“.……Where do you want to go now?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “To an amusement park.” (Kim Dah-Som)

  “It’s cold enough to freeze your a*s, yet you wanna go where?!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “The weather’s a lot better lately, though.” (Kim Dah-Som)

  “Oh, really now?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  Yi Ji-Hyuk pointed at all the passersby thickly clad in various winter clothing.

  “So it’s better, eh?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “Ehehe.” (Kim Dah-Som)

  Kim Dah-Som poked her tongue out.

  “People don’t go to amusement parks for their rides, though. They look at all the parades, even look at the animals, and……” (Kim Dah-Som)

  “In that case, should I take you to Africa? That’s where you’ll find real wild lions roaming around, after all.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “Eii, this and that feels different, of course.” (Kim Dah-Som)

  Just before he could retort to her inane remark……

  “She’s right, you know. Who goes to amusement parks nowadays to ride on roller coasters or something?” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  “.……But, I saw a ton of people queuing there?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “When did you go to one recently?” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  “I saw it on the news.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “In. Any. Case. People don’t go there to ride stuff these days. Okay?” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  Jeong Hae-Min’s declaration that didn’t allow for an inch of pushback caused Yi Ji-Hyuk’s expression to distort.

  “But, but! We didn’t get to do anything back then when we went to that American theme park, right? We instead got involved in some other stupid things, didn’t we?!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “That’s why we should go now! It’s unfair that we missed out!” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  “She’s right, you know!” (Kim Dah-Som)

  Yi Ji-Hyuk stared at Kim Dah-Som and Jeong Hae-Min on either side of him raising their voices in unison and fell ever deeper into this fundamental question.

  “Since when did you two become this close?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “.……”


  “.……”


  Out of everyone he knew, these two were perhaps the most intense rivals out there, so to see them putting up a united front like this? The world must’ve changed a lot lately, then.

  “Okay, fine. Fine. Are we going or not, then?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “Let’s go, oppa.” (Kim Dah-Som)

  “Sure. We’re going, then.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  Since they were already outside, he figured that he might as well. If he insisted on not going then without a doubt, he’d be nagged incessantly by these two for the rest of today. So it could be much better to simply go to a d*mn amusement park and get it over with.

  “Okay, so. Where are we going, then? America?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “No can do.” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  “Why not?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “Mister Choi Jeong-Hoon isn’t here, that’s why. Without him, we can’t even get an entrance ticket, you know! ……Since I can’t speak English.” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  “What? You received twelve years of compulsory education, but still can’t speak a lick of English?!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “Oh, and you can?” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  “.……Well, I didn’t receive the full twelve years, that’s why.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  Yi Ji-Hyuk’s head faltered, but Kim Dah-Som patted his shoulders to console him.

  “It’s okay, oppa. I also didn’t get the full twelve years.” (Kim Dah-Som)

  “That’s because you haven’t graduated yet!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  Yi Ji-Hyuk complained loudly before organising the situation.

  “Okay, so where do you want to go?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “The one in Yongyin, I guess.” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  Jeong Hae-Min was quick and ruthless in making up her mind.

  “Okay. When? Tomorrow?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “Is there a reason to wait until tomorrow, though? Can’t we go today? We aren’t going to get on the rides all that much anyway.” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  “Mm……” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  Yi Ji-Hyuk slowly nodded.

  Honestly, the amusement park rides held little interest to him. He had experienced far too many things to feel thrilled while riding in those things, anyway. Asking Oh-Sik to shake him around would be more thrilling, in all honesty.

  “Okay, let’s get going, then.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “W-wait a minute first!” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

  It was right then, Choi Jeong-Hoon and his utterly pale complexion ran towards the trio from a distance.

  “Where?! Where are you going now?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

  “.……You know, this guy is acting more and more like a nanny from a kindergarten or something nowadays.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  Yi Ji-Hyuk’s expression crumpled unhappily.

  “Argh, seriously?! Can’t you just leave me alone for a while so I can have some fun?!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “I don’t mind you having fun! However!!!” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

  Choi Jeong-Hoon proudly pointed at himself and shouted out.

  “Take me along with you too! That’s all I ask!” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

  Of course, Choi Jeong-Hoon’s original intention was to keep an eye out at all times since he couldn’t tell what the United States or the Korean government would do, but to Yi Ji-Hyuk who didn’t know anything about that……

  “.……Maybe you’re feeling a bit lonely these days?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “.……”


  Yi Ji-Hyuk lightly elbowed Jeong Hae-Min by her side.

  “Hey, you should arrange one or two blind dates for him.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “Blind dates?” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  “I mean, there are lots of idols, right? You must be friends with some of them, what with how long you’ve been toiling away in that scene and all.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “Mm, yeah. I do know a few……” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  “It’s just that we never cared about it normally, but let’s be real here. Mister Choi Jeong-Hoon is practically the perfect husband material, wouldn’t you agree?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  Choi Jeong-Hoon’s nose ever so slightly lifted up.

  “He brings home a good salary, is smart with his work, and is also good looking, too.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “Mm……” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  “And, he also doesn’t go home often, too.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “Ng?” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  “Don’t forget, his work is dangerous so no one knows when he might die. And if he does die during the line of duty, he’ll be designated as a selfless patriot and the country will pay pension automatically, too.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “.……He really is the perfect husband material, then.” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  Even Jeong Hae-Min had to acknowledge that fact.

  However, Choi Jeong-Hoon’s expression showed how unconvinced he was.

  “Are those things really seen as good conditions for a marriage partner?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

  “That’s why he hasn’t gotten married yet.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  “Agreed.” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  Jeong Hae-Min ended up smirking a little.

  “You’re right. We don’t know what’s waiting for us just around the corner these days, so I should help out our Mister Choi Jeong-Hoon with finding a nice girlfriend or something. Don’t worry, I’ll find someone cute and kind just for you.” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  “N-no, wait a minute……” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

  Choi Jeong-Hoon was about to say something to defend himself, only to smirk helplessly as well.

  “.……What’s wrong? Looking forward to your blind date?” (Seo Ah-Young)

  It was right then, this murderously icy chill attacked him from behind. Cold sweat began trickling down Choi Jeong-Hoon’s forehead.

  “W-when did you arrive, ma’am?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

  He slowly turned his head to discover Seo Ah-Young smiling brightly behind him.

  ‘But your eyes aren’t smiling at all! Your eyes!!!’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

  Choi Jeong-Hoon shuddered after recalling Seo Ah-Young’s ‘question’ from a second ago.

  “Well, I happened to eavesdrop on the news that you might go on a blind date, so I came to congratulate you, that’s all. Unni, you’re going to introduce him to someone, weren’t you?” (Seo Ah-Young)

  “N-no, hang on. When did I say that? It’s just, you know, Ji-Hyuk here asked me to introduce someone so, out of courtesy, I merely said that I’ll look into it, that’s all. I, I wasn’t seriously thinking of finding someone, you know?” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  “Aha, I see. But wouldn’t Mister Choi Jeong-Hoon be really disappointed to hear that? I mean, look at how happy he is, with his dumb looking idiot grin on his face. So how disappointed would he be if you don’t introduce someone?” (Seo Ah-Young)

  ‘I never smiled like an idiot, though……’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

  Although he had a ton of excuses to get off his chest, he got this instinctive feeling that if he haphazardly opened his mouth now, he’d no longer be a person named ‘Choi Jeong-Hoon’ but simply a burnt-out piece of charcoal that also happened to be named ‘Choi Jeong-Hoon’.

  So, he firmly clamped his mouth shut.

  “Why aren’t you saying anything?!” (Seo Ah-Young)

  Ehhh? That wasn’t it?! (Choi Jeong-Hoon’s inner monologue)

  Seo Ah-Young glared at Choi Jeong-Hoon with eyes burning hotter than the flames of hell, so Jeong Hae-Min took it upon herself to mollify this situation ASAP.

  “I-in that case, Ah-Young? You should come with us, too. Have fun together with us and vent some steam. You’ll feel better afterwards.” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  “I don’t like amusement parks.” (Seo Ah-Young)

  “It’ll be fun if we hang out together.” (Jeong Hae-Min)

  “I don’t particularly feel like it.” (Seo Ah-Young)

  Jeong Hae-Min’s head spun and even she began glaring at Choi Jeong-Hoon as well. Her silent pressure telling him to do something about this situation and do it now caused even more cold sweat to rain down from his face.

  “.……L-let’s go together.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

  “Hmm.” (Seo Ah-Young)

  “I think it’ll be at least ten times more fun if you accompany us, ma’am. Actually, I also don’t feel much like going if you’re not interested.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

  “Well, in that case. I don’t wish to ruin this atmosphere, so I’ll go with you, then.” (Seo Ah-Young)

  “You made the correct decision, ma’am.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

  Choi Jeong-Hoon managed to stop the situation from spiralling out of control and sneakily wiped his forehead.

  Yi Ji-Hyuk staring at the unfolding spectacle quietly muttered to no one in particular.

  “Wow, you all are having too much fun, aren’t you.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

  ***

  “Give him the 328th district.” (Christopher McLaren)

  “.……But, director. Isn’t that……?” (Brown)

  “Do as I say, Brown.” (Christopher McLaren)

  “Yes, sir.” (Brown)

  The man named Brown formed an extremely dissatisfied expression, but he couldn’t voice his opposition to Christopher McLaren’s order. The charisma exuded by him was simply too overwhelming for that right now.

  Even then, Brown found himself unable to fully commit to that order without presenting at least some kind of resistance. Because this issue was also related to the soul of the United States of America as well.

  “Will this really be fine, sir?” (Brown)

  “What will?” (Christopher McLaren)

  “Quite frankly I’m uncomfortable with the idea of joining hands with Alpha, sir. More correctly, it sickens me and makes me almost puke, sir.” (Brown)

  “I’m sure that’s the case.” (Christopher McLaren)

  “Even if it’s for the bigger picture, how can we cooperate with the criminal that we’ve been trying our hardest to track down and eliminate? What about all of our dead colleagues, killed by him and his gang?” (Brown)

  “We also killed quite a few of their friends, too.” (Christopher McLaren)

  “Sir, this and that are not the same.” (Brown)

  Christopher McLaren chuckled softly.

  I can’t tell the difference, though? (Christopher McLaren)

  No matter what, Alpha and Christopher McLaren could never co-exist together. The moment the perceived usefulness of the other party runs out, they would immediately revert back to being bitter enemies. And they would stop at nothing to kill each other for real when that happens.

  However, now was a different story.

  “Alpha didn’t kill me, did he?” (Christopher McLaren)

  Despite successfully getting close enough to touch him, Alpha didn’t murder Christopher McLaren. Especially when ripping the latter’s head off would’ve been easier than taking candy from a baby and all.

  “Because, we need each other. Alpha knows that. He knows that my ability is a necessity right now in order to fight the demonic beings.” (Christopher McLaren)

  “Sir, it feels like you sometimes forget the fact that it was Alpha who brought those demons to our world in the first place.” (Brown)

  Christopher McLaren shook his head.

  “The number of Gates was gradually increasing. Not to mention, they were getting tougher to deal with, too. The Gates stopped appearing right after the pathway to the demon world opened up, however. The meaning behind that is crystal clear. These Gates were tears in the wall between two different dimensions. Which means that even if Alpha hadn’t done anything, the pathway to the demon world would’ve opened up sooner or later.” (Christopher McLaren)

  “Humans die when they get old, sir. That doesn’t mean murderers use the defence of ‘I killed people who are destined to die anyway so I’m not guilty’. Sir.” (Brown)

  “.……That reply does sting a bit, Brown.” (Christopher McLaren)

  Christopher McLaren scratched his head.

  For sure, a sizeable portion of the blame for the lives currently being sacrificed rested on Alpha’s shoulders.

  “Unfortunately, this isn’t a court of law, Brown.” (Christopher McLaren)

  “.……”


  “If you wish to uphold the law or be righteous, then I suggest you switch to being a prosecutor or maybe even a cop. But us? We need to do whatever it takes for our national interests and to protect mankind at the same time. Even if that means we need to get down on our knees and lick Alpha’s boots.” (Christopher McLaren)

  Brown could only sigh resignedly and shake his head at the unyielding tone of Christopher McLaren’s voice.

  “Understood, sir.” (Brown)

  “So, save your complaints for another time. Let’s get some work done first. We can discuss Alpha’s elimination as much as you want after we get rid of these d*mn demon b*stards first. You get what I’m saying?” (Christopher McLaren)

  “Yes, sir.” (Brown)

  “Okay, so. What’s going on with the Chinese?” (Christopher McLaren)

  “It seems that they’ll be launching their nuclear strike later today, sir.” (Brown)

  “What a bunch of driven b*stards.” (Christopher McLaren)

  Christopher McLaren furrowed his brows.

  He felt nothing about them resorting to nuclear weapons. He already had a precedence of launching one himself, didn’t he? No, the issue here was the amount of nukes about to be deployed.

  Since the nukes would be concentrated in one spot, the resulting radiation fallout wouldn’t spread as badly as everyone feared, but there’s no doubting that it’d still end up impacting China quite badly.

  Only China could have come up with this idea, and only China would’ve gone through with such an operation.

  “I hope they succeed.” (Christopher McLaren)

  If this tactic produced a good result, then Christopher McLaren would seriously consider doing the same thing to LA. Losing that city would hurt badly, but it’d still be a hundred times better than losing America itself, after all.

  “All of our available satellites are focused on the targeted location as we speak, sir.” (Brown)

  “Good work. I got it for now. And what about Yi Ji-Hyuk?” (Christopher McLaren)

  Christopher McLaren quickly changed the subject.

  “He’s currently still in South Korea, sir. The Korean government and the NDF seem to be making some arrangements to protect him.” (Brown)

  “Mm……” (Christopher McLaren)

  Christopher McLaren moaned softly.

  “I didn’t take Song Jeong-Su for a fool, but I see that he still chose the losing hand in the end.” (Christopher McLaren)

  “Should we go in, sir?” (Brown)

  “No.” (Christopher McLaren)

  Christopher McLaren waved his hand dismissively.

  “For now, let him be. Now isn’t the right time.” (Christopher McLaren)

  Brown found this order a little strange since Christopher McLaren wanted to procure Yi Ji-Hyuk so desperately yet he chose to step back for now. From the latter’s perspective, however, it was an obvious choice.

  ‘I shouldn’t touch him unless I don’t want to see the world get destroyed?’ (Christopher McLaren)

  Alpha’s warning implied there was something about Yi Ji-Hyuk that Christopher McLaren didn’t know about. While thinking that he should acquire more information on Yi Ji-Hyuk somehow, he continued with his questioning.

  “Okay, so…… What is Yi Ji-Hyuk doing right now?” (Christopher McLaren)

  “.……He’s at an amusement park with a bevy of women, sir.” (Brown)

  “.……”


  Christopher McLaren wordlessly pulled out a cigar from the case, cut its tip off, then lit it up.

  “I really can’t figure out what’s inside that man’s head.” (Christopher McLaren)

  Fin.