The Foreigner on the Periphery - Chapter 23

Chapter 23 – Between Work (3)

There was one fact that many people were unaware of.

Earth had already been occupied.

Those who considered themselves to be waking intellectuals and claimed to be true citizens with a sense of the times and vocations pointed out dragons as the species that moved the world. However, most people were unaware of the fact that even such a dragon eventually behaved as the committee intended.

The governance of the committee was in a passive, private, and indirect manner. They never gave explicit instructions, but instead offered humanity a deal. However, there was never a case where the deal had ended in a way the Commission did not want.

The Earth had always walked in the direction they wanted it to go and would continue to do so.

The first officially recorded contract between the Commission and humanity was on October 24, 1945. It was the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN). At that time, of course, the only races that had been classified as Earthlings were humans.

In a chaotic period before the wounds of war healed, they calmly began to explain in front of representatives of each country who were confused by the sudden appearance of aliens. The committee said that it had been waiting for a long time for the people of the Earth to form a coalition that could gather the opinions of each country on an appropriate scale.

It was at least a ten thousand-year wait.

Finally, when an exchangeable unification organization was established, the committee appeared and proposed a deal.

One important thing to remember here was the official name of the committee.

The Interdimensional Mind Relocation Committee.

The commission’s messengers asked the representatives of Earth people to accept the mass immigration of extraterrestrials seeking asylum from another dimension at first. It was the starting point of a historical event that would later be called the first mass immigration.

According to the history taught in today’s schools, in exchange for that, the committee that had ‘recalibrated’ Earth’s mana levels, which were formerly very rare, to their present level.

Thanks to this, many people among humans awakened to this ability, and even the first dimensional immigrants who came to Earth were able to freely use magic and cast spirits as in the original world… That being said, it was debatable. However, the textbook’s content was blunt. It was thanks to the gift of the committee that he received at that time that the earth was able to develop this much.

In any case, the races targeted for the first mass migration were not as venomous neighbors as expected. Except for their pointed ears, their appearance was almost human-like, and from the perspective of the first world nation. It had been the main force of the United Nations at the time, and they were great men and women. What was more, if one were to get closer, it had an enchanting and refreshing scent. It could freely handle mysterious powers and had a much longer lifespan than humans.

The people of Earth eagerly envied their knowledge of this ability above all else, and the heroes of the honor of receiving the first immigrants were the United States as well as the Soviet Union.

Humanity gave them the name ‘elf.’

However, if there was a light, it would also cast a shadow. Once connected, the road could also be used for non-normal purposes. Criminals from another world began to creep in, considering this corner of the world as a refuge or bonanza.

It was at the time that Minjun had been assigned to the ‘Early Stability Task for Group Immigration’ and was dispatched to Earth, the seventh dimension that began and experienced prison life.

After all, the reason for coming to Korea was clear. At the time, the country was in a mess in the aftermath of such major and tragic historical events. It was the perfect condition for criminals to hide.

Instead of giving Cathy all these complicated explanations, Minjun gave the vaguest answer possible.

“Well, Cathy, you know, the country was in trouble for a long time back then. Don’t you have to do something to make a living?”

In the ‘60s, there was a need for a formal fighting spirit that could easily fight the most wanted of aliens.

“Goseong Academy was established at just the right time. Find it later on that wiki that you like. Simply put… it’s Korea’s first modern multidisciplinary education institution.”

At that time, the government was reluctant to inform the public about the existence of alien criminals hiding in the country, before even creating an official organization to respond to it. Naturally, this ability had to be mobilized to deal with aliens, and only a few of the high-level teachers at Goseong Academy took on the role in secret. It was a secret that even Oh Man-sik, who was teaching at the time, did not know.

He began teaching students by day, and then slew aliens at night. It had been a very difficult time to live.

Cathy, who had been driving as she listened, had a genuinely surprised expression on her face. Summing up Minjun’s words, he not only laid the foundation for Korean psychic science, but had also made a huge contribution to protecting this country from illegal aliens.

“No, I think that’s enough.”

It was evident that she was trying to hide how startled she was.

“Then, Minjun-san, aren’t you the kind of person who should appear in a documentary? One of the great men of our country who dedicated themselves to our country… what the hell!”

At this, Minjun almost spits out half of the carbonated water he was drinking. She wiped her mouth before speaking shyly.

“No, well… the government doesn’t seem to want to talk about the past.”

Cathy went silent for a moment before she spoke. “Oh! That’s why you didn’t want to tell me old stories. The country itself doesn’t want to reveal it.”

Minjun neither affirmed nor denied this, so he just let Cathy misunderstand him. She then began to mutter.

“Oh, my God! He was a bigger person than I thought. In the botanical world, you’re like Dr. Woo Jang-chun, right?”

“…You’re too focused on this.”

“But, isn’t it strange? Why is Minjun’s name so unknown? No matter how much the government wants to hide it, rumors will still spread around.” The answer proved to be something Cathy could have guessed as it was, so Minjun didn’t bother answering her. She then stopped her car in front of the shopping mall, still muttering, ‘Wow…’

Meanwhile, Minjun decided to change the subject as they headed to the office. “Are you going to drink something?” “Yes, and tell me more of these stories.” “I don’t want to…”

After a pause, Cathy began to ask another question as she sipped on Minjun’s tea.

“Ah, Oh Man-sik? Why did he look so surprised to know you were an agent?”

Minjun scratched his head as he scoured his brain for memories, and something soon emerged from his efforts.

‘Oh, this is good enough.’

This had been around the time when Minjun was just starting to imitate the ways of the Earth. At that time, the committee also lacked in-depth data about this, so Minjun’s ‘socialization training’ was based on building and following the best moral and humanistic psychological and behavioral models that the society considered as a virtue.

In other words, at the time, Minjun was a walking moral book.

He then began to speak, deferring such an explanation.

“Everything changes, even personalities.”

“I suppose.”

And with that, the office doorbell rang.

Ding-dong-!

“Who is it? No one’s supposed to be coming today.”

The moment he pressed the intercom and saw the man standing outside, Minjun’s body stiffened slightly.

“….”

And then, he began to think quietly.

‘Oh… this was it, then.’

He then recalled the results of the fortune-telling spell you performed this morning.

Today’s relationship: There is a possibility that you will be reunited with someone you haven’t met for a long time. The intercom’s camera was illuminating a Western man standing in front of the front door and then making a salute gesture.

He then understood.

‘Yes. In order for the expression to come out after a long time, there must be a period like this.’

They both had different faces back then, but there was no problem when it came to recognizing them.

Like Oh Man-sik, Minjun met this man at his work in the past.

However, he knew this person way longer than he knew Man-sik.

Instead of looking at the person’s features, Minjun read the alien text floating above his head.

Asif-174,245,100

As soon as the other door opened, the man began to “speak” in fluent Korean, at the same time talking to Minjun telepathically.

“Howdy! Long time no see! (How well do you know that woman?)” Minjun responded just as naturally. “It’s nice to meet you. (She’s only an Earthling. What’s your name now?)”

At this, the man chuckled. “How can you not call this Bradley when you’ve already been here a while?! (Earthling?! So you mean she doesn’t know anything.)”

Minjun smiled and replied, “Watch out for words. Anyone who hears it will know that it’s real. You’re the one who didn’t contact me! (Be careful with your words. Don’t bring up any sensitive topics. Remove all proper nouns. Cathy will be sent back soon enough.)”

Bradley winked at this and then turned to greet Cathy.

“It’s nice to meet you, I’m Catherine Sang. But how’d you kn…?”

Minjun bluntly broke her off. “We met while working long ago.”

“Oh, I see. By the way…”

Cathy tilted her head as she asked, “When you two talk to each other, do you usually talk in the same tone as actors in a play?”

“…” “…”

While Cathy left the room saying that she would bring out a proper drink instead of the Gyeolmyung tea that she had been drinking since he came, the two of them quickly exchanged ideological thoughts by throwing sparse words, to the extent that the awkward atmosphere quickly dissipated.

‘What happened all of a sudden? And, ‘Bradley?’ What’s that old-fashioned name?’

=How about Minjun? What kind of name is that? Seems like we both aren’t progressing with this. But before we get to the point, let me ask you one thing. =

‘What?’

=Is that what you did?=

Perhaps it was the story of the illegal dragon that had trespassed the land. No matter how secretive things might get, there would always be rumors going around among prisoners.

Minjun admitted it without any hesitation whatsoever. ‘Yes, it is me. Who else would it be if it wasn’t me?’

= Ah, I do know that. I met you, after all! =

Bradley was strangely excited. I swallowed before I asked.

= So, how did you do it? It is said that his whereabouts are ambiguous now. They said that no one could find them! Let’s talk. What the hell happened? =

Jang Tae-joon’s body was cleaned up by the immigration office, so there was no trace left. Of any matter, of course.

Minjun replied calmly. ‘Whatever do you mean? I killed him.’

“Ack!” At this, Bradley let out a hoarse sound.

‘What, why? Cathy will get suspicious.’

=Ah… Did you really kill him?=

‘Oh, I killed him.’

=Was it really that simple?=

‘No, it wasn’t. The opponent was a dragon whose power rivaled that of the Elder’s.’

= Elder? What are you talking about now? =

‘I thought the news were going around fast, but it seems that I was mistaken. That illegal immigrant… was actually a dragon.’

=What do you mean by illegal immigrant?=

Only then did the two realize that they were talking about different things.

‘Wait, what are you talking about? I’m talking about the illegal alien who was killed this time.’

=What?=

Bradley sighed at this point.

‘Wait, so you know nothing?’

Bradley didn’t seem to be talking about Jang Tae-joon. Minjun noticed this as well.

“What?” He asked, this time with intention.

=Did you really not hear the news?=

Minjun was slowly getting annoyed. ‘No, so what is this about?!’

=I’m talking about Dell, that’s who!=

Minjun’s expression grew cold at this.

‘What… That woman…’

=She’s been released to Earth a few days ago!=

Minjun was sure at this moment.

During the 70 years he had been deployed to Earth, there was no moment more terrifying than the one he was experiencing now. His heart fluttered and he paled.

‘I guess she managed to pay off her debt and become free? But nonsense! Dell’s severance pay…’

=Yes, as far as I know, it was about half a million talents.= That was about 10% of what was assigned to Minjun.

‘You mean she paid for it? Where did she get the talents?’

=I don’t know. I thought Dell would come to you firsthand after finishing her hard labor sentence. But you really didn’t know anything?=

Bradley burst out into laughter.

“Hey! Still, the two of them were pretty close, so you’re saying there’s been very little news about the matter?”

At this point in time, Cathy returned with a teacup.

“Who were you talking to?”

Bradley smirked. “Ah, alright. I see..”

Minjun groaned. Under the current circumstances, Cathy had to know.

“I heard about someone I knew well in the past.”

Cathy asked as she raised the teapot, “Who?”

In a melancholic tone he replied, “The old wife.”

Cathy’s hand stopped mid-air. Meanwhile, Minjun began to interrogate Bradley, not noticing the expression on her face.

‘What else do you know other than her being released from prison? Tell me everything you know!’

Then, instead of answering with intent. Bradley spoke in a casual and teasing tone. “Haha! I’m telling you – if you want to know more, just buy me a drink!”