* * *

Today had originally been their day off.

―... Let's have the welcome party.

The moment Haeryeon saw Hyeonyul's message, she changed the date.

Hyeonyul himself had suggested it. It felt like an electric shock had run all the way to the top of her head. Everyone except Hyeonyul had probably felt the same.

With everyone this excited, there was no telling what the party might turn into. Taking tomorrow off was the safe choice, just in case.

'Even I might have trouble reining them in.'

Normally, true to its name, a welcome party should be held within a recruit's first week. The Black Eagles were an exception. Given the nature of their work, the timing inevitably had to be delayed until they knew whether a recruit would survive actual missions.

Still, welcome parties themselves were encouraged. A colleague who was here today might be gone tomorrow. It was a policy intended to leave them with as few regrets as possible.

'... Let's focus on having fun.'

Haeryeon tried to cast aside her dark thoughts. The truth was, her heart ached whenever she mentioned a welcome party. She hated being reminded all over again of how many people had died.

"I know. I've been waiting this whole time."

Haeryeon smiled at Sinu's excited response. This was the atmosphere she had hoped for.

"For once, I agree with Baek Sinu. I've been waiting for this day too."

When even Nayun spoke emphatically, Jihwan looked at Hyeonyul and quietly called to them.

"Bro. Sis."

Jihwan flicked a glance toward Hyeonyul. His expression had gone stiff.

"You're not nervous, are you?"

Jihwan asked casually. What on earth did Hyeonyul think a welcome party was? Jihwan was secretly curious.

"Not nervous, exactly. More concerned."

Hyeonyul was still surprised by his own rather impulsive behavior. Why had he said that then? Had the words slipped out because they were always bringing up the welcome party?

["You really said that? Wow! That's great! Absolutely great!"]

Jeongmin had been overjoyed the moment he heard what Hyeonyul had said.

Was this a good thing? Why did he say it was?

"Hyeonyul, you just have to sit back. We'll take care of everything."

Hyeonyul narrowed his eyes at Sinu's grin. There was nothing trustworthy about those words.

Just sit back. That was usually a lie.

"Baek Sinu, look at Hyeonyul's eyes. Just how untrustworthy have you been for him to react like that?"

Nayun seized the opportunity to chide Sinu.

"What are you talking about? I'm perfectly trustworthy."

"Can I really just sit back?"

Hyeonyul asked to make sure.

"Of course, of course."

Sinu readily answered. Only after getting confirmation a second time did Hyeonyul nod. Surely he wouldn't outright lie.

Glancing at Hyeonyul, Jihwan gently suggested to Sinu, "Bro, even if we're keeping the welcome party low-key, shouldn't you avoid making such definite promises?"

'A low-key welcome party...?'

Hyeonyul wondered what that meant.

"I've got it all figured out. See you later, Hyeonyul."

Sinu quietly rose from his seat, and Hyeonyul's gaze naturally turned to Haeryeon.

"Hyeonyul and Nayun, you two can go together today."

Haeryeon immediately changed the subject. It was obvious.

But Hyeonyul braced himself. He had read more than enough books about welcome parties.

'I'm ready too.'

* * *

「*Incident Onset

―At approximately 00:23, the driver of a truck traveling along the highway noticed that all the cars had stopped, found this suspicious, and reported it to the police.

*Incident Progress

―Police dispatched and assessed the situation.

―Discovered bombs attached to the road.

―Apprehended a powered individual while attempting to defuse the bombs. Later confirmed to be a villain.

―Case transferred to the Black Eagles.

*Points of Caution

―Ensure the bombs do not detonate.

―Secure the road.」

A highway explosion at this hour of the night?

Imagining what would have happened if the bombs hadn't been discovered, Nayun spoke.

"Seriously, are they insane? Who knows how many people would've died if they'd only found them in the morning? Bombs on the road are playing dirty. Don't you think, Hyeonyul?"

<Yes.>

"Hyeonyul, you're really not nervous about the welcome party, right? Your answers seem even shorter than usual."

Nayun, who had been watching the highway from the mountainside, turned her night-vision goggles toward Hyeonyul. His helmet hid his expression.

<I'm not nervous.>

His message appeared. Somehow, being able to imagine his expression made it funny.

"Then that's fine. Everyone's just excited, so don't read too much into it. It's been quite a while since we had a welcome party."

<How long has it been?>

"Hmm... Let's see."

Nayun briefly sank into thought. A face she missed flashed through her mind.

"A year...? Yes. It's been a year."

A gentle smile formed on her lips.

<Do the Black Eagles deliberately avoid recruiting people?>

Nayun chuckled at that.

"No. They recruit, but people get screened out, and even those who make it through start dying during probation. It's hard to survive. I've already lost five rookies myself."

The death toll alone explained why recruits weren't sent out alone during probation. Hyeonyul was unusually exceptional.

"I don't want to make it six, so hang in there."

<I don't want to be the sixth either. Nor do I intend to be.>

"Good. That's the spirit you need. It gives us strength too. Hyeonyul, you need to know how amazing and precious you are."

<...>

When no answer came, Nayun giggled. Hyeonyul was vulnerable to this sort of thing.

Ah. Something suddenly occurred to Nayun.

"By the way, Hyeonyul."

<Yes.>

"Are you close with the Bomb Disposal Team?"

The man who had introduced himself as Pyo Yujin had run over in delight the moment he recognized Hyeonyul. The rest of the Bomb Disposal Team had done the same.

It was deeply worrying. Their rookie was so talented that people everywhere were coming after him, practically drooling.

<Today was the second time I've seen them.>

"Then next time will be the third?"

<Yes.>

"That's all you should think of it as. Nothing more."

<Understood.>

Nayun turned her head midway through reading Hyeonyul's message. Something was moving in the darkness.

Without hesitation, she pulled the trigger, aiming for the leg.

BANG!

As the gunshot echoed softly, Nayun spoke.

"We're under attack."

<Yes.>

After that brief reply, Nayun looked for Hyeonyul. He was no longer where he had been.

Hyeonyul had been watching everything since before Nayun told him they were under attack. It was a night cloaked in darkness. The darkness told him everything.

POP.

A small flame flickered skyward, then disappeared. It was a flare Nayun had fired.

Hyeonyul moved with Nayun in mind. She saw everything so clearly that there was nothing to gain by being reckless.

The villains had a single target: the Bomb Disposal Team. Their specialization in explosives left them relatively lacking in combat strength. This was called a support assignment, but it was effectively a protection detail.

Hyeonyul looked to his left.

WHOOSH.

With a rush of air, a hole appeared in the approaching enemy's head. Hyeonyul turned away at the sight.

'Fast.'

Guns had always been the ultimate weapon, wielding absolute power. But with the emergence of powered people, they had been reduced to weapons of only limited significance. Besides, the Empire did not permit gun ownership, so they could only be obtained through illegal channels.

For Nayun, however, they meant something very different. Even if the Black Eagles' proprietary technology set their firearms apart from ordinary guns, the technology could only shine when the person wielding it knew how to use it.

Hyeonyul's lips curled upward. Nayun dealt with the nuisances on her own, almost as though she were his own hands.

He advanced and thrust out his dagger.

CLANG!

The tip of the dagger vibrated after striking something. When even his fingertips tingled, Hyeonyul immediately looked that way.

'A psychic power.'

An invisible, deeply irritating force. Debris around him floated into the air.

"Stay still."

Speaking to the Bomb Disposal Team, Hyeonyul wrapped his dagger in black power. Dealing with the debris was simple. All he had to do was kill the bastard moving it.

Hyeonyul seemed to move forward, then appeared right before the psychic's eyes. A panicked glance darted about.

Hyeonyul swept his dagger wide to the side. Dense darkness drew a long line through the air. The floating debris fell along with the severed head.

Hyeonyul drove his dagger behind him.

"... Guh!"

He felt the blade pierce flesh, and a groan burst out.

"I can smell you."

Even creeping up quietly only brought that foul stench of blood to his nose.

Hyeonyul immediately turned and seized the enemy by the throat.

"There's no smell of gunpowder."

If they had planted the bombs, the smell should have clung to them, but it hadn't. They were most likely different villains from those who had planted them.

"Who are you people?"

"... Fuck you."

The villain mouthed off as blood streamed from his abdomen.

"Yes. You seem to understand that I only need one mouth left to talk."

Hyeonyul pierced his neck with the dagger and sliced sideways.

Why had they come here? Wondering, Hyeonyul shifted his eyes. As the villain toppled headfirst, he counted.

Three.

Hyeonyul bent backward. A heavy blunt weapon swept past him.

He dissolved like smoke and appeared behind the villain.

'Two.'

The dagger burst out through the neck.

'No smell of old gunpowder.'

There was a gunpowder smell, but it differed from the bombs over there. That meant they had brought other bombs.

'What do they gain by escalating the incident?'

Making the incident bigger would only bring the Black Eagles. Was that what they were after?

'... How childish.'

Apparently, since they couldn't crush their opponents themselves, they were trying to rely on the Black Eagles. It might look efficient, but it was a very poor method. Leave enough tracks, and sooner or later someone would catch you.

THUD!

One bastard fell, and Hyeonyul knocked the last one unconscious rather than killing him.

'For now, it would be best to let the Black Eagles uncover whatever they're up to.'

He knew villains took care with their clothing and all sorts of other details to prevent anyone from deducing where they had been or where they came from. But there was one thing they couldn't conceal.

Radio communications.

Hyeonyul used his darkness to search the dead men's bodies and took hold of a radio. Before operating it, he listened closely.

The instant a wave rippled out, the darkness heard its sound. It spread far and wide, then stopped at one location.

Hyeonyul turned his head. All the darkness became his eyes. Far away, farther still, he saw someone communicating by radio.

'Found you.'

Hyeonyul left his darkness at that location. The best time to strike was when they let their guard down.

So he intended to act tomorrow.

* * *

"... Here, Hyeonyul. Put these on."

Nayun handed him something. Hyeonyul blinked at the object she offered: a pair of round-framed glasses with a mustache attached.

Hyeonyul looked around. Perhaps they had rented the entire place; they were the only people inside. He had no idea where they had found a throne-like chair, but he was sitting in it.

["Just sit right here. Nice and still."]

Sinu had excitedly pointed to the seat. Hyeonyul had sat down because he was told to, but he had no idea why he was supposed to wear these.

After a moment's thought, Hyeonyul reached for the glasses. He could feel everyone watching. He briefly raised his head and looked at them all. They each turned away, pretending they hadn't been looking.

'This is different from the books...'

Hyeonyul put on the glasses. Laughter erupted all around him.

Just as he wondered whether they were mocking him, everyone hurried over wearing similar glasses.

'?'

Hyeonyul blinked. He had no idea what they were doing.

CLICK.

"...!"

Hyeonyul startled. They had taken a photo without warning.

"Come on, Hyeonyul. You have to smile."

Nayun gently pushed up the corners of his mouth.

"Why... are you taking photos?"

"Because I don't want regrets. Leaving photos worth remembering gives the people who come after us the strength to keep living."

Nayun spoke with a smile. Everyone nodded in agreement, but Hyeonyul found it difficult to understand.

"Let's take another!"

Jihwan called out cheerfully.

CLICK.

Hyeonyul stayed still while everyone else moved left, then right, suddenly made V signs with their fingers, and struck strange poses. Overwhelmed by everything happening around him, he felt his brain grind to a halt.

'... What are they doing?'

They truly asked nothing of him, yet a strange pressure bore down on him. He simply couldn't identify exactly what it was.

It felt as though they had spent over twenty minutes doing nothing but taking photos.

'This... is a welcome party?'

"Great! Now that we've taken enough photos, shall we start by singing our hearts out?"

Sinu shouted at the top of his lungs and handed Hyeonyul a tambourine. Hyeonyul accepted it in a daze.

"Shake it if you're having fun. If not, you don't have to. No pressure."

This insane consideration.

Sinu smiled as though proud of himself.

"... Aren't we eating first?"

Hyeonyul asked hesitantly.

"We have fun first, then eat. The Team Leader rented this place. We can't waste it."

"Of course. That would be a waste."

Haeryeon already had a microphone in her hand.

"You're too fast!"

Jihwan exclaimed in surprise, despite already holding a microphone.

"Jihwan! You're even faster!"

Nayun cried out in despair. She had lost the first turn.

"Oh."

Nayun suddenly looked at Hyeonyul.

"Do you want to sing? If you do, we can all give you the privilege of singing first."

Of course, of course. Everyone agreed.

"... No."

"And, Hyeonyul," Nayun continued.

"... Yes."

"If you don't like a song, press this."

She handed him a device and pointed to a button.

"Press it, and it'll stop the song halfway through. I'm only handing this over because it's you. This is tremendous power."

Hyeonyul's eyes widened. Press it if he didn't like the song? How could he possibly do that?

"Oh, and if you want to say something in the middle, shake the tambourine three times. We'll listen to you right away. You're the star today, Hyeonyul!"

Nayun stretched both hands toward him and wiggled them brightly. Even her tone was different, as though she normally restrained herself considerably.

It was terrifying.

"Of course, of course. Today's a low-key welcome party for you, Hyeonyul. You don't have to dance, you don't have to sing if you don't want to, and you don't have to pose for photos. We've left out everything you might dislike."

Haeryeon thought they had been perfectly considerate. Still, one thing bothered her.

"But, hmm, wouldn't a tambourine be a bit much? Wouldn't it be better to wave this carrot wand instead?"

Haeryeon held out the carrot wand she had prepared in anticipation of this.

"... As expected, no one can match your thoughtfulness, Team Leader."

Sinu quietly gave her a thumbs-up.

"The carrot wand certainly stands out more. And it's quiet."

Jihwan agreed as well, clapping.

'What's the difference between this and that?'

Only Hyeonyul was confused.

"Anyway, Hyeonyul, would you like to sing first?"

Haeryeon asked quite cautiously. The question itself put immense pressure on Hyeonyul. It felt almost like an order to sing, no matter what.

"... No, thank you."

"All right! Wave it if you need anything. We'll stop the song immediately and listen to you."

After handing Hyeonyul the carrot wand, Haeryeon walked confidently to the center with her microphone.

'...'

Hyeonyul stared at the carrot wand.

'Is this... bullying?'

He had thought the bullying was over, but apparently he had been mistaken. This was a new kind of bullying. How was he supposed to take it?

Whatever else he didn't understand about the situation, one thought was certain.

'... I want to go home.'