Chapter 16

EP 4 - A Big Picture Requires a Big Brush (4)

It has been three days since the outrageous bullying began.

"......It's fine."

"Thank you."

"It seems you have a surprising amount of knowledge about the legal field."

"Not at all."

As Cha Jae-geun stamped the documents I handed him, he tilted his head.

"By the way, why did you choose such a name?"

'Monster Damage Recovery Foundation'

To be honest, it's a bit of an odd name.

"It's just that I'm not very good at coming up with names..."

If I named the foundation after Han Seung-moon, it would be too obvious.

"Ah, I see."

"So, I went with the most straightforward option."

If I made the name too complicated, people would just call it the Han Seung-moon Foundation, right?

*

"Did you arrive in Busan safely?"

-Huh. I feel heavy coming here alone.

"You seem to be smiling."

-I just met my granddaughter.

"Congratulations."

Yang Pan-seok arrived in Busan via the land route from Gangwon Province, along with other rescued political figures from north of the Han River.

-I had a showdown with the mayor of Busan. He's currently the top presidential candidate for the Republican Party, and we seem to get along well.

"What kind of person is he?"

-He's set in his ways, but his ears are open.

"I get it."

-I'll make a good position for you later. By the way.

Yang Pan-seok's voice, filled with expectation, came through.

-How about the foundation? Did Minister Cha confirm it?

"It was successful."

-That's great!

Yang Pan-seok cheered on the other end of the phone.

-Don't worry about the small stuff. People here only care about rising prices; they won't care what you do.

"Is that so?"

-The skyrocketing oil prices are a bigger problem. The Arabs have cut off the oil supply.

The sea routes are blocked.

-Luckily, the government complex is in Sejong City, so the central government won't collapse. The section chiefs are managing to hold on.

"That's a silver lining. I've patched things up with a lawyer and a makeshift labor lawyer here. We'll have to suppress things with martial law for now."

-We can't pass legislation immediately, so we'll have to work with the Republican Party. I'll make sure they don't ruin things.

"Thank you, sir."

-By the way, I talk to you more than my own children. They've already decided on the distribution of my estate. They're indifferent now that I'm alive.

What can I say? You're a stubborn old man, but you'll do fine.

I didn't have time to worry about this old man.

*

Since that day, Cha Jae-geun has often called me in.

"How are the businesses the foundation will operate coming along?"

"The road network is paralyzed......"

"A can of tuna costs 70,000 won......"

He seems to see me as some kind of idea bank.

"The clerical staff is being negotiated, and we can start operations soon. Can you requisition a research facility in northern Seoul?"

"Designate the roads the military will use and control access. I was shocked to see tanks and Sonatas sharing the road."

"If we requisition essential goods from large supermarkets and distribute them for free, who would pay 70,000 won for a can of tuna? They'll just steal it anyway, so just distribute it."

I often helped with non-military matters and became closer to him. More accurately, I gained his trust.

For example, I persuaded the mayor of Dongducheon, who refused to give up land, using political logic. I also distributed envelopes to journalists who occasionally visited.

"......Six civilians were killed due to the 2nd Armored Brigade's 98th Tank Battalion's misfire."

"I'll hold an emergency press conference on the current status of the national army. It will definitely draw attention."

"......I'll make sure the compensation is thorough. Either way."

I even took on some shady tasks. Since I often carried black money as an aide to Representative Yang Pan-seok, it didn't feel particularly uncomfortable.

The only problem was,

"......There are no Hunters we can immediately use as combat forces."

"Hasn't the National Intelligence Service and the Security Command found any yet?"

"It seems there are fewer superhumans than expected."

Cha Jae-geun frowned and sighed.

The orphanage is being prepared smoothly, but sending minors to the battlefield after feeding them magic stones is a truly despicable act.

If it were a construction site, it would be different. Anyway.

"Minister, it seems there are fewer superhumans than we expected."

"......Even though four superhumans came from the group of Han Seung-moon, Han Yeo-dol, Cheon Hwa-ran, and Gan Ji-yoon?"

Suddenly, an idea came to me.

"We were right below when the gate opened."

"......Then,"

"People near the strange phenomenon gained strange powers. Isn't that a good hypothesis?"

We discussed ways to secure superhumans for a while, but no concrete solutions emerged.

In fact, I didn't actively offer my opinions.

Since I already controlled the orphanage as a supply source, I didn't want other routes to open up and reduce my influence.

Monopoly is crucial in both politics and business.

*

Lying on the dormitory bed, covered in a warm blanket, I stared at the ceiling, but I still couldn't believe it.

I feel like a monster might jump out from behind the door at any moment. I can't forget the bright red eyes of that blue monkey.

Sometimes I get a little scared.

I glanced around the dormitory.

Cheon Hwa-ran went out to find a suitable location for the research facility, and Gan Ji-yoon was taking care of the children.

Of course, Gan Ji-yoon is flying around to avoid her father in the air. She's now fast enough that Gan Ji-yoon can't catch her. It's only a matter of time before she's caught.

We'll have to reveal superhuman abilities to the media soon, which is also a concern. There's already a lot of buzz from various videos.

Lee Ho-jeong is a bit thin and weak, so after staying up for three nights, she can't get out of bed.

Yang Il-ho, who I often use, seems to be in better shape. He's fiddling with the TV remote.

He's pressing the buttons nervously. On closer inspection, he's holding the remote upside down. Is he crazy?

Anyway, none of them are normal.

Sip. I put my mouth to the straw of the yogurt. Now that sugar is in my body, I feel a bit better.

"Is it livable?"

Yeo-dol clicked her tongue and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Sis."

"What."

"Will you hit me if I ask for another yogurt?"

Yeo-dol hit me in the chest with her crossed arms. Fortunately, it was just a light tap this time.

"......What should we do from now on?"

She suddenly muttered gloomily. The TV is reporting a large-scale gas explosion in Seocho District.

To be honest, I don't know what to do either. I hid my anxiety and put on a nonchalant air.

"That's something we can't control."

"......"

"Let's do our best in our respective roles."

Soldiers protect the country. Doctors save lives.

Politicians strive to gain power.

Actually, I felt a bit guilty about striving for power in this situation, but looking back, it was the same even when the world was normal.

While tens or hundreds of people were dying in Africa or some war zone, I was trying to gain power.

The only difference is whether I can see death or not. I consoled myself with that thought.

I suddenly thought that Gan Ji-yoon and Cheon Hwa-ran were a bit impressive. They went to war zones as war correspondents after graduating from Korea University. Cheon Hwa-ran went to provide medical aid.

Maybe they are more needed in the world than I am.

The irony is that I, who can have a greater impact on the world, am a bit of a paradox.

I poked Yeo-dol.

"Let's watch a variety show instead of the news."

"Can you do that in this situation?"

"Cable reruns."

"Do you want to watch that in this situation?"

"Ah, my head hurts. I want to watch a variety show......"

Out of boredom, I started to grind my teeth. It's an old habit.

"People who like detective and political dramas criticize their parents for watching low-quality, melodramatic shows."

"Uh-huh."

"But it's because adults are making political dramas in real life. They're tired and don't want to deal with complex plots in dramas too."

"Uh-huh."

"It's the same now. Who doesn't know the situation is dogshit? I don't want to hear 'We're screwed' on TV too."

"Uh-huh."

"So, let's watch a variety show."

"Do it yourself. Don't you have hands? Don't you have feet?"

That's a bit of a provocation.

Then,

"R, Representative...!"

Bae Chae-won, who had been in shock for a long time, finally spoke to me.

"Uh, student. What's the matter?"

Bae Chae-won is treated with unspoken care in the dormitory. She sits in a corner every day, staring blankly at family photos on her smartphone.

Even when the battery ran out and the phone turned off, she stared blankly at the empty screen.

No one asked directly, but it was clear she had lost her family.

If not, she would have been out searching for them among the refugees on the streets of Paju and Yangju.

I secretly gave her a magic stone once to see if she could absorb it, but she couldn't, so I left her alone.

Bae Chae-won got up and approached me for the first time. She even grabbed my sleeve with trembling eyes and pulled me.

"Get under the bed. Get under the bed...!"

"Uh, uh?"

"Everyone, move away from the windows!"

"Student? Are you-"

"Quickly-!"

Is she crazy? Her face turned red with anger, and she yelled at us. Everyone moved away from the windows with a slightly disgusted look.

The problem is me. I use the bed near the window, so I can't move away immediately. Still, something felt off, so I tried to get up quickly.

"Ouch!"

Bae Chae-won pulled me urgently, and I fell off the bed.

It hurts.

I tried to get up, but I couldn't.

"No! Student! What are you-"

"Get down!"

This girl tackled me. Despite her small stature, narrow shoulders, and lack of muscle, she couldn't overpower a disabled person and ended up on top.

Oh, my life.

- Bang!

With a loud noise,

The window shattered, and flames rushed in.

Shards of glass rained down.

It's hot. It's like a fireball from a movie.

Fortunately, the explosion subsided quickly. Fortunately, our room wasn't severely damaged.

Bae Chae-won seems to have fainted. Her back is burned, and she has severe burns.

Yeo-dol quickly tore off the burning clothes and carefully carried the unconscious girl to an undamaged bed.

I lay there in a daze, then grabbed Gan Ji-yoon's hand and got up. I glanced at the bed I had been using.

The bed was completely melted, and large pieces of metal were embedded in it.

I looked at the injured and unconscious Bae Chae-won.

I have to admit it.

If it weren't for her, I would be dead now.

*

"......Among the people who died in the 98th Tank Battalion's misfire, there was a helicopter pilot's daughter?"

"I have nothing to say. I apologize."

"No, no. I'm not asking for an apology. I support your methods, Minister."

This guy. He's tough, but the side effects are already showing. Actually, it's not entirely the Minister's fault.

I don't know.

The helicopter pilot crashed into the martial law headquarters. He was a single father who went berserk when his daughter died.

Fortunately, our room was a bit away from the epicenter, or we might have all died.

If Bae Chae-won hadn't evacuated me, I would have died instantly. My head is spinning.

"Uh, Representative?"

As I came out of the Minister's office, Gan Ji-yoon, who had been waiting, hesitantly spoke.

"Are the kids okay? Did they get hurt...?"

"Yes, fortunately, they're fine. Ji-yoon blocked the fire with her telekinesis..."

"Already creating a telekinetic barrier?"

"Anyway, that's not the important part..."

Gan Ji-yoon spoke cautiously.

"Um, due to my profession, I have a good memory for small details. I noticed something, but I thought I might have heard wrong, so I didn't mention it. I'm sorry."

"No, no. What did you mean...?"

"About that Bae Chae-won student. When she was rescued from the roof and arrived at the headquarters, didn't she thank you?"

"Yes, she did."

"She didn't say 'thank you for saving me,' but 'thank you for opening the door.'"

"......"

"How did that student know you opened the door?"

......A useful tool has come into play.

EP 4

A Big Picture Requires a Big Brush

END