13 – Warning, and Threat
The pride of our hero’s base, the Sky Garden, located in a building with its own unique charm.
A small artificial forest on the rooftop, created by the suggestion of a high-ranking individual who proposed adding a bit of green to the sooty gray building.
Sitting on a bench inside…
“Ah~”
“Lu, Luina. If you only give it to me like this, you…”
“Ah~!”
“…Ah. Oops!”
Luina was sequentially putting her side dishes into my mouth.
Thanks to you, I haven’t even had a bite of the side dishes.
Luina’s lunchbox was already almost empty.
“Just watching you enjoy your food is enough to make me full.”
“Hmm, umm….”
It’s great that she generously shares with me, but still.
Doesn’t this feel more like a mom than a lover…?
“hehehehe. Do I need to eat a lot and love you a lot?”
The side dishes Luina put in my mouth are still there.
With my cheeks puffed out, I nodded repeatedly.
“Sigh….”
“Here, have some drinks.”
“T-Thank you.”
As soon as I managed to swallow the food, a bottle of drink suddenly appeared with a bright smile.
I washed away the nearly blocked throat with the refreshing coldness of the drink.
I asked Luina, who was only eating rice.
“Luina, are you really okay with giving me everything? We’re equally hungry, you know.”
“Well, of course. This time, would you like to feed me instead?”
Ah, that was her plan?
The loving exchange of feeding each other.
It truly looks like a couple overflowing with sweetness.
We’ve already kissed each other once.
Now, I can do something embarrassing to her without hesitation.
“Well then… here.”
“Ah~”
I picked up a large Vienna sausage with my chopsticks and carefully fed it to her with her mouth wide open and eyes closed.
“Is it delicious?”
“Mhmm. Mhmm.”
Luina nodded enthusiastically while enjoying the side dish I gave her.
Just a moment ago, her expression was filled only with the happiness of victory, as if she had won something.
By the way, I thought I was in big trouble just now.
On one side, there’s an SSS-class villain with destructive power.
On the other side, an elite hero in full ascension.
Even though Luina’s abilities have been sealed by me, her physical prowess is comparable to that of a top-tier enhanced human.
If the two of us were to engage in a pure physical battle…
Let’s not dwell on that thought.
Thinking negatively like that tends to attract negative events.
Luckily, there is no one in the sky garden today, which is quite fortunate.
Neither Luina nor Blaze showed any sparks flying between them.
Well, technically, only one side was unilaterally shooting sparks.
“Come to think of it, it’s really quiet here, isn’t it?”
I turned on the fully charged phone screen in the office.
The time was 12:37 PM.
It was already past lunchtime, but strangely, I couldn’t see any of the employees who usually stayed in the building.
Not even the female employee leisurely making her coffee.
Not even the human chimneys smoking in the corner smoking booth.
Not even the office couples that were occasionally seen, causing envy.
I glanced briefly at Louina, who was staring at me intently.
“Why? Do you have something to say to me?” she asked, tilting her head.
As if she wouldn’t miss a single millimeter of my gaze.
“Well, it’s just… I was wondering if there are other people hiding around here besides us…?”
“Yeah. The team leader’s subordinates are over there and over there,” Louina immediately replied without hesitation.
“…………”
As soon as Louina pointed in the direction she mentioned, I felt a definite movement, as if something was rustling.
I had suspected it, but it seemed to be true.
Just in case, I realized that the National Intelligence Service agents were fully controlling this sky garden.
They were very thorough in their crisis response, as if they were the Crisis Response Team.
It was to the point of giving me goosebumps.
It was after a meal where we were being watched from all directions.
“Jagi, when will this be over?”
Luna asked as she raised a bag full of trash.
“If nothing unexpected happens, maybe around 6 o’clock.”
But it might take a little longer because of the report my team assigned to me today.
I should probably tell her in advance, right?
Just in case Luna unexpectedly shows up like this again.
“Then, can I stay with you until you’re done?”
“Yeah. I might be late, maybe even until 8 o’clock—okay?”
“I’ll be here with you all the way.”
“………….”
I was so embarrassed that I forgot what to say next.
Her big eyes showed strong determination.
It’s not a joke, Luna really intends to stay with me here.
“Uh, Luna.”
“No?”
“Since this is a workplace… only authorized personnel are allowed in the office….”
“No?”
Ah, no…
Her earnest gaze was starting to get to me.
I knew perfectly well that it was absolutely not allowed, but my instincts and affection were subtly pushing me to find a way to be with Luna.
But…
I really couldn’t help it.
I also wanted to be with her.
But it was definitely not a role I could violate for the sake of my own desires.
“I’m truly sorry, Luna. I’m really sorry about that.”
I firmly held Luna’s hands and politely expressed my refusal to her.
“I see…”
Luna seemed truly reluctant to be separated from me.
She shook her shoulders and head, showing a great deal of disappointment.
Seeing her gloomy expression stung a little, but I had to stand firm in this situation.
If we both liked each other, it was only natural to understand each other’s circumstances.
“Instead, I’ll spend all my holidays with you—”
“Then you’ll be neglecting yourself and your work.”
“Uh, well, I’ll be there.”
Luna suddenly started making a scary sound.
This is…
Isn’t this a very dangerous situation, but in a different sense than before?
I was rapidly turning my head towards her, who was softly whispering words I could no longer comprehend.
They must still be somewhere nearby.
The black suits of the Strategic Crisis Response Team!
I hastily gestured in a direction where an agent might be hiding.
Rustle, rustle.
Then, from who knows what backdrop, a large figure emerged from the bush, as if it were a transforming robot straightening its body from left to right.
No, whatever happens now is fine.
As long as I can properly communicate with Team Leader Lee Tae-seok.
A walkie-talkie was promptly extended to us when the man in a black suit approached.
“Louina. You must keep the promise you made with us. For the handler’s sake, too.”
A sincerly welcome voice came from the receiver, given the current situation.
I hadn’t even explained the situation to Team Leader Lee Tae-seok.
Louina’s murmuring abruptly stopped at his blunt words.
“Hah! You know, don’t you? I was just grumbling a bit.”
“Oh, I see……”
Just simple grumbling!?
Did Louina have not only destructive powers, but also the ability to method act?
I can only help but think that she genuinely wanted to destroy this building……
“Then it’s about time for you to leave. After all, you’re an office worker before you become a hero.”
“Honey, you’re coming back soon, right?”
“Hmm. Got it.”
I need to finish the paperwork with Kyungtae as soon as possible.
Even for the safety of Hero’s nation.
“And it seems like it’s going to rain tonight. I’ll be waiting for you downstairs. Louisna.”
“I said understood, team leader. Here, throw this away.”
Louisna gave her dark expression as she threw the paper bag to the man in the black suit.
And then she held my hand till the very last minute, smiling brightly.
“See you later♡”
I waved goodbye to the retreating Louisna while treating the national intelligence agent like a servant.
At the same time.
Recalled the remains of last night’s conversation connected with the words that team leader Itaeseok had just left.
“When I say ‘it’s going to rain tonight,’ contact me right away.”
From Noble mtl dot com
After we discussed salaries and jobs.
It was his last request, even as he barely lowered his sunglasses.
It was unforgettable when I thought of his fierce gaze.
After waiting for Louisna to disappear completely.
I contacted team leader Itaeseok immediately.
“I–.”
[This is a warning. Hero Handler.]
Before I could even formulate a question.
The chilling words of Team Leader Itaeseok reached me first.
“A, a warning? All of a sudden?”
[You, the Hero Handler, are in the midst of a top-secret mission involving an SSS-ranked most dangerous villain. I hope you would remember.]
“I am aware of that……”
[We are barely handling Ruina now, hence we have been allowing you some freedom. But if, despite all this ‘monster taming’ strategy, the villain gets out of control……]
“If it does……?”
[We’re going to lock you somewhere and use you as a leash to control Ruina. The plan has undergone a significant revision from the initial one, yet you are in the most vital position for her.]
I swallow hard.
A threat far more realistic than Ruina’s muttered complaints.
I was just numbly listening to the phone, as if struck dumb.
[Then, we request for your further cooperation. Hero Handler.]
Click.
The one-sided directive call ended.
“………Damn it.”
Alone for a moment, only a curse word slipped out of my blank mind.
Something I had momentarily forgotten came back to me.
That the first stage of becoming Ruina’s lover started with their kidnapping.