Side Story 4. One heart field day (2)

***

Flags numbered from 1 to 7 were planted side by side in the middle of the grass field. Following the speaker's instructions, team leaders stood right next to their flags, with team members lining up behind them. It was quite a spectacle to see people all dressed in identical black suits standing in formation.

From there, everything proceeded smoothly from saluting the national flag to singing the national anthem and observing a moment of silence. It felt just like a real field day.

Even hunters who had spent a long time at the headquarters were experiencing this for the first time. A field day? How long had it been since they'd heard that word?

"I like this much better than public training! Wow, this is going to be so fun! With the broadcast cameras here, it's just like an idol field day during the holidays!"

Ayoung was extremely excited. Tae-un maintained his usual bland expression, as if it made no difference to him either way. And as for the team leader, Soram:

"Hmph... It's childish, but refreshing in its own way."

Being at the front of Team 7, the team members couldn't see his expression. However, Tae-un noticed his reddened earlobes and twitching cheeks from behind.

–To be honest, I didn't prepare anything too grand, I just wanted to plan a fun day for everyone to enjoy together. But don't you think a superhuman field day sounds really fun?

While listening to the additional comment about how proud he was of his own idea, Soram snorted once again.

"Well... I suppose it's not bad to go along with the new director's style for a day."

Following his muttered words, Soram's shoulders began to shake along with his quickened breathing.

–First of all, just like the public training, all the events that will take place today will be filmed and broadcast to the public, so anyone slacking off will be caught. Participate sincerely! Understood?

"Hmm."

–The field day will be conducted as a team competition. We'll rank from 1st to 7th place for each event, and determine the final winning team by total points at the end. The 1st place team will...

"Huh? Are you kidding! The difference in numbers is too big!!"

The owner of the shout, loud enough to drown out the amplified sound, was Soram. Soram yelled with both fists clenched:

"Look at our team. Our line is less than a quarter of the other teams! We're only four even including the dog, how can this be a team competition! It's unfair! It's a conspiracy to check Team 7! We denounce the new director's tyranny!"

"Soram oppa said it was childish, but he's clearly the most serious about it..."

"Hey! Jin Soram, your team has three 1st-grades! Flight ability itself is cheating in a field day to begin with! You should be grateful we didn't split up your team!"

"No! Give our team reinforcements! Call Director Shin Gi-hyeon and Seo Min-ki from Busan!"

"Wow, look at him naming only the strongest people..."

"Would it still be disadvantageous if I joined the Flight Team?"

The person who approached the very back of Team 7's line and placed his hands on Tae-un and Ayoung's shoulders was Agency Director Park Jae-seon.

Everyone turned around simultaneously to see him.

Since becoming the agency director, he had been incredibly busy without a moment to spare, and often absent from the headquarters, so it was a face everyone here was seeing after a very long time. Among them, Soram showed the most intense reaction. His mouth opened wide with joy as both arms shot up towards the sky.

"Team 7 is the winner! No one can beat us!!"

"Woof woof! Woof woof woof!"

"Wow, that's really cheating! Four 1st-grade flight hunters in one team?"

"Time out, time out! We can't do it like this!"

"The Flight Team is corrupt, corrupt!"

"Noooo! There's no corruption! It's completely fair! We still have fewer members than other teams! We're the ones being generous!"

Those who had been about to dismiss Soram's protests just moments ago changed their attitude with Park Jae-seon's appearance. But this time, conversely, Soram raised his shoulders as if defending the fairest rules in the world. Park Jae-seon stepped forward and gently dissuaded those protesting against Team 7.

"I heard about the content beforehand, and it's not about grades or number of people, but about who you send out for which event. I came here to help boost the Flight Team's strategy a bit, so don't worry. Would I really go so far as to ruin the fun?"

"Well, I guess..."

"Since you're the director, no, the agency director...?"

The respect that all the hunters in this place held for him led to quick acquiescence. It was quite a different reaction from when Soram had been insisting so vehemently earlier. But Soram, having recruited the reliable team member Park Jae-seon, wasn't bothered by such trivial matters.

–Now that the team assignments are done, I'll reveal the first event.

1ST MATCH – Pole Vault

"Oh..."

"It really feels like a proper sports competition."

"Indeed it does."

Like the other hunters, Ayoung looked up at the electronic display board and then poked Tae-un's side, whispering:

"Using English instead of writing '제1종목' (1ST MATCH) feels like a small act of rebellion for a government agency."

"...Hmm."

However, one clear difference from the field days they knew was that the height of the uprights holding the bar started at a dizzying height of about 20m. Two cranes that had been under construction were mobilized to create obstacles of abnormal height. Drone cameras flew around the cranes, filming the tiny-looking tops of the hunters' heads.

Even for awakened individuals, an apartment 7th floor height is impossible with just a simple jump. In the end, they had to make timely use of the unfamiliar tool called a 'pole'. Each team urgently discussed who to send out as their representative. Hunters who were tall or used long weapons regularly were mainly considered as candidates.

'I see, so that's why the number of people or grades weren't that important.'

"How about Ayoung going out for our team?"

"Oh, me?"

"You're the most familiar with poles, aren't you? It seems like an event where aerial movements are important too, so I think you'd do well."

Ayoung, whom Park Jae-seon had pointed out, used a long staff weapon and had numerous experiences of acrobatic-like combat on Aila's back. Soram and Tae-un also had no objections to Ayoung being perfect as the first athlete.

"Yes, sounds good! I'll give it a try!"

Ayoung stepped forward bravely.

"Our Ayoung is the best! Ayoung, fighting! Lee Ayoung! Lee Ayoung!"

"Be careful not to get hurt."

"Yeah, fighting!"

Seven representatives from each team gathered in front of the cranes, while the remaining members spread out for a cheering battle under the tents set up on the sides of the field. Fortunately, the competition started before Soram, who was doing the work of a hundred people, could lose his voice.

Soram sat on a folding chair with just his tailbone, stretching his neck long towards the field.

"Your eyes are going to pop out."

"It's not that bad. Ah, move your hand. I can't see."

He looked more focused than if his ancestors had appeared in a dream to give him lottery numbers for the next 10 years. And the cameras were capturing all of it. Even Tae-un, who had tried to cover it up thinking Soram would be embarrassed when this face was broadcast later, gave up and folded his hands. He seemed oblivious to everything right now, so he'd probably deal with it later on his own.

Each of the seven representative hunters was given a pole with modified length and elasticity.

After playing rock-paper-scissors, Ayoung's turn ended up in the middle. Soram clapped thunderously, saying our Ayoung's luck was the best too.

–Let the competition begin! First up, Team 3's Assistant Manager Son Min-hyuk.

"Hraah!"

He was a hunter who rivaled Han Tae-un for the tallest in the Field Operations Bureau, and a spearman who handled a long spear. He struck the ground forcefully with the pole and leapt up, shooting into the air as if propelled by the elasticity of the bending and straightening pole.

"He did it!"

His back cleared the bar with room to spare. His expression brightened as he fell from the air. He stretched out both arms excitedly as he descended to the ground. Even without the mat that would be laid out in a real competition, this much of a landing was easy. Instead, two clear footprints were left in the ground that received the impact, vibrating with a "gwoong-" sound.

"This seems quite doable..."

–Assistant Manager Son Min-hyuk, disqualified!

"Ah, why, why?"

–Because the bar fell, so you're disqualified!

When he hurriedly turned around, the bar had fallen due to the shaken ground.

"Wow, ha..."

–The world of competition is merciless!

Son Min-hyuk, who returned to Team 3 with a dejected face, received more consolation than reproach. All blame was directed at the former team leader and current director.

"Ayoung-ah, there's a trap! Be careful!"

"Oh, I saw it too!"

Ayoung wrinkled her nose as she looked up at the crane. It was clearly deliberately set up loosely.

"The honor of the Flight Team is at stake, we can't lose in an aerial battle!"

Ayoung, who had clenched her fist resolutely, stood at the front when her turn came.

"Heave-ho!"

Among all the participants so far, Ayoung had the most stable posture as she thrust the pole into the ground and rose upwards. Flying straight up, Ayoung pushed away the pole, curled her body in the air, and lightly cleared the bar. Then, as if doing a forward roll, she spun round and round as she fell, transitioning into a break fall for the landing.

"...Did, did I do it?"

–Ayoung, success!

"Yesss!"

Five people survived the first height.