The slum literally went up in flames.
Han Seoha, lowered onto a relatively safe rooftop, had his breath catch at the bright red scenery.
“Ah, fuck! Ease up on the output a bit!”
“When is the S-rank coming— oh my, he’s already here.”
“Are you gonna do 3 o’clock direction properly or not? If the flames come over here, we’ll all die!”
The explosion heard from far away was probably where Baek Uihyeon was rampaging, noisy and chaotic. Nearby, espers repeatedly popped out and disappeared in an instant like arcade whack-a-moles.
It was supposed to be a rescue operation, but it was nothing but pandemonium.
Unlike the high-rise buildings in the city center, the neighborhood full of low temporary structures burned up in an instant.
‘I don’t feel any heat at all.’
Thanks to the heat-resistant cloak he received from the team leader, he wasn’t affected by the fierce flames while being carried and moved by Ryu Jaegeon.
‘It would have been fine even without it, though.’
What Ryu Jaegeon burned was only air. The moment the flames were perfectly extinguished before transferring to tents or wooden walls was wondrous. That’s why even when people said A-rank or higher, everyone acknowledged it with that atmosphere.
‘Only espers can recognize that.’
Han Seoha, being a guide, couldn’t distinguish this.
If it were Han Seoha? He’d be scared. He’d be anxious. He would have only followed Ryu Jaegeon with his eyes while frightened that the espers might overdo it or get hurt, then become restless if he lost sight of him. He’d wear himself out worrying whether someone might get hurt by fire.
Han Seoha had never actually been deployed to an operation Ryu Jaegeon participated in, but it was clear how it would go.
‘Today is different. It’s natural to have divided attention in a situation of rescuing kidnapped children.’
He couldn’t help but be anxious since the places where kidnapped children were hiding were burning and the espers who came to rescue them were rummaging around like marauders. On top of that, if there was an unknown existence intentionally spreading unstable waves that guides would sense most keenly.
“W-we’re going to burn to death at this rate!”
“Run away, quickly!”
According to the rampaging espers’ intentions, those who popped out startled by the fire ran toward alleys that weren’t burning. The plan to use arson to drive them to one side for both sweeping them all up and rescue was going smoothly. However, even in this situation, the existence that was blatantly sending waves toward Han Seoha didn’t budge.
‘If I sensed unstable waves and went to guide the kidnapped esper… it’s a sufficiently Han Seoha-like story.’
It was natural for Han Seoha, who judged them to be a child needing help, to leave his position despite his worry toward Ryu Jaegeon. Han Seoha, who entered the alley where flames flickered and spread in all directions, desperately looked between broken walls and windows while relying on protective items.
“Is anyone in there?”
Since the direction was certain from the start, he easily found the one who sent waves with just a few attempts. He was certain it was the answer he wanted from the excessively rough and strong waves for a child to emit.
“It’s okay to come out. The fire will go out soon.”
Though they hid their appearance beyond the wall, at the waves spreading out again, Han Seoha extended his hand first.
“I’m a guide. I’ll help you so it doesn’t hurt.”
What kind of reaction would they show to these words?
If it was the villain he’d seen on screen, they could suck out guiding without warning. If they came out like that, the defensive item would activate so there was nothing to worry about, but Han Seoha only showed concern for the other party as if without such calculations.
“I don’t have weapons or anything. Don’t be scared.”
They kept sending waves yet didn’t reveal their appearance. Either a terrible coward or testing him.
It would be troublesome if Ryu Jaegeon burst in at this rate. He needed to create even a little debt.
Han Seoha took off the cloak draped on his shoulders and placed it on a nearby window.
“This is a defensive item. If you’re scared of fire, put this on and escape…”
As Han Seoha-like actions continued to add up, the shadow hiding behind the wall popped out and approached right up to his nose. The fast movement that gave the illusion of a silver furball flying over stopped for a brief moment, and unlike their young face, gray hair predicted the other party’s harsh life.
It looked like quick steps but was a spatial movement ability user. As expected, it was the correct answer. He wondered if it was okay to find them this easily, but it was a sufficiently dramatic meeting.
Ryu Jaegeon, who had been watching this scene from afar, withdrew his ability that had been burning the air and ran over.
“This is driving me crazy, really.”
He clearly saw where Han Seoha, who had left the safe zone he’d painstakingly set up, was heading. Han Seoha stubbornly going after what he’d ignored as trivial flickering waves was frustrating.
It was a greenhorn esper anyway, and even if the waves ran wild, it was within a manageable line. And again, Han Seoha as a guide couldn’t just watch and went to find them.
He acted gently as if coaxing a frightened dog and even took off his defensive item to hand it over. The waves of the one who received it surged as if about to explode, but it was a common symptom shown by espers starving for guiding. The moment Ryu Jaegeon, certain it was different from a rampage, pulled Han Seoha into his embrace without hesitation, the other party’s waves crashed over like a tidal wave.
The heat he reflexively swung volatilized the surging waves and sent the opponent flying. Ryu Jaegeon, who confirmed the shadow that crashed into and broke through the wall, loosened the strength in his briefly tensed body and sneered.
“Kids these days have no manners.”
“What, why are you doing that to a kid?”
“Kid? Does that look like a kid to you?”
Just looking at the amount of energy, it was on par with a high-rank esper. Though it was momentary, it had enough power for Ryu Jaegeon to react seriously.
If they’d been caught by the hand that approached right up to Han Seoha, they would have been ready to suck out guiding until he fainted, but Han Seoha, who only knew he’d hurt the child, only tried to go toward the wall where the shadow had crashed.
“Jaegeon-ah, let me go for a moment.”
“Leave it alone. The support team will come and handle it.”
“Still, I need to guide them. The waves are unstable.”
“Mine are worse.”
“Huh? But the watch is quiet… Ah…”
Han Seoha, who checked the watch to confirm Ryu Jaegeon’s readings, became gloomy at the screen showing no indication at all. Even while held in his embrace, Han Seoha became sullen that not even one number appeared, which was so natural that Ryu Jaegeon couldn’t help but grin foolishly.
“I flew over because you suddenly left your position, so my power distribution got messed up. Guide me quickly.”
“Sorry, I’ll do it right away.”
When Han Seoha hurriedly tried to hold his hand, Ryu Jaegeon stepped back and leisurely sat on a collapsed wall.
“Jaegeon-ah?”
“You know the whole operation falls apart if I’m out, right?”
“I know. Give me your hand quickly, Jaegeon-ah.”
But Ryu Jaegeon only raised his head with both arms leaning on the wall. When the flustered Han Seoha tried to at least grab one hand, he even twisted his body to avoid it.
“I need to guide the kid you sent flying too, so stop playing around.”
“You’re the one playing house. I said it’s urgent.”
Han Seoha’s gaze naturally touched Ryu Jaegeon’s lips, then wavered and fell to the ground.
“But… we’ve always only used hands. Whether 1st contact or 2nd contact, the efficiency is bad either way…”
“You said the efficiency is good with the S-rank. Enough to invest three hours a day in you.”
“It’s the opposite. We do it that way because the efficiency is bad.”
“Let me taste how good those Han Seoha lips are that the S-rank seeks out like that.”
Despite Ryu Jaegeon’s nothing-but-light attitude, Han Seoha’s complexion gradually darkened. Even with sad sorrow settling in, Ryu Jaegeon rather smiled more deeply. Han Seoha’s pain, still belonging to him, made Ryu Jaegeon excited.
“Or are you only dealing with the S-rank now?”
“Why are you talking like that?”
“You know you’re not mine, so guide me.”
Ryu Jaegeon’s childishness in keeping Han Seoha’s previous words in his heart returned as a blade. Han Seoha approached Ryu Jaegeon unable to even blink his moistened eyes as if he’d shed tears any moment from his hurt heart aching.
Due to the awkward height of the broken wall, Han Seoha hesitated for a moment before sitting astride Ryu Jaegeon’s thighs as he lightly pulled him. It was unfamiliar to have Ryu Jaegeon’s face below when they faced each other. Hesitating, Han Seoha hurriedly bent his waist at the cursing searching for Ryu Jaegeon from afar. Han Seoha as he always was, with Ryu Jaegeon as the priority.
The kiss that gently descended was like a shy first kiss rather than guiding. The sensation of warm, soft, and gentle guiding spreading subtly beyond their touching lips was clearer than when received through hands.
Unlike what was commonly known, even with a difference of 2 ranks or more, 2nd contact efficiency was far superior to 1st contact. Even so, it fell far short for Ryu Jaegeon who received A-rank guiding, but.
If there was a difference, it was the emotion Ryu Jaegeon felt.
Why was it unpleasant? At the endlessly gentle, timid kiss so like Han Seoha, Ryu Jaegeon was extremely displeased.
The reason was too simple. It was because of Han Seoha’s attitude of kissing without hesitation even if shy. The Han Seoha that Ryu Jaegeon knew was someone who would turn red to his earlobes and couldn’t move just from borrowing his thighs due to fatigue. That he’d give up his lips so easily from a little mistreatment and continue guiding without wavering meant he must have experienced enough to become that familiar with Baek Uihyeon.
Ryu Jaegeon, who knew with his head but didn’t know his own heart, pulled Han Seoha’s neck. The way he opened his lips as they were opened even while flustered and responded clumsily when their tongues mixed turned Ryu Jaegeon’s insides. When he pulled Han Seoha’s waist to press their bodies close together, the flailing hands grabbed Ryu Jaegeon’s shoulders. His heart loosened a bit at the clinging hands, but he was furious at Han Seoha who accepted it with eyes tightly closed.
“You’re so easy, aren’t you?”
“Uh, huh?”
“How long has it been since you terminated your partnership, yet you act this lightly?”
“What do you…”
“Did you do 3rd contact too?”
“You, really. Why do you keep acting like that…”
Han Seoha’s reaction turning deathly pale was satisfying. That’s right. Even knowing it couldn’t be, only after confirming was Ryu Jaegeon satisfied, and he lightly stroked the bare skin inside Han Seoha’s waist.
“J-Jaegeon-ah!”
“I said it’s not enough.”
“Liar, your waves are stable.”
“Yeah, right. It’s a lie.”
Even so, the arm holding Han Seoha didn’t loosen. Rather, he pulled deeper and bound Han Seoha. The moment he tried to bury his face in the pale neck revealed while struggling, strong waves swept the surroundings.
“Fuck, what the!”
The flustered Ryu Jaegeon’s flames that burst out while protecting Han Seoha disappeared in an instant. Ryu Jaegeon, who had Han Seoha in his embrace snatched away before he knew it, ground his teeth.
“Baek Uihyeon, you should be at the front.”
“While you were harassing the guide, I finished everything.”
Baek Uihyeon, who preciously held Han Seoha in his embrace, still calmly conveyed toward the communicator giving operation instructions.
“Operation complete. Guide Han Seoha secured, will proceed with solo guiding after movement.”
Having finished all necessary words, the earphone crumbled in Baek Uihyeon’s hand.
