Chương 74: S.05 Time to Fly 01(02)

Scene 02_01. A warm sunlight could be felt. Letting out a great sigh in the languid sun, Ji-young lifted her body from where she had been sitting on the 보료(Bo-ryo_cushioned mat) and twisted her waist this way and that. Through the open main gate, the 본청(Bon-cheong_Headquarters) staff could be glimpsed walking the path, still clad in thick 두루마기(Durumagi_Traditional outer coat), yet to Ji-young the sunlight was already mild enough to feel quite warm.

Wearing a modern-style 한복(Han-bok_Traditional Korean dress) jacket and skirt, she left the documents stacked on the low folding table for the moment and crossed the broad room. Ji-young, who had opened the firmly shut door and stepped out onto the wooden floor, was approached by Chae-rim, who had appeared as though from nowhere. Chae-rim: Where shall I escort you? Ji-young adjusted the five-butterfly hairpiece holding her hair in place and sniffled briefly through her nose. Ji-young: No, it's just — what was it.

I'm a bit stiff? I've been sitting and looking at documents all day, and my back feels like it's about to snap. Chae-rim: I shall bring the physician — Ji-young: No!! That's not what I meant. Uh, you know. What was it. Just bored, restless. Something like that? Don't you ever get that, Captain? Sitting under the eaves all day. Chae-rim, still in her lightly bowed posture, raised her hand briefly to scratch her head. Chae-rim: Ah, I'm — not always under the eaves. Ji-young: Hm? Then where?

Chae-rim: Atop the roof tiles, on top of the eaves, or sometimes just up on the wooden floor. And when you seem to be speaking of important matters with the Strategist, I stay on the roof tiles of the side quarters as well. Ji-young: Uh... is that enough? You don't get bored? Chae-rim: My feeling bored would actually be the better outcome. Ji-young: Ah, well. That's true. Chae-rim: Though as it happens, I have never once felt bored in all this time.

Ji-young: Then maybe things are still nowhere near the better outcome. Chae-rim: That was absolutely not what I meant. The cataclysm that took place within Headquarters has been over a month settled now, and as everyone here owes The Oldest their lives, they follow The Oldest with the deepest of loyalty. Ji-young: What "owe," really.

Chae-rim: I, having been under direct orders from The Oldest to guard the 안내자 (Annae-ja_Guide), Si-yeon, did not hear it directly, but the declaration of The Oldest passed down through the 현사 (Hyeon-sa_Black Wire) — even hearing it secondhand, it was truly magnificent. With that voice alone, everyone laid their concerns to rest, and they went on to enact those very words in practice. Smiling self-consciously, Ji-young plopped herself down onto the wooden floor and patted lightly beside her.

Urging Chae-rim to sit, Ji-young spoke to Chae-rim, who carefully perched herself on the edge of the wooden floor. Ji-young: It's just — how to put it. It's started to really feel like a responsibility now. Chae-rim: Does it burden you? Ji-young shook her head firmly. Ji-young: No. Absolutely not that. It's just. Now it really feels — how to say it. Like family. Ah, so all these people really are looking out for me. I want to do more for them too. I have to. But then, what is there to do? That kind of thing.

Chae-rim: You already do many things for us. On personal matters alone — that you check the year-end settlement papers yourself, to begin with. Ji-young turned her gaze sidelong and glanced at the stack of papers laid out in her room. With a smile still on her lips, she turned back and gazed quietly at her own hand. Spreading out her gracefully tapered fingers, she looked at a single long scar that remained on her palm from when she was small. It was the wound she had taken long ago, saving Hee-jin.

A long trace where the blade had slid and grazed her hand. A scar long and slender and faded as faded could be, one Hee-jin had never properly seen. A scar she had thought was no longer easily visible, yet sometimes she felt as though it stood out again. Folding her palm closed and turning her hand back over, she looked at it from both sides in turn, and with the same smile, she answered Chae-rim. Ji-young: There's more I can do, right? For everyone.

Chae-rim: As I said, The Oldest is already doing her utmost for all of us. Every one of us owes a debt of life. There can be nothing greater than that. Ji-young: That's a debt all of you owe to my mother. Not to me. Ji-young trailed it off as if murmuring to herself, then sank into deep thought. Suddenly, as though something had come to her, Ji-young snapped her head up and looked at Chae-rim. Ji-young: Ah, tomorrow is the weekend — what are you up to, Captain?

Chae-rim: Uh, w-well, I — while The Oldest is out on weekends, uh... while that is, that is to say. Ji-young: Hm. Is it a private matter, so it's a bit... You don't have to answer if — Chae-rim: Uh, um, well. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. Chae-rim glanced about for a moment, then leaned her seated body forward a bit more and whispered something quietly to Ji-young.

Ji-young, wearing an expression of mild surprise, glanced sideways at Chae-rim again. Ji-young: Really? Chae-rim, after briefly checking her surroundings, nodded. Ji-young: That's unexpected?! Well, then go out on a weekday for a change. Why are you always next to me?? Chae-rim: Ah, that — that is my duty. Work and hobby are separate matters. It is fortunate that the hobby is something close to a specialty, but the weekends alone are more than enough. Ji-young: That really is unexpected.

I mean, it's not exactly an easy hobby to take up. Chae-rim: Most people assume as much, so I do not bother to mention it, but the Executive Secretary, who has been to my room before, knows. Ji-young: Ah, that's right. You said the two of you were friends. From way back. Chae-rim: And our intake years as new recruits were the same. Ji-young: Wow, hell. Must've been fun. The two of you. Chae-rim: Even so, neither of us is much of a talker, so it wasn't, like, particularly fun or anything.

Ji-young: No way, Yeon-hui ajeossi is really good at jokes. Chae-rim: And I was the sort who didn't know how to laugh when hearing those. Yeon-su did torment the two of us with provocations from time to time, but that probably did make things at least a little better. Ji-young: Well, the Secret Agent does have a knack for popping in at random. Chae-rim: By the way, The Oldest. Ji-young glanced at Chae-rim. Chae-rim: The two of them — how long do you plan to keep them on the outskirts?

Now that, at the very least, those of Director rank are aware, would it not be acceptable to bring them in? Ji-young: Of course, things on the inside are all settled now. Hm. That's true. But, Captain. Chae-rim: Yes. Ji-young, sitting cross-legged, wobbled her hips as she shuffled herself over until she was roughly beside Chae-rim. Ji-young: If they were to come in, on which side would the guard detail for the two of them fall?

Chae-rim: By the original rule, the 내금부 (Nae-geum-bu_Inner Guard) — that is to say, the Guard Corps — would arrange a special detail. The previous Guide passed away when we were children, so matters relating to her guard remain only in documents, but it is certain that the Guard Corps handles it. Ji-young: Would it be a problem to have the 밀정 (Mil-jeong_Secret Agent) do it? Chae-rim: There would be no impediment, but — what is on your mind... Ji-young: It feels a bit off to give a title to So-hui alone, doesn't it.

Si-yeon would just become a freeloader inside. That sits a little uneasy with me, given everyone at Headquarters. I was thinking of keeping Yeon-su as my Secret Agent, and placing Si-yeon as So-hui's Secret Agent. Chae-rim: You intend to entrust the Guide's guard to Si-yeon. Ji-young: Yes. The two of them stick together to death as it is, and there are few people as strong as Si-yeon. Even if So-hui can hold her own share, if the Envoy's Legion comes at her, there isn't really any other answer, is there?

Chae-rim: That, to be honest, is the case for me as well. Ji-young: Hey, I don't mean for you to feel small about it — I just mean, that being the case, So-hui's better off with Si-yeon at her side. Chae-rim: In strict principle, you cannot keep more than one Secret Agent. A Secret Agent is a position that falls under no rank. It is a seat that only The Oldest may command, and one that, by The Oldest's order, may take a person's life unbound by the 율법 (Yul-bub_The Code).

It is dangerous enough to that degree, so having two — Ji-young: Would it be that bad? Chae-rim: Even so, in truth, no one can stop The Oldest's will. Ji-young: Oh come on, as if I'd ever abuse power. Chae-rim: That is not my meaning. If it is the Envoy that Si-yeon bears, and the Harbinger that The Oldest bears — the very capability and intent of such beings cannot be reined in by the laws of humans alone. That much is certain — they are transcendent existences. Ji-young: That's true, isn't it?

Chae-rim: I do not believe anyone will take issue. No — people will rather find it preferable that way. The Guide's seat is one whose life will be sought by the most after The Oldest's own. As dangerous as that seat is, if Si-yeon — and the Envoy within Si-yeon — were to stay at her side, there could be no surer guard than that. Ji-young: Hm. Then since the matter has come up, I should ask when they're coming. Ji-young pulled the phone from her pocket and unfolded it open and wide.

While searching through the contacts inside, her lips were twitching faintly. Ji-young: It's a heavy time for her right now. Scene 02_02. Though the winter had grown rather warm, the white snow lodged between the mountain ridges still showed no sign of giving way. Beyond the branches of a white plum tree on which a single bud had begun to break, a red 실타래(Sil-ta-rae_Skein of thread) and fluttering panels of 삼베(Sambae_Hemp cloth) moved in a flurry.

The Skein of thread of So-hui, weaving among the Hemp cloth like a thin scattering of red blossoms, fell limp to the ground each time it brushed the panels. Without a moment to steady her sharply rising breath, she pressed in through Gyeong-seo's Hemp cloth. As if Gyeong-seo had not anticipated the small, swift movement of So-hui driving in, she hastily turned one foot — and unable to block So-hui's dance entirely, she just barely managed to deflect it sideways.

In the moment Gyeong-seo faltered, the Red Thread snared Gyeong-seo's ankle and toppled her balance completely. So-hui, passing past Gyeong-seo, swiftly pivoted on her axis and yanked at the Red Thread coiled around the one ankle. Driving rapidly toward Gyeong-seo again, So-hui — failing to deflect the broad Hemp cloth that had risen up to her eyes — found herself wrapped in the Hemp cloth's surface entire.

Flailing like a child swaddled in a great quilt, So-hui, in a tone of utter foul play, let loose a tantrum from inside the Hemp cloth. So-hui: Aaargh!! For fuck's sake!! Mun Gyeong-seo!! So-hui was tangled up in the great Hemp cloth like someone doing a ghost impression, unable to find her bearings. Gyeong-seo let the unfurled Hemp cloth settle, and facing the huffing So-hui's countenance, scolded So-hui in the manner of an aimless complaint. Gyeong-seo: Ehhhh!? Why are you taking it out on me??

I'm only guilty of showing you my dance. At Gyeong-seo's now rather casual form of address, So-hui scrunched her face. With her hair standing up like static, she paused her flailing and began smoothing the lifted strands. So-hui: Argh, seriously, the cloth panel is cheating!! Gyeong-seo: Eh, what cheating. Your opponent's not gonna come at you with any handicap. If anything, gouging the eyes out first wouldn't be enough, you know? So-hui: Ha.

So-hui, having tidied her hair, was unable to muster a proper rebuttal to Gyeong-seo's words, and wiped at her sweat-damp forehead. Just then, Yeon-su emerged from inside the side quarters and handed So-hui her phone, which had been buzzing in a loud vibration. Receiving her own phone from Yeon-su, So-hui picked up the call with a puzzled expression. So-hui: Yes. Scene 02_03. Ji-young, sprawled flat on the wooden floor, began to speak to So-hui in a flat, listless voice. Ji-young: Hey. When are you coming?

So-hui: Where? Ji-young: Headquarters. So-hui: Ah. The place we're going to live?? Ji-young: Yeah. Beside Ji-young, lying listlessly, in place of Chae-rim with whom she had been conversing, Hee-jin — who had just crossed the main gate — was now standing. Scene 02_04. As So-hui took the call, Gyeong-seo, seeming to feel the cold suddenly sharp, shuddered with a chill and hurried inside. So-hui paused the body she had been about to send into the side quarters and conveyed a brief, considering air to Ji-young.

Ji-young: Why? You still can't come? So-hui: Sis. Ji-young: Yeah. So-hui: Before that — we're going to head up to 수향동 (Su-hyang-dong_Su-hyang District) on the weekend. Scene 02_05. At So-hui's nothing-of-note proposal, Ji-young — who had been lying sprawled, speaking in a listless voice — sprang upright and corrected her posture. Ji-young: Already, then. So-hui briefly held her words at Ji-young's hardened expression, but it amounted to a sufficient answer.

At So-hui's response without a single reply, Ji-young nodded slowly, then gave So-hui her answer. Ji-young: Alright. Got it. Should I draft the outing papers for this weekend as well, then? So-hui: You don't have to go that far. There's still some left — I won't slip up like Mom did, and I won't miss the mark, either. Never. Ji-young: So-hui. Scene 02_06. At the low voice of Ji-young calling her name, the answer of So-hui — still bearing a heavy weight upon her — did not come easily.

Composing her emotions briefly, So-hui returned her belated reply to Ji-young. So-hui:... Yeah. Ji-young: Does Jeong-seon know? At Ji-young's careful question, So-hui briefly could not answer. Ji-young, who knew the meaning of the long silence, did not press So-hui any further. Rather, with a slightly subdued voice, she only delivered So-hui's answer in her stead. So-hui moved the remaining steps and entered the side quarters.

As though the sound of the closing door had delivered So-hui's answer for her, Ji-young carried her flat, subdued voice in time with the sound of the closing door. Ji-young: I see.... So-hui, attempting to draw away the sunken voice of Ji-young, straightened her back and lifted her voice a touch lighter. So-hui: Anyway, I'm drinking with the kids tonight. I'm going to wash up and head out to the market, so go on and get to your work. Ji-young: Got it. Take care on the way. Ji-young's call ended.

After her lightly wrapped-up voice trailed off, So-hui tossed the phone she'd been holding carelessly onto the sofa. The phone bounced limply off the cushioned sofa and smacked into the face of Si-yeon, who was lying there. So-hui, flustered, offered an apologetic look toward the irritation of Si-yeon, who had been dozing.