When he was an Esper belonging to the Management Bureau, Onyul had heard of ‘confidentiality agreements.’
Usually, they were contracts written to control matters that shouldn’t be known to the public. For instance, things that could cause confusion among citizens if revealed……
But Onyul didn’t know there was a confidentiality agreement even for the Gate rampage that had driven him to his death.
That incident had been reported in the media, and the details came up with just a search.
In other words, the accident itself wasn’t a secret.
‘Then…… did something come up during the investigation stage after the accident?’
For instance, something that shouldn’t be known to the public might have come out.
What came to mind then was the conversation he’d had with Gu Baekyoung.
<Do you by any chance…… think that the Gate rampage where that hyung died was also artificial?>
<I didn’t suspect it from the beginning either. But after experiencing it myself yesterday, I realized.>
<……>
<Maybe the Gate rampage that hyung got caught up in also happened at someone’s instigation.>
If there was something related to ‘someone’s instigation.’ For instance, something related to the Anti-Management Bureau……
Onyul had thought his past life’s accident was a thing of the past, so he hadn’t dug deeply into that accident.
There were times he’d inevitably looked into it, but he hadn’t examined it in detail.
However, now it seemed like something he could no longer turn away from. Because of that accident, not only himself but several innocent Espers had died meaningless deaths.
The appearance of colleagues dying miserably in the rampaging Gate was still vivid.
He’d probably never forget it for the rest of his life until he died as Kang Ian. Because that’s what trauma was.
That’s why Onyul couldn’t ignore the suspicious circumstances he’d suddenly faced.
‘I have to reveal it myself.’
Perhaps the reason he’d been absurdly possessed into the body of a convenience store manager named Kang Ian, who had ridiculous latent guide abilities, was because of this.
The mission to thoroughly reveal the wrongful deaths of his colleagues and himself might have pushed him into this body.
But how could he obtain the materials without belonging to the Management Bureau?
The person who came to mind at that moment was Gu Baekyoung.
If it was him, whose main ability was telekinesis, he could extract the documents he wanted without directly touching them. Moreover, since he was S-rank, his movements were freer than other people’s.
But……
Just then, a text came from Gu Baekyoung right on cue.
[Honey, you’re working, right? Are there any Espers hitting on you by any chance? I miss you ㅜㅜ]
Befitting the busiest Esper in the Management Bureau, he was out on dispatch. And yet, whenever he had time, he’d definitely send a text, curious about where he was and what he was doing.
Though his replies were always the same anyway.
[I’m at the convenience store haha There were hardly any customers today. Hitting on me, what…… At this rate, I’ll close the convenience store!]
Onyul was always at the convenience store. It was his daily routine to relax at the convenience store that had almost no customers.
These days, with afternoon and dawn part-timers too, he had even more time.
On the other hand, Gu Baekyoung had been entering Gates more often lately and only returned home at night. Sometimes they hadn’t seen each other for two days.
<Should I just quit being an Esper?>
Gu Baekyoung would mention quitting whenever the time they couldn’t meet increased.
<……No, not yet.>
And yet he’d shake his head as if there was something left to resolve. When asked what was going on, the answer that came back was always the same.
<How chaotic would it be if the strongest Esper in South Korea quit? Not yet, yeah that’s right.>
Though it was a statement where he could sense an ulterior motive, he didn’t pry further. Onyul had no intention of stopping Gu Baekyoung from doing what he wanted to do.
<Just don’t do anything dangerous. You haven’t forgotten your promise not to rampage, right?>
<Of course. I listen well to you, honey.>
As long as Gu Baekyoung didn’t do anything dangerous.
[I’d like it if you closed the convenience store haha But just in case, I’m asking…… there wasn’t anyone who bothered you today, right?]
The text that came again was strange.
Gu Baekyoung was speaking as if he’d witnessed the incident with his aunt just moments ago.
“……”
Feeling an inexplicable eeriness, Onyul looked around.
But he couldn’t see any suspicious person in disguise loitering around the convenience store.
‘……Am I mistaken?’
Onyul tilted his head and replied.
[There’s no one like that, so don’t worry and you be careful.]
In fact, he could have sent a reply right now requesting help from Gu Baekyoung, mentioning the confidentiality agreement.
And yet the words didn’t come readily.
Probably…… because he knew Gu Baekyoung had been greatly shocked by Kang Onyul’s death.
The wandering Gu Baekyoung had only now found peace after meeting him. He couldn’t shake him up again.
Even if he told Gu Baekyoung, he wanted to talk after becoming more certain. Because it might turn out to be a misunderstanding after all.
“Mm…… The problem is how to find out what the contract contents are. Isn’t there a way to naturally enter the Management Bureau?”
At that moment, with a ding-a-ling sound, a gloomy man and a man emanating a halo entered the convenience store.
“Ah, hello.”
“Manager, we dropped by because we were bored.”
It was Yu Wooyoung, still giving off a dark atmosphere, and Ji Sanghyeon, who contrasted with him.
The two had become close like best friends within a week. It was strange how they looked like they’d known each other all along.
They say when people’s personalities are dramatically different, they’re drawn to those differences—perhaps these two were such a case.
As proof of their closeness, Ji Sanghyeon had been coming and going from the convenience store during Yu Wooyoung’s part-time hours lately, even when it wasn’t his own shift.
Come to think of it, had it already gotten this late? It was already time to switch shifts with the afternoon part-timer.
“Hello, Yu Wooyoung-ssi, Ji Sanghyeon-ssi.”
“Ye-es…… Hello, Manager.”
Yu Wooyoung greeted him quite warmly.
He was still timid with other people, but he’d opened up to Onyul to some extent.
Perhaps it was because Onyul always greeted him warmly.
Onyul was pleased to see him brightening up, so he’d make conversation or show kindness for no reason whenever they met. His meddlesome personality went everywhere, it seemed.
‘If he’d just straighten his shoulders and take off his glasses, he’d probably be popular.’
The glimpses of Yu Wooyoung’s face were quite decent. Especially the blue eyes hidden behind the thick lenses were pretty.
He’d carefully asked before if he was mixed race, and apparently there was a foreigner among his distant ancestors. He said he wore glasses to hide them because he’d been teased a lot for his blue eyes when he was young.
Yu Wooyoung couldn’t even properly look at customers, yet he’d occasionally look directly at Onyul. Quietly with those blue eyes.
Onyul thought it was a somehow sharp gaze.
But he had no intention of advising Yu Wooyoung to straighten his shoulders or do this or that. Because even well-intentioned words could be uncomfortable for the listener.
Watching as they are. Onyul had learned that attitude from dealing with prickly Espers in his past life.
The reason countless ability users liked Onyul wasn’t just because of his Therapy ability, but also because of his accepting personality.
“By the way, Manager, do you have something on your mind? You don’t look well.”
Ji Sanghyeon, who had closed the distance in one stride, gazed deeply at Onyul.
He spoke exactly like a lover worrying, so Onyul felt goosebumps. When Gu Baekyoung pretended to be his lover, it wasn’t like that, but when Ji Sanghyeon did it, he didn’t feel good.
If he’d pressed just a little more, he would have felt repulsed…… but strangely, he drew the line well.
‘……Ji Sanghyeon-ssi, what are you up to? Is he originally the flirtatious type?’
Ji Sanghyeon had read the subtle worry on his face today as well. Onyul thought that point was truly impressive.
“If something’s wrong, please tell me. I’ll help you. I have quite a lot of abilities, you know.”
Ji Sanghyeon, whispering like a devil skilled in temptation, smiled gently.
It was a smile that seemed like it would make one carelessly reveal even secrets.
Ugh, he’s a dangerous man, really.
Even knowing he couldn’t find a solution from these ordinary people, Onyul was troubled.
Rather, because they were ordinary people, it felt like he could confide his worries to them.
“Ey, what trouble! Well…… I’m a bit worried because there are too few customers, but it’s not a big concern.”
But in the end, he smoothly deflected without revealing anything. If he were to consult someone, it should be with Gu Baekyoung—there was no need to do so with them.
However, the answer that came back to the words he’d blurted out as an excuse was quite interesting.
“No customers, you say…… Manager, do you know there’s an event at the Management Bureau soon?”
An event? Come to think of it, it was already May. If it was an event held by the Management Bureau in May……
‘Gate Response Training?’
It was an event where they created a mock Gate and broadcast the process of subduing the Gate in real-time.
Fake Gates could be made by sorcerers like Na Geonwoo—that is, mage-type Espers—but their power was significantly weaker than real Gates.
The monsters inside the Gate were also fakes made by mages, so they could be killed in one blow.
Espers utilized their respective abilities to defeat monsters with deliberately exaggerated performances. Their flashy performances made video media buzz for several days.
Ordinary people were enthusiastic about the Espers who performed well and the Management Bureau.
In other words, the Gate Response Training was a show event to elevate the Management Bureau’s prestige.
“Are you talking about the Gate Response Training?”
Ji Sanghyeon nodded.
“Yes. After all, drinks and food are essential for big events.”
“Right?”
“If customers won’t come to us, we can go to the customers ourselves.”
