Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World

“Ah, not that one.”

 

“This one? Then… No! It’s this one!”

 

“…How do you know so well?”

 

“How many times have I paired up with you? You think I can’t read your expressions?”

 

“…Are my expressions easy to read?”

 

“Of course! Well, I’m done. Now it’s just Cha Jaeha and Mueum left?”

 

“….Yeah.”

 

The SH1 unit was enjoying a long-awaited day off. They had been roaming the gates all week, so surely they deserved a day off on the weekend.

 

The four people gathered in the training room of the education center and started playing One Card at Yoo Jian’s suggestion.

 

It was a simple card game where the person left with the Joker at the end lost. Only Cha Jaeha and Jeong Mueum were left in this game.

 

“…I’ll draw.”

 

“Okay.”

 

There was still an awkward atmosphere between the two, and it seemed Yoo Jian had arranged this moment to resolve it. She always emphasized teamwork.

 

The tension was palpable. Mueum’s thin fingers drawing a card from Cha Jaeha’s side trembled, even though the Joker was in his own hand. Like a puppy.

 

‘Mueum. So cute.’

 

‘Right? That’s why I keep teasing him. I even recorded a video.’

 

‘….Share it.’

 

‘Of course.’

 

A secret glance passed between Yoo Jian and Yu Hwasin. A video of a trembling Mueum? It would surely be adorable. They couldn’t miss out on such a precious video.

 

In the end, the One Card game ended with Jeong Mueum’s defeat. The loser had to buy drinks as punishment. Jeong Mueum reluctantly got up and said:

 

“Tell me what you want to drink.”

 

“I want an aloe drink!”

 

“Anything is fine for me.”

 

“Then Mueum, you’re going to the Association building to get the drinks, right?”

 

As Mueum stood up, Hwashin also got up. Since he had checked the Association’s shift schedule, he knew he could meet that person there.

 

“Yes. There’s no vending machine here. I heard they deliberately put them only in the Association building to avoid them being damaged by water-using ability users. Abilities are prohibited inside the Association building.”

 

“Then I’ll come with you. I have some business at the Management Department.”

 

“Well, suit yourself.”

 

***

 

It was good to warm up with a light game before diving into serious conversations. After all, there was still a lot they hadn’t sorted out about what was to come.

 

Actually,

 

‘Why am I so determined to save Ha Yoojin?’

 

That question lingered in his mind.

 

It wasn’t as if I had any affection for that kid, and her death wouldn’t harm Unit 1. If anything, it would be beneficial, since Ha Cheongwon would awaken as a result.

 

So why?

 

‘I’ve seen so many deaths and witnessed people being abandoned even after saving others.’

 

They said that you get fickle as you get older, and that was exactly what was happening to him.

 

– You should try saving others too. How long are you going to just goof around?

 

It had been a while since the nagging voice appeared.

Dragon, why do you keep chattering in my head instead of dying peacefully?

 

‘And I’m not exactly goofing around, you know?’

 

He did some work. He used his abilities to some extent… Even if he was indeed being a little laid back.

 

Hwashin, with a pout, stepped into the management office counter. Instead of Ha Cheongwon, another staff was there.

 

“Hello.”

 

“H-Hello!”

 

The staff’s eyes widened upon seeing Hwashin.

 

Hiccup. They inevitably let out a hiccup.

 

Goodness, that legendary hero was standing right in front of them. The man who came back from the brink of death, rapidly promoted from F-rank to S-rank! Who perfectly handled an S-rank gate right after awakening and proudly joined the SH1 Unit!

 

His handsome looks and laid-back personality! Even the weasel he carried around! Everything about Yoo Hwashin was charming!

 

The rookie, who had even joined his fan cafe, stuttered as if malfunctioning upon facing their idol.

 

“Wh-What brings you to the Management Department?”

 

“Did Ha Cheongwon come to work today? I saw he was scheduled to work today.”

 

When he smiled, his eyes curved charmingly. The epitome of a handsome man.

 

“W-Wait a minute.”

 

The staff hastily searched through some documents before lifting their head.

 

“Yes, yes! He’s here! He’s with the newly formed TF team, should I call him here?”

 

“I’ll go to him. Where is the TF team located?”

 

“Ah, if you go inside and turn right, it’s the room at the very end! Yes!”

 

“Thank you.”

 

As soon as Hwashin left, the staff quickly pulled out their phone. With an excited expression and fast typing, they posted enthusiastically on an anonymous bulletin board, more passionately than during work.

 

They couldn’t wait to brag about this incredible encounter.

 

***

 

Knock, knock. Hwashin opened the door slightly and peeked in.

 

“Mr. Ha Cheongwon? Are you here?”

 

“…?”

 

“That surprised me. It’s really him.”

 

“Wow.”

 

The quiet atmosphere of the office heated up instantly with Hwashin’s appearance. The people around approached him as if they were seeing a celebrity, exchanged a few words, and suggested taking selfies.

 

Of course, Hwashin didn’t refuse. He even seemed to enjoy it.

 

“Shall I get a bit closer?”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Alright, let’s take one with Pii as well. Come on out!”

 

“Pii!”

 

“Oh my gosh! So cute!”

 

“Is this the weasel from the rumors? The one you saved from the gate?”

 

“That’s right. Fortunately, I’m allowed to keep it with me under the condition that I protect it.”

 

…Ugh. Annoying.

 

What kind of atmosphere was this? Why did this guy come to his workplace just to cause trouble? Ha Cheongwon frowned openly and noisily organized the pile of papers on the table.

 

“But what brings you here? Here to talk to Cheongwon?”

 

“Yes. I have something important to say.”

 

Important to you, but probably not to me.

Cheongwon ignored the remark and continued writing his report.

 

“Wow, Cheongwon said he wasn’t close with Hwashin!”

 

“We’re not close.”

 

“We’re very close.”

 

Two conflicting answers. The people around chuckled at Cheongwon’s unusually flustered reaction, so different from his normal composure.

 

They weren’t mocking him. They just thought the two were complete opposites.

 

Look at them now. Hwashin, smiling brightly like a blooming flower, while Cheongwon, with his frown, looked like clumped mud.

 

The manager, who had changed their profile picture to one taken with Hwashin, deliberately spoke to Cheongwon.

 

“Yes, yes. When our Unit 1’s S-rank calls, you should go. Cheongwon, take a break and have some coffee. Clear your head.”

 

“Oh! Then I’ll have a choco latte. It tastes a bit like the alcohol I used to drink.”

 

Hwashin also welcomed the manager’s words with a smile.

 

Cheongwon asked in disbelief.

 

“Right now?”

 

“Yes, right now. If not now, then when?”

 

In the end, Cheongwon replied, ‘Understood’, and led Hwashin out of the office to a café. Since it was on the same floor with the Management Department that managed heroes, the overall facilities were exceptionally good.

 

Holding the choco latte he wanted, Hwashin continued.

 

“Actually, it’s not a big deal. But it’s something I absolutely must tell you.”

 

‘If it’s not a big deal, why call me out?’

 

“You’re thinking ‘If it’s not a big deal, why call me out,’ right?”

 

“No, I’m not.”

 

“Hahaha. It’s really not a big deal, I just have something to ask. About the machine that predicts gate appearances, how does it work?”

 

“? The principle of the machine is simple. It measures the distortion of the surrounding mana.”

 

“Distortion?”

 

“Yes. If we can measure the mana people possess and confirm their abilities, we can similarly predict where gates will appear. That’s the principle behind that machine. Usually, when a gate appears, the mana in the area becomes unstable. Typically, we can predict about one or two hours before a gate appears. The higher the gate’s rank, the shorter the predictable time becomes. The last A-rank gate was only predictable 20 minutes before it appeared.”

 

Hwashin put his finger on his chin.

 

The principle was similar to a ‘crack’. Indeed, lower-rank gates did look similar to cracks.

 

“Hmm, I see.”

 

“…Did you come to ask me this? You could have asked another department about the machine. There’s a dedicated IT team.”

 

Right. Hwashin had no reason to come to him specifically. Unless he was trying to bother him. …

Does he dislike me?

 

That could be. There was that incident where he had meddled about F-rank and S-rank.

Cheongwon’s mind was in turmoil.

 

To Cheongwon’s words, Hwashin calmly replied, waving his hands from side to side.

 

“Oh, right. I thought there would be a gate at the hospital your sister was admitted to. That’s why I asked.”

 

“Yes?”

 

The sudden statement made Cheongwon freeze. The hospital where Yoojin was?

 

“I think it’s a very high-risk gate, so a lot of people are going to die. However, it’s just me who feels it, so it’s hard to say it anywhere.”

 

“Are you serious?”

 

“I am serious. Why would I come all this way to lie?”

 

“You have no evidence.”

 

“My ability is the evidence. I can sense and manipulate mana. Wouldn’t my ability be more accurate than a machine for the gates?”

 

…Hwashin had a point. An awakened person’s ability would be more reliable than a man-made machine. However, no one had ever predicted gate appearances before.

 

So, there was no data on such predictions.

 

“Even if we report it to the higher-ups, verifying it will take a long time.”

 

Hwashin continued as if reading Cheongwon’s thoughts.

 

“I came to tell you first because I was worried your sister might be in danger. What do you think? It’s necessary and important information, right?”

 

Hwashin’s eyes curved as he smiled mischievously. It was not the expression of someone talking about imminent danger. Resting his arms on the table, he leaned closer to Cheongwon.

 

Prophecy, karma, magic.

 

There were various laws related to karma magic.  Among them, the most important one concerning growth was:

 

– For the present to exist, there must always be a past.

 

When a person changed, various things changed around them. Sometimes it was a place, sometimes it was people, sometimes it was something unnoticed.

 

But what ultimately controlled all these causes and effects was the changing person themselves.

 

“I think I might need your ability a bit.”

 

“…”

 

“Could you lend me your strength?”