Chapter 194 - Background Investigation

After many twists and turns following Da-in's departure, that night.

The four PMC members gathered in their room, sunk in gloom.

"...Do you think Teacher Da-in really left for good...?"

No. 2 mumbled with her face buried in her knees.

Toward No. 2, who was hiding her face behind her beige hair and muttering those words,

No. 3, the red-haired girl sitting cross-legged, tried to speak in a deliberately cheerful voice.

"...But still! She said she'd come see us several times a week. Let's not be too heartbroken!"

"No... I want to see Teacher Da-in every day..."

However, No. 3's words were cut off by the small-framed No. 4, who was sprawled on the floor whining.

"...Actually, I miss her too."

Even No. 3 finally admitted her true feelings in a dejected voice, then leaned her head heavily against the wall.

The three of them slumped back into depression.

When they had lost everything—home, friends, family—they had volunteered for this PMC, clutching at straws.

And the only one who had encouraged, comforted, and acknowledged these wounded girls was Da-in.

They had felt the warmth of a protector for the first time in their lives.

That's why they had depended on Da-in so much, leaning on her psychologically, making the shock of her departure all the greater.

As everyone was sinking into gloom,

The gray-haired young man leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, No. 1, snorted and spoke up.

"...Are you all idiots?"

"What? Hey, Lee Se-geom, aren't you sad that Teacher Da-in left like this?"

"Of course I'm disappointed too, but what's going to change by moping around and whining?"

After saying that, he opened his eyes, gripped his sword and said:

"...Have you already forgotten what Da-in told us? A great crisis is coming to the world, and we're the ones who need to step up when it happens. Are you going to betray Da-in's wishes?"

"What does that have to do with Teacher Da-in leaving us now..."

"It has everything to do with it. If we work harder and reach a higher level, won't he look our way again?"

When No. 1 spoke with such passionate eyes, everyone seemed to be coming around, thinking "...Is that so?"

And sensing their change in attitude, No. 1 drove the point home more firmly.

"Yes. Remember how he explained why he had to leave us? Didn't he say it was because he had more important work at the company? Then if we grow and become that 'important work,' wouldn't he come back to us?"

As he spoke, he gazed at the starlight in the dark night sky outside the window and muttered.

"Yes... if we become as strong as that hero, Stardust... wouldn't he look back at us again?"

No. 1.

The second youngest of the four after No. 4, still a minor.

Despite his young age, having been used as a hunting dog in criminal organizations since childhood and seeing all the ugliness the world had to offer, he was mature for his age.

But no matter how mature, a child is still a child. Having lived as a hunting dog from a young age, his mind was sick with wounds, and though he pretended to be indifferent on the outside, he lived with deep scars inside.

And the first person to recognize his heart was Da-in.

'...It's okay to cry. There's nothing shameful about shedding tears.'

After that night, having a heart-to-heart conversation with Da-in, No. 1 had made a decision.

To regard him as his true master, to live as his sword from then on.

After this brief reminiscence, No. 1 spoke to the other three sprawled around the room.

"So, we have no choice but to train like we're dying and move forward. When the crisis he mentioned finally comes, he'll come looking for us again."

"...But still."

"Besides, Da-in said he'd visit us every week anyway. If we show no improvement and remain stagnant, wouldn't he be disappointed in us?"

"Ugh... I guess so..."

The three seemed to accept this reasoning. Yes, come to think of it, that made sense. If we keep growing, won't he look back at us again?

As everyone was becoming hopeful with such thoughts,

No. 2, who had been quietly listening, raised her finger and said to everyone:

"And there's something else we need to do."

"...What is it?"

At No. 1's question, No. 2 fell into quiet contemplation.

The girl with beige hair, No. 2.

In her childhood, angered by classmates who bullied her for not having parents, she had unknowingly used her ability to shoot an arrow of light.

Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the child was injured, and the parents were furious. As the story became distorted, it seemed as if she had attacked someone with a knife, and she was suddenly treated like a monster, forcing her to leave school.

Since then, she had developed a personality that made it difficult to trust others.

She became prickly and hostile to others. But deep in her heart, she wanted to get along with other people.

It was Da-in who brought these feelings to the surface and comforted her wounds.

'It's okay to make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. Even if others criticize and curse you for one mistake... I, at least, will believe in you.'

At first, she pushed him away. She thought he was just like other adults, full of pretense.

But despite her prickliness, he continued to treat her with sincerity.

Having opened her heart only to Da-in, she didn't want their relationship to end as just a formal teacher-student connection.

With these thoughts, No. 2 spoke up.

"So while we train like that, let's use our spare time to investigate Teacher Da-in."

"Investigate... Teacher Da-in?"

"Yes, think about it. Someone with his level of skill couldn't have gone unnoticed by the public all this time, right? He must be hiding his identity and active somewhere. As a hero or whatever."

Having said that, No. 2, Seo Chae-young, curled her lips into a smile and said:

"That way we can find out his true identity... Then he'll have nothing to hide from us and we can become closer. What do you think?"

"Oh, not a bad idea!"

"...I think that makes sense. I'll start looking into former heroes."

As they were all burning with enthusiasm to investigate Da-in,

No. 1, who should have stopped them, was quietly thinking while leaning against the wall.

'...Hiding his identity and being active somewhere, yes. That could be true.'

Even in the organization he belonged to, it was rare to see someone as skilled as Da-in. And the way Da-in helped with their training showed skills that couldn't exist without combat experience.

So Da-in's claim that he was just "working a desk job at Yu-seong Group" was likely just an excuse. He might really be doing something else.

Especially considering his connection to Yu-seong Corporation...

'I remember the organization clearly warned us never to touch anything related to Yu-seong Corporation.'

Though they pretend to be a clean company on the surface, in reality they're the shadowy power controlling the Republic of Korea.

Given his connection to Yu-seong Corporation, Da-in might be quietly working as a villain in the shadows.

No. 1 shared this view with the others, and they all nodded, saying they would take it into consideration.

"Well, it doesn't really matter if Teacher is a villain or a hero."

That was all No. 2 said.

From that day on, the PMC members had two major tasks.

One was to repeat training and sparring every day to grow to a higher level.

The second was to secretly investigate Da-in to uncover his hidden identity.

Just these two.

***

"Somehow, I feel like the net is closing in..."

"What do you mean, oppa?"

"No, I just have this strange feeling..."

In the original work, Stardust had two abilities.

Physical enhancement and flight using the power of starlight.

And another ability she possessed, though not officially recognized—her heightened senses.

Lately, I've been thinking:

When you get down to it, Stardust and I share the same root of power... maybe I have heightened senses too?

Otherwise, I can't explain this uneasy feeling I get sometimes.

Well, that's probably not it. It's just my mood and condition.

But more importantly...

"Girls, how about giving me some space now?"

"No way, you might run off somewhere again."

"Mm-hmm, that's right."

"Just deal with it~"

Seo-eun holding onto my right arm, Eun-wol gripping my left arm, and Seo Ja-young who's even lying across my legs.

"Come on... I just got back, where would I go? I'm hot..."

"I'll turn on the air conditioner for you."

"It's almost fall, what air conditioner..."

Beep. With that sound, the air conditioner turned on.

I let out a helpless sigh in the midst of it all.

"Hmph. You disappear for two months and didn't expect this?"

"Da-in, have some fruit at least."

"Ah, thank you, Su-bin. Seo-eun, let go of my hand so I can eat..."

"No, I'll just feed you."

"Wait... mmph."

As I chewed the orange Su-bin gave me, I took a rest. My arms and legs were numb, but...

Anyway, I successfully completed the PMC training project after investing a whole two months.

So, what's next?

I should cause another terrorist incident.

No matter how much I develop Stardust, it's never enough.

And so I began planning my next move.

First, I need some rest...