“……Thank you for letting me assist with your seat assignment. If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I will do my best to ensure you have a comfortable flight.”
The flight attendant bowed politely and turned away.
I began to look around carefully.
Soft lighting, plush carpeting, gentle classical music.
The seats were made of premium leather and equipped with massage functions, personal TVs, and every possible convenience.
It was as spacious and comfortable as a luxury hotel room.
“……First class. It really is on another level.”
Airplane seating is generally divided into three classes: Economy, Business, and First.
First class passengers board first and enjoy far superior treatment in every aspect—seat spacing, screen size, in-flight meals, and more.
‘And the price is just as insane.’
Depending on the season, First class seats can cost anywhere from several million to tens of millions of won.
Roughly four times more expensive than Economy.
I glanced at Kim Yerim.
“Are you sure this is okay? Really?”
“Of course!”
Kim Yerim smiled brightly.
The travel expenses for the archaeology tour were covered by Korea University.
So originally we had been scheduled to fly Economy.
However.
“First class is so much more comfortable. Since it’s just us, I figured it would be nicer to buy up all the remaining First class seats!”
Ah, right. She really was a gold spoon.
Kim Yerim had upgraded not only her own seat but all of ours to First class as well.
‘Typical behavior for the only daughter of the chairman of Taesan Construction, one of Korea’s top three construction companies.’
Taesan Construction had originally been a small-to-medium company specializing in building demolition and waste removal.
After the Gate Incident, it had grown explosively.
It maintained a cooperative relationship with the Korean Hunter Association and continued its steady expansion.
‘In a way, they’re one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Gate Incident.’
At that moment, Kim Yerim looked at me and asked,
“Is this your first time in First class, sunbae?”
“Today is actually my first time on an airplane at all.”
Overseas trips that other people took for granted had always been a luxury for me.
Back in high school, I didn’t even have money for the Jeju Island field trip and ended up studying alone at school.
Kim Yerim nodded and continued.
“I see! My family travels abroad pretty often. We go once or twice a year at least. I’ve also done language training and study abroad programs since middle school, so I’ve flown quite a lot.”
“I see.”
“And also……”
Kim Yerim kept the conversation going nonstop.
The reason she was trying so hard to keep talking was because……
The two people sitting beside us—Professor Park Ahjeong and Investigator Bae Minji—were maintaining a heavy silence.
Professor Park Ahjeong rested her chin on her hand and stared out the window.
Investigator Bae Minji kept her gaze lowered and stayed quiet.
The awkwardness and discomfort made it hard to even breathe.
At that moment.
[—Dear passengers, this is TLT Airlines Flight 557 bound for Beijing Capital International Airport. We will now begin takeoff. Please ensure your seatbelts are fastened and switch all electronic devices such as smartphones to airplane mode……]
A dull pressure filled my ears as the plane surged into the sky.
Even after takeoff, the heavy silence continued.
“W-we’re off! I always get the most excited and thrilled when the plane first takes off like this. Don’t you feel the same, sunbae?”
“Well, I guess. This is my first time on a plane, though.”
“Ahahaha~! Right, right! I forgot! Ahahahaha……”
Kim Yerim desperately tried to lighten the mood.
“B-by the way, Professor! Where exactly are we starting and ending this archaeology tour?”
The word “archaeology tour” finally got a reaction out of Professor Park Ahjeong.
“Oh, right. Look at me. I haven’t given you the detailed schedule yet, have I? I’ll go over the rough plan. After we join the archaeology team from Beijing University……”
Professor Park Ahjeong immediately began explaining the archaeology tour itinerary.
But the explanation lasted only a short while.
“……”
The moment the briefing ended, silence descended once again.
Soon, Kim Yerim stood up awkwardly.
“I’m going to the restroom for a bit……”
She walked away with slumped shoulders.
From Kim Yerim’s perspective, she had no idea what was going on, so it must have been even more suffocating.
I recalled what Big Data had told me once more.
Mrs. Luddite, Professor Park Ahjeong, and the artificial dungeon project.
A complicated web of major figures and events.
‘Just who exactly is Professor Park Ahjeong?’
As that question crossed my mind, Investigator Bae Minji finally spoke.
“……I volunteered for it myself.”
Her voice was cracked and dry.
Investigator Bae Minji continued.
“The mission to monitor you—I requested it personally.”
Professor Park Ahjeong kept staring out the window.
“Was there a reason you had to do that?”
“The Hunter Surveillance Bureau would have assigned someone to watch you one way or another.”
Investigator Bae Minji kept her eyes on the floor.
“With the clash between the Villain Union and the Hunter Association, plus the appearance of the new force called Vigilante, the Bureau is in a state of unprecedented tension. They’re monitoring everyone who shows even the slightest sign of being a risk factor.”
“Hmm. I see.”
“And originally, I wasn’t even supposed to be on this mission. Because I’m…… your friend.”
Investigator Bae Minji looked at Professor Park Ahjeong.
“I didn’t want anyone else monitoring you. That’s why I volunteered. That’s all. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.”
Professor Park Ahjeong let out a long sigh.
“I accept your apology.”
“Thank you.”
“But we’re not done yet. I only accepted your apology for the wrongdoing. We still need to talk about our relationship moving forward.”
Professor Park Ahjeong continued with a serious expression.
“If you truly think of me as your friend…… then from now on, there should be no secrets between us.”
“That’s impossible. Due to the nature of my work, there will always be situations where I have to keep secrets……”
Professor Park Ahjeong frowned deeply.
The silent pressure was intense.
In the end, Investigator Bae Minji sighed and said,
“Fine. I promise. At the very least, I will never hide or lie to you about anything you’re involved in.”
“Good. We’ll compromise on that for now.”
A small smile appeared on Professor Park Ahjeong’s lips.
Then she asked with a puzzled look,
“But why didn’t you talk about this when it was just the two of us?”
Professor Park Ahjeong glanced at me.
Investigator Bae Minji answered calmly.
“An apology you can’t make in front of others isn’t a real apology. No matter who was watching, I wanted to apologize to you properly.”
“That stubborn side of you is pretty cool, my friend.”
“But apart from that……”
Investigator Bae Minji’s gaze turned toward me.
“I sincerely apologize for making things uncomfortable, Hunter Cha Hasang.”
She bowed her head politely.
I smiled and replied,
“No, it’s fine.”
“Thank you for your understanding. By the way, you didn’t bring your usual companion this time?”
“Companion?”
Investigator Bae Minji nodded.
“I understand that Hunter Cha Hasang is always accompanied by A+ rank 10th, Ravianglily’s Sword Demon.”
“Ah……”
If she meant Jeanne, then yes, she was with me.
Just in miniaturized form on my shoulder.
Then Professor Park Ahjeong spoke loudly.
“Seriously, what are we doing? Sitting here in front of a student like this. We’re the ones acting more like kids, huh? Alright, that topic is over! Let’s focus on the archaeology tour!”
Professor Park Ahjeong laughed cheerfully.
Investigator Bae Minji smiled quietly as well.
Right on cue, Kim Yerim returned to her seat.
“Huh?”
She glanced at the atmosphere and whispered to me,
“What happened? The mood suddenly got a lot better, sunbae?”
At that moment.
Boom!
A loud impact echoed.
At the same time.
Rumble—
The airplane fuselage began to shake violently.
Professor Park Ahjeong spoke up.
“Probably just turbulence or something. Maybe they’ll announce the reason through the in-flight……”
At that instant.
[『—Attention—』]
A short chime sounded, followed by the in-flight announcement.
[—Dear passengers, we have an announcement. A large flock of migratory birds is currently crossing our flight path. The aircraft may experience some turbulence, so please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened until the seatbelt sign is turned off and refrain from using the lavatories.]
A green warning light lit up above the seats.
Professor Park Ahjeong tilted her head.
“Bird migration already? It seems a little early for that…… Could it be global warming?”
It was exactly the same thought I’d had when I saw the news on the airport screen.
Then.
Boom!
Another impact shook the plane violently.
At the same time.
“Is there a hunter on board?!”
Something serious was clearly happening.