“Nice to meet you, Supernatural Ability Response Team.”
Within the enormous iron wall, ministers and advisors from across the country gathered after the national emergency decree, including the 17th President of Korea, Yang Seok-min.
Feeling a surge of irritation at the president’s desperate attempt to boost his approval ratings by creating the Supernatural Ability Response Team during his third year in office—when every president faces difficulties—Oh Sang-hyuk growled,
“…Did it have to come to this?”
“If it were just me, it would have been fine, but many ministers insisted that we should be cautious given the seriousness of the issue.”
“Then couldn’t you have just called me?”
“Oh Sang-hyuk Team Leader.”
Lee Cheol-jin, the Minister of Home Affairs, quietly restrained Oh Sang-hyuk, who had been quietly listening.
While it was one thing to express personal feelings within the Supernatural Ability Response Team, showing such sentiments in this place would make future government work difficult.
After observing the situation for a moment, President Yang Seok-min signaled, and one of the Foreign Ministry’s advisors began the briefing.
“This morning, a consensus was reached through a hotline with the leaders of the USA and China.”
“……”
“Publicly, the USA announced that they will only ascertain the identities of Supernatural Ability users in Northeast Asia, but planes are already arriving at the US military base to transport the remaining Supernatural Ability users from Korea and China.”
“…What?”
“It has all been conducted through a very small number of personal letters and calls from the Foreign Ministry.”
The advisor showed Oh Sang-hyuk a printed plan for the emergency evacuation operation. The paper contained hastily scribbled notes on the confidential distribution of Supernatural Ability users in China.
“Currently, one Supernatural Ability user in China has caused the death or loss of abilities of half of the national Supernatural Ability users, who were distributed in Sichuan and Shanghai, while the remaining half, the 120 girls in Beijing, are being boarded onto naval vessels passing through the Yellow Sea.”
“…And they couldn’t stop it even after firing missiles?”
“Correct. Therefore, the Chinese government has categorized this situation as a terrorist attack targeting human resources and has passed an emergency evacuation operation to isolate the remaining Supernatural Ability users from the terrorists.”
The advisor turned to the next page, which contained instructions from the US military.
Due to the ongoing situation in which most certified Supernatural Ability users in Europe and North Africa have died or lost their abilities, it stated they would intervene urgently as a threat to national strategic assets.
“…And according to the Ministry of Defense, there have been significant explosions and chaotic internal movements in Pyongyang, suspected to be related to Supernatural Abilities.”
“Pyongyang… North, North Korea?”
“The number of Supernatural Ability terrorists identified by US military satellites, who have been internationally wanted, stands at four, and they are presumed to be targeting certified Supernatural Ability users in Europe, Asia, and North Africa.”
“I don’t think we can stop them with military force, so you want to send them all to the USA instead?”
“…If we can at least get them to the American continent, we can buy some time.”
After confirming that the Foreign Ministry advisor had finished explaining, President Yang Seok-min looked at Oh Sang-hyuk and said,
“The Supernatural Ability users agreed to be sent to the USA include 72 members of the White Wing Unit, including Captain Park Saebyeok, as well as 15 from the Supernatural Ability Response Team.”
“…So you want us to just stay out of your way?”
“Please take it as a temporary protective measure.”
“…If the Republic of Korea can enter the Domain of [Start], we can escape the Supernatural Ability users before they are threatened.”
“Oh Sang-hyuk Team Leader.”
Silence
President Yang, who had been speaking in a gentle tone, suddenly spoke coldly.
“Don’t cross the line; the Supernatural Ability users of the Republic of Korea are citizens of the Republic of Korea before they are Supernatural Ability users.”
After listening to the exchange between Oh Sang-hyuk and President Yang Seok-min in silence for a while, Kang Dorim finally spoke up.
“…I see, you wish to maintain the framework of being ‘state-owned’ no matter what.”
At that remark, the bodyguards on both sides tensed up, preparing to restrain Dorim in case of an emergency.
“Ms. Kang Eun-seol, this is an urgent situation where national strategic assets are at stake.”
“If it’s such an important asset, then why are you hastily sending them away over the sea?”
“Because the interests of the nations aligned, and a consensus was reached.”
“For example, the people who can use the powers of the Magical Girls sent to the USA are the ministers and lawmakers who agreed to this operation, and under the president’s control, was that the agreement?”
“That’s an interesting assumption.”
“The powers of the Magical Girls are made up of the precious dreams they have while living in their places.”
President Yang Seok-min turned away with an expression that indicated he had nothing more to say.
“The Magical Girls of [Start] declared that they would ensure the rights and safety of the Magical Girls outside the state’s logic.”
Bang
“Damn, are you suggesting we sell out the country just to utter such baseless claims?!”
Choi Ik-soo, the Minister of Defense, glared at Kang Dorim and slammed his hand on the table in frustration. It was a violent outburst for a public setting, but President Yang Seok-min did not stop him.
“Originally, it would have been inappropriate to naturalize that girl or convince her, let alone offer up the Supernatural Ability users!”
“An unknown power granted by an unknown entity can be used effectively, but when it comes time to protect it, you only treat it according to your logic, all while regaining your lost authority.”
Choi Ik-soo, who had effectively used Kang Dorim’s abilities to track down a con artist who deceived his son, and members of the White Wing Unit’s healing abilities to cure his in-laws and relatives, hurriedly shifted the topic.
“That’s not the same thing as offering everything to someone whose name you don’t even know!”
“You certainly don’t hold back in speaking in front of the ministers.”
“What are the bodyguards doing?! Restrain her immediately!”
The bodyguards completely encircled Kang Dorim and began to drag her toward a solitary confinement room.
Oh Sang-hyuk watched this with his eyes tightly shut.
President Yang Seok-min had no intention to change his mind during this meeting.
His only purpose was to confirm the intentions regarding the future actions of the Supernatural Ability Response Team.
‘Kang Eun-seol’s abilities are a loss, but uncontrollable power must be disposed of this opportunity.’
This was the only time to capture a Supernatural Ability user who can escape through transmissions.
If the conditions laid out by the US government were to return to the Korean government regarding the use of Supernatural Ability, then the Supernatural Ability Response Team’s role would no longer be necessary.
“Oh Sang-hyuk Team Leader, even with the emergency martial law…”
Thud
[Deception] Magical Girl Unique Skill
Dream World 夢幻世界
Cognition Acceleration
Everyone with heightened cognition paused their breathing and froze in place, while Dorim subtly twisted her body, slipping out of the bodyguards’ encirclement.
Sang-hyuk squinted his eyes and checked the situation, then stood next to Dorim.
Thud
“In this situation… Ugh?!”
“Who are you?!”
“[Start]…?! Oh Sang-hyuk, you bastard!”
“This is a confidential government facility! Do you both know the death penalty!”
“Bodyguards!!! Bodyguards!!!”
Unable to use electronic devices, bodyguards who attempted to run out to call for backup clashed with those rushing in to restrain Oh Sang-hyuk, while ministers screamed in both anger and shock.
The inside of the bunker was pure chaos.
[Deception] Magical Girl Unique Skill
Dream World 夢幻世界
Cognition Change
My eyes were now met with those who just a moment before were furious and struggling in chaos.
They were now calming down, dressed in sleep socks and fancy pajamas, lying on a cozy bed while petting a cat. The bodyguards looked on in confusion, their expressions asking ‘why am I being told to capture my friend?’
I had learned to manipulate the perceptions of others beyond mere combat training with Ichika before my debut but still felt guilt about using it on humans.
‘But resolutely, my life and that of the Supernatural Ability Response Team are now at stake.’
Only Yang Seok-min and Oh Sang-hyuk were fully grasping the current situation.
As President Yang Seok-min realized the situation, cold sweat trickled down his back.
“…Oh Sang-hyuk Team Leader, this is treason.”
“You shouldn’t have done that to Dorim and our kids.”
“Are you putting personal feelings into state affairs?”
“…You’ll understand once you work within the Supernatural Ability Response Team.”
“What? What are you trying to say? What do you want to accomplish by selling out the country?!”
“This power cannot be controlled by the country or the law.”
“…What?”
“…They just decided to remain still because they’re nice, Mr. President.”
Bang!
“Mr. President! We just received urgent information from the Joint Chiefs of Staff…?!”
Upon witnessing the chaotic situation inside the bunker, the security chief who had run to deliver the news looked bewildered as President Yang Seok-min yelled at Oh Sang-hyuk.
“Just tell me! What’s happening?!”
“A Supernatural Ability terrorist, presumed to have struck Europe and Pyongyang, is advancing towards Seoul in a massive aircraft!!”
The security chief continued, his expression in disbelief.
“They are advancing by breaching all air defense systems! They will reach Seoul in about an hour!”
＊
“I knew it, but they really were planning to abandon us.”
“…So it seems.”
“It’s okay, sis, more importantly, are you alright? Didn’t get hurt?”
“Yeah, still here with me.”
“I told Park Saebyeok not to follow and to hold the line in Jongno.”
“If it’s a [Bombardment], they’ll definitely go all out.”
“Are the rest of your avatars with Park Saebyeok?”
“Yeah, I plan to use all powers allowed to me to cover the northern part of China and the entire Korean Peninsula with a Domain Declaration.”
“How long will it take?”
“I didn’t prepare enough this time, so it will take a while… About an hour? I probably won’t be able to use great powers during that time.”
“I’ll tell the kids that the Domain just appeared, and to escape straight to the Garden.”
“Okay, let’s hold it together.”
“Under the third light, I declare, I, the Magical Girl of [Start], shall proclaim.”
[Under the third light, I, the Magical Girl of Deception, shall proclaim.]
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