Han Seoha thought.
Why was he here with Yu Haneul?
“Fuck, die you shitty bastard, you son of a bitch!”
He’d warned several times not to make such loud noises, but it was useless. Every time a bug popped out from between rocks or stones, he poured out all kinds of curses while flailing, so not only did his stamina drain, but insect-type demon beasts kept crawling out in response to the sounds.
“Ahhh, die, die!”
Kicking away a demon beast that looked like a cockroach with an ordinary person’s kicks, then when bodily fluids splattered, he took off his uniform top and violently whipped it around—his guts seemed bigger than most Espers.
Honestly speaking, it was enough for Han Seoha to feel positive emotions toward Yu Haneul for the first time.
‘When he first tailed and followed me, I thought he’d be a burden.’
Han Seoha headed toward his target location while pretending to avoid the uncomfortable Ryu Jaegeon and Yu Haneul. The joy of naturally finding it as if getting lost while strolling was brief.
Yu Haneul had secretly followed Han Seoha who moved to find items under cover of night. Han Seoha, sensitive to Esper waves, hadn’t noticed Yu Haneul the Guide’s persistent tailing. Even if surveillance was the purpose, there was no reason to leave Ryu Jaegeon and the base camp to follow Han Seoha.
More than anything, if only Yu Haneul, who popped out the moment he touched the crest that opened the hidden cave asking what it was, hadn’t grabbed him, there would have been no reason to enter together.
Even when they were first isolated just the two of them, he acted weak, pretended to be scared, made crying gestures, and hid behind Han Seoha.
Though he’d resolved to be burdened with a parasite, when the watch didn’t work and no exit was visible, his true nature was revealed. That said, Yu Haneul wasn’t a villain.
Once the pretense disappeared, he was an ordinary man who didn’t hide behind him but irritably swatted away bugs or roots that came to his side. As a result, though his ears hurt a bit from the curses, Yu Haneul, who splendidly did his part, confirmed the fleeing bug and sat down.
“Huff, huk. Give me some water.”
Yu Haneul, with his pretense gone, was shameless. He had no hesitation reaching his hand toward the canteen Han Seoha was carrying. Of course, he’d told him a couple times to save it since they didn’t know how long they’d have to wander.
As soon as he received the canteen, Yu Haneul gulped it down and made a sound as if downing alcohol.
“Puha, I’m alive.”
His original personality was quite manly enough to create even faint favorable feelings, but since his faint hostility toward Han Seoha remained as it was, he’d long given up on building rapport.
Yu Haneul, returning the canteen to Han Seoha again, complained while fanning himself with his hand.
“Ugh, it’s stuffy. Isn’t the air in here decreasing?”
“That won’t be the case. Wind keeps blowing from inside.”
“If wind’s blowing, doesn’t that mean it’s connected to outside? I also heard in class……”
Though there was an age gap with Han Seoha, Yu Haneul, who had been bluntly speaking informally, suddenly froze. When the one who until now had been tearing off spider legs and kicking cockroach bellies froze, Han Seoha also tensed. Turning around while extending his arm first toward where Yu Haneul’s gaze stopped, what he saw was a huge sausage—no, a large pink earthworm. Not yet an adult, instead of dozens of teeth, a tentacle-like mouth that had dug through dirt wriggled.
“Ah, what a relief. If it were an adult, we would’ve been bitten without escape.”
Despite Han Seoha’s explanation, Yu Haneul just dripped cold sweat and couldn’t take his eyes off it.
“Could it be you can’t touch things without legs……”
“If you tell me to touch it, I’ll die.”
Since it wasn’t “I’ll kill it,” Han Seoha almost laughed a little. But since it wasn’t like Han Seoha, he immediately whipped the demon beast that looked like a large earthworm with the sturdiest thing he had, his canteen. Though it was an easy opponent that burrowed into the dirt after getting hit just a couple times, as soon as it disappeared, Yu Haneul dashed off. Unfortunately, he went back the way they’d come, so Han Seoha pondered whether to follow him or pretend not to know and proceed from here now that it worked out.
Even if it wasn’t like Han Seoha, there was no way Yu Haneul in a panic state would notice.
“Ahhhhh!”
At the scream that erupted not far away, Han Seoha ultimately had no choice but to turn back. This place wasn’t that dangerous anyway, and losing an A-rank Guide would be a loss in many ways.
With such calculations, Han Seoha, who ran quickly, realized this was the right way.
“Fuck, the vines are moving around. Do something about it!”
“If you struggle, it’ll tighten more. Stay calm.”
“Fuck, would you be calm?!”
“Please just don’t make sounds and stay still for a moment. Then it’ll retreat.”
The mottled vines that had caught Yu Haneul were evidence they’d gotten close to the place guarding the treasure Han Seoha was looking for, so he hid his excitement and acted kindly. Yu Haneul, who had looked unconvinced, reluctantly stopped his struggling legs when Han Seoha approached closer. Though his breathing was rough, when he stopped talking, the vines that had been continuously binding him began to slowly loosen.
It matched the characteristics of the treasure vine Han Seoha remembered. If he’d passed by leaving Yu Haneul out of annoyance, he would have wandered for a long time. Though he was a displeasing companion, he was briefly pleased since thanks to him time was shortened.
“Such fucking garbage… Ah! That fucking hurts!”
So just listen.
* * *
Even before entering the Gate, Baek Uihyeon’s route had been decided.
Check the most dangerous places first. However, this exploration unusually had considerable Esper participation.
“I’ll move after assessing the base camp.”
Everyone moved without anyone expressing doubt.
The Espers with Baek Uihyeon at their backs moved excessively fast. Excessive competition bloomed among them. Though it was all instinct to look good in front of the S-rank Esper, Baek Uihyeon’s attention was entirely directed elsewhere.
The scene where even rookie Espers were deployed due to the unusual Guide participation. It was absurd that all this was something done to share the punishment of Jeong Iro, who was merely a temporary partner.
‘In the first place, because of whom… No, is it even reasonable for the victim to conduct rescue activities?’
Just before releasing Jeong Iro with Baek Uihyeon’s influence, Han Seoha had said admirable words about doing his best not to tarnish the hero’s name. He’d also been swayed by the guiding drained to the limit that came daily.
‘It seemed like he felt pain while guiding.’
It also bothered him that Han Seoha was skilled at hiding pain. Why would a Guide be accustomed to such things? Though he’d thoroughly investigated Ryu Jaegeon’s background, not only was there no violent tendency toward his partner, there wasn’t the slightest thing problematic about his usual conduct. Rather, the assessment was that he was quite mannered compared to rough Espers.
‘How ridiculous must a regular Gate exploration with C-rank Guide participation have looked?’
It was a low-grade Gate that could never be obtained without the river flowing between the base camp and the demon beast forest, but the river existed and had been maintained without problems for several years.
Though Han Seoha couldn’t have known that and applied, once C-rank support passed, there was no justification to block higher ranks. Thanks to that, rookie Espers were also rapidly deployed, so it was a beneficial situation for everyone, but Baek Uihyeon wasn’t pleased.
Because there was no knowing what variables the unexpected situations created by excited novices would bring.
Contrary to Baek Uihyeon’s expectations, the base camp was a mess due to demon beasts. All kinds of demon beasts surrounded the camp to the point it looked like a nest.
“Crazy, wasn’t this the safe zone?!”
“Move aside! Let me light it first!”
“Everyone calm down. C-rank demon beasts can’t enter the base camp anyway.”
Baek Uihyeon’s gaze turned to where the river should be. The deeply carved waterway had its muddy bottom completely exposed. As his gaze followed, he discovered traces of water disappearing underground like a waterfall where the bottom had collapsed.
Unless they filled in the collapsed area first and drew water, it was natural order that demon beasts beyond the boundary line would continue to swarm.
Baek Uihyeon searched with his eyes for Espers with appropriate abilities. Having confirmed one or two ability-type who could solidly block the ground and a special-type who could create matter, he grasped that he could end the situation anytime. Rather than hastily filling the drained bottom, it was first priority to explore the cause of the hole deep enough for all the river water that had been a boundary line to drain out. This was an exploration Gate from the start anyway.
“The riverbed has been eroded.”
“What? Eroded?”
“5 o’clock direction. No, the opposite side.”
The Esper who had been looking around discovered the hole that appeared small because the distance was so far and admired it.
“Ah, yes. I see it. I’ll fill it right away.”
“Before that, let’s send fast scout-types to simply check first.”
Following Baek Uihyeon’s instructions, two were selected and quickly disappeared, while those remaining diligently dealt with demon beasts.
At first they were surprised that demon beasts swarmed in the safe zone where there should be nothing, but once they actually cut them down, the Espers and Guides inside were holding out well maintaining a defensive stance with their guide.
Experienced Espers had already grasped there were no demon beasts strong enough to break through the base camp and moderately struck them down. This level of stimulus was also an opportunity for rookie Espers and Guides.
Those who quickly found vitality began to show their skills one by one, but Baek Uihyeon’s expression gradually darkened.
Why couldn’t he see Han Seoha? Ryu Jaegeon either.
