In the end, I was the one who spoke first.
“Heo Juan might be inside the gate, right? Like how Ryu Heegang was used?”
“He’s also a former S-class esper. It would have been possible with half the drugs they used on Ryu Heegang.”
“In the novel, it said the Pamundong executives all rushed into the gate. Wang Feng just pushed them in. Wouldn’t they have dealt with it?”
“There was no signal that the gate had disappeared.”
“Then all those people… might be dead?”
Kim Haewon neither nodded nor shook his head. He just quietly looked at me.
“The Pamundong executives were also espers once classified as S-class or special S-class. Even if they failed to clear the gate, there will definitely be survivors.”
“Then, do we save those people? Or do we shoot to kill?”
“We save them. No one knows the internal situation better than they do.”
Kim Haewon spoke without hesitation. His words sounded like he would have killed them if interrogation weren’t necessary. I closed my eyes and opened them, recalling that moment when Ryu Heegang killed Suo Weiqian. My voice trembled slightly.
“What about punishment after that?”
“It will follow the guidelines of the Chinese Ability User Association.”
“Still, I hope they’re alive.”
“……”
“Whatever happens, I hope they’re alive.”
“Yes.”
Kim Haewon answered briefly. I couldn’t tell if he was agreeing with my opinion or if he wanted to stop talking about this topic. I forced myself to eat and changed the subject.
“Is there any information about inside the gate?”
“No, not yet. They say they haven’t been able to measure the gate yet because they don’t have permission from the Chinese government.”
“They’ve been pretty gutsy since last time. What are they going to do if something big happens?”
“It seems Pamundong knows about something even bigger and is pressuring the government.”
“Do you know what that is?”
“Not yet. Due to China’s system, information access isn’t easy.”
That made sense. I nodded while putting seasoned zucchini in my mouth.
“I’ll let you know if I learn anything. The information I can get is always so jumbled that it’s hard to pick out just what I want to know.”
“Okay.”
Kim Haewon hesitated a bit. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but I decided to wait without rushing him. Thinking he’d feel pressured if I stared, I stuffed fried shrimp and sweet and sour chicken in my mouth. Kim Haewon continued speaking only after a long while.
“If I learn anything too, I’ll tell Guide Park Garam.”
From Kim Haewon’s position, this was an issue he’d probably deliberated over for a very long time. I immediately smiled and welcomed it. I reacted that way because I was genuinely happy.
“Good. We finally seem like partners now. Right?”
“Partners?”
“Yes, partners. Hurry up and eat. This is really delicious. The fried burdock root and this.”
Kim Haewon was a light eater, so he only took one bite of what I told him to eat. I told him to eat more, but it didn’t seem to suit his palate. I added that this was why the restaurant owner cursed out high-grade espers like that. Kim Haewon didn’t seem to be listening at all. We finished our meal and drank the beverages Kim Haewon had bought. Since our meal time was short, my iced latte was in an almost unmelted state.
“Wow, this is really clean and delicious! Really, how can a latte taste like this?”
The latte Kim Haewon bought was the best. It was really nutty and delicious—each sip was too precious to waste. As I excitedly continued talking, Kim Haewon smiled faintly.
“I’ll buy it for you again.”
“Whoa, really? This place is totally the best. Is it close to here?”
“Let’s finish what we have before talking about that.”
“Who asked you to buy it now? I was just asking.”
Kim Haewon didn’t answer. He blatantly only picked and answered what he wanted to answer. I slurped my latte. It was regrettable that it was decreasing, but it was delicious so that was enough. Watching me like that, Kim Haewon slowly drank his slightly cooled tea. As I watched his long eyelashes lower, I thought of Will Taylor. That cold face that shot at me without hesitation.
“Kim Haewon-ssi.”
“Yes.”
“Do you happen to know someone named Will Taylor?”
“How does Park Garam-ssi know Will? Did you see Will?”
I nodded. The smile disappeared from Kim Haewon’s face. Kim Haewon continued as if troubled.
“Will is one of VENT’s undisclosed executive managers. He handles important matters.”
“……”
“He’s also my half-brother.”
“What?”
“Unlike what’s publicly known, Father has many children. Among them, those with useful abilities are in the company.”
It was literally a family business. The only child in the company that I knew of was Kim Haewon’s older brother, Kim Sewon, so just how many were there? I couldn’t figure out the number and just blinked.
“There are about fifteen around the world. Father has strict standards for judging people, so he cast out many. Thanks to that, there’s no one in positions as important as Will.”
Kim Haewon told me facts I hadn’t even asked about. As if keeping his promise to tell me new information if he learned any while eating. I recalled Will Taylor’s appearance in my dream and muttered.
“They didn’t seem to look that alike though……”
“I understand he had surgery on all the parts that resembled.”
“He went that far?”
“I didn’t give separate instructions, but the closer one is to the core, the easier such rumors spread, so he probably acted preemptively. Will has quick action. He’s quick-witted too.”
That seemed right. He shot at me as soon as our eyes met. I nodded and continued speaking.
“According to the scene I saw, that person seemed to be the one connecting the leader and the chairman. He seemed to handle or carry out related work too.”
“That’s possible. He’s someone who handles illegal matters cleanly.”
Kim Haewon didn’t seem to have favorable feelings toward him.
“VENT is targeting the leader’s ring.”
“Do you know the reason too?”
“It seemed like a power struggle between organizations. They seemed to want to exert some kind of influence, but the problem is the leader didn’t allow it. Previously, Suo Weiqian also didn’t follow the leader’s words and MK came with a syringe. Of course, Suo Weiqian committed the crime and Esper Ryu Heegang received the punishment.”
“What crime did Suo Weiqian commit?”
“Harming… me. It seemed like they thought if they harmed me, they could obtain Esper Kim Haewon.”
“……”
Kim Haewon seemed to be deeply lost in thought. I moved my lips in case he misunderstood. I didn’t need to say it, but I wanted to make excuses that I didn’t consider myself ‘Kim Haewon’s weakness or special person.’
“I-It’s a ridiculous idea, really. But anyway, that’s what it seemed like.”
“No. It makes sense. Without Guide Park Garam, I would essentially return to being a time bomb. It would become easier to turn into a monster too.”
Kim Haewon spoke firmly. It was logically correct. The reason I was his pair was because I was the only one who could guide him. There was no other reason. I extended my hand to Kim Haewon.
“What?”
“Let’s guide frequently. Actually, the ability Esper Kim Haewon is currently displaying isn’t even half your real skill.”
“That’s not true.”
“Fool someone who’ll be fooled. I think it’s amazing that you fight in that state.”
Kim Haewon closed his mouth. Then he reached his hand toward mine. I momentarily got greedy and pulled him into a tight embrace. Kim Haewon was dumbfounded and froze in place.
“Wh-what?”
“I thought about it. I think it would be good to broaden the contact range.”
“Even so, to do this without saying anything.”
“Men hug each other too.”
“I don’t.”
“I don’t either, you know? Normally?”
“Then……”
“Right now isn’t a normal situation. If Esper Kim Haewon becomes dangerous, I’m in danger, and if I’m in danger, Esper Kim Haewon becomes dangerous. We’re in the same boat right now! So even if it’s uncomfortable, bear with it a little.”
I said while patting his back, stiff like an awkward robot, once. Kim Haewon’s body still didn’t relax easily. I had also impulsively pulled him into an embrace. For some reason, I felt touched that Kim Haewon thought I shouldn’t die, that he had to protect me. That was my feeling.
“I’ll start guiding.”
“Isn’t this position uncomfortable?”
“No, I told you to bear with it even if it’s uncomfortable… Eek!”
Kim Haewon easily lifted me up just like that. The distance between us narrowed and the contact range increased much more. However, the position was completely strange. I was sitting on his thigh. With my legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, afraid of falling.
“Shouldn’t it be at least this much to be effective?”
“I-I suppose so.”
“Why are you so stiff?”
“N-no. I was just thinking you’re exactly like a koala.”
I awkwardly wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my head in his shoulder. I didn’t have the confidence to proceed while looking at his face. This was my first time guiding in such a position in my life. I struggled to cool my flushed face while speaking in a voice that had shrunk to the size of an ant.
“I-I’ll start guiding.”
“Yes.”
Kim Haewon’s hands firmly held my waist. The sensation was so vivid that I felt dizzy. Don’t think about other things, just focus on guiding, just focus on guiding—the moment I tried to put guiding energy into him while thinking that, I heard the sound of the window rattling.
“Hey! What are you two doing?”
Outside the window rang a very angry voice. If it could penetrate that solid window, it meant they were incredibly angry. The owner of that voice was glaring at me and Kim Haewon. It was Nam Ihyeon.
