Chapter 52 - Staggered (1) (1/2)

Staggered (1)

The scene had monster bodies scattered everywhere.

Due to the quick action, there was almost no property damage, and on top of that, they succeeded in destroying all the monsters at the gate’s entrance.

There were five members of Team A, and it was only natural that they arrived on time.

Then, the Aegis’ plane landed, and an Awakened man in a black coat descended.

The man who was alone approached Lee Soo-Yeon, who was currently sitting on a wreck while checking the documents in her hand.

“Thank you,” the man said as he took off his hat.

“You can easily take control over this particular spot,” Lee Soo-Yeon said from that man’s accustomed voice and looked up at him.

Then, a familiar face that she’d seen a lot of times came into view.

“Their numbers were actually a lot, even for the team leader.”

Lee Soo-Yeon laughed faintly.

The man’s name was Choi Hyun-Tae, one of her team members until the previous year.

Then, he finally got promoted and even had a team assigned to him.

It was one of the newly formed teams for this cycle.

“So, it’s temporary. Honestly, there’s Kang-Joon and Hyun-Seo, but I don’t know why I was selected, not even an A rank.”

“They’re still new kids, and you’re a team leader already.”

“Is that a compliment? It sounds very bitter.”

“I like to say it that way.”

The two laughed shallowly.

Then, Lee Soo-Yeon smiled and looked at him with a very serious expression.

“You deserve it, so I entrusted it to you. It’s not the other way around. It’s the responsibility of an entire team, but I know you’re not the type of person who’s going to waste it. Take pride.”

“Haha, it’s an honor.”

When they gathered the Awakeners, a few people at hand could be the leader of Aegis.

As the world’s best gathered Awakeners, the leader had to have the ability to be recognized and to lead the people.

When team members looked up to the team leader, teamwork tends to be better.

Choi Hyun-Tae, although he couldn’t go beyond A rank, has good skills, and has enough qualities in most aspects of his judgment and career.

At least Lee Soo-Yeon in this position thought so.

“Where is he……”

Choi Hyun-Tae looked around repeatedly.

From the Aegis staff to local officials at the site where the gate was finished, many people were running around.

“Oh, Il-Hyun is there!” Lee Soo-Yeon faced her head and pointed to one side.

Then, Choi Hyun-Tae’s eyes moved along its path.

Il-Hyun, who was having a serious conversation with Ghost and Lee Tae-hee, arrived.

“What do you want to eat for lunch?” he said even though their conversation was casual.

“Two of the most anticipated Awakeners are here. Where did that guy come from? Usually, I don’t care about something like this,” he asked as he slightly lowered his voice.

Amazingly, Lee Soo-Yeon brought a person for the first time.

However, his skill soon became too promising for Aegis, and it’s now comparable to Lee Tae-hee’s.

He has already reached the three-digit number of the B-ranked monster kills, but Togra actually has a history of capturing A-ranked ace monsters.

Of course, after removing his solid body, he was equal to some of the weaker A-class monsters, but recruiting someone who Awakened just a while ago was a big deal.

It was natural that curiosity and questions were flying around, about where the surprisingly unknown Awakener rookie came from.

But Lee So-Yeon wasn’t saying anything. She was just staring at him.

“Right, you won’t say anything. I already expected it.”

“Because we’re in different situations. Anyway, I have high expectations this time,” Lee Soo-Yeon stood up, putting documents in an envelope.

“I’m turning thirty soon, and I want to stop. I can’t get married and die old if I go on this way.”

“But as I watch what’s happening right now, I think this cycle is going to be the busiest, don’t you think?” Choi Hyun-Tae carefully asked.

He watched her personality change over the past few years; she seemed to leave the scene by saying.

“I don’t know.”

Although the Aegis team leader was usually busy, Lee Soo-Yeon was famous for working around the clock, and it wasn’t because she was obsessed with money or fame that she was so buried in her work.

“Ah, man!… I can’t see you die.” Choi Hyun-Tae said as he looked at her.

Lee Soo-Yeon, who bitterly glanced at him, brushed off her dusty clothes.

“So, you’re actually looking forward to it.”

From where she was standing, she looked at Lee Tae-hee and Il-Hyun and thought that they would be responsible for the next generations to come.

Lee Tae-hee had two instincts with very high potential among A ranks, which happened to be the highest level, and was in full bloom recently.

Above all, the other guy…

He was a bit old for the next generation, but he clearly showed strong potential and an amazing growth rate.

Lee Soo-Yeon thought that maybe both of them can change the world.

“I’m tired. Don’t tire yourself,” Lee Soo-Yeon hit Choi Hyun-Tae’s shoulders.

“Let’s go pack up, everyone! We have to go back.”

* * *

25th.

Korea’s bustling streets were filled with excitement.

Carols flowed from place to place, and the large trees glowed.

It was snowing in moderation, and lovers and harmonious families were enjoying Christmas day.

“Nice,” Il-Hyun looked around and smiled.

The streets were incredibly crowded, but for the past few weeks, he was only looking at the broken ruins, his heart warming up just by beholding the peaceful scenery before him without a worry.

Except he doesn’t have a girlfriend to fold his arms around with.

“OK. I don’t have a date… It’s just that I’m too busy with…work,” Il-Hyun walked by and justified himself to the couples passing by.

At that time, the shopping bag he was holding shook.

The Summoners were lazing among the items they bought as gifts for his parents.

“We’re going soon, so stay calm,” Il-Hyun touched the shopping bag.

He didn’t want to attract the people’s attention, and randomly changing his face also changed his standard impression.

Although many people didn’t notice as they barely only slightly strained their eyes.

Even if the Summoner’s sizes were reduced, they ran on fours, had unusual traits like visible nine tails.