Side Story 4. One heart field day (9)

Tae-un, who was in many ways at the bottom of the Flight Team's hierarchy, trudged to meet Soram with an expression of half-given up human rights. As he finally received the baton, Tae-un whispered in Soram's ear.

"I'll make you kimchi and bean sprout soup for dinner."

"Uuung, I love you...!"

After leaving those touching words, he turned around and immediately kicked off.

Though Tae-un's outward expression was no different from usual, seeing Soram upset about being pushed to last place had ignited his competitive spirit. Moreover, since Soram, who went before him, had taken on a huge handicap that no one had asked for, he felt he could use his special ability to his heart's content.

He knew that he was on the slower side among 1st-grade hunters. Instead, his body was specialized in a direction other than speed.

But when running in a straight line like now, there was a very appropriate way to use his special ability.

A white light emanated from his body and stretched far. Gravity was applied towards a parking tower erected far ahead in front of him, and his body was snatched forward as if pulled at lightning speed.

Trees blocked his path as he was dragged forward at high speed.

Bbaek!

The fist raised beside Tae-un's face snapped the tree that was in his direct path. He flew on, turning blocked paths into open ones.

"Wow, no way."

"Is he a rocket...?"

The two who were suddenly caught up gaped.

The speed gradually decreased as he approached the river, but by then he had caught up to about half of the leading group. It was also because those ahead were hesitating in front of a newly appeared obstacle.

They were preparing to perform the obstacle in front of the wide Han River.

Mission 6. Swim across to Ttukseom

The starting and ending points were far enough apart to be considered crossing Seoul horizontally. And laser lines crisscrossed at a position slightly above the water surface. It seemed that flying or crossing by boat, etc., would not be recognized, and they definitely had to swim.

At the forefront, there was already a hunter advancing smoothly as if one with the river water. Perhaps their special ability had good compatibility with water. This obstacle probably came from Team 2, to which that hunter belonged.

Han Tae-un does not hesitate when something is determined to be 'unavoidable'. He took off his black jacket and put it down, loosened his tie, and undid a total of two buttons, the one constricting his neck and the one below it. After taking off and throwing away his shoes and socks, he threw his body into the water. Splash, white foam rose over the river water.

His sharply raised elbow cut through the water surface. The black top of his head floating on the Han River moved quickly forward along the river. He might have been using his special ability a little, as his body moved forward swiftly with each arm stroke.

"Oh, Tae-un oppa swims well. I think I heard that swimming in the sea or river is more difficult."

Soram, who was sucking on his umpteenth bottle of carbonated water with tears hanging from his eyes, answered.

"Han Tae-un's house was closer to the sea than to a city with a swimming pool, so he practically lived there in the summer."

"Aha. Ooh, he's really good. It's like he has a motor attached."

"Yes, Han Tae-un. Avenge me...!"

Whether the cheers reached him or not, Tae-un's speed was relentless. Just as on land, he didn't back down from most obstacles. A flock of ducks in front of his path was surprised and made way, and fish fled far away.

A small moored cruise ship appeared in front of the bulldozer crossing the water surface.

–Aaaagh! Chief Han, Han Tae-un! We might somehow manage the drone Soram destroyed and the few landmarks you broke if we squeeze the budget, but a cruise ship is really not okay! We absolutely can't pay for it! Don't break it!

Shin was so desperate that he even called Team 3's telepath to relay the message to the guy in the water. The black head that had paused for a moment as if considering, swiftly bypassed the cruise ship. A sigh of relief that sounded like Shin was about to cry flowed from the speaker.

The leading group of hunters, including Tae-un, increased their speed even more and approached the destination.

"Oof, but Tae-un oppa will have to run the rest of the course completely wet."

"...Huh?"

The moment those words ended, Tae-un rose from the riverbank.

"Hoo."

Taking a deep breath and pushing back his wet hair, he wiped the moisture flowing down his chin and ran off barefoot.

The cameraman waiting next to the signpost suddenly pulled in for a zoom. Several drones also followed Tae-un, turning their camera-equipped heads in that direction.

The electronic display board was filled with the image of Tae-un, his white shirt completely soaked, revealing his body. For a moment, voices disappeared among the hunters watching the display board together.

Tae-un on the screen was leaning far forward to run quickly. As a result, the contours of his back were clearly visible under his wet shirt. Following the back where muscle divisions were clearly visible, a waist bent like a cliff appeared, and meanwhile, as Tae-un was wringing out the water collected in his clothes, some of his bare waist was visible.

The camera subtly illuminated that honey-colored skin. Zooming in on the waist area, the waistband of his underwear was slightly revealed as his pants, heavy with water, had slid down. If one wanted to see the contours of his buttocks and thighs, the pants were sufficiently revealing.

The silence, like when a sexy scene appears while watching a movie with parents, was broken by Soram, who alone had his mouth agape for a different reason.

"...! Why, why are you only zooming in on Han Tae-un! Why!"

"Ah... um, well, I dare not express specific appreciation, but I think it was a choice for the ratings."

"I completely agree with that."

"Hiya, it looks good even to a man."

"Eek, ack...! How can you broadcast something like that at a solemn civil servant event! Edit it all out! Delete it! No way!"

"Jin Soram, are you jealous? How ugly."

"...!"

Speaking for Soram, who was at a loss for words, Ayoung whispered in a very small voice.

"It is... jealousy, that's true."

It was true that it was jealousy, but this was... Ayoung was the only one here who knew that it was a somewhat justified complaint, not in the direction people were misunderstanding.

Soram covered his face with both palms and whined, "Ayoung-ah, huhuhu. I feel so wronged..." He received Ayoung's comfort, "Mmm, I understand everything..."

Meanwhile, the last runner's course headed back to the Sports Complex. The finish line where the hunters were gathered and the group of soaking wet hunters were getting closer and closer.

After slowing down while running through Hangang Park, it was only for a moment. As the finish line appeared in the distance and the civilian restricted area in Jamsil – a place they could destroy to their heart's content – came into view, everyone's eyes rolled back and they began their final sprint. The special abilities of the seven hunters burst out explosively. Their bare feet thoroughly pounded the broken city no less than mutants would have.

"Huh? Weren't there a total of 6 obstacles with two teams' combined? There's something else being set up over there?"

Now all too familiar and even tiresome, another signboard appeared right in front of the finish line. Next to it was a cone-shaped tent resembling a pit house.

The hunters, who had been running at a crazy speed, slowed down a bit when they discovered this.

–It would be disappointing to end with just 6, so we prepared one more to match the number of headquarters teams! The last obstacle was given directly by the Director and Deputy Director, and it's a secret mission that you have to check in person when you enter!

Inside the tent shown on the screen, there was a table with a single tablet placed on it.

–Inside there is a very simple mission displayed, and you need to enter the finish line after performing what the mission requires. By the way, the mission...

Shin looked back at the large camera in the stands.

–Is only revealed to you viewers right now! Will our hunters be able to successfully complete this mission?

"He's become a real broadcaster..."

"Ah, he wasn't this bad when he was a team leader, why is he so annoying now?"

Shin shrugged at the wonderful evaluation from his former team members.

There was also some advice from the filming team involved here. How about creating a situation that could pull viewers in close to emphasize the main purpose of hunters appearing on broadcast – their familiarity as fellow humans?

Soon after, the hunters who had confirmed the mission rushed out of the tent. And they ran towards their own teams, not in the direction of the finish line. Tae-un, one of them, also approached Team 7 with a fierce momentum.

Seeing this, Director Park Jae-seon immediately stood up from his seat.

"Is Aila asleep?"

"Why is Tae-un oppa coming this way... Ah, yes. She must have run hard."

"Then let's cheat a little since it's a special situation. The dog worked hard among people, after all."

Director Park Jae-seon gently picked up Aila along with the cushion she was sleeping on. Of course, this was because he already knew the nature of the secret mission.

Tae-un's eyes, approaching with a terrifying gaze and large strides, took in Park Jae-seon, Aila, and Ayoung.

But one person was missing.

Tae-un quickly looked around. And he found Soram far away in the stands, shouting something at a person who looked like the chief director of filming.

"Delete it! As the chief, I absolutely cannot allow such an indecent scene of a team member to be broadcast..."

"Jin Soram!"