Jeong Iro’s training schedule was resolved with a single phone call.
The Esper Center accepted it as if they’d been waiting, and as soon as the next morning came, training clothes and defense items arrived.
“Iro, let’s try this on.”
“Okay.”
Han Seoha, who handed the training clothes to Jeong Iro who had just finished washing up, looked very excited.
When Jeong Iro casually removed the towel covering his body, Han Seoha quickly turned his back. Jeong Iro, who lacked common sense in general life, often made Han Seoha uncomfortable, but rather than correcting him, he naturally let the situation pass.
“I’m done.”
“Already? It suits you well, our Iro.”
Though it was excessively loose on the lean Jeong Iro, it didn’t look bad perhaps because he had height. It was similar to the Esper uniform, but perhaps because it was for training, it was sturdy instead of flashy.
“I’m hungry.”
“I’ll make it right away, just wait a moment.”
Normally he would have set out a generous breakfast table, but Han Seoha, who took Jeong Iro’s excuse seriously, looked into the refrigerator and fell into thought.
“You need to eat hearty to train. But if you eat a lot, your stomach will hurt. Something simple but filling… should I boil some eggs?”
“Okay.”
“Will that be enough? You’ll be hungry. Um… I’ll toast some bread too. With peanut butter and jam spread on it. Let’s have it with milk.”
“Good.”
Han Seoha, who was boiling eggs, toasting bread, and peeling an apple, even brought out retort soup. When he even filled cups to the brim with juice and milk for drinks, it was set out plentifully, similar to usual.
“Ah, I made a lot again. Let’s not eat until you’re too full, Iro.”
“Okay. I’ll eat well.”
Contrary to his answer, Jeong Iro ate combatively. As if to compensate for starving in the detention facility, he filled his cheeks to bursting at every meal time.
It was perhaps a natural appearance since he’d survived and endured in the slums with small amounts of supplies due to the villains’ deliberate intervention. Yet when he was restrained, he shut his mouth as if dead. Whether his meals were taken or he was mocked, he endured silently.
That was the way to survive during the Giro days.
Jeong Iro ravenously swallowed everything Han Seoha gave him. Whether it was food or affection.
“If your stomach hurts while training, don’t do it. I’ll explain well to the teacher.”
“Okay.”
Han Seoha only knew that Esper training was arduous. Jeong Iro, who finished his meal in an instant, stared intently at the half slice of toast in Han Seoha’s hand.
“You want to eat this too?”
“Eat it, Seoha hyung.”
“Ah, sorry. Just watching our Iro eat fills me up.”
“You have to eat to be full.”
Han Seoha laughed while brushing off the bread crumbs on the lips of Jeong Iro, who was staring blankly.
He too had observed Han Seoha for a long time and was accustomed to replacing him, but Jeong Iro probably wasn’t originally like this. Really, it was a mask skillful enough to be fooled if he didn’t know what he looked like as a villain.
“Since it’s your first day, let’s just do what you can. Don’t overdo it.”
“Okay.”
“I hope you make friends too, our Iro.”
At Jeong Iro’s silence when he’d been answering dutifully, Han Seoha just smiled and patted his head.
Though the actual age difference wasn’t much, to Han Seoha who was accustomed to treating him like a child, Jeong Iro obediently offered his head.
* * *
Han Seoha rejected Baek Uihyeon’s matching request. Of course, he also sent a separate reason. Since no reply came, Han Seoha thought it would pass like this, but was greatly surprised to see Baek Uihyeon whom he encountered before entering the spectator seats to watch over Jeong Iro.
“Why is Mr. Baek Uihyeon here…?”
“I visited for the Association’s regular checkup and just saw your message. It seemed late to reply, so I stopped by on my way.”
To Baek Uihyeon who had come all the way to the training ground, Han Seoha tried to offer apologies and excuses.
“I’m sorry. Morning guiding will probably be difficult for a while.”
“I understand.”
Baek Uihyeon accepted immediately without any sign of displeasure. The one flustered was Han Seoha.
“The thing is, a schedule came up in the morning.”
“It’s good that Esper Jeong Iro’s education has started. If he receives routine training, Mr. Seoha’s burden will also be reduced.”
“Iro is really kind. He just lacks a bit of common sense. He’s a good kid…”
“Mr. Seoha, it’s fine. Even if you don’t explain to me, I know how generous you are to Espers you’ve taken to heart.”
At the barbed words, when Han Seoha made a surprised face, Baek Uihyeon smiled even more gently. It was like the trustworthy smile shown in public service announcements.
When the other person only smiled, Han Seoha, who became anxious instead, apologized frantically.
“Um, excuse me, I’m sorry. For suddenly postponing the schedule. Even though I know Mr. Baek Uihyeon is busy, I only thought of myself.”
“No. It’s fine for you to do so, Mr. Seoha.”
Even if it’s wrong behavior, it doesn’t matter. If it’s Han Seoha, it’s okay to do so. At Baek Uihyeon’s words, he was rather at a loss for words.
“I, I…”
“I apologize for complaining before about why I’m always second.”
To the flustered Han Seoha, Baek Uihyeon even showed the kindness of changing the subject first.
“Then should we change the guiding time to the afternoon?”
“Yes, yes. I’d be so grateful if you did that.”
“I see. However, it will be difficult to set a specific time. Since the afternoon has many schedules, I can only know on the day. Would it be okay if I visit late in the evening?”
“Ah, yes. As long as it’s not morning, anytime is fine.”
“Thank you for understanding. It seems difficult to set a time today since it’s sudden. I’ll contact you again tomorrow.”
Having finished what he had to say, Baek Uihyeon confirmed the spectator seat in the safest location for Han Seoha, then left without lingering.
Baek Uihyeon’s attitude had changed. At the clear boundary drawing that left no room for misunderstanding, Han Seoha’s head tilted.
He’s giving up this easily? That can’t be right.
Rather than appealing Baek Uihyeon’s maturity, it seemed like he was trying to touch Han Seoha’s conscience.
‘If it were Han Seoha, he wouldn’t be able to ignore an Esper who needs him. In the first place, things got to this point because he tried to embrace everyone.’
Baek Uihyeon was too valuable a card to let go. He hadn’t even let go. He said he’d continue receiving guiding in the afternoon or evening.
However, it would be troublesome if he was trying to keep distance outside of guiding. If he really was a guy who would only suck up guiding, this side would refuse.
‘I was trying to do push-and-pull, not let him use Han Seoha.’
Perhaps it was a misunderstanding. Baek Uihyeon might be a sincere hero just as he appeared on the outside, stepping back to consider Han Seoha who was already having a hard time.
If so, he needed to tie him up a bit more.
If feelings still remained, he just needed to give him room.
Han Seoha, who decided to reveal his emotions more actively during tomorrow’s guiding, waved his hand toward Jeong Iro visible far beyond the observation room.
It was important to show interest to Jeong Iro, who probably watched only this way from beginning to end. Only then did Jeong Iro turn his head toward the Espers standing in other directions.
Jeong Iro liked that Han Seoha focused on him as soon as Baek Uihyeon, who had been constantly bothering his eyes, disappeared. It was amazing how the anger burning in his stomach disappeared like a lie.
When Han Seoha looked at him, everything became okay.
The buzzing sound from earlier became clear and incomprehensible explanations continued to be heard.
Stuffy uniform.
Noisy brats.
An Esper educator continuing a boring story.
Jeong Iro stood apart from the adolescent Espers busy showing off their abilities and bragging. Though he was of age to become an adult this year, or may have already become one, due to not receiving education after being kidnapped and the judgment that he lacked socialization, he was assigned to education time for minor Espers.
Theory education was short and classes centered on ability use were extremely dangerous, but defense and evasion were also considered part of training. Anyway, as long as hearts didn’t burst or necks weren’t severed, healers would rush over to handle it.
As a result, training proceeded roughly except for getting stronger.
“Trainee Jeong Iro. What’s your average output?”
When it suddenly became quiet, everyone’s gaze focused on Jeong Iro. From the scarecrow in front to the scoreboard visible far behind it. Thinking it meant to use his power in that direction, Jeong Iro reached out his hand but hesitated.
His ability was spatial movement. But no one knew that fact. For average output, there was no need to show the movement, was there?
He reached out his hand and pulled at space. Though nothing was actually pulled, the air that shouldn’t be touchable in his hand condensed and distorted.
Thud.
The scarecrow’s neck broke and rolled on the floor.
“Oh, psychokinesis type? How far can you go?”
When Jeong Iro only looked straight ahead without speaking, the instructor confirmed that the scoreboard set up far away was distorted and clapped.
“Both speed and accuracy are excellent. Then, shall we run to your limit now?”
Output with definite power inevitably consumed a lot of energy. You needed to know your limit so you wouldn’t overdo it in the field. For that, you needed to know your limit through training.
Jeong Iro stared blankly, wondering if this instructor was crazy. The instructor had already turned his back to look at other trainees.
A trainee who was nearby approached and acted friendly.
“Wow, did you come completely prepared today? Even bringing a Guide along.”
“Why is that?”
“Huh? Usually at the start of education, if you can’t control your power and the numbers get messed up, the suppression team rushes over and it’s chaos. If you bring a Guide along, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Why can’t they control their power? Instead of asking that, he focused on the trainee’s irritating words that followed.
“You’re really unlucky too. Of all people, to be paired with a slut.”
“Slut?”
“Yeah. But since it’s an S-rank rag, maybe it’s a high-class slut.”
At the trainee’s low-quality joke, others nearby also started laughing.
Jeong Iro slowly blinked and slowly bent his docilely lowered fingers.
If he grabbed the neck like this and applied his spatial movement ability.
That neck would instantly fall to another location.
