing the signal that appeared on the screen. It was expected from the moment the target object was flattened beyond recognition.

"... Destructive power measurement impossible. The machine buried underground is completely shattered."

"We'll have to change the measurement method for that kid starting next year. Soram, good job. Come down."

"Did it turn out well?"

Soram leaped up again from the top of the aircraft with its nose half-broken and landed next to Director Park Jae-seon. The director smiled gently.

"With an ability this flashy, it can't help but turn out well. The weather is nice too, so it was filmed even more beautifully."

"That's good."

The research lab and filming staff discussed something while looking at the recorded video. Meanwhile, Soram and the director were left alone for a moment.

"This time too, it's going out as psychokinesis, right?"

"Yeah. That can't be helped. Why, do you not like it?"

"No. I don't have any particular complaints either."

His special ability indeed involved moving things, but it was slightly different in type. However, since the training videos of 1st-grades were taken and analyzed not only by the public but also by countries around the world, it was necessary to strategically hide them to some extent.

Soram's special ability was known to be psychokinesis, which was relatively common among awakeners. However, in terms of the weight and volume he could lift, he was one of the top three strongest awakeners in the world.

It wasn't entirely false, but there was a slight lie mixed in there. Soram's 'psychokinesis' was a collaboration created by his original ability and the increased proficiency due to regression. Of course, people only thought that Soram's skills were remarkable despite his lazy and slacking appearance.

After Soram's turn was sorted out, it was Tae-un's turn next. Soram, who had finished his task first, stood behind the filming team and watched his appearance.

At that moment, there was a hand touching Soram's shoulder. The warm hand tapped the middle of his back and shoulders as if comforting a struggling person. It was Director's old habit when dealing with young hunters.

"Are you getting along well with Chief Han Tae-un?"

"It's not bad."

"Why, you got along well with Min-ki and Ga-eul from the moment you met them."

"Han Tae-un ssi is a bit difficult."

"Because he's stiff?"

"That too... In many ways."

Over there, Han Tae-un walked out in front of the newly prepared target. In Tae-un's hand was a very long sword, about the length of his leg.

When measuring destructive power, hunters could request their desired weapon. The weapon Soram requested was an aircraft that could be broken without any problem. And Tae-un requested the production of a sword of the desired length. After trying various weapons while going out on missions, it seemed that he finally chose this one.

Tae-un drew the blade from the pitch-black scabbard. He could have just thrown the scabbard aside, but he bent his waist and knees and put it down silently, which was somehow typical of him.

"Han Tae-un. Age 24, rank Chief, grade 1st. Starting the recording. Freely attack the target for 1 minute."

The same message that Soram had heard echoed. Tae-un lifted the sword high and thrust it down hard on the target.

Clang!

With a sharp sound, the tip of the sword pierced the metal edge. It was about the length of a finger. Two from the filming team exchanged words.

"He'll pull it out and attack again, right?"

"Yeah. Angle the camera slightly to the back."

As the zoom pulled back, Tae-un was quietly looking at the spot where the sword was stuck. Then, he removed one of the two hands gripping the handle and covered the end of the handle as if pressing it. And he stepped back with one foot to support his body.

Clang!

The sound of metal colliding with the tip of the sword burst out again. Clang! Clang! The sound continued to ring out as if a hammer was striking a chisel. Instead of being lifted again, the sword began to dig into the target as it was. The camera hurriedly pulled the zoom back.