OMH Chapter 59
by VolareThe Central Research Center is just another name for the Research Center A-dong, where I always take classes.
The Central Research Center is uniquely structured, divided into three zones.
Deepest inside, a sealed-off space, is the Guide Residential Area. Next to it are state-of-the-art experimental equipment facilities and exclusive facilities for S-grade Espers.
And on the opposite side, numerous research labs are clustered together.
Overall, it’s one building, but the entrances to each zone are different.
Room 172, where I usually go for classes, is one of the training rooms near the S-grade Esper exclusive facilities. The entrance to the Guide Residential Area is also relatively close.
However, the research lab cluster we’re going to now is in the same building, but the entrance is on the completely opposite side.
The research labs at the Central Research Center are often isolated from the outside world for security purposes, so they supposedly install entrances in places with minimal foot traffic.
But still, those secrets are known by those who should know them.
Like people like me, a 12-year veteran Esper.
For example, the fact that the A-grade Guide at this Ability Improvement Research Lab can’t go outside because they are essential personnel for the lab’s secrets.
The research labs treat everyone harshly, but they especially overwork the Guides.
This is because there are few Guides dedicated to the research labs.
There can only be a few research lab-dedicated Guides. The Guide Director doesn’t want to assign more than the minimum number of personnel because the research labs treat Guides so poorly.
The Guide Director didn’t want Guide personnel dedicated to the research labs. He wanted to allow them to freely choose research lab work from the Central like general missions.
But the research labs strongly opposed.
The research labs insisted that they needed dedicated Guides, making ridiculous claims that there were secret research target Espers in every corner and that a Guide with free will would wander around and reveal those facts.
And the Association considered that insistence to be an important opinion.
So, the research lab-dedicated Guide system remained, and the Guide Director countered by assigning only the absolute minimum number of personnel.
The Guide Director probably made that decision to protect the Guides as much as possible, but the research lab-dedicated Guides are living even harder lives due to the lack of manpower.
But despite such unfortunate circumstances, the A-grade Guide at the Mobility Ability Research Lab seemed very cheerful.
“Woojin~! Long time no see~ Why didn’t you call? Oh, your Smartwatch was broken. It’s okay, it’s okay. We can talk a lot now~”
Lee Hanse, Woojin’s old friend, was very cheerful and clingy.
I don’t particularly like it, but I have to be patient since he’s Woojin’s friend. Woojin seems happy to see his friend too.
‘If he makes Woojin happy, he’s a good person.’
I was trying hard to positively self-indoctrinate myself about Lee Hanse.
“But Woojin, how did you come alone? This is a place where just anyone can’t enter.”
“I came with Gang Hana like last time. She said she has something to do today.”
“Gang Hana Esper? Where? You just came with a pretty one, right?”
‘I can’t do it. I really don’t like that person.’
Having failed at self-indoctrination, I cut into their conversation with a grumpy voice.
“Woojin came with the pretty Gang Hana Esper, though?”
“Oh, that’s right~ I didn’t recognize you because your image changed so much. I’m sorry. The long hair suits you well~”
Lee Hanse smoothly deflected my words in a very oily manner.
‘I’ve heard that I’m sly wherever I go, but I can’t even have a battle of wits with this guy. Where did this guy pop out from?’
While I was dumbfounded and blankly staring, Woojin patted my head, saying I was cute.
Lee Hanse is not good, but Woojin patting my head is always welcome, so I obediently let Woojin’s hand rest on my head.
“Hanse oppa~ Who are those people~?”
A familiar voice was heard from behind.
“Oh my, oppa, you’re handsome too? Are you that Hanse oppa’s friend? Then who is this fluffy one?”
The owner of the voice, as slick as Lee Hanse, was flirting with Woojin and me.
Annoyed by the attention, I quickly turned my head to show my face to end this situation, as I had only been looking at Woojin.
“Oh…you look familiar…No way! Are you Gang Hana? Wow~ Amazing~!”
“It’s been a while since I changed my style. You’re slow on the news, Im Seon.”
“If we had video calls often, I would have known~ Contact me more often~ Is that a baby perm? It suits you!”
Im Seon also brought up the baby perm story, which is a customary procedure for my acquaintances.
“What is that anyway? Why does everyone ask me if I got it as soon as they see me? Are you saying my hair is a baby’s style? I’ve never even been to a hair salon.”
“Wow, is that your natural curly hair? Amazing! It’s so pretty. You should have grown it out sooner~”
Im Seon ignored my question and only said what she wanted to say. It was familiar since that was always how she was.
Lee Hanse, who has a similar personality to Im Seon, joined in, completing a group that doesn’t listen to others and only spouts words.
I have never shed blood in my life because of my ability, but at this moment, it felt like blood was about to gush out of my ears.
The savior appeared in the midst of the agonizing time.
“Im Seon, Lee Hanse. I told you to work during work hours. Stop playing around.”
The savior with the rude tone was Park Haemi.
“Haemi~ Did you see Gang Hana’s hair? It’s Gang Hana!”
“So what? I don’t care.”
Look at that rudeness. That’s Park Haemi for you, with barely any social skills.
But Im Seon wasn’t intimidated by that rudeness.
“You should show some interest when your friend transforms their image like that~ Our Haemi is so cold, isn’t she? Treat your precious friends with importance~ Or else they’ll all run away, you know?”
Im Seon even stuck close to Park Haemi and enthusiastically pushed herself against her. I’ve seen that kind of behavior more than once or twice, but she’s really strong-willed.
She probably knows that Park Haemi hates it, so she does it more.
But Park Haemi is just as formidable of an opponent as Im Seon.
Park Haemi dropped Im Seon without changing her expression.
Whether Im Seon fell over or not was not Park Haemi’s concern. Park Haemi didn’t even look at Im Seon and said, looking at Woojin and me.
“You guys, follow me.”
*
Park Haemi dragged Woojin and me outside the research lab.
Im Seon shouted from behind not to hit the kids, but Park Haemi led us forward as if she didn’t even hear it.
Park Haemi took us to a place that appeared to be the break room of the Mobility Ability Research Lab.
After slamming the door shut, Park Haemi said to us in a low voice.
“The Guide Director told me to give you guys work at the research lab.”
“Oh, that. We found out this morning too. They called us out of the blue and told us to do some work.”
“I know that the Guide Director assigned you to our research lab on purpose because I’m close to you.”
It seemed like Park Haemi just had something she wanted to say rather than having a conversation.
‘Will this place even run properly if people who don’t listen to others this much are gathered together?’
While I was lost in thought, Park Haemi continued.
“But our research lab doesn’t really have anything to give you. We took you on forcibly even though we don’t need your help. Actually, the Guide Director probably doesn’t intend to make you work in the research lab in earnest. Her purpose is probably just to have you find out about the research lab. She’s not someone who doesn’t know the situation here.”
After rambling about how we were surplus personnel, Park Haemi suddenly looked at Woojin.
Woojin was startled when Park Haemi, who already has a fierce face, suddenly turned her head and looked at him straight on.
“We decided to follow the Guide Director’s intentions. I don’t know how great of a talent you’ll become, though.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you….”
It didn’t seem like he needed to, but Woojin thanked her in a daze, pressured by Park Haemi’s aura.
Park Haemi looked at me again and said.
“So, I came here to tell you to tour the research labs today. From now on, you just have to fill in for the research labs that are short on help while touring the Research Center. You did this kind of part-time job occasionally, right? Now you just have to do it every day.”
What kind of bolt from the blue is this? Do research lab chores every day? Do I have to? I, who joined the Great Monster Extermination Team to escape the research lab?
“No way. Why do I have to do research lab chores? You’re really trying to milk me dry. How are you going to calculate the payment if it’s so random?”
“Oh, that’s right. I haven’t thought about the payment yet. But they’ll probably calculate it and give it to you as usual. Or else, you can demand it separately. You’ve done it a lot, so you know the market price.”
“I’m probably going to get ripped off if things go wrong. I’m just not going to do it. Tell Director Kim that. I don’t need to be here anyway, and I’m from Esper Department, so there’s no coercion.”
I shook my hand and expressed my opinion.
Park Haemi looked at me with a blank expression and said.
“Come to think of it, the Guide Director told me to convey this to you.”
“What is it?”
“She said that whether you do this job or not is up to you, but Cha Woojin Guide has to do it because it’s a direct order from the Guide Department.”
“……”
I really have to acknowledge Director Kim’s cunningness. Leaving Woojin to work alone in the research lab? A rabbit entering a tiger’s den has a higher probability of survival.
I said to Park Haemi with difficulty.
“……I’ll work with him.”