The forest’s form revealed its eeriness the closer they got. Stems wriggling like tentacles and flowers that looked like they would spew poison squirmed toward them.
Indifferent guidance continued toward the newcomers who had stopped, unable to follow the leader ahead.
“There’s no poison and they don’t attack. However, if you damage the stems or leaves, sap will come out, so don’t touch them unless necessary.”
The leader used abilities on each stem cut to clear the path, causing smoke to rise. Each time he cut to prevent sap from coming out and simultaneously seared it with heat, a foul smell arose. Everyone grimaced at the terrible smell and instinctively hunched their bodies.
When they didn’t feel threatened, the newcomers who had leeway looked around. Especially the Guides, who had no opportunity to see the real thing outside of textbooks, were both frightened and curious about the Gate plants.
“Look there. Purple fruit with white spotted patterns.”
“Hey, those are eyeballs. They’re looking this way.”
“Ugh, gross.”
“You can eat them. They’re useful fruit when food is scarce, so everyone try one.”
When they still couldn’t bring themselves to reach out despite the leader’s recommendation, one of the Espers boldly picked up a fruit with several wriggling eyes. When he took a big bite, the popping sound was terrible, but the liquid pooling in his mouth was a sweetness he’d never tasted before.
“Wow, this is really sweet. It’s delicious.”
“Ugh, I think I’ll hate the texture.”
“The texture is like, well, big salmon roe popping.”
Though it looked like it would be poisonous if eaten, the eyeball fruit guaranteed by the leader eventually had everyone taking a bite.
“Huh? It really is good.”
“What is this? Apple and mango flavor?”
“To me it tastes like really strong pineapple with an orange aftertaste.”
“Are all your taste buds weird? This tastes like chocolate.”
Those who fell for the various flavors diligently chewed the fruit in their hands. That said, no one reached for new fruit. Once they saw a fruit that looked like a pretty red apple, but everyone knew the inside was full of seeds like cocklebur. The story of someone who bit into it unknowingly and struggled to remove the seeds stuck all over their mouth was enough to prevent the newcomers’ reckless actions.
Like this, various forms of plants existed inside the Gate.
Han Seoha also knew about the sap with healing abilities. Research on the seemingly useless forest would soon be announced once completed, but Han Seoha silently followed behind to avoid revealing information he shouldn’t know yet.
His goal was a compass or tracking item that could be obtained here. He planned to follow quietly without standing out while waiting for a moment when he could move alone.
This is strange. The burning smell is too strong.
“Cough cough, aren’t you burning too much?”
Those following right behind the leader started coughing. The others also had unpleasant expressions, perhaps having smelled it too.
When Han Seoha, standing at the very back, stepped up on a rock and looked into the distance, the smoke was unusual. The leader also seemed uneasy and tried to move the newcomers back, but upon detecting a familiar wavelength, gestured as if to relax with a sigh.
“Don’t worry. It seems an Esper who arrived earlier has come to greet us.”
“What? To greet us?”
The curiosity of those bewildered was resolved in less than a few seconds by Ryu Jaegeon, who appeared with red flames. The flames burning all around didn’t harm a single strand of Ryu Jaegeon’s reddish hair. Even as the flames suddenly extinguished, the heat Ryu Jaegeon held remained the same.
“It’s, it’s Esper Ryu Jaegeon!”
“My god, this was a Gate where even A-ranks come?”
At the overly flashy entrance, not only Guides but even the new Espers showed eyes of admiration. Even knowing that S-rank Baek Uihyeon was participating in an inspection role, everyone was enthusiastic about Ryu Jaegeon’s appearance, who seemed within reach rather than a being completely beyond them.
“I didn’t know Esper Ryu Jaegeon was also participating.”
“I came to help since precious Guides are having field experience.”
Ryu Jaegeon, who lightly cleared even the heat with a single gesture, quickly rolled his eyes to examine the newcomers before stopping at Han Seoha, who stood alone at the very end. When their eyes met, a tender tremor settled in Han Seoha’s black eyes that had been motionless. The pretty eyes that would always get wet with gladness and bend with joy whenever he saw Ryu Jaegeon wavered, not knowing what to do.
Instead of asking why he had such eyes, Ryu Jaegeon went straight to Han Seoha.
“Guide me.”
“Huh?”
“I used my ability coming to greet you. You should guide me.”
There was no way he was tired enough to need guiding just from burning some plants. Even if he were tired, it was even less necessary to receive guiding from a C-rank Guide while moving. Above all, didn’t Ryu Jaegeon come to greet not Han Seoha but the newcomers?
If Ryu Jaegeon needed guiding, there were plenty of Guides who would do it. All the new Guides were looking at the A-rank Esper with sparkling eyes. However, there was no Guide tactless enough to jump out and offer to do it instead. That’s how much the two were the couple with the most rumors in the Association recently. Meeting more frequently than anyone else despite having broken up.
“Hurry up.”
“Jaegeon, wh-why are you even here?”
“You’re the one who suddenly entered the Gate to bother people.”
At the words clearly announcing he came because of Han Seoha, interested gazes deepened here and there. Unable to watch any longer, the leader diverted the newcomers’ attention.
“Now, everyone look ahead. The path to base camp has been cleared straight through, so we’ll pick up the pace. Everyone follow closely.”
“Yes!”
At the quick-witted leader’s gesture, everyone reluctantly turned their heads. When everyone’s gaze disappeared, Ryu Jaegeon immediately grabbed Han Seoha’s hand. When his hand was grabbed, Han Seoha also gently gripped it and familiarly let slow guiding flow in.
There was no way he would refuse in the first place. At Ryu Jaegeon’s sudden appearance, Han Seoha showed gladness and flustered feelings despite his complicated heart. The reason Han Seoha couldn’t unconditionally welcome Ryu Jaegeon was because of his situation.
“Are you… okay?”
“My body? You’re worried about my body now?”
“You were uncomfortable in the detention room. You even had restraints on your hands.”
“You’re the one who reported me.”
Though finding it absurd, Ryu Jaegeon didn’t let go of Han Seoha’s hand. It was an odd atmosphere as if they were taking a walk holding hands. Though starting fires to clear the path was convenient, Ryu Jaegeon lifted Han Seoha due to the terrible burning smell left behind.
Ryu Jaegeon, who rose into the air burning under his feet, lightly surveyed the surroundings and headed not to base camp but to the lakeside on the opposite side.
“Huh? Jaegeon-ah, base camp is that way.”
“We’re going a different way.”
Flames rose under his feet with each step as if to burn the forest, but they didn’t spread. Han Seoha also didn’t feel much heat. Rather, the wind brushing his face throughout the rapid movement was even refreshing.
Ryu Jaegeon, who arrived in an instant at a distance that would have taken a long time walking, descended at the lakeside. While wondering if he was settling by the water without fear, knowing what kind of monster lived in the water, it also didn’t make sense for an A-rank Esper to be wary in a Gate that newcomers would frequent.
Ryu Jaegeon, who sat straddling a suitable rock, held both of Han Seoha’s hands. Though holding both hands and facing each other was familiar, when Han Seoha lowered and averted his gaze, Ryu Jaegeon’s head tilted.
“What, why are you avoiding me?”
“I am… avoiding you, that’s true……”
“What? You won’t even say you’re not?”
When Han Seoha bowed his head further instead of answering, Ryu Jaegeon’s gaze following him was persistent. Only when they both bent at the waist to the point of touching their knees did Han Seoha finally let out a voice mixed with tears.
“But… they wouldn’t let me see you even when I went to the detention room. I kept going, not knowing you’d already been released, and I felt so stupid……”
While you were fine enough to even participate in Gate exploration.
The words that couldn’t continue were not a complaint but relief. Han Seoha, who cried from relief, was familiar to Ryu Jaegeon.
Because he was Ryu Jaegeon’s first partner. Because he was his Guide. He thought it natural to worry about and welcome an Esper who returned after hardship.
Han Seoha’s worry should have been Ryu Jaegeon’s, yet it felt strangely like a distant past event.
Why? Why hadn’t he known this willing emotion until now?
Ryu Jaegeon also knew that Yu Haneul smiled at and welcomed him. What he felt from Yu Haneul was pride. An A-rank obtained confidently. Ryu Jaegeon liked that too. It was a natural relationship without worries.
So what of it now? There was nothing to feel hurt about. Han Seoha still willingly held Ryu Jaegeon’s hand. Yet he wasn’t his.
At the realization, Ryu Jaegeon felt thirsty. He wanted to see Han Seoha’s face right now. He needed to confirm what expression he was making. It was more urgent than the faintly continuing guiding.
When he lifted Han Seoha’s cheek, the area around his eyes flushed red and the tears that had been barely hanging on fell. When he closed his eyes as if to avoid Ryu Jaegeon, the tears falling one after another wetted his own knees that had parted Han Seoha’s knees as he unknowingly drew close.
With just that alone, Ryu Jaegeon couldn’t hold back. From devouring Han Seoha’s lips.
