# Chapter 31
Kim Juyoung gritted his teeth.
Seo Suhyun had returned to the dungeon after resting for just one day. There was no talk of him pushing himself too hard, meaning his wavelength was stable.
Would it have been possible to immediately stabilize Seo Suhyun’s condition with that refined guiding Moon Jiwon usually maintained?
No, impossible. Kim Juyoung was certain of it.
“Haha….”
While he pretended to be noble by refusing any guiding except through hands for other Espers, it was clear he was giving his all to the S-class Esper.
“Fuck….”
His arrogance was infuriating. Not only did the Guide dare to put Espers in their place, but he also discriminated between them.
Because of being manipulated by such a person, his own situation was now a mess.
He thought Seo Suhyun would struggle in the next dungeon since his wavelength had been disturbed, but there was no impact on him whatsoever. Meanwhile, Kim Juyoung received an even harsher punishment for violating orders and moving around despite being banned from entering dungeons.
Restraints.
He hadn’t even directly attacked the Esper or Guide, yet they were using such a thing to bind an Esper’s power. It was an excessive measure.
Thanks to that, Kim Juyoung had become nothing more than an ordinary person.
These restraints, created by an overseas S-class Esper, only bound the power of Espers below S-class. Meaning, they wouldn’t affect Seo Suhyun.
It felt like the Association’s scheme to prove that he was weaker than Seo Suhyun in this way.
‘How am I supposed to show my face outside with this thing attached!’
His father, who had always been kind to him, slapped him across the face and yelled. It was the first time in his life that he had been scolded by his father.
Since his father had been happier than anyone when he became an A-class Esper, he seemed even more furious at the sight of Kim Juyoung with his powers restrained.
“I need to do this properly.”
Kim Juyoung’s eyes gleamed fiercely.
Fortunately, Kim Juyoung wouldn’t be left behind. He still had an opportunity personally created by his father, Kim Taeman.
He was about to enter a dungeon soon. With the intention of flattening the noses of those in the Association who depended solely on Seo Suhyun, thinking only he could overcome this situation.
Is that dungeon so frightening?
It wasn’t even funny. An unfounded confidence was urging Kim Juyoung on. There was nothing to worry about since he planned to enter with three Guides who had high matching rates.
Even if it meant running the Guides to their deaths, he would receive proper guiding, clear the dungeon, and find the cause of the anomaly. Better yet, if he could solve the problem entirely.
If that happened, it would mean Seo Suhyun and Moon Jiwon had been wasting their time all along. They’d be ridiculed for failing to handle such a simple task.
‘You can definitely clear it, right?’
‘Yes. I can.’
‘If you do it right, everyone will be on your side. That’s when the tables will turn.’
Seo Suhyun, who believed he was special and had been dragging things out, would be pelted by those who had suffered from the neglected dungeon he refused to enter.
Kim Juyoung smirked.
With this opportunity, he intended to show just how strong of an Esper he was, and how misguided the Association’s faith in Seo Suhyun had been.
‘Let’s overturn the Association to suit our tastes.’
If that could happen…
A cold smile curved Kim Juyoung’s lips. It felt like he could accomplish anything.
***
“…My ears must be mistaken, right?”
-You heard correctly.
“Is he insane…?”
Jiwon replied stupidly. The news he’d heard from Jo Wooyeon as soon as they left the dungeon left him dumbfounded.
Suhyun looked at Jiwon with puzzled eyes. Jiwon first signaled with his eyes and cleared his throat.
“…So, he’s already gone in?”
-It’s been about 20 minutes now. Hopefully nothing goes wrong…
“Right. Why would he make such a choice?”
-Maybe ignorance became courage.
Jo Wooyeon put it quite elegantly that ignorance makes one brave. Jiwon pressed his temples.
No matter what, he should have chosen his location carefully. What if he loses his life by rushing in recklessly?
“What’s wrong?”
“Haa…”
Noticing that Jiwon’s expression and words weren’t normal, Suhyun asked. Jiwon answered without hiding the sighs between his words.
“Kim Juyoung has entered a dungeon, apparently.”
They had heard earlier that a dungeon had appeared in front of Hwashin Group’s headquarters. That building was located in an area with unusually high foot traffic, so the Association had requested they clear that dungeon first thing tomorrow.
They needed to enter the dungeon as soon as possible. The two naturally accepted the Association’s instructions. It felt uneasy to leave it unattended for a day, but there was no choice since there were other urgent dungeons lined up.
But why had Kim Juyoung gone in there? Did Kim Juyoung have such enthusiasm for dungeons? Was it because he wanted to protect the area in front of Hwashin Group’s headquarters at all costs? For such an absurd reason?
“Team Leader, wasn’t Esper Kim Juyoung under disciplinary action? I heard he had his abilities restrained for violating the dungeon entry ban order?”
It was a fitting punishment for the unpredictable Kim Juyoung. After all, he was an Esper who had entered a dungeon to harm others.
-It happened because the Hwashin Group chairman personally stepped in.
Jo Wooyeon explained, but Jiwon couldn’t understand at all.
“No, that’s even more baffling. He stepped in to push his own son into danger?”
-He must have judged that Esper Kim Juyoung could handle it sufficiently. He’s an A-class Esper. Plus, he went in with three Guides.
“Ha….”
Three Guides went in?
That was surprising and confusing in its own way. Could Kim Juyoung possibly take care of Guides who were essentially no different from ordinary people? Would he just blindly attack again?
Moreover, what were those Guides thinking when they followed him in? Did Hwashin pay them money comparable to a life insurance payout?
“He’s insane….”
Both of them, every single one of them.
Feeling uneasy, Jiwon clicked his tongue. It meant less work tomorrow if Kim Juyoung resolved it well, but he wasn’t particularly happy about it.
I hope it’s not a problem dungeon.
Despite the many Guides who entered, the uncomfortable feeling wouldn’t go away.
“It’s concerning, isn’t it?”
Suhyun’s expression wasn’t good either as he kept his mouth shut. Of course it would be worrying.
Still, he’s an A-class Esper and strong. There was no choice but to believe there wouldn’t be any problems.
“We should go check.”
Just as Jiwon was trying to rationalize and reassure Suhyun that everything would be fine, he closed his mouth at Suhyun’s words.
As if he had no intention of listening to Jiwon, Suhyun immediately turned to leave. Jiwon quickly caught up to him and sighed as he spoke.
“You do realize we’ve already entered dungeons four times today, right? Going again would make it the fifth time.”
Despite being practically dragged along with Suhyun, Jiwon felt all strength leave his legs. Even an Esper would get tired, and he wasn’t keen on heading to another dungeon in this situation.
“I have a bad feeling.”
But Suhyun was resolute.
“I’ll go alone if I have to.”
“Ha… what do you mean alone.”
But when had Suhyun ever considered his feelings?
Jiwon rubbed his face vigorously. Since he was truly the type to go alone if needed, Jiwon didn’t even have the will to try and stop him further.
“Fine. Let’s go together.”
It was already bothering him anyway.
While he disliked Kim Juyoung, he would feel guilty if something happened after leaving him. It was better to go check with his own eyes. As for his depleted stamina… well, he’d manage somehow.
“Team Leader. Esper Suhyun insists on going right now… We’re heading out.”
Jiwon spoke weakly into the phone he was still holding.
And shortly after.
The two arrived in front of the Hwashin headquarters building. Perhaps because news of Kim Juyoung entering the dungeon had spread, many people were gathered outside the barricades, observing the dungeon entrance.
They’re so careless. Who would they blame if something happened?
Jiwon only clicked his tongue inwardly as he passed by them. In truth, he didn’t even have time to give them uncomfortable glances.
This was because Suhyun was moving too quickly, like someone certain that something had happened, making it difficult for Jiwon to keep up with him.
“……”
Soon, the two passed through the dungeon entrance.
The clamor of people disappeared, replaced by silence.
“…Huh, huurk…!”
Without even having time to examine the monster corpses piled before them, Jiwon’s waist buckled. He curled up in pain, groaning agonizingly.
The uneasiness he had been feeling all along took form. An Esper’s wavelength, distorted beyond measure, torn and shredded, began to shake Jiwon’s senses to the core.
“Guide!”
“Hack, huurk….”
It was such an intense pain that it wouldn’t be strange if he lost consciousness immediately.
In the previous dungeon, Suhyun had been driven to the brink of rampage. And long ago, he had seen an Esper who nearly went into a rampage.
But this wavelength was different in nature from what Jiwon had experienced so far.
A wavelength so overwhelming that he couldn’t even attempt to stabilize it was crushing Jiwon. A wavelength torn to pieces beyond repair was attacking the Guide, Jiwon.
This was the wavelength emitted by an Esper who had not only begun to rampage but had already reached a point of no return.
“Ugh….”
Jiwon could barely stand on his own two legs and needed Suhyun’s help. Suhyun also seemed to feel the wavelength, his face contorted.
Jiwon swallowed.
“Kim Juyoung is… rampaging.”
A-class Esper, Kim Juyoung, is rampaging.
And he’s already beyond the point of no return.
Jiwon’s voice trembled as he reported the situation.
