Here is the translated text:
“Where are you going?”
As I came out of the clothes room wearing a thick coat, I heard Siera’s voice from the living room sofa where she was playing games as usual.
“Yeah. The headquarters called.”
“Are you coming late?”
“I don’t know. If Hayang and the Milky Way come, eat dinner first. If it looks like I’ll be late, I’ll eat and come in.”
“Okay.”
It was unexpected for the headquarters, which didn’t contact on weekends, to call suddenly on a weekend. Yubin and Yura said they wouldn’t come today because they went to work, and it was planned that Hayang and the Milky Way would come for dinner.
Since there was no real reason to call, I couldn’t guess why they had called. While not knowing whether I would come early or late, I took the elevator down to the first floor, where cold air greeted me.
Although I had recovered sufficiently, being given a rest period by the headquarters with the meaning of taking more rest made it feel very strange to properly go back to work after having rested excessively to the point of feeling stretched.
Even though I had extended my working and battling life considerably, a brief long break felt so sweet that it almost made me forget the memories of working for a long time.
Since the headquarters had only called all personnel a few times during the ten years of activities in Korea, this could not be a small matter.
However, there was no need to be overly tense since there was a reason to guess why they had called.
The headquarters were in the middle of construction, and now nearing completion. With everyone returning to their original duties, they had gathered everyone to convey an order from above before resuming battles.
This was the most likely reason, and there was nothing else that came to mind.
Naturally, I assumed it was a call implying resumption of battles and cleared my head as I headed towards the headquarters. Since I had gone once during the rest period and it was my first time going again, the way still felt unfamiliar.
There was one thing I was worried about besides the reason for the call. It had been over a week since Siera knew my situation, but I hadn’t received any separate contact from her.
Of course, I hadn’t contacted her either. If Siera had reported this situation to the upper levels, there was no way to stop her. So, I wanted to see what action she would take first.
Certainly, I was confident that Siera wouldn’t report to the upper levels immediately. She would have talked to Luche, who clearly already knew my situation, first.
If so, either Siera or Luche should have contacted me, but neither had.
While nobody had contacted me during the rest period, it was strange that even though such a major matter had been discussed, there was no contact.
In conclusion, Siera hadn’t discussed anything about my situation with anyone yet. Of course, I wasn’t 100% sure. There was also a possibility that she had talked but deliberately kept silent without contacting me.
Though I knew Luche and Siera wouldn’t do such things, people can always be different from what I know. Just because I think “Luche and Siera wouldn’t deliberately keep silent,” it doesn’t mean it’s true.
While there was no unease about the call itself, there was unease about what might have happened between Luche and Siera. Lost in thought while moving via subway, I found myself arriving at the station where the headquarters was located.
Coming out of the subway, I walked the familiar path to the headquarters.
Unlike when I had visited before, the headquarters looked different from the outside now that the construction was complete. It gave a clean feeling that the construction was finished, and with people coming and going due to the call, it seemed like a small company located in the outskirts of Seoul from the outside.
“The new building is nice.”
Marveling at the labor of my hardworking colleagues, I looked toward the smoking area as if enchanted.
When my eyes met those of another person, I reflexively saluted.
“Good day, Miss Esmeralda.”
“Yes. A has arrived.”
Meeting the gaze of Miss Esmeralda, who was holding a white cigarette with her arms crossed and wearing a coat on her shoulders, I stopped to salute. Since there was no one else in the smoking area, I lowered my hand and approached her.
“Were you alone?”
“Yes. Just stepped out for a bit.”
She put the white cigarette in her mouth and inhaled, causing the end to burn. The white smoke exhaled into the air scattered like it was shattered by the cold winter air.
“How’s your body?”
“I’m fine. I could have started work without the rest period, but with the rest period given, I’m in excellent health.”
“Lucky.”
Seeing my healthy condition, Miss Esmeralda smiled and swept aside the hair that had fallen over her forehead.
“But what was the call about today?”
“A sudden order came from above. They’ll explain the details inside.”
As expected, the order did come from above. Listening to Miss Esmeralda, the assumption that it was related to battles became a certainty.
“Have you been visiting Kruger regularly?”
“I met him at the hospital and visited again the next week, but haven’t been since then. I plan to visit again next week.”
“That’s good. I was thinking of visiting again too.”
“Would you like to go together then?”
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
I had met Silver when I went with Yubin, but we didn’t meet when I went again after that. Since meeting once at the hospital didn’t guarantee meeting again, I decided not to worry too much.
After agreeing to visit Kruger with Miss Esmeralda next week, I waited until she finished smoking her cigarette.
Though she said I could go in first, since we met at the entrance, it seemed better to go in together rather than alone.
Though I waited until she finished smoking, after entering the headquarters, she and I inevitably had to part ways.
Miss Esmeralda went to the first-floor office where her team, Team 1, was located, while I went to the third-floor office where my team, Team 3, was located. Our directions were different.
“Then, Miss Esmeralda. I will see you later.”
Saluting her, I took the elevator up to the third floor. Many familiar faces greeted me. From the desk, I could see my colleagues who hadn’t suffered serious injuries during the terrorist incident gathering.
“A. How are you doing?”
“Yeah. What about you?”
“We’re not injured to the point of death.”
Though it was a major incident, having experienced numerous incidents, we didn’t attach much seriousness to it. It was pointless to carry a heavy atmosphere when exchanging greetings.
After greeting my colleagues at the desk, I entered the office and first met Roy.
“Senior. Good morning.”
“Yes. Are you getting used to wearing a beanie?”
“Don’t even mention it. It feels suffocating.”
Unlike Earthlings, Roy, who has wolf ears instead of normal human ears, wears a beanie when he goes outside the headquarters, as I learned the last time we met.
Even though some time had passed, Roy frowned as soon as I mentioned the beanie, suggesting it was still uncomfortable.
“But Senior…”
Roy, looking cautious, called me and trailed off, showing a side of him that was different from his usual self, as if he was checking something with his eyes averted. Wondering what was going on, I stared at him quietly.
“It’s about the Team Leader.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
“No, it’s not that. The Team Leader is ATi…”
“Why is that?”
Luche was ATi. I hadn’t known this fact for over ten years, and Roy was the one who informed me of this the most.
Seeing Roy checking his surroundings, I wondered if there was any problem in the process of him informing me that Luche was ATi.
“Did I do something wrong?”
The last time I went to the headquarters, Roy saw me run out after learning that Luche was ATi, and he didn’t know what happened afterward. Thinking I already knew the situation, I brought it up, but the situation turned unexpectedly, and afterward, neither Luche nor I spoke much to Roy.
Therefore, it was understandable that Roy, who didn’t know how things progressed, was anxious.
“No, actually, I’m glad I know now. Since I’ve talked well with the Team Leader, there’s no need to worry.”
Hearing that, Roy relaxed and let out a sigh of relief.
“I’m glad. I thought something happened because of me.”
I patted Roy’s shoulder and noticed Theo’s back sitting at his desk in the office.
“Thanks for the hard work during construction.”
“I felt like I was going to die from stress during construction.”
Theo, who had worked in many places during the construction period, shook his head as if thinking about the construction. Given Theo’s extensive experience with various facility constructions, I could easily imagine how much he had done during the construction.
If I hadn’t taken a rest and if Kruger hadn’t been lying down, the three of us would have handled everything. But since two of us were absent, Theo must have solved the workload.
As always, Theo had handled the aftermath of our actions, and this time too, he was handling the aftermath of our absence.
While exchanging greetings and asking about my colleagues’ well-being, Team 3 members began arriving at the headquarters. When the assembly time came, an announcement was made to gather at the auditorium behind the headquarters building.
Moving in an orderly fashion and sitting in our assigned seats, we waited for a moment until four team leaders came up to the stage of the auditorium.
“It’s been tough for everyone to come here on short notice. You probably expected it since the headquarters called everyone regarding battle-related instructions.”
For those who had lived in the Spacystro army for a long time, it was an expected matter. Although they were resuming their original duties, everyone listened attentively to the team leaders, thinking there might be a special order from above.
Miss Esmeralda explained the reasons for the call and then displayed a screen.
On the screen were the current specifications and personnel information for each team, with changes listed next to them.
“The suits are changing.”
The first thing that caught my eye was that they were switching from the old suits to new ones.
“They seem to be aiming to improve overall combat power.”
Spacystro soldiers wear suits when they battle. The suits used in space had better performance than the ones currently used on Earth, which were deemed suitable for battles until now. However, due to this incident, the headquarters had reviewed the situation and decided to upgrade to a step higher than the existing suits.
Next to me, Theo also looked seriously at the screen, confirming the changes. Though he hadn’t been part of Team 3 before, he must have understood the current situation of Team 3 after joining.
Miss Esmeralda then detailed the changes in various specifications.
“Check the changes for each team through the screen. Team Leader Luche.”
After reviewing the overall changes, it was decided that each team would confirm their specific changes. Miss Esmeralda then called Luche, who stood beside the stage.
Stepping forward, Luche, looking more like a team leader than ever, surveyed the soldiers sitting on the stage.
“This week, there was a big event for Team 3. I think everyone knows about it, and I believe many thoughts came up while battling.”
As soldiers checked the changes on the screen, the conversations among them gradually died down.
“Starting next week, battles will resume for each team. We haven’t informed the Earth Defense Union yet, but we plan to do so tomorrow. I hope you tighten up your loose conditions from not battling and return to the battle with renewed focus.”
Seeing Luche’s charismatic appearance again after a long time, I couldn’t help but smile, remembering she was ATi.
“Afterwards, matters will be conveyed to each team in their respective offices.”
With that, the message transmission ended. Although the delivery time was very short compared to the weight of the content, the team leaders knew well that there was no need to detain the soldiers for a long explanation.
However, this was a matter significant enough to require gathering everyone in the auditorium.
“But when will Alt come?”
“He’ll come when battles start, right? The team leader must know.”
“Having Roy and Alt together would greatly increase our strength.”
While waiting for people to leave the auditorium, we discussed the mysterious member of Team 3, Alt.
Alt, who had been active in Japan across the sea, took longer to arrive than expected. After asking Theo and Roy, it seemed that there was no official announcement yet about when Alt would come.
While waiting for people to leave and preparing to exit the auditorium, Luche came up from below.
“A.”
“Yes, Team Leader.”
Luche gestured for me to follow her as she left the auditorium and headed to a secluded place.
During the walk, Luche didn’t say anything. I had thought the atmosphere would become softer after learning about her, but seeing little change in her demeanor made me feel foolish for getting excited.
Reaching a deserted spot, Luche stopped, and turning around, she looked up at me.
“Senior. Are you ready for the battle?”
It wasn’t a playful remark. When alone, the look in her eyes was clearly different from before.
But before I could be conscious of it, I started thinking about her question.
