By Zephyria 
Director Shin Yun-hui sighed deeply at my request.
-You really intend to view it.
“Of course. Didn’t we promise?”
-I understand… But it’s difficult right now.
“Why?”
-Yeon Yu-jin the Guide has to come inside the Management Bureau building. The information of all Ability Users in the country registered in the Database is an important national asset and personal information, so it is managed in a highly secure place.
“You’re saying I have to go into the depths of the center’s Management Bureau to view it directly?”
-That’s right. This is something I can’t concede.
“Hmm…”
Even after 20 years, they still handle important documents carefully. I thought they would put it on a portable memory card and hand it over. I guess that was too much to ask.
‘This is the best Director Shin Yun-hui could do…’
So if I insisted any further, I would only create animosity and lose the chance to view it that I had barely obtained.
I pretended to back down willingly.
“Then I guess I have no choice.”
-Next time, make an appointment and visit the center formally, and I will let you view the Database.
Hoo. I could hear Director Shin Yun-hui sighing in relief over the phone.
‘This human has no intention of letting me view the Database.’
I expected it, but I didn’t know he would be so openly pleased.
‘Yeon Yu-jin’ is a civilian anyway, so he doesn’t want to involve him in public affairs, is that it?
Director Shin Yun-hui went even further, saying he saw the comeback article and wondered if I wouldn’t be busy, trying to brush it off.
-I heard the news. I heard you’re very busy preparing for your comeback? One of the employees I work with likes idols and explained a lot to me. Yeon Yu-jin the Guide should focus only on preparing for his comeback for the time being.
Look at this.
Shin Yun-hui the Director wanted to use my busyness as an excuse to quietly nullify the authority he had given me.
‘Like hell.’
Taking back what you gave makes you even more angry.
Besides, I was on edge last night because of Jae-ha and X.
I was burning with the will to catch X no matter what, and Director Shin Yun-hui poured oil on it, making it burn even more fiercely.
“Haha. Even if I’m busy, I can always squeeze out some time.”
-…Yes?
“It’s more rewarding to use the authority I received to catch the culprit than to let it rot, isn’t it? It’s true that I’m busy preparing for my comeback… But if I explain the situation, my company President and Secrety members will understand. They all have hearts as wide as the ocean.”
My blood pressure soared because of Director Shin Yun-hui, and I even added unnecessary remarks. Even making up facts that didn’t exist.
-No, but…
“Everyone will understand, I tell you? Especially since my relationship with the members has become so strong these days that stopping by the Management Bureau for a while is nothing.”
Not likely. The company President and Secrety members were still working me to the bone with practice.
While I was memorizing Secrety’s existing albums in my head and body so that I could fulfill my role as a member of the team, the other members were putting all their efforts into the mini-album to be released soon.
In particular, Shin Tae-beom was holed up in the studio provided by the company because the President gave him the opportunity to produce the title track, and he showed no signs of coming out. Sometimes when Ra Ho-yeon and I went to bring him food, a panda came out instead of a person. His dark circles were deeply drawn under his eyes, and receiving the lunch box was no different from a half-dead living corpse.
Still, the result of his hard work was finally supported by the company staff, and now he was focusing on recording the songs and practicing the choreography that had been planned.
The biggest concern for the President and the members was, of course, me. Although I had somehow managed to make myself look like a human being, it was natural that it would take the most time for me to learn the new songs and choreography.
The President threatened to educate me in a cramming style about the planning of the mini-album that had been completely finalized.
‘Until the comeback preparations are completely finished, you’re going to be a ghost in the practice room.’
So I’m being watched by the President and the members, wondering if I’ll get tired of it and leave in the middle.
I couldn’t control my hot temper, and my mouth blabbered whatever it wanted.
Shin Yun-hui the Director seemed to be sweating after hearing my bluff.
-Ah… So, you’re saying you’re going to visit the Management Bureau of the center right now?
“Yes.”
-…….
For a while, only silence lingered on the other side of the phone.
The Director opened his mouth in a tone as if he had given up.
-I understand. Then I’ll contact the employee who manages the Database in advance.
Good.
Yes. So far, so good.
But the real challenge was persuading the company President and the four Secrety members.
As soon as I finished the call, I finished preparing to go out and opened the door, and I ran into Ra Ho-yeon.
“Hey, Ra Ho-yeon. I have to go out for a bit…”
Ra Ho-yeon quickly scanned my clothes and cut me off without giving me a chance.
“No.”
“Why not!”
“You’re trying to go out to view the information you got by not publicizing the intruder’s attack, aren’t you?”
That’s why I hate quick-witted bastards.
Since I couldn’t get away with a suitable excuse like when I was trying to find the safe where my share of the life allowance was kept, I brazenly stepped forward.
“Yes. I’m going to visit the Management Bureau to get clues to catch the culprit who teased us and ran away last time.”
“No.”
“Don’t just say no. Listen to me. Did I ever say I wouldn’t practice and take a whole day off? No, I didn’t. I’ll just check the Database at the Management Bureau for a while and come back and be stuck in the practice room again. Have I ever tried to stand out these days? No, I haven’t.”
I tried to persuade Ra Ho-yeon, who had a cold expression, by using even my non-existent eloquence, but he was unmoved.
“Still no.”
“Ah, damn it. Why not!”
I’m not a prisoner locked in a jail!
I shouted back in frustration and resentment, and Ra Ho-yeon chuckled.
“I’ve never seen you so desperately stubborn.”
‘That’s because it’s urgent!’
I don’t have time to argue with you. Ra Ho-yeon. I have to get a clue about X quickly.
Jae-ha hates X. He would never give up on his plan to catch him. X also confirmed that by using Jin Eu-tteum’s body as bait to create a trap. This fight will only end when one of them is caught or killed.
Since X has started to move in earnest, time is of the essence for Jae-ha and me.
‘So I have to go quickly…’
“I don’t have time to dawdle. Just give me a moment.”
“Have you talked to the President?”
“…I talked to him. He said I could go out if I got permission from all of you.”
Damn it, that damn President. He knew the members would put up a wall and passed it on to them instead.
Ra Ho-yeon drew a firm line.
“Absolutely not. Especially not in times like these, when things are turbulent with bad news.”
“What? What news?”
Instead of Ra Ho-yeon, Cha Si-yoon, who was sitting on the sofa, poked his head out and answered.
“Oh, Yujin Hyung, you don’t know yet? They’ve been broadcasting it all morning as breaking news.”
Cha Si-yoon moved the remote control, turned on the TV, and showed the screen.
I saw a burnt mountain and abandoned factory, and people recovering two bodies.
‘Ah.’
I could tell at once. That was the place where Jae-ha fought with X.
The announcer on TV said that as a result of comparing dental records, one of the burnt bodies was Jin Eu-tteum, who was reported missing, and the other was Jin Eu-tteum’s cousin, Jin-irang.
-The police and the Management Bureau claim that this incident was a planned crime that targeted Ability Users from the beginning. Considering that the fires in the mountain and the abandoned factory were artificial, the perpetrator is likely to be an Ability User like the victims, and they are on high alert.
Ra Ho-yeon pointed to the TV screen and said.
“See? Yeon Yu-jin. So it’s dangerous now. The victim in this case is an Esper, but there’s no guarantee that a Guide won’t be a victim of crime.”
Cha Si-yoon also looked around and echoed Ra Ho-yeon’s words.
“Ho-yeon Hyung is right. Yujin Hyung. Considering the incident at the measurement center last time. Shouldn’t you refrain from going out when a bigger crime could happen targeting Ability Users?”
I could understand why these guys were worried about me.
“You’re worried that I’m a Guide and I won’t be able to respond and I’ll be attacked, right?”
“…To be honest, yes.”
“Then that’s fine.”
“Yes?”
“All of you can just come out with me. If you’re so worried, you can accompany me as my bodyguards.”
Ra Ho-yeon and Cha Si-yoon’s mouths opened at the same time at my words.
Ra Ho-yeon shook his head as if he was dumbfounded.
“How many times have I said that this is not the time to leave our positions?”
“If I can’t, I’ll break the window of the dorm and go out.”