Chapter 32: I’m sick of it.

Beep-beep.
Each time the sound of a button being pressed was heard,
the screen displayed one image after another.

On the screen were photos of the Japanese Angel and the Korean Angel.
Simultaneously, various graphs and figures were displayed.

The place where this screen was shown was the meeting room of the Korean Angel Center.
Those watching it were Choi Eunju, the director of the Korean research lab.
And Yano Kenzo, the director of the Japanese research lab, only two people.

Beep-beep.
In any case, the screen continued to scroll for a long time.
The two people were discussing the Angels for quite a long time.

For reference, the current data and information had virtually all been prepared solely by Choi Eunju.
Despite being in the same position as a research lab director, Yano Kenzo was practically being taught today.

Anyway, a long time passed again, finally reaching the last scene signaling the end.
A scene appeared showing the Korean Angel, dressed in a hanbok, smiling brightly.
Choi Eunju, having confirmed it, shrugged and asked.

“How is it? It’s clear, right?”
At that, Yano Kenzo, with a serious expression and holding his forehead,
flipped through the research report in front of him several times before nodding.

“Hmm… so even among Angels, is power ultimately what’s important…?”
“Well, more than that. As special beings, the impact or backlash when they’re defeated is significant.”
“…Isn’t that the same thing? It’s a situation that wouldn’t happen unless you overpower them, right?”
“I heard that the American Angel’s behavior changed a bit after being severely dealt with back then?”
At Yano Kenzo’s reasonable question,
Choi Eunju rummaged through the small notepad in her hand and replied.

“That’s what’s been revealed so far, yes.”
“Oh, but the American Angel is a different case from the Japanese Angel.”
“Huh? What’s different?”
“The Japanese Angel was definitively pushed back in terms of power, but it seems something like a trauma was triggered in the American Angel.”
“……Trauma? An Angel having something like that…?”
Yano Kenzo tilted his head with an incredulous expression.
Lee Hyejin clicked her tongue in regret.

“I did hear that, but I don’t know for sure, actually.”
“Those Americans are so good at hiding information, you see.”
“…What? You weren’t sharing information with each other?”
Lee Hyejin’s rather sudden remark.
At that, Yano Kenzo asked, feeling puzzled, and Lee Hyejin snorted.

“Nah, why would those bstards do that?”
“It seems they’re making a fuss because that incident lowered their national prestige.”
“What those bstards are most wary of right now is our Angel.”
“…No, then how on earth did you find out about the trauma…?”
Naturally, Yano Kenzo asked, startled.
Regardless, Lee Hyejin replied very confidently.

“Well, I bought it.”
“…….”
Her tone was as if it were nothing.
That was enough to fluster Yano Kenzo.

Thanks to that, he stared blankly at her, having lost his words.
He suddenly noticed the continuously moving screen.

“But what’s the meaning of that scene? Why specifically that moment?”
So, feeling curious, he asked.

“That? I just put that in to boast about our Angel. How is it? Isn’t she incredibly cute?”
“…….”
The answer that came back completely stumped him.

Yet, to be honest, the words were convincing.
He found himself unconsciously nodding at some point.

“I, I don’t want to go…!”
“Come on, there are people waiting for you, Sis, so of course you have to go.”
“Instead, I’ll visit often, okay?”
“…You must come!?”
“Yes, of course.”
The farewell greetings exchanged with the Japanese Angel in front of the lab.
Fearing that the girl might change her mind, I nervously nodded my head several times.

This was an emotional moment, having finally succeeded in sending the Japanese Angel back to her country.
Soaked in that emotion were not only I, but also those who had come from Japan.

“Go and do well. I will truly be watching you.”
“She says to do well, and she’ll be watching you.”
“Ah, yes… Thank you, Master….”
From the side, completely incomprehensible sounds were heard,
As a bonus, the strange conversation between Lee Hyejin and the Japanese official was audible.

“Maknae, goodbye~!”
“Yes, goodbye!”
Anyway, we truly waved goodbye to each other one last time.

Click. Vroom-
As I watched the Japanese Angel gradually moving away in the car….

‘F-finally, freedom…!’
Oh my goodness.
I was so happy that I unconsciously let out a faint smile.

‘Hehe… From now on, I’m really going to sleep to my heart’s content…. No one can stop me….’
A happy future kept bubbling up in my mind.
My heart was so excited, wondering if there had ever been a moment this joyful since becoming an Angel.

“Angel, that’s too much…. How can you be so happy when the Japanese Angel is leaving…?”
For some reason, Lee Hyejin suddenly took the Japanese Angel’s side.
Because of that, thinking, ‘What’s wrong with this person again?’ I stared intently at her….

“To be honest, I was a bit jealous at first, you know? Your two getting along so well…. Watching it made me feel incredibly, terribly sad.”
“But the Japanese Angel’s sincerity. Watching that, I naturally had no choice but to quickly accept it.”
“But Angel, you’re treating the Japanese Angel’s pure heart like that….”
She passionately spoke without pause.

“Ah, no, excuse me. Please breathe while you speak….”
“A-and what great wrong have I supposedly done for you to say all that…?”
At her appearance, I was naturally greatly flustered.
Unable to even think of a rebuttal, I listened to it for a long time.

And how much time passed like that.
As I stood at the lab entrance, listening to her sincere appeal,
I gradually started to feel a sense of doubt.

“Uh, oh…? Did I really do something wrong?”
Things like, ‘Should I have been nicer to the Japanese Angel…?’
So, wondering if I should immediately plan a trip to Japan even now,
I was inadvertently having such thoughts.

“Oh? Angel! Why are you outside?”
The voice of a person I had completely forgotten about, as I hadn’t seen him much recently.
Out of nowhere, the voice of Park Kyutae, one of my care providers, was heard from afar.

‘Huh…? Oh, right. There was someone named Park Kyutae…?’
Thanks to that, such words naturally came to mind, even though I hadn’t intended them to.
Although Park Kyutae would surely have been incredibly hurt if he had actually heard this.

‘…Who said he wasn’t that visible…?’
Honestly, this wasn’t entirely my fault.
Since returning from the uninhabited island, I had only caught a glimpse of his face once or twice.

So, I gave him a sulky look and stared at him….

“…Huh?”
I was immediately greatly flustered.

“…Huh?”
For reference, it was the same even for the mighty Lee Hyejin.
No, rather, she seemed even more shocked than me, even muttering softly into the air.

“S-senior… what on earth happened to you during this time…. H-how… can a person….”
As if utterly unbelievable.
A line like a movie protagonist completely denying reality.

At that incredibly impressive line, I also fully empathized and gave a small nod.
I unconsciously thought of this.

‘Perhaps… he injured his head at the construction site…?’
Well, it couldn’t be helped.
He was wearing some strange T-shirt with my face plastered huge on it.
A bag and hat with my photo similarly attached.
In addition, he was wearing or holding a bunch of fan-like items.

For that reason, both of us stared intently at him with wide eyes.
Park Kyutae quickly approached and reported on his work.

“The construction was completely finished as of yesterday.”
“Today, I came back after the final check regarding regulations.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t pay attention to you all this time.”
Park Kyutae bowed his head one last time.
But in fact, I had already forgiven him long ago.

It was just, what can I say, as soon as I saw him….
Strangely, all the disappointments from not seeing him earlier melted away like snow?
On the contrary, I even had the wish, ‘Wouldn’t it be okay for him to stay away a little longer…?’

“……No. I think it’s okay now.”
So, when I replied somewhat dryly.

“…What?”
Park Kyutae tilted his head as if puzzled.
Eventually, Lee Hyejin couldn’t hold back and asked.

“No, Senior…. What, what on earth is all that?”
“Huh? Oh, this? Merchandise sold at the Angel Church.”
“What? A church selling merchandise…?”
Lee Hyejin’s face filled with bewilderment.

Oh, it’s really rare to see Hyejin make an expression like that.
Kyutae, you’ve returned as an incredible formidable opponent?
Watching the two of them clash, such admiration suddenly came to me.
Park Kyutae laughed heartily and waved his hand.

“No, no, not for cash. They sell it for talents, or something like that, which are given out based on church activities.”
“…No, I mean, the very act of selling it is strange….”
Lee Hyejin, for once, hitting the nail on the head with the right words.
At that, Park Kyutae flinched in surprise and immediately hurried to add an excuse.

“Oh, no, that Hwang Gilsu person said that…. He said this was good to make the Angel feel familiar and accepted by everyone….”
“…What? What…? Familiar and accepted…? That…?”
Lee Hyejin frowned deeply.
And began to scan Park Kyutae up and down several times.

I naturally expected a disgusted remark to follow given the atmosphere.
But her reaction always surpassed my expectations.

“Hmm… well, I guess so…? Seeing it up close, it kind of looks okay…?”
Lee Hyejin’s wrinkled expression gradually smoothed out, and she gave a small nod.

“Mm-hmm, hmm. Well, the quality certainly isn’t bad.”
“Indeed, that person was quite sincere about the Angel….”
Before long, her small, almost imperceptible nod,
Instantly grew larger, as if she were very satisfied.

‘……Of course.’
At that sight, I sighed deeply inwardly.
In fact, I had naturally expected this from Lee Hyejin, so it wasn’t particularly surprising.

So, as I merely shook my head, perhaps because he was acknowledged by Lee Hyejin?
Park Kyutae, full of confidence, asked me.

“Angel, what do you think of this!?”
I told him my honest thoughts.

Thus, from this day forward, Park Kyutae was bedridden for two days.