By Zephyria 
“How did you know?”
“The measuring device malfunctioned.”
Without a measuring device, a human cannot detect magical energy. Although it is an unfinished product with an accuracy rate of less than 30 percent, it is better than nothing, so hunters from the Supernatural Phenomenon Management Agency are required to carry one during missions.
If within a close range of 10 meters, it could measure accurately, so it was also used to estimate the grade of a magical beast or the location of its core. Of course, a magical beast within 10 meters could be identified with the naked eye without needing a device.
The measuring devices were operating at the Id Portal of the MA Department Store, but they suddenly broke. At the exact moment Kim Si-baek completed the prayer.
“As you likely know the principle of the measuring device, let me explain again: it detects the energy flowing in the atmosphere. That includes a hunter’s magical power and a magical beast’s magical energy.”
The operating principle of the device was to filter out magical power like a filter paper and extract only the magical energy to track it. However, what would happen if a massive amount of an alien energy—neither magical power nor magical energy—were mixed into a filter designed only to strain out magical power?
“The filter would tear, or it wouldn’t be able to filter properly.”
“Exactly. The measuring device could neither filter nor extract the energy Kim Si-baek released when he killed the Portal Keeper. If it had been just one device, I would have considered it a hardware defect, but since all three devices we had at the time malfunctioned simultaneously, isn’t the cause obvious?”
“…….”
“Our hypothesis is that for 21 years, you have awakened an unknown ability that is not magical power.”
Then everything was explained. The fact that Kim Si-baek possessed traits estimated to be more than two. The power that annihilated the Portal Keeper in a single blow.
The Portal Keeper was, quite literally, erased from existence. Not a single piece of debris or a drop of fluid from the magical beast remained. Even if one melts something with poison or burns it with fire, remnants usually remain. Yet, this power—which didn’t even devour the beast like Tae-un does—made it vanish without a trace. It was truly mysterious.
Though the direction of their abilities differed, Tae-un and Kim Si-baek shared a strange commonality in that they both completely annihilated their targets.
To change the mood, Director Noh gave a light laugh.
“Not just Korea, but the entire world is exposed to the unprecedented threat of magical beasts and magical energy. Whether Kim Si-baek was kidnapped by aliens or is actually an alien himself, we would ask for his help for the survival of humanity.”
“What if I’m a heinous criminal?”
“Since the Great Cataclysm, the industry for tools to restrain and control awakened criminals has developed just as much as the production of hunters’ weapons.”
The Great Cataclysm changed many things. The unwanted coexistence with magical beasts, the changes in life due to the manifestation of magical power, and even the patterns of crime.
“The essential virtue for a high-class awakened is not outstanding ability, but morality, ethics, and a sense of justice. In that sense, Guild Master Tae-un is a very wonderful high-class awakened.”
Even while trapped in a Seoul where the ethics built by human civilization had collapsed and only the law of the jungle remained, Tae-un maintained public order within his territory. After escaping Seoul, he responded to the government’s request and arrested criminals. Even if he left them crippled or in a state where death would have been preferable.
“Thanks to hunters like Guild Master Tae-un, our country has seen far fewer large-scale awakened crimes compared to other countries. Kim Si-baek, aren’t you on close terms with Guild Master Tae-un? Although I am not a refugee from Seoul, I trust Guild Master Tae-un’s eyes more than those of Section Chief Gwak or my own.”
Tae-un was only 14 years old during the Great Cataclysm. A sense of pride swelled within Kim Si-baek, knowing that a child whose body hadn’t even fully grown had lived such a righteous life in the ruins of Seoul to earn such praise and trust.
“Would you be willing to stay in Korea and work with us in the future? We will provide the best support possible.”
Before Kim Si-baek could answer.
“O, oh, hyu-ng, it’s, re-al-ly, a, co-in-ci-dence.”
A voice that sounded like someone reading a book suddenly drifted over. Looking up, it was Pi Min-hyeong. Without thinking deeply, Kim Si-baek greeted him warmly.
“I came here to hang out with friends… oh, aren’t you the Director?”
“It has been a while, Hunter Pi Min-hyeong.”
“Ah! Right, right. You said your eldest is in high school, right, Director?”
Contrary to his flashy appearance, Pi Min-hyeong bowed politely and shook hands with Director Noh, then suddenly grinned and whispered in his ear. Upon hearing that the accompanying friend was Tae-un, Kim Si-baek instinctively craned his neck to look around. Sure enough, Tae-un was there. He wasn’t in his usual suit and coat, but how could he not recognize him?
When Kim Si-baek waved his hand in greeting, for some reason, Tae-un clutched his head in agony and then trudged over miserably, like a puppy caught in the rain.
[Death and Beauty wonders what you are doing, as it doesn’t suit your size.]
Tae-un, who had been on the verge of tears and unable to speak, widened his eyes upon confirming that Kim Si-baek’s blind date was Director Noh. His pupils shook violently as he looked back and forth between Kim Si-baek and the Director.
Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Director Noh instinctively felt it was time to leave. Highlighting Tae-un’s value was one thing, but facing the man when his eyes had flipped was another matter entirely. He had already sufficiently conveyed the Invitation Bureau’s intentions to Kim Si-baek.
“Once you’ve made your decision, please visit the Invitation Bureau at any time.”
Taking his trench coat from the aide waiting at the next table, Director Noh quickly exited the cafe.
“…….”
Leaving behind a grinning Pi Min-hyeong, a bewildered Yang Eun-ho, and a pale, frozen Tae-un and Kim Si-baek.
Since the boy looked like he had lost his soul, Kim Si-baek waved his hand in front of his eyes.
“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
It was around the time the cafe customers, recognizing Pi Min-hyeong and Yang Eun-ho, began to whisper that the masked man might be Tae-un.
“Hyu-ng……”
Tae-un collapsed to his knees with a thud.
Not only Kim Si-baek, but even Pi Min-hyeong, who had been snickering beside him, flinched in surprise. Click—someone reflexively took a photo, and when Yang Eun-ho turned toward the sound, the person awkwardly lowered their phone.
Regardless, Tae-un crawled forward clumsily and suddenly hugged Kim Si-baek’s waist as he tried to pull him up. Then, he rubbed his face against Kim Si-baek’s stomach. Kim Si-baek’s hands flailed in the air.
Not missing his bewilderment, Tae-un let out a voice that sounded as weak as possible.
“You said it was a blind date……”
Kim Si-baek closed his eyes tight. He belatedly remembered a similar incident from long ago, back when he was working as a detective. It was when he went on a blind date with an acquaintance of his partner, Detective Park.
He had mentioned that story to Tae-un in passing once, and on a Saturday after school, Tae-un had suddenly appeared at the date location. Though flustered, the date partner welcomed him upon hearing he was a younger brother from the orphanage, and a good atmosphere was formed. Until Tae-un collapsed from acute abdominal pain.
When he rushed him to the hospital, it turned out to be food poisoning. Tae-un never revealed where or what he had eaten to get food poisoning, and naturally, the date was ruined.
Rather than collapsing from pain… this is better, perhaps. Kim Si-baek let out a deep sigh and looked at Tae-un.
“Are you doing this because you seriously believed a joke?”
“While hyung was having a cozy blind date with the Director, in my head, you two got married, had a child, and that child grew up to have grandchildren. What if hyung’s grandchild becomes cuter than me?”
“Uh… I have no intention of marrying, but even if I did, it would take decades to have grandchildren.”
“So you’re saying that in a few decades, when I’m old, I won’t be cute? You said I’d be cute even after sixty… Si-baek hyung is a liar……”
“You crazy bastard, how could you possibly be cute then?”
The owner of the disgusted voice was Pi Min-hyeong, who was rubbing the goosebumps on his arms.
“This is embarrassing, so get up quickly.”
“Yes, yes. Let’s talk about that later and just get up, Un-ah.”
“My legs have lost all strength, I can’t get up……”
Even while mumbling wistfully, Tae-un stomped on Pi Min-hyeong’s instep with his fist under the table. Frowning, Pi Min-hyeong stood up and moved to the opposite side, along with Yang Eun-ho, whose mind was reeling after witnessing the disgraceful behavior he had only heard about.
[Death and Beauty says the herbal tea tastes bad because it’s getting cold.]
Biyendeu-oeman, who had been calmly drinking herbal tea with his face buried in the mug without looking at them—predicting Tae-un would act this way—remained unfazed. Seeing the unchanging divine utterance, Kim Si-baek also regained his composure and finally managed to pull Tae-un up into a seat.
Using the excuse that he had no strength, Tae-un leaned heavily and blatantly against Kim Si-baek, fiddling with his hand while spouting words that severely damaged the mental health of Pi Min-hyeong and Yang Eun-ho.