DP Episode 70

Deep Pivot, Episode 70

A large pan of spicy stir-fried pork sizzled, sending its savory aroma into the air.

Colonel Jin turned off the stove and carried the pan to the dining table.

“Hey, come eat now. It’s all ready.”

He tossed the ladle into the sink and gathered fresh greens, looking more relaxed and casual than usual. After taking off his apron, he finally sat across from Cheong-oh.

The table was piled high with various side dishes, a feast set for his son, who had come home after a while. Since losing his wife in a Gate accident many years ago, Colonel Jin had always cooked for Cheong-oh himself.

“We should invite Second Lieutenant Kang over sometime. He always complains that his dad only orders Chinese takeout at work.”

Cheong-oh said, picking up his chopsticks and starting to eat. Colonel Jin smiled and pushed a plate of japchae toward him.

“Even so, he’s the one who eats the most, always asking for extra.”

“That’s true.”

“If he comes over, how many servings do I need to cook? I can’t do that anymore, not now that I’m old.”

The two pairs of chopsticks moving back and forth gradually slowed. Lost in thought, Colonel Jin ate absently, barely putting any food into his mouth.

Cheong-oh, who had been eating without much thought, noticed his father zoning out and frowned.

“Dad, what are you thinking about while we’re eating?”

“Huh? Nothing.”

“It’s about the recent incident, isn’t it?”

“…”

Colonel Jin silently put down his chopsticks and crossed his arms. He hadn’t eaten even half of his usual amount. Cheong-oh glanced at him with concern.

“Are you sick? Why aren’t you eating much?”

“Cheong-oh.”

Colonel Jin’s voice dropped unexpectedly low. Cheong-oh, stuffing a mouthful of stir-fried pork, slowly set down his chopsticks.

“If Gates disappeared from the world, how do you think things would be?”

Cheong-oh sensed that something was off and chewed slowly, swallowing the food.

“Well, that’d be good, right?”

“But what if you had to sacrifice yourself for it? If it meant that Gates would disappear?”

“…”

“Would you sacrifice yourself?”

What’s Dad going on about now? Cheong-oh blinked blankly, then finally opened his mouth after some thought.

“Is that what those cult terrorists who attacked Seo-joon believe? That if there are no Espers, the Gates will disappear?”

Colonel Jin sighed and shook his head.

“No, son. Just eat.”

“Don’t get swayed by things like that, Dad.”

Colonel Jin flicked Cheong-oh’s forehead with a spoon as if giving him advice.

“Take care of yourself, punk! Stop letting Hong Young-gyo lead you astray and start going on some proper dates.”

“Oh, come on! I’m living with Young-gyo right now. Why would I be dating anyone else, Dad?”

Cheong-oh bristled, clearly agitated at being blindsided during dinner.

“I’m going to marry Young-gyo.”

“You idiot, have you lost your mind? Do you even know what kind of children will be born if you marry an Esper like Hong Young-gyo?”

What began as a pleasant meal turned into a shouting match, but it was a familiar occurrence, so neither took it too seriously.

“Oh, you’re so frustrating!”

“Look who’s talking.”

Their argument threatened to overturn the dinner table, but the tension eventually settled, and they resumed eating with the occasional sigh. After a while, Colonel Jin asked out of the blue, “Lieutenant Ji… He doesn’t have any parents, does he?”

“Dad, you know you’re being really weird today, right?”

“Just eat your food.”

“I would if you’d let me. You keep saying weird stuff…”

Does Lieutenant Ji have parents? Colonel Jin couldn’t shake the turmoil in his mind.

When he thought about it, all he knew about Ji Seo-joon was that he was a No-Named and a diligent SAU member. In his mind, Lieutenant Ji Seo-joon was just that—a seemingly normal member of an organization full of unique individuals.

…And in some ways, that made him feel like an outsider.

✽✽✽

Espers need a longer adjustment period compared to guides. Sudden physical changes and frequent accidents due to their inability to control newfound powers often occur.

In the early days of Gate occurrences, when relevant systems were still being established, it was costly to manage these new awakeners.

“There are ten awakeners this time, right?”

Back when Colonel Jin Hyun-jung was a lieutenant colonel, he volunteered to manage awakeners immediately after his son, Jin Cheong-oh, manifested as a guide.

“Yes, six Espers and four guides.”

The soldier who answered continued cautiously.

“But one of the Espers you’ll be inspecting this time is… unique.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s better if you see for yourself.”

Before “No-Named” became an official designation, the soldier couldn’t fully explain, only offering a vague response.

Colonel Jin nodded and stepped through the iron door. Beneath the dim lights sat a young man.

“Ji Seo-joon?”

He checked the documents before asking.

“…Yes.”

He’s the same age as my son, Cheong-oh. Colonel Jin studied Seo-joon’s face closely as the boy kept averting his gaze, seemingly uncomfortable in this situation. His strikingly handsome features made him stand out, his clear skin and perfectly sculpted face unlike the usual teenage boy. His gray irises, a hallmark of Esper manifestation, added a unique aura to his appearance.

When someone’s appearance is too flawless, it can create an eerie sense of discomfort. Colonel Jin felt something almost otherworldly about Seo-joon, which left him unsettled.

Trying to shake off the feeling, he gave a playful comment.

“Hey, you’re good-looking. If you weren’t an Esper, you could’ve been a TV star.”

This was their first meeting. While reviewing Seo-joon’s information, Colonel Jin noticed something odd.

“‘Grade Assessment Not Available’?”

“…The center wrote it down like that.”

It seemed like Seo-joon wasn’t fully in control of his powers yet, preventing an accurate assessment.

“Can you show me what your ability is?”

Without a word, Seo-joon extended one arm. With a swift motion, an organic tendril reached past Colonel Jin and wrapped around a plastic bottle, bringing it back.

“…”

Colonel Jin was a little taken aback. The ability was unique, and Seo-joon showed none of the usual signs of hesitation seen in other Espers. Most would burn themselves trying to produce fire or break objects in their attempts to use telekinesis.

But Ji Seo-joon…

“What the… You seem really familiar with it. Didn’t you just have an assessment last week?”

“The assessment was last week, but…”

Seo-joon returned his altered arm to its normal form and hesitated before adding.

“…I’ve been like this since I was young.”

“Since you were young?”

Colonel Jin repeated the phrase with an awkward laugh. Seo-joon nodded with the grumpy expression unique to shy high schoolers.

“How young?”

“…Since before I started elementary school.”

Colonel Jin chuckled inwardly. That was before the Gates even appeared, so how could this be?

“So, you’re saying you were born with this ability?”

“…”

Seo-joon rolled his eyes and just nodded again. Colonel Jin flipped through the documents with a casual laugh. Kids his age are prone to bragging.

Having met several Espers who acted as if they were gods, Colonel Jin dismissed Seo-joon’s words.

“Is that all to your ability? Anything else you can show?”

Looking sheepish, Seo-joon scratched his eyebrows and replied, “…It’s going to hurt.”

“Don’t worry, the guides are on standby.”

Seo-joon stood up and motioned nervously for Colonel Jin to step back. Taking the hint, Colonel Jin moved to a corner of the room, holding the files under one arm.

After gauging the distance between them, Seo-joon looked uncomfortable, hesitated, and then moved even further back, putting as much distance between them as possible.

“Wait a minute.”

Colonel Jin spoke urgently, feeling uneasy. Seo-joon stood in the far corner of the room, staring blankly at him.

Colonel Jin secured his protective gear and nodded that he was ready.

Crunch. Crack!

The gruesome sound of bones breaking filled the room. Colonel Jin gasped and gripped the door handle instinctively.

What is this?

“Is this… an alien?”

The boy who had stood before him moments earlier was gone. In his place was a massive, unidentified sea creature, its tentacles writhing all around the small room.

It had happened in less than a second.

Crack. Crackle.

Seo-joon quickly reverted to his original form, trembling and curled up. His clothes had been torn apart, leaving him completely naked. His breath came out in visible white puffs, despite the room not being particularly cold.

Colonel Jin collapsed to the floor, his legs giving way. In his 40 years, he had never felt such terror and awe.

“…Clothes.”

Seo-joon’s lips barely moved.

“…Can I have some clothes?”

His pupils, elongated and slit-like, dilated and contracted repeatedly.