The Returner

1. There is no place for Lee Hyuk in this operation (3)

“You sure you don't feel bad? ”

“What a strange personality. ”

Lee Hyuk made an impression while looking at Jung Jung-min who asked for skewers.

“I'm not asking you to work, I'm telling you not to. Why would I feel bad? ”

Lee Hyuk started stirring the ice latte with a straw, and Jung Jin-min opened her eyes narrowly.

“There are people like that in the world. ”

“Who? ”

“I don't want to work, and I don't want to see it work without you. ”

“ ……. ”

Lee Hyuk tilted his head.

“What's that supposed to mean? ”

“It may sound strange, but there are actually a lot of people like that. ”

“I'm not that kind of person. ”

“I hope so. ”

Lee Hyuk smiled as Jeong-min left a strange place.

“Not that you're a bad person, but that's the way it is for everyone. If you've done something and now you're the only one who can do it, no one can feel good about it. ”

“It's not me. ”

Lee Hyuk sucked the straw.

I don't know what Jung-min was saying, but Lee Hyuk really didn't feel bad about it.

What he felt was not annoyance about exclusion, but subtle anxiety.

‘You didn't know to come out here. ’

He wouldn't have cared if it had happened on his own. Whatever the intention, every plan must be able to overcome the resistance of reality.

The plan of civilization was never meant to be.

It might have been done if I could hide it thoroughly until the end, but I wondered what would have happened if everything had gone wrong like now.

Four of the world's strongest military nations are rushing at the same time, and if they could, North Korea would have already conquered Asia.

“But strangely enough, something's not right. ”

“What?”

“It's weird that someone who shouldn't be stupid is acting like an idiot. ”

“…… I don't know what you mean. ”

“Well, never mind. ”

Lee Hyuk secretly looked at Jung-min and laughed.

“By the way... What happened to you and Idol? ”

“I've had a good time lately. It's a new song.”

“Maybe the pressure's a little off? ”

“Yes.”

Lee Hyuk seemed to be unaware of himself in Jung's view.

When Lee Hyuk and Yoon Young-min met, he started to unravel the rules for talent in the entertainment industry.

Not to be blunt, Lee Hyuk's existence eliminated the pressure on the abilities of society as a whole. Lee Hyuk's immense power in politics would not have been able to oppress the powers.

In a broad category, Lee Hyuk is also capable.

In order to continue to oppress the competent, Lee Hyuk also has to oppress. Other competents may be able to oppress them even if they resist, but the moment Lee Hyuk reacts, the Republic of Korea will have to be caught up in a tremendous need.

‘If I release the last monster, I'll be damned. ’

Of course, Lee Hyuk was more likely to use a simple method to remove the subject under pressure if he was oppressed.

It is fortunate to see it from the country's perspective, but nothing could be more frightening for its subject, politicians.

“Thank you.”

“Huh?"

“Thanks to you, I was able to continue. ”

“... What are you talking about? ”

Jeonghae shaken her head.

I don't feel sorry for him in that area.

“Then why do you ask? You don't even care. Idol.”

Lee Hyuk nodded.

When I first came back to Earth, I was somewhat happy about it, but I wasn't really interested at the moment.

It was fun for pretty girls to run around splendidly for the first time, but stimuli tend to get dull easily, and every time I see them, I get excited.

“I have an interesting idea. ”

“Huh?"

“I'm going to a reunion. ”

“Huh?"

“Come with me. ”

“… Huh? ”

Jung-min tilted his head because he didn't know the language.

* * *

The NDF was tense.

They didn't say much, but the fact that they were soon to be sent to North Korea has been straining them out.

“The atmosphere is cheap. ”

Kim Da-hyun looked around the office and shook his head.

“I might have to die soon, but I can feel good. ”

“Who dies? ”

Kim Da-hyun waved his hand as if to not say that.

I liked the nuance, but Yoon Hyuk-gyu didn't stop.

“Last but not least, this time we're mobilizing for battle. ”

“Fighting monsters is also a battle. ”

“No, it's different. ”

Yoon Hyuk-gyu drew a line.

“At last, fighting monsters is a firefighter concept. ”

“Well……. ”

“We put them where the disaster is and we solve the disaster. Protect people's lives and property? We've been out of the country a little bit, but the general feeling won't be different. Isn't that right?”

“So does he. ”

“But this isn't it. ”

Yoon Hyuk-gyu said as if he didn't like it.

“This is us being soldiers. That's where they come in, too. ”

“I can't help it. ”

“What can I do? ”

Yoon Hyuk-gyu smiled.

“When you first enrolled in KSF, did you ever hear that you were going to invade as a competent person in another country? ”

“… none. ”

Yoon Hyuk-gyu said as if to look at it.

“I wouldn't feel this way if I had been told from the beginning that we have to partly handle the role of soldiers. But now they want us to use it for whatever reason, and then they want us to go to war. Who would like that? ”

The one who came in with the door open received Yoon Hyuk-gyu's words.

“Obviously it is. ”

Yoon Hyuk-gyu looked down at Choi Jung-hoon.

“I'm sorry about that. ”

Choi Jung-hoon bowed his head deeply and Yoon Hyuk-gyu was embarrassed and shook his hand. Choi Jung-hoon came out here, and his face lit up because he felt like a shy jerk just holding his emotions.

“Don't do this. I know it's not your fault. We're the ones who have to do what we're told. ”

“... That's why I'm sorry. ”

Choi Jung-hoon sighed.

Everyone in the office was looking at Jung-hoon Choi.

“If you had said you would never participate, you might not have participated. But if we were to fall in love with this, we found that there were more threads than profits. ”

Kim Da Hyun raised his hand.

“Yes, go ahead. ”

“Are all the powers of foreign nations at war? ”

“The elite troops have all agreed to participate. ”

“Well, I can't help it. We're the only ones who can't afford not to. ”

Choi Jung-hoon smiled bitterly.

“There's definitely a side to it. So I'm going to ask you to understand this. ”

At that time, Park Seong-chan, who was silently looking at Choi Jung-hoon, said in a heavy voice.

“It's not that hard to understand. It's just... ”

Park Seong-chan was filled with people's gaze.

“This is not a monster repellent. Going to war with my life. But I must point out that participation in that war has been decided without our consent. ”

Choi Jung-hoon hardened his face.

“We are the ones who actually have to fight on the front lines. Then why is this decision being made except for us? ”

“… not the exception. ”

Kim Da-hyun opened his mouth when Jung-hoon asked.

“Excluded from what? Choe Jung-hoon went there. ”

Park Seong-chan snorted.

“Does Choi Jung-hoon have the right to represent us? ”

“Why not? He's the deputy director.”

“Really?"

Park Seong-chan looked around and said.

“Everyone agrees? ”

The answer was cosmetic. Everyone had a good feeling about Choi Jeong-hoon, but they didn't take his side easily.

“It's a bit sensitive, though. ”

Kim Da-hyun frowned at Yoon Hyuk-gyu's words.

“What's the matter? We've been through a lot together. ”

“Yes, but... ”

Hyuk-gyu slightly apologized to Jeong Hoon Choi.

“Actually, you represent the NDF, not us. ”

“… of course. ”

Choi Jung-hoon immediately understood what Yoon Hyuk-gyu was saying.

When affiliated with NDF, Choi Jung-hoon may be qualified to represent them. But if it's not NDF, he can't represent the talents as a layman.

Like a dog can't represent a cat.

“I apologize for that. It was an urgent situation... ”

“Well, I admit there's no one on our side to speak of, but from now on, take the deputy director with you in an urgent situation. ”

“As soon as possible. ”

Choi Jung-hoon nodded at Park Sung-chan's words.

“I won't rush you. ”

“That's even better. ”

I didn't know what would happen if I took Seo Ah-young and made her represent the abilities.

“So, what's the plan? ”

“There are no detailed instructions yet. For now……. ”

Choi Jung-hoon lowered his voice slightly.

“It will be in three days. ”

“Three days.... ”

Park Seong-chan shook the whale.

“Isn't it a bit urgent? We need time to prepare ourselves. ”

“We can't keep stalling when we don't know what's going on with the North Koreans. ”

“So is he. ”

Cho Jeong-hoon looked around and said, wanting to shorten the situation.

“I apologize for how things turned out. But I really didn't think I could solve it without your help. ”

I didn't hear an answer.

However, Choi Jung-hoon understood their reaction.

People who have to be dragged into battle overnight cannot feel good.

“What about you, Lee Hyuk? I don't see it.”

“Lee Lee Hyuk is not participating in this operation. ”

Until now, the quiet office began to get restless.

“… you're not participating? ”

“Yes, that's decided. ”

“Why?”

“Let's just say it's an upper-class decision. ”

I was suspicious of the agents' eyes.

Ever since Lee Hyuk came to KSF, he has never been excluded from operations.

It was Lee Hyuk who always said he hated it, but somehow managed to get in and clean up the situation if he wanted to do something.

I said I was going to die, but how comforted I was by Lee Hyuk moving together.

Seo Ah-young kicks her tongue as the agents' faces turn dark.

“What? You can't do anything without Lee Hyuk? ”

“ ……. ”

“We did well without him. Aren't you embarrassed to say you're scared without Lee Ji-hyuk? ”

“Who's scared? ”

Yoon Hyuk-gyu grinned, and Seo Ah Young smiled.

“Yes, you should. ”

When Seo Ah Young looked back, Choi Jung-hoon opened his mouth.

“The deadline is in three days. Before that, there will be training, but please keep your minds open. ”

A low sigh leaked out somewhere.