◈ Episode 109

Inside the Cellbrox Lab cafeteria.

Knock, knock!

There was a shadow running across the long table. A quadrupedal beast. No, it only looked like a beast, but biologically it was infinitely closer to a human.

It was a fact that was absolutely difficult for Asterike to admit.

"Arya, where are you going without eating?"

"Wow!"

"Uuuum, no, sir! Speak!"

Even if I shouted loudly, there was no way he would listen. It was a sight to see him running without looking back with meat in his mouth. She covered her throbbing forehead with her hand.

'How can that be a person…!'

In Asterike's eyes, Arya was like a beast of burden. It seemed like she needed to cause trouble periodically to satisfy her. Although it wasn't every day, she would often go crazy.

Like running down the hallway naked.

Or, while you're eating, you suddenly throw your plate away.

Howling like a wolf at 4am, saying "Awwww"... ... .

At first, I tried to be calm and calm, but that was only once or twice. It's been three weeks since Asterike started babysitting. Every day, my patience is being tested to its limits.

'It would be better if he only did that when he was in his room.'

The problem was the same situation now.

1:30 PM. It was a little late, but not too late for lunch. Naturally, there were several agents using the restaurant, so everyone ended up watching Arya's antics.

Laughter flows from everywhere.

"Phehe. There he goes again."

"Was the food not that good? It was delicious to me."

"Are you like us? I guess kids these days have different tastes."

"That's true. I'm having a hard time digesting things these days..."

… … My face feels hot for no reason.

It was clearly Arya's fault. Asterike is not responsible. Arya is clearly mentally immature, and Asterike is in charge of her education, but that's not really an official title.

They were men from the beginning.

She is not even the daughter of an acquaintance, let alone a blood relative. He has no obligation to take responsibility for Aria's every action. He only asked her to take care of him appropriately.

'But why am I embarrassed?'

The laughter-tinged voice, the focused attention, the plate that Arya spilled over and the dirty table as she ran out. Every element is bothering me. Even if it were normal, I would have just finished my meal in silence and left.

There was also a gaze from the side. Asterike turned her head. When her eyes met with a young agent, she opened her mouth without realizing it.

"I'm sorry. I interrupted your meal."

I thought it was strange even as I said it myself. What did I do? Isn't the problem Arya's mental state? Wouldn't it be better to drag her in now and force her to apologize?

While all sorts of random thoughts were running through my head, an unexpected response came back.

"No, no. I'm completely fine."

"...It doesn't look okay."

Asterike's eyes went down to the table. The plate wasn't overturned, but it was crooked. It seemed like Arya had hit it, and the soup had splattered all over it, making it look like a mess.

The agent also looked down and smiled awkwardly.

"Just get it back. What a tremendous effort."

"Are you feeling okay?"

"I was a little flustered, but that's all. You really don't have to worry about it."

It was a genuinely nonchalant attitude. It was so amazing that it was surprising to see it.

"…How could that be? You just stayed still and then something bad happened."

Asterike knew that not all of Lab's agents were sages like Leila. Even Turkam was one of them. Even though things have improved between them now, didn't they gossip about him in the beginning?

Mostly ordinary people.

Something that would normally be unpleasant.

But the man in front of me just smiled kindly without saying a word of complaint.

He said soon.

"The girl just now, her name was definitely Arya, right?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"I heard about the circumstances. It's really unfortunate. When I look at it, um. He's a bit of a troublemaker. But he's rare for someone to frown so seriously. It doesn't seem like he's bad-natured."

Asterike looked around again at the reactions of those around him. Was it a matter of prejudice? After listening to him, he realized. There was no hint of mockery in the laughter of the agents.

Her sensibilities were utterly incomprehensible.

"But still, a nuisance is a nuisance."

"There may be some people who feel uncomfortable, but I can't show it to their faces."

"why?"

"Well, that's because Mr. Hyun brought it."

It was a tone that seemed to be natural.

"Ah, my name is Keita. Actually, I received help from Mr. Hyun at Basteterra. I'm not the only one. At first, they were suspicious, but now they respect me quite a bit. It's not a formality, it's sincere."

There was no one in the rap world who did not know about Kim Lee-hyun's activities.

Although it may be somewhat diminished compared to the truth, there is no one who does not know that he played a big role. It is also recorded on video.

"Mr. Chelsea was great too… and of course Mr. Asterique too."

The last one is an empty word.

Asterike saw right through it. She had not contributed to the operation in Basteterra. She had just waited around blankly until Hyun arrived, and even after she arrived, she had been left alone.

This was the reputation that Hyun and Chelsea had created.

Suddenly, I remembered the conversation I had with Chelsea. The various rewards Dustborn received for his work. In addition to meals and money, the 'kindness' of the agents was also a part of it.

The reason why Arya is not criticized for acting as she pleases is not because the agents are kind. It is because Hyun is like a guardian. The kindness toward Hyun also applies to Arya.

Arya is benefiting from the situation even though she did nothing.

and,

'Maybe I'm the same way.'

Of course, Asterike's share was not completely non-existent. She played a major role in Operation Ashbelt and the escape from Atlanta.

But even then, I had no awareness that I was doing 'work'.

He simply did what Hyun told him to do. He didn't consider the circumstances, or what would happen if he succeeded or failed. He just did as he was told, like a machine.

As I thought about it, Keita's kindness felt extremely awkward.

"Anyway, it's really nothing. Wouldn't it be better to go quickly?"

"Yeah, that's right. I'll come back later and clean up the mess. I'm really sorry."

"No, thank you for your hard work."

Asterike stood up with her plate in her hands. As she left, she glanced behind her and saw Keita chatting with a colleague sitting across from her.

Far from changing his attitude, his expression remains gentle.

Asterike couldn't help but think.

Arya isn't the only one who can't adapt to human society.

* * *

"That happened to you."

Leila nodded after hearing the commotion in the restaurant. She was once again concerned about Asterike's expression. Where was the confident look he had when he was active in the league? He was looking down.

'You must have a lot on your mind.'

It was something she had seen a lot recently. At Kim I-hyeon's request, Leila would take the time to check on Aria and Asterike every few days.

On the surface, it was a kind of parenting consultation to check on Aria's educational status. However, in reality, it was also serving as counseling for Asterike.

"So what happened to Arya?"

"I scolded him a bit, but he's quiet now. But what's the point? He'll forget tomorrow and make a fuss again."

"Hahaha. Still, it's improved a lot compared to the beginning."

"first...."

Asterike's face turned pale as she recalled those days.

"That's true. It took an hour just to wash it."

"If you teach them one by one, they will adapt quickly."

"Until then, it has to continue like this."

Judging from the progress so far, it will be much shorter than normal childcare. But it is not a problem that can be solved in a day or two. Even if you do your best, it will be a long and arduous journey for half a year.

"Ugh, it's so noisy."

Asterike was sighing.

"If it's too difficult, should I take care of it?"

"Leila? Aren't you busy?"

"Because I can make time when I'm in the lab. It's hard to always take care of you like Mr. Asterike is doing now... but then I can depend on other people."

It was a chance to be free from Arya's burden. It was an offer that I would have readily accepted until recently. However, for some reason, I couldn't readily give a yes answer.

There were hesitant factors.

Should I throw away the work that Hyun had entrusted to me? And even if Leila was trustworthy, could I trust the 'other person' she mentioned? Above all, could I push Arya away like this, as if I were passing on the trouble?

Finally, Asterike shook her head.

"...No. I'll try a little more."

Above all, if she didn't do this, there was nothing else for her to do. Training was a personal matter, and unless she participated in an operation, it wouldn't be of any help to the lab.

'Chelsea looks busy these days.'

It seemed that he was teaching marksmanship at the request of some agents. He said it was annoying, but his face was full of life. It seemed that he was feeling a sense of accomplishment.

The difference was stark when compared to Chelsea.

Asterike has been acutely aware of this recently.

That he had been leaving so much of himself up to Hyun.

'No different from Arya.'

He couldn't help but sigh at his own misery. He stared at Leila, who was giving him a look of satisfaction, and then moved his gaze away.

This is Leila's private room.

It's not that decorated, even though it must have been a long time ago. Kim I-hyeon's room, which has almost no personal belongings, is completely different from Chelsea's room, which is filled with books like '101 Ways to Invest Wisely' and drama DVDs.

The bookshelf is lined with academic journals whose titles alone are enough to make your head hurt. Files containing operational reports can also be seen here and there. It was to the point where it wouldn't feel out of place to say that this was the professor's room, not Leila's.

Suddenly my eyes went to the drawer.

"What is that?"

A small picture frame. It was decorated with old photographs. Pecatum's eyesight was far superior to that of an ordinary person, so he had no trouble examining it without having to get close.

The photo showed researchers wearing white lab coats. Each had a lab symbol on their arms. I found two familiar faces among the faces I had never seen before.

He is a professor and a research institute director.

Was this how he looked before he lost his memories? The professor's mood was completely different from now. I should say he looked sharp. The director of the research center still looked blunt.

"Except for two, I'm seeing them all for the first time."

"...They are like my family."

There was a mixture of warmth and bitterness on Leila's face.

Family. It wasn't a metaphor.

Because the researchers at the time were her parents and caregivers.

At a time when she didn't even realize how unique the environment surrounding her was, Leila learned about life from her family. She realized the enormous responsibility and mission she had from the moment she was born.

The teachings still remain, though.

Her family didn't.

"They're not here right now, though."

"When was this taken?"

"Well, I received it too, so I'll explain it in detail."

Asterike, who had been staring intently, tilted her head.

"Your face looks almost the same as it does now."

If all the researchers in the photo had left the lab, it would have been more than a year or two. And yet the professors and the director of the lab looked the same as they do now.

As if it was filmed just the day before yesterday.

Or maybe it was just the two of them, as if time had stopped flowing.

'Come to think of it, you don't know your age.'

I don't remember asking about my age. There's no need to ask. In the rap world, we don't ask about each other's personal lives unless they directly say so, and we don't look at seniority.

I can only make an inference.

At first glance, the professor looked to be in his 20s. The director of the research center looked to be in his late 20s or early 30s at most. Considering his position, he was quite young.

Then Leila spoke in a quiet voice.

"Because you both look young."

"Is that so?"

"yes."

A short answer that closed off any room for conversation. It was clearly different from his usual gentle demeanor. Since he seemed unwilling to ask any further questions, Asterike also kept her mouth shut.

But questions remain.

'It's really strange here too.'

I knew it from the beginning.

There are many secrets in rap.

An underground facility built on the territory of a fallen nation, Leila, who looks as young as Arya but is respected by agents and researchers, a professor with amnesia… … .

There were only two things that were certain.

Hyun is truly cooperating with the rap.

And that Leila is a good person.

Leila's kindness was so unpretentious that I couldn't help but feel warm-hearted whenever I was with her.

'That's fine.'

There are secrets that you can't tell anyone, just like Hyun.

After a brief silence, Asterike checked her watch. It was already four o'clock. She scratched her head and sat up in her chair.

"Thank you for listening, Leila."

"I had fun too. Should I go now?"

"Yeah. It's time to teach Arya how to read."

Leila swallowed a laugh at the mention of studying letters.

'Mr. Hyun really has a good eye.'

Whether they are mother and daughter or sisters.

Anyway, it was a pleasant relationship.