If things had gone according to the original plan, there would have been enough time. The plan was to slowly use the surrounding environment to spread groundwork, have espers raid the villain organization, then tame a useful A-rank among the escorted espers. But there wasn’t enough time or favorable circumstances for that.
Then he had no choice but to strike before they became villains.
The bait he’d planned to spread slowly was slipped among materials that a sharp-witted researcher would receive, planting suspicion.
「Multiple reports of unregistered esper wave signals received in specific areas.」
He also mixed in relevant data so they could connect it to the increasing number of missing children.
「Number of children who disappeared without a trace has more than doubled. All went missing after ability testing.」
The testing institutions were different, but if he included a list of employees who had collected all that information through information sharing.
「Among those in charge of final records at Testing Institution A and Testing Institution B, Kim ㅇ-hyung’s records and the missing children list overlap significantly.」
Of course, all this information was easy since he’d encountered it through a documentary in his previous life. It was a bit breathless spreading talk here and there to secretly slip in information and mixing in real materials he obtained, but.
‘Even if it’s a hideout where only low-level villains gathered, rescuing the kidnapped children in advance has less risk than raiding that place.’
It was also an opportunity to save children he hadn’t thought of while only thinking of Han Seoha’s flower path.
A location with a high probability of multiple unregistered espers existing. Above all, a situation where they had a very high probability of being missing children. A place where a slum was formed with poor people gathering near an abandoned gate, yet suspiciously with logistics going in and out. Suspicion that a villain organization systematically carried out all this became conviction due to the evidence.
The information he’d spread here and there reaching the upper line was somewhat slow, but once a decision was made, the progress was bold. The Association side quickly recruited team members to support the operation.
In preparation for possible information leaks, the outwardly revealed goal was relief for the poor, but the weight changed when it became known that it was an operation receiving even guide support.
Prioritizing A-rank esper support while even recruiting guides? If guides were needed to that extent, rumors that it was definitely not an easy operation actually made significantly fewer people volunteer. Rather, even guides who had volunteered out of a sense of duty were canceling due to their pair espers’ opposition.
‘In reality, it’s in preparation for cases where immediate guiding is needed upon discovering unregistered espers, but they can’t announce that.’
If there was someone within the Association in communication with villains, the operation would fall apart before it could even unfold. The operation would start simultaneously with personnel gathering and movement.
When there was no guide support, notices were even posted up to the guide dormitory. Rather, when they went this far, the guides rebelled.
“Guides with pairs absolutely aren’t applying.”
“Guides without esper partners must be dying of sorrow, dying.”
“Let’s absolutely not do it. Who do they take for fools?”
Han Seoha, who had been waiting for exactly this moment, immediately filled out an operation support application and headed to the reception desk. A few noticed Han Seoha’s actions and tried to stop him but closed their mouths. No matter how much good feelings they’d developed toward Han Seoha, protecting themselves from possible trouble came first.
“You’re C-rank. Um… I’ll put up the application for now, but deployment to the operation may be difficult for you.”
“Yes, I don’t mind even being on standby. I want to be helpful.”
“If that’s the case, it’ll probably be possible. A safe zone will be created near the operation site, so I’ll put you down for standby personnel.”
“Thank you. I’ll work hard.”
The receptionist’s gaze looked at him like viewing a peculiar person. New guides were often enthusiastic, but most guides who had been active for over a year like Han Seoha and received precious treatment or were pushed around became either haughty or only looked for their own rice bowl. At Han Seoha’s still pure and enthusiastic attitude, the receptionist pressed approval. The operation team leader would look and assign anyway, so they didn’t think too deeply about it.
* * *
“Today’s operation is an unregistered esper rescue operation.”
“Not capture or arrest, but rescue?”
“Presumed to be missing minors.”
Only then did the atmosphere among the espers who had been relaxed in the moving vehicle change. It wasn’t simple patrol or arrest. They couldn’t dare imagine, nor did they want to imagine, how missing minor ability users were being handled.
“We received reports of multiple unregistered esper wave discoveries, but the existence of guides is also highly likely. If they’ve been continuously raising immature espers, there must be guides too. Unconditionally rescue suspected abduction targets. When villain suspects are discovered, prioritize target rescue after transmitting location instead of responding.”
“If we let the villains go, won’t the same thing happen again? It doesn’t seem right to let the cause go.”
“If you just transmit the location, Baek Uihyeon will step in.”
“Wow, even an S-rank is coming?”
“Then we’re just doing rescue work, so it won’t be that difficult.”
“Right. At first I cursed because they said to go with just one measly C-rank guide.”
Han Seoha, sitting alone in a corner with his head politely bowed, waved his hands and bobbed his head toward the esper apologizing with his eyes. With the participating guide being only one C-rank, even the few guides who were going to volunteer had turned away saying only they would be exploited. The reason they pushed ahead despite this was because the participating espers’ ranks and numbers were certain.
“We’re not going to guide you guys anyway. Whether the guide is C-rank or A-rank, what does it matter?”
“That’s true. We’re counting on you, Jaegeon-ah.”
“We trust the A-rank esper!”
Since A-rank esper Ryu Jaegeon had also joined this operation, everyone was annoyed at his arrogance but didn’t show it and only smiled. Ryu Jaegeon, who participated in the operation while keeping Yu Haneul—whom he’d recently paired with—tightly hidden away, tried to send Han Seoha back the moment he saw him huddled in a corner.
Since Ryu Jaegeon arrived last and the vehicle departed immediately upon boarding, he missed the timing to speak, but his gaze toward Han Seoha was full of dissatisfaction.
“The detection types stand at the very front, with Ryu Jaegeon, you attach right behind.”
“Yes, yes.”
Ryu Jaegeon’s attitude while listening to the operation was nothing but light. Han Seoha was on his mind, but he was about to cut off his interest thinking he’d just be on standby anyway when the team leader’s following words lit a fire in him.
“When unregistered espers are discovered, there’s a high probability their waves will be unstable. The guide will also move together.”
“You’re telling me to take a C-rank into the field right now?”
“We’ll also issue protective equipment, and it’s not villain suppression but child rescue activity. If you have complaints, let the other guys go ahead.”
It was much safer for him to protect Han Seoha than to entrust him to a B-rank nobody.
At the news that they’d soon arrive at the operation area, Ryu Jaegeon took off an earring and threw it to Han Seoha, whom he’d been deliberately ignoring. At Han Seoha’s bewildered face as he hurriedly picked up what had hit his chest and fallen, Ryu Jaegeon sighed.
“It’s an auto-defense item, so keep it.”
“But I don’t have my ears pierced…”
To Han Seoha who was hesitating, the other espers competed to take off and hand over one of their items.
“Guide Han Seoha-nim, please wear my ring. It’s only 30% shield, but your breath stays attached in most explosions.”
“Put that crap away. My bracelet is better. It’s one that creates a shield with a trigger word and has 2 uses left.”
Irritated at the espers swarming over, Ryu Jaegeon wedged himself between them and Han Seoha. When he took back the earring from the troubled Han Seoha’s hand, the corners of his mouth naturally rose at the soft touch of the fingers that hurriedly followed.
“Give it back?”
“Mm-hmm. I’ll keep it.”
“Items only work when worn.”
“B-but still…”
“You said it’s not mine.”
Unlike Ryu Jaegeon’s lightness in being sarcastic, abandonment spread across Han Seoha’s face as he desperately clung.
Don’t give up so easily.
An emotion Ryu Jaegeon didn’t know he had surged up, but he pushed it down his throat and grabbed Han Seoha’s ear. When he brought the earring to the smooth and soft earlobe without a single hole, the startled Han Seoha pushed Ryu Jaegeon away.
“N-no, you don’t have to. I have what the team leader gave me.”
“There’s no better item here than this.”
“I don’t want to, don’t do it.”
“Stay still. If it gets crooked for no reason, only you’ll hurt.”
“I just won’t do it then. I don’t want to do this.”
Han Seoha’s voice refusing was so pitiful that the espers’ throats oddly burned as they glanced about.
“Ah, really. Are you going to keep making me touch you?”
“Jaegeon-ah, please.”
“Anyone watching would think I’m undressing you here and guiding or something.”
Ryu Jaegeon, who easily trapped the struggling Han Seoha in his embrace, pushed the earring into his earlobe in one go.
“I hate pain… Agh!”
A creepy sound of flesh tearing. The pain probably wasn’t great, but the frightened Han Seoha trembled and couldn’t move at all, only gripping Ryu Jaegeon’s sleeve tightly.
“Hng, it hurts…”
“I told you to stay still. This is crooked, so it’ll be hard to take out again.”
Ryu Jaegeon’s voice, not knowing Han Seoha would be this scared over just getting his ear pierced, softened a bit. The fact that Han Seoha was trembling yet only clinging to him also played a part.
When he sent a warning glance toward the espers staring intently at the sniffling Han Seoha, he saw several who cleared their throats and bowed their waists. Anyway, those esper things lose their minds the moment they see a guide.
He couldn’t see rationality like his own that decided pairs by rank. Ryu Jaegeon didn’t hesitate to show contempt toward those vulgar ones who regarded guiding as mere amusement.
While Ryu Jaegeon was on guard around them, Han Seoha’s hand carefully fell away. The briefly grating emotion was fleeting, and following the team leader’s instructions, he held Han Seoha in his embrace again.
“We’ve arrived at the operation area, so everyone get your heads on straight. The goal is finding and rescuing the missing ability users.”
“Yes sir~!”
“Yessir!”
“Yes~”
Even at their unruly answers, the team leader who trusted their abilities waved his hands.
“Sheesh, you rascals. Everyone run like dogs!”
