* * *

"... Are you serious?"

"I am. So choose."

Haeryeon answered Hyeonyul's question without hesitation.

"Why are you doing this?"

Hyeonyul felt it was unfair. Weren't injuries an unavoidable part of missions? That was the nature of the work to begin with. It made no sense to hold that over him and push him around.

"It's your body, but it's also an asset of the Black Eagles. Of course I'm concerned."

"I can carry out missions. Haven't I shown you that?"

"You're so stubborn, Bro."

Jihwan eagerly jumped in. When Hyeonyul looked over, Jihwan whipped away and pretended to be busy with something else.

"I know how well you handle missions and how impressive you are. The moment I saw your power, I asked you to join Team Three, didn't I?"

"That is true."

"If you don't want to be taken off a mission, get treatment..."

"Team Leader. I told you clearly that I carry my own first-aid kit. Even if the Doctor treats me, it won't be very different from what I do myself."

Watching Hyeonyul's and Jihwan's reactions, Haeryeon realized she hadn't been clear enough on this point. Then she needed to put it right.

"All right. Shall we set some ground rules, then?"

"What sort of rules do you mean?"

"I don't think I made the standards clear enough. Let's look for another way. Where do you think we should draw the line?"

"I can continue a mission even when I'm injured."

"That's not an option. I pull Jihwan back when injured, too. The rule is fair to everyone."

"That's true."

Jihwan nodded, then pointed at themself.

"I hurt my arm and had to sit out about two missions. I was so happ—Ahem. Anyway, that happened."

Jihwan abruptly broke off the cheerful account and cleared their throat.

"... Oh. This applies to everyone?"

Hyeonyul asked cautiously, his eyes wary.

"Everyone. I'm not singling you out. But I can't ignore your physical condition, so the bar is a little higher for you. That's why I want us to find something that satisfies you, me, and everyone else."

"... Then I'll go to the Doctor if my abdomen gets punctured."

Hyeonyul offered this as he considered it.

"Your abdomen... Has that ever hap—No. You don't have to tell me."

Haeryeon stopped herself from asking. It would only bring back bad memories. Wasn't there some other solution?

"Scratches. That's as far as I can possibly let it go. No puncture wounds."

"Agreed."

Hyeonyul accepted at once. In short, it was fine as long as nothing pierced him.

Haeryeon narrowed her eyes oddly.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Is something not to your liking?"

"No. It's just a little suspicious that you agreed so readily."

"There is nothing suspicious about it."

"There isn't, is there?"

"No. There isn't."

"Good. Then you can go home, Hyeonyul. Jihwan, I'll need you to stay."

"... Seriously?"

Jihwan sounded incredulous.

"Team Leader."

"Yes?"

"May I keep working?"

"... What?"

Haeryeon's eyes wavered wildly. Why was he doing this? Why would he?

"Why... would you say that?"

Haeryeon felt as though she might break into a cold sweat.

"I'll spend a little time on that villain-identification work from before, then leave."

"Oh, that?"

Only then did Haeryeon understand. Hyeonyul had previously worked on identifying villains by examining corporate logos and emblems. She had since made that a task he could do whenever he liked.

"That would be helpful. I have something to give you, too."

"For me?"

Hyeonyul's first reaction was wariness.

"The files on the experiment sites."

As she spoke, Haeryeon discreetly checked Jihwan's reaction. Jihwan had once been a test subject, too.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Then I'll get to work."

Hyeonyul bowed and left first.

After he was gone, Jihwan sidled closer and asked,

"Is there anything I can help with, too?"

"You don't need to, Jihwan. It's still hard for you."

"But I have to overcome it. I've already been to experiment sites several times."

Jihwan proudly thumped their chest a couple of times.

"I'm still concerned."

"Then I'll ask Bro myself."

"Jihwan."

Haeryeon was smiling. For some reason, Jihwan's throat felt parched.

"Yes?"

"Have you forgotten that you have a mission?"

"... No. Um, couldn't I take a little break and have some water?"

"Unfortunately, you need to leave right now."

"Right now? I can't even have a glass of water?"

"Yes, right now. It seems the managers can't restore the site on their own. They'll need your power."

When Haeryeon pointed at the door, Jihwan let out a long sigh. Restoring places villains had torn apart was the White Sparrows' responsibility. The Black Eagles were brought in only for tasks they couldn't handle, usually with requests for mages.

"This is why being a mage is exhausting."

"Hang in there a little longer. You should be able to go home in about two hours."

"... Right at quitting time, then. I'll do my best."

Jihwan headed out looking anything but energized. Haeryeon smiled after the retreating figure, then gathered the files and went outside.

* * *

「Hello, Seungyu.」

At the sight of the phone that suddenly appeared, Seungyu stopped halfway to standing, startled, then stared blankly at Hyeonyul. This wasn't the office. It was Seungyu's own home. How had he found it? Unable to conceal the shock, Seungyu knelt.

"... You've come to see me?"

「Surprised?」

"I am."

「I'll only say a few things, then go.」

「There was something I didn't get to tell you last time.」

「Are you angry that I came in the early hours?」

"Not at all. You may visit whenever you wish. Please tell me anything you like."

Seungyu bowed with utmost respect.

Anything he said would be welcome. No, didn't the very fact that he had come like this mean he trusted Seungyu?

「You're looking into the Poison King right now, aren't you?」

"Yes. Following your orders, I'm looking into what he is hiding first, to find out who is behind him."

「Clever.」

Hyeonyul praised Seungyu. To think Seungyu had even taken care of what he hadn't explicitly asked for.

"Not at all! It's only what I should be doing...!"

Seungyu's voice trembled. The simple fact of receiving recognition sent elation welling up within.

「Find out whether the Poison King has any drugs hidden away, or has traded any.」

"Understood. I'll look into it."

「Aren't you curious why?」

"I told you I would obey anything you asked."

「If you want something, take it.」

「If someone gets in your way, kill them.」

「You know that well, don't you?」

"Yes, very well. Isn't that the first thing you learn in this business?"

「But whatever else I might like, I don't like drugs.」

"From now on, we won't deal in drugs. We'll confiscate every bit we find."

「Good. Confiscate them and store them separately. I'll give the disposal instructions.」

"Understood."

Hyeonyul was about to leave when he recalled what the villains had been saying about him.

「I hear I'm famous these days?」

"Of course! It's only right. It's how things must be."

The more Seungyu spoke, the higher the corners of their mouth rose. The very idea that he wouldn't become famous was absurd. The fact that he had killed the executives alone sent a thrill through Seungyu, and having won everyone's hearts in a single stroke inspired reverence.

Every faction would now kiss his feet. Seungyu had to make that happen.

'I'll make it happen. I will...!'

Seungyu clenched their fists.

「It felt good.」

In truth, Hyeonyul was indifferent. He felt nothing at all. Those followers and the faction were ultimately nothing but illusions. They would clearly turn their backs the moment they learned who he was, so why should he be pleased?

「You're wondering what to say when people ask who I am, aren't you?」

"... How did you know?"

「Then keep it simple.」

Seungyu waited. Waited to hear what he would say, and waited some more.

「Tell them I'm the one who will become their master.」

After giving Seungyu that impressive-sounding line, Hyeonyul asked,

「The files?」

"... Please give me a moment."

Seungyu was so overwhelmed it was almost dizzying.

'He said it himself. He said it himself. He himself... said it!'

Seungyu's eyes grew intense.

He was the one who would stand above them. The one who would oust the Empire's emperor and take that seat. Nothing else could explain all this: why he had put Seungyu in this position, why he was disposing of the other factions, and why he had turned against the Poison King. All of it was merely part of the journey to that throne.

"If I may ask... how should I refer to you?"

Seungyu asked cautiously. They wanted to know. They had to know this.

Hyeonyul considered it briefly, then tossed out a casual answer. Wouldn't this be enough to give them what they wanted?

「King.」

A deep smile settled on Seungyu's face upon reading the message. It resonated powerfully within.

'... The King has named himself.'

CRUNCH.

Seungyu bit their nails, holding back the laughter surging up.

* * *

Before bed, Hyeonyul looked through the files Haeryeon had given him. They were organized with astonishing care. He could see just how much effort she had put into them.

'Am I worth all this?'

He pondered that for a moment, slowly turning the mouse wheel.

He squeezed his eyes shut, counted three seconds, and opened them again. Good posture, a large screen, and a proper viewing distance were crucial for keeping his back and eyes healthy.

With his eyes open again, he was checking whether any of the locations overlapped with places he'd visited when his hand stopped.

'... Oh. At this rate, I'll die of overwork again.'

The thought suddenly struck him.

He had come this far determined not to die of overwork, yet so much had happened, and he was creating more work himself. This wasn't good.

He quickly shut down the computer, walked slowly to his bed, and climbed in. As he stared at the ceiling, a thought came to him.

'Am I being impatient?'

No one could predict how long they would live. Some might say that this stage of his life was his prime, his time to bloom, but that didn't apply to him.

'Or has too much happened all at once?'

He had seen a great deal since becoming a Black Eagle, and a great deal had happened. He now understood how small a fence he had lived within as a villain. That confinement had been forced on him, too.

["Don't think about anything. I'll do the thinking, so just do as you're told."]

He had heard that countless times from the presidents, and Shin Daeho had been no different. The only difference between them and Shin Daeho, as the Poison King had pointed out, was that Shin Daeho hadn't ordered him to kill ordinary people.

'... Let's sleep. My days and nights are reversed. This isn't healthy.'

Hyeonyul put his thoughts aside and was about to close his eyes when his gaze shifted.

BZZZZZZ.

He crooked a finger, bringing his phone over.

"Yes, Doctor."

<"You're not working again, are you?">

"I'm in bed right now."

<"And before that?">

"I'm in bed now."

He heard Jeongmin sigh on the other end. There couldn't be any surveillance cameras here, so how did the Doctor always know?

<"Hyeonyul. What did I tell you to do while we're changing your medication?">

"You told me to rest."

Jeongmin had said that even the small change of switching medications caused cracks in his body. He had wondered whether actual cracks could really form, but it was true.

<"You know I'm not just saying that, don't you?">

"I do. That's why I'm lying down."

<"I know you want to do things, but you absolutely must hold back.">

"Yes. I understand."

Hyeonyul put a little more strength into his voice.

"Just now, I decided on my own to lie down because I didn't want to die of overwork."

He added that to reassure Jeongmin. Surely that would be enough.

<"The trembling has stopped, hasn't it? No, wait. Your palm really has healed, right?">

"Yes. There's no trembling, and when I checked my palm today, it had healed apart from a very faint scratch."

Hyeonyul looked at his palm. That would finish healing today, too.

<"Tell me immediately if anything feels wrong.">

"Understood."

<"Immediately, Hyeonyul.">

At the repeated admonition, Hyeonyul forced open his eyes, which were gradually drooping shut, and asked,

"Sometimes it seems that you don't trust me, Doctor. I find that rather contradictory, considering what you've told me about trust."

<"Contradictory, my foot. You're the one at fault for hiding things. This has happened far more than once! When was it? Back when you were a villain. You went off on some mission without even telling me and came back with a hole in your abdomen. When I asked, you said you'd taken down a villain leader, even though I'd specifically told you to be careful because I'd changed your medication that day...">

TAP.

The phone slipped from Hyeonyul's grasp. His breaths grew long and slow.

<"See? You don't listen to me, so how can I help doubting you? Isn't that right? ... Hyeonyul? Are you listening? Hyeonyul? Are you asleep?">

The voice continued from the phone, but Hyeonyul didn't wake.

<"... You're asleep. Asleep. The moment I start talking, you fall asleep. Fine, sleep. Go to sleep. Sleep deeply enough that you don't even dream.">

The call ended with that exasperated remark.

* * *

"... First, I would like to apologize."

Ha Dongu, the leader of Team One, bowed as soon as he entered the meeting room. Perhaps his belt was a little tight; he tensed his stomach.

"Further checks have confirmed that all the White Sparrows assigned to that mission were affected by psychic powers. During the investigation, we didn't bring everyone back at once. We recalled them in shifts and removed the power controlling their minds."

He raised his head again and looked around at everyone.

"You insisted so vehemently that it wasn't true. Now that it's proven, you're finally bowing your head?"

Bong Hyeonho of Team Four eyed Dongu with disdain, narrowing his eyes like a snake.

Team Three's mission had revealed that a large number of White Sparrows assigned to the operation were under mental control. How was this any different from a second collaborator incident? Hyeonho hadn't believed it at first either, but a magical examination had proved Haeryeon's claims correct.

"Your psychic powers are presumably what earned you that position. How did this happen?"

Hyeonho continued attacking Dongu.

"If not for Team Three, the entire Nest could have been taken over. Explain how this happened."

Under the continuing barrage, Dongu bowed his head low.

"Team Three's new recruit is quite something."

Yang Dojin, the leader of Team Two, laughed heartily.

At that laughter, Haeryeon immediately looked at Dojin.

"You're frightening, Haeryeon."

"I know you're not frightened."

"... Well, um, anyway, shouldn't we be glad we discovered it now, at least?"

Jeong Narin of Team Six fiddled with long bangs that hung low enough to cover their eyes. Narin had exceptionally thick hair.

"That's true. You nearly had a rough time of it, Unni, didn't you?"

Ye Juhyeon of Team Seven glanced at Narin while fiddling with her phone with her thumb. Narin lowered their head at her words, looking deeply embarrassed.

"Anyway, the reason I called you all here on such short notice is something we discovered during this mission."

Haeryeon glanced at Team Five's empty seat, then looked around at everyone.

"Former Black Eagles, you might call them. Those who were expelled have started banding together."